Love Beyond All Fear 4/?
Posted: Tue Mar 16, 2004 5:18 pm
GG: I have some upsetting news.
Well, it upsets me more than it will you.
I?m really glad you guys mentioned that this fic was a lot like ?Miss Saigon.? Because that was the idea. And I realize now that the notes I put about that in chapter one are GONE because certain jerks around here don?t like me writing fan fiction, and so they hacked my system and deleted that part for a laugh.
Giggles. (Note the sarcasm.)
So, thank you, SporkGoddess and Melissa, for inspiring me to check just what was/wasn?t on chapter one. Lookee, I?ve matched the chapter titles to the lyrics! ^_^
Also, the clarify: This is heavily fictional and probably not politically correct. A lot of ?what if? going on. Hope that doesn?t bother you.
Notes: This fic was inspired by the musical, ?Miss Saigon,? which belongs to Alain Boublil and Claude Schonberg. It is a beautiful play and if you get the chance to see it, go!
Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing or Miss Saigon. Obviously.
*~Love Beyond All Fear~* Chapter Four
He held her as she sobbed. Jesus, it had not been Heero?s intention to make her cry. The shock of his question on her face had somehow resulted in a murmured ?yes? before she?d broken down into fitful tears. Relena was in his arms now, gasping into his shoulder.
?Gomen nasai,? she said with an accent that was more European than Asian. ?I know I shouldn?t be doing this. I?m happy, really, it?s like you?re a ? a savior.?
?Hold on,? he began but she cut him off with a fast, chaste kiss.
?I don?t really know how to thank you. Well, I do, but do American men accept that as payment?? Relena asked.
Oh, she was so innocent was all he could think. Even in a place like Fair View, even in the slums of Japan, she was so pristine.
He would get her out of here, he thought determinedly. She didn?t deserve to be forced to stay.
?Unfortunately,? he replied to her question, ?it?s often the only thing American men accept as payment.?
Color washed her cheeks, and she backed away from him to wipe the tears from them. ?You are like the phoenix the gods send to devoted servants, Heero. And I have prayed so hard.?
?I?m no phoenix,? he told her abruptly. ?And I don?t know how yours gods work.? Hell, at the moment, he didn?t even know how he worked. Three hours ago, he?d have never considered taking a whore home with him. ?Take me to Howard,? he said.
She nodded. ?He isn?t,? she blurted and stopped herself.
Heero blinked. ?What??
?He isn?t a fair man. I can?t just walk out,? she told him softly. ?You?ll have to pay. He?d contact the government if he felt it profitable.?
In a quick sweep of his hand, Heero took up the money from the dresser again. ?Then I?ll pay.?
?It won?t be a small cost.?
?I don?t imagine it to be.?
Relena?s throat closed up as she scrambled out of bed and into a scratchy robe. ?Why?!? she demanded. ?Why the hell would you take me with you? It?s outside your rules, isn?t it??
Heero opened the door and turned back to her. ?That?s the good thing about America,? he said. His voice was full of gruff sincerity as he met her eyes. ?When it comes to emotion, there are no rules.? He walked out, knowing she?d follow.
Barefoot, Relena chased after him. Her heart thudded in time with each step she took down the stairs.
Howard was already occupied with Duo and Hilde. Duo?s mouth was a straight line. Hilde looked calm, but her brow was moist.
When Howard?s own frown saw Heero and Relena, he scowled behind his sunglasses upon recognizing their expressions. ?Damn it all, not you too. Does the term ?rental? mean anything to you??
Duo shot his comrade a surprised look. ?Heero??
?Are you doing what it seems you?re doing, Duo?? he asked tonelessly.
Duo snickered. ?Never took you for a softie.?
Relena and Hilde exchanged identical looks:
They were getting out. They were going to America.
***
?Are you two insane?!?
Wufei Chang?s mild accusation was not the warmest of welcomes when Duo, Heero and Trowa returned to the hotel with Relena and Hilde.
?What the hell are they doing here?? Wufei demanded, pointing a resentful finger at the pair of Tokyo bar girls. ?Do you have any idea what kind of jeopardy you?re putting our??
?Wufei,? Duo snarled, ?if you say ?mission,? I will fucking strangle you with my braid.?
Wufei only snorted and then whirled on Heero. ?Maxwell I can understand. He adores women; always has. You? Since when in God?s name did you start letting them slide up to you??
Heero remembered Relena?s eyes as she had offered to refresh their drinks and merely glared at the Chinese American. ?She doesn?t slide,? he said defensively, with an arm around Relena?s waist.
?What?s she do then?? Wufei?s eyes flashed. ?Sashay??
?Easy.? Quatre Raberba Winner?s voice, although usually soft and pleasant, was now firm. ?Heero, Duo. I think we deserve an explanation. But first,? he said, turning a suddenly cheery smile on the girls. ?What are your names??
Relena blushed for the hundredth time that night. ?Relena,? she said timidly.
Hilde, the least shy person she knew, grinned. ?Hilde. What?s yours, handsome?? she asked, succumbing to behavior that had become second nature.
Quatre?s smile turned oddly sympathetic. ?Quatre Winner. Why don?t you two take Heero and Duo?s room? You both look tired.?
Hilde gratefully headed toward the room that she imagined would be heaven to sleep in, but Relena held back.
?I don?t know if?? The golden-haired girl?s eyes darted to Heero.
?We?ll all be here in the morning,? Quatre assured her.
She hesitated for only another second before following Hilde path and closing the door behind her, but Heero couldn?t help but feel sorry for her. She could never fully trust, could she?
Wufei?s sneer was condescending. ?I thought you would be an honest man, Yuy. Picking them up from the ground. How disappointing.?
?Hey, shut the hell up, Wufei!? exclaimed Duo, bunching a fist and willing it to stay at his side rather than the other man?s jaw. ?A lot of those ladies in there are classier than the chicks back home.?
?And what about those at home, Maxwell?? Wufei?s voice was hard as ice and just as cold. ?Don?t tell me there isn?t anyone waiting for you.?
?Actually, there is. A thirty-nine year-old nun named Amelia. Satisfied?? Duo shot out.
?Hardly. What the fuck,? the Chinese soldier spat out, ?are they doing here?!?
?That?s the second time you?ve asked that,? Duo pointed out.
?And exactly twice less have I received an answer.?
Trowa suddenly spoke up from the wall he leaned against, his voice as quiet as ever. ?Where?s Sally, Wufei??
Wufei paused and gave him a very steely look. ?You?ve nothing to answer to, Barton. You should just?? At Trowa?s narrowed eyebrows, his irises flashed. ?She?s asleep.?
?Where, asleep??
?She?s in bed.? Wufei growled when Trowa pushed off from the wall and headed toward his and Quatre?s room.
?I just don?t see why you?re complaining.? Trowa stepped out of the hallway. ?That?s all.?
?We have a mission??
The door snapped shut in his face.
Wufei wasn?t out of targets yet, and he whirled on the still silent one. ?Well, Yuy? Do you have anything to say??
?Wufei,? Quatre insisted, ?don?t be so loud.?
Wufei kept his glare trained on Heero, who glared back, but at least he fell silent.
Heero replied, in a decidedly softer voice: ?You didn?t see her eyes.?
?Eyes? What the fuck are you talking about??
?We?re in the slums, Wufei,? answered Quatre lightly. ?Have you even really looked into anyone?s eyes??
He was an American. He may have inherited the look of an Asian from parents that had escaped and immigrated, but he was still a son of Uncle Sam.
And so he was better?
?No,? he affirmed, disgusted with himself. There was pride in his voice, but also there was shame.
Quatre nodded. ?Is that really it, Heero??
?Quatre, man, these girls have had it so rough.? Duo shook his head vigorously and his brain swung back and forth. ?Hilde?d been at that brothel for I don?t know how long, and Relena, Jesus Christ, she was a virgin!?
?Was,? Wufei noted.
Heero?s fists clenched. ?We?except for Trowa?made use of their occupations.?
?If it counts,? Duo said in response to Wufei?s annoyed harrumph, ?Heero put up quite a fight.? He grinned slightly. ?But one look from those big blue eyes and he fell hard as hell.?
?I don?t love her,? Heero said. ?I don?t really know her.?
//Do you need another story of a poor wench?//
But that wasn?t true, he thought. Relena had told him all that there was to her and though that wasn?t much, she had told *him*. She?s privileged him with that.
?We?re obligated to help people,? Heero said at last. ?These women, Wufei. They need our help.?
Wufei studied that half-Japanese man for a minute or so, then turned away with a grunt. ?Do what you want.?
Duo grinned at Heero. Heero remained grim.
?But remember.? With his hand on the doorknob of his and Sally?s room, Wufei met first Heero?s eyes, then Duo?s. ?What becomes of this is no one?s fault but your own.
***
?I?m broke. All that I brought with me is totally spent,? Duo was telling Heero while Hilde and Relena continued to sleep in the beds contained in the tiny hotel room. It was nearing eight, and Quatre had gone to see what kind of food was available for the morning. Even half-rotted fruit was better than nothing.
Duo shoved his hands into his pockets. ?That Howard sure was no cheapskate. It?s fucking horrible, the way they think of women as property here.?
?It?s the same way back home in some places,? Heero pointed out, already fishing through his wallet.
?No kidding, and we live in New York and all. Thanks so much, man,? Duo said when Heero handed him a few crumpled bills. ?I?ll pay you back as soon as we?re home.?
Heero grunted noncommittally.
?Hey, by the way. When we do get home, what are you kids gonna do? I?m planning for me and Hilde to stay in the city. Hopefully she can get a job, and I?ll go back to the auto shop on tenth street... Heero?? Duo scratched his cheek when he realized his words were lost on his friend?s ears when Heero?s eyes could look at Relena?s sleeping form.
But apparently Heero had been listening. ?I haven?t figured out what we?ll do yet. I won?t just drop her off to change streets.?
?Good for you. Althought, you gotta admit.? Turning his gaze to the small window on the far wall of the room. ?Even New York?s red-light district isn?t this bad. Men pay a helluva lot better there.?
??Duo?? Hilde passed a hand through her short hair as she sat up and blinked sleepily at the pair of men. ?Sorry, did I oversleep??
Duo smiled, touched at the image of her rumpled and freshly woken. ?No, babe. Are you hungry? We can go see what kinda grub Quat-man managed to scrape up. I can?t promise it?ll be gourmet, but??
?I bet it?s great,? Hilde cut in unabashedly. The idea of an actual full meal had her squirming out of bed.
?We?ll see you downstairs,? Duo told Heero, taking Hilde?s hand and leading her out of the room, but not before a quick snicker: ?Wonder if Wufei and Sally are even outta the bedroom yet.?
Heero sat down on the edge of his and Relena?s bed and gently pushed her shoulder. ?Relena,? he murmured, taking care in waking her. He wasn?t sure when the last time she had gotten a good rest was. ?Relena, do you want breakfast??
Relena didn?t know how good her acting qualities were, but she made a show of being shaken awake. The truth was she?d been laying fully conscious, listening to Heero and Duo talk about going back to America?to the place they called New York City, a place she?d only heard largely embellished stories of. Towers that reached to the clouds. A population made totally of royalty.
She blinked her eyes open and gave him a small smile. ?Yes,? she told him. At least her voice was groggy from not having spoken yet. ?That would be wonderful.?
He shifted the blanket off of her, helped her to stand. She ran a hand consciously through her soft blond strands. He grasped her fingers and kissed them in a way he hoped was reassuring. He?d never been too good with reassurance.
?Let?s go eat,? he said simply. He reached for the room key on the dressed and, on impulse, also brought the gun beside it. He?d not yet needed to use it, but today? Today, somehow, it seemed necessary.
They stepped into the hall, locked the door and walked to the hotel lobby in silence. Coming through the staircase door, they found a great fuss. Wufei and Duo were yelling, Trowa was protecting Hilde with his own body. Quatre hadn?t yet returned.
Heero?s eyes then landed on a fairly tall man with burnt-golden hair. He wasn?t at all Asian, and like Relena, he looked European.
Relena?s hand suddenly tightened in his. Heero looked down. ?What?s?? he began.
?Treize,? Relena muttered, voice completely surprised.
Everyone fell silent. The stranger?s eyes went to her, and a little bit of the anger previously in his deep blue eyes transformed into relief.
?Relena,? he breathed. ?At last I?ve found you.?
*********************************************************
Please review! Some of you are probably thinking ?Oh my God, WTF?!? Those of you who?ve seen ?Miss Saigon? might be able to guess what this is about. No spoiling anything in your reviews, please!
Take care,
GG
Well, it upsets me more than it will you.
I?m really glad you guys mentioned that this fic was a lot like ?Miss Saigon.? Because that was the idea. And I realize now that the notes I put about that in chapter one are GONE because certain jerks around here don?t like me writing fan fiction, and so they hacked my system and deleted that part for a laugh.
Giggles. (Note the sarcasm.)
So, thank you, SporkGoddess and Melissa, for inspiring me to check just what was/wasn?t on chapter one. Lookee, I?ve matched the chapter titles to the lyrics! ^_^
Also, the clarify: This is heavily fictional and probably not politically correct. A lot of ?what if? going on. Hope that doesn?t bother you.
Notes: This fic was inspired by the musical, ?Miss Saigon,? which belongs to Alain Boublil and Claude Schonberg. It is a beautiful play and if you get the chance to see it, go!
Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing or Miss Saigon. Obviously.
*~Love Beyond All Fear~* Chapter Four
He held her as she sobbed. Jesus, it had not been Heero?s intention to make her cry. The shock of his question on her face had somehow resulted in a murmured ?yes? before she?d broken down into fitful tears. Relena was in his arms now, gasping into his shoulder.
?Gomen nasai,? she said with an accent that was more European than Asian. ?I know I shouldn?t be doing this. I?m happy, really, it?s like you?re a ? a savior.?
?Hold on,? he began but she cut him off with a fast, chaste kiss.
?I don?t really know how to thank you. Well, I do, but do American men accept that as payment?? Relena asked.
Oh, she was so innocent was all he could think. Even in a place like Fair View, even in the slums of Japan, she was so pristine.
He would get her out of here, he thought determinedly. She didn?t deserve to be forced to stay.
?Unfortunately,? he replied to her question, ?it?s often the only thing American men accept as payment.?
Color washed her cheeks, and she backed away from him to wipe the tears from them. ?You are like the phoenix the gods send to devoted servants, Heero. And I have prayed so hard.?
?I?m no phoenix,? he told her abruptly. ?And I don?t know how yours gods work.? Hell, at the moment, he didn?t even know how he worked. Three hours ago, he?d have never considered taking a whore home with him. ?Take me to Howard,? he said.
She nodded. ?He isn?t,? she blurted and stopped herself.
Heero blinked. ?What??
?He isn?t a fair man. I can?t just walk out,? she told him softly. ?You?ll have to pay. He?d contact the government if he felt it profitable.?
In a quick sweep of his hand, Heero took up the money from the dresser again. ?Then I?ll pay.?
?It won?t be a small cost.?
?I don?t imagine it to be.?
Relena?s throat closed up as she scrambled out of bed and into a scratchy robe. ?Why?!? she demanded. ?Why the hell would you take me with you? It?s outside your rules, isn?t it??
Heero opened the door and turned back to her. ?That?s the good thing about America,? he said. His voice was full of gruff sincerity as he met her eyes. ?When it comes to emotion, there are no rules.? He walked out, knowing she?d follow.
Barefoot, Relena chased after him. Her heart thudded in time with each step she took down the stairs.
Howard was already occupied with Duo and Hilde. Duo?s mouth was a straight line. Hilde looked calm, but her brow was moist.
When Howard?s own frown saw Heero and Relena, he scowled behind his sunglasses upon recognizing their expressions. ?Damn it all, not you too. Does the term ?rental? mean anything to you??
Duo shot his comrade a surprised look. ?Heero??
?Are you doing what it seems you?re doing, Duo?? he asked tonelessly.
Duo snickered. ?Never took you for a softie.?
Relena and Hilde exchanged identical looks:
They were getting out. They were going to America.
***
?Are you two insane?!?
Wufei Chang?s mild accusation was not the warmest of welcomes when Duo, Heero and Trowa returned to the hotel with Relena and Hilde.
?What the hell are they doing here?? Wufei demanded, pointing a resentful finger at the pair of Tokyo bar girls. ?Do you have any idea what kind of jeopardy you?re putting our??
?Wufei,? Duo snarled, ?if you say ?mission,? I will fucking strangle you with my braid.?
Wufei only snorted and then whirled on Heero. ?Maxwell I can understand. He adores women; always has. You? Since when in God?s name did you start letting them slide up to you??
Heero remembered Relena?s eyes as she had offered to refresh their drinks and merely glared at the Chinese American. ?She doesn?t slide,? he said defensively, with an arm around Relena?s waist.
?What?s she do then?? Wufei?s eyes flashed. ?Sashay??
?Easy.? Quatre Raberba Winner?s voice, although usually soft and pleasant, was now firm. ?Heero, Duo. I think we deserve an explanation. But first,? he said, turning a suddenly cheery smile on the girls. ?What are your names??
Relena blushed for the hundredth time that night. ?Relena,? she said timidly.
Hilde, the least shy person she knew, grinned. ?Hilde. What?s yours, handsome?? she asked, succumbing to behavior that had become second nature.
Quatre?s smile turned oddly sympathetic. ?Quatre Winner. Why don?t you two take Heero and Duo?s room? You both look tired.?
Hilde gratefully headed toward the room that she imagined would be heaven to sleep in, but Relena held back.
?I don?t know if?? The golden-haired girl?s eyes darted to Heero.
?We?ll all be here in the morning,? Quatre assured her.
She hesitated for only another second before following Hilde path and closing the door behind her, but Heero couldn?t help but feel sorry for her. She could never fully trust, could she?
Wufei?s sneer was condescending. ?I thought you would be an honest man, Yuy. Picking them up from the ground. How disappointing.?
?Hey, shut the hell up, Wufei!? exclaimed Duo, bunching a fist and willing it to stay at his side rather than the other man?s jaw. ?A lot of those ladies in there are classier than the chicks back home.?
?And what about those at home, Maxwell?? Wufei?s voice was hard as ice and just as cold. ?Don?t tell me there isn?t anyone waiting for you.?
?Actually, there is. A thirty-nine year-old nun named Amelia. Satisfied?? Duo shot out.
?Hardly. What the fuck,? the Chinese soldier spat out, ?are they doing here?!?
?That?s the second time you?ve asked that,? Duo pointed out.
?And exactly twice less have I received an answer.?
Trowa suddenly spoke up from the wall he leaned against, his voice as quiet as ever. ?Where?s Sally, Wufei??
Wufei paused and gave him a very steely look. ?You?ve nothing to answer to, Barton. You should just?? At Trowa?s narrowed eyebrows, his irises flashed. ?She?s asleep.?
?Where, asleep??
?She?s in bed.? Wufei growled when Trowa pushed off from the wall and headed toward his and Quatre?s room.
?I just don?t see why you?re complaining.? Trowa stepped out of the hallway. ?That?s all.?
?We have a mission??
The door snapped shut in his face.
Wufei wasn?t out of targets yet, and he whirled on the still silent one. ?Well, Yuy? Do you have anything to say??
?Wufei,? Quatre insisted, ?don?t be so loud.?
Wufei kept his glare trained on Heero, who glared back, but at least he fell silent.
Heero replied, in a decidedly softer voice: ?You didn?t see her eyes.?
?Eyes? What the fuck are you talking about??
?We?re in the slums, Wufei,? answered Quatre lightly. ?Have you even really looked into anyone?s eyes??
He was an American. He may have inherited the look of an Asian from parents that had escaped and immigrated, but he was still a son of Uncle Sam.
And so he was better?
?No,? he affirmed, disgusted with himself. There was pride in his voice, but also there was shame.
Quatre nodded. ?Is that really it, Heero??
?Quatre, man, these girls have had it so rough.? Duo shook his head vigorously and his brain swung back and forth. ?Hilde?d been at that brothel for I don?t know how long, and Relena, Jesus Christ, she was a virgin!?
?Was,? Wufei noted.
Heero?s fists clenched. ?We?except for Trowa?made use of their occupations.?
?If it counts,? Duo said in response to Wufei?s annoyed harrumph, ?Heero put up quite a fight.? He grinned slightly. ?But one look from those big blue eyes and he fell hard as hell.?
?I don?t love her,? Heero said. ?I don?t really know her.?
//Do you need another story of a poor wench?//
But that wasn?t true, he thought. Relena had told him all that there was to her and though that wasn?t much, she had told *him*. She?s privileged him with that.
?We?re obligated to help people,? Heero said at last. ?These women, Wufei. They need our help.?
Wufei studied that half-Japanese man for a minute or so, then turned away with a grunt. ?Do what you want.?
Duo grinned at Heero. Heero remained grim.
?But remember.? With his hand on the doorknob of his and Sally?s room, Wufei met first Heero?s eyes, then Duo?s. ?What becomes of this is no one?s fault but your own.
***
?I?m broke. All that I brought with me is totally spent,? Duo was telling Heero while Hilde and Relena continued to sleep in the beds contained in the tiny hotel room. It was nearing eight, and Quatre had gone to see what kind of food was available for the morning. Even half-rotted fruit was better than nothing.
Duo shoved his hands into his pockets. ?That Howard sure was no cheapskate. It?s fucking horrible, the way they think of women as property here.?
?It?s the same way back home in some places,? Heero pointed out, already fishing through his wallet.
?No kidding, and we live in New York and all. Thanks so much, man,? Duo said when Heero handed him a few crumpled bills. ?I?ll pay you back as soon as we?re home.?
Heero grunted noncommittally.
?Hey, by the way. When we do get home, what are you kids gonna do? I?m planning for me and Hilde to stay in the city. Hopefully she can get a job, and I?ll go back to the auto shop on tenth street... Heero?? Duo scratched his cheek when he realized his words were lost on his friend?s ears when Heero?s eyes could look at Relena?s sleeping form.
But apparently Heero had been listening. ?I haven?t figured out what we?ll do yet. I won?t just drop her off to change streets.?
?Good for you. Althought, you gotta admit.? Turning his gaze to the small window on the far wall of the room. ?Even New York?s red-light district isn?t this bad. Men pay a helluva lot better there.?
??Duo?? Hilde passed a hand through her short hair as she sat up and blinked sleepily at the pair of men. ?Sorry, did I oversleep??
Duo smiled, touched at the image of her rumpled and freshly woken. ?No, babe. Are you hungry? We can go see what kinda grub Quat-man managed to scrape up. I can?t promise it?ll be gourmet, but??
?I bet it?s great,? Hilde cut in unabashedly. The idea of an actual full meal had her squirming out of bed.
?We?ll see you downstairs,? Duo told Heero, taking Hilde?s hand and leading her out of the room, but not before a quick snicker: ?Wonder if Wufei and Sally are even outta the bedroom yet.?
Heero sat down on the edge of his and Relena?s bed and gently pushed her shoulder. ?Relena,? he murmured, taking care in waking her. He wasn?t sure when the last time she had gotten a good rest was. ?Relena, do you want breakfast??
Relena didn?t know how good her acting qualities were, but she made a show of being shaken awake. The truth was she?d been laying fully conscious, listening to Heero and Duo talk about going back to America?to the place they called New York City, a place she?d only heard largely embellished stories of. Towers that reached to the clouds. A population made totally of royalty.
She blinked her eyes open and gave him a small smile. ?Yes,? she told him. At least her voice was groggy from not having spoken yet. ?That would be wonderful.?
He shifted the blanket off of her, helped her to stand. She ran a hand consciously through her soft blond strands. He grasped her fingers and kissed them in a way he hoped was reassuring. He?d never been too good with reassurance.
?Let?s go eat,? he said simply. He reached for the room key on the dressed and, on impulse, also brought the gun beside it. He?d not yet needed to use it, but today? Today, somehow, it seemed necessary.
They stepped into the hall, locked the door and walked to the hotel lobby in silence. Coming through the staircase door, they found a great fuss. Wufei and Duo were yelling, Trowa was protecting Hilde with his own body. Quatre hadn?t yet returned.
Heero?s eyes then landed on a fairly tall man with burnt-golden hair. He wasn?t at all Asian, and like Relena, he looked European.
Relena?s hand suddenly tightened in his. Heero looked down. ?What?s?? he began.
?Treize,? Relena muttered, voice completely surprised.
Everyone fell silent. The stranger?s eyes went to her, and a little bit of the anger previously in his deep blue eyes transformed into relief.
?Relena,? he breathed. ?At last I?ve found you.?
*********************************************************
Please review! Some of you are probably thinking ?Oh my God, WTF?!? Those of you who?ve seen ?Miss Saigon? might be able to guess what this is about. No spoiling anything in your reviews, please!
Take care,
GG