To Woo A Princess, part 3

[Crazygurl]

Disclaimer: I don?t, okay? Drop it. You won?t get anything from me.

To Woo A Princess
Part 3: Energy Cut
By: Crazygurl

The storm raged outside. The rain poured in sheets, sweeping the street below. The wind was strong. It made the already blurry window tremble loudly.

Other than the pitter-patter of the water in the gutter and on the roof, all else was silent in the room. One single source of light illuminated the figure, who was intent on finishing the book on mechanics.

Heero flipped the page, and upon realizing that the next chapter, entitled ?How to exchange parts in a mecha?, would teach him nothing, he closed the book quietly.

He remained sitting there in silence, simply appreciating the thunder rolling out there. He reached up to his chin and felt the growing roughness.

~I need to shave?~

He stood and entered his small bathroom.

That was when the most powerful flash of lightning yet struck. He stayed there, transfixed, waiting in anticipation for the blast of drum roll.

It came a few seconds later, to his silent satisfaction. Turning back to the rusty sink, he reached for the silver knob.

The phone rang.

He took his hand back from the cold water handle and waited as the shrill sound resonated again in his tiny apartment. Only Preventer and his ?friends? had his comm. number, and it was only to be used for emergencies.

~Damnit?~

Swiftly making his way to the plain side table, he pressed on the ?accept call? button, before running his hand through his thick hair.

On the screen, a transfer window popped out and immediately disappeared, his link to the system fast enough to allow a quick connection. The blank screen came to life and he got welcomed by a face he liked.

Even though ?liked? was a huge understatement.

?Heero??

?Relena.?

Did all their conversations start like this? The way he confirmed his name (as though she thought it would change anytime soon) by stating hers?

It was?

?Heero, there?s something wrong here??

The thunder clapped loudly above him. He didn?t hear it this time.

?Hn??

Something was wrong at the Peacecraft residence. Heero reached for his car keys on the table.

?It?s just that for some reason, the electricity went out? I? I lost all my notes for my speech tomorrow, and I don?t know how to start the generator? Pagan is with his family, and I??

Heero checked the clock. Eleven PM.

?What are you doing still up?? He asked, silently frustrated at her eternal devotion to the world.

She pouted.

?Heero, I was too busy the whole rest of the week at meetings! I?ve been trying to keep up with the diet Sally?s built for me at your demand, I?ve been trying to calm the feud between the African countries, I?ve had no other time to work on this crucial speech but at nighttime!?

Heero wondered if the fact that the phones worked with a built-in generator was a good thing. He certainly wasn?t up for an argument with her at the moment.

But heck! The girl was calling for a breakdown! Why did she insist on writing the speech herself anyway? The efficiency of the whole thing didn?t depend on what she said, but the way she said it! She had the talent within! She could convince the whole World to war against non-existing fairies, and they would!

But he was losing the point here.

?Heero, please, could you just help me??

?Hn.?

Unbeknownst to her, he was already tying his shoes. Really, if she had a problem, no matter what his better judgment was, he could do nothing to upset her?

?I?ll be right over.?

He switched the link off, hoping that she wouldn?t mind his curt methods.

Flicking the single light off, he hurried to the parking, and hesitated at the downpour.

Gah. He?d rather drown in the rain than make her wait.

By the time he?d managed to unlock the car door, he was already drenched. He turned the key in the ignition and left immediately.

The streets were slippery and he had to keep his senses alert, in case he lost control.

Like that would happen.

He was at the mansion in no time, without any major trouble (you can?t call a close encounter with a truck, and an almost killed passerby ?major trouble?, can you?).

He stepped out of the car, did a few steps towards the front door, realized his car was still unlocked, and came back, cursing.

Damnit, that rain was cold!

The lighting and thunder did a contest of strength, something he really had trouble appreciating at that very second.

When finally all he had to pick in the trunk was out, he hurried to the front porch, up the steps, and under the unhelpful shelter of the overhead roof, as it was pierced, apparently, and steady rivulets of water poured on his shoulders, making his already soaked shirt get heavier.

At least she was waiting for him inside, he comforted himself, pushing his wet hair out of his eyes. This gesture was useless, for the rain just plastered it on his forehead once again.

He allowed himself to sigh, as the thunder rolled above him again, flashes of light blinding him briefly.

?Damnit, open the freakin? door, Relena??

The Heavens were kind to him, as the door finally opened, revealing beyond all he considered holy.

?Heero! You?re soaked!?

~Really, just let me in, don?t state the obvious?~

?Come in! Just stay on the carpet, I?ll try and find a towel for you, okay??

Heero entered, and he saw the young woman disappear in an obscure hallway. He closed the door, shutting out the light show and feeling happy about it.

He could hear her stumble around a bit, but eventually, he knew that she had found something to perhaps take out the excess of water from his hair.

She came back and handed him the small, white, fluffy towel. He pressed it to his face and roughly dried his hair.

She watched him silently, and suddenly let out a small exclamation.

?But your clothes? They?re drenched! You can?t stay like that! You?ll catch a cold!?

Heero gazed at her in the dark, his face holding a small bit of amusement.

?Do I take them off?? He asked.

For a long moment, he knew she had been shocked, and was blushing madly, and he waited amusedly for her to react.

?N-No! Th-That?s not what I?? Suddenly she seemed to realize something. ?Heero! You did a joke!?

She suddenly giggled.

?Don?t scare me like that! For a moment, I thought you had been actually influenced by Duo!?

Heero raised an eyebrow, something she couldn?t see in the dark.

?Duo??

She stopped laughing, but he could hear the smile in her voice when she spoke.

?Yes, you know, the suggestive stuff and all? Oh, that was good! I must remember this!?

Heero suddenly felt proud.

?But still, won?t you catch a cold in those wet clothes??

?Hn. No.?

Relena sighed.

?Oh? That?s right? Training and all?? She trailed off absently.

Heero remained silent. For once, he had to curse his training. He actually wished he were as susceptible as others to catch a cold this time?

?Well, now that you?re here, could you please take a look at the generator? And then at my computer??

Heero nodded in the darkness. She smiled quietly.

?I think it?s in the basement? I didn?t dare to take a look? I have a flashlight around here, if you want??

She sounded insecure, and he noted to himself that apparently, the girl who had been able to face enemy mobile suits, who had faced the whole ESUN was now frightened in the dark, alone in her huge mansion.

He felt a sudden wave of protectiveness surge forward.

?The door to the basement is this way?? She told him, a small smile on her lips.

He knew this, of course. He could probably make his way around with a blindfold. He kept that to himself, however, taking the un-needed help she was giving him with a nod.

They walked in silence to the small white, wooden door, and he opened it. She handed him the flashlight and stayed close behind as he made his way down the stairs.

?Relena??

?Huh, yes??

?I can do this on my own.?

She sounded nervous and backed away.

?Uh, right, but I wanted to see how you did things, so I could figure it out next time??

Fair enough. He wasn?t complaining. Her warm company was nice to have.

He found the generator. He could hear her shiver behind him.

?Cold?? He asked, hiding his curiosity.

?A bit. No deal. As soon as you put it back on, I?ll raise the heater.?

He nodded, and went back to the plugging of the generator.

Wha?

?Who cut this?? He asked, holding out a large cable for her to see. It was cut cleanly, but obviously couldn?t be used.

Relena observed the wire, and shrugged, surprised.

?Nobody comes down here, usually? Only Preventers, because there?s also the surveillance room around here??

Heero nodded, but didn?t move.

?It was cut expertly. No hesitation.?

?Can you do something about it??

?No.?

?Oh.?

Heero was perplexed. Who in the mansion had access and could?ve done this?

?Do you think it?s a Preventer?? Relena asked from over his shoulder.

Heero nodded curtly.

~Maxwell. Baka.~

?Hn.? He rose to his feet and observed the generator. ?Nothing else was damaged, but at the moment, I can?t do anything. I don?t have the pieces.?

Relena was silent.

?So I can?t get my computer to work??

Heero shook his head. Relena bit her lip.

?How can I???

Heero turned to her and indicated the stairway.

?I?ll go take a look at it.?

Relena followed in his brisk pace.

?But without a power source, won?t??

Heero said nothing. They made their way up to the first level, in her office, which was adjacent to her bedroom.

By then, Relena yawned. Heero turned the flashlight to her.

?Go to sleep. I?ll take care of it.?

Relena shook her head stubbornly.

?How will I finish my speech?!?

Heero glared at her.

?If you don?t take your eight hours of sleep, I?ll call you in sick tomorrow morning, and postpone your meeting,? he threatened.

Relena pouted cutely.

?Stop being such a mother hen, Heero!?

He glared at her and grabbed her wrist, in a tight, but not painful grip.

?Go. To. Sleep.?

Relena glared back, but walked out, somehow giddy at his protective attitude.

Heero turned back to the computer as soon as he heard her bedroom door close, then glared out the window at the unwavering storm.

Reaching towards the plug in the comm. link, he fiddled with the plugs and managed to install the computer on the phone device.

::*::*::*::

Relena awoke to a bright sunshine coming through her window. She blinked and suddenly remembered what had occurred the precedent night.

Suddenly rising from bed, she didn?t even slip on a robe and hurried to her office.

What she saw made her smile.

Heero was there, his eyes closed and a cup of water on the desk. He was resting his head on his folded arm, the other arm dangling off the side of the executive chair. He looked peaceful, relaxed, and actually had a faint smile on his lips.

But what was really wonderful was that just fresh out of the printer, a stack of printed paper rested neatly. She reached out to read, and found that her speech, completed, was entirely ready for her meeting. No touch-ups were even necessary.

Turning back to the sleeping young man, she smiled and leaned forward, gently kissing his temple, inhaling his scent happily.

?Thank you, Heero,? she whispered. ?You just made my day.?

And stepping out of the office, gently closing the door behind her, she didn?t notice Heero?s smile widening.

::*::*::*::

OKAY!! WHOOPEE!! R&R!! I especially liked this! Didn?t you? I LUV STORMS! DON?T YOU???

*cough *

--Crazygurl *grins *

[Raspberry]

I like it. When will you post other TWaP ??? I'll be lookning forward to read it! Relena should kiss Heero straingh on the lips! Ha! I'm wondering how big his grin would be!

[Crazygurl]

Hm... Good one... I'll have to see about that... Ehehe...