Two Princes (1 OR 2 xR), 7/15

[Goldilocks]

As promised, I'm posting the next chapter a bit earlier than planned. We're about to the halfway point here...in between this chapter and the next, not counting that hidden lemon chapter. So will it become easier to tell what Relena's decision will be? Only time will tell... ^_~

Ahh, so how will Duo handle jealousy? Hmmm... ^^

Thanks to everyone who has read and/or replied thus far! ^___^

Two Princes
A pseudo-songfic, loosely based upon the song "Two Princes" by the Spin Doctors
by Sara
Pairings: 1 or 2 xR...so tell me--when does friendly rivalry become all-out war? ^_~

Chapter 7

~One two princes kneel before you
That's what I said now
Princes, princes who adore you
Just go ahead now~

After Dorothy had left her office, Relena spent some time in contemplation. Dorothy had a point. She could not hide things from Duo. She would have to tell him the truth.

A part of her was afraid of how he would react. Would he be angry? With her or with Heero? The only thing she was certain of was that she had to tell him about it, regardless of his reaction. If she didn't, the guilt would surely eat her alive.

She snorted softly, derisively. "Why do I feel so guilty? Nothing happened. He just kissed me, that's all. And even if he hadn't, it isn't like I'm dating Duo or anything." That was right...wasn't it? Or was she mistaken?

This brought her into an idle stream of conscious about her relationships with the two men in her life. With Heero, she felt at ease, most of the time. He was stability, he was safety, he had been by her side faithfully since the end of the Barton uprising. She had hoped that one day, he would be more than just her bodyguard, but she had given up those hopes, one by one, as time progressed.

Then there was Duo. Duo was... She smiled slightly. Duo was an interesting character, that much was certain! He was passionate and loquacious where Heero was steadfast and taciturn. She had not spent nearly as much time with him as she had with Heero, though she supposed she had, technically, known the two of them for the same amount of time. Yet the few days she had spent with Duo had made her feel as though she had known him her entire life. With him she had found a level of camaraderie she had not experienced before, not even with Heero.

Which brought her around to an entirely new chain of thought. Perhaps the reason why she was attracted to Duo was because he wasn't in charge of her safety? He had no connections to her; he didn't work for her, or with her, or feel the need to concern himself with her personal safety. He was just an ordinary guy.

She sighed with frustration. If only there were someone she could talk to, someone she could discuss these feelings with! She knew she couldn't trust Dorothy or her mother. Dorothy would use whatever information she was given as ammo in future blackmailings, and her mother would just try and convince her to stay by Heero's side. She felt so confused by all of this.

Before she could put much more thought into the matter, the intercom buzzed. "Miss Relena? There is a Duo Maxwell here to see you," chimed Susan's voice.

Relena pressed the button on the intercom unit set into her desk. "Tell him I'll be right out," she replied.

. . . .

Relena had chosen a small, secluded cafe for their lunch. She often conducted business meetings there. It was a good place to go, if you had important business to conduct and didn't want to be disturbed.

Duo knew something was wrong, because it showed in Relena's body language. The whole way to the cafe, she sat stock-still in her seat, eyes cast downward. Duo chose not to ask. When she felt the time was right, he knew she would tell him what was wrong. It was the way he conducted his life. He hoped that Relena did the same.

When they were seated at the table, and had placed their orders, Duo's patience finally gave out. "All right, Princess," he started, "I know something is bothering you. Wanna tell me what's going on?"

Relena took a deep breath. "You're right," she started slowly. "I do need to tell you something."

Duo smiled in what he hoped was an encouraging manner. "Shoot, Relena. You know you can tell me anything."

Relena drew a shaky breath, and clenched her hands around her napkin in her lap. "I...didn't tell you the whole truth on the phone this morning...about my dinner with Heero last night."

Duo gave her a look. "What do you mean?"

"Last night...at Heero's apartment...after dinner...he...kind of...put the moves on me..."

Duo was silent for a moment, hands clenched in his lap. When he finally spoke, his voice was dark with anger. "I'll kill him," he grumbled.

Relena held up a hand, her expression slightly panicked. "No, Duo! He didn't...he didn't do it to hurt me, or you...I don't know what came over either of us, but I know he didn't do it out of spite."

"How can you be so sure?"

She looked down at the tablecloth. "I...just know," she said, trying to find the answers that had been hidden from her fromt he time she'd left Heero's apartment.

Duo fixed her with a look. "Now, I suppose this is unnecessary. But I suppose you had no problems with all of this?" He tried to hide the hurt and betrayal in his eyes, rather unsuccessfully.

Now it was Relena's turn to get angry. "How dare you! I'm trying to apologize here, and come clean to you, so that there's no secrets between us. I felt I owed that much to you. Knowing that, you have the nerve to assume I just gave in to his demands, like some cheap tart?"

Duo flushed with both chagrin and anger. "Well, what the hell are you trying to tell me?" His voice was a furious whisper, and it still attracted the random glance from other diners in the restaurant. "Did you tell me this just to torture me? Do you get some...perverse thrill out of seeing me in pain? Cause I sure don't get it!"

Relena's face was suddenly remorseful. "We certainly have a history of hurting each other so far, don't we," she said, almost wistfully. She looked down at the napkin in her lap, twisted by her nervous hands.

Duo's eyes narrowed, but some of the anger drained out of his face. "Just what do you mean by that?" he asked, his voice guarded. Relena looked up at him.

"I stopped Heero." she stated, and Duo's eyes widened. Before he could speak, she continued. "I have wanted this from the moment I first laid eyes on him, and I stopped him." She laughed, almost harshly. "All we did was kiss, and a little bit of petting, on his part. I stopped him before it could go any farther."

Duo shook his head with disbelief. "I know you've made no effort to hide that you're crazy about him, though I've often wondered why. And I know I've been wondering how the hell I got so lucky, being able to capture and hold your attention, when you've only had eyes for Heero for years."

Relena sighed softly. "You're absolutely right," she said, "all of it. Completely right. And I still stopped him." She looked at him, her face open and earnest. "And do you know why?"

"Why..." asked Duo, almost fearfully.

"Because I thought of you," she said simply. "I thought of you, and I realized that I could not allow things to go any farther with Heero without hurting you...and I just could not do that."

Duo just sat there, watching her silently. Relena looked away. "You probably think I'm a total fool."

Duo shook his head. "No," he said softly, reaching over to take her hand and leaned across the table, kissing her gently.

The waiter chose that moment to arrive with their lunch. He coughed disapprovingly, and the couple reluctantly parted. The plates were distributed, and the couple settled back in their seats to eat.

"I will admit, Princess," Duo commented between bites of his lunch, "I am curious as to why you're telling me this. After all, you could've hidden it from me. Most people would've hidden it."

"I know," she replied, "but...you always say that you never lie. I admire that. It's a good habit to cultivate. I wanted to tell you about all this earlier...but..."

"But what?"

"Well...Dorothy was in the room..."

Duo laughed out loud. "Hey, there's one that you do _not_ have to explain. I wouldn't give that girl any more information than what she manages to squeeze out of people as it is."

Relena laughed, then sobered slightly. "Duo...I...I'm sorry..."

"For what? Not many people would be as honest as you've just been." He grinned. "I'm honored, I guess you could say."

Relena peered at him over her plate. "Honored?" Her voice reflected her confusion.

Duo looked away for a moment. "Well...it tells me that...that..." He pushed his food around on his plate, gathering his thoughts. "It tells me that you care...you know, care about me enough to tell the truth. At least, I hope you do, because I know I care about you--a lot--and I don't want to do anything to ruin that."

Relena's expression softened. "Oh Duo," she said softly, "I...care about you, too."

Duo's face broke into a wide grin. "You do?" Relena nodded, smiling slightly. She picked up her cellphone, and dialed a number.

"Who are you calling?" asked Duo curiously.

"My office," said Relena. "to tell them I'm going to be late getting back from lunch."

"Oh?"

She smiled as she listened for her secretary to answer the call. "I think we deserve to dedicate some time to having a heart-to-heart, don't you? I think it's long overdue."

. . . .

Heero watched from Relena's office window as Duo and Relena approached the building, hand in hand.

His brows beetled together slightly. They were late getting back from lunch, and he had spent the past couple of hours trying to convince himself that he was not worried. He did not worry. Worrying was counterproductive.

Still, he had been to the point of preparing to set out on a search for Relena--and an all-out manhunt for Duo--when he finally broke down his stubbornness long enough to ask Relena's secretary if she'd heard anything. Not too many of his fears were allayed when Susan told him that Relena had called to tell her that she would be late getting back from lunch.

No, it had not lessened his concerns. It had, however, prevented him from using ignorance as an excuse to run out and look for Relena.

Now he was watching them return to the office. Obviously, there had been some sort of decision reached between them, if they were holding hands like that. Idly, he wondered why he had never bothered to hold Relena's hand. He'd thought about it, often enough. To him, holding hands was a sign of possession. This is my woman; back away slowly, it said. He had never been able to decide if he wanted people to assume that of Relena and himself, and that was why he had never taken the time to do so in public.

He watched the couple's leisurely approach. They finally stopped outside the front doors to talk. Heero snorted slightly. They had been gone to lunch for almost three hours. How much more could there possibly be to talk about?

He took careful note of Relena's expression. She was laughing, her body shaking with mirth. Her eyes were fairly sparkling, and her whole being literally shone with her smile. Heero paused for a moment. When was the last time she had smiled like that around him? She was usually so solemn and serious. She rarely smiled, much less laughed.

Heero's rational mind kicked in. Of course she's serious all the time, he mused. Preserving the peace is a full-time job, and not one that comes with a great deal of humor. Not only that, but she is usually dealing with delegates whose main job is to make her job difficult. Who has time to laugh?

Another part of his mind crowded to the front. You know, the real reason why she never laughs around you probably has to do with you, it insisted. When was the last time you complimented her? Or tried to make her smile? Always work, work, work. Never taking the time to enjoy life. Not everyone has your gloomy disposition toward life, you know.

The frown furrowing Heero's brow deepened. I am her bodyguard, not her court jester. My job is to protect her, not amuse her. There will be time enough for smiling later.

Ah, came the annoying inner voice, so that would explain why she is down there, in the street, away from you, probably not thinking about you, kissing Duo Maxwell?

Heero's mental debate came screeching to a halt, and he stared out the window. Relena and Duo were indeed kissing, and from the looks of things, had been doing so for more than a few heartbeats. His eyes widened and his heart sank. So this was why they were late coming back from lunch....

They finally broke their embrace, and reluctantly parted ways. Relena entered the building, and Duo walked back they way they had came, hands in his pockets. Heero swore he could hear the young man's happy whistling all the way up several floors and through a thick pane of reinforced window glass. He turned away from the window slowly.

He wrestled with his emotions. He had always maintained that Relena's safety was far more important than his own needs and wants. If he cared for her, it was irrelevant. He had to remain focused, and he could not do that if Relena was his significant other, right?

What he hadn't contended with was the fact that Relena might not feel the same way about her safety and her personal life as he did. He didn't realize that what he considered a respectful distance, Relena interpreted as cold disinterest. He clenched his fists at his sides. Had he completely blown it?

He paced across Relena's office. No, he thought to himself. He had been faithful to her safety. That was his job. In that, he had not failed. It was in his own emotions that he had royally screwed up, and hadn't realized it until now. And now, it was too late. Wasn't it? He knew his blunder from last night certainly hadn't helped matters, for sure.

He was startled out of his ruminations by the click of the door opening. Relena stepped inside. "Heero?" She didn't seem too terribly surprised to see him.

"Relena," he said in affirmation, then turned his attentions to a potted plant on her bookshelf. He could feel Relena's smile in her voice.

"You know, Dorothy was molesting that plant not more than four hours ago," she said humorously. "Do you two have something against it?"

"I..." He turned to face her. "I'm sorry, Relena," he said abruptly.

Relena looked startled. "For what?"

Suddenly, it was too much, and his emotions overwhelmed him. "For...everything. For not being a better...for not telling you sooner...I..." He looked away, and turned toward the door, mentally cursing his weakness. "I have to go. I...I will see you this evening, at hom--the estate." He hurried toward the door, realizing he needed to be alone...needed time...to think....

"Heero," Relena called after him, her voice sounding concerned. He did not turn back. I'm sorry, Relena, he thought to himself, but not this time...not this time...

. . . .

He found himself at the waterfront again.

Whenever he needed to think, or needed to be alone, he ended up here. Why? The waterfront wasn't all that peaceful. He could think of at least twenty other places that were far more peaceful than the waterfront. It was a major harbor, connecting this port to the sea and the world beyond it. The air was a cacophony of wild sounds. Sea birds competed with the dock hands over who could be the noisiest and the messiest, with the foghorns of the ships and the lighthouse putting them all to shame. It was nearly impossible to talk, let alone think, at the waterfront.

Heero walked along the beach, kicking at various pieces of debris under his feet. He knew why he came to the waterfront, time after time. It was because he had met Relena on a waterfront, albeit not this one. He had acted like a royal fool when he'd first met her. Things hadn't improved much since, he mused. He still acted like a fool around her.

And now she's with Duo, he thought sourly. Hadn't his constant presence over the past few years told her anything? He allowed himself to slip into self-pity for a moment. He had given that woman his every waking moment for almost four years, and this is how she choose to repay him. If she wants to be with Duo so badly, then let her! Let Duo deal with her capriciousness for a change!

He shook his head slightly, desolation creeping back into his consciousness. No. He could not place blame on Relena, when it was solely his fault. He should have said something sooner. He could have said something sooner. Heck, Relena might even have reacted favorably. But he'd waited too long, and now she was with Duo.

He shrugged slightly. He knew that if he told her he would leave his position as her bodyguard, that she would be heartbroken. No matter who she was with, he was her bodyguard, and it was clear that she did care for him, even if he didn't deserve it. He shoved his hands in his coat pockets. No, he would stay. He owed that much to her. He had denied his emotions for so long. Certainly, he could continue to do so. Couldn't he?

Maybe he could. Maybe, for Relena's sake, he could. He would try. But he didn't think he would be successful. He could feel his mood plummeting. What difference did it make? She's with Duo now. It's not like she'll even notice any changes I'd make, even if it would be for her benefit.

His hand brushed at something crumpled up in his pocket. Puzzled, he tugged the paper out of his pocket, and smoothed it out. It was Hilde's phone number. He had completely forgotten that she had given it to him. Hadn't she told him he could call her, if he needed to?

His mind whirling, Heero turned back the way he had came, leaving the waterfront behind him.

~*~

TBC
As always, C&C is greatly loved and appreciated. ^_^
--Sara

[Mellie]

Not again! Oh the suffering! Such a good story with so many turns! My mind is whirling! And I hate heero when Relena's with him and I hate Duo when she's with him. Oh how will I ever be able to stand an ending when someting actually is concrete?

[lilac310]

Aww...how sad...I just can't bear to see Heero in that awful disposition. ...but aside from that, I really can't believe how you've managed to create a story that could totally make your readers wonder.....I agree with Mellie..sometimes I just don't know if I wanna see Relena with Heero or with Duo...Can't it just be both of the guys?..hehe..nah! I don't think so...She gotta choose..she can't have the best of both worlds, I guess..heh..

...Great job!!...Keep writing!!!..I'm absolutely hooked!

[Goldilocks]

Not again! Oh the suffering! Such a good story with so many turns! My mind is whirling! And I hate heero when Relena's with him and I hate Duo when she's with him. Oh how will I ever be able to stand an ending when someting actually is concrete?

Hee! I hope to have some sort of closure by the time the story is finished...maybe. ^_~ In the meantime, it wouldn't be a good fic if I didn't drag them through the wringer first, right? And you know, I always did have idle plans for a sequel...

Thanks for reading! ^__^

[Goldilocks]

Aww...how sad...I just can't bear to see Heero in that awful disposition. ...but aside from that, I really can't believe how you've managed to create a story that could totally make your readers wonder.....I agree with Mellie..sometimes I just don't know if I wanna see Relena with Heero or with Duo...Can't it just be both of the guys?..hehe..nah! I don't think so...She gotta choose..she can't have the best of both worlds, I guess..heh..

...Great job!!...Keep writing!!!..I'm absolutely hooked!

Yeah...a miserable Heero is not very fun to write, either. Hopefully he won't stay that way for long. ^_~ And if it's any consolation, I had a hard time deciding whom I wanted her to end up with, when I was writing this...I felt sorry for both of them, and wished there was a way I could've made it so that she DID get to keep both of them!

Maybe I'll write another fic some time where she DOES get to keep both. ^^

In the meantime, I'm going to post Ch. 8 here in a bit. Thanks for reading! ^__^

[Mellie]

And you know, I always did have idle plans for a sequel...

Nooo! I hate the suspense! Although I do agree with you that a good fic is based on the grounds of a little suspense...

[Cailamaia]

... Wow. The agony. Poor Heero! I hope you can end this with all three of them happy. If not I'll have to take you up on that offer of a sequel. ^.~

[Goldilocks]

And you know, I always did have idle plans for a sequel...

Nooo! I hate the suspense! Although I do agree with you that a good fic is based on the grounds of a little suspense...

Well...it wouldn't be AS suspenseful as this fic was, because the question of who ends up with whom is pretty much decided...but as I'd had it planned, there would be a lot of angst...and I've never been a fan of writing that. ^^;;; But we'll see what happens! ^_^

[Goldilocks]

... Wow. The agony. Poor Heero! I hope you can end this with all three of them happy. If not I'll have to take you up on that offer of a sequel. ^.~

I'm a sucker for a happy ending, so no worries there! I don't like fics that end sad--mine almost always have a happy ending. I'll say this much: no one ends up alone...but I won't say who ends up with whom quite yet. ^^ Thanks for reading! ^__^

[Cinthya_Dee]

I cant decide who is winning right now!!

:-? mmhhmmmhh.......Heero.........mmmhhhmhmhmh......Duo :-?

~sigh~ :x I cant decide :x

Cinthya_Dee