Missing by a Mile - ch 29

Post by **blackrose** » Thu Jun 23, 2005 10:27 am

Missing by a MileBy the Black RoseAN: I know this is about 12 days late, and my apologies for that. I'm still going to target posting chapter 30 (FFN ch 31) for the 30th of June ? so 1 week from today (6/23). Which puts chapter 31 at July 16 and chapter 32 on July 30. I will post info in my FFN bio or on my livejournal: if those dates need to change. I will, however, do everything humanly possible to make those dates. In the case of this chapter, my laptop came down with a virus and it took me a week to recover the data. I could have had this chapter done anyway (I had the doc on my USB key, and have other computers), but I didn't. I've been avoiding it for some reason. I do apologize for any?er disappointment that may have caused. Thank you for reading. Much love, RoseWarning ? Use of the F word (once)<hr size=1 width=100% noshade>Chapter 29

Saturday Morning: 9AM- Duo bounded up the front stairs of the Peacecraft mansion two at a time. "Here comes the bride, I hope she hasn't died."He knocked on the door to her room. "Relena! Time to get married. You don?t want to keep Heero waiting ? the preacher might be accused of kidnapping, and forced to undergo a debrief?What the?? The door crept back an inch. It wasn't shut.'Uhhhh ohhhh.' He pushed open the panel and peered inside."Hello? Relena?" Duo called out, but he could already feel an emptiness to the room indicating she wasn't there. He glanced around her suite. Her closet door was halfway open; her vanity table was completely clean ? the usual clutter of toiletries were gone. His heart took a stutter step."Huh. Looks like the bride at least has her stuff together." He frowned and scratched his head. "Were they going somewhere after the wedding?" Duo shrugged his shoulders. "Whatever. I'm just the lowly groomsman. What do I know?"The Preventer exited the room. "Holy? If she's already on her way, I need to get my butt in gear!" He bounded down several steps at once, but came to a dead stop as pain like the point of a knife penetrated his skull and sliced into his brain. "Ooooh! Damn cough syrup hangover. When will it let go already?"He stepped carefully down the stairs. 'I wonder if I have time to grab some aspirin before the ceremony?' He glanced at the forbidding kitchen door. 'I better tough it out. If I'm late, there's no telling what Heero will do? But, I'm pretty sure it will involve worse pain than I'm in right now.'He reached the bottom step and caught the faint sound of voices floating down the tile hallway - coming from the direction of Zechs?s office. It was just a low buzz at first, then it grew louder, but nothing Duo could make out. He crept towards the door. 'If Relena's on her way to the church, shouldn?t Zechs and Noin be with her?'He could see the hairline crack in the doorway. Bright, florescent light shone in the margin, carrying with it a third, familiar voice. 'Damn. The Colonel.'"You may not see her before she leaves. That is by her request. She wants no one to know until she?s gone."'Blah blah blah. What is she going on about now? She sounds pissed, whatever it is.'"?sending two of our agents to intercept Yuy and Maxwell on their way to the church."'Oh shit.'"But I want to explain?" Zechs's voice sounded like a lion's roar."She is aware of the entire situation, and the extent of your involvement. I, however, was personally shocked to hear the two of you would assist Agent Yuy in this despicable charade."'Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit.' Duo backed away from the door. His mind started to whirl but sputtered to a stop.'Oh, my head? Heero. I gotta tell Heero.'He stumbled over an artificial plant that snuck up behind him and attacked. It fell to the ground with a loud THUMP!"Who is it? Who?s there?" Une's voice called out from the other side of the door.Ice-cold sweat pricked at the skin of his arms and rolled across his chest. 'Dammit!' Duo threw himself across the room, sprinting towards the front porch'I?ve got to tell Heero.' The office door burst open behind him, spilling light and a dark shadow at the same time into the hall."Duo Maxwell." The Colonel was the only woman Duo knew who could snarl with poisonous syrup dripping off every word."You had better stop right there, or I will shoot."The Preventer ducked, but continued running ? into the entryway. He grabbed the door. True to her word, the gun exploded; wood splintered and groaned. The bullet lodged in the front door a split second after Duo stumbled through it."Can?t let the groom be late to his own wedding." He gasped for air as he yanked the panel shut behind him. He spoke through the glass to his commanding officer wrestling with the doorknob on the other side. "He deserves to know."Une let go of the door. "He deserves a reprimand for his behavior, Maxwell!" She slammed her fist against the panel and took a step back.Duo seized the split-second window of opportunity; he turned and lunged at the Corvette parked beneath the mansion?s portico chere, rolling over its hood as he ducked behind it on the side away from the front porch. He entered the car, pulled the wiring cables from the drive shaft and sparked the ignition. Colonel Une screeched to a halt at the porch steps."Maxwell, get out of my car."He heard the click of the trigger at right about the same time he got the wires to spark."You're not going to shoot me. I'll get blood all over your leather.""That's the only thing stopping me."The engine caught and roared to life. "Sorry, Colonel, I can?t let him down.""It?s his own fault.""Maybe. But she?s the best thing that ever happened to his sorry butt. What kind of friend would I be if I let him miss his chance?" He threw the car into drive and punched the gas. Tires squealed as he slammed his foot down on the pedal and took off down the drive.Duo jerked the wheel to turn the car, sliding sideways into the residential street. He changed gears, and watched the speedometer increase to 90 mph. He checked the clock on the car and watched another minute roll passed. 'Shit.'"If you put one scratch on that car, Maxwell, I will become the God of Death!"Duo punched the gas and felt the car pick up speed.'Come on?'<hr size=1 width=100% noshade>Heero looked down at silk, navy-colored fabric as he fought to tie it into something that looked like a knot. He then adjusted it up to his neck and turned his shirt collar down, straightening it into a crisp, white crease. He took a deep breath and reached for his vest, pulling it on and methodically buttoning the smallish buttons down its front. He glanced in the mirror; his hair had actually stayed put for once. He frowned at his reflection, almost unable to recognize himself.

'What am I doing?' He ran a hand through his bangs, freeing them from their gelled restraints. Blue eyes stared back, asking a silent question.'I don't know?'
- He ran his fingers through the hair on the right side of her head. "I don't regret anything, Relena."
"I-I'm sorry. I was afraid?"- Heero's heart squeezed sharply in his chest, but he didn't know why? Why did he feel like this?'I'm completing the mission.' He picked up his shoulder holster off the dresser and strapped it in place.
- "I want you to tell me you love me. That you want to be married to me?"
- He leaned over to grab the navy jacket from his chair. He stopped before putting it on, pausing to let his gaze travel over his sparsely furnished apartment. He wouldn?t be coming here anymore, once his stuff was moved into the mansion.'You gave yourself the mission. You could?refuse to complete it.'
- "I don't need you, anymore?"
- Heero gritted his teeth. "That's not an option," he said to his cold reflection in the mirror.'How much more would that hurt her? How much more can I hurt her? It wasn't supposed to be like this.' The groom sunk down on the edge of his bed. The bed he hadn't slept in since?
- "Heero? I want to make love to you."
- Both hands came up to grip his head. 'Why that word? What does it mean? I don't understand you. Relena?' He doubled over as an invisible hand reached into his stomach and squeezed.
- "I promised to protect her. No matter what the cost. As her husband, she shouldn't be upset over how I feel about her." Something inside him screamed for attention. It raked the point of a blade over the surface of his heart, but Heero quashed the emotion. "She wouldn't be able to have me reassigned. I know we don't see eye to eye on a lot of things, Zechs, but we both agree that I'm the best for the job."
He watched Relena's brother narrow his eyes. Zechs was already hunkered down over his desk like he might leap over it at any second. "Once Relena and I are married, all our security problems are solved."Zechs stood up from his position; his skin changed from its mottled red back to something closer to normal. "But?what about Relena?"Heero shifted his weight from his left foot to his right. "She'll be taken care of. Better than she is now. You know?" He glanced down at the ground. "You know I'd rather die than hurt her."- 'It's not enough. You knew that, Zechs. Protecting her, not hurting her, I used to think that was enough. But?' He heaved for air. '?now that I know it's not? Can I do this? Can I go through with it?'"I said before it's not an option." Heero dropped his hands and pushed himself off the mattress. He dragged back to his feet to stand in front of the mirror again. "Having doubts before a mission?before getting married, is normal." He snarled at his reflection.'This is why emotions aren't needed in the midst of battle.' He shrugged on his jacket and placed his gun in his shoulder holster."They distract me."An unearthly wail filtered in through the thin panes of glass and even thinner walls. Tires screeched, getting louder as portions of seconds ticked by - and traveling at a high rate of speed. He set his jaw and bit back a strange, acidic taste in his mouth. He knew that sound ? it was the sound of thunder before a storm, or the ominous suction of air before an explosion. 'Shit.' He took off running for the door.A car horn blared as it shot up the short hill through the gated fence, screaming to a halt on the sidewalk. "HEERO!"He sprinted the length of the hallway, down the steps, and flew around the corner to Duo's makeshift parking lot. His neighbor's motorcycle leaned against the outside of the building in its usual place. "Where is she?""She?s gone. She?s-she?s at the airport on a shuttle."Heero turned in the direction of his car. He frowned. 'Not enough time. I can take Duo's vehicle. Too large. What I need is?' He spun and leapt towards the motorcycle."What, I didn?t know that was your bike.""It?s not." He wrestled it away from the building, and slid over its leather seat. Heero flipped open the satchel attached to the bike, pushed aside a wrench and snagged a screwdriver; he jammed it into the ignition and set to work."I can drive you. We don?t have ti?"The engine roared to life, and Heero took off through the new opening in the fence. The Preventer steered the bike in a controlled slide down the grassy hill and into the street right in front of two speeding vehicles. They swerved to miss him - crashing into the wide sides of the road. Heero jerked forward, slammed his wrist back, and left them in his dust.<hr size=1 width=100% noshade>Traffic was heavy for a Saturday morning, clogging major highways and forcing him to reduce his speed. He didn?t have time to wait, Relena was leaving him.Leaving him?.
- Heero stared out the windshield and tried to concentrate on steering the car. He couldn't look at her without feeling? "You know as well as I do. It's not that simple."
"No, it's not." Relena's voice changed from something soft, almost wistful to that firm timbre with a hard edge that said she was angry. Or hurt. "But at least it's something to believe in and strive for." She scooted away from him on the bench seat. "Things are never going to be easy, and I don't know what it takes to make this work."- 'So, you just give up, Relena?' He set his jaw and turned the handlebars, steering the vehicle onto the shoulder; he took off, kicking up dust and gravel in a smoky cloud behind him. The motorcycle zoomed over the asphalt, passing car after car. Abruptly, the shoulder ended - swallowed by a narrow bridge. He slowed and leaned hard to the left, ducking into the right hand lane. But time was of the essence, he didn?t know how long he had before her shuttle took off. And even though he wasn?t sure, he had the distinct feeling that letting her go - wherever it is she was going - was a huge mistake. The thought spurred him on, and he spun the handlebars to the left again, straddling the line between rows of unmoving cars as he revved the engine and picked up speed.He flew through the stalled traffic, his tie and jacket whipping viciously in the 100 mph wind. The air stung his eyes, and he leaned closer to the small plastic shield, his body already hugging the finely tuned machine as he darted rapidly in between the long line of cars. He was running out of time?.'Dammit, Relena. Why?'- "Don't." His mouth had gone dry. 'What can I say to her? What am I supposed to say?'' "Don't call it off. I don't want to?give up."She kissed him then. His arms immediately knew their job and wrapped around her half-naked body, drawing her to him and depositing her in his lap."I'm not ready to give up, either, Heero."- 'What changed? What the fuck happened that you're running away?'Heero slowed his pace as he took the wide turn of the exit to reach the private airspace. When the road straightened out, he wasted no time in accelerating. His sharp eyes searched the sky. There was no shuttle circling in their immediate airspace. He jerked his wrist and gunned the engine, rocketing down the short road to the field entrance.In the distance, he could see the outline of a car turned sideways, blocking the front gate. As he sped over the waning distance, human shapes appeared, as did the orange construction blockade. This was not standard procedure ? security yes, roadblocks, no. There was only one reason why the Preventers were there, obstructing the entrance to the small shuttleport. He slowed his bike down to almost a crawl as he approached."Agent Yuy, you are to cease and desist your efforts to enter the building immediately. This spaceport is strictly off-limits. Get off the motorcycle with your hands in the air."?Hn.? His eyes darted the length of the dead end road, traveling to the small lane that struck at a ninety-degree angle. He made a wide turn to his right, continuing on to complete a circle until he was facing the roadblock head on ? the direct entry to the space port situated just behind it. He stopped, but his mind raced through the calculations.'Eight agents, a hundred yards, glass, glass?' He flipped open the satchel again and grabbed the wrench; he transferred it to his left hand. 'Another?twenty-two yards, and then thirty feet.' He set his jaw and jerked back on the gas, the engine snarled like an enraged beast."Agent Yuy, give yourself up. By the order of Colonel Une?"The motorcycle lurched, and took off, speeding down the course of the small lane. It picked up velocity with every passing second; Heero held on to the machine with everything he had. Novice agents drew their weapons, but the Agent-in-charge gave the order not to fire.The speedometer inched higher and Heero opened the throttle as far as it would go. Agents scattered, taking cover behind the nearby car as he exploded through the construction blockade, erupting pieces of orange wood and debris into the air. He hurled the wrench at the glass door, shattering it to the ground in a million harmless pieces. His wheel hit the jut in the sidewalk, and he fought to keep the bike stable as he skimmed the concrete on his way into the building, decreasing his speed a bit in favor of staying on the cycle.'I won't give up, Relena.'
- "Will I see you?before the wedding tomorrow?" His fianc?e glanced up at him from her seat at her desk.
He shook his head. "The others are on duty. I've got the night off so I'll be awake for the ceremony.""Very practical." Her lips twitched into a smile. She stood up and started to walk towards him. "So like you." Relena was close enough to touch him ? and she did. She wrapped her arms around his chest and pressed her body into his embrace. "I'll?I'll miss you, tonight." Her head came to rest just below his collar bone."Hn. I'll be there tomorrow night."She raised her head and met his eyes. "And every night after?""Yeah." He glanced away and pulled out of her arms. "At least, as long as you want me to be."- Cool air assaulted his face as he careened around a luggage carousel and a couple of heavyset security guards."Stop right there!" One guard grabbed for his club. The other ducked behind him."Yeah! Stop!"Heero zoomed across the tile onto the carpeted area, feeling his tires lose grip as they squeaked against the slick surface. A man emerged out of nowhere from behind a cement pillar. The Preventer broke hard to his left."Hey! What the?"Heero glanced up at the sign behind the man he narrowly avoided. 'Gate 7?close enough.' He directed the cycle at the row of windows that looked out over the runway, and opened throttle. The Preventer ripped his gun out of the holster and fired straight ahead.Blam! Blam! Blam! Blam! The glass cracked but held in its frame, he sped up and crouched low, preparing for the collision?.CRASH! His front wheel splintered the rest of the wall. Glass shards bit his skin. Heero lost ground beneath his tires and launched through the window thirty feet above the runway. He grit his teeth, feeling the wind catch his hair, and tightened his fingers on the handlebars. His leg muscles tensed around the machine, intent on landing with the bike - his only hope of not breaking every bone in his body. The small cycle hurtled towards the ground.'Landing this will take a miracle?'Rubber slammed into the unforgiving concrete, complaining at the abuse in an ear shattering whine. Smoke plumed in huge clouds as the back tire hit first, then the front ? the cycle wobbled fiercely as Heero tried to gain his balance. He gunned the engine, turning into the vicious slide that left most of the tread on the asphalt, then straightened the wheel to change direction. He could see his goal ahead, far ahead ? the shuttle had already taken off down the runway.'Shit!' He wrenched his wrist and opened the throttle once more, screaming down the stretch of road, in hot pursuit of the craft. 'I have to catch her?.' He shot over the smooth ground, gaining on the fleeing vehicle. Wind tore at his suit and hair. The bike lurched forward, positioning him just beside the tail. He was so close?he just had to figure out how to board.'The landing gear.' He red-lined the engine, at the same time it darted under the shuttle. He could see the open compartment where the wheels jutted out, propelling the craft over the runway. 'Target Acquired.'He steered the bike closer, but he was rapidly running out of time. The gear no longer touched the concrete as the vessel began to lift off the ground.'Got to reach!' Heero extended his right arm to grab for the wheels. The cycle wobbled, and he had to pull his hand back to steady it again. He stretched again. This time, the bike remained balanced. He leaned for it, putting every muscle in his body into the fight. But he was still short precious inches. The Preventer strained harder, willing his fingers to make contact, the shuttle to slow down?the motorcycle to be fast enough?'Don't go?'The mechanical arms holding the tires started to collapse. Heero grabbed wildly! His fingers grazed the heated rubber, but couldn't hold on. The target ripped from his grasp.'Relena?'The shuttle climbed higher, out of reach. The Preventer's eyes returned to the ground ahead of him. The concrete that had appeared to stretch for miles seemed to drop off in about?'Shit! I'm out of runway.'He slammed on the brakes. The bike fell to a 45 degree angle as it spun, sliding across the asphalt amidst squealing tires and blinding gusts of smoke. Heero clung to the machine, and felt the intense heat blazing up from the friction of rubber losing its battle against the road. The motorcycle finally skidded to a halt on the very tip of the runway."Mission." The Preventer gasped for breath as he glared up at the retreating craft. He heard the mechanical whine of the landing gear ? taunting him. A blast of air rippled Heero's clothing, and tousled his hair as if in consolation."Failed."

perfectpeach · Post by **perfectpeach** » Thu Jun 23, 2005 10:55 am

oh no! she's gone! what happened! he'll find her again right! why she leave?!? im confused but gripped too this story like my old teddy! please wrote more! TT_TT

Gin Ryo no Nari · Post by **Gin Ryo no Nari** » Thu Jun 23, 2005 12:04 pm

Rose SAMA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So excellent! As always!
I peak over from the FMP section to see if there have been any presents (while I'm on my lunch break at work mind you-I will soo burn in hell for this one day) and you leave us such a lovely little "Let's Torment Heero Some More" chapter.
So my next question(s) is(are)- Is This A Case Of Misinterpretation? Was Relena On The Shuttle That Took Off? Will Heero Play Space Stalker If She Was? What Will Happen To The Poor Abused Motor Cycle? (A perfect touch by the way)
All this I can only hope to find out in the next 2 weeks or so.

waiting waiting waiting...
Is it time yet?

*rustles around desk looking for anything bishi like to cuddle while waiting*

The Engrish Spy · Post by **The Engrish Spy** » Thu Jun 23, 2005 9:23 pm

Rose so looking forward to the next chapter... Where is Relena headed anyways?

Engrish

The Angry Angel · Post by **The Angry Angel** » Thu Jun 23, 2005 9:55 pm

What a view!!

I think now is a good time to give Relena a new name/title: Rhiannon = wronged 'wife', it's an old Gallic name..................now, all Relena has to do is behave like a wronged Gallic wife, and beat the shmooze out of the wrongdoer......flying fists, pummeling feet, bared teeth and all! Ha Ha!!

Take that!!

I whooped so loud when I saw this chapter posted that my neighbors came-a-knocking to make sure of things. I couldn't take my eyes off it! I must have read the WHOLE thing in something under 5 minutes. I'm so impressed!!

Talk about intense!!

Hats off, and a kowtow or two. for. you.

Alcatraz · Post by **Alcatraz** » Thu Jun 23, 2005 11:49 pm

I felt that SOMETHING was going to happen..but not this.Totally unexpected, I was thinking Relena might scream and yell at her brother and Heero and do a minor stunt of running away, but she took it to another level.lol.

This chapter in whole was marvelous! The speeding-down-the-runway scene seemed like a part of a action movie! I can totally see Heero riding a motorcycle

Wingnut · Post by **Wingnut** » Fri Jun 24, 2005 6:25 pm

Woah. I never thought I'd use this saying with Relena before, Heero yes, but Relena no. That saying is WTF?!?!
What could that girl be thinking, is she thinking or is she takeiong Yuys mantra to heart and acting only on her emotions?

In any case Duo provides the comic relief again. Cough sruyp hangover and Une's lines about messing up her Corvettte.
"If you put one scratch on that car, Maxwell, I[/i] will become the God of Death!"

I guess that Une heard what Heero and Zechs had talked about and what Trowa had found in the recording.

sitboy007 · Post by **sitboy007** » Fri Jun 24, 2005 9:16 pm

NOOOO!!!

*sigh*

Well, Relena had every right to leave, and Heero was being a complete ass. But WHY?!? Now that Heero is showing some emotional attachment, iz all messy.

Can't wait for the next chapter.

Oh yeah, duo was awesome, again.

LilTrix · Post by **LilTrix** » Fri Jun 24, 2005 10:41 pm

I was holding my breath for so long I got lightheaded!! What is Relena doing?!

I had to calm myself down cause I'm at work and I'm supposed to be working(duh!)-- and reading this story I almost blew my cover because I was wanted to scream! Damn good writing Rose--I can't wait for the next chapter.

sweet_me_beajai · Post by **sweet_me_beajai** » Sat Jun 25, 2005 4:09 am

it was TOO short!!! *wails*

yes!! relena's gone!!! heero can finally realise he's real feeling for her(that is if he has any).

i hope he suffers!! *evil cackle*

Blissful Ignorance

A Heero and Relena Dedication site

Missing by a Mile - ch 29

the Black Rose's fanfiction.

Missing by a Mile - ch 29