In the Arms of Another - Chapter 3
Posted: Mon Dec 09, 2002 3:07 am
In the Arms of Another
By the Black Rose
PG-13
Thanks for reading. Love, Rose
Chapter 3
?She?s due to arrive tomorrow, I wonder where she?ll send him this time,? Duo said in a whisper to Trowa across the counter of the kitchen in Heero?s hotel suite. ?Will she send him back to Earth or another colony??
?She?ll send him back to Earth and give him a vacation.?
?Why?? Heero alerted them to his presence from the doorway of his bedroom. They had been talking about him whenever they thought he wasn?t listening.
?She?ll feel guilty for keeping you away from your fianc?e,? Trowa said, his eyes locking with that of his friend?s and communicating a silent message. ?You need to tell her before it?s too late??
?Hn.?
The video-comm rang right at 0800, interrupting further conversation on the topic. Lady Une?s face appeared on screen.
?Commander Yuy, your shuttle leaves tomorrow at 0600 for Earth,? she said in a brisk and business-like tone. ?Lieutenant Maxwell and Commander Barton will remain on L4 until the Vice Foreign Minister returns at the end of the week.?
?And my assignment once I arrive??
?Vacation. Miss Darlian sends her apologies for not permitting you time to settle in before your most recent assignment. She has convinced me that a week off to see your family and get situated here on Earth would be agreeable to you.?
Heero?s eyes narrowed. ?I?d rather take my vacation here.?
?I don?t suppose there is anything that I can do to stop you, but keep in mind that you are not on duty, and as such, are not permitted to interfere with the security measures in place surrounding the Minister. If you attempt to see her without going through the proper channels, you will face a reprimand when you return.? She terminated the connection.
Heero sighed and ran a hand through the chestnut locks hanging in his face. He turned to look at Trowa. ?Proper channels??
Trowa smirked. ?Yeah, in other words, you have to make an appointment.?
?Fuck that! I say risk the reprimand. You know she won?t let you make an appointment!? Duo?s loud voice had long passed the point of grating on Heero?s nerves.
The former Zero pilot nodded, then got up and moved back to his room to pack his things.
***********************************************************************
Trowa sat down in front of the video-comm monitor and opened a direct connection to Wufei?s hotel room. The Chinese Preventer soon appeared onscreen.
?Barton,? he said in greeting, no expression on his face. ?Are the preparations in place on L4? We arrive tomorrow at 1100.?
?Wufei, everything?s a go. We?ll meet you at the shuttleport right on time.?
?That?s not why you called.?
?No. Is Relena going to marry that colony delegate??
Wufei snorted. ?I am her bodyguard, not her keeper. It is my job to protect her, not take notes on her dates.?
Trowa glared at his friend. ?I see. Well, just for your information, Une has approved Yuy?s presence here for her arrival tomorrow. He?ll remain on the colony until she returns to Earth. I just wanted to head off any potential problems.?
?Whitling won?t be coming with her to L4. He left this morning to L2 colony. I wasn?t paying close attention to what they were saying, but the gift he attempted to give her did not remain with her. That?s all I can tell you.?
The corner of Trowa?s mouth lifted into smile. Wufei was as perceptive as himself, and missed absolutely nothing. He knew that the former Altron pilot had the information he sought, it was just wheedling it out of him. ?That?s sufficient. We?ll see you tomorrow.?
?Affirmative.? The connection was terminated and Trowa went to ease his friend?s suffering.
?I?m not ready to let her go.? Heero?s voice was quiet and he didn?t turn around.
Trowa stared at his friend?s back. That was as much of a declaration of the former Zero pilot?s emotions as he had ever heard from the stoic Preventer. ?I spoke with Wufei. Representative Whitling got on his shuttle to L2 colony this morning. The indication is that his gift was refused.?
Shoulders hitched, then relaxed; Heero nodded and returned to packing his things. ?Understood.?
**********************************************************************
She hated these early morning shuttle flights, mostly because it meant she had a speaking engagement as soon as she arrived. As she settled back into the cushioned seat and closed her eyes, she couldn?t help but remember the events of the previous morning.
?Relena, I know we haven?t been dating that long, but I can?t help but feel that everything happens for a reason.? James took her hand and held it to his chest. ? I love you, Relena, and hope that you would do me the great honor of becoming my wife,? he said with quiet emotion straining his voice. He gazed down at her as he opened the small velvet box, a hopeful expression ingrained on his features. Relena gasped and took an unconscious step back, away from the promise he was making to her.
?James, I?m sorry. You?re a wonderful man and I care for you very much. But I?m not in love with you. I can?t marry you,? she said softly, and placed her other hand over the one holding hers.
He looked away and nodded, folding the lid of the jewelry box closed and then placing it back into his pocket. ?I understand. Whoever he is, he?s a lucky man.?
Relena blinked back surprise at his words, but didn?t deny the statement. ?Take care of yourself, and I?ll see you in two weeks.? She moved to give him a friendly hug. He accepted the embrace and held her tightly for a moment before kissing her cheek good-bye. They broke apart and she turned to go as he walked off to board his shuttle.
At the jetway door, he turned around to see her continuing down the corridor, in the company of her two bodyguards. She never looked back.
*********************************************************************
The shuttle landed and Wufei disembarked first. He climbed down the steps and met the advance guard already stationed on L4; Trowa and Duo met them on time, as promised.
Wufei?s eyes narrowed. ?Where?s Yuy??
?Change of plans, he?s been given a vacation,? Trowa said.
Wufei grunted, then turned back. He ascended the stairs to tell Relena all was clear.
She opened sleepy eyes and tried to focus on the voice she heard calling her name.
She sighed softly and closed her eyes again. ?Heero.? She had been having the most wonderful dream. Heero had shown up to dance with her at the charity ball she had attended with James a few nights ago. It felt so right to be in his arms as he led them across a familiar dance floor. The music stopped but they continued dancing; he pulled her closer and leaned forward to kiss her.
?Relena?.?
?RELENA!? Someone shook her shoulders, and coffee-scented breath assaulted her nose. Irritated, she opened her lids to stare into cobalt eyes. She blinked a few times before realizing whom they belonged to.
?Duo??
?Hey, it?s time to rise and shine. You?ve got a speech to give in an hour, and we?ve got to get moving. C?mon,? he said, his mouth widening into a smile.
She groaned and sat up from the reclining seat that had been so comfy. ?Okay, okay, I?m up,? she said, but the world didn?t seem to sit right beneath her.
***********************************************************************
?We already grabbed your things, Relena. They?re in the limousine,? Trowa said, his green eyes studying the over-worked young woman. She nodded and with what had to be sheer willpower holding her up, she made her way off the shuttle and to the waiting car.
After closing the door with her safely inside, Trowa threw a glance at Duo; the braid-wearing Preventer smirked.
?Wonder what she was dreaming.?
Trowa lifted an eyebrow. ?Well, we know who she was dreaming about.?
?Yeah, and it sure wasn?t old stuffed shirt Whitling. Maybe Heero will cheer up a little when I tell him.?
Wufei heard the last of the exchange with a grim expression. ?Dishonorable, Maxwell. Gossiping about a woman?s dream.?
Duo made a face at him as they climbed into the car to follow their charge.
3 Days Later?
?Where the hell is Heero?? Duo glared at Trowa while they waited for the Vice Foreign Minister to finish her lengthy speech.
?He?s around.?
?Well, I thought he was so gung-ho to tell Princess he wasn?t engaged and all, but for three days, there?s been no sign of him. He?s going to miss his chance, AGAIN!?
A slight smile played on Trowa?s lips. ?Oh, I don?t think so, Duo. Knowing Heero, he?s just waiting for the most opportune time.?
Before he could grumble anymore about his friend?s idiocy in dating, Relena?s voice cut into their thoughts. It was the cue line that meant she was almost at the end of her speech and the guards were to prepare for her departure.
?Blue team on ready, the Minister will be leaving in five,? Trowa said into his wristcom, addressing the team of guards stationed on the outside of the building.
?I can?t wait to go home and see Hilde. We just have the ball this evening and then Relena has a couple of personal meetings in the morning, right??
?That?s correct.?
?Good. Then we leave first thing Friday morning. I can?t wait.?
They heard the deafening applause and moved to their position at the left exit from the stage. Once she passed through the curtain, she was their responsibility until they had her safely inside the car. Then, they would follow back to the hotel.
*********************************************************************
She walked swiftly towards the exit. Duo and Trowa flanked her as they moved down the hallway, through the back exit, and to the limousine. They passed several guards stationed at various checkpoints along the way.
Duo opened the car door and Relena ducked her head to sit in the plush leather seat. She turned a tired smile up in his direction to thank him before securing her seat belt and settling in for the half hour ride.
He raised an eyebrow in a questioning slant. ?I thought you had out grown stuffed animals by now.?
She frowned, but before she could ask what he meant, he shut the door and gave the knock on the hood to signify to the driver he could go.
Relena sighed and shut her eyes as the car began to pull away from the curb. The smooth motion of the vehicle soothed her and lulled her into a shallow sleep. She wasn?t sure how long she had been out when they turned a corner and a soft object tumbled into her lap.
Her eyes flew open and she looked down at the small, brown teddy bear with a dark blue bow tied around his neck. It must have been sitting in the seat next to me and I just didn?t notice it when I got in. That explains Duo?s comment about the stuffed animals.
She picked up the little guy and smiled at him. He was cute and fluffy with bright blue button eyes. She hugged him, and settled back once again to sleep.
But how did he get here? The thought wormed its way to the front of her mind. She looked up at the tinted window that separated her from the driver, and decided to roll it down.
?Excuse me. Um, do you know where this bear came from??
There was no response.
Relena frowned, an unsettling feeling bubbling in the pit of her stomach. She turned around in search of the car carrying her bodyguards; she needed reassurance. But she didn?t see the late model Lincoln Town Car anywhere. Nausea seized her stomach and pumped acid into her chest. They were not heading towards the hotel.
?What do you want?? She fought to keep her voice low and calm. Whatever she was expecting, it was not to be handed a cell phone and told by a familiarly gruff monotone to cancel her meetings.
?You won?t be attending.?
She looked at the phone in her hand and took a deep breath. ?Heero.? She felt the tense strings of the muscles in her shoulders and neck relax. He glanced up and their eyes met for a moment in the rearview mirror. She looked away. ?And what do I tell them? That I?ve been kidnapped by a Preventer??
?Something important came up and you had to leave. You?re safe and will arrive back on Earth in two days as scheduled.?
?They?ll question.?
?I will contact them once we are in flight.?
?Flight? Where are you taking me??
His closed the separator window. She huffed and sat back, but dutifully made the call to a worried Trowa. Once she had somewhat relieved their minds and made appropriate excuses to her hosts, she attempted to roll the glass barrier again to hand the phone back. She wanted some answers. But the controls were locked.
Why would he kidnap me? What?s going on? She wondered and felt her insides twist into a large knot.
Oh please, I?m not ready to talk to him, yet ? not about?about?her.
By the Black Rose
PG-13
Thanks for reading. Love, Rose
Chapter 3
?She?s due to arrive tomorrow, I wonder where she?ll send him this time,? Duo said in a whisper to Trowa across the counter of the kitchen in Heero?s hotel suite. ?Will she send him back to Earth or another colony??
?She?ll send him back to Earth and give him a vacation.?
?Why?? Heero alerted them to his presence from the doorway of his bedroom. They had been talking about him whenever they thought he wasn?t listening.
?She?ll feel guilty for keeping you away from your fianc?e,? Trowa said, his eyes locking with that of his friend?s and communicating a silent message. ?You need to tell her before it?s too late??
?Hn.?
The video-comm rang right at 0800, interrupting further conversation on the topic. Lady Une?s face appeared on screen.
?Commander Yuy, your shuttle leaves tomorrow at 0600 for Earth,? she said in a brisk and business-like tone. ?Lieutenant Maxwell and Commander Barton will remain on L4 until the Vice Foreign Minister returns at the end of the week.?
?And my assignment once I arrive??
?Vacation. Miss Darlian sends her apologies for not permitting you time to settle in before your most recent assignment. She has convinced me that a week off to see your family and get situated here on Earth would be agreeable to you.?
Heero?s eyes narrowed. ?I?d rather take my vacation here.?
?I don?t suppose there is anything that I can do to stop you, but keep in mind that you are not on duty, and as such, are not permitted to interfere with the security measures in place surrounding the Minister. If you attempt to see her without going through the proper channels, you will face a reprimand when you return.? She terminated the connection.
Heero sighed and ran a hand through the chestnut locks hanging in his face. He turned to look at Trowa. ?Proper channels??
Trowa smirked. ?Yeah, in other words, you have to make an appointment.?
?Fuck that! I say risk the reprimand. You know she won?t let you make an appointment!? Duo?s loud voice had long passed the point of grating on Heero?s nerves.
The former Zero pilot nodded, then got up and moved back to his room to pack his things.
***********************************************************************
Trowa sat down in front of the video-comm monitor and opened a direct connection to Wufei?s hotel room. The Chinese Preventer soon appeared onscreen.
?Barton,? he said in greeting, no expression on his face. ?Are the preparations in place on L4? We arrive tomorrow at 1100.?
?Wufei, everything?s a go. We?ll meet you at the shuttleport right on time.?
?That?s not why you called.?
?No. Is Relena going to marry that colony delegate??
Wufei snorted. ?I am her bodyguard, not her keeper. It is my job to protect her, not take notes on her dates.?
Trowa glared at his friend. ?I see. Well, just for your information, Une has approved Yuy?s presence here for her arrival tomorrow. He?ll remain on the colony until she returns to Earth. I just wanted to head off any potential problems.?
?Whitling won?t be coming with her to L4. He left this morning to L2 colony. I wasn?t paying close attention to what they were saying, but the gift he attempted to give her did not remain with her. That?s all I can tell you.?
The corner of Trowa?s mouth lifted into smile. Wufei was as perceptive as himself, and missed absolutely nothing. He knew that the former Altron pilot had the information he sought, it was just wheedling it out of him. ?That?s sufficient. We?ll see you tomorrow.?
?Affirmative.? The connection was terminated and Trowa went to ease his friend?s suffering.
?I?m not ready to let her go.? Heero?s voice was quiet and he didn?t turn around.
Trowa stared at his friend?s back. That was as much of a declaration of the former Zero pilot?s emotions as he had ever heard from the stoic Preventer. ?I spoke with Wufei. Representative Whitling got on his shuttle to L2 colony this morning. The indication is that his gift was refused.?
Shoulders hitched, then relaxed; Heero nodded and returned to packing his things. ?Understood.?
**********************************************************************
She hated these early morning shuttle flights, mostly because it meant she had a speaking engagement as soon as she arrived. As she settled back into the cushioned seat and closed her eyes, she couldn?t help but remember the events of the previous morning.
?Relena, I know we haven?t been dating that long, but I can?t help but feel that everything happens for a reason.? James took her hand and held it to his chest. ? I love you, Relena, and hope that you would do me the great honor of becoming my wife,? he said with quiet emotion straining his voice. He gazed down at her as he opened the small velvet box, a hopeful expression ingrained on his features. Relena gasped and took an unconscious step back, away from the promise he was making to her.
?James, I?m sorry. You?re a wonderful man and I care for you very much. But I?m not in love with you. I can?t marry you,? she said softly, and placed her other hand over the one holding hers.
He looked away and nodded, folding the lid of the jewelry box closed and then placing it back into his pocket. ?I understand. Whoever he is, he?s a lucky man.?
Relena blinked back surprise at his words, but didn?t deny the statement. ?Take care of yourself, and I?ll see you in two weeks.? She moved to give him a friendly hug. He accepted the embrace and held her tightly for a moment before kissing her cheek good-bye. They broke apart and she turned to go as he walked off to board his shuttle.
At the jetway door, he turned around to see her continuing down the corridor, in the company of her two bodyguards. She never looked back.
*********************************************************************
The shuttle landed and Wufei disembarked first. He climbed down the steps and met the advance guard already stationed on L4; Trowa and Duo met them on time, as promised.
Wufei?s eyes narrowed. ?Where?s Yuy??
?Change of plans, he?s been given a vacation,? Trowa said.
Wufei grunted, then turned back. He ascended the stairs to tell Relena all was clear.
She opened sleepy eyes and tried to focus on the voice she heard calling her name.
She sighed softly and closed her eyes again. ?Heero.? She had been having the most wonderful dream. Heero had shown up to dance with her at the charity ball she had attended with James a few nights ago. It felt so right to be in his arms as he led them across a familiar dance floor. The music stopped but they continued dancing; he pulled her closer and leaned forward to kiss her.
?Relena?.?
?RELENA!? Someone shook her shoulders, and coffee-scented breath assaulted her nose. Irritated, she opened her lids to stare into cobalt eyes. She blinked a few times before realizing whom they belonged to.
?Duo??
?Hey, it?s time to rise and shine. You?ve got a speech to give in an hour, and we?ve got to get moving. C?mon,? he said, his mouth widening into a smile.
She groaned and sat up from the reclining seat that had been so comfy. ?Okay, okay, I?m up,? she said, but the world didn?t seem to sit right beneath her.
***********************************************************************
?We already grabbed your things, Relena. They?re in the limousine,? Trowa said, his green eyes studying the over-worked young woman. She nodded and with what had to be sheer willpower holding her up, she made her way off the shuttle and to the waiting car.
After closing the door with her safely inside, Trowa threw a glance at Duo; the braid-wearing Preventer smirked.
?Wonder what she was dreaming.?
Trowa lifted an eyebrow. ?Well, we know who she was dreaming about.?
?Yeah, and it sure wasn?t old stuffed shirt Whitling. Maybe Heero will cheer up a little when I tell him.?
Wufei heard the last of the exchange with a grim expression. ?Dishonorable, Maxwell. Gossiping about a woman?s dream.?
Duo made a face at him as they climbed into the car to follow their charge.
3 Days Later?
?Where the hell is Heero?? Duo glared at Trowa while they waited for the Vice Foreign Minister to finish her lengthy speech.
?He?s around.?
?Well, I thought he was so gung-ho to tell Princess he wasn?t engaged and all, but for three days, there?s been no sign of him. He?s going to miss his chance, AGAIN!?
A slight smile played on Trowa?s lips. ?Oh, I don?t think so, Duo. Knowing Heero, he?s just waiting for the most opportune time.?
Before he could grumble anymore about his friend?s idiocy in dating, Relena?s voice cut into their thoughts. It was the cue line that meant she was almost at the end of her speech and the guards were to prepare for her departure.
?Blue team on ready, the Minister will be leaving in five,? Trowa said into his wristcom, addressing the team of guards stationed on the outside of the building.
?I can?t wait to go home and see Hilde. We just have the ball this evening and then Relena has a couple of personal meetings in the morning, right??
?That?s correct.?
?Good. Then we leave first thing Friday morning. I can?t wait.?
They heard the deafening applause and moved to their position at the left exit from the stage. Once she passed through the curtain, she was their responsibility until they had her safely inside the car. Then, they would follow back to the hotel.
*********************************************************************
She walked swiftly towards the exit. Duo and Trowa flanked her as they moved down the hallway, through the back exit, and to the limousine. They passed several guards stationed at various checkpoints along the way.
Duo opened the car door and Relena ducked her head to sit in the plush leather seat. She turned a tired smile up in his direction to thank him before securing her seat belt and settling in for the half hour ride.
He raised an eyebrow in a questioning slant. ?I thought you had out grown stuffed animals by now.?
She frowned, but before she could ask what he meant, he shut the door and gave the knock on the hood to signify to the driver he could go.
Relena sighed and shut her eyes as the car began to pull away from the curb. The smooth motion of the vehicle soothed her and lulled her into a shallow sleep. She wasn?t sure how long she had been out when they turned a corner and a soft object tumbled into her lap.
Her eyes flew open and she looked down at the small, brown teddy bear with a dark blue bow tied around his neck. It must have been sitting in the seat next to me and I just didn?t notice it when I got in. That explains Duo?s comment about the stuffed animals.
She picked up the little guy and smiled at him. He was cute and fluffy with bright blue button eyes. She hugged him, and settled back once again to sleep.
But how did he get here? The thought wormed its way to the front of her mind. She looked up at the tinted window that separated her from the driver, and decided to roll it down.
?Excuse me. Um, do you know where this bear came from??
There was no response.
Relena frowned, an unsettling feeling bubbling in the pit of her stomach. She turned around in search of the car carrying her bodyguards; she needed reassurance. But she didn?t see the late model Lincoln Town Car anywhere. Nausea seized her stomach and pumped acid into her chest. They were not heading towards the hotel.
?What do you want?? She fought to keep her voice low and calm. Whatever she was expecting, it was not to be handed a cell phone and told by a familiarly gruff monotone to cancel her meetings.
?You won?t be attending.?
She looked at the phone in her hand and took a deep breath. ?Heero.? She felt the tense strings of the muscles in her shoulders and neck relax. He glanced up and their eyes met for a moment in the rearview mirror. She looked away. ?And what do I tell them? That I?ve been kidnapped by a Preventer??
?Something important came up and you had to leave. You?re safe and will arrive back on Earth in two days as scheduled.?
?They?ll question.?
?I will contact them once we are in flight.?
?Flight? Where are you taking me??
His closed the separator window. She huffed and sat back, but dutifully made the call to a worried Trowa. Once she had somewhat relieved their minds and made appropriate excuses to her hosts, she attempted to roll the glass barrier again to hand the phone back. She wanted some answers. But the controls were locked.
Why would he kidnap me? What?s going on? She wondered and felt her insides twist into a large knot.
Oh please, I?m not ready to talk to him, yet ? not about?about?her.