Chapter 4
By: Fate Lowe
Heero watched the news report, for the fiftieth time that day. The bottle of whiskey, now empty, still in his hand. He had sat down to start drinking like he did every night. He had turned on the TV and started to pour his first glass when the news anchor?s voice reached him. He now sat there, with an overfilled glass and a puddle at his feet.
*****
?Duo, how did you pull this off??
?I just called a few people, hacked into a few computers, that sort of thing.?
?What if he finds out? He?s very good at figuring these kinds of things out you know.?
?I know, don?t worry. I?ve already got everything taken care of. No matter where he looks or how hard, all he?ll find is more proof that you were on that plane; more proof that you are dead. Speaking of which?? he reached over to the table next to him and picked up a folder. He turned back and handed it to her. ?Here?s all the paper work that I need you to fill out so that we can set up your new identity. You don?t need to do it tonight, but I do need it as soon as possible for this to work.?
?I?ll have it done as soon as you get home from work tomorrow. Is that soon enough??
?That?s perfect. Um?a friend of mine is coming over tomorrow, while I?m gone, to give you a new look. She?s gonna need to change your hair, your clothes, everything that you can change needs to be changed, ok??
?Ok?tell you the truth, I?ve always wanted to change everything about my appearance anyway but nobody would ever let me, the whole perfect public image and all.?
?Yeah, I could see how that would be frustrating. I?d hate to have to conform to something that I didn?t want to because of what other people would think. It must have been even worse for you because of your position. Well, I?m getting? hungry. What do you want for dinner? Anything at all.?
?How ?bout beer and pizza??
?Whoa, good start on the image change. That?s definitely not something that I would figure that you would want.?
Duo stood up and grabbed his jacket and car keys.
?I?ll be back in a little while. Why don?t you shower and get comfortable clothes on? You can use some of mine for tonight. You?ll be going shopping tomorrow.?
?OK, sounds like a plan.?
?Oh and whatever you do don?t answer the door.?
He locked the door on his way out to pickup dinner.
Relena walked to the bathroom and stripped out of her clothes to take a long hot shower. As the hot spray of the shower poured over her she relaxed for the first time in what seemed like forever.
?It feels wonderful to be able to relax, to finally feel free.? she thought as she lathered up her hair.
When she was done she wrapped her hair in a towel and another around her body. She walked out of the bathroom and down the hall to Duo?s bedroom. She went through his dresser until she found a pair of his boxers and slipped them on, removing the towels, and walked over to the closet. She found a long-sleeved, black dress shirt and slipped it over her head. She walked back to the bathroom and picked up a hairbrush and started brushing out her hair. When a knock came at the front door, she froze.
?Hey, beautiful, could you come open up the door. I kinda got my hands full here.?
Relena laughed as she put the brush down and walked to the front door.
?I thought I wasn?t supposed to open it.? she teased as she unlocked the door and opened it.
Duo walked in and she closed the door and locked it behind them. She followed him into the kitchen and grabbed two beers from the fridge. She walked over and leaned against the counter next to him. He turned towards her and smiled.
?What are you smiling at??
?Those are my favorite boxers.? he said taking the beer that she handed him.
?Oh sorry, should I get a different pair??
?No that?s fine. You look better in them anyway.?
Relena blushed slightly as she grabbed the paper plate full of pizza that Duo handed her as he walked towards the living room.
?Come on. I got us a movie too.?
She followed him and sat down on the couch.
?What movie is it?? she asked as she took a bite of pizza and a swig of beer.
?A classic action movie from the pre-colony days, it?s called ?Crank.?? Duo replied as he sat down next to her.
?Really, I love this movie!?
?You?re just full of surprises, aren?t you Mrs. President??
?She?s dead; I can finally be myself now.?
They sat there and watched the movie and ate the entire pizza. They each had about six beers before Relena passed out with her head in Duo?s lap. Duo looked down at the sleeping woman and moved some hair out of her face. He smiled down at Relena and made her a promise.
?I?ll never let him hurt you again, Princess, never again. I?ll do everything in my power to protect you.?
He gathered her up and carried her to the bedroom. He moved the comforter and laid her down. He pulled the blanket up over her and left the room. He went into the living room and cleaned up before passing out on the couch.
*****
Relena woke up to sunlight shining into the window. Her eyes fluttered open as she stretched. Then she sat up quickly, looking around the room. She visibly relaxed as she realized where she was. She got up and walked out into the living room. She looked around but couldn?t find the owner of the apartment. She walked into the kitchen and found a note sitting on the counter, underneath a coffee mug next to the coffee pot. She picked it up and read it.
Mornin? beautiful,
I?m at work. Sorry that I didn?t wake you up but I was runnin? late. Remember that my friend is comin? over. She should be there around noon. I?ll see you after work.
The One & Only,
Shinigami
She put the note down, picked up the pot, and made herself a cup. She walked into the living room and sat down on the couch. She glanced at the clock and noticed that it was already half past eleven. She picked up the paper and started to read the front page, which of course had the story on her death. She continued to read and sip at her coffee until the doorbell rang. She sat down the paper and walked over to the front door. She looked through the peep hole and recognized the petite dark-haired woman standing in the hallway. She excitedly unlocked the door and flung it open.
?Hildi!!!?
?Lena!? I thought??
?Sshhh. Come in and I?ll tell you the whole story.?
Hildi walked in and Relena closed and locked the door. They walked over and sat done on the couch.
?What is going on??
Relena bowed her head for a moment before looking back up and starting her story once again. When she was done, Hildi was speechless.
?That?that?s horrible Lena. Why didn?t you tell anybody about it before??
?I was terrified.?
?Well, at least you have Duo to help you. Plus I?m here now too. Does anyone else know that you?re still alive??
?Only a few and you can?t tell anybody, no matter what, ok??
?Of course, I?ll never say a word. Now, if you?re ready lets get started.?
They moved into the bathroom and started changing Relena?s appearance. When her hair and makeup were done, Hildi handed her a pile of clothes and left the room. Relena changed and walked out of the bathroom wearing a pair of dark wash low riders, a loose black sweater, and black sneakers.
?You look great. Let?s go get you some new clothes.?
?Hell yeah, shopping!!!?
Hildi grabbed her purse as they left the apartment and went to finish what they had started.
*****
Duo walked down the hallway of Preventers HQ, towards the Commander?s office. He walked past her secretary and into the office. He stopped dead in his tracks and clenched his hands into fists at his sides, as he saw who was sitting calmly in a chair in front of Commander Une?s desk. He walked forward and saluted his commanding officer before sitting in the only other chair in the room.
?Why weren?t you on the plane with her!??
Duo slowly turned his head towards the man sitting next to him. Heero looked distraught. His Prussian blue eyes, which were normally hard as ice, were softened, watery and now overflowing with tears. Duo almost felt sorry for the man sitting there, who used to be one of his best friends but he just couldn?t get the image of Relena, in tears, out of his head. His own eyes filled with tears at the memory.
?What could I have done Heero? The plane crashed! The only thing that I would have accomplished was dieing myself. I feel sick over it man.?
?I know that, baka! That?s not what I meant. You are her bodyguard. You?re supposed to be with her at all times when she?s working.?
?She wasn?t feeling good. She told me that she was going home. I watched her get into her car and drive off. Then I left myself. She must have gotten the call later.?
?She never came home.?
?Then she got it before she got there and decided to go on her own. She never called me about it.?
?Does that satisfy you, Mr. Yuy?? Une asked, speaking for the first time.
?Yes, now if you?ll excuse me, I have a memorial to plan.?
Heero got up and walked out. The two remaining people waited for his footsteps to fade down the hallway before speaking.
?So, how is she doing??
?She?s fine. Hildi should be with her now taking care of her appearance. I?ll have the paperwork for you first thing in the morning.?
?Sounds good, Agent Maxwell. See you then.?
Duo stood and saluted his Commander before leaving the office and returning to his office.
AN: Thanks for readin'. Hope you enjoyed it. 'Til next time.
