War And Peace
Zechs yawned, it had been seven hours since
they had brought the gundam back to the base and they were still analyzing the
data. He had to admit that whoever had designed the machine was a genius. Zechs
glanced over at Noin as she stretched her arms over her head and let out a loud
yawn. She had opted to stay and help him when he had ordered the base's soldiers
away and like him had been working non-stop since they had started. He knew she
was tired and leaned over to squeeze her shoulder, “Noin go get some rest. We
can finish this tomorrow at Lake Victoria.” He sighed when she shook her head
silently and placed her hands back on the keyboard. “I'm fine Zechs and I'm
not going to sleep till you do,” she said as she yawned again. Zechs smiled
slightly, “You're too damn stubborn sometimes Noin.” “I had a good
teacher,” she retorted quickly with a smile. “I'm not that stubborn,” he
said frowning and smiled when he felt her lips against his cheek. “Lets get
some sleep Milliardo,” she whispered in his ear as she took his hand. Zechs
didn't resist her as she pulled him out of the chair and followed her to where
they had flung their capes hours ago. “Are you planning on joining me,” he
asked softly as she snapped her cape back into place. She was silent as she
gathered her things. “Do you want me to,” he heard her ask softly as he
turned the light off. Zechs turned to face her and gently reached forward to
grab her hand. He pulled her against him, resting his head against hers and
sighed, “I always want you to Noin.” Zechs bit his lip in the darkness,
hoping he hadn't said too much. He felt the softness of her lips against his
neck as she whispered, “Lets go Zechs.” He turned his head and smiled at
her, “Thank you Noin.” Zechs flung the cape around him as he snapped it back
into place and smiled again as he opened the door. “Ladies first,” he said
huskily as she brushed past him. He turned, locked the door and hurried to join
her.
The walk to his room was silent and Noin couldn't help but feel the tension in
the air. God what she wouldn't give for them to be allowed to love openly. Her
mind seethed at that thought and she tried to ignore the small voice in her head
that demanded to know what made her think that he loved her. The voice was
insistent these days and it seemed that the harder she tried to ignore it the
louder it became. So deep was she in thought that she barely heard Zechs as he
whispered that they were here. Noin looked with surprise when she saw that they
were in front of her door. “Zechs,” she began softly but stopped when he
placed a gloved hand over her lips. “Treize is probably watching my room
tonight Noin,” he whispered softly as e punched in the access code for her
room. She was silent as she walked in and groaned when she felt his arms wrap
around her waist. Noin could feel that he was just as aroused as she was and
smiled as he began to undress her. “Is there anything special you want to do
tonight Lucrezia,” she felt him whisper against her bare flesh as he slid her
jacket from her shoulders. She shrugged and turned in his arms, “Just you.”
Noin watched as a sensuous smile curved his lips and sighed as he picked her up
and carried her towards her bed.
Zechs sighed into her hair as she slept against him. Their lovemaking had been
slow and better than usual tonight. Zechs felt her stir and murmur his name as
he looked down at her. She was so beautiful when she slept. He rubbed his hand
down her back and tried to go back to sleep. It was no use; something was
bothering him. He had woken up from the strangest dream and had a feeling that
his sister was in danger, a feeling he hadn't had for over twelve years. Careful
not to wake her, he slid his body away from hers, pulled his discarded boxers on
and made his way to his COM unit. Zechs yawned as he activated the unit and
searched through various reports for any word on his sister. He was shocked to
learn that she had once been the target of Oz and, for the life of him, could
not figure out how she had escaped. A memory of a phone call Noin had made
months ago came to mind and Zechs closed his eyes as he tried to figure out the
significance of the event. He realized that she had made the call shortly after
they had learned the news of Vice Minister Dorlian's assassination. Zechs felt
relief wash over him; relief that she had stopped the attack and relief that
Relena had escaped the episode unscathed. If she were to die than everything he
had been fighting for would have been for nothing. Zechs turned his attention
back to the scores of reports that had come back through the search string. One
in particular caught his eye when he saw that it was an official report from Oz.
The report was uninformative and Relena's name was mentioned only in passing but
what interested him was the other names that were mentioned in the report as
well. Zechs immediately recognized his grandfather's name and smiled, pleased
that he would get the chance to see Relena again. The other name that caught his
eye wiped the smile from his face; Lady Une was scheduled to attend the ball,
her purpose to talk to his grandfather. He knew from all reports that Relena was
very much like himself in temperament and he could only imagine her reaction at
being forced into the presence of her “father's” murderer. Zechs jumped
slightly as a small hand caressed his shoulder, “What's wrong Zechs?” He
turned to find Noin wiping the sleep from her eyes and looked up at her,
“Nothing love, I just couldn't go back to sleep.” He watched a small smile
form on her face as she wrapped her arms around his neck and rested her head
against his. “Need any help,” he heard her whisper against his hair and he
twisted his neck to face her. “Tease,” he hissed as he pulled her across his
lap.
Noin kissed him gently and looked at the screen behind him. “Checking on
Relena,” she commented languidly as she leaned against him. He was silent but
his grip on her loosened and he turned in the chair. “I had this feeling that
she was in danger,” he said softly as he scrolled through the report. Noin
tensed when she saw that it was a report over Lady Une's attack of Relena's
school. His deep voice filled the room as he turned her to face him, “Why
didn't you say something Noin?” She tried not to look at him but the hand
holding her face tightened and she found herself staring into the intense blue
of his eyes. “I,” she started but was silenced as he kissed her. Noin gasped
when he pulled away and hugged her close to him. “Thank you Noin,” she felt
him whisper against her chest and sighed. “Anytime Zechs,” she whispered
softly and Noin kissed his forehead. She sighed when he pulled away after a few
minutes and resumed his search on the computer. Noin watched as he scrolled
through numerous reports and asked, “What exactly are you looking for?” He
was silent and for a moment she thought that he wasn't going to answer her. She
had no idea how much time passed before he answered her but his reply wasn't
what she had expected. “Noin could I ask a huge favor of you,” he whispered
as he looked up at her. She remained silent looking into his ice blue eyes,
curious as to what he wanted from her. “Anything,” she asked and watched as
he smiled one of his familiar grim smiles. “When we leave for Lake Victoria
will you go to Russia and take charge of Relena for me? I know it's a lot to ask
but with the way things are heading I want to be sure that she will be safe and
you are the only one I can trust to do that.” he said softly looking at her.
Noin was surprised. She hadn't expected him to ask that of her but was
immediately humbled by the degree of trust he was placing in her. Her answer was
short and made him smile up at her, “Thank you Noin.” Noin sighed and bent
her head down to kiss him, “Lets go back to bed Zechs.” She couldn't help
but giggle as he lifted her into his arms and carried her back to the bedroom.
She sighed softly as he laid her down on the bed and joined her. Noin snuggled
back against him as his arms circled her waist. “Good night,” she whispered
as he kissed her forehead and smiled when he whispered the same in her ear. She
closed her eyes and drifted to sleep in the warm, familiar circle of his arms.
Five hours later…
“Load the suit into the plane dammit,” he shouted at the young soldier who
sat there looking at him stupidly. He didn't know how they had managed to load
the Tallgeese only a few hours before, when they couldn't manage to place the
pieces of a ruined suit inside his carrier's cargo hold. Zechs glanced over at
Noin, who was desperately trying not to laugh, and sighed. They had been up now
for three hours, two of which had been spent trying to load the huge suit into
his cargo plane, and he was getting irritated. He watched as the soldiers
clumsily loaded 01's remains into the plane's cargo hold and grit his teeth; it
would be at least one more hour before they could leave. Zechs walked over to
Noin and motioned for her to follow him. He ignored the curious looks from the
other soldiers as he boarded the plane. Zechs walked over to the plane's cockpit
and instructed the soldiers, over the intercom, to inform him the minute the
suit was secure. He turned to find a perplexed looking Noin staring at him. He
knew she was waiting for an explanation and was reluctant to give her one.
Deciding that silence was the safest subject to broach he took a seat in one of
the planes easy chairs and propped his feet up. “Sit down Noin,” he
commanded softly, “it will probably be awhile before we will be able to leave
for Lake Victoria.” Zechs watched as she sat down, crossed her legs, and
looked up at him. “What's wrong Zechs,” she asked him softly and he looked
down at her, wondering if he should voice his thoughts aloud. “Noin,” he
hesitated as the loud buzz of the intercom sounded throughout the carrier.
“What,” he snapped and listened as a nameless soldier informed him that the
plane was ready to leave. “Finally,” he mumbled gruffly as he seated himself
in the pilots seat. He turned on the carrier and buckled his safety harness,
ordering Noin to do the same. Without waiting for clearance, he activated the
carrier and shot off of the runway. Zechs sighed as he checked the controls and
plotted their course. Satisfied that the plane would be fine on its own, he
activated the autopilot and leaned back in his seat. He closed his eyes and
tilted his head to look at Noin beneath hooded eyes.
Noin bent her head and looked at the floor as she felt her lover's intense gaze
on her. She didn't understand how he could run from hot to cold so quickly.
Earlier that morning he had been so gentle and caring towards her and now he was
treating her as though she were nothing more than a subordinate. Noin sighed and
rested her chin on her hand. She wondered what his sister would be like. They
didn't look alike but according to all the reports she had ever hear about her
and from what Zechs had told her, Relena was just as temperamental as he was.
Noin wasn't sure she was ready to take over the care of a young girl, especially
if she was like Zechs. She jumped as she felt something soft brush her cheek.
“What are you thinking about Noin,” a deep voice whispered to her over the
roar of the engines. She looked over at him and was surprised to see that he had
taken his mask off. “Nothing important,” she mumbled as she looked away. She
wanted to be mad at him for sending her away, for treating her like a lieutenant
instead of a friend or a lover and she knew that if she looked long enough into
his eyes she would forgive him. Noin almost smiled as she felt his gloved hand
grip her arm, “Tell me anyway.” She turned to look at him. “Not unless you
tell me what was wrong with you while ago,” she said seriously as she stared
at him. She watched as his lips twitched and she reached over and tugged at one
side of his face. “Smile at me dammit. You probably won't see me for a few
days,” she sighed softly when he pulled away. The cabin grew silent and Noin
looked out of the window at the people below. They were non-distinct and no
bigger than ants against the green background. She wondered what they were
thinking of and if the war was tearing their lives apart as it was hers. She had
avoided thinking about it long enough and, though she hated to dwell on the
negative side of things, Noin found herself wondering how life would be without
him. She knew that it would be worse than when he had left Lake Victoria to take
command of the troops. At least that time she'd had the responsibility of caring
for and teaching new cadets, a job that had left no time to dwell on him. This
time it would be worse and Noin didn't know if she would be able to bear it.
Strong hands gripped her knees, drawing her away from her thoughts. Noin looked
down into cerulean eyes and leaned down to rest her head against his.
Zechs was smiled slightly when he felt her warm breath against his cheek.
“Noin… Lucrezia tell me what's wrong,” he pleaded gently with her and
raised his head to look into her eyes. He saw the tears in her eyes and sighed
as he leaned his head back against hers. “Please,” he sighed softly as he
moved his hands up her legs to rest on her hips. He could feel her shudder
beneath his fingertips and nuzzled her cheek with his face. “Tell me,” he
breathed softly as he lifted his head. “I don't want to go,” she whispered
quietly and Zechs strained to hear her words. His hand moved to her hair and he
kissed her temple. “I don't want you to go,” he exhaled into her hair,
startled when she pulled away. “Then why are you sending me away,” she
demanded harshly as she looked down at him. Zechs rose to his knees to look into
her eyes, “I want you to be safe Noin and the only place you're safe is away
from me.” He covered her lips with his before she could protest and kissed her
harshly. He forced his tongue into her mouth and swept it through her mouth;
regretting his use of force he slowly gentled the kiss. Zechs started to pull
away and was surprised when she forced his lips back against hers. He moaned as
her lips parted and her tongue darted into his mouth. He kept his eyes closed
when she pulled away and slowly opened them to look at her. “Noin,” he
sighed when she looked away, “look at me.” Zechs watched as she turned to
face him, her eyes slowly opened allowing a single tear to slide down her cheek.
“Noin,” he whispered, “this isn't permanent. I just want Relena out of
harms way and you're the only one I can trust to do that. When you feel that she
is out from under Oz's watchful eye then I want you to come back to me.” Zechs
grimaced at his last words. He hated to lie to her even more than he hated to
send her away but he knew that it was the only way he could keep her safe. The
truth was that he hoped that she would watch over Relena until the war was over
but he dared not tell her that. He knew that if he lost his life in battle at
least he would know that the only two people he gave a damn about were safe.
Zechs looked into her eyes wondering if she believed him. Her tears were gone
but the sadness was still there. He bent his head and nuzzled his face into the
hollow of her neck.
Noin played his rough words over and over in her head. She rarely heard him
speak about his emotions. She sighed as the memory of last night entered her
mind, his deep voice calling her “love” over and over again. Noin pulled
away and smiled down at him. “I don't mean too,” she was cut off by his
fingers against her lips. “Just be careful,” he whispered as he raised his
head to kiss her. Noin closed her eyes, committing the taste, the feel of his
lips against hers; things she hadn't memorized before their first separation.
This time was nothing like last time. When they had parted the first time they
had been new lovers, there had been no time to learn to miss the little things
that had slowly driven her insane over their year apart. Noin sighed as he
pulled away and rested her head against his chest. “Remember the first time we
were alone on this plane,” she felt his voice rumble through his chest and
smiled. “Too bad we don't have enough time for a repeat love,” she murmured
huskily and sat up. The loud voice of the control tower was echoing throughout
the plane made real the reality of what little time they had left alone. Noin
pulled away from him and sat back in her seat, pulling her headset on.
Zechs watched her as she reported their location to the soldiers at the control
tower. He listened with a strange mixture of jealousy and amusement at the
commotion the soldiers were making at the news that their instructor had
returned. He sighed, unused to such emotions, and stood up. Zechs sat in his
seat and deactivated the autopilot. It was good that he had done this so many
times because his mind was still stuck on their conversation. Part of him
yearned to tell her that he loved her, had always loved her, but his pride held
him back. Damn pride, he grumbled softly and grunted as the carrier landed with
a bump. Zechs let the plane coast to a stop and sat in his seat silently. He
knew that he needed to say something; a look at the clock told him that Noin's
plane would be here in less than an hour. He turned toward her, shocked when his
lips met hers. Zechs closed his eyes and sat perfectly, letting her do what she
wanted. He sighed when she pulled away. “Good-bye Zechs,” he felt her
whisper against his cheek and opened his eyes to see her walking away. “Noin,”
he called out, and froze as she turned around. His eyes took in the beauty of
her face; her body and he hoped that she would be safe. “Be careful Lucrezia,”
he whispered and watched as she turned and exited the carrier.
Noin closed her eyes to the brightness of the sky and managed to smile at the
excited cadets who greeted her at the end of the stairs. She pulled one of her
recently graduated cadets aside, “Colonel Zechs will be staying here in my
stead while I take care of some personal business in Russia. He is trying to
reconstruct a gundam and I want you to personally make sure that his orders are
given top priority and that he is given the same respect that the cadets have
given me.” She knew she sounded stern but she wanted to make sure that her
message was clearly understood and followed in her absence. She shielded her
eyes and looked at the huge carrier as it neared the base. Noin spoke briefly
with two more of her cadets before waving goodbye and walking to where the
recently landed carrier stood. As she walked up the ramp she turned to look at
the bright blue carrier and was surprised to find Zechs standing in its doorway.
Noin bit her lip as he saluted her and returned the gesture as she entered the
plane. She took a seat and rested her head in her hand. “Lt. Noin are you
ready to take-off,” a young officer asked her and she waved her free hand
dismissively. “Yes please,” she replied curtly and looked out of the window,
watching as Zechs directed the cadets as to where to unload the gundam's parts.
Noin closed her eyes as the carrier lurched into action, not wishing to watch
the person she cared most about grow smaller as she flew farther away.
Zechs watched the carrier until it was out of his sight and turned his attention
to the task at hand. He hoped that Noin's cadets knew what they were doing; he
was not in the mood for incompetence. Zechs leaned against the side of his
carrier and watched the cadets as they began to unload the suits. He almost
smiled as he watched them; Noin had taught them well. In a little over an hour
they had unloaded all the parts of the ruined gundam and were in the process of
moving them to one of the bases huge warehouses. Zechs straightened up and
walked towards the young men. “Well done. I'll handle it from here,” he said
dismissively, knowing that it was a far cry from the praise he was sure they had
gotten from Noin. He entered the darkness of the carrier and looked up at the
Tallgeese's shadow that loomed over him. “Help me forget her,” he whispered
to the huge suit as he entered it. He activated the suit and watched as it lit
the entire hull in an eerie pale light. Carefully, without straightening the
suit, he emerged from the hold of his plane and looked at the faces of the
soldiers as he stood the suit to its full height. Zechs closed his eyes as a
surge of power coursed through him. Yes this machine would help to dull the
memories of her, of their time together. Zechs smiled sadly in the pale light of
the controls and bowed his head, “Forgive me Noin.”
Noin woke up shortly before they landed. Her dreams had been filled with him and
she longed to be back in Victoria. She looked down at the city below; the
soldier had been right, Moscow was beautiful at this time of the year. “We'll
be at the base shortly Lt. Noin,” the carrier's pilot called out to her. Noin
was silent and grateful when he informed her that he had taken the liberty of
arranging transportation for her. She turned her attention back to the city
below and sighed. A hard bump shook her from her thoughts and Noin straightened
up. “We've arrived,” the young pilot called brightly from the cockpit and
Noin stood up uneasily. She steadied herself and made her way down the carrier's
ramp, ignoring the interested gazes from the soldiers around her. “My
transportation,” she questioned the soldier nearest to her and cringed when he
purposely brushed against her and pointed to a motorcycle. Noin was glad that it
was a two-seater and smiled when she saw that the keys were already in it.
“Refuel the plane. I'll be back in an hour and I want to be ready to leave,”
she ordered as she straddled the machine and turned the ignition. The latest
report had given Relena's location to be at her grandfather's ball. Noin nudged
the machines kickstand back and sped off into the darkness. She had no idea
where the ball was being held but if Relena were true to her nature Noin was
sure the commotion she was sure to cause would lead her to Zechs' younger
sister. Noin brought the machine to a stop as a strong wind hit her. She looked
up to see the shadow of three Leos make their way towards the heart of the city.
“Relena,” Noin sighed and sped of towards the commotion. The sound of
gunfire grew louder as Noin neared the huge palace in front of her. “She could
be anywhere,” Noin whispered aloud as she witnesses he grandeur of the palace.
Out of the corner of her eye she saw two of the Leos making there way towards
the palace's outer walls. Noin turned the bike around and followed. A street
lamp lighted her path and she looked ahead to see a young girl in a party dress
running towards her. Noin almost sighed in relief but was startled as a bright
light shone down on the girl and watched as three soldiers and the two Leos
surrounded her. Noin brought the bike two a stop in front of the three men, and
ordered them away from her. She realized by the men's acknowledgement of her
that they were from the base. Anger seeped through her composure when the men
informed her that their orders were from Lady Une. Without thinking, Noin pulled
out her gun and fired at one of the young men, knocking the hat denoting the Oz
organization from his brow. “If you're concerned about authority these orders
are from his Excellency. Are you satisfied,” she answers the stunned men,
hoping that by the time they discovered that it was a lie she would be well on
her way back to Victoria. She almost smiled as the men mumbled out an apology
and scurried off. Noin waited until the Leos had left as well before confronting
the angry young girl in front of her. Noin almost smiled when the girl raised
her gun and aimed it at her; the rebellious action reminding her of Zechs.
“You're being reckless. I wonder whom your temperament takes after,” Noin
commented as she neared Relena. She almost laughed when the girl accused her of
being part of Oz and merely aimed her gun at the hat lying on the ground and
shot the emblem of Oz from it. Noin looked back at Relena as she asked who she
was and bowed slightly, “I'm here to help you Relena Peacecraft.” Noin
raised her head to see the confusion on Relena's face. “Come with me and I'll
tell you everything,” Noin spoke softly beckoning Relena to follow her. “But
how do I know I can trust you,” the young girl called out and Noin turned to
smile at her. “Who else knows who you truly are,” she answered softly and
watched as the realization of it sunk in. Handing the young girl her cape, Noin
started the engine and sped back towards the base.
