War And Peace
Chapter 8
Zechs yawned as the speaker droned on and on about the threat of the gundams and how urgent the situation was. It was boring and Zechs would have long since fallen asleep if it hadn’t have been for Noin’s hand on his thigh. She had placed it there during the beginning of the meeting and it had remained a distraction. Zechs looked over at her when he felt her squeeze his thigh and followed her gaze to the speaker. “Well Lt. Zechs,” the obnoxious man intoned, “if you find our meeting so boring then perhaps you could add something that would liven it up.” Zechs glared at the man from beneath his mask as he heard the contempt in the older man’s voice. He knew that as an officer of the Specials he automatically fell under the category of those who needed to be distrusted, but he was sure that the man’s present hostility had nothing to do with the Specials but rather with who he was and whom he served. Zechs sneered at the man and stood up, “This meeting has taught us nothing that we didn’t already know. It has been an utter waste of our time and frankly I see no need in us staying since it was the Specials who provided the information.” He smiled slightly as the older man’s face turned red with anger. He turned to Noin, “Come Lt. Noin, our presence isn’t necessary.” Zechs stopped walking towards the door as the speaker’s voice cut through the deathly silence of the room, “You Specials are all alike; you think you know everything. Especially you, Zechs Marquise or should I say Treize’s little pet.” Zechs turned on his heel and faced the man, “We don’t know anymore than you do at this point.” He walked toward the door and held it open for Noin. Before walking through he looked around the room and sneered, “You really shouldn’t attempt flattery, it isn’t your strong point.” Zechs ignored the muffled string of curses that followed him as he shut the door. Noin shook her head at him, “You really shouldn’t agitate them; we are supposed to be allies.” Zechs sighed as they made their way back to the car, “Tell that to them.” As they climbed into the jeep an idea came to mind. “Say Noin would you like to do something tonight since we have free time?” He smiled at her when she nodded her head yes. “What,” he asked softly and she shrugged, “I don’t know; we could go to a club perhaps.” Zechs nodded his head in acquiesce, “A club it is.” He was silent the entire way back to the base as he anticipated the upcoming evening.
Noin wondered what kind of club he would take her to and then decided that it didn’t matter as long as she got to spend time with him. So deep was she in thought that she didn’t notice that they had arrived at the base. Noin stepped out of the jeep and stretched. Zechs did the same and she winced when she heard his spine crack. They walked back to the room together and Noin collapsed on to the couch. She blushed when she realized the faint smell of sex was still in the air and wondered if Zechs noticed. The smirk on his face answered her question as he sat down beside her and turned on the television. Noin yawned sleepily and leaned against Zechs, who offered her his shoulder as a pillow. Within minutes she was asleep.
Zechs smiled as he felt he breathing even out. The meeting had apparently been boring for her as well. He pulled her closer and sighed, as his eyes grew heavy. He might as well take a nap too. Zechs lay back against the couch and pulled Noin halfway atop him. He turned the television to an all day news station and closed his eyes.
Noin woke up and wiped the sleep from her eyes. It was only when she tried to sit up that she felt the strong arms around her. Noin shifted away from Zechs and walked towards the kitchen. She had been sleeping quite well only to be interrupted by her growling stomach. She had managed to forget that she hadn’t eaten a thing since breakfast. Noin looked at the clock and smiled. No wonder she was hungry; it was almost six o’clock in the afternoon. She opened the fully stocked fridge and rummaged around for something to eat. She found some deli meat and cheese and decided that sandwiches sounded good. Noin fixed Zechs one as well as herself and walked back the living room. She was surprised to find Zechs awake and watching the television screen very carefully. She sat down the sandwiches and focused her attention to the screen. A Lady Une of the Specials was holding a press conference. It was apparent that something tragic had happened and as Noin listened to the report she was shocked to learn that it had something to do with Vice Foreign Minister Dorlian. The Vice Foreign Minister had been well known for his attempts to settle disputed between the colonies and earth and she was curious as to what had happened to him. Zechs’ voice interrupted her thoughts, “That was some performance by Lady Une.” Noin looked at Zechs, “What happened to Mister Dorlian?” “I believe he was killed. “That poor girl.” Noin was confused, “You’re still worried aren’t you,” she asked hesitantly. She was startled when he stood up abruptly, “Huh, worried about what?” Noin was silent as he walked towards the bedroom. She looked at the photo of Relena Dorlian that was on the screen. Immediately she knew why Zechs was so worried; it was his sister. She looked at the closed door of the bedroom and sighed. She wished that he would open up to her; tell her his terrible past and trust her.
Zechs flung the mask across the room, wincing when it fell to the floor with a loud scraping noise. Relena was in danger and there wasn’t a damn thing he could do about it. Lady Une worked for the Specials and due to the recent problems surrounding the relationship between the colonies and earth Zechs was fairly certain that it was she who had assassinated the Vice Foreign Minister. Apparently Relena had found out the truth and escaped, hence the recent story of her being kidnapped. Zechs had to admit that it was a brilliant plan to tell the world that she had been kidnapped. Now the relationship between the colonies and earth would be strained even tighter. Not to mention that if something happened to Relena everyone would blame the colonies. The only person capable of concocting a plan this good was Treize, Zechs realized sadly. If he truly wanted, he could ask Treize to leave Relena alone but that would mean telling him that he still had a living relative and Zechs wasn’t ready to disclose that bit of information. It worried him that Treize knew as much as he did. He closed his eyes and rested his head in his hands. Something had to be done; he couldn’t afford to lose her as he had lost his parents and his kingdom. Zechs looked up in surprise at the faint knock on the door. “Come in Noin,” he said, his voice void of all emotion. He watched as she slowly stepped into the room and closed the door behind her. He knew what she wanted to know and the time had come to tell her. He knew she knew part of his past; she had hinted as much during their last few days at the academy. Zechs looked up at her as she approached the bed and motioned for her to sit beside him. He turned away as he felt the bed sink beneath her weight. “Noin, how much do you know?” She was silent for the longest time and he began to wonder if she was going to answer him at all. Zechs felt her hand on his shoulder and turned to face her.
Noin’s heart ached when she saw the pain and worry in his eyes. His face had a tortured look to it and Noin could only imagine what he was feeling. She took a deep breath and cupped his face in her hands, “Everything Zechs.” Noin felt his lips against her palm as he whispered, “How long have you known?” She thought back to the day she had overheard Treize and him talking, “I found out a few months before we were to graduate. You and he were discussing battle strategy and he kept referring to you as Milliardo. The name itself had no meaning to me at that moment and I gave it no thought, thinking that it was just some pet name he had for you from your youth. That same night while studying I came across the story of the slain Peacecraft family. The text told of how King Peacecraft had tried to promote total pacifism and how he, his wife and his two children had been slain for their beliefs. A photograph of the family was included within the text and the picture of a small boy caught my eye. The name Milliardo Peacecraft was beneath the photo and I knew instinctively that it was you. You face and hair was different but your eyes, your beautiful eyes, were the same.” She stopped as Zechs kissed her palm, “Why did you never say anything Noin?” Noin smiled and pulled his face up o that she could look into his eyes, “It was your business and I always hoped that one day you would trust me enough to tell me yourself.” Zechs looked at her sharply and Noin was shocked by the emotions glowing in his eyes, “It wasn’t that I didn’t trust you Lu; I just didn’t want to burden you with my horrible past. I didn’t want your pity.” She smiled at him slightly, “I would never pity you Zechs.” He smiled weakly and turned away. “Would you like me to tell you now Lucrezia?” Noin wrapped her arms around his broad shoulders, “Yes.”
Zechs close his eyes as he felt the familiar warmth and weight of her body as it pressed against him. Comfort and a strange calmness, two emotions he hadn’t felt in a while, washed over him in her embrace. Zechs close his eyes and thought back to the day that had forever altered the path that he was to take in life… He had hurried back to his room after completing his fencing lesson with Pargon. He had been so excited; he had finaly beaten the old butler. He changed clothes and walked towards his baby sister’s room. Next to his daily fencing lessons, his favorite thing to do was to hold and play with his younger sister, Relena. Everyday, like clockwork, he finished his lesson, changed clothes, and went to Relena’s room. Today was different, however, and when he got to Relena’s room she wasn’t there. Troubled, he sought out his parents. He slowly walked down the hall that led to his father’s office. Strong, angry voices could be heard through the huge oak door that led into his father’s office. He stopped, afraid. His father never raised his voice in anger nor did any of his advisors. Suddenly the noises behind the door were silent. He was relieved and reached out to open the door when all of a sudden the unmistakable sound of agun being fired echied throught the hall. He was terrified and ran away as fast as he could towards his mother’s room.
