Elyndys 
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Disclaimer: If I owned GW, I would be happy. I am happy. But to draw
the conclusion that I own GW from those statements would be to affirm the
consequent, and would therefore be an invalid argument.
See?
Pairing: will be 1+2+1/1x2x1; reference to past 1xR
(Rx1?)
Warnings: Part 2 has no warnings. In future parts there will be,
in descending order of size: shonen ai and yaoi; lemons and limes; angst;
violence, but it may only be implied. This is an AU fic. For all other
notes, please see part 1.
Escaping Part 2
Heero locked the cell door behind his empty-eyed prisoner. The boy
hadn't said anything beyond what they already knew, but they had enough to
charge him so that, Heero had been assured, was good enough. Inwardly he
sighed at that attitude: it was a necessary one to do his job, but he was
not capable of feeling that way. It wasn't enough to do the job
adequately, it should be right; the most positive outcome should be aimed
for always. His inability to adjust to their way of thinking was one of
the reasons he was miserable. He admired the role of the police greatly,
and tried his best to achieve the right results… but people wouldn't
cooperate. The criminals refused to see the route that was most
beneficial, and his colleagues tried to explain that his standards were so
high it would be nearly impossible to live up to his perfectionist
targets. And so, he was frustrated. It was all compromise, negotiation –
Relena's job, not his! He was a man of action. He wanted things to happen:
wanted his job to be what policing *should * be.
God, he missed
being in Preventers. He loved feeling that he was really preventing peace
being broken, lives being lost; although he was thankful for the stability
of a system which meant he investigated people's greed more than their
violence, he felt more thankful when he was closer to that violence.
Preventers gave him a chance to really appreciate peace by showing him how
close it came to being taken away. Preventers dealt with the bomb scares,
the arms dealers. There was such a thrill to stopping these people and
events, the feeling of really having a purpose, in a knife-edge way…
It has been four years since he'd had the opportunity to feel that
thrill… Relena had seen to that. He wouldn't forget, he knew, but… she
knew best. She was always so much stronger than him: she used her mind,
rather than the weapons that Heero had had to wield. He had been forced,
by his own inadequacy, to resort to violence, where she stopped the war
using just her words. The world was in her debt. So when, at the end of
the war, she had suggested they get married, who was he to refuse? It was
already certain she would play a key role in peacetime politics, so
hethought it would only be right that he be there to protect her. It was
part of his duty as a Preventer.
But it wasn't long before she
herself decided to strip him of that duty. Being a Preventer, she said,
was too warlike an occupation. He had toagree that it didn't look too
good, a pacifist diplomat whose husband spent his time working daily on
target practice and top secret surveillance and intelligence work, often
highly involved with the military. And so he suggested he join the police
force instead. Due to his previous experience, he was easily able to
become a detective, and achieve a high rank at a younger age than anyone
before him. He was proud of his achievements, of course he was… but the
thrill… did not exist. Not even a sense of satisfaction at results,
because so often they were brought about through compromise.
He
wondered vaguely when it was that he'd begun to feel miserable; when he'd
left the colony? There were lots of things to think about then, lots of
things he had to do. Alone; but Heero had always thrived on
responsibility. Had it been during the war, then? But that was the period
when he had found out that he *wasn't * alone; just at the time when it
has begun to feel futile, endless – he had discovered the other groups,
sent, like him, from the colonies to earth. There had been others, later,
back in space; small bands of rebels, but organised into efficient
fighting groups, highly trained. Except him – he had been sent alone, in
that mobile suit. The unique mobile suit… No-one knew it had been him;
no-one except those who sent him, and Relena. She had seen him, an
accident but it couldn't be helped. She admired his strength, she said,
wanted it for herself; how had she not seen how much stronger than him she
already was? She knew what was best, and could achieve it; so he left the
Preventers when she suggested it. Because it must be the right thing to
do.
Was that when he had begun to feel miserable? Maybe it was.
He sat down at his desk, not really remembering the walk back up
to his office from the cells. A memo on his monitor flashed; he clicked
and read. The formal dinner tonight for the opening of the Earth Sphere
summit. He hadn't forgotten, but had pushed it as far to the back of his
mind as he could. He loathed these occasions now. When he had been a
Preventer, there had always been something to do, security arrangements to
take care of, surveillance to organise, teams to supervise. But now… hours
sitting at the head of the table, next to a light so bright it dazzled
him. Relena's glow put him firmly in the field of vision, brought him out
of the shadows he preferred. But, for all that, he was ignored. Stared at,
like in a cage, but all focus was on Relena. He would be silent all nigh,
listening to people talk about him, not to him. If they did speak to him,
it would be earnest sycophancies about Relena, or polite small talk about
nothing at all. Hypocrites, with pretentious speeches. Nothing else to do.
He clenched his fist silently; an invisible show of defiance. His nails
dug into his palm: hidden strength.
He switched his work sense
back on and filtered his anger, hoping to turn it, as usual, into
motivation. He read the promised notes from the duty sergeant intently,
but he had to leave, or Relena would be… upset.
So he put on his
raincoat, shut down his system and left without a word.
Driving
home, thinking about the information the duty sergeant had sent him. Not
so much information, just some points to think about; oddly enough, about
the conference. Some points to check and re-check, making sure of
security. He would do, he knew. If he could, he would do it tonight. The
people who decided the way the world worked… It was not his place to be
one of them, so in compensation he must protect them.
He drove
unseeingly up the drive to Relena's home; it belonged to Relena, even
though he did live there as well. It was one of her many houses, though it
was the one she called home. He no longer noticed the elaborate gardens or
wide bay windows or the heavy wooden double doors that led into the
hallway. He supposed Relena had never noticed these things: she had always
known such surroundings.
She wasn't around, that he could see or
hear as he walked to their bedroom to change for this function. He dressed
smartly in a dark blue suit and tie; no formal military dress uniform,
Relena wouldn't allow it. No reminders of his life as a soldier remained:
certainly, there were few of his early days, shrouded in secrecy; but
later, when the war was over, those involved had been recognised for their
deeds. The ones who were found, and accepted, that is. Heero was never
sure how he came to be one of that group: he had been good at what he did,
he explained it to himself simply, maybe even the best – but it wasn't
needed anymore… and he was glad.
He was ready now, clean and
dressed and presentable. Relena met him at the bottom of the stairs,
elegant in a silvery two-piece and simple white blouse. She nodded her
approval at his own clothes and took his arm as they left. Chauffer-driven
to the summit venue, a sprawling complex populated by politicians,
diplomats and security professionals.
"I have to greet everyone as
they arrive. It's my responsibility, seeing as it's in my country this
time. Is that alright, Heero?"
"Yes. There are some things I want
to look at myself." She only asked his approval to make sure he was
listening; he always listened, even if he didn't respond, but he let her
know anyway, then turned immediately and headed back out.
Walked
briskly, quietly, unnoticed around the outer perimeter of the complex,
comparing in his mind what he saw with the notes he had read earlier.
Whoever had supplied the information obviously knew what they were talking
about. He checked the cameras, alarms, monitors and the guards themselves,
finding all to be satisfactory; he would probably have checked anyway, but
it was comforting to know someone else thought the same as him, someone
wanted to be certain. The duty sergeant said it was that young man. Duo
Maxwell. Those eyes. Heero wondered what his role was, and why he was
concerned about security at the conference.
But he was back in the
main hall now, weaving through overdressed guests and pompous politicians.
It was nearly time for the dinner to begin, so at least he wouldn't have
to mingle with them for too long…
But then… Something familiar. A
voice, just like in the police station. Again, too far away to hear the
words, but he knew. That leader's voice; even here, amongst the real and
elected leaders of the Earth Sphere, a person with a voice like that could
only be in charge. Even when he was silent, even when not the centre of
attention: Heero would know.
He was getting closer. More of the
words were decipherable. He looked around, and saw.
The young man
was with a group; Heero saw Relena was nearby too, smiling, shining – but
not like him. Heero was good at spotting them: a gang of criminals caught
and in the cells, he could tell which was the leader amongst them even if
he never said a word. And even if he wasn't the ringleader of the gang.
But then an ageing politician blocked his view. The older man,
when he realised he was in front of his host's spouse, attempted
pleasantries. Heero didn't say a word, but the man continued in a politely
and falsely jolly way, not noticing Heero's silence. Trapped. Suddenly, a
hand on his arm.
"Detective Inspector Yuy? Nice to see you again.
Would you mind, I would like a word…" Heero glanced back at the older
gentleman, and found he couldn't even see him; he seemed to have faded
back to become nothing, assimilated into another conversation. He glanced
at his new companion as they walked to an empty spot.
"I came to
rescue you. You looked like you needed it. I'm Duo Maxwell – we met at the
police station earlier?"
Heero looked at the open expression on
his face. "I remember."
"So what are you doing here? If you've
been checking out what I told you I'm impressed."
Heero smiled
slightly. "Yes I have." Before the young man could vocalise the pleased
expression on his face, he continued. "But the main reason I'm here is my
wife."
"Oh, is she with the delegation?"
"Yes, she is the
Sanq Kingdom representative."
His companion's eyes widened.
"Relena Peacecraft? I had no idea. She didn't take your name."
"No."
Duo smiled. "I suppose hers was already established
as a … symbol."
Heero nodded, then thought to finally ask the
question he had wondered about. "What about you? Why are you here?" Heero
thought the young man must be in security, and almost certainly chief: he
couldn't imagine him running errands for anyone else.
"Me? Heh.
I'm a diplomat too."
Elyndys
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