Title: The Angel and the Silencer

Author: Liewe (liewe@hotmail.com)

Disclaimer: Standard disclaimers apply.

 

Relena Peacecraft stood on her balcony staring at the stars, her thoughts were elsewhere though, she was analyzing her behavior during the war, he incessant pursuit of Heero Yuy in an attempt to cover her true emotions.  Sure, she had been grateful to him for all that he had done, but sometimes he had annoyed her completely, she had wanted to get close to the Gundam pilots, so she chased him, she knew she would get to know their identities through him.  She had used him, she’d admit it, she wasn’t proud of what she’d done but she couldn’t help it.  She had needed the information she could gather by doing so, by following Heero Yuy around, possibly risking her neck at every turn.  Now the war was over there was no reason for her to follow Heero around, he wasn’t the one she was after.  He was touring the colonies, she could try to bump into him but it wouldn’t work, he had been disgusted with her behavior, the way she seemed like a lovesick puppy over Heero, he hadn’t known it was him she was after, he hadn’t seen through her façade. 

 

She remembered the first time she ever had seen him, she had gone to the circus with Pagan, it had been his little gift to her, during the war.  She remembered seeing him in his clown get up, the half mask on his face and the vacant look in his eyes, he hadn't even twitched when that girl had hit him with the knife.  She remembered the sudden urge to go down there and take care of his wounds but she had ignored it at first.  Then she had seen him again, when she was chasing after Heero his voice had etched itself into her memory.  When she had first come to Antarctica with the preface of giving Heero his letter it had been to see him, maybe just get a glance at his face without anyone being the wiser.  Her heart had leapt into her throat when she had seen his Gundam battling the Tallgeese but her common sense had reminded her that they had seen him on the way in.  She hadn't been completely dense during those years there was another reason why she stayed clear of him why she pretended to fawn over Heero.  She didn't want him getting hurt when people tried to get to her; of course she had also not wanted her heart to be broken but that was expected. 

 

Somewhere on earth stood a young man, staring up at a scene similar to the one Relena Peacecraft gazed upon, his thoughts reflecting upon the young politician.  It had irked him to no end to see her fawning over Heero, especially when Heero wouldn’t give her a second glance.  Why hadn’t she been able to see him, why couldn’t she have gazed at him with those fathomless blue eyes?  Why had Heero been blessed with her affections when he so obviously didn’t want them, why hadn’t she chosen him instead?  He often perused this well-worn path in his psyche, forever wondering on the welfare of the women he loved.  He was a tall young man, his body still honed from his occupation as a soldier during the war; he was 19 now, 19 and alone.  The pilots hadn’t really kept in touch when everything was over and done with, sure, he saw Quatre every once in awhile but Quatre had his own life to tend to, so did Wufei, and Duo.  He didn’t know where Heero was though, he only knew where Heero wasn’t and that was with his blue-eyed angel. 

 

He remembered the first time he saw her, when she was still a rich brat, living in the lap of luxury ignorant to the pain and suffering of those around her.  He had been drawn by the innocence he had glimpsed in her eyes coupled with a wisdom beyond her years.  He had been working for Dekim Barton, building the Heavyarms, her father had taken her into space with him and she had been walking around with a small entourage, one she didn't know existed.  He remembered the shine in her eyes as she went from shop to shop as he had watched her from his vantage point in a nearby take out place.  He hadn't seen her again until that day at the OZ base when Heero was fighting Zechs Marquise, he had admired her bravery then, and had wondered at her own stupidity.  When he heard Noin berating her for wishing the death of her own brother he had been taken aback.  Then several weeks later he saw her again and he finally gave up the battle with his emotions, he admitted love to her silently, his heart broke every time he saw her chase Heero, and every time he saw her sad.  In the end he had left for the circus in hopes to preserve what remained of his shattered heart, to retain the fantasy of her love.

 

Noin stood in her office silently gazing into the dark, her thoughts on the welfare of her sister-in-law she alone knew Relena’s true feelings, who really held Relena’s heart.  She had promised never to tell a single soul any of the secrets she held tightly within her grasp.  The nightmares, which haunted the younger girl, nor the terror which she, had felt when Trowa had been presumed dead after that escapade involving Quatre and the Wing Zero.  No one but Noin knew, and she had promised never to tell a single soul, she hadn’t even told Milliardo what was hidden in his sister’s heart.  Heero would have been in imminent danger then, Trowa too.  Milliardo was entirely too protective of his younger sibling, he would go to great lengths to ensure her safety; he had proved it more than once.  He did know though, that she was withering away slowly but surely, her heart freezing over, to protect itself from the pain.  They had organized a party, Noin and Milliardo, a birthday party for Relena one that she would not be permitted to skip out on, as she had done in previous years. 

 

The party was to be held a few days after Relena’s 19th birthday and all the Gundam pilots had been invited, so had Catherine, Hilde and Dorothy.  Several members of the Preventer organization who had become friends with the young politician had also been invited to the relatively small get together.  Some people though had been invited due to political formalities; there had been no polite way to forget about the stuffy politicians Relena worked with, no polite way.  Lady Une would also be bringing Mariemaia with her per Relena’s request.  Some many more preparations were to be made before the party; Noin had been doing everything herself since Relena had taken ill due to work overload.  Milliardo was not being of much help due to his worrying over his sister’s health, and trying to keep the whole situation concealed.  He had managed to keep the fiasco quiet for a week but shortly the news would go out and the world would know about Relena Peacecrafts questionable health. 

 

Trowa stood in his tent staring at the paper with disbelief etched into his face; his mind just kept repeating the phrase "Relena Peacecraft fainted at a meeting last week, everyone in the household keeps saying no comment."  He was scared for the first time in a long time, she was ill and no one was saying anything, no one had been saying anything since she fainted at a meeting a week ago.  They didn’t have a show for the next three weeks, he could take some time off, he was owed time off he needed to check up on his angel see how she really was.  To see with his own eyes her condition, to make sure that she wasn’t leaving him behind, like all the others did.

 

Relena Peacecraft lay in her bed completely unaware of the turmoil surrounding her, and her love’s dilemma about her health.  She was dead to the world, comparatively speaking; she was in such a deep drug induced sleep.  The doctors had said that she was suffering from severe exhaustion, and stress, their prescription was bed rest, complete and total bed rest for until her party.  She was banned from the office, banned from going anywhere near anything that resembled work.