Heart of the Sword
Chapter One
by zapenstap
The prairie lands of Northern Cinq stretched ceaselessly into the west. Fields of wheat and barley choked the land, long stalks like golden grass climbing up the legs of workers in the field.
Heero sat on a protruding boulder, worn smooth over the years, ignoring wheat and workers both. He sat facing Southeast, staring into an empty and pitiless sky. It was early morning, and cool yet, but by noon the heat would grow, and likely as not, he would still be sitting on this same rock, staring into nothing, thinking little of the present, not of the past, and wearily circling the future. Or perhaps he would leave.
He pulled at the grains on a stick of wheat, ripping them from the stem and letting them sprinkle onto the surface of the rock and around his shoes. He wasn't terribly interested in the chaff he held, but it occupied his hands, and somewhat his mind.
Deathscythe was in the field behind him, tromping about like an enormous black stain in a field of gold. But its scythe blazed boldly forth, glaring green even in the morning sunlight as it thrashed the heads from the wheat stocks. Heero supposed that was what scythes were for. Strange that such a practical tool could be turned into a merciless weapon. But Duo didn't look at it that way. Actually, neither did Heero, but he entertained the thought in his distraction. It might be something a civilian would say. Perhaps Relena would say it.
His throat was parched. He wished he had something to drink. Something strong.
He heard the Deathscythe approach from behind before it got close. One would have to be a blind rabbit not to notice a gundam tromping through the field, even a stealth model. He was glad that its shadow did fall across him and obstruct the sunlight. He wanted to drink it in before it became too hot. He didn't turn when the cockpit lowered and Duo leaped out on a suspended cable either.
"Heero! What are staring at, man?" Duo didn't bother waiting for an answer Heero wouldn't give, but plopped down beside him and began rambling about the wheat and the Deathscythe. He always talked about the Deathscythe. Heero listened, but not attentively. In the middle of Duo's stream of self praise, Heero stood, still staring Southeast.
Duo crossed his legs and put his hands on his ankles. "What the hell, Heero? Why don't you just go talk to her?"
"What are you talking about?" Heero said blankly, not looking at him.
Duo sighed with more noise than necessary and laid back on the rock, staring up into the sky. "Nothing, I guess. Are you keeping up with Preventor stuff?"
"Some," Heero replied. "They seem to have it under control."
"Yeah, well, if anything happens, you know who they're going to call first." He grinned. "Makes you feel good, doesn't it, to be in such high demand?"
Heero said nothing for several seconds. "I'm going to the New Port City to speak with..."
"Relena?"
"Sally and Wufei," Heero finished curtly. Duo's expression fell. "You can stay here and thrash wheat."
Duo tucked his hands behind his head, closed his eyes and smiled knowingly. "Is that your way of an invite? Reverse psychology? Too proud to ask me to come along? I don't have any reason to go to New Port City, Heero."
Heero looked back then, but without much expression. He turned away and stepped off the boulder, landing solidly on the ground. He didn't want to have to deal with this. "There's trouble in what used to be the Taravren Kingdom, small and to the east. Rumors mostly, but there could be a rebellion brewing."
Duo snorted. "You are keeping up with Preventor intel." He rolled his eyes and talked out loud to himself like he always did. "Why does that surprise me? So, who's the leader of Taravren?"
"Jacob Ravineere was King before the nations were dissolved, but he's now the President, and still the main power."
"Yeah?" Duo commented, waving a hand. He still hadn't moved. "Is he also the rumored leader of this rumored rebellion?"
"His record is clean so far," Heero said deeply, throwing his coat over his shoulder. "But his son Damion is coming to Cinq as an ambassador to hold counsel with the Peacekeeping Officials and speak with the Preventors at the Parliament Council this afternoon."
Duo chuckled. "Which means he'll talk to Relena and you can watch both of them. Way to kill two birds with one stone."
Heero stiffened. His voice was cold. "There's nothing between Relena and me." He was emptiness itself.
Duo laughed again. "Right. Hilde and I are just friends. That's why she writes me love letters when I come to Earth to hang out with you and the others. Come on, Heero, you're not fooling me, but if you want things to progress you better do something, because I can guarantee it that Relena won't wait around for you forever. Rumor has it she's already starting to think you really don't care." Duo turned his head to look at him. "Do you care?"
Heero locked eyes with Duo in some belligerence. "Relena can do whatever she wants."
They stared at one another for awhile and then Duo sat up and swung off the rock. "I guess she can," he muttered and Heero could tell that Duo was frustrated with him. "I'll get Deathsycthe to a transport."
"You won't need your Gundam."
Duo merely looked at him. "Hey, I just don't like leaving it lying around. You wouldn't leave Wing Zero either. I know you have it stashed around here somewhere. You're just trying to order me around." He grinned and waved nonchalantly, "I'll meet you at the airport at 3:00."
He whistled as he walked away, long braid swinging. Heero watched him walk to the Deathscythe and then turned to the southeast again, toward New Port City and Cinq's capital. His own thoughts confused and distracted him, so he ignored them and began walking to where he had left the Wing Zero.
*****
Relena set down her hairbrush and stood in one fluid motion. She turned to look in the full-length mirror, examining the pale blue suit with the Cinq Kingdom scrollings on the collar and shoulders and down the front on one side. She wore slacks and a trim coat today instead of a skirt. She also left her hair down because she had shortened a few weeks ago for the summer and could afford to look professional without having to tie it away from her face. Even so, she looked youthful, too youthful for her job, but as long as people listened to her, she supposed it mattered little. And after the Mariemaia incident last winter, people were asking a lot of questions. They wanted reassurance, and she could not give that and look her age at the same time.
Her morning tea had already begun to cool, barely warm by her estimation, but she lifted it from her desk and drank it anyway, for the caffeine if for nothing else. Then she gathered her clipboard and headed out of her room. It was sad that she had a desk in her room as well as a personal office just down one floor, but work needed to be done all the time, and there was no one else to do it.
She smiled as she stepped out her room and bathed her face in the sunlight that poured in through the many windows running down the hallway. She bypassed the elevator and took the stairs down to her office. Terrese, her shared secretary (she worked for several representatives) greeted her with a mischevious smile and waved her over. They were a mismatched pair, but Terrese, being young herself, had taken Relena into close confidence as a friend over the past few months.
"You have a busy day today," Terrese said with a knowing look and a twinkle in her eye. She glanced around for anyone that might be listening (they were alone) and hid her mouth behind her hand as she spoke low for Relena's ear only. "Boys by the dozen are going to be tramping through here today, and a good number of them are about our age."
"Oh, Terrese," Relena said, but more with fondness than exasperation.
Terrese grinned wickedly and leaned back. "I know you care, even if you don't let on." Relena opened her mouth, but Terrese forestalled her, pointing her pencil stiffly in Relena's face like a weapon. "And don't give me that tired excuse about being too busy for boys. Everytime that Gundam Pilot comes around you fall out of chair to try and accomodate him." Relena sputtered an indignant protest, but Terrese's gleaming eyes and flashing smile held the floor. "Hey, I don't blame you, girl. He is beautiful and built and I know you have some sort of bizzarre past connection, but just do me a favor and don't limit your options. Damion Ravineere is paying your little council a visit today and I have it on high authority that he's a hottie, not to mention wealthy and popular. Can't say that for your Heero, can ya?"
"Terrese," Relena sighed. "Is this harrassment really necessary?"
"Yes it is," Terrese said firmly. "They're already calling you the Princess of Peace. You don't want to add Virgin Queen to that charming title."
"Terrese, it would look much worse if they called me other names. I have to be more careful about my reputation now than I've ever been."
"Whatever," the dark-haired girl said dismissively. "All I'm saying is that you should keep your options open."
Relena tried to think of something to respond with but instead they both ended up laughing helplessly.
When her mirth subsided, Terrese opened her drawer and handed Relena a clipboard. "Here's all the people that want to talk to you," she said. "I put frowny faces next to the ones you probably don't need to bother with, but you should definitely set up appointments with the ones I've got starred."
Relena scanned the list and handed it back to Terrese. "That's what you're here for, my dear assistant," Relena said. "To set up all my appointments. I trust your impecable judgement."
"Well thank you, Miss Vice Foreign Minister Darilan," Terrese replied with mock severity. She winked and smiled. "I'll get right on it. I'm sure you have tons of other things to do."
"Always," Relena said with a smile and accompanying sigh. "Don't let anybody in my office until noon except for those people on the list I gave you."
"Uh-huh," Terrese said. "All your friends and family."
"Preventors," Relena said with a tsk.
"It's a family business," she said dismissively. "Plus Heero, whom you'd like to be family."
"Terrese!" Relena screeched fiercely.
"Okay okay," Terrese laughed, waving her away. "Go work. I've got you covered."
Shaking her head, Relena slipped into her office and sat down in her chair, already feeling weary before the day had begun. But, she had to admit, she liked it, and her desk was swamped with important papers. She hoped to get through at least some of them before the lunch council gathering that required her attendence, her and a hundred other dignitaries.
By eleven oclock her patience had worn thin, her caffeine kick had dissolved and the stack of papers didn't seem to be diminishing. She guessed that only meant she was sure to be employed for some time to come, but it was discouraging.
Terrese tapped on her door. "Miss Darilan?" she said politely, poking her head in.
Relena looked up. "Yes, Terrese?"
Terrese made a face, mouthed something obscene and then said in that polite tone, "Heero Yuy and Duo Maxwell are here to see you." Then she winked.
Relena gestured that they be let in and Terrese grinned and ducked her head out. Relena heard Terrese's murmured welcome before Heero strolled in with Duo following just behind. Duo's gaze wandered lazily around the room, even up to the ceiling, but Heero's eyes focused on her. They always did.
Relena rose from her seat and smiled. "Heero, Duo, it's good to see you. I haven't seen either of you in some time."
"I've been in space," Duo said with an air of worldly charm. He clapped Heero on the shoulder and grinned. "But Heero's been around." Heero just looked at him, not menacingly, but not friendly either. Relena recognized all his looks and thought little of it. He was beautiful, and welcoming when he tried, and always kind, but he had difficulty dealing with people, and especially with people he was close to, perhaps because he was afraid of closeness. That made her heart ache, but she could never pity Heero Yuy; he didn't need it, didn't want it, and she didn't feel it for him. Besides, she had difficulty with closeness too and did not handle it half so well.
There was a moment of awkward silence. There always was. When Heero came, it was always on business; Relena had come to expect that. They did not have idle conversations, though sometimes words passed silently between them. When they were alone they said nothing, sitting or standing together in comfortable quiet, drinking it in the other's presence alone. When they did speak it was usually about the world. She had long since given up trying to convince Heero how much he meant to her personally. He simply did not believe it. And he never did know how to respond.
So now they simply stood and looked at one another.
"I'm going to go," Duo said dubiously after a minute. "I need to talk to...Wufei. I'll talk to you guys later." And he slipped out of the room.
Relena faced Heero from behind her desk, standing, hands clasped in front of her. She was beginning to grow comfortable with the pool of emotion that rose in her gut when he was around, but it had begun to change of late. The longing to be closer to him grew every time she saw him now, and recently she found herself longing to touch him, any part of him, but even that innocent desire made her feel dirty and she blushed thinking about it. It was human contact she desired, not sexual satisfaction, and she wanted it more for him than she did for her, but as there was nothing real between them, the idea embarrassed her.
"I'm here to investigate rumors of rebellion in Taravren," Heero said finally, and his gaze slipped off her face the moment he spoke.
"I know," she said quietly. "Sally said something about it the other day."
Heero nodded. "I just wanted to know you were all right."
"I'm fine," she whispered, and inwardly begged for him to say more. Time stretched.
He shrugged. "Then I guess I'll be going." He turned and walked out before she could say anything to forestall him.
Standing stupidly behind her desk, staring at the door, she could think of nothing at all. Her thoughts were empty. She realized there was a smile on her face that had appeared only when he turned to go, as if recalling some lost memory.
It was then that she realized he had stopped using her name to address her. Come to think of it, he hadn't said her name to her face since last Christmas and the Mariemaia incident. As the door closed, she bit her lip and sat down again, hands still in her lap. For some reason, she suddenly felt like crying, and there was a dull ache in her chest. She sat like that for some time.
The clock struck twelve. She was late for the council. She was never late.
"I need to get over Heero," she muttered fiercely to herself.
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