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"Friends "Written By: Karina
Series: Friends Pairings: 2+6 Ratings: M 15+ [In Australia] Rated in the event of bad language and violence. Disclaimer: I don’t own Gundam Wing or the characters. That’s the way it is. Warnings: Not a death fic despite how it starts.
Aussie spelling and unbetaed. Summary: When Milliardo Peacecraft is abducted
and left to die a solitary death Duo Maxwell decides to take a hand
in the proceedings.
Chapter 15 There was a time they had been enemies, when each would have thought nothing of silencing the other speedily and permanently. Une inclined her head as Heero settled beside her. He never turned to look at her, his full attention seemingly on the young woman standing on the podium. He was Relena’s bodyguard though he hoped to be much more. To be that ‘more’ he knew he had to give away his current position and trust another to protect her. To be that ‘more’ he had to find someone to take his place, and he was more than particular about who would be guarding her body. Une, looking relaxed, cast a casual eye over the gathering. She wore her Preventer uniform as though it was a second skin, and ran a hand lightly over the skirt, noting with approval the attention Relena was receiving. The young politician worked tirelessly to maintain the peace and espoused one day there would be no need of an organization such as Preventer. Une was not so trusting as Relena Darlian and knew there would always be the need for Preventers, though perhaps not in their current form. Operations requiring Black Ops operatives were a need she preferred to keep secret from such as Relena, who certainly would not approve. The young woman would have had a conniption fit if she chanced to discover her brother’s occupation. In Relena’s view Peacecrafts were not killers. Her brother was a dead man, and dead men had uses; for those who knew how to use them. Few people were aware of the Black Ops section of Preventers, and the Doves, those who preached peace and generally had no real idea what it took to keep said peace, certainly were not amongst them. “Any news on the case?” There was only one case Heero would trouble himself with beyond guarding Relena. The storm was easing and in a few hours it would be possible to get a chopper in the air. It had been one of the longest days Une could recall, though perhaps the worst of those long days would have been the first day without his Excellency. That day of all days had to have been the worst she had lived through. Each day without him was a long day, though this particular day seemed to be inclined never to end. It was after the noon hour and the speeches would be concluding in the next ten minutes. The representatives would adjourn for lunch before Relena would be graced with a three hour break before her next engagement. Knowing the young woman Une suspected she would spend her break doing paperwork, unless Heero provided a distraction. Personally she had yet to decide if she approved the match, though others had made their decisions. Some were heatedly opposed to it, and Une was not eager to be caught up in what would be a messy argument. It would begin quietly; a few words of caution and disapproval in quiet hallways from older political minds, discretely suggesting Relena rethink her political future. With the exception of Duo Maxwell the identity of the Gundam pilots were not widely known, though people in highly placed positions did know the pilots identities. That one of the pilots might ensnare the ‘Dove of Peace’ in a romantic entanglement would be hotly debated behind closed doors. The consensus would be young women, even politicians like Relena, were invariably girls and romance would rob them of common sense… or political sense, as Une personally thought of it. Oh yes, there would be a great deal of discussion about Relena’s prospective husband in the near future. Certain people would give the nod to the match, others would stand back and give deeper consideration, and still others would vehemently disapprove. Relena would find there would be many with an opinion on her romantic entanglement. //I will need to keep abreast of the situation.// That was for later consideration, right now there were other matters of more importance. “The latest meteorological reports suggest conditions will improve for a projected take off at approximately 17:00 hours this evening. It is not the local conditions holding up the rescue, but conditions on the mountain itself. You realize you may be on body recovery and not a rescue mission.” “Quatre believes Duo is alive and comfortable.” Une arched an eyebrow in silent query and tilted her head to the window, silently questioning anyone being comfortable in these conditions. They were separated from the assembly attending the speech, but positioned to best observe the gathering. No one would escape Heero’s eagle eyed surveillance. He shrugged slightly and watched Relena smile sweetly at her audience. Her aura of innocence was masterfully mixed with assurance, competence and strength and she held a unique position within the Earth Sphere Parliament. She made unashamed use of her unique positioning to maintain peace. “Have you informed her of her brother’s abduction?” Une murmured. “No. Have you?” “There are other matters of more concern to her at this time. Paperwork crossed my desk this morning for the lease of a helicopter from Winner Enterprises.” He had wondered when she would get to that. “Quatre had a unit, larger, heavier and more maneuverable than the Preventer craft. It was fully equipped for alpine conditions.” Une considered for a moment before consenting. “Good enough. Maxwell has quite a record for defying authority. He strikes me as being a loner, ill suited to following the dictates of a command structure.” He had known that was coming too. Duo was his preferred replacement, but gaining him the position was not going to be easy. Une was ex Oz and had a mindset that demanded one respect appropriate procedure. “Experience has taught me he has had a reason for everything he has done. It may not be obvious at the beginning, but it becomes clear actions he takes assist in the resolution of a situation, and are generally not detrimental to a successful outcome.” “Preventers needs people who are aware of the necessity for a command structure and are willing to follow procedure. We do not need loose cannons.” He considered Une’s comment as Relena launched into the final words of her speech, taking note of the restless movement amid the audience. Usually these affairs were timed to the last second for maximum attention from the listeners. Speak for too long and an audience would become distracted by private concerns in their lives. “You want the best guarding her. I trust him.” Une pursed her lips. “You may trust him, but does Relena?” “I believe so.” “Why?” Heero blinked, the only betrayal of his surprise. “Excuse me?” “Why would she trust him? To my knowledge Relena has spoken to him on a handful of occasions since the war. There is no animosity between them I am aware of, but why would she place her life in his hands?” “I trust him.” “So, because you trust him, Relena trusts him and it is sufficient reason for me to clear Maxwell’s way to join Preventers? I have to tell you, Mr. Yuy, it takes more than your say so. His past record speaks well of his skills, though not of his dealings with authority. He has little in the way of diplomatic skills, a requirement anyone associating with Relena long term must have. No liking for authority means he will not be particular about respecting required protocols. Maxwell, from his earliest records, has shown he is a law unto himself. Not a particularly glowing endorsement in my view.” Heero gave away no indication of his feelings on Une’s carefully chosen words. It was made abundantly clear Une was not going to be inclined to welcome Duo with open arms. If he had not taken off as he had into the storm Duo would have had a better chance of gaining her approval. “You will not sanction his appointment to her security?” “At the present time, no. He would need to prove himself capable of toeing the line. I need disciplined people I can trust to carry out their assignments without disrespecting authority.” ~ * ~ |
