She felt a small jolt to her system as she entered the Catalonia estate for the first time, the walls nearly reverberating from the opera playing from hidden speakers throughout the mansion. The effect was all the more impressive as deep pools of light shone through the tall glass windows on either side of the main parlour room, giving the space a church-like feeling.
Dorothy appeared with her usual flair as the music crescendoed to a high, the chorus booming as the owner of the estate sauntered up to the Vice Foreign Minister, her smile as scheming as ever. Seeing two guards standing just a few feet behind her, however, she frowned a little, waving them away to the waiting area.
“Go on now!” She called out to them dismissively. “Miss Darlian and I are old friends and we would like a little privacy from time to time, thank you!”
Relena looked at the tall blonde with some exasperated amusement as the guards reluctantly fell back to the waiting area, obviously irritated with Dorothy’s nonchalance. The young diplomat couldn’t help but smile a bit as she regarded the blonde, shaking her head, and she had to admit that she was still getting used to the idea of being ‘friends’ with Dorothy generally. Nevertheless, while their visits to each other were relatively infrequent, Relena had always liked something about the girl—perhaps it was her bluntness that attracted her, as Relena could hardly act in such a manner herself. It was nice to vent a little when they saw each other, and let Dorothy say the words out loud that Relena could not speak.
“I have to say, Dorothy, this place really seems to … suit you.”
Dorothy raised one of her long eyebrows with a smirk. “Oh, you mean because it’s loud and dramatic?”
Relena’s expression was serene.
“Your words, not mine.”
The reply took Dorothy so by surprise that she threw her head back, crowing in her distinctively high-pitched laughter as she lead Relena to a private sitting area a few doors down from the main hall, the music dying down as they took their seats inside. She feigned a look of hurt at the younger woman, resting her chin on the top of her hands.
“Honestly, Queen Relena, you never fail to shock me!” She turned back to the desk her elbows rested upon in the next moment, pulling out one of the drawers with a grin as she found her prize. “Ah, look! Right where I left it.” Dorothy revealed a dark bottle of red wine and two glasses as she gingerly shut the drawer again. “It’s vintage, you know—A.C. 136!”
She started pouring the drink before Relena could protest, ignoring the small look of apprehension from her friend. “Oh come on, just relax for once. This was my grandfather’s; I’m sure he wouldn’t mind it if we had a little—don’t you think?”
Relena looked off to the side a little sadly. “I don’t recall your grandfather thinking very kindly of me, Dorothy.”
“That’s only because he didn’t get to know you, you precious thing,” she countered with a sickeningly sweet tone, making Relena frown at her condescension. Nonetheless, once the wine was corked and set aside again, they both picked up their glasses and clinked them, taking a small sip. Relena was pleasantly surprised by its sweet flavour, taking another, longer sip before setting down her glass. She was glad that Dorothy had shooed out her security detail in that moment, secretly enjoying the private exchange.
Dorothy picked up on her friend’s quiet thrill, smirking widely. “So, it seems you’ve gotten through four whole months without getting kidnapped! Is that a new record?”
Relena nearly spit out her drink as her companion giggled, glaring at her once she’d collected herself again. “It’s not as if I’m trying to get myself into these situations,” she said quietly. Dorothy only sighed dramatically at her serious tone, looking bored.
YOU ARE READING
Slow Burn
Fanfiction[Gundam Wing A/C; a 1xR series of vignettes post-Endless Waltz.] He had always been conscious of the fact that she—Relena Darlian Peacecraft, Queen of the World—loved him, and him alone. And yet that was the problem, since he could never give her wh...
