[Gundam Wing FanFiction] Hinter dem Horizont

Chapter 7

The gruelling disease slowly showed its true colours. Relena tried to convince Heero of their way together to the future - she needed to make him understand to face the upcoming impediments that would come to their path.

April 27, AC 202

Vice Foreign Minister Residency, Brussels

Heero woke up with a start.

He blinked a few times as traces of drowsiness still lingering within him. His left limbs trembled as he sat up shakily; and he used his right hand to pull up his weight. His room was dark; there was only a slight glimpse of light from the lamp on his nightstand. His eyes fell on the wall clock in front of him; it read at 7 pm. He overslept a couple of hours, then.

Heero slowly moved to the edge of the bed, and stood up carefully. Dragging his nearly dysfunctional left leg, he limped to the desk beside the bed and seated himself on the chair. He reached for his laptop and logged in, frowning as he checked his mails.

The death of Lady Une had blown the entire Preventer with condolences and shock. She was shot in the exchange of gunshots fire in the Preventer's international-scale raid which took place a week ago, in the front line. Casualties couldn't be avoided, Heero knew this; because Göstav's forces were well-organised, well-equipped, and most importantly, well-fed. He apprehended eminently at how well-fed soldiers could be very well daunting; for he experienced it himself during the war. The raid lasted well into three days across the continents, before finally Heero's unit under Duo's command gained the ground of immobilising Göstav himself – at the cost of his life, for Göstav didn't have the noble intention to surrender at all. But it was out of his calculation that Une would actually go into the front line herself – he respected her decision, but he had hoped that she would not be one of the casualties for he had learned to trust the woman to be one of his greatest strengths. She was a great friend, a dependable colleague, and a charismatic leader.

He was immediately alerted of the situation when he woke up in the hospital; and took over the chain of command to quickly arrange the necessary actions despite the strong objection from Sally for him not to go back to work so quickly. Of course, Heero ignored her; but he had kindly – in his favour – not overexerted himself. He obeyed Sally's request to just do his job from the hospital, "You would only need to administer your issues via the computer, and your men would take care of everything. It's technology, Heero – you've got no excuse."

So Heero consented, and fully understanding his own condition, he pointed Wufei as temporary commander. Wufei declined the appointment fiendishly, saying that there was no other person was appropriate for the job but him – Wufei would only act as a transitory chief of staff; only executing orders and policies which would still be proposed by Heero.

Thus, he canvassed a new scheme for the invasion raid, leading the Preventer, once again, to victory. He was told by Sally that Relena had arranged everything for him to stay at the vice-minister residency; his few clobbers and accoutrements from his flat in the Preventer's residence complex had been removed. At first, the idea struck him with a deal of dismay; him living together with the vice foreign minister seemed not right – but then Relena had talked with him in person, promising him that it would be kept silence and only a few would know. Relena wouldn't accept any arguments; and had been adamantine with the issue.

"I am your next-of-kin," Relena reminded him. "I am responsible for you. I will not accept a no in this matter. Coppens and Sally have told you, I believe, and like it or not, you're not facing this alone. You will not live all by yourself anymore – I am your family. I suppose you are aware of this?"