"Don’t worry, if you studied I’m sure you did fine." Relena was confident and supportive as usual.
"Relena, what do you have to worry about? You always do well," declared another groupie.
"That’s because I study hard," replied Relena.
"Miss Relena, I’m sorry to interrupt, but you have a visitor." Pargan bowed to the princess and the members of the group.
"Who is it, Pargan?" asked Relena.
"It’s Heero Yuy," answered Pargan.
"Oh. I see," replied Relena. "Will you excuse me for a moment?"
"Of course," said her followers.
As the princess and her butler walked out of the courtyard, the admirers whispered among themselves.
"Wow, Heero Yuy! Wasn’t he one of the Gundam pilots?"
"Yeah, I think he was."
"Relena’s so elegant, meeting with so many important people."
"Oh, I wish I could be more like her!"
~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~
A figure waited in the shadows of the entry hall. Maids and menservants whispered among themselves and avoided walking through the front hallway. One was brave enough to ask the guest if he would like a seat, and earned herself a glare and a cold No.
"Heero?" Relena walked into the hall and greeted the dark figure. "Why are you here?" "Relena..." Heero raised his head and looked into her eyes. "Can we talk in private, please."
"Certainly." None of Relena’s surprise and confusion showed through her even tone. "Pargan, will you please have tea sent to the west parlor."
"Certainly, Miss," replied Pargan.
~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~
Heero and Relena sat and sipped their tea in silence. Finally, Relena broke the spell.
"So Heero, what is it that you have to tell me? Why are you here?"
Heero set down his cup. "I’m working for the Preventors now. That’s why I’m here. I am part of a mission to find new recruits among students in the top schools of both Earth and the colonies."
Relena sipped pensively. "And you want to do it quietly and discreetly. I see."
"Yes," said Heero. "We thought it would be better than asking people to come to us. This way, there are no dreams of glamour and heroics, and we can be sure that those that we accept know what they are doing, and can keep their work in perspective." He picked up his cup again. "We thought it best to recruit younger people, as they will have fewer preconceived notions of how the world ought to work. We can teach them what war really was, and why we have to prevent it. They will also have no previous loyalties to any of the war factions."
"Heero, you talk of younger people as though you’re not one of them. We’re both just eighteen," said Relena with concern.
Heero looked out the window as he spoke. "But we are no longer young people that live life on a whim. You are one of the top officials of the World Nation’s government, and you are doing a better job than many of the older adults. I am working with Sally, Noin, Wufei, and Duo to prevent our world from falling apart. I wouldn’t consider anyone who fought in that war a child."
They both sat in silence, reflecting on Heero’s words. Then, trying to lighten the mood, Relena asked, "So, is Duo working with the Preventors now too?"
"Yes, we’re all helping out. Duo is still spending a lot of time with Hilde working in the junkyard, but he does a lot of the Preventor monitoring in that area. Trowa spends most of his time with the circus, and of course Quatre is very busy as the head of the Winner Empire, but they both help as much as they can. Wufei, Sally, and Noin are working full time, and we even see Zechs sometimes."
"Yes, my brother. He doesn’t visit often, but we talk whenever we can. You know he and Noin are engaged?"
"Yes." Heero spoke the word painfully, and Relena looked at Heero’s face in surprise. He looked exhausted.
"I’m sorry, I wasn’t thinking. Of course you’ll be tired. I’ll have someone give you a room, and I’ll arrange for the school uniform to be sent up." Standing, Relena looked at Heero. "You will be acting as a student?"
"Yes," replied Heero, also standing. "I’ll begin classes tomorrow morning."
"Very well, I’ll see you then."
They bowed to each other and went their separate ways, Heero to check in on the Preventors’ system and Relena to make her excuses to her teacher.