The Art of Politics

by Ri-chan

Disclaimers: I don't own Gundam Wing, and nothing much of anything else, either.

Warnings: None.

Relena looked up from the paper she was reading. This was the second time in five minutes that Quatre had stood up to walk around the room. Strange, since the man usually had the patience of a saint to deal with the small crisis that had arisen earlier in the week.

However, since that had been dealt with and they were putting the last finishing touches on the crisis he had been acting odd. It was almost as if he was trying to get himself to do something.

"Quatre?"

He turned his head at his name, but Relena knew that he hadn't *really* heard her. It had been an automatic response to his name. Sighing, she gave up on trying to gain his attention and went back to the matter at hand.

Fifteen minutes later he was at it again. Relena hurried up the last paper and turned to the man pacing the length of the room in front of the large table they had both been seated at. She looked around and found the room deserted but for the two of them.

'I guess they couldn't put up with him today,' she thought.

Taking the matter in hand, she stood in his path and waited. Almost colliding with her, Quatre finally stopped with her blocking the way.

"Relena?"

She saw confusion in his eyes but it was quickly replaced by a nervous twinkle in the depths of his eyes. A quick thought raced through her mind that they were like the ocean after a storm but she shook her head.

"Quatre, you need to sit down," she said in a quiet voice.

He looked startled as if he just realized his behavior. "Gomen."

Laughing softly, Relena smiled at him before going over to gather the papers she had been reading. She was startled when Quatre joined her. Turning to him, she looked carefully at his face again and found a determined look on it. "Quatre?"

"Relena," he started. "I have..."

She looked at him strangely when he stopped. "You have...?"

"I have something to tell you." The words rushed out of his mouth and he smiled a small smile, the embarrassment resting on his face in an endearing manner. She smiled at him encouragingly.

"I..." He stopped and took a swift breath before he looked into her eyes.

Relena didn't have time to think as he moved his head down to brush his lips against hers in a soft caress. Her brain stopped as he stood there, his mouth resting against hers as it lay there.

"I wanted to tell you that I love you," Quatre whispered.

Blue eyes widened in shock at the declaration, but they were threatening to pop out at his next words.

"And you love me."

Relena couldn't think as he slowly stepped back and turned back to gathering the papers on the table. 'What did he just say?' Her mind refused to function as a million thoughts went every direction but straight. Anger flowed through her as she realized that he had already moved on to the next thing in his life without giving her a chance to answer. Shock followed as she thought about how he had been acting lately and she just now noticed. A warm feeling flowed through her, but she couldn't name it. What was it?

She was brought back to the present when Quatre brushed against her arm as he moved away. Reaching out a hand, she held onto his arm when he would have gone to the other side of the table. Pulling the papers out of his hands, she set them back on the table.

"You're right." She stood up on her tiptoes and pressed her lips against his.

The door to the room opened without a sound and two faces looked quickly in before it shut again.

"You owe me five credits," Duo laughed.

Zechs shrugged. "I underestimated him in winning my sister." He dug into his pocket as he looked at the grinning former pilot. "I underestimated you as well, since you obviously knew what he was going to do."

Duo gave a quick bark of laughter as he pocketed the money. "The Q-man knows how to go after what he wants." He left it at that as puzzlement swept over Zechs' face. His laughter rang through the halls.

OWARI~