Fade

Fade

He was little more than a shadow among the pillars; his brilliant
cerulean eyes the only indicator of the predator within. Across the
room, ebony sparkles barely hide the dragon. Above, hiding among the
catwalks and wires, emeralds glint almost feline-like; watching and
waiting for trouble. On the dance floor, hidden in plain sight,
aqua-marine flames keep watch.

Relena moved through the crowd, a hummingbird in her jewel colored
gown. The perfect vision of a Sanq Princess; she always smiled,
laughed when appropriate. Her delicately gloved hand greeted with a
gentle touch, head tipped in an elegant nod. The center of their
golden world, they never see the emptiness in her eyes.

Only a select few could see past her mask. Beyond the elegant dress
she felt plain, an awkward girl playing a part. Behind the poised
Princess hid the little girl trembling, wishing for all the world to
be just Relena. Dancing with all the right partners, she was light as
a butterfly and twice as beautiful yet heart weary; flirting,
conversing, a smiled lie.

Violet eyes narrowed as the guests started to leave her; the golden
palace tarnished by their grubby hands and greedier souls. Most are
barely over the threshold before the daggers are out. Forked tongues
and glinting steel leaving a round of bloody backs but none as bloody
as hers. Physical wounds could be no worse than what they already give
her.

She begins to wilt as the last of the guests leaves; the sparkling
façade cracking around her, despite her best efforts to keep it
together. The shards of her crystalline mask shredding what's left of
her; naught but shredded wings and a broken heart.

Angelic in appearance with his aqua-marine flames banked, Quatre
approached with a hand to his heart. Tears threatening to reawaken the
flames, "Relena…" it's no more than a whisper but twice as deadly.

She wraps her arms around herself, pulling tattered wings close to
hide the pain. Blue blue eyes betray as the first tear falls drawing
her guardians close. The dragon darts forward, his angry hissing
unusually silent as he gathers her up.

"I'm so tired," her tears turn to sobs.

Violet eyed demon, master of masks, wraps his lithe arms around his
Heero and smiles sadly. "We know."

The revelation is heart wrenching as the sobs engulf her, threatening
to tear her apart. Three years weigh heavily on her, a crushing force
against no resistance. She can do nothing more than muffle her sobs
against her Dragon's shoulder.

Forest eyes glitter as Trowa wraps his arms around his angel. "If
you're ready, Relena, we can fade."