So, so, so much love for this scene. A++ to Mark Hildreth for the sheer amount of WTF in Heero’s voice (speaking of, DIDN’T KNOW THIS but Mark Hildreth a. voiced Sten in Dragon Age, b. was Reginald Pole (SIIIIGH) in The Tudors, and c. is a Shakespearean actor? And pretty damn good looking? Be still my heart).
Now for the question on everyone’s mind: What the hell is going on between panel 2 and panels 4 and 5? Dimension wise, it looks like Wing’s hand should be over Relena, not the shield. And the hand is empty in panel 2, but is holding onto the shield in panel 4. Just…. what? I have to call animator error on this, because the physics just do not work.
Oh, yeah, and there’s that whole “why is he saving Relena” thing.
I think it’s because of what Dr. J said about him last episode: “Heero’s actually a kind-hearted young boy.” He doesn’t kill people because he likes to - he does it because there is no other choice. His actual instincts are to protect people, and that is exhibited clearly here. Given the chance to allow Relena to die, he doesn’t even hesitate to save her. He gives it so little thought that the first thing he says is “What the hell am I doing?” Every second of his training is screaming at him to kill her/let her die, but he cannot fight what he knows is right. Relena has done nothing but stumble onto something far bigger than herself, and no one deserves to die for that.