I've finally done it. I don't know if anyone out there will ever actually READ this fic, but I've done it and it's out on FFnet! I hope you enjoy it, whoever may read it :)

Hikaru: The Techie, the Idiot and the Red-Haired Wonder

Hikaru was a loner. He did everything alone. He always had.

He was an only child. His parents spent his childhood fighting with each other, so he spent all his time at home pretty much alone. At school he was considered a weirdo by the kids and an 'odd one' by the teachers. He was dedicated and got good grades; in the end, that's all they cared about.

He progressed through his education, alone. He got a job, a dangerous one, but it was well-paid and the focus 'bot-breaking needed helped him forget just how alone he was. He brushed off everyone who tried to get close to him, simply because that was all he knew.

When the robots rebelled, Hikaru suddenly felt like he could really do something. He never boasted, but he was under no illusions regarding his abilities, and promptly signed himself up for Exo-Force, thinking he was just what they needed. He got through the primary training with almost perfect scores, and for a moment he had felt giddy. Lonely little Hikaru, helping to save the world…

And now he was standing in Sensei Keiken's office, waiting to be introduced to his new team.

If he didn't respect the sensei so much, Hikaru would be thrice-damning that interfering old man.

The door opened; Hikaru looked up, and saw his first teammate. A broadly built young man, probably only a year or so older than Hikaru himself, dressed in red with green hair and eyes, and a cross-shaped scar on his right lower jaw.

The other man noticed he wasn't alone in the room and scowled, folding his arms defensively against Hikaru's gaze. "I suppose you're one of the guys Sensei's lumping me with?"

Another unwilling 'volunteer'. Great. "I suppose." He repeated coolly, not intimidated in the slightest.

The scowl deepened. "You gonna give me a name, or am I gonna have to make one up?"

Hikaru seriously considered the latter, and then took note of the glint in the other's eye. No way in hell was he setting himself up for some derogative nickname from this bozo. "My name is Hikaru." He silently wondered what the other would think in regards to his name's meaning, translating as 'light' or 'shining'. "And yours?"

"Takeshi." 'Military', 'warrior', 'chivalry'. An honourable name wasted on a thick idiot. Damn, they'd been in the same room barely a minute and he already hated the guy.

Judging by the glare he was currently facing off against, the feeling was mutual.

They were just lapsing into a tense silence when the door opened again and all prospect of peace and quiet was shot out of the sky. "Have no fear; Ha-Ya-To is here!"

Hikaru barely refrained from snorting, Takeshi not even bothering. Ha-Ya-To? 'Falcon person'? What the hell were this guy's parents thinking?

"Don't worry," the Red-Haired Wonder continued, oblivious, grinning infuriatingly and winking one golden eye, "like I said, I'm here. You can start now." He swaggered over to a chair and plonked himself down.

Takeshi growled. Actually growled. "Oh yeah, I don't like you."

"You're not the only one." Hikaru muttered, too quiet to be noticed.

"What!" Ha-Ya-To squalled, voice shrill with displeasure. "What's not to like?"

Hikaru couldn't help himself. "Would you like the full list, or just the top five?"

Takeshi's attention turned back to him. "Who asked you?"

The blue-haired pilot was about to answer with something along the lines of 'Are you deaf? Ha-Ya-To just did.' When the door opened a third time, letting in Sensei Keiken and another figure.

This one was a techie, judging by the orange overalls, and he had a mop of violet hair being kept out of his sapphire eyes with an orange headband.

Sensei Keiken eyed Ha-Ya-To disapprovingly, and it took him a moment but the pilot leapt out of his seat with a remorseless grin.

"Hikaru, Takeshi, Ha-Ya-To. You have no doubt already met one another." He cut to the chase, looking at each of them, eyes piercing through to their souls and probably telling him exactly what they thought of their prospective teammates. He nodded over his shoulder to the techie. "This is Ryo."

'Bright', 'clear'… Hikaru had to admit, it seemed to suit him. The name described his eyes. Ryo smiled shyly and waved. "Hi."

"Hello."

"Yo."

"Hi!"

The blue-eyed young man glanced at Keiken, then smiled broadly, his confidence building. His name described his smile too. "Okay, don't tell me who's who. I'm gonna guess, just to show you I'm not blind or dumb."

Hikaru protested. "That's really not necessary-"

"Of course it is!" Ryo interrupted. "I'm just a lowly techie in front of three experienced pilots, after all." He declared modestly. He placed a hand on his chin, supporting the elbow with his other hand, a thoughtful expression in place. "Let me guess… you're… Hikaru, right?"

The former 'bot rancher nodded and Ryo's grin widened. It was oddly endearing. He turned to the larger green-haired pilot, taking his hand from his chin to point lightly. "And you're Takeshi?"

"Yup." Takeshi nodded, almost amiably.

"Bet you can't guess who I am!" Ha-Ya-To broke in smugly.

Ryo's grin became an almost childlike smile, hands now clasping behind his back as he straightened almost to attention. He wouldn't stop moving!

"You're Ha-Ya-To." He stated confidently, sounding so matter-of-fact that Hikaru found it absurdly tempting to say 'Really?' and actually mean it.

Ha-Ya-To's own grin seemed to split his face, eyes sparkling. "And you're Ryo!"

Cue rolling of eyes from Takeshi.

The smile became serene, but the voice no less cheerful, the techie now rocking on his heels. "That's me."

Takeshi chuckled and Hikaru glanced at him. There was a glint of something in his eyes, but it was gone too quickly for the blue-haired pilot to identify it.

"You are a team now." Hikaru almost jumped, having forgotten the old sensei was there. "You are going to be training and working together from here on out. I suggest you learn to work as a team, as it is the only way you will succeed."

They spoke as one, with varying degrees of enthusiasm. "Yes, Sensei."

A team. Consisting of himself, Ryo, Thick Idiot and the Red-Haired Wonder. Only his flawless self-control kept him from throwing himself at Keiken's feet and bawling 'God, please, NO, Sensei!'