Chapter 1: Late Nightz

I awoke suddenly. Thunder ringing loud in my ears. It was nothing new. Same time, same place, same mediocre loft. Same ol' Zero. I sat up in bed wiping the sweat off my forehead, trying to shake off the dream i was having. The same dream thats been plaguing me since i was 12. The night my parents died. Even 8 years later, that night was still fresh in my mind. I was playing xbox, while i waited for dinner. The unknown mobile suit slipped into our colony undetected. Mind bent on destruction i could only guess. No one knew how it penetrated our defenses.

All i remember was mom telling me to come get my plate, when missiles tore through my building in sector 4. My parents ran into my room and tried to get us all to safety, but our building collapsed before we even got out of the room. The only thing that had saved me was the protection of my parents bodies, sheltering me as the burning building enveloped us. After the mobile suit finished it's chaotic warpath, all buildings in sector 4 were destroyed. With a death-toll of nearly 2,500. After 3 days of screaming, crying, and praying workers from the Peacecraft organization finally dug through my building and found me, and what was left of my parents. I was sent to live with my aunt and uncle in sector 42. After my parents funeral, i kinda became stoic, and refused to talk to anyone. I remained like that for about 2 years. In those years i was home schooled and visited regularly by a grief councilor. It helped me out alot. I eventually finished school, got a decent job working with mobile suits, and gundams. And from there, I went on with my life. Everything worked out for the best, but sometimes (like now) i would just get into a slump.

I slid to the edge of the bed and put on my slippers. As funny as it seems, i still wear Buzz Lightyear slippers that glow in the dark. Some things never change. I stretched and walked down the hallway, looking at the pictures of friends and family. It's always been a family tradition to have a hall of fame, well, a hall of pictures of people anyway. There was one picture my ex had taken of me and some mobile suit pilots i would soon become best friends with. I looked at the picture with the inscription ' Zero, Duo, and Trowa shootin the breeze' . I had just made some minor repairs to their gundams, and asked if i could get a picture with them. We'd been friends ever since. I smiled as i continued my walk down the hallway The house lit up as lightning struck a transformer outside. Then the entire house went black again. Great.

I sulked into the kitchen, holding the walls as i walked along. I reached the fridge and went searching inside. I think it was about time for some change. I took out some gin and juice. Laid Back. I sat at the counter and felt out my favorite shot glass. It was tinted black with a red bottom and a few little spikes on it. My kind of glass. I sat there and downed a few shots, 10 to be exact. All the while the thunderstorm is getting worse outside. I started wondering if the tarp on my new project had blown off. Between my thoughts and sudden rambling to my self, i noticed i was drunk. Instant Gratification, or not. Nevertheless, i was tore the hell up by the time someone came knocking at my chamber door.

" what the hell?" i asked myself, in my, no-doubt slurred voice.

I walk/stumbled to the door and looked through the peephole. I couldn't see anything since it was pitch black. Dumb-ass points for me.

" Who is it?" i asked warily,

"It's me," the person said, at least it was a female voice.

" I don't know any me's, try next door." i said getting agitated. I love being drunk.

" Cmon Zero, Let me in. It's dark and i'm scared." she said from the outside of the door,

I could have let the person stand there all night, but i wasn't shady. Ignorant, but not shady. I unlocked the 3 dead-bolts and slid the crossbeam back. Hey security is everything to me, laugh if you want. I bet no one breaks into my house. I took a deep breath and tried to sober up real quick and opened the door. I couldn't see her but i knew her smell from anywhere. Herbal Essences shampoo, Cucumber melon lotions and body spray. JayLa. Hmm...

" what are you doin here? " i asked suspiciously, " last time i seen you, you were driving off with your new man."

" yeah i know," she said sighing. " you were right."

"what's that supposed to mean? I'm right that you're making a mistake? or i'm right that he's not exactly what you think?" i said guarding the door.

" can we talk about this inside, its a lil creepy out here." she said coming close to me.

I can almost taste the last time me and her touched. It was a bitter taste. The taste of deceit, of unworthiness.

The last time i touched her was a hug and a kiss good-bye, as she rode off into the sunset with her new 'thug' Malik. Not to mention she left in the new Mustang GT I bought her 2 weeks earlier.

"sure." I replied moving to the side.

She shuffled past me and collapsed on the couch. I watched her carefully as i re-secured my front door. Even through the dark i could see her long dark orange hair splayed out on the couch, the tiny shirt she wore i supposed to show off her goods, some pants so tight i figured they were painted on. I looked back towards the door, secured the last lock, and sighed. After all she had done to me, all i could do is look at her and smile. I could just tell it was gonna be a long day.