Well, this is my first Gundam Fanfic and I know it's not actually December yet but it's after Thanksgiving and that means I can do all of the Christmas themed stuff I want! So this was just an idea i came up with one night, it's probably not going to be that many chapters but I'll do my best to make t interesting. Please enjoy! :)
Lyle frowned as the wind blew across his face. It was far colder than it needed to be. He turned a corner was blessed by the wall that stood obstructing the wind. He paused and enjoyed the stillness for a moment before continuing on. There really wasn't any reason for him to be out and about that late at night but he'd been feeling restless and unable to sleep so he'd though a walk might tire him out. He passed a lighted shop window and looked in. Shiny toys were displayed inside. He smiled briefly and walked on. Christmas was so near and he still hadn't done any of his shopping.
He turned another corner and had to stand aside for a group of men, all of whom were laughing loudly. He waited for them all to pass before continuing on is way, he didn't really have a fixed destination in mind. He wondered aimlessly, his feet making new footprints in the snow. The streets were clearing out, people were going home. He'd tried turning in early but that had failed miserably.
Things were just getting unbearably cold when he decided he could take no more and turned into a brightly light pub. It was wonderfully warm inside and he took off his coat at the door. A few people glanced up from their beer and dinner but most ignored him. He took a seat at the bar and ordered, taking a sandwich with his drink. He looked around. The place was decorated for Christmas. A couple strings of lights, a wreath round an Irish flag, a few garlands and some holly stuck in at odd spots all gave the pub a rather seasonal look.
The bartender noticed him looking around. "Got a problem with the décor?" He asked, grunting.
Lyle shook his head. "Not at all."
The door opened again and a couple came in they sat at a table near the window and held hands before ordering. Lyle drank and waited for his sandwich. There was music coming from a radio behind the bar. Old Christmas carols from God Knows when that everybody had hear a million times before. He didn't mind though, they were kind of nice. He sipped his beer before deciding what drink he would order next. He had a feeling the bartender was taking his time with the sandwich to make him order more. That's why the peanuts were there, to make him thirsty. Well, they were working and he ordered another round.
The door behind him opened again but he didn't look back. He didn't feel like getting another gust of cold air blown in his face, instead he hunched over his beer and waited for the cold to pass. Whoever it was that had had the audacity to disturb his pleasant warmth came up to the counter and shook off his coat. He took the sea two stools away from Lyle and asked for a bottle of Guinness. Lyle glanced at him as the man unwrapped his scarf and made himself comfy. "Ooh," The man said. "And some soup too. This cold is killing me!" He laughed and made an attempt to stop his chattering teeth.
Lyle ignored him and cracked a handful of peanuts. "Here ya go." The bartender said, placing a bowl and a bottle in front of the new arrival.
Lyle was indignant. He had been there twice as long as the new guy and he still hadn't gotten his food. "Hey, I've been waiting." He said, rather crossly. The bartender gave him a nasty glare and then went around back. He returned with the sandwich. "Bout time." Lyle muttered, digging in.
"How is that?" The other man asked. Lyle shrugged, not looking at him.
"It's okay. The wait kinda sours it." Truth be told it was a pretty good sandwich but he was too pissed about being made to wait to admit it. The bartender gave him another angry look. He must have taken the décor thing pretty hard, considering Lyle hadn't actually said anything negative about it in the fist place.
The other laughed and turned to him and Lyle almost spat his drink out. Sitting only two stools away from him, looking just as shocked was his very own twin brother. He gaped and almost knocked over his beer. "Holy shi-..." He couldn't even finish the sentence.
Next to him Neil was doing the same. Out of the corner of their eyes the saw the bartender drop a glass and break it. Neil raised an eyebrow and grinned. "Never thought I'd run into you." He said.
Lyle nodded as they both regained composure. "Yeah, what are you doing here?"
"Stopping in for a drink. Same as you."
He'd actually meant what are you doing in this city but didn't pursue the subject. He took a drink and then looked his brother over. Looked healthy enough. He popped out a cigarette and offered the package to his brother. Neil refused. "Don't smoke." He said. Lyle shrugged.
"So, how ya been?" Neil asked. Scooting over to bridge the gap between them. "Keeping yourself occupied?" He swallowed some soup and downed the rest of his bottle and called for another one.
"Guess so, same old same old." Lyle said, doing the same. "How about you?" He took a bite and eyed his brother's soup, thinking ordering some for himself.
"Can't complain. Had my share of ups and downs."
They paused and then both of them sighed. "This sucks." Lyle said. "Can we cut the small talk crap? It's making me sick to my stomach."
Neil nodded and the two of them relaxed. "I'm in town on holiday. I thought I might get back home for a few days and see how things are. Do you live around here?"
Lyle nodded. "Yeah, down he street." He eyed his brother. "You got a place to stay?"
"I'm gonna check into a hotel or something."
It was really just the desire not to be left alone of Christmas that made him offer. "You could stay at my place." Lyle said.
Neil weighed his options and smiled. "That would be great." There was some measure of guardedness but it was friendly. "You sure about this?"
"Yeah, why not? I'm alone for the holidays, you're alone. Lets hang out. How long do you think you'll stay for?"
Neil grinned. "I'll be gone day after Boxing Day if that's okay with you?"
"Sounds fine."
They finished up their drinks and left the pub, they'd both had a little too much to drink and Neil sang, much to the annoyance of some passers by.
"Oi, dumbass!" One of them shouted. "Shut the hell up!"
Neil gave them the finger and continued on. Lyle laughed and joined him. He wasn't that drunk and he wondered if his brother as either. He kind of doubted it.
"Effing pricks." One of the offended passers muttered.
They unlocked the door to Lyle's apartment, an old brick one that was connected to it's neighbors on both sides. Inside Lyle set him up in the guest room and they turned on the TV. A reporter was taking in front of a burning building. "Wouldn't be Christmas is something wasn't burned down." Lyle said rather cynically.
Neil nodded and drank his coffee, watching the news. "Guess not." He watched as the camera showed different angles of the charred out house.
"Well, if that's all that's on, it must have been a slow night for news." Lyle made himself more comfortable on the couch. "Anyway, what are you gonna do for Christmas?"
"Dunno, kick around your place, I guess."
"That's cool. I was gonna go to Mass, do you wanna come along?"
Neil gave his brother a considering look. "Yeah, I'll do that." He privately thought that going to Mass was a good idea, it would have made his parents happy. He wondered if that was the reason Lyle wanted to go.
"I gotta go shopping tomorrow. Wanna come with?" Lyle asked.
"Yeah, that would be nice." Neil grinned. "Now that I'm here looks like you gotta buy me a present too."
Lyle snorted. "What, coal ain't good enough for you?"
"We all know I never got coal a day in my life. I was always a good kid."
"Yeah, whatever and you gotta but me something too. None of that home made bull crap."
Neil pretend to look hurt before going off to bed.
Lyle wasn't sure why he'd invited his brother back to his house. He could have let him just walk off and things would have stayed the same but instead he'd taken him with him. "Oh well," He though. "At least I'm getting a present out of it."
I think this first chapter was kind of awkward reading but I plan to make the next better, they go shopping in the next one and i plan to make it funnier. Thank you for reading!