Renaissance
By skyprincess
Warnings: language, hints of shounen ai
Disclaimers: don't own
don't ask
don't tell
don't sue
Chapter 1:
AC 197
A
cool wind blew across the open campus of Ridgemont High School. Leaves danced
in the breeze, skipping along the sidewalk. The private school's cold brick
building loomed over the trees, benched and walkways. A silent figure strolled
amongst the cliques of chattering students, smiling to himself. The spring
breeze ruffled his bangs and his thick russet braid flowed behind him as he
walked. [These kids are self-absorbed, spoiled brats.] He glanced at a
few more of his fellow students. [I can't believe I was stationed here for
my mission. There aren't even any cute girls.] He shook his head quickly,
shoved his hands deep into the pockets of the black pants of his school
uniform, and continued walking. "Ridiculous," he muttered to himself.
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Quatre
sat in his private jet, reluctant to rejoin the human race. "Everything is so
fucked up right now!" he screamed into the empty aisle. Anyone who knew the
gentle Arabian would've been shocked at his casual use of profanity. "Trowa
disappeared months ago and the time alone has made me remember how utterly
dissatisfied I am with myself." He stood up from his seat and walked to the
cockpit. "How long until we arrive in Virginia?" the little blonde inquire of
the pilot.
"Not
long. . . Maybe 10 minutes or so.?
"Thanks,"
Quatre called out heading back to his seat. He leaned his head against the cold
plexiglass window, as he stared down at the clouds. It looked like the plane
was sailing across white creampuffs.
When
he was first given this assignment, his immediate instinct was to refuse it.
His depression almost interfered with his responsibilities as a gundam pilot.
But deep in his heart, he knew that teh mission brought hope to rise above the
pain; a clean slate, a fresh start. He could finally be the Quatre deep inside.
" Now it's time for a little makeover," he told the empty sky.
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Duo
perched on the ledge of the roof of the school. "I've been here for two
months," he said to himself as he watched a group of freshmen play basketball,
"Never have I felt so alone with so many people around." He jumped from the
roof to a nearby tree, then to the ground. [Man, I'd better see action soon,
or I might get rusty.]
He
headed out to the gardens in his usual posture. Gaggles of girls giggled and
whispered as he walked by, "He's soooooo cute!" " And so mysterious!" "I wonder
if he has a girlfriend?"
The
American sat down on a bench under a crepe myrtle tree and looked out at the
gardens. Spring was just beginning and new growth sprouted all around the
Victorian marble fountain in the middle of the garden. This was Duo's favorite
spot to get away from the noise and the teeny bopper bullshit. [I wonder what
the other pilots are up to right now. It's been awhile since I had a good
criticism from Wufei, stoicism from Trowa, or a death glare from Heero. And
it's been even longer since I had a good talk with Quatre. Sure everybody else
tolerated me, but he actually listened to me. That all changed when he and
Trowa got together. Don't get me wrong. I'm happy for the kid. . . I just miss
him. I wonder how they're doing?] He suddenly heard some shrill girl scream
something incoherent about N'SYNC and shuddered. "I need to hurry up and find
out how this school is connected to Neo-Oz, so I can get the hell outta here!"
************************************************************************************
The
blonde Arabian walked down the stairs to meet his friend Melissa (Sissa for
short) for dinner. She beamed when she saw him approaching, "Hey Quat! On time
as usual."
"Let's
not waste any time then. . . I'm starving."
Quatre
and Sissa sat across from each other at a booth in a small corner cafe. Quatre
nibbled on his tuna sandwich as Sissa related her recent problems with history
class. Quatre listened intently, all the while thinking. [I'm so glad Sissa
and I are friends. Trowa never used to talk this freely with me. In fact, I
haven't had a conversation like this since. . . well, since I last spoke with
Duo.] The blonde took care of the bill and the two hopped on the city bus
and headed back to school. As Quatre and Sissa strolled up the walkway, Quatre
sighed to himself. [I'm enjoying myself so much, but I can't forget my
mission.] Sissa looked curiously at his furrowed brow. "Are you alright?
You look worried."
"Oh.
. . I'm fine. . ." he quickly replied with a smile. They continued walking, and
Quatre continued to try not to look distracted by his thoughts. He soon said
goodbye to Sissa and headed towards the dorms.
***********************************************************************************
Duo
left the gardens as the sun began to sink. The horizon was painted a warm pink
that bleed into starry indigo. As he approached the buildings he was stopped
dead in his tracks. Before him was the most beautiful sight he'd ever seen. She
stood about 5'2" with a delicate frame. Shiny maryjanes adorned her tiny feet
and white knee socks crept up her slender legs. Her red plaid skirt swayed
around her hips as she walked. She had taken her black sweater off and tied it
around her slight waist. Her white oxford shirt was partially unbuttoned
exposing the soft porcelain skin of her stomach. Her short blonde hair rivaled
the golden sun and a small red bow pulled back several of the flaxen strands.
Her bangs swept across her forehead and partially covered her eyes, giving her
a uniquely shy appearance. Duo looked at her gentle facial features and
realized she wasn't wearing any makeup; she didn't need any. The piercing blue
of her eyes shined beneath her thick black lashes and her cheeks were almost as
pink as her glossy bee-stung lips.
He
stood with his mouth agape, a dry lump in his throat, and his heart beating a
mile a minute. The braided boy bombarded himself with questions. [Why
haven't I seen her before? Where is she from? when did she arrive? Is she
single?] Unfortunately, he was so taken aback by her breath-taking
appearance, that he couldn't move. He simply stood and watched her saunter by.
He was then struck with the sudden need to sit down and hide the "problem" that
had arisen in her presence.
The
braided wonder hurried up the back stairwell to his room on the third floor.
With a quick turn of a key he was in the dorm. Tommy, his roommate, had left
the lights on, as usual. [He's probably out with a bunch of people, mostly
girls, busying himself with being the center of attention.] Duo thought,
throwing his jacket on his bed. [I can relate. . . I used to be just like
that, When did it change? When did I change?] He walked to his mini-fridge,
pulled out a coke, and walked across the room to his desk. The CPU beeped as he
presses the power button, and he slumped into the rolling chair with a frown. [I
got lonely.] His thoughts drifted back to the girl that he'd seen before. [I
didn't know that there were hot chicks in Virginia. Hmm. . . She's not my
usually type, but there's something special about her. . . a familiar quality.]
The computer screen flashed in front of his face and the speakers rang out,
"You've got mail," in that oh-so-annoying voice, but Duo was lost in thought. [Maybe
she's the one who'll fill that empty spot inside of me.]
