Bedtime Story

Trowa sighed as he sank into the small couch in his trailer. Tonight's show had been tough since he was filling in for one of the acrobats. In an abstract way he was angry that he had found it challenging. Two weeks of relaxation, no missions, and he had settled into life at the circus. He was getting soft. He sighed again and hauled himself off the couch to check on his guest.

The other pilot was still in a coma. Trowa frowned at the healing body. What had prompted him to pick up the other pilot? Respect?

He turned away and went to the small bathroom to wash away the sweat and stage makeup.


"Hey Cathy," Trowa called out to the woman who seemed to have adopted him when he joined the circus. The knife-thrower was waiting for him outside his trailer.

"Hi Trowa. I thought I'd come over and sit with your friend. They say that coma patients can hear some of the things that go on around them. If not I'll only feel silly for talking to a sleeping guy." She smiled brightly at him over her shoulder while entering the trailer.

Trowa just nodded and followed her inside. He went to the kitchenette while Catherine headed to the bedroom. After making himself a quick snack he wandered down the hall to prop himself against the doorway. Catherine was reciting a children's poem in a soft voice.

"The owl and the pussycat went to sea in a beautiful pea green boat. They brought some honey and plenty of money wrapped up in a five pound note. The owl looked up to the stars above and sang to a small guitar, 'O, lovely Pussy, O Pussy my love, what a beautiful pussy you are, you are, what a beautiful pussy you are.' Said the Pussy to the Owl, 'You elegant fowl, how charmingly sweet you sing. Oh, let us be married, too long we have tarried, but what shall we do for a ring?' So they sailed away for a year and a day to the land where the bong-tree grows, and there in the wood a piggy-wig stood with a ring at the end of his nose, his nose, with a ring at the end of his nose. 'Dear Pig are you willing to sell for one shilling your ring?' Said the Piggy, 'I will.' They took it away and were married next day by the turkey who lives on the hill. They dined on mince and slices of quince which they ate with a runcible spoon. And hand in hand by the edge of the sand they danced by the light of the moon, the moon, they danced by the light of the moon." She sighed softly when she finished.

"My Mámá used to read that to my little brother and me every night before bed." Catherine's voice was wistful and sad.

Trowa didn't say anything as Cathy went back to reciting poems to the comatose pilot. Something about that poem had struck a chord in him. He slipped out of the doorway and headed back to the couch. He hoped a mission came soon. He was starting to long for the content feeling hearing Cathy recite that poem gave him.

end


note: the poem is The Owl and the Pussycat by Edward Lear and the point, if anyone missed it, was that Trowa is Catherine's little brother. (it's in the manga)