Authors note: Hey everyone this is my first fic for Gundam Wing and I hope you all enjoy it. Please let me know what you think and remember it is rated M for a reason. I don't own anything but the plot and my characters. R&R please Now on with the show!
"Dang it!" the blonde young man yelped as the box he was carrying decided to evacuate its contents in the middle of the hall. Sighing he began to pick up the scattered paraphernalia that would lead one to believe that its owner was a very organized individual.
"Oh hey, let me help you." A young brunette woman offered, bending down to scoop some papers, trying to keep them in order.
"Thank you. " He blushed taking her in. Red silk and lace camisole that hugged her curves and tight dark blue jeans and black flats, Her wavy chocolate brown hair hung over her left shoulder hanging just below her breasts. Her eyes were a startling grey violet.
They stood, "Sure, no problem." She smiled sweetly. "I'm Faith, I live in 6B." She adjusted the files in her arms.
"Nice to meet you. I live in 2C." Though his arms were still full of papers he tried to extend his hand almost losing the files he just collected. He could feel the blush creeping into his cheeks.
She giggled. "I'll help you." Following him to his apartment she noticed that he was very unique. Platinum blond hair, a bit of a tan, she figured he was toned up from the way his peach button down shirt moved with his every motion. His backside looked marvelous in the light khakis he wore. She flushed when she caught herself watching his bottom move.
The door was propped open; there was a couch, entertainment center and small coffee table with only a few boxes.
"Anywhere is fine." He set his stash on the counter. She did the same taking in his apartment. "Can I offer you some tea or coffee? It should still be hot." He pulled down two cups.
"How about a name?" She got a good look in his eyes and was mesmerized. They were a lively bright beautiful aqua blue color.
He blanched. "I'm uh…Chris. Chris Hoffman." He had used this name once in the Beijing on assignment.
She smiled. "Nice to meet you but I have to get going."
"Of course." He walked her back to the hall way. "Thank you again for your help." She looked familiar to him but he couldn't quite place her.
"No problem. Welcome to the neighborhood." She winked and left.
Shutting the door he leaned his head against the wood exhaling deeply. 'She didn't recognize me.' He didn't know whether to be happy or sad at this fact so he chose to remain indifferent and went to unpack his things.
He made his queen sized bed with cream colored sheets and a dark brown blanket. His phone began to dance around the nightstand signaling an incoming call, checking the caller ID he saw it was his sister Iris. H couldn't answer it. He couldn't face anyone just yet. The war had been over for two years, he tried to go back to work but after having to review all the damage that had been done by himself, the other pilots and the enemy he just couldn't focus or handle the stress anymore. He had seen enough devastation. Way more than someone his age. He just needed a break, so without saying a word to anyone he packed a few things and caught the first flight to earth paying in cash leaving no trail for anyone to follow.
Picking up his phone he ejected the battery, removed the small GPS chip and broke it between his fingers. Returning the battery to its rightful place he put it into a drawer where he also kept his Glock and magazine. One could never be too careful.
He unpacked his clothes and attempted to turn the neutral space into his.
Around 11:30 that night he heard a very odd sound coming from the hall above him. Quickly grabbing his gun he listened at his door. It sounded like a struggle. Making sure the coast was clear he made his way up the stairs gun at the ready.
"Where is he?!" A male voice growled. There was a very distinct accent he mentally filed away.
"I don't know…..Haven't seen him in a month." She gasped out squirming around trying to get free. The girl he met earlier took a sharp slap to the face.
"If I find out you're lying to me," His face was inches from hers. She flinched with every word, his hand tightening as she gasped for air.
"Let her go." He made his presence known his semi automatic weapon trained expertly on the male.
"New boyfriend already you little whore." He scoffed.
"Let her go now or I'll shoot." He said more sternly cocking the hammer back, making sure she was still conscious.
He smirked. "If you see him give him a message for me," He released her neck and in one smooth well practiced motion he slugged her with a sucker punch and threw her to the man with the gun whose reflexes were so fast he caught her before she hit the ground.
"Faith," He put the safety back on tucking it into the waist of his pants at the small of his back. He held her in a sitting position cupping her face gently. "Can you hear me?"
She moaned and blinked open her eyes. "God damn." She choked out hoarsely. He made a quick scan of her making sure she was alright. Her throat was already bruising, her lip was split and her jaw was bright red. Once she caught her breath she looked up at him.
"Thank you." Her voice sounding like gravel to her own ears.
"Can you stand?" He helped her up as she nodded making her steady on her feet. "Was that a friend of yours?" He helped support her weight as she got her land legs back.
"No. My ex owes his money. I haven't seen James in almost a month and a half." She shrugged.
"Huh." He contemplated the information. "Do you think he'll come back?" He was still on alert concerned for his new neighbors' safety.
Again she shrugged unlocking her door and waving him inside. Locking her door he made another mental note of the two dead bolts, chain and regular lock. She was defiantly trying to keep someone out.
Her apartment was of the same floor plan as his. Small yet functional, very spars but inviting, a couch, two chairs and a coffee table made up her living room, a square pub styles table and four matching chairs made up the dining room. Her breakfast bar was where he sat at one of the three stools sitting at the counter. He watched her put a kettle on the stove running her hands up and down her arms as if trying to get warm. He knew better. She was trying to keep herself from falling apart.
"Nice place. " He tried to make small talk.
She sniffed. "Thank you. I'm really sorry about….that." She gestured vaguely to the door as she pulled down two miss matched coffee cups.
"Don't worry about it." He played it off. She put instant coffee into the mugs and hot water giving him one. She pulled out a dark green bottle of Jameson from the fridge and added a shot to hers before offering it to him. "No thank you." He took a sip.
She did as well pushing some hair out of her face she looked at him. "So Chris," She leaned on the counter offering him a nice view of her supple breasts under the red tank top. "Where are you from?"
"Around the L3 colony." He flushed slightly.
"Space?" She seemed shocked.
"Yes."
"Well you're a long way from home. "She smiled wincing as she did.
He stood. "You should get some ice for that." He gently took her face into his warm hands. His long delicate fingers ghosted over her split lip sending shivers down her spine.
"Uh…freezer." Was all she could manage to get out.
He smiled and grabbed a rag filling it with ice cubes and placing it gently on her face.
"Thank you." She said softly.
"No thanks needed." He tucked some hair behind her ear. 'What am I doing?' He scolded himself. "What about you. You have a slight accent I can't quite place." He took his seat back at the bar trying to calm his racing pulse.
She looked shocked. "You can hear it?"
He smiled and nodded. "The cadence with which you speak is a little different than most and with some of your words there's the faintest tweak to them."
She sighed. "Wow," She let her full Irish burr come through unfiltered. "Most people can't hear it. I've learned to talk without it mostly. It draws far too much attention. I like to go unnoticed. I can't believe you picked up on it." She grabbed a picture from her fridge. It was an older picture of a man and woman with two brunette little girls. "That," she pointed them out, "was my mom and Da and my sister Hope." She smiled sadly. "They all died when I was little."
"I'm sorry. My mother died when I was little too." He sympathized.
"Sorry." She looked at him sadly. Funny how she seemed to comfort him even after all she went through this evening.
He shrugged. "Are you sure you'll be alright?" He motioned to her neck.
"Yes, Chris. I'm fine thank you…for saving me."
"Don't mention it." He walked to her door with her following a half step behind. "Thanks for the coffee."
She unlocked her door and opened it. Leaning up on her tip toes she kissed his cheek gently. "Have a good night."
He could feel the heat rush to his face. "You too. " He stumbled. "Lock up when I leave. If you need any thing I'll be home." He fidgeted with the hem of his grey tee shirt.
She nodded and closed the door, once he heard the second deadbolt slam home he went back to his apartment.
She leaned against the wooden door exhaling deeply and painfully. Her throat ached and she knew she should be scared but all she could think about was her new neighbor and the way he had held her and touched her lips. 'Hello therapy.' She mentally chided. She stripped out of her clothes on the way to her bedroom, took two Alieve and went to bed.
Once in his apartment he opened his laptop and cracked into the local Pd database. He searched through mug shots until he found who he was looking for.
"James 'Jimmy' O'Fallon, 6'2 196lbs."He scanned the profile. "Loan shark, small arms dealer, possible connection with the IRA." He committed a lot of the information to memory incase he decided to harass his neighbor again. Thinking of his neighbor his body remembered the way she felt in his arms, soft and warm, her lips felt soft. He wondered what it would be like to have her body beneath his and her lips on his. He felt himself start to stand at attention. Shaking the thoughts from his head he closed his laptop and sighed. He should get some sleep. He would have to search for a job tomorrow.
A/N: Soooo…what do you think! Let me know! Hope you enjoyed and will continue to enjoy as I post more chapters! Thank you!