Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Seed and Gundam Seed Destiny or any of its characters.
A/N: Yes. Another AU. Writing out ideas help me sort and separate plot bunnies. I can't promise quick updates; motivation is low, other fics also need updating, and I'm lazy. Sorry.
Rated M for dark themes and probably future content.
" " for speech
Italic for flashbacks, thoughts, and opinions.
I apologize for bad grammar.
Pieces of Heart: Chapter 1: Prologue
When the guest drove-in in the first flush of morning, the servants slipped out from the back while his mother Ezalia Joule personally emerged from the main door to welcome her close friends to their house. The woman trotted down the front steps and Yzak, frowning, followed his parent out.
The car stopped at the curb then three figures appeared from the silver vehicle: one man, one woman, and a young girl, presuming to be the two's daughter.
"George, Fleur, glad you could visit," Ezalia greeted brightly.
"We're happy to be here. You have such an exquisite garden that George had foolishly suggested we leave the car at the gate; it was fortunate that we didn't because we would have never arrived at your doorstep otherwise," the other woman responded with a laugh after taking a glance around.
Since it was June, the Joule estate was awash in trees, shrubbery, daisies— stately white ones and purple salvia, so perfect they almost looked fake.
"Oh nonsense, the yard is clearly a walkable distance," Ezalia replied.
"This is for you, auntie," the young girl said as she handed a tupperware wrapped in transparent white cello sheet to the hostess.
Good etiquette in Martius City was to always visit someone's home with a small gift, usually something edible and preferably homemade.
"My, thank you. Look how pretty you've grown," the woman cooed and adored before turning to look for her son. "Yzak, don't just stand there and come greet the guests."
The six year old boy couldn't help but frown deeper. Not only was he forced to wake up and dress earlier than usual, but he was now also being publicly scolded by an elegant if not proud woman who was also suppose to be a his doting mother. Yzak sighed at this but did as he was told. He went up close and angled his gaze at the married couple whose identity he came to know only three days before.
"Welcome Mr. and Mrs. Allster," Yzak said, trying to sound polite.
The two agreeably smiled back.
"And Yzak, this here is Flay," Ezalia encouraged. "Be nice and show her around the house while the adults catch up, okay?"
Now that the children stood face to face,
"Hello, my name is Flay Allster. It's so nice to meet you." The girl began with smile and a curtsey.
Yzak casted one baleful good look at the girl and knew it was official... He didn't like her. Flay Allster. No surprise there. It was exactly what he had expected. Like in his mother's stories, Flay looked as girly as a girl could be: she wore her bright red hair on the long side which was tied back with a ribbon; her flower summer dress was two-toned, white and pink and flowy; and her sandals were very girlish as well.
For the record, Yzak never did like the stories about his mother's favorite godchild. And now that he'd actually met her in person, he was convinced— he also hated how dainty she moved from head to toe, hated how she smiled at him as if they were already good friends, and most of all, he hated the way his mother looked at her... It was frustratingly similar to how she told the stories— always warm, excited, and adoring— as if this girl was in any way attractive, as if this girl was even anywhere near special as him, as if she was the daughter his mother never had.
Obviously he had not been wrong about that because eight months later, there was a car accident...