Authoress Notes: Okay, this plot bunny happened to me in the weirdest way. Three friends of mine - you should know who you are if you're reading this, guys! - and I were talking about Gundam00, and we were talking about Feldt and Lockon. On the way back from Rascals, no less. Well, Lorrie and I were talking about how Feldt and Neil were adorable together and that Lyle could have Anew, and I said I felt bad for him and then said how he beat the crap out of Setsuna after Anew died. I said he went Mike Tyson on Setsuna, and Lorrie goes, 'He bit his ear off?' Lol. Anyway, I was thinking and wham! This bunny appeared and began running furious circles in my brain. And thus, this was born. Lorrie and Kyla also helped. Yaaay.

Claim: I lay claim to this plot bunny and the weird way that it was spawned. Whoo.

Disclaim: With great sorrow, I disclose that I hold no ownership over Gundam00. Sad. Anyway, I don't own Feldt or Lockon, or he totally would have lived. Yeah.

Soundtrack: [None]

Chapter 00: Fate

Sniffling and cradling the orange metal ball to her chest, a small young girl with moderately short pink hair made her way outside to the small yard that blossomed to life with flowers that swayed gently in the warm summer breeze, painting a picture of graceful elegance.

However, it completely contrasted with the little girl's mood as she crouched onto the cobbled pathway, sniffling as she tried to rub the tears from her eyes as quickly as they fell, failing miserably as they traced cold, wet tracks down her face, dripping off her chin. She had been crying a lot lately, but nothing she thought about could aliviate the agony ripping through her chest like a blade, slicing through everything.

Her parents were dead. She had only been told this recently, and the brusque manner in which the man had told her was nothing short of cold and indifferent, even when tears fell down her face, unchecked and unwanted. She had a vague grasp on what her parents had done as their job.

But that was the furthest from her mind at the moment, her thoughts replaying the cold words in her mind. 'My parents are...dead. Dead. Not coming back. Dead.' Like a record, they replayed over and over until she felt sick to her stomach, intestines curling like someone were gripping them too tightly.

"Feldt! Feldt!" Chirped the orange mechanical ball before her, rolling side to side as small circular compartments flapped, small eyes blinking a pale red. "Cheer up! Cheer up!"

"I-I can't, Haro," she murmured, and she plucked the small sphere from the ground, holding it to her chest like a small animal, the tears rolling off the smooth metal like rain. "It's just you and me now, Haro."

"Me and Feldt! Me and Feldt!" Echoed Haro, and a watery smile pulled at Feldt's lips. Placing her companion down, she blinked as he rolled away, and she reached a hand towards him.

"Haro, where are you going?"

"Me and Feldt! Play! Play!" His chorus of repeated words were growing fainter and fainter as he faded from sight, and, given nothing else to do, she followed him with clumsy steps, still trying to erase the existance of tears from her eyes.

"Hi there, little guy." A new voice broke the still silence, and Feldt came to a stop, searching for the source. She knew Haro had rolled in this direction, and she needed to find him. He was her only friend at the moment, and she refused to lose him as well. "Where did you come from?"

"Haro! Haro!" Robotic and clipped, Haro said his name twice before falling silent again, and she raced forward, rounding a small corner. "Feldt! Feldt!"

"Haro, what are you-" Feldt cut herself off, finding her companion being held by a boy who looked older than her, and was definately taller than her. Green eyes narrowed, and she glared at the boy before her. "Who are you? And give Haro back!"

"...Oh. Does he belong to you?" The boy smiled in return to her hostile look, unfazed. "My name's Neil. Neil Dylandy. Who are you?"

"...Feldt. Feldt Grace." She introduced herself warily, aware of her parent's words to ignore strangers, even if they were children like her. This boy was...weird. Chocolate brown hair framed his smooth, alabaster skinned face in gentle curls, and pure blue eyes stared back at her, observing her curiously.

"Well. It's nice to meet you, Feldt." He smiled, his head tipping to the side as he extended his arms, Haro still clutched in his hands and he walked forward, depositing the orange ball into her arms. "You can have him back."

"T-Thank-you," stammered Feldt, cheeks warming as she focused her gaze on the ground. "What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to see if there were any kids near here around my age." He made a face. "Playing with my little brother and sister isn't much fun sometimes."

Feldt didn't know what it was like to have siblings, she was an only child. It made her aware of the lonely cavern inside her chest, and tears pushed to the surface of her eyes again. He - Neil, wasn't that his name? - looked startled as she fell to her knees, clutching Haro as tightly as she could.

"Hey, what's the matter?" He knelt before her, watching her in confusion. "Feldt?"

"I don't have anyone anymore..." The tears fell, unchecked by her fingers. "I'm all alone..." It hurt to verbalize what she knew was the truth. There was a momentary pause, and then a hand landed on her head, rubbing it lightly.

"My mom said that making girls cry was bad. 'least, that's what she says when I get mad at my sister." A lopsided smile pulled at his lips. "So...I'll be friends with you, if you want."

Feldt blinked. "Really?"

"If you'll stop crying, sure. Little girls shouldn't cry, you know." He stood, and she rose, pouting.

"I'm not a little girl!" she protested, and he grinned, stifling laughter.

"Sure. Whatever you say." He turned, pausing. "I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"

"O-Okay!" Feldt called after him as he disappeared, waving over his shoulder.