Cluster Fray
When I saw your beauty in the field,
Dancing among the lillies,
I knew I must have you.
Why do you run away from me?
If I can't have you, no one will.
-TO CATCH A BUTTERFLY-
Chapter 2
TO SEE HIM THERE, leaning on one hip against the wall, you could never have figured the guy was one of Titantia's pilots. Were it not for the uniform, the bold, golden, stitched lettering you could never have guessed it.
Her head had dipped down again but this time it wasn't into the book. She seemed less conversational than before, it threw Hiro off. The confidence waned and there was a crack of fragility in her face. That left Hiro looking at 042 looking at him.
This guy, he was older than 009 by a few years or more. He was enormous, looked like he could fight his way out of a tight corner. There was a lot of intelligence in his eyes, there was also arrogance.
Then he changed, like he was operated by a remote control and someone had switched the channel. He smiled a wide boyish-smile and shook Hiro's hand.
"Pleased to meet you I'm 042."
Hiro nodded. His voice matched his bulk; a low rumble. Probably what a brown bear would sound like had it learned to talk. The pilot rested his giant frame on 009.
Funny how 009 clammed up. She sat blank at the table nursing an empty cup of tea. They seemed polar opposites of each other, nothing in common except mission priority. He put his hand on Hiro's shoulder, it felt like a bag of concrete.
"So I hear you're putting us up for a few days?" said 042.
"Dr. Franxx said you'd be staying at the dorms with us." he replied "I can take you there now if you'd like."
He agreed. 009 followed them. About nine o'clock he settled them into the dorms, afterward Hiro dawdled over to 009's room. Once he was sure they were alone he meant to ask about the message.
"You stare like the others." said 009.
He looked at her in silence, didn't know what to reply. Noticed she was kneeling on the floor with her back turned to him. There was silence except for the sound of the rising wind. Silence again.
Because of the lighting he could see clearly her reflection in the glass plated window. Then she turned at him, head slightly tilted, eyes nearly covered by the bangs. On her ripe, round, corral lips curved a smile.
At this point it was difficult for Hiro to tell if she had come closer or if he himself had. Eventually her lips touched his cheek half-heartedly, and from the pause it seemed rather awkward for the both of them.
"Sorry." 009 whispered.
He questioned her with his eyes, but the firm steady gaze of the young woman controlled his look. Supposing that's what the message was. He thought.
"She said to tell you she's sorry." she added.
His hand went instinctively up over where her lips had previously been. Hiro let fall his head like a defeated man, heaved a sigh that sounded like a groan. 009 saw the gloom, the despair in his face.
Her hands folded neatly in her lap. Still watching him. Waiting for the dam to break. He nodded, vaguely, then moved away and leaned up near the door into 009's room.
ANY OTHER PERSON WOULD HAVE BEEN THERE to comfort him, not 009. At times she found it hard to relate to others and, in that way, she was more kin to Zero Two than other parasites.
The Titania pilot went to get showered and dressed for the evening. Within thirty minutes, she returned. Hiro was where she'd left him. He seemed out of sorts, pressed into the corner, flattened against the wall.
She wafted over to him, rocked on her heels tapping his nose lightly, still steaming from the hot water.
"Sorry. I just miss her a lot." he said, "Don't you have anyone special?"
She waited, "I'm sure I don't know what you mean."
By the way she replied Hiro could tell through the timidity she knew what he was asking. He decided in that moment he would push the conversation further and see, wait and see how far.
"Like 042." he replied.
Her face changed, "He is my partner. But that does not mean he is special to me. Besides it's not like we can pick and choose who we battle with."
It was certainly not the response he anticipated and following that he was unsure how to reply. The stillness in her face and lack of eye-contact made him wonder.
She seemed less and less a warrior but a free spirit trapped by current circumstances. He had but only a moment to appreciate the companionship he had with Zero Two. The connection they shared was unique because most parasites were paired up based not on their compatibility but solely how they worked together as a team.
Some pilots didn't get along with their partner and resented being stuck with them. This was the case with 009, and although she's the senior officer of Titania it was still up to APE to pick her partner.
Her fingertips reaching, grazed the smooth skin under his chin, held him still.
"You want to be my pilot don't you?" said 009, "It's okay. I know a lot of parasites want to be with me."
"What? No!" Hiro stammered.
He tore his face away from her hand. She smirked, he blushed. 009 could see that Hiro was really a decent fellow. He was touchingly devoted to Zero Two; and he evidently had moods of gaiety and a great capacity for enjoyment.
She realized then his qualities were admirable. 'Soon enough he'd know what it's like, to be wasted by Papa and the others until there's nothing left to give.' They were quiet for some time. Her wet hair sparkled in the light.
"Your code is very high-" Hiro started.
"It's getting late." she said.
This at last was all he could squeeze out of the pilot. As her attention progressed slowly from him to the window, the moonlight shone full and smooth. There was still so much he wanted to ask. But by this time he too was tired and after wishing her a good evening went away.
