Author's note: I do not own Gundam Wing or its characters. This is for the 30 Kisses challenge using list eta. This is set during Zechs and Noin's time at Lake Victoria. Theme 29: Science.


Basic Anatomy

They were supposed to be studying for the biology final coming up. The truth of the matter was neither Zechs nor Noin were paying to much attention to their textbooks. Noin was perched bed while he sat on the floor. They had spent the past hour drilling for the tactics class, and they were currently loosing the battle to stay focused on school work.

Zechs had long since discarded the mask. He leaned against the foot of the bed, eyes closed in exhaustion. Noin played with his hair, constructing braids of various sizes. With a sigh, she let go of his hair, her hands falling to his shoulders. He sat up a little straighter as she started kneading his shoulders.

"God, Zechs. What have you been doing? You're back's in knots."

He shrugged. "It's finals week. What do you expect?"

Her hands continued to move across his shoulders. "I expect you to take care of yourself. We can't have our next great commander collapsing on the battle field due to high blood pressure."

That was his Noin all right. Always worrying about him. Zechs sighed and closed his eyes, letting his mind wander. And as it had been frequently in the past few months, it decided to wander to the subject of Noin.

Raven hair framing a pale face with dark violet eyes. A slender frame that belied its strength. Delicate hands that were deft at everything from repairing mobile suits to sewing stitches in first aid. And her mind. Noin was the only one among their classmates who could keep up with him academically. In the fields of linguistics and engineering she even surpassed him. She had a keen grasp of knowledge, but what was most amazing to him was her ability to read him. Whenever they were partnered for anything, he rarely needed to voice his plans or ideas. Noin was always right where he needed her, ready with whatever he needed without ever being asked. And she seemed to know exactly what he needed to hear, even when he didn't know it himself.

It was hard to believe how much was wrapped up in her. She was his childhood friend and his fiancée due to a contract signed by their parents. She was his companion and confidant, the only one here at Lake Victoria who knew who he really was. Actually, she was only one besides Treize who knew who he really was. And she knew his plans. Knew them and offered her support. She offered him a shoulder to lean on, an ear when he needed someone to listen, and simply a presence when he needed not to be alone.

"Zechs? Hey, anybody in there?" Noin's voice called him back to the present.

He tilted his head back to look at her. "Come're, I want to try something."

The bed creaked as Noin moved to sit beside him. She tilted her head to the side, clearly an inquiry of what was going on, and Zechs found himself considering his best friend's face. Or actually, he found himself considering her lips. Unconsciously, he brushed her bangs out of those violet eyes, his hand winding its way into her hair. He pressed his lips softly against hers. He could feel her intake of breath before she returned the pressure.

It was a little awkward definitely enjoyable. Zechs pulled away to find a pair of shining eyes and a gentle smile. Noin tucked a strand of hair behind his ear before trailing her hand down his cheek. "Where did that come from?"

He shrugged. "I was thinking about you."

She blushed, a dark rose brushing across her cheeks. He couldn't help stealing another kiss.

"We're supposed to be studying," came a gentle if halfhearted reminder.

He smiled. "Isn't anatomy on one of the exams?"