tantrys - ffiction - stop the world - 3

Stop The World
3


Shounen ai Gundam Wing
Warnings: A.U. Shounen ai, 1x2, 3x4... The rest is unforseen. This [as of this chapter] is unfinished. Will be finished. Slight cursing. Suspense? I dunno. I doubt angst. Sap. I'm good at that. I'll admit I was inspired by another angel fic, one where wings were shorn. Who wrote it? Dunno. Title is from 'Peace', by the Eurythmics.









PART 3 It was cold here. The floor hurt my feet, and the pain was surprising. I had never felt pain before... The pain in my feet was dim, however, compared to the agony I had awakened with. My shoulders were lighter than I remembered. The muscles in my back ached with something forgotten, and I knew, as I lay sprawled on some uncomfortable palate, that so many things had changed. The world had stopped for that one moment, and then had begun its turning again. It always did.

I listened for the fates to start laughing at me. But I didn't hear them... It was if my ears were muffled. Now, only the sounds of wind and bustle filled the air. And it was so dim. Grayish in this tiny hole I'd woken up to. My sight too, must have been dimmed. I knew why.

The chains were gone of course, but the lingering effects of cold iron stung my wrists. I would never forget. Any of it. I had been spared no mercy by the Guardians. The fallen never were.

And so I laid there pretending I was suspended in time... But time passed around me. I had to get up and relieve myself, like all humans do. There was a mirror in the bathroom but I didn't look at it. I was not curious. I was cold. It seemed the small flat I was in had no heat. It had only a lumpy bed and empty cupboards. I was hungry. My stomach growled impatiently and it was ignored. I had worse pain on my mind.

I had been cast from the highest heavens in the universe. A place of ultimate peace and clarity. I was born an angel, and yet I had been thrown from my world as if I had never belonged there. The worst of it, was that I was left with memories of everything; and ghostly pains where my wings had been... They were cut, I reasoned, because every angel knows the only way to become human, is to cut your wings, and to bleed...

About a day I lay prone. Unmoving and wishing to die. But the Fates were still present, even if I couldn't hear them. I was not supposed to die. I had to live out my sentence here, as a human until my human years ran out. Then I would disappear.

So I stood, eventually, and went to the bathroom again. I looked at the mirror this time, and I had to wipe away a layer of grime in order to see my pitiful reflection. I saw the blood first. It had coated what was left of my wings. Just stumps; bleeding and sparingly feathered. They were only faintly visible to me, and probably completely invisible to anyone here. Just as well. All the more for the Fates to laugh at, I thought...

The rest of me was regular human quality. I was clothed. I had a name, as well-- the Guardians had fit me into this human niche, to regulate me... To feed me what I had 'desired'; corruption, heartache and abandon.

"I didn't want that," I told my reflection. It spoke right back with pale lips. I was beautiful, male. I was cold, and pale, with dark tangled hair, and blue eyes the color of a deep pool. My body was slim and defined. Strong and pliable... I was trembling again. In an unconscious movement I folded my arms before me, holding in what I hoped was warmth. The ghostly remnants of my wings moved with me... But they were just ghosts. They hurt.

My name is Heero Yuy. I have no past. I've lived in this apartment, in a populated crime ridden city, for three days. No questions asked from the landlord; only that I pay my rent on time. I have no job. Nothing in the apartment save my body... the quiet... And my memories.

It scares me, that I like having a name. I shouldn't like anything about my unjust punishment. But a name... It gives me solidity, when so many things are shifting. It's the only thing.

This is the third day. I've seen a busy road outside of my window, with cars and hundreds of people rushing by. They have purpose... And I've decided that I need to work. Something akin to common sense tells me I'll need a job to pay for this apartment. For life.

As if I'm not already paying... My face contorted strangely at my dark thoughts. I consulted the mirror. I looked... Cruel. I was frowning, or glaring. It was appropriate for my mood, but frightening in its vehemence. I returned to my regular halcyon stare.

I was going out today. Curiosity had been something of a downfall for me, and it had won me over again apparently. I rubbed the thin, dark green material on my arms. The brief heat this motion supplied didn't warm me, nor encourage me. I opened the door and stepped out. I had a key in my pocket, but it was rather pointless. The apartment was empty, and if anyone did decide to enter, the decrepit lock would never hold up against even a slight push.

It was cold in the hall, and I was grateful for the boots I had found lying next to my bed. They pinched my feet because I had no stockings to wear, but protection was necessary... There were no smooth marble floors to walk on, here.

I met no one as I descended creaking stairs; two flights down was an open door that led out to a busy side walk. I narrowed my eyes against the glaring sun and paused. My shallow breathing appeared before me in puffs of white condensation, and it mingled with each passerby as they breathed in the choking cold air.

I stepped into the flow of commuters, and eased to the edges of the rushing flow. I wasn't frightened of the population, but of their rush. Their apparent destination, when I had none. I made sure I marked my route, so that I wouldn't be lost. There were a lot of shops; mostly selling old furniture, women, or fortune telling. I spotted several 'Help Wanted' signs, but I didn't inquire within. The scantily clad women dancing beyond the windows were not encouraging.

I was so cold... I rolled my shoulders often, trying to relieve some of the ache in my back. It's a permanent wound though...

I had drifted away from the rest of the movement of bodies, and I slowed my pace, glancing at the shop windows hopefully... I halted, when a tiny figure beyond a clear pane of glass caught my attention. It was an angel. The human interpretation of the heavenly messengers. It was quite accurate, with graceful feathered wings, pale skin and hair. The figure's hands were reaching up to the sky, calling, pleading--

I averted my eyes from the tiny shape, and focused on a simple, handwritten sign. 'Help Wanted - Maintenance - Inquire Within.' It was faded from time, and propped up purposefully in the front window display. I acknowledged it, and moved toward the door. It rang with bells suddenly, surprising me. Two tall forms emerged and the second held the door for me. I entered quietly and felt the warmth of the shop burn me, but it was pleasant. I took in its full shelves and tables quickly, and focused on the two visible occupants.

The young man in front of the checkout counter smiled widely at me and faltered. He has violet eyes, I thought; an unusual color for a human. But they were really blue; dark and smoldering. He was draped across the counter casually, his slim form narrowed by a tight fitting black shirt and blue jeans. His hair was the most extraordinary thing I fixed on. It was dark gold, and long; long enough for a braid that trailed down his back, all the way to his knees. Striking, in every aspect.

I moved my quick, scrutinizing gaze to his small friend behind the counter. He was very pale, and seemed shrunk within himself. Dark circles accentuated his clear eyes, and I could see the sorrow in them. It must be a common emotion here, I decided sadly.

"You had a sign." I spoke brokenly. I cleared my throat of it disuse and went on. "Help wanted."

My eyes were still on the blonde one. His eyes had grown wider at my appearance. There was something about his gaze... Its intensity... His mouth opened slightly in shock, but he didn't speak.

"Wow. You're the first person to see that," the man with the braid declared. He straightened and approached me. One slender hand extended in greeting. "I'm Duo Maxwell, co-owner of Horizons. That's Quatre Winner, over there, acting like a fish..." Duo trailed off as he turned his head, and caught sight of friend Quatre's bobbing jaw and wide eyes. "Quatre?"

Quatre started at Duo's call, and blushed, adding some color to his white complexion. He smiled, but didn't speak. Duo shrugged and turned back to me. I clasped his hand and watched his face contort in surprise.

"You're *freezing*!" He belted. I expected him to pull back from me, but he only held my hand tighter. I met his eyes, and they were warm... He smiled, and I thought that he was beautiful.

"Let's close for the night and have some of Quatre's damn tea." He wrinkled his nose quaintly. "It tastes like tree bark I think, but it's hot."

"Tree bark?!" Quatre piped up suddenly. He stomped out from around the counter and stalked past Duo and I. He turned the 'Open' sign on the door over, to offer the streets a definitive 'Closed', and turned back around. Quatre's eyes focused briefly on my back but moved instantly back to Duo's face... The world stopped again.... no, it slowed.

He could see my wings. He sees the blood, I corrected myself.