Oasis
by Banshi
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Prologue
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Quatre watched as the sun rose over the desert. He rarely got vacation time, and he always spent it in the deserts of earth. And usually alone.
He had started feeling guilty about the servants and the unending attention from the Maguanacs, so he always came to his sanctuary alone. It was a nice feeling, depending on no-one but himself when the fate of the universe didn't hang in the balance.
On these vacations, Quatre had learned the intricacies of keeping house and had gained more than a little expertise in fine cuisine. And no-one knew it but him. Once he was home, others cared for his laundry and did the dusting, washed the dishes. Others cooked and made tea for him. Someday, he knew, he would grow resentful of the pampering and coddling. Someday he would come to the desert, alone, and never leave.
But not today. Not while there was s till so much work to be done.
As the burning rays of the daystar reached the sands, Quatre loaded the plane that he would fly into civilization. Taking one last look at his haven from behind a pair of blue-tinted glasses, Quatre inhaled his last dry-as-dust breath and walked into the plane, closing the hatch behind him.
Meetings needed to be attended, governments needed to be built, and Relena needed his help in keeping everyone calm and things running smoothly. Slowly Quatre felt his mask slide into place. What the war had failed to do, to make it necessary that he hide himself, the building of peace had accomplished.
It was necessary that nobody be reminded of the colony he had destroyed. It was necessary that nobody be reminded that he had been a Gundam pilot. It was necessary that all anybody else see was Mr. Winner, head of the Winner family business, and that they be comfortable with him.
Someday he could let go. Someday he could flee to the desert and never return, leaving the responsibility of peace to others. Someday.
But not today.
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continued in chapter one