I don't own Gundam Wing. Duh.
A RETURN TO THE MILITARY
Chapter Two – Moving In
"Thank you, Trowa, for accepting my offer," Noin said, leading him through the hallways of the Preventor training Academy. She took a right turn and entered the elevator.
"It's my pleasure, Noin," he replied, watching as she pressed the button for the 6th floor. "But why am I a Colonel?"
"Well, I couldn't just let you in as a private, could I?" Noin smirked.
"I guess not. I still feel like I cheated somehow. I don't deserve this rank."
"Oh hush, Trowa. You always were too modest. After the Eve Wars, the Mariemaia incident, and the destruction of the Bravo Section, you Gundam pilots deserve a lot higher rank than mere Colonels. If it were left up to me, I'd make you all Generals." Noin turned left out of the elevator and continued down the hall to Room 614. "This is your private quarters, Trowa. You can stay here or move out into your own apartment, the Academy doesn't have a preference. The students are located on floors three through five. Only trainers live here on the sixth floor."
"And the others?" he asked.
"All of you are next to each other. Heero and Jin live across the hall in 613. Duo's next door in 612, and Hilde's in 610. Sally and Wufei share room 611," Noin explained.
"And where do I work?"
"First and second levels are training levels. Wufei is in charge of martial arts; Heero in computer systems; Duo in heavy machinery and demolition; and you are in charge of explosives. All of you take part in classes such as body conditioning and marksmanship." She held out a set of keys and dropped them into Trowa's waiting hand. "A schedule for your classes is on your personal desk and you have an office on the second floor near your main classroom. You have a partner for all of the teaching you'll do."
"Huh?" Trowa mumbled. No one had told him about a partner. He turned around, but Noin was already out the door and down the hall. Deciding not to pursue the matter, Trowa set his small duffel on the foot of the bed and looked around his new room. Larger than the dorm rooms he was used to, he thought, but still not quite as homey as when he lived with Catherine or Heero and Jin.
"Hey buddy," a sweet voice called from his door.
"Hello sprite," he answered, pulling his clothes from the bag and starting to hang them in the tiny closet. "Should I change before I go to my first class?"
"Of course, Col. Barton," Jin said, reaching over to pull his uniform out of the closet. "You have to give the kiddies a good first impression. Not to mention your partner…"
Trowa spun around and peered into her crimson eyes. "And what's this partner business?"
Jin grinned another sly Duo-smile. "Everyone has a partner."
"And I suppose you're Heero's?" Trowa started to unbutton his shirt in order to change into his Preventor uniform.
"Nope, Duo's." She held up his Preventor uniform shirt.
"And Hilde's with…?" he asked as he slid his arms into the tan uniform shirt, shrugging it onto his broad shoulders.
"Heero." Jin pulled the shoes out of the closet and polished a speck of dust off with a spare sock.
"And Wufei's with…?"
"Wufei can handle himself. Besides, Sally has her hands full teaching an upper level field medical class."
Trowa turned to stare at her a little.
"Ok, so I set you up with Roddy Adelphia. She's cute and I think you'd like her," Jin admitted.
"Set me up?" Trowa repeated.
"Roddy would make a good partner. You two compliment each other. She's been in the Preventors for the last three years. Excellent with explosives…"
"Set me up?"
Jin sighed and reached over to straighten his gig line. The belt buckle was a little too far to the left. She stepped back and observed Trowa in his uniform. "It's not really a set up. I just happened to arrange things so that you have a very pretty and intelligent partner, that's all. You look great." She smiled.
Trowa gave a little shy smile back. "Looking great is not my highest priority. But thank you." He glanced at the chronometer on the desk. 08:48. Almost time for their first meeting with the students at 09:00.
"Ready to go?" Jin asked from the doorway.
* * * * * * *
"Students," Trowa announced. "I am Col. Barton, your professor for this class of Intro to Explosive Demolition…." His voice was soft, but commanding as he continued his small speech for the first class of his day. The little recruits squirmed in their seats and seemed uncomfortable when he mentioned that they'd be working with disarming live nitroglycerin-based explosives.
The door opened about halfway through the class period. He was currently accepting and answering questions from the students, having little else to say today. To his surprise, a dark girl with chocolate hair and an impeccable soldier-like air about her walked into his classroom. Instantly, he assessed the newcomer. She was obviously not a student, since her hair was allowed to flow unbound down to her shoulders. The insignia on her shoulder confirmed that she was indeed a high-ranking official. Lieutenant Colonel to be exact.
She walked around the tables and took a seat in the back, next to a very nervous cadet. Trowa found himself distracted by her, watching the way she crossed her legs under the table, the way her deep brown eyes focused on him, the way she wrote little notes in the book she held in her delicate hands.
Finally, the class was over and the students filed out of the doorway. The mysterious Lt. Col. Gorgeous slowly stood from her seat and walked up to Trowa.
"I'm Roddy Adelphia," she said extending her hand. "I'll be your partner."
_____
shadowgoddess – You really did make my day! Mistress Maxwell is a big Trowa fan too, and this summer she was like, "Why the hell didn't Trowa get a girl?" So I had to write this! I'm so glad someone else likes him too.