Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing. If I did, I wouldn't be writing this,
would I?
Warning: There are boy-boy pairings and references in this fic. If you don't like that sort of thing, stop reading now. If you do, enjoy!
Time Warp, by Siren Alecto
Chapter 3 - Making Arrangements
Looking at the corner of my computer that shows the time, it says 11:00am. Taking a moment to get up and stretch, I frown over the lack of information I've managed to find. The internet simply has too many sites that look helpful but just waste my time. Gathering a pile of clothes, I slipped into the bathroom to change. I wasn't entirely certain that someone wouldn't accidentally come into the room while I was changing, and I wanted to avoid that as much as I could.
Brushing my hair and quickly putting it back in a braid, my thoughts wander as my fingers plait. Staring at the final image, I decided I looked well enough. I couldn't understand why girls constantly took hours deciding on what to wear and what makeup to use.... It just wasn't me.
What was me was the dark maroon shirt I was wearing with the long sleeves pushed up, a pair of black jeans with black and silver Sketchers. Untangling my two silver necklaces that I constantly wear and putting them back under my shirt, I go downstairs to write a quick note before I leave the house.
Quickly stretching outside the house, I focus on leaving before someone insists that they need to come with me. I want to be alone, just me and the pavement. My jogging time is my alone time, probably quickly to become the only alone time I'll have. Listening to the thud of my feet on the pavement, I slowly lengthen my stride, careful not to push myself too fast too quickly. I get cramps easily when I run because when I allow myself to get absorbed, the pain doesn't register in my mind.
I had a race with friends once where it turned out I had pulled a couple ligaments and ran on them without feeling anything. When I run.... I feel like I'm flying, especially downhill. And as is exhibited by this time, when I run, I think. It has nice meditative properties for me.
Today, like most other days that I have my usual conversations with Amy, I can't help but want to be like her. Easily trusting, easily loving, experiencing so much joy from life. But it's not me; it was never me, even before... No, won't think about that, better not to think. Listen to the slap of feet on the pavement, the thud of heart against ribs, the deep inhaled breaths, quick exhale. Then listen to the whole cycle over again.
The beauty of forgetfulness, of muscles stretching, contracting, pulling and pushing me farther forward. Slowing down to a walk, I wish that I'd had the forethought to bring my Walkman; music would have made this outing perfect. When I had caught my breath and had enough of walking, I picked up the pace into a jog again.
The only part about jogging that I don't like is when guys honk their horns at me or-- like that. I flip the person off and continue on my way; guys can be such idiots. Sometimes they even call obscene things out of their windows. It has nothing to do with how pretty I am (I think I'm not, Amy says I am; it's a very old argument between the two of us) these guys just do it because I've got all my limbs and I'm breathing. I mean, how much can you see of one person jogging when you're in a car going 40 something mph?
Those guys could have girlfriends, wives, boyfriends even! How am I supposed to trust with examples like that? How am I to love...? More than anything I dread true love happening to me. I dread it as much as I wonder about it, pray for it. The problem is that I haven't found a guy that I could even form a temporary relationship with.
Apparently, there's something in my genetic code about only good guys liking me. And they're a little too good. I'd completely ruin someone like that, they're not the type of guy I need. I need someone who wont let me push them around, who I like and respect, and who wouldn't try to change me. Flawed perfection is how I think of the kind of guy I want, others have their own name for it.
The thought of finding someone like that is terrifying. So much so that sometimes the soul searing loneliness is preferable. Arg, and with Quatre around the house, any time I feel like this, I'll have to leave. Letting him feel my pain isn't fair to him. Though he managed to survive killing people in the wars, myself causing him pain isn't allowed. Seems like Blondie's already managed to worm himself into my heart. Damn.
Hearing footfalls behind me, I moved over to the left side of the walkway, giving the person behind me room to pass if they wanted, because they were going faster than me. Confusingly, the feet slowed down until the person was right beside me and going at my exact pace. Heero. I should have known he'd somehow be able to find me. I'll give you two guesses at who sent him to me and the first one doesn't count.
He was looking at me, I could feel it but unfortunately, I can't have a normal conversation while I'm focusing on working out. Because I'm the strange creature that I am, I speed up until I'm in my sprinting speed, which is pretty fast if I do say so myself. Heero stayed right beside me the whole time. Hey, I knew he would, I just thought that since he had to come interrupt me, he had to exercise a bit too. Faster and faster I pushed my legs until I felt the glorious feeling of flying. I felt a peacefulness come to me, settling in my bones and balancing my emotions for the moment.
And since the whole point of this exercise was to feel this, I slowed and stopped. And true to his nature, Heero stayed with me the whole way. Pushing strands of my hair that came out of the braid from my eyes, I turned to face him.
"If you're here to make sure nothing happens to me, I can take care of myself."
He raised an eyebrow when a second later, another male driver honked at me and shouted something out the window.
"Males disrespecting females is something new?" I ask him, but he just looks at me with those intense, unfathomable eyes of his. "What?" I don't want the peaceful feeling to leave because Heero's acting like himself.
"You know my past."
It could have been my imagination, but his monotone voice showed a bit of pain, or fear. I closed my eyes, "Yes." I whispered and I was ashamed. Ashamed because I knew of such a very private life, that his life could have ever been possible, that humans could be so cruel.
"Do you... do you know my name?" Uncharacteristic hesitancy colored his voice and at that moment I wished I could tell him his real name more than anything.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry..." Taking a deep breath, I decided to tell him at least what I could. "There are rumors that you could be related to Odin Lowe, but no one knows anything for sure." Opening my eyes, I saw him processing --actually processing like a computer-- the information I had given him.
"Arigato."
I snorted back at him. "Say that when I actually do something for you. Not when I don't deserve it." I turned around and started walking back towards the house. "You coming?" I tossed over my shoulder at him and he trotted to catch up. We walked back to the house in companionable silence after that.
When we reached the house, it was 12:30 and so rather than confront the newest busybody in my life, I decide that it's a relatively safe time to call Jen. Picking up the phone and dialing, I pray for Jen to answer. If the girl's not awake.... I'll kill her.
"Hello?" Ooh, it's Miss Sleepyhead herself. Yes! Sometimes my prayers can be answered.
"Hey, Jen." It's a good thing that I'm the only person who would call around this time for her. Everyone else would wait until 1:00pm at least before trying to get a hold of her. "I was wondering if you could help me with something."
"Sure De," I can hear her yawning "What do you need?"
Great, full explanation or not? I owe it to Jen to be honest with her. Besides, she hasn't thought I'm insane yet, so hopefully she won't now...... "I need you to research time or dimension travel for me please. It could be from fiction novels, TV shows, anything really."
"Ok." At this moment, she's probably looking adorably confused. "What do you need it for?"
"To help the Gundam pilots to get back to their own world. Wherever that is." Maybe I shouldn't have responded that bluntly.
I hear a loud thud and Jennifer's "Ow..." I think I made her fall out of bed. Oops. "Did I hear you right?"
"Uh-huh. I swear I'm not making this up. You believe me, don't you?" Jen's been a good friend of mine for a very long time; if she doesn't believe me, I don't know what I'll do. Besides the fact that if anyone knows something about time or dimension travel, it's her. She loves science fiction and fantasy books with plotlines like that.
"Brook, don't ask stupid questions like that. Of course I believe you." I didn't know I was tense until my muscles relax and I had to sit down.
"So you'll help me figure out how to send me back to their own time?"
"Of course, baka." Jen replies laughing at me, and I smile on my end. I'm so lucky to have friends like these.
"Can you pass the message on to Becca? Not the Gundam pilot part.... just tell her I need the research for a book I'm writing or something." It's a good thing Rebecca doesn't watch anime, I don't want to have to explain this to 50 something people who will completely freak out on me, one after another.
"Sure, but I have to get ready for a softball game now. I'll call you when I find something, ok?"
"Right. Bye." And now... to call Brian and tell him he gets to have baby-sitting duty. I doubt it will be that much of a chore, though. He'll probably argue with the boys over which Gundam was designed the best.
"Hello?" Ok, what is it with my friends and sleeping until now? Never mind that I do that whenever I can.....
"Hey, Bri. Do you have something going on today?" Because I want you to baby-sit anime characters for me.
"No. Why?"
"I need you to do something for me." Now we're going to get started with who owes who what.
"When was the last time you ever did anything for me?"
"When I promised you that I wouldn't hook you and Maya up." I grin evilly as I remember that promise has nothing to do with any of my other friends putting them together.
"Ok, what do you want?" He sounds as though he's resigned and I get slightly offended at it.
"Can you come over and watch the Gundam pilots for me?" This is going to completely play havoc with his brain. Hehehe.
"Excuse me?!"
"Gundam pilots at my house. Me need to find way to send back to home world. Must go to library. Brian must make sure they don't blow up my house!" Ok, so maybe breaking it down into tiny sentences sounds condescending but c'mon, I talk to guys that way a lot. Especially Brian. But not the last sentence, that's a real fear of mine.
Excuse me if I don't trust people who destroy things for a living, not to blow up my house.
"You want -- are you serious?!"
"Brian, if I wasn't serious, do you think I'd call you?" Damn, I should have gone running AFTER I made these phone calls. They're just making me tired and annoyed at everyone. Maybe I'll just put a notice on an away message and stay online all day. "Looking for a way to send the Gundam pilots back to their world. If you have any information on time and/or dimension travel, please e-mail."
Actually, that didn't sound half-bad... Except for the 500,000 fans who would try to convince me that the pilots didn't need to go back to their world and should stay here permanently. And those same fans would try to find out where I lived. Ok, bad plan. Really, really bad plan.
"Ok, when do you want me to be at your house?" One thing I love about Bri, when he says he'll do something, he'll do it.
"How about in an hour? I have to find someone to help you, because there's no way you can do this by yourself..."
"Maybe you could ask one of your girl friends so they can cook for us?"
Of course, I immediately start steaming at this, even though that's the only reason he said it. The boy really knows how to push my buttons. "You sexist little pig! I'm going to tell Maya of that remark."
"Yeah, yeah. Whatever. So who's going to help me out?" Thank you for being serious this once in your entire life.....
"Amy. The last girl I want to be here, but she'll probably be the only one who can make it. Just make sure she doesn't seduce anybody, ok?"
"Ok..." He's dying to ask me the reason I fear that will happen. But, oh dear, I'm not going to tell him. This will be Bri's first time meeting Amy, I don't want to ruin a first impression. So I hang up with a quick, "See you then."
I always said that I was evil.
No one ever believed me.
The world is now doomed.
Author's Note: Yeah, this chapter was really short, but I couldn't think of anything else to happen. Amy was right, there's going to be a lot of chapters to this story because it has so many possibilities. Hope I portrayed everyone ok, and I really hope that no one wants to kill me right now (read: Jen). Be sure to tell me what I could improve, besides all of it.
Warning: There are boy-boy pairings and references in this fic. If you don't like that sort of thing, stop reading now. If you do, enjoy!
Time Warp, by Siren Alecto
Chapter 3 - Making Arrangements
Looking at the corner of my computer that shows the time, it says 11:00am. Taking a moment to get up and stretch, I frown over the lack of information I've managed to find. The internet simply has too many sites that look helpful but just waste my time. Gathering a pile of clothes, I slipped into the bathroom to change. I wasn't entirely certain that someone wouldn't accidentally come into the room while I was changing, and I wanted to avoid that as much as I could.
Brushing my hair and quickly putting it back in a braid, my thoughts wander as my fingers plait. Staring at the final image, I decided I looked well enough. I couldn't understand why girls constantly took hours deciding on what to wear and what makeup to use.... It just wasn't me.
What was me was the dark maroon shirt I was wearing with the long sleeves pushed up, a pair of black jeans with black and silver Sketchers. Untangling my two silver necklaces that I constantly wear and putting them back under my shirt, I go downstairs to write a quick note before I leave the house.
Quickly stretching outside the house, I focus on leaving before someone insists that they need to come with me. I want to be alone, just me and the pavement. My jogging time is my alone time, probably quickly to become the only alone time I'll have. Listening to the thud of my feet on the pavement, I slowly lengthen my stride, careful not to push myself too fast too quickly. I get cramps easily when I run because when I allow myself to get absorbed, the pain doesn't register in my mind.
I had a race with friends once where it turned out I had pulled a couple ligaments and ran on them without feeling anything. When I run.... I feel like I'm flying, especially downhill. And as is exhibited by this time, when I run, I think. It has nice meditative properties for me.
Today, like most other days that I have my usual conversations with Amy, I can't help but want to be like her. Easily trusting, easily loving, experiencing so much joy from life. But it's not me; it was never me, even before... No, won't think about that, better not to think. Listen to the slap of feet on the pavement, the thud of heart against ribs, the deep inhaled breaths, quick exhale. Then listen to the whole cycle over again.
The beauty of forgetfulness, of muscles stretching, contracting, pulling and pushing me farther forward. Slowing down to a walk, I wish that I'd had the forethought to bring my Walkman; music would have made this outing perfect. When I had caught my breath and had enough of walking, I picked up the pace into a jog again.
The only part about jogging that I don't like is when guys honk their horns at me or-- like that. I flip the person off and continue on my way; guys can be such idiots. Sometimes they even call obscene things out of their windows. It has nothing to do with how pretty I am (I think I'm not, Amy says I am; it's a very old argument between the two of us) these guys just do it because I've got all my limbs and I'm breathing. I mean, how much can you see of one person jogging when you're in a car going 40 something mph?
Those guys could have girlfriends, wives, boyfriends even! How am I supposed to trust with examples like that? How am I to love...? More than anything I dread true love happening to me. I dread it as much as I wonder about it, pray for it. The problem is that I haven't found a guy that I could even form a temporary relationship with.
Apparently, there's something in my genetic code about only good guys liking me. And they're a little too good. I'd completely ruin someone like that, they're not the type of guy I need. I need someone who wont let me push them around, who I like and respect, and who wouldn't try to change me. Flawed perfection is how I think of the kind of guy I want, others have their own name for it.
The thought of finding someone like that is terrifying. So much so that sometimes the soul searing loneliness is preferable. Arg, and with Quatre around the house, any time I feel like this, I'll have to leave. Letting him feel my pain isn't fair to him. Though he managed to survive killing people in the wars, myself causing him pain isn't allowed. Seems like Blondie's already managed to worm himself into my heart. Damn.
Hearing footfalls behind me, I moved over to the left side of the walkway, giving the person behind me room to pass if they wanted, because they were going faster than me. Confusingly, the feet slowed down until the person was right beside me and going at my exact pace. Heero. I should have known he'd somehow be able to find me. I'll give you two guesses at who sent him to me and the first one doesn't count.
He was looking at me, I could feel it but unfortunately, I can't have a normal conversation while I'm focusing on working out. Because I'm the strange creature that I am, I speed up until I'm in my sprinting speed, which is pretty fast if I do say so myself. Heero stayed right beside me the whole time. Hey, I knew he would, I just thought that since he had to come interrupt me, he had to exercise a bit too. Faster and faster I pushed my legs until I felt the glorious feeling of flying. I felt a peacefulness come to me, settling in my bones and balancing my emotions for the moment.
And since the whole point of this exercise was to feel this, I slowed and stopped. And true to his nature, Heero stayed with me the whole way. Pushing strands of my hair that came out of the braid from my eyes, I turned to face him.
"If you're here to make sure nothing happens to me, I can take care of myself."
He raised an eyebrow when a second later, another male driver honked at me and shouted something out the window.
"Males disrespecting females is something new?" I ask him, but he just looks at me with those intense, unfathomable eyes of his. "What?" I don't want the peaceful feeling to leave because Heero's acting like himself.
"You know my past."
It could have been my imagination, but his monotone voice showed a bit of pain, or fear. I closed my eyes, "Yes." I whispered and I was ashamed. Ashamed because I knew of such a very private life, that his life could have ever been possible, that humans could be so cruel.
"Do you... do you know my name?" Uncharacteristic hesitancy colored his voice and at that moment I wished I could tell him his real name more than anything.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry..." Taking a deep breath, I decided to tell him at least what I could. "There are rumors that you could be related to Odin Lowe, but no one knows anything for sure." Opening my eyes, I saw him processing --actually processing like a computer-- the information I had given him.
"Arigato."
I snorted back at him. "Say that when I actually do something for you. Not when I don't deserve it." I turned around and started walking back towards the house. "You coming?" I tossed over my shoulder at him and he trotted to catch up. We walked back to the house in companionable silence after that.
When we reached the house, it was 12:30 and so rather than confront the newest busybody in my life, I decide that it's a relatively safe time to call Jen. Picking up the phone and dialing, I pray for Jen to answer. If the girl's not awake.... I'll kill her.
"Hello?" Ooh, it's Miss Sleepyhead herself. Yes! Sometimes my prayers can be answered.
"Hey, Jen." It's a good thing that I'm the only person who would call around this time for her. Everyone else would wait until 1:00pm at least before trying to get a hold of her. "I was wondering if you could help me with something."
"Sure De," I can hear her yawning "What do you need?"
Great, full explanation or not? I owe it to Jen to be honest with her. Besides, she hasn't thought I'm insane yet, so hopefully she won't now...... "I need you to research time or dimension travel for me please. It could be from fiction novels, TV shows, anything really."
"Ok." At this moment, she's probably looking adorably confused. "What do you need it for?"
"To help the Gundam pilots to get back to their own world. Wherever that is." Maybe I shouldn't have responded that bluntly.
I hear a loud thud and Jennifer's "Ow..." I think I made her fall out of bed. Oops. "Did I hear you right?"
"Uh-huh. I swear I'm not making this up. You believe me, don't you?" Jen's been a good friend of mine for a very long time; if she doesn't believe me, I don't know what I'll do. Besides the fact that if anyone knows something about time or dimension travel, it's her. She loves science fiction and fantasy books with plotlines like that.
"Brook, don't ask stupid questions like that. Of course I believe you." I didn't know I was tense until my muscles relax and I had to sit down.
"So you'll help me figure out how to send me back to their own time?"
"Of course, baka." Jen replies laughing at me, and I smile on my end. I'm so lucky to have friends like these.
"Can you pass the message on to Becca? Not the Gundam pilot part.... just tell her I need the research for a book I'm writing or something." It's a good thing Rebecca doesn't watch anime, I don't want to have to explain this to 50 something people who will completely freak out on me, one after another.
"Sure, but I have to get ready for a softball game now. I'll call you when I find something, ok?"
"Right. Bye." And now... to call Brian and tell him he gets to have baby-sitting duty. I doubt it will be that much of a chore, though. He'll probably argue with the boys over which Gundam was designed the best.
"Hello?" Ok, what is it with my friends and sleeping until now? Never mind that I do that whenever I can.....
"Hey, Bri. Do you have something going on today?" Because I want you to baby-sit anime characters for me.
"No. Why?"
"I need you to do something for me." Now we're going to get started with who owes who what.
"When was the last time you ever did anything for me?"
"When I promised you that I wouldn't hook you and Maya up." I grin evilly as I remember that promise has nothing to do with any of my other friends putting them together.
"Ok, what do you want?" He sounds as though he's resigned and I get slightly offended at it.
"Can you come over and watch the Gundam pilots for me?" This is going to completely play havoc with his brain. Hehehe.
"Excuse me?!"
"Gundam pilots at my house. Me need to find way to send back to home world. Must go to library. Brian must make sure they don't blow up my house!" Ok, so maybe breaking it down into tiny sentences sounds condescending but c'mon, I talk to guys that way a lot. Especially Brian. But not the last sentence, that's a real fear of mine.
Excuse me if I don't trust people who destroy things for a living, not to blow up my house.
"You want -- are you serious?!"
"Brian, if I wasn't serious, do you think I'd call you?" Damn, I should have gone running AFTER I made these phone calls. They're just making me tired and annoyed at everyone. Maybe I'll just put a notice on an away message and stay online all day. "Looking for a way to send the Gundam pilots back to their world. If you have any information on time and/or dimension travel, please e-mail."
Actually, that didn't sound half-bad... Except for the 500,000 fans who would try to convince me that the pilots didn't need to go back to their world and should stay here permanently. And those same fans would try to find out where I lived. Ok, bad plan. Really, really bad plan.
"Ok, when do you want me to be at your house?" One thing I love about Bri, when he says he'll do something, he'll do it.
"How about in an hour? I have to find someone to help you, because there's no way you can do this by yourself..."
"Maybe you could ask one of your girl friends so they can cook for us?"
Of course, I immediately start steaming at this, even though that's the only reason he said it. The boy really knows how to push my buttons. "You sexist little pig! I'm going to tell Maya of that remark."
"Yeah, yeah. Whatever. So who's going to help me out?" Thank you for being serious this once in your entire life.....
"Amy. The last girl I want to be here, but she'll probably be the only one who can make it. Just make sure she doesn't seduce anybody, ok?"
"Ok..." He's dying to ask me the reason I fear that will happen. But, oh dear, I'm not going to tell him. This will be Bri's first time meeting Amy, I don't want to ruin a first impression. So I hang up with a quick, "See you then."
I always said that I was evil.
No one ever believed me.
The world is now doomed.
Author's Note: Yeah, this chapter was really short, but I couldn't think of anything else to happen. Amy was right, there's going to be a lot of chapters to this story because it has so many possibilities. Hope I portrayed everyone ok, and I really hope that no one wants to kill me right now (read: Jen). Be sure to tell me what I could improve, besides all of it.