Get Rel

NOTE: I don't own Gundam Wing or its characters.

Why was he there? Him, of all people, working as a British Literature Professor?! Heero couldn't make sense out of it, but he was supremely grateful for his orange hair and his anti-social status since it kept him out of the teacher's sight.

"Morning class, I'm have the unfortunate task of informing you," began Zeches.

Did Heero just snort? Aloud? He didn't think so but with Ringo's querying look it seemed that he did.

"That Professor Prom will no longer be teaching this class. Instead, I am your new British Literature teacher," Zeches finished announcing.

It was apparent that it was no major loss to the class but the students kept their unholy glee contained through clenched teeth and held back smiles. Even Heero felt the corners of his mouth twitch upwards.

"I am Professor Nottingham," lied Zeches as he began writing on the board. "And we are going to start this class anew."

Lots of groans were heard but also a lot of positive cheers. Heero personally was grateful; he did not want to write a report about the stapler for next Monday.

"Michael's the best character on the show!" Jake argued.

"Please! Michael?! The dude doesn't even have a chance but he's too stupid to realize that!" protested Salem. "That's what makes him such a weak, non-confident character, and completely useless might I add."

"How long has this been going on?" Hilde inquired as she joined the group at the ever-growing table in a café a block away from campus.

Vicki turned to her in surprise. "Oh hey, when did you join us?"

"Just now. How long has this been going on?" she repeated.

"For the last ten minutes and still counting," Jason answered as she glanced over her shoulder. "Whoever decided to bring up the topic of 'Brilliant Fools' should be shot, hanged, beaten with a chain, or paraded around town naked."

"You forgot tarred and feathered," joked Vicki.

"That too," nodded Robin casting a glance over at Eiji, who had been sitting by himself ever since he got there and was just content with sipping his black coffee while watching them. "Does your friend over there have a problem with talking with other people? Or does he like living like the Phantom of the Opera, no offense to Erik?"

Hilde looked over her shoulder at Heero; he just glared at her, and then replied, "He just doesn't like crowds. He has panic attacks and such with groups of people he doesn't know intimately."

"Oh? Well, that doesn't speak much for prosperity now, does it? Especially with this weekend's dinner and movie night," Jason commented. "Perhaps one of us should go over and talk to him."

"What about you?" Vicki suggested.

Jason just gave her a look. "How about you? I live in the same house as him and I can 'get to know him', in a nonsexual way, on my own accord," she countered.

"Sorry Jason, but whatever you planned to do with Vicki has to be temporarily postponed for I so need her to back me up on this one," Jake interrupted, grabbing Vicki's hand and pulling her into the debate about everyone's favorite comedy-romance television show.

"Well then that leaves you Robin," Jason determined causing Robin to choke satisfyingly on his Chai Iced Latte.

"Beg your pardon, are you talking to me?" Robin coughed, putting on a very false British accent.

Hilde had to bite back a laugh, the accent did not sound right. It was amusing to watch these people talk their way out of getting to talk with Heero but at the same time Hilde realized that Heero was still giving off his normal impression of 'leave me alone if you want to live'.

"Maybe no one should talk with him, he seems to have a lot on his mind," Hilde spoke up as she looked more closely at Heero's expression. He had his brows furrowed together in deep concentration, and was swirling his coffee in his hand rather than setting it down and drinking it. He obviously had something on his mind.

Both college kids looked at her, Jason in disbelief and Robin in relief.

"I believe it," nodded Frankie as she joined the group, hanging on her cousin's shoulder. "We got a new Brit. Lit. Prof and he is a work of art. So strict, but in a good way. You get to see him tomorrow cuz."

"That's very comforting," mumbled Robin with much enthusiasm. "Who is he?"

Yes, who is this Professor, Hilde urged mentally. She was intrigued by this teacher who could put Heero into his despondent mood.

"A Professor Nottingham," shrugged Frankie.

"Nottingham?" Jason echoed. "Real classic name, I like it."

"I love it," commented Robin with sarcasm.

"I'm going to go talk to Eiji," Hilde told them. "See what's really up with him."

"Okay, see you later then," waved Jason. The cousins nodded, Frankie with a foam mustache and Robin while slurping up more latte.

Hilde approached Heero and immediately took the seat right across from him; there was no need to ask if the seat was taken because it was never taken. Besides, if Hilde had asked permission to sit down Heero would have either not heard or just shrugged.

"How's it going?" she asked.

"Hn."

"Really? Same here." Silence as Hilde glanced around the café. "Some of the girls, and guy, were talking about you. They were wondering why you were so down and being so anti-social," Hilde continued offhandedly.

"Hn."

"Yeah, then I found out that you got a new British Lit. professor. A Professor Nottingham," Hilde replied, noting the slight twitch of Heero's eyebrows. She had his interest now. "Who is this Professor Nottingham?"

For the first time since he got his mug of coffee, Heero placed it on the table. "It's Zeches," he plainly told her in a low voice.

"What? Your thoughts are on Zeches? Whatever for?" questioned Hilde.

Heero resisted the urge to bang her head into the table. "No, Professor Nottingham and Zeches are one and the same person," he explained.

If there was one thing that did come from this worthless conversation it was the sight of Hilde's jaw dropping and her spilling her coffee all over the floor. Heero found that at least mildly amusing, so it was worth something taking note of.

"Excuse me I think I had a bit of wax in my ear, what was that?" she inquired as she cleaned tried in vain to clean up the coffee mess.

"Zeches is here and he is my Professor," Heero stated in simpler terms.

"Did he recognize you?" whispered Hilde getting back up onto her chair.

He just shrugged.

"How do you know it's him?" Hilde asked now becoming a skeptic.

"You know how good Maxwell is at annoying people?" Heero smirked.

Hilde rolled her eyes and grinned, "Who doesn't?"

"That's how horrible Zeches is at disguises," Heero told her.

"Oh…" There was another moment of silence. "What are we going to do about it?"

Heero sipped his coffee and gazed at Hilde above the rim of the mug. Taking a long moment, Heero set the mug back down and leaned forward a bit. "Absolutely nothing."

In case any of you didn't know, Erik is 'The Phantom of the Opera'.