Disclaimer: don't own 'em, never will.
Warnings/Pairings: language, Trowa POV, yaoi, het.
Sequel to 'Not the End of the World: Part 1', but can be read as a stand alone piece.
Reset
We went out for dinner at a modern restaurant named Cleopatra's. To say it was a curious affair would not only be terribly twee literally, but also an understatement. Viewed from the outside, I was reminded of a Roman pre-colony era temple; large columns and slightly slanting roof. Part of me was relieved that I hadn't been dragged to the local vibrating gothic club, I wasn't keen on such places despite my attire. There always seemed to be too much time to think there, despite the thrashing music, or perhaps because of it, my mind inevitably wandered. We didn't come out to think, more to avoid the brooding which threatened us both.
I held back my trepidation at this curious unknown and followed Duo quickly up the stone steps, two at a time. I paused behind him as the charcoal suited bouncer, a burly man, yet entirely non-threatening to either Duo or myself, asked him for ID. Duo presented him with a possibly not deceptive passcard that summarily ran through the man's hand held scanner as legitimate. It turned out that it was, officially Duo had been 18 for a month; though he has no clearer an idea of his real birthday than I do.
We'd been given a choice, in the end, out of the dates in the 2-month time period that the latest in medical testing could manage to pin our chronological ages down to. The first four months after the end of the war had been monotonous, a time to reflect for better or worse. They consisted primarily of jumping through hoops and getting tangled in all the red tape that the government officials and the judicial system had enforced upon us and the press had rejoiced in reporting. And we'd barely retained our semi-anonymity, receiving a pretty plastic card, sheltered accommodation and child benefit while we were minors, for our compliance. It turned out I wasn't that much older than Duo, just taller really, I celebrated my coming of age only few months ago. But that responsible age is different depending on where you are anyway. Earth had only just accepted us as adults whereas L2 and L3 had for two years now, and L1 set it's legal age of maturity as 17.
It would have been so much easier for us to go and hide out on one of those more liberal colonies when the hostilities were over. But after the war, none of us really wanted to leave the fragile safe-holds we'd developed and be alone again just for the sake of an easy life. And we'd ended up on earth. We've drifted apart now, as I think even normal teenagers do around this age, having grown up and found the driving inclination to be independent and strike out on their own. But for those first few months at least, we had all needed it, even Heero who could be more reserved than me at times.
The more I think about it all, in the wider context of life, the lighter my mind becomes. Perhaps by the time the train stops my anger will have dissipated. Perhaps I should be embarrassed by my childish fit of pique. Even if I am an adult, I don't think I could be responsible all the time. Definitely not for anyone else. I don't deserve to be so angry. It wasn't even anything that we'd agreed on. I know, I'm getting ahead of myself again.
We entered Cleopatra's which was, internally, positively bizarre. Duo murmured something to me about it having been a church, and from some ecclesiastical remnants that much I could confirm. There were arched, stained glass windows and above us as we walked in, a balcony for a choir, with a semi-abandoned space where an organ had been. On the ground floor, there were old pews, which had been converted into benches. They lined the walls or attended long wooden tables. The other furniture was all pre-colony style, shiny steel in construction. The steel wasn't all that was at odds with the ecclesiastical ambience. There were aluminium wire art structures hanging from the ceiling, and boarded up windows between the stained glass. Fairy lights flashed neon behind the bar as we elbowed out way through the crowds for Duo to request a vodka and coke for himself and, for me, a Tia Maria. I've been told it's a 'girly' drink by connoisseurs of alcohol, but I never really cared what people thought of such things. I very rarely drink, mostly because I don't like the taste. This I liked and how I looked, girly or otherwise didn't matter right now. Duo certainly didn't mind, and he was the only person here I knew.
Or so I thought. As it turned out, Hilde was also present in the bar. She made her way over to us as we received out drinks, paying the bar-girl and casting about for a place to sit. She'd spotted Duo's braid snaking its way past her only meters away and, in the noisy gathering, had opted not to call out from across the room, but glomped Duo from behind with only a "Hiya baby!" as a warning. It was the only reason she wasn't flat on her back in a stranglehold. War trained self-preservation instincts were something she had learned quickly during the war, and heeded well ever since.
"Hilde! What are you doing here? How are ya?" Duo greeted her enthusiastically having established the source of his hug. Hilde grinned and gestured to her side where a taller girl with wavy blonde hair and little oval glasses stood wearing a bemused smile.
"This is Shorya, we're having a girls night out, but I'm sure she won't mind joining up if you don't, I haven't seen you guys in ages! What have you been doing?"
Hilde continued to ramble, but I tuned out, content in the fact that Duo had been successfully distracted from worrying over Wufei and Heero for the time being. I'd been dreading trying to keep up conversation myself with him all night. I suck at small talk and it usually doesn't actually stop you from thinking abut whatever's on your mind anyway. I took a gulp of my drink, and when I looked up, Shorya stood next to me, eyeing my glass.
"They seem pretty occupied," she smiled in indication that she was fine with Hilde ignoring her for a bit to catch up with Duo. "What are you having…?"
"Trowa," I supplied. I offered her the rich brown liquid, ice cubes clinking on the side. "It's Tia Maria."
She took my proffered drink and took a sip cautiously. Handing it back to me, she raised an eyebrow and swallowed.
"Coffee, nice, but a bit syrupy for my tastes," she commented, looking me straight in the eye. I froze for a second, not instantly tearing my gaze away as I usually do when pinned like that. I found myself contemplating her pert little nose and grey eyes. My mouth took control from my brain and grinned, a little crookedly. I rarely talk to girls, they don't usually pay me much attention after I ignore them resolutely. Call it antisocial, it's probably accurate, but I've never any real interest, physical or otherwise.
I could dimly hear Duo and Hilde's exaggerated tones, but didn't listen. Shorya tilted her head to one side, still looking directly at me and now with an expectant, expression. I blinked and attempted to process these gestures logically. I failed. She was looking me up and down, assessing me. I've seen Yuy do less thorough threat assessments while passing through enemy territory. Her smile turned sultry as she saw me swallow and try not to look at her at all. I'm not sure what face I pulled at that point but I felt a queasy sensation run through me, felt an unwanted heat in my groin before holding out my glass again.
"Could you hold this, I need the bathroom?"
She took it with a questioning "Sure?" I wormed my way quickly through the crowd towards a little passage with a Men's sign above the entrance.
A cacophony of thoughts pounded through my brain, heart thumping, my body reacting irrationally to such a non-situation. Hello, rebound! Just how screwed up are you, aren't you supposed to be gay, dumbass? Well hiding in here is not exactly a good idea! Duo will tell Quatre, why should that matter! Did I mention that my most panicked thoughts are voiced by a hyperactive Maxwell?
Breathing a little heavily, I splashed some cold water on my face. The bathroom was white and purple tiled, with, with little tinted spotlights set into the walls. It was different enough from the rest of the establishment that it fit in perfectly. Holed up in a bathroom, hiding from a girl, I was stooping to new lows I realise. Maybe I've hit bottom now?
The train is still moving, it's getting a little dusky outside, the flat scenery dim and indistinct. I watch the lights in the distant houses, set far back from the rails, flash past. The more iridescent leave after-images tracked across my vision as I stare, unfocussed. I shake my head, my mind goes temporarily blank. I wish it would stay blank forever. No such luck, I knew that wishes were a bad idea right now. I need a drink. Maybe, definitely not. I need coffee. I fall back on the old automatic movement style I relied on a lot when I was younger. So much of mercenary life was simply having to move through time, auto-pilot would do. I found it was easier to not think too much about it, to get so absorbed in a task that it didn't seem to take so long anymore. Finding my way down the carriage, I fish out the little change I have in my trouser pocket and get some coffee from the little dispensing machine. It's too hot to drink immediately, so I go through the process of blowing it cooler before settling back in my seat.
How could I have been so stupid, I can't believe my lack of control, of self-restraint? Having convinced myself to stop being such a coward and get back out there, I retrieved my glass from Shorya who looked a little pu out that I was now trying to avoid eye contact. We sat down at the little metal table that Duo and Hilde had secured for us, where she continued to observe me patiently. I remained pretty calm, managing to put random comments into the conversation about nothing that the verbose pair of friends kept up for the next hour. Hilde managed to drag out Shorya's 'latest gossip'. It didn't mean all that much to me, I managed to fathom that her last boyfriend, who she'd split up with a few weeks ago was being an ass and wouldn't leave her alone. He'd been in the pub they'd gone to earlier, hence why they'd come to Cleopatra's.
I went to get a second round of drinks, sticking with my favourite, cocktails this time for the ladies and Duo. The conversation had not moved far along when I got back.
Most of the protagonists names meant little to me, Duo seemed to know of a few of them, and made conciliatory noises in the right places. Through the recitation of the ex-boyfriend's crimes I got more and more irritated. At a person I'd never met. I was confused, but mostly angry. Not a feeling I get too often. I decided to try and ignore my scrambling thoughts and focus on wherever the conversation had moved on to. It didn't really help.
to be continued...
Just wondering if anyone read this far? If so, leavinga review would be fantastic!