Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing…(insert funny comment here)
Reviews
Kitten-KC: sorry I couldn't get this out before you left. I was planning too, but then got an author's worst enemy… writer's block. I hate those things. Anyway, glad to see you enjoyed last chapter. I was just trying to get things kicked off with the four of them, and I was thinkin' "Hey. Why not just do it all in one chapter? I can give my readers a FLUFF FEST!" anyway, I hope you had a fun time in Mexico and liked what you saw when you flew over American territory (wink)
Lilviscious: love the name. Anyway, I'm glad you liked last chapter… let's see how the G-boys and the Pyronics fare in this one!
NoahBluze: haha I'm glad I could bring a little entertainment into your life. It always makes we feel happy when I meet a new reviewer, so welcome to the family! I have a cat myself, which does NOT like to eat paper lol. (sigh) unfortunately, I do have a little brother who just turned five on the twelfth. I'll try to read what I can and post it here, as it is difficult to identify beneath the crayon, maker, and smiley-face stamps covering the recipe. Thanks for reviewing!
ALERT: MUST FIND GUNDAMGURL AT ALL COSTS. DEPLOYMENT OF AIR, SEA AND LAND TROOPS WILL BE IN EFFECT IMMEDIATELY. IF YOU HAVE HER HOSTAGE, I INSIST YOU RELEASE HER WITHOUT DELAY, ELSE THE SATALLITE CANON IN SPACE WILL SHOOT YOU DOWN WITHOUT HESITATION. IT WILL SHOOT SNICKERDOODLES IF I PRESS THIS REMOTE THAT LAY IN MY HAND AT THIS MOMENT. DO NOT CONSIDER THIS A BLUFF. (narrows eyes) I do not bluff.
I, personally, would like to dedicate this chapter to my best friend, Neko-chan, otherwise known as AngerManagement5252 to you, my readers. I would have never written so much without your encouragement, never gotten into the double digits! One Zero! Now, those threats bring such tears to my eyes… either because you carried out with them or they just 'inspired' me to write some more. Whether it was a narrowing of the eyes and, "Skye, you're scaring me. Stop it now or DIE" or a smile with a, "You had better come out with another one soon, or at least tell me what's going to HAPPEN, or else you're not going to get another chapter of mine to edit" it always pushed me to the next chapter, in DMwF, mentally, and emotionally. I would have never gotten so far along without you. Arigatou, Neko-chan. Arigatou, tomodachi.
--Ookami-chan
AND ON WITH THE BIG ONE-O! DOUBLE-DIGITS, BABY!
Don't Mess with Fire
Part 10
Keahi glanced tiredly at the clock against the wall, leaning back onto the gundam pilot's firm chest. He smirked at her sleepiness, pulling her closer to him.
Three days since… Trowa rested his chin on her shoulder, allowing his breath to tickle her ear. It's been three days since I've come out of the dark, and into the firelight. The couple's meeting in the alleyway ran through his mind, making him tingle at the memory of her lips touching his.
"4:25 AM. You win," murmured the Pyronic, stifling a yawn as it crept its way through her lips. "I can't stand to stay awake any longer. I've been running around the colony all day. I must have sleep…" she droned groggily, her heavy eyes falling closed. She faintly smiled as her companion whispered in her ear.
"Sleep. You don't need to stay up because of me."
"No, no, I'm fine. I just need… to rest my… eyes… a sec…" the dark blonde fell into slumber, snuggling closer to the clown, smiling subconsciously as his arms tightened around her waist.
Trowa's eyes softened as he heard her deep breaths, ensuring her rest. Her usually sarcastic brown eyes lay closed, her soft mouth curved into a grin. She's so peaceful when she's asleep… he took a deep breath himself, allowing her spicy aroma to fill his mind.
Closing his eyes, he reflected on the past evening. Too close, my dear friend. Way too close…
DMLDMLDMLDMLDML
"HA! I laugh. I can too stay up till five! I do it all the time!" Keahi boasted, stuffing her hands in her pockets while grinning at the pilot beside her. Cars and people hurried by, workers attempting to make the most of their lunch break. The colony rushed around them, taking not the least bit of interest to the gundam pilot and Pyronic that walked in their midst.
"Oh? I was under the impression that your sleep meant more to you than I did," he replied, emerald eyes staring ahead. The Pyronic punched him playfully in the shoulder.
"It does not. Although, I can make you do the Mexican Hat Dance in my dreams…"
He smirked. "As long as it's not a strip tease, I'm fine with that." The two entered a sushi bar, and a rotund man came to greet them.
"Ah! Fire breather! Been a bit 'hot headed' lately?" The old man laughed at his joke, pulling the two guests inside. "Dragon Girl and her friend came in two, wait, let me think… yes, two nights ago! He eats a lot. He'll be a strong man when he grows up."
Trowa raised an eyebrow. "I assume you mean Duo."
The man nodded vigorously. "Yes, yes! I do believe that was his name! Fine lad, fine lad…"
Keahi cleared her throat. "Um, Kaemon, this is Trowa. Trowa, Kaemon. Kaemon's always supported us Pyronics, giving us food when needed, etcetera." She turned back to the man. "Kae, has Burks been in?"
He shook his head with a frown. "Nay, she hasn't. Nor will she. She caught herself a death of a cold couple nights 'go. Stayed out playing that 'soccer' sport, bouncin' around in the park after practice. She's upstairs in her room, tuckered out. She's been wantin' to visit you gals under ground but is too feverish. I'm not lettin' her out of bed 'til the sickness' well past. Why don't you go you and visit her? Introduce her to your friend here," he suggested, nodding his head towards the green-eyed youth. "It'd make her feel better."
"Why not. Come on Tro," the dark blonde said, practically pulled her boyfriend to the stairs. "No need to be shy! Burks doesn't bite."
"One, I'm not shy, I just want to walk a little slower. Two, she wouldn't bite unless she was a dog, in which case I don't believe she'd be playing soccer."
"Sheesh. You're just a smartass, you know that?"
Trowa leaned over, lips brushing her ear. "Well, I though maybe two could play that game."
She chuckled to herself. "You're pretty hot for a smartass, you know that? You're like a toy figure with action phrases."
"The name's Barton. Trowa Barton."
"See what I mean? You're the perfect hero hunk."
"I wouldn't exactly call you the damsel in distress."
"I'm more of the spunky side-kick type of girl," she winked. "Ah! Here we are!" Keahi flung open the door. "Burks, I demand a reason why you got a cold. You have play-offs next week."
Trowa entered to see a girl their age laying in bed, short black hair spiked messily, the yellow ends poking out everywhere. A trashcan and box of Kleenex lay close at-hand, a CD player and headphones in her lap.
"Hey, Keahi, sup!" they bumped knuckles, and the bed-ridden girl looked to Trowa, who still stood in the doorway. "Who's Mr. Hot-n-Silent over there?"
The pilot walked up, placed a charming smile on his face that would make any girl, or gay guy, swoon. "The name's Barton. Trowa Barton."
Keahi punched him in the arm, scowling at him. "Would you quit that!" Burks tugged on the Pyronic's shirt, drawing her attention away from her boyfriend. "Oh yeah, right. Anyway, why were you messin' around in the park after practice was over? It seems downright idiotic to me." She sat on the edge of the bed, raising an inquisitive eyebrow.
The waitress smiled. "Oh, don't worry… I had my reasons." And at the confused look sent by her friend, she continued, running a hand through her short hair. "I was walking back through the park, since it's a shortcut, you know? Anyway, when I passed Freedman's Field, I noticed a couple standing out in the center. So, being the stealthy person I am, snuck over there, hoping to get a glimpse of some fluff. But when I got there, I fall backwards in surprise, and into a puddle, thus making me cold, tired, wet, and sweaty, and enabling me to catch this cold." She paused, noticing how Keahi was looking at her intently, nearly jumping on top the bedridden girl for more information. "…and that was about it."
The fire Pyronic leapt to her feet, pointing an accusing finger at her friend. "NO IT'S NOT! LIAR!"
"Hahaha, I did that just to see your expression! Anyway, I saw a certain Pyronic with a certain person I had met earlier that night…" she trailed off, "…Duo and Kaida." The smirk on her face widened at the couple's expressions.
"Yes… finally some good blackmail! Bwahahahaha!" Keahi said, silently scheming how to present the information to the gang leader.
DMLDMLDMLDMLDML
The blonde shifted in her sleep, borrowing her face deeper into Trowa's chest. He smiled, brushing a strand of hair from her face and tucking it behind her ear. He'd been smiling more and more lately. It must be her, he reasoned, running a hand though her deep blonde tresses. There's no other explanation.
Keahi stirred again. "Trowa…" she murmured in her sleep. The clown blinked in surprise, but remained caressing her head. Slowly, his eyes began to fall, his hand leisurely continuing to stroke her locks, until falling still, the pilot asleep.
DMLDMLDMLDMLDML
Keahi opened her eyes, the heavy lids tempting her to fall back into her previous sleep. Bright lights boar into her eyes, causing her to squeeze her dark brown orbs once again.
Attempting to herself up, she hissed, pain streaking through every bone and muscle in her body. "Dammit…" She opened her eyes, gaping at the scene that unfolded around her.
Rubble and bodies were strewn about her, the tunnels caved in, allowing the bright lights of the colony to glare down upon her broken body.
Frantically, she cast about her, looking for a familiar face, silently praying the person wasn't amid the casualties. Ignoring the pain that shot through her body, she stumbled to her feet, pressing herself into a run among the dead and dying.
Don't be here, don't be here, don't be here… the words repeated endlessly in her mind, eyes searching wildly for the one who had held her with such care, such tenderness for the past two months. Please, dear God, let him be anywhere but here… Something caught her eye, causing her to skid to a stop. "No…" she gasped, before running to the side of the lifeless body.
Falling to her knees beside him, she touched his still face, running a hand through his brown hair. Please don't be… the pilot shifted under her soft touch, eyelids fluttering open to reveal emerald eyes. Moving his head to the side, he caught the girl's brown orbs.
"Keahi-" he was shushed by a finger on his mouth, its owner's head bowed, bangs covering her eyes.
When she looked up, the pilot immediately made out a tear running silently down her face. He reached up and wiped it away. "Keahi…"
"Trowa…" She couldn't hold it in any longer. The dark blonde leaned down and caught his lips in a gentle kiss. As she began to draw away, the clown reached up and caught the back of her neck, pulling her down once more.
They broke the embrace moments later, gasping lightly. Another tear rolled down Keahi's cheek, splashing onto Trowa's dark green shirt, which was once new and whole, but was now torn and bloody.
The brunette sat up, pulling the Pyronic into his lap. Holding her against him tightly, his breath tickled her ear, sending shivers down her spine. "Don't cry. It's over. It's over," he soothed, pressing his cheek against hers. "They're gone. It's over."
The girl pressed herself further into his embrace, her tears ceasing. "It doesn't seem like we won," she voiced, glancing at her former gang-mates around her. Those people who had willingly given up their life to fight for their friends', gladly excepting death with the satisfaction it was through the right matter. She shut her eyes again, burning those people's faces into her mind. Never forget…
"In war, there are no winners."
The two reveled in each other's presence, holding onto what they deemed hope. Nothing disturbed them as they clung to their partner mourning the loss of the past and the promise of the future.
DMLDMLDMLDMLDML
Keahi's eyes snapped open, looking around to find herself in her boyfriend's arms. She smiled as she listened to his deep breaths, head resting on her shoulder.
It was just a dream. Closing her eyes, she settled back into her previous position, shrouded in Trowa's intoxicating scent. Soon sleeping again in his arms, the girl drifted to a place more pleasant than the last.
DMLDMLDMLDMLDML
Kaida yawned, pulling back the curtains to reveal, what she considered, the most adorable thing she had ever seen.
Trowa and Keahi lazed in each others arms, somehow over the night shifting to a lying position on the couch, the dark blonde's head against the pilot's chest, his chin resting upon the top of her head.
Chuckling to herself, she left the two alone, withdrawing back into her room to change into her usual red wrap-around and black cargoes. Exiting the sleeping quarters, she greeted a few early-risers on her way to the practice hall. Noticing she was not alone, she slipped through the entryway and proceeded to the far wall, pausing at the rack with the weapons.
Drawing her katana, she joined the pilot who had taken up taken up training for the morning. "Yo China, didn't know you got up this early to play with sharp things," she smirked, beginning her exercises.
He scowled, keeping his eyes forward. "Shut up, woman. I do this every morning."
"So how're you and Heba going?"
At this Wufei froze, turning to raise an eyebrow at the brunette. "…what are you implying?"
Kaida sliced the air in front of her, grinning to herself. "Oh, nothing. I just though you two had something goin' there," she wiggled her eyebrows suggestively. "…Know what I mean?"
Blushing profusely, the Chinese boy continued his stances, averting her eyes. "N-no."
The Pyronic laughed and winked at the flushed pilot. "Oh, well. Must've been mistaken!"
DMLDMLDMLDMLDML
Four shadows crouched in an alleyway, patiently waiting for the shopkeeper to lock up for the night. As the lights above the store flashed off, the shadows fanned out and began their work.
The one with the braid withdrew a pick from his pocket, making quick work of the crappy lock. Without opening the door, he stepped back, allowing another to take his place.
The one overlooking the project nodded. "Fry the systems, Saki."
The redhead giggled. "Aye, aye, captain!" Placing a hand on the wall near the doorframe, she sent a bolt of electricity into the building, automatically shutting down the security systems.
Keahi opened the door, signaling the others to run in. Kaida took the lead, silently searching the shelves for the item in question. As the remainder of the group looked throughout the shop, Keahi looked through a stack of videogames in the corner. "Might as well, seeing they're just lying there…" a small noise caught her attention, as well as the breath in her throat when she saw the origin.
A young girl, around the age of four, stood yawning by the open door leading to the living area. Rubbing her eyes, she looked up at the four thieves. "W-who are you?"
Before the blonde could say anything, Duo popped up in front of girl, smiling kindly. "I am the Thanksgiving Ghost, and these are the Three Ghoulettes! We come around in November to make sure everything is tip-top for the festivities!"
Blinking cutely, she smiled back up at the pilot. "Really? 'ow come I never saw you before?" she asked, not pronouncing the "h"s correctly. She hugged her teddy bear tighter, her green eyes sparkling beneath her brown hair. "Do you know everyting? Like Santa and the Easter Bunny?"
Duo nodded, still smiling, thoroughly satisfied with his gullible audience. "Absolutely everything!"
"What's my name?" the girl asked eagerly. By this time, Kaida and Saki had stopped their hunt and watched in amusement. They chuckled at the question, earning an annoyed glare from the braided man.
"Marcella, of course!" he replied, ruffling her hair. Staring in awe at the teen, her green eyes reflected surprise.
"Wow, you're good!" she yawned again, and turned to go back through the door. "Goodbye, Mr. Ghost! Come by anytime! It was fun playing wit you!"
As she closed the door, Kaida knelt beside the still smiling Duo, a grin tugging at her own lips. "So, Mr. Ghost, how did you know her name?"
"It was on the foot of the bear."
"Here it is!" Keahi and Saki exclaimed, holding up their new-found treasures.
"Keahi, why are you taking a videogame?"
"Because it's Soul Caliber 3! I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS FORVER!" she said, raising the box above her head, silently praising it and all its beauty.
"…but we only have a Nintendo down at home, not a PS2."
The dark blonde turned to her friend with a smirk. "We'll just have to fix that, now won't we?"
DMLDMLDMLDMLDML
The shopkeeper and his wife awoke to the sound of their daughter climbing the stairs, dragging what sounded like Bobby the Teddybear.
"Honey, what are you doing up?" the mother asked, hugging Marcella.
"I was talking to the Tanksgiving Ghost and the Tree Ghoolettes!" she said cutely, stifling a yawn. "Very good ghosties. Very, very good."
"There's no such thing as ghosts, dear," the woman said soothingly.
Marcella grew angry at this, pointing back down the stairway. "There is! They were just downstairs, making sure everything in the shop was good! One of the Ghoolettes was even checking the games!"
"Marcy! There is no one on the first floor! Now take Bobby and go up to bed! You have school tomorrow!" she said with a frown, pointing down the hallway towards the girl's room.
"Yes, Mama. Nighty-night." The small brunette walked back into her room, closing the door quietly behind her. They are real, Mama. You're not always right.
DMLDMLDMLDMLDML
Just to settle the anxiety that was gnawing away at her, the shopkeeper's wife crept to the below floor. As she entered, she noticed two things. The heirloom phoenix statue was gone, and the security system was down. Testing the outside door, she discovered it unlocked. Calmly putting two and two together, she took a deep breath. "JAY! CALL THE POLICE! THE PYRONICS WERE HERE!"
DMLDMLDMLDMLDML
"Aw, shit. The fuzz is after us already!" Kaida frowned, quickening her pace. Her friend sweatdropped.
"That's from the '60s, K," Keahi said, shaking her head.
"So? Hippies are cool."
"So you want to smoke pot and sing peace songs 24/7? Fine by me. Kill your lungs. It's not as if I care."
"On second thought, no. I just like their lingo."
The police gained on the small group, inch by inch. That is, until…
"LALALA! I'M GRAFFITYING THIS WALL! HELLO MR. POLICEMEN! LOVELY NIGHT FOR VANDALISM, IS IT NOT?"
Keahi gaped. "Burks! WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING!"
The girl laughed, returning to her "masterpiece". "Buyin' you time! Now hurry up, I can't these mother fuckers distracted forever. This paint can's runnin' out…"
The Pyronics laughed, taking off down the street as the police watched Burks do a replica of Picasso's "Portait de Dora Maar" on a convenience store's wall. Too in awe to do anything, they watched after the girl left, not noticing the artist gone until at least five minutes after her departure.
DMLDMLDMLDMLDML
After the others had gone to bed, Kaida walked along the tunnels, rubbing an affectionate Hasaki's head. After we got back, Duo didn't really talk to anyone… I wonder what the matter is; usually he's not like that. I'll just ask him tomorrow, there's no point in waking him just to ask him. That'd just be stupid…
She turned the corner, only to find herself face-to-face with a squad of Leos. Oh shit. Attention pointed the other way, the pilots of the mobile suits did not notice the fire Pyronic, who took off running back to the sleeping quarters. So it's started… the dream from the previous night flashed through her mind, haunting images plaguing her thoughts. It's finally started. The war has began…
On guard, bastards.
A/N: sorry for the wait, guys. I was hoping on getting this out sooner, but then I remembered by brother's birthday, which took up like two days, yadda yadda yadda. This chapter was a bit short, but I thought it served its purpose well. PREPARE FOR ACTION! Have a happy Thanksgiving, all you Americans, and for Kitten-KC, my faithful Canadian reader, I hope you enjoyed yours. My calendar said it was on October 10th. Anyway, my friend, and French Class mascot, Alphose the Turkey, wishes you all a good Turkey Time, too!
--DML