Author's Notes: I think it is time for yet another dose of Ezrael Catalonia Winner… and maybe some of the other members of the second generation—the children of the other pilots! Okay? Okay! It's weird, I was never fond of second-generation fics, but all of the fics I'm working on now have that element! WHY!
Disclaimer: Gundam Wing is not mine. Even though I want it, I want it—I really, really want it!
Four Weddings and a DivorceChapter 9:
"Just what do you think you're doing!"
Ezra flinched guiltily, nearly dropping his violin case. He looked down at his friend from where he was sitting—on top of the high, ivy-covered stonewall that went all around the property of United Earth Academy. Both of his legs were draped over the other side in preparation for jumping down and out of the schoolgrounds.
"You're sneaking away again, aren't you?" Caressa Yuy continued in an accusatory manner. "That's the third time this week."
Ezra rolled his eyes. Maybe if he ignored her, she would leave him alone.
Yeah, right.
"I'm telling Auntie Dorothy."
"It wouldn't be anything she never heard of," Ezra bluffed.
"I know that she knows how you sneaked out to see Uncle Quatre the last time. But she doesn't know that you didn't even attend any classes on Monday so you could spend all your time with your violin," she spat out that part. She hated it when Ezra chose to be with that inanimate hunk of wood instead of her! "And she doesn't know that this has been happening for several months now, does she?"
"………"
"Ezrael! Say something!"
"You know I really don't have anything to say to someone who claims to be my friend, and yet threatens to blackmail me…" Ezra spoke coldly.
"I am your friend!" Caressa was enraged. "That's why I'm telling you to stay here in school and learn, because it's for your own good."
"Clearly, there's no talking to you." He went on in an icy tone. "But I don't have to sit here and let one Caressa Yuy nag at me about things that aren't any of her concern. You're not my mother or my girlfriend."
"Ezra!" She cried, anguished. She didn't want to be his mother, but that 'girlfriend' argument was unbearable! "I-I… I know it really isn't any of my business but I care about you a lot. You are such a smart boy, and you have a lot of dreams… cutting classes won't really help you along the way. I know you're going through a tough time right now, but this won't really help you or Auntie Dorothy… Ezra, she trusts you so much, don't let her down… Ezra, please…"
Ezra sighed. He wanted to act like Caressa's words and that stricken look on her face didn't really affect him, but they did.
Having sensed his change of mood, she was now looking up at him hopefully. She was clutching a picnic basket. "Maybe we can share lunch…?"
"Alright. Take this." Ezra gently dropped the violin in Caressa's hands. Then he hopped off the wall. "Ouch!" He yelped at the pain that shot up his legs upon landing.
"Are you okay?" Caressa asked concernedly, kneeling beside where he was now crouched on all fours.
"Yes…"
"Are you sure?" She asked again, grabbing both of his arms to help him up.
"I'm fine." Ezra muttered through gritted teeth. He shook off his hands and snatched the violin case off the ground, wiping the grass stains against his crisp black pants.
"You shouldn't do things like that!" Caressa nagged. "You're going to get yourself hurt!"
"Stop fussing, will you!"
"Sorry…" Caressa smiled sweetly at him.
"………"
"Come on, Ezrael." She took him by the hand and led him under a cherry blossom tree. The wicker basket was opened and Ezra spread out the red-and-white checkered picnic blanket. Caressa placed a thermos and a huge bento on the blanket. "Well, let's eat then!"
"Okay," Ezra took the chopsticks offered to him and broke them apart. Caressa's bento was lovely as usual; the riceballs looked delicious and so did the grilled squid. Ezra poked at several things he did not recognize. At Caressa's reproaching tone, he withdrew his chopsticks at once.
"Ezra, don't play with the food!"
He just shrugged and took a portion of squid. "It's good."
"Really?" Caressa beamed. "I made if myself!"
"You did!" Ezra was surprised. " I didn't know you could cook!"
"Daddy is teaching me how to cook some simple Japanese dishes. I told you that didn't I?" The blank look on his face irked her. "You forgot, didn't you?"
What's the big deal? "………"
"Hmp…" Caressa sulked.
It was after a few moments of silence when Ezra spoke. "I'm glad that you let me share your bentos. The cooking at home is fine, but one does get tired of rich European dishes or spicy Arabian cuisine. Thanks Caressa."
A pleasant glow radiated from Caressa's cheeks and warmed her whole body. Ezra can get impossible at times, but he has this endearing quirk of mentioning his appreciation for other people in an offhand manner. It is just one of the things she loved about Ezrael Catalonia-Winner. "It's no problem, Ezra, really…"
But Ezra's attention was now elsewhere. "Hmm…" he murmured thoughtfully, as he flopped on his stomach and stared straight across the manicured school lawn.
Caressa frowned at his apparent lack of interest in her as of the moment. Following where he was gawking at, she was met with the sight of Yehan and Yossef, both with mischievous looks on their faces. The twins were trailing after a girl who was pointedly ignoring them. "Oh," Caressa uttered dismissively. "It's just Vassilisa Zala."
"She's in our year, is she not?" Ezra said, more to himself than to his companion. "It's not like Yossef and Yehan to pick on an underclassman, especially a girl."
The Yuy daughter started packing the lunch back in the basket, strewing rice grains and soy sauce upon the blanket. "It's because she's so annoying." She threw down the thermos at the basket, making a loud clattering noise.
"Annoying?" Ezra wondered. She is aloof… and cold… such an overachieving loner… everyone says she's a snob… I guess that's because she's from a very famous family… she has exquisite manners, except when asking people to leave her alone…
"Oh, she thinks she's so great!" Caressa spat, unable to elaborate. She glared at Vassilisa's direction. The other girl tossed her perfectly styled long hair, which was tied in a half-ponytail with a big black ribbon and curled at the ends. Caressa was muttering almost inaudibly. "So infuriating!" The tresses bounced and glinted in the sunlight, showing off their fascinating color—a deep shade of honey-wheat. "So what if she's blonder—that does not make her any better! Besides, she didn't have Prussian-blue eyes, so there! Just because she's the Princess of Orb and ZAFT…"
"………"
The aforementioned Vassilisa Zala suddenly turned towards the twins. Her aristocratic features had a hard look to them, as she gazed at the twins with a cold haughtiness.
Ezra could not hear what she told the twins, but her right hand spoke volumes. Though it was held out demurely in front of her, just close to her chest like how any proper lady would hold it, the elegant hand would flick out every so often, wave a little, or even clench tightly.
But things just got worse, for the twins jeered even more at her. Ezra started thinking they might have gone too far and had half a mind to interfere, when an Oriental girl with a loop of black braid above each ear stomped towards the twins.
"You two should be ashamed of yourselves, don't you have any PRIDE as young men!" Li-Li's voice carried across the lawn. "How dishonorable!"
Vassilisa looked at Li-Li, said a few words, and then walked away. Both Yossef and Yehan had to restrain Li-Li to prevent her from jumping on the honey-wheat girl.
"BADGERING YOU? BADGERING YOU! I WAS TELLING THESE CREEPS TO LAY OFF, FOR YOU, AND YOU SAY I'M BADGERING YOU! SUCH INJUSTICE THIS IS—"
Ezra felt a bead of sweat slide down his forehead as he watched his brothers drag the irrepressible Chang Mei-Ling away. Caressa had a triumphant grin on her face. "You see! Vassilisa 'I'm-a-Princess' Zala is insufferable."
Whatever, I don't really care… Ezra flopped over to lie on his back and enjoyed the sunshine on his face as it filtered through the pink blossoms of the cherry tree.
Caressa looked slightly miffed that Ezra was dozing, but happy enough to leave the subject of Vassilisa alone. "Ezra… Yossef and Yehan say you guys have a plan to get your parents together again."
"… Yeah."
She lied down beside him, propping herself on one elbow so she still had a view of his face. "What is it?"
A secret smile. "You wouldn't want to know."
"Huh?" Caressa was about to badger him about it, but the serious faraway look on his face stopped her.
"………"
"Ezra…" She ventured.
"… Yeah?"
"Didn't your Dad once say that he and your Mom… they love each other in a way that no one else can love them?"
"… Yeah."
"And that it had something to do with… that thing… Mommy and Daddy knew…"
"It was the Zero System."
"The what?"
"The Zero System," Ezra repeated. "Dad said it made them as one. I didn't understand exactly how though… it was like…" he scrunched his forehead, trying to find a way to explain it. "Like some ESP mind link thing…"
There was confusion written on Caressa's face, but she did not pursue the explanation. "Anyway…"
"… Yeah?"
"If that is the case, doesn't that make your parents like, the absolute soulmates?"
"Well… that's one way of putting it…" Ezra agreed grudgingly, not really liking Caressa's choice of words. "It's like… they're the only ones for each other." Right, like I worded it any better… we could put up a cheese factory here…
"Ezra…"
"… Yeah?"
"If that's the way it is… then why… why are there other wives, Ezra?"
"………"
"You've never told me before…"
"………"
Caressa clapped a hand over her mouth. "Oh Ezra, I'm so sorry… I just pried and—"
"Dad said it was his responsibility."
"EH!" Caressa looked incredulous.
"He said it was his responsibility. He didn't marry them because he wanted other wives. He just had to."
"What for!"
"As I understand, the succeeding marriages were like some legal contracts of sort… All my half-siblings were born from test tubes. They weren't even 'real' marriages as far as the Faith goes, for there was never any consummation," he ignored the blush on Caressa's face. "But by law, they are legal alright, valid contracts…"
"Oh give me a break!" She exclaimed. "Everyone knows that those marriages weren't 'real'. But it's not like they're inter-colonial negotiations, right! Why didn't he just refuse those contracts of marriage!"
Ezra shrugged—as well as any one lying down could shrug that is. "Tradition he says."
"Tradition!" Caressa sat up and slapped her hands on her knees angrily. "At the expense of hurting Auntie Dorothy! That doesn't sound very much like love to me! It's just polygamy, and it's wrong! Stupid Arabians!"
Ezra bolted up to a sitting position, his shoulders and back stiff. "………"
Caressa flinched. Ezra was giving her a 'look'. Was he angry at her? "I-I-I… I'm sorry… Ezra! I didn't mean it… I… I know you're A-Arabian. I just—"
He shook his head. "I'm not offended, Caressa, don't worry about it. Actually… we share the same opinion."
Her face brightened immediately. "Really?"
"Yes."
"So even if it's an Arabian tradition and you're Arabian…"
"I will never do it. I will find the woman I want to marry and marry her. Only her."
The determination on Ezrael's handsome face was so becoming on him that Caressa's heartbeat went faster. "Wow Ezra, that's nice. I wouldn't have to worry when—I mean, if, we ever get married!" She gave him the best view of her pearly whites.
Ezra made strangled noises at the back of his throat. His normal speech was hindered, how interesting. He composed himself, and when he was capable of doing so properly, spoke again. "We should get back inside the school building."
"Okay, Ezra." Both of them stood up, Ezra shook the grass off the picnic blanket then Caressa refolded it and placed it inside the picnic basket. Carrying the basket and his violin, Ezra led the way back to the school building. They were still a few paces away when they heard that there was a commotion inside.
"What's going on!" Caressa asked.
Ezra shook his head. "I don't know, let's go!" They rushed through the open double doors and pushed their way past the crowd of students.
Ezra nearly groaned when he saw Yossef and Yehan in the middle of the circle of gathered students. He blinked at what he saw next, Vassilisa Zala standing in front of her cousin, Nikki Yamato. She held out one arm in front of her cousin, as if to protect him.
"I said I was sorry…" Nikki said to Vassilisa, his baby-blue eyes widened innocently.
"I know you did, dear." Vassilisa replied. "It is not your fault that these two heathens do not know how to accept an apology."
"Heathens!" Ezra frowned darkly. His brothers may be impossible at times, but they were his brothers after all, more importantly, they are Catalonia-Winners and nobody had the right to insult them! Not even the daughter of Chairman Zala and Head Representative Athha.
"Bitch," Caressa murmured under her breath, obviously not for Ezra's ears, but he heard anyway.
"Ezra!" Kraehe Maxwell clapped him on the shoulder.
"Hey," he nodded at Kraehe, who was with the twins Katrina and Aidan Barton.
"Shouldn't you stop them?" Kraehe asked. Ezra just shrugged. "Oh, where is Li-Li when you need her!"
Aidan surveyed the scene. "I'm getting Xavier." He weaved through the crowd and was gone.
"Step aside please, Miss Zala." Yossef commanded, more than requested, in a cold voice.
Vassilisa lifted her chin haughtily. "I think not."
The usual half-smirk, half-smile was gone from Yehan's face. He looked deadly serious. "Zala. Get lost."
Icy-blue eyes and the distinctive Catalonia eyebrows can be extremely intimidating, and Vassilisa's façade visibly faltered. She stole a glance at Nikki, who flinched when Yehan took a threatening step forward.
Nikki's fingers dug unto her shoulders. "Vassilisa… let's just leave…"
Ironically, her cousin's obvious apprehension fueled her resolve. "Yehan Winner… nobody tells me to 'get lost'…"
Yehan marched towards Vassilisa until he stood in front of her, towering above her. "Well, I just did. And I am not used to people who don't do as I say."
"And nobody tells me what to do," Vassilisa retorted coolly.
"This is none of your business."
"Oh, but it is." Vassilisa said.
Nikki stepped around Vassilisa and stood beside her. "I'm really sorry, Yehan. Please don't fight with Vassilisa."
"I don't fight with girls," Yehan spat. He stepped towards Nikki, who shrank back.
"Nikki!" Vassilisa shrieked.
"No…" Nikki retreated as Yehan advanced.
Ezra fought back an exasperated snort and glared at the oblivious Nikki Yamato. Just because his father was a pilot and his mother was some bubblegum singer girl doesn't give him an excuse to be stupid and get away with it… His shiny, longish brown hair in an asymmetrical cut, large baby-blue eyes and lean figure made him popular among the girls at school, but he was nothing more than a useless pretty boy. He was too ignorant for his own good, went around offending other people (claiming it was accidental), always reverted to a state of childish cowardice and could do nothing more than follow his stronger cousin. There had been a rumor before that the cousins were more than friendly with each other. The thought was just repulsive, but if that were true, then Ezra could definitely see that Vassilisa wore the figurative pants in the relationship.
"Ouch," Nikki complained when Yehan grabbed him by the collar.
Vassilisa leapt towards Yehan. "Let go of him, you brute!" She wrenched Yehan's hand off Nikki and pushed the latter behind her again.
"Look, I just said I don't fight with girls. DON'T force me!" Yehan roared. With a sweep of his hand, he pushed Vassilisa away.
"Yehan!" Ezra cried.
"Ach!" She fell on the floor.
Ezra was about to help her up, but somebody beat him to the punch. "NOOOOO!" Kaschel burst through the crowd, and ran toward Vassilisa.
Kraehe frowned in confusion as her older brother picked up Vassilisa off the floor. "Where the hell did he come from!"
Vassilisa merely pushed Kaschel away however, and went for Yehan, who had gone for Nikki again. "I said, LET GO OF HIM!"
"Dammit!" Yehan growled when Vassilisa slammed her body against his. She was slender, but the running start she took lent her force and both of them stumbled to the floor.
"Oh no, Vassilisa!" Nikki cried.
"Stop it already!" Ezra yelled. He yanked Vassilisa's arm up to get her to stand and she stood up.
SLAP!
Ezra blinked in surprise. What the hell!
"You tell your brothers to stop harassing Nikki!" She spat at him.
Yehan was enraged. "Why you—" He scrambled to his feet and ran towards Vassilisa.
"Ezra!" Yossef looked about ready to join the fray when a hand lightly tapped him on the chest to stop him.
"That's quite enough." It was Xavier Barton, and beside him stood Arystide Zala. The students in the crowd were mostly middle-schoolers or high school freshmen and hushed at the sight of the most intriguing pair of seniors.
Arystide blocked Yehan, who had already pushed Vassilisa on the floor again, from charging towards her. Kaschel helped up Vassilisa again. Arystide gently straightened his sister's hair, which was not so perfect anymore. "Are you alright, Vassilisa? And you, Nikki?""
"I'm alright." Nikki answered. Vassilisa nodded silently.
"Good," Arystide said. "Let's go you two."
"Thank you." Nikki said to Kaschel.
"Aww, it was nothing. You two take care of yourselves." He said.
"Hmp." Vassilisa merely turned on her heel and allowed her brother to lead her away, Nikki following close behind.
"Alright, show's over and in a few minutes, lunch will be too." Xavier stared at the students pointedly and the crowd dissipated.
"Good thing you came." Katrina told her older brother.
"Yeah, I know." Xavier said. He turned to Yossef and Yehan. "Didn't anybody ever teach you not to fight with girls?"
Yossef sulked, but looked properly shamed. Yehan frowned. "It was her fault."
"Actually, it was Nikki's fault." Aidan said.
"And you—" Xavier turned to his brother. "You just watched from the sidelines for a good while. If you didn't have the heart to stand up to these bullies, you should have at least called me immediately."
"Why did you fight anyway?" Ezra asked the twins. They refused to answer the question. Ezra sighed, guessing it was something petty that blew out of proportion. He touched his stinging cheek. Some nerve, that girl… she may have those parents, but I have my parents…
"That girl had some nerve!" Caressa cried, repeating Ezra's thought aloud. She examined his cheek.
Xavier looked seriously at the group. "Look, I know they can be difficult. But if you are going to make somebody's life miserable just for the heck of it, don't make Vassilisa Zala—or her cousin for that matter—your targets." With that, Xavier left.
Ezra's gaze followed the older boy as he walked towards the two Zala and the Yamato that waited for him. He caught Vassilisa's stare and her golden-green eyes hardened like agates, the green in them intensifying. Xavier and his strange friends went down the hallway. Vassilisa now looked at her cousin and she touched his cheek gently. There was such tenderness in those eyes, now almost a sea-green in their warmth.
"It's fine," Ezra lightly slapped Caressa's hand away. "Let's go back to class."
"Hey, hey!" They heard Li-Li's voice behind them.
"Oh, where were you?" Kraehe asked crossly.
"Darn, I knew I missed it!" Li-Li said. She poked Yehan in the ribs, a grin on her face. "You had a catfight with her, didn't you? That's going to do wonders to your reputation, it will—having a catfight with Vassilisa Zala."
"I didn't have a catfight with her!" Yehan protested.
"Sure you did," Li-Li teased.
Ezra sighed exasperatedly as Yehan chased after Li-Li. Stealing one last glance at Vassilisa Zala's retreating back, he walked to class, Caressa close behind him.
Author's Notes: Oddly enough, when I first thought of this chapter, Ezra was supposed to be a bit friendlier towards Caressa. But now, he has so much angst… Hrmm… I don't really like Caressa much myself… but she's supposed to be this way; a bit overbearing, crushing on Ezra (who isn't really sure that he returns the sentiment), but a really good friend. I don't even know why I placed Vassilisa here… she's supposed to be an OC for another fic in the same universe as this fic… Hmm… But I have plans for her alright… And her cousin, Nikki. grins They are second-generation too actually…