Title: The Game
Author: Karina
Rating: PG
Pairing: Duo + Milliardo
Notes: Challenge 195. Baby Series 4 #41. Takes place following Eureka Moments.
Spoilers: None
Warnings:
Many thanks to ShenLong Deb for her work betaing this set of fics.
Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing or the Characters from the series but the baby is mine.
Title: The Game
"War generally sucks." Duo half turned to look over the vast length of the attic. The dim illumination gave it the appearance of going on forever in the gloom of the distant lights, and it was full of hidden wonders just waiting to be discovered. "I wonder how much of this stuff was stolen?"
Milliardo stepped back, reluctant to leave the precious manuscript but knowing that, for the moment, there was nothing he could do about it. "That would depend on your definition of stolen, my friend. No doubt the Governor viewed this collection more along the lines of 'spoils of war'."
Duo snorted. "Word games."
"Oh, yes. Unfortunately much of our civilisation revolves around word games. The grander the game the greater the risk, the bigger the reward if one wins. If you fail at a crisis moment in finding the right words, your game can quickly degenerate into war. Revolution, one side might claim, for the greater good. The other side will invariably disagree. Which leads to more word games of greater importance as people bleed and die."
Duo's shoulders slumped and blue eyes glinted. "You can be a cynical arsehole, you know that?"
"I have been informed so on previous occasions, yes. I tend to survive the game better because I play it seriously."
Duo grunted softly. "Well, that I know of there is no danger of there being a revolution at the moment. Not in Sanc and not anywhere on Earth."
Milliardo drew a deeper breath, head tilted to one side as he studied the younger man. "Do you think so, Duo? Do you honestly think so?"
Blue eyes flickered with just the faintest glimmer of violet. "After all we went through to bring about resolution, to stabilise the political scene, the assholes had best not even think about starting anything."
"What we have to understand and accept is that there is always someone out there who is dissatisfied. Always. While it is not a pleasant thought, it is, none the less, one we can never forget. It is too dangerous to forget and blind oneself to. Human nature being what it is, one invariably desires to have more than one has. The grass is always greener in someone else's field. It only takes one person to reach a certain degree of discontent before they begin the word games that, invariably, lead to attracting others who feel they deserve more than they have. Revolution can spring from a single complaint given uncommon life in a fertile field."
"Revolution. I hate the word. I've said it before and I'll say it again. War sucks!"
"Indeed it does."
End
Karina Robertson 2012