Title: Waiting
Author: Karina
Rating: PG
Pairing: Duo
Notes: Challenge 226. Baby Series 4 #135. Takes place at approximately the same time as Quiet Prayer.
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: Waiting
To minimise their energy usage they had selected a core cluster of rooms and heated those few areas. The palace was frigid, its occupants sheltering in the warmer core, huddled beneath blankets and warm coats. The children were gathered in the midst of the adults, at this time all sleeping, bundled warmly against the chill. Whilst the temperature was kinder here, it was by no means warm.
In the interests of maintaining a manageable power load they had heated the rooms to a cool seven degrees Celsius. Cool but certainly survivable by the most vulnerable of their numbers. Secured beneath the surface, the palace was safe from the chaos of the storm, free of the relentless battering that was steadily destroying the city. It was quiet in the deep bunker, the howl of the wind locked away from them.
It was eerily quiet and it gave Duo a bad case of nerves. He was flighty, prowling the confines of the rooms, restless. Unable to settle. For a time he had sat with the children, playing quiet games with them, calming them. Now that they slept he was at loose ends, unable to distract himself.
He paused, watching the pale child surrounded by children of varying ages. The Crown Prince of Sanc was surrounded by the doting children of the nobles, servants and workers who staffed the palace. He had been royally entertained and was content enough to not make a fuss. He liked being the centre of attention, there was no denying that. And Duo's pair of foundlings had fitted right into the group.
He wanted to go to the control centre, but at this time they dared not wander around the palace. They might have been out of the chaos of the wind, but it was freezing. They dared not open the doors any more than necessary lest they lower the temperature in these rooms further. He wanted to go to the control room because at least there he would feel as though he was doing something. Instead he moved to enter the smaller room where a credenza provided hot water and he could at least make coffee.
Milliardo was seated before the computer console here, intent on the screen, one hand pressed lightly to the ear piece as he listened to the latest report. Duo was listening too, keeping his ear piece active, needing to know what was happening even if he could not, at this time, be a part of it. He made coffee for himself and tea for Milliardo, moving to set the King's mug at his elbow and settled on the arm of the chair, peering at the screen.
Chaos.
There was no other word to describe it. It was chaos, but it was, for all the destruction, beautiful. Fantastical ice sculptures were forming on buildings and debris. It was going to be quite the sight when they could leave their prison and emerge into the open air once more.
End
Karina Robertson 2014