Warnings: what? Silly stuff as usual, er.. what else... maybe a bit of angst. appearance of a few new characters (Gerald whoever and the General whoever), else than that, mostly shounen ai, and.. er.. have fun reading, hope you all like it. And don't hesitate to send comments. they are most welcomed.
Disclaimer: Gundam W (c) Bandai, Sotsu agency, Sunrise, (l) Toonami, and whoever else. I dreamt the day of owning it and then harshly woken up from it.
Thanks to Taylor York for the cute plot bunnies, and Xandrina for the contents specs. Luv you all...
"Sir.. excuse me Sir.."
Zechs said nothing, he kept examining the grand hallway leading to the officers dining room.
"Sir.. " Gerald took a deep breath and sigh. "Ensign Gerald Peterson to Captain Zechs Merquise, Sir. Request for communication channel, Sir. Over."
Zechs upon hearing the ever-familiar drill snapped off from his reverie and as automatic as second breathing, "Captain Zec..." and he cleared his throat, streaks of red obviously filling him, "For god's sake, what is that for, Ensign?"
"I.. uh.." the soldier fidgeted.
"You have the permission to speak, Ensign, so better use it." Zechs said, as he wrapped his hands around the bar handle towards the dining room.
"Ah.. nothing, just that, after you have your dinner, the General wished to meet you. His office is the one right above this, you'll see the signs clearly. Take the stairs across this corridor, Sir." he said as he pointed to the direction of the stairs.
"Thank you. Is there anything else?"
"No Sir. I am afraid I can not join you in the Officer's Dining Room."
"Its all right. Would that be it, then?"
"Yes Sir."
"Very well then. Zechs Merquise, over and out."
Gerald looked up in surprise at his new Captain, who even though younger was taller than him, who apparently was smiling back at him, actually following his comm. game.
Zechs put his hands on the ensign's shoulder and gave it a squeeze, "Two can play the game, Ensign. I like you already." And he spun around, walking into the dining room, leaving the ensign standing, quite bewildered and at lost of what to do, at the door.
/Shit Captain, now I have to start mornings with laundries. Can't have you kicked out of my dream, can I? Its insubordination./
He smiled, and walked off to his barrack, smiling.
/Sweet dreams tonight, tons of laundry tomorrow, and cold showers to start the day. Don't know what to say./
Ensign Gerald Peterson skipped his way back home. Those who saw him along the corridor thought he had just gone mental.
/I don't know what to say/ he mused again. /Would it be a "damn" or a "thank god for sending him"?/
He paused as he looked back to the dining room, door separating him from the interior,
/Definitely a "Thank god"/ He nodded firmly and left.
An hour later, a rap at the door stirred me from my concentration from his paperwork.
"Enter" a voice that bore a slightly irritated trait.
The door opened a little, and I could make out the outline of the new Captain, long hair flowing down the back, and the metal mask. I could not suppress myself not to smile. Such an air produced. Tall, graceful, strong. I had always been amused at those of Nordic descent. I too, am of Nordic descent. Vikings. Sons of the Gods. Warriors, Sons of Thor.
"Welcome to our base, Captain Zechs." I said, as Zechs saluted from the middle of the room. "At ease, Captain."
Zechs let himself lax a bit, and as I gestured him to the set of chairs, he picked one at random and settled himself there. "Thank you, Sir."
/Such boredom/ I thought. /The boring "hello how are you? whoops don't say anything, I know, you're fine" conversation./ I shook my head, dejectedly,
"Bored, Sir?" that was uncalled for. Fanfarnir shot one eyebrow. Surely this new Captain could not read minds. But then, Zechs smiled.
"Treize, I mean, General Khusherenada... he's like you as well. I could just tell when someone's bored, or tired, or lonely, or just plain 'oh-I-want-to-leave-this-world'. I began to think whether all Generals are like that."
I smirked, /Smartass/
"That and more. Lets see, there's Scheming Bastard, Bonkers, and all un-Lordly words, although in private."
"How amusing. I've never known that side of him. You're telling me all his secrets? Betraying your ex-superior?" Baiting. Just wanted to know how much integrity this wise guy had.
"If you're trying to disclose something that would be detrimental to my ex-superior, no Sir."
"Then all this 'unLordly namecalling, although in private' if I remembered correctly. You know such brash language is not advisable for people of ranks. We are, after all, Captain, people of noble birth."
He studied me for a while, and smiled again. I watched him, mystified, at best. This Captain is so full of confidence, being the Lightning Count and all, and him, with the mask, I wonder how he would look like without his mask on. People told me I am well defined as a Norse. All the qualities of a Norse. Captivating. But I wonder what they say about this other Norse in front of me. Then I heard him say,
"But I believe there is no wrong into doing what you expect friends would do in private Sir. As long as it's not in public, and bring contempt to the organization. We are friends, and we would want to keep it that way. Work is as stressful as it could present itself to us already, Sir."
/Smooth talker/ I mused once again.
"Yes, I do understand, Zechs Merquise." I tried to sound really flat. "But, if my information serves me right, you actually _asked_ to be transferred away from your so-called friend's side. I don't think deserting a comrade is a friend's gesture."
"Some disagreements, Sir. As Lady Une said, we need to clear our minds."
I nodded. "Ah yes, our Lady Une. How fares she?"
"Very well, it seemed. You know her. She fares well, as always."
"Of course. And, ah, back to the original spin of conversation. This..." I let my words hang a moment in the air before continuing, "This disagreement of yours.. I could say it is not so military as it is private? why, soldier?"
I don't know what warred inside him for he had his mask on. Damn this man anyway. There's no more eye-reading for me, and all I could do was to guess. And he's good with his body control too. No slight fidget, or any discomfort.. just as straight as anything.
"I believe, Sir, privacy is privacy Sir. It's between the two of us and those we choose to confide with."
"I am not in this..." I swayed my hand as to elaborate, "circle of those you could confide with."
He shook his head firmly, "No Sir. Not for a long time anyway. And you shall not pry, shall you? 'Brashness are not advisable for people of ranks. We are, after all, of noble birth' if I quoted correctly."
I shifted slightly on my seat, my eyes still trained to him. /Sharp. Utterly fascinating/ "Yes, you've quoted right."
And everything just went silent. Then he lifted himself up from the chair and stood at attention again. "If you don't have anything else, Sir, request permission to be dismissed Sir."
I looked up at him from my seated position, and smiled, "Yes you may go, Captain. Debriefing 0900 hours tomorrow morning, sharp.." and I smiled my best feral glint, "and I assure you I shall thoroughly enjoy breaking you."
He froze for a while, not for long, as he replied, "Not as much as I shall enjoy defying you."
"Done. This is what you asked, Captain." I reminded him, telling him whatever came would be of his free will, not mine.
He nodded. He had chosen. There's no turning back.
"Dismissed." I waved him off, and he swung at his heels and walked out of the room, the door clicked behind him.
I waited for three counts before swinging my swivel chair to look out through the bay windows into the training ground outside.
/Zechs Merquise... How compelling. Proud and sharp./ I studied my reflection against the dark background of the night,
/Take my word for it, beloved. I shall enjoy breaking you, so much. Mine./