28 Apr 2003

Title: Before Dawn 1/?
Author: Draco
Notes: This is the beginning of my Heero Yuy (the original)/Father Maxwell story. For the record, Heero Yuy is the most goddamn annoying muse that I have ever had the displeasure of getting stuck in my head.

Before Dawn by Draco

Part One

Heero moved his knight forward, "Check." But it wasn't the move he wanted to make. He was missing a rook. His black rook to be precise. He had to use an old toy soldier to replace the rook. The toy soldier was green, and the coloring of it irked Heero. Heero didn't want to checkmate with that ugly thing, it felt like he was betraying the real rook.

"You could have checkmated me with your rook, Heero," Heero's father chided him.

Heero's face burned.

"This is the last thing the school needs at this juncture!!" an angry voice exclaimed from behind the door.

Heero Yuy recognized the voice, King Peacecraft, the sovereign of this little country. For the founder of a school of diplomacy, King Peacecraft was tactless twit, Heero mused. The thought brought a smile, and Heero immediately regretted it. Though the nurse assured him that he did not break his jaw, it sure the hell felt like it. She didn't even give him any painkillers, telling him that because he was only eighteen, he would heal quickly. He brushed his fingers against his face and felt the hardening swelling.

He forced himself to draw his attention back on the conversation behind the doors, but whoever King Peacecraft was speaking to did not raise his voice and Heero could not hear the response. Whatever they said must be very effective because King Peacecraft lowered his voice, though it was still audible.

"Dekim Barton is suspicious enough of these negotiations. He's still trying to sway the colonial leaders from coming, and he's gaining ground. If he learns that the only colonist in my school is now the target of colonial hate crimes, it will just give him ammunition."

Colonial hate crimes. At least he had the guts to acknowledge it for what it is, Heero supposed. He rubbed his jaw again, reminding himself of the pain. Darton Murray had called Heero a colonial dog when he threw the punch. In the end, he supposed, it didn't matter because he wasn't going to report it. It would be a sloppy move on his part. It took ten months of negotiations to get the colonial and earth leaders to even agree to a meeting at the Sanc kingdom...

Suddenly the door opened, and Orson Peacecraft stepped out. Heero stood up immediately, "Your Highness."

"When I am at this school, I am only your principal, not the heir of the Sanc kingdom," Orson Peacecraft said, "and you do not need to use formal titles."

"Understood, Principal Peacecraft," Heero said. Heero knew Orson Peacecraft taught fourth year negotiations, but he had never seen the prince up close before. He was suddenly struck by how annoyingly flawless the prince looked. Short platinum blonde hair framed a chiseled face inlaid with striking blue eyes. Orson Peacecraft looked like he just stepped out of freaken a fairy tale, too pure to be bothered with the problems of the real world.

"The boy responsible for this will be expelled from this school," the prince said as he gestured for Heero to sit down. "Fighting will not be tolerated at this school."

Heero counted the eight wasted words in Orson Peacecraft's declaration of the school's policy against fighting. Even the Peacecrafts weren't stupid enough to have founded a diplomacy school based on total pacifists principles and then have a policy that allows fighting.

"Having talked to him I have concluded it was professional jealousy that led to his atrocious behavior," Orson Peacecraft said calmly.

Heero dug his fingers into his fist. Peacecrafts Negotiation Tactic 2.4, page 62: The omission of truth is not unethical to avoid unnecessary confrontations. Heero bit the inside of his mouth.

"As you know, the first conference between colonial leaders and Earth is going to take place here in under a week," Orson Peacecraft continued as if he didn't notice Heero tensing up, but Heero saw the prince's eyes linger for less than a second on Heero's tightened hand. "Given your excellent performance in all your courses, I have recommended to my father that you should be present at these negotiations. And he has agreed."

A bribe. A fucking bribe. For his silence he would be given a chance to participate in history making. Heero fought for control of his body temperature and tried to avert sudden blood flow to his face. He wasn't going to give the bastard that victory. Very slowly, he began counting in Latin. By the time, Heero got to seven, he relaxed his fists. When he was at ten, he was smiling appropriately, "Thank you for the opportunity. I will be honored to be present at the negotiations."

Orson Peacecraft smiled back.

"If there is nothing further, Sir, can I be excused?" Heero asked. Orson Peacecraft nodded and with the sway of his hand dismissed Heero.

As he walked away, Heero kept the distance between his feet consistent at 35cm. At this pace, he would appear to be brisk, but would not look hasty as he traversed the corridors of the Peacecraft Academy. He kept his eyes focused loosely on the ground two meters ahead of him and avoided eye contact. Faintly, he felt people's eyes on him.

Everyone at the school was always watching him, the token colonist from L1. They watched for him to make a mistake, watched for him to loss his temper, watched for him to fail. He had always known that Orson Peacecraft must have watched him as well, but now Heero wondered just how closely the school itself was monitoring him. The Prince of the Sanc kingdom could hardly be more than five years his senior, and yet, Heero was out manipulated and played with in less than two sentences.

Orson Peacecraft knew, he fucking knew that Heero was going to keep quiet. All of their classes had been focused on the precarious status of the upcoming peace talks and Heero wasn't going to jeopardize that over a hoodlum who couldn't control himself. He was not a fool. And Orson Peacecraft offered the bribe knowing Heero had to take it. Though Heero wasn't particular fond of self-righteous martyrdom, having his choice to remain silent be cheapened to a bribe... that... that was another punch to the face.

The stiff air inside of the Academy grew to be more suffocating than usual, and Heero felt his head starting to spin. He had two options: to go outside, or to go back to his room. He headed out.

The forest around the school had the first hints of reddening, predicating the coming autumn. Heero stopped by an ancient oak tree, and placed one hand on the trunk to steady himself. His other hand went to his head trying to massage away his pounding headache. He gave up after a few minutes, leaned his entire body against the oak, and closed his eyes.

Heero hid in the tiny space between the wall and his bed. He could hear father's angry voice in the other room. He hugged his legs closer. "Please don't... please don't..." he whispered as he began rocking back and forth.

"Fine! I will report in at 800 hours."

Heero knew exactly what his father was reporting to.

"Are you lost?"

Heero opened his eyes quickly, and nearly tripped over the small girl at his feet.

"I'm always lost." Heero shook his head, and then studied the child. The child couldn't be older than seven despite an unusually serious expression and perfectly combed hair. "Are you lost?"

"Nope," the girl answered. "I'm hiding."

"What are you hiding from?" Heero played along.

The girl shrugged, and then pointed to Heero, "What happened to your face?"

"I fell," Heero said the first lie he could think of, as he bent down to talk to the girl.

"Does it hurt?" the girl asked quietly and reached over to touch the bruise. Heero flinched slightly and tried to back away but stopped himself. The girl didn't seem to notice, as her fingers brushed against Heero's face.

"It hurts a lot doesn't it?" the girl continued when Heero did not reply. "You had better come with me." The girl grasped Heero's hand, and started tugging on it.

Heero smiled and started to get up to follow the girl when another wave of dizziness hit him and he braced himself against the tree to prevent himself from falling over.

The girl waited until Heero was ready before she started moving again.

Heero didn't know where he was being led to, but the girl walked with a purposefulness that somehow assured Heero. The forest thinned out slightly and suddenly Heero found himself facing a large gothic building. A church, Heero realized. He had known there was a church near campus, but he had never ventured to go there.

"MAXWELL!!!" the girl yelled without warning, making Heero jump.

Some vegetation on the opposite side of the church immediately began to raffle, and a very raffled man dressed in all black emerged.

The End

(:./draco/before1)