23-Jul-2004
Title: Mix and Mismatch.
Author: Natea
Pairing: 2+1+2
Warnings: Sap probably, shounen ai. Duo pov.
Challenge: #30 Laundry
Disclaimer: I don't own em... short and to the point
Word Count: 806
It's funny how epiphanies can happen at the weirdest times.
I've no idea how long I've been sitting here zoning out, looking through the washing machine hatch window. No idea how long it's been since the comparisons to Heero started spinning in my mind, although I can tell you that they're moving at a rate of roughly 1200 cycles per minute.
And what do I come up with at the end of it all?
Heero is a sock.
...I guess the weirder the time, the weirder the epiphany.
Heero is a sock... or to be more precise he's a red sock.
In a white wash.
What's the reason for this gem of a comparison do I hear you ask? I'd tell you, but I think the wash load of pink shirts and bed sheets still rinsing out in front of me pretty much speaks for itself.
Anyway, Heero is a red sock. I do have a little cognitive reasoning behind this so hear me out.
First point in case... being a stealthy little bastard, good at infiltration. Both Heero and the single red sock qualify for that one I think. I checked that white wash three times after all. But even so, it doesn't matter how good he is at getting himself into a place, he always stands out in the end.
He's just ‘Heero' that way I guess.
He's a 'well washed' individual, we all are. We've had our fair share of trials and tribulations in our lives after all. You'd think any problems would have been long ironed out.
Funny how they're just starting now.
And now you have no idea what I'm talking about.
You see, recently I've noticed that Heero, like the sock here, has started bleeding out a little.
Oh he's not aware of it, I don't mean bleeding as in literally bleeding per se. It's just that lately he seems to be trying to fit in more. He's making the effort to initiate conversations, both at home and in work with some of the colleagues we have. He's laughing at jokes, eating his lunch with other people when we don't have it together.
He's trying to fit in with them, bleaching out his colour to match theirs'. And maybe he can't be fully white again, but it seems he's having a damn good try at it.
White is overrated in my opinion. Too pure and idealistic for my tastes.
So he's fading himself out.
Shame it just doesn't work like that really.
And it's back to my main point, the sock again. It's an old sock, it's a fairly safe bet to say that it's been washed a lot. The colour change is barely noticeable. It's still a red sock.
And Heero, no matter how much he integrates into society, will still be Heero. Thankfully. I wouldn't want him any other way.
It seems though that Heero, like the sock, has more of an effect on the people he mingles with, than they do on him. Heero has an uncanny ability for rubbing off on people. He ‘pinks' them up something chronic. There's a kid on the floor below us who damn near idolizes him.
It would be cute... but no one likes a pink, white shirt. You want it pink, you buy it pink and wear it with pride. None of this slinking into the office one day looking embarrassed and grumbling about the other half.
Wonder how Heero will fare tomorrow when he wears the work shirt I just washed for him.
You are what you are at the end of the day.
And Heero, for all his aloofness is a red sock in a white wash. Trying to simultaneously fade in and stand out. Inspiring people on the way to change their own ideas from something idealistically ‘white' to something a little more realistic.
I'd say he was a black sock, but there's nothing dark in Heero no matter how much he seems to think so.
And what am I?
I'd say I was the colour capture sheet but it's obvious that we don't use them. Besides, there's no way on earth I'd ever stifle Heero in anyway, he's a free man after all and him being happy makes me happy.
If I had to say I was anything I'd say I was the other red sock. Heero's partner, his equal, just as well washed and jaded perhaps but a tad more mischievous.
After all, out of the two of us I'm the one who's currently resting innocently halfway up the stairs or in the hallway at home.
Yeah, we make a pretty good pair I think.
The End
(:./natea/mix)
