Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ All I Need ❯ Part I ( Chapter 1 )

A/N: I know, I know…you're probably thinking: "What the heck is she doing working on another fic when she hasn't even completed the next chapter for `Song of the Phoenix.' " Well, I would love to have an answer for you, but I really don't have a good excuse…this darn plot bunny just wouldn't leave me alone, and I had to get it out. Y'all know you just lurrrve plot bunnies, right?…right? ~_^

Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing or any of its characters. I also do not own the song "All I Need" by (you guessed it) Matchbox 20. ^_^ lol, let's see: 1) If You're Gone, 2) Rest Stop, 3) Windows to the Soul, 4) You Won't Be Mine, 5) Mon Amour, 6) Hand Me Down. Wow, I have 6 fics with Matchbox 20 songs. ^__^

"All I Need: Part I"

Sally ran a hand through her unruly tawny hair, sighing almost simultaneously. Almost. Oh well, she had plenty of time to work on her concurrency…but not enough time to work on her appearance.

Her hair wasn't pulled back like usual-she didn't have much time to spare this morning. Her uniform was rumpled (she didn't have time to wash it last night…but no one would notice, right?) And, to make matters work, sleep was constantly eluding her, and she looked like death warmed-over.

Scratch the warmed-over. She just looked like death.

The weary Preventer pressed the elevator button, watching with sleepy eyes as the numbers went lower and lower until they landed on floor 1. With an annoying ding, the doors opened and Sally walked inside, only to push the button labeled "floor 3." She leaned back against the wall, swearing to herself that this had to be the slowest elevator in the world. She could walk the stairs faster than this.

Well, probably not today.

Another ding and the elevator opened once more. Stepping out, Sally was almost to her office when she heard a loud voice shout out her name.

"Sally!" called Hilde, running towards the other woman, her expression looking troubled. "I really need to talk to you." Opening the door wider, she allowed the German woman to walk into her office before following behind.

"What's the problem, Hilde?" Sally questioned, plopping into an over-stuffed swivel chair gracelessly.

"It's Duo," the petite woman admitted, wringing her hands nervously, her eyes downcast.

<Everywhere someone's getting over

Everybody cries

And sometimes you can still lose

Even if you really try.>

"Isn't it always?" Sally asked wryly, and Hilde smiled weakly before taking a seat across from the Chinese woman.

"I guess it seems that way, doesn't it?" she confessed, resting her hands in her lap. Sally contented herself by twirling around in the swivel chair, though she was still listening. She stopped the twisting when she was facing Hilde once more.

"Don't worry, you're not the only one," Sally informed her, rolling her smoky blue eyes skyward. "With Noin it's always `Oh-my-God, Sally, you'll never guess what Zechs did this time!' I'm used to my friends having men troubles." Sally smiled wickedly. "Actually, I'm used to society in general having men problems…" Hilde giggled at that, and Sally congratulated herself on finally cheering her up…somewhat.

Becoming somber, she asked, "Just hear me out, Sal, and tell me if I overreacted, okay?" The other woman nodded in affirmation, so she continued. "Well, Duo tells me I'm too demanding and too overbearing. But I don't think I am, and I know the only reason he thinks that is because I won't let him get away with certain things. Sometimes I just say he needs to suck up his male pride and do it."

"And what did Duo say to that?" Sally inquired, leaning against her desk.

"He said that I was asking too much of him," Hilde replied sadly, her eyes moving to gaze at the floor. It was such strange linoleum: black and glossy, and sectioned off into moderately sized squares. Oh yes, Hilde had the office floors memorized in astounding detail.

Sally tapped a tapered finger against her chin lightly. "Well, I think that you both overreacted…"

"How?" Hilde question, growing indignant. She didn't evaluate on the question because, truthfully, she wasn't exactly sure what she wanted.

"Well, I think you were right about Duo needing to do his fair share." Hilde brightened at her friend's agreement, but Sally wasn't finished. "But, I also think you were probably being a little overbearing. In order for your relationship to work you each have to give in a little. How hard can it be?"

Hilde rolled her eyes, giving a light sigh. "If it's so easy, Sally, then why aren't you in a relationship?" Sally's eyebrows drew together in a slight frown and she folded her arms over her chest almost defensively.

<Talking about the dream

Like the dream is over

Talk like that won't get you nowhere.>

"It's a waste of time," she answered evasively. "I really don't see the appeal."

"You shouldn't talk like that," the German woman replied, "until you've actually experienced real love for yourself. I just had a petty argument with Duo…I love him more than life." Hilde got a faraway look in her eyes. Sally shook her head, tawny curls bouncing in her twisted braids.

"I'll just take your word for it," she replied, standing up and walking to the door. Hilde followed behind, but paused before leaving.

She turned her head, gazing at Sally with her bright cornflower blue eyes. "You don't fool me." And she walked out the door. Only then was Sally left with the sharp pang of loneliness she knew would come.

~*~*~*~

Wufei's footfalls created a steady rhythm against the black tile as he made his way quickly to his office. He passed by Sally's office just in time to see Hilde walking out, leaving an indignant-looking Sally behind. He passed by quickly-he really didn't want to ask.

Well actually, he did. He just refused to admit it.

Entering his office, he was about to close the door when he heard Duo shouting his name. Mentally counting to ten, he opened the door wider for the braided man and allowed him to take a seat before sitting across from him.

<Everybody's trustin' in the heart

Like the heart don't lie.>

"What can I do for you? -And make it quick I have work to do," Wufei stated, leaning back in his chair and folding his arms over his chest.

"Well…I sorta had a fight with Hilde," the violet-eyed man admitted, rubbing the back of his neck absently.

Wufei raised an ebony eyebrow. "And you're coming to me because-?" He trailed off, looking at him expectantly.

"I need your help, man!" Duo replied, throwing his hands up and looking at the Chinese man like he was dumb. Said man frowned in return, but said nothing offensive. Yet. There was time for that later. Wufei just looked at Duo, waiting for him to elaborate.

"As I was saying," Duo said slowly. Wufei just blinked. "Hilde and I got into it yesterday. She says I'm too lazy, and I say she's too overbearing." Wufei blinked once again.

"But you are lazy," the Preventer said with some puzzlement.

"Oh sure, take her side!" Duo accused, scowling, his violet eyes flashing. Wufei sighed, massaging the bridge of his nose to ward off a headache that was slowly approaching.

"Why don't you just do your share around the place?" he inquired. "It can't be all that hard to keep the peace between the two of you, right? She is your wife, after all."

"If it's so easy then why are you still single?" Duo asked, growing annoyed that his friend didn't take his side. Geez, all he needed was someone to agree with him and curse all women for the time being. Wufei seemed like the right guy for cursing all women to early and painful deaths.

<And that's all that I need, yeah

Someone else to cling to, yeah.>

"What's the point?" he replied with a stern glare…one that offered no disagreement. Of course Duo didn't believe him. No one ever did.

"Because being alone sucks, man!" Duo stated ardently, keen on making his ex-Gundam pilot companion understand. "You stare at the ceiling, wondering if you're goin' die without anybody caring. And you keep your house absolutely, meticulously clean, with hopes that someone, anyone, will come so you won't be alone anymore…" Wufei cut off the braided man's voice by slamming his hand on the table.

"I'm a little busy," he said sternly. "Go recite morbid poetry to the mirror." Duo couldn't keep a smug smirk from his face, and he walked from the office quickly, feeling the door slam behind him harshly.

"Hit the nail right on the head, didn't I?" he whispered to himself before walking away in hopes of finding Hilde. He had to apologize, after all.

A/N: this is too long to put as a one-shot, so I broke it off into chapters. It shouldn't take long to finish, but my other fics are my top precedence. Please send comments!