Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Beautiful Dawn -- Revised ❯ 3 ( Chapter 4 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Beautiful Dawn
by Michalyn

Chapter Three

Winston Street was in fact a tiny cobbled avenue about a block from the main campus. It was a favorite hang-out for the university crowd, who loved the vintage shops, used book stores and of course, cafes, lining its pavements. Most of the buildings were bright, wooden structures with awnings or heavily curlicued fretwork along roof-edges to add to the faux, old world charm of the quarter. Couples were walking leisurely together in the afternoon sun and the dark aroma of roasted coffee beans hung fat in the air as Milliardo and his pretty companion crossed the street to his favorite cafe. There were a few students lounging outside on the patio , reading newspapers or smoking. Purple geraniums were growing in narrow pot on one side of the entrance and a bearded man was stooping to examine them. As they paused in the middle of the sidewalk to read the day's specials a girl with a polka dot bandana whizzed past, looping around them on her bicycle.

"Well, here we are."

Milliardo led the way inside and they sat near one of the windows at the far left of the room. A breeze blew in, ruffling the boy's hair. His cheeks were flushed with healthy color and Milliardo tried hard not to stare, he was so lovely.

"By the way, I don't think I caught your name? I'm Milliardo."

"Heero."

"Hii-roh?" Milliardo turned the exotic syllables over in his mouth. He should have known his name would be something special. He smiled. "I like it."

Heero shrugged turning the menu around between his fingers. He seemed uncomfortable.

"Are you sure this is ok?" Milliardo searched his features. "I know it's not the best, but the crowd's pretty nice and the prices aren't too bad. Still, if you had somewhere else in mind...."

Heero shifted in his chair. "No, it's all right."

"You're sure?"

Heero nodded.

"So ... how's your day going so far? You're a freshman right?"

"Yes. Today is my first day."

Milliardo's eyes widened. He hadn't expected Heero to be a first semester freshman. It made his presence in the library all the more puzzling. "This is your very first day then? First time in college?"

"Yes, I...," Heero's gaze dropped to the tablecloth, "I couldn't start right away. I ... wanted to work for a year after I graduated from highschool."

Milliardo twiddled with he salt shaker, "So you're nineteen?"

Heero shook his head. "Eighteen. I--" he cleared his throat and picked at his rolled-up napkin, "Advanced placement...." he trailed off with a flush.

Milliardo listened and a softness rose up in him. He had not expected it: this shyness in Heero. Most of the good-looking men he knew (beloved Treize included) were very well aware of their charms. Yet, the more he studied Heero, the more Milliardo realized the younger man had no inkling of his own appeal. He saw the little curves of Heero's earlobes reddened in the light from the window behind him ... his smooth skin ... the exquisite slenderness of his neck and wrists and blood beat strong in Milliardo veins. Maybe it was just first-day jitters or nervousness about meeting someone new, but there was something in the stiffness of Heero's shoulders and the way he couldn't quite meet his gaze that made Milliardo think it had more to do with inexperience.

Heero was an innocent.

Maybe Heero was too reserved, or the opportunity simply had not presented itself, but Milliardo was almost sure he was right. He was equally surprised at the jealousy that sprung up at the thought of Heero with another lover. He only just met him, but Milliardo knew he wanted to be the one to introduce Heero to passion. How sweet it would be to hold Heero's small, firm body in his arms and watch pleasure transform him....

Heero had pulled one of the pamphlet menus from the sheaf at the center of the table and was studying it with a frown. Milliardo watched as a lock of hair fell into his eyes, shielding them. He worried his lip.

The question was: would he get the chance?

Milliardo released a shaky breath. Lost in his amorous haze, he realized he hadn't spoken for some time. He berated himself. Fate threw him a wonderful chance to redeem his love-life and what did he do but wander off to never-land. Where was his charisma, his sharp repartee? Milliardo marshalled his resources and tried again. He smiled at Heero with what he hoped was a measure of charm. "Shall we order?" Heero nodded and he signalled to the waitress, "And while we wait, why don't you tell me more about yourself?"

Heero did not answer right away. His brows knitted as if he was somehow thrown by the question. He darted a glance at Milliardo. " I ... am unsure what there is to tell," he said carefully.

Milliardo found the curious turn of phrase utterly endearing. A warm, expanding feeling spread through him. So soon, and already he knew he would have to see Heero again. Milliardo leaned forward on his elbows. "Well, let's start with the simple stuff. What's your major?"

"Programming." Heero pressed a little backwards into his chair, "You?"

"History; I'm working on a thesis right now."

"Then, you're a grad student?"

"Right," Milliardo nodded, "just turned twenty-three. Like you, I finished up a little early."

"Excuse me, gentlemen," the waitress pulled her pen from her apron pocket and smiled down at them, "what will you have today?"

"Hey, Rita," Milliardo handed her the menu. "Give me my usual."

"All right," she scribbled on her pad. "That's one cappuccino -- dry. She nodded to Heero, "And what'll you have, hun?"

Heero slid the little booklet across the table. His voice was soft: "I'll just have some water, please."

"Water?" Milliardo protested, " Come on, Heero, surely you--"

Insistent, Heero turned to the waitress, "Yes, water -- with ice."

"Alrighty," she tucked her pen behind her ear, " One dry cappuccino and an ice water. Sound right?"

Both men nodded.

"Then I'll be back before you know it."

Milliardo frowned as he watched Rita make her way across the room. He was an ass.There was a much nicer cafe down the street. They should have gone there instead. He was sure Heero would have preferred it -- most people did. Milliardo shifted uncomfortably in his seat. He felt like such an idiot he doubted he would have any taste for his cappuccino when it came -- especially if Heero was sipping water. He shook his head. "I'm sorry, Heero, we shouldn't have come here."

Heero looked up, startled. "What?"

"I'm sorry nothing on the menu caught your fancy. Are you sure you don't want to go somewhere else? There's another coffee shop just round the corner...."

"There is no need."

Milliardo grimaced. " It's really all right. We don't have to stay here." He started to reach for his coat. "Come on, let's find somewhere with a better selection."

"No, the menu is fine. Only--" Heero stiffened and jerked to his feet. His chair scraped harshly against the tiles. "I should go."

"Wait! Don't leave!" Milliardo scrambled to his feet. Christ, whatever he said, it was obvious he had just firmly planted his foot in his mouth.

"No, no, this was a mistake." Heero was shaking his head and gathering up his backpack. "I must get to work."

Shit! He was such an idiot! Milliardo grabbed his keys and stuffed his coat over the crook of his elbow. He hurried after Heero. "Well, at least let me take you there. I'm parked about five minutes away. If you'd just wait--"

"No!" Heero whirled, eyes flashing and fists clenched. "Just stay away!"

Stunned, Milliardo stopped. He watched as Heero weaved blindly across the room to the entrance, his shoulders hunched in hard little line as he sprinted up the street.

A small crowd had gathered and Milliardo thought he recognized a few faces from his classes, but he was too confused to care. In a daze, he went back to the table, dropped a few bills for the drink, left Rita a tip and made his way outside.

The cafe was at the foot of a slight incline and in the growing dusk, orange light spilled from the top of the street, making the cobblestones shine like pennies. Milliardo gathered his coat about him. He stared in the direction Heero had disappeared and sighed. What the hell had just happened?

**

Heero didn't stop until his heart was contracted painfully in his chest and his lungs threatened to burst. He found himself in an arbor on the perimeter of the science buildings and he collapsed on the grass, breathing hard. Every one of his limbs was shaking and for long time Heero lay there, confused and afraid in the leaf-dark grove -- battling himself.

What had he been thinking? J was at home struggling for every breath and he had been ready to squander their resources on expensive coffee. What was worse, for a minute in the cafe he had actually considered abandoning all duty and not going to work -- just because a stranger smiled at him. Heero remembered the blonde's name, long and regal-sounding: Milliardo.... He didn't understand himself or the strange yearning that rose in him in the other man's presence. It filled him with fear. What kind of person was he, to betray his responsibilities so easily? What must he do to become stronger?

Heero closed his eyes. At least he had come to his senses when the waitress had come. He inhaled, forcing calming breaths into his body. It was okay, it was okay: he hadn't completely failed. He had misstepped, but it was not too late to redeem himself. He looked at his watch and saw that it was almost time he was at work. Heero stood and hurried towards the bus stop with new determination. He would do better. He would not become another disappointment. Heero's resolve grew with each step and by the time he changed into his uniform and found his seat among the other tired students, darkness had fallen, and the memory of the blonde was swiftly fading, like the distant howl of the wind in the night.