Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Broken Promises ❯ Trowa's Promise ( Chapter 1 )

First scene: Trowa

The image on the screen was of an alley filled with dumpsters, cardboard boxes, and other various forms of garbage. By the way the alley was lit the time of day could be any time after sunrise. A child of approximately six years of age could be seen hiding in between a dumpster and a stack of cardboard boxes halfway down the alley. The alley dead-ended about twenty feet from where the child is hiding.

Voices are heard calling back and forth from the open end of the alley. They are calling to each other while looking for the child.

Adult male one: "Where'd that little brat get to? Ya see im yet Sid?"

Adult male two: "Nah, maybe he's further back. I know he came this way. And there ain't no way outta this alley."

Adult male three: "Unless you's a monkey and he didna look ta be one. Can't be ifin he be wearing that military stuff."

Adult male one: "Then let's move further in. He's gotta be here somewhere."

The frightened child, although there is no indication that he's frightened other than his eyes, is seen trying to shrink even further into his hiding place. The voices are getting closer to his hiding spot when one of the hunters cries out in pain. The child does not move a muscle at the noise.

Adult male two, angrily: "Who threw that rock?"

"I did," came a child's voice from the dead end area of the alley. The new child steps out to where he can now be seen. The child appears to be around five years of age and is of indeterminate sex as its hair reaches it's lower back. The eyes of the child cannot be clearly seen, as the sun is behind it. It's clothes are ripped, stained and appear to be almost non-existent; surely one of the colonies' poorest inhabitants.

Adult male one: "Why?"

"You was messin up my hole. Whatcha doin here anyway?" the child answers, slowly moving closer to the hidden child, seemingly unaware of any danger in the situation.

Adult male one: "Lookin fer sumpin that runned down this way."

"Anythin I might be interested in?" the child asks, stopping right in front of the hidden child and leaning against the side of the dumpster, somehow managing to look relaxed and as if enjoying the incident while shielding the frightened child from the adults' eyes. It is still not obvious whether the unknown child is male or female. The eyes still cannot be seen clearly but they appear to be rather large for the grimy elfin face that is currently sporting a huge grin.

Adult male two: "Doubt it. Tain't nothin but some kid we was gonna have fun with."

As this comment is made a change is seen on the unknown child's face, the happy grin is rapidly replaced with one that is cold as ice. "A kid, huh? What was ya gonna do with em?"

Adult male two: "We was gonna rough him up a bit."

"Tell ya what," replies the long haired child as he slowly steps away from the dumpster, "ya wanna rough up somun why not rough up me. I'm sure I'd be a lot more fun than some udder kid what's neva been done before. Whadda ya say?"

Sounds of agreement are heard from all three adult males and the long haired child moves quickly away from the dumpster, gaining space to move while still keeping the other child hidden from view. Scuffling sounds are heard for about five, maybe ten minutes, then the sounds of three people rapidly moving away.

Several more minutes pass before the hidden child moves from his hiding spot. It is now seen that he is wearing military fatigues and his hair is mussed and covering one of his eyes. He moves towards where the sounds of fighting had been heard minutes before and finds the long haired boy unconscious on the ground, covered in blood. He kneels down beside the child who saved him and starts to check to see if the other child is still alive.

As the militarily dressed child's hand reaches out, the other child moans and starts to move. The outstretched hand is pulled back, the body it is attached to slowly moving itself to a standing position as the long haired child stands and adjusts his clothes. Yes, it can now been seen that the long haired child is male.

"That wasn't too bad considerin," comes the unexpected comment from the beaten child.

"What?!" exclaims the other.

"Let's get ya back where ya belong" the long haired child says, taking the other's hand and starts to pull him out of the alley. "Ya don't wanna be here ifin they come back."

"Wait" calls the military child, forcing the other child to stop. "Why did you do that?"

"Do what?" asks the long haired one.

"Take a beating for me" answers the military child.

"Ya wouldna survived," is the quick answer. "Let's go."

"Wait!" calls the military child as he is once more dragged towards the open end of the alley.

"What now?" comes the exasperated voice of the long haired child. "We don't have much time."

"How can I repay you?" asks the military child. "I mean, you saved me. I should do something for you in return."

"Stay," comes the unexpectedly quiet reply, "or take me with you. I could use a friend."

"I'm sorry," the military child replies, hanging his head in shame. "I don't know what the leaders of my outfit will say." At the sound of a strangled sob from the other child, he looks up and sees the other's head lowered as if to hide tears. He steps forward and puts an arm around the other child's shoulders and says "I promise I'll get someone who will care for you before I leave."

"Promise?" the long haired child asks, as if there had been too many broken promises in his young life and was afraid to believe yet one more time.

"I promise" the military child answers, clasping the other child's hand firmly.

"Then let's get outta here" the long haired child grins up at his companion and starts moving out of the alley once more.

The image follows the two children through many alleys and streets, each successively less garbage strewn until they reach a park where a military convoy has stopped. The military child now takes the lead, moving without hesitation through the trucks and tents until he stands in front of the command tent. The guards outside the tent separate the two children, allowing only the child in the military outfit inside. The commander comes out a few minutes later and whispers something to one of the guards who immediately picks up the long haired child, covering his mouth so he cannot scream, and carries him to the outskirts of the camp. The guard knocks the child unconscious and leaves him to be found hours later by the locals after the convoy has left the area.

A softly uttered oath shatters the silence in the room just before the screen goes blank. A couple of seconds pass before some text appears on the screen. The text reads: This happened in the morning six days before the plague struck the citizens of L2. The screen goes blank for a few more seconds and then a second incident begins.