Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Nevergreen ❯ Chapter 3

Title: Nevergreen

Author: Lethanon

Archive: www.geocities.com/lethanon

Warnings: AU, Australia, language.

Notes: A product of my overly imaginative childhood in Condobolin, in the bush, and my time spent at `Evergreen', which while not a station is a damned cool farm run by some very lovely people who are caretakers of some very strange places.

3:

Staff rooms are not mysterious places. Students are usually disillusioned into thinking they are black holes in the universe that it's far too easy to be sucked in to, but Heero Yuy knew the truth. Staff rooms are where the teachers hide from the kids. They don't allow students inside because it's their haven; their safe harbor. Heero had never really understood the need for such a place. Even in his last appointment, he had felt a connection to his students; a desire to be near them as they learnt. It took only fifteen point three seconds after walking into the main office of Condobolin High School for Heero to completely change his mind. Staff rooms were completely necessary and no student should ever be allowed inside.

He came to this rather abrupt conclusion when he saw Trowa tense as they signed in. It was a tiny thing really, and Heero was sure he would not have noticed it two days ago but he did live with the other man and all his experience of the town so far had been in Trowa's company, so it didn't really surprise him. That anything at all could actually penetrate Trowa's wall of calm, however, was most intriguing.

Intriguing, that is, until he turned around and came face to face with…something. It took several moments to reevaluate that initial impression into a `someone'. She was of equal height with him, obviously a senior and pretty in a stuck up kind of way. She looked like every other teenage girl he had ever taught, but that was what made him pause. She looked like the city; city born and bred and completely out of place in this space. Heero blinked, wondering if he was seeing things; if perhaps the heat hadn't addled his brain to that desperately dark level, but she was still there when his lids blinked back open and he found himself sighing in disappointment.

"Mr. Barton, is this the new Mathematics teacher?"

Trowa sighed, straightened from signing his name, which Heero realized had taken much longer than one would have thought possible, and turned to face…the someone. She was smiling now and Heero found he couldn't look away. It wasn't that she was attractive...though he supposed she was, if you were in to that sort of thing, it was more a devilish `if you take your eyes off me I'll eat you' kind of thing. So, of course, Heero's eyes refused to waver.

"Relena, Mr. Yuy," Trowa sighed, looking everywhere but at Relena. Heero thought him a very brave man. His hand was grasped before he could even think to offer it and the girl was pulling him toward the door, something about showing him about the school escaping lips that were a little too pink…gloss? Lipstick? Hard to say and Heero really could not bring himself to care. He wondered if he stared at her mouth long enough if she would notice and tell him…and then go away. Now that would be nice.

There were voices behind them, arguing, snapping, sniping…Heero recognized Trowa's voice among them, calm and smooth, soothing somehow. He was about to turn when a shadow fell across the doorway and he looked up into tired, worn and weary eyes that were becoming familiar. There was a spark of recognition in those eyes as their gazes met, but that was all.

"Rel, stop makin love to the guy's hand and go make use of your own. He's too old forya." Duo grinned, winked and strode passed them as if they weren't there at all, as if he hadn't said a word to them, as if he had, in fact, never even seen them. It was rather disconcerting.

Relena, however, was fuming as she blushed a dark red, released her hold on Heero and rushed out the door. There was an excuse of some kind in the prattle escaping her lips, but it eluded Heero, who was already turning to see what was actually happening behind them.

There were two boys, both black as night with dark eyes and teeth so white they looked like permanent little stars glittering in their gaping mouths as they swore loudly at…Principal Webb. Heero recognized the man from his interview. Trowa was standing between the boys and the Principal, trying to be some kind of mediator, but it was obvious he was having no effect. Whatever had got them riled was beyond either man's control.

"Oi, dipshits. Cut the wanker some slack; it ain't his fault he's a fuckin moron. I'm tired, I'm hungry and I still ain't done that shit for stick up her arse Craig. Get moving."

Everybody paused, waited. Heero realized he was holding his breath and let it out slowly, a swirl of emotions running through him so quickly he wasn't sure what to think. Trowa was the first to move, hand rising and holding out the little brown paper bag they had put together that morning. Duo reached out automatically and snatched it from the air as his friends shrugged at one another and headed for the door. Duo looked about ready to follow them when Principal Webb spoke softly.

"Language, Maxwell. That's Level Two."

Heero wanted to protest, but knew there was no point. Duo had sworn and insulted a teacher. That could not be allowed, regardless of what situation he had diffused in the process. Besides, Duo himself didn't look worried. He just snorted, waved his hand nonchalantly and marched out the door. Heero was expecting that to be the last he saw of him until after lunch, but as he and Trowa left the office Duo fell into step with them, keeping Trowa carefully in the middle as he snatched glances around the tall man. They didn't go unnoticed by Heero.

"Thanks for the grub," Duo mumbled around a vegemite sandwich.

"I was hoping you would save the sanger for lunch," Trowa noted wryly.

"No way…must have vegemite first thing to wake up."

"I thought that was what juice was for," Trowa rolled his eyes as Heero just watched the conversation with interest. Something about Duo fascinated him; the ease with which the boy spoke, moved, responded. He was completely one with everything around him; entrenched in his home territory. Heero had a sneaking suspicion Duo was the kind of boy who didn't rule the school, that was apparently Relena's job, but dictated everything from the sidelines. Duo was, in Heero's experience, much more dangerous.

"Do you see any juice here?" Duo sniffed loudly. Trowa stuck his hand in the paper bag and pulled out the poppa, waving it under the boy's nose.

"You call that juice, dildo? It's fucking flavored water."

And out here, Heero reasoned, it probably was.

"Duo, the next time you call me a dildo I am telling Relena you want your hair done up in pink ribbons," Trowa whispered under his breath. It earnt a chuckle from Heero, which surprised both men enough that they stopped walking to look at him. Heero just shrugged. He thought it was funny.

"Oh, sure!" Duo rolled his eyes and started walking again. Heero found himself following suit. "Like I'd ever let her near my hair anyhow…"

Duo stopped again, looking around and then shrugging. Heero found himself copying the movement as he realized Trowa had gone, the lean form already turning around a corner on the far side of the quadrangle. He assumed that was the way to the art department.

"Maths block?"

Duo just nodded and started walking in the opposite direction, still munching on the vegemite sanger. Heero let him eat, taking the time to steal his own small glances at his student. He found himself forcing that frame of thinking into his head, aware that at some point that little piece of information had been lost inside his skull. He had somehow forgotten this was a student; someone he could not legally touch without being fired and probably tossed in jail. But Duo didn't act like any student Heero ever taught, nor did he look at Heero in the same way any student had. Rather, it was the same look he himself had once given…

Heero stopped dead in his tracks, clearing his mind completely before those thoughts could get anywhere. He was vaguely aware of Duo stopping , looking at him with an expression that clearly said `strange', but he couldn't bring himself to care. There was an emptiness swirling in him and he had to keep it that way for fear the old memories would rise again. He was a trained professional, he reminded himself, and Duo was a student. Nothing more.

"You okay, Mr. Yuy?"

The honorific helped to ground his churning thoughts and Heero allowed himself a deep breath as he nodded and they continued on their way. Heero wanted to apologise, but when he opened his mouth to speak, Duo swallowed quickly and stopped him.

"It's okay, Heero. Everyone's allowed a bit of insanity on their first day. `Sides, your first encounter was with Relena…that's bound to mess you up! If you quit by this arvo I won't be surprised!"

It served to smooth away the rough edges and Heero heard himself laughing quietly, but stopped when he realized Duo was looking at him again, cobalt eyes laughing even as his mouth only quirked and something unknown to Heero flittered over his smooth features.

The bell rang. Duo pointed to a door with `Staffroom' stamped on the door, and then he was gone and Heero was alone, staring at the faded yellow paint on the door, aware of the crunchy brown grass under his toes and letting the hot breath of nature waffle against his cheek. The scent of wattle and gum sap was as good as any cuppa and he reached out and went inside.

There is no blessing so sweet as air conditioning. He stepped into a cool ice box, the extreme difference sending goosebumps out over his flesh as he took in the other teachers. They were quick to get up, to come over and shake his hand, lead him to his desk, give him the timetable, a quick talk on the discipline policy. Stupid, menial things he already knew; had already checked up on himself before he ever considered taking the position. They were old, most of them nearing retirement, and they were jaded, so completely at odds with the environment Heero wondered how they taught anything at all. These were people he could not relate to, and he was sure the students couldn't either. Still, he reasoned, it might make his job a little easier.

They went off to DEAR, which he thankfully didn't have, as his own class had been taken over at the beginning of the year. He spent the time running over the day's lessons, making sure he had everything he needed and a few little extras. When the bell went he was more than ready, and he marched to his classroom relaxed, calm and confident.

Unfortunately, it all went downhill from there. The moment he walked into his classroom he realized his first mistake. While staffrooms are teacher's little safe havens, classrooms are not and he could see how one might gain a certain perverted pleasure from denying the students something, but putting the new teacher in the classroom with the broken air conditioning was plain torture, in Heero's not so humble opinion. Still, he herded his first class of year seven's inside, got them seated, glared them into submission, then played games with them the entire lesson. They left happy, excited about the next lesson and generally laid back about the homework they had to do. All in all, Heero didn't think that was too bad.

Second period was year eight. It was going well. The kids adjusted well to his teaching method, and like the year seven's they were still insecure enough in themselves to be completely intimidated by his glare. All in all the lesson itself was fine, but about twenty minutes in a bird of some sort slammed straight into the window. Heero just stared in shock for a full minute as several of the girl's screamed and the boy's rushed to the window to get a closer look. It was, of course, one of only three windows in the whole classroom that did not open, but Heero figured it was better to have the bird outside than in. Still…

The boys quickly reported the bird was fine as it hopped onto the sill and launched itself back into the air.

"It's just a bloody galah! God, you'd think you wankers had never seen one of the buggers before, the way yas all run and scream."

Heero stared down at the little girl in the front row and wondered what to say. She was small with incredibly white skin tinged pink by sunburn and a shock bright red hair she hid under a small black cap.His mind raced through the role and he quickly came up with the name.

"Marie, language! And take off the hat."

Her sky-blue eyes went wide and her cheeks turned a slightly darker shade.

"Sorry, Mr. Yuy," she mumbled, slipping the hat off her head and her nose back into the textbook.

They all slowly returned to their seats, whether from Heero's raised voice or Marie's no one was really sure. Heero was grateful that his class was just getting back to normal as the clock his the forty minute mark when a loud smack on the window and a screech heralded the return of the daft animal.

Heero couldn't help blinking as the girls once again erupted into screams and the boys were out of the seats and at the window before he could really consider killing the bird. Or the kids. He wasn't really sure which. Marie just sighed, slumped a little, one hand cupping her cheek as she looked out the windows on the opposite side of the room.

Heero strode to the window and pulled down the blind, only to have it curl back up again. He glared at the string, following it to the device at the top of the window only to see it was broken. His gaze dropped in time to see the galah flying straight for him as it plowed into the glass directly in front of his face with a sickening crunch. He winced as the animal slid down onto the sill.

It took a minute, and every set of eyes in the class was glued on the bird for the whole sixty seconds, and then it was ruffling its feathers, shaking its head and launching itself into the air once more. Heero didn't get it. Was the animal deranged? Did it have heat stroke? Was it really that damn thick?

He managed to get the class settled. They worked through a short activity and the bell went. The kids left, Marie shaking her head as she glared first at the window, then at Heero, before stalking out the door with her nose in the air. Heero had never been more grateful for a break in his whole life, and he quickly returned to the staffroom, the cold air sinfully blissful.

"Hard start?"

Heero looked up at Mr. Geiner, the head teacher, and shook his head. No, it hadn't been a hard start. It could have been much worse. In fact, they were probably the best classes he'd ever had; it was the bird he had a problem with.

"There is a bird that keeps flying into my window."

"So shut the window," Geiner replied as if it were something that happened every day. The older man shrugged, turned and made himself a coffee. The whole place soon stank of the substance as the teachers all filed in and began sorting out their recess. It made Heero feel a little queasy. He had never liked the stuff, but…someone else had. Heero really didn't want to think about that, so he left quickly, heading off to find the library. He had a free after recess, but after that he would have to face year ten, and then year twelve…He was almost looking forward to the afternoon.

The library was cool. Not as cold as the staffrooms, but far from the sweaty heat wave that existed without. The little old lady behind the desk looked harmless enough, until Heero smiled down at her and she snarled at him that the place was booked out for the day and to book in advance next time. He hadn't even gotten the chance to ask. Still, he left her alone, crossing off any plans to use the library in the near future, and went for a quick squiz around.

It was not a large library, and the majority of books targeted a rather low reading bracket. He supposed they had enough literacy troubles without filling the place with books the kids couldn't even read. Still, Heero couldn't help but think it was somewhat disheartening. He hoped the town library was a little better stocked. The town didn't have a book shop that he had seen.

The bell rang, but he stayed long enough to get a feel for the resources, noting to himself that no one had actually entered the library all recess despite the air conditioning. He guessed, quite correctly, that it wasn't cool and promptly left, casting a prized glare over his shoulder at old Mrs. White, the librarian just to make sure she knew where they stood.

Year ten was a nightmare. It's that age group that isn't intimidated by anything, especially not some grumpy math teacher's glare. They won't do anything they don't want to do and all they want to do is talk about sex. They certainly don't want to do work. Heero's only saving grace was that he happened to be a rather attractive, new, young male teacher and had subsequently got the attention of a few of the girls. They in turn had snatched the attention of some of the boys, and after a good half hour of watching the way they all interacted Heero was finally able to construct a seating plan that had them quiet. No girl wanted to be the one to disrupt him and risk being unpopular and no boy wanted to have the girl suddenly seated beside them glowering at their shoddy work or manners.

All in all, Heero could see no great drama's arising in the class for some time to come. Except, of course, the damned bird that once again renewed its attempts to splatter itself all over the side of the building. They missed its attempts the first two times, as it rammed into the wall beside the window and they only heard a dull thunk, but the third go had it kissing glass again. Unlike the younger class, these didn't scream and leap out of their chairs, but they had one eye on the window most of class and Heero was sure not a one of them could even tell him what a fraction was, let alone how to multiply one with another. He sighed when the bell went, a little disturbed by the way the girls lingered, asked about homework, wanted to help him clean up a bit. He shooed them out quick enough and headed once again for the sanctuary of the staffroom.

It was blessedly empty and he had only been there about five minutes when Trowa waltzed in looking perfectly calm despite the light sheen of sweat covering his skin.

"How's it going?" He took the seat beside Heero's, pushing the teacher's books aside and plonking his own small lunch down. Heero snorted as he bit into an apple.

"There is a bird trying to commit suicide on my window."

"Galah?" Trowa, like everyone else, didn't seem to find this an odd occurrence, which only made Heero wonder if they were all mad or if it really was just him.

"Yes, it is a galah."

Trowa just nodded as he swallowed half his tuna and salad sanger in one bite.

"Galah's mate for life," he said around the mouthful, which Heero found truly disgusting. He could see the little flakes of fish being mashed between the other man's teeth and promptly looked away. Trowa grinned, knowing perfectly well what he was doing.

"So?" Heero prompted.

"So, around here, it's pretty common for one of the pair to die. Get hit by a car, exhausted mid-flight by heat, killed in a storm. Hundreds of ways they could cark it, really."

"And this matters because?" Heero deliberately chomped his apple with his mouth open and only then realized how truly funny it was. It was…damn awkward and he kept thinking the food was going to fall out of his mouth, but when he tried to talk around the mouthful he realized he sounded…like a local. It was a very disturbing, very stupid and very funny thought.

"Well, when one of a pair of galah's dies the other will commit suicide. It can't live without its mate."

Heero was very glad he was not a galah. He wondered if Trowa was pulling his leg, but there was nothing in the other mans posture to indicate such and the proof was rather large. He did, after all, have a galah throwing itself full tilt against his classroom window. He wondered if it had succeeded yet.

Lunch passed quickly. They spoke about stupid things. The heat, the chances of a storm, what they wanted to do that weekend, staying home tonight, going to the pub later that week. Stupid things. Normal things. Non-suicidal galah-type things. But the galah was still on Heero's mind when the bell rang and he made his way back to his room. It had the large numbers 01 plastered on the door. He hadn't noticed that before. He supposed it was because it was the first room in the maths section of the school, but still…he liked it.

"Deep in thought, Mr. Yuy?"

Heero felt a small smile tug at the corners of his mouth as he looked over at Duo.

"Galah," he said distractedly and Duo's face crinkled with a frown. He looked ready to ask what he meant when the damn animal once again splattered itself on the window. Really splattered itself, Heero amended as he looked across.

"Shit, Heero! Ya psychic or something?"

Or something, Heero thought, staring at the carcass slipping down the glass to the windowsill. Relena chose that moment to turn up, twirling a long lock of hair about her finger as she tossed her bag on one of the desks in the front row. Heero silently wished she would go to the back. Instead, that was where Duo instinctively headed.

"Mr. Yuy, please send someone out to get rid of that!" Relena whined, looking everywhere except at the dead bird.

"Aw, ya scared of a little blood, Lena?"

Heero watched them come in silent horror. He wasn't honestly expected to teach them…anything, was he? They were the most rag-tag group he had ever seen, and even as he watched them take their seats he was matching names and marks to faces with no trouble. Hilde. The girl sitting as far away from Relena as she could was Hilde. Heero was almost jealous of the wink she shared with Duo.

"Fark Hil, you know she's a frigid bitch," the blonde girl Heero could only assume was Dorothy Catalonia strode through the door and slumped in the chair next to Relena. They shared a look that clearly said `you know I'm just joking', then pretended to completely ignore each other, playing Hilde's game.

"Stone cold hussy," Kevin Walker noted as he marched in, the two black boys from that morning on his heels. Heero now knew they had to be Wayne and Max; the Goologong brothers. Just his luck. They were on the lowest discipline level in the school, on the verge of expulsion since day one year seven and thick as three bricks.

There was more, the banter running back and forth between them. Heero let it go, watching them, getting a feel for the room, for how it should be played. How he should play them, but his eyes kept swerving unerringly to the back corner where Duo just sat there, quiet and waiting, a small smile on his face as he listened to them all, never taking his eyes off the teacher.

Quatre was the last to arrive.

"Sorry, Mr. Yuy," he was quick to apologize. "I had to collect an art assignment off Mr. Barton."

Heero was sure he did but contained himself from any outward reaction, moving to the board and quickly writing his name up. The chalk squeaked on the board. He definitely had everyone's attention. Almost.

"Is that bird dead?" Quatre squeaked, gaping at the bird on the sill beside his desk.

"No, just sleeping," Duo yawned. Quatre looked behind him, at Duo who was still looking at Heero, and then shrugged, accepting the explanation.

Heero shook his head, and got to work.

*

"Not bad, Heero."

The class was finished, Heero had a free last period, but Duo had not left the room. It had taken Heero a few minutes to realize, and he had just waited for the other boy to approach him, not really sure what he should do. He should not have been alone in the room with the boy. He should not a lot of thins, but it had never stopped him in the past. Still, things had been a little different then.

"You're awake now?" Heero raised an inquisitive eyebrow, aware Duo had kept his head down through the whole lesson, feigning sleep but also aware that gaze had tracked him the entire lesson, never wavering, that small smile always on those lips…Heero shook his head, clearing the thoughts. He had to get the air conditioning fixed.

"You know I wasn't sleepin."

"I know. It might help to actually attempt the work once in a while though."

"Nair, no point. I know it all anyway."

Heero knew he did, but he didn't know how, and he was well aware that while Duo knew the material he still made mistakes. Practice made perfect. Heero could only assume Duo wanted to be as far away from perfect as possible.

"You really do need to get rid of that bird y'know,"

"I know. Don't you have class now?"

"Nuh. Freebie. Tro said I might be able to scam some help offya for my distance ed stuff but."

Distance education? Heero's attention was perked and he stopped trying to clean the room and turned to face Duo fully, waiting for an explanation.

"Three unit computers. I can't get this program right."

Heero grinned, sitting down quickly and kicking a chair out for Duo.

"Whaddya got?"

Duo stared for a moment, something playing in his eyes as he looked down his nose at Heero, then he sighed and sat down.

"You're a fast learner, Heero. There ain't no hidin that."

Heero had been told that before, but he didn't remember it as Duo pulled loose the work and they immersed themselves in the fun stuff. It was suddenly apparent how Duo knew his math material and Heero was intrigued as ever.

"Tro says you've got one helluva comp?"

Heero snorted, putting the book aside as the bell rang, signaling the end of school for the day.

"It's good enough for what I need."

"Can I come see it?"

Heero felt something in him respond to that, and more to the wicked gleam in Duo's eyes as he leaned forward, eagerly awaiting a reply. Heero was not sure that was a good idea. It certainly wasn't something he should allow, but technically Duo was of legal age, and it was after school hours.

He was saved from having to make any kind of decision by a snort at the door.

"Anything to stay away from home, hey Duo? Don't worry, Heero, he usually comes over and plays video games all arvo."

Heero felt relief and warmth flooding him. He wanted to go home; wanted to relax and some odd little part of him already wanted it to be Duo who sat there and relaxed with him. He decided it was hotter than he had thought.

Duo stood suddenly, swinging his bad over his shoulder. Trowa passed Heero's bag to him, nodding as Heero raised a brow. He had obviously dropped by the staffroom first to collect Heero's things, probably already knowing Duo had intended to grab some extra tutoring off Heero. Trowa had, after all, been the one to suggest it. Heero felt an odd sort of peace as he took the bag. Trowa was so…aware of everything. So completely embroiled within the life of the school and its students that he was almost a part of it. And he was happy, at peace, to be a part of it. Heero wanted that. Among other things…

"So, Mr. Yuy, are you gonna be back in the morning?" Duo winked as they locked the door and headed toward the paddock and the back exit of the school. His plait swung slightly in the breeze and each swing revealed the small patch of skin at the back of his neck, pale compared to the rest of his sun kissed skin, slightly beaded with sweat. It made Heero shiver and distracted him from his response.

"Hn," he replied and it earned him a chuckle from the pair.

"Aw, come on Mr. Yuy! Ya gotta cometa Mr. Barton's Art class tomorra!"

Heero raised a brow, but Trowa was nodding as he strode ahead so Heero assumed it fitted in with his timetable and that he would be going. Not that he minded. It seemed he didn't mind a great many things as they came out from under the scant line of trees beyond the school yard and into the full heat of the arvo sun. It beat down on them with a vengeance, as if taking revenge for their being indoors all day, but Heero didn't mind the added heat. He didn't mind the sweat. He didn't mind the weight of his bag as it pulled him down toward the even hotter black tar of the road. He certainly didn't mind the scent of dead trees or browned grass, like wet hay, as Duo brushed against him as they walked home.