Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Pinball ❯ Practice ( Chapter 1 )

Series: Pinball

Chapter 1: Practice

Author: Niere

Rating: PG-13

DISCLAIMER: The series Gundam Wing and the characters therein do not belong to me. I'm just putting them in different situations to see how they react.

Summary: It's a world where everyone has psionic abilities…well, most everyone. Another contest is coming up and the undefeated Duo notices a new player, a null, a person with no psionic abilities. Just what is it about this boy and why can't Duo get him off his mind?

Author's Note: Have you ever heard the song Pinball Wizard by Elton John? I love the song. I was listening to it and was bitten by yet another plot bunny. This is based, loosely, on that song.

TK=telekinesis, the ability to move things with one's mind. TP=telepathy, the ability to send/receive thoughts. Empathy=the ability to send/receive emotions or feelings. Pyrokinesis=the ability to create/control fire. Pre-cog=the ability to "see" the future.

* * *

Ping……Ping……Ping

The lights flashed and flippers flew as the silver ball ricocheted around the field. The emerald-eyed young man currently in play was deep in concentration as his one visible eye tracked the fast moving sphere. The ball suddenly angled downwards. The boy frantically pressed the buttons controlling the flippers.

BUZZZZZ

The machine stopped and the lights died as the ball dropped into the exit hole.

"Man!" The boy leaned on the machine in frustration.

"Oh, Trowa," his braided friend admonished, shaking his head and smirking, "I keep telling you, these things are sensitive. You can't use TK on them."

"Leave him alone, Duo," chided a small blonde, slipping an arm around the frustrated teen. "It's reflex and you know it."

"Yeah, but Quatre, he'll never make it past preliminaries if he can't curb the reflex." Duo looked up at the score on the machine and clapped his friend on the shoulder. "Damn, Tro! That's your best score yet!"

Trowa also checked out the score. "Maybe so, but it's still not even close to the ones you get."

Duo blushed slightly. "Yeah, well, what can I say?"

"When you're the best, you're the best?" Quatre said with a grin.

"How's the training going?"

Duo looked up. "Hey, Wufei, it's about time you got here."

"I had to stay for my little sister's birthday party."

"Let me guess, they had you lighting the candles again?"

Wufei reddened. "It's injustice, I tell you. I'm not a… a…"

Duo slung an arm around his friend's shoulders. "Hey, man, it's ok. We know what you're capable of, even if everyone else refuses to see it." He looked at his friend slyly. "So, how'd it go?"

Wufei grinned. "Just the candles lit this time."

Duo hugged his friend. "See, I told you. All you needed was practice."

"Speaking of practice, how is Trowa coming along?"

"He made it to six digits before his TK kicked in."

"He's getting better, then. I still don't understand why he's doing it, though. Telekinetics don't usually compete."

"That's because they aren't allowed to use it, that would be cheating. Most won't go to the effort to get past the reflex and learn not to use it."

"Then why is he bothering?"

"To prove he can. It's like you lighting just the candles. The greater your control, the stronger you are. You see?"

"That makes sense. It is easier for me to light big fires, but to control my ability enough to light just those small candles…that was a lot more difficult."

"Now you get it. It's all about control. Anyone can have the strength, but if you can't control it, then you're just a bully. Now, you want to see my boy in action?"

"Of course."

* * *

While Duo went over to talk with Wufei, Quatre attempted to comfort Trowa. "Hey, you're getting better."

"Yeah, but it's hard to not use my ability. It's frustrating, you know?"

"I know."

Trowa smiled softly at his blonde friend. "You would, wouldn't you?" He leaned a little into Quatre's embrace. "It has to be hard being an empath. How do you stand it, always being bombarded by everyone's feelings?"

"My shields are good, that helps. I usually only have a problem when I'm in physical contact with someone." Trowa immediately attempted to pull away. "Oh no you don't," Quatre laughed. "I like 'feeling' you."

Trowa raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And just what are you picking up from me?"

Quatre grinned. *comfort/strong affection/a tinge of lust*

Trowa's eyes widened and he paled. "Um, Quatre, I can explain…"

The smaller blond held him tighter. "Don't try. I already understand. I feel the same."

"You…you do?"

"Mmm hmm."

Quatre's eyes clouded and closed slightly as he tilted his head upwards. Trowa just stared at him for a split second then tilted his own head down to capture those soft lips. The sound of a throat clearing startled the two. Quickly they jumped apart and turned to see Duo and Wufei grinning at them.

"Not that we'd mind the show, but don't you have work to do?" Duo said, laughing.

"Slave driver," Trowa growled under his breath.

Wufei took that opportunity to step in before an argument could start. "The prelims are only a week away. Besides, I want to see how you're doing."

With a sigh, Trowa fished out another token and turned back to the devil machine.

* * *

TBC