Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Pinball ❯ Competition ( Chapter 5 )

Series: Pinball

Chapter 5: Competition

Author: Niere

Rating: PG

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.

*indicates "conversation" via manual alphabet, the system Duo is using to communicate with Heero*

FYI: there is no difference between capital and lower case letters in the manual alphabet, nor do I know of any punctuation. Any capitals or punctuation used in the *spelling* is for the reader's benefit only. (also, I just can't help but capitalize names. It just seems wrong otherwise.)

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.

* * *

Duo, Wufei, Trowa and Quatre were chatting with Dale as they entered the stadium for the day's competition. Duo glanced towards Heero's chair and was surprised to find him already present. "Geez, Dale," he exclaimed, "what time does Heero get here, anyway?"

Dale shrugged. "We're not sure. He's usually waiting when the first of the officials gets here to open the doors."

"How does he know who it is?"

"Dr. J turns in his badge every day. It has his name on it in raised letters. Once the doors are opened, someone gets his badge and hands it to him. Once he feels his own name, he goes with that person."

"That's cruel, just leaving him like that," Quatre stated.

"I agree, but there isn't anything we can do about it. He's legally entered, and it isn't fair to disqualify him just because he's disabled."

The boys checked the board to see when their first match was to be. Dale nodded good-bye as he went on about his duties.

"Looks like we're going to be competitors, Trowa," Wufei noted. "Are you sure you'll be able to keep your mind on your fingers and not the ball itself?"

"I shouldn't have any difficulty." Trowa grinned. "It's more likely that you'll set everything aflame with frustration when I pass you up in the scoring."

"Oh, you think so?" Wufei's eyes began to lose focus. Duo noticed this and hurriedly gave the Chinese boy a huge hug, breaking his concentration.

"Don't do that, Wu-man!" he chided. "Not here, anyway. These machines are sensitive, remember?"

"I thought that was just for TK," Quatre asked, confused.

"Nope. Any talent usage at all will set the alarms off."

Wufei snickered. "Then you'd best be extremely careful, Duo. With your 'talent' you just might accidentally demolish everything."

"Wufei," Quatre admonished, shocked, "that wasn't nice."

Duo just grinned. "That's ok, Quat. He knows it only works on people, anyway."

Trowa had continued to check the boards. "Hey Duo. You're up first round."

"Cool. That way I can get it over with and cheer on the rest of you guys."

"Heero is up first also, just on a different platform."

"What?" Duo looked at the boards. "Damn. I wanted to watch him, too, let him know how he did."

"You'll have other opportunities, I'm sure," Wufei said.

Duo looked at the clock. "I just have enough time to say hello to him and wish him luck before the match. See you guys in a bit." With a wave, he hurried to where Heero was sitting.

Duo stopped a bit in front of the dark-haired boy, waiting a moment to see if he would notice his arrival. Heero just sat there, hands folded in his lap and his head down. Snickering slightly, Duo took his braid and tickled Heero's nose with the end.

Heero made a face and scratched his nose, then looked up. *Duo* he spelled.

*hi Heero*

*you came back*

*of course I did* *I wanted to wish you luck in the match today* *you're up first*

*will you be watching*

*I can't I'm up first also on another platform* *don't worry though I'm sure we'll be playing against each other eventually*

Heero frowned. *I'm not sure I like that I don't want to have to beat you*

Duo grinned. *pretty sure of yourself aren't you*

Heero shrank back a bit. Duo frowned, then realized what he'd 'said'. He grabbed Heero's hand and 'showed' the smile on his face. *hey I was just teasing you I'm pretty good myself*

Heero gave a shy smile in return.

Duo looked up as Daniel arrived to lead Heero to the play area. *playtime* he spelled. *good luck*

*you too*

* * *

Duo almost wished he had Heero's deafness. The yelling and cheering of the crowd was a bit distracting, as well as the buzzers and lights on the many machines. Only his vast experience with the game and frequent competitions allowed him to tune out everything and focus on that small silver ball. He dropped his hands as the timer sounded and looked up at the score. He grinned. Not to shabby, for a first match. He wondered how Heero had done.

He quickly made his was down the stairs and over to where Heero was being led back to his chair. "Hey Daniel. Does Heero have to stay in that chair, or is he allowed to watch with the rest of us?"

Daniel looked startled. "No, he doesn't have to stay there. You do know he's blind, don't you, Duo? How could he 'watch' the match?"

"He could stay with me and I'll tell him what's happening."

"You can talk to him?"

*yep* Duo spelled as he nodded. He took one of Heero's hands. *do you want to go back to your chair or stay with me* *Trowa and Wufei are competing on the same platform I want to see how they do* Duo translated out loud for Daniel as he spelled to Heero.

Heero looked hopeful. *you would allow me to go with you*

*if it's ok with Daniel*

Daniel laughed at the pleading expression on Heero's face. "I suppose it's ok. You take good care of him, though."

"You can be sure of it," Duo promised as Daniel removed Heero's hand from his arm and placed it on Duo's. "I won't let anything happen to him."

"You're a good kid, Duo." Duo blushed at the complement.

*come on the match is going to start soon*

Duo led Heero toward the platform where his friends were to compete. The others were standing together waiting for time to go up. Quatre noticed as they arrived and sent his usual burst of happiness/friendship in greeting. Everyone jumped as the alarm on the machine they were standing near went off.

"What's going on here?" an official asked as he came running up. He looked at the machine in confusion. There was no one on the platform to set it off.

Quatre reddened. "Um, I think I did it, sir. I was just saying hello to Heero."

The official frowned at Heero. "What's he doing here? And how were you saying 'hello' to him?"

Duo stepped closer to Heero protectively. "Quatre is an empath," he explained. "He was projecting his happiness at seeing a friend, which is what set off the machine. Heero is here with me, to watch our friends during the match."

Heero frowned as Duo's fingers flew, explaining what was going on. *I can go back to my chair if there will be trouble I don't want to cause any problems*

*there won't be any problem* Duo spelled/said. "Will there?" He gave the official a dark look.

The official paled. He well knew of Duo's temper and how he was able to use his talent in a fight to his advantage, and the detriment of the person he was upset with. As much as he would not mind getting Duo thrown out of the competition for fighting, he'd rather not be the one that wrath was focused on. The null just wasn't worth the trouble.

"Fine, just no more use of talent near the machines." With that, he stalked up to reset the machine.

Duo snickered. "See, I told you they were sensitive, and not just to TK."

*hello Quatre* Heero spelled to his new friend, once the official had left. *are Trowa and Wufei here too*

Trowa reached for Heero's hand. *hi* he spelled, while Wufei placed a hand on the boy's shoulder and squeezed gently in greeting.

*good luck to you both* Duo grinned as he translated for his friends and spelled their thanks to Heero as the boys headed for their assigned machines.

The match was close, but both Wufei and Trowa were high scorers and moved on to the next round.

Trowa smirked as he saw the scores. "You owe me lunch."

Wufei pouted. "Two lousy points."

"He's right, you know," Quatre agreed. "A deal is a deal."

Duo gave Wufei a hug, laughing. "That's what you get for making a bet like that with someone I trained."

*Wufei has been playing longer and bet Trowa he would score higher* Duo explained to Heero. *whoever had the lower score has to buy the other lunch*

"Quatre is up next, then we'll go eat," Trowa said. "Does Heero want to come along?"

Duo asked Heero who shook his head. *I'm not supposed to leave until J comes to get me*

*does he ever come early*

*no*

*then he won't know if you went out or not*

Heero just shook his head frantically. Quatre frowned and caught Duo's attention. "Duo, he's scared. Don't push him to do something he doesn't want to."

*its ok Heero you don't have to go I'll stay here with you*

Heero visibly calmed, then spelled *you don't have to*

*I want to* The boys all grinned at Heero's shy smile. "Grab us a couple of sandwiches, will you? I'm staying with Heero during lunch break."

"We can all stay if you'd like," Quatre offered.

"That's ok. This will give me some time to get to know Heero better."

"Come on, Quatre," Trowa said taking his boyfriend's hand. "It's almost time for your match."

* * *

Quatre descended the stairs in triumph. He'd not only made the next round, but had the highest score of those on his platform.

"Well done," Trowa said, slipping an arm around the boy and giving him a quick kiss.

"Careful," Wufei warned with a grin, "he just might beat you."

"Promise?" Trowa said with a wicked grin.

Quatre turned an amazing shade of red at the comment, but chose not to respond. "Let's go get those sandwiches for Duo and Heero. Then we can go eat. I'm hungry after all that excitement."

"Just make sure to save some energy for later," Trowa whispered as they turned toward the exit. "I want to celebrate our making the next round."

"Down boy," Wufei said with a laugh. "You keep heating him up like that and people just might start blaming me."

"Not a chance," Trowa growled. "This 'fire' is all mine."

"What?" Wufei faked total shock. "And here I thought friends shared."

Trowa glared at his friend and his eyes began to glaze. The imminent attack was thwarted by Quatre's delighted laughter.

"I feel like the prize at the end of the tournament," he giggled. "What will you do if I beat you both?"

The brunettes looked at each other then at the blonde. "Never happen," they said in the same breath.

Quatre laughed again. "You never know. Stranger things have happened."

Trowa gave him a tender look. "I know."

Wufei just smiled at the two and shook his head. "I thought I was supposed to be buying you lunch, and I don't think Quatre is on the menu."

This time it was Trowa's turn to blush. Quatre just grinned. "Let's get those sandwiches then go eat." He turned to Trowa. "You can have 'dessert' later."

Wufei laughed as Trowa's face flamed further. Quatre grabbed his arm and took Wufei's in his other. Together the friends left the stadium in search of food.

* * *

TBC