Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Rhapsody in White ❯ Rhapsody in White ( Chapter 1 )

Title: Rhapsody in White

Pairing: None specific but may be the beginning of 1+2? *grins*
Rating: G
Warning/Notes: None really…except unbeta'd, scary grammar. Shortly post EW. The boys are Preventers and not yet 20. A little fic about lost childhood and the importance of play ^^. A Christmas fic kinda.

Disclaimer: Do not own. Have nothing.

Heero stole a look at Duo over the top of his laptop. His longhaired partner was staring out the window with a forlorn look etched in his eyes. A look that was becoming a familiar sight these days. It was unnerving to find Duo withdrawn and aloof, lost in thoughts staring out their office window or staring down at his soup while the rest of them chattered away in the Preventer's cafeteria.

Heero's glance slid across his partner's desk and he came to a startling discovery. There was nothing personal on Duo's desk. The moderately priced office furniture was almost as bare as the first day they moved into the office save for a well used laptop, an `In' tray, and some pencils in a pencil holder.

Heero drew a small breath and turned his attention to his own desk. It wasn't any better than that of Duo's. His saving grace was a picture of the five of them in a simple silver frame he bought at a flea market. Thoughts assailed him and his fists clenched tightly on their own accords.

Snow was coming down in thick flurries as if someone had ripped open a giant pillow filled with goose down and shook them loose above their window. The shinny white flakes were blinding to watch but Duo continued to stare. He looked like a child who had lost something but knew there was nothing he could do to get it back. His face, soft and sad at the same time, awakened the protective streak in Heero.

Pushing back from his desk, Heero left their shared office quietly, relieved that Duo didn't take notice. He had a plan and he was going to execute it.

By mid afternoon, the weather had broken and the snow had stopped, leaving the ground blanketed in an endless virgin white. It wasn't until Heero called that Duo realized Heero had not only left their office but he had been gone for a long while. Hastily, he threw his coat and gloves on and made his way to the parking lot, a little curious and a little nervous.

He was hit as soon as the door flung open. Stunned by the impact, Duo stood slack-jawed, staring down in disbelief at the powdery white mark on his chest. Not giving him a chance to recover, a second snowball shot through the air and landed on his chest. He couldn't see them but he knew just where each one of them was hiding and they were one ex-pilot short.

A hard push from behind sent him stumbling into the icy cold. The fresh snow made no sound under his boots. He straightened up and turned around when he regained his balance, and found himself face to face with a smiling Heero.

"Heero?" Duo cast a dubious glance at the white ball in Heero's gloved hands.

"It's Christmas Eve, Duo." Heero's smile grew a little wider. He looked like a cat that had swallowed the proverbial canary. Duo blinked and subconsciously searched the corner of his mouth for signs of yellow feathers. He shrugged when he found none.

"When was the last time you played?" Heero asked and Duo's brows furrowed into a confused knot.

"Trowa and I played ball yesterday…."

"No, Duo…play, like children do." Heero dropped the ball in his hands and kicked it just before it reached the ground. The white ball crumbled and the powdery remains coated Heero's boot with a dust of white.

"We were never children, Heero." Duo rocked on his heels trying to stay warm.

"I know." Heero's voice was drenched with sadness and regrets. "Come and play, Duo. We don't need a reason. There's no logic involved. No rational thinking needed."

Duo chewed on his lips but not for long. A snowball hit him in the back and the impact stung. He turned and snarled. Heero choked on his laugh when another hurtling snowball flew through the air and hit Heero in the chest.

"OK..you guys are so dead!" Duo bellowed, waving his arms madly in three different directions. Snowballs rained on him like a furious storm.

Heero tugged at his sleeve and pulled him behind a parked car. "Two against three!" He grinned, "let's pay them back!"

The two women stood for the longest time at the window looking down at the parking lot. An early winter dusk had fallen. It was getting dark outside and it was getting dark in the unlit office. They watched the snowman materialized slowly and clumsily in the middle of the parking lot. It had on Wu Fei's hat and Trowa's scarf. Quatre's gloves swung gently on the tree branches they used for arms. Duo had somehow found some pebbles and rocks for eyes and buttons while Heero stood back and barked instructions, and from the looks of it, building a snowman wasn't one of his fortes.

"I'm going to bring them some hot chocolate." A smile played at her lips as Sally walked away from the window. Getting her car out of her parking spot would be a challenge tonight but she didn't mind. She was almost glad for the thoughtlessness of carefree youth, even if it was just for one night.

"They remind me everyday, Sally, why I'm doing what I'm doing now." Sally looked back and noticed that the grayness in Une's office had thickened, and Une was doused in pale, early evening shadows. "I won't ever forget. Don't ever let me forget."

Sally nodded but didn't utter a word, knowing that Une could see her reflection in the glass. The door opened with a soft moan and she left without closing it. Her footsteps echoed in the deserted hallway. Somewhere in the cubicle maze, a novelty toy sang merrily to a popular Christmas tune. Christmas, she decided, may not be all that bad after all.