Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Shattered Moments ❯ Kid Gets Lost ( Chapter 3 )

DISCLAIMER: I Don't own GW!!!!!!!!!!!! But, and that's a BIG but, I do feel like I have the right to make Kid's and Odin's personality mine. Though technically it's Bandai and Sunrise that made them up (Heero Yuy and Odin Lowe), I think I gave them something they didn't and so this thing belongs to me. If you disagree, then sue me! I don't care; I don't have any money anyway... BWAHHAHAHA!!!

Also, Sakura, Dee and Rick are mine! MINE!! MINE!!!

WARNING: PG-13.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: This is what I call a fill-in. It's a short story that has to do with a much bigger fic called "Shattered moments". I didn't see where I could put this part in the longer fic, and so I put it separately. If you didn't read "Shattered moments", you'll probably be a bit in the dark here. Read SM first, then come back. Not that I can force you to do so, it's your choice. Have fun with whatever you choose.

Enjoy!

Naomi

** Some parts are supposed to be said in Japanese, but I wrote them in English so that: a) you would understand. b) I don't speak Japanese, so I have no idea how to write in the language! Anyway, it is mentioned where a part is supposed to be said in Japanese.

KID GETS LOST

* * *

AC 183.

People rushed up and down the busy platform, passing by each other without even a casual glance. They streaked by one another, allways in a hurry, everything an urgency.

"Flight FDLM-1019 to L4 XRS99 is now leaving at gate 45. All passengers must ready flight tickets and traveling permits for inspection."

More people rushed down the crowded platform, running towards their destination.

"Mister Bunny, Mister Rowe and Mister Checkem, please report to the information desk in terminal 2. Mister Bunny, Mister Rowe and Mister Checkem, please report to the information desk in terminal 2..."

In the midst of the all around chaos, stood a little blue-eyed boy, no more than three years of age. In his arms was a little ragged pillow, which he held closely to his chest. His big blue eyes looked up and about the complex, searching. The child's eyes studied each and every person that walked past him, looking for a familiar face. To anyone who would have bothered to pause and take a look at the child, it would be obvious that the little one was lost.

Little tears of frustration filled the boy's eyes as the minutes went by and no face seemed familiar to him. He looked up at the many people around him, searching for the blond bangs of hair that fell over those laughing eyes he learned to love. His head moved from one side to another, looking, eyes begging the familiar figure to appear before him.

"All passengers on flight FDLM-1019 to L4 XRS99 are requested to board the shuttle immediately. All passengers on flight FDLM-1019 to L4 XRS99 are requested to board the shuttle immediately!"

The child took a deep breath, trying to calm his upcoming sobs. Gradually, the platform was emptied, people boarding their respected shuttles. He was left alone.

"Kowaii..." The child mumbled, burying his face in his pillow, hands holding it tightly. Silence fell around him and he sniffed his nose, tearful eyes looking up. "Odin-san?" He whispered, his voice barely carrying over the large hall. "Odin-san!" He called again, stomping his little foot on the cold floor. "Koi Odin-san! Onegai, Odin-san..."

The distant sound of a shuttle taking off shook the large building. Soon after the platform was silent again.

"Odin-san?" The child called sadly, desperately. Seeing that no one came, no one answered, the child realized that he was alone. Doing what any other three-year-old would do, he began to cry.

* * *

Oh shit! Oh shit! OH SHIT!!!!

That was all that raced thought the blond assassin's mind as he ran down the platform, after missing his shuttle flight to the L4 colony. Half way to the shuttle, he had noticed that something was missing. He looked back and saw that the ever-present company of a little blue-eyed angel was missing.

Already late for the shuttle flight, he had grabbed his and Kid's bags and opened a frantic run towards gate 45. He was sure the Kid was catching up with him, and as he cut through the crowd of people, he had missed the little cry the boy let out as he fell down to the floor, swallowed by the crowd.

Curse him! He lost the Kid! Just let him be there at the platform... please God... let him be there...

* * *

"Hello little boy."

Kid looked up at the man standing above him and brought the pillow closer to him. The man was definitely not Odin. By the looks of it, the tall dark-haired man was a soldier, or a cop, for he was wearing uniforms.

The man smiled down at the little boy, who was sitting on the floor, hugging a pillow, his big blue eyes looking up at him expressively. "Are you lost?" He asked kindly, kneeling down in front the little boy.

The boy just stared at him curiously, not understanding what the man had asked. He knew it was a question, he recognized some words, but not all of them. His English was not developed enough.

The boy tensed as the man reached a hand and took his hand in his, getting up. Having no other choice, the boy got up as well.

"C'mon, I'll take you to the station, and we'll look for your mommy, okay?"

This time one word stood out from the long sentence the man had spilled. Kid ceased his walking and looked up at the man, shaking his head. "No mommy." He let out quietly.

The man arched an eyebrow, looking down thoughtfully at the boy. "You don't want your mommy?"

The boy made an irritated face, shaking his head again. "Iiya... Watashi wa... um, I-I have no mommy."

"Oh." The man let out, shocked. He put on a kind smile as he saw the child let his gaze down sadly. He squeezed his hand lightly, and continued walking. "But you weren't here alone, I'll help you find your daddy, okay?"

Daddy? What was that? Oh! Father! He had no father either. He never had a father. Just mama. But now he had only Odin. Should he tell the officer man that he had Odin? Maybe he'll help him find him.

* * *

"Fucking shit!!!" Odin called as he finally arivved to the platform, finding it empty. "Kid?" He looked around, eyes searching farantically for his little boy. "KID!!!!"

A few pieces of paper the wind blew danced around each other then fell to the floor. Other than that, there was no sound nor movement.

"Oh man... oh man... where did the brat go?"

* * *

Kid looked up at the nice police lady who placed a cup of coco in front of him. He was sitting by her desk at the police station, a blanket wrapped around his small body as he was shivering from the cold by the time they arrived to the colony's main police station, where the officer he met at the spaceport was working. The officer had brought him up here to the missing person's section, where he left him to the care of the nice police lady.

"What's your name, honey?" The lady asked as she sat down on the desk, looking down at the quiet little boy.

Kid looked up at her, frowning. Honey?! His name was NOT honey. It was... it was... Oof! He didn't remember it anymore. How can he forget his own name? He didn't hear it for so long... He wasn't even sure if he ever had a name. Mama called him 'little angel'. But that wasn't his name. He sighed, looking away from the lady, shrugging.

The lady sighed softly, pushing herself off the desk and kneeling beside him, taking his small cold hand in hers. She looked up in sympathy into his sad blue eyes, smiling warmly. "Do you understand me, honey? Do you speak English?"

"Chiisai..." He shook his head, realizing it was not English he was speaking. "Um... a little."

The lady nodded with understanding, biting down her lower lip. She got up and reached for her phone. After dialing, she paused for a few seconds, until answered. "Yes, hi Tom. Listen, is Sakura here today?... Huh? ... No! Not that. I just need a translator here, that's all. ... No. No, that's okay. I'll handle it. Thanks, Tom. ... Yeah, I'm sure. See ya at lunch. Bye. ... Yeah Tom, you too. Bye." She put the phone down, turning to the boy who was examining her with his unbelievably intense eyes. She smiled kindly at him and handed him the cup of hot chocolate.

He hesitated for a few moments, then took the cup and sipped the sweet warm liquid, eyes not leaving the officer lady. He was silent for a while longer, searching for the words he needed. "Are you gonna help me find Odin?"

Her head jerked up and she looked at him, shocked. "Odin? Is he your daddy?"

The boy shook his head.

"Is he your brother?"

Again he shook his head.

"Uncle? Who is he?"

"He takes care of me." He let out quietly. "Because I don't have my mama anymore."

The officer gasped, face pale. "I see." She reached up for a little notebook and a pen. "Well, what is his full name?"

The boy frowned in thought. Full name?! "Odin."

The lady chuckled, shaking her head. "No, honey, I mean what is his family name? His last name."

Again Kid frowned. "Wakaranai..." He let out, sighing. "His name is Odin. No other name."

The officer pouted, not satisfied with the answer. She rose to her feet, settling behind her desk. "I need his last name, if I'm going to find him." She typed what little she knew into the computer, and then turned to face the kid again. "How about a phone number, honey? Do you remember your phone number?"

He shook his head. They didn't have any phone. They were only here for a few days.

Again she sighed. This was going to be hard.

* * *

"Can you hurry it up please? I have a flight to catch soon." Odin let out impatiently as he watched the officer type in the information into the computer as slowly as he could possibly do it.

The policeman looked up at him, glaring. "If you are unsatisfied with my performance, the complaint department is two floors up." He spat, turning back to the computer. "If you would volunteer a little more information, you will sure make my life a whole lot easier."

"I told you all I know."

The man snorted. "What kind of uncle are you anyway? You can't even remember the name of you nephew?! Why I have three boys, four nephews and two nieces. Do you think I forget their names?!"

Odin rolled his eyes, his fingers tapping impatiently on the counter as he leaned against it, waiting for the bastard to shut up and work. He had a colony he needed to get to in less than twelve hours, which left him little time to both find the kid and board his new flight.

If things won't speed up a bit, he will be forced to leave the kid behind. He had a job to do. But maybe, if he's lucky, he'll be able to come back for the kid. After all, he won't be leaving the colony anytime soon.

What was he thinking!? Coming back for him?! Oh man, I am getting soft...

This is the perfect opportunity to leave the kid behind without having his conscious bug him all the time. The kid was lost, that's all. No big deal. Happens all the time.

Yeah, but you have a chance to find him. Odin frowned at himself. Shut up!

* * *

"Well, at least we have a name." Diane sighed and put the printed file on the desk in front of her partner. "I'm telling you, I have no idea how such a thing happens. I mean, if I'll lose my kid, I'll freak! And to think that the boy doesn't even know his own name! Something fishy is going on here."

Her partner only snorted, reaching out to take the sheet of paper, eyes leafing through it. "Hn. He probably didn't understand you."

"He understood perfectly fine when I asked him for this guy's name!" Diane protested, sitting down on the desk, looking down thoughtfully at her shoes. "I really think he doesn't know his name." She turned back to face her partner. "What kind of poor child doesn't know his own name?" She frowned as she saw her partner was ignoring her, his attention on the paper. "Ricky!"

"Huh?" Ricky looked up, his green eyes wide, startled.

"You moron! Try to pay more attention to me when I'm speaking to you!"

"Hmmph! You sounds like my ex-wife, Dee. Chill, okay?" He straightened in his chair. "I don't get why you are so worked up about this. You see these kind of things every day. Children get lost. Face it."

Diane sighed, looking away. "They get lost because their parents don't pay any attention to them." She muttered, and then whirled around to face her partner. "But they know their names and their parent's names and their phone number! This kid doesn't!"

"And you suspect foul play?"

Diane nodded.

"Jesus, Dee! If the kid was kidnapped, he wouldn't be asking to come back to the guy, now would he?"

Dee shrugged. "I dunno. Maybe. If he was with him from a young age... I want Sakura to talk with him. Then I'll tell you what I think."

Rick nodded, turning back to his computer. "Fine. I'll see what I can find about this Odin Rowe guy."

"I'm not even sure it's his name. 'Rowe' is the only thing that came up on the computer. Thanks anyway, Rick." Diane muttered and pushed herself off the desk. She was about to leave, but then turned back to her partner. "Try to find anything that comes up with a description of the boy. Try our 'missing children' data bank first, then anything else that comes up."

"Sure thing, boss." He answered, smirking.

"You just wait until I do get that promotion! You'll be working your ass off for me!"

"Hm, Dee. You sound so sexy when you're angry."

"Fuck you Rick!" She called, walking away, laughing.

* * *

Why isn't he here yet? Kid wondered as he waited for Diane to come back. He stood up on the chair, using two hands to support himself as he leaned on the desk. Now he was high enough to look at the whole station. His large curious eyes studied the busy police station, following officers as they ran from one side of the large hall to another. Phones rang, more than five television sets worked at once, people shouted, fax machines beeped, all in all creating one chaotic scene. Kid loved it. It fascinated him, he was never around so may people at once!

"Hi, honey, get down from there, you don't want to fall and break a bone, now do ya?"

Kid looked over his shoulder and saw Diane approaching the desk, another woman following her. He pouted, but did as told. He jumped off the chair, landing right in front of Diane. He looked up at her and then turned to examine the other lady. "Who is your lady friend?" He asked curiously.

The two women smiled kindly at his little question and the other lady took a step towards him.

"Kid, I want you to meet Sakura. She's here to talk to you."

"Hello." Sakura greeted him warmly, kneeling down in front of him.

Kid examined her, eyes wide. Her long black hair was falling over her face, but was still tidy. She had large almond shaped eyes that looked kindly at him, and her face was pleasant and warm. He smiled back at her shyly. "You look like my mama." He said in his native language.

Sakura smiled at him, reaching a hand to stroke his hair. "Do you remember your mama's name?" She asked, also in Japanese.

Kid shook his head, looking down sadly. He sighed, and then looked up. "Are you going to help me find Odin? We have to leave soon."

"Where do you have to go?"

Kid looked away, as if ashamed. "I'm not allowed to tell you." He whispered.

Sakura turned to look up at her fellow officer, concern in her eyes.

"What is it?" Diane asked, worried. She watched as Sakura picked up the child and placed him on the desk, so she would be within eye level of the child as she sat down on the chair in front of him, and continued to speak to him in the foreign language.

"Were you supposed to leave on a shuttle?"

The child nodded, still not looking the lady in the eye.

Sakura sighed, concerned that the boy was abandoned at the spaceport.

"But he'll come back for me, right?" Kid was now looking up at her pleadingly, eyes shining with tears. "He promised he would protect me."

"From whom?"

Kid shrugged. From whom? He never thought of that. He just took the promise for protection as a sign that he was welcomed, that he was loved. "Just tell him to come already. I don't want to be alone."

Sakura laid a hand on the boy's small shoulder, looking up at him with warmth and sympathy. "We'll do whatever we can, but first I want to ask you some questions. Okay?"

"Okay..." He mumbled, beginning to feel a little uncomfortable. He didn't think Odin would like him to answer questions. He didn't know why, it just that he always felt Odin had this secretive manner. He was always mysterious when they were outside. Never did he talk a lot with strangers.

He looked down, seeing his little pillow lying on the floor by the chair. Sakura must have noticed that, for she bent down and picked up the pillow, handing it to Kid. "Here you go, honey. How about we go somewhere more quiet, okay?"

Kid took his pillow, hugging it closely to himself. He looked around the noisy room, then back at Sakura. "Okay. But I'm taking my pillow with me."

Sakura only laughed and helped Kid off the desk. "Sure thing, honey. C'mon."

* * *

"Your Rowe guy is apparently a ghost." Rick stated as he handed Diane a bunch of papers, sitting down on her desk.

Diane looked up at him in question, leafing through the pages. "A ghost, now is he? Didn't find a trace of him?"

Rick sighed. "It was a tricky one, I'll give him that. No birth record, no social security, no bank account, no nothing. Just this." He pointed at the papers.

She looked down at the papers and noticed the few occasions listed in which one Odin Rowe did appear. "He took a shuttle outta here?"

Rick shook his head. "Read on."

And so she did, then suddenly gasped in surprise. "He's here!"

"Yup!" Rick called, bouncing off the table. "Mystery solved, case closed. We can all go home now."

"Did you talk to him?" Diane asked, getting up.

Rick shook his head. "Nope. But Tom says he made one heck of a mess downstairs, looking for his nephew."

"Nephew!? The Kid didn't say he was his uncle!"

Rick shrugged. "So he forgot."

Diane shook her head in disapproval, then smacked him over the head with the papers. "I can see you don't have kids of your own, Rick. You have no idea how they think. You don't just forget you have an uncle!"

Rick sighed. "Let go, Dee. The case is closed. Just tell the brat his daddy's here and lets go have lunch."

Again she shook her head, grabbing Rick's hand and pulling him along as she walked. "Not yet. There's something you need to see."

Rick rolled his eyes. "Listen, Dee, I know he's cute and hard to let go of but-" He stopped as soon as he realized Dee had also stopped walking. They were standing in front of a big window that looked over into a little playroom, which was also a makeshift sickbay. Sitting on the tall hospital bed was a little boy, wearing no shirt and hugging his pillow. Rick gasped as his eyes studied the boy, seeing his whole body was covered in screaming red and blue bruises. "Oh God..." He choked out; voice pained at the sight of such an abused fragile little body.

Diane sighed. "See, I told you I suspect something is wrong here." She turned to face her partner. "Doc says the bruises are at least a few weeks old."

"The boy said that Rowe did it?"

Diane shook her head. "He wouldn't talk about the way they were caused. He said he didn't remember."

"And you don't believe him."

Diane folded her arms across her chest, leaning against the one sided window. She sighed. "The way he looked when he tried to avoid the question... I could tell the memories were just too painful."

"Did Sakura make any progress with him?"

"He trusts her, it seems, but not enough to volunteer much information. He did say that something fell on him."

"Oh God... poor thing."

Dee sighed again, pushing herself off the wall. "I suggest we go talk to this Rowe guy. I want to know what's going on."

* * *

"Why can't I see Odin?" Kid asked Sakura as she tucked him in. He was lying in a hospital bed, after the doctors mended his bruises, something Odin usually did. He pouted as they used a different cream from the one Odin used. The ointment they used was not as cool as the one Odin used. It didn't smell nice either. Odin's cream made him feel much better than this one, and he would make him laugh while he smeared it on, making funny faces and tickling him. The doctors just smeared it on him, without making him laugh.

He looked up at Sakura, who was smiling as he pulled his little hands out of the blanket and reached for his small pillow. "I know you found him, I heard Dee talk about it."

Sakura smiled down at the clever little boy. She reached a hand to brush a string of hairs out of his eyes. "You can't see him right now, Kid. I'm sorry."

Kid sighed sadly, rolling over to lie on his side, hugging his pillow. "Are you going to take him away too? Is it because I was bad? I didn't mean to fall."

"Fall?!"

"Yeah, at the spaceport. I fell and then he ran and I got lost."

She smiled kindly at him, pushing his messy hair behind his ears. She shook her head. "No. It's not your fault, honey. We just want to make sure that we found the right person."

"Then let me see him and I'll tell you."

She chuckled. "You're a very smart boy, Kid. But it's not that simple."

Kid sighed sadly, pulling the pillow closer. He closed his eyes and fell asleep, exahusted after a long day.

* * *

"This is ridicules!" Odin burst at the two cops in front of him. "You base your assumption on absolutely nothing solid!"

"How do you explain the bruises then?" Rick spat, folding his arms, glaring at the blond man. "And think well before you answer, cuz I heard it all."

Oh you didn't hear this one... Odin mused bitterly and turned his gaze up towards the angry woman that was standing above him, glaring down at him. Gee, what's up with her?

"Well?!" Dee called harshly, looking down impatiently at the man. "Spill it."

"I already told you everything. I just want to see my kid."

"That's the whole point here, mister, he's NOT your kid!" Diane burst. "What the hell did you do to the poor child!? WHAT KIND OF MONSTER ARE YOU?!!"

"Dee," Rick called, getting up. "Relax now, okay?"

Dee took a deep breath, calming herself down.

Odin looked up at the two, frowning. He could confess, tell the truth, that he only found the boy. There was nothing wrong or illegal about that, now was there? War children were created all the time. He just wanted to keep the one he had created.

But could he afford this risk? He had a job to do in less than eight hours. If he told them, he might be exposed as the killer that he is. He was already a suspicious figure. If he'll start talking now, they'll just ask more questions.

What should he do?

"Where is the Kid?" Odin finally asked.

"What's it to you?!" Dee spat, still angry.

Odin glared up at her. "Everything. Now tell me where he is, and I'll talk."

The two seemed to consider it, and then finally, Rick spoke. "Local hospital. He's there for inspection. Will probably stay the night."

Odin sighed in relief, relaxing just a little bit. At least they didn't hand him over to some orphange or something.

"You said that you'd talk." Diane reminded him coldly. She sat across of him, folding her arms. "So talk."

Odin still remained quiet, eyes fixed on the floor.

"Maybe this will help you remember a little." Rick snarled, sliding a sheet of paper on the table, towards the blond.

Odin looked up and studied the paper. His eyes widened and he gasped. It was a missing persons report, about six months old. Long before he found Kid. But nevertheless, the child in the picture was Kid, with his messy brown mop of hair falling over his deep blue eyes. The sweetest of smiles playing on his lips as he smiled shyly at the camera.

Odin quickly scanned the few written sentences, now seeing that the father of the child had filed a missing persons report after his ex-wife disappeared with his only child.

Attached to the file was a picture of the man. Odin studied him and frowned unhappily. It was defiantly Kid's father. The resemblance was there. He was not of Japanese origin. He too had blue eyes and dark brown hair and a stern face. Odin decided that he already didn't like the guy. Just by looking at the man he knew why his wife left him.

"Now would you like to talk?" Diane spat.

Odin sighed. "I didn't know someone was looking for him..." He mumbled, mostly to himself.

"Didn't you think the parent will want his child back!?" Rick asked sharply. "How much did the mother pay you, anyway?!"

"Pay me?!"

"Quit playing games! This is a child's life we're talking about!" Diane snapped. Rick reached a hand to touch her gently, calming her down. He turned back to the blond. "I think you should start explaining yourself now."

Odin looked down at the picture again, first looking at Kid, then at the man who was supposed to be the boy's father. Another image, a memory this time, came to him. How Kid calls out at night, trapped in his nightmares. He would cry for his mother, and he would beg. At least, it sounded like begging, for he did not fully understand the words the boy slurred and yelled in his sleep. But now he had a pretty good picture of it.

He took a deep breath, eyes still on the picture of the little boy. "I found him, about two months ago. His mother was dead."

"Who killed her?" Rick asked, quietly this time.

Odin shrugged. "There was an explosion at the embassy on the main L1 colony. I found them there."

"Were you part of the rescue team?"

Odin shook his head, not looking the man in the eye.

"And you just took the child?" Dee questioned, horrified.

Odin sighed again. "I didn't want to at first, but..." He took another deep breath, releasing it slowly. "He was there, all alone, and it was dark, and cold... He was trapped under a pile of debris, I freed him out."

"The bruises..." Rick muttered with understanding.

Odin swallowed, looking away, fingers fidgeting. "I thought he had no one left, I couldn't just leave him there..." He looked up at the two officers, eyes glistering with tears. "He's all I've got. I'm good to him, I really am. I don't see what's wrong with this... It's better than throwing him to the streets."

Diane opened her mouth to rebuke that remark, but Odin cut her off.

"You know what happen to these poor war orphans. Don't tell me you honestly think he would be better off in a shelter."

Dee closed her mouth, sitting back down quietly.

Odin turned to the other officer, his eyes pleading at the man to believe him. "I just want my Kid back."

* * *

"Odin-san!!" Kid called as he ran towards the tall blond, nearly colliding with him as he came to a quick stop and hugged him tightly.

Odin laughed, picking up the boy in his arms. "Please, I told you a billion times, just Odin. No 'san', no 'kun', 'chan'... no nothing. Just Odin." He looked into those happy blue eyes as the child lifted his head to look at him. His little palm reached up and he pushed a few blond strands of hair out of the blond's eyes. "I tought you wasn't coming back." He let out sadly, his eyes studying the face of his caretaker.

Odin reached his second hand, the one that wasn't holding Kid up, and ruffled the boy's hair in affection. "Nah... I just got lost, that's all."

The boy chuckled. "Baka! I got lost!"

"You did?!" He called, pretending to be surprised. "I haven't noticed! We better go look for you!" As he turned his head left and right, pretending to be looking for Kid, he heard the boy's rich laughter and turned back to him, smiling at those dancing eyes. "Oh! Look who I've found!"

The boy laughed again, his hand playing with Odin's golden locks. "Bakayaru! I was here all the time!"

The three officers, Sakura, Diane and Rick, watched as the pair laughed at the little boy's exclamation. Rick squeezed his partner's hand and Dee returned the favor, eyes refusing to leave the little boy. Finally, as the two left, Dee turned to her partner, grinning. "One word of this to the boss, and your fired the minute I get my promotion." She growled in a mock-threat.

"You're so sexy when you're threatening to destroy my career." Rick teased.

"Oh quit it you two!" Sakura chuckled as she walked past them. "Don't you have work to do?"

"I think I did my share of good deeds for the day." Rick announced, stretching his arms and yawning. "Time to go home now."

"Your second shift started three minutes ago." Dee remarked.

"Why it's your fault I didn't get a break between shifts, then you can take over for me. See ya."

"Baka!" Dee called after her traitorous partner, who was walking away towards his car.

"You learn fast..." Sakura remarked, also heading back to her car.

"Oh... fuck you all!" Dee called as she was left alone in the parking lot. "Last time I do anything nice for anyone!"

"Yeah right, Dee."

"Shut up!"

* * *

"You're not mad at me?" Kid asked as he snuggled against Odin's body, trying to find a comfortable position in the tourist class seats of the shuttle.

"Not unless we reach L4 by two o clock UST[i]."

Kid pouted, drawing his pillow closely. "So you're no mad at me?"

Odin looked down at the little boy, who was looking up at him with big, shinning, cobalt eyes. "Nah... Not at all, Kid."

Kid smiled, relieved with the answer. His smile broadened as he felt Odin wrap his arm around his body, pulling the small wool blanket up to his neck. He let himself drift into sleep in the man's embrace, but not before he will say something.

"I was scared that you leave me all alone."

Odin turned his gaze down to look at the boy. "I made a promise, now didn't I?"

"They tough you do bad things to me."

Odin sighed, reaching a second hand to stroke the child's soft brown hair. "Never."

"You never leave me again?"

Odin turned his gaze, looking deep into the boy's eyes. "Never."

Kid smiled weakly. "Promise?"

"Yakusoku." (=Promise, oath) He answered, hoping he got it right.

Kid smiled a bit. Though Odin did not use the word correctly, he had gotten his message across. Much like his own English. It made him smile even wider, thinking that Odin would learn Japanese while he learned English.

He snuggled deeper into the warm body of his guardian, and wrapped his free arm (the one who wasn't holding the pillow) around the man. Feeling warm, safe and loved, Kid fell asleep, a small smile on his lips.

The blond spent hours looking down at the little boy, his little boy. "Hn... ya never realize what you have, until it's taken away..." He muttered, then snorted. "Hn, mom, you were right about something, at least..." He chuckled bitterly, pulling the boy closer to him, leaning his head back on the seat, closing his eyes. He soon drifted into sleep, and the shuttle made it right on time to the L4 colony.

OWARI.

Did Dee and Rick remind you of anyone? I dunno, but I think I kinda like them. Tell me what you think 'bout the fic, kay?

Naomi

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