Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Tidal Whims ❯ Second Dream ( Chapter 9 )

Disclaimer: Don't own them. Drat.

 

~*~*~*~*~ signifies a change in place/time

 

`________' signifies thoughts

 

“-----------“ signifies speech

 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

What was going on?

 

A languid hand brushed back a fall of auburn, feeling soft light hit his face, warming his skin.

 

`I can't remember the last time I saw the sun. Where am I?'

 

A quick glance to his side showed him the gray stone of his brother, asleep for the time. Still he could feel the faint sense of him at the back of his mind.

 

A glint of gold flashed to his other side. Turning quickly he thought he'd seen the sun glint off the water. It turned out to be a mop of mused pale gold hair.

 

The small body shifted, murmuring softly and snuggling a bit closer to the form on his other side. Emerald eyes smiled at the way the boy acted. It was almost like watching otter pups.

 

Watching as the boy snuggled into his friend's side he allowed himself a small smile as he slipped back into dreams.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

It was so... green.

 

It was clear and he felt oddly heavy, but not weighed down.

 

`Where am I?'

 

The sound of laughter turned his head, seeing a small form bouncing about the many-colored plants. Suddenly he stopped, staring down at one with great intensity. He found himself moving closer, silent on the soft plants under him, watching as the boy brought up his hands to carefully cup around one of the bright buds. After a moment he blew on his hands, face coming alive with delight as he slowly moved his carefully cupped hands away and stood. Still gazing between his fingers the boy seemed shocked to find him there.

 

“Hello.”

 

He had no idea what made him break his usual silence, but the smile he got from the boy was well worth it.

 

“Hello. Would you like to see?” The small blonde held up his cupped hands in offer.

 

He tilted his head slightly, leaning down to look between the blonde's fingers. Obligingly the hands opened, revealing a small but colorful creature in his hands.

 

The tall one couldn't help but stare in awe. He'd only ever seen them flying along the coast and never this close.

 

“Be careful. He's very delicate.”

 

Smiling a bit he reached out and let the tip of one finger brush the edge of a wing.

 

Suddenly the bright bit of color fluttered up from the cupped palms, landing directly on the tip of his nose, making him go cross-eyed as he tried to see the small, brilliantly blue butterfly.

 

The small blonde laughed at the face he made, but he couldn't seem to be bothered by it. As a matter of fact a smile of his own started to grow.

 

It was still a bit of a surprise when the boy paused, the smile slipping into something more like awe than mirth.

 

“What?”

 

“You have a nice smile.”

 

It was his turn to be surprised.

 

The smile grew.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“Huh?”

 

Aqua eyes opened slowly in confusion. What had woken him from such a nice dream?

 

“C'mon Quat, we gotta head back before mom rips into us. She'll understand, but she'll want us back soon. We both overslept!”

 

“Duo?”

 

“Yeah, genius. Now come on!”

 

The boys scrabbled to get the few things they'd brought with them, using the small stream for a quick drink and to wash the sleep from their eyes.

 

Both turned back a few times before they managed to leave the hidden cove.

 

For some reason, it felt like the statue wanted them to stay.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“So, Mr... Maxwell, you're here for freshman orientation?”

 

“Yes ma'am. I don't really know what I want to do.”

 

“That's perfectly all right, most people don't when they're your age. Heck, most people don't know when they're my age.”

 

The braided youth couldn't help but smile at the woman. She was middle aged, had the barest lightening of her hair, more likely due to sun than graying, twisted up in a neat but comfortable knot at the back of her head. Dark brown eyes peeked over the edge little square glasses as she looked over his transcripts.

 

“I have to say, I'm impressed. Not only with the work you have done, but the community service as well. Working with children is hard on good days.”

 

Slim shoulders shrugged.

 

“I know what it's like. The kids at St Nick's just need someone to care. I know what that's like.”

 

“It's still impressive. Your brother worked with you there as well, correct?”

 

“Yeah, he's a kid-magnet. Uh, I just realized I didn't get your name, sorry!”

 

He put a hand behind his head, tugging at his braid in a nervous gesture. The woman just smiled again.

 

“Don't worry about it. With what you're trying to cram into your brain today I'm not surprised. It's Miss Shelton. But I'd rather be called Shelly if it's all the same to you.”

 

He had to blink a few times for that to settle in.

 

“Only if you call me Duo.”

 

“Deal.” Chuckling softly she shook his hand and started pulling out papers and filling them out.

 

“With your academic standing and community service you got gypped on scholarships. Now where was that bugger?”

 

The confused youth watched with wide eyes as papers started flying around the office.

 

“Ah HA! Here's the nasty little thing. Now, I just need you to answer a few things for me Duo and we can get you the proper scholarships you deserve.”

 

It took little more than half an hour for the whole thing to be done. His head was still spinning as she helped him get his things together, handing him his first semester schedule as well as copies of scholarship applications she had helped fill in.

 

“Now, you won't hear back from them for about a month, that's two before the start of fall term, but I can pretty much guarantee that you'll get them.”

 

“How's that?”

 

“Easy, people don't usually apply for them and they get overlooked since they're not necessarily mainstream. Being a big fish in a pond of minnows pretty much guarantees that the big fish wins. Now hurry up or you'll miss the group dinner. I look forward to seeing you again in the fall!”

 

He was halfway back to the orientation dorms before his brain caught up with him.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“So, how'd it go?”

 

“Very... strange.”

 

“Ok strange or lets-get-the-heck-outta-here strange?”

 

“Good I think. My advisor is nice, just really hyper once you get her going.”

 

There was a barely suppressed snicker from the blonde.

 

“What?”

 

“The same could be said of you.”

 

“Touché.”

 

“At least we're rooming together. Let's see I have Ancient Cultures, Research Writing, Art History, College Algebra, and Performing in Music. What have you got?”

 

“Will you ever sleep? I have... Research Writing, History of Language, Introduction to Theatre, First Level Calc and Mythology.”

 

“There's a Mythology course here!?”

 

“Yeah, but you'll have to take it next time. See? Your music thing overlaps the time and it's the entire way across campus.”

 

“Dangit. Promise to share?”

 

“Well duh.”

 

The boys walked off smiling, ready to head back to their home.

 

And just maybe, to dream.