Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Ugly ❯ A Short Interlude ( Chapter 15 )

A Short Interlude

 

Duo was laying on the bed his long hair open like a veil over his shoulders. One arm bent under his head he peered at the cracks in the ceiling, watching patches of light as they traveled slowly across the white paint. His blue eyes were very clear, nearly violet in color, his mouth relaxed and soft. A hint of pensiveness lingered about his eyebrows as he lay absolutely still, soaking in the silence.

 

Tomorrow he would be allowed to take the bandages off. It was funny, like peeling off a mask or even unwrapping yourself. Funnier still, as the following day would be his 16:th birthday. Was he a gift to himself? What a strange thought and yet a profound one. You are supposed to treat gifts with care and gratitude.

 

You are only 16 once, they say, as if it were a magical number, a pinnacle of youth where you shine brighter than ever before or after. The age that withered adults lust after; the age that media glorifies.

 

Sweet sixteen. One leg still firmly planted in the wonderland of childhood while the other has stepped into the world of the adults where you wonder at your body but even more the at bodies of other's. Firm and smooth young flesh; cocky yet insecure attitude. Feeling like a predator: still nothing more than pray.

 

No, decided Duo, I don't feel any different. It is just an age and whether you enjoy it or not depends entirely on whether you have been lucky with your friends, your family, your school. Your appearance. There is nothing to glorify, that stuff is just to sell records. Youth for some people is a thing to reminisce on, for others simply something to leave behind. Sometimes you know it will be something to leave behind gladly even when you are living it. The upside to this is that the future will always be an early spring morning.

 

Duo let his eyes slip shut and his breath evened out to a steady, deep fall and rise of his chest. The light continued its journey across the ceiling, darkening in color, fading away into the twilight. The dusk blended into darkness and through it all Duo slept.

 

When he awoke, it was 12 minutes past midnight. Blinking groggily he reached for the light switch, flinching at the sudden explosion of violating brightness that tore at his eyes. On the floor lay a neatly folded piece of paper. Duo reached for it and picked it up.

 

Hi Honey!

 

Heero came by to see you, but you were asleep. He said he did not want to wake you up if you would not wake up on your own. He sat in your room for a while, but you were completely knocked out, obviously. Perhaps he would have wanted to ask about tomorrow? I told about your appointment and that you would be free after three. (That rhymed!)

Love, Mom

 

PS

There is dinner in the `fridge if you are hungry.

 

 

Duo got up and scratched his head. His hair was surprisingly un-tangled. He had not trashed around in his sleep, it seemed.

 

He did not feel hungry, so he opted to pull his pajamas from under the pillow and just go back to sleep before he would wake up any more. Turning the light of he climbed into bed. He did feel sleepy enough to slip easily back into dreamland, but despite that his eyes reflected the city lights pouring through his window for an hour more. His cheek was resting on his hand, the pensive little curve returning to his eyebrow. The silence and the darkness were a soft, comforting blanket wrapping him in warmth and secrets.

 

Heero came by.

He sat in your room for a while.

 

 

Author's Notes:

 

It's MY birthday today. I decided to write this little thing as gift for myself and also for those readers who still return to see if any progress has happened. Kubo Tenshi, thank/blame yourself for this snippet.

 

University is tough because we are required to write several essays that amount to thousands of words and I find that kind of thing so very hard. I love it here though. I just wish I could learn to produce text effortlessly.

 

And now for the second part of my gift.

 

I do not want to give too much away just in case I would surprise everyone (including myself) and finish this thing one day, but I thought it would be fun/nice if I shared just a little bit of what little I have stored in the mental attic.

 

-A visit to Trowa's house will uncover a most surprising and maybe even a little bit disturbing find.

-Quatre is stirred much more than he wants to be and makes a decision.

-Hilde introduces her friend to Duo and Heero and this will change everything.

-Lucretia sees the light and with a heavy heart she ends her relationship.

-Wufei is faced with heavy disappointment

-Duo tries very hard to do the right thing, which leads into catastrophe

-When the dust settles only that which is real remains