Title: Love and Mercy
Rating: PG
Warnings: songfic, friendship, sap, shounen-ai, sorely lacking in
plot but what the hell
Pairings: 3+4
Author's Notes: Italics=song lyrics 'thoughts'
<flashback> I was in a fuzzy mood, so sue me. I'm proud of myself for writing a non-depressing piece.
Disclaimers: GWing is not mine. "Love and Mercy" by Brian
Wilson (a.k.a. God) and Eugene Landy is not mine either. Bet I really
shocked you there.
"Duo. This is both a waste of money and a security risk. Why do you never consider the consequences of your actions?"
"Maybe because I like to have fun? Nah! Why would it be a crazy thing like that?"
Heero sighed. This Braided Freak was incorrigible. "Then I am coming with you."
"Because you love me?" Duo snickered, batting his eyelashes and attempting to lay a smooch on Heero's cheek.
"Because you have the maturity of a five-year old and require someone watching you so that you don't single-handedly assure OZ's victory, baka," Heero countered flatly, knocking the American onto the floor as if he was swatting a fly. Somehow, Duo managed to bounce right back up again.
"Last one in the car in rotton OZie!" he crowed as he sprinted out the door of the dorm room.
Heero sighed. It was going to be a long afternoon.
An hour later, the pair was in the middle of the newest action release, The Last One Standing. The sounds of popcorn crunching and Coke being slurped could be heard from Duo's general direction.
"Hey... Heero!" he whispered. "Want some popcorn?"
No reponse. Duo rolled his eyes and looked over at his partner. The Japanese boy had sat there stiffly, his arms folded across his chest, for the entire movie, perfectly immobile.
"Hee-man, ya don't look like you're having much fun."
"I'm not."
"Aw, c'mon, loosen up and enjoy the movie."
"What is there to enjoy about this movie?"
"'What is there to enjoy?' How about hot chicks, big guns, and the best special effects this side of the solar system? Not to mention the surround sound stereo system in this place."
As if to prove the merits of the sound system, a large explosion onscreen translated into a deafening blast. Heero never moved.
"They don't take it seriously, do they?"
Duo stopped mid-slurp and turned to face the Wing pilot. "What?" he asked, confused.
Onscreen, a building burst into flames. The sounds of fire, shattering glass, and screams filled the movie theater.
Getting no response from Heero, Duo looked to the movie screen then back to the other pilot's face. His cobalt eyes softened in understanding.
"Well, you can't take it all seriously, dumbass," he whispered gently. "How can a guy stay sane that way?" A chuckle followed and he resumed watching the movie.
The movie's flames reflected off Heero Yuy's deep blue eyes. He did not so much as blink as the loud explosions continued.
Love and mercy, that's what you need tonight
So, love and mercy to you and your friends tonight
The ride home was like most car rides: Heero drove and Duo talked at him. Both Gundam pilots seemed a little more subdued, though. When they got back to school, they walked up to their room in silence.
"Hey, Heero," Duo called as he closed the door.
Heero, on his way to his laptop, turned around impatiently.
"If you ever... Well, if ya ever want to, you know, chat or something... I'm always open. And I promise that I won't kiss and tell." He grinned.
"Hn."
Soon, the familiar click-clack of Heero working at his laptop filled to room.
Duo flopped down onto the bed. "That kid mystifies me," he mumbled into the pillow. "Work, work, work. Always so anxious to get to his work. Never wants to take a rest from it." Flipping himself off the mattress, he headed over to his desk to get a snack.
The glare of the laptop screen reflected into a pair of troubled Prussian blue eyes.
I was lying in my room and the news came on t.v.
A lotta people out there hurting and it really scares me
"... and the latest report is that there have been twelve people killed and countless others injured in..."
Laying on his bed, Quatre looked up from his book. With a concerned expression on his face, he set the book down and rested his chin in his hands, watching the news.
The news was always so depressing. Not only was there news concerning the war, which was depressing in and of itself, but there were also tales of natural disasters, murders, accidents... It seemed as if there was a tale of tragedy everywhere you turned. His eyes glued to the television set, Quatre didn't hear the soft tread of footsteps that entered the room. Someone sat down on the bed beside him.
"What's wrong?"
Quatre's head jerked up. "Huh? Oh, Trowa..." He smiled sadly and shook his head. "Nothing. Just watching the news."
"Oh?" The green-eyed pilot raised an eyebrow, then reached over for the remote control and clicked the television off.
Quatre raised himself up on his elbows to protest. "Trowa-"
The Heavyarms pilot gently put a finger over the blonde's lips. "Shhh. There's enought to worry about. You don't need to work yourself up by watching the evening news."
Love and mercy, that's what you need tonight
So, love and mercy to you and your friends tonight
Quatre sat up and leaned against his boyfriend. "It's just all so depressing. The war itself is so tragic... But even if it weren't for the war, there's still so much... so much... bad stuff out there. Apologies for my inadaquate wording."
Putting an arm around the smaller pilot, Trowa shook his head. "Quatre... Bad things won't stop happening just because you want them to, much as I wish they would. There are simply some things we have no control over. Right now, we have this war. After that, we can move on to other fronts."
"My, but you're talkative tonight," Quatre laughed.
A smile ghosted Trowa's lips. "Anything that makes you happy, love."
"All I need for that is you."
"Now you're getting sappy."
"Any protests?"
I was standing in a bar and watching all the people there
Oh, the loneliness in this world, well, it's just not fair
"Hey, kid. You out here are your own tonight?"
Wufei slowly raised his eyes to glare at the man, his arrogant glance clearly expressing the classic statement "You gotta problem with that?". The man didn't take the hint.
"A pretty boy like you shouldn't be walking the streets alo- oof!" He doubled over as Wufei swiftly pivoted and punched him in the stomach. Wufei left the man crumpled against the wall. He didn't feel like dealing with the trash that walked the streets tonight.
He didn't feel like dealing with himself.
He wandered with no destination in mind, simply watching people. At this early hour of the morning, all of the people out seemed lost and alone. Normally he wouldn't associate with these types of people at all, but tonight he felt a strange sort of... camaraderie.
They were the same.
Hey, love and mercy, that's what you need tonight
So, love and mercy to you and your friends tonight
"Hey there, good lookin'," cooed a female voice. Wufei ignored it and kept on walking. "Don't walk away." A gentle hand touched his shoulder. "You look like you could use some company tonight."
Wufei turned to look at the woman in disgust... but the woman was no older than he. He stared. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out some money and handed it to the girl.
She reached down to take his hand. "Right this wa-"
"Don't touch me." He shook her off and stalked away into the night.
Love and mercy, that's what you need tonight
<'-I can't believe there's four others-'
'-dude, those guys are weird-'
'-I hope I can get to know them all-'
'-why was I not told-'
'-they'd better not get in my way-'
They all eyed each other skeptically.>
Love and mercy tonight
"We're all going to make it through this together," Quatre insisted, "because we can't make it through separately."
"Man, I sure hope so," said Duo.
"So long as no one messes up too badly," added Wufei, sending a pointed glare in Duo's direction.
"Hey! Who do you think you're talking to?"
The voices bickered into the night. Quatre tried hopelessly to mediate the two warring factions. Trowa simply smiled... almost. Finally, Duo gave up and ate another slice of pizza. Content with his victory, Wufei picked up his book again and continued reading.
Heero sat staring at his laptop, distracted from his work.
Love and mercy