| *drags her sorry carcass in* Gomen�� gomen nasai. I have been absent for too long and have been thwapped for it. But I have a legitimate excuse. I just started a new 40 hour-a-week internship last week at a prestigious hospital where they are running me ragged and next week I'm starting my *second* job at 20+ hours-a-week.. Add in that college starts in just over a month and watch my nerves fry and my brain melt. So forgive me if I do something dumb like pass out or�.. something�.. *hits the floor with a thud* Kaigara: *pokes her with her bo staff* Is she dead already? Man, she's weaker then I thought! You'd never catch paperwork killing me! Alisande: Hush, you. If it was five feet high like hers was, you'd be dropping dead too. No, the Lady is merely exhausted from getting less then 3 hours of sleep a night, being run ragged, holding two jobs *and* managing the household by herself. Leave her be. Rynvi: Yeah and if she croaks, we're out of a job. Which means no more chocolate and sudden vacations to nowhere to piss her off. Let her rest and go whacksomebody else. Kaigara: Fine. *wanders off to pick on the hamsters* Alisande: *sighs* Oh well. Idiocy can't be helped, only removed from the productive flow of life. Since the Lady will be non corpus mentis for a least week, I would like to take the opportunity to thank all the kind people who helped her in her fic search. We actually had a list and would have thanked you all by name except it suffered a *tiny* accident�... Regardless, this fic is for you. Rynvi: You guys are great. Do us a favor and talk to the bimb. Give her a reason to keep going, will ya? She's losing the will to live. Between us and RL, she's at the end of her rope. Kiagara: *in the distance* Itai! Toshi BIT me! The little rat BIT me!!!! Alisande: Serves you right, twit. To our dearest readers, enjoy and have a nice day. *DarkAngel snores lightly and curls up in a ball* Title: Soft Beginnings 9/? (Book Three in the Stumbling Steps Arc) Author: Lady DarkAngel Ladydarkangel_1 @ yahoo.com Archive: Lady DarkAngel's Gundam Wing Fanfiction Library http://www.geocities.com/ladydarkangel_1/index.html, Darkflame's (if she'll take it�.) and anywhere else is fine, just ask me first Category: Yaoi, angst, sap Pairing(s): 3x4, 1+2 Disclaimers: Gundam Wing or Shinkidousenki Gundam Wing is copyrighted and trademarked by Sunrise, Bandai, Sotsu Agency and associated parties with all rights and privileges. The characters were used without permission for the purposes of entertainment only. This is not meant for sale of profit. Any characters not created by those listed above are mine and hereby considered the sole property and copyright of the author. Anyway, I'm just a poor college student. So can I play with them? I promise I won't break them�... much. Rating: PG Warnings: None really, just the Boys being boys Feedback: Kami-sama, YES!!! Ladydarkangel_1 @ yahoo.com (ignore the spaces); any and all comments are welcome like the sweet ego-sustainers they are. Heero was seriously contemplating just how much trouble he would get into for murdering his fellow pilots. One he could possible get away with. He'd simply explain to J that is had been an unavoidable necessity for the mission. An accident, perhaps, or many just that they'd become a security risk. He wouldn't even have to elaborate very much; it would be acceptable to the old man if he truly believed they were a threat in some way without pesky things like details getting in the way. Which they were. A very dangerous threat. In a manner of speaking. They constituted a serious threat to his sanity. But two? At the same time? In a safe house? That would take some plotting and conning on his part. But he was confident that he would be able to pull it off. It wasn't as if they didn't deserve it. Sitting at his desk and listening to the fading laughter of the two antagonists, Heero silently fumed. They'd picked a particularly bad time to screw with him. That little song and dance number of Duo's and unwelcome commentary by Wufei had only served to incense him further on what was turning out to be a very bad day. His calculations were doomed, the work that should have been relatively easy was almost due, and now this. *This*. He didn't even now what to make of this. He was stewing. That was the only word he could come up with that would even come CLOSE to what was churning inside him right now. A swirl of emotions he was having a hard time sorting through, let alone identify, were gumming up mental works. Oh, some of them were easy to get. Indignance was right there at the head at the line. How DARE they! How dare HE, after everything Heero'd been doing for him all this time, taking care of him and helping him get better! How could he mock him and waste his time like that, when so much was on the line and time was at a premium?! Confusion was another biggie. What the *HELL* was that all about?! He didn't get the whole little spiel and all of the implications it held, but he *was* smart enough to recognize that all the hints and such were aimed at him and were probably intentional. The rest of it was beyond his reach, though. And he didn't have time to worry about now. The computer was still blinking mockingly at him. If he squinted hard, he could almost see a message in the flashes that assaulted his eyes; in fact, he wouldn't put it past Duo to have programmed it to swear or insult him in Morse code or something. The others would have helped no doubt. Anything to give him a bad day. Sometimes it seemed like they were all in it together, a conspiracy to embarrass, humiliate and/or drive him nuts. If he didn't know any better, he'd say it was calling him 'Loser.' With his luck, it probably was. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Maxwell! Kindly desist your current waste of life and get your butt in here! We're almost ready!" Wufei wiped a smear of grease off his cheek and began to climb down the ladder leaning against Wing Zero's leg. "And bring a rag with you! This stuff makes anungodly mess." "Yare yare. I'm coming, I'm coming. What'cha need the rag for, though? I was under the impression that since you being on the rag seems to be a permanent condition, you come prepared." "Low blow, demonspawn. A low unworthy blow and uncouth joke. One I shall get you for the second I get this glop from Yuy's thrice-damned walking tin toy off me! Be forewarned, your braid is forfeit!" Despite the snarl in his voice, the Shenlong pilot held a smile on his face. Things looked promising for this first test run. Wing Zero had been chosen on the theory that even if it *did* blow up, the gundam could take it better then the rest of them. There was a general consensus that Heero should be the one to attempt it in case anything goes awry based on the same logic. Duo's theory of elastic skeletal structure was treated to the Yuy Glare of Death and Quatre's musings on rubber skin earned him odd stares and a smack in the head from Trowa for encouraging the already overactive and dangerous imagination of a certain violet-eyed troublemaker. Still, everyone was in a remarkably good mood. The stats program (once properly adjusted, of course) had yielded encouraging numbers and the simulations showed no problems. The doctors were informed and the data was thoroughly reviewed. There were a go. The test run had been set up for three in the afternoon. The morning was spent readying the before and after parts; before: wire connections, mix ratios, tank adjustments and final checks. After: bandages and burn cream, just in case. Wufei had surreptitiously cut some splints as well at Duo's request. No sense seeing something gross like that again if it can be avoided was the heartfelt sentiment at the asking. Heero, however, did *not* spend his time preparing like the others, even though he should have been. He used his time watching the braided baka to make sure he didn't overexert himself. Although given a relatively clean bill of health by Quatre the Worrywart, he was still far too pale for the Japanese pilot's liking. He was almost as bouncy, almost as loud, almost as boisterous and mischievous as normal, but not *quite* normal yet. He was almost better but Heero was sticking close to mission perimeters and keeping Duo away from heavy lifting and any serious work. Which is why Wufei was filthy and doing what should have been the Wing Zero pilot's job. Grumbling about unjust delegations of duty and moronic, schuss pilots, Wufei reached the bottom just as Duo skipped in, followed more sedately by the others. Cocking an eyebrow, the dark-haired boy teased, "Why Maxwell, how positively ebullient of you. You must be very excited to see Yuy get blasted skyward to be skipping to his doom." "Why Wufei, how positively bitter of you to get so pissy about dirt and grimy hands that you'd insinuate such a terrible thing on such a beautiful day in front of a innocent soul!" Quatre came up and smiled. "Why Duo, how positively adorable of you to defend your friend against his cruel detractor on this most important day. Wufei should be ashamed to be caught in such a manner." "Why Quatre, how positively nosy of you to insert yourself in a conversation that has nothing to do with you. I'm quit sure your were raised better then that and simply must inform your sisters as to your terrible transgression of manners." "Why Wufei, how positively��" The Arabian boy was cut off as Heero strode up and gave them all a bland look. "Why Duo, Wufei and Quatre, how positively insolent and irritating of you to goldbrick and trade barbs when a vital deadline approaches. You all should be ashamed of yourselves as soldiers and pilots and get the hell out of my way or Zero's going to run you over. You're on the field." Three jaws dropped. "Was that a joke?" The blonde ventured hesitantly. Trowa snickered lightly. "Why Quatre, how positively ignorant of you not to note the ever-dry and most extremely rare Yuy Sense of Humor when it manifests itself to you. I hear it's quite a sight to see." "Are we done with this shtick yet? We DO have work today, you know? I'd like to get started sometime soon." "Sure, Heero. We're done�� for now, anyways. Just let me get to the bunker and start the equipment up before you start booting up." Quatre tossed him a grin as he gestured to the small concrete dome they'd built the day before. With its shatterproof window, they'd be able to observe safely at a relatively close range. "Some of the sensors and recorders take a while." "Fine. Get going then." "Wait. *Why* are we doing all this crap again? Why can't we just use our cameras and stuff? Why the special doohickeys?" "Posterity, dumbass." Trowa smirked at the gaping look he got. "What? I can't be rude and casually flippant too, every once and a while?" "No. it's just plain scary. Scarier then Hee-chan's sense of humor. The *real* reason, please?" "The doctors insisted we record every detail for their inspection later. Personally, I think they believe we'll screw this up somehow so they want to be able to see where we went wrong. And just plain wanting to see us screw up is a bonus." The Chinese boy's face was dark. "They have little faith in us. It is disheartening as we are their chosen champions and defenders of the colonies." "That's not true! ��They're just control freaks, that's all. But Heero's right, it really is time to get rolling. Heero, up and at 'em. Every else, to the shelter we go." Quatre gave them all a stern look. "Now." "Yes, dear. No, dear. Why, dear? Go to hell, dear." Duo's grin was light enough to pass it all off as a joke but his eyes were dead serious. "I'd rather stay." "I'd rather you didn't." "I agree, Duo. We'll have a good enough view from the bunker." "Nope, nothing beats the personal touch. Gotta show support for the home team and all that. I'm staying with Hee-chan. Don't worry; I'm start enough to stay out of range. I'll be fine." "Maxwell, if this is about the comment I made earlier, please know I was merely kidding and do not truly believe that Yuy is in any danger��" "S'ok, Wu. I'd have stayed anyways. It's my idea, me that got us here. And so here I should be. As in right here, as opposed to over there." "No." All heads turned towards Heero. "They're right, Duo. I'll be fine. You don't have to stay." The Japanese boy gave him what he hoped was an encouraging look. "It's a trial run. I will be fine." "It's a trial run, therefore you're at risk." Violet eyes held firm in the face of cobalt challenge. "Ain't leavin'." Heero sighed. "Fine. Carry him then." Duo found himself ambushed and carted off before he could fight back. Didn't stop him from complaining though. "Hey! Lousy sneaky smelly bastards, kidnapping me against my will, an invalid of all things, why I swear I don't know what this world is coming to, comrades in arms turning on their fellows��" He waited until they were out of sight before climbing up Wing Zero. Once the all-clear sign was given, Heero began prepping for takeoff. The plan was for a quick 3 minute run around the safehouse area. More extensive efforts would come after they were assured of, at the very least, volatile non-combustibility and non-engine failure. Watching the systems power up, he glanced back and smirked as he saw three pilots try to keep an irrepressible American under the blast cover. Duo, not to be held down, insisted on try to climb out and managed to give Heero a thumbs up before he was dragged down to safety. The faint echo of "Ganbatte!" could be heard through the still-open cockpit door. He returned the gesture before sealing the door and engaging in the final system's check. He turned on the outside speakers. "On the count of ten, all systems are go and test 0001A will begin. All sensors are recording; primary trial of the TANG-hydro addition is set. Pilot 01 at the controls." "It *really* needs a new name." Duo's voice sounded tinny coming from the handset Heero knew he had. "That comes later. Roger that, 01. 04 here, confirming your status and giving the green light. Begin countdown." "Roger that, 04. Beginning countdown in 10�� 9�� 8�� 7�� 6�� 5�� 4�� 3�� 2�� 1��" (TBC��) *snores* I'm tired�.. Lady DarkAngel ---------- Lady Protector of POVs in Hentai Onna-Gumi Moderator of Duo's Sugar Intake Keeper of Duo's Nice Rear-end Keeper of Heero's Homicidal Intentions Want the rest? Whole sig's at my site! Lady DarkAngel's Gundam Wing Fanfiction Library www.geocities.com/ladydarkangel_1/index.html |