[Author's Note: Mini-analysis of GW: Ep Zero #7 manga included ]
Dec 25, AC 200
It was dark outside the base's port window, as usual. Even the stars didn't seem enough to break up the monotony. The ebony-haired Preventer turned his gaze away from the view, but the features of the room were just as comforting. He wasn't complaining, really. It just seemed...the same. As always. He didn't mind his job, since it gave him the opportunity to mete out justice as he saw fit. A slightly different take on what he had done before, it was, and yet...
He turned back to the window, eyes skipping over the objects neatly arranged on the sill. A patina-laced, copper dragon undulated along its engraved base, a small plate rising from the middle to hold a candle. Beside it was the card crediting the craftsman, along with a note from Quatre Winner wishing him well. Next to it was a snowman made of cottonballs with sequins and string sloppily glued on. The card beside it was decorated in crayon with a photo inside showing Duo Maxwell and Hilde Schbeiker with a half dozen small, smiling faces from the orphanage the two volunteered at. Duo was grinning like a maniac, too. They all looked so happy, content in their lifestyles. He knew, though, that the three of them, and the others of their era, were very weary, and older than they seemed. There still remained a difference between him and them.
...They look so happy...
He welcomed the peace they had fought so hard for. Despite the various ways they each went about reaching it, it was something they had all wanted.
...Peace? Justice? Truth.
Truth from learning. He might have been a teacher some day, slipping into the role of passive observer. Sitting away from things, studying more than taking action. He could act whenever he felt inclined to, of course. His skill was there. But he had wanted, while being knowledgeable, to remain aside from events, and play ignorant.
Let someone else play hero and throw away their life. I will learn the truth and convince the would-be hero to do otherwise.
What he should have learned was how to be a better teacher. Instead, he became the student.
If only she had listened...Or should I have been paying more attention to her from the start?
For two years I sought truth in my ideals. I had the power to be lost even in the midst of having a goal. Maybe it was better to be single-minded rather than cynical. She blindly believed in justice. Relena Peacecraft blindly believes in pacifism. Yuy believes he could always find a way to solve a problem.
...
.....
We succeeded. Why am I recounting this now?
He looked at the dragon again. The burgundy votive candle he had placed there was half-melted. The wax had coated the plate and had run over to speckle the dragon's scales. He was reaching to clean it off when a tapping sound came from the door. "Open," he called out, and the voice recog sys automatically drew the door aside. A slightly taller and older woman stood in the doorway with two champagne glasses in one hand and a decanter of something liquid in the other. She wore a green sweater patterned in red and gold over black slacks. Her dark blond hair was pulled forward in two coiled braids. Her eyes were a warm blue.
"Well, at least you took the jacket off," she commented on his uniform wryly. "You didn't get the note about casual Fridays?" She chuckled. He responded with a humoring smile. He had gotten used to her teasing sense of humor, but he was too distracted just then to engage in banter. Without waiting for permission, she moseyed over to the small table flanked by two plain chairs and set down the glasses and decanter, then flopped down on one of the chairs. "I guess it's better that I couldn't drag you to the party. I kind of needed someplace quiet to breathe for a few seconds. Duo spiked his own punch and has been belting out his own version of Christmas carols." She twisted around to look at him. "Catherine made fruit cake." She nodded in approval of his grimace, then scratched her head. "It's actually quite good, except she always has yet another piece to give out." She sat straight and began unscrewing the top of the decanter. "So I thought I would take a break and see how you were doing."
He was waiting for her to add on an addressing of 'Mr. Anti-social' but it never came. "I'm...just thinking" came his answer. He made sure to keep his tone even and his gaze on the stars. They were a little brighter now. One even seemed to be twinkling.
'Watch me, Nataku!'
...Nataku...
...
...Meilan.
One glass was filled, then the other. He glanced toward her, an uncertain look on his face. "I don't really want anything to drink..."
Sally looked at him with one eyebrow quaintly raised. "It's only eggnog. I promise it hasn't been spiked."
Out of the corner of his eye he saw the star twinkle again.
'Watch me...'
Wufei smiled at Sally and walked toward the other chair.
(c) 2001-2003 Autumn Loweck. This work may not be copied, distributed, or reprinted without the author's permission. Characters of Chang Wufei, Sally Po, Duo, Hilde, Quatre, Catherine, Relena, and Heero belong to the creators of the GundamWing series, Sotsu Agency, Sunrise, Bandai, and whoever else in Japan involved in this most cool anime.