Author: SkyLark
Warnings: Neko-fic, AU, angst, sap, possible lime.
Rating: PG-13
Pairings: Eventual 1x2, 5+OC's (you'll see what I mean), maybe others.
Beta Written and Plot Bunny from: Keiran
Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing, nor it's characters. I just love playing with them.
Life... Really Part 1
2:46 pm was displayed on the clock at the front of the classroom. Only fourteen more minutes before another day of mind-numbing lesions was over.
As the professor droned on about the reading assignment and its importance for the final paper, the semester's end only a few weeks away, Heero looked out the window just to his left. Even in the accelerated class that he had been enrolled in for, this being his freshman year in high school, he still felt that his time was being wasted.
Heero was at the top of the class, many chapters ahead of his fellow classmates, and already guaranteed a job in his deceased father's law firm once he completed his degree in college after this. Having to attend four years of school, learning things that he already taught himself or had learned from his father, seemed meaningless.
Still, it was a necessary evil to obtain his high school diploma. From there, he would be ahead in his class, yet again, when he went to attend law school.
From the time that he was born, the Japanese youth's parents already had his life planned for him. Heero was to attend private schools all the way through college, have a successful career as a lawyer in his father's firm.
After that, after earning his credibility and own the firm, himself, after his father had passed on. When his father passed away unexpectedly the prior year, his mother took over and made sure that their plans for their son went through.
While he never resented the fact that he never had a choice in what the future would hold for him, Heero just assumed that was life. Even the few friends, the ones he had been allowed to have, had stories much the same to his own. He looked across the room of students to those said friends as he thought of their own situations.
The little blonde of their group, Quatre, was to move on from high school to join his many siblings in their multi-trillion dollar family enterprise. Deemed the light-hearted, friendly one of the four, Quatre easily made friends at school.
It was said by several of the girls in their class that the boy's smile could light a room. Heero had to admit that was true. There was something disarming and warm about Quatre smiled. His loyalty to the friends that he had also spoke volumes of his personality.
Knowing fully well that his friend was prepared for the final paper, Heero watched as the Arabian acted interested in what the professor had to say, taking notes as the man in front continued on. He never was one to act that he was way ahead of where his 'intellectual superiors' were headed. Heero had to suppress a bitter laugh at thinking how their teachers were referred to as such, when any one of the four could teach them a thing or two about their lessons.
A few seats beside Quatre sat Trowa, the silent one of the quartet. For Heero to consider the tall brunette 'the silent one' said a lot. While most students at their school considered Heero to be silent and hard to approach, he did not consider himself shy, as he did Trowa. Still, not being the talkative ones of their bunch, they had an understanding of each other.
Also like Heero, Trowa was never one to discuss much of his personal life. Only the obvious things that were seen on the surface were ever spoken of. While most girls were turned off by their silence, others were intrigued by it, finding a sense of mystery in them that they wanted to figure out.
Trowa's life was predestined, as they all were. He was to move on to a partnership of his family's ownership of NASA. Currently, the brunette teenager was covering his mouth as he yawned in a rare showing of his lack of interest.
Of all of them, Wufei seemed to have the most control of his life. While he was being led into a career in medicine at his parents' insistence and influence, all other aspects of his existence were left to his own decisions.
Where Heero, Quatre and Trowa had curfews and were not allowed to date, Wufei's parents were notably more relaxed in their rules. Already only five months into their time in high school, Wufei had dated a girl or two, never going far with them as he was still devoted to making his folks proud.
Despite the slight leniency of the powers over him, Wufei's friends never envied him. Actually, they almost felt bad for him. He really could have a look at what he could have, but could never really keep due to his ordained future. The said Chinese youth was obviously only partly listening to what was being said, taking occasional notes as not to draw attention to himself should he appear to not be taking the lecture seriously.
From the time that they were in grade school, Heero's friends, his close neighbors, grew up together. The only reason his mother 'allowed' them to befriend her son was the fact that they were all a few houses away from each other. Friends, dates, parties, anything of the kind was seen as a distraction and an unnecessary diversion from the path she had laid out for Heero.
However, Catherine Yuy was not about to fool herself into thinking that she would be able to deprive her son of any kind of social life. So, she did not dismiss his request years ago to meet with the others when they had the time and before he was due home and in bed. After all, if Heero was to be successful in law, he needed to have some experience in interacting with people like himself. Over the years, he managed to become of the brotherhood that they built in time.
Finally, and not a moment too soon, the clock struck at three and the bells in the hallways rung out to announce the end of school. The twenty-some students in the class rose from their seats and gathered their belongings as the professor shouted his assignment to be completed for the next time they met.
Sighing deeply when he reached his friends out in his hall, Heero commented dryly, "Another riveting lesson in cell reproduction." Quatre chuckled at the sarcastic comment and shook his head.
As he leaned against a locker with his arms crossed, Wufei asked, "Well, since we can do our assignments in our sleep if he wanted to, what shall we do before we need to head home for dinner?"
Trowa shrugged and readjusted the strap of his backpack as he replied, "What else do we do? Hang out at one of our houses before our folks break us up. Knowing my father, he'll want to see proof that my assignments are finished tonight. He wants me to attend a business meeting with him tomorrow."
"Another meeting?" Quatre frowned slightly. Thinking it over for only another second, he sighed, "Well, I can't speak, myself. There will be a long conference call and my sisters are anticipating my presence to overhear how they conduct their matters in the family business."
Wufei huffed, "Wonders never cease." When all of our eyes were on him, he stated, "I'm going out to the movies with Summer tomorrow, before I have to meet with the head MD at the hospital for a private lesson." Making such announcements of his restrained freedom was never to make the others jealous, but merely stating the facts.
At that, Heero inquired, "I thought that you broke up with Summer a few weeks ago. You said that she was becoming too 'clingy'."
"Yea, well, the Freshman dance is coming up soon and I felt bad that she would have been stuck without a date," the Chinese teenager admitted. "I am just taking her out tomorrow to make it up to her. She knows that we're just going as friends."
Quatre finally smiled brightly, "My mom and dad just gave me permission to go to the dance. I have to start asking around for a date, myself, since I wasn't planning on going."
Even Trowa smirked, "You won't have any problem. You have quite the fan club of girls around here. As for myself, I am thinking of asking Midi." Heero couldn't help the surprise in his widened eyes as he looked to his tall friend. Noticing the shock, Trowa nodded, "Yes, my parents are actually allowing me to go as well."
All three of Heero's friends turned to him then, expectant looks on their faces. With a shrug of indifference, the Japanese student advised, "There is a board meeting for the firm that my mom is expecting me to attend that night."
It really wasn't a disappointment to him. He never attended a dance before, so who should he have any regrets in not being to attend this one? In a way, he thought that by the others all attending, they might end up wishing that they hadn't, seeing what they had been missing out on. No, Heero was certain that he would not miss out on such an event. Still, he added, "Just don't tell me anything about it when it's over." Understanding was in his comrades' eyes as they all nodded.
This was life. This was all there was to it.
* * * * * *
Having agreed on staying at Quatre's house before dinner, the band of brothers sat around, just talking about their plans for the evening. No surprise to any of them, they all had chores and work on their assignments that they wanted to get done. It was the same every night. From there, they would go to bed and go about their arrangements the following day. Nothing different from how it had been from the time they were in the eighth grade.
Quatre finished his soda and lied the can on the table. A mechanical bark filled the air as his pet entered the room. The robotic puppy panted and his tail wagged excitedly as he looked up to his master. Smiling warmly, the Arabian patted the couch cushion beside him as he said, "Come on up, Treize." With an excited yelp, the silver pet bounced beside him.
"I still say that's a weird name to give that dog," Wufei commented from where he was watching television on the floor.
Giving the metallic animal shaped as a beagle a pat on the head, Quatre smiled, "He doesn't seem to mind it." Understanding what his owner was saying, the pup barked again, his voice echoing as a voice speaking into a tin can would.
In this day and age, owning actual animals as pets seemed to be a dying thing. The new age of the future was leading to pets made of wire and metal. They could understand what was being said by the people around them, they could only obey orders, and they were able to do chores within their abilities.
For wealthy families like the four young men had, these metallic pets were becoming the 'must have' items on the list for many years now. It was only the less fortunate families, middle-class and lower, who owned actual pets with fur, hearts and minds of their own.
Treize snuggled into Quatre's lap and sighed in content. Trowa chuckled deeply and shook his head as the pup growled over at Wufei's direction. The Chinese boy just glared in response. "You forgot all too soon that he knows everything you're saying, Wufei. He might chew up your shoes sitting in the doorway before you leave," the tall brunette warned with a smirk on his face.
At that, Treize sat up with slightly widened eyes, as if to say that that was a great idea. Wufei snapped his head in the direction of the puppy with another glare as he yelled, "Don't even think about it!"
Quatre's head fell back as he laughed loudly. The silver beagle just settled back in his master's lap, smiling as much as a dog could. "He would never think of doing such a thing," the blonde reassured his friend as he pat the beagle's head again. "Would you, Treize?" he asked the 'animal' before it gave a single bark as if to give an affirmative.
From where he watched the exchange on the other side of the room on another couch, Heero shook his head. He looked to the metal dog and sighed deeply. Despite the fact that he and his mother were more than well off, Heero was the only of the four who did not own a robotic pet.
While he could see that there were advantages to having such a pet, it somehow seemed... empty to him. He always thought that owning a pet would have to come with some of the challenges of having another mind to adjust to.
These robot pets were, for lack of better words, too perfect. Of course, they could always come in handy with chores and such, but they were not programmed to do anything but obey and follow orders. In a way... it reminded him too much of himself.
Again, he was not complaining about his life in the least. He would have riches than few could compare to, own anything he ever wanted or dreamed of, travel wherever he wished, a wonderful career in law. He was not upset that his parents planned all of this for him, his life and his future. They were only looking out for his wellbeing.
But any kind of comparison that he could make to himself, that might make him think differently, was quickly pushed aside, never to be dealt with. He would stay happy that way. He had been happy by behaving as such for many a year now. At the young age of fifteen now, he could not allow himself to let his mind drift from his parents' well-designed plans.
Rising from the sofa, he stretched and announced, "I should be heading back. I'm sure that Noin will be finishing dinner soon." The young woman had worked for his mother as their maid since his father passed on. Her dinners were always on time, the same time every night. She was always good to count on for that.
"How long will your mother be away on business, Heero?" Quatre asked as he watched the other walk towards the door.
Pausing to look back at him, the unruly-haired boy shrugged and answered, "She left this morning and isn't due back until around this time next week."
The Arabian smiled, "Well, if you'd like to stay here for a night or two for a change, I know that my family would not have a problem with that. It's not that often we get to stay over one of our places for a change in pace."
With a nod, Trowa added, "You're always welcome at my house, too. I could also go for a change." Wufei chimed in his own open invitation to staying with his and his family as well, if he would like.
Giving them a small grin, Heero raised his hand and replied, "Thanks, guys. I'll have to see if my mother left me any of her own assignments for me to finish while she is gone. But I'll definitely consider the invitations if I am available." Saying his good-byes to his friends, he stepped out of the house.
* * * * * *
After walking the two blocks to his own place from Quatre's, Heero made his way up the front steps to the large deck. The ornately designed front door never so much as squeaked as he opened it, after pressing his hand to the identification panel.
As the door opened for him, a woman's voice through the invisible speaker greeted, "Welcome home, Heero." When he entered the house, the door closed behind him as he lowered his book bag and took his shoes off at the entrance.
As he made his way into the living room, the smell of food cooking filled his nose. It smelled like chicken parmesan was cooking. Heero couldn't help but smile to himself. His mother being American and his father being Japanese, he was brought up on a wide variety of different foods and cultures. Of the meals that he had been introduced to, this particular meal was one of his personal favorites.
As he approached the dining room, he watched as the young maid was setting three places at the table. Looking up, Noin smiled sincerely, "Good to have you home, Heero. You're just in time. I made your favorite tonight, since it's just the three of us."
Returning the smile, Heero nodded and replied, "Thank you, Noin. It smells wonderful."
At that, the tall, blonde chauffer of the family entered from behind Heero into the dining room as he grinned, "Yes it does, my dear. You seem to have outdone yourself yet again."
Noin blushed, "You always say that, Zechs. But I thank you for the compliment." Heero smirked to himself and rolled his eyes. As long as he had seen the two of them together, he always knew there was a connection. Somehow, though, Zechs and Noin never seemed to know how to broach the topic.
Looking up at Heero as he took his place opposite of the place where Noin normally sat, Zechs grinned and nodded, "Your mother called me on the way back here from the spaceport, Heero. The ride is going smoothly and they will be touching down on Colony D43 within an hour. She said that she would call you in the morning, since it will be late by the time she gets settled into her suite."
"Thank you, Zechs," Heero replied as he took his seat at the head of the table. When Noin was finished bringing the main course and side dishes out, she took her own place. The three of them began eating in a comfortable, companionable silence for a while.
One of the many things that he respected a great deal about his mother was that she never treated Noin and Zechs as 'servants' despite the fact that they did work for her and her son. They were almost a part of the family, eating their meals together, joining them in outings when they had the time, having their own large bedrooms with the best furnishings.
As far as Heero was concerned, they truly were like an extended family to him. They were always sincerely concerned about how he was doing at school, how his friends were, things like a family member would be. There were many times, when his mother was away, that he had confided in one or both of them at a time, voicing his own concerns and thoughts.
Dealing with his father's death was not easy for him, despite the fact that he saw very little of him. Rather than burden his mother with thoughts and memories of his passing, Heero turned to Zechs and Noin for comfort and a listening set of ears on more than a few occasions.
Along with that, the pressures that were on him to follow in his father's footsteps and took over the family firm did, at times, seem to overwhelm him. Zechs and Noin never judged him, they just listened and offered what support they could. It had meant the world to him.
After a time, Zechs looked up form his plate of food and asked the boy, "How was school today?"
Snorting, Heero rolled his eyes and wiped his mouth before answering, "Uneventful as always. I am already several chapters ahead of where most of the professors are."
Noin smiled warmly at him, "I always thought that you were far too gifted and intelligent even for Sothmore High, whether it's deemed the best private school on the planet." She shrugged, "Still, at least you don't have to work so terribly hard as a student who would struggle in such classes."
He couldn't argue with her there. In that private school, many parents had pressured their kids to be accepted in and to do their best, even if it was beyond their capacity of learning. There were quite a few students there who were having problems just getting by. At least for Heero, it almost seemed as easy as breathing.
Zechs had also nodded his agreement to Noin's sentiments and added, "For you, these four years of high school and college after this, will be a much smoother ride than for most. It'd be good not to take that for granted. For many, no matter how hard they try, they'll never be able to excel the way your family has."
Not a word was spoken out of bitterness, Heero knew that. Zechs was quite happy with his current employment. He had been a devoted chauffer for many a year to the Yuy family now. As far as he was concerned, he was just as rich as they were, perhaps more, because he really did work to get where he was. Those words were spoken on behalf of the countless nameless, struggling families that were scraping by.
When he was asked what he friends were up to for the weekend, Heero filled them in on what they all had going for them. He mentioned that there was talk that maybe he could stay over their houses over the course of the next few nights.
At that, Noin beamed brightly and stated, "I think that'd be a wonderful idea! Your mother won't have to know about any of it." She concluded with a wink. "It's not like you have an opportunity like this too often."
"I'll have to see if there are any assignments that my mother has waiting for me when she calls in the morning," the teenager commented. "But it would be a nice change of pace." Zechs voice his own agreement to the notion.
When dinner was finished and the night wore on, Heero looked up to see that it was almost ten o'clock, his curfew time. He closed his book, his last homework assignment for the weekend; at least he wouldn't have to worry about it the next two days. Rising from the couch, he stretched and yawned. Looking over to Noin and Zechs on the other sofa, he said his goodnights, followed by their own, and headed to bed.
Once he was in his room, after running his routine of brushing his teeth, putting his books away and getting into his pajamas, Heero lowered himself onto the mattress of his large bed in his large bedroom. It was just another day, just like every other. Somehow, he mentally scorned himself, would have to get it out of his mind that things would ever change. This was life... his life.
* * * * * *
The following morning, Heero yawned and stretched at 6 o'clock on the dot just like every other morning. Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, he made his way into his adjoined bathroom to freshen up with a shower. When he was finished, he was soon joined by Noin and Zechs as the maid went about cooking breakfast.
Deciding that he wanted to go out for some fresh air on his own, Heero stepped out on the front deck and the door closed itself behind him. Taking a deep breath of air, he closed his eyes and made his decision to go and meditate at his secluded spot in the park.
His thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a small 'mew'. His eyes snapped open, wide, as he looked down to the top step of the deck. A small kitten, probably no more than a few weeks old, was looking up at him. It's brown hair seemed to shimmer with gold and highlights in the sunlight. The baby kit was skinny, and almost looked to have ratted fur from a difficult time on its own.
What really fascinated Heero, was the kitten's eyes. They were violet, a violet that he never saw in an animal's eyes before. They truly were captivating. The wide orbs watched him carefully, the kit's body still from fear as he watched silently.
Then, just as soon as he appeared, the kitten suddenly turned around and ran off, dashing into the alley between Heero's house and that of his neighbor. Not sure really why, he ran after the kitten, pausing in the alley when he saw no sign of the small creature. As fast as it had run off, there would be no way of catching it.
Frowning to himself, Heero turned and began to make his way to the park. Before leaving, he glanced over his shoulder once more to see if he could spot the kit. When there was no such luck, he continued on his way. Silently hoping that the kitten would be all right, wherever it went.
TBC...
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