028
Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing.
Rating: G
Warnings: None.
Characters: Dorothy, Treize, Zechs
Note: Chapter Two. This will be updated each Sunday.
Summary: They were born into a world of soldiers and politicians, aristocrats and royalty. A world where there are two sides to every story, two faces to every person. Their childhood was stolen from them the moment they learned to reason, the moment they learned the benefit of a lie.
Chapter: Two: Ebb and Flow
Chapter Summary: In which Treize shows a fondness for roses, Dorothy is manipulative, and Zechs is confused.
Zechs finds her in the center of the maze, sitting on the edge of the fountain. The skirt of her dress is hitched up above her knees and her bare feet are sunk deep into the water. He hesitates at the edge of the opening before approaching carefully and confidently all at once. She doesn’t stir as he sits next to her but he sees the tear tracks down her face, can hear her shuddering breaths up close.
“What happened Dorothy?”
He hasn’t seen either cousin since they went to see Aria and Lilla three hours ago. It was James who told him that Dorothy had run from her aunt’s rooms and disappeared outside. He’d gotten the feeling that it was up to him to go and find the younger girl and comfort her, though he hadn’t the first clue how to then. He still doesn’t know how if he is perfectly honest with himself.
“Grandfather came to visit tonight, to inform Aunt Aria that Uncle Landry died - in battle.” She sits up straighter and wipes her nose on her arm. “Mother’s comforting Aunt Aria now, she’s abed and sedated. Treize is with them still but I couldn’t take it.” She looks small and fragile for the first time he can remember.
“I’m sorry Dorothy.”
“My father heads the Alliance now with Treize’s gone. Grandfather also told us that. Mother was thrilled with the promotion of course, but she can’t show it, not with her sister like that. I’m sure if it’s a boy she will be expected to name it Landry or some such in honor.” She wipes her eyes. “It’s stupid to cry.”
“No it isn’t.”
“It is,” she insists. She stares up at him, the moonlight catching and making her pale eyes luminous. Suddenly she looks twice as old as she really is. “Grandfather said it was utter nonsense to cry for the dead since tears do nothing for them. My uncle died a brave soldier’s death; it should be celebrated, not mourned. That’s what Grandfather told Aunt Aria before she threw the vase at him and ordered he leave and Mother called the doctor for the sedative.”
He tries to speak again, to offer some form of comfort but she brushes him off. She swings her legs over the edge of the fountain and stands slowly. “I don’t need reassurance Zechs, thank you for your concern though, even if it was misguided.” She offers him a faint, politician’s smile. He frowns, recognizing it as a reflection of one of Dermail’s. “I will be fine; it’s my aunt and my cousin I worry over.” She departs before he can respond, bare feet whispering across the grass silently.
--
“I am sorry to hear of your father.”
“Ah, Zechs…” Treize doesn’t turn from where he’s leaning against the balcony balustrade. He reaches out a hand, plucking a rose from the tangles of thorns creeping up the trellis from three stories down. Zechs approaches him cautiously, watching as the older boy twirls the rose lightly between his fingers. “Mother’s favorite flowers. Father used to bring her dozens of them when they were courting, called her His Fair Rose. He’s the one who planted these, so she could see them whenever she wished.”
He knew this of course, everyone knew this. Landry Khushrenada had been a devoted husband. Many people still spoke of the wedding between Landry and Aria, and the vast amounts of roses that were everywhere, the utter devotion he showed when he gazed at his wife. Zechs looked away, wondering if this had been a bad idea. But Dorothy had prodded him incessantly since Treize had emerged from his mother’s rooms an hour ago.
She had appeared in his room unexpectedly. One minute he was alone reading, the next she was standing in front of him fidgeting. “Treize is on the balcony,” she reported. “You should go and see him. He’ll appreciate your gesture more.” She hadn’t left him alone until he had finally agreed. Dorothy could be quite convincing when she was being manipulative.
“Is there anything I can do?”
Treize chuckles drily and rubs his thumb lightly over the thorn. Zechs leans against the rail next to him, watching the play of emotions dance across his friend’s face. “It should be mine you realize. I should head the Alliance and my father’s estate now, not General Alexander Catalonia. It was Grandfather who stepped in of course, who denied me and handed it over to that fool of a man. I told you he favored Dorothy.”
“Treize, how does this pertain to Dorothy?” The familiar rivalry between the cousins was something he would never understand, no matter how hard he tried. They saw each other as allies; they saw each other as rivals. He isn’t sure which one it is now.
“Duke Dermail plans to take power for himself and use Dorothy to do it. Or perhaps the child, if it’s a boy.” He nods faintly, determinedly. “Yes, if it’s a boy he will use him; sculpt him into the image of himself so that he can take Romefeller to the next level, the impending war to a new plane. Dorothy is useful, but she is a girl and Dermail will never allow his own granddaughter into the Alliance for fear of the repercussions…”
Zechs nodded slowly. “And he doesn’t trust you.” He sees a glint in Treize’s eyes and smiles. “And rightly so. Does Dorothy know?”
“I’m sure she does but no, I haven’t spoken to her of it yet.” His eyes cloud and he lets the rose fall, spinning to the ground below. “I worry over her Zechs. I worry that Dermail has already gotten his talons into her and that she is but just a pawn, no longer the little girl we used to know.” His laugh is self-deprecating this time. “Then again, that might just be the military training speaking.”
“She has her own mind.”
“She’s his tool to complete dominance, complete power.” He snorts and faces the full moon. “I do not blame Dorothy; I don’t think she even realizes…I blame our whole vile family. You’re smart to escape us while you can Zechs.” The blonde boy shook his head slowly and Treize shrugged idly. “I will get it back; I will fight Duke Dermail for Romefeller. Even if I have to use the Specials to do so.”
“I know.”
“It’s what my father wanted, what my mother expected.” He bowed his head and then stood up straighter. “Thank you Zechs.” The other boy glances at him out of the corner of his eye, curious but silent. “You have been a true friend, I value that greatly.”
“You make it sound like a farewell speech.”
“Perhaps in a way it is.” He turns to look at the younger boy and nods to himself. “Things will never be the same again Milliardo,” he murmured softly. The other boy stiffened at his given name and Treize gave another imperceptible nod. “With war comes casualties, I fear there will be many in this one.”
Zechs remained silent because there honestly wasn’t anything he could say to that.
--
“It’ll be lonely without you two around,” Dorothy stated blandly. They stood by the pond and she untwisted her hair, letting it dance in the strong wind. Treize remained stoic but Zechs looked at her. “Mother’s already informed me of my lesson schedule. French, Italian, Literature, History of Civilization, Ballroom Dancing, and Statistics. I’m sure I’ve forgotten something…oh, right, Etiquette as well.”
“Sounds like a full load,” Zechs commented. She nodded and looked to Treize expectantly. He turned to her finally and nodded slowly.
“I’m sorry to leave you Thea,” there was no contempt in the nickname, no emotion almost. He offered her a charming smile and she hugged him. “Your mother would have a fit to see you hugging me.”
“She’ll get over it. Write me, promise? Tell me everything that happens there, please.”
“Of course Dorothy.” He grips her shoulders tightly. “Take care Dorothy, look after yourself.” James appeared with a cough and Treize straightened slowly. “Come along Zechs, time for us to leave.”
“Right.” He turned but stopped, feeling the hand on his wrist. He turned back while Treize kept walking, not noticing the other boy had stopped. “Dorothy?”
“Thank you,” she mumbled. She hugged him as well and he patted her back awkwardly. “Make sure he’s okay, please?”
“Yes, of course. Goodbye Dorothy.”
“Goodbye Zechs.”
She watched them disappear through the gardens before she turned back to the pond and hurled stones angrily into the water. They plopped nosily and she didn’t hear the footsteps approaching until Duke Dermail stood at her shoulder, surprising her. “Grandfather!”
“Ah, Dorothy, here you are.” There was a twinkle in his dark eyes and she smiled up at him easily. “Your mother sent me to fetch you for your lessons. Seems you’re running late.”
“Of course,” she grumbled. “Grandfather, do you think I can go to Lake Victoria one day?”
He eyed her critically and she made sure to stand as straight as she could. “Ah, Dorothy, a soldier’s life is no place for a flower such as you. Come along and let’s get to work on that History of Ancient Civilizations, shall we?” He guided her effortlessly back to the house.
Rating: G
Warnings: None.
Characters: Dorothy, Treize, Zechs
Note: Chapter Two. This will be updated each Sunday.
Summary: They were born into a world of soldiers and politicians, aristocrats and royalty. A world where there are two sides to every story, two faces to every person. Their childhood was stolen from them the moment they learned to reason, the moment they learned the benefit of a lie.
Chapter: Two: Ebb and Flow
Chapter Summary: In which Treize shows a fondness for roses, Dorothy is manipulative, and Zechs is confused.
Zechs finds her in the center of the maze, sitting on the edge of the fountain. The skirt of her dress is hitched up above her knees and her bare feet are sunk deep into the water. He hesitates at the edge of the opening before approaching carefully and confidently all at once. She doesn’t stir as he sits next to her but he sees the tear tracks down her face, can hear her shuddering breaths up close.
“What happened Dorothy?”
He hasn’t seen either cousin since they went to see Aria and Lilla three hours ago. It was James who told him that Dorothy had run from her aunt’s rooms and disappeared outside. He’d gotten the feeling that it was up to him to go and find the younger girl and comfort her, though he hadn’t the first clue how to then. He still doesn’t know how if he is perfectly honest with himself.
“Grandfather came to visit tonight, to inform Aunt Aria that Uncle Landry died - in battle.” She sits up straighter and wipes her nose on her arm. “Mother’s comforting Aunt Aria now, she’s abed and sedated. Treize is with them still but I couldn’t take it.” She looks small and fragile for the first time he can remember.
“I’m sorry Dorothy.”
“My father heads the Alliance now with Treize’s gone. Grandfather also told us that. Mother was thrilled with the promotion of course, but she can’t show it, not with her sister like that. I’m sure if it’s a boy she will be expected to name it Landry or some such in honor.” She wipes her eyes. “It’s stupid to cry.”
“No it isn’t.”
“It is,” she insists. She stares up at him, the moonlight catching and making her pale eyes luminous. Suddenly she looks twice as old as she really is. “Grandfather said it was utter nonsense to cry for the dead since tears do nothing for them. My uncle died a brave soldier’s death; it should be celebrated, not mourned. That’s what Grandfather told Aunt Aria before she threw the vase at him and ordered he leave and Mother called the doctor for the sedative.”
He tries to speak again, to offer some form of comfort but she brushes him off. She swings her legs over the edge of the fountain and stands slowly. “I don’t need reassurance Zechs, thank you for your concern though, even if it was misguided.” She offers him a faint, politician’s smile. He frowns, recognizing it as a reflection of one of Dermail’s. “I will be fine; it’s my aunt and my cousin I worry over.” She departs before he can respond, bare feet whispering across the grass silently.
--
“I am sorry to hear of your father.”
“Ah, Zechs…” Treize doesn’t turn from where he’s leaning against the balcony balustrade. He reaches out a hand, plucking a rose from the tangles of thorns creeping up the trellis from three stories down. Zechs approaches him cautiously, watching as the older boy twirls the rose lightly between his fingers. “Mother’s favorite flowers. Father used to bring her dozens of them when they were courting, called her His Fair Rose. He’s the one who planted these, so she could see them whenever she wished.”
He knew this of course, everyone knew this. Landry Khushrenada had been a devoted husband. Many people still spoke of the wedding between Landry and Aria, and the vast amounts of roses that were everywhere, the utter devotion he showed when he gazed at his wife. Zechs looked away, wondering if this had been a bad idea. But Dorothy had prodded him incessantly since Treize had emerged from his mother’s rooms an hour ago.
She had appeared in his room unexpectedly. One minute he was alone reading, the next she was standing in front of him fidgeting. “Treize is on the balcony,” she reported. “You should go and see him. He’ll appreciate your gesture more.” She hadn’t left him alone until he had finally agreed. Dorothy could be quite convincing when she was being manipulative.
“Is there anything I can do?”
Treize chuckles drily and rubs his thumb lightly over the thorn. Zechs leans against the rail next to him, watching the play of emotions dance across his friend’s face. “It should be mine you realize. I should head the Alliance and my father’s estate now, not General Alexander Catalonia. It was Grandfather who stepped in of course, who denied me and handed it over to that fool of a man. I told you he favored Dorothy.”
“Treize, how does this pertain to Dorothy?” The familiar rivalry between the cousins was something he would never understand, no matter how hard he tried. They saw each other as allies; they saw each other as rivals. He isn’t sure which one it is now.
“Duke Dermail plans to take power for himself and use Dorothy to do it. Or perhaps the child, if it’s a boy.” He nods faintly, determinedly. “Yes, if it’s a boy he will use him; sculpt him into the image of himself so that he can take Romefeller to the next level, the impending war to a new plane. Dorothy is useful, but she is a girl and Dermail will never allow his own granddaughter into the Alliance for fear of the repercussions…”
Zechs nodded slowly. “And he doesn’t trust you.” He sees a glint in Treize’s eyes and smiles. “And rightly so. Does Dorothy know?”
“I’m sure she does but no, I haven’t spoken to her of it yet.” His eyes cloud and he lets the rose fall, spinning to the ground below. “I worry over her Zechs. I worry that Dermail has already gotten his talons into her and that she is but just a pawn, no longer the little girl we used to know.” His laugh is self-deprecating this time. “Then again, that might just be the military training speaking.”
“She has her own mind.”
“She’s his tool to complete dominance, complete power.” He snorts and faces the full moon. “I do not blame Dorothy; I don’t think she even realizes…I blame our whole vile family. You’re smart to escape us while you can Zechs.” The blonde boy shook his head slowly and Treize shrugged idly. “I will get it back; I will fight Duke Dermail for Romefeller. Even if I have to use the Specials to do so.”
“I know.”
“It’s what my father wanted, what my mother expected.” He bowed his head and then stood up straighter. “Thank you Zechs.” The other boy glances at him out of the corner of his eye, curious but silent. “You have been a true friend, I value that greatly.”
“You make it sound like a farewell speech.”
“Perhaps in a way it is.” He turns to look at the younger boy and nods to himself. “Things will never be the same again Milliardo,” he murmured softly. The other boy stiffened at his given name and Treize gave another imperceptible nod. “With war comes casualties, I fear there will be many in this one.”
Zechs remained silent because there honestly wasn’t anything he could say to that.
--
“It’ll be lonely without you two around,” Dorothy stated blandly. They stood by the pond and she untwisted her hair, letting it dance in the strong wind. Treize remained stoic but Zechs looked at her. “Mother’s already informed me of my lesson schedule. French, Italian, Literature, History of Civilization, Ballroom Dancing, and Statistics. I’m sure I’ve forgotten something…oh, right, Etiquette as well.”
“Sounds like a full load,” Zechs commented. She nodded and looked to Treize expectantly. He turned to her finally and nodded slowly.
“I’m sorry to leave you Thea,” there was no contempt in the nickname, no emotion almost. He offered her a charming smile and she hugged him. “Your mother would have a fit to see you hugging me.”
“She’ll get over it. Write me, promise? Tell me everything that happens there, please.”
“Of course Dorothy.” He grips her shoulders tightly. “Take care Dorothy, look after yourself.” James appeared with a cough and Treize straightened slowly. “Come along Zechs, time for us to leave.”
“Right.” He turned but stopped, feeling the hand on his wrist. He turned back while Treize kept walking, not noticing the other boy had stopped. “Dorothy?”
“Thank you,” she mumbled. She hugged him as well and he patted her back awkwardly. “Make sure he’s okay, please?”
“Yes, of course. Goodbye Dorothy.”
“Goodbye Zechs.”
She watched them disappear through the gardens before she turned back to the pond and hurled stones angrily into the water. They plopped nosily and she didn’t hear the footsteps approaching until Duke Dermail stood at her shoulder, surprising her. “Grandfather!”
“Ah, Dorothy, here you are.” There was a twinkle in his dark eyes and she smiled up at him easily. “Your mother sent me to fetch you for your lessons. Seems you’re running late.”
“Of course,” she grumbled. “Grandfather, do you think I can go to Lake Victoria one day?”
He eyed her critically and she made sure to stand as straight as she could. “Ah, Dorothy, a soldier’s life is no place for a flower such as you. Come along and let’s get to work on that History of Ancient Civilizations, shall we?” He guided her effortlessly back to the house.