Gundam Wing 100 Word Challenge

Challenge: Relena Peacecraft
Team: Gundams
Rating: G
Word Count: 100

Clothes and hair perfected, Relena strode through the palace, not looking to either side, not acknowledging the alarmed glances from the staff.
Silently thanking Trowa for the lessons, she pulled her motorcycle helmet on and roared from the garages, slowing only slightly for gate security before pulling out to blend with the evening traffic.
Sally and Hilde were already settled in the dingy bar when a dark-haired girl in biker-boots joined them.
“Good day?” asked Sally.
“Well the foreign minister of Somalia won’t be bribing anyone else in Sanq in the near future,” Relena smiled, as they raised their glasses.

Challenge: Healing
Team: Gundams
Rating: G
Word Count: 100

The third time Trowa opened his eyes, he managed to tear them away from the stupid, glaring lightbulb above him, and looked around. White. Sterile. Bleeping machines around his bed. Not good.

He couldn’t feel much below his waist. Really not good.

It all came back to him then in a flash - the hidden assassin, his own leap to stop the bullet, the blinding pain.

He realised somebody was holding his hand, and he laboriously turned his head that way. Quatre’s worried-looking face swam into view. “Trowa? You awake? Thank Allah!”

And suddenly Trowa couldn’t do anything but smile.

Challenge: Learn
Team: Gundams
Rating: G
Word Count: 100

Sister Helen was exhasperated by us orphans, when we kept all our belongings clutched tight under the covers of our beds while we slept. I think Father got it, though. He’d lay a hand on her arm, and say quietly, “They’ll learn.”

Of course back then, there’d never been enough time to learn that sometimes, it was okay to let the stuff you treasured loose - that it wouldn’t necessarily disappear or be stolen if you let go.

It wasn’t till years after the war - till Heero came back to me - that the lesson finally, completely sank in.

Title: Secret
Challenge: Hidden
Team: Gundams
Rating: G
Word Count: 100

Wufei keeps a lock of Meiran’s hair. She’d smirked, and then laughed at him the day he’d asked for it, but took the scissors anyway and cut it herself.

It’s split into 3 thin tails. Each one is in a pale blue silk purse and then sewn inside the waistband of his white pants.

Sometimes, while practicing his katas, or even in the middle of a battle, he accidentally touches the small bulge there, and his heart will clench, or skip a beat.

It’s probably not a good idea, but he’s content to still have part of her with him.

Its been a while. Nano ate my brainz...

Title: Ice maiden
Challenge: Cold
Team: Gundams
Rating: G
Word Count: 100

The first thing she did once inside her rooms, was toe off her smart pumps and place them neatly beside the door. Her suit jacket and pencil skirt - thermal lined to combat the coldness of the colony – were hung precisely in the wardrobe. She shivered as she headed for the mirror.

Her glasses were removed, and buns pulled loose, when her eyes suddenly noticed the single rose in a stem glass beside her bed. She imagined Treize ordering it placed in her room and felt a warm glow spread inside as that thought started thawing her frozen heart.

Challenge: Illness
Characters: 1&2
Team: Gundams
Rating: G
Word Count: 100
A/N: Thanks Azure!

“I’m sorry Mr Yuy, there’s nothing more we can do, but keep him comfortable.” Each word punched a hole in his heart.
Heero thanked the solemn doctor, straightened up, and walked like an automaton into Duo’s room.
Humming machines, tubes, and a barred bed greeted him, along with... a huge grin?
Duo’s eyes sparkled, “Heero!” , the welcome was quiet, but heartfelt, and he raised one thin, liver-spotted hand for Heero to grasp, “This is awesome! Never thought I’d be here long enough for my heart to give out.”
Heero forced his own smile, and just stroked Duo’s thin white hair.

Challenge: Choose life
Team: Gundams
Rating: G
Word Count: 100

Heero wasn’t shivering any more. The stabbing pain in his chest seemed fainter too.

Last time he’d tried to lift his communicator in front of his eyes to see if the signal was working, he hadn’t had the strength. How long ago was that? No idea. He drifted, letting falling snow form a barrier from the wind.

He must have slept because it was suddenly dark. Okay, one last try... gritting his teeth, he fumbled for the communicator.

As he rubbed snow off the screen, the glowing words put a fire back in his heart.
“Don’t die. ETA 20m. Duo”

Title: Drugland
Challenge: Home
Team: Gundams
Rating: G
Word Count: 100

Heero noticed as they were gearing up for a Preventer mission to L2, that Duo was unusually jittery.
“You OK, Maxwell?” he enquired.
“Fine. Why?”

**********************

They crouched in an alleyway, eyes trained on the rubble-filled lot opposite, waiting for the drug dealers to arrive at their weekly ‘wholesale market’.
A small noise jerked Heero’s eyes to his partner's face. He frowned. Was that a... tear?
“Duo. What’s wrong?”
Duo jerked, “Nothin’,” he flashed a nervous smile, scrubbed his wet cheek.

**********************

It was only as Heero completed the arrest paperwork that he realised the dealers’ marketplace was named Maxwell Church Square.

Challenge: Cliches
Team: Gundams
Rating: pg13
Word Count: 100

Heero’s attention was totally focused on the computer, detailing the next mission’s perameters. Duo bounced into the room, wearing a schoolgirl uniform, and poked Heero with a stick, but was disappointed when the only response was a muttered “Hn”.
Shrugging, Duo wondered if maybe Wufei would like his new look. He grinned and bounced off toward Wufei’s sword practise area.
On the way he paused in Quatre’s doorway to watch the writhing couple within. “Oh yes! Trowa!” cried Quatre, breathlessly.
A sudden dampness on his shoulder made him spin, to find Wufei behind him, desperately trying to stop a nosebleed.

Challenge: Fairytales
Team: Gundams
Rating: G
Word Count: 100

Wufei was surprised the safehouse was dark, as he returned from a solo mission - it was only 9pm.
Immediately suspicious, he slipped his gun out, and approached from the rear, warily checking all the windows... ah, there was a candle flickering in the kitchen.
He peered in.
Quatre sat at the table, smiling down at a... picture book? from which he appeared to be reading out loud. The other three were gathered around, looking totally absorbed in the tale.
Confused, Wufei crept inside the hallway, to hear “... they lived happily ever after.”
“Yay!” cried Duo, “More hot chocolate, anyone?”

Title: The hot professor
Challenge: Chang Wufei
Team: Gundams
Rating: G
Word Count: 100

The first year girls waiting outside the classroom were whispering and giggling.
“He is TOTALLY hot!”
“Our professor? No way!”
“Hey, Jackie met him at the gym... said he’s all young and buff and...”
Just then, a young man interrupted. “Good morning,” he said formally, nodding to each of them in turn, “Is this ancient literature?”
They eyed him up. A few years older than them, black hair, slicked back, oriental cast to his bespectacled eyes, slim, but muscular frame under a tight black t-shirt.
“Sure is, sweetie,” said the boldest, flirtatiously.
“Then get inside. I’m your professor, Chang Wufei.”

Quatre Raberba Winner
Title: Family
Challenge: Past prompts: Quatre Raberba Winner
Team: Gundams
Rating: G
Word Count: 100
A/N: I felt bad about not being able to write Quatre before...

Quatre didn’t entirely believe his father’s disappointment, but it still hurt. Growing up he had basked in the love of his family, yet the first major decision he made for himself had forced them to reject him.

He’d tried to make a new family with the other pilots - after all, they all wanted the same things. But Heero wouldn’t admit to anything so needy as wanting companionship; with Duo, Quatre always felt guilty over his privileged background; and Wufei didn’t seem like he’d ever needed a friend.

But Trowa... Trowa made up for the rest of them put together.

Title: Duo's pet
Challenge: Past prompts
Team: Gundams
Rating: G
Word Count: 100
A/N: for the ‘pets’ prompt

They’d been stuck in the grotty safehouse for weeks, growing restless and cranky.
No-one was surprised yesterday, when duo stomped into his bedroom, snapping the lock shut behind him. But he hadn’t reappeared since.
“What’s he doing in there? He’s so... quiet,” Quatre asked worriedly.
Trowa shook his head, “I think Heero upset him.”
“I only said it was a stupid idea to have pets, given our ‘lifestyle’. Its common sense!”
Knocking and shouting yielded no response. Eventually, Wufei kicked through the door, to discover Duo, lying on his stomach, teasing an enormous rat with the end of his braid. 

Challenge: Anthropomorphism
Team: Gundams
Rating: G
Word Count: 100

In the wardrobe, I always endured the jeers of the others... “Get back to the girls’ rooms,” “... Get caught with red socks?” and the like. I ignored them. After all, I was above all of them - I was a favourite!

But sometimes now, I wish I wasn’t. Sharing the washtub with strangers is very difficult.

Those slinky shorts are so suggestive and... well... vulgar. The Chinese silks are so arrogant, they barely condescend to communicate. I’d do anything to avoid touching the filthy, stinky black shirt! Still, at least I get to rub against that cool, green polo neck.

Title: Amnesia *cough*
Challenge: Amnesia
Team: Gundams
Rating: G
Word Count: 100

“So. What you’re telling me is: One, my name is Duo Maxwell; Two, I’m a gundam pilot, and therefore WAY cool; Three, I like my hair this long!”
Quatre glanced across at the other three, huddled nervously by the door.
“Well, there’s something else... very important to you, that you should know. Maybe this’ll bring back some memories...”
“Yeah?” the patient asked skeptically.
“Heero’syourboyfriend...” he rushed, waving vaguely at the others.
The patient’s eyes flickered over them.
“The tall one?”
“No... err...”
“The Chinese one?”
“No, the...”
“The GORGEOUS one!?” He grinned.
That’s when Quatre knew everything would be OK.

Challenge: Trowa Barton
Team: Gundams
Rating: G
Word Count: 100

He has his own moral code, but it’s not set in stone. He’s adaptable about things like murder.
Silence has always been his friend. Growing up, he learned to blend in, to hide in shadows, to disappear. A useful skill.
He still dislikes people looking at him. Uniforms are good - people see the uniform, not him. The clown costume? Its not him. He grows his hair so that people see less of him. Masks are his friends too.
Somehow though, Quatre’s trying to find out what’s behind the masks. Trowa worries, because he’s not sure there’s anything there anymore.

Challenge: Childhood
Team: Gundams
Rating: G
Word Count: 100
Title: Games children play 1

Early evening, and the guys would be winding down, gathering round the fire to tell stories, sometimes boastful, sometimes honest. No-name would learn little snippets about their lives, and file them away to think about later.
He sat further from the fire, only just close enough to see what he was doing. He liked to challenge himself to clean each gun faster than the previous one - pull it apart, make it perfect, snap it back together - it made the job into a game. He’d sometimes seen other kids playing better games, but this was good enough for him.


Title: Games children play 2

Early evening, and the little blond boy almost couldn’t control his giggles, stuffing the back of his hand against his mouth. He crept forward to peer over the edge of the roof, and his eyes sparkled as he saw the grounds crawling with stressed-looking men yelling his name.
Hiding from the Maganacs was a new game he’d invented. It filled him with secret glee to watch them from this spot on the roof, as they frantically searched below.
Suddenly, “Quatre...” came Iria’s voice, making him jump, “Father’s looking for you...”
He frowned, game destroyed “But...”
“You have duties now, Quatre.”


Title: Games children play 3

The kite dipped dangerously low, before suddenly shooting straight up to try and sever his opponent’s string. The boy holding the spool of glass-encrusted string was concentrating so hard on the kites, that he forgot to keep an eye on where his feet were. He tripped, and went down splat on his face.
“Master Chang!” his servant cried, as he righted himself, horrified to see blood on the child’s hands, as he tried to hide them.
Eventually the boy gave in, and held out his slashed palms. He bit his lip, as he asked, “Please don’t tell father I lost.”


Title: Games children play 4

Early evening, and the crowds heading home from work gave the little boy begging on the subway steps a wide berth. Even his fading grin couldn’t hide the fact that he was filthy, with matted hair, and clothes that were barely holding together.
Tired of being ignored, he started playing a more profitable game. Weaving his way between passing grown-ups, his little hand sneaked its way into a pocket, an open bag, whatever was easy to reach.
Eventually he got lucky, and legged it, clutching a lady’s purse, and when he finally got a look inside it, his grin returned.


Title: Games children play 5

The target was refusing to get into a good position. He lowered the rifle again, to ease the strain on his shoulder, and did a few stretches to loosen up muscles held tense for too long, then returned to his previous position.
Eventually, despite the presence of several bodyguards, the target finally stood clear, as he prepared to duck into his limousine. One shot to the head took him out.
******
Back at the hotel, “Been shooting, kid?” the doorman asked indulgently, smiling.
But he bit back a gasp as those blank eyes studied his, before the kid replied, quietly, “Yes.”

Challenge: Trapped
Team: Gundams
Rating: G
Word Count: 100

Heero stretched his fingers out. A few more inches, and he could just grab...
“If you just try to tug it out, I’ll kill you...”
He sighed, and squeezed his hand further into the intricate mechanism.
“If you fetch the scissors, I’ll kill you...” Duo continued, sullenly.
“You took the key out, right?”
“Of course! I wouldn’t want to accidently start it chewing at me again!”
Heero raised one eyebrow, as he looked at his hand, inches from the sharp blades, “Not to mention my hand..” he suggested, delicately, “Duo, how DID your braid end up inside the mower, anyway?”

Duo Maxwell
Title: Two-faced
Challenge: Duo Maxwell
Team: Gundams
Rating: G
Word Count: 100

Trowa can switch off attention from anything not useful to the mission - court jester Duo included.
Wufei is driven insane by the jokes, constant chattering, needling him endlessly. Of course, if he didn’t respond so perfectly (so Duo says, at least), then he would be left alone.
Sometimes I see Quatre giving Duo a strangely longing look. Maybe he’s wondering how to drop his polite intensity and laugh with Duo or do something crazy just for the hell of it?
Every night, though, it’s me who sees Duo’s real face... that jokers mask shatters when his nightmares come again.

Challenge: Revenge
Team: Gundams
Rating: G
Word Count: 100

“Hey Wufei, what’s with the hat?”
He silently turned to give me a baleful glare, then continued down the corridor. Confused, I made my way into the kitchen, where Duo was rummaging in the freezer.
“Duo - did you see? Wufei’s wearing a baseball cap. What’s...” I gasped as he turned to me, one eye swollen purple. “What happened!?” I cried, noting now that he was putting together an icepack in a dishrag.
“He hit me!” he replied in an outraged tone.
“What? Why?”
A tiny smirk played at the corners of his lips, “I put Nair in his conditioner.”