reallyaduck | (no subject)

Trowa's glance at Duo is quick and unreadable. But that's nothing new.

"Sure."

For a moment, it seems as if he's going to leave it at that. Then, to Duck: "What are your classes like here?"

Duck glances at Duo, startled. "But - he's gotta live on the second floor!" she says, biting her lip, before answering Trowa's question.

"Uh, well, there's a lotta dancing, and we gotta write essays sometimes, and we study all the ballet stories and we get to watch the advanced class dancing 'cause they're a lot better than us. . . I dunno if that's like how it was where you guys went to school . . ."

"Didn't go to school."

Well, okay. He did for a year when he was at the church. But that's the last thing he wants to talk about, now.

"Oh, well, that's okay!" Duck says brightly. "You know so much stuff and you can do so much, I bet you didn't need it!"

-or, maybe he does want to talk about it?

"The only times I was ever at school, I didn't learn the important things there. And during the war it was only a disguise. Never was a normal kid."

That makes two of them.

Trowa, however, feels no need to share.

Duck is so not qualified to talk about normal kids.

She flails a little, wobbling back and forth on her feet as she looks uncertainly at Duo.

"Um . . . I don't know what's important to learn at school, but - if you can help people isn't that what's import-"

Wait, Duo said that she wasn't supposed to talk about saving people's lives! She cuts off, looking guilty.

"Yeah, well, I didn't do them any damn good either."

Duo stalks off ahead of them, this time.

Duck does not have wings at the present time, but she gives off a general anxious fluttering air regardless as she wilts in Trowa's direction.

In a loud whisper: "W-was it something I said?"

"Not really."

From someone else, this statement would probably involve more reassuring emoting. Or more emoting at all.

Trowa doesn't seem upset, anyway?

"You're okay."

He does, however, lengthen his steps a little after that statement. Duo's not that far ahead yet.

Duck scurries to keep up.

"But - why is he so upset?"

"History," says Trowa, with helpful specificity.

"History nothing," Duo says, obviously having overheard them as they approach. "Try my whole fucking LIFE."

He spins around to face them with an angry scowl.

Duck's eyes are large and anxious.

"B-but -"

Wrong Gundam pilot if you're looking for sympathy, Duo.

Trowa's hair masks half his face; what's visible is completely impassive. He says nothing.

"Just leave me alone!"

He doesn't want to talk about this! Why is he yelling at Duck, she didn't do anything. Dammit, he can't do anything right!

Interesting.

". . . If you want," says Trowa, mildly.

And now, Trowa is silently judging him!

"Shut up!" He takes a step closer. "The last thing I need is you telling me I'm ineffective and overly emotional!"

Duck's mouth opens and shuts several times.

But - but feelings are important - but Duo's feelings aren't happy feelings and he said he wanted them to leave him alone - but -

Is this how Duo really feels?

"I wasn't saying that."

"I know you, Trowa. I know what you're thinking half the time, and it's a good thing I do, 'cause it's not like you ever god damn say anything!"

It's amazing how Trowa can, impassively, convey if you say so without ever shifting a facial muscle.

What he actually says, however, is: "You're welcome to draw conclusions."

Duo proceeds to draw his own conclusions, and punctuates them by trying to punch Trowa in the face.

- OKAY THINGS ARE GETTING OUT OF HAND.

Duck flinches away and then dives for Duo's arms, trying to pull him back from Trowa. "Duo, you don't really mean - I know you don't feel that way really - Trowa didn't mean what you said, I know it!"

Duck's ability to pull Duo away does not remotely rival Duo's ability to throw a good punch.

For an instant--

No.

Trowa's eyes widen slightly -- lashing out at a friend, Duo? really? -- and if he could dodge, he doesn't try; the strike connects.