Fallyn watched from her perch on the second flight railing as her sister enter their home, the old Opera House, with two gentlemen. She waited a moment, observing the men. She gasped when one of them turned and she saw the braid falling past his lower back. She felt odd, but laid her head on her arms, flung her leg over the banister, and called down to her sister, no remnants of the brush with fear she had earlier that day.
“Hey, Cheri,” the two men gasped and gaped up at her, “who’s your new friends?” Cherish turned to her sister’s voice and motioned for her to come down.
“Come down here and I’ll introduce you.”
“Okay. Here come!” She pushed off and slid down the banister, twisting and turning on it, her braid whipping behind her, till she landed on her feet at the bottom, facing them.
“Taa-daa!” She raised her hands and gave the three of them her biggest grin. Cherish was hiding her eyes behind her hand as if embarrassed, the Chinese-looking guy rolled his, and the braided one grinned right back, his amethyst eyes dancing.
Fallyn’s arms fell. Her jaw dropped, and she stared at him, her fear from earlier rising quickly. His grin slowly disappeared and his jaw dropped as he looked back into eyes that mirrored his own. Cherish glanced out from behind her hand when Wufei mumbled “Gods. Another one…” and sighed. She turned to see her sister staring into Duo’s eyes.
“Fallyn, this is Wufei, “ she indicated the Chinese man beside her. Fallyn tore her gaze away and offered a stunned hand. Wufei shook it gently and cracked a slight smile. Cherish continued. “And this,” she paused for effect, “is Duo Maxwell.”
Fallyn’s world blacked out, but she heard herself mumble, “Nice to meet you…”
“”*~‘’~*“”
Duo watched in both awe, horror and amazement as the girl came tumbling down the banister, her very long braid whipping behind her. He felt he knew that braid. Wufei leaned close and whispered in his ear.
“I’m slowly coming to the conclusion that the length of one’s hair is directly related to the amount of insanity a person has.” Duo grinned at Wufei and continued to watch as the girl slid off the end, landing on her feet in front of them, and said “Taa-daa!” Duo was impressed and rewarded her with his own grin. Yet, there was something about her….
She turned to look at him and her amethyst eyes got wide. Duo did a double take. Amethyst eyes!! He found the girl he was chasing earlier today! Cherish was introducing them. Duo had to laugh inwardly at the irony of the girl’s name – Fallyn. Her eyes had lost focus, but he heard her barely audible “Nice to meet you…”
“”*~‘’~*“”
Cherish and Wufei exchanged a glance. Her emerald eyes played havoc with his mind. They nodded to each other, grinning, and placed their hands over the two pairs of amethyst eyes.
Fallyn murmured to Cherish. “Could I speak you to a moment in private?” Cherish nodded and led Fallyn away. Wufei heard Duo gasp and turned back to him as Cherish led her bewildered sister aside.
“Foolish...” He started and ducked barely in time to avoid Duo’s fist. He had heard him and taken a swing.
“Don’t call her that! She’s as strong as you or I!” There was a vehemence in Duo’s whispered voice and an intensity in his gaze that Wufei had never seen before. The reaction didn’t last long. “Uhm…I need to tell you something, ‘fei.” Wufei almost could not believe his ears! Duo was going to confide in him?
“I’ve seen her around before. I never noticed anything else about her but her hair and eyes. I even chased after her today. She’s the only reason I was actually on time to the meeting. Wufei...I…” he sighed. Wufei knew what he was thinking and rested a knowing hand on Duo’s shoulder. Duo looked at him, amethyst eyes silently thanking him for his understanding.
“What I would do if I were in a situation like yours, though I’d never allow myself to get there but that’s beyond the point, is to let her know. If nothing else, tell her somehow that you’ll protect her from everything.” Duo blinked at him. Wufei was even amazed at himself for such a statement. He shrugged. “That’s just what I would do, though.”
“I’ll do it.” The resolve was evident in the other pilot’s voice.
~~
Fallyn looked at her sister.
“Cheri? Remember when I came to you in the library?”
“Yeah, I do.” Cherish grinned as they both remembered.
{Flashback}
Fallyn was suffering. She didn’t know why, but she was. So she talked to Cherish. As soon as she opened her mouth to speak, something clicked. She closed her mouth a moment, looking thoughtful. Cherish put her book down to listen.
“Cheri, I’ve been thinking a lot lately and I think I’ve finally come to a conclusion on this problem of mine.”
“What’s that, Fall?” Fallyn took a deep breath, her cheeks feeling warm.
“Well, you know how we’ve got that one crazy after us, right?” Her sister nodded and she continued, “I..uhm..I don’t want him to be my first, obviously. But I want someone who is unreachable for me. I want Duo Maxwell to be my first.” She knew she was blushing. Goddess! She sounded like such a fool! “Oh, never mind! I’m such an idiot!”
“You realize he’s prolly had others, don’t you? You’d probably end up just another mark in his book, y’know.” She sighed. But surely Cherish knew how she felt, her sister simply must!
“I know. I didn’t say I wanted to be his first, I only said I wanted him to be my first. Although it’d be pretty nice….” Fallyn laughed, collapsed, and began to cry. “Gods, how do you put up with me, Cheri? I am such a foolish one.” She giggled through her tears as Cherish came to hold her. “Wufei would kick my ass in a heartbeat.”
{End flashback}
“Well, I saw Duo earlier today. Ran from him, actually. I didn’t know who he was. And I had my first real taste of fear. The last thing I saw as I jumped down my hole was his amethyst eyes. They nearly pulled me back out of my hiding place.” She sighed. “I felt the fear start again when I just saw him.”
“Oh, Fallyn. Everything will be fine. If I were you, I’d let him know how I felt.” She laid a reassuring hand on her taller sister’s shoulder. “But that’d be just what I would do.”
“”*~‘’~*“”
Fallyn and Cherish walked back to the two boys. Fallyn kept her eyes lowered and was fairly subdued as Cherish led them up the stairs. Duo and Wufei exchanged a glance.
Duo, at a nod from Wufei, reached and grabbed hold of Fallyn’s hand. He stopped on the stairs with her while Wufei continued on with Cherish.
“Fallyn.” He lifted her chin to look into her face. Her eyes were closed, but he wanted to see her beautiful eyes.
“Open your eyes, I won’t hurt you.” He whispered. She obeyed. He looked down into those beautiful amethyst pools, knowing he could get lost in them forever. He gently caressed her cheek, noticing her hue was turning pink under his scrutiny. ‘Beautiful’ he thought, not realizing he was mouthing the word.
“Thank you” she mouthed at him and blushed more. His jaw dropped. Did she read his mind? She giggled and shook her head.
“I can’t read your mind, if that’s what you’re wondering. You mouthed it.” She said softly, raising her long fingers to brush across his lips briefly. ‘And I’m glad you can’t read mine.’ She thought. He grinned at her.
A throat being cleared snapped them out of their own little world and into the real one. Their heads turned towards the top of the flight at the same time, both braids whipping behind them with the motion. Both faces were a bit pink. At the top of the stair stood Cherish and Wufei. Both were smiling down at the pair.
Before anyone could say anything, the front doors burst open without forewarning. A large, burly man led a group of men into the old building. Fallyn gasped and pulled Duo behind her, Cherish doing the same to Wufei who exclaimed softly “Cherish!” Cherish replied “Shush!”
“So, DevAngels, I find you at last. I come now to collect on the debt your father owed me. Which means you both belong to me, now!” He oozed unpleasant promises, promises of pain and suffering. Fallyn shuddered slightly, but responded all the same.
“We have not reached the full age of the agreement, therefore you cannot take us.” She had played this game before. Fallyn would NEVER let this slime touch her or her sister! The guy laughed sinisterly. Duo placed a protective hand on her shoulder as the man spoke.
“Well, that’s just tough shit, now ain’t it? Cuz I’m gonna have my boyos here beat the crap outta your guy friends here and hold ‘em so I can make ‘em watch as I pull the petals off your little flowers!” Fallyn shuddered and mumbled to herself, as if giving herself strength with her own words.
“This madman will not be my first. I’ve already promised that privilege to Duo, even if he doesn’t know or care!”
Cherish knew what her sister was thinking, but didn’t realize she had said it till Duo looked at Fallyn in surprise. They all startled when Fallyn leapt into the air at the man, screaming “NEVER!!!!”
Cherish was right behind her, joining the cry. The two Gundam pilots stood in shock for a split second, then reflexes took over. They, too, joined in the fray.
