The Unseen Pathway- Ch.6 (TB x HS)
Posted: Fri Oct 18, 2002 2:06 pm
Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing or any of its characters.
First Semester
Chapter Six
I am a Computer Science Goddess…
“Are you going like that?” Sariah’s quiet voice held a hint of surprise.
“What’s wrong?” asked Hilde, looking down at her sweats. “It’s only a study session.”
“The last one, right?” Sariah questioned.
“Don’t remind me,” Hilde groaned. “The exam’s tomorrow. It’s my first one, too.”
“Well then, there’s not really much you can do about it now, is there?” Sariah commented gently. “Hilde, you’ve really gotten your act together these past two weeks. You’ve met with Trowa and definitely seem more confident about Computer Science. Besides, the night-before cram sessions are all about hanging with your friends from that class while attempting to learn the whole semester’s worth of material in a couple of hours-- like that ever happens!”
“What are you implying, Sariah?” Hilde looked at her grinning friend.
“All I’m saying is that I think you’d look really nice in that cute red sweater we bought the other day,” she said, her smile widening.
Hilde looked at her puzzled, but before she could say anything, Sariah jumped up from her bed and began searching for her keys, quick to say, “I hope you have fun tonight. I’m off for a coffee run before my review session for Economics. Good luck!” And with that, she slipped out the door.
By this time Hilde was absolutely certain she had the Sphinx for a roommate, as Sariah loved to leave her with riddles. But instead of pondering her friend’s statement, Hilde gasped at the time. She would be late for Trowa if she didn’t hurry, and his apartment was on the other side of campus!
Not thinking clearly, her brain seemed instead to remember only what Sariah had said, and in a rush, Hilde threw on a pair of jeans and her sweater before running out the door.
She knocked on Trowa’s common room door completely out of breath. Standing still, she finally took a moment to realize what she had done. Gazing at her new sweater, which really did look amazing on her, she wondered why Sariah had told her to change. Trowa didn’t care what she wore, did he?
Hilde’s thoughts were interrupted as the door opened. Trowa began mumbling something about being sorry for making her wait, when he suddenly stopped short as he finally took sight of her.
“Trowa…what’s wrong?” Hilde asked him.
He blinked a moment, then shook his head, motioning her to come in. “N-nothing,” he said, “…nothing.”
They shuffled into Trowa’s cozy room. As Hilde had learned from her previous study session times, Trowa’s roommate was hardly ever around. He apparently slept most of the day and was gone most of the night, causing his suitemates to label him “The Vampire”. But The Vampire’s living habits suited the former Gundam pilot just fine. As Trowa liked to point out, “We don’t talk a lot, we don’t see each other much, so we really can’t get on each other’s nerves.”
And Hilde was happy about the arrangement as well. Instead of trekking out to the over crowded libraries during the exam time frenzy, she was able to study without disruption--with the added bonus of a personal tutor--in the quiet and calmness of what had to be one of the most comfortable dorm rooms she could have ever imagined.
Both boys were actually rather tidy, and though the d?cor might be seen as plain, the aura of the place was its greatest appeal. Trowa’s placid demeanor was reflected in a few soft impressionistic posters he had up on the walls--to Hilde’s surprise, he was apparently quite the art lover! The lamps in the room emitted a soft golden glow, and The Vampire’s easy chair was Hilde’s favorite place to curl up.
As Trowa rested calmly on his bed, his previous troubles apparently subsiding, and Hilde took to her chair, both youths fell into an easy silence as they began hitting the books. Hilde was amazed as she moved to her place on the chair without even thinking. But, after all, she had been coming here nearly every day for the past two weeks, Trowa graciously giving his study time to tutor her.
The dark haired girl forced herself to focus her thoughts once again on the subject at hand and directed her attention to her computer science book. “Ugh...I must have read this passage a million times,” Hilde thought to herself. Then it hit her. Sariah was right! She did finally know this stuff!
And she finally knew him, too. It may have taken awhile, but the bond of trust that was beginning to form between Hilde and Trowa when they first met earlier in the school year had now been sealed with the events of the past few weeks. Hilde could now officially bump her relationship with Trowa up to a friendship status. And even though he was still an enigma most of the time, she was now happy to call Trowa her enigmatic friend.
She hadn’t realized she had been staring at him…until Trowa’s gaze met hers in a questioning glance. She jumped as the eye contact brought her out of her dream world, only to receive a more puzzled look from his gem of green.
“So I seem to be more entertaining than your Computer Science book. I’m flattered, really,” he jested with her.
That was another thing Hilde liked about their acquaintance. Trowa had this wonderful, dry sense of humor that was making more of an appearance now that they had spent time together.
She smiled and closed her book with a resounding **thwap**! “I am a Computer Science Goddess,” Hilde announced. “I know all.”
“Well, Ms. Goddess, your humble mortal servant congratulates you,” Trowa commented.
Hilde giggled. “Servant, eh? I like the sound of that.”
Trowa rolled his eyes and tossed his book aside.
“But seriously, Trowa, thank you so much for all of the help you’ve given me. I don’t know what I would have done without you. And for your help, this Goddess will grant you any wish. What can I do for you? Please let me repay you,” Hilde pleaded with him.
He didn’t answer her right away. His gaze was firmly focused on the floor and he seemed to be pondering something. His face almost looked troubled, but then suddenly his quiet tone broke through the silence. It seemed a bit uncertain at first, but then became a steady gentle flow of words.
“I-I was wondering if you had heard about the holiday party Quatre is to be holding.”
He looked up at her for conformation, and seeing her shake her head no, continued on.
“He hasn’t mentioned it to many people yet, but Sally will probably contact you soon. The other Gundam pilots should all be there, as well as Relena.”
Gudam pilots…Relena…those key words always seemed to cause Hilde’s heart to take a little jump. She was still in shock really, from Duo and Relena’s newfound relationship; the whole idea didn’t seem real. Away from the bustle of everyday life, hidden in the rich countryside of EU, Hilde felt disconnected from the events that were going on in the world around her. Too occupied with work, she hadn’t watched TV much or even read the newspaper. Without the popular couple being shoved in her face, it all seemed like a bad dream.
But Trowa’s announcement would mean the dream would soon be coming to an end. Hilde would have to face reality sooner or later. And the holiday party seemed like the right opportunity to do so, for Hilde was never one to miss seeing friends due to an account of heartbreak.
Trowa caught her gaze again after his announcement had time to sink in. Hilde now looked at him with particular interest mixed with a tiny hint of dread.
“Would you accompany me to the party?” Trowa asked politely, causing a feeling of complete warmth and relief to wash over the girl.
She smiled brightly at him. “Yes, Trowa. Thank you. I would like that very much.”
Hilde didn’t know how he had managed it, but even when accepting her favor, Trowa had given her another gift. They would have seen each other at the party, but because they were now going together, Hilde knew Trowa meant to stay by her side and give her strength for her inevitable meeting with Duo.
“That must have been why he looked so troubled before asking me,” Hilde reasoned. The kind, quiet pilot had been worried about her!
“Actually, thank you,” Trowa said gently. “I’ve never been granted a wish before.”
He then gave her a small, rare smile, which Hilde returned with a giant, beaming one.
The night seemed to pass by rather quickly after that, as talk of exams once again was brought to the forefront. Hilde had been perfectly calm up to that point, but as it was getting late and the end of the semester seemed to loom up upon her, those busy little butterflies began to reappear in her stomach. Before finally retiring for the evening, Hilde wondered whether the fluttering was a result of pre-exam jitters or Quatre’s upcoming party.
~*~*~
Trowa fell back on his bed the moment Hilde had left his dorm room. Taking a deep breath, he was relieved to have a room to himself again. Spending all of two weeks with Hilde had certainly been an experience. It was both a joy and a struggle…something Trowa couldn’t quite explain.
It was confusing how this girl had affected him, a former pilot not easily touched. He wondered how she somehow could always lift his spirits, how he suddenly seemed willing to do anything to help her…
Why then, at the same time, was he tormented, haunted by visions he could not control, feelings he could not suppress?
Trowa ran a hand through his tousled, thick bangs and sighed wearily before turning out the light, thoughts drifting to the recent events from the evening.
What was he thinking? He hadn’t planned to ask Hilde to the party, but for some reason, he felt it his duty to look after her. And he couldn’t believe how simply her presence could distort all logical thought, how her appearance that night had rendered him powerless.
Old habits die hard, Trowa tried to reason with himself, therefore he must have chosen Hilde to be his new “something worth protecting”, as all true soldiers have.
But why did a little beat in his heart tell him this was something different, maybe something more?
And why did she have to wear that damn red sweater?
~*~*~
First Semester
Chapter Six
I am a Computer Science Goddess…
“Are you going like that?” Sariah’s quiet voice held a hint of surprise.
“What’s wrong?” asked Hilde, looking down at her sweats. “It’s only a study session.”
“The last one, right?” Sariah questioned.
“Don’t remind me,” Hilde groaned. “The exam’s tomorrow. It’s my first one, too.”
“Well then, there’s not really much you can do about it now, is there?” Sariah commented gently. “Hilde, you’ve really gotten your act together these past two weeks. You’ve met with Trowa and definitely seem more confident about Computer Science. Besides, the night-before cram sessions are all about hanging with your friends from that class while attempting to learn the whole semester’s worth of material in a couple of hours-- like that ever happens!”
“What are you implying, Sariah?” Hilde looked at her grinning friend.
“All I’m saying is that I think you’d look really nice in that cute red sweater we bought the other day,” she said, her smile widening.
Hilde looked at her puzzled, but before she could say anything, Sariah jumped up from her bed and began searching for her keys, quick to say, “I hope you have fun tonight. I’m off for a coffee run before my review session for Economics. Good luck!” And with that, she slipped out the door.
By this time Hilde was absolutely certain she had the Sphinx for a roommate, as Sariah loved to leave her with riddles. But instead of pondering her friend’s statement, Hilde gasped at the time. She would be late for Trowa if she didn’t hurry, and his apartment was on the other side of campus!
Not thinking clearly, her brain seemed instead to remember only what Sariah had said, and in a rush, Hilde threw on a pair of jeans and her sweater before running out the door.
She knocked on Trowa’s common room door completely out of breath. Standing still, she finally took a moment to realize what she had done. Gazing at her new sweater, which really did look amazing on her, she wondered why Sariah had told her to change. Trowa didn’t care what she wore, did he?
Hilde’s thoughts were interrupted as the door opened. Trowa began mumbling something about being sorry for making her wait, when he suddenly stopped short as he finally took sight of her.
“Trowa…what’s wrong?” Hilde asked him.
He blinked a moment, then shook his head, motioning her to come in. “N-nothing,” he said, “…nothing.”
They shuffled into Trowa’s cozy room. As Hilde had learned from her previous study session times, Trowa’s roommate was hardly ever around. He apparently slept most of the day and was gone most of the night, causing his suitemates to label him “The Vampire”. But The Vampire’s living habits suited the former Gundam pilot just fine. As Trowa liked to point out, “We don’t talk a lot, we don’t see each other much, so we really can’t get on each other’s nerves.”
And Hilde was happy about the arrangement as well. Instead of trekking out to the over crowded libraries during the exam time frenzy, she was able to study without disruption--with the added bonus of a personal tutor--in the quiet and calmness of what had to be one of the most comfortable dorm rooms she could have ever imagined.
Both boys were actually rather tidy, and though the d?cor might be seen as plain, the aura of the place was its greatest appeal. Trowa’s placid demeanor was reflected in a few soft impressionistic posters he had up on the walls--to Hilde’s surprise, he was apparently quite the art lover! The lamps in the room emitted a soft golden glow, and The Vampire’s easy chair was Hilde’s favorite place to curl up.
As Trowa rested calmly on his bed, his previous troubles apparently subsiding, and Hilde took to her chair, both youths fell into an easy silence as they began hitting the books. Hilde was amazed as she moved to her place on the chair without even thinking. But, after all, she had been coming here nearly every day for the past two weeks, Trowa graciously giving his study time to tutor her.
The dark haired girl forced herself to focus her thoughts once again on the subject at hand and directed her attention to her computer science book. “Ugh...I must have read this passage a million times,” Hilde thought to herself. Then it hit her. Sariah was right! She did finally know this stuff!
And she finally knew him, too. It may have taken awhile, but the bond of trust that was beginning to form between Hilde and Trowa when they first met earlier in the school year had now been sealed with the events of the past few weeks. Hilde could now officially bump her relationship with Trowa up to a friendship status. And even though he was still an enigma most of the time, she was now happy to call Trowa her enigmatic friend.
She hadn’t realized she had been staring at him…until Trowa’s gaze met hers in a questioning glance. She jumped as the eye contact brought her out of her dream world, only to receive a more puzzled look from his gem of green.
“So I seem to be more entertaining than your Computer Science book. I’m flattered, really,” he jested with her.
That was another thing Hilde liked about their acquaintance. Trowa had this wonderful, dry sense of humor that was making more of an appearance now that they had spent time together.
She smiled and closed her book with a resounding **thwap**! “I am a Computer Science Goddess,” Hilde announced. “I know all.”
“Well, Ms. Goddess, your humble mortal servant congratulates you,” Trowa commented.
Hilde giggled. “Servant, eh? I like the sound of that.”
Trowa rolled his eyes and tossed his book aside.
“But seriously, Trowa, thank you so much for all of the help you’ve given me. I don’t know what I would have done without you. And for your help, this Goddess will grant you any wish. What can I do for you? Please let me repay you,” Hilde pleaded with him.
He didn’t answer her right away. His gaze was firmly focused on the floor and he seemed to be pondering something. His face almost looked troubled, but then suddenly his quiet tone broke through the silence. It seemed a bit uncertain at first, but then became a steady gentle flow of words.
“I-I was wondering if you had heard about the holiday party Quatre is to be holding.”
He looked up at her for conformation, and seeing her shake her head no, continued on.
“He hasn’t mentioned it to many people yet, but Sally will probably contact you soon. The other Gundam pilots should all be there, as well as Relena.”
Gudam pilots…Relena…those key words always seemed to cause Hilde’s heart to take a little jump. She was still in shock really, from Duo and Relena’s newfound relationship; the whole idea didn’t seem real. Away from the bustle of everyday life, hidden in the rich countryside of EU, Hilde felt disconnected from the events that were going on in the world around her. Too occupied with work, she hadn’t watched TV much or even read the newspaper. Without the popular couple being shoved in her face, it all seemed like a bad dream.
But Trowa’s announcement would mean the dream would soon be coming to an end. Hilde would have to face reality sooner or later. And the holiday party seemed like the right opportunity to do so, for Hilde was never one to miss seeing friends due to an account of heartbreak.
Trowa caught her gaze again after his announcement had time to sink in. Hilde now looked at him with particular interest mixed with a tiny hint of dread.
“Would you accompany me to the party?” Trowa asked politely, causing a feeling of complete warmth and relief to wash over the girl.
She smiled brightly at him. “Yes, Trowa. Thank you. I would like that very much.”
Hilde didn’t know how he had managed it, but even when accepting her favor, Trowa had given her another gift. They would have seen each other at the party, but because they were now going together, Hilde knew Trowa meant to stay by her side and give her strength for her inevitable meeting with Duo.
“That must have been why he looked so troubled before asking me,” Hilde reasoned. The kind, quiet pilot had been worried about her!
“Actually, thank you,” Trowa said gently. “I’ve never been granted a wish before.”
He then gave her a small, rare smile, which Hilde returned with a giant, beaming one.
The night seemed to pass by rather quickly after that, as talk of exams once again was brought to the forefront. Hilde had been perfectly calm up to that point, but as it was getting late and the end of the semester seemed to loom up upon her, those busy little butterflies began to reappear in her stomach. Before finally retiring for the evening, Hilde wondered whether the fluttering was a result of pre-exam jitters or Quatre’s upcoming party.
~*~*~
Trowa fell back on his bed the moment Hilde had left his dorm room. Taking a deep breath, he was relieved to have a room to himself again. Spending all of two weeks with Hilde had certainly been an experience. It was both a joy and a struggle…something Trowa couldn’t quite explain.
It was confusing how this girl had affected him, a former pilot not easily touched. He wondered how she somehow could always lift his spirits, how he suddenly seemed willing to do anything to help her…
Why then, at the same time, was he tormented, haunted by visions he could not control, feelings he could not suppress?
Trowa ran a hand through his tousled, thick bangs and sighed wearily before turning out the light, thoughts drifting to the recent events from the evening.
What was he thinking? He hadn’t planned to ask Hilde to the party, but for some reason, he felt it his duty to look after her. And he couldn’t believe how simply her presence could distort all logical thought, how her appearance that night had rendered him powerless.
Old habits die hard, Trowa tried to reason with himself, therefore he must have chosen Hilde to be his new “something worth protecting”, as all true soldiers have.
But why did a little beat in his heart tell him this was something different, maybe something more?
And why did she have to wear that damn red sweater?
~*~*~
*hugs*