[Fanfiction] The Big Drop: Gundam Wing

Originally Published: September 2008

Chapter One: The Big Drop
Gundam Wing
Fluff, Pointlessness
By, Black-Haired Girl

Heero’s First Roller Coaster Experience



Heero shifted nervously from one foot to another. He tapped his finger impatiently on the guardrail that snaked in haphazard twists and turns in the small building where they waited in line. Kids were cheering with excitement behind him and the loud roar of the roller coater rushing overhead as it passed seemed to cause quite a sensation with the young people who waited anxiously for their turn.

“Oh man, this is going to be great!” Duo exclaimed, patting Heero’s shoulder excitedly. “This thing has a 300 foot 90 degree drop! Over 10 consecutive loops, and breaks the Neck Breaker’s record of 80 mph by reaching 85 mph!” The braided boy hopped up and down in glee as he spouted off the ride’s frightening facts.

Heero felt his stomach churn. It could have been that horrid amusement park food he had just eaten… or maybe it was the thought of plummeting to the earth at a 90 degree angle going 85 mph. Perhaps it was a combination of both.

“What’s wrong with you?” Duo chirped, grinning at the Japanese boy. “Ya look tense!” The braided pilot slipped behind Heero, grabbed his shoulders, and then began kneading them clumsily. “Not nervous, are you?”

Heero shrugged Duo away and gave a mute shake of his head. Duo wasn’t convinced.

“The great Heero Yuy, solider of soldiers, superb pilot and assassin, scared of a little ‘ol roller coaster?” The American pilot found great humor in this. He laughed loudly, causing a few teenagers in front of them to turn and watch them. Heero scowled and shot an icy glare at his companion.

“That this is anything but little…” Heero growled. The roller coaster’s car rumbled across the track that flanked the roof of the waiting area, causing the walls to quiver and shake. The sound of a woman screaming bloody murder could be heard amongst the metallic grinding and clanging of the ride.

“Aw come on.” Duo said, his voice attempting to be soothing. “It isn’t that bad. You’ll probably like it. I can’t believe you have never been on a roller coaster before…” The American boy hopped up to sit on one of the guardrails. He pushed his sunglasses up his nose and grinned happily at the Japanese pilot.

Heero’s frown deepened as they neared the loading platform for the roller coaster.

He was practically scowling with contempt when they seated him in the center of the very front row.

He wanted to kill Duo when they began ascending the first huge drop.

“Woo hoo! YEAH! C’mon, Baby!” Duo screamed at the top of his lungs. He was accompanied by a chorus of excited school-aged children who screamed at the top of their lungs in anticipation.

The Japanese boy watched as the world slowly crept behind him and the sky descended upon them closer and closer.

This isn’t fun… what is wrong with these children? He thought angrily to himself, squeezing the handlebars on the large, plastic chest restraint. This is made of steel, not Gundanium. It could collapse at any moment…He pondered the different ways the ride could malfunction, of course not trusting the engineers and mechanics that maintained it.

He didn’t do roller coasters because he liked to be in control.

And somehow Duo had managed to talk him into this situation and there was no going back now. They were nearing the top of their drop. Heero felt like he could practically touch the clouds. A small flock of birds floated past them.

“Here we go!!!” Duo yelled, kicking his feet excitedly. “This is so sweet! Are ya ready Heero!?” The American pilot peered around his own chest restraint to look at Heero, whose blue eyes had tripled in size. Duo gave a reassuring smile and reached a hand over and let it brush against Heero’s white-knuckled grip on the handlebar.

“Wanna hold my hand?” Duo asked, grinning. Heero shot him a bruising glare and began focusing on his breathing.

Slow… deep breaths… Slow, deep breaths… Heero chanted in his head. The car began to creep towards the edge of the drop, the track vanishing beneath them as bent sharply at a 90 degree angle.

It paused and dangled them for a moment, hanging face-down towards the ground below. Then abruptly the car’s brakes released and it began to rush forward. Heero’s hair stood on end and all of his muscles clenched. He grabbed Duo’s hand and held it tightly.

“Waaaahhhoooooooooooo!” Duo screamed from beside him. Heero’s hand gripped Duo’s tightly as they fell, rushing straight down. Right before what felt like a collision with the ground the car snapped upwards again. It bounded over a few humps before darting to the right and spinning through a 20 loop corkscrew.

Heero began to relax. The sensation of spinning and rushing forward at such speeds felt like being in an open mobile suit. A small smile began to transform his face. He loosened his grip on Duo’s hand, but didn’t let go.

“Yeeeaaaahhhhhhhh!” Duo wailed. The kids in the row behind them wailed in unison as they flipped, turned sharply, and spun down the track. The final drop approached. The car slowed and with a clink of chains it began to drag up the final hill.

Breathless, Duo looked over his chest restraint to see if Heero was alive, and was thrilled to see a rare, content smile on the Japanese pilot’s face.

“Having fun?” Duo asked, gently squeezing Heero’s hand. Heero grinned and stared straight ahead. Duo got the hint.

The final drop came and went. Heero enjoyed it much more than the first drop. The car careened up to the loading platform and snapped to a sudden stop. The passengers all departed, laughing and talking excitedly amongst themselves. Heero released Duo’s hand and got up slowly to walk to the exit. Duo skipped along behind him.

“Well? What did you think?” Duo asked. The wind had loosed his braid a little, his hair sticking up in all directions. Heero turned and looked at Duo with a serious expression.

“Again.” Heero said flatly. He grabbed the American boy’s hand and began dragging him towards where the line began. Duo smiled in satisfaction and let the other boy lead.

“Great! I knew you’d like it!” Duo said happily as they took their place in line. He leaned into Heero a little and rested an arm around the Japanese boy’s waist. “But this time try not strangling the life out of my hand, ok?”

Heero gave Duo a glare, which broke into a soft, sincere smile. “Roger that.”