Zero

Date/Timing: 9 June 2007
Setting: Gottlieb house; Berlin, Germany
Retcon of "Eighteen"
.
Hermann limps into the foyer and drops his rucksack.
„„Welcome home, birthday boy!““
„Thanks, Bunny,“ Hermann calls back.
Bastien flies into the foyer as Hermann finishes lining up his shoes, hugs him tight. „Feel like an adult?“ Leans closer, whispers, „Ready to make your escape?“
„Not until May.“ Hermann's voice turns steely. „I'll graduate, then I'm moving to England and never coming back.“
„You'll still visit me, though, right?“
„O-of course. I'm sorry. I get carried away when I think about leaving.“
Bastien releases him. „I knew you wouldn't abandon me.“
„Never.“
„Dee dropped off something for you before his shift.“ Bastien's eyes gleam. „It's in your sock drawer.“
„Thank you.“ Hermann swallows. „I should, uh, go change for the evening.“
Bastien grins.
Hermann shuffles to his room, drops his bag next to his desk, forces his feet to carry him to his dresser.
Pulls open the top drawer.
The package has the proverbial plain brown wrapper. No address, no postage, no marks.
Hermann reverently lifts it, hands trembling as he does, and ferries it across the room, keeping tight hold as he perches on the edge of the bed.
Reconsiders.
Heaves his legs onto the mattress, scoots back until his wings hit the headboard.
He takes a deep breath, gingerly tears open one end.
Reaches inside, pulls out a folded piece of soft, black cloth.
A note follows, flutters to his lap.
Hermann sets the cloth aside, looks at the paper.
Four lines, written in gloriously familiar square penmanship.
- 10 June 2007, 17:00 -
Followed by a name and an address near the university.
Hermann lifts the note with a shaking hand, turns it over.
A great red zero.
Hermann grins, knowing he looks like a lovestruck fool and /completely not caring.
„„Manny! What do you want to drink?““
„Water will be fine!“ Hermann shouts back.
He squeezes the note to his chest, flutter-kicks the quilt, wings twitching wildly against his binding.
Takes a deep breath.
Picks up the cloth, shakes it out.
A t-shirt, emblazoned with a familiar design and text in white ink.
Unknown Pleasures. Joy Division.
Flicks his eyes to the door, listening carefully.
Presses the cloth to his nose, inhales.
Sighs at the generic smell of new clothing.
Hermann drops his hands and the shirt to his lap, lets his head fall back against the wall, closes his eyes.
„„Aren't you ready /yet? I've got the snacks~!““
Hermann lifts his head, wipes his eyes on his shoulder. Pushes off the bed, tucks the note in his pocket, hobbles to the dresser, tucks the shirt away under his boxers. Takes a deep breath and fishes a loose henley and pajama bottoms from another drawer.
„„Ready yet?““
„I'm changing!“
„„Hurry up!““
Hermann huffs, strips off his layers, even the binding. He takes a moment to stretch his wings, then folds them down and shimmies into his evening clothes, wings loose beneath the shirt.
„Are you ready /yet?“ whines Bastien, drink in hand, from the doorway.
„Am I /ever not ready to stare at David Tennant for an hour?“
Bastien chokes on his soda. „I still don't know what you see in him. He's too skinny. And freckled. And Scot—“
Hermann grins.
„Oh. Riiiiiiiight.“
„I'll meet you in the sitting room.“ Steers Bastien in the proper direction.
„Well, hurry up or you'll miss the beginning.“ Off he goes.
Hermann limps as quickly as he can to the kitchen and lights the stove. He touches the corner of Edan's note to the flame, drops the burning paper into the sink, watches it disappear. After rinsing the ashes down the drain, he goes to join Bastien, so happy he might burst.
Category:Ficlet
Category:Setting: Berlin
Category:Hermann
Category:Hermann's POV
Category:Hermann (ficlet)
Category:Bastien
Category:Bastien (ficlet)
Category:Dietrich (mention)
Category:Edan (mention)
Category:Ficlets with images
Category:Hermann has wings