'Picking Your Battles' for tealrose39
Title: Picking Your Battles
Recipient: tealrose39
Rating: PG
Warnings: n/a
Summary: Pre-series. When it comes to war, Sally learns that sometimes you have to pick your battles.
Author's Notes: I love, love, love Sally/Une, and I really latched onto the idea of a story about them in the military academy. I had to fudge some canon details to make this work, but nothing really noticeable. I really hope this works for you, my dearest recipient!
Author: ellebefore_emm
In a moment of familiarity, the public address system called for all junior cadets to the auditorium. Sally had grown used to the unscheduled assemblies, where information about the war with the colonies, the Alliance, and their eventual role in it were explained and extolled. This particular assembly was for something altogether different. Noin (who refused to be called by her first name, lest she be treated differently than the male cadets) walked quietly beside Sally to the auditorium. One of the major differences from the treks the made when they were younger cadets - there was a complete absence of idle chatter as they crossed campus, no other noise than the periphery noises of older or younger cadets running drills and the heavy thud of boots against the cement.
Once seated in the auditorium, the principal mounted the stage and approached the podium. His voice boomed out too loud as he spoke into the microphone, making Sally and those around her cringe. “Good afternoon, cadets,” he greeted. “Today is an important step in your career as an Alliance soldier. You will be participating in vigorous testing that will ultimately secure your position in the war effort. Some of you will become front line soldiers, trained in the use of mobile suits. Others will become part of the military medical team. There is no limit to where you may end up, and all roles are important.”
Sally and Noin shared a look of excitement mixed with worry. Sally wanted to be on the front lines, sure that would be where she could make the biggest difference during the war. “Whatever happens, I hope we end up somewhere together,” Noin whispered and squeezed Sally’s fingers.
On stage, the principal continued to speak. “-your classes have been rescheduled, and you should be prepared to begin testing this afternoon. You are dismissed.”
The flurry of chatter that was absent during the walk over returned full force as cadets turned to talk hurriedly to one another about where they wanted to be and where their possible outcome might place them. Noin chattered excitedly to Sally as they returned to their rooms, but Sally only listened with half an ear.
Une lay on her bunk when Sally returned to the room. She raised an eyebrow when the other girl sunk heavily into her desk chair and heaved a sigh. “What was the assembly about?” Une asked.
“We’re testing to receive our official positions in the army.” Une had already tested and was a solider fit for battle, which hadn’t come as a surprise to Sally; she had high marks in strategy and she was quick and unforgiving when she sparred.
“Why the heavy sigh?” Une rolled onto her side to look at her roommate.
“I’m just… concerned.”
“About?”
“About not being good enough and ending up in some lame part of the army where I can’t do anything to help anyone.”
Une rose from the bed and crossed the small space of the room to stand in front of the other girl. Her hands cupped Sally’s cheeks and she said sternly, “There is no where you could end up that you wouldn’t be helping at least one person.” She pressed her mouth gently against Sally’s and returned to her bed, picking up the book she had been reading. Sally touched a hand to her mouth in surprise. The action had been so casual that it seemed like Une wasn’t even aware that she’d done it. But rather than mention it, Sally let it slide.
All through the testing, Sally couldn’t stop thinking about the feel of Une’s mouth, soft and dry, and what the kiss had meant, if anything. Frequently Sally had to shake her head and focus on what she was doing. By day’s end, Sally was exhausted, trudging through the hall of the dormitory to the comfort of her bunk. Une was laid out on her bunk as she had been when Sally left, and the book she was reading lowered as the door opened. “Well?”
“No results until tomorrow.”
Une patted the bed next to her. “Come sit down.” She sat up, crossing her legs in front of her, as Sally sat. Une’s hands fell lightly on Sally’s shoulders and began to rub, thumbs digging hard into the tight knots at the base of Sally’s neck. “Sally, you’re a smart girl. I’ve seen the work you’re capable of and the way you think during the time we’ve lived together, and I think the Alliance would be stupid to put you away in some dark corner doing mindless busy work.”
“You think?”
“I’m positive.” She tugged on the end of Sally’s braid. “Take these out. It’ll help with the tension.” The ties slipped off the ends of the braids and Une raked her fingers through the sandy brown hair to loosen the plaits. Sally hummed, pleased, and leaned back into Une’s hands as she worked. “Sally?”
“Hm?”
“Turn around, would you?”
Sally turned her head, pushing her hair back over her shoulder to see the older girl better. Une pushed the long hair back further and pressed her mouth to Sally’s. It was just as soft as it had been earlier, but this time Une didn’t pull away. Sally’s eyes stared into Une’s own as they sat, mouths pressed quietly together. Eventually Une moved away, eyes falling into her lap. “Une?”
“Don’t be mad.”
Sally’s brows furrowed, confused. Never in all the years she’d known Une had she ever seen the other girl anything but confident and full of condescension. “I’m not,” she replied, dropping a kiss onto a warm cheek. “I liked it.”
Test results were posted early the next morning. Sally took her time as she made her way to the marks board, a chaotic scramble of students already standing frantically around it. It never ceased to amaze her the way the strict military training could be stripped away in the face of excitement. Hovering just beyond the mass of students, Sally thought about the previous evening where she and Une lay together on the narrow bunk, exchanging kisses and talking quietly. Une revealed that she’d been recruited to join the Order of the Zodiac, a specials unit separate from the Alliance. Sally had frowned at the news, especially in the face of their budding relationship. Jealousy tightened Sally’s stomach as she listened to the way Une went on and on about Treize Khushrenada, a passionate and energetic up-and-comer in the OZ ranks.
“Sally!” Noin’s voice pulled Sally back to herself. “Sally! I made it! I’m going to be training with the mobile suits!”
“Wow, Noin,” Sally replied unenthusiastically, “that’s great.”
“Where are you going? Have you looked yet?” The crowd of students had dissipated significantly, and Sally squeezed through the lingering students to find her name. Her finger trailed down the list, falling limply by her side when she found it.
“Medics?”
“Medics aren’t so bad, Sal! We need good medics to repair soldiers. I think that’s perfect for you!” Sally’s friend’s exuberance did little to shift her disappointment.
“I’ll come find you later, okay, Noin? I’m going to talk to one of the guidance officers.”
The guidance officer was no better than Noin. She patiently explained the breakdown of Sally’s results and why she had been chosen for the medical team. “You’re smart, Sally. And you’re exceptionally good with reading and understanding people in complex emotional situations. Wounded soldiers need someone who they feel understands them and their situation. And the medical team is incredibly important during war, Sally.”
“It just really wasn’t what I had in mind,” she responded dully. With a heavy sigh, she rose from her chair. “Thanks anyway.”
Une was proud of Sally for being chosen for the medical team. “Not a lot of people get chosen, Sally. You should feel honoured. And remember what I told you - the Alliance would be stupid to put you somewhere doing mindless busy work. Plus, at least your not being on the field means I can be sure that you’re okay.”
The downside of being a new medical recruit is that Sally no longer had classes with her friends, Noin taking classes with the other junior and senior cadets, training on simulators for the mobile suits. Her classes ran later and her workload was infinitely larger than the others. Any time she had with Une was confined to their dorm and was limited to idle touches and casual kisses, and Sally was too busy or tired to do much else. It began to feel superficial, and soon enough she was pulling away from the older girl altogether.
Two weeks after Sally’s sixteenth birthday, four months after she’d begun training to be a field medic, Sally entered the dorm to find Une packing a bag - not a bag, but all her bags. “Une?” The other girl didn’t look up as she stuffed carefully folded clothes into the bag on her bed. “Une, what’s going on?”
“I’m packing. Isn’t that obvious?” Her tone was cold and flat
Sally sat down on the bed and leaned back on her hands, trying to get a look at her roommate’s face. “Yeah, I can see that. But why?”
Une glanced up, familiar look of fond exasperation on her face, and stopped what she was doing. “I’m leaving. I received a letter from Mister Treize yesterday, and OZ has invited me officially to join their ranks.”
Sally frowned at the mention of Treize. He’d begun making surprise visits to the academy more and more often, talking with older students. Noin had excitedly whispered to Sally that she had also been recruited to join OZ and that as soon as the year ended, she would be leaving to train at their facility. “When do you leave?”
“In the morning.”
Morning came quickly, and when Sally’s eyes opened on the grey painted walls of her dorm, she found Une’s bed empty and neatly made. There was no note, no sign that Une had made any effort at all to say goodbye. Sally wrapped her arms around her blanket covered legs and sighed. She wondered if her situation had been different if things might have turned out differently for her and Une.
It would be another two years before Sally saw Une - now Lady Une - again, standing at Treize’s right hand. The heavy rimmed glasses and the braided buns didn’t suit the other girl - no, the other woman. Her face was severe, making her look older than she was. Did Une recognize her? Did she feel anything for her after all this time? Sally remembered something Une had said to her once about something long insignificant. “It doesn’t matter.”
And it didn’t.
Recipient: tealrose39
Rating: PG
Warnings: n/a
Summary: Pre-series. When it comes to war, Sally learns that sometimes you have to pick your battles.
Author's Notes: I love, love, love Sally/Une, and I really latched onto the idea of a story about them in the military academy. I had to fudge some canon details to make this work, but nothing really noticeable. I really hope this works for you, my dearest recipient!
Author: ellebefore_emm
In a moment of familiarity, the public address system called for all junior cadets to the auditorium. Sally had grown used to the unscheduled assemblies, where information about the war with the colonies, the Alliance, and their eventual role in it were explained and extolled. This particular assembly was for something altogether different. Noin (who refused to be called by her first name, lest she be treated differently than the male cadets) walked quietly beside Sally to the auditorium. One of the major differences from the treks the made when they were younger cadets - there was a complete absence of idle chatter as they crossed campus, no other noise than the periphery noises of older or younger cadets running drills and the heavy thud of boots against the cement.
Once seated in the auditorium, the principal mounted the stage and approached the podium. His voice boomed out too loud as he spoke into the microphone, making Sally and those around her cringe. “Good afternoon, cadets,” he greeted. “Today is an important step in your career as an Alliance soldier. You will be participating in vigorous testing that will ultimately secure your position in the war effort. Some of you will become front line soldiers, trained in the use of mobile suits. Others will become part of the military medical team. There is no limit to where you may end up, and all roles are important.”
Sally and Noin shared a look of excitement mixed with worry. Sally wanted to be on the front lines, sure that would be where she could make the biggest difference during the war. “Whatever happens, I hope we end up somewhere together,” Noin whispered and squeezed Sally’s fingers.
On stage, the principal continued to speak. “-your classes have been rescheduled, and you should be prepared to begin testing this afternoon. You are dismissed.”
The flurry of chatter that was absent during the walk over returned full force as cadets turned to talk hurriedly to one another about where they wanted to be and where their possible outcome might place them. Noin chattered excitedly to Sally as they returned to their rooms, but Sally only listened with half an ear.
Une lay on her bunk when Sally returned to the room. She raised an eyebrow when the other girl sunk heavily into her desk chair and heaved a sigh. “What was the assembly about?” Une asked.
“We’re testing to receive our official positions in the army.” Une had already tested and was a solider fit for battle, which hadn’t come as a surprise to Sally; she had high marks in strategy and she was quick and unforgiving when she sparred.
“Why the heavy sigh?” Une rolled onto her side to look at her roommate.
“I’m just… concerned.”
“About?”
“About not being good enough and ending up in some lame part of the army where I can’t do anything to help anyone.”
Une rose from the bed and crossed the small space of the room to stand in front of the other girl. Her hands cupped Sally’s cheeks and she said sternly, “There is no where you could end up that you wouldn’t be helping at least one person.” She pressed her mouth gently against Sally’s and returned to her bed, picking up the book she had been reading. Sally touched a hand to her mouth in surprise. The action had been so casual that it seemed like Une wasn’t even aware that she’d done it. But rather than mention it, Sally let it slide.
All through the testing, Sally couldn’t stop thinking about the feel of Une’s mouth, soft and dry, and what the kiss had meant, if anything. Frequently Sally had to shake her head and focus on what she was doing. By day’s end, Sally was exhausted, trudging through the hall of the dormitory to the comfort of her bunk. Une was laid out on her bunk as she had been when Sally left, and the book she was reading lowered as the door opened. “Well?”
“No results until tomorrow.”
Une patted the bed next to her. “Come sit down.” She sat up, crossing her legs in front of her, as Sally sat. Une’s hands fell lightly on Sally’s shoulders and began to rub, thumbs digging hard into the tight knots at the base of Sally’s neck. “Sally, you’re a smart girl. I’ve seen the work you’re capable of and the way you think during the time we’ve lived together, and I think the Alliance would be stupid to put you away in some dark corner doing mindless busy work.”
“You think?”
“I’m positive.” She tugged on the end of Sally’s braid. “Take these out. It’ll help with the tension.” The ties slipped off the ends of the braids and Une raked her fingers through the sandy brown hair to loosen the plaits. Sally hummed, pleased, and leaned back into Une’s hands as she worked. “Sally?”
“Hm?”
“Turn around, would you?”
Sally turned her head, pushing her hair back over her shoulder to see the older girl better. Une pushed the long hair back further and pressed her mouth to Sally’s. It was just as soft as it had been earlier, but this time Une didn’t pull away. Sally’s eyes stared into Une’s own as they sat, mouths pressed quietly together. Eventually Une moved away, eyes falling into her lap. “Une?”
“Don’t be mad.”
Sally’s brows furrowed, confused. Never in all the years she’d known Une had she ever seen the other girl anything but confident and full of condescension. “I’m not,” she replied, dropping a kiss onto a warm cheek. “I liked it.”
Test results were posted early the next morning. Sally took her time as she made her way to the marks board, a chaotic scramble of students already standing frantically around it. It never ceased to amaze her the way the strict military training could be stripped away in the face of excitement. Hovering just beyond the mass of students, Sally thought about the previous evening where she and Une lay together on the narrow bunk, exchanging kisses and talking quietly. Une revealed that she’d been recruited to join the Order of the Zodiac, a specials unit separate from the Alliance. Sally had frowned at the news, especially in the face of their budding relationship. Jealousy tightened Sally’s stomach as she listened to the way Une went on and on about Treize Khushrenada, a passionate and energetic up-and-comer in the OZ ranks.
“Sally!” Noin’s voice pulled Sally back to herself. “Sally! I made it! I’m going to be training with the mobile suits!”
“Wow, Noin,” Sally replied unenthusiastically, “that’s great.”
“Where are you going? Have you looked yet?” The crowd of students had dissipated significantly, and Sally squeezed through the lingering students to find her name. Her finger trailed down the list, falling limply by her side when she found it.
“Medics?”
“Medics aren’t so bad, Sal! We need good medics to repair soldiers. I think that’s perfect for you!” Sally’s friend’s exuberance did little to shift her disappointment.
“I’ll come find you later, okay, Noin? I’m going to talk to one of the guidance officers.”
The guidance officer was no better than Noin. She patiently explained the breakdown of Sally’s results and why she had been chosen for the medical team. “You’re smart, Sally. And you’re exceptionally good with reading and understanding people in complex emotional situations. Wounded soldiers need someone who they feel understands them and their situation. And the medical team is incredibly important during war, Sally.”
“It just really wasn’t what I had in mind,” she responded dully. With a heavy sigh, she rose from her chair. “Thanks anyway.”
Une was proud of Sally for being chosen for the medical team. “Not a lot of people get chosen, Sally. You should feel honoured. And remember what I told you - the Alliance would be stupid to put you somewhere doing mindless busy work. Plus, at least your not being on the field means I can be sure that you’re okay.”
The downside of being a new medical recruit is that Sally no longer had classes with her friends, Noin taking classes with the other junior and senior cadets, training on simulators for the mobile suits. Her classes ran later and her workload was infinitely larger than the others. Any time she had with Une was confined to their dorm and was limited to idle touches and casual kisses, and Sally was too busy or tired to do much else. It began to feel superficial, and soon enough she was pulling away from the older girl altogether.
Two weeks after Sally’s sixteenth birthday, four months after she’d begun training to be a field medic, Sally entered the dorm to find Une packing a bag - not a bag, but all her bags. “Une?” The other girl didn’t look up as she stuffed carefully folded clothes into the bag on her bed. “Une, what’s going on?”
“I’m packing. Isn’t that obvious?” Her tone was cold and flat
Sally sat down on the bed and leaned back on her hands, trying to get a look at her roommate’s face. “Yeah, I can see that. But why?”
Une glanced up, familiar look of fond exasperation on her face, and stopped what she was doing. “I’m leaving. I received a letter from Mister Treize yesterday, and OZ has invited me officially to join their ranks.”
Sally frowned at the mention of Treize. He’d begun making surprise visits to the academy more and more often, talking with older students. Noin had excitedly whispered to Sally that she had also been recruited to join OZ and that as soon as the year ended, she would be leaving to train at their facility. “When do you leave?”
“In the morning.”
Morning came quickly, and when Sally’s eyes opened on the grey painted walls of her dorm, she found Une’s bed empty and neatly made. There was no note, no sign that Une had made any effort at all to say goodbye. Sally wrapped her arms around her blanket covered legs and sighed. She wondered if her situation had been different if things might have turned out differently for her and Une.
It would be another two years before Sally saw Une - now Lady Une - again, standing at Treize’s right hand. The heavy rimmed glasses and the braided buns didn’t suit the other girl - no, the other woman. Her face was severe, making her look older than she was. Did Une recognize her? Did she feel anything for her after all this time? Sally remembered something Une had said to her once about something long insignificant. “It doesn’t matter.”
And it didn’t.