Okay - after an influx of angsty stuff, I had to do some sap.
And when I bought the CD I've been searching for relentlessly, I got
inspired! The CD was Metallica's S&M - the one where they play some of their
greatest hits - plus 2 new tracks - alongside a symphonic orchestra.
Absolutely beautiful!
Anyway - here's what came out of it! Gomen for the crosspost - and thanks
Jana, who got first dibs on the idea behind this.
For those of you who don't know me on the 1x2ml, I've been a member of the
list for a while now, but strictly as a lurker. This is my first post to the
list - I haven't decided whether or not to continue. We'll see - I posted
once before, a long time ago, and as a result, decided lurking was much more
user-friendly. Akuma and Jana have since persuaded me to give the 1x2ml
abother shot. *shrugs* Can't let a few bad apples (that contacted me
off-list) spoil the bunch neh? *hugs Akuma* Hope you like!
Title: Bridging the Gap
Author: Stormy
Part: 1/1
Warning: Sap, fluff
Archive: GW Addiction. Anyone else, just ask.
Pairings: none mentioned but you should know who I'm rooting for!
****************
Quatre winced as he heard the shrieks coming from his state-of-the-art
stereo system. When he'd agreed to let Duo commandeer the living room for a
while, he didn't realize that the American's past times would be
so.....brutish.
Certainly, that noise coming from the speakers wasn't music. Ridiculous. He
envisioned the soft strains that emanated forth from his own violin and
compared it to the harsh squeals of the electric guitars that he could
barely hear past Duo's singing at the top of his lungs.
From his vantage point where he could just barely see through the cracked
opening of the heavy wooden door, Quatre could make out Duo's long braid
bouncing in and out of his range of vision, and he steeled himself for the
barrage against his senses that was definitely forthcoming as he prepare to
open the door fully. Behind him, Heero came down the stairs, noticed
Quatre's hesitant stance outside the door from the room that contained his
braided lover, and shook his head.
" Just leave it Quatre...you'll never win."
Quatre ignored the faintly amused tone from coming from the Japanese pilot
and slipped inside the living room. He winced as profanity spewed forth from
the stereo - how could ANYone consider this music? Duo noticed his arrival
and grinned widely at him. Quatre tried to smile back but a particularly
loud shriek from one of the singers made him wince instead. Duo laughed and
reached over for the remote control, aiming it at the entertainment system
until the volume decreased to a more acceptable level. Quatre shook his
head.
" How you can listen to that is beyond me," he said shaking his head. "
Doesn't it give you a headache?"
" One has to grow accustomed to Bizkit," Duo chuckled. He lowered the volume
another notch. " Especially when the listener is used to Bach, Tchaikovsky
and Rossini."
Quatre managed a nod, faintly surprised that Duo could recall such
distinguished name's in music's history. " Impressive."
" What is?"
" That you are familiar with Bach, yet still listen to....this," he waved
his hand at the stacks of cd's strewn about the floor. Duo narrowed his eyes
thoughtfully.
" It's not impressive Quatre. It's music." He picked up a cd and handed it
to him. " See? All the bytes and bits that go into these little gadgets -
they all have notes and lyrics and instruments. It doesn't make a difference
to me if the band plays electric guitars or classical piano."
Quatre shook his head. " I still think it's amazing. I can't see myself
listening to..." He checked one of the titles. " 'Just One of Those Days' by
Limp Bizkit, and then switching over for 'Tocata and Tugue in d minor.' They
have nothing in common." Standing up, he handed the cd back to Duo.
" Ya think so, huh?" Duo had a thoughtful look on his face and Quatre
shivered - he'd seen that look before. Time to go, while he still had the
chance.
" See you later Duo," he said, as he exited the room quickly. Maybe he'd
find Trowa and his flute to get the horrendous memories of that...noise. He
made a mental note to sterilize the cd player before using it again.
Duo remained where he was, ignoring the muted tones of the player switching
cd's from Bizkit to Metallica, and a gleam entered his violet eyes.
" Not music eh?"
* * * * * * * *
Quatre was sitting down that evening in the kitchen, enjoying a cup of
Rashid's famous herbal tea with rosemary - an enticing blend he'd become
addicted to shortly after meeting the Maguanac leader. He was just taking
the first sip when a familiar figure poked his head into the kitchen. "
Quatre?"
" Hey Duo," Quatre smiled warmly, the friendly confrontation of earlier
behind him. " Pull up a chair? There's coffee."
Duo shook his head.
" Thanks for the offer though. Actually Quat - I was wondering if you had
some free time?"
Quatre opened his eyes and stared at Duo, apprehension flitting through his
body at those words. The equation: Duo plus free time equalled boredom
equalled trouble, passed through his mind.
" Why?"
" Just wanted you to check something out!" Duo's eyes sparkled with
repressed mischief and Quatre found himself hardpressed to refuse such an
open invitation. Against his better judgement, he rose and followed the
bouncing American back to the living room. Duo threw a glance back at the
Arabian.
" Where's Trowa?"
" Gone with Wufei for more supplies," he sighed. " What about Heero?"
" Playing with his second love - the computer."
Quatre chuckled and sat down on the plush sofa, curling his legs beneath
him. He looked up at Duo, squared his shoulders and took a deep breath.
" Okay. What did you do?"
Duo looked confused for a second - then a huge smile broke out over his
face.
" Nothing Quatre! I just want you to listen to something!"
Something akin to horror flashed in Quatre's eyes, and he sat up straighter.
" Oh no - I don't want to listen to your noise!" The words were mocking, but
the look of amused fear made Duo laugh rather then take offense.
" Relax! I got to thinking about what you said Q-man - about how my music
wasn't really music, and that there was nothing in common between it and
your stuff."
Quatre nodded, wondering where Duo was going with this. A cd case struck him
in the chest and fell into his lap. " Ow!" Picking it up, he studied the
cover. Primarily black, there was an orchestra setting on the front, with a
musical grid along the bottom. He read the title: S&M by Metallica.
" Heavy metal Duo? I don't see the connection." Quatre handed the case back,
confused. Duo shrugged and hit play.
" You will. Just listen."
For the first minute or so, all Quatre could hear was the muted sounds of a
live audience. Then, slow, languid piano notes wafted past his ears. It
swirled slightly before a faint drum beat echoed in its passing, the piano
raising in it's intensity to meet the violins that suddenly chimed in. It
was uplifting, calling forth something inside of Quatre, making him want to
answer the pull towards a destination of which he was uncertain. Then it
stopped.
A single electric guitar flowed into solo existence, mixing again with the
faint violins that couldn't resist the call, and the drums also gave up the
fight, timidly beating their way back into the song, before all of the
instruments meshed in a single harmony.
Then the beat solidified, the guitar keeping time with the violincellos
until the woodwind family decided enough was enough. The flute matched the
violins while the oboes kept to the beat of the drum and the swell of the
piano.
Quatre listened to the musical medley of instruments in rapt wonder,
marvelling at the clarity an electric guitar seemed to be capable of. All
too soon, the blend ended, and another one started up.
The guitars, the pianos, the violincellos, and the drums started over,
beginning the song with an almost harsh intensity before coming to a halt, a
lone violin singing mournfully along an electric guitar, reaching a
sweetness of sound that spoke deep within Quatre's musical soul. Then, there
were words.
Quatre blinked as the gruff voice sang out, the darkness of words versus the
lightness of the music before the cymbals crashed and the music swelled
again. The violins spoke to him, making his fingers twitch, itching for his
bow to try and keep pace with the melody that rang out with the pounding,
driving beat of the drums. The singer switched from harsh to gentle before
cutting out completely, giving over to a guitar solo that screamed forth
from the speakers, the drums striving to keep time and the violins letting
out a triumphant sound of glory all their own.
Again, it ended so soon and before Quatre could speak, another, softer
melody came forth, again, classical instruments blending smoothly, richly
with the unrefined tones of their heavy metal counterparts. The same low
tones echoed along the passing of the guitar, the lyrics speaking to the
poetic side of the Arabian and suddenly, he saw with vivid clarity, what it
was that attracted Duo to this sort of music. Hidden beneath harsh guitar
riffs, the clashing cymbols and the shrieking that passed for singing, were
words of truth, words of reality. He heard the classic violins cutting
sharply through the guitar, matching them in intensity, and the blonde pilot
shivered. This was alive. This was real.
The cymbals reverberated against the dying chords of the piano and the rest
of the orchestra, fading away until all that was left was the sound of an
audience, long since gone, cheering. He felt the urge to join his hands with
theirs and he opened his eyes to find Duo smiling at him.
" Do you get it now Quatre?" the American asked softly. " It's all music.
What you just heard was a blend of both worlds - a bridging of two worlds."
He laughed gently, fingering the cd case he still held gently. " You know,
it was considered unheard of then too. The symphony members in their formal
attire, playing on the same stage with a band of ruff-looking guys in street
clothes. The orchestra was used to playing in large halls for rich
audiences, the wealthy and the elite. This time, they played for a bunch of
teenagers and young adults, all dressed in their denim and leather. Street
clothes too, like the band. The orchestra recieved a standing ovation." Duo
grinned. " The 'bridging of the gap' was a huge success. It was proof that
two completely separate worlds could find a mutual middle ground where
everyone could enjoy what life had to offer." He shrugged. " It's nice to
think that if it happened once, it could happen again."
Quatre didn't need Duo to explain what he meant by that cryptic remark. It
could be taken in the grand scheme of things or it could even be taken in
the simple fact that in assuming the worst about Duo's choice in music, he'd
underestimated him. Instead, he nodded and stood up, exiting the room
quickly. For a brief moment, hurt flashed in Duo's eyes; then it disappeared
as Quatre returned, carrying his cup of tea in one hand. He sat back in his
previous spot, once again tucking his legs up beneath him and then cocked
his head to one side.
" Play some more?"
Duo blinked; then he nodded and reset the whole cd, starting it from the
beginning. He sat down next to Quatre, stretching out and resting his feet
on the blonde boys lap, putting his hands behind his head and closing his
eyes to fully absorb the music.
* * * * * * * *
About an hour or so later, Heero came downstairs, raising his arms up high
as he stretched out the kinks he'd accumulated being hunched over his
laptop. The faint sounds of music came from the living room and he stepped
to the door, peeking in curiously. A small smile graced his normally stoic
features.
Stealing inside softly, he removed Quatre's tea cup that was balancing
precariously from limp fingers, and took Duo's hat off from where it was
covering his face, pausing for one minute to trace the familiar features. He
grabbed a blanket off a nearby chair and spread it out over the two of them
before sneaking back out and closing the door softly.
* * * * * * * *
~OWARI~
heh. The songs I'm referring to specifically are: 1. The Ecstasy of Gold, 2.
No Leaf Clover and 3. Hero of the Day (somehow it just seemed to fit!)
I thoroughly recommend the S&M cd if you want some truly awesome music to
add to your collection - a little expensive (it's a double) but well worth
it.
Stormy