Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ A Matter of Good Sense -- Revised ❯ Courtship ( Chapter 12 )

This story is dedicated to Lili for her kindness and her wonderful support. Thanks so much, my dear! Huge thanks also to Diane for the beta.

 

 

I make no claim to any of the Gundam Wing characters. This story is written for my, and hopefully others' enjoyment and not for monetary profit.

 

A Matter of Good Sense

by Michalyn

Chapter Twelve: Courtship

 

 

Wufei stumbled and Duo rushed to his side. "Prince Wufei? Are you okay? What the fuck was that?"

 

Wufei rubbed his eyes, shielding them from the piercing sun. His head was pounding and he felt like he had just been pummeled by a ton of bricks. What the devil just happened? Wufei frowned, struggling to remember.

 

He had been fighting those ghastly black limbs when they rushed towards Duo. Wufei had felt such rage, such helplessness as the shadows curled around Duo's neck and lifted him off the grass. At that moment, all he could think of was that he couldn't allow Duo to die. Not when they'd finally become friends. A searing pain had burned through Wufei's chest then, like something inside of him had broken free. He'd shouted something. The next thing he knew he was free of the tentacles coiled around him. Everything that occurred afterwards happened in a blur. He didn't have time to think. It was as if he was being guided by some natural instinct, some unseen power. Even though all of his attacks had failed before, he suddenly knew that he could stop the shadows. In fact, as he moved towards Duo it was almost as if ... as if they were listening to him. Oh gods. Wufei stared at his hands in horror. "No, it can't be," he whispered.

 

But what if it was? Last night, he'd felt something happen when he'd used Grandmother Long's technique. Whatever it was had been strong enough to make him collapse, so much so that even Treize had been alarmed. Wufei thought he had failed because felt no connection to water, but what if that was not his ability at all? No matter how much he might resemble her people, he was not of Meiran's clan. There was no reason his power should manifest itself in the same way as theirs. What did he know about himself? What was the one thing that was the source of all his pain? He was a child of midnight. Those tentacles had coalesced from the shadows. Didn't that mean they belonged to him?

 

Wufei's thoughts raced. He wanted to deny it, but the more he thought about, it the more the evidence seemed to stare him in the face. He suddenly remembered something. Last night, when he'd thought about blowing out the candles they'd abruptly gutted. Later, he could have sworn he'd felt something cool brushing his cheek. It had felt exactly like the touch of those things that had attacked them today. Or attacked Duo.... They had twined around Wufei, but had never really hurt him. When he called out to them, they had obeyed him. Wufei made a pained sound. He had hoped to become strong with Grandmother Long's training. Now he seemed doomed to become weaker.

 

"Prince Wufei! Prince Wufei! Are you listening to me?" Duo who had been trying to get Wufei's attention up to this point became more agitated. His voice was frantic as he grabbed Wufei by the shoulders and shook him.

 

Wufei turned dazedly to his friend. "Duo ... you saw what happened didn't you?"

 

Duo didn't answer but leaned to peer into Wufei's eyes. He waved his hand in front of them.

 

"What are you doing?" Wufei growled.

 

"Oh man, you're all right." Duo let out a relieved breath. "I thought those things had taken over you or something."

 

"Taken over me?"

 

"Yeah, I was convinced I was done for and then suddenly I could breathe again. I looked up and your eyes had gone blank. It was pretty scary. You were sucking those things into your hand. I couldn't believe it. How did you do that?"

 

"I ... I don't know," Wufei stammered. That was what he needed to find out and immediately. If he did not learn how to control this soon, who knew the destruction it could wreak.

 

"How can you not know? You mentioned that you thought it was a spell. Are you saying that thing was controlling you? If that's the case then we need to get you to a mage right away. Who knows what effects it is having even now?"

 

"No!"

 

"No? Prince Wufei..."

 

"I'm not being controlled." Wufei swallowed. "That thing, it's not some kind of spell or external power. I think ... I think it belongs to me."

 

"What?" If not for the angry bruises around Duo's throat from where the shadows had gripped him and the hoarseness of his voice even now, the expression on his face would have been funny. As it was, Wufei could find little humor in the situation.

 

Wufei nodded slowly. Taking a deep breath he described to Duo what Quatre had told him and everything that had happened since he'd arrived in Rossetti. Wufei explained Grandmother Long's technique and how he thought the shadows might be the latent power Quatre had spoken of. The only thing he left out was his argument with Treize and the more ... sexual ... aspects of his "gift". That was too embarrassing to even speak of. "I was not sure at first but if you think about it, you were the only one they attacked." Wufei finished.

 

"Hmm, it does seem to be the only thing that makes sense," Duo agreed, though he seemed equally as worried as Wufei.

 

"Yes."

 

"You know, I'd always wondered," Duo murmured. He shook his head. "Don't take this the wrong way but I have always had this ... thing ... for feeling out people. Like I get a vibe from them or I can sense their energy. It makes no sense but it's saved my ass a thousand times on the battlefield. Call it instinct or a sixth sense or whatever. From the first time I met you, though I thought there was something a little weird about you."

 

Wufei frowned. "Weird? In what way?"

 

"Well, you were always intense but I always got the feeling that you were out-of-step somehow. I could never put my finger on it but it seemed like you were hiding in some way. That and..." Duo abruptly laughed.

 

"What?" Wufei demanded.

 

"Ah ... it's nothing." Duo coughed and Wufei grew suspicious.

 

"Lord Maxwell, I just saved your life and shared with you information that I've entrusted with no one else. Surely whatever it is you're so reluctant to reveal cannot be worse than that," he barked.

 

"Sorry, you're right. It's just this is not exactly the sort of thing a man tells his superior."

 

Wufei raised an eyebrow.

 

"Okay ... okay. You know how this instinct of mine has saved me in combat? Well, it's also helped me off the battlefield. I can usually tell if someone is ... ah... fun and even though you were always so dour I always thought you'd be hot in bed." Duo had the grace to look sheepish.

 

Wufei choked. Heat suffused his face and traveled down to his neck. "Next time you're hemming and hawing, remind me to leave well enough alone," he gritted.

 

"Sorry."

 

Wufei sighed.

 

"So what do we do now?"

 

"I don't know. I need more time to think about this and come up with a coherent plan. If I'm right about this being my power then I have to find an effective way of channeling it," Wufei answered.

 

"All right." Duo nodded. "You know where to find me if you need my help."

 

"Thanks. Oh and Duo? Just one more thing. No matter what happens you can't tell Treize about any of this. Not until I figure it out."

 

Duo looked skeptical. "I don't know, Wufei. I'm not sure what the connection is between what Quatre told you and the thing that attacked us but this stuff only started happening since you met Emperor Rossetti right?" Duo frowned. "I'm not going to lie. There have been a few rumors that things aren't going so well between the two of you and the last thing I want is to get in the middle of a lovers' quarrel but maybe this is something you should include Emperor Rossetti on." Something in Wufei's look must have shown how much he didn't like that idea because Duo raised his hand defensively. "Of course I could be totally wrong, but I think it's worth a try."

 

"No!" Wufei shouted, panicked. He took a deep breath and tried again more calmly. "No. This is no business of Treize's. This conversation is never to reach his ears, understand?"

 

Duo looked like he was about to argue but he pressed his lips together. He nodded. "Yeah, I completely understand."

 

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Treize roughly splashed water on his face and stared at himself in the mirror. His eyes were red from lack of sleep. He also had a headache he'd been unable to shake since morning. Maybe Wufei's attack had shaken something loose, he tried to joke with himself but failed. Treize grimaced. There was nothing to laugh about when every day his husband was drifting farther and farther away from him. He had spent all night thinking about his relationship with Wufei and no matter how he looked at it, things were going terribly wrong. He had to figure out what to do. And there was something else niggling at the back of Treize's mind. He didn't want to think about it but the image kept replaying itself in his head: Wufei and Duo, together in the courtyard, Duo smoothing his hands over Wufei's silken black hair. The most painful part though was Wufei's expression. He had been smiling, his expression warm and open. Smiling, when all Treize had been ever been able to squeeze out of him was a grimace.

 

Treize walked back to his chamber and began changing into his clothes. Beneath his pain and the confusion of his thoughts was a dark thread of jealously but also determination. He'd messed up; there was no other way to put it, but he wasn't about to let Maxwell steal his husband from right under his nose. Treize didn't care if they were the best of friends or that Duo was the finest soldier in Eires. He would do whatever it took to win Wufei over and this time he wouldn't overwhelm Wufei or force him into a corner. That approach had obviously had disastrous consequences. Treize rapidly paced the room, his boots ringing on the stone floor. What must he do to win Wufei's love? How could he prove to the younger man that he was worthy of his trust? Treize still did not have the answer but he was beginning to form a plan. First, though, he needed to get a few things. Treize grabbed his cloak and hurried down the hall.

 

The doors had been flung open as the maids aired and cleaned the rooms and as he approached, he caught faint snatches of the women's conversation as they bustled on with their chores. He thought he heard mention of 'Prince Wufei' and he slowed down to listen.

 

"...was empty," a soft voice finished.

 

"Eh? You mean they're sleeping in separate beds?"

 

"Hush, Eloise! You're too damn loud. What if someone hears us?. But yes, I clean the master's room every day and the prince is no longer in there. Syphus told me he helped move Prince Wufei's boxes to the red room with the terrace." The maid's voice dropped another few decibels. “Far as I can tell, they haven't been together in that way either. At least not since they came back from Eires."

 

"Breneth, them's dangerous words..." A gruffer older female voice warned.

 

"But I'm only saying!"

 

"You already said more than enough. Better stop that talk immediately. You and I both know there ain't no marriage without a consummation and if there ain't no marriage ... well I won't be the one to say what folk out there will talk about the emperor. You'd be wise to close your eyes and your ears--and that big mouth of yours too."

 

"It's only natural for people to wonder, Alice," Breneth grumbled. "He gave us the vote. Don't we have a right to say as we please? I got two young'uns to feed and I've got to make sure I have my faith in the right person. How can I trust anyone to feed my family that can't get a little thing like Prince Wufei into his bed?"

 

"Breneth!" There was the sound of someone being soundly boxed, followed by indignant cries, but by then Treize had already moved on. His hands were shaking. He had to win Wufei over. Too much was at stake.

 

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Wufei was still deeply troubled by the incident in the garden and his conversation with Duo, but he was forced to put both aside as he hurried to Senate Hall, the center of Rossetti's political activity. He'd only had a moment to change after leaving his friend. Wufei served on Treize's foreign advisory council and he attended the daily meetings where everything from Rossetti's trade agreements to its border security was discussed. It was one of the few aspects of Rossettian life Wufei found invigorating. He was comfortable among the diplomats and learned men, and for now at least, as a newcomer, he was one step removed from the political machinations and court rivalries that were so common in Eires. It would be impossible to avoid them but Wufei was doing his best to not become enmeshed with the most obvious sycophants.

 

Wufei smoothed his robes as he entered the hall, which was a cacophony of voices. At his entrance, they immediately hushed to a murmur and Wufei nodded curtly to the group before taking his seat. The only unpleasant part was that despite his protestations that he would prefer to sit among the rest of the men like any other civil servant, his chair had been placed on the dais right next to Treize's.

 

To Wufei, Rossettian government was a curious mix of old and new. Treize's innovation and vision were visible in every aspect, and it was exciting watching the new forms of organization and procedures at work. At the same time, the old and new often conflicted with or contradicted each other and Wufei wasn't sure how much of that was due to the inevitable growing pains associated with any new venture and how much was irreconcilable.

 

Rossetti's government was organized in three concentric circles, with power becoming more concentrated the closer one got to the center. The outer and largest "ring" was the representative chamber made up of officials from each of Rossetti's twenty-five provinces. Each of the provinces was allowed to elect two officials to the chamber. The second "ring" was the council of twenty five elders, each nominated from the provinces. Finally there was the "Circle of Ten" of which Wufei was a part. This was the Emperor's hand-picked set of advisors who often held Rossetti's most important offices. Of course, at the very top of it all stood the Emperor who had veto power over any decisions made at the lower levels.

 

In uneasy relation to the whole structure was the court. Unlike in Eires, where the king and his court were the center of political activity, in Rossetti, it was an apolitical structure--at least in theory. In actuality, it was the marketplace for peddling influence, and access to the lower chamber and council was next to impossible without influence in the court. The council of elders was minimally affected by the ebb and flow of court intrigues but it was much more important for the chamber of representatives. For the ambitious young politicians who sought its seats, Treize's implicit approval greatly increased one's chances of being elected. Wufei knew Rossetti's practices were no worse than those of Eires; far from it in fact. Rossetti was more open, more efficient, more egalitarian than Eirean society in almost every way. After Treize's rough treatment of him, however, a sulky voice in Wufei's head couldn't help pointing out that it was just typical of the older man to claim to be sharing power while doing everything to make sure it was concentrated in himself.

 

Wufei waited as the page dispensed with the regular formalities and minor "housekeeping" announcements. These rarely pertained to Treize so he usually came in after the introductions were made. When over a half hour had passed, and Treize still did not appear, however, the room became restless. Wufei frowned. Treize was never late. No one said anything but the looks on everyone's faces showed they all feared the same thing: that King Mueller and his Northern Army were up to no good again. Assuming that if Rossetti's forces had tangled with the northern army, wherever Treize was, his captain would be with him, Wufei was just about to summon Duo to seek out the emperor and Heero, when Treize scurried in, his cloak flying behind him. He was flushed and he looked like he had just returned from a vigorous horse ride.

 

"My apologies, my apologies to all!" Treize called, taking his seat. "There's no cause for alarm. I was unexpectedly detained with a personal matter."

 

A palpable sigh of relief went through the hall. Once the excitement died down, the advisor from Pernath stood and the proceedings began as usual. Treize had barely glanced at him when he entered, but throughout the entire session, Wufei felt the weight of the older man's eyes on him, burning into him with uncommon intensity.

 

Wufei's expression darkened.

 

What was Treize up to now?

 

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When Wufei returned to his rooms, he found a letter from Eires waiting for him. Already troubled by the day's events, confused by Treize's behavior and just plain exhausted, he approached the roll of parchment warily. Wufei unrolled the missive and sat at his desk. His heart clenched when he saw his father's familiar writing. "My Dearest, Son..." it began and for a moment that greeting alone caused pain to flitter through Wufei. If King Zechs had written though, he knew it was important. There was no avoiding what was inside. "My Dearest Son," Wufei began again:

 

I hope you will forgive me for taking Trowa's place but when he told me you had written to him asking about the mage-fire project, I wanted to respond to you personally as your king, and as your father.

 

Wufei, our second sun has climbed in its orbit since you left for Rossetti and yet I receive no word from you except polite greetings and official announcements. You say that you are well and enjoying your new home, yet there are rumors even here in Eires that there is little love lost between you and your husband. I know you are angry at me and your brother but I remain convinced that you do not belong in the cloister. Yet, even my conviction is not enough to condone Rossetti's mistreatment of you. You are my most precious son and Eires always protects its own. Tell me the truth of this matter and I will abide by your word. If Rossetti has insulted you, then he has insulted Eires and the price will be his life. Entrust your response to no one but my personal spy, Magreth, who will contact you through Lord Maxwell in about three Rossettian weeks. I will believe your word only. If I do not receive a response from you, I will assume that Magreth has been intercepted and Eires will march on Rossetti.

 

Regarding the mage-fire weapons, our scientists have perfected the technology. I have answered your questions about the specifications below, but I am hesitant to send such powerful weapons to Rossetti unless I am sure of your happiness there. I eagerly await your word....

 

His father then went on to describe the weapons in more detail and the fact that a single mage-fire gun had the equivalent power of ten traditional fire bombs. Currently a single Eirean military unit specialized in the use of the weapons, but they were being integrated into all of Eires' forces. Wufei continued reading, but by then, the technical descriptions barely registered over the frantic noise of his thoughts. The fact was he wasn't happy. He did not want a war but what if he could explain things to his father in a way that could avoid needless destruction?

 

What if, after all this madness, he could finally come home?

 

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The gift had been almost impossible to find but Treize finally unearthed it at a tiny market far from Rossetti's capital. The bent old woman who sold the book to him had seemed as old as the tome itself. What was more, in her voice he could still detect the soft Eirean syllables he heard in Wufei's own dignified tones. That had been Treize's first clue that he had stumbled onto a real treasure.

 

Treize had never taken much interest in Wufei's martial arts training but he did know it was very important to Wufei and having been on the receiving end of that training, he also understood its effectiveness. Thus, when Treize heard that someone had spotted what appeared to be one of the missing canons of Eirean martial arts, he was determined to find it. What better gift to begin his courtship of Wufei with? Considering how strained things were between them, Treize knew he needed something that would be impossible for Wufei to reject. If he could get Wufei to soften just a little, maybe there was a chance for him to prove to his husband that he could change. If Wufei shut him out, no amount of wooing would make a difference.

 

It was a gamble but the stakes were too high to ignore. Treize had been late to the advisory council because it had taken time to contact the empire's leading historical scholar and have him verify the authenticity of the piece. And it was real all right. The old scholar had almost wept when he discovered what he held in his hands. The sight had filled Treize with tremulous hope. If the old man was so moved and he was a Rossettian, what would Wufei's reaction be?

 

Treize carefully unwrapped the book from its paper. Its worn leather binding was smooth to the touch. Treize sent up a prayer to the gods. If this did not work, he did not know what else would. Beside him were other more conventional gifts: perfumed oils, silken robes and exotic sweets. These would come next as slowly, slowly he tried to find a place in Wufei's heart.

 

Treize sighed, rubbing his temples. Even though he'd taken the white willow bark recommended by the physician, the headache which had plagued him all day only seemed to have intensified. Treize rose with the gift, thinking to bring it to Wufei immediately, but the sudden sharp pain lancing through his head forced him to reconsider. He set the book aside and staggered to the bed. When he leaned forward, two bright drops of blood spattered the pristine sheets. Bringing his hand to his face, he discovered the warm trickle of blood down his nose. Treize frowned. What in Rossetti...? He hadn't had a nosebleed since he was a boy. The stress of the past few days must be getting to him.

 

Puzzled, and still murmuring to himself, Treize went to the bathroom to wash his hands and make a wet compress. He supposed the gift could wait one more night. He would get some rest, then he would see to this matter of courtship.

 

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Down the hall, Wufei slept fitfully. His eyes tracked feverishly behind their closed lids and he mumbled under his breath. A soft breeze stirred the curtains, revealing the golden moon. The wind tickled his face, cooling the sweat on his brow. From out of the darkness something moved. The shadows swayed and coalesced. Rushing towards the bed, they circled Wufei, soothing him. He gave a shuddery sigh and the furrow on his brow eased.

 

He slept.