Thank you to everybody who reviewed this story

Kt: - It's funny that you ask, because only yesterday I was talking to a friend about Angels in Chains and that it was more than time to work on it again.

Jupiter Knight: - I'm glad you are still reading. If I remember right you have been following this story since the day I started posting the original version almost 2 years ago. Quatre will be added in the next new chapter of this story (which would be 27). I know it seems far away, but the truth is that the chapters that needed the most editing and revising are done.

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A Small Piece of Heaven - Part 15

As day after day slipped by Wufei was recovering well. Or more precisely his body was recovering. His shoulder injury had healed and the last bruises and marks on his body had slowly faded.

Once he found enough strength, Wufei had begun to practice Tai Chi, an old Chinese exercise form with calming and de-stressing effects. He was hoping that the training would not only strengthen his body further but also helped him to ease his mind.

At his promise not to push himself too far and too hard, Treize had allowed the boy to practice outside in the garden.

Wufei, with his eyes closed, was very much oblivious to his surroundings. He was focusing only on his movements and his breathing. He wasn't quite sure what broke his concentration, but suddenly he had the feeling that somebody was watching him. He opened his eyes and turned. The frown on his face softened, as he recognized Milliardo.

The young man was leaning against the stonewall surrounding the garden.

"How long have you been watching?"

Long enough to enjoy myself. Milliardo smirked

Oh yes, the young Chinese was a sight to behold. He was wearing only a pair of loose fitting white pants. His jacket and a black sleeveless shirt lay abandoned on a bench nearby. The fact that it was late October didn't seem to bother the boy. But then Milliardo had to admit it was a rather beautiful and sunny day. Wufei was lean, but not as skinny as he had been when he arrived. He had gained a lot of weight, but not as much as an ounce of fat. Watching his golden tanned, slightly muscled body move was quite exciting. Milliardo almost regretted that the boy had noticed him.

"Only a few minutes," he answered. "Master Treize has left. He won't be back until late this afternoon. I thought this will be a good time to start your riding lessons."

"Why do you call him that even if he is not around?" Wufei frowned, as he pulled on his shirt.

Milliardo shrugged. "Habit, I suppose. But it is also a matter of regard. I think for all Treize is giving us that we should at least show him the proper respect."

Wufei didn't say anything; he just wordlessly slipped his jacket on and buttoned it, but Milliardo could tell the boy didn't agree with him. Wufei still seemed to have a hard time trusting the duke.

Milliardo knew that Treize was trying hard to develop some kind of relationship between himself and the boy. Yet for all of his effort he seemed to make little progress. Although their master would never admit it, Milliardo could tell that he was getting frustrated.

***

When they arrived at the stable Milliardo let the boy to one of the outside runs, where a solitary chestnut colored mare was grazing. The blond had called earlier and asked Martin to have the horse brought outside for them. "That's Fantasia. She is the perfect horse for a beginner like you."

"She is huge." Wufei exclaimed.

"It's a horse, what did you expect?" Milliardo glanced at the boy, a ghost of a smirk curving his lips. "You are not afraid are you?"

Wufei snorted. "Of course not. It's just that I never really been much around horses. We don't have exactly a lot of large animals on the colonies."

The blond tried hard not to grin. Wufei was so easy to tease and he, Milliardo, took perverse pleasure in doing so. He walked over to a bucket by the stable door, retrieved a handful of carrots and offered some of them to the dark-haired boy.

"What's that?"

"Carrots," the blond replied dryly, as he turned and strolled toward the gate to the corral. "Don't tell me you don't have carrots on the colonies either."

Behind him, Wufei let out a low growl. "Stop taunting me! Of course I know what carrots are. But what am I supposed to do with them?"

Milliardo stopped and spun around so sudden, that the boy almost walked into him. The blond looked at him, a mischievous sparkle in his crystal blue eyes, as he leaned forward and whispered into Wufei's ear, "Did anyone ever tell you that you are adorable when you are angry?"
Wufei's jaw dropped and he could feel himself blush, but before he could even utter as much as a word the longhaired blond had already turned and moved on like nothing had ever happened.

"Are you coming?" the young man asked innocently from inside corral.

Wufei Hesitated. He had only agreed to take lessons from Milliardo because it seemed better than having to admit to Treize that he didn't know how to ride. Now he wasn't so sure anymore. Milliardo seemed to enjoy this a little too much.

The mare, noticing the young man in her enclosure, trotted toward him without having to be called. He petted her head and allowed her to snatch the crunchy treats from his hand.

"Come on!" The blond gestured for the boy to step closer. "I promise she won't eat you."

Wufei approached cautiously. The steed seemed more interested in his carrots than in him. The boy did his best not to show his fear, as he carefully he offered them to her. He would rather have this beast bite off his hand than provide Milliardo with yet another opportunity to tease him. To his surprise however the animal was rather gentle, its lips velvety soft.

Fantasia munched the carrots one after the other, then began to explore Wufei's clothes in hopes of finding some other hidden treats in one of his pockets. Once she realized that there weren't any, she lost her interest in the boy and directed her attention toward a patch of luscious, green grass.

"So, now that we have "bonded" what's next?" Wufei tried to sound sarcastically.

"Well, are you ready for a little ride around the run?"
I had to ask, didn't I? Wufei swallowed. He watched, as Milliardo left to retrieve a bridle and saddle from the stable.

***

When Treize returned Milliardo and Wufei were sitting, according to Evans, on the patio. The duke had spent the afternoon at the S.A.U. office. Rashid had called him earlier in the morning to let him know that he had gotten the background information on Wufei, that Treize had asked for. Unfortunately the news that the duke had gotten regarding his new slave was rather grim.

For a moment Treize considered waiting until after dinner before talking to Wufei about it. But then he decided that pushing it off wasn't going to make it any easier for him or for the boy. Better to get it over with as soon as possible.

As he walked through the living room, he could see his two slaves through the open door to the patio. He could hear Milliardo's deep, rich laugh and Wufei snorting in exasperation.

"You are truly impossible. Keep it up and I'll teach you the consequences of mocking me."

Those two seem to be getting along rather well. A satisfied smile curled Treize's lips, then his eyes fell onto the datapad in his hand, and he grew serious again.

"Master, you are back," Milliardo rose to greet their master, but the smile on his face faded quickly. "Is something wrong?"

"I need to talk to Wufei…in private," Treize explained. "Would you please leave us for a moment, Milliardo?"

"Yes, of course." The blond exchanged a quick glance of surprise with the other slave, before walking into the house.

The duke seated himself in the chair that Milliardo had vacated. Wufei's obsidian eyes were trained on him.

"I'm afraid I have some bad news, Wufei," Treize started softly. "Since the personal file I received on you was lacking a lot of important information, I had asked Captain Rasid to do some research for me. I knew that you came from L5, but I found out only today that you were born on A0206."

And that's bad news? The boy glared at his master warily.

Treize paused for a moment and took a deep breath before he continued. "After an attack on a Military base on A0210 the Alliance launched an assault on your colony. The plan was to destroy the rebel forces that were hiding there. Something went terribly wrong…" Another deep breath. "The main power core was hit by a missile, setting off a chain of explosions that destroyed the colony."

Wufei stared at the duke in confusion, trying to comprehend what the man just said, then shook his head in disbelieve.

It was not possible…It couldn't be…

"This can't be true," he finally yelled. "You are lying."

Treize placed the datapad that he was holding in his hand on the table. "I'm terribly sorry, Wufei, but it is the truth. These are some official reports and news vids about the accident, in case you want to…"

"Accident…you call this an accident?" The boy jumped up from his chair.

"Nobody had planned for something like this to happen. You've got to believe me."

"Why should I believe you?" Wufei spat. His fists were clenched in anger; his dark eyes sparkled with fury. "You were a soldier yourself, one of them. How does the Alliance justify the attack on innocent civilians? They are no soldiers. They are cowards. Only cowards kill women and children."

The boy expected that Treize become angry and defend himself and the Alliance. The man however stayed perfectly calm as he quietly replied. "During the war a lot of people, on both sides, did a lot of things they are probably not particularly proud of. I'm not trying to make excuses for what happened, because it is inexcusable. But I don't think you can judge a whole group of people on the actions of a few."

Wufei snorted as he turned and started to walk away.

"Wufei?"

"I need to be alone right now."

Treize didn't stop him. Maybe the boy was right. He needed time to come to term with what he had just learned. Later they could talk some more.

***

"Your Excellency, I'm sorry to disturb you."

Treize looked up from his desk and directed his eyes toward the gray-haired butler standing in the door with a tray in his hand.

"Don't worry about it, Evan's. What seems to be the problem?"

"Wufei, Sir. He didn't eat the dinner I brought him up. I was trying to convince him to at least drink his protein shake but he refuses. Would you give it a try, your Excellency? He needs to eat something."

The duke sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose tiredly. Evans was right; there was no question about it. Wufei had locked himself into his room after Treize had brought him the news about his colony and had refused to come out fro the last twenty-four hours.

"I'll see what I can do." The duke rose from his chair. He took the tray with the drink from the servant, walked down the hall to Wufei's room and knocked at the door.

"Wufei?!"

"Go away!" the boy shouted back at him.

"Wufei, please let me in. Don't make me break the door down." The duke's voice was firm, but without any trace of anger.

"You would do that, wouldn't you?" The boy snorted. "What happened to: 'Your room is your own little sanctuary and I'll always respect your privacy? '"

Treize sighed. "You have not eaten anything since yesterday afternoon. Dr Po is going to call tomorrow morning and she will want to know how you are doing. What am I supposed to tell her if you won't even drink your protein shake?"

Suddenly the door flew opened. With a scowl on his face Wufei grabbed the drink and emptied it in one gulp.

"Now you can tell her that you have been taking very good care of me…Master," he snarled as he placed the
empty glass back onto the tray.

The boy turned on his heels, but before he could retreat back into his room Treize had seized him by the arm.

"Let go of me!" Wufei demanded.

"I think not." The duke directed the young slave into his room, and set the tray down on the table. "We need to talk."

"I do not want to talk," the boy answered stubbornly, as he tried hard to fight the sudden tightness in his chest.

"Wufei, you can not keep your emotions bottled up. You need to allow yourself to grief. It's alright to be angry but it is also alright to be sad."

The tightness in his chest was getting worse. He could feel the control he had been holding on to all day slip away.

I will not cry… Crying is for the weak… I will not cry…

"Why can't you just leave me alone. I…" His voice started to crack, then drifted off. And suddenly those walls he had been hiding his emotions behind came crumbling down. All the pain and anguish, anger and grief he had been keeping at bay for so long hit him with overwhelming force.

"I hate you!" Wufei sobbed, but he didn't resist as Treize put his arms around him and stroke his back in a soft, comforting manner.

"It's alright, Wufei," the duke whispered soothingly. "It's alright. The war is over. You don't have to fight me anymore."

The boy did not expect to be offered compassion and solace by his master. He felt he should pull away from the man and save the last of his dignity, but he couldn't master the energy to do so. Instead Wufei buried his face into the duke's shoulder, as he sobbed.

The ginger-blond man scooped the boy into his arms and settled down on the bed. He removed his arm from Wufei's back pulling him closer. Tears were flowing freely now from the boy's tightly-shut eyes, soaking the front of his master's shirt.

Treize cradled the boy in his arms, rocking him gently, all the while whispering soothing words, assuring him softly that it was alright to cry.

After a long time, Wufei's sobs became more controlled. He drew a choked breath, and huddled closer against the duke. Treize held the boy tightly until he had cried himself to sleep.

***

"How is he doing?" Milliardo asked as Treize walked into the study to pour himself a glass of cognac. God knew he could use it right now.

"He finally fell asleep," the duke answered. He paused for a moment thoughtfully, then looked at the blond slave. "Perhaps he shouldn't be alone when he wakes up. Do you want to stay with him tonight?"

Milliardo gave his master a surprised look. "Would that be okay with you?"

The duke smiled warmly. "I'm a big boy; I think I can handle sleeping alone for one night."

***

Treize had to finish up some paperwork that night. It was late when he finally left his office; still, he decided to check one more time on Wufei and Milliardo, before going to bed as well. Quietly not to wake them he opened the door. He couldn't help but smile at the sweet sight of his two slaves snuggled against each other. Milliardo had one arm wrapped protectively around the smaller boy; Wufei's head was tucked under the blonde's chin, both of them peacefully asleep.

Perhaps, Treize thought, things will work out after all and Wufei will find the affection and love he needs right now.

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T.B.C.

Author's Note:

Feedback is greatly appreciated, constructive criticism is welcome :-)