Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Contemplation Indigo ❯ Marsayas Flayed ( Chapter 6 )

Marsayas Flayed

By DRL

Dr Sally Po paused in the doorway to the lounge of the exclusive gentlemen's club and looked around the room. She spotted her quarry almost immediately, his stately, almost regal bearing marking him out from other men, as it had always done. She had hoped to study him unobserved for a moment or two, but as if sensing her presence, he looked up suddenly and his cold, piercing blue eyes fixed her with a look that bored through her like a gimlet. Involuntarily she caught her breath, and froze momentarily. However, as his features softened into a welcoming smile, she chided herself for being a fool and made her way across the room towards him. Ever the gentleman, he rose as she approached and extended a hand. She reciprocated by extending her hand, taking his as if to shake it. To her surprise, however, he took her hand, and using it to draw her to him, kissed her warmly on both cheeks.

"Sally, it's a pleasure to see you again." He said in the rich but mellow voice she remembered so well.

"The pleasure is all mine Your Excellency." She replied.

He artfully steered her to a comfortable looking chesterfield armchair, upholstered in oxblood leather, which stood beside the one he had just vacated. She watched him as he resumed his seat. His economy and ease of movement lent his every gesture a grace and elegance that she had only ever seen in one other man - Trowa Barton-Winner. Her keen eyes took in everything in the instant it took for him to sit down, the exquisitely tailored navy barathea jacket that fitted his lean yet muscular torso like a glove, the matching pants, equally well cut, the pale blue chambray shirt, open at the neck which, coupled with the fact that the jacket was left unfastened, gave the ensemble a casual rather than smart appearance. His tan belt matched the shade of his tan brogues perfectly, and there was scarcely a mark on either.

As he sat down and gracefully crossed one leg over the other, she studied his face. It had been at least five years since they had last met, but the years had been kind to him. The only discernable sign was the slight silvering of the hair at his temples and this, instead of adding years added only distinction to his mien. The rest of his hair was the same deep auburn it had always been (not unlike Trowa Barton-Winner's she mused), and was neatly cut and coifed. His hands rested on his knee, one neatly atop the other, and she noticed his fingernails, pristinely manicured and buffed to a dull gleam. The left hand was uppermost and her eye caught the glint of a ray of light from the chandelier overhead as it reflected off the gold band that encircled his ring finger. She stared at the ring, the badge proclaiming his success where she had failed, and as all the old resentment came flooding back, she wondered whether this meeting was such a good idea after all. Suddenly she looked up and the piercing stare caught her again. Deeply embarrassed to be caught staring at his wedding ring, she felt her cheeks burn and she quickly averted her gaze. He gallantly diffused the potentially awkward situation by picking an inconsequential subject with which to begin the conversation.

"Please, call me Treize." He said affably. "I get enough of 'Your Excellency' from just about everyone else so I think we can dispense with such formalities between friends." She smiled in acknowledgement, but the rhetorical nature of the statement required no verbal response so she remained silent. "Thank-you for coming, I appreciate it very much." He continued.

"Once you'd told me about Wufei's condition I couldn't not come." She replied. "I had no idea it was this serious."

"No-one did, except for me..." He began, and then broke off, rolling his eyes heavenward and shaking his head in a self-reproving gesture. "Do forgive me, I'm forgetting my manners. Can I offer you some refreshment?"

"Oh, um… just a cup of coffee please, thank-you." She replied. He summoned a waiter by dint of simply looking up and catching his eye, and proceeded to give his order for coffee for two in the civil but detached manner of one who took servitude for granted. When the waiter had departed on his errand, he continued.

"As I was saying, no-one was aware of just how serious the problem was, not even the others." By this she knew that he meant the other ex-pilots. "The only reason I knew was because one day I physically dragged him to see an ophthalmologist when the strength of the prescription for his glasses had increased for the third time in as many years. He has his eyes tested every year, and each time he needs a stronger prescription. I remember making a joke that at that rate he would not be able see at all before too long. Fei didn't laugh, and then it suddenly occurred to me that he was right, it was not very funny at all. In fact, it was quite worrying. I suggested that perhaps he ought to see a specialist and typically he jumped down my throat." He gave a self-conscious little laugh at this statement, which immediately endeared him to her. "I kept on at him though and eventually wore him down."

"I suppose that this was when he called me and asked for the name of a good ophthalmologist and I put him in touch with Steven Scrivener." She took up the tale. "I had absolutely no inkling that there was anything wrong, not even then. I had often suggested to him that he might investigate laser surgery. I thought it might obviate the need for those glasses of his. After all, he complained enough about having to wear them."

"Tell me about it." He murmured dryly.

The waiter arrived with their coffee at this point, and taking advantage of the lull in the conversation caused by their pausing to add cream and sugar to their respective tastes, she eyed him surreptitiously as she thought about their current situation. She was sitting in the lounge of a smart gentleman's club, discussing the only man she had ever loved with that selfsame man's husband! Add to that the fact that this husband was head of one of the wealthiest, and most powerful of Europe's noble families and also the most charismatic man she had ever met, small wonder her head was spinning. She had known him for a great many years, at least since her service days, when they were both Oz officers. She had not known him intimately back then, but of course she had known of him - the great General Kushrenada. Since Wufei and he had wed, however, she had met him socially only very rarely despite her intimate acquaintance with Wufei, since in no way did she move in the exalted social circles that he always had and that Wufei had been propelled into. Whenever she and Wufei got together for drinks or lunch, infrequent though these occasions were, he was never present, for which she was thankful. This was why she was so surprised to receive his call asking, no imploring her to meet him. She had at first been reluctant to do so, having noted the fact that he had asked her to meet with him, not him and Wufei. However, once she had found out the reason for the summons, nothing could have kept her away. She stirred her coffee, took a sip, and replaced the dainty porcelain cup in its saucer on the coffee table that stood between them.

"He was always very dismissive whenever I mentioned laser surgery in the past," She resumed her narrative, "He was not interested in the least. I didn't press the issue, because it was not that big a deal. If he didn't want it, it didn't really matter, but I was under the impression that we were only talking about a simple case of astigmatism."

"In the beginning I think we were." He said. "The first we knew for certain of anything more serious was after our first visit to Dr Scrivener." She noticed his use of the words 'our' and 'we'. It was almost as if he were suffering along with Wufei. "He certainly did not pull any punches. He told us that Wufei had developed an acute form of keratoconus which was unfortunately complicated by an equally acute form of glaucoma. His prognosis was that either Wufei undergoes corrective surgery immediately, or he would be completely blind certainly within 10 years, but he will probably have lost all but the vaguest peripheral vision within 5 years." Sally nodded sagely.

"It would have been such a simple condition to treat but for the glaucoma." She said with a sigh.

"Yes." He agreed. "Wufei was prepared to agree to the cornea transplant that Dr Scrivener suggested up until the point where he mentioned the fact that the glaucoma would cause severe complications to an otherwise routine surgical process and may even cause immediate and irreversible blindness. The revelation of that fact definitely gave him pause, but at that point he was still prepared to at least consider it. We went home that same day. We had arranged to stay with the Barton-Winners for a few days while we were in town, but after the consultation Fei had too much on his mind to be sociable so I made excuses to Quatre and Trowa and we flew back to France."

"Did you tell the others what was going on?" She asked.

"No, not until relatively recently." He replied. "The first any of them heard about the whole dilemma was actually at the Winner Foundation Dinner & Dance a few days ago."

"Hardly dinner table conversation." She said, raising an eyebrow.

"No indeed." He agreed. "Everyone else had left the table to dance or mingle or whatever, and I took the opportunity to start in on Wufei once more. At the time we were constantly on a merry-go-round of me trying to persuade him to have the surgery and he categorically refusing. Once again I attempted to persuade him and once again he issued the usual nolle proseque. I noticed Trowa Barton-Winner seated at my elbow, and without a thought for the fact that we were supposed to be keeping the whole thing from the others for the time being, I proceeded to lay the facts before him and appealed to him to talk some sense into Fei."

"And did he?" She asked with a wry smile. She had developed a deep admiration and respect for Trowa over the years while working with him on several charitable projects, and if anyone could persuade Wufei, she was sure that Trowa could. He paused in thought for a moment before replying.

"Do you know, I think he did?" He said finally, though he still wore a puzzled frown. Her smile broadened. Why was she not in the least bit surprised to hear this?

"What made Wufei so adamant against having the surgery, and what did Trowa say to make him change his mind?" She asked.

"Well that's just it," He replied meditatively, "He didn't really say anything. Let me take you back just a little. On our way back home after our first consultation with Dr Scrivener, Wufei was seriously considering having the operation. Dr Scrivener had been quite up-front and honest with us. He told us that there was usually a 90-95% success rate for cornea transplants, but in Fei's case this would be reduced to 70%, due to the glaucoma complication. This notwithstanding, Fei was all set to go for it. He was not going to let a little thing like a 30% chance of immediate and irreversible blindness deter him. This was how things stood by the time we finally got to bed. Fei slept fitfully at best that night. He lay awake for long periods and when he did sleep he was awoken with vivid nightmares which caused him to awaken in a sweat. I didn't sleep much myself either - how could I with Fei in such distress? I simply tried to calm and soothe him as best I could. I didn't attach much significance to the dreams at the time. Fei was reluctant to talk about them. I asked him if they were about the war and he didn't actually say yes now I think about it, but he didn't say no either, so I just assumed that they were. After all, it has happened before, albeit a long time ago, and what else could trouble his mind so at night?"

She controlled her anger at this statement through an effort of will. 'Oh the conceit of the man', she thought as she listened to him. His implication was quite clear. He provides so perfect a home and so idyllic a lifestyle for his young consort that any occurrence that could possibly mar his happiness to the extent of troubling his sleep had to have occurred prior to their conjunction. Never mind the fact that he is currently facing the most frightening and the most important decision of his young life so far. She refocused on his words as he continued his narrative.

"…morning he seemed okay at first, but he then he completely knocked me for six by telling me that he was not going to have the operation after all and no amount of entreaty or coercion on my part would move him one inch. Thus began the merry-go-round ride I told you of earlier."

"So what did Trowa do?" She asked.

"As I said, I'm not quite sure, but it was definitely something he said that turned the tide. He merely asked Fei why he wouldn't have the operation. He asked him twice, then Fei suddenly broke down. I believe he wept a little, or as close as Fei ever gets to weeping anyway, and he simply admitted that he was frightened. Frightened and worried and had been for weeks. All the weeks I had been coaxing and cajoling him."

'Of course he had, you oaf', she mentally screamed at him. 'And all you did was harass and bully him instead of offering comfort and solace. Small wonder he had nightmares every night.' She forced her features to remain passive in an attempt to mask the rage she felt at this arrogant patrician who thought only of his own wants and needs, riding rough-shod over those of his sick and suffering husband. And her Wufei was married to this man? 'Her Wufei' - he had never been hers had he? It was this fact that made her hatred of Treize Kushrenada so complete and yet so futile. He had never been hers. To him she had been no more than a friend at best and a begrudging ally at worst. It had always been Treize. For all she knew, Wufei had never even thought of her 'that way'. She knew his preferred gender of course, but he had been married once before hadn't he, so he must have had at least a passing interest in women. 'Alas, not this woman' she mused resignedly.

She looked across at his handsome, guileless face, and she softened. It wasn't his fault. She was sure he meant well. He was devoted to Wufei - that much was obvious, even to her. It was not his fault that he did not understand his husband one little bit, not even after, what was it, twelve or thirteen years of marriage? His type were different to ordinary people. The wealth and privilege they were born to made them arrogant and selfish, but they didn't know any better. One might just as well blame a cat for chasing mice. She smiled at him encouragingly as he continued.

"It was then that I found out that the nightmares that he had been having, which, incidentally, became increasingly more frequent and harrowing, were not about the war at all."

"Really?" She said, her voice dripping with an irony that he missed entirely.

"No, they were about the operation." She bit back the disparaging retort that sprang to her lips and allowed him to continue unchallenged. "He had been having a recurring dream where he saw me prior to the operation, but it was to be the last time he ever saw me because the operation was unsuccessful and he would never see again. He was so afraid that it might come true that he just couldn't go through with it." She closed her eyes, as if doing so would lessen the anguish that she knew Wufei must have been going through, and going through it alone because his friends were unaware of the situation, and this peacock that sat before her was too absorbed with his own interests to see further than the nose on his oh so handsome face.

"Poor Wufei." She murmured. When she slowly opened her eyes she saw him looking at her with concern.

"Are you alright?" He asked, leaning towards her and laying a hand solicitously on her arm.

"Yes, I'm fine. Could I possibly have a glass of water?" She asked hoarsely. His story and now his concern for her had brought a sudden lump to her throat, and even now tears pricked at her eyes. As adeptly as he had done with the coffee, he summoned a waiter and ordered the water, tacitly implying that delay would not be tolerated. Nor was there any. The waiter returned in the twinkling of an eye with a water glass on a silver salver. She sipped the proffered water, blinked back the threatening tears and gave him a weak and watery smile. "Thank-you, I'm fine now." She assured him.

"I am so sorry Sally." He said. "It was not my intention to upset you in telling you all this. I know that you care for Fei very much, and I should perhaps have been a little more tactful. Please forgive me." She blinked wide, surprised eyes at him, wondering whether he really knew just how much she cared for 'Fei'.

"It's alright Treize," She said, realising that this was the very first time ever that she had actually addressed him by his christian name, "Please carry on."

"If you can bear with me for just a little longer, I am coming to the reason why I asked you here." He said. "After Fei's little breakdown, he seemed less, how shall I put it, stubborn and more open to reason. I managed to get him to agree to the operation, simply by assuring him that everything would be alright. Well, as you are well aware, I am in no position to back up this assertion and I only did it because it seemed the right thing to do at the time. Fei needed to hear something positive, so that is just what I gave him, and in my own defence I have to say that it did him the power of good. Surely the very fact that he actually believed me proves that. His eyes sparkled and he actually laughed for the first time in weeks." His obvious joy at this brought a smile to her face despite herself. He would be so much easier to despise if he didn't love Wufei so much.

"The operation has been arranged for next Monday, which is only three days away. From the night of the Dinner &Dance to the day I contacted you I had been racking my brains trying to find a way to make good on the promise I made to Fei, but the simple truth of the matter is that I cannot. There is nothing that anyone can physically do to influence the outcome of the surgery. It is not even a case of Dr Scivener doing a good job or a bad job. It is all down to Wufei and his eyes' physiology. If the fluid pressure builds up in either one or both of his eyes during the operation, then disaster may well strike. If it does not, then complete success will reign supreme. It is completely in the lap of the gods and they will dice for the outcome." He sat back in his seat and for the first time since they had sat down together she noticed his self-assurance flag just a little.

"What is it that you would like me to do?" She asked gently. He fixed her with his cool gaze.

"Be there." He replied. "I would like you to be there for Fei. He would go to that theatre with complete confidence if you were there, I know he would. I wondered if you might perhaps ask Dr Scrivener to allow you to assist him or something. Is that sort of thing allowed? If not, then if you could just be there before he goes in, just to reassure him. It won't affect the outcome, but at least he wont' be frightened. Would you do that? Please? For Fei?" She thought that this was probably as close as he had ever come to begging for something in his whole life, and the fact that it was for someone else and not himself lifted him a notch or two in her esteem.

"Of course I will." She replied with a broad smile. "I'll contact Dr Scrivener this afternoon." She glanced at her watch. "Hopefully he will not be in surgery. Once I have explained the circumstances, I'm sure that there will be no problem about my assisting him with the operation. As I have explained to you before, this branch of medicine is not really my speciality, but I can certainly assist." He took a deep breath and buried his face in his hands. When he raised his head his smile was wan and his eyes glistened suspiciously.

"How?" He asked in a voice choked with emotion, "How can I ever thank you…?" He began, but she raised a quelling hand.

"It is I who should be thanking you, for giving me the opportunity to help." She glanced at her watch once again. "I really have to get back to the hospital now, but please don't worry about a thing. I will arrange things with Dr Scrivener. And, don't say anything to Wufei just yet. Let me think of some plausible explanation for my being there first. I take it that this conversation never happened?"

"What conversation?" He replied, his features blankly confused. She nodded in acknowledgement and bent to pick up her handbag "Can I take you anywhere?" He rose and offered her his hand to help her from her seat. "I have the Barton-Winners' car and driver at my disposal."

"Thank-you, no." She replied. "I'm parked right around the corner."

"Then allow me to see you to your car." He surprised her once again by offered her his arm, and she hesitated before she apprehensively slid hers through, glancing around her to see if anyone was staring. No-one paid them any heed and as she gained confidence, the woman in her came to the fore and she began almost preening herself. She even found herself nodding regally to the commissionaire in acknowledgement as he opened the door to allow them egress from the club. Her, Sally Po stepping out on the arm of His Excellency Treize Kushrenada. This was definitely one to tell the girls back at the hospital!

As they walked along the fashionable street towards her waiting car, she noticed admiring glances cast in their direction from several of the well-dressed men and women they passed. He seemed totally oblivious to the attention he was commanding and while she fairly basked in it, she wondered, and not for the first time, how Wufei, not exactly an extrovert at the best of times, coped with the attention that being the consort of this very public figure brought him. She relished for a moment the feel of the softness of the fabric of his jacket, the strength of the arm within it, the smell of his cologne. She wondered whether, being this close to him, she could detect what it was that Wufei saw in this man. No, she could not see it, would never see it. Yes, he was devastatingly handsome and yes, he was fabulously wealthy, both of which were definite pluses. She would be lying if she said that she did not feel a frisson of excitement, walking down the street on his arm like this, but this was merely excitement in terms of the adventure, not sexual excitement. No, she could never love him.

Once again she thought of the paradoxical nature of their situation. She wondered what he would say were she to say to him right now 'Kushrenada, I am in love with your husband. I always have been and I always will be. And what's more, I hate you for having him when I cannot, because you certainly don't deserve him. Well, that is to say I would like to hate you, but I cannot because much as I hate to admit it, there is much in you that I admire.' No, she would never say it. Not to him and not to another living soul, and just to push the thoughts from her mind she said the first thing that came to her head.

"Where is Wufei right now?" She asked.

"He is at the Barton-Winner's. They are kindly putting us up until Fei is well enough to go home."

"Where did you tell him you were going this morning?" He laughed lightly in that endearing, self-conscious way he had whenever he spoke about his husband. She had to admit that she found it kind of cute.

"Shopping." He replied. "One sure way to make certain that he would not offer to come with me

"But now you have to bring home some evidence of your shopping spree." She said as she eyed the expensive trinkets and bijouterie in the windows of the stores that they passed.

"That will not be a problem, I assure you." He replied. She deliberately slowed their pace and stopped alongside a bright red convertible 2-seater roadster, which had the top down due to the clement weather.

"This is mine." She said.

"Just like Wufei," He said with another little laugh, "He likes sports cars too." He walked around the car and opened the driver's door to allow her access. He had such impeccable manners she thought to herself. She suddenly remembered Wufei telling her this once, some while ago during one of their all too infrequent meetings. She little thought that she would one day have the opportunity of testing the veracity of this statement first hand. Before she climbed inside he kissed her on both cheeks once again, and did she perhaps detect a little more warmth than there had been that morning? "Goodbye Sally," He said with sincerity, "And thank-you. I will be for ever in your debt"

"You're very welcome." She replied. "I will be in touch." And as she drove away her lips broke into a devilish smile. 'Hmm' she thought to herself 'having Treize Kushrenada in ones debt for ever could be a situation with distinct possibilities.