Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Sugar & Whips ❯ Chapter 4

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Sugar and Whips

Part 4

After tossing and turning for most of the night, Zechs eventually fell into a deep, dreamless sleep. He woke up to the sound of the door to his `room' being unlocked. He blinked, rubbed his eyes and pushed himself up on one elbow.

The brunet young man, Trowa was his name if he remembered correctly, walked in with a pile of garments in his hands.

“Your clothes,” he announced as he put them down at the foot of the bed. “I had them cleaned over night. You can wear them for now, till the master gets you something more suitable. Get dressed. I'll be back with your breakfast in a few minutes.”

“Breakfast?” the blond echoed. “I could swear it is probably closer to lunch time.”

“Call it brunch if you must. You won't find a morning person around here.” Trowa shrugged as he turned. He left, not without locking the door behind himself.

I guess it makes sense, considering the line of work they are in. Zechs yawned and stretched before climbing out of bed. He eyed the pile of clothes. They really were his. It was the outfit he had been wearing when Ventuno's men had caught up with him.

The young man pulled on his boxers. He snorted as he grabbed the pants and shirt, and shuffled into the bathroom. Something more suitable… What's that supposed to mean? I happen to be a jeans and T-shirt guy.

Zechs was still brushing his teeth when he heard the door being opened again. There was the sound of footsteps and then a soft clinkering, indicating that somebody was putting dishes and silverware down on the table.

“Coffee or tea?” Trowa's voice reached him through the open bathroom door.

He stuck his head into the bedroom “Um…Coffee please.”

The other man nodded in acknowledgement. He poured the drink then turned to leave once again.

“Wait,” Zechs stopped him just when he reached for the doorknob.

Trowa lowered his hand and turned. “What?”

“I want to talk to the duke. Can you tell him that when you see him.”

“I can tell him.” The young man confirmed. “But I can't guarantee that the master wants to talk to you. Anything else?”

“Yes, how long is he planning on keeping me locked up down here?”

“That I don't know. It depends on how you conduct yourself and how much the master trusts you.”

“So, and what exactly are you; his secretary… personal servant…?”

“Enough now with the `100 questions'. Eat your breakfast. It won't be any good when it is cold.”

Zechs snorted quietly as retreated back into the bathroom. Too many questions are not appreciated, it appears. He could hear Trowa leave and the door being locked again as he slipped on his T-shirt.

Moments later he settled down at the small table. He hadn't eaten for nearly twenty-four hours and his stomach was growling at the prospect of nourishment. Zechs was in for a pleasant surprise when he lifted the silver dome that covered the serving tray. The food looked a whole lot better than he had expected. There was a bowl with fruit and freshly baked butter crescents as well as delicate little crepes stuffed with both sweet and savory fillings.

If this is how the `servants' are eating, I wonder what the `master' has for breakfast.

###

By the time Trowa came back upstairs Treize and Quatre had already settled down in the dining room for breakfast.

“Good morning, Master.” He took his seat next ho his lover and across from the duke who was sitting at the head of the long table.

Treize answered the greeting with a curt nod. He took a sip from his coffee before he looked up and in Trowa's direction. “How is he doing?”

“He seems alright. The drugs appear to have worn off. He asked to talk to you.”

“Oh, did he? I'll see if I can make some time for him, later tonight. - Quatre…” Treize cut slowly and meticulously the top off one of his boiled eggs as he continued. “I think I might need your help on this one.”

“My help in what way?” The young man looked curiously at the duke.

“I'd like you to spend some time with him, get to know him, become friendly…”

“Become friendly…?”

“I can't be both his master and his friend.”

Quatre didn't necessarily agree with that point of view, but he nodded nevertheless. “I understand, Sir. I'll do my best.”

He really didn't mind, considering that he already has taking a liking in the master's new pet. Spending time with him wouldn't be much of a chore.

Treize picked up his spoon and started to eat his egg. After a few spoonfuls he frowned. “Trowa, do we have a new cook?”

“Not as far as I know, Sir.”

“Then why are my eggs hard boiled?”

“I'm not sure, Sir.”

“Please remind the cook that I'd like my egg boiled for two and a half minutes, so that the yolks are still semi-soft. If he can't do that, find somebody who can.”

“I'll let him know, Sir.” Trowa nodded in acknowledgement. Somebody didn't sleep well, or got up on the wrong side of the bed this morning, it seems.

“Thank you.” The duke put his spoon aside and dabbed his mouth with his napkin. He picked up his coffee cup and leaned back in his chair. “Oh, before I forget… I had to make a few changes on today's client schedule. We received more reservation this morning. Tell Marcus that his favorite customer is back from his business trip, and booked him for the whole night. I think he will be very pleased to hear that.”

“I'll let him know.”

“And you will be taking two clients this evening.”

Quatre's head snapped up. “But Sir! Trowa wasn't supposed to serve clients anymore. We made a deal.”

“Did we?” The Duke tapped his chin, brows knitted in concentration, as he pretended to think. “Oh, that's right. How could I forget?” He flashed Towa a brilliant smile. “I apologize; it was an honest mistake, just bare with it.”

Quatre opened his mouth, ready to protest, when his lover kicked him under the table and shook his head almost unnoticeable. Don't!

I should have expected something like this. The master seldom gets angry, but he always gets even. Trowa's smile was as false as the duke's as he replied. “That's alright, Master. Everybody is entitled to make a mistake every once in a while.”

What the heck was that about? Quatre made himself a mental note to ask his lover later, in private.

#####

Zechs spent most of the reading one of the books Quatre had brought him when he came to retrieve the breakfast dishes.

He didn't have a watch and there was no clock in the room, so he didn't know what time it was. He could only guess that it was about late afternoon when Trowa visited him again.

“Master Treize is ready to see you know,” the young man told him.

Zechs marked his page by bending its corner, closed the book and put it down on the nightstand. “Do I have to wear handcuffs again?”

“Would you like to?”

What the heck? Zechs swallowed. He could have sworn he just saw a ghost of a smirk on the brunet's face.

“I think I can do without them.”

“Let's go then; the master doesn't have all day.”

###

Treize was sitting in a high-backed armchair near the fireplace when Trowa led Zechs into the drawing room.

“You wanted to see me?” the duke asked as he gestured for the blond to take the seat in the chair across from him.

“Yes, Sir.”

“Would you like something to drink?”

Zechs shook his head. “No, thank you. I don't drink.”

“I think I'll have a cognac, Trowa. And pour one for him as well.”

“Like I said, I don't drink.”

The duke smiled smoothly. “One glass can hardly be considered drinking. Besides, it might actually help you to loosen up. You can relax, Zechs.” he told him. “I know I have a reputation of being rather strict, but once you come to know me I'm sure you will realize that I'm neither a cruel nor an unfair person. Of course, as I told you before I expect my orders to be followed without question or argument. But I don't think that sounds like an unreasonable demand, does it?”

“No, Sir.”

Trowa had already walked to the liquor cabinet to pour the drinks.

Treize leaned back in his chair, draped one long leg over the other and folded his hands in front of his stomach. “So…,” he asked, “tell me. What is it you wanted to talk to me about?”

“I have been doing some thinking.”

“Yes?”

“About what you said last night and what Quatre told me. I'm stuck here until me dept is fully repaid, right?”

“Correct.”

“So, I guess it would be in both our best interest if I can start earning money as soon as possible. Me sitting locked up in the basement will do neither of us any good.”

For a long moment the duke didn't say anything. He just studied the other man thoroughly. Crystal blue eyes seemed to pierce right through him.

Zechs didn't even blink.

“Fine,” Treize finally said.

And that was it; just one word. But there was something about the way he delivered it that sent a cold chill down the blond's spine.

Trowa brought the drinks over, handing one of the cognac snifters to the duke and putting the other one down on the table in front of Zechs before he silently and discretely retreated.

The duke took a sip from his glass, letting the liquid roll on his tongue for a moment before swallowing. “Perhaps I should start by instructing you about the rules around here,” he suggested. “Rule number 1, I insist on my pets displaying the proper respect, not only toward me but also toward any of my acquaintances or visitors. Your conduct will reflect upon me as your master and therefore I expect you to act in a way that will not cause any embarrassment for me. Understood?”

“Yes, Sir.”

“Master,” the duke corrected, and at the young man's slightly confused look he added. “Rule number 2, the proper way to address me as is Master.”

Zechs' jaws clenched for just a moment - not unnoticed to Treize though - before he answered.

“I'm sorry. I'll try to remember that.”

“You might not like it, Zechs, but the faster you are able to accept the fact that you are my pet now the easier it will be for you to adjust. However, if you should choose to be stubborn, you are making things a whole lot more difficult for yourself than they have to be.” Although the duke's voice never changed, somehow the temperature in room seemed to have dropped by a few degrees.

Zechs swallowed convulsively.

“I'm not trying to be stubborn, Master. But this is all very new to me. You will have to allow me some time to adjust.”

Treize's expression softened. “I'll give you plenty of time to adapt to this new situation as long as I can see that you are trying. Don't worry I don't expect you to be perfect from the start. And I'll even give you a few days to acclimate yourself before we start with the training.”

Zechs' eyes widened. The duke couldn't help but chuckle at the expression on his pet's face “You wanted to earn money as soon as possible; isn't that what you said? What kind of a `job' did you think you would do?” he asked.

“I…I just…I'm afraid I didn't think at all.”

Treize set down his snifter, then he leaned forward. With the tip of his fingers he gently raised the younger man's chin until their eyes met. “You need to relax, Zechs. You are only going to give yourself a headache. Just wait and see what is going to happen. You might actually enjoy it.”

The look on Zechs' face left no doubt that he clearly didn't agree with that, but knew better than to object.

Suddenly the duke let go of the blond's chin, instead the hand cupped the back of his head, burying itself into soft hair, pulling the young man closer. He pressed his lips against Zechs', who was too startled to resist, in a long gentle kiss before pulling away slowly.

"That wasn't so bad, was it?"

Zechs, eyes still wide in a mixture of shock and amazement, swallowed and slowly shook his head.

Treize smiled softly. “See,” he spoke. “You might be surprised. If you are unwilling to try things just because they are new and different you might be missing out on some wonderful experiences without ever realizing it.”

###

“Do you trust him?” Towa asked.He had taken Zechs back to his room and had returned to the drawing room at the duke's request.

Treize almost snorted. “Of course not, but I'm willing to give him the benefit for the doubt. But I have to admit, it would be disappointing if he didn't put up at least a bit of a fight. He seemed to have a lot of spirit. Well, anyway… I called Heero. When he gets here bring him to me right away.”

“Yes, Sir.” Trowa nodded. “You are going to have him check on Zechs?” It was a statement more than a question.

“Yes,” the duke confirmed, “I want to know who he really is and what he spend all that money on. Since he isn't willing to tell me himself…”

The young man gave another nod. “Anything else, Sir?”

“Yes, do you know if Quatre has any plans for tomorrow?”

“I do. He was going to see Duo to get a haircut, and spent some time at the spa. I was going to meet him there for lunch.”

“Excellent! He can take Zechs with him.”

“Master?! Are you sure that's a good idea; I mean, giving him this kind of freedom already?” Trowa asked surprised.

“Don't worry. I'm planning on sending Heero along. Zechs needs some grooming before I can show him off. His hands look like he had never before had a manicure, and I defiantly want Duo do something about his hair. It needs more body and shine. Besides, this might be a good opportunity to find out how much I really can trust him.”

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T.B.C.

 

Author's Note: