Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Sugar & Whips ❯ Chapter 18 ( Chapter 18 )

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Sugar and Whips

Part 18

 

“Visiting hour is over at five; I'll be back at five after. If you are not here by then I'll come in and get you.” Heero Yuy warned as he stopped the black town-car in front of the medical center.

Zechs nearly rolled his eyes. “Yeah, yeah. And a nice afternoon to you too.” He opened he door, climbed out of the car and headed toward the main building without even looking back.

On the way to the hospital he had made Heero stop at a small gift shop to buy some flowers and a box of chocolates. Relena loved chocolates, even if she was always complaining that she was going to gain weight from all the sweets he brought her.

The young man was in a pretty good mood when he knocked at the door to his sister's room.

“Come in please.”

He couldn't help but smile as he opened the door; hearing her voice always seemed to have that effect on him.

“Milliardo!” Relena was sitting by the window in front of an easel that was specially designed so that she could reach it from her wheelchair. She put down the paintbrush she had been using and turned the chair around. Zechs was next to her with a few long strides. He had to bend down to hug his sister, and she placed a little kiss on his cheek. “I'm so glad you could make it.”

“So am I.” He held up the flowers and chocolates. “And these are for you.”

“Milliardo.” Relena gave her brother an admonishing look as she eyed the little gift-wrapped box. “I told you that I should not be eating so many sweets, didn't I?”

“Well,” he gave her a tiny smirk. “You shouldn't doesn't mean you won't. Or do you want me to take them back?”

She huffed. “I'll take them, but only because it is impolite to refuse a gift. Put them down on the nightstand, please.”

Zechs' smirk turned into a full-blown smile and he chuckled quietly. “Yes, ma'am. What about the flowers?”

“Oh, yes… Let me see.” She looked around the room. “Hmm… I don't have an empty vase right now. Can you just them together with those,” Relena gestured at a bouquet of roses sitting on the window sill. She had been using them as a model for her painting. “And I'll have Lilly bring me another vase later.”

Her brother nodded. “Roses?” he asked teasingly, as he unwrapped his own flowers. “Does my little sister have some secret admirer I know nothing about?”

“First off…” She threw her head back and flung a strain of long, hair over her shoulder. “In case you have not noticed, your `little' sister isn't quite as little anymore. So, maybe I do have an admirer.”

“Oh? Who is it; Miguel, your new therapist, or one of the gardeners, or …” He looked at here inquisitively.

“I'll tell you, but only if you take me out for coffee.”

“You have yourself a deal.” Her brother agreed with a grin. “You have any place specific in mind?”

“In fact I do. There is a little French bakery just around the corner.”

“Yes, I saw that on the way here. Well then, shall we go, my lady?”

“Hang on, let me grab my jacket.” She took off the apron she was wearing to protect her clothes from the paints, then moved around Zechs to pick up a knit sweater that was hanging over one of the chairs, and he couldn't help but notice how much more efficiently she was able to maneuver around now.

#

At the café one of the waiters moved some chairs to make room for Relena's wheelchair. The two siblings decided to sit on the patio rather than inside, just because the afternoon was so beautiful. A few minutes later the same waiter came back to take their order.

“The same as usually, Miss Relena?” he asked.

“Same as usually,” she confirmed with a friendly smile. “But make it two.”

He nodded. “I'll be right back.”

“What's the `usual?'” Zechs wanted to know.

“You will see.” His sister told him. “I'm sure you will like it.”

“So, you come here a lot, I take it.”

“Not a lot but frequently.” Relena reached out over the table and touched her brother's fingertips. “You got a manicure?!”

“So what?” He quickly pulled his hand away, and she laughed.

“It's nothing to feel self-conscious about. It just shows that you care about your appearance.”

“Enough about me,” he grumbled. “You are trying to stall. Who is sending your roses when I'm not around, tell me?”

“Alright, if you must know, he is a very intelligent, very good looking and very charming gentleman.”

“A Gentleman?” Zechs echoed, amusement in his voice.

“Yes,” his sister confirmed with theatrical seriousness. “Most definitely a gentleman.”

He laughed. “So, how did you and said `gentleman' meet?”

“Tsk, tsk, aren't you the nosy one today?”

“I'm your big brother; I'm allowed to be nosy.” He pointed out, just as the waiter came back with two steaming drinks on a tray.

“Two Choco-latès with extra cream,” the young man announced as he set the glasses down in front of Relena and Zechs. “Anything else I can get you?”

“No, that's it, thank you.” Relena took a large sip from her drink and sighed in delight. “This is THE best.”

“Back to your `Rosen Kavalier',” her brother pressed impatiently.

“Right! We met last week; he was at the clinic to visit someone and `literally' ran into me when we both came around a corner. Turned out he was lost and I showed him the way to the administration office. Yesterday he was back, with a huge bouquet of roses; he said he wanted to thank me, and apologize for his clumsiness. We sat down and talked for a long time. He likes flowers and art… and he is a very pleasant person to talk to… the end.” The young girl shrugged. “That's all there is to it. So, what do you think about the coffee?”

Zechs, who had been slowly sipping his hot beverage, nodded. “It's good; a little sweet, but really good.” The coffee flavor was strong enough not to be overpowered by the sweetness of the chocolate, and the whipped cream on top added an extra smoothness to the drink. “You do realize though that this coffee probably has more sugar in it than the whole box of chocolates I brought you?” he pointed out, earning himself a look of playful admonishment from her.

“I didn't need to know that.”

Zechs laughed quietly. There was a moment of silence before Relena looked up. “Milliardo?!”

“Yes?”

“I have decided…I want to go back to school.”

“That's…wonderful.” Zechs had to admit, he was pleasantly surprised. Only a month or two ago his sister seemed too miserable to think about school or her future.

“I applied at the Bixler Academy of Art and met with one of their representatives the other day. They seemed very interested, and I might even be able to get a scholarship. I am putting together a small portfolio now.”

“Oh, is that what the painting is for, you were working on when I came?”

“Yes, it's going to be a still-life titled `Lady Rebecca', after the name of the rose it is centered around.” She explained.

Lady Rebecca? Zechs frowned. Haven't I heard that before?

Flashback:::

“I think I like these ones best, the scent isn't too intense and the faint color is beautiful.” Zechs dipped his head to smell the rose the duke had handed him.

“Isn't it?” Treize agreed. “Those are called `Lady Rebecca'.”

The younger man laughed. “You named your roses?”

“Actually, that's usually done by the person who creates a new variety. My mother bred this one, but I registered and named it after her, after her death.”

“Oh, I had no idea about these things.”

End Flashback:::

“Milliardo? Is something wrong?”

“Relena, the guy who gave you those roses, what did you say his name was?”

“I don't think I mentioned his name.” she replied. “It's Khushrenada. Treize Khushrenada.”

“Treize Khushrenada…” Zechs echoed. “He is…”

“…your new boss, I know.” Relena smiled. “It's a small world, isn't it? I was quite surprised when we exchanged names and he mentioned that he knew you.”

“What else did he tell you?”

“Umm… Not much.” She replied. “Like I said, we talked mostly about art and stuff. But…Milliardo?”

“Yes?”

“I know this is none of my business, but I was wondering. Is there something going on between the two of you?”

Zechs jaws tightened for just one moment, and he clenched his fists. “Is that what he said?”

“No…No, I just thought… Well, not too long ago I was starting to get worried about you. You always seemed down and not at all like yourself. But then things changed and I figured…I hoped you had met someone you liked. And since it happened just about the time when you started your new job…” She gave him a little, wry smile. “He is young and handsome and seems to be very nice…and he isn't married…”

“Relena, I assure you there is nothing going on between him and I. Our relationship is strictly a business relationship.” He pressed through his teeth. “Outside my job I want to have nothing to do with him, and I would prefer if you didn't either.”

“Milliardo?!” His sister started at him, stunned. “I'm sorry…I didn't mean to upset you.”

“No, I'm sorry. Let's just…talk about something else, okay?”

“Alright.”

###

Zechs was already waiting in outside the hospital when Heero pulled up.

“You are late,” he grumbled as he slipped into the back of the town-car. “Let's go!”

Heero Yuy huffed, but didn't say anything. The thirty-minute ride back home gave Zechs a perfect opportunity to re-digest everything his sister had told him, and get worked up about it.

We met last week; he was at the clinic to visit someone and `literally' ran into me when we both came around a corner……It's a small world, isn't it? Small world my ass, he snorted grimly. That Bastard! He had it all planned out to the t, I bet.

By the time they reached the Khushrenada mansion Zechs was fuming. He stormed into the manor, anger surrounding him like a dark aura. Quatre and Trowa were setting the table in the dining room for dinner, when he stomped through.

“Where is Treize?”

“Master Treize is in his study.” Trowa told him. “And he doesn't want to be disturbed; he is on the phone. It's a bussi…ness call… ”

But Zechs wasn't even listening anymore. Nor did he care if the duke wanted to be `disturbed' or not, as he headed upstairs. Behind his back, the two young men exchanged a confused look.

Without even bothering knocking the blond barged into the study. Treize, sitting behind his desk with his phone in hand, looked up in surprise as the door suddenly flew open.

“Who do you think you are?” Zechs shouted angrily. “What the hell were you doing at my sister's clinic?”

The duke's eyes darkened, but his voice was perfectly calm and polite as he told the person on the other end of the line. “Could you please hold on for just a moment? Thank you.” He then covered the receiver with his hand and yelled. “Trowa?!”

The young man who had already been on his way up the stairs appeared almost instantly. “Sir?!”

“Get him out of here, now!”

“Yes, Sir? I'm sorry about this.” Trowa reached for Zechs' arm but the older man tried to pull away.

“No, I want an answer,” he demanded.

“I'll be with you when I'm done here.” Treize told him.

“Let's go!” the brunet urged as he literally dragged Zechs out of the room. “What were you thinking?” He asked quietly and softly once they finally had made it into the hallway.

“Let go of me.” Zechs jerked his arm free and turned away. “This is none of your business,” he barked. “Stay out of it.”

#

The young man tapped his fingers impatiently against his chair's armrest as he was sitting downstairs, waiting for the duke to finish his phone call. From the sounds coming from the dining room he could tell that Trowa and Quatre were still working on the table setting.

Finally he could hear the door to the study open, and he jumped to his feet.

“What the hell do you think you were doing?” Treize sounded anything but pleased.

“What do I think?” Zechs snorted angrily. “What about you? You have no right whatsoever to go anywhere near my sister. I do realize that I signed a contract, and I fully intend to honor it, but that is strictly between you and me. In other words…I'll let you screw me, but I won't let you screw with me.”

The duke's eyes darkened, but he didn't say a word, which suited Zechs just fine, because he wasn't done yet.

“So, let me make this perfectly clear. Come near my little sister again and I'll kill you. I might not be able to do much for her, but I will protect her…from people like you.”

“Perhaps that's the problem,” Treize replied calmly. “You are trying too hard to protect her. She is an intelligent, young lady, not some fragile porcelain doll that needs to be safeguarded.”

Zechs glared daggers at the older man. “What do you know? And how could you possibly understand? So, don't get all high and mighty with me and try to give me advice about things you have no idea about. And one more thing, I'm not sure what you told her, but the relationship between you and me is strictly business and nothing else.”

The duke's face was a mask of perfect calm, not betraying the slightest emotion, as he replied. “I see. If that's what you want, it can easily be arranged.” With that he turned and simply walked away.

Zechs swallowed. He had prepared himself for an angry outburst, but he had not expected the other man to react so cool, calm and collected. For some reason that reaction, or the lack thereof, only fueled his own fury, and he had to force himself not to go after the duke.

“Sir?!” Quatre popped his head through the open sliding door that separated the sitting room from the dining area. “Dinner is ready to be served. Do you want me to tell the kitchen to wait?”

“No need.” Treize turned his head. “Let's go ahead and eat. I'll go wash up and be right back.”

“Zechs?” Quatre asked quietly.

“I'm not hungry,” Zechs snapped. But then he realized that the young man had really nothing to do with this and that he was barking at the wrong person, so he added in a much softer tone. “I'm sorry; I mean I don't feel like eating right now. I'm going to lie down for a while.”

###

Milliardo stirred then opened his eyes slowly, disoriented for a few moments until he remembered that he had gone upstairs to rest. He hadn't really planned on falling asleep, but apparently he had been more tired than he thought.

The young man rolled over and yawned. Did I take my shoes off when I lay down? He couldn't remember. What time is it anyway?

He turned his head to check the clock on the other nightstand. It was almost 2 am. Geez, I really must have been dead asleep. Master Treize must have walked through here a few times while getting ready for the club, and I didn't hear a thing.

He yawned again as he sat up and swung his legs over the side of the bed. I probably should take a shower and … He looked down on himself … change my shirt. This one looks like I slept in it.

The Black Rose was closing in about an hour and the duke would be home soon thereafter. Zechs couldn't say that he was looking forward to their next encounter, but he also knew that there was no way around it. After all, he would still be living and working at this place for quite a while.

With a silent sigh he finally rose and shuffled into the bathroom.

#

By the time he heard a car pull up in front of the house Zechs was sitting downstairs reading. Moments later Trowa and Quatre walked in. The two young men were talking and laughing about something.

Zechs closed his book. “Is Master Treize on his way too?” he asked. It wasn't uncommon for the duke to take his own car and come home before or after his servants.

“Actually,” Trowa told him. “He is not coming. He decided to spend the night at the club. You can go to bed.”

The older man frowned. “Umm... alright.” He hesitated for a few moments as Trowa and Quatre headed upstairs. “Trowa?!”

“Yes?” The brunet held his step and turned his head. “What is it?”

“I just…I'm sorry about snapping at you earlier. I guess I overreacted a little.”

Trowa didn't even blink. “I'm not the one you should be apologizing to.” He replied flatly before he turned and followed his lover, leaving Zechs behind to ponder about it. ___________________________________________________________________________ _________

T.B.C.

 

Author's Note: