Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Sugar & Whips ❯ Chapter 21 ( Chapter 21 )

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Sugar and Whips

Part 21

Over the next few days Zechs slowly settled into his new daily routine. Every afternoon Quatre and he drove to the club early, to put in a training session or two before the `Black Rose' opened. Afterward he spent the rest of the evening behind the scene, nursing his bruises and his still wounded ego.

Although they were eating at the same table and still sleeping every night in the same room; the same bed even, Treize and he had barely exchanged more than a few words. The duke seemed to be hell bend on simply ignoring him, and Zechs had decided that that was a game two could play just as well. In fact, it suited him just fine, or at least that's what he kept telling himself, even as he watched his master every night from a distance.

The tall, young man stood at the stage entrance; one of his hands was clenching the heavy, black, velvet curtain he was hiding behind. Treize was sitting just across from him, at the VIP table near the stage. He was talking to a customer, a man just slightly older then him. Zechs didn't remember ever seeing him in the club before. But from their body language and the way they were talking Zechs could tell that they seemed to know one another well. The stranger had a `pet' by his side when he arrives; a slender young man with red hair and green eyes, who was now sitting in the duke's lap like a fat, lazy cat. He had unbuttoned Treize's shirt and slipped one of his hands beneath it.

Zechs nearly growled in irritation. Who does he think he is?

His master on the other hand didn't seem to mind. His fingers were playing with the pet's hair as he casually chatted with his companion. At one point the red-head whispered something into the duke's ear. Zechs couldn't hear what he said, but he could read Treize's lips as he declined with a smile. “Not tonight, I'm afraid I'm too busy; perhaps some other time.”

The young man in his lap pouted like a spoiled child and the duke laughed. He took off one of his gloves, fished the maraschino cherry from his cocktail and presented it to the red-head like a peace offering. The young man took the cherry with a sly smirk, but instead of eating and swallowing it he kept it between his teeth and looked up to Treize.

From his hiding place Zechs snorted. Yeah right!? What the hell are you thinking? The master is not going to…

Zechs had not even finished the thought when the duke smiled and leaned in to share the cherry and a long, drawn out kiss with the brazen red-head.

The curtain rod creaked as Zechs clenched his fist even tighter into the velvet drapes.

#

“Coffee anybody?” Quatre walked into the observation room with a tray filled with several cups and a carafe of steaming, freshly brewed coffee.

Heero was working as usual. Like Trowa, he never took the night off, unless the club was closed. And also as usual, Duo was by his side, even though he didn't have to work tonight.

“Thanks.” The braided young man poured a cup for himself and a second one for his lover. “Where is Trowa?”

“With a client.” Quatre took a seat next to Duo and reached for a coffee cup as well.

“Oh?! I thought he doesn't take clients anymore.”

“He usually doesn't. But he makes an exceptions every once in a while, if someone from his old client list requests him. He says it keeps him sharp.”

“Talking of old clients…” Heero gestured toward one of the monitor. “Did you see who is in the club tonight?”

“Bob Steiner, yes I know.” Quatre nodded. “He and Daryl came by my dressing room earlier to say `hello'.” Steiner had worked at the `Black Rose' a few years earlier, until he inherited a bunch of money and an estate in the south. When he paid off his debt, the duke also released Steiner's favorite pet Daryl as a farewell gift. They still came by once or twice a year to catch up on old times. But this time Quatre was somewhat suspicious about the timing.

“Daryl still can't keep his hands off the master,” Duo grinned. “I guess some things never change.”

“I guess so. But I think this time Master Treize is paying him for it.”

“Huh?” The braided young man gave Quatre a puzzled look.

“The master knows Zechs is watching every step he makes.”

“Are they still not talking to each other?” Heero asked.

Quatre shook his head with a sigh. “I have never seen anyone more stubborn than those two. Somehow they remind me of two fighting billy goats, banging their heads together without even realizing that they are hurting themselves just as much as the other person.”

“I never thought the master would be so sensitive, especially since he really seemed to have taken a liking on Zechs.” Duo took a sip from his coffee cup. “I would have figured he would have long forgiven him.”

“That's the problem I think. He might have forgiven anyone else, but it hurt more because he liked Zechs.”

“I've got to agree with Heero.” Quatre nodded. “The master just started to slowly take down those walls he had put up around himself after ….” He left the rest of the sentence hanging in the air, but his friends knew anyway what he was talking about.

There was a long moment of silence before Heero said: “You do realize that Trowa won't go on that trip with you in October if this isn't resolved by then?”

“I know. But don't worry I won't get it go on that long,” Quatre assured him. “I'll give them another week, and then I'll take matters in my own hands, even if I have to drag both them down to the dungeon and whip some sense into them.”

“Let me know if you do. I want to be there, watching.” Duo laughed. “But on a totally different note… Master Treize is going to be out of town for a couple days, is he going to close the club?”

“Yes.”

“Maybe the four of us should go gambling together. We haven't done that in ages, and I heard the new casino that just opened is awesome.”

“The four of us?” Quatre asked. “What about Zechs?”

“Well, the five of us even.” Duo shrugged. “The more the merrier, right?”

“Sounds, good, but I think we should agree on a drink limit.”

“Huh? Why?”

“Maybe,” Heero pointed out, “because last time we went you got so drunk you insisted to get married on the spot.”

“What's wrong with that?”

“Nothing,” Quatre admitted. “Except for that the person you wanted to marry was Trowa.”

“Oops,” Duo smiled sheepishly. “I can see the problem in that. Alright then, a drink limit is fine.”

“Okay, I'll talk to Trowa and Zechs and see what they think.”

###

“Quatre! That's enough for today.”

The young man turned his head at the sound of the master's voice and nodded in acknowledgement. “Yes, Sir.”

He loosened the chains that secured Zechs to the bondage rack and the long-haired blond dropped to one knee, panting breathlessly.

“Shower and get some rest, Zechs. You are going to work today.” The duke ordered. “Wear the outfit Trowa put into your dressing room. You will be staying at my site tonight, I'm expecting guests.”

“Yes, Master.”

With that Treize turned, ready to leave, but then stopped once more. “Quatre, help him and make sure he is ready when the club opens. I'm in no mood to be left waiting tonight.”

“Understood, Sir.”

As the master finally walked away Zechs took a few more moments to catch his breath before he got up on his feet.

“Are you okay?” Quatre asked. “Can you walk by yourself?”

The older man nodded. “I'm fine.”

“Alright, then go take a shower. I'll clean up here and be with you in about twenty minutes to help you get dressed.”

###

 

On the way into the bath Zechs' eyes only briefly glanced over the outfit handing on a rack next to the vanity in his dressing room. The hanger was covered with a dark, garment bag and he could not see the clothes beneath.

You will be staying at my site tonight, I'm expecting guests. The young man's brows furrowed slightly. So, that's what I am for him, some kind of showpiece he takes out of the shelf and shows off when he has guests? Zechs huffed as he started to take off his harness. Still he couldn't help but wonder who was coming to visit.

His collar, the leather cuffs and belts and finally the chest piece itself dropped to the floor one by one. Completely nude he walked over to the shower and turned on the water. As he looked up into the mirror his eyes fell upon his own reflection.

He had lost some weight since he got here; not much since he had never been `chubby' to begin with. But now his body was lean and well toned; his muscles more visible then before. I guess all that time blowing off steam in the workout room is paying off, he thought with a sarcastic smirk. Then his gaze caught the little stud in the form of a black rose in his right nibble and the smile fell from his face. I wonder how many pets he has marked like this.

He turned sharply and stepped into the shower. As usually the hot water relaxed him almost instantly, and he just stood there for a few moments enjoying the feeling.

#

By the time Zechs stepped out of the bathroom Quatre was sitting in one of the armchairs flipping through a magazine.

“You are here already?! Why didn't you knock or just come in?”

The young man shrugged as he put the magazine aside. “We still have time; there was no reason to rush.”

“Do you know who those guests are, he was talking about?” Zechs dropped the towel to the floor, walked over to the rack and unzipped the garment bag.

“I'm not exactly sure,” Quatre admitted. “The master mentioned something about someone he had met at `Dark Pleasures'.”

“Oh?!” the older man turned his head. “He didn't mention a name?”

“If he did, I don't recall; sorry.”

“It's okay, I'll find out soon enough anyway, won't I?” Zechs grinned wryly as he pulled his pants off the hanger.

They were made of some kind of very soft, white leather, and not to mention tight. To make it easier getting in and out of them, the legs were held together with full-length zippers, which were cleverly concealed by a wide, studded strip of black leather. A belt of the same color and material decorated the waistband of the extra-low riding pants. The top was made of black netting with silvery threads interwoven in the fabric, making the shirt sparkle in the light. It was tight and short, barely reaching Zechs' navel and leaving the skin at the lower part of the belly and his hips very much exposed. Unlike the outfit he had worn the night at the `Dark Pleasures', his one didn't come with jacket. Instead it was completed by a set of four leather bands, two for his wrists and two more for his upper arms, matching his custom collar.

Quatre adjusted the leather straps and then helped the other man putting on the collar. The duke must have had something done to it, because the leather felt softer now and less tight than when Zechs was wearing it the first time.

Taking a step back Quatre studied his work critically.

“How does it look?”

“Hot!” the young man smiled. Yes, the one word described it all.

Zechs snorted and opened his mouth for a reply, but a rap at the door interrupted him. “Yes?!” He frowned and glanced at the clock. No, it was definitely not time to go downstairs yet.

The door opened slowly and Duo popped his head through the opening. “Hello ladies,” he greeted them with a wide grin. “May I come in? The master told me to do Zechs' hair.”

“Go right ahead.” Quatre told him. “He is all yours. I'm done here.”

The braided young stepped into the dressing room and let out a whistle as he looked Zechs up and down. “Oh sweet mercy, I'll take back what I said before. You don't look like an angel, you are a GOD.”

“Oh shut up,” Zechs huffed, somewhat embarrassed. Being told by another man that he was gorgeous still took some getting used to. “I thought you came here to do my hair, not to stand there ogling. So let's get started.”

“Yes Sir. Right away, Sir.” The other man grinned.

###

“Looks like we made it,” Otto announced as he drove through the large, automatically opening, wrought iron gate. He looked around while he followed the road to the mansion. “Man, this place really puts the `private' into private club, doesn't it?”

In the seat beside him Wufei just huffed in response. He hadn't been paying attention to the scenery because there was something else on his mind; something he had been wondering about all day. Was HE going to be at the club tonight; the tall, blond pet who called himself Zechs (which, as he knew by now, was not his real name)?

Wufei blushed slightly as an image of the young man, completely in the nude, popped into his mind, and he quickly turned his head and stared out of the window. Think of something else; someone else, he told himself. The picture in his mind changed but only to an equally nude Duke Khushrenada, and the heat in his cheeks only intensified. Damn, this isn't helping.

“Are you alright?” the older man asked concerned. “You look a little flushed; do you want me to turn the heat down?”

“No, I'm fine.” Wufei grumbled.

Since the somewhat skimpy outfit he was wearing wasn't actually keeping him warm Otto had been running the heater in the car ever since they had left their house.

“Alright then, try to remember that we came here to have fun.” Otto reminded as he pulled up in front of the club. “Try at least to look like you are enjoying yourself.”

“I'm very well aware why we are here; you don't need to tell me how to do my job.”

“Then what's with the attitude?”

“Attitude?” Wufei growled. “Why don't we switch roles, and then I would like to see your attitude.”

“Sorry, too late for that now.” The older man replied with a casual shrug. “Besides…” he smirked. “You make a much cuter pet then I ever could.”

Wufei glared daggers at the other man but didn't even dignify the remark with an answer.

###

“Master?!”

The duke was still sitting in the small backroom that double as his office while he was at the club, when Zechs came downstairs. He raised his head and critically eyed the young man for a few moments before giving one curt nod of approval. “Very nice.”

Very nice? VERY NICE!? That's all he has to say? Zechs brows furrowed. Alright, so Duo's outburst might have been over the top and not to mention embarrassing, but he had expected a little more of a reaction from his master than just a `very nice'.

“What's wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“Then…” The ringing of the phone interrupted Treize before he could finish his sentence. He reached out and picked up the receiver. “Yes?!”

“Your guests just entered the main gate, Sir.” Heero's voice came through the phone's speakers. The duke had used the speaker system during an earlier call but never turned it off afterward.

“Thank you, Heero. I'll meet them when they enter the club. Make sure to keep an eye on both of them.”

“Understood, Sir. You have nothing to worry about. I'll record every move they make.” Heero assured him.

“I'm counting on it.” The duke hung up the phone and rose from his chair. “Let's go!” he told Zechs. “And wiped that frown from your face, I already have a bouncer to scare away unwanted guests; I don't need you for that.”

“Sorry.” Zechs somehow managed to keep his voice neutral. As he followed his master out of the backroom into the bar, he asked: “The guests you were talking about, do I know them?”

Without holding his step Treize looked over his shoulder, a tiny smile on his lips. “You will see.”

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T.B.C.

 

Author's Note: