Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ The Purrfect Houseguest ❯ chapter 15 ( Chapter 15 )

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The Purrfect Houseguest

Part 15

“Why are you up already?” Wufei asked as he walked into the kitchen.

The table was already set, and a smell of freshly brewed coffee and something sweet and cinnamony was hanging in the air

Treize gave a little shrug. “I thought we could have breakfast together.”

“What is for breakfast?”

“I have cinnamon rolls in the oven if you can wait a few minutes”

“I can wait!” Wufei assured him promptly.

Treize smirked softly. He had learned a long time ago that his lover had an incredible sweet tooth, even if he would never admit to it. As he poured the coffee, Wufei settled down at the table.

“Where is Zechs?” he wanted to know as he reached for his bowl of freshly cut fruits.

“He is still asleep,” Treize replied. “Speaking of Zechs…” He took a sip from his coffee cup before continuing. “I told you that I'll be at an award ceremony tonight, didn't I?”

“Uh huh,” the younger man confirmed, with a mouth full of fresh strawberry.

“With Marie being gone too, it will be only you and Zechs for dinner tonight. I thought, this might be a good opportunity for the two of you to spend some bonding time together.”

“Hmm!”

“You don't sound too impressed.” Treize raised one eyebrow and looked at his lover questioningly.

Wufei finished the last of the strawberries before he answered. “I think the real question is how impressed he will be with the idea. In case you have not noticed, Treize, Zechs has been trying to avoid me ever since he came to live with us.”

“I know.” The older man nodded. “That's why I thought it would be good for the two of you to get a chance to get to know each other. Wouldn't you say so?”

“Fine,” Wufei agreed. “I'll do my best. But I'm not sure how easy it will be to `bond' with a stubborn neko.”

Treize chuckled. “Yeah well, you two are very alike in that department.”

Wufei's brows furrowed. “Are you calling me stubborn?”

Luckily the oven timer chimed at that very moment and Treize took the opportunity to avoid answering his lover's question.

“Ah, the cinnamon rolls are ready.” He rose, reaching for a pair of potholders on the way to the oven. “Hmm, don't they look delicious? Just the way you like them.”

Wufei just glared at him but didn't say anything. He finished his fruit while Treize iced the sweet rolls and brought them to the table.

The older man himself didn't care for sweets in the morning. He had had some toast, fruits and yogurt instead. Treize refilled his coffee cup and reached for the morning paper as he sat down again at the table. For a few minutes he read silently, until an article in the local section grabbed his attention. He looked at the picture below it and pressed a quiet curse through his teeth.

Wufei looked up, surprised. It wasn't often that his lover used that kind of language. “What's wrong?”

#####

“I'll be damned…”

“What is it?” Alex asked at his colleague's sudden outburst.

Mueller had been flipping through the newspaper to find the daily word puzzle when he came across a picture of two police officers and a young man with long pale-blond hair who was wearing a baseball hat. “Here we are searching all over the place and that bastard is hiding right under our noses.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” Alex frowned.

Mueller pushed the paper toward him and pointed at the picture. “Doesn't he look like someone we know?”

“Zechs!” the other man exclaimed. “What the hell…”

He reached for the newspaper to read the article above the picture. Apparently it was part of a weekly series titled `Hometown Heroes', and told about a young man who risk his own life to help a woman who had been robbed at a local super market. Why am I not surprised? He is just the type to something so stupid. Alex snorted as he pulled out his cell phone.

“What are you doing?” his colleague asked.

“I'm calling the boss.”

Tubarov picked up after the second ring.

“Boss, its Alex. I think we might have found Zechs.”

There was a moment of stunned silence before the scientist asked. “Where is he?”

“Well we are not 100% sure of his location yet, but we know the area where he is hiding. I think I might be able to find him with a few phone calls.”

“Fine,” Tubarov agreed. “I'll leave it to you. Just keep me informed.”

“Yes, Sir.” After he terminated the connection, Alex reached for the newspaper once more to look for the name and location of the supermarket mentioned in the article, then he called information to get the store's phone number. After dialing that number he first got the operator and he asked to speak to somebody from store security. By chance the security guard who answered the phone was female.

“Hi, how are you? My name is Bob Rickster,” Alex lied through his teeth, putting as much charm in his voice as he managed. “I'm a reporter for the `Weekly Post' and I'm working on an article about the incident that happened outside your store yesterday. I'd really like to interview the young man who fought that robber so bravely. You wouldn't be able to give me a name or address or anything, would you?”

“Well, I'm afraid I can't help you with that. Since the police arrived so quick at the scene, we really did not have much to do with the incident. However…”

“Yes?”

“I do remember who the young man was with.”

“You do?”

“Yes, his name is Treize Khushrenada.”

“Khushrenada did you say? How do you spell that?” He quickly grabbed a pen and piece of paper, scribbling down the name as she spelt it for him. “And you are sure, that the young man was together with this Mr. Khushrenada?”

“Yes, absolutely. I saw them enter the store together. Mr. Khushrenada shops here quite often; he usually comes with his daughter or his boyfriend, but it's the first time I saw that blond, young man with him.

“You seem to know a lot about that man.”

There was a nervous giggle on the other end of the line. “Well, he is a bestselling author; my favorite author you must know. And we don't have that many famous people here in town, so he is pretty well known.”

“I see. Thank you for your help.” Alex hung up the phone with a wide grin on his face. Bingo!

#####

Zechs was starving. He had spent most of the afternoon in the gardening, weeding and digging around in a small patch of soil that, according to Treize, was going to be turned into an herb garden. The neko who had never planted anything and watched it grow, and he was excited by the prospect. He didn't even realize how late it had gotten until the delicious aroma of cooking food hit his sensitive nose.

The smell guided him straight into the kitchen, where he found Wufei, stirring something in a pot that was simmering on the stove.

“Hmm…Smells good.” The neko felt his stomach rumble. “What is Treize cooking tonight?”

“Treize isn't cooking tonight, I am.”

Zechs gave the other man a somewhat skeptical look. “You can cook?”

“What's that supposed to mean?” Wufei finally turned, frowning as he noticed that the neko was covered in dirt. “You are filthy!” he pointed out.

“I know.” Zechs grinned proudly, ears perked up as he gazed at his soil caked hands and claws. “It's potting soil. Hey, did you know, the dirt will fall of by itself when it dries?”

Wufei almost rolled his eyes. “Yes, but soap and water will do that too. Go wash your hands, dinner is almost ready.”

As Wufei turned his attention back to his pot, the neko stick out his tongue at him. Spoilsport.

“I saw that!”

Zechs grinned as he walked upstairs to get cleaned up. When he returned a few minutes later Wufei was just setting the table in the dining area.

“Only 2 plates?” Zechs asked, brows furrowed in surprise.

“Yes,” Wufei confirmed. “It's just you and I tonight; Treize went to some kind of award party. He won't be back until later.”

“Oh!”

“Could you go and get the bowl with the chicken from the counter? But be careful it is hot, don't burn yourself.”

A few moments later they were sitting down at the table. Zechs glanced at the different bowls slightly confused. “How do you eat this?”

“Well, do it just like this…” Wufei took a big piece of lettuce, filled it with meat and different vegetables, drizzled some sauce over it and rolled it up.

Following the young man's instruction the neko made his own lettuce wrap. He took a first cautious bite and his ears perked up instantly. “Oh, this is good. So, you really do know how to cook.”

Wufei snorted. I wonder if he is intentionally trying to annoy me.

For a while they ate quietly, before the young man asked. “So, you are going to help Treize with his herb garden?”

Zechs nodded enthusiastically. “He said tomorrow we will go and pick out the herbs that we will be planting.”

“I see.”

“Treize knows a lot of things doesn't he?”

“Yeah, I guess he does.” Wufei confirmed.

“You said earlier that he is at an award party tonight. Will he be getting an award?”

“No, if I remember right he will be presenting some of the awards this time. These are for young and upcoming writers.”

“Ah?” the neko nodded in acknowledgement as he prepared himself another lettuce wrap. “Marie told me that Treize is a famous author. She showed me the awards he already won.”

“Yeah, his books are very popular.”

“Have you read them?” Zechs asked innocently.

Wufei almost choked on a spoonful of rice. “Uhm…No, I haven't. His books are… uhm… geared more toward female readers.”

“Oh.”

They finished their dinner and cleared the table together. When Wufei started to wash the dishes, the neko reached wordlessly for a towel to help him. Between the two of them the kitchen was quickly cleaned up and Wufei looked at the clock on the wall.

“It's still too early to go to bed. Would you like to play a game of `Go' with me?” he asked.

“Go?” Zechs frowned slightly. “Is that anything like `catch'?” Mariemaia had taught him how to play catch, but the idea of chasing Wufei through the house seemed somewhat strange to him.

“No, no. It's a board game.” Wufei explained.

“Oh, I know how to play Chess and checkers, but I have never heard of Go.”

“It's an old Chinese game. Maybe I can teach you some day. How about playing chess tonight?”

Zechs nodded. “I'll go and set up the board,” he offered.

#####

“Boss, it's Alex again. I've got the information we need.”

“You know where Zechs is?” Tubarov asked.

“Yes, according to what I have been told he was seen together with a local.”

“Do you have a name?” the scientist asked.

“Yes,” Alex tilted his head, to pin the phone between ear and shoulder as he searched for the paper with his notes. “Khushrenada, Treize Khushrenada. I was told he is some famous author or something. What do you want me to do?”

There was a moment of silence before Tubarov answered. “Nothing. Don't do anything until I give the okay. I'll have to contact Duke Dermail about this.”

“Why?” Alex asked surprised.

“The Khushrenada family is not only one of the oldest and most renowned Romefeller members; they are also related to the duke. His Excellency himself will have to decide what to do.”

#####

Wufei was impressed. For some reason he had not expected the neko to be such a skilled chess player. He won the first game, but the second one went to Zechs. Early on in the third he found himself in a situation where he had to sacrifice his queen in order to save the game.

“You play well,” he remarked. “Seems like you had a lot of practice.”

Zechs nodded. “I used to play it a lot. One of my handlers who taught me how to play chess gave me a game that I could play on the computer by myself.”

“I see.” Wufei moved one of his rooks. “Check.”

The neko frowned, then covered his king with one of his knights. “That game you mentioned, Go I think you called it is it anything like chess?”

“It's a strategy game too, but the rules and game pieces are very different,” Wufei explained. “You will see when I teach you.”

Zechs nodded in acknowledgement. “Talking of games; what were you and Treize doing last night?”

Wufei's brows furrowed. “What do you mean?”

“Well, I woke up in the night and was hungry, so I went downstairs to look if there was some pizza left and I heard some strange sounds coming from your bedroom.” Not to mention that strange scent. “It sounded like the two of you were wrestling or something.”

While Zechs was talking Wufei's face had slowly turned a bright crimson color. He could feel his cheeks burn as he desperately tried to think of something to say. “Well, we … that…”

“And there was so much moaning and groaning going on, for a moment I wasn't sure if you two were alright.”

The color in Wufei's cheeks only intensified. He felt as though he was going to die of embarrassment. - Yes, at that moment he was sure that it was possible to die of embarrassment. - He was still trying to think of an answer when the neko suddenly crooked his head, listening to something Wufei couldn't hear.

“What is it?”

“Treize is home.”

Wufei sighed silently in relief and sent a prayer to heaven, thanking the gods for their divine intervention. A short moment later he heard the front door opening and then somebody walk into the house.

“Maybe we can finish this game some other day,” he suggested.

###

Treize was pleased to see Wufei and Zechs sit together over a game of chess when he walked into the living room. Apparently his plan of hem getting to know each other better wasn't so bad after all.

“Maybe we can finish this game some other day,” Wufei said.

The older man frowned slightly as he looked at his lover. Was he mistaken or did Wufei look somewhat flushed?

Zechs stifled a yawn as he nodded. “I was getting tired anyway. I think I'll go to bed. Good Night.”

“Good night.” Wufei replied.

“Good night, Zechs,” Treize bade as well. As the neko went upstairs he walked over to Wufei to embrace the young man and greet him with a kiss. “Did you have a nice evening, Dear?”

“You smell.” Wufei freed himself from his hold.

“I beg your pardon?”

“I mean, you smell of perfume?”

“Oh! I told you, there was a dinner and dance after the award ceremony, didn't I? It's not my fault that I'm so popular among the ladies,” Treize teased. “I had no idea that you have such a jealous streak.”

Wufei snorted. “I'm not jealous. I was merely pointing out that you smell of perfume. Go, take a shower.”

“How about taking one together?” the older man grinned suggestively.

“Make it a cold shower.” Wufei told him.

Treize looked puzzled. “Are you really that upset because I danced with a couple of woman?”

“That's not it.”

“Then what is it? Did I do anything?”

“It's not so much what YOU did, but rather what WE did, last night. Zechs woke up. He heard us and he asked me about it.”

Treize looked at his lover silently for a moment before suddenly bursting out in laughter.

“You think that's funny?” Wufei glared daggers at him.

“Sorry…” Treize had tears in his eyes as he finally was able to speak. “But yes, I think it's funny, in a way.”

“You are impossible!” the younger man grabbed a pillow from the couch and started to smack his lover over the head with it.

Treize burst out laughing again as he tried weakly to defend himself against the onslaught.

Unnoticed by both men, a tall blond neko was watching the scene from the top of the stairs. Maybe that's what they were doing last night; play fighting. But that still didn't explain the strange scent. Zechs knew the musky smell of Wufei's cologne, as well as the somewhat sweeter scent of Treize's after shave. But this had been different, very different…

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T.B.C.

 

Author's Note: