Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ The Side of Angels ❯ Chapter 3
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
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Disclaimer: I own nothing!
Title: The Side of Angels
Pairing: 13x5 Treize/Wufei
Big thanks to Jase who betaed this story.
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The early morning sun spread its rays through the open curtain windows, showering the bed in the morning light. Two lovers entwined in the bed, one fair, one dark, one tall, one small, but fitted together as if they were made for each other.
Wufei gradually woke up, blinking in confusion as he became aware of the unfamiliar feelings of warmth and contentment inside him. Strong arms surrounded him, enfolding his body into a larger one. But strangely he didn't feel the urge to escape from the confinement, instead he felt safe, protected, and reluctant to leave.
Wufei turned around in the embrace, looking up into the sleeping face of his bed partner. The movement pulled his muscles, and all his bruises woke up to keep him company. But Wufei paid them no mind. As his eyes took in the dishevelled ginger hair and handsome features, memories of last night came flooding back…
Images rushed through his mind, images of Treize holding him, Treize comforting him, Treizing making love to him… He could still taste Treize's kiss on his lips, feel Treize's touch imprinted on his skin. His heart was beating so rapidly he was hyperventilating.
Possibly the most stupid thing for any undercover agent to do.
Concentrating, calming himself down, Wufei didn't notice that his lover had woken up. The gentle hand lifting his chin startled him, Wufei looked up into a pair of startlingly blue eyes.
He could drown in those eyes.
Treize smiled at him, the the warm affection soothing Wufei's nerves. He couldn't help but to smile back, his heart felt lightened in the warm regard.
"Good Morning," Treize greeted him softly.
"Morning," Wufei greeted back, and laid back down into Treize's arms. It felt so nice and warm here, he could lay all his burdens down. This was his heaven, and he could pretend that nothing could hurt him here.
Treize held him tenderly, one hand running through the dark fall of his hair, smoothing the stray locks away from his face, cornflower blue eyes gazing at him with open desire.
"So beautiful," Treize whispered.
Wufei's felt himself blush, his heart giddy at the compliment. Oh, he was in *so* much trouble! To be touched by such simple flattery, something he had heard countless times before…
Une would make him pay for this.
Wufei's lashes lowered to hide the sudden troubled thought, a movement that had became almost instinctive to him. Resolutely, he shoved all thoughts of Une away. Une couldn't touch him here.
Wufei burrowed into Treize's chest, grimacing as he pressed on his injured cheek.
"Not so beautiful, just now," he commented self-deprecatingly. He had never much cared about his looks, outside consideration for the success of a mission. What was it about Treize that made him so self-conscious about his imperfections?
Treize gently turned Wufei around to face him again. He touched the bruised cheek of his young lover, "Beautiful," he said as he kissed the dark bruise.
He applied gentle kisses all over the discoloured skin of Wufei's chest, "Lovely."
He caught the left hand of the boy and pushed the beaded bracelet down, and placed a kiss at the tender skin of the wrist…
Wufei could practically feel Treize's shock, the sudden stiffness of Treize's body signalled coming disaster. Even without looking at Treize, Wufei knew what his lover was staring at - an old, white scar lay across a slim wrist, a clean cut right through the veins, the angle of the wound self-inflicted…
And the wounded look in Treize's eyes cut him to the core. Treize looked like he wanted kill and wanted to die. Treize looked like someone had stuck a knife into his heart, and he was just waiting for the pain to hit.
Treize pushed the bracelet back in place, his hand shaking with the effort to remain clam. The circle of pearl beads effectively covered the scar.
So this is why the boy always wears it.
Not a good-luck charm at all.
Rage was burning inside of him. Rage and pain and guilt so great that he could barely speak, barely ask *why*?
How could someone so young have been driven to such a desperate act? What had hurt a strong boy like this so badly? He wanted to go back in time and kill whoever was responsible. He wanted to erase all the hurt, disappointments, and pain in Wufei's life away…
But as ever, he was too late, the damage was already done.
The hand on his arm brought him out of his self-loathing. Treize turned and looked into Wufei's open gaze. Wufei looked pale, his eyes huge and tinged with glistening moisture.
"I'm sorry," the boy said with all sincerity.
Treize shook his head, dumbstruck. What was the boy sorry for?
"I never wanted to hurt you," Wufei confessed. Closing his eyes, a silver tear slid down underneath the dark lashes. He had never wanted to hurt Treize, but he was hurting Treize even now.
I do not deserve your pain, Treize. If you only knew.
It was suddenly all too much. He threw himself into Treize's arms, his arms snaking around Treize's neck, hugging the other man tightly, fiercely, as if he was afraid Treize would vanish the second he let go.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry…" he mumbled into Treize's neck, almost chanting. Knowing it was useless - as if apologies could make everything all right - but needing to say them all the same. Despair welled up inside his heart. If only you'd never met me, Treize, if only you'd never cared…
Treize hugged him back, just as fiercely, rocking him, murmuring soothing words in his ear, "It's all right, Love… Shhh…. Everything will be all right…"
But it's not, Wufei knew. And it will never be all right again.
He cupped Treize's face, looking into the clear blue eyes. Such love in those eyes, it hurt Wufei's soul to look into them. And there was so little Wufei could ever offer in return for that love, nothing that wouldn't be tainted by the lies he'd already told.
"I never tried to kill myself," he told Treize. At least that much was true. He had slashed his wrist in an act of defiance, daring them to push him, not caring about the pain and not really caring if he lived or died.
But at least it wasn't a real suicide attempt.
Treize searched his face, looking for the truth in his statement. And Wufei stayed still, didn't dare to move, hardly dared to breath. Please believe me, and put that damned scar out of your mind!
The kiss caught him by surprise, a kiss full of hunger and desperation. Treize crashed him in his arms, "Oh, Wufei… My love…"
Wufei was caught up in the whirlwind of passion, returning the kiss with equal fervour. The need to connect, to affirm life overrode everything else. They drowned in their need for each other.
When the kiss broke off, both of them were breathless with desire. Wufei looked into the darkened blue eyes of his lover and was shaken by the raw emotion that was churning inside.
"Make love to me," the words slipped out before he could think, and Wufei knew the absolute rightness in that request.
Treize's answer was another soul searing kiss.
And the love-making that followed was the most wonderful thing Wufei had ever knew.
Treize swept him up in passion. He kissed and licked every centimetre of Wufei's skin, mapping and memorising every inch of him with his tongue. His hands instinctively knew every hot spot of Wufei's body, and he used them to drive Wufei to distraction.
Wufei writhed under him, he trembled and moaned, and arched into each touch like a flower turned to the sun. He was the clay, and Treize was the sculptor, kneading, twisting Wufei into whatever shape he desired.
And Wufei had never felt such desire in his life, not for any of the countless men and women who passed through his bed. Only Treize could bring out the fire embedded deep inside him, only Treize could make him burn with desire, making him give himself over to the overwhelming passion.
Treize's hands kneaded his thighs, spreading them apart. And he moaned, opening wide, offering himself up for the taking. Treize had tried to be gentle, tried to slow down and prepare him properly, but Wufei was too keyed up, too impatient to wait. He pushed back onto Treize's fingers eagerly, wantonly.
Oh please… I need you so…
The pain when Treize finally pushed inside him was the sweetest burn, every thrust only served to fan his desire. Pleasure soon overrode pain, and he pushed back, harder. Squeezing his legs around his lover's waist, he threw himself into the rhythm with complete abandon.
Harder. Faster. Make Me Scream!
And when they climaxed, they did it together, crying out each other's name and collapsed, exhausted, into each other's arms.
Gently, when he gathered enough energy to move, Treize moved off his lover, lying down beside him, and very carefully, gathered Wufei into his arms.
Wufei laid his head on Treize's chest, listening to his lover's heartbeat as it slowed down. He was worn out and sweaty, his body languid and well sated with spent passion. He had never felt so content.
It was more than love, more than desire, it was the joining of two people in love, of two soul mates who finally found each other.
And Heaven was in Treize's arms.
It was the most magnificent rose garden Wufei had ever seen.
A sea of roses, of all colours, red, pink, crimson, scarlet, apricot, shell pink, cerise, yellow, gold, copper, mauve, lavender… Of all species, English roses, China roses, Old European roses, Tea roses… Blossoming everywhere, under the sun, in the shades, climbing along the wall, winding around the fences and trellis, spreading proudly in shrubs and bushes... Their sweet scent permeated the air, downing all senses.
Even as preoccupied as Wufei was, he still felt awe at the sight. It was easy to see the love and care went into this garden, and, like everything else in Treize's life, they blossomed under his touch.
Treize, everything led back to Treize.
Treize left reluctantly this morning, having first made sure Wufei ate a hearty breakfast and promised to call if there was any trouble. Then he assigned Lt. Sedici to look after Wufei for the day, despite Wufei's protest that he did not need a babysitter.
As soon as Treize left, Wufei escaped Lt. Sedici's attention and took refuge in the quiet garden.
He needed some time alone.
Wufei knew he should have tried to get in to Treize's computer, but he couldn't quite make himself to do it, not with the love making this morning still so fresh in his mind.
Treize touched him in places no one ever had before, and Wufei was afraid he had lost himself in this man.
He had fallen for his target.
It was such a cliché. Wufei would have laughed if it weren't happening to him.
So pathetic, Wufei, such a weak minded fool! Are you so starved for affection that you fell for the first man who showed you compassion and care? Isn't he your enemy? A spy caught in his own trap, how ironic!
But Treize is worth it. Treize cares for me. Treize cares for me…
Treize cared for an illusion, a mirage, someone who didn't really exist.
And Wufei couldn't, for all his wishes, became that someone Treize believed him to be, someone without secret agendas or blood on his hands, someone who lived in the light.
The shrub of roses in front of him hurt his eyes, petals as red as the colour of blood. Almost viciously, Wufei tore one off. The sharp thorns pricked his finger, bright blood drops staining the rose, matching each other perfectly.
Pretty roses, sharp claws hidden under the cover of beauty, luring the unsuspecting spectator in under false pretences.
Sitting underneath a rose vine, Wufei was too caught up in his turbulent emotions to notice the time passing. The Sun had gone down the western sky. The sketchpad he had taken with him to explain to Lt. Sedici about his interest in the garden lay forgotten by his side.
That was how Treize found him. Sitting cross-legged amongst the blossoming flowers. Supporting his chin with both hands, staring into space with a pensive statement on his face.
The unhappiness of his young lover tugged at his heart. Treize wished he could make the sadness go away.
"Deep thoughts, Dragon?" he asked lightly.
Wufei was startled at the sound of his voice and shot him an alarmed look. Treize was upset to see more than a little panic in those dark eyes. The incident with those thugs had obviously shaken Wufei more than he admitted.
Treize was glad he had ordered the bullies to be tracked down, even though Dorothy didn't like to use OZ's resources for a matter she considered to be too trivial to pursue.
No one who hurt Wufei would be allowed to get away with it.
"Dragon?" Wufei was dismayed to hear the note of panic in his voice. Dragon - How in the hell did Treize found out about his code-name? Was his cover broken already? Adrenaline fuelled his system, but Wufei forced himself to calm down.
"You don't like it?" Treize smiled, "I think it suits you." He sat down beside the boy, "Beautiful fierce and proud…" he leaned in to kiss the boy's delectable mouth, "My little dragon…"
Wufei moaned in the kiss, clutching onto the older man's shoulder as if it was a lifeline, willingly drowning himself in the sensual kiss, ignoring the large part of himself that was still dreading discovery.
Treize broke the kiss, smiling as his eyes met the boy's flushed face. "Well, that was worth coming home for."
Wufei smiled back, his eyes cleared, "And that was worth waiting for."
"It's about time for dinner. Are you hungry?"
Wufei was about to reply, but the sound of grumbling coming from his stomach beat him to it. Wufei looked up abashly, "I guess I am."
Treize frowned a little, "Lt. Sedici said you came to the garden right after I left. Have you been here all day? Did you eat anything at all?"
"Hmm…" Wufei searched his brain to find an answer that won't upset Treize, but he had been too preoccupied to bother with food today. Who would have known that the OZ General would turn out to be such a mother hen.
"Missing one meal won't kill me, Treize," Wufei was losing his patience, "I'm not about to starve to death."
Treize sighed, the boy needed a keeper. "Let's go inside, and get some food into your stomach."
When Wufei had requested an urgent meeting, Lady Une had expected her agent to report a beak through, not the possibility of breaking cover.
"What made you think your cover isn't secure?" she asked. This would upset all her plans…
"Treize called me Dragon," Wufei answered, "he said it was because he thought it suited me, but it might just because he wanted to rattle me."
"I see," Une leaned back in her seat, tapping her fingers together. "Apart from calling you by your code name, did he give any other indications that he thought you were not who you appear to be?"
Wufei shook his head, he had already examined his every interaction with Treize, but found nothing else that pointed to any suspicion on Treize's part. "No, he didn't."
Une frowned, "But there is no advantage in showing his hand if he had indeed uncovered your true identity. At any rate," Une decided, "it is too late to get another operative into place. And 'Dragon' does suit you," she gave him a pointed look, "you will continue the mission."
Wufei's eyes narrowed in suspicion, he had leant earlier on in the game that it pays to be paranoid. Une was being far too casual about a possible security leak, especially in a mission as important as this. What game was she playing? Was he being set up as a sacrificial pawn?
"Have you had a chance to break into his private files yet?
Wufei nodded, he had tried to do so before he came to see Une, and he came to the conclusion that the security on Treize's personal computer was beyond his ability to break. "I would need his password to have any chance of getting into his files. I'm a competent enough hacker, but we really need someone of Heero's calibre to get through the guard dogs."
"Can you get Heero inside the estate?"
Wufei thought about it and shook his head, "It'd be too suspicious. There are too many eyes watching, and they're paying me too much attention at the moment."
After the first day, Treize had made sure that everyone on his estate would put Wufei's welfare on the top of their priority list, and as a consequence, he was fawned over by people everywhere he went. Shutting up in Treize's private chamber for hours with another boy would call too much attention.
"Very well then, you'll just have to continue as you have before."
"But at this point, I can not say when the break through would come. And I don't believe…" Wufei paused, not sure if he should continue.
"You don't believe?" Une cocked her head, waiting.
"I don't believe Treize Khushrenada is behind the terrorist activities in Arabia," Wufei said looking steadily at Une.
"And upon what proof did you base your belief?" Une lifted an eyebrow, looking at him challengingly.
"He is a honourable man…"
"'Honourable men' aren't exempt from committing terrible atrocities." Une interrupted coldly, "Hitler believed he was acting in the best interest of his people."
Wufei looked outraged at the comparison between Hitler and Treize Khushrenada, his mouth thinned into a harsh line. He looked like he was going to argue.
Une narrowed her eyes and levelled a stare at Wufei, "It is not the operative's prerogative to decide which mission is justified and which one isn't. I believe you're losing your objectivity, Wufei."
I believe you are getting too attached, little dragon, but then Treize has always been a charming devil.
Wufei didn't defend himself, but he glared at her stubbornly.
"Even honourable men make compromises," Une saw the jab hit home, and Wufei blanched, "and perhaps he believed the ends justified the means."
Wufei was silent for a long moment, but he replied in a quiet voice, "That is the justification we give ourselves, is it not? It is the basis of everything we do. But I don't believe Treize would compromise his principals to resort to such underhanded tactics."
Then you are definitely getting too attached, Dragon. Treize is someone infinitely more dangerous than you realise. I hope he will not leave you too broken when he's done with you.
"Then you can prove that belief by bring me proof of his innocence."
The rose garden was quickly becoming his favourite place.
Treize had left his imprint on every part of his estate, but it was in this garden that Wufei felt his presence the strongest. It was calm and serene here. The beautiful surrounding was a balm to his soul.
Just what he needed after that disastrous meeting with Une.
In his heart of heart, Wufei didn't believe Treize had found out about his real purpose here. Treize's affection had been genuine, Wufei would stake his life on it. But it had been a perfect excuse to go running back to Une and requesting to be taken off this assignment.
He had behaved reprehensibly.
Was he really so afraid to face his own heart?
Running away never solved anything, and evading his responsibility would serve neither the Angels nor Treize. He had sworn his loyalty to the Angels and Treize deserved his respect and belief.
And he did believe in Treize, despite Une's scepticism. Treize was a man with integrity. He cared about people, not just the few who were close him, not just those who served under him, but all people, the nameless, faceless innocent masses. He wasn't the kind the man who would conspire with terrorists just to further his own ambition.
All Wufei had to do was prove it.
Sitting amongst the magnificent roses that Treize loved so much, Wufei picked up his sketch-book. Flipping open a page randomly, it was the sketch of a handsome young man with forked eyebrows. Wufei's lips curved into a small smile as he continued flipping through the pages, and page after page was the same man, smiling, frowning, looking amused, looking stern, in uniform, in casual wear, in nothing but moon kissed skin…
Wufei's fingers caressed the figure on the page, he did that one last night, when Trieze was sleeping. He looked so beautiful under the moonlight, serene and peaceful, a Greek God stolen off Mt. Olympus to be his lover, everything Wufei ever wanted…
Wufei shut the sketchbook with loud bang.
It did not matter how he felt, or even how Treize felt, all that mattered at this moment was duty.
But somehow, he couldn't quite convince himself to believe that.
I wonder what Wufei was doing?
Treize paused in his work as the same thought had flittered across his mind for the 36th time in the past hour.
I *have* fallen hard for the boy.
It wasn't even the fact that he found the work boring, the reports he had to read were as tedious as ever, but he found he had much more tolerance for them now. In fact, Treize had much more patience for everything in his life. For the first time in years, he felt relaxed. He hadn't even realised how tense he had been before the refreshing change.
All of which he contributed to Wufei.
The boy filled up the empty spaces in his heart, and his warm presence eased the loneliness deep in Treize's soul.
I wonder if he's back yet?
Wufei had insisted he keep doing those tourists' portraits, which Treize considered a great waste of Wufei's talent. But he had wisely backed down after a long *discussion.* Wufei felt uncomfortable to be dependent on Treize, so Treize didn't push him.
The sun has set, he should be back now.
He keyed in the number for home and Wufei's image filled the screen as he answered the call.
The boy had just got out of shower, his black hair wet and sleek streaming down his cheeks, gleaming like black silk. He was wearing one of Treize's white shirts that was far too large for him. Treize was heartened to see all the bruises had completely disappeared.
A brilliant smile brightened up Wufei's face as he saw Treize's image on the screen, "Hi, taking a break from boring reports?"
Treize smiled back at the familiar teasing, "Indeed, you're much more interesting than the situation in Peru."
Wufei snorted, "I should hope so. What time are you coming back?" he asked, leaning over the monitor to pick up a grape from the fruit bowl, the unbuttoned shirt opened further, exposing one small brown nipple.
It could have been an accident, but Treize wasn't born yesterday.
His groin grew hot at the delicious sight.
Wufei grinned unrepently at him, an unholy gleam lit his eyes. Pressing the grape between his lips, he slowly and deliberately rolled it around with his tongue.
The heat in Treize's groin grew even hotter.
Unfortunately, the arrival of Dorothy Catalonia interrupted what was becoming a *most* enjoyable conversation. Treize reluctantly said good-bye to Wufei and ended the communication.
Treize turned towards Dorothy, but the almost predatory look in her eyes almost made him groan out aloud.
He had just managed to set Dorothy on Wufei. And the day was going so well!
Lady Une was used to be dealing with difficult operatives, but the current situation had even her frustrated. Out of *four* of her best operatives, *three* of them were behaving erratically.
Wufei was getting too emotionally involved in his assignment. She was appalled at his unprofessional conduct although hardly surprised. She was well aware how persuasive Treize could be. Treize was a man with grandiose plans and a master at manipulation. Where would Wufei fit into those plans?
And Trowa - *Trowa* of all people - had taken it upon himself to check out the alleged connection between the terrorists that kidnapped Quatre Winner and the White Fang, without clearing it with her first. His mission of rescuing the young Winner had concluded successfully, he should have came straight home then. Even Heero had reported back after providing backup for him.
Duo had proven to be unresponsive to the conventional programme of retraining and she had to put him in a new and more extreme programme of attitude adjustment. It wasn't something she liked doing - the operative after the treatment inevitably loses something of himself - but she had no other alternative.
The only one left functioning normally was Heero.
She'd have to ask him to make another report on his mission to Arabia, this time concentrating on Trowa's actions. She was going to get to the bottom of what made her most dependable operative behave so unlike his normal self.
Taking a break from the reports, Une decided to see for herself how the treatment on Duo was progressing.
At the very back in a series of sterilised rooms of the Angels Medical Centre, were the new treatment rooms for Behaviour Adjustment.
Duo was strapped on to a metal bed, on his head was a hamlet shaped headgear, used to control his brain waves and thought processes. He looked and pale and fragile against the gleaming metal, so very human, so very vulnerable.
It was difficult not to feel a little sorry for him, even though he *did* brought it on himself.
The doctors had reported that Duo was responding well to all treatments, and they had high hopes that he would be ready to return to work in a few days. Une was quite pleased.
Coming out of Duo's treatment room, Une met the last person she expected to see in this part of Angels Complex.
"Is there anything you want, Heero?"
"Yes," Heero straightened, looking into her eyes, "I wanted to see Duo."
"Duo is not allowed visitors."
"That information is on a need-to-know basis," Une replied coolly. Her mind working furiously, Heero had never shown concern over anyone before, least of all his loud-mouthed fellow agent. What had promoted this sudden interest in Duo's welfare now?
"Come along," Une walked pass him breezily, "I need to go over your last mission again…"
Heero took one last look at the door to Duo's treatment room, before he turned and followed Une.
Make that *four* out of her *four* best operatives were behaving erratically.
It was a beautiful summer day.
Treize had the cook to prepare a picnic basket for him and Wufei, and they had taken it into the rose garden, where they intended to spent the rest of the afternoon.
They spread a blanket under a green leafy tree, and laid down with Wufei's head pillowed on Treize's shoulder, Treize's arm circled around the small waist of his young lover. The birds were chirping among the trees, summer breezes sending wave after waves of rose fragrance, lazily, holding together, they watched the clouds going by.
"I love it here," Wufei sighed softly, "So peaceful…"
Treize nuzzled Wufei's hair.
Wufei smiled, sighed again, "I don't want to get up."
"You don't have to get up, Dragon."
"But at times like this," Wufei shook his head, "everything is so beautiful, so perfect. I always get the urge to grab my paint brush, to record every detail, so I would never *ever* for get this moment."
He craned up to look into Treize's eyes, "Because life is a series of moments, and it's moments like this that make life worth living."
Treize felt his heart melting at that simple sentiment, he pressed a tender kiss on Wufei's forehead, "Every moment with you is unforgettable, Dragon."
But the talks about paintings had brought to mind something that he had been meaning to talk to Wufei about, but he was loathe to disrupt the tranquillity of the moment. The disquieting thought must have showed on his face, and Wufei was getting too good at reading him.
"Something the matter, Treize?" Wufei asked, a little frown on his face.
Treize decided there was no point to put this off any longer, "Have you heard of Lady Noventa, Dragon?"
"Lady Noventa? The famous art critic?"
"The very same one." Treize agreed, "I showed her some of your paintings, and she was very interested. She's organising a show for aspiring young artists, and she would very much like for you to submit some of your work."
Wufei stiffened in his arms, his voice sounded suspicious, "You showed her my paintings? When?"
"When you were out working," Treize replied, careful not mention his opinion on the wastefulness of Wufei's talent in spending time doing tourists' portraits. Again. They had already had that argument. For some reason, Wufei seemed to actually *liked* drawing over-weight, badly dressed tourists.
"I asked you not to get involved, Treize," Wufei couldn't keep the frustration out of his voice, he moved to get out of Treize's arms and sat up.
Treize sat up with him, a little hurt at Wufei's reaction. He didn't expect Wufei to be overjoyed to hear the news, but Wufei could be a little more - gracious - about it.
Wufei was sitting stiffly with his legs pulled up and arms around his knees, his posture radiated discomfort. Treize suddenly realised what the problem was.
"My apologies," Treized offered sincerely, "I only wanted your talent to be recognised. I would do the same for any other talented young artist. You should not care what other people say."
"Treize…" Wufei sighed, looking back at his lover, "I don't care what people say, I know that you…" he swallowed, "…trust me. But I'm happy where I am."
"Making sketches for tourists?" Treize was dismayed, "You deserve better."
But Wufei had that sad look in his eyes again, that melting look, making his eyes large and luminous, "You don't understand," he offered a sad shaky little smile, "I would have been content to spend the rest of my life making sketches for tourists." He shook his head, "I guess I'm not as ambitious as I used to be."
But why? What happened to change that? Trezie wanted to ask.
Whatever happened to make this brilliant young man content to spend the rest of his life in obscurity? They had been lovers for weeks, and yet Treize still knew so little of his lover. Wufei clammed up at the merest mention of his past life, and Treize didn't dare to push him.
But he knew whatever that was in Wufei's past, it couldn't have been good, and it was crippling to the young man even now. Once again Treize wished that he could go back in time and make right everything that went wrong in Wufei's life.
The quietness of the rose garden was suddenly broken by the sound of quick steps of high-heeled shoes clicking on the stone lanes, bright blonde hair appearing between the hedges, a second later the figure of Dorothy Catalonia coming up towards them.
"Mr. Treize," Dorothy greeted him, her eyes slid to Wufei, roving over him. "I see you're enjoying your off-duty time, Sir," her smile was full of insinuations.
That immediately got Wufei's backs up, his face became impassive, the look in his eyes was far from friendly.
Treize stood up to greet Dorothy and Wufei followed suit.
"This is Lady Dorothy Catalonia, my Second-in-command," Treize gestured to Dorothy, introducing them, "Dorothy, this is Chang Wufei."
"I'm pleased to finally meet you," Dorothy held out her hand, almost purring, "I see that you're *everything* I have heard you to be."
Wufei took her hand, resisting the urge to squeeze. Dorothy unpleasantly reminded him of Une. That mocking smile was more than he could stand.
Treize decided to get this meeting over with as soon as possible. He could see that Dorothy was deliberately trying to get a rise out of Wufei and Wufei was just hot tempered enough to oblige her.
"Dorothy, is there urgent business that brought you here?" Treize asked with just a touch of impatience.
"Of course, your Excellency. My apologies for interrupting your off duty hours, but these require your signature," Dorothy thrust out a folder filled with papers towards Treize, "I'm afraid they're quite urgent."
Treize took the offered papers and quickly flipped through them, then added his signatures. He gave them back to Dorothy. "Now, if there is nothing else…"
"No, Sir, please forgive my intrusion," Dorothy apologised.
"Of course, please think nothing of it."
She smiled at Wufei, "You have fulfilled *all* my expectations, Mr. Chang. I'm looking forward to seeing you again."
Wufei gave her a sharp nod, all his senses were sending alarms down his spine. This girl was dangerous.
Dorothy turned to leave, but she turned around after taking only a step, smiling, she said, "I had almost forgotten, the Sank and Winner Kingdoms have just announced the formal engagement of Relena Peacecraft and Quatre Raberba Winner. I thought you'd like to know, Your Excellency."
Treize nodded, "Thank you, Dorothy. That's excellent news."
"Would you be going to the wedding, Sir?" Dorothy asked innocently, "I'm sure Prince Milliard would be pleased to see you again."
Treize could practically *feel* Wufei stiffening beside him, and he cursed the girl under his breath. Of course Wufei knew about the rumours about him and Milliard, everyone did. But it was a bad time to bring it up after the argument they just had. What did Dorothy think she was doing?
"I'll decide that *after* I received the invitation. Thank you, Dorothy." Treize replied coolly.
Dorothy dipped a graceful courtesy and departed in good spirits.
The lovers that she left behind were another matter all together.
Treize looked over at his lover, Wufei's arms crossed over his chest, his eyes still focused on the narrow stone lane on which Dorothy had left, as if to guard against her coming back.
Dorothy often had that effect on people.
"She's not a witch, Dragon," Treize commented wryly, "She doesn't worship Satan or eat babies on full moons."
Wufei shot him a sceptical look, "Are you sure about that?"
Treize chuckled, "Dorothy isn't that bad. She just likes to provoke people." His eyes grew distant as he remembered the little girl who used to follow him everywhere. "She was bravest child I had ever seen. She was never afraid of trying anything. She fell off a tree once, broke her leg in three places, but she never cried. That's what I always admired in her, her spirit, not like the rest of her family…" Treize shook his head, he didn't want to continue.
The obvious affection in Treize's voice calmed Wufei. Maybe he *had* been overreacting a little. Wufei put the troubling encounter with Dorothy out of his mind, he would think about it later, right now he was going to enjoy their time together.
He sat back down on the blanket, motioning Treize to sit down beside him. Treize moved with a grace he had always admired in the older man. He knew that Treize fenced, and for a second he mourned for the fact that he couldn't pit his skill against the other man in a fair duel.
Dragging the picnic basket over, Wufei began set out the food, Treize rose to help him. They didn't speak, the silence that settled over them was comfortable. The harmony that Dorothy disrupted was back again.
Wufei poured them each a glass of wine. Holding the tall glass against his lower lip, he gazed at Treize thoughtfully through his lashes.
Treize noticed that Wufei was looking at him as though he had never seen Treize before, and he felt a little uneasy under the scrutiny, "What are you thinking, Dragon?"
"Hmm… I was just thinking about what you said about Dorothy, what she was like as a child. I realised you were a child once, too," Wufei shrugged, "I never thought about that before. You always seemed to me to be…"
"Old?" Treize lifted one brow. Compared to Wufei, he often felt old.
"Larger than life," Wufei replied, "like the common, ordinary details of life shouldn't apply to you. But that's wrong. You are just a man, just like the rest of us," his voice dropped into a whisper, "only human."
This conversation disturbed Treize on levels he couldn't quite comprehend, "I don't want you to see me as more than I am, Wufei. I only want to be your lover," he said teasingly, "not your God."
Wufei smiled at that, "Don't worry, Treize. There is no chance of that *ever* happening."
"So tell me something about yourself," were you a happy child? What was your family like? "Who was your first lover?" The question was out before Treize could stop it. He could bite off his tongue.
But Wufei didn't seem to be upset at the intimacy of the question, only nervous. He ducked his head, the black silk of his hair fallen forward in a tumble. It was getting longer, and Treize hoped the boy wouldn't cut it. Wufei drew circles on the blanket with his finger, looking unsure.
"He… he's a boy my age… he has beautiful green eyes…" Wufei paused, hesitating, looking up at Treize, his heart in his eyes, "My first lover, he has cornflower blue eyes, ginger hair," he gave a small, tentative smile, "and strange forked eyebrows."
Wufei's words warmed his heart, and Treize leaned in and captured the small mouth in his own, giving the boy a long, lingering kiss. The boy tasted so good, Treize could kiss him forever.
When Treize drew back from the kiss, he was gratified to see the faint blush on Wufei's cheeks and the happiness in his eyes.
"You are so beautiful," Treize caressed one smooth caramel cheek.
The blush grew deeper, but Wufei was smiling, "So are you. I don't think people tell you that often enough."
Treize pulled the boy into his arms. Wufei laid his head on his chest with a contended sigh. They held each other, rocking slightly, floating in the sweetness of the moment.
Wufei turned his head, his eyes meeting the beautiful blossoming roses surrounding them. The roses, as always, reminded him of Treize, of how much Treize cared for life. "You know the names of every rose here, don't you?"
Treize smoothed down Wufei's silky hair, "Of course, Dragon. I planed every inch of this garden with the gardener."
Wufei smiled at that, "Then you could tell me what everything is called?"
"What about that red one…" Wufei pointed in a vague direction.
"There are quite a few of red roses, Dragon. Of *which* do you mean?" Over sixty percent of the roses in the garden were of various shades of red.
"The ones that are next to the white ones," Wufei gestured again, equally vaguely.
Treize sighed, Wufei was an intelligent and knowledgeable young man, but he knew next to nothing about roses.
Wufei grew impatient at Treize's non-answers, he dragged Treize up with him and over to the roses in question. Dozens of dark velvety flowers greeted them.
"Ah, yes, these are called Velveteen, see these triangular petals?…. The white ones - actually light cream - are called Champagne."
Treize walked along the pathway, starting to get into this, "The lavender-blue coloured ones are called Blue Nile… And this…" he stopped in front of a few dozens magnificent yellow roses, their petals tinged with pink, forming large classic hybrid tea blooms, "…is the world's most famous rose - The Peace Rose."
"Peace?" Wufei's interest was piqued.
"It was introduced formally on April 29, 1945, the day Berlin fell in the World World II. To commemorate the end of the war, Conrad Pyle christened the rose 'Peace.' A example of how the humanity perseveres, even in the worst of circumstances."
Wufei's eyes warmed, the roses in front of him suddenly weren't just roses anymore.
"It's revered for its perfection of bloom," Treize continued, "Winston Churchill called it the most beautiful rose in the world."
"It *is* beautiful," Wufei agreed empathetically.
Treize smiled, putting one arm around Wufe's shoulders, "Yes, but it is not perfect. It's not as hardy, remontant, or fragrant as some other roses, all these qualities have been traded away for the large flowers."
"You mean that Peace is more fragile than it seemed," Wufei replied with a hint of sadness in his voice, "I already knew that." He touched petals gently, "How could anyone prefer war to this?"
"But don't you believe there is beauty in war, Dragon," Treize asked.
Wufei stiffened, turned around to face Treize with large, shocked eyes, "How could you say that?"
"War is a noble pursuit," Treize insisted, trying to explain his ideals to an incredulous Wufei, "battles are fought between humans striving to better themselves, and in the very act of fighting bravely, they glorify themselves and the human race…"
Wufei's jaw dropped to the ground, he felt he had dropped into twilight zone, he couldn't believe the crap that just came out of Treize's mouth. Treize couldn't possibly be serious!
"What about the innocents caught in the middle of the battles, what about the hearts and minds it's destroyed," Wufei interrupted him, his voice raising with anger and disbelief, "War is ugly, destructive and savage. It brings out the worst in human nature."
Treize was shocked at the venom of Wufei's words. He was afraid he suddenly found out what past tragedy caused Wufei such scars.
"Wufei…" he put a hand on the boy's shoulder, trying to offer…something to calm the boy down.
But Wufei shook him off angrily, stomping off into the depth of the garden. Treize looked after the boy's departing back longingly, but he didn't try follow. It was better to give the boy some space.
Wufei felt like weeping, which was ridiculous for someone his age. But the pain in his chest was threatening to make his heart burst. The last time he felt so hurt was years ago. He didn't think anything could affect him that much ever again.
You are so *weak*, Wufei!
Meiran would be ashamed of you.
In his dreams, Wufei could still see devastation of his childhood home, smell the odour of blood and burnt flesh. He could still remember crawling on the bloodied ground, frantically checking through the blackened, damaged bodies, seeing only the empty, dead eyes of his people, and all the time, praying for one - just *one* person to be still alive.
Treize didn't lose his whole *Clan* to war!
Wufei was used to men who use war to further their own ambitions, to gain power and wealth. He could understand it, if not accept it. But to desire war as some kind of idealistic *dream*, to throw thousands - millions - of people into chaos for some kind of *whim*…
Wufei typed in the password, and he wasn't even surprised that the computer accepted it and let him inside.
And now, all of OZ's secrets lay open before to him, all of Treize's plans. All Wufei had to do was to look. And Wufei was deeply afraid of what he would find.
Closing his eyes, Wufei took a deep breath. He began the search.
The evidence was damning. Laying across the pages were the intelligence reports on the political activities of the Middle-East, detailed plans of how to use the political instability and terrorists actions to instigate war, the proposed plot to assassinate the peace-loving Sultan of the Winner Kingdom…
Wufei's heart grew colder and colder as more and more of the evidence of Treize's complicity was revealed in front of his eyes.
How could this be? How could Treize do this?
Automatically, Wufei pushed in a disk and copied everything. Shutting down the computer with shaky hands, he stood up awkwardly.
His hand brushed passed the corner of the table and a book fell off - his sketchpad - the pad fell open to a pencil sketch of a familiar face, a handsome young man with forked eyebrows, the corner of his mouth turned up in a sardonic smile.
Slowly, Wufei bent down and picked it up.
Inside the paper, Treize smiled at him.
The face of an enemy; the face of a target; the face of a murderer…
And Wufei's heart broke into a thousand pieces.
Delivering the disk to Une was the hardest thing Wufei had ever done. He couldn't wash out the taste of betrayal in his mouth. But what else could he do? Let the Sultan die?
Une had ordered him to stay in place until the day scheduled for the Sultan's assassination arrived.
Wufei didn't know how he could face Treize for that long.
Every day from then on was torture. Wufei had tried to act normally, but his emotions were all over the place. He was angry, guilty and resentful by turns. And he bit his teeth together in order to prevent any emotion to escape its leash. He just grew more and more silent each day.
On the last day, Wufei packed up his easel and brushes, making as if leaving for another day of tourists' painting. Standing on the front steps of Treize's estate, looking back for the last time, Wufei absently rubbed his thumb over the naked skin of his left wrist.
His old room at Angels' HQ was still the same, but Wufei felt he had came back a different person. His world had been turned upside down, and he had no idea how to find his equilibrium again.
Lying on his soft bed, Wufei stared at the white ceiling.
There was a small, deeply buried part of himself - a part that he never even acknowledged to himself - that had dared to hope for the impossible... Now that all hope was gone, he found himself empty again, more so than he ever had been before, the emptiness so immense that he could feel nothing else.
Closing his eyes, Wufei didn't notice the odourless gas released from the air pipe and filtered into his room.
Wufei woke up feeling cold, opening his eyes, he found himself on the cold slab of a metal table.
He swallowed hard as he realised where he was - The White Room - the torture chamber feared by both the prisons and the operatives of the Angels alike. No one left the White Room without spilling all his secrets, and most of them didn't leave at all.
What had he done to deserve this?
The coldness of the metal underneath him chilled his skin, he was in five points restraints, making all movement impossible. He tugged at the bonds, knowing it was useless, but couldn't help to try nonetheless.
Naked. Vulnerable. Helpless.
Not a state he wanted to be in.
"I see that you're awake?" Came Une's cool voice.
Wufei turned his head to look at Une, his face remained impassive, even though his heart was pumping frantically against his chest.
"What's this about?" he asked, his voice neutral.
"Oh, Come on, Little Dragon. Let's not play games," Une chided him, tapping her foot, "You know what this is about."
Wufei reigned in his frustration, frustration was far better than fear, "Why don't we pretend that I don't know so you can enlighten me?"
"All right," Une gave him a false smile, straightened up, clasping her hands behind her back, and began in a clipped tone, "The operation to prevent the assassination of Sultan Winner failed. The information we received was inaccurate and misleading. The resulting outcome was the lose of half of our team. The team leader was shot sixteen times while attempting to get his men out of the ambush. The Sultan was pronounced dead on arrival in the hospital, three bullet wounds, two in the heart, one in the head…"
The information was inaccurate and misleading…
The information that *he* provided. Their death was on his hands. No wonder Une had him in the torture room, this was all his fault…
The team leader was shot sixteen times…
"Who?" he was afraid to ask, "Who was the team leader."
Une gave him a look that could freeze ice, "Heero Yuy."
Heero was dead. It seemed impossible. How could Heero be dead? Heero was the best of them. How could he just gone like that?
My fault. This was all my fault.
"What did Treize offer you?" Une's voice, edges sharpened with disgust, "Freedom? Eternal love?"
Wufei's eyes widened in shock as the implication of Une's words sank into his brain.
She believed I did that on purpose. She believed that I betrayed Angels, betrayed the last three years of my life. How could she? I did the hardest thing I ever had to do. And it still turned out to be a disaster.
"Nothing," Wufei answered warily, he almost didn't care if she believed him or not, "I did not compromise my mission."
Une scrutinised him coldly, "We'll see about that."
She turned on her heels and left the room.
A shadow detached from the wall and came into Wufei's view, a shadow he wasn't aware of before, but the least surprised to see - Doctor J - Angels' resident torturer, Lady Une's trusted left hand.
Dr. J's face was expressionless as he busied himself with pre-torture preparation, testing various machines, attaching wires to Wufei's head and chest… generally trying to make Wufei feel even more nervous than he already did.
But paradoxically, Wufei relaxed. The worst thing that could happen now was pain and death. And Pain was an old friend, death no longer held power over him. The only thing Dr. J could get out of him was the truth, and truth was nothing he feared.
A blindfold covered his eyes and needles pierced his skin, containing the usual cocktail of drugs, one would increase the sensitivity of his skin by a factor of ten, the other would slow down his thought process and make it harder for him to think.
And then he waited, in the darkness, in the silence, for the questions and the pain begin.
He waited a small eternity.
And when the pain finally came, it was staggering. He was perversely pleased that he didn't scream out loud, not for the first few rounds, but very soon that didn't seem to matter.
The torturer methodically tormented his body. Pain was magnified, every inch of his over sensitised skin was scorched by fire. And he couldn't breath, couldn't shout, couldn't think of anything beyond the overwhelming agony.
Then a voice came, sinister, demanding, "Why did you betray your mission?"
"I didn't…" Wufei struggled to get the words out, "innocent…"
And the agony continued, doubled, tripled, multiplied, his body was burning, inside and out, until all he could beg for was the blessed blackness, to black out, or to die, it made no difference. The pain was a living thing, eating him whole, swallowing every tiny bit of him up and spit him out.
The voice came again, insistent, relentless, "Why did you betray the Angels?"
No No Nononoooonooooo! He didn't! If only he could make them believe…
This pain, this suffering, this never ending agony tearing through him was going to break him apart… He was going to die if this continued. It was a comforting thought…
Abruptly, the pain stopped. It was so amazing that Wufei could barely believe it. He inhaled shakily - but before he could exhale - it was back…
Not pain this time - Pleasure.
A pleasure so intense he was shaking with desire, his erection sprang up, despite the torment his body just went through a few seconds ago, pulses of electricity shot through his body, setting his nerves on fire, his whole body was crying out to be touched… He writhed in the restrains, whimpering and begging shamelessly…
"Are you in love with Treize Khushrenada?"
No No Nonoonoooo! No more questions! Please, he just want…
And the searing pain was back.
And it continued on and on and on. Pleasure and pain; Pain and pleasure. Changing, alternating, one into another, until finally all sensations blurted together, his exhausted nerves couldn't decided which one was which anymore. Pleasure and pain became the same thing.
"Yes." he answered calmly. It was only truth. Of course he loved Treize. He loved the man with everything in him.
The torture had cleared his mind, brought him to the edge and back again and again, he was cleansed of all self-doubts and distractions, his mind a clear white snowfield, now he could see everything with so much clarity.
"What would you have done for him?"
"Anything," he replied, without hesitation.
"Did you betray Angels for him?"
"Would you have betrayed the Angels for him?"
And finally, there was blessed darkness.
The second time Wufei awakened he was still locked down on the metal table. The blindfold had been taken off, but he didn't open his eyes. He couldn't remember how the most of the session had gone, it was all a blur, and he was grateful for the lack of knowledge.
Une's voice. And after his ordeal, even that cool voice was welcoming. One way or another, it was finally coming to an end.
"I believe that you did not betray us on purpose. You were misled." Une said, one cool hand brushing over his heated forehead, "Treize set you up."
Wufei's heart stopped beating.
He couldn't hear anything beyond that, just that one sentence vibrating inside his skull, over and over again, getting louder each time…
His mind was frozen, his body numb, just that one sentence amplifying and expanding inside his brain until it was all he knew…
The End of Chapter Three.
