Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ These Private Emotions. ❯ Part 7. ( Chapter 7 )

Disclaimers: Don't own Gundam Wing.

Warnings:Shounen ai, Une bashing.

A tall man whose raven hair that was pulled back into a familiar fashion climbed out of the already paid taxi and walked carefully to the closed gates of the Khushrenada's Home for Teens. He didn't take time to notice the handsome grounds or landscape, nor did he appreciate the scent of roses that was carried on the day's breeze. Glancing at his wristwatch the face read that it was quarter to two and that was the time he should drop by a Ms. Une had advised. Tired, ebony eyes sought and found the intercom and pressed the red button. The gates opened easily, as they were welled oiled everyday by the grounds care taker. Long legs made a quick trip up the driveway and the dark haired man entered the building.

The carefully picked, expensive decorated entry was met with a small snort from the visitor who wasn't used to such surroundings and made him feel a little intimidated. Standing up straight with pride, the man glanced at billboard by the nurses' office to where Mr. Khushrenada's office was located. Ms. Une said it would be easy to spot.

' On the second floor. That's fine. '

The halls were empty since classes were still in session and the dark haired man found his way up the stairway, feeling more confident with each step. So what if this Khushrenada was rich? He had more right to Wufei over anyone else. After all, he was the boy's father. Said man found Ms. Une's office and knocked on the door. A woman younger then himself greeted Wufei's father, as her looks left no impression on the Chinese man. He did note a calculating look hidden behind her eyeglasses and the over done smile on her face.

" Hello. You are Chang Wulee, Wufei's father correct? " She asked.

" I am, " he answered and shook her hand when she held it out. Something in the man didn't want to, but Chang did it out of politeness. After all, she had been the one to inform him of where his son had disappeared.

" Wonderful. Treize's schedule is free at the moment for your appointment so if you'll just let me inform him that you've arrived…" Une said, her voice having perhaps just a touch of too much glee? Chang had been puzzled at the use of the first name that was obviously her boss'. He may have been raised all his life in China and had just been here in this country for a little over ten years, but he knew that even if a secretary were friendly enough with one's boss, the use of the first name wouldn't be used during business to help keep a professional atmosphere.

" Mr. Khushrenada, Chang Wufei's father is here to see you for his appointment, " Une informed her boss over the desk intercom.

" What? " Answered a rich baritone voice, clearly surprised. Chang huffed. Was the man that busy? He doubted it.

" Did I forget to mention that his father has a two o'clock appointment with you, sir? I'm so sorry, " Une said in a voice that foreign surprise. There was a long pause before Une buzzed her boss. " Sir? "

" Send him in then, Ms. Une, " Treize replied.

" He'll see you now, " the woman said. She smiled, " Good luck. "

' Good luck? ' Chang was puzzled as he entered the office.

When Treize heard his door close after the man, he looked up and sized up Wufei's father. Having been informed by his dragon as to why Wufei had left home when the ginger haired man pressed the matter during a private dinner, Treize was going to court his panda baby with class, the young business man had already thought of ways to get the boy's custody later that very night when he retired to bed alone. Sally had already agreed to become the boy's guardian until he turned eighteen. He rose to his feet to greet the man.

" Pleased to meet you, Chang Wulee, " he said, falling into his businessman persona. There was no need to foreign friendliness with the man who used to beat on his son when he was drunk. Wulee looked sober enough and had even dressed in a suit in an attempt to look presentable as a parent. It was clear that Chang Wulee had been a handsome man in his youth, as he was ten years older then Treize and those years of boozing did little to help. His eyes weren't red, but he looked like a drunk sobered up enough for a once in a lifetime opportunity when it mattered.

" Mr. Khushrenada, " the older Chinese man nodded, shaking his hand.

" Please, have a seat. " Treize gestured to the two chairs set before his desk and sat down himself. He waited till Chang was comfortable before speaking, " Ms. Une failed to mention that you had an appointment with me, but I suppose that doesn't matter now. I have been meaning to contact you since Wufei took up residence. "

" Yes, Ms. Une seemed too good a secretary to forget something like that, " Chang remarked. Treize nodded. Wufei's father seemed sharp and able to pick up on subtle things. He would have to make sure he didn't get too personal regarding Wufei.

" So how may I help you? "

" I've come to take my son home with me. I appreciate you taking care of him when he ran away, but as his father, I'll deal with my son's welfare from now on. As his natural father, I'm sure the courts will agree that the boy belongs with me, " Chang said and sat back to see what Mr. Rich Business Man Khushrenada had to say to that. Child welfare organizations seemed to have a need to keep natural families together, sometimes at the expense of the child. Chang thought he would have a good case if he brought one of them into the matter.

Treize nodded, his fingertips together, his usual business gesture when dealing with a delicate case. He wondered if Une was listening in on this conversation. He knew that the woman had set both him and Wufei up by contacting the father. Sometimes she was too good a secretary. Treize would deal with her later.

" Just so you know, Wufei has only been with us for about a month to this date. He's been on the mercy of the streets and city centers when he left your home according to what Ms. Pose, our nurse has written in her file on the boy when she talked to him when Wufei first arrived here. As for your son's welfare, I'll get to the point, Mr. Chang; I seriously doubt he would be better off with you. "

" What?! How dare you. I-"

Treize held up his hand to silence the man and almost showed his surprise when Chang fell silent.

" You, sir, are a drunk and have been since your wife died. We here make sure to investigate our children's backgrounds if we ever need to make a custody case and Wufei has been very clear as to why he ran away. I pride myself on reading people and I can tell you've only sobered up for this meeting in the hopes of getting your son back. I have the resources, the funds, and the means to take you to trial to get your son's custody if need be, Mr. Chang. I doubt you do, even with whatever child's welfare organization you drag into this. However, Wufei has been through enough and I will not put that boy through a custody trail that is sure to get nasty. " Treize paused long enough to open a drawer and pulled out a few sheets of paper stabled together and plopped it down before Wufei's father. " This is a written agreement giving Sally Po, our nurse, custody of Wufei. She's very fond of the boy and a good friend of mine and bluntly, would be a better guardian then a drunken parent. All you have to do is sign on the underlined lines. No charges will be made towards you of child abuse or neglect. Wufei will be provided with everything he'll need till he's eighteen and will even be given a college scholar's ship after his high school graduation. "

Chang Wulee looked over the written agreement very carefully. There was no hidden traps, no fine line that needed to be picked over with a fine toothcomb. And at the moment, Chang was sober enough and in the right state of mine to sign the agreement with full knowledge of what each paragraph meant. A pen was placed besides his resting hand. Wulee just sat there staring at the papers for the longest moment, battling an inner war. What would he do if he brought Wufei home? The boy surely wouldn't trust him, would probably run away again to come back here no matter what a court order said, he barely had enough to support himself, let alone a son who was old enough to get a job himself. All of Ms. Une's urgent reasoning a few days ago when she called him fell apart once Mr. Khushrenada's own case was set before him. According to the written agreement, Wufei would have everything his son he and his wife had set out to do when they came to this country.

Treize sensed the man's inner turmoil and continued, less harsh.

" Think about what Wufei wants, what he deserves. And wouldn't you're wife want your son to be happy if his father couldn't support him? " Ah, that was the twist. Chang's head whipped up at the mention of his late wife. The anguish over the lose of his wife was still there and Treize intended on using it, hopping Wufei's mother wouldn't think bad of him using it against her husband. After all, he loved her son too. Working on the man's weak spot, he continued to coax Wulee with a tone he sometimes used to calm a small child, " I'm sure her son's happiness is what she would want. Don't you agree? "

Wordless, Chang nodded and signed the papers.

" Thank you, " Treize said and tucked the papers safely away in his desk, locking the drawer.

" I… " Treize looked up to see Chang standing.

" Yes? "

" I hope Wufei will be happy here and I hope Ms. Po is what you make her out to be. When my w-wife and I… I never thought I would loose her and I'm even more ashamed of what I've done to her son. She loved Wufei so much because he would be the only child she would ever have. " Chang looked up and he was blinking back tears from a lot of different emotions. " Tell Wufei for me that I hope he becomes a better man then his father. Good day, Mr. Khushrenada. "

Treize took a deep breath and released it slowly and stood up. " Mr. Chang, wait a moment please. " The man stopped and turned, a little more in control of his emotions and reminded Treize of his son for a brief moment. Treize reached into his pockets and handed him a card. Wulee looked at it, puzzled.

" Some people I know who might be able to help you, " the younger man explained. The older man looked it over before tucking it away in a pocket.

" Thank you, " Chang said.

" Before you go, who told you Wufei was here? " Treize asked. He had a feeling it was Une, the woman hadn't been too unobvious of her dislike of the boy and now Treize had an idea of why. Perhaps she thought there was a mutual attraction between Wufei and Treize, the boy maybe even having a crush on her handsome boss and wanting to get rid of the boy before he became eighteen. Treize smirked inwardly. The woman would have a fit and do something drastic, like getting the police involved, if she knew of the delightful episodes of making out he and Wufei had been up to recently.

" Your secretary. A few days ago she called me and told me I should come get my son for his own well-being. But clearly Wufei's better off here, " Chang replied. He added after a moment's pause, " I don't quite trust her. "

Treize burst out laughing, shocking the older man. " After this, neither do I, " he grinned and opened his office door. Both found the woman waiting. She frowned when Chang left, Treize not calling for his son to come join his father and leave.

" Ms. Une, Mr. Chang has informed me that you personal sought after him in regards of his son, even being well informed that the man is a drunk and has abused his son in the past. So tell me why you would purposely put Wufei in harm's way? " Treize asked, his cornflower blue eyes hard.

" But, sir- "

The man stopped her before she could utter what feeble excuse Une would try to come up with. " Save it, Ms. Une. I am dismissing you as of today. I find your attitude towards my staff, my business, the children, and myself unsatisfactory and unsavory. You'll clean out your desk tonight and I want you gone in the morning. Understand? "

" But sir! "

" Leave, Ms. Une, before I forget my manors, " Treize growled.

" Mr. Treize, if you'll just let me- "

" I said get out! " Treize shouted, raising his voice at a female for the first time in his life.

Une winched and quickly left her office as fast as her heels could take her. Treize released a long breath to calm him and entered his office. He sat in his chair and leaned back, pulling off his tie and undoing the first few buttons. He would have to hire a new secretary come tomorrow, but Treize didn't bothering worrying about that for long. Right now things in life felt …for lack of a better word, right.

TBC