Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Victoria Base Affair ❯ Painful Good-byes ( Chapter 5 )

Hello everyone! This chappy has a sad ending. I almost cried!

Rune Essence: Guess what, this is the last chappy before the fraternization rule don't apply…not that I can post that part here. And mom says 'thanks for the complement.'

Visitor-to-the-Echoside: HEY! I know you! Anyway trust me the rest is way better! O, and incase you wanted to know I started writing the next chapter of Acting.

Thanks to the other two who reviewed! Here's the next chapter!

---------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------

Chapter 5: Painful goodbyes

The third day of combat ended up being easier than the second. Treize wasn't quite sure why. Perhaps they were just comfortable working together now. Or maybe it was because everyone else had just accepted the inevitable. In any event, they came through their last battle seemingly without effort, and found themselves being lauded for the achievement of reaching the final tier. Treize still felt their opponent at this point should have been Alexa Barnard, but instead they would face Dalken Curzon.

Dalken Curzon was ranked third in their class, but he was convinced he was better than everyone. He did not accept that Treize and Alexa were both ranked above him. He was certain that his lower ranking was because Alexa and Treize both were members of the Romafeller Foundation and he was not. Treize suspected that it had more to do with Dalken's inherent arrogance and the fact that most people didn't like him. Dalken also had a tendency to always give himself the most important position in training sessions, so he always had a chance to show off his skills. He never bothered to utilize the skills of people on his team, unless he had to. He had already earned several individual honors in the games, which suited his personality. In Treize's opinion, it was probably just luck his team had made it this far.

Reviewing the recordings of Dalken's battles, Treize concluded that he could beat him, if he chose to be particularly vicious. Dalken relied on his strength and speed. But Zechs was undoubtedly faster. Much faster. And Zechs had better instincts. Treize looked at his team, waiting expectantly for his instructions. They all had that relaxed, confident look that comes from knowing one will win.

"Until now, we've worked very closely as a team, and that's why we've won." There were nods all around. Treize continued. "Today, we're going to make one small change. Zechs, I want you to engage Dalken in single combat." Zechs blinked in surprise. "He will expect me to challenge him, and he will leave the rest of his team to sink or swim on whatever defensive plan he's set up. It will probably be a good plan, but he won't have planned for me to be on the attack. Lady Une, I want you to defend the flag. Yuki, Jane, Nguyen and Chris will provide your perimeter. The rest of us will take offense." Treize grinned humorlessly. "Dalken will think he can make quick work of you, Zechs. I expect you to eliminate him quickly in the most humiliating way possible and then help us take their flag."

"He's very good, Treize," Zechs replied.

Treize's grin widened. "Yes, he is. But frankly, I think you're better."

"Yeah, you can take him, Zechs!" Yuki chimed in.

"Stick it up his nose!" Chris shouted.

"Or somewhere else!" Boris, another teammate, added with a harsh laugh.

This inspired several even cruder remarks about how Zechs could humiliate Dalken and he finally smiled. "I am at your command, Lord Kushranada."

The battle was everything Treize wanted. Zechs crushed Dalken in less than a minute, sidestepping Dalken's overconfident charge and knocking him face first to the ground, where he sprayed the fallen Leo's shoulders and knees with machine gun fire, knocking out the servos so that Dalken couldn't even turn over. Which meant he wouldn't be able to exit his suit until the mechanics came out with their big equipment to turn the Leo face up. Without their captain, the rest of Dalken's team lost confidence and they folded quickly, allowing Treize to capture their flag with little effort.

All of Dalken's honors would seem hollow now. He'd been beaten, badly, by a first year student. Treize hoped this would also make Alexa Barnard look better. Her team had put up a much better fight. He exited his suit and walked to where the team was rushing over to mob Zechs, pounding him on the back and tousling his hair. Zechs was smiling broadly, but his face simply lit up when he saw Treize. He struggled to free himself from his teammate's hands and straighten his uniform as Treize approached.

"Did I do all right, sir?" he asked, still smiling.

"That was perfect, Zechs. Thank you." Treize smiled back. What he wanted to do was enfold Zechs in his arms and kiss him until the rest of the world disappeared, but instead, he extended his hand so that Zechs could clasp it in a comradely shake. He looked around at the rest of the team's beaming faces. These were good people. They deserved this victory. "We'd better go get cleaned up for the awards ceremony," he told them. "Thank you, everyone, for a job well done. I never had any doubt we would end up here."

"It's an honor to serve with you, Lord Treize," Lady Une spoke for all of them.

- - - - - - -

Zechs stood in front of the mirror in his room, examining his reflection. His dress uniform was utterly spotless. His boots gleamed brighter than the stars at night. His face was clean shaven and his hair was brushed until it shone like liquid silver. No freshman had ever stood on the stage to receive an Academy Achievement Medal before, but that wasn't why he was staring at his reflection now. He wanted to make Treize proud. His performance, his appearance, everything about him for the rest of the evening would reflect on Treize, and Zechs would do nothing to embarrass him.

A knock on his door drew him out of his contemplation, and his heart skipped a beat when he opened the door to find Treize waiting on the other side. Treize looked every inch the nobleman, even wearing his Academy dress uniform. His brown hair was brushed into smooth waves, but stray curls still spilled against his forehead. His dark eyes sparkled with pleasure at the sight of Zechs.

"You look very handsome, my dear Count," he said softly.

Zechs stepped back so Treize could enter the room. Knowing full well that he shouldn't, Zechs closed the door behind him. Treize turned to face him, his eyes boring into Zechs'. He moved closer and Zechs took an instinctive step backward, but he was stopped by his back bumping into the door. Treize leaned against the door, his hands resting on either side of Zechs' head.

"I would much rather spend this evening alone with you, Zechs," he said, "but we have a duty to perform tonight." He leaned closer, until his face was mere inches from Zechs'. "I hate thinking about it, but I will graduate soon, and then we won't see each other at all anymore."

Zechs stared back into Treize's dark eyes. His pulse was racing and desire made him ache all over. "Then kiss me and don't talk about it."

If Treize was surprised by his request, he didn't show it. He leaned the rest of the way in and pressed his lips to Zechs'. Zechs opened his mouth and stroked his tongue against Treize's lips. Treize responded by opening his mouth and sliding his tongue between Zechs' lips. They kissed deeply for a long time.

"Lord Treize, Count Zechs, we're going to be late." Lady Une's voice on the other side of the door startled them both.

Treize quickly stepped back, instinctively straightening his uniform. Zechs did the same before pulling the door open. Une's eyes narrowed slightly as she looked at them, and Zechs wondered if she suspected. He wondered how long she had been standing on the other side of the door. But she said nothing. She just turned to lead the way down the hall and Treize moved out to follow her. Zechs closed his door and trailed after them, trying once again to focus on making Treize proud of him. There was still the ceremony and banquet to get through, after all.

- - - - - - -

Graduation was simultaneously the proudest and the saddest moment of Treize's life. He had worked hard to get to this point. He'd earned his position as first in his class and he accepted the award with appropriate modesty. But graduation meant being posted away from the Victoria Base and he did not know when he would be able to see Zechs again. Even suffering with unfulfilled desire seemed better than not seeing Zechs at all. But nothing could be done about that. There always had to be an ending, it seemed.

But Treize was not going to leave without saying goodbye. The graduation ceremony was held during the day. The Romafeller Foundation would be hosting a graduation dinner in the evening, at which Treize would be the guest of honor, so he had to attend, but until then, he was free. And Treize knew where he could find Zechs. He borrowed a car and drove out onto the training field, heading west. He found Zechs well away from the Base on a small hill, sitting on the hood of a car he'd borrowed, watching the sun set. Treize parked his car next to Zechs and climbed up onto the hood to sit beside him.

"I hoped you'd come," Zechs said without looking at him.

"You knew I had to," Treize replied. He put his arm around Zechs. "I'll be leaving after tonight."

Zechs sighed. "Then this is our last night together." He looked at Treize, his blue eyes shining with unshed tears. "But I'm still a student of the Academy. Fraternization is still forbidden." He cupped Treize's cheek in his hand, staring at Treize hungrily. "I would give anything to make love with you."

Treize very nearly lost control. He pulled Zechs into his arms and buried his face in Zechs' hair. "I love you more than anything in this world, Zechs Merquise," he whispered. "Never forget that. I will find a way for us to be together, I promise you." He held Zechs tightly, afraid to move, afraid to let go, because he didn't know what would happen if he did. Zechs held him just as tightly, the soft whisper of his breath tickling Treize's ear.

"I will always be yours, Treize Kushranada, whether we are together or not."

Treize didn't kiss him. At this time, in this place, to kiss him would be the first step into lovemaking. He released Zechs and slipped to the ground without looking at him. "I will come back for you, Lightning Count." He drove away without looking back.

---------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------

:: sniff ::

Ryo: (sigh) There is the end of their school days together. For all ye faithful the next chapter will be a good one. But if you read it here it will be edited.

Sucks don't it? If you want to read the real thing go to mediaminer.org and you can look for the fic by it's name or by my pen name there : Riyo Dragon. Now review and tell us what you think. You know the more people who do the sooner the next chappy will be up.