Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Victoria Base Affair ❯ Recovery ( Chapter 9 )

Chapter 9: Recovery

Zechs was floating in darkness. Am I dead?, he wondered. He remembered the ambush, the rogue mobile suits springing up from nowhere all around them, and Sheldon screaming for backup. The battle was painfully clear in his mind. He might have escaped if he'd been alone, but he knew Sheldon couldn't keep up with him if he ran, and Zechs refused to abandon a comrade, even to save his own life. They had managed to get back to back, but they were too outnumbered; the outcome was inevitable. He remembered Sheldon going down, the terrible scream of agony as his Leo blew apart. Zechs suspected it was the explosion from Sheldon's suit that had knocked him flying and driven him into the ground, but he wasn't sure. He remembered little after that.

Except that he thought he remembered hearing Treize's voice and trying to apologize for his failure. The thought of Treize filled him with regret. He had let Treize down. And now he was dead and he would never see Treize again.

But this cottony limbo was not what he had expected after death. Nor was the dull ache that was starting to radiate from somewhere on his left side, trying to blossom into full-fledged pain. Then the left side of his head started to throb. He moaned.

"Are you in pain, Lieutenant?"

He was definitely not dead. He tried to answer, but his throat did not appear to work right. He managed a croaking sound. Now he could hear the soft hum and click of machinery around him, and the sound of rubber soles scuffing across a vinyl floor.

"This should help," said the same friendly female voice.

An instant later, soothing relief washed through his body and the pain receded. He decided to try opening his eyes. Dim light greeted blurred vision and he blinked several times, trying to bring the world into focus. The nurse appeared in his field of view and he shifted his focus to her handsome brown face.

"Would you like some water, Lieutenant?"

"Yes," he croaked, surprised that he'd gotten out a recognizable word.

She reached for something out of his view and produced a cup with an angled straw, which she held against his lips. He sipped the water, savoring its coolness as it moistened the inside of his mouth and washed the gritty feel from his throat.

"Thank you." His voice sounded almost normal.

"I'll go tell Colonel Kushranada that you're awake. He's been very worried." The nurse patted his shoulder and smiled before disappearing.

Zechs closed his eyes and smiled, too. Treize was worried about him! He let the painkiller soothe him back to sleep.

"They told me you were awake."

The sound of Treize's voice pulled Zechs instantly out of his doze. His eyes flew open and he stared up at Treize's face, filled with joy at the sight. But then he remembered what had happened and dismay struck him.

"I'm sorry, Treize. I shouldn't have been taken by surprise. I cost Sheldon his life."

"No, you didn't," Treize answered gently. "You never had a chance. You probably kept Sheldon alive longer than anyone else could have." He touched Zechs' right cheek with his fingertips. "Don't blame yourself."

Then he leaned over Zechs until his face was so close that all Zechs could see were his dark, beautiful, worried eyes. "Don't ever do this to me again, Zechs," he whispered. "You're the only thing in this world that truly matters to me."

He touched his lips to Zechs' in the gentlest, most loving kiss Zechs had ever experienced. He closed his eyes and fell in love with Treize all over again.

"Is Lieutenant Merquise awake, Lord Treize?"

Treize straightened up quickly, his eyes catching Zechs' for a moment before turning to answer Lady Une standing in the doorway.

"Yes, Lady Une, but he is still quite weak."

He stepped aside so Une had a clear view of Zechs, and he of her. There was an odd look on her face and Zechs wondered if she realized they had been kissing. Knowing how she felt about Treize, he doubted she would take such knowledge well.

"It is good to see you recovering, Count Zechs," was all she said, however. Her eyes shifted back to Treize. "General Catalonia has called an emergency staff meeting."

Treize nodded. "Thank you, Une. I'll be right there."

Une saluted and left, pulling the door shut behind her. Treize looked back down at Zechs.

"Get well quickly, Zechs. I'm going to need you."

"I'm always at your service, Lord Kushranada."

- - - - - - -

It was a relief to be out of the hospital. Zechs looked around his small room in the barracks. Someone had been keeping it clean for him, because there wasn't a trace of dust anywhere. It was just like Treize to remember the small details. Zechs was tired and it annoyed him. The walk from the car to his room wasn't that long, but it had left him winded. His injury and the long recovery had left him horribly out of shape. He would have to work hard to get back into fighting trim. He pulled the chair out from his small desk and sat, but stood again immediately when someone knocked on his door. He opened it to find Treize leaning against the frame with one hand, the other resting on his hip.

"How do you feel?" he asked promptly.

"I'm fine, Treize. Come in." Zechs stepped aside so Treize could enter. He glanced into the hall to make sure it was empty before closing the door behind him. "I'm ready if you need me," he added.

"No you're not," Treize replied good-naturedly. "You've been bedridden for a month. I'll give you a few weeks to get back in shape."

Zechs frowned and flopped down on the bed, staring up at the ceiling. "I hate this," he growled. "There's a war going on and I should be out there with you."

"You will be." Treize seated himself in the chair. "Anyway, it's a lull right now. The rebels are regrouping after we kicked their butts in Miloscz. We think they're running low on supplies, so we've beefed up the security around all the storage facilities in the region. You have some time."

"That's a relief." Zechs rolled his head to the side and looked at Treize throw the curtain of his bangs. His hair had grown in the hospital, it seemed. "Have you replaced Sheldon yet?"

"Not yet. Since I can't get my first choice, I'm taking my time."

"Who's your first choice?"

"Lucretzia Noin. Do you know her? She was in your class. She spent her junior year in cadet training with me in the Colonies. She's an instructor at the Victoria Base Academy now and I haven't been able to convince her to leave."

Zechs smiled. "Of course I know Noin. She was second in my class. I barely beat her at the alumni games last year. We're good friends." He sat up on one elbow. "She used to talk about you all the time. I was terribly jealous."

Treize looked surprised. "Why would you be jealous? You knew you were the only one I loved."

"Yes, but she got to spend time with you. I was jealous of anyone who got to spend time with you." Zechs sat up. "Can you stay for a while?"

"You just got out of the hospital, Zechs. I think we should wait a little longer before we…"

Zechs interrupted him with a low growl. "I won't break, Treize, but if you don't make love to me right now, I WILL go insane."

Treize blinked once and then moved to the bed. He put his arm around Zechs' waist and kissed him. Zechs put his arms around Treize's shoulders, sliding his fingers up into the soft brown curls of Treize's hair, and pulled Treize's mouth hard against his, kissing hungrily. Treize had come to see him every day in the hospital, which had been wonderful and maddening at the same time. Arousal washed through him, hardening his penis and making him ache with desire. Treize began to undress him and Zechs leaned back, letting himself be stripped. When he was naked, he caught Treize's shoulders and pulled Treize down on top of him, wrapping his legs around Treize's hips.

"Are you sure I'm not hurting you?" Treize demanded breathlessly, his mouth sucking eagerly at Zechs' neck.

"Not fucking me is hurting me," Zechs gasped back. He yanked open Treize's pants and pushed them down over his hips. "Please!" he moaned. "I need you!"

Treize took him. Zechs arched up against him, crying out in ecstasy and pain. His long illness had allowed his body to forget how to accept Treize's big, rock-hard erection. He rolled his hips up, lifting his heels up over Treize's buttocks and opening himself up more. He dropped his head back and made himself relax. Then Treize drove all the way into him and his mouth fell open in a silent scream of sheer pleasure. Every deep, hard thrust was a spear of utter ecstasy. His fingers dug into Treize's back. Orgasm wracked him and he buried his face against Treize's shoulder so his cries could not be heard outside the room. It felt like his penis would never stop spurting and each pulsing explosion submerged him in another wave of pleasure.

Treize was gasping in his ear, his hips riding up and down as he plunged himself into Zechs faster and faster. Then his gasps turned to a deep grown of joy and he stiffened as he came. He lay still for a long time afterward, momentarily spent by the force of his ejaculation.

"Zechs Merquise, you are the only man I know who can make me act against my better judgment." He lifted up onto one elbow, propping himself up with the opposite hand.

Zechs smiled, stroking his fingers down the middle of Treize's back. "You said I needed to get back in shape. I think regular sexual activity will improve my stamina and flexibility tremendously." He let his legs straighten out. "And I truly did need you." He met Treize's eyes. "Do you know what I was most afraid of, when I thought I was going to die with Sheldon?" Treize shook his head. "I was afraid I would never see you again."

Treize gazed at him in silence for a moment, before leaning down to kiss him gently. "I was afraid of the same thing," he said softly. He kissed Zechs again and then pushed up onto his hands, pulling out of Zechs at the same time. Looking down at the front of his uniform, he shook shook his head in dismay. "How am I going to explain this? You've soaked me." He smiled as he spoke.

Zechs nodded toward the little sink embedded in the side wall. "Rinse it off and tell anyone who asks that I was sick. I just got out of hospital. They'll believe it."

Treize nodded. "It'll have to do." He moved to the sink to clean up. "I want you to start attending the daily briefings, even though I won't have you resume your regular duties for a few weeks. I want you up to speed."

"Yes, sir," Zechs replied. He began putting on his clothes. "I won't let you down again."

"You didn't let me down, Zechs." Treize turned off the water and came over to place a comforting hand on his shoulder. "If you had died, that would have been letting me down." He leaned close and favored Zechs with a long and gentle kiss. "Today's briefing is in one hour. Don't be late."

Zechs stared after him long after he was gone.

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Would someone PLEASE review? *insert really big puppy eyes* Please?