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"A Little Less Normal"Written By: Clara Barton Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing. The following is an intellectual exercise with no intention of profit. That said, these characterizations, words, and situations are mine. Please ask before reprinting.
Warnings: AU, Yaoi, Lemon, Language, Angst, Romance Pairings: 3x2, 1x5, past 3x4 Summary: Trowa Barton starts a new job and intends to start a new life, free of complications like falling in love with your boss. But life doesn't go as planned, and Trowa struggles to find balance between work, love, and handsome strangers. A/N: This fic will feature several different pairings - and probably not the ones that you expect after a first glance. This is told in third person POV, but it will switch to different characters with each chapter. While not a crossover, I definitely want to acknowledge that the TV series, "Dirty Sexy Money" and the movie Two Weeks Notice both influenced me to write this. I would appreciate any feedback, whether it be negative or positive, criticism or lavish praise. Lavish praise preferred.
"A Little Less Normal "
Treize Khushrenada was a collector. He appreciated things of complex, dangerous beauty, and he coveted such objects. His art collection was perhaps the most formidable of any private collector in the world; his collections of medieval and Asian weaponry were surpassed by none and he frequently loaned out items to the MET and even the L'ouvre. With his family's ancient name and equally ancient wealth, Treize could buy very nearly anything he wanted, at any price. His career as an investment banker was merely to pass the time between his acquisitions and the endless social events his position forced him to attend. His lifestyle allowed him to travel the world and to look for rare and exotic artifacts to add to his collection. His zeal for collecting surpassed man-made objects, however, and extended to the men themselves. Since his youth, Treize had found few men – and even fewer women – to be worthy of his time and attention. Every once in a while someone would catch his interest, but it wasn't only beauty that drew him. He wanted that sharp edge of danger, the conflict and his own, inevitable, conquest of another human being who had once been confident that HE had no equal. Those were Treize's most prized possessions – the looks in the eyes of the men he had conquered. Once upon a time, he had been on his way to adding Heero Yuy to his collection. Had, in fact, been so close as to already begin the process of looking for a new conquest. But his plans had been ruined, all of his careful work, his years of research and positioning – ruined over night. He had lost Heero, and he had spent the subsequent two years plotting a new strategy. Of all the men he had bested, only Heero Yuy had slipped away. And of all the men that Treize had collected, Heero Yuy was undeniably the most attractive. His wealth and position in society had given him a confidence that surpassed arrogance, and had blinded him to the danger of becoming involved with a man like Treize. If only other members of the Yuy family had been similarly blind, Treize would be sitting on a fortune twice the size of his current inheritance and he would, no doubt, have Heero trailing along behind him, an obedient and conquered pet. It seemed that fortune had smiled upon Treize again, however, when he received the phone call from Thomas Darlian detailing Odin Lowe Yuy's will. Treize had laughed aloud when Darlian announced that HE had a chance to inherit control of the vast empire. The sort of job was hardly one he wanted, but he was interested in the challenge it presented. The door that Odin had left open for him to creep back in through. His second chance to conquer Heero Yuy. It was an opportunity he could not deny himself. His legion of assistants had spent a week compiling all of the information they could on Heero Yuy, Duo Maxwell, Wufei Chang, and the new threat, Trowa Barton. When Darlian had called Treize, he had devoted much of his opening tirade to how troublesome Barton was, and how Heero already seemed to trust and depend on him and was ignoring Darlian's own counsel. Treize appreciated the opportunity for a greater challenge, and he set about learning everything he could about Trowa Barton. The other plays – Yuy, Chang, and Maxwell – he was familiar with from years past; nonetheless, he had his assistants compile up-to-date dossiers on them as well, and as he poured over the information they provided him, a plan began to formulate. Treize knew that Heero appreciated and trusted Wufei Chang almost as much as he mistrusted and despised his own brother, Duo Maxwell. It had been a curious move, for Odin to appoint Duo as CEO, but, from a business standpoint, Treize had to agree with Odin's reasoning. As much as Duo himself might disagree, he had the right mindset and the perfect instincts to chair a company like Yuy Inc. However, his relationship with Heero meant that the partnership was doomed to fail, unless extraordinary restraint had been learned by both brothers in the years since Treize had seen them. Trowa Barton was still very much a wild card. While Treize now knew more about the man than his own family likely did, Treize was still unsure just how much Heero trusted him, and what role he would play in the great game that Treize was about to embark on. The fact that Heero was alienating Darlian and turning to this new source for advice was telling. But then, Heero had always been too quick to trust – especially when confronted with a handsome, intelligent man who seemed to appreciate and share his sense of honor. It was the tactic that Treize had first used to beguile Heero, and he had no doubt that Trowa Barton – whether the attitude was manufactured or genuine – had done the same. So, conquering Barton would be an essential part of Treize's strategy. He would also need to drive a wedge between Heero and Duo – not difficult, considering the past those two shared – and he would need to utterly destroy Duo's ability and confidence to function as the CEO of Yuy Inc. But the first step, and the one he would enjoy perhaps the most, was to bring Wufei Chang to his knees. Treize was well aware of his own sense of entitlement – after all, he was Treize Khushrenada – and whenever he encountered men with similar self-assurance, he typically laughed in their faces or set about the process of proving to them just how weak they truly were. Wufei Chang, however, was perhaps one of the most arrogant and entitled men Treize had ever met. And his confidence in himself was unshakable. His sense of honor and duty stronger than his need to breath oxygen. He had hated Treize on sight, when they had first met six years ago, and his loathing had only seemed to increase upon each meeting. At first, it had amused Treize. However, as his plans to conquer Heero Yuy had progressed, and Wufei had become more of an obstacle, his amusement had waned. He had tried his usual attacks, focusing on Wufei's private life. Even after Wufei's marriage had ended in divorce, with considerable help from Treize, and his daughter taken away from him, the man was still intolerably full of himself. Treize had thought over that for the last two years, and realized that while family was certainly important to the Chinese man, it was his ancestors that meant the most to him. So, this time around, Treize was going to strike out quickly and destroy Chang International.
By Thursday morning, Treize was the majority shareholder in the public stock of Chang International. He spread the word to his peers in the investment world that Chang International was about to be indicted by the United States government for fraud, and his network had convinced almost all of Chang International share holders to dump their stock. By Thursday afternoon, he flooded the market with his own shares and practically bankrupted the company in the span of four hours. On Friday morning, after Chang International stocks were being traded at their lowest worth since the company's inception, Treize bought out the company and promptly fired Henry Chang and had his lawyers file suit against the man for fraud and corruption. By five that evening, Henry Chang had been admitted to Mount Sinai after showing signs of a heart attack. In the span of two days, Treize had completely transformed the world that Wufei Chang lived in. No longer was he the heir apparent to one of the most successful international organizations in the world; no longer was he the son of a proud and singularly honorable man. Now, he was out of work, and ministering to an ailing man who would very shortly be notified of the changes being brought against him. Wufei Chang's world had been destroyed. Treize wanted to savor the downfall of the proud man, and so he delayed a confrontation with the man until the following week – although he sent a luridly ostentatious bouquet and signed card to Henry's hospital room. He decided that he needed to meet Trowa Barton in person, and, according to Darlian, Heero was taking his new lawyer to a baseball game just that evening. Baseball had never appealed to Treize. It lacked the finesse of football and the violence of rugby. Without those two key elements, he found the American pass-time unspeakably boring. However, he knew that Heero worshipped the game and would be completely off-guard if Treize approached him at Yankee Stadium. He arrived late in the game – the fifth inning was just ending – and he paced the air conditioned confines of the luxury box he had reserved until the seventh inning stretch. At that break in the game, he made his way down to the seats behind the Yankee dugout that had been Odin's favorite place to watch his beloved Yankees. He knew that Odin had also purchased a luxury box, and several other seats in the stadium to woo clients with, but those seats behind the dugout had been the ones that Odin and Heero shared – the exact same seats Odin had held at the old Stadium – ever since Odin had first taken Heero to a baseball game at the tender age of three. When he approached, he noticed that Heero was alone. Treize scowled, hoping that he had not wasted this trip by having Barton stand him up. Treize stood in the aisle a moment and admired the man he had long coveted. Heero was like a dangerous animal, all coiled muscle and calculating gaze, and Treize appreciated that even more than he appreciated Heero's unusually exotic features. "Heero, what a surprise to see you here," Treize after a moment more. He had the satisfaction of seeing Heero jerk upright at the sound of his voice. The other man turned to him, his face devoid of the emotion that Treize knew had to be pounding in his veins. "Less of a surprise than seeing you here. I didn't think you enjoying the pedantic pass-times of us colonists," Heero sneered. Treize laughed, that reserved, urbane chuckle that made Heero's hair stand on end. "I was persuaded to attend the game by an associate, who promised that I find something worthwhile in the excursion." Treize raked his cold gaze over Heero. "And lo and behold, he was right." Heero's fists clenched involuntarily. Treize watched in amusement as he forced himself to relax. "I wanted to offer my condolences on your father's passing," Treize said, his voice nowhere near the level of sincerity that it should have been. "Hn." "I had a curious call, a few days ago, from an…acquaintance of mine. It seems that Odin's will was highly irregular, and that he had left quite the mess for you to clean up." Treize's eyes danced with laughter. "Anything I can do to help?" "No, thank you. I can handle it." "I'm certain you can," Treize murmured, allowing himself to smirk. It was at that moment that Trowa Barton arrived, hands clutching two large cups of beer, and a curious, slightly wary expression on his face. He stopped on the step above Treize and looked him over with the same intensity that Treize observed the man with. He was impressed by Barton – he was even more handsome in person than in the photos Treize had looked at. His green gaze was piercing, even mesmerizing, and held no small amount of irritation. Perhaps this was going to be even more fun that Treize had originally thought. Heero reached around Treize and took one of the cups from Barton. "Thanks," he said. He didn't bother to introduce the two men. Treize waited for Barton to introduce himself, but the other man remained silent. "I don't believe we've met," Treize said, turning to Barton. "Treize Khushrenada." He held out one hand. "Trowa Barton." Barton reluctantly gave him his free hand. Their touch was quick and firm, and Treize appreciated that. He despised those who tried to prove something with a handshake. "Pleasure. I see that you don't share Heero's passion for the Yankees," Treize said, looking over Trowa with an appreciative gleam in his eye, admiring the way the fitted Red Sox shirt clung to his upper chest. "No," Trowa agreed. "But I do share his passion for the game. Which is starting again." He nodded to the field behind them. "And we seem to be blocking other people's views. Perhaps we should all return to our seats?" Treize's eyes froze. He hadn't expected someone as lowly as Barton to dare infringe on his game. At most, Barton was supposed to be an intriguing knight, but certainly no threat to Treize's ultimate plans. The fact that he was casually insulting him changed things. "Modern convenience never ceases to amaze me," Treize said, ignoring Trowa's suggestion and instead leaning casually against the center railing in the aisle. "fifty-thousand people crammed into this coliseum, each with different seats and different views. And yet, any one of them can look up into center field and view the game on a two hundred foot digital screen. Even if someone happens to be blocking their view of the game." Barton's eyes narrowed and Heero actually winced. "Was there something you wanted to discuss that is of such vital importance that it can't wait until after the game? Or perhaps a meeting we can schedule for next week?" Trowa asked, his voice calm and icy. Treize smiled over Trowa's head at Heero. "Is this your secretary? I applaud your taste! I wouldn't mind the chance to stare at him every day as well. Do you keep him late? Just to watch him file paperwork and clean your desk?" A muscle in Trowa's jaw jumped as he ground his teeth together. "He's my lawyer, actually. And a friend. And we were attempting to enjoy an evening away from the trivial annoyances of work." Heero arched an eyebrow. "Since that doesn't seem possible, what is it that you want?" Treize shrugged. "I merely heard that Yuy Inc. was looking to expand into certain areas of development and I wanted to suggest a few corporations you might be interested in partnering with." "Then, perhaps, as Trowa suggested, we should meet next week." "Perhaps. I'm not sure these particular opportunities will still be available after the weekend. Things change so rapidly in our world. Just look at Chang – poor man's company was completely destroyed in the span of two days and now he will likely go to prison. If he doesn't die first." Treize shrugged, as though the matter bored him. " I'll have my secretary call yours? Or him?" Treize asked, with a smirk at Trowa. "Or would you like to call her? I can give you her number. It's actually convenient to bring an assistant along to social functions, Yuy, I applaud your idea. An excellent way to provide oneself with amusement and companionship. I wouldn't go so far as to call someone I pay a friend, not when we have so little in common. Still, I'll have to bring mine next time." Trowa had clearly had enough and pushed past Treize to get to his seat. In the process, he bumped into the taller man and spilled most of his beer on his expensive suit. "So sorry," Trowa muttered and sat down, promptly ignoring everything except for the baseball diamond in front of him, which he glared at with fierce intensity. Heero shrugged. "Probably want to try and dab some of that out before it dries," he recommended to Treize before he too sat down. Treize glared at them and then stalked off, leaving them to find what little enjoyment they could from the game. Even though he was irritated at the damage to his suit, it did not compare to his anger over how much Trowa Barton's mere existence was going to wreck his plans. Not only was Barton entirely too confident and combative, but it was clear that Heero already trusted and respected the man. Not only as a work colleague, but as a friend. Treize couldn't decide whether or not the two were involved – it was obvious from Heero's gaze that he was attracted to the man, but Barton had been a mystery. Treize wracked his brain, recalling the information he had gathered on Barton's previous relationships. Quatre Winner was beyond Treize's manipulation, even though his presence would certainly have benefited Treize's plan to separate Heero from Barton. So, instead, Treize would have to rely on Zechs Merquise to distract the young lawyer. Perhaps he would provide him with an interesting legal obstacle as well. Smirking to himself as he left the stadium, Treize started to recalculate his plans. He had learned, over the years, that leverage was the key to manipulating every situation. So long as he had the greatest leverage, he could control everyone around him. Treize already knew the leverage to use on Heero, he hoped he had discovered the correct leverage to control Wufei, and Duo would be easy enough to control. After all, the man WANTED to be controlled, unlike the others. It was only Barton that he had to figure out. Most of his plans were put on hold for the weekend, and he amused himself with his other pursuits: gardening and horseback riding. After two days of such relaxing activities, Treize was ready to throw himself back into the elaborate game he had created. And he was ready to win. He had already lost once with Heero Yuy, and he wasn't about to let it happen a second time.
On Monday morning he had his favorite lawyer contact the city judge who had granted Duo Maxwell temporary custody of the street urchin he had adopted and the man was convinced to move the court date to that week, on Thursday. His lawyer next tracked down the junkie mother of the girl and dumped her in a rehab center, had her apartment cleaned, refurnished, and restocked with food and clothing. That evening he stopped by Mount Sinai, hoping to find Wufei glued to his father's bedside. He was not disappointed. As he looked into the small window, he had to pause at the scene before him. Henry Chang looked feeble and very, very old under the harsh fluorescent lighting. Wufei sat by his side, bowed head in profile to Treize. His spine was still so straight that it looked to be made of steel, but the look in his eyes was chilling, even for a man like Treize. It was not a look of defeat, but one of determination. Treize almost turned to leave, but he reminded himself of who he was, and he opened the door without knocking. Wufei's fierce black gaze was instantly upon him. "Get out." Treize smirked. "Come now, you won't even let me pay respects to a former business associate. Does your hatred know no boundaries?" "Does your greed?" Wufei challenged. He stood and Treize was actually grateful that the hospital bed separated them. "Greed? Ha. And here I thought we understood each other." Wufei's eyes narrowed and he seemed to be recalculating his view of Treize. It was while he did so that Treize did some recalculating of his own. Before, Treize had always written off Wufei as a necessary and secondary adversary, a minor conquest on his way to victory over Heero Yuy. But now… Wufei's beauty was undeniable. Even in the terrible lighting, and even with sleeplessness and self-recrimination scarring his face, there was a certain elegance and nobility of his features that Treize had overlooked before. As for danger… Treize knew that Wufei had trained well in the martial arts. He was, perhaps, even more of a challenge than Heero Yuy was. "It's all a game to you. Destroying people's lives. Conquering the will of others and ruining the legacy they have created." Treize was actually impressed. "I derive no pleasure from destruction. But, occasionally, a little fire is necessary to allow for new growth. I am a collector, Wufei, of beautiful and dangerous things. I didn't realize, until this moment, that you were worthy of being added to my collection." Wufei's eyes burned with hatred. "I am no object and I will not be possessed by you." Treize quirked an eyebrow upwards. "Ah, but you will be possessed. I wonder… ah ha. Now it all makes sense. Of course you didn't care if your marriage to Meilin Wong ended. She was a duty you fulfilled. Never a desire." Treize had slowly approached Wufei during this speech, so that by the end he was able to whisper the last words against Wufei's ear. He felt the shorter man shudder. "I will not submit to you," Wufei growled, but he didn't move away from Treize. He chuckled. "Possession, submission, Wufei, are you giving me instructions on how you like to be fucked?" He brushed a hand along the slight curve of Wufei's muscled rear. That statement and his action forced Wufei to step away, to back down, and Treize smirked at the angry red flush on his cheeks. "Leave my father in peace," Wufei said in an angry, whispered plea. "Because you can't save him? Because you have failed?" Treize injected sympathy into his voice, and Wufei's gaze turned nuclear. "If it's me you want, then come and get me," Wufei demanded. Treize chuckled. "I am," Treize assured him. "But I have to amuse myself somehow." "If you have any honor, you will leave him in peace. " Treize tapped a finger on his lips as he considered Wufei's words. "Strip naked and kneel before me, submit to me right now. Right here. And I will drop the lawsuit against your father and allow him to die in peace." Treize nodded towards the man in the bed. He knew that there was no possibility of Wufei fulfilling his request, but the look on his face was worth it. Wufei turned nearly purple with rage. He jerked his shirt off angrily, buttons ripping and flying off into far corners of the room. He stood there, gloriously sculpted chest heaving with angry breaths, and glared at Treize. "You are depraved," Wufei growled. "This is the closest I will ever come to submitting to you. Get out of my father's room or I will call security. Do not come back here and do not contact him." Treize took a moment longer to enjoy the view, and assured himself that Wufei Chang would submit to him. He bowed his head and left the hospital room.
On Tuesday he decided to drop the lawsuit against Henry Chang. It actually amused him to think that now Wufei would be in his debt for the action. His next move was to offer Wufei his previous position as CEO, for twice the salary he had earned under his father. Predictably, Wufei refused. Treize had a thirteenth century Masamune katana delivered to Wufei's home on Wednesday morning. He wondered if the man would be able to return such a priceless gift, or if Wufei's loathing of him was complete enough that he might actually be moved to destroy the precious sword. At three that afternoon, Zechs Merquise arrived on a private jet at JFK. Treize had a car meet his old friend, and brought him back to his Upper West Side penthouse to recuperate after the flight. Zechs looked as handsome as he ever had, long blonde hair loose around his shoulders, his standard uniform of a fitted gray suit, solid red tie, and classic white shirt setting off his austere features. He smirked as he was greeted by Treize and accepted the scotch that the older man presented him with. "It's been too long, Treize," he said and then took a sip of the scotch. He closed his eyes in pleasure at the taste, and Treize was forcibly reminded of just how attractive the other man was. It had been years since they had been physically involved. Zechs had begun as one of Treize's many conquests, but their relationship had evolved into a friendship. While not equals, Zechs was as close to an equal as Treize had ever allowed any man to become. He respected Zechs, even after his conquest, and he found the man to be a valuable ally. "I appreciate you taking the time to visit." Zechs shrugged. "I was only vacationing in Patagonia. And I was intrigued by your proposition." Treize smirked. "Yes. It seems that I have it within my grasp to control Yuy Inc." Zechs arched an eyebrow. "I thought his sons inherited the company?" "They did. Assuming they can tolerate each other for the next year." Zechs leaned back, a predatory gleam in his eyes. "Do tell." Treize outlined Odin's will, and the rumblings of discontent from Darlian and other board members. "Fascinating, and no doubt it will present you with a minor challenge. But, why am I here?" "Trowa Barton." He watched the expressions that came over Zechs' face. Surprise, then anger, then a look of pure lust that Treize wished had been directed at him, and not the memory of Trowa Barton. "What does he have to do with anything?" Zechs asked, voice carefully neutral. "He is Heero Yuy's new lawyer, and Yuy is disgustingly infatuated." Zechs' jaw clenched. "And Trowa? Does he reciprocate the infatuation?" Treize shrugged. "Hard to tell. But he presents an obstacle to my plans and I want him removed. Heero trusts him too much, already, and I need Heero to be isolated and completely without allies for my plan to succeed." "You want me to seduce Trowa." "I want you to do whatever you want with him. If you want to fuck him, by all means. Unless you grew bored of him and tossed him aside? Is that why he ran away to Winner?" Zechs' blue eyes looked frozen, and Treize knew that he had struck a nerve. "Oh. Did he tire of you? How unusual. Are you losing your touch?" "Do not taunt me. I'm not as easy to manipulate now as I was at nineteen," Zechs said in a furious whisper. "Oh, but you are," Treize assured him with a cruel smile. He jerked Zechs to his feet by his tie. "We have a gala to attend this evening. But in the meantime, I could do with some entertainment." He released Zechs and left the room, confident that Zechs would follow.
~ * ~ tbc... |
