"Breathless"

Written By: Waterliliylf

Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing. All rights remain with Bandai, Sotsu and associated parties. No profit being made here.

Rating: R

Warnings: sap, angst, fluff

Pairings: 3x4, 13x2

Summary: Quatre finds himself introduced to an annoying young man, one he can't seem to get out of his head.

"Breathless"

Chapter 24:

In which Treize and Duo plan a quiet evening at home…

'Is it nearly over?' Treize asked, trying to make his voice as plaintive as possible.

'Twenty seven minutes.' Duo didn't bother to take his eyes away from the television 'You see that flat machine under the TV? That's called a DVD player, and the little red numbers on the left hand side say exactly how much time is left for the movie. Maybe I should have asked the shop to programme it with Roman numerals so you could read them?'

'Very witty. I don't know how you can watch this drivel.'

'No one's asking you to look at it. I thought you were reading.'

'Hmmm. It's rather hard to concentrate with you on top of me like this.' That was perfectly true. Duo's head's was nestled in his lap, and all that glorious hair was spread over Treize's thighs, seducing his fingers away from the book in his hand.

'I could move,' Duo offered, and smiled when Treize pressed one hand down on his shoulder.

'Don't you dare.' Treize glanced away from his love's face to see what was happening on the screen. 'It's such a ridiculous plot; there isn't even any attempt to make it believable.'

'I'm not watching for the plot,' Duo explained. 'It's got cool action scenes and Hugh Jackman is really hot.'

'I thought our new rule was that we weren't allowed to make comments about finding other men attractive.'

'Other gay men,' Duo elaborated. 'Hugh isn't gay. Sadly. And look at it this way, if I'm going to drool over another guy, wouldn't you prefer me to do it over a mutant from a comic strip?'

'That's rather a good point,' Treize admitted, bending down to kiss Duo's forehead. 'Love, since you're not interested in the actual plot, maybe we could find something more amusing to do before dinner?'

Duo's mouth curved into one of his delicious smiles. 'Dream on. I never said I didn't want to see what happened. Now shut up for a bit, OK? I didn't talk when we went to the opera last week.'

'You listened to your iPod.'

The smile broadened. 'Only during the boring bits. Seriously, if you want to talk about preposterous plots, just look at pretty much every opera you've taken me to. No sense whatsoever.'

'If you're going to insult my favourite hobby, which happens to be one of the world's greatest art forms, the engagement is off.'

Duo's eyes gleamed. 'Well, you stop slagging my movie. Opera's pretty cool, really, 'specially when you've got a private box, and can find other stuff to do during the interval.'

'That is very….. cool,' Treize agreed, remembering the advantages attached to having one's private box.. 'Are you quite sure you don't want to pause the film and watch it later?'

'Wow, Duo marvelled. 'You actually implied that you know something about technology. Better watch yourself; you'll be googling stuff and getting a FaceBook account next. And, yep, I'm totally positive. There'll be other stuff I want to do later.' He snuggled down a little closer. 'You know what I'd really love right now?'

'I'm sure I can imagine.' Treize stroked that soft, silky hair, loving the feel of it, and let his hand move on downwards, taking his time about it.

'Some yummy popcorn with butter melted all over it.'

'It's all gone. You ate it.'

'More in the kitchen. Whole bags of it, just needing a couple of tiny seconds in the microwave.'

'Off you go then.'

Duo pouted. 'A loving fiancé would get up and make it for me.'

'A loving fiancé might possibly ask what he'll get in return.'

'Lifelong love and devotion,' Duo said promptly.

'I was under the impression that I already had those.'

'Huh. You've been very full of yourself lately.'

'How can I not be?' Treize asked whimsically. 'The most amazing man in the universe has agreed to spend his life with me. Of course I'm feeling smug.'

'Doesn't the most amazing man in the universe deserve a little treat?'

'Possibly. But that would involve me having to move, and I'm quite comfortable like this. Of course, if you were to make me an offer I couldn't refuse, I might possibly be tempted.'

Duo groaned eloquently. 'I should never have bought you that 'Godfather' boxed set. How about wild jungle sex after dinner?'

'Tempting. Definitely. But I was rather counting on that anyway.'

'Wild jungle sex with an opera of your choice playing at full blast?'

'Very acceptable, seraph. Would you like a drink with that?'

'Maybe some juice or something?' He grinned at the expression on Treize's face. 'It's Quat, OK? He's always hassling me about drinking too many sodas.'

'Juice it is then. And you'd better have room for your dinner afterwards.'

Lashes dropped deliberately over one indigo eye. 'I promise, I'll have room for anything you care to give me.' He followed that up with a suggestive little pout, and ran the tip of his tongue across his upper lip.

They watched the last minutes of the film in silence, broken only by Duo's soft sighs as Treize worked fingers caressingly through that beautiful hair. It was a perfect, perfect evening; just the two of them and the shaggy mound of the dog on the floor, tongue industriously cleaning out the remnants of butter from the popcorn bowl.

The perfect end to a blissful day spent together. He hadn't seen much of Duo since they'd got back from Nova four days ago; he and Quatre had been too busy playing nursemaid for Trowa, poor unfortunate man. It was high time they had a day to themselves, so they'd spent the morning walking Laragh on the beach, lazed away most of the afternoon in bed, and then Treize had embarked on preparations for an elaborate dinner, while Duo sat at the kitchen table and peeled and sliced and chopped and showed off his knife-throwing skills when that got boring.

'This is so nice,' Duo said quietly as the final credits rolled on the screen. 'Just the two of us, like this. You know, I'm sort of glad Tro and Quat turned down the invite to dinner. Did I tell you, they're going bowling?' He twisted around to see Treize's face. 'Yeah, I know. I can't imagine it either.'

Treize laughed, tangling his hands in Duo's hair and twisting the strands around his fingers. 'Well, he's very good at pétanque, so maybe that will help. And he does seem very attached to Trowa; I'm sure he'll be happy just to spend some time with him.'

'He is a smitten kitten all right,' Duo agreed. 'They're pretty cute together, actually, with Trowa pretending he doesn't like being fussed over and really lapping it up. It's nice for him to have someone to pamper him a bit. Like I've got you. Oy! Are you playing cat's cradle with my hair again? It's not a toy, Treize! And the rest of me would quite like a bit of attention.'

'Oh, now you decide you want to play? Dinner should be ready in a few minutes, and I refuse to let it spoil.'

'We could just order pizza.' Duo threw his head back, smiling. 'Later. Much later.'

Treize gave the locks of hair in his hand a slight tug. 'I've spent hours, hours, preparing that meal, slaving over a hot stove. We are not going to do anything of the sort. Now come on. We can feed each other, and I'm planning to take dessert upstairs and use you as a serving dish.'

'Whipped cream?' Duo let himself be pulled to his feet and followed Treize into the kitchen, perching on the table.

'Warm chocolate cake and passion fruit sorbet actually. Suitably sticky and spreadable. If you're good.'

'Mmm. I like the sound of that. Oh, that smells great.' Duo sniffed happily. Laragh was weaving in and out of their legs and whining gently at the smell of meat as Treize took the beef out the oven. 'What do I get if I'm not good?'

'You'll find out.'

'I'm looking forward to it.' Duo stuck a finger into the pot of mashed potatoes and sucked. 'This is yummy. What did you add to them?'

'Wholegrain mustard and Rocquefort. And a little of the whipped cream.'

'Ooh. And dessert?'

'Warm chocolate cake and passion fruit sorbet.'

'Yum. I love having a boyfriend who happens to be a gourmet cook.'

'Fiancé ,' Treize corrected, smiling, dropping a shred of meat on the floor for the dog.

'Fiancé, yep.' Duo took Treize's hand and clinked their two rings together. 'Anything I can do to help?'

'Actually, yes. I opened a bottle of red; it's down in the cellar if you wouldn't mind getting it?'

'Sure. That wouldn't happen to be a bottle of Malbec, would it? With delicate overtones of damsons and violets?' Duo grinned. 'God, you're such a sap.'

Treize laughed, transferring food to plates. 'A traditionalist, love. And before you start name calling, my lovely Scheherazade, may I remind you what book you bought for my birthday last year?'

'Oh, don't start that again! I'm not a girl!'

'I've noticed, oddly enough. Although you do have the perfect hair to match the illustrations.'

'Sap's obviously contagious. And you're a carrier. The incubator! And now I've been infected.' Duo headed for the stairs, then suddenly swung back and threw his arms around the taller man. 'I love you to bits. Totally and utterly.'

'That's good.' Treize buried one hand in the flood of hair tumbling down his lover's back, and ran the other over his body in a long caress. 'And entirely reciprocated.'

'That's all right then. Back in a sec. Come on, Laragh. Let's go and look for cellar monsters.'

Treize shook his head smiling as the pair headed out of the kitchen, Duo making sure to sway his hips a little, knowing he was being watched.

'You're going to traumatise the dog, talking about monsters down there.'

'She's a tough, brave dog,' Duo called back, laughing. 'And you always say…'

His voice stopped abruptly; there was silence for a couple of seconds, and then a heart-breaking crash.

'Duo!'

He was lying on the stone flagged floor of the cellar, blood streaming from a cut over his right eye. Bleeding; at least he was alive. Dead men didn't bleed. Treize had lost any shred of faith he'd ever possessed in a benevolent deity years before, watching men die under the scorching sun of Sudan but his mind was still shaping prayers as he felt frantically for Duo's pulse.

Please God.

'Sweetheart? Can you hear me?'

Duo's eyelashes fluttered open.

He blinked dazedly a couple of times and then managed to focus. 'Ugh. Guess the cellar monsters got me. Right?'

'Evil monsters,' Treize agreed, running both hands carefully over his lover's body. Apart from the gash in his forehead, there didn't seem to be any other injuries. 'We need to perform an exorcism. Duo, are you hurt anywhere? No, don't sit up for a minute.'

'Floor's cold,' Duo muttered querulously. 'I'm OK, Treize. What happened?' He lifted one finger to his face and felt the blood. 'Why'm I bleeding?'

'You fell down the stairs and cut your forehead on the corner of the last step. No, don't try to move for a minute. Love, how many fingers am I holding?'

Duo squinted. 'Um, three. No?'

Treize touched the finger he'd been holding up to Duo's cheek. Slurred speech; disorientation. 'I think you've got a very slight concussion. Are you hurt anywhere else?'

'No. Treize, stop fussing. I'm fine. Just a bit woozy. If you just let me lie here for a minute, I can walk back upstairs and lie on the couch for a little bit.'

'You're going to hospital.'

'No way!'

'No arguments.'

Duo, of course, argued that he was fine while he was being carried upstairs, having gauze pressed to his eye and deposited in the passenger seat of his car, and then dozed off before they'd reached the end of the driveway, only waking up once they reached St. Gabriel's.

'Shit. Treize, this is dumb. I don't need to go to hospital. I hate these places! You know, I'll probably spend the next five hours sitting in A and E so some student doctor can tell me to go home and rest and stick a plaster on my eye.'

Treize felt the tightness in his chest evaporate slightly. Duo sounded perfectly coherent, even thought some words were slightly slurred. 'I promise that won't happen.'

He was right of course. His grandmother had chaired the hospital fund-raising committee for almost twenty years, and the maternity wing was named in her honour. Two of his great aunts currently sat on the hospital board. There was no way that Treize Khushrenada's fiancé would be left kicking his heels in a crowded surgery.

Duo ended up in a private suite on the second floor, with the hospital's chief neurologist paged to see him, and a gaggle of nurses in attendance.

It didn't stop him grumbling, naturally.

'This is such a waste of time. You know that? I just need aspirin or something for my headache.'

'Of course, my love. Just as you say. Now sit still, will you?' Treize held his hand tightly as a a pretty nurse examined the cut, which was still bleeding sluggishly. If Duo had been cut an inch or so lower down, he could have lost an eye. He was not going to think about that.

'Stop humouring me.'

'Yes, darling.'

Duo made a face at him, not happy in the least with any of this. 'Can you call Tro? Please?'

'I already did. I've left a message.' It had been the last thing Duo had said before he'd dozed off. Treize had 'phoned on the drive to the hospital; something that was officially illegal in Sanque, but then he'd broken so many other traffic rules on the way that one more hardly mattered.

'Thanks. This is such a waste of time.'

'I know, but you are being considerate enough to indulge me.' Treize squeezed his hand gently, relieved to see the doctor walking through the door.

'Now, what seems to be the problem?'

'He has a cut in his right temple that's going to require stitching,' Treize said crisply. 'He's also sustained a mild head injury but it doesn't seem to be serious. He's complaining about a headache. He was a little disorientated at first and his speech was slightly slurred, but there was no loss of consciousness. Nonetheless, I'd prefer to have a CT scan done as soon as possible.'

'Don't listen to him!' Duo shot Treize a mutinous glare. 'He watches 'House' all the time, thinks he's a qualified doctor.'

'I do have medical training training, actually,' Treize defended himself.

'That was years ago in the army! Doctor, I'm fine; I just need a little plaster and I can go home.'

The doctor gave him a reassuring smile. 'I'm sure you're right, but I'm going to humour this very protective gentleman, just in case. One can't be too careful with head injuries. Mr. Khushrenada, may I ask you to step outside for a few moments?'

'I'd rather stay, actually. Don't you think you should attend to that cut before anything else? It's still hasn't stopped bleeding.'

'All in good time. Now, if I could just have a few moments with Mr. Maxwell? Nurse, perhaps you could show Mr. Khushrenada to the waiting room? Thank you.'

Between Duo glaring at him, and the petite, blond nurse laying a hand on his arm to lead him outside, Treize suddenly found himself on the wrong side of the door. How the hell had that happened?

'What the hell happened to him?' A new voice echoed his thoughts exactly; Trowa Barton was standing in front of him. 'How is he?'

'Well enough to argue with the doctor that he's perfectly fine and doesn't need to be here. I don't actually think he's that badly hurt; he has a cut over one eye that's going to need stitches, and I think a mild concussion.'

The lines around Trowa's mouth relaxed a little. 'Stubborn little shit, isn't he? What happened?'

'It was my fault. He was going down to the cellar to get some wine, and he tripped. There's been a nail loose on the top stair for weeks, but I've never got around to having it fixed. He was calling back to me; he mustn't have been paying attention and he fell.

'Hey.' Trowa's hand on his arm was a surprise; the first time Trowa had ever touched him like that. 'Stop beating yourself up. He's tough, and he's had way worse than that.'

'He shouldn't have to be tough in his own home,' Treize grated. 'It's the one place where I should be able to keep him safe.'

Those green eyes gave him an oddly penetrating stare. 'He's pretty good at keeping himself safe. He doesn't need you fussing over him all the time.'

Treize lifted his eyebrows. 'Let me see, I called you approximately forty minutes ago. If you were at home then, you must have broken speed records to get here, not to mention the sound barrier.'

'Touché, I guess. Although actually I was on my way into town' Trowa actually grinned at him, and then the nurse stuck her curly head out the door.

'Sir? We've administered a local anaesthetic and Mr. Maxwell is asking for you. Would you mind sitting with him while Dr. Morton puts in the stitches?'

Duo was sitting up, glaring. 'I hate you. I hate hospitals and I just want to go home. You better not let these people cut my hair. And what the hell did you call Tro for?'

'You asked me to. And I've called Joanna to dogsit so you don't need to worry about Laragh.'

Duo shrugged. 'Who's Laragh? Hey, Tro.'

Trowa stepped forward, taking Duo's other hand. 'Always in trouble, Max, aren't you?'

'I'm fine!' Duo drooped suddenly, flopping back on to the mattress. 'I could've just stayed at home, but this asshole dragged me here and he knows I hate hospitals. And he tried bossing the doctor around! Tro, can you get me out of here?'

'Behave yourself. Treize was worried about you. That's all. We'll take you home as soon as the doctor says it's OK, but they have to fix your cut first.'

Duo stuck out his tongue; at least there was nothing wrong with his motor functions. 'I can't fucking believe you two are ganging up on me. That's so not fair.'

'I'm sorry, Duo.' Treize bent and kissed the little frown between his lover's brows. 'I promise, I'll take you out of here as soon as possible. Love you.'

The scowl on Duo's face melted away magically and was replaced by the most beatific smile. 'Love you too, Tro.'

 

~ * ~

Chapter 25

Back to Waterlilylf's Page

Back to GW Authors Index.