"The House Sitter "

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: Yaoi, sap, fluff, angst, AU

Pairings: I take only partial responsibility for these. *coughs* Mention of 13x1, 2+3 (developing) 4xOFC, past 13x6, 3x4. Ahem….

Summary: Wufei considers house sitting duties for Treize Khushrenada'sresidence to be a gem of a job, but then the owner's ex arrives, makes himselfat home, and the obligation takes on an oblique, new facet.

"The House Sitter "

Intelligence Gathering:

The smell of coffee woke him the next morning; not that he'd slept particularly well. He'd fallen into a half doze a couple of hours after midnight, waking every hour or so to listen for any sounds that the house's other human inhabitant was stirring.

There had been only silence. He knew that Zechs had taken the room at the farthest end of the corridor; he'd heard the door open and close. It was still only a few metres away. A handful of footsteps. So very close. The feel of Zechs' body was burned into his skin; the places where his lips had touched gently. And all too briefly.

Then there had been one long, long moment, poised on layer upon layer of possibilities, when anything could have happened. Zechs had raised himself up one elbow and given him a long, searching look. Somehow, Wufei had managed to shake his head; so many objections rattling inside his brain and overpowering the simple fact the he wanted this. He wanted to have sex with someone he'd just met, and didn't particularly like, and thought he was in a relationship.

If Zechs, at that point, had made even the slightest move to touch him, or kiss him again, he knew that all those objections would have melted away. He hadn't. He'd just given Wufei a little nod, and an oddly understanding smile and left.

He'd brought himself to swift, shuddering completion with his own hand, imagining it was Zechs doing it, and then faced a sleepless night, filled with regrets and wanting and self-reproaches for having let things go that far.

In the bathroom, he turned the water onto its coldest setting before showering, letting the icy jets sting like hailstones. He brushed and flossed and gargled with mouthwash. He could still feel Zechs' mouth dancing over his as he walked downstairs. It was early; the man was probably still in bed, sleeping off jetlag and too much alcohol.

He wasn't.

'Good morning.' Zechs turned away from the stove with a sunny smile, looking far better than anyone should who'd been up half the previous night drinking and carousing. Attempting to carouse, at any rate.

Gleaming blond hair was pulled back into a loose pony tail and he was dressed in a silk shirt that exactly matched his eyes, and perfectly pressed khaki slacks. He looked like someone whom Treize might have dated. He looked like someone whom anyone would be glad to date.

'Coffee?'

'No, thanks. I don't drink caffeine.'

'Oh, live dangerously.' He poured a cup anyway, handing it over. 'Caffeine's not such a bad thing. It stimulates the mind and body.' He winked. 'Now, I don't exactly remember what I did last night, but I'm sure you deserve an apology.' He slid into the chair opposite Wufei; all glowing health and beauty. No one who seemed to live on alcohol and coffee deserved to look that good.

Wufei sniffed eloquently. 'I certainly do. You were verbally insulting and then you tried to force your way into my bed.'

'Well, now I didn't know it was your bed, did I?' Zechs grinned over his cup of coffee, eyes dancing. Despite the mention of an apology, he didn't look remotely sorry. 'Come on, what was I supposed to think, finding a very lovely naked young man snuggled up to my pillows?'

'I thought you didn't remember. I for one would prefer to forget all about it,' Wufei said tartly.

'Oh, I do remember that particular incident and have no desire to forget. It was the one bright spot in what's been a truly horrendous week. You kiss very sweetly by the way.'

'I do not!' Wufei was scarlet to the tips of his ears; probably to the tips of his toenails, rushing the words about past an unfamiliar little voice that wanted to ask 'Do I?' He didn't have a lot of experience with kissing. Trowa was the one who'd always had the active love life, while Wufei and Heero preferred to hide behind a book and a laptop respectively.

He got another of those predatory grins in return. 'Since I doubt you go around kissing yourself, you'll have to allow me to be a better judge. I can think of a very effective way of settling this argument, you know?'

'Certainly not! That kiss last night was more than enough.'

'If you thought that was a kiss, honey, then Treize is doing something very wrong. That was just a nuzzle. An appetiser, if you will. Let me show you what a real kiss is like.'

He could move fast; Wufei was suddenly pinned against the door, a long, lean body pressed against his and awash with sensation. There were a few strands of that floss-fair hair drifting against his cheek,

'No, thank you.' He put one hand on Zechs' arm, meaning to push him away. It didn't quite happen. The other man's skin felt so warm under the silk; it would so very tempting to slide fingers under the shirt, to feel the skin beneath. He didn't. Instead, he summoned a particularly vicious glare and a tone to match. 'I have a boyfriend. He's even supposed to be a friend of yours, although I can't imagine why if this is the way you usually behave.'

'It takes two to tango,' Zechs grinned unrepentantly. 'How do you think Treize would feel if he knew you'd turned up in my bed last night? And you're not exactly fighting me off now.'

Damn. He was right; one of Wufei's hands, acting entirely on its own wishes, had somehow made its way to Zechs' hip, resting there like it belonged.

'It was my bed to begin with; not yours!' A singularly lame rejoinder; judging by the glint in Zechs' eyes. 'A minute ago, you said you wanted to apologise for your behaviour last night. If you think this is an apology, then you obviously don't have much experience in making them.'

'I don't actually,' Zechs said cheerfully, and then bent down to give Wufei a quick peck on one cheek. 'Let me kiss it better? I am sorry. I didn't mean to scare you last night.'

'You didn't scare me!' Wufei bridled at the slight. There had been one moment of alarm only; perfectly natural in the circumstances. He hadn't been scared or anywhere near it.

'Good.' For the first time, his expression was actually serious. 'I never meant to….hurt you, you know.' Blue eyes were suddenly pleading with Wufei to understand. 'I just thought you'd changed your mind about sleeping with me, and then wanted to play hard to get at the start.'

'Zechs, stop,' Wufei said abruptly. 'You didn't do anything. I mean, you did stop once you realised it wasn't what I wanted…' OK, that was a black lie. Certainly, Zechs had stopped; Wufei hadn't really wanted him to. 'And I truly wasn't scared; if I'd wanted to, I could have easily thrown you out of bed.'

The blond smiled; it looked so much better than the worried look he'd been wearing. 'Could you indeed? No offence, but I somehow doubt that.'

Huh.

'Really?' Wufei asked sweetly, and Zechs was suddenly sprawled on the floor at his feet.

He didn't bother to get up straightway, just lay there laughing. 'Well, that served me right, didn't it? I should have guessed Treize wouldn't just go for a pretty face.'

'That's not what you seemed to think last night.' Wufei extended a hand to help him up. Zechs didn't let it go.

'Shall we agree to forget whatever foolishness I sprouted last night?' Long fingers squeezed gently.

'Does that mean you don't want to get Treize back?'

'God, did I say that?' Zechs grinned. 'Worried about a little competition, are you?'

'Absolutely not!' Wufei snatched his hand back, crossing both arms in front of his chest.

'You don't have to be. There were reasons why we broke up in the first place. Some of them still exist.' He shook his head, blond hair rippling over his shoulders. 'Right, have I grovelled sufficiently? I never meant to offend or insult you. I'd been drinking, and I've had an abysmal few days, and I was exhausted, and I took it out on you. Will you let me make you breakfast to make it up to you?'

'I suppose so.' This wasn't how he'd meant the morning to go. He'd meant to be icily courteous and dignified, but it was hard to freeze out someone who was smiling at you like – like that – and whose hair was hair was shining like white gold under the bright sunlight. It was hard not to remember how that hair had felt drifting against his skin.

'Wonderful.' He poured himself a second cup of coffee. 'I should probably know your name but I've forgotten it.'

'Wufei. And don't worry. You haven't forgotten. You just didn't bother to ask me last night.'

'How very uncouth of me. Wufei; that's appropriate. Unusual and exotic, just like you.'

'I thought I was just a gold-digging little tramp. That's what you said last night, or is that one of the things you've you forgotten?'

He meant the words to sting; Zechs just grinned. 'You practically told me as much yourself. And I imagine unusual and exotic are assets in your profession. As is your prowess in bed. You certainly seem to be doing rather well for yourself.'

Wufei wanted, suddenly, very much to hit him. Or, far worse, to ask him what he meant about prowess in bed? He didn't have any prowess!

'Now, drink your coffee before it gets cold,' Zechs said calmly. 'It's made with the finest Ethiopian coffee beans; I saw them being picked and ground myself.'

'Ethiopia?' Wufei snatched at the new topic like a man drowning in a sea of Zechs. 'Really? Is that where you've come from? What's it like?'

'Possibly the most stunning country on Earth.' Zechs stood, rummaging in the fridge. 'With the most charming people and the most gruelling poverty. What would you prefer; pancakes or omelette?'

'Omelette, please. Are you some sort of aid worker?'

'Yes, I thought you'd prefer savoury, somehow.' Zechs raised one mocking eyebrow at him. 'I'm sure you're already sweet enough. And, no, I'm a journalist. I was writing a piece on aid agencies in the developing world. Does Treize still have the herb garden outside the back door?'

'I've no idea.' Wufei spoke without thinking, and then gave himself a mental kick. 'I'm not interested in gardening.'

'Poor Treize. Always doomed to find partners who don't share his passion for roses.'

'Oh, I love roses!' Wufei sighed, back in bimbo-mode. It was rather scary how much fun that was. 'Especially red ones. After our first date, he sent me two dozen red rosebuds. I pressed some of them so I could keep them for ever.'

Zechs gave him a rather sceptical look. 'How charming.'

Wufei nodded enthusiastically. 'Oh, yes! I have a little memento from every date we've ever been on. Menus and pressed flowers and shells and pebbles from his beach house. And all his letters of course. He's so romantic!'

'Well, he's obviously found a kindred spirit in you.' Zechs rinsed some tomatoes and mushrooms under the tap. 'How did you two meet? I assume it was suitably romantic?'

'It was! I was working as a waiter – part-time you know, while I was still getting started as a model – and Treize came into the restaurant one night. I got into trouble for talking to him and not paying attention to any of the other customers, and Treize told my boss I was leaving with him, and just whisked me out. He's so masterful!'

Zechs looked rather like he wanted to get sick. Wufei sighed soulfully and hid a smile in his coffee cup. He wasn't sure which was harder to imagine; Treize Khushrenada doing such a thing in his parents' small family restaurant, or their faces if such a scenario had actually happened.

'So he rescued you from a life of menial servitude. I see. What happened to the modelling career?' Zechs asked, taking some cheese out of the fridge. 'Is that still on?'

'It's on hold right now. Treize doesn't like other people looking at me.' Wufei beamed up at the blond, eyes sparkling. He couldn't remember when he'd last had so much fun. 'I don't have time anyway. He likes me being here whenever he wants me, and of course I want to be with him all the time. Oh, excuse me. I'm expecting a call.'

He reached for the 'phone as it rang, but Zechs got to the receiver first, holding it out of Wufei's grasp and flicking it on to speaker 'phone.

'Hey, 'Fei!' Duo's excited voice bubbled over the line. 'You'll never guess! Trowa actually kissed me last night.'

'No!' Zechs gasped. 'Trowa kissed you? Really? Is that a good thing?'

'Zechs! Give me that 'phone now!' Wufei snapped and grabbed it.

Zechs gave him a cheeky grin and vanished out through the back door. Gods, it was like living with a half-trained, boisterous Labrador.

'Hey! Who was that?' Duo demanded. 'Have you got a secret lover stashed away there?'

'It's just a friend of Treize's. Never mind him; how did you get on last night? Did Trowa really kiss you?'

'Um, yeah.' Duo sounded as shy as Wufei had ever heard him. 'We ended up going to a movie and he drove me home. We sat outside for ages talking about stuff, and when I was going in, he leaned over and gave me this little kiss on the mouth.'

'Really? What was it like?'

'Nice,' Duo said quietly. 'There was no tongue, or anything, you know, but it just sort of felt affectionate and sweet and friendly.'

Wufei, who'd been kissed himself the previous night, thought those adjectives definitely didn't apply to Zechs' style of kissing.

'Well, that's good, isn't it?'

'I don't know, maybe it didn't mean anything. Maybe it was just a friend kiss. So, tell me about this guy.'

'I don't really know anything about him. He's called Zechs and he's an ex-boyfriend of Treize's. He's rude and rather obnoxious actually.'

'Is he hot? I bet he is. Can't see Treize going out with someone who's not a total stunner.'

'I suppose some people might call him attractive. He's got blond hair as long as yours, and he's probably a bit taller than Trowa.'

Duo whistled. 'Whee. He sounds super-hot. Is he?'

'He certainly is,' a smooth voice remarked in Wufei's ear. 'Why don't you come over and see for yourself?'

'Um, thanks, but I'm sort of interested in someone.'

'Well, we're none of us perfect.' Zechs' voice was silkily seductive, making Wufei shiver. 'I'm willing to overlook that small flaw if you're half as charming as you sound.'

'He's taken!' Wufei snapped. 'Duo, ignore him. I told you he was insufferable. I'll see you later, OK?'

'Sure. 'Bye, hot blond guy. 'Fei, I'll pick you up around twelve? Is that all right? I've got to work this morning for a couple of hours.'

'That's perfect. Thank you.' He rounded on Zechs, who was rinsing a bunch of herbs under the tap. 'Have you no morals whatsoever? Or do you only proposition people who are already in relationships?'

Zechs shrugged, somehow making the movement elegant and languid. 'Sort of seeing someone doesn't count as a relationship. Do your friends all call you 'Fei? It's charming.'

'No, they don't.' It sounded, on Zechs' lips, considerably more than charming. 'It's just a stupid nickname.'

'I like it. 'Fei.' He drew the syllable out, apparently liking the feel of it in his mouth. 'Yes, I think I'll call you that. Now, tell me, who is this Trowa person?'

'It's nothing to do with you!'

'All journalists are incurably curious.' Zechs dropped his herbs on the draining board, and slid open a drawer. 'Damn, he's moved everything. Where does he keep the sharp chopping knives?'

'I wouldn't know.'

'And he keeps you purely for decorative purposes?' Zechs shook his head, opening drawers as he walked around the kitchen. 'Oh, well, I suppose I can't blame him. How can you live in a house and not know where things are kept? Don't you ever even make yourself a sandwich or toast?'

'Treize takes me out to eat a lot,' Wufei retorted. 'And the housekeeper does that sort of thing, anyway. It's her job.'

'Well, God forbid you'd have to get your hands dirty. What would you like in your eggs? Just vegetables or do you like salmon or bacon?'

'Anything's fine. I won't eat much anyway.'

'Watching your figure?' Zechs grinned, giving him a quick up-and-down glance. 'I don't think you need to worry about getting fat, from what I saw of you last night.'

'I told you, I don't want to talk about that! And I'm going out for lunch, so I don't want a big breakfast.'

'You have to eat something, or you'll fade away. Now, tell me about the delectable Duo and this Trowa person?'

'No. Like I said it's absolutely none of your business.'

'Snooping is what I do. But if you'd really rather not discuss your friends, I'm quite happy talking about you instead. I can ask Duo when he comes to collect you for lunch.'

'Oh, for God's sake!' Wufei huffed. 'All right. But if you mention any of this to them, I swear, I'll throw your precious coffee beans on the compost heap!'

'I won't say a word, I promise.'

'Well, it's sort of complicated. Trowa and I have known each other since we were children; when we went to university we met Duo and Quatre, who was an exchange student from Jordan. Trowa and Quatre were a couple for over three years; then Quatre went home because his father was very ill, and basically he ended up promising to go back home for good and marry a girl his parents knew.'

'Please don't tell me he actually did it!' Zechs groaned.

'I'm afraid so. His father made him promise on his deathbed; said it was the only way he'd die happy, knowing his son had given up his deviant lifestyle and that he'd end up having children of his own.'

'The idiot. Promises obtained under duress aren't worth a damn. Fine, he let the old man die happy; there was no reason to go ahead and actually keep the promise. Now, your friends are miserable, the poor girl he's married will spend her life being miserable and God help any children they have.'

'That's what I think,' Wufei agreed, surprised to find someone who shared this view. Heero thought Quatre had done the only honourable thing. Duo didn't like to criticise his best friend, and Trowa never talked about it. It was easier, maybe, to pretend that Quatre had never had a choice. 'But anyway, that's the way things ended up. Duo's had a crush on Trowa ever since they met, but we all thought he and Quat were perfect soulmates.'

'Then they'd still be together.'

'I suppose you're right.' It was something he'd thought before, although he'd never said it to his friends.

'Now, where would you like to eat?' Zechs slid omelettes onto two plates. 'Can you bear to slum it in the kitchen or do you insist on the dining room?'

'Here is fine. I do love the dining room, though, don't you? I think it's so elegant!'

'Really?' Zechs wrinkled his nose. 'You like all that dark panelling and oil paintings of his ancestors? It used to put me off my food.'

'It's your house, too,' Wufei objected. 'Why didn't you change things if you hated it so much?'

'It was never really mine. Treize insisted on putting my name on the ownership deed. I think he thought I'd be more willing to spend more time in Sanque if we owned a home together.' He shrugged. 'I don't really blame him; it can't have been easy having a boyfriend who was on the move non-stop.'

'Did it help?'

'I was only twenty two; just starting out in my career. Treize said he understood, but he hated it really. Hated that I was jetting off to the most dangerous spots in the world and never being around to attend the opera with him, or be here for his dinner parties.'

'Well, I can understand that, in a way. Would I have ever read anything you've written, or are you not published in Sanque? I don't ever remember seeing your name in the papers.'

Blue eyes glimmered. 'I don't write for fashion magazines. And I somehow doubt you are interested in current affairs.'

Wufei gave him a dainty little smile. 'Oh, I'm not. The news is always so depressing! And I never know where half of the countries are. But Treize likes me to know that sort of thing, so I can talk to people when we go to parties.'

'Of course,' Zechs said dryly. 'I write under my real name. Milliardo Peacecraft.'

Wufei promptly choked on a mouthful of coffee; Zechs helpfully gave him a vigorous slap on the back.

'I know you! You've won all sorts of awards; I read the book you published last year, that collection of interviews.' Oops, that was probably a bit too much enthusiasm. 'I mean, Treize gave it to me. He never said that he knew you though.'

'Didn't he?' Zechs didn't sound particularly troubled. 'Do you want my autograph? Here's breakfast to be going on with.'

'Thank you.' He could cook as well as write, Wufei decided, taking his first mouthful. Eggs cooked perfectly with the fresh herbs and chopped mushrooms.

'You're welcome. I'd have made more if you weren't going out for lunch. Now, why is Duo collecting you? Does he live nearby?'

'No; he lives on the other side of the city, actually. I don't have a car.'

Zechs gave him a surprised glance. 'Treize hasn't given you one?'

'He wants to, but he's looking for the perfect model. It doesn't matter; when he's here, he drives me everywhere I want to go.'

'How lovely. You can call Duo and tell him he doesn't need to come all the way out here. I'm going into town myself; I can take you.'

'It's fine. I don't want to take you out of your way.'

'God, do you have to argue over every little thing? We're both going into town; it won't hurt me to drop you to wherever you're meeting your friends.'

'But it could be on the other side of the city!'

Zechs gave a little huff sound of pure exasperation. 'I'm going to St. Gabriel's Hospital. Is that remotely near where you want to go?'

'Um, yes. It is. Thank you. I'm sorry. You're not sick, are you?' He certainly didn't look it; maybe he had some obscure tropical disease. Or tapeworms.

Zechs grinned. 'What, no crack about how I must be going to the Psych Ward?' He tapped one hand against his left knee. Wufei hadn't noticed, but he'd carefully propped that leg on a spare chair. 'I broke my leg a year or so ago, and it's been giving trouble ever since. I need to have reconstructive surgery on my knee; that's why I'm back in Sanque for now. I thought I was going to have to go to the States, but one of their top surgeons is spending a year at St. Gabriel's. Now, do you want a lift or not? I'll be leaving around ten. I need to do a couple of things on the way.'

'That's fine.' It would save Duo having to drive across town, which made sense. It had nothing to do with the fact that he would be getting another thirty minutes of Zechs' company. Nothing at all.

'How did you break your leg? Or do you not want to talk about it?'

Zechs offered him a graceful shrug. 'It was a road accident. It broke in three places and it's never set properly. My fault entirely; I insisted on walking when it wasn't properly healed.' He tapped the leg again; a little gesture that seemed to be unconscious. 'I was after a story, of course. The last doctor who saw me said it could take up to a year and three or four surgeries to fix it.'

'Was it worth it?' Wufei asked curiously.

'Oh, yes. Well, I think so. Sometimes, the world needs to be informed of certain events.' He made a face. 'On the other hand, you can ask me that question in twelve months' time and you might get a different answer. I hate hospitals.'

'Me too.' Wufei mopped up the last of his egg with a slice of bread. He really wanted to know more about the road accident, and the story, but his bimbo-persona wouldn't be interested in any of that. 'Thank you for breakfast. It was really good.'

'My pleasure.' Zechs stood, collecting empty plates and cups and heading for the sink.

'Can I help you wash up?'

One ironic eyebrow lifted. 'Do you actually know how?'

'I know how to use the dishwasher!'

'Hardly worth putting it on for these few things. I'll wash them myself. And no, you don't need to help. I don't want Treize accusing me of giving his lover dish pan hands.'

Lover.

It sounded so much more intimate than boyfriend or partner, especially to someone who'd never really had either.

'Well, I can dry.' He made a show of searching for a clean towel, conscious of Zechs' amused gaze following him. Oh, God. This was insane. All of it. The physical attraction could be rationalised easily enough. Zechs was very attractive. Wufei had known he was gay for years, known that he liked men, but it had always been a rather abstract concept. There had never been any one particular man.

None of that explained why he liked watching Zechs smile, or wanted so badly to slough off the silly airhead personality and just talk to him.

They cleared up together, an oddly companionable thing to do. Now that he was looking for it, he could Zechs moving a little stiffly, putting most of his weight on the right leg. Then Wufei fed the cat, and Zechs watered the plants on the window ledge. It was, Wufei thought, the way couples started their day, with a shared breakfast and then sharing the chores afterwards.

He liked it.

 

~ * ~

Chapter 3

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