"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 "

Peace Talks:

He was halfway down the street and moving fast when Zechs caught up with him. Damn the man! If he wanted Duo, why hadn't he gone after him?

'Wufei, wait. We need to talk about this.'

'I don't need to do anything, especially not with you.' Wufei shook off the hand that had the temerity to rest on his hand and glared at its owner.

'We most certainly do, and we can't have this conversation in the street. Can we go somewhere a little more private?'

'I thought you were supposed to have a hospital appointment. Or was all that about your leg a lie?' Wufei spat at him.

'No. No, it wasn't. If you like, I can show you the scars from my three previous surgeries.'

'Why don't you show Duo? He's obviously the one you're interested in.'

'You have it all wrong, sweetheart. You're the one I'm extremely interested in.'

'Which is why you invited Duo on a date?'

'Hardly a date,' Zechs said quietly. 'It was obvious that those two just needed someone to give them the push in the right direction. It worked, didn't it?'

Wufei sniffed. 'What would you have done if he'd accepted?'

'Then I imagine that I would have enjoyed a very pleasant outing with a charming companion, even if not the one I would have ideally chosen. And you could have come along as chaperone. As it is, things worked out rather nicely. I'm sure Duo and Trowa are having a splendid time right now assuring each other how they feel.'

'So you expect me to believe all that…flirting was just to set Duo up with Trowa?' Wufei flung at him. 'I don't believe you for one second.'

'Well, of course it wasn't. That was an unexpected bonus; I'm not quite that altruistic.' He bent down to murmur in Wufei's ear. 'Wasn't it obvious, sweet? I was trying to make you jealous. And it worked rather well.'

'Why would I be jealous? I've already got someone. This is all just a game to you, isn't it?' Wufei glared at him, wanting to slap that smug smile off his face 'You're bored and this is some sort of entertainment for you. Well, it's not, Zechs. You're interfering in people's lives. It's not a joke!'

'I know. I'm sorry; that wasn't what I meant.' Zechs' eyes, fixed firmly on Wufei's face, were as serious as he'd ever seen them. 'Please, can we just talk about this?'

'You've got your meeting with that surgeon.'

'This is more important. I'm used to living with a broken leg; I'm not sure if I could cope with a broken heart.'

'Oh, shag off!' Wufei shot at him. 'Just leave me alone! I told you, I don't want to play whatever stupid game you're playing.'

'It's not a game.' The blond grabbed his hand, pulling him close. 'Wufei, let me explain. Please. I'll move out of the house if you want, so you'll never have to see me again, but just let me talk to you first. Please?'

He could feel Zechs' warm fingers curling around his; a simple enough touch but one that felt right and natural and at the same time was exploding fireworks along his skin where Zechs was holding him.

Gods, they were standing on one of the main streets in Sanque. Admittedly, two men holding hands wasn't quite a rare sight in this most liberal of countries, but heads still turned to look at him, doubtless because of how Zechs looked. It was no place for a private conversation.

'All right,' he said finally. 'But go to the hospital first. I'll see you back at the house.'

Instead of heading straight home, Wufei took a long walk by the harbour, trying to work out his feelings for the other man. He thought about calling Duo, but that wasn't fair; not when he and Trowa needed some time alone.

He thought about calling Quatre.

In the end, he called Heero; it was still early morning in Canada so maybe they hadn't left for their trip yet.

'Hi! His friend greeted him warmly. 'How are things? Is Zechs behaving himself?'

'You know about him?'

'Yes, of course. He's Treize's ex boyfriend. Is he driving you insane? I've already told Treize off for letting him stay in the house when you're there. Do you want him to tell Zechs to leave?'

'No. I don't think so. I can tell him myself. Heero, it's … all a bit complicated. For one thing, he thinks I'm you.'

'Why?' Heero always did like to get straight to the heart of every question.

'It's …rather a long story,' Wufei said evasively, no longer entirely sure either. 'He wasn't very nice when I first met him, and assumed I was Treize's new…boyfriend, and I let him believe it. Anyway, now he – well, he seems to like me, and I'm not sure what to do about any of it.'

'Do you like him?'

'I think so. I know I do. He's exasperating and rude and he keeps teasing me, but he makes me laugh, and it's exciting just being with him. It's nothing like I thought it would be. '

Like Trowa and Quatre was what he meant. He knew he didn't need to say it, not to Heero.

'It's not like that.' he said softly. 'The way they finished each other's sentences, they always knew what the other was thinking. That way they looked at each other, like no one else in the universe mattered. I thought that was how it should be.'

Heero laughed softly. 'They weren't perfect, 'Fei. I know we thought they were, but if they'd been as perfect as all that, they'd still be together. Anyway, I know you. You'd be bored stiff with that sort of relationship. You know you would. You need someone who'll challenge you. I didn't like Treize very much when I met him first, remember? But he does make me laugh, and he's definitely exciting to be with. Just give Zechs a chance.'

Wufei nodded resolutely. 'You're right. Thank you. Speaking of Trowa, I think he and Duo may finally have started to sort things out.'

'Finally!' Heero sounded relieved. 'I thought we were going to have to lock the two of them up together.'

'Well, that would probably have worked too.' Wufei had to pause before the next thing. 'I miss him.' With Heero, he didn't have to elaborate.

'So do I. So many stupid little things. There was someone playing the violin last night at the restaurant. That piece by Bach that Quatre liked.'

'Yes.' He knew exactly what Heero meant. Classical music on the radio; cucumber and cream cheese sandwiches. It was a year since Quatre had left and Wufei still had to cross the road to avoid walking past Quat's favourite Lebanese restaurant.

'He'll be glad to hear about you finding someone. He always wanted that.'

'Yes.' He would tell Quatre because they still talked. Talked carefully, skating around so many topics. Of course, Quatre would be glad for him. The last time they'd spoken, Quatre had hinted obliquely that Farida might be pregnant. It hadn't been that much of a surprise. They'd been married for over eight months, and Quatre had never been one to shirk a responsibility. Perhaps it had been more; he'd always claimed he was bisexual rather than gay, and Farida was beautiful. Maybe she was clever too, knowing that Quatre would never leave a child.

'I should let you go,' Wufei said finally. 'I'm sorry I bothered you; I hope I didn't interfere with any plans.'

'Wufei, talking to you for five minutes is hardly going to interfere with any plans. We're just having a lazy morning in bed, anyway. I'd better get back before Treize thinks I've abandoned him. Good luck with Zechs!'

Treize's house was not in an area well served by public transport, especially not on a Saturday afternoon. It took him two buses and then a long walk to get there; Zechs' car was already parked outside.

Zechs was on the 'phone when he let himself in.

'Dinner would be delightful, yes. No, I don't have any plans for tomorrow. I'll have to check with him, but it's fine for me. Thank you so much. It was a pleasure talking to you, Mrs. Chang.'

'You were talking to my mother?' Wufei literally flew through the kitchen door. 'How dare you?'

Zech held up both hands in a gesture that was presumably meant to be placatory. 'I'm sorry. The hospital said they'd call with my next appointment, and when the phone rang, I just answered without thinking. Your mother's an incredibly charming, easygoing lady.' He offered Wufei a smile that was probably meant to be charming too. 'She must be so disappointed to have a son who argues over every tiny thing.'

'I'm well aware that my parents find me a disappointment,' Wufei said coldly. 'But thank you so much for pointing it out anyway. Were you serious about moving out, or was that another lie?'

'I was making an incredibly stupid joke.' Zechs caught up to him before he reached the staircase, whirling him into his arms and just holding him. 'For someone who makes his living from words, I can't believe how badly I'm managing this. Maybe I should just show you how I feel about you, hmm? God, I've been wanting to do this all day.'

He captured Wufei's lips with excruciating slowness, giving him plenty of time to pull away if he wanted. He didn't want. He wanted this; that mouth moving over his, and those arms firmly latched about him.

'Now, talk to me. Please?'

Wufei wasn't quite sure how they'd ended up on the ground; Zechs seated on the bottom step and Wufei curled in his lap.

'I think I like kissing you better.'

'I knew you were going to be horribly demanding,' Zechs mock-grumbled. 'My sweet, I could kiss you until the moon falls into the sea and the stars burn themselves out. Actually, I'm greatly looking forward to it. But there are a couple of things we need to discuss first, don't you think?'

'Oh!' Wufei blushed, suddenly remembering one of them. Somehow, kissing Zechs and being kissed very thoroughly in return, drove every rational thought out of his head. 'There's something I have to tell you. I'm not really Treize's boyfriend.'

'I know that.' Zechs actually looked rather amused. 'Don't be angry, but I've known all along. Treize and I do talk occasionally, you know. I knew he was dating someone called Heero, and he's bored me terribly over the past few months raving about Heero's many perfections, When I first saw you last night, I assumed you had to be Heero and then by the time I remembered that Treize mentioned his new love having blue eyes, you were already claiming to be him. Why did you let me go on believing it? I couldn't work that out.'

Wufei bit his lip. 'Because, well, you were utterly obnoxious to me. Heero's my closest friend; more like a brother really. This holiday is a big thing for him. He's had an awful life. His parents died when he was a baby, and his guardian was some distant relation who was practically a mad scientist, and never paid any attention to him. He virtually lived at my house when we were younger; my parents still think of him as their second son. Then, when we got to university, J was diagnosed with cancer and Heero spent four years taking care of him and studying. It's only in the last year or so that he's been able to make his own life. He's started his own IT consultancy firm, and then he met Treize, and this is the first time he's ever been away with a boyfriend. I didn't want you calling them and stirring up trouble so, well, I pretended to be him.'

'What a very good friend you are.' Zechs kissed the top of his head. 'And what an awful impression I must have given you. I can't apologise enough for that. I was exhausted and depressed and my leg was killing me, and I just wanted to crawl into an empty space and lick my wounds.'

'I suppose I can understand that. You said you wanted to get him back.'

'Did I really?' Zechs shook his head in wonderment. 'No, I don't want that in the least.'

'I can't believe you knew all along!'

'Well, I didn't know all of it. I was rather intrigued by why someone, who so clearly wasn't Treize's boyfriend, was pretending to be.' He grinned. 'As it happens, even if I hadn't known Heero's name or anything about him, I would have known you weren't Treize's lover. I do know him rather well. That deliciously argumentative stubborn streak of yours would drive him insane.'

Wufei sniffed. 'You let me act like a…a bimbo! I made a total fool of myself! Why didn't you say something?'

'Because you were clearly loving it so much,' Zechs informed him promptly. 'It wouldn't have been fair to spoil it all for you. I did get a tiny bit confused sometimes, as to whether you wanted me to see you as an airhead or a calculating gold-digger but that was all part of the fun, really. It was utterly impossible not to play along, and it was fun winding you up. I love the way your eyes flash when you get worked up about something. And every so often I got to see the real you, just a glimpse, and I was totally intrigued.'

'Oh.' Wufei lowered his eyes suddenly, away from the expression on Zechs' face. It was how Treize looked at Heero. 'God, that's mortifying.'

'Don't be silly, love.' Zechs bent his head and delivered another of those searing kisses. 'Just think, it's something we'll be able to joke about for the rest of our lives together.'

'What are you talking about?' He'd said love. He'd actually said it.

'Us.' He nuzzled Wufei's mouth gently. 'I should possibly warn you now. I'm terribly stubborn and very focused on getting what I want, and the thing I most want in all the universe is you.'

'We don't know even know each other.'

'Not yet, no,' Zechs agreed cheerfully. 'But I have a vague impression that you may not be totally indifferent to me, and I utterly adore everything I know about you so far, so that's a good start, don't you think? I know I'm being ridiculously forward and presumptuous and all the rest of it.'

'Yes, you are!'

'I'm trying to make a speech here.' He gave Wufei's hair a gentle tug. 'If this is too much, just tell me. We can take things as slowly or as fast as you'd like. There's no hurry.' The kiss was leisurely and quite exhaustively, breathlessly comprehensive. 'No hurry at all.'

'So you want to go out with me?' Wufei asked. Heero wasn't the only one who liked to have all the facts laid out.

Zechs laughed softly. 'You're supposed to be intelligent, from what your mother says. A Ph.D student, no less. I'm sure you can figure out just what I want. I want to take you dancing, and curl up on a rug with you in front of a log fire to drink mulled wine, and spend long rainy afternoons watching movies and eating popcorn, and take you somewhere incredibly exotic where you can go around naked with flowers in your hair, and make love to you in a hammock,' He paused at the expression on Wufei's face. 'Does none of that appeal to you?'

'Well, yes, it all sounds very…very appealing, but you talked to my mother! What did you talk about?'

'You, obviously,' Zechs said calmly. 'What else would we talk about?' One gentle hand stroked Wufei's hair, flicking the hair tie loose and sliding his fingers through it. 'You really should wear this down more often. It's far too beautiful to be tied back all the time. Don't worry; we both agreed early on in the conversation that you're a wonderful person, and got on like a house on fire as a result.' He tilted Wufei's chin up, making him meet those blue, blue eyes.

'Tell me, sweet, why on earth would you think you're a disappointment to your family? Your mother could have spent hours telling me about how you're the most perfect son any woman ever had.'

Wufei shrugged. 'Where do I start? The whole gay thing, possibly. I'm never going to bring home a daughter in law for her to complain about to her friends, or there won't ever be any grandchildren to spoil. Or that I have absolutely no interest in the business that they've spent years building up? Is that enough to be going on with?'

'Now, that's just silly,' Zechs scolded affectionately. 'For a start, she's immensely proud of everything you've done. Don't you realise that? I don't think I'd make a terribly good daughter in law, but it was my impression that she'd be happy to see you with someone who loves you, regardless of their sex As for grandchildren; well, there's always adoption. She's a little worried, you know, that your friends are pairing off, and you're alone.'

'I can't believe she said any of that to you! She doesn't even know you.' Wufei shook his head, an utterly vicious glare settling on his lips. 'Neither of you had no right discussing me like that; I'm more than capable of running my own life.' He shook off Zechs' arms, jumping to his feet. 'I suppose, since your life is so totally perfect, that you have the perfect relationship with your own parents and thinks that gives you license to interfere in everyone else's.'

'I don't have any relationship at all with my parents.' Zechs was suddenly on his feet too. 'They were killed when I was seven years old. For your information, my life is considerably less than perfect. I'm facing several rather unpleasant, prolonged operations; I'm no longer physically capable of doing my job, and I appear to have a talent for alienating the one person I've met lately who actually makes me feel anything.'

'I'm sorry.' Wufei stepped forward, sliding both arms around his waist.

'I don't want your pity!'

'You're not getting it! I'm sorry about your parents, but as for the rest of it? You've got so much going for you. You're incredibly talented. Maybe you can't be a war correspondent any more, but you can still write. Once you've had all these operations, you can always go back into the field, if that's what you want.'

'None of that is worth much if I have to do it alone.'

Wufei raised his eyes to Treize's elaborately carved and gilded ceiling. 'Self pity doesn't suit you! You might want to remember that if you want to be with someone.'

'Which I do.'

'Yes, well.' Oh, it would be far, far too easy to lose himself in the sheer blueness of that gaze. 'I'm not going to go out with you just to make my mother happy.'

'A dutiful son would. She thinks I'm wonderful.'

'Then I'm not very dutiful. And I don't have time for a boyfriend. Between studying and house-sitting and helping out at the restaurant, I hardly have time to sleep, let alone….do boyfriend things.'

'Then someone needs to take care of you,' Zechs said promptly. 'I'm sure we can sort something out. If you had a nice boyfriend, whom your mother approved of, she might decide you'd be better off spending time with him than waiting tables, and you can always sneak me into the houses you're care-taking.' He winked. 'Since I'll be in and out of hospital over the next months, I'm going to need a trustworthy house-sitter. Do you know anyone?'

'You're really going to buy a house in Sanque?'

'Well, yes, if you'll help me to find one that we both like. I'm tired of living out of suitcases. I want my own home. I very much want someone to share it with.' He grinned at Wufei's expression. 'Yes, I do know it's far too soon for that sort of thing, but I want you to know what's on my agenda.'

'Don't I get a say in the itinerary?'

'You get to agree, like a good toy-boy should!' Zechs winked. ''Fei, of course you do. Obviously, we do need to get to know each other rather better than we do now. I was thinking we need to spend a couple of months on that. Lots of terribly romantic dates; perhaps a couple of weekends away.' His brow wrinkled. 'Assuming that all goes well, we could perhaps look at sharing a house and eventually I'm sure your mother will want us to give her a day out and the chance to wear an enormous hat.'

'Are you actually proposing to me?'

'Certainly not! Merely stating some long term goals so you're in the loop. Can't you at least try to keep up?'

'What about your job? What happens when your leg is all better?'

'Oh, we'll be able to try out all sorts of adventurous positions in bed, for one thing.' Zechs gave him one of those winks. 'Apart from that, yes, I may still travel for some stories, if they particularly grab my attention, but I will always come home to you. Or you can come with me, when your job allows.' He was suddenly serious. 'We can sort out something, love. You'll have to travel yourself when you're qualified; I'm sure I can find something or other to write about while you're wandering around libraries and restoring old books.'

'I'd like that. But, Zechs, what you said about Treize not wanting a boyfriend who was always putting himself in danger, I feel like that. I don't mind being with someone who has to travel sometimes, but not if he's going to going to places where he can get hurt or…or killed.'

'I won't be doing that.' He looked sad for a moment. 'I doubt if I'll ever be physically capable for one thing. And my situation has changed in the past few years. I'm not a gung-ho twenty-one-year-old out to prove himself any more. Now, that I've put my cards on the table, are you remotely interested, or do we need to start negotiating?'

'I'm interested,' Wufei said at once. 'Very much so. All those plans of yours sound wonderful.' He gave Zechs an appealing little smile. 'Although we may need to discuss some issues. I'm new at this, but you never once mentioned kissing, for a start.'

'Didn't I? How very remiss of me. I assumed that was a given factor in the equation.' Zechs' low, husky chuckle sent every red blood cell in Wufei's body stampeding to his groin. 'A very important one. I can't wait to taste every delicious inch of you, but we're not going to rush anything. You deserve a proper courtship.'

'I'm not some eighteenth century maiden to be courted.' Wufei's protest might have held a little more heat if Zechs' tongue hadn't been languidly exploring his ear.

'Oh, stop arguing,' Zechs said airily. 'I said we weren't going to rush things, not that we weren't going to do anything at all. I'm not just going to sweep you off to bed, and ravish you. My family's always been very old fashioned about certain things; I need to meet your parents first, and assure them that I have only honourable intentions toward their son.'

Wufei moaned; a low, heartfelt sound he'd never imagined himself making. Zechs lips had left his ear and were delicately drizzling kisses along his throat.

'Mmm,' Zechs nuzzled behind his ear, lips and tongue producing all sorts of delicious sensations. 'It shouldn't take too long to win their approval, I hope. Your mother already seems to think I'm an eligible suitor; she was asking me all sorts of questions. Mind you, she did stop short of wanting to know my bank balance and certain vital statistics, so maybe that'll be your father's job.'

Wufei gasped as teeth grasped his earlobe and nibbled. 'It's not….my parents' approval you want. It's mine.'

'I am aware of that.' He was suddenly wrapped in one of those all-encompassing embraces. 'I want your approval very, very much. I'm prepared to do virtually anything in the hope of winning it.'

And Wufei's head spun with possibilities, tossing all potential arguments to the far ends of Sanc. A relationship didn't have to begin with a thunderbolt and star-struck realization that 'this was it'. It didn't have to progress with both parties walking in step to be 'right'. It did need humour, and common ground and 'promise.' And the future with Zechs sounded most promising.

 

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