Tapestry, Book 2, Chapter 7
I awoke, but I didn't want to. I wanted to die.
My head hurt abominably. It throbbed, pulsing as if every corpuscle of blood wanted to force its way through one tiny vein at the back of my skull. Groaning, I curled on my side and buried my head in my arms, wishing I would just die and get it over with. Fresh burns scarred my brain. I had been assaulted, blindsided, mocked and duped. By Treize.
Obsolete now, aren't you? Who needs a Guardian that can't guard, hmm? Treize owns him, body and soul. Wufei went willingly. It's over. Done. Finished. Too bad. You lose.
This room was dark, but light from the adjacent room spilled into it through a slight crack between partially drawn curtains. I heard people talking, quiet murmured conversations. The words were garbled, not understandable, their voices much too soft.
Gads, speak up ... speak UP, how am I supposed to know what you're saying if you don't speak up?
Finally, one voice broke through. "Yes, yes, that's right - Treize-sama told me to wait here for him, that he was coming to collect us. I hope there's nothing permanent wrong, Doctor - do you think that -"
That got my attention. Une - poor, sparkly Une! - said Treize-sama told her to wait here for him, because he was going to collect US?
US? I was supposed to wait here for him, too? After what just happened -?
I inhaled sharply, ignoring the pain in my head, ignoring everything, cutting off the rest of that thought.
Oh, no, no, NO. There was no way I was waiting for him to show up now, not after that. No fucking way in the world.
Jack licked my cheek, whining softly against my ear. Nuzzling his fur, I cuddled him, holding him close, trying to comfort myself. "Right, Jack, buddy?" I panted, blinking, tears sliding down my cheeks one by one. "We're not going to stick around, are we? Not if Wufei doesn't - doesn't -"
I couldn't bring myself to say it, not even to my dog. I cried, then stopped, trying to get my breathing under control. This pain was excruciating - so terrible, so sharp, so piercing I thought I would die. Hoped I would die, but knew I wouldn't.
Death was on my mind. My death. It was a bad sign. I had to get out of there. Now. That instant.
"Who needs a Guardian that's a failure, one that can't even guard? No one, no one, that's who. We're getting the hell out of here, Jack."
Sniffing, I scanned the darkened room. It was very plain - only a medical bed, a tiny desk and sink and some small tools were in there, nothing else. Two windows topped the desk and bed, and thankfully had their curtains drawn against bright morning sunlight.
Wow. Another way out. Unconventional, but it was better than walking past Sparkly.
Immediately I pulled the drawers from the desk and dumped them upside down on the bed, muffling the sound by pushing a pillow into the drawer before upending it onto the bed. I found several pairs of scissors, a needle-like scalpel, three large paper clips, two pens and five pencils. I stuffed them into my pockets, wrapping the scalpel carefully in a small hand towel. That, plus all of Treize's money, would get Jack and me out of the city for sure.
Like, now. Right now.
"Jack, don't argue with me, just get IN the damn car, okay?"
I glanced around the parking lot. Good - everyone else was worried about their own business, so no one noticed me. That, plus no pursuit meant the dummy I left in the bed was doing a credible job. At least this car was easy to start - all I needed to do was punch in the starter and slice off the alarm wire. Jack watched all this with an unblinking stare, which was terribly unnerving.
Gads, it was pretty bad when your dog made you feel guilty.
"Look, Jack. He's fine. This is the right thing to do. He doesn't need me anymore, Jack. I failed. No one needs a failure like me around. He didn't choose me, anyway, Jack, he chose - "
I couldn't even finish explaining myself to my dog, it hurt so much. Wiping my face with the back of my hand, I shoved the car into gear, backed it out of the parking space and sent it humming out of the parking lot.
"Sorry, Jack," I whispered as he nosed my hand on the gearshift. "I have to drive now. I'll pet you later, when we're out of the city and on the highway." Looking down at him was out of the question. There was too much traffic, and I couldn't be distracted.
We were leaving, and we weren't looking back.
Driving had been easy; it was my emotions that had been difficult to control. Eventually, though, I was able to calm down to the point where I could breathe easily, without feeling as though I had a five ton weight on my chest.
Instinct had driven me from the department store, the same instinct for self-preservation that saved me in China time and again when I was fighting Treize's troops, and it was that same instinct that kept me driving as long and as fast as I dared. Eventually, though, I knew I'd have to stop, at least for gas. The car wouldn't get to Paris on my good looks alone.
And my first stop would have to be Paris, I decided, not Berlin. Paris had the better off-world transports, and if I was going to have any chance at all in really getting away from Treize, I needed to go to the colonies. Thank all the gods I had cash; bribes were only good in cash, and I would need plenty of them to get me anywhere near that part of deGaulle.
In fact, the time to stop was now. I signaled, pulled off the highway and stopped at a small petrol station.
As soon as he felt the car decelerate, Jack jumped up and stood at attention, staring at me with huge, liquid eyes, never taking his gaze from me. He had been laying in the passenger seat for the entire drive, quiet, obedient - but now looked as though he wanted to tell me something in the worst way, something terribly important.
I pulled over to the pumps and stopped the car, pushing the gearshift into park and looked at him. "All right, Jack - what is it? You've wanted to tell me something ever since we left. What?"
Steady and unruffled, Jack stared up at me, whuffed, then nosed and pawed the gearshift. I think we should go back.You haven't failed.
I stared. Ohgods. The dog was talking to me? "Jack. Wait. Jack. You - you're just a dog. Right?"
He yipped and looked adorable. This was getting too weird.
"O-kay. Jack, I - I can't go back. I blew it. I'm hopeless. It didn't just happen once, it happened twice. I was supposed to protect him, and what kind of protector was I? I'll tell you what kind - the idiot kind, that's what kind."
Jack whuffed almost violently, as if he was completely disagreeing with me because I had my facts backwards, I was all wrong.
I laughed; it felt harsh, like a bark. "Right. Well, you go on and think that. You're cute, Jack." I sighed and rubbed his head, then transferred my hand to the gearshift. Jack nosed my hand, looking as if he wanted to encourage me to put the car in gear and drive back.
Obviously, I wasn't going to do that. We were going to Paris, and then to the colonies.
Then Jack started to whimper and yip; nervous little yips, too, prancing about on the passenger seat, sitting down then standing up then sitting down again. Poor little guy looked frazzled, as if he didn't know WHAT to do - get out of the car and start running or stay in and bark and bark.
"Okay - okay, Jack. You stay and guard the car right now, I won't be long. After I get gas for the car, we'll get rid of yours, all right?" I made a wry face at my own bad joke and pushed open the driver's side door with my foot, leaving the keys in the ignition with the engine running.
I started to get out of the bucket seat, yanking myself up and out on the window ledge, when I realized there was some man leaning on the front bonnet of the car, all in black, his face averted, broad shoulders turned away from me.
What the hell is THIS? I was all shades of annoyed when I realized that guy was just leaning on my - well, my borrowed - car.
"Hey - hey! What're you doing, leaning on ... leaning on ... on ... oh.. oooohhhhOHOH ..."
If it wasn't for the car door, I would have fallen flat on my face. The man turned around. His arms were crossed in front of his chest and he was, indeed, leaning negligently against the car, looking down with an unsmiling ice blue gaze that froze me to the bottom of my soul.
It was Treize.
"Actually, Sally, I believe Jack was trying to tell you that you're making a rather large mistake. Ah, well. I suppose Lassie and her ilk were never actually your favorite programs to watch when you were growing up, ne?"
I could only gape and stare in helpless astonishment and unmitigated horror. My brain, for all intents and purposes, had shut down, except for the silent screaming -
- AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH -
Finally Treize took one step toward me, reached inside the car and turned it off with a flick of his wrist, passing close enough that I could smell both his cologne and that slight, spicy smell that was uniquely him. When he straightened up, he was much, much closer to me, close enough that I was totally aware of his complete physical presence; how much taller, and broad shouldered, and stronger he was than I. It just radiated from him in waves, so much that I could hardly look at him.
He crossed his arms in front of him again and leaned on the car, raising one eyebrow, studying me. "So. Where are you going today, Sally Po?"
I couldn't speak. Swallowing, I glanced over at Jack, who gave me his "I-tried-to-TELL-you-he-was-out-there" face, then took a couple of steps toward me, whining in his throat. When I looked back up at Treize, I could only whisper, "I ... I ... Paris."
Gods, Po, you actually did everything RIGHT, it was a textbook escape, by rights you should be GONE. What the hell happened?
He sighed. "Get in the car, Sally. Passenger's side. You hold Jack. I'll drive home."
At least now I had something concrete, something tangible I could do. Nodding, I made sure that I unwrapped my fingers from the door, carefully moved away from the car, checked to make sure it was not locked, closed it and walked around to the other side.
Keep walking! Keep walking! screamed my irrational brain. Maybe he'll just drive away with Jack -
And maybe I'll sprout wings so I can fly home. Shut the fuck UP. I have to think.
Treize. Please. May I - may I take Jack - over there?" I pointed to a small, grassy plot with a tree. He looked at me for a moment, then nodded.
Slowly, I opened the passenger door and picked up Jack. "Do you need to walk around a little bit, puppy?" I ruffled his fur and forced myself to breathe slowly. "Here. Let's go over here to the grass, and then we'll go right back to the car. Okay?"
Which is exactly what I did. I took Jack over to the grassy plot with the tree and a picnic bench, waited for him, and then brought him back to the car. It gave me a little time to calm down and stop that damn screaming in my head. Thinking, though, was out of the question. I couldn't think, at least not yet. The question of how Treize actually found me and was going to have to stay unanswered for a while.
I climbed into the passenger's side and settled Jack on my lap, staring straight ahead, terrified. After a few minutes, Treize opened the driver's side, then folded himself into the car. He had been chatting with the owner, filling the tank, and even had the oil checked.
Wasn't that nice? He treated the car as if it was his own ...
I looked out the window and shifted uncomfortably. Of course, this car wasn't his, nor was it mine. Treize could certainly afford to buy hundreds of these cars ... but somehow, I didn't think we were going to discuss his finances on the ride home.
Treize waved his hand at the ignition; the car started immediately, the engine purring like a well fed Siamese. I blanched.
We pulled out of the service station onto the highway, going back to Luxembourg.
We drove in silence. Treize said nothing, and I certainly wasn't volunteering anything. I felt like a small little ball, stuffed on one side of the car with my dog. Jack was whimpering and trying to burrow under my shirt. I scratched his head, hoping he would settle down, and tried to calm down myself.
Gods, was I in trouble. Not only had I run, which was probably bad enough, but I made a fool out of Une and I stole a really nice car in the process. Plus, he didn't send his Specials after me.
Oh, no, no, no. Not this time. He came after me himself.
That scared me more than anything else. I swallowed and rubbed Jack a little more, trying to find some comfort. Jack, that wonderful puppy, nuzzled right into my hand, whimpered a little bit, and snuggled into my lap. I thought perhaps he was trying to tell me that everything was going to be all right.
Well, Po, just think; how could the situation get any worse? He hasn't killed you yet, true ...
No, that would be too easy. I spent long minutes imagining how someone with his power could make a mortal like me suffer.
Great, Po. That's a great way to calm down.
After some time, Treize decided to speak. "So. Sally. I want you to tell me two things. Please do not lie to me. I'm not in the mood to handle that. Is that clear?"
I didn't turn my head. Just my eye, looking at him sideways. Wall-eyed, that's what trainers called horses that looked at people like that. Those horses were usually the nervous type, born that way or badly spooked early in life by something or another.
'Spooked' could certainly apply to me. I couldn't even bring my voice above a whisper. "Yes, Treize. That's - that's very clear. I understand."
"Good. First of all, I want you to tell me what Taru told you your role was supposed to be."
I blinked a little, kept a steady rhythm scratching Jack, and found my voice. "Well ... I - Wufei's protector. You know that. You called me his Guardian. A Guardian's a protector." Don't squeeze Jack you'll kill him gods your hands are shaking keep rubbing him ...
Treize glanced at me, then directed his gaze back to the road. "Mmmm. Well. The problem is simple, Sally. Your definition of a Guardian and my definition of a Guardian are vastly, dangerously different. I believe the reason for this might be because Taru decided to pump your head full of nonsense. You, of course, believe him because you like him. However, I need to know exactly what nonsense he did tell you, so that we can correct the problem."
It sounded so sensible, so matter-of-fact; but then, everything he said always did. I swallowed, feeling terribly exposed. "Do - do you mean you want me to tell you everything he told me? Everything?"
He sighed. "No, no, cancel that. Perhaps I should tell you, instead, what your purpose truly is."
"Sure. Okay," I agreed with a little shrug. Tell away, I thought, brittle, keeping myself tightly drawn together. I'm ready. You can't hurt me any more than you already have. I'm not saying word one to you.
"A 'Guardian' does not, regardless of what you have been told, exist to protect his or her charge. A Guardian exists, instead, to lend a level of stability and sanity to a situation which would otherwise have none. In essence, you are here to guard Wufei from himself - not from me."
Immediately suspicious, I frowned and looked at him, not understanding. "What? No, that's not right. That's not what Trowa said. Trowa said -"
"Your presence soothes him. Calms him. Heals him. You saw the condition of the dragon when you arrived - that was because he'd been away from you for days. And upon your appearance - well, you saw the difference yourself. He healed in practically hours. Think about it, Sally. "
I stared at the gearshift, remembering. Treize was silent for several minutes, giving me time to process.
Suddenly, it dawned on me; I looked out the window in consternation, realizing that in all probability, Treize was right. Bewildered, I snuggled Jack, rubbing the sensitive spots around his ears, and waited for Treize to continue. It doesn't matter - it's a trick. He's trying to trick you -
"You were, in that case, doing exactly what your own purpose states. Nothing about what has just happened has caused you to fail; in fact, it has nothing to do with your mission at all." He pursed his lips together, thinking. "I believe I am going to ask Taru to come tonight. We need to clear this up." The tenor of his voice sounded distinctly unhappy.
I felt like something stressed far past its breaking point but unable to release. "Ah ... well," I ventured, still scratching Jack, feeling forlorn. "But ... but why - why would he lie to me?"
"Because he is afraid of me," Treize answered. "Fates don't follow the same rules we do, Sally. They don't even think like we do. They don't think like any other beings in the universe."
Gads. Trowa used me. I was a tool to him, just a tool, just like I was to Treize. I closed my eyes and let that sink in. I had been wrong, oh so wrong. Something else could hurt me, wound me, open those wounds and slash deeper and deeper.
"...oh. I ... see. " Swallow back you pain, Po. Don't show him anything you don't have to. You're just a tool to him, too.
We drove in silence for a few minutes. "I take by your reaction to the day's events that you know what 'anankha' means," Treize started again, his voice quiet.
"I ...yes. I do." I kept my eyes down, focused on Jack. Short answers were really the best.
"Then you know that Wufei is, and so am I, correct?"
"Yes." Suspicious, short. Why are we still talking?
"But do you understand what your presence means to a fate?"
I don't CARE what my presence means to a fate. Stop talking to me. Leave me alone. "Trowa said ... he could follow Wufei's actions, and yours, through me. He told me that a while ago." Automatic response. He asked, I told him. Now shut up.
Treize paused. "Is that all he said?" he asked, sounding completely surprised. "It's true, of course, as far as it goes, but -"
"Yes. That's what he told me. He hasn't talked to me in a while, though. I don't remember his exact words, but that was the gist of what he said." NOW will you leave me alone?
His brow knit, Treize glanced at me, apparently perturbed. "Odd behavior for one who needs to observe us through you."
I shrugged, not saying anything, my gaze skittering away from his. What the fuck did I know? I was just the tool, remember? Moron.
He sighed. "...Hn. Well, all right. He didn't tell you enough. Did he mention the Written at all?"
Gads, we're still talking about this? What was his problem? It was patently obvious to me that it didn't matter if I understood what was happening. Things were going to happen whether I wished them to or not, so what was the point? I gave him a tired glare. "Yes. He said there were two. One that the Fates followed, and one that was known only to Jouten."
Treize nodded. "Good. And did he tell you what anankha meant in context of that?"
I shrugged and rolled my eyes at the window. Geez, he simply did not give up, did he? "He said the Fates can't predict what you do, but that everyone's actions are already known to Jouten. Yours simply aren't written down in the Book they use - "
"Right - "
" - and your actions - or the actions of any anankha - cloud things around everyone else's actions."
"Correct," he agreed. "But he didn't tell you what my actions mean to him as a Fate personally."
I blinked, considering. "Um ... well ... no. He didn't. But he didn't seem very happy about it."
"He's not," Treize confided. "On the whole, Taru's not happy when I'm around."
An involuntary retort flashed through my mind. Yes, well, who IS happy when you're around?
"He was afraid. He was afraid if you knew who he was, back on the island ..." I didn't finish that sentence. I didn't think it needed to be finished.
"To a fate, having an anankha around them is the same as teetering a beaker of acid on a pole above their head. And," he said, looking at me and raising his eyebrow, a hint of a smile on his lips, "I always knew who he was, silly thing."
"You did?" I couldn't stop myself; it was out before I could choke it back, my eyes huge. I clamped my mouth shut as soon as I saw his amused expression, but the damage had already been done.
"Yes, I did," he said with a tiny smile. "But that's all right. He doesn't need to know."
"Um .. okay. I - I won't tell him."
He nodded, but seemed to be preoccupied again. "And you say he's been - quiet - for a while?"
"Ah - yes." I thought for a moment. "I haven't heard from him since - well - since we were on the island, really."
"Hmm ... he must have dropped you," Treize said, musing. "Are you sure he hasn't said anything to you lately?"
My heart sank. He dropped me? Like, left me to endure whatever with - with - Treize? Fates did that? Like it was a love affair gone wrong - a piece of fruit spoiled and rotten - something negligible to be thrown away - and he didn't even TELL me? He didn't even have the balls or common decency to say something pathetic like, 'I don't think we should talk anymore,' or 'We don't have anything in common,' 'I'm afraid we've grown apart,' or the dreaded 'It's not you, it's me.'
My small, tiny voice started to wail. Again. I clamped down on THAT immediately. Every single unique voice of mine was NOT going to say a WORD to this - man - demon - at all. I already promised myself that. If and when I mourned, it was going to be well away from him. I was hidden inside myself, secure in my little shell. Fuck him and every nonhuman like him. Right now, I hated them all. Equally.
"No. Just - what you heard yesterday," I replied woodenly, tightening my grip on Jack and looking out the window. A disposable tool, that was Po, yupyup. But this tool was going to be as silent as the grave.
"I was wondering about that. Taru's goal is important - at least, to Taru." He was silent again, thinking. I was, as well; I certainly had nothing to add that could demystify Trowa's behavior. "Curious," Treize murmured again. "Observing from afar, and yet he needs your information. How very curious."
I shrugged again, still saying nothing. What the fuck. The tool had nothing to say. The cheese stood alone. I kept my silence and my fingers busy scratching Jack.
We drove for a long time. I watched the scenery flash by, such as it was, and tried not to think of anything. At one point, Treize took my hand and started to examine it, looking at it the same way he looked at Wufei earlier. I was surprised, but did not put up a fuss; after all, if he wanted to look at my hand, who was I to say no? He stopped fairly quickly; he had that "nah, too silly" look on his face. I figured he simply became bored. After all, I was completely human, not part human like Wufei. I wasn't interesting enough.
He eventually broke the silence, speaking gently, expecting an answer.
"My second question, Sally, of the initial two - what do you think happened today?"
I stared. Here was the question I didn't want to answer, the one that churned my gut and made my soul bleed. I bit my lip and looked out the window. "I'm not entirely sure." Which, technically, was true - I really didn't know. Nor did I WANT to know.
"Fair enough - but I want you to tell me what you think happened." His tone turned dry. "It must have been very bad, given your reaction."
Now I imagined myself curled into a tight, protective ball around Jack, a hard crustaceous shell surrounding soft, vulnerable me all the way on the far side of the car, as far as I could possibly get from Treize.
"I ... felt ... things," I said slowly. Gods, I did NOT want to do this at all. I spoke to the window. "You ... you ... did something ... to Wufei."
"Things." I heard Treize pause, then start again, the timbre of his voice different, softer. "Ahhh. You probably felt it channeled directly through him ... didn't you?"
And how the fuck would I know that? I shrugged at the window, looking down at Jack, petting him. "I ... guess ..." I whispered, almost inaudible.
"Ah ... my apologies, Sally. I knew you would feel something, but I didn't realize you would feel that. I would have seen to it that you were unconscious." He sounded sincere. "I AM sorry, Sally."
So? So he's sorry? Can he take it back? Can he mend that ripped, rent place in your soul? No? Then what possible difference does his 'sorry' make?
Jack and I were fascinated with the scenery of France. We had nothing to say. I had nothing to say. There was nothing to say. His apology made absolutely no difference. It didn't change the way I felt, it didn't change his actions ... it was a big "aww, that's too bad it happened to you, kiddo. Sorry 'bout that."
The silence was thick and heavy. If he was looking for absolution, he needed to look somewhere else, because he sure as hell wasn't getting it from me. What - I was supposed to open up and let him hurt me yet again, knock me over and step on me again? Not from me, not in THIS lifetime.
After several minutes, Treize started speaking. "Aside from what you felt, Sally, what do you THINK happened? What difference does this make? What do you think this means?"
I measured my words, to say the absolute minimum. That way, it wouldn't hurt as much. "He's yours. He belongs to you. You claimed him. He went - willingly - and - and that's it." End of story, Po - mission over - subject lost - you failed. Failed. Failed. FAILED.
My eyes closed in abject misery. I cried silent tears into Jack's fur, my back to Treize. I failed leave me alone let me go -
"That's a very nice technical description, Sally - but it's not telling me what you think."
-- And STOP THAT. You DID NOT FAIL anything. I would not be here if you did.
I jumped and whirled around, scared at the intimate way Treize just - just dropped INTO my head with that thought and engulfed my entire being. Rubbing my face with the back of my hand, I blinked and sniffed, trying to get calm enough to talk. Wordlessly, he fished into a pocket and handed me some tissues. I took them, wiped my eyes and nose, and realized with a sinking heart that really and truly, nothing was ever going to be the same in my life again.
I tried. "This ... I ... you have no IDEA ..." The pain of having my soul ripped apart and trampled again choked me. Tears threatened, hot and angry behind my eyelids. The window was cool felt good to my forehead and cheek, but I couldn't plaster my face against the windowpane for the rest of the trip. Jack, took, unwrapped from my lap and nosed up to my chin, trying to lick my face in his attempt to comfort me.
"I am trying to GET an idea, Sally," Treize said softly. "That's why I'm asking you. I'm not going to dive into your head and rip the thoughts from your mind. I need you to tell me. Because ... I think you don't understand."
Hiccups, now, and gods, how I hated them. Patiently, Treize waited until the worst of them were over, then looked at me.
"All - all right," I said, trying again. "You - you claimed him. That means that he belongs to you. That's what Trowa said. And if he belongs to you, that means ... that he's always going to be with you, too."
"Yes, Sally. Very good. But now you must define your terms. At this point, they're empty. Shoes belong to me, and you belong to me, and Wufei belongs to me. But everything I just named is vastly different. Also, Wufei would have been with me for the rest of his life anyway."
I started, a hollow feeling in my chest. "What - what do you mean, I belong to you?"
Treize's eyebrow shot up. "We've discussed this briefly, but now is not the time. Consider yourself under the umbrella of my protection. All right?"
"Well ... all ... right ..."
"Good." He gave me a small smile, keeping part of his attention on the road while he glanced at me. "Now. I need for you to define to me WHY you ran away."
That stopped me. I looked at him, feeling terribly uncertain. "Well ... because ... he ... he didn't need me anymore. He doesn't want me anymore. He has you. You - you took him. I ... couldn't protect him." Those damn tears again - they just wouldn't stop. I hitched a little, dabbed at my eyes again and frowned, trying to assimilate what we just discussed. "But you said -"
" - you aren't supposed to protect him in that manner. And he does need you, Sally. If you leave now, he'll be dead in six months."
Horror dipped through me. "No - no, Treize. I - I don't want that. I never wanted that."
"I know you didn't, Sally, or I would have been ... angry ... when I found you."
People talk about the power of words, but they didn't understand the power that words can have behind them. When Treize said the word angry, poor Jack whimpered and tried to hide himself under my shirt. I felt the same way Jack felt, but there was nowhere for me to hide. When Treize was angry, he was frightening.
"Treize," I said, my voice close to a whisper, "Treize, I would never hurt Wufei. Please ... please, you must believe me."
"I know, Sally," he said, his voice reassuring. "I know you wouldn't hurt him. I believe you. Now - I need you to calm down and relax a little so we can talk, all right? I'd like the chance to explain to you what really happened."
I took a deep breath, rubbing Jack. Then I looked at Treize, feeling as if I was naked. "Okay, Treize. Go ahead. Explain what - what happened - because I really don't understand."
"A claim is, in normal circumstances, is indeed a permanent thing. That should not, in and of itself, frighten you - it isn't as if I were ever going to simply let him go. Or you, either." He smiled, pushing my hair away from my forehead and tucking it behind my ear, petting the side of my head slowly, calmly. Affectionately.
"Oh," I said faintly. "Oh. I - oh." That phrase even shut up my evil little voice. We were both speechless.
"Think about it, Sally. I have, for the first time in millennia, one of the most perfect specimens of the Dragon Clan in my possession, and not coincidentally, that dragon's Guardian has come into my possession as well. Both are unique in their own lines. I would be a fool not to insure the safety and well-being of both individuals, would I not?"
I sat back in my seat and looked at him, blinking. Caught, snared, the lion has you in his paws, claws out, and is grinning ... "Y-yes, I - I guess so -"
He smiled, brushing the back of his hand across my cheek. "Saa, don't cry, Sally. I will take good care of you. But you must understand what happened today. What a claim means in normal circumstances perhaps can be best couched in human terms with which you are familiar, even though ... well. They don't quite work. Have you ever seen two people deeply in love?"
"Um ... yes. My - my parents." I was cautious, watching him, my hands holding Jack now instead of scratching him. Jack was quiet, as well.
"The way they looked at each other when they were in a deeply affectionate mood - what did you see?"
"They - they - smiled at each other - you could tell ... they sort of ignored everyone else. They were in their own little world." I could see them in my mind's eye, laughing over coffee in Beijing, forgetting I was there. They could only see each other.
"Take that, and magnify it - and you have the attitude of the claimed person toward the one who claimed him or her. It is a condition of peace. Happiness. Contentment. The claimer has some influence over the claimed, it is true. In most cases, he could instruct the claimed to ... well. How to feel, or how to be, or how to act. However, you don't need to worry. This won't be the case with Wufei."
I stared at him, swallowing. "...oh. So -" I fumbled, speaking slowly, " - Wufei - loves you ..."
"...sort of. It's close enough for our purposes. But understand, Sally - as the dragon grows older, while he will remain mine in most senses of the world, his mind and attitude will no longer belong to me. He will retain my color - my mark - and others will know to whom he belongs. However, in terms of the future, his own choices will be open to him again, unless I force myself upon him. Mentally, that is to say. So ... you might consider this phase ... sort of a training time. Rather like a child with a parent." He stopped for a moment to glance at me. "This is the time of his life during which he learns he can trust me. He learns that he can rely upon me. He learns that I care for him, and will keep him safe. And that I will not let him go." The last remark was included almost casually, as an aside.
The 'oh, by the way, no one's going anywhere for the rest of their lives, remember,' remark.
"And when his mind is his to change again, he will - most likely - not fight to leave me, and wish to remain."
"Yes. I imagine he will," I said quietly, looking at the top of Jack's head. Gods. We were all children to him.
He was silent for a moment. "Please. Sally. If you have any questions at all, I want to hear them. I WILL answer you."
I didn't look at him. "So. You're - training him."
"Teaching him," Treize corrected.
I sighed. "All right. Teaching him. But teaching him what, exactly? What do you want, ultimately, with him? You already said you're not going to let him go, so this 'training' - or 'teaching,' whatever label you want to put on it - is only going to reinforce that." I shrugged. "So why be coy?"
"I'm teaching him about myself. And no, I'm not going to let him go, but that hardly means I'm going to drug and chain him to a wall. In case you hadn't noticed, Sally, I allow as much freedom to those who, in the eyes of others, belong to me as I can. That includes the freedom of choice."
Yes, of course, how could I have missed THAT? I had SO much choice in being HERE -
"I don't MAKE you like me -"
And without warning, Treize's aura flared, overwhelming me utterly. Bronze light flooded the car; but much more than that, I felt his presence - that sensual, erotic, physical presence that electrified every nerve and was so pleasing, so hypnotic, so powerful -
" - but I could. I simply choose not to."
I gaped at him stupidly from the opposite side of the car, wondering what the hell just happened. A small smile was tugging at his mouth as he glanced at me.
"Wha - I - "
And then I realized what he did. Anger and fury flooded back in full measure. I glared and hissed, "Don't DO that!"
"Sorry," he replied, grinning.
Scowling, I snapped, "Fine. All right - you choose not to, but you could." Jerk.
He laughed. "Yes, Sally. I choose not to, even though it's within both my right and ability. I know your experience with the supernatural has been - superficial, at best. But you will never find another being who will treat you as I do. I'm rather unique."
"No kidding," I said dryly. Unique is probably an understatement ...
Treize smirked. "I believe you're correct."
"Did he tell you anything else about me?"
I blinked over at Treize. "Um ... Trowa? Well ... yes, of course he did." I shrugged, looking away. "It was probably wrong, too."
"Saa ... don't jump to conclusions. You have the right to ask him, and me, any questions you like, and decide on your own." I could feel his gaze on me; I wiggled, a little uncomfortable. "I doubt everything he told you was wrong," he said, his voice gentle. "In fact, he may have only equivocated on one or two points."
"Oh, you mean ... like ... what my JOB really was? Things like that?" I snapped, bitter and angry. Jack was on my lap, his tiny paws on my shoulders, trying to lick my face again. He could tell I was getting upset. Yet again.
"Yes," Treize agreed gently. "He did that because he's terrified of me, Sally. I don't think I can explain further than that. You don't have enough background knowledge yet."
"Right," I said, keeping myself very tight. "It doesn't matter anyway."
It took Treize a long moment to respond, but when he did, he took me completely by surprise. "It does matter, Sally," he replied softly. "What you have to say, think, or feel does matter. It makes a difference, and I want to know."
That was NOT what I expected. "Well ... fine. One of the things he did tell me is that you killed my ancestors. A lot. And ... he showed me ... things. Lots - lots of my ancestors."
"Yes. I did kill some of you ancestors - but I am quite sure Taru did not tell you why."
My chest was tight and it was hard to breathe. I was rubbing Jack so much that static electricity was dancing in his coat as the poor dog's fur was practically standing straight up.
"He - he told me enough," I rasped, looking down. "They - they tried to protect dragons. That's what he said. That's what he showed me. I was his last defense. That's what he said." Choking, my voice thick with emotion, I tried to finish, "...and ... and ... I - I - well..."
"Mmmm ... protect dragons ..." Treize sounded thoughtful. "Is that what he called it?"
I was crying again, really crying, and I couldn't stop. I could only nod and bury my head in Jack's coat.
"... I guess ..." I felt like such a failure, so bad, just so horrible, that I wanted to close my eyes and disappear.
A large, soothing something reached around my shoulders and rubbed between them, calming me. "I suppose it could be phrased that way. Possibly." Treize sounded unhappy. "Your ancestors, Sally, had a tendency to overreact. In fact, quite a few of them tried to kill their charges - kill the dragon, that is. Given the choice between allowing them to live and having the dragon dead or the reverse ... well..."
I sniffed, not sure I had heard him correctly. "Ex - excuse me?" I hiccupped and blinked. "Did you just say my ancestors tried to kill - kill - dragons?" Just the thought of killing someone like Wufei filled me with nothing but horror.
Soberly, Treize regarded me. "Yes, Sally, they did. They thought they were doing them a favor."
"I - I don't understand. Didn't they feel what I feel? Couldn't they see the dragon?"
"Oh, yes, Sally, they could feel and see the dragon." Treize's tone was full of unaccustomed bitterness, so much so that I drew back, startled. He noticed and continued, his voice gentler, "I don't know how they could do that. With some of them it was even more so, because they were raised knowing their purpose and their charge."
It was too horrific. Something twisted inside me, something tied, inextricably, to Wufei. "I - I could never do that, Treize. I could never harm Wufei. Those people - my ancestors - must have been insane. I can't think of any other explanation."
"Only two of them managed to succeed," Treize continued, his voice even, "three, if you count a delayed reaction. And there was no insanity in your family, Sally. It was simply the fact that some members of your family were told - and fully believed - that I was a monster, and that their charges needed to be kept from me at all costs."
I swallowed. Now THAT was a familiar refrain. "So ... you killed Guardians."
"Not when I could avoid it. But a few needed to be locked away. Some of them were ... no longer needed, and I simply sent them away. Of course, there came a time when they simply gave up on the dragon and abandoned it. Then it was no longer a problem."
"...oh. You mean ... they left." I started sniffing again, and rubbed Jack. He really was a wonderful stress reliever.
"Yes. They quit. Fled. Abandoned the dragon."
Well, REALLY, Po, what human family wants to be annihilated for the sake of an immortal?
None. But I should have been told EVERYthing. Now I'm acting just like my ancestors, running away -
" -and THAT is not your fault at all," Treize said, answering my thoughts. "Taru and I are going to have words this evening. This nonsense of his has gone on long enough."
"Umm ...oh. Okay.."
I bit my lip and looked at him, right over Jack's head. He didn't seem angry at me, just weary in general. But I couldn't tell for sure - my emotions were all out of whack.
We were close to home, almost at the mansion. Treize had turned off the autoban and had been driving in the city for a while.
"There will be repercussions for stealing the car, I fear," he murmured, glancing at me. "I'll make them as minor as possible. Unfortunately, this incident involved too many people to simply keep it hidden."
I could feel my face getting hot. Swallowing, I looked down at Jack's head and ran my thumb over Jack's ear. "Um ..oh. I ... well ...I'm - sorry, Treize. I - I didn't ..."
Feh. Didn't expect to get caught - didn't expect YOU to show up, that's for sure ...
"I know, Sally. It's all right. Everyone goes through something like this in their lives."
"Um ... well ... there - there shouldn't be any permanent damage to the car ... anyway ..." I trailed off when I saw his amused expression.
"No, no permanent damage - but look at the situation from a different point of view than your own, Sally. You ran from your appointed guardian, took all the tools in the room you could, including a scalpel, and stole an expensive car. The world will not see you as a reformed criminal. People will see you as more dangerous, not less."
"What? I'm more dangerous because I stole a car with a scalpel? I just opened the car, Treize, I didn't stab anyone - "
"Of course you didn't, Sally. I know that, and Wufei will think nothing ill of you. Depending upon how we swing it, of course."
"How we -" I stopped, blinking at him, and thought about that. Damn. Said the wrong way, Wufei would think I was completely insane.
I sighed, resigned. "So. I suppose I won't be going on any shopping trips for a while, will I?"
"No, I don't think so. At least, not unless I'm with you and Lady Une stays with you at all times. I'll send Lady Une out as soon as possible to obtain an abbreviated wardrobe for you, since ... ah ... you were unable to purchase one for yourself today."
I glared at him. He glanced back, one eyebrow lifted in polite inquiry. I looked away and sulked, feeling about twelve and hating him more than I thought possible. This was just one more unpleasant little item to load onto all the other unpleasant things that happened today.
"Feh," I mumbled. What a lousy end to a rotten day.
Treize drove into the mansion's underground garage, and to my surprise, several police cruisers were waiting for us. I stared at them, then at Treize, alarmed.
"What - what's this? What do you want me to do?"
"You will be quiet. I will speak for you," Treize said, looking at me. "Simply get out of the car and follow me into the house. Do not say anything at all. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Treize, I understand."
Once Treize parked the car, the doors of the cruisers opened, disgorging several official-looking people in trench coats and a few uniformed policemen with guns. The alarm was still with me, but strangely enough, knowing that I was with Treize made me feel ... protected. Safe. And now I could look at those people a little more critically than before, realizing that the trench coat men had a little more paunch than they probably wanted others to notice. Ditto for the uniforms. Plus -
Sally. Not. One. Word.
I started, then got out of the car, carrying Jack in my arms. Jack, being the wonderful puppy he was, was very quiet, knowing something was happening..
"General! General, we were hoping that -"
"Ah, gentlemen! Shall we go inside?" He was so urbane, so charming, and so in control, everyone else was taken aback. He swept his hand behind my back, ushering me toward the elevator, not giving the police the opportunity to get near me.
Of course not. They will not dare be rude to Me, my dear.
My gaze fastened to the floor, I ruefully considered the consequences of the local police being rude to the ruler of the world. Probably not in their best interests, but I wondered if they looked at things that way.
Before I knew it, we were all standing inside the foyer, smiling at each other. Ick. I happened to peek around the largest of the Trench coats and saw Wufei, asleep on the couch in the sitting room, lovingly covered by a light blanket. I sighed, relieved that he wasn't going to see THIS little scene.
"Sally. Go upstairs, please."
I nodded to everyone, noting the expression of consternation on all the Trenchcoats' faces and trotted obediently up the stairs. They could go ahead and argue with Treize. I had no energy left
Someone was knocking, rather insistantly, on my door. I sighed, rolled off the bed, thumped over and blearily opened the door. "Yes?"
"The police are gone, Sally." Treize stood in the doorway, studying me. "You have a couple of hours before dinner, so you can relax for now."
"Okay, Treize." I nodded and looked down, tired. "Um ... thank you ... for - for everything."
"Sally." The tenor of his voice demanded I look up. He was gentle, but insistent. "This isn't the end of your life - you're simply reaping what you sewed. Or did it never occur to you that being a guerilla leader would have results?"
I looked away. "No. It - it did. I've been imprisoned before." But I've actually been able to ESCAPE before ...
Treize sighed. "Turn around, Sally," he ordered. "Come on, turn around."
Mystified, I obeyed. "What - "
"A lot of this will be solved tonight. It will all be worked out in the end - all right?" His strong fingers manipulated the tight muscles about my neck and shoulders, then started to work on the muscles attaching to my shoulder blades.
Involuntarily, I groaned in pleasure. "Oh - ooooooooooh, gods, that feels so gooooood..."
I heard him chuckle behind me. "Of course it does. That's better. Calm down, just calm do -" For one moment, Treize went utterly still; he stopped massaging and speaking, his hands rested lightly on my back and shoulders. Then he started rubbing my back, just as enthusiastically as he had before, even more so.
"Uunnnghhh..."
There was a hot, tight knot right in the middle of my back, something that felt like it was the size of my fist, attached to my left shoulder blade. I thought it was just my back; as Treize worked on me, I realized it was actually from my neck.
"All right, Sally. Go take a shower, then take a nap. Don't waste what I just did to your back." He looked down at me, mock-serious.
"Yes ... fine ... all right."
Someone was knocking on my door again; plus, something wet was slapping itself all over my face. Couldn't anyone leave me in peace?
I opened one eye. It was promptly washed by a puppy tongue. Sputtering, I rolled over. "Oh. Thanks, Jack."
The puppy looked totally adorable, cocking his head this way and that, doing his 'puppy dance' on the bed. I sighed, blinking a little, still feeling out of it.
"Do you want to go outside, Jack? Is that it?"
Knocking, again, on the bedroom door; so that's what he was trying to tell me. "Oh. Right." Scooping Jack up, I padded over to the door and opened it, expecting to see Treize again, ready to tell him I had showered and napped, just as he instructed.
Instead, I opened the door to see Wufei. And this was a relaxed Wufei, with a nice smile, looking for me. "Hi. Are you okay?"
I stared. I wasn't prepared to see him. A lump swelled in my throat; it wasn't there seconds before, but suddenly, there it was. I swallowed around it and blinked. "Um ... hi. I'm ... fine, Wufei. I was just lying down."
Remember your manners, you dope. I opened the door a fraction wider. "Did you - did you - want to come in?" God knows what he wanted to do now, I certainly didn't know.
"Only if you want me to." He acted shy. "I just wanted you to know it's time for dinner."
Practical, practical. You need to eat, he's coming to get you. He did think of you, at least. I gave him a wan smile. "Oh. Thanks."
"Aren't you hungry?" He was really laid back, very gentle. Not like the old high strung Wufei at all.
I missed Wufei acutely. This was probably better, in some respects, for him - he was more relaxed - but I wanted my Wufei back. MY Wufei.
Your Wufei is gone, silly cow, if he ever existed at all.
"No, not really," I admitted, shrugging, stepping out into the hall and closing the door. "But whatever is cooking smells good."
"No?" Wufei gave me a strange look. "What's wrong? I know you have a weird day ... Une came back crying."
I looked down, feeling my shoulders droop. "Ohhh. Yes ... we didn't have a good time shopping ..."
"Hey, Sally, don't do that," Wufei murmured softly, touching my arm, concerned. "What's wrong with you? I know something's wrong." The dragon was trying to butt its small head against me, making small, keening sounds.
"I ... Wufei ... you're so sweet." I swallowed again, feeling those damn tears sting the back of my eyelids. "Maybe - maybe we can talk after dinner. That would help me. Right now, though, we'd better go downstairs - Treize is waiting."
"...yes ... Treize ... is waiting." A small shiver ran across his shoulders. I couldn't watch it, but I couldn't look away. ARGH...
So that's what we did. Arm in arm, we walked downstairs to dinner.
There were four places set for dinner at the kitchen island. One for Wufei, one for me, one for Treize, and one for ... someone else.
This was yet another "if it can't be cured, it must be endured" type of scenario. I was on the sidelines, watching the play between Wufei and Treize. Wufei walked into the room, saw Treize and lit up, looking hauntingly beautiful. He was happy, pleased, adoring - his world, now, was perfect. Through Treize, he had attained Nirvana.
Treize smiled back, thoroughly pleased.
Ugh. Now I was thoroughly depressed.
"Sit down, you two. We will have one more guest tonight, I hope - "
"Who?" Wufei had pulled out my chair and was seating me, something I hadn't expected at ALL. He patted my shoulder once, then sat down, his attention focused on Treize.
"An old comrade of yours."
"What?" Wufei stiffened, obviously uncomfortable.
"Don't worry about it, Wufei."
Immediately, he relaxed. "All right." Picking up the lo mien dish closest to him, Wufei murmured, "Here, Sally - the dish is hot. Let me serve you." I gave him my plate, and he gave me portions of lo mien, fried rice, steamed vegetables ... everything he knew I liked.
"Thank you, Wufei. It looks delicious," I offered, giving him a small smile.
He smiled in return and started eating. I looked at my dinner; at the baby corn, the broccoli and the bok choi, and realized that if I ate anything now, I'd probably be revisiting it in the very near future. Ugh. I wasn't touching it.
However, I could rearrange it to make it look like I ate something. And perhaps Jack would like some ...?
A surreptitious look around showed me that Treize was occupying Jack in the kitchen; entertaining him, really, making him run for little bits and pieces of meat and such. I doubted very much if Jack wanted to eat baby corn, but stranger things have happened.
Treize was talking about something or another, I had no idea what. I couldn't focus. I could only focus on not watching Wufei react strongly to Treize, or, in fact, no watching Wufei react to Treize at ALL.
"Sally. You didn't touch your dinner at all." Wufei sounded so concerned, so worried.
"It's ... I ... I really wasn't that hungry, Wufei ..." Drink more water, Po, that will help your stomach
"Are you ill? Do you need a doctor?"
"She'll be fine, Wufei."
I stared at my broccoli as if it could speak to me. Perhaps it could. You'll be fine, Po. You'll forget all about him and start again with someone else -
"Wufei ."
"Yes, Treize?"
"It's time for bed. Leave the dishes, too. Just go on up and go to sleep."
"Yes, sir." Wufei stood, touched my arm, then gave Treize an adoring look and left the kitchen immediately.
Several moments later, when Wufei was out of earshot, Treize spoke to the fourth place setting. "Very well - you may show yourself now, Taru."
I stared at Treize and the end of the kitchen island. Without warning, Trowa was sitting in the last chair, looking extremely nervous.
Weirder and weirder. Blinking, I said, very slowly, "Tro - Trowa?"
"Dinner, Taru?" Treize asked, cheerful.
"If you'd like." Trowa was stiff and formal, with no smile, no inflection in his voice, nothing. But there was something about his manner, as well - he seemed, for lack of a better word - utterly stiff and still.
I stared at him, longer now. Here was the man who wasn't a man. Here was the Immortal who told me that my ancestors had been killed by Treize, but had neglected to tell me that they had tried to KILL dragons, those wonderful creatures.
"Don't be so terrified. I told you - if you came, I wouldn't do all those nasty things I said I would do." Food was ladled onto his plate; slowly, Trowa started to eat, his gaze darting from side to side.
"I'm not that hungry."
"That's fine, Taru. Not a problem. So. How long have you known Sally was anankha?"
Silverware clattered to the table and Taru's eyes went wide. I stared at Treize as if he had lost his mind. "What are you talking about? I'm not anankha - you are, and Wufei is, but I'm certainly not."
Treize sat on the stool across from us, his elbows on the counter, and looked at Taru. "Now - tell her the truth. She has a right to know."
Wooden, Taru said, "... you are anankha, Sally Po. Ever since the island."
I didn't believe him. "Oh, come on, Trowa. You're kidding. That's silly. That would mean that I should have died when -" I stopped there, frozen, and stared at him.
Right.
"The dogs should have killed you."
"Anything else?" Treize probed, his voice gentle.
"No."
Treize looked at Trowa, apparently seeing something that bothered him. "Taru. Calm."
What Trowa probably saw was me, sliding off my chair and stalking over to him. He certainly looked panicked; I know I would have been in his shoes.
"You. Left me. Alone. With him." I enunciated each word very clearly and pointed directly at Treize, so there was no misunderstanding. My jaw was set; I was furious. "You used me, you -"
As quickly as Trowa appeared, he disappeared. Treize gave a frustrated sigh. " ... I was afraid of that. Well, he was so frightened - I suppose I don't blame him."
"WHAT?"
"Seriously? Don't take it personally, Sally. He's not an evil person."
"He's not a person at all!"
"He is a person, Sally," Treize corrected. "He's just not human."
I glared and refused to say anything. People are human.
Treize raised an eyebrow at me. "Now, Sally. Humans are human - people are of all kinds. Unless, of course, you really wish to be totally racist. I suppose I must allow you to be that blind, if you wish -"
"How dare you - I am not racist! What are you implying?" My voice rose; I was nearly shouting, I was so angry.
"You just said AND thought that only people are human -"
"They ARE!" And that's the end of THAT -
"Then you are racist," Treize said simply.
"No, I'm not," I insisted.
"Oh? Then define 'people.'" Treize tilted his head, inquiring, waiting for me.
I blinked, caught. "Um .. people are ... are ... "
He smiled. "Do you want some help?"
I sighed, obviously pained. "...yes, please."
"Very well, then. When racism was the norm, hundreds and hundreds of years ago, why were certain people defined as being non-human?"
Oh, FEH. I looked down. "Because - because - the one group wanted to think of the other AS animals, not as people."
"Mmmhmm. And when they were accepted as people, why was it?"
"Because ... because they were finally recognized as individuals with feelings ... beings who could learn, and love, and hurt, and bleed ..."
"So. You assume the dichotomy is between human and animal. Why? What makes the difference? Sentience? Intelligence? Responsibility?"
I was shifting around, very uncomfortable. He had me, and I knew it. There was no escape. All I could do was wait and see how badly this was going to turn out. Gads, the man wanted me to LEARN something from him all the TIME. Every time we had a conversation like this, my head hurt.
"Then does it not stand to reason that anyone with sentience, responsibility - or the ability to TAKE it - and such intelligence as to understand those things..is a person? If that is your definition of human, Sally, then I would be human, as well. That is my definition of a PERSON. The species - human, or whatever - really has nothing to do with it."
Yeah. Ouch. My brain definitely hurt. "All right - fine, Treize. Using that definition, there are more things that fit into that category than - than I thought."
"Of course there are - unless, of course, you want to think that a mere animal has taken over the world?"
I shrugged.
"Of course, you realize that makes Wufei an animal - he's not really human, you know."
Glaring, I retorted, "Wufei's no animal."
"Oh? And why is that? He isn't human, as you well know. In fact - should you ever require a blood transfusion, you could not receive blood from him. His DNA, if studied deeply enough, would reveal itself to be ... quite different. He won't even age at the same rate. Thus - not human."
"He's partially human," I retorted, glowering. "He's not ALL Seiyruu."
"So, he's partly an animal? That is absurd, and you know it."
I turned away from him, huffing. "No! He's - he's not part animal. He's simply not completely human. He's ... he's a hybrid."
"Saa, don't do that." Walking behind me, Treize gently turned me back around, put his hand under my chin and tilted my head up until I was looking at him. His gaze was smiling and warm, not challenging at all. "Non-human does not mean non-person, Sally."
I sighed. "O - okay, Treize. I understand. Just because someone isn't human ... doesn't mean they aren't a person."
He gave me a soft smile. "Good girl. You will see many more - individuals - now - than you have in the past. This household will be much more of a target for the .. ah ... unusual. I don't want you unprotected. All right?"
That made absolutely no sense to me whatsoever. I frowned. "I .. guess so. Sure. All right."
He chuckled a little and patted the side of my face. "Don't worry about it, Sally. It will be all right."
I sighed again and stared off into space, thinking for a few moments. This was getting MUCH too complicated and weird.
"Are you sleepy?" Surprised, I turned to find Treize watching me quite closely.
"Um ... no ... I'm okay ..." Actually, I was feeling like a wet dishrag, but I wasn't going to tell HIM that.
"Then what would you rather do?"
"Do?" I asked, puzzled.
"Yes, do. Or would you rather sit there and ... ah ... look at me?"
That galvanized me into action. Pushing myself out of my chair, I shook my head and blinked, looking around for Jack. "Ah .. no, no, of course not, that's just silly. I - I guess I'll take Jack out for a little while into the garden, and then go to bed." I knelt down reaching for Jack, who was wriggling toward me. "Come here, boy!"
Treize considered me for a moment, then said, his voice quietly authoritative, "No, I don't think so. I think, instead, Sally, that you will stay here and eat. You haven't eaten anything today."
I looked up at him, shocked, blinking. "W-what? But - but, Treize - " I tried for a reasonable tone, " - really, I'm not hungry - "
"There's no need to pretend at this point, Sally. I can tell." His tone was even and steady, the same as his stare, which pinned me right in place. "Even if I couldn't read your mind, it would be obvious. Your body is running in near-constant panic mode. It doesn't matter if you're hungry." Slightly chiding, he raised one eyebrow. "Aren't you a doctor? You know what shock does to the senses."
My lips tightened in annoyance and I scowled at him. "Yes, of course I know what it does -"
"Fine. Then don't argue. Just eat. If you must eat only a little, then have some protein."
I felt my eyes widen involuntarily and I inhaled, ready to quarrel; but one look at his face convinced me that any such argument would be futile.
" ... all right." Reluctantly, I walked over to the high stools at the kitchen island. Jack was wiggling around at my feet, tail wagging, happy as ever. I glanced down at him before I sat down. Still hungry, puppy? Come on over and -
I had no idea Treize was still watching me, or, for that matter, monitoring my thoughts.
Do you REALLY think I'm stupid, Sally, and that tricks that work from human children to unwatchful parents will work with me?
My head snapped up immediately; I gasped, my gaze trapped again by Treize's intense blue stare. All the blood drained from my face and went zooming into my feet, along with my stomach, leaving only an icy pit. My fingers wrapped tightly around the spindles of the chair. I was stunned.
- but - but -
I won't permit you to harm yourself over this. That includes eating. And while feeding your dog is perfectly acceptable, feeding your dog at the cost of yourself is NOT. Do you understand?
Neither one of us uttered a single word. In fact, the only sounds in the room had been Jack's nails clicking on the tile and his panting. Treize stood, one arm casually crooked on the bar, watching me with a enigmatic expression while I clutched the stool in a death grip, reminiscent of how I held Jack earlier that afternoon.
Before, I would have told him to go straight to hell. Now, I couldn't even string two syllables together.
" ... I ..."
"Yes?" Treize arched one eyebrow and waited for me to finish.
It was no use. I gave in, pulled out the stool and sat down with a 'whump,' my shoulders slumped, defeated.
"I ... yes ...Treize ..." Never in my entire life had so much control been stripped from me so thoroughly.
Deal with it, Po. You're not in charge any more. If you ever were, that is.
