Chapter Fourteen

December 21st AC 190

Khushrenada Ancestral Estate – Moscow

If Otto had been wondering just exactly what Treize and Leia thought he was to Zechs after the look they had given each other at the airfield, then all doubt had been removed as soon as he saw the room he had been given for his stay. The elegantly appointed suite was right next door to the rooms Zechs had confirmed were his, and was actually connected directly through their bedrooms by a door that Otto quickly established had been left unlocked by someone.

Sat on Zechs's bed just before they retired for the night, watching the blonde brush out his hair, Otto had raised his suspicions with his friend, feeling he deserved to be warned. When Otto had asked if Zechs was aware of what was happening, and had commented that the two of them were being treated as a couple, Zechs had just laughed at him – and then laughed harder when Otto explained that his room assignment was just proof.

Zechs's, 'I'll have to tell Treize you said that! That was his room till a couple of years ago!' had been both a relief and a new point of worry for the other cadet, but he'd rallied fast enough to wonder, voice all innocence, just why Zechs and Treize had needed a connection to each other's bedrooms.

Zechs had sobered fast at that, for no reason that Otto could see, and had replied only with, 'His mother thought it would be a good idea.'

He'd bid his classmate a terse good night not long after, leaving Otto to retire to his own bed and fall into a restless sleep.

*****************************

December 22nd AC 190

Khushrenada Ancestral Estate – Moscow

"Good morning, Otto."

The cadet pulled himself from his thoughts to look up as he crossed the threshold into the little morning room, silently cursing himself for not realising that there was anyone already in it.

It was horribly early but Otto had always been an early riser and two and a half years at a military academy had only made that tendency worse. In combination with the time difference between Moscow and Lake Victoria, the cadet supposed he should have known he wouldn't sleep well.

He hadn't expected anyone else to be in the same boat with him, but there was Treize, watching him from behind whatever he'd been reading, washed and groomed and dressed as though he'd been awake for hours.

"Good morning, sir," Otto returned politely, wondering whether he should beat a quick retreat.

The instructor lifted an eyebrow. "Treize, please. We're both off-duty and you are a guest. Would you like coffee?"

The younger man watched as his teacher rose to his feet and made for the table under the window, ruffling the drapes enough as he walked that Otto could see it was still dark outside. "Do you take sugar?" Treize asked and Otto shook his head automatically. "Cream?"

"Uh, no, thank you."

"Rather you than me, then." Treize gave a shudder of disgust. "It's from you Zechs got this habit then?" he asked as he handed the boy a mug of steaming black liquid.

"Ah, the other way around, actually. He got me addicted when we were revising for finals last year. I think he got it from Noin – the girl lives off espresso."

"Right. Italian. I should have known." Treize flashed him a quick smile. "Well, it's nice to know the source – I was starting to think my entire cadet class were caffeine addicts."

The smile warmed and Otto chuckled in spite of himself. "We probably are, sir. It's all the assignments the teaching staff keep giving us. We don't have enough time to sleep!"

The second eyebrow joined the first as Treize refilled his own cup with lazy movements. "You have no concept, cadet," he murmured. "You just wait until after Christmas. I speak from experience when I say you won't know what's hit you." Treize laughed softly. "I suggest you enjoy Christmas. I can promise you won't Easter."

"Oh dear," Otto sighed. "You aren't going to be too mean to us, sir, are you?"

The laugh took on a wicked edge. "Would I?" Treize asked sweetly and Otto swallowed, only half for effect.

The older man gave him a moment to stew, then sat down again, gesturing that the cadet should join him. He used the move to change the subject and looked at Otto shrewdly from over the rim of his own coffee cup. "Did Zechs sleep well?" he asked.

"I assume so," Otto replied.

"You 'assume so'? You don't know?"

The cadet shrugged. "Should I? I know when he went to bed, I know there was no light from under his door when I walked past it and I know he isn't in here with you, which is where I'd expect him to be if he was awake."

"Not necessarily," Treize said softly, then looked back at Otto. "Forgive me, I've been treating you as though…."

"Zechs and I are a couple, I know. I'd worked that out for myself." Otto sipped his coffee, then squared his shoulders, putting away his affable, slightly camp personality in favour of the more serious side he used for his training. He'd found, when they'd talked at the Academy, that Treize responded better to it. "Can I ask why? I'm sure Zechs has told you that we aren't, and I know I did."

Treize shrugged. "It's an easier explanation for Leia, for one. I understand the idea of needing a physical vent, but she, as you might expect, would not." The older man sighed suddenly. "It might also be wishful thinking on my part, I suppose," he admitted, surprising the both of them with the confession.

Otto coughed. "You want me as his partner?" he asked, surprised. He hadn't thought his teacher was especially fond of him, however much Treize had treated him as a fellow adult when they'd talked at the Academy.

"I want him stable and reasonably happy, that's all," Treize corrected. "And I don't think screwing around in those clubs will give him either of those things."

"That's a matter of opinion, sir," Otto replied tactfully, shrugging tightly and thinking hard as he tried to phrase why he disagreed with that statement. It was true that 'happy' probably wasn't something that would ever come out of the cadets' visits to the clubs, but Otto had seen Zechs up close both before and after their little jaunts and there was no doubt in the brunette's mind that he was more mellow for it. "It…relaxes him," he explained. "Within limits, I actually think it's good for him."

Treize nodded, but his face still showed his disapproval. "Whilst that might be true – as I said, I understand the need for physical relief – the real question is whether he will stay within those limits." He shook his head. "I doubt it, Otto. He's not good at following rules, or at taking care of himself."

Without doubt, this was one of the more bizarre situations Otto had been in his short life. Discussing his roommate's sex life with a man who happened to be their mutual teacher and Zechs's legal guardian besides had not been on the cadet's list of things to do for the day when he woke up that morning! He took a mouthful of his coffee as he lapsed into thought again. "As I told you last time we spoke," he started finally, "that would be why I keep him company." He frowned slightly. "I watch out for him as best I can, sir."

Treize nodded, acknowledging the truth of that. The conversation the two of them had shared, a day or so after he'd dragged the two cadets from the night club had been enlightening and informative as to Otto's character in general and as to his feelings and intentions towards Zechs specifically. "I'm sure you do, Otto," he confirmed, "but will you always be able to? There's no guarantee that you'll be posted anywhere near each other when you graduate – what would happen then? Have you thought of that? Or of what will happen when he, inevitably, wants to try something that you can't be there to see?" Treize gave the younger man a knowing, demanding look. "Losing his virginity to a stranger is a knock I'd rather he didn't take. It would be hurtful for him."

Otto looked down, fixing his eyes on the tabletop to keep from having to look at his teacher, swallowing slowly before speaking. "I know that, sir," he said quietly. "From personal experience, as it happens."

Treize gave it a moment, looking at his student with gentle eyes as some things he'd been wondering about clicked into place and some more new questions raised their heads. "Indeed," he commented, keeping his voice absolutely level "You know where I am, then," he added softly, motivated by both professional and parental instinct.

The instructor waited until a flashing glance from grateful brown eyes had made it clear that Otto had understood the implied offer of a listening ear or a supportive hand should he need it, and then he continued. "Would you answer a question for me, Otto?" Treize asked.

"Of course, sir," Otto answered immediately.

"Thank you. I've heard several different opinions of how I handled Zechs in this, and so far, not a one of them has been any use in determining my next step with him. You're roughly the same age as him, your circumstances are similar. Would you mind telling me – in his position, what would you want from me?"

Otto bit his lip, suddenly realising that his teacher was talking to him as an equal, was asking his advice. "I'd want…" he took a deep breath. "I'd want you not to care, to be honest. For it not to be an issue, not to matter. I've…I've seen how much weight Zechs gives your opinion of him. If he starts to believe that you have a problem with his being gay, the damage to him could be…."

Treize nodded, cutting the cadet off. "I can only imagine. I've made it quite clear on several occasions – I've simply told him when it comes down to it – that it isn't a problem. He seems to be having trouble believing it, though."

"That's probably a result of what happened in the club, if I might be blunt, sir. Your reaction wasn't… exactly friendly."

"My reaction was to the circumstances and those specific events!" Treize fired back, heat colouring the words more than he would have wanted.

"Is there a difference?" Otto asked, so quietly that Treize almost missed it. "Please forgive me for saying this, sir – I know it's horribly rude of me – but can you honestly say you would have been quite so outraged if you'd caught Zechs picking up a random woman in the back room, rather than Sebastian?"

Treize's shoulders stiffened and his eyes narrowed a touch at the cadet's question but he covered the reaction well and settled for levelling a cool look at the boy instead. "This may well be a surprise for you, Otto, but yes, I would have been. My issues with Zechs's behaviour that night have nothing to do with the gender of his partner. They stem from the fact that he was putting himself at risk in more ways than one, both professionally and personally, by being in that club – and that is all they stem from! I would have just as much problem with him picking up random women as I do random men. Neither is a way of life renowned for being safe!"

The younger man looked a little taken aback but he rallied well, taking a deep breath before asking, "Is that why you wish the two of us were a couple? Because it would be safer?"

"Safer, yes. For both of you." Treize gave Otto a little half smile. "You'd probably find it more rewarding, as well. There's a lot to be said for a partner who knows you."

"I'm sure there is but… Sir, Zechs and I are friends, I don't think we'll ever be anything else, and trying to force it…." He shook his head. "He's not likely to suddenly fall in love with me, sir."

"Why does he need to?" Treize asked, noting the interesting phrasing on that last statement. "You care for each other, you obviously find each other attractive. Why does it need to be anything more? Both you and Zechs have been at pains to explain to me that the two of you are nothing more than friends that just happen to end up in bed together occasionally. Zechs tells me it's because, as he phrased it, 'it's comforting sometimes and it feels nice'. I have no issue with that – why should I have? It's a perfect solution to a lot of problems in some ways." Treize shrugged. "What I don't understand is where the harm would be in expanding that? Why does either of you feel the need to seek out strangers?"

Otto could feel himself blushing, and he found himself wondering whether Treize had put Zechs through this conversation. "Sir, I…." He stopped, let himself breathe for a moment or two, and then tried again. "We… have rules, sir," he explained. "About what we can and can't do together. As a… safety measure, of sorts, I suppose. What you're suggesting…" He shook his head. "Don't you see that it would be very easy for the two of us to slip from being 'just friends' to being something we can't afford to be? We're both in the military and the military does not approve of fraternisation between its officers. Especially when both parties are male. And, you said it yourself earlier, sir – In six months time I could be posted halfway around the world from Zechs and never see him again."

Treize nodded. "True, but I still think it would be preferable for both of you. Think about it," he encouraged, then stood up, moving back towards the table under the window to top his cup up again. "To get back to my original point," he continued as he sat down again, "did Zechs wake you at any point last night?"

Otto frowned, confused. "No, sir…. Should he have?"

"Hopefully, no, but it was a possibility. Have you noticed the door connecting your rooms yet?"

Otto coloured immediately but he forced his voice to stay level. "Yes, sir. I, ah, I thought…."

"I can imagine," Treize chuckled dryly. "Has Zechs told you that the rooms you're in used to be mine yet, then?"

"He mentioned it, yes," Otto replied. "And when I asked him why the two of you needed a door like that," he added, to tease as much as he dared, "he said that your mother thought it would be a good idea for you to be able to get to him. He wouldn't tell me why."

"She did, and it was." Treize shrugged. "Has he really managed to get through the last two and half years without waking you in the middle of then night once, then?"

Comprehension dawned for the cadet. "No, sir," he answered softly. "If you mean his nightmares…?" he asked, feeling a little sick at the thought of the screaming night terrors he'd seen his classmate wake from occasionally. Zechs had never even offered to explain what they were about but in the past few months he'd let Otto hold him when he woke and the chill sweat on the blonde's skin and the way his whole body shook had been enough to convince the other cadet that he probably didn't want to know in any case.

Treize nodded slowly. "I didn't think you would have missed those," he replied softly. "They were worse when he was younger, much worse. There were weeks at a time when he simply couldn't sleep. My parents discovered early on that I had a…knack for calming him down. Their solution, in the end, was to move him into the room next to mine so that I would be able to hear him and go to him if he needed it. I'll confess now that I gave you my old rooms for much the same reason. He's had a rough few weeks and the next few days are likely to be tough for him."

Otto nodded, realising that at least part of the reason Treize had invited him here for Christmas was to play comforter to Zechs, and, oddly, discovering that it didn't bother him in the slightest. "I'll keep an ear open, then."

"Thank you." Treize stretched slowly, and then glanced at the watch on his wrist. "Now, if you'll be so good as to go and roust him out of bed, I'll find my staff and ask them to see to breakfast."

******************************

Zechs scrambled from under his sheets, rubbing sleep-bleary eyes when Otto pounced on his bed, calling his name. "What time is it?" he asked, raking his hands back through the tangled weight of his hair.

"Late enough that Treize sent me to get you up, angel. Get a move on, I'm hungry."

"So, go and eat. I want to wash my hair before breakfast."

Otto gave Zechs's mass of hair an analytical look. "It looks fine. Do it later. Come on!"

Zechs rolled his eyes. "Fine. Anyone would think you hadn't eaten for days!"

"I've been up and waiting for you for hours, love! I think Treize was getting afraid to feed me any more coffee."

Zechs stuffed himself into a clean t-shirt and trousers and picked his hairbrush up, stopping with it halfway to the first strands. "Treize? Coffee? You've been with Treize?"

"Yes," Otto agreed, his attention on Zechs's wardrobe and the clothes he was rooting through. "I've never seen half of these before, hon. Are they yours?"

Zechs looked up from under his hair. "Yes. It's formal stuff, mostly. I don't have much use for it at the Academy so it stays here. I'll be wearing some of it for the Balls we'll be going to."

Otto ran his fingers over the rich-coloured fabrics, realising they were all very expensive. "You will?" he asked.

"Probably. I'll have to see what Treize does. If he keeps to his walking out or mess uniforms, then I'll stick with our Cadet Dress. If he thinks his Full Dress is necessary or he's out of uniform, I'll have to go civilian to match him. Our cadet uniforms just aren't up to the job."

Otto had been scowling but at that his expression became downright panicked. "They aren't?" he demanded. "You didn't think telling me this when I was packing would have been a good idea?!"

Zechs laughed at him, tying his hair back with a scrap of ribbon. "Oh, God, please don't go into one of your flaps! It's far too early."

"I don't flap!"

"Yes, you do."

"I do not!" Otto insisted, then let his face twist into a parody of distress. "But *what* am I going to *wear*!" he wailed, going as far as to bring his hands up to clutch at his temples.

"That's it!" Zechs exclaimed and tossed his hairbrush at the other boy.

Otto ducked, smothered his laughter and fixed the blonde with wounded eyes. "You're cruel! First you let me come to stay without anything like the proper wardrobe – if I look shabby I shall hold you to blame! – and now you're trying to beat me into submission! It won't work, I tell you!"

"I can hope!"

"Oh! The cruelty! Woe is me! What foul crimes must I have committed in a previous life to deserve such a harsh master?!"

Zechs levelled him a look, biting his lip to keep from laughing. "Master?" he enquired. "Only if you ask nicely."

Otto froze in his pose of distress, staring at the blonde disbelievingly, then he reached behind him, scrabbling for the hairbrush that had landed on the bed. "You cheeky, little…!" he protested, brandishing the brush menacingly. "Come here so I can whack you!"

"Not a chance. You'll have to catch me first!" Zechs grinned madly, span on one heel and flung open his door to tear off down the corridor, leaving Otto to chase after him.