Wufei's POV

Wufei's POV

After that night changes took place.

For the first time in my life, I was jealous. I'd grown used to having Duo drop everything the moment I entered a room to greet me and I'd grown used to his incessant animated chatter. But now…

There was school.

I was happy for Duo, I really was glad he was so involved in his studies. But that didn't make the jealous feeling subside when he'd laugh suddenly and then wave at my confused expression, explaining that it was only a 'inside joke that happened at school'. I hated it. He had homework now and that alone took him farther away from me. Now, when he spoke to me, it was to ask a question about his schoolwork, not to just talk because he enjoyed the companionship it brought on. And he had friends.

One friend in particular.

His name was Quatre. I liked Quatre. He was warm and friendly, the kind of guy who was friends with everyone, the kind you couldn't help but like. But I did *not* like his involvement with Duo. He had a crush on Duo-on *my* Duo. I could tell Quatre felt more than friendship for Duo. It wasn't difficult to figure out, the blond had an extremely expressive face. But Duo couldn't see his face.

But I could.

And I didn't like what I saw.

"You like Duo, don't you?" I was surprised to hear my own voice one afternoon when Quatre had come over to work on a group project the two had been assigned together.

"We're friends," Quatre said quietly, his head bowed low over the book he was holding tightly in his hands. Duo had gotten up to find a book he'd left in our room and it was just the two of us sitting out in the kitchen.

"Is that all?" I whispered, my hands clenching tightly into fists.

"Yes," his voice was growing lower and his face was growing redder by the minute. I sighed and let my hands relax. Quatre looked up suddenly, his face returning slowly to its normal color. "You needn't be worried. Duo won't ever stop loving you. You're all he talks about. You're not with us during school hours but I am. I hear his tone when he mentions you; I hear the adoration in his voice when he says your name. He's got this kind of…I don't want to say worship…maybe it's more like admiration but whatever it is, its in his voice when he mentions how he met you."

"But you," I whispered, sliding down slightly in my seat.

"I don't decide who I have feelings for. But I can decide to let those feelings show or not," Quatre said, his head bowing again. "Please don't tell him about what I said. I want to be his friend…and as long as he loves you, that's all I want to be."

"Thank you," I whispered, breathing deeply.

"Why you both so quiet?" Duo asked a moment later, returning with the desired book held over his head triumphantly. "Usually I can't shut either of you up," he continued, dropping into his chair.

"No reason," I said, getting up.

"Wu?"

"I have a headache," I said shortly, preparing to leave.

"Well if you'd *listen* to me and take out that stupid ponytail…" Duo's voice trailed off as I left. He doesn't get it, does he?

"Hey, Wufei, you okay?" Duo's voice was concerned as he slid into the bed besides me, brushing his hand tentatively against my arm.

"Yeah," I said brusquely, throwing his hand off.

"Okay," Duo's voice was hurt as he withdrew his hand and rolled over, putting as much distance between us as possible without leaving the bed.

Out of the darkness, I said softly, "Have you ever been jealous?"

"Hell yeah."

He doesn't understand. He doesn't get what I mean. "Good night Duo."

"Night Wu…fei."

Hearing him tack the formal ending onto my name hurt more than anything.

"No! Absolutely not!" I snapped.

"Why not?" Duo cried.

"There's not enough room!"

"What are you talking about? He can stay in my old room!"

"I can't be responsible for both of you!"
"We're not a couple of ten-year-olds! I think we can take of ourselves!"

"But-,"

"But we're blind?" Duo's voice dripped with bitter irony. "Who can forget the fact that we're *blind*? I know I can't."

"No! That's not what I meant!' I cried out in protest.

"Mmmhmm." God damn that doubting voice of his.

"It's not! Why does he need a place to stay anyway? I thought he was rooming with someone!"

Duo fidgeted uncomfortably, "Ah, he is."

"And?"

"And the guy he's staying with has a girlfriend who's coming up for a weekend and-," Duo let the sentence hang.

"He wants Quatre out so he and his girlfriend can be alone?"

"Yeah…anyway the girlfriend doesn't like people who are blind-or have any kind of disability. She thinks we're 'freaks'." Duo spat the word out and looked at me expectantly.

Freaks…I'd kill her if I could. "So…I should let him stay here?" I threw the question back at him.

"No. I'm *telling* you he's going to stay here. I live here too and I think I have the right to-,"

"Fine!" I interrupted. "Just peachy-keen!"

"Peachy-keen?" Duo repeated the word in puzzlement as I stormed out of the room. "Wufei, what's wrong? Why are you acting like this?"

"Oh just shut up," I snapped and left him, face screwed up in hurt bewilderment as I left the room.

He followed me, repeating his question. "Wufei? Tell me what's wrong! Did I do something? Did I hurt you?"

I whirled around and cried out angrily, "Duo, you told me that I don't understand you. That I never would. Well, this time you don't understand me!"

"But-,"

"But what? You love me? I love you? Love can't make up for not understanding each other!"

"Wu…" that plaintive note in his voice…it was driving me insane.

"What is it Duo?" I sighed, turning away from him and gazing out the window. The brick wall of the building next to ours met my eyes. I hate the city.

"You can't love someone without knowing them. And you can't know someone without understanding them." It was so logical. And yet, it made no sense. Like Quatre had said, you couldn't choose who you had feelings for. And you could have feelings for someone you barely knew…let alone understood.

"Listen to me Duo," I said, swallowing painfully. "I don't know what its like to be you. Surrounded by constant darkness, ever searching for that bit of light. I don't know what its like. I can't understand that-or you."

"Stop it!"

I didn't stop. "But someone else knows what its like. Someone else understands you far better than I ever could!"

"I don't love Quatre, God dammit! I love *you* although I'm wondering why at the moment."

He glared. I quavered. "Oh God, Duo!"

"Are you trying to tell me you don't have feelings for me anymore?" Duo's voice rose and broke on the last word.

"No! No! Duo, I love you!"

"Than why all this…" Duo waved his hands futilely.

"Because I thought it would be better for you. I wanted you to be happy" I whispered, capturing the fluttering hands in my own and kissing them gently.

"Oh…" his tone was soft as he embraced me suddenly. "Wufei, don't do that again," he whispered, pressing his lips gently against my neck. "Don't try to be all noble and selfless. Be selfish and greedy."

"Don't worry," I whispered, embracing him tighter. "I am."

His mouth jerked into a slight smile as I kissed him.