Author's Note: It's alive!!!!!!! Sorry about the extremely long wait for
this chapter. I am also sorry that it is so short. All the ideas for this
story and my other one dried up in the face of the amount of work I was
getting from my classes. This is the best of the versions of this chapter
I could do. If you guys have any ideas please feel free to share them with
me. As always if you spot any glaring errors please let me know so I can
fix them. Thanks again for reading my fics.
This chapter is dedicated to Emily Hato whose reviews and e-mails spurred me on.
Malaise
By Wavewalker
Chapter 4: Trust
Wufei drew in a deep breath and opened his eyes, steeling himself for the task ahead of him. He took in the way Duo was curled into himself as if expecting blows, muscles tensed and eyes tightly shut. Wufei cleared his throat softly and spoke in what he hoped was a gentle tone.
"I am glad you are awake Duo. You had me worried there for a while as I was not sure what medications would work on you. Do you have any suggestions? Duo?" He waited a few seconds becoming slightly alarmed as Duo's eyes appeared to have glazed over. Wufei reached out and placed hi hand on Duo's forehead gently brushing back the sodden bangs while calling Duo's name a third time. The prone teen's eyes suddenly focused on him and he saw him breathe in to respond but no words were issued only choking coughs.
Duo's eyes had snapped open at Wufei's first words but all his thoughts had ground to a halt with the utterance of his given name. He could not recall if the Chinese teen had ever used his first name before, it had always been Maxwell or some form of derogatory nickname. He failed to hear the question posed to him or his name called yet again. The touch of Wufei's hand shocked his as much for its gentleness as for its coolness. The sound of his own name being spoken in such a worried tone rang in his ears. He automatically sucked in a deep breath to reply but all he managed to do was set off a coughing spasm.
He was vaguely aware of his torso being lifted as he struggled to breathe. When the fit ended he collapsed against Wufei too dizzy and exhausted to care if the other teen thought him weak. He closed his eyes fighting against the nausea churning in his gut. The ringing in his ears slowly subsided and the quiet murmuring by his ear became audible, not that he could understand the words as Wufei had slipped into his native language but the tone was easy to understand as was the soothing hand running up and down his back. He was confused about Wufei's attitude change but he did not have the energy at the moment to examine his thoughts too closely, he was going to do what he did best and 'go with the flow'. He relaxed completely into Wufei's embrace tacitly giving control of his well being to the other teen.
Wufei cursed to himself inside his head as he reached for the convulsing teen, easing him into an upright position against his chest hoping to ease Duo's breathing. He was not even aware he was speaking, let alone in what language, as he stroked his hand along Duo's back. The coughing slowly subsided and the braided teen stilled in his grasp then relaxed completely into his arms. The shock of this action, the implication of total trust, never before seen outside of a mission, that it entailed brought his words stuttering to a halt.
The cessation of the musical flow of words goaded Duo into turning his face to meet the startled black eyes of Wufei. The emotions flickering though those usually unreadable orbs were reassuring for there was no malice, anger or pity only concern, tenderness and a growing spark of wonderment and joy as what Duo was wordlessly offering him registered. The appearance of a small but true smile on the Chinese teens face drew a matching one from Duo. With this silent truce called Duo let his eyes drift closed and curled into Wufei a little more allowing his exhaustion to overtake him.
Wufei's soft smile lingered as he gently rearranged the sleeping teen in his arms into a more comfortable position. "Thank you Duo, I will not betray your trust. Sleep well my friend." He whispered as he settled himself for a night of guarding Duo's dreams.
This chapter is dedicated to Emily Hato whose reviews and e-mails spurred me on.
Malaise
By Wavewalker
Chapter 4: Trust
Wufei drew in a deep breath and opened his eyes, steeling himself for the task ahead of him. He took in the way Duo was curled into himself as if expecting blows, muscles tensed and eyes tightly shut. Wufei cleared his throat softly and spoke in what he hoped was a gentle tone.
"I am glad you are awake Duo. You had me worried there for a while as I was not sure what medications would work on you. Do you have any suggestions? Duo?" He waited a few seconds becoming slightly alarmed as Duo's eyes appeared to have glazed over. Wufei reached out and placed hi hand on Duo's forehead gently brushing back the sodden bangs while calling Duo's name a third time. The prone teen's eyes suddenly focused on him and he saw him breathe in to respond but no words were issued only choking coughs.
Duo's eyes had snapped open at Wufei's first words but all his thoughts had ground to a halt with the utterance of his given name. He could not recall if the Chinese teen had ever used his first name before, it had always been Maxwell or some form of derogatory nickname. He failed to hear the question posed to him or his name called yet again. The touch of Wufei's hand shocked his as much for its gentleness as for its coolness. The sound of his own name being spoken in such a worried tone rang in his ears. He automatically sucked in a deep breath to reply but all he managed to do was set off a coughing spasm.
He was vaguely aware of his torso being lifted as he struggled to breathe. When the fit ended he collapsed against Wufei too dizzy and exhausted to care if the other teen thought him weak. He closed his eyes fighting against the nausea churning in his gut. The ringing in his ears slowly subsided and the quiet murmuring by his ear became audible, not that he could understand the words as Wufei had slipped into his native language but the tone was easy to understand as was the soothing hand running up and down his back. He was confused about Wufei's attitude change but he did not have the energy at the moment to examine his thoughts too closely, he was going to do what he did best and 'go with the flow'. He relaxed completely into Wufei's embrace tacitly giving control of his well being to the other teen.
Wufei cursed to himself inside his head as he reached for the convulsing teen, easing him into an upright position against his chest hoping to ease Duo's breathing. He was not even aware he was speaking, let alone in what language, as he stroked his hand along Duo's back. The coughing slowly subsided and the braided teen stilled in his grasp then relaxed completely into his arms. The shock of this action, the implication of total trust, never before seen outside of a mission, that it entailed brought his words stuttering to a halt.
The cessation of the musical flow of words goaded Duo into turning his face to meet the startled black eyes of Wufei. The emotions flickering though those usually unreadable orbs were reassuring for there was no malice, anger or pity only concern, tenderness and a growing spark of wonderment and joy as what Duo was wordlessly offering him registered. The appearance of a small but true smile on the Chinese teens face drew a matching one from Duo. With this silent truce called Duo let his eyes drift closed and curled into Wufei a little more allowing his exhaustion to overtake him.
Wufei's soft smile lingered as he gently rearranged the sleeping teen in his arms into a more comfortable position. "Thank you Duo, I will not betray your trust. Sleep well my friend." He whispered as he settled himself for a night of guarding Duo's dreams.