"In The Stars" Chapter 8

"So when will I see my money?" Duo asked with a smile a few days later.

"When I get out of here," Wufei answered with a scowl.

"I thought you'd be happy..."

"He asked me to move in with him," Wufei said interrupting Duo who fell silent instantly. "Because he didn't think I'd be safe on campus after they release me. What the hell am I supposed to say to that?"

"He might have a point, I doubt your shoulder will be healed before they release you," Duo pointed out. "I mean the guys and I could tag along with you everywhere, except when we're in class."

"That's just it... he suggested I do all my school work from the computer in his home until my shoulder fully heals," Wufei explained almost sounding upset.

"Wow... he really wants to make sure you're safe," Duo said looking at Wufei's troubled face. "Of course it also sounds like he wants to take care of you while you're still healing. I mean when they decide your ribs have healed enough they will release you."

"I'm not afraid of him," Wufei insisted.

"Yes but you're vulnerable with your broken shoulder and still healing ribs. I mean one blow and they would break for sure," Duo pointed out concern shining in his eyes.

"Don't look at me like that!" Wufei hissed looking away. "I just... I'm afraid to get too close..."

"Too close to who, Treize?" Duo asked. "Didn't he already say he truly loves you? I honestly think you are more paranoid about this relationship thing than I am, and it was you who told me to go for it."

"That's different..."

"How?" Duo asked crossing his arms and leaning back in his chair.

"It's... I could see how much you two liked each other; it was all over you faces and in your actions. Yet when I look in the mirror, I don't even see any feelings for myself let alone anyone else," Wufei finally said.

"Since when have you looked in a mirror?" Duo asked sitting back up.

"In the bathroom," Wufei answered looking away.

"How did you get to the bathroom? You know you're not supposed to be getting out of bed yet," Duo said jumping from his chair.

"I'm not an invalid damn it," Wufei snapped.

"Yes but you could have hurt those ribs or your shoulder, or something else," Duo replied just as angry. "I'm gonna go talk to one of the nurses, do they know you've been walking around?"

"No, and don't you dare say anything!" Wufei said grabbing Duo's wrist.

"Damn it Wu you could have made your injuries worse," Duo replied with a sigh. "I think it might be a good idea if you do stay with someone if you're not going to take care of yourself."

Wufei's fingers fell slack around Duo's wrist as his mouth opened in shock. "Just leave, I don't need anyone."

"What's going on here?" Treize asked entering the room.

"Nothing," Wufei snapped fully releasing Duo's wrist.

"If you won't tell him I will," Duo threatened. "You're only putting yourself in danger."

Treize looked between the two, Duo's words worrying him. "Is there something I should know?"

Wufei kept his eyes focused on the bed causing Duo to sigh. "He's been getting out of bed," the braided man said before heading for the door. "And you're wrong; you need someone just like the rest of us."

"You've been what?" Treize demanded as Duo stepped out of the room.

"I just went to the bathroom," Wufei sulked like a small child being scolded.

"The doctors gave you orders not to get out of bed," Treize said sitting on the edge of the bed.

"They don't hurt," Wufei said in defense.

"That doesn't mean they've healed fully, you could have really hurt yourself," Treize explained his voice full of concern.

"Stop treating me like a stupid child, I've had worse wounds than this before and I've had to fight battles," Wufei practically shouted.

"But this place and that place are different, you've said so yourself in the past."

"Stop it, no one really cares!"

Treize leaned forward invading Wufei's space, surprising the other man. "How many times do I have to say it? I care, I love you... your friends care. Of course people care about you, me especially."

"Why... why do you keep saying you...?"

"I love you? You can say it, that word won't bite. But I keep saying it because it is the truth, and I will never lie to you."

"Even if I lied to you..."

"When did you lie to me?" Treize asked somewhat surprised.

Wufei looked away unable to meet Treize's searching eyes but also to hide his sudden blush. "That I could never live with you."

"Ah, so is this a reconsideration?" Treize asked his voice soft.

"No, I just..." Wufei whipped his head around in surprise only to find himself inches from Treize's face, his voice disappearing on him.

"You just what?" Treize asked his voice and breathe floating over Wufei's skin.

"I can't do this," Wufei whispered trying to put some kind of distance between them.

"Wufei I'm worried about you, especially when you are released. I know you're not afraid of him but in your condition you are vulnerable. I only want to make sure you're safe, I won't let you end up back here maybe even worse next time. Do you understand what I'm saying?" Treize asked gently cupping Wufei face with his hands.

"Yes, but I just... I don't want to get too close!" Wufei finally said trying to pull out of Treize's soft comforting hands.

Treize pulled back seeing Wufei becoming even more distressed by their close proximity. "What's wrong with that? I have a spare room you could use on the condition you don't lock yourself in it. You have to come out for meals, to do your schoolwork, and just generally being social."

"What kind of bargain is that?" Wufei asked getting himself back under control.

"It's a safe one," Treize answered.

"I could just stay in my room," Wufei said in reply.

"Yes but then you would fail all your classes, at least this way you won't lose the semester."

"Damn it! Stop pointing out all the faults."

"If I don't, who will?" Treize asked a touch of a smile to his lips.

"If I say no there is nothing you can do about it," Wufei said smugly.

"I could go to administration and tell them about the whole incident, now you could deny it but they will still look into the matter, since I told them as your professor. I don't think I'd have a problem getting Duo as a witness to your confession of what had happened."

"I hate you."

Treize looked at Wufei surprised by the words. "Why, because I care and want to make sure you're safe?"

"You and Duo can take your care somewhere else!" Wufei said glaring at Treize before turning to stare out the window. "Why here?"

"I'd rather not," Treize said his fingers gripping Wufei's chin to force him to look at the older man. "Wufei why are you trying so hard to distance yourself?"

"Just leave me alone, I hate you and don't want anything to do with you! So just get out!" Wufei shouted forcing himself to stare into Treize's eyes. Eyes that showed surprise and even hurt, like Duo's eyes before.

Treize stood from the bed, remaining there a moment longer before turning and doing just what Wufei had requested. The Chinese man watched him go before looking out the window again. Had it started raining? No, he was crying again. Wufei laid there in the late evening light unable to stop his tears. He was ruining everything with all of them.

Several minutes later he pushed himself up with his right hand, standing on unsteady feet. He stumbled his way to the bathroom almost collapsing against the sink. He tried to wipe them away, yet they refused to stop no matter what he did. Grabbing for anything around him he felt a pain slice into his palm. It was only a disposable razor, not very sharp but it did break the skin.

Blood pooled in his palm to drip on the floor it rested against. Wufei felt his stomach tighten but didn't care; he couldn't even stand up if he had to. He was startled by the bathroom door opening, Treize's large frame taking up the open doorway.


"Shit, what are you doing?" The older man demanded as Wufei buried his red tear streaked face behind his raised knees.

Wufei was stunned when Treize easily lifted him from the cold tile floor, cradling him close. Treize cared him back into the room, depositing him on the bed before hitting the nurse call button. "Now you are going to explain to me what just happened. I thought I'd give you some time to cool off."

"What can I----" A small red-head was about to ask when she saw the blood on Wufei hand and the floor. She immediately left the room and returned with a small kit, cleaning and wrapping the not very deep wound. "What happened here?"

"That's what I'd like to know," Treize piped up as they both looked at Wufei, who only stared out the window in some sort of daze. Treize turned to the waiting nurse. "I'll talk to him then let you know all right."

"I guess that is the best I'll get," she replied not liking it but accepting it.

Treize covered Wufei back up with the sheet and blanket before sitting on the bed beside him. "Wufei what is going on in that head of yours?" He asked gently combing his fingers through the soft black hair.

"I don't know," he finally choked out in a low voice. "I only wanted to stop the tears, the cut was an accident."

"Why were you crying?" Treize asked gently.

"I've ruined everything... with all of you. Duo probably wishes I wasn't here... and you, you..."

"I cherish and love you," Treize offered at Wufei's lack of words.

"But I said..." Wufei said finally facing him, "such terrible things."

"Were they honest?"

"No," Wufei answered dropping his eyes.

"I didn't think so," Treize said his fingers continuing to gently comb through Wufei's hair; he found it seemed to help calm the young man.

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