"In The Stars" Chapter 16

Wufei coughed violently at the outburst his lungs kicking up the phlegm that hadn't been cleared out yet. His body shook with the intense spasms of his chest and throat. A large hand began to gently rub his chest soothing the horrible coughs that only spawned more coughing. Wufei looked at Treize through his watery eyes; the man was smiling and helping him even after what he'd said. Finally the spasms of coughing ended, leaving him breathing heavily.

"Hey how are you feeling, want some water?" Treize asked in a low soothing tone.

Wufei nodded taking the glass Treize offered in shaking hands. He tried to force his violent shivers away but his body didn't seem to be listening. Wufei was surprised when Treize's larger fingers wrapped around his own trembling ones, stilling them in that single touch, allowing Wufei to take a drink. He sipped from the cup, the cool water soothing his throat and helping to calm his ravaged chest. He finally pushed the cup away Treize taking it from his hands and setting it back on the table beside the bed.

"So you want to talk about it?" Treize asked looking at him.

Wufei shook his head not trusting himself to say something he shouldn't or his coughing to return. He looked at Treize then turned away from the concerned gaze, his dark eyes falling on the child who watched him just as closely.

"Why not tell him, he cares about you?" she finally said the child's voice back. "Didn't what just happen prove that to you?"

Wufei looked at her his mind recalling the soothing hand that had helped calm his coughing fit. Yet these were still just dreams, nothing to worry over, and they only occurred when he got sick. It wasn't anything that he needed to worry the others about.

"Wufei they could and probably will get worse," the child pointed out breaking into his thoughts. Wufei stared at her his eyes hard. "I don't have to read your mind; I can read your eyes. Just as I imagine he can read them. Wufei don't do this to yourself or them, don't shut them out when you need help it won't hurt you to just ask sometimes. I told you before if you don't say anything about this I will bend the rules and reveal myself and tell him."

Wufei gave a hoarse laugh; he seriously doubted she would do such a thing. That would have to be more than bending some rule but flat out breaking it. Although she did appear to him, so he could be wrong. She crossed her arms over her chest, giving a huff as if daring him to call her on it. He decided he didn't have anything to lose if she did it and he wanted to honestly know if she would. He silently shook his head no, giving his answer as it hadn't changed.

"You leave me no choice," her voice changed again, sound so much older. He sat watching her but nothing had seemed to change.

"Wufei is that her?" Treize asked surprising him. Wufei looked at the older man before turning back to the child.

"Yes, I am the child Wufei spoke of before," she answered, that young voice returning. "He hasn't told you something important, that you must know."

Wufei could feel Treize's eyes turn to look at him. "He is good at that," Treize commented as if unfazed by the child's sudden appearance.

"Now are you going to finally tell him or do I have to?" she asked starring at Wufei.

The look sent a strange chill down his spine. "I ..." he coughed his voice still hoarse and sore from his fit earlier. He was surprised when Treize offered him the cup of water again. The man cared so much, making sure he was comfortable and safe. He took several sips before daring to try and speak again. "Earlier, that nightmare... I woke up in the world I had been killed in, yet it was even false. She claims it was because of my getting sick, that my mind tried to go back but had nothing to go back to," he finally said at last. The child looked at him expectantly but smiled at the effort he was making, he sighed knowing exactly what she wanted. "Since my mind is at its weakest when I'm sick, she predicts I will have such nightmares again... maybe even worse."

"Thank you," Treize replied causing Wufei to look at him in surprise. "Thank you for trusting me to tell me that and even asking for help. I will be here for you, trust in me to always pull you through."

Strangely Wufei felt he could do just that. Treize's larger hand came up to wrap around his own, holding it in a warm comforting grip. Wufei realized the man was always comforting him, if not in his touch than in his voice and eyes, eyes that solely focused on him. "Will our life ever be normal?" Wufei ventured with a sigh.

"Doubt it, especially if you keep Duo around," Treize replied with a smile.

"True," Wufei agreed shifting closer to where Treize was leaning against the bed. "When can I go home?"

"I'll go ask," Treize said starting to get up when Wufei's other hand shot out to grab his arm.

"No, it isn't that important," Wufei said his voice low. "Stay with me..."

"Of course, I would have only been a minute," Treize explained sitting back down. "Why don't you get some rest, I'll be right here."

Wufei glanced at the end of the bed to see Lady Fate had disappeared again. He did feel tired but he didn't want to close his eyes. Wufei looked back at Treize to meet beautiful concerned blue. He was always concerned or worried about him. Showing him nothing but care and love, but Wufei still couldn't trust it deep inside. If he did fall asleep would Treize leave, would he find someone who probably didn't cause as much trouble?

"Hey, shhh, what are you thinking about," Treize asked his voice soft and low as fingers gently wiped away tears he hadn't realized he'd shed.

Wufei couldn't answer that, he knew he was just being stupid. If Treize hadn't wanted him, he could have left on many an occasion. Yet still he couldn't rid himself of the raw fear eating away at him. He pushed the hand away only to have his caught in a strong protective grip.

"Please Wufei talk to me, something is hurting you," Treize said staring into his eyes, reading them. "I can't help you if you won't talk to me, don't shut me out."

Wufei stared at him unable to pull his eyes away, the blue was so intense but warm. This afforded him no warning when someone entered his private room. "In here again, you must be a lot weaker than I thought. I don't see how you could please Treize," Milliardo sneered.

Treize was out of his chair before Wufei could even open his mouth. "What the hell are you doing in here? I thought I made it pretty clear that you were not to come near him again or do I need to teach you that again. Now get out and don't you dare come back again."

Milliardo looked truly surprised by Treize's words. "I thought you had just been surprised before, you can't be serious. Why would you want this runt?" Milliardo demanded.

"He maybe younger than you but he is more of a man than you'll ever be. What is it going to take to make you understand I want nothing to do with you period?" Treize replied coldly.

"If he weren't here you wouldn't say that!" Milliardo growled. "I should have gotten rid of him when I had the chance."

"Actually I would and did you just threaten his life," Treize answered his eyes flashing. "I won't let you close enough to carry through with such a thought but just to be sure I am going to call the police."

"What?" Milliardo balked taking a step back, before a smug look crossed his features. "I can't believe you're just going to forget about the love we shared before he showed up."

Wufei's eyes widened expressing the feeling Milliardo's statement invoked in him. Why hadn't Duo told him about this before, he had said Milliardo was chasing the man but not that they had been lovers before. Was it a trick to tare them apart?

"What the hell are you talking about, trust me if that were the case I don't think I would be here, I probably would have left this town a long time ago," Treize snapped causing Milliardo's eyes to widen this time. "Now get out before I call the police, you are not welcome here. And if you ever go near him again you will answer to me."

Milliardo looked at Wufei then Treize before turning and walking toward the door. "This isn't over," he promised before leaving.

Treize started for the door when Wufei found his voice again. "It was a lie?"

"What he said?" Treize asked for clarification as he moved back to the chair beside the bed, Wufei nodded. "Yes, it was a lie if not I imagine Duo would have told you some time ago."

"Maybe..." Wufei mumbled. "What did you mean you made it clear he wasn't to come near me? I don't need you to protect me or fight my battles."

"That may be but I still want to," Treize answered. "That day, my knuckles were bruised, it was a coincidence that I ran into him but I wouldn't honestly call what happened next self defense. I don't like him and I don't trust him so tell me if he ever comes near you again."

"I just told you---"

"I know," Treize interrupted him, moving closer, "but just tell me please."

"All right," Wufei agreed feeling Treize's forehead against his own.

"Thank you," he said before leaning even closer and stealing a chaste kiss.

"Don't," Wufei said pushing him away, "you'll catch whatever I have."

"Maybe, I don't care."

"Well I do, I don't want you to get sick because of me," Wufei said before he could stop himself.

"Don't have to worry about me so much, I'm pretty strong," Treize assured him leaning close again to steal another quick kiss.

"Please," Wufei pleaded his voice low, "I don't want you to catch this."

"All right," Treize finally agreed seeing relief flash in Wufei's dark eyes. "Now what were you thinking about before we were interrupted?"

Wufei sighed; he had hoped Treize would have just forgotten all about that but his luck didn't seem to hold. "I was thinking you might leave if I fall asleep, that you'll decide I'm not worth all this hassle and just walk out on me. And I don't think I could handle that, not anymore," Wufei said finally revealing and admitting to a feeling he had tried so hard to keep hidden. "I'm not used feeling like this."

"I will never walk out on you," Treize responded with conviction. "No matter what happens, I love you deeply and nothing will change that."

"It is so hard for me understand why you feel that way," Wufei admitted, "maybe deep down I do..."

"How long have you been here?" Treize asked the bed supporting his upper body.

Wufei had to think about that, the question surprising him. "A little over three months I guess, why?"

"How long ago did I first tell you I loved you?" Treize continued.

"A little over two months," Wufei said the memory forever etched in his mind, no matter how many times in the past he'd tried to forget it.

"A lot had happened in that time," Treize commented, "and at the end of the day my feelings haven't changed. That is how I can say that."

Wufei shifted even closer and buried his face against Treize's strong shoulder. He fell asleep listening to the distant sound of the man's heartbeat, knowing that he'd wake up to the exact same sound.

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