"In The Stars" Chapter 17

Wufei walked beside Duo while Heero took up the other side, Quatre and Trowa following behind them. They had released him a couple days ago, a day after he'd woken up, and it had felt like ages since he'd actually done anything with all of them. Treize had been pleased to hear he was going for a day out with his friends. Duo had several bags hanging from his fingers as they had decided to walk the town and do some Christmas shopping. It was drawing close, less than a week away, and Wufei had no idea what to get Treize or the four people walking with him. Duo had more than once ushered them out of a store so he could buy gifts. Trowa and Quatre also had a couple of packages tucked into bags, while he and Heero were empty handed.

He felt suddenly winded as a cold breeze kicked up, taking a seat on a nearby bench startling the others. "Wu?" Duo asked in concern sitting down beside him.

"Sorry, I just need to rest a minute, Doc warned me about this considering the virus I'd had," Wufei offered in explanation.

"Oh all right, we can take a breather," Duo said setting his bags down near his feet.

"You guys can go on ahead, I'll catch up."

"Nah, I'd rather rest a little," Duo rebuffed as the other three nodded their agreement.

Quatre sat on the other side of the bench with a dramatic sigh. "I love seeing all the store windows decorated, people always get so festive around this time," he murmured with a smile.

"Yeah," Duo agreed, "I think my favorite part is putting up a Christmas tree before a cozy fire with your family and friends."

"Are you guys going home this year?" Trowa asked.

"I am," Quatre offered. "I'm leaving tomorrow, of course this year we're going to have a guest."

Trowa smiled at the comment and nodded. "What about you three?"

"Yeah, I'm heading home the day after tomorrow, same as last year," Duo answered. Heero nodded choosing not to vocalize his answer like the other had. "That's a yes, he's leaving the same day I am," Duo said with a chuckle.

Wufei looked at his lap knowing they were expecting some kind of answer, but it was still so hard to speak about Treize in front of them.

"You're going to be home too right," Duo said surprising him. "If I remember right Treize has a large cozy fireplace."

Wufei stared at him, his cheeks reddening but not because of the cold winter day. He finally nodded when Duo just smiled at him warmly.

"I can't believe how fast this semester went and all the crap that had happened," Duo scuffed changing the subject.

"Yeah, but maybe he has figured it out now," Quatre commented.

"Sure hope so and if not I'd like to give him a piece of my mind about all that shit he pulled," Duo said with such venomous it surprised Wufei. "I mean you don't just go messing around with Fate."

Everyone stared at Duo in shock at what he said. "What? If you don't believe in Fate, there is something wrong with you," he explained to their open shock.

"It's not that, it is just the way you said it," Quatre ventured in reply.

"Oh, well I believe in it strongly."

"What do we have here, losers r'us," a mocking voice said startling them all. They turned to see Milliardo and a couple of his friends approaching.

"Why don't you just fuck off and leave us alone," Duo said dismissively, not even standing up.

"Actually I came to talk to the little coward," Milliardo snapped before regaining his composure.

"Too bad, he isn't interested in wasting his time with a piece of scum like you," Duo replied still not turning to look at the blonde.

"Shut up, this has nothing to do with you, you braided freak," Milliardo yelled earning him a growl from Heero.

"I'd keep those comments to yourself," Heero ground out his eyes flashing.

"Jesus, I just wanted to speak with your friend," Milliardo answered ignoring Heero's threat.

"And as I said before he doesn't want to talk to you," Duo said with almost too much patients.

Suddenly Milliardo was on them before they realized he'd even moved. He grabbed Wufei and bodily jerked him over the back of the bench. Duo was on his feet as the others had moved to the Chinese man's aid. Milliardo yanked him further down the side walk, Wufei too winded to fight him off. His two friends effectively blocked the other four from reaching them.

"Now listen to me, I told you this wasn't over, too bad Treize isn't here to help you now," Milliardo said pulling out his switchblade.

Wufei finally got his feet planted the tried to shove the blonde away but the taller man's grip was firm. Wufei's muscles felt like jelly as he tried to fend the blonde off.

"Drop it," a gravel hard voice said startling them.

Milliardo turned allowing Wufei to see the owner of the voice. It was someone he'd never seen before, the man was older about Treize's age but he had a large frame. Milliardo spun him around again to face him. "Tell Treize about this and your friends pay," he whispered harshly before shoving the dark haired man away and bolting across the street with his two friends.

Wufei collapsed unable to hold himself up on his shaking limbs, Duo was there instantly offering support. He hunched forward his body shaking as he tried to just breathe. "Thank you," he heard Duo say. "I didn't realize you'd get here so fast."

"I made a promise and I keep my word," the man said kneeling as well.

Wufei saw the five people gathered around him yet the person he wanted to see deep inside wasn't there. Treize's reassuring presence was absent. He shoved the thought away as quickly as it had come, he wouldn't be dependent on the man. "Who are you?" He finally managed after regaining his breathe.

"A friend," the man answered mysteriously.

"Maybe I should call Treize, you don't look so good," Duo said distracting him.

"No, just give me a minute, I'm fine," Wufei insisted grabbing Duo's arm.

"All right," Duo finally agreed with a sigh, not truly surprised.

Wufei finally stood up, his legs a little shaky. He regained his balance as his breathing finally returned to normal. "I'm okay, lets just go on and forget about this," he suggested before noticing the man from before had disappeared.

"Are you sure?" Duo asked receiving a nod in reply.

The other three rejoined them after retrieving the bags they had left behind, Heero carried Duo's. They walked silently unsure what to say when Duo suddenly piped up. "Okay we can't let him ruin our last day together this year."

"Yeah, he is just a jealous bully," Quatre agreed before pointing to a shop. "Hey you guys want to go in here?"

Soon they had all forgotten about the incident as they picked up the happy mood they had before. As the hour began to grow late, they all were carrying a few bags of goodies. They loaded their cars slowly, none of them wanting the day to end. They wouldn't see each other until after New Years.

"Hey I think we should do present swapping right here," Duo stalled looking at the others.

"I like that idea, although I don't want to give Trowa his gift yet," Quatre agreed with a blush.

"Okay, we'll present swap for those we won't be spending the holidays with," Duo compromised.

They all agreed before rummaging in their bags of presents. Wufei wasn't sure about this, he wasn't sure his gifts would be liked. He still honestly didn't know these people all that well to buy them gifts. When they did exchange they had decided to wait for Christmas before opening them, knowing they could thank each other when they got back. Wufei felt kind of relieved but still anxious about his choice of gifts.

Heero and Duo drove him back to his home while Quatre and Trowa left in Trowa's car. Wufei climbed out of the back seat, grabbing his stuff before turning to Duo. He looked at the violet eyed man coming to a decision. "Thank you," he said before stepping back toward the front steps.

Duo smiled and waved wishing him a happy holidays and telling him he couldn't wait to see him after New Years. Heero took off after that, leaving Wufei there in the cold alone until he heard the front door open behind him. Wufei turned to see Treize standing there in a red sweater and blue jeans.

"Come on, it is much warmer in here," Treize offered gesturing toward the inside of the house.

Wufei couldn't hold back his smile at the words. As he stepped forward something caught his eyes. He looked up to see crystal snowflakes beginning to fall from the darkening sky. He continued walking up the front steps only when he got close enough Treize wrapped him in a surprising but warm embrace. Wufei melted against the solid chest allowing Treize to pull him all the way inside out of the cold and closing the door behind them.

"Have fun?" Treize asked eyeing the bags with a smile.

"Yeah," Wufei said before remembering the incident with Milliardo and the stranger. "Well most of it was."

"What do you mean?" Treize asked as Wufei started for the stairs.

"Oh nothing," he said not turning back to look at the older man.

"Wufei?"

He bolted up the stairs and to his room unable to take the concern and question in Treize's voice. He sagged against the now closed door, dropping his bags. Why hadn't he just told him, Milliardo really couldn't hurt his friends? He'd even promised Treize he would tell him if he ever ran into the blonde, so why hadn't he. A sudden knock on the door startled him.

"Wufei may I come in?" Treize asked on the other side.

Wufei pushed himself away from the door, grabbing his bags and depositing them on the other side of the bed. He sat down on the corner of the mattress with a sigh before deciding to answer. "All right," he called out before the door was pushed open.

"Want to talk about it?" Treize inquired as he stepped into the room.

"Not really," Wufei answered not meeting Treize's eyes. "It was no big deal."

"What was no big deal?" Treize pressed stepping closer.

Wufei stared at his hands knowing he should just say it. What could Milliardo do really? "We had a run in with Milliardo," he said before hastily adding more information, "nothing happened."

Treize sat down on the bed beside him. "Are you all right? Why don't you tell me a little more about it?"

"I'm fine," Wufei answered looking at him in surprise at the first question. "We were sitting at a bench; I had needed a moment to catch my breath. He showed up and started talking; Duo blew him off every time..."

"Go on," Treize requested gently.

"He was so mad at that point he just grabbed me, jerking me over the back of the bench and down the sidewalk. I was still a bit winded so I wasn't able to fight him off. Then some guy I've never seen before showed up and scared him and his buddies off."

"Damn it, will he never get the message," Treize finally said his anger more than clear.

"I told you, he doesn't care he refuses to lose," Wufei said not looking at Treize.

"Well neither do I, I will not lose you because of him," Treize stressed gently pulling Wufei's face around to look at him. "I guess he just can't accept that. I need to go make a phone call; I'll be downstairs if you need anything."

Treize left Wufei alone in his room, one secret still between them. He had decided to leave the switchblade out of it; Treize would never know and didn't need to. Maybe one day Milliardo would kill him just to get him out of the way or maybe Treize would keep that from happening. Why was the blonde so persistent, wasn't there anyone else he could attach himself to? Why did he want Treize that bad, that he would go to such lengths? Wufei decided that maybe one day he'd ask the blonde.

Standing from the bed he knew he might as well go downstairs it was no use hiding up there. As he neared the bottom of the steps he could hear Treize talking in the front room. What he heard surprised him though.

"Yes, thank you, I'm glad he called you. I don't know how much longer," Treize said before pausing. "If I could be with him all the time I would but he would feel crowded by that.----Yes and thank you again."

Wufei could hear him hang up the phone, deciding now would be the best time to make his presence known. "Who was that?" He asked stepping into the front room.

Treize turned on the couch to look at him, surprised for a moment, before gesturing to the spot on the sofa beside him. Wufei sat down unsure what to expect but what Treize said next wasn't it. "Why didn't you tell me about the switchblade?"

"What?" Wufei was surprised and it showed in his voice. "Who told you?"

"That doesn't matter, why didn't you?"

"Yes it does, are you spying on me?" Wufei accused jumping from the couch.

"No," Treize said grabbing his wrist "I was trying to protect you. Now why didn't you tell me?"

"It isn't important," Wufei grunted trying to pull his hand away but Treize's grip was unrelenting.

"Yes it is," Treize disagreed pulling him to sit back on the couch. "He could have seriously hurt you, even killed you."

Wufei stopped fighting, surprised to see moister in Treize's usually calm blue eyes. The man was crying... but why. Wufei's free hand moved of its own will and gently wiped the unshed tears away. "Why, why are you crying?"

"Because I don't want to lose you and it hurts that you didn't feel your safety important enough to tell me about," Treize answered his other hand taking the one Wufei had left resting against his cheek.

"I'm sorry, I never thought... I'm still not used to the idea that someone cares whether I live or die," Wufei replied looking at his lap.

"I do, as do your friends," Treize reasoned tipping Wufei's chin up.

"Yes and boy does Duo have a mouth on him when he gets like that," Wufei said remembering Duo's reaction when Milliardo had shown up.

Treize smiled at the mental image that thought presented. "Yes I bet he does."

"That man, did you send him?" Wufei finally ventured to ask. "I remember Duo saying something about calling him, and that he was keeping a promise."

Treize sighed pulling back but not releasing Wufei's hands. "Don't get mad but yes. He is an old college buddy of mine, I asked him to watch out for you when I couldn't. I don't trust Milliardo as far as I can throw him, I wish I could. I gave Duo his number before you guys left earlier, just in case."

Wufei wanted to explode but couldn't bring himself to do it. Treize had only been concerned for his safety and it wasn't like he was being followed by a pair of body guards. "I don't need that much protection, I could have handled him."

"Better safe than you getting hurt," Treize replied choosing not to call Wufei on his bluff.

"What is his name? All he said was 'a friend'," Wufei asked.

"Well than that is all you need to know," Treize answered with a smile.

"Oh fine, keep your secret, I really didn't care," Wufei huffed freeing his hand to punch Treize's shoulder.

"That's good," Treize replied laying back against the arm of the sofa and pulling Wufei forward to lay over him. "Is this okay?"

"Yeah," Wufei consented as Treize's arms wrapped around his waist and he laid his head against the solid chest beneath him.

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