"In The Stars" Chapter 26

Wufei shifted in the large bed his hand coming to slide over the mattress. He forced his eyes open to see he was lying alone in the bed as the morning sunlight fed through the window. Wufei pushed himself up, the blankets pooling around his waist, as Treize's sweater hung off his shoulder. The bedroom door was wide open and he spot a black mass on the other side of the doorway. "Stormy," Wufei called his voice low.

The kitten's head perked up before it stretched and looked into the room. Wufei pat the bed grabbing the kitten's attention. Stormy ran into the room, launching herself from the floor, yet she had to use her claws to climb into the bed. Wufei picked her up looking her in the face. "So where is he?" He asked the little cat.

She mewled rubbing her face against him, causing Wufei to laugh. He pushed her further away smiling. "Better be careful, if Treize sees you behaving that way he may get mad."

"And I am," Treize's voice said from the door surprising Wufei. "She got a morning kiss before I did."

Wufei looked over to see Treize smiling as the older man approached the bed, he wasn't really angry. Wufei set Stormy back on the bed when Treize leaned forward across the mattress, they shared a soft warm kiss. Wufei's fingers came up to caress Treize's cheek while Treize weaved his free hand through Wufei's loose hair. Wufei pulled away a few moments later breaking the kiss. "I could really use a shower."

"Mind if I join you?" Treize asked with a smile.

"What?" Wufei blushed intensely, his eyes wide with shock.

"It was only a joke," Treize assured him moving to stand up. "I'll go make some breakfast while you shower."

"Should I use the bathroom in the hall?"

"Of course not, you can use my bathroom," Treize replied from the door. "Towels are in the linen closet."

Wufei nodded throwing the covers back to slip out of the bed. He took a pretty quick shower, only to realize as he was drying off all of his clothes were still in his room. It was only across the hall, so it wasn't that big of a deal. Wufei slipped his ring back on, retrieving it from the little basket he'd left it in.

He stood looking in Treize's closet with the towel tied around his waist. He found the item he had been searching for; pulling on the midnight blue sweater that was at least three sizes too big, it was even big on Treize. He quickly crossed the hall to pull on a pair of boxers and some faded jeans. He headed toward the stairs only to remember something he'd left behind. Going into Treize's bedroom he picked up Stormy only to stop. No, this wasn't Treize's bedroom anymore, he realized, it was theirs. Wufei pushed the thought away deciding not to dwell on it or the emotions it seemed to cause.

When he reached the bottom of the steps he set Stormy down, to let her roam as she liked. Going through the front room he noticed all the wrapping paper from the day before was gone. The large bear sat in the only available chair, leaving the couch the only place to sit. The tree still glow in front of the bay window that was cold and frost covered. He could just make out the falling snow, he was pretty sure it was just a continuation of last night. Making his way into the kitchen he spot Treize behind the stove, their dinner dishes also gone from where they'd left them.

"Why did you do that?" Wufei asked moving to stand on the dining room side of the island.

"Do what?" Treize asked in return not turning around.

"Clean all that up, I should have helped," Wufei explained.

"Oh, it was fine, you looked so peaceful this morning I didn't want to wake you," Treize answered finally turning to look at Wufei, only to have his eyebrow shoot up. "I see you were in my closet again."

"Yeah, your sweaters are so warm and soft," Wufei answered looking down at the overly large sweater, this one was one of his favorites, "and they smell very nice."

Treize smiled at the final comment. "Looks like it swallowed you whole, makes you look so adorable."

Wufei gaped at the words. "You did not just call me... ador...that gross word?"

"Actually it really fits, unlike that sweater. I can't even see your hands," Treize replied with a grin.

"So, what do I need my hands for, and I can always pull the sleeves back if I need them," Wufei countered.

"Very true, in fact you can have it, will always look good and cute on you," Treize said over his shoulder as he began to plate their breakfast.

"Are you sure?" Wufei asked surprised.

"Positive," Treize assured him setting the plates on the dining room table. When he walked back toward the kitchen his arm wrapped around Wufei's waist pulling him into his arms before leaning down to kiss the smaller man.

Wufei instinctively wrapped his arm around Treize's neck, holding the older man close. He couldn't believe how much he was coming to enjoy kissing the man. He had never realized how enjoyable kissing could be with someone, especially when you loved that someone. Wufei pulled back breaking the kiss, surprised by his own thoughts.

Treize smiled before releasing him to grab a couple of glass, the silverware, and orange juice from the fridge. He sat everything down before gesturing to one of the chairs. "Come on, breakfast is ready, have a seat."

Wufei slid into his normal seat as Treize sat in the one across from him like always. They ate a quiet breakfast as Wufei was focused on his own thoughts, and just when he'd started thinking them. Treize let him have his space to think, seeming to know that he needed to process everything he was thinking.

Treize began to collect the dishes when Wufei seemed to snap out of his stupor. "Oh I'm sorry..."

"Don't be, it is fine. You looked like you needed the peace and I enjoyed the quietness of the house," Treize cut off his apology.

"Are you sure it's okay, I didn't mean to get so wrapped up in my thoughts," Wufei questioned.

"Want to talk about it?"

"Maybe later," Wufei answered looking away; it was still hard to just say what he was thinking about.

"That's fine, whenever you're ready I'll be here," Treize assured him before smiling and heading into the kitchen with the dirty dishes.

Wufei followed him with the intent to help out, yet Treize just stuck them in the dishwasher eliminating the need. Wufei watched him as a question he wasn't sure he could voice entered his mind. He was shocked though when he heard the words leave his lips. "Treize, why do you open your mouth when we kiss?"

Treize was drying his hands when he froze at Wufei's sudden question. He turned to look at the younger man a little surprised. "Wufei, how many people have you kissed, not counting me?"

Wufei blushed looking away, he could lie but what would that accomplish. "None," he finally whispered staring at the floor.

"Ah," Treize said moving closer, "I think showing you would be easier than explaining."

Wufei looked up surprised by the response only to find Treize almost nose to nose with him. He moved to step back but Treize's arm snaked around his waist keeping him close. Treize leaned forward bringing their faces even closer before he pressed their lips together. He opened his mouth, his tongue slipping out to slide along Wufei's lips, surprising the smaller man. Wufei opened his own mouth in shock allowing Treize to slip his tongue inside.

Treize's other hand cupped the back of Wufei's head as his tongue gently and slowly explored the moist cavern. Wufei own tongue lay pliant as his mind was so absorbed with the fact that Treize's tongue was in his mouth. It was a strange sensation, so very different from any other kiss they'd shared.

Treize pulled away his hand still buried in Wufei's loose hair. Wufei blinked his eyes open to see Treize watching him. "What was that?"

"That was what is called a French kiss," Treize answered with a smile.

"I don't know what to say, it was different. Do people really do that kind of kissing?"

"Yes, a lot of people do," Treize answered. "I didn't want to push you beyond what you were ready for, that's why he hadn't before."

"Oh..."

"If you don't want to again, I'll understand," Treize explained.

"I'm not really sure," Wufei admitted. "Can I think about it?"

"That is fine. Is this what you were thinking about earlier?" Treize asked releasing him and hanging up the hand towel he'd left on the counter.

"Sort of," Wufei admitted looking away.

"It's all right; tell me when you're ready," Treize said as he wiped down the table.

"I feel pretty useless," Wufei commented as Treize took the dish rag back to the sink.

"What?" Treize asked somewhat surprised by the comment.

"Well I mean, you do the cooking, cleaning, everything, so I'm pretty useless aren't I," Wufei explained turning away and looking at his feet.

"No you aren't," Treize disagreed wrapping his arms around Wufei from behind. "I think you're perfect and I honestly don't want to subject you to such menial tasks."

"But I feel like I'm just mooching off you..." Wufei whispered.

"Well you're not," Treize said turning him around in his arms. "I'm used to cleaning this place, been doing it for some time. It is more a matter of habit then purposefully excluding you from it."

"I know, I just... Seems stupid huh?" Wufei suddenly asked with a dark laugh.

"No it isn't," Treize said lifting Wufei chin to look into those dark eyes. "Nothing about you or what you say is stupid. Especially not your feelings, they are very important to me, I'm glad you feel you can talk to me about such issues."

Wufei stared at him overwhelmed by the conviction in Treize's voice over such an issue. Finally he dropped his eyes to look anywhere but at Treize. Maybe he had been putting himself down but it was true. He was making a big issue over something so stupid like cleaning. Wufei stepped away from Treize pulling himself from the older man's arms. No it wasn't the cleaning; it was another fear that brought all this up. That he'd be so useless Treize wouldn't want him there anymore.

"Wufei, talk to me," Treize requested reaching for him. "What are you thinking about?"

Wufei stepped even further away his arm coming up to cross over his chest, his hand holding his other arm. He looked at the floor unable to admit just what he'd been thinking. Why was he so insecure after everything they'd already gone through? His eyes caught a glimpse of the ring Treize had given him just yesterday. Did he really deserve to wear such a ring? Wufei was surprised when Treize pulled him into a tight unyielding embrace.

"Don't shut me out, tell me what has you so troubled that it would dull those beautiful dark eyes," Treize pleaded holding Wufei close.

The younger man buried his face in Treize's shoulder yet his mouth opened of it own volition. "What if you decide I'm too useless to keep around? Maybe I don't deserve this ring and what it stands for. I'm the biggest idiot, not even knowing about kissing. Earlier that's what I was thinking about, about how I've seemed to really come to like kissing you, or you kissing me I guess. I never realized it until that moment just how much I seemed to like it, and it scares me that I don't even know when I started liking it," Wufei rushed out his ramblings matching the scattered thoughts of his mind.

"Wufei, you will never be useless, you are my lover and partner and that is enough for me," Treize said titling Wufei's chin up addressing the most serious issue in Wufei's outburst. "I know you deserve that ring and all it stands for because I love you so much."

"Why do I think like this? I'm afraid you'll leave me alone; I didn't used to mind being alone, but now for some reason the thought scares the hell out of me. Why do I feel like this? How can a single person cause such things?" Wufei demanded telling himself the whole time he wasn't going to cry. Yet he felt the icy liquid in the back of his eyes desiring to fall.

"I believe it is love that causes such emotions. You know I will never leave you, not for a very long time," Treize answered staring into Wufei's expressive eyes.

"How can you say such things?" Wufei asked feeling his tears escape. He was upset with himself more than anything else. His tears weren't of pain but because he seemed to only be trying to push the man away, even after everything.

"Because we never know when our time will run out, but I do know," Treize answered his thumbs wiping away Wufei's tears as he held the younger man's face in his hands, "that for all the time I do have, I only want to be right here with you."

Wufei melted against him burying his face in Treize's shoulder. "I'm sorry... so sorry for letting this get the better of me," he whispered into Treize's sweater.

"Don't apologize for feeling, no one can ever fault you for that," Treize said wrapping his arms tighter around Wufei.

"Th--- Thank you..."

"You're very welcome," Treize said pushing Wufei back enough to lean down and catch his lips in a soft kiss. "I love you."

Wufei wrapped his arms around Treize's neck before speaking. "Deep down I love you too."

Treize smiled standing up straight, which lifted the shorter man from the floor. Treize wrapped his arms around the small waist to keep Wufei securely in place before he began to lazily circle around the kitchen.

"How long do you keep your tree up?" Wufei suddenly asked lifting his head from Treize's chest.

"Until after New Years, why?" Treize replied looking down at him.

"Why that long?" Wufei asked curious.

"I've always felt the holidays didn't truly end until after New Years."

"Oh, I guess that makes sense," Wufei said resting his head back against Treize's shoulder. "I don't think I mind."

"Mind what?" Treize asked going into the living room.

"The kissing," Wufei whispered with a deep blush.

"Ah," Treize said setting Wufei back on his own feet in the front room near the coffee table. Only to suddenly pull him close easily finding Wufei's lips with his own. He slipped his tongue between startled lips, carefully exploring the warm cavern he wanted to memorize. Wufei's fingers fisted in Treize's sweater as he was washed away by the sensations.

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