"In The Stars" Chapter 30

"What is it?" Treize asked reappearing in the kitchen. "Why are you still sitting on the floor?"

"I lied," Wufei said in reply not looking up from Stormy.

"About what?" Treize asked crouching down beside him.

"About," Wufei started to say before burying his face in Stormy's purring body, "being okay."

"And the truth is?" Treize asked concern lacing his voice.

"My ribs... hurt," Wufei finally admitted. "I tried to walk... but it just hurts so badly...."

"The cold winter air has a way of doing that to weakened bones and joints," Treize said but Wufei shook his head unable to tell the older man about the incident in town. "I'll take you upstairs so that you can lie down and warm up."

Treize slowly lifted Wufei from the floor, holding him close as Stormy remained nestled against Wufei's chest. "Ask Duo," Wufei whispered.

"I'll tell him you're not feeling well, he'll probably race right up," Treize said walking down the hall toward the stairs.

"No, ask him," Wufei said shaking his head.

Treize looked at the dark haired man but didn't say anything more as he started up the stairs heading for their room. He laid Wufei in the large bed, pulling the blankets up over the younger man. Stormy found a spot curled up beside Wufei in the blankets. "I'll be back in a bit," Treize said before leaving the room.

Wufei stared out the open curtains to see it had started snowing again, as the sun finished it's decent below the horizon. He was startled when he heard footsteps coming down the hall. Wufei wondered if Treize would be angry that he hadn't just told him the truth. He looked up to see Duo enter the room and not Treize.

"I told you he could have hurt you," Duo said sitting on the edge of the bed. "And I didn't say anything; you have to tell him yourself about what happened."

"I don't even want to say his name, let aloe bring him back into our lives," Wufei said looking back out the window.

"I know you thought you got rid of him for good, but he isn't an issue in that part of your life, just the normal everyday going out part," Duo said, "but you need to tell Treize the truth, stop trying to hide everything from everybody."

"It is easier that way..."

"Easier for whom, Treize or you?" Duo asked when Wufei stopped talking.

"I don't know," Wufei replied looking at the bed.

"You're not sparing Treize, you're sparing yourself because you are afraid to be honest with yourself," Duo offered causing Wufei's head to snap up.

"Shut up, you're wrong! Get out!" Wufei growled giving a low moan as he tried to roll away from Duo.

"Duo leave him be," Heero's voice said from the door.

"This could be serious and I won't let him hurt himself even more of his stubbornness!" Duo replied looking at Wufei.

"You can't force him into doing anything he isn't ready for," Heero said approaching the pair. "It is his to tell whenever he is ready. Now come on and leave him be."

Duo sighed. "I know, I just hate seeing him do this when it could be something serious," he said as he stood up from the bed. "We'll be across the hall if you might need anything."

Wufei watched the darkness outside the window as they quietly left. He knew he should tell Treize, he just refused to bring that man up. Maybe if he told him what happened without saying who, but then he realized Treize would demand to know who.

"I've brought you something to help warm you up and some aspirin," Treize said, startling Wufei, a few minutes later as he entered the room. He set the mug he carried on the bedside table before sitting on the bed and offering the two pain relievers to Wufei.

"I'm sorry," Wufei whispered looking away and not even moving to take the pills from Treize.

"For what?" Treize asked slightly confused.

"The cold air isn't the cause, we ran into someone in town," Wufei said staring at his lap.

"Who and what happened?" Treize asked setting the pills beside the mug.

"Just someone who felt I owed them something," Wufei mumbled. "They got in a few punches to my ribs..."

Treize tilted Wufei's chin up forcing their eyes to meet. "Was it Milliardo?"

Wufei lowered his eyes remembering the ugly bruise that had been forming earlier. He decided not to mention that, it would only cause unnecessary concern. Yet he was startled when Treize reached for the bottom of his sweater. "What are you doing?" he asked clamping his hand over it to keep it securely in place.

"I would just like to look at your ribs?" Treize replied.

"That's not necessary," Wufei stammered.

"From your reaction I think it is, now like me see them," Treize disagreed continuing to pull the large shirt up until he reached Wufei's hand.

"I told you..."

"Wufei," Treize cut him off his voice firm, "move your hand and let me check them."

Wufei was in complete shock, his body automatically reacting to the firm command. His hand released the sweater allowing Treize to pull it up to expose his stomach, chest, and sides. Wufei's eyes were clenched shut as Treize silently examined his left side. He tensed at the slightest ghost touch, even if it wasn't anywhere near his bruise.

"Wufei I will never hurt you, I want to make sure this is just an ugly bruise and not something more serious," Treize said his voice gentle but Wufei didn't open his eyes.

Treize's fingers were gentle as they probed his ribs but even so it still hurt. Wufei sucked in a deep gulp of air every few touches. "I think he just bruised them and then add the cold air. Wufei? Wufei, look at me," Treize said as he carefully rolled the shirt back down.

Wufei forced his eyes open to see Treize sitting and watching him. He felt the tears he'd been holding back with his eyelids slide down his cheeks. He quickly wiped them away with the back of his hand, the movement jerky and almost savage. Treize gently grabbed his wrist and pulled the hand away.

"How about a warm bath to help sooth the muscles," Treize suggested using his free hand to gently wipe away the last of Wufei's tears.

Wufei slowly nodded before beginning to wonder how he was going to get undressed without screaming. Treize pulled the covers back, disturbing Stormy who sifted onto the bed, before reaching for the hem of Wufei's sweater again. He rolled it up to Wufei's neck before pulling the back over Wufei's head and then down his arms. Wufei began to wonder if Treize had done this before, maybe for his aunt or mother when they were at their worst. He could easily see Treize taking care of someone like that; he was gentle and hardly raised his voice.

"What are you thinking about sweetheart?" Treize asked surprising him from his sudden day dream.

"Just stuff," he replied offering a small smile.

"All right, I want you to hold on to me so we can stand you up and get the rest of these clothes off," Treize said reaching to help Wufei sit up.

"What? But..." Wufei started to argue his cheeks flaming.

"I have a towel right here that we can wrap around your waist," Treize cut him off with a chuckle.

"Oh," Wufei mumbled eyes focused on the bed as he tried to slide to the edge, biting back a moan. He pushing himself into a standing position, finding if he didn't move it didn't hurt so much.

Treize knelt down wrapping the towel around Wufei's waist before carefully pulling his jeans and boxers off, as his shoes and soaks had been removed earlier. Treize straightened up before carefully scooping Wufei up and heading into the master bath. He set the younger man on the toilet before turning to the bath. A mixture of hot and cold water poured out to begin filling the large bath tub beside the free standing shower. Treize lifted Wufei from the toilet and settled him in the still filling tub, towel and all.

"I'll be right back," Treize said as he turned off the water, rising and leaving Wufei alone.

Wufei started relaxing as the warmth of the water began to seep into his muscles. The bruise stung slightly but after a few minutes it even began to dull away. He felt his eyes drooping as his body completely relaxed.

Wufei slowly opened his eyes to find himself in bed spooned in front of a warm body. How did he get here? Treize must have found him asleep in the bath, Wufei realized before a deep blush flushed his cheeks. That would mean that Treize... Wufei burrowed his face in the pillow under his head. It took him a moment before he realized his side didn't hurt nearly as bad as it had the night before.

"Good morning," a deep voice whispered near his eyes causing Wufei's blush to darken.

"How..." he mumbled out unable to even ask.

"I asked Duo to dress you once I got you out of the bath," Treize answered with a slight chuckle.

"You did?" Wufei asked his head snapping around.

"Of course, I know how uncomfortable you are about getting undress around me, I would never do anything to pressure you into something you're not ready for," Treize replied kissing Wufei's cheek. "How are you feeling?"

"Better, it is better then yesterday," Wufei replied.

"That is good to hear. I really would like to give Milliardo a piece of my mind," Treize said his voice growing thick with anger.

"Forget about him, he isn't a part of our lives."

"So it was Milliardo," Treize said surprising Wufei.

"What... but I thought..." Wufei stumbled out looking at Treize.

"You never gave me a straight answer yesterday when I asked if it was him."

"You... you tricked me," Wufei huffed turning to face back to the stare at the wall.

"Only to hear the truth," Treize replied his voice as soft as his breath on Wufei's neck. "Wufei do you trust me?"

Wufei was surprised by the question and the instant response his body seemed to have. It made him feel angry that Treize would even need to ask. "Yes, of course."

"Then why does it have to go so far before you'll tell me about important things, like this?" Treize asked his voice gentle.

"I thought it was fine at first," Wufei replied with a sulk in his voice.

"You still could have told me about it," Treize pointed out.

"And worry you about nothing, it wasn't worth it to bring him up again," Wufei replied burying his face in his pillow.

"I'm always worried about you; because I love you and it would be devastating if something were to happen to you," Treize said nuzzling Wufei's neck.

"I'm not worth that much effort."

"Yes you are and you always will be," Treize disagreed strongly.

"I don't believe that," Wufei mumbled absently. "How can I be, when all I do is cause problems?"

"What problems?" Treize asked brushing back Wufei's look hair.

"This whole situation..."

"This is not your fault," Treize interrupted him. "Do not blame yourself for any of this; we both know where the blame belongs."

"I just... I feel like I'm messing everything up," Wufei replied not lifting his head.

"Well, you're not, you're acting just like any other human being," Treize assured him his fingers gently caressing Wufei's exposed cheek.

"I'm so insecure about everything and I hate it!" Wufei admitted sifting away from Treize's touch.

"Never hate anything about yourself, because I love absolutely everything about you," Treize said sifting his hand to follow Wufei.

"Why don't you just give up on me? Why do you try so hard?" Wufei asked.

"I love you," Treize replied. "I will never just give up on you. But you knew that already, you're looking for an excuse to quit and I'm not going to give you one."

"Thank you."

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