Zechs' eyes grew wide. Shock overcame him. "What?"
Wufei turned around, clenching his fists. "I killed Treize. When you and Heero were fighting, me and him were also in a duel."
"You - you killed him?"
His voice became quiet. "I never expected to win." He closed his eyes. "Hell, I didn't want to win."
Zechs remained silent, eyes like saucers. It was this boy...
"I'm such a fool. It was only dumb luck I wasn't killed." He paused. "I- I shouldn't be here. He should be here. He deserves to live more than I do."
He killed Treize. I can't understand why I don't hate him. I more so...pity him. "Wufei..."
"I'm so sorry. I should have just given up the fight. Then we both wouldn't be standing here like this. I took him away from you. It was senseless, and- and stupid, and..." He searched for more apologic words, but they didn't come. "If you wish to kill me, I'd understand."
He couldn't believe what he was hearing. A wave of anger suddenly came over him, not at what Wufei had done, but at the way he was demeaning himself. His eyes narrowed.
"Goddamnit, do you really think that would solve anything?! You're not going to bring him back by grovelling. You're not going to bring him back by telling me to kill you. You standing here on a soapbox and preaching about how you should be dead instead of him isn't going to do a damned thing, Wufei!"
Wufei turned around abruptly. "Well, from what I can remember, your speech yesterday wasn't a whole lot different from mine!"
What? Then he gasped.
"Why? Why are you doing this to me? I love you, Treize! And you're gone now! Haven't I suffered enough?!... Why did you leave?! Was it my fault? Because we couldn't settle our differences about the war?... If I would have known it would end like this... No one should ever die that young. Especially not you... No, no. It should have been me instead. I'm the one who put millions, billions of people's lives in danger to satisfy my own selfish ideals. I can't say I agreed with you, but at least you're not as pitiful as I was. As I am right now."
Zechs mouth hung slightly agape at the memory, then he closed it, and his eyes returned to their normal state. "You're right," he said calmly. Then it must be true.
Wufei had come to terms with what he had just shouted out and covered his mouth. "Shit, I- I didn't mean-"
The older man interupted him, not faltering in his calm tone. "Wufei, you loved Treize as well, didn't you?"
Wufei didn't know how to answer that question. In truth, he wasn't expecting it. What he was expecting was for Zechs to tell him to get the hell out and never speak to him again.
Or take him up on his offer.
He sat down on the grass in front of the headstone, knees to his chest and arms wrapped around his legs. Finally, he opened his mouth to speak. "How did you know?"
Zechs sat down Indian-style next to him. "Apparently you and I have more in common than I initially thought."
"It wasn't so much love as it was fascination," he continued. "After our first duel, I had this strong admiration for him. He was so strong, so amazing. It was more of an obsession, really."
Yes, Treize does that to people.
"But I'm sure you truly loved him, and he reciprocated that love. That's why you have every right to be here, and I don't."
Ignoring his last comment, Zechs said, "Then you're the boy he was talking about."
"What?"
"Treize spoke of you. He said he had dueled with a Gundam pilot and defeated him."
"He talked about me?" The curious tone in his voice couldn't be denied.
Zechs closed his eyes. Yes. He was quite taken with you. I don't think he had any strong feelings for you, but it was enough to make me jealous. "Yes. And he also said you were a worthy opponent, and that he'd like to fight you again someday."
Wufei said nothing, trying to process this information.
Kid, I'm not lying. And if I can't make myself feel less guilty, I can at least help you to not be as miserable as I am. "Well, he got his wish. He died fighting you. I'm sure there was no other way he would have rather gone."
Another long silence. He's fighting tears again.
"I miss him, Zechs."
Something about the tone in his voice, the way it cracked when he said his name, made Zechs want to take the boy up in his arms and tell him it would be okay. He'd kill me if I tried something like that, he thought. Instead, he narrowed the gap between himself and Wufei and put an arm around the teenager's shoulders.
"I miss him too."
Wufei tensed, then slowly eased into the physical contact. Zechs ran fingers lightly up and down the boy's arm. And the two of them sat there completely silent, save Wufei's sniffles, for five minutes.
Zechs broke the silence. "You feel up to going out to dinner yet? I know a great seafood place in town, unless you'd rather go somewhere else."
Wufei's sniffles had stopped, and he looked at him with a faint look of amazement. "You really aren't obligated to take me out to dinner, you know."
Zechs smiled. "Yes I am."
Fruits de la Mer was casual by appearance. Children ran amok, mothers scooped them up and scolded them. People everywhere were dressed in jeans, talking on their cell phones. Couples dined in the more private section of the restaurant, chatting and holding hands by the faint glow of a candles in holders attached to the wall.
However, one look at the prices and one was sure waiters were going to come out in bow ties and do a song-and-dance number, then ask you if you'd like to pay $400 for a single bottle of wine.
At least that's what Wufei thought after being seated in the dimly-lit area and opening his menu. "Marquise, I really can't make you pay for any of this."
Zechs frowned upon hearing the boy call him by his last name once more, but he didn't know why it bothered him. "Call me Zechs, Wufei. I believe we're on a first-name basis with each other. And it's my treat. If I didn't want to buy you dinner, I wouldn't have asked you." He glanced at Wufei's skeptical expression. "Order anything you'd like."
A waitress approached their table minutes later, dressed in black slacks and a long-sleeved white shirt. "What would you gentlemen like?"
Both ordered, Wufei ruling out his first two choices because of the prices, despite what Zechs had said.
"And to drink?"
The wine list had been the first thing Zechs looked at when he sat down. "I'd like a bottle of Pinot Grigio brought out, please. With two glasses. And I'll also have a glass of water."
"And you, sir?"
Wufei was already feeling uncomfortable; being called "sir" made him want to sink down further in his chair. If she starts singing, I'm walking out right now. "Just water."
The waitress noted this and walked off.
The blonde had been eyeing him while he was ordering. "You seem uncomfortable."
"I'm just not used to eating at nice restaurants. I mean, I grew up fairly wealthy, but there weren't nice restaurants to go to."
Zechs laughed. "This place is far from a five-star restaurant. The prices may be a bit high, but I told you not to worry about that."
"Why did you ask for two wine glasses?"
"I didn't know if you drank or not."
"I'm sixteen, of course I don't drink."
"Well, if you want some, I won't tell."
Wufei silently debated this. The last time he drank was at his wedding. "Maybe a little."
"Good. If I drank an entire bottle of Pinot Grigio by myself, we would have a problem, wouldn't we?" He crossed his legs under the table, causing a brief contact with Wufei.
Wufei blushed at the slight contact.
He is cute when he blushes, isn't he? Coming to terms with what had just gone through his head, he mentally scolded himself. Forget it, Zechs. He may be easy on the eyes, but that gives you no right to ogle him. Especially when we're both so vulnerable. My god, have you no shame?
Dinner was eaten silently, neither of them daring to speak. Bother finished at almost the same time. However, Zechs was pouring himself a second glass of Pinot Grigio, and Wufei was just then picking his untouched glass up. Swirling the wine a bit, he took a sip.
I can't stand this silence anymore, Zechs thought. Time to make small talk.
"Do you like it?"
"Hm?"
"The wine. Do you like it?"
"It's not bad."
"Yes, I've had better, I'd say, but it's still to my liking."
Wufei gave nothing more than a grunt of agreement.
Well, that was a great conversation starter. We must have something in common that won't trigger an emotional breakdown. Then he remembered something and cleared his throat. "I noticed you had A Journey to the Center of the Earth on your desk. I take it you like classic literature?"
Wufei looked up, strangely pleased that the older man was showing an interest in his life. "Yes, I do. I read some modern literature as well, but I love classic novels."
"A Tale of Two Cities was always a favorite of mine. A rather bittersweet ending, however."
"Sydney was a noble man." Wufei said, referring to the man who had been executed on the guillotine so that the main character would live. "Any others you like?"
I think I've finally hit the right note. "Let's see...The Red Badge of Courage, Don Quixote, Man in the Iron Mask..."
"It doesn't surprise me that you'd like that one."
Zechs looked up from his glass, an expression of curiousity gracing his features. "And why is that?"
"A man is forced to wear a mask because he bears resemblance to the king."
He wasn't sure how to respond to that. If he didn't have excellent self control, he probably would have gasped at the accuracy of what the boy was proposing.
Wufei continued. "I mean, your stories are different, but the concept is the same, correct?"
"Yes, I suppose so. I'd...never looked at it like that before." He's better at reading me than I am. Still, I'd rather not talk about my past. "You obviously read quite a bit, Wufei."
"Ever since I learned how to read I've been infatuated with books. Even when I was home on break from boarding school, I'd read all the time."
The conversation continued, gradually being carried off into different directions. Eventually the conversation had gotten off on the tangent of the other Gundam pilots. Wufei had just finished explaining why Quatre wasn't allowed in the kitchen anymore when he noticed they were the only two in the restaurant.
"I don't mean to be rude, but what time is it?"
Zechs checked his watch. "9:45. The bill's already paid, would you like to head out?"
Not really. "Sure."
They put on their jackets and headed outside. Just as the door to the restaurant closed, a sudden downpour of rain started.
"Well, that's unusual. Think it's an omen?"
Wufei gave him a genuine smile for the first time. "Maybe."
Zechs looked over at him. "You should smile more often, Wufei. It looks nice on you."
He looked down to hide his blush. "Thanks," he managed to spit out.
"And as for our current situation, it's a quarter to 10, the cemetary is a half hour away, it's another half hour to your house, and I refuse to let you ride a motorcycle in the rain. You're staying at my house tonight, like it or not."
"I- I'm really fine. I've ridden in the rain before."
"At night? For thirty minutes? Forget it. At risk of sounding like a nagging mother, you'll catch a cold. Now, I have a guest room I'll be glad to let you stay in until tomorrow."
"You've already put up with me long enough, Zechs."
I imagine dirt has higher self-esteem than he does. "I have not been 'putting up with you', as you put it. Believe it or not, I enjoyed talking with you tonight, and I care about your well-being. Now let's head home, shall we?"
Wufei paused, then sighed. "Alright."
End Notes: I'm doing a horrible job on my promises, aren't I? To make up for it, I'm posting two chapters. I know that's not a great resolution, but it's the best I can offer.
And yes, Fruits de la Mer does mean 'seafood' in French. I couldn't think of anything better. It was either that or Intergalactic House of Seafood. I'd like to say thanks to my friend Bret, who convinced me that the name of the restaurant wasn't too lame.
Kari