Disclaimer: see previous chapters.
Checkmate
Chapter 18
Milliardo had been true to his words. He didn't give up on trying to convince Wufei that they belonged together. He tried calling, only to get cold glares and barely monosyllabic answers before being hung up on, or in the most recent cases, just hung up on. He tried sending letters, but he never received a single response.
Four months had gone by and Milliardo was reaching his breaking point. At first, he was able to hide his pain and misery from those around him. But as the months wore on and it seemed Wufei was resolute in his decision to shun him, Milliardo had stopped trying to hide.
Milliardo sat in the chair, staring at the empty table in front of him. Why won't it go away? He brought a glass to his lips and took a long drink, letting the scotch work its numbing effects on him. This was his new ritual. No longer did he enjoy leisurely evenings with Wufei, playing chess, flirting, discussing the day's or world's events during dinner. He now ate alone, slept alone, and woke up alone. He brought the glass up again and stared at it. No, that's not true.
"I'm not alone, am I? I have you. And I have all these memories that haunt me like a spurned spirit." He leaned forward and slammed the glass onto the table, and then clutched handfuls of his hair, letting out a quiet, anguished growl. "Why is it so hard to live without you?"
KNOCK KNOCK
Milliardo pulled himself up and headed for his door, turning on a small light before answering. The open door revealed General Hazuma.
"General? What brings you here?"
The older man had a stern look about him, but his eyes were what gave away what was truly inside. He was a gentle man at heart and right now, Milliardo could see the man's concern.
"I came here hoping we could talk."
"Talk? I'm afraid I'm not prepared to receive guests at the moment, General."
The General took in the Chancellor's state of disarray and nodded. "Hmmm, yes, I can see you're drunk already. I thought I had a few more hours before you reached this stage."
Pale blue eyes narrowed at the observant and blunt General.
"Perhaps another time then."
Milliardo made to close the door but the General placed his hand firmly on the door, preventing its closing. His voice was that of a father, angry and concerned for his son.
"Chancellor Peac—Milliardo, please. You've got to stop this. I don't know everything that happened but I'm willing to listen. I want to help you. If you keep going like you are now, you'll----"
"I thank you for your concern, General. But I am fine. There's nothing wrong with having a few drinks in the privacy of my quarters."
"You're not enjoying a nightcap. You're drinking yourself into a stupor each night. Everyone knows. You did a much better job hiding your relationship with Commander Chang than---"
At the mention of Wufei's name, Milliardo snapped. He grabbed the General by the collar and shoved his face in close.
"You are to never mention that name again! This is none of your business!"
General Hazuma wasn't surprised at the outburst. He had hoped that by mentioning Wufei's name, he could provoke Milliardo from his stupor and get him to realize what he was doing to himself.
"It became my business when you started endangering my men! Don't you ever waive off a security check again! You may not care what happens to yourself, but think about the men whose lives you're endangering in the process!"
He shoved Milliardo back easily and resisted the urge to shove the man against the wall.
"Do you see what you've become, Milliardo? A violent drunk, wallowing in his misery? If he saw you now, he would only pity you. Is that what you want, Milliardo? His pity?"
The General turned and walked away, feeling he could do no further good this evening. Perhaps tomorrow morning, when he's sober and hungover.
"General." He stopped and turned to look back at Milliardo who was now leaning against the wall, head bowed. "I sincerely thank you for your concern and your honest words. They did reach me and I will think about what you've said."
General Hazuma nodded and continued on his way, hoping this meant Milliardo would start his way back to the great man he knew him to be.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Wufei was hunched over his desk, brow furrowed as he reviewed the mission paperwork before him. Lady Une had asked him to do the review because she believed the two officers that completed the mission were up to something and she knew Wufei could find a needle in a haystack better than anyone.
KNOCK KNOCK
He looked up and saw the mail clerk struggling to smile while holding a rather large brown package. He just nodded towards the side table and looked back down at his work, ignoring the young man. Once he was gone, Wufei got up, closed the door and went over to the package. Milliardo.
He wasn't going to open the package, knowing who it was from. He had told Milliardo it was over between them but the man didn't seem to want to honor his decision. But what could he possibly be sending that's so large and heavy?
Wufei sat down on the sofa and unwrapped the package. He opened the box and reached in, pulling out a small, wrapped bundle. He ripped the sealing tape and unfurled the object. A chess piece.
"But why, Milliardo?"
Wufei tilted the box up, looking for a letter or note to explain his former lover's action.
When you told me you stopped playing chess because the person you played with had died, I was confused. I couldn't understand how you could give up playing a game you loved so much for just one person. Now I understand. Even if I play chess again, I could never play with this set. All I see is you and I'm reminded of how much I've lost.
I know you will never accept me again and I don't blame you. After what I've done, I don't accept myself either. And even though I know you don't want to hear it, I'm going to tell you just one last time. I love you, Wufei. I have given you my heart and soul and I know you will protect them, my dragon.
Eternally yours,
Milliardo
Wufei couldn't breathe. His chest hurt. Something's wrong. Something's terribly wrong. He shoved the chess piece and note in the box and hefted the box, walking as fast as the heavy package would allow, yelling at the receptionist as he passed that he would be gone for the day. Wufei raced home and as soon as he entered his apartment he dialed Milliardo's office.
"Chancellor Peacecraft's office."
"This is Commander Chang. I need to speak to the Chancellor immediately."
"I-I'm sorry sir. He's not taking any calls at the moment."
"Just tell him it's me and---"
"I'm sorry, Commander. He specified anyone, including you. Would you like to leave a message?"
"Have him call me immediately. It's urgent."
He didn't wait for the girl's response, he disconnected the line and just stared at the blank screen. What's going on with you, Milliardo? And why am I so worried about you? I thought I put you behind me.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Wufei tried to reach Milliardo for the rest of the day with no success. He was sitting on the sofa, staring at the chess board he had unwrapped and laid out when the vid phone rang. He sprang to his feet and hit the receive button. Please be you, Milliardo.
"Hello?"
"'Fei? Maggie said you ran out of here this afternoon. You seem pretty tense, something wrong?"
Duo was worried that his friend's agitated state had something to do with a certain Chancellor. Even though Wufei had told Milliardo point blank that he wanted nothing to do with him, the stubborn man still persisted in trying to win his former lover back.
"I don't know." Wufei sighed and ran his hands through his hair. "Milliardo---"
"I knew it! I'm flying out to see him this weekend and beat some sense into him! How many times do you---"
"Maxwell!" He hadn't meant to yell, especially at his best friend, but he was so tense right now, he was losing his patience. "He sent me something in the mail today and the note that came with it…..I think something's really wrong with him. I've tried calling him since the package arrived this afternoon and I haven't gotten a call back yet."
Hearing Wufei yell at him, Duo knew the man was truly upset. He wasn't kidding himself, he knew Wufei still had to care for Milliardo in some way, but this was the first time since Wufei told Milliardo to leave him alone that he'd shown any true signs of affection for the man.
"Ok. Yes, I admit, it's very unusual for Zechs not to take your call or call right back. But is it possible he's on some diplomatic thingee and just hasn't gotten your message yet?"
"No. I've called several times and his secretary knows about us and he checks his messages religiously. Maxwell, what if he's in trouble? What should I do?"
"What can you do, 'Fei?"
"I just….I feel like he's in trouble and I'm helpless to do anything."
"I'm sorry, 'Fei."
"I'm going to try his office again. I'll see you tomorrow, Maxwell."
"If you need anything---"
Wufei offered up a weak smile. "I'll call. Thank you."
Wufei disconnected the line and tried Milliardo's office several more times throughout the night before giving up and going to bed in the early hours of the morning.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Wufei sat at the table, staring at his breakfast. He really wasn't hungry but he had tried to eat anyway. He finally just wrapped it up and put it in the refrigerator. As he was getting dressed, he had the radio on listening to the news.
"….as previously reported we have more information on the explosion aboard Chancellor Peacecraft's airship earlier this morning. It was departing from L3 when flames overtook the cockpit and within seconds, the shuttle exploded. Preliminary speculation is terrorists…."
Wufei never heard the rest of the story. He sank to his knees in front of his closet, a shirt clenched in his hands. No. Milliardo. Oh gods, please no. He can't be….
He never heard the pounding on his front door, or Duo yelling for him after he let himself in. It wasn't until the man was kneeling beside him, a hand on his shoulder that Wufei turned to acknowledge his best friend.
Duo flinched when he saw the despair so plain in the onyx eyes. "I….I came right over. A-are you ok?"
"Is he…?"
"They haven't confirmed. But it doesn't look good."
Wufei nodded and bowed his head. Duo wasn't sure what to do, but suddenly Wufei just fell on him. He wrapped his arms around the crying man instantly.
To be continued….
Just some quick notes:
To anissa32: I'm glad the twists and turns kept you riding Wufei's personal roller coaster. It's been fun trying to figure out who Wufei was ultimately going to be with. I thought I had it figured out awhile back, but then I wrote a few more chapters and I've since hanged my mind three times! Oh well, hope you enjoyed the latest circuit on the roller coaster.
To hey there!: As I smile my crooked evil smile, I'll thank you for the compliment. Toying with people's emotions is a good sign in my book.