Ch. 14

Disclaimer: "Boyfriends can be so shallow! I keep telling mine: I want more out of our relationship than just good sex. I want great sex."

When Zhang He woke up, they were still on the floor, tangled up in the sheets and each other's limbs. Sunlight streamed through the windows, and Gan Ning was snoring gently. He suppressed a giggle, not wanting to awaken the snoozing pirate as he carefully disentangled himself from Gan Ning's embrace and gazed lovingly at his sleeping form. Eventually, his dreamy smile faded, replaced by a sigh and a worried frown. Without even realizing it, Gan Ning had saved his own life last night. Zhang He had entered the room with every intention of murdering him once their time was up, but the way Gan Ning had shown such genuine concern for him had shaken him, and the events that took place immediately afterward even more so. He realized that, despite how good Ling Yi had made it sound, killing Gan Ning was not the solution he was looking for. The man was just too precious to him, and he could not--- would not--- take his life. After last night, Zhang He realized that he could not bring himself to hurt him in any way, that he would die before letting anyone else hurt him, and kill anyone who tried to. So Gan Ning was safe--- from him, at least. But there was still the problem of his loyalty to Wu. Zhang He could not keep him here under false pretenses forever; eventually, they would have to part ways.

The thought wrenched at his heart. Now that he had Gan Ning, he could not imagine being without him. Would he be able to give him up when the time came? He knew he wouldn't, not even if it meant be exiled from Wei. He didn't dare betray Gan Ning's trust by trying to get information out of him, which meant he wouldn't be able to send him back safely, even if he could let him go. Gan Ning would instead be sent to someone who was a professional at "interrogation", and there was no way he was going to let that happen. And he already knew that he'd never be able to get Gan Ning to switch his loyalties, just as he himself wouldn't be able to betray Wei by defecting over to Wu. He was at a dead end, and he desperately needed to talk to someone. Obviously, he couldn't discuss this with Gan Ning, since it involved his possible torture and death, and Ling Yi was out of the question. There was only one person who he could bring this to, and thankfully, he knew exactly where he could find her.

Rummaging through the drawers of his night table, he found a brush, a jar of ink, and a piece of parchment, and quickly scribbled down this note:

Gan Ning-

I've gone to go see a friend, be back before this evening. I'll send Ling Yi up with some breakfast for you, meat dumplings, not vegetable. So you won't get bored while I'm gone, I've arranged for a masseuse from the local village to come by and relax those sexy muscles of yours. Have fun, and try not to argue with Ling Yi too much. Sorry to leave you by yourself today, I promise I'll make it worth your while when I get back.

---Your Butterfly,

Zhang He

He smiled to himself, and left the note on the night table where Gan Ning could see it, then tip-toed out of the room to find the only person he could confide in.

Zhen Ji was sitting by herself beneath a tree in the courtyard, playing an ethereal melody on her flute. She broke off when she saw the lean, graceful figure of her best friend making his way towards her, and smiled up at him as he leaned against the tree she was sitting under. He grinned apologetically. "Sorry, Zhen. I didn't mean to interrupt." She waved one elegant hand dismissively. "Oh, nonsense, you silly boy. You know it's never a problem. What have you been up to, lately? I haven't seen you since we got back from the campaign." He flicked at his bangs, sliding his back down the trunk of the tree until he was squatting cat-like next to her. "I know, I'm so sorry! I meant to come and see you sooner, I really did, but I kind of got…sidetracked." His eyes darted nervously to the side as he said the last part. Zhen Ji, who had known him for years, knew this meant he had something big on his mind that he was hesitant to talk about. She leaned forward earnestly, placing a gentle had on his arm to reassure him. "Uh-oh. I know that look. Zhang, what's going on? Are you in some kind of trouble? Are the rumors getting out of hand again? You know, you really can't expect Ling Yi to clean it up this time. After all, you were wearing butterfly wings."

He rolled his eyes. Other than Ling Yi, and now Gan Ning, Zhen Ji was the only person who knew of his sexual preference. They'd grown up in the same village together, been friends since they were small, and served under Yuan Shao. They'd made each other a promise that they would be friends forever, and to this day, they'd held true to it. When they had first come to Wei, Zhang He had been ousted from Yuan Shao's army because rumors of his homosexuality had spread, and Zhen Ji, who was unhappy with her marriage anyway, came with him as soon as she could escape from her weakling husband. When she met Cao Pi, she'd gained the wealth and power she'd always wanted, as well as a handsome husband who was brave and cunning enough to be worthy of her. Zhang He, however, had not had so easy a time of making the transition, as rumors of his sexuality followed him. Zhen Ji had saved him from yet another miserable career, using her newfound power to quash the accusations and grumblings of those who objected to Zhang He's acceptance to Wei. Far more importantly, she had presented him with a gift: Ling Yi. The serving girl had been ten years old at the time, but sharp as a sword and mature beyond her years. She had been a mere handmaiden, doing no more than helping Zhen Ji dress her hair, but Zhen had immediately recognized the girl's natural talent and intelligence, and had nurtured and fostered it until she had made Ling Yi into the perfect assistant for Zhang He. This accomplished, she had given him the girl, and his career had skyrocketed ever since. He was now one of the top-ranking generals in Wei's mighty army, and Zhen Ji would soon be an Empress. All in all, things were going well for the two friends. Until now, anyway.

"No, Zhen, it's not about that. It's about…it's about a man. A man I really like. A lot. Too much, actually." Zhen Ji's jaw dropped in mock astonishment, eyes lighting up with glee. "Zhang, are you saying what I think you're saying? That you, the original he-slut, are actually in love? With who? You'd better tell me, or I swear I will beat you to death. With. My. Flute." Zhang He laughed at his friend's enthusiasm. "Okay, okay. As if I wouldn't tell you anyway." He paused, sucking in his breath. "Are you familiar with a General Gan Ning?" She nodded. "Of course, he's that Wu general you managed to capture, isn't he? But what has that got to do with---" she stopped short, realization dawning on her. She shook her head slowly. "No. Oh, no. Zhang, you can't be serious, please tell me you aren't serious…" Zhang He flicked at his bangs again, avoiding eye contact by suddenly becoming fascinated with the bark of the tree he was resting against. Zhen Ji groaned. "Zhang you've done some stupid things before, but this…this is dumb. How in the name of the ancestors did you manage to fall in love with an enemy officer? Does Ling Yi know about this? Ye gods, I hope not, it'll probably give the poor child a brain hemorrhage."

Zhang He pouted. "It's not like I was trying to fall in love with him! It just sort of…happened! It isn't my fault. And she knows that I feel something for him, she just doesn't know the full extent of it. Which is good, because I've noticed that she's developed this tic in her lower eye-lid, and it was twitching when I told her that I trusted him. I'd rather not imagine what she'd do if she knew I was in love with him. Probably start hemorrhaging, like you said. I'm beginning to suspect that I'm hazardous to her health." He sighed and tossed his hair over his shoulder, distraught. "I don't know what to do, Zhen." He filled her in on his conversation with Ling Yi, and how charming and wonderful Gan Ning was, and why he couldn't bring himself to follow his servant's advice. "So what do you think?" He asked. Zhen Ji thought for a bit. "Zhang, I'm going to ask you a personal question, but if I'm going to be any help to you on this, you'll need to answer it." Zhang He nodded. "Okay then. Answer truthfully now, Zhang: How is he in bed?" Zhang He gaped at her. "You can't possibly expect me to answer that."

"I can and I do. Now come on! How is he?"

"I refuse to believe that we are having this conversation."

"Well, too bad. We are. You have to answer, it's important!"

"What? How is this important?"

"It just is. Tell me!"

"No! Why do you want to know?" Zhen Ji sighed, exasperated. "Look, do you want my opinion or not?" Zhang He stared at her, then broke into a grin. "He's amazing," he gushed. "Absolutely fantastic! Everyone should have one. I'm convinced he was sent by the gods to bring happiness and sexual satisfaction to the world. Or at least to me." Zhen Ji nodded, smiling mischievously. "See? That's all I needed to know. Here's my advice; take advantage of his 'talent' as much as possible. Then do what Ling Yi said and kill him." Zhang He threw his hands up in the air, rolling his eyes to the sky. "Well thanks, that's helpful. I just got through saying that that's exactly what I wasn't going to do. I don't care what you or Ling Yi say, there's no way I'm going to kill him. Although that first part about taking advantage of him sounds good, but I had planned on that anyway." Zhan Ji shrugged. "You asked for my advice and I gave it. You didn't say 'Tell me what I want to hear'. If that's what you wanted, then that's what you should have said." Silence settled between them, Zhang He sulking, Zhen Ji irritated. Finally, Zhang He broke the silence. "This is so depressing. I still don't know what to do." "I know what'll make you feel better."

"What?"

"Shopping!"

"YES!" Zhang He struck a pose, throwing his arm out and pointing dramatically. "To the marketplace!"

Wow...That was so incredibly OOC! And unclear as to whose POV it was! And horrible in general! I suck! Gah, I shouldn't have even subjected you guys to the agony that was this chapter. I'm so sorry, but I'm sick as a dog, and as a result, the writing is all wonky. Bleargh. And the Nyquil certainly doesn't help. XP Normally I'd wait till I feel better, (or wasn't zombified by Nyquil) but I haven't updated in a while, and my birthday is tomorrow, so I'll be doing stuff that day and the entire weekend and won't have any other chance to type. I'm debating over what POV to use for the next chappie. I might use Zhen Ji's, or I might skip Ling Yi's turn and go straight to Gan Ning. I'm also debating as to what's going to happen in the next chappie. I have the plot in my head, with a certain series of events that I want to happen in a set order, but I'm really foggy as to what I want going on in between. And it is necessary to have stuff in between, unfortunately. Suggestions and requests are welcome at this point, you will be credited for your idea, and win a "Best in Show" trophy for your plotbunny. If you'll excuse me now, I have to go imbibe massive quantities of vitamin C and lapse into unconsciousness for the next 14 hours or so. Hopefully, the pressure in my sinuses making my brain feel like it's imploding will have subsided by the time we meet again. I don't know about how it is wherever you guys are, but here in North Carolina, it's 28F, and as far as I'm concerned, THAT IS ENTIRELY TOO DAMN COLD. Grarrr. Nighty-night. ((passes out)) Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z