In the Eyes of the Other

This is a redone version of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. So if you love the book and don't want to see it changed, then don't read. This was done by R.D.K and me, Setsuna X.

Disclaimer: This was made solely for the purpose of entertainment and we are receiving nothing from this book. Also, hints of shonen-ai.

Summary:Darcy and Bingley have been friends for a long time and know one another quite well. They are extremely close, but when the Bennet sisters and other prospects begin to show up, things become hectic and love becomes a mess.

Chapter 7-Sickly Reasons

The next morning everyone in the Bingley household woke up with different conceptions about the new day. Elizabeth woke up to the sound of someone coughing coming from the next room. She immediately got up, flung the blankets off her body, put on some slippers that were provided along with a robe and left her room. She traveled the hall for a minute or two, trying to find out which room the sound of coughing was coming from. Upon reaching the door to her sisters room Elizabeth knocked loudly upon the oak door in a sort of frenzy.

"Come in" rasped out the voice from within. Elizabeth filled with worry, lobbed open the door, yet still careful enough to not let them bang on the inner walls. She jogged in and up to the bed where Jane laid.

"Jane, are you alright?" cried Elizabeth, worried over her sisters health and the slow recovery she would most likely have to go through.

"I'm –cough- I'm fine dear Lizzy. It is just a little cold. I'm sure that I'll be fine given time and rest," Jane managed out between coughs and a dry throat.

"What is the problem?" asked Mr. Bingley, dressed in a deep scarlet robe, and with his golden hair slightly disheveled. His chest was rising and falling rapidly and his lungs were inhaling as much air as they could manage. He righted himself at the presence of both women with an air of dignity and strolled in.

"Jane has fallen ill, possibly due to the rain we suffered on our way here, since my mother and sisters took the carriage back home last evening. I hope it is nothing bad," worriedly stated Elizabeth.

"Oh dear," gushed out Mr. Bingley "I shall call an apothecary right away to diagnose her and to bring her any medicine she might require."

"That is too much Mr. Bingley. I am fine. Lizzy is just blowing this out of proportion. I do not need an apothecary," weakly said Jane in a strained voice, hoping not to take some much from Mr. Bingley. They were already imposing much upon his hospitality.

"Nonsense!" cried both Mr. Bingley and Elizabeth.

"Ms. Bennet," said Mr Bingley to Elizabeth "you have my permission to borrow a carriage to take you home. Please gather some belongings for both you and your sister and return here. She will need someone with her while she is recovering in bed. I do not think it is wise for her to be moved, especially to such a far away location."

"Thank you so much for your kindness and hospitality Mr. Bingley," gushed out Elizabeth "I shall do that right away." Elizabeth, relieved, left the room in order to prepare to go back home.

"I will call someone to come and attend to you, excuse me" said Mr. Bingley as he stepped out of Jane's room in order to return to his own and get ready for the day. Jane's rasped out protests fell on deaf ears.

-:: Bingley's Room ::-

Bingley made it to his room and proceed to undress. He took off the cotton scarlet robe and placed it on the bed. Next he proceeded with unbuttoning his pajama shirt and let it drop to the ground, pooling around his feet. He was halfway through removing his pants when door burst open without any notice.

Mr. Darcy stood there, completely stunned. Mr. Bingley himself was left standing on one foot and began to tilt toward the bed. Darcy noticed this and rushed forward to catch him, but tripped upon the shirt on the floor and tumbled atop Bingley on the bed.

Both men flushed in embarrassment, their breaths slowly becoming labored by the sheer closeness of one another. Darcy lifted his head from Bingley's chest and looked longingly into his eyes, drowning in his mesmerizing orbs. Darcy's face inched closer and both men had their eyes closed, awaiting the sensations a kiss would induce. But, before their lips could touch a maid outside the door announced the arrival of Bingley's sisters.

Darcy's eyes snapped open and looked into Bingley's startled eyes. Inwardly he groaned, wanting to see where another kiss would have led them, and maybe help answer some of the questions he had the night before. Darcy gulped deeply and proceeded to gently and slowly lift himself from Bingley's naked torso, chancing a glance at his chest all the while. He had felt his warm, soft skin and wished he could lay on it forever. Bingley noticed Darcy's gaze and his cheeks grew red.

"Um, I guess I should get ready to visit our guests. Can you please wait for me in my room?" asked Bingley in a small, insecure voice, picking himself off from the bed.

"Of course" replied Darcy, staring at Bingley as he hastily gathered all his things quickly and practically ran from the room into the adjacent bathroom. Darcy awkwardly stood in the middle of Bingley's room and wearily rubbed his face.

'What are we doing?' he thought. 'What am I doing? Do I really like Charles that way? He's handsome, I'll admit and certainly enough to tempt me. His personality is a great contrast to mine, so you can say that we balance each other out. Sort of like Yin and Yang. But, what about his feelings? Is he already infatuated with that Jane Bennet? They did spend the better of last evening dancing, not to mention spending several hours talking by the fire. And yet I'm still confused over the enigma that is Elizabeth Bennet,' thought Darcy in circles.

He didn't have enough time, however, to come up with any answers to his many questions because Bingley had just stepped in the room. His golden hair was combed down, the blond tips just brushing the top of his shoulders. He was dressed smartly and with little flourish. His face was still flushed from his bath. It was obvious he preferred having much hot water by the look of his pink skin and the curled edges of his hair that the steam produced.

Darcy felt that he could do nothing but continue to stare at his friend. Although Bingley was nothing but presentable he still had an air about him that drew people to his side and his easy- going and good natured personality kept them at his side. Bingley shifted from foot to foot, anxious and a little self-conscious of the hard stare that Darcy was giving him. It felt as if he was analyzing him for something.

Before he knew it his face became flushed for another reason. The intense and longing look in Darcy's eyes brought out unknown emotions to flow through is body, making him visibly shudder. He wasn't sure what those feelings in those eyes meant for him, but could not come up with a good enough reason to fear or ignore them.

"Are you cold?" asked Darcy suddenly, seeing Bingley's shudder. Bingley broke out of his stupor and blinked quite stupidly for a moment.

"Cold?" Bingley asked tilting his head slightly to the left. "No, I'm not cold, what makes you say that?"

"Never mind" responded Darcy, "We'd better get down there. They're probably wondering where we might have gone to."

"Yes yes, you are right, let us go" said Bingley as he led the way to the library where their guests were waiting.

TBC

A/N: And that is the end of all the chapters that I have written out, and at the moment I really don't remember a lot of the details that happened in P&P, so it'll take quite a while for the next chapter to come out. In the meantime I'll go through all the chapters and fix them up, making them more realistic. Anyway, a question: Does anyone know the eye color of any of the characters, mainly Mr. Bingley and Mr. DarcyThanks to anyone who's been reading, I hope you continue to do so. Also, this is the last collaborative chapter between me and my friend, so the rest of the fic will be entirely mine, and I'll basically claim it all as mine, seeing as it mostly was mine to begin with. Till later!