Disclaimer - Gundam Wing doesn't belong to me, and this is not being written for any sort of profit.

As usual, many, many thanks to Kaeru Shisho for the alpha editing job, and to everyone who's been reviewing.

Most Perceptive Reviewer Prize goes to Roninlver for a - certain comment relating to Chapter 37.

An Inconvenient 'Phone Call:

'I think I'm going to like being engaged.' Zechs pulled him up to kiss, letting him taste his own desire on his lover's tongue. 'I love you.'

'I know,' Wufei wriggled free of the warm, pinioning arms, sliding down the slim, pale body. And I love you. Let me show you how much?'

'Of course, yes,' Zechs purred, arching back in pleasure as his lover, his beloved began to chart his body with lips and teeth and warm, probing tongue.

Wufei knelt astride him, and Zechs gasped with delight as soft fingers danced the length of him; the black head lowered and kisses dripped on to his very tip; the caresses were assured, playful, a sweet torment that could only be borne for so long.

Sudden lust surged through Zechs' body like wildfire and he pounced, pinioning the smaller body beneath his. 'My turn, I believe.'

Wufei arched and gasped as every part of him was covered by lips and teeth and tongue – some kisses nibbled lightly at soft flesh, others pressed deep and luscious enough to brand his skin.

Zechs paused to drain his glass to the dregs, stretched over the slender body and the kisses began again, become more intimate.

'Are you waiting for divine instructions on what to do next?'

'Oh, I know precisely what I plan to do with you, kaerste. Just wait and see. Aren't you always telling me I need to learn patience?'

Wufei laughed breathlessly as he was pinned to the mattress, revelling in the strength of his lover. They rolled over and over, until Zechs had him in a spread-eagled sprawl on the bed. Finally still, flushed with exertion, eyes flashing onyx fire, he was beautiful.

'I wonder now, dearest, do you taste as delicious as you look?'

The luscious mouth pouted for kisses and Zechs was pleased to oblige. His tongue delved deeper, while his hands stroked and fondled. He knew the golden, honey-sweet body now as he knew his own, the places where gently tickling fingers made him squirm, where a caress coaxed a sigh of pleasure or sent shivers ghosting across his skin. Knew when he needed more.

Wufei subsided face down on the quilt, and spread. It was gentle at first; bodies entwined and flowing together as smooth as warmed honey. Finally, Zechs knelt beside him, stroking the lovely, flowing lines of back and buttocks, stoking his own desire, before moving up to cover him; sharp teeth sinking into the golden skin at the nape of his partner's neck, leaving a tiny, transient brand.

God, but he was desire and passion and need given flesh. Smooth, supple, utterly irresistible flesh.

No one else, ever, would see him like this, Zechs resolved, coating his fingers with lubricant and murmuring with pleasure as he probed the deep cleft of buttocks. No one else would ever hear those tiny, pleading whimpers; the way Wufei's breath caught as his finger touched that place inside; the slow pants as the first sting of discomfort faded and became pleasure.

His Wufei, his scholarly, proper, reserved lover; begging to be fucked through the floorboards.

'Turn over, sweet.'

Wufei bent his knees back to his chest and rocked himself back and forth as Zechs anointed himself, and knelt between the slender, golden thighs. The hot, hard shaft nudged sensitive, aching flesh. The muscle was slick with oil, soft with yearning, and possession was swift and hard and sure. He'd meant it to be slow, gentle, but the throbbing, fluid embrace of Wufei's body drove him past reason, beyond restraint, and his partner certainly wasn't complaining.

'Yes! Dear gods, yes! Like that!' Wufei was writhing, moaning, fingers were embedded deep in Zechs' arms, urging him on, legs scissored around his waist and then he was sheathed in the sweet, moist well of his lover's body and restraint was impossible. Every movement branded his ownership, even while he was absorbed, possessed, in turn.

The gentle, considerate lover had become the hunter, and he moved in Wufei's body with all the confidence of a well-practiced predator, sure enough of its victim to draw out the chase and delight in the thrill of the hunt. His lover was moaning wildly, battling for possession as Zechs thrust mercilessly into him, arching upwards as if his very survival depended on it. Zechs' heartbeat raced as he hammered into his partner's body, fastened a death grip around his waist to tear down the fragile barrier of flesh between them and touch his lover's heart.

Wufei succumbed first, a cry of ecstasy torn from his throat as he sprawled bonelessly against he pillows, and Zechs followed him down, his own climax imminent now.

Zechs took a little of his own weight on his elbows and looked down at his lover; 'Fei was motionless beneath, the lovely face showed only a deep, drowsy contentment, a measure of pride that he had inspired such fierce loving and met all of his lover's demands.

'Not too sore, my heart?' Zechs pulled him into his arms and a tight embrace, the homecoming after the whirlwind.

'What do you think?' Wufei muttered, wincing a little as he tucked himself against Zechs' side.

'But worth it, I hope.' Zechs leaned over to take a long swallow of champagne and proffered the glass.

'You know it was.' The raven-dark head lifted slightly to drink. 'Always.' Long lashes fluttered closed and he laid his head back down on Zechs' chest, over his heart.

'Don't fall asleep just yet, love. How about a nice, hot bath before dinner?' Zechs tempted, and Wufei murmured something drowsy and incoherent, curling against him.

'I don't think I'll ever be able to walk again.'

Zechs chuckled. 'In that case, we'll just have to stay in this bed for the rest of our lives. Seriously, dear one, we need to clean you up a little. I can carry you if you like.'

The black eyes flashed indignantly at that suggestion of helplessness, and then his eyelids drifted shut again.

'Two minutes,' Zechs promised, easing himself free and bending to drop a kiss on his love's cheek. 'Just let me fill the bath for us, all right?'

It took somewhat longer in fact. Before he could do anything, the stack of firewood, or whatever it was, had to be stacked carefully in the shower. Then, while the enormous tub filled, he lit candles and perused Wufei's collection of bath salts. Like the rest of their suite, the bathroom was furnished with ridiculously overblown opulence. Gold-veined, creamy marble set off the polished gold fittings. Their own toiletries had been decanted into crystal jars and two enormous arrangements of hothouse flowers towered over the twin sinks.

There were definite advantages to his beloved's aromatherapy addiction, Zechs mused happily, opening the different jars and pouring his favourites with a lavish hand; cedar, because he liked the sharp, clean scent; a mixture of seaweed extracts that soothed aching muscles; and a special blend of Chinese spices that claimed to relax both mind and body.

He had plans for the rest of the evening. A long soak together in steaming, scented water, and then he would give Wufei a sensual massage using his favourite oils, and then they would make love; slick bodies sliding together like oiled silk. Unless of course, Wufei felt up to a session in the bath itself, in which case the schedule could be altered slightly slightly.

If they'd been at home he would have scattered some of Duo's orchids in the water, as the perfect complement to Wufei's exotic beauty.

With Treize, of course, it had always been roses.

Damn. He shut off that thought before it had time to blossom. Treize didn't belong anywhere near his fantasies of Wufei.

The supreme irony, of course, being that Treize had met Wufei first, and it was from Treize whom he'd first heard about Wufei, after their first duel. Treize had been captivated with the boy, naturally; enchanted by such beauty and honour and nobility.

'It was a damn foolish thing to do, you know; drawing his fire like that. He could have destroyed you.'

'He could have destroyed us all if he'd wished. Not much challenge in that,' Treize said calmly. 'It was irresistible, you know; the first Gundam I'd seen in such close proximity; how could I not wish to test the pilot? And don't you start on me being reckless; Une's already favoured me with her opinion of just how foolish I was. You worry too much, both of you.'

Zechs snorted. 'Don't class us together, please. At least, I don't consider myself your personal nursemaid. I still don't know what you see in her.'

'She has her uses. And considerable potential. Did you kill Daigonegell, by the way?'

Zechs nodded. 'Of course. You wait until now to ask?'

'We were … otherwise occupied earlier. And I know you well enough. How did it feel?'

Zechs shrugged. 'It's hardly the first time I've killed. Incidentally, why did you select Une to issue the orders to go to Luxembourg?'

'Ah, that chafed, did it?' Treize laughed softly. 'My poor prince; forced to accept orders from your social inferiors. It makes her happy; she thinks I indulge you far too much as it is, which is probably true.' The blue eyes sparkled. 'She believes that all of my 'special treatment', as she calls it, will give you an attitude.'

'Special treatment?' Zechs wondered. 'Is that what it's called these days?'

'Apparently.' Trieze reached out to entwine his fingers in the long, blond hair. 'And we both know you would have gone anyway, once you found out Daigonegell was overseeing the defence of Luxembourg. When have I ever stopped you from doing precisely what you wish?'

'Approximately fifteen minutes ago.' Zechs' mouth curved slightly, as he glanced at the elegant clock by the bedside.

'That hardly counts,' Treize objected. 'You did seem to be enjoying yourself at the last. You weren't complaining anyway.'

'Good manners, merely. One should never criticise one's host. Did your pilot enjoy being beaten by you?'

'Oh, very definitely not. He was lovely, though,' Treize smiled to himself. 'All that passion and pride, just longing to be conquered.' He winked. 'He rather reminded me of someone, actually.'

'He's hardly more than a child.'

'You weren't much older, were you?'

'Did you fuck him?'

'No. Next time, perhaps.'

'I see. There's to be a next time, then?' Ludicrous question, and Treize chuckled, soutterly sure that the world was ordered precisely for his personal pleasure.

'Well, naturally. He told me he'll keep coming back until he kills me. It was rather charming actually. I look forward to our next meeting immensely.'

'You're the only person in the world who would view death threats as a form of foreplay.'

'Am I? Poor boy; he was trying so desperately hard. It was a hardly a fair fight, you know, not when I had all the advantages. We'll use suits next time.'

'Next time,' Zechs muttered. 'He'll probably kill you, and you're planning a seduction.'

'You're not jealous, angel? You know I prefer blonds. He was quite magnificent though; such fire. Not that you don't thaw out very sweetly, under the right circumstances.'

Treize shifted a little closer, and those too-skilled, too-knowing hands began to drift over Zechs' body, making him shiver slightly, despite himself.

'You're cold.' Treize, ever the solicitous, attentive bed-mate, drew the sheet over them both; Irish linen, naturally, hand-embroidered with the Khushrenda crest. He liked his little comforts in bed; the finest bed-linens and an exiled prince to warm them when he chose.

His cruiser had been crippled by the Gundam just a few hours previously, but his possessions had already been transferred to the captain's quarters on board the fleet's flagship. Soft candlelight gleamed off polished French antiques, and glittered on the few pieces of Waterford crystal. A decanter of vintage Burgundy and two matching glasses, empty now; a vase filled with long-stemmed roses, crimson, of course. A few petals had already drifted to the oriental carpet, and lay like droplets of blood.

One finger tilted his chin slightly for a kiss. 'Shall I warm you up a little?'

'I should be leaving soon. I shouldn't even be here, considering how much we have still to do.'

'Let me take care of that,' Treize demurred. 'You should definitely be here. The first duty of a devoted soldier is to obey orders from his superiors, is it not? Where do you plan to go next?'

'Noin and I have a rendezvous arranged with Otto.'

'To collect the Tallgeese.' Treize's eyes gleamed. 'And set off on your adventure to reclaim your kingdom. I do look forward to the day when you take off that mask. It's a crime to keep such beauty hidden away. Although I do like having you all to myself.'

Damn.

Zechs sat on the side of the tub, breathing in the fragrant steam rising from the bath. He'd imagined the scent of roses; that was all.

I said, stop following me around, Treize.

Wufei had fallen asleep when he finally walked back into their bedroom.

So fucking beautiful, his dragon. So utterly, fuckably beautiful; a silk-limbed, supple dream, with all that pale-golden skin and ebony hair glowing against the deep crimson velvet of the quilt. Zechs was half-tempted just to let him sleep; it sounded like he'd been up talking to Duo for most of the previous night, and he'd been too keyed up during their stay in Sanque to sleep properly, but then he'd only wake up later complaining and terribly uncomfortable, and the prospect of taking him in the bath, when he was already stretched and sated and loose was just too irresistible.

'Time to wake up, my love,' Zechs sat on the side of the bed, and covered Wufei's mouth with his own. Huge, sloe-dark eyes gleamed into his own; full of drowsy contentment and he clung to Zechs' neck as he was gathered up and carried into the bathroom, wincing just a little as warm water lapped against sensitive skin.

'Are you actually trying to boil me alive?'

Zechs chuckled. 'I can think of more pleasant ways to set you on fire.' He arranged them both carefully so Wufei was settled against his chest, and wrapped both arms around him. 'I hope you don't mind, love, but I took out those aromatherapy sticks of yours. I thought it might be a little crowded otherwise?'

'I don't know what you're talking about - Oh!' Wufei's eyes flew open, stricken, and he sat bolt upright, causing a minor tidal wave.

'I'm sorry,' Zechs said hastily. 'I didn't think you'd mind. I'll put them back right now. It's a big tub, there's plenty of space for both of us and half a forest as well.'

'No! Mil, I totally forgot. There's something I have to tell you. I've done a terrible thing.'

It took Zechs a full five minutes to stop laughing. 'Why ever did you put them in the bath?'

'That was Duo's idea; we needed to darken the colour,' Wufei muttered. 'I meant to take them out before you saw, and then Trowa called and I forgot all about it. It's not funny, Mil! It was a unique piece of artwork and I destroyed it…'

'That hideous thing! I'm delighted, if you must know; I thought you liked it, and I've been trying to think of ways for us not to have to bring it home.'

Wufei gaped at him. 'I only bought it because we were rushing out of the exhibition and it would have been rude not to buy something. But, this morning, you said it was terribly valuable!'

'Those women at the reception last night were raving about the damn thing; apparently there was an article in some obscure art journal talking about her undiscovered talent.' Zechs shrugged. 'I thought you'd like to hear your taste complimented, and that perhaps you could be persuaded to donate it to their exhibition permanently.'

'But what are we going to do? You've already promised to lend it to them.'

'Well, I like your original plan of a forgery. Between the two of us, we should be able to replicate a bundle of sticks, and if we can't, I'll paint something and we can make some excuse. That should please them.' Zechs grinned. 'I can't believe you were actually worrying about that thing.'

'I felt guilty for having destroyed a unique piece of Sanque culture!' Wufei spoke with as much dignity as he could muster.

'You did a great service to the art world! And you know I'd happily let you burn every piece of art in the palace, if it gave you a moment's pleasure.' Zechs settled back, tugging Wufei into his arms. 'While we're making confessions though, I have something to tell you. Relena called while you were in the library; apparently someone leaked our story to one of the Sanque tabloids. It'll probably be headline news tomorrow.'

Wufei pulled a face. 'What are we going to do?'

Zechs kissed him. 'Well, it was never exactly a secret; so many people knew, it was bound to come out eventually. It's probably best if we make some sort of official announcement, you know. '

'Must we? You know how much I hate all that nonsense.'

'I know, dearest,' Zechs murmured. 'But if we don't, we'll just have to put up with constant speculation from the media. Don't worry about it; I'll draft a simple announcement for the Sanque Times; that should suffice.'

Media attention had been a fact of life for as long as he could remember; a necessary evil for the only son of a royal dynasty. Many of his earliest memories were of smiling charmingly for the cameras, sitting on his mother's knee and later by his father's side; holding up his new baby sister for her first press appearance the day after she'd been born.

One put on a performance for the cameras; smiled and said all the proper, expected things, and conducted one's personal life behind closed doors and high walls.

His intensely private lover loathed all of it; loathed seeing his face looking at him from the TV or from the cover of a glossy magazine, loathed their personal lives becoming public currency on talk shows or in the pages of a trashy tabloid.

'I'd rather we did it ourselves, than have those trashy magazines spreading rumours; Relena knows, half the palace probably knows as well as the entire parliament and all of our own friends. It's a miracle that no one's leaked the story until now.'

'I suppose you're right. Although I fail to see how it's anyone's concern but ours.' Wufei sighed. 'The press will go mad. Photographers following us everywhere.'

'Try to look on the bright side,' Zechs consoled him. 'Some of those photographers are very talented; we might get another wonderful picture of us in Florence to hang over the bed.'

'Perhaps.' Wufei slid a little lower in the water, ebonytresses drifting over the surface.

The photograph, or rather Zechs' reaction to it, had been the cause of their first major row. He'd known Wufei was uncomfortable with too much publicity, but he'd seemed to tolerate it. He'd refused to speak publicly about his relationship with Zechs, but he'd accepted journalists' presence at the various official functions they'd attended as a couple, and tried to ignore the media comments afterwards.

Florence had been different. It had been an anniversary of sorts; a year and a half after they'd first met. Not the first time they'd gone away together; Wufei had visited Sanque with him several times, and had flown out to some of his European exhibitions or to accompany him to some formal gathering, but the Italian trip had somehow been special. No Duo with them, for a change; no official function to attend; just the two of them in Zechs' favourite city.

By their third day, Wufei had let his guard down sufficiently to hold Zechs' hand as they wandered through the ancient streets, and even allowed a brief kiss in the shadow of the cathedral; the first time he'd ever permitted any sort of public display. They'd been standing on one of the stone bridges spanning the river Arno as the sun began to set, when the picture had been taken.

When he'd seen it the next morning, Zechs had merely smiled reminiscently, utterly unprepared for Wufei's reaction. It wasn't like he was a stranger to publicity, after all; like the other pilots, he'd been a celebrity at the end of the war, and he'd made headlines as a Preventer agent. For his sake, Zechs had tried to keep their relationship discreet at first, but of course it had been impossible.

Wufei had stormed out, catching the next flight back to the States. He'd called that evening, and they'd both apologised, but Zechs had never quite forgotten those hours when he'd been gone, when he'd thought he might never get him back.

'We can wait a little longer to tell the press, if you prefer,' Zechs offered eventually, when his lover said nothing more on the subject. 'I just thought it would be easier to issue a statement, and stop all the speculation about our relationship.'

'No, you're right. I was just thinking. About Quatre. After - that picture was published, he had a long talk with me. He said that, because of who you were, the press would always be interested in you. That I would either have to accept it as the price of being with you, or leave you.'

Zechs kissed the damp, black hair. 'I'm so glad you made the decision you did.'

'So am I.' Wufei turned his head for a proper kiss. 'I'm worried about him, Mil. At first, I thought it was some sort of set-up, probably to get Duo into more trouble, but then those people got killed, and those explosions. Quatre would never be a part of anything like that.'

'He's got half the Preventers in the universe looking for him,' Zechs comforted. 'And Trowa's heading to L4. He'll find him if anyone can.'

Wufei nodded, shifting slightly so he could look up at his partner. 'I'd have gone with him, if it weren't for Duo. He's always been the staunchest, most supportive of friends, you know. It's thanks to him and Duo, that I survived those first months after leaving Preventers. The officer I 'd assaulted - half killed, really - wanted to press formal charges.'

'Don't think about it, dear one. It's over now.' Zechs soothed, tightening his hold about the slender, golden body in his arms. It would have destroyed Wufei, utterly, to have been formally charged with such dishonourable conduct. They rarely spoke of it, but he knew that Wufei, lacking a focus for his life, and facing a bleak future, had had some sort of breakdown, and that his friends had got him through it. 'You'd never have been convicted anyway; not with your record.'

'I might,' Wufei's mouth twisted bitterly. 'I was - not the most popular agent in the force. Saunders was well-liked, respected by the other agents; he'd been a police officer for ten years before being recruitedby the Preventers. I didn't have any concrete proof of how corrupt he was; if it had gone to trial, any reasonably competent lawyer could have got him off.'

Wufei shuddered, despite the warmth of the water and Zechs' arms holding him. 'I think Quatre somehow convinced him to drop it, or paid him off, even though he always denied it. He persuaded me to try therapy, that I could do whatever I wanted with my life. I feel so guilty, Mil. I've only spoken to him a handful of times in the last six months, and then it was to criticise the way he was treating Trowa, or Duo.'

'You were only trying to help your friends,' Zechs murmured, knowing the words were wholly inadequate. Wufei was his lover, his beloved, and nothing would ever change that; but those five pilots had shared the sort of friendship he knew nothing about. His life had been full of people who wanted to befriend him for his looks, or his rank, or because he was Treize's protégé, and he had usually accepted their favours, and secretly despised them.

'The last time we spoke was so awful, Mil,' Wufei continued. 'I never told you, but I called Quatre after he'd said - those things to Duo. I was so angry with him,

'Shush, dearest.' Zechs slid 'We'll sort everything out. I promise. Trowa's going to find Quatre, and don't worry about the media; it won't take long for the press to find a more interesting story than the two of us.'

'Thank you.' Wufei picked up one hand and kissed the open palm. 'You always know how to make me feel better, don't you? And you're right about the press, I know. I can't help objecting to being labelled your exotic sex-toy, though.'

'I know, love,' Zechs soothed, trying hard not to smile at just how apt the description currently was. Wufei would kill him for the insult. 'Still, I have to put up with being called your Prince Charming. Is that any better.'

'Well, you are a prince, and you can be extremely charming when you want something.'

'Only then?' Zechs slid the black hair to one side and pressed his lips to the little mark that had blossomed on the back of Wufei's neck, where he'd nipped him earlier, and licked his way to that appealing little hollow behind his ear, making him squirm delightfully.

'You always want something. Don't you?'

Zechs gasped as Wufei's palm curled lightly around his stiffening cock. Arousal had been growing for some time now; impossible to resist with that perfect bottom snuggled against his crotch, but he'd managed to ignore it so far, and concentrate on comforting his lover.

'Don't you?' Wufei repeated, and then it was his turn to gasp as lips closed around his earlobe, massaging gently.

'I always want you, dearest. You know that. But perhaps you should go on top this time?'

'We'll work something out between us.' Wufei's fingers squeezed just a little more forcefully. Zechs held him in place with one hand and let the other travel his partner's body in a long, languid caress, stroking both nipples until they peaked, thrusting hard little nubs against his palm, and Wufei moaned; a soft, inarticulate sound of pleasure.

'You like that, don't you?' Zechs murmured. He turned Wufei in his arms, shifting a little so his lover's back was reclining back against the tub, and his lips drifted over the beautiful face, dabbing dab the lightest, most feathery kisses. Wufei's head tipped further back and the slender throat invited Zechs' touch.

'Kiss me, Mil,' he ordered. 'Properly.'

It began with a warm, firm pressure on that gorgeous, generous mouth, then a flickering tongue teased his lips apart, and the kiss probed, possessed, demanded response. Zechs slid one hand under the raven hair, knotting there, the other snaked down and fingers curled in the soft flesh of one buttock.

He twined strands of ebony silk around his fingers, and Wufei moaned as hands began to caress him. Soap-slick lathered fingers were sliding everywhere, and he canted his head for a kiss, tongues dancing deliciously. Zechs traced slow, seductive paths on his body with well lathered palms, and teased swollen nipples with lips and tongue, loving the taste of him.

'Just give me a minute to get you ready, all right?'

The little phial of oil he selected smelt of citrus and spice, pooling in his palm as he coated his hand. The first well-oiled finger slid in with no resistance.

'I'm ready,' Wufei gasped. He was fiercely aroused, far too much so for modesty or even restraint, and slender hips humped back, twisted on searching fingers. Zechs inserted a second digit, waited a moment for him to relax and pushed deeper inside, curling upwards. Wufei thrashed and heaved above him, abandoned to pleasure as Zechs' other hand slid between his legs. Fingers stroked the length of him, an exact echo of the other caresses moving deep inside him.

'Not quite.' Zech's lips shivered across the back of his neck, delighting in the little wordless whimpers as his lover was subjected to the exquisite, excruciating cycle of torment and denial. He was so close, every sinew straining upwards, muscles clenched tight about the invading fingers.

'Now you're ready.'

Wufei's breath was still coming in quick, shallow gasps, the muscles in his upper arms tense as he gripped the sides of the tub, waiting. Zechs caught his own breath at that first incredible moment where the universe stood still and everything just - stopped. It was like being swathed in tight layers of liquid silk, and intensified by the water lapping about them both.

It was a slow, sweet glissade into purest pleasure, their shared climax as natural as coursing water, as bright as flame, and ended with them both sliding under the water.

'You know, we're going to drown us doing this, one of these days,' Wufei murmured, pulling himself upright again.

'Mmm.' Zechs lay back against his lover's chest, practically purring as Wufei's fingers slid through his wet mane of hair. 'I can't possibly think of a nicer way to go though, can you?'

'You do have a point.' Wufei admitted, wrapping both arms around Zechs' shoulders, and hugging him tightly. 'That was incredible.'

'Mmmm,' Zechs echoed, his brain not yet quite up to coherent thought. Not with his whole body still quivering and certainly not with his Wufei holding him like that. Despite everything, it had turned out to be the most perfect evening. He would hand-feed Wufei his dinner in bed, and then they would fall asleep in each other's arms. For once, nothing was going to go wrong.

Which was when Wufei's cellphone rang. Zechs winced at the sound, tucking his head firmly under Wufei's chin.

'Ignore it, love,' he begged, knowing it was hopeless. 'Please?'

Wufei dropped a kiss on his forehead. 'My heart, you know I can't. It might be Duo. Or Trowa.'

'Fine. I'll get it.' Cursing fluidly, streaming water on to the oriental rugs in their bedroom, Zechs fetched the damn 'phone.

'It's Duo.' He handed it over, rolling his eyes. Of course it was Duo; their friend apparently possessed some sixth sense of knowing exactly the wrong time to interrupt. Although, at least this time, they'd managed to finish what they'd started.

'Duo? Is something wrong? This 'phone has a terrible reception; it's hard to understand what you're saying exactly. What was that about L4?'

Damn. Despite himself, Zechs leaned over and flicked the speaker function; it was simply no fun hearing one side of a conversation.

'You can get back here, right now!'

'I can't,' Duo said quickly. 'We're over halfway there. The ship doesn't have enough fuel to make it back safely.'

'Right.' Wufei bit the word off between clenched teeth. 'Then you will come back as soon as you've refuelled. Do you hear me?'

'Yeah.' There were some indistinct sounds on the other end of the line; Zechs could imagine Duo chewing on the end of his braid, as he tended to do in moments of stress. Disgusting habit. 'The thing is, Wu, I thought, while I'm going to be on L4, I could just take a quick look at where Quatre sent that message from.'

'Don't be ridiculous. There's a whole investigative force on L4 as of this morning. You can leave it to them; there's no reason for you to get involved. You'll be in enough trouble as it is, without wandering around a Preventers crime scene and attracting attention.'

'Look, I just want to feel I'm doing something,' Duo wheedled. 'Just a couple of hours and then I'll straight come straight back on the next shuttle.'

'Duo, listen.' Wufei sighed, obviously trying to sound reasonable and squeezing the 'phone so hard his knuckles were white. 'I know you want to help. I understand. But how exactly is it going to help Quatre if you get into trouble? You know he wouldn't want that.'

'I know! But it's OK. The thing is, we got here with some friends of Trowa's on their shuttle, and we've landed at a private dock.. No one's going to know I was ever here, so it's no big deal. I'll be back Earthside before anyone knows I've left. Heero's already agreed and…'

'What?' Wufei's exclamation reverberated around the marble walls. 'Heero's with you? Is this all his idea? Is he trying to get you into even more trouble?'

'No!' Duo said hastily. 'It's not like that. I - um - sort of persuaded him to come along and look, 'Fei, don't detonate again, OK? It's not his fault. It's mine. He's been really good about it; we're actually getting on pretty well.'

'I do not believe this is happening!' Wufei grated. 'Duo, listen to yourself for two seconds! This is Heero Yuy we're discussing, correct? The man who broke your heart years ago and who's never even bothered to contact you until a few weeks ago? I was there, remember? I watched you trying to get over him, to get some semblance of a life back for yourself.'

'Stop it, 'Fei,' Duo said quietly. 'I know all that. I know. But you said you were OK with me going on the date, didn't you?'

'I said nothing of the sort! I told you, I would support your decision, but that I disapproved, which is true. It's one thing for you to spend a few hours with him; I thought that might bring you to your senses as to how ridiculous all of this, and now you're jaunting around the galaxy with him.'

'I'm not jaunting, 'Fei. Look, you do realise this is sort of my decision,' Duo snapped.

'Are you quite out of your mind?' Wufei demanded harshly. 'In case you've forgotten, I don't think you're exactly qualified to make any sort of decisions right now. You do remember a certain court case, don't you? Established to ascertain your personal sanity and competence? I hardly think this sort of episode is going to do your case any good.'

''Fei, that's not fair!'

'It happens to be the truth! For God's sake, Duo, Heero cheated on you; you almost died because of him, it took you years to get your life back, and now you've decided to construct some elaborate little fantasy about the two of you getting back together. Well, I'm not going to let you do anything of the sort. You're coming back to Earth if I have to go to L4 and drag you back by the hair, and then I'm finding you a good therapist, and a team of lawyers who aren't going to seduce you, and we can get this over with and go straight back home. Is that understood?'

'Wu, will you listen to me for a sec? This isn't about Heero; it's about Quatre right now, and Heero just …happens to be here.'

'That's enough!' Wufei raked dripping hair out of his eyes with one hand.

'You're right,' Duo's voice snapped. 'I'm sick of people trying to run my life for me. Now, I am staying on L4 until I find some trace of Quatre and if you and Heero don't like it, then that's just too bloody bad.'

The line went abruptly silent, and Wufei stared the cellphone in disbelief.

'He hung up on me,' he said slowly. 'He's only been in Heero's compnay since lunchtime, and this is what happens. I'm not letting him do this, Mil. He's not thinking rationally, not with everything that's been happening lately. Right.' He stood up, reaching for a towel. 'We have to stop him doing something stupid, Mil. The embassy here has a diplomatic shuttle, hasn't it? How long will it take for it to be ready to take off?'