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A Home in Common	By : Michalyn Category: Gundam Wing/AC > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 2658 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing/AC, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
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I make no claim to any of the Gundam
Wing characters. This story is written for my, and hopefully others' enjoyment
and not for monetary profit.
A huge thanks to Diane for the beta.

A Home in Common

by Michalyn

Chapter Two of Five

Warnings: 13x5, 2+4

Rating: MA

Mr. Khushrenada took Wufei's hand in his firm grip. "A pleasure. Please
call me Treize."

"Well, Treize, thank you for your
help just now. I am not sure I could have handled it with such aplomb."
Treize's lips had curved into a contemplative smile and Wufei gave a short laugh,
acutely aware of the other man's presence. "In truth, I am not fooling
anyone; I was not handling the situation well at all." Wufei retreated
a little, putting some distance between them. "You seemed quite at home,
however. How old is your daughter?"

Treize's eyes softened. "Marie? As
you can tell, she is ten going on twenty-one."

Careful not to offend, Wufei made a noncommittal
sound. He was not sure how to respond to the observation, and despite Treize's
off-handed comment, he did not know whether this father would take kindly to
his agreeing that his daughter seemed precocious.

Treize must have seen his uncertainty,
for he winked. "It's all right. I know what a handful she can be. She is
her father's daughter, after all."

Wufei laughed with genuine pleasure before
he caught himself. He was becoming far too familiar with this man. Common sense
was enough to tell him that any attraction on his part could go nowhere. A weighted
silence settled between them and eager to break the tension, Wufei nodded towards
the fitting rooms. He was also loath to admit his own anxiety. The saleswoman
seemed competent enough, but Yi Jie was in a rather vulnerable emotional condition
today, and Wufei worried that she would suffer.

"When do you think they'll be out?"

"Oh, any time now I suppose."
Treize's eyes fell on him. "And your little one, how old is she?"

"Just nine." Wufei shook his
head. "Yi Jie's just nine. I can't believe we're ready for these..."
he flushed, "these items already."

"Unsettling isn't it?"

A band of heat settled beneath Wufei's
collar as he found himself fastened under Treize's warm gaze. He met it, swallowing
against a suddenly parched throat. Those eyes seemed to hold a certain ... quality
... that Wufei found impossible to credit. Was he mistaken? Could it be that
Treize...

"Ah, here they come."

Treize eased off the counter and whatever
spark Wufei thought he had seen in the other man's eyes, he was quickly dissuaded
of it as Treize moved forward to greet his daughter. Treize's expression could
not be anymore fatherly and Wufei ducked his head in chagrin. Even after
all his promises to not become entangled in the hope of any kind of romantic
relationship, he had blithely gone ahead and done precisely that. As Treize
bent to deposit an affectionate kiss on Marie's cheek, Wufei felt his face heat
up in embarrassment. He really was despicable.

"Baba."

"All set?" Wufei turned to Yi
Jie who gifted him with a brave smile. She nodded, holding her choices protectively
to her chest. On the other side of him, Marie was handing her own selections
to Treize for purchase. Seeing Yi Jie's renewed confidence, Wufei felt warmth
blossom in his chest. She had picked only two brassieres and he knelt now to
ruffle her hair. "Shall we pick a few more?" He inquired. "This
is your special day, after all."

She nodded again shyly, but this time
she approached the rack with no trepidation, quickly selecting her favorites
before moving with Wufei to the cash register. Wufei nodded to Treize who waited
while the cashier churned out his receipt.

"Well, thanks again."

"Ah, no need, no need, Mr. Chang.
We boys have to look out for each other, don't we?" He smiled.

"I suppose so," Wufei replied
a little breathlessly. "Still, if there's anything...." He trailed
off. And if there were anything? Wufei shook his head. What on earth had gotten
into him? He needed to pull himself together and stop foolishly contriving opportunities
to meet this man again.

"Oh I have no doubt we will run
into each other again." Signing the receipt, Treize tucked the copy the
cashier returned to him in his shopping bag. "Marie goes to Sunville Elementary."

"Ah."

Their town was not a bustling metropolis
by any stretch of the imagination. The other nearest elementary school was half
an hour away -- more, if one had to depend on the local bus. It was only natural
for Treize to assume that Yi Jie attended Sunville as well which, in point of
fact, she did. Thinking back now, Wufei thought Treize and Marie themselves
seemed a little familiar. They probably passed each other at the school on occasion,
but at the time, he had had no reason to take note of it. Wufei fished out his
wallet.

"We'll probably run into each other
again at Monday's PTA meeting. Perhaps then you'll allow me to treat you and
Marie to dinner to properly thank you for your kindness."

This time, Wufei's offer had nothing to
do with the butterflies fluttering in his stomach. He was genuinely grateful
that Yi Jie was happy and had emerged from her first brassiere shopping experience
unscathed. Attraction or no that alone deserved some expression of appreciation.

"I hope you don't mind me asking,
but, " Treize glanced at Wufei from beneath his lashes, "you're ...
you're not ... married are you, Mr. Chang?" he asked softly.

"No, not now." Wufei's lips
quirked. "Once, in another lifetime."

"I see." Treize ran a hand through
his hair. "Then who knows? Perhaps Marie and I will take you up
on that offer for dinner."

Wufei's eyes widened.

Treize inclined his head. "Until
next time, Mr. Chang."

"Sir," the cashier smiled brightly
at Wufei over the register, "can I help you?"

"Of ... of course." Wufei stumbled
towards the counter. "Yes.
Yes, we'd like to buy these."

o-o-o

Wufei cradled the small velvet case as
he mounted the stairs. He stopped at Yi Jie's door, knocking softly to be let
in.

"Yi Jie?"

"Yup."

Wufei heard the rustling of shopping bags
before his daughter admitted him and sure enough on entering he spotted the
bag with the department store logo scrunched beneath her pillow. No doubt she
had been reviewing her purchases. Wufei pretended not to notice as he sat beside
her on the bed.

"I have something for you."

"For me?" Yi Jie leaned eagerly
over Wufei to examine the small box. Her eyes widened. "Come on, Baba,
what's in there?"

That eagerness, more precious now that
Wufei was acutely aware of its transience, comforted him. Yi Jie had not lost
her childish enthusiasm yet. It reminded him that as rapid as change was, it
was not immediate. While it was foolish to hold on to the the past, there was
equally no need to thrust himself into a premature future. This moment, this
present with Yi Jie was all that mattered and what must be lived well.

A life extant--yes, Wufei nodded as he
opened the jewelry case, revealing the soft glow of jade, that was what he wanted.
Not mere instantaneousness, but a life lived in all its present fullness, even
as it maintained its continuity with the past. Wufei's world with Yi Jie was
changing, and it scared him, but he realized he had been so focused on what
he did not know that he had forgotten the things he did know. In one
sense, everything he knew needed to be rethought, yet there were also kernels
of constancy to this experience. He did not have to learn to be a father all
over again, but he did have to become more supple, more agile to meet
the challenges ahead. Even the oldest tree could send out new blossoms, Wufei
thought with a smile. Yi Jie was not the only one budding from within.

He transferred the jewelry case to his
daughter's waiting hands. "This was your mother's."

"Mom's?" Yi Jie fingered the
luminous beads with awe. She held the drop earrings with their silver filigree
up to the light.

"This set has been handed down from
mother to daughter for as long as her family remembers. She wanted you to have
it and I think you're old enough now."

"Oh, Baba," Yi Jie clung to
him sniffling. "It doesn't make a lot of sense, 'cause I don't even remember
her, but I miss Mom so much sometimes."

"I know how you feel," Wufei
murmured. "I miss your mother very much, as well." He stared off into
the distance. Just beyond Yi Jie's window, two sparrows were repairing their
nest. In its beak, one of the winged parents was brandishing a vibrant scrap
of cloth like a festival streamer. It hopped into the nest and the offspring
within, young and blind, stretched their necks out piteously. Wufei stroked
Yi Jie's hair.

"I am sorry," he broke off.
"I am sorry," Wufei repeated, because he did not know what else to
say.

"It's not your fault, Baba,"
Yi Jie's voice was muffled, "though I do miss her awfully." After
a moment she took a deep breath and said:

"Does this mean I can get my ears
pierced?"

Wufei drew back, startled. "What
inspired that?"

Yi Jie pointed to the wired earrings with
a shrug; her expression was conspiratorial. "How else can I wear them?"
I think it makes a lot of sense, and you just said I'm old enough to have them.
So...." she let Wufei come to his own conclusion.

Wufei frowned, "I am not sure about
this, Yi Jie. It is true that I want you to have the set, but that does not
necessarily mean I think it is appropriate for you to have your ears pierced
just yet."

"But you just said,"
she pressed.

"I will think about it," Wufei
was deliberately grave. "I do not see any harm in waiting a few years.
Perhaps when you are thirty-two." He hid his smile.

"Thirty-two!" Yi Jie's eyes
were as round as saucers. "No way! By then I'll be so old and wrinkly I
won't even need earrings anymore."

Wufei shook his head. "If that is
the case, then your poor father must be ancient."

"Okay, so maybe not old and wrinkly,
but that's still pretty old."

"Twenty-five, then."

Yi Jie huffed. "That's not much better!"

"Twenty?"

"Uh uh."

"Eighteen?"

"Baba!" Yi Jie's
voice thinned to a wail.

"All right." Wufei inclined
his head. "Can we promise to revist this when you're thirteen?"

"But that's..."

"That's my final offer." Wufei
said lightly, rising.

Yi Jie offered a few last grumbles before
subsiding. Wufei knew the argument was hardly decided, for she could be notoriously
persistent when she set her heart on something, but for now, at least, it was
settled.

"I'm going down to start dinner.
Do you want to help?"

Yi Jie nodded and slipped off the bed
to follow him. "Baba, thanks for taking me shopping today. I was really
scared at first but after a while I realized it wasn't so bad."

"Oh?" Wufei began unpacking
the ingredients from first the cupboard and then the refrigerator: cilantro
leaves, coconut milk, curry paste and jumbo shrimp. The day was not over yet,
and he had planned a special meal to celebrate this first milestone together.
Curry shrimp was Yi Jie's favorite. Wufei smiled as he handed her the tomatoes
to be washed.

"I am very happy," he murmured,
turning away to hide the stinging in his eyes, "very happy I could help."

o-o-o

"Finally, we don't think we need to remind you, parents, how important
it is to check your sons' and daughters' homework every night. Do not be fooled
by answers of "I don't have any". Here at Sunville, we pride ourselves
on the fact that though there may be no written assignments, there is *always*
work to do. Remember, homework is not only what the teacher assigns. There is
always review of the day's work, reading an educational novel, even...."
The principal droned on and Wufei shifted irritably in his seat. He checked
his watch again. How they managed to make these meetings more and more protracted
without saying anything new was beyond him.

After they were treated to a few more
cautionary tales spanning school lunches, inappropriate barrettes and a little
boy who had fractured his arm due to improper use of a basketball, the families
shuffled to meet individual teachers seated at designated points throughout
the auditorium. Each peered out from behind a desk, on which identifying placards
painstakingly written by the best penmanship student of the class in question
were taped. The midterm meeting was the only one staff insisted parents and
students attend together so that families could get firsthand accounts of their
children's progress. Wufei received the usual report of Yi Jie's politeness,
good grades and quick mind, blemished only (Mrs. Stone reported with a grimace)
by a tendency towards over-gregariousness.

Wufei thanked her as politely as he could,
made a vague promise to inspire in his daughter a greater sense of moderation
and herded Yi Jie over to the snack table.

"Here you go." Wufei poured
her a cup of Kool-Aid. He sighed, nibbling on one of the bland salmon sandwiches
provided as refreshment.

"Now that's a sigh weighted with
the troubles of the world."

"Mr. Khushrenada," Wufei turned.
He would have known that voice anywhere. Behind his palm, he surreptitiously
checked his teeth for stray sprigs of lettuce. "I trust you are well?"

Treize made a gallant gesture. "Did
I not say we would meet again?"

Wufei inclined his head, more calmly than
he felt. "Indeed you did."

Whatever awkwardness he and Treize might
be experiencing, between the previous week and this one, the girls had clearly
established a rapport. Marie gravitated to Yi Jie's side and the two immediately
became engaged in animated chatter. Though she and Marie were one year apart,
Yi Jie had qualified for advanced placement and it meant they now found themselves
in the same grade together. From what Wufei could gather, it seemed their classrooms
were only a few doors down from each other.

"I think I've had my fill of this."
Treize looked around the room. "What are your plans for the rest of the
evening?"

"Well," Wufei hesitated; feeling
reckless, he tumbled ahead. "I do owe you dinner."

Treize's eyes widened with pleasure. "And
a more timely offer I could not imagine, Mr. Chang." He glanced with disdain
at the snack table.

"Wufei," Wufei said automatically.
'Mr. Chang' conjured up images of his sixty year old father hobbling about the
living room, and he discovered he was feeling quite young, and quite daring
at the moment. Probably foolishly so, Wufei grimaced, ducking his head.

"Ah, then we would love to join you
and Yi Jie for dinner ... Wufei." Treize lingered over his name, ostensibly
testing the foreign syllables, but his name, broken over Treize's modulated
tones had an effect on Wufei akin to a caress. Warmth blossomed under his skin
and Wufei cursed himself roundly. He knew he was blushing, knew Treize could
see that he was blushing and the knowledge of both, caused him to flush even
deeper. Wufei cleared his throat.

"There is a nice place not far from
here. They have burgers and fries for the girls, as well as more adult fare,"
Wufei added wryly. "The owners are also good friends."

"Sounds like a plan. Could you wait
while I dash off to grab our coats? We can walk out together."

"Of course."

Treize's lips spread in a slow grin. "Then
I shall be back presently. I seemed to have developed a prodigious appetite."
Giving a short nod, he turned and disappeared into the crowd.

Wufei raised a hand to his forehead as
he followed Treize's exit.

Damn it--he was flustered again.

o-o-o

Despite its cheesy name, The Love Boat
was a well furnished establishment, expertly managed by Duo and Quatre. The
fare was excellent, the prices reasonable and with a scenic position overlooking
the bay, it was a favorite among couples and families alike. Wufei's friends
had settled for vintage, fifties-style decor, complete with leather booths,
old championship trophies and tasteful black and white photographs on the walls.
Rollicking tunes exploded from the jukebox in the corner and an elderly couple,
still sweethearts, took to the floor as Wufei and Treize entered.

Spotting them, a waitress began to approach,
but Quatre waved her away to welcome them instead.

"Wufei! What a nice surprise. Yi
Jie, my dear, how are you doing?" Quatre bent and caught Wufei's daughter
up in a hug. "My, how you've grown." His gaze slid over to Treize
and Marie. "Table for four?" He beamed at Wufei.

Wonderful. Wufei could just imagine the
conversation that would follow this. Trust Quatre to pick up on his flickering
interest. Duo would never have been so perceptive, and for that reason alone
Wufei had hoped the taller man would be the one to greet them. In any case,
the cat was now out of the bag. His friends were perpetually trying to thrust
him into the arms of love, and now Wufei feared he had given them months worth
of ammunition for their campaign. He suppressed a sigh. The gleam in Quatre's
eye did not bode well for him.

"Quatre, this is Treize Khushrenada
and his daughter Marie. Marie and Yi Jie are in the same grade. We just came
from the mid-semester meeting."

"Is that so?" Quatre's look
was sympathetic. "It's a pleasure to meet you Treize," he bowed, "and
you, Ms. Marie."

Quatre was always charming and his easy
manner coaxed an amiable grin from Treize and a fit of shy giggling from Marie.
"Will you follow me?" He gathered the menus under his arm, leading
them to an empty booth with a fabulous view of the water. It was easily the
best seat in the house -- and the most romantic. Wufei gulped his water, palms
sweating.

"All right, what will we have? An
evening like yours definitely calls for drinks on the house." Quatre looked
from Wufei to Treize. "Gentlemen?"

Wufei looked up. "Just a beer, thanks."

"Okay. And you, Mr. Khushrenada?"

"I'll have the same."

Quatre smiled at Yi Jie and Marie. "Ladies,
might I recommend our fruit smoothies? Today we have banana-berry, apricot-pineapple-strawberry
and our newest, pina colada."

After a great deal of conferring, Marie
settled for the apricot-pineapple, and Yi Jie, the pina colada. As Quatre promised
to return, they grinned, each agreeing to allow the other to sample her choice.
Wufei leaned forward, tracing the condensation on his glass.

"So Treize, do you work in this area?"

Yes and no," Treize splayed his hands
on the table and Wufei found himself checking for any sign of a ring. He was
even more annoyed to find himself relieved when he spotted none. "I run
a campaign consultation firm based out of the capitol, but the pace of life
suits me better here, so I do most of my work out of the local office."
Treize informed him. "Been in the business about ten years now, but within
the last two years I've begun slowly phasing myself out to spend more time with
Marie. I'm still needed, but most of the responsibilities now devolve upon the
new CEO and COO. It's a change," Treize smiled, "but definitely a
welcome one. I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth, so losing time with
Marie just to run behind another dollar did not seem right. It's made me re-evaluate
a lot of things but I've never regretted my decison. And, you?" The other
man queried, his eyes warm.

"Well," Wufei lowered his voice,
somewhat self-concious now that Treize had revealed his own much more illustrious
past, "I sell life insurance." He looked up almost defiantly.

"Is that so?" Treize cocked
his head, not mocking or disdainful as Wufei had expected. Instead, he asked
thoughtfully, "Do you enjoy it?"

Wufei made a face. "Perhaps some
do." He shrugged. "It's a necessary service however, and someone has
to provide it."

"Hmm, I see...." Treize twirled
his water, the ice clinking softly against the glass. He studied Wufei's features.
"And is that how you prefer things -- necessity over pleasure?"

Wufei started, unsure whether he should
be shocked or offended. He began to tell Treize exactly what he thought of his
highborn presumption (not everyone had the luxury of choosing their livelihoods),
but the waitress returned with the drinks and to take their orders. By the time
everyone was decided and the food settled before them, it hardly seemed appropriate
to pursue the line of thought. It remained with Wufei throughout the evening
though, and he brooded over the pasta he had ordered, his attention only half
on the pleasantries he exchanged with Treize.

It was well past Yi Jie's bed time when
they finally emerged from The Love Boat and Wufei's daughter stumbled
groggily along beside him.

"Thank you for joining us but I think
we should probably be returning." Turning to Treize, Wufei indicated Yi
Jie. "As you can see, it's way past our bedtime. Again, it was a lovely
evening." Wufei extended his palm.

Treize shook his hand and held onto it.
"It has been a pleasure, Wufei."

Wufei swallowed as Treize's fingers brushed
the inside of his wrist. "Likewise."

"About my earlier comment,"
Treize hesitated, "I was out of line. If I offended..."

"Oh no." Wufei forced a smile.
He fished about his pockets for his keys, glad of an excuse to escape the other
man's touch and his eyes. "None taken. We're all just a little bit tired.
Nothing a good night's sleep won't cure."

Treize seemed about to say something else
but he nodded. "Well ... well ... I will see you around then."

"Certainly."

Wufei took Yi Jie's hand and together
they headed towards the parking lot. He did not look back until they were many
miles from the restaurant, and when he did, only Yi Jie's peaceful, sleeping
face greeted him in the rear-view mirror, reminding him of the bond between
father and daughter and the proper, wholesome shape of a family -- even if that
father were a widower. Wufei sighed and Treize's image faded with it into the
night air. Their lives were worlds apart. Thank goodness he came to his senses
before he had done anything foolish.

Wufei checked the mirror one last time.
Stepping on the gas, he sped into the darkness, eager to return to the comfort,
the safe familiarity of home.
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A Home in Common