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A Matter of Good Sense	By : Michalyn Category: Gundam Wing/AC > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 4848 -:- 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
- 6
- 7
- 8
This story is dedicated to Lili for
her kindness and her wonderful support. Thanks so much, my dear!

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 and Anasazi for
the beta.

A Matter of Good Sense

by Michalyn

Chapter Six: Temptation

"Someone! Get a healer!" Trey
stumbled into the kitchen. Balancing Wufei in his arms he thanked whatever gods
were watching that he'd found it in time. More than once, he had lost his way
in the maze of hedges and was forced to double back -- every one of Wufei's
moans a grim reminder that each misstep came at a terrible cost. "Please,
I need a healer!"

"Master Wufei!" The stunned
cooks took one glance at his burden and the room erupted into motion. Metal
clanged, utensils clattered to the floor. All around there were cries of consternation
and a rush of bodies pressed forward crowding Trey. "Master Wufei!"

An elderly servant, Trey remembered from
the main hall, scurried to his side "My Lord Rossetti, what has happened?"

"I don't know. I found him--"
Wufei groaned and Trey lifted him higher in his arms, pressing him to his chest.
"Gods ... gods-- I don't know."

"It's all right milord, let me take
him. I--"

"No!" Trey cradled Wufei protectively.
Anyone who tried to take Wufei from him better prepare for violence. He would
not release him till he knew he was all right. Trey pushed through the crowd,
the agitated servants trailing behind him. "My room is closest. I will
take him there. You, get Prince Quatre!" The blond was no healer, but if
anyone knew what to do it would be him. The popof loomed in his vision and Trey
shook his head, dispelling it by force. Gods save him if this was linked to
something sinister, but he had to hold onto to hope. Wufei shivered in his arms,
his brow dotted with sweat and Trey fought the knot of panic rising in his throat.
For both their sakes.....

He mounted the steps two at a time, heedless
of the protests wafting behind him. His door was ajar and Trey wedged his shoulders
through it. Thank goodness he had thought to leave the lamps burning. Shifting
Wufei against his chest, he approached the bed, alarmed at Wufei's increasing
restlessness and the fever that refused to abate. A sheen of sweat covered his
limbs and the movement of his eyelids was erratic. Wufei was as if suspended
between consciousnesses -- neither asleep nor awake. Keen enough to respond
to pain yet so submerged in some strange limbo that he could not open his eyes
or speak.

What kind of illness was this -- and
what, by the gods could have caused it? Had he been injured? With the greatest
care, Trey patted Wufei's limbs, searching for the source of hurt, but other
than the darkening bruise on his cheek he could find nothing. The groans were
becoming more frequent and Wufei's head tossed so violently that Trey had to
tighten his grip. Where was Quatre, damn it? He peered at Wufei's parched lips.
There was a basin of clean water on the nearby stand and he thought to moisten
a rag to cool Wufei's flesh, but when he lowered Wufei's body to the bed he
moved as if in such pain, Trey had to take him in his arms again. Miraculously,
it seemed to help. Wufei was still burning up, but he settled in Trey's grasp,
his cries dwindling to a whimper.

"Shh ... shh ... hang in there, Love
... help is on the way." He pushed the matted hair out of Wufei's face,
hoping with every breath that he was right.

"In here, milords" Trey heard
footsteps and the maitre d 's voice clipped with worry, growing louder.

"Brother!" Quatre burst into
the room, rushing to Wufei's side. He fingered the bruise high on Wufei's cheekbone
and his eyes narrowed with suspicion at Trey. "What has happened! How was
he hurt?"

Trey gritted his teeth.What kind of man
did he take him for? As if he would ever...! "If I knew that, prince,
I would not have asked for your assistance."

"The two of you disappeared soon
after each other. Surely you know something...."

"I ... spoke ... with Wufei in the
library. He mentioned feeling a little light-headed but I didn't think much
of it. I should have paid more attention. After he left I lingered for a bit"
Trey's lips quirked. "Despite the toothsome hors d'oeuvres, I'm
sure you can appreciate I was not exactly eager to return to the party."
Quatre made an unintelligible sound and Trey sighed. "In any case I eventually
decided to head back. That was when I found Wufei ... sprawled on the garden
path. I... I came here as quickly as I could."

Quatre frowned. "But--"

"Let me see him." For the first
time, Trey noticed Trowa at the desk unpacking a number of small canisters from
a basket. As he uncapped one then another a servant entered with a jug of water,
set it at Trowa's side and then exited as quietly as he had come. Trowa sprinkled
the herbs into a mortar and started grinding. He went to the fireplace and set
some water to boil before returning to the mortar. He resumed his grinding and
the wintery pungence of peppermint was soon released under the exacting power
of his wrist.

Trey raised an eyebrow and Quatre answered
his unspoken question. "Trowa is a healer. It is him you should
have summoned."

"Oh."

Steam rose from the cauldron as Trowa
took it off the fire and came to Wufei's side. He touched his forehead. "This
fever...."

"What?"

"I'm not sure ... but if it is what
I fear I don't know if I can do anything for him." He indicated Trey's
arms, ignoring his look of confusion. "Give him to me."

Trey let go. Reminding himself that Trowa
was here to help, he eased Wufei upright so the healer could better manuever
him. A strangled cry tore from Wufei's throat. He heaved -- his body convulsing,
even as Trowa tried to accommodate him. Unprepared for such a battle, he staggered,
struggling to compensate for the frantic motions. Trowa's arms wobbled dangerously
and Trey surged forward, rescuing them both from disaster.

"Shh ... sweetheart, it's all right."
Trey settled on the bed rocking Wufei's small body against his. He murmured
something incoherent and Trey caressed his cheek quieting him. "Damn it!
What the hell did you do?" Trey glared at Trowa who was staring at his
hands as if he did not recognize them. He shook his head. "You're supposed
to be helping him -- not hurting him. What kind of gods-be-damned healer are
you?"

"I...."

"Trowa would never hurt Wufei. How
dare you make such accusations?" Quatre interrupted, fists clenched. "My
brother has been hurt and we only have your word as to what transpired. How
do we know he wasn't hurt by your hand?"

For Trey, already strained under the day's
emotional upheavals, it was too much. His temper rose to the fore. "Thank
you, Prince Quatre, for that glowing assessment of my character as your future
brother-in-law. Of course, you've done an excellent job seeing that Wufei is
safe and well adjusted. That is why he is so filled with self-loathing."

Quatre's eyes narrowed. "You forget
yourself, Rossetti."

"Do I? On the contrary, it appears
I am very well informed."

"What--"

"Quatre." Trowa rocked back
on his heels, his brow puckered in consideration. "Calm down -- focus.
I need your help in this. You try."

"I ... forgive me...." A sheepish
look crossed Quatre's features. He placed a palm on either side of Wufei's head
and closed his eyes as if listening to something deep inside Wufei. He was in
intense concentration and Trey watched the seer with growing apprehension. When
he tried to pry Wufei from Trey's arms, however, the reaction was even more
violent. Quatre stumbled away, gasping. He pressed a hand to his chest, his
breathing labored. "Some ... something is wrong."

"What is it?" Trey and Trowa
demanded in unison.

"There is ... he is repelling
me." Quatre gasped

"Then it is as I thought." Trowa
murmured.

Trey looked from one man to the other,
irritated. "Stop speaking in riddles. What is wrong with Wufei?"

"There is nothing anyone can do for
him--" Quatre said.

"What?" Trey demanded. "Are
you saying--"

Trowa stepped forward. "Except you."

Trey stilled. "Explain yourself."

"Wufei, is not ... ill. Not
in the tradtional sense...." Trowa raised a palm to silence him. I perceive
energies -- auras if you will. Not as Quatre does, but it is part of how I heal.
When someone is ill...," Trowa struggled to explain. "Their energies
become ... misaligned -- within the body. This is not the case here.
Quite the opposite in fact. Wufei's energies are most keenly aligned -- with
yours."

"What?" Trey raked through his
hair. "You make no sense."

Trowa rose. "Normally, I would agree
with you. However, such a situation is not unusual -- among the gifted."

"The gifted?" Trey's lips parted.
His gaze darted to Quatre, "but I thought...."

"There are many kinds of gifts.
Quatre's is one -- mine is another." Trowa looked up from emptying the
crushed herbs into a mug. He poured the boiling water over them. "I have
always found Wufei's energy pattern peculiar. He seemed to have no special
abilities and yet.... I could never quite place it." Trowa sighed. "
For reasons we do not have the time now to explain, when two gifted are truly
mated their kinahs align. It is a slow process -- and not an easy one. Both
experience ... symptoms ... depending on the nature of their gifts. In general
however, the symptoms are best compared to a magnification of the awakening
all gifted experience during the first flush of puberty. Wufei seems to be in
the beginning stages of that progression."

Trey was weak-kneed with relief. "But
you are familiar with this type of affliction, correct? That means Wufei
can be helped." He wouldn't pretend to understand the sorcery behind this,
but if what Trowa said was true, Wufei was not in any immediate danger. There
was hope.

"Yes ... and no." Trowa made
a weary gesture. "The difficulty is, I am not sure what his gift is."

"I ... I believe I know," Trey
stared as Quatre rose. "I have dreamed...."

*

"Quatre...."

"It is all right, husband. What
is a little sting when so much hangs in the balance?"

Though Trowa's jaw worked visibly, he
nodded. His hand lingered on Quatre's cheek before falling away. It was the
first time Trey had seen open affection between the two men and he found it
... disturbing. The sense of magic in the air was palpable, hinting at past
secrets and joy and sorrow fused together. If not for Wufei in his lap, he would
have turned away.

Quatre's lashes lowered, his body swaying.
"For some time now I've had the same vision. It began when you, Emperor
Rossetti requested my brother's hand." There was a slithering sound and
Trey started as the khymera on the blond's robes began to writhe and twist.
A shiver crawled through Trey's skin.

Magic.

"A dragon imprisoned in darkness,
and then a flame.... A passion unrivaled ... the rose and the sacred orchid
entwined, blooming together..... But there is something else...." Quatre
wrapped his arms around himself, clutching so tightly his knuckles stood out
in relief. "The threat of winter -- a cold wind blowing from the north
touching the petals with frost." He shivered, staring off into a world
Trey could never hope to reach. "But from there it is muddled." Quatre's
voice was harsh, compressed as if by the effort to subdue great pain. "The
deepest winter.... Two paths -- a choice to be made: fire or frost.... Then,
no more.... I cannot see... I do not know ... I can only hope."
He listed forward and Trowa steadied him.

"You little, idiot. You push yourself
to hard," Trowa chided, but his voice was gruff, his eyes soft over the
blond's features. Quatre tried to say something but unable to catch his breath,
he buried his face in Trowa's shirt instead. The robes were pressed between
their bodies and Trey watched, caught between awe and horror as the khymera
glowed, sinuously caressing Trowa's legs.

"What ... what is wrong with him?"

Trowa smoothed Quatre's hair. "All
gifts have their price. The visions are ... painful ... for Quatre. They drain
him, leaving him vulnerable afterwards. His gift is therefore his greatest strength
-- and his greatest weakness."

Trey swallowed. "And the dream ...
what does it mean?"

Quatre stirred. "By now you must
have guessed the truth. I convinced my father to accept your offer
-- because of the vision. You and Wufei are soulmates."

"Impossible," Trey scoffed.
"Wufei can hardly stand to be in the same room with me."

"No. The runes have confirmed it.
Wufei is the dragon and the orchid; you are the flame and the rose. There is
great passion between you that can bloom into something rarer: a love strong
enough to last beyond this lifetime -- but only if you choose it."

"And how do you expect us to achieve
this great love?" Passion was one thing, but could Wufei ever love
him? They were not even friends. Trey was afraid he had already caused too much
upheaval for it to ever be.

Quatre sighed. "Perhaps I'm a fool
... but I believe in that love. It is my only hope for Wufei's happiness."

"I can't see how--"

"Listen ... please."
Quatre made a chopping motion. "A threat is coming. It will be your greatest
test. When you stand at the crosscroads, remember you must make the choice
to love. Otherwise all will be lost."

Trey shook his head. How was he supposed
to defend them from an invisible enemy? It was like telling him to fight with
both hands tied behind his back. "The choice to love? But I don't--"

"It is possible. I
cannot show you the way, but I can help you understand what Wufei is."

"What he is?"

"Yes. Have you not noticed Wufei's
coloring?"

Trey nodded. How could he not? It was
part of what so enchanted him with the young prince. Still, he couldn't see
what Wufei's looks could possibly have to do with all of this -- and he said
so.

Trowa cast him a long-suffering look through
his bangs. "Eires' suns are cyclical and their position at birth determines
each child's gifts."

Of course. And that was supposed to tell
him what -- other than Eireans were masters of bedevilment? Trey ground his
teeth in exasperation. "Gentlemen, we obviously do not have much time here.
Can we dispense with the riddles and get to the damn point?"

Quatre frowned. "I am a child of
twilight, hence my sight and empathy. Wufei's appearance is a product of his
birth. We are called the kingdom of light, but that is not quite true. Eires'
suns are eclipsed once every hundred years. It is the only time we experience
true night and when the sacred midnight orchids bloom, heralding the descent
of Airiah, the goddess of rebirth, to renew the land. I have only seen the orchids
bloom once.... When Wufei was born...."

Trey became very still, almost afraid
to ask. "What then, is Wufei's ... gift?"

"Because they are born so rarely,
we know very little about the children of midnight...." Quatre bit his
lip. "After careful study of the ancient texts, however, and helped by
my own abilities, I believe the primary influence is of Airiah. She rules
over many spheres including wisdom and justice, but when she descends at midnight
it is as the goddess of rebirth and rejuvenation. During that time, the earthly
and the divine merge in what is known as nature's ecstasy and that is Wufei's
gift -- an affinity for all that is earthly and sensual...." Quatre blushed.
"Of all the cycles, only the children of midnight are made for pleasure."

Gods. Heat coiled in Trey's belly. "Are
you saying," he said slowly, "That Wufei is a sensualist?"

"That is one way of putting it. You
would be a fool to define him only as such, but ... yes. Like any other gift,
his must be cultivated, or else body and spirit languish." Quatre then
described his diffulties with his empathy and how he could only control his
gift after he embraced it. "Wufei's gift is very different from mine, though,"
he cautioned. "As Trowa pointed out, it is hard to know what kind of nurturing
it would need, partly because so little is known about Wufei's kind -- but also
because Wufei denies his gift. He has eliminated almost everything in
his life that could give him even a modicum of physical pleasure."

Trey stared at Wufei's heart-shaped mouth,
puckered in agitation."So ... he is completely unaware of his abilities?"

"How aware he is I don't know."
Quatre said. "Since all gifts become magnified during puberty I think he
must have some idea. It is a very difficult time. I remember my abilities fluctuated
wildly. I would go days without being affected, then I would touch a friend's
book and be overwhelmed by his feelings. Other times the visions seemed to be
triggered by nothing at all and I would be plagued in the middle of what I happened
to be doing at the moment. I have never known an exception to this and I cannot
see how Wufei could not have experienced something similiar. With his gift,
especially, one expects the symptoms to be particularly difficult."

"Yet he never said a word?"
Trey asked.

Quatre shook his head. "If Wufei
suffered at all, he kept it well hidden."

Wufei, Wufei, Wufei. Why did he
always have to be so stubborn? Trey could only imagine the tortures he must
have inflicted on himself to hide the changes his body was going through. He
frowned. "There is one thing I don't understand, though. If Wufei is a
child of midnight like you say, why is the dragon in your vision imprisioned
in darkness?"

"There are many kinds of darkness.
What is night? Is it in the sky out there -- or is it something within? Wufei's
darkness has many layers. He is in violent conflict with himself and a split
with one's nature is a dangerous thing -- especially for the gifted. He alone
can heal the divide, but as his mate you can help him. I have tried but ....,"
Quatre's eyes glistened. "If he continues this way I fear for his very
life."

"Come now, surely you exaggerate."

"No. A soul cannot continue divided.
Stifling his gift is as detrimental as if he were to cut away the heart in his
chest."

Trey tensed. Gift or no gift, he was in
for one hell of a battle. The thought of unlocking Wufei's passion, however,
sustained him. He would show him heat and he would show him tenderness.The gods
would decide if it was enough for love. " All right, then, I shall do my
best."

"Good." Trowa folded his arms.
"But that still does not solve our other problem. What kind of gifted are
you?"

"Me?" Trey was
incredulous.

"You must be," Trowa insisted,
"to be Wufei's mate."

Trey had dabbled with spells as a teenager,
but he was poor at them, and quickly grew frustrated. It wasn't long before
he turned to the much more tangible sword instead. Besides, there were no gifted
in Rossetti: men earned their skill -- through sweat and tears and blood. "My
only experience with the arts has been here, in Eires." Trey met Quatre's
gaze, challenging him. "The night you sent me that magicked fruit."

"I?" It was Quatre's
turn to be shocked. "You are mistaken."

"Don't tell me you don't know. Opiates
would have caused a lesser swoon. Gods, I can still taste it on my lips!"

Quatre laughed. "So that's
what happened. I felt something, but I wasn't sure. I also couldn't figure out
why my popof trees were suddenly heavy with fruit.... I know it's hard to believe
but I had no hand in it. That was all your doing. I sent you many fruits. You
simply picked the one that most embodied Wufei, to you." Quatre smiled
at Trey, not a little amused. "You are most astute, Emperor Rossetti. I
cannot think of a better comparison for my brother. Do know the popof is said
to spring from the tears of Airiah herself?"

That was impossible. Trey distinctly remembered
only one fruit on his plate that night. It was why it had caught his attention
at all. "Come now, Quatre. You don't really expect me to believe that,
do you?"

"You say you are not gifted, but
you accepted Wufei first." Quatre insisted. "Before tonight
-- before Wufei ever began responding to you, your kinah was responding to *his*
in peparation for the time when you would be joined. Though you may not have
known it, you had already recognized him as your soulmate. You have been reaching
out to him since your arrival in Eires and it finally triggered his reaction
tonight."

"Quatre, I'm afraid you are wrong."

"You desired only Wufei -- and therefore
could see only Wufei. That is why you chose the popof -- and what caused
your swoon." Quatre's smile was rueful. "And now, he has answered
your call."

"So you're saying I'm responsible
for this?" Trey demanded.

"It is not a matter of blame, but
of fate," Trowa said quietly. "Every land has its gifted, though they
might be called by something else. Sometimes they have no name at all ... but
they live nonetheless." His gaze pinned Trey in place. "Perhaps Wufei
is not the only one guilty of denying his gifts...."

Trey understood the insinuation but he
refused to believe it. He didn't know why Wufei was drawn to him, but he was
sure it had more to do with Wufei's gifts than any abilities of his. They accused
him of being delusional, but Trowa and Quatre had juggled with magic for so
long they were blind to anything else. "Look, I won't deny that something
special is at work here, but I'm no more gifted than Heero is."

Quatre, still trying to recover his strength,
was leaning against Trowa. At Trey's comment, he looked up with a smile. "As
you say, my lord."

Trey's eyes narrowed. What the devil did
he mean by that? He was about to question the blond further when Trowa interrupted.

"In any case, Wufei will not spare
us any more time. We must leave him to your care. Here, take this."

Trey took the jug, eyeing it with suspicion.
"What is this?"

Trowa's lips twitched. "It is only
tea: peppermint and eldeflower for the fever and yarrow to help him sleep. It
will cause him to perspire and lower his temperature. Be careful to keep him
hydrated and do not allow him to remain in wet things, else he will catch cold
before he wakes up and then we will certainly be in trouble." Trowa placed
a vial of lavender oil on the stand next to the bed. I want you to bathe him
with this as soon as the fever subsides and once again in the morning. Three
or four drops to the bathwater should be fine. The water should be warm and
even if he says otherwise, he will be weak and should stay well rested for the
next two days." Trowa peered at Trey, hands on his hips. "What I have
given you is no cure. They will only ease Wufei's discomfort, and at best allow
him to sleep. We must let him recover in his own time. Until then, it is contact
with you that is most important."

Trowa began gathering his ingredients
and Trey's stomach churned. What? That was it? What if something went wrong?
Not to mention the fact that Wufei would have his head when he found out he
had taken such intimate care of him. Besides ... Trey wasn't sure he could trust
himself to be so close to Wufei and remain noble....

"Trowa ...wait! I'm no healer. Shouldn't
you see to him?"

Trowa frowned, slinging his basket over
his arm. "You saw his reaction before. No one else can come near him."
He extended his other hand to Quatre. "Love?"

"But ...." Trey coughed. "I
... well ... that is ..... Won't the court object to us sharing a chamber so
soon?" If this wasn't so frightening Trey would have laughed. Only an hour
ago he was panting to get in Wufei's bed with no care for propriety. Now he
had Wufei and he was trying his damnedest to get away from him. Gods he'd be
glad to be back in Rossetti where things were logical and predictable.
None of this cursed magic to muck things up.

"In the eyes of the kingdom you are
now mated. No one will question Wufei's presence here." Trowa stood in
the doorway. "Summon me if you need anything."

"Perhaps I should--"

The slam of the door was like a crack
of thunder in the stillness. Trey brushed Wufei's hair away from his forehead
and Wufei moaned, pressing into his palm like a flower towards sunlight. He
swallowed, heart pounding as his hands moved to Wufei's shirt.

He just might not survive this night.

---------------------------------------------------

Wufei's lips parted beneath Trey's. Even
in his fever, they were soft ... pliable.... Trey leaned forward and let the
draught flow from his mouth to Wufei's, the taste of peppermint lingering on
his tongue. He watched Wufei, anxious that he wouldn't be able to swallow the
dose. But Wufei's throat worked, swallowing the tea with ease. Steam rose, hot
and fragrant from the pot on the nightstand and Trey contemplated it. How much
more would he need to give him? Surely not much....? Already his hands were
shaking. It was one thing thinking of Wufei as injured, but knowing now what
he did -- knowing that Wufei was safe.... It was impossible to ignore the warmth
of Wufei's body molded to his side and the way he clung to Trey's chest. He
was breathing easily, for once, his lips not pressed into a harsh line, but
parted in all their rosy fullness.

Just as they had been in the library.

Biting back a curse, Trey closed his eyes.
What the gods was Trowa thinking leaving him with this responsibility? He bent
again with the draught. After three mouthfuls Wufei was a warm, seeking presence
against him, following Trey's movements with slumberous instinct. At the fourth,
the very tip of his tongue wet Trey's lips as he pulled away. It was the briefest
of touches, no less instinctive than before, but the warm, intoxicating,
rasp was enough to shake his already crumbling control. He panted, every breath
infused with peppermint and the scent of Wufei's skin.... The cup rattled as
Trey set it aside. He could not continue.

His gaze fell on the tub near the foot
of the bed and immediately, he realized his mistake. In his lap, Wufei sighed
and snuggled closer. The bath.... Dear gods, the bath. Trey shuddered.
He tried to listen to the little voice reminding him that Wufei was asleep --
that he hated him -- that awake, he detested his touch.... But he was having
a hell of a time hearing it over the blood rushing in his ears. Trey swallowed.
He could do this ... he could do this.... He laughed, and it sounded
nervous even to his ears. "Get it together, Trey." he chided himself,
"It's not as if you've never undressed another man before."

Yes, -- that sadistic little voice was
quick to point out -- but other men weren't Wufei.

This time Trey did curse -- foully. There
had to be an easier way to do this. Lowering Wufei to the pillows, he rose and
went to his trunks. It didn't take him long to find what he was searching for:
a shirt and a large drying cloth. Wufei was moving fitfully against the pillows
when he returned to the bed and Trey feared the fever had taken a turn for the
worse. But as soon as he took him in his arms again, Wufei's brow became smooth;
he rested. The change was so instantaneous that it left Trey shaking. What if....?
He didn't want to think ... didn't want to hope that Wufei could one day freely
respond to him in the same way.

"Ah, Kala, even like this, you prove
your mastery over me. You must be laughing at me somewhere in there, eh? 'That
bastard finally got what he deserved,' you'd say, and indeed I have...."
Trey laughed softly. He caressed Wufei's cheek and the flesh was hot against
his palm. "No, no ... that's not right, either." Trey remembered the
fear he had put in Wufei's eyes. For the first time, he saw his behavior in
all its selfishness and he was ashamed.

"No," Trey shook his head. "You
would never want this. Your brother claims I am to blame and I see that he was
right. I pushed you too far ... so you escaped in the only way you knew how."

"In the morning you will hate me,
and once again I will see the fear in your eyes. Quatre says you crave my touch.
Your body says it." Trey stared at his hands. "So tell me, Kala: What
the devil am I supposed to do now?"

Trey's fingers hesitated at Wufei's laces, then with determination, he began
drawing them one by one, from their loops. Wufei's skin -- honeyed and smooth
-- gaped between the folds and Trey did his damnedest to ignore it -- and was
quite proud when he succeded in manuevering Wufei's shirt over his head, without
incident. Trey tossed the shirt aside.

He stared at Wufei's torso.

Did he say succeeded?

Trey groaned, devouring the sensuous expanse
of Wufei's chest and flat belly. He was beautiful ... so beautiful.... Gods,
he ached to touch him! Trey clenched his fingers into his palm. Breath
shuddered from his lungs. No, he would not give Wufei another
reason to hate him. He would care for him as Trowa had asked -- and he would
do so honorably. Perhaps he could not erase his mistakes, but he could try to
forge a better future. Wufei would never know of it -- after tonight, he would
probably despise him even more for having held him when he was at his most vulnerable.
But, Trey thought, he would know and that was what was important. Hadn't
Quatre said love was theirs if they took it? Well, he would take it. Here, tonight,
by caring for Wufei, protecting him ... respecting him. Gods, even if it killed
him!

Draping the cloth over Wufei's hips, he
removed Wufei's trousers and short stockings, then slipped an arm under his
knees and carried him to the tub. He then added the lavender oil as Trowa had
instructed. The water was warm and when Trey lowered Wufei into its depths his
skin gleamed in the firelight.

He cupped the back of Wufei's head and
dipped his hair into the water so he could wash it. The soap was a concoction
of vanilla and honeysuckle and its buttery-warm fragrance rose from Wufei's
hair like a dream. Keeping his motions as brisk and impersonal as he could manage,
Trey worked up a generous lather. The dark strands, however, seemed to have
a mind of their own. They slipped and slid, by turns falling from his fingers
and ensnaring his wrist. He bent to reclaim a rebellious handful and a silky
tendril slithered from his grasp and curled about Wufei's left nipple. Trey
swore. He tried to grasp the errant tendril but it held fast. Instead he grazed
Wufei's nipple and it puckered immediately beneath his fingertips. Wufei gave
a sleepy half-gasp, half-sigh and arched into his touch.

Fuck.

Water sloshed over Trey's forearms, he
was trembling so badly. By the time he succeeded in smoothing Wufei's hair away,
both nubbins were taut and proud, Wufei was flushed and Trey was close to tears.
Lathering a rag, Trey moved in quick circles over Wufei's back and arms and
chest, desperate not to linger over any one part. But Wufei moved as if in a
dream, following Trey's movement's with an accuracy that made his balls ache.
Wufei's hair clung to his cheeks and his breath came slow and soft. He was utterly
relaxed, in a luxurious slumber insensible to everything except Trey's touch.
And for Trey, it was like being burned alive. His shy prince had disappeared
and in his place was this wanton creature determined to take his pleasure in
every touch.

When Trey reached Wufei's navel, he had
to lean on the basin for support. A sheen of sweat had broken over his body
and he could hear his own panting breaths in the stillness. Trey's hands dipped
below Wufei's waist and a broken sound somewhere between murmur and a moan bubbled
from Wufei's lips. His thighs fell open as the rag moved over him and his hips
moved languidly in the water. Unable to stop himself, Trey returned, moving
rough cloth over sensitive flesh -- and received the same, voluptuous response.

Trey clutched the edge of the tub and
the rag dropped nerveless from his fingers. Was this the real Wufei?
Passionate, eager -- all inhibitions stripped away to reveal a sensuality as
natural as the orchid unfurling in the darkness? Trey shivered. If it were ...
if it were.... What would it be like when they finally made love? They would
burn-- no blaze together. If this was what Wufei was like with only the
water caressing him, what would he be like if he allowed Trey to caress him
in the ways he truly desired? What would he be like if he surrendered to his
passion? What would it take to awaken that passion? Trey studied the thick fringe
of Wufei's lashes lying against his cheeks.

Most importantly, what would it take for
Wufei to trust him enough to show him?

--------------------------------------------------------

The sun was already warm on Wufei's face when he opened his eyes. He blinked.
He had overslept? Wufei frowned. He never overslept. It was one of the
vices he had firmly weaned himself out of. One should be up and about and ready
to face the day with a productive spirit. Nothing, he reminded himself, could
be earned through sloth and malingering. So why, by Airiah, did he feel so wooly-headed?
Wufei sat up, groaning at the throbbing in his temples. What had he done? Could
he have allowed himself to get drunk? Wufei flattened his lips. Shameful. But
what could have caused him to fail himself in that way? He tried to remember
the night before and only came up with a jumble of events: the dinner ... the
announcement ... the library....

And after that nothing.

Why couldn't he remember?

Alarmed, Wufei turned aside the covers
and began searching for his glasses. It was then that he noticed he was not
his room at all, but in one of the guest rooms. More shocking, these were not
his nightclothes. Wufei scooted to the edge of the bed and was horrified at
the sight of his naked legs dangling from beneath a man's large shirt. And beneath
that-- Heat rushed to Wufei's face. He clutched the shirt about him, hauling
the neckline up from his shoulders. He didn't have to reach behind to know his
hair was damp and plaited by unfamiliar fingers. Even for bed, it was too soft
... too loose to have been his handiwork. And why was it wet? Jerking to his
feet Wufei wobbled on the short step next to the bed. On the other side of the
mattress the sheets were tangled and there was an indent where another body
had clearly lain. A big body, by the looks of it.

A man's body.

Trey's handsome face danced before him
and Wufei wrung his braid with desperate fingers. Could he have...? Did they...?
Gods, gods, gods what had he done? He looked beyond the bed and discovered his
clothes slung over a nearby chair. His underwear, as if mocking him, was at
the very top of the pile.

A wave of self-disgust so unremitting
surged through Wufei that his chest ached. He covered his crumbling face in
his hands. No matter what he did ... no matter how hard he tried....

Why was he always so weak?

The door opened and Trey stepped in from
the hall. He was carrying a small bowl of tangerines, which he brought with
him toward the bed. "Ah, you're awake."

"Stay away from me! You ... you...."
Wufei's throat worked soundlessly, voice knotted around the pain in his chest.

"Kala, it's not what you think. If
you would allow me to explain--"

"No," Wufei trembled. The pounding
in his head had intensified but he ignored it. "I don't want any of your
lies. Tell me what happened last night."

"I will," Trey promised, setting
the bowl down. "After you eat. You should not be out of bed yet, and I'm
afraid you will only make yourself unwell if you continue like this. Nothing
here is as you think. I have brought some fruit and the maid will be up shortly
with porridge. We can discuss everything while you eat. Now please be reasonable
and get back under the covers."

"No. I don't want anything from
you. I just ... I just need to know." Wufei clenched his fists. "Please!"

Trey flinched, but he nodded, "All
right."

He began to speak. From the library to
Quatre's revelations he related all that he had learned of burning and darkness
and a bond between them stronger than any sword could divide. And the more Wufei
heard, the more the disgust -- the shame of his own repulsiveness -- threatened
to stifle him. To be mastered by his body ... to surrender himself to the care
of his enemy.... Gods, where was his strength? It was no wonder his father wanted
to be rid of him. Surely a man who could not rule his own base instincts was
not fit to represent the kingdom?

"--protested but it had to be done.
So I gave you the draught and bathed you and finally you slept. However, Trowa
recommended that you stay abed until--"

Wufei froze. "You bathed me?"
he whispered. "But you said Trowa--" Wufei closed his eyes. "It
wasn't Trowa?"

"Ah ... well ... yes. It was the
only way....." Trey's look was sympathetic. "Forgive me, Kala. I know
it was not what you would have wished."

Wufei didn't hear him. To literally be
exposed in all his inadequacy.... Wufei bowed his head. He tried to push past
Trey. "Thank you for your assistance, but if you'll excuse me, I believe
I will return to my rooms, now."

"Wufei...." Trey did not budge.

"Please remove yourself." Wufei
said dully. The pain in his head had expanded, but it only seemed to echo the
deeper ache within him that he could not name. In the end, he wondered what
the difference was. What was one more failure added to the rest?

Trey touched his shoulder. "You'
ve nothing to be ashamed of. What happened last night was beyond anyone's control."

If the effort were not so painful, Wufei
would have laughed. "Of course, now if you please...."

"Please, Kala, don't run away from
me. I know we started off badly, but I would like to remedy that." Trey
opened his arms. "Let me show you that I can be gentle. Let me hold you,
take care of you. I'm not talking about sex -- just simple, human contact. I
won't pretend I don't desire you. I do, but I won't make the same mistake again.
I won't make love to you unless you ask me to. I don't know anything about visions
or magic, but I'm a man and my senses can't be wrong. There is something between
us. Am I the only one who feels it?"

"Let me hold you, Kala. I won't let
you fall."

Trey was standing so close Wufei could
see the tiny striations in his irises. He reached out tilting Wufei's chin upward,
but Wufei looked away, unable to catch his breath. Something in him yearned
for the comfort Rossetti offered and it frightened him. Wufei shook his head,
desperate to escape Trey's words, his scent ... the vital heat of him that made
him feel like a stranger in his own skin. "No. I can't...."
He cringed. "I...."

"Please my lord! I was given specific
instructions--" Wufei was rescued by a sudden and great commotion in the
hall. There was the sound of scuffling feet and voices arguing and then Trey's
man, Heero, barged into the room.

"My lords, I'm so sorry. I tried
to tell the gentleman--" the servant behind Heero babbled, while Wufei
twisted about, searching for something to cover his undress. Trey stepped forward
shielding him with his body. "God damn it, Heero what is the meaning of
this!"

"My lord," Heero's face was
grim as he touched his sword. "Rossetti has been attacked."
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A Matter of Good Sense