Angel's Kiss

By DragonMage

Treize tossed and turned feeling very hot and uncomfortable tangled in his blankets. He sighed and began to shove them off but was quickly hit with a burst of cold air. He shivered almost violently and pressed his hand to his burning forehead. He stumbled out of bed and made his way to the adjoining bathroom and turned on the lights.

As he leaned on the cool sink, he knew he was sick. He had been careless and had went out at night again without a jacket, thus leading to his current predicament. He should have worn a jacket now that the winter was beginning to set in but he had been so distracted by his thoughts of Angel and everything that came along with the thought of his Angel. The leaves were changing colors and the air was getting colder and colder each night. He had to use the heater now to make sure the house was nice and warm, of course he also kept the fire in his room burning not just because it added heat, but for the look of it.

He turned on the faucet and quickly splashed his face before rubbing away at the cool water with a soft washcloth. He looked at himself in the mirror and sighed heavily before walking out of the bathroom. He turned off the lights and made his way towards the bed again. His legs nearly gave on him while trying to get there but he caught his balance and tumbled into bed, back into the cold, sweat damp blankets and sheets.

<I should get a doctor,> he realized. He had never been good at dealing with sickness since, well, he never got sick very often. He struggled to sit up in bed and grabbed the phone off the side of his bed. Then he pressed 44 and asked one of the servants who were awake to go and get him some medicine and warm milk.

While he waited for the servant, he tried to get comfortable. He punched his pillows and aired his blanket before settling back down against the now fluffed up pillows and sighed. His lamp was on low and he could see the shadows thrown around the room, giving it all an eerie look. The fire had long ago died out so there was a scant coolness in the room.

A knock on the door brought him out of his half-consciousness.

"Come in," he called out.

The door opened and the servant appeared with the requested medicine. She walked over to the bed and handed them to Treize.

"Sir, will you need anything else? A doctor?" the servant asked nervously as she stared at her employer in the dimness of the room.

"I'm fine, Jessie. You don't have to worry about me. Just go back to sleep," Treize answered as he swallowed the last of the milk and handed the glass back. "Thank you very much. I'll be fine in the morning." Then he lay down and tried to go back to sleep.

He wasn't fine in the morning. Unfortunately, the cold had gotten worse and he felt horrible. He just lay in bed, hot and cold at the same time while trying to breathe as coughs tore through his chest and throat.

<I've never been this sick before. Why now?> Treize thought tiredly as he swallowed some more medicine and lay back down.

"You really need to see a doctor, sir," Jessie urged as she took the glass back and fiddled with it. "You're not well at all. In fact, you've gotten worse."

"I'll be fine," was all Treize murmured before he fell back to a restless sleep.

Jessie stood there for a moment before turning and leaving the room. She wouldn't be able to talk any sense into Mr. Khushrenada. She had to call Mr. Merquise and see if the handsome young man could talk some sense into his friend.

~*~

"I can't believe you didn't call me earlier!" Zechs Merquise fumed as he stared at his sick and bedridden friend. "How could you?"

"I didn't want to worry you," Treize said tiredly.

"You're sick. Too sick. I'm calling the doctor." Zechs grabbed the phone off the night stand and began to punch in a number.

"No, Zechs, don't," Treize protested. "I'll be fine. I always am fine."

"Treize, shut up and lay back down. You're in no condition to say anything like that. You're sick, Treize and I don't like it. It's never been this bad." Zechs paused as the phone rang a few times before being picked up. He quickly informed the nurse of the situation and was glad to hear that the doctor would be down as quickly as possible. He hung up the phone and looked at Treize who was drifting in and out of sleep. "You're coming down pretty serious. Get some rest, Treize."

Treize was already asleep.

Zechs sighed and kissed his friend gently on his hot forehead before turning and leaving the room. He went downstairs to wait for the doctor.

As he waited, Zechs wondered how Treize could have gotten sick. His friend was always so careful not to disturb or upset his health before. In fact, this was probably the first time he had ever seen his friend look so bad. He just hoped it wasn't as bad as it seemed.

The doorbell rang a while later and Zechs stood up to answer it before the servant could get to it.

"Dr. Hunter, I'm glad you could get here," Zechs said, nodding.

"Hello, Mr. Merquise. Where is Mr. Khushrenada?" Dr. Hunter asked in a professional tone as he clutched his black medicine bag close.

"Right upstairs, sir," Zechs said, turning to lead the way. They walked up the stairs and Zechs pushed open the door to Treize's room. His friend was deep asleep and there was a hint of sickness lingering in the air. He didn't like it and hoped it would go away soon. He hated it when Treize was in some sort of trouble, even when it was something seemingly small like a cold.

Dr. Hunter walked over to Treize and sat down beside the slumbering man. He picked up his wrist and checked his pulse before checking the rest of his vital signs. After a few minutes, he stopped and stood up.

"I believe he's got a very high fever," the doctor announced. "It seems your friend hasn't been taking care of himself."

"A high fever? Is it...is it very bad?" Zechs asked worriedly. "And how do you think he got it?"

"Probably from staying out too late in the cold. You do know the winter up here is very bad. He should have worn a jacket when he went out and he obviously hasn't been taking care of himself," Dr. Hunter said severely. "I can give him something to help so don't you worry..." The doctor's voice trailed off as he muttered to himself. After a moment, his voice picked up again. "I'll come in tomorrow to check on him again. For now, I've got the medicine needed to help him fight the fever. Can I trust you to make sure he gets his medicine?"

"Of course," Zechs said, nodding sharply.

"Wonderful. All right, here's how I want you to give the medicine..."

~*~

The boy wrapped his arms around himself as he looked up at the dark sky before glancing back at the dark window where Treize slept. He had been up in Heaven, worrying about the man whom he had come to care for, when he learned that he was sick. Right away he had came down to check on him only to find that a friend of his was there taking care of him. He couldn't very well reveal himself so he had gone back up and only came back down a few minutes ago. He had been waiting for the man to go away.

When the last of the shadows disappeared from the dark room, the boy walked a few steps before disappearing in a glimmer of white and reappearing in Treize's room. He held up his hand and a glow lit up, filling the room with its warm light. He lifted it high over Treize's body and he gasped sharply.

The man's face was terribly pale, a clear sign of sickness the boy had seen in the past, and he was sweating so badly. Why did they cover him up so much? He was hot! But the boy didn't dare do anything. Maybe he would do something wrong and then where would Treize be? The only thing he could do was sit by him and urge him to fight the sickness. And maybe, if he could sneak it by God, help Treize along.

Sitting down on the bed, the boy closed his hand and the light disappeared. Luckily, there was some natural light from the moon so he had no trouble focusing on Treize's face. He reached out tentatively and brushed his hand across Treize's damp bangs. His hand came away wet but he didn't care as he looked around the dark room for something...His eyes spotted a door slightly ajar. He stood up and walked over there, nudging the door open and stepping inside. He held up his hand again and lit up the room. He found it was a bathroom. A small room human used to clean up. He found a soft towel and filled it with water, squeezing just a bit out so it wasn't too wet. He walked back into the room and sat down on the bed again. Slowly, he began to wipe away at Treize's face.

Treize woke up sometime during the boy's careful wiping. His eyes opened and the boy looked down into dark sapphire eyes. They weren't the same as the cornflower blue the boy was used to. Treize was sick and tired, it was clear in his glazed, foggy expression of confusion.

"Angel...?"

"Ssh, you're sick. You haven't been taking care of yourself," the boy chided softly as he wiped at Treize's brow. "Why did you let yourself get sick?"

"I guess...I lost track of time and weather," Treize whispered hoarsely. His throat really hurt and it felt like sandpaper.

"Shush. No more talking," the boy murmured. He pulled the cloth away and stared at Treize. "Go back to sleep, Treize. I'll be here all night; don't worry."

Treize nodded his mind at peace, as he knew that his angel wasn't going to leave him. Then he closed his eyes and quickly fell back to sleep.

Then the boy resumed his wiping, because, well, it was the only thing he could think of doing at the moment. Later, if Treize got worse, he'd give his powers a try.

~*~

The next morning, Zechs found his friend sleeping peacefully. He almost sighed in relief see that Treize was at least comfortable. But he was still sick and he hadn't had his medicine yet.

When Zechs finished giving Treize the medicine, he watched his friend for a moment before leaving the room and going downstairs to eat breakfast. He didn't know how long he was going to stay in Treize's home to help his friend heal, but he would stay as long as it took. He wasn't going to leave Treize like this to servants. He didn't trust them to do it right. Besides, he loved Treize far too much to just abandon him like this.

Once Zechs was gone, the boy stepped out of the bathroom and walked silently back over to Treize. Like he had promised, he stayed all night, holding Treize's hand and wiping his face in slow, caressing wipes. He wanted Treize to feel at ease in anyway possible, if his presence was enough then he'd stay until God himself had to come down to take him back to Heaven. Like Zechs, he wasn't going to leave Treize.

"Mmm...Angel?"

"Treize? Awake already? I thought you were asleep," the boy said quietly as he sat down the bed and entwined his fingers with Treize's. "How do you feel? Zechs just gave you some medicine."

"I know. I feel...not so good. But I'll get better. Did you stay here all night?" Treize asked softly, never opening his eyes. He was too tired.

"Of course. I promised, didn't I?" The angel said softly. "Get better soon, Treize. I hate seeing you so sick."

"I'm sorry, Angel," Treize whispered.

"Don't be. Just get well soon, Treize," the boy whispered as he laid his head on Treize's hand and closed his eyes. "Get well for me if not for yourself. You mean too much to me."

As Treize heard those words, he felt his heart fill with a warm light that made him almost giddy through his haze of sickness. He smiled faintly and fell back asleep, his heart light and full of happiness. He meant something to his angel, to the ethereal creature he claimed as his own. That was all that mattered at the moment. He was going to try and get better, for his Angel.

~*~

Over the next few days, Zechs remained in the house and took care of Treize, always making sure his friend ate and took his medicine before leaving the house for the morning and afternoon to get his training down at the academy. They had allowed him to leave the campus because Treize was his friend but he still needed to continue his studies if he wanted to get somewhere in life.

It was during these times when Zechs was no longer present in the house did the angel step out of his hiding place to sit beside Treize and coax the man to heal faster. He knew that Zechs loved Treize and it made his heart ache even though at the same time he felt a deep happiness that Treize wasn't alone like he had thought. No, his dear human had a friend who had stayed with him during all this time. The boy had feared that Treize would be alone and that would have made his heart hurt even more for the human he had taken to.

Entwining his hand with Treize, the boy learned of affection and touching other people. He never remembered once touching another angel. They were always so above themselves that affection was a distant idea. They only time he had ever came across affection was when God took him into His arms to explain things that confused him during his study of human beings. But of course He could never convince him that humans were only animals with souls. They were something so much more and he knew this even more now than ever.

As he stared at the face of his human, the angel smiled faintly. He did care for this human, a lot actually. Maybe too much. He had thought of leaving a few times because, well, he couldn't allow this to happen. He couldn't let himself get too close. It was against the rules. It was one thing to be grateful to someone for taking care of them, it was another when you come to love them. And it was coming very close. Treize was such a wonderful person, he couldn't help but love the man for being so great. But he knew that this love inside of him was forbidden and he should forget it. In fact, he should have left days ago to avoid it. But he couldn't. He loved Treize far too much to leave him, even if Zechs was there to take care of him.

The angel's heart suddenly swelled and ached. <I do love him so much, but I can't be with him.> Warm tears pricked his eyes and he hurriedly wiped them away. It wasn't wise to cry like this. After Treize got better he knew--oh, he *knew*--he had to get away. If he didn't, he would be lost forever, damned to love a human he could never have. If he left when Treize got better, maybe, just maybe he wouldn't be caught and everything would be okay.

But, deep down inside, the boy knew this was impossible. He was lost already, and funny he had no regrets whatsoever except he wouldn't be able to tell Treize just how much he loved him.

~*~

The next day, Treize woke up and stayed up. He lay there, staring up at the ceiling, thinking about his angel and wondering where he was. Zechs had just came to feed him, give him his medicine and scold him before kissing him on the forehead and leaving for the academy. He knew that Zechs had been taking care of him all this time, but so had his angel. Where was he?

When the front door slam shut, the bathroom door suddenly opened and his angel appeared. He looked so beautiful, his white clothing accenting his golden skin and bringing out his dark eyes. They stood out against the brightness of his clothing, and his silky hair was down and framing his face with such delicate perfection. His angel was beautiful beyond words and it made Treize's heart swell and almost cry at the wonderful etherealness before him. It just made him more aware of the fact that he couldn't have this angel in his arms when he slept or when he woke up. His angel was untouchable, just like God. He was above everything and it made Treize sad to know this and still keep wanting, wishing and hoping.

"Treize, I'm glad to see you're awake. How do you feel?" his angel asked softly as he walked silently across the thick carpet on his barefoot. He kneeled down beside the bed and smiled sweetly at Treize, his silky pink lips so innocent that Treize feared breaking control and taking those lips for his own.

"I feel much better. It seems the last is over and the doctor is going to come in tomorrow," Treize murmured.

"Yes, I heard," the boy said, nodding. "I'm glad to see that you're okay. I didn't like it while you were sick."

"Me neither. It feels horrible," Treize said, shaking his head ever so slightly. His head was still delicate.

The boy reached up and brushed away a stray lock of ginger-gold. "You'll feel better. Humans always seem to recover from sickness. Or at least the stronger ones. I've seen the weaker ones die before and it hurts to see their life's glow leave the body."

"Where do they go, Angel?" Treize asked softly.

"To Heaven where they can rest until it is time for them to come back down again," the boy told him. "You have heard of reincarnation?"

"Yes, I have," Treize said, nodding slightly.

"Well, it's true. Souls were made a very, very long time ago and some of those souls reborn when they want to. It's all choice, really."

"But you can't remember your last life, can you?"

The boy shook his head. "No. God believes that it's better to start life all over when you don't remember your last life. It keeps the burden of truth and awareness from hurting humans. Think about it. Imagine knowing who you were in the last life. You'd be so obsessed with that idea that you'd ruin this life. And besides, humans aren't really capable of handling such a concept on their own."

"Oh, come on. We're not that bad," Treize teased lightly.

The boy smiled softly, a sweet sight that made Treize's breath catch.

"No. But sometimes humans don't understand things and it's better if they never know. They say ignorance is bliss and that is true in some cases," the boy said wisely. He placed his hand on top of Treize's and Treize could feel the softness of the boy's skin against his own. It caused his heart to race just a little faster. He knew he had held hands with the boy during his sickness but he had never been consciousness enough to enjoy it. Now he was more awake and could indulge himself at the touch of his angel's skin warm against his own.

"Will you tell me other secrets from Heaven while you stay here?" Treize wondered.

The boy suddenly bit his lower lip. "You are better, aren't you?"

Treize stared at the boy for a moment. "It depends. If I tell you I'm okay, will you leave? Or stay?"

"Treize..."

"I'm feeling better. But..." Treize twisted his hand around and caught the angel's small hand in his own. "I want you to stay."

The boy stared at their hands, held together so tightly, so warmly. He looked up at Treize with dark, velvet eyes that spoke volumes yet was so silent at the same time. It was a sea of emotions Treize was more than happy to drown himself in.

"I...You're feeling better. There is no need for me to remain." But his angel didn't move from his spot near the bed. "...You want me to stay?"

"More than anything in the world," Treize whispered truthfully, putting almost all his heart and love behind those words. He wanted to make his angel stay and if that meant telling him everything he would do it.

"I...I can't, Treize." The angel stood up abruptly and pulled his hand away, relieved to find Treize didn't hold on to him. He stared down at the human who held his heart. "You..." Suddenly the boy bent down and pressed a soft, light kiss to Treize's lips. He breathed deeply, his eyes slipping close as he felt Treize respond to the kiss. After a moment of the brief kiss, the boy pulled away and looked down at Treize in wonder, his lips parted and his eyes soft and vulnerable. Then he turned and disappeared.

...And Treize was left in a confusion of emotions. His angel had kissed him and then left just as quick. He wasn't sure if he was supposed to be sad or exuberant.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And that's the end of this part...*grin* So, how's everyone liking my Angel's series?

Finished: April 3, 2001