Inconvenience
~ A Valentine's Day special fic ~
By: kc-chan

He scanned the field for any signs of the demi-familiar face of his former enemy and in a way, ally. Sun shone through the soft veil of the morning, glistening in his bike a little ways off. Along side it was Maxwell, leafing through a magazine, casually resting. He didn't like it that his friends didn't trust him *not* to go through with this. . . He wasn't some child. A slight frown touched his lips briefly. Black eyes narrowed slightly, he still didn't see the point of being here. It wasn't *his* idea to come. . . completely his idea. But it was his fault for ever mentioning the idea. "Never should have opened your stupid mouth, Chang. . ." he muttered grimly to himself. Somehow, inevitably everything could be faulted upon himself. He had awaken in a bad mood, not that he ever woke up in a good mood, but he didn't want to be here. . . He didn't even get the convenience of choosing where he was going to meet! Not that this was bad. . . But he had that gut feeling, today was going to suck. Royally.

Birds chirped, circling for bits of food. Gentle breeze tickling the tall grasses, the scent of wildflowers filling the air with the scent of Spring. . . Fingers moved without thought and pulled at his hair tie. It seemed a very intentional; motion to any normal person, but as he turned the black tie about his fingers it was a realization of being rather a *un* intentional motion. He blinked and thought about it. A random thing that he hadn't thought through first. And he repressed a sigh. It seemed so mundane, when to him it was an indication of anything but. "Too many of those lately. . ." he silently bemoaned.

At first he had hoped it was the other's influence reflecting on him. That he wasn't slowly losing his distance and constant control over his emotions. That he was merely getting use to them. . . But rapidly the realization dawned on him that, indeed, he was changing. Lazy memories skipped to him. Playing with his mind in the early morning, in this field, while he waited. The burning memories the field brought back and then to memories of Trieze's death. But the field only circled him down to a similar pair of black eyes, so full of mirth and fire. A charred body in his arms. . . Dying in his place. . . Meiren. . . That was the pivotal moment. It slapped him in the face and shook his foundations. His betrayal. . . Perhaps it was because they accepted him after *that*. . . After all he had done. . . They would reach out to him. . . And now they wouldn't let go. Which pulled the beginnings of a smile onto his lips even when he didn't call it there.

The faint sound of engines withdrew him from personal reflections. The glare from the car blinded him for a moment before the red hood came into his light-speckled vision.

His stomach dropped, his brain flew random and uncontrolled thoughts into his mind as the car's door opened. Suddenly, this didn't seem like such a good idea. Actually, it was fast becoming a wretched, horrid idea. What had possessed him to do this in the first place?!? He bit his lip and nervously played with the hair tie in his hand. Perhaps it wouldn't be *him*. Maybe he merely sent someone in his place. . .. He *had* to be too busy for this! Oh, his ancestors! Why did they let him get himself into these situations?! Why? He swallowed rapidly and intensely watched the red door open. . . Maybe hell would open up and swallow him?

The door of the Mustang opened slowly and long, jean clad legs swung out. Suddenly, he didn't think he could go through with this. That running back at break neck speed to Maxwell and his bike and taking off was not entirely unmanly. But it was his own damned fault he was in this predicament. . . He should have. . . Could have. . .

"Wufei?" the voice asked cautiously, looking at the more than obviously nervous boy who couldn't have possibly been the same soldier he was thinking of. . . This boy looked ready to collapse at any sudden movement. This couldn't have been, well. . .

The Chinese youth swallowed and nodded quickly. "Ancestors! Please lend me your strength!!!" he pleaded to the heaven's before stepping forward slightly. "Peacecraft." He replied in a visibly shaking tone. So much for his ancestor's being helpful. . .

"Peacecraft. I resumed my title a few days ago." The blonde god smiled softly, almost wistfully. "Please, Zechs. Toss out formalities, I have enough of those a day from hundreds of officials."

"Gomen nasai. . . sumimasen. . . I should have assumed, gomen nasai. . .." He apologized quickly, averting his eyes away from the glistening white blonde streaks of hair. He shouldn't have done this. . . It had to be his punishment. The man was dead and yet he was pressing revenge upon him from the grave. . . He was sure of it!

"I didn't even assume I would reclaim that title, but as the boring politics need to be straightened out, my sister will need all the help she can get. So, never mind formality, Wufei. Zechs will do just fine." Icy hued eyes twinkled within from sheer delight.

Caught in those eyes, Wufei merely nodded. How could this man move him to sheer stupidity? He quickly yanked the envelope from his back pocket. "I should. . . I should have done this sooner. My apologies. Here." And his golden arm shoved out with a crisp white letter in it extended towards Marquise.

Zechs quirked an eyebrow. With a reassuring and somewhat curious smile he accepted the letter from the boy. Whose hand retreated as soon as his tan fingers touched the white envelope. Tight and elegant script revealed its source. A slight frown caught his lips. The front scripted the words 'Prince Millardo Peacecraft, under the Baron Zechs Marquise.' Trieze. It was him, only Trieze would tease like that. He looked up and smiled at Wufei. "Thank you. Are you alright? You look a bit. . . withdrawn? If that is the word. . . Your injuries are healing fine, am I correct?" Zechs inquired with concern lingering in his tone. After all, they were merely a few weeks out of the whole Mariemaia affair. And he knew Wufei had suffered his fair share of injuries, not all from the battle, at least according to his earlier conversation with Heero Yuy.

A crisp blush blossomed along the Chinese boy's cheeks, flaming them in a red hue. "I am fine, thank you. . . "

"Ah." He turned the envelope over and questioned carefully. "When did he find time to get it to your hands?" He merely wanted to know. . . Unsure of the shaky ground his was treading upon. He never did know exactly if Chang returned the general's affections.

Black eyes widened slightly then Wufei replied in a faint whisper, "It fell into my hands."

"I see. I thought that-"

"It did. He sent instructions for me to get it and where to find it." Wufei rushed out at a speed one normally wouldn't acquaint with him.

"Oh." The blonde haired man was taken aback. . . He thought that. . . But then. . . Sneaking a glance at the black eyed boy who was nervously playing with his hair band it dawned on him. He didn't need to know what was in the letter. He knew what his dear departed friend already wrote on that piece of paper. "It looks well taken care of. Thank you Wufei."

Curiously another faint blush bloomed across the boy's cheeks. "Ummm. . . You are welcome."

"I am sorry to inconvenience you, but I am glad you gave it to me in person. I assume you found this field easily enough?" Zechs asked.

A quick nod.

The blonde's smile widened, "I wanted you to see something here. Will your friend be alright for a few minutes longer?" he asked.

Wufei shot his eyes back to Duo lingering through one of a few magazines the boy had brought with him. Why did the violet eyed boy come along? Wufei was wondering that as well. . . but nevertheless, "He'll be fine, why may I ask?"

Slim fingers curled gently around his arm and lead him through the tall flowers and grass. "I just think you should see something. Call it a way of me returning the favor, alright? Something. . . The reason I asked to meet here, at your inconvenience."

The taller man led him across the expanse of the field, the sun slowly warming up the air, and the breeze causing his hair to tickle his nose. Looking down at his fingers he noticed he had lost the band at sometime. A repressed sigh. He would have to suffer. Then their direction changed and they headed towards the woods on one side of the meadow. Old trees and brush, untouched by them and time. A short trip of companionable silence and Zechs finally stopped at the base of an old weeping willow tree.

The elder man released the golden arm and crouched down and lightly touched a stone at the tree's base. Curiosity won out and Wufei knelt forward to look at the rock. Almost without bidding them, tears sprung to his lids. "Trieze. . ." the words fell solemnly into the thick woods.

"Ah. I thought you should see it. . . being you were. . . special to him, Wufei." It didn't pain him to say that. It felt nice. He lifted his head to the branched towering sky wards and smiled into the sun light filtering through. His eyes twinkled and he nodded to words only he seemed to hear.

After some while he stood and stretched, popping the tension from his spine. He noticed the boy had stopped crying and with one last brush of those worn fingers, Wufei stood and faced him. The boy's eyes were fresh with the gloss of tears, but there was a slight smile beginning to form. "Thank you. . ." he whispered solemnly. "I truly thank you for showing me this."

He gave the boy an understanding smile. They were tears that needed to be shed. It was time for the boy to see something other than pain. "Come." Zechs replied and together they began their walk back to the vehicles. It was warmer and the birds were singing and chirping merrily. It seemed very surreal to Wufei as he mindlessly followed the man, thoughts churning in his mind faster than he could comprehend them. . . the only thought that kept bubbling up was, "That was nice of him. . ."

It was slightly sad when he saw the red gleam of the Mustang, Duo, and his bike. He was so lost in thought that he missed Zechs' words. "Huh?" he blinked and looked towards the other man.

Zechs was a mere few inches from him. Ice eyes locked into his black ones and Wufei froze. The blonde beamed and cracked a brilliant smile and leaned forward. The rush of warm air brushed his golden ear. "Thank you." And slender arms tugged at his.

Looking down Wufei noticed a small red box in his hands. Another blush blossomed and left him without words. Peaking up he saw the blonde haired man strolling back to his card. "Zechs!" he called out before he could stop himself. What was this thing in his hand for?

The Sank Prince slowed down as he heard the boy scamper towards him. With the swiftest movement that was not expected by the L5 pilot, Zechs crushed his lips to the Chinese boy's. A quick gasp escaped the boy as lips pressed to his. Warm lips that sent excitement through his body.

Pulling away carefully, a rich, full, and slightly husky voice purred in his ear, "Happy Valentine's Day!" and with a gentle chuckled and one last chaste kiss, the slender man ducked into his car. With a wave he was gone.

Wufei blinked. Then blinked again slowly. He could hear the thumping of Duo's braid slapping against the boy's back as he rushed towards him. The black haired boy slowly sunk to the ground. And when close enough, he noticed the almost dazed and strange look upon his violet eyed friend's face. He knew what the boy was staring at. The all out brilliant grin on his face. The slight rush still in him. Gods! He was starting to giggle which pushed into laughter. Whole hearted, genuine laughter. Gods. . . He hadn't laughed in years!

Bouncing up, he hooked a stunned Duo's arm and headed back to his bike. Now, he had to plan how to get the elder man back for White Day. . . Maybe. . . Maybe today wasn't going to be too bad after all. . .