RP Log - Unexpected Turns

[preventerwind06]

Who: Treize and Zechs
When: Today
Where: Zechs' hut
Warning: Angst, slight GW spoilers
Rating: G
Notes: The events leading up to the fall of the Sanq Kingdom was never made official, creative license!
Summary: Treize pays Zechs an unexpected visit and things go odd from there...


Treize was curious to see how Zechs was doing in his research on getting home. He decided to pay his old friend a visit, heading towards the hut in question. He lightly tapped on the door, hoping he was there.

The man in question was currently buried in research. He was seated at the kitchen table, having taken over most if it, books and papers around him, his laptop in front of him. He glanced up, some of the shorter hair having fallen back into his face, he had been trying to keep it back. "Come in!" He called before returning to the article he was currently reading.

Treize stepped inside. "Hello, Zechs..." he said, glancing at him for a moment. "I take it you're busy..."

Zechs poked his head over the top of his laptop and smiled. "Hello Treize and I can spare a bit for my old friend."

He smiled. "Excellent." He stepped inside, carrying a small bag.

He arched a pale eyebrow at the bag. "What have you brought?"

"I brought food." He chuckled.

A very faint blushed crossed the former Oz soldier’s cheeks when his stomach choose that moment to voice it's opinion of not being fed. "I guess food is a good thing."

Treize chuckled. "I see that." He smiled at him. "It's a good thing I came."

"I probably would have forgotten to eat, again." Zechs shut his laptop and started to clear away the books and papers.

"It seems that way." Treize put the bag on the table and began to remove the contents.

"What did you bring?" he asked once the books and papers where neatly stacked on one end of the table.

Treize removed some simple things he had picked up from the cafe. "Nothing fancy," he said. "Mr. Talbain had some delicious smelling soup on when I stopped by. He said it was minestrone. Along with some fresh baked bread, I felt this would make an excellent lunch."

"Thank you Treize."

"You're welcome." He smiled. "Do you have bowls and utensils?"

"I do." Zechs went into the kitchen and retrieved two bowls and spoons. "What else do you need?"

"A knife and plate for the bread should do it." He started putting the soup into the bowls.

He nodded and went back for a plate and knife. He set them down on the table.

Treize put the bread on the plate.

"How are you doing?" Zechs asked.

"I'm well," Treize said. "I see you've been busy."

"Between this and my classes, I have had very little time." Zechs said sliding into his seat.

"I can imagine." Treize sat opposite him, passing a bowl to him.

"Thank you, and it's quite nice. I rather like being busy." He said setting the bowl down.

"It's certainly better than being bored," Treize said with a chuckle.

"Some should never be allowed to be bored." Zechs commented offhandedly as he stirred his soup a bit.

"Hm? You say that like you know from experience," Treize said as he sliced off some bread.

He took a spoonful of the soup. "I don't, but given some of the residents on this island?"

Treize chuckled. "I suppose... You wouldn't happen to be referring to a certain long-haired pilot and his propensity for nicknames, would you?"

Zechs glowered and hunched down. "I hate that nickname."

This time, Treize outright laughed. He dipped his bread in his soup, taking a bite.

"You take too much pleasure in that." Zechs looked at the older man, icy eyes serious.

"Perhaps." He smiled. "I'm not the only one."

Zechs fought with himself for a moment and then stuck his tongue out at Treize, allowing himself to act childish. He then cut off a slice of bread, still glowering and grumpy.

Treize couldn't help it. He laughed again.

He grumbled something under his breath and focused on eating his soup.

Treize also went about eating his soup.

"This is quite good." He said after a few minutes.

Treize nodded. "Yes..."

"You're lucky Maxwell hasn't thought up a nickname for you yet." the blonde said almost dryly.

"I suppose it's only a matter of time."

"We can only hope." Zechs replied with a teasing tone.

Treize chuckled in response. "How is the research coming?"

"I have made little progress. When I think I might have found something..." he shook his head. "It turns out to be a failure."

"I'm sorry to hear that."

He sighed and set down the spoon. "It's just seems as if anyway off this island has vanished."

"Well, anyway to our world," Treize said. "The Mazoku and two of the stronger Guardians seem to be able to travel, from what I've heard, as well as Miss Midna... however, I've heard it's dangerous for them, and that they are only able to reach their own worlds."

"Then explain one of the mazoku dropping Maxwell off in the middle of Lady Une's office."\

"That I can't explain," Treize said. "The only thing that could possibly mean is that they are capable of traveling to other dimensions... however, I wouldn't exactly recommend it."

He nodded. "Yes, I'd rather not come face to face with them."

"Besides, I wouldn't want to imagine what the 'price' would be if you were to ask for their assistance." Treize dipped another piece of bread into his soup.

"Something unsavory no doubt." Zechs tore off a bit of the bread he had and dipped it into his soup.

"I wouldn't put it past them."

Nodding, Zechs ate the soup soaked bread.

Treize sighed slightly. "Do you mind me asking what your reasons for accompanying Maxwell were?" he asked. "I can't possibly imagine you were doing it just to keep him company."

"I want to make sure my sister was alright." Zechs said, though it didn't sound like the entire reason.

"You couldn't trust Yuy after all?" he asked quietly.

"It's not that I don't trust Yuy, Treize... I would prefer to keep an eye on her myself."

Treize nodded. "And that's your entire reason?" he asked knowingly.

He stared at Treize and then returned focus on his soup.

"As I thought," the former World Sovereign said.

"What is as you thought?"

"Your reasons for your return," Treize said, spooning some of the soup politely into his mouth.

Zechs looked up. "What do you believe they are then?"

"I'm not quite sure," he said, "but I do believe they are more than the one you stated."

"I did want to see you again." He whispered softly. "You are one of my dearest and oldest friends."

"And so you came back for that?" Treize said, leaning on the table. He also looked into his soup. "I can't imagine that Noin would be too happy with that reasoning."

"I didn't tell Noin that reasoning."

"I wouldn't think so," he said with a small chuckle.

"She knows I came back for my sister."

"Well, I would have certainly hoped you gave her some reason instead of just disappearing on her," Treize said. "After all, I think she would be rather upset if you had done that." He smiled a bit.

"What sort of gentleman would I be if I disappeared on the woman I love without so much as a word to my whereabouts." Zechs quipped.

Treize nodded. "That's a bit better."

"You taught me well." He teased.

"I would certainly hope so."

Zechs chuckled and then took a bite of bread. After a moment, he looked at Treize.

Treize looked back. "Yes?"

"Thank you."

He gave the younger man a questioning look. "For what?"

He shrugged a bit. "For everything you've done for me. Took me in, taught me in the ways of life, was my friend."

"After what you had been through, you needed a friend," Treize said. "I'm only glad my parents let me be that friend."

"I'm glad too."

Treize was only five years older than Zechs. Well, normally... here, with the time difference from their arrivals, he was only a year older. However, Zechs had only been six years old when he turned up in Luxembourg. An eleven-year-old Treize had begged his parents to let the boy stay with them. They knew what was going to be involved, helping him choose a new name and hide his identity for his safety. It had been a risk, but one the Khushrenada's had been willing to take. Treize smiled at the man before him.

"Would you like anything to drink?" Zechs asked rising to his feet.

Treize nodded. "What do you have?"

"Water, coffee, milk, juice, tea, and I think there is a bottle of soda or two in the fridge." Zechs said. His mind wandered back to when he was still a child, when his home came crashing down, parents dead. He and Relena separated and whisked off to safety. Him to Luxembourg and her with the Doralin’s. Unconsciously he began to rub his forehead, staving off the start of a headache, one that always seemed to start when he thought of his parents, his home...

Treize leaned on the table again, watching his friend for a moment. "I'll just have what you're having," he said quietly.

"No, it's no trouble."

"Are you alright?"

"I... When I remember that time... I get a headache."

Treize nodded. "It's alright. I understand. It was a difficult time."

"I lost everything.... But I also gained so much."

He smiled softly. "Yes... I can see both for that."

Zechs sighed and decided to fix himself a cup of mint and chamomile tea. "Earl Grey alright for you?"

"That's fine."

He nodded and set the water to boil. "Excuse me for a moment." He then went back to bathroom to retrieve some aspirin.

Treize nodded.

Returning from the bathroom, he had a bottle in one hand. He went into the kitchen and got out two glasses.

The former General dipped another piece of bread, remaining quiet.

Once the water began to boil, Zechs poured some into two cups. Setting the kettle down, he brought out the Earl Grey to Treize and went back to get his own. He returned to the table and sat down.

Treize held the cup in front of him, letting the tea steep as he finished off his soup.

Not really hungry anymore, Zechs stared into his tea.

"I'm sorry to have brought that up."

"It's alright. It's made me who I am."

He nodded.

Zechs picked up his tea and took a sip.

Treize bopped the tea bag lightly before carefully removing it and placing it in his empty soup bowl. He stirred it slightly and then took a sip.

He removed the tea bag and placed it on top of his spoon.

"Are you alright?" he asked him.

"Just thinking."

He nodded. "Would you like to talk about it?"

He squeezed his eyes shut, willing the aspirin to start working. Zechs nodded.

Treize waited, letting Zechs control the conversation.

"It started out as any normal day did. We got up, had breakfast...." He swallowed.

He folded his hands on the table, listening. He was fairly sure Zechs hadn't ever told him the details of that day before.

"Father was heading out on a business trip and we where saying goodbye to him." Zechs squeezed his eyes tightly shut at the start of the memory. "That's when it first started... Men stormed the grounds with guns, their faces hidden..."

He nodded, not that the younger man could see it with his eyes closed. For a moment, he wondered if Relena could remember any of it, as she would have been a mere toddler at the time.

"Father handed Relena and myself to Mother and told her to get us to safety. I heard these loud explosions and there was gunfire..." He couldn't help the slight shake that was in his voice.

"Were you with his aid at this point?" Treize asked softly, encouraging him to continue

"Relena was with the Doralin’s and I was with his aid. Mother... She went back for Father."

Treize nodded.

Zechs opened his eyes and scrubbed the years of unshed tears away. "That was the last morning I ever saw them."

"Did you ever take the time to mourn the loss?" Treize asked.

"No... I then taken to Luxemburg, and began my new life. I didn't have time to mourn."

"Perhaps you need to take that time."

"It's been almost twenty years Treize."

"What's wrong with that?"

He shook his head. "Why mourn after all these years?"

"If you need to, there's nothing wrong with it," he said.

Zechs turned his attention to the table, looking as if he was fighting back tears.

Treize just watched him.

Finally he allowed the tears to begin to fall.

The older man stood and circled the table, standing behind his friend, where he put a comforting hand on his shoulder.

He buried his face into his hands as the tears kept falling down his face.

Treize stayed there in place, waiting it out. He still remembered the passing of his own parents. He could only imagine how much more horrible it would have been to know they were gone at a much younger age.

After a few minutes, the tears stopped and Zechs' body just rocked with dry sobs.

And Treize still waited, keeping his hands firmly on his friend's shoulders to let him know he was still there.

"Thank you." He said his voice raspy.

"You're welcome." He went and got him a glass of water, placing it on the table next to him, then disappeared into the bathroom, returning shortly with a cool, damp cloth.

"I've never cried for them before this."

"It isn't like you had the chance," Treize said.

He looked at Treize and smiled faintly. "Thank you."

He nodded at Zechs.

He picked up the glass of water and took a sip.

Treize sat back down at the table.

"Is that cloth for me?" he asked quietly.

He nodded.

Zechs took it and pressed it to his forehead.

He sat quietly, letting Zechs come into his own.

He kept the cloth pressed against his forehead. "You are a wonderful friend. Thank you."

Treize smiled slightly. "I'm just glad I can be of support for you."

Removing the cloth, he gave a gentle smile.

He nodded.

Zechs took careful breaths.

"Are you alright?" he asked softly.

"I will be."

He nodded.

"I feel this great weight lifted..."

Treize smiled a bit. "That's good."

He nodded. "I wish I could have said good bye."

"Be glad you knew them," Treize said. "They live on in you."

"I am very glad that I had the little time with them that I did."

"Does your sister know much about them?"

"She didn't even known that she was a Peacecraft until Mr. Doralin died."

"Yes," Treize said with a nod, "and she did learn about the family's beliefs in an attempt to pass them on. But, how much does she know about them?"

"Only what can be taught in school. She never asked me about them." Zechs said softly, hands clutching the glass of water desperately.

"Perhaps you should spend some time with her while you have the chance... tell her about them."

"I... I think I might just do that. I'll tell her what I remember about them."

Treize nodded.

He relaxed a bit, taking deep breaths.

"I think it would do you both good," Treize said.

"I'm sure Relena would like to hear more about our parents."

He smiled.

Zechs smiled back.

"Did you want help cleaning up?" he asked, referring to their bowls.

"No, you can go home. I'll take care of it."

"Are you sure?" Treize asked. "I did sort of interrupt your research."

"I needed the break, but if you insist upon helping." Zechs rose and began to gather the dishes.

He chuckled and gathered up his own, bringing them over to the sink at least before gathering up the things he had brought in.

Zechs began to rinse out the dishes and put them into the dishwasher.

"You're alright, though?" Treize asked, placing a hand on the blonde’s shoulder.

"Yeah, I'm alright." He looked over his shoulder at Treize.

He nodded. "I'm always willing to listen," he said.

"I know Treize, thank you so much."

"It's not trouble, Zechs... truly."

"What are friends for, sort of thing?"

He chuckled. "Something like that."

Zechs smiled. "Thank you for everything Treize."

"You're very welcome."

He surveyed the clean kitchen and nodded.

Treize stood back, hands clasped behind his back, watching Zechs.

"Thank you for coming over."

"I'm glad I came."

Zechs nodded, and crossed his arms over his chest. "I am glad you came too."

"I suppose, though, that I should be going, however," he said.

"I shall see you around Treize?"

"Of course." He smiled.

The platinum haired man walked with Treize to the door.
He stepped out. "If you need anything, you know where I am," he said.

"I will let you know if I do need anything."

"Until next time, Zechs."

"Until then Treize." he nodded.

With that, they parted, Treize heading back to his hut.

Zechs watched Treize and then shut the door, going back inside.