Breath

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.

Breath
by Michalyn
Pairing: Treize + Wufei
Rating: MA
For 30_kisses themes, #4, our distance and that person, and #10, 10

Notes: This fic started out as entirely something else, but the muses would not cooperate so I reworked it to a 30_kisses fic. Still not too sure how I feel about it, but I hope you enjoy. This is unbetaed, so please excuse any mistakes you find.

Treize set down his newspaper as Wufei tossed once more beneath the covers. His husband pummeled the pillow, making a frustrated sound as he turned onto his side.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” Wufei sighed. “I just can’t seem to get comfortable” he muttered, the flicker of the TV illuminating his mussed hair and agitated features.

Treize spooned behind him on the bed and began kneading his shoulders. “Rough day?”

Wufei laced their fingers together. “A little,” he admitted after a moment. “What on earth made me think I could have a full time teaching job and still do my Master’s at the same time? My thesis is not going to be ready by the deadline, I just know it. Worse, I am convinced that the middle schoolers at the academy will be the death of me. What am I doing, Treize?” Wufei’s voice was muffled by the pillow. “Who am I fooling? I don’t know anything about teaching English as a second language, particularly to a bunch of pampered, snotty kids. Do you know what Yue Wan’s mother said to me today when I asked her why her daughter had not completed her homework for the third time this week?”

Treize made a questioning sound as he continued to massage the tense muscles along Wufei’s spine.

“She is too tired after shopping in the afternoon to complete her assignments.” Wufei’s shoulder’s rose. “And this from the student struggling most with reading! Her pronunciation is atrocious, even after all the work we’ve covered! Why am I even wasting my time?”

“Shh, shh. If you tense up like that, you’ll undo all my hard work.” Treize chuckled against Wufei’s neck. “Love, I know you want all your students to succeed, but you have to realize that half these kids will spend their lifetimes in transition between one school and the next because of their parents’ business trips. They have a tidy trust fund already secured and neither they nor their parents are particularly interested in whether they get good grades or not. To them, the academy is just a large daycare center and teachers like you, babysitters—but you don’t need me to tell you that,” Treize chided Wufei softly. “You know all of this. What’s really bothering you is that you’re getting down to the wire, are stressed and are beginning to needlessly second-guess yourself. If anyone can do this, Wufei, you can.”

Wufei’s voice was shaky. “I know. You are correct. I know you are right. It is just … this means so much to me. Being an ESOL teacher has always been my dream, because of my own experiences here as a student and….” Wufei swallowed. “Beyond the visa regulations and the rigmarole involved with the system, I cannot forget what my parents sacrificed to get me here.”

Wufei turned onto his back. “My father was a physician in Hunan before he met my mother. After he came here, he worked as a mechanic for ten years at Orange Grove gas station, Treize, because he could not master the language. Do you know what that does to a man’s sense of himself and his honor? That is why I chose this field. I do not want anyone to have to go through what he did, and to see these children squandering what he would have given anything to have—” Wufei’s voice was rough. “It is despicable, Treize. Despicable.”

It was Treize’s turn to sigh. “I understand, Love.” He kissed Wufei’s ear. “Why don’t you stay till the end of the semester and finish up your sociolinguistics program at the university? The academy pays well, but you’re disconnected from what really moves you. I think it’s time to move on. Why don’t you look into some public schools, or at least private institutions that are not as exclusive as Greenfield, that will allow you a closer connection with your students? A few hundred dollars more is not worth all of this anguish. It will eventually take its toll.

In fact,” Treize spanned Wufei’s stomach with his palm, “I’d say it already has. Of late, if you’re not stressed, then you’re bone tired. You have always been an early riser, but do not think I have not noticed how many nights this week you simply haven’t slept at all.” Trey placed a finger over Wufei’s lips, when the younger man opened his mouth to protest, “and napping on the couch between dinner and your studies is not sufficient. No wonder you have difficulty getting to sleep. You have thrown your sleep cycle completely off kilter.”

Wufei mumbled a weak protest but quickly subsided. Treize’s hand trailed down his stomach and slipped beneath the waistband of his pajamas. He nuzzled Wufei’s cheek.

“Can you remember the last time we had a night just to enjoy each other?”

“Nn…no.” Wufei shivered, glancing down.

Treize followed the younger man’s gaze to Wufei’s crotch. As his strokes picked up a steady rhythm, Treize could see the rippling of his knuckles under the silky material of Wufei’s pajama bottoms . Watching Wufei watch him was unbearably erotic and Treize groaned, thrusting aside the covers to get a better view.

Wufei moved languidly. Spreading his legs a little he pressed his lips against Treize’s. “Mmm … I’ve missed this. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to neglect you.” he panted, clutching at Treize until the material at Treize’s shoulders was bunched between his fingers. “I…” Wufei’s breath hitched.

Treize shook his head. “No need to apologize, my darling. I know how difficult it has been for you. To insist upon something so trivial at such a crucial time for you would be both thoughtless and ridiculous of me. Saying that I have not missed this, however, would make me a liar.”

“Oh?” Wufei smiled. “Then I cannot tell you how much I appreciate your honesty.”

“Ah, my Wufei, the things I have contemplated would even now make you blush.”

“I doubt that,” Wufei murmured, but he was already coloring. Treize laughed, pausing to kiss Wufei’s fingers.

“My Wufei, still so innocent.”

Wufei scowled, rising up on his elbows. “I hate it when you say that.”

Treize’s eyebrows shot upward. Wufei’s hair was escaping his ponytail and his petulant expression made him look even younger in the flickering light. Treize, however, valued his life enough to know it would be unwise to make that observation at the moment.

“But why?” Treize was mystified. “I do not mean it in any derrogatory sense. I find your shyness endearing.”

Wufei flopped back against the pillows and flung an arm over his eyes. “You make me feel so young. I…it is dishonorable that the gap between our experiences should be so great. Every time we come together I am reminded that my knowledge in these matters is impoverished. It is not enough that I am pleasured. As your husband I should be able to bring you satisfaction as well.”

“And when have I ever been dissatisfied?” Treize shook his head, troubled by Wufei’s words. If he spoke of Wufei’s reticence it was always meant as an endearment. He never meant to prey upon the younger man’s insecurity and Treize told Wufei so.

“All right.” Wufei folded his arms. ” If you are so pleased, then tell me what I’m good at.”

Treize pulled Wufei into his arms, whispering in erotic detail just what he thought of his husband’s talents. By the time he was finished, Wufei was moving restlessly against him. Treize laughed. “I thought we weren’t trying to make you blush.”

“Treize…” Wufei gasped. “I’m serious. All right, how many lovers have you had?”

“Why should it matter?”

“Treize…” Wufei’s tone was ominous.

“Ten.”

“Is that the truth?”

Treize sighed. “My Love, believe me when I tell you we can gain nothing from this conversation. If you insist, then I will tell you, but my sexual history has been far from admirable. There is much I do not regret, but let it be enough that I have you now in my arms.” Treize’s hand dipped once again between Wufei’s legs. “Come, let me make love to you.”

Wufei’s hands fisted in Treize’s shirt. “That is exactly what I mean! Because even if it is only one lover, our distance and that person are related. Everything you learned about love-making with him—them—you bring to our bed, whereas I am always stuck at the starting point, never having gone further than the boundaries of our bedroom.”

“I see,” Treize said slowly, pierced by a sudden painful anxiety. “Are you saying you regret settling down so early? I know you did not have a chance to sow any wild oats before we married. Wufei … if you…”

“No!” Wufei was quick to interrupt him. “No, I’m not saying that at all. I’m happy with you. I just—”

“Then what is it? As I’ve said, I have never had any complaints about what we share in the bedroom, but if this is important to you then we must explore it. Are you saying that you want to be instructed? What is it you wish to learn?”

“I don’t know. I’m not sure myself.” Wufei’s breath fanned against Treize’s chest. “After the day I’ve had, It’s probably just nerves talking. Sometimes … sometimes though, I can’t help worrying that I do not know enough —that the gap between us is impossibly wide and I’ll never catch up. I’d … I’d hate for you to get bored with me, Treize.” Wufei whispered.

Treize’s heart clenched at the hesitant admission. How could Wufei doubt for a second the pull he held over him?

“Never.” Treize kissed Wufei’s face, his eyelids—the pulse throbbing in his throat. “I will never tire of you, my darling. Now, tomorrow—until I am old and gray—you will be the only one for me.” He pressed Wufei against the pillows, seeking out all the secret places on his husband’s body that made Wufei cry out and shiver beneath him. “Should I have a million past lovers, I won’t let you doubt me. If there is any space between us, I’ll erase it so that not even a hands-breadth remains.” Treize’s voice was fierce as he smiled down at Wufei.

“Be careful what you wish for.” He lowered his mouth to Wufei’s nipple. “When I am finished with you, you won’t be able to tell your heartbeat from mine … your breath from my breath.”

End