All those disclaimers... yeesh, you get tired of typing them! Any and all comments, flames, whatever, please send to Suzaku1f@aol.com! Thank you! --Kitsune-chan

Conflicting Obsessions: Part Five

Zechs Merquise leapt his way across alleys, keeping the running boy in sight the entire time. The stars were out, providing an exciting air to his silent stalking. The sounds of ambulances and firetrucks began to fade over distance and time. 'He's fast. Good. I wouldn't accept any such fault as physical weakness.' Fast as he was, it was fairly effortless for Zechs to keep up.

The boy stopped in an alleyway, his panting slowing. Long, well-shaped fingers brushed against soft lips. Zechs smiled at his angel's reflection of the kiss. A shudder ran through him as he suspected that it was the pilot's first kiss. Soon, the boy pushed off from the wall and continued sprinting to a nondescript building just down the block. Mental note was taken of the address. Zechs was considering checking what floor the boy went to when his cell phone rang.

"Hello?"

"Milliard. It's Treize. Please report back to base immediately."

"Yes, sir."

Oo-~~~-oO

Treize Khushrenada leaned back in his chair, smiling smugly to himself. 'Milliard's heart belongs to me, there is no doubt. I wonder if Lady Une has noticed his pure devotion. Poor woman, she has no idea how to express her feelings for him. I believe it is better that he does not know; I am sure he would not be receptive to such emotions from her. Especially not after her animalistic attack tonight. What a coincidence that a pilot was at the very same club as Milliard. I wonder whether Millard at least has an idea who the Gundam pilot is, or was, if Une was successful.'

A servant knocked on the door and entered when the signal was given. A flask of wine with two glasses were set on the table, along with a vase of blushing roses. The single pale peach rose reminded Treize of his Milliard. So delicate and beautiful, but with a very good facade of thorns. Even with the strong facade, both Milliard's heart and the rose petals would be so easy to crush, both depended on Treize's slightest whim. Treize poured wine from the decanter into the fluted glasses. The Oz commander sat back, stroking the peach rose. He waited.

Oo-~~~-oO

Zechs Merquise stalked down the long hallway of Treize's wing with barely controlled energy. 'Damn it! Why did Treize have to call me back? I could have pinpointed the exact location of the Gundam pilots! And my angel...' The Oz pilot stopped, considering his thoughts. Had there ever been a time when his heart had not threatened to overflow everytime Treize beckoned him? Zechs couldn't remember.

Knuckles rapped on the mahogany double doors. A low, sensual voice replied, and he opened the door. The large bedchamber was dim, lit only by a dozen or so candles strategically placed throughout the room. The canopy bed was draped in crimson curtains and coverlets, fluffy pillows completing the lush scene. Muted classical music was playing, Zechs recognized it as one of Treize's favorite composers. Vases filled the room, roses of every color blending into a soft, encompassing rainbow. And finally, Treize. All of Zech's vision became focused on the dark blonde. The commander sat silently at his table, watching Zechs intently. A single peach rose was pressed to his chest by one hand, the other holding a wine glass. A hand waved at the unoccupied seat in as much of an invitation as Zechs expected. The Oz pilot seated himself and picked the full wine glass up, his eyes stayed on his superior the entire time. 'I must be on my guard... even with Treize. No, especially with Treize. He has never acted quite like this before; why should he now?' As if reading his thoughts, the man in question smiled and spoke.

"My sincere apologies for the inconvenience Une has put you through this night. I am most glad that you escaped from that place unscathed. I was not aware of the actions Une would take. But what has happened, has happened. Did you, by some stroke of good fortune, catch knowing sight of the Gundam pilot?"

Zechs froze at the question, debating his loyalties. 'If I tell Treize everything, he will go find the pilots, and probably harm my little angel. But if I lie to Treize, he will probably sense it, and what explanation could I give to him for lying?' Zechs struggled to decide.

Oo-~~~-oO

Treize Khushrenada raised an eloquent eyebrow. Clearly, Milliard was suffering from some sort of internal debate. Was it about the Gundam pilot? It couldn't possibly be; what problem could he have with a Gundam pilot? He dismissed the thought and waited for Milliard's answer.

"No, I did not see the Gundam pilot, that I know of," came the slightly strangled reply. The Oz officer nodded, running his eyes approvingly over the well sculpted features of the hesitant man across from him. The utter submission to his every order was fascinating. 'I could take him tonight over and over. I do not know why I never did before.' He took a minute to contemplate the rewards of slamming Zechs against the wall and ravishing him right there. Smirking, he quietly scooted his chair closer to that of the platinum blonde.

Milliard looked up at him, catching his gaze with those cerulean blue eyes. Treize made sure to put every one of his predatorial intentions into his own eyes. The blue orbs widened as he realized what Treize planned to do. 'Sometimes he seems so virginal. It is so endearing...' Treize leaned in for a kiss.

Oo-~~~-oO

Zechs Merquise panicked. He could not think of a way to react to the suggestive heat in his superior's eyes. Normally, he would be ecstatic, but he couldn't pull his mind off the violet-eyed pilot he had met only briefly. He shook himself mentally. 'What are you doing? Are you going to give up what is maybe your only chance at the man you've loved for so long? Of course not!' He closed his eyes and leaned toward Treize.

Their lips met, his second kiss that night. This one, however was nothing like the first. Treize's mouth was demanding and very well experienced. The Oz officer parted Zechs's lips with his tongue and licked at the row of white teeth, commanding him to open fully to him. Arms snaked around Zechs, clutching him in a way that kept him completely helpless. He submitted to the hold, melting towards his superior. The taller man pulled Zechs out of his seat and onto his lap. The Oz pilot straddled Treize's lap, one leg on his left and the other on his right. The commander placed Zech's hands at his waist. His own hands swept through the younger man's hair.

"Oh... god..." a female voice shook as the speaker scrabbled at the handle to the door. Both men looked up to see Lieutenant Noin trying to back out. Lady Une stood behind Noin, blocking her exit. The brunette's face was twisted with pain.

Oo-~~~-oO

Lady Une walked down the hallway of Treize's wing at their base. Lieutenant Noin updated her on the latest Aries technology.

"General Vingt-sept is heading the technological study on how to upgrade existing Aries and Leos, Lord knows the man is rich enough to fund it himself," Noin observed. "The man is even now looking for an heir to his massive fortune. Perhaps he'll pick a soldier, maybe he'll grant his money to Khushrenada..."

Une didn't even pretend to be listening. Her thoughts were on how badly she had screwed up. 'What will Zechs think? Treize is so angry, he'll probably tell Zechs. And then he will hate me...' Une set her jaw as Noin began opening the door to Treize's chamber. 'What will come, will come.'

However, she was not prepared for the sight that greeted her. Her trained eye quickly took in Zech's straddled position over Treize. His hands rested at Treize's waist, fingertips applying light pressure. Treize's long fingers were clutched possessively in the curtain of platinum hair. And most painful of all, the deep kiss the men were engaged in.

"Oh... god..." Noin stumbled backwards into her, but Une didn't move. She was incapable of stopping the painful surging in her chest. Her eyes were glued to the scene as the two startled men parted. Noin began pushing backwards at her, sputtering apologies to Treize and Zechs.

"Oh! We are so sorry, Commander! We... we will wait for your summons," Noin sputtered with wide eyes. She shoved forcefully, upsetting Une's balance along with her entrancement. The door slammed closed. Noin ran down the hall at full gait, sobbing quietly.

Une leaned against the wall. 'Oh yes. Noin loves him too. I suppose everyone does.' How could anyone not love him? And what chance would she have, especially when she kept tripping all over her own plans? Or as competition for the charismatic Treize? She closed her eyes. 'Zechs...'

Oo-~~~-oO

Treize Khushrenada cursed loudly, but not out of embarrassment for himself. They had interrupted what could have been something very enjoyable indeed. 'Those damn women should have waited! I didn't even hear their knock. I did not think that my... meeting with Zechs would last that long.' He glanced over at the platinum haired man. He had returned to his own seat. He was flushing a very appealing shade of red and attempting to cover his lap.

The Oz pilot stood and muttered some excuse for leaving. A very amused, but not in the least embarrassed, Treize did not feel the need to hold him any longer. There wouldn't be any more kisses that night, not with Zechs so flustered over their discovery. Treize picked up his wine glass and waved a hand in dismissal.

Oo-~~~-oO

Zechs Merquise jumped back into his own chair as soon as he had gathered his wits. His lips tingled from the heated kiss and there was an uncomfortable tightness in in his groin. The latter, he blushed at and hid with his coat. Once he had gone through every unappetizing thought he could rummage up and deemed himself safe, he rose.

"I... I really should be leaving now..." he stammered. He left as quickly as was polite when the dismissal was given.

He sagged against the closed door of Treize's chamber, eyes closing in relief. A low cough startled him. He hadn't noticed that Lady Une was standing directly in front of him. He turned a shade of red much akin to that of Treize's bed curtains. 'Ch'! Wrong comparison!' he thought as he surpassed even that color.

Une just watched him, a strange look in her eyes. Why was it that he could never read what this woman was thinking? If she weren't so insane, he might have thought of her as a certain challenge. She would be interesting to learn well, so he could predicted her every move. As it was, however, he had set his sights on a certain violet-eyed teenager.

"Is Treize ready to see me?" Une asked, one eloquent eyebrow raised. "Or are you two going to be still... busy?" She was rewarded with the second blush she had ever seen from this normally collected man. 'It must be the alcohol...' He shook his head in response and walked quickly in down the hall.

End of Part Five!

Author's notes: I apologize if any of the characters aren't acting themselves. I've only seen about six episodes! And they were dubbed! It's not my fault! *wails so loudly that the vibrations register on the Richter scale* I'm gonna buy the subbed episodes, so I'll probably revise things once I get the entire series. *facefaults* Another year and two hundred dollars later, that is. Also, if at anytime I typed "Zech's" instead of "Zechs's" I'm sorry, I didn't realize until much later that I had probably done that throughout the entire first five chapters (Well, all the ones with him in them, anyway)As always, PLEASE WRITE!! (Suzaku1f@aol.com) --Kitsune-chan