Title: Discoveries: Her Fallen Count (13x6)
Author: vonceia (vonceia@yahoo.com) and bonnejeanne (bonnejeanne@yahoo.com)
Archive: GW Addiction
Category: yaoi, lemon
Rating: NC-17
Pairings: 13x6
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Warnings: LEMONADE. Faint of libido, do not go there
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Spoilers: Series

Discoveries: Her Fallen Count

- by bonnejeanne and vonceia -

Lucrezia Noin looked up from her desk a little nervously at her unexpected visitor. "Lady Une, how may I assist you?" she said.

The woman in the dark coat and braided hair, smiled very slightly. She raised her hand to her glasses, an unconscious habit, then looked down at the other woman without taking them off. "You are in love with Zechs Marquis are you not?" she said, noting the slight flush to Noin's face.

Noin swallowed, clearing her throat a little, as she felt her face warm. "Yes," she said, quietly to Lady Une. "Why?"

Lady Une smiled and her crimson-coated lips took on an almost feral nature to them. "Come with me," she said in a tone that commanded rather than asked.

Noin sighed, then stood. Lady Une had turned her back and had begun to walk out the door. Noin frowned deeply and rushed to keep pace. She had wanted to tell the Lady that she had a number of things to do before her shift was done. In reality, Noin was waiting to see if Zechs would come to her office to talk, which she loved. However, Lady Une spoke, the most prudent thing to do was to listen and obey.

When the two women boarded the lift, Lady Une looked up. "I suppose you are wondering what is going on and why I took you from your office instead of letting you stay there in case Zechs Marquis came by, correct?"

Noin opened her mouth to speak, but was silenced by a Lady Une's raised hand.

"I am afraid that you would have been waiting there all night. You see, Zechs Marquis will not be there. He has ... plans. "Une said, and then took a deep breath as she turned to Noin. " We are a lot alike in one respect, Ms. Noin. We both are in love with very powerful men, with their own agenda's and tastes. I wonder if, like myself, you sometimes view your role in your love's life as ...an unnecessary appendage."

Noin dropped her head. The Lady Une had hit the one place in her life where she had felt the most insecure. She knew that Zech's cared for her deeply, but what that actually meant in her life, she did not know. All she did know was that their relationship was nothing like the romantic fiction she had read as a child.

Cool fingers touched Noin's chin, raising her eyes to meet Lady Une's.

"I see that you have felt the same as I," Une said, with a small sad smile. She then tilted her head back looking at Noin. "Well, Lucrezia. Tonight is our test of tests. Tonight, you and I will see just how far and how deep our love goes. We are strong women, but this, I believe will test us to the limit. It will, indeed make us or shatter us completely. Now, are you interested in seeing the truth or would you prefer to live in a white chiffon fantasy?"

Noin looked into the Lady's eyes. Some of her words did not make sense to her, but she did feel their meaning. What she felt made her sad and upset, even though she had not been told any particulars. 'Something bad about Milliardo,' she thought, and then another, more devastating thought hit her, even though the possibility did not seem likely. 'Another woman,' Noin thought. 'She's taking me to see Zechs with another woman.' Lucrezia lifted her chin, steeling herself. "That kind of fantasy, I cannot afford, " she said to Lady Une. "I prefer the truth."

Lady Une smiled again. She caressed Noin's smooth face, even going so far as to brush her errant bangs back a time or two. "Then tonight Lucrezia Noin, we will be sisters, sisters in adversity. Perhaps our combined strength will see us through." Lady Une leaned closer to Noin and kissed her lightly on the cheek.

The door to the lift slid open and Lady Une took Noin's hand, like a school girl, and led her to the secret room.

A faint blue glow illuminated what looked to be one of the observation rooms where prisoners could be watched and their actions and words recorded. Lady Une leaned over the console and brought up the surveillance views on several screens.

At first, what Noin saw was nothing that disturbed her in the least. She saw Zechs and Treize, Lady Une's passion, sharing a glass of wine and speaking to each other. A wave of relief washed over her and she began to suspect that the Lady Une had fallen prey to her private affliction that everyone knew about... multiple personality. But at the last, that explanation did not satisfy as Lady Une had settled down as of late and did not switch between two personalities. Noin shook her head.

"No, I have not slipped into a psychotic episode, " the Lady said, with a small smile. "It sometimes takes a little while for... ah.. look at the screen now, Lucrezia. I suggest you sit down as well. "

Noin did as instructed, then focused her attention back to the screens. Lady Une turned the sound up a bit and soon the men's voices could be heard in the room as well.

"You're in a fey mood tonight, Zechs," Treize said, swirling the wine in his glass. "Still upset about the end of your battle with the Gundam pilot? It was cowardly of him to self destruct - he should have finished his duel with you first..."

Zechs downed the last of the wine in his glass and felt it burn down his throat. He looked down as he remembered the incident. "The duel was secondary to his primary mission, Your Excellency," he answered, again feeling a sense of unworthiness spread throughout his soul. "I have no doubt that he would have done so had it not been for the... interference."

Treize smiled. He set down his glass and got up, walking over to the wall to take down one of the matched dueling sabers that hung there. "You're no good to me in this mood, Zechs. I need you fit for duty. I rely on your strength. This melancholy of yours is an unfortunate indulgence I'd thought you would outgrow years ago."

"Sir!" Zechs said, coming to attention immediately. This had not been his invitation or conversation. Treize had called the meeting and caused him to disappoint his friend for the evening. However, Zechs understood his duties and he could not fight with Treize's reasoning. He knew how to behave and learned how to suppress his emotions.

Treize moved in front of him, very close in front of him. "Now you're hiding behind you 'duty' and giving me that soldierly front... That won't do either. It pains me that you've gotten so distant. We used to be much closer, you and I... you can't have forgotten..."

Zechs felt his chest constrict at Treize's words. He could feel it happening again. Anger, helplessness and the knowledge that he had no place to stand. 'Not this time.' he thought, and with that thought Zechs could see clearly the way it would end. "I have not forgotten," he said.

Treize stared into the metal mask. "Take it off," he said, his voice pitched low, persuasive, but with a timbre of command.

Zechs stiffened slightly. He reached up slowly and lifted the mask from his face. Then he looked up into Treize's eyes.

Noin gasped, watching Zech's lift the metal from his face. She had dreamed of seeing his face. Told herself many stories about it... secretly she thought perhaps he was scarred, or had some terrible flaw... and she dreamed of being the one who would accept him and kiss away his hurts...

Treize smiled, letting his eyes drink in the sight. The most beautiful man in the entire Earth Sphere, and he hid his face. The irony alone inspired Treize to a deep sense of pleasure.

"You are incredible," he said, looking into Zech's eyes. "Yet you give the gifts you've been blessed with no thought... less than none. I almost think you dislike your own appearance, the way you hide yourself so."

"My 'appearance' is precisely what is most repulsive to me. I would not dare to show my face after what I have done. And it has only been made moreso, with every life laid at my feet." Zechs replied.

Treize shook his head, still smiling slightly. He reached up and caressed the smooth cheek. "You are wrong, my friend. Angels do kill... at the righteous word of their Lord. Are you so much better than an angel, Zechs? Let it go... I am your commander. Lay those deaths at my feet. I'll accept the burden. I already have. You've only done as I asked. If you hate the orders, you must hate the giver of them even moreso..."

Zechs frowned a little. "That's.. not what I meant," he said, surprised.

Holding his eyes, Treize dropped his hand. "I wonder... you've become so distant... there was a time when I took comfort in laying down my own burdens... when I could turn to you, for something I thought we both enjoyed... It seems you don't enjoy such things any more... or perhaps it's simply that I am not longer an acceptable... sparring partner... covered as I am in your precious blood..."

Zechs closed his eyes briefly and then looked back up at Treize. A tiny voice inside his head told him that he had lost. "I... I am sorry, your Excellency," he said.

Treize closed his eyes at the title, letting pain show on his expressive face. He stepped back. "So that's it, then," he said. "The distance is too great to bridge... not like when we were students together... when we talked of the things we found beautiful and worthy, such as honor, and striving for perfection in battle... when we tested our bodies against each other..." Treize lifted his fingers to his lips, kissing them lightly in a gesture of leave-taking.

Turning, he faced away from Zechs, but his face could bee seen by the monitor. "Go then... I won't keep you. The young lieutenant... Noin, isn't it? Is waiting no doubt. She'll comfort you, now that you've become so scrupulous, and I so unworthy of your attentions. It's something I knew would happen. I took this burden on myself - I knew there would be prices. It's time for me to pay them with my own solitude."

His voice was perfectly attuned to the words, but his eyes flickered, unseen by Zechs, and the slightest of smiles curved his well-shaped mouth.

Noin's eyes widened. What... what did he... what was he implying... what was Treize doing... to Zechs???

Zechs felt a great rift within him. His mind recalled the times he and Treize had been together and his body reacted instantly. The small gesture of Treize raising his fingers to his lips and then turning away ripped the remaining resolve from Zechs' soul. He moved forward and took Treize's hand. Even this touch was enough to bring about a fresh flood of memories. "Treize," he said and the name sounded tortured on his lips. "No," he added. "I'm all right."

Treize allowed his hand to be taken, but did not return the grasp. He turned to look at Zechs. "Well, at least you called me by name again," he said. "However, you seem to have forgotten, that like yourself, I do have my own measure of pride. Is that pity I see in your eyes, my once-dear friend? Don't insult me with it. I've not changed as much as you... I'm still as ruthless as the day we first struggled together, the day I took you and you called me a damned bastard... and then asked me for more..."

Noin shook her head violently. "No..." she said, unaware she'd spoken out loud. "No... Zechs..."

Zechs could not help himself. He smiled and moved closer. Sliding his arms around Treize quickly, he pulled the other man against him. "I remember," he said. "And you still are a damned bastard. You tie my stomach in knots and then I am obliged to beg your forgiveness. You have not changed on bit."

Treize smiled slowly. "I told you, my dear Zechs, that I never would. And you'd not be obliged to beg my forgiveness, except for your own damned stubbornness. Have I ever asked that you be anything but civil - a proper gentleman?"

Zechs took a deep breath and let it out slowly. He laid his forehead against Treize's shoulder. "No, you have not," he admitted.

Treize's smile widened. He reached up and gently stroked the long, platinum hair. "Does this mean... you are willing to let us take our comfort together... for old times sake?"

Zechs felt the bulge in his pants become even more pronounced. "Yes," he breathed in answer. Looking up at the other man, Zechs touched his fingers to Treize's mouth.

Opening his mouth, Treize licked the ends of the blonde's fingers lightly. "I am happy," he said, holding Zech's eyes. "Zechs... my Zechs Merquise... I'll try and keep it from being too tedious for you..." he said softly, then smiled, and took Zech's wrist, turning suddenly to twist the arm behind Zech's back. He chuckled in the other man's ear, then kissed it. "It's your fire I need, my friend, not your melancholy rain..."

Zechs grunted, but did not cry out as he felt his arm twisted. Listening to Treize's words, he suddenly felt inspired and excited. "Then it is fire you will have... Your Excellency," he said, ducking under and breaking Treize's hold.

Treize let go and stepped back, laughing. He shrugged his shoulders and slid out of his jacket, dropping it to the floor. Stretching, he circled around the edge of the room, keeping his eyes on the blond. "Come, then..." he said, motioning with his hand.

Zechs ripped off his jacket as well and tossed it on a nearby chair. He moved a little, keeping his eyes on Treize as he unbuttoned the dress shirt and flipped the tails out of his waistband. The boots would have to wait. He advanced quickly, reaching out for Treize's arm.

Treize allowed the other man to grip his arm, pivoting on his toes suddenly, so that Zech's forward momentum worked against him. Zechs found himself slammed against a brocade-covered wall with Treize behind him.

"You always seem to end up in this position," Treize purred in his ear. "I'm starting to think you do it on purpose." He shoved his knee between Zech's legs, pushing them apart, and pressed his bulging crotch against the blonde's beautifully curved rear, rubbing against him suggestively.

Noin felt her body flush with unexpected heat. His Excellency... doing that... to Zechs... it was so... crude... yet she felt her insides twist painfully in what felt like intense arousal. No...

Zechs' hands gripped the wall as he felt the wave of pleasure mixed with shame roll over him. His nostrils flared and his chest rose and fell against the wall, causing his body to rock in a natural motion against Treize's leg. His mind supplied pictures of the way Treize would look when his clothes were removed and Zechs swallowed. He did a standing push-up against the wall, feeling his body squeezed deliciously tighter against Treize. In just a few moments, Zechs felt that dizzying sense of freedom return confirming what a low and miserable person he truly was. It was blended like a fine wine with just the right amount of devil-may-care and placed Zechs back into a frame of mind he had enjoyed... the role of the 'bad boy'.

"Fuck you," he said, clearly into the room as he moved.

Treize laughed delightedly, as he felt Zechs press against him. "That's the Zechs I remember... that's the one I loved more than any other," he said into the blond's ear, licking it. Then he stepped back quickly, unbuttoning his vest and shirt as he waited for Zechs' next move.

Zechs peeled the shirt from his body, baring his chest. 'Yes.' he thought as he discarded the thought that this was not a good idea. "I fine these boots a bit.. much," he said dropping down onto the floor and removing them. Standing, he felt the thick carpet on brush against the bottom of his feet, soothingly.

Treize chuckled, dropping his shirt and vest. "Too bad," he said. "I always liked them. Such a traditional piece of dominance-wear. I swear, the boots alone frightened half the cadets in your unit! I could never make such an impression... I'm too fond of my... roses."

Naked to the waist, Treize flexed his muscles, presenting an impression of effortless power.

Zechs laughed, tossing his platinum hair back. "Oh you impressed them," he returned. "They understood quickly that the roses had thorns." Zechs moved towards Treize again, this time he lunged for his midsection.

Again Treize moved only slightly, but enough to take him out of Zech's direct path. One hand moved out with the speed of a striking snake and grabbed a hefty fist-full of Zechs' waist-length hair.

"I told you this was a liability," Treize said, using it to drag Zechs face to his. He held the other man there with the one hand, and kissed him, opening his mouth and plundering with his tongue.

Even from the monitor, it was clear who was doing what to whom.

Zechs kissed back hungrily tasting Treize's tongue. Reaching up, he slid his hand around the back of Treize's neck holding him as well, as he ached. He knew that these were only the opening moves in the duel.

Treize smiled, slowing opening his fist to release the silken handful. Reaching down, between their bodies, he rubbed the flat of his palm over the blonde's crotch, feeling the heat and hardness straining the material. "Your fire..." he murmured, a hint of laughter in his voice.

Zechs groaned as his hips moved forward and strained towards Treize's hand. Zechs swallowed and then moved back, breathing hard. He did not have to see to know that the line of his pants had been distorted by his still-swelling bulge. He looked back at Treize, the ice blue eyes half-lidded. " Yes, 'My' fire. Where's yours?" he said.

Treize laughed. He reached down, unfastening his pants.

Noin gasped.

Treize let his cock spring out, already almost fully erect and getting there rapidly.

"Fire... no... but my thorn is nice and sharp..." he said.

It was Zech's turn to laugh. He walked closer and opened his own pants, discarding them. Reaching out, he gripped Treize's swollen cock. He squeezed him, feeling the warm, stiffness in his hand. "Quite sharp, yes," he said in agreement. Looking back at Treize, he said. "I think you rule with your thorn, Excellency."

Treize moved his hips, rocking in Zechs' grasp. "Do I? And here I thought it was my charming personality..." he said, his voice low and husky. Reaching out, he took Treize's cock in his grip as well, smiling at the feel of the hot, velvety skin stretched tight and engorged with blood. "Beautiful... Zechs... everything about you is... exquisite..."

Zech's moved closer and lifted Treize's face up with his free hand. Leaning forward, he kissed Treize deeply as his hips moved in time with Treize's hand on his cock.

Noin stared at the images on the screen, feeling her body tighten and ache... She'd dreamed of seeing her love intimately, but not like this... and Treize... his body was magnificent, and she would never have dared think about such things as she was seeing. Unconsciously, she pressed her legs together tightly, rocking a little.

Treize welcomed Zechs' kiss, allowing his mouth to be plundered. At the same time, his grip on the other man's shift tightened... it was a dangerous game and he knew the blond would retaliate in kind. It was a test of wills and endurance of pain... Insistently, he used his grip to pull the other man down, as he bent his own knees and dropped to them on the floor, bringing Zechs down with him.

Zechs moved down, feeling the pain and pleasure mix. His hand gripped Treize harder in reflex as he felt his body flush with heat. Breaking the kiss, he looked back at Treize with lust-filled eyes, stroking him with long, smooth movements.

Treize smiled back, loosening his grip and stroking the blond in the same rhythm. He let his head tilt back, enjoying the touch of the strong, battle-callused hand on him. Slowly, he released the other man's cock, and moved his hand up, caressing his throat, then reaching around to grab a handful of hair at the back of the blonde's neck. He pulled, forcing Zechs to bow his body backwards. Bending, he pressed his mouth to the exposed neck, devouring it.

Noin whimpered, not even realizing she made a sound. Both her hands were now pressed together in her lap, and pressing down again her aching body. It was so wrong... she hated Treize for what he was doing, yet at the same time, it was causing a huge fire inside her to grow ever hotter.

Zechs closed his eyes and accepted his passage to hell. In the position he was in, he felt exposed and vulnerable - at the same time, he felt free, engaged and focused. The touch of Treize's mouth on his neck, drove him insane and inflamed his aching body even moreso.

Treize took his time, allowing himself to indulge in the taste and feel of Zechs' smooth skin. The hard muscles underneath fired Treize's arousal as they always had. He pulled harder on the hair, bowing Zechs all the way back, then released him. Looking down, he smiled at the vision beneath him. "I win the first round," he said softly, and then bent over to take Zechs cock into his mouth.

Noin jumped up and walked blindly over to a wall, kicking it, as she squeezed her eyes shut. She wanted to do that... what Treize was doing. It was insane to think of the leader of Oz... sucking cock... and he certainly appeared to know what he was doing, and be enjoying it thoroughly. Tears streamed down her face. Every romantic notion she'd ever had was now lying in shattered ruins as she heard Zechs moan behind her.

Zech felt his body flush with a fine sheen of perspiration as he moved his hips in time with Treize's mouth. He felt only a twinge of shame now as the needs of his body took over and concentration focused on the warm, wet mouth that engulfed his cock. His fingers moved into Treize's hair and then to the back of the other man's head, holding him as he felt his cock begin to throb. Suddenly he groaned as his hips jerked upward spilling the seed of his body into the waiting mouth of His Excellency, Treize Khushrenada.

Treize drank the hot salty liquid, licking traces of it from Zechs' flesh before releasing him. He gazed down at the beautiful blond.... that hair alone revealed to Treize which side of the equation his fiery friend belonged on. He watched his subordinate recover, still on his knees, reaching down to stroke his own aching member absently.

"Remember..." he said in a soft, low voice, "The bet we made, the first time? You had to swallow... whoever flinched, or let anything escape... would give up to the other... you lost..."

Zechs closed his eyes and raised his head an inch or two from the floor. He then hit his skull against the floor once as he remembered the bet. "Bastard," Zechs swore softly.

"At your service," Treize answered, smiling. "You were... sixteen? About the age of those Gundam pilots... what do you suppose they get up to when they're between battles, hmmm...?"

Zechs closed his eyes again. "You are a sick bastard, you know that?" he said. "Those kids..." he added and then stopped as pictures began filling his mind. Zechs shook his head as if to shake the thoughts from his mind. "We are both sick bastards." he amended, raising up on his elbows.

Treize nodded, still stroking himself. "Zechs... how do you want it? On your back or on your stomach?"

Noin whimpered again but it had an underlying note of anger to it. She had never returned to her chair, but sat on the floor with her back to a wall, watching the monitor from there.

Zechs looked down his long body and found his attention caught by the movement of Treize's hand. He took a deep breath and dropped his head down. Without a word, he pulled his legs up and moved up onto his hands and knees facing away from Treize.

Noin bit her lip deeply, drawing blood. Her head continued to shake, and her lower body continued to burn. "No..." she whispered. "Don't... let him..."

Treize smiled. He reached forward and caressed the smooth skin of Zech's beautiful rear. Then he moved to his feet in a fluid motion. "No..." he said. "Stand up."

Looking over his shoulder once, Zechs stood up.

"Face me," Treize said softly.

Zechs turned around as instructed.

"Your surrender is bitter sweet my friend," Treize said, continuing to stroke himself. "I feel the resentment that comes with it. It would please me to give you pleasure... but not to be seen by you as something you've given into unwillingly..."

Zechs' eyes widened. "I do not feel resentful," Zech's said, as he moved closer.

"Is that true?" Treize said slowly, his face serious. Only Lady Une could see the tiny glint in his eyes.

Zechs took a deep breath as he felt something attempt to touch his mind. He cupped his hands around Treize's face, looking into his eyes. "Yes," he said softly and then leaned down to kiss Treize deeply.

Treize returned the kiss with the same measure of passion. Lifting his mouth, he said, "Will you drift away from me, my lightning prince?"

Conflict threatened to rise within Zechs, but seeing the look in Treize's eyes, he smiled. "I will remain, fighting for you and no I will not drift away," he said.

Treize shook his head. "Do you think that is what I care about? I've never asked you to do anything other than what your beliefs dictate. It's your friendship I mourn to loose."

Zechs looked into Treize's eyes directly. "There is no need for you to mourn. You have my friendship... eternally," he said.

Treize took a deep breath and released it. "Thank you..." he said softly. He put his arms around Zechs and kissed him deeply, moving his body against the other man. "Then we don't need to struggle, or test each other any further," he said. Taking Zechs' hand, he drew him across the room, pulling a curtain aside. The wide bed was waiting. Sitting, Treize drew Zechs beside him. He continued to kiss and touch the blond, and soon they were lying beside each other with arms and legs entwined. Gently, Treize turned Zechs onto his side, and came up behind him, spooning his body to the other. He reached under a pillow and brought out a small tube, spreading a clear slick substance on his fingers. He rubbed his hand along Zech's rear, dipping into the cleft. Then he began inserting one, then two fingers into the blonde's body, working them in and out.

Zechs moaned as he moved back against Treize's hand. He shivered and gripped the covers as his world condensed to the bed and the man behind him. He also knew that he would soon be incoherent as well, feeling his cock begin to waken between his legs. "Treize," he whispered.

Noin found she could not move. "Oh god, Zechs..." she whispered. His moans, his body squirming as Treize... the obvious pleasure... it was too much for her. She wrapped her arms tightly around herself and rocked on the floor.

Treize kissed the back of Zech's long neck. "Yes, my friend..." he whispered back. He took some of the lubricant and coated his cock with it, then pressed up, into the opening in Zech's body, replacing his fingers with something vastly more substantial. His eyes closed, and a smile of pure enjoyment stretched his lips. "Tight..." he whispered. "Still... keeping yourself..." He began to rock his hips, moving his shaft inside the blond, guiding himself to find the pleasure center within his friend.

Zechs leaned his head into the pillows as his hips lifted slightly and moved to envelop as much of Treize as he could. "Oh god, Treize, " he moaned aloud, the gasped feeling the pleasure send shock waves throughout his body. Gritting his teeth, Zechs closed his eyes. "Fuck me," he called out, moving against Treize with increasing speed.

Treize gasped, and his smile showed white teeth. "I will!" he promised, growling into Zech's ear. Gripping the other man's hips, he began to move quickly, thrusting deeply, taking the blond with controlled power. He felt the man beneath him tense and shudder... pounding into him, he continued to increase speed and intensity until the other man screamed his release. Only then did he close his eyes, a feral look taking over his normally cultured features. Bruising Zechs with the force of his grip, he pounded... and released inside the tight, hot opening, making no sound as he did so. The expression on his face revealed it all.

Noin dropped her head to her knees and sobbed quietly.

Treize slowly recovered, and moved back, releasing himself from the body in front of him. Bending he kissed Zechs' neck lingeringly.

Spent and exhausted, Zechs reached up and behind him, capturing Treize's neck with his arm. Finally, he turned and pulled Treize down for a long, deep kiss. "No one does this to me," he said, "I do not do this, I mean."

Treize smiled, Kissing Zechs tenderly. "I know," he said. "But I needed this. To remember... to feel... to sustain me for what is coming. Thank you... for indulging me one last time."

Zechs smiled back. "What is coming?" he asked.

Treize shook his head, still smiling. "If I could tell you, I would," he said. "But... I'm afraid..." There was a soft signal from some device in the room. "There it is...try and forgive me. I have to go to a late meeting. The generals... old men who have nothing better to do at night. Stay here, if you like. I won't be back before morning. And whether you stay or go... try to think of this without too much recrimination."

Zechs smiled a little and nodded. "I will do that," he said. "Good luck with the Generals and as a friend once told me, don't them break your spirit."

Treize smiled, kissing Zechs lightly on the lips. "No chance of that," he said. Then he rose and grabbed his clothes. Walking over to the large mirror that dominated one wall, he quickly dressed, checking his cravat and running his fingers through his short hair. Too softly for Zechs, on the bed to hear him, he said, smiling at his reflection, "I hope you got that, Lady. Good night..."

Then he left.

In the control room, Lady Une smiled. She placed her fingers at her lips and blew a kiss to His Excellency. Then she looked down at Noin.

"Come with me. I know you don't feel like it, but I want to make you something to eat," she said.

Noin looked up, wiping her face on her sleeve. Her expression was exhausted. "No way," she said. "... but if you have a bottle of gin or old scotch, we might make a deal."

Lady Une reached down, offering Noin a hand up. "I am completely stocked," she said. "Let's get out of here."

Noin accepted the hand, mildly surprised when she managed to make it to her feet in one try. Her body ached and the material between her legs was soaked. Glancing back, she saw Zechs, his beautiful body sprawled across the bed, his eyes closed. "Oh Zechs..." she whispered, and suddenly wanted a copy of that picture to keep. She looked at Une, wondering if the strange woman would read her thought.

Lady Une smiled. Leaning down, she touched the console and lifted a small disk from one of the slots in the machine. "This is for you to keep. In memory," she said, handing the disk to Noin. "Now come, the scotch is getting warm."

Noin took the disk with very mixed feelings and stowed it in an inner pocket. "I hope you have more than one bottle," she said, following.

Comments eagerly welcomed!

vonceia & bonnejeanne

"the two brains of a dinosaur"

Comments? Email bonnejeanne@yahoo.com or vonceia@yahoo.com

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