Characters/Pairing: Penny Pingleton/Seaweed Stubbs + Tracy Turnblad/Link Larkin

Word Count: 587

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"So… shin splint, huh?" Link asked, looking at the darker boy as he lay in bed. Seaweed glowered, annoyed at his current position.

"Yeah," he grumbled, staring resolutely at the wall.

"Don't glare so hard at the wall – it's not at fault for your predicament!" Link laughed, walking to stand beside the bed. Penny and Tracy trailed into the room after him, the taller of the two walking to sit at the empty chair on the other side of the bed.

"He can't help it," she replied as Seaweed refused to talk, "his can't turn his neck either."

"Just pretend I'm an invalid!" He cried, throwing up his hands in frustration.

Link grinned, "Well now, you've still got control of your hands. There's something positive–ouch!" His teasing remark was cut short by Tracy's sharp nails, which twisted into the skin of his arm.

"Link, don't tease him," she stated calmly, watching him out of the corner of her eye. He gave her a mock pout, before smiling as she ran her fingers over the sore spot in apology.

"Seaweed," Penny scolded as she took his hand in hers, palming the calloused skin of his fingers, "stop being such a baby." She leaned over to press a kiss on his cheek, and then stood and walked to Tracy. "We're going to go get a few things at the corner store – then we'll be back. Link will keep you company," she informed the bed-ridden boy, both girls smiling at their respective opposites.

As they walked out the room, Link paused, waiting for the door to click behind them before walking to the seat Penny had just vacated. He sat down and gave the other boy another once-over, before grinning.

"You told Penny you fell down the stairs, didn't you?" He asked, feeling a sense of pride towards his friend. Seaweed looked at him, silent for a moment, and then lifted his fist to show Link the slightly bruised knuckles.

"She'd kill me if she knew," he started, grinning a bit, "but yeah – that guy got me good, but I got him square in the nose. Heard it break." Link nodded, approving. He stretched out on the seat, slouching a bit to get comfortable, before he gave Seaweed a sly look.

"Next time, though – let me know," he said, cracking his knuckles fiercely. Seaweed laughed at that, giving Link a sideways glance.

"With that skinny frame, what could you do?" He asked through a chuckle, and Link paused before answering.

"Well… that doesn't matter – I'd figure it out as we went," he finished, resolution firmly placed within his words.

Seaweed gave him a smart grin before adding, "Tracy would kill me."

"Not if she knew it was to protect Penny's honor," Link reminded him, wiggling his toes inside of his shoes.

"No," Seaweed agreed, then shifted as best he could to catch Link's gaze, "then she'd join in." Both boys laughed before Link shook his head, cool grin on his lips.

"Once you involve a Turnblad woman, it's all over." They grinned at each other, falling into a comfortable silence that stretched for a few moments. Then Seaweed cleared his throat, body shifted back so that his gaze was back to the wall.

"Thanks," he said softly, "for saying you have my back." Link opened his mouth to reply before the other boy continued, "Remember – I've got yours, too."

Link felt his grin widen before he gave Seaweed's shoulder a careful squeeze, "wouldn't have it any other way, man."

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A/N: For DewRu… who has ouchies today.