The Tutor

Chapter 4

The Brother

Solo was waiting for his younger brother when he pulled into the driveway.

"You're a little late, squirt," said Solo, reaching in the car window and ruffling Duo's hair.

"OUCH!" said Duo. "Easy, bro, my head is really sore."

"Uncle Jim didn't yank your hair again?" asked Solo with narrowed teal colored eyes. Like Duo, he wore his hair longish in a ponytail, but it was a frankly red color instead of just having hints of red-gold like Duo's.

"No, some asswipe outside of the movie theater," said Duo, gingerly rubbing the back of his head.

"I hope you busted his ass," said Solo as Duo climbed out of the car.

"No, actually my new friend kung fu'ed his sorry behind," said Duo, grinning. "He's Chinese. Into all that stuff."

"Friend or boyfriend?" asked Solo, smiling slyly at his little brother.

"I dunno," said Duo. "I just like him." He looked down and dug the toe of his sneaker into the gravel of the driveway.

"Boyfriend," Solo decided looking at Duo's shy expression.

"Quit teasin, will ya?" said Duo, punching his older brother lightly in the arm.

"Oh, so you wanna fight, huh?" Solo bantered, taking a boxer's stance. He was a head taller than Duo and his arms were considerably longer, not to mention he outweighed Duo by about 50 lbs of lean muscle.

"Not exactly a fair fight," pouted Duo. "Wait til I'm bigger and learn kung fu, then you'll be sorry."

"You're going to learn kung fu?" asked Solo. "From who, the boyfriend?"

"I told you he's not my boyfriend," insisted Duo. "Not yet anyway," he added, grinning slyly.

"There's the Duo I know," Solo laughed. "Always got a plan cooking."

The front door to the house opened and the porch light came on.

"There you are," said an irritated voice. Duo looked up at his Aunt Jean.

She looked a little wasted already. Not unusual for a Friday night. Like most working drunks, she used her weekends for her really serious drinking.

"Yeah, I'm home," said Duo sullenly. "I had to bring Solo's car back by ten."

Solo turned toward his aunt. "I see you didn't waste any time getting plowed," he sneered.

"Shut up, you don't live here anymore and it's none of your business what the hell I do with my weekends," she slurred.

"Thanks for letting me use your car, bro," muttered Duo. "And for the cash too."

"No big deal," said Solo, but his narrowed eyes were on his aunt.

"It IS my business what you do with my little brother in the house," said Solo, raising his voice. "If I come back in the morning and either of you have touched him, I swear, I'll call the cops. In a heartbeat," he added menacingly.

"We're his legal guardians," she yelled at Solo. "Get the hell outta my driveway!" She shook her fist at Solo.

"I'll be back in the morning to get you for the weekend," said Solo. "You can come stay with me and Darlene." Darlene was Solo's roommate and girlfriend. They'd been living together ever since Solo had left his aunt and uncle's house 3 years ago when he'd turned 18.

"Thanks," said Duo. "Could you take me to Wufei's house in the morning? I sort of promised him I'd come over for a kung fu lesson."

"Sure squirt, whatever you want."

"I'm coming to get Duo in the morning!" yelled Solo at his aunt.

"You can take the ungrateful little bastard right now for all I care," she muttered, lighting a cigarette with unsteady hands.

"Could I?" asked Duo pleadingly. "I'll go get my stuff, be back in a 5 minutes."

"Sure," said Solo. "When you turn 18, you're outta here, you know that, don't you buddy? You know I wouldn't leave you here with them if I had any choice," said Solo with a guilty choke in his voice.

"Sure I know," Duo answered him seriously. Looking at his brother's jaw clenching, Duo suddenly flung his arms around his waist and buried his head in his chest. "I know."

"Go get your stuff," said Solo hoarsely, unwinding Duo's arms gently. Duo nodded against his chest and turned and ran up to the house, brushing past his aunt without saying anything.

5 minutes later, as promised, he came running out with a gym bag crammed full of his things.

He jumped in the car grinning happily. Weekends with Solo were the best anyway and now he was going to see Wufei again in the morning. It didn't get any better than this.

"So, where we goin'? asked Duo, noticing that they weren't headed towards Solo's apartment.

"Pizza," said Solo, winking at him.

"Pizza?" asked Duo, perking up his ears. "Can I pick the toppings?"

Solo laughed. "Okay, but no experiments. Jalapeno and pineapple? Dude what were you thinkin?"

"Okay, nothing weird, I promise," said Duo, making an X over his heart.

They ordered to go and while they were waiting for their pizza, Solo asked him, "So, tell me about your new friend?"

"Well, I told you his name is Wufei. Wufei Chang. He's Chinese." Duo munched absently on a breadstick on the table.

"I figured that from his name," said Solo. "Besides, you mentioned that. Where'd you meet him?"

"At school, he's in my English class. Mrs. Hartwell asked him to be my tutor when I got behind a little."

"Doin okay at school, then?" asked Solo offhandedly. He knew how Duo hated to be nagged about grades, but he did feel responsible for the kid. God only knew his aunt and uncle didn't give a damn if he even went to school.

"Yeah, I got a B+ in English," said Duo, shrugging.

"Hey, that's good," said Solo. "Now we know who got the brains in the family."

Duo snorted, "Yeah, right!" he said sarcastically, rolling his eyes.

"I was a jock in school," said Solo. "I just kept my grades up enough not to get booted from the swim team."

"Wufei says I'm 'naturally graceful'" said Duo suddenly.

Solo laughed. "He's right," Solo said. "You're a little on the skinny side right now, but you'll fill out, get taller. I did," he added.

"I hope you're right," said Duo. He twiddled the bread sticks like drumsticks, beating a rhythm on the table.

"So, this Wufei, he likes you, too?" asked Solo, brushing back his shaggy red bangs.

"I guess," said Duo. "I kissed him last night and he didn't run screaming into the night yelling 'Queer! He put the gay bite on me!'" Duo laughed.

"Always a good sign," said Solo, grinning at Duo's self-effacing humor.

"He told me he's never kissed anyone before," said Duo, frowning. "Maybe he just wanted to know what it's like, huh?"

"Who knows?" shrugged Solo. "Why don't you ask him tomorrow?"

"Maybe," said Duo. "I guess he wouldn't have asked me to his house again if he hated it," mused Duo.

"For you sake, I hope he liked it," said Solo. "You, my dear little bro, have got it bad for this Wufei."

"Shit," said Duo. "I hate being so damned obvious."

"You're the worst liar I've ever known," said Solo. "Remind me to teach you to play poker sometime."

"Suck off," said Duo, throwing a half-eaten breadstick at Solo, who ducked.

The waiter brought their pizza over in two boxes and Solo reached for his wallet and paid him.

"Hm, pepperoni, a classic," said Duo, inhaling. "And what's this? Veggie pizza! Healthy pizza!" exclaimed Duo, "You're sick, you know that?"

"I'm a fitness instructor," argued Solo. "Do you know how much saturated fat is in pepperoni?"

"A lot, I hope," said Duo, reaching in the box and pulling out a triangle of pepperoni pizza. "I'm a growing boy."

"Ah, hot, hot!" he panted, blowing with his mouth open. After a few seconds, he swallowed.

"Geez, why is the first bite like molten lava and 5 minutes later, the whole thing is cold?" he asked Solo.

"I dunno, do I look like a scientist?" asked Solo, laughing a little at Duo's attempt to slurp up a string of cheese hanging off the pizza slice.

"Wanna piece?" asked Duo, his mouth full. "No, I can wait. Besides, it's 10:30 at night," said Solo. "You must have a cast iron gut."

"I was so nervous about going to the movies, I didn't eat much earlier," Duo lied. "Had some junk at the movie."

"Don't lie for them, Duo," said Solo, tersely. "Besides, I know how they are on the weekends. They pretty much leave you to fend for yourself. Why do you think I make sure I'm there most of the time?"

"Thanks," Duo muttered. He finished eating his pizza more slowly.

"I'll always look out for you, you know that, right?" said Solo grimly, pulling up to the parking lot of his small apartment.

Duo nodded, swallowing hard. "I know."

"Come on, I'll grab the pizza, you get your stuff," said Solo, climbing out of the car.

"Darlene doesn't mind me coming over?' asked Duo quietly.

"No, she's nuts about you," said Solo. "She's great about the whole thing. That's why I love her."

"You're lucky," said Duo.

"Yeah, I am," said Solo. "Be sure to mention it to her, I get extra points for that," he winked at Duo.

Darlene was waiting at the door when they came in. "Hi sweetie!" she gave Solo an enthusiastic kiss.

"And you better give me a kiss too," she said, putting an arm around Duo.

"Mushy," protested Duo, but he gave her a peck on the cheek.

She was petite and had short spiky dark hair and intensely green eyes, like a cat, Duo thought.

"Thanks for having me again," he said to her. "Solo sure is lucky to have a nice understanding girlfriend like you." He gave her his best puppy dog eyes.

"You told him to say that, didn't you?" Darlene asked Solo, smacking him lightly on the butt.

"Who me?" asked Solo innocently.

"Now I know for sure you did," she said. "You're both terrible liars."

"I like having you around, Duo," she told him. "You know you're always welcome here anytime. You're Solo's family, after all."

"See I told you," Solo mouthed over Darlene's head.

"Okay, what's on the tube?" asked Duo, plopping down on the sofa.

"South Park!" said Solo and Darlene together.

"Yay!" said Duo. "Now if I only had a beer to wash down this pizza..''

"NO!" They said together again.

"Can't blame a guy for trying," said Duo.