The Tutor

Chapter 5

The Lesson

"When should I come get you?" asked Solo, sticking his head out of the car.

"I dunno," said Duo, "How about I call you when I'm done, okay?"

"Fine," said Solo. "Call my cell phone, we might be out somewhere."

"I will," promised Duo. "See ya later, Bro," he waved and walked up the path to Wufei's front porch.

He rang the bell. The woman he'd seen briefly before came to the door.

Duo stuck out his hand, "You must be Wufei Chang's mother," he said.

"Yes, I'm Mrs. Chang." She turned around. "Wufei, someone here for you."

"Please come in," she said. Duo looked at her. Wufei must look more like his father, he thought, because his mother was round faced and delicate looking.

Wufei came down the stairs. "Good morning, Duo," he said quietly.

"Mother," he said, "this is Duo Maxwell." Mrs. Chang bowed her head slightly in Duo's direction.

"I'm pleased to meet you," she said. "Wufei, I have some shopping to do, so please make your friend feel at home. Lao lao went to play bingo this morning."

She slipped her shopping bag over her arm and nodding at Duo again, left.

"So," said Duo, "how's it goin?" He felt a little awkward, which was something unusual for him.

"You mean since last night?" asked Wufei. "I'm fine, I think."

He sat down on the sofa. "Sit down if you want to," he said. Duo sat on the sofa, too, but at the other end.

"You're acting awfully shy, Duo," said Wufei after a few minutes of uncomfortable silence.

Duo was fiddling with the fringe on the edge of his denim cut offs, and he looked up.

"I guess I don't know where I stand here," he said after a few seconds.

"Me neither," Wufei said. "But, there's no need to feel uncomfortable. I didn't do anything I didn't want to do."

"I know," said Duo, "but, maybe it was just an experiment. You know."

"Maybe," agreed Wufei, "But I didn't hate it."

"Really?" asked Duo. "Not exactly a great compliment to my kissing ability, but I can live with that. As long as you don't hate me."

Wufei laughed shortly. "No, I don't hate you," he said quietly.

Duo scooted closer. "I'm glad," he said.

"Are you hungry?" asked Wufei. "Want something to drink?"

"No," said Duo. "I just had breakfast. Quit changing the subject."

"I was being polite," said Wufei.

"If this whole thing is freaking you out, I can call my brother to come and get me," said Duo, suddenly.

"No, I want you to stay," said Wufei. "I promised to teach you martial arts."

"Oh," said Duo. "That's the only reason, huh?" He fiddled with the end of his braid, not looking up. Wufei looked at him. Duo was biting his lip nervously.

"No, that's not the only reason."

"You do like me then, just a little?" asked Duo almost inaudibly.

"Of course I like you," said Wufei. He'd never known anyone willing to be so vulnerable and he didn't quite know how to react.

Duo nodded. "I don't think I could stand it if you didn't want to be my friend anymore."

"We're friends," said Wufei. "But, I think you want to be more than my friend."

"Yes," Duo said simply.

"I don't know if I'm like that," said Wufei, turning around to face Duo, finally.

"I know," said Duo. "But I am." He stood up. "I'd better go."

"I said I don't know," repeated Wufei, grabbing his arm. "I didn't say I wasn't."

Duo looked at the hand on his arm. "All right, I'll stay."

"We can go out in the back yard," said Wufei, getting up. "Come on, let's see what you can do."

Duo followed him through the kitchen out onto a covered porch in the back, and onto the lawn outside.

"Okay, show me how to kick ass," said Duo, starting to become his usual cheerful self again.

"You're a long way from kicking anyone's ass," Wufei said. "You have to learn the katas first."

"What's that?" Duo said.

"The basic movements."

"Okay, show me those," said Duo confidently.

Wufei shook his head. "You are too much. You can't learn everything in one day."

"How about one move then?" asked Duo, grinning engagingly at Wufei.

"One move," agreed Wufei. "Come here," he said, motioning to Duo.

"Stand in front of me," said Wufei, "And watch."

Duo's mouth was hanging open as he watched Wufei go through the series of katas.

"Wow," he breathed, when Wufei was done. "You're right, I can never learn to do that!"

"I didn't say you couldn't learn to do it," Wufei said, panting slightly. "I said it takes more than one day."

"You make it look easy, but I can tell it's not," said Duo.

"It just takes practice," said Wufei. "Lots of practice."

"How long have you been doing this?" asked Duo.

"Since I was 3," said Wufei. "They have classes for kids that little."

"I guess you're right about the ass-kicking thing, then," joked Duo. "I'll have to hire you as my bodyguard for a while."

"You can learn a few self-defense moves pretty quick, actually," said Wufei. "Enough to get away," he added.

"Come closer and pretend you're going to hit me," said Wufei.

"Hit you?" asked Duo, coming closer.

"Yes, a punch to my face or stomach," said Wufei, standing with his arms at his sides.

Duo took a boxer's stance and suddenly launched a punch at Wufei's face.

Wufei easily caught his arm by the wrist and elbow, and before Duo knew it, his arm was completely immoblized.

"Don't struggle, I don't want to hurt you," Wufei said near his ear. He released Duo's arm and Duo looked at him, rubbing his wrist.

"You could have broken my arm!" said Duo, his eyes wide.

"Yes, if a person applies enough pressure in that position, you can easily dislocate or break someone's arm."

"Remind me never to piss you off," said Duo.

"I'll remind you," said Wufei, raising his eyebrows.

"Show me how you did that," said Duo.

Wufei said, "Give me your arm," and Duo held out his arm.

"You grab the arm here," he said, putting his hand around Duo's wrist, "And then here at the elbow from underneath," he encircled Duo's elbow with his other hand, "And then you push the arm up toward the person's head," he finished.

Wufei was holding Duo's arm and their noses were almost touching. He was suddenly aware of Duo's rapid breathing.

"Duo, I." he started when suddenly Duo's mouth was on his and his other arm was around his neck.

"Kiss me back," pleaded Duo, breaking away for a second before he attacked Wufei's mouth again. "Please," he panted.

He released Duo's arm from its awkward position and Duo put that arm around his neck too.

"Duo," he said in a low voice. "I don't know." he was cut off again by Duo putting his hand over his mouth.

"I'm sorry," gasped Duo. "I'm sorry." He let go of Wufei's neck and turned away. "I shouldn't have done that, I'm sorry."

He sounded like he was crying. "It's okay," said Wufei, "Please don't be upset."

Duo sat down on the grass and pulled his knees up to his chest and put his head against his knees. "I'm sorry," he said again.

Wufei could tell he was crying now, his shoulders shook with sobs.

He knelt down beside Duo. "No, I'm sorry," he said. "I'm not being honest with you. Last night, when you kissed me, I liked it. I liked it a lot. I don't know why I'm acting like this except that I'm scared."

Duo nodded. "I'm coming on too strong," he said, raising his head and wiping his eyes. "It's just because I like you so much. I always do that, I just want." He couldn't finish.

"Duo, I'm not going anywhere, all right?" said Wufei. "I just need a little time to get used to this whole thing. Please?"

Duo nodded again. "Okay," he took a deep breath. "I understand."

He sniffled and wiped his eyes again on the back of his arm.

"Here," Wufei said. He handed Duo a handkerchief out of the pocket of his white judo pants.

"Gee, thanks," said Duo, using the handkerchief. "Uh, keep it," said Wufei when Duo tried to hand it back to him.

Duo laughed ruefully. "I'm such a mess."

"You're not a mess," said Wufei. "You're just honest. You know what you want and you are brave enough to go after it. It's one of the things I like most about you."

"I scare you, though," said Duo.

"Not you," said Wufei. "The way I feel about you scares me, but not you."

"What do you feel about me?" asked Duo, looking at him with sad, cloudy eyes.

Wufei swallowed. "When that guy hurt you, I wanted to hurt him," he said quietly. "And I'm attracted to you, I know that. I can't quit watching you, the way you look, the way you move. And I like your hair, it's so beautiful and so are your eyes." He exhaled.

"I think you're beautiful too," said Duo quietly. "It's not just that. You're so strong, so confident, so smart. I wish I were like that."

Wufei snorted, hiding the faint blush that came to his face. "I wish," he scoffed, looking at the ground between his knees. "And you're smart, Duo. I don't like to hear you put yourself down."

"Bad habit," said Duo.

"Time to break that habit," said Wufei softly. "I'll make you a deal," he said. "You stop belittling yourself and I'll stop denying my feelings."

"Deal," said Duo, trying to smile up at him.

"You can start by giving me a hug, because I need it," said Duo. He held out his arms and looked at Wufei beguilingly.

Wufei's eyes widened a little but he complied, gently putting his arms around Duo and pulling him close.

"Thanks," said Duo, his voice muffled against Wufei's T-shirt.

Wufei closed his eyes and surrendered himself to the wonderful feeling of Duo pressed against him.

Duo's stomach rumbled. Wufei pulled his head back a little and gave Duo a look.

"I'm starving," said Duo. He looked at his watch. "Is 11:15 too early to eat lunch?"

Wufei shook his head. "No," he said. "I wouldn't want you to starve as my guest, it would be unthinkable." He smiled faintly down at Duo.

"I like your definition of hospitality," said Duo. Duo got up on his knees and faced Wufei, putting his hands on his shoulders and gently leaning over to kiss him on the cheek.

"Please feed me," he said, laying his head on Wufei's shoulder.

Wufei began to chuckle.

"You're impossible," he whispered in Duo's ear.

"Yes, but I'm adorable, too," said Duo slyly.

"Yes, you are," said Wufei, standing up and pulling Duo up to his feet.

"Come on, I'll make you some lunch."