The Tutor

Chapter 8

The Fight

The cell phone Duo's brother had given him rang. Duo was still languorous from a day in the sun as he pushed it on.

"Hello? Duo?" said a tearful voice. It was Darlene.

"Darlene, what's wrong?" Duo had been sitting on the sofa next to Wufei half-watching something on television.

"It's Solo." He could barely understand her for sobs.

"What happened to Solo?" he said, sitting up anxiously.

The tension radiating from his body made Wufei reach over to grab his free hand.

"He got in a fight with your Uncle James," said Darlene. "Jean called the cops and they're both in jail."

"I'll be there as fast as I can," said Duo. "They were fighting about me, weren't they?"

Silence. "Come on godammit, Darlene, I know they were!" Duo grated.

"Yeah, Duo, it was," she finally said. "But, Duo, it's not your fault. He just can't stand the way they treat you sometimes!"

Duo clenched the receiver. "Where do I go?" he asked.

"He's being held at the 11th precinct holding cell," said Darlene.

"I can bail him out in the morning," she added. "But, they're keeping him overnight. I can't do anything more."

"There's no point going over there, Duo. He wouldn't want you seeing him there anyway."

"Is he hurt?" Duo's hand scrubbed across his eyes, burning with unshed tears.

"No, not really. Just a few bruises, really. Your uncle got the worse of it. He was so stinking drunk, he starting trying to hit Solo and Solo pushed him into the concrete wall in the back yard. He has a dislocated shoulder, a mild concussion. He's in the hospital."

"Oh, I feel so bad," said Duo sarcastically. "He's pounded on me enough, I wonder how the old bastard feels getting a little himself."

"Duo, that kind of talk can't help Solo now. I mean, I know how you feel, but don't say that around anyone else."

"I know," he said quietly.

"What's wrong?" asked Wufei, not able to be silent any longer.

"Is Wufei there with you?" asked Darlene.

"Yeah, he's right here."

"Good, is there some way you can stay there?"

"She wants me to stay here, Wu," he said. "You think it'll be all right?

Wufei nodded. "My mom won't mind."

"I have to hang up, Duo. I'll come get you in the morning. Bye sweetie." She'd begun to cry again, and Duo sat holding the phone, feeling helpless and finally ended the connection.

"What happened?" Wufei asked again.

"Solo's in jail," said Duo. "He got in a fight with my uncle and the cops are holding him overnight."

"I don't know what to say," said Wufei.

"Don't say anything," said Duo. "Could you please just hold me?"

Slender muscular arms wrapped around Duo and he finally succumbed to harsh sobs that seemed to wrack his body noiselessly.

"I'm so pissed!" he finally shouted, pushing Wufei's arms away.

"Duo, it'll be allright," Wufei said, feeling stupid the minute he said it.

"Nothing is 'all right'," said Duo said sarcastically. "What would you know about it, anyway?"

Wufei recoiled. "Are you angry with me?" he whispered loudly.

Duo looked up with angry reddened eyes. "I don't know, I'm just mad at everything." He took a deep breath. "No," he said finally. "I'm not mad at you 'Fei."

"I'm sorry," he added. "I just feel so terrible because they were fighting about me."

"You feel guilty," said Wufei. "I can understand a little. When my parents got divorced, I thought it was my fault."

"But, this really is my fault!" cried Duo. "They don't want me, they never did!"

"But, Solo wants you," said Wufei. He swallowed hard. "I want you, Duo."

Duo sank to his knees. "Do you really, 'Fei?" he asked in a whisper. "Do you just want me or the sex or what? Do you love me?"

Wufei was struck dumb. Until that moment, he hadn't categorized anything he felt for Duo, except the intensity of it. He only knew it was all- consuming, but love?

"I don't know," he said carefully. "I.." He hesistated. "I suppose I love you," he said hesistantly.

"You suppose?" said Duo harshly. "Well, I 'suppose' I better leave!" he shouted, jumping up. "I have to go, I can't stand it here anymore! You might call me if you ever make up your fucking mind, okay?"

He pushed on his shoes and ran out of the house. Wufei sat there dumbstruck, unable to move.

Suddenly, he heard his motorcycle come to life. "Duo!" he yelled, jumping up.

"Duo, don't!" he said, running out into the yard.

Duo had already ridden off on his bike, leaving Wufei standing in the yard, looking after him.

"Duo, there's no where to run," he whispered to himself.

Duo whipped the bike down towards the highway, cutting dangerously in and out of traffic.

"Solo," he said under his breath. "I'm coming, Solo."