Disclaimer: As always I own nothing but the original characters and the plot ideas displayed in this and my other fics. Everything else belongs to other lucky bastards whose names I don't even know. Thank you for reading and have a great day!
This is dedicated to Celesta, thank you so very much for worrying, I'm very sorry about it and hope this makes up for it.
A Guy Thing
Wufei walked in front of his students, all eyes on him from their vantage point sitting on the mats before him. He was giving his end of the class speech and was pleased to see that he had their undivided attention. Usually they would have been fidgeting by now. Then again the last person he'd caught fidgeting had been made to write an essay for him so maybe the rest had opted not to risk it. in the coming week though he had no doubt focusing their attention was going to be as easy as getting Duo to get a hair cut. Lucrezia had requested that Duo keep his mouth shut about them for a couple more days, so that Milliardo could get used to the idea and then Duo was free to blab all he wanted. The baka was practically counting down the hours, Wufei thought darkly. And once everyone knew, well then all eyes were going to be on them and their classes were going to be turned upside down. Finishing up Wufei caught a movement out of the corner of his eye. Briefly glancing over Wufei really wasn't surprised to see Milliardo. In fact he'd expected him yesterday. Not even aware that his stance had become more ready and defensive Wufei continued then dismissed his class for the day. Watching Milliardo walk through them Wufei noticed that several seemed to pick up on Peacecraft's mood and were dragging their feet a little in the hopes of catching a bit of the action.
"That was your last class for the day, wasn't it?" Milliardo inquired silkily, giving Wufei a questioning look that revealed nothing of what was going on behind those icy blue eyes. Then again, when did Milliardo show anything he wasn't prepared to have seen.
"Yes, it was." Wufei answered, absently lifting his hand to wipe a bit of sweat off his brow with the back of it. Someone had turned the heater up unfortunately high in the gym and he was tired, hot and sweaty. Not the best of mood for Milliardo to find him in.
"I was planning to get here earlier, to watch your students in action but a meeting went longer then expected. I suppose you're quite exhausted by now." Milliardo commented, making it sound like if Wufei agreed it would be just an excuse.
"I'll get my second wind in no time. Was there something you wanted, Peacecraft?" Wufei asked, getting straight to the point. There were still students milling around but if Milliardo wanted to have it out in front of them well then that was just fine with him.
"Actually I was going to see if you'd be interested in a little one on one." Milliardo replied, gesturing to the fencing swords that were lined up in their cases on the other side of the gym.
"I'm not into fencing."
"That's right..you prefer real swords, don't you?" Milliardo said with a small smile, pleased that the younger man had so easily walked into his little trap. "Well I have no objection to using those if you'd prefer. Of course if you aren't up to it..I'd completely understand."
"I'm sure you would." Wufei said with a slight nod of his head, acknowledging that he was well aware of what Milliardo was up to. Unfortunately he was also well aware of what Lucrezia would say if she ever found out about this which she was bound to. She'd have his head on a platter if she messed up pretty boy's face which he was bound to do since he knew Milliardo wasn't going to be holding anything back. He'd seen the man fence after all and he wasn't so arrogant as to assume Milliardo was no threat. He was..just not a very big one. "Of course if I accepted...you're taking full responsibility for it, understand." Wufei said carefully, his meaning clear. When she came barging in, intending to bust someone's balls, they were not going to be his.
"Of course." Milliardo said with a nod, pausing for a moment to think maybe this wasn't such a good idea before brushing it aside.
"Don't the rest of you have classes or other places to be?" Wufei demanded, turning his attention from Milliardo to his students who weren't even trying to hide the fact that they were listening in with great interest.
"Uhm..no, Sir. Could we..maybe stay and watch you and General Peacecraft? We'd be absolutely silent and it would be a good training lesson, to see masters demonstrating their skills." One of the braver students said, being very, very careful with his words. After all if he just said they wanted to watch it for the fun of it Instructor Chang was sure to kick them out.
"Let them stay, I have no objections."
Turning too look back at Peacecraft Wufei wanted to tell the man just where he could put that idea. He just wanted an audience because he thinks he's going to win, Wufei thought with a faint scowl. And he wanted witnesses who would spread it around. Cocky bastard. Well fine, he'd let them stay. Then they could spread around that he'd kicked the prince's scrawny ass. It would be worth the tongue lashing he'd be in for afterwards. "Fine, but stay against the walls and no interference."
A lot of yes sirs filling the air the students all hurried to comply, sitting or standing against the wall to wait eagerly for the match to begin. The two opponents silently headed over to the display case where swords of actual danger were kept and unlocking it soon chose their weapons before heading over to the mat. "Would you like to warm up first?" Wufei asked, not wanting it to be said that he hadn't at least asked. He didn't intend for Milliardo to have any excuses when he lost.
"No, there's no need." Milliardo said with a nod, taking the proper stance as he faced his opponent. He had no intention of losing, especially not to him.
"Then...we begin." Wufei agreed, taking his own stance, the two eyeing each other before moving in, the gym filling with the sounds of swords crossing blades in a match that had nothing to do with practice and everything to do with winning at all costs.
Typing away Noin absently chewed on the bottom of her lip, mentally hoping that Milliardo would get back already form where ever it was he'd been in such a hurry to get to after the meeting. She had some questions about this report and he was the only one who could answer them. Sitting back into her seat she scolded at the computer, resisting the urge to smack it though it wasn't doing anything wrong. It was what was on the computer that was frustrated the hell out of her. Hearing a knock at the door Noin looked up and seeing a cadet motioned her in, wondering if she was going to get an assignment that would have nothing to do with this stupid report so that she could dump it on Milliardo's desk. Serve him right if she did. Running off and leaving her to do it. Once the cadet was in Noin pushed the thought away, smiling at the cadet who looked just a little nervous. "What can I do for you, cadet?"
"Uhmmm well you see, ma'am...Doctor Po asked me to come here and tell you that you might want to go down to the main gym." The cadet said, trying to stand as straight as possible with the least amount of expression on her face. This was Instructor Noin after all.
"And I would want to do that why?" Noin asked, starting to get a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach. Wufei's last class had ended there a half an hour ago. Could something have happened? But that didn't make any sense, someone would have come and gotten her before if that was the case.
"Well she said that you'd want to know that Instructor Chang and General Peacecraft are having a sparring match." The cadet said, getting the bad feeling that this might turn into a case of killing the messenger. The Instructor didn't look happy.
"Instructor Chang doesn't fence and General Peacecraft isn't one for hand to hand combat." Noin said slowly, her eyes glued to the cadet's face.
"Well they're using real swords, ma'am." The cadet explained weakly, a little taken back at the varying emotions going across the woman's face. First disbelief, then fear, then a rage the likes of which the cadet couldn't say she'd ever seen. "Doctor Po..just thought you'd want to know."
"Thank you, cadet." Noin said slowly, forcing her breathing to remain steady as she forced her face into a neutral expression. "You're dismissed."
"Yes, ma'am." The cadet said, beating a hasty retreat out the door and down the hallway, intending to get out of there as quick as possible before the instructor blew a gasket. Being a woman herself she recognized that she wouldn't want to be in Instructor Chang or General Peacecraft's shoes for all the medals in Preventers.
Getting slowly out of her seat, her hands fisting at her sides Noin stood perfectly straight for a moment then with the tight control Trowa would have approved of slowly walked over to her door and opening it stepped out, remembering to lock it on the way out. Then with strides that lengthened with every step walked down the hallway with only one goal. Get to the gym and kill both of them. Part way down she heard her name being called and didn't even bother to return the greeting.
"What's wrong, Noin?" Relena wanted to know, running after Noin with Heero following close behind. "Has something happened?"
"I'm going to kill your brother and Wufei. If they're really lucky I'll only maim the one who didn't actually start it." Noin raged through grinched teeth, her eyes flaring with anger and an intention to unleash that anger very, very, soon. And oh there was going to be hell to pay when she did.
"Did they get into a fight?" Relena wanted to know, wondering what on earth her brother had been thinking, letting Wufei egg him on into a fight. Then again the way her brother had been acting since he'd gotten the news about Noin having a boyfriend...well it was possible that he might have more to do with any fight then she wanted to believe.
"They are currently engaged in combat in the gym with real, f#kin swords!" Noin snarled, too pissed off to even think to apologize about her language.
"Oh boy. He's a dead man." Heero murmured, trying to sound the least bit sorry when he wasn't. He found it more funny then worrisome.
"Of course not." Relena rushed to assure, sending Heero a dark look. "My brother won't hurt Wufei badly. I'm sure of it."
"Actually I meant your brother." Heero said with a smirk, not fazed in the least. He was too busy enjoying the mental image of Milliardo getting his ass thoroughly kicked by Wufei. This he had to see. "Wufei will kick your brother's royal ass, no question."
"No one's kicking anyone's ass but me." Was Noin's harsh response, mentally agreeing with Heero. Milliardo was a very skilled fencer but that certainly didn't mean he'd be as skilled with a real sword. A real sword was a whole other ball game. Plus Wufei trained constantly while Milliardo rarely picked up a fencing sword, she'd never know him to even practice with a real one. "And when I'm done with those asses they aren't going to be able to sit on them for the rest of their lifetimes, the stupid, egotistical bastards!"
"Tell me how you really feel." Heero murmured under his breath, very much amused. "I take it you're going there now then? Mind if we join you? I could hold your jacket for you while you're doing said ass kicking."
"Be my guest." Noin growled, taking the stairs two at a time in her haste to get there as soon as possible. Ignoring Heero and Relena, who were doing their best to keep up Noin took the quickest route to the gym and upon arrival threw the door open and marched in, stopping in her tracks at the picture before her. It was just too strange not to get through the angry haze in front of her eyes. There were at least fifty students jam packed around the gym walls, all sitting or standing as they watched the two men fighting in center ring. Both men were bare chested, Milliardo's hair tied back from his face while Wufei's hung to his shoulder blades. They were both coated with sweat and breathing hard, the only real sounds in the room an occasional whisper and the sounds from the gym mat. The men were going all out it, the clang of the sword followed by manly grunts and curses as they moved across the floor, muscles rippling and bunching with every move their body made.
"Oh my." Relena said from beside Noin, gawking at the sight in front of them. "Oh my."
"I can't believe the fight is still going on. I'd have figured Wufei to have whopped him by now." Was Heero's opinion as he surveyed the way it had been turned into a three ring circus. He was almost surprised there weren't people going around selling food and programs.
"Actually it's pretty close all in all." Came Duo's voice as he made his way over having spotted them. "I've got a hundred on Wufei though. There's quite a betting pool going on."
"Well a lot of people are going to get to keep their money then. Cause I'm going in there and knocking their heads together." Noin said as she started forward, only to be restrained by Heero and Duo, one on each side.
"No, Noin. You can't. Let them sort this out their way. Look at them, neither of them look to be in any pain, right? They've been fighting for a half an hour now and they've only got superficial scratches at best." Heero pointed out calmly, keeping a good grip on her upper arm as he explained. "Mess things up now and it will only make things worse between them."
"If we thought they'd really hurt each other we'd stop them ourselves." Trowa added, coming up to join them as well from the crowd with Trinity at his side. "We've been watching for the last ten minutes. You needn't worry."
"But if they aren't trying to kill each other then why are they doing it?" Noin demanded, not able to wrap her mind around the idea that this was anything less then a blood match where spilling blood was the goal. But Heero was right, neither of them seemed to be hurt in any way...
"The point isn't to kill each other, Noin. It's to say what they're feeling without having to use words." Trowa explained, understanding her confusion. "Milliardo started this because he wanted to get rid of all the pent up emotions he was feeling and to make sure that Wufei was good enough for you. Plus he likely also wanted to get it across that he was a danger to Wufei if Wufei were to mistreat you in anyway. Wufei meanwhile is letting Milliardo know that you belong to him now and that he will do whatever it takes to keep it that way. That and backing down from the fight would have, in Wufei's mind, reflected on his ability to protect you as well as on his character."
"That and it's a cock fight between two morons over a woman." Trinity pointed out dryly, smirking at the guys who simply glared at her. "Please, pretty it up however you want but a lot ego and male pride is riding on this too."
"Okay. Let me go, I won't interfere..unless it gets ugly." Noin said, squirming loose and was thankful when they let her go. Now all she had to do was stand here and watch the stupid idiots.
"You know she's here, don't you?" Wufei asked as their swords crossed, both moving in so that they were nearly nose to nose with their swords in front at a small barrier.
"Of course. It was stupid of you to think she wouldn't hear about this before it was over." Milliardo said, his muscles straining at he tried to break the hold without luck. He'd underestimated the younger man and was paying for it. Wufei was stronger then he looked and surprisingly fast on his feet. Milliardo had been on the disadvantage since the first time their swords had glanced against each other. He was never completely in control and he knew it.
'Since she's here...I need to end this now." Wufei said with a faint smile, putting all his weight into pushing Milliardo away from him. Quick as a snake he shot out his left hand and setting it on Milliardo's shoulder vaulted himself over his opponent in an impressive roll and landing on his feet had his sword's tip pointed into Milliardo's back before Milliardo could recover. "From this position I could run you through. By the laws of nature it would be my right too. Luckily for you she already chose me. Match over." Withdrawing his sword Wufei calmly walked back towards the case, intending to return his sword while the crowd around them broke out into loud cheering.
Standing there for a moment Milliardo shook his head then followed Wufei over, standing side by side as they hung up their weapons. "Hurt her and I swear you'll pay." Milliardo said quietly, turning his head to meet Wufei's gaze.
"Hurt her again and they'll never find your body, Peacecraft." Wufei returned as he stared back even as he closed the case. Nodding in his opponent's direction he turned and walked towards Lucrezia who stood between Heero and Duo, Duo being a stupid idiot as he appeared to be whistling, Wufei thought with a slight smirk. Stopping in front of his woman he raised a questioning eyebrow, as if to ask her if she was going to let him have it in front of all these people.
"You are in sooooo much trouble later, Wufei." Noin said as she crossed her arms in front of her chest, her eyes hard as ice and twice as unwelcoming.
"Fine. But first I want my prize." Wufei said with a smile as he took a step forward and to the stunned shock of everyone in the room yanked Instructor Noin into his arms and proceeded to kiss the day lights out of her, in front of everyone.