Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing

Warning: slight language

Jealousy Has Two Legs

When the dreaded Monday finally arrived, Duo couldn't help but find his nerves high-strung. This would be his first day returning after the incident at school and he had this gut feeling that something or someone was waiting to pounce on him.

So yeah, it was a real confidence builder with his friends at his side, forming some sort of protective barrier between him and all the harmful elements of the world that were just waiting to get him. Yeah, that arm that Solo had slung around his shoulders as they walked into the school building was real comforting even though it tightened a bit when they reached the front doors as if trying to prevent him from turning and fleeing at the last moment, something Duo most wholeheartedly wanted to do at that moment.

There was a buzz going throughout the school, though, when they entered and, from the sound of it, it all focused on one thing: Heero Yuy and his condition at the moment.

The gossip of the subject was everywhere. It seemed to unify the whole student body as even some info was passed on to Duo himself, a real shock since most people ignored him on a daily basis.

And through it all, Solo just chuckled and shook his head while Quatre and Trowa were giving each other these smug looks every so often.

Waiting for first period to begin, a new rumor reared its head. According to the rumor, some criminal organization had beaten Heero up in a cheap attempt to take him out of this week's homecoming game.

That certainly surprised Duo. He had forgotten what time of the year it was. If he remembered correctly, last week was an off week for the team, something that had coincided with Wufei's aborted celebratory party. That was right; he couldn't believe how quickly the year had passed.

The arrival of Dorothy Catalonia generated a massive racket of voice, all demanding to know what the maneater of the school knew. It was no secret that Dorothy and Relena Peacecraft were friends; the blonde surely must have heard something from her pink friend.

Truth be told, she did. According to what she knew, someone had really worked Heero's leg over. She was told that the damage was more than enough to not only keep him out of the game but out of the sport of competitive football. He would not be able to play for the rest of the year nor ever again in a contest.

Duo could only stare in wonder at his blond friend, surprised he had gone so far just for him. Solo just winked at him and did his best to seem bored by everything. The braided one would only be brought out of his reverie temporarily when he caught Dorothy glaring at him for some reason. By the way she looked, could she have been…jealous or something? Maybe a bit possessive? Whatever it was, he didn't like it though the glare was cut short when Solo glanced her way.

As if on cue, the glare vanished instantly only to be replaced a small smile. As she moved closer to them, her small smile turned to a frown, just as if she was rehearsing something.

"You're in my seat," she stated stiffly to him. Duo could have sworn the room just got colder…

"But this is my assigned seat," he protested. "The teacher said that I could only sit here."

"What about Solo?" Dorothy countered. "He took someone's seat and hasn't given it back yet."

"That's because the guy who sits here hasn't come to take it," Solo drawled, butting in. "Plus the teacher doesn't seem to mind if I sit here."

"And she shouldn't mind if I sit there," Dorothy stated, tapping Duo's desk. "She didn't mind last time."

Wait, last time? Solo didn't seem to be fazed as he replied, "That's cause the old bat is blind or something. Anyway, don't you have your own seat?"

"Yes, and that seat is right here," Dorothy answered.

By now, the attention of the rest of the class was focused on them. Duo was slightly pink because of all the attention that he and the other two were receiving, making him quite uncomfortable. Why the hell were they making a scene? It was a damn desk, damn it!

Wanting to end this, he began to stand up and relinquish his seat when Solo's hand grabbed hold of his shoulder and forced him back down.

"You ain't going anywhere," Solo stated smugly. "Don't even try."

Duo just let out yet another sigh and obeyed the stronger blond. Dorothy, however, seemed a bit livid, even though she managed to mask it pretty well. Without saying another word, aiming one last glare at Duo, she turned tail and stalked off.

Already the whisperings of gossip could be heard and Duo knew that nothing good could come of this.

Glancing over at Solo, the blond looked as if he couldn't care less. The braided teen almost snorted at that. That idiot had no idea what he had just done. This was going to come back and haunt them before the day was over, of that Duo knew for certain.

--

Before a student's favorite period of the day (lunch) began, the school was called into an impromptu assembly that was being held because of the hospitalization of one of its students. It ended by a request from the local police if anybody had any information about the crime to contact them immediately.

Duo couldn't help but listen in disdain. Only a few days ago, he himself had been assaulted in the school restroom and nobody had done a thing about it except for Quatre, Solo, and Trowa. The very next day, Heero gets beaten up in an alley and suddenly people are demanding some sort of justice to be brought forth.

Well, they didn't have to stay too long and it was only a few minutes later he was sitting down to lunch with his constant shadow sitting right next to him. By that time, the gossip of what had happened in first period had spread throughout the student population. The braided one was not blind to the stares and the whispers that had followed both him and Solo all day thus far. And now he was about to give his blond companion a small piece of his mind.

"You do know what you've done, right?"

Solo looked at him, puzzled. "What do you mean by that?"

"You got the whole school talking about you and Dorothy again but this time you've gone the whole nine yards and got me into it. What the hell were you thinking?"

Solo frowned at that. "I stand up for you and this is how I get treated? Remind me not to do that again."

"It's not that I don't mind you doing it," Duo explained, sighing again. "It's just that you did it front of a bunch of gossipers and you can bet your ass that this is going to be coming back to bite both of us in the ass. Next time, can you at least try and keep it, I don't know, more on the down low?"

Smirking, Solo ruffled his hair and replied. "Don't think I can do that Short Stuff."

"Can't blame me for trying," Duo grumbled. At the sight of Quatre and Trowa joining them, he asked, "So what took you guys so long? Playing tonsil hockey in the janitor's closet again?"

"No we were caught up in the crowd," Quatre answered, a blush not to be seen anywhere. "I swear that they keep walking slower and slower every day."

"Ha, ha," Duo taunted. "We were first in line."

"Lucky bastards," Trowa murmured in good humor, his eyes twinkling.

Unfortunately, before this good natured conversation could go any further, a foreign voice interrupted them. "Which one of you is the new kid?" the voice demanded.

Since the voice came from behind the pair of long haired teens, both Duo and Solo had to turn their selves around to look at the newcomer…er, newcomers.

The person who had spoken was in the center of the group that stood before their table. He was of average height, if not a bit shorter, had average brown hair and hazel eyes that were now blazing with concealed anger, and had his arms crossed over his chest. Duo knew who this guy was but it was momentarily escaping him at the moment.

"Last I checked, I was new," Solo drawled in answered, looking bored at their presence. "Who wants to know?"

"I do," the guy snarled.

"And who might you be?" Solo inquired.

"Dorothy's boyfriend," the guy stated smugly.

Now Duo remembered who this guy was. Known throughout the school as Walker, he was Dorothy's current boy toy and completely smitten with her. From what he heard about the guy, he had been crushing on Dorothy since junior high and only a couple months ago had gained the "honor" of becoming Dorothy's "boyfriend." Duo couldn't help but feel sorry for the guy; Walker was in the mindset that Dorothy was as pure as an angel and could do no wrong.

The poor deluded fool…if he only knew…

Solo seemed to be struggling with containing his amusement at this proclamation. "Are you serious? You're going out with that slut?"

"Don't you dare call her that," Walker growled, eyes narrowing dangerously. "She is not a slut! She is the fairest girl in the entire school and as pure as an angel. How dare you call her by such a name!"

Solo face was reddening but not in anger. No, it was a far different emotion. Finally, he couldn't hold it anymore and he burst out in laughter. Oddly enough, it was infectious and Duo found himself laughing along with the blond. Quatre let out a snort from behind and made no attempt to keep his amusement in while Trowa chuckled.

And all this did was to piss off Walker even more. Had he taken a look at his friends, the slighted teen would have noticed that his buddies were successfully doing their best to keep their own laughter from coming out.

"Shut up you assholes!" Walker demanded.

By now, Solo was holding his sides as he continued to laugh. Those in the nearby vicinity were curious as to what was causing all the noise and were focusing their attention on them. Becoming aware of the attention, Duo's laughter died off and he grew uncomfortable. Attempting to scoot himself away from his laughing friends and put some distance between him and them, he found himself pulled back suddenly by none other that Solo who was using him as a prop to keep him from falling over.

Regaining just enough to control, Solo replied, laughter still coloring his voice. "You have got to be kidding me! 'Pure as an angel?' You have got to get your priorities straight! That slut has been hitting on me since day one!'

"You lie!" Walker hissed.

"Why don't you ask some of our classmates?" Solo suggested. "They'll be able to confirm what I'm telling you."

However, at this point, Walker was not following any logical reason. "You're just asking for an ass kicking, aren't you?" he snarled.

"No, not really," Solo shrugged.

"After school," Walker stated. "You and me. We'll settle this."

Solo frowned. "Sorry, I have other plans this afternoon. How about tomorrow after school? I'm free then."

This time, it was Walker who frowned. "I'm not going to be here tomorrow. Doctor's appointment."

"How about Wednesday?" Solo suggested.

"Football practice."

"Thursday?"

"Practice."

"Friday?"

Walker gave him an incredulous look. "Where have you been hiding? That's the homecoming game!"

"Okay, okay, how about next Monday?"

"Fine with me," Walker smirked. "I'm going to make you regret even looking at Dorothy."

"Whatever you say," Solo shrugged and turned back to his lunch.

Just like that, it was over and Walker was leading his buddies away. Duo could only stare incredulously at the blond. "What the hell," he demanded. "What was all that?"

Solo looked down at him. "Just scheduling a fight, that's all."

"I didn't know you could do that," Quatre commented.

"When two guys understand one another, things like that happen," Solo said.

"And when did you guys begin to understand one another?" Trowa inquired, amused. "From what I saw, you two were enemies."

Solo refrained from answering, smiling smugly to himself with some sort of knowledge that the others didn't seem to possess. Seeing as no answers would be coming from the blond, Duo tried to resume his own lunch when he noticed that his tray was a bit further away from when he last remembered.

Frowning, he looked up at Solo and asked, "Do you think you can let go of me now?"

Solo paused only long enough to give him a look that asked "do you even have to ask?"

Sighing, Duo slumped up against the blond, muttering, "It doesn't hurt to try."