Life Goes On Part 11
The Wayne University cafeteria filled up quickly with the students returning from their break. Solo reunited with his friends at the table that was all but reserved for them. Just one of the perks in being part of a fraternity.
As he took his seat, the blonde neko fell into the conversation that was already taking place between his 'brothers.' It was one of the usual points of interest, talking about their peers walking in and making comments about the ones they knew-few of those comments were ever flattering. After all, there were not many people better than they were.
Part of being with the 'in crowd' was making it known to everyone else you are the 'in crowd.' Nothing drew people in more than that declaration. By simply saying that you're the top dog, people will believe it and make it so.
It was a fascinating thing to Solo to witness. So much of his short college experience intrigued him, but that was one of the biggest surprises. Civilization certainly was a wonderful, fascinating thing.
Eric, the 'brother' to his right, suddenly growled deeply, "There he is." Looking up, Solo watched as Duo entered the cafeteria. A few cheerful shouts of the braided teenager's name filled the air and he waved back at some of his own friends excitedly, his tail swinging behind him. With a sort, the red-haired jock hissed, "What a freak. I can't believe that he actually has people that want to be friends with him."
Nods from the others followed along with a few muttered comments about the cat-eared boy. All the while, Solo just kept his eyes on his target- as he would whenever they were in the same room together.
Having a new role to play, the blonde neko warned in a quiet growl, "Let it go."
All around the table, backs stiffened and eyes widened. Mike, sitting across from Solo shook his head in disbelief, "I know that you didn't just say what I think you said." His blue eyes narrowed, "Why the hell should we leave that little bastard alone?" Eric, Stanley and the usually quiet Tim all voiced their own harsh words.
Solo had expected the frustration that was directed at him. When he first entered the school, he specifically sought after students who were already voicing their disgust in attending the same classes as a neko, a freak of nature.
Once he found these four, and made it clear that he despised the cat-tailed boy ever bit as much as they did, Solo was brought into the group easily. The whole reason for his acceptance within the tight unit was because they all shared the same loathing for one particular person.
That hatred was stemmed from two major factors. First, the obvious reason, was the simple fact that Duo was different. And in school, students looked for such a mark. A mark that the majority of the student body would agree was not fit to be among them.
Status was everything in school. The more that you could make someone else look bad in other people's eyes, the better you looked in the end.
In Duo's case, however, he was never one to lack any friends or popularity. This was the second reason for the seething ire amongst Solo's band of brothers- the only reason that they shared in common, but for different reasons.
Jealousy.
Despite all of his obvious differences, Maxwell was one of the most popular students in the school. That sort of attention normally went to guys like Eric, Stanley, Tim and Mike as a whole group. Instead, the attention was drawn to a single person- the one person who should have been an easy victim at their hands. It was infuriating.
Solo knew that he would have some explaining to do even before he announced his 'change in heart.' Fortunately, he had already come up with a reason that he certainly hoped would be believable.
The last thing that he wanted was to have this lot's disgust turned on him. They were still popular enough as a group and also had a lot of pull when it came to getting what they wanted. He felt his neck tighten as he swallowed.
"Look, I'm about to fail three of my classes," Solo announced, glaring back as his friends. "They happen to be the same ones that Maxwell is in. As much as I hate the idea, I have to try and get him to help me. I am not looking forward to having to be nice to the guy at all, but it'll be better than having to explain three F's to my parents. So, I would appreciate it if you'd all just back off of him for a while for my sake."
There was a long pause at the table before Eric finally cleared his throat and nodded, "All right, Solo. We'll play nice for your sake." Mike, Tim and Stanley all nodded their own promise to do the same.
With an inward sigh of relief, Solo smiled, "Thanks, guys. Remember, this is only our first semester. We'll have plenty of time to get Maxwell."
At that, Tim straightened with a spark of realization in his grey eyes. "Keeping him close will only set him up for a bigger fall when we finally do get him," he grinned. Just the thought of that had Eric, Stanley and Mike chuckling deeply as they nodded to each other.
'If only they all knew how big a fall he's in for,' Solo thought to himself. A lop-sided smirk tugged his own lips.
This was certainly a lot easier than first anticipated. Now, if only everything else would just go according to plan.
* * * * * *
Staring at the closed door with the metallic apartment number '2B' staring back at him, Solo sighed deeply. He had been standing there like that for at least ten minutes, wondering how on earth he was going to pull this off. This first big step was something he had dreaded the moment he knew that he would have to change his tactics.
There was simply no other way. If there was any hope for himself or his friends to survive the inevitable, Solo had to carry this out. With that resolve, he finally raised a fist to knock on the door.
From inside, the computer operated lock was undone and the doorknob turned to be pulled inward. With the door partly opened, Heero Yuy met his gaze, his cobalt eyes widening at the initial surprise in seeing who was visiting. The moment was gone in an instant, replaced by a warning glare and a less than pleasant, "Solo."
It was only the third time that the blonde neko had seen Heero Yuy. The two times before that were just in passing on the weekend when they happened to be in town at the same time. Since Solo and Duo were not on the best of terms back then, there were no words spoken between them and they quickly went on their merry ways while ignoring each other.
Obviously, the brief run-ins were enough for Heero to remember the face of someone that was less than pleasant towards his lover.
The tightening in Solo's throat returned when he tried to swallow. With a firm nod, he greeted, "Heero. Is Duo in?"
Folding his muscular arms across his chest, the Japanese teenager replied coldly, "Maybe. Where are your other friends?"
"I came alone," the slightly smaller teenager answered, his frown deepening. "Listen, I know that you must not think very highly of me for the things that I've done to Duo." A dark eyebrow raised at that comment. Before the other boy could say whatever was on his tongue, Solo quickly added, "But I came to apologize."
Again, those cobalt eyes widened before glaring once more. With a cautious glance down either end of the hallway, Heero sighed deeply before stepping back. "Come in," he finally offered, keeping a close watch on his guest as he entered the apartment.
Closing the door, Heero never took his gaze off the possible threat as he called towards the bedroom, "Duo, someone's here to see you."
Solo swallowed a couple more times, shifting on his feet uncomfortably at having those eyes on him. It reminded him too much of being back in his cell, where he knew he was being watched constantly.
The sound of footsteps reached his ears and turning, the blonde looked up just as Duo entered the room. Freezing in his spot at the first glance of his 'visitor,' the braided teenager gasped sharply, "Solo."
Heero took a step closer to their guest, but finally shifted his eyes to his partner's. Cobalt locked with violet land a silent conversation began.
Before long, the blonde neko could interpret what was being 'said' by glancing back and forth between the pair. Heero was making it known that he wouldn't hesitate to show Solo out if it was what his Duo wanted. And Duo was reluctantly allowing a moment to know what was going on. With that, the Japanese student stood down- moving back a couple steps but remaining close enough jump to his partner's air if needed.
The whole thing was almost... endearing.
Taking a deep breath, Duo turned back to his visitor and nodded firmly, "Solo. This is a little unexpected."
A bit of the discomfort that Solo felt ebbed in seeing just how awkward the moment was for the other neko. Lowering his shoulders a bit, he nodded, "I'm sorry to have come unannounced, but I didn't exactly want to discuss this over the phone since it's pretty personal."
Duo tilted his head a bit, blinking in surprise. "All right," he said after a moment of obvious surprise. He gestured to the sofa deeper in the living room and offered, "Please, sit down." He cast Heero another look that told him he could handle it from there, but to not go too far.
The unruly-haired teenager simply nodded and stepped into the adjoining kitchen, disappearing behind the wall. Soon, the sound of running water and plates clanking together filled the air in an obvious sign that Heero was busying himself with the dishes.
As soon as the weight of those cobalt eyes were off of him, Solo was able to breathe more easily. Taking his seat, he waited until the other neko sat on the other end of the couch. He fought the urge to pull his tail from its confinement to fiddle with it, settling instead on rubbing his hands together as he considered his words.
"I came to apologize for the way that I've been behaving," the blonde teenager announced quietly. He turned his head away as not to have to see what he assumed would be gleeful satisfaction in those violet eyes in hearing such a thing from him.
The last thing Solo wanted was for the one person he came to despise more than any other silently boasting over the fact that he had somehow bested him into saying that he was sorry.
His head still lowered, he continued, "It was very childish of me, but in fact I am quite jealous of you." Surely, that comment would have put a smug grin on the other boy's face. The fact that he was saying such a thing was making Solo sick to his stomach. At least it made it easier for him to act sincerely troubled.
Repeating the script he had practiced to himself, Solo concluded, "I hope that you can forgive me for the things that I've said and done. And I really do hope that we might be able to become friends."
As he bit back the scream that wanted to erupt from him, the blonde neko slowly raised his head to meet gaze watching him. What he found there made him stiffen in shock. Instead of smugness, or anything of the sort, there was only astonishment and almost hopefulness in those widened violet eyes.
Blinking in disbelief, Duo whispered, "Y-you're jealous of me? Why on earth would you be jealous of me?"
Quickly recovering from his own surprise, Solo shrugged, "Well, you're only the most popular guy in the whole university. People are drawn to you, even though you're so different from all of us."
With a bright smile that was warm and friendly, Duo shook his head, "But you're pretty popular, yourself. There's no need to be jealous of me. My life certainly isn't as easy as it might appear sometimes." He tilted his braided head again and grinned, "Thank you for the apology. And thank you for coming here to give it in person. It shows how much you mean it. Forgiven and forgotten."
From inside the kitchen, the sudden sound of a glass shattering made the two nekos jump. "Sorry!" Heero's voice called. "Plate slipped!" Duo rolled his eyes and smirked, knowing perfectly well that his lover had much more grace than that when taking care of the dishes.
With a smile forced to appear sincere, Solo turned back to face his gullible target. "Thank you, Duo. This means a lot to me." He extended a hand and asked, "Friends."
Easily accepting the hand with his own, Duo nodded, "Friends."
Another crash sounded from the kitchen followed by Heero's shouting, "Damn plates!" The braided neko sighed deeply to himself and shook his head.
Not wanting to press his luck by asking for favors right away, especially with an obviously unconvinced listener present, Solo rose from the sofa. "I better get going," he stated as he looked to his watch. "We have our early class with Doctor Clarkson tomorrow. You know how she loves pop quizzes."
Duo chuckled deeply, "Yea. I was just refreshing myself for that before you came." He rose and patted Solo on the back with a friendly, "See you tomorrow then."
Passing by the kitchen on the way out, Solo peeked in to find his 'friend's' lover kneeling on the floor with a dust pan and brush, as he cleaned up hundreds of tiny glass shards. "Good seeing you, Heero." He was answered with a heated glare and a deep grunt before the dark-haired boy returned to his chore.
Once Solo closed the front door behind him, Duo knelt across from his partner and assisted in the cleaning. "Did you have to make it so obvious that you were listening in?" he mock scolded with a smirk.
"I think you're way too trusting of that guy, Duo," Heero commented, raising his head so that he could show how worried he was. "Just before the break, he and his friends were giving you a hard time. Why the sudden change, unless he's after something? A favor of some kind maybe."
Biting his lip, Duo had to admit that he already thought the same thing. "Maybe," he nodded. "But for now, I'd like to believe that he's being sincere. Better to make friends than enemies, right?"
Unable to argue that, the Japanese teenager nodded, "Fair enough. I won't mother you in this, but I will just ask that you be careful. Deal?"
Together, they threw away the last shards of glass and Duo wrapped his arms tightly around his lover. Kissing his lips soundly, he grinned, "Deal. I'm going to get back to my studying." With his tail swinging lazily behind him, he stepped from the room.
Looking back to the front door, Heero frowned deeply to himself. Shaking his head, he muttered, "Very interesting turn of events."
TBC...
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