November Rain
Thyme

Rain.

[When I look into your eyes
I can see a love restrained]

Duo leaned forward and pressed the palm of his hand against the window, closing his eyes as he let the cool feeling of glass beneath his fingers wash away a little of his disappointment.

Rain.

At that moment, it only seemed right.

[But darlin' when I hold you
Don't you know I feel the same]

It was enough for him just to listen as the little drops fell from the sky, eventually splattering against the dead November grass. He opened his eyes again. The wind occasionally carried the helpless sprinkles of water horizontally, violently whipping them against the side of the base in a harsh spray. He sighed and slumped against the wall, moving his focus from the miserable weather outside to the tired image reflected in the glass. Heero.

It was roughly two o'clock in the morning, and there was only one wavering light on in the small room. It bathed the figure of Heero in a buttery yellow blanket, illuminating him against a backdrop of darkness while he lay soundlessly on the bed. He was asleep, and Duo would have been, too, if the thunder hadn't stirred him from his slumber.

So he made himself content just to watch Heero's reflection in silence, sitting on the windowsill with his hands folded in his lap, and listened to the raindrops pattering against the walls and roof.

Ping.
Ping.
Drip.
Beat.

It was beautiful.

['Cause nothin' lasts forever
And we both know hearts can change]

Lightning lit up the sky, flashing brightly against the lonely black night, but no rumbling thunder snarled along its side. A frown slowly snaked its way onto Duo's lips as the lightning thrashed wildly about the sky once more, and he pulled his legs up against his chest, the light reflecting vaguely in his eyes. The lightning kind of reminded him of pain. It hurt and it hurt and it hurt, and you did everything you could to get rid of it, but there was never anything to come along and make it all feel better. There was no thunder to console the lightning writhing outside.

A low boom echoed quietly, and the frown was replaced by a light smile. At least one of them was being comforted.

[And it's hard to hold a candle
In the cold November Rain]

The soft noise steadily grew to a rattling, full-blown clap of thunder, and Duo reflexively cringed at the noise. Heero flinched in his sleep, then muttered something incoherent. Duo blinked.

"Hey, man, you awake?" he questioned.

The sleepy form on the lumpy bed sat up groggily, eyes still closed. "What time is it?"

Duo slid from his perch on the windowsill, moving to sit on the bed by Heero's side. "About two in the morning." His braid hung to the side as he tilted his head, peering at the Japanese boy. "Why?"

Heero stretched his arms behind him until he heard a satisfying crack, then blinked his eyes a few times before looking at Duo. "Because if it had been any earlier, I would have stuffed my pillow down your throat."

Duo smiled somewhat sadly and tucked his knees against his chest again, his hands securely fastened around them, affectively pinning his legs against his chest. His eyes habitually strayed once more to the darkened glass that separated him from the wailing storm. Resting his cheek gently on the top of his knees, he basked momentarily in the curtain of silence that comfortingly draped itself around his shoulders.

[We've been through this such a long long time
Just tryin' to kill the pain]

Heero spoke suddenly, "It's calming, isn't it."

Duo nodded, hiding a smile within the soft fabric of his pajamas. He didn't take his eyes from the window.

"Yes," he answered softly. "Very pretty."

Heero offered no response. When Duo looked over to inquire about his sudden silence, he was mildly amused to find that Heero had fallen asleep again. Strong Prussian blue eyes were hidden beneath closed eyelids, and Heero's eyelashes cast lovely shadows across his cheeks in his position, curled in a comfortable ball in such an angle that the warm light was given the chance to highlight his most beautiful features. Duo laughed very quietly to himself at the almost childish appearance and reached over to stroke Heero's cheek. Said person frowned and turned away, and Duo took a sharp intake of air, snatching his hand away as if it had been burned. Then he held it against his chest, taking in another, smaller gasp of air, and frowned.

Heero rejected him even in his dreams.

[But lovers always come and lovers always go
And no one's really sure who's lettin' go today]

He frowned more deeply as tears stung his eyes, but he stood his ground firmly, too proud to ever shed them. Intending only to relieve some of the pressure, he blinked his eyes slowly, and had the sudden urge to toss Heero out the window as a lone tear escaped and slid shamelessly down his cheek. He scrubbed at it furiously with the back of his hand, suddenly embarrassed, and made a choked whimpering noise in the back of his throat.

[Walking away]

//It's okay, Duo,// he told himself. //It's okay. It's not like he meant to do it or anything. It's not like he was awake or anything when he did it. It's not like...// He swallowed painfully, and some little thought shoved its way to the front of the line where it didn't belong, and another tear fell. //It's not like he's been lying to you the entire time.//

He was forced to take in another sharp gasp of air when the full effect of that thought kicked him harshly in the face, and a reminder of their recurring argument pushed itself into his head.

[If we could take the time
To lay it on the line]

"Have you been lying to me, Heero?"

"No."

"You sure don't act like it."

"... Sorry."

"...Tch."

"What?"

"There you go again."

"What?"

"Lying to me."

"I didn't lie."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"...Okay."

"Hn."

Duo swooped the tear before it got too far down his cheek, and quickly retreated back to his windowsill. There, he curled up into a ball and watched the rain in silence for a while.

[I could rest my head
Just knowin' that you were mine]

He sighed, casting another look behind him to make sure Heero was still there. The sloppy-haired boy rested peacefully, unknowingly radiating reassurance to the other boy.

[All mine]

Duo allowed himself a tiny smile, flicking his attention from the pounding water droplets outside to the way Heero's hair fell across his eyes and how the lamplight accented his features. It tugged at his heart to remember that it might all be some softly spoken lie.

He was just about to doze back off to sleep when he heard Heero whimpering from across the room. He lifted his head and peered at him curiously.

[So if you want to love me
Then darlin' don't refrain]

A little breath of air jumped into his lungs in a gasp when he noticed tears coursing down Heero's lovely tanned face.

He was at Heero's side almost immediately, his hands fluttering and trembling like two spooked birds from fear of what might have happened.

Heero never cried.

[Or I'll just end up walkin'
In the cold November rain]

"Heero," he whispered, taking firm hold on of one his friend's shoulders. "Heero!"

Duo shook the boy gently, repeating his name until his eyelashes lifted and two startled blue eyes blinked back into existence. Duo breathed a small sigh of relief and dropped back onto the bed, holding a hand to his head as if to steady himself. Then he turned to Heero and forced a tiny smile.

"Man, you scared the hell outta me!"

Awareness slowly filled Heero's face, and a quivering, calloused hand was raised to dab at his cheeks. It did not come away dry.

[Do you need some time... on your own]

"I'm... I'm crying."

[Do you need some time... all alone]

His usually strong voice cracked with emotion as he stared at his wet fingertips, eyes clouded with confusion.

"I'm crying," he said again, not quite believing it.

[Everybody needs some time... on their own]

Duo just nodded, something like a sad smirk touching over his lips.

"There's a first time for everything, I guess."

Heero looked at him, bewildered, then looked back to the moisture on his fingertips. "I can't remember the last time I ever cried," he admitted softly.

[Don't you need some time... all alone]

Duo instinctively gathered him into a hug, and Heero sat stiff in his arms until he felt a hot breath against his neck whisper to him,

"What's wrong, Heero? Just tell me for once. What's wrong...?"

[I know it's hard to keep an open heart
When even friends seem out to harm you]

At those words, Heero crumpled into the other's embrace for the first time in a long while, and snaked his arms around Duo's thin waist.

Duo smiled genuinely as Heero buried his face in the crook of his neck, and rubbed a comforting circle on the Japanese boy's back. His breath caught in his throat when Heero eventually looked up at him, tears still shimmering in his dark eyes.

"Duo," he began, "I'm sorry." He met his eyes. "For everything."

[But if you could heal a broken heart
Wouldn't time be out to charm you]

Duo nodded, holding Heero tight. Heero returned it, relaxing visibly as Duo applied a soft kiss to his forehead.

"It's all right, Heero."

He held the wiry boy out at arms length, studying the teary, though still lovely, dark blue eyes. Heero looked hesitant to leave the warmth of the other's body. They stared at each other for a while.

"I didn't mean to upset you," Heero said suddenly. "I saw you crying."

[Sometimes I need some time... on my own
Sometimes I need some time... all alone
Everybody needs some time... on their own]

Duo leaned forward, resting his chin on Heero's shoulder as he smirked, staring out at the rain again. "I'm fine now."

[Don't you know you need some time... all alone]

Then, oddly enough, Duo let out a small chuckle.

"It really is calming," he agreed with Heero's earlier statement. Heero turned to look at him, his face wearing a rare smile that reached all the way up to his eyes, and nodded.

[And when your fears subside
And shadows still remain]

Duo met his eyes again and slung his arm around his shoulder. "You know what, Heero?"

[I know that you can love me
When there's no one left to blame]

Heero raised a single, elegant eyebrow in question. "What."

Duo grinned.

[So never mind the darkness
We still can find a way]

"You can be so stupid sometimes," he laughed, turning his eyes back to the window. The storm was beginning to clear away, and though he was sad to see it go, he was glad it had been there for him.

['Cause nothin' lasts forever]

Heero punched his shoulder playfully. "Same to you."

[Even cold November rain]

Duo laughed again, his eyes sparkling with mirth as he turned his face up to Heero's. "Wanna know somethin' else, Heero?"

"... What?"

Duo's face hovered close enough to Heero's to bump noses.

"For someone as uptight as you..."

[Don't ya think that you need somebody
Don't ya think that you need someone]

He grinned. "... you're still awfully ..."

[Everybody needs somebody]

He leaned in closer. "... frail." Then he planted a quick kiss on Heero's lips, and smiled.

[You're not the only one]

Heero blinked twice, then smiled slightly. "Duo?"

Said person raised his eyebrows. "Huh?"

"I love you."

Duo closed his eyes, and his heart froze, then took off at a full gallop. He leaned in close against Heero's chest.

"... me too," he whispered, then smiled, because he knew it wasn't a lie.

[You're not the only one]

"Me too," he repeated.

AN: Please reviiiew! ^_^