Disclaimer: I don't own anything, I have absolutely nothing, and I'm poor.

Rejection

Duo sat by his window looking out at the stony sky. It was raining, he was glad it was because it suited his mood. His eyes were dry but his face was still tear-stained. He couldn't believe that Heero had reacted like that. Duo didn't think that he had ever been humiliated like that before, he hadn't even been able to stay in the same room and he's ran out with tears running down his cheeks. He'd never had a rejection that had hurt so much.

Of course, he'd been rejected before. He always managed to do something wrong with women and it never worked out. That would probably be why he turned his eyes to his own gender. He could figure guys out a whole lot easier. Heero was his first major male crush. He hadn't realised it at first but Duo soon noted that he was acting exactly like Quatre had done when the Arabian had figured out he was in love with Trowa. Quatre had also noted this and sat down with the American boy while they had a long talk. A conversation that was still clear in Duo's mind.

"Duo, we need to talk"

"What's wrong Q-babe?"

"Well, nothing is exactly wrong but I've noticed something"

"What's that?"

"I'm going to ask you a question and I want you to answer me with complete honesty" Quatre had looked deadly serious so Duo complied.

"Are you in love with Heero?" Duo had felt like he's been hit with a tonne of metaphorical bricks "I... I don't know"

Quarter looked at him with loving blue eyes "Does your heart skip a beat when he walks in the room?"

"...Yes"

"Do you think about him just before you go to sleep?"

"Yes"

"When he goes on the safest of missions do you find yourself praying that he comes back alive?"

"Yes. Quatre, how do you know all this?"

"Because that's how I still feel about Trowa. I love him, and you love Heero" Duo then came to a realisation; with every inch of he soul he loved that kamikaze Japanese boy. He sighed, "What am I going to do Quatre?"

"You're going to tell him how you feel"

"I'm what! That's suicide! He'll shoot me before I finish my sentence!"

"I'm sure he wont and you'll never know if he feels the same way if you don't tell him. You might regret it one day"

Duo sighed again "I guess I've got nothing to lose" Quatre beamed at him and gave him that smile that all the girls love "That's the spirit!"

So Duo had marched himself over to Heero's training room where he knew that perfect soldier would be, but his fist stopped before he knocked on the door. Clouds of doubt began to fill his mind. No, not clouds, great big dirty thunderstorms that destroy whole countries with one blast. Duo pictured Heero's training room in his mind. There were a lot of things in there that could be used against him; weights, Heero's own two hands, the running machine, Heero's gun, the rowing machine, Heero's own two hands, the stair master, Heero's gun... Mostly he was afraid of Heero attacking or shooting him "This must be what they mean by tough love" He said to himself "Oh well, now or never" He knocked.

A familiar deep voice told him to come in. Duo entered and saw Heero lifting weights without a shirt on with sweat glistening down his chest. Needless to say, Duo's legs turned to jelly and he couldn't keep his eyes off the Japanese boy. "What's wrong Duo?"

He snapped out of his trance "Oh, nothing I... err... just wanted to tell you something. No biggy"

"No biggy?" Duo realised that Heero didn't understand the English phrase and racked his brain for a translation.

"No big deal. Err... Nothing of huge importance" He then thought "Ok, so it's sort of a biggy"

"How much of a 'biggy'?" Duo smiled that just didn't sound right coming from Heero "Is it something to do with a mission?"

"No, no it isn't. It's... It's about..."

"About?"

Come on Maxwell, you can do this

"It's about us"

Heero put down his weights and reached for his towel "Us?"

"Yes, us"

"What about us?"

"Well, you see. I... I... err... I've been thinking and... erm" Duo looked at his feet and started to play with the bottom of his braid.

"Spit it out Duo, I've got training to do"

Typical Heero

Duo took a big breath

Ok, this is it

"I like you Heero, I like you more than a friend. I... I love you"

Heero's eyes widened and Duo turned crimson "You what!" The braided boy began to mumble something but Heero cut him off "That's disgusting!" The American's head jerked up in shock "It was bad enough when Quatre and Trowa got together and started parading around, kissing and holding hands everywhere but this! This is just sickening!"

Ouch

"I can't believe that you'd stood to such a filthy level Duo! I thought you were a decent person until now!" Duo's eyes began to water but Heero carried on "But now, now you make me sick! How could you ever think that I'd love you!" Heero sneered and then shuddered at his next thought "That I'd want to touch you, with my lips and my hands. It truly is disgusting"

Don't cry, don't cry, don't cry. Too late.

Duo couldn't take it anymore. He turned and ran as fast as he could to his room. He flung himself down on his bed and cried his little broken heart out. He had expected a rejection but he thought that Heero would be his usual deadpan self, not suddenly go all homophobic on him.

So that's where Duo was now. In his room but with no more tears to cry. He had skipped dinner; he could bear to see Heero. His heart still hurt and he was getting a headache form crying so much. He kept replaying the scene over and over again and every time Heero's words would stab him a little more like little pin pricks. He sighed and continued to watch the rain.

Maybe I'm not meant to be loved.

One last tear slid down his cheek

Maybe Shinigamis are meant to be alone.

Poor Duo-Chan! I'm ill and in angst mode. Don't forget to Read and Review!