Kiss Me Softly

I loved her.

She was something beautiful in my life. Something that was always calling me back.

For a long time, I watched her from the shadows. I liked to think of her as a sister, someone who I had to protect. But the first time she kissed me, she showed me all I had been hiding. All the love I was capable of.

In the next year, she showed me how to love. I enjoyed her, every bit of her. I got past her annoying habbits. It was like a dream, loving her.

I remember the night my dream ended though.

I was late coming home from the Preventers office, and she was crying.

She said that I didn't love her anymore. That I was all wrapped in my work with no time for loving her. That she couldn't take me running off on missions all the time. That I never was sweet for her, just rough and passionate with no tenderness. Most of all, she said that she didn't understand me, and she couldn't be with someone who she didn't understand at all.

I just stood there, listening to her screams. She yelled for a good 15 minutes before saying the line that I knew would end everything.

"I can't do this anymore, Heero..." Her voice was so quiet, I barly heard her. But with all said and done, I knew that I should have seen this coming.

I walked out of her life forever that night. The last and only thing I said to her that night was, "Ai shiteru, Relena-sama."

So I got in my car and drove across town to the bar Duo was always trying to make me go to with him. I got drunk on my ass and ended up passing out in an ally.

The next week was a blur to me. I stayed in a hotel room that week, not letting myself think clearly enough to consider what I was doing or what had happened.

Duo was the one who found me. I don't know how he did it, but the next thing I knew I was being carried downstairs by him and Trowa with Quatre yelling at me about something. After a visit to the hospital, I was staying in Duo's apartment. I got a call from Lady Une saying that I still had a place at the HQ, but that I was in for serious punishment and a possiable pay cut.

So the months past and I found myself still living in Duo's apartment. I had helped him buy a bigger one closer to the Preventer's HQ, because he was working there too now. The Sweepers just got to be too much of a hassle, he had said. Now I see that he just wanted to be around me more.

And I wanted to be around him.

Like usual, Heero Yuy takes a long while to catch on, so when he held me for the first time I was mildly surprised. I asked him why.

"Because I like you, Heero."

"I like you too Duo, but..." I turned to face him. "Why...?"

He smiled. Not just that usual intoxicating grin of his, either. It was a true smile.

I blinked. "Duo... "

He cupped my face in his hands. "Is this bothering you, Heero? Because if it is, I will stop."

After a long pause of staring into those violet eyes, I managed a small smile myself. Putting one of my hands over his, I thanked him.

He nodded, and kissed me softly.

~~`~{@ Owari