Duo scrubbed at his hair, creasing his forehead. "You know, I run, I hide - but you're always there, wherever I go."

Heero said nothing. This was how it started.

There was a moment of awkward silence.

Instead of answering, which he never did, Heero reached over for the pack of cigarettes. Duo just smirked.

"You always knew me better than anyone," Duo shook his head slightly. He didn't like this script anymore than Heero. He gratefully took a cigarette out of the pack and felt around for the matches.

Lighting up, he waved a scolding extinguished match at Heero, "One of these days, we'll be too old for this." Taking the pack away from Heero, he chucked it aside. They never had more than one together - it was just part of the routine.

Duo pressed his head back as he exhaled a puff of smoke. Then he passed the cigarette. Heero took it to his lips without a word, closing his eyes as he inhaled real slow.

Duo was looking at the ring again. "I'm serious this time, Heero."

Heero exhaled through his nostrils, scratching the bridge of his nose with the back of his thumb. Duo always started this way, with it ending the same way each time. Heero just did his part and passed the cigarette back down to Duo, watching the man below him take another drag. Duo's eyes wouldn't meet his and Heero waited out another awkward moment in silence.

Duo was biting on his lip. Cigarette still in hand, he picked at his lips with his thumb and ring finger, before speaking again, "Look, this is... it's not easy for me to say, dammit - it never is, but this time, I mean it." Duo took a pause, as if expecting Heero to say something.

And for once, Heero did: "Sounds like you've made up your mind."

Duo's eyes widened at the unexpected change in the routine. Heero took Duo's chin between his thumb and forefinger to force him to meet his eyes. Duo swallowed thickly, his lips pressing together thinly. Once secure that the man was locked in his gaze, Heero let go. He moved to take Duo's hand in his, bringing the cigarette to his lips while it was still between his lover's fingers.

"... don't do this, Heero." Duo tried to take back his hand, but after all these years, this was not a fight he could win. Heero held the cigarette between his lips, still holding Duo's hand. "You have to stop -"

"Making it harder than it has to be?" Heero smirked.

"... making me a liar."

Holding Duo's hand, Heero brought it back up to his lips. His other hand took the cigarette and killed it on Duo's wedding band.

"Then stop saying you'll leave."

Duo propped himself up on his elbows and seemed to be inspecting his navel.

"Her or you?" Then he looked up at Heero, who wasn't going anywhere.

Heero barely paused to consider:

"Both."