Title: Fiddling While Rome Burns (8 of 20)

Author: Paola

Disclaimer: Fiddling While Rome Burns is based on characters and situations that belong to Bisco Hatori (and other production affiliates that have the right of ownership). No money is being made, and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

Considerations: Similarities to other stories/events/passages are purely coincidental unless otherwise cited, and beliefs and points of view found in the story do not necessarily reflect those of the author's.

Every entry is not necessarily connected to each other. There is no order in which each is written, and each entry is based on the theme displayed before the start of each story.

Author's note: I accept REQUESTS for this collection (Fiddling While Rome Burns). Just jump over to my profile and see how to request a theme.

Theme # 8: Loneliness

Request-ee: Romulan Empress

Rating: T

Genre: Introspective/Friendship/General

Entry summary: Kyoya sees it so clearly because it's the same reflection he sees when he looks at the mirror.

Entry title:

Dunkirk Spirit

Sometimes, time seems to still for him, and that's when he glimpses the little details about the Host Club that nobody else sees. The second it takes for him to adjust his glasses is enough to notice that the twins are up to something mischievous. The second it takes to punctuate a sentence is enough for him to notice that Haruhi is not really paying attention to the gushes of her clients. The second it takes to loosen his tie is enough for him to understand that Mori-sempai and Honey-sempai are about to bid the rest of the club goodbye. But the second it takes for him to blink is more than enough to notice the slight change in Tamaki's rhythm whenever the topic about mothers comes up. It's not very noticeable, and the Frenchman is adept at hiding his real feelings, but Kyoya sees it nonetheless.

He used to wonder why he found the slight changes easy to interpret, why the tiny things that shouldn't count actually counted for something so much more, why the tiny smiles meant more than the others could ever interpret them as. But now...now he knows why.

"'Ka-saaan...aren't we going home yet?" Tamaki whines, shifting in his position on the couch as Kyoya continues on working at the club's accounts at the other end of the same seat. "Everyone has left already...why are we still here?"

Kyoya spares him a short glance that sees and understands everything then he flickers his gaze back at the laptop propped on his lap. "Nobody told you to stay back with me. Go on home, Tamaki. I'll see you tomorrow."

Not unexpectedly, Tamaki latches onto his arm like a stubborn leech. "Mom! You're so mean! Let's go home together!"

For a moment, it's Kyoya who stills as time itself crawls, and when he looks to his side and sees his best friend pouting and looking like the usual Tamaki, something flashes at him and he isn't surprised anymore that he understands. Tamaki always waits for him, always stays back and pesters him to stop working, always asks him to go home together, always, always remains by his side like a lost child clinging onto the sleeve of a sympathetic stranger, and Kyoya now perfectly realizes why he sees and understands all this when he bets Tamaki himself doesn't.

In a quick but unfamiliar motion, Kyoya leans forward and kisses Tamaki on the crown of his head, an act he hasn't done before and wouldn't do again in the future. "I'll always be here, don't worry," he impulsively replies to a question that hasn't been asked. Then he shuts his laptop and stands up to smoothen out his clothes, easily reverting back to his usual self. "Come, let's go home," he offers his hand like nothing out of the ordinary happened.

Tamaki is dumbfounded for a heartbeat, his fingers touching where Kyoya kissed him, and then he laughs and jumps up. He pulls Kyoya out the room.

It's not because he's best friends with Tamaki that he understands, nor is it because he's been around the blonde idiot for the longest time. It's not because he's gone crazy and sees things in Tamaki's point of view either, nor is it because he's smart and knows everything. It's not even because he knows of Tamaki's family situation, nor is it because he pities the fool.

"Hey, can you drop me off my house, please?" Tamaki happily asks Kyoya's chauffeur as he enters the car, making Kyoya sigh and shake his head.

While Tamaki's mother is far away and cannot meet his son, Kyoya's father is so near but is just as unreachable. Both of their situations aren't as different as some might think, and that's why they click, that's why he understands Tamaki, that's why they're friends, that's why he wouldn't ever leave Tamaki's side...because they can keep each other company...they can keep each other's loneliness at bay.

It's because a lonely heart recognizes and accepts another lonely heart and tries to be a pillar of support for the other.

Before Tamaki steps off the car in front of his estate, he pulls Kyoya to him and hugs him tightly.

"Tamaki...?"

"I'll always be here, too...don't worry."

Tamaki smiles that care-free smile and doesn't bid him goodbye; instead, he tells Kyoya I'll see you, tomorrow! because when it comes to Kyoya, Tamaki never says farewell. And Kyoya is pleased…but he'd never tell.

-fin-

­Clarification/s:

Dunkirk spirit – it's when people pull together to surpass a difficult situation

A/N:

To those who remember where I've used the term "lonely heart" before…well…props to you! Lol. And thanks to those who read and reviewed (or just read, lol) The Moving Finger Writes!