Next chapter! :)

I own nothing but the plot line. The Almighty Larson owns it all.

Angel stepped into the apartment and Collins closed the door. He watched his former lover walk toward the couch before turning to face him.

"I, uh, brought you some of my homemade soup," Angel said, holding the bowl out. Collins walked to him and took the bowl. He smiled at it and placed it on the coffee table. "How are you feeling?"

"Better," Collins replied.

"That's good." There was a silence. "Where's Justin?"

"He just left for work." Angel nodded and there was another silence. "What brings you here?"

"I got lonely and decided I'd bring you some soup."

"'Lonely?' Weren't you with Michael?" Angel shook his head.

"He had to go out of town for business. He'll be gone for a week."

"How come you came here instead of going to Mimi's?"

"I don't know." A silence passed between them. Collins kept his eyes on Angel. His mind reminded him of the argument between Justin and his former lover that Mark had told him about. Angel was looking at the floor. "So, when will Justin be back from work?"

"He said two or three." Another silence. "Why did you two get into an argument?" Angel's attention quickly went from the floor to Collins. "Mark told me."

"Oh," Angel said. "Well . . . I'm gonna be completely honest with you. We don't like each other. At all."

"That doesn't answer the question." Angel's eyes narrowed. "What?"

"Do you see what you just did there?"

"What'd I do?"

"You asked me a question and because I didn't answer when you wanted me to, you demanded an answer. You always do that, Collins."

"No, I don't."

"There's another thing you always do. You refuse to believe anything anybody else says. Especially me." Collins gave Angel a slight glare.

"Did you just come over here to point out reasons you broke up with me?" he asked, folding his arms across his chest. "'Cause if that's the case, you can leave."

"Not wanting to deal with a problem is another thing," Angel said.

"Fuck you."

"Getting mad when you know someone's telling the truth is another one." Collins walked over to the door and opened it.

"Goodbye, Angel," he said, not bothering to look at the drag queen.

"I'm not going anywhere, Collins," Angel told him. Collins slowly looked at him and he folded his arms. He returned the anarchist's gaze and the two stared at each other for a long moment. Suddenly, Collins slammed the door, causing Angel to jump slightly.

"Why the fuck are you here?" Collins asked angrily as he walked toward Angel.

"I already told you I don't know!" Angel shouted at him, matching his glare.

"Then why won't you leave?"

"You're not the boss of me, Collins! I can stay here as long as I want!"

"Get out!"

"No!"

"GET THE FUCK OUT, ANGEL!"

"I'M NOT FUCKING LEAVING, COLLINS!" Collins grabbed Angel by his arm and pulled him toward the door. "Get the fuck off of me!"

"You're leaving! Now!"

"No, I'm fucking not!" Angel used all of his strength to pry Collins' hand off of his arm and push the anarchist away from him. Infuriated, Collins grabbed Angel by his shoulders and slammed him against a wall. Fear overcame Angel as he looked into Collins' rage filled eyes.

"Are you gonna leave, or am I gonna have to hurt you?" he asked. Angel managed to push Collins away from him, but was immediately forced against the wall again. "Answer the goddamn question!"

"Let me go, Collins," Angel said timidly.

"Are you gonna leave if I do?"

"Get off of me!" Angel began struggling to break free of Collins' grasp. He was suddenly thrown to the floor and he crawled toward the wall furthest from the door.

"Angel Dumott Schunard, if you don't answer me right now, I swear to God-"

"If you hit me, I'm calling the police!" Angel interrupted. Collins started walking toward him. He seemed like a completely different person. "Collins, please! I already get enough of this with Michael! I don't need it from you too!" Collins stopped walking. His eyes widened as he realized what Angel had said, what he had just done, and what he was about to do.

"Shit!" he exclaimed. He rushed to Angel and knelt in front of him. "I'm so sorry, Angel! I don't know what came over me! I just got mad and I-" He stopped himself in mid-sentence. "What do you mean you get enough of this with Michael?"

"It's nothing," Angel said softly, pulling his knees up to chest and leaning against the wall. He looked away from Collins.

"I don't believe you," Collins replied, reaching out to Angel and slowly turning his attention back to him. "Angel, is Michael hitting you?" A tear rolled down Angel's cheek and he soon burst into tears.

"I don't know what to do . . ." Angel sobbed. Collins sat next to him and pulled him onto his lap. Angel laid his head on Collins' chest as the anarchist wrapped his arms around the smaller man and held him while he cried.

"It's okay, Angel," Collins told him. "It's okay. Shh . . . I'm here. I've got you. I've got you." He kissed Angel's forehead gently. Angel slowly lifted his head off of Collins' chest and gave him a peck on the lips, causing his former lover's eyes to widen.

"I'm sorry," Angel said quietly, looking down at his hands. Collins lifted Angel's head, placed his hands on the sides of the drag queen's face, and kissed him gently yet passionately. They both melted into the kiss, wanting it to last forever. Lack of air eventually ended it and they rested their foreheads on one another's.

"Angel . . ." Collins said. "Angel . . . what the hell are we doing?"

"What do you mean?" Angel replied.

"Why are we . . . apart? Weren't we happy? Didn't we love each other?"

"Of course we did. I still love you."

"And I still love you. So, why are you with Michael and why am I with Justin?" Angel got off of Collins' lap and stood up.

"I'm only with Michael because you're with Justin," he said. Collins stood up as well.

"What?" he replied.

"I was trying to make you jealous so you'd take me back, but I guess it didn't really work."

"That doesn't sound like you at all."

"It was Maureen's idea. She said if I wanted you back, I should find an old boyfriend and pretend to date him so you'd get jealous and fight for me."

"Why am I not surprised?" Angel frowned slightly. "What's wrong?"

"You didn't fight for me," Angel pointed out. Collins walked to him and held one of his hands. "Was I not worth it to you?"

"Don't you ever say somethin' like that again," Collins told him. "I love you. More than life itself."

"Then why did you let me go?"

"I thought you were happy with Michael and your happiness is everything to me." Collins kissed Angel's hand and he smiled. "I'm sorry I caused our breakup and I'm really sorry I picked Justin over you. That was the dumbest decision I've ever-" Collins was interrupted by his beeper going off. He decided to ignore it. "I shouldn't have chosen Justin. I really shouldn't have."

"It's time for your AZT, isn't it?" Angel asked, slipping his hand out of Collins'.

"Yeah, but I can take it later. You're more important to me."

"Collins, you need to take your AZT."

"I'll take it later."

"I don't want you to end up in the hospital again." Angel started heading toward the bathroom, hoping to find Collins' medicine there. Collins grabbed his hand and stopped him from walking. "Collins-"

"Angel I have . . . a confession to make," Collins interrupted.

"What is it?" Collins let go of Angel's hand and looked at the floor. "Collins?"

"You might wanna sit down." Angel walked over to the couch and sat down. He watched as Collins took a deep breath and looked up at him. "For the past three months, I've been . . . self loathing."

"Why?" Angel asked.

"'Cause I know I should've gone back into the Life Café with Mimi and talked to you. I know I should be with you right now instead of Justin. And I hate myself for making such a stupid decision. So, I've been slowly and silently . . . punishing myself."

"How? What've you been doing to yourself, Collins?" Angel was worried and his voice had a panicked tone to it. Collins looked at the floor again.

"I haven't been . . . taking my AZT," he said softly. Angel quickly got up off the couch.

"What? Collins-"

"That's not all," Collins interrupted. Angel fell silent and waited for Collins to continue. "I . . . purposely got sick. And the reason Justin didn't take me to the hospital is because . . . I begged him not to. It would've ruined everything."

"Collins, honey, how could you do that to yourself? Why would you do that to yourself?" Tears fell from Collins' eyes.

"I couldn't live without you," he said, his voice just above a whisper. "I didn't want to live without you. I still don't. I love you too much. And it hurts to see you with Michael." Angel lifted his head and wiped his tears away. "Angel, baby, I'm sorry I was so stupid. I'm sorry I was controlling and demanding. Please, please, please take me back."

Angel said nothing and pulled Collins into a deep kiss.

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