A New Christmas
by Kentra Shinataku
He wasn't quite sure it was good enough, the way his arms enfolded Duo's thin waist. He was fairly certain that he wasn't feeling properly. He had never quite grasped the gauge for appropriate reactions, and he felt that this night was the night he probably needed that evasive talent most. He wasn't used to this. This feeling was completely foreign to him. He had never been compelled to reach out and comfort another human, and he didn't know why he should now.
Duo needed him.
Not him, necessarily, but someone. Someone who wasn't going to judge and someone who wouldn't whisper well-wishes in his ear. Trowa just happened to be that someone during this time, this place. It wasn't planned. It just was.
Trowa wasn't exactly familiar with the entire concept of Duo and Heero's relationship, but he had a rather concrete idea. The situation wasn't the greatest, and tonight, for the first time, Duo bared the bruises to prove it.
Just the two of them on a couch, and a little tree that Duo had brought over, and a silver chain in a thin box. It was the best Christmas Trowa had ever had, since he didn't celebrate it. He wasn't much for celebrations. After both had consumed a few glasses of wine, celebration became the night's greatest companion. Hands had wandered just a little too far, and Duo flinched in pain when he felt pressure over the welts on his thigh. A sharp gasp accompanied the fingers digging into his shoulders. An intake of stolen air punctuated the caresses on his lower back.
Trowa finally could see the wrong.
Their acquaintanceship had grown into a friendship, and that friendship had formed a bond. It had taken them two years to realize that maybe that bond was something more, and maybe Duo should be with Trowa instead of Heero. They never had dared to take the final step, never spoke of their revelation. Some days, Duo tried so hard to be close to Trowa that he was pushing himself away. Some days, Trowa would unintentionally push Duo away.
But when the undeniable truth was set before him, he couldn't turn away. He saw the handprints, the cuts, he could feel the marks that collected on and beneath Duo's skin. Duo wouldn't answer his questions, running his fingers in nervous fits through his bangs and avoiding Trowa's eyes.
Later, Trowa stopped asking, and Duo's head fell on Trowa's shoulder, ceasing it's weary battle to stand. Trowa had a feeling that Christmas, from now on, wouldn't be the same.
**********
by Kentra Shinataku
He wasn't quite sure it was good enough, the way his arms enfolded Duo's thin waist. He was fairly certain that he wasn't feeling properly. He had never quite grasped the gauge for appropriate reactions, and he felt that this night was the night he probably needed that evasive talent most. He wasn't used to this. This feeling was completely foreign to him. He had never been compelled to reach out and comfort another human, and he didn't know why he should now.
Duo needed him.
Not him, necessarily, but someone. Someone who wasn't going to judge and someone who wouldn't whisper well-wishes in his ear. Trowa just happened to be that someone during this time, this place. It wasn't planned. It just was.
Trowa wasn't exactly familiar with the entire concept of Duo and Heero's relationship, but he had a rather concrete idea. The situation wasn't the greatest, and tonight, for the first time, Duo bared the bruises to prove it.
Just the two of them on a couch, and a little tree that Duo had brought over, and a silver chain in a thin box. It was the best Christmas Trowa had ever had, since he didn't celebrate it. He wasn't much for celebrations. After both had consumed a few glasses of wine, celebration became the night's greatest companion. Hands had wandered just a little too far, and Duo flinched in pain when he felt pressure over the welts on his thigh. A sharp gasp accompanied the fingers digging into his shoulders. An intake of stolen air punctuated the caresses on his lower back.
Trowa finally could see the wrong.
Their acquaintanceship had grown into a friendship, and that friendship had formed a bond. It had taken them two years to realize that maybe that bond was something more, and maybe Duo should be with Trowa instead of Heero. They never had dared to take the final step, never spoke of their revelation. Some days, Duo tried so hard to be close to Trowa that he was pushing himself away. Some days, Trowa would unintentionally push Duo away.
But when the undeniable truth was set before him, he couldn't turn away. He saw the handprints, the cuts, he could feel the marks that collected on and beneath Duo's skin. Duo wouldn't answer his questions, running his fingers in nervous fits through his bangs and avoiding Trowa's eyes.
Later, Trowa stopped asking, and Duo's head fell on Trowa's shoulder, ceasing it's weary battle to stand. Trowa had a feeling that Christmas, from now on, wouldn't be the same.
**********