Disclaimer: I don't own RENT. I just play in the loft.

It Takes One to Know One
There were secrets between them. Secrets that could cause trouble. That's what the secrets were: tailored trouble they could wear draped around their hips. Oh yes, there were secrets. Roger knew. Mark knew, too. They weren't totally without instincts, but they dealt with the other's secrets. They co-existed. Until one day.

Roger was leaving. The band was going on tour. Mark and Roger only had twenty-six days to work with. Twenty-six days to see what gets done. Things were changing. Secrets weren't secrets for long. Time passes. It moves, it moves, it moves.

Roger was an addict. Roger was addicted to heroine. Roger was an addict for dramatics. Roger was addicted to Mark. But sometimes Roger confuses addiction with love. Roger was in love with Mark. One day, he told Mark, in his own way.

"You can't tell me that you won't beg me to come home."

"I won't."

"Liar."

"Like you don't lie."

"Well, if we're keeping score…"

"You're childish."

"You're intrusive and arrogant."

"Liar."

Secrets don't stay secrets for long. Not when you only have twenty-six days.

Roger came back from the tour. Back to the loft he swears by, but can barely afford. Mark still had a secret. How long could he hold it? Not long. Twenty-six days and Mark was leaving. He had a movie premiere to go to. Twenty-six days can change people. Time passes. It moves, it moves, it moves.

There are no more secrets between Mark and Roger. There is only one secret that they share.

"Is it any different now that we are…"

"Don't go there. Not here, not now."

Only one secret.

Mark was an addict. Mark was addicted to filming. Mark was an addict for dramatics. Mark was addicted to Roger. But he often confused addiction with love. Mark loved Roger.

But Mark was leaving.

"You can't tell me that you won't beg me to come home."

"I won't."

"Liar."

"You lie."

"Well, if we're keeping score…"

"You're so immature."

"Well, you're intrusive and arrogant."

"Liar."

"It takes one to know one."

Mark and Roger used to have secrets. Not anymore. They whisper their secrets to each other each night, between sweet kisses and murmured "I love you's." Now they share a secret. A secret that involves surreptitious glances and stolen moments in front of their friends. Their friends accuse Mark and Roger of keeping a secret. They lie and say they're not. Their friends don't know that they're liars.

It takes one to know one.

I got the idea for this when listening to "Liar (It Takes One to Know One)" by Taking Back Sunday. I hope it turned out as well as I think it did. Let me know.