For a moment a bitter expression flashed on his face, but then it was gone and he shrugged sheepishly. "My landlady found out I used to be a Gundam pilot and kicked me out."

"Why don't you move in with me?"

The words were out of my mouth before I'd even fully considered them, but as soon as I'd spoken them I realized it was the perfect solution.

Duo, however, was already shaking his head no. "I can't do that to you, man. I'd drive you crazy."

We had reached the cross-section of the corridor. Duo was prepared to turn left, toward the barracks and I would turn right, toward the exit and home. Suddenly I didn't want Duo to disappear down the left corridor; more than anything I wanted him to come home with me.

"You won't drive me crazy. We get along fine at work, why would sharing a place be any different?"

Last year I'd bought a house. It was small, only a single bedroom, though it did have a loft which I'd converted into an office.

Duo continued to smile at me, as if he understood something I was missing. "Heero, we only see each other during the day at work. Living together is completely different. But thank you for the offer. It means a lot to me."

He turned to leave and I grabbed his arm. "Why? Do you play your music all night?"

He stared at my hand on his arm in surprise but then shook his head. "No, of course not."

I tugged his arm as if to anchor him to me. "Do you have an obnoxious pet?"

He snorted. "You know I don't."

I was scowling now and practically shaking him. "I've been over to your place before. It was clean, we have the same taste in music and neither of us can cook worth a damn so that's not the issue."

He put his free hand on my shoulder, looking at me in concern. "Alright, calm down; I get the idea."

I let go of his arm then and dropped my head to stare at his feet. Preventer issue pants tucked into black combat boots, it was like I was staring at a mirror reflection of myself.

"Why not then?" My question was soft but I knew he'd heard me. He let out a breath and then grabbed the nape of my neck, shaking my head gently.

"What's going on, Heero?"

I'd bought a house last year. It was small but I'd liked the yard and the big maple tree in the back. I'd bought a table for the kitchen and placed two chairs around it. I had a couch and a television and a large bed with big soft pillows.

And yet, every morning I sat at the table and looked at the empty chair across from me. I only sat on one end of the couch and I always knew where the television remote was. I traveled between the kitchen, the office and my bedroom and no words were spoken, only the silent tread of my feet.

"I'm lonely."

Duo's hand on my neck stilled and then dropped so he was holding on to both my shoulders. "Why didn't you say something?"

"You seemed happy." I told him, not wanting to meet his eyes.

He groaned and then shook me a little. I looked up and he was smiling at me in exasperated affection. "You're such an idiot."

Then he grabbed my arm and hauled me toward the left.

I stumbled after him, confused. "Where are we going?"

He laughed. "To pack up my stuff, of course."

I bought a house last year. It's small but filled with sunshine and has a big maple tree in the backyard. The house is a little cluttered, filled with projects and athletic equipment and I never know where the television remote is.

But every morning I go into the kitchen and when I sit down at the table there is someone sitting in the chair across from me.

And my house is no longer silent.