Home

It was raining everywhere.

But even then, the cold, chilly rain did not mask the evident tears streaming the boy's face.

"Why did you come after me?"

It wasn't a question. It was an accusation. Why did he dare come after him, he was saying. Why did he dare after he'd told him not to?

"Because I love you, Matthew."

Matthew chuckled, no, he didn't chuckle. Matthew was incapable of chuckling at his very moment. It was pain, in the form of hysterical sobs that seemed to sound like laughter in the pounding rain. "You love me. You love me, so that's why you came after me? How…lovely. It's a pity I don't believe that anymore, Arthur darling."

The way he said darling made Arthur want to cry himself. God, he hated himself right now. "Matthew, please, if you could just tell me what's wrong we can fix this."

"Fix what? There's nothing to fix. You can't fix something that's not fixable, Arthur. Everything, it's all gone. Swept into the trash, down the drain, I don't care what you call it. There is no fixing anything. You're too late. You didn't figure it out fast enough. You've always been slow on emotions, haven't you?" Matthew dared, fists clenching at his sides.

They were both soaked by this point.

Arthur took in a shaky breath. "I don't believe you, either. You're not broken. You're just hurt, Matthew, and I can help. Please…just let me help…"

He took a step closer.

"Don't come any closer!" Matthew shrieked, and Arthur stepped back for fear of Matthew attacking him.

He could hear the tears in his choked voice. "I don't want to be fixed. I want you gone. I can't stand you, I can't stand you! I love you so much, I love you so much that it physically pains me to be anywhere near you! I can't do this, Arthur, I can't! I can't trust you, I can't! You destroyed that trust, you took it and you threw it on the ground, crushed it, and then burned it for your own sick pleasure! If you love me, somewhere in that disgusting head of yours, then you'll leave me here!"

The words stung, oh, the words stung. Arthur was pretty sure he was crying now.

"I make mistakes, Matthew! I'm only human! I know I hurt you, I know that! I'm sorry; I can't take it back now! I can't take it back now, but God you need to believe me when I say I need you. I need you so much more than you could ever imagine, and if I don't have you I'll bloody lose it! Don't tell me you don't want to see me, don't say that to me because I can't take that, either! Let me try and make this right, I can't change if you don't let me!"

The rain continued to pour.

But even through the pounding, everything was quiet then.

Arthur wished he'd say something.

"I need you too."

The Brit didn't bother wiping his tears up. He extended his hand. "Then…come back home. Home, we can go home. Let's just go home so we can make this right…"

There was such a pause that Arthur feared he wouldn't come. He didn't. Instead he stood there idly, looking at his extended hand, shaking violently as he shook his head.

"I…I can't. Please Arthur just go home. Don't make me do this, don't make me please, I'm begging you…" he whimpered, dropping to his knees.

Arthur knelt down too, and slowly, he wrapped his arms around him.

"I can't go home because home is right here in my arms."