Different When It Comes To You

Different When It Comes To You

firedragon_luver

***********

"3 AM?" the just-awakened person bolted upright and mouthed irritably. He was having a very good dream - a very sensual dream actually - about he and his dream lover. Upon remembering it, he plopped down with a smile on his face, only to be distracted, again, with the reason why he was awake in this ungodly hour - a series of heavy poundings at the door and ringing of the doorbell. Picking up his pajama bottoms, he strode towards the door, opening it. There stood in front of him his dream lover with puffy eyes, blowing his nose.

"Oh, Draco!" the very disheveled man greeted him, crying and leaning on him.

"Ha - Harry? It's 3 am, what happened?" the blonde asked while walking him inside the flat and gesturing him to sit down.

"Can I stay here for awhile?" Harry asked without looking at the blonde.

"You know very well that you don't have to ask. You're welcome to stay here, Harry, as long as you like." Draco comforted the other man by hugging him.

"Thanks," was the muffled response.

"I'll just get some bedding, help yourself if you want something." The blonde stood up and walked towards his room.

"Thanks, but I'm just tired." Harry gave him a small smile.

After a while, Draco returned with a soft white comforter and fluffy pillows and sat beside Harry, taking his hand and running small circles on it.

"I know you want to ask me so many things right now, but can we talk tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow then. Sleep well." Draco left a kiss on the other's forehead before going to his room.

Before entering his room, he looked back at Harry, who was settling himself on the sofa and the blonde smiled a bitter smile. Tomorrow they would talk, and Harry will mostly do the talking and he will only listen. He will listen to Harry's endless curses and hateful words towards his current boyfriend, but in the end, he will take it all back by saying how much he misses and loves the other, just like the many times that they have had this talk. Draco will sit and listen, he will listen even though he wants to scream in pain, even though he wants to cry because Harry doesn't notice him, even though his eyes want to let tears fall. But he will control it; he will hide every thing in a comforting smile, encouraging words just to make Harry feel fine.

He was startled from his reverie when he heard Harry cough, and with one last lingering look, he settled in for a few more hours of sleep.

*******

Draco was very eager to go home from work, Harry promised to cook dinner for them so that they don't have to go out anymore. He was whistling a happy tune when he entered his flat, only to pause when a very dark and cold room greeted him. He already had suspicions why the room had such ambiance, but he hoped otherwise.

"Harry?" he gently called, hoping that the other just planned to surprise him. "Harry?" he called again with no response. Gently, he flicked on the lights and saw a note lying on the center of the table, just like old times. He took it and inspected the note before opening it. He didn't really have to read it; by now, he had already memorized the words that would be written there, but he read it anyway.

Draco,

Hi.

He came over, we really had a very serious talk and we decided to give it another try.

Thank you very much for understanding me, for accepting me without asking.

Thanks again.

Harry.

PS. I cooked your dinner, enjoy.

After reading the note, he tucked it away with the other notes from Harry before heading for the kitchen. In the kitchen, a very inviting aroma of good food welcomed him. After observing it, he threw it in the bin, opting for a hard drink before walking towards his room.

"What do you see in him, Harry?" the blonde asked no one in particular, wincing slightly because of the hard drink. "You're hurting me so much, again and again, but still here I am, wishing that someday you'll look at me and feel what I feel for you."

Draco stood up and walked to the terrace, leaning on the wall and looking nowhere in particular. "If it were only me whom you love, you would never hurt. You would never cry tears of pain. Never would you be alone. I'm here, Harry. I'm here offering you my love and all of me, just waiting for you."

***************

It had been many months since he had last seen Harry, but they had had occasional correspondence just asking how the other is doing, other than that, there was nothing else. That was why he was rather shocked to see the green-eyed man sitting on his steps, waiting or him. Draco was greeted by a shy smile that showed through his eyes how sad he was.

"Hey," he greeted Draco.

"I'm sorry I'm late. How long have you been here?" Draco asked as he fumbled with his keys.

"Oh, I just arrived. It's not your fault that I waited if I didn't even tell you I was coming."

"Come in, it's getting cold. I don't know how you survived just sitting here. You could have called me."

"I just arrived, Draco. Don't worry, I can manage."

*****

Harry stayed with Draco longer this time, not just a few days, but weeks, almost a month. Draco was very happy with what was happening. Harry was so close to him. They did chores in turns, and they kept the flat tidy. They were just like a happy couple. The only things missing were love and, of course, sleeping together.

Draco invited Harry to a very special dinner. Unbeknownst to Harry, they were celebrating his 4th week stay with Draco. The blonde secretly told himself it was their anniversary.

"I really had a great time. I love the food, and I like the club's choice of music. Do you go there often?"

"Not often, just when I feel like it."

"I really had a good time today," Harry grinned looking at the blonde.

"Really?" he inquired without looking at him.

"Really." Harry leaned toward Draco and rested his head on the blonde's shoulder.

"I'm glad that you did." The blonde rested his head on the other and they stayed silent for a while.

Harry moved and sat facing Draco, playing with the loose hair that hung over his face. The blonde enjoyed this for a while before he faced the other and made an inquiring look.

"What?" Harry asked, giggling.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Draco silently thanked the gods that he was not stammering. He felt so different being this close to Harry.

"Draco, you're so beautiful. You're a very good person. Why are you still alone?" Harry asked, still playing with Draco's hair and not looking him directly at the eye.

"I'm still waiting for the right time to tell the person I love what I feel for him. I'm still waiting to feel the sign that he loves me back." Draco rested his head on the sofa's back.

"Don't wait too long. You might not have the chance, you know. It would be better to tell him that you love him now than to be too late."

"I know." Draco took Harry's hand and just held on to it, and Harry let him.

"I think we should rest now. I'm sleepy already," Harry said, breaking the silence.

"Okay. Good night, then. Sleep well." Draco kissed the other's forehead before retreating to his room.

Draco did not sleep, but just stared at the ceiling. He was hearing Harry's voice telling him not to wait too long. He couldn't take it anymore; he decided to tell Harry now. He didn't care if the other was asleep as long as he would be able to tell him, as long as he would be able to let it off his chest, even in this way.

Slowly, he walked towards Harry. He checked first to see if he was asleep before he walked around the sofa, sitting on the floor in front of the sleeping man.

"Harry." Draco whispered, amazed by the fact that he was this close to him; though Harry had been sleeping in the blonde's flat, never did he go to Harry while he was asleep. He was mesmerized how peaceful he looked, how the shape of his nose complemented his face, the thick lashes that would be the envy of many girls, thin, pink lips that were surely so nice to kiss.

"You sleep fast. I don't want to wait anymore. I have to tell you now before it's too late. It is you who I am waiting for; it is you who I love. I love you so much, Harry Potter. I love you." Draco whispered.

"I love you, too." Harry smiled in his sleep.

Draco was surprised at Harry had said. He stared at him and, unconsciously, he leaned forward until their lips met. It was just a gentle meeting of lips, but could still be called a kiss. Draco gently pressed his lips, being careful not to awaken the sleeping man and thinking that tomorrow, they could kiss properly. He broke the kiss with a smile, staying a bit longer before he retreated to his room, his smile not yet disappearing from his face.

A wonderful aroma of food cooking awakened Draco. He felt so happy and complete, remembering what had happened the night before. With a smile on his face, he tiptoed towards the kitchen, planning to surprise Harry before devouring him before they eat the food. Just when he had almost arrived at the kitchen, the doorbell rang. Harry, turning his head, saw him and smiled.

"I'll get it," the blonde said. But as he opened the door, there stood the last person he wanted to see.

"Is - is.. Ha- Harry here?" the person stammered, feeling ready to disappear under Draco's icy glare.

"I'll get him. But I won't promise that he will want to see you." He closed the door right in the newly arrived face before turning his back to get Harry. The blonde didn't need to go far to see Harry leaning on the kitchen wall with a small smile on his face.

Draco opened the door again. "I'll just be in my room." Without looking back, he walked to his room in just a few strides. Once inside, he leaned on the door, sliding until he sat on the floor. He breathed heavily, calming himself and trying not to cry or shout out loud. At that moment, there were too many emotions battling for domination. He leaned his head in his hands, tears falling, heart hurting, but right then, all he could do was wait. He didn't know how long he was in that position until he heard a quiet knock on the door. He stood up, arranged himself, and inhaled deeply before opening the door.

"You okay?" Harry asked him.

"Yes."

"Can we talk for a minute?" Harry asked him again, eyeing him to step out of the room.

Draco nodded and stepped out, looking around to see if the visitor was around, and, finding him nowhere in sight, he was suddenly relieved.

"So.."

"He's waiting for me outside.."

Draco's face paled.

"Oh.." was the only thing he could say.

"We've decided to give it another try," was Harry's explanation.

"Another try? Why, Harry? He only hurts you again and again. Can't you see it, can't you feel the pain he's giving you?" Draco said, trying not to shout.

"I know, but somewhere along the line, I hurt him, too. I caused him to feel pain."

"I don't understand you. Why do you spend your time with him? He doesn't look like he wants to spend his life with you. If he did, he wouldn't allow himself to be away from you, even for just a second. If he loved you, he wouldn't let you leave. If you ask me, I would definitely do all that," Draco said in panic.

"What are you trying to say, Draco? That I should leave him?"

"No. I just want you to think it over more. I care for you. I don't want to see you cry anymore. Won't you ever learn?" Draco asked, still not accepting defeat.

"I care for you too, and I thank you so much for caring for me. I just want to take this chance. I'll never know if we will be able to make it if I do not do this." Harry whispered.

"Why don't you look for somebody else, somebody deserving of your love?"

"I can't." Harry took Draco's hand and brought it close to his heart. "Can you feel that, Draco? My heart beats only for him. This heart loves only one, and that is he. You understand me, right?"

"Yes, I do. it's just."

"Draco, you love, too. So you know how it is to love. You know that we will do anything, everything for that love. Last night, I told you to tell this person you love what you feel, and maybe in doing so, you will understand me more."

"I did. I already told him. At first, I thought he felt the same way, but I was wrong. I'm only a friend to him," Draco said, now with tears again in his eyes.

"Don't cry. There will be another. Another that is meant for you, a person who will love you and deserves your love," Harry whispered and took Draco in his arms and hugged him.

After a while, Draco mirrored what Harry did to him earlier, he brought the other's hand close to his heart. "Feel that, Harry? My heart only beats for him, my heart only loves him. My heart says that it will wait, wait until that person sees me and feels the same way. My heart will not lose hope, because in the end I know the person I love will come to me." Draco smiled and returned the hug.

"I think I better go." Harry moved away from Draco and fixed himself. He brought his hand to the blonde's cheek and kissed him goodbye.

"Take care of yourself, and you know where to find me, just in case," Draco said as he walked Harry towards the door.

"I know, thank you very much, Draco. For everything." Harry smiled and waved goodbye.

Draco sat on the unmade couch, lying down and smelling Harry's scent on the pillow. Now that he was alone, he let himself break down, remembering how Harry made him feel when he was so close to him, how his lips felt against his. How he selfishly owned the words, 'I love you, too' that Harry had whispered that night for himself, even though he knew to whom that those words truly belonged. He stood up, fixed the couch, brought the beddings to the laundry, where they waited till somebody would use them again, till Harry came back. Yes, as what he said to Harry, he will wait; he will continue to love him. He will wait till next time, and the last thing on his mind that night was, if Harry came, he would tell him that he loved him, not when he was sleeping but when he was awake and could return his love and kisses.

Draco woke up late the next day, but not too late to go to work, and he owned the business he was working at anyway. He might be broken-hearted, he might be in pain, he might have let his walls go down, but still, he was Draco Malfoy. Yes, Draco Malfoy, the same person whom his staff feared, whom the whole community idolized because of his wit, fame, and power. The same person who brought hell to his enemy, who never showed what he felt, his cold face always guarded. He was only different when it came to Harry.

~fin~