NOT FORGOTTEN
Duo stood uncertainly in the doorway, poised for flight. It would be so easy to just turn around and forget about old ties, and even older pain. To just leave the half healed scars to close, but he was always picking at them it seemed. He couldn't just leave, not when he was so close to the tantalizing promise of a truth he could no longer hide from. Slowly, deliberately, he pushed the door inward, surprised when it gave easily, swinging wide open at his touch.
Haltingly, he entered the apartment, the stench of smoke, hard liquor and decay overwhelming his senses. He didn't know what he'd expected, coming here, but it wasn't this. Silently he took in the dusty interior of the familiar apartment. Beer bottles were scattered about the much neglected room, and a syringe rested on the coffee table, the needle glittering cruelly up at him. Shocked at the signs glaring him in the face, he searched, a tad desperately, for the occupant. Softly, Duo made his way to the back bedroom. The generous bed looked quite empty, though well-used, and there were yet more indications of drug and alcohol abuse. 'Jesus Heero,' he thought angrily, 'I would have thought that a big boy like yourself could have handled the real world better than this.' For a moment, Duo actually felt guilty, but he forced the emotion deep down where it wouldn't hamper him. He didn't need to deal with its company. Resignedly he wandered back into the front room and settled down to wait on the couch.
Some time later, Duo was still snoozing when he was startled awake by the sounds of someone opening the door and shoving inside. He heard footsteps entering the little room and he opened his eyes slowly to be confronted with confused Prussian blue orbs.
"Hello Heero."