Unforgiven

\"Des, I\'m sorry.\" The words seemed to echo in Desmond\'s mind. He scowled at the ground for a moment, before feeling what was left of his anger dissipate. He brushed his hands through silky strands of hair in a losing battle to keep them out of his eyes.

\"I\'m an ass . . .\" He said ruefully. He thought back to the hurt look on Andre\'s face. I just deeply wounded my best friend and all he was doing was trying to help me out. It\'s not his fault that his doesn\'t know how things work out on the street. I just don\'t want him in that part of my life, the fighting, the drugs, and the crime.

He sighed softly, looking around to get his bearings, an eye ever watchful for danger.

Life without Andre. Well, it just wouldn\'t be worth living. He\'s like a part of me by now, all the shit we\'ve been through. School was hell, but we made it. And look where we are now, doing the exact same things we were doing before.

Desmond squinted down the street for a moment before walking purposefully down the sidewalk, his lean legs covering distance quickly.

I better apologize.

--

\"What do you mean he never came home?\"

Desmond felt a shiver of fear run down his spine, as he stood on the steps of the extensive mansion-like home.

\"He just never came in and we\'re worried to death.\" Andre\'s mother bit her lip in the same characteristic way that he had. \"He was supposed to be back an hour ago.\"

\"Shit . . .\" Desmond muttered under his breath.

He turned to walk away, and looked back over his shoulder.

\"I\'ll go look for him, but I\'m sue\'se\'s fine.\" He lied.

Andre\'s mother nodded softly and retreated back indoors.

--

It\'s all my fault. If only Andre had never met me, or even gone to find me. Damn it. Those sons of bitches better not have laid a hand on him.

His fists clenched and the look in his eyes was deadly.

Desmond was almost surprised by his ferocity. He realized that if anything had happened to Andre because of him, he wouldn\'t be able to go on with his life. He\'d always known that he had feelings for Andre, but he had always managedhidehide them. Besides why would Andre ever want to be with someone like him? He was nothing, no one and good for nothing.

Desmond\'s feet pounded on the pavement as he headed for the abandoned alley where he knew his enemies were likely to be.

--

Andre was enveloped by darkness as he felt the final blow to his bruised and battered body. As he slipped into the warm dark, he saw Desmond\'s face, his emerald eyes blazing with a frightening inner fire. A faint smile hovered around his lips.

\"You came . . .\" He sighed softly and his body went limp.

Desmond charged into the group of men like a deadly blur, fists and feet flying in all directions. He felt his blows connect with flesh and his anger was like an inferno that kept him from feeling painful blows that he was receiving.

\"Shit, man. This guy is crazy.\" One the men yelled fearfully. \"I\'m getting\' outta here.\"

When Desmond\'s vision returned to normal he was standing alone beside Andre\'s prostrate body. Breathing heavily he looked down at his friend.

\"Andre!\" He fell to his knees beside Andre. There was a large purple bruise on his friend\'s cheek ae loe looked pretty battered. Desmond reached out shakily, stroking the soft curve of his cheek.

\"I\'m sorry, I\'m so sorry.\" Desmond\'s dark green eyes glittered in anguish. \"It\'s all my fault.\"

\"Please be okay.\" He whispered, cradling Andre in his arms, his voice shaking.

\"Please be okay. I promise I\'ll never be stupid again if you just live. Please.\"

He looked down at Andre a single tear trickling down his cheek. \"I love you, you can\'t leave me here all alone. Please.\"

He wiped the tear away with his sleeve, looking up to the cloudy sky. The city seemed to fall into a silent hush around him, as the leaves blew across the sidewalk, rustling.