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You know, I remember a time...
For cara_chapel: Something with Ducky. (229 words)
He's not a young man anymore; he hasn't been a young man for quite some time. If he closes his eyes, he can remember the feelings of freedom, of strength and energy and muscles that didn't stiffen up every time he got too cold or over-exerted himself.
It's not as though he's in bad shape physically; he takes care of himself, he's healthy, and he can still maneuver difficult crime scenes and lift bodies. Perhaps not as easily as he used to, but he can still do it and that's the main thing.
He looks at Tony sometimes, seeing the athletic frame, the energy Tony never quite manages to control completely, and wonders if the younger man knows how lucky he is. He wonders if Tony thinks about growing old, about his own body becoming a reluctant ally or even an enemy. He's pretty sure Tony doesn't. In their line of work, Tony's odds of dying young are higher than they should be and he's smart enough to know it.
And it's not as though he envies Tony. He remembers being young--there's nothing wrong with his mind, after all. He's lived--is living--a full, rich life, one that makes him happy. But that doesn't mean he doesn't look at Tony sometimes, and feel a slight pang of regret for the years that vanished so quickly, decades ago.
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