Gerome walked back from a mission. He returned with cuts, scars,
bruises, and a broken arm. Gerome went to look for Brady. When he
found him he was talking to Inigo. Gerome didn't want to eavesdrop but
he did anyways.
"Yup! Yer good to go, just don't train so hard. Gerome was really
worried about ya."
"I won't, don't worry. My memories got the best of me.. I wonder when
I'll see Gerome again. I want to thank him." Inigo looked down.
"He went on a mission not too long ago and should be returning to look
fer me soon."
"Alright." Inigo nodded gripped his sword and started to walk away
when he noticed Gerome near by. "G-Gerome!"
"Silence. I am only looking for Brady to fix my wounds." Gerome coldly
spoke
"Your arm's broken!" Inigo remarked and started to completely flip
out. As he tried to walk up to him Gerome firmly spoke.
"Stop!"
"Gerome..?" Inigo looked at Gerome for a bit, he looked down and
nodded and started to walk away. That was the Gerome Inigo knew how he
acts around others. But.. never around him..
Later that day Gerome was reading in his tent when Inigo seemed to
walk by ... crying? Gerome put his book aside and peaked his head out
to see Inigo walking into his tent crying as he heard. Gerome hadn't
seen him since he got back and spoke to Brady. Not even at dinner. Was
he somewhere the whole time? He kept an eye on Inigo's tent and when
the soft crying subsided, Gerome peaked his head to see Inigo. (Owain
wasn't there because they had moved back to Ylisse so different people
in different tents) He sat down in the tent but close to the exit and
watched him debating if he should do something. As he decided to leave
he tripped on something in the messy tent and fell. Gerome landed on
his broken arm and cursed as quiet as he could. The noise only woke up
Inigo. Gerome's not sure if that's good or bad. Inigo walked out to
see Gerome struggling to get up and quickly helped him up.
"..Thanks.." Gerome spoke quietly to not wake up the others. Inigo
walked him back to his tent and offered him to sleep there incase he
needed anything.
"..T-thanks." Gerome said once more.
"I should be thanking you." Inigo replied
"..Why?" Gerome asked as he slipped onto a spare futon on the opposite
side of the tent.
"Because seemed to be the one who found me pass out, watched me until
I woke up, more or less, and coming to check up on me just now as I
know you heard me.."
"How'd you break your arm, anyways?"
"I fell off Minerva.."
"Oh. ..Why did you ... a-avoid me?"
"I needed to know something before I had spoke to you."
"And that is?"
"... Nothing of importance."
"Ah.. D-do you think we're friends?"
No response. Inigo peaked his head over to see Gerome had fallen
asleep. Inigo smiled a bit and closed his eyes and slowly fell asleep.
Gerome woke up and found that Inigo was still asleep. He's usually up
with the sun so Gerome began to worry.
"Hey, Inigo." He spoke. Gerome got up and started to shake him.
"Inigo. Hey!" Still nothing. "Inigo! This isn't funny!" Gerome's
shouting alerted Lissa.
"What's going on?"
"Inigo's not waking up!" As soon as Gerome spoke those words, Lissa
quickly examined him. Gerone looked at his face. It looked do lifeless
and grey. "..no.."
Lissa clenched her fist and punch the ground. "Gods!"
Gerome began to prevent his eyes from watering. But failed. He walked
out of the tent and back into his own and picked up his mask (that
Cherche fixed) and sat in there. For days. Weeks. Only relocating when
everybody else did only eating when people forced him to.
They had gone back to Regna Ferox and Gerome peeked out of his tent in
the middle of the night and walked out when he had found nobody was
awake. Gerome walked over to Inigo's favorite spot.
"... Why..?" He sobbed, ripping grass and throwing it. "He didn't seem
ill in anyway and I highly doubt he would die from natural causes..
Why..?"
"Because I care.. About you.."
Gerome jerked his head to find Inigo smiling at at him. It was unreal.
Gerome saw his lifeless face "H-how?"
"Henry put a hex on me that made me look dead.. We all played this
trick on you. They thought it would be for revenge but it was so you
could help find your answer.."
Gerome didn't respond he only stood up and faced Inigo in deep
thought. Inigo did not move.
"While you were gone," Inigo spoke "I asked Laurent what answer you
were looking for. Do you have it now?"
Gerome was hesitant as he spoke "I-I think I have my answer now.."
Gerome walked up to the cliff and turned his head to Inigo.
"..Goodbye.."
Gerome leaned over the cliff and started to fall. Inigo quickly
grabbed Gerome's not-as broken arm as he was dangling. "Ahgg!" Gerome
did his best not to scream. "W-why did you-?"
"Because you don't deserve to die yet!"
"You're the best friend I've ever had, Gerome.."
"My f-friend?" Gerome lifted his head up to find Inigo about to cry.
"Do you want me to feel the way you did not too long ago?! I don't
want to lose you!" Inigo held on to him with both hands.
"I don't need a friend.."
"Yes you do! Maybe somebody even more than that.."
"I-Ingo..?!" Gerome had began to slip. Inigo couldn't hold on to him
much longer. "What will the last words I hear, Inigo?"
There was a silence as Inigo knew he couldn't hold him much longer.
"I like you Gerome! ..A whole lot! The only reason I tried to get
girls was to impress you.. I knew you'd feel the same way so I settled
for friends.."
Before Gerome could respond, he had began to fall and heard the screm
of Inigo. Inigo heard a thud not long afterwards. He crawled over away
from the cliff and had his forehead, knees and feet on the ground. He
banged his fist on the ground multiple times. "I wasn't strong enough
again! First Father.. then .. Mother and now..!"
"But we're all here now, though."
Inigo slowly lifted up his head an found..