Tears On The Dock
Part I – Broken Reflections

First Reflection

               

                He hadn't been sea sick in days.

Locke stared at the sharp jaw that framed Edgar's face.

                "Did you love her?"

                Locke sighed and looked at the floor. The wood was dusty and neglected on this barge. It seemed unlike Edgar.

                "Why are you back to all of this Edgar?"

                "What else is there, eh Locke?"

                "This isn't a world of ruin anymore. Can't you go back to your castle? Can't you go back to all your riches and pleasures of royalty?"

                "Locke, I don't want my castle." Edgar placed a hand on Locke's shoulder and moved behind the young treasure hunter.

                "Edgar, don't."

                Locke felt the hands of Figaro's old king run along the back of his head.

                "I think she loved you." Edgar whispered.

                "What happened to the old womanizer I used to know?"

                "He died with the old king."

                The hand moved down Locke's back.

                "You think I'm beautiful, don't you?" Locke asked.

                "Who doesn't?"

                Locke pushed his arms backwards and moved away from Edgar.

                "No!" Locke shouted, watching Edgar regain his composure.

                "Why can't you try Locke?" Edgar asked.

                "It's not what I want Edgar. I don't need this!"

                "What do you want then?" What do you need?"

                "Nothing you can give me." Locke scoffed and moved towards the doorway in the cabin. Edgar quickly ran to the door and blocked Locke with his arm. The jewelry that covered Edgar's blue sleeve shimmered in the light of the oil lamps beside the door. Locke quickly gazed at the radiance before trying to shove Edgar away.

                "Give me a chance." Edgar said.

                "I already have." Locke applied more force and moved Edgar's arm away from his destined path. He opened the splintered door and ascended the dark staircase that lead to the upper deck of the ship. As he came out into the daylight and smelled the salts of the ocean he heard the sound of the staircase groaning behind him.

                "Where the hell are you going to go Locke Cole?" Edgar stepped out of the dark stairwell to reveal his glowing blonde hair. "Last I remembered we were aboard a ship at sea."

                "I can jump off." Locke said.

                "Lately you have been partial to running away from things." Edgar smirked.

                You bastard.

                Locke swung at Edgar with his gloved fist. Edgar caught the fist with quick reflex and pushed Locke down softly. He landed on his back and stared up at the former king.

                "If this is how you want to make me swoon over you, it's not working."

                Edgar laughed. He extended his hand to Locke. The young silver-haired adventurer clasped it and was pulled up by Edgar.

                Locke felt foreign lips press against his own.

                You sly bastard.

                Locke wanted to break from this surprising kiss Edgar had duped him with. But as he longed to abruptly end the embrace part of him yearned for it to go on. The kiss was warm and inviting. He felt enveloped in passion and . . .

                Comfort.

                The kiss concluded with Locke staring into the beautiful and mature eyes of Edgar. Edgar seemed much older and wiser than Locke, yet they were only a year or two apart. Locke didn't know what caused this maturity in Edgar. Perhaps being raised as a king caused your age to develop sooner.

                "Give in." Edgar said.

                How he wanted to! For so long the feeling of a kiss had been all but lost to him. He needed the comfort. He needed to feel wanted and needed again. He needed . . .

                Sex?

                Was that all he wanted, a quick thrill from this beautiful royal man? He remembered the words he had heard a few years ago.

                "You just want some damn cheap sex to make everything better!"

                Memories hurt.

                Locke gasped.

                "What is it?" Edgar asked.

                "I . . . I can't give into this. I don't want a quick comforting thrill."

                Edgar laughed again. "Didn't I say the 'womanizer' died with the king?"

                "You mean . . .?"

                Edgar nodded and gave a light smile. He kissed Locke lightly and wrapped an arm around the soft companion.

                Just give in. You need it.

                "Come on." Edgar started walking with Locke down the stairs to his dusty cabin. Locke looked over at the man who was taking each step with confidence and pride. He seemed so much older and wiser. Had he ever loved? Or had Edgar just lived up to his reputation as a "womanizer?"

                You have to ask. Otherwise you'll never know.

                "Edgar?"

                "What?" He stopped as they reached the door.

                "Edgar, I want to ask you something." Locke said, twisting his foot and staring again at the dirty wood.

                "Go ahead." Edgar said, running a hand down the arm of Locke.

                Locke shivered at his touch and started the ease away from the man. "Edgar, have you ever . . . loved?" Locke lifted his head to see the response in Edgar's face

                Edgar's breast heaved forward and collapsed. He pressed his back against the wall and looked Locke in the eyes. The blonde chuckled and looked at the floor.

                "Yeah. I loved someone."

                Locke looked at his face. Was Edgar going to cry?

                "Who?" Locke blurted.

                Edgar looked up, the tears welling in his eyes. "You don't want to know Locke. My god . . . You don't want to know."

                Edgar stormed through the door and into his cabin. Locke stood outside dumbfounded.

                "Did he go off again kid?"

                Locke turned around to see a silhouette standing at the top of the staircase.

                "You know, I wouldn't be calling me a kid." Locke said.

                "Why's that?" The silhouette laughed and started down the stairs.

                "Because, last I checked you and that nutcase are the same ages." Locke said, pointing to Edgar's cabin. The footsteps stopped and the man was revealed in the light of the two oil lamps beside the doorway. Yet the pseudonym of "kid" had already given him away. "Since when does Setzer Gabbiani travel with this fiend?"

                Setzer laughed. "You haven't changed a bit."

                "I wish that were true."

                Setzer gave Locke a quick perplexing look before circling around him. As he walked he looked at the old beaten wood of the floor.

                "This place isn't the nicest. Doesn't suit the royalty in tow."

                "You know he's listening on the other side of that door." Locke said.

                "That's my point." Setzer said. "Come on up to the top. We'll give the prince a little time to cool down."

                Locke followed Setzer to a wooden table on the upper deck that hand been bolted to the floor. Knife marks were slashed throughout the table. They were the signature of bored sailors and mercenaries trying to pass the time.

                "So what brings Setzer aboard a sea ship? Shouldn't you be up in the skies?" Locke grabbed a bottle of liquor Setzer had placed on the table. He picked up a glass that had been sitting on the table and inspected its cleanliness. Locke removed a small flask of water from his belt and squirted a stream into the cup. He swirled it around before tossing the water aside. He grabbed the bronze colored liquor and poured his glass to the brim.

                "Don't take all of that in one gulp." Setzer warned.

                "Wasn't planning to." Locke sipped the bitter liquid and looked back at Setzer. "You didn't answer my question."

                "I can't fly to my destination, simple as that. Now you answer me something."

                "What?"

                "Why is Locke Cole on a ship with Edgar Figaro?"

                "Setzer, we were always good friends."

                "Locke, no one's seen you for years. No one's really been worried. We've just been curious. Especially Terra."

                Locke felt his stomach tighten. Nausea. Pain. Cramping.

                Locke awoke to the hot afternoon sun pounding on his face. He looked from the dock out onto the lake. The fishing rod he had set beside him hadn't even had a nibble.  He looked down at the gloved hand.

                It could be getting sun now.

                He kept the glove on.

                He thought of his flashback dream. The days he had spent not too long ago, traveling with Edgar on his sea ship, the Floating Figaro.

                He remembered the warm hands of Edgar running along his back, the full and rich lips enveloping him in comfort.

                Where are you Edgar? I needed you then but I need you even more now.

                The black glove was still there, hiding it all.

                Locke watched the glove fly into the waters of the lake. He lowered his head and closed his eyes.

               

                "I best check on Edgar." Locke said, abruptly ending his conversation with Setzer. He stood up and proceeded towards the stairway to the lower deck cabin. He stopped along the way to watch a crew -member climb the sail mast.

                If this man falls he is dead. He has nowhere to go but up. If he comes down he will die, or be punished. Is this my life, nowhere to go but up?

                Or punishment.

                Or death.

                He looked back before moving on to see Setzer still sitting at the battered table, sipping his drink and playing a solitaire card game.

                Locke descended the noisy stairs again. He rapped on Edgar's door twice before it opened. No one was standing in the doorway.

                Locke slowly stepped inside. "Edgar?"

                "Maybe if you'd give in you'd see." The voice came from the left side of the room. Locke turned reflexively to see Edgar sitting in a robe on his bed. The curtain surrounding the bed was halfway closed. Edgar held his head down, refusing to look directly at Locke. "I need you Locke. I know you need me. Please Locke . . . For me at least?"

                "Who did you love Edgar?"

                He finally looked up. His blue eyes pierced into Locke as he mouthed the name slowly.

                Locke lunged for him. "Why didn't you tell me?"

                "It was a one-sided affair! I swear!" Edgar rolled off the bed. The curtain ripped with his weight. "Locke, please! Listen to me!"

                Locke walked around the bed to see Edgar lying helpless on the floor.

                "You're lying!" Locke shouted.

                "Locke . . . Please! What's came over you?"

                Locke picked up Edgar using the shoulder of the robe. "She did. That's what came over me."

                "Locke, it was nothing. I was just a young king and she took over my heart. She knew nothing of it!"

                "First you accuse me of running out on her, now you finally admit to me after all this time that you were in love with her!"

                "Locke, it was nothing! Nothing happened between us!"

                Locke stared at Edgar. "Swear it."

                There was a long pause of awkward silence. "Once."

                Locke let go of Edgar and punched him in the face. Edgar sprawled backward and rubbed a drop of blood coming from his lip. Locke stood over him and picked him back up. He pulled Edgar close and gave the blonde a long kiss.

                "I give in."