Boundless
By: Kuroi Neko-kun
Summary: After a fiasco with a drunken Borus and his happy sword wielding tactics in that condition, Fred and Caesar discover feelings for each other and find that love is boundless.
Disclaimer: Well, I think I've established that my ownership to Suikoden is zero.
Warning: Male/Male.
A/N: Boundless Love is one of the songs in Yami No Matsuei. Just wanted to point that out.
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Boundless Love
These falling dreams
One life one flower for the frail reality
- A part of Boundless Love by TO DESTINATION
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Chapter 4
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"Albert! Slow down!" shouted a young boy as he chased after his brother. The other boy turned to him before smiling as he watched the young one run after him, panting hard.
"Hurry, Caesar! The pond's only after this hill!" Albert shouted. Caesar hurried after his brother who was now way ahead of him. He sighed before chasing after his brother again. He found Albert standing near a pond as he began removing his shirt and pants. Caesar joined him and threw his clothes aside. Dressed in nothing but their shorts, the two boys jumped into the pond.
"Caesar, stay near the sides," his brother warned, "You can't swim properly yet so stay at the pond's edge." The younger boy nodded as he watched his brother swimming through the pond a couple of times. He tried a couple of lengths at the pond's edge before quickly getting bored.
Albert's having all the fun… Well, I'm just as good a swimmer as him. I should be able to swim through as well. Determined, Caesar pushed himself from the pond's edge and began swimming clumsily to the middle of the pond. He got tired and tried to stand, only to find the bottom did not reach his feet. Caesar panicked before going underwater. He tried to swim back up but his leg was stuck on some weed. Albert saw his brother going down.
"Ceasar!"
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He woke up with a jolt before realizing he wasn't in the pond anymore. He ran his hand through his hair before sighing. Of all the dreams I have in this world, I had to have one about him, he thought before sitting up and straightening himself. A fee minutes later, the door to his room opened, revealing the black knight.
"Not asleep yet?" asked Yuber.
"Unlike you, I have lots to do," he shot back before turning back to his work. He didn't want to satisfy the blonde creature that he had fallen asleep behind the desk.
"Maybe you should." Albert looked at him, raising an eyebrow.
"Are you concerned?" The blonde only smirked.
"No, but I want you in bed," he said. Albert snorted before turning back to his notes. He was adamant on staying up rather than give in to the demon's demands. He ruffled through some notes before looking up again. He was about to tell off Yuber when an arrow flew into the room, hitting one of the bookcases behind Albert as it missed his head by a few fingers. Yuber's swords were already out. He was slightly miffed that he didn't sense the arrow.
"Stand down," Albert ordered as he took out the arrow. He untied the note on it and read what it said. After a few moments, he frowned at the content.
"What is it?" Yuber asked, sheathing his swords. Albert got up and wore his coat.
"Follow me but be conspicuous," he said.
"You're not planning to tell me, are you?" Yuber said, sneering. The strategist didn't answer.
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"So you did come alone, I'm surprised," Nash said as he noted the red haired strategist walking towards him. Albert stopped before turning to him.
"You should know better," he said, "I'm sure you didn't as well." Nash's smile became prominent on his face as he shrugged.
"Usually, I would. This wasn't an option for me," said the blonde.
"Why is this so urgent for Harmonia? I thought you left for the Fire Bringer," he asked.
"That was a lie," Nash said truthfully, "I need information about Caesar."
"What?"
"You heard me. Your brother isn't telling us a few things and we need to know what's going on with him. You are our only choice sadly." Albert crossed his arms.
"A poor choice, I'm afraid."
"Then you wouldn't mind your brother dead for the rest of your life," he said. Nash noticed the calm, composed look change to shock. All the defenses Albert had dropped for that moment and Nash used that opportunity.
"He nearly drowned three days ago and he just woke up today, nearly killing Apple," he said, exaggerating the point, "For his own health, Albert, tell me what happened to him?" Flickering in his eyes was the brother that Albert had long abandoned since the start of the war.
"He was eight," he said, "It was at a pond…" He told the story of how Caesar Silverberg nearly died to just be his brother. Once he was done, he looked up at Nash.
"He avoided ponds, lakes, rivers, streams and oceans since then. He never got over it, I suppose. Is he alright?"
"He woke up," Nash said. He didn't trust the man enough give him information of the current situation of Caesar.
"I see," Albert said, "Can I see him then?"
"Would you walk into a castle where thousands of men want to kill you?"
"Oh," he said, "Then… Is that enough?"
"More than enough," Nash said, "Thank you, Albert." Albert nodded before walking away.
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He walked a few steps, out of the clearing that Nash wanted them to meet, before stopping. He looked up the nearby tree before sighing.
"Let's go, Yuber," Albert said. Yuber teleported down the tree and turned to him.
"You showed weakness," he stated.
"It was required of me," Albert said, "Human emotions are what I can exploit."
"Emotions are weaknesses," Yuber said.
"I believe the lack of it is," he pointed out before walking away. "That's why demons like you can never win in a fight."
"Don't let me test that theory, Silverberg," he snarled.
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Once the group returned to Budehuc castle, Nash relayed the story back to Apple and Tuta. The doctor sat down before shaking his head. He opened a few books before reading through them.
"Caesar is a remarkable person," Tuta said, "He controls his emotions so well that he could portray a nonchalant personality. Every emotion he lets out is all tactical based." Tuta closed the book before turning to Apple.
"His mind is so wrapped up in strategy that his emotions become part of them. But his, I believe, isn't as well honed as others. Hence they way he behaves. That smile represents his lack of training, a way of masking what he doesn't have. We fell for his façade."
"But what about Caesar's current condition?"
"The brick wall that protected him tore down. He's building it up again and if another trauma hits him, he will not be able to wake up from it," Tuta said, "Unless there is a way of leaving the wall broken."
"Like how?" Apple asked.
"That depends on the people around Caesar. Those with emotional attachments to him. Like you Miss Apple," he said.
"What do I have to do, then?"
"Just be the way you were with him," Tuta said, "Especially when he was still unconscious."
"I see," Apple said, "But what if there is a person in his heart that he loves?" Tuta looked at her.
"That person could keep that brick wall of his broken for good."
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Caesar woke up, rubbing his sleepy eyes before turning to his side. His face was instantly met with Fred's sleeping one. Caesar felt the heat coming to his cheeks. There he was, Fred Maximilian, holding on to Caesar and it felt like he wasn't planning to let go. Oh, how I hope that was true… he thought bitterly before touching Fred's face.
"Fred, there's something I have to tell you," he whispered, "I love you. I've always did. The first time I saw you at Chisha, I admired you. You're everything that I wanted to be and more. But as time went on in this castle, I realized that I wanted to be with you. I wanted to know how it felt to be held by you, like this. And how it felt to kiss you. But… That's not going to happen… right?" Tears filled Caesar's eyes. For the first time in his life, Caesar felt hopeless. Why am I so weak? Why can't I get over you, Fred? The answer came as a simple kiss. Caesar's eyes snapped open as he found himself gazing into Fred's amethyst ones.
"It is going to happen," Fred whispered as he wrapped his arms around the strategist before swooping down for another kiss. Caesar was still bewildered, unsure to why this was happening. As soon as the kiss broke off, Caesar looked at him.
"Why?" Fred smiled at him.
"Because I am in love with you too," he answered. Elated from that answer, Caesar pressed his lips against Fred's.
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To Be Continued
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KNK: I did it! Finally! –looks around and realizes that Caesar and Fred are still kissing- Guys… It's over…
