When grabbed all of a sudden, he merely reacted with a flinch. He made no other movement as he gave the younger a half-lidded, indecipherable gaze. Only he, himself, knew what went on in his mind. A punch or a shout to the face was what he expected, and he waited for it. But what surfaced was the teenâs quivering appearance, and although he couldnât see his whole face, he noticed the tears streaming down the boyâs cheek.
Caesar remained still, noticing the slight weight almost pressing against him, and he hesitated. He knew of his own pain, especially when he was younger, but he had never saw it for himself, watching a reflection with his own eyes. He was also the reason behind it, after revealing enough to make the youth question his life.
To think there was more pain for the younger to endure â perhaps it wasnât the best idea to approach him in the first place. Caesar was here, and the damage was done, but he still had a choice to make. Yes, he finally realised something. He realised that he couldnât persuaded his younger self after all, but he had the power to change the past himself. Watching the youth struggling before him made him want to change everything. There was no going back, and his mind was set on his goal. He remembered the Pillar Men, and his anger returned in an instant, shaking inside of him, wanting the revenge he could finally have.
He will destroy the Pillar Men before they have the chance to awaken, and he will save his father, and prevent any victims from meeting a dreadful fate at the hands of the superior beings. And lastly, his alternate self would have the chance to have a happy life, and he could even reunite with his father without the need of vengeance⊠It was a calm, pleasant thought in between his anger, and it made him want such a goal to become a reality.
Caesar cleared his mind and focused back at the teen before him. He didnât hesitate anymore, and in fact reached out to comfort the boy, wrapping with his arms for a tight hug. It was a natural move, and he didnât hold back.
âThis is the last time youâll see me,â he said suddenly, loosening his hold. Somehow, he wanted to comfort the boy some more, but he felt like heâd waste precious time. Indeed the boy was broken, but only for now. Caesar would make things right for him â he had to now.
âAddio.â
With that said, he released him. He gave him one last look, a calm one, before leaving the area.
Addio...?
{{No...no, he didn't want the other to go. His earlier threats now seemed hollow when in the arms of someone who actually cared, who stayed even after his outbursts, who seemed invested in that far-off ideal someone had given the name "future". Walls that once held strong against the tides of emotion had started to steadily crumble, and it made him confused, scrambled his thoughts, tested beliefs he once thought unshakable. And to leave him alone with such a faulty foundation...that was beyond cruel.
Wait!
{{He wanted to reach out, to desperately grasp at the other and shout "don't go!". But he wouldn't let himself appear that weak--he was already red with shame having yelled at the other to wait in the first place.Instead, he stood still--or as still as he could with his wet face and quivering limbs, waiting for the other to just barely leave his line of sight.
...I...I won't wait for anyone...
{{With quiet, cautious steps, he followed after his older self, at once curious and determined. Here was a chance to learn more about himself, about this world that seemed to collapse around him more every second. This older Caesar--he was the one that held the key.
