Chapter 8: Always Be By My Side, Brother

"Samuel, it's time to wake up now. We'll have a performance at six, depeche! Depeche kow!"

Someone close beside him shook him while telling him to hurry in French Creole.

"Five more minutes, fre....." He muttered sleepily.

His big brother sighed. "We don't have five minutes, little brother. The show will start in an hour, and we still have to wear our costumes."

He can only rub his eyes and yawn, as he starts to get from bed. "Alright."

He and his big brother walked at the same time outside the room. Samson is not really the eldest between the two, or at least, there's no way of knowing. They are born on the same day, at the same hour, and perhaps the same minute. He just acts more mature compared to the lethargic and moony-eyed Samuel.

They must do everything together, that's why even if one awakes, he cannot leave the other behind. They are like a pair of wings. Never one without the other. 

The day began as it always did. They prepared their routine, said hello to their fellow performers. Some are nice to them, some are too busy with adult problems and stressors to take notice of the two small children. The tent master was nowhere in sight. 

That's good. They won't get a whipping for being late.

When the show has begun, the horn bellowed loudly. The set up was finished, and they were now dressed in polka dot overalls.

"Brother, I'm still scared." The 10-year-old Samuel tugged at his twin's sleeve. 

"Ah, Samuel. This has already been the third year that we are performing this trick. We have been trained for this, there is nothing to worry about."

"But still..... what if we fall? Brother, I'm scared to fall." 

He hugged tightly on his brother's arm, to which Samson just sighed again.

He patted his head full of curls. Samuel's has been colored with pink streaks, while he has blue on his own. It was the only way for people to tell them apart besides the position. Samuel on the left, Samson on the right. There was also Samuel's shorter right leg because of muscular dystrophy that he was born with.

If he and Samson were separate, he would have been a cripple and walking on a crutch. This thought always brought pain in little Samuel's heart, yet also comfort in this situation they are in.

His brother was made by God to be his crutch, to be his support no matter where he goes.

"If we fall, we fall together. Haven't I told you this already?" Samson said with a smile.

Samuel nodded lightly. It might not be something uplifting but rather something dark and disturbing to someone else...

But the idea of having someone fall with you still comforted Samuel.

He has someone he can rely on, even when he is weak. he has someone by his side who will never abandon him. He loved his brother more than anyone else in this world.

They entered the stage and started to perform.

The crowd is always gasping in shock up their first appearance, even before they start to walk the ropes. Just the appearance of conjoined twins is already a cause for shock and amazement. Samuel hates it, but pretended to like it like Samson does. They would give bright smiles as their duo was announced by a man wearing and exaggerated white wig and on stilts....

"THE TWO DANCING ELEPHANTS!"

He hates that name as well. Calling them elephants because they are bigger than children their age and have grayish skin. But he still copied his stronger brother's smile, and bowed after the introduction. 

They would do little dances and juggle. They were only made to do the unicycle and bicycle tricks on tightrope when they were about fifteen years old. People would clap and throw roses at them on a good day, peanuts and bread on a bad day. By the end of each performance, they would always be drenched in sweat and panting.

Most especially young Samuel, who took a long while to get over his natural acrophobia.

"Are you alright, ti fre?" Samson would ask him. 

"I'm fine, brother...Hah....." Samuel drank water in one gulp, wiped his mouth, and smiled. "With you by my side, I'll always be fine!"

They both have strong spirits. The may seem like opposites because of their outside personalities, but their character is the same. Like two side of the same coin.

Two as one.

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"Oi, wake up.... Wake up! You're heavy!"

"Brother...?" Stein said in a daze, feeling himself being dragged. From the small space where he opened his eyes, he can see some greens and blacks. He was in a garden, and it is night.

The captain's face darkened upon hearing the word 'brother', but it changed immediately to a dry chuckle. He laughed like he was just having fun. "What are you saying, Snow Queen? Who is your brother, I don't remember having any brothers in this lifetime."

"You..." Stein used to feel safe and comfortable from being carried and supported by someone, but upon realizing who it was, his ignorant bliss disappeared. He broke away from the memory which he soon forgot as soon as he opened his eyes fully. 

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"Where are you taking me?" He grumbled, and nudged the captain away. But he didn't use much force as he was still feeling a little faint. 

"To a bench where you can sit and rest that pretty little head of yours. You suddenly lost consciousness again. This is the second time, 'Dr. Evans.'" Captain Clerval scoffed from being pushed away, but the worry was still evident in his voice. "I don't know if it was just the stuffiness of the crowd and the many lights.... Or something else."

He narrowed his eyes, and wiped the sweat off Stein's forehead like a lover or a family member would. Stein inched away from the touch, but still let him, making him so confused. How can he just let himself be touched by anyone else besides Franklin? After the kiss earlier...

"What is really happening with you? You can tell me." Captain Clerval said. "I know we got off the wrong foot and I caused you to be in trouble with your master... or for today, your scientific colleague. I still don't know which is which, and I won't bother asking you that. I am only concerned of your welfare, Stein."

"Why?" He asked harshly, yet deep down, the sincerity in the captain's words had softened him up a little. He can sense that what he's saying is true, and from his heart. And it feels wrong to be ungrateful towards such genuine compassion.

"I..... I don't know." Captain Clerval admitted, looking a little flustered now. 

Panda scoffed in his head. [It's because I'm the second male lead, the third wheel, DUUUUHHHHH!]

He needs to up his game and make the readers experience such a strong second male lead syndrome that they could root for him. That way, the position of the ML would be moved to him, who does not have any Scum Meter. After much thinking, he will now follow Zhe Chouhen's plan.

And steal his man from him. 

Well, Franklin's man. But it still gives him a twisted sense of pleasure, like he was avenging a grievance. The idea of making Zhe Chouhen jealous, and not the character 'Franklin' he was playing.....

It makes him feel better, and mends the gaping hold made from a bullet on his heart.

That bullet was made upon witnessing the beautiful kissing scene in the dark.

He ran the very moment he saw it, very much like an anime shoujo protagonist, much to his disappointment on himself. He still cringe hard when he remembered it. But he can't stop it, the emotion he felt upon seeing such a thing.

It's so painful, and the pain is so frightening that he can only ran away from fright.

And yet, he was still hit. Wounded deeply. He cannot run, he cannot escape from it. 

"I had always felt a strange..... attraction to you, Stein." His character, Captain Clerval, admitted. "I cannot ignore it anymore. I want to be by your side despite you always brushing me off, and treating me like dirt in your eyes. I want to protect you from any harm that this well-honed seaman's intuition of mine had detected."

"And I feel that the greatest harm, the greatest threat... is none other than your master, Franklin."

Stein frowned and pushed his hand away harshly. "This again. Master Franklin is innocent. And I apologize but I.... I can never return this attraction you speak of, these feelings. I appreciate them, but I believe you must find another recipient for them as soon as possible."

Panda had already expected to be rejected since it was part of the script. Unlike Zhe Chouhen, he can't go off-script much or suspicion will arise. He continued to follow it: "I see. So are you already a recipient of someone's affection? And you reciprocate to this person?"

"I....." Stein faltered a bit. "I do not have to answer that.

The captain frowned, speaking through gritted teeth while looking down. "I'm not a blind man, Stein. I can see things. I see them perfectly well. I know who this person you love is. You are loving the wrong person."

Stein's cold blue eyes grow even colder, reaching arctic levels. "Mr. Clerval, do not push this conversation any further if you want to receive my gratitude from helping me earlier."

"I don't need nor am I asking for your gratitude. I am only asking you keep your eyes open, and do not be blinded by false pretenses. Do not remain believing on just one thing, and consider other options. Do not be fooled."

"I am not being fooled." Stein said firmly.

There was a pause between them. Then, Captain Clerval said without his usual swagger, and his eyes a little glossy.

"I hope so too, Stein. May you always remain happy and not suffer unwarranted pains."

He tipped his hat, and walked away. 

Stein was left pondering about what happened. He sighed, rubbing his face with his hands.

This man he hated harbors feelings for him, and instead of being disgusted..... he pities him. Why should he pity him? And the most daunting thing...

Is that he also feels he is right to a certain degree about his lover.

Franklin is hiding something more than Andres.

He had a dream about the owner of his body. But he cannot remember it, it went out of his grasp. If he tried hard to capture it once more, he might be able to, but......

Didn't he promise to not trigger another person's memories sleeping inside him again?

Didn't he promise that he will stay Stein forever?

He will keep his promise. Whatever it was, whatever the secret is..... He will not betray Franklin's trust.

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