#caesar zepelli

The fight ended as quickly as it began. After the battle, Jojo went back to Air Supplena to recuperate, and when he did, he and Suzie Q made their way to New York to attend what was supposed to be his funeral. Everyone got the happy ending they wanted: the world was safe now that the Pillar Men were gone.

Everyone was able to move on but why couldn’t I? Surely I was stronger than this.

.

It’s been three months since Caesar’s death. The body was never found, but we had a funeral for him at the neighboring foothills surrounding Venice.

“But wouldn't Air Supplena be a better place for his tombstone? It’ll be close to home so you can see him whenever you want. Won’t it be difficult for you to visit if it’s in the countryside?” Suzie Q and Jojo tried to reason with me, keeping my best interests at heart. I shook my head.

“He liked the view here when the sun met the horizon. Said it made him think of his first love,” I told them. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, remembering the first time I sat at the bottom of the smallest foothill; the one with the pond nearby.

.

I was making a flower crown out of boredom, and was oblivious to all the things around me, until I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned quickly and was greeted by Caesar.

“Everyone is looking for you y/n. Lisa Lisa was just about ready to turn to the police,” he laughed and sat beside me.

“Sorry. I just lost track of time. It’s so pretty here you know?” I wasn’t expecting an answer and began cleaning up when he stopped me.

“We can go in a few minutes then. I want you to see this,” he said and put the flower crown on my head, and motioned for me to look ahead. When I did, the blue sky from before was replaced with swatches of pink and orange. The painted sky was the prettiest I had ever seen, but that wasn’t even the best part. My hindered soul left me wandering the streets of Venice and led me to the secluded scene before me, but upon seeing Caesar’s glowing skin and beautiful locks in this golden hour, I was suddenly...okay again. It was then that my whole world changed. The person I thought to be the brother I never had, the idiot I sometimes hated, was also the one I had fallen madly in love with. Whoever would get to receive his love was lucky to have him.

.

I walked the empty halls of the castle. Suzie Q and Jojo were on a date, and Lisa Lisa was out on a mission. It was just me. Sighing, I pulled my hair back and began to rearrange my room. The first thing one would see if they walked in was my small round table from the rococo era, with two chairs to match. On it was a vase with light pink peonies. Against the wall of the door was a bookshelf with adventure books I used to read as a child, as well as books about gardening. Caesar bought those for me for my birthday one year; they’re my favorite. In the far left corner was my bed, which was hidden behind a folding screen. I had kept the same purple sheets for the past 8 years, so I decided to change them to emerald green. Next to my bed was a nightstand with a vase full of sunflowers.

“Thank you, looks good,” Caesar smiled and scarfed down the food.

“H-Hey wait a minute!” I yelled. “Don’t eat too fast or you’ll choke,” I reached for the spoon he neglected. “Here. Use this so you don’t burn yourself,” I handed the spoon to him and he frowned, eating slowly. Smiling at how adorable he was, I turned back to the cart which previously held his meal and took the vase of sunflowers that hid on the bottom shelf.

“Sunflowers?” Caesar looked at me, an eyebrow raised.

“S-Sorry I could change them if you like. I-I also have roses and begonias in the garden and I’d be more than happy to-”

“It’s fine. I was just asking,” he laughed. “Is there a reason you chose them?”

Without thinking, I responded, “Whenever I got sick, Lisa Lisa would always put sunflowers in my room. They’re so bright and joyful, I thought you could use some cheering up.” After speaking, I felt my cheeks heat up. Why would I tell him that? Why on Earth would he want to know something so-

“Thank you! I...No one’s ever cared for me like that,” Caesar scratched his cheek.

.

My parents abandoned my as an infant went hey found that I had been born with an illness that infected my lungs. Lisa Lisa took me in as a child and she became the mother I needed. She never let me play outdoors without Suzie Q, and never let me go into town alone or even at night. I was frail and she often voiced her concerns that I would get hurt or that my condition would worsen when I'm alone.

I remember falling asleep one night because I was so exhausted from pulling roots all day. When I woke up, I was greeted by shades of orange and yellow. Sunflowers, golden locks belonging to a sleep-deprived Caesar, the morning sun dripping into my room. “Good morning,” I whispered. My throat was dry.

Caesar didn’t say anything and instead put my hand up to his lips, kissing the back of it and resting his forehead on it. “Fuck,” he choked. I ran my fingers through his hair. “We’re taking you to Sweden with us, y/n,” was all he said.

“What? But that’s where Kars and Wammu are, no? I hate to admit it but I’m in no condition to--”

Caesar looked up, his eyes bloodshot red; I finally took notice of his sweat-glazed skin. “I don’t want you to go either, but Mr. Speedwagon has a hospital set up there...you’d be in good hands.”

“Caesar,” I called his name, bringing my hands to each side of his face, and holding him in my chest. “I’m alive aren’t I? I’ll be fine,” I told him. Silence followed. “Thank you for the sunflowers.”

.

Across from my bed was a wall, dividing the bathroom and my living area. Against the wall was the basin and mirror, and beyond that was the standing bath, which was placed near the window. Beyond the window was the ocean that stretched far and wide. Deep greens and blues clashed against one another angrily, the sound numbing my aching heart.

Suzie Q and Joseph got married soon after his recovery, and I couldn’t be happier for them. Their wedding was small and the flowers, almost as if on cue, blew away in the wind from her bouquet. Pink, yellow, orange, green, blue. Their wedding was so colorful but I couldn’t see anything. No matter how hard I tried, everything was monochrome without him.