Captive?

"I've decided to go." Caesar stated. His voice was strong and eyes were firm.

I smiled at him, "I understand. I'll go with your decision."

We both were in the backyard, sitting on the bench while a cool breeze blew.

For a few minutes there was no exchange between us. We both were staring ahead at nothing in particular

"It feels weird, doesn't it?" Caesar finally broke the silence.

"My thoughts exactly." I leaned against the bench back, "It sure as hell does. We've stuck together like glue all these years."

"Did you think that I'd really decide to go?"

"I don't know but," I looked at him and he turned his head towards me, "Some part of me didn't want you to."

I smirked, "This was bound to happen. We became too dependent on each other."

"Can't deny that."

The wind rustled the tree leaves loudly.

"But it's life." I said.

"Yea. We stuck to each other for the past twenty years so much, so many now it's time to part." Caesar had a soft sad look in his eyes, "We are at the point where now we will have our own families."

"I know but that doesn't mean we'll be any different whenever we meet."

"Well that's a given, it's a bond that will never break." He grinned

"Never." I returned the gesture.

It really was time to go our separate ways, because now, we had separate goals and separate things we wanted to protect.

The bond of friendship we have will never fade.

Both of us knew that.

"When you go. Take some men with you."

"Are you sure?" He asked.

I nodded, "Actually take many with you. You know how many I have."

He snickered, "Oh I know. You've taken in many strays."

"Hey!" I rebuted, "You brought more people than I did." I chuckled at the memory, "Every Time you saw some miserable person lying in the streets you'd bring him back." I couldn't help but laugh, "Then you'd quietly stand next to him as you presented him to me and my dad."

He ended up snickering too, "Richard was exasperated each time but I can't believe he allowed that."

"That's because when he was alive we only did this once in a while but after I took over-" I laughed again, "Oh God!"

Caesar laughed with me.

It felt good but sad at the same time but I was happy for him.

I glanced at him while I attempted to calm down.

He was going to get what was his from the start.

He looked back at me when he too stopped laughing and we both shared a final meaningful gaze in which we shared a thousand things.

"Let's go." I said, "We have a lot to prepare for."

"Yeah."