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After convincing Setzer of taking them to Vector, the party hung out at the deck of the Blackjack, taking the opportunity to enjoy the view. Sabin was looking out at the clear, open sky. Edgar came over to stand by his side.
“Thrilling, isn’t it?” Edgar wanted to start a conversation, but Sabin didn’t answer and didn’t look at him. “For me, it is. I had a look at the engine; it’s already giving me ideas.”
Sabin remained quiet with an expression that Edgar had trouble reading. But he could tell there was irritation there. He tried to soften the atmosphere between them. “I would love it if you came back home again to see my ridiculous experiments and laugh at me when they blow up in my face.”
Sabin’s face twisted into something that did not look pleasant. "Brother, why did you do that?” He asked firmly. Edgar knew he would not be able to deviate from the subject.
Edgar took his time to come up with the simplest and most straight-forward answer he could give to satisfy Sabin’s inquiry. “To get the doubts out of the way.”
“Explain.”
“I wanted you to have certainty. To know that it was fair to pursue what you wanted.”
“You’re an idiot.”
“I can live with that. I’m really handsome.”
Sabin held back a chuckle. For Edgar, that was a good sign, and Sabin did look less rigid.
“Can I see the coin?”
“Sure, just don’t lose it. It’s my most valued treasure.”
Edgar handed him the coin. Sabin took it and started examining it. Looking at the faces on each side, he rubbed it with his thumb, holding it against the sunlight.
“It’s a legitimate Figaroan coin! Not that it has any value. It can’t be used to purchase anything.”
“It was dad’s. I don’t know why he had it, but he gave it to me just before passing away.”
Sabin now dared looking at his brother. Edgar looked pensive, just like he did that last time Sabin visited Figaro Castle. On his part, Sabin was beginning to feel homesick, like he did right after that visit, as soon as he left the place he knew to be his home.
Edgar smiled to himself, “I wonder if dad tricked anyone with that coin.”
“Dad was not that kind of person.”
These words pierced through Edgar’s heart, making him unconsciously close his eyes for a moment while he tried to adjust after the sudden blow.
Sabin noticed the reaction. He was not content about Edgar’s proceedings, but he certainly didn’t mean to guilt-trip him about it either. His words were truthful about his dad; he did not intend them to pick apart Edgar’s character or integrity.
Before Sabin could make himself clear, Edgar spoke, looking him in the eyes. “Brother, I regret nothing. Hopefully you’ll be able to forgive me, even knowing that I stand by what I did.”
Edgar quickly turned away to go over to Setzer and chat him up about the inner workings of the Blackjack. Sabin watched him. He looked gracious and upbeat, as if nothing happened, but Edgar was avoiding looking in Sabin’s direction as if his life depended on it.
Sabin still had the coin. He stared at the faces on each side until it brought tears to his eyes. The sides looked identical, just like the two people they were supposed to depict. On the inside, those two people were quite distinguishable because they complemented each other. What one put down, the other could pick up smoothly. Or that was what Sabin had thought until now. Edgar was the fixer of the two, but what Sabin had just broken was disabling both of them, and neither knew how to fix it.
Edgar and Setzer were by the helm, avidly talking about their shared interests and things they had in common. Until Setzer made a curious face looking past Edgar.
Sabin rushed to hug Edgar from behind as tight as he could without breaking any bones. Edgar froze and even stopped breathing, not knowing what was happening. Setzer’s puzzled expression wasn’t telling Edgar enough about what Sabin’s demeanor looked like right now.
Sabin leaned his head on Edgar’s shoulder and held him until Edgar lowered his shoulders and started breathing again, slightly more relaxed, recovering from the unexpected contact. He looked down at Sabin’s arms around his torso, red and with all the hairs standing.
Without changing positions, Sabin grabbed Edgar’s hand and placed the coin on his palm, then closed his fist and wrapped it in his own two hands.
“I might lose it. Take good care of our treasure.”
Sabin let go of him and quickly walked away to go inside, too fast for Edgar’s reaction.
Edgar put the coin in his pocket to turn his attention back to Setzer, who had kept a raised eyebrow and a smirk the whole time, then tilted his head and said, “Aww.”
Edgar smiled proud, not caring if Setzer meant to mock them. “I know. He has that effect on people.”