Chapter 3: One day earlier

One day earlier.

Ace was lying collapsed on his bed. He couldn't move at all. He had just managed to make it back to his room and then his legs had given way. He buried his face in his pillow and didn't move for several minutes.

Suddenly a knock came at the door. Ace let out a sigh and forced himself up. He staggered towards the door. His eyes widened as he opened.

"Clover?" he said letting them inside. "Is something wrong?"

"No," Clover smiled, inspecting the room, "What's with the surprised look on your face?"

"No...I...I mean you don't usually come here is all," Ace hesitated.

"Well you didn't come to my room tonight so I came to check up on you," Clover sat back on his bed with a smile.

Ace let out a laugh, "I didn't come because I'm exhausted,"

"Not sleeping?" Clover giggled.

"Not if you have anything to do with it," Ace remarked, "I seriously think you're trying to kill me,"

"Well you still look alive to me," Clover grabbed the corner of Ace's shirt and pulled him towards them, "Maybe I should try a bit harder?"

Ace looked down with a smirk, "It's been every night for weeks. I'm surprised you're not bored yet,"

"You couldn't bore me even if you tried," Clover hugged his waist.

Ace put a finger through their silky hair. "I went to your room to find you today," he said softly.

"Did you?" Clover replied.

"I saw Kalandra in there,"Ace paused, "were you expecting her?"

"Hmmm I don't think so," Clover said thoughtfully.

"That's what I thought," Ace sighed, "I know you don't want to hear it but..."

"Ace, we've talked about this," Clover interrupted sitting up straight, "The relationship I have with Kali is not like that. It never has been. She's like a child. She doesn't mean half the things she says. Kali is just Kali,"

"Clover," Ace exhaled, "I'm pretty sure she took something from your room. What if she gives it to Michael?"

This time Clover appeared to reflect on the words. "Okay. I'll talk to her," they said at length.

Clover pulled Ace onto the bed with them and they both fell back. Ace stared down at Clover who was lying beneath them. Clover started to laugh.

"What?" Ace smiled.

"It's cute," Clover held a hand to his cheek, "You trying to look out for me,"

"Well someone has to," Ace stared down apprehensively, "You're too laid back sometimes. You let people do what they want even if it hurts you. You hardly eat these days either. And the drinking..."

Clover held a finger to Ace's lips, "Okay, Mr serious. I got it. Did anyone ever tell you that you are way too mature for your age? Yours is the age to drink, make merry and have fun,"

Ace let out a sigh, "I'm only 20. I have my whole life to drink, make merry - whatever that means - and as for fun...aren't we already having fun?" he added with a grin.

"Hold on!" Clover stared at him intensely.

"What is it?" Ace glanced back confused.

"When did you turn 20?" they asked gravely.

"It's a secret," Ace teased.

"How could you not tell me?!" Clover yanked him closer.

"It's just a number. Who cares?" Ace smiled timidly.

"I do!" Clover stated vigorously. "We have to have a party!"

"No!" Ace protested and started to pull away, "I don't like parties."

"How do you know? You've never been to one," Clover grinned.

"I can just tell I won't like it," Ace pouted, "All the noise. Drinking all night. What's the point?"

"Ah good idea," Clover sat up, "I'll go get the drinks! I'll get the others as well,"

"No! Clover please," Ace caught hold of them from behind. " I don't want to," he pleaded.

"Fine," Clover conceded, "but we have to celebrate somehow,"

Ace threw his head back exasperated, "Why did I say anything?" He lamented.

Clover turned to face him, "When was your birthday?"

Ace averted his eyes with a small smile. Clover held his face to theirs, "Ace?"

"Months ago. At the start of the winter," he confessed.

"I can't believe you," Clover let out a mock gasp, "I'm going to punish you for not telling me,"

They leaned in and kissed Ace deeply. He stared up at Clover with a smile.

"Don't you think you're being unfair?" he remarked, "You never told me when your birthday is either,"

"That's different Clover," declared, "I don't know when my birthday is,"

"How can you not know?" Ace's brow furrowed.

"You know demons and dates. I guess my father didn't think it was that important," Clover shrugged, "but you know, I'm kind of surprised that you know. Didn't you say you couldn't remember the past?"

"Sena told me when it was," Ace smiled sadly, "He made sure to celebrate it with every year,"

"So you would celebrate it with him and not me?" Clover feigned insult.

"Ah," Ace let out a laugh, "Fine. Fine. One drink. That's all,"

"I make no promises," Clover smirked and left the room.

Ace lay back down with content. Things were good. Almost too good. Since that night they had been inseparable which was surprising. He expected that Clover would close up again at some point, but instead, they seemed more open than ever.

There was no more talk of the game. It didn't feel like a game anymore either. It just felt like things were real. They were really...Ace didn't know what they were, but it felt nice. It felt natural. Maybe it could always be this way?

Ace contemplated the last few weeks. Yes, the conversation had come a few times on the topic of Clover's state of mind, but they had somehow managed to steer the conversation into a safe area whenever it happened. It was as if Clover was really trying to get along with him.

Of course, the question was never far from Ace's mind: did Clover still plan on destroying the demon world? It was possible they had changed their mind. Ace wondered what they were thinking but they didn't seem ready to talk about it. So he left it be. Secretly he hoped given time, they might just change their mind naturally.

Ten minutes later Clover returned with several bottles of wine and a plate of food.

"Clover!" Ace exclaimed, "I said one drink"

"Who says it's for you?" Clover set the bottles down with a laugh.

Ace eyed them wearily. In fairness, they had been quite good lately. They weren't drinking as much...

"Okay," Ace suspiciously.

Clover poured out two glasses and handed him one, "This is a good year,"

"It is?" Ace glanced at them, not comprehending. "I guess you can say that but this year has also been crazy, you have to admit,"

"I was talking about the wine," Clover burst out laughing. They swept a tear from the cheek, "Gods! You make me laugh!"

"Don't make fun of me, Clover," Ace sulked.

"I'm not! I'm not," Clover kissed him on the cheek holding back another laugh.

"You're still laughing," Ace said flatly.

"Am I?" Clover forced themselves to turn away. They cleared their throat, "I meant this wine. It's over 200 years old. I stole from this really grumpy king in the north. It was a pretty funny story actually,"

Ace sat back on the bed and listened. Clover had begun to tell him some stories over the past weeks. Ace enjoyed them immensely. However, though Clover's stories were always entertaining, they seemed to promise more than Clover would tell him. They never seemed to allude to whatever Clover had done or what was the source of their determination to die.

"...so then I dropped the rest of the crate of bottles out of the window. You should have seen the King's face. It was hilarious," Clover finished the story, laughing to themselves at the memory of it.

"You didn't get in trouble for doing that?" Ace questioned.

"Why would I get in trouble?" Clover said as if the words were foreign to them. "I mean I had to leave the country for a while..."

"It sounds like you had to leave several times," Ace started, "Was there a time you settled down?"

Clover tilted their head to one side, "I think it depends on what you mean by settle. Is 50 years settling?"

"but I mean you always went back to the Empire. You could have gone anywhere. Was there a reason you kept wanting to go back there?" Ace tried to sound nonchalant.

"A reason?" Clover thought about it for a moment, "I can't think of a specific reason. It's just always been the place I went to. I mean was born there,"

And in all that time, you never thought of having a family or anything like that," Ace asked in a small voice. "Like get married or having kids..."

Clover's brow furrowed, "Are you asking me if I have any children, right now?"

Ace's eyes widened, "Ah..no..no I was just curious,"

"Give me your glass," Clover said flatly.

Ace handed it over reluctantly. They added more wine inside then had it back to him. Clover crossed their arms in front of them regarding Ace astutely.

"That's your punishment. Drink up," Clover declared sharply.

Ace stared down at his glass. "What am I being punished for again?"

"You know what," Clover replied pointedly, "If you want to ask me if I have a hidden child somewhere, just ask me!"

"Do you?" Ace said in a low voice without looking up.

Clover let out an incredulous laugh, "No, I don't. I'm not that fucking selfish,"

"That's not what I was trying to ask..." Ace began.

"I know exactly what you were trying to ask," Clover drank from their glass irritatedly, "You were trying to work out what the old woman said to me. I told you just drop it,"

"I'm sorry," Ace began to drink. He took one gulp after the other without stopping. Clover dashed forward and pulled the glass from his lips.

"What are you doing?" Clover took the glass from him.

"You told me to drink," Ace said quietly.

"I never meant for you to drink in one go," Clover sighed, "You're going to get drunk again."

"Why can't I? You do," Ace stated drily.

"Because I'm different to you," Clover pointed at him, " I don't get drunk easily because I'm half-demon. I won't get drunk even if I drink a whole bottle,"

"That's why you drink several bottles," Ace gave a small smirk. "They never seem to run out. I'm starting to think you have a wine factory hidden somewhere in the demon world,"

"Oh haha," Clover said mirthlessly, "I'm glad you think it's funny."

"You should have a factory. You know a lot about it. Open a shop," Ace added with a smile.

"You've already had too much, haven't you?" Clover gave him a once over but relented with a small smile. "I'll forgive you this one time, so don't drink anymore,"

Ace bit his lip and looked up with red cheeks, "You're not angry anymore?"

Clover slipped their arms around his neck, "I can't stay angry at you. At least not while you look so cute and defenceless,"

They laid a kiss on his neck that traced its way to Ace's lips. They fell back onto the bed.

"Ah," Ace looked down. The cup in Clover's hand had splashed on his chest. He was about to rise to clean when Clover began to unbutton his shirt. They licked the wine from his skin. Ace let out a soft moan.

"You taste good," Clover lipped their lips with a smile.

Ace stared down blushing pink. "How can you say that with a straight face?"

"Because it's true. Do you want to taste?" Clover kissed his lips tenderly. After a moment Clover pulled back with a smile, "well?"

Ace stared at their glistening cherry eyes. "I can only taste the wine,"

"Oh, Ace," Clover shook their head, "What am I going to do with you?"

"What do you want to do?" Ace asked sheepishly.

Clover broke into a grin, "I wanna eat you up."