Chapter 36: Even if you break

The next week passed quickly in the Palace of swords. In the demon world the days all blended into one:

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Why can't you give me a straight answer?"

"I gave you an answer. You just didn't like it."

For some reason, over the past few days, Ace and Clover couldn't seem to agree on anything. It was worse than it had ever been. Between the hot and cold with Clover and the fear of the necklace being stolen by Michael, Ace didn't have any peace.

What made things worse was that Ace found himself unable to sleep. Every night he kept tossing and turning. Whether it was all the talk of the past or that song he couldn't get out of his head, he couldn't settle his mind. By daybreak, he felt drained. He rose from bed feeling exhausted.

That day was the day Clover was supposed to heal them. It had become a habit that every few they would go to be healed. Despite Clover's so-called punishment, this was one thing that stayed the same.

After Yashtara's visit, Bird had become even more withdrawn. The healings were the only time Ace saw him outside of his room. As for Michael, his flight of guilt seemed to evaporate as time passed. He made no further action on his threats but he seemed equally as unrepentant.

The only strange thing was the distance between Kalandra and Clover. Ace hadn't noticed it at first but gradually it became more apparent. They were usually inseparable but now their greetings were confined to the healing as well. Even then it was only a one-word exchange. Still, if they had some kind of falling out, why was Kalandra still here? Ace couldn't work it out. The whole atmosphere felt stifled.

Ace reached the great hall. He felt so tired he might fall down asleep right there but he pressed on. Upon arriving he found everyone was already there. They were waiting one by one to be healed by Clover.

Clover was lying back on the throne. They didn't even look up as they came by one. Ace glanced at the foot of the throne. Empty bottles. They had been drinking again. Although Ace had stopped chasing after Clover on their midnight binges, he still didn't like the fact.

As Ace reached the throne, Clover was still slumped over the throne with an arm over their eyes. He put his hand in theirs expecting the healing to go quietly as the others had.

"Ace," Clover said without looking, "Are you coming to see me later?"

"Okay," Ace replied softly.

Every day, he went to their room, and the same thing happened. They would kiss and talk. It was almost like they were lovers...and then it wasn't. Before anything happened, one or the other would say something that the other didn't like then they would sit in silence. Sometimes, Ace wondered if Clover did it to provoke him on purpose, but then the next day they would invite him again. He couldn't understand what game they were playing.

That afternoon, Ace traversed the steps up to Clover's room. He couldn't have been more than a few steps up when he heard a low childish giggle. He glanced back. The stairwell was dark during the day without the candles lit. There were windows but they were so deeply set into the thick walls that hardly any light came through. Ace stared down into the shadows. Had he imagined it?

Once more, this time louder, a child's laugh came from just below his line of sight. Ace retraced his steps spiralling back down. He reached the foot of the stairs and opened the door into the courtyard. There was nothing there.

Ace inhaled deeply, drawing a hand over his face. Maybe he was just tired...

A few moments later, Ace reached Clover's room. To his surprise, he found Clover standing beside an easel. He knew that they painted but they had always seemed very private about it. Ace didn't think he had ever seen the easel before now. There was something attractive about seeing Clover so engaged in their work. There was something very human about it.

"What are you painting?" Ace asked.

"It's a secret," Clover said, twisting the easel away from Ace's view."You're not allowed to look,"

"Okay," Ace sat on the bed. He was too tired to argue.

Clover finished packing the brushes and paints away. They took a seat beside him, examining him with a scrutinizing gaze.

"You have dark circles under your eyes," Clover commented, "Are you not sleeping?"

"I've always had some trouble with it," Ace professed, "It goes in cycles. It's just a phase. It will pass,"

"Well I have a remedy for that," Clover grinned.

"Magic?" Ace asked.

Clover picked up a wine bottle from the shelf, "It's a kind of magic,"

"I think this is why they say you're a bad influence, Clover," Ace sighed.

"OH really? I thought it was because of all those people I killed during the war," Clover remarked. They handed Ace a glass.

"You shouldn't joke about that," Ace took a sip.

"Are you trying to start a fight with me again?" Clover stared down bemused.

"I think it's you who keeps trying to start a fight with me," Ace said drily.

"Why would I do that?" Clover smiled placidly.

"I wonder," Ace sighed, "You don't usually care what anyone thinks so I wonder why you argue every point with me,"

"Isn't it because I care what you think?" Clover poured themself a glass.

"I can't tell whether you're being serious or not," Ace scoffed. "Couldn't this be another round of tricks on me?"

"It's not my fault you are so easily tricked," Clover grinned.

Ace nodded, "but Clover, every time you play a trick on me, don't you know I get one step closer to seeing what's behind it all?"

"That's a scary thought," Clover laughed, "If that's true, then tell me. What is it this time? Why would I start an argument with you? You know we have our game to play,"

"Well, either you're trying to wear me down or..." Ace paused.

"Or?" Clover tilted their head to the side with a smile.

"...Or you don't want me to get that close because you're afraid what will happen if I do," Ace glanced up at Clover unwaveringly.

As usual, Clover's reaction was completely obscured by an affectless smile.

"Hmmm, that's an interesting theory," Clover mused. "Shall we test it?

"How will we do that?"

Clover licked their lips. They set the wine glass down and strolled to Ace. They tilted his face to theirs.

"Stay the night," Clover smiled.

"Are you saying..."Ace hesitated.

"You didn't think that just a kiss could win my heart, did you? I'm sorry I'm not that pure-hearted." Clover smirked.

Ace stared up at Clover temporarily speechless.

"Well, your answer?" Clover demanded."Unless you don't want to? In that case, you are free to go. Just leave the necklace on the way out,"

"I see," Ace let out an incredulous laugh, "So that was it then? Telling me to take off my clothes...These arguments... you were trying to scare me away on purpose. Right now, you're trying to get me to give up. I'm right, aren't I?"

"You got me. Though you make it seem so devious, I thought it was pretty obvious this time,"

"I suppose it was," Ace stared at Clover suspiciously, "but I'm surprised you're confessing so easily,"

"Just because you know doesn't mean you can do anything about it. It's only going to get more intense from here on out," Clover said flatly, "Right now, I'm giving you an out. How long are you going to keep being stubborn?"

"Yes," Ace answered.

"Yes?" Clover raised an eyebrow. "Did you hear me? I said I'm giving you an out. You don't want to die right?"

Ace stood up till he was staring down darkly at Clover.

"Yes, Clover. I will stay the night," Ace said unflinchingly. "Thank you for inviting me,"

"Fine," Clover answered irritated, "Just don't come crying to me afterwards that you regret it. Just remember I gave you a chance,"

Ace tilted his head back provokingly, " I won't if you don't."

"You're confident now," Clover scoffed, "but you've never been with anyone other than me right?"

"If I answer no, will you go easy on me?"

"No," Clover stated coldly.

"Then I guess I'll have to rely on your expertise," Ace mused. "You seem to have a lot of it,"

"What can I say?" Clover sniffed, "I have to entertain myself somehow,"

"And who entertained you before me?" Ace questioned.

"How many times do I have to tell you?" Clover pushed Ace back onto the bed, "Don't ask questions you don't want to hear the answers to,"

"You get to ask and I don't?" Ace countered.

"You're not the same as them," Clover ran a hand through Ace's hair affectionately. "If you were, I would have had you the moment we met. You made it so obvious you liked me,"

"Why didn't you?" Ace questioned.

"Because they were all broken. I didn't want you to break," Clover said softly.

"And now?"

"Since you give me no choice, even if you break, I'm going to have to keep putting you back together again,"

"Sounds like a lot of effort," Ace said quietly. "but I don't think I'll have much to offer,"

Clover slipped a hand under Ace's shirt, "I'll be the judge of that,"