Clover descended the tower rapidly, but Ace was faster than they expected. They started to search the palace calling his name. He couldn't have gone far, but they couldn't find him anywhere.
After an hour passed without any sight of Ace, Clover wondered if he had indeed found a way home. If so, then it was finished. There was nothing more to be said. Yet, the idea made the demon lord uncomfortable.
From a young age, Clover had realised that truth was not absolute. One person's truth can be far removed from another's. The demons believed fervently in the gods and so their god was everywhere. The humans did not and so their gods quickly died.
For Clover, the only time truth gained any reality was when it collided with some else. Then you no longer had control over it. If you give someone your truth, you give them power over you.
In a world where power meant everything, the winner's decide the truth. The human world was no different. The only difference was that you had to be even more careful. Where demons were intuitive, humans were cunning.
However, with a little experience, even this became easy to navigate. Give humans what they want and they won't realise when you take something else. You didn't even have to lie. Just never tell them the truth.
So why?
Why did they feel so bad? It should just have been a matter of cutting off ties. Clover had done it many times before. Whenever they felt they felt someone encroaching on their truth, they quickly cut ties with them. It all started with the Empress... and this seemed like another mistake at first.
But can a mistake feel so good? Is it a mistake when you make the same error over and over again? What if your poor decisions made you happier than you had been in years? Maybe it would be okay for you, but it's still a mistake because someone gets hurt. A selfish mistake.
Clover breathed in deeply as they started to wander the outskirts of the palace. Any demon who passed in their sight quickly retreated in surprise and horror. In truth, Clover didn't leave the palace often. Why bother? There was nothing but dust and bones as far as the eye could see.
How many times had they looked up at the red horizon waiting for the sun to set? This world was nothing but pain: The creation of a god who only indulged themself in eternal night. The day was only a facade.
After all the demon lord had done to escape this world, it was the only place they could be now. The thought made Clover feel empty inside. The demon lord stopped short of the outer boundary. Should they just return?
It was at this moment, Clover set eyes on a figure squatting in the middle of the dry wasteland. As Clover approached, Ace didn't lookup. He had his arms wrapped around his knees, sitting tremendously still. It was a strange sight. In the middle of the vast empty canyon to see one person alone. It was exceedingly lonely.
"Ace? I've been looking for you, "Clover said hesitantly.
"It's so cold. I can't feel anything," Ace replied slowly. His eyes were set forward with a deadpan expression.
Clover bent down and laid a hand to his cheek. Ace's eyes were still glazed.
"It's time to leave. This place is already affecting you, "Clover frowned.
A flicker of recognition came into his eyes as he met eyes with Clover. However, far from replying, his expression only grew colder. He slapped Clover's hand away angrily. Nevertheless, Clover went on:
"You have to go back. If you stay here any longer, it's going to make you sick. Demonification is real. I've seen it happen. I don't want to force you but I will if you make me, "Clover sighed.
"Fuck you, Clover, "Ace replied without blinking.
Clover didn't react. They continued to stare down waiting for what was to come.
Ace turned abruptly, "Don't act like you give a shit about me! You're just sending me back so I can die where you don't have to see it. Albaric was right about you. You are a coward!"
"You won't die," Clover replied stiffly.
"You know that do you?" Ace answered flatly.
"I'm pretty confident," Clover returned reticently, "But if you stay here, I can guarantee you're going die,"
"No" Ace returned categorically.
"What do you mean no?!" Clover exhaled angrily.
"Just leave me alone, "Ace replied. "I want to be by myself,"
"In the middle of desert swarming with monsters?" Clover scoffed.
All around them was an arid plane devoid of anything human. Only beasts could be heard howling in the distance, hungry and forsaken.
"Don't be like this,"Clover uttered.
"Don't be like what? "Ace said in a low voice, "Don't be hurt? Don't be weak? Don't love you? Which is it? I'm not like you. I can't just throw these things away when they get in my way,"
"Is that what you think this is?" Clover retorted. "You were the one who ended things,"
"And now?" Ace glanced up.
"I'm not...throwing it away but... "Clover began to answer in a subdued voice.
"You are,"Ace sniffed, "and it's easy for you. When I first laid eyes on you, I felt alive for the first time. You gave me a reason to live. All this time, I thought it didn't matter if you didn't love me because I was still grateful. But it's not that you don't love me. It's that you don't want to love me because my love isn't good enough. Because I'm not good enough. So, just let me be Clover. I was wrong. In the end, you are just too bright for me."
"I didn't say it right before, "Clover expression stiffened, "What I meant was that you don't want me to love you,"
Ace shook his head with a pained smile,"Why not?"
"Because my love is...my love is not like your love," Clover spoke dispassionately, "It's violent and destructive. And you deserve something better,"
Ace's eyes flickered up. Clover was regarding him with an emotion that Ace couldn't comprehend.
"I was selfish to tell you I wanted you in the first place. I'm sorry I did," they added.
"What is that even supposed to mean?"Ace pulled away. "You're sorry that you love me?"
Clover's eyes wavered, "the way you can say the word 'love' so easily...It shows you have a lot to learn,"
"Don't talk down to me, Clover "Ace challenged. "You think I would say these words to anyone? That's not true and you know it,"
"Yeah, I know," Clover seemed to struggle to speak. Ace had never seen them hesitate so much. It was as though they were deciding what to say next.
"If you know then stop treating me like a child," Ace frowned, "I'm not blind. I can see that you're still caught in the past. Maybe I saw it from the start. And maybe everyone is right about us but I just want to hear the truth. Can't you just be real with me?"
"A part of me wants to tell you but..."
"But what Clover?" Ace returned impatiently.
Clover went quiet. The words were like a lump in their throat. Ace could see their guard coming up again. He stood up bitterly and stared down at Clover who was still crouching down with an unresponsive gaze. Ace shook his head and started to walk.
"Where are you going?" Clover said in a low voice.
"I don't know," Ace said without looking back, "somewhere away from you,"
Suddenly he felt himself being yanked back. His eyes came down to the hand grasping him. Clover was holding him but their eyes didn't meet his.
"Let me go right now," Ace said coldly.
"You're not thinking straight," Clover replied shortly.
"What's it to you?"
"Where do you think you can go? You'll be killed or worse..."
"I managed before," Ace scoffed," I'll figure it out."
He started to walk away once more. Then to himself, Ace said aloud, "What does it matter if I'm here or there? Everything is ruined now anyway. I don't feel afraid anymore. How strange,"
"Stop being difficult. You have to go back," Clover argued following after him and grabbing him once more.
Ace's attention came back to Clover. "And if I say no? What will you do? "
Clover finally met Ace's gaze, their eyes an unfathomable red.
"Ah, there it is," Ace remarked blandly, "Do your worst Clover, but you'll have to kill me before I set foot back in that portal,"
"Why are you being so stubborn?!" Clover's voice rose uncharacteristically. Their tone was desperate.
"Why are you?" Ace returned coldly.
Clover flinched. Their grip loosened and Ace pulled his hand from theirs. He resumed walking for only a moment before Clover once more grabbed hold of him. This time, their arms came around his chest as they clung to him from behind.
"Don't go," Clover breathed.
Ace felt a tremble down his spine, "You don't want me so why won't you just let me go?!"