Clover flinched. Their jaw clenched, " Fine. But you're still coming back."
They grabbed Ace once more
"Oh for the love of the gods!" Ace threw his arms dramatically, " What don't you fucking get it? " his hand threw back abruptly and slapped Clover hard in the face.
For a moment Clover was completely stunned. The others were all staring too shocked to speak. Ace started to laugh.
"What? I thought sometimes pain can be pleasurable. Hmm? Maybe I didn't hit you hard enough? You like it a bit harder, don't you? Or maybe it's only fun when I'm on the receiving end?"
Clover grabbed Ace by the collar, "What did you just say to me?!"
Michael intervened and grabbed Clover, "Calm down! What are you getting provoked by him for?"
Clover dropped their hand and exhaled uneasily. Michael turned to Ace.
"Don't you see that this is obviously what Varseille wants? Whatever he's told you, Ace, it's probably only a half-truth. At least let Clover explain. Are you really going to throw everything away on the word of some demon?"
"I never thought I'd hear you jump up in Clover's defence," Ace laughed, "What do you even want me to come back for? So you can get the necklace? You're definitely not getting it,"
"I'm not just here for the necklace," Michael said drily, "I don't like you but I don't want to see you like this either,"
"Since when do you care about me, Michael?" Ace chuckled, " I don't care about you."
"Please, Ace," Clover put his hand in theirs, "trust me one more time. Come with us,"
Ace yanked his hand away with irritation. Both Clover and Michael watched in shock.
"I'm done with you," Ace shook his head, "GET. LOST."
"Ace.." Albaric started.
"No," Ace held up a hand, "I don't want to hear it. I've made up my mind. I'm not coming back,"
"You're being really stupid..."Michael frowned.
Ace shrugged, "It wouldn't be the first time,"
"Ace think about this," Rena implored
"Look." Ace turned the sword on Rena with a smile, "You're all being really annoying right now. I'm trying to be nice but I'm only going to say this once: Get out or I'll make you regret ever coming here,"
"Don't! " Albaric flew at him but Ace turned so swiftly he didn't see the kick flying toward him. He knocked into Michael and both went flying back to the wall.
"Ha!" Ace let out a laugh. " I was going to let you leave but that felt really good. On second thought, should I just kill you?"
He turned back to Rena with a dark grin.
" This is the part where you start to run, sister, "Ace pressed the sword to her neck. Rena's clear eyes didn't waver as blood trickled from the wound.
"Don't touch her!" Albaric rose hostilely.
Clover stepped between them.
" Don't do something you'll regret," Clover warned.
"Regret? The only thing I regret is wasting so much time on you. "
"That's enough!" Clover snapped.
"Shit! The guards are coming," Michael glanced down the hall. "Clover, we have to go,"
Clover opened a portal but turned back to Ace as the others rushed through, "We're not finished."
"Actually, we are," Ace sat back with dark unsympathetic eyes. "Goodbye, Clover. If you come back again, I promise I won't have any mercy on you."
Clover stared at him with a restrained expression but stepped through the portal.
Not long after they had gone, Varseille came to Ace's door.
"Well?" he stared down at Ace.
He was leaning against the door watching Ace who was sitting reading on his bed.
"Well, what?" Ace answered, irritated.
"Did you send them away?" Varseille pushed off the door, "I figured they'd come back. Did you deal with it?"
"Yes," Ace answered flatly. "I told you I would,"
"What did they say to you?" Varseille questioned.
"Come back. Blah. Blah. Blah," Ace said the words in a completely monotonous tone, "What does it matter what they said? I chased them away,"
"Come here," Varseille motioned.
Ace complied. The moment he got close, Varseille yanked him forward by the back of the neck.
"What did the demon lord say to you?" Varseille interrogated.
"Are you ordering me to tell you?" Ace asked with a blank expression.
"No," Varseille wavered.
"Then don't fucking push it," Ace pulled back.
"Every now and then I mistake your silence for compliance," Varseille went on regardless, "Then you go and say something like that,"
"We have a deal. Nothing more," Ace said flatly.
"How can you say that?" Varseille traced a line over Ace's arms, "Aren't you too cold? How can you kiss me but say we're nothing,"
"I do what you order and in return, you're suppose to tell me where Sena is," Ace rejoined, "Anything else is a delusion on your part,"
"You still want to know where he is?" Varseille sighed, "What are you going to do when you find him?"
"I haven't decided yet," Ace's eyes were dark, "When I see his face, I might go into a terrible rage and kill him or..."
"Or?" Varseille enjoined.
"None of your business," Ace replied, "What I do with him is not your concern. It's too late to act like the worried brother now. You don't care about him. I don't think you ever did."
"I came all the way here to save him," Varseille said quietly.
"I'm not sure I believe that," Ace shrugged, taking a seat back on the bed.
"Well, it doesn't matter. As you said, a deal is a deal." Varseille followed with a sigh.
"Well, I've done everything you asked today. I'm tired," Ace stared up unmoved, "Are we done?"
Varseille hovered a moment by Ace's bed before taking off his mask.
"Kiss me," Varseille ordered.
Ace immediately averted his eyes but sat still as Varseille leaned forward expectantly.
"Why don't you look at me?" Varseille demanded. "You don't look me in the eyes whenever the mask comes off. I want you to look at me,"
Ace flinched but his eyes came up slowly reluctantly. He lay a flat and unfeeling kiss on Varseille's lips. However, this only seemed to make Varseille more agitated. He pulled back with his arms crossed inspecting Ace's face.
"And why don't you smile properly?" Varseille complained. "I've never seen you smile properly like you're really having fun,"
"Is that another order?" Ace asked drily.
"No," Varseille returned with a sigh, "But tell me this, did you smile in front of the demon lord of the west?"
Ace stared back with a deadpan expression, "Your questions are really annoying,"
"What did they do to make you smile?" Varseille grabbed Ace and yanked him forward, "Tell me. I order you to tell me. What did they do to please you? I bet they did all sorts of things to you. Didn't they?!"
Ace smirked, "If you already know, why are you asking?"
Varseille slapped him hard in the face. He let out a shaky breath, "Oh, now look what you made me do!"
Ace didn't attempt to avoid it. His eyes slowly came back to Varseille completely dark. He licked the blood from his lips.
"Jealousy is a very ugly emotion, Varseille," he said quietly.
"I didn't mean it!" Varseille lamented. "I don't want to hurt you but you keep making me do it..."
"Isn't it just because you enjoy it?" Ace gave an apathetic shrug.
"I don't!" Varseille argued.
"Why don't you just admit it?" Ace grinned, "For a demon lord, you're pretty timid. Be honest. You enjoy my pain. It turns you on. Don't worry I'm not judgemental. It's just the pretence I find irritating."
"I never once wanted to hurt you, but you gave me no choice!" Varseille knelt down beside Ace tearfully, "You can hit me back if it makes you happy! Go on! Just do it once and get it out of your system!"
Ace put a hand to Varseille's cheek with a dark glare, "Be careful what you say, Varseille. Because when I see this face, I don't think one hit would be enough to satisfy me,"
Varseille's eyes widened. He stared down, breathing heavily.
"If you kill me, you'll never see Sena again. Is that what you want?" Varseille warned.
Ace cracked his head to one side, "And when exactly will I be seeing him? How much longer do you plan on stringing me along? It's already been more than a month,"
"If you didn't have such a wicked mouth," Varseille grabbed Ace's hand hungrily, "Maybe I'd be a bit more convinced of your loyalty,"
"I've done everything you asked and you still want more," Ace tilted his head back with a smile, " What is it exactly that you want from me?"
"You think these paultry kisses prove anything?!" Varseille snapped.
"You get what you paid for," Ace smirked.
Varseille leapt up. Once more he swung a fist in his direction but Ace caught this time.
"I suggest that you don't waste anymore of my time and tell me where Sena is," Ace glared viciously, "because I'm getting quite sick of your little tantrums."
Varseille pulled his hand back angrily and stormed out of the room.
Ace lay back on the bed and closed his eyes. Just a little longer...