Song recommendation: Change (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzRltUL5M3k)
"Where's Clover?" Michael searched around the wasteland.
Only Rena and Albaric stared back at him.
They were standing a league or so from the Palace of Coins. Its dark silhouette rippled like a burning mirage in the distance. The portal had closed behind them. The red sun was setting, casting long shadows from the ridges behind.
"Clover must have gone back," Rena said gravely.
"I told you he couldn't be reasoned with!" Michael exclaimed, "What have they gone back there for? "
"Clover isn't a fool," Albaric said flatly, "If anyone can reach Ace now, it's them.
"He can't be reached!" Michael argued. "If Clover gets themselves killed by going back there, we'll never get that necklace back, nevermind Ace,"
"We'll just have to have faith in Clover," Rena enjoined.
"Faith? In Clover?" Michael stared at her in disbelief, "If ever there was a worse place to place your faith, sister,"
"Well, Clover set up a door for us to return. They said to meet back in the Empire if we get separated, shouldn't we just do as they asked?" Albaric said with growing agitation at Michael's tone.
"What if Clover does not return?" Rena said hesitantly.
Albaric inhaled deeply, "We'll just have to trust that they will,"
Inside the upper echelons of the palace of coins, Clover watched Varseille leave Ace's room. They quickly went inside and shut the door behind them. They stared down at Ace apprehensively. Ace was lying on the bed facing away from them. Clover stepped to the end of the bed and looked down. Ace's cheek was still red from where Varseille had him. His eyes were shut but he exhaled quietly as Clover approached.
"You actually let him hit you," Clover said softly.
"It sounds like you're blaming me for getting hit," Ace said without opening his eyes. "It's not nice to blame the victim,"
"Are you the victim?" Clover sat at the foot of the bed.
Ace opened his eyes, staring up at the ceiling but didn't move, "I thought I told you not to come back,"
Clover stared down at him with pained eyes. "Did he hurt you a lot?"
"Only when I let him," Ace said drily.
"Why would you let him hit you? You have the power to stop him now! Why didn't you do anything?"
"Because I like watching him squirm when he does," Ace grinned darkly.
Clover leant over regarding him shrewdly. Then they traced a finger down his neck to his collarbone. Ace didn't move or pull away this time. He stared at Clover with an expression completely devoid of emotion as they pulled back the edge of his shirt revealing more marks beneath.
"For such a reason, you let him do all this?" Clover asked softly. They swallowed uneasily, "I'm sorry I took so long to find you."
"What are you sorry about?" Ace grabbed their hand, "Did you forget I left you?"
He licked the tip of their finger. Clover immediately pulled back their hand. Ace sat up with the same blank expression.
"What do you want, Clover?" Ace asked apathetically.
"I've come to take you back," Clover answered resolutely.
"And how will you do that?" Ace shook his head with a smile, "I may not have your power but I have enough to make it extremely difficult. Not to mention, Varseille is just down the hall and he doesn't have any plans to let me go anytime soon,"
"I'll kill him," Clover replied sharply.
"That would be quite annoying after all the effort I've put in," Ace said flatly. He let out a sigh, "How about this instead Clover? I'll tell you where I put the necklace. Is that enough? Will you go without causing me more trouble then?"
"I could give a shit about the necklace right now!" Clover exclaimed, "You're not staying here. I won't let you,"
"I don't need your permission," Ace dismissed. "I'm not leaving until I get what I want. Don't you know better than anyone else the extent of my stubbornness? Take me against my will and I'll just return,"
"Do you really want to see this Sena that badly?" Clover snapped.
"Eavesdropping?" Ace watched them with a smile, " It doesn't suit you at all, but I kind of like it,"
Clover glanced down at him apprehensively, "What will it take to get you to come back with me?"
Ace sat up and leaned towards Clover with an inspecting glance, "What are you offering?"
Clover was very still in thoughtful repose just staring back at him. They began to slowly unbutton their shirt. Ace watched with a laugh.
"How brazen," he smirked. "You really want me back that badly?"
"Whatever it takes," Clover wrapped their arms around his neck and kissed him deeply. They pulled away to find him staring back with a hungry gaze. It was as they thought...some things don't change...
Ace pushed Clover down on the bed and pinned them down. His hands reached the back of Clover's head. He grabbed them roughly pulling their lips to his.
"It will have to be something really impressive, Clover." Ace whispered with a cold stare.
"Have I ever disappointed?" Clover replied.
"Not in the bedroom," Ace said, kissing their white neck feverishly.
"I'll do whatever you want,"
Suddenly Ace pulled away. Clover gazed up at him surprised as he stared down darkly.
"You better make this worth my while, Clover."
"What does that mean?" Clover asked breathlessly.
"I know every time we've been together you've been holding back. If you hold back this time, I'll throw you so far from me that you'll never see me again,"
"There's nowhere you can go that I can't find you," Clover replied categorically.
"You may find me but I won't be there," Ace pointed to his chest, "because I'd rather rip out this heart than give it to you again. Do you understand what I mean, Clover?"
Clover swallowed uneasily. "Yes."
"Then you better work hard. Don't stop no matter what happens. Break me completely. I'll give you my permission," Ace leaned in viciously, "After all, you can put me together again, right?"
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Clover stared down at Ace, still panting, "Ace?"
Ace was lying on his stomach quietly staring head. Clover's eyes traced down his back. The scars across his back were still severe. Ace cast a sideways glance at them and turned over. His eyes panned up to the ceiling. His expression was completely blank.
"Are you okay?" Clover asked hesitantly.
"Mmm," Ace bit his lip, "that was good."
Clover couldn't look at him. They turned away with an unsteady breath. "You're going to come back now, right?"
Ace leant back on his hand. His eyes slowly came down, "About that..."
Clover turned to him irate. "You said this was what you wanted! If you didn't like it then..."
"Oh no," Ace interjected with a laugh, "That was great. More than great,"
"Then ..." Clover hesitated.
"Why do you look so surprised?" Ace skimmed a hand along Clover's shoulder. "You didn't honestly think I'd come back did you?"
"You were lying?" Clover breathed.
"Ahh, what's this feeling?" Ace smirked as his fingertips reached Clover's lips, "Is it vindication? Absolution? Or maybe it's the redemption you were talking about. It feels fucking amazing,"
Clover stared at him with a look of utter disbelief. "I didn't realise it was this bad. There's no reaching you."
"You're just realising now?" Ace threw his head back laughing.
Clover's eyes watered slightly and they turned their face away. However Ace yanked it back towards him.
"What are you looking away for?" he whispered mockingly, "I want to see you cry. I enjoy your crying face more than you can imagine,"
Clover stared down with a look of contempt and clambered out of the bed.
"You...you really have become a demon," Clover tried to regain their composure, "This is all my fault,"
"You're so self-involved, Clover," Ace dismissed. "I was like this long before I met you,"
"This is not who you are!" Clover exclaimed.
"Maybe you never knew who I was," Ace smiled indifferently, "but now you do. So, am I still worth saving, Clover? Wouldn't you rather I just tell you where the necklace is? Or do you want to keep playing? I don't mind either way. I'm having so much fun. I wouldn't mind seeing you cry a little more."
Clover swooped down on Ace and grabbed him by the wrist, jerking him out of the bed.
"Woah," Ace staggered forward, "What are you doing now?"
"I can't reason with you while you're like this," Clover held out their hand to open a portal. However, the moment they did, Ace kicked them to the ground.
Clover keeled over clutching their back. Ace opened the door and leant back against the frame.
"Hey, you," he called to the guard outside, "Go get help,"
The guard stared back at him, surprised at the complete lack of conviction in his words.
"I'm about to be kidnapped here," he added drily. "What are you waiting for? Go get lord Varseille."
"Ace!" Clover flew up angrily, "What are you doing?"
Ace didn't answer. He stuck his head out the door and continued in the same mechanical tone.
"Help. I'm being taken."
"Enough!" Clover exhaled. "You'd rather stay here with this violent fool than come back with me?"
Ace glanced down at his chest where Clover had left some love bites, "I don't see any difference,"
Clover's eyes fluttered with a pained expression. "Don't do this," they implored.
"You did this all by yourself," Ace said coolly.
At that moment Varseille burst through the door. "What's wrong?!"
"Ah, Varseille. It hurts so bad," Ace titled his head to one side, "Look what the demon lord of the west did to me,"
Varseille stared down appraising Ace's body for a moment completely quiet. He turned to Clover and flew at them with such speed and aggression, they both slammed into the wall. The force broke through the metal and brick and they fell into the courtyard below.
Ace strolled over to the gaping hole in the wall. He stared down with a dark smile as they both exchanged blows below. Finally, he turned back to the guards.
"I'm going to lie down, let me know who wins,"