Chapter 2: "I'll only hurt you if you let me"

By morning Ace had reached his decision. He could do this. His mind was set on it. He had to find out where this would go. He was almost certain until:

"Ace?" Albaric repeated, "You've been spacing out all morning."

Ace's eyes came up with a start. He looked up at the office startled. The desk where Rena usually sat was empty. She was in labs today working on the device. Clover and Kalandra had gone with her. It was only Ace and Albaric in the office.

"Sorry," Ace cleared his throat. He got up and began to pace the room. Albaric watched him with a raised eyebrow and half a smile.

"What's up with you?"

"Hmm," Ace stopped. "Nothing,"

He cast an eye on the library.

"Ace.." Albaric sighed, "Look, I didn't want to say anything. But are you sure this is a good idea?"

"What is?" Ace feigned innocence.

"Just...starting this again," Albaric put his hands on his hips.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Ace returned to the window seat briskly and opened a book.

"You and Clover..."

"It's not like that, Albaric," Ace cut in, "We're just friends,"

"Friends don't kiss," Albaric said in a low voice.

Ace's eyes widened and he reddened with embarrassment.

"Don't worry, I don't think sister Rena has noticed, but it's too risky, Ace. Not to mention, I don't think it's good for you. It's not going to end well. Don't you remember what happened last time?"

A sudden recollection came to Ace's mind. 'Stop spending your life on these useless daydreams. You don't know the meaning of love.'

Ace slammed the book shut. He exhaled sharply.

"I know you're trying to look out for me, Albaric, but I'm not a child. I know what I'm doing."

"What does that mean?" Albaric shook his head unconvinced.

"I'm not..."Ace hesitated, "It was just a kiss. It doesn't mean anything. I'm not going to make the same mistake as last time,"

"You're playing a dangerous game. You might think you're in control now but how long can that last? You didn't see that temper yesterday? Clover is dangerous! Not to mention, Clover can't be trusted and I'm sorry to say it... but I just think it's too much for you," Albaric sighed sadly, "this is a mistake."

Ace rose quickly and left the room without looking back. As Albaric watched him go, he wondered if he had been too hard on him. What right did he have to judge about unrequited love? Still, Ace was too young to know better.

Albaric decided to check in on the laboratory and the problem in question. Thankfully, Clover appeared to still be on good behaviour. They worked diligently by Rena's side. Kalandra on the other hand was swinging her legs from the desk like a petulant child. Albaric could only guess why she was still hanging around.

"You're very informed on these matters for a sister," Clover remarked.

"I will take that as a compliment," Rena replied. Her eyes came up to meet Albaric.

She still looked the same as she did all those years ago. The look in her eyes hadn't changed. It was still so assured and hopeful. At least that hadn't changed. Though she had been colder than before. Albaric guessed that was his own fault.

"I was hoping to talk to you," she said. She stepped out of earshot of the other two.

Albaric raised an eyebrow in surprise and delight as she pulled him aside.

"Will you come somewhere with me tonight?"

A flicker of a grin spread across his face, but he quickly tried to stifle it, "Sure,"

Maybe more had changed about her than he thought. Their first reunion had been disappointing. Perhaps, this would make up for it.

That night, after the demon lord had been dealt with and Ace was in bed, Albaric snuck out to the appointed place. He wondered what all the secrecy was about. Still, it made him feel like a boy again. It was exciting.

Punctual as always, Rena's quickstep came along the corridor. Albaric wondered why she had asked to meet in the palace and not the tower. She came up hurriedly beside him.

"Shall we?" she motioned.

They started walking. To Alabric's surprise, she didn't say anything. He hated the awkward silence.

"Where are we going?" he smiled.

"You'll see when we get there," she answered flatly.

Albaric continued to fill the quiet walk through the dark courtyard with any subject he could think of. However, none seemed able to lure her into a conversation. Then suddenly, she stopped. Albaric glanced up.

"We're here," Rena said in a low voice.

He stared up at the lines of gravestones. They were a pale grey under the chalky moon. They spanned out as far as the eye could see. Here were the glorious dead of the Empire. It was serenely quiet. Rena began to transverse the staircase down, but Albaric stepped back.

"What are we doing here?" he frowned.

"We're here to visit Lucy," Rena replied.

The white light of the moon painted her features with ethereal beauty. Her light blue eyes made no concessions. Albaric reluctantly followed her. After walking for a time, they came to a stop.

Rena knelt down to the grave and dusted it with her hand.

"I'm sorry it took so long," Rena at length, "I've brought him, Lucy,"

"Rena..."Albaric started.

"Albaric," Rena turned to him, "Lucy was proud of you. You two used to always bicker but she was proud of you,"

"I don't want to talk about this,"

"Then I will tell you something else. I received some intel today, "

"What's this all about?"Albaric made a face.

"The royal princess is planning on mounting a new crusade against our campaign. I don't know what's going to happen after this but it's only going to get more difficult from here on out,"

"I've already thrown my stakes in, Rena," Albaric leant down, "we'll fight this,"

"I know I have no right to say this, but I believe this is where you are supposed to be. I feel things are changing. The Empire is going to need you."

"You put too much faith in me,"

"I know you only agreed to supervise the tower so you could protect your apprentice, but there's another reason you should be here. You deserve to be here. If you would just apply yourself, I know things could change for the better. All you have to do is want it. "

"I...I do want things to change," Albaric breathed, "I don't want to be the same as before. I'm trying,"

"I know you are. That's why I brought you out here tonight. "Rena stood back up, "I wanted you to know that I will support you. That we will support you,"

-------------------------------------------

The next day, Ace wondered if Albaric would raise the topic of Clover again. Fortunately, Albaric was preoccupied with his own thoughts. Ace decided to take an early lunch that day. Unlike the wizard, sister Rena didn't keep him on such a tight leash. He could come and go as he pleased. He stepped out under the gloomy sky. As he did, the sky erupted with a flash of light. Then the rain began to pour.

For some reason, Ace didn't shy from it. He went out to his normal seat as he always did. He didn't bother to eat. He just let the rain fall on him. It was cold, harrowing all the way to the bone. Yet it was a cool release.

The same words kept spiralling around his mind:

'what will you do? Keep begging for scraps from someone who will never love you, someone incapable of loving you?'

'You belong in the dark just like me,'

'Kill him,'

Ace felt a lump in his throat. Maybe it was never Clover who was incapable of love. Maybe it was him. What if there was something wrong with his love? One day he thought he had cleanly stepped out of the darkness, but it was always just below the surface. How long would it be before he made the wrong decision again?

Everything in the palace felt like life and death. The Emperor still watched everything they did. And as long as Clover was close to him, Ace knew that he was only one step from that edge. What all-consuming darkness would follow, he couldn't say.

When he stepped back into the office, everyone was back. They looked at him in surprise because he was soaked through. He didn't meet their eyes. He sat back by the fire and kept working without saying a word. In the evening as the light faded, sister Rena bade them goodnight.

Albaric stood by impatiently to conduct the Demon lord back to their cell. However, Clover appeared bent on waiting for Ace to finish.

"You don't need to wait for me," Ace said coolly.

Clover threw their arms around his neck.

"Enough writing." Clover lamented, "You've been quiet all day,"

Ace stared down at the delicate hands around his chest. These were the hands that freed him. He turned to face Clover. Those were the lips he kissed for the first time. He stared at Clover quietly for a moment. These were the eyes that first saw him as something other than what he was.

"I'll wait outside," Albaric sighed, "but don't take too long. They're expecting us,"

Clover's fingers slid around Ace's waist. "Ahh, You're so cold," Clover shivered in his embrace."Why are you so cold?" Clover dotted kisses around his neck. Ace didn't respond. He could barely contain his emotion. Clover's hand came up to face, yanking him roughly.

"You're doing it again. Where is your mind wandering?" Clover leaned forward. Ace felt a warm stroke then suddenly pain. His face reddened.

"Did you just bit me?" he blinked in surprise.

Clover smirked," Sometimes the pain can feel good."

"I don't know..." Ace hesitated.

"Don't worry, Ace," Clover twirled a finger around Ace's raven hair. "I'll only hurt you if you let me."