Chapter 4: If I close my eyes

"Who has the necklace Clover?"

Clover smirked, "I would guess it would be my troubling little protege,"

"That bastard..." Albaric started.

"Protege?" Rena questioned.

"The Grand Wizard," Ace said quietly.

He had hoped to never have to see that man again. Rena inhaled deeply. She tapped the desk thoughtfully.

"There would be no way from him to have taken it from the royal repository without a record of him having been there," Rena explained.

"Who would have access to it then?"

"The minister of finance and the sister..."Rena paused.

"It's Leila," Albaric scoffed, "I told her about Kalandra. She probably wanted to make it look like she took it,"

"This is a problem," she muttered, "If Clover is right and the wizard does have the necklace, we can have the royal guard put out a search warrant for him. The problem is we may as well be declaring we're not confident in the ability of our own item. They're trying to push us into a corner,"

Once more everyone digressed into quiet contemplation. However, light and frivolous laugh broke the silence.

"Why do you humans make things so difficult for yourself?" the demon lord chuckled.

"What are you trying to say?" Albaric demanded.

"If you want something, just take it," Clover smirked.

"Can you be more specific?" Rena concurred.

"Gods! Humans are slow," Kalandra groaned, " We take it back from the wizard. It's as simple as that. Just put your goddess-loving principles aside for a moment and ask yourself what you really want. If you really want to establish yourself in the Empire, you can't do without getting your hands dirty."

"You're saying we track down the wizard ourselves and covertly take back the necklace?"Rena surmised.

"I have a good idea where is he," Clover smiled, "I can bring us there,"

"Out of the question!" Albaric interjected.

"Just think this through," Clover shrugged, "I couldn't get far with this thing on, right? I can just open a portal. We go through. Take the necklace. Come back and no one has to know about it,"

"And you say you know where the wizard is?" Rena added.

"He'll go back to where he always goes," Clover mused.

"Sister!" Albaric ejected, "You can't be really considering this! If they find out about this, we'll be court marshalled,"

"I won't ask you to put yourself at risk, Albaric," Rena replied.

"That's not what..."Albaric inhaled sharply, his eyes fell to Clover, "Rena, Clover can't be trusted,"

"Thanks for the vote of confidence," Clover rejoined mockingly.

Rena took a moment to collect her thoughts. Finally, her eyes came to Ace. They glimmered as clearly as the first day they had met. Ace understood at once. She was trusting him. He didn't know how he had earned such trust from her. Nevertheless, he turned to Albaric.

"We can do this," Ace said, "We've come this far. We can't turn back now,"

"Ace..." Albaric was taken aback.

"Sister Rena," Ace turned to her with resolute eyes, "I'm coming with you." he declared.

Clover eyed him with a reticent smile. Everyone turned back to Albaric.

"Okay," he yielded, "but we have to be smart about this. If Clover brings us there, then what? The wizard's not just going to hand the necklace over,"

"We kill him and take it," Kalandra shrugged.

"No," Albaric snapped, "We're not going to kill him."

"Albaric's right," Rena enjoined, "Murder is out of the question."

"Then we steal it," Clover chimed, "A little distraction, then you take it from right under his nose,"

The following days were spent in preparation for their plan. Despite his trepidation about seeing the wizard again, there was one secret hope Ace harboured: The thought of relieving Sena's necklace in the wizard's hand.

Although things had never been better, Ace continued to have the same dreams. It felt as though the necklace was calling to him. Why had he given it to the wizard? He couldn't kick himself with ire for his own stupidity.

This thought kept returning to him as he somewhat angrily transcribed the work Rena had given him. Clover observed him for a moment and then sat beside him. It took several attempts before he heard their words:

"Ace?" Clover gently tapped him on the shoulder.

Ace's eyes came up disquieted. It took him a moment to compose himself before he answered.

"What's the matter?"

"I said I talked to sister Rena,"

"About what?" Ace replied.

"I told you before."Clover let out a laugh. " I asked if we can have dinner together,"

"I'm sorry," Ace sighed, "What did she say? When are we all going to eat together?"

Clover leaned in, "Not all." they whispered into Ace's ear.

"Just you and I,"

Ace's face turned red. He met Clover's eyes with growing self-consciousness. Their finger slid over the edge of his jaw. He could feel the hair on the back of his neck stand up. Clover tilted his face to theirs.

"I've got permission from her. Now I just need it from you,"

"Yes!" Ace said faster than he intended, "I mean...yes... I'll go. I was just surprised."

"Surprised I would invite you?"

"No, well a little. What surprised me is..." Ace leaned in closer, "...Sister Rena really gave you permission?"

"What can I say? I guess she likes me," Clover smirked.

"But you don't like her," Ace said without thinking. The second it left his mouth, he inwardly reprimanded himself.

"When did I say that?" Clover tilted their head to one side with a reticent smile.

"You didn't," Ace gave a sheepish smile.

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

The rest of the day, Ace could think of nothing else. Every time he looked at Clover, all sorts of thoughts came into his mind. He felt embarrassed to be so excited while they remained as collected as usual.

The feeling became almost untenable when Clover announced they were to have dinner in his room. It was too cold to eat out and there was nowhere else Clover could go. The sword saint's room was just beside so it made sense. Yes, it made sense. That was why. It didn't mean anything. Ace repeated this sentiment over and over to compose himself.

Yet by evening, he felt like this heart might explode. He stared at his bedside table. He had already laid enough food for dinner. He had even brought some wine. Better have one glass to steady himself.

He chugged a glass. He sat up rigidly on the bedside. He didn't feel very steady yet. Perhaps another glass and one more for good measure. Ace's heart was pounding loudly against his chest.

Finally, he heard a knock at the down. He almost jumped out of his skin. He inhaled sharply and rose. A rush of lightheadedness hit him. He took another breath. Then he opened the door. Albaric and Clover were standing on the other side.

Albaric's eyes said it all. He looked as though he might burst from disapproval but instead he just gave a nod of acknowledgement.

"You have two hours," he said. Then paused, "Remember, I'm only next door. Right next door,"

Clover ducked past him with a placid smile. The room was so small, Ace had to squeeze past just to shut the door. He turned back slowly and gestured for Clover to sit. They did. Their eyes surveyed the room with an entertained smile.

There was a neatly made bed and the spread on the desk beside some books. Ace's sword was hung over the chair. There was a nearly drunken wine bottle beside the bed. Ace followed the line of Clover's eyes. He leapt up sheepishly.

"Do...do you want a drink or some food?"

"I'll have a drink," Clover mused.

Ace poured the glass and handed it to Clover. Clover looked down at the red liquid with a curious smile.

"I'm surprised," they remarked.

"About what?" Ace hesitated.

"In the palace of swords, you refused to drink with me even once," Clover laughed, "Now you're the one handing me the glass,"

Ace's face turned red.

"I didn't want to encourage you," He glanced at Clover timidly.

"Is that really the reason?" Clover took a sip.

"No," Ace confessed, "I just didn't like to see you drink so much. It scared me."

"Why is that?"

Ace paused. He poured himself another drink before answering, "Lord Terre Sol used to go into a terrible rage after he drank."

"Is that why you hated him?" Clover questioned.

"No," Ace said quietly.

"Will you tell me the reason?" Clover stared up with sincere eyes.

"He..." Ace's voice trembled a little. He took in a breath to compose himself before he went on. "He killed Sena...and the others,"

"Who is Sena? And these others, did they all live with you in the east?"

"I don't remember everything so well. All I know is that for as long as I can recall we lived in the demon world. Lord Terre sol kept us in this place called the nursery. He said we had to help him and that if we did, he would send us home. Only no one ever went home. At least I don't think they did. Sena was one of the other children. He was taken by Lord Sol and I never saw him again."

"All of you were children?" Clover asked gravely.

Ace nodded. He took another mouthful of wine. It tasted so bitter but he chugged it down regardless. Clover put a hand over his cup.

"Easy," they smiled.

Ace sniffed and looked up. He wondered what they were thinking. It was so hard to tell sometimes.

"Can I ask you a question?" he asked.

"Go ahead," Clover consented.

"Why did you drink that time?" Ace asked.

Clover swirled the wine around their cup. "Hmm, I suppose it was to clear my mind a little,"

"Clear your mind of what?"

"Oh, I don't know," Clover replied drily, "I just think the longer I live, the harder it is to forget, isn't that strange? Well, I mean some things fade, but other things only get clearer and clearer."

"I think I can understand. You wanted to forget,"

"No, not forget," Clover glanced up, "I can't forget. All those memories...they're a lesson. There's no greater teacher than pain,"

"Do you really believe that?"

"I'll admit I'm not above a little distraction," Clover smiled into their cup.

"Is..." Ace hesitated, "I am I distraction for you?" he said wavered.

"That's not what meant," Clover sighed.

"Then what do you mean?" Ace turned to Clover earnestly. "You wanted the Emperor to kill you before, didn't you? I'm glad you changed your mind, but sometimes it feels like you're still going to do something and I don't know what I would do if something happened to you!"

Without meaning to, tears started to bubble in his eyes. Clover pulled him close and embraced him tightly. Ace shook uncontrollably. Clover patted his back till he calmed. Then Clover pulled his face to theirs.

"You're such as baby," Clover smiled sheepishly, "Don't cry. It makes my heart hurt."

Ace stared into the zenith of Clover's rose-coloured eyes. He believed it.

"If you tell me what hurts you, I'll try to make it stop," he sniffled. He quickly dashed the tears from his eyes.

Clover laughed, "I see that you would."

There was something so reassuring in their voice. Ace couldn't stop himself. He met their lips with a tender kiss.

"Ace," Clover pulled back with a smile, "You're so adorable. Your face is completely red. How much wine did you have before I arrived?"

"I..didn't have any," Ace breathed. He took Clover in his arms and kissed them again. This time they slid back onto the bed. Ace kept kissing them deeply and feverishly. Then he felt a hand around his waist, gliding against his abs.

Clover's hand came under his shirt and hoisted it up with an inspecting smile. Ace blushed under their gaze. Did they really like it? His question was answered a moment later. Clover threw him down and straddled over him. Their fingers reached his waist and began to tug at his trousers.

Ace immediately tried to look away but Clover grabbed his face once more.

"Don't look away," they smirked. "Why don't you look?"

"I can't," Ace flushed, "I'm too embarrassed,"

"Doesn't it feel good?" they pressed down.

A moan escaped Ace's lips and he tried to stifle it. Clover again prevented him.

"I want to hear you. Does it feel good?"

"It...does. It does!" Ace shivered with pleasure.

Clover's lips locked with his. It was hot and hard, Aggressive yet tender. Ace felt like he could barely move. His senses were overloaded.

"Ace?" Clover glanced down.

"Look." Ace pointed to the ceiling, " The room is spinning,"

"Is that so?" Clover smiled, "You better close your eyes if you want it to stop,"

"But I want to see you," Ace's voice broke, "Are you going to leave me again if I close my eyes?"

"No," Clover kissed him on the forehead, "I'm going to stay with you,"