"Ngh," eyes opened as they noticed the ceiling above them and the black-haired young woman above them.
As his vision became clear, Ace's eyes locked onto Emilia's, a silent yet mellow tension forming between them for a moment.
"Hi, Ace," Emilia broke the silence first.
Though it didn't show on his face, it was evident that Ace hesitated for a moment.
"H-hi… Emi."
As she heard those words, something came over Emilia, making her freeze for a moment. Something that she couldn't hold back anymore. Something she couldn't control. Something… unexpected.
Ace's eyes were wide as what unfolded next was an outcome he didn't understand. Emilia's figure leaning in and the soft, warm sensation on his lips as the black-haired girl kissed him.
'Eh? What's… going on?' Ace's eyes were wide with confusion as the sensation on his lips lingered in his mind.
As the kiss finally broke, Emilia slowly lifted herself up, Ace following suit as they both finally sat on the bed.
Seemingly having regained a clear state of mind, Ace's voice broke the silence.
"E-Emi…?"
As if having finally been brought back to reality, Emilia's body tensed up.
"Wha—?"
"Sorry," Emilia interrupted Ace immediately, her feet leaving the bed to touch the ground. "I'm sorry."
As Ace's eyes widened slightly from confusion at Emilia's sudden apology, the young man found himself unconsciously reaching out to the girl that was about to leave his side. "Wai—"
'Huh?' his hand froze up before reaching Emilia's wrist, who was already moving towards the door, opening it up as the only words that left her mouth were simply: "I'm so sorry, Ace."
The door closed, leaving Ace alone in the room with his own thoughts.
'Wait? For what? Why?' he pressed his right fist against his forehead, pinning his seating body in place with his other hand. 'What was I going to say to her?'
The light from the moon passed through the window curtains as Ace's gaze drifted in that direction.
He stood up from the bed and walked towards the window, opening the curtains as his eyes stayed fixed on the waned moon high in the sky.
As his head lowered, his bangs covered his eyes that were now fixed on the ground.
'Don't be a hypocrite.'
His right hand rose to his face, clutching it.
With a sigh…
'Seriously, why did I even come back? Why did I even make that choice?'
The scene and the words he muttered previously echoed in his mind.
I'll just… take all of it.
His left eye poked from the gap in his fingers, its gaze now locked on the view outside the window, the sight of the moon reflecting itself in it.
His hand dropped, his eyes looking at the reflection of himself as a very recent scene replayed in his mind.
"What was that all about?" he muttered, the kiss he and Emilia had shared reappearing in his mind, completely unaware that Emilia hadn't left the door of his room as she also grappled with her own thoughts.
'Why did I do it?' she questioned herself, the scene replaying in her mind as her back that leaned against the door, slowly slid down until she sat down on the ground. 'I'm horrible.'
She stared blankly in front of her, her recent adventure and discoveries coming back to her and flashing before her.
'Did I…? Do I…?' the questions stayed hung silently within her as she rose up and walked away from the room, the night engulfing the unspoken words they did not dare speak out.
---
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---
The next morning, within a certain room, eyes twitched open as they locked onto the dark ceiling above.
It was none other than Frank as he stared blankly at said ceiling, his mind remembering his most recent mission. The battle. The pain, and the conclusion.
"Haa…" he sighed. 'This life really sucks.'
He rose up from bed, the sheets sliding down to his navel.
He then extended his right arm as he then tried to clench his fist, a sharp jolt of pain preventing him from doing so.
'Guess I did push my body quite a bit yesterday,' he thought as he stared at his palm.
As he got out of bed, a good chunk of his morning time was spent brushing his teeth and taking a bath.
After everything was done, he then went out to the living room where he found a certain black-haired man sipping on a cup of coffee as he watched the news on his 26-inches flat screen T.V.
Only one topic was being broadcast on the news. The incident that had occurred the previous day and the death of the Dean of Therion Academy, Hugo Hendrickson within a Vanishing Point.
"My, my… Good morning, Frank my boy," Vadus's red eyes drifted towards the young man.
"Morning, boss," Frank replied as he offered but a slight bow.
"Hmph. You must truly hate me for you to be so disrespectful with me."
"Is that so?" Frank walked towards the fridge, taking out a bottle of juice. "I thought you tolerated my attitude because you found it fun."
"And it is absolutely true that I find your disdain quite pleasing to see."
'Creep,' Frank poured himself a glass as he then went to cupboard and took out two loafs of bread.
"You just thought of something offensive, didn't you?"
"No idea what you're talking about, boss."
Vadus smirked at Frank's sarcastic appellation.
"You truly are amusing."
"Wow. Thanks a ton," the sarcastic dry tone in Frank's voice made Vadus chuckle in amusement.
"So let me ask you this, my boy," Vadus rose up from his seat and approached Frank who then took a step back almost instinctively.
"My," Vadus stopped in his tracks as he let out a simple "Hmph," in amusement.
"What's the matter? Are you afraid of me?"
Vadus stared intently at Frank, the amused smirked on his face only growing more unsettling and twisted.
"Yeah. Hella a lot actually."
No hesitation came from Frank's voice, surprising Vadus in response who had an astonished expression on his face, washing the otherwise smirk he had etched on his lips.
Then, Vadus exploded in laughter. Frank's expression grew confused and anxious as he did not understand what could have made this man laugh as such. In fact, he even told himself what use was it to understand him. Not as if it would benefit him in any way.
"Wh-what was so funny?" Frank worked up the courage and looked at Vadus straight in the eyes.
As the question registered, Vadus released a long exhale, his expression seeming refreshed.
"You truly are so amusing. To admit it without so much as an ounce of shame is something I didn't believe humans we're capable of."
As the words left Vadus' mouth, he took a step forward, disappearing from Frank's sight whom the latter, felt an arm wrapping around his shoulder from behind, pulling him close until a whisper entered his ear.
"But that's what makes such a fun pawn to toy with. I do hope you continue entertaining me so, okay, my dear Frank~?"
The words were venomous as they sent a shiver of dread and terror in Frank's spine. His hand, clenched into a fist, and his mouth, jaw clenched and biting into his lower, were a testament to the sheer twisted words that had escaped Vadus' lips.
From the very bottom of his heart, Frank felt unimaginable disgust towards the man, but at the same time, the sheer fear the man induced in him was something he couldn't deny.
'This sick bastard…' snarled Frank internally as he broke free from Vadus' hold, head down, unwilling and unable to look at the man's red eyes.
"Hoo…" Vadus was amused by this, reading the way in which Frank conducted himself.
"My apologies. It would seem that I've made you quite uncomfortable," he simply put distance between them as he slowly went back to his seat.
"Feel free to take the day off. You've more than deserved it," Vadus faced back at Frank with a smile. An unsettling, creepy smile that seemed too clear, too noble and too radiant to even be considered normal.
"Is that so? Then don't mind if I do…" Frank walked back towards his room, his voice reflected just how shaken he was.
"Are you not going to eat your breakfast?"
"I've lost my appetite."
"What a pity. I hope you rest well, Frank."
The door closed and Frank was out of the room, Vadus simply stood by himself, a smile engrained deeply on his face as he simply couldn't help himself.
'Aah… What am I to do?' he clutched the lower half of his face, unable to retract the twisted smile playing on his lips. 'Just how much longer do I need to wait for you? You the Master Magus' final pieces.'
He then took a deep breath, finally letting the smile shift to a more normal one as he walked towards the windows of the penthouse, looking over the skyscrapers in sight.
'Emilia Windsor. My oh-so-dearest Emilia,' he placed his hand on the window, fingers tensing up as he tried to contain the frustration on his face. 'Please hurry and bring him to me.'
A rush of palpitation and excitement rushed within his drumming heart as his other hand gripped his top, pawing into it in a trembling manner.
The questions that flared within him as he contemplated the inevitable meeting were filled with curiosity. A deep-seated and twisted curiosity on the one who had ignited this burning restlessness within him.
'Ace Blakelord. How I long to finally meet you. You, my brethren. Another irregular such as I.'