Cayde 6- 'Folding was Never an Option.'

Chapter 1

A red king, a clubbed Jack, A six point diamond and a heart of two. These were my allies. My companions, the ones who would follow me into battle and give themselves for me. These four warriors were mine to command they would see me to victory. They would devote their very lives for me. I was their Ace, and I was their leader. And together we fought

. I clasped them tight each fighter rectangular in its design and printed with the images of my fine combatants. I held them there, thumb tight against them, holding them there and concealing their identity from my foe who sat across the kitchen table.

My nemesis, a man of reasonable height, he hunched over the table to eye me up and evaluate my warriors worth. His own hand of battle patriots clasped within his grasp as he stared over them. Stared at me. Man to man our bright blue eyes locked and narrowed. I saw a slight smirk in his lip as he slid closer against the table as if to make his battle presence known, to unleash his final attack.

"All in?" His voice said, a voice that was gruff and filled with a cockiness, how dare he. How dare he try to use smarm against one such as I. This battle was an art, and to quote my foe. 'Folding was never an option.' Even if it meant defeat.

"All in!" I grinned. My warriors may not equal his, but the key to any good battle was something I had learnt from my very foe. The key to success, was to lie. And lying was part of the great game. A lie could buckle an opponent, worry them, and dismantle their own safety and wellbeing. Lying was how you won. And winning was the game.

I leaned forward. "Age before beauty." I stated as my foe's grin grew.

He leaned forward and presented his battle companions. There I saw, A hearted Queen, an ace of 6, a club of 7 and a diamond of 9. He looked calm, patient, my foe was not himself in this game. Maybe he knew the hand was bad. Maybe he didn't maybe he thought my luck had gone dry? I let out a dry chuckle, and my foe's calm demeanour and smugness quelled as he leaned back and waited for my move.

And not been one to disappoint, I laid my cards down and matches his posture. Leaning back and arms crossed awaiting response. He seemed bewildered, one such as I should not have been able to beat a veteran of the game. But I had, perhaps the master should have not taught the student all? A fool only shows all his tricks even those connected with blood.

"Shoddy work old man." I quipped, as I felt my grin widen. My warriors exceeded his and this great battle was mine, tonight Ace had defeated his nemesis and claimed the prise of not been the one to do the dishes.

I saw him them, he ruffled a hand through his brown locks and let out a moan, I'm not gonna' lie it added to my grin. Was it so hard to think I could win? No he knew I could and had done with the past. But in reality, he and I were the same we didn't like doing the dishes because we were lazy. It was obvious since we had just spent the last fifteen minutes in an intense battle of decision for one to avoid such a task. A battle that I was a victor of.

"I could just ground you and make you do chores." I heard him as he stood up from the table and let out a moan of annoyance.

I simply smirked at his threat. My old man was many things, but hard on me. Nah' even when it came to chores that was not his department to punish me with. Even when I got in deep he was quite merciful, well from his grizzled face maybe he'd been in it deep before.

Nah' I know he'd been in it deep. That grizzled and tired look on his face spelt it all. Tired eyes that had seen it all, a pale blue that reflected many things. They were like mine, but at the same time different. Eyes that had seen the worst in the world, the worst of humanity. What worst things you might ask? I couldn't say. I'd asked, and asked. He's say a few things. Like how he'd been to lots of places. Earth, Mars, Saturn; all places really. He'd tell me about them but, he'd never really say what he'd done there. Never in any detail really. And, when I'd asked he'd seize up and say 'Never mind' Always.

I sighed, probably not the best time to think about this. He was heading off soon. Where? He'd not told me. How long? I know better than to ask that. Like always he was a puzzle, many places but few answers. Still, I should enjoy my time. Dad was here and he always come back. Well he promised he would. When I was little I'd believe that, that he was invincible. That he'd always come back, that he couldn't die. But then he came back one night with a blackened eye and a shoulder that was popped. How he'd ended up like it he wouldn't say, all he'd say was he was fine. Clearly not. And the note in his pocket, yes I looked, it said 'Pay up!' only lead to some conclusions.

He worried us then, more than normal. Especially her. Her face when she saw him like that. I'd never seen anything like that. It was like everything she saw about him that she loved was crushed. I never want to see her like that again. No matter what. Not again. And, I think, the way he saw her. He didn't want to do that to her ether. He never told us much, I think it was his way of coping, and keeping us calm. Did it work? No. Made us worry more if I was honest. But I guess he tried, and we tried too.

"Ace?" A familiar voice said dragging me back to reality.

My head tilted as I came back from that deep place in my mind. I saw him there. Tired eyes, like always as he stood behind a counter. He looked, worried actually. I stiffened as he stared. I couldn't really respond to it. Not with what I was thinkin'.

"S-Sorry." Yeah really convincing there. Had to stutter didn't ya'?

Dad's face said it all more worry. "You sure buddy? Look like your gonna' keel over." He crossed his arms.

"Y-Yeah. Just thinking is all." My body relaxed slightly. "Just thinking of stuff." I shrugged as if to say it wasn't anything serious.

"Uh-Huh." I heard from him. His face was plane, no smirk no smile just plane. Dad wasn't the serious type think maybe I'd seen him mad once when me and him had an altercation with a ball and a window. But even then I'd never seen him this plane, this void as he looked at me. It was like he was hiding something. I mean he was always hiding something. But that look that was unsettling to me. He was…Well he was distant, like me. He was thinking of something that he didn't want to share. Something, I couldn't know something he wouldn't tell.

I was away again in my thoughts, I didn't even see him move to stand next to me and look down. His tire eyes looked down at me, eyes full of regret. But that regret never seemed to read me or my mother. Maybe we were things he didn't regret? Couldn't tell with him.

He let out a sigh. A hand reaching up and his fingers ruffled through my hair. "Look Ace, I-" A sigh again. Like he was struggling to even let the words pass his lips. "If anything is ever wrong. You tell me ok?" That seemed rehearsed, like he gone into Dad brain and picked out something cliché and not what he wanted to really tell me. "You know I'm here for ya' buddy." Again with those dad sayings. "What I mean is I-"

"I get it Dad. You're here and you got my back." I looked up a little more.

"Y-Yeah, I guess that's what I'm trying to say." He let out a soft chuckle.

I sighed and gave into the chuckle too. We were close, and Dad was good at his job. But this was awkward for us both. When I was little it was easier. I believed everything he said and thought he was everything. I mean I still respect him and know he looks out for me now. That's what he's good with. That's how he keeps us going, and I know. Whatever he does. He does it for me and her, the long months away, all for us. To keep up afloat, and to make sure were safe. Everything he did it was to make sure he could come home in some way or another. And truth be told, as long as he came back some way. Not matter the state, we didn't care. So long as he came back home.

He ruffled my hair again. "Better get packed up." He said and moved away.

"Where you going now?" I tilted my head.

"Somewhere cold kiddo. Gonna' pack extra socks." He let out a smile dropping that serious demeanour as if it was nothing.

"How long for?" I crossed my arms.

He paused and looked down. "A while, this is a longer job." There it was again. That regret. "But it's the last one. I swear."

"You said that last time."

He chuckled. "Yeah….But this one Ace. Last job and I mean it. When I come back. I'm back for the long run. I promise. Although I'll be-"He paused mid senesce. Like he couldn't say it. He shook his head. "Just in one way or another after this job…I'm coming home Ace."

Please let me know. This will be a 3 chapter long story so stay tuned for the rest. Also thank you so much for the support on my other stories.