ENDING

Gray began waking up disoriented and groggy, with the back of his throat dry from whatever drugs had been in his system. He tried moving but couldn't. He was tied up to a hospital bed, but he seemed to at least be in the train station. His vision was still regaining focus when he noticed a couple persons exiting the room and then another one coming in and standing in front of him. It took him another minute to recover enough to be coherent about what was going on. He was alive but captured and given the dead gaze of the person in front of him, he wasn't likely to remain alive for long.

Aria stood there, unmoving like a statue for several minutes, not saying anything and not doing anything but glare at her prey. By her own bandages and her arm on a sling, she had been quite hurt too

" … I suppose you know now that you can't leave." Gray said before heavily sighing with a frown. "It was never my intention to keep you here."

She narrowed her eyes and remained judgementaly silent.

"You seem awfully upset." He noted.

She remained silent.

"You're the one who took my connector." He reminded her.

She finally moved, her hand switching as if she was going to grab a weapon, but instead, she spoke in the same monotonous and digitized voice she had used during most of her stay at the other side of the mirror. "You said nothing about it."

"I was trying to adjust to the effects and then trying to figure out what to say but you had already left." Gray sighed. Well, since he was alive, he may as well chat, "Are you going to torture me?" Gray asked, staring at her with a half amused expression which dropped slightly in exhaustion. "Or did you just keep me alive so that I was conscious when you kill me?"

"What do you think I should do?" Her unnatural tone, besides being digital and distorted, was completely void of any emotion or humanity.

"You could take me on a date first like you promised you would do before leaving." Gray cheekily smiled. She was most likely going to kill him so he might as well speak his mind in hopes she changed hers, or at least to have some fun at the expense of things and go out with a smile.

"I was seriously considering killing you." She exhaled and sat down in a nearby chair, crossing her arms and legs while looking outside the window to the sunny and beautiful day outside.

"Ah … alright." He sighed. "I suppose I'll instead daydream about all those promises." Gray smiled, closing his eyes and resting his head.

Aria musket a long string of curses in her original language and directed him a nasty glare. "It would have been better to kill you probably. At the very least I shouldn't have saved you."

"Why didn't you then?" The assassin tried stretching, but his restraints prevented him from doing even that.

"Just so you know … you are alive because it's not your fault, per se." She looked away, huffing. "My A.I. told me it got a signal of someone, you, in the nightmare realm and had to project some memories of my real partner on you. It was not your fault to believe you were my partner, but the truth is that you never were."

"Yes." Gray admitted with a small nod. "I only came to that realization not too long ago. I wasn't sure what to do and became confused as to who I really was myself. But of course, I did not mind it since I came to really like you." He admitted with a smile. He wasn't sure he was going to live after this anyways and all was out of the window, so might as well say all while he still had a chance for it.

"Of course you do, but that is false. All you feel is merely instigated by the game, more so due to the connector mistake. Under our past pretense you were supposed to comprehend that any feelings for me were false, and thus we could work together because you comprehended it and knew that nothing would come out of it." Aria crossed her arms and legs. "That's probably why I saved you. Because it was not your fault to fall into this crap, that was my A.I., and thus my fault."

"Well, it's clear now that I'm not the same guy either of us thought." He sighed again, well aware that Aria was now aware of everything. But…

She gave a tired huff. "And luckily for you, you're not the Gray I know either."

"Other Gray?" He asked, puzzled, before realization hit him. She must be thinking he was the Gray from Diamond, which he was, before he went to Clover, and which made sense, he supposed. But still, didn't she hate him and all holders?

Aria took out a cigar and lit it on, taking a deep pull and exhaling smoke from her nostrils.

Gray remained silent, watching her and being careful with what he would say next. If she found out he was the same Gray from Clover, she'd kill him, and worse yet, the small hope he had that she didn't utterly hate him and despise him would disappear along his life. "We are an infirmary, you shouldn't be smoking here."

"And you are the only one here and a chronic smoker as well." She took another pull and let out the smoke in the air. "I suppose my A.I. didn't tell you. But … uuggghhhh here we go. Time for my long, sad and boring story. I'm not one for long tales, so here it goes…. "

He was surprised she was going to tell him anything at all.

She took a deep breath and began. "I was an unexpected second foreigner at the other side of the mirror. I saw the constant dead and brutality of this world since the moment I was dropped in, I went into hiding until I figured out most of what was going on til I as forced to reveal myself due to an attack during an event, then circumstances and lack of information kinda forced me to met the damn holders, and ended up working part time for all territories. Mind you, I often ended up trying to flee being killed or harmed whenever I interacted with them for anything more than brief work, oh, and no, I did not receive help of any kind. Quite the contrary, they were so stuck up on the first foreigner that they even send me on a suicide mision to get her, and then I ended up in Diamond. Not the Diamond you see now, but the Diamond that was almost lost and completely fragmented and frozen with no one left alive … sort of. Somehow I unfroze the black rabbit and the king…then ended fighring an avatar of the Jabberwocky at the same time that the stupid holders from the other side fo the mirror were trying to kill me. Then ended up in Spades, made some deals … and ended up in the nightmare realm." She took some deep breaths as if to calm herself from shaking. "I can still hardly believe that the fucking holders there went up to hunt me down all the way to this country, that includes the Gray from there."

He softly wristlet, somewhat understanding her position, frankly, from her point of view things were far FAR worse than he had even imagined. To her, they had been hunting her. She had no reason or evidence of any good intention on their part. No wonder she was so paranoid and felt so cornered. Her story and existence just kept getting worse and worse. She was really strong to have kept on going against all that. Alone and with a world basically against her. No surprise she was like she was, but more surprising was how it had not slowly consumed her … or maybe it had. She was always at the edge, and took an enormous toll. Now, if only he had a chance to help her. "I see. that must have been very hard for you."

"Life is hard." She noticed the cigar was about to end and dropped it, letting shadows move from her shadow and armor to devour its existence and make it disappear. "Anyways, you aren't that Gray and you're not my partner either." She said with coldness, freezing out the ambience while having problems to shrug with her injured arm and shoulder. "And now, I have this stupid connector thing."

Of course she didn't want a connector or any holder. She had gotten the worst possible game of heartsever in the history of Wonderland. But first of all, he had to explain that mistake. "Well, I should apologize for not keeping it better hidden. I thought it would be harder to find not to be on my person but it appears I was wrong." Gray sighed. "So … I apologize for that." He frowned. If it wasn't her then he wouldn't have his connector on anyone either. It would have been a huge liability, and surely she saw it that way. She understood the constraints a connector meant. She surely knows all about its properties too.

"A holder apologizing for that? Ha." She mocked. Her eyes glowing red for a moment and her shadows leaking.

There was something not entirely right with her, besides the obvious, and it made him worry, but if he didn't want to sink here. There was something else not clicking. He was alive and she was telling him stuff. "You have not answered why I'm still alive."

"Because I have not killed you yet." She twisted her lip, as if she was pouting.

"And why would that be?" Gray asked, knowing that perhaps right now he was just a liability or a tool. Could she see beyond that anymore? Would she?

"If I kill you my game would restart fully, and worse, I'd have to deal with a replacement in here, my base of operations." She took out a deep breath with a clear look of exasperation. "I would have to kill every single replacement for you that appears here, and that is tiresome. But there is still some use for you, and that is why I have not killed you."

It was Gray's time to remain silent, reality finally hitting him cold. Her reality. A reality and ways to perceive it very different from his own.

She continued. "This stupid connector at least deters other holders from this country from pursuing me and should suffice to turn them away from investigating my activities further in general. So I'll offer you a deal. You remain alive and keep your deal with the train station. Simply, don't bother me or my organization and you get to remain alive."

Gray looked at her. This was it? He was not going to accept that. After all that had happened, especially to her, he could not accept going back to nothing and letting her keep her solitude. Closing his eyes for a second he exhaled. "Unfortunately, I don't want to go back to that shitty broom closet room. And avoiding you would put me in a difficult position." Gray admitted with a frown. "Without you near me, I'd wither away and become weaker until someone kills me. It's not exactly ideal for me that you have my connector, Aria." He frowned. Of course there was more and she probably knew it too, but to her it probably meant nothing.

Aria's cold gaze changed color to a yellowish hue for a moment. "Look, holder. I don't really want you near me. You realize we are in fact casual strangers? We've known each other for not too long in reality. You were just being recalled to this country when my A.I. caught you. Nothing more."

"Well, I do still have your partner's memories. I can remember everything about you from that time and then the happy days after we arrived in the country, so I don't feel that you are a stranger to me." Gray admitted. To him it had not been casual. He had all those memories and then the ones from the other side of the mirror too, but to her it wasn't like that.

"Those memories partake to my partner. Not to you. You don't have real memories and whatever you feel is just instigated by the game and the connector." Aria seemed to get agitated, but ultimately she only crossed her leg. "I'll remain here at the station in general, so that should suffice as proximity."

"I do still need the proximity. Intimate proximity." Gray had to try and convince her. He would not accept anything else that wasn't the best solution and their happy coexistence. They would both be miserable otherwise … well, she would, he would be dead. "I imagine your promises to me would be enough to suffice for that." He said, remembering all those sweet words and her luscious touch. "Will you break those promises? I wouldn't break mine."

Aria became confused for a second, trying to figure out what the heck the holder was talking about. "It doesn't count. You know I only said that because you asked me to indulge you into stupid fantasies." She tried to cross her arms but stopped, flinching.

"Really? So you never intended to fill those promises?" He asked with a smile knowing that was exactly the case.

"You asked me knowing I was going back and you only wanted to hear that as a jest. It doesn't count." She repeated, dead set on it. "And you then went all the way to try and stop me."

"So I did manage to stop you? And you still saved me and brought me back here to get medical attention?" That was the other thing that made no sense … was she blushing?

"I saved you because it wasn't your fucking fault and I was going to die anyway." She then huffed and stood up. "And it was your stupid ass dagger. It was coated in poison alright, but it was NOT a deadly poison. It was paralysis! And then Aegis brought us back."

Gray began laughing, but quickly forced himself to stop. "Hey! Why don't we make a deal?"

"I already offered one. I let you live and you don't get near me ever again." She began pacing in front of the bed.

"Why instead don't we remain together for the sake of convenience? It would benefit us both and my partnership is something of worth." Gray smiled in amusement, shocked she hadn't killed him yet.

"Isn't letting you live convenient enough? Why should I even want to be near a total stranger that wants to force me to stay in this world? It would have been nice if you just had killed me or let me go and die, but no. You wanted to bring me fucking back." She hissed.

He was not going to argue that, so he would concentrate on convincing her that his deal was more advantageous. He had many memories of her, and now he knew what might work to convince her … hopefully. "Well, I am a Role Holder; one of the pillars of Wonderland. Staying with me would give you quite a lot of perks; I'm sure you are imaginative enough to imagine them all."

"I don't need you," Aria declared, bluntly and straight up. And it was true.

"I never said you needed me. I only suggest you think about what a convenience it would be to stay with me … or rather, to let me stay with you. You already saw all the advantages of letting me live and be here and the train station, but you know it would also be better if we remained together." Gray smiled, getting more hopeful.

Part of her armor melted down into shadows and then from the floor rose up a blob of darkness that took the form of a badger.

"Do you have another plan for him?" The AI asked its master. "He is indeed convenient, very skilled as an assassin and in bed, dedicated and, most importantly, as you said he is an excellent deterrent to other holders. Since you have his connector, then you can ensure his loyalty and dedication."

"He is also a fucking holder that impeded me to go back to my precious death." She growled, picking Aegis up but he melted into liquid darkness and slipped from her fingers and then formed a little cat.

"You should not let your anger blind you to the convenience of the situation." Aegis reminded her.

"It's not anger." She hissed, very clearly angry.

"It is probably some frustration too." Aegis said, sounding like he was smiling. "You should be more honest. The fact that he is alive is not just because the lullaby voted for such."

Aria looked away and puffed for a minute. "It's not. I just fucking want all the crap to end. But until that happens his existence seems to be beneficial for my organization."

"And it would be beneficial for you too personally." Aegis melted down towards the shows of the floor. "You need to calm down and vent out. Afterwards you can decide more clearly once energy has been spent. He is a usable and capable."

"I would not say no. After all, I'm tied up and unable to refuse." Gray said with a sneaky smirk. Aegis was helping. Aria finally had discovered it.

"Absolutely not." Aria growled, unbelieving that her AI and the faker were banding together. "He isn't my partner, he isn't someone I give a damn about, he is a holder, and … and he in truth is a fucking stranger. NO!"

"A holder infused with precious memories of you," Aegis pointed out. "He loves you. Take advantage of that fact and of the fact he is mentally unwell … and that he is tied up and willing to take anything you make out of him."

"It is true. We know each other's bodies well, both from experience and memory." Gray chuckled, she was acting funny and not as controlled, that was good. "I agree with your AIs idea. After all, I'm still tied up at the moment. You could easily take advantage of me and decide for yourself whether or not I am still useful and satisfactory."

Aria growled and went towards a cabinet, from which she took out a syringe and some medicine bottle. She stabs the little glass bottle with the needle and pushed the air out of it carefully. Without a second though she came to the bed and slammed the needle in the assassin's forearm, pushing the liquid in.

"And what drug did you just inject me with?" Gray asked, his smile lessening slightly but not vanishing completely. "How long do I have to tell you how much I love you before the poison kills me?" He politely asked, seeing the possibility of remaining alive and nearly blinking out of reach. At least he could manage to say what he felt.

"It wasn't poison. It's just a little serum drug to get you to be more honest because I can't trust anything a holder says without the influence of lots of alcohol or other drugs. That and it will make your body more sensible, that way I wont have to waste much time into torturing you." She put the sirynge away and accidentally looked at the ring in her hand, then growled, taking a step closer to give the assassin a couple small slaps on the cheek. "Is it working yet? What should I do to get you to start speaking? Lets try for starters … mmhh, what if I get another connector to take this off? That would make the deal to let you remain at the station without needing any proximity."

The little lizard on gray's neck happily became a 3D lizard and crawled on her arm and towards her chest where it happily nested itself. Aria ignored it.

"Then the connector would return to me and you would have another Role Holder to deal with, one who does not view you as I do." Gray smiled.

"Can't you get this lizard out of my boobs?"

"I could. But I do not want to. Your warmth and pressure feels quite good." Gray purred as he relaxed against the bed, enjoying the sensations on his skin. He hummed and even let out a small moan. Fuck it all, he guessed. He didn't care about Hearts or Clover anymore. He was here and now and whatever memories he had he considered his, and that was what mattered.

"To keep him under supervision I can trade places with his tattoo." Aegis suggested, letting some darkness leak and become a separate lizard that crawled onto Gray's neck where it deflated to fake being his tattoo. "That way you can always keep tabs on him and if needed I can sever his neck."

"It's quite nice to have my very life in your hands so easily, right? No way I can betray you in any way. Not that such is even a thought. Betraying you would get me killed. You can have me in any way you want, Aria. I find this so very, very dangerous; and exciting." Gray smiled, licking his lips briefly at the thought, letting himself drop back to memories of his reckless younger self.

"I have you naked and tied to a table, all drugged and vulnerable. I already have your life in my hands." Aria growled with some exasperation. "You aren't supposed to be enjoying this."

"You do. And what an addicting feeling it is … I would love for you to experience this next time. It's fun. There was a promise about being tied down, right?" He grinned, rolling his head back as his half mast member began rising up. The warmth of Aria's skin against the tattoo lizard was too addicting to ignore, and as a damn connector it was quite overwhelming, in a nice way.

"Clearly enjoying it too much." Aria massaged her temples. "And clearly you don't even understand me. I am in a very hazardous position. There may be few holders and cards on this side of the mirror at the moment, but thanks to me that won't remain as such for long. My vial will keep filling again regardless of connector and the impulse of the game will continue once the country stabilizes, I have my notes to care for in more than one country and then there is Spades too. I can reshape reality and I will continue to do so, but … seriously. You can't even imagine. What would you do in my position, huh?"

Gray grinned. "I would take advantage of the handsome beauty in my grasp." Gray said with a small laugh, thinking his comment to be hilarious. "How can I not be thinking of you? You told me to be honest, and both my mind and body are being completely honest."

"So you want me to rape you. Ugg." She looked him over and saw he was indeed getting excited, probably partly thanks to the drug and partly thanks to the connector that was happily nesting on her chest. She almost wanted to facepalm.

"It would be entirely consensual so it would not be rape." Gray smiled. "A very nice start for a long relationship, right?"

She was ready to bang her head on a wall. "If I do you, will you leave me the fuck alone?" She asked, looking at a nearby convenient wall. "I honestly don't want anything to do with a stranger that impersonated my partner. I don't want anything to do with holders either."

"I wouldn't." He smiled. "And I doubt you would either. Aria, you can be very insidious."

"You already said it was not his fault. The memories infused into his mind were not on purpose by either party, therefore neither party can be faulted for such." Aegis chimed in. "Intercourse in any case is just an extra way to control him. Given that he needs intimate proximity to not fade away due to you having his connector, then it only gives you more leverage."

"That doesn't change the truth." She looked at Gray and placed her hand between his legs, almost touching his flesh. "Why wouldn't you? I can get some other connector and then you can go on with your stupid life and do whatever duties you need to do. Game over, so no false feelings for me."

"You would be gone but my emotions would remain the same. They are no longer just of your partner's feelings for you; they are mine as well, inseparable." Gray spoke with a deep blush on his face, lightly licking his lips again. "Don't think it would be a charity, Aria. I am not running from my emotions. I genuinely want to be with you. "

"DoUbLe FalSE. First, they are my partner's memories. And second, because in your case it's the game, holder." She grabbed his neck, ready to break it. "I repeat. If I fuck you now. Then will you leave me alone forever? I promise I won't outright kill you if you don't mess with me or my forces, just go away and leave me alone." Her grip tightened.

"But what about the promises you've made to me?" He asked, his breath trembling slightly as his body tensed up. "I made promises to you too. And since you are here and I am too, I need to fulfill them. Why don't you use me as humpable while I explain again why you can and should keep me?"

Aria rolled her eyes. "It wasn't you..."

"Regardless," Aegis purred. "His intent is clear and he is useful in many ways. It's more useful and logical to keep him alive and use him than to deal with the consequences of killing him. You could interrogate him with alternative means right now since he is quite sensitive. The table is sturdy and bolted down to the floor, so it would be fine. I would also serve to calm the itch that the connector causes you too."

"Why don't you let me help you? Untie me." Gray suggested and opened his mouth slightly with a happy blush on his face. "You seem tense. Riding me always helped you calm down." He offered with a genuine smile at the suggestion. "And I would need regular attention, so no way I can get away from you for long. So it's a pretty convenient partnership for both of us."

"You are tied down because you are a dangerous creature." She said quite dispassionately, getting tired of all before even starting deciding what she would do in the end with him. "You have a chance to get away from the game. Why aren't you taking it?"

"Because I want you to be happy as well." He smiled. "It's a win-win deal."

"I could squish you … and you know happiness is irrelevant in my case. No feelings and all that." Aria carelessly shrugged.

"I know. Which is why I want to give you the best perks possible by remaining by my side." Gray spoke with a startled breath. "If it's not happiness at least it can be convenient. Being an official couple is very useful to us both."

"Neither you nor I know how to be a proper couple." She randomly mentioned. "You are a damn assassin and I am a mercenary."

"You are far more by now in this world and I can be whatever is needed … so, why don't we vent out our frustrations? Could you move a little more, Aria?" Gray asked with a light flush on his face. "Preferently over me?"

"I guess I could, but I'm really not into this and I'm feeling quite lazy." She shrugged but she took a step right towards the bed.

"Can you untie me so I can make love to you?" Gray asked, looking up to her with hazy eyes. "We both need it."

"I could, but forget about love, just … fuck … and I'm not even sure on it." She rolled her eyes and snapped her fingers, making Aegis release him. She sighed. "You are aware that I'm just letting this happen because I'm still unsure if I really should or not keep you alive, right?"

"Which means I need to prove my skills to you." Gray smiled, sitting on the bed and then pulling her over, kissing her on the chin as he held her waist.

"I already know them … not impressed. All holders are more or less the same." She rolled her eyes and just shifted a bit to lay on the bed a bit more comfortably, clearly not willing to jump into the action.

"My circumstances were different than theirs. Even you must admit that." Gray brilliantly smiled as he moved over her and slowly held her with a firm hug. Careful to not startle her before she was less likely to rip his limbs off. "I consider those memories mine now, so I can use them to know how to massage your back or other little details that you can enjoy."

"You know the memories of my real partner. And we acted as if we were real partners for a while. Just that." She bit her tongue to not groan or to moan.

"Yes. And the memories have had a profound effect on my affection towards you." Gray smiled, gently kissing her neck.

"That's just the game. And even if it wasn't, then it still means nothing to me. Your feelings do not change the circumstances and reality of the situation."

"For me, nothing has really changed. I still hold affection towards you despite the circumstances. And I will remain useful for you for as long as I live." Gray earnestly smiled.

"And because of the game you are willing to tolerate me not even wanting anything to do with you at all." She sighed, trying to get into the mood and at least enjoy but it wasn't exactly working.

"I suppose so." He smiled, gently biting her skin on the neck and working it up to a nice plump red. "Am I not useful to you, Aria?"

"You can be easily replaced." She coldly answered, just leaning down and deciding if to just go or to let him continue.

"I didn't hear no~," Gray softly sang, kissing her earlobe. "I would like for you to fulfill your many, many promises to me." Gray smiled, sucking on his fingers before reaching down.

"And I would like to be dead and eventually I will … did you just use poison?" She however, felt the tingly sensation to be interesting and new.

"A small bit of paralysis. Now that my skills are being called into question, I need to perform at my very best." He smiled, nibbling on her ear. "I can now use more of my role's abilities. I'm not even sure by how much. There is the possibility of the other holders of this country also unlocking more of their role's abilities after Aegis burped all that mana, so keeping me here to deal with them makes me even more valuable."

Aria mumbled and then looked away, grabbing onto the bed to not grab him and then mumbled some unintelligible things on the mattress in exasperation.

Gray smiled leaning over her and licking her collarbone before kissing her neck "I think you're going to like what I do next."

"Physically at least my body might react, I suppose." With honesty to herself, she was getting maybe slightly excited.

"And you'll soon follow with your body." Gray smiled, "I don't plan on stopping until you are more than satisfied with my performance."

"So. I'll orgasm and you'll get some fun, and that's it. That is fine, isn't it?" Aria huffed, letting him touch her as he wished. "The other Gray never used that poison thing."

"I want so much more; but if that is what you desire, then I'll give you just that." He warmly smiled.

Aegis made the shadows move away from her attire. "He is useful for this entertainment. Maybe in other ways too. He can perhaps serve as personal assistant given that all other important jobs are already taken?" Aegis just said out of nowhere. "And as he said, he can deal with other holders, that alone is a primary function to consider."

"I am a very organized individual. Any paperwork you have, I can take care of in a timely manner." He spoke up, kissing her shoulder. "Any long term plans you have, I will be of use."

"I have an entire organization taking care of everything in that regard. You are a micromanager when it comes to paperwork … at least the other Gray is. You are an assassin that has little experience with paperwork." She waved her hand and a wave of darkness crawled over. "But … yes, dealing with the other holders directly to keep them away or at least at bay from me and my organization is valuable."

"Then I may be of use as a personal assistant to you?" He smiled against her skin. "I am also a good bodyguard."

"I don't exactly want you messing in my business." She huffed, wiggling. "But protecting my interest is important and I won't risk my notes without reason."

"Then I will only mess with your personal business." Gray suggested as he rested his head on her chest. "I can take care of protecting assets."

"All my business is personal. Or rather there is nothing personal anymore and all is business. Anyways, I don't want a holder messing around my plans." She groaned again, but she began relaxing.

"I have no intention of messing with your plans, Aria. I only want to please you." She had his connector but unless she really accepted it, it would be violating the rules. He had to have some duty, if that was in some way helping and protecting this wonderful woman then that was for the better, even if it also meant keeping on his old job as needed. It wasn't bad. In fact, it suited him.

Aria, with a questioning gaze, glanced at him over her shoulder. "Even if my plans affect the world in ways that would prompt a reaction from your role … or any role for that matter? That sickly worm we found here at the station apparently just got a big push of mana and hit puberty."

"Oh, did he?" Gray considered that the big burst of mana was probably affecting all of Diamond. "And do you have plans for him?"

"It was decided he'll be used to stop the nightmare from the other side of the mirror from interfering. So he will be properly trained and modified as needed. It would be useful if he could be the one interfering on the other side of the mirror as my other notes remain there. I have a promise extracted by his role, so he is under control. It will be an interesting test subject."

Gray once more realized that she only saw her notes as people, her people, they were probably the ones that managed to stop her from ending herself … for now. Meanwhile, holders entered in categories like 'things', 'resources' and 'enemies'. He frowned.

"Aegis went to deliver a message. They mess with me or my notes and we shall devour them. Very literally, actually." She growled, her eyes gaining a red shade for a split second before the darkness flickered her forehead to have her refocus on the present.

"Oh yes, I saw Aegis's big dragon form." Gray remembered Aria fighting the Jabberwock too. She could do it. She could really destroy them all and if pushed enough, she would.

"Stupid world." She seemed to have calmed down somewhat. "At least for now only a few holders are alive. That silk worm, the hatter … that copy of my real partner, king popsicle and that black bunny … and you. No one else seems to have been brought back or repaired, yet."

Gray relaxed as best as he could. "If the world was a living entity, then perhaps you could bring your complaints to him or her." Gray smiled as he began undressing, ready to distract her from considering other holders. "But it is not, and cannot give promises."

She rolled her eyes. "You'd be surprised. I made a deal with this world and this world made a deal with me." She huffed, looking away. "At this point I am the thing able to manage and reshape this world. And I will change what I need and want … or do you plan to actually kill me?" She narrowed her eyes, and once more tried moving away, but he held her tight. "This world already cheated me of my death multiple times."

"I want what was promised to me." He frowned, leaning over her and hugging her against him. "I would like to talk as well and reach an agreement."

"It was a fantasy play. Nothing more." She hissed, leaning her hand on the bed and pushing away, trying to gain distance. "Not even I am getting what I want. The fucking game and this world is a scam. And there is little else to talk about. I already offered you a deal."

"I suppose it is - but you gave your word." Gray said, just keeping her there. "I have every interest in keeping you alive and well. That will keep me alive and well as well. "

"Keeping me alive is contrary to my own interests." She sucked in a fast breath, deciding if she should cut him down or not. "Why don't I keep you alive until I really plan to die? Then I make you kill me, assassin."

"If that is what it takes to be with you, then very well." Gray smiled. She had spoken trying to provoke him, but perhaps by being with her, he could coax her into not wanting to die. Maybe.

"Huh?" Aria looked at him dumbfounded.

"I accept your offer." Gray smiled, kissing her on the cheek. "I just hope you don't have plans to end yourself too soon."

"What?" She had trouble understanding.

The little blob of darkness came out once again and became a kitten. "Excellent. Sounds like a good deal." Aegis nodded and then melted to form a hand that grabbed and shocked Gray's. "We take all. The personal assistant, stress reliever, and assassin … and anything else of use, like deterrent of other holders and daily bed warmer. All and everything mentioned."

"Wu…wai..!" Aria began but couldn't finish due to a fast peek kiss.

"I agree to the deal. Please keep this promise." Gray smiled, kissing her on the nose.

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MWMWMWMWMWMWMWMWMWMWMWMWMWMWMWMWMWMWMW

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THE END. It took a long time to finish did but finished it is and Ill finish the other ones...eventually.

What do you think? liked it? hated it? You thought it would go some other way?