A puff of smoke drifted from Tyrant's mouth, a new addition to the family that had already filled the room. He leaned back against Antithesis's bare chest, putting out the blunt in a green ashtray.

"Pure shit, that be," he mumbled. His voice had dropped about an octave since he smoked the first of his four blunts.

"You can tell…?" He'd been a little more conservative in his smoking, only having two joints thus far. Still, he could tell that his eyes were bloodshot, his mind had detached from his head, and the unicorn sipping tea over there was going to get his ass beat later.

"Yeah. I got high real quick. And is a...just a nice high, ya know?"

"Bro…I dunno what the fuck you just said…"

"Bruh, me too, though…" He grabbed a can of light beer from nearby and drank heartily. When he finished, he tossed it in the general direction of about six other cans, and a loud belch burst from his throat. "But…!"

"But?"

"But…"

"What…?"

Tyrant paused. "I…I dunno…"

"Me too."

"Oh, fuck, I got it! I know…that your face…is a good face."

"Yours too, babe…"

"Love you, baby…"

He tilted his head back, and the duo kissed sweetly, albeit a tad messily. Following the ordeal at Chemikals' base, Antithesis had showered, and Tyrant had decided to celebrate their successful escape with premium-grade marijuana. Antithesis had been around others who had smoked it before, but he himself had never smoked it. It was pretty nice, all pleasuring and shit. But he didn't know if he wanted to do it more than a few times a year. Smoking felt like shit. He'd be sure to warn little children about its dangers, but only after he killed the unicorn.

"Yo, kiss me a little more," Tyrant said. "You taste nice…"

Antithesis complied, pressing another messy kiss to Tyrant's lips.

"What do I taste like?"

"Niceness…"

"Cool…"

"Oh...by the way...you...I have something for you…"

"What?"

Tyrant turned around and hugged him. "That. That's for you."

"Ah, so sweet. You're beautiful, Tyrant." He kissed his cheek.

"Know what you should do?"

"What?"

"Get me another blunt."


And so they smoked, as well as drank, but as all fun times do, they ended in sleep. Sex had been suggested and attempted prior to, but not long after removing their clothes did the duo fall asleep, Tyrant atop Antithesis.

For awhile they slept, until midway through the morning some bangs sounded on the front door. It was Antithesis who awoke first, a pounding in his head louder than what persisted outside He nudged Tyrant off of him; he didn't stir in the slightest. Clad only in boxers, Antithesis made his way to the door.

"What?" he grumbled.

"Open the door," a voice ordered outside.

"Who for?"

"We're from Pits. We've been sent to retrieve the one called 'Antithesis' from this location."

His eyes widened. "What for?"

"Just open the fuckin' door!" another voice shouted.

Footsteps sounded behind him. "The fuck's screaming?" Tyrant stood by his side, looking more like a wreck than usual.

"People at the door."

Tyrant widened his eyes, and instantly he darted back to his bedroom. When he came back, he charged for the door, something resembling a spear in his hand. An outside force kicked the door open, and instantly Tyrant tossed the spear. It landed right beside the man who had kicked it open.

"What the fuck are you doing?!" Tyrant shouted at them.

"What the fuck are you doing?" the man asked. Both were dressed in a black military-style uniform, upon which a red R rested.

"That's just the way he is," the other said. "Tyrant, leader of Aethan District. And Antithesis, his...lover, I assume."

"What are you here for?" Antithesis asked.

"You. We've special orders from the Rounds to bring you here."

"You mean…?"

"That's right. You've been inducted into the Turnir Rounds."

"Why the fuck did he get inducted?" Tyrant hissed. "He hasn't done anything wrong!"

"No, he has. Associating with you and your self-righteous 'drug raids' from the Chemikals facility. You can't talk your way out of this, Tyrant. We have the footage. Even if you kill us, more will come."

"Why him and not me?"

"Our current leader, Beguiler, denied taking you because of your position as district leader."

"But that has no effect on qualifications for induction."

"He also said that you were too famous."

Tyrant narrowed his eyes. "That fucking bastard…he just wants someone new to make shit interesting?"

"Based on what we were told, yes. He does. We were told to take Antithesis with us after he'd rid himself of all unfair advantages. You'll get a few minutes to do so, and if you do not comply, then we will take you by force."

"Bullshit, you'll take him!" Tyrant spat.

"I'll go."

"What?!"

"Just give me a moment so I can say goodbye to him." He nodded to Tyrant.

"Understood," the more bitter of the guards muttered.

The door closed, and instantly Tyrant unleashed a torrent.

"What the fuck are you thinking?! They're not just a game, Antithesis! You can and probably will die! It's rigged and brutal and you will die!"

"So you don't have any faith in my abilities?" Antithesis asked.

"I'm worried for you! I don't want you to die, Antithesis!"

"I won't die, Tyrant. There's no point in trying to avoid this. I'm going to be forced into this either way. You don't need to come with me. I don't want you to, either."

"Antithesis—!"

In a burst of sympathy and affection previously unknown to him, Antithesis wrapped his arms around Tyrant. He placed Tyrant's head on his shoulder and hugged him tightly. "Calm down. You'll be fine."

"Fuck you," he spat, though Antithesis could hear the tears bubble in his voice. He embraced Antithesis tightly, burying his face in his shoulder. "You're inconsiderate and a fucking idiot…"

Antithesis couldn't help but chuckle at the former. His heart did burn within him, deeply sickened by the knowledge that he'd be leaving Tyrant, possibly forever. His fingers combed through his—surprisingly soft and untangled—hair. It had to have been worse for Tyrant. He was in love with Antithesis, after all. Antithesis didn't know if he'd call it love, but he did have some feelings for Tyrant.

He cupped Tyrant's cheek and brought their foreheads together. Tyrant didn't meet his eyes, instead staring off to the side. Hot tears poured from his eyes, now bloodshot. Antithesis pressed a kiss to Tyrant's nose, then to his lips. Tyrant felt like a little child in his arms.

"I'm sorry," Antithesis murmured. "I'll miss you, Tyrant."

"I'll kill you if you don't come back…" he mumbled.

Antithesis chuckled. Lord, he was going to miss this.