#he did deserve it tho for trying to hurt soona

[violeteclipseboaty]

SPOILER Meme for Kingdom

Proximus Caesar after Mae shot that ape:

Dude has priorities, screw that ape that just died 😆

[rhodochrosite-love]

Devil’s Guilt pt. 2

Words: a lot

Pairing: slight Dice/Ace

Tags: little swear, tough times, tension, close calls

The next few months after were a special kind of hell, chock full of an uneasiness not meant for the innocent world. Lucky for Ace, this was Hell itself. As the days went on, the more guilt he felt. The more he saw his brothers, the guilt would breed and multiply in the darkest corners of his mind. The fear that came from the guilt, however, was worse.

As Ace sat on his bunk in his part of the house, he stroked the soft material of his dress shirt that lay on the sheets. A forlorn expression laid across his features as he procrastinated, what am I goin’ ta do? Ace thought. It’s been months since I’ve talked ta boss, and I know he’s suspectin’ me… What’s a guy ta do? The boy sighed and finally reached for the shirt and rolled his arms into the sleeves, preparing to button it when the door swung open.

“Whadda wallop those kids gave me!” Said the other man, stretching his arms like they’d pop out if he stopped for a second. Ace looked him up and down; the man’s hair, like Ace’s, was light and fluffy at the ends, but seemed more ruffled. There were a few cuts on his cheek, but it looked like he once had more. The goatee on his chin signified the other man’s stance as older, while his eyes said the exact opposite. Ace chuckled, “Ya probably deserve it, Mae. Who KNOWS what goes on in that head’a yours.” A little smile planted itself on the boy’s face, but quickly dropped when he turned away.

Maestro was one of Ace’s older brothers, the second oldest. While Ace was the softer of the 4, Maestro often proved to be the exact opposite. Bruises were always evident on Maestro’s body, and now cuts since they entered the casino business. Maestro plopped down on a bed and rubbed the gauges in his ears, then tapped the diamond earrings as if to assure himself that they were still there. He leaned down to reach his hand under the bed to grab a first aid kit, open it, and take out the mirror that lay inside. Maestro held it up to his face and ran his finger across his parted lips, eyeing the chipped tooth near the front of his mouth. “Damn!” The man said with a hint of frustration, “those scrubs got me pretty good! I mean, I know they got Doyen, but those kids sure can run ‘n’ gun!” He set the mirror down and got out the small roll of bandage to start wrapping his wrist.

For the past few months, these two kids got their souls snatched by the Devil. Thing is, not everyone comes back from that, but these two fellas started collecting contracts and fighting for their souls. To Ace, it seemed so familiar, for the 4 of them had done that, once upon a time. “Hey, speakin’ a’ which, you seen Doyen anywhere? I reckon he’s gotta SHIT ton a’ scrapes from his fight. I checked ‘is table, but he ain’t nowhere… “ Maestro broke the silence once again, breaking Ace from his thoughts. The younger brother responded, “Naw, I haven’t seem ‘im. Must be hurtin’ tho, from that beatdown… Must’ve been fun, huh?” Ace looked back to his vest and dusted it off, then slipping that around his waist and slowly buttoning it.

Maestro looked up at his brother quizzically, “‘Ey, what’s wit’ you? You don’t gotcha mind in the’ gutta, do ya?” Ace shook his head and chuckled softly, “No, no. Just thinkin’, is all.” “About th’boss, amiright?” The younger boy tensed up at the thought of his boss, without recognizing Maestro’s flirtatious meaning behind it. Oh god, do I tell ‘em now? What would he think? Oh god, I- “‘cuz I gotta admit, you spend a lotta time wit’ that guy. It’s gettin’ weird.” Maestro looked around, thoughts running through his head. Suddenly, a thought struck his mind, and Ace knew the exact one.

When the boy turned around, Maestro was already standing up, a worried expression laid across his face. Ace looked at him with a fake smile, “I don’t think it’s… SO weird, y’know? Isn’t- Isn’t it natural for two people ta get along?” Maestro inspected his brother with an uneasiness in his stomach, and pointed his finger, “‘ey, are you, you an’ him-” He clenched his other hand into a fist, his tongue tracing his lips for a quick moment, “-are you an’ him pitchin’ woo? I hope ya rememba’, what we all went through togetha’, an’ if you’re in kahoots with-” Maestro pointed to the door, signalling the outside world. “-THAT guy, then you’ve gotta whole other thing comin’-” “Speakin’ a’ Dice, ah… We have ta talk.”

This stopped his big brother in his tracks, and made him start his habit of clenching and unclenching his hands. Oh, jesus christ, not this shit again, thought Ace, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. Maestro was quieter now, his eyes set on his brother after riling himself up. Ace sighed and continued, “I… I don’t know if I… can do this anymore.” He looked to Maestro, who nodded at him to keep going. Ace sighed a second time, “I can’t keep up with you guys, y’know? I’m just, so sick, of bein’ on my knees and beggin’ for scraps. I wanna do somethin’, be somethin’...” Ace finally looked up again at his brother’s face, and said with the most seriousness he’s ever had, “If I have...ta let ya’ll go, well… “ He trailed off.

Maestro’s eyes widened, his breath hitching. His brow furrowed after a few seconds of fist clenching, and when he spoke, his voice was loud and furious, “SO YOU'RE JUST GONNA DROP US, JUS’ LIKE THAT?!” The older man was trying so hard to search his brother’s eyes for a hint of a joke, but when he found none, he took a step forward. Ace saw this, and did nothing. He had expected this out of Maestro… he was the rowdiest, after all. “Mae-” “NO! DON’T YOU ‘MAE’ ME! DON’T YOU REALIZE WHAT YA JUS’ SAID??” Ace turned to look away, knowing this would happen. There was nothing Ace could say, or do, to fix what he just did. Tears stained the corners of his eyes as another man entered the room, “‘Ey, what’s wit’ th’shoutin’?”

Champ, Ace’s third eldest brother, strolled into the room at the worst, most absolutely terrible time. His tired eye, the unbandaged one, looked between his younger brother and older brother, an eyebrow raised in suspicion. Maestro shrugged his shoulders and scoffed, walking in circles now, “I knew it. I KNEW it! There was ALWAYS gonna be a traita’ in our lil’ hug fest soona’ or later!” Champ looked to Ace now, confusion littering his eyes, “what didja do, Ace?” Champ asked softly. “I’LL tell ya what ‘e did!” Maestro finally turned to his brothers and pointed a finger at Ace specifically, “HE’S STEPPIN’ AWAY! LEAVIN’ US IN THE DARK! He cares too much about the damned boss than the rest of us!” “Well, do I got much choice?! You’re all mopin’ and so damned miserable that not even I can fix your sorry asses!” Ace shouted back, his voice cracking while his tears started to spill.

Champ’s gloved hand covered his mouth in shock, now believing his younger brother. Maestro huffed and looked over his brother for moment, and began to open his mouth- “I can’t HELP but like this place more than you! ‘Spite rememb’rin’ all we’ve been through, I wanna move on!” Tears stained Ace’s cheeks, but there were more in Champ’s eyes. Ace pounded on his own chest and continued, “My heart hurts, Maestro! I don’t know how much I can take this anymore! I don’t know how long it’ll be before I end my own goddamn LIFE ‘cause of this mis’ry!” Ace’s voice wavered and cracked as he wiped the snot from his nose, “Surely, you’d want me alive n’ happy somewhere, then dead ‘n a ditch…?”

The elder brother looked to the floor, then Ace. If any of them touched any part of Maestro’s body, especially his face, it would be as hot as magma in a skillet. Maestro shivered and growled inhumanly, “get out… “ “W-what?” Uttered Champ, shaking in his shoes. “I sAID GET OUT!” Screamed Maestro, his knuckles white now. As Ace stepped back, Maestro stepped forward, waving his fist in front of him. “And don’tchu EVER, EVER LET ME SEE YOUR FACE IN HERE AGAIN, YOU HEAR ME?” The elder brother’s vision went red, and Ace flung his hands up in front of his own face, flinching as the fist came down, expecting it to land on him.

After a moment of caution, Ace looked up at his hands and was surprised to find no marks. What…? He looked over to his brother, whose fist was enclosed in another’s hand. When Ace tilted his head, he saw his oldest brother, Doyen, with a bandaged wrapped firmly around his crown and his poofy pompadour split in two. He must’ve been listenin’ from outside... The youngest brother shook in fear as Doyen shoved Maestro’s fist away and say some incomprehensible gibberish to his brothers. Ace couldn’t hear a word, he was so shook with fear. After a second of panting dissociation, he heard his name sounded by a deep voice.

“Ace.” Doyen spoke, his hand on the open door. The youngest brother looked between the panic-stricken Champ, the raging Maestro, and finally on Doyen. His oldest brother was usually the strongest, most stoic of the bunch. He always made things better, and gave them hope… This, however, was not the case. When Doyen looked at Ace, he saw nothing but loss. Ace shivered, and walked toward the door, silently and slowly. He didn’t dare look back. Not once.

After a minute or so of walking about, Ace finally tucked in his tie, buttoned up his shirt, and clasped together his vest. He made his way to the bar, stiffly ordering a strong whiskey, and downing it in one go. The people around him buzzed with excitement, alcohol in their veins and risking their lives like it isn’t theirs to risk. When Ace looked around, all he could see were suckers. A pang of guilt hit him in the heart, If a ditch it is… a ditch it’ll be. He ordered one more whiskey, making that 2, and drank.

“Feelin’ low, Hearts?” Dice said, out of nowhere. The tall man leaned himself on the wood counter, eyeing his employee curiously. Ace only nodded, “I did it, boss.” “Did what?” Dice replied, catching a serious glare from Ace. The manager looked at him for a moment before chuckling softly, “sorry, Hearts. I was only teasin’ ya… But maybe that’s not what you want right now. Amiright?” Ace sighed, but then that sigh turned heavier, and then into fits of sobs. The boy covered his head to shield himself from his bosses prying eyes, his body shivering and emitting soft hiccups.

“Oh, Hearts,” said Dice, “Don’t you cry, you’re betta than that! In fact…” The man pulled out a white hankey from his coat pocket and nudged it to Ace, who quietly took it and wiped his eyes. “Why don’t you prove it to ‘em? I seen them two boys come in here with the intent to knab their souls back, and I gotta plan to make ‘em regret ever comin’...” Ace looked up at Dice, what’s he on about? “You’re whacky, boss,” he sniffed, “Those brats walloped my brotha’s, ya think I can do any damage to ‘em?” “I do.” Said Dice, “Y’know why I think so? Because you’re more capable than all y’brotha’s combined, y’got that? Ain’t nobody can touch you.”

For the past few months since the two had spoken, Dice had found himself becoming more accustomed to Ace. His mannerisms, his diction, his point of view… It was all so fascinating to Dice. Because it was so familiar. Running away from something that made him feel so lost was so real for Dice, and while Ace has him, Dice never had anybody. “Tell y’what--You help me finish off those boys and I’ll give ya someplace to stay. I imagine those brotha’s ‘a yours won’t letcha stay with them no more, right?” Ace nodded in response, rising from his seat and wiping away any remaining tears. Dice held out his hand, “Come with me, and you’ll finally get your freedom.”

This time, Ace had no problem reaching for his hand. What did he have to lose?