Spades and Angels

To Play Devil's Advocate...

Lolita

When I wake up I'm alone. I was sure Mads had been there when... we fell asleep together, but when I woke up I was alone. Something I find out when I reach across to where I know he'd been but find only warm, empty space. "M-Mads?" I call out softly into the open motel room, hearing movement inside the bathroom. "Mads, are you there?"

"Hey, sorry, I didn't want to wake you," Mads comes out of the bathroom with his phone and a glass of water in the other. He hands it to me when he sits on the empty side of the bed, opening his arms to me so I can cuddle up to him like before. "Are you doing ok?"

"Mhmm," I take a sip of water and rest my head on his shoulder, nodding. "Just tired and a little sore. Though now I think about it - and have had some sleep too - I am worried too. How are we supposed to fix this? I-I know Connor will come after you. You and Riv just for helping me. I can't...I can't see either of you getting hurt on my account." I sigh then, hearing him echo the sound. "It's bad, isn't it?"

"I won't lie it's not great but we're not as screwed as you think" Oddly Mads sounds optimistic and I frown then, taking another sip of water. "I got a call from Ash when you were asleep and kind of had to come clean about a lot of shit I'd been doing with and for you." My eyes widen then and he seems to see that when he shakes his head. "It's ok he wasn't mad, not like I expected. Even more so when I explained what I'd been doing and why. He also wasn't mad at Riv which makes me feel better too since I dragged her into this by asking her about you." He pauses for a second. "He was pretty okay with all of it somehow, not what I expected. Said he'd want to talk to the two of us in a week when we go back."

"A week?" I ask with a curious tone, "And go back where? I can't go home, they'll come after me. Where do you propose I go?"

"That's what I wanted to ask you," Now Mads sounds nervous, and worried in a way that I don't hear often from him unless it's to ask something he thinks I'll be mad about. "Remember what Riv said about me having to ask you something?" I nod, sitting up a little to better focus on him and the conversation. "I was going to ask you something but I needed to check with Ash as well if he'd shut me down on it." He rambles on in a way my distracted brain finds oddly cute but not helpful.

"Focus please, I'd like to know what you want to ask me," I smile, seeing him roll his eyes and mumble something I can't hear in Spanish that sounds a lot like something about finding patience and I laugh. "Please, I'm curious. Plus it is about me and you...you said you wouldn't lie. Right?"

"Of course, I won't lie anymore. I promise that I just wanted to make sure I wasn't going to tip off that sassy spitfire rage you seem to have in spades." I laugh then and wait, eyes on the wall where our hands end up joining all by themselves. "I wanted to ask you if you wanted to join me. Where you'd be safe."

"Join you? Join you, how Mads? It's not possible." I sigh when I say that, part of me wishes desperately that it was. "I'm in the Spades for life Mads. Or at least as much as I have left assuming they don't blacklist me like they did Riv for being a traitor." I shiver then, feeling him hold me closer. Tighter than before. "It's no use. There's no way out."

"Maybe there is," he gives me a look and I frown in response. "I asked Ash if he could do for you what we're doing with Riv. The difference is you wouldn't have to wait as she is since you are of age." He pauses then and I frown deeper. Taking a breath, Mads finishes his explanation. "Riv was a Spade, temporarily I know but still, she was a Spade. When she left she came to us as you know. But in doing so, and with her sister's inclusion as well it granted her protection from the Angels. Her sister's involvement means she's able to join us officially when she turns sixteen. Allowing her to change from being a Spade to an Angel." Another pause, another look. "Lo I asked Ash if there was a chance you could do the same thing. Become one of us and part of our family."