Draw, Spades.

CHAPTER 2

Just as quickly as sleep had come to him, Spades woke up. This is to say, not quickly at all. The stoic man mumbled quietly in his sleep, predictably, about Snowman. "I'd do it if I could. But I'm afraid it's too late for that."

"Too late for what, boss?" The voice of Clubs cut through his dream, waking him abruptly, his shrill voice clashing painfully against the elegance of the image of Snowman his mind had created. "God damnit, Deuce!" Spades snapped loudly at the midget of a character. "What did I say about coming into my room without knocking?" Clubs seemed to think for a second. "Eh, I'm not too sure myself. Something about stabbing probably though. You always say you'll stab me when you get mad."

Spades gave a hefty sigh. "No, I don't. Fuck it, whatever. I'll write it on the door for you. Then you might actually think before bursting in." Clubs beamed up at the taller figure. "Eh, that's an idea! Can I decorate our doors later, boss? If I just put symbols on all the doors, we'd never forget what they're all-" He was quickly interrupted by Spades. "No, Clubs. No symbols. No decorating. And stop fucking smiling. You're ruining my mood."

"But, boss, if I could just-"

"OUT NOW, CLUBS." The midget quickly fled the room, whimpering in response. Spades scoffed as he slammed the door. "Useless fucking droll." He cupped his face in his hands, wondering how much the runt had heard him say. He thought himself lucky, considering the fact that anything he had heard he had probably forgotten by this point. "Useless. Fucking. Droll." He repeated, out of frustration with the world. His mind began to wander, again thinking about the mission he would face in a few hours. His train of thought was quickly cut short by the sound of a knock on his door.

"If it's Clubs, fuck off. I already told you-"

"It's not Clubs." The new voice was more sensible, and Spades recognised it right away. "What is it that you want, Diamonds?"

"I just saw Clubs, and he was lookin' a li'l under the weather. I was guessin' ya might be a tad mad. Ya wanna talk about it?" He wasn't one for having emotional talks, but he guessed a pep talk would be nice right now. The thought of seeing Snowman soon was making him feel stressed, and a little bit nauseous. "Sure, whatever. If it'll keep you happy."

Diamonds quietly opened the door behind him, and closed it just as calmly, walking over and sitting himself next to Spades on the bed. "What's buggin' ya, huh?" Spades sighed angrily. "That fucking incompetent child. He's intolerable, I-"

"What's really buggin' ya Spades. I know it ain't Clubs." Spades glared at him for a second, and Diamonds responded by raising his eyebrows as if egging him on. "It's... The mission." This wasn't entirely false, so it didn't take much to convince Diamonds.

"We're all feelin' a li'l stressed out about that, I think. Don't think about it boss, we'll be needin' somebody with a level head."

"Yeah, fine. I'll try," he grumbled. Diamonds went to stand up to leave, before slowly turning back to Spades. "But that ain't all, i'nit?" Spades snarled at his comrade's persistence. "The fuck do you mean by that?"

"I don't mean nothin', ya just seemed a bit glad to see me leaving. I know better than ta be content seein' ya glad. Nothin' good ever comes of it." Spades started to get nervous, but he was determined not to let it show. Not in any way that could sabotage the mission at least.

"It's Snowman. It's gonna be a difficult battle with her around, what with not being allowed to harm her and all that." Diamonds nodded in agreement, accepting this part of the truth and Spades mentally sighed in relief. "I know Spades. It's been hard for ya ever since the last attack. But that's all in the past, ya know? Everythin's all fine now. Just come out when ya ready and we'll all prepare together." Spades nodded, being careful not to reveal anything more to Diamonds.