"I don't like it, but my hands are tied. I just want you to know this: if I ever get the chance to betray you, I will. If the opportunity arises to pay you back, I'll take it. You'll never be able to trust me."
― Darren Shan

Tommy enters through the lobby of the guildhall. One of the few secretaries still on duty on festival day looks up at him, but she quickly looks back down when she notices his expression. Tommy doesn't pay attention to her as he marches through the large first floor. He enters the elevator, slamming his hand against the button that will take him to the highest floor. The doors slide shut, but it takes a few moments to scan and identify Tommy for the elevator to start lifting up. Tommy lifts the dagger up, placing the blade in his hand. He waits impatiently for the elevator to deposit him on the closest accessible floor. He twists the dagger, grazing his skin with the fine edge.

When the doors open, Tommy turns down the hall. He pushes open the door to the stairwell. He starts climbing the stairs, the only direction upward or back into the hall. He keeps his dagger firmly beside him. He logically knows that only XD and his assistants will be using this stairwell. He won't find any threats that need to be taken care of but holding the dagger reassures him. If something were to happen, Tommy is far more prepared than his opponent would be. Tommy has to be. The chestplate and helmet he's wearing aren't real metal, and he doesn't have any extra protective gear on. The dagger is his one offense and defense in these twisting halls.

Going up another time will lead Tommy to the roof, so he pushes through the door of the second-to-last landing. Tommy steps into a hallway designed with muted colors and portraits of famous heroes and administrative workers in the Hero's Guild's history. Tommy has glared at these people enough in his lifetime, so he ignores them all as he barrels through the hallway. The security cameras swivel at his movement. Whoever is watching them- if anyone is- will definitely be in for a sight. Tommy wonders how villainous he looks with his purposeful strides and dagger at his side. He has never looked like a hero, but he imagines it is far worse right now since no one will be able to identify him without his uniform.

Tommy nearly breaks down the door at the end of the hall. He thought it would be locked, and he's proven wrong when he stumbles into XD's reception room. As Tommy catches his bearings, he looks around the room. Not much has changed since the last time Tommy was here. There are four desks in each corner of the room, the immediate area decorated to accommodate whichever assistant works there. A waiting area with a couch and chairs is in the middle back of the room, each item facing the large window that makes up the entire far wall, some more directly than others. The window reveals the fading evening turning into approaching twilight. A handful of stars are dimly twinkling and the moon seems to be rising, but the sky is dominated by the light of the fireworks. They sound like gunshots in the distance even when the colors are so luminous they bathe the entire reception room into the responding color.

"Theseus," A voice calls behind Tommy. The blonde whirls around, bringing his dagger up. The fireworks must have exploded into a red light because Minotaur is washed in a bloody color for a brief moment. It is enough to set off every alarm bell in his head. He wears a black metal chestplate with a low, v-neck, revealing a hairy chest. He doesn't wear pants or shoes, letting his goat hooves tap against the ground. His yellow eyes with square pupils shine in the cut holes of the red ribbon around his face, the ends falling over the curved horns on his head. His signature whip is wrapped around his waist, but Tommy knows how quickly the whip can thrash an opponent.

Minotaur steps into the reception room. He uses his hoof to close the door behind him. The door slams shut with a booming noise that causes Tommy to become aware of how his hands were shaking. It was minute, but if Tommy noticed it, Minotaur surely did. He must have since his lips were turning up into a smile. A crooked, evil smile that makes Tommy feel like he's in a cage. Or a labyrinth.

"It's Theseus, right? Your costume?" Minotaur continues, gesturing towards Tommy with his blackened claws. Tommy looks down at himself. He didn't bother changing out of his costume. He didn't think it was important. The light of the firework washes across the golden threads around his arms. "I'm familiar with the story. The great Theseus goes into Daedeleus' labyrinth to slay the Minotaur and save his people. A moving story of heroics, isn't it? The Ancient Builders knew how to tell a dramatic tale."

"Stay back," Tommy demands, lifting the dagger up more as a means of intimidating Minotaur. The villain doesn't seem very intimidated. Instead of moving back, he takes a step forward and raises his hands as if that could placate Tommy.

"Relax. You have nothing to worry about. Theseus defeated the Minotaur in the story, didn't he?" The esper says with an amused smile rising to his face. Tommy hesitates. Theseus defeated the Minotaur once. Vendetta was able to defeat Minotaur once. There was never a sequel because the Minotaur stayed dead for Theseus. Tommy has to deal with Minotaur brought back to life, and he wonders if Theseus would be as terrified as Tommy is. "In any case, there's no need for threats. We're on the same side."

"I will never be on the same fucking side as you," Tommy growls. He can only think about all of the horrible things Minotaur did. Even for a villain, Minotaur was particularly nasty. He killed his political opponents. He leveraged blackmail on anyone powerful in L'Manberg. He was single handedly responsible for the financial crisis and economic corruption. Everyone underneath him lived in fear, and not just of him, either. Minotaur didn't allow heroes or Moderators to stick their nose too far into his business. Enforcers and members of the other guilds, like the Merchant's Guild, weren't even allowed in L'Manberg. He cut off the entire borough, uncaring that his people were suffering for it. All of this ended only when parts of L'Manberg had been blown sky-high, causing everyone to flee the few areas that remained intact. At least the bombing wasn't Minotaur's fault, but Tommy highly doubts Minotaur didn't have a hand in it. He probably pissed Azrael and Inchling off, and Tommy suffered for it. Minotaur's own son died because of it.

Minotaur hums contemplatively, bringing his hands back down to his side. He looks unbothered as he looks out the window. The light of the fireworks makes it seem like his yellow eyes are glowing in the dimness of the reception room. "That might be true. I have something personal to settle with you. And you are working with Croupier, someone I have an even bigger score to settle with."

Tommy winces. Croupier doesn't talk about his past often. He talks about it even less than Tommy talks about the happy memories surrounding his family. But 'not often' does not mean 'never.' The first time Tommy came to Las Nevadas after putting Minotaur in jail, Croupier officially signed a contract of allyship with Tommy. He gave Tommy harder missions, but he also let Tommy reap better rewards. A few months in, Croupier asked what it was like fighting Minotaur. After Tommy mentioned that he doesn't really remember- it was just blood and fighting spirit and pain- Croupier started looking at Tommy differently. Just a few days later, they found Charlie, and Croupier treated them both very similarly as their teacher and something like... well, Tommy was reading too much into it. Tommy just does some odd jobs and then get information.

"Your business with Croupier has fuck-all to do with me," Tommy answers. If Croupier asked him to, Tommy would join the task force against Minotaur, but that isn't because Tommy cares about Croupier. It is purely because he wants to put Minotaur back in prison- any form of incarceration- and it would be better to do it with the Dealer and his Aces. Though, he suspects that Charlie will become upset when he realizes that the Minotaur from his bedtime stories is the same one they're going to fight. Tommy will probably be stuck with babysitting duty to make sure Charlie doesn't tear apart the island for the slight against his 'family.'

"Of course it doesn't," Minotaur agrees with a sinister smile. He takes more steps forward until he isn't that far away from Tommy. The blonde stiffens, preparing for a fight even though Minotaur looks completely relaxed. "We could never be on the same side because you're a little spy for the Syndicate, and unlike you, I actually despise them."

"Fuck off, Minotaur. I'm not a spy for the fucking Syndicate," Tommy glares at the villain, deciding that it is better to feel angry that scared. He can be terrified when Minotaur isn't in the room with him. He's going to be angry right now. This is good practice for when he crosses paths with Reverie again.

Minotaur has the audacity to laugh. It is a pitched, cackling thing that feels like thousands of writhing bugs crawling over Tommy's skin. "I already know all about your alliance with the villain group, so there is no need to waste your breath denying it."

"I'm not a fucking spy," Tommy reiterates. He may be temporarily working for the Syndicate, but he isn't feeding them information about the guild. He would never do that. He may not be friends with anyone in the guild, but he doesn't wish for them to die, especially not by the Syndicate's clutches. His family was torn apart by that organization; he refuses to let any other family fall apart because of them.

"While that may be true, it doesn't really matter, does it? The guild will believe you're a spy no matter what evidence is or isn't presented," Minotaur concedes with a slow nod. "Everything you worked for will go down the fucking drain."

"Why are you telling me any of this?" Tommy questions, shuffling back a half-step in blatant confusion. He doesn't understand why Minotaur is revealing his hand.

"I need a servant, and I knew you wouldn't work with me otherwise," Minotaur states like a merchant droning on about business. It is unnerving but ultimately true. Minotaur continues, looking Tommy up and down with an appraising eye. "There is value in your determination and skill. You just need someone to cultivate that raw power. XD won't do it. That bitch Croupier definitely won't. You need someone like me."

"I don't want to be anyone's fucking slave, least of all yours," Tommy says, but he already knows the way this conversation is going to go. Tommy wasn't careful enough. Someone found out he was working with the Syndicate, and Minotaur was able to buy that information. Tommy could find out which prison guard was a little too loose-lipped, but what would be the point? Minotaur already knows. Tommy is stuck in this situation until he can come up with an alibi or bring forth proof that absolves him. If he has something, anything, they will believe his word over Minotaur's. They have to. Tommy has been a rather faithful hero for years, and Minotaur is a villain on parole.

"I'm not giving you a choice. You are going to help me defeat the Red Army. I'm sure you've already been working on it, so I'll leave the brunt of the work to you. After that's done, I'll need you to do a few favors for me. Nothing too major, just helping me reclaim what belongs to me," Minotaur explains. Tommy feels the shakiness begin again. He stares down at his reflection in the blade of his dagger. He's glad he's wearing a blindfold. He doesn't want Minotaur seeing the expression in his eyes. "If you're lucky, I might help you kill the Syndicate."

"I only want to kill Azrael and Inchling." The words are out before Tommy has really processed them. It has always been his goal to kill Azrael and Inchling. They are and have always been his targets. He used to think he would be fine with whatever collateral damage came from it. He is hesitant to say that now. He won't say he cares about the Syndicate members, but... but he doesn't wish to see them die. He doesn't want to be the one to take their lives. He will if he has to, but he will carry the guilt with him instead of letting it die with the body.

"Stop thinking so damn small, Vendetta. With my assistance, you could wipe out the Syndicate. Hell, we can even take down the Hunters. I'm sure you want them gone," Minotaur explains his grandiose plans.

"Why do you want these organizations gone?" Tommy dares to ask.

Minotaur smirks, looking Tommy right in the eyes. Tommy has to resist the urge to shudder. He breathes in steadily as those intense eyes seem to stare through the blindfold to the trembling blue underneath. "Since we're going to be working together now, I'll let you in on a secret. I'm going to gain power the legal way. I'm going to be the top-ranked hero, and the fastest way to do that is to get rid of these villain organizations. And when I'm on top, the world will be mine."

"I don't understand why anyone would want that much damn power," Tommy whispers. He doesn't know why the Syndicate wants power. He doesn't know why the Hunters want power. He doesn't even know why the gangs of Empires want power. Croupier told Tommy that people want power so that they can protect themselves and the people they care about, but Tommy highly doubts any of the examples he listed above want power for that reason. Is it to spread chaos? Live a life of luxury forevermore? A need to inspire fear in others? Tommy just wants the power to defeat his enemies, and then he will be done. He will relinquish all the power he's acquired when his sacred mission is done.

"You are too used to thinking small," Minotaur utters, rolling his eyes. He reaches a hand up, and he places his fingers around Tommy's shoulders. He squeezes, heat radiating from his skin into Tommy's muscles. Tommy stiffens, and he doesn't dare breathe as Minotaur leans forward to really put him eye-to-eye with Tommy. The fireworks are red again. The tension is thick enough to cut with his dagger, but Tommy cannot move the weapon no matter how hard he tries. Minotaur smiles as if he knows Tommy cannot hurt him, as if he knows Tommy is too sane, too in control, to properly take down the threat in front of him. "I'll have an assignment for you soon, Theseus. Finish it quickly."

Minotaur gives Tommy's shoulder one last squeeze, and Tommy winces as he feels his skin start to burn. Minotaur lifts his hand. He exits the room, whistling an unpleasant song. He shuts the door behind him, and the minute Tommy hears the click, his knees buckle. He falls to the ground. His dagger clatters against the ground as it falls from his grasp. Tommy stares down at the marble floor. There is blood all over it. Blood from Tommy. The lashes from his whip and the burns from his skin and the wounds from his horns. Tommy holds his breath, feeling the dirt and ashes falling into his eyes. He reaches his hands up to hug himself, feeling the golden thread underneath his skin.

Theseus had Ariadne. She gave him the golden thread. She told him how to use it. She had forethought and intelligence, but most importantly, she stood in Theseus' corner. She wishes for his success even if it meant betraying her homeland.

Tommy doesn't have anyone. He cut off his ties with the Syndicate, as he should have the moment he started to confuse Serenade for Wilbur, the moment he decided to risk his life to save Dyscardia, the moment he started enjoying the letters Ravager was sending him. He should have left a long time ago, but he only left today, only after he realized how good it felt to have someone in his corner.

Tommy doesn't have anyone else, though. He will never go back to the Hunters, no matter how desperate he may be. He can't trust anyone in the Hero's Guild. Not only are they allowing Minotaur to wander their halls, but he can't risk anyone else finding out about his involvement with the Syndicate. He can't trust his informants since they were probably the ones to sell the information to Minotaur. Theseus had Ariadne, and all Tommy has is the memories of his family to push him forward.

Tommy looks up from the clean floors to the window. The fireworks continue to populate the skies. His conversation with Minotaur felt like eternity, but it couldn't have been more than ten minutes, give or take a few seconds. The firework show has not yet ended. Tommy frowns. He was excited to watch the fireworks with Jolt and Enderwalk. He liked dressing up in a costume. He liked arguing with Ravager. He liked going through a haunted house with Thermoculus. He liked eating festival food with Dyscardia and Argonaut. He liked dancing in the street with Serenade. Today was supposed to be a good day.

But maybe this is for the best. The closer he gets to the Syndicate, the harder it will be later on. Tommy closes his eyes. He cannot let any of this shake his resolve. He doesn't need anyone in his corner. He just needs to continue pushing towards his goal. Azrael and Inchling will die, no matter what Minotaur threatens him with or what he feels about the Syndicate. Leverage or not, conflicted feelings or not, Tommy will get revenge. Minotaur said he admired Tommy's determination. Well, he's about to see how stubborn Tommy really is.