&& THE GOLD LACED MIRROR [VINCENT][C]

“Well. That. Was quite a lot to take in right away... You’re smarter than you look, I should’ve known by that crest that you might be a snake in the woodshed.”

Crest? What crest? What was he talking about? Risk shifted nervously. He’d no idea what the man was talking about, but he didn’t ask. He figured, that if Vincent wanted to actually tell him what that meant he would have. But since he didn’t, then there was no point in asking. And he did notice, very quickly, the change in Vincent’s tone of voice. This was darker, and while casual, There was no doubt in the superiority of his voice. He was the boss. This was his house, his bed, and Risk was his toy. Risk would be dumb if he tried to play this man any more than he already had. No, his cards were all out on the table and he had made his biggest play. He’d won this round, but that would be the end of his game. From now on he would only play cards that Vincent wanted him to play.

“You want me to test you, even after you’ve admitted to what you can do? I honestly don’t have the time to throw in the extra effort. No after this little game of yours, I want you working as soon as you can be off that I.V…” yeah… the stupid I.V… Risk rubbed his arm absentmindedly right under the needle as he listened to Vincent speak. It was holding him back. He was stuck with this strange object sitting in his arm. It freaked him out really. He certainly didn’t like it. But he would live with it. For now...

“Though I must warn you. I dislike being played. More than you can imagine. If you try anything after this point, I’ll prove how right you were about me not being disgusted by “that stuff”. In fact, you’d come to learn it’s quite the opposite…”

So he was right… His body relaxed slightly. He’d been worried that he’d made a huge mistake. Which he almost did just by the way he had spoken to the man. But he couldn’t dwell on that anymore. It just wouldn’t happen anymore in the future. “Of course Sir… It won’t happen again…” After a moment he muttered. “I have to survive…”

“I’m going to have to really really think about that mission. I don’t even know if I want you to bring someone home. Yes someone. I know what you want to retrieve.” And once again his body got tense. It had been that Damn Doctor… He really needed to stop processing things out loud. He would work on changing that particular behavior, because it would not be good if he’d said something truly important and his enemies had heard him say it. His lips tightened, but he said nothing.

“However, I may take a little bit less time if you agree to the eye surgery. No if, ands, or buts about it. Agree to it, so I can have a use for you sooner. Or say bye bye to reuniting with whatever it is down in that labyrinth. Waiting for you.”

Surgery? What… was that? By the way Vincent spoke about it, it sounded like something Risk wouldn’t necessarily like. It was probably a way for him to start seeing quicker. Would it mean he’d be stuck in bed longer? He lifted the arm without the I.V. in it and touched his cheek softly. Yep… He would have to do it even if he didn’t want to… Decard was more important than not wanting to see again. And if it meant he would be more useful faster, than there probably wasn’t anything he should be completely afraid of.

“Better yet, I also want one more thing from you if you want to go there. I need your mask for research purposes.” He tensed, his hand dropping back down into his lap and grabbed the wrinkles in the blanket that was now draped over the lower half of his body.

“It won’t be damaged, and you have my word that I’ll return it when I’m done. I have a very good idea of where it’s from, a few tests and I’ll have an answer about your past. But know I’m not doing this for your benefit. But for my own. You’re lucky. I’m not usually this easy on newcomers. Especially when they act in the way you have….But I have faith in your ability.”

Well… Good thing someone did. Cause Risk hadn’t been when he first opened his mouth. But after pulling that Bold stunt of his, it boosted his own confidence in his ability.

Risk paused for a long couple moments before lifting his head again and taking a breath to answer. “I’ll do the eye surgery… And… whatever that consists of. Also… Take the mask for as long as you need it… Hopefully not forever… But I’ll be fine if I use a bandana in the mean time… Don’t worry about the eyeball one… Black will be perfectly fine. And whatever you find out about my mask… I’d rather not know. Find out for yourself, but I don’t care. I’d rather not know about who I was. As for this “person” that I want to recover, I’d rather he didn’t stay here longer than a few days. Only enough time for me to find a better place for him to live. He’s been through too much pain to last him a life time and I want to find a place where he can be at peace and where I can keep a close eye on him. I told you I’ll do what you want. Other than him and my mask, I have nothing left, and no place to go. The only thing I know is that I need to survive and if this is how I can accomplish that then what point would there be to running away or trying anything more dangerous than that? I apologize for “Playing” you earlier. It was necessary for my survival. And you are not the only person I’ve “Played.” But know that it will never happen again.”