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“Now, now Doctor. We had an agreement, didn't we?” Aventurine said with a catlike grin.
“We did Gambler, but this was not what I’d agreed to,” Ratio said with a sneer.
“You agreed to do anything I requested and I did win. You aren’t going back on your word are you?”
“I agreed to do things within reason. This is not within reason.”
“I beg to differ. It happened so it must be within reason.”
Ratio sighed and Aventurine laughed as the breath touched his skin. It had been eating at him since that one day in Penacony. How would the doctor act in a situation like this?
“Doctor, you’re huge,” he said. That got another sigh from Ratio. Then a small statue landed near his hand. “Are you trying to distract me?”
“You are insufferable.”
Aventurine wrapped his hand around the small statue. Pulled it up to his eyes and inspected it. Ratio never let him inspect the statues too closely. The face was missing some features. He dropped it and smirked as it crashed to the table. The doctor stepped back from him.
“Enough of this Gambler,” he sneered. He’d always paid close attention to tells. Things that could give him an edge. The doctor had his book in his hand and continued to take calculated steps back. Aventurine leaned closer.
“Doctor, you aren’t afraid are you?” Aventurine said with a sly smile. The doctor lost composure for a moment. Faster steps away as Aventurine grew closer.
“Of course not. How long are you planning to make me stay like this?”
“Until you win a bet against me.”
Ratio deflated. They both knew that was only going to happen if Aventurine wanted it. This was his fun to have with the doctor. Fun he wanted. His smile turned into a grin as he inched his hand closer to the small body. The confident man immediately attacked him. Aventurine flinched although it didn’t hurt at all.
“Doctor, I thought you weren’t afraid,” he said.
“Stay your hand, Gambler. I won’t be manhandled,” Ratio said. Aventurine moved his hand closer. The doctor attacked again and again and again. “I said stay your hand!”
“I bet you can’t stop me from grabbing you, doctor.”
A beat then Ratio started to run. Aventurine laughed as he rushed forward. He let the doctor keep his lead. It was kind of cute that he thought he could get away. Ratio stopped running and faced him. A tower appeared over his hand. As it started to fall Ratio turned and walked away. That one hurt a little.
“Now, now Doctor, that wasn’t very nice,” he murmured. Ratio stopped, only for a second, then he went off at a full sprint. Aventurine shot out his hand to cut the tiny man off. Admittedly he thought the doctor would run into his palm. Ratio was more adept than that, pivoting to avoid his long fingers. “You are a quick one, Doctor. I’ve never known you to run from paying for a loss.”
“Our bet was null and void once you did this. Now cease your asinine attempts to grab me.”
“You won’t win a bet with me that easily.”
“I-” Ratio’s words died as Aventurine’s other hand wrapped around him. It was easy to stay focused on the obvious threat when there was some fear. It made the doctor miss his free hand that had been slowly inching closer and closer. Of course making a few comments helped keep the doctor within his reach. Blinded him from the hand that should have received the attacks.
“Looks like I win again,” Aventurine turned his fingers into a cage around the smaller man. “Now what should my prize be this time…”
“I must remind you,” Ratio’s voice sounded a bit higher than before. Nerves perhaps. Aventurine licked his lips and started to close his fingers around the tiny body. “This isn’t Penacony, Gambler. Consequences will be permanent.”
Aventurine let his fingers go limp. Acted as though he would relent. Only to press a thumb to Ratio’s chest. Another finger at his back before flicking him into the air. His other hand smoothly caught the falling doctor before anything could go wrong.
“Doctor,” he purred, “it almost sounds like you’re worried what I might do. You agreed to anything, you should be prepared for everything. ”
Ratio climbed to his feet. Aventurine twitched his hand to knock the doctor down then closed his fingers over him. The man was big enough his head and shoulders remained visible. Unfortunately for Ratio, one of his arms had been pinned in the shift.
“Within reason, Gambler.” Ratio’s confidence was gone. A hint of fear that almost hurt Aventurine. He had always been good to his friends, the doctor was no different. Ratio started to try the more direct attacks in his arsenal. Namely smacking Aventurine’s hand with the small book that the man kept close.
“I think I misspoke before,” he said as he pinched the miniscule book between his fingers. It was easy to pull away from the smaller man. The doctor pulled his empty hand close to himself. “Doctor, you’re miniscule.”
To add emphasis he increased the pressure on the book he held. He nearly missed the way Ratio paled. Pages fell, the doctor must have heard a noise he couldn’t. It was more fun than he expected to toy with him.
“That was a rare tome, Gambler.” Ratio said. The anger within the words died as Aventurine turned the doctor upright. Then he started to loosen his hold.
“I’m sure someone at the IPC can procure a new one.” He straightened his pinky. “Though, I’m not sure how you’d use it.
“Stay your hand, Gambler.” The plea hidden in the harsh words went ignored. Aventurine straightened his next finger.
“I thought you didn’t want to be manhandled.”
Another finger went straight. The doctor pulled his pinned arm free and held on to Aventurine’s thumb. That was his time to stand. The small hands were flat against his skin. Straining to keep their owner from plummeting to a potential death.
“That’s enough, Gambler. Put me down!” Ratio actually raised his voice. Impressive and rare. Aventurine grinned.
“Are you making a demand, Doctor? Isn’t this within reason?” he said.
“Clearly not. Either put me down or fix your hold.”
Aventurine narrowed his eyes. “If you insist.”
He straightened his index finger. Ratio clawed at his skin as he started to tilt his hand. The process gave him a glimpse of fear on the small face. This gamble was getting better. What could his next prize be? That in mind he stood tall, Ratio held at his eyeline.
Silence sat between them as the doctor stared into his eyes. A moment to study each other. Learn the intent behind each move. Not that the doctor would read anything Aventurine wanted hidden. Then Ratio let go. Aventurine’s grin widened as the doctor fell to the table.
Ratio made contact with the table. The sound of shattering glass echoed in the room. A shield had broken which left the doctor completely unharmed. Aventurine fell back into his seat.
“Well, Doctor, I’m impressed,” Aventurine said. He offered a single finger to the small man. “I didn’t expect you to call my bluff.”
The small man accepted the help. Tiny hands gripped his skin. Gently, Aventurine pulled his hand up. Held it steady as the doctor found his feet. Ratio released his finger and smoothed his clothes.
“I have learned a thing or two from knowing you, Gambler,” Ratio huffed. “You wouldn’t injure me pointlessly, nor grin while doing so.”
“Oh?” Aventurine stood again. Slammed his hands on either side of the doctor. The doctor stumbled. He leaned down until Ratio had to step back to meet his eyes. Only stopping once a step went wrong and the small man fell onto his back again. “Why would that be?”
“I refuse to play any more of these games. Return me to normal and find a replacement for the tome you destroyed.”
Now, now, you didn’t win a bet.” Ratio’s mouth opened to argue. Aventurine cut him off first. “You took a gamble with your life, but we didn’t bet a thing on that.”
A deep sigh before the small man climbed to his feet. “This is the last game, Gambler.”
“What game should it be, Doctor? What’s the bet?”
“I bet I shall call your bluff.”
Aventurine fell back into his chair with a laugh. This would be quite the game. His poker face was perfect. Another laugh before he spread his arms wide. Ratio stepped forward, small arms crossed over his chest.
“Alright then, Doctor. Call my bluff.”
Ratio started to pace. Aventurine watched with a confident smirk. Slowly he put his arms down. Leaned forward to get a better look at the tiny doctor. The man was always good looking, now he was cute. An interesting change from the cool, elegance exuded at his normal height. It almost made him curious how his other idea would have gone.
“Looming over me won’t make me answer faster,” Ratio said. Aventurine took that as an invitation to pester the small man.
It started simple. More looming. When that only received an increase to the man’s pacing Aventurine tried something else. He put his hands out to box the man in. That caused smaller laps. He continued to make the space smaller and smaller until the doctor stopped.
A pivot of the small man followed by a wave of his hand. Aventurine felt something crash into the back of his head that forced him to lean close. His face was inches from Ratio. Something warm built in his chest that he pushed away. This was not the time, they had a game to play.
“All right, Gambler,” Ratio said, bleeding confidence. He stepped closer, closing the space between them. A gap that, once gone, left only a breath between the small man and his lips. “I have my call.”
“Well then, Doctor, enlighten me. I’m all ears.” Aventurine started to sit back. Another thing, likely another statue, hit his head again to freeze him.
“You picked this outrageous prize because you feared your true goal would be rejected.”
He wanted to see the small man. The pride that sat on his face. It wasn’t far off. “What is my ‘true goal’ then?”
Aventurine started to pull back again. This time a series of statues smacked into his head. He was forced forward by the impact until his lips met the small doctor. His cool demeanor fell. A bit of panic as he tried to find a bluff. Any partial truth to tell before it was too late. The fact he liked it made it hard. Strange that this outcome had come to be and he couldn’t convince himself to play it off.
When Ratio stepped back Aventurine sighed. A poor attempt to sound bothered. He moved his hands enough that Ratio escaped the cage he’d formed. Continued to back away until their eyes met.
“Well, Gambler?” he said. The confidence was well placed. Aventurine shook his head with a laugh. He sat up straight, spread his arms wide, and grinned.
“It looks like you’ve beaten me, Doctor,” he said. Ratio looked away, not surprising. Their uneasy partnership had reached a point it would likely end. Unless the doctor was embarrassed by his forceful actions. “I’ll get you back to normal. The games were fun.”
“Not so fast, Gambler.” Ratio’s voice knocked away the brave mask he’d tried to put on. “If I recall the deal, it means you do something I want.”
“That is true.” Aventurine leaned forward. Set his elbow on the table and used his palm as a rest for his chin. A tension settled in his limbs. The demand they part for good was coming.
“Reverse our positions.”
Aventurine’s eyes went wide. A grin slowly worked its way to his face. Ratio crossed his arms over his chest. Clinical precision. Something the doctor didn’t always choose to use. Easily seeing right through him and making his own feelings clear. Now this was a bet he was happy to lose.
“Curious, Doctor?” he whispered.
“Of course not. I merely have a preference. One that this doesn’t match.”
“Why Doctor, you're getting more interesting.”
“Don’t make me change my mind, Gambler. You still owe me a tome.”
Aventurine grinned as fished out the things needed for the swap. It looked like he won another gamble, even if he didn’t mean to risk it.