The Tower is brutal and the Families are nothing but a reflection of that. Then again, much like the egg paradox, maybe the bloodlust and cruel nature of its people made the Tower what it was today. Still, it's an ancient quid pro quo situation and there aren't many things left to be done other than acceptance. For the children of the Ten, however, surviving can only be equal to thriving.

Marco isn't a stranger to that belief.

That is not to say he's like most of his siblings; desperate to prove himself, it simply means that he knows the rules of the game. It's easy to be a child of the Ten families, especially a Khun, as long as you remember that everyone is an enemy. And while Marco agrees, for the most part, he knows that no kid lacking experience, lacking skills, lacking a god-like power that can only be obtained through repeated sacrifice, can truly thrive in this environment. This is why he finds himself using a different technique; siding with the strongest one.

In the current era, with Jahad on the throne and the 'Ten Families' beside him, that title belongs to Khun Eduan. It's why he's content with serving and only being loyal to him. This, however, because Marco is still a Khun-one of the favourite children, even-does not mean he isn't ready for someone stronger to come.

For a while, he wondered if that person would be Maschenny but her need for power seemed to work more as an obstacle. Soon after there were talks about a FUG Slayer, 'a God' FUG believers would whisper, 'a monster' the people would mutter and Marco had been worried about what this would mean for their Family.

Now, as he saw a brown-haired man-a boy-with a bottle of wine in hand and uncertainty in his eyes, he thought that maybe there was no reason to be worried.

"I could kill you right now," Eduan announced lazily, not bothering to look at Viole. He took one grape from the bowl next to him. Marco tensed. "Or imprison you and have Jahad take over. I'm sure he would love that."

"I was hoping you wouldn't," he paused, "sir."

Marco wondered if this was what Hachuling was hoping for when he proposed this ridiculous bet. Eduan lifted his gaze and stared at him for a few seconds before laughing.

"You really are your father's son." Marco did not know of Viole's father but if Eduan was reacting like this, it must have been someone important. Someone likeable even, considering how his father never spoke highly of the actual King unless he was present. And even then, it was only under the influence of alcohol. "And your reason for doing something so stupid as to waltz in the home of the enemy?"

"I have come to ask for your permission to marry your son." Eduan blinks. He turns to Marco with confusion.

"Didn't you just meet?"

"Not me," Marco says with a sigh. Why had they bothered with a group chat if he would just straight up ignore, or even worse forget, what they talked about?

"You have to be more specific, son of V, I'm a busy man."

Marco wondered if he could stab himself with his spear. It would be a shame for him to die after all the trouble he went through to become a High Ranker but he was at his limit.

"Aguero." Viole provided but seemed to understand that it wouldn't help much "Agnis. You meet up every two weeks for board games. Stabbed your hand once."

"Isn't he five?"

"You're thinking of Maschenny's son, Ran." Marco cut in, fearing that if left to their own accords the conversation would never end. "He tried to kill you with a glass shard. Aguero stabbed your hand when you made him draw four in uno last month."

Eduan nodded a little too happy for someone who remembered the two assassination attempts against him. "Wait isn't he,"-Marco glared-"ah yes, I remember. Nice kid, has his mother's looks."

"They all look the same," Marco whispered under his breath.

"I also brought you this," Viole says gesturing at the bottle in his hand. Marco predicted his father would give up on the bet completely, despite it being the kind of childish dare he would love, and start calling the Slayer 'son'. He was partially correct.

"Despite being banished," Eduan began "a Khun remains a Khun and right now you are asking for my blessing in making my name a threat to Jahad."

"If you were worried about your children betraying Jahad, you shouldn't have made that many," Viole replied calmly. Had Marco not been trained to keep a poker face in the toughest of situations, he would have laughed. Perhaps he had been wrong, a person so bold against the thunderbolt could be exactly what the Tower needed.

"I'm sure not all of my children are loyal to Jahad, or to me, but this is a direct association to you. It would not be wise for me to not only accept but also applaud such union."-Eduan got up-"Unless, there is more to gain than lose."

Both Viole and Marco tensed. The latter hoped the guards outside weren't ears dropping. "If you end up crossing Jahad and come up victorious, I expect things to remain the same for us."

"My goal is to kill Jahad." Viole simply says and hands Eduan the paper he's meant to sign "If you don't get in my way, I will not get in yours."

Eduan signs, it seemed he was always willing to do so, but Marco knows the answer wasn't satisfactory. 'I will not get in your way' did not equal stability. Even if FUG did not choose to demolish the Ten Families, which seemed a rather unlikely scenario, Marco knew everything would change. Many of the Khuns would see this as a chance to challenge Eduan and become the new rulers of the Family. In fact, if his memory did not fool him, Aguero had expressed that wish as well. Marco wondered how this could end. Aguero, despite some impressive skills Marco had heard from Hachuling and Maschenny or had been given to him by outsiders (like the fact that he had robbed the Treasury), didn't seem like a match to Eduan. If he did not use tricks, or the support of people stronger than him-be it the Slayer or the Khun Princesses-, he would not have much of a chance. And if the beloved of the new king, of a new God, was murdered, what would become of their Family? Many people called Viole a monster, and while this could be just Jahad loyalists, Marco wondered what kind of power that Irregular held and how quickly it could destroy them.

This was why, seconds after Viole left, Marco excused himself and ran after him. Bets aside, Marco needed to assess the situation.

.

Viole must have sensed someone following him because he abruptly stopped walking as soon as Marco caught up to him. In a matter of seconds, a Thorn fragment was materialized and Marco raised his hands. Maybe being stealthy hadn't been the best way to approach him.

"Can you not point this at me?"

"You were following me."

"Following is an overstatement." Marco tried to defend himself, "I wanted to talk to you."

Viole stares at him. In retrospect, Marco should have thought of a technique before facing the Slayer. Still, he cleared his throat and hoped he could get his point across without creating trouble. "You said you'll leave Eduan be."

"Yes."

"You," he repeats "will not take any action against him but FUG could."

"It will." Viole says "Probably not immediately, but they will."

"And you'll let them?"

"The Family Heads are not good people-"

"But you are?" Marco almost snaps. He doesn't care about his father dying, he doesn't care about himself either, but it's almost infuriating to see FUG-of all people-trying to play the hero of the story.

"No," Viole tells him immediately and once again Marco finds himself unable to understand what's his deal. He thinks of Eduan with whom one would need only conversation to understand where his loyalty laid, how his mind worked, exactly what would bring out a cataclysm and Maschenny who, despite being an excellent manipulator, is always ridiculously open about herself and her thoughts. He can't understand Viole yet, makes a mental note to look into it later, but if he's certain about one thing it's that he doesn't seem to fit any of the boxes of someone who would be able to change the Tower. "But because they aren't innocent, I will not have it on my consciousness." He continues "The only fight that matters to me is the one with Jahad."

A statement that does not match the tone, Marco thinks. Those are not the words of someone dedicated to the cause, not the words of a will-be martyr, they sound more like a kid repeating their parents' words. Marco remembers vividly his mother handing him her spear and sending him to climb the Tower, 'they demand a fight,' she had told him sternly and placed a hand on his shoulder, 'bring them war'.

Marco thinks that, despite being an obedient child, if he didn't take some pleasure in following those stronger than him-getting stronger himself in the process-he wouldn't be where he is right now. After all, it didn't matter how much you want to please others, if their interests did not align with yours even to a small extent, failure was guaranteed. And Viole seemed to be exactly that; someone who was about to face the King, a God, simply because others instructed him to. A fact that, to some extent, made Marco relax about the fate of the Family.

Still, FUG wasn't equivalent to a parent nor was Viole's life at stake since birth, which could only mean there was something else Marco was missing. Or rather, was scared of facing. He crossed his arms. "And if Aguero gets involved?"

"He used to say he wanted to become the head of the Family," Viole says "if he still wants to, I won't stop him."

Of course, he wouldn't, Marco thinks. Still, it's not the answer he's looking for. "When he dies, though, will there be retaliation?"

Viole's eyes widen a bit, even the Thorn seems to falter. Marco's worst fear is proven to be correct. Had it been anyone else, they would have already confirmed their suspicion by the fact that the guy had come to ask for Aguero's hand in marriage, but Marco was a Khun and he had never associated the custom with love. His father had been married too many times and Marco would bet his life that the bastard wouldn't care even if half of his wives died. Yes, marriage in the Khun family was never about love; it was about power, lust and most importantly convenience. It made it hard to remember that some people did not view it the same.

"Aguero is smart and-"

"And doesn't play fair." Marco says "But he isn't the first Khun with these characteristics and he won't be the last. Trust me, father is not suicidal, he's just confident in his abilities. Rightly so."

Marco can tell from his expression that the reality of things hadn't pass Viole's mind. Even worse, he thought bitterly. If he hadn't thought about it, then it hadn't matured inside him, then if it happened-when it happened-it would be sudden and destructive. Someone who has nothing to lose can cause big destruction, Marco knows that much, but someone who had something at first before it gets violently ripped from him is a true calamity.

This is a mistake, Marco's mind warns as he tenses, this is a mistake and you need to fix it. Because Marco had never been a true fighter, he had been a follower, someone who does damage control and right now he felt like he needed to ruin any chance of things getting out of control.

"I don't think he will go through it; he wouldn't want to leave you," he says instead and even he is surprised with the words but he knows they are honest. He wasn't very familiar with Aguero, they usually didn't exchange many words when they saw each other with the younger Khun being either too busy talking with others-Ran, Hachuling, the Princesses all seemed to be naturally drawn to him-or fighting with Kiseia but he wasn't blind to his affections for the enemy. Not for him, his mind provided, they're partners. Marco understands loyalty, he respects it, he liked to think he lives his life by it, but this-this brand new thing his brother seems to experience-is mutual and perhaps more love than simple devotion.

"Do not keep your guard down, though. It will only get worse as you climb higher, you might be getting stronger but that does not mean he will get to your level." Marco explains "And trust me, people will know. People will use it. And the higher you go, the fewer pacifists there are."

It takes everything in him to not say that it's almost certain Aguero will die. Instead, he sighs and extends his hand. "Let me sign that paper."-Viole, still a little dumbfounded and stressed, hands it to him-"He will die as soon as you let him out of your sight."

In the end, as Viole leaves him, Marco is pleased with himself; the best outcome of the situation. Even if he had lost the bet, he would like to think it would give the Slayer some food for thought. This is almost brotherly behaviour, he thought. He smiled.

(One week later, Maria would very loudly disagree and proceed to kick him. Until his dying day, Marco would never understand what he did wrong. He was just being realistic. Even if Aguero ended up not dying, the chances had been against him-)

.

Bam, despite popular belief, was no longer as naïve as he used to be. He could no longer afford to. And yet, Marco's worries-truths-had managed to shake Bam more than he let on. It had been a long time since he had found himself actively worrying about Khun. Ever since they had gotten together, maybe even before that-back when Aguero had returned to him after 'joining' Maschenny, when Bam had wrapped his hands around him and whispered 'don't leave' and Khun had said nothing, did not need to, had just held him tighter-, Bam considered him fixed beside him. It was foolish to think that Khun would always be there just because Bam had realized he needed him.

With these thoughts in mind, Bam quietly stumbled inside his-their-room only to find Aguero sitting at the edge of the bed reading something, deep in thought. He didn't seem to realize Bam had entered. "It's a little late." Bam, ever the hypocrite, told him.

Khun lifted his gaze with a small smile. "You just came back so I don't think you can judge me."

"You didn't stay up waiting for me, right?" he mumbled lazily and approached Khun. He rested his head on his shoulder and peaked at the notes.

"Well, Rak told me you had to run some non-dangerous errands,"-Bam let out an awkward chuckle but luckily Aguero paid it no mind-"so I wasn't really worried about you. And I had some stuff I needed too so, really, it was a simple coincidence."

Bam knows it wasn't. He doesn't call him out, though, instead, he buries his face at Khun's neck. This is nice, this is home, Bam's mind repeats until a different thought comes to him; this is irreplaceable. Marco's voice echoes in his head and suddenly fears from his first years after reuniting with his friends arise once more.

"Are you okay?" Khun asks still reading.

"Hm?"

"I can tell you're thinking." He continues "You furrow your eyebrows slightly and your breathing slows down."

Bam's mind is suddenly stuck with saying 'I love you' again and again. He is on the verge of saying it again, he always told Khun about the most mundane things, but something stops him. Instead, he says "If you left," he says and curses himself over being worried about something that will make Aguero worry even more and overwork himself just so Bam can be at peace "I would come for you after everything was done."

He thinks of Khun grabbing him and saying, announcing, vowing, that he would follow Bam wherever he went. He knew he hadn't been lying but Bam was slowly wishing he had. He takes a deep breath. "I wouldn't leave you." He almost adds 'and you wouldn't leave me' but he knows the conversation wouldn't lead anywhere.

Khun, however, does something even worse; he shrugs. "I can't leave," he tells him, only slightly ignorant to the subtext of their conversation, "life would be meaningless."

Bam's heart is heavy with love and fear. A terrible mix, really. And somehow, even if he isn't completely honest about it, Aguero seems to know because he turns around to give him a small kiss. "It's late, we should sleep." Bam nodded, the exhaustion getting to him, still, he thinks-he vows-that if Aguero wants to stick by his side, he will not let anything happen to him.

"Hey," he calls once more "just promise me that if we're in a life-threatening situation-"

"A normal Tuesday?"

"You won't think about me." Bam continues. Aguero smiles once more and kisses him. Soon, Bam's eyelids are heavy and most fears have escaped his mind, but Aguero is still wide awake beside him, expression troubled. "Not think of you?" he whispers to himself "I don't know how to do anything else."

.

Ran is, with the exception of Marco, the one least invested in his brother's relationship with Bam. Objectively speaking, this is a lie. He had participated in a bet with Maria and Maschenny about getting them together, he had spent years with Aguero in his quest to avenge Bam's 'death' and he had been the one to drag Bam over at Maschenny's so he would bring Aguero back. So, really, Ran was a bit more involved with them than he would admit.

This was why it made some sense to be offended after Bam had first gone to Eduan, and Marco, to get their permission to marry Aguero and not him, who lived on the same floor. Still, Ran thought as he made his way into the kitchen, he would get his revenge. Just like he expected, Bam was in the middle of the kitchen trying to boil some water. In the middle of the night. For the sixth time this month.

Really, Ran knew that most of the 'team' consisted of weird people with even weirder habits, but Bam-and AA and their crocodile friend-took it on a whole new level. Ran scoffed and opened the lights scaring Bam.

"How are you so quiet?"

"It's a gift." Ran explained and climbed on the counter. Although he would be the last to admit it, this conversation would go better if they saw eye to eye. "I thought this would be a great opportunity to talk."

"How did you even know I had woken up?"

"You're literally the only person, other than AA, that could be making tea at this ungodly hour."

"And if it was Aguero?"

"He's quiet," Ran explained, "you're a walking disaster."

Bam did not seem to take offence at his comment. Perhaps that was one of his virtues; he was incredibly kind. Ran had always thought this would get him killed and while he was, technically, dead, he had been proven correct. Even if he had never had the heart to tell his brother. Now, after having spent more time with him, he thought the same. To Ran, the only two reasons why the Twenty-Fifth Bam was still alive were a)his incredible luck that wouldn't let him die despite being constantly on the verge of death and b)his brother extremely detailed plans. And if those somehow failed, he prayed they wouldn't, everyone knew AA would do anything to bring him back.

"So, do you have anything to ask me?"

"Um, I have the paper in the room-"

"I live here, I can literally give you my signature two minutes before you propose."

Bam seemed a bit confused about it. "Oh. So then why do you-"

"You still need to ask me."

"But didn't you say you agree?"

"Agree to what? I haven't heard anything."

Bam seems even more confused than before. "Okay. Ran, can I have your permission to marry your brother?"

Ran sighs. On one hand, he doesn't want to follow through with the Family bet, after all, it doesn't seem fair to torment Bam. But on the other hand, he has witnessed first-hand the negative effect Bam has had on his brother. He closed his eyes. "You two love each other. For whatever reason."

Bam opens his mouth to speak but Ran cuts him off. "Obviously, I can't know what's going inside either of your heads but I had always thought that he loves you more."

As expected, Bam does not let this comment slide. Ran is almost grateful for it. "I love him with all my heart."

And Ran knows that, just like he knows that Bam's heart is big and this statement should probably say everything that is to be said. But Ran is also a Khun and he knows their love, if it can be called that, and the 'devotion' that they save for their goals instead of other people and he knows that AA is different. And perhaps the worst thing out of all the facts in his mind is that he can't think of AA's love for Bam and not worry that it will get him killed.

"He almost died for you." Ran says even though it's a cruel move. But he needs Bam to understand. He needs to make it as clear as possible that Aguero will not hesitate to throw away his life-Ran thinks of the fish and the fire and he hasn't seen his brother use it but he knows of what comes next-and Bam needs to make sure he won't have to. "He could be better than this. He could have power and be safe. He could not have gone and play martyr to avenge you," Ran continues and thinks of Rachel, thinks of sleepless nights, thinks of Dan and how different that night could have gone "but it wouldn't make him happy. Only you do. And that should be enough."

Bam looks hurt. Ran scoffs and pulls out a piece of paper with his signature from his left pocket. He hands it to Bam without looking. "Even though it doesn't matter, it's not enough for me." He says and jumps down "Do not get him killed. Do not hurt him."

.

Bam returns to the bed soon after his conversation with Ran. He looks at Aguero sleeping, his legs wrapped around what used to be their shared blanket. He smiles at the sight and proceeds to go to sleep. Ran's words play on repeat on his mind and he decides, on the verge of sleep, that he will spend all his remaining days proving Ran wrong.

.

Maschenny is the first to admit that she doesn't particularly like Viole. For a number of justified reasons. First of all, he's a threat to her while also not being much of a threat to Jahad. For someone who is supposed to change the Tower, he has been going incredibly slowly for Maschenny's taste. Secondly, he is a child-not literally, mind you, but he's incredibly childlike and Maschenny can't take him seriously. Is he a good fighter? Yes, from what she's seen, but he still has something that annoys her. Thirdly, he was the reason she had lost a bet to Maria a little less than a year ago and she would remain pissed about it until her death. And finally, he was the reason why Aguero was wasting his potential.

"I only asked how are you today," Viole mumbles at her. Maschenny scoffs as she opens her desk's drawer. She has an internal struggle about whether she should pull out Yellow May and end her suffering. By suffering, she meant of course, Viole. "I don't understand why you're like that. Weren't you rooting for us?"

"I was. And what did you do to thank me? You confessed because of Maria."-she decided to take out Yellow May and hope that Viole, as AA had once told her, wouldn't absorb it-"And now you dare come and ask me about my precious brother's hand."

"You have multiple brothers."

"Yes, and they're insufferable. Especially Ran."

"I think we're missing the point."

"No, no, I know why you're here." She paused "And I will give you permission to marry Aguero."

"Great, thank you,"-Maschenny pointed at him with Yellow May-"why does this always happen?"

"Ground rules, first." She announced, Yellow May still in hand "If you upset him, I will set you on fire."

"Understood."

"If he's physically hurt, I will torture you and then feed you to the eels."

"As expected."

"If he dies," Maschenny pauses uncertainly of what to say. Bam speaks for her, a bit too soon if she were to comment on it, it seemed this wasn't the first time he had this conversation.

"I will have died first because I'm never letting anything happen to him."

Maschenny nods pleased and stores Yellow May away. Viole, Bam as her mind suddenly corrects, hands her the paper. "Keep that attitude and I might even understand why he loves you."-Bam gets up-"Remember, Slayer, the strong, the kings, they do not marry for love. They marry for power or they do not marry at all." The like Eduan, like Jahad, is left unsaid. "Marry someone you love and you put a target on their back. You pridefully parade your biggest weakness." She knows she isn't the first to have told him that, and perhaps won't be the last even if Maria would be more kind about it, but Maschenny knows she needs to say it and he needs to understand it. "The Tower is but a chess match. Do not lose the Queen or you'll lose the game."

Maschenny doesn't say 'you'll lose yourself' but it's heavily implied and left hanging in the air.

.

Luckily, Bam leaves a few minutes before Maria returns from her own excursion. Had she been there, their conversation would have been very different, meaning Maria wouldn't have let her threaten him. Not even once. Not even for a small shovel talk. "Did you bring me anything?"

"Frozen yoghurt."

"That's why you're my favourite Princess."

"I thought that was Yuri."

"Yuri is my favourite past-time, you're my food supplier and caretaker," Maschenny says and watches as Maria hands her the food with a frown. "Everything okay?"

"Not really."

"Don't talk to me about it."

"I went out with Aguero."

"I just said-"

"Bam's been acting weird and he's worried." Maria continues completely ignoring her. "I know you don't like changes and all but if something goes wrong between them, we shouldn't leave him in his own accord."

"Something wrong?"

Maria sighs. "He thinks Bam wants to push him away. Not just break up, mind you. He says he was missing for the entire day yesterday, didn't tell him what he was doing, and then at night he seemed to imply that Aguero should stop climbing with him."

"I'm sure it's not like that, he's being paranoid."

"I know but he's not especially confident when it comes to Bam."

"Well, there is no reason to worry about it."

"I'm glad you're being positive-"

"He's going to ask him to marry him."

Maria freezes in her spot. She opens her mouth then closes it again. Her brows furrow and she crosses her arms. "What did you do?"

"Excuse me?"

"Did you threaten him?" Maria continued "Did you freak him out and now he's having second thoughts?"

"I did not threaten him." A lot "And I'll have you know he's still set on proposing. He's just nervous."

Maria visibly relaxes on this. Maschenny, on the other hand, despite appearing calm in front of her starts worrying herself. "If he comes by tomorrow, however, do try to be supportive and make sure he knows that they're both idiots who deserve each other."

Notes:

Me: *naming the fic Nyctophobia to follow the pattern of greek words*
Also me: *makes it so it's symbolism because the Khuns are 'scared' of Bam
Duality.

There are so many references from the other fics of the series, including of wooing and wing(wo)men and don't take the money, so kudos to you if you've found them. This series is sadly coming to an end but fret not because I have an entirely different series in the making. Technically two. Well, three. And a new multichapter. And of course, the other current wips, Keeping Up With The Khuns and Elysian Fields, so you won't be getting rid of me that easily.

Anywho, back to this fic, love to hear your thoughts about it, what you like, what you don't(please don't, I'll cry) and even small easter eggs you might have noticed. I have kept the 'bet' a little vague on purpose but don't worry you'll be learning all about it in the next chapter.