{leans against wall, eyelids drooping} "I'm so tired..."

"I'm sure it sucks to be you." {perches on top edge of couch}

"It does sometimes."

{silence}

"Blurry?"

"Yes, Tyler?"

"Can we..." {hesitates} "Have an alliance?"

{raises a brow, grinning} "As in?"

"W-Well, maybe not an alliance... but something like it. We stop fighting each other for a bit. A break." {holds out hand} "Truce?"

{hisses angrily} "You know I hate that word."

{pulls hand back quickly} "Sorry. I didn't mean it. A cease fire, then."

"And why should I 'cease fire'?"

"Because I'm doing what you want...I'm agreeing to die..." {holds out hand again}

"Hmm. You have a deal." {shakes hand slowly} "For now. But if you don't complete your promise..."

"I understand."

"Excellent."