With a week already passing by and the blood moon approaching that night, Midas' stress began to mount. He had no idea what kind of damage he'd do under the dark spell of this unusual moon.

All he knew was that after tonight any humanity left that he's been desperately clinging on to would be striped away from him.

So, throughout the week, before the day arrived, he made the most of his family and friends:

He gave Jules a helping hand with something she was working on. A device to help Marigold travel between their dimension and hers.

He spent some time with Skye and Meowscles, even offering to take them for a bite at the Durr Burger.

Although it wasn't much use for him in any way, he spent time with Marigold and asked her what it was like in her parallel reality.

And despite wanting to spend time with her, he was glad the kid wasn't here. She had disappeared on her own adventure, and hadn't been heard from in a long time. A situation like his would be too much for her to handle, and would probably have her killed.

But of course, the one he spent the most time with was Jones.

Sure even before all this they spent a lot of time together. But Midas wanted more. He wanted to spend as much time as he could with him before nightfall. He felt as though he was the only other thing keeping his sanity and humanity in check.

----

It was 3 in the afternoon, and the boys were home alone. Jules had gone out for the day, but promised she'd return before sundown.

So for now, they were trying to kill time.

"Hey Midas? You need anything?" Jones asks, peeking from the kitchen.

"A glass of water with ice would be nice, thank you."

The mastermind was currently lying on the couch, an icepack on his head. He was feeling very warm and sweaty all over his body. Jones enters into the room with said glass of water and gives it to Midas.

"Here ya go buddy."

"Thank you dear."

He consumes half of the water inside while Jones slides next to him. He puts a hand on his forehead, feeling the heat.

"Jeez man am I gonna have to put you in the freezer to cool you down?" He jokes slightly.

Midas snickers quietly, blushing.

"Not sure if that would help but it's a funny idea."

Jones gives him a cheeky grin, pinching his cheek softly. Midas smiles, looking down slightly.

"You know, ages ago, I thought all of this was just some kind of horrible nightmare I couldn't wake up from..." He mutters. "But with you here, for this moment, it feels like less of a nightmare and more like a dream..."

"You think this is all in your mind?"

"Maybe..."

The blond puts a hand on his shoulder, gently comforting him.

"Well, whether you think this is all a dream or not...I suspect even outside the dream the two of us are together..."

"You think so?"

He nods, sure of himself.

Midas hums, putting his hands together.

"If that's the case, mind if I ask something of you?"

"Sure!"

"...I was going to ask this after reality was saved, but after I learnt of my vampirism the question disappeared from my mind." Midas explains. "But since I'm not going to be the same after tonight, I want to ask it just so I know what your answer would be..."

"What is it?"

Midas takes his hands, rubbing his ringed finger with his thumb.

"If this hadn't happened, and I asked you out on a date, what would you have said?"

Jones' eyes light up as he smiles brightly.

"Are you kidding?! Of course I'd go on a date with you!"

Midas was actually surprised. He really did love him that much, so much so that he'd be delighted to go out with him.

"Well, what would've been your ideal date?" Midas asks.

"Let's see..."

For the remainder of the afternoon, the two of them form date plans they knew would never come to fruition. But despite that, they were still nice to think about.

---------

Much later...

Jones briefly checks his watch while glancing through the window. Stars were beginning to show in the sky as well as clouds. A faint red glow was behind them, worrying him. Midas had resorted to staying in the back garden since it would be a bit awkward if he transformed in the house.

Jules had returned and, like the boys, was anxiously waiting for the blood moon to come from behind the clouds.

"I'm really not looking forward to this Jones." She mutters nervously to the blond.

"Well at least you're not the one going through it."

Jones sighs sadly after that sentence and turns his gaze to Jules.

"I'm sorry I let this happen to him..." He apologizes, blaming himself again. "If he and I didn't end up in that reality filled with vampires, he wouldn't have been bitten."

Jules sighs. Jones expects her to loathe him and telling him it WAS his fault. But instead, she places a hand on his shoulder.

"Don't blame yourself. There was nothing you could've done to prevent it."

"I wish I could've though. Now a blood moon's coming and Midas is out there struggling to keep ahold of his sanity."

*knock knock*

Jones and Jules turn to the front door, surprised by the knock. They weren't expecting anyone else tonight.

"I'll get it."

The blond opens up the door and finds a woman wearing black musketeer clothing and a hat with gold accents.

"Uh, can we help you ma'am?"

"Yes. I'm looking for the house of Midas Rex. I'm assuming this is the coordinates and location Doctor Slone gave me."

Sweat flows down Jones' forehead as that name is mentioned.

"Doctor Slone sent you?"

"Yes. I'm Victoria Saint. A vampire hunter. I've been hired by Doctor Slone to take out the human turned vampire named Midas."

She introduced herself. "Now, can I please be let in to do my job?"

"Uhh... one moment please, haha."

Jones closes the door and dashes to Jules.

"A vampire hunter has been sent by Slone to assassinate Midas!"

"What?!"

"We gotta tell him and get outta here."

He grabs Jules' hand and drags her to the door leading into the back garden.

"Wait Jones! Maybe this could be good for him! It could be what he wants."

"But it's not what I want Jules! I don't want to loose another partner."

"I know, but-"

A yell of agony interrupts their conversation. Dashing into the garden they find Midas leaning against a lamppost, seemingly in a lot of pain. Jones runs over, panicked and worried.

"Midas?! Are you okay?!"

"A-Ahh!! Jones...s-stay back." He groans, his body twitching and shaking. "I'm not going... to be able to... control myself in a moment! A-AH!"

He falls on one knee, his hands on his head. Jones grows more and more worried, turning to Jules.

"I highly recommend you let Victoria do her job John." Another familiar voice joins in. "It's probably what he'll want anyway."

Jones and Jules, as well as a struggling Midas, look up and see Doctor Slone coming through the door and accompanying Victoria.

"I refuse to loose another partner! I won't let you do this to him!" Jones yells, standing in-between them and Midas. "He's everything to me! I love him so much!"

"Jones I'm sorry but I'm gonna have to side with Slone on this one." Jules admits, knowing that death is probably Midas' only way out of this hellhole.

"See? Even they agree." Victoria hums. "Now stand aside Mr Jones and let me relieve him of his pain."

Midas looks up at Jones defending him. He tries reaching out a shivering hand to his.

"Jones...I-I..."

He can't even finish his sentence before his eyes go a gleaming red as the blood moon emerges from the clouds and shines down on him, taking over his already broken mind.

"Jones move!"

Jules drags him away from her brother as all four watch as Midas undergoes his change. A huge pair of black wings with gold accents burst through his back, as well ripping off the back of his clothes in the process.

The engineer hugs Jones tight, feeling horrible for her older brother.

He turns to them all and hisses, his sharp fangs dripping in saliva. Victoria points her revolver at him, ready to fire. However, he flies directly at them and knocks them all to the ground.

With a growl he picks up Jones and flies up into the sky with him.

"Quick! We can't loose sight of them!" Slone yells, she and Victoria going after him.

Jules groans as she sits up, watching her brother fly away with his boyfriend.

----------

Landing outside the Fort Crumpet castle above Coral Castle Midas puts Jonesy down. He rubs his head and looks up at the broken mastermind.

"What are you gonna do with me?" He asks, shivering a little.

The vampire flinches, twitching uncontrollably as he struggles to gain control over himself. He hisses, looking back at him. That's when Jones notices something surprising.

While the whites of Midas' eyes were crimson red, the golden iris in his left eye was STILL there. HE was still in there somehow, desperately clinging on to whatever fragments of broken sanity he had left.

"Midas? Are you...are you in there still?"

He covers himself up with his wings, not wanting Jones to see the monster he had become. However, he's persistent and reaches out his hand.

"C'mon dude. It's me. You can trust me."

Midas twitches, hissing and bearing his fangs. Jones retracts his hand, not expecting the quick mentality change. He then shows a guilty remorseful expression, moving away from the blond.

Jones felt awful for the guy.

The transformation badly damaged his mind. He was in a very unstable mental condition, going from guilt ridden and emotional to violent and crazed constantly within seconds.

He was on the brink of insanity and yet he was somehow hanging on. Jones believed in him, and tries again to reach him.

"C'mon Midas. It... It'll be okay... I'll find a way to help you..."

He extends a hand out to him with a faltering smile, trying to hold back his tears. Jones didn't want to cry in front of him when he was already broken enough.

Midas reaches out a twitching hand, hesitant to take Jones'. He retracts his hand, only to reach for something in his pocket.

He takes out a revolver, Victoria's revolver, loaded with silver bullets and passes it to Jones. He must've snagged it off her after attacking the others.

"Wha? What are you trying to tell me?"

He doesn't respond as he physically couldn't anymore. He points at the weapon, then at his chest where his heart was. Jones eventually puts it all together;

"You want me to... kill you?"

He nods. And to Jones' surprise, begins shedding tears. He'd never seen Midas...cry before...

"I...I-I..."

Naturally he refuses, convinced that there was a way he could save Midas.

"No! I'm not loosing you! There has to be another way!" He yells, letting his own tears fall. "I... I'll find something that could cure you. I-I know I can."

Midas shakes his head, listening as Jones continues to fill both of them false hope. He knew that the blond didn't want to let go of him, and his feelings towards him were only making him worse more upset.

So he tries desperately to open his mouth and talk to Jones one final time.

"mmph...J-Jones...stop..."

"Huh?"

"... it's no use... I'm too far gone to be saved...the only thing that can protect the island from me...is you putting a bullet through my heart..."

"No... please..."

"I'm sorry my dear...but we're out of time... this is our only option... please..."

Jones begins sobbing uncontrollably, choked up with tears. Midas sighs, opening his shivering arms and offering him the only comfort he can give. He immediately accepts it, rushing into his arms and crying into his chest. The mastermind smiles a little, his tears dropping onto Jones' face.

"...hey... now now. Chin up...look at me my love."

Midas perks his chin up, getting a look at Jones. He rubs his hand across his face, wiping his tears and smiling warmly at him.

"But I've been working SO hard to keep you alive and safe. I'm not ready to see another lover of mine die in front of me again..." He whimpers, gripping on to his torn up shirt. "I don't want to lose you too..."

He gives Jones a reassuring expression, despite twitching slightly.

"You won't my dear. You'll see me again... just wait. I promise."

While Jones wasn't sure how he'd even do that, he nods a little, sniffling. Before he goes for the revolver, Jones faces Midas and as a way of saying goodbye...

He forces his lips against Midas', giving him a gentle but heartbroken kiss. He embraces it, making the kiss deeper. They part lips eventually.

"Okay... I'll do it for you..."

Jones picks up the revolver and aims it at Midas and his chest. His hands shake, struggling to keep his aim steady. The mastermind smiles, closing his eyes and bracing himself for the sweet release of death.

*sniff*

"...g-goodbye Midas..."

"...so long darling..."

And with that, Jones pulls the trigger... ending Midas' suffering...