*harsh knocking*

"M! Get up! It's 8am. Breakfast!"

Midas' eyes shoot open as his father's voice rings out, waking him from his peaceful sleep. He quickly sits up in bed, a quick intake of breath leaving him.

"Back to his strict ways again I see..."

He sighs, rubbing his head with a grunt before going through his closet and finding something to wear. It was always the same though.

White tuxedo shirt

Black vest and tie

Tight black pants and belt

Buckled dress shoes

Not that it bothered him or anything. He liked his sense of fashion. It just occurred to him that if he and Jones were going out tonight, maybe he should change up his wardrobe a little?

He didn't know what to do. The thought of it made a distant childhood memory return to him. Ever since he could remember, in his home, he was forced by his father to wear clothing he picked out for him. Anything else he wanted to wear was forbidden.

You'd think Jules was in the same situation, but Ares let her choose what she wanted. Midas never got that freedom of choice. She wasn't even aware of the physical abuse he inflicted on her older brother.

She was aware that Ares mentally abused him, but not physically since he hid it away from her exceptionally well. Both Midas and Ares.

It was mostly long sleeved shirts Midas wore back then, only because Ares wanted to maintain a good reputation and not let the world know what he did to him behind closed doors.

----------

"M, we're going out tonight. Put this on now and try not to make it dirty immediately."

"Do I have to wear this? Can't I pick what to wear for myself?"

"Excuse me?!"

"It's really warm out there. Can't I wear a short sleeved shirt instead?"

"..."

"D-Dad?"

". . ."

"N-No no! Wait! Stay away from me! Mum- ow!!"

*slap*

"Dad stop! P-Please! I-I- AH!!"

"You better understand one fucking thing you little shit. You'll wear what I say you wear! Understand?!"

*cough*

"y-yes father..."

"Sorry M. I didn't catch that(!)"

"Ares. I said...y-yes Ares."

"Good. Now put that on and don't forget your gloves. Don't need people seeing your disgusting hands."

"yes sir."

"Now then. Jules, pumpkin! Would you like to pick out what you want to wear for dinner?"

----------

"M!!"

The mastermind is snapped back to reality as his father calls out for him again, more angry than last time.

"If you're not out of there in 5 seconds I'll drag you out myself!!"

"Ah! C-Coming father!"

Doing up the buttons on his vest he opens his door and runs downstairs. There, in the living room, he finds Jones, Jules and Ares having breakfast. A full English breakfast in particular.

"S-Sorry. I didn't sleep well last night."

"That's no excuse to sleep in all morning. From now you are to wake up at 8am sharp, understand?"

"... Y-Yes Ares..."

"Good. Breakfast is in the kitchen."

Midas hugs his arms going into the kitchen. Jones sighs sadly, hating that this was how his boyfriend was treated all those years ago. He wanted to teach Ares a lesson, but his boyfriend said it was okay.

Besides he didn't need Ares going after him too.

Midas reappears with his plate. It was a bit cold, but he didn't seem to mind. As he sits down he goes to pick up his fork before being stopped by Ares.

*ahem*

"M."

"Hm?"

"Shouldn't you be wearing these?"

Ares fishes through his pocket and pulls out a pair of white leather gloves, tossing them to Midas who promptly catches them. He glances up at him.

"Um, dad I don't need to wear these anymore. I can control my power now."

"Mhm, I don't care. Put them on."

"But...dad..."

"I'm not asking you again young man!"

Midas stops with a small yelp as Ares glares at him with a devilish glare. He doesn't pry anymore and puts them on, his father nodding with a 'hmph'. He then picks up the fork again and begins eating before his breakfast gets more cold.

"Don't need that godforsaken curse of yours staining the cutlery." Ares mutters under his breath.

Midas twitches, hearing that comment as his anger begins boiling deep within him. The urge to snap back was strong, but he decides against it as to not escalate things into an argument.

"So, it's been a month since I was brought back. Neither of you have told me what's been going on with those...cubes rolling around, or where Agatha is."

"That's the thing dad. We don't know what these cubes are doing either." Jules sighs. "All we know is the gold one is awakening the others ones and making them multiply."

"So basically the gold one and the other cubes are spawning baby cubes?" Jones buts in. "Tch, jeez. Those cubes should get a room."

Midas tries suppressing a snicker, Jones' hilarious dorky mentality always bringing a smile to his face. Ares is far from amused though, rolling his eyes.

"Ugh...what about Agatha? Where's she?"

Everyone falls silent, knowing damn well where she is;

In a grave, very dead.

Ares eyes all three, expecting an answer to the whereabouts of his ex.

"Maybe it's best I show you after breakfast." Midas suggests.

Jones glances over at Midas, an expression reading 'dude you're just asking him to torture you what the hell'. Ares mumbles something under his breath, folding his arms.

"Very well."

-----------

Half an hour later...

Midas and Ares wander out into the back garden. The mastermind hugs his arms, keeping his hands to himself and trying to stay calm. His father constantly eyeing his hands with a disgusted look wasn't helping though.

"This was about 6 months ago when Jones still worked for the I.O. The order invaded us and...well..."

"What?"

"Mother was visiting at the time and...the I.O guards and bounty hunters ended up killing her...and I couldn't show up quick enough to stop them..."

They stop at the place where Agatha's grave is. Ares falls silent, Midas seeing his expression curl into a very angry one. He grabs him by the neck and forces him into the wall, rage in his eyes.

"So where were you when this happened?! Huh?!"

Midas coughs for air, his breath wavering.

"I.. I was busy..!"

"Oh yeah?! With what?! Questioning why you're still here?!"

"No! I was busy uncovering a friend of mine's past!"

"And I see they're not around anymore! You got bored of them and turned them gold too?!"

Midas' eyes brim with tears, offended that Ares would suggest such a thing about the kid he adored so much.

"NO! She's gone to find her purpose in this world...wherever she is, I only hope she's doing well."

Ares clenches his fist and forces it onto Midas' chest. A sting of pain flows through him from that spot, tears rolling down his face.

"Ares...p-please...let me go..."

He raises his fist higher.

"It should've been you who died, not her." He remarks cruelly. "Now stand still so I can give you a eye matching your blind one-"

"Dad?"

Ares stops as Jules' voice calls out to him from inside the house.

"Yes pumpkin?"

"Did you want another cup of tea? Or do you want coffee instead?"

He turns back to the trembling man in his grasp and sighs. Ares drops Midas harshly onto the ground, who promptly crosses his knees and holds his head as tears continue to fall down his cheeks.

"I'll deal with you later. I have a daughter to spend time with."

Midas can only respond with a whimper.

"And stop crying you fucking coward. You're not a child, you're an adult. So for god sake act like one!"

As he leaves Midas continues to cry into his arms and knees, shivering in fear, gold crawling up his body.

Ares was right.

He's 30 years old now, not 16.

So why was he crying like a baby?

He shouldn't be afraid of him anymore...

And yet, because of the lasting traumatic impact he left on him, he couldn't help but be afraid...

Maybe he really was a coward deep inside...

The door opens again with footsteps making their way towards him. His anxiety begins kicking in again.

Had Ares already finished with Jules?

Was he back to abuse him again?

A hand lands on his shoulder. His fight or flight instincts kick in and he immediately backs away, fists clenched and a tearful, scared expression.

"Get away from me!!-... h-huh?"

He stops as he realises it was Jones in front of him, not Ares. The blond retracts his hand but realises he was only reacting to his touch that way because of what his dad did to him just now.

"Hey hey, it's okay. It's just me."

He brushes a thumb across Midas' cheek, letting him melt into his soft comforting touch. Jones wipes away his tears and sits down next to him.

"God what did he say to you?... Do to you?"

Jones lets Midas explain everything, and his anger towards Ares continues to grow. It wasn't fair for him to be tortured this way and wraps his arms around him, comforting his boyfriend.

"Don't worry Midas. I promise you that I'm going to make our date later the best night of your life."

He smiles a little.

"... I know you will my dear...that's why I love you..."

---------