After hearing that Jones had been kidnapped by Doctor Slone, Midas reluctantly let Ramirez inside the house so she could explain more and show what happened the day he left the house and after he stopped at a cafe.

Turns out after he left a few I.O guards found and arrested him. Now only a select few including Slone knew where in the Imagined Order he was being held.

Unfortunately, Ramirez wasn't one of those people.

"So you're Jones' friend, correct?"

"Yes. Truthfully I'm one of his only friends." Ramirez explains while stirring a cup of tea for herself. "Jones may have been the comedy relief for us in I.O, but it didn't mean he was well liked. Me and Janice were the only ones who truly cared about him and his feelings."

She takes a swig of tea, collecting her thoughts.

"Because of that I think it's why Slone's not telling me where he's being held hostage. She doesn't trust me."

Midas hums, curling up on the couch. The light brown puppy leaps next to him, wagging its tail.

"And the dog?"

"Hm? Oh, that Bonesy. He's Jones' dog, but I have full custody of him now since he's spending his life on the island instead of I.O."

The mastermind turns back to the puppy, reaching out his hands and giving it a scratch behind the ears. He smiles a little as it wags its tail vigorously, desperate for the attention Midas was giving it.

"Haha...he did mention to me that he has a dog. Jones was right. You really are adorable." He chuckles.

Bonesy curls up next to him before yawning, resting its head on his leg and falling asleep. Midas sighs softly, stroking the dog's head gently.

"Anyway, I decided to leave the order with Bonesy and come find you. I was thinking you could maybe help find him and bust him out."

Midas sighs.

"If I could, I would. But with no knowledge of his whereabouts in I.O there's not much I can do." Midas admits sadly. "Plus, we've got a lot of problems to deal with as of now with the Cube Queen ready to annihilate the whole island."

Midas looks down at the floor, lost in his thoughts on what to do. He felt helpless. Ramirez finishes her tea before turning to him.

"You could announce to the whole island tomorrow about the Queen and warn them to prepare for immediate evacuation." She suggests. "Maybe I can lend a helping hand also."

Midas seems unsure about Ramirez helping. He wasn't completely sure he could trust her intentions.

"How do I know you won't run away back to I.O and tell Doctor Slone about our evacuation plans?" He asks.

Ramirez gives him a smile.

"I won't. My time at the Order has come to a close. All I want is to return home and go for a long vacation." She reassures him.

Midas hums with a chuckle.

"Very well. I'll trust your intentions for now. But don't break it."

He puts his golden hands together.

"You should probably be aware of what I do to traitors."

She gulps with a nod.

"Understood Midas. I'll uh...be on my way."

"No. I don't want you walking around in the dark. I insist you stay here for the night."

"But, where will I go?"

"Take my room. It'll just be tonight so there's no reason to argue about it."

Ramirez eventually nods and goes upstairs, closing the door behind her. Midas sighs, lying down on the surprisingly comfortable couch, pulling a blanket over himself and slowly dozing off with Bonesy curled up on the floor asleep.

He takes one more glance at the picture of him and Jones together on his phone, smiling a little.

"We'll be reunited soon my love, I promise. Just hang on a bit longer..."

----------

In the morning...

Midas hums to himself, quickly making himself some toast with peanut butter on it and a cup of coffee to wake him up. Ares pokes his head around the door, noticing him there.

"Hey, mind if I come in?"

Midas thinks for a moment before nodding a little.

"Sure."

Ares joins him, fetching a mug and putting a teabag in it. Midas shuffles away slightly, remembering the last time he was alone in the kitchen with Ares.

"How...do you feel this morning?" He asks his father while getting his toast out the toaster.

"I'm..okay. Slight pain in my chest but it's not that bad." Ares responds.

"Good. That's good."

They both stand in an awkward silence for a moment. Ares being somewhat nice to him was something Midas wasn't used to yet. The father clears his throat, putting his hands in his pockets.

"I was doing some thinking last night... about that John Jones..."

"Mhm? What about him?"

Ares pauses.

"Is it true you really love him? That your attraction towards him isn't just some dumb phase?"

Midas sighs.

"Yes. The feelings we have for each other are real and not some phase. There's probably lots of other people who are like me and have romantic attraction to someone the same gender as them. Maybe they even identify as a different sexuality."

He turns to him as he finishes putting peanut butter on his toast.

"But me being gay doesn't make me any less human... and neither does my curse." Midas tells him, smiling a little as he holds his hands. "That's what Jones always told me."

Ares hums, pouring the boiling water into his and Midas' mugs while he gets milk out the fridge and pours it in his coffee.

"Then...if that's the case...I won't get in the way of what you want anymore. If he's the love of your life, I won't stand in-between what you want..."

"... Thanks...dad..."

Ares' eyes widen slightly. Midas was usually banned from calling him 'dad'. But in that moment...

It sparked a few heavy emotions in his gut.

Midas smiles a little as he picks up his breakfast and leaving the kitchen. Ares takes his tea and heads outside into the back garden and to Agatha's grave. He kneels down beside it.

"Agatha, my dear... I don't know if you can hear me, or if you even want to listen to me...but I'm... I'm sorry..."

He pauses briefly.

"I'm trying to make things right. I want to help make things a little easier between me and your..."

He rethinks his words for a second.

"Our son...but I doubt it'll ever be truly stable... especially since I'll be on the way out soon..."

The wind blows in response.

"If I ever see you again when I die...I hope I get a chance to talk with you once again before being dragged back to the hellhole I came from..."

He lies against the side of the grave, his bottled up emotions escaping and allowing him to cry.

"I'm sorry Agatha... I'm so fucking sorry. I should've apologized 17 years ago after Midas' eye got busted...but it's too late... You're gone..."

Ares holds the grave and buries his head in his arms, tears streaming down his face.

----------

Later...

In around an hour and a half the whole island had been informed to gather at the football pitch in Pleasant Park to hear an important announcement from Midas. Some were confused, others having a good idea what this was about.

Taking a microphone, Jules speaks up.

"Hey everyone. We apologize for bringing you here on such short notice, but it's important for you all to hear."

Jules passes the mic to Midas and steps aside.

"Here ya go brother. Stage is all yours."

"Thank you Jules."

He clears his throat before speaking.

"Good morning everyone. You have all been called here for a reason. As you may have seen, the Cubes alongside their Queen have nearly corrupted the whole island. And the way things are going, it might be the end of this place."

Worried murmurs come from the crowd of people.

"Have no fear though. We have plans to help you all evacuate to a safe place until we can either stop the Last Reality or find a new place to live on."

Jules, Ares and the rest of Midas' team watch as he talks to the crowd of worried people in front of him.

"I recommend to you all that you return to your homes and pack anything you feel like you'll need or want. Clothes, food, trinkets, anything you think you'll need."

The crowds nod, understanding Midas' demands.

"When you are ready, meet back here. My friends Ramirez and Marigold will guide you to the evacuation point."

With that knowledge in mind the crowds disperse while Midas sighs, puts the mic down and turns to the others.

"I'd like us to do the same, Jules. Packing necessary things before we evacuate. I'll also take the liberty of getting Jones' stuff as well." Midas instructs them.

"What would you like me to do Midas?" Astra asks with curiousity.

Midas kneels to her height and puts a hand on her shoulder.

"I want you to stay out of harm's way and remain with Marigold and Ramirez."

Astra nods with a smile. Jules looks over at Ares, frowning at him.

"What about him brother?"

Midas walks over to her, putting his arm over her shoulders.

"We're trying to make things work... Give it some time."

Jules doesn't seem sure but decides to not question Midas' logic.

----------

A few hours later....

"And done. That should be the last of mine and Jones' stuff." Midas sighs, wiping the sweat off his face. "Goodness he has a lot of things."

It only took Midas roughly 15 minutes to sort his own stuff, but it took another 45 to do Jonesy's.

He packed all their clothes, plus any vital things Midas needed for Loop and I.O research. As for Jones, he grabs his trophies from I.O, a few pictures, his trinkets from his final mission and few other things.

He zips up the bags and briefly sits down on the floor, head laid against the end of his bed. He fishes through his pocket and pulls out Jones' golden ring that he gave Midas before he left the house.

Midas fiddles around with it in his palm with his thumb while looking at the one on his finger. Suddenly a crash can be heard outside, prompting Midas to stand up in shock and dash downstairs.

"What the hell was that?!"

When he gets outside Midas notices someone familiar standing there seemingly waiting for him. He calms down as he sees them, a reassured smile on his face.

"Ah, so you did respond to my call... Foundation was it?"

The leader of The Seven nods. Ares joins him outside as the engineer drags her bags out, puts them in the car boot and she goes back indoors.

"This is the guy you called Midas?" He asks.

"Mhm. He may be able to help in saving the people and helping rescue Jonesy from I.O's clutches."

"And that I will. Allow me to elaborate on said plan." The Foundation jumps in.

The three of them begin discussing the plan. How it was going to go was Midas and Jules would remain near the centre of the island fighting back against the Cube Queen's forces. Marigold, Astra and Ramirez would take everyone's bags and lead the people of the island to the evacuation point.

And Foundation would make his way down to the depths of I.O to find Jones.

"During all this, if things go south on the surface, The Scientist and Visitor will come to your aid and help you get somewhere safe." The Foundation finishes.

"Understood." Midas nods.

"Hang on. I have a question." Ares interrupts, raising his hand slightly.

Both turn to Ares.

"What can I do?"

Midas sighs, putting his hands behind his back.

"You could go with Ramirez and the others to help evacuate everyone." He suggests. "In your condition, I don't want you doing anything reckless."

Ares shakes his head.

"No. I wish to help The Foundation rescue Jonesy. It's the least I can do to make up what I did to you Midas." He persists.

"But-"

"I could actually use the assistance actually." The Foundation agrees. "I am strong alone, but I could use someone to be my eyes and ears from behind."

Midas goes to argue but decides against it, not prying on the subject anymore.

"Very well Ares."

Jules reappears again holding his and Jones' things and puts them in the car.

"Okay that should be everything from the house. You're ready to go girls." Jules calls out, closing the boot.

"Well, are we ready?" The Foundation asks.

Midas cracks his knuckles with a confident expression.

"Yeah... let's end this madness."

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