Every Me Loves Every You

Meet the players of Grace’s Last Reward (AO3)

          ↳ Day 2 ✩ Ariel // Duo

Beyond was a long, narrow hallway leading left, much like the one outside the third class cabin. Balthazar took a half-step forward, then stopped, looking down.

“What…are you doing, Seven?”

“What’s he doing?” Duo turned back to ask.

“He appears to be using one of the glass plates to stopper the door.”

“And why’s he doing that?”

Seven brushed off his knees as he stood. “Well, I might like to play a little piano.”

He laughed at the confused looks and raised his hands placatingly.

“It’s that safe,” he explained.

“That…-oh! We never opened the safe!” Duo slapped her palm with her fist. Balthazar supposed he should be relieved he wasn’t the only one to forget, but there was something else nagging at him…

“This doesn’t make an awful lot of sense…” he started.

“It is strange we didn’t need it to solve the puzzle,” Seven cut in, “but it wasn’t empty, we know that. At least this way we can keep the door from locking again.”

“Yes, but why?” Balthazar continued. “It isn’t–”

He paused for a dramatic sigh.

“Well, I can’t believe I’m saying this, but–it isn’t fair.”

“Why would Zero lock us out of something we need, when we’re usually locked in with it, you mean?” Duo offered, then answered herself. “Maybe it isn’t something we need. Maybe it’s something we’ll want, like an easter egg.”

“Something like…?”

“Well, maybe we don’t need it to escape the ship. Maybe it’s…a clue to Zero’s identity? Or the ‘purpose’ behind the game?”

“All I’m saying,” Seven spoke with let’s-get-on-with-this finality, “is that Zero is too meticulous to leave an odd piece out of the puzzle.” He started off down the hall, clapping both his teammates on the shoulder. “Haven’t you ever heard of Chekov’s gun?”

Balthazar couldn’t help his shame at being the only one who didn’t see it.