539: Deep Space Believers 4

A dirty mind saw everyone as gay.

Grindelwald was, of course, not that kind of person.

At least, that had to be the official line.

The "agreement" he spoke of naturally referred to the unspoken pact formed after that legendary duel years ago—his self-imprisonment, and Dumbledore ensuring that he would cause no further harm.

"Respect me?" Dumbledore raised his eyes, his gaze sharp as fire as it shot straight at Grindelwald. "Or do you actually need my 'help' or 'permission' to fulfill certain... special requirements for this 'avatar' of yours? For example, to let it exist more stably, or to go somewhere protected by special magic?"

It had to be said.

The string of recent events had indeed made Dumbledore increasingly suspicious.

He was starting to drift toward the persecutory paranoia of Gotham's old master. It could not be helped—the wizarding world was too chaotic, and Dumbledore had scarcely known a few peaceful days in his entire life.

"How could that be?"

Faced with Dumbledore's pointed retort, Grindelwald suddenly rolled his eyes. The somewhat childish gesture, utterly at odds with his usual image, made even Dumbledore pause.

"Merlin's beard, Albus, how have you become even more suspicious than before?" There was genuine helplessness and teasing in Grindelwald's voice.

"Can't I simply enjoy making a request I know will put you in a difficult position, then watch you frown and agonize as you weigh the pros and cons? For me, that's one of the few pleasures left in this tower." Perhaps that was the real truth. And that reason... was so blunt, so distinctly Grindelwald in its malicious sense of humor, that Dumbledore's taut nerves relaxed slightly. Compared to conspiracies hidden beneath warmth or tragedy, a request made purely to see his reaction was still troublesome, but it seemed... more in