Originally written for the tenipuri-xpair exchange.

"If I spare your life will you still try to kill me?" Atobe asked as he looked into the cell that currently held Tezuka. It gave him a chance to better study the man he typically considered confident and stoic. Obviously the guards did not approve of someone trying to kill their king if the number of bruises on Tezuka's body was anything to go by. Atobe also thought that the man looked odd without his glasses and much more vulnerable.

Atobe frowned at the lack of answer and moved closer to the bars of the cell, "Answer me, Tezuka. Or I'll be forced to leave you with my guards again."

There was a long silent moment where the two stared at each other but eventually Tezuka looked away and spoke.

"I've been tasked by my clan to take your life. Failing to do so would shame them and my Gods. And if I returned home, they would most likely treat me as well as your guards."

"Ahn, you always were the honourable one." And while Atobe found that a respectable quality he thought it was horribly misplaced this time. "But won't that same honour mean that you would have to clear your debt with me before you could kill me?"

He could see Tezuka considering the words and he gave a small nod. "It would be unwise to trust me. And your guards would be fools to let you go through with it."

"I'm the ruler here. They will bend to my command or find themselves manning the outpost that overlooks the territory of Yamabuki."

"Why would you do this? We aren't that good of friends and there is a chance I could save you from a stumble down the steps and consider the debt paid before stabbing you in your bath that same day."

It was a logical argument but sometimes Atobe forwent logic and followed his instincts instead. "I doubt your honour is that shallow. If it were, you would have accepted my conditions in the first place. Besides, while we may not have been close friends you did make an impression on me and I want to see if you're really as talented and smart as I remember."

"My talent and intelligence can't be that great since I'm currently sitting in your prisons."

"A minor setback. And one I like to credit to my own great merits. But as you managed to sneak past all of my guards and into my chambers without even me being aware of it. I would hazard to say that you would have succeeded quite well in your task if you hadn't hesitated over me. Am I your first assassination, Tezuka?"

"No," Tezuka answered simply.

"Then why hesitate?"

"I don't know."

Atobe suspected that Tezuka did know but also wasn't willing to share it. Atobe hoped the hesitation stemmed from Tezuka feeling some sort of connection to him and not because he had some distaste for his currently chosen heir. It was a hope and an assumption that Atobe was gambling on. If he was wrong, he really could end up dead in his bath before long.

"Will you serve me?" Atobe asked. There would be time to sort out motivations later. But right now time wasn't on their side. If he wanted to make his plan worked, they had to get Tezuka out of the prison before more people heard about this misadventure and saw the man behind it.

"Do I have a choice?"

"You always have a choice, Tezuka. Serve me to pay off your debts, or die to pay for your crimes."

Tezuka gave a dry hollow snort of a laugh and shook his head. It was a sound that Atobe had never heard from him and hoped to never hear again. "That's not much of a choice," Tezuka said sounding defeated. "I'll serve you Atobe. Until my debts are paid in full."

"Then I best make sure to keep you well and truly in my debt." Atobe looked over to the guard and nodded at him to open the door.

"But your majesty, he tried to kill you," The guard said in protest.

"Yes. And now he swears to protect me, don't you Tezuka?" Atobe asked as he looked at the other, making sure to catch his eye.

"On my life," Tezuka said steadily, his gaze not wavering from Atobe's.

"See. We're all perfectly safe. Now let him out. I want him brought to the quarters next to mine and suitably cleaned up. Call in Oshitari for help." His advisor would be best suited to make sure that Tezuka was presentable.

"Y-yes your majesty." He moved to unlock the door of the prison and to follow through with Atobe's orders.

"Kabaji, see that it's done. And make sure there aren't anymore bruises." His childhood friend and head of his personal guard stepped out of the shadows where he had been waiting and after a small bow moved to assist with Tezuka.

Atobe gave them one last look before leaving and making his long way back up to his own quarters and to have a word with the other guards who were witness to this scene. It was time they knew what he was concocting and they were made aware of Tezuka's new role and the story around it.