This started as a Toonshipping one-shot I wrote for my mom of all people-now, by popular demand, a two-shot with a lemon wedge! Second and final chapter up!
Thanks to Sitabethel for beta'ing even though this isn't something you ship! You're the best!

Kaiba glanced around as he was led down a series of hallways that seemed simultaneously familiar and foreign. He'd expected they'd be in the boardroom for the meeting, but as they rounded a final turn, he realized he was being taken to the annex.

The room looked the same: carved, gilded-oak fireplace to the right with a forest-scape painting hung over the mantle, and a set of matching chairs, side tables, and a liquor cabinet spaced out in the room. Memories of the last time he'd seen it came flooding back: Croquet at his feet with his hands bound and his head trapped between the sharp, metal edges of Kaiba's briefcase, the cool feel of the gun in his hand as he pressed his foot down in silent threat.

Perhaps a death threat had been a bit extreme, Kaiba considered now, but Pegasus had kidnapped Mokuba and tried to have Kaiba himself assassinated. In his experience, the best way to deal with a psycho threatening you was to show them you were capable of being just as crazy.

"Ah! Kaiba-Boy!"

Speak of the Devil, Kaiba thought.

Pegasus stood near the fireplace, his signature red suit making a striking contrast to room's darker color scheme. Gold winked flirtatiously from behind silver hair where a replica of the Millennium Eye hide.

"So good to see you again. These little meetings of ours are far too infrequent. And you never drop by just to chat anymore."

"Our relationship has always been about business, Pegasus, and this isn't an exception. Let's get this over with."

Pegasus heaved a dramatic sigh dismissed Croquet with a flippant wave. He made his way over to the liquor cabinet and examined the bottles housed there. "You wound me, Kaiba. After all these years you still won't consider me a friend."

Taking up the chair closest to the wall, Kaiba turned it slightly to keep one eye on Pegasus and the other on the doorway. "Friends don't usually try to take over each other's companies," he said dryly. "They especially don't try to kill each other or kidnap members of each other's families."

Filling two glasses with a deep red wine, Pegasus tsked at Kaiba's mention of their dubious past. "That first was just good business, so I hardly think you should hold that against me. As for the other, well…" Turning, he walked over and handed one of the glasses to Kaiba before claiming the remaining seat. "You tried to killed Yugi-Boy, and the two of you still seem to be on friendly terms."

Kaiba snorted. "Yugi and I are rivals, not friends."

"The two need not be mutually exclusive, Kaiba-Boy." Pegasus waved it away and sipped wine. "And Yugi certainly has a singular talent for befriending old rivals."

Kaiba took a slight sip of his own wine. "We're here to talk business, not gossip, remember?"

"So serious," Pegasus pouted. "But you're right. So." He gestured for Kaiba to start.

"I looked over the proposal, and we'll need more time to prepare the Card Bank if you plan on introducing new summon types-a lot more."

"Well, surely it isn't that much different than adding more of the same?"

"Do you have any idea how much coding goes into each card? How much time it takes just to program a single trap, spell, or monster?"

Pegasus merely raised a lackadaisical eyebrow and sipped wine.

"Days. The hologram itself takes time to transfer from two dimensions to three, and then there's the interactions with every other card in the game, then the glitch tests...and the more cards you add, the longer each new addition takes to incorporate. And now you want me to program an entirely new set of cards with original coding and retro-program every existing card to properly respond to them!"

Pegasus waited a moment until he was sure Kaiba had finished his rant. "So…how long are we talking?"

Kaiba heaved a heavy sigh and ran the fingers of his wine-free hand through his chestnut bangs. "For this many units? Six months."

"Unacceptable. You'll have four."

"This isn't a negotiation, Pegasus. It's cold, hard fact that Kaiba Corp. can't have every card on that list programmed and duel-ready in four months. And I refuse to greenlight imperfect and glitchy cards for release!"

"So hire more help. Why should the public be forced to wait for this highly-anticipated set just because you're too much of a perfectionist to delegate?"

Kaiba caught his teeth grinding and forced his jaw to loosen. "I do delegate, but there are only so many programmers with the experience or ability to properly render the Solidvision code. And even then unexpected drawbacks always crop up." Puffing out his breath, Kaiba held Pegasus' gaze. "Max. Six months. You wouldn't rush your art; don't make me rush mine."

"Oooooooh, alright. Six months, then." A gleam lit in his remaining eye. "You know, you make it very hard to say no when you pout like that."

Kaiba narrowed his gaze over the rim of his glass, but didn't deign to reply.

"Well," Pegasus huffed, propping the heel of one shoe on the toe of the other, "Now that that's decided, what's next on the agenda?"

"Now that we've established a timeline, how do you want the effect designs for the the new summons rendered?"

Pegasus flapped a hand lazily and sipped wine. "I'll leave that to your discretion. You've done a fine job with all the others; I have complete confidence in whatever you select."

Kaiba sighed and rubbed his forehead. "Fine, but if I handle the effects, I'd better not hear any complaints right before or after release."

"You won't hear a peep from me. Boy scout's honor." Pegasus held up three fingers and affected a solemn expression.

"I also want your sketches for the 3-D models by the end of the month."

"Yes, yes, I know the drill..."

"You could at least act like you care about the details of this project. My Solidvision projections reflect on your company as much as on mine."

"I'm sure the new additions will be incorporated flawlessly. Based on your past performance, I know my reputation couldn't be in more capable hands."

"You know," Kaiba said idly, swirling the lees of his wine, "if you just wanted to haggle over the timeline, we could have done that over the phone. If you don't want input on the holograms, then what else do we have to discuss that required me to fly all the way out here?"

"Call me old-fashioned, but I believe in a traditional approach to business, which includes holding meetings in person-that, and it's nice to have company for a change."

"So move to where there are actually people," Kaiba suggested, voice as dry as the Chateau Margaux. "That way I wouldn't have to fly out to this remote island every time you decide you're lonely. I'm too busy for social calls under the guise of business meetings."

"You work too much. Is it really so much of an imposition for you to visit an old friend-fine, business partner?" Pegasus corrected at a raised eyebrow from Kaiba. "And on a beautiful private island, no less?"

"Well, if we're not going to talk business, we can just print up and sign the final agreement and I'll be on my way."

"As you pointed out, you did fly all the way out here. You might as well have another glass of wine before you go."

"Yeah, because flying a jet nine-hundred plus kilometers per hour at twelve-thousand meters above sea level is the kind of thing you should definitely do while intoxicated."

Pegasus got to his feet and took Kaiba's glass, walking over to get them each a refill. "Then stay awhile. I gave you the six months you requested; surely you can spare one day off?"

"Mokuba's expecting me back-"

"So call him and tell him there was a change of plans. He's got Roland there, doesn't he? Besides, that boy can take care of himself for one night. He's very resourceful-much like his older brother."

"Luckily that's the extent he takes after me," Kaiba commented.

"Oh, I don't know if I'd say that. There are a few good qualities he seems to get from you-although thankfully he's kept his sense of fun, something you seem to have misplaced a long time ago."

"I know how to have fun," Kaiba said, frowning. "I enjoy my work."

"Even so, all things in moderation," Pegasus winked, handing Kaiba a second glass of wine.

"Incongruous advice from the Prince of Overindulgence."

Pegasus chuckled, adjusting his chair closer to Kaiba's before reclaiming his seat. He leaned against the chair's arm, coming close enough that Kaiba could smell the wine on his breath."What can I say?" His eye tracked down Kaiba's body, "I enjoy the finer things in life."

Kaiba ignored the heat in the gaze and sipped his wine.

"You know," Pegasus drawled, sitting back, "I've been thinking about this partnership of ours lately, and I'm beginning to wonder if we're really utilizing it to its full potential."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Pegasus gave a casual shrug and drank more wine. "Just that it's been awhile since we started working together; perhaps we should reevaluate the terms of our affairs."

Kaiba narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "A second ago you were saying you trust me to execute the release flawlessly, and now you're questioning our entire business arrangement? What game are you playing?"

"No game. I simply think it's time we took this partnership to the next level."

"If there's something you want, just come out and say it."

"Alright." Pegasus smirked, resting his chin in one hand on the armrest. "I think we should merger."

Kaiba's face blanked. "Not happening."

"It would be mutually beneficial," Pegasus continued as if Kaiba hadn't spoken. "And we work so well together." Pegasus leaned in until they were nose to nose. "How about it, Seto? Do you want to merger with me?"

The glare Kaiba sent him had as much effect as a lit match under water. "I don't care whether that's a genuine business proposition or another one of your mediocre attempts to come onto me, but either way my answer is a resolute no."

Pegasus chuckled and tweaked the chestnut bangs that dangled stubbornly in front of Ming blue eyes. "I assure you, Seto, my propositions are always genuine."

Kaiba felt the warmth from Pegasus's fingers against his forehead, and the silken brush of the older man's silver strands teasing along Kaiba's collarbone. An expensive cologne clung to Pegasus like an aura, and Kaiba let himself indulge for a moment, filling his lungs with the subtle spice of it before pushing him away.

"You tried to take Kaiba Corp. by force when I was comatose, and you seriously think I'd consider merging our companies?"

"Our companies are two of the top in the world, and we already work hand-in-hand. It'd be a perfect union."

Kaiba smirked. "You wouldn't be so quick to join forces if your company we're the one on top. Kaiba Corp. outranks Industrial Illusions because we deal in more than just Duel Monsters. You could be more competitive in the market if you broadened your interests a bit."

Pegasus flicked his bangs over his shoulder with an amused sound. "Perhaps, but I'm perfectly content with my current position. Unlike you, Kaiba-Boy, I don't always have to be on top to feel in control."

Kaiba finished off the wine and set the glass down with a loud ca-clink against the table's wooden surface. "Will you cut that shit out, already? And don't tell me you don't know what I'm talking about!" he added before Pegasus could speak.

Pegasus huffed and set aside his own glass, still a third full.

"You really are a spoil-sport."

"You pull this shit everytime I come here, and you wonder why I don't visit."

A crease formed between Pegasus' silver brows. "If it really bothers you that much, I'll stop, but can I ask you something?"

Kaiba stared hard, waiting for him to speak.

"Is it just that you're not interested in me-or are you still pining after what you can't have?"

Kaiba flinched as if Pegasus had shouted at him. He swallowed and focused on the liquor cabinet over Pegasus' shoulder.

"I don't know what-"

"There's no need to lie," Pegasus interrupted. "Not to me."

When Kaiba didn't respond, Pegasus reached out to gently stroke a hand through his hair, soft as expensive leather.

"I know what it's like to mourn the loss of a lover. Moving on doesn't mean you're replacing them, Seto."

Seto closed his eyes and just breathed, his chest tightening around the hole that no amount of success ever seemed to fill. He stiffened when he felt Pegasus' lips press against his, but something in him loosened at the contact, and he found himself pulling the older man into his lap.

Silver hair surrounded them like tinsel, and Seto combed his fingers through it as he kissed back. Pegasus moaned against his lips, his hips rocking slow and testing against Kaiba's.

They were both panting when they broke the kiss, and an unbidden groan slipped from Seto's lips as Pegasus moved down to suck at his throat.

"Max…"

Pegasus stopped and looked up.

"I...I should let Mokuba know I won't be home until tomorrow."

Pegasus smiled. Lifting Kaiba's hand, he placed a kiss on each knuckle before vacating Seto's lap.

Kaiba pulled his cell out of his coat pocket and pressed the first number on his speed dial.

"Hey bro! What's up?"

Seto smiled at Mokuba's bright voice.

"My business here is going to take longer than I first thought. I'm not going to be home until in the morning."

"Oh, okay. Did Pegasus at least extend the deadline?"

"Yeah, six months. Hey, be sure to get your homework finished and be in bed by a decent hour."

Seto could practically hear the eyeroll in Mokuba's voice. "Yeah, yeah. I'll see you in the morning. Don't work too hard!"

Seto heard the line close and pocketed his phone. Pegasus smirked and pulled Seto close as he got to his feet, running a thumb over Seto's bottom lip.

"I'm glad you decided to accept my offer."

Kaiba grinned and pulled him closer until their hips were pressed together. "You drive a hard bargain."

Pegasus laughed, his arms circling Seto's waist. He kissed him again, briefly, before grabbing Seto's hand and leading him down the hall.