Woo-hoo! Chapter 8 is up! This was re-written several times until I was happy.

Warnings: One hung-over Jack. I never saw that coming….

Chapter 8

The bell of the church was tolling, but Jack missed the number of chimes that rang out, indicating the time. It had been several hours, though; he could tell that much by the height of the morning sun in the sky. The light wash of gold through the thin clouds lit up the room, the thin barrier that the curtains provided no match for its radiance.

Jack kept to the only shadows in the room in the far corner, the light too much for his eyes to handle after having consumed two bottles of wine the night before. He sat shirtless and with the windows open, but even that was not enough to cool the collecting sweat on his body. He looked puffy and red in the mirror, a sight that he could hardly tolerate, but did nothing to move to a different chair and out of the mirror's reflection. He wasn't sure he could.

He picked up Yuesi's crown again, the fine silver object having fallen from his raven head when Jack threw him to the ground the night before. It was cool to the touch even after minutes of holding it, much like the gaze of his intended consort.

If I can call him that anymore, Jack thought. After last night, I imagine that his story would be enough to convince his parents to get him out.

Jack flipped the crown around some more. It was a fine crown, indeed, even if it was covered in Jack's blood.

Said prince's pile of things remained in the corner where the servants had first placed them, untouched since yesterday morning when Yusei grabbed fresh clothes and fled for the woods. For once, curiosity did not get the better of him, and Jack had left his things the way they were, the desire to rifle through and learn something new to tease Yusei with all but fading dream. He could already picture that corner as empty again.

98 days to go? I doubt it.

He felt sore. The retaliation of one Judai Yuki had left Jack aching throughout the night, the chill of the air outside stiffening his muscles and seemingly locking up joints. Had Yusei been there, Jack would've pulled his sinuous naked form beneath the sheets with him; his fiery body and burning skin would've soothed the aches and pains and made sleep all the better…but he hadn't been.

Jack let out a soulless laugh to himself. Even his dreams of waking every morning to the sight of Yusei's delicate form next to him was fading, much like his hopes of ever seeing the prince again.

He didn't ponder long on Yusei's whereabouts. His "beloved" had likely run to Judai's room and spent the night there, tucked in the bed with his old friend and far away from the chaos that had become his life.

The thought of Yusei sharing a bed with someone other than him didn't strike the fire in his heart like one thought it might. Instead, it hollowed him out a little more.

Judai Yuki won the duel

"Master Atlas?" Came Godwin's voice. Jack hardly found the energy to look up at the door to his room. "Master Atlas, everyone is waiting for you in the dining hall."

And you think I care at this point? Jack gave no reply. His throat felt thick and scratched, and no amount of wine had been able to quench the thirst or numb pain. He looked away.

Godwin opened the door without a word and stepped inside. His eyes never strayed from Jack's face to look at the room. "Should I tell them you're not coming?" He didn't wait for a response, but instead turned to someone outside the door and said, "Tell them to begin breakfast. The king is feeling unwell at the moment."

"Yes, Lord Godwin." Came a girl's voice, and then the soft pattering of sandaled feet across the marble.

His guests were actually sitting down to eat breakfast? Jack wanted to laugh. Perhaps they were more insane the he was—any normal parent would've stormed into Jack's room, impropriety be damned, and demanded penance for hurting Yusei. How could they act as if nothing happened?

"Actually, wait a moment." Godwin turned back to the room and wandered in, sidestepping a fallen chair and some strewn pillows with ease of familiarity. He opened a trunk belonging to Yusei and retrieved some clothes, striding back across towards the door before pausing to see the crown in Jack's hands. He seemed to contemplate taking it before shaking his head and handing the clothes off to the girl. "Put these in Master Yuki chambers. I imagine Prince Yusei would appreciate the change of clothes."

"Yes, sir." The girl left without another word, and then Godwin closed the door.

His eyes scanned the mess of Jack's chambers without so much as a frown, absently picking up one of the tipped chairs and tossing some of the pillows back onto Jack's bed. He tsked only once when he retrieve a pillow that found its way outside an into a flowerpot, and casually tossed it to the door for mending later. It was only as he walked past the small table and attempted to adjust a tipped mirror that he happened to notice the two empty bottles of wine Jack had left behind from the night before. It was then that Jack spotted the unpleasant curl of Godwin's lips as he sighed openly in disappointment.

"How much would this make it? You had four glasses at dinner and two bottles after," Godwin's frown turned on his young charge. "I think I can see why Yusei fled."

Jack growled at the older man across the room, although his voice came out to a scratched whisper, "I drank those after he left."

That did nothing to lessen Godwin's glare, but he finally straightened up and turned back to the empty bottles. Jack leaned back in his chair. "I suppose the four at dinner explain your hospitality in the garden. Still, whatever you did has left Yusei in quite a mess. The poor boy could barely hold a mug this morning without someone to steady his hands."

"What do you want, Godwin?"

"I want to know what happened," he said plainly, striding across the room and to the chair opposite from Jack, taking a seat without asking. "I want to know why the child of my friend looks like he's seen Hell itself."

Jack looked away and out the window, voice even. "It's none of your business." Why are you asking me this? You already know what happened.

Godwin's tone was critical but soft. Like Yusei's… "You can't imagine how uncomfortable it was to look Hakase in the eye and say that I had no idea what you had done to his son. I felt like liar even when I knew nothing. Yusei parents were going to leave this afternoon to the Satellite, but now have left the Satellite to their steward's care so that they might help their son recover. Their people are in an outrage." Godwin leaned forward in his seat. "Is it still none of my business? Or is the instability of our ally's kingdom not a concern of yours?"

Jack said nothing.

The room darkened visibly, the sun likely enshrouded in clouds. The blond king shivered at the abrupt drop in temperature, his sweat cooling as fast as sand in the desert at night. Damn, he cursed to himself. I'm going to catch a fever at this rate

A blanket was draped over him. Jack looked up in surprise as Godwin stepped away and sat back down again, sighing to himself as he leaned his forehead into the palm of his hand. "What am I to do with you?" It wasn't a question directed at Jack. It seemed like an eternity passed before the lord looked back up at Jack, eyes weary with stress. He began to speak again, this time more quietly, but his voice still carried the same urgency. "This treaty is at stake, Jack. It hasn't even been week yet. The Fudo's are questioning whether or not they made the right choice signing with us—and are doubting themselves for sacrificing Yusei."

He leaned forward, openly pleading with his king. This was side Jack had never seen before of Godwin, and absently wondered if it was brought on by his own, uncharacteristic behavior. The two never talked about private matters such as feelings—there was never the need for such things. And now, Jack wondered, was that what made this all the more difficult?

He hoped not.

"Jack, I need to know what happened last night."

"Why don't you ask Yusei if you want answers?" Jack snapped.

"Because he refuses to speak about it."

What! "What do you mean?"

"I'm saying that Yusei has refused to speak about last night with anyone except yourself."

Yusei still wished to speak with him? Or was it ploy he developed to make himself look mature without answering any questions? Either way, Jack hadn't expected it. And judging by Godwin's face, he had noticed Jack's surprise.

"I take it you were expecting his full cooperation with his parents?"

Jack nodded without thinking.

"Jack, the boy lied to his own parents about his feelings regarding your marriage proposal. What makes you think he'd divulge anything about last night to them?"

He had lied to them about that, too? "What about Judai?" he shot back bitterly. "Surely Yusei confided in him at the very least?"

"No, he hasn't. Jack, please—what happened? Why do you need someone else to tell the story? What can't you say that they can?"

.o.

They weren't stopping. He couldn't tell why. He brushed his face for the hundredth time, rubbing more runny mucus across his arm than there already was. He eyes felt dry for all the tears that were emerging, puffy and swollen from all his sobbing. His throat kept threatening to close off, and he choked on the air he was trying to swallow. Poor skinny Yusei was still trapped beneath his weight, clutching the arm Jack was using to support himself with all the strength of a frightened child.

Jack couldn't begin to say how grateful he was for having the one hand there, practically squeezing the life from his limb and turning the skin all different shades of colors. It was his lifeline. It was an anchor. It was what reminded him that Yusei was still there, still upset, but as unable to move as the man on top of him, too emotionally exhausted from the events of the day.

The thought made him want to cry all over again.

Judai Yuki won the duel…

"He won—he won…" Jack sobbed. "Damn it! He won!"

"Jack, Jack, Jack," Yusei said quietly, awkwardly patting Jack's shoulder as he attempted to worm himself out from under the king. "What are you talking about? What's wrong?"

His voice was light and his breaths short. Yusei was unable to disguise the panic now.

Jack hiccupped before releasing another round of sobs. He screwed his eyes shut to the best of his abilities and leaned his head forward, both arms now holding him up and further entrapping Yusei.

"I won't let him take you away, Yusei!" The king cried. "You're mine!"

"It's okay, Jack. I'm not going anywhere. No one's taking me. You can relax."

"You can't leave, Yusei!"

"I won't leave, I promise," Yusei hushed, voice strained as he tried to shove Jack off of him. The king hardly felt the effort.

"Don't leave me like you left your parents! Don't let someone else take you away!"

"I won't leave, Jack, okay?" Yusei groaned loudly as he tried to pry his stuck legs from beneath Jack. "Come on. Why don't we get up and have some water, huh? You've had a lot to drink tonight…Ugh!"

Jack collapsed on top of him, crushing him. Squeezing him. Yusei gasped for air, hands clawing at the ground. "Jack! You're hurting me!"

"I'm sorry…" Jack wrapped his arms around the prince even tighter, drawing him as close as their flesh would allow. Yusei beat against his back. "I'm sorry." He spotted the water on Yusei's face—Jack's tears—and gently licked them away. They were soiling Yusei…

Jack fell sideways, away from the pain when something sharp stabbed the side of his face. The heat fled from beneath him as Yusei scrambled to stand, backing away as slowly as could he like he was trying to disguise his movements. Jack shot up, hands rubbing the blood all over the side of his face to find the slash. So much red…how did…

Yusei's crown.

Yusei had hit Jack with his own crown.

Jack finally looked back at Yusei, who was in front of the door at this point. Something clicked—or snapped. Jack was too far gone to tell the difference.

"You're leaving…"

Yusei shook his head repeatedly. "Jack, I—"

"You said you wouldn't leave!"

Yusei still didn't come any closer. He held his hands out in front of him, emphasizing the shaking of his head. "Jack, just listen—"

"Get out!" Jack lost control of his hands. Something flew across the room, smacking Yusei in the head. It was a pillow from a chair. "GET THE HELL—OUT!"

.o.

"Should I send for someone to see to the cut?" Godwin asked quietly.

Jack shook his head. "I poured wine over it. It'll be fine." He took another sip of water. Godwin had been kind enough to call for someone to go fetch some straight from the well. It was still cool to drink.

It felt like heaven on his tongue.

"So what will you do now, Jack?"

"I don't know. I'm not sure I can do anything at this point."

"I don't think that's entirely true…" Godwin looked out the window, pushing the curtains after a moment to get a better view. "It'll be lunch in a few hours. I'm sure the others would like to see you up and about."

"Heh, doubt it." Jack chuckled listlessly. "I know I wouldn't be happy to see the man who hurt my child."

"You threw a pillow at his head. I highly doubt that qualifies at hurting Yusei."

"It's not what I threw at him that matters, Godwin," Jack ground out between clenched teeth. "It's the fact that I intentionally threw something at him with the hopes of causing him harm. No amount of apologizing will atone for that."

"You're right. It won't."

Jack blinked. Godwin had gone back to staring out the window. Not the reaction he had expected.

"That's why," Godwin said calmly, "you must never let this happen again. You're a king. You have people that depend on you. A state that needs your guidance. And," Godwin looked back at him, "a consort that does not wish to see you get yourself into any more trouble."

Jack threw the older man a strange look. Godwin explained. "Yusei told us that you didn't hurt him. He said that there had been a misunderstanding, but not once did he reveal the details of the drunken stupor in which you molested him."

He…defended me?

"Yusei is indeed an intelligent man, Jack. And a brave one. He knows that should you fall out of favor with the people, there could be a rebellion. He also knows that relations between the Satellite and New Domino are crucial to keeping his home safe, and understands that there has to be a level of sacrifice in order to achieve that."

No. He's defending his people

Yusei didn't care for Jack—he had said that up front on the first day they had met. And Jack knew that Yusei would do anything to help his beloved Satellite—but to go as far as he had last night in enduring all that Jack had done and tried to do…that took something else. Something he wasn't aware Yusei had.

"You had called your relationship a game; a game that you would win. What you didn't count on was that Yusei would fight back. You underestimated him when you shouldn't have." Godwin rose from his seat and started towards the door. "Figure out where you are in this game, Jack. Figure out what piece you'll play next. And this time," Godwin stopped until he held Jack's gaze, "count on Yusei playing the game with you. You've just surrounded your opponent's queen, Jack. But a queen is not limited to any one move. If you want that queen, you have to play smart.

"And if you want the other player's heart, you have to play fair."