Ilana: Hey guys! I'm really sorry about how insanely late this update is...
Loralei: *evil death glare* WHY CAN'T YOU EVER UPDATE ON TIME! *waving fists*
Drystan: Calm down Lor. Be happy she updated at all. Even though she's SUPPOSED to be reading the books her school assigned her, she's instead taking the time to write the long awaited chapter.
Ilana: ^_^ Thank you Drystan! Okkay, so in this chapter I put a little bit of (temporarily) one-sided Puppyshipping.
Artair: And a big shout-out to user MaskYourSmile for being the first person to not only favorite and subscribe to my story, but also for faving and subscribing to the actual author!
Ilana: Yeah, that really made my day and actually inspired me to write. Okkay Drystan, disclaimer please!
Drystan: Ilana does not in any way shape or form own Yugioh!
The next few days went on in a blur of a repeated pattern: Atemu would go to his throne room for work with his council, and Heba would serve him by his side. They would eat meals together and make small displays of affection, like a few chaste kisses and warm hugs, but they would keep each moment under control. Atemu had been right; he would be so completely drained from his duties that he would not have the energy for more intimate moments. But Heba didn't mind much. He admired Atemu's diligence in his work and his sense of responsibility to his kingdom. However, Heba could tell that his lover's patience was wearing thin.
"Dammit! How many damn laws does one country need! I swear Seth is just making shit up out of nowhere! And what's with all these thieves? Why can't they just get a job and earn an honest living, and give me a break?" Atemu yelled out as he entered his chambers one afternoon. Heba was right behind him, carrying in their lunch. Heba couldn't help but chuckle; when Atemu was frustrated he would complain like a child, and a cross between a scowl and a pout would adorn his face. As it was now.
Heba sighed, put down the tray, and went over to his lover. Atemu looked up when he noticed Heba's approach, and his breath hitched when the little servant cupped his face with both his hands, forcing the Pharaoh to look at his face. Heba smiled softly at him and rubbed his cheeks with his thumbs. Atemu almost immediately felt the tension in his body relax at the endearing gesture. He didn't understand how his little one did it, but he was able to take away all of his stress with small affectionate gestures such as this.
"Atemu, calm down" Heba said gently and quietly. "You have been very busy this week, and I'm proud of your resilience. Don't worry, for there are only two more days of laws and trials to see to, and three days until *cough* Ambassador Pegasus returns to Shiba."
Atemu returned the smile and pulled his little lover closer to him. "Thank you my Little One, my Heba. Your words relieve me, if only a bit." What magic does he possess, to be able to calm me so simply. Then Atemu smirked as an idea formed in his head. "Would you like to know what would bring me further relief?"
Heba looked at his Pharaoh with eager eyes. "Of course my Pharaoh! Whatever it may be, it would be my pleasure to help you."
Atemu's smirk grew. He took Heba's chin in his hand, causing the servant to blush. "Then, how about we nullify that agreement we made on the sleeping arrangements at the beginning of this torturous week." Heba's face flamed further as Atemu moved to close the distance between their lips, when a knock at the door interrupted them.
Mahado's head poked in through the door, a slight blush on his face from knowing that he had been interrupting. "I apologize my Pharaoh, but there are a few laws that need your immediate attention; Simon insists you take a look at them before lunch."
The death-glare Mahado received could not be described with mere words. But Atemu knew that if he did not go, then he would feel the wrath that is Priest Simon. "Very well then, I'm coming. Heba, you are dismissed for now. But later" Atemu took his little lover's hand and brought it to his lips. "I will have your undivided, and uninterrupted, attention."
Heba blushed to his roots, and Mahado's discomfort grew immensely. Atemu got up and started for the door, and Mahado said "Oh, and Heba, your presence has been requested by one of the kitchen staff." Heba gave him a questioning look and Mahado added "the blonde one that Seth likes to pick on."
"Jōno!" Heba's face lit up. He hadn't been able to see his friend for the whole duration of this week because of his busy schedule with the Pharaoh. He bowed and excused himself before taking off for the palace kitchen.
Upon entering the kitchen, Heba was promptly pulled into a fierce hug. "Heba, buddy!" Jōno all but yelled out as he hugged his friend's brains out. "I haven't talked to ya' all week! What gives? You avoidin' me?"
Heba struggled to escape his friend's bone-crushing embrace, but only managed to situate himself at least a bit more comfortably. "Aw Jōno, you know that's not it. This is a very busy week, and you know that personally considering how hard they've been working you here."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Excuses, excuses." Jōno said jokingly. He let go of his tinnier companion and pulled them both up a seat by an empty sandstone table. "Anyway, I whipped us up some snacks."
"And you didn't eat them all before I got here? I'm impressed" Heba said sarcastically. Jōno was actually one of the best on the kitchen staff and everything he made was mouth-wateringly delicious. The problem is that his stomach is an insatiable black hole, so making sure the food actually gets to its destination, as opposed to his own stomach, is a great feat in itself. "I still don't understand how you managed to devour our guest's dinner the other night and still found time to make it again."
"I'm awesome, dat's how" Jōno stated, puffing his chest out proudly. He laid a tray out on the table. It had several small pieces of cooked meats and vegetables. As soon as Heba got a whiff of the platter, he started salivating. "Dig in little buddy. I know I interrupted your lunch with da Pharaoh."
They both proceeded to eat as they carried on light conversation and gave one another updates on how their week had been going.
"I swear, I can't wait for dat Ra damned Ambassador to hit the road. Da dude's a freakin' perv! When I served him his lunch - totally intact by da way" Jōno quickly added as he noticed the smirk on Heba's face. "He kept tryin' tuh rape me wit his eyes, 'den he asked if I could hand feed him, and when I refused he asked if I could be "his plate". 'Den he started tryin' tuh get me in his bed, sayin' he'd pay me, like I'm some kinda whore. 'DEN, when I went tuh serve da other guests and priests, he grabbed my ass! Who does dis guy think he is?"
Heba actually chuckled the memory of that afternoon. Now I know why Seth has been glaring so much lately. And I guess it explains why the work load has been increasing; I guess everyone wants that guy out of here as soon as possible.
"And ya know what Heba, I feel bad for dat servant o' his. I mean, if dis, is how he treats other people's servants, imagine how he treats his own. Really, and-"
"Don't worry about me; I can take care of myself just fine." A voice interjected.
Heba and Jōno turned to see Pegasus' servant, Duke, standing in the doorway to the kitchen. As he approached them he continued, "Well, my master can be quite rough and sadistic, and his libido is certainly unmatched, but I manage."
Jōno's face was one of sheer disgust, while Heba's one of fear and pity.
"Well, excuse my bluntness for a sec, but I imagine dat guy must come after ya like a dog in heat. Ya ain't exactly bad lookin" Jōno said seriously.
Duke smirked "Thanks for the flattery, but you're not really my type."
Jōno frowned and said in a mock-distressed voice "Oh no! How will I go on with the rejection?"
Of course, who just had to walk in at the beginning of that sentence? A brunette adorned in blue and gold robes silently made his way across the kitchen toward the three servants. His sapphire blue eyes held a glint of annoyance and this mouth was set in a stiff frown. Ah, the irritable Priest Seth.
"If you have enough time to be fooling around, then you should instead be working. Our guests should not have to suffer any sub-par meals."
"And since when have any of my prepared meals been sub-par?" Jōno snarled back. "Why is dat you're da only one who ever complains about my cooking?"
Seth's eyes narrowed and he retorted "It should not matter that the guests have not yet been unsatisfied, nor should it matter who the one is making a complaint; perfection is expected in the palace. So get back to work."
Unable to think of a good rebuttal, Jōno stalked off towards the other end of the kitchen to keep working. Then Seth turned to Duke. "And you, don't you have your own responsibilities? Go "entertain" your master so that he stops harassing the staff." To this Duke grinned and shrugged his shoulders defeated. As he walked away, Seth glared after him, then switched his gaze onto the blonde chef, who was mumbling and cursing to himself.
Heba sighed exasperatedly. Seth is so dishonest about his feelings and intensions. He cleared his throat so as to get the priest's attention, then said "You know, if you keep picking on him and treating him this way, he may actually come to hate you."
Seth flinched at the words, his gaze on Jōno softening and his frown becoming more sad than frustrated. "I know. I know this, but…"
Jōno then turned around and glared at the priest before yelling "Hey, why don't you get back to your duties, ya sonovvabitch priest!"
Seth returned Jōno's glare, if only to amuse the blonde, then headed out. I know this, but at least while he's loathing me I'm the one occupying his thoughts.
After a few minutes, Heba decided it was also about time he returned to his Pharaoh. He jumped off his perch by the table and sprinted out the kitchen to find Atemu. As he rounded the next corner his search promptly ended, as he collided with his lover, sending them both to the floor.
After his head stopped spinning, Heba quickly pushed himself and held out a hand to assist his Pharaoh, a worried expression on his face. "Oh my Ra! I'm so so so sorry my Pharaoh! I had not been paying enough attention to my surroundings! Oh Ra, I'm such a ditz! I'm so so-" Heba was cut off from his frantic rambling when, instead of standing back up, Atemu took his hand and pulled him down to straddle his lap. As Heba realized his position he blushed and looked away embarrassed. Atemu smirked and pulled him in closer, which made Heba calm down, while his heart rate and the red hue in his face went up. Atemu chuckled at his little lover's cuteness before taking Heba's chin in his hand so as to make the flustered little servant look at him.
"Now, about those sleeping arrangements..."
Pegasus was sitting on his bed as Duke entered his guest chambers. The drapes were drawn oven the window-balcony, giving the room and eerie look, despite it only being the late afternoon.
The black haired servant kneeled before his master and gave his report. "According to my observations, the Pharaoh and his servant have indeed crossed the boundaries between simple "master and slave". However it seems that they sleep in different chambers."
This confused the silver haired ambassador; if he had that little servant himself, he would not let him leave the room at all at night.
Duke continued "After all our meetings with him and dinner in the evening he returns to his chambers, where his little servant prepares a bath for him. After which the Pharaoh goes straight to bed. He is usually completely asleep after an hour at most."
Pegasus pondered the information for a few moments. Then his mouth broke into a malicious grin and he said "Okkay then, we will go through with the plan tonight." Duke's face now mirrored the malice in his master's. "You will go to his room approximately two hours after he falls asleep, and carry out the deed."
The servant chuckled and gave a "yes my master" before he and said lecher left the room to attend the last of their evening meetings.
Pegasus was very pleased with himself. Tonight we will be rid of that immature excuse for a Pharaoh, and soon his entire kingdom as well.
Loralei: AW! I feel so bad for Seth!
Artair: Don't worry about that! Did you not read the last part of the chapter? 0.0
Ilana: I know, suspense to be held until I can get off my lazy ass and write the next chapter
Drystan: Che. You guys can worry your asses off about that, while I anticipate the issue of the "sleeping arangements" *perverted grin*
Ilana: Okkay, well until next time! (whenever that might be...)