Seto wished he smoked before driving over. He smoked his second and last cigarette of the day before Pegasus texted, and now had to drive while on edge. Talking Isono out of driving him took half the time between receiving the text and having to leave for Crawford's. Seto left the radio off. He needed to think.

Thinking got him nowhere. When he agreed to this, he hadn't known what to expect. He assumed Pegasus would be busy dictating countries and bullying more into submission. Working into Pegasus's schedule should have been harder. He expected fewer encounters and more public events. When looking into Pegasus's past relationships, Seto only found pictures of them in public.

Going to Pegasus's house felt like ten dates too soon.

But he pulled into the driveway and up to the gate, where the guards checked his ID and allowed him through. Seto didn't have the clearance for this. Then again, he kept thinking that, and Seto kept coming back to the fact it would take so many clearances across so many countries to cover them all.

He wasn't even helping Bakura.

Seto parked where it felt intuitive, and hoped it wasn't blocking anything. Dinner at Crawford's home didn't seem formal enough for a suit, so Seto dressed how he normally did, slacks and a button up, with a tie to justify wearing the collar fully buttoned.

Guards were stationed around the yard, unmoving like the statues that littered the landscaping. When Seto locked his car, they glanced at the sound of the beeping, and then returned to ignoring him. It was a cold night to be stationed outside without as much as a heat lamp.

Seto walked up to the steps to ring the bell, and two guards he hadn't seen before met him there. They frisked him thoroughly and checked his phone before letting him go inside. The entryway spanned two floors, and the second floor hallway opened to it. It reminded Seto a lot of Gozaburo's house, only the halls spanned either side of the entry.

"Seto," Pegasus said, coming out of a room toward the back. "I hope you didn't have trouble getting through the gate."

"None at all."

He took off his coat, and one of the guards offered to take it. Seto kept his phone, but left his keys in the coat pocket. Pegasus was wearing shoes, so Seto assumed he should leave his on.

"I thought I'd show you my studio before dinner," Pegasus said, and gestured for Seto to follow. "You showed me your work. It's only fair you see mine."

"Then I won't pretend I haven't already looked it up."

"Only the acceptable pieces get shown online. You'd be amazed at what my PR team won't let me show."

The floors were tiled and Pegasus's shoes clicked slightly as they walked, echoing in the narrow hall. The sound provided a welcome distraction from the tension gripping Seto, and he found himself counting the steps. Pegasus's pace was a bit slower than Seto's, and he slowed down to match it.

"And you listen?"

"It's what I pay them for."

"Doesn't it all get tedious?"

Pegasus glanced over to him. "Spare me from a night of tedium?"

"It's what I'm here for."

"Only partially."

Pegasus opened the door to his studio, a room as big as Gozaburo's library at home, with easels spread out, mostly facing the windows, and the walls fully covered in paintings. Seto recognized several of the subjects from his search into Pegasus's past relationships, and then other things, like the red bridge at the downtown park, the Empire State Building, the Great Wall of China, and other major landmarks worldwide. The mix of people, landscapes, and buildings was fairly even, and then one wall was entirely comprised of fantasy monsters.

"These are the ones they won't let you release?"

"They're cowards in the face of the inscrutable public."

Seto wove his path around a few easels to take a closer look at the wall, wishing he knew more about art critique so he had something useful to respond. Was it a compliment to call fantasy creatures lifelike? What was the primary aspect to comment on? The texture? Shadows? Emotional response?

He moved from one to the next, from mermaid to centaur to fairy, and stopped at a large pegasus with spread wings.

"Very on the nose, wouldn't you say?"

"You can't have a name like mine and not paint one pegasus."

"They wouldn't even let you release this one?"

"It's inappropriate for my image, it seems."

"Of course. Politicians are only allowed to care about practical things."

"What sort of artwork does Kaiba keep in his house?" Pegasus asked. He followed Seto at arm's length, letting him set the pace for traversing the room. Whenever Seto glanced over, he saw Pegasus's gaze on him, not the paintings. Seto needed to get used to the stares. Pegasus had seen these paintings hundreds of times. It wasn't strange to find him not looking.

"Motel art," Seto said. "His father clearly paid a designer back in the 50s, and Gozaburo never bothered to redecorate when he inherited it. I doubt he could name three of the pieces if you asked him."

"They blend in that much?"

"I think it's more they don't stand out."

"What's the point of art if all anyone sees is an empty wall?"

Seto shrugged and moved on to a small selection of dragon paintings. "Which are your most recent?"

"These here."

There were three canvases leaning against the wall, not yet framed. The first was a landscape, but with a woman sitting in front of a lake. She faced away, so it was only her blonde curls and blue dress visible. The second painting was a white dragon, standing on its hind legs and unfurling its wings. The third was of space, with a constellation Seto hadn't seen.

"Three vastly different pieces," Seto said. "You don't get fixated on one subject for long?"

"In a way, they're all related."

Pegasus reached out and softly put his fingertips on Seto's elbow, and then eased into a light hold on the fabric there. Seto angled to look, down at the hand, and then up to Pegasus. Pegasus had taken a step closer, to the point his chest brushed against Seto's arm.

"You've been on my mind."

"And I inspire new stars?"

And given the woman in the first painting, memories of his late wife.

"You inspire a great deal."

Pegasus's other hand came to Seto's cheek, resting softly, a thumb tracing the corner of Seto's lip as if asking permission. Seto gave more attention to Pegasus's eyes, more relaxed, and perhaps cautious, than Seto imagined they could be. Neither of them moved while they took in each other.

For a moment, Seto wondered what it would have been like to question if people were only around out of obligation. His thoughts darkened when he reminded himself he was there for so much worse.

"I hope soon you won't be so nervous around me."

"You're the one with reason to be nervous," Seto said, and decided not to pull back. "I'm as lofty as the stars."

Pegasus smiled and closed the distance. The first kiss came and went briefly, and Pegasus leaned back only enough to meet Seto's gaze again. Seto saw the question in his eyes, and this time, kissed Pegasus first.

Pegasus's hand stayed on Seto's cheek, but a finger curled into the hair by his ear. Seto put a hand on Pegasus's waist, then dared to slide it down. It opened Pegasus's inhibitions, and he pressed Seto against the wall, jostling a few paintings. The kiss deepened and they held each other where they could, hips, hair, jaw, and arm, occasionally grips tightening and demanding more.

They kissed passionately, as if they had been together for decades and were reuniting after a month apart. There was no resistance or hesitance, nothing to cause either of them to slow down, just fire and intensity.

There was no need to slow down, and it had been a while since Seto had been this close to anyone. He let himself enjoy it, to fully embrace the taste of Pegasus's mouth and the feel of his fingers in his hair. They were secure and overwhelming, to the point Seto couldn't imagine being anywhere else.

He knew, somewhere in the back of his mind, that these hands shouldn't have felt safe. They pulled the trigger and ended so many lives, but they enveloped Seto like they could prevent any danger from ever passing through.

The door to the studio opened, breaking them apart. Pegasus let out a breath, stepping back, but leaving his hand gripped on Seto's elbow.

"Excuse me, Master Crawford," a soft voice said. "You said to let you know when dinner was ready."

"That I did."

He smiled and rolled his eyes back a bit, and moved his hand to take Seto's. Seto thought he might have been annoyed with the interruption, but Pegasus seemed more amused than anything.

"Well, we've been summoned. You shouldn't let me get carried away before dinner."

"I'll be sure to put down my foot next time."

Pegasus led the way, keeping his hold on Seto's hand. The maid who had come to get them disappeared through a side door, and they went on without her. Seto didn't bother memorizing the halls. Pegasus wouldn't leave him alone here at any point in the next few months.

"Do you like filet mignon?"

"It's one of my favorites," Seto said. "Have you been looking into me?"

"Just a few bits here and there."

"You'll know all my secrets before I do."

"I'll leave you with a few to keep tucked away."

The dining room had already been set for dinner, their plates waiting. Two plates were set at the end of the long table, with one place setting at the head, and one immediately to the right. Despite only having two seats filled, the rest of the table had been decorated as if expecting a crowd.

Pegasus pulled out the chair for Seto. His phone was in his back pocket, and to keep from sitting on it, he took it out and set it face down on the table. No one would be contacting him, but he kept it close, in case something happened with Mokuba. There hadn't been any more close calls since the last, but Seto wouldn't put it past Gozaburo.

"Now that I'm sitting here, I realize I forgot the formalities," Seto said. "How was your day?

"Listening to politicians argue, a quick pit stop for a final ruling, and now dinner with you. If I never have to listen to a bunch of old men arguing about which countries have the most resources to offer, it'll be too soon."

Didn't he have enough countries under his belt?

"I couldn't even say which resources are the most important," Seto said. "According to Gozaburo, only militaries matter."

"I have a hard time believing he's that small minded."

"Perhaps hyperfixated would be a better way of putting it."

"There's a reason men like him never make it far. Seeing the big picture very rarely involves steamrolling everyone standing in front of you."

Seto reached for the wine in front of him. Since he intended to drive himself home, Seto planned to limit himself to a single glass. He would savor it through dinner and focus more on the water.

"What is involved?"

"Lots of arguing and contracts and counteroffers and compromise. It started off harder than it is now. The more people who sign our accord, the closer we are to world peace. Wouldn't that be something?"

"What would be the next world objective?" Seto asked.

"One thing at a time."

Pegasus clinked his glass to Seto's. He was the first to take a bite of dinner, and Seto followed shortly after. He doubted Bakura would care about anything Pegasus had said so far, but Seto wouldn't push his luck by asking for more information. Even if he knew what information they were looking for, asking wasn't an option.

Seto was here for dinner, not information.

"Do you have plans for the holidays?" Seto asked.

"The same as usual. Public speeches. Working through it. A few charity events. I'll send you the schedule for the ones nearby."

"You'd want me to go?"

"I can't very well show up alone. What would the tabloids say?"

"The same things they've said before when you arrived without a partner?" Seto guessed.

"Would you say no to the dates?" Pegasus asked, more interested than insulted.

"If I had other plans, and depending what they were. It's early enough I can pencil you in."

"I'd prefer you used a pen."

Seto inclined his head a bit with his answer, "I'll see what I can do."

"I get the inkling you aren't one for future plans."

"Nothing is set in stone. I try not to force things to be."

At least planning for the holidays only included events a month off. Those Seto accepted simply, not giving them much extra thought. A month passed already, and this was only their third date, fourth if he counted the day on campus. He could handle two or three dates a month, even if next month's were in public.

"And here I have to plan a year in advance if I need more than a day for anything," Pegasus said, and took a sip of his wine. "It's a shame really. I'd love a touch of spontaneity."

"How much does your position afford?"

"Nowhere near enough. You should take advantage of your university days while you're able."

Seto shook his head lightly, disagreeing in the only way he felt comfortable with. "My days left there are limited and fully booked. I should have run off during undergraduate."

"What was your major?"

"Mechanical Engineering," Seto said. "But my masters is in Software."

"Is it common to pursue a different graduate degree?"

"I couldn't say. I just wanted to be more rounded."

"Which branch of engineering does your projector fall under?" Pegasus asked. He leaned an elbow on the table, paying more attention to Seto than to their dinner.

"Since I'm fixating on the projector itself, mechanical. The program I'm writing to run through the projector isn't what I'm centering my thesis on."

Seto's phone went off, a short tone that repeated twice. The alarm overrode his vibrate setting, and that meant it was a public notification. On reflex, Seto picked up his phone, clicked the execution notification, and muted it. He was halfway through putting it down before he caught himself.

He closed his eyes for a moment, wishing he could go back just ten seconds and not do something that exceptionally stupid.

But he eventually had to lift his gaze to Pegasus, who stared back at him in a state of stunned disbelief. The air between them thickened, and nothing Seto could say would justify what he had just done.

"You don't watch them," Pegasus said, slowly, like he was trying to figure out what to make of that. He stood, and Seto did as well, a reflex he'd picked up defending himself from Gozaburo. But that was a mistake, and Pegasus only looked more horrified when Seto took a step away from the table.

"I didn't want to interrupt our dinner."

Pegasus continued walking toward Seto, backing him toward a wall. This time, he didn't touch Seto, just held him in place with his proximity and position.

"You don't watch. Seto, I've mandated everyone watch them."

"I—"

"Don't lie to me," Pegasus said. His voice was angry, but confused, maybe even a bit hurt. "You could be arrested for this."

Seto knew, and also knew he and Pegasus hadn't gotten nearly close enough for a pardon. He'd broken one of Pegasus's only personal laws, while sitting at the table with Pegasus.

"I can't watch them," Seto admitted. He had been caught, and lying might land him in jail. Backed in the corner, Seto fell back on the truth.

"I've mandated it. They aren't meant to be entertaining."

Seto flinched at his tone, and when he failed to think of any reply, saying nothing felt his wisest option. Any defense fell flat in his mind. Seto didn't even argue over potential dates. How could he defend himself when he'd obviously broken a law?

"Damn it, Seto. Why don't you watch them?"

"I watched my parents die," Seto said, the words coming out too fast. He couldn't make the confession and look at Pegasus, so he stared at a massive vase in the far end of the room. "There was a drunk driver who ran a light and hit us straight on. The four of us were in the car, and we got pinned for twenty minutes. My parents died after five."

And Seto spent the next fifteen minutes unable to get out of the flipped car, begging his parents to wake up, and for Mokuba to stop crying.

Pegasus put fingers on Seto's chin and brought his gaze back to him. For a few seconds, Seto closed his eyes to avoid having to face anyone in the aftermath of the confession. He had never told anyone that, and having to own up to it first to avoid potential prison time wasn't how he had anticipated ever broaching the topic.

But eventually, he opened his eyes and found Pegasus scrutinizing him. His look was tailored with confusion, hurt, and the faintest line of pity. Seto hadn't intended on the pity. It made him angry, that his only defense against Pegasus's anger was pity and Seto hated it. He clenched his jaw and his fists and almost wished Pegasus would arrest him.

"You have to watch them," Pegasus said. "It isn't an option."

"I know."

Pegasus's hand dropped from Seto's chin. His next breath was heavy, raising Pegasus's chest and shoulders with it. He seemed to be settling his thoughts, and Seto gave him the space for it.

"I can't make exceptions for you," he said at length.

"You shouldn't have to. I have—" Seto paused, trying to think of the least incriminating way to phrase it, "—an issue with violence."

"It's a single shot. They're all single shots."

Seto ran his tongue over his lips—they were oddly dry—and stared at Pegasus.

"Are you going to have me arrested, sir?"

"Don't do that. You don't get to be vainly defensive over this."

Holding Seto against the wall, Pegasus still had to finish judging Seto. The next few minutes would determine too much of Seto's future, and he was ready to come to the end of them. One outcome or the other, the anticipation was thick enough it made breathing hard. If he was arrested here, Isono and Fuguta would have to run with Mokuba.

"I can't watch anyone else die," Seto said.

"You aren't supposed to want to watch them. It isn't supposed to be easy."

While Pegasus was clearly weighing his decisions, Seto took a chance.

"It's hard not to see that when I look at you," he said, but didn't let himself break their stare. "I know I'm at fault and that you shouldn't make the exception. There isn't any defense I can give."

"But you know I will," Pegasus said. "I don't like being put in this position."

Seto cursed himself again for not just watching the video. He dismissed those notifications for so long instinct had taken over, and he had been too distracted with the conversation. It wasn't an excuse.

"You prerecorded it," Seto said. "I can watch it now."

Then maybe they could pretend like this hadn't happened. If he watched it now, minutes after it aired, then there wasn't much real difference. No laws would have been broken. They could carry on.

Pegasus considered, then nodded. "Come with me."

They left dinner half-finished on the table, and went to a nearby sitting room. It was smaller than any room Seto would have expected the house to have, with two couches facing each other from opposite walls, a fireplace as the room's focal point, and a few bare end tables. The decor was sparse enough Seto knew no one ever came here from outside the home. They could have privacy here to cover Seto's crime.

Pegasus sat first, and Seto beside him. His phone was still on the dining table, so Pegasus used his to pull up the video.

"It's half a minute. Don't look away."

Seto hadn't made himself watch the executions in years, but nothing about the pattern of them had changed over that time. It opened with a man reading the sentence—this time the charges were forging the signature of Pegasus's chief of staff for the express purpose of rerouting classified documents—and then Pegasus stepping on the platform. There was no fanfare. No final words. The sentence was read and Pegasus fired the gun. They were always head-shots.

After it ended, they sat in silence. Seto stared at the pattern of the wallpaper on the wall opposite, tracing the interwoven floral designs. He thought of his parents, upside down in the car, blood dripping onto the ceiling below them. His mother kept trying to reach back for them, and it was only when she stopped that Seto knew she had died. He hadn't been able to get his seat belt unbuckled.

Pegasus put an arm around him, and eased Seto down so his head rested on Pegasus's lap. Pegasus ran his fingers through Seto's hair in a comforting rhythm, a gentle motion that gave Seto a pattern to breathe to.

"This will be our secret," Pegasus said in a quiet tone. "No one has to know."

Seto let Pegasus play with his hair and let himself be distracted from the memories. Pegasus's fingers felt nice, and his other hand rested on Seto's arm with a slight, defensive grip. In their current privacy, Seto let himself believe the illusion he had spun for Pegasus.

No one needed to know.

Thanks for reading and reviewing!

You can expect an update the second weekend of November.