"That one's Tori," Mokuba said, pointing to one of the turtles. They all looked the same to Seto, but Pegasus nodded as if he knew which Mokuba meant.
"And the one beside him?" Pegasus asked. "Are they all named after other animals?"
"Not all of them. The aquarium posted polls online for all the new ones, and let people vote. So that one's Pacha, and that one's an English word, Cabbage, which isn't even a name."
Pegasus chuckled. "Named after one of their favorite foods."
"I guess. But I bet they like blueberries better."
"Who wouldn't prefer blueberries to cabbage?"
"Someone who's allergic to blueberries."
Pegasus's laugh echoed in the empty aquarium. They had come early for a private tour, although Mokuba knew it well enough they hardly needed a guide. The guide assigned to them had hung back for most of the tour, since she recognized Seto and Mokuba apart from Pegasus.
It was strange being here alone, without visitors or Ryou.
Even stranger, Pegasus had invited Gozaburo, who stood aside with Seto.
"You're telling me you bought annual passes solely to stare at turtles?" Gozaburo said, quietly enough Mokuba wouldn't be able to hear.
"You can hardly argue it isn't educational."
"Seeing the same thing three times a month?"
"Tell Daimon that. He assigned the same worksheets too often to count."
Gozaburo's bitterness that Mokuba enjoyed a subject matter wouldn't interfere with their day. His preferences about making education miserable had always been nonsense, and Seto knew Gozaburo's tells well enough now to debate them, not the illusions Gozaburo argued.
"You act as if he'll end up a zookeeper."
"He will if he wants to. Or a marine biologist. Zoologist. Or simply a future turtle owner."
Pegasus turned and held out a hand for Seto, drawing him forward. "I take it you've met them all before?"
"Many times," Seto said, coming up to Pegasus's side. "Just wait until you see how many river turtles are in the outdoor exhibit."
"Don't tell me you know all those by name," Pegasus said to Mokuba.
"They don't have official names like these, but I gave them all my own names. They just have to be close enough for me to see their shells."
"How many are there?"
"A couple dozen," Mokuba said, shrugging.
"Tell me you don't know all the fish too."
"I don't. And definitely not the spider crabs."
"Spider crabs?"
"Yeah, you know, the ones with the creepy-long legs?"
Mokuba pointed to the other end of the room, where the circular tank with the long-legged crabs filled the center of the room. "We don't go over there. They're the worst."
"Do we have to walk by to get to the river turtles?"
"They're the other way."
"We don't have too much longer before they'll need to open for the day," Pegasus said. "Why don't we head to them?"
They started down the glass tunnel, and Mokuba gave one last look to the sea turtles. Seto held Pegasus's hand as they walked.
After dinner the other night, Seto expected something to change. He didn't know what, and didn't know if he was being paranoid for no reason. Pegasus had no qualms killing people who crossed him, and if he knew, what reason would there be to delay it? Pegasus couldn't risk the public learning he dated a spy.
Even if Seto had been a miserable one.
"Is it normally crowded when you visit?" Pegasus asked.
"Usually. We can only come when school's out."
"It would be nice to paint here a while, but not if surrounded by screaming children."
"Only some of them run around screaming."
"As soon as one of them ran into my easel, I'd be crushed. So much time invested in something, only to see if ruined before my eyes."
"Thankfully, I don't anticipate you facing any trouble in that regard."
Pegasus squeezed Seto's hand. "I trust not."
"You could always add an aquarium in your house," Seto said. "A full wall in one of the sitting rooms."
"Just think of the upkeep on something of that scale."
"I think it'd be pretty cool," Mokuba said. "You could have a turtle tank."
"For those days when coming here just doesn't cut it?"
"You wouldn't even have to drive to see them."
When they finally left Gozaburo's house, Seto wanted to get Mokuba a turtle. At eighteen, he might have outgrown them, but Seto doubted it. A person didn't pass up on their childhood dreams so easily. If Seto couldn't fulfill Mokuba's dreams now, he wouldn't forget them down the line.
"That's a good point. I just don't have the time to visit them, even at home. I imagine they'd get lonely with how often I'm called away."
"Yeah, I guess that's true."
The outdoor exhibit was only partially outside, with a covered roof that let the sunlight stream through. The exhibits here were all open, with low glass walls keeping the animals in and giving a view of what swam underwater.
Mokuba led them straight to the turtles.
"These are the ones who like to sit on the rocks. They'll dive into the water if people get too loud."
"Then we'll keep our voices level for their benefit."
This time, Gozaburo didn't stay back. He stood in line with them, and Seto tensed. Gozaburo wouldn't say anything out of place in front of Pegasus. If Seto overreacted, he'd be the one to give it away.
"Which turtle is this one closest?" Pegasus asked, gesturing to one with streaks of yellow on its shell.
While Mokuba named them, Seto again appreciated this aspect of Pegasus. He carried on conversations related to Mokuba's interests. Whether he cared about turtles didn't matter. More important was that he cared about Mokuba enough to let him talk about one of his passions.
Maybe he was doing it for Seto's sake, not Mokuba's, but that didn't change anything. It reinforced Seto's confidence that Pegasus's feelings could be trusted. Mokuba was important to Seto, which made him important to Pegasus.
Seeing him ask about the turtles felt the same as having Pegasus hand him the keys to the lab.
"Do you really have set names for them, or are you making them up as you go to tease me?"
"I really know them all," Mokuba said. "Niisama's been bringing me here for years."
"So many of them look identical."
"You just have to know how to pick them apart."
They watched a while longer, and then Pegasus asked Gozaburo, "Are you able to join us for breakfast?"
"I'm afraid not. I have a mid-morning meeting with a few local businessmen. I can take Mokuba with me."
"Nonsense. I'd love for him to join Seto and me for breakfast. I'll bring them both back by lunch."
Mokuba glanced at Seto, but neither of them said anything. Seto already warned Mokuba breakfast was a possibility. Pegasus said nothing about reserving a restaurant after, so Seto guessed they would be going back to his house. Eventually Mokuba would need to visit, might as well check it off the list today.
"But before we go, you need to point out which is your favorite," Pegasus told Mokuba.
"Definitely Emiko," Mokuba said. He bent down to look into the water, and pointed to one swimming. "She does flips all the time, like she knows you're watching and wants to impress."
Pegasus leaned beside him to look. "Why did you choose the name Emiko?"
"Um, it's a family name," Mokuba said simply.
Seto could explain it later. There wasn't any reason to bring up their mother in front of Gozaburo and all Pegasus's security team.
"It's lovely. Is it because her appearance?"
"Not really. I just wanted to give her a great name since she's so unique. The workers say she flips because she has a bad flipper, but I think she just likes to do it."
"You may have a point with that."
They watched her swim for a few minutes, and then headed for the exit. The workers thanked them for coming, despite the fact Pegasus had made them open two hours early, and hadn't made it a press event. Seto guessed the unwarranted praise would be another thing to adjust to.
"I see why you enjoy coming here," Pegasus said. "It's a very relaxing setting."
"That and the turtles," Mokuba said.
"And the turtles. Have you considered a job working with them when you're older?"
"Yes sir. The sea turtles need a lot of help."
"They do. Maybe you can help me throw a charity event to fundraise for them. Get a start helping them now."
Mokuba paused. "Really?"
"Really. It's a good cause, and you wouldn't need to wait until you were grown to get your foot in the door."
"I'd like that," Mokuba said, excitement creeping into his tone. "I really would.
"That settles it. Next time I'm in Domino, Seto can help arrange a meeting for us to begin planning something. We'll aim for late spring."
There went Pegasus planning for the future again. They were barely through January and he wanted plans for the spring. Getting used to it might take a while, even if Seto was mentally ready to accept it.
He had plans to visit Ryou tonight, and assumed Bakura would drop in. They hadn't caught up in a while. and now there had been two dates without a check-in.
This would be the last. He didn't owe Bakura anything, and despite the fact Bakura had been making a slight effort with Ryou, Seto wouldn't risk himself or Mokuba anymore than he had. Pegasus was safer.
Somehow.
It was an odd thought.
Their cars were waiting, and Gozaburo bowed to Pegasus.
"Always a pleasure, Kaiba-sama," Pegasus said. He hadn't let go of Seto's hand. If anything, his grip had tightened. "I'll bring your sons back to you in a few hours."
"Good day, Master Crawford."
Gozaburo glanced at their joined hands, but then got into his car. Pegasus led Seto to the door Croquet held open for them, and they climbed into the back. Mokuba came in after.
"Mokuba, do you have more of an artistic eye than your brother?"
"I've never studied art."
"There are some things that just come naturally. You're welcome to give me an honest interpretation of my studio. Your brother had a few thoughts on it."
"More than a few."
"All good, I guess?" Mokuba asked.
"Some skeptical."
"Is there a better way to react to a series of creature paintings?" Seto asked. "I feel like some skepticism is justified."
They started moving, and Mokuba buckled. He didn't seem as anxious this go around, but Seto still wanted to buffer the conversation. Gozaburo paraded him around in conversations for years, expecting him to talk casually with strangers and businessmen without any assistance. Seto wouldn't leave Mokuba to that.
"Niisama says you paint a lot of different things."
"I do. Do you draw?"
"Sometimes, but I'm not good at it."
"Every talent comes with practice. Is it something you'd like to be good at?"
"I think so. I want to draw the stuff I think about."
"What sort of things do you imagine?"
"A lot of stories. Adventures like in the movies."
"What movie is your favorite?"
"It's a kid's movie," Mokuba said, as if that were anything to be embarrassed over. "Treasure Planet."
"I don't think I've heard of that one," Pegasus said.
"It's a retelling of Treasure Island, but in space," Seto said. "It's very good."
Pegasus nodded and took out his phone. Sitting beside him, Seto saw Pegasus searching it online. Everything he did while interacting with Mokuba made Seto care about him a fraction more. But the fractions added up quickly.
"Maybe I'll watch it on my next flight."
"That'd be a cool place for it," Mokuba said. "Since they're flying through space for most of the movie, except when they're on one of the planets."
"I have an upcoming trip to Beijing," Pegasus said, glancing to Seto. "You should come with me."
Seto needed to stop being surprised every time Pegasus said something forward. Pegasus hadn't arrested him, and wanted to continue the relationship despite Seto's recent confessions.
"When will that be? I don't know how much I could be away from school."
"I can fly you in and out whenever, although I'd like it if one of our flights could be together. You're much better company than catching up on emails."
"Your emails are a bottomless pit."
"Deeper than you can imagine. Distract me from them, Seto," Pegasus said, letting his head fall to the side in slight theatrics.
"And what will I do while you're in constant meetings?"
"Find reasons to pull me away from them. We'll manage some sightseeing."
Seto considered it this time. Beijing wasn't as far as Spain, and he wanted to try commitment. His last years of university were nothing more than his dissertation and the accompanying project. He could spare a week if Pegasus wanted him to travel.
"You'll come with me?" Pegasus pressed.
"I will, as long as I have your word I won't be left bored in a hotel room."
"Bring Isono, and I'll assign a few guards to you. When I'm working, you can explore. Do you have a passport?"
"I don't."
Pegasus opened up a folder on his phone, and added a note to himself: Expedite Seto's Passport.
"We'll get a picture of you today and I'll get one made for you. They'll rush it."
"You didn't mention when the trip was," Seto said. He took out his own phone to put it into his calendar.
"I'll be flying there from Italy on the last Friday of the month, then back to Domino for next month's visit. We can make the trip back together."
"You'd be gone a week?" Mokuba asked.
Leaving meant abandoning Mokuba to Gozaburo. If Seto took Isono with him, Fuguta would be playing defense on his own. Once already this year, Gozaburo went around Fuguta. If Seto was going to leave, he would need to come to some sort of agreement.
"It could be less than that if needed," Pegasus offered. "Just long enough to make the flight worthwhile."
"Beijing would be an exciting first trip out of Domino," Seto said. The more he thought about it, the more he wanted to go. Arranging something with Gozaburo was worth it, because Seto had given up a decade to protect Mokuba, at the expense of ever doing anything.
He wanted the experiences. He was twenty-four and lived at home, with minimal life experiences. At some point, he needed to start doing things for himself. Only so much of his life could be in a lab. Before now, he never wanted more for himself because he didn't want to get his expectations too high. But he hadn't been lying.
He wasn't meant to be small.
"I'll get a suite overlooking the city," Pegasus said. "And you'll be able to video call your brother daily, if you'd like."
"Then I'll look at my schedule and see what days I have free. I can make time."
"I missed you when I was in Spain," Pegasus said, taking Seto's hand again.
"One day, I'll take you there. We can go over everything you missed this time around."
"We'll need to go to the Tokyo Aquarium at some point though," Seto said. "So Mokuba can see how much bigger it is."
He said it as a reminder that he and Mokuba were a package deal. It had been months since Seto last mentioned his unwillingness to move anywhere without Mokuba.
"Should we do a full tour of Japan's aquariums?" Pegasus asked Mokuba.
"Can we?"
"There isn't much I can't arrange."
That sort of statement would have bothered Seto back at the beginning of this. Now it made him wonder if Pegasus couldn't handle the issue of custody with Mokuba. If he asked, Pegasus could arrange the legal issues to give Seto custody. All it would take was admitting to the scars.
He'd give it more thought. He couldn't treat this lightly, especially after what he assumed was a close call with Pegasus finding out.
"Have you been to a lot of aquariums?" Mokuba asked.
"I haven't been. The three of us will explore all the sights to see, around your school schedules, of course."
"And yours," Mokuba said.
"And mine, but I'm going to try to be in Japan more often. I've started trying to schedule two weeks a month in Domino."
Seto hadn't heard that before, and faced Pegasus. "Are you really?"
"It's time I chose a true base of operations, and Japan has given me several reasons to stay."
It was information Bakura would want, but Seto brushed that aside. He didn't care to tell Bakura, and was more interested in the extra time it would mean. Pegasus was staying for Seto.
It meant more than the lab.
Seto took off his shoes in Ryou's entryway, and nodded to Bakura over on the couch. Ryou hadn't mentioned Bakura when he texted to invite Seto, but Seto assumed they'd meet here. Ryou knew enough.
But Seto wasn't here for Bakura.
"I've just got a few bits left to get ready for dinner," Ryou said. "I'll be done in ten."
"No rush. How's the dissertation coming?"
"My eyes are tired. The thing they don't tell you about getting a doctorate in Linguistics is that you never get to stop reading."
"It seems moderately apparent."
Seto went to sit on the armchair, and set his phone on the side table. He had it turned to silent. The only two numbers that could come through now belonged to Isono and Mokuba. Even Pegasus would be sent to voicemail.
"Haven't heard from you lately," Bakura said.
"You haven't had any reason to."
"Is that right?"
"Weren't you the one insisting you'd come to me?"
"You haven't been coming over."
Seto crossed his legs. "Next time I come, you shouldn't be here."
He saw no reason to wait to address the subject. Seto wanted to actually catch up with Ryou tonight, not argue with Bakura over whether he would inform on Pegasus anymore. If he got it out of the way now, then they could have a regular visit.
"He's onto you?"
"It doesn't matter. I'm done."
"You aren't done," Bakura said. "You aren't even half a year in."
"I agreed to it in exchange for a way out and security. There's no need for your end of the deal anymore."
"You suddenly found a way to smuggle your brother out of the country?" Bakura asked. "To keep your father from tracking you down?"
"It's no longer necessary."
"Magically."
"My reasons don't matter."
"The hell they do," Bakura said, and leaned forward to stare at Seto, shocked. "Don't tell me you actually like him."
"I'm not going to tell you anything about him. You can tell your bosses to stop expecting anything from me."
Ryou clanged a pot against the counter, bringing Seto's gaze away from Bakura, only a moment. Ryou must have been listening in, and Seto didn't intend to put him in the middle of this.
"You like him. Fuck, Yagami. He's a murderer."
"I said I wasn't discussing this."
"Staying with him isn't an option. Forget the assignment; you can't expect anything long term with him."
"My expectations aren't your business, and my name is Kaiba."
"I don't give a shit what your name is. You have to get out of that relationship before you're too emotionally invested."
"Are you talking as a friend now?" Seto asked.
"We all know who he is. You're just denying it, and I know you're better than this."
Seto shook his head. "You don't know me. We aren't teenagers anymore, and the world isn't black and white."
"You're all in the black here. Think about what you're suggesting. Actually think about it."
"Are you more concerned that you'll have to report back that I'm gone, or that someone might not share your worldview?" Seto asked. He glanced at his phone, but he knew it was a stall tactic. This had gone as well as he expected.
"I'm concerned that you're falling for a sociopath. You wanted to run."
"And now I don't need to," Seto said. "Stop hounding the subject."
"You're saying if I offered to get you out next week, you would say no?" Bakura asked. "You'd actually refuse my offer to start over with Mokuba?"
"You made it clear I couldn't leave until I'd done enough for your bosses. I'm not going to keep risking myself when I have things handled."
"And by having things handled, you mean what? Being arm candy for Pegasus Crawford?"
"Bakura," Ryou said from the kitchen. His voice was level, trying to diffuse the situation.
Bakura stood, but stayed where he was. It put him in a position of looking down on Seto, but Seto didn't bother matching it.
"Staying with him is condoning what he does. You're better than that, Kaiba."
"Maybe I'm not. Regardless, it's no longer your concern."
"Ryou, talk sense into him."
"Leave Ryou out of this," Seto said. He intentionally tried to end the conversation multiple times for the purpose of keeping Ryou out of things. If Pegasus knew and if Pegasus intended to look into matters, Ryou couldn't be linked at all.
"Someone needs to wake you up. What is Mokuba going to think? He thinks you're fine with the murders? With the world domination plot?"
"And the leaders in other countries aren't murderers?" Seto asked. "Look around. Just because Pegasus is the only one to publicize it doesn't mean it isn't happening everywhere. War is a business and people die regardless of who I'm dating."
"You sound like your father."
Seto clenched his jaw. "Guilting me won't do anything."
"It would if you'd just listen to reason. You're supporting him. Six months ago you were doing everything in your power to get away from him."
"I wanted away from my circumstances. They've changed."
"Enough you want to fuck around with a mass murderer?"
"I'm not defending myself. I'm telling you I'm done."
"And I'm not accepting that. I'm getting you tickets and getting you out."
Seto ran a hand back through his hair. He asked Bakura for that exact thing after Pegasus bought him the lab, when Seto first felt himself giving in, and Bakura said no. Bakura let the emotions build and now wanted to backtrack.
"It's too late for that."
"Are you scared? Being threatened? There's no logical reason—"
"I never claimed it was logical."
"Listen to yourself."
"I've had the debate time enough to know it well."
Bakura took out his phone and started typing something, and Seto didn't try to see what it was. A quick report to his supervisors, probably. If Seto stopped him, this would only be dragged out longer. When Bakura accepted it, they could move on.
"I'm getting you a ticket out this weekend," Bakura said. "We were planning to get you set up in Finland, but may need some place temporary while we finish arrangements."
"Bakura. Are you even listening to me?"
"Unfortunately."
"You're wasting your time. I'm not going anywhere."
Ryou came in with two plates, and pointedly didn't look at either of them. In the five months Seto had been dating Pegasus, Ryou never started the conversation about it. He talked Seto through any issues Seto brought up, but for the most part, kept out of things. Seto appreciated that, but now wouldn't have minded him kicking Bakura out.
Seto couldn't ask that of him, not when things with Bakura were getting back to normal.
"You can't tell me that with the option to leave, you'd choose to stay. Living with Kaiba until you're thirty. Living on the front pages, known as Crawford's newest fling."
"I'm telling you that I'm not in a rush to leave. Even if I did, it would undo all the effort I've put into making a better life for Mokuba."
"And we're trying to make a better life for millions."
"Mokuba is my priority, not the masses."
And Bakura wasn't so noble as he claimed Seto should be. His bosses couldn't actually be motivated by making the world safer. More than likely, they wanted some of the power Pegasus gathered. They wanted his reach, his connections, his influence. Rather than work for it, they wanted Pegasus out of the picture.
What made them better fit for power than Pegasus?
"Crawford isn't worth it."
Crawford was the one person who supported Seto regardless of outside influence. Crawford had an entire world on his shoulders and still set it aside time and again for Seto's benefit. Crawford was a man with unparalleled power who spent his days being showered with ideas, but still made time to listen to Seto's. Crawford's support meant Seto could thrive.
"You know what isn't worth it? An offer to run that's dependent on risking my life. My worth to you and your bosses is dependent on tangible offerings I can't even get."
"I'm booking your flights. You're clearly too far gone to stay around."
"I'm not leaving."
Ryou went to the kitchen for his plate, and sat pointedly on the floor between them. "I cooked for you both and you're letting it get cold."
Seto didn't have an appetite, but took a bite. Ryou couldn't afford to let food go to waste, and Seto wouldn't be the cause of it. But Bakura remained standing, still booking flights.
"Should I be worried about you, Seto?" Ryou asked.
"You should be asking him that."
"That's not an answer," Ryou said simply, looking at his plate.
"For once, I'm choosing to put myself first. If you consider selfishness cause for excessive concern, worry away."
"You can't chalk this up to selfishness," Bakura said. "It's insanity."
"Wanting something for myself is insane?"
"When what you want is a relationship with a dictator?"
Seto kept eating for Ryou's benefit. "I'm not using any tickets you purchase. I've made my choice."
"It's the wrong fucking choice."
"And it's mine to make."
He didn't think Pegasus would keep Seto around long term. Being selfish didn't mean he was stupid, and Pegasus already doubted their relationship. His marriage had been his longest relationship, and that ended at two years, when she died.
Seto wanted appreciation while it was offered. Pegasus knew Seto didn't support many of his policies, and Seto knew it wouldn't change.
Neither would Pegasus. Their relationship wouldn't last. He didn't need to run from it.
Ryou and Seto ate in silence for a while.
"Why is leaving such a hard thing to accept?" Ryou asked. "It was always our plan."
"Being with him isn't going to be permanent. He's already giving me signs of calling things off. I want to stay here until then."
Ryou tapped his fork against his plate. "You really like him."
They looked at each other, and Seto knew Ryou understood it.
"I'm not the sort of person he's going to end up with. I can worry about leaving when he's moved on."
"He might not."
"You know why he will."
The scars always ended things. Even if Pegasus saw them and reacted, saw them and did something to Gozaburo, eventually, he'd get tired of looking at them. He'd fixate like all the others did.
"Why wait then? We could go and start over, like we've been planning."
"You can't seriously want to give up your education this far in. You'd have to take on a new identity too. And me putting up with Gozaburo all this time would have been for nothing."
"It kept you and Mokuba together," Ryou said, not missing a beat. "You didn't risk him getting adopted elsewhere."
That was true. Seto would have missed most of Mokuba's life if anyone else had adopted him, because what family wanted a homeless kid hanging around? Seto wouldn't have had the money for university. He might have ended up moving in here with Ryou, the both of them doing what they could to get by, both missing their younger sibling.
"It hasn't been for nothing," Ryou went on. "Mokuba's safe and happy. He's gotten the best education anyone could have expected. Is the name that important?"
"It is to me."
"But this has all been for Mokuba."
Seto ran his tongue over his teeth. "I'm not going to feel bad about doing something for myself."
"I'm not trying to make you feel bad. But there is a chance he won't want to end things. Do you want to be with him for potentially years?"
"We're still talking that through."
"Why sign on for a commitment you aren't certain you want?" Ryou asked. "You could leave now before you get more attached."
Seto was already attached. He wanted the chance to put himself first. If he ran, despite gaining safety, he would lose any influence he had gained. He would take on a small name and do nothing of importance. He couldn't work on his technology, because that would give him away. Leaving meant a quiet, safe life.
That would be best for Mokuba.
But Seto deserved more than that.
Ryou took another bite. "Maybe it's something to sleep on."
"He's leaving Japan at the end of next week," Bakura said. "You'd be best to leave while he's gone."
"I'll agree to sleep on it," Seto said. "But I haven't agreed to leave."
Seto forced another bite. Then another.
Thanks for reading and reviewing!
You can expect an update the third weekend of December.