Pegasus counted down the new year in Spain, sipping his wine and looking into spring travel plans. He hoped to take a few days off to sight-see in Europe with Seto, after his trip to DC. He had a summit scheduled in London in April, and could spare a few days after.

He didn't necessarily have the time, but he would make it. Seto's first excursion from Japan needed to be significant, and Pegasus wanted to be there for it. Taking Seto back to the States would have been Pegasus's preference, but there wouldn't be time. And Pegasus would rather tour Nevada than DC for sentimental purposes. Seto could hardly be expected to care about sand.

Fireworks illuminated the sky outside, and Pegasus set aside his tablet to walk to the balcony. He brought his wine glass to his lips and wished Seto was his company, not a half-empty bottle of merlot.

He checked his watch. It was a reasonable hour in Japan, so he called Seto, who answered on the fourth ring.

"Happy new year, Seto."

"Are you at a fireworks show?"

"There's one going on nearby. You should see it."

"You're welcome to make this a video call."

Pegasus gladly took Seto up on that offer, and Seto accepted the invite. He was wearing his glasses, and behind him, Pegasus recognized the university lab. Having been gone for a couple weeks, Pegasus thought Seto might have already left that lab. After the effort Pegasus had gone through to get things set up quickly at the industrial space, seeing Seto still at the university threw him.

"Isn't the school closed today?"

"They made an exception since I told them I'm moving out. I'm packing now."

"I didn't think you had much to pack," Pegasus said. He bought Seto half the catalogue, and Seto had been working off his laptop and tablet.

"I never said I'd be here long. How's Spain?"

"Excellent. We've worked out the trade deal in record time."

Seto kept working while they talked. It was the most casual Pegasus had seen Seto dressed, in what looked like a black athletic top, fitted tightly to him. The glasses didn't line up with his outfit, unless he'd slept in that. Did Seto exercise with glasses on? Seto must have been too practical for that.

"Does that mean you're coming back early?"

"If only I could. Now that we finished early, I've got to meet with, well, basically half their politicians to help bring in Morocco. It's going to make me difficult to reach for a couple days."

"What's new?" Seto said, a bit distracted while he looked around for something out of frame. His camera work was shoddy, but Pegasus let it slide. Seto had finally gotten close enough to act this relaxed. He'd been so formal in the beginning, so stiff and uneasy.

"Are you moving into the new lab today?"

"I plan to. I won't start working there until tomorrow, since Mokuba and I are going to see a movie today."

"You'll be bringing Isono with you, I trust?"

Seto finally spared a glance to the camera. His bangs weren't styled today.

"I'll have my babysitter."

"You're in the public eye now. Be careful."

Pegasus had left a guard in Domino to keep an eye on Seto, but from a distance. He wanted to leave more, but Seto still valued independence over safety. If Seto knew about the one he'd left, he might have rebelled.

"People are afraid to even look at me," Seto said. "Isono is sufficient security."

"You know how I worry. But I've taken enough of your morning. Good luck with the move."

"And with your meetings."

They disconnected, and Pegasus finished watching the fireworks. He had seen better displays. He was more interested in Seto taking advantage of his gift. That lab would be put to use and thriving soon. Seto would create new things, and Pegasus would have a front row seat.

Seto was unlike anyone he'd ever been with. The son of a governor who had no interest in politics. An orphan who defied the odds. A man full of resentment who took issue with violence. An artist in his own right.

Seto's passion consumed everything he touched. It was infectious.

After three months, Pegasus was nearly convinced he'd found his match with Seto. He needed to find more reasons to stay Domino. With negotiations here settled, Pegasus would have brought in most of Europe. Maybe it was time to have other delegates do most of the negotiations for him. He could add a week to his rotation in Japan.

With another week, they could moved past anything considered casual. Pegasus broached the shift with the recent present, and wanted to continue deepening the relationship. Everyone who came before had been so superficial. The physical attraction never made up for the emotional void.

Pegasus missed Cecelia dozens of times a day, when he woke without her, showered alone, heard leaves rustle in the wind, ate dinner at an empty table, and struggled to fall asleep. With Seto around, Pegasus didn't feel like he was missing anything. He had been looking for that connection since she died.

After finishing his wine, Pegasus readied for bed. He braided his hair and had pulled back his blanket when a knock came on the door. It could have only been Croquet, so Pegasus went to the door.

"You're a little late to ring in the new year," Pegasus said.

Croquet held a folder, and stepped in past Pegasus without being invited. He kept walking until he reached the center of the suite, and said, "We've just received an intelligence report, Master Crawford."

Pegasus closed the door.

"It must be urgent."

"It's about the informant."

"Have a seat."

They sat across from each other on the couches, and Pegasus wished he hadn't changed just yet. But he crossed his legs and reached for the file.

Croquet didn't offer it.

"If we have news, I assume we've brought them in," Pegasus prompted. They had known there was a leak in their security for a few months, not that there ever wasn't some sort of leak, and Pegasus had a team of a dozen security specialists trying to find the person responsible. Nothing had been stolen that mattered much yet, but the fact they could steal anything needed to be resolved.

"No sir. He's only been identified."

"Where's the delay?"

They never had a problem arresting the others, and had always been able to sequester the traitors as soon as they were found. It was commonplace by this point.

"He's currently in Japan, as best as we can tell, but officially, he doesn't seem to exist."

"How intriguing. How do you know it's him?"

"There are dozens of names tied to his face. Citizenship in half a dozen countries. We've caught him meeting with a couple known foreign agents."

Pegasus considered pouring another glass, but settled for picking at a nail.

"You aren't giving me the folder."

"I have men standing by, ready to be dispatched," Croquet said. "But there is a complication."

Pegasus stared impatiently rather than answer, and a few seconds passed, forcing Croquet to give him the folder. Most folders handed to him ended up being thick, his intelligence staff not wanting to come to him with anything less than a thorough findings.

He expected pages of intelligence reports, but found pictures.

"These were taken a few days ago."

The top photograph was a young man with white hair. He looked remarkably similar to Seto's friend, Ryou, but harsher. The shot framed him on a narrow, dingy street, leaning against a wall with his leg propped up. There was nothing notable about him. Even as the only person in frame, Pegasus could have easily glossed over him.

From the corner of his eye, he caught Croquet flinch when he flipped to the next picture.

Seto and the informant, standing on the same street.

Then the informant holding Seto's car door shut.

The informant reaching for Seto's hand.

The two of them standing close.

Pegasus rubbed his mouth and looked through them again. And again. He searched them for anything to disprove what he was seeing. He needed evidence that Seto wasn't a willing participant in the conversation.

Seto seemed angry in most shots, but in the picture where the informant reached for him, he looked sad. There was something familiar between them. Given the resemblance to Ryou, and Seto's claim he had known Ryou since the orphanage, the informant likely fell into that category.

He wanted to deny it. Croquet hadn't spoken a word and Pegasus was preparing to argue. They were old friends. Maybe Seto wasn't involved.

He wanted to believe Seto wasn't involved.

"Have they found anything about when he arrived?"

"They've been searching through footage and accounts, and have found videos as far back as three months."

Pegasus flexed his fingers, cracking the joints, and then ran his hands through his hair, ruining the braid. He flipped through the pictures. Staring at Seto felt like staring at a stranger, despite how close they'd gotten over the last months. The conflicting emotions startled him. He never would have guessed, even imagined, Seto capable of this. Seto was passionate and forthright. And to think the entire time, he had Pegasus believing a lie.

Seto made a fool of him.

And for what? Pegasus almost never talked about work, and Seto never asked. Seto never went anywhere genuinely classified. He had access to nothing.

He lied about it from the start.

Pegasus closed his eyes and the folder. He didn't need to see more.

"What will you have us do?" Croquet asked.

What did Seto gain from this? Seto didn't care about politics. He only cared about his brother and his technology. If it was money, Pegasus had just given Seto his dream lab. What else could have pushed him to this?

He saw Seto's panic over the execution video. Seto knew the stakes and for some reason, still went into this relationship. They planned for the future.

"Sir?"

"Get me an address on the man in the pictures," Pegasus said, and set the folder aside. "I believe he's likely related to Ryou Bakura. Get the address and his name, but do nothing."

"Nothing, sir?"

"Nothing. Find out who he is. I'll deal with Seto."

It had to wait until he was back in Domino. This conversation needed to be in person.

He wanted to hear it from Seto.


Thanks for reading and reviewing!

You can expect an update the first weekend of December.