Disclaimer: If I said I owned Yu-Gi-Oh! that'd be a very boldfaced, not to mention obvious, lie. But I do love it.

"There is an art to flying...learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss."

~Douglas Adams

Chapter 31

Alistair was more than a little surprised when he awoke to a blaring alarm with Seto curled up next to him; usually it was the other way around. The noise didn't cause Seto to stir and since he was still tired too, he let it play out and then went back to sleep after shifting ever so slightly so that his arm was around Seto's shoulders.

Seto opened his eyes several hours later and yawned, intending to go back to sleep since his alarm hadn't gone off yet when he noticed how bright it was outside. With a jolt, he sat up, knocking Alistair's arm off of him and waking him up. He reached for his phone and started when he read the numbers on the display. How could it be noon already? Had he actually managed to sleep through his alarm? He jumped out of bed post-haste.

"What's the matter?" Alistair asked, stretching and yawning, then wincing as he registered a painful headache from having cried so much.

"I'm late," Seto muttered, hastily unbuttoning his pajama shirt enough that he could yank it over his head. "Dammit! Did you hear the alarm go off?"

"No," Alistair lied, feigning a second yawn. "I would have woken you up if I did. What are you in such a hurry for anyway? I'm sure Kaiba Corp won't collapse just because you slept in a little."

"Which just goes to show how much you know about my job," Seto muttered. "It matters because I'm supposed to do a run-through with Mokuba at the arena in forty minutes and I'm not even dressed!"

"Oh." That Seto had plans for the day besides just flying to Germany had completely slipped his mind.

"What are you doing just lying there? Get up; you have to come too." Alistair started to ask why before remembering that he was the one who was going to pilot the Blue Eyes White Dragon jet during the opening ceremony.

"Ok, I'm up," he said as Seto closed the bathroom door behind him. He stretched one final time before getting out of the comfortable bed and rubbing his head. "But I'm going to need some pain-killers."

Twenty minutes later a frazzled Seto and half-asleep Alistair got into the limo so that Alfred could speed them off to the main arena Seto had had built in the middle of the Domino Kaiba Land as the site of the opening ceremony and final duel.

It was humungous but relatively boring looking in Alistair's opinion aside from the fact that the roof was shaped like a Blue Eyes White Dragon head- though he didn't dare tell Seto so.

"Seto, you're late," Mokuba said more out of surprise than anything else; Seto was never anything less than perfectly punctual.

"There was something I had to deal with unexpectedly," he muttered by way of explanation. Mokuba took in his and Alistair's disheveled appearances and could only assume that it hadn't been traffic that had kept them. "Anyway, where's the jet?"

"It's on top of the safari gift shop, just like you wanted." Seto nodded.

"How are things going so far? Is the sound system fixed yet?"

"Yup, they just finished fixing it this morning."

"What about the monitors?"

"They're in position and completely operational."

"Good. Looks like you've got things under control here. Alistair, follow me; I'll explain the plan along the way. See you later Mokuba."

"See ya!"

"This place is really impressive," Alistair commented as Seto led him through the jungle-themed sector of Kaiba Land. Realistic trees reached for the skies and the dirt path was perfectly manicured. Even the air smelled sultry.

"It'll be even more impressive with all of the holograms turned on," Seto said proudly. "I designed each and every sector myself and helped work all the bugs out so that everything runs perfectly."

"I have to admit: you are really good at what you do."

"Would Kaiba Corp be the number one gaming company if I wasn't?" Alistair rolled his eyes.

"Can't you just take the compliment without doing that?"

"Doing what?"

"Being so condescending about it."

"If you want to exchange advice, here's mine for you: spend more time bringing yourself up instead of wasting your breath telling me things I already know." Alistair sighed. Some things about Seto, no, Kaiba, would never change. "Anyway, what I need you to do is fly until you're right above the main stage where Mokuba will be standing and then hover about thirty feet above it long enough for me to jump out, then keep flying, over the rest of the stadium and keep going until you see Roland waving some red flags from the top of the information center and land there; I'll come for the jet myself later, and then he'll take you home."

"Can't I stay and watch? It's not like anyone knows me or could possibly know that I was the one to fly your jet. And even if they did I doubt they'd make the leap that we're…you know." He decided Seto wouldn't approve of him saying 'dating' and opted not to say 'together' either.

"It's sold out." Alistair looked at him blankly.

"It's your stadium. You're telling me you don't have a VIP box or anything?"

"Of course I do but…hmmm…alright fine, I'll have Roland take you there instead."

"What could you possibly have against that?"

"Someone could see you…"

"And assume that because I'm sitting in the VIP box you and I are sleeping together?" Alistair asked incredulously. "I doubt it. You're being paranoid. Everyone will be too busy listening to you talk and watching the duels to pay me any attention."

"I was able to draw that conclusion for myself thank you very much," Seto sniffed, and the two continued walking in silence.

They reached a gift shop designed to look like a large shack in the heart of the jungle a few minutes later and Seto led Alistair around back where a silver ladder stretched up to the flat roof. Once they were standing on the roof next to the jet and Seto had opened the cockpit he started to fidget. He knew that Alistair was a good pilot, but this was his Blue Eyes jet, the one he'd had commissioned especially for him, that only he'd ever flown. It was the closest to a child he'd ever have besides Mokuba. Could he really entrust it to Alistair for safe-keeping? Alistair sensed Seto's discomfort.

"We could use one of the helicopters," he suggested. "If you really don't want anyone else to fly your jet."

"Don't be stupid," Seto snapped at him, though the comment might as well have been directed at himself. It was just a machine; he was being silly. "Go on, get in. And don't you dare get so much as a smudge on anything."

"I happen to be an excellent pilot with more than a little respect for my vehicles thank you very much," Alistair said snootily, lowering himself into the pilot's chair and letting his eyes take in the dashboard. For all it's extravagance, the jet's controls were relatively basic. "Aren't you getting in too?"

"Of course." Seto took the jetpack he'd had Roland leave for him off the passenger seat and strapped it around his chest and shoulders. Alistair eyed it distrustfully.

"And you're sure you want to drop thirty feet with only that thing to rely on?"

"Thirty-five, and of course. I've tested it dozens of times. I don't want to die just yet, and especially not in front of my brother on national TV. It works. Though I admit: your concern is not lost on me."

"Oh do whatever you want," Alistair huffed.

"I always do," Seto replied, smirking as he settled into his seat.

"Drop dead."

Seto kept up a constant stream of advice during the entire five and a half minute flight, particularly during takeoff.

"Don't hit that tree!" he'd snapped the moment the jet left the ground. "And careful not to bump into the antennae!"

"I'm not even anywhere near it!" Alistair had snapped back, not taking his eyes from the windshield. Once they were in the air he'd thought Seto would relax. No such luck.

"Careful, don't go too fast; let the motor warm up first!"

"If I go any slower there won't be enough power to keep us up!"

"Well speed up then! And try to level out; we're tilting too far to the right."

"Will you shut up?" Alistair asked through gritted teeth. "And let me do my job?" Seto was stunned into silence. Never in his life had someone told him to shut up; that was his job. "Thank you. Without you backseat driving we might actually get there in one piece with my sanity and your vocal cords intact."

Without Seto yammering away behind him he was actually able to appreciate how well the jet handled; the controls responding to the lightest touch. Whoever had designed it (Seto he could only assume given his tendency to micro-manage) had done an excellent job.

Within minutes they had reached the designated spot. Careful to keep the craft level, Alistair opened the cockpit door, the wind instantly coming roaring in. Seto forced himself into a standing position, gave Alistair a small smile, and jumped.

As he started to fall, Seto confidently pressed the button on the side of the jetpack which would turn it on. Flames burst suddenly into life, but sputtered just as quickly out, and all the while he was still falling.

Panic set in and his eyes widened in horror as he realized that there was nothing to catch him, no safety net; he was about to crash headlong into the concrete of the stage and die. No sooner had the realization hit him than the flames gasped back into life and he let out the breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. He landed heavily, right on mark, less than a foot from his brother. The flames went out and he fell to his knees, his legs too shaky too support him. With a trembling hand he reached for the second button which opened the straps. The pack fell to the ground only to be replaced by Mokuba who all but jumped on his older sibling.

"Seto! Are you ok?" he asked worriedly, pulling Seto into a tight hug.

"I'm fine Mokuba, it was just a slight malfunction." He shook Mokuba off and looked up in time to see that Alistair intended to bring the jet down right there. He tried to signal that that wouldn't be necessary, but Alistair either didn't notice or chose to ignore him, bringing the Blue Eyes jet to land on the ground of the arena, leaping out and sprinting up the stairs until he reached the Kaiba brothers. Not caring that any number of people could be watching, he threw himself into Seto's arms.

"You idiot!" he said angrily, bringing his fist down on Seto's back. "When I told you to drop dead I didn't mean it literally!"

"Ow! What the hell?"

"You told me that it was safe! You told me you tested it 'dozens of time' and that there was nothing to worry about!" Seto flung Alistair off of him, causing him to smash into the iron railing.

"Don't put your hands on me!" Seto shouted, his eyes flashing. How dare he pull a stunt like that in public? Alistair rubbed his side, the hurt plain on his face, and not just from hitting the railing. "Finish your job and never do that again, do you understand me?" Mokuba looked back and forth between them with his mouth slightly open, unsure what to do. Alistair set his jaw but didn't retort. He knew why Seto was reacting that way, that is to say: because he felt like he had to in order to protect his reputation. Still, he wasn't happy that this was the way it had to be. He lowered his head.

"I'm sorry sir; I'll never do it again. I was just concerned. I thought maybe it was my fault."

"Just go." Alistair nodded, falling into the role of the chastised Kaiba Corp employee and slowly making his way back down the stairs to where the jet was waiting.

"Seto…" Mokuba started, but his brother shot him a look and the words died on his lips. Poor Alistair, he thought. Being treated like a total stranger like that…

Seto pressed the intercom built into his jacket collar to page Roland.

"Roland, get me someone from Development who was working with me on the jetpack," he barked as soon as the other man picked up. "And tell them that if they want to keep their job they had better have a really good explanation as to why this thing didn't work; I could have killed myself!"

"Right away sir," Roland replied, then added: "where's Alistair? Shouldn't he be here with the jet by now?" Just then the jet lifted off the ground.

"He'll be there in a minute," Seto said shortly before ending the call. As Alistair took off in the direction of the information center Seto silently apologized. I'm sorry I had to treat you that way, but you left me no choice... In truth, he'd been touched by the fact that Alistair had dropped everything to rush to his side. H looked down at Mokuba.

"Let's pick up where we left off. Somebody turn the microphone back on!" he shouted in the general direction of the control tower. As soon as the sound was back up he continued the rehearsal as though nothing had happened though his heart was still racing from his near miss.

"What happened with Mr. Kaiba's jetpack?" Roland asked Alistair once he'd landed so that he'd know what to tell whoever he got on the line from the development department.

"It turned off while he was mid-jump and only just barely turned back on again in time to stop him from falling," Alistair, who was still shaken, explained. Roland's brow creased in concern.

"Is he alright?"

"Yeah. He decided to continue with the rehearsal. Sorry it took me so long to get here by the way; I wanted to make sure he was ok. He wasn't too happy about that…"

"No, probably not…" Roland could only imagine what could happen if anyone found out about the famous Seto Kaiba being with (sleeping with) another man; it would mean a scandal to be sure.

"I know what he's afraid of, but I think he's being overly-precautious. Sure he might get followed around by the paparazzi for a little while, but people will lose interest, and then I won't have to skulk around like somebody's dirty little secret." Roland was torn between wanting to give his own opinion and wanting to spare Alistair's feelings. He eventually chose the former.

"I've known Mr. Kaiba a long time; longer than you. He likes his privacy even more than making grand gestures like this, and he's been through the media circus before; they followed him everywhere after he took over Kaiba Corp. It was a mess. He couldn't even go to the arcade without getting mobbed. Now that he's even more of a celebrity because of his reputation as a gamer as well as his position as the head of the company it would be even worse, especially if it was because of you being in the picture. It could be dangerous too; for both of you.

Personally, and it's nothing against you, but I think it might have been better if you and he hadn't chosen to pursue this, or if he at least had a girl that he was seen with every once in a while so that people wouldn't start to suspect…"

"I just don't understand what him seeing me has to do with anything. Those girls who drool over him wouldn't get him anyway so what does it matter?"

"Come on, let's walk and talk; I have to have someone page Development." Roland indicated a nearby ladder. Once they were on the ground and on the move towards the front of the building, Roland continued. "It matters because they still think they could, possibly, one day be with him. If they know that he's with you they won't have that hope anymore and they might stop coming to our events because there will be no reason for them to go anymore. But besides just that there are our backers too; they might choose not to support a company run by someone who's, well, gay. And then there are the everyday people who have their opinions about that issue who might try to hurt you."

That particular thought hadn't crossed Alistair's mind. He'd known that people made fun of gays; Valon in particular had always teased him for looking 'like a poof,' and the men at the Robinhood base had too, but to actually go out of your way to hurt someone just for being attracted to other men seemed ridiculous to him, though he felt he shouldn't be surprised; people were certainly capable of being cruel as he'd witnessed on many occasions.

"I'm sure you're right," Alistair ceded. "I just wish it didn't have to be that way…" Roland gave him a brief, sympathetic look before the pair entered the information center.

While Roland talked to the woman at the desk, Alistair thought about what he wanted to say to Seto. He should have known better than to run to Seto like that with all those people around, but he hadn't thought, just acted. Hopefully no one thought too deeply into it. His cell phone started to vibrate, startling him. The only reason he even had it with him was because Trudy had made him promise to always have it in case of an emergency; he hadn't talked to Darren or Moira in months.

"Hello?" he asked uncertainly, taking the call.

"It's me," Seto's gravelly voice said from the other end of the line. "I just wanted to let you know that I'm not actually angry with you even though what you did was incredibly stupid."

"I know, and I'm sorry; I wasn't thinking…"

"Don't worry about it; there weren't too many people around. Anyway, the reason I'm calling is to ask where you are; we're wrapping up here and we'll probably be done within twenty minutes or so and then you and I can head over to the plane if you still want to come with me to Germany."

"Of course I still want to go. I'm at the information center with Roland."

"Alright. I'll be there soon and then the two of us can fly the jet to the Kaiba Land hanger. I'll have Mr. Jones pick us up from that exit."

"What do you want me to do in the meantime?"

"Just wait at the info center and twiddle your thumbs until I get there," Seto replied snarkily.

"Yeah, I'll do that," Alistair said, rolling his eyes. "I'll see you in twenty." He ended the call.

What he ended up doing, after having bid Roland farewell, was playing tetras on his cell phone and managing to beat his own high score four times while the receptionist shopped for summer clothes on the PC at her desk. Initially she'd tried to flirt with him, but had quickly noted his disinterest and retreated to her computer.

As soon as Seto entered the building she snapped to attention and tried to surreptitiously exit out of the clothing website.

"Good afternoon Mr. Kaiba," she said, smoothing out the wrinkles in her crisp white blouse and smiling. He ignored her.

"Time to go; it's a long flight and we haven't a moment to lose." Annoyed since he'd been about to beat his newest high score, Alistair turned the phone off and stood up. "I can only hope that you're a better pilot than the last one I flew with."

"I'll do my best sir," Alistair said with mock enthusiasm, mirroring the receptionist's plastered-on smile. Seto narrowed his eyes.

"Hmph…We'll see. Come on." The fake smile sliding off his face, Alistair followed Seto back outside.

"I hate doing that," he muttered, loud enough for Seto to hear him.

"You knew what you were signing up for," Seto replied. "I made it clear to you that in public you and I don't even know each other. You're my pilot, nothing more. That little stunt you pulled could have compromised that if the wrong person would have seen."

"I said I was sorry; what else do you want from me?" They paused next to the ladder on the back wall of the building.

"Nothing." Seto pulled the redhead in for a brief kiss. "It's fine, just don't do it again. Especially not here in Domino." Alistair rolled his eyes and started climbing the ladder without further comment.

Once on the roof Seto opened the cockpit and sat in the pilot's seat leaving Alistair to ride in the back.

"It'll be different in Germany," Seto said, breaking the uncomfortable silence after they took off. "It won't matter as much there if people see us together."

"And why, pray tell, is that?" Alistair asked moodily.

"I'm not as famous there. Kaiba Corp isn't as much of a household name…yet. The Duel Monsters fans know me, but as long as I don't wear anything distinctive-."

"So basically nothing you own…"

"No one will recognize me."

"Terrific, I can't wait." The sentence was dripping with sarcasm.

"What's your problem? I thought that that was what you wanted."

"Well it's not."

"Care to elaborate?" Seto pressed, nettled; he hated being told he was wrong.

"If I thought there was a good reason for all the secrecy I wouldn't care, but even after Roland broke it down for me about the paparazzi and the homophobes that might try to bash us I fail to see the justification for you treating me like you did up on that stage and with that girl."

"I don't want to go through that again, all the unnecessary complications of having to stay one step ahead of the media vultures; my schedule is tight enough as it is. That may be of no concern to you, but it matters to me. Besides, what about when you get around to finding a job? Who's going to hire someone who gets followed around by the tabloids? It's not exactly good for business."

"How long could it possibly go on? The last time you got followed around for what, half a year? Big deal."

"It's my reputation that's at stake, not yours. I want my legacy to be my company, my theme parks, and my status as a world-renowned duelist, not some stupid articles about my private life. Look at what happened to Yugi after the Duelist Kingdom Tournament; all those silly rags following him around, taking pictures, blowing every little thing he did out of proportion, and for what? For stupid people who have no lives of their own to dissect. I'll have no part in it. If people want to see me they can watch my tournament."

Alistair decided that might not be the best time to mention that whether or not he got dragged through the tabloids, Seto's allure had a more to do with his looks than he seemed to realize. There was a reason he and not Yugi was constantly being asked to model for different ad campaigns and had his picture plastered over the walls of teenage girls and was fantasized about by the likes of Darren and it wasn't because of his dueling titles or even his company. No one but Seto seemed to care if he was the number one ranked duelist as long as he was attractive.

"I guess I have to respect that," Alistair agreed grumpily. "I just don't like it."

"Why? What do you want to do, go to the movies and then go for a moonlit walk along the river hand in hand afterwards? Christ Alistair, I thought you had more class." Alistair flared his nostrils as Seto prepared to come in for a landing.

"Don't patronize me. Of course I wouldn't want that. Still, it would be nice not to have to act like I'm just another one of your underlings when we're in public."

They landed without incident in a small hanger not far from the gift shop which was fashioned to look like a cave.

Seto leaned against the side of his jet and Alistair sat on the ground while they waited for Alfred to arrive with the limo. Alistair was about to try and restart their discussion when Seto's cell phone started vibrating.

"This had better be good," Seto said, having accepted the call from the head of the jetpack's development team. As the woman on the other end of the line apologized profusely and gave her explanation, Seto's scowl deepened.

"Look, I don't care how you try to phrase it, it's your fault that it malfunctioned, or are you trying to say that there was something wrong with my design?" Alistair didn't envy whomever he was talking to. He could tell that Seto was either gearing up to really let her have it and then fire her, or just let her have it and make her think he was going to fire her which would only be marginally preferable.

From his perch on the smooth floor of the 'cave' Alistair caught himself staring openly at Seto while he continued to berate his employee. Seto was currently running his free hand through his hair out of irritation, leaving it slightly tousled. It was unfair really that anyone should look so good with such scathing words coming out of their mouth, but then again, that had always been Seto's specialty.

Seto caught Alistair's eye and correctly deciphered why the redhead was staring at him.

"Enough of your excuses! Just fix it!" he snapped, and ended the call. He continued to hold Alistair's gaze and quirked an eyebrow by way of invitation. There was no one around and Alfred wouldn't get there for at least another ten minutes so he saw no harm in a little indulgence.

Alistair stood and joined Seto in leaning against the jet.

"Do you always have to be so harsh to your employees?" he asked. "Yelling at her isn't going to get the job done any faster or better you know."

"I've always found it extremely effective personally," Seto answered absently, snaking his arm around Alistair's waist. In contrast to the chill of the night before, the day had turned out to be quite warm and Alistair wore nothing more than his pilot's uniform minus the hat.

"It would never work on me," Alistair sniffed, allowing himself to be pulled against the CEO's torso. "I'm not a dog that whimpers in fear while being punished by my master; I don't belong to anyone." To demonstrate his point he placed both palms on Seto's chest and pushed, forcing him to bend over backwards against the windshield. He quickly captured the brunette's wrists and held them down before leaning in to steal a kiss.

Seto had never thought he'd allow himself to be manhandled, but that was part of Alistair's appeal; he was constantly surprising him. He'd gotten stronger too. Seto was fairly certain he could still throw the redhead off if he wanted to, but not nearly as easily as before. He found he didn't mind; it felt unexpectedly nice to relinquish control.

Alistair was pleased that Seto seemed willing to be complacent and deepened their kiss, slipping his tongue into Seto's mouth after gently biting his lower lip, all the while grinding into him. Seto tasted vaguely of coffee but that didn't bother Alistair. Coffee and cologne were the two smells he associated with the brunette.

The sound of an approaching car caused both men to look up and Alistair immediately backed away from CEO and readjusted himself as did Seto though not before Alfred had seen what had been going on. He pretended however, that he hadn't.

"The plane is ready for your departure sir," he said, getting out to open the limo's back door. "All that's missing is your pilot."

"Good," Seto said curtly, taking his seat. Alistair sat across from him next to his hat which he'd left in the limo earlier that afternoon and decided not to mention that Seto's bottom lip was swollen to the point that it would be obvious to anyone who saw that he'd either been kissing someone or gotten punched. "Do you want to fly the first half or the second?"

"The first."

"Fine. I take it you know that when you take your break you will not be joining me in my room; it would look too suspicious. This is the same model we flew home with so you can have the same room you had before, though you'll have to share with the flight attendants."

"Ok." Seto was relieved that Alistair didn't try and argue the point.

"Once we arrive, leave with the rest of the crew as though you're checking in with them then pretend to get a phone call that forces you to double back. Return to the plane where a taxi will be waiting to take you to my hotel. I'll be waiting for you in the lobby." Alistair nodded in a resigned sort of way. He supposed he might as well get used to the secrecy now rather than later though he would never like it.

Upon arriving at the airport Alistair put his hat on and smoothed out the creases in his uniform. Alfred dropped him off at the main entrance after Seto made sure he had the proper ID and the flight itinerary which would allow him access to the hanger and the plane. He checked in and was pointed in the right direction after a bored looking airport security officer looked over his papers and deemed them legit.

"You're cutting it kind of fine don't you think?" the man asked him as Alistair hurried past without bothering to answer.

He didn't relax until he was in the cockpit of the enormous company jet with the co-pilot chattering in his ear while he adjusted the seat and looked over the controls, searching for the switch which would allow him to greet the passengers. For a one day publicity event there were, in Alistair's estimation, a ridiculous number of people making the trip.

As the huge aircraft lifted off the ground twenty minutes later he felt a familiar rush of adrenaline that only flying could provide as the landscape below them shrank into nothing. Soon thereafter he flipped the seat-belt sign off and focused on the route being displayed on a small screen directly to his right.

"You're really young, how long have you been flying?" It was the first direct question he'd been asked and it suddenly occurred to him that he'd have to have some kind of conversation.

"I started learning when I was fifteen," he answered shortly, hoping that would be the end of it.

"I figured you must have started young; Mr. Kaiba would never trust an amateur to fly one of his jets. How do you know him anyway?"

"We had the same flight instructor." It wasn't a lie.

"Hmm…Well, you know what they say: it's not what you know, it's who you know." The man's voice was slightly resentful.

"I happen to be a damn good pilot thank you very much. Now could you please stop talking to me? I'm trying to get us to Germany in one piece." He wasn't usually so antisocial, but he hated it when people talked to him while he was flying. Not only did it break into his concentration, it also prevented him from enjoying sinking into his own imagination for the duration of the flight. Luckily the older man heeded his wishes and eventually left, only returning to take over from him five hours later.

Alistair handed off the controls and stood up, the joints in his knees popping, and yawned; more than ready for a nap. He took his hat off and let it rest at his side before making his way to the room Seto had mentioned earlier. He unbuttoned the jacket of his uniform and hung it on a hook in the wall before kicking his shoes off and laying down on one of three built-in cots. The other two were as of yet empty so he had no trouble closing his eyes and dozing after setting an alarm on his phone for three and a half hours.

On the other end of the plane Seto was lounging in a chair that had been tilted almost all the way back and reading over the notes he'd taken the other day having already reviewed the plan for the Kaiba Land promotion event several times. He knew he was probably thinking too much into it, but he hated going into anything unprepared.

Author's Note: Sorry, not a lot of action in this chapter unless you count Seto almost plummeting to his death. This was more just to highlight what trouble they might run into in their relationship in the future and could therefore be considered shameless foreshadowing.