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I Know You're Out There Somewhere	By : Firewing Category: Yu-Gi-Oh > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 3536 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own YuGiOh!, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 34
- 35
- 36
Chapter 35

A/N: I still don�t own anything except my inane attempt to twist YGO to my own purposes.
I�ve had several people ask if I was going to include the Ishtars in this fic. The answer is, sadly, no. I had a few ideas to do so, but they just didn�t really work with the rest of the story.

��..

Seto Kaiba was not the only one of the small group who felt the need to hide behind masks. Bakura did the same, except that his was one of innocence and compassion behind which snarled a vicious coyote. Pegasus, for his part, wore one of elegantly composed calm, a precisely enacted charade that held him together perfectly on the outside. On the inside, however, his world was spinning apart with the force of a hurricane.
To say the silver-haired inventor was uncomfortable would be putting his present feelings rather mildly. He sat in the passenger seat of the Jaguar beside Croquet, who waited just as patiently as always behind the wheel. Tristan, Serenity, and Bakura were in the backseat, and Yugi, Tea, and Mokuba were going to ride with Kaiba and Joseph.
Pegasus could feel Bakura staring intently at the back of his head the entire time. He knew there was something extremely wrong with the boy; Bakura's aura carried a scent that was the psychic equivalent of spoiled milk. To cover his agitation, the elder of the white-haired men fussed with the lapels of the white linen suit he was now wearing. Perhaps he was still overdressed for the occasion, but he derived comfort from his at times overwhelming elegance. What is keeping Joseph and Kaiba?

�I�m going after them.� Tristan announced, as though he had read Pegasus' thoughts, and headed to the house.
Less than five minutes later, he reappeared, looking mildly embarrassed as he stopped at Croquet�s window. Before he could speak, however, Joseph and Seto followed him out of the house, and Tristan got back into the Jag without a word.
On the way to Shell Beach, Pegasus began to feel ill again, and wondered if this little jaunt was such a good idea as the revelation he�d had in Seto�s library came back to haunt him. Was it possible that the same people who had given him the Millennium Eye had also taken Cecelia�s life? It made no sense�
Shadi, his friend, his confidant, who had shown him bits and pieces of an Egypt so ancient its history was lost to time. Events set in motion as part of a plan more elaborate than even Pegasus could conceive, by a man who never aged. Why? What did Shadi have to gain by this? What was the blue-eyed Egyptian after?
One part of the riddle made perfect sense, that which explained how Cecelia�s soul ended up in the Shadow Realm. All these years, she had been so close. She was an innocent prisoner detained in a dark dimension populated by monsters with terrible powers as a part of some diabolical and unfathomable scheme. Pegasus was certain she had been victimized because of him; her death was his fault. He had somehow always believed it without knowing why; it was part of the reason he had never been able to let her go and move on with his life, even with Christopher at his side. Now that he was finally ready to let go of it, the mysteries of the past were being revealed, renewing his torment in the process. Shadi wanted to use him, but to what end?
With more questions than answers, Max knew it was imperative that he reclaim Cecelia�s soul... or lose his own trying.
~*~*~*~
Meanwhile, Jou was attempting vainly to keep his raging hormones under control. The sight of his dragon master�s long, lean legs kept him from carrying on any kind of coherent conversation with the other passengers in the car, although he was aware somewhere in the back of his lust-hazed mind that he was being given a bunch of flack from said passengers.
�Big brother, are you going to let the puppy drool all over you?� Mokuba demanded teasingly.
Yugi and Tea giggled. Seto looked at Jou, immediately wishing he hadn�t. The expression on Jou�s face made him long to be alone with the dragon-pup at the beach house, or anywhere at all for that matter. Instead, they were trapped in a car with the mutt's friends watching their every move. Life was indeed harsh.
�Jou, there are children present,� he reminded the blond, hoping that would snap him out of his lustful fugue.
�Hey, we�re not children!� Yugi exclaimed on his and Tea�s behalf, and the azure-eyed dancer supported him with an indignant glare.
�I�m not exactly a baby either!� Mokuba huffed.
�Really?� Seto commented in a low, borderline sultry voice. Without taking his eyes from the road for a moment, he grabbed Jou by the shirt collar and pulled him over none too gently for a quick yet extremely passionate kiss.
�Oh my gods�� Tea whispered as her face turned the same shade of red as her too-short sundress.
�Any more questions?� Seto asked calmly as he allowed his golden lover to drop back into his seat, slightly dazed.
�No.� Mokuba squeaked.
Yugi tried valiantly not to degenerate into a fit of hysterics until Jou turned and winked at him. Seto, still as unreadable to everyone but Jou as ever, was more than a little pleased with himself. Maybe there is something to having friends after all.

As they pulled into Shell Beach, they saw a stretch of houses that had been converted into shops painted in cotton candy hues. Neat signs were visible in the yards, hawking various handcrafts from pottery to quilts to paintings and homemade wine.
Unfortunately, Seto parked directly in front of the winery, and Croquet was too busy trying to resist the temptation to run the brunet billionaire over with his car to realize this problem until it was too late to turn back. His master had already spotted the sign, and was nearly giddy with anticipation in the passenger seat.
�Sir, we brought a case of wine over from Duelist Kingdom,� Croquet reminded his boss through gritted teeth. "Until now, you maintained that that would be sufficient."
�But certainly it would do no harm to see what the locals have to offer? Hmm�?� Pegasus purred, reaching over to lay his hand over Chris', stroking it ever so subtly as his protector slid the gearshift into 'park'.
Croquet knew defeat when he faced it. He was also aware that Pegasus had not been himself since their arrival at the beach house, and the positive effects that shopping usually had on the man. �As you wish, Sir,� he acquiesced as he undid his own seat belt and slipped from the vehicle, joining the growing group between the two cars. Pegasus followed, grinning as though he had just been made aware that Funny Bunny had just been given his own television network.
�How about we split up and meet at the art supply store in an hour?� Yugi suggested. �After we get done there, we can check out the surf shop.�
�Yeah!� Mokuba agreed enthusiastically.
Fifty-five minutes and twenty seconds later, by Seto's perfectly calibrated watch, the group assembled at the art supply store. Most of them wandered around aimlessly, chatting idly while Pegasus picked out canvas, paints, and brushes. He made suggestions to Joey as he went, promptly snatching all of his son�s selections and adding them to his own ever-growing pile of purchases. Before long, Bakura, Yugi, Tea, and Serenity were also asking Pegasus� advice on art supplies, and the silver-haired Duel Monsters inventor quickly forgot his woes as he began to educate all-too-eager students in the basics of art as he understood them. Since they seemed so interested, he even went so far as to suggest that, for an hour or so each day, they might get together for a sort of artist�s communal. Everyone but Seto agreed enthusiastically, and Pegasus was so delighted that he added all of their supplies to his own as well.
Croquet took one glance at the mountains of art supplies and sighed. He hated to be the one to put a damper on Pegasus� high spirits; this was his Max, after all, the sprite who chased butterflies and wanted to grow up to be Funny Bunny or, preferably, never grow up at all. But, then again, somebody had to do the dirty work, and that was what Pegasus paid him for; to fill the role of the reality principle that was seriously lacking in his master's psyche.
�Sir?� he ventured at length.
�What is it, Croquet?� Pegasus asked in mild irritation, turning from his new disciples to pay attention to his guardian.
�We didn�t bring a moving van�� Croquet reminded him as gently as possible.
Pegasus frowned, yet once again the laws of physics didn't seem to be factoring into his thought processes. �Ah well, you�ll figure it out, Chris. Please pay the man.�
Croquet sighed in his long-suffering way as he handed the overjoyed shopkeeper Pegasus� credit card while the teens started gathering up the bundles and bags. It took several minutes and enough cursing from Seto and Chris to make even Jou blush slightly to load the two cars that had definitely not been designed to haul such cargo. I should have known better than to take him to the art supply store, Chris told himself over and over again as he lashed the Jag's trunk closed, after a fashion, with a conveniently-placed length of rope he had found in said trunk. I should have known better than to take him to any store.

Even as he vowed never to repeat this gross error, though, Christopher Croquet knew that he would never be able to deny his master anything that did not have to potential to result in grievous bodily harm to said man. Even that was debatable; after all, if Pegasus decided that he wanted to learn to surf, Chris wasn't completely sure he'd have the heart to squelch the childlike man's desires. He's just too damn adorable for his own good... or mine, for that matter.

~*~*~*~
Eventually, they made it to the marina�s Surf and Sand shop. Tea, Bakura, Tristan, and Yugi had already come to the conclusion that surfing lessons sounded fun, so they went to sign up right away. Serenity was a little nervous, yet still determined as she asked Pegasus' permission to take surfing lessons as well. The captivating silver-haired man tilted his head toward the petite girl as he smiled and nodded, and she stood on tiptoe in order to wrap her arms around his neck and plant a grateful kiss on his cheek. Jou grinned from ear to ear at the flustered expression on his father�s face as Serenity went to join the rest of their friends; Pegasus, for his part, smoothed out his hair.
Meanwhile, Seto was interrogating the store manager in his most intimidating style while Mokuba did an unconscious imitation of the elder Kaiba, crossing his arms over his chest and glaring mercilessly at his brother�s back. The manager had been reasonably patient when the inquisition had begun, but was becoming noticeably irritated when Jou decided that it was time to defuse the situation.
�Seto, could I talk to you alone for a minute?� He asked.
The brunette scowled, but let Jou pull him behind a display of surfboards for privacy just the same. �Jou, don�t start with me. Don�t tell me I should let Mokuba learn to surf because the rest of the herd is!�
�I wasn�t going to say that." Joey stood very close to him, not quite touching the tall brunette while still allowing his breath to caress Seto�s ear. "It�s up to you to give Mokuba permission to do this. However, I really want to learn to surf and I�d love it if you would join us. I mean, it�ll be fun, and you could keep a close eye on your brother��
Jou�s lips brushed Seto�s ear as he finished, and at that moment Seto would have given Mokuba permission to jump out of an airplane without a parachute. He grabbed Joey by the hips, ramming them into his own and holding the blonde there for just a moment in order to enjoy the feel of him before releasing him.
�What am I going to do with you?� the billionaire complained as his lover walked around the display.
�Whatever you want.� Jou smirked as he winked at Mokuba and went to sign up for his lessons.
�Come on. Let�s do this.� Seto grabbed Mokuba by the shoulder, dragging him along after Joey.
�Seto, you�re the best big brother in the world. Thank you!� Mokuba was so excited he could barely contain himself.
�He is not.� Serenity protested, leaving her place in the line to join her big brother at the back.
�Is too.� Mokuba shot back in his brother's defense.
�Is not. My big brother is the best," the brunette said with finality, sticking her tongue out playfully at the younger Kaiba as she laced her fingers through Joey�s.
Mokuba looked from Serenity to Seto before his eyes finally settled on Joey. Maybe Serenity had a point; Joey did have a way of getting Seto to do things Mokuba never would have dreamed Seto would even consider, highest on the list taking a lover of his own gender.
�They�re both the best big brothers in the world,� Mokuba offered.
�I can live with that,� Serenity agreed, giving Mokuba a high five. Though she still hadn�t made up her mind about Seto himself, he had certainly raised one terrific kid brother.
Seto raised one eyebrow. He had been shoved to the side on the pedestal he had never shared in Mokuba�s eyes by this stray off the streets, the blonde boy everyone loved to torment and tease, a nobody who, like King Arthur, had been raised as a commoner but was in reality a prince. Amazingly, however, Seto found that he was more than happy to make room on that pedestal for his beloved, pedigreed mutt.

I am so whipped, he told himself as the line moved forward, and Mokuba dragged him a few steps closer to the sign-up booth.
~*~*~*~
Before long, they had made arrangements to come back to the marina the following afternoon to start their lessons, and Jou had suggested they have supper at the local sushi bar before returning to the beach house to unload their purchases. Too exhausted to do much else after that, they ended up in the family room, where Pegasus insisted on setting up the various local wines for sampling.
�No, Mokuba, you are not having any,� Seto stated flat out before his brother could even think of asking.
�But, Set-� Mokuba started to plead.
Pegasus sensed the oncoming disaster, stepping into its path before Mokuba could tell the elder Kaiba about his prior wine-drinking adventure with his brother�s enemy. �Oh, come now, Kaiba-boy, a small sip will hardly hurt him. He probably won�t even like it. It wasn�t until I was�how old are you, Mokuba?�
�Almost fourteen.� Mokuba answered readily.
�Um�well, perhaps you should listen to your brother, young Master Kaiba.� Pegasus concluded hastily, having backed himself into a corner. He had also noted the surprise on some of the teens� faces that he had had the audacity to contradict Seto, and as though that weren't bad enough, Seto himself was sporting a rather hateful glare.
Sulking, Mokuba crossed his arms over his chest and scowled.
�Hey, Mokuba, why don�t we go and see if there�s any cake left?� Serenity suggested quickly, and the boy brightened visibly as she took his hand and led him from the room.
�You started drinking wine when you were thirteen?� Joey asked in surprise once they had gone.
�Hmph.� Croquet grunted before his master could reply.
�I believe my son was addressing me, not you, Croquet.� Pegasus warned as he lined up shot glasses to hold the samples.
Croquet was quite used to playing straight man to Max�s antics. Quiet and serious by nature, he usually preferred to keep a low profile until he was needed. On very rare occasions, though, the contagion that was Pegasus infected even him.
�Master Joseph, your father started sneaking into the wine cellar when he was but a lad of eleven years.� Croquet looked directly at Jou the entire time he spoke, his tone more appropriate to delivering news of a tragedy than general information. He did not need to watch Pegasus to how his boss would react.
The room went totally silent as Pegasus' face flushed crimson. His stern and trusty bodyguard was making him sound like an alcoholic lush. Slowly, he set down the wine bottle he had been holding. �Croquet��
�Sir?� replied his servant innocently.
�Perhaps I have become soft, or been remiss in detailing my requirements of my security personnel. Whatever the cause, I had thought you were quite clear on the subject of divulging personal information about me.�
�I don�t recall ever being given a direct order on the matter, Sir.� Croquet feigned confusion and tensed, as ready for action as always.
�Hmm�� Pegasus selected a glass of wine, sipped at it delicately, and then, without warning, lunged at Croquet. Or, more appropriately, the place where Croquet had been.

When you dedicate your life to someone as unpredictable as Pegasus, you have to be able to anticipate anything, Croquet thought to himself smugly as his master stumbled over the place where he had been. As he began to fall, Croquet caught him easily, wrapping one strong arm around his midsection.
�You were saying, Master Pegasus?� he asked, his expression utterly devoid of humor, and the silver-haired man glowered over his shoulder as he pushed the sinewy limb away from his upper body.
�Never mind, Croquet. Just have a drink. And yes, it�s an order,� Pegasus grumbled, shoving a shot-glass in his bodyguard's face.
Croquet�s triumphant amusement showed only in his eyes, and only Seto and Bakura failed to find the entire incident amusing in the slightest.
~*~*~*~
For some time after that, Pegasus was at the height of his glory, telling tall tales of his childhood and delighting in the rapt attention of the teenagers while his protector was content to fade into the background and watch the show. Listening to Max tell a subtly altered version of his youth sent Chris� mind wandering into the past as well.
For six years after Cecelia�s death, Croquet had watched his master descend into madness as the Millennium Eye laid claim to his mind. Pegasus had funded numerous research expeditions into Egypt and China during those years, seeking out the best archeologists, historians, and linguists in the world. He had delved ever deeper into ancient mythology and magic, and every so often Shadi had shown up unexpectedly, sending Max catapulting off in a different direction or down into another lost tomb. Pegasus had spent untold hours cloistered in the strange blue-eyed Egyptian�s company while Christopher Croquet waited in his chambers, slowly going insane with worry.
Croquet had always seen Shadi as a threatening rival, as if the man had some power over Maximillion from which his bodyguard was unable to protect him. Even in the heat of the desert, Croquet always felt chilled when Shadi was around. Oddly, the Egyptian�s presence invariably turned Croquet�s thoughts to the beautiful and precocious Cecelia Lancaster Pegasus, creating a sense of guilt and failure that troubled and distracted him. There was an unshakeable certainty that he could have prevented the death of the only woman he�d ever truly loved that reason was powerless to overcome as long as Shadi was around.
Max was well aware of his servant's inappropriate feelings for Cecelia, as well as how much Chris despised himself for them, yet Max had never said a word. In fact, he had insisted that Chris fill the role of best man at their wedding, saying that he would have no other stand by his side on that day or any other. The faith and trust evident in that simple gesture still overwhelmed him whenever he thought about it.
Still, a few short weeks after the wedding, Christopher had handed Max his resignation. There had been no point in discussing it; they both knew why Chris felt he had to resign. All Max could do was accept it.
Handing in that letter had been the worst, most miserable mistake of Croquet�s life, for it had broken the brotherly bond of friendship that had existed between the two young men. Pegasus had been quite formal when he had contacted Croquet after Cecelia�s death and offered to rehire him, but their relationship became strictly impersonal after that, restricted to the roles of master and servant.
Even though so much had been shattered between them that their relationship would never be the same again, and Maximillion was virtually insane with grief and the horror of his Millennium Eye, Croquet knew he would never leave him again unless it were by way of the grave. He loved the man too much, and as long as there were moments when he could catch a glimpse of the gentle child within the embittered man, he would stay with him. In the bodyguard's eyes, it was just that simple.
Those six years were the worst he had spent at Pegasus� side, but one morning in Egypt, in the predawn chilliness, Croquet had followed Pegasus to the top of a rock formation without the silver haired man�s knowledge. He had watched the sun rise on Maximillion, as though it too could not help but pay homage to the nearly ethereal god. As breathtakingly beautiful as Max was, he had never been more splendid than he was in that moment, wreathed in a halo of sunlight that would have eclipsed any other man but served only to enhance his beauty. At that precise moment, Christopher�s heart had slipped into an abyss of romantic passion from which he hadn't yet bothered to attempt to reclaim it. He had loved Cecelia, to be sure, but that love was merely an extension of what he felt for the man he served.
~*~*~*~
�Ah, well�I really must be turning in. I should like to get up and start painting at sunrise.� Pegasus� announcement was greeted with several groans from his teenage art class. �I hardly expect any of you to join me at such an early hour, but perhaps in the evening we could host our own little duelist tournament?�
Seto scowled. His enemy was determined to run the show in his beach house. Croquet blinked as though he were awakening from a deep sleep, and Joey had a lopsided grin on his face that instantly alerted Yugi to impending disaster.
�Sure, Pops, but how about we break down into teams? Yugi and I against you and Seto.� Jou winked at Yugi, whose shocked, blank look didn�t faze him in the least. Evidently, the potential implications of such a suggestion were lost on the dragon master's favorite pet.
�No! There is no way I am dueling as�as his partner, Jou! You can just count me out of this entire affair!� Seto snarled defensively.
�Are you afraid to face me?� Yami countered, taking control of his host�s body. �Only a coward backs down from a challenge.� Whatever insensitivity virus was infecting Jou, the spirit of the Puzzle didn't seem to be immune from.
�Afraid to face you?� Seto growled. �No. I�ll duel you anytime, anywhere, Yami, just name it. I�ll even duel as your partner. But I will not duel with Pegasus.� With that, he stood and stormed from the room.
Jou's face was that of a scolded puppy who had erroneously mistaken his master�s favorite slippers for chew toys, and he was not the only one who had been surprised and hurt by his lover's temper tantrum. An awkward silence descended over the room, broken only when Pegasus cleared his throat, �Good night, my friends. Today has been most enjoyable.�
With that, the silver haired Duel Monsters creator exited the family room, Croquet following silently in his wake as he headed out to the beach. He needed to stretch his legs, not to mention collect his bruised feelings before returning to the house. Croquet�s every movement told Max just how furious his bodyguard was at the young CEO as they walked to the water�s edge and sat in the sand, side by side.
�I don�t suppose you�ll let me kill him, will you?� Croquet finally said, piercing his master's angry fugue.
�For all of his brilliance and strength, Kaiba is still in many ways a child, Christopher, a child who was never allowed to be a child. I happen to know that is something you can relate to very well,� Max replied softly. While he had been in possession of the Millennium Eye, Pegasus had caught more than a few snapshot glimpses into Christopher�s past.
The picture painted from Chris� memories was not a pretty one. Born and raised in in the jungles of South America by Christian missionary parents, his beloved Christopher had seen more of Hell by the age of ten than most men of seventy were aware even existed in the world. Guerrilla warfare, starving children, and drug trafficking had all taken their toll on the peaceful jungle communities. He had watched his mother die from a rare form of malaria simply because the medicine that could have saved her was not available at the primitive jungle clinic. Pegasus often wondered if some of the depth of Chris� sense of guilt over Cecelia�s death was because he had been helpless to save the only other woman he had ever loved in any way.
�Hmph�that is hardly an excuse for his belligerent behavior.� Croquet replied scornfully, unaware of his master's thoughts.
�Perhaps not, but it seems best to tolerate the boy with as much grace as possible.� Pegasus told him quietly. "For Joseph, if nothing else."
Croquet rose and absently brushed sand off of his pants. He took two long strides away from his boss, did an about face, returned and sighed, �It does seem likely that he will be able to replicate Cecelia�s body,� he ventured sadly as he sat back down, his formidable restraint already back in place.
Max moved closer to him and whispered, �You do understand that she can�t replace you, don�t you, my old friend? I need you both.�
The sound of the ocean nearly drowned out his master's voice, but Croquet caught the pained plea in Pegasus� tone anyway. � I won�t leave you, Max, ever. You know that. If her body and soul are retrievable, I know you and Kaiba will find a way to accomplish it. Your family will be complete and I will still be here. However��
�What, Chris?�
Croquet shook his head in denial, uncertain of how to put his thoughts into words, � She will doubtless find our� relationship unacceptable.�
His statement was met with silence, although Max had thought about it far too often himself. Always before, he had brushed it to the back of his mind. Croquet shook his head again. �Max, you�re too damn complicated. I cannot nor will I compete with her. I have accepted my place should she be returned to you.�
�Yet you love us both. It seems quite unfair, Christopher.� Max said in a maudlin tone.
Croquet was exasperated. �It seems unfair to you, that you can�t keep us both as lovers?�
�Yes, Christopher, it does.�
�Has it ever occurred to you that you are lucky to be able to afford being such a selfish eccentric?� Croquet countered, even less humour than usual bleeding into his tone.
�Selfish?�
�Max, there are some things you can�t buy. Trust, for instance. Will you tell her about us? Will you ask her if she cares if you keep your extramarital affair, and accept her answer, or will you betray the goddess of your universe to screw your bodyguard?� Croquet was so absorbed in his self-righteous anger that he didn�t see the right cross coming. One moment, he was trying to make his boss see the error of his ways, and the next he was flat out in the sand, blinded by the lightning strike of pain in his head.
Immediately, Pegasus was standing over him, glowering. �How dare you, Croquet!� Even as he said it, though, he knew he didn�t have a solution for the dilemma. He didn�t want to deal with it, and Chris was forcing him to face the reality of his situation. �I�m sorry. I�I don�t know. Perhaps we could deal with it when the time comes?� he suggested hopefully, futilely.
Croquet looked up at the six foot one inch tall man-child, not even attempting to hide his astonishment, �It is better to be prepared for every eventuality.�
Pegasus sank back down into the sand beside him, helping Chris into a sitting position before nodding and laying his head on his protector�s shoulder. He was exhausted by the conflict, the struggle that waged within his heart. Cecelia would always be the joyful light of his world, but it was Christopher, his rough-hewn diamond, who gave him peace, who kept him safe both in the outer world and within his troubled soul. He could hardly be expected to choose between them.
~*~*~*~
As Max slipped into a light dream-like state his mind traveled back eleven years in time.

He and Croquet had just returned from one of their many journeys to Pegasus Island. All Max had wanted was a quiet day, a chance to recuperate from the rather stress-filled trip, but constant demands and his own restlessness had made him irrationally temperamental. To top it off, Croquet had been keeping his distance, being secretive and oddly indifferent about his duties. True, Pegasus had treated him like his own personal paid slave for nearly six years, in a relentless and demanding fashion, but that didn�t explain Croquet�s more recent change of attitude.
Before retiring for the evening, he ordered a meeting with his head of security to resolve the situation. On the surface, Pegasus had remained calm and cool while interrogating Croquet about his responsibilities. He had used the Millennium Eye as an investigative tool at the same time, poking and prodding at his bodyguard�s thoughts. Then, as he turned the questioning toward events in Egypt, Pegasus suddenly saw himself clearly through Christopher�s eyes, blazing in a perfect desert sunrise. The profound feelings of love tied to the image caused Pegasus to gasp in shock.
He had gone too far and seen too much, had trespassed like a thief in the night, and what he had discovered was certainly not what he had originally sought. He had expected some covert scheme, betrayal, a breach in the other man�s loyalty, anger, disgust; anything but an emotion as fine as spun glass and as enduring as a diamond. Out on the hot barren sands, Croquet had fallen in love with him.
They had been seated in the cavernous private quarters that served as Max�s bedroom, in front of a slowly dying fire. Chris took a poker, encouraging it to become a blaze once more. It was November and the island was chilly, especially in contrast to the desert.
Max, for his part, watched his bodyguard thoughtfully. His passion for life had nearly died with his wife six years earlier, but then Chris had come back to work for him and kept the flickering flame alive. Pegasus went to him, laid a hand on the man�s shoulder, and gently took the poker, setting it aside.
Croquet gave his boss a quizzical look from where he knelt at the hearth. �Sir?�
Pegasus didn�t answer him vocally. Instead, he took Chris� chin in his hand and bent over him. During the deep, slow kiss, Chris wound his arms around his master�s waist in a possessive embrace.
~*~*~*~
Lost in the increasingly erotic dream, but still on the beach, Pegasus shifted and moaned deep in his throat.
�Max, you�ll catch a chill out here,� Croquet pronounced, bringing him back from his mental voyages.
�Hmm�perhaps you�re right. We should go to bed�� smirked the Duel Monsters creator devilishly, and Chris gave a low, gruff chuckle.
That was one way of keeping warm, he supposed.
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