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Cronos was all too aware of how many hours passed as him and Napoleon waited for Edo Phoenix to arrive. Had counted each and every one of them. He knew he should be more disappointed that their star, their hope, didn't arrive. Yet...
Something had settled within Cronos as the hours passed. Something not unlike tranquillity. So different from the way the day began. The rhythmic crash of waves, the sky that slowly turned red, a heat pressed up against his back. There was another feeling somewhere in there, too. One Cronos didn't quite know how to describe. Didn't quite trust himself to describe, even when the warmth left his back. Especially when the warmth left his back.
He didn't know what caused this particular feeling in its intensity. Maybe it was the rollercoaster of emotions he went through that day. The disappointment that turned into new hope. The adrenaline and helplessness of being all but strangled by that brutish first year turned into warmth and safety as Napoleon protected him. Or maybe it was the lack of Napoleon's body heat. His back felt cold after being pressed against the other man for so many hours.
Whatever it was, it made Cronos want to reach out, and pull Napoleon down. To release the weird cocktail of emotions running through his veins through a simple kiss.
But it wasn't simple, and Cronos was not that kind of man.
So instead, he joined in on Napoleon's laughter with his own giggles. Buried that feeling deep inside, unwilling to ever face it again.
Even if his stomach turned when he thought about the students currently living in the Osiris Red dorm. Especially a certain drop-out boy who had refused the promotion to a higher dorm before.
Cronos hated this. Hated that he let it come to this.
He really should have cut down Napoleon's suggestion back in the beginning. But instead he let it fester, let it grow. All in the name of using it as a distraction from what he truly felt. A way to run away from his personal problems. And his students were the ones caught in the cross fire.
The duel was a hard one. One of the hardest he ever had. The sounds of the dorm getting destroyed and rebuilt over and over behind him was a symphony of terror and dread. At least he managed to win. He managed to protect his students once more. Even if the threat was one he created himself. Not that he'd ever let his students know just how much he cared about them. Especially not that drop-out boy who slept through class yet retained all its information and had that weird "gotcha" tic that Cronos didn't catch himself returning.
As he brushed cat hair off his boot and coat that evening, he couldn't help but think back to one thing Napoleon said. One sentiment that managed to strike at something deep within him.
That one needed 3 traits to be successful in battle.
Prowess, impetus and decisiveness.
And that Cronos lacked all 3.
Cronos might have proven him wrong on that particular battlefield, yet he couldn't help but agree that he lacked all 3 on a different battlefield. One that he now had to admit standing on. Love wasn't something he was good at. Neither platonic nor romantic love. Not that he was able to get much practice. It had always been so hard to date growing up. Always had to hide both himself and his partners. It was one of the reasons why he got into dueling in the first place. It was an art form where everyone was "weird" in one way or another. Hell, the creator of the game was one of the most flamboyant men he knew of, and that man used to have a wife.
Maybe none of this would have happened if he were better at love. But at least now he was able to admit to himself what exactly that feeling he held for Napoleon was. Even if he lacked the prowess, impetus and decisiveness to openly do something with those feelings.
Cronos' heart wouldn't stop pounding in his chest. A rapid drumbeat that was far too loud in his ears.
Asking Napoleon to watch Kabukid's duel with him was as close to asking for a date as his lacking traits allowed him. Not that he would've ever expected for Napoleon to almost turn it into a proper date by suggesting they have a picnic while watching the duel. Cronos knew he didn't mean anything by it. The man was straight. Had an ex-wife and a kid.
Still...
Cronos couldn't stop himself from leaning into the other man. More than what was socially accepted, anyway. Let himself enjoy the heat of Napoleon's body next to him. Drank his tea so he wouldn't need to talk as much. Used it to swallow down words he really shouldn't let slip - especially not when there were other people around. Occasionally, he made remarks about the duel to Napoleon while he was taking notes. Easily joked with him. Acted as if they were a bunch of fanboys at least 20 years younger. Pressed up together as if they stood in a crowd at a concert instead of sitting next to each other on a picnic mat.
At least he managed to keep himself from reaching out further. Kept his hands to himself, instead of trying to "accidentally" hold one of Napoleon's. A gesture so childish, it would fit his students far more than him. He wondered what it would feel like, though. Napoleon's hands were smaller than his. But they looked far softer than his long bony fingers could ever hope to be.
He could barely feel the disappointment that Kabukid lost. How could he when he was still overwhelmed with both pride of Judai's achievement, and the heat that didn't leave his body even as Napoleon left him to clean up after them?
It was a good day. One that Cronos would not forget for a long time.
Even if he wished that it would've lasted a bit longer.
Cronos never expected to end up in such a situation when he signed up to be a teacher. Then again, he thought so many times since he started teaching at Duel Academia. The things he'd done over the years, the horrors he was unable to protect his students from. This was merely another form of that. Stranded in another dimension while both students and teachers slowly lost themselves.
It was only right for him to be the one to battle the group of students while the others continued to what was their only hope of getting out of here. Of getting home. He needed to be the one who stood between the students he had already failed, and those he could still protect.
Only him.
Cronos.
Not Napoleon.
"I shall remain as well," Napoleon started to say. "The cause for all this is my so-"
Cronos cut him off with a hand over the lower half of his face. He memorized the feeling of Napoleon's lips against the palm of his hand. Traced both them and his chin with his fingertips when he pulled his hand away. He leaned down, felt Napoleon's body heat for what might be the last time.
"A father should stay with his son, both to scold him and to take care of him."
"You knew?"
Of course, he did. He had taken extra steps to not get in the way of their shaky relationship. His own relationship with his parents was ruined beyond repair when he confessed to them that he liked boys. They didn't even allow him to stay around long enough to learn that he wanted to grow his hair out or that he liked the lipstick a girl put on him in a bar. There was no way he'd get between a parent and child who clearly wanted to reconcile yet are very awkward as they did so.
So instead he said nothing. Just sent Napoleon a look meant to convey everything he felt but could not voice. He didn't know whether or not Napoleon knew what he meant. Either way, it wouldn't change anything. Not now, maybe not ever.
He closed his eyes. He didn't want to watch them leave. The situation tore at his heart as it was. Each little thing they said to him as they passed him both stabbed him in the heart and strengthened his resolve. They may very well be the last words he would ever hear them say. As long as they got away, that was fine by him. Though, one rung in his mind more than the others. A simple “Thank You”. As if he did anything special.
He felt his lips curl up into a smile.
"Now, let us begin the class!"
Cronos knew this was goodbye the moment he entered the room and saw Napoleon standing there. His gaze fixed on something in the distance, deep in thought.
"I guess you're leaving?"
Napoleon jumped, but quickly caught himself. He cleared his throat. "Yes. I've thought about what happened, and what you said in that other reality. I realize now that we need a stable environment where we can work through it at our own pace. And Duel Academia is everything but stable."
"I understand." And he did. He truly did. But that didn't mean it didn't hurt any less. Still, he held out his hand. "I wish you the best of luck for both you and Martin."
"Thank you." Napoleon took his hand. It almost disappeared when Cronos wrapped his around it. They shook hands. "I wish you the best of luck with your students. Even if most of the trouble makers leave at the end of the year."
"Don't remind me," Cronos groaned. He really needed a reminder that his favorite students would leave at the end of the year. Even if a certain drop-out boy was still missing.
Napoleon grinned at him.
This was it. Should be it.
But for just one moment, Cronos wanted to be selfish. He bent down. Pressed a kiss to each of Napoleon's cheeks. A greeting used as a way to say farewell. He really was hopeless, wasn't he?
As quickly as he bent down, he returned to his previous position. Let go of Napoleon's hand. He hoped that the setting sun hid the blush he could feel on his cheeks. "I hope we will meet again."
Napoleon just looked at him for a few drawn out moments. The wait for his next words was almost like torture. But unlike torture, Napoleon's words were kind. Ignored what Cronos laid bare, didn't rattle what Cronos had feared to lose all along. A way to part on kind terms. "As do I."
With that, Napoleon walked out of the room, and out of Cronos' life.
It had been years since Cronos walked the streets of Italy. Probably wouldn't have for many more if Judai hadn't sent him an invitation to an exclusive duel monsters event hosted by Kaiba Corp in Venice during the break between school years. The dress code was lax, yet demanded for attendants to be chic. Cronos used it as an excuse to wear his black heels with a black cocktail party dress. His lips painted a deep red.
He already met a lot of people he knew. Met even more he knew of. He felt wandering eyes on him. Some far more subtly than others. Mr. Pegasus being one of those who didn't care about subtlety. Though, Cronos felt less than inclined to give in after the triangle duel. Not that he was in the mood to spend the night with someone. No, this whole event was already socialization enough for him. He'd already talked to Judai when he first got here. It was so strange to see his favorite former student dressed in a wine red suit, easily dancing around the political plays as if he were born for it.
Cronos sat on one of the tastefully scattered couches. Just rested his body and mind for a few minutes, eyes closed to find inner peace after some of the comments Pegasus made, when someone sat down next to him. He opened his mouth ready to tell whoever it was to sit somewhere else as he wasn't interested, when he opened his eyes and saw who it was. His words never made it out of his throat, cut off by his heart that suddenly sat there.
It was a man he thought he would never see again.
Napoleon.
Dressed in a nice fitting suit. Aged like a fine wine in the years since they parted ways. Cronos swallowed noticeably.
"It's been a while, Cronos," Napoleon said with a smile.
"Indeed," Cronos barely managed to get out. Desperately searched through his brain for ways to continue the conversation, so he wouldn't just sit there, gaping at the other man. Eventually, he settled on the reason for their parting. "How are things with Martin?"
"Better. Much better. We still stumble from time to time, but nothing that would cause us bigger problems. He's growing into a fine young man."
Cronos relaxed with every word. It seemed that his last actions that day didn't destroy this easy energy between them. "Does he already have plans for the future?"
Napoleon shook his head. "Nothing concrete so far...," He trailed off, a wide grin on his face. "Except meet up with Rei again. Those two have stayed in contact the whole time. Sometimes I think he wants nothing more than to be her househusband while she goes out making the money."
Cronos chuckled. That seemed very much in character for both of them. "And what do you plan on doing once he moves out?"
"I was thinking about returning to Duel Academia."
Cronos raised a brow. "I thought you would never want to come back. What with the comparatively low salary and the chaos. Though, the chaos isn't as bad as it used to be. More of a chaos fit for a boarding school."
"I found myself missing it." He shrugged. "I couldn't believe it at the beginning either, but I do." His eyes turned to Cronos, fixed him with a stare. "Mostly I just missed you."
Cronos sucked in a breath. He shifted in his seat. Watched as Napoleon's eyes left his. His eyes followed Cronos' neck to the straps that helped to hold up his dress. To the short skirt of his dress that rode up even higher due to his seated position and along his long bare legs. All within in a few heartbeats. His eyes met Cronos' once more.
"I missed you a lot."
"I missed you too," Cronos breathed.
Napoleon carefully settled one hand on Cronos' bare knee. Cronos' breath hitched, but he made no move to remove the hand that might as well be a heated iron, for how the simple touch seemed to be burned into his skin.
"I've also been thinking a lot..."
"About what?" Cronos barely got out.
"You..." His hand slid down Cronos' bare thigh until it met the skirt of his dress. "This..." His fingertips caressed the inside of his thigh. "Us..."
"And what is your conclusion?"
"After getting over the fact that I should be way too old to have a sexual awakening, I decided that I wanted to try to give us a chance... I know I want this. If you'll have me."
"I-" Cronos cleared his throat. "Of course, I want you. More than anything."
Napoleon grinned widely, his eyes glittered with happiness. "More than anything?"
"Yes!"
"Even more than wanting your favorite nestlings back?" He teased.
"Don't remind me."
Napoleon laughed. Cronos couldn't help but join him after a few moments. He was reminded of how it all started. With being pressed up against this same man, laughing together. And while the circumstances were different, that same tranquillity filled him.
He was pulled from his thoughts when Napoleons's hand left his thigh, and instead took his hand.
"Shall we take this to a more private location?"
Cronos silently cursed the lack of a sunset that could cover his burning cheeks. "Yes."
As Napoleon led him outside, his eyes caught Judai's across the room. He stood next to a man, who was undoubtedly Seto Kaiba. The boy smiled at him. Sent him a wink that had Cronos flush with the knowledge that Judai had planned this. Judai's smile widened even more. He might've even had a comment to yell out loud if it weren't for Kaiba's hand on his lower back. Instead, he looked up at Kaiba, the look in his eyes now more smug. A look that Cronos knew screamed "I told you so". Kaiba just guided him to rest against his side.
For a moment, Cronos was ready to go over there and rip them apart. An urge that left him when Judai's eyes briefly shone golden, quick enough to be a trick of the light. Right. Judai wasn't just his favorite boy. He was the most dangerous man in the room. His past, that Cronos still had trouble comprehending, was the reason why he was able to play politics so well. Why he could read people so well. Why he used the power his boyfriend held to play matchmaker for his former teachers.
Damn drop-out boy. Though, he couldn't mind too much. Not when Napoleon spent the night in Cronos' hotel room.