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“I know what you are thinking about,” Yugi sighed for the hundredth time during their usual dinner.
Pegasus had won and with it, he won his soul . For some reason he still didn’t know he had to live there, his Millennium puzzle was in some place along the prison his guard called “home” and where Yugi had learned to strategise and simplify his actions.
His grandfather and their bond came back, but the old man had a soft place for the little game shop, so Pegasus had conceded that he could “visit” Yugi like he was some ordinary pet out of the goodness of his heart.
He felt lonely without the spirit's presence and his grandfather. Solomon didn’t even try to protest because Yugi had asked him to comply with Pegasus' orders.
“Why are you still so hostile with me, Yugi-boy? You are breaking my heart!” Pegasus replied, clutching his chest in his usual dramatic manner. When he wasn’t reading his comics, he was admiring Cecilia’s portrait. He could admit that the woman was beautiful and she probably didn’t deserve her demise whatever it was.
“You cheated in the game, and I don’t even know when you are telling the truth or not. Why are you still trying to read my mind? We aren’t playing anymore. You won,” Is it not enough for you? He wanted to ask, but Pegasus had a complicated personality. Sometimes when the nostalgia struck him, he disappeared for days and sometimes he had a maniac gaze on his eyes, trying to tease him all the time and getting violent when he didn’t get what he desired.
Months had passed and they had a certain routine between the two of them. They dine together, and when Pegasus was feeling magnanimous he let his friends visit him.
“I think we’re splendid together, Yugi boy,” Pegasus continued with a fake sweetness that had him rolling his eyes.
He was known at the school as Yugi Mutou, but since Pegasus took control of his life , another surname was added as a mocking joke by some of his school partners. Behind his back, he heard whispers of Pegasus Yugi being his real name. They thought he was kind of an adopted pet living in that Castle.
However, when Pegasus was in a good mood or his cynical plans came to fruition he liked to have tea in the garden with Yugi at his side like they were long-time friends. It was sad. The man didn’t have friends or allies, everyone was a suspect in his book.
“Do you think you can look at another amazing view like I have here?” Pegasus tilted his head with a raised eyebrow and the cup of tea looked almost delicately in his hands. Yugi never saw a hair out of place. The platinum colour was mesmerising.
“The garden is beautiful, but I prefer seeing it with my family or friends,” Yugi replied boldly. When he was a little kid, he wished to meet Pegasus, the great inventor of Duel with Monsters, but after knowing him, he felt disappointed with himself for having an idealised version of someone. Especially someone as cruel as Maximilian.
Pegasus didn’t seem fazed by that comment. He only chuckled like a kid, and Yugi had to roll his eyes for the tenth time in a row. Fortunately, the tea was delicious and when the man wasn’t arrogantly talking, he was pleasant because he had a lot of knowledge.
The shock came when Yugi commented that he wanted to study at the University, and his grandfather wished for the same, but unfortunately, they weren’t rich and studying at a higher level was expensive.
“I could pay for you,” Max said and his gold eye shone. He said it so disinterestedly that Yugi furrowed his brow and tried to correct it quickly.
“You don’t have to! I don’t need it!” Yugi clarified with a lot of gestures, but Pegasus laughed.
“I kidnapped you. But you seem to care about my finances. You are my prisoner and I could do whatever I want with you.” He felt a shiver run down his spine and shook his head.
He heard odd comments like that as the week passed. His friends came to visit, and for some reason, he didn’t know, Pegasus let him invite Tea more times to the Mansion than his male friends.
“I think he likes you,” Tea shrugged his shoulders after a duel with cards between the two of them.
Yugi bit his nails, “He doesn’t like anyone. The only person he loved is dead.” He remembered seeing Cecelia’s portrait all around the Castle, especially in the halls.
Tea smirked a little, and added, “Are you jealous of that? You know, the first time I came here you were almost desperate to escape. But now you are dressed in his clothes and being comfortable around in your supposed slave bedroom.” She was joking, Yugi thought, or at least, he hoped she was joking.
“He is an adult. Probably he had a lot of people interested in him, especially women.” Yugi expressed. It was true he was using Pegasus’s clothes, but not from his wardrobe. They appeared in his bedroom one day and he decided to use them because he couldn’t wear the same outfit every day. He remembered telling that to his grandfather and the man looked at him strangely.
He didn’t have a crush on Pegasus out of all the people. But Tea was hinting at something else, and Joey had bothered him by saying that he liked an old man. They didn’t know that Pegasus was still young, still in his 20s and his birthday was approaching.
Yugi groaned on the pillow after he listed every possible gift he could give to the man. Why did he have to give him a present? He was a slave in the Mansion! Where did his wires get crossed that he thinks of Pegasus as another normal human being?
Pegasus treated him uncharacteristically gently as the time passed which was weird. Yugi couldn’t entertain a good thought about the man. He was the enemy.
An enemy who he had a gift from him on his birthday. He didn’t have much money, but he knew how Pegasus liked to drink tea and eat his toast. Crocket gave him a side-eye glance after he requested the specific food.
Some pyjamas were his gift after the tea party. Yugi felt it was ridiculous, but after seeing a crack of a smile on Pegasus’s lips without the usual mockery or irony. It was
cute
. He caught himself staring at the man, and the other one noticed it with that insufferable smirk. “Are you admiring my beauty, Yugi-boy?” He joked with a hint of something that he couldn't pinpoint. Yugi scoffed and ended up eating a slice of cake the servants prepared for the birthday.
What if he tried to say “Yes, I am admiring your beauty,” But he couldn’t. It was too much.
His grandfather came to visit on his birthday with glittery eyes and a little bag with a detailed deck of cards. Yugi didn’t want anything else in the world except cards and good friends. And he had them. During breakfast, he caught Pegasus looking at him with the usual soft look he sported on those days. His stomach fluttered nervously. The breakfast felt intimate, with only three of them. “As your birthday gift, Yugi-boy. You can go back home. I don’t need anything from you anymore.” Pegasus said sharply with a dangerous edge in his voice. He seemed mad for some reason and his grandfather raised an eyebrow.
“Come on, Yugi. Let’s go. Your room is still the same as ever,” The old man said politely, and inclined his head to Pegasus who didn’t deserve anything after having his grandfather’s soul inside a fucking card.
Yugi was confused. His guts twisted painfully at Pegasus’s words. It was harsh. After “living” with him for some months, suddenly he was out of the house. He had to be delighted. He fought for it. But why didn't it feel like that? “Are you kicking me out?” He questioned with anger.
His grandfather nudged his shoulder and shook his head. “That's everything you ever want. Am I correct? You said that the beautiful garden would be a better view with your family and friends. As I didn’t know how to return your precious company, I decided to set you free. You can thank me later.” Pegasus commented with an acid tone and crossed his arms.
“I hate you! After everything you did to me and my family! You are kicking me out!” Yugi raised his voice and was surprised by his tone. He wasn’t used to raising his voice. It was a bit childish, but he felt rejected and disappointed.
He didn’t look back as he left with his grandfather and the gifts some of the servants gave to him. Some of them shed tears too. Pegasus' roaming gaze was all over his back, but he didn’t turn around.
“You like him,” His grandfather said after one week passed with Yuugi spending the day in his bedroom, mopping all over the place. The old man tried to hold his chuckle to no avail.
“I don't!” Like a petulant child, he crossed his arms and rolled his eyes. Usually, he was the “adult” in his group alongside Tea or the rational one, but the situation was making him feel embarrassed about it.
“He sent you a letter. I remember that was the norm when I was young.” His grandfather sighed, reminiscing about his old days, and left the letter on the table.
Yugi opened it quickly. It said in neat handwriting: I didn’t want you to leave the house, but we will see each other sooner than ever. Take care of yourself. I hope you also liked the package I sent to you.
Pegasus
“Grandpa! Did a package arrive?” Solomon whistled after hearing it and carried with him two precious boxes with a big bow on them. Yugi ran to him while the man sat down at the edge of his bed until he opened the boxes to find a variety of elegant clothes with a fragrance so sweet it filled the entire room.
Solomon left his grandson’s room after seeing him smiling again, squirming like a teenager, even if he didn’t like the prospect. Yugi deserved better. He deserved someone of his age like the silly friends he spent time with. Unfortunately, he didn’t want to think much about Pegasus. A young man in his twenties expressed interest in Yugi, so before his anxiety played tricks on him he started to feel a telltale of a headache growing. Why did Yugi always like impossible things? The impossible feats or challenges.