#CW is like that grandpa that urgently calls you to do something for him but then instantly trolls you and kicks you out

[drawnfamiliarfaces]

Heroes of Millennium (HoM) AU

Act 1, Omake (Extra): Master of Time - (here)

Act 1: What was left behind. - read here

[moonofthenight]

Bella Ciao

This little fic is inspired by the Russian Roulette AU by @whataboutmyfries, I would recommend reading it before this, it is absolutely amazing and the fic is going to make a bit more sense but I guess it can be read on its own but go read the AU anyway! This is just my little idea and I don’t know a thing about where the AU is going.

*

The cubs belong to @lumosinlove, the universe to @whataboutmyfries but Emiliano is mine!

*

CW mentions of smoking, beverages, food, scars (very briefly) and weapons

It had been five days since Leo had met Logan and Finn and they still hadn’t reached out to him; he was getting impatient. He wasn’t going to say it out loud or even admit it, really but he wanted them to contact him, wanted to work with them. He traced his bracelet subconsciously, snapping out of his thoughts.

The plastic chair made a weird noise when he moved to sit in a comfortable position, focusing on the chatter of the other’s again, not letting his mind wander to green eyes or red hair.

It was a warm night in Gryffindor and him and his acquaintances made real use out of it. The black table was full of Italian specialties, from fish to focaccia to red wine to mussels. He honestly wasn’t sure which garden or which residence it was but it was decorated fairly nice, fairy lights hanging over their heads, candles on the table, music in the background.

Leo was wearing black suit trousers, a white shirt that was tight on his arms, the first few buttons were open, showing his tanned chest and giving away a glimpse of his tattoo. His black shoes were polished, his right foot laying on his left knee, the blazer was draped over the chair, long forgotten.

Emiliano, a cousin of Leo, bumped his shoulder, holding out a cigar for him to take. He didn’t smoke often, but occasionally, on nights like this, he loved himself a good one. It was something he got from his Nonno. When Leo was little, he didn’t know his grandpa without one and it was kind of little him that wanted to be like his Nonno, maybe not the best trait to pick up but he didn’t care. So, he took it out of Emiliano’s hand, taking a pull before he casually formed little circles with the smoke, which vanished into the night air.

He let his eyes wander over the landscape behind the garden, occupying his left hand with his cards, letting them move smoothly through his fingers. He must have subconsciously pulled them out of his pocket, he can’t help himself sometimes, it clamed him down. Although, he wasn’t sure why he was nervous.

“Qualcosa di nuovo da Tremblay?” asked Sirius. Sirius Black, he was kind of the leader of Leo’s little group, you could say. He and his husband, Remus. They looked more dangerous than they actually were, the scars and the leather were just the surface, holding up their reputation they carefully built over the years. But if you get to know them better, when they accept you, trust you, you get to see that they have the biggest heart. Without them, Leo would be nowhere now and he was going to be grateful forever.

“No, sto ancora aspettando un segno. Prendono il loro tempo.”

He got a quick nod as an answer before Sirius turned around, pulling his fiancé in for a kiss.

It was a typical picture for an Italian meetup, loud chatter, loud laughter and lots of hand gestures. It made Leo feel a bit like when he was little, back in Italy, back… home? He touched his tattoo under his right eye, the orange light of the sunset resting freshly on his skin, making him look simply beautiful and ridiculously hot.

The ringtone of his phone pulled him out of his trance. He placed the cigar on the ashtray, fishing the phone out of his jacket.

“Scusi,” he mumbled, hurrying away from the crowd for some privacy. He walked out of the garden onto the street, accepting the call while he hid in a small, dark alley around the corner.

“Si?” Leo’s voice was a tact deeper when he switched into Italian. It wasn’t Finn, nor Logan like he hoped but it was Lizard, so it was not less important. He only called when it was urgent and it made Leo proud that he called him.

“Come posso aiutarti, P?”

“Ti hanno già parlato? Have they contacted you?” a soft and familiar voice asked.

“No, not yet.”

--

Logan and Finn had been waiting for a moment like this. They have been sitting in Finn’s car all evening but immediately got out when they saw Leo. Hiding in the shadows, they quietly sneaked closer to him, trying to approach him without much attention. They were close. Very close.

They should have known better, if we are honest here. In a mere moment of victory, they didn’t notice Leo’s body shifting to hear them better. He whirled around, holding two knives at their throats, the phone safely in his pocket. Finn and Logan gasped, eyes wide, filled with surprise.

Leo grinned a bit, enjoying their naivety, them not knowing what he was capable of… yet. Seems like he would get to know them better soon enough.

“What do you want, amores? Don’t you think a call would have been easier?” he said, pushing the knives further into their skin before letting them disappear in his sleeves with a grin tugging at his lips. He wasn’t able to hold back a wink.

“But where would be the fun in that?”

 ---------------------------------

Qualcosa di nuovo da Tremblay? = Something new from Tremblay?

No, sto ancora aspettando un segno. Prendono il loro tempo. = No, I'm still waiting for a sign. They take their time.

Come posso aiutarti, P? = How can I help you, P?

Ti hanno già parlato? = Have they already talked to you?

[alpaca-writes]

Mystics, Chapter 14

When Arch becomes hired on at Mystics by the strange shopkeeper Lyrem Nomadus, everything seems to be going well- in fact, their life nearly becomes perfection. Soon enough, however, Arch realizes that perhaps not everything is as perfect as it seems….

Read Chapters 1-13 and more HERE

Taglist: @myst-in-the-mirror, @livingforthewhump

CW: swearing, drinking, drug use, smoking, noncon touching (nonsexual)

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CHAPTER FOURTEEN: SIGN ON THE DOTTED LINE

        The “In Memoriam” portion of the ceremony was a bit much. Not that Arch could say anything about why they thought that way without being called callous. They heard some sniffling from the upper balconies; Parents of three students who had gone missing or were found with parts of their bodies severed and strewn across the side of the highway. Two, so far, had been gruesomely identified without their heads, and neither of them had their hearts either.

        Marcus was still missing.

        But no one would find him until he too, had his heart and head removed. Arch would likely be recruited to help with that one as well. When they asked Lyrem what to do with him, he simply smiled and told them to be patient.

        They were already quite upset with Lyrem for not allowing them the opportunity to take Kyle’s life. They had tortured and flayed the young man for weeks, sure, but Arch was under the impression that his life was reserved for them. Lyrem had shown up at the house afterwards with a raspberry scone and a fresh coffee in his hand after the deed had been done. He blamed Arch for it too.

        “If you hadn’t forced my hand after disposing of the shape-shifter,” he said- not angrily, just in his usually condescending tone. “Then I wouldn’t have had to use my remaining strength to keep you in line.”

        By in line, Lyrem meant the sudden and unexpected visit he had paid to Charlotte, Arch’s mother. But Arch couldn’t remember her now. Her face, her voice, anything she had ever said or done or created… well, all Arch sensed in their memory now was a deep and everlasting shadow where their mother should have been.

        As far as Arch could recall, they had been living with Lyrem since the beginning of time- even though, logically, they knew it couldn’t be true. There were no photos of them together- and for the first few days that Lyrem had taken over that little house, he had thrown out bags of clothing that didn’t belong to him. He burned anything that left the mere scent of Charlotte behind. And he scoured the place to be certain that she hadn’t left as much as a footprint in her wake.

        Arch’s bedroom was moved upstairs, into the light. That was where it once was. Why they had moved to the basement where the wolf spiders snuck between the old shag carpeting and the cat made regular use of one of the corners as a bathroom, they couldn’t recall. They had felt safe there, though.

        But, Lyrem was right. They deserved to live above ground, they deserved a window and they deserved protection from annoying spider bites.

        The walk across the stage commenced, and Arch was thankful for the use of their real name. It was nice that people finally respected them. They shook the hand, posed for a photographer and exited on the staircase, wondering how much longer before it was finally over.

        Lyrem had mentioned he wanted photos, so they would take a friend up to meet with him to make him happy. It seemed that many of the things Arch found themselves doing, was to make him happy. This romper for instance…

        He couldn’t have picked out something even just a little more neutral?

        Benjamin to the rescue, as always, he pulled Arch and Shazia down the stairs to enter a limo, but at the bottom, he turned a quick corner and pulled out some tiny liqueur bottles from his pockets. He handed one to each of them. Arch drank it down without a problem; they had barely tasted it and allowed it to burn the back of their throat. The other two pinched their noses.

Abandoning their bottles to the trash bin by the stairs, they stood near the back of the line to enter the last limo on the street. Before pulling off, Arch spied through the window, seeing Lyrem on his way down the stairs with a stranger- a very pretty stranger.

        “So, was that your grandpa?”

        Arch turned back and nodded. They might as well go along with it. The neon lights inside bathed the graduates in multiple colours that caused the sequins on the dresses to sparkle with fervour.

        “Doesn’t like…” Benji started, then reconsidered his words. “Doesn’t your dad or someone chaperone these things a lot?”

        Arch looked at him funny and scowled. “You know I don’t have a dad.”

        “I could’ve sworn… nah, nevermind. I don’t even remember the dude’s name.”

        “My dad’s chaperoned once,” Shazia added, “but it’s really no fun when he does because”-

        “Your dad threatened me last time!” Benji said emphatically. “I won’t forget that shit. He’s got scary eyes. Watched me all night ‘cause he thought I wanted to get into your pants.”

        Arch laughed at him as he enthusiastically recalled everything to a T.

        The limo emptied outside the school gymnasium. Walking in, there was yet another “In Memoriam” display set up by the door with photos of Jess and Kyle. Marcus’s parents refused to have their son added to the table. That was too hopeful of them, Arch thought

        “Rest in pieces, guys,” Benji kissed two fingers and pressed them onto the photos.

        Shazia punched him in the arm, and then stood beside Arch to pay her respects. She muttered a few words of respectful prayer and stared at Arch with care in her deep brown eyes.

        “I’m glad you’re not on this table too,” Shazia mentioned. “I don’t think I would have been able to do anything after… you know… what you went through.”

        An instant pang of guilt dropped into Arch’s stomach. They pulled themselves from the table.

        “Whatever,” they said. “I’m alive.”

        The intro of “Dancing Queen” blared through the gymnasium along with the chorus of voices that would sing along and jump around to it. Girls pointed to each other. Boys stood around looking out of place, unless they had a drink in their hands- for whatever reason, they preferred an excuse to stay in place instead of also succumbing to ABBA’s inviting rhythm.

        The DJ mixed a series of beats slower and faster, older songs and younger songs, and after a couple hours, the gym was swelteringly hot. Arch and Benji had decided to abandon Shazia to the dance circle as they recouped outside in the field by a short tree grove.

        Chaperones hardly watched the students coming and going. They were stuck on their screens, scrolling through treasured apps and keeping up their texting quotas.

        Benji pulled out a joint from his pocket.

        “Wow, you really came prepared,” Arch commented dryly.

        “Have to be! I was a boy scout,” Benji stated. Searching for his box of matches through his baggy suit, he grimaced. “What are the odds that one of them’s got a light?”

        He pointed to a chaperone near the door. Arch shook their head.

        “Here,” they took the joint into the hand. “Don’t tell anybody that I did this for you.”

        Benji looked on confused, then furrowed his brows as a small orange glow emitted from Arch’s palm as they held their hand around it. The joint lit itself up with so much as a whisper from his friend. Arch took a puff, coughed and then handed it over with a nod.

        “What the fuck, Arch?” Benji took it back. Studying it bewildered. He puffed too as he watched them struggle to keep from coughing again.

        “Grandpa taught me a magic trick,” they managed.

        “Yeah?” Benji nodded, “Sure, yeah, great… is he fucking Dumbledore?”

        Arch laughed.

“Well, he’s not fucking Dumbled”-

“Arch?’

They turned towards the walking path where the forest line started- where they had just heard their name. Through the darkness of the trees, it was difficult to see who was there at first.

        “Hey, this is the guy I remember,” Benji said. “Sorry, man, I forgot your name.”

        The silhouette and shaggy hair were all Arch could see before they backed away on instinct.

        The man had a slight limp as he approached; in the same clothing he was wearing the night he had first attacked them.

        “Benji… Benji, run!” Arch cried out. They pushed Benji away. He halfway fell into a towering spruce as he was not expecting the shove; he heard the faint killer beats of “Rasputin” pounding out from the gymnasium.

        “What the hell, Arch?” Benji brushed himself off, then started searching the ground for his joint that became lost in the needles.

        The man shook his head, and reached out, grasping Arch’s wrist tightly with his other hand.

        “Arch, please”-

        Shouting the flame incantation this time, Arch pressed their hand into the back of theirs, forcing him to release them. He shouted.

        “For fuck sakes’ Arch! Seriously?!”

        The man stepped backward again, to check their new burn. He became distracted enough that he failed to notice the black cloak appearing to his left.

        Emerging beside him, was none other than Paimon. He had arrived with his cane. With a breath of relief and a quick nod from Arch, Paimon raised his cane in a wide swiping motion to the man. Startle by the sudden movement, he held up a hand, and caught the cane mid swing. Growling, he pushed Paimon back a step.

        “I’m not here for you,” the man said, daring to push past the demon.

        “How grand. I am not here for you either,” Paimon smiled. His eyes glowed orange, then he raised a hand. “Not quite yet, Arty. Bye, bye.”

        “Wh-”-

Immersed in darkness, the man was gone.

        Paimon turned to Arch, with a grin.

        “What did you call him?” Arch asked the demon urgently.

Paimon waved off their question and stole a glance at the boy who witnessed the strange and frightful encounter.

“A-Arch?” Benji stuttered, unsure of how strong his pot was and if it ever induced such vivid trips of the imagine such as this. Perhaps his brother laced it with something as a prank again. “What just happened? Where’d he go?”

Paimon raised his hand.

“No!” Arch lunged, but before they could catch Benji, he disappeared into the darkness as well. They were met with the side of a bushy, pokey pine and pulled themselves back. They turned around to face Paimon who seemed unperturbed by his own flippant action.

Paimon retrieved some necessary documents from a satchel on his side, paying little attention to Arch, as they cussed him out for removing their friend from this plane of existence.

“Bring them back!”

“I will, I will. I just wanted to bring you these papers to sign,” Paimon presented them with several papers of legal length stapled together. “It’s the deed to Mystics, as well as the many responsibilities of Lyrem Nomadus that he wished for you to… inherit. He has been breathing down my neck about these things for nearly three weeks now. I thought I would get you to sign them as soon as I was able.

It was a good thing I found you when I did too… That man really has some nerve returning, doesn’t he?”

Arch grabbed the papers and flipped through them quickly. Out of recall, there were quite a few things that were discussed one night in the presence of one of Paimon’s personal, infernal lawyers. She had the fancy black car parked outside of Mystics… It was the same night that Arch had left home in a huff. It was the same night that they had met Paimon and his greasy smile for the first time. It was the same night that they had missed an entire hour before they were…

Attacked?

By a man… named- if they had heard Paimon correctly- Arty?

Paimon clicked and handed them a little pen with a pink fuzzy end. Arch accepted it without much thought.

“This is going to take me days to read…” they mumbled. The document was fine print the whole way through and impossible to see in the lighting of a faraway streetlamp.

“Mm, well, you don’t have days, I’m afraid.” Paimon noted. “Lyrem was quite insistent that it be signed over now.”

Arch looked over at him.

“Now?”

“You want him to be safe, don’t you?” Paimon asked.

“Of course,” Arch answered.

“And you want to take over his businesses? His empire?”

“Well, eventually, ye”-

“And you wanted to be powerful. And strong.”

“I am powerful. I am strong.”

“For now,” Paimon finished for them. “You are only being given what you are allowed. Those little tricks with fire were taught to you only because Lyrem was having fun. But you won’t need him any longer if you sign on the dotted line. It will all come naturally to you. His power- it will belong- all of it, to you.”

“… But his debts”- Arch didn’t know much about them, but Lyrem went oddly quiet each time they were mentioned.

“His debts are quite the price, yes. But signing this is how you ensure his safety. No one will be in a rush to kill a man like him if his debts are passed on to you- they’ll want to milk him for everything they can. And when he does die, you will be more than capable of handling the rest of it, of that, I am certain.” Paimon checked them over with a hungry grin. Arch stepped back, exhaling heavily, they were stuck.

“Bring Benji back?”

Paimon leaned forward, supporting himself by his cane. Arch didn’t know why they had bothered to ask that question. They already knew what the answer would be.

“When. You. Sign.”

Arch gulped. The chaperones and other kids were none the wiser about what had been occurring in the dark. They might as well have been completely alone with the demon. They didn’t know where Benji was, if he was safe. They couldn’t let him become another missing kid.

Arch examined Paimon- even with the time crunch, they tried to be thorough.

“Lyrem needs to sign too, doesn’t he?”

“He was the one to request it. He doesn’t need to sign.”

“Fuck,” exhausting themselves, Arch exclaimed. “Fine! I’ll sign. But you promise to bring Benji back? Alive?”

“Of course.”

Arch flipped to the last page, scrawled their signature at the end and handed it back.

Paimon presented Benji back to where he had been before- only this time, he was covered in a dark slime, and reeked of sulfur. He flipped his head around, and soon realized he was back among the trees, smelling the fresh nighttime air and hearing the beginning of “Firework” he whimpered to himself in relief and sat himself down on the mulchy ground.

“There, all back.” Paimon inclined his head, and tipped their hat. “Just as I promised.”

Arch abandoned him for their friend to stand beside him as he processed the unwanted journey.

“And what about the man?” They inquired.

“Into the Labyrinth, of course.”

Arch huffed. “If he’s in the Labyrinth, then why do I still remember him?”

Paimon shook his head with a menacing smile plastered over his lips where it had no right to belong. They draped an arm around Arch’s shoulder and squeezed them tight. Arch attempted to pull themselves away, but it only caused Paimon to pull them in closer, pulling them away from poor Benji.

“Oh… Sweet thing,” he spoke quietly, into their ear. “That man is the least of your worries now.”

“What do you mean?” A sinking feeling grew in the pit of their stomach. They were either starting their period early, or Arch’s fears were right, and they had signed away something more than they should have. “What are you talking about?”

Nails dug into Arch’s flesh. Their shoulder bled nearly instantly as Paimon gripped them tightly and Arch gasped and seethed and failed to pull away. It only forced his nails deeper, and his grin to grow wider. The magic that Arch currently contained was minimal, wasted on the man who was just there- and so they could do nothing but endure the disturbing revelation.

“I may have bribed our lawyer to amend certain statements in the documents in my favour. You remember her, don’t you Arch? Ms. Bornath?”

Arch angled their head to stare at Paimon more easily. Yes, they remembered Ms. Bornath. She didn’t seem like much of a threat, but obviously she could be bought.

“You really ought to have read it first. You signed everything over to me. Not Lyrem’s debts, obviously,” Paimon said. “Those still belong to him until he eventually dies- something I will not allow to happen… You- your essence, your power, your soul.  It’s all mine now. You may as well quit your day job, in my opinion. You won’t be needing it. From now on, you work for me.”

Paimon switched his stance to be in front of Arch, finally allowing them to breathe a little easier and to monitor their mess of a shoulder. They should have insisted on a romper with a capped sleeve.

“Now, Lyrem has asked me to give you one last night of freedom before I take you with me, and I will grant his request only because I respect him quite highly”-

“Does Lyrem know?” Arch blurted out, unexpectedly.

Paimon grinned, hearing the notes of betrayal in their voice- a melody to their ears. He would happily crush Arch’s reliance on the old man with a smirk and a few choice words-

“Hey, y-you asshole!”

Arch turned, as did Paimon, to the voice emitted from the trees- It was Benji, who seemed to be unsure of what he was doing entirely. He stole a shaken glance to Arch who stared back in concern and obliviousness. The last thing they wanted was to lose anyone else to the Labyrinth. Benji seemed pretty confident that he would be alright and soon enough, Arch would know it too.

Paimon shouted in a fury as he felt the unexpected intrusion of a Bowie knife through his back. Arch saw the tip of the blade glinting in the low light, thoroughly stabbed through Paimon’s chest. The blade retreated quickly and Arch saw a glow- a blue glow, coming from the head of the man. Before Paimon had any time to react, the man’s hand also glowed with the same blue flame. With little more than a touch to his forehead, Paimon was lit up in blue.

Scrambling to save his beard from the fire, and then the rest of him, Paimon screamed in frustration. As the man turned to face him, Paimon snarled. A moment later, he retreated, dispersing into the darkness. The blue fireball was gone.

Huffing in relief, the man turned- not to Arch, but towards Benji. His crown of blue flame shrank to nothing, and his head resumed its plain greasy charm.

“Thanks for the distraction, kiddo,” he said. “I know that wasn’t easy for you.”

“I’ve… had worse trips,” Benji began to smile, then leaned over the pine bush. He wretched and puked up into the dried leaves and needles.

Arch debated leaving Benji behind. It wouldn’t have been the worst thing they’d done, after all. But they sensed that they had a lot to make up for in order to be considered a good person again. They stood between their friend, and the man called Arty, who didn’t seem to be comfortable looking back at them.

“So…” Arty began. “You work for demons now, too?”

Arch refused to entertain him.

“Get away”-

“Arch”-

“I said get the hell away!” Arch didn’t have much for weapons, but they knew how to wield a stick at the very least. They were surrounded with plenty of those.

“I know you’re confused,” he said, maintaining his stance. “But I am not here to hurt you.”

Arch glanced toward the knife that was still covered in Paimon’s blood, or whatever it was that demon’s bled- it was difficult to tell in the darkness. Arty looked down at it too, then wiped it down on his own clothes before sheathing it on his belt. He held both hands up-

“See? Mostly unarmed.”

Benji stood, wiping his face with the back of his hand. He walked around Arch, towards Arty. If Arch was quicker, they would have pulled him back.

“Hey, uh, dude?” he started, noticing Arch’s confusion and look of betrayal. “Is it cool if I just walk home on my own? I don’t really feel like sticking around here to party anymore.”

Arty looked him up and down, incredulously.

“Uh, yeah? Yeah! Go home, kid… Good- good work tonight.”

“Cool.” Benji nodded tiredly, and then waved to Arch. “See you around, Arch. I promise I’ll bring better dope for next time.”

Arch watched him leave down the path.

“Okay… Yeah… See ya.”

Furrowing their brows, Arch was left standing alone in the field with… Arty… Not the man. And he was the next to speak.

“Can we talk?”

[kaibacxrps]

Duelists kingdom - The stage has been set up.

This is a discord thread with @kaibacorpbros​

CW for: Suicide atempt

Kaiba had his strategy all planned out. It was perfect. Unbeatable. But yet again Yugi was determined to prove him wrong. They had come here to rescue Mokuba, and that's all Seto cared about. It was on him, and only him. It was his little brother. He would protect him. Which was why he had a firm girp over the control of his body. He would not listen to any protests from the spirit. If Kaiba won, Yugi would be out and unable to protect what was important to him. It was only fair, it was how the world worked. If Yugi wasn't strong enough, that was his problem. But now that Kaiba had the Ultimate on the field, this duel was his. So long as he had that, Mokuba would be saved. "You can't beat my dragon, just admit it, Yugi."

Something changed in Kaiba, after their brief run in with Pegasus- after they caught a glimpse of what the man had done to Mokuba. Trying to communicate with Kaiba was a monumental feat, by itself. Making his vessell give him ears, somehow was even worse than that. Set and Seto never had the best relationship ever since he entered the boy’s life, that was a given by now. However, most would have assumed that due to their current situation- these two would be in perfect sync with one another, in order to work together due to their shared goal. Of course, this really wasn’t the case here. Set is obviously upset- mad, at Kaiba’s attitude, Despite everything, he insisted in doing all of this alone- essentially shoving him aside, taking him out of the equation in order to try and save Mokuba. The spirit could only watch over the duel from the sidelines, he had given up arguing by the time the first turn had ended. There was no point in wasting his energy like that, especially at what appeared to be an imminent victory to his vessell. He watched him prepare and build his deck, just for this duel. He has learned from his mistakes, and is ready to crush his opponent without giving them the chance to even breath. Set’s gaze shifted from Yugi’s side of the field, then back to Kaiba’s. As much as it pains him to stand against who he assumes to be his pharaoh, he can’t help but be on his vessell’s side. ’This duel is close to ending.’ The priest thought to himself, as soon as the Ultimate blue eyes hit the floor. There is virtually nothing in this world, that could possibly stop this three-headed beast. Yugi no longer had the Exodia cards, a good chunk of his deck had been destroyed by Kaiba’s crush card virus’ effect... This duel would swiftly come to a close, he should probably try to save his energy for Pegasus. Yugi’s defeat would be so ironic to him, but at the same time so disappointing given who might be inhabiting that boy’s body. Maybe he was wrong, about that entity. For now, that answer satisfied him, and Set was ready to vanish - return to his soul room and wait there for the end of this game. “Thanks to these cards, I'll use shining arrow on your Ultimate blue-eyes, Kaiba!” The voice tone he had just heard didn’t suit at all someone who was close to meeting their doom, by the time Set turned around he heard the sound of an arrow piercing the Ultimate blue-eye’s body. He couldn’t believe his eyes. “Se-Seto!” The spirit exclaimed, as soon as he spotted Mammoth graveyard’s skull and tusks going right through the dragon’s body. Did they make the same mistake from the last time? How did this happen? Why? So many questions flooded his mind, as he stood there- gawking at the scene in complete disbelief. In a single move, Yugi managed to turn the fate of this duel. That became obvious to him, when the blue-eyes body began to melt- and rotten right in front of their eyes. However, things only got far worse at a very short timespan. Set couldn’t hear or even feel Kaiba’s presence, but he was still very aware of his surroundings- there was a high-pitched scream- that came from one of Yugi’s friends. The spirit’s gaze quickly looked over at where Seto supposedly was meant to be, only to find that he had just climbed on top of a wall’s border- edge. What was he doing?! “Seto! Come down from there! SETO, WHAT’S HAPPENING?! SETO!” He needed to regain control over that body, urgently- that was his priority in that moment. 

It had all been so perfectly locked down. Kaiba had full control over the field. And then Yugi pulled the rug out from under him once again. As the zombie monster fused with his dragon, it started to corrode like rotten flesh. How had this happened? He was already scouring for a solution somehow to keep the Ultimate alive, for it was his ace. And then he heard a familiar scream. Pressure closed in on him, as if he were underwater, the rest of the world falling away. It was just him, his trapped, screaming and scared brother. And the coward unable to save him. Kaiba wasn't sure how much time passed. But he did know one thing. He needed to win. The way it happened, didn't matter. He took a step back. And another. And another. Until he could feel the wind all around him, the gaping drop mere inches away. None of it mattered. Because nothing mattered without Mokuba. He showed no sign of hearing Set, and even if he could, it wouldn't matter. Sure, logically it would be unfair to pull the spirit into his suicide as well, but that was at the bottom of his current list. "My life points hit zero, and I will step back off this castle, Yugi. Go on do it. Unless you don't have what it takes."

“Kaiba, this is madness!” Yugi shouted at his opponent, but he still refused to give up. They have gone through so much to get here, and they are so close to reaching their goal... They can’t go back or give up on it. Despite the clear goal- image of grandpa in his mind, he felt like something pulling in the back of his mind. What an odd sensation... He never felt like this before. For the split of a second, it felt like he couldn’t control or move his body. This never happened to him, what was going on? Yugi couldn’t think about that now, he must stay focused in the duel. Yet, drawing the next card felt like a chore- as if his body was fighting against his will. Did his other self wake up- become self-aware? Meanwhile, on the other side of the field Set was still calling for Kaiba. This wasn’t normal at all, something was awfully wrong about all of this. Sure, the other soul had the tendency to ignore him- but nothing came to this level, it truly felt like he was screaming at a wall. “That’s it Seto,” the spirit said in a lower tone, he could no longer stand as just an onlooker- he had to take a drastic measurement. “This ends now, Seto! I’m taking over!” However, when he approached- reached out his vessel’s body in order to swap places with him, he was met with a sharp pain. It felt like a current of electricity ran through his body, repelling his soul from getting any closer- taking over it. A loud cry of pain escaped Set, who tried to force himself in as much as he could, before being completely thrown away from his vessel. “Wh-wha?! N-No way, what’s going on?!” The spirit spoke out loud, as he tried to get back onto his feet. Finally, Yugi managed to draw his next card however there was nothing that he could do in that moment so he simply passed his turn to Kaiba. Meanwhile, his giant wall of Kuribohs, kept growing exponentially. “Your turn, Kaiba.” He exclaimed, while his eyes remained fixated onto his opponent.

It it weren't for the situation perhaps Seto would have heard, and even given pause at the priest's words.  But the after affects of that horribly vivid hallucination had it's grip on his mind. He couldn't lose. Wouldn't. A life for a life this may be, but it was Yugi's own fault if he couldn't protect the one he wished to. Mokuba was all that mattered to him in this world. If Seto couldn't save him, then there was no point in existing. His responsibility. His mission. His reason. 'Take care of your brother.' In Kaiba's mind it was obvious, and proven. No one swooped in to save him and Mokuba from the system. From what Gozaburo did. Standing around, hoping and praying would do nothing. The only power one could ever depend on was their own. That damage sponge of Yugi's wasn't going anywhere. Blue Eyes was falling apart, its attack would just keep dropping each turn. A pitiful version of the powerhouse it once was. Kaiba drew. Was this a saving grace, or irony dragging out his misery? It depended on what the result became. "I activate Monster Reborn and bring back one of my dragons!" But only one of the heads of his dragon could come back with that. Blue Eyes didn't deserve this, to have it's suffering dragged out, defanged. If it were a real creature, anyone with a right mind would put it down. "Because this Blue Eyes is fused with the ultimate it can't attack this turn..." There was nothing more he could do, but keep his chip of life planted on the field. Now it was a just a matter of seeing if Yugi would play his as well. His eyes glance over the edge. It would at least be a instant death, once he met the ground. Approximately twenty seconds of terror as well. Pegasus couldn't have built the caste a bit to the left or the right, could he? The heel of his shoes were only inches from the edge. It would be easy. Victory was in his rival's grasp. All he had to do was attack with Celtic Guardian. "Turn end... Attack me Yugi!" 

As time passed, Yugi’s sensation of losing his grip over the body only increased and grew. He needed to end this duel quickly, before anything else happened and got in the way of their victory- and their entrance to the finals. They are so close to their goal, they-- no. He can’t let it pass, even if it meant--... The boy drew his next card, and his gaze fell upon his other monster on the field. Even though he still had to give his command, the spirit of the rod knew very well what was bound to come next and for the first time in a long while, he felt true fear. Set couldn’t regain control over the body, Kaiba didn’t listen to him, this is how they ended. “Celtic guardian!” Yugi exclaimed, then pointed a hand at the rotten three-headed beast. For a brief moment, he remembered of his time training, how none of his opponents ever demonstrated any mercy... Although things felt hazy, and he couldn’t recall every little detail with precision. He is certain, that would be their end. The spirit motioned to Kaiba one last time, and was ready to shout at him one more time. But something else happened, he heard a louder scream come from the girl then the sound of a body hitting the floor. Celtic guardian’s attack had been called off, the blue-eyes had just fired at it with a burst of energy- and their opponent. He was on his knees, on the floor- in tears while being consoled by his friend. Set couldn’t believe in what he had just witnessed. Yugi was trembling- shaking, the exact opposite of how he stood just a moment ago. A breeze ran past them, as Set’s attention shifted from him - back to his vessel. “Seto...” He called faintly, hopefully now that the duel was over he would listen to him.

Half of Kaiba was certain that Yugi's little heart would get to him and he wouldn't be able to do it. The other half was just as certain that the look in his classmate's eyes were also one of a cornered animal that would do anything it needed to survive. Still, he showed little reaction to it all. Except for a small scoff once Yugi's life points hit zero. He knew Yugi couldn't do it. Kaiba stepped off from the ledge and walked over to where his rival had collapsed. That weird sensation in his head started to fade. Seto... he heard from the corner of his senses. But he said nothing and thought nothing to Set. Kaiba honestly glazed over for most of what he said to Yugi, he just knew it was his explanation of the world for how he saw it. How he bet his chip of life and Yugi didn't. Yugi wasn't strong enough or willing enough to do what it took to save his grandfather. That was his own fault. Nobody comes along to save you at the last minute. Kaiba collects the star chips and pays Yugi's angry friends no heed. They didn't know what he was fighting for, and they didn't need to know. It would make no difference. He pushes the thoughts of the hallucinations he just witnessed out of his mind. It wasn't the time. But how interesting that it seemed to cut Set off from everything. Not a word. I don't want your judgement or your opinion. I'm doing what's necessary. He puts the star chips in the slots and enters the caste. All that mattered was getting Mokuba back.

“Seto...” It was the only thing the spirit found himself capable of saying, until his vessel started heading towards the castle’s entrance. Set gave one final glance back at the fallen Yugi, and the commotion that was taking place in there. He wasn’t quite sure what to say, or think. They made out of it alive, because of the boy’s goodwill... Otherwise, they both would have just hit the ground if the interference hadn’t taken place. Well, he should think on this some other time. Now, they have something far more important to deal with, recover Mokuba from Pegasus’ grasp. THis is where his mind should be at, focus on their goal and try to push aside what they have just gone through. The spirit appeared floating by Kaiba’s side, as his gaze remained fixated on his vessel. He still struggled to find any words to say to the boy, but eventually he managed to swallow the lump in his throat and voice something- other than his name. “Do we have a strategy? Are we using the same deck and cards?”

'I have a strategy. That's what the Duel Disk is for. Same cards as I just used, however. I'll try to pull off Crush Card soon in the game, and if all goes well--he wouldn't be able to see it coming.' After slotting the stupid star chips in the door he was finally let in once more left in a empty room while they alerted Pegasus of his next challenger. There were no final cards to switch out, and looking at them would only cause Kaiba to doubt the ones he choose, so he took to examining the various paintings on the wall until then. Anything to avoid looking at the spirit. He didn't want to be questioned about the tactic he just pulled. ' I beat him, get Mokuba back, and then we leave. And I don't want your advice, or you're help while facing him. You stay out of it, got it?'

Set’s gaze never left Seto, while he followed his host by floating close to him. He heard everything that the other said, loud and clear... Even though he could tell how, something felt off in the way those words came out from him. For once in a long time, the spirit found himself without a voice- at a loss for words. As such, he forced himself to stay quiet- eventually he also began taking a good look at their surroundings. The various paintings on the walls, were the first things that caught his attention. This silence wasn’t helping their situation, his mind had just made him vividly remember what they just went through. To a point, Set felt that static shocking sensation tingle his hands. The spirit could only wonder, what might be running through the other’s mind in that moment... But at least, he was actually there with him. “You... Look tired. Do you wish to swap out until they call for you? The guy mentioned we have a few minutes, until Pegasus show up.” He asked calmly, without looking at Seto’s direction- the spirit’s gaze was fixated on another painting not too far from where the body currently stood. 

Actually on second thought, his hands needed something to do. He takes out his cards, but doesn't look at them, only shuffles. The offer didn't sound bad. Perhaps even... tempting. And Seto knew that wasn't to be trusted. ' No. A break would only dull my senses.' He picks out the top five cards to see what his opening hand would be from that shuffle. A good hand. With a Blue Eyes even. He shuffles the cards back into the deck. Staying focused. Never getting comfortable. It's tatics that hadn't failed him before. 'If--' But as abuptly as he had begun to speak, the door opened and one of the security men said Pegasus had arrived. Seto moved to follow, and didn't finish his thought to the spirit as he was lead to the areana.

‘You’ve just got out of a duel and went through that.’ Set thought to himself- he almost said it, but chose to remain in silence as he stared in silence at his vessel and his search for a distraction. “If you say so...” It was all that the spirit could respond back with, his voice trailed off in a low tone while he fell silent. He took a good look at what Seto was doing, and until they were called upon it was the only thing he really focused on... Did his vessel mean to say something, before they were interrupted? “If... If what? Did you say something, Seto?” The spirit asked as he closely followed the boy, however. He couldn’t stay around for much longer- Set could feel Pegasus’ presence approaching them, it forced the spirit to retreat back into his soul room. This is it, this is what they have been waiting for.

With terse steps, Kaiba followed the guard. To entertain the idea of defeat was to accept it, which meant death. His almost-thought had no place here. So he cuts away the parts that don't matter. 'Mokuba is all that matters,' he says to the spirit mentally, hoping that would be enough to imply his meaning. If things go south, Mokuba's life was all that mattered. ----- Things did not go according to plan. His new invention he made to put distance between him and Pegasus, no chance of spyware in the systems Pegasus already had in place, that was his carefully constructed plan. Pegasus crushed it in a matter of minutes. "Soul" or no soul--Seto couldn't fight his baby brother. It was mistake one. Mistake two was trying to make it work when Pegasus could clearly see his hand and his strategies. Soon, he was backed into a corner where there was little else he could do. Planning and strategy didn't help of your foe could see your every move. He had to try something new, no matter how insane it seemed. Something innovative Pegasus would never see coming... and perhaps something Seto could never see coming either. He casts aside his hand, like tossing out the sheath. Those cards couldn't help him anymore. Something dazzling. Something illogical. Something that dare he say, required faith. Even to Seto, it looked like his only option.

Well, no time to think much on what Seto had just responded to him. Set felt Pegasus’ ominous presence approaching, and he quickly hid away within his soul room‘s safety. Unfortunately, he wouldn’t stay there for long. Seto’s strategy began falling apart, before he could even do anything. Everything that has taken place so far, and the way their opponent behaved... Kaiba already suspected of the guy using some sort of software, to grant him access- view of the opponent’s hands and drawn cards. But the spirit of the rod had another supposition, on how he did it. Could it possibly be in some way, connected with the way he always felt whenever he came anywhere near them? Set had to think fast, as the duel went on- he put some thought in their previous encounters with Pegasus. He could always feel that man approaching them, from a mile... He always hid away because it always felt like he wasn’t looking at them... Rather, right through them. Have they ever seen his face in it’s entirety? All of this was starting to feel all too familiar... There was that duel they witnessed, Pegasus was meant to duel against Bandit Keith but instead he left it all in the hands of a kid. Set remembers how Seto was left speechless and without a proper reaction, he felt the same way in that moment. Now the question remained: did he ever feel like that in life? Yes, and it was none other than his former mentor... Aknadin, the one who carried the eye of the millennium. Set immediately bolted out of his soul room, the moment he made that connection. “Seto!” The spirit screamed for him, as he quickly showed up beside him- all while trying to force himself onto Kaiba. “We need to swap places! Pegasus is using something, of far greater power! Seto, listen to me! He has one of the millennium relics!” “Don’t make the next move!”

Kaiba's frantic scramble to think of something to do was cut by the new presence of the spirit. He could feel him pressing at his mind, trying to shove him out of the way on order to takeover his body. And of course by instinct Seto pushed back. What had even gotten into the spirit? 'An item...?' he echoed through their mental link. ' How could an item be a mind-reader or whatever?' Sure, the rod had different abbilities than Yugi's puzzle but mentalist tricks? 'What, and you think you can deal with this better? He'll just read your mind and nothing will be solved.' He can hear Yugi and his crew talking amongst themselves, wondering what he's doing. There may be no shot clock, but Kaiba figured Pegasus wouldn't take kindly to stalling. No, this was Seto's responsibility. Loosing Mokuba or getting him back was on him. 'Back off, I don't need you're help,' he ground out holding onto control of his body with a death grip. Like a cornered rat, he made a desperate move and drew his next card without looking and immediately played it. Blue Eyes. Maybe this could work. Going by his expression Pegasus wasn't expecting it. He couldn't plan, but all he needed to do was have monsters strong enough to stand up to Pegasus's. It was almost like a game of war.

The spirit pressed onto it, while Seto talked the entire time. “No, no! We can defeat him, together! Seto! We can- We need to--” Unfortunately, it seemed like the more he tried, the more the other fought back and prevented him from taking over the body. “It’s the millennium eye, its powers go way beyond anything we’ve ever faced thus far! Please, listen to me! I know what we’re facing” As expected, his voice and words fell into deaf ears. Set’s attention shifted onto the duel, and he witnessed the blue-eyes attack miss their target. Which was subsequently followed by another of Pegasus’ taunts, which were obviously getting through Seto’s though skin. This had long since ceased to be a duel. The stage had been set by the man himself, in order to humiliate them. As he crushed whatever was left, of Kaiba’s hope to save Mokuba... The realization soon hit the spirit, they never had a chance of winning this in the first place. This whole thing had been planned from the ground up, everything had been crafted just to lead to this. Pegasus truly was worthy, of keeping and using the millennium eye. “Seto...” Set called for him, but this time his voice came out faintly- almost inaudible as their very last card was set on the field. Saggi the dark clown, there was nothing more left for them to do, their deck has become empty. His eyes were fixated on the field of battle, as he witnessed Pegasus summon one final abomination. Bickuribox hit the ground, and wasted no time in taking out their very last standing monster. The duel has come to a close.

Set's pleading barely registered for Seto. It was just him, his cards, and his baby brother at stake. It was on Seto and only Seto. Why should he even trust the spirit, huh? The only person he could count on was himself. There are no saviors for him. He was Mokuba's, but there was no one for him, and never there never will be again. And then Pegasus took Crush Card Virus. Crush Card, that had been a reliable strategy for Kaiba for so long. Crush Card, that was instrumental in his win against Yugi one duel prior. If it had been a monster, it would have felt more like betrayal. It also worked wonders on the very deck it came from. Seto had run out of options, and Pegasus knew it. There was no point in continuing the duel. Pegasus said something, probably taunting, but Kaiba wasn't listening to that either. No amount of jabs from Pegasus inflicted a scratch in comparison to the guilt that had just settled in. He'd failed. And to lose was to die. Mokuba... He could hear Yugi and Seto thinks he said something to him--but as for why, he didn't know. Pegasus pulled aside a few strands of his hair, and the last thing Seto saw was a gleam of gold.

It happened so fast, in the blink of an eye Seto had been ripped away from his body. Something quite painful and draining to the spirit, as he still could only stand still and watch in pure silence. It all felt like an arrow had just dug into him, and was yanked away from him. Everything fell silent, the transition wasn’t a smooth one at all. His head felt lightweight, the whole place felt like it was spinning. Set was struck with a strong diziness, as he gained control over the flesh. He tried to open his eyes for a moment, but it was blurred at a first instance. His sight began focusing on the second attempt, and he was finally starting to catch wind of what others were saying. Eventually “Kaiba” found the strength to stand straight back up, and this gesture scored someone to shout in shock. ‘Look! But Pegasus has just taken, Kaiba’s soul! How’s that possible?!’ When his sight returned to normal, he could see the man holding both soul cards- Mokuba and Seto’s in his hands. However, judging by the way he looked at him- he shared the same feeling as everyone else in that hall. He clearly didn’t count on the possibility, that the millennium rod contained a spirit similarly to the puzzle. ‘If that’s not Kaiba... Then who’s that?!’ Set was still very much dazed, by the feeling of having Seto ripped out of him. As evident by the fact he had just tumbled a bit, and still supported his weight onto the panel- where his cards currently were. As he moved, his long brunette hairlocks revealed themselves. Those wild and untamed hairlocks formed curls, and stood out from Kaiba’s well known hairstyle. ‘Incredible, so you were hidden in Kaiba-boy’s mind all along?’ He heard Pegasus’ comment, which went unnoticed so he could quickly look over at Yugi’s direction and address his words to him. “... Please, help Seto Yugi... Help him. I beg of you, please!.” Set spoke, as some of Pegasus’ guards walked over to him and began carrying their new prisoner. Unfortunately, he couldn’t fight back, as such he was easily dragged away. Yugi, who watched the whole thing was left with way too many thoughts and feelings running through his mind. Despite that, he couldn’t help but feel sorry for Kaiba- and whoever had taken over that body. A frown formed on the boy’s face, once Kaiba was gone. The stakes have been upped, for when the time comes for him to face Pegasus.