//blah// = thoughts
Rebel
By Koneko Shido
//Don't make me hurt him... Please don't!//
Dark Magician looked across the duelling ground at Celtic Guardian, who was holding his sword out valiantly before him, even though they both knew that he was the weaker of the two. //I don't want to hurt him, anyone but him. You have no idea how it feels, you can't know. To love someone so much, and have to hurt them like this every time you humans duel.// The spellcaster thought, looking down at his master, who was facing off against his opponent. //What do you have riding on this battle? A card? Your pride? How many times have I had to kill him now? How many times have I returned to the inside of the Deck to find him on his knees, smiling at me through his pain as he tries to pull himself to his feet? And it will go on forever... It can never end...//
//He's going to kill me again.// Celtic Guardian thought, waiting. Dark Magician looked the same as he always did, except his eyes held all the pain and regret in his heart, shining blue. The elf smiled softly, knowing he didn't have a chance against the spellcaster but still holding his sword before him, ready for a battle he knew he would lose against an enemy he knew loved him more than anything.
//It's all right, don't worry about me. You know it's only for a moment, then I'll be back in the deck with you and we can be together again. It hurts, but what is a little pain? I'm used to it by now. One more time won't matter.// Celtic Guardian stared at Dark Magician, wishing the spellcaster could hear him. He knew that Dark Magician felt guilty every time, and he'd tried to explain things, tried to tell his lover that it was his job, they were bound to the cards and it was their duty to fight each other in the duels. But Dark Magician had just held him, running long, elegant fingers over his bruises, and whispered that he was sorry over and over again.
//Don't do it, please, Ra, don't make me do it...// Dark Magician pleaded, seeing the understanding and forgiveness in his lover's eyes. That only made it worse! Celtic Guardian was just accepting that he was going to die again, just like every time the two of them faced each other. All the spellcaster wanted to do was take his elfin lover in his arms and hold him, protect him from everything these humans made them do, but it was his duty to remain, to carry out the orders of his master. //My duty... To my lover or my master? I can't keep doing this!// The spellcaster thought desperately, clenching his fists.
An order rang out, switching Celtic Guardian to defence position. The elf bought his shield up to protect himself, knowing that it was futile but obeying the command anyway. And then, finally, the order came to attack.
Dark Magician leapt forward instinctively, weaving a spell to kill his lover, to wipe him from the duelling ground and send him to the graveyard. For a second his eyes met the elf's, and everything stopped.
//I can't... I can't!// Dark Magician gasped, stopping. He looked for a moment at Celtic Guardian, then turned around and stared at his human master coldly.
"No." He hissed, then vanished back into his card.
//What is he doing?!// Celtic Guardian thought frantically, watching in confusion as Dark Magician refused the order and disappeared back into the deck. //I-I don't believe it!// The elf gasped, staring at the place where the spellcaster had been standing a moment ago. Shaking himself, Celtic Guardian followed his lover back into the deck, leaving the two human masters to stare at each other in confusion.
* * *
"Well, that was strange," Yugi murmured, holding his Dark Magician card up to the light and blinking at it. "I think there's something wrong with your new hologram thingy, Kaiba."
Seto Kaiba glared at the new projector he'd been testing and scowled, annoyed.
"Aww, poor baby break his toy?" Jou mocked, smirking.
"Shut up, mutt." Kaiba replied coldly, grabbing a screwdriver and narrowing his eyes at the machine. He'd been *sure* there were no bugs in the system...
* * *
"You didn't have to-" Celtic Guardian began, shedding his armour as he walked towards the bed where Dark Magician was sitting. The spellcaster stood up abruptly and grabbed his lover, pulling him in for a deep, passionate kiss, cutting off his words.
"I'm rebelling." Dark Magician smiled, licking the tip of Celtic Guardian's cute little nose and pulling him down onto the bed.
"Alright," Celtic Guardian laughed softly, "just this once. But next time we're summoned..."
"Yes, I know. I'll do as I'm told. I just hate to hurt you." Dark Magician murmured, stroking the elf's silken hair gently.
"Thank you. I'll never hold it against you." The elf whispered, looking up into the spellcaster's eyes lovingly. "It isn't your fault."
"Someday, I promise you, it will change. Someday our cards will be lost, or forgotten, and they will not summon us again. Then we will be free."
"I know..." Celtic Guardian whispered, leaning down to taste Dark Magician's lips.
End.