"Pete, Pete, Pete" Vegas whispered while touching his lips remembering how beautiful Pete looked with those glossy eyes on hearing his name.

"Stop it, stop it Vegas . You are loosing your mind . Stop thinking about him, just stop. Get a grip on yourself."

.......

The royal family was all set today to welcome Ritthirong and Kanlaya. Kamala was really happy but Pete was going through mixed emotions. It was just a two day stay. He can't deny that he had a hope that his father would ask him to come home. He was facing a subtle restlessness but he kept his fingers crossed.

"Be ready with lunch the royal family is about to arrive"

"You could have sent that message through any guard Khun Kim. You should not bother to come here" Zara said as Kim came to the cooking area purposely.

"Zara, please listen to me."
"Khun Kim, it's my work time."

"Fine, I am also not a cat to run behind you. Do whatever you want. You think I won't be able to manage without talking to you? Don't live under any misconceptions."

"I am not under any. I am very respectfully asking you to let me do my work."

Kim stormed out , Zara exhaled. Just one moment completely altered their equation for now.

"Welcome Ritthirong, Queen Kanlaya . Alcazar accepts your auspicious presence." Rama welcomed them. Everyone except Vegas was present there. He had strictly said that he won't come for any formalities especially when both the families are aware that this marriage was forced. Because of this swinging behaviour nobody tried to bother him. But when he himself has an impatient heart, no one else was needed. He was curious as to what Pete will do after meeting his family. Will he ask them to take him back, will he fight them, will he bad mouth Vegas. All these questions brought him to the palace. He didn't meet anyone but just kept being at places in disguise to overhear the conversation. But funny enough there was nothing to overhear. Vegas could not believe that neither Ritthirong nor Kanlaya even once talked to Pete during their two day visit. They would talk to Kamala, to Macau, they even talked to Zara but not to Pete. Yes Pete also didn't approach them, but neither did they and Vegas was again caught up in the emptiness and lost hope he saw in Pete's eyes. There was no doubt that Pete was left alone by his own people.

It was only on the day of leaving that Ritthirong talked to Pete. Vegas was standing at the far end away from them, but he remained there. Somehow he didn't feel like eavesdropping on a father -son conversation.

" won't you even ask if I am happy?" Pete questioned Ritthirong.

"Being happy is now your responsibility and duty and I can only hope that you are performing it well."

"Father, i...did i...did i matter so less to you."

Pete felt helpless and he did what he thought he would not do , he held his father's hand and pleaded with him.

"Please take me back home"
"This is not possible. You are Vegas's husband now and this is your new home." Ritthirong showed no emotions.

"He married me to fulfill his selfish motive of becoming a king. He doesn't feel anything for me and so do I. We don't have anything like a married couple. He just wants that throne , he just wants to be the king. He doesn't even think of me, he hates me, he loathes me.We can never be happy together. Why don't you understand this?"

"I can't help you. This is your life and you need to deal with it. You can always visit Dominica as a guest but it's no longer your home."

Ritthirong walked away leaving Pete's hopes in pieces. Vegas could sense how broken Pete was feeling and he could assume that his father must have said something really rude to make him feel like that way. He didn't cry but just stood there as if all his dreams had ended. Vegas felt a pinch in his heart. He approached Pete although he didn't know for what but he stopped right near him behind the pillar when he saw Kanlaya coming towards Pete. Probably a mother would say something to soothe him.

"Mother , how are you?" Pete asked bowing down, he gestured for a hug but Kanlaya stopped him. He felt shocked.

"Listen Pete, I know life has been unfair to you but we all have to go through it and yet survive"

"What do you mean mother?" Kanalya's indifference to Pete's state already made him dull.

"I will say it without beating around the bush. Please don't do anything that brings you back to Dominica permanently."

"Mother , you too?" Pete was in disbelief and so was Vegas who was hearing their conversation secretly. He could not believe how Pete's parents completely gave up on his wishes.

"Listen Pete, i don't care how you take this but if you come back, Arthit will never become the king. He is always indulged in his useless art. Nowadays at least he has started training but if you come back then he will stop that too. My daughter's life is already ruined by marrying someone so weak now i don't want my son to remain powerless all his life."

"Mother, phi Saksit is a really nice person"

"I don't want to hear all that. It's Kamala's big heart or her stupidity that she is here with someone who doesn't even care to make a bright future for his family, but I won't let Arthit ruin his life. You can take it as my order or my request Pete. Never come back to Dominica. Stay here and live however you want , but don't come near my son and take away his opportunity to become king"

Pete didn't have any words left to say and Kanlaya walked away. Pete could only ask one thing

"Mother , how is Ma?"

"Same as always" and Kanlaya left. Leaving Pete dispersed , helpless, and heavy in heart. His deep despair could be felt by Vegas too. This abandonment was something Vegas never expected. Vegas who thought he would despise Pete all his life and would feel fun in watching him in trouble was now feeling the hurt Pete was feeling. The frustration he felt from this marriage was far less than the pain and loneliness Pete was going through and Vegas now understood it when Pete's own parents rejected him.

......

The guests left and the house was really quiet today even though all of them except Rama were sitting in the courtyard having their tea that Zara prepared for them. Everyone looked upset for their own individual reasons. But Vegas was completely focused on Pete's silence. Vegas's presence here with everyone was strange in itself but the dull atmosphere saved him and nobody questioned him.

No matter how much Vegas always tried to stay away from Pete but there were instances where they had to be in the same place and in those moments he has always seen a smile on his face. Maybe it was a genuine one, maybe he pretended for everyone else but still he looked beautiful. He always made conversations , talked to Macau and Zara and teased Kamala. His silence today was not sitting well with Vegas. He knew Pete was filled from inside. He had so much to burst out but he was holding it all in.

Kim, want to do some sparring?" Vegas spoke and everyone looked at him except Pete who was staring at the floor.

"Why suddenly?"

"Nothing special, feeling a little a little out of adrenaline."

Guards were called and they hung a jute bag in the middle. Both Kim and Vegas tied a piece of cloth on their palms and started punching the bag one by one as per their turn. With every passing second Vegas was looking at Pete to get some kind of reaction from him. And finally after a while Pete got up , walked towards them and started punching the bag with his bare hands. It started slow but went on to become a raging one sided fight between him and his fate. Vegas stopped everyone who tried to stop Pete. They all made a distance and left in the middle alone. It went on for a while. Saksit Kamala and Macau left . Zara was standing in a far corner and Vegas and Kim were watching Pete from one end. They could see Pete was going out of breath, he was loosing his energy, his entire body was sweating and his knuckles were scraped and bleeding. And he finally fell down.

Vegas was about to run towards him but before that Kim made a movement and reached Pete who was now almost unconscious.

"Pete, Pete" Kim tried to wake him by tapping his face, he very gently held his head and tried to check his pulse. Zara was watching this really carefully. She could sense how fake Kim looked at that moment. More than being worried for Pete , he was looking for an opportunity of achievement. The way he made a fast movement towards him slightly pushing Vegas aside looked intended.

"Khun Vegas, may I say something?" Zara asked Vegas.

"Yes"

"I apologize in advance for stepping my boundary but no matter what kind of relationship you share with Khun Pete, no matter how much you dislike each other. But..."

"But?"

"But no man other than you should be allowed to be close to him" she signaled towards Kim who looked like he was about to carry Pete in his arms.

"No man should be allowed to touch him, to take care of him, to carry him , to take him to his room. It should be only you. And trust me, even if Khun Pete doesn't like you, when he comes to know that someone else got so close to him other than you, he will feel insulted and dishonored by you. He will feel hurt."

"Wait" Vegas said aloud, approaching Kim before he could carry Pete. Kim looked at him confused.

Vegas bent down and carried Pete in his arms and Pete in his unconsciousness snuggled up to his chest.

"I shall take him to his room"

Vegas said and walked away leaving Kim frustrated internally.

......

Who carried me here, who carried me here?" Pete asked, almost upset, holding Vegas from the collar as soon as he gained consciousness. He was in his room in the queen's palace. Vegas brought him in earlier, and splashed some drops of water on his face.

"Relax, I brought you here. I , no one else. Just me." Vegas answered him with composure.

Pete felt relaxed on hearing that. And suddenly everything that happened came in front of his eyes. They both were sitting on bed, a little away from each other and silence persisted between them.

But after a while Vegas shifted and sat right next to Pete, he decided to follow his feelings right now.

"I made a fool of myself in front of everyone right?"

" Trust me, stop caring about everyone else"

"How? It turns out that I am an entity that no one wants" Pete said, leaning sideways and placing his head on Vegas's shoulders and Vegas didn't stop him, he liked the weight of it, it felt like he knew this weight, like he had felt it before . He could feel Pete's tears rolling down.

"Pete" Vegas took his name again today after that day and Pete felt an ache in his heart.

"There is always someone who wants us. There is always someone who waits for us to look at them and take one step towards them. You will find your someone once you stop looking at the place where you think you want to go"

"Your Majesty, I am a fool. I may not understand whatever you are telling me. But you can take joy in my foolishness"

"And what if I don't want to take joy in your helplessness?"

Vegas could feel Pete looking at him, he turned his face and met his eyes . They looked so pure and so innocent Vegas felt a lump in his throat.

"Pete we both didn't want to marry each other but because of some reasons we had to. I had to. I am your culprit and I accept that. But we have to look forward for better things. We both can live miserably or we can choose to survive"

"Survive?"

" We all need something that helps us survive. For me it's my state, it's protection. For you I don't know what it is. But all I can say is you long for a place where no one wants to welcome you, when you are in a place where many have already welcomed you. If you make them yours, they will become your reason for survival. How long will you cry and be sad? Try to find your happiness here."

Pete again put his head on Vegas's shoulders and j nodded. Vegas felt a tickle in his stomach.

"I will leave now , you should rest." he got up abruptly. Vegas was afraid Pete would sense the sudden change in his body. The shiver , the sweating and an audible and fiercely running pulse.

"Your Majesty" Pete called right when Vegas was just about to step out the door.

"Hmm?"

"This room is really beautiful but sometimes I get scared at night," Pete said, looking right into Vegas's eyes. It felt like they held a request in them. As if he wanted Vegas to stay. But Vegas was full of the dilemma of his own emotions.

"It's okay, try to sleep," he said and stepped out, closing the door.

Pete just kept staring at the door for a while.

"What were you even thinking Pete? '' He scoffed at himself for hoping for Vegas to stay. Why did he want him to stay? Why would Vegas do that? But then why did Pete feel that Vegas would stay if he said so. Pete was clouded by these thoughts. He pulled up his legs and sat on the bed ready to dwell into his own sadness but then a sudden sound drew his attention and he looked at the window right in front of his bed.

He looked at the room that was clearly visible from his window. The one with the large windows . Vegas was standing there. Under the light of a few candles, he stood there and looking at Pete he slowly removed all the beautiful pashmina curtains hanging in those large windows that hindered his and Pete's view of each other. He immediately noticed a brightness in Pete's eyes. As if his unsaid wish was fulfilled. Vegas not only decided to stay close but also removed the colourful veils of pashmina so that Pete sees no barrier between them.

Pete's eyes smiled more than his lips. All the questions faded away. From the other end Vegas pointed a finger at him without saying a word and Pete too asked him "what?" Just by lifting up his eyebrows. Vegas further joined his hands and tilted his face gesturing Pete to sleep. This moment was so captivating for Pete that he forgot everything that felt miserable to him.
It was a different feeling that he had never experienced before. He was feeling shy but relaxed too. He wanted to look away yet he wanted to look at what Vegas was telling him. Vegas again gestured him to sleep and Pete just like a waving twig slithered down on his bed without averting his eyes from Vegas. Even after lying down he kept looking at Vegas with moistened eyes and then another gesture came. Vegas moved his palm over his eyes , signaling Pete that he should close his eyes now. And just like that Pete slowly went into a deep slumber.

But Vegas couldn't, he sat on the window of his room, moving his finger on the burning flame of the candle and admiring Pete who was sleeping so peacefully.

"You are changing Vegas and the problem is that you are liking this change" Vegas whispered to himself. His night went by without even blinking

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New Chapter
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My already published works of vp or BBB

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One shots-:

Game over ( bb bday project)
An hour of delusion
His Touch ( Biu bday project)