Solitaire
His stomach had gone up with the helicopter, and Duke didn't think it was ever coming down again. The island came into view and he gripped the armrests on his seat even tighter.
The helicopter landed, and Duke scrambled off as quickly as he could. The wind from the blades of the chopper ruffled his hair and his clothes, but he paid it no mind.
Duke opened the door to the castle, walking the same path he had walked those months before. He didn't pause at all along the way, his footsteps echoing throughout the deserted halls. He replayed his previous visit, the trembling as he actually met Pegasus for the first time.
He picked up his pace as he got closer to Pegasus's private chambers, walking faster and faster, finally stopping at the doors. Duke took a deep breath and knocked.
"Enter," a voice Duke thought he'd never hear again said.
Duke walked in and found Pegasus sitting at his desk. The suit Pegasus wore was worn and tattered. He didn't look up as Duke entered. Instead, he continued to play with the cards in front of him.
Duke noticed the band of cloth circling around Pegasus's head. An injury? he wondered. The cloth was a dark purple, so dark it was almost black.
For a few minutes there was nothing but the sounds of their breathing and the cards Pegasus continued to play with filling the silence. Then Duke nervously cleared his throat.
Pegasus put the cards in his hand down and stood up, pushing his chair back as he did so. He turned to face Duke.
There was an audible gasp from Duke as he saw the eyepatch that covered the empty socket where the Millenium Eye had once been.
"Ah, Devlin-boy. As you can see, I've had a bit of an... accident." He casually tossed his hair to one side as he strolled over to where Duke stood.
Duke found himself stepping backwards, away from Pegasus. This man, this once great man was now... Damaged. There was a crazed look in Pegasus's eye as he continued to walk towards Duke. "I knew you'd never abandon me, Devlin-boy," he crooned.
There was a thud as Duke found he'd backed into the wall. He fought the urge to turn and run as Pegasus shambled closer and closer. Duke closed his eyes and waited for the worst of it to be over.
Pegasus's breath was hot and stale as he leaned into be close to Duke. "Thank you for coming."
Duke gulped and nodded. Pegasus lowered his head and a few strands of his silvery hair brushed Duke's shoulder. Pegasus tenderly kissed Duke on the cheek and then said, "You may go."
Duke scurried for the door. "Why?" he asked as he opened the door.
"Oh, Devlin-boy," he sighed. "I learned that if you truly love someone, you need to set them free."
After that, Pegasus was alone again, with just the echoes of Duke's footsteps fading down the hall.