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Ambivalence	By : PupshitDesu Category: Yu-Gi-Oh > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 4882 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: We do not own Yu-Gi-Oh! or any associated properties therein. We do not profit from the creation of this work.

Chapter List
- 24
- 25
- 26
When Jonouchi woke up, his head was pounding and he felt groggy. He grumbled, wanting to go back to sleep, but he felt too uncomfortable. He realized as he moved that his clothes were missing, aside from his boxers, and he felt that he was pressed against Kaiba's body. He couldn't remember if he'd fallen asleep that way, or he'd moved while unconscious.
It was as he registered the feeling of Kaiba's bare torso under his fingers that his eyes snapped open (painfully) and he caught his breath, wondering if something had happened the night before and he didn't remember. He sat up, looking himself over, but he didn't feel any dried substances on his skin. He couldn't tell if he should be relieved or disappointed; he was glad he didn't have a blackout and forgotten about having sex, but it sucked that he hadn't been laid.
Oh, well. It was probably for the best. They'd both had alcohol, and Jonouchi hadn't been in his right mind. Probably would have tried to hop on Kaiba's dick as usual, but without any sense in his head.
Kaiba was still sleeping, and Jonouchi wondered if he should wake him. Probably not. He had a hangover to nurse anyway, so why add to his headache first thing in the morning by invoking Kaiba's grumpiness?
Unlike Jonouchi, Kaiba really wasn't a morning person, and it was generally better when he woke up on his own. After such a big party, the office wouldn't be opening immediately, as assurance that everyone got a good day's rest. Mokuba had probably been out all night celebrating. Usually their events didn't end until near morning, but the kid couldn't go to clubs. And Kaiba had hidden away in his room, as usual.
But at least he didn't drink himself stupid. He'd only had two beers and quarter glass of vodka. He had enough of a tolerance that he wouldn't end up being that affected by it. Most of the grogginess would be gone by mid morning, and although he was beginning to wake up due to his back being cold from Jonouchi rising, he had no desire to awaken. It was still too early, and he felt too lazy to be bothered yet.
Jonouchi had given in to his headache and lain back down, noticing that Kaiba had stirred but was apparently too lazy to get up. Then again, he'd had a late night.
"Good morning," Jonouchi greeted, keeping his voice low both for his own benefit and for Kaiba's since loud noises first thing would probably annoy him. "How are you doing?"
He grinned when he got a tired grumble in response, and he pulled back some of the hair that was hiding Kaiba's neck from him. His skin was so pale in contrast to his hair. Jonouchi huffed against his neck, and then pressed his lips gently against the sensitive area, hoping that he'd get some kind of reaction. He kept kissing and nibbling on Kaiba's neck, getting grumbling and squirming in response as he continued.
"What are you doing?"
Kaiba tried swatting Jonouchi's face away, but he pulled back and avoided being hit, just grabbing the offending hand instead. It confused Kaiba, who tugged it back and rolled onto his stomach, and he was unsure if he should be charmed by the attention, or really annoyed. He still didn't know what to make of Jonouchi, or their relationship, and messing around first thing in the morning didn't seem like a good idea quite yet.
"You should be hung over. Go back to sleep, Jonouchi..."
"I amhung over," Jonouchi mumbled, "And I want to lie down, but...you're so attractive..."
He was only pretending to be conflicted, of course, and chuckled, his breath hitting Kaiba's neck. He had one hand on his shoulder, so he could lean on him more easily.
"Besides, I didn't get to do anything last night, so you get early morning affections."
"On a scale of one to shitting rainbows, how gay do you think that is?" Asked Kaiba, lifting his head just enough to be heard before settling on his side, "Besides, I thought you wouldn't be interested in fooling around anymore considering everything that's passed between us."
It didn't seem right to accept attention from someone when he wasn't interested in a relationship. Not unless Jonouchi accepted that and wasn't trying to fool himself into some sort of half-believed romance that wasn't actually there. If Kaiba allowed for that, his feelings would get even more jacked up, and only more fighting would come from it.
"Hmm," Jonouchi grumbled, sighing and giving up on Kaiba's neck, "That's right...I thought that last night..."
He rolled onto his back, frowning, rather upset at the prospect. Wasn't there a way he could get Kaiba to love him and also fool around? He had a feeling it would be hard to focus on both at the same time.
"Well, never mind," Jonouchi sat up, his head pounding when he did so. He figured it would probably be a good idea to get rid of his hangover as soon as possible. He stood carefully, groaning at the pain in his head. "I'm getting some water. Do you need a drink?"
"Gatorade please, we have it stocked in the fridge."
"Gatorade?" Jonouchi parroted. "If that's what you want."
He shuffled out of the room, and immediately after entering the living room, he felt the urge to escape back into the bedroom. Mokuba was already up apparently, and he seemed extremely amused.
"Good morning to you too," Jonouchi muttered, "You can just stop making that face at me, you little imp."
He made his way to the fridge, and found a couple large bottles of Gatorade inside. He grabbed one for himself, figuring it must work if Kaiba was using it. He tucked one bottle under his arm and unscrewed the cap on the other before taking a sip. It was remarkably refreshing.
"So what were you doing in Nii-sama's bedroom?" Asked Mokuba, still grinning and eating a piece of fruit while watching Jonouchi drink, "You look like you just woke up, which I guess is why you're not really wearing any clothes."
"I was sleeping, as you observed," Jonouchi grumbled before drinking down more of the Gatorade. He hadn't known it worked so well. He was already feeling less pained by his hangover. "Not that you should be that curious."
He started making his way back to Kaiba's room, his steps heavy but more steady. He didn't want to take too long arguing with Mokuba. It would just give him a whole new headache, and Kaiba wanted his Gatorade.
Kaiba was still sleeping when Jonouchi arrived. He had closed his eyes and passed out as soon as he was left alone, and rolled back onto his stomach. His feet were sticking out of the blankets, which had shifted all over the bed so that his back and part of his underwear were exposed. They were navy blue, and the band clearly displayed Calvin Klein's name in black print.
"I've got your drink," Jonouchi announced, setting the unopened bottle on the nightstand.
Kaiba turned over and reached for it, drinking a good quarter of the Gatorade in a series of gulps. He screwed the cap on again and sat it back down before grumbling. Although he didn't feel that hung over from drinking last night, he still felt foggy in the head, like he was still half asleep and Jonouchi was some character in a dream he was having.
"Thanks."
If he had any sense, he'd get up and take a shower, but Jonouchi was staring at him with sad eyes and it made him unsure of what to do or what was being expected of him.
"Will you stop looking at me like that?" His eyes snapped toward Jonouchi, who looked surprised at being caught, "What is it?"
"Nothing," Jonouchi looked away, trying to stop staring. He wasn't in as bad a state as he had been the night before, but he still felt distress lingering in him, and had a feeling it wasn't going to disappear anytime soon. He sat at the edge of the bed, his back to Kaiba, and he rubbed his eyes to chase away the soreness behind them.
"Ignore me, I'm not myself. Still pretty hung over," he muttered, hoping that would be enough to keep Kaiba from pressing. He gulped down more of the Gatorade to continue easing the after-effects of his drinking.
"You should pace yourself better."
Getting up, Kaiba shut himself in the bathroom, deciding to shower and get dressed before the morning was gone. Mokuba probably already ate, but maybe he'd still join him downstairs for breakfast. That sounded pretty good, and he needed something to eat and maybe some coffee to clear his mind. Last night was odd, and Kaiba hoped that he wouldn't be seeing Mai again any time soon.
Jonouchi sighed and stood, deciding he'd try to use Mokuba's shower. Obviously the kid was already cleaned up for the morning and didn't need it. He found Mokuba in the living room, watching television as he lounged on the couch. He looked amused when he saw him, though this time his smirk faltered slightly at Jonouchi's expression. Jonouchi didn't want to offer an explanation. He'd shooed Mokuba out of the room last night for a reason.
"Is it all right if I use your shower?" He asked. It seemed like a great idea to share with Kaiba, but that would probably never happen, and it wouldn't be good on his psyche anyway. Best to avoid that particular venture.
"Go ahead."
Mokuba was laughing, but he wasn't going to stop Jonouchi from getting clean. Obviously his brother wasn't as close to him as presumed since they weren't sharing the same shower in the morning, and that made Mokuba snicker until he heard Jonouchi slam the door. Well, he wasn't trying to be irritating on purpose now, but he couldn't help but be amused. It was like living in a gay soap opera.
Jonouchi huffed, displeased by Mokuba's amusement. Let him have his little joke, then. At least someone was getting a laugh out of all this crap. Jonouchi made himself perk up by remembering that he'd managed to get Kitamura off his back, but it didn't make him feel that relieved. He had a lingering fear that he'd keep coming back, and as he washed himself under the warm water, he resolved that he'd pawn the phone. As soon as possible. Maybe he could get a ride downtown from Kaiba.
Actually, probably not. He shouldn't be seen down there with a rich guy in a nice car, anyway. He'd have to leave and take the subway. Maybe he could come back and hang out later on, if he was lucky. Getting rid of the tracking device was the most important thing. At least he'd finally paid the bill for his actual phone and wouldn't be without communication.
He'd owe Kaiba forever for giving him a job. He thought it fondly, but the idea made him feel somehow depressed.
When he got out of the shower, he walked back to Kaiba's room in his boxers to grab his clothes. He had no idea where Kaiba had put them. Probably neatly away in the closet or something. His casual clothes had disappeared, and he hoped Mokuba hadn't hidden them away. Whatever the case, Jonouchi needed something to wear, and at least one of the Kaiba brothers must know where his clothing was.
It was like having housekeeping. Or a mother. But he couldn't quite see Kaiba in a motherly role. It wasn't very nice mental imagery.
He knocked on the door to Kaiba's room, and got no answer. The same occurred after a second knock, so Jonouchi walked in, assuming he must still be in the shower, or changing in his closet.
"Hello?" He called, poking his head into the room.
"Most people wait for a reply before just walking in."
Standing in just a towel, Kaiba was in the closet, sorting through clothes. His hair was dry, and it looked like he'd blow dried it before leaving the bathroom. Now he was standing with his hip out like he wasn't sure what to wear. Which was silly, because he usually wore the same clothes instead of enjoying color, but maybe that was just the eccentric part of his personality showing.
"But since you're already here, I folded your clothes. There on the bed."
He made sure to take care of that the night before, after undressing Jonouchi. It was annoying, because moving dead weight was never easy, but better than having to loan clothes again when he gave away most of his crap last time Jonouchi came ill prepared.
"And after I get dressed," alerted Kaiba, glancing over at Jonouchi, "I'm going downstairs for breakfast."
"Breakfast?" Jonouchi's attention was immediately piqued, and he paused in changing his clothes to look at Kaiba. "Will you feed me?"
He knew Kaiba probably would, but it was rude to just assume. Hopefully it wouldn't be a dick move to skip off right after breakfast. He figured he'd give a heads-up during breakfast, and see if he'd be able to come back later. He felt like his time with Kaiba had been stolen from him a little, both by the company the night before and the party that had been before that. Oh, and there was also his utterly stupid decision to try to fuck him in the kitchen. He'd have to apologize for that.
"I wanted to talk to you anyway, and I'm hungry."
And I'm sorry for trying to hump you in public last night, He added mentally, but he figured that apology could wait for now. At least until Kaiba wasn't obviously in productivity mode.
"I wasn't planning on starving you, stupid."
Grabbing the same black clothes as usual, he threw them on the couch before slipping on his underwear and getting everything on, looking for a short while for his belt before getting it on too. He looked at himself in the mirror, trying to ensure everything was in place, but he left the metal bands and straps behind, just changing into the combat boots and leaving everything else fairly simple.
He waited until Jonouchi was dressed and they were in the elevator before asking what "talk" they were supposed to have. Mokuba was good at eavesdropping, and after last night, he didn't want him in the audience to his melodrama anymore.
"You want to talk?" He asked, looking down at Jonouchi before trying to hide a smirk, "What about? You don't need to apologize over being stupid drunk last night, I can forgive that."
"Oh," Jonouchi cleared his throat, relieved but embarrassed. At least Kaiba wasn't angry about the night before. "Well, I also wanted to apologize for embarrassing you and being a slut in public. I know I was drunk and all, but you seemed upset about it."
He leaned against the back wall of the elevator, vacantly watching the digital numbers. He felt awkward, more than he probably should since Kaiba was evidently indifferent. Maybe he was more embarrassed about it than Kaiba.
"It was annoying, that's all."
"I can imagine," Jonouchi muttered, "I'm glad you're not pissed at me."
Kaiba hadn't acted upset at all that morning, of course, but Jonouchi figured he should clear it up. He'd been drunk, but it had still been pretty damn awkward, and there had been an audience. Including Mokuba, who seemed extremely amused with the whole situation. Jonouchi looked forward to picking on him when it was his turn.
"Does that mean you told Mai last night then?"
Because Jonouchi was still in the living room after Kaiba left, and that made him wonder about just what they were discussing. Probably what happened, because anyone else would have been confused, and Jonouchi wasn't of the right mind to save face or try being discreet. He probably blabbered out everything, and at the moment it happened, Kaiba was pissed, but eventually he got over it. Jonouchi was drunk, after all, from his liqour.
"About some stuff, yeah," Jonouchi admitted, "I was too drunk to try keeping it under wraps. I ended up just blurting that I was gay and...stuff. She tried to give me advice."
He didn't really want to rehash his spiel about being desperately in love with Kaiba, and how he'd never love him back, etc. It would just sound like whining, and he didn't want to make Kaiba more uncomfortable. Or more opposed than he already was. Whatever slim chances Jonouchi had at convincing him couldn't afford to be threatened.
"What kind of advice?"
"Uh," Jonouchi felt his face getting warm and looked at the wall, hoping Kaiba wouldn't be able to see anything but his blond mess of hair, "Just advice. You know. Telling me not to put out too soon and stuff."
That would probably be like a joke to Kaiba, but it was better than telling him about the other portion of the discussion. Jonouchi didn't plan on letting him know about that. Hopefully Mokuba hadn't managed to eavesdrop or anything. It didn't seem like he should have been able to, since he was outside the room, but Jonouchi didn't want to underestimate his resources.
"You've been doing a good job of that."
The door opened, and Kaiba led the way out, turning toward the restaurant and getting a table quickly by the window, in a corner where it was quiet. There were still a few scattered guests from the convention, and Kaiba was quite happy keeping a distance from them and enjoying the peace and quiet while sipping the coffee that was given to him by his server.
"So, what are you hungry for?" He interrupted, watching Jonouchi from above his menu, "I know you didn't eat much the night before... Not with all that drinking."
"I could eat anything," Jonouchi grumbled, rubbing his stomach, "I guess traditional breakfast. As long as it gets here soon, I'm not concerned."
He didn't even bother opening the menu, figuring Kaiba would know what to order specifically anyway. Looking at the food would just make him hungrier.
"I wanted to let you know, though, that I have to run an errand after breakfast. Will you be free later on?"
Jonouchi tried not to sound too hopeful. He probably did anyway. He watched Kaiba, then felt nervous and looked at the table instead, feeling like a stupid schoolkid blushing in front of his crush. So ridiculous. But what could he do to help it? He wasn't that good at fighting first impulses.
"I won't be going anywhere today."
Jonouchi had a look of excitement on his face, like he was trying hard to contain how pleased he was over the answer, and it made Kaiba snort before he waved down the waiter and put in their orders. Traditional breakfast was good; different light dishes and miso soup with rice and fruit, things that Kaiba was sure Jonouchi didn't get to enjoy on a regular occasion. It was something of a treat, despite being what Kaiba considered normal, and he almost felt disappointed about Mokuba leaving them for pancakes.
"What did you want to do when you're done? The hotel doesn't have much, but the city's right here and I wouldn't mind going out as long as you don't drag me to some gay club or whatever."
"Why would I want to hang out in a place like that?" Jonouchi frowned. He didn't really want to be surrounded by a bunch of men (probably older than him) wearing flamboyant outfits and dancing to rave music. And he sure as hell didn't want to be recognized doing it. "Nothing like that, but we could have dinner, or something. Maybe see what's around for entertainment."
He couldn't think of anything, save what he'd done for entertainment in high school. That had been mostly Duel Monsters and saving the world, of course. There had also been long hours spent at the arcade, especially during the summer, and sometimes if he had the money he'd go with Yugi and Honda to the console arcade for modern games.
That would all probably bore Kaiba, though. Maybe it would be best to let him suggest the activity. Jonouchi didn't know much about his interests, aside from working. He liked physics and shit, but a museum of science would probably do nothing to hold his interest. His own creations were on display there as modern miracles.
Jonouchi sighed. It was hard to flirt if he couldn't even take the object of his affections for a decent outing. At least he knew what kind of food to order, for the most part...
"What kinds of things do you like doing?"
"Jonouchi, I really don't have hobbies, not since giving up Duel Monsters for good... I don't really go out unless I need to, and I thought you had some sort of plan or idea besides "just hanging out". Domino's a large city anyways, I'm sure you'll think of something by tonight."
It wasn't like anything serious. They could just stay in if Jonouchi was just looking for company, and Kaiba didn't mind being a shut in at his hotel or at home. Being stared at in public and dealing with people for hours (especially large masses) didn't interest him unless they were at a distance, like during duels. Entertaining a crowd was almost fun, but being immersed in one irritated him.
"What about the public market? You like food, and there'll be plenty there."
"If you're up for it, then definitely," Jonouchi grinned, relieved. It seemed like such a menial activity, at least he'd assumed Kaiba would think so. He felt less out of place knowing he wouldn't consider it a waste of time. "It shouldn't be too crowded in the evening. Most people will be doing their weekend partying or cooking dinner already."
Jonouchi paused when the server brought their food, and he waited until she was out of earshot before speaking. It was terrible how much he simply didn't care when he'd been drunk. He hadn't been concerned with who heard or saw him messing around with Kaiba. On a normal occasion, he wouldn't want anyone so much as hearing a conversation. Though Mokuba tended to drop in on them when it pleased him, evidently. It was a good thing he was too preoccupied with girls to make a frequent habit of it.
"So...should I meet you back here, then?" He asked before digging into his bowl, trying to take appropriately-sized bites. He wasn't starving anymore. He didn't need to stuff his face. And he didn't want to look so lower-class. There wasn't much he could do about his accent and his stride, but he could learn to eat more slowly.
"I'll pick you up and spare you the hassle of catching a bus."
Jonouchi would probably be pretty easy to get a hold of anyway. He had a phone. Speaking of which, Kaiba considered just getting him a new one as a helpful gesture, but it wouldn't do too much good if Jonouchi couldn't even afford it
"Do you still have a phone you can use to call me?"
"Actually," Jonouchi's voice dropped in volume, "I was going to get rid of it. I'll be switching back to my old phone. It's not like I'll ever be able to afford the bill for the smartphone anyway."
He'd wanted to keep it a secret, but whatever. There was no point lying about it.
"I don't know if you want to drive downtown, though," he shifted in his seat, "Rich-looking guy in an expensive car? People will notice..."
More than that, they'd notice Jonouchi, who was obviously not of his class, getting into his car. He didn't want word getting back to Rintama, since they had a pretty wide berth of "control" over downtown. Jonouchi had thought several times to just track down the ringleader and beat on him, but a grown man attacking a high school student wouldn't go over very well on a police report. Even if he was a little delinquent. It wasn't as if there was any proof.
"Then take a taxi and let me cover. Mokuba would be pissed if I didn't."
Jonouchi could hardly afford his own dinners, let alone rides downtown. Kaiba didn't mind taking care of it as long as he didn't become a pain in the ass later and made him regret acting on his better nature for once. That probably wouldn't happen, because despite the rough night before, they were getting along as of late, but still.
"You'll just have to make it up to me by showing me a really good time."
Jonouchi chuckled, his mind flying straight to the gutter, but he forced it out long enough to respond appropriately. Not hitting on Kaiba all the time was going to suck.
"I can do that," he nodded, "I'll give you my phone number so I can let you know when I'm on my way."
After doing so, he returned to his food for a few minutes, giving in to his growling stomach. Talking was distracting him from filling it. His mind kept wandering back to "showing Kaiba a good time", but he tried to brush those thoughts away. He didn't want to keep jumping his bones all the time. He should at least spend some time with him first, right? Maybe he'd have to try tapering off.
God, he sounded like an addict.
"Don't worry about dinner," Jonouchi told him, "I can cover my own tab for once."
He thought about stopping by his apartment before the pawn shop to grab the laptop. It wasn't as if he ever really used it. He hated being at home, and most the time he was either working or sleeping. That, and Kitamura had bought it for him. He really couldn't use it comfortably.
"I hope you would, since you suggested dinner in the first place," snickered Kaiba, picking up a piece of fish and dunking it into sauce before placing it into his mouth to chew, "Not that I have a problem paying, but usually it's common courtesy to treat when you are the person asking."
He turned his head again, sipping his coffee before taking out his phone and checking up on business matters. It was a good habit, reading over stocks, and Kaiba wanted to know what kind of press Kaiba Corporation received after the night before.
His brother was popular, and the internet viewers broke records for the most watched online convention, which was a nice ego boost too. No one could say they weren't exceptional, with that kind of success. Grinning, Kaiba looked over the rising stocks, and by the time he was done, his face had relaxed considerably and he almost felt like he should celebrate somehow.
"Apparently the convention did really well last night..."
"If it hadn't, it would mean something's in the water," Jonouchi muttered, his mouth still full. He continued after swallowing. "You seem pretty happy about it. Good to see it's not impossible to make you chipper."
He was using "chipper" in the least accurate sense, he thought, but it was about as joyful as Kaiba was going to get. Jonouchi was actually very pleased to see him grinning for once. Actually grinning with pride instead of mania or cruelty.
"I'd suggest celebrating, but I can't afford shit. I'll cover your dinner tab if it counts," he laughed. It would cost him, but his new job with KaibaLand left him with money in his pocket after expenses. It was a completely new experience for him, and he'd always been the type to spend on people if he had a little cash to spare. Which was good, since he normally owed his friends for kindnesses past.
"You're going to buy me dinner?" Kaiba cocked a slim eyebrow before giving an amused look, "If you insist, go right ahead. I won't stop you."
No one had really offered him dinner for sincere reasons before. He found it surprising that Jonouchi of all people was offering, but then again, he'd always been a true friend. Not someone like Mai or the other upper class individuals he knew who were trying to get something from him. He knew him well enough to realize that he only hung around because he wanted to be friends. It certainly had nothing to do with money, since Jonouchi seemed to look down on the rich anyways.
And finishing up his food, he watched Jonouchi get all flustered, stuffing his face a bit too quickly with food. It was astonishing, actually, that he was putting forth some effort to slow down and eat with actual manners, but still not quite what was socially acceptable in Kaiba's world.
Thankfully, though, he usually didn't eat at ritzy places.
"Don't expect me to put out for you afterward though," teased Kaiba, giving Jonouchi a look before finishing the rest of his coffee and waving the waiter over again for the bill.
"Of course not," Jonouchi sniffed in mock offense, "I am a gentleman, sir."
That was probably the biggest lie he'd ever told in his life, but so long as they were joking, it was more comfortable to play along than let himself get flustered by Kaiba's statement. He'd be red all the way to his navel at this rate. It was sad, too. He wasn't a socially inept person. Blushing didn't happen to him over any little thing. Normally he was confident and humorous enough not to start turning colors.
Jonouchi returned to his food, trying to quell his nervousness enough to eat slowly. More slowly. He still looked like a starved dog compared to Kaiba, but Kaiba ate like a bird. He wasn't doing too badly, right? As if he'd ever be able to tell. People in his neighborhood didn't care about things like that, and neither had any of his friends. But they'd been teenagers, and busy ones at that. Anzu was the only one who seemed to pick up some refined notions, and that was because she was more middle class than the rest of them.
"Yeah, I'll pay," Jonouchi paused his eating to speak, "Wish it wasn't money that came from you in the first place, but it's the thought that counts, right?"
"Sure."
Still amused, Kaiba finished up his plate before paying for the breakfast with his credit card, stretching his legs before getting up. He figured Jonouchi would be leaving to go downtown, to do whatever it was that needed doing, and dropping some money on the table for a tip and giving taxi fare to Jonouchi, Kaiba walked back towards the elevator so he could congratulate Mokuba appropriately.
"Just call me when you're free, and I'll meet you down at the market. Try not to do anything stupid until then."
The staff probably wondered why Kaiba was even talking to him now. They had seen that idiot dump coffee on their boss some months ago, and now they were acting like friends. It was strange, how that worked out, but Kaiba didn't regret it. The company was better than being alone, when Jonouchi wasn't drunk and chasing his dick.
"I am capable of being an adult, if I try hard enough," Jonouchi smirked, though he was slightly uncomfortable. He knew Kaiba was joking, but it was completely warranted nagging. "I've made it this long, after all."
He stood, gratefully pocketed the taxi fare before splitting ways with Kaiba at the elevator, and he waved goodbye as he left the lobby. He'd have to catch the nearest available taxi and try to get to his apartment, hopefully without attracting too much attention.
He needed to get out of that apartment. It was complete bullshit, having to run around like an animal trying to hide in its den without being preyed upon. His new job was keeping his stomach full, and he didn't have to be afraid of missing rent payments, but it wasn't enough to save up for a new place. Jonouchi considered going back to the mechanic shop, but he was fairly sure it was a waste of time. Certainly, it wasn't a chore for today. He'd have to go after work during the week...
The taxi stopped outside his apartment, and Jonouchi asked the driver to wait while he ran inside. Hopefully he actually would, and wouldn't drive off because he got skittish. Jonouchi felt like it was a horrible waste, selling the computer and everything, but he knew it wasn't going to be used. May as well get what he could off of it and let someone else have it. Someone who didn't associate it with Kitamura.
He dashed down the apartment staircase with his bag and ducked into the taxi. He didn't think he'd been seen, but he still looked around as they drove toward the pawn shop to make sure no one behind them was watching him leave. He was going to avoid coming back that night, and probably wouldn't since Kaiba never sent him home in the dark, but he didn't want to be targeted because he had nice shit.
Jonouchi was immensely displeased with the highest offer the pawn shop owner gave him. The computer was worth five times the price he got for it, which was utterly ridiculous, but what could he expect? It was a pawn shop. He didn't get much better for the iPhone, but he didn't care much. The thing was a tracking device. He didn't want it on him any longer than was necessary. Getting paid to lose it, well...that was a bonus.
Satisfied that he had at least enough profit to cover dinner that evening, he took the taxi back toward uptown. It was afternoon, but not quite dinnertime yet. Hopefully Kaiba was going to be free. Jonouchi called Kaiba from his old brick of a phone, already missing the smartphone, but knowing he wasn't being monitored.
"Hey, I'm on my way back to uptown," Jonouchi informed him when he picked up. His accent seemed to drawl even more over the phone. "Will you be ready to leave soon, or do you need time to get dressed up?"
He snickered. He found Kaiba's time-consuming and appearance-conscious bathroom habits funny, especially for someone who woke up looking perfect. It was fun to tease him a little sometimes.
"Very funny. I'll be ready when you arrive. Meet me in the suite."
Kaiba hung up, and Jonouchi would have been offended, but he knew how Kaiba was. There was no point carrying on a long phone conversation for courtesy if they'd already exchanged all the necessary information. He felt a burning impatience during the ride to the hotel, but he forced himself to calm down. He didn't want to seem over-excited or nervous, or start babbling incessantly.
He beelined for the elevator and rode it to Kaiba's suite. Mokuba was the one who let him in when he got there.
"Where's your brother?" Asked Jonouchi, looking around. Mokuba snorted.
"He's in his room. Can't be seen in public without making sure he looks perfect, after all," he snickered, making his way to his own room. Jonouchi grinned, thinking this could be a great opportunity to tease, but for all he knew, Kaiba was in his room working.
Jonouchi realized he hadn't checked on his own appearance before coming back. It hadn't been the first thing on his mind while he skittered around downtown trying not to be spotted with tens of thousands in electronics. He found a mirror in the living room, strategically placed to make the place look even larger, and tried to make his hair look like less of a wreck before straightening his clothes. At least the snug clothing wasn't difficult to fix into proper position.
He snapped to attention when he heard Kaiba's bedroom door open, trying to look like he hadn't been preening, of all things.
"Hey, you're ready," he grinned, "And I only had to wait five minutes after getting here."
He zoned out a little, looking over Kaiba's appearance. He was wearing the same thing he had been that morning. He hadn't even changed, what had taken him so long? No matter. He looked perfect, as usual. It was like hanging out with someone straight out of a commercial or magazine, and even as it made Jonouchi fluttery, it also filled him with an almost painful feeling of inadequacy.
"You look good," he noted, meeting Kaiba's eyes before he ended up staring too much. Not that Kaiba didn't know already, the bastard. Still, compliments couldn't hurt, right? Everyone liked a sincere compliment.
"I aim to please."
He went to grab his keys off the counter, along with his phone, before cutting across the foyer and reaching the door to the hallway so they could get outside. Mokuba was watching them intently from his place on the couch, where he was busy eating junk food, and Kaiba gave him a stern look before leaving. If he came back home and found crap all over the living room, Mokuba would die. Convention success or not.
"So we're still going to the market, right?" Asked Kaiba, as they reached the downstairs and went through the main front desk area. People were all around, drinking tea at the tables and chatting. The hotel was always busy, but when fall came and everything was changing colors, it got particularly busy before the bad weather would set in and the foreigners would stop visiting until the coming spring.
Not that it hurt Kaiba Hotel too much, but it was an inconvenience.
"It's not that far, we can walk over there."
"Sounds good," Jonouchi kept up with the pace Kaiba set. Didn't he ever try strolling? He walked like he was on a mission all the time. "Are you hungry or something?"
"No. I just don't like being in crowds."
There were a lot of people to cut through, and Jonouchi was taking his sweet time staring at everything in between. Not that they were in a hurry, but Kaiba didn't like being out and exposed to the world unless there was a reason for it. Battle City was one thing; he was like a predator almost, lurking through the streets for unsuspecting duelists who were so unfortunate as to lose their locator cards to him, a professional, but now...
Well, it felt different. He wasn't a self-important teenager like before, and Domino wasn't some playground for him to control.
"Really? I find it kind of energizing," Jonouchi stated, speeding up again so he could keep pace with Kaiba. "Everyone rushing around me doesn't get to me much. I like the noise, and there's a kind of safe feeling when there are lots of people out."
It was probably derived from his experiences. Silence meant trouble, and empty streets only meant more of the same. Being the only person walking on the sidewalk downtown was a good way to get mugged. Jonouchi had the good fortune of being able to take a lot of damage, and being able to defend himself. Most people in his neighborhood didn't.
"I prefer just driving places, but the streets are too crowded for that at night."
Not to get somewhere so close, like the market. It would be a bigger hassle trying to find parking, or just stopping to be dropped off if Kaiba had someone take them there. Cutting through the streets when the lights changed and going with the crowd, they eventually made their way to the markets, which had died down considerably since the morning sales.
"I guess I would too, if I had a car," Jonouchi mused. A car would be a terrible idea in his neighborhood, of course. It would get stripped or stolen within minutes of being parked around there. "Still, walking keeps me fit. I can't complain about being able to stay sexy."
Especially since everything he ate was crap, and would make anyone prone to weight gain despite how little he got to eat. He'd have to watch himself now that he could afford real groceries. If he ate more crap than walking could burn, he'd get fat. That would make seducing Kaiba pretty hard.
They made it to the market with a remarkable quickness, due to the pace Kaiba set. It was much less crowded there, since the sun was on the verge of setting and most people were out having fun rather than strolling around getting their groceries or sampling street food. Jonouchi felt his stomach growl and tighten, his mouth watering.
"Oh boy," he groaned, "Let's pick something to eat...you can choose, I'm treating. Just do it quickly, for my sake."
"Gyoza with yakisoba."
It would be cheap and filling. Most of the stalls left were for food, people cooking near the water as others drank by the beach and bar hopped through the pierside. The area was known for tourists and young people, a lot of happy drunks but very little crime, and usually there were even small festival-like activities around too, like there happened to be that night. The setup was in the parking lot near the beach, away from where the actual market building stood, and it had been converted into a festival.
Looking at it as Jonouchi paid for food, it reminded Kaiba of their time with Mokuba. His brother had enjoyed that sort of thing, especially as a kid, but it wasn't something they could afford to do often. Even when their father was alive, he was hardly around because of work and the nanny wasn't as much fun as an actual parent.
When Jonouchi finally handed Kaiba a plate of food, he snapped out of it, muttering a thank you before finding a place to sit down. Crossing his leg, he stared at the passing crowd of people with their children while eating, zoning out while Jonouchi sat next to him. He wasn't even aware of the staring he was getting from him.
"Are you all right?" Asked Jonouchi, watching Kaiba with concern. Kaiba seemed to be in his own world, staring vacantly at the crowd of passers-by. He looked almost upset, but Jonouchi couldn't think why he would be. "Is the crowd getting to you?"
"What? I'm fine."
"Oh," Jonouchi looked at his food, feeling as if he'd stumbled upon something he wasn't supposed to. But Kaiba still looked moody, so after a few seconds of picking at his food, he turned to him again. "Well...what's on your mind? You don't have to tell me if it's private, or whatever. You just look preoccupied."
"I was thinking about something that doesn't matter. Ignore it, it's nothing."
Taking up his chopsticks, Kaiba looked away before eating. He didn't feel like sharing his thoughts, especially over something so personal as his childhood. It wasn't like he thought about it that often, but only the last five years had been good to him. Well, not even the last five, more like the last three, after high school had ended in particular and Atem was gone. Yugi had left overseas, and everything had settled down into a more manageable life.
Yet, it still wasn't enough for him. He didn't ever really feel happy, and watching a mess of kids walk by, he stared at them absentmindedly before turning his attention back to eating. It would be nice to just zone out and people watch who were coming by, but not with Jonouchi paying him so much attention. That wasn't good, and some of the kids and adults seemed to pick up on who he was from just a glance.
He needed to stop dressing in black so much.
"You like fairs, right?" He looked over at Jonouchi, who was far more enthusiastic about eating his food, "If we go into a haunted house, I won't leave you behind this time. At least, not on purpose."
Jonouchi narrowed his eyes suspiciously, both at Kaiba's change of topic and the mention of the haunted house.
"Are you sure about that?" He asked. "Because if you take me into one of those things and ditch me, I can't be held responsible for the things I won't do to you."
He slurped his yakisoba, waiting for Kaiba's response while he stuffed his face. He hadn't eaten fresh noodles for a while. It seemed like the time between his chances to eat things that were fresh and actually tasty. It didn't seem like Kaiba wouldn't leave him afraid in the dark for his own amusement, but maybe he really meant it.
Hopefully he wouldn't mind having Jonouchi cling to him when he got too freaked out.
"Things you won'tdo to me? Hmm. I don't see cause for being alarmed."
He snorted, getting up and throwing away the dirty plate and pair of chopsticks he had before dusting off his pants and looking around for somewhere to go. Kaiba didn't see anything that looked like a haunted house. They looked shit out of luck until Halloween came around.
"I don't even see a fun house."
"Well, that kinda sucks," Jonouchi muttered, scanning the area. It was true, there wasn't any fun house. His mood brightened when he saw a divination booth, and it looked like they were doing palm readings.
"Let's go over there," he pointed, tugging a little at Kaiba's sleeve to get his attention, "I'm sure it'll be fun. Palmists tell your future."
"Just like cards have hearts?" Said Kaiba sarcastically in response, but before he could be answered, Jonouchi was already dragging him over there determinedly, and if he tugged back, he was afraid it would rip his sixty dollar turtleneck.
That would not make him happy.
So he followed along, somewhat hesitantly before going inside the tent and sitting down next to Jonouchi where he was instructed. The whole set up looked ridiculous, but the palmist herself looked nearly ancient, and he had enough respect in him not to say anything as the woman started speaking, her eyes looking blind from their glassy appearance.
"Who would like to go first?" She asked.
"Me, please," Jonouchi gave her his hand eagerly, knowing that Kaiba wasn't going to volunteer. The woman felt his hand, and he got the impression that he was being searched. It was better than getting felt up, he supposed. It seemed she was blind, so it made sense that she'd have to feel her way around his hands.
After a few seconds, Jonouchi was starting to feel a little awkward, but the reader spoke.
"What would you like to know about your future?" She asked, and Jonouchi hummed.
"You can tell me about...love, right?" He asked hesitantly, blushing a little. He heard Kaiba snort beside him, but he didn't comment.
"Of course," the old woman replied, tracing the dark line just beneath his first knuckles. Jonouchi waited for a few seconds as her brow furrowed. "Your heart line indicates that you're very passionate. Especially physically."
Jonouchi cleared his throat, squirming in his seat. How would she know that just from a line on his hand that he was like that? He knew it was supposed to be a fairly accurate art, but he had expected more general things.
"Your heart line tells me that you value both the physical and emotional aspects of love, and find joy in romance."
"Oh," Jonouchi grinned, "But I knew that."
"Did you? Your head line indicates detachment from your emotions."
"Uh," he stared at her vacantly. He wasn't sure about the whole "joy in romance" thing. It sounded like something out of a novel, and certainly not very masculine. It was more something that would be accurate to Kaiba. "That's not true. I get angry all the time."
"Anger can be like a shield," she replied cryptically. Jonouchi felt distinctly uncomfortable, but he wasn't finished yet.
"What about my love life, though? That's what I want to know about."
"Hmm," she shifted her index finger on his palm, "Your marriage line is close to your heart line. You'll find your partner young..."
Well, that was good to know. Jonouchi didn't want to fool with dating for decades.
"You'll have a long relationship, perhaps lifelong. But it will be a bumpy road."
"How bumpy is bumpy?" Jonouchi asked, looking at his hand even though he couldn't understand a thing about the lines she was pointing at. He didn't want to get stuck in a relationship with Kaiba if it was going to have dramatic separations everywhere.
"You're a stubborn individual, so any relationship you have will face adversity. Especially if you choose someone whose personality contrasts your own."
"Oh," Jonouchi felt that he could handle that. He'd get bored if he and Kaiba didn't bicker. As long as he wasn't insulting him all the time...
"Was that all you wanted to know?"
"What about children? Will I have any kids?"
"Yes," the woman answered quickly, running her thumb over a few short lines under his small finger, "At least one. Your child lines intersect your fate line, so the number will vary between one and three depending upon your choices."
"Why would I want three kids?" Jonouchi scoffed. One of the little bastards would be enough, in his opinion, but maybe two if the first one got lonely.
"Jonouchi, you are far too easily sold on this superstitious nonsense," snipped Kaiba, folding his arms and huffing a little, "I don't see how you can be so serious about it. Reading your hand isn't going to show how many kids you'll be having, stupid."
"Yeah, well, maybe when you spend thousands of years creating a fortune-telling method, I'll take your opinion into account," Jonouchi muttered, making a face, "If it's so stupid, then why don't you try? I bet she'll tell you your life story."
"Doubtful."
He gave up his hand always, shoving Jonouchi a little harder than necessary with his closest shoulder before grumbling. Having some old woman feeling his hand up didn't appeal to him, but maybe Jonouchi would get some stupid enjoyment out of it. Kaiba didn't see how anything so stupid could be remotely accurate, but maybe things like that were about fun more so than actual truth.
"You're very confident," she noted, touching the tips of his fingers, "I think perhaps to the point of being egotistical, but that's hardly uncommon at your age."
Jonouchi snickered. Kaiba was never going to outgrow being egotistical.
"You're successful in business," the palmist continued, "And will be for the rest of your life. You come from a broken family, and will be married young."
"What."
He knew he was going to remain successful, but he didn't see how "marrying young" played into it. Why the hell would he do that? Sure, he didn't want to be miserable and alone all his life, but there was too much going on for romance. It required more time and patience than he was willing to give at this point in his life, and he didn't want to deal with the commitment and having another responsibility on his shoulders.
"You probably got all of that from a newspaper article. Tell me something I don't already know, old woman."
"Yes, I read the paper regularly," she replied, and it took Jonouchi a minute to realize she was being sarcastic. Her tone was level, as if she was legitimately replying. "Your love line shows that you have very romantic notions, and put your partner before yourself in a relationship. You're best suited for someone unpredictable, who will keep you excited.
And you want to have many children, but the number you have is dependent on your marriage line, or your relationship."
"What do you mean by that?" He asked, giving a questioning look. "I don't see how these hypothetical children have anything to do with the lines on my hand, let alone can be deciphered. Futures can't just be predicted in accuracy..."
He didn't like that. Pulling his hand away, Kaiba shifted uncomfortably before thinking about leaving, but Jonouchi gave him a look that told him to keep his ass in his seat. If it wasn't for the sake of having another person in the tent with them, Kaiba would have snapped at him for the nasty gaze.
"This is nonsense."
"Many people said the same thing about television," the palmist replied, "Palmistry isn't something that a group of people made up for entertainment. It's an art that was developed after centuries of practice and observation."
"She's telling you to stop being a dick," Jonouchi murmured, leaning closer to Kaiba so only he would hear, "At least try to have a sense of humor about it."
"There's nothing funny about being told I'm going to marry young..."
"Why wouldn't you want to be married young?" Jonouchi frowned, slightly disappointed. "There's no point playing the field if you find the right person."
Then again, when he thought "young", he thought...well, thirty, or something. Not now. He was way too young to be married. It just sounded so...final.
He and Kaiba couldn't get married anyway, so that probably wouldn't be a problem.
"Your lines dictate a happy relationship," the palmist added, "Both physically and emotionally. You're very lucky."
"Yeah, I'm sure of it."
Kaiba finally got up, dusting his pants again before briskly exiting the tent and sitting down at a nearby bench. He didn't like being probed. He felt like the woman knew too much about him, which didn't make much sense. It wasn't like he talked about his personal feelings over romance to people outside of maybe Mokuba, and a lot of his opinions concerning it were private.
Yet that woman talked to him like she could see through it all.
Whatever. That was over, and he was about ready to drag Jonouchi out of there, but he'd probably want to see more stuff before leaving. And Kaiba couldn't just drag him back to the hotel, since he did buy dinner...
"You don't have to look so unhappy," Jonouchi grinned, "I thought my reading was great. She didn't say I was gonna die or anything."
He inhaled a deep breath, taking in the smells of different foods that were being served nearby.
"I guess it's not really your thing. Thanks for humoring me, anyway. I had fun."
He was slightly annoyed that Kaiba was so pissy about the whole thing, but he didn't want to fight. He knew from the start that Kaiba wasn't a huge believer in things like divination. It was incredible that he hadn't been more of an asshole about it.
Jonouchi scanned the area for other points of interest, but he only saw game booths. The thought occurred to him that he could try winning a prize, but he wasn't sure it would be a good idea to drag Kaiba around the place. He certainly didn't seem that interested.
Still, he might be amused to watch Jonouchi fail, and if he did win anything, he could offer it to him as a present. Even if Kaiba ended up not wanting a plushie or whatever, the intention would still be there.
"Wanna check out one of the game booths?" Asked Jonouchi, eyeing one that had Duel Monsters-related prizes available. The odds of winning were low, of course, since all those games were rigged, but Jonouchi knew a lot of the tricks. Maybe that, and his luck, would help him out. "I don't know if you want to play, but I'll give it a shot."
"I'm not particularly interested in playing fixed games..."
But Jonouchi was too excited about the prospect of winning, dragging Kaiba over there by the hand and not really giving him a choice but to go along. At least he wouldn't have to play himself, since Jonouchi took the money out of his own pocket and only paid enough for himself, but it still made Kaiba wrinkle his nose. He felt a little funny about being brought over like some resistant girlfriend who was there only to get the prize, and he looked away with his arms crossed when Jonouchi started playing.
"I guess Mokuba would enjoy the prize if you actually managed to win," he muttered, only looking at Jonouchi from a glance before sighing, "He might appreciate a toy."
"I don't even know if I'll get anything," Jonouchi snorted, "Don't worry about it, Kaiba. I'm not gonna be offended if you don't want a plush toy. I'm just going to give it to you anyway."
He gave Kaiba a goofy grin as he paid for the game to start, and he got an eye roll in response. Jonouchi chuckled, knowing that was a good reaction comparatively, and started the game.
It was a fairly straightforward type. He had three lightweight balls to throw, and had to knock a stack of cups off of three pedestals at the other end of the booth. Jonouchi could tell the game was against his favor right from the start. The balls weren't hollow, but they were so light that throwing them hard would only result in them being swept away by their own crosswind. But if he couldn't throw them hard enough, he couldn't knock the cups over.
The cups were lighter than the balls, though, and rounded, meaning they would roll. If he could throw them the right way and knock the stack off balance with enough momentum, he could win.
But it would definitely be difficult, and he only had so much pocket money to use on it. His first attempt ended poorly, with no stacks standing, but only one had been actually knocked to the ground, and the last one he'd tried simply knocked one cup on top of another. Jonouchi grumbled, disgruntled and slightly embarrassed, but he paid for a second try.
That time he did better, having a sense for the way he should toss. He learned which cups to hit and how to do so in order to knock them off their pedestals, and managed to get two stacks on the floor. The man running the booth seemed reluctant to let him have a third attempt, but Jonouchi just gave him a rather confident grin and played again. He wasn't going to do a fourth try. He didn't want to waste the money, and he knew that if he didn't get it this time, he wasn't going to.
Fortunately, he managed. He got all the cups on the ground, and he jumped and shouted with this victory as the booth owner begrudgingly asked him to pick a prize. Jonouchi looked over the options, hoping that there would be a Blue-Eyes somewhere up there. He caught sight of what looked like one, and against the booth owner's wishes stood on tip-toe to move other toys out of the way to make sure.
It was definitely a Blue-Eyes. The plushie wasn't ugly, even if it was a little cute to be a rendition of one of the most fearsome beasts in the game. And as he pulled the cat-sized toy off the rack, he thought that the firm stitching and stuffing was nice to the touch. Still, plush toys weren't really something Kaiba had any interest in, and he knew it. It wasn't going to stop him.
"Here," Jonouchi offered it to him, "I want to give it to you, even if you decide not to keep it later. Figured it would be a nice sentiment."
Kaiba stared at it before taking it. He felt silly having some stupid toy in his arms, even if he was the only owner of the actual cards. People would probably laugh at him if they recognized him with the thing, but Jonouchi seemed so adamant about giving it to him. And not liking being looked at so intently, he just took it and grumbled, not saying thanks but walking off in the direction of the car.
Jonouchi felt light on his feet as he followed, knowing that Kaiba wasn't going to be any happier with the present than that. If he'd been pissed about it, he wouldn't have taken it. It struck him as being slightly pathetic that he was so pleased with such a somewhat irritated reaction, but considering the alternative, he was doing pretty damn well.
"So," he asked as they got into the car. Kaiba tossed the plushie into the backseat, where it sat looking completely indifferent to the abuse. Jonouchi still felt a little bad for it. "Where are we headed?"
"Back to the mansion."
It was late and he didn't feel like driving Jonouchi all over the place anymore. Going to sleep and maybe managing a few hours of rest sounded good to him, and he was quick about speeding toward the suburbs, making great time and avoiding a speeding ticket before he reached the gates of Kaiba Mansion and got through security and reached the main driveway.
He parked the car in front before getting out, only grabbing the toy as a second thought. Maybe Mokuba would like it. He saw no use for a kid's stuffed animal, but then again, Jonouchi might take offense. He seemed pretty keen on giving it to him and he didn't want him getting angry and making a huge deal if Kaiba didn't keep it.
But he didn't say anything. Unlocking the door and getting inside, he walked silently up the grand stairs with Jonouchi in tow before reaching his bedroom and placing the stuffed toy on his dresser. It had floppy wings that bounced when he dropped it there, and walking into the bathroom, he shut the door to get ready for bed, not saying a word to Jonouchi, who followed after him.
Apparently they were going to share the same bed. If it wasn't for the fact that Kaiba slept better with another human being, he would fight against it. But then his insomnia would get the best of him, so he decided to bite the bullet and deal with the company again.
Jonouchi sat on Kaiba's bed for a moment, wondering if he was irritated about being followed to his room. Not that he wouldn't be willing to sleep in the guest bedroom, if Kaiba wanted him to, but he'd prefer to stay in the same room. He started getting undressed, stripping off his pants, socks, and t-shirt and dumping them on the floor. Then he realized it was probably bad form and folded them, storing them in a corner of Kaiba's closet for the next day.
Then he waited. It wasn't as if there was anything to do in Kaiba's room right before bedtime. He could play videogames, but he didn't much want to, and it would be pointless if Kaiba was only getting washed up. Even though that tended to take him a while...
He lay down, stretching his legs and cracking his toes. It felt good to relax. He was hoping that Kaiba wouldn't take too long in the bathroom. His bedroom was creepy as shit, even with the lights on, and he hated the feeling that he needed to have his eyes open while he was in there alone. He stared at the closed bathroom door and hoped Kaiba would come back soon, and hopefully be in a passable mood when he did.
Which was rather quickly, since he just wanted to wash his face and brush his teeth before lying down. Closing the bathroom door and sitting by the edge of the bed, Kaiba took off his pants and belt, dropping them on the floor before removing his top and getting his socks off. He stretched, bringing his arms over his head and cracking the joints, before closing his eyes and sighing. The room was dark, and he didn't feel Jonouchi's eyes on him.
But the room was unsettling. He didn't sit there for long, and thankfully the curtains were open, so at least the moon was illuminating the room and it wasn't pitch black in there. Gozaburo's old room was rather ominous since it sometimes still felt like the old man was living in there, but now he was dead and Kaiba didn't want to be bothered by long dead ghosts of people he no longer had to fear. Especially while someone else was with him, too.
Turning around, Kaiba silently got under the sheets and closed his eyes. He could feel the body of Jonouchi close by, but he made enough space that they weren't cuddled up. Lying on his side, he sighed before trying to fall asleep.
Jonouchi stared at Kaiba's back in the moonlight, feeling oddly watched in the dark and alone due to Kaiba immediately wanting to sleep. Figured he'd just turn around and try to pass out right after flexing right in front of him. It wasn't his fault he was ridiculously sexy, but honestly. He should wield his power more responsibly.
"Kaiba," Jonouchi whispered, scooting a little closer. The room was too big. Jonouchi felt his agoraphobia kicking in, along with the creepy feeling of the room in general. Even his mild arousal and pleasure with the outcome of the evening couldn't dispel that. "Are you going to sleep already?"
Grumbling, Kaiba bunched up his shoulders in reply, wondering how Jonouchi missed the obvious. Why else would he be lying there unmoving? For fun?
"Yes."
"But it's so early," Jonouchi frowned, "You can't be tired..."
It wasn't as if they'd done much, and the night was still young. It was even the weekend. He didn't have to go to work the next day or anything.
"Besides, I'm wide awake, and it's your fault, so I'm making you responsible for entertaining me. At least for a little while. Come on, it won't hurt you to talk."
"I'm tired."
The weekend was the perfect time to sleep in. Kaiba wished he had the excuse that he'd been working all day, but he didn't actually spend any time at the office for once. It was a Saturday, and he spent most of it just working out of his bedroom there, but it still wiped him out. Doing math problems was still tiring business.
"Besides, do you have any idea what you want to talk about or are you just trying to waste time until you feel tired? There's a game room down the hallway if you need to entertain yourself with something, along with the library..."
"A game room? To be honest, that doesn't sound as entertaining as bugging you," Jonouchi snorted, "If you don't feel like talking, then I'll figure out something else to do with you. Either way, I don't want you falling asleep just yet. Maybe we can discuss how incredibly creepy your room is..."
He knew he was probably the only one who felt that way about it. Kaiba would probably think he was being ridiculous, but on the off chance that he had the same sensation, maybe Jonouchi wouldn't have to think his imagination was getting to him too much.
"I mean, usually it's fine when we're here together, but...I dunno. I feel watched and just really uncomfortable."
"You're being silly. This is just a bedroom."
Jonouchi didn't need to know about the fact that Gozaburo used to sleep there. He was too superstitious and would make something of it, so Kaiba decided it would be best to just leave him in the dark. What he didn't know wouldn't kill him. And if he asked Mokuba, the kid would probably tell him and tease him over it, since he liked to mess with the staff saying the old man's ghost sometimes showed up at random hours of the night.
He was a little asshole like that, but Kaiba said nothing to refute his claims.
"And it gets drafty sometimes, but there's nothing wrong with my room."
"Hmm," Jonouchi grumbled, "I'm telling you, something's wrong with this place. The weird noises are bad enough, but this room makes my hair stand on end."
Evidently, Kaiba wasn't of the same mind. He seemed like he was refuting his discomfort entirely, which made him feel embarrassed, but he couldn't help himself. It wasn't like he was being superstitious. He thought that the room was fine until he'd tried sleeping in there. Usually fooling around took his mind off of it, but that wasn't on the agenda tonight.
"Are you sure you don't feel weird? I know you sleep in here all the time, but still. It can't just be me."
Or maybe it could. Jonouchi wasn't the most rational person in the room.
"It's not like anyone died in here, Jonouchi... And if it bothers you so much, you know where the guest rooms are. I'm not forcing you here to sleep with me..."
He could tell that Jonouchi wasn't sated by that answer. If anything, it probably made him a little angry, because Kaiba was avoiding telling him any information, but he didn't need that right now. Jonouchi would flip out if he knew who used to sleep there, and it wasn't like they were in the same bed that Gozaburo had used, but still. What he didn't know was for his own good, and Kaiba hoped if he went silent, his companion would take a hint and quiet down.
Jonouchi huffed, feeling distinctly like Kaiba was withholding information, but it wasn't as if he could do anything about it. He just hoped he was telling the truth when he said no one had died in there. Why would he even sleep in a room where someone had died? Maybe Kaiba wasn't superstitious, but that would be like sleeping in a graveyard. Just too unnatural...
"Are you trying to get rid of me? Fat chance. I'd rather sleep with you in your creepy room than sleep by myself in an almost equally creepy one."
"You're like Mokuba when he was afraid of the dark. Didn't anyone teach you that monsters don't exist?"
"I think you and I both know that they do," Jonouchi muttered, "And the dark is their favorite place to be."
He certainly didn't take silence and darkness as a good sign. If he wasn't too poor for it, he'd sleep with the light on at night. Just in case someone broke in, or by some cruel twist of fate was already waiting for him when he got into his apartment.
Kaiba scoffed at him, but didn't say anything else. He didn't want to argue with Jonouchi over the status of his bedroom, and turning onto his stomach, he tried shutting his eyes and falling asleep again. Maybe Jonouchi would take a hint and try resting his eyes, or at least think to himself. Something besides yammering on about nothing.
"Go to bed."
"I'm in bed," Jonouchi argued petulantly, but he decided to stop pestering him. Evidently, Kaiba wasn't going to be persuaded to stay awake, and it didn't take very long for his breathing to get heavy when Jonouchi quieted down. Jonouchi didn't feel sleepy at all himself, and didn't have anything better to do than watch Kaiba. He thought amusedly that he probably could have convinced him to stay up for a while longer if he'd tried offering sex. He really was extremely lazy when he wasn't doing company work.
Jonouchi couldn't exactly blame him. His job was probably very mentally draining, to the degree that it was physically tiring, so it made sense for him to conserve energy when he wasn't doing it. Since he apparently enjoyed working. Jonouchi sighed. There wasn't much chance that he was going to fall in love with a normal person, was there?
Kaiba was snoring very lightly, almost inaudibly. Jonouchi wondered how he could be so tired. He hadn't even had work that day. He'd probably worked at the hotel, but it wasn't as if he'd had to stand around or even deal with anyone in person. And they'd only been out for a couple of hours, most of which had been spent sitting. Jonouchi had even fed him. Shouldn't that at least have given him some energy?
It was funny to him, honestly. Kaiba just didn't have the capacity to put one hundred percent into everything, it seemed. Jonouchi didn't have that problem. He was hardly ever tired, and even when he was physically exhausted, he could still go for sex, and certainly didn't feel the need to pass out before it was even nine.
Jonouchi sighed, closing his eyes and sidling closer to Kaiba. Feeling another person against him made the room less uncomfortable and guarded him against the odd drafts that blew against him. He felt that his breathing was matching Kaiba's over time, and unfortunately he started to feel sleepy when his breathing slowed.
He felt as if time was passing slowly, and it seemed like hours later that he opened his eyes. The room was still dark except for the moonlight, and Kaiba had rolled onto his back. Jonouchi was surprised to see him awake, staring at the ceiling and looking a little frustrated.
"What's up with you?" Asked Jonouchi, yawning. He was more tired than he'd expected, but evidently not enough to sleep. If Kaiba was awake, he planned to take full advantage.
"I don't sleep well."
"Oh," Jonouchi frowned, "I thought having company helped. Or does it only work if you get off?"
He snickered, though he did actually feel bad that Kaiba was losing sleep. He'd seemed like he was sleeping just fine before. How often did he wake up in the middle of the night?
"If you can't sleep anyway, then can we talk?"
"About what?"
Kaiba was lying on his back, looking at Jonouchi through lazy, half-lidded eyes. It looked hazy in the room, but not nearly as unsettling as before, like in a dream. There was something comforting about being in the bed, a strange quality to everything as Jonouchi looked back, but he didn't think too much of it. He was glad that Kaiba was responding to his offer.
"Well..." Jonouchi began, hesitating slightly, "How about tonight? Did you have a good time?"
He honestly wasn't sure. Kaiba had seemed frustrated more than anything at the end of the evening, and certainly nowhere near as sated as he was when Jonouchi just approached him for sex. It was a discouraging thought, but he hoped it was just him misinterpreting.
"It was all right. Didn't like that palmist woman, but the stuffed dragon was nice..."
His voice was fading off, like he was about to pass out despite his eyes being open.
"I'm glad you liked it. You seemed kind of pissed when I gave it to you," Jonouchi chuckled, shifting closer to him and resting one hand on his chest. Kaiba's skin shifted under his fingers, his muscles constricting momentarily in response to being touched unexpectedly, but he didn't seem upset about it. "You aren't going to fall asleep on me again, are you?"
"No. Not if you're planning on giving me a reason to stay up..."
Jonouchi raised an eyebrow. Was Kaiba being suggestive, or was it his imagination? He hadn't seemed interested before going to sleep, but maybe now he was feeling less lazy. Despite the knowledge that he was supposed to be not fooling around with Kaiba, Jonouchi gave in to his desire to do so, feeling somehow that there was an absence of consequences for his actions.
"I can give you plenty of reasons to stay up," he sat up, gazing down at Kaiba with an expression he knew well by now. Jonouchi wasn't really subtle about what he wanted in the past, and he didn't plan to be anytime soon. He trailed his fingers lightly over Kaiba's chest without really thinking about it, intrigued by the feeling of his upper torso expanding as he sighed.
Jonouchi felt like something was off; it was dark except for the moonlight, but his vision seemed to be fine, as if there was a dim light illuminating the whole room. He didn't think too much on it. He wasn't opposed to being able to see Kaiba while he touched him. When he leaned down to kiss him, he felt his hands on him, one sliding into his hair and the other on his back.
The kiss itself was different from other occasions, in that Jonouchi didn't feel like he was in a hurry. He enjoyed the contact more than focusing solely on the resulting sensation, and Kaiba allowed him to lead, participating without guiding his actions. Jonouchi broke away after a few moments, and felt strangely embarrassed when he did, but Kaiba's bedroom eyes stopped him from being at all discouraged.
Jonouchi moved and straddled his hips rather than lying beside him, enjoying having more contact and a more comfortable angle. When he kissed him again, it was more impassioned, and he could feel Kaiba taking a tighter grip on him as if he was being possessive. The idea didn't put him off in the least, but it made his chest feel constricted, which made him uncomfortable.
He pulled back, sitting up and gazing down at Kaiba, who looked like he was waiting on him to continue. Jonouchi felt uncertain for the first time that they'd been doing this together, and while he didn't think he could keep it up, he didn't want to stop, either.
"What's wrong?"
"Um," Jonouchi muttered, averting his eyes. He felt too exposed. It made him want to hide under the blankets, but his body felt almost paralyzed. "This is too...I don't think I can deal with this."
He could feel Kaiba's fingers on his forearm, his thumbs gently tracing the muscles. Jonouchi sighed, feeling comforted and more put off at the same time. What was he supposed to do about it? It wasn't as if he didn't want to have sex with him, but the more affectionate Kaiba seemed, the harder it was to deal with the fact that he wasn't.
"Don't get me wrong. I do really want to fool around, but...I can't. It's too hard to take my mind off of the fact that you don't care, and I'd rather spare myself the pain," he frowned, knowing that he'd probably offended, but he wasn't going to be dishonest about it.
"Would you like me to lie to you?"
Jonouchi almost replied with dry assent, but he stopped himself. He looked down at Kaiba silently, his jaw slightly clenched. The more desperate part of him thought that would depend on how well Kaiba managed to lie, but his rational mind shook the idea away.
"Did I say that I would? No. I'm saying I'm not going to have sex with you right now. It's too much for me, Kaiba," he stated, distraught. He stared at Kaiba's chest, almost wanting to smack his hands away when he felt them on his arms, but he didn't reject the gesture. Kaiba was trying to make him feel better, or at least comfort him in some way. It wasn't working, obviously, but Jonouchi couldn't bring himself to turn away his intention.
"Dammit," Jonouchi grumbled, bending down and hiding his face in Kaiba's neck. He felt like he couldn't make himself move, despite the burning desire to flee. The best he could do was try to avoid looking at him. He felt Kaiba's hands on his back, one of them rubbing slowly up and down, tracing the slow curve of his spine. Jonouchi almost felt as if he didn't want the affectionate gestures. It only made things more difficult.
"Why do you treat me like this when you don't care?" He asked, his words accusing but his tone pleading. "You barely like me, if you do at all. How can you act so affectionate in bed and then tell me I'm not good enough for you?"
He trembled before he could catch himself, and Kaiba stopped moving abruptly, his body on edge as if he was anticipating something. Probably tears. But Jonouchi didn't plan on breaking down in front of him again. He hated the fact that he'd done it once, and he didn't want to making himself look like more of a bitch than he already had.
"Kaiba," he murmured, sitting up enough that he could look him in the eyes. Jonouchi's expression was downtrodden, his posture defeated. He saw a questioning look in Kaiba's face, probably wondering at the intensity of his distress. Jonouchi sighed.
"I want you to love me back. Am I really asking that much?"
"Jonouchi, it's not a simple thing."
"No, but it wouldn't kill you to try," Jonouchi scowled, no longer able to meet Kaiba's eyes, "Or I could convince you."
Maybe. It wasn't as if sex had done much to help him with Kaiba in the past. If anything, it had only made things more difficult for him. Jonouchi rubbed his eyes briefly, feeling oddly tired and disoriented, before getting a grip on himself and engaging Kaiba in another kiss. He seemed surprised, but he reciprocated, meeting Jonouchi's pace. The contact was heated, and slightly more frantic than before due to Jonouchi's desperation, but he didn't get the feeling that Kaiba was opposed.
When he broke away, he placed his lips on Kaiba's neck, and could hear him still panting breathlessly. Jonouchi felt out of breath himself, but he didn't want to pause to wait for it to even out. Instead, he played with Kaiba's neck, sucking and nibbling on all the places he'd learned from experience were sensitive. He felt Kaiba's chest rising under him as he sucked in a breath, his hands gripping Jonouchi more firmly. He felt tugging in his hair, and Kaiba shuddered a little when he licked the delicate area just under his jawline.
Jonouchi continued to move downward, following Kaiba's collarbone to his chest. He examined the firm muscle of his pectorals with his fingers, brushing them over the surface lightly and teasing his nipples with his thumbs. He detected a change in Kaiba's breathing; it was more shallow and slightly erratic, and he held his breath for a moment when Jonouchi swiveled his tongue over the more sensitive flesh.
He exhaled through his nose as he slid down toward Kaiba's navel, his hands trailing over his sides. He could feel some definition of muscle and a few of Kaiba's ribs when he inhaled, and was slightly fascinated, but he didn't allow himself to be distracted. He could feel heat radiating from Kaiba's boxer-briefs as he neared them, and he didn't hesitate to slide the underwear off his hips. He heard a quiet sigh when he did, probably one of relief as the constricting fabric was removed.
Jonouchi wrapped his hand around his shaft, and could see Kaiba's fingers pull at the sheets slightly. He wondered fleetingly if Kaiba ever masturbated, because he was so sensitive whenever they were together. Then again, the same could be said for himself, he supposed. And he most certainly did touch himself, with increasing frequency of late.
He glanced up at Kaiba's face briefly, noting his dilated pupils and half-lidded eyes, before he lowered his head and wrapped his lips around the top of his shaft. He felt his face flushing, but he made eye contact for a few seconds as he slowly sucked against the head, watching Kaiba's expression change as he did so. Jonouchi's eyes shut when he felt Kaiba's fingers wind their way into his mess of hair, kneading gently against his scalp.
He went about it more slowly than he had the first time he gave Kaiba oral, but he didn't hear any complaining. Kaiba's breath still hitched occasionally, and he released audible sighs that were half moans, his fingers sporadically tightening their grip. Jonouchi squirmed a little, trying to shift his pelvis into a more comfortable position. He hoped it was due to the sounds Kaiba made, since the alternative would be too embarrassing, but he was getting progressively more aroused. He had to move so his erection wouldn't be poking uncomfortably against the bed.
When he stopped for air, he looked at Kaiba while he wiped his lips with his hand, feeling almost amused by the lazy way he blinked at him. Whether it was intended or not, his expression was surprisingly sultry. Jonouchi was embarrassed about being stared at, but he liked the attention and took it as a good sign. Kaiba's eyes closed and he gasped when Jonouchi unexpectedly licked the bottom of his shaft, and didn't open them again until Jonouchi sat up.
Jonouchi pulled at the boxer-briefs again, and Kaiba took the hint, lifting his knees to help remove them. When they were gone, Jonouchi took off his own boxers, happy to get rid of them. After tossing them on the floor, he approached Kaiba on all fours, straddling his hips again and looking down at him. He started to roll his hips, gasping at the sensation before crying out in mild surprise when Kaiba started stroking him. It was unexpected, but hardly unwelcome. He tried to push into the touch, and Kaiba fortunately took the hint, tightening his grip and moving his hand more quickly.
When he started to get a little disoriented, Jonouchi stopped moving entirely. His cheeks felt hot, and he'd worked up a bit of a sweat, but he wasn't planning to quit. When Kaiba looked up at him questioningly, Jonouchi cleared his throat.
"Do you...do you have any lube?" He asked, hoping there was some nearby. He'd stopped carrying it in his pants, and he knew Kaiba had used some on him that night he was drunk. He felt Kaiba stiffen, and he looked hesitant, but after a few seconds' thought he replied.
"Under the bathroom sink."
Jonouchi stood and went to the bathroom, his legs strangely heavy. He fished through the cabinet until he found the lube bottle, and then stumbled back to the bedroom. When he had his knees on either side of Kaiba's hips again, he popped the cap and squeezed some of the fluid onto his fingers. It didn't look like Kaiba was going to move, and Jonouchi was in a hurry anyway. He reached down, frowning a little at the angle he had to twist his hand at to get his finger in, but his disgruntled expression quickly changed as he slid his index in and out.
He closed his eyes, letting his head tip back a little as he added a second finger. His body was slightly rigid, and constricted tightly against his two fingers, but he didn't stop until his sphincters gave way and he could get them in to the last knuckle with no difficulty.
Jonouchi sighed when he pulled his fingers out and looked down at Kaiba to make sure he hadn't lost interest. He'd continued to slowly stroke him while he prepared himself, which had been welcome contact, but Jonouchi hadn't been looking at him to know what he thought of the scene. Evidently he approved, because when Jonouchi met his eyes again, his gaze was sharply focused on him despite his dilated pupils and half-closed eyelids.
When Jonouchi started rubbing lube on Kaiba's erection (well pleased by the lack of protesting), Kaiba's hands moved to his hips, running gently up his sides and down again. Jonouchi was happy to be explored, but he didn't want to stop for it while he was so close to what he wanted. Kaiba held him as he slowly lowered himself, his eyes squeezing shut as he did so. The head slipped in fairly easily, but Jonouchi had to pause when he got to the thicker part of the shaft. He felt one of Kaiba's hands gently stroking him as he panted, waiting until he could control his breathing before pushing further.
He gasped, his back arching involuntarily as he sat further down, his vision blurring from the pressure and his skin tingling at the feeling of an unrelentingly hard surface against delicate flesh. When he was sitting completely, he paused, catching his breath and adjusting to the feeling. He shuddered from the combination of slight discomfort and mind-numbing pleasure, and didn't really return to awareness until he noticed Kaiba's hands trailing over his chest, touching him gently as he leaned forward.
Jonouchi cried out quietly when he moved, fully noticing the change in the angle, and he shuddered when he felt Kaiba's hands sliding up his thighs. His slim fingers tickled his heated skin, and Jonouchi grinned when he felt his ass being squeezed, his hips guided to roll. He sighed at the feeling, huffing hot air against Kaiba's neck and biting gently to keep his head.
When his body stopped constricting so much, Jonouchi sat up enough that he could control his own movement. His legs felt surprisingly weak as he slowly lifted himself, and he knew it was because of the penetration, but there was nothing to be done about it. He'd go for as long as he could and deal with being worn out the next day.
"Jonouchi," mumbled Kaiba, still watching him as he laid on the mattress, one of his hands on the male's hips as he helped guide him into a comfortable pace, "You look really good from up top."
Jonouchi looked down at him, his cheeks flushing so quickly that he felt the heat spreading down his neck, and he saw a small smirk on Kaiba's face. Figured that he would get a little kick out of embarrassing him. Not that Jonouchi was against sexy compliments.
"I'm glad you're enjoying the view," he muttered in response, picking up the pace when it was comfortable. He closed his eyes, lost briefly in the sensation. The position he was in almost felt like it made him more exposed, or that it gave Kaiba a more unimpeded angle to penetrate. Either way, the stimulation was so intense that it bordered on pain, and actually forced Jonouchi to slow his pace when his thighs shook too much to keep up a quicker one.
He could hear Kaiba gasping under him, his breathing haggard and his hands holding his hips firmly. Jonouchi's motions grew slowly more erratic as he lost awareness of anything but the sensation, his mind blank from the pressure and his body moving instinctively to get more stimulation. It wasn't until his legs were so tired that he was forced to sit and catch his breath that he stopped. He felt the tight coiling in his groin ease slightly, and his head cleared enough that he could think straight, but the frenzy was still upon him. Unfortunately, when he tried to move again, his legs simply wouldn't allow it.
"Jonouchi, you'll wear yourself out. Lean forward and hold onto the headboard of the bed."
Jonouchi did as commanded, grateful for the confident guidance of Kaiba's voice. When he had a firm grip on the wooden headboard, he opened his eyes enough to look at Kaiba, his chest heaving as he panted. He could feel sweat rolling down his back in some places, his hair clinging to his forehead. He felt embarrassed by how flustered he was, but there was nothing to be done about it, and Kaiba didn't look like he was about to laugh.
"Now what?" He asked breathlessly, trying to grind his hips and losing energy for it almost immediately. He'd expended too much energy, apparently. "I'm too tired to go anymore..."
"Just relax, you goose," replied Kaiba back, using one hand to fix Jonouchi's mussed hair as it stuck all over from the exertion, "I can take it from here."
Jonouchi's breath caught as Kaiba started moving his hips for him, and he sighed in relief seconds later. He certainly wasn't going to be able to handle it himself at this point, but he hadn't wanted to stop by any means. He relaxed as suggested and let Kaiba lead, arching and twisting his back as his arousal continued to climb, and eventually moaning openly when Kaiba held him up and started to buck into him.
He'd picked up the pace significantly, his thrusts hard enough that Jonouchi's voice broke when he pushed in; he clutched the headboard desperately, his nails digging into the wood as he cried out unabashedly. His breath came in rapid, erratic patterns, and he only had enough coherency left to occasionally beg Kaiba not to stop. Not that it seemed like he would, but desperation was driving him more than logic at this point.
Jonouchi felt his climax coming, and sucked in a breath, his hips rocking of their own volition as his back arched. He called Kaiba's name breathlessly and repeatedly as he reached his peak, and released an embarrassingly loud shout when he finished; his body constricted momentarily, and then he went slack, releasing quiet moans as Kaiba clutched his hips and made his last thrusts.
He could feel liquid spilling into him, and Kaiba's cock twitching and jerking inside the confines of his body. He inhaled deeply and then sighed, letting go of the headboard and lying on top of Kaiba instead of keeping himself up. Kaiba's hands left his hips, and Jonouchi relaxed into the feeling of his fingers running through his hair as he caught his breath. They were still joined, and he was acutely aware of the feeling, but he didn't feel any inspiration to change it. Kaiba was still rocking into him gently, finishing off while stroking his hair, and it wasn't until he relaxed and sighed that it all came to a halt.
Jonouchi panted for a few seconds while his body cooled down, only opening his eyes after his breathing was more even. He lifted himself enough that he could look at Kaiba, not sure exactly what he should say. It wasn't as if he didn't know why he'd had sex with him, and Jonouchi still didn't know what Kaiba's feelings were on the subject. He wanted to ask, but he couldn't bring himself to do it, and just lay back down instead, burying his face in the crook of Kaiba's neck.
"Are you alright?"
Kaiba's voice broke through the silence, his hands sliding down Jonouchi's sides as he huffed and sighed deeply. He could easily just fall asleep like that, it was so comfortable, but he knew it would be disastrous trying to stay joined like that and eventually he'd have to get up and clean himself.
"I don't know," Jonouchi replied quietly, "I guess that kind of depends on you."
He sat up, looking at Kaiba with pleading eyes. Kaiba seemed confused and mildly concerned, and Jonouchi brushed some of his damp hair out of his face.
"Can't we have a relationship?" He blurted, unable to stop himself. "I know you don't feel the way I do, but maybe you will eventually. You told me that you like me, right? And I'm in love with you. So, maybe we could work something out."
God he sounded stupid. And desperate. But he readily admitted to being both, and it honestly didn't matter to him as long as Kaiba said yes. Otherwise it was just depressing.
"I mean, I know I'm lower class and everything," he continued before Kaiba could speak, "And I know you like women more, but I promise I'll make up for not having a cooch. I can't give you any kids, but I love you. I can be enough. Just please..."
He trailed off, feeling too choked up to safely continue, and he closed his eyes, sighing. He'd probably ruined the mood completely. Acting like a creepily obsessed wannabe boyfriend most likely wasn't the best way to win Kaiba's affections, but Jonouchi was barely in control of himself as it was, much less moments after sex. Actual sex, not just fooling around.
"Okay," Jonouchi heard Kaiba's voice, his tone soothing as his hands reached his face. Jonouchi tried to stop himself from trembling, but a momentary shudder did ripple through him before he could contain it. "Okay, we can try. Calm down."
Jonouchi let himself fall back on top of him, burying his face in his neck and embracing him as best he could from his position. Kaiba held his back with one hand and stroked his hair with the other, his touch gentle. Jonouchi sighed deeply, hoping he could just stay like that, hopefully for the remainder of the night. He heard Kaiba chuckle beneath him.
"Just don't start crying on me again."
As Jonouchi started to respond, he opened his eyes, and immediately felt disoriented. Kaiba was beside him, fast asleep, and he became increasingly aware of a sticky feeling in his underwear. After lying there stunned for a few seconds, Jonouchi quickly stood and dashed to the bathroom, stripping the boxers off immediately and leaving them absently on the counter. He scrubbed at his own dried semen with a clean rag he found in the linen closet, trying to focus more on the action of cleaning himself than the lingering images and feelings from his dream.
It was a futile effort; he was overtaken very quickly with a heavy wave of depression by the time he left the bathroom, and as he rifled through Kaiba's closet to steal a pair of his underwear, his fingers started to tremble uncontrollably. Jonouchi got dressed as quickly as he could, wanting to be out of the creepy bedroom and away from Kaiba as soon as possible.
Jonouchi left the bedroom, deciding that it would be best to hole up in the guest room for the night. He couldn't handle being around Kaiba right now. If he was lucky, he'd be amiable in the morning. If not, he didn't even know what he'd do. Probably try to slip away from the house. Not that it would be a feasible task, what with all the security around.
He passed Kaiba's study as he walked dazedly down the hall, and he paused. Kaiba had probably re-stocked his alcohol, and he sure as fuck could use some. It was reminiscent of the other night he'd spent in Kaiba Mansion, when he'd had a similarly compromising dream. This time, though, he wanted to get as far away from Kaiba as possible. Jonouchi entered the study, flipping on the light so he could navigate, and he stole a liter bottle of sake from the cooler before leaving.
When he got to the guest bedroom, he locked the door behind him and removed his socks, returning to old habits and leaving them on the floor before he sat down. He then proceeded to try drinking away the pain as he sat against the pillows, eventually downing the entire bottle. Unfortunately, drinking depressed only served to make him more depressed. At least this time he was so distraught that it didn't occur to him to stumble to Kaiba's room and beg for anything. It was doubtful that Drunk Jonouchi could work the door lock, anyway.
He forgot about the empty bottle and his clothes, and ended up passing out on top of the sheets, feeling worse than he had in the first place. The sharp pain in his chest was making his stomach nauseous in combination with the alcohol, and miraculously he remembered to lie on his side before he completely lost consciousness.
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Ambivalence