I. Co-workers

"That's… impressive."
The CEO had looked up from the modified Duel Disk that lay open on his desk, and the small hint of disbelief in his voice indicated that he wasn't using this adjective very often.
"This device could be able to produce enough energy to create holograms on a whole different level."
The raven haired boy had been completely silent while the CEO had taken the Duel Disk apart to examine the energy source the boy had combined with his own system. Even now, he simply looked at the young head of the Kaiba Corp, waiting for a decision.
"What was your name again?", Seto asked, finally turning his attention to him.
"Yusei Fudo", was the calm answer.
"Fudo", Seto repeated. Of course he knew the name, and he had also noticed that the new energy source was based on the "Momentum", the spinning perpetuum mobile that had been discovered by the famous Dr Fudo, who had then died in a tragic accident - probably a system overload.
"You are Dr Fudo's son?"
Yusei nodded.
Seto took a moment to examine the boy's face as if it, too, was a piece of machinery he could take apart to understand its workings. The boy seemed neither shy nor too confident and, apparently, he didn't talk much, but judging from his work he knew what he was doing - and, most importantly, he had mastered the technology of his father.
"I do not intend to buy it", Seto said finally.
As he thought, Yusei wanted to protest, but before he could open his mouth to speak, Seto continued. "Instead, I want you to work with me on a new series of duel disks featuring your system. We will have to improve the mechanism first, of course, and it will take some time, but rest assured that I will pay you accordingly."
He gave Yusei a moment to let the words sink in, then he added:
"If you agree, I will set up a contract that you can sign tomorrow."
Seto didn't expect the boy to turn down his offer, as this was his chance to get his career going and gain more money than he probably ever did before.
Yet he was still astonished to see a smile on Yusei's lips as he agreed - and even more surprised by the sudden, undeniable sympathy he felt for the boy.
Seto quickly turned to his laptop to give Yusei an exact date for their appointment and even though he tried his best not to get too wrapped up by this feeling, he couldn't deny he was looking forward to working together with Yusei Fudo.

~*~

Yusei was a perfect co-worker, always reasonable and always concentrated. His presence was calming, in a way, and Seto appreciated it almost as much as he appreciated Yusei's skills.
They didn't talk for hours when they locked themselves in Seto's working room, except for necessary instructions and one or two questions, while they were working on the prototype, soldering new components, re-programming the system and running tests.
For Seto, this was a completely new experience, as he was used to working alone - though things weren't much different from his usual working routine, except that they'd make more progress in a shorter time.

It was late in the evening when Yusei closed the 3D-simulation on his laptop and sank back into his chair. "I'm sorry", he said simply.
Seto looked up from the program he had written to search for bugs in the software. No one had spoken a word since their last discussion and he had almost forgotten that he wasn't alone.
"What for?", he asked impatiently. "If you made a mistake, correct it."
Yusei just stared at the mess of papers, cables and tools on the desk before him. Suddenly, Seto noticed that he looked very tired.
"I can't concentrate", he said, and for the first time of the whole month they had been working together, there was frustration in his voice. "I'm sorry."
Seto didn't have to ask, he knew that whatever it was that was troubling Yusei so much that he couldn't even continue to work on the project, it had to be serious. And he knew that Yusei would not tell him, if he had a choice.
It was unsettling how much he knew about him, especially if he considered that they had barely been talking about anything except work. And it was even more unsettling that he felt the urge to get up and… he didn't know how exactly to comfort the other, but he was ready to try.
He walked over to Yusei's desk, putting down a cup of coffee. "Take a break."
The boy took the cup with both hands and sipped at the hot coffee.
"We're making good progress", Seto continued. "I can work alone on the simulation; you can take the evening off."
According to their contract, Yusei could go home whenever he wanted without Seto allowing him to, but he always stayed until Seto would decide that it was time to go in his bureau and to deal with the paper work.

Yusei put the cup down on the desk, looked up to him and Seto again felt this strange feeling, as if his stomach tightened, and his mouth became dry. He liked to pretend he didn't know why he almost felt something like compassion towards Yusei - and that he didn't know why he was afraid of that feeling.
It wasn't just the fact that Yusei, too, was an orphan and extremely skilled when it came to technology - he couldn't really tell why, but somehow he felt connected to the blue eyed boy, who could become so absorbed in his work, who was so calm and collected and who never showed much emotion in his presence.
It was as if they both shared a secret that no one dared to speak out loud, but both of them knew that the other knew it, too.
Seto had never sensed it so clearly before, but now that Yusei got up and he looked in the other boy's eyes, there was something in the way he put one hand on Seto's shoulder and the other on Seto's hip before he proceeded to kiss him - a certain hesitation, maybe, or just the strange tenderness - that felt wrong.
Seto didn't know why Yusei was kissing him, and he didn't know if he was just imagining things, but he didn't feel comfortable like this, so he pulled Yusei closer.
When he bit Yusei's lip, he didn't draw back; instead he dug his fingers into Seto's hair and kissed him more roughly, grinding his hips against Seto's. There was a determination in Yusei's action that surprised the taller boy, but then again, all of this had taken him by surprise, so he just held onto Yusei, forcing his tongue into the smaller one's mouth. He felt Yusei's hot breath and heard his small, soft moans when he pressed his growing erection against Seto's, mingling with his own moans, caused by the welcome pressure of Yusei's crotch rubbing against his.
All he could tell was that he didn't care, and if his mind hadn't been occupied by Yusei's hands brushing over his already stiff arousal as he opened Seto's trousers, the fact that he didn't mind at all would have bothered him - but right now, with Yusei sucking on his lips and Yusei's hand sliding in his pants, it did not bother him for very long.
Yusei had stopped being gentle by now, and Seto was glad he had, because it would have been just awkward. Now he could bite and suck hard on Yusei's lips in return and press his hand on the other's crotch, quickly opening his pants and stroking the other's cock with the same rough movements, causing him to moan louder and to move his hips in response.
When Seto felt close, Yusei suddenly broke the kiss and pressed his forehead against Seto's shoulder, the fingers of his free hand clinging on his back, as he thrust into the taller boy's hand.
His moans were uncontrolled now, his breath unsteady, and as he came, Seto thought he could distinguish the name "Jack".
Seto came a few thrusts later, and for a moment, they were just standing there, Yusei leaning against him, while Seto was thankfully supported by the desk behind him, both breathing heavily.
Seto wasn't sure if he wanted to understand what just happened, so he tried not to think about it too much and to concentrate on his breathing. It took him a few second to realize that his pants were still open, but when he did, Yusei already pulled away, allowing him to move freely.
The silence between them was unusually awkward, even after both of them were fully dressed again.
There seemed something wrong with Yusei, but Seto didn't feel like talking. In fact, he felt like going upstairs and taking a shower - and spending the next few hours alone with his holograms without human contact.
Yusei did him the favour and closed his laptop, put it into his bag and simply left the room, murmuring a "See you tomorrow".

Whatever just had happened between them, the worst part of it was probably that Seto still didn't mind, while Yusei obviously did. Yet as soon as he thought it over, Seto quickly decided that it should never happen again, because it would definitely influence their working relationship - and he really wanted it to stay the way it was.
He knew that Yusei would agree.