AN: this is my attempt at writing a healthy and realistic BDSM relationship. how that somehow includes powershipping…I haven't figured that part out yet. characters aren't mine unless stated otherwise (and if they are they are solely background characters). Big thanks to my friends Peggy and Amira for giving me feedback and ideas on this first chapter!
Seto stared at the message that had just appeared in his Skype window, his breath halting ever so slightly as he read the words over and over. This was certainly an…unexpected turn of events. Startling, even. All their months of Skyping hadn't prepared him for this.
Malik: i want to meet you
The orange dots next to the name taunted him, tempting him to click into the window and reply, but he hesitated. What was he to say? He had to admit, he found the prospect of meeting his online pen pal (was that even the right term for what they were?) exciting, especially if it was that sort of meeting. Finally seeing the face of the man who had coaxed out his deepest and darkest desires in person, being able to hear that gorgeous voice without the static of a horrible laptop microphone getting in the way… That was almost enough to make him say yes. The possibility that they might end up in bed together, that he might be able to feel how soft his skin was, run his fingers through that sunny hair that always looked so heavenly in the pictures Malik had sent him, kiss those plump lips and shiver in pleasure under that lithe body... With those thoughts he was extremely tempted to type back a yes, but his fingers stayed motionless over his keys. He had to be smart about this. He had to give it some thought. Weigh the pros and cons.
He made a quick list in his head.
Pros: Meeting Malik in real life. Getting to see the beauty that blurry webcam pictures couldn't quite capture correctly. Hearing that silken voice say his name without Malik's shitty microphone disrupting them. Getting to touch Malik. Possibly having sex with Malik. Above all, having a friend in real life he knew would not judge him for his…interests.
Cons: Malik could be a stalker. Or a pervert that wanted to take advantage of him. Or a murderer selecting his next victim. He could have lied about everything and proceed to mock Seto in public. And…
Seto couldn't think of many more cons. The ones he had come up with were scary, true, but very outlandish. The chance of him running into one of those people out of the millions of internet users was slim to none. Even if Malik was a stalker or a murderer or a rapist, he knew how to defend himself, and he'd dealt with stalkers and kidnappers before. Being famous, one grew accustomed to the creeps as he had. The only one he was truly concerned about was the last one, because he was so well known and his reputation was everything. If it got out that Seto was into that, his business would be ruined and the Kaiba name would be a laughing stock. But he saw no reason why Malik would do something like that. He didn't seem mean spirited, nor did he even seem to know who Seto really was, so it was unlikely he had a grudge. Besides, they had also been talking for at least eight months, and Seto had doubts someone wanting to do him harm was willing to spend that long having smutty voice chats.
Skype alerted him to a new message, and what Malik wrote this time made his chest clench.
Malik: i'm sorry. i shouldn't have said that. that sounded really creepy. i'm sorry.
Shit. He hadn't realized several minutes had passed since Malik's message. And Seto was always so diligent with his replies, no wonder Malik thought he was creeped out. Seto shook his head even though Malik couldn't see, quickly typing in his reply.
Seto: No, I'm sorry. I spaced out. It wasn't creepy, it just caught me off guard.
He sent that quickly, just so Malik would be comforted while he worked on his actual reply.
Seto: I would love to meet you, too. I know of a nice coffee shop on block 14 where we could have lunch, if you'd like.
He was not a trustful person, and Malik should consider himself lucky that he knew as much about Seto as he did. He should be thankful that Seto was willing to share his most private thoughts and cravings. He supposed it helped that they met on a forum that encouraged those kinds of confessions, made just for people who wanted to talk about what they desired in bed but were too afraid to admit to these things in real life. Kaiba took comfort in airing his dirty desires anonymously under a screen name, on a site where no one could trace it back to him. He found it reassuring that there were so many others like him that enjoyed bondage.
That's how he had met Malik. Seto had posted a reply to a thread asking for stories about most disappointing partners, and he'd listed numerous instances where the men and women he'd had sex with had left him unsatisfied, whether they shared his interest in ropes and binds or not. Malik had replied to his post, stating that he knew how Seto felt because he'd had his share of disappointing partners as well. But whereas Malik's partners were turned off by the notion of being dominated to the point where leather and gags were involved, Seto's partners didn't even know he liked to be dominated. Where Malik couldn't find a proper sub, Seto couldn't bring himself to tell his partners he wanted a Dom.
Yeah, he was into that kind of bondage. Being tied up and teased mercilessly until he was begging for release. That's what he wanted. One would think with his cold demeanor and his controlling personality, he would make a much better Dom, but…it was refreshing for him to be able to give up that control for a little while. Not worrying about having to make his own decisions, existing only to please and be dominated. A shiver ran over his skin at the thought of Malik being the one to finally satisfy him like that.
Skype's message alert drew him back to the present, where a new message from Malik awaited him.
Malik: sounds good to me. i'm free this saturday, want to meet then?
The barest hint of a smirk pulled at Seto's lips. He responded with a confirmation. They decided to meet around two, after the lunch rush, so they would be able to discuss things in relative privacy without any strangers listening in but still have the safety net of a public meeting if it turned out one of them was untrustworthy. After Seto gave Malik the address to the shop, Malik asked if it was okay to call if something came up or he was running late. Though they had exchanged cell phone numbers, they never called each other, preferring texting and Snapchatting and of course, webcaming. If they wanted to hear the other's voices, they would Skype; calling the other's phone almost seemed too…personal for either of their liking. Seto supposed that would be changing after this meeting.
Malik: would it be weird if i said i couldn't wait to meet you?
Seto Kaiba wasn't the type of man to smile often, and that didn't change in this instance. That said, his lips did turn up in a type of pleased smirk as his eyes skimmed the message.
Seto: Of course not. I can't wait to meet you either.
Malik closed his laptop with a grin, keeping it in his lap as he drummed his fingers over the lid. He wished he could keep chatting with him all day, but they had done so for at least an hour afterwards and Malik needed to get ready for work. But he was finally –finally!- meeting up with Seto Kaiba. He had dreamed of this day, both literally and metaphorically. He'd wake up after a nice wet dream about the two of them at least once a week, and find himself distracted with thoughts of what they'd be doing if they were only together on a daily basis. Did that make him obsessed? Malik wouldn't say so. More… Interested. Captivated. Enamored. He loved what Kaiba did to him with that cool, sultry voice and that sweet, pleading tone. He just wanted to tie him up and paint bruises on that smooth, alabaster skin of his, have that gorgeous face underneath his heel as he begged for release. He wouldn't call that an obsession.
Setting aside his laptop he stood, realizing he was shaking slightly. He knew it was from the excitement, as well as the nervousness that came with meeting someone you only knew from online. And underneath all that was a bit of anxiety and paranoia, telling him this was a stupid idea and that Kaiba would kill him in his sleep. Pushing those darker thoughts away, he knew Kaiba –the Seto Kaiba- would never do something downright illegal. Handcuffs and crops, perhaps, but murder? Oh, no. That was far too scandalous. Malik was in the clear.
Stretching his arms above his head, he moved over to his wardrobe, pulling out his freshly washed work uniform before studying the rest of his clothes. He had bought a few new things he could wear… Wait, what was he thinking? The date had only just been scheduled and he was already picking out his outfit? Maybe he was a bit more interested in Kaiba than he'd originally thought. Saving that decision for a later date he dressed for work, pulling his long hair into a ponytail at the back of his neck to keep it out of the way.
When he arrived at work, his coworkers noticed his slight shift in attitude. Usually he didn't appear to be overly friendly to anyone, really, and always wore a scowl so no one would be tempted to talk to him while he was working. He preferred to be focused on his work and hated to get distracted. While that part didn't change today, he was at least not glaring at anyone who approached him, and that made all the difference to his coworkers, who began whispering about his good mood.
Good mood or not, it never stopped Jounouchi from being a distracting asshole.
"Well, someone's happy," the man said, leaning on Malik's work desk as he wiped black grease from his hands. "You get laid or something?"
Malik tried to glare at his one and only work friend, but he never could quite pull it off unless he was actually pissed. "Maybe, maybe not. Maybe I just got a date with the hottest man in the world."
"You've got a date with me? Why am I just now finding out?"
"Oh, shut up." Malik set down his pencil, leaning back in the chair. No sense in working when he was distracted; his quality would suffer. "You're not even my type."
Jounouchi mocked offense. "And what is your type?"
"The type that's into guys."
Now Jounouchi shrugged. "Got me there." He up and sat right on Malik's desk, getting off his sore feet. "So who is this guy anyway? Someone your family would approve of?"
Malik snorted a laugh and moved his papers away from Jounouchi so it wouldn't get engine grease on it. "Let's just say that if Isis brought him home to Father, he would celebrate. Me though? I'd be lucky if I even got the chance to pack before I was thrown out on the street."
"That doesn't tell me much, other than your father's a homophobe." Jounouchi frowned down at his friend and crossed his arms, wanting more information.
"Alright, well…" Malik thought for a moment. What could he divulge that wouldn't give Kaiba's identity away? "He's a businessman, my age or a year or two older. And I know this sounds clichéd but he's really serious, with a soft side and, oh my God is he attractive."
"Yeah? Doesn't sound like the worst kinda guy you could bring home."
"I don't think I'm going to be bringing him home."
Jounouchi hummed, digested this information. He could take a hint. "So it's just sex?"
"Maybe. I don't know yet. We're just meeting for coffee and a... a chat, and we'll see how it develops from there." Jounouchi didn't need to know all the details.
"What's his name, anyway?"
"Can't tell you." For the protection of the not-so-innocent.
"…He's not real, is he?"
Malik gaped at him. "Of course he's real! He's just in the public a lot, he has a reputation to keep. If people found out he was seeing another man, he'd be ruined."
"What, and you think I'm gonna blab? I thought you trusted me."
"Did you conveniently forget what you did when you found out I was gay? I'm lucky I wasn't fired."
"Hey, that was three years ago. I was a blabber mouth back then, but I've changed."
"Sure you have." Malik rolled his eyes, making shooing motions at him. "Now go away. I have to finish this design today and your big ass is hogging my desk space."
Pouting, Jounouchi hopped off his desk. "Come on, now that you've told me I gotta know. Just, show me a picture of him and let me guess who it is? Maybe I know him."
Malik narrowed his eyes at Jounouchi, knowing he wouldn't let the matter rest, but sure he would recognize Kaiba if he did see his picture. "No. Maybe if something more than sex develops with this guy, but if we're just going to fuck I don't want to ruin his reputation."
Jounouchi huffed, but seemed to give up. "Alright. I guess you got a point." Malik looked at him in surprise and he grinned. "I wouldn't want someone's reputation ruined just because I was too curious. But you just remember what you said, yeah? Something develops and I get to know."
Chuckling under his breath, Malik nodded. "Yeah, yeah. Now go away. You smell like old engine grease."
"Hey, getting dirty's half the fun." With one last grin Jounouchi turned and walked away, returning to his work. Malik watched him go, getting back to his own work only after he thought up a clever reply.
'Oh yes,' he thought to himself. 'Getting dirty is a lot of fun.'
