decided to try my hand at one of these 30 day challenges, and i've been meaning to write more powershipping. wish me luck!
"Malik, for the last time, no."
Seto's patience was thin as he shook his hand out of Malik's grip for what must have been the tenth time that night, finally shoving it in his pocket with a huff of annoyance. Since they'd met at the station earlier that evening for one of their few-and-far-between dates, Malik had been stubbornly trying to hold Seto's hand every chance he got. At first it had been amusing, even endearing, and Seto had taunted him about being clingy just to see that angry and flushed look on his face. Now it was just getting annoying.
Beside him on the sidewalk, Malik scoffed. "Seto, for the fifth time, why?" He mimicked Seto's tone back at him, and Seto glanced down at him with a raised brow. He felt Malik's fingers trying to wiggle their way into his pocket and stepped out of his reach.
"Because I said no."
"But why are you saying no? That's what I'm asking."
Seto knew the answer, and was confident in his reasoning, but saying it out loud seemed ridiculous. "Because I don't want to hold your hand," he said instead, his annoyance at Malik's stubbornness giving his voice more edge than he'd meant. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Malik flinch, and he felt a rare surge of regret bubble up in his chest.
"Well, fine. Fuck you, too, asshole," Malik snapped back, shoving his own hands in the pockets of his motorcycle jackets. Seto, used to these little tantrums Malik threw every now and then, said nothing back. It wasn't like they never fought, and things between them often got tense. They took things too far, and said things they didn't mean, but it was normal for them. They always made up eventually.
They continued walking in silence, the only sounds between them being the thud of Malik's boots and the click of Seto's Oxfords on the pavement. Seto was content to let it stay that way until they reached Malik's apartment and he could kiss him goodbye in lieu of a proper apology, but he had a feeling it wouldn't be that way when he chanced a glance at Malik and caught him glowering at another passing couple. The two had their arms linked as they walked; the woman snuggled into her boyfriend's side with a peaceful expression, and the man kept glancing down at her like he couldn't keep his eyes off of her.
Seto watched Malik as Malik watched them walk passed. Then his scowl was replaced with something sadder, a look Seto didn't care for.
"You're ashamed of me, aren't you?"
Malik spoke so suddenly it caught Seto by surprise. The question made him uncomfortable, and it hurt him to know Malik doubted his affections, but he'd never been the romantic type and he wasn't about to start.
"Tch. Don't be stupid."
Malik didn't look up at him. "I'm not. You don't hold my hand or kiss me in public, you don't invite me to your business dinners and when you do, you introduce me as your associate –hell, you hardly ever take me out anywhere even when you're free and I'm paying. If it weren't for the sex I'd think you had no interest in me at all. Ha- maybe that's it. You just call me your boyfriend to my face so you get an all-access pass to my bed, don't you?"
Seto pinched the bridge of his nose between his fingers, feeling annoyed by Malik's accusations and also conflicted about how to reply. He could explain why he couldn't do public displays of affection or claim Malik as his boyfriend, but his reasons sounded cheesy despite their validity, and he hated the thought of sounding like some one-dimensial romance novel hero. Or, he could dodge the question and hide out and take a break from dating until Malik simmered down and wanted to see him again. That's what he usually did when they fought, but it was getting to feel too much like surrender.
Glancing back to Malik, he saw the other looking at him with a sad, almost desperate expression that didn't suit his arrogant face or his megalomaniac personality. Seeking reassurance, validation, some sort of proof that Seto wasn't just leading him on or using him for sex. Seto sighed, feeling his resolve crumble.
"I'm just trying to protect you," he said at length, his voice distant.
Malik scoffed again, sounding more bitter this time. "From what, your sweaty palms?"
"The media, you dumbass. You know how well known I am around here- everyone in the country knows my name and what I do. If I was seen holding hands or kissing you, it would be all over the news and gossip magazines within hours. It would create a scandal."
Malik only reacted to this explanation with yet another scoff. "Sounds like you're just trying to protect yourself. Would you being gay cause the scandal, or would it be dating someone like me?"
"Idiot." Seto growled and grabbed his arm, pulling him to a stop. Malik's eyes widened in surprise and offense at the action, until Seto leaned in and got in his face, "You don't get it, do you? They'd go after you, too. I'm used to cameras getting shoved in my face, but are you ready to not even be able open your door to check your mail box because the paparazzi are crowding on your porch?" Malik opened his mouth to respond, but Seto wouldn't let him speak, cutting him off. "And not only that, but they'd look into you, too. They'll find out your name, but do you think they'll stop there? No, Malik, they'll dig up as much about you as they can and it will be all over the headlines for the whole country to see." His voice lowered so only Malik could hear. "And then what happens when they find out you're an ex-crime lord, a thief, and a murderer, hm? You think the authorities will let you stay here? You'd be in a jail cell back in Egypt before the week was out, and we both know you don't want that."
Again Malik opened his mouth to speak, but closed it again when he had nothing to say. Seto knew that Malik knew he was right, and as much as he wanted to argue, he couldn't come up with a retort. Finally he just shrugged Seto's hand off of him and continued walking, but with a few steps Seto easily caught up to him.
Once again they were silent, their heels conversing with the pavement instead of them conversing with each other. Seto wanted to say something, or do something to calm Malik down, knowing he was still angry; but he held his tongue and kept his hands to himself, aware that words would do nothing and actions would contradict his statement about protecting Malik – even though it was the truth. He couldn't bear the thought of Malik being harassed by cameras or his dark past being plastered all over the news. He cared little for what it would do to his own reputation –Kaiba Corp had survived far worse scandals- but it could very well be Malik's freedom on the line, and Seto wasn't willing to risk that for a little PDA.
They were still quiet when they reached Malik's apartment complex, and Malik started punching in the access code without a word. They usually kissed and parted ways here, but Seto knew he was being ignored. Not fond of being snubbed, he grabbed Malik's hand away from the code box, bringing it to his lips and pressing a kiss to his palm. Malik looked up, not even bothering to fake annoyance as Seto took his other hand, threading their fingers together, though Seto was certain he was still angry.
Seto leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to Malik's forehead, squeezing his hands in his own, then dropped his head to brush his lips against Malik's.
Malik grumbled softly, but didn't complain as Seto kissed him, squeezing his hands back. When Seto pulled back Malik was smiling. They stayed close, their foreheads resting together as they both gazed down at their joined hands.