Author's Notes: This story is a dedication to my friend Nixa, who needs more fluff in her life.
Gestures of Affection
Seto Kaiba did not hold hands in public, nor did he appreciate being hugged in public places. Also kisses, even small pecks on the cheek, were not tolerated in the slightest. It would have made anyone think that the young CEO was an uncaring boyfriend but Katsuya Jounouchi was not just anyone. He had made it his life's mission to learn as much as he could about Seto and he was determined to become able to recognize all of the delicate changes in the handsome brunet's expressions.
Even though Seto avoided physical contact while in public, Katsuya was very aware of the small displays of affection that came from the brunet. For example, wherever the two of them went Seto always insisted on holding doors open for Katsuya. Now, Katsuya was no female but he gladly accepted this as a substitute for handholding.
Another gesture Seto seemed fond of was pulling Katsuya's chair back whenever they needed to be seated. This was certainly a move only done to women but Katsuya never objected to it, simply because asking Seto to stop acting the way he did would be the same as to tell the brunet to not act like himself. Katsuya did not question the methods Seto used to tell him that he cared; he simply took them in stride, because Seto was no ordinary boyfriend.
Despite these points there was one big reason why Katsuya did not reject Seto's actions in public: it was simply too flooring of a fact that Seto did actually present Katsuya to the public. Everyone would know the blond's face and they would also know that if they upset him they also upset one of the most powerful men in Japan. Seto never hid the people he loved and so Katsuya let Seto do as he pleased, for to tell the brunet to do otherwise would almost be another way of telling the other to stop loving him.
Even though he was distant in public, Seto was very affectionate indeed when they were in the privacy of the Kaiba manor. Once hidden in the darkness of the brunet's bedroom Seto would utter those three most powerful words to Katsuya in an endless mantra and Katsuya would draw as much pleasure from the sound as he did from Seto's hands on his body. And he would return the sentiments as well as he could when Seto's expert touch blurred all sensible thoughts.
Perhaps Seto also thought that he was cold when he knew people were looking at him; perhaps that was the reason he so desperately worked to imprint his confession into Katsuya's mind when they made love. And no matter how much Katsuya assured the brunet that he felt the same, that he knew that Seto loved him, the taller man was unrelenting in the overbearing passion that he poured into his lover's soul. It was frightening, the way Seto was nothing but love and passion, burning fire, and still Katsuya knew that if it was ever taken from him he would perish. And that was his motivation when he caressed the other back and begged for more until his voice turned hoarse.
Maybe they both simply liked the fire when it burned white-hot; maybe that was the reason they could lose themselves so completely in the heat of passion. And no matter how much either of them tried to rationalize it all, it proved to be an impossible task to accomplish. But, within the soft whispers of affection that always came afterwards, they found all the answers they needed.
Owari