A/N: Fluff and wangst - they combine within me to create this trashy collection of one-shots. Enjoy?
Mary stood on her toes, straining to reach the top of the boy's raven head, sweat visible on her face as she struggled with the impossible task. Seto laughed, then bent down slightly, careful to make sure that the white haired girl didn't notice, and was rewarded with a bright grin on her cute pink lips.
"I did it!" Seto laughed, and picked her up and swung her around, to her excited squeals.
"Yup, you did!" Mary pressed her face into the crook of his neck, taking in his smell: he smelled, as usual, a mix of types, depending on which job he took up for the day. Today, it was a scent of blooming, flowery wood. He must of been working as a florist- he loved that place. She breathed in deeply, and sighed as she was separated from the pleasant scent as Seto plopped her down on the couch, and soon joined her, leaning his considerably taller and heavier body against hers. Eventually, the weight became too much, and his head gently lolled against her lap, his face tired yet attentive, that iconic plastic clip pulling away the hair framing his face.
Mary giggled as he gave her a sleepy smile- it was a comical scene, the tall boy resting his head on the small girl's lap, gangly legs all sprawled out in the sleepy summer sun. The girl relaxed her head against the cushions of the couch, the weight of Seto's head somehow comforting, and realized, with a sudden, dim shock, that he had grown so tall, so old, so quick.
Ever since that day, he had grown nearly exponentially, from that young, what, 6 to 7 year old boy into what he was now. He had changed- she could barely even touch the top of his head on her toes, with arms up, and on top of Seto's own purple converses too. He was a man now, and she was… she studied her pale, thin fingers with a kind of regretfulness. And she was still 14 years old, in medusa years. She compared her own small hands to Seto's tanner, larger ones-compared how his legs were long and lankier, his clothing, even, different from before. Seto stirred in her lap, eyelids fluttering. Soon, he would outgrow her, he would leave her, still young, still the same, for the far more interesting outside world. Mary gave out a laugh, realizing she must sound just like a mother, nervous for her beloved chicks to leave the nest. She traced Seto's sweet, childish sleeping face, with a small smile curling her lips.
When would he leave her? The very question pained her as she thought about it. "Seto…" she breathed out his name. She loved saying his name. It sounded like the feeling you get when you hear summer leaves rustling in the breeze. With a slight jolt and a flush to her cheeks, she realized that Seto was awake, his golden eyes staring through heavy eyelids against her own red pools.
He must have known what she was thinking about, because he lifted his hand up against her cheek, and lightly slapped it, and mumbled, "I'm not leaving you, Mary. You know that." Mary held his hand against her face, her heart twisting in her chest at the simple words.
Seto's eyes were closed again, but she whispered back quietly, her voice tangible with the feeling of holding back long held tears, "But I can't. We can't. You know that."
Seto was silent, but she knew that he was awake, and pondering her words. Seto suddenly got up, and, after a bit of shifting around, pulled her into a tight hug. Hot tears spilled from Mary's eyes, she couldn't help it. The steady, comforting warmth of Seto's chest and the way his hands were firm in holding her mess of a hair in a hug was something she never wanted to let go of. "Mary, I'm not leaving you." He whispered fiercely, resolutely, into her ear, after a while of Mary sniffling into his green sweater, his hands tightening against her apron. Mary felt so fragile, like she would break apart any second, in his arms. He couldn't let go. He wouldn't let go, until Mary started gasping like a fish for air, that he realized that he was holding on too tight. He quickly released her, but Mary clung onto him like he was a lifeline, urging him to stay.
"Seto...you know...you're my life, right?" She was still sniffling, but seemed stronger, which was a relief, because whenever Mary was near tears, it made him want to cry too. Seto stroked her hair comfortingly, letting it thread through his fingers.
"Yeah." He only let the word hang for a moment before burying his face in her hair, and mumbled into it, "But you're even more to me."
Mary giggled at the ticklish feeling of his resonating voice muffling words into her fluff ball of a head, and childishly retorted, "No, you're even more to me."
Seto plopped his back down on the couch, bringing Mary down with him, Mary's head rested against his chest. "Nuh-uh."
Mary pulled at the strings of his hoodie, and retaliated, "Yuh-huh." Seto chuckled, and tucked his arms behind his head, letting the breeze from the open window caress his face, the little weight of Mary's body still on his chest, and tilted his head to Mary, grinning.
"I'm not going to let you win, you know." Mary puffed out her cheeks in, what Seto thought, was the most adorable way ever, and took refuge by tucking her head into his neck again.
"But I do care about you," she muttered, her long hair tickling his exposed skin.
"Nope." Seto pulled her up, and pressed a gentle kiss against her forehead. "Because I love you more." Mary's cheeks heated up at the feeling of Seto's warm lips against her skin, and was speechless for a several seconds. Seto grinned widely at this response and got off the couch, Mary barely registering the movement, and had to grab at the couch to not roll onto the floor."See, I won!" He laughed triumphantly, causing Mary to jump on his back, making them both fall over to the floor.
Mary climbed onto his back, and Seto stood up, carrying her. "Since I won, I get to carry you around all day." Mary pouted, then buried her face once more into his hood, and rubbed her face in it, reveling in its heavenly scent.
"Fine with me."