Another Drink

A/N: I love how fan fiction can serve as a marvellous distraction from just about anything. : ) Instead of doing the important things I need to have done by a certain date, I'm writing! Yay! Actually, this was already written; I'm just editing and adding author notes. So, funny story. This ficlet is turning out a lot better than I had thought. This is the completelyrevised version. I have another story just like this one on my computer which is just as long with the same premise and everything, just different actions, words, etc... and some smut, actually (xD). However, something made me decide that I didn't like it, so I wrote this one instead. I've been slowly working on it over the past two weeks. Hopefully, you'll enjoy it. Speaking of which... my reviewers thus far. : )

astalder27: Hey, thanks for reading! I hope you'll like this chapter just as much! And as for updating soon, it most definitely does not get any sooner than this for me (less than 24 hours)!

Empress Satori Haha, thanks! I actually think those are my favourite lines out of the entire fic! I like them because they're so not Jounouchi... Jounouchi is supposed to be foolish and awkward, not sexy and demanding! ; ) Then again, the poor bugger's drunk out of his mind! Who knows what he'll cook up in this less-than-stellar state!

iloveatem: lol! I know, it's pretty disgusting, eh? I actually had a debate with myself over that scene! I finally decided to put myself in Jounouchi's shoes – if I were Jounouchi, and I was that drunk, I don't think I would care if I had just vomited or not. Especially if I was pissed off enough. ; ) I tried writing it with them kissing before he vomited, but it just didn't flow as nicely! Sorry it grossed you out! Ah, picking a lock. It seems like a thing Seto would know how to do, eh?

And now, read onwards for more action between everyone's favourite boys: )

Chapter II: Of Undeniably Explicit Feelings

Jounouchi pulled away, breathless, studying the victim of his unexpected assault.

Seto's eyes were wide as he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. Good God. He did not like it when he was caught off guard, especially when his assailant was drunk and tasting like vomit. He wasn't sure what to think, though, especially since the kiss itself hadn't been half bad. It was rough and demanding – kind of like Seto himself. Quickly abandoning his thoughts, though, Seto questioned quietly, "Jounouchi?" The key was to remain in control.

"What?" He looked up, amber eyes slightly hazy.

"Let go of me."

Jounouchi hadn't realized that he still had Seto's wrists in a vice-like grip. He let go, taking a few steps back. "I..." He was dead. He was so dead it wasn't even funny. Why did he kiss Seto? What came over him to make him want him so bad? Was he trying to get himself charged with sexual assault?

Seto studied the blonde, still not quite sure what to make of their 'encounter.' He finally decided to be casual and cold. "You're really drunk, mutt. You need to go home. You smell, look and taste like vomit – which for the record, was disturbingly unpleasant. Not that sobering up would help that, but – "

WHAM! Jounouchi surprised Seto for the second time in the past five minutes as his half-aimed drunken punch caught the taller one right in the jaw, the force knocking his head backwards. Upon realizing what he had just done, Jounouchi's slowed-down brain made a surprisingly speedy decision as he sprinted for the door.

But Seto recovered quickly, rubbing his jaw while anger emanated from his very being. He grabbed the blonde by both shoulders and slammed him into one of the stall doors.

"What the fuck," Seto began for the second time that night, "do you think you're doing, you fucking idiot?!" His icy eyes raged with anger. "One minute you're practically shoving your tongue down my throat, the next you're committing wild-man acts of violence!"

Jounouchi's head spun. Did he really just punch Seto? He clutched at his head, unsure of how to respond; not even sure if he was able to respond. "I..."

"You what?" Seto growled in a dangerously low voice. He gripped his shoulders tighter and shook him slightly. "What the fuck is wrong with you, besides the obvious?!"

"I... I don't know what I'm doing," he admitted quietly. "I'm really drunk, Kaiba... I... I won't even remember any of this. I'm just... I'm sick of being insulted and used! By you, my father... it just never stops! And... and you don't know what it's like!" Jounouchi's voice was growing louder and louder. He looked on the verge of a mental breakdown.

"You're acting – " Seto began.

"Shut up! You shut the fuck up!" Even though Jounouchi was in no position to be screaming, given that Seto was gripping him tightly, he carried on anyway. "You don't know what it's like to turn to the one thing that's already destroyed you! Alcohol! I hate it, but it makes me forget for a little while! I guess that's why my dad drinks himself into oblivion, so he can forget that my mom and sister left him. So he can take it out on me and not remember a god damn thing the next day!" He was shaking, and his words were becoming harder and harder to understand.

"And you, you come along every day and make my life more miserable! I've never done anything to you, yet you torture me relentlessly and make me feel like nothing! As if I don't get enough of that in my own house, you fucking bastard!"

Seto was staring at Jounouchi, his mouth slightly agape.

"And... fucking let go of me! You're hurting me! I have all of these bruises and I have to hide them otherwise I really will have no home to go to and..." Jounouchi stopped then, his lower lip trembling.

Seto quickly released his grip, as if touching the blonde had caused him to burn himself. Oh, God. If only he had minded his own business and had not followed Jounouchi into the bathroom. This is what happens when one meddles in another's affairs.

Jounouchi, not one to ever cry in front of another, felt a tear leak out of his eye. This was followed by several other tears, until he could no longer take it. His breaths came in short gasps and he tried to turn away from Seto.

Seto, on the other hand, didn't know what to do. He had only ever encountered a situation such as this with his younger brother. Carefully, though, he reached out and pulled Jounouchi close to him, feeling his salty tears soak through the fabric of his shirt. He didn't say anything, feeling awkward. There was something about comforting his nemesis that felt strange and wrong. If it's so strange and wrong, countered his damned brain, then why did you enjoy that kiss so much? He mentally gasped at the accusation.

"Jounouchi," Seto said after a few moments, and after regaining some composure, "I don't think it's safe for you to go home tonight." Not that it was safe for him to go home any night, according to what he had just heard. He inwardly cringed at the thought of the blonde's drunken father beating him into an unconscious, perhaps lifeless, pulp.

"I'm sorry," Jounouchi whispered, voice steady now. The sobbing had ceased and he now leaned awkwardly into Seto.

Quietly, hesitantly, Seto said, "It's not your fault." He looked into those amber eyes and he felt another strange feeling wash over him. Damn, why did Jounouchi have to be so vulnerable? Where was that fierce and fiery personality? The brunette supposed that the alcohol had a lot to do with the blonde's range of unsteady emotions.

"Katsuya," Seto said, addressing him by his given name to get his attention, "let's go." He gently pushed the blonde back, releasing him from his hold, and resisted the urge to sweep his hand over the remaining tears on his face.

Jounouchi stumbled to the door and opened it, Seto following. He gave a quick nod to the bartender as he headed for the exit.

The pair walked out of the building, night air hitting them refreshingly as a bright and full moon illuminated the sidewalk.

Jounouchi turned to Seto. "I'm going home and I'll be walking." He said it coldly, as if daring Seto to challenge him.

Seto bit back the first words that came to him. But then he remembered Jounouchi's words from minutes earlier: "I've never done anything to you, yet you torture me relentlessly and make me feel like nothing!"

He saw Jounouchi walking in the opposite direction. "That's not a good idea. Besides, this isn't exactly the nicest part of town. You're sick, horribly drunk, and tired. I don't mind if you stay at my house tonight." It was difficult to pretend he didn't care.

He knew what it was like to be abused, an unfortunate secret. His stepfather had done it relentlessly and had scarred him for life in the process. He would never let anyone know, though. Nothing could be accomplished if one was weak. He didn't think Jounouchi was weak for staying with his father or for not fighting back; it was just survival. He didn't have a multi-billion dollar company to inherit, like Seto had.

"Come on," Seto urged. "I'm not... I'm not going to hurt you or make any stupid remarks." He felt his cold demeanour slipping away. He was comforted only by the fact that Jounouchi would probably remember nothing of his kindness in the morning. It was slightly unfair, though; he was going to remember that damned kiss for the rest of his life.

He inhaled sharply when he realized that he wanted more from Jounouchi. Now, he was never one to care about the gender of the objects of his affection (objects which he had only admired from a distance, of course; he had a company to run). How could this young man have his emotions in a downward spiral after a mere hour? Good God, he was acting weak.

Jounouchi stared at Seto, noticing the slightly confused look on his face. It made him look so... human. The way his brows had lifted slightly and the way his eyes had gone from icy cold to almost warm and sincere. It was unnerving, and caused a funny feeling to well up in the pit of his stomach – though that could just have been the aftermath of vomiting.

"God damn it, stop being stubborn! I will take you by force if I have to!" Seto snapped, flexing his authoritative abilities.

"Fine," Jounouchi snapped back. Somewhere in the back of his mind, a dirty thought occurred. I'd like to see you try to take me by force. He inwardly smirked.

At the blonde's reply, Seto turned on his heel and motioned for Jounouchi to follow him. He glanced at his watch and noticed that it was only 9:30 pm. He mentally groaned.

Only God knew what he was getting in to.