Fourth Bite

x

The man was outside. He had come here, he was standing right in front of the door to his room and Killua was alone in his mind with his fear. Rooted to the floor in panic, his gaze was fixed to the knob and lock, as though he was keeping the door shut through sheer willpower. The knob turned, rattled, didn't give. Killua's heart throbbed in his throat as he heard some minute shuffling from the other side.

'He must be here to ask me not to tell anyone. He probably wants to pay me off… maybe threaten me… or even kill me, knowing who he is. I have to run. I have to run. I have to-'

"I'm going in, Killua!"

Without further ado, the lock clicked. A second too late, Killua dashed for the door that led to the bathroom he shared with the next room. The door never slammed shut behind him. A pair of powerful arms grabbed him up around the waist. His small back smacked into a broad, hard-as-steel chest and he kicked out at once. He strained, bucked, flailed his legs, clawed at the arms around his waist but that grip, god, that grip could crush his ribs ('or the world') if it just tightened. The scream that wanted to tear from his throat was stuck in his windpipe, bruising him, aching in desperation. It only broke free when he was tossed onto the bed.

"GET AWAY FROM ME…!"

'-tossed me, he did that back then, onto the desk, he's back for more, I can't believe it, no, no-!'

Wheezing, he kicked himself along the bed, pressing into the wall, his gaze flickering around, looking for an opening. The man stood a distance from him, maybe he could dash past, god, but he was fast, he would snap his neck before he took three steps, WHY didn't he just strangle him in his sleep?!

And even if he managed to run where would he go? Where in the world was a place where the White Dragon of Tokyo didn't reach? He was trapped, caught, forever a prey now, he had been marked, he would never escape, the man had meant what he had said; he would always be his, no going back anymore.

Something fell on the bed beside him.

"You know how to use one, right? You're a Zoldyck."

It was a gun, a Glock 19. To Killua, it looked unreal, like a prop forgotten on a movie set that didn't belong there. He scooted away from it without meaning to, feeling like it might bite him any second. His breath rushed in and out past his lips, chapping them, drying his tongue. He swallowed, got nothing but air down. His heart was a drum in his chest, playing a melody built of fear and desperation.

"Come on. Pick it up. The magazine is full."

He looked up at the man. The regal face was set in an expression of grim determination. Seto held his gaze, his steel eyes unreadable as ever, timeless with their intelligence, yet too-wise with the tiny wrinkles in the corners. His sharp nose and perfectly angled jaw line defined his looks, but the thin lips ('that tasted of cinnamon and were searing with kisses') drew Killua's eyes the most, spoke to his most carnal thoughts by just existing.

His heart throbbed, and blood rushed down.

'...he's gorgeous...'

'What am I even thinking, what is he saying, what does he want me to do?!'

Incredulous, he snorted, and did his best to keep his voice steady. "...are you crazy? If I pick that up, I'll shoot you."

'...christ, his lips… did he almost smile just now…?!'

"I'm aware you might. But I can't expect you to feel safe around a rapist without protection."

Killua's head snapped to the side as though the words have slapped him. His small mouth closed tight and his hand inched closer to the gun. His fingertips caressed the muzzle. It was no plastic toy; the Glock was real. "Don't use that word." He whispered, only moving his eyes to look at the man. He saw him quirk his eyebrow in question.

"What word?"

Teeth sharp as a knifeblade gleamed white between his lips.

'God DAMN his… who cares?! Why is he so attractive…?! What is it about him… he's a monster, right? I know he is… I'm still aching all over-'

'...and it feels good. It does. No matter what I say, it feels so good when it stings. He's fucked me up too and I can't go back… can't ignore it...'

Killua wrapped his fingers around the gun and lifted it. "Rape. I don't want you to call it that." His voice held steady, carefully carved ice. He undid the safety and as he turned back towards him he pointed it at the man's chest.

He never flinched or showed any sign of fear. Instead, rather matter-of-fact, he asked, "Wasn't it that?"

'No, it wasn't.'

Killua battled the need to blink. His neck and backside were throbbing as if to forcefully remind him. He had gone with the man when he whisked him away, he may have tried telling himself he had no idea what was going to happen, but he had known who was holding his hand, he had known very well, and still... "You're insane. You have to be." He said. Wasn't sure if it mattered or not, but he said it anyways. "Giving me a gun-"

"You have yet to shoot me." Seto cut him off. "I no longer think you will pull the trigger. Which puzzles me, but plays into my favour." He walked over to the chair by the desk, pulled it out and took a seat so he was facing the boy. Killua pursed his lips; it was his chair and his desk. He didn't like how nonchalantly the man occupied the space in his room. Did he really think he was that important? His ego had to be bigger than his-

He almost blushed.

'What the heck was I about to think…?!'

"As to me being insane if you're implying I am mentally impaired in some way, I guess you're not far from the truth. I have a form of psychopathy." Seto paused. "I don't need to explain what that means, right?"

"No." Killua whispered. His throat felt like sandpaper. 'I have a brother with the same condition...' "Complete lack of empathy, right?"

"A lack of universal morals, I like to call it." Seto clarified. "I'm not completely incapable of experiencing empathy or regret, just… not over the same things a regular human would. With that said, I don't regret what I've done to you, just how I've done it."

Killua's lips twisted and he shifted closer on the bed, raising the gun to point it at Seto's forehead next. His face felt hot with rage and his eyes stung. His voice came in a raspy hiss between his small white teeth. "How do you have the guts to say that? Do you hear what that means?! Do you-"

"I've taken an unwilling young boy up to my office and fucked him." Seto murmured. He folded his hands between his knees, elbows on his thighs. He stared past the barrel of the gun at Killua's face. "The part I'm regretting is the word 'unwilling'. Yes, I am a Kaiba, my greed is unmatched and what I want, I take, but… that was half-assed. Do you understand me? What I've done to you was shit, because I never took what I really wanted. I went for an easy kill and that is not me."

Killua's face scrunched worse in fury and he dropped the gun. He was on his feet, grabbing the man by the lapels of his suit jacket. He shook him, but that steel statue barely moved. Helpless now, he shouted, breath hitching, muscles tensing. "Don't you try make me forgive you! I-"

"I'm not asking you to forgive me!" Seto's hands clamped down on his own, swallowing the small fists, covering them completely. Killua saw his face change. The impassive mask fell, gave way to the image of a wounded animal. In that moment, it seemed like his human flesh was painted onto something enormously wild… a pure force of nature. His teeth chattering, Killua shuddered, tearing at his captive hands so hard the wrists creaked. "I'm saying, don't you ever dare! Don't you let me get away with this! I don't want to be someone who gets away with fucking up his own moral code! Do you understand me?!"

"Let me GO!" Killua screamed, kicking him in the shin, bending down to bite into one of his hands at the same time. His jaw throbbed, but he gnawed into the flesh, grunting, sobbing, tears blurring his vision. He hit bone, and still Seto made no louder noise than a hum of recognition.

'Die… die you fucking monster, bleed out and die, I HATE you…!'

'...you want me to want you, is that what you're saying…? You want me to be willing…? But even then, I already...'

'I should have SHOT you…!'

"Killua…" That silk droning voice uttered his name and the lips that hid the deadly teeth touched his temple in a kiss. Killua whined, squeezing his eyes shut in terror. The lips touched his ear next and a shaky, uncertain sigh was muffled by Seto's hand between his teeth. "Don't forgive me. Don't. Hate the me that's done that to you." His forehead dropped onto the boy's shoulder. Killua felt the weight of that head and nearly sagged under it. "I already do the same."

"...die…" He whispered into the mangled flesh against his lips. His teeth were on fire, his lips were wet with blood and his tears were pouring down his cheeks in hot, shameful rivers. He tasted sickening copper that reminded him of the taste of his own blood… waking a curious tingle in the pit of his stomach. "You fucking bastard… worst piece of shit… sonofabitch monster…"

"That's a perfect summary." Seto whispered. There wasn't a hint of sarcasm in his tone. He carefully removed Killua's hands from the lapels of his jacket and clasped them in his own. "But none of that will stop me from wanting you."

"Shut up." Killua breathed. His head was spinning. He felt like he was floating mid-air, suspended between a nightmare and reality, not knowing which was worse. Seto's voice in his ear reminded him of his kisses, everything he said, every touch of his lips anywhere on him reminded him of the kisses, the tongue slipping into his mouth, tasting of red, tasting of pain, tasting of complete bliss. Before long, he would want more of them, he feared.

"You're beautiful."

He stiffened, the words an echo from the night. He remembered the ghost embrace that held him fast and the horrible pain sawing into his backside, the sweet balance of romance and torture. 'No… no, don't…

"Unspeakably so. Vicious. Irresistible. And I'll make you want me back."

On a subconscious level, Killua was aware that he would. Still, just to ignore his own mind, he asked, "And what if you can't?"

"Easy." That matter-of-fact tone. Seto lifted his head and locked gazes with the boy. Killua saw the roar of fire in the steel. The passion in that single stare was enough to squeeze arousal into his trembling body. "I will die trying."

He looked away. He had expected the answer and yet it managed to get to him. Foolish. Absolutely foolish. "...what happened to your neck?" He asked. His voice came flat from a tight throat.

Seto's lips twitched into a smirk around the blatant lie. "Shaving accident."

'He's done it himself, this big moron… what the hell is up with his head?' Killua rolled his eyes, tugging on his hands for show. He didn't truly want to get away. "Whatever. Not like I care what you do to yourself."

"I don't expect you to." Seto shrugged his shoulders, straightening in his seat. He took his hands away and measured the boy. "I will keep coming to you. Nothing can keep me away. Do you understand that?"

Killua refused to turn his head towards him. His white hair all fell into his slanted eyes, shielding his expression. "Aah." He answered, his voice only shaking once. His heart, a treacherous young thing he couldn't control, pounded his ribcage.