A/N: Sorry for the late update. It's already Saturday where I am, but I'm doing it first thing in the morning to make up for it. A longer chapter to make up for the previous short one. Enjoy.

Chapter 4

SORRY

Atem watched as the boy was swallowed up by the crowd.

He felt a prick of something in his chest. He didn't think it was disappointment, though he tipped the glass to his lips anyway, hoping to wash whatever it was down with the wine.

But he couldn't deny the fact that, for the past several days, his mind had been hovering around this boy. This boy who apparently felt the need to rescue people even when his own size was a decided disadvantage. This boy who had stared up at him in wonder with his large grey, violet-flecked eyes; and who calculated derivations with his bottom lip caught firmly between his teeth. It all made for a tantalizing combination that had tortured Atem for far longer than he cared for.

Which was why he had taken a vindictive pleasure in telling himself that he would never be seeing the boy again. When he'd first agreed to sub for Devlin's tutorial, he'd done so with a begrudging reluctance that he hadn't tried to conceal. After the tutorial however, that begrudging feeling had turned into fully-fledged resentment.

And just when he'd managed to resign himself to the fact that he'd never be seeing the boy again, said boy had strolled casually back into his life, looking as unassuming and artless as a child and completely unaware that he was dislodging Atem's axis.

He sighed, then took another sip of the wine. Where the hell was Seto? He returned to their table. There were more people milling about in the alfresco area, blocking Yugi's table from his sight. Atem didn't know whether to be pleased or not about this.

Another sigh escaped him. He was spending far too much time thinking about this – whatever this was.

But the boy seemed different, he would admit that much. Fresh, somehow. There was none of that falseness which soured many of Atem's acquaintances. The boy had a realness about him that intrigued Atem. He wanted to eat up that realness, see how deep it went. Just watching the boy smile beatifically at the bartender had made Atem start grinning like an idiot.

Hell, he was grinning like an idiot now. What was wrong with him? He groaned inwardly, and took another sip of wine.

"I see you only ordered for yourself," Seto remarked, settling his long limbs into the chair.

Atem raised an eyebrow. "So, you're sensitive now? And you never drink if you're going back to work afterwards."

"True." Seto leaned back, clasping his hands together and placing them over his stomach. "Who was the kid?"

Atem scowled. "He isn't a kid." Never mind he'd been calling him 'the boy' in his head. And 'the boy'? As if he was the only boy around? Atem felt his scowl deepen.

Seto raised an eyebrow. "Touchy."

Atem lifted his glass only to find it empty. Had he really finished it already?

"You're not thinking of dabbling, are you?" Seto's face was expressionless, but a pinch of disapproval tinged his tone. Professionalism was all, according to him.

Atem felt his teeth clench and impatience flare up in his chest. He didn't have to explain himself to anyone. Especially when there was nothing to explain.

"It could have repercussions," Seto continued to murmur. "In fact, it most likely will."

Atem had the distinct impression that Seto was enjoying himself. The bastard knew Atem hated it when others tried to interfere or advise him in anyway. That was what happened when you got too close to Seto Kaiba. You had to expect the low blows.

"And you don't think our arrangement will have repercussions?" Atem raised an eyebrow, inwardly conceding that perhaps he wasn't above such manipulation, either.

Seto's eyes narrowed imperceptibly. "Why should it? We're two consenting adults. It's nobody's business."

Atem shrugged lazily. "True. But you know how the media is. Especially when it comes to the Kaiba name. And the Kaiba brothers." He placed a little more stress on the last word.

"Is that a threat, Sennen?"

Atem smiled. He could practically hear Seto's hair standing on end. "I would be an idiot to threaten you, Seto." He knew that his use of the first name would nettle the other man.

Seto held the gaze for another moment, and then looked away impatiently. "Fine. I'll back off. Not that I care."

"I never said that you did." Atem shifted in his chair, readjusting his limbs.

Seto's eyes reverted to him, lingering at the opening of Atem's shirt.

As Atem fought to keep the smug look off his face, he heard a burst of laughter from two tables away. The crowd had dispersed a little and Atem could see the boy laughing with his friends. His face was half-turned towards Atem as he spoke to the girl on his left, the light from the bar spilling over him. His shoulders were shaking and there was pure delight written across his features. It was an arresting sight.

Atem shifted again and cleared his throat softly. He turned his eyes back on Seto, who seemed to have stolen the position of Smug Bastard from him.

Giving a low chuckle, the other man simply said, "Atem."

The single word felt like an accusation and defeat all at once.

Atem stood up, fished out a few bills from his wallet and threw them onto the table. He then placed his hands on the table and leaned towards Seto, fixing him with a determined glare. He'd wanted to go for sultry, but he figured determined would do equally well. "You coming with me or not? I don't have all night." He gave what he hoped was a convincing smirk.

Seto mirrored the smirk and stood up. "I wouldn't dream of keeping you waiting."

Atem turned and, without a backward glance, led the other man away from the restaurant.

They decided to leave when the clouds became darker and the crowd drunker. Both Joey and Tristan had work the next day and neither Téa nor Yugi felt like braving the drunken crowd for any longer than they had to. Waving to his friends after having promised to meet up again soon, Yugi made his way down the street towards his apartment. He felt full and whole, as he always did after having spent time with the other three. He was not an overly social being, but he was grateful for the few close friendships he'd managed to forge in high school. They were very much like an extended family to him.

Which was why he'd felt guilt creep over him when his spirits dampened at seeing Atem was no longer at The Rabbit & Ferret. He shouldn't have secretly felt a little down when he was sitting there laughing and surrounded by his friends. But he couldn't help noticing that Atem's table had been taken over by a group of loud uni students, intent on shoving shots down the throat of their chosen victim of the night. Yugi had felt a little bereft at the thought that the man had left without saying anything more.

You're an idiot, he told himself now, shaking his head. He was letting this . . . whatever it was, matter too much. In fact, it wasn't even anything. It was nothing.

Pretty much.

Yugi pulled the hood of his jacket over his head. It was early spring and the night air was a little nippy.

His phone beeped in his pocket. He took it out and flipped it open. There was a missed call from Rex from about an hour ago. No wonder he'd missed it; with the Sunday evening noise at the cafe & bar, it was a miracle he'd even been able to hear his own thoughts. He pressed the button now and held the phone to his ear. He fervently hoped it wasn't another excuse about the rent.

Rex's voice came through muffled, with that slight vulnerability that accompanied all voice messages. "Hey Yugi . . . guess you're too busy. I know you said you were going out with friends . . .well, anyway. I guess I should've told you before, but I didn't know how. Um . . . this . . . isn't really working. – Yugi frowned. What the hell was he on about? – "Um, well, actually, my father reckons I can't handle living on my own yet, so he's ordered me to come back. He threatened me with holding back on the money, so I didn't really have a choice." - Yugi could feel the frown invading more of his face – "But, don't worry! I mean, the rent's all up to date. I've got everything I owe you. But yeah, - there was a sigh – I can't keep flatting with you. Well, I mean, I'm not even at the flat now. I'm . . . home. Sorry man. I should've told you, but my old man sprung it on me pretty recently, too, so yeah . . . sorry. Bye." The phone beeped.

Yugi pulled it away from his ear and stared at it incredulously. "'So yeah, SORRY?" He didn't care what it would like to passersby, him standing in the middle of the street, growling at the phone. How dare Rex – how could he – how -Yugi groaned. He flipped the phone shut angrily and shoved it into his pocket. Of course. This was exactly Rex. Avoiding responsibility, that was Rex all over.

Couldn't he have told me a little sooner, instead of waiting till the last possible freaking MOMENT?!

Yugi could feel the anger bubbling through him. He should've expected this – known that he would be left in the lurch. He couldn't believe Rex had had the nerve to move out already. Move out before telling him even! Yugi shoved his hands in his hair and tugged at it, then winced as the pain shot through his scalp.

That sneaky little reptile! What the hell am I supposed to do now for rent?

He felt panic bubbling up underneath the anger. He could hear his grandpa's voice in his head, warning him at the beginning of the year to be careful, to keep his wits about him. His grandpa had been reluctant enough letting him move out in the first place, but Yugi had managed to convince him that it would be for the best. Even the old man could see that living at home and travelling to uni every day would create a huge dent where money and time were concerned. He'd eventually agreed, giving Yugi his full blessing, telling him that he had complete faith in his grandson and his sense of responsibility.

Yeah, well, look at me now, Grandpa, Yugi thought bitterly.

He swallowed and tried to quash the mounting panic, trying to trigger the strategic brain that he was well known for among his friends into offering up a solution for him. He drew a deep breath. All right, well, he still had a fair amount of savings in his account, left over from the three jobs he'd held down over summer. And he currently had a part-time job. Although that had only been enough to cover his side of the rent so far. Well, his, and with a bit of a stretch, Rex's as well whenever his flatmate had avoided coughing up, he thought darkly.

That jerk!

Yugi forced himself to unclench his fists. No, no good was going to come of hating Rex. Not now, anyway. He would have to advertise immediately.

Flatmate needed urgently. Responsible, clean, and PREFERABLY NOT A MORON!

Ok, well, the not hating Rex thing wasn't going as planned. He sighed, blowing at the small fringe that always fell between his brows. An image of Rex at their kitchen table in the morning flashed through his mind. He understood the hesitancy now, why his former flatmate had sat there, looking uncertain and picking at the table.

When he could have instead been telling me that he was going to BAIL!

Yugi wasn't a violent person, truly. Even his enemies would have asserted that much. But at that moment he would have gladly punched Rex. Well, perhaps not punch. Maybe twist an ear. No, both ears. And hard.

He felt the frustration swell up and escape him in a prolonged groan.

A guttural groan answered him.

He stumbled and blinked.

"Atem."

The sound drifted over from his left. Two figures were intertwined, leaning against the wall of a building. Light spilled through the glass doors of the building and onto the sidewalk, partially illuminating the two.

There was a tall man leaning over another figure. His arms, snaking under the arms of the other, were braced against the wall. The taller man shifted a little, letting the hair of the other man come into sight, and Yugi felt his breath catch in his throat.

Is that-?

"Atem," said the other man again. His desperate whisper embarrassed Yugi, reminding him that he was intruding on a private moment. But his feet, despite his mind's urging, refused to move.

In the half-light he saw Atem's long-fingered hands travel down the other man's flanks. He watched them, mesmerised.

There was a gasp. The taller man pulled away, and Yugi's mind screamed at him to walk away; again his feet didn't move. But the man didn't turn. Instead, he dipped his head again, this time fitting it into the crook of Atem's shoulder. Yugi watched breathlessly as Atem's head tilted onto the wall, his lips slack.

Atem's head rolled lazily against the wall, his eyes travelling with it across the expanse of the street. They came to rest on Yugi.

Yugi was certain that his face had caught on fire.

Atem's eyes held him firmly in place. He couldn't breathe. Somehow, he was aware of Atem's hand sinking into the other man's hair. Then Atem pushed up against the other man, opened his mouth and, with his eyes still on Yugi, let out a groan. It was deep and low and it slithered across the sidewalk to wrap Yugi in its velvet coils.

Yugi snapped his head back to the front, a large gust of air escaping him. He realised he'd been holding his breath the entire time. Another groan – he was certain it was Atem, again – and Yugi's feet carried him away from the spot as fast as possible.

He placed a hand on his cheek. It was burning. He increased his pace, half-jogging towards the bus stop. Thankfully, the bus pulled up a second after he'd reached it. He quickly paid the driver, avoiding the curious looks that were directed at him, and plopped himself down onto the nearest empty seat. He stared resolutely out the window, ignoring his faint reflection in the glass – which, despite the faintness, he was aware still managed to reflect his crimson tinted face.

After a few minutes, he tugged at the hood so that it fell back down. He no longer felt too cold. His face, he noticed, was still burning. And it didn't cool down even as he got off the bus a few minutes later with a mumbled thanks to the driver, and walked towards his apartment, the night air whipping at his face.

And it didn't cool down as he rode up the fifth floor in the clanging elevator, watching the numbers light up one by one, as red as his face.

And it didn't cool down as he fumbled with his key, shoved open the door, closed it behind him and leaned against it, as if half his energy had left him.

He let his eyelids close, but then had to open them wide again. The image of Atem and the other man seemed to be seared on the back of them. His knees felt oddly weak.

Taking a slow breath, he flicked the light on, staring blankly in front of him. His eyes fell on the coffee table. Atop the mess of books, games and DVDs, there was a thick white envelope. His name was scribbled across it in Rex's handwriting.

He picked it up and flicked through it, his mind mechanically counting. Yup, it was all there. Just like Rex had promised. Right before he told Yugi he was ditching. Beneath the green notes, there was a white slip of paper with a single world.

"Sorry," it said.

Yugi sighed, and lowered himself onto the couch, letting the envelope drop onto the coffee table. He hunched over, his elbows on his knees, his head in his hands. He didn't know how long he stayed that away. All he knew was that he must have fallen asleep eventually, because he woke up next morning to find himself still on the couch.

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