"Fuck!"
Bang.
"Fuck!"
Bang.
"Fu-"
"Katsuya, what in Legendary Red Eyes Black Dragon are you doing?" Seto asked, lowering his book and staring at his delirious mate. The lupine had been alternating between banging his head on the desk and cursing for the past ten minutes. If Katsuya didn't stop soon Seto was going to have to stop him, and put him to sleep in one of the most pleasurable ways Seto knew how, mostly because sex supposedly got rid of headaches.
"I didn' g't ta say goo'bye ta Yug," Katsuya pouted and lifted his head back, ready to slam it again, "An' 'e 'elped meh soh much!"
"I do not believe he would be happy if you were to kill yourself just because of that. I'm sure Queen Yugi understands."
Katsuya slumped. Seto was right. Yugi was more likely to be more angry if he were to kill himself. But how could he forget? How had he not made the time to say farewell when Yugi had made the trip all the way to the Dragon Territory just for him!
Seto eyeballed Katsuya from the side of his eye and sighed. His mate was obviously not happy and Seto was feeling it tremendously. Seto wondered how well he was going able to deal with Katsuya's flexing emotions. Dragons were completely empathic to their mate and Seto's emotions tended to stay steady as Katsuya's tended not to. Seto wasn't used to feeling happiness one moment and frustration the next and it was grading on Seto's mental stability—fast.
Katsuya looked helplessly to Seto, wishing the Dragon King could do something to help him. The King had done nothing but not let the puppy out of his sight for more than enough time to use the bathroom before he started freaking out. If Katsuya wasn't promptly by his side, the blond found himself with a sharp slap on his ass that he somehow could never get away from.
Putting the book down in defeat, Seto slid his legs off the couch and stood. He may have just the thing that could help. Why he didn't think of it before was probably because of the throbbing headache the blond lupine had proudly, unknowingly created.
"Puppy," Seto called to Katsuya, using the affectionate nickname he'd picked up in the past three days since the first night they'd left the room and eaten with Mokuba. Katsuya didn't know what to think of it a first—he wasn't a dog—but the warm look Seto often got in his eyes when he used it made Katsuya snuggle up to it quickly. He liked having a nickname that someone used for him because they thought they cared for him. "I have something that will make you feel better."
Katsuya looked up, still a little pink-faced from the nickname that always seemed to make him blush, with curious, happy eyes.
"Wha' is it?"" he asked, jumping up and follow the Dragon King out of the room door a million and one corridors. He wondered how in Red Eyes Black Dragon everyone was able to memorize them all...'Red Eyes—', Katsuya had definitely been here a bit too long.
"You'll see," Seto answered.
"Hey, Wha's the story 'bout Red Eyes?" Katsuya wondered. He'd heard so many Dragons say it and he started to say it, there had to be a story behind it, right?
Seto didn't answer at first, contemplating. There were hundreds of versions of the story, he had no where to begin. But as Katsuya looked up with those precious brown, expecting eyes, Seto's focus collapsed to the blood swelling where...blood swells when a being feels hot and is reacting to their mate's submissiveness or dominance.
He cleared his throat more to clear his bedroom thoughts and looked straight ahead, "There are many versions of the legend, but the main idea is there was a powerful black dragon with red eyes that saved the Dragon Territory from the wolves once a blue-mooned night, but had died protecting the land and its mate who was the Dragon King at the time. Mokuba has looked more into it; you should ask him for a more fuller version of the story."
"Nah, that's good," Katsuya smiled, reaching up and grasping Seto's hand, linking their fingers together.
Seto froze, feeling crushed hope and lost desire shoot through him. His gaze shot to Katsuya who looked up innocently at him. Was Katsuya feeling this? It wasn't his emotions, right now he was above cloud nine with Katsuya by his side, but...this feeling. Like he was too happy and yet afraid of the happiness, it made Seto's blood run cold.
"Katsuya, are you alright?"
Katsuya cocked his head; he wasn't the one who froze to a dead stop for no reason, "Yeah, what about with you?"
"I...am uncertain you are alright," Seto said, looking back forward and seeing the door he was dragging Katsuya to just up ahead. He started walking again, tightening his grip on Katsuya's hand softly and pulling him towards the door. This feeling is not something anyone would easily talk about, and by the way Katsuya was acting unaffected, Seto knew he would be one of the harder beings to pull the information out of.
"I'm fine, King Stupid," Katsuya huffed and squeezed back supportively. "You worry too much."
"You're my mate, I'm supposed to worry," Seto replied and felt a flash of guilt. He scowled, reminding himself Katsuya would have to come to him on this, he couldn't just pull it out. "Now come on, in here."
Katsuya didn't say anything, but followed the Dragon inside a candle lit dark room. In the middle there was a large rainbow-glass tub of clear water. His breath was stolen at the sight. He couldn't stop himself from letting go of Seto's hand and reaching out to it. It was a Mystic Pool. It allowed you to speak with others that had Mystic Pools and it was like some sort of instant message from one being at one spot to another a thousand miles away.
He'd always wanted to use one, to talk to his friends he hardly got to see. He'd seen Pegasus and others use the one in Pegasus' castle in Wolf Territory, he was always so jealous.
"Do you know how to call?" Seto asked, walking up behind Katsuya and wrapping an arm around the blond's slim waist. Funny, Seto thought, the way Katsuya had been eating Seto was sure Katsuya would have gained some meat.
Katsuya, with childish excitement, shook his head. Seto chuckled, grabbing Katsuya's hand and hovering it over the Pool and snuggling close. "Close your eyes and focus on Queen Yugi, call out to him and tell him to go to his Mystic Pool. You'll have to wait for a few minutes for him to reach his pool to answer but keep imagining his face until he calls your name and his face appears in the Pool. It may be hard a first, but it get easier with the practice I suppose you'll get."
Katsuya grinned in that 'I can't help myself I'm so happy' kind of way that made Seto melt. He uncharacteristically gave Katsuya's cheek a kiss and pulled back. "Okay, try. Don't worry if you can't make it the first time."
"How will I know I reached Yug'?" Katsuya quandered.
"You'll know, you'll feel a pull at your mind."
Katsuya nodded and he closed his eyes focusing on Yugi, calling out his name...
And nothing happened.
Seto chuckled at the frustrated scowl on Katsuya's face and urged the Wolf to try again.
Katsuya blew a raspberry. He could do this. All he had to do is concentrate. Concentrate on Yugi's face and call-
There was a tug, and Katsuya almost lost it in relief, but he quickly pulled back on it and waited still and silent for a moment.
"Jou? Is that you in the Mystic Pool?" Yugi asked, the water rippling to reflect the Queen's face off the surface. Katsuya opened his eyes and gasped.
"Yug'!"
"How are you Jou? You look better than I've ever seen you. I heard about Seto," Atemu asked, coming up from behind Yugi in the reflection and Katsuya smiled. "I have mixed feelings on it. Should I be glad or scared?"
"I'm good!" Jou answered eagerly, "It's good tha' I'm wit' Seto! We have our differences but it seems okay in the end! How's everyone else?"
"Calm down, Jou," Yugi laughed, "They're all getting packed. We were going to surprise you and all come visit you, but seeing how Seto—I'm guessing—has taught you to use the Mystic pool I can't stay quiet!"
"I would of at least liked to of known of this visit of yours," Seto scowled, coming from the shadows behind Katsuya and standing behind the blond. "I would have had to listen to the Thief King and Myth King whine about how the rooms wouldn't be ready."
"We tried to warn you...we just always had bad timing," Atemu shrugged, "You were always...busy, if you are catching my fall."
"Eeep! Really!" Katsuya cried, his face blossoming, "Every time!"
"Atemu trying to embarrass you, we've only tried once. We didn't want to...catch you at a bad time again," Yugi laughed.
"Was that really just Jou that eeped like a virgin? After what you explained, I wouldn't think he was anym-owch!" Atemu cursed rubbing the arm that Yugi had punch-hard. "That hurt!"
"Good!" Yugi scolded. Katsuya was so glad he wasn't the Queen's mate, he knew Yugi could punch unexpectedly hard; Katsuya had been on the wrong end of one himself once.
Never would he try to steal a cookie from Yugi without asking first again.
Katsuya just continued to blush. He'd really done it now and if Bakura heard of it...well, he'd really never hear the end of it. Bakura loved to finds things like that (aka things that made Katsuya squeal—like his love for kittens or his fear of cockroaches) and use them against the poor blond. And if Yugi told Atemu, there was a large chance of Bakura knowing.
Just great.
"I don't believe you have any right to talk, King Atemu, your mate has his moments as well."
"My mate isn't a cutie-pie with a tough exterior, King Kaiba, he's cute with skills and tough emotional stability."
"Not cool, Atemu," Katsuya pouted, "I'm tough."
"Yes, you are," Yugi said and smiled, almost sickeningly sweet. Katsuya had a feeling Atemu was going to hear it. "Remember that one time when you kicked both Bakura's and Atemu's asses?"
Seto could help the purr that escaped him in pride. His mate was so strong and he could obviously take care of pests.
"They shouldn't have snuck up on me," Katsuya said defensively, "And it wasn't my fault they were unprepared for my dishing."
"I agree that they deserved every second of pain they received."
"Aibou!"
Katsuya smiled, watching Yugi's eyes soften humorously before the short figure reflecting in the water rose up to kissing the "scowling" (aka pouting) figures face. His stomach coiled, wishing he could ever have the chance of receiving the same gift of having someone actually be his mate, not someone he wanted to be his mate. Not just a hopeful figure of his overly-vivid imagination.
Why did Pegasus always have to be right?
"A'right, a'right, enough with the ushy-gushy-goo-I-love-ya crap," Katsuya said, painting a smirk on his face. He found himself doing that more recently, actually have to painting it on other than it just hopelessly creeping on without a second thought.
There was a painful squeezing in his chest and he decided to start a different conversation.
"So when will ya be here?" He crooned, leaning over the Pool's edge and smiling at them.
"Yes," Seto interjected, "How long do I have to prepared for the Thief's visit? I feel I must hide my valuables."
One of the answers to Seto's question was a harsh stomp on his foot; it made it harder to hold in the scream wanting to rip out of his throat when Katsuya dug his heel into his toes.
"Bakura's already on his way with Ryou, they should be there in a day or so," Yugi informed.
"As soon as he heard where his second favorite little thief was," Atemu continued gaily, flicking his wrist, "He was packed and on his horse. You really should have seen him when he didn't know where you were, he had every thief in the Territories on the look out."
"Like you didn't have all the Mages, or Marik the Myths. And like you didn't start packing as soon as you heard where Jou was. Jou, Atemu trying to act tough but you should have seen his office when we found out you were gone. Completely destroyed. Ryou, Malik, and I had to run the Territories until they gained back some of their sanity...or some of the sanity they did have before."
Katsuya chuckled. He really loved those guys. "I've only been gone for half a month, you guys. The New Moon is tomorrow."
Seto blinked and looked at Katsuya, like the truth just dawned on him, "No."
"'No' what Kaiba?" Yugi asked, but Atemu's look was just as curious.
"He's thee Jou you've all been ranting about for three months?"
"Three?"
"And here everyone thought you had the most common sense of the Kings," Atemu mocked, only to be abused again by his Queen, "Ouch!"
"Wait, 'three months'?" Katsuya interjected, "I've only been here half a month!"
"Well, you were missing for three," Seto informed, "I can't believe I've had the sacred wolf the entire time. Here I thought he'd be some abused, dirty, street mutt."
"I'm not a dog!" Katsuya grumbled.
He still couldn't help the smile creep up his face when he heard Seto laughing next to his ear...or the blush.
He glanced back at the pool to both Yugi and Atemu blushing and staring at them. "What? Atem' grab yer ass, Yug'? Stupid, perverted King, couldn't you wait 'til ya get to yer bed?"
Yugi fidgeted awkwardly, "That isn't it, Jou, but we've gotta go...y'know finish packing."
"Something wrong?" Katsuya asked, but Yugi and Atemu shook their heads and smiled good-bye before their faces faded into the clear Pool.
Katsuya looked at Seto, getting a heart-wrenching, warm feeling inside when he remember Yugi kissing Atemu's cheek. He was jealous. He wished he could do that.
He wished he could have a mate.
Seto grimaced, looking at those metaphorically closed, innocent looking eyes and yet feeling the pain of a gutted lover. Katsuya looked like he was happy, but that feeling...
Seto couldn't help but think maybe something terribly wrong was going to happen with Katsuya.
Katsuya smiled, roaming around. Mokuba had morning lessons and, after Katsuya's asking, was going to prepare to attempt to teach Katsuya to read and then tell him more about this Legendary Red Eyes Black Dragon everyone kept ranting about. And Seto...well, the paperwork didn't stay gone for long.
He turned the corner. He was completely lost, yes. Hopelessly so, actually, but he didn't mind. It was nice. The maids weren't around to scowl at him like his mere existence made them miserable, like he didn't try to help when they tripped, or like he was the reason the most miserable thing in their life happened. He bit his lip and clawed the shirt over his chest.
Like Pegasus didn't make it obvious how worthless and wasteful he really was in the first place.
He blinked rapidly and scurried on. Something. He needed something to do. He couldn't just wander about. He needed something productive and this wandering was not.
So much for nice.
His ears perked at the sound of grunts and soft, padded hits, like sparring. Sparring sounded fun...maybe he could convince them to let him join. It would certainly take some effort, but, hell, it sure would beat this unproductive activity.
"Okay," he told himself, reaching the door and grasping the knob, "be a Street King. Make them respect you."
Katsuya gathered his confidence. It was now or dumb-fuck never.
When he opened it though, they made it very clear he was unwelcome...if you count swinging a sword where his neck had been a few seconds before he ducked unwelcoming.
"Hey!" Katsuya choked, standing and leaning back to dodge another swing, and then crab walking, twisting, grabbing and finally pinning the guy to the nearest wall. "Ya know, tha' ain't too nice, Fucker. Ya coulda killed meh!"
The man he pinned grunted and Katsuya pushed him harder into the wall and made him drop the sword. The Wolf couldn't help the excitement the rush of adrenaline sent rushing through his veins. He was a hunter. He was meant to overpower and show off. He was made to fight. Everyday in his miserable life in Wolf Territory prepared him for his few terse moments in battle. The dancing he learned from the gypsies, the breathing techniques and swift, agile movements from the thieves, the ability to control his movements with precision and without excessive movement from the soldiers at Pegasus' castle he had tried and multiple times succeeded in escaping from.
Footsteps. From behind. One, two, three movements, Katsuya had the sword in his hand and was fending off another soldier. He twirled his sword, it was odd, he hadn't used one of these types swords since he had stolen a pair of wave swords, swords that curved with your arm so it was more like punching your victim then slicing them, from Pegasus' weapons room.
It was too bad he was forced to leave them in his hiding place when he was dragged immediately away with Mokuba.
He slid the sword down his enemy's and twirled and dodged only to block an attack from another soldier.
And it went on as other Dragons piled on, he dodged, blocked, got nicked and cut, twirled and -
And had fun.
"What the hell are you doin' to Jou?"
And then that happened.
The entire scene froze. Katsuya's heart dropped, looking at the little ravenette staring in awe at him defending himself against the other- what?- five- six?- guys.
"Honda! Where's Honda?" Mokuba demanded, looking through the pile of men. Honda was posted to survey the others. Keep them in line, keep them from killing Jou!
"He went on lunch," The guard right in front of Katsuya, the one who had Katsuya's sword in a lock, murmured. Katsuya sighed in relief when the Dragon drug his sword off him and stood straight. He was rusty, that was for sure. He was sweating—he always did that during a good, productive spar—and his breathing was slightly up, but nowhere near as much as the soldiers that had pitted themselves against him.
"'M righ' here~" A brunette said, coming up from behind Mokuba and smiling sillily and satisfied. "Man, Otogi's gotta stop doin' that~"
The guards grunted and—dare Katsuya think it—whined. Mokuba swirled around, with an obvious means to scold the faux-hawked brunette, but then he just sighed and, with dissatisfied slumped shoulders, looked to Katsuya.
Katsuya waved mildly over at the Dragon Prince. "Hey Mok-ku-ba!"
"This," Mokuba said back, "is all your fault."
"And who is he?" Honda inquired, looking over at Katsuya standing high and proud in the middle of a field of beaten Dragons. "Otogi and I've been watching him kick my men's asses for the past fifteen minutes. I've earned a real respect for him."
Katsuya smirked and walked out of the crowd over to the brunette and Mokuba, "Jou, at your service, and may I say, your men are pathetic."
Honda grabbed his hand, "Honda. Yeah, if they can't beat you, you can say all you damn want."
It was only a few minutes later that Mokuba noticed they hadn't let go of each other's hands and were not only having some sort of mental battle, but a test to see who would call mercy first.
By the looks of it, Katsuya was winning.
Katsuya smiled forcefully, feeling the soldier put his whole strength into the grasp. He had to admit, this soldier seemed different and a bit stronger than the others, and this Honda was raggling up his respect-o-meter.
Very nice.
"Alright, Jou, come'on!" Mokuba whined, grasping the two boys joined hands and demanding them apart and taking Jou's hand before another one could try and the two would start all over again. This was ridiculous! Despite the fact that Katsuya was actually having fun, Mokuba had everything ready and he was excited. He was going to teach someone something. He was the one always being taught and now he was the teacher!
Katsuya smiled at Mokuba and then at the other Dragons, "Well, it was nice ta meet ya, especially ya, Honda."
Honda tipped an imaginary hat and turned to his men. Katsuya had to cover his ears Honda's voice was so loud.
No wonder he was in command.
"I swear," Mokuba murmured, "Seto'll will wear his balls if he finds out he was allowing all his men attack you at once."
"Don't worry," Katsuya waved, honored that Seto would do such a thing for him, because he knew the king would. "I needed a productive spar. I haven't worked like that in a while. It was nice."
"There's a reason you're perfect for my brother," Mokuba said. Katsuya's heart broke. He wasn't perfect. He was far from perfect. He was only going to end up hurting-
Katsuya bit his lip and hoped Mokuba wouldn't notice.
"So," Katsuya said, hoping to Red Eyes he wouldn't croak, "What are we doing first? Red Eyes or reading?"
Mokuba's aura brightened. "Red Eyes. I know almost everything possible about her, more than anyone else in the Universe! And it's my favorite subject!"
Katsuya's grinned widened. "Lead the way, Little Prince, for I have no idea where to go."
Mokuba paused, dragging Katsuya to a stop with him. When Katsuya saw the boy's face his stomach dropped. Terror welded and sprouted dragons."Ohno. Ooooooh nononono."
When Mokuba turned to him and confirmed it, Katsuya about cried.
"Neither do I."
Seto watched- curiously and not admitting it—a rumpled pair of his favorite people whomp, almost helpless looking, into the library.
"I demand you have maps made of our castle!" Mokuba demanded and, Seto swore he was imitating a zombie, creeped over to the couch and flopped down on it.
And then he looked at Katsuya. Katsuya smiled sweetly, his small dimples showing and his eyes bright and truly happy like Seto hadn't seen since they had made love. He felt slightly jealous that Mokuba was the one who had done it, but it made him slightly horny that Katsuya would allow Mokuba close enough to make him happy like that, that they had bonded so nicely.
He shuddered, tempted to put the pen and paperwork down and go over to the wolf. To run his fingers through the soft halo of golden hair, over the sleek body of muscle, gripping and squeezing that perfect ass, and kissing those plump, pouty lips, making the wolf moan and writhe like it was the full moon. To deliriously fuck the blond's brains out like it was goddamn arma-fuckin'-gedden.
His eyes rolled back and he looked to his paperwork. Tonight he'd sex the Wolf. Tonight.
Why did tonight have to be so far awaaaay?
"Well, Mokuba," Katsuya said, and sat at the desk, "tell me about Red Eyes."
Seto snorted bemused at Mokuba reply. A snore. An actual, honest to Red Eyes snore.
"What did you do to him?" Seto asked, "I've been trying for years to do that and nothings worked."
Katsuya's heart fluttered, Seto felt it. He felt the happiness and content, especially as Katsuya covered Mokuba with the blanket on the back of the couch and sat on the armrest above Mokuba's head and ran his fingers softly, paternally, through Mokuba's thick hair. "I guess it takes a more energetic person to wear out a hyper person."
"I believe I can be...energetic," Seto said charmingly.
Katsuya snorted, "I know you can."
Seto stopped and looked over his shoulder. He felt so warm. Content. Like he was sitting by the fire with Mokuba with hot chocolate as they roasted marshmallows over the fire during the coldest night in winter. He watched Katsuya looking tenderly at Mokuba and when those honey-brown eyes looked at him full of warmth and care and contentment...he groaned.
Screw paperwork. Screw tonight. Screw Territories and treaties and visitors. Screw fucking everything.
Screw Katsuya.
No. Wait. That sounded like a good idea. No. A GREAT idea. A fantabulous, amazing idea.
He stood. Watching Katsuya's eyes watch him. Watching those eyes spark with horror and knowledge. Watched the body twitch and dash from him.
He wanted to watch that body squirm and writhe and moan and pant and blush and rise and fall—only to rise again—and rub and squeal and moan and groan and mewl.
He smirked. His mate could run, yes, but he sure as Hell couldn't hide.
Seto would rule the bed.