Chapter twenty-five: Tonight belongs to us
The next day was filled with preparations and anticipation, and not even Joey, who had barely slept all night and didn't feel the least bit rested, could resist the excitement which seemed to flow through every single member of the village.
They had been preparing this feast for almost two and a half week, so it was bound to be one of the greatest entertainments the village had ever seen.
Torches had been put everywhere, and the fire in the middle of the village was huge. The children were running around and begging their parents to light it soon, but the gown-ups refused, saying they had to wait until sun-down. A few kids had even been brave enough to ask Seto if he could light the fire for them, but the dragon had only stared at them blankly until they got the hint and slunk away.
Four long tables had been put in a large square around the fire, and apparently everyone was meant to sit on the outside of the square, because on the inside there would be space to dance close to the flames.
And speaking of dance… during the last few weeks different groups in the village, raging from young kids to teenagers, had been working on different numbers to entertain everyone with. Dance, song, plays, games, tale-telling: everything was allowed and anyone could participate. They made colourful costumes, practiced lines and scenes, planned game-rules, rehearsed lyrics and worked on their rhythm and timing to the sound of beautifully strung instrument. The spirits were high and the mood relaxed- this was meant to be fun for everyone, and thus far, it had been.
A few girls had picked beautiful flowers and plants, dried them and hung them everywhere, making the wonderful smell of flowers spread through the village. The youngest children had made drawings and decorations which had been fitted in with the flowers- the result being funny and pretty.
Wine- stored in large wooden casks- had been imported from one of the cities outside the forest. Bread, fruit, vegetables, steaks, potatoes, cakes, cookies, and so much more was being placed onto the tables, and the children had to be chased off constantly so that they wouldn't steal it.
And in the middle of it all, Joey was trying to find something to do.
"Just give me something to help with!" he almost begged Mai, trailing after the woman as she carried a large tray of mashed potatoes out to the tables. "I'm getting all itchy running around and doing nothing while the rest of you are working! Isn't there anything?!"
"Already told you, sweetie, we're almost done," Mai said and gracefully evaded a couple of kids as they raced after each other through the village. She glanced up at the sky, which was turning pink. "We'll light the torches soon anyway. Take it easy."
"But I'm bored," Joey whined, not caring that he made a pair of girls standing a few metres away giggle. "You and Isis and Malik and everyone else are taking care of the last preparations, Yugi, Yami, Ryou and Bakura are off rehearsing this 'special trick' they'll be showing us tonight, Mokuba's so hyper you can't talkto him right now, I don't even wanna know where Marik and Malik are, and Seto's dropped off the face of the earth since he brought us down here this morning." He frowned deeply at the last part of his rant, "where is Seto, anyway?"
"Oh, you know what he is like, always off doing his own thing," Mai said and put the plate down, not even looking at Joey as she turned and started to walk back to her house. Joey followed her stubbornly.
"Any you," he said, glaring at her back, "are avoiding me! Everyone is avoiding me! But you in particular! What the hell is going on with you, Mai? Some plot or something?"
"Don't be ridiculous," Mai said with a laugh, sounding only the slightest bit nervous. "Just because no one's paying attention to you doesn't mean anything's up, Joey. Honestly, with this whole feast going on and everything, you shouldn't be surprised that we don't have time for you. There's so much to do-"
"And yet you can't come up with anything I can do," Joey interrupted and stepped in front of her as she tried to escape into her house. "Mai, I'm not stupid."
"I know that."
"So tell me what's up!"
"Would you stop being so paranoid?" She sighed and rolled her eyes, finally meeting his gaze. "Nothing is up! There's just so much to do, and I don't have time for you right now."
A brief glaring-match took place between the two blondes, then Joey suddenly decided to change tactics. He took a step back and peered at Mai from under his fringe with hurt eyes. Mai had to hold back a smile at the look; he'd picked it up from Mokuba, no doubt.
"One would think that after all the time I've been away, my dear friend would wanna spend some time with me, but then I get the cold shoulder like this! Did I do something, Mai? Are you angry with me?"
"Stop it, you're acting like a baby," she said and rolled her eyes again, unable to keep the smile at bay anymore. "I promise we'll be spending some more time together toni… eh… uhrm… tomorrow, Joey."
The slip-up was a fatal mistake, because Joey instantly noticed it. Before anyone could blink, the hurt look was gone, replace by a sharp glare. He stepped in closer, getting in Mai's face.
"Why not tonight?" He snapped, following her as she took a few steps backwards. "You can't hang out tonight? What's gonna happen tonight, Mai? You've got something planned, haven't you? Does it involve me? It does involve me, doesn't it?! That's why you're trying to get away from me! What is it? You're being terribly unfair, not telling me! Do the others know? Is it a prank? Is it a surprise? Is it something embarrassing? Something mean? Something dangerous? You wouldn't do anything dangerous to me, would you?! Exactly how long have you been planning this? What is 'this'?! Why won't you tell me?! I though we were friends, Mai! Don't do this to me!"
"Isis!" Mai suddenly shriek as the healer came walking out of a house nearby. "Honey, would you be a dear and get this puppy off my back? He's in the way of my work." And she pushed Joey away from herself with an irritated snort.
Isis raised an eyebrow in amusement and walked over, dressed in one of her nicest dresses: a cream-coloured robe with a golden ribbon around her waist and shoulders. A golden necklace hung around her neck, and another golden ribbon with an emerald in the middle had been placed around her head, hanging down beautifully over her forehead. She looked almost regal in Joey's opinion.
"Joey, if you're not going to help, at least stay out of the way," Isis scolded him gently, and then, before Joey had time to protest, she turned to Mai and grabbed her arm. "I need to borrow Mai for a moment. I need some help with the drinks," she sent Mai a sharp look and the blonde woman nodded in understanding. Before Joey knew it, they had slunk off into Mai's house.
Well, damn! They could be fast when they wanted!
"Oh, and Joey," Isis said, sticking her head out the door again. "I took the liberty of fixing you some clothes for tonight. They're at Yugi's place. He said you could go and get them whenever you wanted."
And then she was gone again.
Joey stared at the spot where she'd stood only a moment earlier, then he sighed, raked a hand through his hair, turned and headed for Yugi's house.
Might as well do as she said.
It was so infuriating, but Joey had had this nagging feeling in the back of his mind all day. Mixed in with the anticipation for tonight was a sense that something wasn't quite right. And the fact that no one had time (or wanted) to talk to him only made it worse. Seto had brought them down to the village that very same morning, claiming that they should help with the last preparations, and then went off on somewhere Joey didn't have a clue. He'd spent all day hanging out and helping a little, but apparently, there wasn't much to do; hence his discussion with Mai earlier.
Mai and Isis' avoidance, as well as Seto's strange disappearance only confirmed his feeling, but no matter how much he pressed, Joey couldn't get anything out of the two women. And they were the only ones available; the mages were off somewhere; as were Marik and Malik, and as for Mokuba… he was running around like a headless chicken with the children, waiting for the torches to be lit. Joey had talked to the drakling and mentioned his strange feeling earlier that day, but Mokuba had just looked at him with those wide, confused eyes, and Joey had let it be.
It bothered him, he realized as he stepped into Yugi's home and found the clothes Isis had mentioned. He'd never been kept in the dark like this before. At least not here. Seto's involvement (and Seto had to be involved: why else would he just disappear like that?) was worst of all. The dragon had always been straight-forward and honest with him, and it just felt… wrong to know that Seto kept something from him. Especially since it seemed to concern him. It irritated him. Not to mention that... it kinda hurt a little.
Snorting and pushing that thought aside, Joey unbuttoned his shirt and started to change. He didn't have a right to feel hurt by Seto's behaviour. He intended to leave very soon, anyway. Seto didn't owe him anything. It was stupid to believe that the dragon cared, and even more stupid to be hurt by that knowledge! He only felt irritated because he couldn't get a hold of the dragon, to ask him to take him home. Yeah, that was it! He could pretend that was it…
It didn't take Joey long to change, but once he was done, the sky was finally turning dark and the children were running around like mad while their parents finally lit the torches and fire.
The clothes Isis had fixed for him were a beautiful red shirt with a pair of simple black pants, not to mention his belts with the sword. It wasn't the most elegant or flashy of outfits, but Joey had always been most comfortable in causal garments. Besides: it looked good on him.
He stepped out of the house and right into the flurry of people that had now filled the village.
Everyone was dressed in their finest robes- even the children- and now when the torches were lit, the whole village was surrounded by a beautiful red/yellow/orange glow. A faint smell of smoke mixed with the flowers, creating a strange but not unpleasant scent. The musicians –placed strategically in one of the spaces between the four long tables- had just started playing their first song; a beautiful tune with a good rhythm, making people sway and dance of their own accord.
Joey scanned the village for any of his friends, and was suddenly knocked over by a dark-grey blur. Next thing he knew, he was lying between Mokuba's front-legs, staring up at a grinning face.
"Joey it's started Joey isn't it awesome they've done a great job everything looks great I can't wait till the others get here I've never been to a party like this before and isn't it great?" Mokuba blabbered in a single breath before stepping off of him and lifting him to his feet. "Come on! Let's dance!"
And before Joey knew what was happening, Mokuba had dragged him out among the people who had started to dance. They still weren't many, so there was plenty of space for Mokuba to practice his moves, which he did with vigour. (Although Mokuba's 'moves' mostly consisted of bouncing around among the other dancers and bobbing his head.) Joey tried to keep up with him, but gave up after only a few minutes. He settled for swaying lightly to the beat while he let Mokuba do his thing (there was no point in trying to communicate with the kid when he was like this), scanning the village again.
All the torches were lit now, and most of the grownups had started to work on the massive fireplace, although it'd take some time to make the whole thing burn. Yugi, Yami, Ryou and Bakura had returned by now; they were standing by one of the cottages and talking animatedly, but when Yugi caught him looking at them he sent Joey a broad smile. The blond grinned back before letting his gaze wander again.
There were no signs of Mai or Isis yet. …Or Seto.
Joey sighed and turned back to Mokuba, deciding to push thoughts of the dragon out of his head for now. No matter what those three were planning, he would not let that destroy his night! He was gonna have fun!
"Mmm," Malik moaned, pulling lightly at the ropes around his wrists, although he knew they wouldn't give way. His partner's hot tongue slid up his throat form his collarbone, and he closed his eyes and tilted his head back submissively, all the while ignoring every ache and protesting muscle in his spent body. "'S getting late."
"The sun hasn't even set yet."
"Party will be starting soon…"
"We've got time for one more round."
Lips pressed against his own chapped ones before Malik had the chance to answer. Persuasive and demanding. He melted like he'd done so many times already.
"Okay," he simply breathed as Marik pulled back and grinned. "Once more."
Marik almost purred in satisfaction and settled above his bound form, and Malik couldn't help but be excited by his own helplessness.
"My lovely mate," Marik whispered in his ear and nibbled it harshly. "So obedient and dirty… what would your sister think if she found you like this… naked, bound on the ground, completely at my mercy, and liking it."
Malik growled a little at that, feeling a hint of irritation that his partner was bringing that up in a situation like this.
"Don't you worry about that," he breathed and then groaned as a hand snuck in between his legs and started massaging. "She's got her hands full right now…"
"Really?" Marik growled and used the fingers of his free hand to penetrate and stretch again… not that Malik needed any more stretching… "How come?"
Malik made a small sound of frustration. His sister was the last thing he wanted to discuss right now, but at the same time, he wasn't in control here. Marik held all the cards, and he'd just have to obey the werewolf until he was granted release, which he was already longing for immensely.
"Sh-she's busy helping Seto with his p-plan," he panted as the two fingers vibrated against that sensitive gland inside him. It felt so good…
"Mmmh… what plan?" Marik demanded while watching his mate's face closely, loving the helpless pleasure which was displayed there. Never had he believed that Malik would be this open with him after such a short amount of time, but it seemed like he had been restricting himself for far longer than Marik had thought.
"The plan to- ahh… to get Joey to stay… uhnn…"
Marik frowned and Malik tried to impale himself on the man's fingers, despite his tied wrists. He wanted to tell the other to hurry up, give him more, but who was he to demand? He, who had received such pleasure from this man already. He trusted his partner with this… but he wished Marik would hurry up!
"I haven't heard anything about that plan," Marik said, almost pouting. "Who told you that?"
Malik wanted to cry from frustration. Damn the man and his short attention-span.
"Who do you think?" He managed to sob out. "Isis is my sister. Now please… please, Marik!"
"Huh?" The guy blinked once in question, then a light dawned to him. "Oh, yeah! Right!"
If he hadn't been tied up and turned on, Malik would have glared and smacked him. As it was, he could only whimper softly as the fingers disappeared and was swiftly replaced with something much bigger. His legs wrapped around Marik's waist as he forced his screaming back to arch.
For a while the forest around them was filled with moans and panting. Malik held on for dear life as Marik pulled back and surged back into him again and again. The werewolf wasn't gentle in any way, but he didn't want him to be. He loved the harsh tempo and power in Marik's thrusts. It hurt slightly, but mixed with the pleasure as it was now; that pain was exquisite. He only wished his hands had been free, but even that longing brought him pleasure.
"Think it'll work?" Marik asked in the middle of one of Malik's ecstatic screams, and the smaller blond looked up at him with glazed over eyes. The sight caused another spike of arousal to travel through Marik, and he thrust even harder into his partner.
"W…work?" Malik moaned in confusion.
"The dragon's plan," Marik clarified while the hand still fisting Malik's arousal sped up. He smirked between harsh kisses to the boy's neck as Malik groaned in both ecstasy and frustration.
"I don't know!" Malik cried and tried to lift his hips even more, trying to get Marik deeper even though he was already spearing his prostrate with every thrust. "I don't know and don't care right now! Please just shut up and fuck me! Please!"
Marik growled as the walls surrounding his cock constricted, loving the feeling. Malik only did that when he was especially riled up, and didn't seem to know it himself. But Marik wasn't complaining at all.
"Already doing it, in case you haven't noticed," Marik couldn't help but tease some more, but finally showed some mercy on his partner. Three more powerful thrust and they came hard at the same time, floating in ecstasy and moaning each others' names. Marik tried to hold himself up on his forearms while Malik's whole being trembled underneath him and sent wonderful vibrations up his sensitive member.
After what felt like hours the younger of the two finally stilled and just lay there on the ground like a puddle of goo, and only then did Marik allow himself to collapse.
They stayed completely silent for a moment, then Marik swallowed and decided that one last teasing comment wouldn't hurt anyone.
"You know, I hope the dragon's plan works," he mumbled into Malik's neck and felt the man freeze beneath him. He grinned smugly. "The human is kinda amusing at times." He made an attempt to get up in his forearms, but moaned in surprise when Malik's inner passage constricted around him again.
"Nnnnh…" he managed to get out, and moved his hips in circular motions a few times. The warm waves coursing through his body at the motion were wonderful, and Malik bit his lip and whimpered into his shoulder.
"Shouldn't have done that, babe," Marik groaned and started moving his hips again. "God, we're never gonna get out of here…"
The moan he got from his mate in response told him that that might not be a bad thing.
For about an hour now, Joey had been successful in his attempts to not think about Seto.
He had spent most of the night mingling, dancing, eating and looking at all the funny shows the kids had put together. He'd been having fun; the food and company was great, the kids' entertainments were funny and cute, and the weather was perfect: cool without being cold and with a clear dark sky above their heads. He was laughing and joking around, and the warmth he always associated with home was still present in his chest and stomach.
After dinner Yugi and Ryou showed that trick they had been working on all day. While everyone was still seated at the tables, the two boys walked over to the fire in the middle and gave each other a smile and a nod before starting the show. They chanted a few magical words and made complicated hand-gestures, and after about a minute the fire spit, before it flared violently and two large separate flames rose into the air and practically danced over to Yugi and Ryou, circling the two boys like playful puppies.
Everyone gasped and clapped at the sight. With a light sheen of sweat covering their faces Yugi and Ryou started playing with their flames, ordering them to dance above the villagers' heads to the rhythmic beat of the instruments. The music and flames fit together perfectly. Yugi somehow made his flame look like a long Chinese dragon which made loops in the air and flew around his own body, so close his clothes almost caught fire. Ryou made stunts which looked just as risky, and yet no one worried; the boy's were obviously in control.
At one part of the show Joey glanced over at Yami and Bakura, who were seated a little to the side. The two enchanted mages had their eyes fixed on the younger boys, and they were practically glowing with pride.
And yet… despite the pride, Joey could see a hint of sadness in Yami's eyes, as well as bitterness in Bakura's. He felt a sting of compassion for the two, because in one way, Joey knew what it was like to have feelings for someone you could never truly be with.
And that marked the end of Joey's Seto-free thinking time. Immediately the blond let his eyes scan the village for any signs of white scales or blue eyes, but Seto still wasn't back. Neither were Isis and Mai or Marik and Malik.
He huffed a little at that; wasn't this supposed to be Malik's birthday party? Everyone seemed to have forgotten that completely, and Joey himself decided that there was no point in dwelling on it. Marik and Malik were probably off 'celebrating' somewhere by themselves, if the closeness Joey had seen between them in the last few days was any indication.
He tried to return his eyes to Yugi's and Ryou's show, but couldn't help but glance around every now and then, searching for Seto. The third time he caught himself doing it, he sighed and hid his face in his hands.
He really was a hopeless case.
At last Yugi and Ryou let the two flames return to the fire and collapsed in a chair each. They looked exhausted and yet elated, and Joey understood why. He'd heard Mai mention that fire-magic was extremely hard to perform.
And once again he found himself glancing around in search of the blonde bombshell or white dragon. Still no success.
And Joey felt completely pathetic.
"Cheer up!" Mokuba said form beside him and nudged him with his muzzle. The drakling had calmed down a little now, but the cheerful smile was still in place, and as usual Joey couldn't help but answer it with a smile of his own. "Let's go congratulate Yugi and Ryou! That trick was awesome!"
Sighing inwardly, Joey rose from his place and followed the young dragon over to their friends. All the kids had gathered around the two boys and were chatting excitedly like squirrels on crack, and Joey had to lift a few of them out of the way to get to his friends.
"What do you think?" Yugi asked him with a grin while the small girl he was holding in his arms played with a blonde lock of his fringe. "Not bad, was it? Yami said we might not make it, but Ryou and I just knew we could do it! And it was hard, but it felt great!"
"It looked great!" Joey answered and patted him on the back. Then he bent down a picked up a little boy who demanded to be carried. "Makes me wish I could use magic too! That trick was amazing!"
Ryou smiled broadly at him before walking over to Bakura and Yami, who were still sitting in the corner. He held two small kids in his arms, and Bakura almost looked pained as Ryou sat them down in front of him and they started running in circles around the wolf, laughing. Joey grinned at the sight; for all his bad boy-attitude, Bakura would never try to bite the kids. He was almost as whipped by them as he was by Ryou.
"Maybe Bakura should look out," Yugi laughed from beside him. "Ryou might want kids in the future. He loves them so much."
"Poor Bakura," Joey answered with an amused smirk. "Changing diapers and feeding babies would really ruin his image." They both laughed before Joey glanced at Yugi and added teasingly; "Not that he has to worry. Unless Ryou's into bestiality that won't happen anytime soon."
If Joey hadn't been watching Yugi closely, he never would have caught the glint of sadness in the boy's eyes. A glint which was quickly covered by a cheerful smile.
"Well, Ryou do seem the innocent type, but you never know," he answered with a wink, and Joey laughed while frowning on the inside.
"What are you two laughing about?" Yami asked as he suddenly landed on Yugi's shoulder. The boy's smile immediately intensified.
"Making babies," he answered right away, and the laughter which erupted from Joey was real this time, as he watched the look on Yami's face.
"I… see. …Well then, carry on."
But before Yami could spread his wings and fly away again Yugi laughed and patted his feathery back gently.
"Aw Yami, we'll stop if it makes you feel uncomfortable," he promised.
"Oh, I would not want to be a burden."
"Too late: you're sitting on my shoulder, remember?"
"Well, I will just take my leave then."
"Oh, I'm sorry Yami! Did I hit a sore spot? I was just kidding! You've practically weightless, anyway."
Joey watched this exchanged with amusement, then the boy in his arms suddenly tugged at one of his golden locks.
"This is boring!" The small child whined. "Wanna dance!"
Joey grinned at him.
"Well then, your wish is my command! Let's go!"
And he turned on his heels and marched towards the space between the tables and the fire, where couples were already dancing.
"Joey?" he turned around at the mention of his name and met ruby eyes.
"He'll show up eventually, you'll see," Yami said with a knowing twinkle in his eyes, and for some reason Joey could feel a blush rising on his cheeks.
Yami always had known everything.
With a small wave and a grumble, Joey turned again and marched off, leaving a smirking Yami and a slightly confused Yugi behind.
"This is it."
"Now or never."
"The fat lady sings."
"No turning back."
"End of the road."
"Last chance."
"Do or die."
"…Isn't that a bit extreme, Mai?"
"Nope, I told him if it didn't work, I'd kill him."
"As if you could ever kill me."
"I'd give you a live demonstration if the result wasn't permanent. Now are you gonna do this or not?"
"Of course I am."
"Well then…"
"…"
"…"
"…Aren't you going to try and stop me? No last warning? No admonition?"
"Would it help?"
"No."
"So what's the point."
"Hn. Smart move. I'm actually kind of relieved. You were starting to sound like a pair of broken records."
"Just shut up and get out there!
"…Be careful, Seto…. It's a young man's heart and mind you'll be toying with."
"There's the admonishment I was waiting for. So predictable, the two of you."
"Get out!"
A few more hours had passed, and Joey was bored. All the younger kids had been sent off to bed by now, and the fire- which was still burning as strongly and merrily as before- was surrounded by couples dancing. Every now and then Joey would spot Yugi, Ryou and Mokuba out there with some random girl or boy, laughing and joking good-naturedly. He himself had declined from a long line of dance-offers; he'd been dancing so much his feet were hurting, and he was perfectly fine just standing at the sidelines for a while, listening to the band.
Yami was sitting on the back of a chair with Bakura lying on the ground beside him. The wolf had taken the liberty of stealing a whole grilled chicken from the table, and no one dared protesting. Now he was chewing on it happily (or well… as happily as Bakura ever did things) all the while he and his birdlike friend kept an eye on their wards.
Seto, Isis and Mai were still missing. Marik and Malik had shown up about an hour ago with wrinkled clothes, looking tired and sated. No one had asked them what they'd been doing. They had simply been sent off to Mai's house to clean up, and that was that. Now they were sitting at one of the tables, talking to a few middle-aged men. Or well, Malik was talking, and Marik was just sitting there, looking unbelievably smug because the other boy was sitting in his lap without protest.
As for the other three… Joey was starting to think they wouldn't show up, and that made disappointment well up inside him like a bitter liquid. He was desperately trying to tell himself it was only because he needed to ask Seto to take him home, but it was useless to lie: he wanted to hang out with Seto. He missed his company; his very presence. Missed their banters and discussions. Even those sharp eyes looking at him.
Sighing, Joey admitted to himself that he had it bad, and tried to push the thought away. He was so ashamed of himself; hanging around and waiting for Seto like a… like a puppy (and he loathed to admit it). He had to find something else to do before he went mad with embarrassment and frustration.
Looking around, Joey scanned the village for a dance-partner. Ironically, now when he wanted one, everyone seemed to be taken. The band had just started a new song, with flutes and drums as the main instruments, with a hint of guitar and maracas, and the rhythm was stirring, to say the least. Joey himself couldn't help but bob his head and sway his hips in time with it, as the talented singer- a boy Joey's own age- started to sing.
"One day I looked up, and there you were,
like a simple question, looking for an answer.
Now I am a whale, listening to some inner call,
swimming blindly to throw myself upon your shore
What if I don't find you when I have landed?
Would you leave me here to die on your shore stranded?
I think I know why the dog howls at the moon.
I think I know why the dog howls at the moon…"
"Sorry I'm late," a dark, very familiar voice said from behind him suddenly, and the sound of it made Joey's chest ease up with relief and warmth. He allowed a lovesick little smile to grace his lips for a moment, before slipping on a mask of indifference.
"About time you showed up!" He scolded good-naturedly as he turned around to face Seto with a cheeky grin. "I was almost starting to think that you… wouldn't…"
Joey's voice died away and his eyes widened at the sight before him. It wasn't Seto… except it was… and yet not… it couldn't be!
There was a man standing in front of him. A tall, slender, elegant man with short, chestnut coloured hair which hung down over his forehead. Broad shoulders, defined torso, narrow waist and long legs, all hidden beneath a white silk-shirt and a pair of dark blue pants. His face… oh god, his face; it was thin yet masculine, with an aristocratic nose and high cheekbones. Pink lips were curved into a smirk (a very, very familiar smirk) and those ocean eyes were fixed on Joey's own like lasers. The light from the torches gave his hair and eyes a strange, almost magical glow, and the blond suddenly felt how his knees started to shake.
"Seto?!"
It was impossible, and yet it could be no one else. The eyes, the expression, and the voice couldn't belong to anyone else.
"Hello, Joey."
It was Seto…
Seto was a human…
Later on, Joey would smack himself for it, but that instant, that second when he first caught sight of Seto's human form, he froze up completely. He stood rigid and just stared, unable to take his eyes of the man while shock, disbelief, embarrassment and joy danced around in his body.
What? How? When? Why? Where?
So many questions, and yet Joey's tongue was glued to the roof of his mouth. He watched as Seto's smirk faltered a little at his empty expression; watched the man (MAN!) shift his weight from one foot to the other, and still he couldn't bring himself to do anything.
But honestly; who could blame him? It's not everyday that the dragon you have a crush on turns into a human right in front of your eyes (and a very attractive human, at that). He had so many questions he didn't know where to start, and so many new scenarios and fantasies were popping up in his head at the mere sight of this handsome man. Joey debated pinching himself. Maybe he had fallen asleep at one of the tables after too much wine, and this was all a dream?
Before he could really consider that suggestion properly, Seto decided that the silence had been going on for way too long.
"Hey, human?" He asked with his usual gruff tone and poked Joey's forehead harshly. "I didn't fry the little brain you have left, did I?"
Joey snapped out of it then, batting the hand away and rubbing his forehead. Well, at least now he knew he wasn't dreaming: that had hurt!
"Shut up!" He snapped out of habit, and Seto's smirk returned again.
"Oh good, you're still alive," he teased, taking a step closer. "I was really starting to fear that I had overheated your brain or something. The look on your face made you look like a dead fish."
Joey glared up at him (because the guy was still taller than him by almost a head… bastard…) completely ignoring the little part of his mind which was swooning at that gorgeous face.
"Well, I know a whole bunch of dead things I could compare you with, but then I'd walk around feeling nauseous for the rest of the night," he snapped, making Seto smirk even wider. He made a rough gesture at Seto's body… Seto's HUMAN body! "What the hell have you gone and done to yourself?!"
That came out sounding a lot rougher that he had intended, but come on: he was freaked out!
Seto's smirk faltered a little again, and Joey could detect a flicker of displeasure in his eyes, but he quickly forgot that when the man took another step closer and leaned over a little, bringing their faces within an inch of each other.
"I thought that would be obvious," the brunette breathed, making hot air ghost over Joey's face. Every single function in the blonde's body came to a screeching halt, before starting to jump around like crazy inside his body. "I am- for the night- human." He pulled back a little, not breaking eye contact. "Is that a problem?"
You're damn right it's a problem! Who the hell do you think you are, suddenly just showing up in the body of a fucking demi-god, acting as if everything's perfectly normal?! Are you insane?! Do you have any idea what this is doing to me?! It IS a fucking problem because you're making me wanna writhe at you feet and jump you like a fucking animal, and not only because of your body, cause you've still got this kick-ass personality which is unbearable and awesome at the same time and if you knew what I'm thinking right now my pride and honour would be completely pulverized, and why do you have to be so FUCKING GORGEOUS!?
"N-no…" Great! Now I'm stuttering too! You are such an ASSHOLE!
"Good," Seto stated smugly, and before Joey knew it, he'd grabbed one of the blonde's hands in his own (soft… warm… smooth… human…) and dragged him out in front of the fire, where all the other couples had stopped dancing to stare at them. Joey didn't even notice them.
"Let's dance."
Well… if you insist…
"O…okay." Asshole. Gorgeous.
"I have to admit," Seto murmured as he pulled the blond prince to him by one hand and placed his other at Joey's waist, starting to sway to the beat. "You're taller than I thought."
"That's because you're usually four times my size," Joey answered distractedly and automatically moved his body to match Seto's, thanking the gods that they weren't dancing waltz or anything like it. He might have taken dancing-lessons since he was a kid, but with Seto pressed against him like this… he could barely concentrate on talking! "I can't believe you're human. How?"
"It's nothing a potion can't fix," Seto said and spun them around once, then falling back in step easily, his hand resting very low on Joey's back. The blond gripped his upper arms a little tighter. "I asked Mai to brew it for me before we left for Tangea. It allows me to take on any shape I want for twenty-four hours, and then I will turn back to my old dragon self. But it's extremely rare and hard to brew, not to mention that the ingredients are hard to find. Fortunately Mai had just enough of every ingredient left to make me some, but this occasion probably won't ever come again."
"Oh, I see," Joey said snappily as he let himself be spun under Seto's arm then brought back to the man's (MAN'S) chest. "You've been planning this for a long time, haven't you? Sneaky bastard."
"That's my middle name." And the hand slithered down and gave his ass a firm squeeze before moving back up and settling on his back again. Joey went red as a tomato and tried to glare at the brunette, but he couldn't ignore the electricity which had travelled up his spine at the touch. Seto's smug smirk didn't make anything better. With a huff he spun around so that his back was to Seto's chest, allowing the brunette to place his hands on his hips and guide him in the dance.
As they pressed and moved against each other rhythmically, Joey was struck by a thought.
"You know, for someone who's never been in a human body before, you sure know how to move," he remarked and raised one of his hands above and behind himself, sliding fingers through soft brown hair. It was every inch as smooth and warm as the scales had been, and he heard Seto exhale softly; shakily, before he answered:
"It's pretty easy, really. You just have to keep up with the rhythm. Besides, I've been watching humans dance at feasts like this for years. You learn quite a lot just from studying." The hands at Joey's hips spun him around so that they were facing each other again, and Joey's arms automatically wove themselves around Seto's strong neck. They stared into each others eyes.
"Oh," was the only thing Joey could come up with to say. Truth to be told, he felt a little stupid. He'd had so many questions about all of this, and now… now he couldn't remember a single one of them!
They danced in silence for a little while, and finally Joey noticed the attention they were receiving form everyone around them. Some people had started to dance again, but most were standing in small groups, whispering and staring at them with sparkling eyes. A large group had gathered around Yugi and Ryou to ask questions, but it was Yami and Bakura -who were now standing beside the two boys- who were answering. Looked like they had known about this for a while.
Isis and Mai had shown up too. They both carried looks of concern, although with a small hint of excitement, and they were standing beside the band, which hadn't missed a single beat as this strange new couple entered the dance floor. They just kept playing and singing that beautiful song, and Joey listened to the lyrics for a moment.
"A blind bird sings inside the cage that is my heart
The image of your face comes to me when I'm alone in the dark
If I could give a shape to this ache that I have for you
If I could find the voice that says the words that capture you."
"There's just one more thing…" Joey said and looked up at Seto, who was still holding him tightly.
"Hn?" Seto said and met his gaze, still swaying them lightly in time to the beat, his eyes dark and beautifully blue.
"Just… why?" Joey asked with a frown. "Why did you do this? Turn yourself into a human. I thought you… hated humans…"
Seto raised an eyebrow at him, then gave him a small, heavy-lidded smirk (dear gods, he was gorgeous!).
"'Why', Joey?" He repeated softly. "I thought it was obvious…" and the next thing Joey knew, soft, pale hands were at his cheeks, framing his face and tilting it back a fraction- not uncomfortably, but perfect for Seto to bend down and ki…
"So I could do this."
And then Seto pressed his hot lips to Joey's in the most amazing kiss.
The reaction was immediate: fireworks went off inside Joey's head and a warm feeling exploded throughout his whole being. It burned inside him, clogged up his throat; made it impossible to breathe. It made his heart beat loudly in his ears, his fingers itch and his knees shake like crazy.
Before he knew it, Joey's eyes had slid shut and he was wrapping his arms around Seto's neck; pressing himself closer. He felt like a thick, hot… mass was growing inside; like he was going to burst, and it was ecstasy and torture all over.
Something hot and wet was probing at his lips, and Joey opened his mouth without thinking, allowing Seto's tongue inside. It was as if the brunette was a blind man, using his tongue instead of his eyes to feel and create a picture. His tongue was everywhere, sliding over Joey's teeth and the roof of his mouth and the insides of his cheeks, caressing Joey's own tongue the way you caress silk. The blond trembled and whimpered at this sweet assault, and there was no world outside of Seto and himself.
He wasn't aware of the wide-eyed stares some of the older members of the village were giving them, nor the cat-calls and wolf-whistles from the younger ones. He didn't realize Mokuba, Ryou and Yugi were beaming at him happily, or that Bakura and Yami were regarding them with satisfaction and a hint of envy. He didn't see Isis and Mai exchange a look before shrugging and smiling faintly… or even heard the song the band kept playing happily in the background.
"I've been waiting for you all my life; hoping for a miracle
I've been waiting day and night, day and night!
I've been waiting for you all my life; waiting for redemption
I've been waiting day and night, I burn for you."
Seto broke away far too soon, and Joey whimpered and followed those wonderful lips. It took several smaller kisses before the two were ready to break apart completely, and then they could only stare at each other for a moment, completely enticed. Now Joey realized he needed air, and thought it was a good thing that Seto was in control here. Had it been up to Joey, they would have passed out from lack of air.
"W-where did you learn how to kiss like that?" Joey managed to get out and immediately cleared his throat, as his voice had been at least three octaves too high.
He just had to know. No one he'd ever met- no one, not even Siegfried!- had been that good a kisser. And Seto had never kissed anyone before! Unless there was something he wasn't telling Joey…
But to Joey's great surprise, Seto actually looked away in embarrassment at the question. And was that a faint blush on his cheeks?!
"Mai…" Seto said after a moment's hesitation, and Joey froze up completely. The brunette's almost pained expression told him that no, Seto wasn't joking. A heavy silence fell between them, and Joey was unpleasantly reminded of that time… with the dead cow….
"O…ookaaay," he said at last, and Seto kept boring holes in the ground with his eyes. "Let's never… ever talk about that again…"
"Agreed," Seto agreed quickly.
Another silence.
Please, not this again!
"Can we…" Joey blushed faintly, cleared his throat and took a step forward. "Can we do it… again?"
Seto's head snapped up and blue eyes met brown. Joey gave him one of his genuine smiles, shy and anticipating, with pink still dusting his cheeks. Seto studied him intently for a moment, taking in every single detail of this boy. He'd seen him in his dreams a number of times… but now he realized just how pale a dream was in comparison to the real thing. Funny; he'd always been told it was the other way around.
"Well, if you insist," he murmured and smirked softly.
Joey scoffed and stepped in even closer, wrapping his arms around Seto's neck again as he stood up on his tip-toes to reach. Seto helped by wrapping his own arms around a slim waist and pulling Joey against him, immediately plunging into another searing kiss.
Maybe Joey should have been jealous or angry at Mai for kissing Seto before he did, but all he could do was thank the woman mentally for teaching him. Once again, his body was swimming and his head shaking… or was it the other way around? Ah, who cared? He had Seto's tongue down his throat! That was all that mattered!
This was turning into a full-blown make-out session in the middle of the village for anyone to see, and Joey loved every moment of it! As if Seto's skilled tongue wasn't enough, his hands suddenly found their way beneath Joey's shirt, and somehow the blonde's being took a giant leap from Euphoria to Heaven. The soft palms stroking his back sent rippling fire down his nerve-endings and Joey arched into the touch, then back into Seto, not knowing which he wanted to get closer to; body or hands.
Seto practically had to pry him off this time, and even as he did, he let out a barely audible groan of longing. His hand left Joey's bare back and settled on his hips along with its twin, and that was good: Joey could barely stand on his own anymore.
"We should take this somewhere private," Seto husked, eyes fixed on Joey's own dazed ones. "We need to talk…"
"Uhm…" Joey murmured and blinked to clear his head. "T-talk? Yeah… yeah, that's a good idea." And maybe kiss some more. Kissing is good. Especially with you… please, can we kiss some more?
Seto studied him for a moment longer before nodding and tuning on his heels, knowing Joey would follow close behind. Suddenly Joey noticed all the people around them. Most were still watching- in interest more than shock now- and a few, his friends among others, gave him encouraging smiles. Joey quickly answered those smiles before bending his head to hide his blush.
"Oi! Human!" Marik called as the two walked passed him and Malik. "It's a good thing all the kiddies have been put to bed, don't you agree?"
Joey's blush intensified even more, and he shot Marik a withering glare, but only got a grin in response. Seto didn't seem to react at all, unless you counted the fact that he picked up his pace a little.
The brunette led him out of the village and over the meadow behind it, and didn't stop until they reached the lake. The village looked like a glowing globe in the distance, accompanied by the barely audible sounds of music and voices. This was the most privacy they could get without going into the forest, and Joey stopped for a moment at the lakeside, just studying the beauty before him.
The clear, dark blue sky covered in small diamond-like stars was reflected in the water, as was the golden moon – about half full. He didn't feel the least bit cold; the summer-night was perfect for staying outside. Joey doubted he'd feel cold even if he took his clothes off.
And that sudden thought made him blush like mad. Pushing it aside, Joey cleared his throat again and turned around to face Seto.
His breath caught as his eyes met the other man's. Seto looked almost ethereal in the moonlight: his pale skin was glowing and his hair seemed to have silver strands in it. The eyes stood out too, much sharper than usual –burning- and completely fixed on Joey.
The blond swallowed thickly.
"S-so what was it you wanted to… to talk about…?"
Seto didn't answer. Two long strides and he stood in front of Joey. He caught the smaller boy in his arms again and looked down at him; his face completely serious.
"You are beautiful, Joey."
He didn't even have time to gasp as Seto dove down and kissed him again. This was… different somehow. Fiercer; hotter, but no less exciting. Joey buried one hand in brown hair and held on to Seto's back tightly as the dragon-turned-man bent him over backwards lightly, like they do in the oldest romance-novels. Joey had never understood why they did that, but he knew now. It made him truly feel the fact that he was completely at Seto's mercy, and at the same time it made him feel completely secure, because he knew that this man would never drop him.
Comprehension of time abandoned Joey, leaving him unable to determine how long Seto kissed him like that. He was only aware of a hot, wet, velvety tongue and the small groans Seto occasionally released into his mouth. He was like a limp noodle, hanging in Seto's arms and clinging weakly. All he could do was whimper softly and caress Seto's tongue back at the best of his ability, because the brunette was like a wall of fire or something, completely unrelenting, completely dominating.
Once he finally did set Joey back on his feet, time seemed to stop for a moment. They stood less than a metre apart, staring, and completely transfixed.
And then, as if they had both been counting the seconds, they reacted at the same moment.
It was similar to the way two wild animals would clash at the first facedown in a battle for dominance. Only this was a lot less violent and a lot more passionate.
Their lips were pressed together so tightly it was almost painful, mouths open wide as tongues danced madly. Joey's hands were once again fisting Seto's hair (he couldn't help it! It was so soft and warm) and Seto's own hands were everywhere; stroking his back, his sides, his ass, his chest, exciting him even more.
Above clothes, underneath clothes… no place was left untouched, and it was wonderful.
Hastily Joey moved his hands from Seto's hair to his shirt, pulling at it impatiently. Anything remotely close to rational thought had left him. He just knew that Seto was here, gorgeous and human for one night, and he wasn't gonna waste that time talking.
In short: Joey wanted him. He wanted to feel him on top of him. He wanted to feel him inside him. He just fucking wanted him and that's all that mattered at the moment.
Finally, the damn shirt came undone and Joey yanked it off his shoulders none-too-gently, letting it fall to the ground uselessly. Seto gave a little grunt of satisfaction as Joey's hands started to roam. He was all smooth skin and slender muscles, and Joey thought it was a sin to hide something that beautiful beneath clothes. This man deserved to be worshipped!
Yanking his lips from Seto's, Joey immediately latched in to his pulse point, longing to taste… to touch. It was almost… sweet to him, but then again, that might just have been his imagination. Either way, Joey liked it, and started lapping a trail down Seto's throat like a cat licks the cream off a platter, sucking at his collarbone and chest, not even realizing he was making small mewling noises until Seto pointed it out.
"Those sounds…" the brunette panted and started yanking at Joey's own shirt, obviously wanting to even out the odds. "Are one of the hottest things I've ever heard…"
Joey placed a teasing lick to one pink nipple, loving the shiver and rolling of hips it produced, and then stopped his ministrations to look up at him with eyes at half-mast. When Seto gave him a mildly confused look, he smirked coyly and moaned, long, loud and extremely enthusiastic.
Seto's eyes went from Deep Ocean to almost pitch black in a second.
Playtime was over; Joey's ass was his.
Brilliant as he was, Seto chose a much more effective way of removing Joey's shirt, simply yanking it up over the boy's head and forcing him to lift his arms. Before he knew it, Joey was half-naked and spread out on the ground like a virgin sacrifice with a wild young man hovering above him
He didn't mind at all.
Seto kissed him deeply again, and his clever hands slithered down to Joey's pants. Seto had never undone a pair of pants in his whole life, but somehow he made swift work of Joey's. Even as the kiss continued, Joey felt the man pull at his trousers and he obediently raised his hips so they could slide off without problem. He shivered as the damp grass came in contact with his overheated skin, and the contrast made heat flow through his body even stronger. At the same time his cock –hard as a rock by now- seemed to give a sigh of relief at being freed. He whimpered as Seto placed his larger frame above his own, covering him like a blanket.
"Work of art," Seto murmured, his lip less than a millimetre from Joey's. The blonde stroked his sides and tilted his head a little, showing that he was more than ready for that kiss the closeness promised.
It never came though, and Joey mewled in protest as Seto went lower, licking at his neck the same way he himself had done only a few moments earlier. He let out a soft gasp as the brunette found a sensitive spot right below his jaw, sending jolts of pleasure down his spine and to his groin.
"So vocal," Seto muttered into his skin and travelled lower. "At least I know what feels good for you."
Joey didn't know what to say to that (was it a compliment or an insult?), and decided that it didn't matter anyway when Seto came across one of his nipples on his journey. Joey arched clear off the ground and cried out at the first light contact. One of his hands flew to Seto's head, fisting his hair, while the other desperately grabbed the ground. He panted like a dog in heat as Seto made a brief pause at that spot, licking and sucking it, and humped his hips even though it didn't soothe the burning in his groin at all.
To his disappointment Seto soon moved on. Lower he went, tonguing his bellybutton, his hip, his tight, and then-
"Oh gods yes Seto please!"
Seto glanced up at him with a small smirk, knowing this was the object he had subconsciously been looking for. With his eyes trained on Joey's face, he bent down and gave the boy's erection another quick lick, marvelling at the moan and tremble it ripped from him. Joey's reactions were just so… delicious!
Wanting more of that, Seto bent down and tested the waters, bringing Joey's whole cock into his mouth and sucking.
It hurt. It felt so good it hurt. That was the only way Joey could explain it. He sat up on his forearms and tried to watch what Seto was doing, but his neck refused to support his head and it fell backwards, leaving his throat beautifully exposed.
Seto loved that sight; the blush on Joey's cheeks, his swollen lips, his dark eyes, seductive and yet submissive position, and most of all; his trembling body, covered in a light sheen of sweat despite the cool summer-night. It was such a beautiful sight Seto knew for sure that it would never fully leave his retinas.
Almost without noticing it, Seto's own hand slid down to rub at the painful bulge in his own pants while he took more of Joey's length into his mouth. The waves of pleasure that the touch caused had him moaning loudly, and that in turn made Joey cry out and writhe at the vibrations around him.
It was a chain. A beautiful, unbreakable chain where every singe action affected the whole line. Seto made it his mission to fully explore this chain, so for the next few minutes he did his best to show Joey heaven. He altered between sucking and licking, even taking the opportunity to blow hot air over Joey's cock a few times. This always caused the younger man to shudder and spout a long line of gibberish, and Seto loved it.
But somehow it wasn't enough. Instinct was telling Seto that there was more to come, and he didn't want to find release within his own hand anyway. Therefore, he regretfully tore himself away from his lover, watching for a moment how Joey handled the separation.
"Don't stop…" he sobbed and looked up at Seto with shining amber eyes. "Please Seto… more… I want you… please…"
He looked perfect like this: horny, submissive and ravished, and Seto grabbed his hand, pulling Joey into a sitting position and crushing their lips together needily. He managed to lure Joey's tongue into his own mouth this time, and once there he captured it between his lips and sucked it the same way he'd done his manhood a moment earlier. The blond melted into him completely.
"Joey," Seto whispered between kisses. "Joey, I want to… want you… but this body… You'll have to show me how…" Of course he knew the basics, but being knew in this whole I'm-human-thing, Seto didn't know exactly what to do.
Luckily, Joey understood –somewhere in his sex-dazed brain- what he was trying to say, and felt anticipation stir inside him. This was really happening… they were gonna have sex, for real. The very thought made pre-cum leak from the tip of his erection, and an animalistic need welled up inside him.
He pulled back a fraction, looking deeply into Seto's eyes.
"No clothes…" he whispered shakily, and Seto nodded. It took the brunette less than a minute to get his pants off, and he gave a relieved sigh as his member was freed. He stroked it a few times –just because it felt good- before settling back in front of Joey and kissing him softly.
"Are you sure about this?" He asked huskily, and Joey chuckled.
"You serious?" He answered and looked down at his own straining erection pointedly. Seto chuckled too, before sitting down on his ass and pulling Joey into his lap so that the blond was straddling him.
"Then show me how to do this," Seto whispered to him and nibbled that sensitive spot he'd found earlier at Joey's jaw.
As Seto pulled Joey into his lap, their erections brushed against each other, and Joey took this opportunity to push them together more firmly; rolling his hips forward and down. Both men moaned softly at the friction, and Joey looked down for a moment, almost drooling at the sight. It was a beautiful contrast; his was shorter, but wider in girth, and was a creamy shade. Seto's, meshed up against his own, was long and slender –much like the rest of him- and just as pale, although the heads of both erections were a deep red now.
As they moved, their cocks were crushed in between their sweaty bodies, and the pleasure was exquisite… but it wasn't enough.
They both needed more, and Joey knew what it would take to satisfy them. Or well… much like Seto, he knew the basics. He was a virgin after all, and not experienced in the realm of male-male sex. He didn't know about things like preparation and lubrication. And at the moment he was completely caught up in his lust.
Had Joey been a little less horny, he might have been able to think, but as it was, he let his impatience guide him as he raised himself a little higher, positioned himself over Seto's cock and impaled in a single thrust.
Eyes widening considerably, Joey screamed as the burning pain tore through him. At the same moment, Seto moaned and clutched his waist desperately while tight, hot friction engulfed him. It was utter pain for one, and ultimate pleasure for another.
They sat like that for a while, both trembling violently -but for completely different reasons- then a broken sob from Joey ripped Seto from his euphoria. Looking up, his heart froze to ice at the sight of tears streaming down the boy's cheeks.
"Joey," he rasped, reaching up with one hand to wipe the tears away. "What…?"
"I-it hurts," Joey choked out, all the while trying to keep from trembling, as any movement made the pain worse. "Hurts so bad… I… I can't…"
Understanding dawned in Seto's eyes. Cooing softly, he started placing soft kisses all over Joey's throat and chest, allowing one hand to slide down and massage his butt-cheek while the other went to his erection, pumping slowly as a distraction.
"It will get better," he promised quietly, and at the same time kept an iron grip on his own instinct to just start thrusting into that tight heat. It was sheer torture and utter bliss all rolled into one. "Hang on, Joey. It will get better. I promise."
"S-Seto… it… it…"
"I know… just try to relax. It will get better. Just relax…"
After a few painful, endless, insane minutes, Seto could feel the younger boy start to relax. The trembles grew weaker, and his ass relaxed beneath Seto's fingers. At the same time Joey's erection, which had almost disappeared at the pain, was reawakening.
When Joey let out a small mewl, Seto decided that it was worth the risk: he slowly started moving his hips in circular motions, making his cock move only a little inside the boy. Even such a small action had him groaning loudly and biting his lip so that he wouldn't lose control. Joey whimpered and let his head fall back, giving Seto silent permission to ravage his skin.
Seto used that opportunity as a distraction both for himself and Joey, sucking and biting the boy softly, paying extra attention to his sensitive nipples.
Another few minutes had Joey moving his hips on his own accord. Giving a sigh of relief, Seto took this as permission to move. He lifted Joey by using the hand on his ass, not missing a single stroke to his cock, and then released him, allowing Joey to slide back down on his own. Both of them groaned as Seto's manhood was once again swallowed whole, and Joey grabbed the brunette's shoulders and held on desperately. Instinctively, Seto's grip on Joey's own cock hardened, and it made the blond whimper and spasm.
Next time Joey both lifted himself up and brought himself down, his eyes locked with Seto's, allowing the man to see every feeling; every though flickering through his head.
This slow, simple, and yet completely mind-blowing movement soon found a rhythm. And after only a little while this rhythm picked up as Joey relaxed more and more, discovering the pleasure he could get form the friction between Seto's cock and his own inner walls.
Soon the air was filled with starlet gasps and moans; soft mewls of pleasure and occasionally one of pain.
Seto abandoned Joey's erection for a moment to let his hands slide up the blonde's sides, watching Joey closely. He had his head thrown back now, and was staring up at the dark sky in a complete daze with his mouth wide-open as he struggled for breath. His blonde hair was sticking to his sweaty forehead and his chest was heaving, and Seto grew even harder at this beautiful sight. He tested his ground a little by thrusting his hips upward softly, and then-
"Oh, Seto, right there, please!"
…he found something.
Fascinated by this violent and pleasurable reaction, Seto tried again, his thrust a little firmer this time…
…and Joey screamed.
"Anything…" he panted, lost in the throes of passion, and Seto was the one who had taken him there. "I'll do anything, just please, by the gods don't stop!"
Seto didn't have any intention to stop. Not when every thrust to that same place made Joey's passage constrict around him to the point where he thought it would cut his fucking dick clean off! Instead, he sped up, and Joey did the same, their paces matching each other perfectly, because every time Joey sunk down, Seto slammed up, making them meet in the middle in a beautiful clash.
Joey was chanting his name now, screaming it to the stars like it was the most powerful word in the universe. He wasn't even a human anymore, and neither was Seto. They were creatures ruled entirely by their pleasure, and Seto knew he wouldn't be able to stop, no matter what happened. He was a prisoner in this, as was Joey, and it was frightening and exciting and oh so very pleasurable.
Joey almost fell off his lap a few times, but Seto refused to let him go, holding on firmly with one arm around his waist while the other found his erection once again. The blonde's head lulled forward again, and their lips met in a wet, sloppy kiss without stopping their thrusts for even a second. Saliva dribbled down Joey's chin, and Seto licked it up greedily before plunging his tongue into his lover's mouth again.
Because that was what they were.
Lovers.
"Seto…" Joey whispered, and when their eyes met, the older could see that his own thought had been in Joey's head too.
Lovers.
"You're amazing," he told the boy on his lap and meant every syllable, every letter. He got a beautiful smile and a deep kiss in return.
A few more thrusts, a few seconds of painful crescendo; reaching for something Seto had no idea what it was, and then Joey constricted around him –hotter and tighter than ever before- and something just exploded inside the brunette.
Releasing a moan which almost sounded like Joey's name, he climaxed violently, clutching the boy to him like a lifeline while hot liquid filled the blond from the inside. He was barely aware that Joey was trembling and sobbing his name too, and holding on to Seto's head for all he was worth while his own orgasm ripped through his body like a tidal-wave, leaving only sore muscles and lungs without air in its wake.
And then it was all gone. And yet not, because there was a beautiful, perfect, trembling boy sitting above him and sobbing his name into his hair, and that wasn't any less wonderful then what they had just done.
Seto leaned back a little and looked up at his lover. His eyes were still dazed; a beautiful dark amber, peering out from under sweaty golden hair, and Seto was proud, because this was his creation -his alone- and no one could take it from him, or even see it except him.
Joey nuzzled his hand as he reached up to stroke his hair out of his eyes, and the dragon-turned-man's chest swelled with uncontrollable feelings.
No words were exchanged as they separated and curled up on their clothes, huddled close together. Joey put his head to Seto's chest and listened to the strong heartbeat, feeling warm and sated even though they didn't have any shelter or blankets.
This was the meaning of life, he decided contently. To belong with another person like this. To feel safe and protected, and know you'll never truly be alone again, because even if that person dies or disappears, they'll always be there like a voice in the back of your head, or a dream which visits you every night.
A sudden thought crossed his mind, and Joey chuckled softly. Seto's arm, which was slung over his shoulders, tightened a little and then the brunette started caressing his arm lovingly.
"What are you laughing about?" He asked softly.
"I just remembered something…" Joey answered and nuzzled his firm chest. "In my family, there's this tradition… for the last two hundred years, every single one of my ancestors have found their soul mate on their eighteenth birthday."
"So?"
"So… we might not have been properly introduced… but I met you on my eighteenth birthday."
Seto stayed silent for a moment, contemplating this, and then he just 'hm'ed softly and continued to caress Joey's arm.
"This is probably the most fucked up relationship in the world," he stated dryly after a while, and Joey snorted softly.
"In all worlds." He agreed.
"In the universe."
"Through known history."
"Through time."
"Through all times."
Both of them dissolved in soft chuckling after that, still somewhat dazed from their emotional high. Another short, comfortable silence followed, then Joey yawned and kissed Seto's chest.
"I wouldn't have it any other way," he stated contently, closing his eyes.
Seto moved his hand from Joey's arm to his hair, caressing his scalp. The blond purred.
"Neither would I."
Silence. A long one this time. Then Seto broke it.
"Joey, I have a confession to make."
"Hm?" Joey answered, already half-asleep.
"Remember our deal? The one about trust?"
"Uh huh…"
"Well, the thing is… I've trusted you for some time now, but I didn't tell you. …I didn't want you to leave."
"I figured as much."
"You are not upset?"
Joey opened his tired eyes and glanced up at his companion disbelievingly.
"You expect me to have the energy to be angry after what we just did?" He asked, and Seto smirked softly at him. He put his head back on the older man's chest and closed his eyes again. "Besides… I don't think I wanted me to leave either…. Now sleep."
But Seto wasn't as tired as Joey. That little confession had woken him up good again, and now he stared up at the sky thoughtfully for a moment, before speaking up again.
"I think we could be great together, Joey. If you stayed."
"Mhm…"
"I've never felt like this before. You make me feel like…" a pause, to try and find the right words, "like there's still hope. Like I have a future, after all. And I want you in that future, any way I can. This might be a one time thing, but it doesn't change the way I feel about you. We can make this work, I think. Joey?"
A soft snore was his only answer. Seto stared in disbelief at his sleeping mate for a moment, before chuckling and rolling his eyes up at the night-sky.
"The first time I open up in four-hundred years, and you fall asleep on me! Idiot…" he scolded softly, and stroked a blond lock aside so he could see his lover's face properly. He could get used to falling asleep to that sight.
"Sleep tight, my love."
Disgustingly fluffy and OOC at the end, but hey, none of us knows what Kaiba's like after a good fuck, so get off my back! I couldn't come up with anything better, so sue me! .
This was actually… PAINFUL to write! DX I couldn't get anything right! You know that feeling when you just KNOW you could do better, but it just won't work out? Yeah, that's what I feel for this chapter. I think I've lost my talent.
Yes, Seto and Joey are now officially in a relationship. Will they make it work? What will happen next? Stay tuned for the next chapter of… DRAGON'S KISS!! DUN DUN DUUUUUUN!!
…Sorry, I'm running on toast and chocolate right now. Time's almost five in the morning here, so I really need to sleep now!
Sorry for any and every misspelling, but I'm not fully conscious right now; please bear with me! I've probably forgotten a number of things I was supposed to say in this chapter, but GAWDAMMIT! I NEED SLEEP! 3X
Oh, and please leave a review! PLEASEPLEASEPLEASEPLEASEPLEASEPLEASEPLEASEEEE!
I'm done now…
Until next time!
R&R!!