Author's Note: The final part of the DoS chap. I'm not actually sure how many chapters there will be after this…maybe as little as two, definitely less than five. I hope. We all know how bad I am with goals and deadlines. Anyway…please, after halfway through the next chapter I am again flying by the seat of my pants. Ideas are very welcome.

Also, it's my birthday and instead of staying home and sleeping, then going to dinner with my boyfriend I'm going to the hospital to have a test done so I can get a job, going to my boyfriend's family reunion, eating dinner at my grandpa's house and being bailed on by said boyfriend for a party his friend is having. Oh mother fucking joy.

Disclaimer: Don't own YuGiOh.

I really hope this is good.

Fair Play

Chapter 16.5: The Sound and Fury Part II

Joey was in his office, the newly replaced door open, meditating on Seto's peculiar behavior today and trying to kill the last bit of time before breaking the silence .

Outside the office there was the murmur of too many bodies existing in too small a space. It was an uncomfortable and tense silence with all eyes on the clock.

For Joey there was a severe discontent involved but it would not be relieved by screaming his lungs out when it hit four. He wasn't even sure it would be settled tonight. Though Seto had said he'd be there, as upset as he was earlier, Joey wouldn't be able to blame him for not coming.

You can understand then, the surprise he must have felt, having just finished that thought, at turning towards the door and finding Seto there, clicking it shut behind him.

The duct tape now removed, Joey's jaw dropped (not only from surprise but also because Seto looked fantastic in nearly gray jeans and a soft looking black shirt).

Seto smiled slightly at the almost vacant look Joey's face assumed. "Can we talk now?"

Joey shook his head, looking almost desperate and pointing to the clock to show how little time was left.

For a moment they sat in each other's silence. Joey nervous, Seto angry. This would be the ideal time to talk, solitude and no fear of interruptions. In twenty minutes Joey would have to address the crowd and start working, so really, there was no knowing when they'd be given another chance like this.

Though neither of them felt comfortable with their own actions, they did both feel justified. Seto, hurt, felt the burn of rejection and Joey, stubborn and loyal, felt torn between his feelings for Seto and his promise, but in the end still could not bring himself to break it.

They also saw something in the other's view. Though Seto couldn't fathom how it could outweigh what he was trying to say, he understood Joey's commitment. Joey, meanwhile, felt how much pain he must be causing Seto with each denial. He wanted this so badly (though he'd never thought very highly about himself, he was no idiot and was beginning to guess what this was about), but what kind of start would it be if he broke his promise for Seto? Was that really what he wanted a relationship to be founded on?

At Joey's new look of resolved determination something in Seto seemed to snap and his normal articulateness was broken into half sentences based on disjointed thoughts.

"Why-(wont you just talk?). This has-(been torture). I can-('t even believe I'm doing this). Do y-(ou even know what I've been going through?). (For) weeks!" This whole time he'd been stepping closer to Joey. "Joey I-"

Seto interrupted himself and mashed his lips against Joey's in an awkward kiss. Then, shocked at what he'd done, and torn between pulling away and continuing, he froze against the other boy's mouth.

Initially Joey seemed equally shocked, but recovered more quickly than Seto. This was it. This meant Seto was ready. This meant Seto wanted him and cared enough about him to ignore the risks. His arms, which had hung uselessly at his sides, now snaked their way to Seto's waist, bringing their bodies closer.

The burn of this new contact spread though them like a deep blush, and now, gripping Seto's shirt, afraid that the moment would end and Seto would pull away, he kissed back.

If Seto hadn't known upon kissing Joey that he was gay, the purely masculine sound that rumbled though the other boy's chest would have now convinced him.

This was nothing like the kisses he'd had with spit girl.

This was addictive. It was a drug flowing through his veins.

He had always seen kissing as a means to an end. Now he saw it as a destination rather than a road. Or maybe he had just come to understand the great pleasure in a journey with the right company.

Joey's tongue slipped past his lips, playing just inside Seto's mouth, teasing him into a playful sparing match. It was another thing he'd never understood, why you would ever want someone else's tongue inside your mouth? It had always seemed awkward and cumbersome, not to mention unhygienic.

But now he knew and it ached. It felt like Joey was drawing out his soul.

This was true interaction. It was something he couldn't fake.

Kissing Joey was just that, kissing JOEY. Never before had he felt an attachment like this. Spit girl had been convenient, she could have been anyone and Seto wouldn't have cared, but now he couldn't imagine this with anyone but Joey.

The kiss had him chanting the blonde's name like a mantra. Anything less would be blasphemy.

Within seconds of Joey adding depth to the kiss, Seto realized something else. Something important. Joey did not taste like cinnamon or vanilla, like chocolate or honey, he didn't taste like cherries or home. The blonde boy tasted like mouth. Like mouth and a bit of mint, as though he had brushed his teeth or chewed gum recently. It wasn't a bad taste, but it wasn't magical either. It was human, and it was perfect.

The feeling of their lips meeting, sliding together, it didn't send shots of blue lightning through their bodies nor did it feel as though there were flying insects in his stomach. I didn't bring on an epiphany of the deep love they had always harbored for each other and hidden for fear of rejection. It did warm Seto though, it made him slightly dizzy and blurred his thoughts. It was a good feeling, and as these types of good feelings do, it eventually (as tongues continued to slide against each other, not in a battle for dominance, but a search for mutual pleasure) began a strain on Seto's pants.

Meanwhile Joey was thinking a few things. The foremost in his mind was this: Seto Kaiba was not a good kisser.

The second was that that was awesome.

He had no technique and was raw and inexperienced, but he was eager to learn and had gone for it despite his natural uncertainties.

Third was: This was easily the best kiss of his young life.

It had been a long time since he'd last kissed someone, but he clearly remembered that it had been nothing like this. Somehow the feel of Seto's tentative kiss was unlike anything he'd ever experienced.

He couldn't help but like the boy even more for his ineptitude. It was an endearing weakness and some that spoke volumes. It was undoubtedly Seto's first kiss with a man, something that Joey could not take lightly, rather, he felt it was one of the greatest compliments he had yet received.

As always with Kaiba there was lots of potential, not to mention that in this (as in all things) he was a quick study and hungry to learn. Already he was improving.

But before it had really become something, it was over. Seto pulled back and stared at Joey breathing unevenly. He shifted uncomfortably, not sure whether he should step away or closer, finally settling for remaining where he was, with one of Joey's hands still fisted in his shirt.

After a long and awkward (as such a pause was expected to be) he pulled the blonde to his chest in an awkward embrace, resting his chin atop the other boy's head.

Seto now understood why people wanted this engagement. There was something in this hesitant exploration, caring about the person and wanting to discover more.

"Joey…I…" He curled his fingers into hair at the nape of Joey's neck, wondering at how natural it felt. "I want…Can we try this?"

Joey pulled back enough to meet Seto's eyes and smiled, nodding.

An honest, warm smile spread across Seto's face and again his mind was so inundated, so addled as to limit his capabilities of speech. "I'm-(not good at this kind of thing). I've n-(ever tried). I- (want to try)."

Joey felt dizzy with his feelings. The fact that Seto was unable to express his thoughts was as meaningful as if he'd been able to clearly articulate them. Seto was standing straight now and Joey had to stand on the balls of his feet to kiss him soundly. This kiss was shorter than the first.

When they parted Seto finally managed a full sentence. "I like you."

Joey didn't answer, but hugged Seto even more tightly.

Seto however, fully expecting a reply (and slightly fearful that this might mean Joey was only interested in him physically) pulled back to meet Joey's gaze.

Joey looked at him pleadingly, his amber eyes shining, as if to say, "You know I do, you know I want to tell you, but you also know I can't." And for some reason, the stubbornness that Seto had come to admire in the blonde, now frustrated him to no end and at once red hot and ice cold rage flooded his blood like poison.

Joey placed a finger against Seto's lips to quiet him. Seto jerked away.

"Don't tell me to be quiet! You're doing enough of that for both of us! I go out on a fucking limb and you don't care enough to talk. Is your cause really more important than what just happened?" Joey still didn't speak but averted his eyes in shame. "Nice to know where your priorities are. Nice to know I fall under politics." Anger restored the power of speech.

Joey stood there pale and uncomfortable.

"Say something!"

He didn't speak but gave the most expressive look he could, begging for understanding but Seto had already turned his back and had his hand on the door.

Joey caught his arm and Seto did turn to look at him but when he saw Joey's lips still sealed he opened the door and stormed wordlessly out. Joey followed, trying to catch up to Seto's long quick steps. They made it into the hallway and Seto coldly said by way of farewell, "Tell Mokuba to call when he's ready to be picked up."

A moment later a roar erupted from the next room as the silence broke and Joey's broken voice was drowned out by the revelry. Seto didn't look back and was now walking too fast for Joey to catch him. All he could do, and really, what he had to do, was go back to the celebration, make his speech and hope that when Seto cooled down he would again be willing to talk.

It chilled him though, doubting how likely that would be.

:End Chapter: