Prompt 26: Sweet
Rating: G

Summary: Seto and Atem are asked out for a friends's night with Yuugi-Tachi and things are a little awkward.

NOTES: My AU world. In this Seto and Atem are 19 year old.

"Hey, baby… do you want to leave?"

Seto blinked and looked to his right where Atem sat, arms linked. His boyfriend was frowning, brows furrowed together in mild concern. They were out with Yuugi-tachi, or really Atem had been asked to come and he said only if he could bring his boyfriend. The others were still a little wary of the billionaire, considering only a year ago they were bitter rivals. Now, they were a couple? Jounouchi seemed to have the biggest problem with it but after getting a firm talking to from… pretty much everyone, he seemed to take it better.

That still didn't mean everything was perfect between them and Seto. Seto still had trouble being around them, finding only Yuugi and Ryou the most tolerable of people. Honda he hardly knew, Anzu had left the group to pursue a dancing career in New York, and Jounouchi was still as obnoxious as ever; always butting heads with Kaiba. However, they were Atem's so-called friends, so for lack of anything other than making his boyfriend happy, Seto would put on an air of tolerance and go along with them.

He should have asked first where they were going because he would have said he was busy. The small group were on their winter vacation from college and decided they wanted to do dinner and a movie night. Seto made a face; he didn't like movies, and he was not a fan of the places Yuugi-tachi ate at; like Burgerworld, it made his stomach hurt. But again, Atem asked and Seto agreed only if they could go somewhere a little more fancy for dinner.

One that he would willingly pay for.

Atem agreed yet there seemed to be another surprise waiting. Seto paid no mind to the movie, dinner was at Atem's favorite Italian restaurant, and Yuugi had suggested they stop for parfaits at their favorite dessert cafe. Kaiba frowned, and Atem tried to suggest something a little more diverse than straight sweets but in the end, they lost out. So he sat and watched the Mutous and their friends order elaborate parfaits filled with excess sugar and crazy decorations. When asked if he wanted anything, Seto shook his head and ordered a hot tea instead.

The group of friends then began talking about random topics and Seto took this time to fall back a bit, observing while he drank his tea. His interactions with Yuugi-tachi was still an awkward one. Then again, the CEO didn't have any friends his age, and anyone older were acquaintances or business partners. How was he supposed to act? Although he was nineteen now, he certainly felt older and had no desires to act irresponsibly like Jou, or go to parties like Otogi or even Atem. Then again, the only person who tried to be his friend was now his boyfriend.

The group felt the same way it seemed, as they kept their conversation going, almost forgetting Seto was there. After a while, Atem faded out as well and turned to his boyfriend, watching him curiously. He had frowned and placed his hand on Seto's upper arm, gently squeezing.

Seto shook his head and shrugged his shoulder. "We can stay," he said softly so only Atem could hear. "You're out with your friends."

Atem's frown deepened. "They are… but I don't want you to be uncomfortable either," he replied in kind, "I know this is a lot for you and I'd rather see you comfortable than feeling left out."

Seto sighed and gently nudged Atem with his elbow. "It's just a little awkward," he whispered, "I don't have the best relationship with these people… and we have very different tastes." He watched the waitress come over with the parfaits and he grimaced. "A perfect example is coming to the table."

Atem chuckled and nodded in agreement. True, what Seto found interesting was quite different than what his friends deemed worthy of their attention. For example, his friends loved sweet things; ice cream, parfaits, cookies, and candies. Seto did not. The Egyptian wished he had known they were going to come here because he would have tried to find a place that his boyfriend would enjoy with everyone else, but a vote was a vote. He tried to find ways to include Seto into the conversations also but both his boyfriend and friends still had issues with one another.

Although it was a bit frustrating, Atem was more concerned for Seto's comfort. He was asking a lot of the brunette, having him come out for a whole evening with them, and he started to wonder if maybe it was too much too soon. Despite Seto's calm appearance, he was beginning to fidget, his leg lightly bouncing and gnawing on the side of his bottom lip. It was pretty red and puffy now, and it wouldn't be long before he started to get snappy.

"Seto, if you want to, we can leave," Atem said again, ignoring his little parfait and resting his hand on top of Seto's. "I don't mind."

Seto looked down at their hands for a minute before turning his around to lace their fingers together. "The fact you are worried about my comfort is enough," he whispered with a small smile. "I think I can go for a little longer… but I get you all to myself tomorrow. Deal?"

Atem smiled and nodded, leaning in a bit so their noses bumped together. "Deal."

Seto chuckled and bumped their foreheads before motioning to his lover's dessert. "You should eat that before it melts. Get you all hyped up on sugar."

"Hey, I made sure there were bits of chocolate in it for you," Atem replied with a small scoff. He picked off the chocolate molded heart and held it out for Seto. "It's even dark chocolate. The only suitable chocolate according to you."

Another chuckle and plucked the little sweet out from Atem's fingers, biting off one half before putting the other to his lover's lips. "We'll share it," he murmured and Atem grinned, letting him slide the chocolate between his lips.

"Mmm thank you, Baby," He purred, swallowing the remains. "Still a little too bitter for my tastes."

"Bitter is better," Seto said, "and you seem to like it as you are dating a bitter bastard."

Atem laughed and smacked Seto on the chest. "Then I guess I DO like dark chocolate." He teased and finally dove into his parfait.

The sudden laugh from Atem pulled Yuugi out of his little discussion with his friends and he tilted his head. Atem and Seto were talking quietly amongst themselves, the smaller male eating small spoonfuls of his dessert while the brunette begrudgingly accepted the portions given to him. They had fallen into their own little world and he couldn't help but smile.

Seto wasn't a bad person; in fact, Yuugi held great respect for him even in their own duels. He knew his life was a complicated one, and it made the small duelist happy that someone could make the CEO smile like that. He also made Atem happy, and that's all Yuugi wanted for his cousin.

Pure happiness so sweet it could rot out their teeth.

Well… maybe not that sweet but maybe a balance between sweet and bitter.

Feeling he was intruding, Yuugi left Seto and Atem on their own and returned to his conversation with his friends.