(Taking Charge)
Yami sat on the park bench, watching the sun set over the pond. How appropriate it felt to be there as the sun was retiring for the night. He smiled.
"Are you okay?" Yuugi's voice was gentle, coaxing.
"I'm fine."
"You feel… odd. I can't describe it. Explain it to me."
Yami sighed, ever patient, small smile gracing his features as he spoke. "I'm happy. Seto deserves more than loneliness."
"But… you're also sad."
"Perhaps. But I'm still happy."
"Yami… you're amazing." Yami felt warm, like Yuugi had embraced him… or how it would have been if Yuugi could. He bowed his head, still smiling. He looked around one last time.
It had been night before. Now it was twilight, suspended between night and day, the sun leaving in a fiery display of oranges and pinks and reds. Twilight was a lovely way to remember this place.
"Thank you." He stood, turning his back on the sunset, walking away.
"Yami," Yuugi said as "they" walked.
"Yes?"
"I feel bad… you can't move past what happened with Kaiba. You can't find someone new. Doesn't that make you mad?"
"No," Yami answered. "Remember, I lived once before; I had a body all to myself then, I assure you, and my own life experiences. I'm glad to have had a chance to fall in love just once in this time." Yami paused and then added mischievously, "And if I ever get bored, I can watch you and Mokuba."
"Yami!" Yuugi protested. "That's so perverted."
"You watched."
"Once! On accident!" Yami could feel Yuugi's embarrassment. "But that's not the topic. I just worry… you're really going to be okay?"
"Yes," Yami assured him. "Stop worrying about me; I'm old enough to take care of my own heart." Yami crossed his arms over his chest, trying to ward off the chill of the wind as he said softly to himself, "It's due time for other people to take charge of theirs."
Jounouchi followed Seto into the living room. They were walking in silence; it was so heavy that Jounouchi had to fill it somehow. "Are you on drugs?"
"No," Seto said firmly.
"Drunk?"
"Does one kiss bother you that much?" Seto snapped. "Because believe me, we can just as easily part ways here and act like it never happened." Seto sat in an armchair, and Jounouchi made himself at home on the couch, stretching out at staring at Seto.
"It was weird," he admitted. "It was… well, nice."
"I can't be nice?" Seto didn't sound hurt or anything. If anything, he sounded like he was mocking Jounouchi. Flippant.
"It's not normal."
"I'm willing to break a habit or two for you." Seto's voice didn't seem to change, didn't swell with emotion… but somehow Jounouchi felt the meaning in the words… maybe it was just the words themselves that touched him.
"Sweet of you." Of course, where Seto was sounding flippant, he was sounding sarcastic. But it was the underlying meaning that mattered, and Jounouchi was sure that the meaning was obvious.
"Don't think it'll be all peaches and cream," Seto warned darkly. "I'm not a romantic person."
"Of course," Jounouchi agreed. "I'd probably leave if you just suddenly got all romantic and creepy."
"Is that so?" Seto looked amused. "And what is it that tethers you here?"
Jounouchi shrugged and shook his head. "I don't know. I've always had a thing for bad-asses… there's something erotic about the intensity."
"Masochist."
"Asshole."
"Mutt."
Jounouchi growled, "Pervert." He rolled his eyes. "I really did hate you; don't think I planned this."
"Hmph."
"I'm not kidding!"
Seto gave a short laugh. "Don't get your panties in a bunch. While it's out in the open, I didn't intend for anything like this to happen either."
There was another awkward moment of silence between them. They stared at each other as though they were unsure how to continue. Jounouchi sighed. Sex had been easier: call, go, do the deed, and leave. He had a feeling this was going to be a lot more complicated. He cleared his throat. "I probably have somewhere I should go…" He stood and started to walk out, but Seto caught his wrist as he passed the armchair. "Yes?"
"I didn't say you could leave."
Jounouchi glared. "You don't own me."
"You're the masochist here; maybe you want to be owned." Jounouchi gawked for a second; was that a bit of humor he saw sparkling in the ice that was Seto Kaiba?
"Get help," Jounouchi said, shaking off his awe and rolling his eyes. He tried to wrench his wrist of Seto's grip, but to no avail.
"How original," Seto mocked before he yanked Jounouchi down, kissing him fiercely. Jounouchi had to hold onto the arm of the chair to stay upright, lost for a moment in the waves of that kiss, enthralled as that tongue explored him at leisure, caressed his own, teased him until finally someone had to break, someone had to breathe. Jounouchi wasn't sure who pulled away. "There," Seto mumbled against his lips. "Now you can go."
Jounouchi lingered for a moment, trying to subdue the weakness in his knees. Maybe things would be more difficult, but if he kept getting kisses like that, then he wouldn't have enough of a brain to care. Finally he pushed himself upright and smiled, licking his lips. "Who would think…?"
"What?"
"You taste sweet."
"Don't be fooled," Seto assured him. "I had fruit for breakfast."
Jounouchi laughed. "Good job. You just made a joke." He thought for a minute, and then said, "And come to think of it… I don't think I'm in any hurry to leave."
holy shit… are we done? *weeps* Wait, not quite yet; I still have three side fics. Not quite ready to let go yet. Heh… (for the record, one of the side fics will never see FF.net because it's actually a PWP JouxRyou about the creation of that porn tape. It's called "Homemade", and I have no clue when it'll get posted, lmao).
It was really funny; my dearest Hanachan kept complaining about the distinct lack of setoxjou sex, but I never felt that it fit. So I finally appeased her and asked her if sex fit at the end of this part… but luckily we both agreed that this was the ending; the sex would kill it
Awww man. I can't believe this is finished! It's actually really depressing. In a nice way. I hope I didn't kill it; I really hope that it came out alright. I have to say that in this story, Yami is my favorite character. Weird, because he only shows up three times - four if you count the Halloween party - but each time I love how he turned out.
All you reviewers - both to this story, and third grade logic: thank you so very, very, VERY much. Holy damn. I'm glad anyone has liked it. It's been a fun ride, right? I had fun.
Random fact: the original ending of the story was different. Very different. I prefer this ending. ^^ Obviously. And I do think that Yami gets royally screwed in this entire scenario, but there was really no way around it, you know?
Well... I guess we're done. Wow. OH! I have a page on my site dedicate to cuts from this & Third Grade Logic... and a page of random beta humor related to this story. All found:
without all those damn spaces, of course. ^^