The Science of Attraction 6
IceAngelDarkMoon
*** Thank you for all the reviews! I got to my first goal; I wanted at least 50 for one story! You all helped me reach that goal, and faster than I ever expected! I again apologize for the cliffhanger, but I had to get off and I wanted to post so it wouldn't be too long for you all (and the reviews are funnier when I leave a cliffhanger, you all have interesting threats and bribes!!) Again I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh or Linkin Park, but the plot and the pond are all mine, so hands off!!***
***I again dedicate this chapter to my friend, who was offended I had not told her that I was writing!! But I'm hunting Otogi for her, and Celtic Guardian. Guardgirl, when I catch them I swear I'll put on the Santa hat like you asked to have, it can be your Christmas present, with the little red bow on, too!! But until I catch them this will have to do! ;)
THIS IS AGAIN A SHONEN-AI STORY, IF YOU MISSED IT, THEY KISSED IN THE LAST CHAPTER! But I promise there will not be anything explicit or too provocative, I don't even like reading about that stuff, it's their private life!
Joey still wasn't thinking straight after the kiss. He didn't comprehend or try to predict what Seto would do next. He just wanted some questions answered; everything was getting very confusing inside his head. Seto reached forward gently and began to unbutton Joey's shirt to see if what he hoped wasn't there was there (confusing, I know!). Joey still wasn't thinking straight and was a little surprised at how forward Seto was being (remember he's been hit in the head a lot and never fallen in love before!).
"Wait, what just ha...?" Joey started but Seto placed a finger gently on Joey's lips to silence him. Then Seto proceeded to swiftly unbutton the rest of Joey's green shirt. His fingers moved with unusual amount of precision and he was still sitting on top of Joey straddling the shorter boy (not that way pervs! He is trying not to hurt Joey! Get your minds out of the gutter!). Joey had been in weird and painful situations before and he knew not to ask questions, that got you a very harsh beating for questioning authority. Then it hit Joey what Seto was doing and what he was looking for; Joey suddenly felt very self conscious and worried. If Seto found out about his father and his beatings, Seto might hate him (He's not thinking straight!). Joey didn't want the one person who might really care about him and the one he loved, to see what lay under his shirt. He didn't want the guy who had just kissed him to see all the cuts, bruise and scars that marred his torso.
Joey didn't realize that Seto didn't want to see what was under there either. He didn't want to have to relive all this again. 'Please don't let it be what I think it is!' he pleaded silently to anything holy. All he really wanted to do was kiss Joey again and feel those soft lips that tasted like cinnamon. But he had made a promise way back that he would protect anyone he found that was going through what he had survived, they all needed help, and maybe he could help like there hadn't been anyone to help him. He knew deep in his heart that Joey would need his help. He himself had made it only because he had Mokuba to think of over himself, Joey didn't have anyone, yet. Even though he had tried to steal himself to the sight that meet him as he opened the blonde's shirt, he still hissed at the sight of it. The chest was black and blue, there was almost no flesh colored part. The scars were stark contrast to the black and blue of the chest. The scars criss-crossed in an undecipherable pattern all over Joey's torso. There were cuts in all the various stages of healing, and infection. Seto couldn't believe anyone would ever want to hurt anyone like this. He had to stop himself from cursing; all he wanted to do was beat the man who had done this to such an innocent victim. He vowed right there that he had to save Joey. But even with all the obvious sighs of abuse, Seto knew Joey would try to lie and protect his father, the one who had beat him. Seto closed his eyes for a moment to think, but the sight of Joey's torso was there right under his eyelids.
He picked up Joey's hand and kissed the knuckles of that hand gently and then pulled both of them to a standing position. They were but inches apart and could feel the others breathe tickling their cheeks. Neither one could resist the urge to kiss the other while they were still that close. They leaned in and their lips met for a second time that day, and it was sweet passion. The second kiss was even more electrifying than the first; it coursed through both their bodies uninhibited from doubt. But they both had been hurt so much in the past that they expected the other to pull back and disappear like a dream. Seto was the first to pull away, and even he was reluctant, but he knew what he had to do and that he must stay focused on saving Joey so they could have more time like this together. But their hands stayed interlocked anchoring them to the other and to reality.
"Stay here, I'll be right back." Seto commanded gently to his love, and grudgingly released the blonde's hand. Joey was now thoroughly confused; Seto had kissed him then looked at all his bruises and scars then kissed him again. What was going on? Seto disappeared into his bathroom and sounds like he was searching for something reached Joey's ears. Joey was suddenly tired and shaky on his feet so he walked over and sat on the side of Seto's bed. He just wanted the pain on his chest to go away and let him be. Seto returned to the room carrying a tube of ointment.
"This will help with the swelling and the pain." Seto said comfortingly to the boy on his bed. He then went and sat next to his love on the bed and took the cap off the tube. Joey had been expecting a whole barrage of question thrown at him about all the wounds on his chest but none came. Joey was also expecting Seto to hand the tube with the cream in it to him, but he was surprised when Seto put a little on one of his fingers and reached over to Joey.
"What are you doing?" Joey asked before the actions registered in his head, afterwards he felt like a fool for even asking that, and blushed a dark crimson. But Seto seemed to understand where he was coming from.
"I was going to put the ointment on for you, that way I gat all of them. Besides then you can relax. Go ahead, you can lay down." He said comfortingly while he motioned for the blonde to lie on his back on the bed so the cream could be applied where it was needed. Joey lied down gratefully, and was embraced by the utter softness of the bed under him He became very drowsy but decided to stay conscious he didn't want to remember all those time he had received what Seto was now treating. But something was bothering him too, it was pulling at what he knew should happen. But he waited until Seto started applying the ointment. Seto's hands were like fire, ice and rose petals all mixed in one. Applying the ointment and even just touching the bruises hurt and it felt like liquid fire racing through his veins. But then there were Seto's hands; they were cold, but really soft and gently. On his normal unmarred skin it was like a flower giving him a kiss. There was something strange stirring inside him at this contact. He knew he shouldn't have those feelings but they felt so good and almost right at the moment, but he had to have some questions answered now, before anything could make him lose the courage.
"Aren't you going to ask me about the bruises and stuff." He asked quietly from his spot on the bed while he watched Seto work on him. Seto paused a moment in his work and looked at the boy he was working on.
"I figured you would tell me when you were ready to. There is no need for me to cause more pain by asking you questions, you probably wouldn't have answered my questions truthfully any way." He then went back to trying to reduce the swelling. Joey looked at Seto incredulously; it was a mix of shame and thankfulness. He was thankful Seto didn't ask but was ashamed because he knew Seto was right about him telling the truth. Joey felt now that he could trust Seto with the truth and Seto would only do what Joey would let him to help.
"It was my father," he started quietly, even surprising himself at the emotionless tone of his voice. Seto just nodded his head like that was what he had expected and wanted Joey to go on. But Joey suddenly felt over come by all the pent up emotions. The tears started to leak down his cheeks without his consent. Seto put the ointment down and Joey flung himself into the outstretched arms and cried his heart out. He cried for all the cuts he had received, all the bruise he had ever suffered from, all the hunger and cold he had been left with, all the neglect that had piled up over the years, and all the scars that littered his body, mind, and heart. Seto had only ever comforted Mokuba but his body knew what to do. He held the crying boy close and gently stroked his back the whole time whispering words of comfort. The tears began to slow form Joey's eyes and his pain seemed a little lessened. It all felt so right there in Seto's arms, they had never fought, there was no other world, there was no gender, and there just was safety and love. Joey felt like he had been meant for those arms and had the strangest tingling of déjà vu, like Seto had already held him like this. But he brushed that off and snuggled closer to the other boy.
"Why does he do it? Why does he want to hurt me? I did everything he ever asked, and he says he loves me but why?" He could feel the tears leaking down his face again. Joey felt bad because he was soaking Seto's shirt, but he couldn't pull himself away from the comforting arms.
"Shhhh, little one. What he does is wrong, do you understand?" Seto said gently his voice was low and rumbley and Joey could feel it forming in Seto's chest. Seto lifted Joey's head to look the other in the eyes while he spoke, searching for the understanding that it wasn't his fault. "What he does is terrible, no one should ever be treated like that. I think he does it because he doesn't know how to show love or how to express his anger. His father may have even beat him, but no matter what it isn't right and you shouldn't have to live with it!" Seto's voice was a little fierce with the last part but it held all his concern for his love. Seto leaned forward and kissed away the other boys tears, and surprisingly no more followed.
"He'll kill me if he finds out about us, he is a very big homophobic. He can't find out about this." Joey's voice was coated in fear.
Seto put his finger on Joey's quivering lips to quiet him. "Shh, there is no way in the world I would ever let him know. But I think we should pretend to be the same as before. We shouldn't even talk to each other about our feelings, at least not until you can get away from your father."
"You mean, run away!" Joey went even paler, and started to shake from fear, his father was even more against running away or leaving.
"Yes and no. I cannot let you stay in the place with danger, but I think you should try to get other help first. And you have taken the first step, admitting." Seto seemed to creep back into his own mind and look at something that had happened before. "But if you get in danger you are to leave and come here to me. I will protect you!" Joey calmed down and kissed Seto on the cheek, he had protection, love, and safety; all he had ever wanted.
"Thank you so much Seto" Joey whispered and lay back down on the bed to let Seto finish putting on the ointment.
Unknown to the two boys in the room the door to the room had been opened when they were holding each other; Mokuba had wanted to know if they wanted anything to eat. But instead of fighting or working together he found them holding the other. He had hoped his brother and Joey would get along and maybe even get farther, but he never expected this to go anywhere. He smiled and shut the door quietly behind him and went back down the stairs. When he made it to the bottom of the stairs and was out of earshot, he did a happy dance!
Seto finished putting the ointment on Joey and they started working on the project again, but this time they knew how they would finish the project. They were almost always touching the other while they finished the project afraid it still wasn't real. They finished just in time for Joey to make it home on time. They were ready to present their project the next day after school. Seto insisted on driving Joey home, but they stopped a block from Joey's house so it would appear as if he had walked home. They kissed one more time as Joey got out of the car and headed for home. Both of them were thinking about how hard the next day at school would be, to try and pretend they still hated each other, and they still hadn't even gotten the chance to tell the other the extent of their love! What would the next day hold?
TBC
How did you like it? I know not much happened except for Seto finally learning the truth and them opening up to each other. But I had to put this one in no matter how boring. The next few chapters will start to catch this story up to my other one. Once it is caught up I will start the combined stories under a new title. But I still have a few more chapters to write!! Please review all thought are welcomed!! IADM