Disclaimer: Don't own. Don't sue.
Seto woke up at the normal time, five am sharp. Ready to start his normal morning routine so he could spend a perfectly normal day at work. While most people would dread going into work at six am and not leaving until six pm, Seto had gotten so used to it, it hardly fazed him anymore. Earning himself the nick-name of 'Seto-bot' around the household staff.
Pouring himself a cup of black coffee, the first of many that we're sure to follow through out the day, Seto unfolded the morning paper. It took a few moments in his tired, over worked brain, to comprehend the headline he was blinking down at.
Mokuba rushed down to the kitchen as he heard the loud crash coming from that direction. Skidding to a halt on the pristine tiled floors, he looked down at the smashed coffee cup that was still steaming at his feet. Judging from the mess that was on the wall, it had been thrown with some force.
"Uh...Seto?" Mokuba looked up at his brother who was staring at the morning paper like he wanted to burn holes through it. "Is everything okay? Did the stocks fall again?"
"Those damn reporters..." Seto murmured, mostly to himself. "They might as well be hired spies..."
* * *
"Sooooo, tell me Jou, did Seto make the moves on you last night?" Yugi asked, nudging his friend in the side with his elbow.
"I told you already fifty times Yugi, nothing happened, it was completely innocent." Jou shifted as he tried to support the heavy tank he had bought for Seto. Next to him Yugi was carrying a bag of various under water supplies, including lobster food, smiling up at him coyly.
"Okay, If you say so." Yugi tried to look innocent as he unfolded the morning paper he had purchased on their way to the pet shop.
"That's right, end of conversation."
"There's just one thing."
"What?" For some reason, Jou had the feeling he was being lead on, a feeling that was very unfamiliar when he was dealing with the miniature duelist.
"You're a very bad liar." Yugi stated as he shoved the paper in his best friend's face, nearly causing him to drop his precious glass tank.
"What the..." Jou's eyes went wide as he read the headline, 'Seto Kaiba and his new love'. Right next to it was a black and white picture of the intimate moment they had shared just the night before, there for the entire world to see.
Yugi made a mad dive to catch the discarded tank, managing to get a hold of it, but unable to keep from falling to the ground himself. Jou stood over him, utterly shocked.
"I don't believe it...how did they...I mean, we were all alone. Unless..." Jou tightened his fist, and grabbed the tank out of Yugi's arms. "I have to go home now...don't follow." He ordered.
"Okay...Just one question."
"What is it?" Jou turned away from his war-path to regard his friend, still on his position on the ground.
"In the picture..." Yugi got up and dusted off his clothes, suddenly regretting the method he had chosen to confront Jou with. "Why do you have no pants on?"
* * *
"You..." Jou hissed out, placing the tank on the floor and then resuming his words. "YOU...." He growled this time, his eyes burning with rage as he looked down at his father, who was lounging casually on the beer-stained couch.
"Me?" The elder Jounouchi asked, pointing to his chest.
"Don't play cute with me!!" Jou shrieked shoving the crumbled up newspaper in his father's face.
"Oh that..." His father scratched his head and tried to muster up an innocent look. "I was...uh, trying to finish up the roll! Had to turn in the film before my coupon expired, yeah...that's it!"
"Bullshit! You nasty traitor, alcoholic, dead beat..." Jou paused trying to come up with more insults. "Anti-dad!!"
"Anti-dad? What the hell is that?"
"Someone who is everything a good father shouldn't be!" Jou shoved a finger in the man's face and continued to shout. "You! You're a big fat anti-dad!!"
"Hey, hey, hey!! Don't get so worked up! The newspapers offered me a thousand dollars a shot if I could get some pictures of you two together...I had to do it!" He raised his hands defensively, not up to grappling with is son so early in the morning, he had to have his Irish coffee first.
"I don't believe you! All you care about is the money!" Jou shouted, trying to fight back the tears that threatened. He had made the mistake of crying in front of his father before and...let's just say he gave him something good to cry about.
"Yeah, and? What's wrong with that? Don't you care about it? Why else would you be going out with that rich snob!? His award-winning personality?" His dad yelled, anger and accusation rising in his words.
"No! It's not like that!" Jou yelled back, trying to convince his dad, as well as himself.
"Well what is it then? You tellin' me you love this kid or something?"
"I..." Jou couldn't complete that sentence, because he truly didn't have an answer.
"Pft..." He older man snorted, "Well, get over it already, that guy doesn't give a shit about you."
"You don't know him!" Jou countered, realizing that he himself didn't even really know Seto that well, but he had to say something.
"I know the type!" His father rose to his feet, his voice reaching dangerous levels "Now that I think about it...I was wrong to let you go out with this kid in the first place...I won't let you see the rich bastard
anymore!"
"But dad..."
"That's final!!"
Jou knew by the look in his eyes that it was time to get the hell out of there before something went down. Retreating in to his room, he slammed his door shut, and vowed never to talk to his asshole father again. It wouldn't be the first time he had made such a plan and given up after one day, but he was motivated. He'd do it for Seto.
"Jou..." His father called from the other side of the closed door, sounding like he had cooled down some bit, but there was no answer. "Katsuya..." He tried again, instead the blond by buried his face deeper into his pillow, refusing to give in so early.
The older man sighed and turned away, ready to head down to the bar to catch the early bird special.
"I just don't want you to get hurt..."
* * *
Seto turned his attention away from the blinking computer screen, numbers and grids burned into his vision, long enough to answer his cell-phone. Mokuba had programmed it to ring an annoying tune, the 'can-can'. It was quite irritating.
"Seto! About time you finally answered...I must have called about fifty times."
"Katsuya? Is something wrong?"
"It's awful...today has been awful..." Seto could practically hear the tears in Jou's voice, and he panicked, hoping the mutt wasn't hurt. He'd heard enough rumors about Jou's psycho dad at school.
"Katsuya, what is it? Tell me?!"
"Just...come over here...please." Jou whispered before hanging up.
Seto shut down all his programs and rushed out of the office. Surprising all the employees he passed, no one had ever known the dedicated Seto Kaiba to leave work early. Ever.
"What do you think happened?" One woman turned to her fellow employee.
"Who knows...maybe they're having a clearance sale at Trench Coats R us."
The woman nearly spit out her coffee as she laughed. "Ahh...good one."
* * *
"Katsuya! I got here as soon as he could!" Seto burst through the open door, rushing over to Jou who was curled up on the middle of the living room floor. Seto gripped the boy's shoulders, shaking his quivering form gently. "Katsuya, say something! What's wrong?"
"I'm sorry Seto...I'm so stupid..." It was then that Seto realized Jou was clutching something to his stomach, he leaned down to the boy's level and Jou opened his arms revealing what he was hiding. In his arms was a small red creature that was steaming slightly. "My dad found him in the bathtub and tried to cook him! By the time I realized what he was doing, it was already too late!" Jou collapsed into another fit of tears. "Poor poor Seto...it should have been me instead..." Jou muttered.
Human Seto just stared at the boy for a moment, wondering if he was actually being serious, and then pulled him into his arms.
"Katsuya, it alright...shh, calm down..."
"NO! No, it's not alright! Stop tying to comfort me!" Jou struggled against Seto's embrace, but he held him fast.
"Knock it off!" Seto demanded, "You're being ridiculous!" Jou merely wiped his eyes and ceased his futile struggles, burying his face in Seto's shoulder. Seto brought his hand up to Jou's golden tresses, stroking and petting him gently. Watching as Jou melted into his arms at the contact, and whimpered slightly. Seto chuckled in the boy's ear, Jou really was like a puppy.
* * *
Once again Jou sat in the passengers seat of Seto's car with a lobster in his lap. This time it wasn't in a bag, but a shoebox, his make-shift coffin.
Jou hadn't spoken the whole ride, and Seto felt slightly uncomfortable without out the blonde's normal rambling to keep his thoughts company. It seemed he was in mourning, he had even changed into all black before they left the house.
"So, are you finished with your mild nervous break down now?" Seto glanced over at Jou's pathetic looking form.
"I'm not having a nervous break down! I'm mourning the loss of Seto!"
"It was just a lobster..."
"No, it was not just a lobster! He was special..." Jou looked over at Seto who had his attention on the road, that same blank expression on his face as always. "Never mind, I wouldn't expect you to understand." Jou sighed and rested his head on his arm, and there was silence for the rest of the ride.
* * *
Mokuba placed a pink flower on top of the mound of dirt and said a silent prayer with Jou. They had decided that a spot underneath a Sakura tree, in one of the mansion's many lavish gardens, was the best place for the lobster's grave.
"Jou, it's okay." Mokuba smiled up at Jou and took his hand. Seto stood a few yards off, shaking his head at the ridiculous display. It was a funeral...for a lobster! None the less, Seto had decided to indulge Jou by giving it a proper burial, and Mokuba seemed to support the idea.
"Can I have a moment alone with Seto? I mean, the lobster..." Jou turned to Mokuba, who was being very supportive at the moment.
"Uh...sure." Mokuba gave him a sympathetic smile. "Rest in peace Seto!" He called down towards the ground before heading towards his brother.
"Honestly Mokuba, I thought you we're smarter than this..."
"That lobster meant a lot to Jou!" Mokuba poked his brother harshly in the stomach. "And if you weren't so dense you would understand why!"
Seto pondered this thought for a moment before he came up with a plausible answer. "Because...he feels he can relate to lower animals, such as dogs and fish?"
"No!" Mokuba huffed and turned his best glare on his brother. "It's because you gave to him as a gift. On your first date. It's even named after you!"
"I see...so the puppy feels bad because the gift I gave him is gone?"
"Yes!" Mokuba said in a exasperated voice. "Gee, for someone so smart you'd think you could have figured that out on your own."
"I never knew the mutt to place so much symbolism on things..."
* * *
Jou laid curled up in a ball on the living room couch, a blanket wrapped securely around him. Seto and Mokuba sat on either side of him, they we're watching some movie, at least, Mokuba was. Jou was to busy being depressed and Seto was too busy analyzing the blond beside him.
He knew the blonde to be emotional at times, but this was beyond anything he had ever seen. A mad Jou was normal, a depressed Jou was almost disturbing. Seto had a feeling there was something else bothering Jou, besides the tragic death that occurred earlier in the day.
Seto checked his watch, it was almost seven, he was hoping that what he had in store for Katsuya would cheer him up a bit. He still had yet to figure out why he wanted to make the mutt happy. Maybe it was because he looked so much prettier when he was smiling. Seto glanced over a Jou's curled up form, deciding he still looked pretty even when he was being sullen. And then he mentally smacked himself. Damn mutt and his prettiness...
The date tonight had to be perfect, and no sea-food restaurants this time. He had to get Jou back to his normal self. If that didn't work, he could always make an appointment with a shrink. He was starting to think they both needed one.
Satanic Mechanic: Lemon coming up soon! I promise! This fic is really getting long...at least, long compared to what I usually write. I think maybe...3 or 4 chapters to go.
Seto woke up at the normal time, five am sharp. Ready to start his normal morning routine so he could spend a perfectly normal day at work. While most people would dread going into work at six am and not leaving until six pm, Seto had gotten so used to it, it hardly fazed him anymore. Earning himself the nick-name of 'Seto-bot' around the household staff.
Pouring himself a cup of black coffee, the first of many that we're sure to follow through out the day, Seto unfolded the morning paper. It took a few moments in his tired, over worked brain, to comprehend the headline he was blinking down at.
Mokuba rushed down to the kitchen as he heard the loud crash coming from that direction. Skidding to a halt on the pristine tiled floors, he looked down at the smashed coffee cup that was still steaming at his feet. Judging from the mess that was on the wall, it had been thrown with some force.
"Uh...Seto?" Mokuba looked up at his brother who was staring at the morning paper like he wanted to burn holes through it. "Is everything okay? Did the stocks fall again?"
"Those damn reporters..." Seto murmured, mostly to himself. "They might as well be hired spies..."
* * *
"Sooooo, tell me Jou, did Seto make the moves on you last night?" Yugi asked, nudging his friend in the side with his elbow.
"I told you already fifty times Yugi, nothing happened, it was completely innocent." Jou shifted as he tried to support the heavy tank he had bought for Seto. Next to him Yugi was carrying a bag of various under water supplies, including lobster food, smiling up at him coyly.
"Okay, If you say so." Yugi tried to look innocent as he unfolded the morning paper he had purchased on their way to the pet shop.
"That's right, end of conversation."
"There's just one thing."
"What?" For some reason, Jou had the feeling he was being lead on, a feeling that was very unfamiliar when he was dealing with the miniature duelist.
"You're a very bad liar." Yugi stated as he shoved the paper in his best friend's face, nearly causing him to drop his precious glass tank.
"What the..." Jou's eyes went wide as he read the headline, 'Seto Kaiba and his new love'. Right next to it was a black and white picture of the intimate moment they had shared just the night before, there for the entire world to see.
Yugi made a mad dive to catch the discarded tank, managing to get a hold of it, but unable to keep from falling to the ground himself. Jou stood over him, utterly shocked.
"I don't believe it...how did they...I mean, we were all alone. Unless..." Jou tightened his fist, and grabbed the tank out of Yugi's arms. "I have to go home now...don't follow." He ordered.
"Okay...Just one question."
"What is it?" Jou turned away from his war-path to regard his friend, still on his position on the ground.
"In the picture..." Yugi got up and dusted off his clothes, suddenly regretting the method he had chosen to confront Jou with. "Why do you have no pants on?"
* * *
"You..." Jou hissed out, placing the tank on the floor and then resuming his words. "YOU...." He growled this time, his eyes burning with rage as he looked down at his father, who was lounging casually on the beer-stained couch.
"Me?" The elder Jounouchi asked, pointing to his chest.
"Don't play cute with me!!" Jou shrieked shoving the crumbled up newspaper in his father's face.
"Oh that..." His father scratched his head and tried to muster up an innocent look. "I was...uh, trying to finish up the roll! Had to turn in the film before my coupon expired, yeah...that's it!"
"Bullshit! You nasty traitor, alcoholic, dead beat..." Jou paused trying to come up with more insults. "Anti-dad!!"
"Anti-dad? What the hell is that?"
"Someone who is everything a good father shouldn't be!" Jou shoved a finger in the man's face and continued to shout. "You! You're a big fat anti-dad!!"
"Hey, hey, hey!! Don't get so worked up! The newspapers offered me a thousand dollars a shot if I could get some pictures of you two together...I had to do it!" He raised his hands defensively, not up to grappling with is son so early in the morning, he had to have his Irish coffee first.
"I don't believe you! All you care about is the money!" Jou shouted, trying to fight back the tears that threatened. He had made the mistake of crying in front of his father before and...let's just say he gave him something good to cry about.
"Yeah, and? What's wrong with that? Don't you care about it? Why else would you be going out with that rich snob!? His award-winning personality?" His dad yelled, anger and accusation rising in his words.
"No! It's not like that!" Jou yelled back, trying to convince his dad, as well as himself.
"Well what is it then? You tellin' me you love this kid or something?"
"I..." Jou couldn't complete that sentence, because he truly didn't have an answer.
"Pft..." He older man snorted, "Well, get over it already, that guy doesn't give a shit about you."
"You don't know him!" Jou countered, realizing that he himself didn't even really know Seto that well, but he had to say something.
"I know the type!" His father rose to his feet, his voice reaching dangerous levels "Now that I think about it...I was wrong to let you go out with this kid in the first place...I won't let you see the rich bastard
anymore!"
"But dad..."
"That's final!!"
Jou knew by the look in his eyes that it was time to get the hell out of there before something went down. Retreating in to his room, he slammed his door shut, and vowed never to talk to his asshole father again. It wouldn't be the first time he had made such a plan and given up after one day, but he was motivated. He'd do it for Seto.
"Jou..." His father called from the other side of the closed door, sounding like he had cooled down some bit, but there was no answer. "Katsuya..." He tried again, instead the blond by buried his face deeper into his pillow, refusing to give in so early.
The older man sighed and turned away, ready to head down to the bar to catch the early bird special.
"I just don't want you to get hurt..."
* * *
Seto turned his attention away from the blinking computer screen, numbers and grids burned into his vision, long enough to answer his cell-phone. Mokuba had programmed it to ring an annoying tune, the 'can-can'. It was quite irritating.
"Seto! About time you finally answered...I must have called about fifty times."
"Katsuya? Is something wrong?"
"It's awful...today has been awful..." Seto could practically hear the tears in Jou's voice, and he panicked, hoping the mutt wasn't hurt. He'd heard enough rumors about Jou's psycho dad at school.
"Katsuya, what is it? Tell me?!"
"Just...come over here...please." Jou whispered before hanging up.
Seto shut down all his programs and rushed out of the office. Surprising all the employees he passed, no one had ever known the dedicated Seto Kaiba to leave work early. Ever.
"What do you think happened?" One woman turned to her fellow employee.
"Who knows...maybe they're having a clearance sale at Trench Coats R us."
The woman nearly spit out her coffee as she laughed. "Ahh...good one."
* * *
"Katsuya! I got here as soon as he could!" Seto burst through the open door, rushing over to Jou who was curled up on the middle of the living room floor. Seto gripped the boy's shoulders, shaking his quivering form gently. "Katsuya, say something! What's wrong?"
"I'm sorry Seto...I'm so stupid..." It was then that Seto realized Jou was clutching something to his stomach, he leaned down to the boy's level and Jou opened his arms revealing what he was hiding. In his arms was a small red creature that was steaming slightly. "My dad found him in the bathtub and tried to cook him! By the time I realized what he was doing, it was already too late!" Jou collapsed into another fit of tears. "Poor poor Seto...it should have been me instead..." Jou muttered.
Human Seto just stared at the boy for a moment, wondering if he was actually being serious, and then pulled him into his arms.
"Katsuya, it alright...shh, calm down..."
"NO! No, it's not alright! Stop tying to comfort me!" Jou struggled against Seto's embrace, but he held him fast.
"Knock it off!" Seto demanded, "You're being ridiculous!" Jou merely wiped his eyes and ceased his futile struggles, burying his face in Seto's shoulder. Seto brought his hand up to Jou's golden tresses, stroking and petting him gently. Watching as Jou melted into his arms at the contact, and whimpered slightly. Seto chuckled in the boy's ear, Jou really was like a puppy.
* * *
Once again Jou sat in the passengers seat of Seto's car with a lobster in his lap. This time it wasn't in a bag, but a shoebox, his make-shift coffin.
Jou hadn't spoken the whole ride, and Seto felt slightly uncomfortable without out the blonde's normal rambling to keep his thoughts company. It seemed he was in mourning, he had even changed into all black before they left the house.
"So, are you finished with your mild nervous break down now?" Seto glanced over at Jou's pathetic looking form.
"I'm not having a nervous break down! I'm mourning the loss of Seto!"
"It was just a lobster..."
"No, it was not just a lobster! He was special..." Jou looked over at Seto who had his attention on the road, that same blank expression on his face as always. "Never mind, I wouldn't expect you to understand." Jou sighed and rested his head on his arm, and there was silence for the rest of the ride.
* * *
Mokuba placed a pink flower on top of the mound of dirt and said a silent prayer with Jou. They had decided that a spot underneath a Sakura tree, in one of the mansion's many lavish gardens, was the best place for the lobster's grave.
"Jou, it's okay." Mokuba smiled up at Jou and took his hand. Seto stood a few yards off, shaking his head at the ridiculous display. It was a funeral...for a lobster! None the less, Seto had decided to indulge Jou by giving it a proper burial, and Mokuba seemed to support the idea.
"Can I have a moment alone with Seto? I mean, the lobster..." Jou turned to Mokuba, who was being very supportive at the moment.
"Uh...sure." Mokuba gave him a sympathetic smile. "Rest in peace Seto!" He called down towards the ground before heading towards his brother.
"Honestly Mokuba, I thought you we're smarter than this..."
"That lobster meant a lot to Jou!" Mokuba poked his brother harshly in the stomach. "And if you weren't so dense you would understand why!"
Seto pondered this thought for a moment before he came up with a plausible answer. "Because...he feels he can relate to lower animals, such as dogs and fish?"
"No!" Mokuba huffed and turned his best glare on his brother. "It's because you gave to him as a gift. On your first date. It's even named after you!"
"I see...so the puppy feels bad because the gift I gave him is gone?"
"Yes!" Mokuba said in a exasperated voice. "Gee, for someone so smart you'd think you could have figured that out on your own."
"I never knew the mutt to place so much symbolism on things..."
* * *
Jou laid curled up in a ball on the living room couch, a blanket wrapped securely around him. Seto and Mokuba sat on either side of him, they we're watching some movie, at least, Mokuba was. Jou was to busy being depressed and Seto was too busy analyzing the blond beside him.
He knew the blonde to be emotional at times, but this was beyond anything he had ever seen. A mad Jou was normal, a depressed Jou was almost disturbing. Seto had a feeling there was something else bothering Jou, besides the tragic death that occurred earlier in the day.
Seto checked his watch, it was almost seven, he was hoping that what he had in store for Katsuya would cheer him up a bit. He still had yet to figure out why he wanted to make the mutt happy. Maybe it was because he looked so much prettier when he was smiling. Seto glanced over a Jou's curled up form, deciding he still looked pretty even when he was being sullen. And then he mentally smacked himself. Damn mutt and his prettiness...
The date tonight had to be perfect, and no sea-food restaurants this time. He had to get Jou back to his normal self. If that didn't work, he could always make an appointment with a shrink. He was starting to think they both needed one.
Satanic Mechanic: Lemon coming up soon! I promise! This fic is really getting long...at least, long compared to what I usually write. I think maybe...3 or 4 chapters to go.