…And then there were four
Why here? How…?
I never thought…
"Joey?"
The sky was dim that day, but to Joey, it couldn't be any brighter. He had been totally preoccupied for the past how many days already, living in a totally different world. But no, he didn't forget.
"Yugi!"
Of course not.
The blonde's eyes shined happily as he waved his hands. The smile that stretched along his face was very toothy. He couldn't show how happy he was enough, it felt like it would rip his chest apart.
The King of Duelists stood up, his unruly hair dancing. His mauve eyes radiated a unique light that showed a happiness of their own, a light that had always enthralled Joey. He longed to see those eyes again. God, how he missed him.
Joey's legs couldn't help but want to run towards the other boy. He had wanted to talk to him, tell him everything, tell him how thankful he already is that they saw each other. But as luck would have it, he tripped and lost his balance, toppling over the road's edge and rolling downhill the clearing.
"Joey!" Yugi called to him worriedly as he ran towards his direction. "You alright?"
The blonde opened his eyes, those russet eyes still shining happily despite his luck, and smiled. He was lying spread-eagled on the flat ground near the water's edge, his clothes and hair in earth muck and grass. And if he didn't look silly enough, he laughed.
Yugi laughed. He helped Joey up, but much to his surprise, Joey pulled him, and had his turn on good luck. Joey laughed even harder because now Yugi was splat on the water edge, all wet. The boy laughed with him. Now they really looked uber-silly, but heck, they couldn't care less. Guess they really missed each other.
---
They just shared the still quiet of the afternoon for a long time, lying in the grass beside each other's company, just enjoying it without really knowing why. But as if they cared. They spent the whole morning fooling around like little kids. They were happy, they were carefree, and that's all there was to care about.
"Ne, Yugi, what brought you here anyways?" The blonde asked. "It's a bit far from our area."
Yugi looked at his direction then bowed his head. He gave out a sigh, smiling while he shook his head slightly.
---
"You really think Joey went to school?" The house was unusually quieter today, and Bakura almost wondered why.
Duke chuckled, snuggling closer to the other man. "Nah."
And the white-haired man tightened his arms around Duke's shoulder in reciprocation. He stared at the TV, the continuous chattering of the soulless box almost incoherent to his ears. "Which reminds me… there was someone with you the other day."
"Huh?"
"Someone was following you, baka."
"Oh, that?" Duke smiled knowingly. "Nevermind."
---
A warm shade of pink crept unto Joey's cheeks. Yugi actually followed Duke? Oh, did he ever wonder why this boy willed to risk his future for the blonde's sake. "Why?" He asked, not thinking of what he was saying.
Yugi seemed a bit shocked to hear him ask, but just smiled, looking ahead. "I…I was worried."
Joey grinned. "Thanks."
"Seriously, Joey." The other boy looked at him, his mauve eyes shining. "How are you?" He said, honest concern ringing in Joey's ears.
The blonde's smile faded as he looked away. But he didn't look far from happy still. It's just that…yeah, he had been fine. Too comfortable even, he must say, but could he really tell his bestfriend what had happened for the past days? Naturally, he feared rejection. Not that he didn't trust Yugi…he just didn't trust himself.
"You know, I hit Duke the other day."
--
"Where is he?" The boy's eyes were narrowing in impatience. Joey didn't come to school that day, a day after the first day of his 'payoff' for his 'debt' to Duke. And Yugi… Yugi's patience was wearing off.
"Don't worry. He's being a good mutt."
"What did you do to him?" The forceful whisper echoed mixed worry and anger. His fists were curled into ominous balls that were shaking with anger.
"How on earth could you care?" The raven-haired man surely considered this mockery to be a habit. It was entertaining him way too much. "Oh, right, you tried to save his sorry ass, didn't you? Too bad he's too stupid." He laughed. "I almost cried." He teased.
Yami Yugi was burning in the cheeks, his teeth gritted angrily. "Fuck you. What did you do to him?"
Duke smirked. He looked down on the boy with such arrogance and mockery, a vile glint gleaming in his green eyes. "He's being treated like any other nice man would treat his dog. I told you, don't worry. I'm a good master."
Almost simultaneously, a heavy fist collided with raw skin, flesh and bone. The King of Duelists just couldn't hold back any longer.
--
He… he was… the one who hit him?! The blonde stammered in his mind. He had always known Yugi to be a totally patient and gentle mind-over-matter person, not only to him but to everyone and everything. He always tried to find a way to handle things by talking or any way so as not to get anyone hurt. Now Joey just can't help but be overwhelmed with what he's hearing. First, Yugi had tried to save him. Then he hit Duke because of him. He even followed the guy to try to see how he's doing. How much more could he take?
Heck, if he really was that soupy, he could've cried right then and there.
It just proved that Yugi really… cared for him. Utter worry was he saw in his eyes. "I'd been fine. Duke's been really nice."
"No, really." As if Yugi could believe not even a single bad thing happened. Of course, knowing that he really haven't known Duke and absolutely didn't trust him to do anything good.
The blonde's russet eyes dimmed for a bit. Yes he was scared to tell, but he'd tell it. Because Yugi wanted to know. And for some reason, Joey felt he needed to tell him. He looked away, scared of what he might see; scared that he might regret doing everything he did with just one look of disgust, hatred or rejection from this boy beside him.
"I…I slept with Duke."
"Could I kill him now? I had been wanting to." The boy somehow tried to kid around, not wanting Joey's words to sink in. But his knuckles were ashen against the grass carpet, trembling. He just can't lie to himself. "Did he force you?" He whispered.
"Yugi…" Joey took the courage to look at the other boy, his eyes swimming in his fear. "I let him." The tone in his voice was almost hopeless, but truthful nonetheless, remembrances of his night with Duke flashing in his mind and corrupting his thoughts more.
The boy smiled bitterly. "I was afraid you'd say that." He looked away, not knowing how to react.
The silence aggravated Joey to no end. He was shaking furiously, and his head ached. The look on Yugi's face almost made him puke. He had to accept it. He wanted Yugi to know, right? So this, this is what he deserved.
"You hate me now, don't you?" He smiled resentfully, staring at the ground. "And you know what?" Just then, tears silently slid down his cheeks. "I had slept with Bakura too. Now you'll think that's even more disgusting."
Joey got up, not wanting to torture himself any further. If this would be the end, he didn't know, but surely things would never be the same. And as if the skies felt his pain, it cried. Cold drops of its tears hit the ground and fell unto their raging souls, somehow wanting to appease their grief.
With a heavy heart he walked away towards the road. His dripping russet eyes looked back to where he left his friend. Still there was Yugi, who didn't move even an inch from where he sat. He didn't even bother glance at Joey.
His shoes splattered with the wet road as he walked. A step. A step. And another, his hope that he would hear that voice tell him to stop or even if he could just hear him say anything crumbling away with every step he took, with every inch he was getting farther from him.
"Do you love him?"
Now Joey got what he wanted.
He looked back to see Yugi standing on the road himself, a few feet away from him. The look on the boy's face was a total blank.
"I don't really know."
Was all he can say, a poignant smile appearing slightly on his forsaken face. He gathered his strength left to take another step away. He didn't know what to do now; he just didn't want to hurt himself any more.
"Joey, I don't hate you."
"I don't need your pity, Yugi."
Not knowing he was hurting someone more than that. He took another step.
"Joey." The boy said as firmly as he gripped the blonde's hand from behind.
Joey turned around, surprised to find out that Yugi was just a mere inches from him, hand still in his. From this near he could see something in those mauve eyes he had never seen before, and didn't dream, moreover want to see ever.
Pain.
"Please, don't go."
---
Grrrr.
Bakura's stomach grumbled angrily for the umpteenth time now. "Ne, Duke, I'm a growing boy and I need food, you know."
"Just because you like eating raw doesn't mean I don't have to cook my food either, idiot." Duke retorted, smiling. "And you don't look anywhere near a boy to me."
Grrrrrrrr.
"Food…food…food…"
"Glutton." The raven-haired man approached the dining area where Bakura was already grumbling his guts out. "Poor you. You'd have to wait if you want to eat with me. Don't you want to eat with me?" He said, plopping himself unto his Baku-chan's lap so they were face-to-face. The white-haired fellow's arms circled the other man's waist simultaneously.
"Yeah. Poor me. Too bad I'm not gonna wait, and you'd have to be my meal because you're such a lousy cook."
"Come to think of it, I'm a little hungry myself." Duke said. He got off from Bakura, took the man's hand and was about to go away, their room perhaps, but the white-haired man pulled his hand back, putting him back to his previous position.
"Sorry, but I eat in the dining table, not the bedroom." The taller man teased, picking Duke up and placing him unto the table before him. He took off his shirt and then climbed up the table himself.
"Because I have manners."
---
The thunder roared in the sky as the darkness ate up all that's left of the day. Their steps were hurried and wet as Joey ran ahead of Yugi, the boy's hand clasped in his. If they were to get anymore wet than this, it's already going to get ugly.
They ran across the front lawn and hurriedly got out of the hard pour through the entrance. Yugi was removing his shoes, all the while silently marveling the house like anyone would, as the blonde was opening the doors. They walked through the brief hall and unto the living area.
Empty.
Joey was obviously looking for the owners of the house but there weren't any signs of them. Here at least. And, not surprisingly, the blonde quietly assumed that they were upstairs. Ahem. But no, he needed to tell Duke his visitor needs a change of clothes. So yeah, he has to find him.
Squeak.
That came from the kitchen. The sound merely escaped the noise of the rain outside.
And so, without a word, Joey proceeded towards the kitchen, with Yugi following closely behind him.
What the—
"DUKE!!"
--
A long, dark finger traced through a pale cheek. Duke smiled. "So pretty…"
The man on top of him smirked. Then, the sharp auburn eyes turned soft, and the once-smirking face now showed a very angelic smile. "I'll let you compliment me for once." The boy said softly.
"I like it when you do that, Baku-chan."
Then, with that, Bakura returned to what he previously was. He knew Duke also loved that other side of him, the 'light' to his 'darkness'. Weirdly enough, so did he. Well, maybe sometimes. But anyway.
Duke got Bakura's hand and kissed his palm. He then brought his tongue out and teased it, afterwards sucking on the fingers all the way, sharp auburn eyes watching him intently as he did so. He traced butterfly kisses on Bakura's bare arm up to his shoulders to his collarbone.
"Hey, I should be the one eating here." The taller man whispered to Duke's ear before nibbling it. He then moved down a little to the man's jaw, forcing Duke to halt his teasing, initiating deep, slow breaths from him.
And just then, Duke felt Bakura's sharp teeth sinking into his shoulder flesh, painstakingly slow, unconsciously making him slowly bare his teeth through his as-slowly opening mouth, throwing his head back in pleasure and pain.
The taller man sucked hard on the teeth marks, then snatched Duke's lips in his own in a mad fit, their digging breaths blowing at each other's faces.
Long, pale fingers fumbled down to the fabric of the raven-haired man's jeans, raking his long nails against the tough material around Duke's inner thighs and crotch, causing Duke to almost writhe underneath the other man. Bakura tried feeling the buttons and actually tried to give it one hard tug that Duke's hips were lifted together with it.
Squeak.
The buttons gave a faint sound as they hit the ground, and it was absolutely drowned by the sound of the rain.
Duke held on the man's long, white hair as Bakura hungrily mouthed his chest…yes…lower…
"DUKE!!"
--
Yugi was so utterly…speechless right now.
His mauve eyes were so glassy, like he was far out in space, just staring silently at the two men on the table.
And Joey…Joey was burning red in the cheeks.
Bakura and Duke just looked at them with unmindful faces, almost innocent if not for their still unchanged, almost completely unaffected arrangement on top of the oaken furniture.
"Welcome home."
The King of Duelists was so taken aback he didn't even entertain the idea of an innocently smiling Duke greeting him.
---
"Locked."
"LOCKED."
"Why is this frickin' door locked?!?"
Joey was shaking cold as he cursed at the big oaken door. His clothes were soaking wet after staying in the rain.
"But I thought he told you to get a change of clothes in here." Yugi said, half wondering and half annoyed.
"Yeah he did." The blonde's voice was terribly shaking. "And it's darn sealed."
"You don't look so good." The other boy tried feeling Joey's neck. "You stay here, I'll ask him."
And so, Yugi descended the stairs to the living room. Bakura was slouching on the couch as always, glued on whatever he found so interesting (or not interesting) on the forever-chattering TV.
"Excuse me Bakura, where's Duke?"
"'Sup little boy?"
Yugi's face slightly distorted in annoyance for a while. "The bedroom door's locked."
"He's back there. From the kitchen just go left and keep going."
The boy hurried to where he was told without even a word, obviously offended.
"Thank you by the way, little boy." The whitehead said loudly in sarcasm.
---
Shoot.
Duke was having one of his 'alone times' again, playing billiards in the pool area. He just loves being alone every once in a while, taken to account that he spends periods of time alone when Bakura goes away for some time. This time's just an exception because, well, Joey's there.
"Hey."
The tall man turned around to see a very wet Yugi on the hallway, with a hesitating look on his face. Well, can't blame him, Duke thought, I have been a bad boy to him anyway. "Oi." He said, pretending not to be interested in having a conversation, turning back to his pool table.
"You… left the bedroom door locked."
"Did I?" He said flatly again. He remembered he locked it after his Baku-chan kept dragging him in there after he insisted that he wanted some time alone (that ended with Bakura finally giving up, which explains why he's there wasting in front of the TV). And the thought of that made him want to play around a bit.
If it weren't for Joey's insistence that he come with him here, he would've just gone back home right now. He was getting so annoyed with the people in here. He did not want to answer if not for Joey's state then. "Yeah. Now can I have the key?"
Duke let out a small smile, noticing that the smaller boy was getting pissed off. "Yes you can."
"Where is it?"
"It's in my pocket." He plainly said, as he aimed his cue stick.
Yugi did not say anything, puzzled for some reason. It's in his pocket, why in the world should he get it?
As if the other man heard his thoughts. "I have no time to do any favor for you, Mutou. Don't you have hands?"
I'm gonna get it myself? The boy thought. Poor boy. He just stood there, bemused for a second.
"Yes, you go get it."
Joey needs to get a change of clothes, he tried to convince himself as he approached the still-playing Duke. And that instant he noticed…Duke was wearing tight leather pants today.
"I'll just pretend you're not there." Duke said, sensing Yugi stopped moving behind him, a playful smirk hidden in his dark features.
Silence.
"…Which pocket?"
"Hmm…" Duke paused for a while, pretending to think. "Sorry, forgot where." Then he proceeded with his game.
Yugi's temples throbbed angrily. Just have to get this over with. He grumbled in his mind. If someone knew how to piss him off, it was this man. Damn, if only his jeans aren't so frickin' tight.
Duke was standing straight, cue stick upright in hand as he studied the table for a while (at least that's what the poor boy thinks).
The smaller boy decided to find the darn key as quick as possible, and that's by searching the two front pockets at once, since they are the common pockets, and the key is most probably somewhere there. He stood behind Duke (since he can't go up front since there's the table, and well, he can't get his hands in pockets this tight from there). He stood as far as possible (which was really near since he doesn't have that long for arms) and brought his hands, straight and flat to Duke's sides, avoiding contact as much as possible (which was not really possible) and carefully slid them in both pockets.
The taller man smiled. He the bended down for a shot, leaving Yugi's hands squished in his pockets, and, well, his backside pushed against the other man. Well, knowing Yugi, he just didn't say anything despite the slight pain, and trying not to mind the awkward arrangement, but Duke knew he did a good job.
"Um, could you straighten out a bit?" He said, feeling uncomfortable.
"Told you, no favors. You must already be thankful if I'd stay in this same spot until you get your filthy hands off my clothing."
Is that so?!? Now, the yami cannot extend his patience anymore, aggravated to his nerves. He tried to force his hands deeper into those darn pockets without minding what their darn owner would say or feel. He just needs the frickin' key.
Duke straightened out a bit with that and leaned by his cue stick so he wasn't fully standing. He shook his head and smirked. Well, his jeans are tight.
Yugi's fingers fumbled the pockets with much difficulty, running over every inch inside and trying to feel the cold metal of the key. Kuso… He searched, and searched, and searched in vain.
Which amused Duke at the most.
Finally, the boy gave up and forcefully pulled his hands out of the darn tough material. He quickly stepped back, ignoring the burning sensations at the back of his palm. "It's not there."
"So?"
Grr. The key. It was all that I'm supposed to concentrate on. Calm down…calm down… The King of Duelists grumbled angrily in his mind. He suddenly felt the urge to hit something. Ok, the darn key. Back pockets. It should be there.
Yugi, again, took a step forward towards Duke. He stopped. No, can't have both at the same time. He thought. So he went to Duke's left side, sliding his right hand to the familiar tightness of Duke's pocket, slowly since it is tight.
As Duke was bending for another shot.
The tall man can't help but let out a small, but indeed happy sigh. "Good thinking." He commended without removing his focus on the cue tip, as Yugi figured that he couldn't put his hands in both back pockets at the same time since he was smaller.
The raven-haired man couldn't stop the wide grin that spread across his face when Yugi started his fumbling again. It was his back pockets afterall. And when Yugi stopped his again fruitless search and pulled his hand out, he had to unconsciously use Duke's hip as leverage. He wasn't sure, but Duke thought he was gripping his cue stick too hard.
Yugi let out an angry, frustrated sigh. He was starting to feel cold himself in those wet clothes.
He went to the taller man's other side, already angry despite himself, gripping Duke's hip as he plunged his left hand down the right back pocket, forcing it around, stretching his fingers as much as possible for the key.
"I just love you greediness, Duke Devlin." A voice from the hall shouted, followed by footfalls heading away.
Duke smiled. He knew Bakura was watching there long before.
An offended Yugi just continued what he was doing, trying not to mind the feeling that he was being toyed with.
Still, nothing.
He pulled his hand out. "Nothing."
Duke just stared at him for a couple of seconds. "Maybe you just weren't looking good enough."
"I told you, it's not in any of your damn pockets!" Oops.
The taller man raised an incredulous eyebrow at the glare of mauve eyes. Amused at this reaction, he smirked arrogantly, having to admit that he enjoyed their brief game while succeeding in aggravating Yugi's loooong patience. And perhaps, expecting another punch in the face.
"Want to double-check? I won't mind."
Puffs of smoke almost seethed out of Yugi's head. His breathing was ragged, fists clenched into hard balls on his sides. He was glaring hard at Duke, who, to his further aggravation, looked back at him with no interest at all. He let out an angry puff of air before turning around to exit the hall, giving the nearby wall an angry kick before walking away, not knowing what to do now but so enraged to even think about it. After a couple of steps or so, he stopped.
"Mutou." He heard a familiar, misty voice call.
He turned around, and smartly caught something in his hand. He looked at what Duke threw him. A dice with a metal string with a hooked end attached to it. His earring? He looked at Duke, who had his back turned from the hall and bended down the table.
"What's this?"
"You're asking for the key, were you not?" The man said, not even bothering to face him.
Yugi just stood there, staring at Duke. After a few seconds, he turned to walk away. But then, again, he stopped and glanced back. "Why Joey?"
Duke paused for a while, but didn't say a word. Then he just continued playing.
---
"Hey Yugi. What took you so long?"
Yugi just looked at the blonde without a word.
"Hey, I just noticed, the keyhole's kinda queer. It's kinda like a diamond." Joey caught something Yugi threw him. "Hey, isn't this Duke's earring?"
"Just--open it, will you?"
---
Joey could just silently stare at the stationary figure behind the shower curtain. He had just finished his own shower time, but he didn't know what urged him to go in again, knowing that Yugi was in there already.
And abusing the fact that the boy didn't hear him come in.
"Joey…"
Or at least he thought so.
Shit! Joey panicked in his mind. He was blushing. "Um, ano…" Then he laughed nervously. "Gomen nasai!" He stammered, as he was about to exit the bathroom.
He stopped. He thought he just felt Yugi looking at him. And he felt that familiar pang in his chest, like when they were standing in the rain. The remembrance of those glassy eyes ran through his mind.
Then he just felt like walking through that curtain.
And so, like the unthinking creature that he is, he did what he felt like doing.
"Yugi…" Was all he can say, as his hazel eyes adored the scene before him—Yami Yugi, naked under the steaming shower…he completely lost his mind. "You're so… attractive…" He said as he stared at Yugi's face and the water and golden strands of hair that flowed through it.
The other man put a hand on the side of the blonde's face, leaving warm moisture there as he stroked the skin of Joey's cheek. Joey, in return, leaned to his touch, his own hands yearning for contact. The blonde took a step. As the distance between them died, the smaller one wrapped his arms around the other's neck, pulling him nearer. The blonde circled his arms around the other boy's waist. The warm water continued to spray on them both for long, unmoving moments.
"You know, I could stay like this forever." Yugi whispered to Joey's ear.
"Would you want to?" The other asked in reply, his face nestled unto the curve of Yugi's shoulder, his grip on the other's frame still tight.
Somehow, Joey began to feel so comfortable like this, with Yugi's arms secured around his neck, he felt so at ease and contented. He wouldn't trade this for anything in the world. This is what they shared and he embraced it with all of his heart.
Like Duke and Bakura… he thought. The way Bakura looked at Duke, their subtle glances, the sincere smiles they gave only for each other, their loving touches. But unlike Bakura, I would not want to have anything other than Yugi. Yes, Bakura loved Duke as dear as his life. But still, he could live knowing that Duke knows he feeds his flesh with other men eventhough the man understands why he does. No, I wouldn't dare hurt Yugi like that. But… he already did, didn't he?
"Yugi?"
"Hn?"
"Do you hate me?"
"Of course not."
"Eventhough something already happened between me and Duke?"
"I don't."
"And Bakura?"
"So what?"
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Really?"
"Joey, I don't give a damn."
"Why?"
"Because I know you love me."
Joey smiled. "And you?"
"And me?"
"You love me too?"
"Yes."
"Eventhough I'm such a stupid boy?"
"Yes."
"Eventhough I'm not a good duelist?"
"Yes."
"Eventhough I'm a puppy for now?"
"Yes, silly. And the answer won't change so stop questioning me."
Joey opened his eyes and pushed Yugi a bit so he could see his face. "I love you, Yugi." He whispered. Yugi smiled. The blonde had never seen Yugi smile like this. It was the prettiest thing he had ever seen, next to Yugi's eyes looking at him like this. He caught the other's lips in his own, loving the supple touch of him, loving this intimate contact that they shared right now.
He can't help but to want to feel more of this contact. He licked Yugi's lips, confident to be the dominant one this time. The Yami opened his mouth willingly, letting Joey in, the blonde's tongue running over every inch inside his mouth. He moaned beneath Joey's lips, tightening his grip around the man's neck, pulling him deeper.
The blonde ended the liplock with a brief kiss on Yugi's lips, his hands still stroking the back of the smaller man's head. "Even if I brought you here?"
Yugi let out a quiet laugh. "Yes."
"But you know, they're not as bad as they look."
The King of Duelists let out another quiet laugh, his eyes still locked with Joey's russet ones.
"And I meant that the other way, too." Now Joey was laughing as well.
"Mou, they don't look bad at that at all."
"Oh no, they aren't. Wanna bet?"
Joey flinched a little as Yugi bit the tip of his nose. "You naughty mutt."
---
"Oi—little boy." Bakura greeted as Yugi emerged from the bathroom door, wearing an oversized shirt and pants that stretch obviously longer than his legs, followed by Joey. "Had a great time in there?"
"Yes, Bakura. Now if you don't mind." Joey answered sourly.
Duke was standing near Bakura's couch, a phone in hand. "Yeah dad, whatever." Then he put the phone down.
"Ne, Duke, you shouldn't talk to Jyusen that way." The white-haired man interrupted.
Yugi was surprised for a second. "Jyusen? Kuroi Jyusen? Isn't he—"
Bakura gave him a sharp glare. "Yes, that Jyusen. Now shut up."
Joey can just give a tap at Yugi's shoulder. There's nothing anybody could do about Bakura's protectiveness. Duke's father is not just a normal father afterall.
Duke kissed Bakura briefly on the cheek before walking away. "Dinner's ready."
---
Yugi's stomach did a flip-flop. For the second time already.
Dinnertime.
Duke, Joey and Bakura were eating peacefully in their respective places. Well, ok, Bakura was eating unpeacefully.
And well, it's Yugi's first time to eat with them. To eat with him.
"What's the matter, Mutou? My cooking not good enough?" Duke asked.
Joey glanced at his seatmate. "What's the matter?" Joey almost forgot what he felt like the first time he shared a meal with Bakura.
The incredulous subject had his mouth full. "Yea, what th' prob?" He asked, almost incoherently.
Yugi smiled reluctantly. He tried to pay more attention to his plate.
"You'll get used to him." The raven-haired man smiled one of his most adorable smiles.
The King of Duelists actually blushed at that.
---
After dinner.
Yugi was hanging out in the living room, Joey obliged to do the dishes with Bakura. Duke?
"Mutou." Speaking of.
"N."
Duke sat a seat away from Yugi. And again, the magical senseless tattering of the useless electronic box corrupted the uneasy silence between both men.
"He's just so adorably wide-eyed. I can't help but be drawn to his almost-stupid naïveté." Duke said, his eyes fixed straight ahead. "You? Why him?"
"Oh." The other man turned to Duke, his question a while ago almost forgotten. "I dunno. We've known each other since when. He was…just always there." He didn't know why he even answered such a personal question from a person so… impersonal.
And much to Yugi's surprise, Duke smiled. Not one of those smiles that he used to taunt him and haunt his aggravated memories, but a genuine one. It's like seeing a whole new him, the Duke-the-person and not the Duke-the-greatest-asshole. Even his eyes were soft.
"You two look good together." He smiled.
The King of Duelists, for once, was caught off-guard. He blushed.
"…I love when Joey blushes, much like that. Makes me think you're pretty much the same, for some reason." Duke actually ruffled Yugi's unruly hair. "So adorable."
Yugi let out a smile of his own. He suddenly felt the comfort in Duke's presence, much like when he's with a friend. He didn't understand it either. Then, suddenly, he was staring at a glare.
Yes, Duke was glaring at him.
"But I still don't forgive you for violating my clothing." He said.
"…Sorry about that. I guess I owe you one." He grinned, not even remembering that Duke tricked him to do it, and that the key he told him to look for was, obviously now, not really in any of his pockets but hooked on his ear.
The raven-haired man chuckled. That chuckle whenever Joey does something stupid. He just really sees the resemblance in their nature.
In the kitchen, Joey almost dropped a plate.
"Baka na!" Bakura growled, hitting him in the head with a soap-foamy hand.
"…I though I just heard Duke and Yugi laughing."
---
"DUKE!!!" Joey's voice echoed hard through the living room. His face was burning furiously, his russet eyes seized wide as saucers.
Bakura could just sigh in disbelief behind him, slapping a hand on his face. "Talk about charm overuse."
Indeed, a sight to behold. Yugi was sprawled across the sofa, Duke on top of him, his untied hair obscuring Yugi's face. Judging by their flushed faces, Joey and Bakura caught them in the middle of an, ahem, steamy make-out session.
"Joey!" Yugi protested, his eyes defensive but guilty nevertheless, his hand curled around Duke's arm.
Duke grinned stupidly. "He told me he owed me one."
---
"Duke—Bakura-- it's bed time now." Joey declared to the apparently wide-awake, shirtless lovers that corrupted all the bed space.
"We're sleeping here?" Yugi asked the blonde quietly.
"I dunno." He answered. "Are we?" He asked the two.
"Um…" Duke thought for a while.
"Yes." Bakura finished.
"AND why's that?!" The blonde demanded. "It's a big house!"
"And so?" The raven-haired man said, uninterestingly.
Joey had a deep blush in his cheeks. "And so—we could sleep in some other room!"
"You want privacy?" Bakura asked, with half-dropped eyes. "Well, sorry, we designed this house to accommodate us."
"Only us." Duke nodded. "So, if you want to sleep somewhere else…"
"You'd have the stockroom, the kitchen, the pool hall, outdoors, or the living room." Bakura finished.
The raven-haired man got up and approached where Yugi stood. He stopped behind the smaller man, digging both his hands inside Yugi's front pockets. "But I'm sure Yugi can't settle for that."
Joey glared offensively at Duke. "Get your hands off him you imp." He threatened, what he saw previously in the living room still not forgiven.
But instead of being discouraged, Duke even got his face near Yugi's, his breath teasing the boy's ear. "Yugi, you think I'm an imp?" He pouted, his hands vacating the other man's pockets and crawling their way under Yugi's shirt.
The smaller boy laughed nervously, looking at Joey. "Uh…not really…"
"Yugi, how can you—tolerate—that man?!" The blonde snorted exasperatedly.
Bakura chuckled. "You talk like you can actually resist Duke." He smirked. "Or me." He added. "I can still remember—"
"Shut up, Bakura." Joey threatened, blushing.
"So…no one's sleeping outside now, right?" Duke smiled.
"No one." Bakura whispered. Joey was suddenly taken aback as Bakura was actually standing so close behind him already. "Right, blondie?"
Oh…not again…Joey thought.
"Now I think we'll both have the privilege of watching." The whitehead took Joey down the mattress with him, the blonde writhing away from his grasp with an unconscious thankful sigh, and—articles of clothing scattering as they did.
Joey's resistance came to a halt as the two standing men caught his attention. Looking back the other night, he himself was in Yugi's position and Duke in Bakura's. Now he figured what it must have felt, just sitting here, watching two of the most desirable men (in his life, that is) in such a display.
"He's such a tease." Bakura sighed, Joey lying in between his folded legs.
Such a tease he was, capable of stimulating anyone with just a look in his captivating bottle-green eyes or the slightest seductive upward curl of his lips. It was just…so purely Duke.
Duke stood so close in front of Yugi. He pulled the boy's oversized shirt off, catching both of Yugi's hands afterwards. He placed one of the smaller hands on his chest, gliding over its bronze finish and settling it on his neck. He settled the other one on his belt buckle. "Undo me, Yugi." He whispered, all the while with fixed stares.
Yugi hesitated for a moment. The taller man graced his palms on Yugi's shoulders, and the boy almost found it soothing and persuasive. He undid the buckle with two hands, leaving the ends dangling, and carefully unlocking the buttons afterwards. Duke suddenly caught his wrists firmly, stopping him from what he was doing. The man, then, proceeded in savaging Yugi's skin with his mouth from neck down to his abdomen, momentarily pausing by the rim of the boy's jeans, then nibbling the loose lock open. Yugi did a sharp inhale. Then Duke just stood up, turning his back, Yugi's wrists still in his grasp. He tiled his head upward as he guided Yugi's hands slowly down his crotch area.
"Shit…" The raven-haired man whispered incoherently into the evening air, as Yugi slowly pulled down his zipper. He pushed his backside against Yugi, feeling the prominent bulk in the boy's pants as he did, smaller hands in his own fastened on his hips. Then he abruptly turned around to face the boy again, snatching his lips in his own in a feverishly deep kiss.
Smaller hands roamed around Duke's back as the man finished his job on Yugi's pants, letting the heavy fabric fall effortlessly down the cold ebony floor. Every piece of clothing on both of them landed aimlessly not long afterwards.
Duke sat on the end of the bed, taking the other man with him. Yugi settled in between Duke's legs, his back facing the raven-haired lad, facing Joey and Bakura who was also in the same position. He blushed.
Bakura grinned at Duke. "Wanna play a game, eh?"
Bottle-green eyes just smiled in return.
Yugi could just let Duke haul both his legs, now completely boneless, on top both of the man's folded ones. He blushed, realizing that he was indeed in front of Joey, so shamelessly spread like that.
Big, bronze hands started caressing the boy's inner thighs, Yugi shivering momentarily at the contact and fisting the bedclothes, while Duke's mouth made a meal of his neck and shoulder.
On the other end of the bed, Bakura's arms wrapped around Joey's waist, sitting him up. Ceremoniously, he sank his jagged teeth unto the curve of the blonde's neck. The metallic taste of blood just seems to fulfill him so much. He put a couple of his fingers inside Joey's mouth, the digits playing inside, the blonde pressing back against him.
Yugi's muscles tensed beneath Duke's fingers as they kept on roaming the other's skin in feathery contact. The boy had already grown impatient with all that teasing, and he gathered some bone to break away from their arrangement to face Duke and claim his mouth. Duke, obliging for a given second, pulled away from the kiss. Yugi's hands held a steady cradle of Duke's face, as steady his mauve eyes' stare into green ones, Duke smiling at the need he saw in them. The boy pushed his kneeling body nearer the other man's heat.
Bakura pulled his fingers from Joey's mouth, tracing it further down his body. Joey could just arch his back, pushing the nape of his neck deep into the other man's shoulder, as he felt the same fingers penetrate his body. Bakura smiled victoriously at the moans that were coming audibly from the blonde's mouth as he thrust his fingers, knowing where to thrust.
The raven-haired man pushed Yugi so that he was facing towards the other end of the bed again. He did not do anything for while, just letting the boy savor the sight of his lover writhe and moan against Bakura's bidding. Yugi let in a generous amount of air, practically breathless and aroused at the sight. His hands unconsciously find their way towards his erect member, but Duke stopped them, only to grab it with his own hands. Smaller hands wrapped around much bigger ones and together they pumped, much to Yugi's favor.
"Open your eyes." Bakura whispered on Joey's ear. But the blonde could not. So the white-haired lad stopped his ministrations to put Joey to focus. "Open your eyes." He repeated. Joey opened his eyes to the display in front of him—Yugi thrusting in Duke's expert hand, his lover obviously having a hell of a time. "Aren't they beautiful?" The pale man whispered wetly again. Before the blonde could even swallow the sight, Bakura's fingers started their work again, snatching Joey in the middle of his thoughts. Bakura's other hand found Joey's arousal and found the same rhythm of his other hand. Joey could just put his hand on the other's nape and press Bakura's face towards his shoulder.
Anxious fingers reach flowing black hair. He was thrusting wildly against Duke's hand, and the dark man could tell that he was nearing the point of no return. He stopped. Yugi tried to move again, but Duke moved with him, denying him the friction he oh so craved. The taller man pushed Yugi on his stomach down the wide bed with his elbows folded on his chest.
Bedclothes bathed with Yugi's spit as he bit on them when he felt Duke thrust in him…with his tongue. If Duke cherished anything, it would be the unique taste of virginity. He tried to leave as much liquid as possible, loving the boy's tensing muscled around his tongue and the rewarding sound of loud moans for a job well done. He withdrew his mouthing and pulled Yugi by the waist to return him to his previous position. He lifted him up, mauve eyes seizing wide as he felt Duke filling him with his own impressive hardness. All movement completely halted for some tense seconds, letting both be accustomed to the new sensation. Thunder rumbled in Yugi's chest.
"You want him, blondie?" Bakura asked Joey in the middle of their dance. Joey opened his eyes to the new sight in front of him, and it was enough to strangle a groan from his tight throat. Bakura removed every hold on the blonde, and he let him lay on all fours in front of him. Joey crawled towards the other side of the bed, where Yugi and Duke were moving crazy out of their minds.
Joey took advantage of Yugi's neglected manhood and took it in his mouth, the boy's hands tugging hard on his hair as he did so. He sucked as hard as he can on it, trying to take Yugi to the hilt as much as possible and almost gagged but manages anyway.
Duke felt like his hair was being completely pulled off from his head. Yugi was screaming without restrain now. Bakura, not wanting to deny himself, lay before Joey. He gripped the boy's hips and thrust his quivering erection deep within the blonde, then ramming him senseless, not even thinking of slowing down at any rate.
No one was able to even notice Yugi's desperate encouragements as he lost his mind within the constant vibrations of Joey's throat and Duke's drilling straight his pleasure point.
The raven-haired man kept his face deep in Yugi's shoulder to stifle the moans, as Bakura did with Joey. Finally, Yugi screamed his lover's name in elation as he reached his peak, filling Joey's mouth with white-hot lust with the blonde swallowing all of it willingly.
Bakura adjusted his angle slightly before thrusting again. Joey snapped back at his hips harder, his breathing very coherent now, begging Bakura to ride him and ride him like hell. A pained cry escaped Yugi's lips as blood trickled from his shoulder when Duke came inside him, Joey and Bakura following not long after, the blonde arching back to the white-haired man who threw his head back in ecstasy.
They all fell limp upon each other's limbs, bathing in sweat, the room reeking of the rich musk of sex. Yugi pulled away from Duke, sliding below Joey, the raven-haired man limping by his side, Bakura leaning on the headboard completely. They just stayed like that; eyes closed in exhaustion, letting the storms in their chests mellow until their breaths came out normally again.
"Not wasted are you?" Duke opened his eyes to Bakura's grinning face. A pale hand settled on Duke's knee as he sat up slightly.
"You're unbelievable." He smiled back.
"What?" Bakura put his face nearer to his lover, his breath lingering on the other's dark lips. "You think I'd just let you get away?"
The raven-haired man chuckled. "No, I didn't."
His pale lover took his lips in his own, Duke putting his arms around Bakura's neck to deepen the kiss. Their tongues play with renewed passion, Bakura's hand roaming on Duke's side. The dark man slid under the other, his Baku-chan ravaging his neck. Bakura pulled away and grinned at Duke. "You call me unbelievable?" He teased, feeling Duke's hardness by his stomach.
"Joey…" Yugi whispered, out of breath.
"Hn?" The blonde muttered against Yugi's neck where his face lay.
"I want you…" The other boy replied, his hand playing with blonde hair.
Joey got up and stared at Yugi's mauve eyes. Yugi got up as well. The blonde lay on his back in front of his lover. "…Go ahead…" He whispered, still not taking his eyes off Yugi.
Yugi whispered his blonde's name as he lay down on top of Joey. "Very beautiful…" He whispered as he stroked the side of Joey's sweat-drenched face with the back of his fingers. He pressed his lips with the other, the blonde's hands stroking his back. Joey then, moved his hips to rub against the other's, awakening their desires once more. Yugi just moaned in Joey's mouth.
"Look at them." Duke whispered fondly. "They're so cute."
"Who cares?" Bakura retorted a bit irritably, nipping at Duke's lower lip.
"I was joking. You're cuter." Duke smiled sheepishly, surprising Bakura by grabbing his cock, with the whitehead cursing briefly as he did.
Duke closed his eyes as his knees push against his chest, hands stroking the back of his sweaty thighs. Bakura leaned on Duke's folded legs, letting Duke suck two of his fingers. He brought the dripping digits out, bringing them to his lover's entrance and plunging them in. He thrust them a couple of times before putting a third finger in, Duke wincing briefly and digging his nails on his lover's back.
"Yours…all yours…" Joey whispered as Yugi pushed inside him. "…ah…Yugi…" He moaned.
Yugi's unruly hair spread by the blonde's neck and shoulder, strands of it sticking to Joey's moist skin. His fingers could almost leave bruises on the back of Joey's shoulders. "…So hot…tight…" He mumbled wetly on the blonde's chest.
Bakura stroked Duke in unison with his thrusting, the raven-haired man gripping the headboard above his head. His breath came out hard with the constant push of his legs against his chest.
White warm liquid spilled on Joey's front as he came. Yugi was obviously talented at this—he didn't even lay a finger on the blonde's member. Yugi came not long after, not being able to contain the tightness of Joey in his orgasm.
A loud growl echoed throughout the room when Bakura came inside his Duke, after his raven-haired lover came in his hand. Duke's dark fingertips turned white against the oaken board. The dark man circled his arms around Bakura's neck weakly as he stretched his legs. Droplets of sweat dripped from the tips of white hair to Duke's face.
The King of Duelists lay limp on top of his blonde lover, still inside him. They stayed like that for some breathless seconds before Yugi pulled out and rolled beside Joey, the blonde huddling close to him. "Gods…" He whispered weakly.
Bakura lay on his back beside Yugi, pulling Duke on top of him. "Ne, I've never had anything like that for some time."
Duke smiled against the pale skin of his Baku-chan's chest. "Did you two have a good time?"
"To hell with that, Duke…to hell with that…" Joey mumbled before finally giving up to sleep. They all joined him not long after.
---
"Welcome back, li'l boy."
"Where's Joey?"
"I thought he came back earlier."
A/N: …speechless sigh Gotta love citrus…what a long lemon…sigh Tell me, did you enjoy that? I realize this chapter did a mood switch every now and then--it's funky, if you ask me. Sorry it took so long. This thing had really been such a pain. Anyway, keep the reviews coming, ne?