A/n: Hi, welcome back. And welcome to newbies, if you are. 120…..I feel so…..light! I'll keep pouring on the chapter if you keep pouring on the reviews. Deal? .
Disclaimer: AllDay does not own Yu-gi-oh! And that goes for all of my work.
% A Slip of the Tongue? %
Tea came to her usual post in the receptionist's room, where, to her immediate surprise, there was no one there! That's funny......Tina should be here, she thought, remembering the mischievous, direct blond. "Ms. Martins? What's going on?"
"Tina had to go upstairs to work," was the answer, "But you have to be with the children today. Read them a story," said ms. Martins, handing Tea a fat book of children's stories.
Reluctantly, Tea took it, appalled by her reluctance. I love working with children! What's the matter with me….? Walking down the hallways, she realized that it was because….
I'd rather be with Kaiba……I miss him…..even though he makes me want to barf!
Tea smiled at the rather colloquial statement. I miss him, but he makes me sick. Now that's an oxymoron for you. What a contradiction! But it was true. She did miss him, when she was away, and at home, asleep on her bed……at least that's what I'm supposed to be doing…..lack thereof......
The little boy that used to be Mokuba's friend was there, and asked where he went. Apparently, he missed him too. "Come on, and I'll take you there," Tea said, even though she knew it was partly an excuse to see HIM again……"for a visit….."
The boy toddled alongside her, trying to keep up with her longer stride. Tea made no effort to slow down, instead she picked him up, eager to see Kaiba all the sudden. After puzzling about it all night long, she decided it was sort of cute for him to be all jealous…..sort of protective…..
When she got to his room, however, it was locked, and guarded by not one, but five black-suited bodyguards, all somber-expressioned. Tea instantly felt a dread that something bad had happened and her mind began whirling. Did Mokuba have another relapse? Did Kaiba have to have emergency surgery? I have to know!
Her worry propelled her forward, and she used the master key from the front desk. The door burst open, and……Tina was in there.
With Kaiba.
Holding a sponge.
Oh my god, is she giving him a……..bath?!
Kaiba instantly knew what was going through Tea's mind, it wasn't hard. "MISS! YOU CANNOT GO IN THERE!" His bodyguard restrained her as she feisty-ly tried to shake them off. Kaiba waved his hand to say it was all right, as the little boy, Mokuba's friend, came rushing inside.
"Mokie!" the friend called, and asleep, Mokuba woke up, and grinned at his friend. Kaiba watched them calmly, then turned to the outraged Tea.
She called me jealous yesterday…….hm, I'm going to have some fun…..
"Tea! I was just….." Tina blushed pink, knowing that he was reserved for the brunette. "Um, Ms. Martins told me……" she trailed off meekly, fidgeting with the sponge.
"Tina here was just giving me a bath," Kaiba said matter-of-factly, enjoying the way Tea's face turned scarlet with jealousy. "So if you'll just go….." Hmmm…….I wonder if they'll catfight…..! How amusing will that be.. He waved dismissively.
"Oh, I see." Was all she said. His irritation stung a little higher.
"I'm sorry, Tea," Tina cried. "I didn't want to, since he's your boyfriend……and all……" Behind her, Tea saw Kaiba raise an eyebrow at the news.
"Thanks, Tina," Tea said in a whisper, ushering the blond out and shutting the door. "It's not what you think…..!" she hissed at Kaiba, who had a big fat annoying smirk right on those…… lips of his…..! "Stop smirking!"
"Telling everyone I'm your boyfriend, are we?" he said silkily. "Aren't we getting…..too ahead of ourselves?"
"I didn't!" she shrieked, throwing a shirt at him so he could put it on. "Tina and her DUMB ideas….."
"Mm hmm, 'dumb'," he said with an eye roll, laying the shirt across his torso, so it covered him up. "Riiiiiight," he said in a sarcastic voice that irritated her to no end.
"Tea? Tea?" It was Mokuba's little friend. "C'n me an' Mokie go down to the cafeteria and get somethin' to eat?"
"Sure, of course," she said sweetly, leading them out the door, where they found a nurse to take them there. Then she slammed the door. "Were you really going to let her give you a sponge bath?!" her voice rose in eight octaves.
"What's it to you?" He said, glaring, not liking her screechy tone. "I thought you have the hots for Dr. Erik-what's-his-name. I saw you hugging him in the parking lot."
"Oh, please!"
"Then what was it? You jealous?"
"NO!" Even though she was. The horrible, ugly feeling in the pit of her stomach could only be such. It made her feel so petty; Tina was just doing her job. She adjusted her dark skirt nervously under his penetrating, probing gaze, noticing an open computer on the far table. "Doing your business, I see."
He was not about to be put off. "Since you scared away my maid, I'll just have to ring for another one….." Casually, he reached up for the call button, seeing her huge glare. "Unless…..you'd like to do it…..?" he smirked, knowing she was way too prissy and uptight do even consider such a thing.
Tea swallowed visibly. She really didn't to tempt fate, but she knew she'd go insane with jealousy if another pretty young thing were to….and he damn well knows it! Just to spite me and hurt my feelings, he'd willingly allow some floozy to put her hands all over him! Probably make me sit in the corner, too. Grabbing the sponge that Tina had dropped, she tossed to it from hand to hand in a no nonsense way. "Fine! I will! Sit up."
A slightly taken aback look passed over his light eyes, fleeting, and then he gave her a pointed look. Tea quickly turned her back, facing the wall so he could change. "What have you gotten yourself into this time….?" She thought aloud to herself, pressing her eyes shut, just in case.
"Okay." His tone was strangely quiet and low. Slowly, as if he'd bite, she turned back, uncertainty written all over her face, as well as regret, for he had only a towel draped around his waist, a basin surrounding him. she daren't look at his face, for fear of what she might find there. Just get this over with…..I'll show you that I can! Then we'll see who's jealous….of who….. The sponge felt strangely heavy as she passed it over his neck and shoulders, her eyes fixed on her hand as well as his. There was no telling what he would do…Probably try to grab me…..
But he didn't. Deciding to see just how far he could push her…it was obvious she was tensed up like a strung bow. Tea was thinking, Just pretend he's some old ninety year old…..with blotchy skin instead of tanned…….wrinkly instead of smooth…..She took in a shuddering breath slowly, so he wouldn't hear and finished up, rinsing, emptying the basin of dirty water in the bathroom, then handing him a towel to dry off. Her mouth felt dry as the towel and she backed off, looking anywhere for distraction. Neither of them had said a single word.
"You can leave now," he ordered. If you want…… was the implied, unsaid second half of the sentence. She hesitated, hearing it, and handed him a freshly laundered hospital gown to put on. He took it, and in one move, wrapped it around her wrist and pulled her closer, nearly making her stumble into his lap. "You sure are cute when you're jealous," was all he said to her suspicious face, a slight smirk pulling up one corner of his mouth.
She watched it with pure fascination. "I was not……jealous….!" She convinced no one. He thinks I'm cute? That was the only thing, as trivial as it was, on her mind. "No, don't," she added, voice thick when he took her other hand and pressed his longer one against her palm. Their fingers unfolded and linked together willfully. Why? Why does he do this to me? HOW?
Nuzzling her nose in the Eskimo kiss she'd taught him, he gave her a tiny kiss, and immediately felt her relax with a sigh. This girl….there's just something about the way she screeches at me…..very determined….yet…yielding…only when I do this. So simple, so easy..... Tipping her chin up, his other hand pressed against her waist inviting her closer as the kiss lingered on. Finally, he pulled away suddenly, expecting her to lean in further.
Instead, though, she cupped her hand on his cheek, saw that way his expression changed. Tenderness seems to take him off his guard, she realized. That could come in handy….Tea rubbed her thumb against the crease at corner of his lip, then lifted her gaze to meet his, full of hope and longing. Why won't you tell me how you feel about me….. I know it's more than…what you're saying…. "I do….love you .....you know….."
I know, he thought with resignation. That's the problem….. Aloud, he said only, "Ssshh…." And really did pull her into his lap this time. One hand traveled up her silky thigh, the other in her equally soft dark hair, murmuring in pleasure as she started to respond. He smells a lot better after his bath, she couldn't help thinking, and would've laughed at that if he didn't find her lips with his just then. Just the size of him, making her feel so tiny and small and safe, all wrapped in his strong arms. In here, this is where things are simple, he was thinking. When we're like this.....and love is too complicated. But she is right….. and things were too precarious right now…….
They broke up, mostly for sanity, and Tea realized he still only had a towel on. A very tiny towel…. Blushing bright red, she tried to back off, until he saw where she was looking at and tipped up her chin again. Again, their lips met for an especially hot searing kiss, and again, she relaxed.
Until she saw the towel again, only this time, it was right beside his head.
Her whole body froze solid, in fear. Was he---? I don't want to look, but--- I have to see what's going on! He watched with bearely hidden amusement as she jerked her head down, eyes wider than coasters….
He was wearing his boxers. Still.
Feeling foolish, Tea slowly looked back, at his barely contained laughter. Not liking to be laughed at, she gave him her very best scowl. "Why you---!" she pummeled her fist against his hard chest, but softly and with indigence. Either he changes clothes faster than any one I've ever seen, or…he had it on all along! Just to embarrass me……
Still, it is a little bit funny. A LITTLE bit. She laughed a little, mostly with relief.
"Disappointed…?" he had watched her enchanting laugh. "L-" he stopped abruptly and her head shot up.
" 'Love'? Were you about to say, 'love?' " Her large round eyes got all hopeful.
"NO." Even though he was. It's just a little slip of the tongue, he thought, pushing her off and donning his hospital gown. That's all! Tea tried to help him, since he couldn't raise his arms, but he was scowling all of the sudden, pouting like a little boy. Maybe he was about to! She thought hopefully. Maybe he was just about to confess his feelings---"And don't look at me like that, all hopeful!" he growled. "I wasn't, I tell you! Now get out." He reached for his computer with finality; body language saying this conversation was over.
Rather snapping it……."Get out to yourself….." Obediently Tea went to the door, then looked back at his glowering face, intent on his computer. He didn't look up, and she left. He was about to say it! I bet! She was starting to read him a bit better. Shutting the door with a click, she wondered about the boys. They've been gone a long time…..I hope they haven't gotten into trouble….! Briefly, she acknowledged that her earlier rage of jealousy had practically thrown them out, and if something bad had happened, it'd be all her fault. I have to get home soon, but I'd better find them SOONER….
But she looked all over the hospital…..and when she couldn't find them……..started to panic…..
TBC!
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A/n: Ha, Tea's turn to be jealous.....and uh oh where did they go? Spied on our couple, maybe? (laugh)got scarred for life ….that'd be interesting. And Kaiba nearly admitted. Oh so stubborn. Anyway, Review to find out. See you next chapter. (waves bye)
