Tree Job

Icy Flame


Got the idea the other day, tried to get it out before Christmas was over. I'll work on it more and get out the kinks when I return.

Part One


Jou kicked at a clod of snow, contented when it was smashed into smithereens. A few flurries fluttered from the sky. Shouting distracted the blond from his thoughts.

"Watch out!"

"Huh?" Jou looked up, eyes widening as he saw a pine tree falling at him. Barely rolling out of the way, Jou looked up from his stomach to see the family looking guiltily at him. Glaring he stood up, dusting himself off. Growling to himself until he realized what he was doing he ducked down, shooting a quick look around. Phew. No Kaiba. For some reason he'd been appearing out of nowhere recently, taunting Jounouchi constantly. As of yet he hadn't showed up at Jou's work.

Yet.

After the first snowfall, and consequently, a reminder of the winter holidays Jounouchi's father had 'suggested' he look for a job. The idea hadn't gone over so well. When his father refused to pay for any of the gifts Jou wanted to get for his friends, he decided to search around for a temporary job. A day and a half into it the blonde was able to locate a place that was willing to hire him for the winter holidays up until Christmas. He had long hours and it the man never promised it would be easy, but Jounouchi never imagined he'd have to dodge pine trees. The pay was worth it, he reminded himself. He could actually buy his friends decent gifts this year. No regifting. Though in his defense, Tea always struck him as the type who would find the amusement in protection from the cold. Where his Aunt Teresa had found nipple covers was beyond him, but she'd found it a hilarious gift for her nephew.

Shaking his head, a habit for clearing his mind, Jou clambered to his feet. Dusting the seat of his pants off and as much slush as he could from his clothing in general, he put on a false smile. It wouldn't do for him to receive a complaint from these people; his boss would probably fire him. As Jounouchi's amber eyes scanned the large crowd of late goers he wasn't so sure his boss would fire him, but he would likely dock his pay. Forcing his body through the motions, the blonde ended up tying the tree on their roof and ended up with a five-dollar tip to boot!

Maybe today wouldn't be such a bad day after all.

Jounouchi should have remembered what his mother had said about speaking too soon. With just half an hour left to his shift, the duelist found himself soaked in slush, snow, and several things he'd rather not think about. A longing to change into the clothes Jou had brought with him in his gym bag distracted him from the car that pulled up in the nearly empty parking lot.

As he ducked into the backroom to heat up some hot chocolate, Jounouchi had the sudden feeling that his day had taken a turn for the worse.

Seto grunted in reply to his little brother's request before climbing out of the car and hitting the lock button. The answering beep and flashing lights was somehow reassuring. And Seto being the trusting individual he was, clicked the unlock button and then re-locked his vehicle. He started again when Mokuba glared at him.

"Setooo!" howled Mokuba, looking like a cat with his tail stepped on.

Sighing in ways of agreeing not to fiddle with car lock, he trudged through the sludge to the shack that stood before the sprawling tree farm. Exchanging skeptical looks the Kaiba brothers approached the dingy shack. Closer examination did not produce any greater opinion. There was a sparse seat and box for money, a few saws and a pile of rope. A few Styrofoam cups and a trashcan were on display. A plain door that lead to the back area, where someone was swearing quite loudly.

"Damn evil water! Ye shall evaporate to Hell!"

The CEO glanced at his little brother. "How set are you on getting a tree this year?"

Mokuba gave Seto a disapproving look, before announcing their presence to the worker.

"Hello? Can you help us? We're looking for a Christmas tree!"

"A tree? Really?" a joyful voice answered, a few more thuds and curses were echoed from the back room. "I'll be right out there, are you looking for a decorative tree or mo-OW!"

Mokuba startled yanked on his brother's sleeve. "Maybe you should go back there and help."

"I don't think so Mokuba."

"Seto! You promised." Seto rolled his eyes but moved forward to go behind the counter nonetheless. Suddenly the door opened, the worker backing out, holding something in hand.

"Sorry bout taking so long, everyone else is out in the field."

The Kaiba brothers looked over and were pleasantly surprised to find the worker was Jounouchi Katsuya, though only one would admit it.

"Jou!"

"Mokuba? Kaiba?"

Jounouchi was baffled, he suddenly knew why he'd felt his day would turn to the worse. He knew he'd regret it but he had to ask.

"Why are you here?"

"We're here to get a tree, considering this is a tree farm I would think it obvious enough even for your stunted mind to comprehend. Why you're here pup is more elusive." Kaiba snarked, continuing in a false sweet tone, "Was the puppy abandoned? Is that it, and you're here to find a good home mutt?"

Jou puffed up, annoyed. "Don't push me Kaiba, what do you want."

Mokuba interrupted before his brother could continue his fight.

"Seto promised me we'd pick a tree out this year."

"I guess that makes sense. Here's the best place to get your tree. Do you need help or do you—"

Seto interrupted," It's a Christmas tree, we can handle it, come along Mokuba. The sooner this is done the sooner we can decorate."

"And when you say we you mean you." Jou pointed out. Kaiba sent him a glare.

"And just what do you mean by that, pup?"

"I'm not a dog, and what I mean is that you are too much of a control freak to even let your own little brother decorate the Christmas tree!"

"Yep!" Mokuba chimed in, much to his brother's chagrin. He felt slightly betrayed and look down to his little brother.

"I'd let you decorate if you wanted Mokuba." He put in petulantly.

Jounouchi crowed with laughter. "Never thought I'dsee the day when Seto Kaiba pouted!"

"Shut if mutt," Seto grumped, cross that Jounouchi of all people was who'd seen him pouting.

Jounouchi did shut up, but the smirk on his face was far more irritating in Seto's opinion. Determined not to give him the upper hand though he marched off into the field of trees. Mokuba scampered off after his brother with a last wave to Jounouchi.

"If you need any help just yell!" Jounouchi shook his head and took a sip of his drink, cursing when he realized the hot chocolate was a bit too hot. Damn. Grabbing some snow he started to cool his mouth down. It melted much too fast in Jou's mind. Scowling at the hot chocolate, he turned his head and noticed an icicle. Now that could work.

Seto cursed, stomping through the snow. He'd already slipped twice, leaving Mokuba in fits of laughter. The CEO hadn't even thought to find out what type of tree they'd need. Mokuba had wanted to decorate the tree with ornaments, big heavy ornaments. And Seto had not clue what type of pine tree could support them. Mokuba had disappeared while searching for trees after telling his brother to ask Jounouchi for help. Grumbling to himself as the booth came into view he saw that Jounouchi was eating something, rolling his eyes he approached the other teen. When he came closer he noticed that the mutt wasn't eating something but…sucking something. Seto stood memorized as he saw the blond flick his tongue over his lips, before he took a extensive lick at the icicle. Seto froze.

"Pup?" Seto said softly, hoping to stop the feeling developing in the pit of his stomach.

"Mmmh?" Jou moaned, opening his eyes to slits. Seto felt himself hardening. "You need help Kaiba?"

A light flush suffused his features. "Tree…type." He muttered, forcing himself to look the blond in the eyes.

Jou nodded, that made sense. Tossing the icicle aside he leapt over the counter. "Lead the way."

The CEO consented, turning around and heading back towards his little brother had first disappeared. No matter how hard he tried he couldn't get the blonde sucking on the icicle out of his head, it wasn't helping that Jou was positioned so that they were almost walking hip to hip. Seto opened his mouth to ask Jounouchi a question when…

"Seto!" cheered Mokuba, pouncing on his brother. "You left over ten minutes ago, what took so long?"

"I got hard—held! Held up." Seto stuttered, willing no one else to notice his hard—slip up. Luck wasn't on his side, both shot him odd looks. "Slip of the tongue." The brunette defended, only to flush as he imagined Jou's own tongue slipping up and down on his—the icicle.

Mokuba grinned widely, noticing his brother's preoccupied attitude. "So did you ask Jounouchi about what type of tree we need."

"No" Seto admitted agitatedly.

Jounouchi was stumped. What should he do? On the one hand he desperately wanted to poke fun at Kaiba for making such a mistake, especially considering it was such a dirty one. How many times in his life would he ever get a chance like this again? Kaiba wasn't the type to make errors, ever. He wouldn't have made it so far at running a company if he was. On the other hand, Jounouchi reluctantly thought, he wouldn't want Kaiba to look any more the ass than he already was in front of his little brother. He knew deep down that he'd want the same courtesy if he were with Serenity. So choking back on his words the blonde acted as if nothing had happened, on the outside at least.

"Depends on what you plan to do with the tree."

Kaiba gave him a look. Why hadn't he made a big deal out of his Freudian slip? Maybe he hadn't noticed? No he wasn't that lucky. He couldn't let the pup get to him.

"We're flying to the moon on it, what do you think we're going to do with it?" Kaiba asked sarcastically.

"Ha ha ha smartass."

"Seto and me our gonna put ornaments on it, it's gonna be our own." Mokuba got a dreamy far off look in his eye as he described what they would do.

The blonde smiled softly patting the kid on the head. "Ok Mokuba, you'll be wantin' a Blue Spruce then. Make sure you steer clear of the White Pine, 'kay little man?"

The black haired pre-teen grinned at the older male. Beaming up at him he nodded and started off again into the trees. Jou was shocked but shouted after the young Kaiba.

"BLUE SPRUCES HAVE GREEN RIBBONS ON 'EM!"

Seto sneered but headed off after his younger brother, not even sparing his classmate another glance. Jou stuck out his tongue childishly, blowing a raspberry at him, then shifted through the snow back to his booth.

"And then you take this ribbon, tie it around the tree. The company has lumberjacks that come in and cut down the trees, if ya don't wanna." Jounouchi muttered something about idiots and slow warnings. "Otherwise ya just leave your address and it'll be delivered by the end of the week."

Mokuba frowned, shoulders frowning as he said. "By the end of the week?" He turned his sad eyes on Seto, jutting out his lower lip. His older brother shrugged his shoulders. "Seto!"

"How can we get it tonight." Seto sighed, crossing his arms over his chest, looking over to the shaggy haired blonde.

"You can't." Jou answered simply. Seto frowned.

"What do you mean we can't? I'll pay whatever it costs, I want the tree tonight."

Jounouchi rolled his eyes, "I already said ya can't Kaiba, it don't matter if you'd pay a million dollars!"

"Oh, and why is that mutt?" Seto narrowed his eyes at him.

"Stop moneybags, it's nothing to do with you, not everything does."

"Why won't the tree be delivered tonight?"

Jounouchi just rolled his eyes and retrieved a saw from behind the counter.

"Just lead the way to the tree, Kaiba. You'll get it tomorrow or the next day."

Jou wasn't expecting Kaiba to grab him by the wrist and yank. Jou let out a yelp and almost dropped the saw.

"What's your problem Kaiba?" barked Jou.

"Why won't we get our tree tonight?"

Jounouchi glared, wrenching his wrist from the other teen. "Because the guy who delivers has left." Grit out the other teen, storming off into the trees. Seto scrunched up his face and followed after him, very reluctantly.

Seto finally caught up to him by Mokuba, leaning over to start the sawing, giving the CEO quite a nice view. He didn't shake himself out of this lust-induced stupor until Jounouchi stood up and moved for the black haired boy to begin sawing.

"Have at it Mokuba." Jou motioned.

"What do you think you're doing? Mokuba get away from that! You could cut your hand off." Seto scolded, taking the saw away.

"Aww Setoooo!" Mokuba whined, reaching for the saw and jumping.

Seto jerked the saw higher. "Not a chance little brother. And you!" He turned his attentions once more to the tree farm worker. "Have you finally lost your pea sized brain? Giving him a saw? What were you thinking, wait don't tell me I already know, you weren't!"

"It's not dangerous, I was right here to supervise, I wasn't going to let anything happen to your little brother Kaiba." Jou scowled, miffed that Kaiba thought he'd let a kid hack off a limb. Jou grabbed the saw out of his hand, or had planned on doing so. When his hand touched Kaiba's he jerked his own back, shocked by the spark he'd felt. Holding his hand out instead he waited for the CEO to give it back. Bending back over again he began sawing the tree down. Seto frowned but waited for the tree to come crashing down, semi hoping it would land on the mutt.

"TIIIMMMBEEER!"

Seto watched in morbid fascination as the Christmas tree fell. Jounouchi somehow managed to hand off the saw to Mokuba and pick up the tree at the same time. Seto moved forward, getting the other end of the tree and helping with the load. The trek back to the main building was slow and tedious, including several falls from Jounouchi. When they did reach it he was soaked and shivering. Tossing the tree onto the side of the building he leapt over the counter and behind the back doors. Mokuba set the saw up on the counter and looked at Seto for future guidance.

"I'll see what I can do about getting the tree, go in the car Mokuba." Nodding he complied, grabbing the proffered keys and clicking the unlock button with glee.

Going over the counter and in the back door Seto was met with a site he wasn't quite prepared for

…A naked Jounouchi Katsuya.


Part One Complete

Merry Christmas!