Chapter Three: The children were nestled all snug in their bed...

And it certainly wasn't sugarplums dancing through these boys' heads.

Look at that. I can take a perfectly innocent title and turn it into innuendo. I love me. Woo-chah.

Angst bunnies ahoy in this chapter. For those of you concerned about them, I can only tell you that it has to get worse before it gets better. And, well ... it gets worse.

I LOVE MY REVIEWERS! I had a small problem...I had to repost the story and I lost the five reviews I had before that, and it made me so unhappy.

I ... uh, I appreciate Foreign-Newbie's concern about whether or not I am depressed ... I'm not really sure how to answer that. I'm fairly certain that I'm not, I'm just much better at writing angsty storylines.

And to Arora, I'm glad you appreciated Jou's outfit. More in this chapter about why he was dressed like a Vegas showgirl. And thank you for your lovely comment about how I put effort into their speech. I really do. Speaking Jonouchi-ese is rather hard, and it's nice that someone appreciates it! (And yes, I tried to make Mokuba sound sexy XP)

Kumori, thank you for being so nice! Here's the update you were after!

BarbedWire23 ... um ... sad is good, yes? I'm assuming it it, and continuing like you asked.

setoobsessive, I'm glad you like it. And thank you for appreciating the cute aspect! I really try to balance fluff with angst, and chapter four, which isn't done yet, has some pretty fluffy bits. And yes, Mokuba is naughty. Although, people seem to like him that way!

To my dear Calico-Avengi, thank you for being such a faithful reviewer! I love you! (chucks cookies at you)

Poor Seto. He's so hormonal. Can you say sexual frustration?

He knew he shouldn't be here. Every fiber of conscience in his body screamed at him to leave. He had promised, he shouldn't force him. Jonouchi sighed an contemplated beating his head against the carpet, just to shut himself up.

SHUT UP!

His conscience fell silent with a miffed 'hmph.'

I have every right to be here, he told himself stubbornly.

Which is why you're hoping he doesn't wake up and throw something at you?

What did I tell you about talking?

It's kinda in the job description; protect host from permanent damage and all.

I'm ignoring you.

Fine.

Fine.

Hmph.

Nyah.

Jou rested his chin of his hand and resumed his watch over Seto's recumbent body. He was amazed at how different Seto looked without his customary glare. His features were relaxed in sleep, rendered almost seraphic in the pale silver moonlight.

The more gorgeous they are when they're sleeping, the more hellish they are when they're awake.

Jou resolutely ignored the comment. Seto rolled onto his side, curling up like a cat and clutching a fistful of bedcovers. Jou sighed; exhaustion was already wearing away at him, and his eyelids seemed to weigh ten pounds apiece. He was so tired ...

Surely Seto wouldn't mind if he slept here? He didn't know where his room was (Mokuba had shown him, but being Jou, he'd forgotten already.) and he didn't feel like sleeping on the couch. Especially when he considered how much effort it would take to make it down the staircase without killing himself in the process.

Jonouchi shifted uncomfortably, wincing when his leather-bound legs slid across the polished wood of his chair, emitting a horrible screech. Fortunately, Seto didn't do more than twitch, mumble, and resume his heavy breathing.

He couldn't sleep dressed like this. Why he'd let Yami talk him into dressing like this was beyond him; the pants weren't exactly comfortable, and they squeaked every time he moved. He got up carefully, watching Seto for signs of movement, and padded over to what he hoped was a dresser.

He worried for a moment that the drawers would creak and wake Seto up. Stupid, he told himself. This is Kaiba we're talking about. If a drawer creaked, he wouldn't fix it, he'd just buy a new dresser. Sure enough, the drawer slid open smoothly.

Jou could barely see, even by the light of the full moon. He had to poke and prod at the clothes to discern when they were. After ten minutes and six drawers, he finally found a silky pair of pajama pants. Casting a quick glance at the still-slumbering Kaiba, he stripped off his shirt, became entangled, overbalanced and fell to the floor with a thud.

"Damn it!" he yelped before remembering that he was supposed to be quiet. He picked himself up off the floor and bent over Kaiba's bed, trying to figure out if he'd woken the exhausted CEO or not.

Seto's breath stopped and he froze. Someone was in the room with him! His fists clenched as he watched warily through half-closed lids. The figure stepped back with a sigh of relief, and Seto's heart skipped a beat.

He was—well, the only word Seto's awestruck mind could come up with was beautiful. Clad only in tight leather pants, Jonouchi stood at the foor of his bed, looking for all the world like a ghost, or a spirit. Something ethereal, something inhuman, something—

Angelic.

His skin glimmered with the faintest hint of pearl, the moonlight throwing every curve and angle into stark relief. His sandy hair gleamed, shot through with strands of pure silver, and his honey-gold eyes seemed brighter than usual.

Jou tossed his shirt to the floor, fingers deftly unbuttoning his pants. "Damn, Yami," he muttered to himself, almost too softly to hear. "How d'you wear dese all 'a time?" Seto's eyes widened. Oh, God. Ohgodohgodohgod.

Jonouchi was standing in the middle of his room, completely naked.

"Can' even wear anyt'ing under 'em," h murmured. "Las' time I wea' leatha."

It was getting harder and harder to ignore the throbbing in his stomach moving steadily downward. Seto closed his eyes tightly, trying desperately to think happy thoughts.

When he opened them again, Jonouchi was crouched by his dresser, rifling through the drawers in what Seto assumed to be a search for boxers.

"Hah," Jonouchi said triumphantly as Seto groaned quietly and pulled the covers over his head.

Why was Jonouchi in his room? For that matter, why was Jonouchi in his room not wearing enough? And why wasn't Seto more upset?

He's got a nice body, Seto admitted. More than nice. Gorgeous. Well-toned. Flat-out hot.

Seto could feel his face flush. He'd never ever been so ... so ... crude. He hadn't realized exactly how badly he wanted the mutt.

And now his body was making it painfully obvious.

Still feigning sleep, Seto rolled onto his stomach, wincing as the ache in his groin made itself known with a particularly agonizing throb. This was insane. He would not give in to these ... animalistic urges. He would go to sleep and everything would be fine.

And this logic worked rather well. Until Jonouchi decided to lay down on the bed next to him and snuggle up to his side.

"G'night, Seto," Jou whispered, the pleasant warmth of his breath washing gently over the shell of Seto's ear.

"You're making this difficult, mutt," Seto mumbled into his pillow.

"Eh? Yer awake?" Jou jerked back, as if Seto had bitten him.

"You noticed."

"Ah ... fer how long?"

"Long enough."

"I'm sorry, I jus'—I mean, I dunno where my room is an'—"

"And you couldn't sleep wearing clothing?" Seto opened one eye, peeking over the pillow at the flustered blonde.

"I am wearin' clothes." Jou gave him an offended look. "I jus' had ta borrow a pair 'a pants. You eva try sleepin' in leatha?"

"No."

"Don't think leatha's my thing," Jou said, resting his chin on his forearms. He was lying sprawled across Seto's bed, which was easily large enough to fit four or five comfortably. "Neva' shoulda let Yuug' talk me inta wearin' it."

"If you don't like it, why wear it?"

"Ah ... well ... "Jou blushed adorably. "Um ... Yuug' and Yami said it looked good on me, an' ... well ... I guess I wanted ta look nice fer you ... "Jou glaced down, cheeks blazing red.

Seto reached out, taking Jou's chin gently and tilting his head up. "For me?" Seto asked lightly. "You were miserable all day just so I had something to stare at?"

"You were starin' at me?" Seto smirked. He'd never intended "mutt" as anything more than an insult, but the more time he spent around Jonouchi, the more he realized how puppylike he really was. Bright, energetic, eager-to-please, and fiercely protective of his friends. Fucking adorable, too. At times like this, one could almost imagine his ears pricking up and his tail wagging.

"I guess," he said harshly. Jou's teeth flashed in the gloom.

"You think I'm cute?" he asked roguishly.

Seto flushed. "Go to sleep, mutt."

"Naah," Jou scolded. "I asked ya a question."

Seto glowered at him. Go to sleep before I make you sleep on the floor."

Jou paled. "You wouldn' ... "

Seto arched a finely chiseled eyebrow. "That's where dogs belong."

Jou stuck out his tongue. "I'm not a dog, Kaiba."

Seto's only response was an outstretched hand that caught Jou's tongue between two fingers. "Don't talk back to your master, pup."

Jou sputtered. "Oo no' ma mather," he protested.

"Mm," Seto agreed, releasing his tongue and pulling him closer. "But I'd like to be." Seto hadn't known the mutt could blush that much.

"You—Seto—you said a week—"

"Hn." Seto was nibbling gently at his jawline, obviously not paying any attention at all.

"Seto, stop it."

Seto did. "I—I thought you wanted me?" Jou looked into his eyes and choked. Seto looked—hurt?

"'Course I do," he managed after a moment. "It's jus'—you're hormonal and unbalanced righ' now. You've had a hell of a day, and I won' do anythin' you'll regret in the mornin'."

"You go on and on about how you can't wait a week to screw me, and then you start acting like a damn monk when I offer." Seto's voice was cold.

"What? No, dat wasn' what I meant. I don' jus' want your body, I want you."

Seto blinked. "What"

"I want a relationship. Not jus' sex."

"A—?"

"Relationship. C'mon man, you're a genius. You know what dat means."

"Yes, but—"

"I know—"Jou's voice broke and he clenched his fists tightly. "I know dat it seems like ev'ryone dat's interested in you jus' wants ta get you in bed, but—dat's not how it's s'posed ta work, Seto." Seto watched, astonished. Was he crying? Jou buried his face in his hands, confirming Seto's suspicion.

"Pup, what's wrong?"

Jou sniffled and lowered his hands, honey-gold eyes brimming with crystalline tears. "Because I—I can't stand tha thought a' what dey did to you, Seto. When you had dat attack—you were so scared. I—I neva' seen you like dat before. I don' wanna see it again. I'd kill Gozaborou if he wasn' already dead, th' bastard."

"Pup—"

"How many times?"

Seto froze. "What?"

"How many times did dey rape you?"

"How—I—how did you—?"

"You neva' tol' anyone it was more den once, did ya?"

"I—" Seto faltered. How did he know? "How did you figure it out?"

Jou smiled sadly, regretfully. "Wasn' dat hard."

"Wasn't that hard? I didn't even tell Mokuba, much less the shrinks."

"Why not? I mean, dey were dere t' help you, weren' dey?"

Seto dropped his gaze. "I was ashamed, mutt. Surely you can understand that."

"It wa'n't your fault." Jonouchi's eyes flashed angrily. "Da bastards raped you! You couldn' help it!"

"Maybe not the first time. But—I was small when I was fourteen. I couldn't fight back. By the last time—well, you remember how big I was at sixteen. I could've fought. I was strong enough."

"You can' be serious! You really think it was your fault?"

Seto's temper flared. "I let them, mutt! I didn't even protest!"

"Dey woulda punished you! You were jus' tryin t' protect yourself."

"I was their whore, Katsuya! I slept with half of my father's employees!"

"You are not a whore, Seto! Don' you eva let me hear you say dat again!" Jou was fairly shaking with rage. "You understand me? Eva!"

"Calm down, mutt."

"I don' understand how you can be so calm!"

"It was a long time ago, mutt. You get used to it after a while."

"I don' believe dat."

Seto shot him a patented Seto death-glare . "What?"

"I don' think you eva get used t' dat. I think you jus' learned to push ev'ryone away so you don' hafta deal wit' it again. Am I right?"

Seto glared at him. "I'm going to sleep."

"Dat's exactly what I'm talkin' about. When was th' las' time you admitted dat somethin' was wrong?"

Seto wondered briefly if Jonouchi had bee talking to Mokuba. "Nothing's wrong. It was seven years ago. I'm fine. Now go to sleep."

"Dat's bullshit and you know it."

Seto snorted. "Think what you will."

"You're not over it an' you're not fine."

You're right. I'm not fine. I'm fucking tired and you're pissing me off. Now would you please drop it?"

"Like hell."

For the second time that day Seto found himself flat on his back with Jonouchi straddling him, pinning him to the mattress. "What the hell are you—" His words cut off abruptly when Jou's lips closed over his own in a furious, crushing kiss. A helpless whimper forced its way from his throat as Jonouchi's tongue delved into his mouth. No ... not again, no ... it was just like his dream ...

"Mutt, no ... "

"Shut up, Kaiba. I don' wanna hear your whining."

Seto flinched as if he'd been struck. In ten seconds he'd gone from the proud, arrogant twenty-three-year-old CEO of a multibillion-yen corporation to a frightened, trembling fourteen-year-old lying prone and helpless on an office floor. Rough, possessive hands tore at him, pulled his shirt off, teasing his stomach with unrelenting, ice-cold fingertips. Seto's breath caught in his chest and he struggled slightly as Jou laved one pink nipple with his tongue.

Jou flashed him a predatory grin. "You like that?"

Seto shook his head wordlessly, watching Jou with wide, panicked eyes. He'd been stupid, letting Jonouchi in his bed. Stupid to think that he might care for him. Stupid to think that anyone wanted more than his body. He made no protest as Jou flipped him onto his stomach, deft fingers working at the fastening of his pants.

Seto closed his eyes, setting his teeth and gripping the pillow tightly with white-knuckled fingers. This was it; all he was to Jonouchi was an easy fuck. Should have expected it.

That didn't ease the tight knot of disappointment in his chest. He had no reason to be upset. He was all too used to this. Worthless. He would never escape this. He didn't want to. It was too confusing, trying to figure out what another person was thinking, what they wanted. Simpler to not have to worry about emotional attachment.

But still ... it hurt.

"Shit."

Jonouchi had stopped. He knelt over Seto, panting, weight supported by a hand on either side of his compliant body. What was wrong?

Seto rolled over onto his back, eyes downcast to avoid having to look into those cold, hard eyes. "I'm sorry," he said automatically, without knowing quite why. "I'll be good, I promise.

"Oh God, Seto ... " Jonouchi let out a strangled sob and engulfed the bewildered brunette in a clinging, desperate embrace. Seto stiffened, waiting for the inevitable punishment for speaking out of turn. Instead Jonouchi held him tightly, face buried in his shoulder. "You woulda—shit, I neva realized—oh God, I'm so sorry."

Seto blinked. "Hunh?"

Jou lifted his head and Seto could make out crystalline tears glistening on his cheeks. Jou's amber eyes were pleading, begging for forgiveness. "Seto—You woulda let me rape you, wouldn' ya? I—I wasn' going to. I didn' mean t' scare you, I jus'—jus' had to know how badly they screwed wit your mind."

"You were testing me?"

Jou nodded miserably, resting his head on Seto' chest. "I'm so sorry."

"It's alright," Seto said, awkwardly stroking Jou's hair. "Don't worry about it, pup."

"How can you say dat? You were scared—scared a' me!" Jou's grip on him tightened. "I wouldn't a' done it."

"I know," Seto lied.

"But d'you believe it?"

"I ... I'm not certain," Seto admitted, more confused than he had been in years. "Give me time."

Jou burrowed deeper in Seto's chest. "You don't hafta be scared a' me," he said. "I won' hurt you." He looked up at Seto and smiled. "Good night, Seto." He rolled off of him, turning his back on Seto.

Seto snorted. He wasn't that paranoid. He reached out and drew Jonouchi close, until they were pressed together, Jou's back to his chest, legs entwined. "Good night, puppy."

Was that okay? (looks nervous)