Title: Plush
Author: Shippo-chan
Rating: R
Pairing(s): Jou/Seto Yami/Yugi
Beta: Jennie B. glomp
Spoilers: none
Disclaimer: I don't own anything
Final world count: 3,808
Summary: Seto and Jou have more in common than they ever realized.
"Kaiba!" Even with a door-stopper, the door to Seto's private office made an impressive noise when Jou threw it open. "What da hell did ya think you were doin'? Do ya know jus' how much dis would have damaged yer rep if anyone but me had found it?"
Seto quirked an eyebrow. "First of all, Inu, stop shouting. You'll send the housekeepers into a panic attack if you keep yelling. Second, what are you talking about?"
"Oh, don't be stupid Kaiba! You should not be carrying this shit around with you!" The briefcase skittered across his desk, followed by a beanie-baby and a snow-white laptop.
Seto's face showed a multitude of colors. Beginning with bright red, then fading to chalk white. It finally settled around a shade of dark puce. His mouth opened and closed a few times, but no words emerged. When he finally spoke, it was with his usual composure: calm, cool, and deadly. "You must have a death wish to Inu, to get into my things."
"Oh, go fuck yourself, Kaiba," Jou scowled as he dropped into a chair. "Besides, I found something we have in common."
"Hnnn…What could you have possibly found?" Seto leaned back in his chair after putting away the incriminating evidence of his odd kink.
Jou chewed his lip thoughtfully for a moment before finally pulling his pack into his lap and rummaging through it. He pulled something out and stared at it before placing it on the desk. The small, white dragon stared up at the CEO with bright blue eyes. Seto turned his gaze from the beanie-baby to the blonde's nervous brown eyes.
"Are you saying that you're...?" Seto left the question unasked.
Jou fidgeted slightly under the brunette's disbelieving stare. "Well…Yeah. I mean…Yeah." Jou faltered.
"And now you honestly believe that I am going to write a report about this so that everyone can think that I sit in my room and hump a stuffed animal? No thanks, Inu. Not going to happen."
Jou snorted. "Knew ya'd be scared, Kaiba. But, I guess that's just how you are. Some people can't help it…"
"What exactly is that supposed to mean?"
"Some people, like you, can't help but worry about how people think of them. Even though most people already think you're an asshole."
Seto pursed his lips. "I'm not worried about that, Inu. I'm more worried about the nightmares I'll have when the images of humping my plushie start appearing in my mind
"Ah. Now that makes sense."
"So we've determined that I am not scared."
"I guess. You'd be embarrassed, though."
"Yes. That, at least, is true." Seto leaned forward and placed his elbows on his desk, fingertips connected. "I, unlike you, have a reputation to protect. I don't want this to get out. What will it take for you to keep this a secret?"
"Kaiba…I don't believe in blackmail. I believe that an enemy's secret is just as important as a friend's. I'm not sure if you're an enemy, Seto, but I won't tell your secret."
Kaiba smirked and stood up. Coming around the desk, he sat down on it, across from Jou. A position of power. "Thank you. At least you are an honest Inu, if not a bright one."
"I know you ain't callin' me stupid, Kaiba. Especially with that code for your briefcase."
"What? That code…how did you know?"
"Blue eyes numbers. 08/25/30. It was really simple Seto. So predictable
"Those are the correct numbers, Jou, but not for the correct reasons. I was eight when my parents died. My mother was twenty-five and my father was thirty. I never realized that the two were the same."
Jou blinked. "Well…ya might think of changin' it. They are the same."
"I'll do that."
"I still ain't stupid, ya know."
"Hnn…" was Seto's only reply.
"Back the hell off, Kaiba." Jou gave the brunette a shove and watched him go back around his desk. "You've been an asshole ever since we got put on this stupid assignment, and I wanna know why!"
"I'm always an asshole, from your point of view."
"Not like this, you ain't. Usually, ya make one snide remark and leave me alone. What's up with you?"
Seto smiled self-mockingly. "Well…I suppose one good turn deserves another. As long as you don't blackmail me, I'll leave you alone." He held out a hand. "Deal?"
Jou shook his head. "No deal. I won't blackmail you, but I'll convince you that we should write our report on being Plushophiles."
"I somehow doubt that, Jou. But feel free to try."
"You can count on it. First of all, I think our teacher was hoping for us to write about this, because when I asked him why he paired us up, he said that he was hoping we'd write about a certain topic. And I don't think he'll give us an A otherwise."
"How could he have possibly known?"
"I dunno…he's probably really observant or somethin'."
"Hnnn…I'll take a B."
"Also, someone's bound to find out eventually. One way or another. And if you're bein' so secretive about it, they're gonna be even more inclined to believe you're sexually involved with an animal."
"How could anyone possibly find out?"
"I did."
"You're too nosy."
"Yes, but I'm not the only nosy person on Earth."
"I still don't want to let this get out."
"Okay…then let's continue. How many people have you met in Plushie Chat who've complained about all the prejudice against them?"
"Dozens."
"This may, we might be able to lessen prejudice at our school. Not just against Plushophiles or Furries, but other groups, too. Colored people, foreign people, different religions, gays…"
"And how would we do that?" Seto asked, now fully intrigued. Being gay himself, he personally hated how people treated them.
"Well, think about it! You're a genius, right? We could lean our entire presentation and report toward prejudice and how most of the things people believe are either wrong or right." Jou spoke slowly, giving each word time to sink in. Kaiba was obviously interested, and Jou hoped he would turn soon. He was running out of reasons.
"Hmmm…I'm somewhat of an activist against prejudice, Jou. I grew up with no parents. Do you now how many people think orphans are lower on the scale than them?"
"No…That's just wrong, Seto. No one's lower than anyone else unless they put themselves there." Jou gave the other boy a meaningful look. "So…Can we write our report on Plushophiles?"
"Fine. But, I am not writing it alone. It would be too much to bear."
"Then we'll write it together…Tomorrow."
"Fine."
As Jou stood to leave, he looked back over his shoulder, deciding to test the waters. "Ya know what Kaiba?" he asked.
"What?"
"I think we could actually be friends." Not giving the other boy time to respond, the blond quickly shut the door behind him. Quickly exiting the mansion, Jou let out a sigh of relief. It had been harder than he had originally thought it would be to get that damned CEO to agree with him. But, it was worth it. He was tired of keeping his obsession a secret from nearly everyone. Strolling down the sidewalk, Jou realized with a shock that he had left his plushie in the office. Pausing in mid-step, the blonde considered going back for it. Then, deciding Seto would return it the next day, he continued on his way toward the road.
As Seto strolled through the schoolyard at lunch the next day, he looked down at the small item cradled in his palm. The dragon's blue eyes looked up at him, shiny with the polish Seto had so carefully applied. The tail curled around Seto's fingers and the front paws were positioned just at the base of his hand. The fur was clean after its thorough wash. Giving the stuffed animal a small squeeze, he turned toward the bench where the Yugi Tachi was having an intense conversation.
It was Jonouchi's lilting voice that reached his ears. "The prick! Then I say, 'Back the hell off! I wanna know why you're bein' an asshole!' An all he says is, 'I'm always an asshole, from your point of view.'
Seto had heard enough. Turning on his heel, he threw the carefully cleaned plushie into the dirt. He felt angry and hurt – he had actually believed Jounouchi's promise to keep his secret, but obviously the blonde hadn't been serious. Lost in his own thoughts of this betrayal, he was oblivious to Jou's pained calling of his name.
There ya go!
