Disclaimer: Hehe, I just love repeating myself. Duo Maxwell says it isn't healthy... but it's fun. Heh, none of the characters in this fic are mine. Songs aren't mine either. Uh, yes, music again. I can't help it.
Warnings: same ol', same ol'... shounen-ai... mild language, probably mostly due to Kaiba... uh, other than that, nothing much. Heads up, dun like, dun read. Simple as that, ne?
Hm, this hits thing is interesting. Heh, out of 157 hits, only 45 went on to chapter 2... (snickers) either way, it's interesting. Thanks for giving this a chance to those 45. And thanks to the reviewers, as well: Omnimalevolent(heh, I'll try...), Aseret Kitsune(thanks ya), Rice Kracker(gosh, you leave kind reviews, thanks!), Kuramarulez(sorry, a sequel can't be in the works, I let that one go v.v;;), and Crescent Venus(heh... thanks so much for giving this a try.)
He felt it. A small pinprick of discomfort on the back of his neck; and like any other human being, Kaiba's first instinct was to slap at whatever was making him uncomfortable. It was summer after all, and mosquitos were always present at this time of year.
Upon the slapping, Kaiba ran his hand along his neck, rolling the little bugger into a small black lump in his palm. But it was too late, he felt the telltale itch that the little bugger managed to get under his skin.
"Damnit... Right on the neck?" he growled, scratching the back of his neck, in irritation. Damned mosquitos. May they burn, and die a horrible fiery death. And may they suffer even more flames in Hell!
... Okay, maybe the mosquitos didn't deserve such a grisly fate (being squashed flat seemed bad enough), but Kaiba was on edge almost the entire afternoon. The glorious prospect of just going home was all too desirable. But then again, his company always seemed to fall apart when he wasn't present.
Every time, when he'd be at home, the phone would ring. And when he'd answer, all he would hear would be: "Mr. Kaiba, Mr. Kaiba! We can't wipe our asses without your consent..!"
Okay, that might be an exaggeration; but that was the gist. And he was on edge, who could blame him?
"Ah, screw it," he muttered, and got to his feet, to begin putting his paperwork in his briefcase. He was going home. True, security was keeping Underwood at bay, but even they had to go home once 5pm hit; and Kaiba couldn't help thinking evening security was too incompetent to trust fully. Therefore, at the moment, Kaiba knew that his 'safety' would only last for 3 more hours... Plus, he was barely getting any work done, while thinking about the little parasite.
He paused his packing, scratching the back of his neck again. Damnit, he hated mosquitos!
oooXXXooo
"Okay, I'm under the impression that he's gone insane in the span of ten minutes," Tristan said blandly.
Rex ignored the statement while he glared at Weevil, whom was humming cheerfully as he plugged in a stereo which acted as a small amplifier of sorts. Which could be hooked up to a mini-microphone. Which was exactly what Weevil was plugging into the little gadget.
"Karaoke?" Tristan wondered. Then, while pursing his lips, the lankier teen decided to give in and ask, "Weevil, what're you doing?"
"I'm going to serenade my precious Lovebug!" Weevil said, standing with pride.
"... I'm gonna rip Kaiba's head off," Rex growled, seemingly to himself.
Tristan raised an eyebrow at Rex, and smiled wryly. Strange how jealousy always brought out the worst in people. Well, in Rex's case, anyways. Most people wouldn't be so open with their jealousy.
It was a pity that Weevil was too infatuated to notice.
"Ahem... anytime I need to see your face, I just close my eyes and I am taken to a place where your crystal mild and magenta feelings take up shelter at the base of my spine... sweet like a chicacherry cola." Weevil sang out.
Tristan and Rex both sweatdropped, shoulders dropping, and eyes widening in disbelief. Damn, when'd he learn to sing so fast?
Weevil ignored the looks, as he sang into his mic. "I don't need to try and explain, I just hold on tight, and if it happens again, I will move so slightly to the arms and the lips and the face of the human cannonball... I need to, I want to."
And just then, Kaiba was exiting the building and he froze, staring at Weevil in shock. Then he actually took an instinctive step back, hugging his briefcase close, while glaring at the Bugboy.
"... Come stand a little bit closer, breathe in and get a bit higher. You'll never know what hit you, when I get to you. Ooh, I want you, but I dunno if I need you, but ooh I'd die to find out. Ooh, I want you, but I dunno if I need you, but ooh I'd die to find out." Weevil went on.
"He's saying all that in one breath, isn't he?" Rex said, staring in something resembling awe.
"Uh, yyyeah?" Tristan muttered, raising an eyebrow. To his amazement, Kaiba was staring at Weevil, rubbing the back of his neck. If Tristan's body language reading was correct, Kaiba seemed to be flattered?
Kaiba then descended down the steps of the building right up to Weevil.
Weevil had brightened, only to shriek, as Kaiba smacked him over the head with his briefcase.
"I said go to hell!" Kaiba snapped, then for a split-second his eyes met Tristan's, and in that instant, an unreadable expression flickered over his ice-blue eyes. But it was short-lived, as the CEO turned away, jacket once again billowing behind him, beautiful as before, making for a perfect exit.
Tristan blinked, what was that look for? He furrowed his brow, maybe his body language reading was off? Most flattered people always touched their neck. From his experiences anyways.
Rex was shaking his head, "Weevil..." he sighed, and ran to the shorter boy, helping him sit up.
Weevil sat up, frowning thoughtfully, while resting comfortably against Rex. Tristan glanced at them, then couldn't stop his small smile. Cute couple, he decided; Rex was frowning, and was obviously jealous yet concerned for Weevil's well-being. But Weevil, he seemed deadset on Kaiba. And even after Kaiba's violent reaction to being 'serenaded' to, the kid wasn't disheartened. If anything...
"Alright, I know what to do!" Weevil suddenly blurted, hopping back to his feet.
Rex scowled, and stood up as well. "Maybe back off," he suggested.
"Hell no!" Weevil declared. "If at first you don't succeed, keep trying 'til they break!"
"Uh, I don't think that's the right saying..." Tristan tried to argue. Only he was ignored, as Weevil darted after Kaiba, leaving his little 'karaoke' system.
"Damnit, if I didn't like him so much, I'd hit him," Rex growled.
"You do hit him," Tristan reminded him, with an amused grin.
Rex snorted, "that's smacking... different thing entirely," then he sweatdropped. "Weevil! Wait up!" he yelled, and took off like a shot after the younger boy, only to pause, and glare back at Tristan. "Well?"
Tristan blinked, "well what?"
"Coming or not?"
"Uh, I think I should butt out now. None of this really has anything to do with me, and--" Tristan began, as he stepped back. That look Kaiba gave him was a bit unsettling. "All of this, it doesn't seem like my business either."
Rex dropped his head back, growling impatiently. Then he glared intently, and ran back to Tristan, grabbing his arm. "You're already involved, so don't try backing out now!" he snapped, and began dragging Tristan after him.
"How in the world did I get involved?" Tristan demanded.
"Weevil says Kaiba has the hots for you, therefore, you're involved!" Rex said, shortly.
"For the love of..." Tristan groaned, almost miserably.
oooXXXooo
Kaiba sighed, standing peacefully under the hot running water. Ah, nothing like a shower to help the stress go away. True a bath would have been nice too, but this was faster. And as anyone knows, Seto Kaiba really wasn't one for relaxing and taking it easy, oh no, certainly not.
He had plenty of things to do. He had to go pick up Mokuba from school. Had some books to drop off at the public library... oh yeah, and some paperwork to work on. Possibly not in his den. His den was too office-like. He may have been a CEO, but he was still a teenager; meaning he wasn't fond of being cooped up doing only one thing.
... But if it were technology, that was a different story entirely. He could spend an entire day just fiddling with a TV/DVD/VCR remote. Actually, he did once. His creation was a remote that could turn on, and control, every TV, DVD player, and VCR in the mansion. It was fun actually... well, for Mokuba it was, him being a troublemaker and all.
Humming ever-so softly, he stepped out of the shower, and grabbed a towel, wrapping it around his narrow well-muscled waist, while running his hand through his sopping red hair. Water ran down his body, getting caught on the terrycloth. Kaiba sighed, ignoring his obvious dampness, and leaned against the bathroom counter, his brow creasing slightly as he thought.
"Why would I wanna touch him?" Tristan had asked...
The redhead chuckled bitterly. Why indeed.
Whoa, that seemed awfully dark... Doesn't seem at all proper considering the previous moments. Thankfully, a strange, brighter sound rang out, to cut through the small veil of angst.
"L, is for the way you Look at me!" a disturbingly familiar voice sang.
Kaiba's head jerked up, eyes widening in alarm. Dear Ra, you've got to be kidding!
"O, is for the Only one I see! V, is Very, very extraordinary!"
Kaiba stormed to the bathroom window, sliding it up and open. He gaped down below; Weevil was standing there, in a white tux, singing his head off. Forget singing his heart out, he was singing his lungs out. Kaiba frowned in irritation.
"E, is Even more than anyone that you'll adore. And love, is all that I can give to you!"
Kaiba had growled, as he turned away from the window, striding to the bathroom closet.
"Love is more than just a game for two. Two in love can make it! Take my heart, but please don't break it!" Weevil went on.
Kaiba came stalking back to the window, holding a bucket of ice-cold water.
"Love was made for me and youuuuu!"
SPLASH!
"Hit the road, you parasite!" Kaiba yelled down at him, and slammed the window shut.
Tristan and Rex, whom were hiding in the shrubs, sweatdropped and looked at each other again. "Well, that didn't go well, did it?" Rex mumbled.
"Didn't go well at all," Tristan smiled wryly. It was a bit complicated, Weevil sang that same song three times, this time being the fourth; he tried at a den's window, which was on the groundfloor, then the kitchen, also on the groundfloor. Then he decided to try Kaiba's bedroom, which was on the second floor. And each time he received no luck.
So out of desperation, Weevil tried a bathroom window. Out of how many others, Weevil actually caught Kaiba. So maybe he was destined to serenade the pretty redhead..?
But then again, Kaiba did throw water on the poor unsuspecting boy.
"Uh, the whole thing's kinda cute, in a twisted kinda way," Tristan commented.
Rex grabbed the front of Tristan's shirt, and pulled him close, glaring almost hatefully at him. "Touch him, and I will give you such a pinch!" he said through clenched teeth.
Tristan blinked at the odd threat, then laughed. "No worries there, Rex, Weevil's not my type," he assured him, pushing the kid away, and smoothing the front of his shirt back down.
Weevil had just finished shaking the water from his hair, but again wasn't at all disheartened. "Ain't he neat?" he laughed almost to himself. "Alright, now I know!" he wore an almost manic grin. Then to Tristan and Rex's disbelief, Weevil was running for the front of the mansion. The front door perhaps.
"Uh-oh," they both uttered, and jumped out of their hiding place, chasing after the shorter teen. "Weevil! Weevil, wait!" they called frantically.
They were getting far too close to the front door for comfort. Thankfully, Tristan, with his longer stride, caught Weevil's white tux and jerked him back. "Weevil, you're lucky he only threw water at you! What do you think he'll do if you invite yourself into his house?" he hissed.
"I don't care! I don't care, I don't care, I don't care!" Weevil bellowed, kicking to free himself from Tristan's rather strong hold.
Then the front door opened. Kaiba was stepping out, hair still wet from his apparent shower, since that was where Weevil caught him. He had three books under his arm, as he walked to a blue convertible. His favorite vehicle apparently.
"Damn..." Tristan muttered, his eyes darting back and forth, his mind racing. It was a sure thing Kaiba would kill them if he caught Weevil still on his premisis. Finally, Tristan turned and shoved Weevil into Rex's arms, sending them both tumbling back into the shrubbery, Weevil on top of Rex...
Kaiba stopped, just at the passenger side of his car, and actually looked surprised to see Tristan. Which he quickly turned into a scowl, "what're you doing here?" he demanded.
Tristan swallowed, glancing at the shrubbery in the corner of his eye; no sign of Rex or Weevil. Only a soft groan-- hopefully it was a groan of pain, and not... the other thing.
Clearing his throat, Tristan hastily approached the passenger side of Kaiba's car, rubbing the back of his head, looking very uncertain. "Hey, uh, just, uh... well, thought I could, uh... well, I was in the neighbourhood..." he started to say quickly. Then he paused and snorted to himself, "heh, yeah, the rich part of the neighbourhood. I come here a lot... riiight," Tristan uttered, before shaking his head, "uh, but... I was kinda wondering if, y' know, if you could... uh, gimme a ride?" he finished, with a small cringe. Man, that sounded pathetic...
Kaiba's eyes widened very, very slightly.
Tristan blinked, then soon realized what he just said sounded like some strange innuendo, so he cleared his throat. "Uh, in your car," he added quickly. "I wouldn't do the riding, anyways," he muttered under his breath. He had his pride, after all.
Now, now, Tristan...
Then to Tristan's amazement, Kaiba's cheeks turned a very, very light shade of pink. He averted his eyes, scowling slightly. Crap, he heard? the brunet wondered.
"Get in," Kaiba mumbled, as he walked around to the driver's side. Sighing quietly with relief, Tristan pulled open the door, and climbed into the convertible.
As Kaiba was putting the key in the ignition, Rex then poked his head out of the shrubbery, giving Tristan a questioning look.
"Get Weevil out of here," Tristan mouthed, waving his hand at him quickly.
Rex nodded, then ducked back into the shrubbery.
oooXXXooo
The ride was silent. It wasn't entirely uncomfortable, but it wasn't comfortable either. Like a ride from one of your friends' friends whom you barely had the chance to get to know. In all honesty, Tristan hated those kind of silences the most. It just never helped him decide where he stood with some people.
... Tristan wasn't popular, and he knew it. People either hated him, or liked him, there was no in-between. And he had the preference of knowing how people felt about him from the get-go. Sure Weevil said Kaiba 'liked' him, but Tristan couldn't exactly believe that. Sure it seemed obvious when he thought about it, but even the most obvious things weren't always accurate.
"Where are you going?" Kaiba asked quietly, staring straight ahead. But then again he was driving, that was to be expected.
"Uh, I don't really--" Tristan started to say. Then he saw familiar figure with silver hair. "Ah! Here! Here's fine! Stop!" he blurted out.
Kaiba sweatdropped, and quickly jerked the steering wheel to the right, pulling to the curb. He looked around in confusion. Collan St. where the public library was located...
Tristan offered him a small grin of thanks, and climbed out the car. "Thanks... uh, for the ride," he said uncertainly. Kaiba was looking at him again, in that unsettling way.
The CEO nodded slightly, and looked away, a small frown etching his features.
Pursing his lips, Tristan straightened up, turning to jog after Ryou Bakura. "Hey, Ryou!" he called, waving.
Ryou blinked, while looking back, then he smiled warmly. "Tristan, hey," he greeted, "how're you?"
"Uh, doing fine. Listen I have to talk to you," Tristan said, stuffing his hands in his pockets, looking rather nervous.
Ryou blinked again, "I have to do some stacking at the library," he said, holding up two library books he held as emphasis. "Can it wait?"
"Uh, no. No, it can't," Tristan said, shaking his head, while wordlessly taking the books from Ryou. "It-it's pretty important," he mumbled.
"Oh," Ryou furrowed his brow in concern. "Tristan, are you in trouble?" he asked worriedly.
"Uh, more or less..?"
Kaiba was glaring at the scene, eyes narrowing dangerously. Rumours, that's all he thought they were. But they seemed to be somewhat true: Tristan and Ryou. Growling softly, the redhead stepped hard on the gas, racing past and through the gutter that still held rainwater.
... Splashing Tristan, all the way to the waist.
Tristan cringed, closing his eyes for a moment. Why didn't he expect that? When he opened his eyes again, Ryou had his hands over his mouth, and was looking in the direction Kaiba had drove off in, his brown doe-eyes shining with surprise. Slowly, he brought his gaze back to Tristan.
"What did you do?" he breathed.
"That's what I need to talk to you about," Tristan sighed, lowering his head, lightly plucking at his suddenly damp jeans. Silently relieved that Kaiba never hit the books with water, otherwise Ryou would be in trouble.
Damn, Kaiba had good aim.
TBC
A/N: heheheh, the chapters keep getting longer... gomen...
Anywho, Ryou makes his appearance! Yeah, okay... assumed Protectshipping. I can't help it. But no, I won't lean that way(much as I'd love to, though). It's just assumed on Kaiba's part. I meant to end the chapter sooner, but I couldn't, I was on a roll, I guess. But yay, Ryou was introduced (hugs Ryou-chan) so adorable!