Dark, worried crimson eyes briefly scanned the small field of brush, vaguely making out the white-silvery hair of the cop that was taking up position there. With a frown, Yami staked closer to the slightly run-down building he knew Taro had taken Seto to. He just hoped that his plan worked out, but he also new that if he had gone along with Bakura's idea, both his and Seto's lives would be over in a heartbeat.
He shook his head. A wire. The dumbass wanted him to wear a fucking wire. Didn't Bakura realize the he would be searched as soon as he entered the building? Sometimes cops just don't think. Seriously, they needed to have some kind of street training.
As silently as a stalking cat, Yami walked up to the backdoor with narrowed suspicious eyes. It was way too quiet for his liking. Usually there was at least one person guarding both the front and back doors and with one last look over his shoulder, he went into the darkened building.
He waited a few minutes, allowing his eyes to adjust to the absence of light while listening for any signs of life in the building. His hands fisted as he wished he had been allowed some type of weapon. Uncurling one hand, he placed his palm against the wall and crept along the narrow hallway, searching for the one room he never wanted to see again. The very same room that Taro and his men had taken him to.
Had it really been that short of a time ago? That day changed his life forever in more ways than one. But it had also given him so much more than it had taken away. And now he just hoped that he was in time to keep the same thing from happening to Seto. It was bad enough he had a permanent reminder of everything he had done; there was no need for Seto to carry that burden too.
Yami paused when he reached the door to the 'punishment room', made to grab the handle only to growl at himself when he realized he was shaking. This was no the time for him to become weak. The person he loved was right behind that door and needing him right now. Not to mention he was probably walking into the biggest trap he had ever known. Emotions would just get them both killed.
With a low growl, Yami willed himself to stay calm; he couldn't let whatever was behind that door to get to him. Determination settling in his eyes, Yami grasped the knob and pulled the door open, only to gasp wide-eyed at what he saw.
Strung up between the two poles was Seto, his head hanging low. His once silky chestnut hair was now matted and dirty. Yami couldn't see his face so he quickly let his eyes look the ex-cop over taking inventory of all the damage. Like he once was, Seto was shirtless also, several bleeding cuts lined his torso, dripping slowly onto the gray jogging pants he still wore. His arms, tied at the wrist with rope, strung between the metal poles, were also cut, but his left arm was angled wrong, a clear sign it was broken. Snapping out of his observation, Yami quickly walked forward and fell to his knees once he had reached his lover.
"Seto?" he whispered into the silent room. No answer came and he gently placed his fingers under the other's chin, carefully raising the brunette's head, biting his tongue to keep from screaming in rage when he saw the swollen black eye he had been given.
"Seto, answer me."
Yami's eyes narrowed even as they began to glisten with unshed tears. "Seto, Love, its me." Still supporting his chin with one hand, he lifted his other hand and brushed aside Seto's bangs, letting his fingers trail down the undamaged side of the wounded man's face.
"Damn it Rookie! They didn't beat me and they won't beat you if you get up!" Closing his eyes, trying to hold back the tears, Yami let his head collapse against Seto's chest, not caring about the blood that was now smeared on his forehead.
"Please…."
…Seto…
Pain.
That was all he could feel as he slowly came to awareness. That flaring, white-hot feeling that seemed to choke him, slowly. In his mind's eye the past events slowly unraveled from their hazy passage. How many guys had come to his house that night? Four? Or was it five? And how long had he been here now?
A lone memory of momentarily waking when his arm was jerked and held immobile, causing a scream to escape his lips as the disfigured appendage was pulled tight by….something. He remembered taunting voices, heated words, threats and promises being made. But to whom he couldn't remember.
….Seto……Love……
Who was that? The voice was familiar but he knew it couldn't be the one he was thinking of. They did not know the word love. Was it those men again? Coming in here to taunt him some more?
"Did you really think he could love you? A cop?"
He was changing. Slowly, but it was there. Seto knew it was going to take time when it came to someone like Yami and he was willing to wait.
"He's one of us."
Not anymore….right? Why would Yami tell him everything, knowing he could be sent to jail if he didn't want to give that life up?
"He was using you and you fell for it."
No. He didn't believe that. Yami was guilty of many things but he never used anyone…..but did he know everything or just what Yami wanted him to know….
"Stupid cop."
Stupid? Maybe. But it was his choice, he wasn't forced to fall in love with the crimson-eyed man. A cop? No, he gave that up by his own choice.
"Yami is mine. I made him, I own him."
In the past he might have been yours, but the present was different, the future would be brighter. Taro may have made Yami, molded the kid into a killer, but you never owned more than his skills. No one can lay claim to his mind and soul.
"He's forever marked, he will never forget me."
True. He will never forget. He will never be free of that burden that Taro had placed on him, but he will overcome it. He's already on that path now. And he would be there to help Yami when he stumbled.
"You do realize he will come here looking for you. And when he does, I've got a nice little trap set up for him."
No….
…..Rookie!……..Get up!…………
He knew that voice, only one called him by that nickname….
Seto groaned, blinking his one good eye open to see beautiful, worried crimson looking back at him. He tried to speak, his mouth opening, tongue feeling abnormally large and thick. But no words came out, only small throaty noises were heard.
"Seto, thank god."
"T-trap." He finally managed to croak out. There was so much more he wanted to say to the other that came to him but right now that one word was more important.
Yami nodded his head bringing a hand up to Seto's face, running his fingers gently over the bruised flesh. "I know."
"Leave." Seto watched through his one good eye as Yami gave him a sad smile and shook his head.
"I'm not leaving you. And if I did, what kind of boyfriend would I be?"
Seto's body went blissfully numb even has his heart raced at hearing Yami say those words. The pain his body felt was nothing compared to the joy that radiated throughout him at that very moment. Boyfriend…. A word he never thought he would hear coming from the other. Sure it wasn't a declaration of love but still it was a step in the right direction and more than he could have hoped for at that moment.
"Yami…"
"….is right on time."
Seto's blue eye snapped up as Yami whirled around, taking a defensive stance in front of him. In his mind, he panicked, but on the outside, he remained as calm as could be. He couldn't help Yami at all as he faced Taro. And he secretly wondered if his boyfriend was ready to do this.
"Let him go Taro. This fight is between you and me. It has nothing do with him." Yami's voice was low and dangerous, even with the slight nervousness that Seto could tell was flowing through the smaller body.
"Ah, but you see my dark child," Yami growled as Taro stepped closer to them. "It has just as much to do with him as it does you."
"You're nuts."
"And you…are mine. And you have the mark to prove it."
Seto's eye narrowed at the slight flinch in Yami's body. With a growl, he tugged on the one rope tied to his undamaged arm. He didn't like the fact his boyfriend had to face this guy alone and that he was too weak to help.
"Maybe I was yours at once time." Yami's voice was harsh, but whispered as if he was talking to himself. "I did owe you for killing my father. Or at least I felt that way since you were the one that unknowingly helped me and my brother get rid of the bastard. But I believe I have repaid my debt to you by now. So I belong only to who I choose and its not you."
Taro laughed cruelly as two men came from behind him and circled their way around Yami, each ready to take the teen down on their boss' command. Crimson eyes quickly glanced from Taro to one of the men at his right, narrowing when he caught a flash of metal in the man's hands.
"You seemed to be forgetting that I've marked you as my own."
Yami snorted lightly, eyes once again trained on his ex-boss. "You only scarred me, you didn't brand me. Besides, if you wanted me to have a 'reminder' you should have put it on my chest and not my back. Kinda hard to see something thing that's pressed down into a mattress."
The man off to his right chuckled a bit, making his aim waver slightly and that was what Yami had wanted. Quickly and effectively, the teen kicked out with his leg, perfectly dislodging the pistol from the man's hands, sending it flying across the room. Not taking the time to finish him off, Yami turned around and nearly caught a knife wound to his gut but his quick street reflexes took over only leaving a small nick in his side. He barely had time to hiss before the guy launched at him again, swinging the knife in a wide, reckless arc.
Vaguely, he heard Seto call out his name as he jumped back from the weapon only to be trapped by strong arms wrapping around his body, pinning him in place. Snarling, he struggled widely in the arms of his captor. A maddening chuckle snapped Yami's attention back to Taro who was now standing before Seto, stroking the sweat-slicked hair almost lovingly.
"Don't touch him!" Yami growled out as he struggled against the man holding him.
Seto jerked his head away from Taro, hissing at the pain the movement caused. The Boss chuckled again as he reached around to his back and pulled out a knife, placing it against Seto's exposed neck. "What would you do to win his freedom, Yami? Would you submit to me? Work for me again? Risk your brother for your lover? Tell me!"
Yami ceased to struggle as he listened, horrified at what Taro was implying. He was going to have to sacrifice someone and he was going to have to decide who soon. But there wasn't really a decision to make. Seto and Yugi had to remain safe at all costs.
Hanging his head in defeat and surrender, Yami went completely limp in the arms of his captor, earning an amused and satisfied sound from Taro.
"Yami!" Seto cried out, horrified that the other would give up this easily over some stupid threat.
Remorseful crimson eyes looked back at him. "I…"
"He's doing what he's always done, cop." Taro strutted over to Yami, knife still gleaming in his hand. "He was born to kill. Did you know he was – is – the best at what he does?" he asked, stroking Yami's cheek, making the teenager flinch at the touch. "He came to me willing to kill and all for a measly five grand a hit."
"I had no choice you bastard." Yami hissed, his eyes hardening once more. "What the hell was I supposed to do when you learned of my brother and hung his life over my head? I only came to you to see if it was true that you killed that son of a bitch that called himself my father. You used me!"
Taro chuckled again, amused with the whole situation. "And now I have two lives to hang over your head as you put it. Well, well my little dark child….what will you do now? It seems to me that I've won yet again."
"Don't you even think about it Yami!" Seto pleaded with his boyfriend. "You can still change your life around and my life is not worth going back to that piece of shit," he spat as he tried once again to remove himself from his bindings.
"Shut the hell up cop! You have no say in this!"
"Rookie, he's right and your wrong. You have no say in this and your life is worth it, just as Yugi's is. I forfeited mine years ago."
Seto struggled wildly now, his mind completely numb to the pain his body was feeling. "Yami! We will find a way out of this! Don't you dare do this!"
"Seto…I…"
"I said shut the fuck up!" Taro heated voice echoed throughout the room as he turned on his heels and made his way over to Seto, grabbing the brunet by his hair, jerking his head back and exposing the ex-cop's neck. "Or maybe I'll just make you…"
"Seto!" Yami's went wide in horror as he watched the gleam of the weapon start to make its descent….
"EVERYONE FREEZE!"
Dragon: -sigh- Just a few more chapters to go….