Not a lot has been changed, especially whether or not I own Yu-Gi-Oh. That hasn't changed one bit.
Jou's job started out as a temporary one, just until he got the one he really wanted. He had planned on leaving after two months to work in the US, but things have changed. He couldn't leave now. Not when he loves Seto and… he's almost sure that Seto loves him.
Until You Need Me
As Easy as Uneasiness Gets
The car ride on the way home was almost silent. Mokuba kept glancing over at Seto with questioning glances and every time he opened his mouth, Seto was positive that Mokuba wanted to comment on something or ask something about either the bad food that landed Seto in this predicament in the first place or a question Seto didn't want to answer because he didn't know the answer.
Unfortunately, Seto had a feeling that Mokuba wanted to ask the latter. And though they were almost near their destination, Seto knew that before they left the car, they would have THE TALK.
Too bad THE TALK wasn't about the usual, "Mokuba, now that you're almost an adult. When you become an adult, you might come across people that want to explore what it feels like to make babies..."
How Seto wished he could have THAT talk now.
"So," Mokuba started off casually, keeping his eye straight ahead on the road. "How was it at Jou's? Did it okay or did you guys just fought every two seconds?"
"Mokuba," Seto started off sternly as if he was lecturing, "nothing happened last night. He was just kind enough to take me home because of your cooking and take care of me. That is all. I don't like what you're implying."
Mokuba gave him a "Who, Me?" look before switching lanes. "I wasn't implying anything; you were. You were implying that I was implying something therefore something happened last night because you are so paranoid about it and my big brother isn't worried about anything like the way you are now unless it's something big and important."
Seto turned his face away before Mokuba could give him another satisfied smirk, one that Seto had come to know so well; the smirk that he, himself, gave to Mokuba when Seto knew he had won the argument. Sadly, Seto knew that Mokuba had a right to smirk because despite his brother's twisted logic and reasoning, it still gave him the upper hand and advantage.
When Seto didn't say anything, Mokuba prompted on cheerfully, teasing his brother happily. Mokuba was glad to finally have something to tease his brother about, even it meant getting the death threats later on. "I'm not saying that anything did happen at Jou's and I'm just saying that if something did, it's okay to tell me, you know, because we're brothers and all."
"Nothing happened Mokuba," Seto reassured him, his thoughts sliding away from the conversation. As he stared out the window, he tried to listen to Mokuba's mumblings in the background, but his mind took him away from the car ride home and back inside the apartment of Katsuya Jounouchi. As he struggled to listen and ignore his random thoughts, he thought back to what happened last night and how it wasn't at all awkward for him to be there with Jou. Situations like those should have been strange, awkward, and uncomfortable. Seto was Jou's boss; shouldn't last night be something that made him uneasy and queasy? Why did he feel okay about it? Why isn't Seto jumping beside himself, thinking of ways to fire Jou or to avoid him like a mad cow disease?
Why wasn't it strange? Seto questioned himself, why was it so easy to make breakfast for him? Why did I even feel compelled to make breakfast for him? Is it just a polite thing to do or—is this even normal? Is this even right? I'm his boss, his employer. Should I be okay feeling this way, feeling like maybe we can be like that around each other?
Suddenly, out of nowhere, Seto remembered the clueless look on Jou's face when he had discovered that Seto was cooking. He recalled the look that Jou gave him when Jou came out of the bathroom and saw Seto holding a plate full of food. Jou's lips had curved into a circle and his brown eyes had widened at the sight of the food. It was so cute, so confused! Just like a puppy, Seto thought to himself, smiling softly.
"AH HA!"
Seto jumped up slightly startled and turned his head to see Mokuba's all knowing look and smug expression. "Something did happen! Why else would you be smiling like a maniac? Come on, tell me. Spill. You can't tell me nothing happened."
"Eyes on the road, Mokuba."
"Whatever, we're here anyways," Mokuba said, pulling into the driveway. He turned off the engine and looked at Seto with an excited expression on his face. "Well? Come on! You were just smiling like you were off to dreamland or something. You can't not tell me!"
Seto unbuckled his seat beat hesitantly, trying to buy himself time. He carefully avoided his brother's persistent gaze. He brushed his hair back and responded, "It wasn't as bad as it could have been."
Seto got out of the car and started to wake away really quickly, with Mokuba screaming at him, "That's it! That's all you're going to tell me! What kind of a big brother are you!"
Apparently, a really bad one.
"SETO KAIBA, GET BACK HERE!"
The weekend quickly passed and Seto found himself feeling jittery and anxious. He was now at work, sitting at desk, staring at a computer screen with no files up and running. Seto hadn't even checked his email or messages yet, something he did first thing in the morning. Instead, he was tapping his fingers, scratching his chin, biting his lip—anything to avoid starting work.
Seto's thoughts were still plagued by the blonde like an irritating song that won't go away, except for the fact that his thought weren't necessarily annoying in any way. It was more perplexing and complicated. Seto felt uneasy at the thought of seeing Jou again after spending that night over at his place. However, at the same time, Seto was wondering if something like that could ever happen again.
Could it? He took a sip of the nasty coffee he had brought on the way from home to work, nearly gagging at how terrible it tasted after it had gone cold. He suddenly wanted to have Jou at work. Though it was still fifteen minutes until Jou had to come in, Seto suddenly couldn't wait to taste Jou's hot yet exactly right coffee on his lips and tongue.
But more importantly, he wanted to talk to the blonde. He wanted to get all the uneasiness, discomfort, or what other feelings out of the way and proceed back to normal.
Because normal was good.
And we could just turn to our very professional relationship. Nothing more.
"Good morning!"
Seto looked up from his computer screen to see Jou walking towards him, holding his mug out in front of him. "Good morning," Seto responded, relieving the coffee from Jou's hand. "You're early today."
"Yeah, I am. I figured since I'm up anyways, I might as well get here on time. Do you need me to do anything right now? I can go finish up some paperwork or work on the design you've been meaning to do."
Jou's voice was very enthusiastic and he was practically bouncing up and down with energy. His eyes were practically dancing in the light and Seto had to fight the urge to laugh at the sight of him, wondering why he was like that that morning. He opened his mouth to say something back lightly to him along the lines of, "Why are you so energetic today, something good happen?" but had to stop himself. He knew that if he got into a light hearted conversation with Jou that he might never stop and it might be like that morning all over again.
As wonderful as the conversation was, he didn't want to seem like he was pursuing anything other than a formal relationship. He didn't want Jou to get the wrong idea that maybe Seto was looking for something else, something that wasn't related to business. It was Seto's duty as the CEO and employer to keep things strictly related to work.
"I just need you to finish what you started last time," Seto told him instead, in his very formal tone. "If there's anything else, I'll call you back."
Even in Seto's viewpoint, Seto noticed that the blonde's eyes had suddenly dropped and lost its glow. Jou's body seemed to tighten and Jou lost his enthusiasm. "Okay then," Jou replied in a quiet and proper voice. "I'll be in my room then. Enjoy your coffee."
In that split second, Seto felt that recurring emotion he had been feeling for the past couple of days and Seto knew he had to stop Jou before he left.
"Wait."
When Jou faced him, Seto was at loss of words and he knew he had to act quickly without looking as if he wasn't sure of what he wanted to do. Truth was that he didn't know. He wanted to say something to bring that personality back into him, but what?
Then, he remembered something. Last night, Seto had lain in bed all night, replaying that morning's conversation in his head. He distinctly remembered saying to Jou that they should hang out more outside of work.
Maybe Seto was just being to uptight and paranoid earlier, about whether or not it could be like that morning. Even if he hung out with Jou willingly in the public outside of the corporation, it could just be a nice, fun, friends-thing to do. It would be okay, it wouldn't exactly be inappropriate. It was normal to get to know your employees on a normal basis. Maybe it didn't have to be that reserved between them.
Besides, he needed to thank Jou for that night when he got sick. Okay, he wanted to thank Jou. Jou deserved a proper thank you and Seto (he had to admit) wanted an excuse to be able to see him in that kind of setting again.
"Are you busy tomorrow night?"
-TBC-
Three months. That's a new record. I think I need to thank that person who messaged me to update this. I needed to reminder that there are people actually looking forward to this. Thank you!
And also, I sincerely apologize for my lack of lateness. As well, I'm going to apologize in advance for the next couple of months. Finals are approaching and summer isn't here yet! I really need to focus. I may not update until after June or even later. Please, please, PLEASE do not expect a quick update. I know I said I'll try but as you all know, it isn't working. I don't want to sound mean, but it's the truth. I don't want all of you to be disappointed in me (even though you probably are). Please just keep that in mind.
Please, please, please understand. I'm a student first, writer second.
-lilrubydevil-
