Ch4: Where Jonouchi finally gets a clue.

(–)

A couple of hours later found Jonouchi sat in his new room at the Kaiba mansion semi-watching the television as he tried to get his head around this change in circumstances. The fact that Kaiba actually reciprocated whatever it was that he was feeling had shocked him, but he would not do anything about that for now. Everything was still so new and up in the air and he still needed to figure out exactly what he was feeling himself. There was plenty of time...

His attention was caught as he saw a picture of his apartment block on the local news and his expression turned grim. It turned out that there had been a 'small fire' that had been quickly contained, but the apartment it had started in had been gutted.

To most people that would not mean a thing, but to Jonouchi it was a message that he got loud and clear. It signified that it was known that he had made his choice and there was no going back. In a way it unnerved him as he'd thought that he would have that apartment to fall back on for a short while, but in another way he had been done a favour as that 'failsafe' would probably have held him back. Now he had no choice but to move forwards, to make the most of the opportunity that he had been given.

He switched off the television and lay back on the bed, letting out an explosive sigh. It would be nice not to worry about keeping Kaiba safe whilst struggling to keep a roof over his own head. He knew that things would be strange for a while until he had found his feet, and sorted out what was going on in his head, but he found that he was looking forward to this new challenge.

(–)

The next several months passed relatively quietly. Jonouchi finally paid 'that fucking cheque' into a new bank account and settled into the Kaiba mansion. In the end he had decided to stay rather than getting a new apartment, using the excuse of being on hand if he was needed, although really he just wanted to remain close to Kaiba for his own reasons. Kaiba hadn't objected.

As for Mokuba, when Kaiba had explained to him what had happened and why Jonouchi was there, he'd rolled his eyes and wished them both luck. Kaiba wasn't worried about Mokuba's security; he knew Isono would keep him safe, but he insisted that Mokuba promise to be careful anyway. If anything happened to Mokuba, Kaiba would rain hell on anyone involved - and Jonouchi would be right there with him.

Jonouchi surmised that was why nobody had gone after Mokuba before. It would have tipped Kaiba off that something was going on before they were ready, and that would not have ended well for anyone as everyone knew that Kaiba was incredibly protective of his little brother. It also made him wonder why they had chosen then to go directly after Kaiba, if it had been some kind of power play or an underling overstepping in an attempt to impress. He guessed he would never know for sure.

Since moving in there had been little to no progress in the 'relationship' between the two men, but Jonouchi had found that he still wasn't completely sure of Kaiba, the man having remained coolly professional ever since they had 'rescued' each other. Kaiba had even been friendly at times, but nothing more than that.

The security job Kaiba had insisted Jonouchi take had started well and continued to do so. During the first few weeks there had been a few experimental intrusions into Kaiba Corporation that had been thwarted by Jonouchi along with Kaiba's beefed up security. After that Jonouchi had insisted on fresh and extremely thorough background checks on everyone within security to start with, then they had checked all the cleaning and maintenance staff as they tended to have access to more areas within the building than anybody else and could easily be overlooked. Next they went for the office and front facing staff, then moved upwards through all the higher up businessmen and the techs that worked in R&D. They were ruthless about it, seeing as Kaiba had been put in jeopardy and those who should have protected him had known nothing about it.

Jonouchi had grown stronger and healthier during this time too, the security and stability he had gained through his new job along with regular and properly nutritious meals and access to Kaiba Corporation's gymnasiums doing him the power of good. He practically glowed now and with his new, healthier appearance not many would dare to cross him.

He sighed as he wondered if this also included Kaiba. Could he be wary of making 'the first move' since Jonouchi would be able to knock him down with even less resistance now? But then that did not make any sense. If that were the case he could have sent him to live away from the Kaiba mansion and he was sure that he'd caught Kaiba giving him lingering looks on more than one occasion. So what was stopping him?

Could it be that he was wary of falling foul of some rule about fraternisation within the company? But that didn't really make sense either as Kaiba was definitely not known for following the rules.

He thought back to the two occasions that he had kissed Kaiba, the memory of those stressed moments causing him to close his eyes and lean his head back. He recalled the intense sparks between them, the taste of Kaiba, how he hadn't fought back at all and how he had completely surrendered to Jou's embrace...

Jou's eyes opened wide and he sat up to attention, the word Surrender echoing round his mind. He thought long and hard, making sure that he was actually recalling that correctly, but there was no mistake, Kaiba had actually submitted to him.

Jou got up and began to pace. If Kaiba had submitted, then that may be why he had not initiated anything. Jonouchi had been the one to initiate both kisses after all, so could he be waiting for Jou to make the first move?

Jou would be lying to himself if he denied that the thought of Kaiba writhing wantonly under him wasn't seriously hot and he flushed as arousal shot through him, making him quite relieved that he was on his own.

He spent the next few minuted calming himself, taking several deep breaths then crossing to the en-suite bathroom in order to splash his face with cool water. He dried his face then looked at himself in the mirror, wondering what he should do about his epiphany, if anything.

But he knew that if he did not try to find out, the fact that he did not know would haunt him day and night. He opened the bathroom cabinet and took the time to think whilst brushing his teeth – just in case – before making his final decision and leaving the room.

What he was about to do would either result in something that was beyond his wildest dreams, or in the unlikely event that he had read the situation wrongly, utter humiliating failure. But Jonouchi was a gambler and this was something he had to do.

Watch out Kaiba, Jonouchi was coming to get you!

(–)

Seto Kaiba sat in his bedroom, working diligently at his desk in the corner. Well, he was *trying* to work diligently, but his thoughts kept on interrupting him. The subject on his mind? One Katsuya Jonouchi.

He'd thought long and hard about whether he would be wise to pursue some kind of relationship with Jonouchi. Or with anybody for that matter. He had his own particular preferences that he'd thought would mean he'd have to remain celibate for life, never thinking that he'd be able to to trust anybody enough to take them into his bed and to keep the fact that Seto Kaiba both liked men and did not want to be the dominant partner under wraps.

But... he'd fought his attraction to his feisty new employee ever since they had been in high school, his insecurities over letting anyone in making it essential to keep him and everyone else at arms length, but he now had no doubts over Jonouchi's loyalty.

But how to get Jonouchi to act? He did not want to make the first move, not yet anyway. He wanted Jonouchi to come to him when he was ready. However, it had been so long now that Jonouchi either seemed to be restraining himself or, which was more likely, he was terminally oblivious.

He sighed and turned off his computer. He was not going to get any more work done tonight. Perhaps he should take a bath and let his mind wander as he soaked. Perhaps he would have more of a thought of how to proceed after that.

But he had only just got up from his desk when there was a banging on the door.

"Come in," he called, but he was not particularly surprised to see Jonouchi walk in. "Is something wrong?" he asked.

"You could say that," Jou said as he closed the door and crossed to where Kaiba was standing. "I've been doing some thinking and I need to apologise."

"What for?" Kaiba asked. "You haven't done anything wrong."

"Maybe not, but there's something I haven't done and I think I owe you an apology for that."

Kaiba did not even have a chance to ask what Jonouchi was talking about before he was slammed back against the wall and dragged into a thoroughly rough kiss. He couldn't help himself, he had wanted this for so long, had thought it would never happen. He surrendered completely and let out a moan. Whatever Jonouchi wanted to do, he was now putty in his hands.

He groaned as Jonouchi pulled away and looked at him through lust glazed eyes, noting that Jonouchi was quite flushed himself. "Why did you stop?" he asked.

"Just wanted to be sure," Jou said, then he kissed him again, slightly more gently this time. Kaiba could feel Jonouchi's arousal hard against his leg even as his own dug into Jonouchi's stomach and he wondered just how far Jonouchi was going to go. Not that he would stop him. He had been waiting for this for far too long!

After a couple of minutes of this deep kissing and sensual grinding, Jonouchi pulled away and looked up at Kaiba with lust filled eyes. "Let's move this to the bed," he said. "No offence, but if I do this for much longer I'm going to get a crick in my neck."

Kaiba nodded silently, letting Jou do as he wished. He would not articulate it, but if Jou had carried on for too much longer, he would have been in danger of making a mess in his pants. He wondered that Jonouchi seemed to have more control...

He was shocked out of his introspection as Jonouchi shoved him onto the bed and climbed on top of him. Maybe he didn't have more control after all. Then Jonouchi descended upon him again, clothes disappeared, and his world narrowed to where their lips met and the delicious ache building in his groin. He wanted to warn Jonouchi that he wasn't going to last, but the feeling of skin on skin was so wonderful that he could only let out a low moan that spurred Jonouchi on. So he surrendered and hung on for the ride.

Jonouchi was similarly cursing his lack of control, but he could not stop seem to stop himself, and indeed, in no time at all they were both panting and sticky.

"Well, that didn't go exactly as planned," Jonouchi sighed as he slumped down next to Kaiba. "Barely even got our clothes off." he chuckled ruefully.

Kaiba turned to face him. "It's fine," he said with a smile. I suppose we should have talked first, but after waiting so long we were both on edge."

"Yeah, sorry about that..." Jonouchi grimaced.

"So what took you so long?" Kaiba asked. "I thought you were never going to make a move."

"Let's just say that I can be a little slow on the uptake," Jonouchi said, "and if you make a wisecrack about me being stupid, I'll knock you on your ass."

"Promise?" Kaiba asked with some humour.

"Ass," Jonouchi said with a chuckle as he buried his nose into Kaiba's hair. Then he sighed and pulled away. "And now we are all messy. Come on, let's get cleaned up."

Kaiba didn't resist as Jonouchi pulled him up from the bed. Things would definitely not be easy from now on and they had a lot to talk about, but the future was looking a lot brighter now that they were no longer holding back.

(–)

A/N - yeah that's it. Trying not to overthink and over-explain is HARD. Because the more I explain the less sense it makes. But it doesn't have to make perfect sense because it's fanfiction and is written for fun.