Title: Grave Robber
Summary: Seto wanted to take his secrets to the grave, but when a class project lands him and Joey closer than desired, those secrets become harder to protect than ever. Especially when Joey is discovering the common ground they share.
Contains: Yoai, lemon in random chapters, references to child abuse and molestation, sudden flashbacks, arguments, and occasionally ooc-ness
Pairing: Seto X Joey
Disclaimer: I do not own yu-gi-oh or the characters, I also make no money from the writing of this fanfic.
Author's Note: This chapter mainly focuses on Kaiba's romantic interest in Joey—and his surprising ability to annoy "his" blonde pup.
( ) ( ) ( )
Seto stood in the shower, hot water cascading over him while he forced his mind to relax the way his body had. The meeting had gone well, he'd gotten his work done for the day perfectly—he'd have more to do tomorrow, but until then he had nothing to worry over. However, it was hard to get his mind to relax. Not only were his thoughts not used to slowing, it was hard to keep them from wandering where he didn't want them to when they were free.
Whenever he'd start to think over all of the work he'd finished, his thoughts would end on his and Joey's project.
That was unacceptable because, when he thought of the project, he thought of Joey. He didn't want Joey in his head. Whenever he was…
Seto's breath caught in his throat when he realized where his hand had lowered to.
God, he was repulsed with himself. But it was too late now…The only thing he could do was succumb, erase the need from his mind, and make sure every last bit of the evidence was washed down the drain.
He couldn't very well have the servants find it. Maybe some employers didn't care if the cleaning staff found the evidence of their boss's lust, but Seto Kaiba did. He had an image to upkeep, even for them. As far as he was concerned, it was best that they thought he was the only man who never masturbated. That was one more thing that put him above everyone else.
Put him above that dog, that mutt. Dogs are always humping their masters' legs—what would make Wheeler any different? Ha! He was probably one of those boys whose first priority in the morning was jacking off, then once again before bed—probably even fitting three more times in between morning and night.
He wouldn't have to do that if he would just go to his master for help. His master would…
His master would…
Seto reached his climax, but made no noise louder than the rush of the shower's water. He had an image to upkeep…that way no one saw what a disgusting, mangy mutt he was himself.
Maybe that was why the stupid blonde dog—stupid blonde male dog—was always bounding around in his mind at the most critical and pointless of times, causing him to desecrate his self-image and nauseate himself.
Gozaburo had always said his step son was nothing more than a mongrel that had learned to walk upright somehow. Dogs don't lust after humans—not when there's another mutt walking around at least. Dogs want to hump other dogs and only when there isn't one around they settle for the master's leg.
Seto could have been one of those businessmen with a woman attached to his arm at all times, but women weren't dogs—not even the bitches and sluts. No…What Seto wanted was another dog, not arm candy that he could get pregnant and have slander him the day he refuses to buy her a designer gown.
Seto wanted his mutt. But his mutt didn't see him as a master.
With a sigh, Seto turned off the shower and listened to the water as it dripped from him and from the walls.
Probably for the thousandth time, Seto Kaiba wanted something he could never have.
( ) ( ) ( )
They'd had the weekend off to work on their project, but in class on Monday the teacher said it was an "in-class work day". For most groups that was cause for a sigh of relief. For Kaiba, apparently, it was cause for a sigh of indifference.
Joey moved to a desk closer to the tired-looking businessman who had immediately started up his laptop and watched as he entered in all of the necessary codes.
"It's finished," Kaiba said, opening the file and turning the computer to face Joey. "I fixed up some of your things, but it was nothing major. I left some mistakes so everyone knows you helped." Joey gritted his teeth and growled. "All that's left to do now is decide who says what when we present."
"I'll read my part and you'll read your part," Joey spat. "Simple as that!"
"Fine," Kaiba replied dryly, turning the screen back to himself just as the teacher walked up behind them. "I think I have time tonight to rehearse this with you before we present tomorrow. But if we really want to be proficient about this, you should stay the night at my house so we can practice during the few breaks I have in my schedule."
Joey thought he was about to choke on his tongue. What a manipulative gesture. The last thing Joey wanted to do was stay the night in Kaiba's mansion so the rich boy could rub his money in his face—but with the teacher hovering, he had no choice but to accept or else it really would look like Kaiba had done all of the work.
"Whatever," Joey muttered. "Not like my dad's gonna care too much if I'm gone."
"Oh," Kaiba sneered. "Do I need to have Mommy and Daddy arrange a play date?" Joey snarled and the teacher slapped him on the shoulder as he walked by. Of course, it was always his fault—never the instigator, always the one defending himself.
( ) ( ) ( )
Joey had slunk into the mansion like a beaten dog after Seto had finished dinner. He had been planning to yell at the disobedient hound for neglecting his master's command—to arrive before dinner—but the pup's wounded nature made him bite his tongue.
Seto surprised himself. He even kept his voice friendly and avoided making any snide remarks.
"This way," Seto said, nudging a servant aside. "I'll show you the room where you can put your things." He looked Joey in the eyes—because he looked everyone in the eye when he talked to him—and saw a cloud of apathy mixed with a heavy streak of pain in them. He didn't look long enough to allow the mutt to know he was, in fact, looking, and turned to lead the dog upstairs. "There's a bathroom attached to your room so you won't have to go searching for one and I think there're paper cups so you won't need to go hunting for a glass of water.
Joey's brain was turning into a pretzel. Kaiba was actually being semi-nice. His tone was indifferent, but he didn't say anything cruel and he had yet to say anything comparing Joey with a certain four-legged creature. Something must really like him, Joey decided, if it was willing to alter Kaiba's character and make him be nearly friendly. Joey was especially thankful since he'd just participated in, and lost, a particularly lengthy—albeit pointless—shouting match.
"Did you eat?" Seto asked.
"What?" Joey questioned, obviously in a daze as he tossed his filthy-looking bag of clothes onto one of the three chairs in the large guestroom.
"Did you eat? Have you eaten?" Seto glared at him slightly. No matter who it was, employee, step father, younger brother, or ignorant, abused dog, he hated repeating himself.
"Oh," Joey answered. "No."
"I'll have someone bring you up something. I have some work I need to get done before I can help with our project, but I shouldn't be long." Joey just stared at him dumbly and Seto didn't know what to do. It would have helped if the dog had replied, but he didn't feel like scolding it.
He didn't feel like praising it either, so he refrained from patting its shoulder before walking out of the room and retreating to his office.
Joey watched him leave, feeling like the apocalypse was about to occur. Not because he'd left his house practically without his father's solid permission, but because—though it was very hard to fathom—Seto Kaiba was being nice…to him.
( ) ( ) ( )
A/N: Well, it's obvious how Seto feels, but what about Joey? Does Kaiba really just want a dog to control, or does he want a free-willed human?