Special Note from Lethe's Insecurity Center (which can be skipped very easily because it's so terribly dull): This is a very, very boring chapter. Even I admit it. All it really does is set things up for the next chapter, which will feature very pretty half-naked men. And, well, Mokuba. Not that you needed to know that. Anyway, it's boring, and short, and kind of out-of-character if not completely out-of-character, and you could skip it, I guess. But where's the fun in that? And what happened to Jou's bad mood? Does he have crazy mood swings? Or does he just not express his mood? Are you kidding, Lethe? It's Jou we're talking about! I'm a failure as a writer! Why do I keep on posting here! Or maybe – yes, Jou was in a good mood when Honda was around as well, and now Mokuba's here – maybe it's just being alone with Kaiba he can't stand, which I'll have to fix pretty soon, yes indeed. I just hope this doesn't turn you off the fic forever. It's so hard to keep things interesting. And to keep people interested, you know? Dammit, I want Cheerios.
Seriously, though, I know the chapter's pretty short. I'll update soon, okay? (sweatdrop)
Five Replies (which are usually written when the chapter itself is finished):
Unregistered: Well, here it is! I hope it's okay. And as to your question … well … I don't want to spoil the fun. But, hey, it's a Kaiba/Jou. You'd think something meaningful had to happen between them eventually, right?
…Mwahahahaha.
Time-Again: Nooo! Don't die! …Oh, a kiss! I knew I forgot to do something. Ah well, I guess that's coming up. (smiiile)
Gemini Fallen Angel: Haha, guess what? XD Thank you for prompting me into action.
Suteneko-chan: Au, I wish I had a friend like that. XD I managed to persuade one of my guyfriends to read Gravitation, and he did … up until the fourth volume. That scared him away … ha ha … oh dear.
Eveilae: (You have such a cool name.) Update: yes! Fluff: um, maybe? Does this chapter count as fluff? Well, they haven't beaten each other up or anything yet … And you're welcome.
Side note to Hiccup: Ah, XD is like LOL, I guess. Turn your head to the left … yeah, there you go … and you should see a face! I see a face, anyway. Took me a while to get it…
Appeal
Seven: Getting Along (Sounds So Wrong)
"Your room," said Kaiba blandly, gesturing at the doorway. "There's a bathroom adjacent to it. As promised, my room is the one right next to it."
Jou yawned widely, trying to hide it behind a hand and failing. They had worked until four in the morning to finish the project, and then spent another hour quibbling over the small details. "Th-thanks, Kaiba. Be sure to get some shuteye, huh?"
Kaiba smiled, and it was almost genuine. There was something strangely funny and cute about a Jou exhausted to the point of falling over. "I'll do that. I don't think you'll have any trouble at all getting to sleep."
"Ya think?" Jou gave him a lopsided grin. "You aren't too bad, Kaiba. See you in the morning, I guess."
"Goodnight, Jonouchi."
"It's Jou," mumbled Jonouchi, brushing his bangs away from his face and yawning again. "Just call me Jou already."
"Go to bed, Jou."
"'Night…"
Jou walked into the bedroom and closed the door. Kaiba waited for three seconds before turning and entering his own room.
I am a genius.
He fell asleep almost as soon as his head hit the pillow.
"My God, it's bacon. You made bacon," said Jou, awed, standing in the doorway.
Kaiba removed the apron – actually, Mokuba had had to help him quite a bit, and they had listened very carefully for Jou's approach – and turned around. "I hope you like your eggs scrambled."
"I don't give a damn!" cried Jou, pulling out a chair and falling in like a … well, a starved dog. "I love you, Seto Kaiba. I love you so much."
Mokuba, sitting next to Jou, gave Kaiba a small wink.
"I take it you slept well?" said Kaiba, putting the empty pan in the sink and sitting down.
"Very well. Excellently. Never slept better," said Jou through a huge mouthful of eggs and bacon.
Kaiba winced. Must seduce. Must seduce. "I suppose I shouldn't try talking to you while you're eating."
"Well, I don't mind," shrugged Jou, heaping egg onto his fork, "but ya might be better off for it."
Mokuba laughed. "Nah, you should see Seto when I rip him away from his work to make him eat."
Jou grinned. "Not a pretty sight?"
"Mokuba…" warned Kaiba.
"He tries to finish it as quickly as possible," said Mokuba, shooting Kaiba a devilish look. "It's, like, three times as fast as what you're doing now."
"Well, at least he has a pretty face," Jou joked. When did I become absent from the room? Kaiba wondered. "But I'd love to see that sometime. I guess it's too much to hope you got it on camera?"
"Actually…" began Mokuba, before Kaiba flicked a piece of bacon at him.
"That's quite enough out of you, Mokuba," said Kaiba.
"Hey! No playing with your food!"
"You think I'm playing?" Kaiba put on a mock-dangerous face. From the way Jou's jaw was hanging open – eggs, bacon, and all – he hadn't thought Kaiba capable of it.
This will work to my advantage after all.
"Aah! Jou, Jou, save me!" cried Mokuba, quickly finishing the last few bites of his breakfast (who was he to tease me?) before leaping from his chair and hiding behind Jonouchi's.
"No worries, Mokuba!" Jou deepened his voice comically. "I, Jou-Man, am here!"
"Are you sure it shouldn't be The Incredible Mutt?" teased Kaiba, stalking deliberately towards Mokuba.
"I dunno, I think Jou-Man would make for a better costume. Dog suits don't suit me."
"That was clever, Jou. Very clever. Now move aside and let me kill my brother."
"I'm sorry, Kaiba Boy, I don't think I can allow you to do that."
"That is the worst name for a supervillain I have ever heard," said Kaiba. Jou had pushed his chair back and stood, holding his arms out to protect Mokuba. "You shall pay dearly."
"Come on, ya gotta be cheesy," said Jou, backing away as Kaiba advanced. "Turn on the cheese, man, you've done it before."
"I resent that," said Kaiba.
"It's true!" piped Mokuba.
"You're supposed to be on my side," said Kaiba. "It looks like we won't be having pizza any time soon, hmm?"
"Oh no!" cried Mokuba. He tried to push away Jou and run to Kaiba, but Jou was too quick. He grabbed Mokuba and lifted him into the air.
"Who's the bad guy now!" yelled Jou, laughing as he ran into the living room with Mokuba in tow.
Kaiba smirked and followed.
After a long, long battle, they had eventually collapsed and called a truce. Mokuba, as Kaiba quickly learned, still had plans for Jou – it wasn't often a friend came over, so Mokuba's clingy affections were understandable. Kind of sweet, really, admitted Kaiba's parental side. He would have to find reasons for Jonouchi to visit more often.
Especially since it would benefit his study.
"You're not leaving yet," announced Mokuba.
"Eh?" panted Jou, sprawled across the couch and not moving any time soon. "I don't think I'd be able to even if I wanted to. I'm dyin' here, Mokuba…"
"Hot and sweaty?" said Mokuba brightly.
"…Uh, yeah, you could call it that…" replied Jou slowly, shooting a glance at Kaiba. What's he on?
I wish I could tell you, Kaiba answered, quirking an eyebrow.
That was how Kaiba interpreted it, anyway.
"Well, it just so happens that we have an indoor pool … very cool and refreshing…"
Aha.
Sometimes Kaiba wondered what he would do without Mokuba.
"I dunno, man, I don't want that guy to drown me…" said Jonouchi, though his expression betrayed interest.
"Very, very cool and refreshing…" reiterated Mokuba temptingly. "And there's a hot tub, and we have balls and stuff to play with, and…"
"Ooh," said Jou, still not moving. "That does sound nice…"
"I say we drag him there if he doesn't get up," said Mokuba. "What do you think, Seto?"
"That sounds like a very good idea," agreed Kaiba. "However, I'd rather not disturb the rug."
"Jerk," mumbled Jou. After a pause, he sat up and stretched.
"Yay!" Mokuba beamed and grabbed Jou's hand, tugging him up. "Come on, come on!"
As they walked down the hallway, Mokuba turned and grinned at Seto.
Looks like we'll be having pizza tonight.
Halfway there, Jou realized what should have been plain at the beginning. "I don't have a swimsuit."
"Oh, that's right," said Mokuba. He rubbed the back of his head.
"You can borrow one of mine," Kaiba sighed. "It should fit you."
"I'll bet it has little Blue-Eyes White Dragons on it," snickered Jou.
"No, I'm wearing that one," shot back Kaiba. Patience. Humor. "You think I'd lend it to you?"
Mokuba laughed. "You get the one with the Dragon Flutes!"
They were all silent for a moment.
"Damn, that sounds wrong," decided Jou.
"Yeah, it really does."
They moved on.