Chapter IV

Oh, how wonderful it must be to be as blissfully oblivious to adulthood as Mokuba. So young and, thanks to his big brother Seto, sheltered did the child grow up. He did not know what relationships meant, what sexuality was, where did babies come from. Yes, Mokuba was spared all the details surrounding adulthood, mainly because Kaiba found it difficult to talk to him about such uncomfortable topics. He knew that some day he'd have to explain this to Mokuba. Some day he would have to sit him down and give him the bees and the birds talk. Today, however, he was more than happy to know that Mokuba did not understand a single thing from what he was seeing.

Frankly, neither did Seto.

He pulled himself up from the ground as if it was made from lava, going as far as to step all the way back to his little brother. His knees were shaking. His face was on fire. Surely, this was … some sort of an allergic reaction. Yes, that's right. He was allergic to idiots, and right now he had made physical contact with the biggest idiot in his life. Just his luck. "Mokuba," He started, yet found himself at a loss of words. He felt anger bubbling inside him, as if he was pissed that his own little brother had come to his rescue and had become witness to this … this horrible accident. Kaiba took a deep breath. "Are you hurt?"

"No, I'm okay." The boy replied as he wrapped his arms around his big brother. He was scared. He wouldn't admit it out loud, but the thunder had truly scared him. To be woken up from sleep with such a loud bang … he knew he'd have trouble sleeping because of this. "I'm surprised nothing caught fire, considering most of the electronics were plugged."

"They weren't on." Kaiba mumbled, the warmth of Atem's crotch still lingering on his knee. "That's why I tell you to turn off everything before bed. TV, computer, whatever you've got working. Best to be safe than sorry." His eyes kept returning to the equally confused Atem who had somehow managed to find his way into the dark and was now dialing someone on his phone. He was calling Yugi, no doubt.

"Do you think they'll get the electricity back on soon?" Mokuba asked, hardly noticing the displeasure his big brother showed as he watched Atem slowly sit on the couch. Why were those two acting so stiff?

"I don't know, Mokuba. For now, we should find candles. Do you know where we keep them?" Seto asked, faintly hoping that he could have a moment of privacy to recollect himself.

"Wait here, I'll get them." Mokuba grabbed his phone and navigated through the dark rooms with the flashlight from the camera.

Seto exhaled. He touched his face and felt that he was burning up. Someone might think he was sick. He would agree. This just scarred him for life. Having touched that bastard there, even with his knee, even on accident, was the most humiliating thing that had ever happened in his life … after losing Kaiba Corp to him. He glanced at Atem. Did he feel it too? The heat … The sounds he made were telling him Atem was perfectly aware where his knee had been pressing. Fuck. Why did he act so normal then? Or was it because it was pitch black and he couldn't see his face? He wondered. Was Atem blushing now? Was his heart beating faster? He wished he could see the humiliation on his face … if this had truly upset his rival more than it did him, then maybe it wasn't so bad it happened. Maybe this was Atem's weak point.

They say one should keep their friends close, and their enemies – closer. Kaiba already knew that Atem did not feel the same hate for him as he did. In fact, he believed Atem was fond of him. Up until now he believed there was nothing between them than one-sided friendship, but what if …

What if Atem felt more?

What if Kaiba could use this against him?

The brunet grinned in the darkness. Of course. It was so simple. All this time, the answer had been right under his nose.

"I got the candles!" Mokuba came at the right time. Seto ruffled the kid's soft hair and took out his lighter. He took it upon himself to place candles all around the rooms of his apartment so they would have enough light to walk around without carrying candles and leaving wax stains on the carpet. Ugh. He hated the thought of having to wash this expensive carpet, yet even that couldn't spoil his mood as he now knew exactly what to do to get his company back. Heh.

_

"Alright, Yugi … I promise. Goodnight." Atem hung up with a sigh. He suspected that Yugi would not let him leave at this time, and honestly, even Atem knew that it would be unwise. It was late, storming, he was drunk … and hard. A natural reaction, he presumed. It has been a while since Atem had slept with someone, so a knee, no matter who's knee, pressing so hard against his crotch would certainly spark such a reaction. What he didn't understand was why, in Heavens' name, did he moan? Why did he act like so under Kaiba? Did he hear it? Was it just his imagination, did Atem merely imagine himself moaning, or was it loud enough for Mokuba to hear? He avoided Seto walking around with the candles as he tried to collect his thoughts. Think this through.

Leaving was not an option, that much he knew. From what he was aware of, Mokuba had a room for himself, and it had only one bed. Maybe Kaiba would let him sleep there while he and Mokuba sleep together on the king-sized bed in his bedroom. Or perhaps Kaiba would let him sleep on the couch. Uncomfortable, but preferable over sleeping in Mokuba's bed. After all, the bed was small. Atem was a grown man, no matter how much shorter he was from Kaiba.

Now how should he ask him? It felt rude to say that he had no choice but to spend the night here. Something more, it was unthinkable to ask that after what happened just now … Damn it. Maybe Kaiba would ask him first. Atem glanced. No. Not a chance. Not in a million years would Seto suggest he spends the night here.

"You're spending the night here." Kaiba nonchalantly declared as he was cleaning up the cards from the ground. They left quite the mess. Beer cans and cards. A miracle they weren't soaked up with the liquid.

The disheartened Atem was left wide-eyed. He was at a loss for words. Usually he knew what to say in every situation. He had a good sixth sense, he could see something coming and reacted accordingly without any preparation. Now … Now he didn't know what to say. "Do I not get a say in this?" He managed. A part of him was confident that this was some sort of a dream. Perhaps in reality, Atem had gone back to his own home after failing to find Kaiba's apartment. He had taken a shower, had diner, then went to bed and all of this was the byproduct of his dreaming. If only.

"If you haven't noticed already, you're in my apartment, Muto. You will obey my rules when under my roof. And no, you don't get a say in this. I don't want you going out, catching a cold and then having everyone blame me for your condition." Kaiba finished positioning the last candle and stepped back to admire his handiwork. Good. Now the place was evenly lit. He turned around and faced Atem. "Now if you're done being selfish, look me in the eyes and answer me. Are you hurt?"

Atem blinked. Was he really asking him that? Had they become so close that Kaiba was worried for his well-being? Not just the question, his previous lecture on how everyone would blame him if he catches a cold appeared too forced to be true. Since when does Kaiba care what people say about him? Come on, he's just being a friend, Atem could already hear Yugi assuring him, he's not as bad as you think! But that's exactly what Kaiba was. If he wasn't a mean prick, then he wasn't Kaiba at all. And no matter how hard he tried to sound like a douchebag now, this was the kindest Kaiba's ever been to him. It was like someone kidnapped Seto and replaced him with a better version of himself. "I … am well?"

The brunet pursed his lips. Did he come off too strong? Damn it. If he wasn't careful, Atem might … might what? Discover his brilliant plan? Ha, as if. Kaiba regained his lost confidence. It was good that Atem was surprised, shocked, taken aback by his words. That was a part of the plan. Very soon, the pharaoh would start getting ideas. Wrong ideas, but they were the ideas Kaiba wanted to implant in his brain. Once that's done, he would have his revenge against Muto. Make him suffer so much that he would never forget that day. Just thinking about it filled him with adrenaline. "Good. There is a spare toothbrush in the bathroom." In other words, go do what you usually do, because it's bedtime.

"Right." Atem stood, feeling the air tickle the sides of his waist. This was not a proper attire for bed at all. Couldn't Kaiba give him something his to wear, perhaps an old shirt? Still, asking for that was too much. Beggars can't be choosers, even if he felt that he had soiled this pajama with whatever the heck happened earlier. Besides, it was just one night. Surely, he could endure one night of the humiliation and Kaiba's odd behavior. He half-wondered if the thunder had been so strong that it shook Kaiba's brain, thus resulting in his change of attitude. Then again, perhaps Yugi was right. Maybe Kaiba was just trying to be a friend. Atem shuddered. Just the thought of this disturbed him. "Where was the bathroom again?"

"Walk straight down the corridor, then turn to the left. Moron." Kaiba instructed, mumbling something under his breath which Atem wasn't quite sure he heard right. The exotic-haired man lightly shrugged and followed his instructions. As if this couldn't get any better, on the way to the bathroom he bumped into someone. Since Kaiba was in the living room, Atem knew this was none other than Mokuba.

"Oh, Atem. You…" Mokuba's words stopped dead somewhere along the way of realizing that Atem was wearing his old pajamas. God, what the hell what that?! "Why are you wearing that?" It hardly fit him! Not to mention he looked ridiculous with his stomach out like that. He looked like an underage in a belly dancer costume, as if he was trying to participate in Toddlers&Tiaras and something went horribly wrong.

"Your, uh … brother was kind enough to lend me your old pajamas as my clothes were wet." He mumbled, his face already turned a crimson red. "I hope you don't mind."

Mokuba raised one brow and walked past him. He knew that the sight of Yugi's big brother wearing those clothes had forever scarred him. Least he now had something else to mock Yugi for. If his brother taught him anything, it was to turn every misfortune into an advantage. Seeing Atem with his own pajamas was disgusting, but it was also the most powerful weapon in the galaxy, something he could use to make Yugi do his homework and maybe even share his lunch with him.

That went well, Atem thought sarcastically and sighed. He was starting to wonder if it wasn't kindness Kaiba was showing him, but rather his own ways of making his life hell. After all, some things really were too good to be true.

Once he was done with his nightly rituals, Atem left the bathroom and made his way back to the living room. He found Kaiba sitting on the couch, holding yet another can of beer. Why so much beer anyway? It was almost as if he had been preparing a party which got cancelled, and now he had to drink everything by himself. It was unusual for Kaiba to be drinking so heavily, or so did Atem thought. He'd never seen that side of him.

"Kaiba?" His voice, no matter how gentle he tried to make it, still startled Seto almost into jumping off his own couch. He stiffened and clenched his teeth, eyes narrowed in Atem's direction. "What's wrong?"

"I don't know what pisses me off more, you calling me by my first name, or you overusing my last name." Kaiba growled as he took another sip of his beer. This was, perhaps, his fourth can of beer. He was already drunk, albeit not much.

"I have no other way of calling you, Kaiba." Atem sat down with a little smile. He had no idea he was saying his name so often. He never felt himself saying it, really. It was just a pleasant name to say, and he liked overusing it, if that's what he was really doing, and not just Kaiba getting delusional out of hate for him.

"How about stop calling me at all?" The brunet huffed. If Atem wasn't breathing in his neck all the time, maybe he wouldn't be so goddamn pissed.

"If that's what you really want." Atem said quietly. They shared a moment of silence before he continued, "I wanted to speak to you about—"

"There's nothing to talk about, Muto." Kaiba interrupted him. "If you're going to lecture me on my own legacy, save your breath. I've heard enough. I will get my company back one way or another. I'll work hard for it, or I will take it by force. Either way, I will get it. I don't need your pity, nor do I need your charity. If you dare give up on my father's legacy, I will erase you from my life."

Atem remained silent. Bluffing or not, Kaiba sounded upset. Perhaps he really shouldn't mention this anymore. Irony was that this wasn't what he wanted to discuss. "It's not about the company, Kaiba."

"Oh?" Seto glanced at him to fully study his face. His heart skipped when he saw Muto all flushed and struggling to find the right words to begin. Fucking hell, he knew it. He knew this wouldn't go unnoticed.

"It's about … what happened."

Kaiba finished his beer and left the can aside. Of course Muto would mention this. Of course he'd want to discuss it. Couldn't he act like a real adult once in his life, ignoring truly important things, rather than discussing them like an idiot? Then again, he was an idiot. "I don't know what you're talking about." That's it. Deny everything.

"When the lights went out …" Atem hesitantly started. "Do you really not know what happened during that time?" He was being as vague as possible, hoping that maybe Kaiba really didn't know.

"I don't!" Seto stood as he raised his voice. The emptied can of beer was slammed on the table. "Why do you have to talk to me like a child, Muto? I already told you I don't know. No need to double check my answer. Now quit the interrogation and go to sleep. My bedroom."

Atem, who was startled by the almost threatening tone, somewhat frowned and crossed his arms. "I can decide when I want to sleep, Kaiba. You have no right to tell me what to do."

"Is that so?" Kaiba turned to him and leaned closer, until their faces were so close that their lips almost touched as he spoke. "You're in my apartment, Muto. You're going to do whatever I tell you to do. My home. My rules." Every fiber in him screamed to move away, but he kept his composure knowing full well that this was a part of his plan. He could smell Atem so clearly, so distinctly that it made his stomach turn. "Am I clear?" A short pause followed which didn't give the pharaoh time to answer him. "Now go to my bedroom like a good little mutt and sleep. The faster this day is over with, the sooner I'll get rid of you." He growled, then stood and left the confused Muto to figure this out by himself.

Kaiba closed himself in the bathroom and unzipped his pants. He caught a glimpse of his face in the mirror and cringed when he saw how red he had become. Was this a blush? No, no. This was a severe allergic reaction to that goddamn Muto. He expected to start swelling soon! Kaiba lowered his boxers and looked down. His jaw nearly dropped. "Fuck."

Well. He was right about one thing. There really was swelling, … but not where he expected.