"Are you really this afraid of being touched?"
Seto just nodded while looking in the other direction. There were rare moments now and then when direct skin contact didn't burn him, like when Duke had kissed him. For some reason, he'd been alright with that. But even then, it stressed him to be touched by someone else. Most of the time, he kept as much of his skin covered as possible with pants and long sleeves and his trench coat, so when he was wrestling Joey, there was little to no skin contact whatsoever. The idea of wearing shorts and a sleeveless shirt, however, filled him with paralyzing anxiety.
This was worse than Seth had realized.
"I'm just trying to help you, Seto. People are starting to notice that something is wrong."
"They are?"
"Ryou most certainly is. He watches you like a hawk. And if Ryou has concerns about you, then he's definitely voiced them to Marik, and who knows who they've talked to about it. Plus, you did drop Joey's name that time you were assaulted, so they've probably talked to him about it by now."
Seto shuddered, drawing closer into himself.
"You need to learn to be okay with human contact again. What are you afraid of, Seto?" he asked quietly.
"Being touched. I thought we already established that," he muttered half-heartedly.
"But what are you afraid will happen when someone touches you? Are you afraid that you'll be hurt? That someone will try to molest you?"
"Yes," Seto answered hoarsely.
"Which one?"
"Both." He wouldn't meet Seth's gaze, too ashamed to face the older, wiser soul. "I… have a hard time trusting people besides myself," Seto admitted quietly, as if he thought Seth hadn't figured it out on his own already. Seth was proud of him for saying it out loud, though.
"Given your life so far, I can understand why that would be difficult, but wouldn't you like to be able to relax and share your burdens with someone else, trusting that they will do their best to help you?"
"That does sound nice," Seto murmured, his eyes distant.
"I know it's not easy, but can you at least try to trust me?" Seth pleaded. They'd had moments in the past where Seto had either been forced to trust Seth, or he'd had no other option available to him. Those had been a start, but they weren't enough. There was still some part of Seto that denied and resisted the magic, the Egyptian spirit, and everything else he had a hard time swallowing. The implications of those things were just too much for him to handle, but he needed to embrace them for things to work between them the way they needed to. Seth hadn't bargained on how stubborn this piece of his own soul would turn out to be.
"I can try…"
Seth kissed the top of Seto's head quickly, before he could pull away. "Then let's try this out now," he said, standing up, holding out a hand to help his hikari stand as well. After a moment, Seto took it and stood beside the older man, releasing his hand as soon as he was on his feet.
"Do you see where we are, Seto?"
"My soul room."
"Look at the floor, look at the ceiling, the walls. What do you see?"
"We're… inside a giant cage," Seto answered, realizing this fact for the first time. Seth pointed toward a large opening.
"There is no door to cover the entrance, so why don't you try to escape?"
Seto looked up at Seth curiously, then toward the large hole in the silver bars of the cage. He approached it and looked out.
"We're hanging over a bottomless pit," he scoffed. "How on earth am I supposed to escape?" He turned around to face Seth, but he had disappeared.
"Maybe you can try trusting me."
Seto turned around and saw that Seth was standing on a faraway ledge.
"How the hell did you get over there?" Seto demanded, getting irritated.
"Unimportant," Seth said dismissively. "I want you to come over here and join me."
"How?" Seto asked, exasperated. "There's nothing but empty space between here and there."
"You can get here safely if you trust me," Seth answered calmly, despite Seto's growing agitation. "Keep your eyes on me, no matter what, and walk this way."
"Do you really think I would fall for something like this?" Seto asked, his temper riled. "There's nothing to walk on. I'll fall to my death."
"Seto, the moment you believe that, you make it true." Seth's low, steady voice made Seto shiver as it cooled his temper. Seto looked down into the abyss, but Seth said, "Eyes up, Seto. Focus on me." Seto looked up, feeling anxious as he shifted his weight from one foot to the other. "Good. Now all you have to do is put one foot in front of the other."
"Right, and when I do, there's no way I'm gonna fall," Seto said sarcastically, still standing halfway on the edge of the cage. "You're insane."
"We're in your soul room, Seto. You can't be harmed here unless you wish it." That wasn't precisely true, because the longer Seto waited in the cage, the more danger he was in from forces he didn't explicitly control.
"I don't wish it," Seto snapped.
"Then you have nothing to be afraid of," Seth answered with a patronizing smile.
"I don't trust things I can't see." Seto crossed his arms, the perfect image of a stubborn child.
"Do you want to spend the rest of your life in a cage?" Seth asked coolly, his eyes narrowing.
"Of course not!" Seto's pride was wounded by the implications of such a thing.
"Then why don't you leave it?"
Seto looked disgruntled for a few moments as he tried to make up his mind.
"You promise that I won't fall?" he asked hesitantly. He couldn't believe that he was actually considering this.
"I promise that as long as you keep your eyes on me and trust that you'll be safe, you will be."
Seto took a few deep breaths, then grabbed hold of the nearest bar of the walls of the prison-like cage. He looked up at Seth, staring straight ahead as he inhaled and tentatively put his foot forward. He felt something solid beneath it, and gasped in surprise.
"Good!" Seth called encouragingly. "Keep your eyes on me, Seto, and put one foot in front of the other." Seto hesitated, and he added, "Just let go, Seto. You'll be alright."
This was difficult for the teen who'd learned to be suspicious of people, who'd learned that people couldn't be trusted. Up until now, every time he'd placed significant trust in another person, he had been forced to do so. Dr. Bakura had discovered a part of the truth through his own pursuits, and Seto'd had no choice but to trust that he would keep the information confined to only himself and his wife. He'd had no choice but to trust that Joey would keep his secret to himself. The older he got, the less he depended on others for anything, making himself as independent as possible so that he'd never have to trust anyone too deeply.
Seto let go and took another hesitant step forward, resisting the urge to look down and try to discern what he was walking on.
"I love you as my son, Seto. I only want what's best for you."
Another step forward.
"Ryou loves you—"
"Ryou loves Marik," Seto corrected, starting to waver. This was foolish. He was going to fall to his death.
"Platonically, I mean," Seth qualified, resisting the urge to roll his eyes. "Ryou loves you, and you trust him deeply. Consider the fact that you entrust him with Mokuba's wellbeing when you don't even trust your own father."
Another tentative step forward, and Seto was having a hard time keeping his gaze fixed on Seth's cerulean eyes. He wanted to look down, to be sure of his step, to make sure that he didn't fall.
He burst out suddenly, "Seth, I can't do this." He was just as crazy as Seth for thinking that this was going to work. Whatever was under his feet felt unsteady and shifting, only confirming his fears.
"Yes, you can do it, Seto," Seth insisted, hiding his sense of alarm as he saw that Seto started to doubt him. That doubt was putting him in danger. "Keep your eyes on me, and you'll be fine."
"How can you promise that?" Seto demanded, looking genuinely frightened. He wasn't ready to die.
"You're just gonna have to trust me."
It was the best answer Seth could give. For now, though, it seemed like enough, for Seto still stood there, staring at him with an odd mixture of anxiety and stubbornness. Clearly, he was going to stand his ground until he was given sufficient reason to move again.
"Continue walking, Seto," Seth said patiently, holding the identical azure gaze steadily with his own, knowing that if he looked away, so would Seto, whose feet now shifted nervously. "You believe in Ryou's goodness, which is in itself invisible and intangible."
"But I can see the empirical evidence of it," Seto countered confidently, taking a step forward a few moments after he spoke, realizing what Seth was trying to demonstrate to him with that comment. It wasn't true that he only believed in the things he could see; he believed in things that were invisible, but that still manifested themselves in perceivable ways.
"Exactly. Dr. Bakura has raised his son to be a good man, which is evidence that he himself is a good man worthy of your trust."
Another shaky step.
"Marik loves you. His family has, for the last three thousand years, served myself and Atem by guarding our tombs and protecting some of the Millennium Items. We—you and I—are one of two pharaohs that he serves wholeheartedly. He has knowledge of the ancient scriptures and understands that we are here because we have a great burden to carry, a war to fight in the name of all that is good in order to save the world. That is why you can trust him."
"What are you talking about?" Seto asked, perplexed as he stood still.
"I'm talking about why I'm here, why you received the Millennium Rod, why my soul resides partially within you. You've asked me about it before, and I'm only just telling you now because we may have to face that evil again very soon. Keep walking, Seto."
Hesitantly, the brunette obeyed, though he didn't feel like he was getting much closer to his destination.
"You need to believe what I'm telling you, Seto," Seth said, a pleading note in his rich voice. It wasn't just enough for him to trust his words because he trusted Seth; he needed to learn to own his faith, to believe on his own.
"Why can I trust you?" Seto challenged, doubt nagging at him once more. "Since you seem so keen on that subject right now, explain it to me: why can I trust you?"
"I already told you," he answered with a sigh. "You are a piece of my own soul. I could no more wish to harm you than I could wish to cut off my own hand or poke out my own eyes."
"Fair enough, if what you say is true," Seto conceded reluctantly, taking another step forward. He blinked hard as he tried to keep his eyes up.
"Yugi loves you. You've protected him, and he looks up to you."
"Well, he's a pacifist," Seto scoffed, clearly disagreeing with his peer's philosophy. "They're made of glass. There's not a mean bone in his body."
"That's right," Seth answered with a smile. It seemed like Seto was finally starting to catch on. "He's naive, innocent, and good. He could never be malicious, even if he tried. That's why you can trust him."
Seto took another step forward, starting to feel more steady.
"Anzu loves you. She loves Yugi, and because you've protected him, she loves you by extension. She sees that you have a good heart, albeit a fierce one, and that you stand up for those who are unable to defend themselves. She knows that if she were to wrong you, she'd lose you as a protector, should she ever be in need of one. That is why you can trust her." Finally, an appeal to self-interest. Seto definitely trusted in that.
Seto took a step forward, then another. Finally, he felt like he was getting somewhere. Seth was growing excited as he saw that Seto was starting to truly believe him.
"Ryou's parents love you as if you were their own son. They took care of you when you were hurt and unable to stand. They have kept your secret, even from the authorities, despite the fact that they think it would benefit you and your brother. That is why you can trust them."
Seto was getting closer, walking at an almost steady pace across the chasm, floating on air, kept aloft only by his faith in Seth and what Seth said.
"Joey loves you. You never realized it on your own, but the sight of your pain was the impetus that drove him to change his ways. Since he's changed, his life has been far happier than it ever used to be. He has real friends now, something he hasn't had in a long time. You made him good, made him happy, and he knows it. Now he feels a loyalty and respect for you that he never felt towards anyone before. That is why you can trust him."
Seto was getting close, very close to the ledge where Seth stood.
"Duke loves you. You've impressed him with your intellect and character, and he sees you as a good friend. He would never wish to alienate you or lose your respect. That is why you can trust him."
"I think you've forgotten someone rather obvious," Seto pointed out with a small smile.
"I could never forget him," Seth assured as he returned the smile. "Mokuba loves you, more than he loves anyone else in the world, even Amane. You've always been there, a constant, positive presence in his life. He's always looked to you for guidance, for sustenance, for protection. You're not just his brother, you're his father, his mother, his best friend, his role model, all wrapped into one."
"His mother?" Seto asked, raising one dubious eyebrow at the Egyptian.
"You know what I mean," Seth insisted with a sigh. "You've functioned as one since your true mother is gone. He loves you unconditionally and absolutely adores you. He hates the idea of seeing you hurt or upset or unhappy. That is why you can trust him."
Seto let out a sigh of relief as he stepped onto the ledge in front of Seth, suddenly being pulled into a close embrace as the sound of something loud and heavy breaking filled his ears. He was able to turn his head just enough to see that there had been chains holding the large cage suspended in the air. They looked old, rusty, and unstable, which was probably why one had snapped. That added strain to the others, and they proceeded to break. Seth brought a hand up to shield Seto's eyes from any debris that might fall their way. The cage fell and not too long after crashed onto the dark bottom of the room with a loud, startling clatter. The whole thing unnerved Seto, who shook just a little as Seth's strong arms continued to hold him close.
"What just happened? I'm confused." Seto's expression showed it too.
"Some people are content to let fear imprison them their whole lives," Seth answered obscurely. "Most people don't realize how the fear itself poses a greater threat to them than the things they fear. You're destined for greatness, which means that you need to learn to leave the fear behind."
"So you're saying that I'm cured? Just like that?" Seto asked doubtfully. He decided that he wasn't willing to enter the whole, "I don't believe in destiny," argument again. That wasn't important right now.
"Well, it wasn't easy, was it?" Seth pointed out. "You wouldn't have been able to do it if I weren't here to help you."
"Fair enough," Seto admitted grudgingly, making Seth smile at him again.
"You needed someone to show you that people are worthy of trust, and why. You wouldn't have allowed yourself to believe as much unless you felt how greatly you needed to have faith."
"So you're saying that all of this was just some elaborate, metaphorical trust exercise?" Seto asked, realization striking him like a blow. "Couldn't we have just done a trust-fall or something?"
"No, I'm afraid it wouldn't have had quite the same effect," Seth answered with a laugh. He kissed Seto's forehead and loosened his embrace so that he could push Seto's long bangs aside. "You feel a lot better now, though, don't you?"
"Yeah, I do," Seto answered quietly, not quite able to meet Seth's piercing gaze.
"Good. Don't forget this feeling. Whenever you start to doubt those close to you, remember what I told you about why they could be trusted."
"I will," Seto promised quietly. He was a little distracted by the strange sense of freedom he now felt. He could breathe a little easier without all that anxiety burdening him.
"It's wise to be wary of strangers, but you need to show that you trust the people who care about you. You don't have to live in fear."
"But not all fear is bad, right?" Seto asked, sounding for a moment much younger than he was, as if he were a child questioning his father.
"Right. Sometimes it's the very thing that keeps us safe and out of harm's way. That's the difference between rational and irrational fears. It's rational to be afraid of crocodiles or bears or lions, because they're powerful predators capable of killing you. Healthy fear will help you avoid a threat. Unhealthy fear interferes with your ability to lead a normal life, and I think you'd agree with me if I said that what you felt fell into the latter category."
"Yeah, I guess it did," Seto muttered.
"I'm glad that you see that now." Seth gave him one last squeeze before releasing him. "Go forth and live freely."
"Why do you have to talk like a Shakespearean fortune cookie?" Seto grumbled, making Seth laugh heartily, tousling Seto's hair with one hand.
"It doesn't burn now, does it?" he asked softly.
"N-No, it doesn't," he murmured, closing his eyes as a sense of relief flooded his senses.
Seto's soul room started to fade around them, and Seto found himself waking up on the prow of the ship, facing the sun just as it began to peek above the horizon.
Author Notes: Everybody ready to arrive at Duelist Kingdom? ;) I'm considering including more angstshipping fluff during the tournament, so if you would like to see more of that (or not) let me know in a review! Please review, because more reviews = more chapters!