Healing

First Things First: Thanks for the reviews. I’ll be honest with you, this fic is becoming a bit of a struggle, I’m writing as fast as I can, but I admit, it’s not that fast. I have a million other things I’m doing right now, including writing other stories, but anyway, I’ll try to post another chapter by the end of this weekend. So, it’s Friday morning, Tristan and Seto have slept together twice, and Mokuba’s still sick. I think that catches everyone up. And please review, thanks.


Disclaimer: Still nothing. Another lemon.

Chapter 4: Six words, Seven Minutes


Seto watched sheepishly as Tristan pulled on his clothes. It was a crisp Friday morning, and the previous night had been their second sexual encounter. Seto wasn’t sure what the hell he was doing, after all this situation with Tristan could easily turn into something far worse. Seto was certain he was in love with the shorter brunet. And worse, he was sure that the feelings weren’t returned. He was too proud to ever say anything, and he would be damned if he was going to stop their trysts. He could only imagine the look on Tristan’s face.

The confusion.

He just wasn’t going to put himself…

“Take a picture, it’d last longer.” Seto looked up into caramel eyes. “Didn’t anyone ever tell you it’s not polite to stare?”

“My house. I can stare if I damn well please,” Seto remarked, pulling on his school jacket. Tristan smiled at him. “Let’s go, I don’t want to be late for school.”

Seto led the way out of his room, Tristan followed.

~.~

The car ride was silent for the first ten minutes. As they approached school Tristan finally broke the silence, “Do you want to drop me off around the corner or something? I’m sure you’re embarrassed to be seen with me.”

“It’s not about that, Tristan. I’m not ashamed of you, or what we’ve been doing. But you’re the one who said it’d be better if your friends didn’t know what was going on.”

“You’re right, it would be better.” Tristan sighed and gave Seto a look. “Are you going to the office after school today?”

“Yeah, for a couple of hours.”

“I have to go home and get some more clothes, then I guess I’ll stop by and see what’s going on with Mokuba. He’s supposed to be having his friends over.”

“I know. Just don’t let them get out of control. Mokuba is still pretty sick.”

“I know. He practically hacked up a lung yesterday. But the nurse said that he’s doing a lot better. And you have to admit, since he’s been home he’s had a lot of improvement.”

“Yeah. Are your parents going to wonder where you are, if you wind up spending the night, Tristan?” Tristan looked at him. Seto was parking in the student parking lot.

“No. I already told them I was sleeping over Joey’s house tonight.”

“How long is this going to keep working, Tristan?”

“Bored of me already, Seto?” Seto and him excha a l a look. “If you don’t want to do this anymore we can stop. Hell, I’m sure you’re tired of me. I don’t blame you.”

“I’m not tired of you.” Tristan gave him an unsure look. Seto leaned over and kissed him. The kiss was chaste at first, but then it got a little more aggressive as Seto slipped Tristan a little tongue. Soon they were devouring each other. Tristan was the first to break away. He was blushing, and smiling shyly.

“You’ve never kissed me before, lihat.hat. I mean you never…we’ve never kissed without there being sex about to happen.” Seto quirked an eyebrow. “I liked it.” He gave Seto another look, and opened his side of the car.

Seto sighed and followed suit.

~.~

“Hey, Kaiba. We were thinking we could come by and see Mokuba tomorrow. You think that’d be okay?” Yugi was bouncing over to Seto while Seto tried taking books out of his locker.

“Well, I don’t know, Yugi, Mokuba is pretty sick and…”

“Come on, Kaiba. You could get some work done, or sleep, and we could play with Mokuba. What do you say?”

“I guess so.”

“Great! I’ll call Mokuba after school.”

“Fine.” Seto closed his locker and was about to take off when Yugi got in front of him. “Yes, Yugi?”

“I was thinking, Kaiba, about Tristan. You’ve seen more of him than any of us have this past week, he’s either been at work or at your house, and I was just wondering, do you know if there’s something wrong with him? I think he’s avoiding us.”

“He’s got a lot going on, Yugi.”

“Still, he’s been acting a little strange.”

“I hadn’t noticed.” Seto gave Yugi a look.

“Oh, well, maybe it’s nothing. I do have a tendency to overreact on occasion. I’ll see you later, Kaiba.”

“Yeah.”

Seto took off. Yugi pouted. Now he was sure something was going on. Maybe Yami really was right.

~.~

“Kaiba and you have been getting along pretty well…” Tristan looked up, he was in the library during his study hall. Yami was approaching him. “It was nice of him to drive you to school this morning.”

“Oh… you saw us?” Tristan asked, dreading the conversation already. Did he see the kiss too? And if he did all Hell was going to break loose.

“Ryou told me he saw you guys getting out of the car,” Yami answered, sitting down at the table.

“Oh.”

“Kaiba must really be appreciative of you spending time with Mokuba. To drive you.”

“It wasn’t any trouble.”

“Don’t you live in the wrong direction, Tristan?” Tristan gave Yami a look and looked away. “Something wrong, Tristan?” This was the last thing he needed. Yami knowing. Damn, this wasn’t going to be good. “Tristan?”

“Hum?” He looked back into crimson eyes. “Nothing’s wrong, I’m just tired. I’ve been zoning out in class.”

“You look pretty exhausted, Tristan. Maybe you should skip going over to Kaiba’s house today.”

“Seto needs to go to work. It’s fine. I’ll just take a nap later. Or I’ll go to bed early.”

“Just don’t overwork yourself. Yugi’s worried about you.”

“Is he?” Tristan sighed. Now he was playing the Yugi card, he hated Yami… when he did this…

“I’m worried about you too, Tristan. I hope Kaiba isn’t taking advantage of your generosity.”

“No. He’s not. Listen, Yami, I wanted to get my homework done…so…”

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt your studying. I just promised Yugi I’d make sure everything was okay. If there’s something wrong, or bothering you, you will tell us, right?”

“Of course.” Tristan managed a smile. Yami smiled back, and got up from the table.

Tristan, what the Hell are you doing? Being with Seto? This is wrong, it has to be. What happened to your self-respect, why are you sleeping with him? Maybe I could break it off. No, I like being with him like that. Like last night. It was, nice. Very nice. And… am I some kind of scumball. Mokuba’s sick, he has pneumonia, and what have I been doing I’ve been sleeping with Seto. This can’t be right. And with Yami growing suspicious this can only end badly.

If Joey or Yami find out it’s over.

~.~

“Yugi thinherehere’s something wrong with you,” Seto began. They were doing another partner project in their literature class.

“Yeah, well, Yami thinks something’s going on with us, and Ryou saw me getting out of your car this morning.” Tristan was doodling on his notebook. He looked back up at Seto and continued, “You tell me what you want to do.”

“I don’t want to be making the decisions, you initiated this. You tell me.”

“I think we should keep it going, we just have to be more careful. I don’t want this to end, Seto.” Seto’s heart skipped. This needs to end, Tristan, damn it, I’m just going to wind up getting heartbroken over you and… “Seto, I know we agreed this was just going to be about sex but, I, I like spending time with you… and, gods, I don’t know what I’m trying to say… let’s just keep it going… unless you don’t want to anymore.”

“I want to, Tristan.”

Tristan smiled.

~.~

Seto was getting nothing done at work. He had Tristan on the brain. Why did I lie him in class? Okay, this is just getting silly. Tristan’s given you an out. Just end it. Tonight, tell him you don’t want anyone to find out, Hell tell him the sex has been lousy and you’re done with him. Whatever you have to say to make it over. You can’t keep this up much longer. You should never have slept with him in the first place. What kind of relationship could you and him possibly have after you jumped into bed together? It’s over. It’s done.

Seto closed his laptop. It was done. Finished.

~.~

Mokuba’s friends had all left and with Seto still not home Mokuba was curled up in Tristan’s chest, talking about school and his prepubescent cohorts. “What do you think of Kimi? Do you like her, Tristan?”

“She’s a sweet girl. She’s funny. And she seems to like you a lot.”

“Really, you think so?” Mokuba looked up into Tristan’s cinnamon eyes with a smile.

“Yeah, I think so. Why? Don’t tell me the feeling is mutual.”

“Well…” Mokuba trailed off. Tristan smiled.

“Aw, that’s cute, you have a crush on her.” Mokuba couldn’t help but blush.

“It’s not really a crush. Well, I mean… Tristan, you’re pretty smart… how do you know you’re in love. What are some of the warning signs?”

Tristan chuckled. “I doubt you’re in love at your age.”

“I think I am. Come on… help me out, here.” Tristan smiled again. “Come on, Tristan.”

“Okay, okay.” Tristan rubbed his chin, pretending to be contemplating the question. “The warning signs of being in love. Let’s see. Well, for one, your mind is always on that person. No matter what you’re doing, where you are, you see something it reminds you of them, you hear a song, and you think of them… it’s obsession.”

“Yeah, that happens to me. What else?”

“You want to be around them. All the time. You feel complete when they’re near you. Whole. And when you’re apart you count the moments until you’re together again.”

“Yeah, that’s me too. Go on, Tristan.”

Tristan gave the youngest Kaiba a look but continued despite himself. “You find yourself wanting to always see them smile, and see them happy. You think of ways you can entertain them. Get them to laugh.”

“Yep, um hum. Anything else?”

“Being in love is really indescribable, Mokuba. It’s a feeling you have, there’s warmth and I don’t know… it’s hard to explain.”

“I think I’m in love, Tristan. I’m in love with Kimi.”

“Well, then I feel sorry for you Mokuba. It’s not easy being in love.”

“Tell me about it.” Tristan laughed. “It’s not funny.”

“You’re just too cute, Mokuba.”

“Shut up, Tristan.” Mokuba started hitting the older teen in frustration.

“Such violence.”

“Silence you!” They were giggling and laughing too hard to hear Seto enter the room.

“I see you’re feeling better, Mokuba,” Seto said curtly, crossing the room. Mokuba stopped in mid swing.

“Big brother. I figured you were sleeping at the office tonight.”

“I had things I had to finish before I came home. Aren’t you having company tomorrow? It’s late, you should be asleep.”

“Yeah, they’re coming over for brunch,” Mokuba answered, yawning. “Around 10.”

“Well it’s after midnight, so you should sleep now.”

“Okay.” Tristan stood up, Mokuba snuggled into his covers. “Night guys.”

“Night, Kiddo.” Tristan gave Mokuba a little kiss. “See you tomorrow.” Mokuba nodded.

“Night, Mokuba.” Seto leaned over and repeated Tristan’s action and the two brunets left the room.

~.~

Tristan turned to look at the dragon with a smile. “He had a busy day today. Kimi came over.”

“Oh, the girl Mokuba’s in love with?”

“That’d be the one.”

“Mokuba’s eleven going on twenty-five.”

“Um hum.” They smiled at each other. Seto wasn’t sure what else there was to say. What was he going to do, kick Tristan out, tell him it was over? “Something wrong, Seto?”

“Just tired, it was a long day.” Tristan met ice blue eyes. There was something unreadable in them.

“I could go if you like,” Tristan offered, giving Seto a small smile. There was something different about Seto tonight, Tristan wasn’t sure what it was.

“I don’t want you to leave, Tristan.” Then Seto leaned over and claimed his lips, Tristan gave in immediately, Seto was pressing against him hard, Tristan found himself moaning into Seto’s mouth.

“What was that for, Seto?” Tristan asked, opening his eyes, his breath now a lusty pant.

“Let’s finish this in my bedroom.” Tristan narrowed his eyes at the husky quality of Seto’s voice. Seto led the way, Tristan followed unsure of what to make of Seto’s mood swing.

This was definitely unexpected.

Seto locked the door behind them. After tonight I can’t do this again. Seto shed his shirt, slowly.

“What’s wrong, Seto?” Seto didn’t answer and leaned down to capture the other’s lips again. Tristan went with it, allowing Seto to devour him. When Seto had his fill he was removing articles of clothing, pants, boxers… all wound up in a pile on the floor, and Tristan was thrown on the bed. “There’s something wrong with you tonight. Are you okay?”

“There’s nothing wrong, Tristan. There should just be less talking and more sex.” Tristan blushed as Seto crawled on top of him and grabbed his lips with his own. Tristan moaned at the contact, Seto was an animal, trailing kisses to and from his jawline to his mouth.

Whatever doubts Tristan had went out the window as Seto started on his neck. If the billionaire had his way this was going to be a night neither of them was soon going to forget. “Are you planning on teasing me, Seto?” The continued brutal attack on his neck was the answer he received.

“Gods, baby…” Tristan tried to wiggle from under the other’s expert touch… this was driving him insane. Seto’s kisses were frantic, and everywhere at once, Tristan was at the other’s mercy, a feeling he didn’t think he liked very much. “Let me go… if you’re going to do it, do it… but I’m not patient.”

Seto was drawing nonsensical patterns on Tristan’s chest, stopping to tweak a nipple. “My bed, do as I please…”

“Was that even Japanese?”

“Shut up.” Seto grabbed Tristan’s hands and pinned them over his head. He started where he left off, moving downwards, each light kiss accompanied by the occasional lick and gentle caress. Seto got to his nipple and Tristan screamed.

“Something troubling you, Tristan?”

“Yeah, you’re acting like a sex maniac, what about last night, we just got straight down to the fucking…”

That look in his eyes, that arrogance that made Tristan so angry, but turned him on at the same time. Seto’s lips asserted his dominance as he leisurely pressed them on his collarbone. It was like he had him under a spell. Tristan could only whimper as Seto began worshipping his earlobe reverently, then as he whispered into it, his warm breath tickling the hairs behind Tristan’s ear, “I’m enjoying this…”

Seto shifted down again, blowing air onto Tristan abdominal region. “Shit… Just… stop… Stop…Goddamn it!”

“Such language…to think I let you care for Mokuba…” Tristan’s delight became very vocal as Seto started kissing and licking the area between his legs.

“Um…..shit…more, more….more….”

“I thought you wanted me to stop?”

“Asshole!”

Seto smirked and licked the overly sensitive skin around the other’s groin. Tristan’s now freed hands were knitting themselves in the auburn hair on top of Seto’s head. He was groaning as Seto’s insistence clouded his thought processes.

“No more games, damn it…” Tristan was gasping… and desperate for release.

“Patience is a virtue, Tristan…”

“Look, I’ve been more than patient, I’ve been very patient…but you don’t understand how much I’m aching.”

“Well let’s see if you’re ready, Tristan.” Seto began molesting his member with his tongue until he decided it was time for his next method of torture. He took Tristan into his oral cavity. He wasn’t sure how long the other brunet could hold out, but the delicious sounds emanating from his detainee gave him confidence it wouldn’t be very long.

“Ahhh, fuck… Seto…” His name lost in a desperate cry. Seto began a rhythmic series of sucking and swallowing that sent Tristan screaming and bucking his hips, pushing himself further into the blue eyed billionaire.

“Please…” Tristan hissed through clenched teeth. Seto began sucking on the head again. Then he took his hand and began pulling at his flesh. In a matter of a moment he was stroking him in time with his sucking. Tristan pushed himself up, driving Seto down deeper, only stopping because his hand was in the way. It was no time before he was shooting his essence down Seto’s throat.

What he couldn’t immediately swallow leaked out onto his cheek and chin. Tristan watched as Seto took two fingers and wiped the sticky substance off his face, then placed the fingers in his mouth and began sucking on them. Tristan’s mind raced, thoughts of that tongue and mouth, and the fervor in which Seto used them…

Gods, the CEO would be the death of him. That familiar ache in his loins was creeping back. He was too delirious with pleasure to notice what Seto was doing, or that he was preparing for another attack. Tristan retracted his legs, ready to fall asleep. He’d never admit it to the other, but he had worn him completely out, and he had been amazing. He closed his eyes.

“Worn out, I was only just beginning.” Tristan peeked open an eye, but before he could make a smart aleck comment of his own Seto inserted a slippery finger into his opening.

“Shit…you asshole, don’t do that…”

“You’re still on my bed, Tristan…” Seto poked in a second digit and Tristan’s hips bucked. The spot between his legs was throbbing again already. Seto was moving up, and pinning Tristan’s body with his own, his erect penis rubbing taugly gly on the other’s abs. He shifted a little so that he could look in Tristan’s eyes. He continued his motions and got an “ahhhhhhh” in response.

“Seto, I…” His words slurred together as Seto slowly stroked him, continuing to move those two fingers in and out. He was writhing against him, pressing into the bed with each thrust.

“Don’t, I can’t take it. Now, now!”

“Please,” Seto corrected, not bothering to hurry his slow pace.

“Damn it, Kaiba. Please!”

Tristan’s body tensed again as Seto gave him a kiss. Tristan’s lips were already swollen with the other’s persistence. Without thinking about it, Seto added a third finger. Tristan moaned against his mouth. And shuttered. He traced the kiss back to his ear. Tristan’s heart skipped. Hell, at this point he was pretty sure his heart was skipping every fifth beat or something…

“My name is Seto,” he reminded him, breathing into Tristan’s ear again.

“I know, I’m sorry.”

“Say it. Say my name, Tristan.”

“Seto . .” it came out in a half cry as he quickened his movements. “Seto!” He was killing him softly.

“Please, Seto,” he marked.

“Please, Seto!” Tristan growled in return.

“Please what?”

“Please, Seto, take me.” Seto smiled again.

“I will, when it’s time. I promise.”

“I promise I will murder you once I get free!” Tristan screamed louder as Seto entered him with a fourth digit. “Ahh, ahh, ahh, ahh.…” His languorous movements, and that look on his face, that look of determination. He was going to make Tristan wait until he was nothing but a ball of spasms. He twisted his fingers again. “Mmmmmmmm.” If Seto kept this up his eyes were going to roll behind his head and never roll around again.

“Let it go.” Seto’s voice came out breathy, his words tickling the spot on his neck he had besieged so many times before. Tristan jumped a little more. The fingers didn’t cease hitting that spot deep inside of him as Seto grabbed his bottom lip with his teeth, kissing him. His rapturous contact with his now moistened flesh…it felt like burning, he was so hot. Damn him, damn him.

He broke the kiss when his lungs were completely out of air. He pulled his fingers out of his willing victim, his eyes not leaving Tristan. The draft in the room hit the spot bringing a new sensation. That smug look on his face, Seto was really taking pleasure in his torment.

Tristan’s eyes were lidded, and he was panting like some kind of animal in heat. But he didn’t care anymore, he just needed Seto… in every sense of tord…ord… “Please,” his voice was broken and ragged, he was begging for it, like a slut, begging for it, “Please…take me…”

“Almost, Tristan.” Seto stuck his fingers back into the aching, enlivening Tristan’s thoughts back to the incredible heat that was making it impossible to focus. He whimpered, defeated.

“Please…” his voice derailed as Seto kissed him again. There was no method to his madness, Seto was back at a nipple, practically sucking the poor little nub off.

“How bad do you want me, Tristan…”

“Bad, please… real bad…” Seto smirked. Tristan was too exhausted to move much as Seto started stroking his hard-on again, teasing the skin with evil movements.

Seto was crawling back down, along came the teasing and sucking and kissing and licking. Tristan was too gone to make articulate speech, but his body’s response was quite clear. He thrashed against Seto, almost violently, moaning his name in a voice that sent a shiver up the CEO’s spine.

“Seto… oh Gods!” Seto continued stroking, watching the other in complete ecstasy was taking its toll on him. He touched Tristan and he screamed again. The more he responded to him the harder Seto’s erection got. This was it.

“Take me, Seto. Please.”

“Well, since you asked nicely.” Without any warning Seto pushed himself inside with one fluid stroke until he was seated all the way in. He pulled himself almost all the way out, leaving the tip inside of Tristan, before he forced himself back in. Tristan lifted his leg and wrapped it around his hip.

“Shit…Seto…” Tristan wrapped his arms around his assailant’s neck and lifted his other leg. In and out, in and out, slowly, but steadily. He hit that special spot with each insertion, remembering to continue his stroking of Tristan’s aching manhood. Seto began kissing him uncompromisingly. He could barely stay focused as he drove in faster.

“Harder, harder,” Tristan demanded, his crazed nutmeg colored eyes glaring at Seto. Their rhythm now established, Seto complied. Tristan moved with him, their bodies moving like a well- oiled machine. Tristan was pushing back up into him, Seto dipped his head down and grabbed a nipple with his teeth.

That did it for Tristan. He came hard, it shooting everywhere, and on everything. Feeling Tristan tighten around his hardness caused Seto to lose it a moment later. He pulled out, his passion shooting out in torrents. Some splattered on Tristan’s leg, some on his stomach.

That was the last thing he remembered. Seto collapsed.

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.

It was morning, the only reason Seto was sure of that was because there was a sunray shining in his face. Tristan slept underneath him, a sweaty mess. Seto yawned, he had slept like an infant. He did a stretch and reached his arm over clutching his alarm clock. Just after noon. Seto curled back into Tristan’s warm body before he registered what he had read. It was after noon. And that meant the peanut gallery was already over. They were coming over at 10am, for brunch.

“Tristan!” Seto grabbed the slumbering teen and shook him hostilely. “Tristan.”

“What, what’s wrong?” Tristan was startled and looked into narrowing blue eyes. “What happened, is it Mokuba, is he okay?”

“It’s 12:13, Tristan.”

“So, there hasn’t been school on Saturdays since 2002…”

“Yugi and your friends.” Tristan’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion, and then his eyes widened.

“Fuck.” They gave each other a final look.

This wasn’t going to be good.

~.~

“You’re cheating, when you pick up a card you have to play a card,” Mokuba insisted.

“Ra damn it, I hate Rummy… It’s over!” Bakura threw all the cards on the table onto the floor and added his hand to the pile.

“Real mature, Bakura,” Ryou grumbled, shooting his spirit the evil eye.

“Now what?” Joey asked, soothing his lover with a little kiss on the cheek.

“We could…” Yugi stopped talking, he turned his attention to the two figures emerging in the archway. Tristan and Seto were here.

“Seto, you’re awake, I was beginning to worry about you.” Mokuba crossed the room and lunged himself at his brother.

“You two missed brunch, and Bakura was successful in eating all the leftovers,” Duke continued. “You guys must have been exhausted last night.”

“Mokuba told us Seto got home really late last night, and you just spent the night, Tristan,” Yami continued. Tristan nodded, his voice was dry. There was no way this wasn’t going to get worse. Seto and Tristan couldn’t figure out if it would be worse to arrive downstairs together or separately. They both showered and dressed, and Seto wasn’t sure what his little brother had told his visitors about their absence.

It seemed that Mokuba had done well, no one thought anything of it, save Yami, although it still looked suspicious that both of them had gotten to the living room two and half hours after everyone else.

And together.

“Tristan, are you okay, you look like you’ve been hit by a freight train or something,” Joey asked, giving his friend a cockeyed look.

“Would you like me to get you something to eat, Tristan?” Seto interrupted not paying the blond mutt any mind.

“Sure, thanks. We’ll be right back.” Tristan followed him out of the room.

~.~

“What do you mean it’s my fault, I didn’t ask to have the best sex of my life with you last night. I was more than willing to go home.”

“You wouldn’t have wanted me to ask you to leave.” Tristan and Seto were eating cereal and playfully arguing.

Tristan smiled at the CEO and took another spoonful of frosted wheat something or others to his mouth. He didn’t care for their breakfast, bitter they had missed the French toast and eggs, but then again the sex had been more than worth it. Seto had released feelings inside of him he didn’t realize one could have. All he wanted was more, there was something about him, there had been something about him last night, and there was something about him now.

Tristan just got this butterfly feeling in the pit of his stomach when Seto and him were together, of course a lot of that could be accounted for. After all, he had had a crush on the guy for a while. And as far as he knew that crush had never really ended. Maybe he had been too quick to dismiss these feelings as lust driven.

Certainly lust played a role, especially last night…

“You okay, Tristan?” Seto asked, giving him a pretend- concerned look.

“Yes.” Tristan smiled.

They had forgotten all about Mokuba and the others, enjoying each other’s company. Seto was trying to figure out what he was going to do, after all, he had decided that there could be no more sex between them. Now he just had to break the news to the other brunet.

“You have milk on your chin, Seto.” Tristan leaned over and dabbed if off with his napkin. Seto gave him a look.

“I think you’re taking this “take care of Seto thing” a little far, don’t you?”

“Not, really.” There was Tristan’s smile. This is going to be harder than I thought. Tristan kissed him.

“What was that for?”

“Felt like it.”

What the fuck. How the Hell am I supposed to be getting over this. And even if the feelings were returned, what exactly would become of this? Nothing. Let it go, Seto. This is going nowhere fast.

“Hey.” Yami was just walking in. Thank you, Yami. It never fails, does it? “I got lost on the way back from the bathroom." Bullshit

“That reminds me, I was supposed to call my sales VP before two. I’ll be back later.” Seto stood up. He didn’t care how obvious he was being. He wasn’t in the mood to go at it with the former pharaoh at the moment. Let Tristan handle it.

“We’ll catch up to you later, Seto,” Tristan returned, not quite catching the other’s gaze. Seto left the room. Yami sat at the table.

Tristan sighed. This day was going to go down in the history books as the worst day of his entire life.

Yami’s crimson eyes were accusatory. He knew, he knew Tristan and Seto were exploring a sexual relationship, and he was not pleased at all. What would he do? What would he say? Tristan cringed, he could already hear the words. Yami would yell about Tristan letting himself be used in this way, he’d never believe him when he explained that this wasn’t forced. That Tristan really enjoyed being with Seto intimately, that Seto told him how much better he felt after he comforted him this way.

Yami finally broke the lingering silence, “Tristan, I’ve never known you to be selfish. Or to put your own desires in front of people’s feelings, that’s why you need to break this off with Kaiba. You need to end this with him, right now.”

“What?”

“Don’t act as if you didn’t realize Kaiba’s in love with you.”

“He is… I mean, he… he can’t be… he’s the one who told me that he didn’t want me catching feelings sometime down the road.”

“Tristan, just think about it, rationally. You can’t tell me the thought hasn’t crossed your mind. More than once.”

Tristan let the words wash over him. Seto Kaiba wasn’t in love. Impossible.

“Tristan, if there weren’t any feelings in the way I’d look the other way, but he’s so vulnerable right now. Mokuba’s always been the one person that’s been there for him, and with his illness, Kaiba’s been doing things on his own, or would of until you stepped in. I’m sure it started as comfort sex, which isn’t a bad thing in theory. But any time you get intimate with someone so much more than sex is involved Tristan.”

“I know that, Yami. But he told me this was okay.”

“This has gotten out of hand.”

“Why, because we didn’t cover our tracks well this morning?”

“It was clear the second this sexual situation started… it’s been blatantly obvious to everyone.”

“So everyone knows then?”

“Everyone who cares about you knows.” Tristan gave Yami a look and looked back at his soggy cereal.

“What would you like me to do? Stop sleeping with him?”

“It’s deeper than that now.”

“Do you want me to tell him to fall out of love with me?”

Yami sighed. “Please just talk to him, Tristan. Before this situation gets worse.”

“I don’t think that’s possible.” Tristan stood up.

~.~

Seto was waiting for Tristan to come into his room. He already knew everything Yami was going to say to the brunet other, he already knew the lines, and he already knew what Tristan’s response would be.

All that was left was their conversation.

“Yami knows,” Seto stated flatly, not looking up from his laptop.

“According to him they all do.”

“Even that idiot puppy?”

“Probably not, if Joey figured it out he would have said something.”

“Of course he would have, he’s a loud mouthed idiot.”

“Don’t talk about him that way.” Seto closed the laptop.

“Let’s just get it over with, Yami had some choice words for me, he told you that I was taking advantage of your kindness and that it needed to be over.”

“Just the opposite. He told me I was taking advantage of you.” Seto sneered. “He did say that it needed to be over.”

“I don’t appreciate being told who I can and can’t have sex with.” Seto stood up. “What did you say?”

“The conversation didn’t really focus on that, Seto.”

“Then what did it focus on?” Seto’s voice was menacing. He was angry, Tristan couldn’t tell if it was at him or what. “Well?”

“Are you in love with me?”

“Excuse me?”

“Are you in love with me? Yami seems to think you’re in love with me, and that I’m going to end up hurting you. Are you, Seto? Tell me?” Tristan couldn’t tell by Seto’s facial expression, which was placid and guarded. Even his body language remained consistent. Seto had long since mastered the art of hiding his emotions. But Tristan caught the slip, it was a small thing, barely noticeable. But when Tristan asked him he had caught something in those blue orbs. Something that flashed for a moment. And it was enough for Tristan to know that his suspicion was accurate.

“This isn’t going to get any easier the longer you avoid answering my question,” Tristan explicated. Seto’s eyes narrowed. As Tristan expected, Seto’s anger was returning.

“We both knew this was over the second we woke up this morning. Now if there isn’t anything else I have work I was tryto fto finish.”

“I’m sorry I bothered you. It was rude of me.” Tristan turned around sharply. And then he stopped himself.

He spun around.

“You know what, I’m not going to let you cop out on me. You tell me if you’re in love with me, Seto Kaiba. You tell me right now.”

“Get out of my room, Tristan.” Seto had a glower on his face.

“Mokuba asked me what some of the warning signs for being in love are. And I told him, but you know what, Seto...Fuck it...Do you want me to tell them to you?”

“What the fuck are you talking about, get out of my room.”

“Why are you so angry, Seto?” Tristan was searching his face for the answer.

“Why are you still in my room?”

“Because I’m in love with you.” Seto’s eyes responded.

“That’s lovely. Now would you leave please?”

“You’re not in love with me?” Tristan’s voice was now caustic.

“Just because some dead guy tells you I am, doesn’t make it true.” Seto was being defiant, flippant even.

“Fine.”

Fine.

It was fine.

It was more than fine, it was perfect, a perfect installment to an already perfect day.

That was it.

It was over.

Tristan left.

Really left.

He asked Mai to drive him home.

Seto watched the car leave from the safety of his window.

The entire event had taken seven minutes. Seven minutes between the time Tristan had entered the room and left again. Seven minutes.

You did the right thing, Seto. This would have only been harder if you had tried to maintain this. You’re a hundred times better off. This was nothing. A three-night fling. It was a mistake. It was fun, you had some good sex, now you can go back to the way things were before.

“This was the right thing to do.” It was. He had done well. He had finally gotten the situation back in his hands. He had let those silly emotions dictate what he was doing. But not anymore. Now he could finally do some healing. He could…

“Why are you still in my room?”

“Because I’m in love with you.”

A simple sentence. Only six words. Seven minutes. Six words.

Either he had done exactly the right thing or he had just finished making the biggest mistake of his entire life.

Either way it was going to hurt in the morning.


Author’s Endnotes I know, this was a horrible ending. The good news is I already started writing the fifth chapter. I believe there will be seven chapters total. Next chapter’s a little depressing. Surprising how attached someone can get just over a little casual sex. Please don’t hate me, this story will get better, I promise. And please review. And unless something unforeseen happens I should update by the end of the weekend. Here’s what you can be expecting:


“I don’t understand, Seto, if you weren’t in love with Tristan why did you sleep with him?” Mokuba’s curiosity was not appreciated at the moment.

“It’s complicated, Mokuba.”

“I don’t see how. If you weren’t in love with him you wouldn’t be so mad about the situation.”

“The conversation is over, Mokuba.” Seto narrowed his eyes.

“When’s he coming over to watch me again?”

“He won’t be back.” They exchanged a look.

“I don’t blame him. I wouldn’t want anything to do with you either.” Seto said nothing and left the room.