jigglephysics | (no subject)

(no subject)

[ It's not like things have been chaotic since he left.

Yuugi slipped out in the night and things got even duller. He gave up on school - there wasn't any chance that he would graduate or go anywhere, anyway, and got a part-time job. He tried to keep his nose out of trouble, just in case Yuugi came back. He spent some more time with Shizuka. He tried to keep up with what was going on at the school with everyone through Honda, who was scraping by. He had more drive about academics than Jou did, after all.

Otherwise, he tried to just keep out of the house, only checking in for sleep and the mail. His dad didn't dare find out he left school. He didn't want to see how that fight would go, if he cared at all. He's sure it'd end up with a neighbor calling the police again.

He tried not to start fights, to get his hands dirty with stealing too much or being places he shouldn't be. He tried to keep to the better parts of town... but there's only so much he can do to avoid things the stink of a street punk attracted to him.

Fights still happened. Sometimes, he still stole, when he had to. Sometimes, he got a mouth on him and told off the wrong people. He couldn't help what came naturally to him and he couldn't help his need to lash out when he felt all alone now.

It sucks that he's ended up here, on the steps in front of Seto Kaiba's home, of all places, but where else could he go after a fight like that? He can take on a lot of guys, but not when he's caught off-guard. He won in the loosest sense, but getting away became top priority once the other guys were down. They'd get up again in no time and hunt him down.

So he climbed the fence, one shoe missing, jacket gone and hands stiff from throwing punches. He ended up on the other side and ambled his way to the steps that lead up to the door.

He wonders how long he can stay out here, just perched in the dying light outside of one Seto Kaiba's house, dribbling blood from his lips and nose onto his pristine stairs and filling the perfect air with tobacco smoke as he tries to figure out what the hell to do, or where the hell to go.

His answer comes in a hand hauling him up by the scruff of his shirt and dragging him inside, a voice berating him with who's and why's and cursing. He barely recognizes the voice, but he's sure it's one of Seto's henchman, dragging him in for a brief interrogation before preparing to boot him out.

Nice safe spot while it lasted. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Jou isn't quick to recover, but he's quick to move, pulling off of him as soon as he feels capable. Crawling around on the bed is a balancing act with his legs still shaky, but he manages to drag himself up and off of Kaiba's body to sit with his legs tucked under him on the mattress. His body still feels like its shuddering, warm and murky from the feeling of movement inside him still lingering.

He looks Kaiba over with hooded eyes, realizing what he'd done a little late. Not that Kaiba was much better, he thought, finishing inside of him and leaving him his own mess, but he seems like the type to be a neat freak who wouldn't enjoy the feelings.

His knuckles brush against his hip to get his attention. ]

I'll go get a washcloth from the bathroom...

[ the weight off of his body causes him to sigh in relief. he'd like to pretend it's because he doesn't like the closeness — will, if it comes to that — but mostly it's because it's easier to breathe now. once jonouchi's moved, seto returns to himself with a little more alacrity, although his eyes are still hooded and heavy. and his mind is still hazy enough that when he tells him he's about to get up, his hand darts out without any thought to grab the wrist of the hand touching him.

damn it. he wanted... he studies jounouchi's face before affixing his gaze to his eyes. he can see his outline, the shape of his features, but can't read his expression in this lack of light. like it matters. ]

Lick it up.

[ Jou almost starts to move, but his wrist is caught and he's stuck looking in the darkness between where he knows his wrist lies and where he remembers Kaiba's face being.

He feels his stomach turn a little. Why does he ever try to be nice to him? It's not fair. It never works out for him. He makes a sick sound in his throat before he mumbles his consent and turns his body over to lean down and put his mouth on Kaiba's belly.

Being given an order doesn't agree with him, so instead of licking, he bites him gently and sucks against his skin as his tongue scoops up the come he'd left behind. He shuts his eyes and breathes in stutters through his nose. It's cooling and salty and feels gross against his tongue. ]

[ his stomach twitches at the scrape of teeth, and the suction he wasn't expecting, but he doesn't say anything about it. why does he ever try to be nice to him? it's stupid. he's never tried to repay his kindness, made it his mission to rebuff every hand extended to him. until now. that's what he has to accept. jonouchi gave him a deal and he agreed to it, didn't even pretend to argue. he can tell himself it was curiosity, or a willingness to accept thanks where he felt it was due, but...

seto lifts his hand — the one he'd grasped jonouchi's wrist with — and touches the nape of his neck, where his thick blond hair is damp with sweat. he can't see, but he can imagine how he looks, with his already messy hair hanging limp, bangs in his face where they're tickling his navel. his stomach turns too, but for a different reason.

he doesn't rest his hand over the back of his neck, but leaves the tips of his fingers hovering, strands of hair caught between them. ]

[ The hand on his neck is strange. He pauses, turning his head enough to look his way, if trying to look at his face and read him. He's never really known what this guy is thinking, not honestly, but if he could at least get a hint right now...

His look doesn't linger too long as his head turns back down and he laps his tongue against his skin, dipping it into the curve of his belly button, being a little gentler about the motions of his mouth than a moment ago.

It's like being tossed up, only to fall again and be caught. He supposes it's a part of Kaiba's limited interactions with other people that make him so hard to predict. ]

[ trying to ignore jonouchi's change in demeanor isn't an effective defense against the realization that he's responsible for it. that's not what he was trying to do. he just wanted to see what would happen. he should tell him. no one needs to be harboring illusions of friendship toward him, least of all jonouchi. though friendship is probably too strong of a word, and the wrong one, if they're forced to take into consideration what they've just done.

seto swallows, twisting his other hand into the sheets of the bed while he traces the tip of his index finger from the base of his skull to the first vertebrae of his spine, careful not to let more of their skin meet, even accidentally. the uncomfortable burden of jonouchi's arms around his shoulders, squeezing, remains heavy in his memory, but the strange weight currently compressing his chest is different from the pressure of the hands that were braced against his body just moments ago. ]

Edited 2016-01-31 02:01 (UTC)

[ Jou almost gets lost in what he's doing, vulnerable enough to press a few kisses against his damp stomach, before he pushes himself up slowly, feeling that hand brush on his skin as he keeps his head hung. He spaces out for a long moment, staring at nothing in the dark. ]

... I should get back to my room, huh?

[ There's no conviction in his voice, just a light suggestion. He's too caught up in this as it is... he could slide back down and kiss him raw, right now, so sick for human contact. Even with his stomach aching, in the deepening night where he can see nothing, it's easy to just let things go and accept them as they come to him. ]

I'll go when you want me to.

[ He lets his personal responsibility and his autonomy go, with one addendum. What was supposed to be simple has made him realize right now, he can't trust himself to know what he should do. ]

[ seto takes his hand away and drops it back to the bed, stomach tightening beneath jonouchi's lips when he starts pressing kisses there. there's a response to that, a way he should act, a rebuff or a brushing-off. the idea of seeing him slink from this room with his tail between his legs would normally inspire a whole host of ways to snub him.

but this hasn't stopped being a transaction. it's an extended offer, and he would be an idiot not to take advantage. he lifts his hand again, like he's going to touch him, but never lets it settle. his eyes raise to the canopy, staring into middle distance. he knows there's no point in looking. ]

... If you agree to do me another favor in the morning, I'll let you stay here.

[ Jou's shocked to not hear an agreement. Really, weren't they pushing their limits? He thought revoking the decision-making to a pragmatic and cold person like Kaiba would mean he'd be sent out right away. He'd given him the opening to end this but...

Here he is, finally looking his way, not that he's sure he can tell, looking at him with a slightly slack jaw.

He should say no. That was opening too wide a door, but he hears himself when he speaks and almost can't breathe afterward. ]

Like what?

I'll decide tomorrow.

[ like he would give his hand away this early.

seto pushes himself up with unsteady arms and, once sitting, they're near enough that he can feel the heat coming from jonouchi's body. a little something tugs in his gut just below his navel, but he tells himself it's just his imagination, a reaction to being overstimulated. he can keep his raw voice low without without risking being misunderstood, at least. not that he has much, if anything, to say. he clenches his teeth, leaning in toward the dip jonouchi's weight makes on his mattress, before stilling and pulling away completely. he drags himself to the side of the bed and puts his feet on the floor, discarding his pajama shirt as he goes. ]

But if you're going, then leave. Either way, I can't sleep like this.

[ he needs a shower. ]

[ Jou almost wishes Kaiba could see the way he's frowning right now, because it says all he wants to but without the awkward feelings words would bring.

He huffs and feels him get up, watching him move in the haze of the dark room and brush off the matter.

He should get up... should leave while the getting's good, but he has nothing left to lose anymore. He couldn't imagine any 'favor' for Kaiba landing him in the morgue or an institute, so as Kaiba wanders stiffly to his bathroom, Jou lays down on his side, listening to the muffled, hollow sound of the mattress shifting under him. ]

[ seto doesn't look back, or stop to listen to what jonouchi might have to say if he were going to speak. he opens his bathroom door, switches on the light, and shuts it behind him before turning the shower on and quickly washing down. once the stickiness is gone from his skin, and the sweat washed from his hair, he turns off the water and dries himself, towel held around his waist when he steps back out into his room and turns the light off behind him. he fetches another set of sleep clothes from from his drawer and dresses in the dark.

finding jonouchi lying in his bed like a homeless dog seeking shelter wasn't that far outside of his expectations. which means he was right at guessing that he wanted to stay, whatever his reasons.

he climbs into bed beside him without saying anything. ]

[ Jou stays quiet while Kaiba whisks himself away, cleaning himself up. His whole body is tired and settling down. He could sleep at any moment, but when he feels Kaiba crawl back into the bed, he slowly hefts his body up to go and take his turn in the shower. He's too sticky and stale feeling to sleep comfortably.

He takes much longer in the shower, starting out with washing and ending up sitting on the floor under the hot water, just letting it run down his back and over the lingering bruises from earlier in his day. The heat feels good on his body, on the creases of his hips where they're sore from being parted.

He assumes Kaiba won't wait for his return, so he takes his time, soaking up the heat and steam until his body feels less tight and sore before finally crawling out of the shower to dry himself down and return to the room. He doesn't bother coming out with a towel, just pulling on his boxers instead, before flopping on the far edge of the bed, opposite Kaiba. He doesn't cover himself and feels unsure that he can really sleep, but the refreshed and warm feeling in his skin at least makes his body relax. ]

[ jonouchi's right to think he won't wait for him, but sleep doesn't come easily despite it. for lengthy minutes he's suspended between not waking and not sleeping, neither thinking or dreaming, laying on his side with his arms tucked around his center. it's odd and disconcerting to find himself so emptied out, but a more knowledgeable part of himself is more afraid of what thought might bring. the night's gone on too long for him to start considering all of this in a serious light at this very moment. it doesn't even deserve that kind of attention. as long as jonouchi can keep a secret...

by the time he's beginning to doze, the door to the bathroom opens. seto hears it without listening for it, laying with his back to the other half of the bed. besides that, the only evidence of anyone else in the room is the weight that makes the mattress sag and the soft sound of breathing that isn't his own. still committed to silence, he falls into a deep sleep plagued by disjointed dreams that he won't remember once he's woken up in the morning. ]

[ Jou doesn't sleep well through the night. Maybe it's the time limit he has or maybe it's his mind refusing to shut up. Either way, he makes sure he's at least out of his bed early, dressing as silently as possible. He has to get back to his room before the rest of the house wakes up, lest Kaiba turns on him and murders him to cover his own 'image'.

He's sure waking up Kaiba will result in the same, but he apparently can't leave yet, having sacrificed an easy escape for one night of not having to sleep all alone. He doesn't regret what he did, but he definitely regrets this delayed walk of shame he has before being set out back into the maw of the streets. ]

[ seto has a morning routine, and the slanted beams of sunlight hitting his face are his first clue that's he broken it today. he squints his eyes open, aware that he must have forgotten to set his alarm, before immediately recalling why. the mattress creaks when he sits up, and yes, the bed's been left in disarray, obvious evidence toward what went on last night. he reaches over to touch the wrinkled sheets on the side of the bed jonouchi slept on, then smooths them out, as though to erase the trace of him. the sheets are warm, but it's the sunspots coloring them, and not the last remnants of anyone's body heat, real or imagined.

he leaves the bed behind to wash and dress, combing his hair out of the mess it'd become from going to sleep with it wet.

they made an agreement last night, didn't they? he let him sleep in his bed. it's not like it was any different from sleeping alone. but now that it's the day, he can't think of anything to tell him to do. that's not to say he can't think of things he wants, but none of them he wants to say out loud. there isn't anything in him that wants to continue to acknowledge what happened between them.

it's almost ten o'clock by the time he leaves his room, and he purposefully avoids passing jonouchi's. instead of going downstairs, he goes to mokuba's room to wake him — normally he'd let him sleep late, but today he needs to tell him that he's going out. it's not yet a quarter past ten when he grabs his coat and leaves. ]

[ Jou doesn't expect Kaiba to be gone when he finally thinks it's 'time' to come out of his guest room. When he comes out and scouts around, expecting to find him... somewhere. Anywhere. But he's no where that he can see and he wonders how long he expects him to wait.

Didn't he want him to do something this morning? This is gonna drive him nuts.

Hungry and still exhausted, he goes down to the kitchen, wondering how late a spoiled kid like Mokuba might wake up. He's a good kid, but he's sure he can get away with sleeping until two if he wants. ]

[ normally mokuba might go back to bed after being woken up by his brother — seto doesn't often go to work without him, but he knows to set his alarm on those days — but knowing jonouchi is still here makes him curious enough to leave his room not too long after he's gone. the manor is big, and even though the maids like to talk to him, it still gets lonely when his big brother isn't there to fill up all the empty space with his reassuring presence.

but... having a guest is different. he knows jonouchi is only here because he was being chased around by some gang or something, but still...

the only thing that stops him from searching for his room to say hello is his grumbling stomach. which is how he finds him in the kitchen not long after. mokuba smiles brightly, open with his emotions in a way that's completely opposite from his older brother. ]

Oh! Jonouchi! I was wondering if you were up yet.

[ When Mokuba finds him, Jounouchi is sitting in the same seat he'd taken last night when he'd eaten here, spacing out despite the grumbling of his own stomach. It aches a little, still, but he supposes his whole body will ache from his run ins yesterday no matter what he does.

He nearly topples out of his chair at Mokuba's sudden voice. He didn't even hear him come in.

Shit! He should have skipped out. If Mokuba knows he's here, will it be bad? He puts on a grin and forces out a laugh. ]

Haha, I... slept in a little, but it's fine. I'm surprised you're up!

Yeah, Big Brother woke me up before he left.

[ mokuba walks around the table to the refrigerator, jonouchi's discomfort gone unnoticed. the information isn't particularly important to him; he only knows what he was told, and the context beyond that escapes him. it was strange to hear seto admit he was letting jonouchi stay here, but whatever anyone else thinks, his brother isn't heartless.

the contents of the fridge catch his attention for long enough that he forgets what he was saying. he picks out a parfait, one of the ones with the little strawberries, before shutting the door. ah... that's right. ]

He said he wasn't going to be back until later, so you don't have to wait around.

[ Jou's brow furrows at that. He's surprised he told Mokuba he was here at all. He assumed Kaiba wanted him to leave here with no trail behind him, nothing more than a ghost in the evening. Now he's in the kitchen, talking with Mokuba. There's something wrong here. Why was he left alone like this?]

So he just left, huh? Figures. That's the kind of jerk he is...

[ He looks at what Mokuba nabs from the fridge and wrinkles his nose. ]

Y'know, you'll stay short if that's the kinda thing you eat in the morning, Mokuba... Lemme make you a real breakfast. You need something with vitamins.

Hey!

[ that's offense on two counts, but it's not like he really expects his big brother and jonouchi to get along. that's a lost cause. just because he stayed here... they're not really friends, or anything. that comment about his height, though—!! ]

I'm tall for my age, I'll have you know! Uh... You can cook?

[ jonouchi doesn't seem like the type. he gravitates toward the silverware drawer to take out a spoon, still intent on his parfait. can't he have both? ]

You know, if you want breakfast, the cooks can do it for you...

[ but he sounds interested, despite what he's saying. ]

[ Jou just grins for him, crossing his arms on the table. Yeah, okay, he's an okay height for his age, but at least this Kaiba he can tease. He likes that. It makes him feel like a big brother. ]

Haha, yeah, I have to. No one else does in my house.

[ Jou gets up and decides to start digging for something to inspire him. ]

Besides, I can let them take a break. No need to cook for some nobody.

Ohhh...

[ well, that makes sense. jonouchi doesn't seem like the cooking type, but... most people don't get to have their own chefs, huh? even back before he and his brother had any money, there were other people cooking for them. he's never even thought about learning.

mokuba hops up on one of the stools aligned against the countertop, and sets his dessert-for-breakfast aside a moment, to watch whatever it is he's doing. ]

"Some nobody"? That sounds like something Big Brother would say. But all right.

[ Jounouchi ends up laughing a little, watching Mokuba take his place at the counter top as Jou takes out some fish to grill. ]

I better get out more if I'm sounding like him. It's true, though. I don't like the idea of some people I'm not paying cooking for me. I've been making my own food since I was ten. It's a good skill. You never know when you'll need it.