kittensinboxes | To Be Endlessly Cold Within [Rivalshipping, Vampire AU]

To Be Endlessly Cold Within [Rivalshipping, Vampire AU]

It had taken some time to get used to living a new life as a vampire. For someone who actively decried the supernatural, it wasn't easy to admit that he'd been overcome by some creature of the night in anything outside of a nightmare.

But he had ended up like this nearly half a year ago, waking up hospitalized with what looked like some kind of lesions at the joint of his neck and shoulder. From that point, it was only a matter of time before he shifted to his new reality. Trying to suppress it out of sheer force of will had only worked out so long, and deflecting his thirst onto a natural human cause had nearly ended in him attacking his brother. That was the last straw.

That was when Seto Kaiba gave in and took the first drink.

He had to, of course, curate his inner circle slightly--tell the ones most important to him what exactly his new life would entail. Mokuba...well, while he hadn't fully intuited it, had been concerned about his brother ever since the hospital stay. How could he not be? Seto had gradually lost color, energy, and most concerningly, weight since he'd been discharged. He barely ate and looked discomforted when he did, and drank liquids constantly. Honestly, figuring out Seto's needs had been jarring, but ultimately relieving.

Isono was the only other person who knew. He was the one responsible for acquiring blood for his boss, and he did so admirably. Kaiba never fed from the vein, no matter what. Even when his jaw ached around others, and his fangs itched in his skull, he'd instead bite down on something else. He kept a solid rubber ball in his desk for such occasions, and it didn't feel right, but at least with his bagged alternatives, he was doing alright.

Isono and Mokuba had floated the idea to him of perhaps feeding on small animals, and while the thought of it had made his fangs stretch past his lower lip and made his stomach twist as if he'd been starving for all his life...he declined. He didn't need it. There were other things to attend to.

And so he never really regained his weight despite a regular diet of blood.

But at least the company was running smoothly. Seto fought the urge to take a fully nocturnal sleep schedule, and instead positioned himself between worlds. He'd come into work around midnight, well before the sun rose, and leave once it had set. Work meetings were scheduled past dusk. Probably the most expensive alteration needed was to slowly have his office windows altered with UV blocking, the tinting of which could be controlled automatically with a single remote. He mostly kept the tinting at a lower level, so he could still enjoy the sun's brightness without harming himself.

His acclimations weren't perfect. Sometimes he ended up burning himself. Sometimes, the hunger was triggered by proximity to his employees...but for the most part, Kaiba had fallen into a holding pattern. Not yet fully healthy by vampire standards, but also not withering away.

Today, Kaiba was to be participating briefly in orientation for a very small handful of new hires. Isono would bring them up, to show them who they would be working for and have Kaiba offer a few words as he often did while he judged the merit of the hires individually. He always thought it unnecessary, but what he thought, and what was actually done? Those were two different things.

The first two hires went through their orientation interview without incident. Kaiba wasn't terribly impressed, but they'd do as entry to mid-level workers. Nothing really extraordinary to be brought to the the table.

He taps the logo on his lapel.

"Isono. Bring in the last candidate, and then prepare lunch," he ordered.

"Yes, Master Seto!"

The third candidate...they better be worth something.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Sshhh..."

A finger, trembling and nervous, touched Kaiba's lips.

"Don't... worry about that for now." Yuugi murmured. "Just... stay here with me."

He didn't want Kaiba to leave.

He wanted someone next to him, lying next to him, just for a little while. When he was there, he was safe.

He bit him, but didn't kill him.

Even at his most feral...

He wouldn't hurt Yuugi. What was a little blood?

"...Please."

"Mh?"

Kaiba's eyes, long since faded back to their usual blue, widen as Yuugi's finger presses to his lips. He'd really do that, even while Kaiba's fangs are still this visible...?

He reaches a hand up, tugging Yuugi's arm down.

"Yuugi, I can't stay. You cannot want that."

He has to tell his brother. He has to take care of this stupid, uncontrollable hard-on. He has to create distance...

But he's warm and content. Even being in the same bed as Yuugi like this, which is something he'd never do ordinarily...is not something he's against. Despite his arguments, he doesn't want to move. He's not sure what he wants...other than the obvious. Why does he have to be affected like this...?

Yuugi moved closer.

"I do. I feel... safe. Like this. It doesn't have to make sense to you."

He bit where he asked.

He healed him.

He's speaking to him now.

If that didn't scream "reliable" and "safe" then what did?

If only he didn't blush. If only he didn't feel -- and look -- so shy, like a schoolboy with his crush.

"Also, um. Your hand. Feels nice."

As soon as Yuugi says that, Kaiba pulls his hand back. It's uncharacteristic for him to look so out of his element, but Yuugi has that effect on him.

"Don't say such foolish things," he mutters, "Not when we're like this. It's not some romance novel you're in, just in case you haven't realized."

And at that point, Kaiba sits up, pulling one knee up so that Yuugi can't see how he's reacted to all of it. To his blood...to the sensation of biting a human for the first time...

It's his shame.

"I didn't say it was," Yuugi chuckled. "I'm not that naive."

He knew better. And yet...

He still...

"I just... thought it'd be nice to be close to you. To maybe be held for a while."

"You should know that I'm not that kind of person," Kaiba says indelicately. "I don't know enough about you--"

Which is a lie, given Kaiba's control issues and rigorous background checking of this particular individual.

"--nor do you know anything about me, other than the fact that I'm a vampire, and your boss. What makes you think that 'being held' is in any way appropriate?"

It's rude, and he knows it. But Kaiba's gotten along best by keeping himself separated from distractions and weaknesses. His only blind spot was for his brother. Still...having said that...

"...Don't think I'm not grateful, though. I could have been in trouble without you, and I'm aware that my gratitude has been lacking. I will repay you for it.

And the window."

"I know. Can't blame a guy for trying though, right?"

It was kind of weird, wasn't it? Maybe it was the blood. Maybe it was the proximity, of a gorgeous man this close and making him react like this.

"Sorry, sorry. Though...I would like to get to know you better. To...be friends, maybe. Mokuba thinks really highly of you, and...you're an interesting, honorable person."

Maybe in his own way, but he did have ethics. That much was clear.

"And...if you need to drink again in the future...I don't mind. You. Drinking from me. Better to drink from someone you know, right?"

"Tch. I could blame you for trying...but instead, I'll thank you for the meal," Kaiba comments wryly. Talking is helping, though. It's helping to calm him down, and clear his mind.

(and deal with being aroused)

"You want to get to know me, huh? Fine. But first, I need you to text my brother. I'm afraid I don't have my phone. Give him a full report. Hopefully it'll reach him before he's made upset by what he finds."

He doesn't comment yet, on whether Yuugi's assessment of him is right or not. Clearly it's not, but he's not in the mood to shoot all of the man's statements down.

"...You enjoy games, yes?"

...Okay, he had to laugh at that. It wasn't even that funny, but there he was chuckling like it was some secret joke that--

--Oh.

It kind of was, wasn't it?

This entire situation was practically a joke in the making: A vampire goes into a gamer's bedroom at night...

"On it, boss."

Good, he could reach for the nightstand to get his phone. Texting Mokuba was very not sexy, too, so it helped bring down his...aha. Problem. His very big problem that was definitely not friendly.

...

If Mokuba noticed Yuugi's mentions of Kaiba's "Gentlemanly" nature and his "Gentle" biting...well, that was going to be held over Yuugi's head for the rest of forever.

As his fingers flew over the touch-keyboard to text, he grinned.

"I love them. My grandfather owned a game shop, and I grew up there. He was the one who really instilled a love of games in me from the time I was really little. I swore I wanted to create something that could inspire kids like me and help them make friends and have fun with others--"

Kaiba frowns, because he's definitely not in on the joke. But rather than lose face by asking what was so funny, he simply gives a nod of acknowledgment. Good. This is how it should be. Distance. Normalcy.

Really, really good blood.

Hm. As Yuugi texts Mokuba, Kaiba thinks about the desperation he'd sprinted here with, the thought that this was all Yuugi's fault. He'd intended to kill him, really. Without regret, he would have ended the man's life, based on the assumption that he was the problem.

Why had he thought that? Was it really just the desperation of his own hunger? Now that he was well-fed, his mind was as clear as a spring, muddied only by his arousal. Something had triggered this, he's sure of it.

...Probably the alcohol and the sushi hadn't gone well together. He'd vomited quite a lot. Next time Pegasus wants omakase while discussing business matters, he'll be sure to put his foot down on the matter.

Idly, he rubs at his shoulder, as if trying to soothe an old complaint.

"We have a commonality at last: I also enjoy games. I had to retire from the international circuit, given my condition, but I am an internationally recognized Duel Monsters champion."

He says it proudly, but there's a hint of sadness. His cards have slept for so long...it had affected his stock for a while since he ran a gaming company and achieved acclaim off of his skills in the game. It's why he still ran exhibitions and invitationals set during times at which he could play, but he hasn't attended so much as a regional run by any other company, including Industrial Illusions.

"Cards are my favorite, but my specialties are vast. Any game you could think of, I'm a master of."

Ever been to an arcade? Check the cabinet for high scores. It's "KAI" at the top, anywhere at all that you could go.

Though, he hasn't kept up with it since...well. Since this began.

"I know! I used to watch your matches all the ti--"

Uh.

Yeeeaaaaah, that was a good reason to blush hard and think the phone was the most interesting thing in the world. It was a good thing that he had to tell Mokuba a lot of things! Important things! Things that he already told him but definitely needed to look at his phone for! Yeah? Yeah!

Definitely!

"Uh...y-yeah. I've been in a few tournaments..."

Duelist Kingdom? That weird tournament that Pegasus decided to throw a while back in order to advertise the new and improved duel terminals? He was an up-and-comer that ended up winning the whole thing.

The prize money paid his entire college tuition.

"I still compete when I have the time. But I play pretty much anything. Duel Monsters, Dungeon Dice Monsters, Chess, Go, Shogi, Cribbage, Baccara, Senet...And that's not counting the video games I play."

You ever heard of the guy who went on RedEyesJou's stream and speedran Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice while completely toasted? Yeah. That was Yuugi.

Oh? Kaiba caught that. He caught it, and now he's curious about how much Yuugi had been holding back after all. So, he decided to join the company to try and achieve his dreams...and knew that the CEO was an internationally recognized player, but decided not to comment on it?

Actually, it's refreshing.

He doesn't like having awkward hangers-on. Best to admire but keep it from turning into something annoying and overbearing.

For his part...he raises an eyebrow curiously as Yuugi states he'd been in a few tournaments. He wasn't aware of which ones, but then...sometimes his job made him miss a few.

(Duelist Kingdom was a very bad time for him. Pegasus was making a play against him, in a bid to gain controlling interest of Kaiba Corporation. The tournament hadn't really registered on Kaiba's radar due to having to defend his interests.)

The more Yuugi lists off the games he enjoys playing, the more intrigued Kaiba becomes. So then...if Yuugi likes so many games, and they've both competed, then...

"If I'm going to be stuck here for a while, the least that we can do is play a game, wouldn't you say? If you're as skilled as you imply, then perhaps something simple, like...liar's dice?"

Ever seen a vampire smirk, all fangs and overconfidence? Kaiba wants a challenge. Games are life, and seeing as most of his has been robbed from him, the idea of living a little sounds very tempting.

Honestly, that smirk was...

Aside from Kaiba, he'd never seen anything like it. Not in his tournaments, and definitely not in his daily life. It was something that was branded in his mind, though, and he often tried not to think about when he passed by Kaiba's office or tried to go through his daily tasks.

See, that smirk?

That was what inspired Yuugi to compete in the first place.

His confidence. His strength!

The way he transformed a company known for weaponry and made it into something wonderful.

Yuugi wanted to be strong, too. If Kaiba could do it, then he could too, after all.

He knew better than to expect them to be friends when he started working for him, or to even get much of a relationship with him. He didn't mind that; he just wanted to be close. He wanted to be able to create games under the banner of the person who inspired him so much.

But...

That smirk inspired a grin of Yuugi's own: mischievous, almost impish with childish delight as his eyes glittered in the moonlight.

"You're on. I can't move too much still, so ah...dice are on the dresser. In the, uh..."

Ugh, he was going to see how much of a fanboy he was, huh?

"...Blue Eyes White Dragon dice cradle."

It was a custom job he got from his friend Ryou for his birthday two years back, and he took it to every Monster World session he ever went to. That was his baby, and he wasn't letting it go, okay?

Yuugi's inability to move brings a sobering reality to the matter at hand, and it almost has Kaiba hesitating. Perhaps they shouldn't play a game that required such wit--it wouldn't do to have Yuugi on the backfoot already, that's not the kind of game Kaiba wants to play.

However, there's something else that perks him up, and it's Yuugi admitting he has Blue-Eyes merchandise.

He's on his feet faster than he means to be, certainly he's at the dresser faster than the blink of an eye as well, leaning over to get a look at the thing more closely.

"Custom work," he says blandly, but his eyes are wide and bright. "It's very good."

He wants something like this. No, he doesn't just want it, he covets it. The Blue-Eyes White Dragon is his ace, after all, and seeing this here...it reminds him how much his heart aches to play them again.

...He can't let Yuugi know that, though. So, instead, he takes what dice he needs, while adding:

"I wasn't aware that you were the type to enjoy merchandise for a card you might never see in person, Mutou."

Yuugi slowly sat up, leaning on the headboard to give himself some stability--

-- and he was glad he looked up.

Kaiba's eyes...

They were...

Diamonds: That's what they reminded him of. Not the clear prismatic ones, beautiful as they were. No, with his regal bearing, nothing less than blue diamonds were good enough.

Beautiful.

"She's your ace." It slipped out before he could stop himself. "You uh. Inspired me to get into competing, and to pursue my dreams. Not in a weird way! You just work really hard and weathered so much hardship while defeating everything in your way.

"So, looking at her makes me remember my dreams, and my love of the game."

He bit his lip, pausing.

"Look at the dice, though. Those are based on my ace."

Gandora. A dragon that was often hard to combo due to its particular effect and summoning condition, but Yuugi made it work. He felt bad for how many people called him a "bad" Monster because they couldn't use him well, and then...

Well.

He won with him every time, so that had to count for something.

Kaiba holds one of the dice up, looking at it a bit more closely than he had. Yes...he can see the influence here. He opens his mouth to comment on it, but that's not what he speaks to, actually. Instead, what slips out is:

"You...how would you know anything of my hardships?"

This could have just been about playing a game. About rolling the dice, and trying to outsmart each other, but Yuugi's said something that makes him feel perceived, in a way he's not sure he likes.

Had Mokuba said something? Was Yuugi reading between the lines? Did he know more about Kaiba than he'd let on, before applying with the company?

...Is it just as simple as being inspired by someone's actions? Kaiba really hadn't ever felt that feeling, not the way Yuugi was describing it. How was he meant to aspire to anyone else, when his life was spent aspiring to be better than those around him? His job was to be better, and to make a place for him and his brother, when no one else wanted to make room for them.

He was the fixed point. He was the one to aspire to.

"I know a little. Just the basic stuff that everyone knows. But...my grandpa always told me that nothing valuable ever comes easy. Everyone works, and everyone struggles. The more effortless something seems, the more likely they're hiding how hard they had to struggle for it.

"He raised me, and used to collect rare games. Traveled all around the world before starting a Game shop here. He was a great man."

He smiled, but it was wistful. Sad.

"And I'm not so arrogant that I'd try to say I understand what you went through or anything. I could just tell that you worked and fought hard for what you wanted. And I wanted to do that too. And...I dunno. Stand under your banner, I guess."

Was that weird? That was weird.

Ugh....

Why was he like this...?

Just the basics, huh? Fine...that's alright. The less anyone knows about him the better, right? Though...it sounds as if Yuugi's grandfather had a lot to say about things that, applied to Seto Kaiba himself, shouldn't mean anything at all.

And yet...

He thinks about it. How all that anyone ever saw was the rich, pompous Seto Kaiba, sat upon a throne handed to him by his father.

Little they knew. Little he wanted them to know.

"Collecting rare games sounds like a worthwhile venture," Kaiba responds, and his voice is mostly kept even, because the way that Yuugi was talking about his grandfather, it sounds as if he wasn't around anymore. Kaiba hasn't been able to relate to the sorrow of loss for a very long time, and he's not going to act as if he's any good at it. So, he sidesteps it with silence, until Yuugi continues on.

"You're a strange one," he finally adds, bringing the dice over and setting them on the bed before having a look around the place. "At any rate, we'll need a flat surface, and some cups. Shall I find that on my own?"

Unbelievably...he manages not to sound quite as scathing as he usually does when he asks that.

His grandfather had been dead for around four years now, and it was finally easy for him to talk about him without bursting into tears. He almost didn't go to his graduation ceremony in high school because the man was in the hospital, but he delivered his speech and Ryou -- Gods love him -- recorded it on his phone so the three of them could show it to Sugoroku on his deathbed.

He died a few weeks later.

It was refreshing that he wasn't offering condolences; Kaiba didn't seem like the kind of man who would offer himself emotionally, and it was better to be honest than to play at something that you didn't care about.

In a way, that was its own kind of respect.

"Oh, ah. Check by the computer. There's a tea table and two dice rolling cups."

The tea table is a simple thing, made of cherry maple with a deep, almost burgundy finish. It was his grandfather's: small nicks can be seen peppering the wood from years of use...

And the dice cups?

One was Gandora-themed, while the other was Kuriboh themed.

Yuugi was very strange...he didn't call Kaiba out for his inelegant handling of what was clearly a tough subject. It's as if he didn't expect much at all from him, which was both insulting, but also how Kaiba wanted it.

They weren't friends. They were barely coworkers, what with the disparity of their positions. Still...he doesn't feel entirely right considering Yuugi to be a means to an end. His blood was like ambrosia, but now that Kaiba had fed off him, he hopes that they'll be able to react appropriately to each other in the future.

He moves to the computer, finds the tea table and cups...and lets out a low scoff of a laugh. Well, Gandora might be Yuugi's ace, but Seto Kaiba is not rolling out of a Kuriboh cup. Fuck off with that.

There's an awkward moment, where he moves towards the bed and...isn't sure if he should be in it again. It's Yuugi's bed. Not his.

...He sets the tea table down, and looks for a chair. No. No, he's not getting in the bed again, not when he's finally gotten his dick calmed down. Chair. Yeah. Chair.

Oh, Kaiba.

Not even if it's a rainbow Kuriboh? You know, because you're gay--

Yuugi didn't seem bothered by his choice in cup, either; it seemed like that was a common thing. He even found himself chuckling a little.

"One of my best friends does that too," he smiled, "He finds Kuriboh unmanly. But I think he's pretty cute. Soft, fluffy, and unassuming, but great in a pinch."

He pulled his knees up to his chest; he was starting to get his bearings, albeit slowly.

"And... thank you. For what you said. Grampa passed his collection to me, and I still play with some of them. I think...he'd like it if I showed them to you sometime. We often watched your matches together."

He paused.

"That, and I think you're one of only two people I know who would really appreciate them."

The other? Ryou.

Kaiba has to catch himself as he finally finds a chair, to stop himself from saying Of course you like Kuriboh. You just described yourself.

Not that Kaiba found Yuugi cute, but he certainly was soft, fluffy, and unassuming. And that blood of his...yeah. He'd certainly saved the man some grief.

As Yuugi mentions his grandfather again, Kaiba can feel his shoulder tense. It isn't because of the subject itself, but because he's being thanked for...for what? Not saying much of anything, except for about the games?

"I think," he says before he can measure out a proper response, "I would like that."

Ugh, what? No! He sets the chair down in front of him and closes his eyes with a frown. There's no way...not a single chance he can concentrate on the game like this. Embarrassingly, Yuugi's gratitude, his promise of showing Kaiba some rare games, and the ego stroke of knowing two different generations had enjoyed his skill?

It's a little too effective. He can feel his half-hard cock twitch in his pants. Oh? Games? Compliments? Neat.

So much for not thinking with the wrong head. This isn't even a sexual thing at this point, he hates when this happens, and then compliments end up making it worse.

"Where is your bathroom?" he asks sharply, looking as irate as he sounded. If he's gonna properly bluff, this thing has got to go.

Geez... talk about having the grace of a flying brick. Kaiba, Yuugi was a man with needs, and you weren't subtle. Also he had a half-chub himself, so...

Talking about his grandfather killed his libido, but the thought of Kaiba... you know.

You know.

Ugh.

So much for not being weird. Was it weird when you wanted to stick your inspiration's dick down your throat and suck him dry? Asking for...well. Himself.

But.

Yuugi put his hands in his lap, cheeks burning.

His eyes averted.

Seriously, he was being weird. What if he didn't have to do... that? What if he just had to pee? Vampires peed, right?

"Uh...um. Right. Down the hall. First door on the left."

Ugh, was he gonna have to take care of himself, too? Probably.

No. Stop. Stop. Kaiba can see the rush of color at Yuugi's cheeks, and he knows his own face is flushing, not out of any kind of want, but out of sheer embarrassment. Ridiculous. Ridiculous!

This is a biological imperative, he won't let it rule him! He definitely didn't dig his nails into the back of the chair he got, and whatever material it was, definitely did not have new scratches on it. No. Not at all.

"Set up the game," he grumbles, turning on his heel and stalking off like an aggravated beast towards the bathroom. Good thing that jacking off involved a very specific motion, because he wanted to strangle his cock and at least he could pretend that's what he was doing!

Yuugi would be able to hear the bathroom door slam hard enough to rattle the frame. Someone's not proud of himself!

And then...silence.

Yeah, what? Did Yuugi expect that as soon as Kaiba got hands on himself, he was going to become anything other than an exceedingly private person? Absolutely not. He was definitely already bringing himself to a full erection by his own hands, but he refuses to moan about it, thanks.

...Well.

Okay.

Yuugi set up the table before propping himself up away from it in a burst of energy only capable by a horny man who didn't want to get cum on the game pieces, because he knew this was going to be a big one.

He freed himself and wrapped his hand along the shaft, and--

"Ah...!!"

Uh.

That was a loud, airy sigh, followed by a moan. Kaiba didn't hear that, right?

Right?

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