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.

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Oh, Kaiba.

On one hand, seeing the mask slip was... almost nice to see, because he got to see him and not the image he pushed to the world.

On the other...

"Because you're my friend," he said, as though he was discussing the weather, "Think of it like camraderie through suffering. Or me having your back."

"Stop saying that."

It's snapped far more harshly than Kaiba even intended, but they aren't friends! Yuugi's a means to an end, and Kaiba should be the same for him! Working at KaibaCorp was a step up in Yuugi's career that would help him achieve bigger and better things, so he should take advantage, especially if Kaiba was going to be biting him all the time!

"Just--forget it. I don't care," he adds in an annoyed mutter. "The sooner we're done here, the better."

Mokuba looks caught between being worried about his brother and wanting to kick his shin from under the table for his shitty attitude.

"Sorry," said Yuugi, though really he didn't look sorry at all.

Kaiba was like that. He was harsh, dismissive, and generally kept to himself. But he was also respectful, enjoyed playing games with Yuugi, and when his guard was down...

Talked to him like a friend.

What else were they but friends?

Of course, one particularly thick bit of scarring decided to flare up with pain -- on the hand Kaiba did not bite -- right then, and for a moment, he grimaced in pain before schooling his expression and holding onto that hand tightly.

Kaiba's eyes flicker as he sees Yuugi's expression shift. It doesn't seem to have anything to do with what Kaiba said, because when he'd answered, Yuugi had sounded pretty insincere with his apology.

For a moment, the vampire has to think--is that the hand he'd bitten? He's certain he hadn't bitten where Yuugi was holding...and the cut should have been healed enough that Pegasus wouldn't notice it.

Then again, he'd noticed the wrist, hadn't he?

"Mutou, what's--"

"I'm heeeere~"

Kaiba's cut off as Pegasus joins them at the table with four cups, humming contentedly to himself as he takes a seat.

"Here we are, one for each of you. And this one--hmm, yes! This one's the hot chocolate for Mokuba boy."

The coffee's divvied up, Mokuba is in his little safe zone without the catshit coffee...and the rest of them? The rest of them are on Fear Factor. Kaiba's nose visibly wrinkles as he takes hold of his cup.

Don't think about it.

(don't think of cats)

Don't think about it.

(don't think of cats in the jungle shitting)

He can do this.

(cats eating coffee beans and digesting them and there's no litter box in the wild people just pick that shit right up off the ground)

Something on his face says he's definitely not interested in doing this, and he knows it. Even Mokuba looks as if he's pitying him from over the rim of his own drink, brows drawn together, grimacing where Seto can't see.

But Seto Kaiba has never turned down a challenge, which is exactly what this is. And he won't be starting now. So, he tips the cup and takes a long sip because he is doing this, he is drinking the shit coffee and he only has some regrets...

(all the regrets)

You know what? Yuugi'd done some strange things before.

He went to university. With Ryou. And Jonouchi. He'd gone on benders with questionable food and even more questionable alcohol. He decided to play a game with Jonouchi where they tried out all the sketchiest restaurants in town and the winner was the one who managed to not vomit before they got to the apartment (Yuugi won that one simply by the power of deep breathing).

He could drink something that was supposed to be a delicacy, even if it did have...questionable origins.

Yuugi took a deep breath.

And a long sip.

"It's...sweet." Even without sugar, it was smooth and sweet. "It's delicious. It even seems to have a hint of caramel in it."

Even if it was made from Cat Shit.

After having Mystery Bao at 3 AM at old Kenji's rundown stand, literal poop would probably have tasted better by comparison.

Another sip.

Yuugi tried to stay relaxed, even though the words 'You're drinking cat shit' sit in the back of his head, singing loud and in E Minor.

"I didn't even know you could get this around here."

Kaiba's in hell. Yuugi's actually enjoying the coffee, and Pegasus seems to be as well, given the way he hums after his own sip, and responds to Yuugi with such enthusiasm.

"There's not too many places that serve it, but this shop happens to! I couldn't resist expanding the palates of my young friends~" he lilts, his icy eye twinkling with delight...and perhaps something else. Mischief? No, of course not!

"What about you, Kaiba boy~? What do you think of it?" Pegasus adds.

What does Kaiba think of it? He can't even focus on the taste. He's not some first or second year university student that had to live off scraps to get by, or who had friends to feed into dares with. He was particular about what he imbibed, and this? It didn't fit the bill.

He isn't Yuugi.

So he's pretty sure he's going to vomit if he keeps drinking this.

And yet that's what he does. Can vampires go pale? Is that possible? Well, he's doing a great job of it. He's not going to lose this game. He will not lose!

(don't gag don't gag don't gag)

"It's...not my preferred choice of drink," he mutters lowly. "Too sweet. Too unusual."

He takes another sip though, and he's definitely not thinking about cat shit, and how roasting the beans could never remove the taint. He's not thinking about the beans moving through the civet's guts, and it's not making his stomach twist itself in knots.

He's not grossed out, YOU'RE GROSSED OUT.

This was not as bad as the kind of things he put in his stomach in the name of a dare, and if you thought about anything other than the fact that it came out of a cat's ass, the coffee was good.

But...

Vampires had sensitive guts, didn't they? Kaiba couldn't have been having a good time. Was coffee even good for vampires? Did Kaiba drink too much? Maybe he needed to eat something more substantial in the bathroom?

And he clearly wasn't enjoying himself...

Okay.

Yuugi -- a man well-versed in the 'teacher I have a headache please let me go back to my dorm because I definitely don't have a hangover' sway -- gently touched his forehead and closed his eyes.

"I am...feeling a little dizzy, though. I think I didn't get enough sleep last night."

His eye opened slightly, just enough to get Mokuba's attention as he sipped on his hot chocolate.

"Seto, take Yuugi to the bathroom!" There was a gentle kick to his leg to get Seto's attention. Brother! Pay attention! "We'll be fine here!"

Yuugi was literally giving you an out without losing face, so take it!

Coffee is in fact, not good in large quantities, but Kaiba would rather end his unlife than give it up. This, though? It's way too much coffee. And way too much "palate expanding".

He's caught in his own death-spiral over cat shit coffee when Mokuba's shoe connects with his shin, pulling him out of it. A quick glance to Yuugi, and his eyes narrow. Is he really having trouble?

Well--any excuse to get away from this situation is welcome, so Kaiba gets to his feet, fingers still firmly clasped around his coffee cup.

Pegasus, miraculously, doesn't stop them. He just sips his coffee innocently. Now you're stuck with him Mokuba~

"Come on, Mutou. The last thing I need is for my employee to pass out in a public place," he says curtly. And then, like the absolute asshole he is, he stalks off towards the restrooms. Honestly he's fighting the urge to not be ill over the coffee, so this works for him.

(and he has the distinct feeling that's what yuugi was trying to help him with. STOP BEING A FRIEND-ADJACENT CREATURE)

Predictably, once they arrive to the bathroom, the first thing Kaiba does is dump out at least HALF of the kopi luwak in his cup, then try to act as if he's not super disgusted that he had to drink any, in order to attend reluctantly to Yuugi.

"...Are you really dizzy?"

Nailed it.

"I'm fi--"

Oh, whoa. That was...actually a bit of dizziness that hit him like a wave, and he stumbled on his feet to lean against the sink.

"I ah. I actually am, a little, yeah. I was just trying to get you an out a few minutes ago, but..."

What was the phrase: Play stupid games, play stupid prizes? Maybe it was too much coffee. Or not eating enough even though he'd lost plenty of blood. His lunch was his typical: a normal store-bought bento since he didn't have enough time to cook for himself, but considering his blood loss, his lack of sleep, and everything else...

"Hnngh."

That wasn't a sink Yuugi was leaning on. Suddenly, Kaiba's got him steadied. He's a vampire, he moves just as fast as he needs to, and if that's quicker than the human eye, then that's his business isn't it?

"Coffee isn't enough," he responds sharply. "Not when taking into account the blood you've donated."

Specifically to him. This is due to him, and he'll take responsibility for it.

The problem is, he's not in a much better state. He doesn't know what had crossed Yuugi's mind before getting them to the bathroom with an excuse that ended up being true, but if he did...he'd probably still not admit that he was incredibly, aggravatingly sensitive to human food and drink.

There's an issue of biology, of course, maybe he'd explain it scientifically if prompted, another day.

But not now. Not while the coffee from throughout the day, compounded with the disgust of drinking the kopi luwak, has his stomach turning. In the end, it was for the best to be here, in the bathroom.

"...Lock the bathroom door," he says suddenly, standing very still. Yuugi will have approximately 10 seconds to do what he's asked, and by the time he turns back, Kaiba's made his way into a stall, locked the door behind him and, uh.

Hello night two of Pegasus absolutely wrecking this man's digestion. Yep. Yep, he's throwing up the cat shit coffee, thanks.

The moment the word "Lock" left Kaiba's lips, Yuugi was already on it, stumbling towards the door like a newborn deer. Steady fingers turn the lock and he leans against it, head against the wood--

--

And that was vomit. That was definitely a man vomiting that he was hearing, and...nngh. Ugh, Yuugi didn't feel so good either, come to think of it. His stomach lurched, his legs felt unsteady...

No. He wasn't going to puke. He'd be fine.

He'd dealt with worse.

Deep breaths. Deep breaths.

(This is what happens when you don't eat enough, don't sleep enough, and are low on blood, you idiot. Of course you get nauseous!)

Kaiba doesn't really feel better once he's done vomiting, but at the very least, he's slightly less disgusted by the coffee, because now it was out of his body.

A minute or so later, he exits the stall. There's a tired scowl on his face, and his hands are shaking. Well, at least he had the decency to wipe his mouth, right?

"...Are you alright?"

Yuugi looks worse for wear just standing there like that. They...really need to find a manner in which to properly recuperate that doesn't involve Pegasus and his bullshit.

Yuugi glanced up, and...uh.

"I think the coffee is uh. Disagreeing with me."

Yeah, because that's why you're nauseous, Yuugi. It has nothing to do with the fact that you've barely eaten enough and you're shaking from a lack of rest.

Yep.

Though the coffee definitely didn't help, and he was unsteady on his legs.

"You look a little better, though."

"I am never drinking kopi luwak again," Kaiba says flatly, in answer to Yuugi asserting he looked better.

"We should get out of here. This meeting isn't as important as the health of my employee."

Strangely, he sounds as if he means that. Though the way he walks past Yuugi, to freshen himself up before facing Pegasus again, and inevitably saying something he wouldn't like? It might come off as cold as it sounded.

Once he's feeling legitimately better, if not twitchier than usual, he adds:

"But before we do leave, I'll get you something to eat here. This isn't a request."

Kaiba is such a strange person.

On one hand, he has this air about him that is like ice wrapped in spines, but then sometimes something warm will come through, thawing everything and it'll feel like the sun on his skin.

(Or maybe Yuugi just has really piss poor standards. Or is optimistic. Or both.)

That suggestion, though--

"Oh, you don't have to trou--"

His stomach speaks for him: it growls, loud and angry in the middle of the bathroom as though he hasn't eaten in days.

...

Traitor.

...

He sighs, but there's a clear relieved smile on his face.

"...Thank you."

That's what he thought. Kaiba scoffs loudly at Yuugi's body betraying him. Well of course it would! Even Kaiba's own body won't heed his order around this idiot, this ridiculous man who wouldn't even take care of himself.

"Come on."

He moves to the door, unlocking it with a sound click!.

"Let's conclude this business."

And out he goes, to save his brother from the weird cartoon man who keeps talking about the decline of children's television from days past, where the violence was far more gratuitous.

Mokuba wants to drown himself in his hot chocolate, and to be quite frank, Seto doesn't begrudge him that. He could hear some of it even while he was in the bathroom.

Once he reaches the table, he places a hand on Pegasus's shoulder. The older man looks up at him curiously when he's interrupted.

"...Oh, my. Kaiba boy, you look awful!"

...That earns him such a look, Kaiba isn't even hiding it.

"I understand we didn't discuss the usual business, but I'm going to have to cut this short. My employee is feeling under the weather. Perhaps another time, we can sort out the particulars."

His tone brooks no argument, and yet Pegasus looks very disappointed.

"And after I flew all the way here, you'll deny me my fun again~? You really are a cruel one!"

"Apologies."

He doesn't sound that sorry.

"In compromise, allow me to buy Mutou something to eat, and we can discuss it for the time it takes him to consume his meal. But that's all. Today has been taxing for my brother and I as well."

Which...maybe is a little more than he should be offering up. But he says it anyway.

...Mr. Pegasus had such strange taste in cartoo--

No. Not strange. Boomer. The right thing to say was "Boomer". He had a Boomer's taste in cartoons, where the violence was gratuitous, things were dark, and Fleischer was king. The most memorable cartoon from that era was the spider hotel where flies were crying and stuck in various torture devices as the spider prepared to eat them.

...

He knew better than to watch the cartoon channel at 2 AM when he was alone.

Mr. Pegasus wasn't that much older than they were from the look of him, but he acted so...old. The kind of cartoons he was talking about were popular in barely post-war America! The Forties!

Unsteadily, Yuugi stumbled into his seat and bit his lip.

"Yuugi, you okay?" Mokuba whispered.

"Yeah. Just a bit hungry."

Pegasus actually does seem to look a bit concerned for Yuugi's well being when he watches him nearly trip into his seat.

"I suppose you're right, if he's looking so poorly, then we shouldn't drag this out. But please--let me pay for it. This was all supposed to be my treat."

Although he sounds sincere, Kaiba has no intention of letting Pegasus go up to the counter alone. He pulls his hand back when the older man gets to his feet, then leads the way.

"We'll do it together," he insists, and Pegasus can't help a small laugh.

"That's all we ever do, it's only business!" he practically hums, and Kaiba looks discomforted by the familiarity, but allows it. They both leave Mokuba and Yuugi to their own devices for a few moments.

Yuugi tilted his head to the side, and for a moment, his eyes narrowed.

That...

"Mokuba, you...?"

"Saw that? Yeah."

When he wasn't around Mr. Pegasus, Kaiba acted as though the man was an abscess that he couldn't wait to get drained, or a sore on the bottom of his foot. Something unpleasant that could only go away with proper medication and care.

But the way they were going up...

"Does Mr. Pegasus often act that...chummy with your brother?"

"Sometimes."

"Do you think he has a...you know. A...thing, for Mr. Kaiba?"

From a distance, it would be hard to hear the two other men's discussions as they were ordering something for Yuugi. It's not terribly interesting, all said.

Kaiba's ordering Yuugi something light that might help (rice crackers with sesame seeds, and a croissant, because apparently this place had those. Pegasus is nodding along, agreeing, and even adds an order of something for himself! A small slice of castella, why not?

It's when they're done ordering however, that Kaiba presses a hand to his forehead, suddenly looking rather unsteady on his feet. Pegasus places an arm around his shoulders, his touch gentle as he leads Kaiba back to the restrooms.

They had time, of course, before the order was called. Precious time, and after all, Kaiba still wasn't at his best. So he let Pegasus lead him along, his vision blurred and head buzzing...

Soon. He'll be back soon. Pegasus is whispering something in his ear once they're out of sight of anyone, something comforting and warm, moreso than any cup of blood felt as if it could be at this point. It makes him ignore the way the man presses his face into Kaiba's short, well-kept hair.

That.

Wrong, wrong. Something was wrong with all of this. Kaiba didn't let anyone touch him, and yet here he was, letting Mr. Pegasus manhandle him with gentle, comforting touches.

On one hand, it could be anything. Friendship, camraderie...

But the way Kaiba talked about the man, the way Mokuba talked about the man--

Yuugi made a move to stand, but Mokuba put a hand on his wrist.

"Yuugi, don't."

"But--"

"Yeah, I think it's weird too, but--"

"I just. I just want to check in on them. I won't be long."

Yuugi was up and out of his seat before Mokuba could process, making a clumsy-gaited beeline for the bathroom.

Something twisted his gut, he had to make sure his brain was playing tricks on him, that something wasn't going to happen while Kaiba was...

...

Incapacitated.

Something was certainly happening, alright.

But by the time Yuugi makes it to the bathroom, there's not much to see at all. They're not in there. That was quick, huh?

Or, Pegasus was a little cleverer than Yuugi gave him credit for, and had in fact chosen the opposite bathroom to sneak into. No one was in there, of course, not this late at night, and Kaiba, with all his habits, all his need of privacy...had automatically locked the door behind them.

He wasn't entirely pleased with the way events had transpired. Kaiba and Yuugi...they'd worked together to make things just a little too hard for him to squeeze himself in the middle of, and he did, in fact, have a flight tonight. Hours from now, he'd be back on his way to America, and they hadn't discussed the contracts to his satisfaction.

Or really, much of anything to his satisfaction.

"You're naughty, Kaiba boy," he says airily, as the young vampire stands with his back to the sinks. He crosses his arms, and although there's a haze of something clouding his eyes, he still bites, as he always does.

"Why, because I won't hand it over to you? My company is mine and mine alone. It's for my brother and I to run, not you."

"Don't be testy now, I'm not really sure I'm in the mood. And you~! Are playing dumb, aren't you?"

At that, Kaiba frowns. Playing...dumb? What the hell is he talking about.

Pegasus sighs, then closes the distance between them, shoving Kaiba back until he stumbles into the sink counter, and he'd lose his footing if not for Pegasus moving quickly to hoist him up, seat him between the two sinks and against the mirror. It surprises the younger man, and he lets out a gasp.

"Here I thought you might take care of that one, if I just pressed a little more. I don't like sharing my things, Kaiba boy."

Ice blue meets dark azure, and Kaiba's confusion melts away, because it doesn't suit Pegasus's needs. He won't give the memories back, but he wants a pliant man, someone who would let him draw close, and who wouldn't tell about the pointed canines encroaching upon his neck. Oh, he'd never bite there, but what a temptation, to sink his teeth in and steal the life from Kaiba's veins, straight from the source.

Yuugi did taste quite good, he could understand why Seto wouldn't want to end his existence.

"Don't," Kaiba mutters. "Who are you...?"

"Oh, what a tiresome question. You ask it all the time. Just sit back, and let me taste you, how about that?

Time is short. Tick-tock, tick-tock."

Edited 2024-12-24 09:04 (UTC)

He regretted everything.

No, not just the movement. Not just the getting up and running, but his own rashness. Something was wrong, but...if Kaiba -- a vampire who could move faster than human understanding -- couldn't defend himself, then what the hell could Yuugi do?

He couldn't stand around doing nothing, though.

He couldn't stand around when someone he cared about was in danger!

His stomach lurched as he stumbled into the bathroom.

No one.

No one was in there. Where did they go? They were heading this way? Did they--

His stomach swooped, his throat burned. His hands twitched and twisted and he practically shoulderchecked the stall open and fell to his knees in front of the bowl.

And something...

Thick.

Coppery.

Acidic.

Came out of his mouth and into the bowl with the loud sound of a retching man.

Kaiba and Pegasus might recognize the smell, actually. Should humans be retching up blood, I wonder?

Why?

Why was he vomiting blood? This wasn't normal, it was like he was puking up bile or vomit but it was just streams of blood coming out of his mouth.

Why?

Why the hell was this happening to him?! He needed to go see a doctor, he needed to go to a hospital, but he couldn't stop!

Pegasus is in the middle of something really rather nice, when Kaiba tenses in his hold, and his thoughts...oh, those thoughts were desperate, needy in a way that even Pegasus felt bowled over by.

He ceases in kissing and mouthing Seto's shoulder at the mark of their bond, the first place he'd ever bitten, and pulls away from him. Kaiba's eyes are brilliantly glowing, red and hungered. His fangs were fully extended, mouth parted slightly.

Understandable, because Pegasus can also smell Yuugi. They can both hear what's happening, and Pegasus, of course, has his suspicions on the matter, but the most important part here is to control the one beneath him.

"Sssh," he croons, pressing a finger to Kaiba's lips. "Be calm. We'll go together."

He doesn't expect Kaiba to lunge forward, to grab at his wrist and dig claws into Pegasus's pale skin, drawing blood.

"Mine."

Seto Kaiba's eyes are predatory, fighting against the soothing euphoria of Pegasus's influence. And although he's weak, and sick, and by all accounts shouldn't be able to, he shoves Pegasus away, fingers scrabbling with the lock to open the door. He moves so fast that the door flies open, and only Pegasus catching it prevents it from flying off its hinges.

Kaiba is in the other bathroom within seconds, behind Yuugi before he could conceptualize the very idea, and wrapping both arms around him, even as the blood spilled into the toilet in waves of sickness. Waste. Such waste...it's enough to make Kaiba weep, but instead he pulls Yuugi close to him. His hands are trembling.

"You...smell like paradise."

It's not a very him thing to say, now is it?

Yuugi melted into that embrace, even as his stomach lurched and his mind whirled with thoughts and terror and desperation and he needed to get out of here...!

What the hell was going on with him?! Why was he...?!

"Nnnn...Ka..."

What the actual fuck was he doing?

"He...help...T-Too...much...Too...F-full..."

Full? Full of what? This wasn't the time to have his eyes grow dull and his body go limp. This wasn't the time to lean into the man behind him like he was his only salvation to this pain that was literally going to kill him if he didn't act right now?!

Get up!

Get up, move!

Why wasn't he moving?!

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