Seto Kaiba (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
firstrateduelist) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
kittensinboxes2024-12-05 10:48 am
firstrateduelist) wrote in kittensinboxes2024-12-05 10:48 am
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.
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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Yuugi...what the hell was he saying here? That Pegasus would rather focus on him than any of his employees?
"Ridiculous. All he wants out of me is unfettered access to Solid Vision and related systems. He's wanted that for years, and I'll never understand why he won't make do with his leasing contract. I lease the right to use Duel Monsters cards and influence expansions, and he benefits on the backend from the hardware and what my systems can do to enhance his game.
He doesn't want me."
Right?
He likes to make Kaiba uncomfortable
(A sharp pain in his lower back, as he's shoved into something)
and to play mind games
(hands on his thighs)
but he'd never want Kaiba for anything but his company.
"What are you talking about? Why would you believe he was doing anything to me? I was...dizzy, that's all. My body doesn't metabolize coffee well anymore. Or any normal foods and drinks, so I..."
Kaiba trails off, frowning. He's dizzy now...because of Yuugi's blood. So much blood...
(his fangs are in yuugi mutou and the blood flows like a tap of honey under such pressure. instinct guides him, he wastes no bit of what's flowing)
Why is he thinking about that? This...isn't the same thing that had just happened.
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"He was...touchy, though. Like...really touchy. You've never let anyone touch you like that before. I was worried."
Was that all he was...? Just worried? Not...
Anything else...?
(Yes.)
No! Obviously not!
"I know you can take care of yourself, but...I didn't feel right leaving you alone with him when you were that dizzy and not feeling well."
What happened after that? When he was in the bathroom...?
Seto Kaiba is mine.
"And then I ended up sick instead."
How, though? How did he end up sick? Why was he sitting on the floor and staring into Pegasus's eye?
Had he done that?
Was that a dream? Why was he thinking about that?
You're beautiful. You're mine...
Wait.
Yuugi suddenly made a face like he swallowed a lemon as the words washed over him, whispered into his mind.
His cheeks?
Redder than his blood.
What the hell was that?!
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He doesn't like that Yuugi's flushed bright again, possibly overproducing blood?! Kaiba can't help him this time...he can't handle anymore.
"Mutou, you have to calm down. If it happens again, what happened just a bit ago, then you'll hurt yourself, do you understand?"
He doesn't know any better, he just doesn't want Yuugi exploding blood from every orifice. And...there's a sharp pain in his head, an aching that he's honestly familiar with. Lights dance in the corner of his vision, and so he closes both eyes.
Headache.
No...maybe worse?
"You weren't sick, I...I was the one who was sick. And then, you got dizzy at the table when we left the bathroom. I was going to...mmmnh."
The pain grows worse, almost unbearable.
"I don't want to think about it. I can't."
Can't he? But...why?
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"I know you well enough to know that you hate being touched by anyone."
That didn't sound right. None of this sounded right! It was wrong, everything was wrong, the entire situation was...
Nnngh, he felt off. Everything felt...
"...Right?"
He touched his forehead, leaned back on the couch. His head spun, his stomach swooped.
"Nnnh, I don't know. Something feels off...but I don't know what. You're right, I probably...need to just calm down. Overthinking isn't going to do anything for either of us."
What was going on with him, though? Why was he suddenly overproducing blood and acting like a human sieve? Why did he have the urge to bow down at Kaiba's feet and listen to everything he said? Why did his eyes make him want to tilt his head in submission and why did they haunt his dreams at night?
Why did his body wither away when they were separated for a long period of time?
"All I know is...ever since you bit me...my body feels different."
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Extraordinarily, despite the words being rude...the tone of them is almost pleading.
The more they talk, the more Kaiba's head aches, the more he sees spots in his vision, eyes closed or not. The subject feels forbidden somehow, which doesn't make sense, but the more he thought, the more it hurt. What else could he even make of it?
Thankfully it's at that time that Mokuba finally shows back up, with a handful of clothing for Yuugi, and a damp cloth for his brother.
"You guys...are you doing okay?" he asks with no small amount of worry in his tone as he passes Yuugi a set of clothes that is...way too big for him. Sorry, but Mokuba's too small to accommodate Yuugi with an outfit from his wardrobe. He had to swipe one from Seto's.
"I'm fine," Seto responds shortly. Again, rude words, but lacking venom.
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It gave Yuugi pause.
There was none of the venom he would expect from those words, and while he knew that Kaiba was the kind of man who filtered himself through bluntness and a complete disregard of politeness and niceties, this felt different.
So much of this was weird.
"Yeah," he said with a weak smile. "We're just a bit worn out. Thank you for everything, Mokuba. You're a lifesaver."
Possibly literally, but it's not like Yuugi knew just how true that was.
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Despite any stress that he might be under, Mokuba smiles at that as he gives Yuugi the clothes. Yuugi is a friend, and he wants to keep being friends with him!
"And you're my brother, Seto. So you have to let me help you."
And that's the only warning Seto gets before his gremlin of a brother uses the damp cloth to wipe his face in one quick swipe, and he's none too gentle about it. But hey, the blood is gone, isn't it?
"Ghh! Mokuba!"
"Nope! You have to let me help you! It's the rules!"
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He laughed bright, loud, and bell-like, despite his discomfort.
Despite everything that happened tonight.
There was something endearing about a big bad vampire CEO getting wiped down by his little brother and getting indignant about it.
"Come on, Kaiba: you wouldn't want to go against the rules, would you?"
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Mokuba dabs at Seto's mouth again, this time mostly for the reaction.
"Missed a spot," he hums. "So which one of you is gonna get up?"
"...What?"
"Well, Yuugi can't just change here on the couch with you, can he? One of you has to leave!"
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"I can do it--"
Wait, when did he end up on his side?
On the floor?
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"Mutou, I just put you back up here..."
Kaiba is not amused. He makes that very much known as he once again gets to his feet and with very little care, he snatches Yuugi up like a troublesome puppy and deposits him back on the couch. Seriously. Seriously?!
"I'll leave," he says flatly, even though he doesn't really want to move all that much. "Get dressed and get this over with."
"Bro, you're not going to bed, are you?" Mokuba asks, sounding incredibly disappointed. He still wanted to hang out...Seto wasn't really leaving, was he?
"I don't know why it matters to you, but no, I'm not going to bed. I'm a vampire."
...Who's still kind of wired on coffee, but hey, Yuugi's blood is helping counteract that.
BYE HE'S LEAVING.
"...So uh. Youuuuu...don't need help getting dressed, right Yuugi?" Mokuba asks awkwardly. HE IS 13 OR 14 AND NOT THE DAD OF THE FAMILY!
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You know.
Where the scruff of a dog's neck would be.
Yuugi waved off Mokuba's concern with a light, easy laugh.
"No, no! I got this."
You thought you got this earlier...
But, oh, he's actually mobile enough to...
...
To...
"Uh. Can you um. Turn around? While I change?"
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"I'm not looking! Just don't fall off the couch, I'm not picking you up if you're naked!"
They're friends. They aren't THAT much of friends, buddy.
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"I wouldn't want you to!" He squeaked. "I don't want anyone touching me when I'm naked unless they're my doctor or the person I like!"
Aha. Choice of words, Yuugi.
Still, he shuffled about as he got changed. It was...extremely loose on him, but the satin pajamas felt really good against his skin.
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The Kaiba brothers are, altogether, very awkward at things like this. Even Mokuba, who was more socially adept, felt uncomfortable being in a room with someone changing. Maybe that's normal?!
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Drowning, more like.
He looked like a kid trying to wear his older sibling's clothes.
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"Yeah, I kinda had a feeling this might not work. I guess it's fine for now. Least until we can clean up your clothes."
Seto can tell the danger of seeing a half-dressed man on his couch has passed, so he reenters the living room, arms loosely crossed. He still looks pretty uncomfortable in his own skin, but the amusement that catches the corner of his lips in a smirk helps to offset that.
"You look ridiculous."
Sure, just go on and say it like that, huh?
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"Big brother, big brother! You don't think it's cool that I look just like you? I'll be big and strong just like you someday!"
The man can use sarcasm.
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"Do that again and I'm putting you out on the street," he says flatly.
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He was... he was joking around with him. Like a friend! Like they were real, actual, honest friends!
"Kaaaaay."
The singsong voice maaaaaybe was a bit much, but maybe the blinding, bright smile was worth it?
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"Hmph."
He takes his seat back on the couch, his expression cold and distant. Yuugi's expression isn't wholly unpleasant to look at, Kaiba has to admit. He's never seen someone smile so earnestly.
And yet...
"What are you smiling about? That was childish."
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He scratched his head, but it really just made the sleeve flop around.
"I was always mistaken as a little kid because of my height; it used to make me mad, but I learned to laugh it off."
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Mokuba can see the turmoil brewing on his brother's expression, and decides to hop onto the couch himself.
"You know--we could watch a movie, or play cards or something! We have plenty of night, if you guys aren't too sleepy, and I don't have to sleep early tonight!"
He should, but he'll be okay. Deflection powers: activate!
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You were the best at making sure the awkwardness got dissipated.
But... Kaiba... what kind of life did he live to feel that way...? He wished he could ask, to see what was behind his eyes...
But....
Yuugi's eyes sparkled.
"Cards, huh...? That sounds fun."
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He's Seto Kaiba. Card games of all sorts fell into his domain of expertise. He'd fleece a child at Go Fish, and a whole room of middle-aged men at no-limit Poker of any variety. Any at all.
But...it was too late to take it back now, and evidently it was enough of a successful diversion to get Kaiba back on a less fraught path.
"Mokuba. Fetch the cards and chips."
Mokuba, of course, gets right back up to do so. Everything's kept on a shelf, and apparently he doesn't need a "please" to obey his brother in this situation. Though would it kill Seto to add it in? Sometimes he wonders...
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