kittensinboxes | Dear Friend, Across The River [Rivalshipping Mer AU]

Dear Friend, Across The River [Rivalshipping Mer AU]

It was odd to crave after the sky, when you held no claim to such, was it not?

It didn't stop Seto from yearning for it, however. The glow of the moon entranced him and pulled him to the surface quite often, reflecting off of his markings as he broke past the waves. He was careful, always, to break the water's surface at night, where none could see him.

After all, who would be out at midnight to catch sight of a sea dragon, reclined upon a rocky outcropping to gaze into the entrancing light of the moon, puller of tides, silent deity that called to this one child in particular. Mokuba was probably right to warn him from this behavior. Their pod had strict rules regarding fraternization between humans and dragons, which all boiled down to "don't". As the strongest in the pod, Seto was expected to challenge its current leader, and this behavior put his stake under question.

He had no such interest, however. He knows what others think of him, expect of him, and he has no interest in fulfilling their expectations or guesses for what he might get up to. Wasn't it enough to be under the claw of said pod leader, forced to obey by hook or by crook?

The man spent an immense amount of time trying to quash the look of rebellion in Seto's eyes, expecting that it would lead to a coup. After all, he had no children of his own, and the royal line would thus perish with him. Seto didn't care either way: the royal blood was thin and weak. In need of replacement. Maybe one day it would come about that he'd assert himself. After all, the rakes along his flanks still stung something awful. He'd love to pay Gozaburo back for the favor someday.

For now, he tilts his head up to the sky, long slender neck held in a loose curve of repose as he hummed contentedly with the waves, his markings gently glowing in indeterminate patterns.

As his scales dried in the air, the snout drew in, shifting back into something more akin to a human, but for the finlike ears, the glowing scales beneath his eyes. Because his hindquarters were submerged, his lower half remained fully draconic, the thick, bulky tail ready to propel him if needed.

His song is hums and trills directed at the moon, a tribute to the beautiful sky. It's midnight, beautiful midnight with its placid sky, dark as the depths. He's glad to know he's alone, at least.

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Seto jerks back in surprise, then thumps his tail loudly on the floor.

"Don't treat me like a child!" he snaps loudly, apparently affronted by the human's tone. "I wouldn't touch something that would harm me!"

The smell of meat had simply intrigued him, but he had enough sense not to touch something that was giving off warning signs. Evidently...the dragon was a prideful creature, never mind the wound to said pride he was already suffering after being taken care of against his will.

"Ah, sorry!"

He wasn't just proud, but touchy; that's what he got for trying to help, he guessed. Note to self: Don't warn this guy against things so openly. Try for a gentler, more subtle touch.

(As if he was going to be associating with him for longer than his wounds needed to heal. Really, he was going to probably never see him again...

...

Why did that make his heart sink a little?)

"I kind of just panicked! I know you've never seen something like this before, so..."

Stop.

Talking.

No, don't scratch your head like you're still in high school!

"Ahehe, sorry."

"Tch."

This human was irritatingly chatty. Seto looks annoyed by it, of course. But at the very least, the human apologized for his infraction.

"...Let me see what you have."

Turning his full attention to the man, he holds a hand out with intent to take the clothing if it's offered. He can already note several issues with this situation, but he'll deal with them when the time comes. More importantly, he would like to get off his feet before his current state forces him to show weakness again.

"Oh. Uh..."

Yuugi held out his hands with the clothes in them. They probably wouldn't fit all of his...

Appendages...

But it was better than letting it all hang out, right? And it was soft and easy on the skin.

...

Would he like the silkier texture, though? Or did sea dragons like coarse stuff, like barnacles or dry sponges...?

Seto takes the clothing, staring hard at it. He's not entirely sure what would be the best course here, but it seems from what he's seen, that humans prefer modesty. This one's been putting up with his lack of such for a while, and has not made a giant deal about it, so perhaps he ought to reward it.

Even if he doesn't necessarily feel as if he has to...but either way, he places the top on the counter, while unfolding the pants and...after a bit of understandable hesitation, he slowly steps into the first leg, followed by the other...and he pulls the garment up slowly.

Once he gets to where his tail will prevent the hem from rising any further, he glares at the human expectantly.

"This is fine?"

Well, he looked...

Presentable.

Yes.

This was fine.

"Yeah!" Yuugi smiled. "That's fine! Are you still hungry? I can make you some more food if you want."

Could mer-people even eat burgers...?

"It's no trouble, either. I was cooking for myself, anyway."

"No. I'm not hungry anymore."

He isn't, that's actually the truth, plus he won't openly admit his interest in whatever the human's cooking, so instead he searches for somewhere to sit, before adding:

"If you tell anyone about this, I'll have to kill you."

Boy. Just out there with the threats, huh?

"I'm still debating it even now."

WOW. JUST OUT THERE LIKE THIS HUH?!

"You don't have to worry about that," Yuugi said, "I don't think anyone would believe me even if I d i d want to say something."

Besides...

"Humans aren't exactly the most trustworthy bunch. Your secret's safe with me; once you're feeling better, we'll get you back into the ocean."

Because that was where he belonged.

Even if this situation was kind of... fun, it was temporary.

"So you won't have to debate that anymore, and you can focus on getting back home."

He was too honorable to kill him.

(Right?)

Who, with that pride, would kill a man who helped him?

...

He should be afraid. This entire situation should be horrifying. He was housing a handsome dragon who was considering his murder. And yet...

He...

Didn't want to scream. Run.

All he could think about was getting this man home and making sure he was safe.

It was like patching up Jonouchi after one of his many fights rather than... this.

Edited 2025-05-28 23:53 (UTC)

"Tch. So by your admission, humans are not trustworthy, but my secret is safe with you? Give me a break, you must know how that sounds."

He finds a seat on the human's sofa, giving him the coldest of side-eyes.

"I don't even know your name and I already know you're sorely lacking in self-preservation," he adds caustically, his tail tip flicking about in irritation. "My kind would just as soon bite your head off for even seeing a single scale. Because if we don't, your sort would skewer us and hang our carcasses up as some kind of trophy."

He sounds more aggressive than he probably should, but actually, he doesn't care. He's sore and in a place that feels like some kind of enclosure that he didn't elect to be in. This body itself is an enclosure, preventing him from showing his scales as he should!

"I do," he shot back, "But if I wanted you dead or paraded around, don't you think I would have done it by now?"

The man passed out from his injuries! He was dying of blood loss!

And yet Yuugi still took him home, dressed his wounds, hid from passers-by! Because he didn't want to see this man die!

He fired up the stove, heating the pan back up to place the second burger patty on.

"I don't think you could if you tried," Seto answers coldly. Then...he lets out a snort, his earfins flicking down slightly. "But I also don't believe you would either, even if you could have.

I still think you should've pushed me into the water. Sea dragons are sturdy, and we do best in our natural environment. But I accept that you mean to assist, rather than harm, so I should be grateful."

Not that he likes it. Quietly, he stretches out on the soft surface, letting his head dip down below the back of the sofa so that the human can't see him.

"...I'm sorry if I ...caused you any problems."

He tossed the meat patty on the stove, feeling the comfort of that familiar sizzle. That familiar scent.

What would it be like to be separated from that...? From all he knew and loved, even by a helpful stranger...?

"All I could think of was... that I didn't want you to die. That you were hurt, and that I wanted to help."

"It will only be a problem if I spend too long away."

His brother would worry. His leader would wonder. Even now...Seto felt a strange, discomforting sensation as he considered the situation. He really was following his parents down a foolish path, trusting a human.

If his pod found out, then...

"Generally," he says, trying to get away from such thoughts, "one wouldn't be so interested in saving the life of something that looks like it could eat them."

"Then I'll make sure to get you back as quickly as possible."

One side was done, and now for the flip--

Yes! Perfect.

"I can't say I did what anyone else would have done, because we both know that's not true. But...I can say that I did what I would have done, regardless of how you looked. You're not the scariest thing I've had come through my doors, you know."

The ex-gang members that Yuugi stitched up for Jonouchi, after he managed to get them out of The Life even as The Life tried following after them.

The old Yakuza boss that Yuugi made friends with after he saved his life from a gunshot wound.

The Egyptian Counterfeiter and Crime Boss trying to turn a new leaf.

"I find that difficult to believe," Seto responds grouchily as he tries to make himself comfortable, and only succeeds in feeling more out of place. His body aches, and he's pretty well certain that one of the gashes at his side is bleeding anew. Not much...but enough to stain the dressings the human had treated him with.

"...What is your name? I'm tired of thinking of you as 'the human'."

It's not a matter of familiarity, it's a matter of ease. Clearly.

"You don't have to believe me," he said, "but it's the truth."

He just had to cook the meat for a little longer... and then it'd be done.

And then he could eat.

"I'm Yuugi. Yuugi Mutou."

"Yuu...gi."

It rolls off of his tongue strangely, but it's not the strangest name he's heard. Still. Does this mean he has to give his in turn? Tch...he doesn't really want to, and so...he avoids it.

"You are a strange one," he mutters, before burying his face into the couch cushions and snuffing out a breath. "But I'm glad you did not turn me over to a butcher that would just as soon peel the scales off my flesh than tend such meager wounds."

Meager wounds that had, despite everything, laid him this low.

Ooookay, burger is done! Time to put both on bread, and start getting the condiments on.

Lettuce and Tomato, too...he was too tired to usually do it, but a good burger needed the fresh veg, or else it was just meat on bread. Burgers had toppings, and they had to be of good quality! Wilted veg or half-cooked toppings just weren't right!

"Yeah, Yuugi! It's nice to meet you, Mr. Dragon."

The thought of someone taking this man and hurting him, though...

Fuck, that was awful. Who would take such a majestic man and treat him like an animal to be paraded around or a prize to be mounted on a wall?! Bastards, the lot of them!

"I'd never."

...Was that more vehement than needed?

"People like that are the worst."

...

Yeah, probably a bit more forceful than needed.

"Yes. They are."

The way Seto says it betrays a deep-seated hatred that can't mean anything but his involvement or investment in that kind of situation. He doesn't expect Yuugi to understand, which is why he's been so reticent the entire time. And...why he didn't want to give his name.

He feels as if somehow...he'd be losing a part of himself if he accepted every facet of this situation. He'd be too weak, somehow.

This poor guy...

Clearly humans hurt him before; what could he do to make him feel safe? To...

Know that he was going to get home?

"Don't worry," he put his two burgers on a plate. "I won't let any humans hurt you. I promise."

"I don't need your protection. I can protect myself if need be."

Only...he'd have to be extremely careful about it, if he had no intention of endangering his fellow dragons. Thus far, they enjoyed a life of comfort some miles away from here, at their ancestral home. Pickings were getting slim as the humans encroached upon their territory, but that would be worsened if they were revealed.

Seto shifts, peeking over the back of the sofa with narrowed eyes.

"You're awfully confident that you can make a difference, aren't you?"

"I think it's important to be the change you want to see in the world. I may not be able to fight, but I can help you heal and get you back without someone seeing you."

He put the burger to his lips, taking a small bite.

Mmmmn. He couldn't help it: Yuugi moaned a little at the taste. A good burger always helped with stress!

Well, if anything was going to pull a scandalized look out of Seto, it'd be that. He sits up, wincing at the movement, then stares at Yuugi flatly.

"...That's an inappropriate sound to be making over a piece of meat," he says pointedly. Listen, anything else Yuugi said was irrelevant because why is he moaning about food?

"S'not just a piece of meat," Yuugi mumbled, "It's a burger."

As though that explained everything in the world, right? Local beef enjoyer declares he enjoys beef, news at 11.

"Want to try? I made two."

"Whatever it is, it's still meat," Seto argues firmly. "And I said already that I'm no longer hungry."

But even still, he pauses, glances at one of the burgers with curiosity. His earfins slowly flare upward, and his tail tip curls upward once, twice, before...

"...I'll try a small piece."

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