Near You Always

This is a songfic featuring Joey Wheeler and Seto Kaiba in a YAOI (guys with guys) relationship. Don't like it, don't read it. There's a couple of curse words, but nothing more graphic than a few kisses, but there might be if I continue. The song "Near You Always" belongs to Jewel, and everything but the plot line belongs to whoever owns Yu-Gi-Oh. Enjoy, and don't forget to review!

"I like ya, Seto... a lot. No, scratch that, I love ya. With all my heart."

For once, Seto Kaiba, second best duelist in the world, successful teen businessman, veteran of a thousand debates and charged meetings, was speechless. Not this, he murmured, not now. He hadn't been having a great week, and now this, the one thing that he wanted most in the world, was happening and he had absolutely no fucking idea, much less the resources, to deal with it effectively. As if Joey Wheeler had ever been anything he could deal with.

He watched as the puppy's soulful hazel eyes played over his face, searching for any sign he had been heard, and for any reaction to what must have taken a great deal of his courage to say. With the iron force of his will, he held his azure gaze neutral. His eyes were the one thing that had never betrayed him. He was forever the cold, impenetrable Kaiba, more machine than man. Always before, he had felt nothing; until a certain blond came along and nosed his way into his tidy little life, and gotten way too close to breaking down the masks it had taken a lifetime to set in place.

Joey's head snapped from left to right like an owl's, and before Seto could stop his reverie and get back to reality, the blond had tugged him down by the lapels of his trench coat with a strength that his slight frame only hinted at for a long, chaste kiss. His lips were like velvet to Seto, who had dreamed of this moment alone in his king-sized bed on cold nights. Still, this didn't fit into his efficient reality. With a cry of frustration, he pushed Joey to the ground, where the smaller boy landed in a shallow mud puddle, staining his green jacket and faded jeans. Without a word, Seto dragged his arm across his mouth derisively and stalked off before Joey fully recovered from the shock of hitting the concrete.

Weeks later, Seto was putting the finishing touches on his latest project, having all but expelled any memory of his little episode with Joey. Mokuba was in the next room, reading some kind of American novel for his English class. Sighing, the CEO of Kaiba Corp. stretched languidly in his all too uncomfortable office chair. He was about to get started on the next design when the sound of the doorbell echoed throughout the mansion.

How strange, Seto thought, we never get visitors, and couriers don't work on weekends. Pushing his laptop away, he strode confidently down to the foyer. "It's okay, little brother, I've got it!" he called when he heard Mokuba at the top of the stairs, and threw open the double doors to find nothing but his carefully tended estate extending uninterrupted down to the street farther down. Whoever had been here had left in an awful hurry.

Seto took a step outside to see if perhaps the visitor had cut across the lawn, but his foot met something that had been placed carefully on the doorstep. It was a white box, tied with blue ribbon, and an aquamarine envelope had been tucked beneath the bow. Curious, Seto brought it inside and laid it on the coffee table.

He opened the box first, untying the simple bow with ease and lifting the cardboard lid. He recognized the logo of a flower shop in downtown Domino vaguely, having passed by it a few times while taking a shortcut to school. Inside was one rare blue rose and one common red one. Seto removed the flowers, noting the white cord that bound them, and clutched their thorn less stems as he opened the card. Someone had obviously gone to a lot of trouble for this.

The handwriting was familiar, and the words could only have come from one person. Although the card was not signed, Seto knew who it was from. Who it had to be from.

Dear Seto,

Don't think I'll ever get used to calling you that. Listen, I know we haven't talked these past few weeks, since, well, you know... but I've been watching you, and I've decided that behind all those airs you put on, you're just lonely. You have a whole bunch of different masks that to anyone else, would look like the same cold glare. But I've seen flickering amusement when the teacher's caught me sleeping in class, the longing with which you stare at us dueling before class over that book that you probably don't even know the title of, as though you would be a part of us if that didn't conflict with who you think you have to be. I've decided to make you an offer, a business deal, if you will. Give me one chance to get through your defenses, let me in for just one second, and if you really find it that awful, I'll back off, and we can go back to being enemies. I still love you though, Seto Kaiba, and don't think for a moment I'll ever stop.

Seto read the card twice over, twirling it between his graceful, tapered fingers, put the roses in water, and left the mansion for Domino proper, pausing only to scrawl a note to Mokuba in case he got worried.

The puppy opened his front door to find Seto standing there, drawn straight up to his full imposing height, arms folded. Joey was wearing an old T-shirt and sweat pants, obviously not expecting company, and certainly not Seto so soon after he had left the flowers on his doorstep.

"Hey." the blond said, offering a tiny smile.

"Hello." Damn it, was that really his voice? It sounded so.. formal. "I got the flowers."

"Figured." Seto could hear the television in the background, but it was obvious Joey hadn't been watching it. The CEO doubted very much that Joey was interested in the hierarchy of an orchestra.

"I.." There he was again, tongue-tied in front of this exquisite creature that could be his if he would only let himself go enough to let him in. Joey leaned against the door frame, cocky grin on his face, watching Seto war with himself. "To hell with it." In a flash, one strong arm was around Joey's waist, the other running through his impossibly soft mop of hair, and then their tongues were dueling, and Seto couldn't remember when he'd felt so good. He was scared to death that Joey would push him away in some warped form of revenge for the last time they had done this, but all his fears were dispelled when the blond pulled him closer and moved to his earlobe for a quick nip before he backed up.

"Is this a yes, then?" he whispered breathlessly.

"Yes." A quick kiss. "If you'll still have me."

"Always, Seto," Joey replied with a heartfelt smile. "Always, my love."

Okay, I think this sucks, but you guys be the judges. Constructive criticism appreciated, flames hurled right back at the flamers, so if you can't take it, don't dish it out. Oh, and tell me if you want me to continue or if it's better as a one-shot. I have a few ideas for a couple of other chappies, but I won't continue without at least five good reviews (from different ppl!) Feel free to leave more than one review though, it helps the plots take shape in that mess I call my mind. Ja ne, readers, peace out!