Committed

Chapter 5

"Yami, you're being slow. I don't like repeating myself," Kaiba snaps, a little irritated. He has low tolerance for people and his sobriety isn't helping. "I've told you before, I'm fine the way I am," he insists, voice edging with defensiveness.

Yami's eyes soften, tears welling in his eyes which look odd on someone so strong. He peers into the vast emptiness of Kaiba's blue eyes, finding the sorrow hidden behind cold indifference. "You're not, Seto. You're always working, you can't stop. You never sleep...you're vulnerable right now. The abuse is affecting you worse than you think and you need to see someone about it,"

"I don't need to see anyone," Kaiba insists. "I have it under control,"

"How many people have said that and ended up dead?" Yami wonders aloud, inquiring to himself more for dramatic effects than to convince Kaiba.

"I have no idea," the CEO quips back, letting aggression linger in his tone. He tips tea from expensive China, sitting on Yami's bed and staring up at its owner.

"Kaiba, I want to help you!" Yami shouts, not caring who hears anymore. Hi body tenses in worry, a mixture of anxiety and discomfort running through him. There's a single image he can picture: Kaiba lying in a pool of blood which seeps from a gunshot wound in his head, the gun hanging from his dead hand. "I know...you don't want me to. But I love you and you need to learn you can rely on other people - it doesn't make you weak..."

Kaiba looks up, staring at him blankly with wide, uncomprehending eyes, his mouth hanging open like he's frozen. Yami looks around in confusion. "What...?"

"You just said you love me,"
"No..." Yami tears his eyes away, unable to face Kaiba with tears stinging at his eyes. "No I didn't,"

"Yes," Kaiba stands over him imperially, crossing his arms. "You did,"

Kaiba is over a foot taller than Yami and Yami, if curled up, could fit in his backpack. So it isn't any surprise how intimidated he is. Kaiba waits a few seconds, then turns away.

"Fine," he says in a monotone. Kaiba isn't surprised, he's known for a long time Yami loves him, has desired him for a long time. He knows how much pain he must be in, having his love suppressed like a tonne on his chest collapsing his lungs. Kaiba expects him to scream, if just to release his frustration, but not to just say nothing. He has to say something, Kaiba never has anything to say. Does the man truly not understand his own feelings, physical or mental? "Well Yami, I love you. And if you'd figure yourself the fuck out, I'd be very thankful,"

Yami feels the world implode around him. It's worse than he thought, and he feels like he's been crushed by his own heavy heart. When he stands, his legs quiver, and his chest feels like several broken ribs. He is in so much pain, like a shattered ribcage, and the man does nothing but stuff his hands in his pockets. "At least I got you to finally say it," he tries to smile, but excretes a gasping wince.

And the innocent victim act is dropped. Kaiba sighs deeply. "I'm sorry, just fuck off, okay?"

"No,"

"Why?"

"You just broke my heart then crushed it back together," Yami laughs a little.

Kaiba guffaws in shock, shaking his head at the incredulity of all of this. "I don't know why you even like me - you know I'll just end up hurting you,"