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Moments In Stillness...Kaiba left the barren earth behind to walk, calm and dry-eyed, back to his desk.Seto Kaiba stood with his hand on the railing, silent and expressionless, his soul hidden within the deathly stillness of his body. He looked over the balustrade at the swirling crowd below through eyes with more calculation than his ten years of life should have bought him. The party was in full swing, laughter and joy rising to his ears riding the exquisitely correct music, leaving him untouched. It was nearly time for his entrance. He'd made a mistake last year; he could admit that much to himself in this space of timeless waiting. There had been another boy at his party, the young son of a banking acquaintance. Thinking he'd found a potential ally in one subjected to the same injustices and expectations as himself, Seto had initiated a conversation. Keith, the boy was named and he seemed to share Seto’s distaste of the gaudy birthday function, parental teaching and society in general. He was disillusioned approximately three hours later, when GB had come roaring into Seto's room, pulled him roughly out of bed and thrown him against the wall. It seemed Keith had taken great delight in repeating his son's opinions to GB. This Seto had gathered between stinging slaps and garbled rage. This year would be different Kaiba thought, fingering the slim jade statue in his pocket. He was glad to have grown up and moved beyond his stupid nine-year-old thinking. The proper music began and Kaiba descended the stairs regally, his heart screaming with rage and betrayal. “Keith, how good to see you,” Kaiba said, shaking hands with the other boy politely. They exchanged a few words then Kaiba moved off but as he brushed past, quickly slipped the jade artwork into Keith’s jacket pocket. His smile was sudden, unexpected and dangerous, like the edge of a stiletto. It was only another moment before Kaiba found GB. “Father, didn’t we have that jade artwork on the mantle earlier?” he asked with innocent curiosity. “I ask because Keith was looking at it a few minutes ago and now it’s gone. I realize how it would pain you to have such a loyal associate be disgraced by his son’s actions, but I thought you should know.” Kaiba had timed his revenge carefully, knowing Keith’s father had just cost GB several millions in a deal gone wrong. Calmly, Kaiba watched his father’s eyes calculate the factors and arrive at the conclusion he wanted. He continued to watch as GB took Keith and his father aside, the subdued fury that boiled around the small group, the way the blood drained from Keith’s face as the statue was discovered and the way GB tried to underplay the pair’s eviction from the party in such a way as to draw the attention of the other guests. He didn’t need Keith to turn and glare at him from the doorway, but it added a nice touch. Later, as the party was winding down, GB stopped on his way past Kaiba, his eyes cold and approving. “That’s a useful talent to develop, boy. But if you are ever exposed, I’ll see to it you’ll be in exile for the next three months.” “You’ve never been in the habit of granting my wishes before Father, I wouldn’t expect you to do it now,” Kaiba replied coolly before moving away to escort another departing guest. Seto Kaiba stood with his hand on the rough brick of the wall, silent and expressionless, his soul hidden within the deathly stillness of his body. Voices stabbed him from around the corner, Shonda Kipper and three of his supposed friends. He was fifteen and they loved each other, or at least Seto had deceived himself so. He had been listening for the last five minutes while she mocked and reviled him for the amusement of the gathered boys. “And then he tried to kiss me!” she squealed with mock-indignation, “Can you imagine?” While the group made appropriate gagging sounds, Kaiba took several deep breaths, willing the color out of his cheeks and the trembling from his body. Outwardly calm, Kaiba rounded the corner, his heart screaming with pain and betrayal. With a wave, Kaiba jointed the group, standing beside Shonda to slide an arm around her waist in a loose, possessive hug. “Hey, beautiful,” he said with a smile. “Hey sugar,” she replied snuggling against him. A wave of revulsion swept over Kaiba with such force he felt physically ill, which wouldn’t have done at all. He’d best do this quickly; he didn’t know how long he could stand the hypocrisy. “You know that ski trip to Switzerland next week? I’m afraid you won’t be able to come along after all.” Shonda looked over at him, puzzled. “Why not, baby?” she pouted. “I’m afraid I’ve got a better offer,” Kaiba replied lightly, loosening his hold. Shonda looked at him, puzzled and stung at being rejected in front of the audience she had owned a minute ago. He could see the calculation behind her eyes. “Come on, what could be better than a weekend with me?” she cooed, lifting her hand to run a finger down his chest. Kaiba let his hand fall from her waist as he stepped away, out of range of her hands. “You weren’t that good of a fuck,” he said coolly before turning away. The laughter of the other boys overrode the truthful protests of her innocence. Kaiba walked away unnoticed as the group started on Shonda, eager for a new target. Seto Kaiba stood with his hand on the thick tree bark, silent and expressionless, his soul hidden within the deathly stillness of his body. The barren patch of earth mocked him with its emptiness. Where once had lived the proud soul of Blue Eyes nothing but bare wisps of dry grass braved the coming winter chill. It had been a rare gift to have been able to see the grace and power of the beast, to provide for him and in some measure to have been needed. The chill wind tossed the bare branches over his head with a mournful whistle. There were precious few things in his life Kaiba could not control. Death was one of them. It was the end of options. The finality of loss. Death had ripped away the only living creature he’d been able to talk freely to, even while he knew his own foolishness for what it was. And it was over. His heart screaming with fury and betrayal, Kaiba left the barren earth behind to walk, calm and dry-eyed, back to his desk. Seto Kaiba stood with his arms crossed, leaning against the slick glass window, silent and expressionless, his soul hidden within the deathly stillness of his body. He was across the street from Tristan’s work, watching the man through the plate glass of the shop. Seto didn’t understand what was between them, not at all. It was sex but it wasn’t and he needed, desperately and undeniably, to <i>know</i> this for what it truly was. His eyes followed Tristan as he rounded the counter, watched his hands deftly sort parts on the counter, drank in the expression on his face as he laughed at some joke with his coworkers. Tristan, who never seemed to expect anything from him. Who never <i>needed</i> more than Seto was able to give. Who let Seto’s intense emotions wash over and around him with no more effect than a river had on a stone. Who was there, always there, as an anchor in the worst of his storms. And now Seto was watching him work, like some deranged stalker. With an angry snort at his own stupidity, Seto pushed off the wall and walked away from the bike shop, his long strides and presumption opening a path before him. His heart fell silent, still and waiting. Back to Sorchafyre's Work E-mail the Author Home |
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