Work Text:
Another Monday. Another bickering session but this time it ended with a bloody nose and a sore fist.
"How many times must I reiterate our no bullying policy to you two" the headteacher glared at the two boys.
"This is not my fault, he started it with his name calling bulls-I mean calling me horrible names and" Jonouchi yelled despite the table width distance between him and the headteacher
"But sir he provoked me and legally speaking I'm right because.." Kaiba interrupted
"I DONT CARE. I'm done with you two! Community service would be too easy as a punishment..." he paused to think for a second before smirking to himself "Oh I know"
"Oh god" whispered Jonouchi barely audible, his face in his hands. This can't be good.
"You'll have a week to do a presentation then present it to the class"
"Oh great whats the topic, why we shouldn't bully each other?" Kaiba spat as he rolled his eyes
"Exactly Kaiba" the headmaster grinned as the boys faces dropped "at least 5 minutes on why you two should stop bulling each other and try to be friends"
"What the hell, how am I supposed ta do that? Look at him he's a hard ass!"
"Oh you have it hard Jonouchi, geez it'll be even harder for you considering how much you'd not done with your life"
"ENOUGH" the headteacher roared "Get out of my office, you've got a week!"
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Jonouchi POV
The next day rolled around and Jonouchi was no further forward with his presentation.
"Fucking great, what the hell am I supposed to do?" Face in hands while he ate his lunch, Jonouchi gesticulated wildly "I mean its Kaiba, he's been mean to me every day of my life it feels like"
"Aw don't be like that Jou, I'm sure he's done plenty of good things. Like he's done a lot of charity work, especially for kids and medicine" Yugi advocated softly
"Wow the benevolent Kaiba, so caring he shows it everyday to others" Jonouchi paused, barely whispering "Least not to me anyway" a red blush crept up his neck.
He could never.
"I'm with Jou on this one, Kaibas a lost cause" Tristan pipped up "douchebag since birth that guy"
Jonouchi nodded in agreement. How could he possibly like the guy after all he'd done.
"Ugh the struggle is real and on top of all my other work I don't know how I'm even going to get this done in time. Christ, it's making me rethink the whole bullying thing already so I can get out of extra work"
"Geez the headmaster really did a number on you, already thinking of being nicer to him" Tristan mocked
"Oh do one! I'm going to the library to figure this shit out. See ya guys later" Jonouchi picked up his bags and trudged off, headphones on blasting some incomprehensible metal screaming.
The library was cold when he got there despite the warmer weather outside. He smiled to the librarian as he found a in the corner of the room.
He reached into his bag for a pen and notebook, slouching in his chair to focus.
Ok right, good things about Kaiba. Come on brain you can do it.
But the words wouldn’t come so he decided on bullet points instead. Brievity is in the soul or some shit
- He’s not a total jerk all the time.
He stared at it. Well that’s not technically wrong he has done a lot for the city and for the kids.
- He’s saved my ass more than once.
Also true. Mmm Kaiba's got a nice ass. Damn it not not
- He takes care of Mokuba.
I get that loyalty, I'm the same with Serenity
As the list grew, so did a weird heaviness in his chest. His handwriting got neater. Slower.
- He pushes me to be better.
In his own special way.
- His blue eyes
Jonouchi blinked as a new thought surfaced, one that made his stomach twist.
What if Kaiba wasn’t just an annoying rival?
- I don’t hate him? Not even close.
- I think… I care about him.
- I want him to be happy
- With me
- I love Seto Kaiba
He sat back, mouth dry. The room suddenly felt too quiet. His heart thudded, traitorous and loud.
“Crap,” he whispered.
It was a confession he hadn’t meant to write.
He looked down at the list again—ten messy, honest lines—and realised something terrifying and stupid but real.
Number 10 was true. Had always been.
By the time the librarian tapped him on the shoulder it was late afternoon and almost the end of school.
"We're closing this section now for after school club, youre welcome to come back tomorrow if you need. I must say I'm impressed by your dedication you've been here all day" she smiled.
"Heh thanks, I really want this presentation to be good ya know" Jonouchi yawned as the tiredness hit him like a bag of potatoes.
How long have I been here
Packing up his notebook into his tattered backpack he headed out into the setting afternoon sun.
What could possibly go wrong
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Kaiba POV
The morning came far too soon. Kaiba's sleep pattern wasn't the best, insomnia keeping him up til the early hours. His alarm rang out at the usual 6am, a tired groan coming from the mound of duvet that covered the CEO.
He stretched and got up, leaving the crumpled bed sheets for the maid to sort out. He was in no mood for whatever the day would bring. He'd spent the best part of the evening drafting the stupid friendship presentation, god knows it was one of the more difficult things he'd had to do but he did love a challenge trying to list some of the redeeming qualities about the blonde. Kaiba didn't really do friendship, only to further his business did he even socialise. He didn't chose to spend time with people outside of that so why should Jonouchi be any different.
Entitled 'Jonouchi friendship proposal' he listed some things off the top of his head. Maybe if he treated like a business transaction he could clear his head.
Loyalty. Impulsive. Emotional. Brave. Stupid? Kaiba wasn't sure whether that was aimed at him or Jonouchi.
Was he stupid for thinking he could write an entire presentation about how they could be able to work together, to form some sort of bond?
Kaiba dismissed the thought. Of course he knew why, he just didn't like to admit it. Jonouchi pushed him to be better, challenged his world view and whether he liked it or not he loved when the blonde would call him out.
Loved it? Kaiba didn't love. It wasn't something he'd experienced too much in his life.
A smile spread and his heart warmed.
Shit.
Just thinking about Jonouchi's grin made Kaiba blush. His mind said it was fake but his body was betraying him. What if.
Maybe a friendship wouldn't be so bad. If only for self gain of course.
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Jonouchi POV
Presentation week seemed to drag by but the day itself went far too quickly. By the time Jonouchi finished setting up the projector he was exhausted
Just 5 minutes, that's it and it's over
"Whenever you're ready Jonouchi" the teacher's voice echoed faintly in the background.
This is it
Jonouchi cleared his throat and clicked to the first slide. A grainy photo of him and Kaiba mid-duel appeared. Kaiba recognised it as the time they fought during one of the Battle City duels.
The caption read: “Why Not?”
“Now I'm not a words guy so I figured I'd make it more...visual. Now know what you're thinkin'” Jonouchi said, voice already cracking. “Me and Kaiba? We're like cats and dogs, constantly bickering. He calls me a mutt, and yeah, okay, I’ve said stuff too. But underneath all that...I think"
He flipped to the next slide: “We Make Each Other Better.”
“You ever notice how I duel when he’s around?” Jonouchi said, his eyes fighting to look at Kaiba at this point.
Oh god this is awful why am I doing this
“Like, I wanna win for sure. Not just for the prize, but to show him I’m not some third rate duelist with a fourth rate deck ya know? Every time I get stronger, it's 'cause I wanna catch up to him. He pushes me to be better I guess and I think in his own weird Kaiba way, I push him too" Jonouchi blush isn't subtle anymore, his ears rouging intensely under his blonde mop.
Jonouchi’s hand hovered over the next button, hesitating just a second before revealing the next slide: “We’ve Been Through Some Serious Stuff.”
The images now were grainy screenshots from Battle City, Duelist Kingdom, and other chaotic adventures.
"People forget this, but we’ve saved each other’s lives,” Jonouchi said, eyes scanning the room. “And not just once. He don’t talk about it—he’s too proud—but I know he remembers. You don’t forget someone who had your back when things got real. That kind of thing... it means somethin. We ain't just rivals,” he said. “We’re two sides of the same coin.”
Next slide: “He Needs a Friend—And So Do I.”
The photo was softer now. A shot of Kaiba sitting alone, watching the city skyline from atop KaibaCorp Tower.
“Yeah, he’s got money, power, brains—whatever” Jonouchi said, voice quieter now. “But when I look at him, I don’t see a guy who’s got it all. I see someone who built a wall so high, no one can reach him. Not even Mokuba sometimes.”
He laughed once, sadly.
“And me? I act like I’m fine. Like being the underdog’s all fun and games. But... it gets lonely. Everyone thinks I’m just comic relief. Kaiba never did. He saw me for who I am. Maybe not in a friendly way, but he saw me.”
Jonouchi’s fingers trembled slightly as he advanced to the final slide. No words this time—just a hand-drawn image. His own art. Two duel monsters: Red-Eyes Black Dragon and Blue-Eyes White Dragon, standing side by side. Not fighting. Together.
He turned to face the class.
“I know it sounds nuts,” he said, voice barely above a whisper now. “But I think we’re meant to be more than enemies. More than rivals. Maybe even more than friends.”
A silence fell. Jonouchi swallowed hard trying to clear the increasing lump in his throat.
“Sometimes I think the reason I get so fired up when I see him... the reason I care so much what he thinks... it's not just about dueling. It’s not even about proving myself. It's just about...I dunno, wanting something more from our relationship" the blonde took a breath
“So yeah,” he finished, voice rough with emotion. “That’s why me and Kaiba should be friends. Because underneath it all... I think we already are. We just don't know how to say it" an awkward smile across his face.
The class politely clapped and Jonouchi sunk back into his seat holding his breath.
He hadn't seen Kaiba's reaction yet. He wasn't sure he wanted to.
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Kaiba POV
What the hell was that? Why did he say all those things? Why?
Standing in front of a large crowd wasn't much of a problem for Kaiba. He'd done so many speeches in front of arenas of people in Duelist Kingdom, important business people and press tours around the world. And yet standing here in front of a handful of classmates with Jonouchi sitting at the back, eyes glued to his desk, Kaiba was nervous. His heart jittered slightly, his brain yelling at him to reconsider and get through it quickly.
How could I follow that?
"Whenever you're ready Seto" the teacher proclaimed.
Kaiba cleared his throat.
Here goes
“Our assignment was to explain why Jonouchi and I should be friends. As much as I believe this is a misuse of everyone’s time, I’m fulfilling the task. Let’s be clear. Jonouchi and I have almost nothing in common. He’s impulsive, loud, emotionally reactive, and largely driven by instinct rather than logic. That being said" Kaiba paused, red flush tempting him to back peddle to save embarrassment.
"He's determined, recklessly so. I’ve seen him lose fights he should’ve walked away from but he never gives up. There’s a certain stupidity to it, but also something admirable. He fights for what he believes in even if it means risking everything”
Jonouchi sat staring. Kaiba stared back and continued.
"Most people don’t have that kind of heart. They fold the moment things get difficult. Jonouchi’s the opposite. He’ll stand in front of a firing squad if it means protecting someone he cares about. That’s loyalty and something that I love..." Kaibas dry mouth finally caught up to him
I love about him
"So in conclusion, we probably shouldn’t be friends but maybe, in some ridiculous, paradoxical way... that’s exactly why it could work. Thank you"
Kaiba could feel his legs starting to buckle, his mouth now void of all saliva, his cold mask slipping. He needed to leave.
"Excuse me" he mumbled under his breath as the class stayed silent, the closing of the door echoing into the hall as Kaiba ran to the bathroom. A sanctuary from prying eyes.
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Jonouchi POV
Wtf just happened. He said, but surely he couldn't.
Before he could form a coherent thought, Jonouchi was already running after Kaiba out of the classroom.
The corridor was so longer than he remembered when he just about saw the door to the mens bathroom close.
Shit shit shit
He kept running, the door barreling open to a shaking Kaiba running water into the sink. Grabbing Kaiba's collar, Jonouchi pushed him against the bathroom wall, a wild look in his hazel eyes.
"What the fuck was that Kaiba? Spouting all this about being friends and something about love? How much of a conceited dick-"
"I did mean it" Kaiba whispered under his breath
"What. You mean? Why?"
"Weren't you listening? I told you why"
"No, I don't think you did" Jonouchi crashed his lips into Kaibas, melting into the other boy.
Kaiba moaned as Jonouchi's tongue fought with his, want becoming need. The need to be closer, the need to consume each other. Hands searching for parts to cling onto; arms, back, hips. He let himself go and feel all of what Kaiba was giving him. His lips, his hands clawing the back of his shirt, everything he'd wanted for so long but never had the words to say.
A strand of saliva popped on Jonouchi's chin and they broke apart, breathy and emotional. The weight of what just happened made time slow, the dreamlike cloud still ever present.
Jonouchi couldn't help but breathlessly grin as he rested his own forehead on Kaibas
"Well, that happened"
"Yeah. I...erm..." Kaiba grinned
"Wow Kaiba lost for words, never thought I'd see the day"
"Shut up, like you have anything better to add"
"Oo don't tempt me Sss=seto" the blonde smirked elongating the brunettes first name sticking his tongue out "there's a lot I want to say and do but we're in public right now so some may say that'd be inappropriate"
"Some people might be right. Goddamn it Katsuya" Kaiba took a breath "Fine, dinner tonight at the mansion. Don't be late"
"Wouldn't dream of it lover boy" Jonouchi winked.