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You've always been oblivious to things around you, but that especially went towards romance. It was only until you were told months or even years later down the line that multiple people had been crushing on you. Never did you even think that you were a person worth crushing on. The concept was foreign to you. You just interacted with everyone as normal as you thought normal was.
Even a person like Kaiba Seto.
People usually avoided him but you interacted with him like he was a normal person. It also helped that Mokuba was a big ray of sunshine to your day. The big grump just needed little nudges here and there.
You didn't think twice when people would send or give you gifts. It was sweet and thoughtful. There was no way there were any ulterior motives. That was your mindset. You would return the favor and also slap in a hug because you loved showing affection and gratitude.
Though after you met Kaiba, somehow some of those friends decided to move away at some point in time. It saddened you but you did your best to send those people off throwing a line to keep in touch.
In reality though, you barely heard from them.
It was starting to feel like maybe you were the reason they left. All the fun times and gifts - maybe you weren't worth it at all. Though you did your best to make it work as you always did. You greeted the day with a smile and tried your best to stay positive.
At the very least you still had Kaiba to nudge and play with. That always made your day. Trying to get the grump to react to anything you did was always fun. It became part of your daily routine at some point in time.
"Kaiba is there something wrong with me?"
You had your back leaned against his shoulder playing a game on your phone while he was typing at his laptop on the floor. A grunt reached your ears as you groaned in response to reaching the game over screen while the clacking of the keyboard keys filled the room.
"No."
You shrugged. "I've just been thinking lately..." You restarted the level casually speaking what's on your mind. "It seems people drift away from me if that makes sense... am I really that hard to be friends with?"
"No." He repeated which made you roll your eyes.
"...I'm serious Kaiba." You bit your lips trying form your next coherent thought. "Just when I think things click with a new friend... they end up.... leaving..."
A bomb went off signaling another game over. You were too distracted to care. Your rambles were starting to spill out and paying attention to the game at hand was now deemed impossible. "I try to say goodbye and ask for them to hit me up you know... then they barely respond or... never talk to me again..."
Silence took over the room, his typing had ceased at some point trying to listen to you. You swallowed the lump in your throat at the uncomfortable feeling it held. This was a mistake. "...Sorry I just wanted to throw my thoughts out there. Just... forg--"
"You're naïve if you think they just want to be friends." His sharp reply and the mention of friends was spat out with such disdain you flinched. His first serious answer to you today threw you off wondering what came over him.
You cleared your throat. "W...what do you mean? They're people I cared about and I hoped they would feel the sa-"
Without warning you felt his shoulder move and your head just naturally fell onto his lap. His laptop somehow casted aside as you rambled. Quick reflexes had the CEO catch your phone before it landed in a compromising position. You were in a daze trying to comprehend the sudden trip - your heart beating fast at the scare.
"You're such an idiot." You felt a big hand suddenly stroke your cheek. "However I suppose that's what draws people to you."
Confusion washed over you. Just what was Kaiba up to?
"K... Kaiba...?"
The way his eyes looked at you made your breath get caught in your throat. You didn't realize how intense they were. As he continued to stare at you from above you gulped. Something in this position made your heart beat faster. You never noticed these glances before.
"You never realized it... I suppose that's on par with you."
"Realized... what?"
His low chuckle sent shivers down your spine. You were suddenly very aware of Kaiba Seto's presence. His looming figure made sure to make you feel even tinier than usual.
"Huh...?"
"I've been watching you." His hand continued to stroke your face. You lay there frozen, his words striking a chord with you. "You're too nice and too trusting of others. Be more wary of accepting gifts, you never know where the other person's intentions lie." His social status was telling, you knew he had experience. Though you were you. You weren't famous at all so you couldn't fathom why he was telling you this.
He saw the look on your face and sighed. As careful as you were, it wasn't out of the question. Though he knew you wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt. "Those so called friends of yours... they were using you." Before you could open your mouth to protest again he placed two fingers to your lips to silence you. "Quite a few... wanted to touch you in ways I know you wouldn't want..." He gritted his teeth recalling the conversations he heard and dealt with.
Your eyes widened at those implications speechless. Panic began to settle in. Surely it wasn't true. You loved your friends. To think they wanted to use you or even use your own body to their benefit was just heartbreaking. However deep down you knew this was possible, you just never caught on.
His eyes narrowed seeing the hurt in your eyes. He didn't want anyone to hurt you and telling you the truth was proving just that. "Don't worry." He moved his hand to pet your head. To help comfort you. "I took care of them. There was no blood I can assure you." He knew your stance on violence and you knew Kaiba was capable of doing many things. "I confronted each and every one of them and asked what their intentions were with you. Once my assumptions were confirmed," You knew his intuition was sharp yet you didn't realize how sharp it was when it came to you. "I told them to leave you alone or they'll have to deal with me."
Everyone knew if you incurred his wrath there would be hell to pay.
"Trust me. You're better off without them."
He expected you to slap him or something of the sort but you merely sat up and turned away from him biting your lips once more to think. A million thoughts raced through your brain to process everything he said. Your kindness being taken advantage of was nothing new to you, but you still hoped it wouldn't be the case.
"So there really is something wrong with me... I'm sorry..."
He sighed once more, recognizing the pattern of you blaming yourself. You always put others first before even thinking of yourself. "Don't..." He gritted out.
You shook your head. "No, people have been telling me for years that I never notice these things and I always find out too late..."
You were overthinking things. He knew. Your self deprecating thoughts were spewing out. The man grumbled under his breath. "Don't lump me with those bastards." He hissed surprising you. "I never want to hurt you and if people can't be direct with their intentions towards you then they aren't worth it. You deserve better."
"I... but if I can't..." You struggled to even form a coherent sentence as your shoulders trembled. He watched your form shrink as you wallowed in yourself. "How will I even know if I can even manage a relationship if I cant even see the signs..."
He grabbed your shoulders and turned you around calling your name with a stern expression. "That's why you have me."
You were on the verge of crying. He cursed at seeing you distraught. "Kaiba... I..."
"Please. Call me Seto. Having admitted everything to you, it would please me if you would."
"You..."
You knew it was a big deal yet you couldn't wrap your head around why he would ask you to refer to him in that way. Only his brother would call him Seto, yet he asked you.
"I'll be more direct then. I, Kaiba Seto, have feelings for you. Got it?"
There it was.
It finally struck you.
You wondered if you heard correctly. True to your nature you never did realize it.
Eyes widening at finally comprehending the situation, you shuffled your thoughts inside your head once more. You thought about how his hand felt so gentle when it came to you yet also possessive at times when you were meeting those so-called friends of yours. You even stopped wearing hats when he would "accidentally" push them down over your face while he intimidated them without you knowing. You felt stupid not noticing the signs at all.
"I wouldn't go through such lengths for just anyone. You're special, I want to protect you always, no matter what." He reached down and grabbed your hand in both of his to further establish his sincerity. "I want to be with you."
You gaped like a goldfish. Your lips trembling at how to respond. He was the most direct in his feelings thus far. You knew he was direct when dealing with others yet being personally referred to overwhelmed you.
"K.. Kai-- mmm... S... Seto?" You swallowed trying to be still your nerves.
His lips curled up as you called him by name. The sight striking your very heart. Now you were suddenly even more aware of him. He wasn't just Kaiba. He was Seto now. Your mind boggled at this moment.
"Relax. I don't bite." He released your hand and pinched both of your cheeks to ease your tension filled face. "Much."
"H-hey!" You yelped, rubbing your cheeks with a pout.
"Now that you know my intentions I intend not to hold back."
He leaned forward and kissed your cheek with a chuckle as you felt your face flush. He wanted to treat you as he did his dragons. You were a precious gem meant to treated with care.
"...S...Seto I um..." You groaned at how silly you sounded. "...thanks... for enlightening me... and I guess... protecting me...?" You twiddled your fingers, your nerves pretty much shot. "Also for letting me know of your feelings... I do appreciate it. I... need time to process it honestly..."
He nods but smirks at your reply. You weren't exactly rejecting him, so he took this as a step forward. "Very well... it is understandable however I won't be swayed away that easily."
You soon learned that Seto wasn't joking about holding back. He intended to court you in his own Kaiba Seto way. Even if it meant showing up in a helicopter to escort you to places or gifting you a million roses at your doorstep. He always made sure you were treated the way you wanted to be treated.