Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Then and Now ❯ How they became someting more ( Chapter 3 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: cinque 
Anime/Manga: Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Drama | Type: Yaoi | Uploaded On: 04.15.2007 | Pages: 2 | Words: 4.8K | Visits: 307 | Status: Work In Progress
Anime/Manga: Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Drama | Type: Yaoi | Uploaded On: 04.15.2007 | Pages: 2 | Words: 4.8K | Visits: 307 | Status: Work In Progress
3: How they became something more.
One year later (Seto and Katsuya are 12, Mokuba is 8)
One year! It had been one whole year since Seto, Mokuba and he came to live with Gozaburo. One year since he'd lost his innocence. One year of constant raping.
Katsuya lay on his bed, face burrowed in his pillow. He wasn't crying. His last tear on Gozaburo's behalf had been shed almost a year ago. But inwardly he was screaming, cursing Gozaburo, wishing him dead. Oh, how he hated that man. He wished he could just go to the police and confess everything, or just run away and never come back. But he knew he couldn't do that. Gozaburo had warned him of what would happen if Katsuya ever betrayed him in this way. If he ever dared to go to the police or run away. Gozaburo wouldn't hit him. He knew that Katsuya wasn't responsive to that kind of punishment (he didn't like the ugly marks on his precious boy-toy anyway). No, Gozaburo had threatened him with something much worse: If Katsuya ever dared to run or talk he would go after Seto, he would force the same thing on Seto that he did with Katsuya. That was something Katsuya wouldn't, couldn't allow. Seto was so pure and so dear to Katsuya that raping him wouldn't just break Seto, but Katsuya too. Katsuya could deal with everything Gozaburo did with him; he had lost his will to fight a long time ago, but if something would happen to Seto or Mokuba because of him…that would be worse than death in Katsuya's eyes.
Sighing, Katsuya rolled on his back, facing the ceiling. There really was nothing that could get him out of here…well, maybe Gozaburo's death would, but the bastard hadn't even had a cold as long as Katsuya had known him. At least Gozaburo was on some business trip right now and hadn't taken him or Seto with him, so Katsuya had a break for now.
Katsuya sighed yet again. There was something else that'd had him scared for some time now. His feelings for his blue eyed step brother. He didn't know when it had started exactly, but he was certain these feelings had been there even before he knew what they meant. Katsuya was in love with Seto. He wanted to always be with him, protect him, shelter him, caress him and…touch him. This last feeling was what had frightened Katsuya the most. How could he have these dirty thoughts, and for his beloved friend none the less? He knew better than anyone how dirty and disgusting it was to want someone in this way. So why was it he had these feelings?
Katsuya rolled on his stomach again and groaned into his pillow. Why did everything have to be so difficult? He wanted to go back to those times when he was still so ignorant of what two males could do together. Back to those times when his feelings for Seto had still been pure and innocent.
A knock on his door pulled Katsuya out of his gloomy thoughts. “Katsu-chan, can I come in?” Katsuya's mood brightened as soon as he realised who was on the other side of the door. He hated how he felt for Seto, but he couldn't help but feel extremely happy whenever Seto was with him. Happily, he jumped from his bed and opened the door. Seto managed a tired smile before his vision went blurry and his knees gave out. He fell exhausted into Katsuya's arms.
Seto was so tired. Gozaburo had forced him to study the last 30 hours with less then three hours sleep and no food at all. Now that he was finished and was finally allowed to have a break he just wanted to see his sanctuary that was Katsuya.
“Oh Seto, are you okay?”
“Tired…” Seto mumbled into Katsuya's neck, his lips brushing the skin softly.
“You should go to your room and sleep then. Really Set-chan, I know you love to study, but you're overworking yourself,” Katsuya said, blushing.
Seto frowned inwardly. He wanted to tell Katsuya that it wasn't his choice to study this much, but he didn't want to worry the other boy.
“Don't you want me here? We live in the same house and we never get to see each other. Katsu-chan, I miss you…But maybe you're right. I should go to bed.” Seto could barely keep his eyes open, but he had really wanted to see Katsuya. He and Mokuba were the only reason he was able to keep going, and whenever Seto was with Katsuya he felt so…content. He loved Mokuba dearly, but with Katsuya he could let go; he didn't have to play the strong one.
Katsuya smiled warmly. Seto missed him! Even though he was so tired, he'd come to see him! Katsuya felt a bit giddy.
“Don't go Set-chan, I've missed you too, but I think you really should lie down…we can lie on my bed and take a nap. How does that sound?”
That sounded wonderful to the brunette boy. He loved being near Katsuya and cuddling with him would be simply heavenly.
“I would like that.”
They lay down on Katsuya's bed, facing each other. Seto laid his arm over Katsuya's waist. Wanting his step brother as close as possible.
Katsuya, meanwhile, had a hard time regulating his breath. Seto was so close and he smelled so good. So clean, not like Gozaburo who smelled like sweat, cigars, occasionally alcohol and something dirty, so totally Gozaburo…
“Katsu-chan? Are you cold? You keep shuddering.”
“No Set-chan, I'm not cold, I just…I just had some bad memories. Nothing to worry about though.”
Seto moved closer. Their foreheads almost touched and their knees bumped into each other. “Don't think about anything, Katsu-chan. Just concentrate on me.” Seto felt so good being with Katsuya like this and he wanted his friend to feel the same.
Not wanting to think about Gozaburo, Katsuya did as Seto had suggested. Seto's breath was caressing Katsuya's face now that he was so close, and the blond was painfully aware of the heat which radiated from his friend's body and crept its way into every cell of him. They lay like that for a while until Seto looked down at Katsuya and gasped. Katsuya, not knowing what had the other boy so surprised, looked down at himself and…blushed furiously.
One year later (Seto and Katsuya are 12, Mokuba is 8)
One year! It had been one whole year since Seto, Mokuba and he came to live with Gozaburo. One year since he'd lost his innocence. One year of constant raping.
Katsuya lay on his bed, face burrowed in his pillow. He wasn't crying. His last tear on Gozaburo's behalf had been shed almost a year ago. But inwardly he was screaming, cursing Gozaburo, wishing him dead. Oh, how he hated that man. He wished he could just go to the police and confess everything, or just run away and never come back. But he knew he couldn't do that. Gozaburo had warned him of what would happen if Katsuya ever betrayed him in this way. If he ever dared to go to the police or run away. Gozaburo wouldn't hit him. He knew that Katsuya wasn't responsive to that kind of punishment (he didn't like the ugly marks on his precious boy-toy anyway). No, Gozaburo had threatened him with something much worse: If Katsuya ever dared to run or talk he would go after Seto, he would force the same thing on Seto that he did with Katsuya. That was something Katsuya wouldn't, couldn't allow. Seto was so pure and so dear to Katsuya that raping him wouldn't just break Seto, but Katsuya too. Katsuya could deal with everything Gozaburo did with him; he had lost his will to fight a long time ago, but if something would happen to Seto or Mokuba because of him…that would be worse than death in Katsuya's eyes.
Sighing, Katsuya rolled on his back, facing the ceiling. There really was nothing that could get him out of here…well, maybe Gozaburo's death would, but the bastard hadn't even had a cold as long as Katsuya had known him. At least Gozaburo was on some business trip right now and hadn't taken him or Seto with him, so Katsuya had a break for now.
Katsuya sighed yet again. There was something else that'd had him scared for some time now. His feelings for his blue eyed step brother. He didn't know when it had started exactly, but he was certain these feelings had been there even before he knew what they meant. Katsuya was in love with Seto. He wanted to always be with him, protect him, shelter him, caress him and…touch him. This last feeling was what had frightened Katsuya the most. How could he have these dirty thoughts, and for his beloved friend none the less? He knew better than anyone how dirty and disgusting it was to want someone in this way. So why was it he had these feelings?
Katsuya rolled on his stomach again and groaned into his pillow. Why did everything have to be so difficult? He wanted to go back to those times when he was still so ignorant of what two males could do together. Back to those times when his feelings for Seto had still been pure and innocent.
A knock on his door pulled Katsuya out of his gloomy thoughts. “Katsu-chan, can I come in?” Katsuya's mood brightened as soon as he realised who was on the other side of the door. He hated how he felt for Seto, but he couldn't help but feel extremely happy whenever Seto was with him. Happily, he jumped from his bed and opened the door. Seto managed a tired smile before his vision went blurry and his knees gave out. He fell exhausted into Katsuya's arms.
Seto was so tired. Gozaburo had forced him to study the last 30 hours with less then three hours sleep and no food at all. Now that he was finished and was finally allowed to have a break he just wanted to see his sanctuary that was Katsuya.
“Oh Seto, are you okay?”
“Tired…” Seto mumbled into Katsuya's neck, his lips brushing the skin softly.
“You should go to your room and sleep then. Really Set-chan, I know you love to study, but you're overworking yourself,” Katsuya said, blushing.
Seto frowned inwardly. He wanted to tell Katsuya that it wasn't his choice to study this much, but he didn't want to worry the other boy.
“Don't you want me here? We live in the same house and we never get to see each other. Katsu-chan, I miss you…But maybe you're right. I should go to bed.” Seto could barely keep his eyes open, but he had really wanted to see Katsuya. He and Mokuba were the only reason he was able to keep going, and whenever Seto was with Katsuya he felt so…content. He loved Mokuba dearly, but with Katsuya he could let go; he didn't have to play the strong one.
Katsuya smiled warmly. Seto missed him! Even though he was so tired, he'd come to see him! Katsuya felt a bit giddy.
“Don't go Set-chan, I've missed you too, but I think you really should lie down…we can lie on my bed and take a nap. How does that sound?”
That sounded wonderful to the brunette boy. He loved being near Katsuya and cuddling with him would be simply heavenly.
“I would like that.”
They lay down on Katsuya's bed, facing each other. Seto laid his arm over Katsuya's waist. Wanting his step brother as close as possible.
Katsuya, meanwhile, had a hard time regulating his breath. Seto was so close and he smelled so good. So clean, not like Gozaburo who smelled like sweat, cigars, occasionally alcohol and something dirty, so totally Gozaburo…
“Katsu-chan? Are you cold? You keep shuddering.”
“No Set-chan, I'm not cold, I just…I just had some bad memories. Nothing to worry about though.”
Seto moved closer. Their foreheads almost touched and their knees bumped into each other. “Don't think about anything, Katsu-chan. Just concentrate on me.” Seto felt so good being with Katsuya like this and he wanted his friend to feel the same.
Not wanting to think about Gozaburo, Katsuya did as Seto had suggested. Seto's breath was caressing Katsuya's face now that he was so close, and the blond was painfully aware of the heat which radiated from his friend's body and crept its way into every cell of him. They lay like that for a while until Seto looked down at Katsuya and gasped. Katsuya, not knowing what had the other boy so surprised, looked down at himself and…blushed furiously.
He was hard.
“Katsu…Katsuya, wha…what…” Seto stammered and blushed.
The other boy swallowed, not sure what to say, other than the truth. “It's…It's an erection, Seto…”
“I know what it is, stupid! I just wanted to know why,” Seto interrupted Katsuya harshly. He was offended that Katsuya thought him so naïve.
Katsuya, misunderstanding his friend's harshness, began to sob. “I'm so sorry, Seto, I don't know why, it…it just happened. Please don't hate me now; you have to believe me, I didn't mean for it to happen…please…”
Seto was horrified. He had never seen Katsuya like this. “Please stop crying Katsuya, please! I'm sorry, please believe me, I could never ever hate you, especially not over something like this.” He wrapped both his arms around the blond's shoulders, pulled him flush to his body, and kissed Katsuya's forehead tenderly.
Seto sounded sincere, and through his panic attack his erection had died down. Katsuya was finally able to calm down, though he was clinging to Seto desperately now.
Seto wanted to know why his best friend had reacted so strangely, but he didn't want to frighten Katsuya again, so he let the subject fall. “Let's go to sleep, Katsu-chan, we're both exhausted.”
Katsuya nodded against Seto's shoulder and was already falling asleep. That had definitely been too much stress for the twelve year old.
Seto, however, wasn't able to fall asleep despite how tired he was. Why had Katsuya been so frightened? Did he really believe Seto could ever hate him? And above all…why had Katsuya been erected?
Seto was a boy, and you were supposed to have this kind of reaction when you were with a girl. He was sure of it. He had found some books on that subject in Gozaburo's library and he had seen men and women making out on TV, but that was about it. He and Katsuya weren't allowed to go out much. They both had private teachers - separately. Mokuba was the only one allowed to go to a normal school. Seto didn't know why and he had never dared to ask Gozaburo, so there weren't many people he could talk to about this stuff…none, really.
Was it wrong for Katsuya to have this kind of reaction? Wasn't he kind of young for that? Even if he was, did it really matter? It hadn't seemed wrong to Seto; in fact, he was rather curious. Seto himself had had some erections before, mostly in the mornings, but they had always gone away pretty soon. It must have been something that he had dreamt about that had him so excited, Seto knew, but he never could remember what he had dreamt about at night.
What was it like for Katsuya? Had he had an orgasm already?
Seto really wanted to know about that one. He knew that an orgasm was supposed to feel really, really good. Maybe he would ask Katsuya about it later…when his eyes didn't fell like they would fall shut any moment. Yawning loudly, Seto cuddled closer to his friend and soon joined him in dreamland.
With a gasp, Seto woke up. He looked down at himself and groaned. It had been one week since the strange scene in Katsuya's room, and every night since then…Seto dreamt and woke up with his penis hard. And the worse part of it all was…he was hard because he had dreamt about Katsuya doing things to him…like kissing him, touching him…down there. Why was this happening to him all of a sudden? He had been fine before, but since he had seen Katsuya's erection through his trousers everything had changed. He couldn't think about his friend without realizing how incredibly long his eyelashes were, how cute he looked when he smiled, or how tight some of Katsuya's clothes were at just the right places…God, what was wrong with him?
He now understood better why his friend had reacted so strangely when Seto had discovered Katsuya's erection. It was disturbing and embarrassing having these thoughts about his best friend. But did Katsuya really have these kinds of thoughts about him? Seto wanted to know, and he wanted these things that happened in his dreams to happen in reality. He wanted to know how it felt to have someone touch him there, and how it would feel under his hands. Should he talk to Katsuya about it? No, that would be too embarrassing, but maybe he could…initiate situations were Katsuya was forced to notice that Seto's feelings for him had somewhat changed…no, not changed…developed.
Later that day (after studying of course) Seto found Katsuya in his room lying on his bed, reading a comic. “Oh Set-chan, did you come to play? Oh, I know, lets play Duel Monsters. I learned a new trick and now I'm sure to beat you.”
“I'm a bit tired, Katsu-chan.”
“Are you alright? You do look a bit pale, come here, lay down. Do you need something? Are you thirsty? God Seto, what are you doing that makes you so tired all the time?” Katsuya asked concernedly, making Seto feel quite guilty for lying to his friend. But the ends justify the means, right?
“No, I'm really just tired, it would be enough to just lie down with you, if that's okay.”
Katsuya was a bit conflicted. He wanted to comfort his friend, be as near to him as he could, but lying down with him? He could still remember how his body had reacted the last time he and Seto had been close together.
Seto, seeing his friend's turmoil, decided to push it a bit. “Please Katsu-chan, I can relax the best when I'm near you, so…please.”
How could Katsuya say no to that? “Come here then.” Katsuya patted the space next to him on his bed.
'Score,' Seto thought, but when he came to the bed and laid down Katsuya rolled onto his side, his back facing Seto.
He now understood better why his friend had reacted so strangely when Seto had discovered Katsuya's erection. It was disturbing and embarrassing having these thoughts about his best friend. But did Katsuya really have these kinds of thoughts about him? Seto wanted to know, and he wanted these things that happened in his dreams to happen in reality. He wanted to know how it felt to have someone touch him there, and how it would feel under his hands. Should he talk to Katsuya about it? No, that would be too embarrassing, but maybe he could…initiate situations were Katsuya was forced to notice that Seto's feelings for him had somewhat changed…no, not changed…developed.
Later that day (after studying of course) Seto found Katsuya in his room lying on his bed, reading a comic. “Oh Set-chan, did you come to play? Oh, I know, lets play Duel Monsters. I learned a new trick and now I'm sure to beat you.”
“I'm a bit tired, Katsu-chan.”
“Are you alright? You do look a bit pale, come here, lay down. Do you need something? Are you thirsty? God Seto, what are you doing that makes you so tired all the time?” Katsuya asked concernedly, making Seto feel quite guilty for lying to his friend. But the ends justify the means, right?
“No, I'm really just tired, it would be enough to just lie down with you, if that's okay.”
Katsuya was a bit conflicted. He wanted to comfort his friend, be as near to him as he could, but lying down with him? He could still remember how his body had reacted the last time he and Seto had been close together.
Seto, seeing his friend's turmoil, decided to push it a bit. “Please Katsu-chan, I can relax the best when I'm near you, so…please.”
How could Katsuya say no to that? “Come here then.” Katsuya patted the space next to him on his bed.
'Score,' Seto thought, but when he came to the bed and laid down Katsuya rolled onto his side, his back facing Seto.
“Sleep well.” Katsuya really didn't want to repeat last week's accident. Seto, on the other hand, had other plans. So he spooned Katsuya from behind, pressing himself to Katsuya's backside.
“What…what are you doing?” Katsuya gulped.
“I'm just trying to feel comfortable, and you're so warm and feel so good against me, Katsu-chan. Please let us stay like this.”
“All…All right.” It felt good to Katsuya too and…god, it just felt so good to have his best friend so close and he didn't want him to move away.
It didn't take long for both of them to get hard, thanks to puberty. Even though almost every contact Katsuya had ever had with sex was painful, he knew that it could feel good. He wondered what it would feel like to have Seto in him or be in Seto.
Seto was curious too, but he didn't knew yet what two males (or female and male) could do in bed, apart from touching, but he wanted desperately to know.
He pressed his still quite small (he was still just twelve after all) erection into Katsuya's back. Trying to gain some friction and making his friend aware of his aroused state.
Katsuya gasped when he felt it. Was it what he thought it was? Oh god, yes it definently was Seto's stiffy pressing against him. Swallowing, he turned around, looking directly into Seto's eyes. “Seto…? Are you…are you…” Seto nodded smugly.
“What…what are you doing?” Katsuya gulped.
“I'm just trying to feel comfortable, and you're so warm and feel so good against me, Katsu-chan. Please let us stay like this.”
“All…All right.” It felt good to Katsuya too and…god, it just felt so good to have his best friend so close and he didn't want him to move away.
It didn't take long for both of them to get hard, thanks to puberty. Even though almost every contact Katsuya had ever had with sex was painful, he knew that it could feel good. He wondered what it would feel like to have Seto in him or be in Seto.
Seto was curious too, but he didn't knew yet what two males (or female and male) could do in bed, apart from touching, but he wanted desperately to know.
He pressed his still quite small (he was still just twelve after all) erection into Katsuya's back. Trying to gain some friction and making his friend aware of his aroused state.
Katsuya gasped when he felt it. Was it what he thought it was? Oh god, yes it definently was Seto's stiffy pressing against him. Swallowing, he turned around, looking directly into Seto's eyes. “Seto…? Are you…are you…” Seto nodded smugly.
“Yes, I am.” He looked down at Katsuya. “You too.”
“…Yes”
“Can I touch you?”
Katsuya was frightened, but also very excited. God, he had dreamt about this for so long... “Yes…”
“And…will you touch me?”
Oh god, was this really happening? “Yes!” Katsuya almost hissed.
And with that both of them reached out, touching the other curiously through their trousers. Katsuya almost flinched when Seto's curious fingers brushed his demin clad erection. God, how could something like that feel so good all of a sudden? He moved his hips forward to press himself more firmly into Seto's hand.
Seto, meanwhile, felt like he was in heaven. God, he never knew something could feel this good, but he wanted more. More of Katsuya, more feeling on his own cock.
As if sensing Seto's desire, Katsuya's hand made its way to Seto's waistband. He was so curious as to what Seto's cock would look like. It would definently be smaller and prettier than Gozaburo's…No!!! He scolded himself. Don't think about him. Just concentrate on Seto. He opened Seto's buttons and shoved his boxers down. There it was. Small in size and not fully developed, but it looked amazing to Katsuya. He traced his finger lightly over the head.
Seto was nearly hyperventilating. That felt sooo good. Not wanting to leave Katsuya dry he moved his own hand and opened Katsuya's trousers as well. He noticed that Katsuya's penis was bigger and stiffer than his. Curiously, he moved his fingers up and down on it. Wanting to know if its texture felt the same as his own.
It felt much like his own, but somehow different. He liked it and continued to move his fingers up and down.
Soon the two of them were panting hard. Both had the other's cock firmly in their hands now.
Suddenly, Seto felt like he exploded from the inside. It was an amazing feeling like…like…there was nothing he could compare this feeling to. It was just too good. Unconsciously he pressed Katsuya's cock harder which made the blond cry out in ecstasy. He came with his best friend's name on his lips. Seto realized that he, unlike Katsuya, hadn't spurted out that white sticky stuff- semen, was it?- but it didn't matter...he felt so good all over.
When both of them came down from their peaks they looked at each other - grinning like a bushel basketful of possum heads.
“We should do that more often,” Seto remarked, giggling.
“You took the words right out of my mouth, Set-chan.” And Katsuya too started laughing hard. He thanked god for having met Seto. No matter how hard his life was, as long as Seto was with him everything would be alright.
“Isn't that cute.” Gozaburo sat in front of his TV, which showed two of his step sons laughing on a bed. He congratulated himself for installing a camera in his toy's room.
At first he had been furious. How dare his toy have fun with somebody else? But then he realised...Oh the possibilities. He had never dared to touch Seto. Not in a sexual nor an abusive way. H e still wasn't sure what the boy was capable of, but he had to admit that the boy did possess a certain beauty; and now he had the perfect opportunity to have a closer look at it and to humiliate the boy.
Oh, he wouldn't act immediately...who knew how his could play out? Only to his advantage, he was sure, but he wouldn't rush anything.
“…Yes”
“Can I touch you?”
Katsuya was frightened, but also very excited. God, he had dreamt about this for so long... “Yes…”
“And…will you touch me?”
Oh god, was this really happening? “Yes!” Katsuya almost hissed.
And with that both of them reached out, touching the other curiously through their trousers. Katsuya almost flinched when Seto's curious fingers brushed his demin clad erection. God, how could something like that feel so good all of a sudden? He moved his hips forward to press himself more firmly into Seto's hand.
Seto, meanwhile, felt like he was in heaven. God, he never knew something could feel this good, but he wanted more. More of Katsuya, more feeling on his own cock.
As if sensing Seto's desire, Katsuya's hand made its way to Seto's waistband. He was so curious as to what Seto's cock would look like. It would definently be smaller and prettier than Gozaburo's…No!!! He scolded himself. Don't think about him. Just concentrate on Seto. He opened Seto's buttons and shoved his boxers down. There it was. Small in size and not fully developed, but it looked amazing to Katsuya. He traced his finger lightly over the head.
Seto was nearly hyperventilating. That felt sooo good. Not wanting to leave Katsuya dry he moved his own hand and opened Katsuya's trousers as well. He noticed that Katsuya's penis was bigger and stiffer than his. Curiously, he moved his fingers up and down on it. Wanting to know if its texture felt the same as his own.
It felt much like his own, but somehow different. He liked it and continued to move his fingers up and down.
Soon the two of them were panting hard. Both had the other's cock firmly in their hands now.
Suddenly, Seto felt like he exploded from the inside. It was an amazing feeling like…like…there was nothing he could compare this feeling to. It was just too good. Unconsciously he pressed Katsuya's cock harder which made the blond cry out in ecstasy. He came with his best friend's name on his lips. Seto realized that he, unlike Katsuya, hadn't spurted out that white sticky stuff- semen, was it?- but it didn't matter...he felt so good all over.
When both of them came down from their peaks they looked at each other - grinning like a bushel basketful of possum heads.
“We should do that more often,” Seto remarked, giggling.
“You took the words right out of my mouth, Set-chan.” And Katsuya too started laughing hard. He thanked god for having met Seto. No matter how hard his life was, as long as Seto was with him everything would be alright.
“Isn't that cute.” Gozaburo sat in front of his TV, which showed two of his step sons laughing on a bed. He congratulated himself for installing a camera in his toy's room.
At first he had been furious. How dare his toy have fun with somebody else? But then he realised...Oh the possibilities. He had never dared to touch Seto. Not in a sexual nor an abusive way. H e still wasn't sure what the boy was capable of, but he had to admit that the boy did possess a certain beauty; and now he had the perfect opportunity to have a closer look at it and to humiliate the boy.
Oh, he wouldn't act immediately...who knew how his could play out? Only to his advantage, he was sure, but he wouldn't rush anything.