Well ,this idea came to mind. Seeing as after the clock episode comes the crash town arc, I have a fair amount of leeway. I have the sneaking suspicion that this will end up being loosely associated one shots.
Yusei: I don't understand.
Me: Every time I find your life sad, you get one cup of hot cocoa.
Yusei: (Drinks hot cocoa quietly)
Clockwork
"Ruka, I don't feel comfortable doing this." Aki rests on the sofa positioning herself perfectly as a patient would while talking to her psychiatrist. Sadly, Aki is currently serving as Ruka's patient for the dual purpose of providing guidance to the distraught teenager and as practice for Ruka who aspires to be a great psychiatrist. Well, Ruka would not admit it to Aki but her interest in spending time with her honorary big sister also contributed a huge portion. To the twins this is a second home, Aki generally allows them free reign and sleep overs are, not unheard of, on weekends. Her parents are at a social gala till late in the evening, giving them plenty of time for Aki to talk freely, or not, Ruka sighs downcast. Aki makes the mistake of shifting her attention from the ceiling, to the pouting psychic with the drooping pigtails.
"I guess I can tell you what's on my mind." Sitting on a giant recliner, Ruka holds her pen and paper eagerly waiting. Aki's lips scrunch, distrusting.
"No paper trail." She demands. Ruka laughs flipping the notebook to show a doodle of Sunlight Unicorn. Cheerfully, her little friend zips her lips for emphasis.
"Nothing leaves the room." Clanking and scrapping sounds distract them as Rua shuffles the fridges contents, his sister reprimands him.
"Rua, it's very impolite to take food without asking." She huffs crossing her arms.
"I'm just following proper nutrition standards and feeding regularly." His words are muffled as he stuffs his face, chewing loudly. He swallows smiling broadly. Scrambling to the other side of the lavish living room, he places his bounty of food on a small coffee table. When they appear hesitant to continue, he dismisses them casually.
"Go ahead, I won't be a bother." A delightful popping sound occurs as Aki again attempts to speak. Ruka taps her pen furiously, glaring at her brother, in a surprisingly accurate portrayal of an annoyed Ancient Fairy Dragon.
"Pickles?" He offers sheepishly. Aki laughs before taking a breath and moving on with the session.
"I can't get Yusei out of my head. I'm drawn to him to the point that I'm starting to actually know what he's talking about. I asked that many questions. I keep getting these insane ideas like pouring glitter on him. Every time I try to think of something else, somehow, I start to think about him instead. When in the rose garden, I picture Yusei with a rose in his teeth offering to Tango. At School, I wonder if Yusei would come if I made a call to get something repaired. This Therapy session, I'm so messed up that my only problem is Yusei, Yusei, Yusei. "She gushes rapidly sitting up and panting as she finishes.
"That's not a problem Aki, if you want Yusei's attention all you have to do is smash something and bring into the garage." To prove his point, Rua picks up a nearby vase throwing it to the ground. Ruka slides across the wooden floors catching the possibly priceless vase, shaking her head.
"No, no, no, Yusei isn't the problem here. She doesn't need attention from Yusei. She needs a break from him. How much time have you spent in that little garage?" Ruka points accusingly at Aki. Taken back, she mutters.
"Well, after school and"
"Weekends?" Rua cuts in knowingly.
"Late nights?" Ruka finishes. Silent, with no defense, she nods. Perhaps, her obsession is getting out of hand. Ruka flips the pages of her little notebook scribbling down her prescription for Aki.
Covering her face, Aki is almost afraid to look at the verdict. Opening one eye she peeks at the small note, No Yusei for two weeks.
The alarm rings lifting Yusei easily from his slumber as hues of orange and reds lazily reflect the room. With a familiar strike of his hand, the beeping ceases. Marching in a practiced manner to the small enclosure that holds his wardrobe, he lightly dusts his selected clothing. Dressed, he crosses into the main area, avoiding the squabbling Jack and Crow by at least five feet as calculated. As expected, Bruno has a cup of hot cocoa waiting for him when he sits down on the worn couch. With finesse he takes out the paper that he has skillfully snatched from the counter, near the war zone, methodically, he removes sections that do not interest him. Bruno and Yusei share the remainder of the paper, and switch once they finish a section. This lasts precisely thirty minutes before talk begins of work for the day. Knowing after ten minutes of basic theory with Bruno the fight will cease, he acknowledges his friends as they realize his presence. Without pause, he wishes Crow good luck at work as he hurriedly stuffs a bagel in his mouth, heading for the Black Bird. Locating precisely what tool he needs without shifting his attention from the engine, he ignores Jack who waits expectantly.
With a slight grimace, he tosses Jack his wallet.
"If Crow asks, You took it while I was busy with the engine." Jack nods and Bruno whispers as Jack leaves for the café if Yusei should trust Jack with the team's savings.
"Poker is a very bad habit, Bruno." He replies. For the next few hours, they pursue their selected tasks for the day. Yusei aptly senses the hours that pass and rises, preparing three cups of Ramen, done exactly as Crow storms in, tired. Yusei hands him a cup and Bruno takes the other. In ten minutes, the slurping abruptly ends, and consecutively, the cups are thrown into the bin in the corner.
Idle chatter continues for five more minutes, Crow returns to his deliveries, and the two mechanics discuss any possible problems or improvements that could be made upon inspection that day. Silence naturally permeates as their task takes priority again. Yusei stretches twice in the next few hours. With precision he visibly slows his work pace, he glances at the door way, waiting. Predictably, the twins come down waving amiably. He greets them, listening to tales of horrid cafeteria food along with subtle hints that he fix the broken air conditioner in their hall. After a few minutes of such talk, Yusei's eye level comes to the door, perplexed.
"Where Aki?" Rua appears put out that Yusei did not hear the end of his amazing tale where his Deformers pulled through at the last draw. Ruka, Yusei observes also concentrates on the door briefly before responding playfully.
"She decided not to come today." Yusei nods satisfied with the response. Attempting to focus on work, he considers conversing with the twins seeking reprieve from the humdrum. Both have settled on the couch, Ruka dutifully working on her homework while Rua's plays on a small game console, completely engrossed. Uncomfortably, Yusei shifts his position, subconsciously scanning the doorway repeatedly. Bruno taps his shoulder redirecting his attention.
"Your bolt is too tight." He points to were Yusei repeatedly continues to punish the bolt, practically screeching in agony.
"Right," Yusei stops, weighing his options.
"Rua, Ruka, if you need any help with your studies let me know." Rua nods absently, cheering as he passes into the next level. Ruka smiles scribbling away.
No solace or escape from the empty air, deliberately, he reminds himself what his current objective is. Reproachfully, he makes eye contact with Bruno typing away at the keys.
"Any interesting findings?" Bruno shakes his head absorbed in his assignment. Surrendering ideas of further social interaction, he delves into mechanics . As evening hits, without warning, Jack calls out to Yusei who jumps. Frazzled, he looks up at Jack, disoriented.
"What are you doing here?" Yusei's legs wobble as he stands. Vaguely, he recalls he forgot to stretch. Stomach rumbles, he reprimands himself for forgetting dinner. Perturbed, Jack monitors his friend.
"The café closes at eight." Yusei nods turning to the couch.
"The twins left." Lightning bolts remarks idly completely unaware of his surroundings since he delved into his work. Determined, he throws Yusei down yelling for Bruno to get the thermometer.
"I'm not sick." Yusei kicks Jack defiantly turning to the kitchen to appease his appetite. Bruno manages with the element of surprise to jam the thermometer into Yusei's mouth. Slightly aggravated, he slips the thermometer leisurely out, placing it gently on the nearby desk.
"Ask me how my day is going?" Jack stares at him as if he has grown a second head. Lightning head pleads with his eyes for a response.
"I know how your day went. Same as everyday, after I left, you worked on the engine, had lunch with Crow, talked with Aki and the twins-" Dropping the box of cereal, he bends down snatching the unruly item. Regarding the box, he takes a deep breath, frowning.
"Aki did not come today." He cuts in casually placing the bowl carefully down and pouring the cereal.
"Oh, well, anyway, why would I need to ask such an obvious question?" Desperately craving the tedium of the human voice, Yusei slyly comments.
"Anything interesting happen at the café?" Unable to comprehend his friends problem, he approaches the situation without mercy.
"I had coffee." Yusei, normally, would let the matter drop. The sickening crunch of his cereal ends as he swallows, prying.
"Did you talk to the coffee girl?" He presses, the continually annoying crunch of the cereal following.
"I ordered coffee." He persists. Jack bores into Yusei's eyes which are decidedly unassuming. He supposes that he could entertain his friend the one time that he is eerily talkative.
"Did Carly join you?" Okay, the former kings slim amount of patience dissipates.
"Look, I don't go around asking you a million questions about the engine. I would appreci-" Excitedly, Yusei eagerly slurps the remainder of the cereal. Jack cannot help but gape at the thin film of milk that is slowly dripping from Yusei's chin.
"What do you want to know?" Jack begins a dangerously swift decent to beat his friends inquisitiveness out of him, not for the first time.
"Crow." Caught off guard at the mention of the bird brain, he sputters.
"What?" Crow crashes onto the battered seat lifting his hand expecting an already made tea from Yusei. Specs of cereal are splattered across Yusei's form Crow notices when he bothers to lift his head. Lifting himself up, he decides that there is something inherently wrong with his friends disposition.
"Is he sick?" Yusei huffs, shaking his head. Appearing to remember what to do know now that his stomach is full, he crouches down and works feverishly on the engine. Bruno worries quietly attempting to convince Yusei to turn in for the night. Bruno's insistent pleas appear to momentarily sober his fellow mechanic who declines the suggestion.
"No, I have the bruise to prove it. Should we really assume that there is something wrong with him because he wants to talk?" Crow attempts to accept that their top mechanic simply is in the mood to chat. Yusei nonchalantly addresses crow.
"Crow stand right there. Now, I need you to ask me what this does." Marvelously, he does not know how to respond to the wreck before him. Still, feathers tickle his brain at the familiarity of the situation. Click, the pieces fit into place on who exactly does these things. Tearing at his hair slightly, Crow evenly rebukes his close companion.
"Yusei, sometimes people form habits. You for example tend to follow a routine. Now, there nothing wrong with that. However, you cannot simply replace part of your life with another. Now, I'm sure this change in your life is temporary. If not, learn to adapt buddy." He pats his buddy's back sympathetically.
"You need to get some things straight. We aren't going to ask you about your day. When your not saving the world, it is pretty standard. We don't want to know half the stuff that is in your head because I think we would explode. Now, tomorrow, I expect you to be quiet. " Jack grumbles looming over his troublesome companion.
Thoughtful, their partner and main hope for competing turns in early, exactly at nine. Signaling to each other when Yusei no longer is in ear shot, the three roommates huddle around the small television lacking interest in the content.
"Hope he figures out what he's looking for. I could just tell him." The red head voices to no one in particular. Bruno politely interrupts.
"Shouldn't we stay out of it?" His protest go unheard as Jack bellows.
"Tch, he needs to go outside and get some fresh air. The fumes are probably getting to him." Crow shakes his head
"Nah, you don't get it." Jack raises an eyebrow but the bird isn't telling its secrets.
Sitting cross legged on the lip of the stone fountain, Aki gazes around her, uncertain. She speaks to the surrounding roses nervously.
"You know I've brought plants to life before in a game." She mumbles surveying the unresponsive plants.
"I don't suppose you'd talk to me?" Only the faint rustle of the wind answers, she sullenly whispers.
"I didn't think so." Closing her eyes, lips twist down like copper wire.
"Do you miss me too, Yusei?" The flower maiden speculates counter productively meditating on the matter.
Slamming the alarm clock for the third time this past hour, Yusei stumbles out of bed, yielding. He fumbles for what to wear seeming to not realize his limited selection. Pushing past his comrades and their babbling, he swerves grabbing the newspaper quickly, attempting, desperately to not suffer for his indiscreet entrance. Originally stunned by their pal's abrasive behavior, they attempt to extract his opinion.
"Say, hypothetically, if someone stole your wallet, would you want them to get a job and repay you?" Crow snidely asks their dismayed confidant.
"Yusei, lost the group savings when we played poker. So, the money was mine." Coldly, he marches to Bruno who has already begun drinking his cocoa. Taking his cup from the counter, he regards the cold cup with a sigh before turning his attention to Jack.
"This is why you will no longer be getting your tab payed by me. Oh, by the way..." He opens a cell.
"I can be very persuasive Jack. I will single handedly destroy any chance of someone else paying your bill." The number of a certain reporter flashes on the screen.
"Three, two, one..." He makes a move to press dial. Jack discreetly adds to his previous accusations.
"I did bully him into it. I guess I'll pay him back later." Yusei shuts the phone adding curtly.
"With interest." Jack indulges him.
"Fine." With a manic smile, he turns to his paper already crinkled from previous use by Bruno.
"Good." Not knowing what to do, Bruno fiddles with his hands. Crow has already left and so has Jack, Yusei notes he deleted Carly's number spitefully from his phone.
The paper finally finished, Yusei addresses the bundle of nerves next to him and a back and forth begins on how to proceed. A rough start but the wayward technician concludes that the blue lights of the marked man, spark with renewed vigor. Still, gloves reach discretely to turn on the neighboring boom box. The agreeable sort he simply starts typing away keeping a careful eye on the readings.
Feet tapper down the steps of the garage, expression firm and focused, he shows no signs of greeting them.
"Yusei, we came by." Rua yells out. Blinking, he glances to his side taking note that Bruno has gone on break. Cleaning his hands, he gets up, wondering if Crow managed to make his meal and eat. Settling on eating a sandwich, he engages the twins.
"Rua, Ruka, would you like to eat as well?" Nodding, Ruka soon finds herself with a sandwich that her brother made with remarkable speed. She thanks him and soon the three are on the familiar musty couch. After a few bites, the interrogation begins.
"Where's Aki?" Not bothering to spare a glance at the door, he stares at Ruka. Nibbling her meal as if she hasn't heard the question, She picks her words carefully, only to have her sibling beat her to it.
"Your driving her crazy." Ruka's mouth opens in horror. She yanks his pony tail muttering angrily about doctor patient confidentiality. The analysis expert, for once, misreads the situation.
"I did something wrong?" He asks hesitantly, lacking his usual confidence. Both hush disbelievingly. The two synch as the same idea crosses their minds.
"I'm not sure I feel comfortable doing this." Settled down on the couch, he can't help but glance at the door expecting someone to witness his humiliation. Therapy with children, even with a mature Ruka and supportive Rua, appears absurd to Yusei. Ruka stares up at him piping cheerfully.
"It'll make you feel better." Not inherently inclined to believe young children, he raises an eyebrow doubtfully. Prodded by their expecting gazes, he decides it couldn't hurt providing he take precautions. Locking the door, placing dirty rags on the windows, he finally returns to his previous position.
"Okay, now describe what's been bothering you." Ruka instructs poignantly. Abruptly, he inclines his head fixating his gaze on Ruka suspiciously.
"That has nothing to do with what I want to know, Just tell me why Aki is avoiding me so I can fix it." He murmurs. Tentatively, she marks the paper with a few careful strokes. A mischievous smirk forming, she replies.
"I can't tell you, doctor and patient confidentiality agreement." Registering that Aki had also attended talks with the twins, he wonders why she did not just approach him in the first place. He scans the room where Rua sits by the bench, for once, appearing to focus on his studies. Sensing his stare, Rua gives him a thumbs up as encouragement before continuing. Ruka sits across from him in Jack's recently acquired leather recliner, no doubt given to him by a certain reporter, waiting for him to speak. He feels like a hypocrite.
"Rua, do you know why Aki stopped coming?" The mad dashes of pencil marks he was making stop. Ruka gives him a scornful glare and no one notices the doorknob shaking or Bruno's cries for them to open the door.
"I'll get it." Rua takes advantage of the distraction. In a detached manner, Yusei briskly calls out to Bruno.
"Would you leave for a while and tell the others not to drop in? I'm in the middle of some private business." An awkward laugh follows, he wavers briefly before the sound of footsteps grow further away. Tactfully, he resumes questioning Rua.
"Well?" Careful not to come across as intimidating, he pleads with his eyes. Ruka interrupts sharply.
" Yusei, I think you're projecting your role as a mechanic onto your human relationships. I know it's hard but the best way mend the situation is to let the matter drop. Two weeks will fly by before you know it." Ruka winces inherently providing a useful piece of info for Yusei to analyze.
"Last time I left a bad situation alone, I ended up facing a dark signer." He admits as he dips his head shielding his eyes from the twins sympathetic gazes. Stammering, the guilt ridden psychic reveals the situation partially.
"D-don't w-w-worry, she bears you no ill will. She just-" Pausing, she tries to phrase the truth so as not to betray her big sisters trust. Rua, doesn't take the same care as he rattles on.
"She doesn't want to burden you with her silly issues. So, she's isolating herself in her rose garden." For a few excruciating minutes, he simply stands calculating in his head.
"Two weeks?" He eyes Ruka waiting for her response.
"I stand by my medical practices." She mumbles squirming under his watchful gaze. He grants them a small smile, ruffling their hair.
"Ruka, I'm confiscating your license." Pouting, to his surprise, she hands him an imaginary card that he neatly tears.
"Now, Jack owes me so he will be keeping an eye on you two at the café while I go talk to Aki." He tells them promptly as they settle into the D-wheel. They nod but continue to protest.
"It's seriously not a big deal." Rua groans as Yusei starts the ignition.
"You're being an enabler. You're over reacting, and I want my license back." She finishes with a whine. Ignoring their pleas, he drives, easily reaching the nearby Blue Eyes Mountain Café.
"Jack, baby sit, you get ten bucks an hour provided that you don't lose or kill them." Agitated, he nods anyway. Rua madly finishes what looks to Jack like chicken scratch. Ruka watches as Yusei revs the engine and takes off.
"Jack, did you feel awful after your career blew up in your face?" She only receives a heated glare.
"I can get used to this." Admittedly, she found her surroundings peaceful and familiar. Her previous anxiety and frustration had significantly lessened. At least, she wouldn't be conjuring images of Yusei every time she wanted to feel calm. Raven locks with depressingly recognizable streaks offend Aki's vision. She places her face in her hands.
"I must be going nuts." She mutters wearily. Stepping out of the rose bushes, he peers at her appraisingly before sitting next to her.
"Aki" Without removing her hands from her line of vision, she turns.
"No, you're not real." Taken back by the accusation, he pauses. Despite numerous snide remarks in the past aimed at his character, he certainly never was accused of that. Delicately placing his hand on her shoulder, he states firmly.
"I'm right here." Before he can rationalize further, she scoots further to the edge of the fountain.
"No, you're just a figment of my imagination. Now vanish in a flurry of sparkles like you usually do." She lifts one hand shooing him away. He really can't help but laugh, after feeling so unbalanced for the last two days. Shirking at the sound of his laughter, she mumbles something about another therapy session. Her refusal to admit his existence, he finds endearing. Playing along, he inquires curiously.
"You've been waiting in the garden for me?" Trying no to be smug, he wonders how far these fantasies go and if he should book her a session with a real psychiatrist. She doesn't want to burden you with her silly issues. Rua echoes in his head. Well, he could admit that something hadn't felt right when she wasn't there. Yusei could ignore her own quirks if she would indulge in his.
"No, I've been thinking about you too much. I guess it comes with having no experience with a crush. Divine never really asked. When he offered me kindness, I clung to him after drowning for so long in a sea of hatred. I'm afraid of trying to do the same to you. I shouldn't, even if every fiber of my body really wants to be close to you." Finally, releasing her eyes from their shadowy prisons, she edges closer to him until he can feel her breath on his cheek. Mind numb, he watches vaguely remembering to her, this nothing but a day dream. Drawing along his marker with her finger, she makes eye contact into the chaotic azure circuitry longingly before hesitantly withdrawing.
"The twins have a point about my obsession. When I touched your skin, it felt real." He nods barely registering that he might want to stop the facade. Trust could so easily be broken if he allows her to continue divulging any more intimate thoughts
"Aki," He takes a breath to collect the scattering stray currents that make up his thoughts. He does not get the opportunity to continue as she cuts him off.
"You should go. I'm going to stick with Ruka's advice and keep you away from me, body and mind. You're probably tired of putting up with me anyway. You don't have to say anything, you're in my head so you're biased." Now, logically, he should respect her wishes and leave without her ever knowing he was actually there in person. He cannot do so as the thoughts that plague his mind lash at him painfully.
"Two weeks," He mouths in disbelief. Twelve more days of sleeping late, forgetting to intake food, cramping because he forgot to stretch, desperately wanting to hear a human voice while he toils, his world would slowly be preoccupied only with mechanics, he shudders thinking who would he be then. Zoning out for a few seconds, he comes to the conclusion that he frankly can't stand the thought.
Sure, his other companions would do their best to keep him in balance, but Crow had a point he couldn't replace one friend with another.
"Yeah, I don't really do much. I'm sure they've hardly noticed that I'm not there." Closing his eyes, he hangs his head down, clenching the sides of the fountain.
"No, do not ever think we don't care about you." There's an edge to his voice. Suddenly, Aki's breath hitches as it dawns on her what she sees is very real. Frozen, she awaits further consequences for speaking all the things she never would dare to utter in front of his true self.
"I keep to myself a lot." The tense young man confesses with slight apprehension.
"Sometimes, I need company too." The nervous rose felt her eyes water even as she intervenes.
"Everyone else?" She stops not wanting to reveal certain wanton thoughts that she wasn't family, an adorable child, or a mechanical prodigy. Traitorous thoughts finishing with, wouldn't he feel more comfortable speaking with one of them. There is a gleam in the azure circuitry and the magenta enthusiast grips the stone to keep from drawing too close to the trap.
"You're better at making me talk. I never actually went through with the therapy session. Here I am spilling my guts." Flinching, he heats up realizing he admitted to seeking advice on his mental health from two identical insistent youths. Strands of her hair fall on him as she bends down clutching her sides, bright chocolate depths glow with deep appreciation.
"You too?" After a minute, he nods in defeat. Slyly, she leans close and whispers.
"Our little secret?" Nodding again, she notes that no more precious words would likely leave his lips today. With a deep breath, he stands, taking her hand. No resistance meets his gesture as they make their slow decent out of the thorny maze.
"You just love to hide among the flowers and thorns don't you?" The amused mechanic mentions off handedly.
"You always find me." She replies warmly. A long pause occurs, before he asks the question which burns in his mind.
"Would you ask me about my day?" The tamed witch answers teasingly.
"Can't live without my silly questions?" Gripping her hand more firmly, he whispers as the roses rattle their goodbyes.
"You have no idea."