I did it. I couldn't leave well enough alone, so I continued the story.
I'm looking to upload two to three times a week. Also don't be mad if I use the wrong computer-y terms throughout the coming chapters. I don't know squat about large systems. What I do know about is writing about family drama.
Enjoy :D
White noise filled the room. The low hum of the air conditioning, the gentle click-clicking of the computer keys, the occasional footsteps outside the door. As always, Mokuba was well-behaved while his brother worked. Sometimes he read, sometimes he did homework, sometimes he drew, sometimes he played games on his handheld, and sometimes, like today for instance, he stared off into space and let his mind wander. Seto didn't ever seem to mind what he did, as long as he wasn't disruptive.
Like any kid would, Mokuba took full advantage of his swivel chair, spinning this way then that. And then he'd get up and pace the room before returning to his seat. He was so lost in his restlessness that when Seto slammed a fist onto the desk and swore, Mokuba jumped.
The elder brother, despite having a nasty temper, rarely ever uttered a single curse word. He was, after all, a grown man who routinely used words like 'dork' and 'dweeb'. So whatever had irritated him today, Mokuba realised, must've been serious.
"What's the problem, bro?" he asked, grabbing a hold of the desk and pulling his seat closer to properly address Seto.
"I think there's a bug in the system," Seto explained through gritted teeth. "I don't know how. We have the best security system in the world. I should know, I designed it myself. But it seems like every time we do anything at the moment, it's all gone in a day. Important documents are disappearing left, right and centre." He took a breath to calm himself. "Two steps forward, one step back. We even have to keep the game we're working on, on the backup server, so we don't lose all our progress. It's a pain in the ass."
"Let's go get lunch," Mokuba suggested. "And then we'll find the source of the problem when we get back."
Seto looked indecisive for a moment, but relented. "Alright, but quickly. Looks like I've got another all-nighter ahead of me."
An all-nighter usually consisted of Seto working from before dusk until after dawn, and Mokuba trying his darndest to keep up with his brother's hours, but always crashing shortly after midnight. He'd wake that morning to find himself snugly wrapped in his big brother's long coat, though Seto would never openly acknowledge doing something so paternal.
"Let's go then!" Mokuba said gleefully. "I know a place."
"I presume you're referring to the usual place?" Seto closed his computer down and slipped his coat on. "Put on a jacket, it's cold out."
Mokuba did as he was told, and they were off.
...
It didn't take long for the brothers to put in their usual lunch orders and begin making their way back to the office. Seto drove while Mokuba, always a dessert-before-dinner kind of person, sat in the seat next to him. Today, he'd ordered a cookies and cream ice cream, and grinned at the silent nod to Noah. But he was a little sad, too – it didn't seem fair that he couldn't be there with them, doing the mundane and so very ordinary lunch run. It was a simple thing, but something that Mokuba didn't see why Noah shouldn't be as entitled to.
"Hey, Seto?" Mokuba spoke up and glanced over his brother. "I can talk to you about anything, right?"
Seto didn't take his eyes off the road as he responded. "What do you mean by anything?"
"Oh, you know," Mokuba said, making an effort to keep his voice nonchalant. "Just things. Important-type…things. Things that have been happening to me as of late, you could say."
There was a brief silence, and when the elder answered, his voice was cautious. "…Sure."
"Okay! Just checking!" Mokuba brightened, and let the subject drop. He spent the rest of the ride wrestling with his own nerves. Mokuba had never had this kind of trouble talking to his brother before; but surely, if Noah could be brave, then so could he.
