Control

"How do you know?" Seto asked, waving Roland over. "You're entirely sure?"

"I heard him say it," Serenity insisted.

"We'll need to hear the exact wording, your highness," Roland told her, phone already out so he could start messaging people. If Seto was going to leave tonight, they had an overflow of tasks to complete and needed every possible moment. If there was a missile heading toward Japan, word had to get to Mokuba and Gozaburo so they knew to leave, and so that Gozaburo knew to allow access to his weapons.

Japan would fight back tonight.

"I was looking for dad because he told me to find him whenever I was done with my homework, and he was in his office talking to a bunch of officials on his video call screen. But that wasn't on his schedule."

Seto knew where and what she meant. He had sat in on more than one of Pegasus's meetings, although he doubted any of them were the impromptu war strategy calls like the one Serenity must have happened upon. But to have that many people involved either meant he was looking for permission or sending out warnings before a mass attack.

"And then what?" Seto asked.

"He said that they had to attack while they could, before Japan decided you weren't enough of a deterrent."

She wasn't going nearly fast enough, and Seto didn't have nearly enough time.

"And you know the cities?" Seto pressed.

"He had a map. I learned where Domino was a long time ago."

Why Domino? Pegasus had told him that as long as he behaved and did as he was told, his family would be safe. Maybe Pegasus assumed that since the house was a reasonable distance from the city center, they would be safe, but that depended on the type of missile and the exact target. It didn't take timing into account. How could he know Gozaburo hadn't decided to work late, bringing Mokuba into the office with him?

"I need you to do something for me," Seto said, leaning down to hold Serenity's full attention. "Don't tell anyone about this, any of it."

"But we have to stop them."

Shaking his head, Seto answered slowly, "You cannot get caught in the middle of this. I'll handle it."

"How? You can't—"

"Have some faith in me," Seto told her. "And thank you."

He checked with Roland, whose expression was dark enough Seto knew things were going to have to change drastically. Nothing was set up for Seto to go tonight, the hotel room wasn't ready, the getaway car, the guards at the border—nothing.

"I'll see you at dinner," Seto said to get Serenity to leave. Although she had offered her help, he wouldn't let her be considered an accomplice in all of this. Her family wouldn't do anything against her except hold a grudge, and no daughter or sister needed that weighing on her.

Seto led Roland to the edge to get as far away from the camera as they could, and once Serenity had disappeared behind the elevator doors, Seto started planning. "I have to go tonight. So does my family."

"Yes, your highness."

"Is the hotel still an option?"

"I can have someone check in now."

But it wouldn't have been under the right name, and Seto's room wouldn't be ready for him.

"How much can we get down in the next few hours?"

The question was more to himself than Roland, who was still caught up in making what arrangements he could on his phone. He would have to handle the hotel and the border, including the method of getting to the border, and Seto would need to contact Gozaburo and find a way out.

He wouldn't have a disguise, not in this time crunch. If he could get to a computer, maybe he could take out the cameras long enough to get out, but that would be a clear sign something was wrong, and people would be on alert.

And what was he going to do about Joey? The plan had been to go while he was showering or fucking Tristan, but for the time Seto needed to scramble everything together, it would be too late to count on either of those. Even getting into a fight to say he wanted to sleep in different rooms wouldn't help, because the bed Joey and Tristan used was in the office, so Seto would be left in the bedroom, on the wrong balcony.

It was the wrong balcony for the old plan. Maybe with some adjustments, he could make it down from that one, or not use a balcony at all. He might end up without much of a head start, but if something could be set up at the hotel, Seto was reasonably comfortable they could catch up in the days to follow.

"How soon can you get me a key?" Seto asked.

"Two hours."

That gave Seto time to message Gozaburo and to go to dinner, since skipping that would put unwanted eyes on him for the rest of the night. Serenity wasn't supposed to have known, and certainly wasn't meant to tell Seto, so he couldn't let on that anything had changed. And that meant sitting through a family dinner for the last time.

"We could have the fire alarms sound," Roland said. "They will have to evacuate."

Seto shook his head. "They would assign people to me. But you're right, I can't wait long enough that everyone has gone to bed."

He needed foot traffic to hold the attention of those in the security office. One person stood out much more than forty.

This was never going to work. He was supposed to have full control of the board by the time he left, the option to do anything, make any adjustments as needed because everything else was set. Seto was supposed to be in control for this part, and here he stood, outwardly calm and inwardly floundering.

"Who is taking your shift tonight?" Seto asked.

"Duke. I can get the key after dinner."

"And leave it where?"

"The library. Name a book and I'll leave it in the cover."

Seto had already been to the library once that day, but Seto hadn't left with a book, so he could reasonably go back for one. He picked the first title that came to mind, "Turn of the Screw," because he knew where he had left it. "It's in the reference section next to medical."

"I'll find it."

"Don't ask for help finding it. It will look strange if I go for the same one, and it isn't where it's supposed to be."

Tapping his fingers on the railings, Seto stared down at the hotel that was supposed to be his haven. There wouldn't be anything waiting for him, but what other choice did he have? He was going to end up leaving without any supplies, disguises, money, or papers. He was leaving without a head start.

"Do you think they can send a car? Canadian tags will be less conspicuous."

And it would save Seto from traffic stops, which there would certainly be, or from getting stopped on the road without fake identification. The driver could have something set up with border patrol to cut out the need for paperwork.

"I'll check."

"There isn't going to be a phone set up, will there?"

"No, your highness."

"And you're using your own cash?"

Seto hated that the answer was yes. "Otousan will pay you back, but get me a computer and a cellphone. I'll see about securing it enough to use."

Masking his voice might be enough. It would have to be.

"I'll have it done."

So if Seto could find a way out of the building, he would have a hotel room ready, and hopefully, three days from now, a car ready. That could get him to the border and past, and with word to Mokuba, his family could be waiting on him. It was risky, patchy, and hazardous, but possible.

If he could get out of the building tonight.

"How am I going to get out of here?"

"I could escort you outside."

"Even if I thought that would work, I won't leave you to clean up my mess," Seto said, checking his watch. "I've got to get ready for dinner and get word to Mokuba before Joey gets to the room."

"The room will be as ready as it can be by the time you're out."

Seto glared at the darkened 'E' on the hotel sign until the glow around it blurred together. It shouldn't have been so hard to cross one street. Everything that came after theoretically sounded simple, and yet Seto couldn't get himself to that point. He should have had Bakura walk him through the bottom floors as a fallback plan, since Seto hadn't been down there nearly as much as two years might have suggested.

"This is the last we'll talk before," Seto said. The rest would be up to him.

"I will help as you need me."

"I don't need to worry about you being arrested for treason. Act normal. Put the key in the book and go to bed."

Hours remained, and Seto could get it done, even sloppily. As long as he could get Mokuba out of the danger radius, he would be okay. If they caught him, Japan would still know it was safe to fight back, and Gozaburo would have given access to the newly developed weaponry to the Japanese government. Tonight was Seto's only chance to get out of the crossfire, and if he failed, then he failed.

"Okay," Seto said at last. "We have to start."

"It's been a pleasure, your highness."

Before he could answer, Seto needed a moment to collect himself, clearing his throat once before saying, "It's probably time you called me Seto."

"Only once you're safe, your highness."

Seto laughed, nodding as he stepped away from the edge. "Once I'm out." It was a nice sentiment, and one they would have to see through. And that had to start now, without another moment wasted.

One breath.

One second.

One moment of calm, and Seto headed for the elevator, unlocking the top floor. He had to contact Mokuba first, before he could have the peace of mind to try anything else.

As always, Roland waited by the elevator while Seto went back to the suite. He checked each room for Joey and finding them empty, sat down in front of the television, Xbox controller in hand. There was no guarantee Mokuba would be awake, or that anyone would be monitoring the connection, but Seto had to send a notice. If no one responded, then he would have to call, and that was too much of a risk to even think about.

The king will attack Japan tomorrow. Multiple airstrikes, including Domino. Get out. Fight back.

Seto's thumb tapped on the controller, feeling like he was wasting time waiting on a response. Dinner was approaching too quickly, and if he was going to make the call, he had to do it within minutes, when no one was around and he could use Roland's phone without being caught.

How long could he wait?

Fight back? came the response.

That must have been Gozaburo. Mokuba would have asked if Seto was okay first.

Put KC back in play. I'm leaving tonight.

Where?

I'll figure it out. Take care of things on that end. Meet me in Canada.

Seto had to disconnect before Joey came in to get ready for dinner, and that would have been in any minute. But even under the time crunch, Seto took a moment to move past the fact he hadn't gotten to say goodbye to Mokuba. If this failed, there was a chance he wouldn't get the chance to again. But at least Gozaburo would get Mokuba out, away from Domino.

And hopefully not straight into another attack.

For dinner, Seto put on a tie, halfway into straightening it when Joey came in the bedroom. He stood behind Seto and stared at him in the mirror.

"You seem stressed," Joey said.

"You know how I feel about these dinners."

"I can get you out of it. Honest."

Any other night, Seto would have taken him up on that. But tonight, Seto didn't want anyone coming to look for him. The show had to continue while Seto tried to take control of the board set out in front of him. One meal and he would go.

"Is he coming in tonight?"

"He worked the day shift," Joey said.

"I see."

That still didn't get Joey out of the office so Seto could use the balcony. Dinner would take about an hour and that would be enough. He didn't have to be involved in dinner conversation, although people might notice him avoiding his wine.

"We really don't have to do that in here," Joey said.

"And yet you really have to do it."

"Seto, come on. I told you we'd stop if you said the word."

"And I told you to fuck who you wanted."

Joey stepped back, cocking his head with an expression of disbelief. "Which apparently doesn't include my husband. You see where I might be a little pissed about that."

When Seto stepped back, his gaze landed on the closet. He ran through the options as they came to mind and logged them away as an emergency plan. The preferable plan was to shove Joey off on Tristan, somewhere other than their suite, not make use of anything on those shelves.

"You're more than welcome to go down to his room tonight," Seto said. "I won't take offense. Don't make me late for dinner."

"Yeah, give me a minute."

Joey had to add a tie to his outfit as well, and fix his mess of a normal hairstyle. It got Seto to debate his own, and if changing it might help him get out the backdoor more easily. And what if Roland forgot to grab a bottle of hair dye to leave in the hotel room? Black hair would get him overlooked more than if he left it brown, even if it only meant he looked less white.

Maybe he could borrow a staff uniform and a pair of glasses from someone. It wasn't much, but he didn't have much to work with regardless.

"These dinners really so bad for you?" Joey asked on their way down. Tristan and Roland stood behind them in the elevator, and Seto subtly checked for any sign that Roland had gotten something finished. His phone was put away, but that could have just been to avoid the questions. Only Duke kept his phone out all the time.

"Yes."

"Sometimes, I think you just say stuff for the reaction."

"There's plenty more in this elevator I could comment on if that were the case," Seto said, and eyed the narrow stretch of air between Joey and Tristan.

"Relax," Joey said, taking a step forward to make some room between them. "Wasn't trying to call you out or nothing."

The stares in the cafeteria never wavered, whether Seto walked in a group or with only a guard. People recognized him so easily, like they were always on alert should he decide to turn on them from the inside. He scared them and they hated him for it, for the war and for Cecelia.

"You were only trying to tell me how I should feel about something."

"You know I'm not behind this. It wasn't my call."

"Nothing is ever your fault, your highness."

Tristan walked around them to open the door to the private dining room, and the table was already full. The seat for Cecelia was gone completely, as if to say her spot would forever remain hers.

"You're late," Pegasus chimed, following up with a sip from his glass. "Busy day?"

"Yeah, had to finish up with that trade deal," Joey said. He took the seat beside Pegasus and knocked Seto's chair back for him.

"And your excuse, Kaiba-boy?"

"I was as busy as ever."

Which recently had meant reading. Seto must have read through an entire section of the library by now, and read in every spot he had been allowed, from the roof to the game room to the cafeteria. For whatever reason, Seto sitting around doing nothing bothered people more than him interacting with anyone else.

"We're going to have an even busier day tomorrow," Pegasus said, without so much as a glance to Seto in regret of the impending attacks. "Lots to prepare for."

"Like what?"

"Like the business of running this country."

Joey took the plate when offered by the server, and Seto did the same right after. He needed to eat, since the last thing he was going to allow to go wrong was his stomach growling while he was sneaking through the halls, trying to be discreet. There was a balance between being hungry and overly full, and Seto reached it at half a salmon fillet and a third of his vegetables.

Serenity kept checking on Seto, and he didn't look back when he caught her doing it. She would give him away at that rate, but the best he could do was let it go and allow Pegasus to attribute it to any reason he could imagine. Maybe she had a crush or wanted homework help. Maybe she was guilty about Seto not getting to talk to Mokuba like before. There were explanations other than Seto knowing the truth.

"Kaiba-boy, you're not drinking."

The glass in front of Seto was still untouched, and normally by this point in the meal he would have finished off two. Something that small shouldn't have caused a problem, and Seto explained it away by saying, "I'm afraid I'm not feeling well. I'd rather not be lightheaded on top of it."

"Eat something weird?" Joey asked.

"It's likely."

And if he claimed to be sick, he might get some time alone in the suite that night. Nine o'clock would be the latest he could safely assume people would still be walking the halls, and he could keep Joey out until then. If he went down to Tristan's room, then he could count on plenty of time alone.

"You don't seem to be as peckish tonight," Pegasus agreed.

Serenity looked up again.

"Commenting on my appetite is certain to increase it," Seto said. He took a sip of his water while Joey gave him a weak glare.

If all went well, this was the last time he would have to sit through this display. Tomorrow, he might be on his own for the first time in two years. He could spend the full day sleeping or watching the news, messing around on the internet if he wanted to. The day would be his if he could just get to the hotel room.

Roland would need at least an hour to get the room ready, and then return with the key. It was a quarter after six now, and the shifts should have switched already. There wouldn't be a signal, and Seto decided to check for the key at seven-thirty. That left an hour and a half to deal with Joey if he hadn't left, and to check the room for anything he needed to carry out with him.

He could shave his head, Seto considered. No one would be looking for a bald man. Even cutting his hair shorter would help, and the moment he thought of it, it became part of his plan. In the remaining time, Seto would cut off his hair.

"Be in my office at seven tomorrow," Pegasus said. "And Joseph, wear something nice. We'll be on video calls most of the morning."

"You always say that," Joey said.

"And you always underdress. Seto, help him look decent."

"Of course," Seto said.

"Seto and I could literally wear the same thing and you'd still find a way to complain about it."

Pegasus considered with another sip from his glass. "Perhaps. It could just be his posture."

They had all acknowledged Seto was finished eating, but he couldn't simply dismiss himself. He had to wait until they were done to go, without giving away the fact he was anxious to leave.

It was Serenity who excused herself first. She did so with a hand over Cecelia's old spot at the table, and leaning over to Pegasus to kiss his cheek. "I'll see you at breakfast."

Seto didn't wait until she had left, but stood up as well, bowing slightly before walking out without a word. Duke fell into step behind him, texting as usual, and Seto went straight for the elevator and up to the suite. Joey might have been right behind him, or else Seto would have tried contacting Mokuba again.

He had forty-five minutes before the key should have been in place. There was so much to do, and at the same time, nothing Seto could do to prepare at the moment. It was too early to change into whatever he would wear to sneak out, and too early to pick out the outfit should Joey walk in.

Loosening his tie, Seto dropped to the couch and propped his feet up on the coffee table. He left the tie to hang loosely around his neck while he turned the television to the news, actually hoping word of the attacks hadn't leaked. If it had, they would be watching him. Not that they weren't watching him now, he thought with bitter amusement.

The ding of the elevator caught his attention, and Seto leaned over to see Joey coming out of it and headed back. He had time to pick a fight and get Joey to storm out, or Seto could leave at seven-thirty, and then come back to continue the fight if need be.

After all this time, Seto found it amusing that he jumped to a fight to get Joey to leave, rather than being able to ask for space. They never had been anything other than a contract, and even that was screwed up. One simple request would never have gotten him anywhere.

"You really feel sick?" Joey asked.

"Yes."

"And the news is going to make you feel better?"

Seto smirked and crossed his legs the other way. "What would you suggest I do instead?"

"I don't know. Sleep it off?"

"It's not even seven. I'd rather not be awake at midnight."

"There's meds in the kitchen—"

"I don't need your help. Go learn to rule the world or something."

But instead, Joey sat on the couch and matched Seto's position. "There's so much goin' on now. Feels like we're not talking anymore."

"It's intentional."

"I don't hate you."

"I don't care."

The guilt over the night of Cecelia's funeral had lingered far too long, and Seto was done trying to coddle guilt that wasn't his burden. Joey wanted forgiveness or for Seto to tell him all was okay, that he understood the pain and that he had been too drunk to think straight, but Seto didn't. He wouldn't. It wasn't his concern if Joey ever felt at peace with his actions or if he rotted in the regret.

"You're really done trying."

"I've never tried," Seto said. This would be the only chance he had for honesty, and Seto was too preoccupied with other things to work up lies. "I've never wanted to try."

"I'm really that awful in your mind?"

"It's not just in my mind."

Joey popped his lips together once. "There's a truth bomb."

Seto leaned forward for the remote, turning up the volume a few clicks as if to say he was done talking. Something would have to get Joey to leave, and if it was him who left, then he would be gone longer than if Seto walked out, too angry to come back before it was time to sleep. But even after making it clear he was done, Joey kept sitting beside him, and compensated for the volume by raising his voice.

"I know the war relapse thing hasn't made anything any easier, but it won't last forever. And when we get things settled again, Mokuba's going to be able to come visit. Things are going to get better."

"You assume Japan will lose."

"I mean," Joey started, lifting his palms like the answer should have been obvious. "Japan's working without a pretty big advantage."

"Kaiba Corporation stopped working with the government weeks ago, and their technology is still much more advanced than yours. The only advantage you have is that they are taking the high ground and trying to work it out according to the treaty that you all put into place. Having me here won't stop them forever."

"But long enough," Joey said. "And with minimum casualties."

"You really don't get it," Seto said, and believed it. Maybe none of them truly understood the force Japan could summon in a moment, that they were holding back for the sake of all the lives they had the ability to take in a single strike.

"Explain it then."

"No."

Joey's next attempts at conversation led nowhere, and Seto watched the news with no new information coming out. Tomorrow, it would be his face plastered all over the channels.

Seven-thirty came and Seto stood to go.

"You're leaving?"

"I'm going to get a book."

And hopefully, put things into motion.

Thanks for reading!

You can expect an update on Sunday, July 30th.