Control
Locket. Room key. Dark clothes.
Seto was back on the balcony before he remembered his plans to cut his hair, and by that point, didn't have the time to go back. Joey hadn't started screaming, but there was a chance he was just waiting to hear Seto leave before it would begin. There was a slimmer chance Joey was actually going to let Seto leave before calling for a guard, but Joey knew, and Seto wasn't getting another chance.
His hand felt for the room key while he craned over the balcony to find the one below it. Dropping down a single floor shouldn't have been a daunting task, and as tall as he was, Seto thought he could hold on to the railing overhead and have the length to hook his feet below.
Without letting himself get too caught up in how he was going to do it, Seto sat on the railing and swung his feet over, checking the drop once more before sliding down. The distance proved greater than he had anticipated, and getting his feet on the railing below was much harder than he thought. The soles of his feet skimmed the top, and Seto held on above him, grateful that Bakura had at least been right about there not being much light pointed his way.
He ran out of space to move lower. Maybe, Seto thought, not letting himself look down, if he let go with one hand, he would have the flexibility to swing enough that he could use momentum in his favor. Or there could be something on the bottom side he could grab onto, because the longer he hung off the balcony, the more tired his arms would get.
When the strain became too much, Seto exhaled once slowly, and then again more heavily. He shook out a hand, holding on with one, and felt for something—anything—he could grab onto. But the most letting go did was give him another few centimeters to get his feet solidly on the rail. It wasn't enough.
Only then did Seto let himself look down, more as motivation than out of fear, although both felt fairly prominent at that point. He couldn't fall, and had to make this work.
Somehow.
He shuffled sideways to get closer to the side of the building, thinking he might have been able to grab the door frame to pull himself forward. His arm was giving out quickly, and he strained to reach while he had some grip strength left.
Seto had to be overthinking this. If he could just—
His hand slipped and his blood rushed cold, and for a split second, Seto was falling.
Until he wasn't.
"And here I've been assuming you to be graceful."
Bakura helped Seto get his feet planted, and then stepped back before Seto could push him away in his anger.
"How long have you been there?" Seto demanded.
"I've been waiting on you a half hour."
"I'm in a time crunch," Seto said, and started inside, but Bakura grabbed his arm.
"I'm here to help."
Shaking his head, Seto knocked away Bakura's grip. "You'll be convicted of treason. I won't let that happen."
"And you've got the safety of a country riding on your shoulders. No one should have to bear the burden of their people."
"Then what's the plan?" Seto asked. There wasn't time to stand around talking about the reason behind Bakura offering to help when Joey had given him an hour at most. He was already too far behind, but at least hadn't heard shouting from overhead yet.
"Guys in the camera room don't know who's got your shift tonight. You'll draw less attention with me."
"Except everyone will know it's me," Seto said. "You tend to stick out."
"Unless I don't want to."
Seto headed back inside. "I have to go. Come if you plan to."
But Bakura grabbed him again and pushed him against the exterior wall with an irritated expression. "Your highness. Take a breath and calm down. We're not going through that door."
"I'm not jumping down another balcony."
"No," Bakura agreed, dragging the word out much too long. "But there's a camera pointed directly at this door. We move to that balcony—" he paused to point to the one beside them. "—and we're covered."
"That wasn't in the plans."
"I was always in my plan."
"And you didn't think I should know that?"
"You would've said no."
He would have, and now had a clock ticking down that stopped him from pressing the matter. The next balcony was only about a meter away, and it took under a minute for Bakura and Seto to cross to it. It still opened into the game room, but not being on camera meant Seto wouldn't be at risk of them questioning how he had appeared from the balcony when he hadn't been seen coming onto the floor. Appearing on camera from somewhere already in the room wouldn't raise flags, and hopefully, no one would look back, especially since Bakura was with him.
"Where to?" Seto asked, although he was already following Bakura to the stairs.
"We're meeting up with Roland for coffee."
"No, we're not."
"I don't know why you assumed we were leaving you to fend for yourself."
"Because that's what I asked you to do."
Bakura took the same path he had walked Seto through, avoiding the cameras as much as possible and keeping out of people's way. They knew Seto and saw him with Bakura—they always checked for a guard—and that meant when Seto leaving was discovered, Bakura would be arrested. Despite having to worry about the cameras, or more realistically, the people behind them watching, Seto let himself worry over Bakura while they made their way down. He wouldn't let someone be tried for treason because of him.
"Why are we meeting him for coffee?"
"You'll see."
"That's hardly an acceptable answer."
"As much as I love the grating sound of your voice, your highness, shut up."
They ended up on the staff floor, and Bakura led Seto down to his room, where Roland was waiting beside a stack of clothes. "Your highness," he said, standing to bow.
"No time for formalities," Bakura said. "Change into those clothes."
"You will both be arrested for this," Seto said.
"You will be too unless you get going."
The clothes were a uniform, the same one the guards wore, so it must have been either Roland or Bakura's second set. He didn't see how it would help without more of a disguise, but trusted them to have something planned. They wouldn't be taking up so much time otherwise.
He went back to them and Bakura handed him a pair of glasses like Roland had taken to wearing.
"I've been making sure it's known I'm heading out for a drink tonight," Roland said. "Anyone who sees you leave will assume it's me following through."
"We don't look alike."
"The cameras aren't in color," Bakura said. "If we style your hair the right way, they won't think it's you."
"But the people I pass will know."
"You'd be surprised what people overlook when they aren't paying attention."
Seto took the hair gel from Roland when it was offered, but didn't do anything with it. Banking his escape on people's stupidity was hardly a plan. For all the time they didn't tell him they were plotting something else, this was what they had come up with?
"This is insane."
"Do your hair like his," Bakura said. "You're wasting time."
Seto guessed it was similar to leaving dressed like Croquet, but that would have at least called for a wig or color in his hair. If there was talcum powder in the bathroom, Seto could whiten his hair, and that might deflect more of the attention.
But they were right. He didn't have the time.
Roland stood beside him at the mirror so Seto could mimic the odd part as best as he could, and with the glasses on, he really didn't look much like himself. Hopefully it would be enough to fool anyone with a passing glance. Hopefully no one would care to look long.
Seto was so tired of banking on hopefully.
"Well?" he asked when he had finished. "Is it passable?"
"It will be on the camera," Roland said. "Just don't stop for anything. Don't give them a reason to look."
The security staff was large. Aside from a few people, Seto didn't think anyone would know he wasn't actually a part of it. Even if they didn't think he was Roland, they might simply see the uniform and let the strange face slide.
"And now?"
"You and I go down," Bakura said. "And we walk out together."
That sounded too easy, and with all the things that could go wrong, it would come down to something as simple as people not looking at him. And after two years of constantly being watched, it wasn't something Seto felt he could count on.
"When someone realizes something isn't right and stops us?"
"You keep walking. I'll handle anyone who tries to stop you."
Bakura's confidence should have made Seto feel better, but only added to his concerns. Nothing would be so easy, and Bakura needed to be prepared for the eventuality of them getting caught. Standing around and talking about it wasted the limited time, and they started to head out. Seto adjusted his posture and matched Roland's resting expression. Getting out of the staff floor immediately was his first priority, since the people who lived around Roland would be the most likely to recognize Seto wasn't him.
"Keep walking isn't much of a plan," Seto said lowly. They were just a few meters from the elevator, and so far, no one had come out of their room. "I trust you have more in mind."
"Right now, everyone who might stop us is on duty. Unless we run into his highness somewhere, I don't foresee any issues."
"I'm asking what the plan is should there be an issue," Seto said. He wasn't sure it was in his best interest to tell Bakura what he had done to Joey. If they got caught, Bakura needed to be able to deny he knew anything about it.
"Deal with it if it comes up."
"You are the most frustrating person."
Bakura chuckled and opened the door to the stairs. "You haven't met yourself then. Watch who you talk in front of. You and him don't sound much alike."
"That's just another way to say shut up."
"You caught me."
They started down, Seto's heart picking up with each floor they past. It was going to be the lower floor where the most risk took place, and Seto fought to keep a calm exterior because there would be no reason for Roland to be so anxious. It was also where most of the security would be looking.
"When does he get out?"
"Once I call to let him know we're out."
"And we hope no one notices he leaves the building twice?"
"They'll just assume he came back in without anyone noticing. Stop worrying."
Nothing would be as easy as Bakura predicted, but as they reached the bottom floor, Seto started to think maybe he could pull this off. It was a straight shot to the door, but when Bakura started for the back, Seto stopped him. "We should go out the front."
"It's farther from the bar," Bakura said, clearly referring to the hotel rather than the alibi.
"Less eyes on the front."
"But more exposure. The back is the best option."
There was no guarantee Joey had been telling the truth, and both options had plenty of associated risks. But Seto had to assume Bakura's word was better than Joey's, since he had been thinking and planning longer than a minute. But the number of people on the first floor was much higher than Seto had expected, most of them heading for a door. That much was good, because no one would care about two more people heading out.
"Bakura."
Seto's entire being stopped when he recognized Croquet's voice, and since it wasn't him being called to, he followed the plan and kept walking. Bakura hung back to talk to Croquet, and before Seto had made it ten steps, he heard Croquet calling for Roland to hang back.
Did he stop? Was he supposed to pretend he couldn't hear Croquet calling him back?
He kept going with that act. Croquet would know he wasn't Roland; he likely already did. The wrong hair color was such a giveaway, and the moment Seto turned around, it would be over. The room was crowded, and Seto had good reason to pretend he hadn't heard. Croquet was one of the few people Seto knew would recognize all the members of the guard.
And then, over the buzz of the exiting crowd, Croquet called for him again, this time, with a question in the tone. He must have realized Seto wasn't Roland, or any other member of the staff.
But the door was in sight and Seto kept walking for it. If he had to run, it needed to be outside. The New York crowds were always large, and Seto could slip away much easier within in them than inside the thinning crowd inside. But if he left and Croquet followed, Seto couldn't go straight to the hotel. He would have to run and backtrack somewhere, somehow.
Seto caught the door as it swung closed, the person ahead rushing off and letting it almost hit Seto. He was so close, and if he just kept going, there was a chance they wouldn't stop him. Bakura must have been making excuses as to why Seto, or rather, Roland, wasn't stopping.
A hand grabbed Seto's arm and pulled him back, and Seto watched the recognition take over Croquet's expression, darkening just long enough Seto saw his future, locked away and made an example of while the war came to an abrupt end with either a surrender or fallout. It was over before Seto hadn't gotten a foot outside.
"Croquet?" Bakura said, putting a hand on his shoulder and pinching somewhere that forced him to go limp. Bakura caught him with ease, keeping him propped up. "Lightheaded?" he asked, and waved Seto along. "Meet me at the bar, Roland. I'll get him to bed."
He spoke loudly enough there would be witnesses to Roland following through on his plans, and that Croquet's unconsciousness wasn't any reason for worry. At least it wasn't to the people around. Seto almost lost the control to keep his face even, but clenched his teeth to maintain the façade.
"What about you?"
"I'll meet you there later."
"Bakura—"
"Go."
Seto faced inside, which meant everyone could see his face if they looked too long. And with Croquet in his current state…
"Don't be long."
"All right," Bakura said with a little laugh. "I'll see you there."
It wasn't much of a goodbye for someone who was risking his own life for Seto's, but he couldn't wait around any longer. With a final nod, Seto backed out through the doors. And for the first time in two years, he was outside alone. He couldn't stand around to enjoy it, because at any moment, the plan could fall through. As long as Bakura could handle Croquet, Seto didn't predict any further issues.
For him. The issues for Bakura and Roland would be massive if they couldn't get out as well. Both of them had to come with him to Canada, which in and of itself shouldn't have been a problem, but if they couldn't get out too?
Seto kept the room key in his hand while he waited on the traffic to stop and crossed the street. He should have gone to the bar or done a few more laps. The short trip to the hotel, Seto couldn't think of anything else, but his priority was to get behind the locked door.
No one at the front desk stopped him, but Seto made certain he had the key in sight to prevent anyone from questioning him. A few people gave him confused glances—he was wearing sunglasses in doors—but aside from that, Seto was done. The room door opened and closed behind him.
He had gotten out.
Seto took off the glasses and ran his fingers through his gelled hair, leaning back on the door to keep himself from falling to the floor. That was it. He had walked out, and the only people in immediate risk were the people who helped him.
But he couldn't go back. They had gotten him out, and Seto had to trust they could do the same for themselves.
So he settled in to wait, the news turned on so he would know the moment they announced something had happened. It might take days or hours, but Seto couldn't miss a moment of it.
He paced.
He stared.
He waited.
And waited.
And waited.
Roland was supposed to have made it by that point. Bakura should have just dropped Croquet somewhere and headed over himself. Their absence made what should have been a time of relief more stressful than Seto could have imagined. The news was useless, but Seto left it on.
And he waited more.
By the time Seto started to doze off, a light knock came from the door. He jumped to answer, hardly remembering to check who it was before opening the door. A half-second glance showed Roland on the other side, and Seto ushered him in quickly.
"What happened? Where's Bakura?"
"A quiet alert was raised. Bakura wiped the security footage."
"What?" Seto asked. "That wasn't never part of the plan."
Roland sat on the bed and took off his glasses. "With the incident with Croquet, they would have reviewed the footage, seen you leave, and tracked you here."
"That puts everything at risk."
"He will get out when he can," Roland said. "Make sure you lock the door."
Seto did. "Did you speak to him?"
"Briefly, right after he dropped off Croquet."
The pacing started again while Roland continued to sit, likely to let himself calm down from his own escape. And with the tension, the room fell into a thick silence Seto couldn't handle. His footsteps didn't drown it out any more than the dim drone of the television, and it wasn't long before Seto had to start another round of questioning.
"What did he say? When does he expect to get here?"
Roland picked up the phone from the table beside the bed. "He didn't know."
That meant he didn't think he would be able to. And if hitting a wall wouldn't have drawn attention to the room, Seto would have put his fist through it in frustration. He should have waited another day, given them more time to come up with a better plan for escape. The others being forced to leave with him had never been in any of his plans, and now that Bakura might not have been able to get out, Seto poured over everything me might have done differently.
"I left Joey handcuffed to our bed," Seto said.
"You…" Roland took a moment to consider it through before finishing with, "I see."
"He promised an hour. It's been six."
"The guard was assembled to inform them of your disappearance. The last I checked, they weren't aware you had made it out of the building."
Seto nodded while his pacing picked up speed. If he had actually gotten this much of a head start, they would never assume he had stayed so close. That brought up another question, one that might have changed how long he could stay in the hotel. Seto asked, "Did you cover your bar excuse?"
"I left for the bar when I was supposed to. They called me back from it."
That was good. Even if they recovered the cameras, they likely wouldn't track Seto across the street. But they might look more closely than Seto expected them too, especially when they realized Seto was missing. They would have to comb through each face looking for him.
"How long will it take to get the car here? To have the border guards prepared for us to go through?"
"Three days, as planned."
There was a reasonable chance they would find him before that happened. If they noticed Roland left twice, Seto was done.
Finally, Seto sat beside Roland and leaned forward on his knees to take his head in his hands. He hadn't wanted this. No one else was supposed to go down in Seto's place, not when all he had to do was leave. He should have just told Japan to attack and leave Seto at risk, or take whatever actions were necessary despite what they had done to him. He had gotten word to Mokuba and Gozaburo; if all went well on their end, they would already be safe from potential attacks.
"I can't just wait."
"We'll have to, your highness."
"It's just Seto now," he reminded.
Roland chuckled. "Of course, Seto."
There was no going back now, no undoing his previous moves. Seto had done everything he could do and was left with only a waiting game, one in which he had no control over the pieces.
Thanks for reading! Epilogue to follow.
