Summary: It dawned on him that no one knew that he and Yami were ...official, for lack of a better terminology. They weren't just fuckbuddies anymore - did anyone need to know?


They didn't get it at first. It took a few moments for them to look at what was being presented, see the writing and the signature and piece it together. He watched their faces begin with curiosity and turn into confusion. Then suddenly Anzu's mouth was hanging open and he noticed that Jou seemed frozen in place.

"It's not life-changing, or anything," he told them, "but I felt it was the least I could do."

It wasn't, really. Mokuba wanted to do much more. But he knew that they wouldn't let him and, to a certain extent, he could understand why; that same reason prevented him from taking full advantage of his privileges as a Kaiba. He drove himself to work, made his own meals, paid for his own apartment - he didn't have to do any of those things. It was rewarding to take care of himself, though, especially when he didn't have to, and there were those worse off who could use the resources that he had. Seto's logic, of course, would be that their work was so important that they didn't need to concern themselves with such trivial things - they had earned their status - but Mokuba wasn't really sure about that.

The two of them looked at each other and paused before saying in unison, "I can't take this."

Running both hands through his hair, Mokuba told them, "Yes, you can." He'd known what the response would be, and he wasn't going to take no for an answer.

"No, really," Jounouchi said with a nervous laugh, fingers momentarily locked in his own blond strands and tugged. His voice lowered to a whisper, and Mokuba had to lean closer to hear him. "Dude, it takes two weeks of solid work for me to make this."

"Oh, Mokuba..." Anzu sighed, and when he turned to her he could see that her eyes were glassy.

"Don't do that," Mokuba chastised her. "I'm no good with crying women."

"I can't," she repeated. "I can't. I don't even let Otogi... I can't take this. No." She shook her head.

Ah, right. The dungeon Dice Monsters CEO was her boyfriend, wasn't he? Otogi was so down-to-earth most of the time that it was easy to forget that he headed an up-and-coming game empire. It was an impression he hoped to make himself, honestly.

Mokuba hastily wracked his brain for a retort. "I'm not Otogi. I get that you don't want to be dependent - but this is different. This is something I've owed you for a long time. I'll be offended if you don't take it."

Jounouchi reclined in his chair and as he did so, he slid the check from the center of the stable into his hands and then into his jacket pocket. "I still don't think you should..." His voice still sounded hesitant, but petered out before he could finish.

"I have them for Honda and Yuugi, too." Otogi had been excluded, he thought, for obvious reasons. It wouldn't have meant as much between the two of them - rather, they would have to have a heart-to-heart about it later. "Speaking of - I need his phone number if either of you have it. Honda, I mean."

Anzu wiped tears from her face. "...I don't know what to say."

"Don't leave it sitting on the table," Jounouchi cautioned her.

"I really feel you deserve it," Mokuba reminded them, "that you deserve more, really. I wouldn't even be here if it weren't for you. In my opinion it's hardly enough. This isn't the sort of favor you can repay with money or more favors. Meeting you all changed my life and I can't imagine how different things would be without you. I just hope it helps."

And it was true. As much as he didn't want to admit it, he was a spoiled rich kid when it came down to the fine print of things. Maybe a bit more sensitive because he was striving for his brother's approval, but when he'd met Yuugi and the others he had been selfish and petty. Seeing how much the group cared for each other and what they were willing to do to encourage each other made Mokuba want that for himself.

More than that, they treated him like part of their family. The last thing he had expected, all those years ago, was to be rescued by them considering his behavior (on several occasions) - or even his brother's. They had shared that love with him, and shown him how different things could be if he opened up. Seto had been shown love by them too, no matter how stubborn he was about accepting it. They had both been saved and warned away from threats more times than he could count; the only difference was that Seto was strong, and could combat those threats himself.

"Mokuba," Jou said, voice stern. "You're really serious." It was a statement, not a question; he seemed to have accepted at least the sentiment behind the gift, if not the gift itself. Though it was a moot point - both checks had been hastily withdrawn from the surface of the table.

It was at this point that this turned, in Mokuba's mind, away from being an idea or a sentiment and more of a passion. He would be disappointed in himself if he couldn't get to everyone today. Perhaps he felt guilty about what could be seen as a debt; maybe he just wanted to do something constructive, to add to the pile of care and concern and reliability that they'd all had built up over years and shared with him.

"For the last time, yes. I should have done this a long time ago, and I regret that I wasn't in the country to do it. I'm not boasting or anything, but-"

"We weren't thinking anything like that!" Anzu cut in. "So don't you dare. We're really, really touched." Though she didn't seem sure of what she wanted to say next, she sounded so enthused that Mokuba was pressed into silence. There was no arguing with her, either. Jounouchi grunted as though he didn't approve of the word 'touched' being applied to him, but didn't say anything.

"Alright, alright," he conceded.

"You're just - thank you," she added. "This is such a big help."

Inclining his head, Jou made it clear that he was thankful as well.

"You're both welcome. Really."

"We'll hafta hang out or somethin'," Jou said finally.

"Yes, definitely." Anzu agreed. "We need to go out and celebrate your kindness! I haven't seen you since Otogi's party, after all." It would have defeated the purpose if they blew the money, and he tried his best not to ponder that possibility.

"What's been up wit' ya?" Jou asked.

It was a nice turn of conversation away from the silence and stares and refusals. There was a lot going on, more than enough to fill their ears, but Mokuba wasn't sure if he wanted to be the topic of conversation, either. Several updates crossed his mind: the promotion of course, although mentioning it wouldn't be the best choice after the gifts he'd given; KaibaCorp's re-opening was still news that was relevant, since he worked there...

Then there were more person things - things that he would tell friends, and they both certainly fit that category. An odd sort of squirming set about in his stomach at the thought of it. His problems with Yami weren't a tasteful topic, not really. And it would be stranger to them, considering-

They don't know. He and Yami weren't just messing around anymore, though he wasn't quite sure what to call what it was that they were doing. It was something more ...official, no doubt. Mokuba had never asked whether or not talking to other people about them was an option. It put him in a difficult position, because he hadn't been told no, either; on the other hand, Yami had come off, so far, as secretive involving things in his life - it seemed likely that he would just let people find out on their own. But Yuugi knew about them, of that Mokuba was certain. According to what Yami had told him it'd be difficult to keep anything from Yuugi, though, so maybe that was a separate matter entirely?

Goddamn it. He was overthinking everything, and it was unnecessary. Yami wouldn't have thought twice about something like this, he knew, would've just made the decision and accepted the consequences if there were any.

"A lot, actually," Mokuba decided to say. "I was offered a promotion at work, Seto actually seems happy to be working with me. That's most of what's been keeping me busy; I'm planning stuff for KaibaCorp events, now. I went out with Yami a couple times, and I'm thinking about taking a small trip back to New York to see some of my old friends, stuff like that. Just trying to balance everything. Domino is different than I remember. But I'm older now so... more fun, too."

And that much was true. Being younger and under his brother's constant eye made it harder than it was for the average kid to explore and get into things. School besides, one of the few things Mokuba had been allowed to do was hang out with Yuugi and the rest, even if those occasions were rare. All of his time was taken up by doing other work for the company, even then. Seto didn't trust many other people to work with the technology being developed, and at the time, Mokuba had thought it cool to work a job most adults couldn't qualify for. In hindsight, though, he would have much rather been exploring or getting into trouble.

"What's New York like?" Anzu smiled, but bright eyes belied her curiosity.

"It's like Downtown Domino, really, but with a few more people all the time. More street vendors, certainly. There are lots and lots of foreigners there. It's also a lot louder."

It was Jou, surprisingly, who went for the prize. "So uh, what were you and Yami talkin' about?" The ploy was a little obvious, but Mokuba couldn't judge; he'd been the one to bait them.

That question was the push he'd needed. Mokuba didn't want to sound conceited, after all, sighing and giggling over his own personal business. It was just nice to have friends know, and to not have to be so secretive about something that for all intents and purposes was no longer a secret. Wanting that was reasonable, he thought.

Not that it made him less nervous. Mokuba pulled a strand of hair near his ear and twisted it in his fingers. "Uhm... yeah. We're going out now, I guess," he added casually. But being nonchalant was easier when he wasn't putting himself on the spot. He could have been smoother with his presentation if he really tried, but there was no motivation to be flawless, here; he was talking to his friends. "So we've just been hanging out a little more."

This news, too, affected their faces: Jou sat back in his chair, and eyebrow crooked in curiosity. Mokuba couldn't help but feel that perhaps he had predicted it, somehow - maybe Yami had mentioned it? That would have been a relief, actually, if they already knew.

Anzu's eyes darted around suspiciously, as though someone else would be caught eavesdropping and discover this secret. "What?"

Mokuba felt silly, and tried to push those feelings down. There was absolutely no reason to be so shy about this. "Yeah," Not even Yami got that sort of reaction out of him. "Really." He fought the sensation of his cheeks burning. Instead he twirled his hair with more vigor and tried his best to focus on that. It was awkward enough saying it the first time. Jou's eyebrows were disappearing into his hair. Leave it to this group of people to have him blushing like a teenager coming out to his parents. Maybe in the red light of the tea shop they wouldn't see it.

"That's... not what I was expecting. I didn't think that..." she paused, and he could see her considering her words. "I didn't think that Yami would be your type."

Not the best phrasing, Mokuba decided, but respectful enough.

Jounouchi's eyebrows had climbed back down, but he was busying himself with his tea and remained silent. From Mokuba's experience, Jou wasn't a tactful kind of guy - maybe silence was the better option for him.

"How did that happen?" It was Anzu asking, of course.

"...it just sort of did." Mokuba admitted. And to tell the truth, Yami had really been an impulse. After all, it wasn't too often that men were straightforward about that sort of thing - especially in Japan. He'd noticed passing interest and threw him a bone; flirted a bit to make sure Yami wasn't just fucking around. He had followed Mokuba's lead like a child chasing after an ice cream truck - and who didn't want to feel like an ice cream truck on a hot day?

Anzu didn't appear to believe him. Pursed lips were proof of that. "Uh-huh. Sure." She crossed her arms. "So who asked who out?" He couldn't tell if she was being genuinely curious or nosey, but he had nothing to hide.

"Anzu," Jounouchi cut in, "He just gave-"

"No, it's alright." Mokuba decided that it was nice to have someone to mention it to. New York had been a very social place, and oftentimes he found himself in a bit of withdrawal. Wanting to talk with others and gossip and be open was something he couldn't really do in Domino. People usually kept to themselves. Work and Yami were good ways to distract from isolation, but it was becoming harder to ignore the fact that everyone had their own thing going on. Mokuba didn't have much of anything to focus on other than those two things.

"The answer's not exciting anyway,' he continued, "I was giving Yuugi a lift and Yami was off shift at the shop so we just went out for drinks." It was a neatly watered down version of what happened.

Jou frowned, opened his mouth to speak and then shut it again. He floundered for a bit, but Mokuba was patient. When he finally made a statement, it was with caution; the words came out hesitant and careful. "...Yami's ...Yami's pretty fucked up. Be careful."

These two were just full of surprises. That was not at all what he'd thought Jou would say. Maybe an awkward joke or an odd sort of congratulations, but not a warning. And it was said in such a way that Mokuba didn't think he could just disregard it, either. Jou looked serious, and that made him wonder.

Mokuba was completely unprepared to respond to that. He blinked rapidly as his thoughts flew, considering possibilities - why would Jounouchi say something like that?

He and Anzu seemed to have similar trains of thought. "Don't say that!" she said in Yami's defense. "He's fine, Mokuba - Jou, what are you talking about?"

But Mokuba wasn't sure if he believed her. She hadn't told Jounouchi that he was wrong, after all - only tried to assert that there was nothing to be suspicious of. Neither of them laughed, so this wasn't a joke - there was real concern there, from both of them. Mokuba mimicked Jounouchi's frown, unsure of how to deal with what was said. There was still the debacle of the previous night to deal with - he didn't know what had Yami so upset in the first place - and there was no way to know whether or not this was related.

What did Jounouchi know? He and Yuugi were close - was he Yami's closest friend, too?

"Things have been fine so far," Mokuba decided to say, at last, and he added a shrug. "That's all I can worry about for now. It's not like things are serious." Just serious enough for me to take a job I don't want. To sacrifice two years of my life, basically. No big deal. "He's already talked to me about a few things, though." Mokuba made sure that he looked as nervous as he felt, because it was appropriate.

"Sorry. I didn't mean t'come off like a dick. Yami's cool. Awesome. They're my best friends, y'know? I'm just sayin' that..." Jounouchi sighed. "I dunno what I'm sayin'. I guess that you might wanna ask 'im about it. Congrats, really. I'm no one ta judge, anyway, not afta messin' around wit' Mai."

It was Mokuba's turn, apparently, to raise his eyebrows obnoxiously high; but as much as he was interested in finding out what Jounouchi was referring to, Mokuba knew that he had long overstayed his welcome. Anzu frowned at the mention of Mai, and she reached across the table to pat Jounouchi's arm. She looked caught in the trap of the conversation - obviously, nothing untrue had been said; only things that she didn't like. This conversation had become uncomfortable at best.

"Ah, well, thanks," he said. "I gotta get going, though. I don't want to miss Honda." Awkward, but adequate.

"I have his number," Anzu offered hastily, and rattled it off for him.

Jou sipped his tea, which had gone neglected the majority of the discussion, and then asked. "You free tomorrow night?"

He'd been just about to ask Jou the same, and Mokuba was glad that he didn't have to. They needed a chance to talk, clearly, and it seemed that Jounouchi wanted to talk to him. There was something written on Jou's face, a conversation that he didn't have the time for.

Regardless of if it concerned Yami or Mai, Mokuba wanted to know what he had to say, and nodded. "Yeah."

"I work the night shift over at Tooth and Claw. It's an American joint."

Mokuba felt his heart skip a beat - would he meet anyone interesting there? "Never heard of the place," he said at first, but then added after an epiphany, "-You speak English?"

"I don't like doing it, but a little. It is a weird language." Mokuba took his word for it. Jou's English sounded a bit choppy.

Apparently it was a bar near the University, aimed at making foreign students feel more at home - it had never occurred to Mokuba to look for English-speaking students.

Jounouchi gave out directions. "I start my graveyard shift at seven. It's usually slow during the week, so I should have time to talk."

Anzu seemed to understand that this was a more private affair. "We really do need to get together again. I'll put something together for next week if everyone can make it."

"Sure thing," Mokuba told her.

Once he was on the road, he tried his back to pack everything up and push to the back of his mind for later, but it seemed that meeting Honda was not enough of a distraction. He'd thought he was going to give them a shock, and got one himself. His head was swirling as it worked to process everything that conversation held - said and unsaid.

"Yami's pretty fucked up." He remembered saying something similar after they'd had sex for the first time.

Fuck this, he thought. I'm not doing this. Not now. He didn't want to work himself into worry for absolutely no reason. It didn't make any sense. For all that he knew, whatever Yami had been going through the night before could be a part of it. They'd simply talk about it and get it over with whenever they had the chance.

Instead of driving himself crazy he called Honda, who was a bit less of a hassle to get a hold of than Jounouchi. He'd worked at the same place for years - literally, had worked there before Mokuba had even left. The auto-shop was small, but in surprisingly good shape; the square garage looked as though it had been repainted in the last few years, and there were even a few used bikes for sale out front. Mokuba parked his near the other, figuring it must have been a safe area and within sight, and headed inside.

There were two other people bustling about, but it was never difficult to spot Honda. The signature hairstyle was a giveaway.

"Hey." Honda spoke as soon as they made eye contact. It was weird seeing him in work attire.

Mokuba flashed a peace sign as a greeting. "Yo."

"...dude, what are you wearing?"

Mokuba could hear the snickers of the other two employees, but it hardly mattered. He'd gotten similar looks at the bank. Since he'd been wearing it all day, however, had had a pretty good idea of how to explain it all. "All of my favorite clothes at the same time." The laughs weren't a deterrent. He was determined to smile more brightly because of them.

Honda laughed too, but it didn't feel quite as malicious as his coworkers. It seemed that he was genuinely amused. "Well, too much of a good thing..."

"It's cool," Mokuba returned. "I'm not working today anyway. I just wanted to drop this off to you."

Although he and Honda had never really been close, Honda had always been supportive and kind. Unfortunately, Mokuba didn't know too much about him other than what he had learned at Otogi's party, and not all of those things had been good. It was difficult being around a person who seemed weirded out by everything he was interested in.

Being reminded of Seto was not normally a good thing outside of business. On the other hand, Mokuba knew what was important to Honda at the core of it all, and if he was ever in a position where he needed assistance he had no doubts that Honda could be one of the individuals he could call. Honda cared deeply about his friends, even when he disagreed with them. That being said, there was less common ground to be had between them, and that didn't make things easy.

"You're kidding," Honda said when he saw the check.

"Nope." Mokuba just told him straight. "You've done a lot for me. Directly, indirectly - and I want to thank you for not kicking my ass as a kid and helping me instead."

Honda's smirk was nervous, but he said, "You're not so bad. You would have done the same."

Mokuba wasn't so sure about that. "Please take it, though," he added, in case Honda wasn't sure about it.

"...I don't think I did enough to deserve this." Honda's face contorted and Mokuba had seen that expression on his own face, in the mirror: self-depreciation.

"You've done more than you know, Honda, and I want you to know that I see that - I'm thanking you for it."

Mokuba understood how he felt - not being the hero, feeling insignificant under another man's shadow. "It takes more than a hero to save the world," he told Honda, "and no one could have done it without you." It was something he told himself to chase away the doubt. At the very least, he wanted it to be true.

...it seemed he was sharing all sorts of information about himself this day.

The check was pulled from his grasp, and Honda went quiet. "Thanks," he said, in a small voice.

"You're welcome." Mokuba glanced over Honda's shoulder and saw that his co-workers were waiting patiently. "Well, I don't want to keep you from working. Just wanted to make sure that you got it. This isn't the sort of thing do via mail, you know?"

Honda nodded.

"Oh - Anzu wanted you to know that she's planning something soon. A party or something."

"Alright."

There was a floundering silence between them for the few seconds it took for Mokuba to turn and walk back to his bike. He nervously ran fingers through his hair to try to rid himself of uneasy tension. He'd done the right thing, no doubt about that, but Honda was so stiff and rigid that Mokuba almost felt like he was being judged even for being kind.

He did not feel bad about the deep breath he took once out of the shop, and found himself moving to his final destination with some vigor. It was time to face the music and deal with the elephant in the room. Yuugi was last on his list for giving, and seeing one without the other would be nearly impossible.

Mokuba wasn't quite sure if he was ready.


Edited 2/23/16 – So, I don't feel too good about this chapter. It's like a plot-moving sort of thing, and for whatever reason I couldn't get into it. Either way, it was necessary and things are going to kick up a notch beginning in the next chapter, so be prepared for a lot of emotional angsty bits!

This is prompt #69.