Prompt 15: Plant
Rating: PG

Summary: Atem has quite the green thumb, yet one particular plant is giving him a lot of trouble. Mokuba doesn't understand why he won't just give up.

NOTES: Set in my AU World. Seto and Atem are married.

Atem frowned and shook his head dejectedly.

"I have tried everything I can with you," he muttered, "why are you defying me?"

"Atem?" Mokuba poked his head into the little enclosed patio that led to their backyard, finding his brother's lover standing near the far window in front of a small little table. The Egyptian was frowning, a watering can in one hand, glaring at a small terra cotta planter. "Everything okay?"

Atem sighed and set the watering can to the side. He picked up the planter with both hands, the poor, limp, and yellowing foliage inside swaying with the move. "Not really. Something is wrong with my plant and for the life of me I can't figure out what."

Mokuba tilted his head. This wasn't the first time Atem had to throw out a dying plant. It became a little hobby of his, filling the glass enclosed space with a multitude of different flowers, ferns and succulents. It had become somewhat of a greenhouse at this point, and the smaller male had quite the green thumb. The plants were watered regularly, shifted and moved when more sun was needed, and when they outgrew their pots, were transferred outside where they could live out the rest of their days peacefully. Along the way, some plants didn't make it, whether it be from unstable conditions, mold, or an incurable disease.

So why was this plant so different? Mokuba took another glance. This cluster of succulents, Irish rose succulents to be exact, looked rather pathetic. The leaves were dried and withered, the green and purple colors fading to a dull brown or yellow tint. Now that he thought about it, that particular potted plant was Atem's pride and joy. It got more care than any other plant in the house; hell, it had its own custom made stand.

Mokuba scratched the back of his neck. He had no experience when it came to gardening. What could he say. "Well… maybe it was just it's time to go," he said lamely, "I mean… it's pretty old… you could always get a new one."

Atem sighed and ran his thumb over one of the last, remaining good petals. "It's not the same…"

Mokuba finally asked. "Why not? Why is this one so special?"

Atem smiled sheepishly and ducked his head, holding the pot to his chest. "It might sound silly but… it was Seto's housewarming gift to me when I moved in."

Mokuba's mouth opened in a silent 'oh' and he nodded his head. Now it all made sense. In fact, he did remember Seto actually giving it to Atem the very day he arrived to live at the mansion permanently. Atem had cooed and fawned over the little succulent buds like a proud papa before yanking his lover down to kiss him hard. The youngest Kaiba brother was shocked the plant hadn't tumbled to the ground when he and Seto started to get handsy right in the hallway.

The succulent had grown quite large, going through a few different pots along the way to its current one. No wonder Atem was sad to see it starting to fade.

Mokuba gave Atem's shoulder a small pat and squeezed. "Give it another day or two… maybe it just needs some encouragement."

Atem chuckled, feeling a little better at Mokuba's attempt to cheer him up. He shook his head and turned, plant in hand. "Thank you, Mokuba, but perhaps it's time to say goodbye… maybe we can give it a proper burial."

Mokuba chuckled and followed Atem into the living room. "Only you would bury a plant," he said and then looked up when he heard the front door open and close.

"Tadaima!"

"Okaeri!," both Mokuba and Atem returned the hail and the youngest spoke again. "In the living room, Nii-Sama!"

Seto turned the corner, undoing his tie, and his other hand hidden behind his back. He gave his husband a gentle kiss and then noticed the item. "What are you doing with your plant?"

Atem frowned and looked down with a pout, turning the pot in his hand. "I think our plant is dying," he mumbled, "It's been more than a week and I just can't revive it. I've tried everything! It just hates me."

Seto hummed and shrugged. "Then just throw it away."

"I can't do that!" Atem exclaimed with a scoff. "This is a special one!"

"Just get a new one."

Atem glared. "You're not hearing me, Seto, husband of mine," he spat and his lover smirked.

"How about you get a new one that is the old one?"

Atem's brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"

"What I mean is," Seto finally pulled his arm around and held up another little pot, this one wrapped with a tiny bow. Inside were a cluster of freshly budding succulents. "Your old plant reborn as new," he said. "I've noticed the change a few months ago. I figured out how to get its seeds and had them replanted. So… this is still your plant, just brand new."

Mokuba quickly grabbed the old pot from Atem; it was starting to slip as his brother-in-law's grip loosened, his eyes wide in shock. Atem reached out and took the new plant from Seto, eyes glistening. He smiled and reached up, grabbing Seto's tie and yanking him down to plant a kiss on his lips, much like the last time he received a plant.

"God I love you," he whispered and Seto smirked, arm sliding around Atem's waist and lifting him up into his arms.

"Good, because if you didn't why did you marry me?"

"Because you have a great ass," Atem replied and his husband laughed, walking them over to the couch.

Mokuba coughed and decided it was time to leave the room as the two men tumbled onto the couch - once Atem's new plant baby was safely out of the way, of course. The youngest decided to take the other pot and set it in the kitchen for Atem to deal with later.

He was sure there would be a funeral ceremony later tonight.