(Seto)
11:15 A.M. I drank my coffee, looking over the newspaper in front of me. Yami, Bakura, Ryou, and I were sitting outdoors in a coffee shop, clear on the other end of Domino from the zoo. We were calm, we were collected, and supposedly we were inconspicuous. However, my companions were just staring at me, barely touching their coffee. Morons.
11:16 A.M. Jounouchi and Malik were one minute late. "If you keep staring," I said, taking a sip of my coffee and not looking up from the article I was pretending to read, "people might get suspicious." Ryou immediately looked down into his coffee, Yami leaned over to look at the paper with me, and Bakura started eying pedestrians. It had almost looked less suspicious to have them all watching me.
"Nervous?" Yami asked, swirling his spoon in his drink.
"No," I lied. I tried to look at my watch without Yami noticing.
11:17 AM. They still hadn't called – I went through the mental inventory of all the things that could have stalled them. They might have forgotten or lost the cell phone, the battery may have died, the car crashed, they forgot… they were caught already…
11:18.
19.
The cell phone finally rang, and Ryou answered it; he had been deemed the main communicator since he was the most social of the four of us. "Hello?" A second passed before he smiled, giving us the thumbs up sign.
It had begun.
(Malik)
I was leaning against the bathroom wall, trying to look nonchalant. No one was paying me much attention, so I must have been doing it right, I figured. I looked around for Jou, for the kid, and then down to my watch.
11:16 AM.
Fuck – Seto would flip; he was a very concise guy, and any delays in the schedule spelled out failure in his fucked up little head. "C'mon, Jounouchi, don't pull some stupid shit now," I murmured to myself, tapping my foot impatiently. I could just imagine Seto sitting there, trying to pretend nothing was wrong – and probably succeeding – when inside he was contemplating just how to commit suicide when the cops knocked on his door.
Three more minutes passed without sight of either of them. "Fuck," I sighed, taking the cell phone from my pocket to call Ryou. We'd just have to play with the facts a little – just enough to keep Seto in one piece. What was taking so long anyway? Maybe the kid had a change of heart? I'd see Seto's letters from his nurse; maybe the kid decided he couldn't handle the risks… thought that seemed unlikely; it seemed ridiculous to give up the chance to be free. I hadn't.
"Hello?" Ryou asked; I could hear the nerves in his voice – the tension practically poured through the phone. They'd all been waiting, not just Seto.
"Ryou, don't ask questions, but give everyone the sign that everything's going according to plan. We're running a little behind schedule, and I'm on my way to fix that, but Seto doesn't need to know, alright?"
A second passed. "Okay," he said brightly – putting up a farce for the group. What a great guy. I kept the phone pressed to my ear as I walked towards the amphitheater where Jou was supposed to meet the kid. I was halfway there when he came out and saw me. He gave me a hand signal to get my ass back to the bathroom, and I grinned, making an about-face.
The kid would be just a few minutes behind him.
"Game on."
(Mokuba)
Miyuki-san leaned down in the dark of the theater and kissed my forehead. "I'll miss you, kiddo," she whispered. I felt my heart pounding, felt like I was choking on my own fear. I barely remembering losing my dad, didn't remember my mom at all, but I bet it felt like this – like I would never be the same ever again. I had seen the guy that Niisama told me about, and now it was my turn. If I wanted to be with Niisama like I said I did, then it was not the time to chicken out.
Miyuki-san had straightened up again and was scolding some younger kids in the group. I cleared my throat, and she turned to look down at me as though she hadn't expected it. "Miyuki-san, may I go to the restroom?" I asked, just as loudly as I needed in order to be heard. Out of the corner of my eye I saw the guy nod and leave the building.
"Hurry back," she said authoritatively, and then turned back to the misbehaving kids.
I wish I could've said goodbye to her properly before I left, thanked her for helping us so much, for putting her job on the line just to help two ordinary orphans. I bit my lip and stared at her back, resisting the urge to hug her.
But I had to go.
I squinted as I stepped out of the theater into the daylight, looking around for the bathroom. There – it was just across from me, and sure enough, Niisama's coworker was there. I almost waved; he had been cool the one time I had met him. He caught my eye and nodded slightly before turning and going into the bathroom, leaving me to follow.
My first step was a little hesitant, but with each one I was gaining a little more momentum, a little more resolve. I was leaving a place with no family, no future; no one was going to pick on me – or Niisama – anymore. We could do whatever we wanted and no one would be around to tell us otherwise. All I had to do was go into that bathroom and go with the plan. I was practically running when I hit the door; it swung open and then shut as I went in. All that was left to go into the stall; I could change clothes and… I paused and looked at myself in the mirror – admired myself, even. I know people always told me that pride came before the fall – and this was no time to be falling – but I had to mourn for a minute. I really liked my hair.
I just loved Niisama a lot more.
I sighed and pushed the stall door open, closing it behind me and looking at them both. Two blonds – Malik, and the guy I didn't know. Go figure the one I didn't know was the one holding the scissors. "Let's get this over with," I sighed.
The guy rolled his eyes and nodded. "Just like your brother. Face me," he said quietly, and I obeyed; Malik moved to stand behind me. "Malik, get as much of his hair in the bag as possible." I heard the rustle of a plastic bag; it pressed against my neck and around my hair. The blond was wearing gloves, and there was a backpack on the back of the toilet, probably where my new clothes were. It was relieving to see how seriously they were taking the whole thing.
"What's your name?" I asked the guy with the scissors, keeping my voice low. He was gathering my hair back, almost like he was putting it in a ponytail. I could almost hope…
"I can tell you in the car," he breathed. "This isn't the place. Now hold still; this isn't going to be the best barber job you've had." It took him almost two minutes to butcher all my hair, and I had to close my eyes – I could barely stand to hear the scissors. It was silly to be so upset over my hair, but it was better than wondering how our escape would go.
"There." The blond guy put the scissors into his pocket, and I could hear Malik tying the bag shut behind me. I hesitantly shook my head, and made a face when I felt my hair brushing along my ears. At least it would grow back. The blond tossed the bag on the toilet at me; I barely caught it. "Change. Put your clothes in there." He took the tied bag of my hair from Malik. "And hurry." With that he left the stall, dragging Malik out by his elbow. Before it closed, Malik smiled and flashed me a quick thumbs up. I ran my hands through my shorter hair before I changed, folding my old clothes neatly and putting them in the bag.
"Yeah, yeah," I heard Malik whisper. "We're still on task – it's not like we're having some wild orgy with a thirteen year old." I blinked and opened the stall door, slinging the backpack over my shoulder. Malik smiled at me and whistled low. "Lookin' good."
"It's nothing," I replied, looking down – just jeans and a t-shirt, a little too baggy; I looked in a mirror and was impressed. If it wasn't for my face, I wouldn't look like me at all. "I don't know if Niisama has said it, but… Well, thanks. I don't think you know what this means to him… us." My voice shook, and I looked down, embarrassed about how I sounded.
Malik patted my shoulder and ruffled my hair so it fell around the front of my face before pushing a baseball cap down over it. "Don't worry, okay? No matter what happens, if you panic, it'll only make it worse, so just leave all the worrying to us. Ready to go?"
I felt my pulse quicken as I nodded, as we left the bathroom. I walked between them, keeping my face down. That's all I was worried about: if I could make it out without anyone seeing my face. That seemed to be the key to a clean escape. It was also the hardest thing I had to do; I wanted to look up to see if anyone noticed us, if we looked suspicious, if there were a lot of cameras recording our trek from the bathroom to the gate… I nearly flinched as a family broke between Malik and I. Malik didn't seem to notice, seemingly chatting on his cell phone without a care in the world.
"Chill," the blond next to me breathed. He took my hand and squeezed it. "You're too tense – we're doing great."
Just as he said it, I heard the thing I had feared more than cameras – I knew her voice, recognized her shoes… One of the aides from the orphanage. Her hand fell on my shoulder. I could barely breathe, especially when she started talking. "Excuse me, but is that – "
"Whoa, lady," Malik interrupted, shoving her hand away and stepping in front of me. The blond guy dropped my hand and flanked Malik, further obscuring me from her view. I peeked out from between them, looking at her curiously. Malik continued furiously, "Do I touch your brother?"
"I…" She looked from the blond to Malik. "You're both his brothers?" she asked suspiciously. I guess it made sense; Jou was paler than Malik and me. Plus, it was a pretty bullshit claim to start with. She'd see through it a mile away. She'd recognize me, haul me back to the orphanage, and press charges… Seto would go to jail, and everyone who helped him. We wouldn't get a second chance. There'd be no one there when I was finally old enough…
"Of course not," Malik answered, and my heart leapt out of my chest, my stomach churned. Was he a moron? "He's my brother, and this handsome gentleman is his uncle." Malik giggled and I saw an arm go around the blond's waist, and I watched Malik lean in to kiss his neck. They were nuts – where had all their professionalism gone? I felt panic rising inside me, and I tried to keep Malik's advice to heart. It didn't help – I couldn't breathe.
"No matter what happens…"
"Ugh!" the aide said, but I was clutching the back of Malik's shirt, trying to take deep breaths – that's what Miyuki had taught me to do when I got nervous… My stomach turned, and I tried to swallow down the urge to get sick.
"…if you panic…"
The aide was stalking off, calling over her shoulder, "I hope your mother knows that you let him see that." Her departure didn't help. Why didn't it help? My knuckles were turning white; my chest was starting to hurt. My head was swimming.
"…it'll only make it worse…"
Malik was kneeling down in front of me. "Calm down," he said urgently, hugging me close. It was strange; no one but Niisama had ever really hugged me before. "You can't punk out on your brother now, can you?"
I'm trying! Tears stung my eyes, and he stood, sticking close by my side. All I could do was squeeze his hand as he and the blond practically ran for the front exit, supporting me between them.
(Yami)
"Shit!" Ryou hissed. Seto's eyes shot up from the paper, and I instinctively reached forward to cover his hand with my own, as though that would hold him back from whatever he was thinking of doing.
"Don't," I breathed. I could already see the first inkling of fear in his eyes – barely there, but distinct. In one motion he reached across the table, yanking the phone from Ryou's grasp and holding to his ear.
"What's happening?" he barked. He paused, and then his face contorted – whatever it was, it was bad news. "Is he… Malik? Malik, answer me!" For a second he didn't move – Ryou was just as still, and I caught Bakura's gaze. He shrugged. Abruptly Seto dropped the phone onto the table and stood, stalking off; I saw him go into the bathroom. I reached forward and took the phone. I could hear it without even holding it up to my head.
Static.
"What happened?" I asked Ryou, watching the bathroom door carefully. I needed to make sure he didn't try to leave from there…
"I'm not sure; he said something about a woman, told me to hold on, and next thing I knew, he was trying to explain something too fast. He told me something was wrong with Mokuba."
I nodded and stood; Seto hadn't left the bathroom yet, and leaving him to his own devices wasn't sitting right with me. The only good thing about his retreat was that he couldn't make a scene. I made my way to the bathroom, brushing past other patrons. They didn't regard me suspiciously, didn't seem to be talking about Seto's outburst – it didn't looked like it had been a setback. I reached the bathroom door and tested the knob just a little – mostly to give Seto a ten-second warning that I was coming – but it was unlocked. Inside, Seto was leaning in the corner by the sink, holding his hands out in front of himself. He swore and shook them violently.
He was shaking.
"Seto…"
"An aide saw them," he said slowly, staring at his hands. I walked towards him, watching as he shook them again. "Jounouchi said they got rid of her without any trouble, but Mokuba was panicking. They were in the car; I could hear him. Miyuki-san told me he was worried, but I didn't think that he…" I took his shaking hands and pressed them together between mine, stilling his nervous movement. He looked up at me, and our eyes met. He looked more curious than anything else, but I could still see the fear. "Can he die like that? Could he literally be scared to death? And…" his voice strangled slightly, and he had to take a breath.
"He won't die," I said firmly. "If they've already made it out of the zoo, then half the battle is over." He shook his head, and his hands still trembling.
"I never meant for it to be this complicated," he said, looking away from me. "I just wanted to grab him in the night and go, consequences be damned. I…" He yanked his hands away and took a shuddering breath. "Forget this, alright? What happens, happens." He looked back up at me, and he looked different; like he was already ready for the worse, as though he had been able to prepare in the short span of time since I'd entered the bathroom. The only thing going against the image was the slight tremor in his shoulders.
He shoved his hands into his pockets and brushed past me, leaving the bathroom. I had to follow close behind; I half-expected him to run off to the zoo by himself and start hunting Malik and Jounouchi down. Instead, he went to the table. Ryou was holding the phone when we arrived, smiling triumphantly. "He's fine," he said. "Malik just called – they've got him breathing normally again. In twenty minutes they should have him settled in."
Seto sat down slowly. We had done the unexpected; he'd spent so much time preparing for failure, ready to pay whatever dues he had to. Now he was unprepared to face his victory. I had to gloat a little.
"See, we did it," I said smugly. He looked at me and raised an eyebrow, and I added for emphasis, "We all did it." Then I remembered that with the success, it also meant the fiasco was almost over. All illusions, bets, and alliances would be off, and Seto would be somewhere else.
I looked at him sitting there, and suddenly I didn't feel so smug.
notes
um. it's too late at night for me to have thoughts on this. i'm worried about have Seto came off, and I'm worried about whether or not the crime itself was believable. I worried about Mokuba's part too. AndAndAnd... yeah. business as usual, you see. )
Thanks again for purkledragon for beta'ing! ::heart::