Whatever Happens Here, Stays Here
Chapter 6: What Is Happening?
By LilPurplFlwr
With Yuugi's tossing and turning, Atemu found that he could not sleep at all. Worried that his little brother was having nightmares or something else unpleasant, Atemu propped himself up against the bed's headboard with a pillow and stared forward at the corner of the television. Now and then his eyes would flicker toward the neon green numbers on the VCR on top of the machine. He knew he needed sleep, especially since his family was here, because he knew he was going to be the unofficial docent. He also knew a few places he wanted to take Yuugi – Pharaoh's Palace's showgirls performance was quite flashy, and if Yuugi was here to ogle at girls, that was the spot, and the hotel's club, Osiris, was another planned stop.
Yuugi rolled over again in his light doze. The seventeen-year-old's face was now centimeters from Atemu's thigh. However, as if sensing his brother, Yuugi stopped and settled, falling into a deep sleep. Atemu smiled in the dark, his hand pulled the blanket up higher and tucking it around Yuugi's smaller shoulders.
Yes, he decided, he rather missed his family. He was lucky that Yuugi had taken the initiative to re-connect. It was nice.
Atemu must have fallen asleep several minutes after listening to Yuugi's even breathing in the silent room, because when he woke up, the clock was four hours ahead of what he remembered seeing. He looked down to see that Yuugi had not moved an inch in his sleep.
Not wanting to wake up Yuugi, Atemu slowly eased himself out of the bed. He quietly left the room and headed to the vending machines. On his way down the hall, a young woman pushing a serving tray walked past him and they exchanged a polite wave and smile.
As Atemu pushed the letter-and-number grid on the machine, he stared confusedly into the array of drinks in the machine before he absently knelt down to take the can of coffee from the chute.
Since when did he have a neighbor of any sort?
For as long as he had been on this floor, he never had a neighbor for more than a two-week period. Once there had been a performer that stayed for about three months, but she had never actually spent a lot of time in her suite.
With mounting curiosity, Atemu walked back, eyeing the woman as she exchanged a few short words with someone presumably standing within the doorway, but Atemu was still a good distance away.
"So we welcome you back, Kaiba-sama…"
When he heard the woman's words, Atemu stopped dead in his tracks. He took a few steps back apprehensively.
"Mr."
"… Excuse me, Kaiba-sama?"
"I may be Japanese, but we're in America – so act like it."
The door swung shut, and Atemu winced. The servant blinked, looking unsure about whether to be sufficiently chided or discreetly insulted. The Japanese honorific had been circulated among staff because of Seto Kaiba's Japanese origin, but apparently, he was not too happy about it.
She caught sight of Atemu and smiled weakly, "He's angry, isn't he, Mr. Mutou?"
Atemu lifted his shoulders slightly in a shrug, "I wouldn't know."
Pushing her tray, the woman began to head for the elevators. "Have a good day."
Atemu gave the gold-embossed numbers on the door a narrowed gaze, "Unlikely," he muttered under his breath.
Closed. – the sign said.
Bakura peered into the dark lounge, his fingers twisting open one of the unlocked glass double doors. Pushing it slowly open, he scanned the area for his brother or Katsuya.
His eyes fell upon the two said people. The day had taken its toll on both. Katsuya, having changed into his usual street clothing seemed to be dozing heavily, sitting upright on one of the couches around the edge of the room near the stage and away from the tables. A vein pulsed in Bakura's head as he found his little brother sleeping soundly on the blonde's shoulder, leaning securely against the other.
Bakura approached them and carefully balanced himself by lightly supporting himself on Katsuya's free shoulder. Leaning inward until his mouth was centimeters from the other's ear, Bakura hissed, "Jou!"
Nearly having a heart attack from the warm feeling against his ear, Katsuya woke up with a start. Immediately, both glanced at Ryou, who did nothing more than loll further into the curve of the blonde's neck. Katsuya lifted a hand to steady Ryou, before yawning and staring at the older brother blearily.
"Bakura, 'bout time you finished working," Katsuya joked softly, a little too dazed to notice Bakura's grip on his shoulder tightening.
"… Good point, I admit," Bakura acquiesced atypically, pushing himself away from Katsuya and moving over to Ryou. Studying his younger brother's peaceful expression, Bakura brushed back the other's ivory strands thoughtfully.
Silence infiltrated the room, and Katsuya shifted awkwardly.
"Thank you," Bakura finally said after the pregnant pause.
Surprised, Katsuya stared at the dealer speechlessly. The world was coming to an end.
Paying no attention to the blonde, Bakura gently shook his brother's shoulder, "Ryou… it's time to go home… Ryou…"
Katsuya raised an eyebrow. Strange, the boy wasn't waking up.
Bakura gave a tired sigh. With one hand, he cupped his brother's sleeping face and pressed a kiss against Ryou's temple, "Ryou… wake up, please."
No, now the world was coming to an end. Katsuya stared at Bakura in disbelief. Sure, it was rude to stare, but with something this uncharacteristic, Katsuya could not help his baffled expression.
Bakura shrugged absently at Katsuya's inquisitive look, and whispered, "That's the only way I can wake him up."
With a muffled moan, the seventeen-year-old made a sleepy utterance that sounded much like a refusal. Another sigh escaped Bakura, who finally succumbed, bending down and gathering his brother into his arms. Ryou immediately settled comfortably against his brother and fell instantly back asleep.
Katsuya's face broke into a wide grin. "… I never knew…"
Suspicious, Bakura glared back. "Don't even think about saying it"
With all the lights, it was impossible to see stars, as expected, but Mai always found it a little peculiar that one could barely distinguish the beginning of dawn. There was something about the touches of pink and orange of a sunrise that appealed to her. However, there was also something about the flamboyant rainbow of artificial lights that Las Vegas was composed of, that Mai had to pardon it for the missing daybreak.
Stepping out of the casino, she took a deep breath and let it out slowly, trying to ease the stiffness in her body. She pushed her interlocked fingers above her head in a stretch and caught a sight of a brunette with a bag slung across straightened shoulders strolling past her.
"Anzu Mazaki! Is that you?" Mai flicked a long golden strand from her tired eyes.
The young woman in question paused in her walk and tilted her head back towards Mai. The straw in the brunette's bottle of who-knows-what swiveled as she turned completely to face the blonde dealer.
"Mai! I haven't seen you in… wow… quite a long time," Anzu's energetic eyes glittered amicably and she beamed, "You still look fantastic!"
Mai laughed softly, "Thanks, but your schedule is still full, huh? Rushing off to practice this early in the morning, it looks like." She gestured to the lightly packed P.P.DANCE bag that swung absently in Anzu's hands now.
"No, not as bad. I wanted to get a few extra hours by myself this morning before practice, actually," the dancer said with a slight blush in her face, "If I work hard, I can get a solo for the next season."
"An extra two pounds of feathers are added onto your headdress?"
Both women shared a laugh, and still giggling, Anzu answered while ruefully rubbing her 'sore' neck, "Something like that!" A small pause of silence and Anzu looked confusedly at her friend, "… Don't tell me you just got out of work…"
"Does it show much?" Mai muttered, running her hand through her tangled hair, "Haven't you heard --?"
"Oh. Yes, I have," Anzu interrupted with a grimace, "No more, please. Our coach has already manifested the presence of S.K."
"I barely spent an hour with him and I had never lost so much of the casino's money before," Mai added."
"… You're kidding," Anzu's eyes widened, "You? As in Mai Kujaku, you?"
"Yami was there, actually," Mai recalled suddenly, "Oh, now I don't feel so bad anymore."
Anzu laughed again, "I guess that explains it. How is he?"
"Same as always. The casino loses thousands to him a month, honestly."
"I meant health-wise."
"Same, but he was a bit out of it last night… maybe he's finally catching something."
Anzu sipped thoughtfully at the energy drink (well, it sure looked like it to Mai, but then again – dancers drank odd concoctions), "Maybe he's getting bored of the Vegas scene."
"It's a thought. But he probably loves this city as much as we all do."
"Mmm… oh! I really need to get going! Hey! If I get the solo, you guys want tickets? Oh, I'll get them anyway!"
Anzu took off with a good-humored laugh, obviously planning to go around the casino to the back to get in, and with a wave, she disappeared around the corner.
Mariku was stripping the sheets from his twin's bed when he heard a continuous stream of dull kicks against the front door.
"Shit."
With a violent tug, he balled up the stained pieces of bedding and padded down the hallway.
As he wrenched open the door, Mariku blinked absently as Bakura carefully eased himself and his sleeping brother through the entrance; though only a real close friend could depict what Bakura was muttering about under his breath - curses, no doubt. Mariku smirked.
The casino dealer shot the blonde a dangerous look. Mariku stared back, undeterred.
"Need help?" The Egyptian held out his arms before he realized one arm still held the sheets cradled against his hip.
"A little late to be doing laundry, hm?" Bakura retorted, his own expression turning into one of amusement and mockery.
Mariku watched the other disappear into his respective room with his precious bundle, and with a shrug of indifference, the blonde directed himself into the small room with the washing machine and dryer.
With practiced ease, he shoved the offending material in the machine and began to fiddle with the knobs. A minute later, Mariku picked up the familiar steps of Bakura approaching behind him.
There was a stretch of silence. It was not exactly awkward, but it certainly was not comfortable either.
"… I didn't know you had someone over tonight," Bakura edged in nonchalantly, conversing to Mariku's back and noting how the other tensed slightly.
"Neither did I," Mariku replied good-naturally, turning around and giving the younger man a small grin, and, with skill from years of practice, changed the subject to an even more precarious one, "How is your little brother?" The blonde casually leaned his back against the washer and crossed his arms. He saw Bakura's jaw tighten.
"Fine," Bakura answered truthfully, "Though I'd like another word with Malik."
"Hn. Don't we all," Mariku replied impassively, "But my other self is out like a light right now."
"I know."
"You know? Then why inform me that you want to talk to him?"
Bakura shrugged and pulled out the hair tie securing his hair in a low ponytail behind his head; he would occasionally wear it like this while dealing just to keep it out of his face, "I guess I wanted to see if you had anything to in his defense, seeing as he's your brother – twin – anyway."
"I don't have your unhealthy affinity to my sibling," Mariku interjected snidely.
"Unhealthy, huh? Pray tell, Mariku - Why is Malik in your bed then?" Bakura asked curtly.
Caught of guard, Mariku quickly ran through his options. Certainly the He-can't-sleep-on-a-sheet-less-bed argument was already missing one too many parts of explanation and the I-needed-to-get-rid-of-evidence was going to work even worse, so Mariku was going to opt for something more peculiar when he was saved by an interruption.
"'Kura?"
"Ryou!" Bakura nearly jumped from sheer surprise as his little brother silently appeared right behind him, "…Why are you awake?" the older brother finished lamely.
The young teenager stared worriedly into the other's preoccupied face, "I just am and I didn't know where I was. It was… sort of scary alone."
"I'm sorry," the other replied immediately without a second thought, "I… Here, let's go, okay? It's about time I get some sleep too."
As the two left, Mariku pivoted and released a breath that he did not know he was holding. And as Bakura led his brother back to his room, he eyed his blonde roommate suspiciously before shutting the bedroom door behind him.
"Really, nii-san. I'm really worried about you."
Seto sighed as he stopped plugging in values to be calculated on the spreadsheet, "I don't see why."
"First, you suggest working me too hard – that's downright odd; then you space out while on the telephone with me – that's weird and mean, and all at the same time, you're scaring staff members right and left by always yelling at them! Oh, wait… that's normal," Mokuba snickered over the telephone, "But really, nii-san…"
"That's enough, Mokuba. Don't you have work to do or something?" Seto responded, becoming easily irritated because he had been unable to sleep the night before due to incessant thinking.
His brother switched tactics, "So, Seto-o…"
The brunette narrowed his eyes and turned his chair away from his laptop. Deciding that it was absolutely pointless trying to get any work done with his brother on the line, Seto moved to the large window that overlooked the Las Vegas strip. He also felt unnerved at Mokuba's tone of voice. That particular warbled version of his first name usually meant Mokuba was planning to get something of personal worth.
"How's the gambling?"
That was innocent enough. He could answer that.
"Not as bad as I imagined. I met someone who – "
"A-ahh-HAH!"
Oh, shit. It was Mokuba's infamous maneuver that led Seto into false security.
"He or she? Come on, come on! Time waits for no man – especially me!"
A sigh of defeat escaped from the CEO. He might as well indulge his little brother, seeing as the twenty-year-old (going-on-twelve, honestly) had his own ways of getting back at his big brother.
"He."
"Ooo-O--"
"Who," Seto cut in bluntly, "- is a suspicious character who has unreasonably good luck."
"… Ooo-kay. I knew you would describe your current crush as a convict. It's no wonder you're still single," Mokuba gave a self-suffering sigh dramatically, "Poor, poor nii-san is going to be an old bachelor for the rest of his life."
"Mokuba!" Seto was not amused. Not by the least.
"Here, this is my translation: 'He, who is an intriguing character that challenges my gambling skills."
Seto was struck speechless. That was actually… almost… nearly…
"Yeah? Was I right, or was I right?" Mokuba's smug tone permeated through the background buzz in Kaiba Corporation, Japan. "Damn, I'm good."
"… I'm hanging up."
"Mou-! I'll spam your email! I WIL—"
Seto nearly threw his phone into the trashcan.
When Yuugi had woken up and eaten (lunch, as of how late he had slept), he and his brother left Pharaoh's Palace to go to Luxor to check if their grandfather was still sleeping, seeing as Sugoroku had not picked up his phone.
Yuugi broke a large chocolate-chip cookie in half and stuck one portion between Atemu's lips, "Ne, nii-chan…"
The twenty-two-year-old gave his younger brother half a smile around the sweet before taking it by hand and taking a bite, "Yes, Yuugi?"
As Yuugi warily eyed dirty advertisements littered on the sidewalk and plastered against street lamps, he commented, "It looks like you've gotten really comfortable with this place," referring to the waitresses that nearly jumped the pair at the restaurant they went to for lunch.
-
"Oh! Yami! Who is this cutie?" the pretty waitress exclaimed over her notepad, peering at Yuugi's face with genuine interest.
"My little brother," Atemu answered, nodding slightly at Yuugi, who flushed slightly and stared at the menu before him. Atemu, in turn, nudged Yuugi's calf with his foot beneath the table.
Yuugi looked mortified at the prospect of actually speaking to the female, who beamed at his shy movements.
"Not quite the chatterbox, I see," the waitress laughed, "What's your name, sweetheart?"
Atemu looked expectantly at Yuugi, who looked like he was gathering his courage.
"I'm Yuugi Mutou," he finally said, his voice low but even, "… It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Oo-o! You're absolutely adorable! I'm sorry, Yami, but I'm going to have to take him home with me – no harm done, right?"
Atemu smiled lightly, resting his head on his palm as he propped his elbow on the table, "Well, he probably won't mind going home with you."
Yuugi pouted, "Nii-chan! Please!"
"So, Yuugi, I get off in an hour," the waitress teased, "You want to meet me somewhere?"
A red blush spread across the bridge of Yuugi's nose.
A passing waitress stopped by the table quickly, "Hey, Yami! Nice to see you again! … Who is this?"
The awestruck teen leaned slightly over the table to his older brother, "Is… is she t-talking to me too?" He looked extremely worried again.
Atemu dared to look amused at Yuugi's discomfort; Yuugi dropped back into his seat and frowned at his brother.
"He's my little brother Yuugi," Atemu answered instead, knowing the woman had to get back to work. She nodded and left swiftly.
The first waitress picked up her pen and perked up attentively, "So what can I get you?"
-
Atemu chuckled, "Yes, I suppose I have."
The pair turned right around the Sphinx and continued to the hotel.
"It seems so fun," Yuugi mused, "I want to live here."
"No," Atemu responded instantly, "You're going to college."
His little brother stifled a sigh, and took the moment to finish the cookie. Atemu looked down at the similar crown of tri-colored hair with worry.
"What's going on with school, Yuugi?" he demanded, stopping the teenager.
Yuugi's violet eyes wandered aimlessly away from Atemu's searching gaze, "Nothing much."
"Then why not go to the university?"
"I'm not the smartest person, nii-chan," Yuugi said, looking injured at the insistent tone in the other's voice, "I don't want to waste so much money on –"
Atemu frowned and knelt down to where Yuugi was observing the ground. He gently encircled his brother's face with his hands and spoke firmly, "Money. Is. Not. An. Issue."
Yuugi bent forward and embraced Atemu, but had no response to the subject, "Let's go see jii-chan."
As they entered the casino, Yuugi excused himself to the bathroom. Watching his little brother disappear into the public restroom, Atemu turned to look around the casino. His sight sharpened on the slot machines just dozens of feet away. As he reached into his pocket for change, Atemu dropped himself onto the seat and stared wearily into the face of the flashing machine.
Because I do this for you, Yuugi.
And as Yuugi exited the bathroom, his eyes followed the loud, heavy sound of coins flooding down a chute.
Atemu looked up from the coin-spitting machine with a tired smile for his brother, "Dinner's on me, Yuugi."
By evening, Malik was grumpy as he counted the minutes to the end of his shift. Not only was he tired, he was also horribly sore, in the worst way possible too. He spent the entire day trying to cover the obvious limp. And between moving back and forth to get different bottles and doing dramatic drink-preparations for eager customers, the Egyptian was impressed he had not passed out from the irksome pain.
When he finally spotted Katsuya entering the lounge for his shift, thankfully dressed for work already, Malik nearly smiled. Nearly.
With the cheerful blonde came the one person Malik was avoiding and the said little brother. Malik narrowed his eyes and ripped off the apron he had donned to hand wash some dozen glasses, seeing as the dishwasher was full.
"You're late," Malik said with a glare, avoiding Bakura's scrutiny.
"Aw, I'm sorry," Jou answered sheepishly, "I got so caught up with Ryou here and –"
"Is it that much of a problem?" Bakura interrupted, his eyes locked on Malik.
"Hn," Malik turned sharply to go into the other room and change, but stumbled from a stab of pain. Wincing, he yanked open the door and slammed it behind him, his hand pulling off his jacket while the other scrambled to undo the tie around his neck. Behind the door, it sounded like Jou had started to rinse the glasses in the sink.
Once changed, Malik stepped out gingerly, decided it was rash to try to hurry when all he would end up doing is tripping or limping.
"Have a good night, Malik," Jou offered, waving a sudsy hand, "Again, I'm sorry for being late."
"Mm," was the most polite response Malik could give as he padded softly to the exit.
Bakura stared suspiciously at the Egyptian before sitting Ryou down and following behind Malik.
Once outside behind the building, Bakura grabbed Malik's wrist and held on firmly, "What's wrong?" he demanded, eyes glinting harshly as he searched the other's face.
"Hey! What's the big idea, Bakura!" Malik retorted, trying to free himself but instead found himself pushed back into the wall, Bakura's other hand pinning him there by the shoulder, "Let me go! What's the meaning of this!"
Malik panicked as the other leaned in, his lavender eyes darting from the hand on his shoulder to the other pressed against the wall beside his head.
Bakura narrowed his eyes, "You're avoiding me."
"No, I'm not," Malik denied, the lie rolling off his tongue easily. He reached up to push away the grip on his shoulder, which held unyielding.
Suddenly, the other released Malik and backed up, turning to look away from the Egyptian and into empty space, "So… what are you going to do now?" Bakura asked coolly.
"I'm going home," Malik answered, quivering as he stepped away from the wall.
"Is Mariku home?" the dealer asked absently, looking at the watch on his left wrist.
"How should I know?" Malik exploded, almost throwing a temper tantrum, "Bakura! What's wrong with you today!"
Bakura ran a hand through his lengthy ivory strands; it was growing cold and a breeze blew against his expressionless face, "I'm sorry."
Frustration melted into confusion.
"… What? Why?" Malik asked helplessly.
"You're limping," Bakura stated obviously, approaching Malik and encircling the other in a familiar embrace.
"Oh, that's not your fault," Malik brushed it off mindlessly, too shrouded in relief that Bakura had reverted back to a less threatening manner.
"Really."
It was not a question, but more of a cold statement. Malik's eyes widened as he realized his mistake.
"Wait, no! No! That's not what I mea –"
"I need to get to work," Bakura responded bitterly, shoving away from the other even though they both knew his shift started in a good half an hour.
"Bakura!"
The exit door slammed behind the retreating dealer with a betrayed thud.
Dinner had been uneventful, seeing as his grandfather was having a hard time battling jet lag and how the time change was even affecting Yuugi. Yuugi promised to stay up tomorrow night with his brother, so Atemu decided to pay Osiris' bouncer a visit.
There was a reasonably long line waiting to get into the club, so Atemu took to the second empty line marked for VIP guests.
The towering blond bouncer glanced down at him before nodding, the shades covering slate-blue eyes, "Go right ahead, Yami."
Atemu grinned cheekily, "Thanks, Raphael, but I really had a question to ask you."
The built man kept silent, and Atemu continued, "How old do you have to be to come here, because I wanted to bring my little brother who came to visit me from Japan."
"Eighteen. Twenty-one to drink, though…"
Atemu snickered, "Yeah, Varon didn't even card me the first time… but Yuugi's seventeen…"
"I couldn't, Yami," Raphael replied, not quite sympathetic, as he took an ID from the impatient person at the front of the line and examined the picture to the real face carefully, before letting him in after cash was in his hand.
"Oh…" Atemu was crestfallen. He really did want Yuugi to come to Osiris and have some fun, "Thanks then." Atemu turned around to leave when Raphael's voice stopped him in his tracks.
"You're not coming in?"
"Uhm…" the petite gambler looked doubtful.
"Everyone's missed you," the bouncer responded gruffly, his brows knitting deeper, making Raphael look more angry than sentimental.
"No wonder you work here," Atemu laughed softly, before dodging behind the bouncer, "Oh, I'll stop by for a bit then." He pulled open one of the double doors and slipped through into the dark room full of flashing wayward lights.
-
Entering Orisis was always like entering a new world full of strange, new things and people. Amongst the obvious things such as the poles on stage and cages on the wall, there was the dance floor full of excitement generated from moving bodies. Ever-changing lights moved to match the heart-pumping bass of loud music.
He headed toward the bar, where he spotted a familiar mop of fluffy brown hair behind the counter. However a dainty hand stopped him as it rubbed his shoulder.
"Ya-ami!"
Atemu turned to see a beautiful young Chinese woman leaning towards him. She would have planted a kiss right on his mouth if he had not turned in time for it to miss and land on his cheek. She pouted and flipped a strand of her jet-black hair over her shoulder. Her serving tray tilted dangerously, and Atemu reached and steadied it carefully.
"Hello, Vivian," he gave a small smile, "How've you been?"
"Don't play innocent with me, Yami! Where have you been?" she chided, her free hand propped on her curvy waist.
"Around," Atemu shrugged, "Shouldn't you…?"
"Oh! That's right!" she began to maneuver her way through the tables to deliver the drinks, "Talk to you later, Yami!"
He made it safely to the bar and waved for the bartender's attention. Crystal-clear blue eyes lit up as Varon caught sight of him.
"Hey, Yami! … Jou's not with you tonight?" Varon greeted, looking slightly disappointed.
"Change in schedule. Mai too," Atemu explained, "Give me something alcoholic that you can light on fire for me."
Varon laughed, "That's about all I can do, Yami." And with that said, he set dry ice at the bottom of a large cup (nearly bowl) and, with three bottles and two set aside, he doused the ice with a large amount of three types of vodka, set it on fire with a flourish, and added a fraction of liquid from the other bottles.
Atemu's crimson eyes danced before the blazing concoction, "What is this?"
"You want the truth?" Varon almost snickered, "I don't know."
He dropped a cover over the drink to quell the fire, and the drink was left smoking with fog from the dry ice at the bottom.
"Pfft," Atemu teased, taking a sip from a straw, "What if I die?" he let the drink roll around in his mouth before swallowing, "… This is a rather fruity drink, Varon."
Varon raised an eyebrow and went to fiddle with the bottles he had just used, "Cherry vodka, vodka… lemon, lime, pink lemonade, strawberry…"
"Fuck, just toss me a pineapple and mini-umbrella while you're at it," Atemu mumbled around the straw, contented to slowly draining the large drink.
The bartender shrugged and stacked the bottles back where he got them, "You might want to take it easy there, Yami…" It was rather obvious that Atemu could not tolerate too much alcohol, seeing as he was so... well, small.
"Shut up and let me drink in peace," Atemu closed his eyes and fingered the edge of the cup, humming softly to himself as he sucked at the straw.
Only moments later, Atemu heard - "Oh, fuck. Vivian's found another victim to her adoration." He opened a crimson eye to Varon gesturing at the beautiful woman who was bending over to give another customer a kiss when the said customer's hand shot out and blocked her mouth. She ended up kissing his fingers.
Atemu would have closed his eyes again, but at that moment, he had emptied his drink.
"Oh, fu-uck," he drawled, tapping his fingers against the counter.
He swiveled in his chair as he saw Vivian approach, looking half-elated and half-rejected. Strange combination. Behind her still seated at the table, a man with a pair of memorable ice-blue eyes widened in surprise. Atemu blinked through a wavering vision.
Either that was Seto Kaiba or the vodka was really getting to him.
"You okay, Yami?" Vivian asked, snapping her manicured fingers before his unblinking ruby eyes.
"… Is that…?"
The Asian looked over her shoulder, "Oh, him? That's Seto Kaiba! Really hot, isn't he?" her lower lip stuck out childishly, "Though he's a little antisocial for my standards."
"He's an asshole," Atemu said with a silly grin, as he twirled the straw around between his fingers.
"You go tell him, Yami," Varon suggested with a mischievous smile that Atemu completely missed, "He looks like he needs company anyway."
Atemu got to his feet and wobbled. Whoa. He looked back at Varon, who stared back innocently.
"You know, I think I figured out why Jou likes you so much," Atemu mused, "By the way, Vivian… can you bring me something to drink in a few minutes – you know… just in case I need to pass out."
-
Seto had been watching the girl onstage drop herself upside down against a pole wrapped firmly between her legs when Atemu slid into the seat before him.
"Hello, Kaiba," he greeted amiably, "Fancy meeting you here."
The CEO set down his martini glass, "How much did you drink?" he asked bluntly.
The smaller man blinked, as if not comprehending the nature of the question, "Not much." He reached for the other's drink.
"You can barely stand," Seto pointed out, one hand covering Atemu's wandering hand, as if in a loving gesture, and the other pulling the martini away.
He watched the younger man pout, and just to be safe, Seto drained his glass. Atemu watched the clear liquid slide swiftly from the smooth glass into the brunette's mouth and then the movement of Seto's throat as he swallowed. After swallowing, Seto inattentively licked his lips before replacing the glass back onto the table. He noticed the glassy stare from the one sitting before him.
"Yami…" Seto waved a hand before the other's eyes, snapping Atemu out of staring mindlessly into the CEO's face. "You've had enough."
"It was one drink," Atemu managed, using his free hand to prop up his chin in a defiant manner; his other hand was still trapped beneath Seto's.
"Yes, about the size of a melon," Seto offered logically, finding this conversation and situation almost surreal. Apparently, both were more tolerable with alcohol in their systems.
Atemu scowled, but his expression cleared thoughtfully, "You were watching me?"
"Not quite," Seto responded with a raised eyebrow, "Don't be so egotistical. I merely glanced at what you were having." He removed his hand to wave it towards the Chinese server.
"Me? Egotistical?" Atemu lifted up his now-warm hand to point his finger right at Seto's face, "And you're an asshole."
The brunette was unfazed with the insult. He actually found it much more amusing than it was hurtful. Vivian stopped by the table and picked up the empty glass. Seto shook his head to her offer to get more. However, Vivian set down what looked like a Screwdriver in front of Atemu, whose eyes lit up like Christmas had come early.
Seto wanted to stop her, but she walked away quickly. He decided to take matters into his own hands. He pulled the drink towards him – that horrible watery orange solution – and with both hands, clamped down on Atemu's wrists, seeing as the other man was reaching for the drink.
The now-immobilized young man snorted indignantly, his beautifully hazy eyes trained on Seto's darkened blue eyes, "I'll help you remove that stick up your ass if you let me have my fucking drink, Kaiba."
Seto felt a laugh swell inside him, but it came out quickly before he could swallow it.. Atemu stared curiously at him before growing irritated. Who was Seto Kaiba to laugh at him and take his drink?
"Kaiba, you fucking prick! Let me go or else I'll…"
The other even dared to look interested in Atemu's threat. Seto took the glass and observed the contents before taking a sip. The drink was not half bad if one could tolerate vodka.
"Damn you! I'm going to take that stick and beat you over the head with it!" Atemu cursed, using his one freed hand to grope for the glass.
"Yami."
Atemu's movements stilled when Seto placed the drink down and reached over the small table, taking the other's face in his hands. As warm palms pressed gently against the curve of his cheeks, Atemu flushed. What the hell is Kaiba doing?
"What?" he snapped tersely.
"Yami," Seto repeated calmly, and Atemu was finding himself calming down by just the mere sound of the other's deep soothing baritone.
"What is it?" he responded, sounding a little more like his usual self.
"Are you listening to yourself?" the CEO asked, almost smugly, "You're drunk."
"So what if I am?" Atemu decided with a minute smirk as he pulled away from the other, "I have nowhere to go but my room tonight."
The brunette paused, turning over this piece of information in his mind, "So to think if I weren't here watching over your drunken self, only hell knows what trouble you would have gotten into."
Atemu's smile widened over the glass that he now held in his hands. Pressing his lips to the rim, he tilted the glass back and let more alcohol into his system. He heard Seto make a muffled noise of alarm for neglecting the drink. Licking his lips, Atemu once against flashed a disarming smile at Seto.
"Are you planning to watch over me all night, Kaiba?"
Blue eyes flickered with slight surprise before the emotion disappeared.
"Because if you are," Atemu continued, taking another sip of the tangy-orange vodka drink thoughtfully, "I'll have to pull down the extra pillows."
"Don't count on it, Yami," Seto responded and dropped a couple large bills on the table, getting to his feet and tugging at Atemu's elbow, "Come on, we're going to get you to bed."
"Are we now?" Atemu queried innocently, following the other's lead and letting himself be pushed to the exit, "Are we going to have a friendly fuck too?"
"We," came the clenched reply as they stepped out of the club and walked (Atemu more stumbled) to the elevators, "- would rather have you sober."
Atemu laughed, and they entered the elevator. He stabbed the button for floor thirty-eight with unnecessary hostility. "Kaiba, you can have me anytime you want, m'kay?"
The elevator creaked slowly upwards, sending an unstable Atemu wobbling to one side. Automatically, Seto's arm shot out and wrapped around the other's slim waist.
"Really. I might take you up on that offer, Yami," the CEO informed casually, as if holding the other was an everyday occurrence.
"Yeah?" came the ever-clever response.
The elevator opened and Atemu traipsed out with Seto following behind, ready for catching a fall.
"Guess I'll see you later," the younger man said mournfully, pulling out the flat plastic key for his room, "You aren't so bad, really."
"The same applies to you," the brunette replied amused as he watched the other rake slender fingers through the red highlights in his hair with a sigh, "We must play sometime."
Atemu laughed again, "It almost sounds dirty when you say it, Kaiba!" He continued to miss the small slit with the key, "Fuck."
Seto's hand covered his and slowly slid the key into the slot, pulling it out leisurely. The green light above the handle flashed at Atemu happily. He grinned in response. He turned to thank the CEO when his nose brushed the fabric of the other's shirt. Since when did the distance between them disappear?
Remember that one statement about Seto Kaiba being gorgeous up close? What an understatement.
"Uhm… thanks, Kaiba," Atemu had to look upward to catch the other's eye, before looking back down.
Seto ended up leaning over him slightly to open the door for him. Atemu looked at him with confusion.
"We don't want to unlock it again, do we?" Seto explained, nudging the other inside, "Go on. Get to bed."
Atemu smiled and rubbed his eyes. What a gentleman underneath all that exterior shit. "Alright. Thank you again." He stepped into the doorway, his body keeping the door from shutting by itself. "Uhm…"
"Something else you need?" the brunette smirked at the tiny innuendo.
"… I guess," Atemu trembled slightly before he stepped away from the door.
With one hand placed on Seto's shoulder to keep his balance, Atemu stepped up on the balls of his feet swiftly and pressed his lips against Seto's mouth. Behind him, the door slammed shut again, knocking Atemu back into reality.
"Fuck! Oh my god – !" the twenty-two year old realized what he had just done and turned swiftly, fumbling with the key again and praying to any deity listening to help him open the door – FAST.
"Yami…!"
Luck was with him, and the key slid in effortlessly and he yanked it out, simultaneously yanking the door handle down to open the door. With a few more violent curses, he ran into his room and shoved the door close behind him, even though the hinges helped his cause greatly.
"That's not my name, Kaiba!"
A/N: I tried really, really hard… X.x
Beta-ed by Futago no Seishi! Read her fics - they make mine look like trash. XP
Review, please?