Chapter 1
Seto remembered there was a time when Mokuba's presence was unwanted. Now, he doesn't know how he'd live without the violet-eyed youth. It's funny, how his young child self would have never believed that his little brother would have such an impact on his life.
The years flew by almost in a blur. Yellow vests and sneakers vanished. His brother was thirteen, wearing a fitted purple suit underneath a white blazer, cropped hair, and carrying his steel briefcase. Dashing around looking up at him with a gleaming wide-eyed gaze and a beaming grin. Soon, Seto didn't have to look down so often. And Mokuba didn't have to look up as much.
Seto made note that Mokuba stopped offering to carry his briefcase. Mokuba noted that his purple tie was needed on his suit in place of his locket and wondered what his brother's excuse was when it was absent from the black turtleneck he used to put it around with his various trench coats.
Mokuba turned fifteen and not much changed, but Seto wouldn't admit it all felt different somehow. The teenage years left as quickly as they came but the early twenties were what really brought strains.
Sugar candy-covered lips are replaced with black coffee sips. Once bright suits became sophisticated dark satin, interchanging with zipped leather collared vests and long black studded trench coats.
When it came time for college, Seto quietly mentioned prestigious schools overseas. Mokuba softly asked if that's what he wanted. Seto told him he should do what he wants.
Mokuba's eyes stared, stern. He didn't blink when he said, "I want to be Vice President of Kaiba Corp. I don't want to go away...for college. I want to stay. Here." With you. Even though Mokuba didn't say the last part, it lingered in the air.
Seto didn't protest.
Mokuba went to a college nearby home. Seto was surprised when he entered an acceleration program and graduated early so he could work full-time at Kaiba Corp. And Seto couldn't tell what this feeling was when Mokuba took charge with ease, running Kaiba Corp effectively as if there was no need for a CEO.
They attended functions together and Mokuba is calm, cool, and frighteningly shrewd when it comes to business. For some reason, Seto felt pleased when Mokuba always declined any drinks during events. When they're home, Seto got a bottle out for dinner and poured a glass for two.
"I don't mind if you have a taste," Seto pushed the twinkling glass toward him. Mokuba smiled, taking the glass and leaned in, clinking it with his brother's. "Cheers." Then he took a sip and pushed the glass back.
"Nii-sama," Mokuba started, "Here." He poured the rest into his brother's glass.
"I decided I hate alcohol and after that taste, I still do."
"This is coming from the kid who drinks all that bitter black coffee?" Seto scoffed. Mokuba frowned at hearing the word kid, but then pouted playfully.
"Hey, I like the taste of bitterness."
"But hate alcohol?" Seto retorted amusingly. Mokuba stuck his tongue out. They both laughed softly. And Mokuba was silently glad and upset that Seto didn't catch what he meant. They finished dinner and conversed. Neither mentioned how much they enjoyed times like these. Inside Mokuba, a little boy lights up and a grown man's heart beats faster.
It's not every day, his Nii-sama talks to him during dinner.
Mokuba is twenty-three and his hair frames a face Seto doesn't recognize and distant eyes he can't read. Young violet eyes were dull in color but vibrant in emotion. Now they've become rich in this striking violet hue, so captivating yet icy cold. Sun-kissed skin held a tanned glow from being outside. Now this pale skin is whiter than snow. Cropped hair grew back long, silky, and glistening against the midnight black.
A fight happens one night when Seto is driving home and sees a black figure waiting outside by the door. At first glance, he thinks there's a lollipop in his brother's mouth. But as he gets closer, he sees a puff of smoke fade into the night mist.
Mokuba's leaning against the doorframe, the cigarette nestled between his fingers as he slowly brings it to his lips. Seto loudly slams the car door and briskly walks up and yanks the cigarette out of his brother's mouth. He demands an explanation. Then forbids it. Raging.
"You can't tell me what to do anymore. You're not my father. You're my brother. Don't ever think, it was anything different." Mokuba freezes him speechless. Tries to ignore the crippling in those blue eyes.
"I can do whatever I want. I'm an adult now, Nii-sama." Seto is left stunned as Mokuba lights up another one and walks away.
The next morning, they don't talk about it. They never talk about things. Mokuba feels Seto's glare on his back, as he takes a smoke before work. He senses the disapproval suffocating the room, but then again this wouldn't be the first time. Mokuba closes his eyes but opens them quickly before visions of monsters appear from puffs of smoke.
Seto didn't know when they became strangers.
But he remembers when he came home one day and saw Mokuba sitting alone by the window, his eyes moist. The rain was pouring outside, grey clouds fogging up the skies. Seto slowly approaches him.
He doesn't say, "What is it?" Instead, he asks, "Do you wanna go out to dinner tonight?"
Mokuba looks up at him with a strange look on his face. He pauses, then silently nods. They both walk out together. Seto opens an umbrella to share but the rain stops.
The skies clear up.
It was like meeting an old friend and catching up after so many years apart. Seto learns new things he didn't know about Mokuba. And Mokuba surprises him by knowing him so well. The walls slowly give up their hold. And Seto finds himself calling Mokuba at night from a different city, promising to be home soon after the business meetings. Mokuba assures him Kaiba Corp is fine but that's not why Seto called.
They talk through the night, chatting away about similar interests other than business. Seto makes a snarky comment and Mokuba laughs. And suddenly, the world stops spinning. Because it sounds so familiar but different. Still, it's the purest thing his ears have heard in a while. They stay up talking all night, not realizing the sun rising up behind them.
Before Seto can even get through the door, he catches his balance as arms are flung around him, pulling him close. A familiar scent greets him.
"Welcome home," the muffled voice says through his shirt.
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