Arrogantshipping (Kaiba Seto/Kujaku Mai)

. . .

"You," she said, "need to relax."

He looked at her as though she had just suggested that he jump off a cliff. Mai rolled her eyes, swirling her latte around in its cup by twisting her wrist in circles. She took a brief sip before considering the young man that had ended up across from her.

Kaiba Seto looked out of place in the cafe—actually, he looked out of place in any mundane environment. Somehow, he was one of those people that was made for stupidly extra scenarios, like hanging off of a rope ladder that dangled from a helicopter, or zooming away on a Blue Eyes White Jet while laughing like a fucking nerd.

Somehow, his turtleneck didn't seem to suit him, like his shoulders were mourning the disappearance of their normal puffy sleeves. He had taken his sunglasses off once Mai had recognized him, but his shaggy hair was still shoved haphazardly under a hat. What Mai was really referring to when she said he needed to relax, though, was the dark circles under his haggard eyes, which looked far too old for however old he was now. How long had it been? He was probably eighteen.

She took another long sip, made him wait for her to explain. He was clearly wanting to know what had brought the statement on, but he was too proud to ask.

"I said you need to relax," she said.

"I heard you the first time," he said, almostsnarling. "I don't exactly have the time or luxury of relaxing."

"Honey, that's what I thought too when I was your age, hopping casinos trying to make a living," she said.

"Casino hopping is nowhere near the level of running an international company."

"I wasn't saying it was. I'm saying that no matter how busy you are, you're clearly overworking yourself."

She set down her latte on the table and folded her hands under her chin, considering him. When you looked too long, you could really see it—he was still barely more than a kid. He just had seemed to have forgotten that fact.

"Listen, kiddo," she said, half smirking at the way Kaiba bristled at being called 'kiddo.' "I know you're not going to listen to me. So I'm not going to try to lecture. Just let me pass you a bit of advice from someone who's been around the block a few times."

She took a brief drag from her latte, almost finishing it. Kaiba, for his part, actually waited patiently.

"You're going to burn out. No matter what, it's going to happen. No matter how tough you think you are."

She blinked at him.

"I didn't have anyone to stop the burn out for when I was your age. There was no one hoping for me to take a breath."

She tilted her head.

"But don't you have someone hoping for the best for you?"

Kaiba seemed to get it immediately, because she saw him flinch ever so slightly. His hands tightened on the table and his eyes fell to his knuckles, refusing to meet hers. Well, whatever. She didn't care if he took the advice or not.

She finished off her latte and left it on the table, sliding out of the booth.

"Get yourself something to drink, at least," she said. "You're here anyway. Just take a minute to sit."

She winked at him when he glanced up and she was almost surprised to see the sudden, surprised flush that dusted his cheeks briefly. She wasn't sure if it was from embarrassment or irritation at being treated like a kid.

"Don't make my mistakes, kiddo," she said. "Hopefully I'll see you around."

"Hopefully I won't," he grumbled.

But despite his irritable tone, he sent her the tiniest of reluctant smiles. She smiled widely back, winked again, and headed for the door.

He was a bit of a dick, that kid. But maybe he'd grow out of it.

. . .

A/N: I dunno guys, I like cafe scenes I guess haha. Next is Argenshipping (Pegasus x Ryo).