Thoroughly Inconspicuous
Seto doesn't intend to partake, but when a meeting for an important business deal includes drinks, he has one for the sake of decorum. With irritation, he accepts more—but only when the head of the company seems to be warming to his proposition. Seto manages to progress the deal as desired and excuses himself. The drink has not affected him at all until he stands and finds that his vision swims and his head feels light. With great concentration, he returns to his car without stumbling, which is more than he can say for the other businessmen.
He has not had nearly as much as the others; surely this could not be called drunk—inebriated to some degree, but not drunk—but it comes with a lack of focus he detests with all his being. Short though it is, the ride home is miserable. The world outside his window is rushing past and making him feel ill, so he looks down to his lap instead. Why do people enjoy alcohol?
He has to avoid Mokuba at all costs. Little brothers don't need to see their older brothers in such a profane state. He very nearly trips on the step getting into the house—actually he does trip, but catches himself—and throws a hand to warn Isono back when the man offers help.
"Go home," he says, and Isono does. Maybe. Seto isn't entirely paying attention to anything more than each action as he takes it.
Mokuba is downstairs, watching TV or playing a video game. It's unusual, and Seto isn't happy about it, so he keeps walking, willing his steps to remain perfectly straight as he passes through black-haired periphery. When he walks somewhat slowly, the walls are far less... animated.
"Niisama, did you get the deal?" Mokuba is at his side now, and Seto stops so as not to be any more obvious.
"Yes," he answers. Mokuba is always so interested. So supportive—almost blindly, but not foolishly. It would be difficult to imagine how dark life could be if the two brothers were not side-by-side.
"Good! Also, I was talking to R&D earlier, and one of their orders didn't come yet. Can I approve their duplicate order? It's going to be almost a billion yen, but we can always send back whichever comes second. And there's already an inquiry about the missing order." Mokuba's words blend together, and Seto finds halfway through that he is not listening. He forces himself to hear the last part but remains silent.
Mokuba looks up at him, earnestly, waiting for an answer to some question Seto did not hear.
"I trust you," Seto tells him, but Mokuba's eyebrows shoot up and he realizes, a bit late, that he has actually said "I love you." Which is true of course, but it is certainly no way to remain inconspicuous. "And I trust you," he corrects, properly this time.
"I love you too," Mokuba breathes back as Seto places a hand on his head. He steps past his brother, toward the stairs, and is grateful for the handrail. At the top, he glances back down, expecting Mokuba to be back on the couch—but little brother is standing exactly where Seto left him, staring from the foot of the stairwell.
"Good night," Seto says, and he heads for his bed-chamber.
When he drops down onto the bedspread, still clothed, he fully intends to get back up, shower, and change. Ten minutes later he remains there, still intending to get back up, shower, and change. But he is thinking about Mokuba's awed stare, and it occurs to him that perhaps this is one reason why people enjoy alcohol.
Only next time... not quite so much.
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Inspired by the prompt: "I love you too, but I just asked if we're out of oatmeal."
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It's been a while since I posted anything! I found this story among my files, basically complete and waiting for years to be posted. I just dusted it off, made a few tweaks, and up it went! As of now, I'm working on two other Yugioh stories... and refusing to post until they are complete. Wish me luck and perseverance! Drop a line if you have any prompts/ideas/requests for one-shots. I like getting those. :)
