Atem sighed as he stared blankly at his computer screen, pretending to work. He tapped his fingers against the keyboard to imitate the sound of typing, knowing that nothing was being written out on his document.
"Do you have my report?"
Atem yelped and quickly shut his laptop, "Mokuba!" He cleared his throat and adjusted his bow tie, "I wasn't doing anything-er, I mean, I was working but-"
Mokuba glared at the ex-king and crossed his arms, "Uh-huh." His mature features were serious and judgmental.
"I was!" Atem said, hoping the younger man wouldn't call his bluff.
"If you were working then open your laptop." Mokuba commanded, his deep voice making Atem incredibly nervous. He had grown into a dashing young man but had inherited his older brother's no-nonsense workplace attitude. He saved his fun side for outside of the office.
Too bad he was never outside of the office for anyone to see that side of him.
Atem pursed his lips and stared at his closed company laptop and then back at Mokuba, "You know there's nothing there." He said, defeated.
Mokuba groaned and pinched the bridge of his nose between his index finger and thumb, "Atem, we've talked about this…" He reprimanded, leaning against Atem's desk.
Atem shook his head, "I know, I know. I just can't deal with the bureaucratic bullshit. I'm a special projects guy. I don't do paperwork." He said standing up from his chair, "I'm the closer and smooth talker, I can't do paperwork all day. I need excitement." He explained, gazing up at the statuesque raven haired CEO.
Mokuba gazed at Atem sadly and chuckled, "Excitement? You mean like being hand chosen by Seto Kaiba himself to be the liaison between some of our most important clients on both sides of the hemisphere?" He asked sarcastically.
Atem plopped down into his chair and leaned back, "You know I'm grateful but-"
"But you miss having no responsibility?" Mokuba interrupted with a roll of his eyes.
Atem clicked his tongue and opened his laptop, revealing the blank word document he had been daydreaming at, "I like having responsibility. I miss having a reason to get out of bed everyday." He mumbled, opening his emails. Being social normally helped him cope with his stress and loneliness.
"I'd say your seven figure income would be enough for any person to get out of bed everyday." Mokuba spat, "Your report on Okayama's meeting is two months late. If you were anyone else, you'd be fired." He walked toward the glass doors that enclosed Atem's private office, "Either get it together, or go back to Japan. Seto put a lot on the line when he hired you. God, if Yugi wasn't a walking panic attack-"
"Don't you dare!" Atem growled, trying to keep his voice down, "Aibou's grandfather had just passed, he couldn't take a job across the world. And now, he's...he's.." Atem trailed off, hating the way Mokuba was smirking at him. He knew that Yugi was Mokuba's first choice for Atem's position all those years ago, but Kaiba had overruled the decision.
"He must have rocked your world in that sleeping compartment that Seto paid for..." Mokuba said slowly, "If I find out the reason why you haven't typed up your report was because you didn't pay attention-"
"I was paying attention!" Atem said through gritted teeth.
"Were you? You were able to remember every detail of Yugi's outfit when you told me what happened between the two of you. Yet you can't even type up a page of information on your three days in Okayama?" Mokuba opened the office door, "If that report isn't in my email by this evening, then I'm writing you up myself." He walked out of the office, clearing a path of terrified underlings as he stormed to the elevator.
Atem fumed at his desk, clicking through his emails, What a fucking prick. He thought, absentmindedly sending a direct message to Kaiba.
Tem-Tem: Oy. Are you missing your pole?
…
…
Kaiba: My Pole?
..
Tem-Tem: Yeah the one you keep up your ass? If you are missing it, I think Mokuba took it.
..
Kaiba: I'm not following.
..
Kaiba: Oh, I get it now. Is he being stubborn?
…
Tem-Tem: Yes! He was my friend up until we got back from Okayama. Now he's awful to me!
…
Kaiba: He seemed fine during the trip. Didn't you take a detour through Hamanatsu, though?
…
Tem-Tem: Yeah, so?
…
Kaiba: Maybe he's upset you ditched him for whatever reason.
…
Tem-Tem: Ugh. You aren't going to take me seriously either.
…
Kaiba: I can't take you seriously when I know for a FACT that you've gotten no work done today.
…
Tem-Tem: Why do I even talk to you?
…
Kaiba: Because even though our relationship ended years ago, you know anything you say to me won't leave this conversation.
…
Kaiba: And we're friends or something. Tem-Tem:Thank you, Kaiba. I need a vacation. AWAY from the grey eyed dragon.
…
Kaiba: Come to Domino.
Atem's eyes widened as he read the message on his screen multiple times. He couldn't just up and leave, could he?
Kaiba: Yugi's hosting a small chess tournament at the game shop next week. I'm sure he'd be excited to see you.
Atem's heart dropped into his stomach at the thought of seeing Yugi again. He was still hurt and upset after his meeting with his lighter half in Hamanatsu. He slowly typed out another message, feeling a little too vulnerable.
Tem-Tem: I don't know if I should...
…
Kaiba: You don't know if you should come to Domino or if you should go to the tournament?
Atem sighed. He couldn't tell Kaiba what happened. He was shocked that Mokuba hadn't passed the information along to his older brother right after it happened.
Tem-Tem: Maybe I shouldn't come to Domino. I have this report to finish by tonight and that's going to take up most of my time.
…
Kaiba: *eye roll emoji* Just don't turn it in. It's just meeting minutes not your budget for your next special project or marketing campaign. Mokuba can deal with it. I can contact my people in New York and get you on the next jet out of LaGuardia.
…
Tem-Tem: THANK YOU!
…
Kaiba: You owe me.
…
Tem-Tem: Of course!
Atem shut his laptop and shoved it into his leather messenger bag. He padded his pockets for his phone, keys, and wallet. He had no plan. All he knew was that he was going to get away from Mokuba and his mundane corporate daily life.
At least for a few weeks.
He stealthily left his office and ran down the staircase of the large building. He didn't care if his office was on the tenth floor, he would go to any length to avoid running into Mokuba Kaiba. He sped out onto the lobby floor, walking briskly toward the exit.
"Going somewhere?"
Atem jumped and spun around, "Holy Ra, Mokuba! Do you ever make any noise?!" He asked, startled.
Mokuba glared down at the crimson eyed prince, "Answer me."
Atem gulped and straightened himself up, "Yes. Mr. Kaiba has requested my presence in Domino and that I leave immediately." He explained, as respectfully as possible.
"Oh? And why would he need you?" Mokuba questioned, raising an eyebrow.
Atem shrugged, "I didn't ask why. My boss expressed his needs and I'm going to deliver."
"He's not your boss, I'm your boss." Mokuba corrected, putting his hands on his hips and setting his lips in a tight line, "He can't call you in at a moment's notice."
"I'm sorry, sir. But as the owner of the U.S. branch and Kaiba Corp Japan, he is my boss. And, he would be the only person who could call me in at a moment's notice and not have me question it." Atem explained further, his tone condescending, "You see what I'm getting at here?"
Mokuba looked around the lobby, causing the onlookers to feign ignorance at the scene in front of them. He scoffed and put on a tight smile, "I see, Atem. Well, I'm so sorry to see you leave the US branch."
Atem furrowed his brow in confusion, What is he talking about?
"Yes." Atem said stupidly.
Mokuba nodded, faking his sad tone, "It was so nice having you here, Atem. But, since you insist, I'll have your current projects and position transferred to Kaiba Corp Japan." The corners of his lips curled up in a wicked smile, "Since you're needed so badly over there. After all, who am I to question your boss?"
Atem's jaw dropped. This was it. This was the closest thing Mokuba could do to firing him. He blinked rapidly and cleared his throat, "Yes, well. He'll send me back once my work is over."
"Oh, but Atem. Everyone here knows, based on your track record for missing deadlines and never turning in paperwork, that your work is never done." The hatred dripped from Mokuba's teeth like venom. He walked up to Atem and put a firm hand on the ex-king's shoulder, "Enjoy Japan. I'm sure all of your old friends would love to know what you've been up to all these years. Especially Seto."
Mokuba nodded to security and clasped his hands behind his back, "Send Yugi my regards."
Atem blinked, realizing that two large men were slowly pushing him out of the building. He shook himself free, "Mokuba." He said, still in disbelief.
This couldn't be happening. Was this all over a missed report?
He was grabbed by one of the guards and roughly pulled out of the lobby and to the busy manhattan sidewalk, "Mokuba!" He called again, in shock as the guards blocked the double doors.
"Sir. This entrance is for Kaiba Corp. US employees only." The gruff man said.
Atem shook his head and scoffed, "You know he's just throwing a tantrum and I'll be back right?"
"Is that right?" The other guard chuckled, "Are you going to sleep with him for your job too?"
Atem's anger bubbled in his chest, "What did you just say?"
The guards laughed and glared at Atem, "Get out of here or we're calling the cops." they laughed again, "And you're a little too cute to go to jail, aren't you?"
Atem huffed and turned on his heel. This. This was why he needed to leave America.
Just for a little while… It could be good to get away.
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