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59. Fix You – Secondhand Serenade

Mokuba knew nobody actually asked for the dirty jobs, but someone had to do them, and who was better qualified than him? He loved his brother and his brother needed help. The two facts were so linked it was impossible to think of them as separate.

Even so, the drool on Seto's chin was disturbing, to say the least. Seto had always been the pillar of strength in Mokuba's life. At the orphanage, it was Seto who stayed strong while Mokuba broke down. Seto got them their new home and family in Gozaburo Kaiba, however the situation had turned out in the end. Seto was what was right with the world – and what was right in the world, as far as Mokuba was concerned. Seto had loved and cared for him when nobody else would. He owed his brother his life – literally. Now, for the first time ever, Mokuba was the strong one and Seto needed help – needed him.

"Hey, Big Brother," he said softly. The kids at school would have been surprised to hear that tone from him. They thought Mokuba was a hard-nut tough kid used to getting his own way, but that was only because Mokuba let them believe that. It was harder than letting them see the truth; that he was soft inside and would rather talk through arguments than get into fights. The Kaiba name required living up to. It didn't matter what you actually thought; if you were a Kaiba, you were tough and ruthless. Seto had always been a master at conveying the right vibe and Mokuba modelled himself after his brother.

Seto stared into space, unseeing as always. He hadn't been the same since he faced Yuugi Mutou in a duel. Mokuba's hand tightened briefly on the bed sheets. He let go to shake out his fingers so he didn't spill anything.

"Soup today," he chattered. Even if Seto woke up only to tell him off for being cheerful, it would be worth it. Any response would be worth it. Mokuba lifted the bowl and inhaled. "Mmm, miso soup. Or would you prefer something else to eat? It wouldn't take log for the chef to prepare it. Whatever you like." A wobble crept into his tone. Uh-oh. "C'mon, Seto."

Seto's mouth sagged at the corners. He was drooling again, but not at the prospect of tasty soup.

For a second Mokuba's insides clenched like he had eaten bad fish and his stomach was trying to get rid of it. That happened once when they first arrived at the orphanage. The other kids had laughed and the workers had tutted at the mess he had made, but Seto just went to the bathroom for a whole bunch of paper towels and cleaned Mokuba up without any fuss. It was things like that, those quiet moments of certainty, that amplified Mokuba's respect and love for his brother, far more than the money or prestige that came from being a Kaiba or Duel Monsters Champion.

"Big Brother." Mokuba's voice cracked. "Seto …"

And then suddenly Seto's eyes ticked towards him. It was the barest flicker, but it happened. Mokuba was convinced that for that brief instant, Seto had seen him – really seen him. It was working.

He settled into his seat at the bedside and raised the spoon to his brother's mouth. He would stay here and do this for as long a she was able. The Big Five, school, revenge, whatever – it could all wait. All that mattered was Seto. "C'mon, Big Brother. You need your strength if you're gonna kick that Yuugi kid's butt."

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