Atem decided to forego casual clothes for his preferred attire at work. The sudden change made heads turn. He outright ignored them. Well, except for a certain CEO. It was proving difficult not to break out in a smile whenever he caught Seto staring.
After three days of this, Mokuba even gave some insight. Which was surprising to the pharaoh. He hadn't thought to gather support from the younger Kaiba.
"If you ever decided to wear crop tops, just make sure they're not too outrageous." Mokuba advised one morning.
"Your brother likes those?" Atem raised a brow. He had thought his dark leather pants, sleeveless shirt and choker were eye candy enough.
"Have you looked into fishnet shirts too? Maybe the combination of those might really mess with him." Mokuba continued, completely unbothered by this subject.
"You're more devious than I thought." The pharaoh comments, earning a laugh.
"I've been watching him obsess over you forever. It's about time something comes of it."
"Yet I also get the feeling this is just a means for you to have front row seats while I get burned." Atem didn't mind, he can handle it. He was more surprised to see how much the younger Kaiba was growing into a schemer.
"It's okay, I know you can handle it. And whatever you throw at him, Seto can handle it better."
Cheeky brat. Atem almost comments out loud. This somewhat felt like bait. And if it were, he refused to bite.
Atem decided to look into whether or not his work required specific clothes. He hadn't thought of doing so when he began parading around in his preferred attire. Only to find his position didn't have rules.
"So I don't have to wear anything specific, right?" Atem decided to play it safe and ask Seto.
"You're already walking around in that. Why are you asking now?" The CEO eyed him suspiciously.
"I may or may not have heard a tip to dress myself a little differently."
"What? Who suggested this?" Seto was alert now.
"Yuugi." Atem answered. He hoped this would be a good cover up. He felt guilty should anything come of it, though.
"Why would he suggest you to wear something different?"
"To mess with you." The pharaoh almost laughed.
"Please don't." Seto deadpanned.
"My, my, this is a first I've ever heard you say please in the years we've known each other." Atem smirked.
"Whatever you're plotting, don't."
"But I want to see your reaction!" Atem did laugh this time.
"Exactly what were you suggested?" Seto didn't like this, and it was clear in his tone.
"Shall I wear them tomorrow for you to see? I'll bring a change of clothes if it really upsets you." It was a gamble, one that might cause a rift between them. Atem was fond of taking risks, though.
"Know what, go ahead. Let's see what you claim Yuugi suggested you to wear to work in order to mess with me." Seto took this as a challenge.
So he doesn't fully believe my cover up. Atem could only smirk on the outside.
After his shift ended, Atem promptly made a call once he was outside the buiding. Since he started working, he was given a phone. Company paid and everything. While the pharaoh hardly used it, he was grateful having it now.
"Everything all right?" Yuugi answered.
"We need to go shopping. Do you have time?" Atem's voice had a playful tone.
"Yeah? But why do we need to go shopping?"
"You'll see." Atem hung up so he wouldn't spill all the details.
They met up at the mall. Yuugi was still confused, especially upon seeing the sly nature Atem had. Until they began window shopping. Yuugi was embarrassed by the choice of shops.
"Why are you searching for crop tops? Those aren't usually your type." Yuugi grew suspicious. "And don't get me started on fishnets."
"To mess with Seto." Atem answered casually.
For exactly forty seconds Yuugi's brain lagged as he processed. It was almost comical. The pharaoh held back from laughing.
"...Mokuba gave you the idea, didn't he?"
"How'd you guess?" The pharaoh tilted his head as he glanced at Yuugi.
"He would be the only source to give you this sort of suggestion to mess with Kaiba at all." Yuugi did have a point.
"Do you think it will work?"
"If you want him jumping your pants, probably." Yuugi didn't sound sarcastic.
"You don't approve?" Atem almost said us, but technically he and Seto weren't solid in a relationship.
"Not entirely, no. And I have no intention of interfering. But what about you? Why are you interested? Is it the bond thing influencing you?"
"Did I ever tell you a crush did sort of bloom way back when we faced Dartz?" Atem understood Yuugi's concerns. But he liked to believe that the bond was merely strengthening the buried crushes neither took the step to initiate.
"Really? You kept that even from me?" Yuugi blinked in surprise.
"It wasn't exactly a "Hey, welcome back, aibou! By the way I developed a crush on someone while you were gone" sort of conversation I wanted to start with you." Atem was nervous, fidgeting as he browsed more clothes.
"Actually, fair. I'll give you that." Yuugi laughed.
"So while we're adjusting to this whole soul bound situation, I figured I might as well make it interesting."
"Okay, but are you open for suggestions? I've got some ideas on how to really mess with him." Yuugi so wanted to be involved at this point. Anything to rile up Seto Kaiba. The CEO had it coming.
Atem smiled with glee. He was glad to finally see Yuugi come around to the idea of him being with Seto. He rather enjoyed Yuugi's insight. They decided on a perfect set of clothes and began to make their way home.
"I'm glad to see you come to terms with this." Atem stated.
"Well, you've been coming back home happier. And when you leave for work you're eager. It's still weird to wrap my head around it all, but in the end he still makes you happy. It's all that I can really ask for." Yuugi had noticed the changes. Everyday Atem's smile was brighter.
"Really?" The pharaoh blinked. He hadn't noticed anything different.
"Yeah. I have to say it's a welcome surprise. I was nervous at first. I'm glad to see you're doing well. How is he faring in all of this, though?" This was a first for Yuugi to show interest into Seto's wellbeing.
"He feels guilty, I think. So I think he's been trying to avoid us rushing in."
"But you're never one to wait forever." Yuugi sighed. "You sure this won't bite you in the ass later?"
"It probably will. But I have faith we will be fine in the end." Atem was counting on their stubbornness.
"Just as long as he doesn't hurt you. Or I'll take your keycard and go into his office and feed him his own eyeballs."
"Aibou!" Atem stared in shock.
"Okay, maybe not literally." Yuugi retracted. "But I'll still give him a piece of my mind."
If this is how Yuugi is with me, I wonder how Seto will be when Mokuba begins to have an interest with anyone? Atem was ever so slightly scared.
That evening Atem tried on his new clothes. The black crop top matched his favorite pants. And he strangely started to like the new style. Although he wasn't entirely sure of the white fishnet. Atem ripped the sleeves off when he found that they would literally catch on everything he touched.
In the mirror, the outfit appeared well. Yet Atem wasn't a big fan of the fishnet. The texture made his skin uncomfortable. So while Atem began to have second thoughts of strolling into Kaiba Corp like this, he had another idea.
It took a few tries on deciding on a pose before giving up and sending a photo to Seto. Although Atem really, really wanted to see his reaction, he felt that perhaps this would be the safest option.
Less than a minute his phone rang. Heart racing, Atem answered.
"Is this your idea of a joke?" Seto's voice was dark.
"No, this is me trying to gain your attention." The pharaoh kept his voice calm.
"You have it. What do you want."
"As much as I enjoy this dance between us, I feel like we should take the next step." Atem felt his stomach turn. He knew this time it was his own reaction and not Seto's.
"...You sure you know what you're asking?"
"You make it sound like I'm signing my soul over to the devil. Or, in this case, a dragon would be a better image for you." Atem countered.
"If I scare you off then I won't lose you again. I won't be left alone even if it means cursing us both into a life of misery just to keep you, I will do it anyway." That wasn't a threat but a promise.
"Seto, nothing really scares me anymore." Atem spoke truly. "I want to explore us. As a couple. I am rather fond of the idea of us succeeding. So can you not focus on the negative and see the big picture of what could be?"
Through the bond he sensed some of the scared prickly defense within Seto relax. Atem can understand in a way why he would be defensive. Neither really have any experience with this sort of relationship. It can be daunting to those who were too used to standing tall and alone facing down the world.
"I've seen your soul, Seto. And I still poured in mine to connect us." Atem knew these words could either drive Seto away or give in. "If you feel as if you don't deserve me, shouldn't that be reserved for my judgement?"
"...Tomorrow come to the mansion instead. Looks like we will both be taking a day off."
"What about Kaiba Corp?" Atem blinked in surprise. That actually worked?
"Mokuba can handle a day without me as his punishment for telling you my little secrets." Seto then promptly hung up.
Atem almost felt sorry for the younger Kaiba. But his excitement overshadowed everything else. The pharaoh couldn't even recall the last time he was excited for something.