[open] Forward dated birfday party.

[note_atem]

Birthdays weren't important to him anymore, or at least that's what he always claimed. After all, living through three thousand and more of them probably left a little to the imagination anymore. He didn't care. Nope. Not at all. But you know, it's also Yuugi's birthday, too, so he was very happy to give that much more attention than his own.

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[shutupandduelme]

Some people might have thought birthdays were important, but Kaiba Seto was not one of them. Little brothers walking into a den of possibly inebriated idiots, however, were. Mokuba had gotten his invitation in the mail and had insisted on going. Kaiba had tried everything to bribe him out of it, up to and including cookies before dinner, but nothing had worked.

The result was easily predictable. Mokuba had gotten his chance to celebrate with Yuugi, proudly presenting his gift (though he promised it was from Kaiba as well) of KaibaLand passes for life. Currently he was in the middle of a fierce video game competition with Yuugi, Ryou, and surprisingly Yuugi's grandfather. Feeling comfortable with leaving Mokuba in the presence of a sober adult, Kaiba had left the corner he had been brooding in for hours for a bit of fresh air. A headache was already pounding at his temples from the noise alone.

The CEO didn't even notice the other duelist until he almost tripped right over him. The question, and the obvious smell of alcohol, earned Atem a roll of Kaiba's eyes. "That desperate for relief already?" he remarked, glancing down at the other fully for a moment before wincing and pressing a hand to his sinuses. Just talking seemed to increase the pounding.

[note_atem]

"What is there to be relieved for?" The question, Kaiba's and his own, didn't sound like they made sense to him. He shook his head however and moved on, not really caring in the slightest. He just continued to sit back against the wall, enjoying the cool of the air on his slightly flushed skin. The piece of cake had been long since set down by his side and ignored, it seemed.

Slowly he lifted his eyes to the other man. "You could just leave, you know. You could have a driver take Mokuba home." He knew Seto didn't do social parties, not with his friends, only corporate things. Seeing him here, while nice, was slightly confusing.

[shutupandduelme]

"The lack of idiots babbling about nonsense, for one thing," Kaiba replied quietly. He shifted to lean against the side of the building, his arms crossing over his chest.

"That, along with the presence of your drink, keeps me here. I would have left already if it was possible," he added, once another hint of the alcohol reached his nose. If Atem had it, it had to be easily accessible somewhere in the area. That alone was risk enough for Mokuba.

[note_atem]

Atem's eyes raised to watch him for a long moment, accidental- slightly, time not really feeling like much as he forgot to watch it. Eventually his eyes lowered, looking out across the way instead.

"When are you planning on leaving?" His words were careful and calm, making sure he didn't trip over them as the world shook on its axis slightly.

[shutupandduelme]

After a few minutes of feeling the other man's stare on him, Kaiba glanced over, making sure not to move his head too much. His eyebrow quirked upward in question, but Atem looked away before he could comment on it. The brunet just sighed and looked straight ahead again.

"When we leave depends on Mokuba, this time," he finally replied. His last check up on his little brother had cemented that decision. However much Kaiba hated spending time around these people, Mokuba seemed to revel in it. The CEO couldn't recall the last time he had seen the boy so excited back at the mansion. For better or for worse, Mokuba wanted to be social. With idiots. It was hard to hold back the snort at that realization.

"Last I heard, the mutt was whimpering and rolling around trying to get Yuugi to allow them to spend the night."

[note_atem]

A quirky sort of smile touched his lips before he could help it. Though it seemed Kaiba wasn't looking straight at him for it, but he doubted that would help much. Kaiba had always been very perceptive to every little thing around him- oddities especially.

"If that's true then they probably will." A slight shake of his head. He loved his friends. There were just some times where he really needed alone time. Despite this being Yuugi's birthday, today might have been one of them. "I wonder when I should go, then...." If they were all staying when was the proper time to pick up and stumble back to his apartment? A good question indeed...

[shutupandduelme]

Kaiba frowned and glanced at the other again. The smell was a dead giveaway, and there was something off about his rival regardless.

"Any mugger within a mile would be able to tell you were drunk. I doubt Yuugi would appreciate picking you up from the hospital right after his birthday party," he pointed out dryly.

[note_atem]

The thought no one would have to know came first, and maybe a little of the first syllable spilled out before he stopped. Of course they'd have to know. That was stupid. There would be no way he could avoid telling them he'd been-

...but why did he have to get mugged anyway? His lips pursed slightly. "I can handle myself just fine."

[shutupandduelme]

Kaiba's lips quirked upward slightly.

"Prove it," he said. "Stand."

[note_atem]

Without even thinking about it his pride swelled up first and his eyes narrowed at the other. "I don't have to prove anything to you." Never. He was so much better than rising to taunts and goads.

Yet he went to stand anyway. It was near perfect, in his drunken world perhaps. There was a slight wobble but through pride alone he managed to stay firm and strong. And with that he took a step away. "I'll leave you to your peace." He didn't need this.

[shutupandduelme]

No, he didn't have to prove anything...and yet Atem was getting up anyway. With a wobble, Kaiba could see already. His lips twitched further almost into a smirk.

"Suit yourself," he said absently, his eyes closing. "You're wobbling, though."

[note_atem]

"It's never been your place to care." He responded firmly, very soundly. He was sure about that, at least. If nothing else there was always the familiar banter with his rival to make him feel right in place.

Still he hadn't moved, yet. "If anything is off, it's you."

[shutupandduelme]

Blue eyes snapped open and fixed Atem with a level stare. It was quite a feat, considering it set Kaiba's headache flaring up again.

"Explain," he said firmly.

[note_atem]

"What's there to explain?" As he rushed the words with a slight annoyance, they blurred slightly, sounding as a small slur in the beginning. He was quick to notice it, forcing himself to stop shifting in place as he did.

His eyes met with Kaiba's and despite the intoxication, were giving off one hell of an intent stare. "You don't have any right nor reason to care about my condition. Starting to pretend now is odd."

[shutupandduelme]

Kaiba's eyes narrowed slightly in response.

"Who said anything about caring?" He replied coolly. "All I'm doing is pointing out what I can see. You're wobbling. Other than that, I don't need to be caught in the middle of a group of sobbing cheerleaders after they hear their idol has been dragged off somewhere. I'll never get any work done, caught up in that."

He sighed and shook his head. "Avoiding the situation altogether is a bit easier."

[note_atem]

A scoff fell from him as he shook his head (a poor mistake to make as it served to set the world to spinning again). Once he got over said world spinning, straightening himself out again, he looked up at the other, a slight tilt to his head and his left hip propping out to the side.

"As long as I'm there to defeat you on the battlefield I don't think there's any situation for you to be dealing with. Isn't that right?"