[Open]

[note_atem]

Whur is your boyfrand? He iz missing. This is terrible news. It's probably the regular rite? Kidnapping or torture or something. But wait. There's more.

Comments

I don't feel like looking up exchange rates, so..

[shutupandduelme]

Kaiba Seto's day was quickly falling apart from a bad few hours to an absolute nightmare. Sure, Pegasus had approached him to join in this little escapade. He was probably the only one who could fetch a price as good or better than Atem's. Of course, that hope was quickly crushed when the mailed invitation had been sent back as a pile of shredded paper and ashes. Pegasus hadn't even bothered to call after that.

But what else could Kaiba do once he saw the report that the King of Games would be up for auction? Secret or not, it was his rival that had been put up at the mercy of the fangirls and doses with wine. Kaiba was practically shaking with repressed rage before even making the event.

There was no way for him to go in without making a scene, either. The press of fangirls was just too much to overcome. So it was a suit jacket and sunglasses-less Isono who raised his hand for the first bid while his boss lurked about outside. He would pay the man for the embarassment later.

[shutupandduelme]

Things were moving too fast for even Kaiba Seto to completely fix. He couldn't afford to lose Atem in that crowd, but Pegasus couldn't be allowed to continue with this train of thought either.

"That donation better be tax deductible, or I will be in contact with you tomorrow," The brunet finally hissed at the older CEO before he turned to walk after Atem. He only took a few steps before boldly reaching out his hand.

"Atem!" He called out, hoping to get the other's attention as quickly as possible. "Given that you have fallen for this pathetic ploy, I have no choice but to challenge you to a duel. Clearly your mind must be slipping, and I will not have my title sullied by your mistakes."

[note_atem]

"Let's say tomorrow afternoon shall we in case you're tired after your date." Oh the laughter. It just wouldn't stop.

The shorter turned when he heard Kaiba shout his name, and it took a lot of good grace to do so. His eyes narrowed at the other, still not in the mood. Nevertheless, a challenge was a challenge. "I accept." He said proudly, as only the King of Games would. "Once I retrieve my deck you will have it."

Dueling intoxicated was something he'd never done before. It was something he was sure he shouldn't be doing. His only hope was that walking home to get his deck, since he had no mode of transport at the moment, would be long enough to clear his head.

[shutupandduelme]

A muscle above one of Kaiba's eyebrows was starting to twitch. Yes, they needed to leave, and a duel was a much better excuse than a date or who knew what else.

"Then I will take you to it, and we will duel there," Kaiba said, though he had no real intention to duel Atem now. It wouldn't be much of one, considering how visibly drunk the shorter man was.

[note_atem]

"I don't need your help, Kaiba." He was still growling, though his anger was not supposed to be directed at the other. There was just no outlet for it right now other than going back and starting something very dangerous with Pegasus.

Once he realized it his eyes dropped, hands shaking as they balled again before he walked towards the exit. This entire night was humiliating. That Kaiba had to bail him out, that Kaiba had even been witness to it, was more than enough to keep his anger right where it was. Just now it had an outlet-

Himself.

[shutupandduelme]

"It's a good thing I'm not offering it, then," Kaiba replied, not exactly in the best of moods himself. Getting growled at after all of that didn't really help. "I just refuse to waste any more time."

He strode out of the room, head held high as he easily caught up with Atem. Once they were outside he could force the other to the car if he had to. Isono fell into step behind him.

[note_atem]

Kaiba's words were not listened to. He was barely even aware the other had spoken again underneath the rushing he was doing, the missteps and the wobbles, accompanied with anger and guilt and disgust and embarrassment all piled onto himself.

He didn't even go near Kaiba's car. If he was expected to he'd either forgotten or much more likely was really intent on just doing things his own way.

[shutupandduelme]

As soon as they were out of sight from the crowd, Kaiba extended his stride to catch up with the other.

"Isono, open the door for me," he barked at the man behind him right before calmly making an attempt to scoop Atem up into his arms while walking. Isono just cleared his throat and moved to open the doors of the waiting limousine.

[note_atem]

It had happened so fast (at least to him) that he'd thought the world had fallen out from under him: also known as, falling down. It had caused him to brace himself, clutching inadvertently to Kaiba. When the fall never came he looked around and realized what was going on.

Oh.

"Put me down!" The flailing started.

[shutupandduelme]

"Not until you-" Kaiba's retort was cut off by a sharp hit to his face. He hissed, his nose bending back in such a way that he was sure it would be bleeding in a few minutes. "Come to your senses!"

Atem was practically dropped into the limo, Kaiba sliding in while fuming beside him. Isono quickly fled to the drivers seat, finding it best just to stay out of the way.

[note_atem]

He nearly collapsed in even while sitting on the seat. It took too much time for him to realize what was going on and how to fix it; sitting upright and sliding towards the window at the other end.

His arms crossed underneath his chest, leaning hard against the door, the side of his head pressing against the glass. His eyes closed in a haphazard attempt to tune everything out as the headache grew. He really was having none of this. After only a few moments however a deep show of regret immediately became visible on his face.

[shutupandduelme]

"His apartment, go," Kaiba growled at Isono before slamming the partition shut. It was all he could do before he had to reach for a Kleenex to stop his bleeding nose. He glanced up at Atem, his stare not quite a full glare...yet.

"Would you have preferred I was one of them?" he asked. "I could still throw you into that crowd if you want. They'd have you." In pieces, by the end of it.

[note_atem]

He didn't look at Kaiba, and even with his eyes closed he could feel the other's eyes on him. His own remained closed for the moment, his arms tucking tighter as he barely contained anything he was feeling.

His voice was forcibly quiet and low. "Just take me home, as if I have a choice. You'll get your duel."

[shutupandduelme]

"Of course I will," Kaiba agreed as he tried to put pressure on his nose, "but it will be when you are fully in your right mind. I don't need a victory from a drunk man."

He sat back in the seat and scowled. Atem wasn't only drunk, he was also worth over a million dollars, money he had paid out of his own pocket. As far as he was concerned, Atem would be doing unpaid work for Kaiba Corporation for the rest of his life.

[note_atem]

It wasn't quick, but he hadn't waited a few minutes to say it either. Somewhere in the length of a medium span of time after Kaiba had already said his words, Atem responded with a cold tone.

"Seeing as it might be the only one you'll ever get, maybe you should." He was still mad. He was still upset. He didn't want to be around anyone, much less Kaiba.

[shutupandduelme]

The brunet visibly stiffened.

"I had no intention of using this as leverage, but if you insist on being difficult you don't leave me with much of a choice," Kaiba growled. "I just donated over a million dollars in your name. You have no standing to decide what I should and shouldn't do. Do not take out your own stupidity on me."