[open]

[note_atem]

Busy, busy, busy. You'd warned Atem he wouldn't be able to see you for the weekend due to some work that had piled up on you. He'd accepted, of course, with a grin nonetheless. Work\school\whatever is important so he knows to stay out of the way. It was late into Sunday. You had made so much progress. Almost finished. Almost done...

Comments

[whitewizardboy]

He had a job now creating figurines for a small company display, so it really wasn't his fault that he didn't have much time for much else lately. He was up painting it into the late hours, not really realizing what time it really was.

When he heard the door buzz, he wiped his forehead and headed to the door, only to see it already opened and Atem standing there in the rain. He wiped his hands on his work apron, taking in the sight of Atem soaked. He gave a half smile and led him inside.

"Looking like that, I think you'd better stay the night so you don't catch your death out here..." He closed the door behind Atem.

[note_atem]

Walking seemed to be a chore for him. The pain that was radiating from his back he was trying so hard to hide but it resulted in awkward half-steps with every one normal step forward. Not much was going on in his mind for once other than trying to think of .... the reason he'd come there at all.

The rain. Right.

"I don't mean to bother you I know you're busy. But there was nowhere else."

[whitewizardboy]

"It really is all right, Atem-san. I probably needed a break from the paint fumes anyway." He put Atem's arm around his shoulder to help him walk into the main living area. It didn't really matter to him at the moment that Atem had his shoes on at the moment. Some things were more important. He then helped him ease into a chair, not really caring if it got wet.

"Mind telling me what happened, or am I going to have to guess?"

[note_atem]

He shied away from that touch immediately, eyes closing tightly in a sure sign of quiet pain. Trying to get past it, he didn't say much else while he was guided and sitting seemed to be a chore as well.

"Happened?" His question seemed legitimate. Almost as if he really wasn't sure why he was there at all. What could have happened?

[crimsonguarddog]

Cissnei is always busy, but the end of the quarter has them all running ragged. It was to the point where she chooses to take her work home rather than at her office, less distractions ones she settles down and focuses in the small nook of her apartment that she calls her home office. She was still up late, rain not bothering her at all, nor the cat curled up at her socked feet. Both woman and animal look up at the doorbell though, and Cissnei stands when Atem enters, not yet looking concern, but taking in these signs of something different as something being wrong.

"You could of called me, I would of picked you up." She says, pulling her chair out and moving toward him, mouth drawing into a slow almost-frown. "Do you need something dry to wear?"

[note_atem]

When she spoke it was almost like he was expecting her to not be there at all, judging by the shock in his eyes. Though he tried to override it rather quickly with another one of those false grins.

"I didn't want to bother you." Yet ... here he was. "I don't expect to bother you for long, either, so it's not necessary." Right? Yet he didn't seem entirely sure of that answer.

[crimsonguarddog]

She raises an eyebrow, not at all impressed at... whatever Atem was trying to pull. Something is up, and Cissnei can tell.

"What's wrong, Atem?" She asks, shifting her stance, arms coming to fold over her stomach. "You look like you were just dragged yourself out of a back alley.

And Cissnei knew all about what went on in back alleys.

[note_atem]

It was possible. He seemed not to give much thought to it, however. He hadn't truly been doing anything bad, had he? He would remember a relapse. And there certainly weren't enough people in this city, horrid as they could be, to trigger such a thing. ...right?

"I don't-"

The shrill cry of the house phone cut in on his answer. His eyes went to it, almost nervously.

[minigoff]

Ughhh, why did he have to put off his homework for so long. Now he had a essay or two to write, some math assignments, a bunch of tests to study for... Obviously, waiting until the day before everything was due pulling an all-nighter to finish everything was an amazing idea.

He didn't hear the door bell at first, but hearing the door open and slam shut was enough to get his attention. He glanced at the door, not expecting a certain other self of his to look so grim. Rushing over to find out what was wrong with his friend was pretty much instinct for him.

"Mou hitori no boku!" Why was his friend so roughed up? His work was almost done, but it could wait just a little bit longer. Taking care of Atem was much more important right now. "What happened? Are you okay?" Yugi caressed his partner's cheek, looking over the wound.

[note_atem]

Atem immediately shied away from that hand, the pain overwhelming along with other certain injuries. He tried that fake grin again as he moved further into the home, as if that would keep him safe from the storm that was going on outside.

"I'm fine. I don't mean to bother you, I know you're busy. I just can't be out in the rain for the rest of the night." His voice sounded tired- dampened somehow as he spoke. "Once it's over I'll go." Yet in saying this he didn't sound entirely convinced of his own words.

[minigoff]

So stubborn. But Yugi'll just let it go for now, that was just how Atem was.

"It's okay, I don't mind." Maybe a smile from his little partner would make Atem feel better. "You can stay as long as you want, you know that." He'd rather have him spend the night and distract him a little than having to worry about whether or not he was okay. "You don't have to leave just because I'm busy, you're my partner."

[note_atem]

"Just a few minutes." He reassured. The rain would be done by then. It had to. Then he could ... he could....

A very far-away look fogged his eyes. He stopped moving further into the house, stopped seeming to do anything at all. It was interrupted by the ring of the house phone. He looked up out of his thoughts, alarmed completely. Something about it seemed to sincerely terrify him.

/sneaks in here

[shutupandduelme]

It wasn't often that Kaiba got to indulge in pure engineering anymore. Ever since he finished the design of the first Duel Disk, he had been stuck in the relative monotony of desk work, with only his relationships (which he would never ever admit to) keeping his interest. But now he had something to design again. It was another pure projector, and since he knew the minute details of SolidVision better than anyone, he got to build it. The 'Pocket-D' projector, designed to allow the owner to carry around their own 'pet' Duel Monster, would bring more kids into the game. His future customers, of course. But that kind of work required absolute concentration, and for that he had been forced to keep Atem out for at least a few days

icu

[note_atem]

In his stupor he wasn't really sure where else to go. Or was it really that Kaiba's own fortress was about as safe as he felt he could get? He wasn't sure anymore. All he knew was that he was trying to walk in a way that was convincing- the pain in his back was overwhelming but he couldn't really say why that might be. Not yet.

He followed quietly, drenched, shaking with what was most likely cold. Every step seemed to fill him more and more with dread and he couldn't put his finger on why. "I ..." Finally, "I shouldn't have come here." Yes, obviously. Not even Kaiba was happy to see him.

Before he could register his next thought, a maid arrived, phone in hand. "Kaiba-sama, I know you asked not to be disturbed but..." The way Atem was watching her was full of absolute panic. "It's the head detective of the police department."

Nowai

[shutupandduelme]

Kaiba just rolled his eyes and shut the door behind the other man. It was a pointless thing to be worrying about now. Atem was here, and in this condition, would not be leaving until an explanation was offered. His rival was foolish, but not foolish enough to come stumbling in soaking wet yet expecting to go right back outside again.

The CEO was ready to challenge him, but the maid interrupted. A withering glare was lowered on her. "I don't care if it's the Emperor, I asked not to be disturbed," he said darkly. "Find out what the man wants and make up something, if you have to."

yeswai

[note_atem]

Atem looked between the two of them and that flighty feeling of terror struck at him again. Yes, maid. Go away. Take the police with you. Whatever this feeling was it must have certainly been because of that.

She frowned, lowering her eyes. "They're looking for Atem-sama. Something about wandering away from the scene of a crime."

That was it. The death sentence.