Chapter 3: Yugi Gets the Job (Immediately Fucks Up)

Yugi fills out his intake paperwork at Mai’s desk in a dreamlike state, the world floating around him. His body aches from the stairs and the racing and the trampling, but his face is numb with delirious excitement. Mai is lecturing him strongly, something about security and privacies and non-disclosures and not fucking abusing the privilege of having the most sought-after phone number on earth and she’s snatching his phone away and inputting Kaiba’s contact information and now he’s signing endless NDAs and he. Feels. So. Amazing. Better even than winning a tournament. He’s working for Kaiba Corp. He’s working for Kaiba. He can pay Grandad’s bills. He can pay ALL Grandad’s bills. He can pay RENT.

His phone is deposited back into his hand, a Kaiba Corp branded folder of brightly colored papers shoved into the other. “This is your welcome packet, kid,” Mai drawls, barely looking at him. “It was put together by the Deputy CEO, so. Sorry if it’s like, weird or whatever.” Yugi wonders dully at the meaning of that, but clutches the papers lovingly to his chest. “I-I’ll have them memorized tonight, I promise.” Mai rolls her eyes. “Oh, who gives a crap. If there’s anything the Big Boss wants from you, he’ll let you know, loudly and proudly and with plenty of swears and thrown objects.”

Yugi gulps, nervous sweat beading again at his hairline. “Oh. O-okay. I’ll practice my dodging, then.”

Mai snorts, and then laughs. “Ohh, you’re funny, kid! Maybe you’ll do better than I thought!” Yugi laughs along with her, his gut churning. He hadn’t been joking…. “Right, anyway,” Mai says, leaning back and clasping her hands together. “You’re all set for now. Make sure you do two things tonight: Go out and celebrate, and get some damn good sleep. You won’t get either of those again after today. And be CAREFUL with that goddamn phone number, I put it in as an unnamed contact for now in case you lose your phone on the freaking bus or have a jackass prankster for a roommate. Any funny business ends up on that line and you’re a dead man. Business talk only. And do NOT leave him hanging. Answer immediately, no matter where or what time. If you’re on the can, hold it in.” She sighs, looking briefly haggard. “You’ll get your company phone in a week, with Mr Kaiba’s information entered fully and securely. Mr Boss Man was adamant on not actually hiring anyone today, so we had jack-all prepared. Lucky you.” She smiles, offering her hand out for a handshake. “Congrats, and welcome to Kaiba Corp, Mr Muto.”

—

“To the Yuug!!” Jounouchi cries, slamming his beer into Yugi’s with extreme force. Yugi splutters as beer cascades over his lap. Anzu smacks Joey’s shoulder, hard. “HEY what’d I do??” he cries, pulling Yugi in front of him as a shield. “I’m celebrating our boy!!”

“Oh, let him go, would you Jou??” She chides, yanking Yugi back over to her side of the table. “Don’t you think he’s been through enough today??”

“I’m fine, really!!” Yugi laughs, pulling himself out of Anzu’s powerful grip as Joey rubs his shoulder, jutting his lip out indignantly under a furrowed brow. “Let’s celebrate!! I could use another beer anyway…” He looks down at his soaked lap and now nearly empty glass. Honda, already thoroughly inebriated, generously reaches across the table and pours his beer into Yugi’s, spilling even more across his legs. Yugi yelps, and Ootogi follows Anzu’s lead in pulling a drunkard off of him. Bakura ducks expertly as Anzu throws a napkin in Ootogi's face.

“Hey, that’s wet!! And what’d I do??” He shouts, throwing it back. Anzu growls as she catches it. “Nothing, I missed!!” She winds back up, hitting her mark and slapping Honda squarely in the mouth. He shrieks with disgust, and Anzu shrieks with laughter, her face flushed from a hearty combo of mirth and booze.

“Now now, I-I think we’re all good and drunk!!” Bakura offers, holding his hands up in surrender. His pale cheeks are dusted lightly pink. “Maybe we should consider wrapping up? I seem to remember Jounouchi has a tournament to depart to in the early hours…?” Jounouchi groans dramatically, and Ootogi snorts. “Yeah, and I’m the only asshole gullible enough to offer to drive him, which is why I’m also the only asshole not good and drunk.” He shrugs, kicking Joey’s chair. “I must be stupid for getting roped into being DD so often!!”

Yugi shrugs. “You are also the only one with a car.” Ootogi ignores him, having already been put into a headlock by Joey. Anzu stands up, slapping her share of the tab onto the table. “All right, that’s it, everybody pay up and clear out, if you’re gonna cause a scene, cause a scene outside where I can pretend I don’t know you!!” Everybody grumbles apologies, hiding from the eyes of the other bar patrons who definitely are peering at them now. Honda mumbles something about Anzu being louder than any of them. Bakura dodges another wet napkin, wincing sympathetically as it slaps Honda in the eyes.

The air outside is crisp and cool, feeling sharp against Yugi’s flushed skin as they all make their way outside. He shivers, pulling his coat tighter around his beer-soaked clothes. A warmer breeze flows through his hair, and he closes his eyes to relish in it. He teeters happily, images of nice dinners and expensive bed sheets and a new POS system for the game shop dancing through his tipsy mind. Images of Grandpa, laughing and healthy, follow right after. Emotion swells painfully in his chest, his mind spinning — it’s such a relief, it’s almost overwhelming to think about. It still doesn’t feel real. He’ll have to call Grandpa after work tomorrow, once the paperwork is signed and official. Telling him before that feels like jinxing it.

He takes another breath, steadying himself to turn and rejoin the rest of the group, when Jounouchi’s arm comes crushing down on his neck, pinning him to his side as he ruffles his hair beyond fixing. “YUUUUUUUG YEAAH YUUG!! MY RICH BOY YUGIII!!”

“Ahhh, Jou!! Shhh, keep your voice down, I don’t wanna get mugged!!” He struggles against Joey’s crushing grip as it shifts into an enormous bear hug. “Ggghh Jounou– Joey!! You’re–urk!! Too strong, too strong!!” Joey releases him, clapping him powerfully on the shoulder. “Yugi!! Look at you!! I’m so proud of you buddy, I knew you could do it!! Look at you!!” He repeats, all but shouting as he shakes him by the shoulders. “I can hardly believe it! Way to go little man!!”

Yugi shrugs him off with a drunken laugh, teetering forward again to hug him more gently. “Thank you, Jou!! I can hardly believe it either!! And I still need to sign the paperwork - I’ll really believe it after that happens!” He pushes himself back, smiling up at his friend. “I’m sorry your tournament party turned into something about me. That really wasn’t my intent.” Joey makes a crude noise of dismissal, shoving his hands into his jacket pockets with a lopsided grin. “Ehhh don’ worry about it. It ain’t my first going away bash, and with all these tournament travelings, it ain’t like it’ll be the last either! But you getting this crazy job, now that’s something special!!” He leans in close, scrutinizing Yugi up and down. “Hey Yuug, you really sure you can handle this guy? I’ve read some stuff. He’s cool as hell, but he also kinda sounds like a demon.”

“A hot demon, right Yugi?” Ootogi teases, elbowing him gently as he walks by, swinging his keys around his fingers. He makes use of Yugi’s red-faced spluttering to catch Jounouchi’s attention with a head nod. “Hey. We gotta head out, Jou.” Joey looks up and nods. “Yeah, yeah, I’m comin’. Thanks Ootogi.” He turns and slaps Yugi hard on the back, beaming from ear to ear. “Congrats again Yuug! I don’t know any guy who deserves it better. You’re gonna do great!! I know your grandpa will be real proud of you, man.”

“Thanks, Joey,” Yugi manages, feeling suddenly very choked up. “You take care on your flight, okay? Try to get some sleep. And let me know when you land! And good luck in the tournament!!”

He waves cheerfully, seeing off each of his friends as they say their goodbyes and head out towards home in different directions. Anzu remains, smiling softly down at Yugi as she zips up her jacket. “Crazy day, huh?” she murmurs. Yugi nods, still staring out into the dark for a moment longer. “Yeah,” he agrees, his thoughts swirling distractingly through his busy mind. “Really crazy day.” He blinks away the mind fog, turning to Anzu with a glowing smile. “Thanks for everything, by the way! I really couldn’t have managed today without your help. You really saved me!”

Anzu laughs loud, gently kicking him in the shins to encourage him to walk towards his bus stop. “You’re welcome! But don’t be silly, it was your genius idea that got you the job. I think it shows initiative, and creativity! Networking, too - you know corporate stuff is all about who you know.”

Yugi shrugs, laughing alongside her. “I guess!! It just made sense. And I really didn’t want to go up and down those stairs again….” His musings are cut off as his pocket jingles– his dating app. He pulls his phone out hurriedly. “Oh!! Shoot, hold on Anzu, I promised I’d message this guy tonight, I totally forgot.”

“A guy, huh?” Anzu teases. She leans over him to peek at the message, and immediately gasps, shoving him on the shoulder. “ Yugi!! That’s filthy!! What kind of guy are you dating??” Yugi yanks the phone away, blushing deep red. “ Hey!! Privacy!! It’s not like that!!” Anzu huffs, putting his hands on her hips. “Don’t tell me ‘it’s not like that’, I saw what he said!!”

Yugi groans, covering his face. “No, I mean, like…!! I’m not!! We’re not dating, he’s just some guy!! We’re just… you know… and besides, I haven’t even agreed to meet him yet!! It’s just pictures. You know, for now.” He types up a quick, placating reply, and shoves the phone back in his pocket.

Anzu frowns. “So, wait… this isn’t the guy from a couple weeks ago?” Her protective anger breaks as a bout of giggles overtakes her, her cheeks pink. “Gosh Yugi, when did you turn into such a slut? You used to be so sweet!!”

Yugi stamps his foot, flushing again with indignation. “Hey!! I am sweet!! I can be sweet and a slut at the same time, you don’t have to put me in a box like that!!”

“Hey, easy, easy! I’m just teasing!” Anzu soothes, still giggling. “I’m sorry Yugi, I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.” Yugi sighs, still pouting but allowing himself to relax slightly. “I’m sorry too, I’m not actually mad or anything. Sometimes I just… I wonder if everybody still sees me as a kid. It’s hard when you perpetually look like a 14 year old….”

Anzu’s smile softens with affection, and she puts a hand on his shoulder. “Yeah, I can imagine. I don’t see you that way, Yugi. But, as your best female friend and your ex, I’m entitled to be a little bit protective, I think.” She frowns again. “Just be careful, okay? You know how guys can be. Cis guys in particular. Even if it’s just photos - you never know what someone’s gonna do with those once you send them.”

He shrugs, offering a shy, sly smile. “I mean… I know one thing they’re gonna do with them.” Anzu shrieks and slaps his shoulder. Their shared laughter echoes off of the tall city walls as they walk.

—

Yugi heads straight to his room once he arrives home, feeling Joey’s absence too acutely in their shared living space. He shuts the door with a deep, heavy sigh. It has been a long day. His body aches, his head not quite hurting but definitely throbbing. “Ugh, god, I need a bath,” he huffs, sniffing and shedding his beer, coffee, and dirt-stained clothes with disgust.

The water runs hot, and Yugi groans with satisfaction as he sinks into the half-full tub, letting the water continue to rise around him. He winces against the pulsating, full-body ache as his muscles are finally allowed to release their tension. He takes a moment to relish it. The day has been so strange, so intense, his memories have become fuzzy in his exhausted state, his bruises the only remaining proof that today really happened. He pushes his bangs out of his face, plastering them wetly in odd directions as he rubs his forehead. “God, what a day,” he mumbles out loud, liking the way his voice sounds reverberating off of the bathroom walls. “What a crazy fucking day.” He kicks the tap off, sinking down until his flushed face barely emerges from the surface of the water. He floats there for a while, staring at nothing, listening to his own thoughts drift and whisper around his head. It’s been a long time since he’s been home by himself like this. Jounouchi’s not usually gone so long - this is the first time since Yugi moved in that he’s had a tournament outside of Domino City. He was rarely alone before that. High school was the peak of his social life, and even after most of his friends moved into the heart of the city, Grandpa was always nearby. Well, of course he’d be. He definitely wouldn’t let him be alone after the incident with–

He dunks his head under the water, shutting that line of thought off before it can continue. No good came from dwelling on the past. Maybe he should talk to someone, though. Maybe he should text Anzu. He comes up for air, grabbing his towel and wiping his face aggressively. His mind is quiet now. He leans on crossed arms on the edge of the tub, staring at his phone where it sits on top of his scattered clothes. He should. She always told him to, whenever he needed to. At the same time, he literally just saw her. When is he going to learn to be independent? Especially from Anzu. It’s not a good look to be so clingy of one’s ex. It’s not even like he wants to get back together - hell, he’s pretty sure he’s not even into women anymore. But it’s so easy to remember the good times they had, to remember the way he’d crushed and obsessed and written her name over and over again in his notebooks. Why can’t dating be like that anymore? But no, instead it’s chasers and transphobes, drunk guys literally picking him up in gay bars, and pushy hyper-mascs on meet-n-fuck apps demanding nudes all the goddamn- oh shit the nudes .

He pushes himself out of the tub, swearing and huffing and frustrated. Stupid, he’d promised to send them and forgot. Of course he’d only remember once he was comfortable and unkempt. He’s already washed his concealer off, too, and there’s no way he’s putting that back on just to show his face in a throwaway dirty photo. He dries off, grabbing his bottle of moisturizer to haphazardly slather on over his battered and bruised body. Fuck - he’ll have to pose carefully to avoid showing those. Even if his date-en-potentia is into that kind of thing… he’s not sure that’s really the kind of kink he wants to encourage from an online stranger.

He flops naked onto the bed, throwing and kicking his stuffed animals out of the way - why does he have so many of those, again? - and settles in, raising his camera above him with a sigh. Truth be told, this is his favorite part of the whole ‘online dating’ experience, much more than actually meeting up. Getting washed and pretty, picking a style, picking a pose, getting finicky with his editing, sending out a gorgeous, sultry photo, and seeing his giftee go wild over it. It’s a bit of a shame that he hasn’t gotten much more than dirty-mirror ab shots or hurriedly taken dick pics in return, but… that’s not really what it’s about.  It makes him feel… powerful, kind of. He’s thought about getting himself an OnlyFans, but if that detail ever got out in a professional setting, his career would be over before it began.

He snaps a few shots, twisting his body this way and that, avoiding his bruises and his stress-pimpled face, and by the end of it he’s smiling and giggling, proud of what he’s managed to accomplish with some lilac bed sheets and chipped nail polish. Maybe there’s an advantage to being a little more relaxed with this kind of stuff.

He yawns as he fumbles through his contacts, opening up the most recently added one - no name, no text history. That’s the one. He sends the pictures one by one and tosses his phone aside with a yawn. Despite his exhaustion, he doesn’t think he’ll be able to sleep for a while. Besides, chances are that pushy guy will ask for some kind of follow-up. Whatever. He picks up his Switch from the bedside table, sighing with frustration as it flashes a low battery warning at him. He sets it aside again and stares at the ceiling. He’s not sure for how long. His mind is starting to spin again - booze plus exhaustion plus a hot bath, he thinks. His phone is awfully quiet. He frowns further, grabbing it and sending a few flirty follow-up texts.

“Listen,” he grumbles, glaring at the screen as if that will make a response happen faster, “I did not put all that effort in for you to fall asleep on me, you demanding son of a-”

His phone chimes, that little 8-bit jingle he’d assigned to the dating app. He opens it.

[Ready2Play]: r u fucking ghosting me??

[Ready2Play]: hello??

[Ready2Play]: wtfff man

Yugi balks. What the hell?

[Pharaoh_A]: ???

[Pharaoh_A]: Calm down.

[Pharaoh_A]: I literally just sent them, check your texts

He chews his cheek, brow furrowed with concern. Some kind of alarm bell is ringing in his head - this guy is acting like an ass, but is that what it’s about…? Something feels very wrong.

[Ready2Play]: i dont see em

[Ready2Play]: dont play with me alright

 

[Pharaoh_A]: Didn’t I tell you to calm down?

[Pharaoh_A]: I’m not playing, I just sent them

 

[Ready2Play]: yeah right

[Ready2Play]: if u dont wanna fuck just say so

[Ready2Play]: your twink fingers type my number wrong? or what

[Ready2Play]: sorry this dick is 2 much 4 u lmaoo

[Ready2Play]: fucking pussy

Sudden, icy realization strikes Yugi like a tidal wave. He stares, head pounding, room spinning, the feeling of his soul leaving his body striking him so severely he can almost hear the tearing. He’d sent the photos to his most recent, unnamed contact. His grindr date was no longer his most recent, unnamed contact - not as of this afternoon. He looks back at his phone in horror. It can’t be. He cannot have fucked up like this. But he has.

He has just sexted the most sought-after phone number in the world. And they’re marked as Read .

Three dots dance at the bottom of the screen. Someone is responding.

Oh no.

Oh no .

—

Kaiba Corp tower is dark and quiet except for the gentle hum of AC, and the soft blue light that illuminates Seto Kaiba’s face from his wide, curved screen. He leans on one hand, pulling absentmindedly at his hair, and stifles a yawn as he watches the diagnostics for his latest experiment scroll by. Sleep tugs at the edges of his mind, making his vision swim. He pushes through it.

Every night this month has been spent like this. Up until dawn, planning, sketching, building, coding, compiling, testing. The only things Kaiba actually gives a shit about, frankly. Kaiba Corp’s revival was founded on the technology he had innovated. If given the chance, this is how he would spend every day: immersed in the godlike task of Creation, building the world he wants to see around him. Running the company is nothing except a necessary evil required to ensure he remains his own boss. No one would tell him or Mokuba what to do ever again. He won’t allow it.

He doesn’t stir when his phone pings the first time. It isn’t unusual to get late night texts from contacts in other timezones. Or maybe Mokuba’s lecturing him about working late again. Whoever it is, they can wait. A second ping, and a third not long after. He frowns, but doesn’t look away. Mokuba has a horrific habit of breaking one thought up into multiple texts, so it’s probably another lecture on overworking, pointless to acknowledge until morning. Kaiba frowns harder as the scrolling blue text on his screen becomes peppered with red. More failures. He presses the palms of his hands to his swollen, dry eyes and hisses a hateful sigh out between clenched teeth. He’s so close. If this system works, and if R&D can scale his prototype up to the size he envisions, it will change more than gaming. It will change everything.

He smiles, hands still over his eyes, heart racing. He won’t stop yet. He can’t. World conquest is worth a few more sleepless nights, surely. Mokuba will worry, but he’ll understand. Everyone else understood by now. It will all be worth it.

He sits up and reaches for his empty coffee cup, ignoring his already shaking hands as he makes his way over to the Keurig. Push through it, Seto , he chastises himself. You’re nearly there. It can’t defeat you forever. Another yawn fights its way out as he shoves a capsule into the coffee machine and attempts to slide the cup under the spout. It hits the top, and crumples like paper. Kaiba blinks, and looks down at his hand. The cup is paper - well, it isn’t ceramic, anyway. He’d grabbed the café cup that odd spiky-haired applicant had brought him. No, not ‘applicant’… assistant. Christ, he forgot he’d hired an assistant. He stares at the cup. The distorted, wall-eyed face of Blue Eyes stares back. A strange feeling moves through him as he looks at it, the same feeling that had struck him in the moment when… what was his name? Yumi? Yami? When his future assistant had handed him that drink. His chest feels warm and full, as if the drink was already in his belly. His head feels clearer. It’s uncomfortable.

Kaiba moves back to his desk with the intent of grabbing his usual mug, but the feeling won’t leave him. He sits down instead, propping the paper cup up next to where his keycard - and Blue Eyes White Dragon sticker - are already proudly displayed. He considers the items for a long moment, error messages gently flashing red light across his face as he runs one finger thoughtfully over his lips. Why had… shit, what was that name . He grabs the interview notepad from where he’d tossed it earlier and quickly skims it over. Muto. Yugi Muto. So why had Yugi spent the time to draw the dragon on the cup? It felt...weird. Flattery? Maybe… but Yugi didn't seem like the type. A fanboy…? Probably. There had been plenty of them in that group of sniveling, sweaty weirdos who stank up his conference room. Yugi had been excited, yes, but also calm and professional. Risking a job in order to doodle a dragon on a cup doesn’t feel professional, though. It feels childish. It is childish. It should piss him off. Why doesn’t he feel pissed off? Moreover, why had it worked ?

He glances at the empty chair across his desk. The image of Yugi’s beaming face smiles back at him through his memory, tucking a lock of untamable blonde hair behind his ear with chipped purple fingernails. He spins his chair around abruptly, tugging at his turtleneck. It‘s getting too warm in here - he’ll have to tell his assistant to investigate the AC tomorrow.

His phone chimes again, and again, and again. Kaiba grinds his teeth and snorts. “Mokuba I’m working ,” he growls to himself, snatching the phone up angrily. “I’m not a damn child, unlike some .” He pauses as he catches sight of the message previews.

2:43 - Unknown Contact: Well??

2:43 - Unknown Contact: What do you think? ;)

2:44 - Unknown Contact: You into this, or what?

[view 3 previous messages]

“What the fuck .” Kaiba swipes aggressively on the notification. “Who the fuck has my n-nnn….”

Heat strikes Kaiba like a tidal wave, his skin prickling with sweat in an instant, cheeks and ears burning. The nubile body on his screen reaches out to him from tousled cotton sheets, seeming to writhe in place as he scrolls from image to image.

First photo: Face cropped out of frame. Fingers brushing neat pink scars under pale brown nipples, a short and fine trail of belly hair leading to strategically bunched lilac blankets.

Second: Face still cropped. Back arched, neck strained, Adam's apple pressing forward as if crying out; modesty and blankets thrown aside as thighs spread to allow deeply searching fingers.

Third (somehow, startlingly, the most intimate): close up of a nose, mouth, and jaw; supple lips smiling slyly around slender fingers, tongue pressed to fingertips, white teeth biting gently on purple chipped nails.

Kaiba’s breath catches in his throat, chest heaving, air unreachable. He can’t breathe. Why can’t he breathe??

Purple chipped nails.

Oh no.

Oh no.

—

Yugi’s phone pings once, twice, three times from across the room where he’s thrown it. A high-pitched wail of “ nooooooooooo ” squeezes unbidden from his throat, tears and sobs flowing after. “Oh my gooood noooOOOOO OH MY GOD I FUCKED UP!! ” He rocks back and forth, lilac blankets pulled above his head, panicked tears streaking down his cheeks. The silence in the apartment is oppressive, thick and ominous. It shatters when one more ping echoes off the walls. He throws off the blankets and stares at his phone, screen shining a sickening blue in the semi-darkness of his poorly lit room. He can’t breathe. Oh god, breathe, Yugi, breathe.

“A-Anzu,” he hiccups. “I. I have to tell Anzu. I gotta text her…” He stumbles off the bed, still naked, and sweeps up the phone, wincing as shaking fingers open up his messages. If he’s going to tell Anzu, he might as well see what he’s in for first.

2:47 - Who is this

2:47 - How did you get this number? What do you want

2:48 - Where did you get these photos

2:51 - You had better answer me fast before I trace this number and find you myself 

“ Shit shit oh shit okay. ” He sucks in a shuddering breath as he types out a reply. “He doesn’t know it’s you, he doesn’t know it’s you, it’s okay it’s okay.”

Oh my god Im so so sorr y, I thibk I have the wrong number. Please ignore thi sim so sorry

He scrolls away before he can see a reply come back, opening his chat history with Anzu instead.

anzu idk if youre up but you gotta call me

please anzu call me asa p I fucked up I fucked upso hard

A notification banner intrudes over his typing, accompanied by that now terrifying ping .

2:54 - Who is this

Yugi whimpers.

Nobody I swear

Fuck, wait, that might sound suspicious.

Jjust a guy trying to text my date, I mustve typed the number wrong

I’m really really sorry, it wont happen again

Three dots dance at the bottom of his screen, then vanish. Then again, and vanish again. He wipes the tears from his face, lip trembling with fear as he waits.

2:57 - Make sure that it doesn’t.

Yugi throws his phone onto the bed, breath and body shaky as he fights to collect himself. What the fuck had just happened. He chews his thumbnail viciously, tugging at his hair as he tries to figure out how he’s going to handle work tomorrow. He has to make sure this doesn't escalate any further… What is he going to do when Mai gives his intake information to Kaiba in the morning?? When Kaiba sees his phone number?? He sits in wretched silence for a long, long time, mind spinning.

His phone sounds off one last time, with a jingle instead of a ping . The dating app. Yugi swears under his breath. He’d completely forgotten to message that guy back. He sweeps his phone up, ready to give a quick excuse, but the content of the message stops him in his tracks. It’s two words. One of them is ‘ worthless ’. The other is a slur. He stares, his mind hot and numb. After a long moment, he calmly deletes the app, puts his phone on the charger, and bursts into tears. Shame and sadness consume him as he falls into bed, wrapping the lilac sheets around him like a paper-thin shield.

He gives in eventually to his exhaustion, fitful sleep overtaking his weary mind. Dreams haunt him until morning: Seto Kaiba screaming in rage, Anzu’s disappointed and lovely face, and his grandfather’s medical bills stretching on and on and on and on and on….