Chapter 4: Introducing: Mokuba (Deputy CEO of Kaiba Corp)

The earliest bus to Kaiba Corp Tower is, luckily, extremely early. Nightmares keep Yugi from sleeping in too late, and there’s a slim, slim chance that he can head Mai off before she meets up with Kaiba, and then he can… do something. He doesn’t know what yet. He chews his nails aggressively, staring at his shoes and tugging at his hair the entire ride. His brain is swimming so much he can’t even make sense of his own thoughts, aware only of a dull roar and searing heat between his ears. 

His mental liminality makes the trip into downtown go by startlingly fast. His feet carry him off the bus and confidently up the stairs, gripping the door handle and– locked. He groans loud, collapsing against the glass and feeling like a complete idiot. It’s four in the fucking morning. Of course no one is here. The building doesn’t even open for an hour. “Stupid!!” he hisses at himself, feeling sadness trickle through him, embarrassment at his previous enthusiasm. He’d done the best he could... “Yeah and it’s still not good enough,” he moans. “Nothing’s gonna be good enough for–”

“Kiddo?” Mai blurts out from the steps behind him, muffled behind her breakfast sandwich. She takes it out of her mouth, balancing her bags and paperwork and a frappuccino in one arm. “Holy shit, kid, it’s four in the morning. What the fuck.”

“Ms Valentine!!” Yugi gasps, hope blossoming in his chest. He races and trips down the steps towards her. “Ms Valentine, I-I need you!! Needed to see you! I got here as early as I could!!”

“You flatter me kid, but I’m not available,” she deadpans, walking past him. “Interesting, I didn’t strike me as your, um. Type.” She spares him an inscrutable smile as she strides around the side of the building to the garages. Yugi follows desperately. “N-no… what?? No, I need to talk to you… a-about, um, about my intake info.”

Mai groans, stuffing the sandwich back in her mouth as she pulls her keycard forward and beeps them both into a discrete garage elevator - the same elevator Yugi had taken to the top floor yesterday, he realizes as the doors slide open. Apparently it goes further down than the café. She motions him in, rolling her eyes as he hesitates. “Anngh, hhr hhukk’s hssake,” she mumbles around the bacon and egg, dragging him inside. She shoves her paperwork into Yugi’s arms, leaning against the closed doors and considering him scathingly as she finally bites into her breakfast. A long, tense minute passes as the elevator shoots up. Yugi fidgets, unsure of what to say, or if he should say anything while she’s eating. He leans against the wall furthest away, swallowing down his nerves.

“Fine, what?” she says at last, reaching out to catch him from falling as the door opens behind him. “What did you fuck up that I need to fix? This is not a good look for your first day, kiddo.”

“I-I know, I know,” he groans, following close at her stiletto heels. “I, I just, last night, I… um, last night, I…” She meets his gaze briefly as they approach her desk, and for just a split second Yugi wonders if she knows, if Kaiba had already told her, if the haggard look in her eyes is really from starting work before the sun is up, or if she’s trying to silently give him a warning, to shut his mouth, to get out while he still can. His voice catches in his throat, mouth gaping like a fish out of water.

Mai flops into her work chair, glowering at him with confusion. “Yes, hello?? Last night you… what, decided you don’t want the job anymore? I wouldn’t blame you, honey, but you gotta speak up if you need me to shred anything incriminating.” Yugi shakes his head, trying to clear the delirious panic. “N-no, I!! Um. Last night it occurred to me…” An idea hits him suddenly, and he grips the edge of her desk with a desperation he does not need to feign. “I-I’m on my friend’s phone plan! I-it’s an old phone of his… he gave it to me to help me get a job, I’m kinda… I’m not… wealthy.” He fidgets, honest embarrassment creeping into his body language. Mai is wearing a Gucci jumpsuit and blazer and Louboutin heels. Yugi is wearing the contents of a thrift store discount rack. “A-anyway, I thought that might be, I don’t know… a security issue. Since he’s the account owner, and it’s his name on the phone and… all that.”

To his surprise, Mai’s expression softens considerably - even if her tone doesn’t. “Seriously, kid?? This is the kind of shit you needed to tell me on day one.” She grabs her papers from him and slams them on her desk with a sigh. Yugi decides not to remind her that she just called today ‘day one’, and by that standard, he actually did tell her on time… “Figures!!” she snorts, “This is exactly what happens when people don’t take me seriously and don’t give me the tools to do my job.” She pulls her bag into her lap, clutching it close and leaning heavily across it, searching Yugi’s eyes with extreme scrutiny. Yugi does his absolute damnedest to maintain his eye contact at her face and not at the mountains of cleavage now spilling out of her zip-up top. He didn’t even have to be into women for that to be distracting. Is he still into women though? Does he just like boobs? Does he even like boobs?? What were they talking about again…?

“Fine, fuck it,” she says at last, leaning back but still clutching the bag lazily to her chest. She looks exhausted. “I haven’t given Mr Kaiba your intake information yet, I’ll hold off until you get yourself a new number. You’re meeting up with the Deputy CEO today, he’ll be handling your intake. Just tell him you need a company phone, he can authorize me to give you one asap. Once you have it, I’ll input Mr Kaiba’s number again. Ditch that number off your old phone as fast as possible once you get the new one. In fact, ditch that phone completely. And I mean smash it, run a car over it, drown it in a lake and light it on fire, capiche?” Yugi nods enthusiastically. He doesn’t need to be told twice. Mai sighs heavily and puts her bag aside, pulling open a desk drawer and slapping down a key card. “This is yours. It allows you everywhere Mr Kaiba goes. Don’t. Fucking. Lose it. If this falls into the wrong hands you’re a dead little twink. I suggest leaving it here whenever you can, you don’t want to give anybody an unfortunate level of access to Mr Kaiba’s most private areas. Your company phone will be able to authorize you into the building.”

Yugi takes it gingerly, trying not to think about Kaiba’s unfortunate access to his most private areas. “Th-thank you Ms Valentine, I promise I’ll be careful with it.” Mai waves for him to be quiet. “Oh hell, just call me Mai. I don’t do the ‘Ms.’ or ‘Madam’ or ‘Mistress’ shit anymore. Over and done with.” Yugi laughs nervously. “O-okay, Miss Mai. Um. Now that I’m here… what should I… should I get started on Mr Kaiba’s day?”

Mai snorts. “Eager to throw yourself on the sword? Okay champ. Mr Kaiba spent the night again, it looks like. He’ll either be working at his desk or in the gym downstairs. Might as well go beep yourself in and check to see if he’s there. If he’s in there he’ll get an alert at his desk, so you don’t need to knock.” Yugi swallows. Kaiba spent the night…? So he was still working when…when he got…? What if he answers his texts on his computer? Are there official Kaiba Corp security logs of his naughty photos?? He nods, trying to clear out the rising panic again. He’ll have to face this sooner or later. At least now he has the slimmest, slenderest layer of plausible deniability.

He makes his way down the last bit of hallway, the glass doors to Kaiba’s office shuttered from the inside. He remembers Mai’s advice about not knocking. He knocks anyway. No answer. He swallows, remembering Kaiba’s unimpressed face from yesterday. He’d want him to use the badge. He’d want him to enter in, unsuspecting, to a room where no one can witness his punishment. His hands tremble as he scans the card, slipping into the dark room with his hands balled into fearful fists.

No one is inside. He blinks, eyes adjusting to the dim light. The sun is only just beginning to peek over the horizon, its golden rays glimmering and gleaming gently across the glass furniture. He steps forward, letting out a deep, shaking breath as the view captures his attention. Sunlight shimmers across and through the city’s lofty windows, a bejeweled contrast to the silhouetted buildings into which they’re set. Domino River snakes through the upper edges of downtown, curling and slithering serenely between tall buildings and under bridges that are just now slowly awaking with traffic. All of Domino City is contained within this expansive view. He rests one hand on the glass, not entirely sure when his feet took him behind Kaiba’s desk. It’s beautiful. Yugi had no idea the city could look so beautiful. It makes him oddly emotional. And dizzy - good lord they’re high up. The lack of sleep probably isn’t helping. He still feels like he’s floating.

Yugi’s exhausted, dissociative haze is probably what keeps him from hearing the bathroom door swing open. The billowing steam from the shower is probably what keeps Kaiba from noticing Yugi’s petite silhouette until he’s nearly on top of him. Yugi turns as soft slippered footsteps sound directly next to him, a bare, pale, and well-toned set of abs greeting his curious stare.

“Mr Kaiba!!” He yelps, hands flying to cover his face. “I-I, o-oh, I’m…!! I-I’m sorry, I-I was just—“

“What the fuck?! ” Kaiba shouts, pulling the towel he was drying his hair with tightly around his shoulders, covering up his lanky arms and chest. “Who th— why are…??” His eyes narrow, catching the morning light and shining with vivid blue poison. His face is flushed with rage. “ You. ”

“I’m sorry, I-I’ll go, I’m sorry!!” He squeaks and backs up, tripping over Kaiba’s waste paper bin and falling flat on his ass.

“ What the fuck are you doing in my office without permission??” Kaiba steps over the bin to loom over him, one hand clutching his unbelted slacks to keep them up. “ How are you in my office??” Yugi’s trembling hands hold up his new key card.

“I-I got here early t-to finish some p-paperwork, M-miss Mai said to check if you—“

Kaiba rubs his face with frustration, quickly abandoning the motion to grab his unbuttoned trousers as they begin to slide down. “ Get out ,” he seethes, his voice barely more than a wrathful hiss. “Get the fuck out . Go get me a stupid fucking coffee or something, I need you out .”

Yugi nods, fighting back terrified tears. “Y-yes Mr Kaiba Sir, b-but… th-the café doesn’t open for half an hou–”

“ THEN FIGURE IT OUT!!! ” he roars, blue eyes flashing dangerously. Yugi is on his feet, scrambling and racing to the door even before Kaiba’s hand reaches for the mug at his side. Cold coffee and shards of ceramic bite painfully at Yugi’s ankles as it shatters on the ground behind him. “ And if I see one FUCKING DOT of sharpie on it you’re FIRED!! ”

–

Yugi opts for the elevator, deciding he’d rather spend his time crying in the empty café than down endless stairs in full view of tired researchers and interns making their sleepy way to desks and offices. He smothers his sobs into his sleeve, leaning heavily against the cool mirrored wall as the lift descends. “G-god, how many ways am I gonna f-f… f-fffuck th-this up before I… before I even…” He hiccups, rubbing his eyes furiously. “Okay, god, fuck, Yugi, pull it together.” He slaps his cheeks hard, shaking his hands out until the feeling of panic slowly ebbs. He winces as the doors fling open, bright reflected morning light stabbing his red and puffy eyes. He makes his way to the café with head hung low, doing his best to avoid eye contact with the yawning baristas filing in around him, trying to find a table hidden enough to cry his eyes out in peace.

“Oh my god, Yugi, are you all right??”

He looks up in surprise. “Anzu!!” He sniffles, unable to turn away before she scoops him up into a hug. The affection is supremely comforting, although it does nothing to slow his exhausted tears. “I got your texts,” she whispers in his ear, letting him go and beckoning him to take a seat on a stepstool behind the counter. “I only just texted back, I’m so sorry, I only woke up half an hour ago!! Stupid hangover. What happened?? Are you okay, are you safe??” She shoos a nosy coworker away, quickly setting up the coffee machines as she looks Yugi over with concern.

He shakes his head, collecting himself as best as he can. “I-I’ll tell you later. I can’t tell you right now. I-I need to get Mr Kaiba his coffee.” He presses his hands into his eyes, kicking his feet with frustration. “Fuck!! And I’m meeting the Deputy CEO in an hour!! Whoever that is. God, I look like shit.” He wipes his nose as Anzu hands him a few tissues.

“You look like most people who have to start their mornings with Mr Kaiba, Yugi,” she says dryly, giving his shoulder a comforting squeeze. “I’ve already got that jerk’s pour over going, so don’t even worry about that part. Here, hold on.” She grabs her bag out of her cubby, crouching in front of him and patting his face dry with a facecloth. He squirms with discomfort. “Anzu, I’m not a baby…!!”

“Oh hush,” she soothes, pulling out some concealer and blush. “You’re not the first person to receive a Kaiba Corp Morning Makeover, and you won’t be the last. Now stay still.” Yugi settles uncomfortably as she presses a paper-towel-wrapped ice cube to his swollen and puffy eyes, patting them dry and moving on to fix up his blotchy skin and eyeliner. “There. Good as new!! Ms Valentine taught me how to do that, you know, the only time I ever met the big boss. I fucked up his coffee on my first day and he came all the way downstairs to scream at me about it.” She shrugs. “I guess he’s lactose intolerant or something? Definitely intolerant. Anyway, Mai plays it up a bit bossy but she’s actually kind of a teddy bear. I swear she’s the only person on earth who can stand him, outside of his own brother, maybe, who knows. You should ask her for some advice!”

Yugi considers himself in the little pocket mirror Anzu offers. Not bad, actually. He still looks depressed as hell, though. He pushes the mirror away gently and sighs. “I guess… I think she’s pissed at me, too. But… you really messed up his coffee on the first day? You never told me that.” Anzu laughs.

“Yep! Said it was the single worst coffee he’d ever had in his life. And you already had this big inflated idea of him in your head, Yugi! I didn’t wanna be the one to tell you what a jerk he is! Though I think maybe I shoulda done that sooner. I’m so sorry, Yugi.” She pulls him into a tight hug. “And don’t worry about the VP! Or Deputy whatsit, whoever he is. If you can survive Kaiba, you can survive a Kaiba crony. Yeah?” He nods sadly. Anzu didn’t understand… he wonders if he should even tell her at this point. She’d think so much less of him. “Y-yeah, I guess… thanks, Anzu.” He stands, sniffling one last time, doing his best not to smudge his new makeup. “I should really get him his coffee and let you guys open.”

Anzu pulls him into one last hug, ruffling his hair gently. “Don’t worry Yugi, I’ve seen what you can do!! You always find a creative answer to everything. I know you’ll make this work out. I’ll bet you money right now, you’ll be the best assistant he’ll ever have!”

–

Humiliation and rage vibrate in Kaiba’s chest, shaking his hands which are already shaking with exhaustion. He paces across his office, pulling a tight black shirt down over his still wet skin. Unbelievable. Unbelievable . First the mysterious texts, and now this intrusion . He steps over the scattered piles of paper and folders, thrown about as he’d tried to figure out what kind of snooping that ragged little loser had gotten himself into. Nothing, apparently. Pathetic. What the hell had he been doing, enjoying the view??

“Pathetic,” he mutters out loud, directed as much at himself as at his assistant. He tousels his damp hair impatiently, sitting down at his desk and glaring daggers at the unbothered screensaver. It’s his own damn fault, letting his guard down like that. Letting Yugi see him like that. Never again. He’ll have to adjust to having that miserable creep around. Shower earlier, wake up earlier - 3 am, instead of 4. He can last on two hours of sleep. Not for long… but maybe long enough to get this damn prototype finished. Why the fuck had he hired an assistant, again??

He leans back in his chair, rubbing his tired eyes and growling uncomfortably. That assistant. He can’t get him out of his head. There’s no evidence those texts were from him, outside of Kaiba’s own hunch, and his hunches are rarely wrong. But something about it still feels wrong, feels incorrect . What could possibly be the reason for it?? To wear him down? Open him up to corporate espionage? Is his texter a lone wolf, or part of a bigger conspiracy to take him out? He can think of plenty of people who would love to see him end up in a dirty tabloid, socially cut off at the knees, stocks plummeting and forced into resignation, forced to sell out. One person in particular. Fat chance. He wouldn’t take the bait.

But… those lips. Wrapped around those chipped nails. That petite, lithe body, reaching out to him, desperately, wantonly. Those slender fingers curling across that body, inside that body. He’s rarely spared a second thought to such things, though he always knew the desire was there. He’s never allowed himself the time - what fucking time did he have, anyway?? And yet it’s as if someone has reached into his brain and flipped on a switch he didn’t know was there and can’t turn off. Every moment since he saw those pictures he’s been fucking possessed. Lilac blankets. Pink scars. Purple nail polish.

Yugi’s smile.

Kaiba realizes he’s been staring at the paper coffee cup from yesterday. The scribbled Blue Eyes stares back. He stands abruptly, panting, teeth grit tightly together, and flings it across the room. It sails sweetly, its gentle tumble across the couch and onto the floor unsatisfyingly non-destructive. His teeth grind so hard he can hear them creak, his hands grip so tightly into fists he can feel his manicured nails cut into his skin. Yugi . He doesn’t deserve to take up space in his mind. Pathetic little wimp, he’d never have the guts to pull off a play like that. And yet, his smile lingers in his mind, his lovely round eyes blinking tantalizingly behind sweat-soaked bangs, splayed out over the conference table with his ass in the air and his wrist in Kaiba’s hand and his pulse raising under his fingertips as Kaiba holds up the sacred key card he needs so badly because he wants the job he wants Seto Kaiba he needs Seto Kaiba –

A soft chime sounds from his desk, alerting him to the door opening. He releases the hair he’s been tugging between furious fingers, glaring electric hate at his inquisitive assistant.

“Yo~” Mai calls out lazily, letting the door shut on its own behind her. “I waited the obligatory ten minutes post-freakout to let you cool down. Doesn’t look like you’ve cooled down much, though.” She sips the last of her frappe easily, unbothered by Kaiba’s glowering intensity.

“Mind your business, Mai,” he spits, straightening his posture and hastily tidying his appearance. “I’ve had a bad night. I’ll happily take it out on you.” She laughs, dropping her empty drink in the trash and lightly kicking the Blue-Eyes cup back his way. It hits Kaiba in the shin. He ignores it.

“Is there a single night you spend here that isn’t bad, boss man?” She teases, sauntering over to sprawl herself across the couch. “And I don’t mind you taking it out on me, pretty boy. I’m fairly used to being manhandled.” She laughs loudly as Kaiba’s eyes roll. “Cut the act,” he sighs, picking up his chair and settling back into it with practiced grace. “That joke was old the week I hired you.”

“You like it!” she teases, crossing her legs and stretching. “But in all honesty, if you have a shitty night, I’d rather you explode at me than that poor twink you just hired. What’d he do, anyway? It wasn’t two minutes after I sent him in here that he was running for his damn life.” Kaiba sulks, hiding his frown behind steepled hands. “Nothing,” he admits. “He did nothing. Like I said. Bad night.”

Mai shrugs. “Anything I should know about?”

He leans back in his chair, massaging one template and staring Mai down for an extended, thoughtful moment, considering her cautiously. “Definitely something you should not know about,” he warns. Mai purses her lips, meeting his glare with uncomfortable silence.

“Fine,” she says at last, standing with a melodramatic sigh. “I’ll get you a therapist one of these days. Or, maybe your new boytoy can book you one instead.” She laughs again as Kaiba’s jaw clenches with fury. “Oh don’t look at me like that! You know I’m teasing. All the money in the world and the guy can’t buy himself a sense of humor. Mokuba’s here already, by the way.”

Kaiba sits upright at that last throwaway comment, something he refuses to call guilt stabbing in his gut. “I don’t have time,” he says evenly, tapping his keyboard to boot up his monitor and check surveillance. “My idiot boytoy twink is headed up the elevator. Rescue my coffee from him and then shove him off on Mokuba. I need to be alone today. I have to think.”

– 

Yugi blinks, barely acknowledging Mai as she gently extracts the coffee cup out of his hand and slips into Kaiba’s office. “I’m… I’m sorry? I’m not sure I… you’re…”

“Mokuba Kaiba!” the grinning teenager repeats, extending a hand out to shake Yugi’s. A black mop of hair cascades down his shoulders, his impeccable silver three piece suit standing out brilliantly against the backdrop of black-clothed bodyguards behind him. “Deputy CEO! Or Vice President, whatever. I fill both roles. Kinda like how my brother is company President and CEO. Got a problem with that?” His hand grips with surprising strength around Yugi’s fingers. Yugi ignores the pain as his insomnia-added brain catches up to the situation. “O-oh, sorry, I don’t really know… the difference, um. I’m Yugi. Yugi Muto. You’re… Mokuba Kai… oh. Oh! You’re Kaiba’s brother! Or? I thought he had a younger si…” his gaze drifts down to their clasped hands, attention suddenly pulled down by the crushing grip, and by-

“OH!! I love your bracelet!!” he gushes, grinning and returning Mokuba’s handshake with both hands and sudden enthusiasm. The younger man steps back, taken slightly off guard. The wall of bodyguards take a collective step forward. Yugi releases his hand abruptly, and Mokuba barks with laughter. “Easy fellas, easy!!” He waves them away and shoots a sheepish grin at Yugi, his cheeks slightly pink and his earlier cocky demeanor somewhat diminished. “Yeah, you like it??” He holds up his wrist, pulling his sleeve back to reveal the dyed leather band, colored in symmetrical strips of pink, blue, and white. “Yeah, Seto got it for me! Hey, what are your pronouns?? I’m clocking you right now as a he/they.”

Yugi bursts out laughing, both at Mokuba’s enthusiasm and at the bizarre revelation that the one thing his nightmare boss is not is a transphobe. Gifting his little brother a dinky trans flag bracelet? It’s almost… cute. Maybe he won’t be in as much trouble as he thought… “No, just he/him!!” He grins, “I tried out he/they for a while but being called ‘they’ just wasn’t a fit, it made me feel kinda weird.” He laughs. “But I recognize I’m not the most masculine trans guy out there, so fair guess!”

“Hey, fuck gender norms, am I right?” Mokuba sneers back, offering his hand back out for a fist bump. “So wait, you’re my brother’s new assistant??” He steps back to look Yugi over, up and down. “Oh my god . Well, this makes sense. I always figured he liked twinks.” He bursts into raucous laughter again as Yugi splutters and turns bright red. “I’m fucking kidding!! Oh my god, pull it together. Seto is the most repressed and sexless workaholic you’ll ever meet in your life. Oh, I’m so thrilled I have someone to shit talk my brother to!! If you shit talk him back though I’ll destroy your life.” He hooks an arm around Yugi’s elbow and starts dragging him down the hallway towards the elevator. His bodyguards part like water around him. “So, what’re we doing today? Did you go over my intake paperwork yet? Did you like it?? I had Mai print ‘em out on colored paper so you wouldn’t miss it. I think the orange one looks best.”

“O-oh, w-well, u-um…” he stammers, glancing back at Kaiba’s office. “I, I think I’m supposed to… I should probably help out… Mr Kaiba…” Mokuba waves a dismissive hand to shut him up, and Yugi can sense suppressed tension in the gesture. “Never mind my brother!” he barks, his grin toothy and somewhat forced. “I was put in charge of your intake, I get to steal you for as long as I want. Seto can deal with it. My pronouns are he/they, by the way. Make sure you mix it up, I don’t wanna hear just one.” Their tension melts slightly, and he offers Yugi a goofy smile. “But I get the feeling you’re not gonna screw it up.” They laugh suddenly, pushing Yugi into the elevator. “This is gonna be great!! I can’t believe Seto hired an assistant, let alone a trans masc!! This is gonna be so much fun!!”

Yugi laughs awkwardly, sweating with nerves and claustrophobia as every single bodyguard piles into the lift with them. So much laughter between the two of them, and nothing feels terribly funny yet. “Y-yeah!! S-super fun… so… wh-what do you want to do today, then…?”

Mokuba flicks a pair of sunglasses on, despite still being in a windowless elevator. “Well  I hear you need a company phone? Let’s go pick one out today instead of shipping one in, that’s stupid!!” He cackles. “So buckle up, bitch!! We’re going shopping!!”

–

Yugi hefts another bag over his shoulder, staggering after Mokuba as he prattles away cheerfully, bursting with energy.

“So! Like I said! I super ID with like, being a man , but more like how Seto is a man, you know? And how you’re a man! Not like any of these guys, you know what I mean?” He motions vaguely to the looming barricade of bodyguards around them. “Not cis . And like, I know Seto is cis, or you know whatever I guess, but he’s not boring like regular cis guys. I dunno. It’s a vibe.” He sucks on his venti java chip extra-shot frappuccino, holding it loosely in one hand as he scrolls and taps furiously at Yugi’s new phone in the other, setting up a complicated series of security apps, personalizations, contacts, and what looks to be something completely coded from scratch. Yugi’s eyebrows raise as he catches glimpses here and there. Genius seems to run in the family. “Anyway yeah,” Mokuba continues, unbothered, “so like, maybe I’ll change to just he/him in the future but in the meantime I’m super vibing on the he/they train and also like, I am nonbinary and I like having a good verbal reminder for people to stay in fucking line. There!” He hands the phone over proudly. “I set it up with a purple theme for you! To match your nails. Very punk by the way, I love the chipped look. I personally prefer the black chipped look but Seto says it’s ‘ unprofessional ’.” He throws up air quotes and an eye roll. “Anyway, do you like it? You’d better like it, or I’ll have you fired.” He laughs uproariously and slaps Yugi hard on the shoulder. Yugi takes the phone with a nervous laugh, looking it over and wondering how much of a joke that comment is, actually…

“N-no, I love it! Genuinely actually, you’ve got a good sense of aesthetic and design. And that coding, you did all that yourself?? That seemed pretty impressive, I don’t know anything about–”

Mokuba snorts and shoves his plastic coffee cup against Yugi’s mouth to shut him up. “Oh my god I’m kidding, you can turn off the brown-nosing now.” He rolls his eyes, but his smile seems much wider. “Throw this out for me, would you?” Yugi struggles to pull his shopping-bag-laden arm up to take the cup. A bodyguard reaches forward and grabs it instead, lightly tossing it into a trash can as they pass by. Yugi offers a meek thank you, wondering again why none of them have offered to carry a single bag. Mokuba snorts again, laughing hard as he watches Yugi begin to teeter to one side. “Oh god okay, hazing’s over, you’re way too genuine and feeble for any of this - Isono!! Distribute the bags.”

One particularly concerned-looking, thin bodyguard steps forward, snatching up each bag and handing it out to a couple of his compatriots. Yugi notes with interest that a couple guards reach out to help, and are quickly snubbed. He frowns, turning back to Mokuba, who is watching the entire exchange with a tight-lipped severity. After a brief moment the juggling is over, and Mokuba leads the group forward, pressing on to the food court. Yugi struggles to keep up, despite their similar stature. Everything seems to be a terrible rush to fit as much into the day as possible. His gaze drifts over to Mokuba himself. They’ve seemed tense since he’d met them, and the feeling had only gotten stronger as the day had gone on. He can see the young Kaiba’s eyes dart around behind those designer sunglasses, can see his jaw flex and throat bob as he swallows. An anxiety disorder, maybe…? Agoraphobia? He seems awfully young to be dealing with something like that. But then again, Yugi struggled with a lot of different things at that age. Probably worse than that.

He sighs with relief as a table is procured for them, and Mokuba motions for him to sit. The guards remain standing, surrounding them and looking this way and that. Mokuba folds and tucks their shades into their jacket pocket, offering Yugi a wide grin. “Hey, not bad for your first day!! I heard Seto ran you into the ground during your interview, I guess I wanted a tiny reenactment for myself.” He cackles, turning to the same thin bodyguard as before and barking out a food order. He snaps his fingers at Yugi, motioning to do the same. Yugi nervously obliges, getting himself a hamburger and fries. Mokuba tacks on an order of two milkshakes. Yugi wonders if they’re to share… he kind of doubts it. “Tired yet?” Mokuba grins as Yugi leans heavily back into his seat. “Don’t worry!! We’ll finish up soon, and then I’ll give you back to my brother.”

Yugi forces a laugh, his gut sinking sharply. Oh god, that’s right. He has to go back to work with Kaiba directly after this. He looks at his watch. It’s not even eleven AM yet. He’s been on the clock since 5 AM. Work doesn’t officially end for six hours, and if Kaiba tends to spend the night in his office…. He tries not to panic. “That’s okay, Mokuba!” he says, offering a nervous smile. “He’s tasked me to help you out today, so I’m happy to stick around.”

Mokuba grins. “Don’t want anything thrown at you, huh?” They and Yugi share a laugh. Yugi’s sliced ankle throbs. His sock is soaked with slowly caking blood. “Yeah…” he mutters, doing his best to hide the weariness in his voice. “Can’t say I’m looking forward to that.” Mokuba laughs again, waving his concerns away with one hand. The food arrives and, as expected, Mokuba pulls both milkshakes over to his side of the table. “Well,” they mutter after enjoying a slow and thoughtful spoonful. “Let’s make sure you make a good impression, at least. You’re getting a new wardrobe - my treat.”

Yugi’s eyebrows shoot up. “I, I couldn’t ask y-you to…! A wardrobe is too much, I have… other clothes...” he trails off as Mokuba scans him up and down with clear distaste.

“No, you don’t,” they deadpan, nose wrinkling with disgust. “You have poor people clothes . I’m going to buy you real clothes. And don’t tell me I can’t.” His grin spreads wide and feral across his face. “I’m a fucking billionare, kid,” Mokuba drawls, turning back to his sprawling pile of food court fast food. “I could buy you if I wanted to.” They lean on one hand, smile still just as threatening as before. “Well, I could’ve. If Seto hadn’t bought you first.”

Yugi manages another tight-lipped, awkward smile. More and more, this job is looking like a very, very bad idea.

–

His entire body is shaking by late afternoon, as they return to Kaiba Corp headquarters. Bags and bags of clothing, shoes, and belts weigh him down, as does the mind-breaking knowledge of how much money he’s carrying on his back. He didn’t get to hear the costs for each individual item, but one t-shirt and one polo shirt from one boutique rang up at over $3000 together, so… he can only extrapolate from there. He might have a panic attack thinking about it, actually. He and Mokuba Kaiba’s muscle horde had traveled all over the city, to stores and buildings and even entire sections of Domino City he’d never even heard of, let alone seen. One rather tiny looking shop seemed to only host one very old, very angry-looking man who took extremely thorough measurements - an experience that was awkward enough without the man giving him a suspicious squint after taking his inseam. Yugi makes a note to wear a packer if he ever has to go clothes shopping ever again. He may never have to again, at this rate…. God knows he never wants to.

Mokuba beeps his access card and kicks his brother’s office door open, hands in pockets as he saunters confidently up to the elder Kaiba’s desk. Kaiba does not look up from his ongoing conference call, but holds up one finger to indicate silence. Mokuba cheerfully obliges, bouncing on the heels of his expensive leather shoes. Yugi trips over his own tattered ones, and collapses into a heap on the floor. Neither brother acknowledges him.

Kaiba ends the call quickly, standing up and making his way around the desk toward Mokuba. “I’ve told you before not to dump your shopping in my office, it’s an eyesore.” He looks down at Yugi as he struggles to free himself from the tangle of bags and boxes. “And a fire hazard. It’s blocking the door.”

Mokuba laughs and throws their arms around Kaiba’s waist - much to his brother’s clear embarrassment. Kaiba rubs a couple small, affectionate circles on Mokuba’s back before pushing him gently away with both hands. Yugi quietly dusts himself off, happy to be ignored as he starts moving the bags behind the couch where they’re not visible from the desk. He catches sight of his boss’ face as he does so - it’s startlingly soft and relaxed.

“Don’t be stupid,” Mokuba chatters back fearlessly, “those aren’t mine. I played dress-up with your new assistant. Those are for him. I’m having more delivered here soon by the way - can you believe this twink doesn’t own a single tailored shirt?? That’s a sin for even a base model dude, let alone a trans dude. Way to go hiring a trans guy by the way, Seto!! Unfortunately for you, that means I’m gonna steal him constantly.”

Kaiba sighs, shoulders relaxing somewhat despite the disapproving scowl that reaches his face. “Whatever,” he mutters, leaning back on his desk and crossing his arms. “I’m on my lunch break. Whatever you want to tell me about your day, make it quick.” Mokuba obliges, yammering on about every detail from their shopping excursion - everything from Yugi’s hazing to the food court meal to what kind of belts he picked out for the both of them. Kaiba listens patiently, nodding and grunting when appropriate, but otherwise providing zero feedback. Yugi stares incredulously. Kaiba’s demeanor is relaxed, his head held at a slight tilt as he listens with rapt attention. His expression grows more and more calm with each passing moment, and his eyes, squinted with concentration, shine under his crisp bangs. Yugi could swear that squint is…. Well it’s almost a smile. It’s far from his normal threatening scowl, anyway. Mokuba stops of their own accord after several minutes, face flushed and nearly out of breath from the intensity and speed of his recap.

“And I still have time to get my work done at the office today!!,” they manage breathlessly. “I’ve got soooo much paperwork, you wouldn’t even believe , I’m gonna drown in it.” Their face is aglow with pride, despite the complaint. Kaiba nods. “I assigned it to you, so yes, I would believe it. Speaking of which, you need to get back to it, as do I.” He sighs sharply, standing up straight and unfolding his arms to offer a single clap on Mokuba’s shoulder. The younger Kaiba looks happy enough to cry. “Very good Mokuba. Thank you for the recap. I’ll catch up with you again tomorrow.”

Mokuba’s face falls. “Tomorrow…? Not tonight?” The tension in Kaiba’s shoulders returns immediately, and he moves swiftly back behind his desk, clearly avoiding his sibling’s eye contact. “I’m busy tonight, Mokuba. You know how important my work is. I’ll see you back here in the morning.” He finally looks up, and Yugi can see his posture crumble slightly, even though his face remains as smooth as glass. “You know I enjoy these visits. Don’t be afraid to keep having them–”

Yugi flinches as Mokuba throws his sunglasses as hard as he can at Kaiba’s face. Kaiba catches them effortlessly. “You told me you’d come home this week!!” Mokuba screams, stomping his foot, red in the face. “You promised!! ”

Kaiba sighs. “Mokuba, please–”

“ No!! ” He screams back, pushing past Yugi to grab a pillow from the couch and throw that as well. Kaiba catches it, but not before it grazes the edge of his monitor, knocking it over and sending half his desk contents cascading onto the floor.

“ MOKUBA!! ” Kaiba rockets back up out of his seat, slamming both hands onto the glass desk. Mokuba calms instantly, hands still balled into fists at their sides. Kaiba’s face is terrifying, and for a second Yugi is seriously worried for Mokuba’s well-being. He flinches as Kaiba’s eyes suddenly meet his own, but it’s only to silently motion Yugi to come and clean his things off of the floor. Yugi hurries over, heart in his throat, and begins to pick up the assorted papers and paraphernalia. Kaiba makes his way back around the desk, and Yugi breathes a soft sigh of relief as Kaiba bends over and takes Mokuba gently by the shoulders.

“I’m sorry,” the CEO says quietly. “Mokuba, I’m… I’ll fix it. I promise. A real promise,” he adds, as Mokuba glares tearful daggers at him. “That’s… hrmm.” He sits back onto the edge of his desk, rubbing his face. “That’s what… my assistant is for. YUGI!!” Yugi leaps up with a squeak, falling back to the ground at once as he slams his head into the glass corner of the desk. Mokuba snorts with laughter, and Kaiba sighs with exasperation. Yugi manages to pull himself back up, rubbing his head and standing at attention. “Y-yes, M-mister Kaiba, Sir?”

Kaiba scowls at the formality and motions him to stand next to Mokuba. He looks them both over, his blue eyes sharp and disapproving. “I don’t have time to babysit both of you, is that understood?” He waits for Yugi to signal his acknowledgement before continuing. “I am a busy man, my time is precious, and I do not have time for this kind of interruption to my work flow.”

“Isn’t it your lunch break?” Yugi counters weakly.

Both siblings stare at him in silence.

“It was ,” Kaiba answers finally through gritted teeth. “As I was saying-”

“But you didn’t even have lunch!” Yugi counters again, brow furrowing with concern. Mokuba puts their hand over their mouth to stifle a laugh. Kaiba’s scowl turns darker.

“And I wonder whose job it is to get me my lunch, Assistant?? ” He huffs and rubs his face again. “No, no, I’m not getting sucked into this. Mokuba, out. Yugi, finish cleaning Mokuba’s mess and then get me a coffee. Both of you just go do your damn jobs and leave me in peace.” Yugi immediately hurries back over behind the desk. Mokuba grabs his brother before he can leave, pulling him into a tight hug. Yugi tries to mind his own business, but he can’t resist a bit of eavesdropping.

“I’m sorry,” Mokuba sniffles quietly. “It was a long morning, and the perfume stand at the mall smelled like cloves, and I just… I just, you promised, you know?” Kaiba sighs, rocking his younger sibling back and forth.

“I’m sorry, too. You know I want to be there.” He sighs again, leaning his cheek against Mokuba’s wild mop of hair. His eyes dart over to Yugi, who continues pretending like nothing is happening. “I’ll… find time, Mokuba. I’ll make time. Soon.” He pushes them away gently, smoothing their shoulders from where his hug had crumpled the nice fabric. “Go back to work. Take it easy today, I know excursions take a lot out of you - no, don’t argue, I know they do. It’s okay. I’ll call you over dinner.”

Mokuba wipes his nose with his pocket square, still sniffling but clearly much calmer. “Sorry I threw things at you,” he mumbles, staring at his feet. “But to be fair… you throw stuff at other people all the time.” Kaiba grumbles, shifting his weight uncomfortably. “Yes, well. I’ll accept that. But never at family, understand?? And I’ll… I’ll work on not throwing things in general, myself.” He sighs sharply, and Mokuba laughs a little, smoothing out the rest of his suit and making his way towards the door. “Yeah, yeah!! Do whatever, I don’t care. Just be nice to Yugi!! If you keep skipping family time and scare away my only other trans-masc employee I will burn the house down.” Kaiba actually chuckles at that, following them to the door. “Deal, I hate that place anyway. Burn it down and I’ll get us a nice, pricey high rise downtown.”

Mokuba leaves after a few more pleasantries, jokes, and a puffy-eyed smile, rejoining the throng of bodyguards waiting outside. Yugi notes his smile fade away quickly, his shoulders hunching as the wall of men surround him. He watches until they’ve all disappeared down the hallway before he realizes Kaiba is staring at him. He quickly returns to his cleaning, but Kaiba sighs and flops down in his seat next to him. “Leave that be. Stand in front of me - we need to have a talk.”

Yugi’s blood runs icy cold, and the memories of last night’s fuck up come rushing back into mind. It was foolish to think he’d actually get away with it. He stands, pale and suddenly trembling, staring at the CEO’s shoes. Kaiba crosses his legs, the leather of his pants creaking. His hands are slender and pale and steepled and Yugi swallows as he remembers how those fingers felt gripped tightly around his wrist. He wonders what kind of punishment Kaiba has in store. At this point, getting fired would probably be the best of all options.

“You will look at me when I speak to you,” Kaiba says, voice smooth, tone inscrutable. Yugi looks up and feels those cool blue pools for eyes absolutely scramble any surviving thought. It takes everything in him not to race for the door as Kaiba looks him over from head to toe. Eventually, to Yugi’s surprise, he deflates, leaning heavily back into his chair and rubbing the bridge of his nose with clear exhaustion.

“I really didn’t want to hire you,” he growls, “and you are never to repeat this to any living breathing human being but… Mai was right. I need you. And god help you, but Mokuba likes you.” He sits up straight again, any trace of emotion swept away from his expression - but Yugi can now see for the first time his deeply shadowed eyes, his gaunt cheeks, his unsteady posture and shaking hands. “Mokuba requires more time. Your job is to do the impossible and buy me some more hours in the day to ensure he’s well taken care of. Some of that will require you supervising him in your spare time, the rest will require you to shoulder the burden of my personal tasks and whatever executive tasks Mai decides to dump on you. I’ll accept follow up questions now.”

Yugi nods, engaging without hesitation. “How long have you been this busy?” He asks. Kaiba nods back. “A reasonable question, if ignorant. The answer is: always. I have worked between 100 and 160 hours per week for eight years, under the title of CEO. This month I am encroaching back towards 160, I’ll need you to bring that down to 120. At least .”

Yugi reels, covering his spinning thoughts with a silent nod. If 100 hours is 20 hours a day… no, that’s assuming he takes weekends off. Clearly not. 7 times 20 is 140, so 160 would be… what, 23 hours a day?? He looks over Kaiba’s gaunt features and trembling hands again. This man had been his hero only two days prior - a genius who overthrew a giant at the tender age of 14, built an empire on a foundation of joy and fun, and is single-handedly raising his little brother. He’s had barely a single night off for eight years. No wonder he’s throwing things. No wonder his eyes look sunken and wild. He’s on the verge of complete mental and physical implosion, with no way out and no end in sight. He’s going to die if he keeps this up.

Yugi stands up tall, jaw set and hands clenched into fists at his sides. Something clicks deep within him, and suddenly he’s not tired, he’s not scared, he’s not sore or even nervous. Seto Kaiba needs help. Seto Kaiba needs him . “I can do that,” he says, confident and proud. “I’ll do more than that, you have my promise. For every hour I work, I’ll buy back an hour of time in your day.”

Kaiba looks his assistant up and down, expression unchanging, voice sarcastic and thin. “Good job repeating back what I just said. You’re expected to work 40 hours a week, at least, and I expect clear results. And I will be disappointed if you only do what’s expected of you.” He slouches back into his chair, looking suddenly exhausted as he pinches the bridge of his nose again. “Today, however, you’re ignorant and useless. Spend the rest of the day shadowing Mai, and knock your thick heads together until you figure out how to do your fucking jobs. Leave.” He motions aggressively to the door.

“Y-yes, Mr Kaiba sir. I promise, you won’t be dissap-”

“ Now. ”

Yugi scurries over to his unasked-for haul of shopping bags, dragging them awkwardly towards the door, hiding the beaming smile on his face behind a shoebox as he scurries out of sight.