Chapter 6: Spy Mail (Don't Trust Pegasus)

“Ey!! Yu!!” Jounouchi’s voice rings out from Yugi’s door. He groans as Jou knocks repeatedly. “Ey buddy you got a package!! Also ain’tcha late??”

He pushes himself up, squinting at the dawn light creeping in through the window. “Huh? Oh shit!!” He throws the blankets off, looking for his phone in the bedsheets - he hadn’t plugged it in last night. He curses, unable to locate it. Joey knocks again, harder. “Fuck, Joey!! I’m up, I’m up!! Enghh…” He rubs his head. Why does he feel like he has a hangover?? Another migraine? He tumbles out of bed and stumbles to the door, throwing it open. “What’s it? What’s up? I gotta leave in like…” He looks down at his wrist. No watch. “Uh. Soon. What’s up?” he repeats stupidly.

Joey clicks his tongue, handing him the small cardboard box and covering his face. “Jeez, Yuug, you can sleep in the nude but don’t answer the door that way!!”

Yugi takes the package, looking it over curiously, rubbing his eyes. “Oh whatever Joey, you’ve seen me naked plenty of times. Who’s this from?” Joey grumbles, fidgeting awkwardly. “Th-that was a different time, Yuug! And I dunno, buddy, I didn’t look! Seemed like work though, got a big ol’ KC on the label.”

He turns it over, reading the label. There is in fact a big KC on the box, plus the text URGENT: OPEN IMMEDIATELY . He frowns, tugging at the box with his bare hands. “Who delivered this?”

Joey sighs dramatically. “I dunno Yuug there was a knock on the door and there it was!! Can ya please put some pants on!!”

Yugi rolls his eyes and shoves the box back into Joey’s hands. “Oh my god, fine!! I need to get dressed for work, anyway.” He rubs his eyes again, an icepick stabbing pain throbbing through half his head. “Ugh, sorry, Jou, I just have this headache. I think I slept like shit.” He tugs on a pair of boxer briefs and takes his extremely expensive, pressed slacks off their spot of honor in his otherwise nearly empty closet. “What is it? What’d I get?”

Jounouchi returns to the doorway with the box under one arm and a pocketknife in the other. “Le’see!!” He digs the knife into the tape haphazardly, sticking his tongue out as he stabs and yanks the blade closer to him. Yugi drops his slacks and snatches both items out of his hands immediately. “Jesus Jou!! You’re gonna damage it AND yourself!!” He tugs the box the rest of the way open, reaching in and fishing out a carefully packaged cell phone.

Joey’s eyes widen. “Ohh, that’s the Illuso One! Heck yeah, your jerk boss knows how to prooovide!!” He snatches it out of Yugi’s hands, gawking at it openly. “Wait though… didn’t you get a phone on your first day already?” Yugi takes the phone back patiently, brows furrowed in confusion as he looks it over.

“Yeah… Ms Mai said she would order one for me… but I’m pretty sure Mokuba told her not to after he got me one himself.” He tilts his head, chewing his lip. “That’s weird.”

Joey shrugs, leaning against the doorframe and crossing his arms. “Hey, keep it!! Maybe you can sign it up without any of that creepy corporate monitoring stuff! Maybe you can give it away, or something! Maybe to your bestest most generous ol’ buddy ol’ pal Katsuya ‘Joey’ Jounouchi? Eh?” He waggles his eyebrows. Yugi laughs, but shakes his head.

“Sorry Katsuya ‘Joey’ Jounouchi! I’ll need to return it to Kaiba Corp.” He looks into the box, shaking it around to look for anything else. “Oh! There’s a note or something.” He pulls it out, putting the box carefully onto the ground. “Let’s see… ‘Hello Mr Muto. This is your new Kaiba Corp phone. Please activate it as soon as possible via connection to your Kaiba Corp laptop. A security installation CD and connection wire have been included for your’ - what the heck?” He frowns. “Why does Kaiba Corp still use CDs? Is this from Y2K, or…?” His frown deepens, and he trails off. “This is signed by Mr Kaiba.”

Joey shrugs. “Maybe the guy’s old school?” Yugi shakes his head. “No. Not at all. And his signature doesn’t look right. It looks printed.” Joey frowns. “Maybe… it’s one of those ‘from the manager’ things that’s like, pre-written and printed? Like from, what’s it, RH?”

“HR. Human Resources,” Yugi corrects politely, shaking his head again. “This feels wrong. The letterhead is wrong. The signature is wrong. I already have a phone.” He looks up, expression serious. “I need to call Mr Kaiba.” He puts the phone and note back into the box, and hands it to Joey. “Go put this somewhere, as far from any other electronics as you can. And don’t say any personal information out loud while you’re near it.”

Joey’s eyes go wide, and he takes the box with a look of mild horror. “Wh-?? Is it like, an evil Alexa or something…?” Yugi shrugs.

“I dunno. And Alexa is arguably evil anyway. But that’s a different conversation.” He sighs, rubbing his forehead with pained exhaustion. “I gotta charge my phone. I’m gonna be so, so late. Mr Kaiba’s gonna kill me.”

—

Seto grinds his teeth, the sound like nails against chalkboard in his own ears. He leans on his knees in the back of his private car, foot bouncing anxiously, his phone gripped tightly between his hands as he stares forward.

The car slides to an easy stop, pulling him from his spinning thoughts. He looks out the window. A dingy apartment block, next to a dingy apartment block, next to a convenience store, next to an empty lot. Charming. He slides outside as soon as Isono clears him to, heading directly inside and taking the steps three at a time, wasting no time with the depressing scenery. Yugi has probably done something stupid by now.

The door to Yugi’s apartment opens without resistance. He strides inside, dropping his briefcase to the ground and putting two fingers in his lips for a loud, short, deafening shriek of a whistle.

“YUGI!!” He bellows. “Where the hell is it??”

Yugi emerges, skidding around the corner sporting mismatched slippers, a thin black tank top, and long, star-covered pajama bottoms that are a couple sizes too small. His hair is mussed. His cheeks are flushed. He’s still pulling his pants on. His glittering purple eyes are alight with fear.

“Muh M-Mister K-Kaiba!!” He stammers, patting himself down nervously. He only has half his eyeliner on. His eyelashes are still dark and long, even without makeup. They seem to pat his blushing cheeks as he blinks. Seto does not stare at his lips as they’re nervously chewed. “I-I was, I d-uh-didn’t think you’d u-uhh b-be here so soon…! O-otherwise I’d, I’d have, I’d u-uhh,” he motions to his entire body with both hands, clearly frantic. Seto takes the opportunity to properly look him up and down. There’s still no way to tell if he’s the one in the photos. He takes his time considering it, anyway.

“Nevermind your looks,” he barks dismissively, yanking a chair out from the nearby dining table to sit on. Why is the kitchen the first thing you walk into? Why is the dining table in the kitchen? Do real humans really eat so near the front door? His skin crawls at the idea, his discomfort not helped by the sight of a sink overflowing with dirty dishes. He suppresses his gag reflex and motions to Isono for his briefcase. “The box, Yugi, where is the box?”

Yugi nods with silent intensity, scrambling to the fridge, from which he extracts the cardboard threat with shaking hands. He sets it down in front of the CEO, and stands in obedient silence, his hands clasped in front of him, lips pressed into a straight, stressed line.

“Sit,” Seto commands with a snap of his fingers. Yugi sits. Seto’s arms, hidden by long sleeves, erupt with goosebumps. It is so relaxing when people just fucking do what he asks. He keeps his eyes on the box, turning it this way and that. “Care to explain to me why you opted to refrigerate a cardboard box?” he presses. He looks up in time to see Yugi’s adam's apple bob with a nervous swallow. It's not the same without the collar on. For some reason that annoys him to the point of physical discomfort.

“Ah, I-uh, ah…” his assistant stammers, looking down at the table. “I thought it might be, um. More sound proof. I-in case there was, y’know. Spy stuff. In there.” He clears his throat. “I-it wouldn’t fit in the microwave….”

Seto snorts. “Practical enough thinking, I guess… for someone with zero technical know-how. Good to know you didn’t cheat your way through Kaiba Corp security training. Well, not completely, anyway.” He gestures to Isono, who steps crisply forward, opening his briefcase and holding it out for the CEO. Seto takes out a pair of sterile, disposable white gloves, pulling them on with a sharp snap of latex. He sees Yugi fidget again, and offers him a brief, cruel smirk. His assistant looks away, flushed and properly cowed. Good. Seto removes the contents carefully, mulling them over. An Industrial Illusions phone, branded with the Kaiba Corp logo on its case and throughout its UI. Cheaply branded, too. Spyware programs, barely hidden. Keystrokes, camera, mic, biometrics, GPS, everything monitored. His teeth grind again, his nausea returns. It’s so blatant, it’s insulting. He exhales sharply through his nose. That’s exactly what it is. A literal insult. A message. He sighs. If that’s all that there is… he can manage that. But that had better be all there is.

He grabs a screwdriver-like tool from his briefcase and pries the device open ungracefully, pawing and poking inside, jaw flexing and eyes darting. There’s nothing Kaiba Corp in here. Not a damn thing. He can’t help but smirk. If that arrogant, fruity son of a bitch had acquired any information of value, he would have included it. Teased him a little, bragged about it, shown off his thieving talents - but it’s all smoke and bluster. Good. Thank god.

He throws his tools and the ragged corpse of the phone into his case, slamming it shut almost before Isono can move his fingers. He considers Yugi carefully as he pulls off his gloves, tossing them onto the table in front of him. The silence drags on painfully, but Seto doesn’t fill it until his thoughts have coalesced to his own satisfaction.

He stands suddenly. “Get in the car.”

Yugi balks. “I, oh. I-I still need to… get dressed.” Seto snorts.

“I don’t care. Throw a shirt and that pretty little collar of yours into a grab bag. We’re leaving, now.”

Yugi stands, looking a little sick to his stomach, mumbling something incomprehensible under his breath. Seto feels a flash of impatient rage.

“What the fuck are you saying to me right now??”

His assistant cowers. “I-I was just…!! N-nothing! I-I was just–”

Seto leans forward, glowering down at him. “You listen to me. This morning is shit, this day is shit, and whether you had anything to do with it or not, I have ended up here, at your shitty, dirty apartment, and I will not have you muttering little remarks under your breath as I–”

 “ HEY HEY hold the fuck up!!!”

The hallway closet door opens with a loud POW as it snaps back and hits the wall. A tall, blonde, angry-looking man emerges from his hiding spot, paper towels and a mountain of plastic shopping bags cascading out around his feet as he marches fearlessly up to the CEO, shoving his scowling face up against his. Seto does not flinch, despite how badly this raggedy… what, college dropout? How badly this unkept cretin’s odor makes him want to retch. The man smells like unwashed hair and unbrushed teeth. Uncomfortable sweat prickles at Seto’s neck and back. He has got to get the fuck out of here and back to his pristine office.

“I don’t have time for whatever the fuck this is,” he sneers, waving for Isono to follow him. Better to make sure the bodyguard doesn’t knock the poor dumb boy out, anyway. He turns his back on both Yugi and the dirty blonde, shoving his hands in his pockets. Yugi is on his feet now, pulling the young man back and whispering hurried warnings to him.

“You got enough time to waste comin’ here and screamin’ at Yugi, apparently!!” The man yells, shrugging Yugi off with surprising gentleness. “He kept your stupid phone all safe and locked up and you just show up and tell him he ain’t shit?? What’s wrong with you??”

Rage flares in Seto’s chest again, and he spins around, grabbing the other man by the collar. The blonde doesn’t seem to care, glaring back unflinchingly. “I said I don’t have fucking time for you,” Seto growls. He pushes him back into Yugi, pleased that his assistant holds him back, as expected. “Yugi!! Put some goddamn clothes on and meet me in my car. You can do your makeup there. Do not keep me waiting.”

He leaves without another word, feeling remarkably more relaxed now that he’s had the chance to take his frustrations out on someone. He might even make time for breakfast.

–

Yugi slumps into the closest dining chair, collapsing with his face in his hands. “Ohh, ohh my god. Oh my god I’m shaking, I’m fucking dead, he’s gonna kill me.” Jounouchi paces around him, and Yugi flinches as his roommate kicks over the trash can, the sound hitting him like a slap in the face. “Joey!! Can you please not!!”

“Sorry Yuug!! I just– that guy!! He–!! Urrrghhhh!!” He grips his hair, sucking in a rough breath through his nostrils. “Sorry, sorry Yuug. Didn’t mean to lose my cool, I just…. DAMN you were not lyin’, that guy’s a total prick!! You shoulda let me hit him.”

Yugi stands, making his way to his room on shaking legs. The whole apartment feels like it’s swimming. “What, and let you end up in jail for assault, and me with no job to bail you out?? No way, Joey!! God, my head hurts.”

Jounouchi follows close at his heels, brow knit with concern. “That head of yours has been hurting a lot lately, Yugi. You sure you’re okay? There’s not something goin’ on?”

Yugi scoffs, motioning to the door where Kaiba and his bodyguard have just departed. “Just that. That, every single day!” He sighs, pulling his hastily chosen clothes off and tossing them on the bed, slapping some deodorant and body spray on before tugging on his professional attire. “I’m gonna look and smell like shit today. God fucking help me.”

Jounouchi huffs, turning his back on Yugi respectfully as he changes. “Look, I know this job pays super well Yugi, but are you sure you’re up for this? You know I can’t stand seeing you get bullied.”

Yugi can’t help but laugh, buttoning his vest up and scooping the contents of his makeup shelf into his work bag. “I’m fine, Jou! Besides, you bullied me first, you remember that, right?” Jounouchi groans.

“Yeah yeah, bring it up again, why doncha!! At least I got my head outta my own ass. I’ll forgive you for taking this job if you can pull a change of heart on that fucker the way you did me and Honda. Put him in his place, Yuug! Otherwise I’ll make you quit! Early retirement vis-a-vis my fist to that guy’s face!” He crosses his arms, sighing wistfully. “Can’t believe I ever looked up to that creepy Kaiba.”

“You looked up to him less than an hour ago, Jou,” Yugi snorts. Jounouchi snorts as well.

“Times change, Yuug!! Seto Kaiba is blacklisted from this house!! So decree-eth Katsuya Jounouchi!!”

Yugi looks over at his friend and smiles, waiting only to buckle up his collar before marching over and giving him an enormous bear hug. “Best roommate ever,” he sighs. He can feel Joey relax at the gesture, hear his chuckling deep in his chest as he wraps his arms around him to return the embrace.

“Ahh, thanks Yugi. You know I try.” He ruffles his hair, laughing as Yugi squeaks in protest. “Hang in there, buddy. I know this job means everything to you and your grandpa, but nothing’s worth losing your mind over, you know?”

Yugi sighs, offering a weak, lopsided smile and hefting his bag higher on his shoulder. “Thanks, man. Wanna get beers after work today? Maybe we can get Honda to come down to visit again.” Joey’s face erupts into a smile.

“Heck yeah buddy!! I’ve been looking around town - I know just the place! I’ll give Honda a call while you’re at work, it’ll be a whole thing!!”

“Awesome!” Yugi breathes, beaming with relief. “I could really use the distraction. A-anyway, I should, u-um…” Joey waves him away without further explanation.

“Yeah, yeah. Get down to your spoiled brat of a boss, Yuug. I’ll catch you later tonight!! Don’t be late!! Don’t fuckin’ die!!”

Yugi laughs. “I won’t!!”

–

Yugi races down the stairs, sliding uncomfortably into the white limo as Isono opens the door for him. God knows the neighbors are probably staring… this is a surefire way to get mugged on his way home. Maybe he should have taken his grandpa up on the offer of a taser…

Kaiba stares silently at him as the door closes, his legs crossed and hands folded in his lap. Yugi swallows nervously, feeling his adam’s apple press uncomfortably against his collar. Maybe he’s buckled it too tight. Either way, his cowering seems to satisfy the tyrannical CEO, who uncrosses his legs and pulls a bottled water out of a hidden, refrigerated compartment in the center console. He does not offer one to Yugi. Yugi swallows again, suddenly hyper aware of his dry mouth. Kaiba keeps his eyes on him as he sips slowly. The silence and tension are unbearable.

“Well?” Kaiba says finally. His voice is unnervingly calm. Yugi flinches.

“W-well…? Wh… what…?”

Kaiba tilts his head. “Your makeup. Are you going to finish it?”

Yugi stares for a moment, then quietly scrambles through his bag, pulling a few scattered items out, his head spinning. “U-um… y-yeah. Y-yeah, I can… hold on.” He curses quietly, eyes darting up at his boss nervously, but this time Kaiba doesn’t seem to notice, or care. Yugi holds his small compact mirror up, doing his very best to align his eyeliner to his eye without stabbing himself. Shaking hands don’t make it an easy task. To his surprise, Kaiba leans forward, wordlessly pulling a fold out table from the back seat panel. Yugi looks between Kaiba and the table, making sure it’s really meant for him before bracing his elbow on it. He murmurs a quick ‘thank you’, busying himself with his makeup to avoid his boss’s unwavering gaze. What the hell is up with Kaiba this morning…? What the hell had been up with that phone?

“What do you know of Industrial Illusions?”

Yugi pauses, looking at Kaiba briefly before answering. “U-um. Industrial Illusions…? W-well…” He hesitates. The suspicious phone had been an II model. This has to be some kind of test. He clears his throat, trying to keep his voice calm. “Industrial Illusions… founded and headed by Pegasus J. Crawford, inventor and copyright holder of Duel Monsters. They started off as a tech supplier and innovator for movies and TV, but branched off into physical and video games when Pegasus took over and launched Duel Monsters. Mostly a game tech company since inventing the Illusion Station years ago, but recently have branched off into communications with the Illuso One… following the release of the KC phone two years prior.” He steals another quick glance at Kaiba. His expression remains stony. “Th-they’re… Kaiba Corp’s number one competitor.”

 Kaiba nods, crossing his arms and legs again. “You sound like a Wikipedia page, but yes. Very well informed, and correct on all counts - except one.” He raises one finger. “Industrial Illusions did not invent the Illusion Station. I did. Pegasus stole it.”

Yugi stares, brows knit, his hands slowly dropping into his lap. “But… isn’t Mr Crawford your… your mentor?”

Kaiba bursts into laughter, a wild, dark, frightening sound that Yugi has not heard him make before. Goosebumps crawl across his skin. “Yeess,” Kaiba drawls, taking another swig of his water and staring off into the middle distance. “My beloved mentor. How lovely of him, to take such a lost little boy under his wing, to guide and care for the precious, precocious, twice orphaned teenage CEO.” He crumples the empty bottle with shocking ferocity, remaining unnervingly still for quite some time after. Yugi remains still as well, head spinning at the unexpected display.

Kaiba melts back into his normal demeanor easily, no indication of his outburst in his countenance. “I have had a restraining order in place against him ever since the Duelist Kingdom incident - the theme park is another stolen idea, by the way - but he enjoys breaking it as often as possible, just to torment me. Sometimes it’s an in-person visit, sometimes it’s little ‘gifts’ - like this.” He motions to his briefcase, the gutted remains of the Illuso One still contained securely inside. “I should applaud your instincts, by the way. As horrifically outdated as that technology is, most of it could have taken over any computer or smartphone you put within three feet of it. Destroy any potentially contaminated devices, by the way. That is not a request.”

Yugi continues to stare, barely registering the conversation. “I… yes. Did you…” He clears his throat, a terrible sinking fear growing in the pit of his stomach. “I-I thought… the Duelist Kingdom incident was just… a rumor. Made up by TMZ, or…”

Kaiba stares back at him, his sharp blue eyes intense and unblinking. “Or a terrible misunderstanding? No. Not quite.”

“S-so…” Yugi can’t feel his hands. “So you, you really…? Threatened Mr Crawford? With a gun?”

Kaiba nods. “That’s correct.”

Yugi’s head reels. “B-but you were just… you were just 16 years old.”

“Fifteen,” Kaiba corrects. “Before you begin to judge me, Yugi, just know that I did what I had to do. He’s stolen one too many things from me.”

Yugi continues to stare. “What… what else did he steal?”

Kaiba meets his gaze, but seems to stare straight through him, his expression utterly inscrutable. After a long, uncomfortable moment, he pulls out his phone, leaning back and scrolling through it casually, as if Yugi had said nothing. “Connect with Mai about rearranging my schedule for today. I’m late enough as is, I’ll have to skip the Big Five - fucking vultures. I need to make time to visit R&D today, anyway. Project Solid is stalled again.”

Yugi nods as his boss continues to drawl his demands, turning silently back to his mirror, applying the last of his makeup with forced calm, doing his best to ignore how haunted and terrified his own face looks, how numb his body is, how the entire world feels like a terrible dream he’s just floating through. He can’t focus on that, now. Not any of it. His headache fades as he pushes the fear away. He has to get to work.

“Ey!! Yu!!” Jounouchi’s voice rings out from Yugi’s door. He groans as Jou knocks repeatedly. “Ey buddy you got a package!! Also ain’tcha late??”

He pushes himself up, squinting at the dawn light creeping in through the window. “Huh? Oh shit!!” He throws the blankets off, looking for his phone in the bedsheets - he hadn’t plugged it in last night. He curses, unable to locate it. Joey knocks again, harder. “Fuck, Joey!! I’m up, I’m up!! Enghh…” He rubs his head. Why does he feel like he has a hangover?? Another migraine? He tumbles out of bed and stumbles to the door, throwing it open. “What’s it? What’s up? I gotta leave in like…” He looks down at his wrist. No watch. “Uh. Soon. What’s up?” he repeats stupidly.

Joey clicks his tongue, handing him the small cardboard box and covering his face. “Jeez, Yuug, you can sleep in the nude but don’t answer the door that way!!”

Yugi takes the package, looking it over curiously, rubbing his eyes. “Oh whatever Joey, you’ve seen me naked plenty of times. Who’s this from?” Joey grumbles, fidgeting awkwardly. “Th-that was a different time, Yuug! And I dunno, buddy, I didn’t look! Seemed like work though, got a big ol’ KC on the label.”

He turns it over, reading the label. There is in fact a big KC on the box, plus the text URGENT: OPEN IMMEDIATELY . He frowns, tugging at the box with his bare hands. “Who delivered this?”

Joey sighs dramatically. “I dunno Yuug there was a knock on the door and there it was!! Can ya please put some pants on!!”

Yugi rolls his eyes and shoves the box back into Joey’s hands. “Oh my god, fine!! I need to get dressed for work, anyway.” He rubs his eyes again, an icepick stabbing pain throbbing through half his head. “Ugh, sorry, Jou, I just have this headache. I think I slept like shit.” He tugs on a pair of boxer briefs and takes his extremely expensive, pressed slacks off their spot of honor in his otherwise nearly empty closet. “What is it? What’d I get?”

Jounouchi returns to the doorway with the box under one arm and a pocketknife in the other. “Le’see!!” He digs the knife into the tape haphazardly, sticking his tongue out as he stabs and yanks the blade closer to him. Yugi drops his slacks and snatches both items out of his hands immediately. “Jesus Jou!! You’re gonna damage it AND yourself!!” He tugs the box the rest of the way open, reaching in and fishing out a carefully packaged cell phone.

Joey’s eyes widen. “Ohh, that’s the Illuso One! Heck yeah, your jerk boss knows how to prooovide!!” He snatches it out of Yugi’s hands, gawking at it openly. “Wait though… didn’t you get a phone on your first day already?” Yugi takes the phone back patiently, brows furrowed in confusion as he looks it over.

“Yeah… Ms Mai said she would order one for me… but I’m pretty sure Mokuba told her not to after he got me one himself.” He tilts his head, chewing his lip. “That’s weird.”

Joey shrugs, leaning against the doorframe and crossing his arms. “Hey, keep it!! Maybe you can sign it up without any of that creepy corporate monitoring stuff! Maybe you can give it away, or something! Maybe to your bestest most generous ol’ buddy ol’ pal Katsuya ‘Joey’ Jounouchi? Eh?” He waggles his eyebrows. Yugi laughs, but shakes his head.

“Sorry Katsuya ‘Joey’ Jounouchi! I’ll need to return it to Kaiba Corp.” He looks into the box, shaking it around to look for anything else. “Oh! There’s a note or something.” He pulls it out, putting the box carefully onto the ground. “Let’s see… ‘Hello Mr Muto. This is your new Kaiba Corp phone. Please activate it as soon as possible via connection to your Kaiba Corp laptop. A security installation CD and connection wire have been included for your’ - what the heck?” He frowns. “Why does Kaiba Corp still use CDs? Is this from Y2K, or…?” His frown deepens, and he trails off. “This is signed by Mr Kaiba.”

Joey shrugs. “Maybe the guy’s old school?” Yugi shakes his head. “No. Not at all. And his signature doesn’t look right. It looks printed.” Joey frowns. “Maybe… it’s one of those ‘from the manager’ things that’s like, pre-written and printed? Like from, what’s it, RH?”

“HR. Human Resources,” Yugi corrects politely, shaking his head again. “This feels wrong. The letterhead is wrong. The signature is wrong. I already have a phone.” He looks up, expression serious. “I need to call Mr Kaiba.” He puts the phone and note back into the box, and hands it to Joey. “Go put this somewhere, as far from any other electronics as you can. And don’t say any personal information out loud while you’re near it.”

Joey’s eyes go wide, and he takes the box with a look of mild horror. “Wh-?? Is it like, an evil Alexa or something…?” Yugi shrugs.

“I dunno. And Alexa is arguably evil anyway. But that’s a different conversation.” He sighs, rubbing his forehead with pained exhaustion. “I gotta charge my phone. I’m gonna be so, so late. Mr Kaiba’s gonna kill me.”

—

Seto grinds his teeth, the sound like nails against chalkboard in his own ears. He leans on his knees in the back of his private car, foot bouncing anxiously, his phone gripped tightly between his hands as he stares forward.

The car slides to an easy stop, pulling him from his spinning thoughts. He looks out the window. A dingy apartment block, next to a dingy apartment block, next to a convenience store, next to an empty lot. Charming. He slides outside as soon as Isono clears him to, heading directly inside and taking the steps three at a time, wasting no time with the depressing scenery. Yugi has probably done something stupid by now.

The door to Yugi’s apartment opens without resistance. He strides inside, dropping his briefcase to the ground and putting two fingers in his lips for a loud, short, deafening shriek of a whistle.

“YUGI!!” He bellows. “Where the hell is it??”

Yugi emerges, skidding around the corner sporting mismatched slippers, a thin black tank top, and long, star-covered pajama bottoms that are a couple sizes too small. His hair is mussed. His cheeks are flushed. He’s still pulling his pants on. His glittering purple eyes are alight with fear.

“Muh M-Mister K-Kaiba!!” He stammers, patting himself down nervously. He only has half his eyeliner on. His eyelashes are still dark and long, even without makeup. They seem to pat his blushing cheeks as he blinks. Seto does not stare at his lips as they’re nervously chewed. “I-I was, I d-uh-didn’t think you’d u-uhh b-be here so soon…! O-otherwise I’d, I’d have, I’d u-uhh,” he motions to his entire body with both hands, clearly frantic. Seto takes the opportunity to properly look him up and down. There’s still no way to tell if he’s the one in the photos. He takes his time considering it, anyway.

“Nevermind your looks,” he barks dismissively, yanking a chair out from the nearby dining table to sit on. Why is the kitchen the first thing you walk into? Why is the dining table in the kitchen? Do real humans really eat so near the front door? His skin crawls at the idea, his discomfort not helped by the sight of a sink overflowing with dirty dishes. He suppresses his gag reflex and motions to Isono for his briefcase. “The box, Yugi, where is the box?”

Yugi nods with silent intensity, scrambling to the fridge, from which he extracts the cardboard threat with shaking hands. He sets it down in front of the CEO, and stands in obedient silence, his hands clasped in front of him, lips pressed into a straight, stressed line.

“Sit,” Seto commands with a snap of his fingers. Yugi sits. Seto’s arms, hidden by long sleeves, erupt with goosebumps. It is so relaxing when people just fucking do what he asks. He keeps his eyes on the box, turning it this way and that. “Care to explain to me why you opted to refrigerate a cardboard box?” he presses. He looks up in time to see Yugi’s adam's apple bob with a nervous swallow. It's not the same without the collar on. For some reason that annoys him to the point of physical discomfort.

“Ah, I-uh, ah…” his assistant stammers, looking down at the table. “I thought it might be, um. More sound proof. I-in case there was, y’know. Spy stuff. In there.” He clears his throat. “I-it wouldn’t fit in the microwave….”

Seto snorts. “Practical enough thinking, I guess… for someone with zero technical know-how. Good to know you didn’t cheat your way through Kaiba Corp security training. Well, not completely, anyway.” He gestures to Isono, who steps crisply forward, opening his briefcase and holding it out for the CEO. Seto takes out a pair of sterile, disposable white gloves, pulling them on with a sharp snap of latex. He sees Yugi fidget again, and offers him a brief, cruel smirk. His assistant looks away, flushed and properly cowed. Good. Seto removes the contents carefully, mulling them over. An Industrial Illusions phone, branded with the Kaiba Corp logo on its case and throughout its UI. Cheaply branded, too. Spyware programs, barely hidden. Keystrokes, camera, mic, biometrics, GPS, everything monitored. His teeth grind again, his nausea returns. It’s so blatant, it’s insulting. He exhales sharply through his nose. That’s exactly what it is. A literal insult. A message. He sighs. If that’s all that there is… he can manage that. But that had better be all there is.

He grabs a screwdriver-like tool from his briefcase and pries the device open ungracefully, pawing and poking inside, jaw flexing and eyes darting. There’s nothing Kaiba Corp in here. Not a damn thing. He can’t help but smirk. If that arrogant, fruity son of a bitch had acquired any information of value, he would have included it. Teased him a little, bragged about it, shown off his thieving talents - but it’s all smoke and bluster. Good. Thank god.

He throws his tools and the ragged corpse of the phone into his case, slamming it shut almost before Isono can move his fingers. He considers Yugi carefully as he pulls off his gloves, tossing them onto the table in front of him. The silence drags on painfully, but Seto doesn’t fill it until his thoughts have coalesced to his own satisfaction.

He stands suddenly. “Get in the car.”

Yugi balks. “I, oh. I-I still need to… get dressed.” Seto snorts.

“I don’t care. Throw a shirt and that pretty little collar of yours into a grab bag. We’re leaving, now.”

Yugi stands, looking a little sick to his stomach, mumbling something incomprehensible under his breath. Seto feels a flash of impatient rage.

“What the fuck are you saying to me right now??”

His assistant cowers. “I-I was just…!! N-nothing! I-I was just–”

Seto leans forward, glowering down at him. “You listen to me. This morning is shit, this day is shit, and whether you had anything to do with it or not, I have ended up here, at your shitty, dirty apartment, and I will not have you muttering little remarks under your breath as I–”

 “ HEY HEY hold the fuck up!!!”

The hallway closet door opens with a loud POW as it snaps back and hits the wall. A tall, blonde, angry-looking man emerges from his hiding spot, paper towels and a mountain of plastic shopping bags cascading out around his feet as he marches fearlessly up to the CEO, shoving his scowling face up against his. Seto does not flinch, despite how badly this raggedy… what, college dropout? How badly this unkept cretin’s odor makes him want to retch. The man smells like unwashed hair and unbrushed teeth. Uncomfortable sweat prickles at Seto’s neck and back. He has got to get the fuck out of here and back to his pristine office.

“I don’t have time for whatever the fuck this is,” he sneers, waving for Isono to follow him. Better to make sure the bodyguard doesn’t knock the poor dumb boy out, anyway. He turns his back on both Yugi and the dirty blonde, shoving his hands in his pockets. Yugi is on his feet now, pulling the young man back and whispering hurried warnings to him.

“You got enough time to waste comin’ here and screamin’ at Yugi, apparently!!” The man yells, shrugging Yugi off with surprising gentleness. “He kept your stupid phone all safe and locked up and you just show up and tell him he ain’t shit?? What’s wrong with you??”

Rage flares in Seto’s chest again, and he spins around, grabbing the other man by the collar. The blonde doesn’t seem to care, glaring back unflinchingly. “I said I don’t have fucking time for you,” Seto growls. He pushes him back into Yugi, pleased that his assistant holds him back, as expected. “Yugi!! Put some goddamn clothes on and meet me in my car. You can do your makeup there. Do not keep me waiting.”

He leaves without another word, feeling remarkably more relaxed now that he’s had the chance to take his frustrations out on someone. He might even make time for breakfast.

–

Yugi slumps into the closest dining chair, collapsing with his face in his hands. “Ohh, ohh my god. Oh my god I’m shaking, I’m fucking dead, he’s gonna kill me.” Jounouchi paces around him, and Yugi flinches as his roommate kicks over the trash can, the sound hitting him like a slap in the face. “Joey!! Can you please not!!”

“Sorry Yuug!! I just– that guy!! He–!! Urrrghhhh!!” He grips his hair, sucking in a rough breath through his nostrils. “Sorry, sorry Yuug. Didn’t mean to lose my cool, I just…. DAMN you were not lyin’, that guy’s a total prick!! You shoulda let me hit him.”

Yugi stands, making his way to his room on shaking legs. The whole apartment feels like it’s swimming. “What, and let you end up in jail for assault, and me with no job to bail you out?? No way, Joey!! God, my head hurts.”

Jounouchi follows close at his heels, brow knit with concern. “That head of yours has been hurting a lot lately, Yugi. You sure you’re okay? There’s not something goin’ on?”

Yugi scoffs, motioning to the door where Kaiba and his bodyguard have just departed. “Just that. That, every single day!” He sighs, pulling his hastily chosen clothes off and tossing them on the bed, slapping some deodorant and body spray on before tugging on his professional attire. “I’m gonna look and smell like shit today. God fucking help me.”

Jounouchi huffs, turning his back on Yugi respectfully as he changes. “Look, I know this job pays super well Yugi, but are you sure you’re up for this? You know I can’t stand seeing you get bullied.”

Yugi can’t help but laugh, buttoning his vest up and scooping the contents of his makeup shelf into his work bag. “I’m fine, Jou! Besides, you bullied me first, you remember that, right?” Jounouchi groans.

“Yeah yeah, bring it up again, why doncha!! At least I got my head outta my own ass. I’ll forgive you for taking this job if you can pull a change of heart on that fucker the way you did me and Honda. Put him in his place, Yuug! Otherwise I’ll make you quit! Early retirement vis-a-vis my fist to that guy’s face!” He crosses his arms, sighing wistfully. “Can’t believe I ever looked up to that creepy Kaiba.”

“You looked up to him less than an hour ago, Jou,” Yugi snorts. Jounouchi snorts as well.

“Times change, Yuug!! Seto Kaiba is blacklisted from this house!! So decree-eth Katsuya Jounouchi!!”

Yugi looks over at his friend and smiles, waiting only to buckle up his collar before marching over and giving him an enormous bear hug. “Best roommate ever,” he sighs. He can feel Joey relax at the gesture, hear his chuckling deep in his chest as he wraps his arms around him to return the embrace.

“Ahh, thanks Yugi. You know I try.” He ruffles his hair, laughing as Yugi squeaks in protest. “Hang in there, buddy. I know this job means everything to you and your grandpa, but nothing’s worth losing your mind over, you know?”

Yugi sighs, offering a weak, lopsided smile and hefting his bag higher on his shoulder. “Thanks, man. Wanna get beers after work today? Maybe we can get Honda to come down to visit again.” Joey’s face erupts into a smile.

“Heck yeah buddy!! I’ve been looking around town - I know just the place! I’ll give Honda a call while you’re at work, it’ll be a whole thing!!”

“Awesome!” Yugi breathes, beaming with relief. “I could really use the distraction. A-anyway, I should, u-um…” Joey waves him away without further explanation.

“Yeah, yeah. Get down to your spoiled brat of a boss, Yuug. I’ll catch you later tonight!! Don’t be late!! Don’t fuckin’ die!!”

Yugi laughs. “I won’t!!”

–

Yugi races down the stairs, sliding uncomfortably into the white limo as Isono opens the door for him. God knows the neighbors are probably staring… this is a surefire way to get mugged on his way home. Maybe he should have taken his grandpa up on the offer of a taser…

Kaiba stares silently at him as the door closes, his legs crossed and hands folded in his lap. Yugi swallows nervously, feeling his adam’s apple press uncomfortably against his collar. Maybe he’s buckled it too tight. Either way, his cowering seems to satisfy the tyrannical CEO, who uncrosses his legs and pulls a bottled water out of a hidden, refrigerated compartment in the center console. He does not offer one to Yugi. Yugi swallows again, suddenly hyper aware of his dry mouth. Kaiba keeps his eyes on him as he sips slowly. The silence and tension are unbearable.

“Well?” Kaiba says finally. His voice is unnervingly calm. Yugi flinches.

“W-well…? Wh… what…?”

Kaiba tilts his head. “Your makeup. Are you going to finish it?”

Yugi stares for a moment, then quietly scrambles through his bag, pulling a few scattered items out, his head spinning. “U-um… y-yeah. Y-yeah, I can… hold on.” He curses quietly, eyes darting up at his boss nervously, but this time Kaiba doesn’t seem to notice, or care. Yugi holds his small compact mirror up, doing his very best to align his eyeliner to his eye without stabbing himself. Shaking hands don’t make it an easy task. To his surprise, Kaiba leans forward, wordlessly pulling a fold out table from the back seat panel. Yugi looks between Kaiba and the table, making sure it’s really meant for him before bracing his elbow on it. He murmurs a quick ‘thank you’, busying himself with his makeup to avoid his boss’s unwavering gaze. What the hell is up with Kaiba this morning…? What the hell had been up with that phone?

“What do you know of Industrial Illusions?”

Yugi pauses, looking at Kaiba briefly before answering. “U-um. Industrial Illusions…? W-well…” He hesitates. The suspicious phone had been an II model. This has to be some kind of test. He clears his throat, trying to keep his voice calm. “Industrial Illusions… founded and headed by Pegasus J. Crawford, inventor and copyright holder of Duel Monsters. They started off as a tech supplier and innovator for movies and TV, but branched off into physical and video games when Pegasus took over and launched Duel Monsters. Mostly a game tech company since inventing the Illusion Station years ago, but recently have branched off into communications with the Illuso One… following the release of the KC phone two years prior.” He steals another quick glance at Kaiba. His expression remains stony. “Th-they’re… Kaiba Corp’s number one competitor.”

 Kaiba nods, crossing his arms and legs again. “You sound like a Wikipedia page, but yes. Very well informed, and correct on all counts - except one.” He raises one finger. “Industrial Illusions did not invent the Illusion Station. I did. Pegasus stole it.”

Yugi stares, brows knit, his hands slowly dropping into his lap. “But… isn’t Mr Crawford your… your mentor?”

Kaiba bursts into laughter, a wild, dark, frightening sound that Yugi has not heard him make before. Goosebumps crawl across his skin. “Yeess,” Kaiba drawls, taking another swig of his water and staring off into the middle distance. “My beloved mentor. How lovely of him, to take such a lost little boy under his wing, to guide and care for the precious, precocious, twice orphaned teenage CEO.” He crumples the empty bottle with shocking ferocity, remaining unnervingly still for quite some time after. Yugi remains still as well, head spinning at the unexpected display.

Kaiba melts back into his normal demeanor easily, no indication of his outburst in his countenance. “I have had a restraining order in place against him ever since the Duelist Kingdom incident - the theme park is another stolen idea, by the way - but he enjoys breaking it as often as possible, just to torment me. Sometimes it’s an in-person visit, sometimes it’s little ‘gifts’ - like this.” He motions to his briefcase, the gutted remains of the Illuso One still contained securely inside. “I should applaud your instincts, by the way. As horrifically outdated as that technology is, most of it could have taken over any computer or smartphone you put within three feet of it. Destroy any potentially contaminated devices, by the way. That is not a request.”

Yugi continues to stare, barely registering the conversation. “I… yes. Did you…” He clears his throat, a terrible sinking fear growing in the pit of his stomach. “I-I thought… the Duelist Kingdom incident was just… a rumor. Made up by TMZ, or…”

Kaiba stares back at him, his sharp blue eyes intense and unblinking. “Or a terrible misunderstanding? No. Not quite.”

“S-so…” Yugi can’t feel his hands. “So you, you really…? Threatened Mr Crawford? With a gun?”

Kaiba nods. “That’s correct.”

Yugi’s head reels. “B-but you were just… you were just 16 years old.”

“Fifteen,” Kaiba corrects. “Before you begin to judge me, Yugi, just know that I did what I had to do. He’s stolen one too many things from me.”

Yugi continues to stare. “What… what else did he steal?”

Kaiba meets his gaze, but seems to stare straight through him, his expression utterly inscrutable. After a long, uncomfortable moment, he pulls out his phone, leaning back and scrolling through it casually, as if Yugi had said nothing. “Connect with Mai about rearranging my schedule for today. I’m late enough as is, I’ll have to skip the Big Five - fucking vultures. I need to make time to visit R&D today, anyway. Project Solid is stalled again.”

Yugi nods as his boss continues to drawl his demands, turning silently back to his mirror, applying the last of his makeup with forced calm, doing his best to ignore how haunted and terrified his own face looks, how numb his body is, how the entire world feels like a terrible dream he’s just floating through. He can’t focus on that, now. Not any of it. His headache fades as he pushes the fear away. He has to get to work.