Rough And Tumble

If he notices Atem’s eyes on his chest, he doesn’t do anything to give it away. “Assassins?! That’s not fair!” He yelps, bouncing back to swat at the other’s hands. “I’m a street brawler! That’s not fair!” He’s grinning, despite his complaints, deciding to square up by holding his fists up and bouncing on his feet.

“Always happy to be the first.” He laughs, following him inside.

“… Gotta be honest, I just didn’t think of that. My mom used to only eat scones with her coffee and it didn’t occur to me to try. They’re pretty good dunked though. I just like jam.”

Probably better he not argue that point. He shrugs, instead focusing on putting the cups away. “Yeah, beer is more of an acquired taste from experience.” Li nods. “40 year old men only.”

He stops, looking up blankly for a moment. “Uh. Honestly?” He looks to Seto almost. Embarrassed? “I’m not too worried about it. I’m in this business cuz it’s the business I was born in. It’s not a business you can get out easy, unless you get kicked out and I kinda. Can’t leave.” He frowns before sighing. “It’s complicated and if you were gonna do something, ya would’a done it when you said it, I think.” He takes another moment to think, then shrugs. “I just want to keep my job at the park. It’s nice and I like it.”

“I don’t have that kind of patience for drinks.” 

And seriously, who did? Why did they?

It wasn’t surprising that it wasn’t easy to get out of a crowd like that but there seemed to be even more to that story as well, but Kaiba figured there’d be little point in trying to pry.

“I used to primarily play chess before duel monsters. Playing the long game isn’t out of question for me,” he warned.

His long fingers tap on the bar for a few moments as he thinks.

“I’ll pass on your offer. And I simply can’t risk having an employee be tied back to this kind of ‘side business’. You’re out of luck in when it comes to that front unless you can manage to cut ties with them.”

Really, if word ever got out, it would be a PR nightmare on Kaiba’s end. People wouldn’t exactly be too keen about someone in organized crime giving their kids stuffed animals.

“I’ll turn a blind eye to the… collateral damage of whatever feud you all have going on this one time though.”

It stung, losing out on such a fun job. He understood, of course, but it still stung.

He flinches at the sound of another person’s voice, unfamiliar too.

“Uh, yeah, fine. Sure.” His other hands goes to his side, tugging his vest closer in hopes there’s no blood stains visible. He can’t even be sure if any blood on his clothes is even his.

“No, no, I’m. Fine. Just need to sit for a minute.” He’s never been so thankful for the rest of the gang choosing more lethal options than he.

He leans back to sit up, blinking rapidly. His vision is still burning and smudgy at best. He tilts his head back to look at the sky, squinting. At least that god awful ringing was mostly gone.

“Ugh, I’m stabbing the next bastard I see with one of those things.” He mutters, rubbing at his eyes again.

“Ya sure? You don’t quite look like the definition of fine.”

Mokuba inched a bit closer, but still out of an arm’s length of the other person. Wait a second…

“Uh, okay. Shit. Gods. You’re bleeding there, buddy. That or you’ve got way too many packets of raspberry jam in your pockets that just happened to explode. I’m going to call you an ambulance, okay? Don’t worry, they won’t charge you.”

He chuckles, opening the door with a half bow. “After you.”

He raises an eyebrow, more curious than anything. “Well I sure hope they weren’t a good date if that’s the case.” He makes a show of tilting his head side to side in thought before shrugging. “Well, that’s what the jam is for. And I’m a heathen who dunks mine in the coffee.”

“Well, the guys know how much I like my day job. I’ll do a favor and vouch. That do enough for ya?” He was, by all accounts, not actually a general member. He was only meant to be one of the info guys. “I’m no gang leader, but I do have my standing.” It was no lie, and no coincidence either. He could probably get most of the underground off Kaiba’s back short of anyone with a personal grudge.

“Oh, that’s definitely an American, right?” He laughs. “Oh, that’s such an American mannerism. My old man was the same, ‘cept he had this thing for the most disgusting beer brand I’ve ever tasted. This one at least has some kind of flavor.”

He nods, going back to cleaning the cups on the counter. “Probably not a good dude either way. I’d stick to things they can’t tamper with easily, like you did here. Hell, if you could convince him to do it here, I wouldn’t mind givin’ you a hand.”

“I still don’t trust that you aren’t going to change your mind and decide I can’t be trusted to stay quiet, nonetheless your buddies.”

He checked his watch. Significant time had passed. He takes a proper drink this time. Nope, it was even worse the second time. He’d spit it out onto the countertop if it wasn’t rude and disgusting.

“Indeed he is. This one’s a top contender for that spot I’ll argue, tastes like piss.”

Nearly all beer did to Seto though.

He watched the not-quite-bartender work with narrowed eyes. Someone offering aid would always be something Kaiba scrutinized first upon instinct. He finally did take a seat on one of the stools.