#(poor atem)

Eve could feel movement in the bed next to her she stayed on her side to see if the other was going to get settled again, she closed her eyes and could hear panting from the male next to her. She waited a bit more normally she was rather against sleeping with someone in case she had a night terror during the night and injured them in her daze. 

(I keep shifting between using Japanese pronouns to English ones orz. The card mentioned here is from Zexal originally but I decided to take liberties.)

“Kaiba-kun wants all of us to go to the mansion?” ‘I’m not hearing this correctly am I?’ “Are you sure Kaiba-kun invited all of us to his home? Not Mokuba right?”

“No Yug he did a mass text to all of us.” Yugi swipes his phone and finds the simple message there in his unread folder. “Look, I’ll meet you there. Honda is giving me a ride. Sorry that the idiot hasn’t installed the side car yet.”

“Mmmm it’s ok. You think you do please me a favor and drop off your sister here? I need someone to watch Pschent.”

“Sure.” Jounouchi chuckled. “I forgot that you have a cute furry friend now.”

“Thanks a lot Jou. See you there.” Yugi hangs up and rubs the back of his head. “The last time I went over is during the board game incident. Hmm.” He decide to not ponder on it long and get ready. He sends a quick text to his parents and grandfather just in case they arrive early (not likely.)

Wearing a purple duffle coat, he greets Shizuka by the door and tells her where everything is at for the kitten before closing up shop and going. Yugi eventually reaches the mansion and sees Jounouchi, Honda, Mai, Rebecca of all people, and Otogi outside with Isono. Thankfully it’s not that cold.

“Do you know what’s going on?”

“I don’t have a clue Yug.” Jounouchi shrugs and scratches the back of his head. “Too bad Anzu can’t make it.”

“She’s in America and won’t go all of the way here just to amuse Kaiba.” Honda says matter of fact.

“That doesn’t matter. I’m here with Yugi again! And the rival is gone!” Rebecca sighs dreamily and hugs Yugi tight. The others are glancing at him with curious eyes. He just shrugs his shoulders. She’s harmless. Maybe.

Suddenly they are surrounded by vans and out pops the news crew. “Come on! Mr. Kaiba is going to do a personal interview and make a big announcement at the end! Chop Chop!” Miss reporter sees the gang and approach them. “Question: What is your involvement with Mr. Kaiba? Are you the King of Games and the secondary champion of Duelist Kingdom?”

Yugi almost rolls his eyes when Jounouchi looks smug and puffs out his chest. Before he opens his mouth Isono coughs. “I’m sorry to interrupt but Mr. Kaiba is waiting inside.” The older man leads everyone in and directs them to an area past the dining room. It’s full furnished with overhead crystal lighting, two sofas along with an arm chair and a settee.

Isono situates Yugi and the others on the sofa first before directing the camera crew and lighting to different areas in the room. Miss reporter is guided to the arm chair. It takes no time at all for Kaiba, Mokuba, and shockingly enough Atem to come into the room.

Yugi waves and mouths: ‘Do you know what’s going on?’ Atem shrugs and shakes his head. Kaiba sits down on the settee like it’s a throne and is soon joined by Mokuba. It takes a bit of coaxing to get Atem to sit on the other side, with Kaiba in the middle.

Miss reporter take out notes. She shuffles them several times before giving up and throwing them back into her bag. “Ummm...Is it ok if we start?” She looks nervous. Most people are when they see or talk to Kaiba. He has that type of ambiance.

Kaiba inclines his head. The interview starts off slow. They talk about things such as Kaibacorp. Then it turns into information about Duelist Kingdom, Battle City, and anything that is not related to magic and saving the world. She even ask Mokuba and Atem questions. Nothing really invasive. In fact it’s kind of boring. Yugi sees out of the corner of his eyes Jounouchi falling asleep and Honda looking bored.

“Is there something else you want to tell us before we wrap it up?”

Kaiba chuckles and smirks. Yugi sweats. ‘Oh boy this isn’t good.’ The CEO pulls out a card from (somewhere) considering that he’s not wearing his typical coat and handed it to the former spirit. Atem glanced at him with a raised brow, read the card, then Kaiba, then the card again.

Yugi, in the three years that he knew Atem, never seen his Mou Hitori no Boku flustered and red faced. His cheeks and neck are lit up like Rudolph’s nose and his eyes are impossibly wide. He stands abruptly; opening and closes his mouth. A loss for words. Finally he says with conviction: “KAIBA!”

Kaiba looks downright annoyed at the reaction. “Most people answer with a yes or no Atem.”

Yugi puts two and two together quickly. It’s not a duel or Atem wouldn’t react the way he did. And the news crew did say ‘announcement.’ That could only mean... ‘Oh my.’

Atem, who can’t make up his mind if he wants to throw the card on the ground or at Kaiba, gives it to Mokuba. He talks in rapid Arabic; face ablaze. Kaiba gets up and stands next to him. Face to face, if he realizes it or not, talking back in the same language. Everyone in the room is confused except for Yugi.

Mokuba looks at the two and slowly peers down to reads the card. His eyes grow big. “Oh…..HOLY CRAP.” He laughs and looks delighted. At least one person is happy. “Nii-sama just proposed!”

“WHAT?!” Everyone is floored. Miss reporter looks like she wants to sink into the chair and die. Mokuba shows off the card. It’s a custom made one called ‘Devoted Love.’ A beta card, the text on the bottom is obviously clear with, “I challenge you to marry me.”

“Hey Yug you know what Atem is saying?” Jounouchi looks towards Yugi for clarification.

“Ummm...” Yugi picked up a bit of Arabic from being around his other half for so long. “I think they are arguing about their relationship.”

“So Atem didn’t want to get married?”

“Ummm...” Yugi squints. “Kaiba is talking about-”

“...Because I want everyone to know you are mine!” Kaiba interrupts him with a snap of his arm, speaking back into a language everyone understands, on the edge of throttling Atem.

Silence.

Atem falters like someone hit him with a mind crush. He recovers and yells back in Arabic, obviously angry. They move towards the far corner of the room, yelling back and forth. Nobody understanding what they are saying.

The camera crew are all confused. Miss reporter is hiding somewhere behind the sofa chair.

“I guess the interview is over.” Otogi supplies.

“You owe me money Jou.” Mai pipes up towards the other blond, who is rolling on the floor laughing.

“Oh man this is both crazy and horrible. I never thought Kaiba would propose on national television. Hahaha Yug this is great!”

“I wonder does Anzu know.” Honda questions.

“I think she knows.” Yugi sweats at the text messages he received not only from his friend in America, but also Bakura and Shizuka, the latter seeing the whole thing on the news.

Yugi attempts to sign in on Twitter and isn’t surprised to see it down. “I think Kaiba-kun killed social media.” Facebook still works but most of the pages are discussing the announcement. Asking if the two dated before the pictures to things like them having sex on the blimp in Battle City.

‘Atem respects me and my body to not do that.’ Right? Yugi wonders as he sees the two still arguing. If his closest friend had the chance would he do a quickie with the CEO? Fool around after a duel from the heat of the moment? ‘I better not ponder on that.’ He instead makes sure Rebecca doesn’t get handsy during the chaos. Her not reacting makes him wonder if she knew beforehand or not care. “Oh I just received a text from Ishizu and her brothers.”

“Wow I haven’t heard from them in a while. What are they saying?” Mai looms over, ignoring how Rebecca is seething.

“Ummm Ishizu is translating what Atem and Kaiba said.” Yugi’s cheeks puff up as he holds in giggles. “Atem said that most people do this in private and why does he have to make a spectacle. Kaiba said something along the lines that he wanted to announce to the world that he loves him and starts talking about wedding plans. Then Atem says that this is embarrassing. Umm after the part with the whole ‘you are mine,’ Atem basically told him that he’s never going to be used to Kaiba-kun being over the top.”

Yugi glances at Kaiba who seemed to calm down and laughing. Atem, still red faced, is hiding behind his hands. “They were arguing about their relationship and Kaiba-kun had doubts. Like Atem didn’t love him. Ishizu couldn’t understand it all since they went out of camera but they made up. I think?”

[I think it’s Atem’s turn to get grabbed, doncha think? And who better than Malefic Monster Kaiba ... when he’s out for a midnight flight?]

Sea

You’re drowning. A sea of emotions, responsibilities, people, things; everything. You can’t just handle it all, you need to escape, but you can’t. Even talking to someone and being told it’s okay; compliments, nice things people say; it all adds up to drown you further. Guilt, for feeling this way, when everyone’s being nice and you’re not enough. Will you sink or swim?

Tagged by: @sweetringholder (thank you!)

He frowns rather sourly at the mention of /that person./