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“Huh? An art gallery?” Joey inquired, looking at the fancy, one of a kind ticket Yugi had handed over during their lunch break.
“Yeah! Mokuba got invited and the way he kinda went on about it made me want to go, so he made sure the–e-erm, King of Games got their own invite. I even got plus one status, so why don’t you come with me?”
“I dunno,” the blonde gave the ticket an intrigued look. “Is it anything like a museum?”
Yugi shook his head and gladly explained--just as Mokuba had explained it to him. “Kinda! But most of them are like a show of art one person or a few people working together made.”
“Ohhh!” He sounded actually curious, even with his mouth full of a yakisoba sandwich from the Kaibacorp cafeteria. Working there in the shipping department hadn’t been as bad as he’d thought, and he was silently touched when his favorite lunch food staples from high school started appearing in the vending machines.
Able to tell Joey wanted him to keep explaining, Yugi finished his last bite of melon bread and continued. “But Mokuba says this art event is just the artist showing off new works and lots of their older stuff. It’ll be fun to see, I’ll bet! You’re coming with me, right?”
“Eeehh...Well, ya know dat new Sims game has been eatin’ away me and Serenity’s time and–W-Well I aint ever been to one of ‘dese fancy do’s before a-and--” Joey busied his wavering voice by glugging down the last of his bottle of banana milk. It was a higher quality than what he’d always had in school, the richer taste still nostalgic enough to always make him forget how rough his morning delivery route was. “Ahh~ Ahem, like I was sayin’ maybe you should ask someone else? What if I ask or say somethin’ that makes the rich snooty suits laugh at me??”
Uh oh–! Yugi wasn’t going to let his and Mokuba’s operation fall through! As Joey’s more self-conscious excuses tried to pile up, Yugi made sure to mention one thing he knew his regularly ravenous friend wouldn’t pass up.
“Aww, well I guess I can go alone.” Yugi pouted softly, only to perk up and add, “I’ll send you pictures of the food, though~!”
Joey’s neck would’ve snapped if it could; fancy art parties had food?
“Huuuh, well no use sending me pics of it. I’ll be ‘dere myself--wait, it's free food right?”
Yugi snickered. “Usually, but it doesn’t mean eat everything! Got it?”
Joey rolled his eyes in mock frustration at his caring friend. “Yeah yeah, wha’eva ya say Mama Yugi~”
“Oh, shut up or you’re not coming along with me!”
“Ya can’t dangle the idea of food in front of me and try to snatch it away, Yug! Dat aint fair!”
++++
“We-Welcome back, Kaiba sir..!” the possibly fourth receptionist that quarter nervously greeted as a rather particularly stressed looking Seto Kaiba stormed past their desk; coat fluttering elegantly as if fueled by the rage radiating off him.
“Tch,” was the only response given, the door to the CEO’s office shutting with force behind him; the almost painfully dull thud of a soft but intentional slam from a heavy door installed to purposefully -not- slam.
Someone must’ve been mad..!
A few minutes later Mokuba turned the corner to enter the office wing he and his brother shared. He was trying to wear the same look of anger Seto carried on his face earlier, but a good bit of his anger had been assuaged by a packet of powdered donuts from the cafeteria vending machines. Carried in his arm were yet another pack of powdered donuts for himself, a yakisoba sub sandwich, two cans of milk coffee along with a smaller and warm can of espresso, and a bottle of banana milk.
“Good afternoon Mokuba sir, welcome back.” the receptionist was able to say rather easily this time around.
“Heya.” Mokuba acknowledged, the gentle clank of metal on the desk making the receptionist suddenly look up from their respectful bow. The extra can of milk coffee was left there kindly, Mokuba giving a small smile and a nod before shouldering his way into the office room Seto had cloistered himself away in.
“We’re replacing these damn doors–today!” Seto almost yelled the moment the door shut itself behind Mokuba. “I’m the mother fucking CEO, if I want to slam a damn door then I’m going to in my own in my fucking office!”
“Hello to you too, bro..~”
“Never repeat any of those words I just said..” Seto tried to scold, but he just sat further back in his chair, seething.
“...Fuck those new card distributers amirite?” Mokuba said as seriously as he could, but lost it after a few moments and guffawed. Seto, unable to really be mad at his brother, just rolled his eyes and hid a smirk by turning in his swiveling chair.
“Fuck ‘em to hell.” he agreed. “How dare they go behind our backs and try to outsource so much.”
“Right?! Who outsources ink? INK?!” Mokuba’s frustration was just as clear as his brothers; he was just afforded the luxury of being a bit more loose and open with his emotions.
“They even tried to alter the card paper..” Seto added, hands rubbing at his temples. “We’re not cheaping out on quality. Ever. If it costs more, we’ll pull it from our own personal funds ourselves. Ughh..bureaucracies…”
Both siblings had a small huff of a laugh at that, the irony certainly not lost on them. Feeling ready for his second pack of donuts, Mokuba placed Seto’s lunch on his desk before tearing into part two of his lunch.
An envelope on Mokuba’s desk caught his eye--it hadn’t been there that morning. The receptionist’s work no doubt. The lilac colour was inviting and the fancy enclosed card brought with it two very lovely looking tickets. Even Mokuba was in awe at how they seemed to catch the office light and shimmer with a unique holofoil design. Whoever designed the tickets clearly loved and was inspired by trading cards.
Finally! These tickets were what Mokuba had been hoping would get there. He hoped things were going well on Yugi’s end of their operation; because things were all hinging on how things played out with his brother.
“Hey bro,” Mokuba began.
“No.” Seto’s mouth sounded momentarily full of the last of his yakisoba sub. He reached for his can of espresso--but went for the milk instead.
“B-But it looks cool–”
“Mokuba..” Seto sighed after a sip of banana milk. “How you even want to do anything after that backwards and trite disaster of a quality check–”
“I can ‘cause I want to not dwell on it, clearly..” the younger of the siblings cut in, sounding as tired as Seto did angry. The bit of snark in Mokuba’s tone made Seto turn his chair suddenly; the resulting jolt from Mokuba making the elder sibling’s scowl turn into a defeated sigh.
He did need to stop dwelling on the matter, didn’t he? The quality control tech had been fired, the contracts with the new ink providers severed (expensively), and the same company used beforehand had been contacted with negotiations already in progress. He had done all he as a CEO could do.
He took a breath...
“Well, I guess if you’re going to whatever the hell this event is, I’ll see what’s so good about it.”
A coy little grin made its way onto Mokuba’s teenster face. “Oh will you now?”
Seto rolled his eyes, “Yes--You clearly want to go so–”
“Yup! But you’re too late to be my plus one!~”
Seto blinked, momentarily surprised. If Mokuba already had someone going with him, why even tell him about–
Mokuba’s sudden fit of chortles broke the silence. “Because I like spending time with my brother, that’s why I told you about it bro! Oh wow, you looked more shocked than I thought you would!~ Heh heh, sorry for foolin’ with ya. Of course you can have my plus one ticke--”
The sound of a clear thud of some kind and the resulting pained yelp from Mokuba indicated just how much Seto ‘enjoyed’ the little prank.
“Hey I said I was sorry!” Mokuba grunted, rubbing his upper arm.
“Hmph..” was all that came from Seto, sitting back down and swiveling his chair away so his gaze was elsewhere. “So just what did I just blindly sign up for?”
“An art gallery showing!”
“Oh, hell…”
Mokuba’s laughter in response made Seto almost believe this was an intentional evening of the teenager enjoying just how much of a wallflower he tended to be at such kinds of events. The elder Kaiba detested art gallery events and had no clue why his brother was so damn fascinated with them. However--seeing how much Mokuba actually looked at the art and whispered criticisms to him was always so heart-warming. He’d go just to make his brother happy in half a heartbeat.
“Oh yeah, Yugi is going and his plus one is Joey.” Mokuba mentioned as offhandly as he could, tablet in hand. He was able to see Seto’s expression in the screen’s reflection and bit his lip to keep from giggling at the sudden widening of his brother’s eyes.
“Hold on, Wheeler is going to be there?”
“Yup!” Mokuba confirmed before giving his brother a firm point with his index finger. “You better not back out now just because he’s going!”
“Back off Ace Attorney, I’m still going. Now we’ll both be entertained.” Seto quipped before taking a generous sip of the can of espresso.
Mokuba gave his brother a look and was given a smirk right back in response. “You can enjoy the art, I’ll enjoy Wheeler making a fool of himself. I bet he doesn’t even have the right clothes to wear. These tickets say ‘No less than black tie attire’, so it's dress to impress.”
Seto knew his way around these kinds of events, and was now near elated to go. The idea of Joey showing up in clothes that would get him turned away instantly however made him feel a lot less happy than he thought it would. There was no way he’d miss out on Joey being a Jackass! Only one thing to do!
“Mokuba, have Roland go get some measuring tape from a craft store, and hurry.”
“Huh? But why?” Mokuba asked, playing up the confused act well.
“I’m not letting them turn that buffoon away at the door! I’m taking his measurements personally to get something tailored and that’s final!”
Mokuba knew not to argue with that and quickly ran off to personally do the task at hand. He and Seto were brothers bonded by trauma; they both seemed to unwittingly heal the scars within each other. So there was no way Mokuba couldn’t tell when his brother clearly had a crush on someone. However, he never thought he’d be silently fixated on Joey Wheeler of all people!
‘Love is funny like that~!’ Yugi’s words rang in Mokuba’s head. The two stealth cupids were determined to get whatever this crush was off the ground, lest Seto stay stuck in his emotionally constipated Tsundereness forever. Yugi and Mokuba -both- knew Joey would never make the first move towards Seto freaking Kaiba of all people, so it was all about setting and timing for things to hopefully get jumpstarted.
+++
“Wheeler. You are needed in Seto Kaiba’s office. Mr. Joseph Wheeler, please make your way here immediately. Thank you.” came the clear voice of Seto’s personal receptionist from the intercoms before all went back to the normal murmurings of employees finishing up their lunch breaks.
Joey stared mortified at the intercom system above for a good few moments before Yugi patted him on the shoulder. “You better go see what he wants.”
“Wh-why’d they announce it so loud?! Now everyone knows I’m in trouble..!”
Yugi giggled. “Intercoms are supposed to be loud, Joey. Plus, I’m sure you’re not in trouble! I’ll see ya after work just in case I don’t see you before your next delivery drive!”
“Yeah, yeah...” Joey grumbled, taking his sweet time getting up and leaving the comfortable space Yugi had made his rectangle of an upper management cubicle into.
“Better hurry just in case you are in trouble! Principal Kaiba might paddle you~!” Yugi chortled.
“G-Gaah!! No way no waaaayy!!” Joey mock whined, playing along and quickening his leaving pace.
---
“Ngh–! Hey, watch it!” Joey growled, feeling the durable band of measuring tape around his frame pull tighter. The hands at work? None other than Seto freaking Kaiba!
“Shush, I know what I’m doing Wheeler.”
“And why’d ya havta call me in here over da intercom?! What is dis, high school?!”
“Others get called like that all the time and you’re no exception, Wheeler. Now stop moving, I need your inseam.”
“What’s an insea–EEEK!” Joey’s question barely left him when he felt a careful and deft hand run along the inner seam of the pants he was wearing. “O-Oh d-dat?! Why ya gotta measure my legs and arms so much?”
“If you want to show up in a suit that looks like you borrowed one from Yugi, by all means don’t let me measure you properly..”
“O-Oh shit, that can happen?”
“If you keep moving it can. Lift your arm.”
“Eh-hehheee~! D-Dat tickled..!”
“This?”
“HAHAA–Stoooop!!”
“Hold still then.” Seto’s smirk went unseen, strategically behind Joey now as he took measurements for his arms, chest and torso.
“Ya know..” Joey began, noticing his throat suddenly felt a bit dry; odd. “D-Dis could be a case for sexual harassment.”
“Nice try, but Mokuba is in here with us.” Seto countered.
The cherub in question waved from Seto’s desk chair. “What color ya thinkin’ for the suit bro?”
“I’ll choose after we measure him. I don’t want to spoil it for Wheeler.”
“Wha–?! Now hold on, who says ya can just play My Dress Up Darling wit me?!”
“Says the one footing the bill for your brand new suit. Interesting media you choose to consume, by the way~”
“H-Hey back off! I got a lil sister and we watch anime together--dun be jealous!”
“S-Serenity likes anime, too?” Mokuba curiously asked.
“Mokuba, stay on task. His right leg measurement is–”
++++
[sooo? Did ya get paddled?] Yugi asked in a text to Joey a bit after he got off work later that day.
[kinda wish he did instead! He was measurin me for like an hour for a suit! A whole ass suit for one event?! Rich people r craaaaazy!]
[a suit?] Yugi texted back, playing dumb.
[ye. I might not get let in if I aint dressed right or somethin? whateva--I get a free suit out of this. Now I got somethin fancy to wear if someone kicks da bucket! G2G, helping sis wit dinner]
[See ya at work tomorrow!] A big smile came to Yugi's face. This was the best plan ever! Mokuba had predicted Seto’s need to step in and help Joey almost perfectly! Now things just had to go smoothly at the art event that weekend.
+++++
“Sooooo? How do I look, Yug?” Joey sheepishly asked after somehow managing to tighten his tie. He was met with the sudden flash of a camera from Yugi’s phone. “AY! Delete dat!”
“Whyyy? You look really great! Eeek, stop it!~” Yugi squealed as Joey noogied him; but it didn’t stop the smaller being from sending the photo to one person with the caption [send this to Mai].
"Delete it or I'll delete you!" Joey playfully threatened before tugging on Yugi's bowtie.
"W-Wait nooo! This took forever to figure out how to tiiiiee! Okay okay, it's gone--it's gooone!" Yugi whined as Joey grinned devilishly down at him, his poor bowtie nearly fully undone!
"Joooeyyy! Help! The stove caught fire!" Serenity's voice cried from down the small hallway in the quaint apartment the siblings happily shared.
"In da kitchen..?!" Joey shouted back, sounding just as concerned as one should upon hearing such news. He was wary though since her voice was coming from her bedroom, not their well-used kitchen.
"No! The one in our house in the SIMS!"
"OH, HECK--!!"
"How do I put it ooout?!?! Oh no, its spreading..!"
"I'm comin', sis!"
While Joey hurried to aid Serenity and save their customized virtual house, Yugi sighed with relief and fixed his dropping but still intact bowtie. As he fussed over himself in a mirror, his phone pinged softly.
[Téa honey, I don’t know who he’s dressed up for but I guess this means I can kiss my chances with him goodbye! Aww he even combed his hair!]
Yugi silently read the forwarded text from Téa and nodded excitedly. Joey was ready for that art gallery--and more importantly, for Seto Kaiba!
-----
“Tickets.” stated the posted doorman outside of the inner doors of the gallery. Yugi had his at the ready and Joey fished his out of the breast pocket of his suit that fit him like an absolute dream. “Very good, have a wonderful evening.”
“Thanks, you too~!” Joey responded without thinking, Yugi snickering against his own suit cuff.
Predictably, Joey had found the tables of food but was pacing himself thanks to aid from Yugi.
Standing at a wall without any art about, Seto took in the atmosphere. Another social event he really wanted nothing to do with, but this time things just felt nice. Mokuba's company was enough to sustain his social battery, but he had to let him branch out and become the obviously more talkative CEO. Besides, his focus right now was on–
“Mmm~! Whatever ‘dese little cheese pies are; They’re really good!”
“Wow, you’re right!” Yugi agreed, munching much more politely than Joey.
Seto silently envied the bumbling oaf who was spearing together as many meatballs he could fit on one of the provided sword toothpicks. He’d been raised on excellent foods after Gozaburo had taken he and his brother in as children. For someone in Joey’s position and family background, such luxuries like shrimp and crab quiches were just that; luxuries. A small pang entered Seto’s heart. Right then and there, he wanted Wheeler to get more chances to come to stuffy events like this.
For a moment, Seto was nervous his thoughts had been heard, because Joey glanced right over at him. Then even more nerve wracking, he started walking towards him! D-Did Seto just feel his palms grow a bit clammy? No way. Those weren’t butterflies trying to flap around within his stomach--he’d just had too much banana milk that day or something--yeah..!
“Kaiba.” Joey started, placing his hand on the wall Seto was leaned against.
“Wheeler.” Seto met the blonde’s energy with his own coldness.
“Now dun get all hot-headed, rich boy. I just wanted to say... W-Well, thanks.”
Seto’s expression all but said, “huh?” so Joey continued. “Th-Thanks for da suit I mean! I think I’ve been flirted with a few times, and some guy here laughed at a pun I made about one of these sculptures lookin’ like stairs and--A-Ahem, my point is I just wanted to tell ya ‘thanks’.”
Seto felt his ears burn with a blush his face just wouldn’t allow to happen. The buffoon was surprisingly not as idiotic in a fancy setting as Seto thought he'd be. He was still not at all in place, but he at least looked the part--and looked more than fine in the role.
A woman approached them both, glasses of a clear but bubbly fluid on the tray she expertly carried. “Champagne?” She offered a glass to Seto.
“Thanks!” Joey accepted as he took the glass instead just to see the rich boy’s reaction. But of course Seto was composed, and also had a sibling to help toughen him to any sting of something being taken from him.
“Tch, not like I like this stuff anyway.” Seto muttered, taking a random glass from the woman and knocking back a small sip. After a pause, the server walked away looking rather defeated for some reason or another.
“I’ve never really drank before. How’s this stuff taste?” Joey asked, watching the bubbles in his glass as he swirled it around as if it were wine.
It was Seto’s turn to be amused and surprised again. “Really? You’ve never even had champagne? What, your little sister won’t let you?”
“Well, it's more that our pops was an alcoholic and I don’t ever wanna be like he was. Ever. So I just never had a craving to drink, if dat makes any sense?”
“I can understand your reasons. Same reason I’ll never smoke cigars..” Seto mentioned softly before taking another soft sip of the bubbly drink.
Strange... Why was it this easy talking to Joey? He summed it up to being in a better mood--but seemed to ignore the fact it was Joey elating his mood. After one sip of his drink, Joey made a face. Seto couldn’t hide his amusement and snickered. “Tastes dry, huh?”
“Huh? How’s a drink supposed’ta be dry ?”
Seto was glad he’d chosen this wall, he was able to lean with his face away from the room and have a good chuckle for a moment. Oh god, how was Joey Wheeler this...cute?!
“Don’t worry,” Seto said while composing himself. “People only drink this for events, and usually just to be polite during a toast.”
“So I dun gotta drink it?! Good, this tastes like weird peanuts or some kinda chestnuts, it's kinda gross not gonna lie..!”
Seto’s eyes went wide for a moment with concern, all of his elation draining upon realization. There was no way...
“W-Whoo, is dis stuff supposed'ta beee–I dunno--sooosss strrrooong? Whooaaoa, what’s happ’nin’..?”
Joey suddenly felt Seto’s arms around him as he more than suddenly lost control of his ability to stand up.
“CALL 911!” Seto’s voice boomed loud enough to rattle the thin gallery windows. “Someone’s been poisoned!!”
+++++++
The faint yet constant beeps of a heart-monitor finally pried its way into Joey’s subconscious, his eyes heavy due to medication softly fluttered open. Vision bleary, he was able to make out he was in a comfortably sized hospital bed with an IV tube in his wrist. He grimaced trying to sit up, only for a familiar voice to really bring him back to reality.
“Don’t move, stupid. You had your stomach pumped and you shouldn’t move yet.”
“Ehh? W-Whaa? Kaiba? Dat you?? Aw man, d-did I die?? I-Is dis heaven? Or hell?”
“A hell you unwittingly put yourself in. You went and drank a poisoned drink meant for me and your cast-iron stomach kept you from dying.”
“D-Dying?! A-Aaaoww…” the pained whine from Joey suddenly trying to move again caused concern to paint Seto's face for a moment.
“What'd I just say? Don’t move! Is there no brain behind your ridiculous cute face? Or are the meds working that well on you?”
What little blood Joey had to spare went right to his cheeks, colouring his face nice and pink due to Seto’s complement. A backhanded compliment, sure, but still a complement all the same. Was he really cute to the financial tycoon? There was no way..! He had to change the subject! Oh right, Serenity--!
“M-My sister...does she–”
“Mokuba took care of contacting her and keeping her updated. We can get the hospital to clear her for visiting now that you’re conscious.
“How long was I...out?”
“Long enough. I’ll get the nurse to bring you something to drink. The dehydration from getting your stomach pumped is no joke, just ask Mokuba.”
“No need to ask, I feel it..” Joey’s vision caught the suit Seto was wearing--the same from the fancy art party. Which meant…
Had Seto Kaiba stayed by Joey’s side until he woke up??
‘I-I wonder if he cares for me or somethin’...’ Joey hazily thought as the meds did their work aiding him back into slumber to keep healing.
“I am never drinking champagne again..” he groaned weakly, a laugh escaping Seto’s lungs in response.
“You’re so dumb..” Seto barely whispered as Joey felt the soft sensation of lips against his own as he unwittingly drifted back to sleep. "Your reward for saving my life, mutt..~"
"Zzz--!!" Joey snored a little louder than peacefully in response. Seto resisted the urge to smother the idiot in his medicated sleep!!
'How dare he sleep through our first kiss..!' the usually stoic CEO's face burned with an angry blush as he fumed over his very constipated emotions.
While it may not have gone as planned–-Joey and Seto definitely were closer. Yugi and Moukba only wished it wasn’t under near fatal circumstances!
- Fin -