middleofsomewhere | Final: Orange

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Final: Orange

Down the Staircase: Backdated to Day Seven

Those who were investigating the sigil or fighting crabs nearby would be aware of the ground rumbling as a spiral staircase opened into the dark sand below.

Of course it is less a staircase at the bottom of the ocean and more a terrifying water helter-skelter downwards through the dark.

But they land in an underground cave. It is dark, and ankle deep in water. In the centre there is a white marble plinth, with a large empty shell on top. The walls of the cave are dark and grimy but with the aid of the torches in their SCA's and some investigating will find a hint of colours underneath the sand and seaweed on the walls.

Between day seven and day ten

The crabs are still attacking. It is not a never ending siege but it pays to be vigilant as every so often crabs arrive to launch an attack on the sleeping citizens. Luckily they don't seem to be able to get into the underground chamber, perhaps being too large or unwilling to enter through the twisting passage.

Inside the cave the water is slowly rising, by day ten of the month of Fiddlesticks it reaches the average voidtrecker's chest.

The plinth is tall, above the voidtreckers' heads and so hasn't been submerged yet.

Assuming they have begun to clear the sand and seaweed off the walls of the cave a picture begins to emerge. Simple drawings, very similar to those on the tablets in the market place.

Day Ten

Light from the sky, an island. People gathered around a fire. Beacon. Symbols are helpfully translated for them. A plinth. No, two plinths with shells on them filled with light.

All very useful. If only they had any way to share their ideas with the others.

Which is when their SCA's glow and a holographic screen appears.

Meanwhile on the train...

By day ten the storm hits with a vengeance. Waves are high, rain falls practically sideways. The train holds out well, staying in place and upright through the battering seas. Going out to dive is nerve wracking and there might be some cases of seasickness in those remaining on the train.

It is all in all not a great sea faring experience.

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"Well I mean sleep is important and you look exhausted." Which it was clear that Yugi was showing concern about it more so that he was wondering if he could have been more helpful beyond just waiting for every time he came back before now. He felt dumb in knowing that the reason he never went down was simply that he couldn't.

"Can he really? I guess that would actually be useful for this situation. But where do you think we should start?"

"Hiding in dark spaces," Kaiba answered immediately. "He's pink and fluffy, about up to my knee in height. "He likes the games in the gaming car...maybe there?"

He rubbed at his eye and slowly got to his feet, leaning heavily on the wall. "Or we could head back to the room. Mine's empty during the mission, if you want."

"I think I should try and look for them. You really need to try and sleep in your cabin if possible." He figured however first things first would be to take the other to his cabin first before going anywhere.

"I would suggest using me if you need something to lean on, but I also worry that might work as intended."

Now that was surprising. Kaiba's eyes widened as he looked at Yugi, and he seemed to think about it.

"Would that help me?"

His cheeks are a little pink. But he comes to a decision and scoots over, cautiously pressing his arm against Yugi's. The closeness is new, but...

"Hm. I guess it's a little better."

Edited 2020-05-19 14:24 (UTC)

"I believe so. I mean it..." Before he could even finish the sentence he could feel the other press up against him and it was enough to cause the other to go a little red for a moment. He thought he had things in check, but apparently not.

"It might help us also not fall over. I hope." With that in mind and once he was sure the other was perfectly okay he started to carefully start to walk towards the other's cabin.

So far so good at least. The train shook, but Yugi did his best to stay upright, soon reaching their destination. "Here we go."

Kaiba was careful not to lean on him too heavily, but this was nice. He finally reached his room. Once there he dropped into a lower bunk, not even bothering to change clothes.

"Can you stay for a while? Could use a distraction, and you're a good one."

He had sure the other was okay before he figured to head off, at least until the other asked him to stay. He turned his head slightly, knowing that odds were likely his cheeks were read.

"Ah... Well yes, if it will help any. Though not sure how I can be a good distraction." He had managed to take a small breath pushing it down for the time being before looking back as he had talked. "I guess sitting on the edge will at least do, right?" He added soon turning so he could actually sit down and hopefully not bang his head as he did.

"Just...talk to me. Tell me if you're okay."

Kaiba carefully rolls over so he can look at Yugi, blinking up at him with what might pass for an imploring gaze under other circumstances. But he's sleepy, and his expression is unusually soft.

"I was thinking about you down there. The caves were long and dark, and even as prepared as I am I wasn't sure I could wiggle out."

"Okay...talking is easy enough." Even though the train was moving slightly due to what was going on outside he was more focused on what he was going to say next.

But just as he was about to say something he paused slightly, looking over and the thoughts he had before gone for the moment. He opened his mouth briefly before closing it again. he was trying to think of the best way to reply to what he just said.

"We all have those moments of uncertainty even with missions like this. Though... not quite sure why being underwater in a cave would make you think of me though."

"I was in the darkness," he answered, staring down at his pillow. "And before all this...my motivation was Mokuba. I had to make it back for him. I still do. I can't abandon him."

He looked up once more, took a deep breath, and locked onto Yugi's gaze. "But while I thought of him, and he'll always be on my mind? I knew I had to make it back to you too. We still had unfinished business."

Kaiba swallowed. "The title, for one, but...not just that. Our bond is stronger than that now, isn't it?"

"That's understandable considering he is your brother." He leaned back slightly as he spoke before his eyes glanced away briefly. He knew what he meant by unfinished business. He had been aware they were meant to go back to that subject at some point.

He just expected it much later.

Eyes soon looked back over again "Yeah... I think so. Though is it a good idea to talk about that when you are tired? I mean I did say we needed to talk about that at a later date when things have been thought about and have figured things out..." He paused as he finished speaking. "But I'll be happy to talk about it now if you want. If you have or are just really tired."

"Yugi..."

Kaiba could feel it now. His heart beating. How safe he felt. He knew. He looked up at that inquisitive face, that expression...and he reached for his courage.

"I asked someone how to distinguish the different categories of love. When I think about you...I imagine myself getting closer to you. And I feel a lump in my throat, but it's not a bad one. Does that make sense?"

Yugi was admittedly nervous. He had hoped that the conversation would be a little later down the line, but that wasn't the case. Unfolding his arms he laid them down in front of him for the time being.

"It makes sense... Though I am surprised you actually asked someone something like that." That was not the point of it, but he was still admittedly surprised. "Though I also asked someone about this type of subject recently. It helped me at least figure the way I think and feel at this moment in time, but I'm not certain that it is the same both ways without you saying it." He paused before taking a small sigh. "So... Did you figure out why you feel like that?"

"I had to ask someone who didn't already know me. Who wouldn't assume things."

The look on Kaiba's face is unfamiliar. He's far less sure of himself than usual. But this is his decision, so he needs to be the one to say it.

"...I want to date you," he admits, his head bumping against Yugi's leg as the waves roll the train. He swallows, setting his hand on Yugi's knee to brace himself. "But I won't try to kiss you until we're out of this mess."

He found himself looking at the other, worrying over what he was actually going to say. his heart pounding much faster than it had been a moment before. At least until he finally spoke and caused Yugi some form of surprise. As much as he had been hoping deep down... he never actually expected it to actually happen.

Simply out of shock, Yugi laughed slightly. "Sorry, but I wasn't expecting it at all." He soon tried to stop himself before finally slowing the laughter to a crawl until eventually, he managed to stop. A smile was soon back on his face. "But...I would like that," he admits as he placed one hand gently on the others head, fingers playing with strands of hair.

"And I guess that means you also will have something to look forward to after the mission."

"Mmmf---that ridiculous, huh."

That reaction had him on the edge. Kaiba would recoil if doing so wouldn't be so painful from this position. Still, he squeezed Yugi's leg as he prepared to sit up, about to push Yugi out and lock himself up for the rest of the night, if not the rest of the mission...

...but Yugi clarified just in time, and the tension immediately left his shoulders. The touch to his hair was strange, but he found himself leaning into it, sighing contentedly. That felt nice.

He smiled up at Yugi, looking happier than he'd ever been.

"She told me it meant something that you were always on my mind. Was it the same for you?"

Yugi couldn't help but smile now. He had felt so anxious and nervous before, but once it was out in the open, he felt all of that drift away and in its place something else. A sense of warmth and happiness.

He continued to play with the other's hair, which was something he never would have done before.

"If you mean if you were always on my mind... Yes and no... Yes, you were on my mind often, but not something like all day every day. But at the time I figured it was because I was admiring how well you adapted here, the things you were accomplishing among other things..." He paused briefly for a moment.

"But it wasn't until recently that I realized that those thoughts of admiration while still are, had something else underneath. Do you know what I mean or am I just not making sense?"

"...no, I know what you mean," he admitted, his words a little slurred with sleepiness. He blinked up at Yugi and reached for his free hand, loosely holding on.

"I have people to worry about. A job to do. Mokuba. But...with you, I feel different. And I like that."

He squeezes Yugi's hand. "I think I might get some sleep after all. What about you?"

He squeezed it back slightly. He knew that there wasn't much he could do around the train at the moment, except try and not get sick more than anything. But at least that was going perfectly okay.

"I thought you sleeping was the point of you being in your cabin in the first place." He couldn't help but give a chuckle tab the end. "As for me... I don't know yet. I'm... honestly not sure what I can do at this moment in time."

"...you're keeping us going more than you realize," Kaiba answers, brushing his hair back so he can better look up at Yugi.

"It's a grueling grind, searching for answers down there. Your support kept me going. And next time you'll come back even stronger---you've always been strong, Yugi. I just couldn't see it before. It's easy to throw your weight around when you're CEO of the biggest tech company...but your ability to naturally make connections with people and change their outlook is even more valuable in a time like this."

He sighs and settles peacefully in Yugi's lap. "You'll find your way. And I'll help you get there."

"I'm glad that I helped in that way at least." And he was happy that it was something. Supporting one's friends was always something he and his friends were always good at.

"I guess I just needed a reminder of that, which considering what I managed to go through, should have made that one obvious, but being in a new setting you kind of forget." He admitted before looking at the other.

"Though I find your ability to be creative when it comes to technology to be valuable. It shows that you can at least think outside the box when it needs to be and that's why it's great that you do go down... I just wished you had slept more." It was why he was planning on at least sticking around while the other slept so that he actually would.

"But hey, we'll help each other when we need to, okay. Like I am helping you sleep by being here and I won't leave until you actually do, even if I have to sit here the whole time."

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Final: Orange

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