Work Text:
A hug.
Objectively join pecs together while wrapping their arms around each other's back. The duration may vary, but 3 to 10 seconds was enough to fulfill the bet he made with Yugi.
The problem Kaiba had is that the person hugging him was Joey Wheeler, and the aforementioned didn't remove his rough hands from his jacket. Hiding his face on his shoulder, without giving any explanation for his match delay, he didn't feel the need to push him away.
To his surprise, this act didn't drive him mad with despair, but rather conveyed a sharper sensation, off like a murmur from a distant time that made a nagging noise in his mind and he remembered bitterly since his childhood.
Relief.
A feeling that the weak have when they were about to lose everything and by the vagaries of life or the intervention of a third party they keep it.
Kaiba swore he would never feel that again because he believes that even among losers, there is a pride in accepting defeat and then getting more of what was lost in a rematch.
However, at this moment he wasn't putting anything at risk. At worst it would be his reputation but, Wheeler's career would be destroyed before that happened.
So there was no point of comparison!
Firmly Kaiba tried to push him away but Joey was reluctant to let go, clinging to his back like a bear.
He struggled a couple of times before Joey's weight caused them both to fall onto the bed behind him. After receiving the impact of Joey's falling head on his pec, Kaiba had the urge to spit out air.
A few moments later, Joey raised his face and laughed with all his teeth at the state they were in while Kaiba grunted in frustration.
Joey Wheeler had become in a...good duelist, so that it was upsetting for Kaiba to find him in a drunken state, staining his velvet shirt with his damp blond locks after pouring water on them, because he wasn't going to waste time waiting for him to be in all his senses.
It was so simple to get rid of it. He was strong enough to do it, but he needed to figure out this feeling that runs through his bones like the plague.
He chuckled to himself as he repeated that last word. Considering he'd been working with Yugi for a while, it wasn't wrong to think he'd infected him with dangerous vibes.
A few hours ago they were testing a new mechanic when the bet came up.
It was only natural that when they had a disagreement they would resolve it through a card duel.
This time was no different from the others: if he won Yugi would have to desist from implementing such a horrible system and if Yugi won he could ask him anything.
His hatred for the idea of adapting the card duels to brainless children was so strong that he didn't mind putting the company at stake.
However, Yugi decided on something as simple as a hug. He thought it was fun at the time until he realized how poorly structured the last deck that was released.
It was a miracle that the game would end before the two ran out of monsters.
Yugi refused to join him to make sure he fulfill with the bet.
'I trust you will', he stated confidently before leaving.
"Trust?", Kaiba furrowed his eyebrows at the memory of it.
Knowing how this world full of men who give their arm to get a pittance of his hard earned gains, Yugi still thinks like when he first met him.
It's ridiculous to think that he could feel that way about Wheeler.
This feeling was not at all complex. He intuits that he knows it, but he couldn't give it a name.
Nor could it be said that he is exaggerating. In fact, he makes such gestures often.
It's a strategy he used when he needed on his power certain companies to work on the production of the Duel Disks.
He offered a generous amount of money to buy a company, increasing its value in the market and if they refused, an internal conflict between the managers and the investors was provoked for not accepting his proposition.
He taught his method to Mokuba and he has done a better job than him in getting the companies he needs in a friendly way. Investors and shareholders fall for it easily because to them his little brother addresses them in a more 'authentic' way.
Of course, none of that was physical although shoulder-to-shoulder contact between co-workers is often common in companies overseas.
A bad habit Mokuba learned and one that usually takes him by surprise. Without warning, as long as he wasn't busy on one of his projects, he would visit him personally to hug him with the excuse of celebrating any KaibaCorp achievements.
'From time to time you need to have contact with something other than machines', Mokuba explained to him as he smiled.
They both knew he liked being untouchable, as it is one of the reasons he has great power, but he would always have time and space available for his only family. As long as Mokuba was okay, the world would remain an amusement park for the two of them.
So leveling Joey Wheeler with his little brother was unacceptable!
Unfortunately that response didn't satisfy his senses which demanded that he stay still in the face of Wheeler's intrusive crushing of his body.
He had to admit there was a comforting stimulation in provoke Wheeler whenever he could but there were limits to what he could show to another person.
Ignoring his need to clear his thoughts, Kaiba pushed Joey away to the other end of the bed. With sudden exhaustion he pulls himself together to leave the hotel room, until he hears a series of movements and stops to see Joey sitting on the corner of the bed.
"I didn't know you were so fond of hugs," he exclaims rubbing part of his forehead, a slight smile breaking out between his lips that sent electric shocks throughout his body.
"Don't think it'll happen again," Kaiba threatens with a grim face.
"It's just a hug!", Joey stresses with amusement.
Kaiba had the urge to grit his teeth as he realized he couldn't think of any scathing response to put him in his place. This encounter had disturbed him to the point that it was humiliating.
"Even so thanks", Joey added, this time showing a serious but incredulous face.
Hearing those words of thanks made Kaiba's heart skip a beat and fed up with undesirable feelings, the determination to study about this dangerous sensation caused by Wheeler's presence was born.
However, it will have to wait until tomorrow.
He needs to fire the one who designed the deck that made him lose, before thinking a plan of action.