Chapter Text
You walk towards the closed door of the building. Your car is parked a short ways away, and you have to make your way through all the snow on the ground.
It’s below freezing, and your heels are not made for walking in snow. Why did you have to agree to come here tonight of all nights?
It’s New Year’s Eve. You’re making your way towards a huge convention hall, having to spend the holiday amongst your coworkers under the pretence of enjoying yourself.
So much for spending the evening with family, celebrating the passing of the old year, and building plans for the coming of the new one.
There are things you want to change in the next year. The previous had been turbulent - some bad, some good, as always.
You stop before the marble steps leading up to the giant ornate doors. At least you’re not working tonight. Could be worse. You look up - there’s a full moon tonight. It’s dark, with the moonlight and the lights from the windows of the hall providing the only illumination. A stray snowflake lands on your eyelash, and you step back, blinking it away.
Suddenly you collide with something hard and go flying, a scream of surprise caught in your throat. You throw your arms out in front of you, expecting to hit the snow - and feel an iron grip on your arm, catching you and preventing your impending wipe out. You turn around as soon as you’re firmly back on your feet-
Oh bugger that. Naturally, who else?
Your eyes meet the narrowed icy blue ones of Seto Kaiba, CEO of your company.
“Watch it,” he hisses in a low voice, looking angry. You idly wonder if he is going to fire you on the spot - at least then you wouldn’t have to spend New Year’s Eve with your coworkers and the irate teen prodigy that runs the whole thing.
“S-sorry,” you manage to stammer back. He narrows his eyes further, then turns away and in a few purposeful strides, he’s up the stairs and disappeared into the building.
He always shows up at the wrong time. You bend down and form a snowball with your hands roughly, then toss it at the door that had just closed behind the insufferable head of Kaiba Corp. Everywhere he goes, you manage to embarrass yourself, one way or another. It really is a miracle you still have a job.
Luck’s not on your side today.
You watch, a chill running down your spine that has nothing to do with the cold, as the door opens again and Kaiba steps out. Moments later, your thrown snowball hits him straight in the face.
He’s stunned momentarily, and you know these are probably your last moments as an official employee of Kaiba Corp.
He turns his gaze to you, absolutely livid.
You can’t do it. Your legs turn and run - as fast as you can on your heels, back towards the parking lot. Jumping in your car, you screech out of the parking lot and drive away, sure that he must be on your heels. If he catches up, that’s it, you’re done for!
You pull over a few blocks down. There doesn’t appear to be any chase. Suddenly you realize Kaiba doesn’t need to catch up to you to fire you - you could simply find a termination notice on your desk immediately after the holidays.
Your phone rings. Or, you know, right now works too.
The number is unknown. You’re way too far down the food chain for Kaiba to have your phone number, but all it takes is a name for him to search it through the automated phone system in the office. You’re not sure he even knows your name, though.
You take a deep breath and answer, praying that it wouldn’t be him, but responding as though it was, just on the off chance…
“I’m so sorry, it was an accident!” you stammer instead of a greeting.
“What was?” comes a confused male voice on the other end. You breathe a sign of relief. Mokuba. Everyone’s best friend, happy-go-lucky mascot of the company. You know a lot of people who stay at Kaiba Corp only due to the pay and Mokuba.
It is almost ridiculous that the two Kaiba brothers are related. They couldn’t be more different.
“Nothing, never mind. I thought you were someone else. What’s up, Mokuba?” you say with a smile into the phone.
“I saw you running in the parking lot to your car - what happened? When are you going to come back?” Such an earnest question.
“Umm, I’m not sure I should. I’m… not feeling well,” you whisper softly, trying to sound tired. Your ruse doesn’t work.
“People don’t run that fast when they’re not feeling well. What’s up all of a sudden? Come join us, I want you to be here for the celebration!”
Perhaps you can reason with him.
“Mokuba, if I come there now, I’ll be out of the company before the celebration even begins,” you implore, willing him to understand and just let you go. Fat chance.
“Oh, so you did do something! What did you do? I’ll protect you!” Mokuba is all smiles and giggles.
“I… accidentally hit your brother in the face with a snowball,” you manage to creak out, barely audibly. Somehow that marks the finality of it, saying it out loud like that.
Mokuba roars with laughter.
“That is GOLD! Too bad I wasn’t there to see it! What did he look like? Oh I bet he’s angry! Don’t worry, he won’t fire you. I won’t let him! Not until you hit him again and let me watch this time!” the young boy giggles. “Don’t worry, he’s gone now. I don’t think he’s planning to come back either. You should though, it’ll be fun! And when you get here, you’ll need to tell me all the details!”
It suddenly occurs to you that even Mokuba’s influence would do nothing to protect you if the story spread. Kaiba did not take humiliation well.
“Mokuba, please don’t tell anyone. He’ll have my head!” you try to put into your voice the importance of this.
“Hahaha, only if you promise to tell me all the details!”
“Fine, okay, I promise. It’s not much of a story, just an accident,” you finish. You sigh, tell Mokuba you’ll see him shortly, and hang up. Shifting the car into drive, you slowly make your way back to the convention center parking lot.
The snow had stopped falling, and you are able to make your way inside without any further incidents.
You hang your coat and make your way up the ornate stairs that lead into the main hall. Your heels are almost silent, steps muffled in the red carpet that covers the light marble stairs. You notice how eerily deserted it is out here, but you won’t be alone for long - the sounds of music and conversation grow louder as you ascend the steps. Quietly opening the door, you slip inside and look around, searching for Mokuba.
The first sight your eyes land on is Seto Kaiba.
He does not look happy.