tayraedoll

[tayraedoll]

Ma Meilleure Ennemie Chapter 5- Into the Lion's Den

You're fired! Or maybe not?

TW: Swearing

Series Masterlist

You imagined that the trek to Kaiba’s office felt similar to a walk to the gallows. Was this how the Salem witches felt before they were burned alive? Heart racing, mind reeling with all the things they could have done differently, icy dread running up their spine? Wondering how much it would hurt when they met their inevitable demise?

You were taken aback slightly upon entering the CEO’s domain; it felt much more- homey?- than you had imagined. Light wooden bookcases framed the window in the center of the far wall, a cherrywood desk sat at the center of the room, and the floor was made of maple. The chair behind the desk and the couch in front of it were a deep, mahogany leather; the bookshelves were filled with classic literature and philosophical works; and a random old-fashioned Westminster globe sat to the right of the desk. 

What, did this fucker think he was some sort of pirate captain now?

The CEO sat in the chair behind the desk, steepled his fingers together, and glowered at you as you took your seat on the couch. You chewed the inside of your cheek before sighing, the last thing you wanted to do was kiss this man’s ass; but after the stunt you pulled, you really did not see another choice. 

You opened your mouth to begin your apology but Kaiba just held up a hand. “Save it”, he barked at you, making your mouth snap shut. “You’re fired”, it was curt, cold, and emotionless- absolutely final and downright lethal in delivery. 

All manner of arguments ran through your head, there were all sorts of things you wanted to say- really, if he hadn’t been such a jerk, you wouldn’t be in this mess right now. 

But you had to own up to your own mistakes, you were ultimately the one who let him goad you into sabotaging yourself. Besides, there was no arguing with Seto Kaiba. The bitter tang of disappointment hit, thoughts of what could have been played over in your mind, and tears stung your eyes. But you wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of crying here; you swallowed thickly around the lump in your throat and slowly nodded your head, “I understand.”

Cerulean eyes widened slightly before narrowing again, suspicious of your lack of argument. You stood stiffly, not quite able to meet his eyes, “Thank you for the opportunity”, before turning to walk out. Just as you opened the door, a dark chuckle came from behind you.

“That’s it? A feeble show of gratitude? I haven’t been this disappointed in quite a while Y/N.”

You clenched your jaw, your hand tightening on the door. You struggled to keep your voice even as you kept staring straight ahead, refusing to turn back to him, “Well, you have always been a hard man to please. Seems like you are disappointed in everything anyone ever does.”

“Hmm”, Kaiba hummed ambiguously, “And here I thought that you actually might have had it. Clearly, I am doing you a favor by letting you go now.”

You slammed the door shut again before turning on the CEO, absolutely seething, “What the fuck do you want from me Kaiba?!”

A sadistic smirk formed on the brunet’s face, “Well, I wanted you to do your job. But, now that you no longer work for me, I no longer care what the hell you do.”

You scoffed, “Well, isn’t that rich? You know what I think? It never mattered how well I performed for you; you’ve been hellbent on making this job miserable for me since the moment you found out about me in the debriefing. Are you really so much of a control freak that one back-up duelcaster brings out the absolute worst in you?!” You chuckle solemnly, “My most sincere condolences go out to Ishizu for dating a monster as vile as you.”

Kaiba stood abruptly, hands slamming down onto the desk, body poised like an animal ready to attack. “My relations are no concern of yours. They most certainly aren’t yours to scrutinize with the masses while on MY channel during MY duel. Do I make myself clear?!” There was a nearly imperceptible tremble to his voice as he struggled to contain his rage. As you stared one another down, it dawned on you that this was a particularly sensitive subject for the CEO. You thought about how he was never seen with a partner, there was no evidence of any romantic involvements outside of Ishizu accompanying him at formal events. As you mulled this enlightenment over, you thought this quite strange. For all his faults and piss-poor attitude, it wasn’t like Kaiba didn’t have his merits. Hell, just being a billionaire often seemed enough to have people falling over themselves to get a chance at romance. And yet, not a single story of any love affair- sordid or otherwise-  with the most powerful man in all of Japan ever surfaced. Either Kaiba never had any relationship outside of whatever was going on with Ishizu, or he made sure no one ever talked about their experience with him. Your reporter instincts were firing on all cylinders- he was hiding something- and whatever it was, he was desperate to keep it a secret. 

You sighed and relaxed your posture, “You’re right,” you sunk into the couch, making yourself small and nonthreatening (not that this man didn’t tower over you to begin with). “I’m sorry for bringing up the rumors of your relationship with Ishizu while duelcasting. It was unprofessional and was none of my business. My actions were childish- reckless even- but I hope you can forgive me.”

The blue-eyed man visibly relaxed, although he did not sit down. He continued to stare down his nose at you, “Your apologies don’t change a thing. As a KaibaCorp employee, the press will take your comments as all the confirmation they need about my and Ishizu’s relationship status.”

“I could go on the record, make an official statement retracting my previous comments”, you suggested. 

Kaiba shook his head, closing his eyes and pinching the bridge of his nose like he was getting a headache, “No, that would only make them doubt your credibility.”

“And why do you care about my credibility? You’ve already fired me.”

“Because I hired you to begin with!” he snapped as he opened his eyes to continue scowling at you. “Questioning your character means questioning mine. Which brings me to our next order of business”, Kaiba reached into his desk and threw a folder at you, which you barely caught out of surprise. “Just sign it and get out.”

You looked over the document and scowled, “A fucking NDA?! You can’t be serious!”

“You will tell anyone who asks that you left KaibaCorp voluntarily. I don’t have time for reporters to ask questions as to why the first all-female duelcasting duo broke up after one day.”

“Tch. Do you make all employees you fire sign this? Is this how you avoid getting sued for a hostile work environment? Because I find it hard to believe no one has filed any lawsuits against you.”

Kaiba threw a pen onto his desk, “Just fucking sign it and leave!”

You chuckled, “Do you make your lovers sign these as well? Man with an ego your size has to be compensating for his tiny-”

“YOU CAN’T FIRE HER!!” you were cut-off by Mokuba throwing the door open and shouting at his brother.

Kaiba had an annoyed glower on his face- though you didn’t know if he was annoyed by the comment you were about to make or his brother trying to tell him what to do. “And why the fuck can’t I fire her, Mokuba?” 

Mokuba spoke rapidly, barely stopping to take a breath, “The ratings are in! Y/N and Emi’s viewership was TRIPLE that of any other duelcasting team we have. America’s viewership was up 24 percent overall. But, most importantly, overall female viewership was up 34 percent! Every single age demographic is up, but the 20-30 age range was highest at 53 percent.” 

If Kaiba was impressed, he did a great job hiding it; meanwhile, your heart was in your throat after hearing how many people- especially other young women- watched your first duelcast. The CEO cleared his throat, “It’s too bad Y/N has already been fired. We can hire another woman to take her place to placate the viewers.”

Mokuba shook his head so vigorously you were worried he’d snap his neck, “Nuh huh big bro! They don’t want just anyone- they want Y/N!” Mokuba cast his phone onto the TV screen and began scrolling through several pages on various social media platforms and headlines from the press.

American duelcaster makes waves in Domino City

World’s first all-female duelcasting team sets viewership records

SHEDuelist117: OMG!! It’s FINALLY happening! The GIRLS are taking the booth! 

#Emi Ito #Y/N L/N #YASQUEENS #WhoRunTheWorld? #Girls! #BattleCityReunion

TheRealDMGirl: YOOO! Did this girl really just bring up Wheeler’s balls?! 😂 DEAD!

#BattleCityReunion #Y/N L/N #BestDuelcaster

MakoShark011: The tides are changing! Great job Y/N!

ESPRobbinUrW: Kaiba hiring someone with a sense of humor? Did NOT see that coming!

Rivalshipper100: Cannot wait to watch the Yugi v Kaiba duelcast with the girls!

#Rivalshipping #We all know it will be these two in the final #BattleCityReunion

Kuribohlover224: KC Barbie! KC Barbie! KC Barbie!

KC Barbie is trending now

Your hand shot up to your mouth, tears springing in your eyes at the sight of so many positive comments about your duelcast with Emi. Never in your wildest dreams did you ever think your reception would be this overwhelmingly warm. There was just one problem now- the status of your job.

Kaiba read through the headlines and posts with a blank, unreadable expression; his hands folded and pressed to his lips in contemplation. Eventually, he sighed and turned back to you and his younger brother. “If anyone questions you about your comments about Ishizu and I, you will say ‘no comment’ and leave the interview immediately. You are never to speak of my personal life ever again, you will be impartial during your duelcasts, and you will stick to the script when prompted. Am I clear?” He spoke slowly and with authority, like a mob boss making demands so you wouldn’t get iced. 

You couldn’t help the smile that slowly stretched across your face, you gave him a two-finger salute “Sir, yes sir!”

Mokuba leaned over to whisper in your ear, “Let’s go before he changes his mind!” He grabbed your hand and rushed for the door.

“One more thing.”

Both you and Mokuba froze and slowly turned back to the Tony Soprano cosplayer.

“Kindly refrain from bringing up Wheeler’s balls in any capacity ever again. I don’t care to fucking hear about them.”

You couldn’t be sure, but you thought you saw his lips twitch upwards ever so slightly as he finished that statement. You gave him a quick nod of your head before Mokuba was pulling you through the corridors of the blimp once again. “Dude, you are SO lucky he likes you!”

You scoffed, “Please, he hates me! I was totally fired before you saved my ass! Thank you for that by-the-way.”

“If he truly wanted to fire you he wouldn’t have changed his mind! Nothing changes Seto’s mind once it’s made up. I doubt he actually wanted you to leave, he was probably just making a point to scare you and keep the other duelcasters in line.”

You stopped abruptly, yanking Mokuba to a halt, “Are you sure? If he likes me he certainly has a shitty way of showing it!”

The younger Kaiba chuckled and pulled you along to the dining room again. Still looking straight ahead, he responded, “Seto has never been good at portraying emotions outside of disgust and animosity. It’s been over 20 years, and he still has a hard time showing he likes Yugi and the gang besides making light-hearted banter and insults. But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t care about them.”

You chewed your lip as you contemplated this revelation, you were still deep in thought when you and Mokuba reached the ‘Nerd Herd’s’ table.

“Well look who it is! Our lady of the hour!” Duke announced your presence.

Téa smiled brightly, “You were amazing today! We are all so proud of you!”

You blushed, “Thank you all, it really means a lot to have all of your support- oh shit! Speaking of support!” You frantically fished out your phone which you had pointedly ignored all day. You winced, Leo had been blowing up your phone since you signed off. “Would you guys mind meeting my best friend?”

Everyone enthusiastically agreed; not even two seconds after pressing call, you were met with the thunderous clap of Leo’s voice, “BIIIITCH!! It’s about time you called me back! You KILLED it today! I’m so proud of you I’m going to cry. My little baby is off terrorizing Kaiba Corp!”

Resounding laughter echoed across the table, you could only giggle along with them. “Well, you certainly cannot say I didn’t try my hardest to get fired. Got my ass handed to me by Kaiba for those comments made during his and Ishizu’s duel.”

“Don’t sweat it N/N, we all say shit we regret on air. It’s all part of the process of growing into your own, learning who you are on camera.”

Joey piped up, “If you ask me, Rich Boy deserved it. You didn’t even say anything bad!” 

You shrugged, “I still regret prying into his and Ishizu’s privacy like that. It was uncalled for, and I did it with mal-intent. I want to build people up, not tear them down.”

Yugi smiled sweetly at you, “It takes a big person to admit their mistakes, even bigger to learn from them. You have a bright future and career ahead of you, don’t let this one mistake make you doubt yourself.” He reached a hand out to clasp your shoulder and give a reassuring squeeze. You smiled back and squeezed his hand to show your gratitude for his words of wisdom.

“I am proud of you N/N, and you should know you had Nathan sweating buckets today. He is definitely regretting not making you a duelcaster sooner. Now, I gotta go; it’s only 5 AM here!”

“Thanks Leo! Please tell Dwayne to go out for a walk, I know he could use the vitamin D!” 

Leo laughed, “Will do babe! You have a relaxing night; bring that boss bitch energy back tomorrow!” With that, he hung up.

“He sounds nice!” Yugi stated cheerfully.

You hummed, “Yea, Leo has been there for me since I started at Duelist America right after college. I owe him big time, I wouldn’t be here without his support all these years.”

The whole gang exchanged knowing looks with one another, they definitely understood what you meant.

“So!” You continued, “Are you three ready for the big day tomorrow?”

“Oh honey, I’ve been waiting to kick these boys’ butts for over 20 years now! Of course I’m ready!” You couldn’t help but giggle at Mai.

“Rich Boy ain’t gonna know what hit ‘im!” Joey cracked his knuckles.

You turned to Yugi, who only nodded with a smile “It’ll be fun!” Not only was he the King of Games, but he was the King of Humility as well.

“What about you Y/N? Are you ready for tomorrow?” Téa asked.

“Yea! But I’m also a bit nervous. Apparently, my outfit today earned me the nickname of KC Barbie. The name’s even trending right now! Unfortunately, I do not think my plain black pantsuit is going to have the same appeal and I’m already going to let my newfound fans down”, you sighed.

“I’m sure one of us has something you could wear!” Serenity exclaimed.

Mokuba chuckled and pulled his wallet out from his pocket, “Oooorrrrr, we could just buy you something to make sure the nickname sticks!”

Your eyes bugged out of their sockets, “Oh no Mokuba! Thank you, but I can’t accept you spending money on me!”

“Y/N, sweetie, when a rich man offers to buy you clothes- you just smile and say ‘thank you’!” came Mai’s exasperated voice.

Mokuba was undeterred by your denial anyways, he already had his phone out and was looking at outfits that would cost an ungodly amount of money. He was quickly joined by the three girls as they discussed what would look good on you.

“Wait, we are on a blimp. How are you planning to get whatever you buy up here?” you ask confused.

The billionaire shrugged nonchalantly, “I’ll just have the drones fly it up.”

“YOU HAVE DRONES THAT CAN GO THIS FUCKING HIGH?!!”

Hours later, you were still awake in your bed. You stared at your phone, at the number you had long since memorized, at all the blue bubbles that have gone unanswered. You gave an irritated sigh, rubbing your face as you tried for the 20th time to type a damn text message.

You wouldn't believe what happened today

No- stupid!- you tried again.

I finally made my dreams a reality

Nope, not right either.

Japan is pretty nice

FUCK!

I JUST WANT YOU TO BE PROUD OF ME!!

You groaned and threw your phone on the bedside table- to Hell with it anyways. You curled in on yourself and grabbed your pillow before screaming into it in frustration. After taking a few calming breaths, you finally drifted off to sleep-

Completely unaware of the other person still awake on the blimp, who was up in his office watching the reports and highlights from your duelcast.

[tayraedoll]

Ma Meilleure Ennemie Chapter 4- Great Expectations

Disclaimer: I am not a duelist, but I spent hours researching cards and how to play them to make this as realistic as possible. I apologize in advance if I made any mistakes.

Summary: It's your first day as a duelcaster! The Battle City Reunion has officially begun!

TW: Swearing, Kaiba being a dick

Series Masterlist

Tap tap tap tap

Your thumb kept a steady rhythm on your thigh as your cab approached the meeting place for the Battle City Reunion to commence. The driver was playing the radio a little louder than was polite, but you didn’t mind; you couldn’t hear it over your own thoughts screeching at you like your brain conjured up its own personal banshee to torment you. All the expressions of doubt and denial, all the voices of those who chipped away at your confidence bit by agonizing bit, echoed through the recesses of your mind.

You’re not ready

You couldn’t handle it

It’s just a foolish dream!

Imposter. WANNABE. PEST!

You sigh and close your eyes, swallowing thickly as you focus on breathing to calm your racing mind. 

Think positively- excise your doubts.

You’ve got guts

You’ll do great

This is your time!

The car jerking to a stop finally pulls you out of your mental spiral; gathering yourself, you smooth out your skirt and step out of the cab. You find yourself in front of an old, seemingly abandoned warehouse. You were just about to ask the driver if this was the correct address when you heard your name being called.

Whipping around, you find Téa waving you over to the group of duelists with a wide smile.

“Good morning!” you chirp happily as you bound up to the group.

“So what’s with the outfit Y/N? You look like a Barbie doll!” Joey asks as he scrutinizes your clothing. 

Your smile widens as you look down at the hot pink tweed business suit you put on. It looked vintage and classic with a modern twist, six pearl buttons arranged in three rows of two on the coat. “Oh, well, I just thought I’d channel my inner Elle Woods for my first day duelcasting!” you laugh, cheeks turning the color of the suit.

“Well I like it! You look confident”, Mai gives you a wink. 

“So, where is our ever-charming host?” you ask the group to move the conversation away from your fashion choices.

Joey scoffed, “Rich Boy always arrives at the last minute.”

“And with dramatic flair”, Yugi added with a smirk. You follow the group inside the warehouse, the floor was concrete with a bunch of lines painted across it that held no meaning to you; the whole room was lit up with stadium lights like a football field. You raise a brow at the confusing scene- was this really where Kaiba planned the Reunion to be held? After all the grandiose of the hotel and dinner?!

Across the room, you find Emi talking to several other duelcasters; you had thought about what to say to your partner all morning and if you didn’t get it off your chest now you knew you’d chicken out. You take a deep breath, straighten your spine, and march determinedly over to her hoping your gait would portray an air of confidence. When you reach the congregation, you lock eyes directly with the other woman and smile at the surprise that is written across her face.

“I want you to know that the only one who will bring you down is yourself. I have no doubt that you have worked hard to be here today, but so have I. We are about to make history together, we have the opportunity to head a new frontier for women in duelcasting but only if we work together! You either get on board with that, or we abandon ship now.” Your voice rings out clearly and without an ounce of hesitation. You watch as her jaw drops and her eyes widen in shock; feeling like you had made your point, you smile and extend a hand out to Emi for the second time, “So what do you say- Partner?” Emi’s mouth snaps shut as she eyes your outstretched hand; she looks back into your eyes and slowly reaches out to take your hand. She gives you a firm shake and a nod with a ghost of a smile appearing on her lips. 

You’re only able to bask in the newfound camaraderie for a second when an alarm somewhere in the building starts to go off. Everyone exchanges glances with each other, emotions ranging from confusion to exasperation. Your eyes finally land on Yugi, a perfect poker face graces his features but his hand tightens around Téa’s. It seems the star duelist was not surprised by what was happening, but was still bracing himself for whatever trick his rival was playing at. The ground began to tremble and the floor at the center of the warehouse separated like tectonic plates in an earthquake. Alarmed by the gaping hole in the center of the building, everyone moved quickly to the sides. Slowly, a huge blimp ascended from beneath the ground as the roof of the warehouse slid open in much the same way as the floor. The side of the blimp sported the bright blue letters of a familiar logo, your eyes narrowing when you spotted them. Seriously?! This lunatic was just going to open up the fucking ground underneath you all and expect you to just not be stupid enough to fall to your deaths?! 

The platform that was raising the blimp up comes to a stop once it’s even with the surrounding floor. Everyone eagerly walks up to the doorway as it opens up to reveal Isono, Mokuba, and Kaiba. You had to suppress a snort, Kaiba was wearing the infamous outfit he was known for during Battle City- the black padded turtleneck, white sleeveless trench coat, and a ridiculous number of belts. As a preteen, you had thought he was the hottest bad-boy in this get-up; but now, as an adult, you just thought he looked absurd. How many fucking belts did one person need?! 

Your judgement of Kaiba’s style choices came to a halt when the man in question began to speak. “Greetings all, welcome to Kaiba Craft 4- the home of the Battle City Reunion. Duelists quarters are forward while KC team quarters are aft. I’ll give you two hours to settle in, then, be ready at the dueling platform for the Reunion to begin.” The brunet then turned and disappeared further inside the craft.

Well, Yugi was definitely right about dramatic flair.

You were just about to grab your bag when a slender hand snatched it from you; startled, you turn to find Mokuba smiling down at you. “Let me show you to your room; your’s is a bit hard to find because it is at the end of a dead-end hallway.”

“Let me guess- this dead-end room is compliments of your brother for the comments I made yesterday?” you chuckle.

The younger Kaiba hummed but did not elaborate further as he led you through the blimp. The interior was gorgeous, hues of blue, silver, and gold found in the decor choices. The carpet was surprisingly plush beneath your feet. One could easily forget this was a blimp and not a luxurious cruise ship. You walked in companionable silence with Mokuba all the way to your room- him letting you gain your bearings and you allowing him to enjoy a brief reprieve from playing host to a dueling tournament. When you made it to your door, you noticed that it automatically unlocked as you walked up to it. Turning to Mokuba, he shot you a wink, “Your KaibaCorp badge contains a chip that automatically unlocks your door. Saves us, and you, the hassle of needing a keycard.”

“Wow, what will you geniuses at KaibaCorp think of next?”, you giggle and playfully roll your eyes. Then, you freeze as a thought occurs to you and turn back to the VP, “Actually, what kind of relationship do you have with OSHA?”

Mokuba just laughed at you.

Two hours later, you were gathered around the dueling platform with the rest of the staff and duelists, eagerly awaiting the announcement of the first duel of the Battle City Reunion. You stood between Emi- who had actually smiled at you when you approached- and Mai. You were all on pins and needles as you waited for Kaiba to join; thankfully, he did not make you wait long. “Welcome to the Battle City Reunion. KaibaCorp normally focuses on the future, taking great pride in rapidly expanding technological achievements. Advancing is at the core of what we do, and you will undoubtedly see that over the next few days. However, what will make this tournament different from any other is the tenor of nostalgia it will bring. Journey back 20 years with me, as KaibaCorp takes you to a time when dueling was just a mere card game. Before the grandeur of world championships, professional duelists, and televised matches. Follow me, as we go back to the root of what Duel Monsters was, is, and always will be. For starters-” Isono appeared with a case, he set it on the table beside Kaiba who then opened it to reveal the duel disk that was introduced during Battle City. You watched in awe as he strapped it to his arm and activated it. Did he create new ones for this tournament? Or did he really save them for the last 20 years just for this moment? “-a Battle City duel wouldn’t be the same without its trademarked disk.” Seven other employees brought cases over to each of the other seven finalists, all containing the throwback disk for them to put on. 

“Now dis is what I’m talkin ‘bout!” Joey exclaimed as he put his on. “These were by far the best duel disks!”

“You only say that because these were the duel disks you used at the height of your dueling career. The modern ones are far more advanced!” Duke replied, flipping his hair sassily.

You turned to Yugi, eagerly waiting for the King of Games’ reaction to the near-relic of the dueling world. Your brow furrowed in confusion when you found him, he looked almost…glum? His eyes held a profound sadness in them as he stared at the object that was still in its case. His hands moved as if to hold something against his stomach before they pressed over his heart instead. Then, confusing you further, the rest of the group joined in on the melancholy as they each hugged him and patted his back. Several whispered things softly to him that you could not hear, and he seemed to wipe a few tears away. You cocked your head as you watched the bizarre scene unfold, perhaps you would find a way to gently broach this subject later on. 

You turned your attention back to the CEO as he continued with this speech, “Next, I will once again be testing the grit of each duelist- separating the determined few from the has-beens!” The roof above you opened up, the chilly air whipping against your skin as the sky was revealed. You were now in a wide-open space at the very top of the blimp. The bite of the wind could cut you to the bone where you stood, you could only imagine how much worse it was at the top of the platform where the duels would be held. “The first round will follow with the same assignments as Battle City- Bakura vs. Yugi, Odion vs. Wheeler, Marik vs. Valentine, and finishing with Ishizu vs. myself. Bakura and Yugi- you have ten minutes to take your places and officially begin this tournament.”

Glancing back to Yugi, he seemed to have recovered from whatever emotional episode had possessed him when the duel disk was brought out. He had strapped the hardware to his arm and now had a determined glint in his eye as he made his way up to the platform to face off against his friend. You had to close your eyes and breath for a few seconds, your duelcaster career would begin with this very duel! After composing yourself as best you could despite your racing heart, you took your place beside Emi- finally in front of a camera. Your partner turned to you, “Ready to earn your place in history Y/N?”

You smiled brightly back at her, “I thought this day would never come. Let’s kick ass!”

“Just try not to embarrass yourself”, the icy baritone of a certain jackass cut in. “You two will be the most-watched duelcasters we have. Don’t make me regret pairing you two together- or even hiring you to begin with.” He stopped a few feet from you, eyeing your attire with clear disdain.

You really thought Bandit Keith was the worst human being you ever had to deal with because of your job- but Kaiba was certainly making his own case for that crown. You plastered on the sweetest smile you could, “What? Like it’s hard? Don’t forget Kaiba, we are broadcasting for a mere card game. You said so yourself! A card game meant for children might I add.” You emphasized the word children knowing full well that Duel Monsters meant the world to Kaiba- even as an adult- and grinned brighter when he growled at you. 

“Just give me one reason and I’ll see to it that you will never work another day in the dueling world in any capacity.” With that, he turned on his heel and walked back to the platform, his white coat flaring out dramatically behind him in the wind. 

You rolled your eyes at the theatrics- this man really missed his calling in drama club. “Thanks for the pep talk boss!” you said aloud, no longer caring if he heard. Turning back to Emi, she was staring at you with wide eyes, mouth agape. You shrugged and winked at her, “I’m not going to let him get to me.”

Emi smiled and chuckled back at you. You fixed your mic to the lapel of your suit jacket and you both faced the camera. There was a teleprompter set up in front of you with a script to get you two going before the duel began and you’d have to broadcast on your own. The producer started to count down from ten; you closed your eyes, taking slow breaths as you focused on the sound of your blood pounding through your veins as adrenaline flooded your body. No turning back now. You opened them again when the countdown reached three and exhaled, focusing all your energy on the camera as Emi began.

“Welcome to the Battle City Reunion! We are live from Kaiba Craft 4 cruising at 1,200 meters. I’m Emi Ito, and I would like to introduce my partner for her first-ever duelcast- Y/N L/N.”

Your grin reaches ear-to-ear, “Thanks for the warm welcome Emi, I’m excited to be here! In just a few moments, the tournament of the decade will officially begin. And who better to kick things off than the King of Games himself- Yugi Muto?!”

“For many,” Emi picked up, “this will be the last chance to watch a few of the world’s most legendary duelists engage in battle. Many- including Yugi himself- came out of retirement just for this tournament alone. What kind of energy do you expect to see out there?” Emi turned to you.

“Oh, I expect these duelists to give it their all! They’ve known each other for decades, they’ve seen every card and strategy that each other has. I expect we will see some cutthroat dueling out there because here- at the Battle City Reunion- these long-time friends are now competitors. I have no doubt that their entire dueling careers have led to this very moment with one last chance to take the crown. Particularly, for a certain CEO who has just one last opportunity to dethrone the King after a 20-year rivalry.” You may have gone a little off-script, but you couldn’t resist making a dig at the obnoxious tournament host.

Emi, shocked by your audacity, stared at you wide-eyed for just a second before composing herself professionally and moving on. “We now take it to the Kaiba Craft 4 dueling platform, where Yugi Muto is set to face Bakura Ryou in the first duel of the Battle City Reunion.”

Once the broadcast cut away from you two, Emi extended a hand to your arm and mouthed  ”You did great!” at you. You beamed at her, before turning to the platform where Yugi was getting ready to make the first move of the tournament.

Yugi started off by placing Gazelle The King of Mythical Beasts in attack mode. “A classic first-move from Muto, he favored this card as his opener during Battle City”, you commented. Yugi then placed a card face down before ending his turn.

In answer, Bakura summoned his Man-Eating Treasure Chest and destroyed Gazelle. “A strong opening move from Ryou; when you are playing the King of Games, you must take every chance you can to get the lead”, Emi called.

���Yes, but let’s not forget that Yugi placed a card face down.” Yugi ended up playing his trap card Soul Rope, which enabled him to summon a 4-star monster at the cost of 1,000 life points. 

“Now, why would Yugi pay with his life points to summon a low-level monster?” Emi asked.

“Well, if he plans to fuse two or more monsters together, he may not have all the required monsters in his hand. Soul Rope is useful to summon all the needed monsters onto the field from your deck”, you explained for the audience watching. Just as you suspected, Yugi summoned Beta The Magnet Warrior before playing Alpha and Gamma The Magnet Warriors from his hand, then combining them to form Valkyrion the Magna Warrior. Valkyrion promptly destroyed the Man-Eating Treasure Chest. 

In his next turn, Bakura played Dark Designator, which forced Yugi to reveal his Dark Magician in his hand. Once the magician was confirmed, Bakaura used Exchange to force Yugi to give his favorite card over his opponent. “A ballsy move on Ryou’s part, Muto is not going to let that move go unpunished!”, you exclaim. All Emi could do is snicker at your word choice. Bakura finished his turn by playing The Dark Magician in attack mode. 

“Ryou must be hoping that Yugi won’t attack his favorite monster!”

“Well then Bakura’s delusional because Yugi would rather see that card in the graveyard than being played by anyone but him”, you chuckled at the ghostly man’s antics. As suspected, Yugi destroyed his Dark Magician but immediately played Monster Reborn to bring him back- this time on Yugi’s side of the field- before attacking Bakura’s life points directly and ending the duel. The two just laughed as they met in the middle of the platform to exchange pleasantries. Bakura was then ushered over to you and Emi for a quick post-duel interview. 

“Bakura, what were you thinking using Yugi’s Dark Magician against him?” Emi asked him. 

The man scratched the back of his neck and chuckled nervously in front of the camera, “Well, I knew I wasn’t going to win. So I figured I would have a bit of fun and watch Yugi have to destroy his favorite card.” 

“Well, you heard it folks- if you can’t beat the King of Games, make him squirm instead!” you announced to the camera before the broadcast cut to a commercial break as the next duel was set up. 

Emi and Bakura were cracking up when arms enveloped you in a hug from behind. “Great job on your first broadcast!”, the voice of Mokuba shouted into your ear excitedly. 

You couldn’t stop the blush from blooming across your face, you weren’t expecting anyone working the tournament to be watching! “You were watching? How?!”, you asked, flabbergasted, and turned to face the younger Kaiba brother.

“Oh yea, we both were! We had the broadcast pulled up on our phones,” Mokuba smiled and waved his phone at you. 

The color drained from your face just as quickly as it appeared as you squeaked, “We?”

“Did you really think my brother wouldn’t watch the debut of the first-ever all-woman duelcaster team? A team he put together?” Mokuba’s brow disappeared into his dark bangs.

You gulped, “Uhh no actually. I figured he would be too busy watching the actual duel and that he would just watch highlights of the broadcast later. So, what’s the verdict? Am I fired?”

The man chuckled and shook his head, “No, you haven’t done anything egregious enough to warrant terminating you. He wasn’t exactly happy with your comment about his rivalry with Yugi, but it’s not anything that hasn’t been said before.”

You fake-pouted, “Well, I guess I’ll just have to come up with more original insults for the drama king.” You and Mokuba shared a laugh before he told you he had to get back to the platform where Joey and Odion were ready to begin their duel. You turned back to the camera as the countdown began.

“We are back aboard Kaiba Craft 4 where long-time professional duelist Joey Wheeler is about to face-off against Odion Ishtar. Emi- Odion has not dueled in a tournament since Battle City, how do you think he will fare against a professional like Joey?” you began.

“Well, Joey is a talented duelist with many admirable victories over his long career. His deck is often comprised of equal parts skill and luck. If Odion hopes to defeat him, he will need to take quite the gamble with his strategies in this duel”, Emi replied.

“Well, we shall see who truly holds the winning hand as we take you live to the dueling platform.”

Joey played Alligator Sword in attack mode and set one card face-down on his first turn. “If I were a gambler, I’d bet that his face-down card is either one of his dice traps or Scapegoat”, you glanced over at Emi with a giggle. 

Emi laughed at you, “Hopefully- for Joey’s sake- Odion does not find his strategies as obvious as you seem to.” Odion placed a monster face-down in defense mode and set two more face-down cards.

In retaliation, Joey attacked Odion’s monster which turned out to be Royal Keeper that had higher defense points than Alligator Sword’s attack and backfired on Joey. “Sorry Wheeler, better luck next time!” you chortle. Joey ended his turn by placing Masaki the Legendary Swordsman on the field in defense mode. 

“He may be trying to bait Odion into attacking him”, Emi stated.

“It will come down to his face-down card”, you agreed. As suspected, Odion switched his monster into attack mode and tried attacking Masaki, only for Joey to reveal Scapegoat. “Aha! What did I say?!” you fist-bumped Emi. Odion placed another card face-down and ended his turn.

On his next turn, Joey summoned Panther Warrior and tributed one scapegoat to destroy Royal Keeper and switched Masaki to attack mode to attack Odion’s lifepoints directly. “Wheeler is really letting it be known who the professional duelist is. This duel could be over fairly quickly”, Emi stated.

You shook your head, “I wouldn’t count Odion out just yet. In Battle City, he played the long game; I have a feeling that he is planning something to do with his face-down cards. Luck often favors the prepared after all.”

Odion’s plan came to fruition as he played Shield of Serket, Cup of Sealed Soul, and Temple of the Kings from his side of the field to summon The Mystical Beast of Serket. “Odion used this exact strategy against Wheeler in Battle City and nearly won the duel with it. The Mystical Beast of Serket gets 500 points stronger with each monster that it destroys!” Emi explained the card’s effect.

“Joey still has two Scapegoats left, he has two attacks to figure out a plan to stop that big, ugly bug!” you exclaimed. Scrambling to come up with a strategy quickly, Joey played Pot of Greed to draw two more cards. He then just set one more card face-down before placing Masaki  in defense mode and turning it over to Odion again. During his turn, Odion reduced Joey to just one more scapegoat and finished by also placing a card face down.

“The suspense is killing me! These two are really keeping their cards close to their chests!” 

You nodded in agreement, “Somebody call Vegas because these poker faces are immaculate!”

To prepare for the impending doom, Joey played Battle Warrior in defense mode. “Seems like Wheeler’s luck may have run out!” Emi was a ball of anxiety and anticipation next to you. 

You tilted your head, “I am surprised Panther Warrior is still in attack mode; Joey should have switched him by now to protect his life points. Hold on folks, I do not think this over just yet!”

In a shocking turn of events, Joey used his last Scapegoat to allow Panther Warrior to attack with the help of his Graceful Dice spell card to boost his panther’s attack points- a crazy gamble considering he would need a 6 to destroy his opponent’s monster. However, just as the dice was about to roll, Odion played his face-down card- Solemn Judgement- to stop the spell from activating. Too late to call off the attack, Panther Warrior was destroyed. Odion was left with only half his remaining life points as the price he had to pay to destroy Joey’s spell. It didn’t seem like he would need them anyways now that The Beast of Serket was free to attack Joey’s monsters. Odion wasted no time taking advantage of the situation, sending his ultimate beast after Masaki. 

You and Emi held your breath as it looked like defeat was closing in on Joey. Always full of surprises, however, Joey revealed his own face-down card- Fairy Box. You were nearly vibrating with excitement, “Lady Luck may not be through with our tournament high roller just yet! Fairy box allows Joey to flip a coin, if he calls it correctly, Mystical Beast’s attack points will be reduced to 0 and Masaki will be safe!” Joey called out Heads and proved luck was still on his side as the coin landed just so. 

“What is it you American’s say? It ain’t over until the fat lady sings?” Emi giggled at you. 

You burst out laughing, “Indeed! But, I don’t really like the term “fat”. I think we can find a nicer way to refer to our lovely prima donna. And I don’t hear her singing the finalé of this duel just yet Emi!”

It was now Joey’s turn again, he still had two monsters on the field- Masaki and Battle Warrior- neither of which were powerful enough to destroy Odion’s beast. However, the blonde was grinning ear-to-ear. You smiled, “It appears Wheeler may have pulled just the card he needed to put this duel away!” Joey then summoned Swordsman of Landstar onto the field.

Emi cocked her head confused, “How exactly does the three-star monster help him in this case?”

“There’s one card I can think of that will help Joey now, and it requires three tributes to summon it”, you explain as Joey begins the ritual to bring forth Gilford the Lightning. “Gilford’s special ability allows him to destroy all the monsters on Odion’s side of the field!” With that, The Beast of Serket was destroyed and Joey was able to finish Odion off by attacking his lifepoints directly. You turn to Emi, “Emi, I do believe the beautiful, curvy lady is a-singing!”

Emi wheezed, trying to face away from her mic to keep it from picking up the noise as much as she could. Odion declined a post-duel interview, but Joey was more than happy to gloat about his victory. “That was some pretty gutsy dueling there Wheeler! Tell me, how do you put your pants on with balls that big?” you ask as nonchalantly as possible, causing Emi to choke.

Joey just laughed, “One-atta-time jus’ like everyone else I ‘spose! Fer real though, I couldn’t have done it without my friends and family being here to support me. I just couldn’t let any of my girls down!” You smiled, knowing that Joey was not just referring to his wife and sister here on the blimp, but also his daughters watching their parents from home. 

“Joey Wheeler, once again proving that with a lot of faith- and just a bit of luck- any comeback is possible”, Emi finished and the cameras cut for lunch break.

The three of you made your way to the cafeteria, laughing the whole walk there. After grabbing your food, Emi and Joey split up- Emi going to the table with the other KaibaCorp employees and Joey to the duelists table. You hesitated, not quite sure who to follow now that your relationship with your co-star blossomed. Emi turned back to you, cocking her head in confusion, “You coming Y/N?”

You bite your lip, “Uhh, why don’t we sit with the duelists? It would be a great opportunity to interview them!”

Emi suddenly looked nervous, “Well…Kaiba doesn’t like it when his employees mingle with the competitors. Especially that particular group.”

Your facial expression shifted to utmost annoyance- really? Another ridiculous Dictator Kaiba rule?! “Emi- I mean this with utmost respect for you- FUCK THAT! Come on, we are sitting with the duelists!” You walked determinedly over to where the Final 8 were having lunch. Emi reluctantly followed after you, already dreading the ass-chewing your boss was bound to give you both.

“Hey guys!” you exclaimed as you sat by Serenity, Emi sitting between yourself and Duke.

“Hey Y/N! Great duelcasting!” Yugi smiled brightly at you. 

You blushed, “You were watching?”

“Yea! We watched you broadcast for Joey’s duel. You’re very talented!” Serenity answered.

“What?! You mean you all watched Y/N’s duelcast instead of watching me duel?!” Joey looked like a kicked puppy.

Mai rolled her eyes at her husband’s antics, “Relax Joey, we still watched you, just through the broadcast. You know, the same broadcast the girls are watching you through?”

“Which means you should probably talk a little less about balls!”, Mokuba cackled as he took a seat next to Yugi.

Your blush deepened and you giggled nervously, “Yea...I know that wasn’t really rated PG but I gave into my intrusive thoughts and just said it anyways.”

“Well, I approved! I thought it was funny as hell!” Mokuba continued to laugh maniacally. “Seto was less pleased, however”, he added when he had composed himself.

“Well, if he didn’t like that then he’s really not going to like what I have to say about him during his duel”, you resist rolling your eyes and chew aggressively on your bite of sandwich.

“Oh man, now I am DEFINITELY watching Rich Boy’s broadcast!”

“Where is he anyways?” you look around for the drama king in leather pants.

“He’s having lunch in his office’’, Mokuba shrugged. “He prefers to eat alone. I think it helps him quiet his mind.”

“He has an office on a blimp?” Téa raised a brow at the younger billionaire.

“Yup! He is the boss afterall”, Mokuba shrugged nonchalantly.

“Yo Marik! Are you ready for my wife to beat your ass?! She owes you a good lickin” after Battle City!” The conversation descended into trash-talk after that. 

As you were placing your dishes on the conveyor belt, you felt Emi side-eyeing you. “I thought you said we would interview the duelists”, she stated, a bit miffed. 

You shrugged, “Shit-talking upper management is good for camaraderie.” She giggled, she didn’t doubt it would at least be entertaining when Kaiba reamed your asses later.

You both took your places in front of the camera as Mai and Marik prepared to duel. Emi took the lead this time, “We are back on Kaiba Craft 4, where Mai Valentine and Marik Ishtar are set for their re-match of the Battle City Tournament. I’m Emi Ito, here with my co-host Y/N L/N. Y/N, the last time these two duelists went head-to-head poor Mai ended up in a coma for a couple of days due to a freak accident with the hologram projectors. Do you think those memories may haunt her during this duel today?”

“Well Emi, if there’s one thing I know about Mai, it’s that she is a hungry duelist. She has never been one to back down from a challenge; and let’s not forget she had a formidable professional dueling career after Battle City. Marik won this match-up with his Egyptian God Card last time- a card he no longer has in his possession. I’d say Mai is ready to even the score here today.”

“And who wouldn’t be when you have the Battle City cheerleaders to back you up?” Emi smiled as the broadcast cut to Joey and the crew rallying behind Mai. Joey was practically frothing at the mouth while screaming his support, love, and adoration for his wife.

“Absolute couple goals Emi! To our listeners today, get you a partner who supports you as unabashedly as Wheeler supports Valentine”, you couldn’t help but giggle as the duel began.

Mai began the duel by playing Harpie Lady in attack mode and then playing Elegant Egotist to bring forth the three Harpie Lady Sisters. “Mai’s go-to starting move”, Emi hummed.

“Mai likes to make a show of strength right out of the gate. Summoning three monsters on their first turn is a difficult task not every duelist can do”, you respond.

Mai sets one card face-down before ending her turn. Marik didn’t look at all surprised by Mai’s opening move, he placed a monster in face-down defense position and set one other card face-down on the field.

“Marik’s dueling style is much like his older brother’s- he plays the long game. The Ishtar’s like to keep their opponents guessing about their cards for as long as they can”, you comment.

Mai attacked Marik on her next turn, unfortunately releasing his Kiseitai on her Harpie Lady. “Sadly, things already don’t look great for Valentine, Kiseitai is essentially a parasite that will leech half of Harpie Lady’s attack points and add to his life point after each of her turns!” Emi explained the card’s effect.

“That’s 975 points per turn!” you exclaimed, “It will be hard to defeat Marik as long as his life points are being fed by that worm.”

However, Mai had more than one monster on the field and quickly sent the second Harpie Sister to attack Marik’s lifepoints directly. Marik was prepared for this, and revealed his face-down card Mirror Force, effectively destroying all three Harpies.

“Well, they are back on even ground now- neither has a monster on the field anymore”, you shrugged.

“Mai was lucky to avoid having to deal with Marik’s Kiseitai for long. That could have been a disaster”, Emi added.

On his next turn, Marik summoned Bowganian on the field in attack position and decreased Mai’s lifepoints by 600. “Looks like Mai isn’t out of trouble yet! Bowganian will decrease her lifepoints during each of Marik’s turns!”

You stared at the field with wide eyes, “Marik’s deck seems to be full of these oddball effect monsters meant to either cost his opponents their lifepoints or supplement his own!”

Mai summoned Amazoness Blowpiper to the field and equipped it with Amazoness Heirloom. “Brilliant move by Valentine! Amazoness Blowpiper’s special ability lowers the attack strength of an opponent’s monster by 500 points, making both monster’s attacks even. But, equipping her Amazoness with Amazoness Heirloom ensures that her monster will not be destroyed, while Marik’s will!” You explain Mai’s strategy excitedly as Amazoness Blowpiper destroyed Bowganian.

During his next turn, Marik summoned Grand Tiki Elder onto the field. “Funny, that’s the first normal monster that Ishtar has summoned all game. It has no special effects!” Emi furrowed her brow.

“That means he’s planning to do something with it”, your mind raced as you tried to think of what Marik might be strategizing now. He used his monster to destroy Mai’s Amazoness and ended his turn by placing another card face-down.

Sensing danger, Mai brought out the big guns again by summoning Harpie Lady, then using her second Elegant Egotist to bring forth her Harpie Lady Sisters. She sent them after Marik’s Tiki Elder, only to trigger his Malevolent Catastrophe trap card that destroyed all spells and traps she had set- sending her Harpie Lady Phoenix Formation to the graveyard and bringing her back down to just one Harpie Lady. 

“If Mai could have played that card on her next turn, she would have won the duel!” you gasped.

“Ishtar has done a phenomenal job at anticipating each of Valentine’s moves and placing perfect traps and spells to counteract them”, Emi hummed.

You nodded, “Marik is showing the whole world why he was the runner-up at Battle City- even without the Winged Dragon of Ra.”

Now his turn again, Marik summoned Melchid The Four-Face Beast. “He’s definitely planning something- that’s the second normal, low-level monster Marik has played and neither is strong enough to destroy Mai’s Harpie Lady”, you furrowed your brow. As if to answer you, Marik tributed both his monsters to summon Masked Beast Des Gardius- a monster with nearly double the attack strength of Harpie Lady.

“How is Mai supposed to defeat that without her Harpie Sisters and Phoenix Formation?” Emi’s eyes practically bulged out their sockets.

“I’m not sure, but she will need to think of something quickly if she has any hope of winning this duel.”

Mai’s face looked as determined as ever as she played Graceful Charity. After discarding two of the three cards she drew, she summoned Amazoness Fighter in attack mode. 

“Amazoness Fighter is even weaker than Harpie Lady. What do you suppose she plans to do with that monster?” You turned to Emi.

“The Amazon cards have close relationships with the Harpie cards, they mesh well together. Mai must have a magic card she plans to use”, Emi replied as she thought back on previous duels of Mai’s that she broadcasted.

As it turned out, Emi knew enough about Mai’s dueling strategies to call it correctly. Mai played Amazoness Spellcaster to swap the attack strength of Amazoness Fighter and Masked Beast Des Guardius, allowing her to destroy Marik’s monster. With his monster out of the way and no magic or traps to save him, Harpie Lady was able to finish Marik off.

“Never estimate the strength of girl power!”, you shouted exuberantly.

“We know a little something about that now don’t we?” Emi beamed at you.

You smirked back at her and bumped your shoulder to hers gently, “Hell yeah we do!”

This time, both duelists agreed to post-game interviews. A wobbly, unspoken truce between the two rivals despite the grievances caused by their first Battle City duel. “That was an intense duel you two!”, Emi declared, “It really seemed like Marik had you pegged several times, Mai. How did you end up surprising him in the end?”

“A lady never reveals her secrets, Emi”, Mai wagged her finger and winked. “I’ve never ran from big, scary monsters before, and I won’t start now in my last tournament.”

“We know your daughters are watching you Mai, I am sure they are incredibly proud of both their parents. Is there anything you would like to say to them- and to any other young ladies looking to make their marks in the dueling world?” you asked, barely stopping yourself from choking up with happy tears.

Mai looked straight at the camera, the determination and ferocity of a lioness in her gaze, “Dueling is not just a boys game, girls; don’t let them have all the fun. And NEVER let anyone stand in the way of your dreams!”

You had to blink several times to compose yourself. Mai had always been an idol to you, the first woman to shatter the glass ceiling for girls in dueling by being the first woman to enter tournament play. To be able to call her a friend now meant the world to you.

Turning to Marik, you begin his interview, “You certainly proved why you were the runner-up for Battle City 20 years ago; your ability to strategize is comparable to the King of Games himself! Are you thinking this will be your last duel or will we see you again in tournament play?”

Marik chuckled, “Why thank you, Y/N, it is an honor to be competing amongst many of the world’s fiercest dueling competitors. But, I’m afraid, this is the last duel I will partake in professionally. I am officially hanging up my cards to pursue other opportunities in life.”

“Could you tell us what those ‘other opportunities’ are?” Emi questioned.

Marik just smiled softly to himself, the kind of smile that someone has when they are thinking of a happy memory or a fond secret. “See the world… and finally give love a chance.”

“Well, we wish you the best of luck in your retirement Marik”, you grin. “We now go to break as the final duel of the first round of the Battle City Reunion- Kaiba vs. Ishizu Ishtar- begins shortly.”

Before Mai can walk away, you quickly wrap her in a hug. “Thank you, for being so inspiring,” you whisper-sob into her shoulder. 

Mai chuckled lightly and hugged you back, “No- thank YOU. Because of you, my girls- and countless others- are seeing that their dreams can be realized no matter what anyone else says. Thank you for never giving up on yourself Y/N.”

You both unravel from each other’s embrace slowly and wipe tears from your eyes. As Mai walks away to find her husband and friends, you lock yourself in the bathroom to clean the evidence of your tears off your face. Before exiting, you give your reflection a smile and a nod of encouragement. You never thought of yourself as a role model before, but you’d be damned if you let the Wheeler girls- or the little girl you used to be- down.

As you were walking back to the broadcast booth, you noticed a certain leather-clad Slenderman speaking with Emi in a hushed tone. Based on the guilty look on her face, you guessed this was the ass-chewing she was nervous about when you joined the duelists for lunch. You clenched your jaw and held your head high as you approached them, still determined not to let him intimidate you. Sapphire eyes turned to you, narrowing when they honed in on your face, “Have you been crying?”

“Yes,” you answer in a clipped tone.

“Why?”

“Because I am not emotionally constipated. I like to express my feelings in various ways, including emitting salty liquid from the ducts in the corner of my eyes. I recommend you try expressing yours in any way but a scowl sometime.” You crossed your arms as you held eye-contact with your boss.

Kaiba scoffed, “I suggest you get your shit together. And remember that you are a professional whose job it is to be impartial while calling the duels; you aren’t supposed to have friends. Hence the reason why I keep my employees separate from the contestants at events like this.” His eyes slid back over to Emi who looked down in shame. 

Hell no, he was NOT going to shame Emi in front of you!

“Does it hurt?” you cocked your head to the side slightly.

“What?” he asked, confused by the question.

“That stick up your ass- does it hurt?” you raised a brow at him.

The brunet growled, “Just do your fucking job. And keep your pathetic feelings out of it.” His voice dropped low- dangerous.

You stepped up to him, nearly bumping into his chest to show you would not be discouraged. You were so close, you could feel his body heat and you were forced to look practically straight up to meet his eyes. “Well, sorry we can’t all be narcissistic sociopaths like you”, you put as much venom into your voice as you could muster.

Isono called for Kaiba to make his way over to the dueling platform, the CEO spent a few more seconds glaring down at you before bumping past you to take his place for the duel. You turned to shoot daggers at his back until the producer called for you to take your place as well.

You gave Emi a concerned look, “Hey, you alright?”

She answered you with a small smile, “Yea, it’s never fun to be reprimanded. But, at least I am still here.”

You scowl at the ground, hating how thankful she sounded at simply keeping her hard-earned job.

“Hey”, Emi bumped you to get your attention, You reluctantly looked back up at her.

“Kaiba may be stern, but he’s not cruel.” You could only stare at her incredulously, you couldn’t believe she was defending the jackass. 

Unfortunately, you didn’t get much time to digest her words when the countdown to show-time began. Your eyes floated over to where the man responsible for your ire stood proud, like a king standing atop his subjects. This time, you didn’t need to control your breathing to keep your nerves in check; this time, you let the adrenaline pump through your veins freely and smirked at the camera.

“Welcome back as we kick-off the final duel of the first round of the Battle City Reunion. Emi, this particular duel may possibly resemble a lovers quarrel; with long-time speculated couple Seto Kaiba and Ishizu Ishtar duking it out in a re-match of their first and only duel 20 years ago. Would you say love could be in the air tonight?” You turn to Emi expectantly. Her eyes were blown wide, everyone knew that Kaiba hated it when tabloids would theorize over his relationship with the Egyptian woman. Although they often attended socialite parties and fundraisers together, the media had never caught them out casually with each other. Anytime that either one was questioned about their relationship, they would simply say “no comment” and cut the interview short or even not respond at all and walk away. 

Bringing their mysterious history up on camera during their duel was the perfect ammunition to get under the pompous asshole’s skin.

Emi laughed a bit awkwardly as she tried to think of a way to steer the conversation away from the subject of her boss’ love life. “I don’t know about that Y/N. But I am sure many fans are excited to watch the famous CEO put on a show with his signature flair.” The camera cut away to the duel and you relented to Emi’s re-direction of the broadcast. However, you could sense the tension between you now and caught a glimpse of a stank-eye she sent your way. 

Ishizu began by setting Kelbek in attack mode, then setting two cards face-down. “Would you say that Ishizu follows the Ishtar strategy of secrecy?” Emi asked you.

You hummed, “It seems the apples fell close together.”

Kaiba played Vorse Raider and destroyed Kelbek; with Kelbek’s special effect, Vorse Raider returned to Kaiba’s hand. He then placed two cards face-down before ending his turn.

“What is the strategy behind allowing your own monster to be destroyed, but sending your opponent’s back to their hand?” You asked Emi.

“It left Kaiba open for an attack, he was forced to place two magic cards on the field since his monster is no longer able to protect him.”

Ishizu summoned Mudora, then flipped over her Card Destruction magic card- forcing both her and Kaiba to send their entire hands to the graveyard. “We will need to watch how many fairy cards Ishizu just discarded; Mudora gains 200 attack points for each fairy that gets sent to her graveyard”, Emi described Ishizu’s tactics. 

“Looks like she just sent two to her graveyard, plus the Kelbek that Kaiba destroyed earlier. So, that makes 600 additional attack points get added to Mudora”, you added up for the audience.

Ishizu sent her monster after Kaiba, but he was prepared as he revealed his trap card, Shadow Spell. Murdora lost 700 attack points and was rendered completely useless. “One thing you can count on- Kaiba will always appear one step ahead of his competition.”

You hummed dryly, “Not against everyone.”

Kaiba summoned Kaiser Sea Horse onto the field, then used its special ability to summon Different Dimension Dragon which he attacked Mudora with. Ishizu then revealed her second face-down card- Blast Held by a Tribute.

“It seems Ishizu knows Kaiba pretty well, perhaps he isn’t one step ahead afterall. He loses 1,000 lifepoints with that trap”, you smile smugly.

“I wouldn’t be so sure”, Emi deadpanned back. As if on cue, Kaiba revealed his second face-down card to be Ring of Defense which saved his lifepoints. You frowned in annoyance at his escape. Kaiba then placed 2 more cards face-down before turning it back over to Ishizu.

The raven-haired beauty played Finite Cards, capping the number of cards her and Kaiba could have in their hands at three. “No doubt, she is trying to slow Kaiba down. The less cards he has access to, the less dangerous he is.” Emi hummed her agreement with you. Two more fairy monsters went to a graveyard before she summoned her second Mudora- whose attack was now at 2700 points. Mudora then destroyed Different Dimension Dragon. “Do you think the tournament host is starting to sweat a bit?”

Your partner shook her head, “No, Kaiba is unbelievably calm under pressure. That and- based on his face-down cards- he has a plan.” 

The master of strategy did,in fact, have a plan after all. On his next turn, Kaiba summoned Lord of D. Then, he flipped over his Flute of Dragon Summoning; with it, he summoned the two remaining cards in his hand- two of his Blue Eyes White Dragons. Your jaw dropped, “You mean to tell me that he was lucky enough to have the three cards necessary to summon two of his Blue Eyes in one turn in his hand?!”

Emi chuckled at your consternation, “I told you he had a plan!”

“Well, he is still missing one dragon”, you pouted. The bastard was just lucky.

It finally seemed like his luck ran out when Ishizu equipped Mudora with Cestus of Dagla, which gave her monster another 500 attack points- raising them to 3200. “She has enough firepower to take out Blue Eyes!” you shouted in awe.

Emi, both a veteran duelcaster and an expert Kaiba strategist, looked to his remaining face-down card expectantly. Just when it looked like Ishizu would wipe out the first dragon, the brunet played Negate Attack and saved his precious monster. 

Damn it! Why can’t this pretentious prick just take a hit?!

“If I know Kaiba, I believe we will be seeing his third Blue Eyes”, Emi looked at you coyly.

“What? How? He can only draw a single card! How would he summon it without a tribute?” you were confused. 

She giggled, “His deck is full of ways to summon his three favorite cards.”

The card Kaiba drew was Pot of Greed (because of course it was). You held your breath as he drew his final two cards. His face remained stoic as he played Monster Reborn- and used it to bring back the Blue Eyes that Ishizu made him send to the graveyard when she played Card Destruction. All you could do was watch in disbelief. He then played the second card and you felt like you must've entered some alternate reality because no way a person was this good at simply drawing cards. He slapped down Polymerization and brought forth his ultimate monster- Blue Eyes Ultimate Dragon.

“I told you so!” 

If you weren’t so shocked, you’d have rolled your eyes.

There was, sadly, nothing Ishizu could do as her strategy of limiting Kaiba’s cards backfired on her; there was nothing in her hand to save herself. She watched as his Ultimate Dragon destroyed her monster and ended the duel.

Both Kaiba and Ishizu declined the post-duel interview, quickly going their separate ways and leaving you and Emi to close out the first round.

“The first round of the Battle City Reunion- showing us that every duel is unique no matter how often the duelists have battled against each other before. We saw some exciting twists and heroic comebacks! I’ll tell you what, Y/N, I cannot wait to see more tomorrow!” 

“Tomorrow is going to be another thrilling day of dueling for sure! The stage is set- the first duel will be Yugi Muto vs. Mai Valentine followed by Seto Kaiba vs. Joey Wheeler. We will then end the day- and this tournament- with the Reunion Final tomorrow night. The question on everyone’s mind- who will win it all? Will the King of Games retire with his crown? Will the underdog finally come out on top? Will a woman take the world title for the first time ever? Or will the runner-up finally defeat his arch rival? We will find out tomorrow, see you then from the Battle City Reunion!” You closed out with a huge grin. 

You fucking did it, you signed off on your first day as an official duelcaster!

As you moved to face Emi, you felt her grab your arm and pull you off to the side; her grip was borderline painful as she sped to get you out of earshot of the producers. When she finally had you both in a secluded corner of the platform, she turned to you with a hiss “What the hell was that?!”

You cocked your head confused, “Huh? What are you talking about?”

She put her hands up in exasperation, “You can’t just go digging up personal information on the competitors! We are supposed to be professionals, Y/N. I don’t know what vendetta you have against Kaiba, but you need to get your shit together before tomorrow!”

You winced, finally seeing how childish you behaved during Kaiba’s duel. Emi was right, you needed to remain professional. When you didn’t argue, your partner continued, “I thought you said you weren’t going to let him get to you, but attacking him with the rumors of his relationship status on national television shows that he got so far under your skin that he’s living in your chest.”

You sat there in silence for a bit, letting her words sink in. She was right, you let him get to you after all.

Emi took a deep breath, “You told me we have the chance to change the game for women in duelcasting; if you really want to do that, then you need to be on your A-game. No more petty remarks because you are pissy with the boss. I think you need to remember who gave you your big break. Trust me, if Kaiba didn’t want you here, you wouldn’t be.”

She turned to you with the look of a parent or coach scolding a child knowing they could be better and echoed your words, “Being a part of this means working with Seto Kaiba and all that entails; I suggest you get on board with that, or jump ship now. I’ll see you tomorrow.” With that, she left you to stew in your guilt alone. 

You took a deep breath. She was right, of course, you needed to let your grudge against the cocky CEO go and be the best duelcaster you could be. At least you could redeem yourself tomorrow-

“L/N! My office- NOW!”

-or maybe not. You let out a long sigh before following Slenderman to your doom.

[tayraedoll]

“Mine, Always”

contains content that is NSFW; minors please do not interact

You didn’t have to look up to know he was there.

That subtle static in the air. The sensation of being watched—like a predator circling his favorite prize. You smiled to yourself, flipping a page.

“Staring again, Al?” you asked lazily, eyes still on your book.

A soft chuckle, smooth as molasses. “And if I am, my dear?” he replied, voice blooming from behind you. “You are a rather captivating sight.”

You looked up just as he strolled into view, cane tapping rhythmically, that ever-present grin curled across his face. He wore his usual tailored red suit—but the way his eyes dragged down your form made you feel like you were wearing far less.

“It's the third time tonight you've hovered like a creeper,” you teased, raising a brow. “Should I be flattered, or concerned?”

“Oh, flattered,” Alastor purred, seating himself beside you with uncanny grace. His arm draped behind the couch, fingers resting just near your shoulder—not quite touching. “Deeply flattered. After all, I could be haunting anyone in this miserable hotel, and yet… I remain hopelessly drawn to you.”

You leaned into his space slightly, a smirk forming. “Hopelessly, huh?”

“Tragically,” he replied with exaggerated flair, one hand pressing to his chest as if wounded. “I fear I’ve been bewitched. Completely and utterly possessed—by a sharp-tongued temptress who insists on teasing me instead of letting me devour her whole.”

You laughed softly. “Alastor.”

“What?” he asked innocently, though his eyes gleamed with something far more devilish. “It’s not my fault you’re so delectable. You make it very hard to behave.”

His fingers finally grazed your arm, light and deliberate. The touch was possessive, but gentle—like a warning and a promise.

“You know,” he added, voice dropping lower, “I could always put the book down for you. I’d much rather have your attention than those dusty old legends.”

You looked at him from beneath your lashes. “Getting jealous of a book now?”

“Jealous?” He scoffed playfully. “No. I just prefer being the one to put that particular look on your face.”

That made your breath catch.

He leaned in, lips brushing just beside your ear—not quite kissing, not quite innocent.

“Shall we go somewhere… quieter?” he murmured.

You barely had time to answer before Alastor stood, extending a hand with a sly tilt of his head. That ever-persistent static hummed faintly around him, the room seeming to grow quieter—more focused.

“Come now, sweetheart,” he said, voice smooth and rich. “Let’s steal a moment for ourselves, before I lose my very fragile self-control…”

You rolled your eyes, smirking as you slipped your hand into his. “You? Fragile? Please.”

His grin widened, but he said nothing—just gave your hand a kiss that lingered a little too long to be innocent. Then, with a dramatic swoop of his arm and that eerie grace of his, he guided you up a winding staircase into one of the more secluded suites in the hotel. One he always kept pristine, eerie, and oddly romantic… just for the two of you.

The door creaked shut behind you with a whispering click.

The room was bathed in a low red glow from a stained-glass lamp. Velvet curtains swayed slightly, though no windows were open. Everything smelled faintly of old wood, smoke, and something warm that clung to him.

Alastor turned to face you fully, eyes gleaming.

“You know,” he said as he stepped closer, his voice dropping into something far more intimate, “you’re the only creature in all of Hell who could lure me away from the thrill of chaos. How dreadfully charming of you.”

You raised an eyebrow. “Are you saying you’d rather be causing mayhem?”

He closed the distance, one hand cupping your cheek, the other resting against the door behind you, caging you in. “Oh, make no mistake—I live for mayhem.” His grin curled wider. “But this… you… are a much more exquisite distraction.”

The closeness made your breath catch again—but this time, you didn’t look away.

Your hands slid slowly up his chest, feeling the fabric of his vest beneath your fingertips. “You’re being awfully sweet tonight. Should I be suspicious?”

“Oh, darling,” he murmured, voice dipping into something low and possessive, “you should always be suspicious.”

Then he kissed you—deep, lingering, and deliberate.

Not rushed. Not playful.

Claiming.

The static around you buzzed louder for a moment, then softened into something warm, almost like a purr. His gloved hand slid down your spine, slow and deliberate, as if relearning a body he already knew by heart.

When he finally pulled back, just barely, his voice was a whisper against your lips:

“Now… where were we?”

Alastor’s lips hovered over yours, barely apart, his breath cool and smooth against your skin. One hand still rested at your lower back, gloved fingers pressing just enough to make you feel it through your clothes. The other slid up, brushing your jaw with reverence.

You reached up and gently pulled him back in, your kiss soft but wanting, and he responded immediately—his restraint thinning like thread stretched too tight.

This wasn’t like the usual teasing.

No jokes. No grinning interruptions.

Just Alastor.

Focused. Intent. Hungry—but in the quiet, deliberate way he always had when it came to you. The kind of hunger that said you’re mine, and I don’t have to rush to prove it.

When he kissed you again, it deepened—slow, deliberate, with a low hum of static vibrating through his chest and into yours. You moaned softly against his mouth, your body arching toward him, fingers curling into the collar of his coat.

He chuckled darkly against your lips. “Ah, there she is,” he murmured. “My darling little flame…”

You weren’t sure when he’d started guiding you backward, but your legs hit the edge of the velvet chaise lounge behind you, and you let yourself fall into it—Alastor following with slow, catlike grace. His cane clattered to the floor. He didn’t care.

Kneeling before you, he leaned in until his forehead rested against yours, his voice low, electric, intimate.

“You have no idea what you do to me,” he whispered. “Every smile… every touch… it burns. And yet, I come back to it again and again.”

You slid your fingers into his hair, tugging lightly. “Then stop talking,” you whispered. “Show me.”

His red eyes flashed, but instead of pouncing like a wild thing, he leaned in slower—his hands trailing down your arms, your waist, then your thighs, memorizing every line. Every movement was full of purpose. No rush. Just attention. Worship.

Alastor kissed your neck, lingering at your pulse, his lips cool but growing warmer with each breath. He whispered between kisses, each word darker, deeper.

“Mine… always mine…”

His gloved hands slipped beneath the hem of your shirt, fingertips teasing the skin beneath with maddening patience.

You gasped softly, back arching, and he groaned in response—not because of power or chaos or the thrill of violence.

But because of you.

Because you let him in.

Because you wanted him.

Because you loved him—and he, in his own twisted, reverent way, loved you right back.

The air between you turned thick with heat and static as he began to ease you down fully against the chaise, his body lowering with yours, one hand finding yours, fingers lacing together.

“I’m not gentle, darling,” he whispered, lips brushing yours again. “But for you… I learned.”

His lips ghosted over your skin like a secret—never rushed, never careless. Every brush, every breath was filled with intention, like he was savoring a rare melody only he could hear.

You.

Alastor didn’t worship gods. But in the way he touched you now, you'd think he'd found one in your body—every curve, every sound you made under his hands.

The static in the room buzzed higher, then softened like silk sliding across bare skin. He kissed you like he’d never get another chance.

He undressed you slowly, almost reverently, whispering praises against your skin with every inch he uncovered.

“Darling… exquisite… mine.”

And when he finally claimed you, there was no frenzy. No madness.

Just heat. Depth. A quiet, consuming hunger that pulled you under and wrapped you in him completely.

You tangled together like two creatures built to fit—fingers clutching, mouths searching, bodies pressing in perfect, desperate rhythm. He held you close the entire time, always touching, always murmuring your name like a spell. And you gave yourself to him, fully, without hesitation—because you knew he would never let go.

Not even death could unmake what you had.

The room dissolved into red haze, soft moans, and warm breath shared between your lips. Everything blurred into feeling, into movement, into want.

Until all that remained was the sound of your heartbeat syncing with the soft hum of radio static.

[tayraedoll]

posting your fic on AO3 like

[tayraedoll]

Reblog to let your followers know that despite your current obsession your previous obsessions still exist and are simply lying dormant until they awaken and strike again

[tayraedoll]

they went off with this

[tayraedoll]

Spicy Dialogue Starters Pack

Slow Burn That’s About to Explode

"If you keep looking at me like that, I’m going to do something we’ll both regret."

"Say that again. Slower."

"You really like testing my patience, don’t you?"

"Back up. Closer. I want to see if you’ll actually do it."

"Do you realize how loud you were moaning my name last night?"

"You should probably stop touching me like that... unless you plan on finishing what you started."

"We’re not doing this here." – "Why not? Scared you’ll like it?"

"I dare you. No, seriously—I dare you."

"One bed. One night. You sure you can behave?"

"You think I won’t?" – "I know you will. That’s the problem."

Enemies to Lovers, but We’re Both Hot and Unhinged

"If I kiss you, it’s not because I like you. It’s because you won’t shut up."

"Do it. Touch me like you hate me."

"You’re infuriating." – "And you’re turned on."

"Careful. You’re starting to sound jealous."

"Admit it. You like it when we fight."

"You want me. You just don’t want to want me."

"If you’re going to stare, you might as well do something about it."

"Say it. Say you want me." – "Why? You’ll just use it against me."

"Keep talking like that and I’ll kiss you right here."

"Don’t tempt me." – "What if I want to?"

Post-Tension Intimacy (A.K.A. We Finally Snapped)

"You're shaking." – "So are you."

"This doesn’t mean anything." – "Then why are you holding me like that?"

"I’ve wanted this since the moment I met you."

"You're not getting any sleep tonight, just so you know."

"You're mine now. Say it."

"God, you feel so good." – "Yeah? Then shut up and keep going."

"You can hate me in the morning. Just… let me have this tonight."

"Is this what you wanted?" – "No. I wanted more."

"Don’t stop. Don’t you dare stop."

"I’m going to ruin you. And you’re going to thank me for it."

Teasing Touch, Dangerous Proximity

"You’re blushing." – "Shut up."

"That shirt’s doing you no favors. Take it off."

"If you wanted me to kiss you, you could’ve just said so."

"I like the way you say my name. Say it again."

"You’re standing really close." – "Yeah? You gonna move?"

"I can feel your heartbeat. Is that for me?"

"Your hands are shaking... here, let me help you."

"Careful. Someone might think you actually want me."

"You know exactly what you’re doing to me, don’t you?"

"We’re not supposed to do this." – "Since when has that ever stopped us?"

Voice Low, Words Barely Whispers

"Keep your voice down. Or don’t. Let them hear."

"Every time you talk, all I can think about is your mouth on mine."

"Say the word, and I’ll have you against that wall in five seconds."

"What do you think happens if I kiss you right now?"

"You smell like trouble." – "You taste like it."

"Look me in the eyes when you lie like that."

"One more step and I won’t be able to hold back."

"If you keep teasing me like that, I’m going to ruin you."

"Tell me to stop." – silence – "Didn’t think so."

"We’re alone now. You still pretending this is just tension?"

Hot-Headed, Argument-Laced, About to Snap

"Why do you always have to push my buttons?" – "Because I love watching you lose control."

"You think you’re in control here? That’s cute."

"You're not walking away from me. Not this time."

"God, you're impossible." – "You didn’t seem to mind last night."

"Say it louder. Maybe if you scream my name again, I’ll believe you."

"Keep pretending you don’t want me. I’ll keep proving you wrong."

"You're dangerous." – "Only if you ask nicely."

"Is this still an argument or are we just flirting with knives now?"

"Admit it. You love it when I get like this."

"Don’t act like you don’t want this too."

[tayraedoll]

Ma Meilleure Ennemie- Chapter 3- Brief Encounters

Series Masterlist

It's the night of the dinner party and the gang is all here!

TW: Swearing

“Now Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon, attack with Neutron Blast!”

“Oh, it’s too bad Yugi has tricks of his own, pulling magicians out of his ass like his deck is a damn magical hat”, you snicker into your bathroom mirror. You were determined to make it a good day. You started it off by diving into your homework, watching the video footage of every duel from the original Battle City Tournament. You had to admit, watching Kaiba lose in his own tournament gave you a wave of satisfaction after your tense encounter the day before. Now, you were talking to yourself in the mirror as you got ready for the dinner party.

You carefully tied the corset back of your gown into a neat bow, wanting everything to be perfect again tonight- absolutely certain that not everyone would be in a fucking pantsuit again. You wore a baby-blue mermaid-style dress with a high slit going up your right thigh. Delicate lace flowers decorated the bodice with sequins giving the dress a beautiful shimmer in the light. A matching baby-blue, jeweled hairclip held your hair in a neat bun at the back of your head. You’d kept your jewelry minimal, only some small diamond studs for earrings and a diamond necklace on a thin, silver chain. You nodded at your reflection looking both professional and flirty, a perfect combination for your job as a duelcaster. Glancing at your phone, you noted your cab should be here in a few minutes; you slipped on your silver heels and grabbed your clutch before heading out the door. 

Your thumb tapped anxiously on your clutch the entire way to the reception venue, you’d bite your lip but didn’t want to ruin your lip gloss. You wondered if you’d have to face Kaiba again today, or if you could manage to skirt around him. But is that what you wanted? Wouldn’t it be better if he did notice you? After the previous day’s encounter, you weren’t sure if it would be better to be remembered or completely forgotten by the man.

When you reached the venue, your jaw nearly dropped to the floor. The building reminded you of what The Parthenon would have looked like back in its glory days. Heading inside, the floors were all sleek, white marble that echoed with every click of your heels. The banquet hall was much more modern and sleek, everything was white from the tablecloths to the walls. The ceiling had purple inlaid lights with the central point being a large chandelier consisting of three rings of crystal. Buffet tables with finger foods and a bar lined one wall, while tables were set up on the other side of the room. At the very center of the space was a DJ and open area for everyone to mingle together in. Waiters dressed in tuxedos walked around with glasses of champagne, you quickly swiped a glass for yourself as you took everything in. You felt like a fish out of water not knowing anyone else; you spotted Emi seated at a table speaking with a few of the other duelcasters you recognized from yesterday. You really wished she had been more accepting of you, it would have made expanding your network like Leo suggested you do so much easier.

With a heavy sigh, you roll your shoulders back and stand up a bit straighter, trying to give yourself a little confidence boost. You make your way over to the finger foods and grab an assortment of your favorite snacks before parking yourself along the wall to the side to people-watch. You recognized several duelists amongst the crowd- OG duelists like Rex Raptor and Weevil Underwood, even more recent champions like Jaden Yuki. 

You stood there, digging into your appetizers- damn, the coconut shrimp was fucking amazing- when a voice caught your attention.

“- stationed at their assignments. Area secured.” Isono spoke softly but with authority to no one in particular- he must have a hidden microphone somewhere. You watched as he exited the main room through a glass french door at the back. Placing your empty plate on a nearby table, you make your way over to walk through the same door after the man. You had a question you desperately wanted an answer to.

Upon exiting through the set of doors, you found yourself on a balcony overlooking the city. Isono leaned over the balcony railing, gazing out at the city skyline as the sun set behind the skyscrapers. “Miss L/N”, he greeted you even though he never turned to see who it was that joined him on the balcony.

You walk over and place your hands on the railing, both of you watching the sunset. “Your security detail must be well-hidden. Working undercover?”

The man hummed back, “The Kaibas believe in a certain inconspicuousness; having security out in the open tends to make people uneasy. We keep our presence on the down-low, but we are always around.”

You nodded and continued to stare out at the skyline, gathering your thoughts as your thumb tapped on the railing. Isono waited patiently, he knew you didn’t come out here just to ask about security measures. Finally, you sigh and turn to face him, “Why did you do it? Why did you allow me to be hired knowing I didn’t have experience?”

Isono was silent for a while, each second that went by without him answering made your heart pound faster. “Because you were right, your career was unfairly stagnated by someone who did not want to see you succeed. I believe it is about time you were given the opportunity denied you for so long.” He turned to you with a smile on his face as he placed a hand on your shoulder, “And I believe you'll be good for him.” With that, he made his way to the door to head back inside, leaving you reeling from his confession. 

“What does that mean?”, you whisper softly, then turn around and shout louder, “Isono, what does that mean?!”

He never gave you an answer, you watched as the door shut behind him leaving you alone on the balcony. You huff and turn back to the city view, what did he mean by that last statement?

You were just getting ready to push off the railing to head back inside when you heard the door open and close behind you. You hoped it was Isono returning to explain himself, you turned to confront him only for your eyes to widen and mouth go dry when you saw who really came out on the balcony. 

His shoulder-length hair was slicked back, he wore a purple dress shirt under a grey jacket with a navy blue tie. A bright smile stretched across his face as he approached you.

“Hey! You’re the duelcaster from Duelist America- F/N L/N right?” he stretched a hand out towards you to shake. 

You take a shaky inhale and smile back at him as you take his hand, “Mr. Kaiba, pleasure to make your acquaintance.”

He scoffs, “Please, Mr. Kaiba is my older brother. Just call me Mokuba. So, how are you enjoying the tournament so far?” Mokuba leaned against the railing with a soft smile, giving you his undivided attention.

“Well, Kaiba Corp certainly knows how to throw a party!”, you giggle. Your smile drops slightly, “And uhh, everyone seems very nice.” You turn back to the skyline, the sun now completely set and the city lights beginning to twinkle in the distance. “Your brother especially”, you tack on snarkily.

Mokuba chuckles, “Don’t take it personally, it’s not you he doesn’t like. Seto just doesn’t like things to be out of his control, and your arrival was a last minute change that he had no control over. He’ll get over it, I promise.”

You smiled at him, it felt nice to finally have a friendly interaction with someone besides Isono. You clear your throat, “So uh, about yesterday- sorry I wasn’t dressed for the occasion. I mean, I knew the dress code was strict, but I didn’t know suits were a meeting requirement.” You look down, cheeks heating up in embarrassment. 

The younger Kaiba rolls his eyes, “They aren’t, everyone just wears them because that’s what Seto wears all the time. I’ve been trying to convince my brother to get rid of that stupid dress code for years. You looked great yesterday, it was honestly a breath of fresh air.” He looked you up and down, a cocky smirk replacing his friendly smile, “In fact, feel free to break dress code anytime you want.”

Your entire face was on fire now, you had heard that the Kaiba Corp VP was a flirt, you just never expected it to be aimed at you. Just then, a cool breeze swept over the balcony, making you shiver and rub your arms. You’d been out here for a while and the temperature was cooling rapidly now that the sun was set. Mokuba extended his arm out for you to take, “Come on, I’ll introduce you to everyone else!” You place your hand in the crook of Mokuba’s elbow and let him lead you back inside. 

You expected the Vice President to lead you to the table where your co-workers were sitting, NOT the table where the Final 8 were gathered! You recognized Yugi Muto first, his hair was hard to miss. He wore a grey shirt under a black suit jacket, the grey tie was looped around in a rather intricate knot and he was not wearing his signature choker. Beside him was his fiancé, Tea Gardner, who was wearing a gorgeous pink, knee-length dress with a high collar. Next was Joey Wheeler and his wife Mai Valentine- Joey was wearing a classic tuxedo with a bow tie and Mai was in an elegant purple mermaid gown with a high thigh slit. The recognizable snow-white hair of Bakura Ryou sat amongst the three people you guessed were the infamous “cheerleaders” of the squad- Tristan, Serenity, and Duke. Finally, rounding out the table, were the three finalists from Egypt- Odion, Ishizu, and Marik. The only person missing was the CEO of Kaiba Corp. 

As you approached the table, you could feel your palms starting to sweat; you felt wholly unprepared to be conversing with a handful of the world’s best duelists! Your heart felt like it was about to jump out of your chest as Mokuba stopped at the table, “Hey guys! I’d like you to meet our newest duelcaster- F/N L/N.” You swallowed thickly, mustering up your best smile before waving at the intimidating group of celebrities before you.

“Nice to meet you Y/N!” Yugi was the first to greet you, his eyes were honest and expression kind.

“It’s nice to meet you all too! Not gonna lie, this kind of feels like a fever dream”, you chuckle nervously, face flaring up again. Light-hearted laughter rang out around the table, the group clearly used to people fangirling/boying over them. 

“Say Y/N, why don’t you pull up a seat? We don’t bite- well, except for Duke anyways”, Joey piped up while shooting a glare towards the man with the ponytail. 

Duke shrugged, a devilish smirk forming on his lips as he appraised you, “What can I say? I see something delicious and I can’t help but take a nibble.” 

Tristan punched Duke in the arm “Dude!”

You laugh as you and Mokuba pull out two chairs and join the group. Holy fucking shit, I am sitting between the VP of Kaiba Corp and The King of Games! Oh, if Leo could just see me right now! Mokuba grabbed two champagne glasses from a passing waiter and handed one to you. You're grateful that holding the glass gives you something to do with your hands to keep them from trembling nervously.

“So, Y/N, where are you from?” Tea turned to you.

“I’ve been working as a reporter in Chicago for Duelist America for the last several years”, you give her a soft smile.

“Ooh Chicago! I took a job at Goodman Theatre early in my career; I absolutely loved the Windy City. I’d love to visit it again sometime! Plus I’ve been craving a Chicago Dog!” Tea giggled.

“UGH, now that you say that, I could really go for a Chicago Dog right about now”, you whine back at her.

“Alright ladies, let’s move on before you have the boys chomping at the bit before dinner is even served,” Mai interrupts, “So, a reporter huh? Interview anyone good?”

You look down and chew the inside of your cheek, “Not really, I mostly just worked regional championships. Nothing major. However, I did just interview an old friend of yours- Bandit Keith says hello.”

“WHAT?! You interviewed Bandit Keith?! What did that no-good, dirty, rotten cheat say?” Joey narrowed his eyes, hand clenched into a fist.

A dry chuckle rises in your throat, “Oh, he just talked about how you were all good pals. Then, he proceeded to tell me that the only reason he wasn’t invited to Battle City was because you were all too afraid to go up against his machines.”

“WHY I OUGHTA…!!” Joey hit his fist into his opposite hand. Yugi and Tea exchanged annoyed looks while Mokuba rolled his eyes.

You twirled your champagne glass dramatically, “Don’t worry, I reiterated to him that no one has been afraid of him since the embarrassment he suffered at Duelist Kingdom.” You smile as you take a sip of your drink.

Laughs were shared around the table once again at your remark. “I like you, you’ve got guts girl”, Mai gave you a wink.

You were starting to feel better, getting more comfortable being around this group of superstars.

“I don’t remember opening this table up to guests.”

Shit.. so much for getting comfortable. Your blood runs cold at the familiar, baritone voice behind you. You slowly turn your head to find one Seto Kaiba side-eyeing you as he took his seat on the other side of Mokuba. 

“Or pests for that matter.”

Oh, FUCK this guy!

“Hey listen Rich Boy, I invited Y/N to sit with us. So just lay off alright?” Joey came to your defense.

Kaiba smirked back at him, “Inviting a plus one while here with your wife? Didn’t take you for that type of guy Wheeler.”

“Watch it Kaiba”, Joey growled at the brunet.

Beside you, Yugi sighed, “Good to see old habits die hard.”

“Cool it guys, I brought Y/N over here, so she can just count as my plus one”, Mokuba rested his arm along the back of your chair and smiled at you reassuringly. The situation seemed a bit ridiculous, you felt like the new kid in school sitting at the “cool” kid table at lunch.

Not one to deny his brother anything, Kaiba just rolled his eyes, “Whatever.”

Dinner started off a bit tense, but quickly relaxed as drinks flowed. You took this time to observe how the duelists around you interacted with each other. Yugi and Joey were definitely the most talkative, an obvious factoid given their close and decades-long friendship. The Egyptian finalists kept mostly to themselves, preferring to listen to the chatter rather than partake in it. The detail that surprised you the most was how Yugi seemed to be the most comfortable with Kaiba, as if they hadn’t spent the last two decades in an intense rivalry with each other.  There was still an air of camaraderie even with the occasional banter; these people had known each other for years and each one was noticeably bonded with the rest of the tight-knit group. 

You made more conversation with Tea, Mai, and Serenity; all three women were incredibly sweet and strangely supportive of you even though you had just met them. Duke made flirtatious comments throughout dinner but they remained tasteful and never crossed the line into creepy so you just laughed them off. You found that Bakura shared your love of spooky things like Halloween, horror movies, and the occult. Even though you didn’t really practice anything, you still found it fascinating. 

Every so often, you would feel eyes on you; in your peripheral, you’d catch glimpses of Kaiba looking you over but he’d turn away when your own eyes would flicker towards him. You took the opportunity to look the CEO over, he wore a platinum silver suit with a light blue tie and white dress shirt. Your first thought was: really? Trying to embody your favorite card? But then you looked down at yourself, your dress nearly matching the blue of Kaiba’s tie perfectly. Of the two Kaiba brothers, you looked more like the older sibling’s date rather than the younger’s. 

“I’m finally going to do it Rich Boy, “Joey’s voice broke through your train of thought, “I’ll finally beat you this tournament.”

Kaiba scoffed, “In your dreams Mutt. Unless you have something stronger than that pathetic Red Eyes, I’m afraid our duel will end the same way they always have- with me crushing you.”

“Oh yea? Well maybe I’ve been working on my strategy and I’ve come up with a little surprise even you won’t be prepared for”, Joey rested his arms behind his head as he reclined back in his chair with a smirk. 

The brunet chuckles, “Well, I’m afraid your efforts have been in vain Wheeler; it is highly unlikely we will face each other in this reunion. This time, I WILL make it to the finals and face Yugi like I should have 20 years ago.”

“Oh yea?” the blonde interjects, “And we all know how that will end too. With Yugi creaming you just like he always has!”

You couldn’t help it, you tried to bite your lip but the laughter bubbled up anyways. Seeing these two men- who were nearly a decade older than you- smack talk like teenagers was utterly ridiculous. Unfortunately, your outburst caused a cutting pair of icy blue eyes to turn on you. 

“If you value your job then you will stay the hell out of this”, his tone was as cold as his eyes. Your blood boiled instantly, you had had it with people threatening your job before you even began. You were not about to let this man-child get away with throwing a temper tantrum at you laughing at his own overdramatics. 

You turned in your chair to face your boss head-on, “If you were going to fire me you’d have done so by now.” You tried to muster up your sharpest glare, hoping it was even half as effective as his. 

“Uhhh Y/N? Maybe it’s not such a good idea to poke the bear”, you heard Tea lean in to warn you.

“Yea, Kaiba’s no stranger to firing people”, Yugi added. 

Your eyes narrowed even further, “I understand he’s fired plenty of people. However, the news of Kaiba Corp hiring the very first ever all-female duelcasting team has already gone viral. Emi and I are the only female duelcasters; so if he fires me, he loses out on making history.” You keep your voice even as you explain the predicament you found yourself in. 

Tristan was messing around on his phone, “Whoa, she ain’t kidding! It’s literally the first thing that comes up when you search Battle CIty Reunion!”

If looks could kill, Kaiba’s glare would have reduced you to ashes in that moment. But you were not deterred, you let your lips pull into a small smirk, “What a PR nightmare firing me now would be.”

You could have heard a pin drop as you and Kaiba glared each other down, neither of you willing to break eye contact first. Finally, his phone began to ring and he reluctantly pulled it from his pocket. “What?!” he barked at the poor soul that called at the wrong time, he sent one last threatening look at you before stalking off to speak with the caller in private. Your lungs blew out a long breath you hadn’t realized you were holding. 

“Girl, you don’t have guts. You have BALLS OF STEEL!” Mai broke the charged silence.

“Holy shit,” Mokuba stared at you wide-eyed, “I haven’t seen anyone stand up to Seto like that since…” He trailed off and looked behind you, locking eyes with Yugi for a brief moment before turning back to you and shaking his head. “You’re not wrong, it would cause an awful lot of trouble to fire you without due cause at the moment”, he laughed and placed his arm around your shoulders. “I also won’t let him fire you, I like you”, he winked.

You laugh nervously, “I honestly don’t know what came over me. I’m just so tired of people telling me what to do! Maybe taking my frustrations out on the CEO of Kaiba Corp wasn’t a good idea, but I just couldn’t stop myself.”

“Sweetie- that air of confidence you felt when you stood up for yourself?- KEEP IT! You’re gonna need it during the Reunion”, Mai nodded to you with a serious expression.

“She’s right!” Tea exclaimed loudly, nearly making you jump out of your chair. “You are making history tomorrow, and we all believe you will be absolutely amazing!”

The group all nodded in agreement while looking at you fondly. You teared up a bit, the only person who had ever come close to supporting you like this was Leo. You were determined not to let any of them down.

Not long after the pep talk, you bid the group goodnight to head back to your hotel room. You had to make sure you got plenty of sleep.

Your dreams are coming true tomorrow.

[tayraedoll]

Guys

Guys we're getting the crossovers

GUYS

HE'S COMING TO TAKE HIS CHAIR BACK

[tayraedoll]

how long before the fandom gives this guy a name, a tragic backstory, fanfics and an 11 inch cock?? like. this random ass PNG about to get a whole fandom of his own I GUARANTEE IT

[tayraedoll]

blitzø just casually kidnapping everyone in the hellaverse

[tayraedoll]

Ma Meilleure Ennemie Masterlist

Chapter 1- Living the Dream

Chapter 2- Champagne and Chocolate

Chapter 3- Brief Encounters

Chapter 4- Great Expectations

Chapter 5- Into the Lion's Den

Chapter 6- Final Countdown

Chapter 7- The Offer

Chapter 8- Settling In

Chapter 9- Lunch Date

Chapter 10- Lonely Hearts

Chapter 11- So Close, So Far

Chapter 12- Workplace Blues

Chapter 13- I Need a Hero

Chapter 14- Who Asked You?

Chapter 15- Scars of our Past

Chapter 16- So Cliche

Chapter 17- Popcorn and Cotton Candy

Chapter 18- Assistant for a Week

Chapter 19- Homeword Bound

Chapter 20- Wedding Bells

Chapter 21- Good Heartbreak

Chapter 22- Me Meilleure Ennemie

Chapter 23- Fire on Fire

Chapter 24- What Now?

Chapter 25- Sugar Daddy

Chapter 26- Chapter 26

Chapter 27- Never Enough

Chapter 28- Consequences Part 1

Chapter 29- Consequences Part 2

Chapter 30- A Notebook Ending

[tayraedoll]

Ma Meilleure Ennemie

Chapter 2- Champagne and Chocolate

Series Masterlist

You finally make it to Japan, but things don't go according to plan.

TW: Swearing

You could now say you knew EXACTLY how the McCallister’s felt rushing through O’Hare to catch their flight. Leo had emailed you the boarding pass- which Kaiba Corp had somehow already updated to your name. There was also a lengthy contract for you to read and sign while on the 13-hour flight to Japan. The email had assured you that everything was taken care of- all you had to do was get your ass on that plane before it took off.

You made it to your gate with five minutes to spare. You were so grateful that you were going overseas for a job and not to see a lover in a 90-day fiance situation because you had no doubt that you looked atrocious from your airport sprint.

The flight attendant greeted you with a warm smile and asked if she could show you to your seat. You hadn’t even had time to look at your assigned seat while making your mad dash for the gate so you were grateful for her help. When you realized she was leading you to the front of the plane your heart nearly stopped- surely this was a mistake!

There was no mistake- you looked between your ticket and the label above the seat you were currently in no less than ten times just to make sure. You were in FIRST FUCKING CLASS. Damn, Kaiba Corp really does spare no expense! You look around at the grandiose first-class cabin, debating on if you could pull out your phone to take a quick video to remember this moment. Would that alert the others to the homely imposter among them? Would they kick you out if they caught you? Fuck it, you had to at least thank Leo for this opportunity, so you took your phone out and tried to be subtle as you did a quick sweep of your surroundings. 

You sat in a single seat that could fully convert into a bed. There was a privacy wall that separated your space from the aisle, creating a cozy little cocoon for you. A rather large- by airplane standards anyways- television was mounted to the wall in front of you. Poking around on the TV, you found you had free WiFi and an all-encompassing library of movies and shows to choose from. But the best part? You had TWO windows!

Looking towards the front of the plane, there was a private bar shaped like a U with another attendant already busying himself making drinks. Beyond the bar were the first-class bathrooms. Would the bathrooms be as nice as the cabin? You couldn’t wait to find out!

After take-off, just as you were settling in and deciding what movie to entertain yourself with, the man you saw behind the bar leaned around the doorway to your cubby, “Mimosa ma’am?” Oh fuck yea, you could get used to this! You smiled at him and eagerly accepted the drink.

Before you let yourself get too comfortable, however, you had work to do. With a resigned sigh, you pulled out your phone and began to comb through the 15-page contract that you had to sign to work for Kaiba Corp. Most of it was pretty standard- you had to submit to a background check, take a drug test, and verify that all your information was correct lest the contract be null and void. However, there were some things that seemed a bit ludicrous to you- like the stupidly strict dress code (did Kaiba think he was running a monastery?) and the whole ‘the CEO has the final say in all matters’ clause. With a huff, you screenshot that part and type out a message to Leo to send once you land:

Didn’t realize I was selling my soul! I hope my hastily-packed wardrobe will please Dictator Kaiba!

After signing your life away where prompted, you sent the contract back to Kaiba Corp. With that out of the way, you were able to finally relax and enjoy the pleasures of the elite class. Stretching out like a queen, you lounged across your makeshift bed and put your earbuds in, drifting off to your favorite comedy. 

“Ladies and gentleman, this is your pilot speaking. We will now begin our descent into Domino City. Please return to your seats and fasten your seatbelts as we will be landing shortly.”

Your face was glued to the window nearest you. Your stomach was full of butterflies as you watched Domino City get closer and closer; this was really happening, you were actually in Japan for the Battle CIty Reunion! As if reading your thoughts, Kaiba Corporation came into view- the tower’s presence looming over the rest of the city like a damn palace. You never thought you would ever get to see it in person, and here you were about to work for it.

After landing, you shot off your message to Leo and went through an endless barrage of texts and missed calls from your friends and coworkers who were curious about your sudden departure from the States. You noticed that there was one person who left your message notifying him of your job in Japan on read- but there was no time to dwell on that right now. You also had an angry voicemail from Nathen basically saying if you messed this up you’d be fired. Honestly, he’ll probably fire you for taking this job without his permission once you returned to Chicago anyways so you might as well enjoy this while you can.

Getting through customs was a rather smooth process…but that is where things started to get rocky. Once you left the secure section to obtain your luggage, you were greeted by a man in a suit with sunglasses- seriously? another person wearing sunglasses indoors?!- with his hands clasped in front of him. Upon setting his sights on you, he quickly crossed the room to stand in front of you, “Miss L/N?”

“Uh yea, that’s me”, you squeak nervously.

“My name is Isono, I’m with Kaiba Corp. I need you to come with me. I assure you it’s all standard procedure; since you were hired at the last minute, you never took part in our interview process.”

Wait- did this man just say he was Isono?! As in Kaiba’s right-hand man? Shit, you hadn’t even started this job and you were already fucked!

“Oh umm, of course. Let me just grab my bag real quick”, you turn to the carousel, but before you can grab your bag, Isono snatches it and begins walking towards the exit. You follow quickly behind him, stopping at the limo parked out front. He places your bag in the trunk before opening the door and gesturing for you to get in. To your relief, it was just the two of you inside.

“Mr. Kaiba conducted all these interviews himself. However, he is busy preparing for the Battle City Reunion at this time so I will be conducting yours on his behalf”, Isono explained. He removed a copy of your contract from a silver briefcase and began looking it over. “How many years have you been duelcasting?”

“...none Sir”, you looked out the window as his eyes snapped back to you. 

“Apologies Miss, but how many years did you say?”

You slowly turn your head to look at him again, “I’ve never Duelcasted before sir.”

“The Battle City Reunion…will be your first time?”, he asked incredulously.

You nod, “Yes Sir, it will be. Look, I may not be the most experienced person for the job, but I am the best person for the job. I have worked my ass off to get here. I have spent YEARS working in a dead-end reporting job that was only a dead end because of the fucking PRICK that put me there. My career stagnated before it even had the chance to grow. And now that I FINALLY made it, now that I FINALLY got my chance, I am not going to let another pretentious asshole rip it away because of his failure to see my potential!” 

Isono was silent for what felt like an eternity, just staring at you from behind his sunglasses. You were starting to sweat, if you weren’t fucked before you DEFINITELY were now. Did you seriously just call Kaiba a pretentious asshole to his most trusted employee?!

The limo suddenly came to a stop. This was it, you were about to be fired, thrown out, and sent back to Chicago before your first official day as a duelcaster. 

“Your hotel Miss”, Isono said as he opened the door for you. Glancing outside quickly, you saw you were parked outside a rather bodacious hotel. You turned back to Isono with a questioning look. “I will let Mr. Kaiba know that his tournament is in good hands. Here is the itinerary for the tournament- there is a debriefing meeting being held at Kaiba Corp tonight and a ceremonial kick-off dinner to attend tomorrow evening.” He gestured for you to get out of the limo after handing you the documents, the driver had already taken your luggage out of the trunk. Once you were out, he called your name, making you turn back to him, “Good luck”, he smiled at you before closing the door as the limo took off again.

You watched the limo drive away until it was out of sight, letting out the breath you didn’t realize you were holding as it disappeared from view. Well, you weren’t fired so that had to count for something. Turning back to the hotel, you slowly made your way through the revolving doors.

The lobby was all muted tones and low lighting. Soft music that you would normally find in a spa was playing over unseen speakers, blending with the gentle sound of the freakin waterfall in the middle of the building. Curiously, you walked over to the water feature- yup, there were Koi in the small pool beneath the waterfall. Assorted sculptures you were sure cost more than your rent adorned various tables, the whole place looked more like an upscale gallery than a hotel lobby. If this was where all the duelcasters were staying, just how much money did Kaiba Corp spend on this duel tournament? You shuddered at the thought.

Thankfully, checking in was no different than any other hotel you had ever been in and you found your room rather quickly. The room was decorated the same way as the lobby sans water feature and fish. The main feature was definitely the massive bed in the middle of the room, sinking into it felt like laying on a cloud. Opening the blinds, the Kaiba Corp tower stood front and center on the skyline. 

As you were admiring the view, your phone started to ring- Leo- he must’ve gotten tired of waiting for you to call him.

“Hey!”, you answered cheerfully.

“Oh good, so you weren’t abducted! I was starting to wonder…”, he didn’t hide the frost in his voice.

“Yea, sorry about the wait. I was going to call you after hailing a cab to take me to the hotel but…”, you pause, “uhh, so something weird happened at the airport.” 

“What weird thing?”, the ice melted, giving way to concern.

“So you know Kaiba’s main bodyguard Isono? He sort of picked me up from the airport in a limo and drove me to the hotel. He said it was because he needed to conduct my interview, but he only asked me how long I have been duelcasting. He seemed pretty surprised when I told him I’ve never actually duelcasted before. And ummm… I sort of called Kaiba a pretentious asshole to Isono’s face”, you bit your lip and winced as you confessed to your tirade in the limo.

Leo was silent for a long moment before he erupted in unabashed laughter. You grimaced, “Thanks Leo, this is certainly making me feel much better about the situation”, you deadpan into your phone.

“I’m sorry! I’m just imagining Kaiba’s face when Isono tells him how your interview went!” Leo continues to snicker as you groan. “Girl, you are lucky it was Isono who picked you up because I am sure Kaiba would have had your head on a platter. Listen, Kaiba hired duelcasters from every major dueling network in the world. You will be working with the best of the best in the industry, and sadly, you are at a disadvantage due to your lack of experience. You need to be on your A-game; you need to go out there and show not only Kaiba, but the entire damned world why you deserve to be at the Battle City Reunion. I know you can do this! You just can’t let anyone- ESPECIALLY a certain hot-headed CEO- in your head, got it? Nathen can’t do anything to tarnish your career over there, everything is now entirely in your hands.”

You nod, he was right, you had to relax and not let anyone get under your skin. This was your big break and you had to own it like the boss bitch you were. “There’s a debriefing meeting tonight, that’ll give me a chance to scope out who the other duelcasters are. There’s also a dinner tomorrow night to officially begin the festivities.”

“Perfect, both are great opportunities to network. Make sure you talk to as many people as you can- duelcasters, duelists, and Kaiba Corp employees alike. Now isn’t the time to play safe on the sidelines- you’ve done that enough- now is the time to take center stage. Make an impression, make them remember you.”

You looked your reflection over in the mirror for the hundredth time, checking to make sure there was not a hair out of place. Taking Leo’s words to heart, you were aiming to make a statement tonight. Your dress was burgundy red, with a black lace bodice and black trim around the hem. It was a high-low style, not exactly in Kaiba’s ridiculous dress code, but the front of the skirt did meet the length requirements so you weren’t outrightly breaking the rules either. You paired it with your sexiest pair of black heals. For your make-up, you went with a blend of natural and bold, lining your eyes a little heavier to make them pop and using dark red lipstick. 

Finally satisfied with yourself, you grabbed your bag containing your laptop, a notebook, and all your office supplies and made your way out to the cab you had called to take you to Kaiba Corp. The butterflies had returned to your stomach, you could hardly contain your excitement at finally seeing the building you had Googled so many times with your own two eyes. 

Stepping out onto the curb in front of the tower was surreal, you couldn’t help but admire the entire picture- the way the building seemed to climb up forever into the sky and how the two Blue Eyes White Dragon statues on the front lawn acted as a kind of guardian to the fortress. Sure, it was a little ostentatious, but when a company had the reputation that Kaiba Corp had nothing was too grande or over-the-top.

You quickly affixed your badge around your neck as you walked into the lobby and up to the front desk. After showing the woman behind the counter your badge, she directed you to the elevators and told you to go to the 15th floor meeting room. It was half-full by the time you got there, which gave you the perfect opportunity to observe how everyone interacted with each other. You took a seat towards the middle of the long, wooden table; looking around, you immediately noticed two things about the people surrounding you- they were all buried deep in their own laptops and they were all dressed in black business suits regardless of their gender. That means you were the only one in red and in a dress- it seems no one else shared your passion for sabotaging Kaiba’s dress code. Feeling a bit self-conscious, you take your laptop out and try to look busy- what the hell was everyone working on anyways?

The closer the meeting time got, the more people who filtered in, the more you thought you must have missed some memo about business suits and laptops. The room was now filled save for 3 seats at the head of the table. At exactly one minute before the meeting was to begin, the final three attendees finally walked through the door. 

Isono walked in first, dressed in the same suit and sunglasses he had worn earlier in the day, and sat to the right of the table head. A man with dark hair and purple-grey eyes, wearing a lavender suit walked in next- Mokuba Kaiba. The younger of the Kaiba brothers, known for being bubbly and outgoing, flashed the meeting attendees a wide smile before taking a seat to the left side of the head.

The room stilled, as if the world around you had just held its breath, as the last but most important member of the group walked into the room- the infamous Seto Kaiba himself. He wore a royal blue shirt under a dark grey suit, paired with a navy blue tie. His brunet hair was styled impeccably, the sideburns just starting to be peppered with hints of grey. Fucking hell- he was the hottest man you had ever seen. You had seen pictures, maybe had a few magazine cutouts of him from your teenage years, but you hadn’t kept up with news of him recently as you focused on your career. Nothing prepared you for seeing Kaiba in real life- he was the epitome of a DILF even though you were sure he did not have kids.

Kaiba took his seat at the head of the table and stared coldly out at the congregation, his cobalt eyes cutting through the tense atmosphere like a knife. You weren’t sure if you wanted to shrink back in your chair and hide from his gaze or lean in to get a better look. After a heavy moment of silence, Kaiba finally spoke with a voice as rich and deep as honeyed whiskey, “Welcome to the Battle City Reunion. You are all here because you are the best in your respective fields. Do not disappoint me.”

Well, good to know his reputation was honestly earned.

The CEO shifted over to Isono, “I trust that everything is in order”, it was a statement that left no room for any other possibility.

“Yes Sir,” Isono began, “We did have one minor change- the representative from Duelist America.” Before Isono was even finished speaking, Kaiba’s head whipped up to scan the crowd. When his eyes landed on you, all the air left your lungs as if you were punched in the gut. His eyes narrowed and a scowl formed on his face as he looked you over, his facial expression making it clear you failed to meet his expectations. On the inside, you wanted to scream, cry, and run out the door and never look back. But you couldn’t do that- remember what you said to Isono earlier? You were not going to let this jerk under your skin, you would show him you belonged here just like everyone else.

So you squared your shoulders and smiled brightly back into his stupidly handsome but unhappy face.

If Kaiba was surprised by your display of courage he did not show it, deciding to move on with the presentation and looking down at his laptop. He never spared you another glance, not even when your dulecasting partner was announced. You’d be working directly with Kaiba Corp’s own duelcaster Emi- and you would be the first ever all-female duelcasting team. As if this entire venture wasn’t stressful enough, now, you just had to make history too. Go you.

Finally, after nearly two hours, Isono wrapped up the debriefing and the Kaiba’s were out the door before you could even get out of your chair. As you were putting your things back into your bag, a woman with a stylish bob of raven hair approached you. “You must be Emi”, you smiled and stuck your hand out to shake, “it’s nice-”

“I just want you to know that I will not let you bring me down”, her voice was cold as ice.

“I’m sorry?”, you furrowed your brow, not sure what you did that upset your co-star.

“Mr. Kaiba hired only the best, but you were not hired by him. No, you are only here because you got a lucky pass. I’ve been working with Kaiba for years as his duelcaster; if you make me or this tournament look foolish, I will not hesitate to tell him to fire you. I have worked too hard to get this position for someone else to ruin it for me.” She turned on her heel and quickly left the room with you gaping after her. 

You struggled to keep your tears at bay the whole way back to your hotel room. Once you were finally inside, you sank down onto the floor, leaning against the wall for support as the dam finally burst. What were you going to do? It was only day one and your boss AND co-worker already hated you! Maybe you weren’t cut out for this, maybe Nathen had his reasons for keeping you in a reporter role. Maybe everyone was right about you including-

No, you were not going to think that way. These people hadn’t even given you a chance yet. Now wasn’t the time to cower and feel sorry for yourself, now was the time to hold your head high.

You picked yourself up off the floor and headed into the bathroom to wash up at the faucet. As you were drying your face, you stared back at your reflection. If they didn’t see your worth, then you’d show them.

It’s time to show the world what you could do.

[tayraedoll]

Sinful

I am so sorry for the wait, but it is finally finished! My PR for longest one-shot coming in at 7,139 words. I was not anticipating it being so long at first, but this story took a life of it's own as soon as I started writing it. I hope you enjoy!

Human AU

Summary: You meet a mysterious man at a sex club.

Disclaimer: This fic includes religious views that may be extreme. I am guessing that if you are reading a fanfic based on a show about Hell that this is not a problem for you. But I will let this serve as a warning- you are responsible for your own media consumption.

TW: P in V intercourse, Slight Dom/Sub relationships, religious abuse, religious indoctrination, sexual harassment, injury- bloody nose, use of sex toys, whipping, swearing, alcohol use

Good girls like you shouldn't be here.

You stare up at the inconspicuous building, there was absolutely nothing special about it. Just a plain, old, red brick building with a few vines growing across the left side. The fact that there were no windows was the most unusual thing about it. Yet, your feet remained firmly planted on the sidewalk outside, as if an unseen force was barring your entry into the establishment. Your heartbeat thrummed erratically in your chest, your body reacting to what this building was- what it represented- despite it's innocent appearance.

The Rubber Duck was certainly an unusual name for a sex club, though you supposed that is probably how it avoided attracting attention to itself. You slowly reach your hand into your pocket and pull out the duck pendant that would grant you entry into the city's most exclusive sex club. Letting out a breath, you think back on the events that led you to be here.

You grew up in a small town; in a strict, religious household. The Bible was law and you were expected to attend church a minimum of twice per week. As a young woman, you were raised to be submissive and always put a man's needs above your own. You were expected to meet a young man, marry him, and have children rather than focus any energy on your own career or personal development. You were to be a homemaker, wife, and mother and never question your husband or wonder at the world beyond the walls of your household.

However, the older you got, the more these expectations weighed on your spirit. You knew that your household would become your prison, so you ran and left it all far behind you. Ironically, you found yourself in Pentacity; a place that was rumored to be so veiled in sin that it was often referred to as PentaGRAMcity. You were raised to believe this place was Hell on Earth, but now, it served as your haven. It was here that you could finally be whoever you wanted to be.

Due to your upbringing, you were quite familiar with the deadly sins; you had spent much of your time in Pentacity working your way down the list of them to discover what about them was so horrible. You had to admit, laying around your apartment doing nothing for a week straight and eating an entire package of Thin Mints was quite nice. There was one sin you had been avoiding however- lust.

The extent of your knowledge of sex was simply abstinence until marriage or you'll go to hell. You had attempted to look a few things up, but quickly slammed your laptop shut with wide eyes and red cheeks when you saw more than you bargained for. Perhaps it would make more sense for you to wait until you met someone special, someone who loved you, before ridding yourself of your virginity. But that sounded like what the priests used to tell you and you were dead set on breaking all the rules now.

You glance back up at the heavy, wooden door in front of you, taking a deep breath and willing your feet to finally move you across the threshold and into the lion's den. Good girls like you shouldn't be here.

But you didn't want to be a good girl anymore.

Once inside, you were greeted by a tall man with dark hair sitting behind a check-in desk. The lobby was rather small, the desk nearly spanning the width of the room, but it felt cozy. Warm scents of vanilla, cinnamon, and a hint of apple hit your nose and soft classical music reached your ears. It quickly became obvious to you that the owner took great care in putting clients at ease, a reassurance that this was a safe place to explore one's desires.

"How may I be of assistance?", the man asked in a soft, British accent. He flashed a warm smile that helped to ease your nerves.

"Umm...I'm new here, this is my first visit", you awkwardly hold up your pendant, face flushing in embarrassment.

The man simply smiled at you again and nodded, "Ah yes, I was told we had a new member. Here is the contract, a copy of your application is attached; please verify this information is correct and sign at the bottom. Only the owner and myself will ever see this information, the goal for our guests is anonymity, so please choose a name you'd like to be called while here." He extended a thick stack of papers and a pen towards you. You looked back over your application, reminiscing filling the the nearly 25-page document out.

The Rubber Duck only served a limited number of clients, so they only opened up applications for new ones when current clients discontinued their contracts for whatever reason. The owner was extremely particular of the the clientele his establishment served; there was a grueling background check to make sure you weren't a sexual predator as well as a test for every STI under the sun. It was thorough, but it ensured that everyone was safe. Once you verified that your information was accurate, you moved on to read the official membership contract that was ALSO 25 pages long; the basics of it were that everything done would be 100% consensual and if a party wished to cease a sexual act at any point then the other parties involved were required to stop all further action immediately. Failure to comply with the rules would result in immediate termination of the contract and removal from the establishment.

It was all reasonable and straightforward, the only part that gave you pause was the fake name you'd go by. You bit your bottom lip, racking your brain for something that would suit you but would also (hopefully) be sexy. Finally, you settled on one- Angel. You quickly signed off on it before you could overthink it and slid the completed contract back over to the gentleman who was patiently waiting on you.

He glanced down at it for a second before beaming at you once again, "Welcome to The Rubber Duck, Miss Angel. If there is anything you need, please do not hesitate to let myself or the bartender know. We hope you enjoy your time with us." At the end of his speech, he reached below his desk and pressed something that made the wall next to you open up a hidden doorway. He gestured to the new entryway and you took that as your cue to enter.

There was no going back now.

The main room of The Rubber Duck was large, with a bar situated on the far wall. There were an assortment of tables, chairs, and couches that various couples and multiples sat at conversing. The walls were decorated in assorted purple and golden hues, the lights dimmed slightly to enhance the ambiance. The sweet smell of apple pie followed you into this room, blending slightly with the smell of perfumes from various patrons. Surrounding the main room were various doorways that, you guessed, led to the private rooms where people could act out their fantasies in private.

You nibble on your lip again, feeling a bit awkward standing in the middle of the room. Didn't the man at the front desk say you could talk to the bartender? The bar was probably your best bet on trying to blend in, you could use a drink anyway. You quickly make your way over to the bar; it wasn't busy, only a few other couples seated on the opposite side of the U-shaped table from where you sat. You were so busy taking in your surroundings that you hadn't noticed the bartender approach until he cleared his throat to catch your attention, "How can I help you Miss?"

Slightly startled, you whip back around and find the most beautiful man you had ever seen smiling at you politely. He had golden hair with deep side burns, pale skin, and warm, honeyed eyes. You wondered briefly how his eyes could be such an unnatural shade, body modifications were not uncommon in Pentacity, so they could have been either surgically done or perhaps he was just wearing colored contacts. He wore a white suit that was tailored perfectly to fit his lithe frame, complete with golden accents and a dark purple bowtie that fit the color scheme of the room. The handsome man was on the shorter side, but his broad shoulders hinted at a musculature that lay underneath his suit that would suggest he was definitely not weak.

You gulp, your mouth going dry, and it occurs to you that he had asked you a question and you had spent longer than can be considered polite just ogling at him. "Uhh I'm not sure. Is there anything you recommend?"

The man chuckles, his voice- deep and smooth- washes over you like rich brandy; you are sure you can get drunk on just his voice alone. "I've got just the drink, wait here for a sec."

He darts off to make you your mystery drink, leaving you blushing like a school girl on your barstool. Get it together, you mentally chide yourself. Your fingers come up to fiddle with the ends of your hair, a nervous tick of yours, as you try to regain your composure. You start to think that joining a sex club in order to lose your virginity may not have been a good idea. Before you can make a cowardly dash for the door, however, the bartender returns with a lime-green drink and sets it down in front of you. "An appletini, the house specialty", he beams at you.

You take an inquisitive sip, humming in appreciation at the sweet but crisp taste of the cocktail and smile back at the mystery man before thanking him. "So, what should I call you New Girl?", he asks as he wipes down the bar.

You sputter, coughing into your drink a bit, "Is it that obvious?"

Mystery Man hums, "I'm the bartender- I see everyone who comes in here- and I have never seen you before. Plus your eyes keep darting around like you are about to bolt at any second. It's normal for newcomers to be nervous, but I promise you that no one will do you any harm here."

Your hands return to their fiddling with your hair, a move that does not go unnoticed by the gentleman keeping you company. "Sorry, I've just never been in a place like this before. I'm Angel by the way." You reflexively stick your hand out over the bar for a handshake, only to immediately feel awkward about doing so because who shakes hands with the bartender?!

However, your worries were quickly dashed when a warm hand wrapped around yours, a curious look in his eyes as he regarded you, "People here call me Lu, unless they want to get cheeky and call me Lulu.", he laughs lowly to himself. You giggled and finish off your appletini, only to have a second one immediately replace it. You liked Lu, he was easy to get along with and made you feel safe and secure.

Before you knew it, you were six appletinis deep and never bothered to leave the bar. Over the course of the night you had let your guard down, your body draping over the edge of the bar as you leaned in to get closer to Lu and your fingers were relaxed around your martini glass. You were so engrossed in the story the blonde was telling about a disagreement he had with his family- most notably his brother Michael- that you hadn't realized the club had emptied for the night.

"So Angel, mind if I ask you just one last question? I'll admit, I have been dying to know the answer", Lu asked as he was wiping the bar down one last time. You nod, smiling and feeling a bit tipsy as you played with the apple garnish in your empty glass. Lu stopped wiping the counters down and turned so he was fully facing you, his expression still gentle but more serious, "Why are you here?"

Your gaze flickers back to your glass as your fingertips brush through the ends of your hair; you take a moment to gather your thoughts, mostly because you were not sure how exactly to voice them. Finally, you give him the only answer that really made any sense, "I just don't want to do what others tell to anymore. I want to take control of my own life."

There's a heavy silence after your confession and you hesitantly look back up, expecting to see pity in those amber eyes. What you actually discovered in those honeyed depths, however, wasn't pity- but understanding. He looked at you like he was staring straight into the depths of your restless spirit and he held the key to your gilded cage; he looked at you in a way that one would discern their own reflection.

You lost track of time as you stared back into his golden irises, it could have been seconds or hours before he finally spoke again, whispering softly as though you'd bolt if he spoke any louder, "How are you getting home tonight Angel?"

You bite your lip, but you can't bring yourself to break eye contact, "I took the bus here."

"The Rubber Duck offers a shuttle service, it ensures that our clients get home safely despite how they choose to indulge for the night. I'll ask Charon to drive you home," he walks around the bar and extends a hand for you to take before escorting you back to the front lobby.

It turns out that Charon is the man at the front desk, he immediately grabbed a set of keys and went out to pull a car around front at Lu's request. As Lu was helping you into the backseat of the white Rolls Royce, you turn to him and smile shyly, "Thank you for keeping me company tonight Lu, you are a very good bartender. You should get a raise!"

Lu chuckled fondly at your remarks, "I will make sure to tell the owner."

Before he could pull away you grab his arm, curiosity taking over, "What is he like? The owner."

Lu's expression suddenly becomes guarded, his jaw tensing slightly, "What have you heard?"

You look behind him slightly as you sorted through the rumors you'd heard on the street, as well as the things you were told by your church elders. "That the man is the Devil, that he is the living embodiment of sin itself", your gaze returns to his face, catching the way it falls slightly and the look in his eyes becomes distant.

He turns back to you with a sad smile, "Goodnight Angel", and closes the door.

Charon and you spend the whole ride back to your apartment in comfortable silence. You keep replaying Lu's strange behavior in your head, there was something in his expression that mystified you- why did he care about the reputation of the club's owner? You knew one thing for sure- you were going to find out.

You had returned to The Rubber Duck every night the following week and every night you sat at the bar talking with Lu. It was strange, when you appeared at the club the second night he was back to his chipper self, no sign of the melancholy you caught a glimpse of the night before.

And it was never brought up since.

The few times you had tried to ask about it, the blonde was quick to change the subject or flitted away to get another member a drink. It frustrated you- what was he trying to hide?

"Y'know, the point of a pleasure club is to indulge in your wildest fantasies. Not just sit and hang out with the bartender every night", Lu's baritone voice broke your train of thought. Honestly, you had all but forgotten that The Rubber Duck was a sex club. Your thirst to solve the mystery of who the bartender was overshadowed your quest to lose your virginity the past week.

"I'm just taking things at my own pace. It's not like anyone else has tried to hit on me either", you pout.

Lu chuckles as he tops off a beer for another member, the bar is much busier tonight. It's Friday and the whole club is busier than it has a been all week; some of the faces you recognize from previous visits but there were many that were new. "That's probably because you have spent every night with me Angel. I'll make it a bit easier on you tonight though, the bar is busy so I won't be able to horde your time tonight like usual. Try talking to one other person tonight", he gave you a wink, clearly dismissing you to your own devices tonight.

You sigh and saunter over to a nearby, uninhabited table. You nurse your appletini and spend your time people-watching the other members of the club. You were mesmerized by a tall, dark-haired man blowing cannabis smoke into a shorter man's lips when the chair next to you was loudly pulled back, startling you out of your thoughts.

"Easy Sweetheart, I don't bite. No reason to be so jumpy", a harsh, Russian-sounding accent rang out from beside you. An older man with a greyed beard and short-buzzed hair took the extra seat. A cold, dead look in his eyes immediately set alarm bells off in your head.

"You're new," he stated, "What name have you chosen for yourself?" He began looking you up and down, like a predator sizing up its prey.

"Angel", you reply stiffly, subtly angling yourself away from the man.

The man notices your discomfort and smiles, the wicked grin shooting chills down your spine as it stretched across his face. He slowly reaches a hand out and curls it around your leg just above your knee. "The fresh ones are always nervous at the beginning. Come Angel, I'll show you a good time."

He reaches for you hand and you clutch it to your chest before he can grab it. "No, I am not interested." Your heart is hammering in your chest, sweat begins to pool along your brow and your face feels like it is on fire. You just want this man to go away. "Please leave me alone", you plead more breathily than you would have liked.

A disturbingly dark chuckle is his only response as he once again reaches for your hand and pulls, trying to drag you off with him.

Before you can fully comprehend what is going on, a low growl cuts through the air like a knife, "I believe the lady said no." Your arm was suddenly wrenched free from the man's grasp, the momentum sending you back down into your chair. You heard a sickening crunch followed by a thud and a yowl of agony; when your eyes finally adjusted to the scene in front of you, you found Lu holding the man against the wall by his shirt and the man grasping his nose which was bleeding profusely. Lu's face was twisted in an unbridled rage you had never seen on him before; his caring, soft, and open features were now callous and sharp.

It did not seem to matter to either party that Lu was several inches shorter than the man he had pinned as Lu leaned forward to whisper menacingly, "Get the fuck out of my club. Your privileges are hereby revoked." Lu removed his grip from the guy's shirt and the man crumpled to the floor in a heap before he took off for the exit, holding his broken nose the whole way out. A warm pressure on your cheek suddenly startled you as you stared after the man's retreating form, Lu was knelt in front of you and you hadn't even realized it. He opened his mouth and spoke a single name- your real name- and your breath caught in your throat.

Lu hesitantly reached for your hand, gently tugging you up when you didn't pull away. He led you passed the bar- which you noticed was now completely devoid of all guests- and through a door hidden behind it. He closed the door behind him before turning to you, concern clearly etched into his golden eyes,"Are you alright?"

"How did you know my name?", you blurted.

His shoulders slump, he sighs and looks anywhere but at you for a moment. Your mind is racing a million miles a minute, your fingers harshly gripping at the ends of your hair as you start to think out loud. "Charon said only he and the owner would know our real names. Does that mean you..." you trail off and look back at your friend with wide eyes.

Lu looks back at you with regret now swimming in his honeyed eyes before nodding once in confirmation. You struggle to make sense of the puzzle that now formed in your head. You thought about all the things you had heard about the man who owned The Rubber Duck- he was a heathen, a liar, a traitorous snake, and a corruptor. He was the devil.

But none of those descriptors matched the man you had come to know. Lu was kind, gentle, a great listener and storyteller. He had protected you as if he were your guardian angel.

"I understand if you are angry," Lu began, "I haven't been forthcoming with you." He sits heavily onto a nearby couch, "I try not to disclose my identity to newcomers. I hold off on letting people know who the bartender is for as long as possible until I have to use a show of force to reprimand someone or kick them out."

You cock your head to the side curiously, "Why do you work at the bar? Why not hire an actual bartender?"

He looks at you with a half-smile, "It allows me the best view of the lounge... and people aren't afraid to show you who they really are if they think you are meant to serve them."

You nod in understanding, "I'm not angry. This actually clears up a lot of questions for me. Thank you Lu, for sharing this information with me now."

His smile now spreads across his face with a light-hearted chuckle of relief. You smile back and stoop down to hug him. When you pull away you look around the room, finally taking it in after your nerves settled from the altercation out front; when your brain registered the items that surrounded you, your skin instantly flared red-hot. You were in some sort of play room you had only ever heard about in books and porn. Along the far wall was a shelf with assorted toys including whips, paddles, and canes of all kinds; next to it was a large, chestnut drawer. The wall immediately to your right held an X-shaped cross, while the wall to your left had a king-sized bed with a large frame featuring all kinds of loops and handles. Your mouth went dry, you were completely transfixed, all you could do was stare.

Lu watched you take in the sights of the room; he thought for a moment before a sly, closed-mouth grin took over his face. "I'll admit, it's been awhile since I've used this room. I'm fairly particular about my partners, most people don't realize I have my own playroom." He turned back to you and slowly extended his hand to you, "Do you trust me?"

You don't even think about your answer, you simply accept his hand and let him lead you to the shelves across the room. His free hand runs over some of the whips on display, "There's pleasure in pain, Angel; if you'll allow it, I'd like to show you just how much those lines can blur." He grabs a smaller whip made of deep-black leather, it reminded you of a riding crop used for horses. Lu slowly turned your wrist in his hand so your palm faced towards the ceiling. He looks deeply into your eyes and you can't bring yourself to look away from his calm, honest expression as he cracks the whip across the meaty part of your hand. You gasp more from the sound, it burned slightly, but it wasn't painful. Your face grows hot and you begin to pant slightly, your clothes starting to feel a bit restricting on your sensitive body. Lu watched every minute change in your body language, grinning again when you reacted so positively to the experimental tap he gave, "I'd like to teach you how to safely live out your desires and fantasies. Will you allow me to do that with you Angel?"

You stare at him with wide eyes and nod quickly. Lu chuckles at your eager expression, "I need you to use your voice Baby. I need to hear your verbal consent. You can always change your mind and say no if it becomes too much."

Swallowing hard to get rid of the lump in your throat, you are finally able to squeak out a "Yes". Satisfied with your confirmation of consent, Lu leads you over to the X-cross. He leans close to you, breath fanning across your cheek as he whispers, "We will use the traffic light system. When I ask you what color you are I want you to answer green for 'keep going', yellow for 'I'm unsure', and red for 'stop'. You can tell me to stop at any point and I promise you that I will obey. Do you understand?" He pulls away from you slightly as he gauges your reaction.

You nod again before a breathy "Yes", escapes your lips. Lu chuckles richly, "Good girl. Now, how about we get out of these clothes?" His lips crashed into yours before you could react, a startled yelp jumping out of your throat that he greedily swallowed. The kiss was firm, but gentle; you clung to his shirt as his arms snaked around your waist to pull you closer. You felt his tongue swipe against your bottom lip, asking for entry that you happily granted. He tasted like apples and spice, the same heavenly concoction that made the club smell so homely. God, everything about this man made you feel safe.

Both your shirts and pants were quickly discarded onto the floor. Your fingers traced down the planes of his stomach, marveling at the ridges of muscle that felt as if they were carved from stone. Lu's fingers trace along the straps of your candied-apple-red bra, he breaks away from you to take in the sight of you- panting and breathless- in nothing but your underwear before him. His voice seems to drop an octave when he speaks, "Red is definitely your color Baby. You are ravishing just like this."

He slowly guides the straps down your arms before reaching behind you to expertly unclasp your bra. You've never been so naked in front of a man before, but strangely, you did not feel uncomfortable as his eyes roamed across the skin that was newly exposed. You feel your nipples harden under his stare, making you bite your lip in anticipation. He pulls you in for another passionate kiss before slowly walking you back to the cross. Once there, he raises your hands over your head and clasps each wrist into a restraint, "What color are you Angel?", he asks against your lips.

"Green", you respond in a voice that is much clearer than you anticipated.

He hums, "Good. Remember, if you are uncomfortable at any point all you have to do is tell me." He walks over to the drawers and opens the top one, pulling out a sleek, burgundy red strip of silk. When he returns to you, he immediately ties it around your head, covering your eyes. "Losing your sight enhances your other senses," he explains, "I'd like you to be as sensitive to touch as I can get you."

Lu's fingers trail down your sides, his nails scraping your skin just hard enough to raise goosebumps along your flesh. His breath ghosts down your neck as he begins leaving open-mouthed kisses on your pulse point. You throw your head back and cry out the loudest, most pornographic moan of your entire life. You can feel his smile at your reaction as his lips trail down between your breasts and over your navel. When he reaches your pubic bone, his lips skip over to your right thigh and continue their journey downward- entirely bypassing the area you wanted him most. "Lu please!", you protest but all he does is chuckle back at you.

"Patience Angel, we've only just begun. I've barely touched you yet." he grips your leg behind the knee and lifts it so he can more easily skim his lips down your shin. He plants his very last kiss on the tops of your toes before he moves your leg out and shackles your ankle to the cross. Your breath catches in your throat when he stands back up and begins the ritual all over again, but traveling down your left side this time. By the time your left ankle is restrained, you are a writhing mess of pure need. You were now blindfolded, completely spread open, and restrained for him. The only thing keeping you from being bare to him as well was the tiny, red g-string you wore which barely covered anything.

His voice breaks you from your thoughts, "Color Baby Girl?"

"Green! So green! Please, please just touch me!", your voice sounds so pathetically desperate that you barely recognize it.

The blonde man hums, "Have you ever masturbated before?"

The question catches you off-guard; you sputter slightly before answering, "Y-yes. Why is that relevant?"

"What did you use? Your fingers? Or have you used toys on yourself?", he cocks his head to the side curiously even though you can't see it.

"Uhh- just my fingers. I'm not exactly sure how to use toys..." your voice trails off as your cheeks heat up in embarrassment. Sex itself was taboo in the household you grew up in, and anything that gravitated towards being "kinky" was downright deviant.

Lu did not laugh or do anything to cast judgement on your lack of knowledge, he simply nodded to himself as if you just confirmed his suspicions. "I'd like to use a couple of things on you- the crop that you felt before and a bullet vibrator. Both are good toys for beginners as we figure out what you like."

Your heart clenched at the word "we"; you were hoping that whatever happens with Lu tonight was not a one-off situation. You nod and respond "Yes, Lu."

His hands suddenly cup your face gently, "I'd like you to call me by my full name- Lucifer."

You don't need to have your sight to feel the way his eyes were boring into you. You swallow thickly before whispering "Yes, Lucifer."

Lucifer's body shudders at the sound of his name rolling off your lips, "Good girl."

He walks away from you and you hear him shuffle through one of the drawers. When he returns you feel him begin to glide a smooth, soft object down your stomach, starting right below your breasts. When it reaches your belly button it suddenly starts to vibrate, your body jolts at the unexpected sensation but it was not unpleasant. "It's just the vibrator", Lucifer explains, "it's nothing to be afraid of. All it will do is make you feel tingly, and this kind isn't meant for penetration so it will remain outside of your body. What color are you now?"

"Green," you gasp out as the vibrator travels lower, however, he pulls it away before it reaches the apex of your thighs and you groan in frustration.

"Are you ready to begin?", his voice is darker and more husky than you've heard it before, it erupts goosebumps across your skin.

Truthfully, you've been ready; now, the anticipation and nerves come all at once at the thought that he will finally give you what you crave.

"Yes Lucifer."

"Good girl."

There's stillness then, you strain your ears to hear anything that may give you any indication as to where he is or what he is doing. Did he just leave you here like this? Just as you were about to call out to him, the first crack of the crop landed across your outer thigh. Your sharp inhale was more from the sound it made than any actual pain felt, until the vibrator was pressed directly to the spot the crop just was- the vibrations soothing the now reddened skin.

Before you could fully comprehend what was going on, the crop landed on your other thigh with the vibrator quickly following it. Every nerve in your body was alight, the sensations nearly overwhelming. When the crop came down close to your inner thigh, you moaned wantonly; when the vibrator soothed the aching spot, your wrists drew their restraints taut. Lucifer gradually got closer and closer to your barely-covered mound with each whack, and your cries became more desperate. Right before he was about the finally reach your aching core, there was a pause.

"Color Angel?"

"Oh my god fucking GREEN!", you scream. By this point, you were sure you would cry if he stopped now.

You braced yourself, but the whip did not hit your clit as you thought it would. Instead, the whip hit your nipple gently but sharply as the vibrator was pressed on your clit through the thin fabric of your panties. The stinging sensation on your nipple coupled with the vibrator intensely stimulating your clit hurled you over the cliff at a speed you did not think possible. Your jaw dropped open wide as you screeched out a sound you had never heard yourself make before as your orgasm crashed through you. Your legs buckled beneath you and Lucifer caught you so that you wouldn't strain your wrists by making them hold your bodyweight. Lucifer gently ran his hands through your hair as he whispered words of praise, he removed your blindfold and kissed you sweetly while freeing your hands from the restraints. Once your legs stopped trembling, he let you go and freed your ankles as well.

"You did so well Baby Girl, especially for your first time", he kissed your forehead and you smiled up at him. Then you frowned as a realization dawned on you.

"What about you?" you ask tentatively.

"What about me?" he looked down at you curiously.

"I want you to feel good too. I don't want to be done yet", you move to kiss him, he allows it but pulls away quickly to look into your eyes.

"I don't want you to feel that you need to do anything you are not ready for. I promise, I'm fine."

You shook your head, you were going to watch this man fall apart if it was the last thing you did. "I want to Lucifer, please, let me make you feel good", you looked up at him through your lashes and pressed yourself to his chest, rubbing against his erection subtly.

Lucifer hissed and gripped your shoulders, "Yes, okay fine!" Then he grinned mischievously before handing the crop over to you. Your heart skipped a beat as you reflexively wrapped your fingers around the leather handle. "On one condition Angel- you said you came here because you wanted to be in control, so, be in control Baby." He backed himself up to the cross and waited patiently for you to follow him. You stared at the whip in your hands- were you really capable of using this on him? What if you hurt him? I mean yea, he had used it on you and it felt good, but he knew what he was doing and you did not. As if sensing your turmoil, Lucifer spoke up again, "You won't hurt me Baby, I'll teach you how to use that thing properly", he winked at you encouragingly.

You took a deep breath and exhaled forcefully to calm your nerves and squared your shoulders as you made you way over to him. Grabbing the blindfold from him, you invaded his space to force him against the cross and effectively cut his sight off the way he did yours earlier. You then restrained his wrists, once you were sure he couldn't move, you figured it was time for a little payback. Just as he did to you, you wrapped your lips around the skin on his pulse point and sucked gently, earning a whine from the King Sin himself. That noise shot straight to your core and your thighs clenched, suddenly, hearing him make that sound as many times as you could became your life's mission. You shackled his ankles in in the same fashion as he did yours, smiling devilishly when you heard his breath hitch as your lips ran down his thighs parallel to his length.

Now, he was helpless before you. You bit your lip at the sight of his chest heaving with every breath in his state of arousal. "What color are you Lucifer?" you made sure to ask to prolong his torture like he did yours.

"Green Baby Girl, all the way green.", he rasped. "Now, with the crop, concentrate mostly on the thigh. The butt is also a good place but it is hard to reach from this angle. If you go for the groin or chest, ease up on your swings- those areas are more sensitive. Never go for the face, throat, or joints."

You nod, hands squeezing the crop to help ground you "Got it. Are you ready to begin?"

"Yes, Angel."

You took a pause just like he did at first, although, yours was mostly to steel your nerves rather than to leave him in suspense. You bit your lip as you eyed a spot on his outer thigh, swallowing the lump in your throat, you finally brought yourself to crack the crop across his pale flesh.

His reaction was immediate, a whine hissing from between his lips as his body started to tremble. You had to clench your thighs again as you watched him respond to your dominance; something in you just clicked, like a puzzle piece locking into place.

And you craved for more.

You barely gave a pause before hitting his other thigh in the same place; this time, however, you bent low and sucked on the raised flesh hard. The guttural moan the man above you let out was all the confirmation you needed to keep going. You slowly made your way towards his crotch, his thighs peppered with deep, purple hickeys as you went. The sight of Lucifer completely marked up by you was intoxicating, you couldn't take it anymore- you had to have him.

You dropped the crop and pulled him down roughly for sloppy, desperate kiss. He groaned into your mouth and you swallowed it greedily. "I need you, please, I need you so bad Lu", you pleaded.

"Untie me, Angel, and you can have me", his voice was warm and thick like molasses. You scrambled to release the restraints, your trembling hands making the process ten times more difficult. When his hands were finally freed, Lu quickly released his ankles before grabbing you and pulling you against him. His tongue invaded your mouth with the same unbridled need yours did earlier. His hands trailed down your back, cupping your ass before pulling your panties down and letting them pool around your feet. He then lifted you by your thighs and walked you over to the bed, sitting down on the edge as you straddled his lap.

You couldn't wait any longer, you clawed at his boxer briefs to get them down just low enough for his cock to spring free. Not giving yourself time to hesitate, you lined him up at your entrance and slowly forced yourself to sink down on him. Your body tensed slightly as the stretch burned at first, Lucifers fingers rubbed soothing circles into your spine as he whispered praise in your ear. You stilled and took a few deep breaths once he was fully sheathed inside of you, Lucifer cupped your face in his hands and leaned his forehead against yours, "You're taking me so well Baby Girl, you feel absolutely incredible. Take your time, we will take things at your pace."

Once the stinging dissipated, you moved your hips in a slow circle in his lap; pleasure bolted up your spine like lightning and you cried out as Lu grunted. His hands flew to your hips as he began to guide you through the movements, sliding up and down his shaft slowly at first but picking up speed as you went. Your nails dug into his shoulders as your toes curled, soon, you were grinding your hips into his with reckless abandon as all you cared about was chasing the pleasure he was giving you.

"Fuck Angel, you are so fucking perfect. Where have you been all my life?", Lu grunted out between groans. You're mewls were rising in pitch, your movements getting sloppy as your ecstasy climbed higher and higher.

"Lu! I n-need more! Please!", you gasped.

"Don't worry Baby, I've got you", Lu's hand found your clit and instantly began rubbing tight circles in time with your hips. The explosion of pleasure was so intense that you threw your head back and screamed out.

"That's it my Angel, just let it go", he coaxed and it was your undoing. Your vision went white as your entire body tensed with the force of your orgasm. Your mind barely registered that you were babbling, repeating Lucifer's name like a prayer as you came down from your high. While your body went completely limp, Lucifer took charge and kept your hips in position as he thrusted up into you, chasing his own climax.

When he finally reached his peak, he moaned your name low in his chest and sunk himself as deeply into you as he could get. He touched his forehead to yours again and you both just stared deeply into each other's eyes, no words needed to see the promises held within them for your entwined futures together.

You finally did it, you had lost your virginity- in your own way and on your own terms. With the man who was rumored to be the Devil himself.

And you had no doubt that he was your salvation.

[tayraedoll]

Lucifer WIP Snippet

Sorry for not posting in a hot minute! I am currently working on my longest one-shot ever and it is a Lucifer piece! I am hoping to have this done sometime this week. Then I will work on the next two chapters of Ma Mailleure Ennemie.

Please enjoy this snippet of the Lucifer one-shot I am calling Sinful <3

The man chuckles, his voice- deep and smooth- washes over you like rich brandy; you are sure you can get drunk on just his voice alone. "I've got just the drink, wait here for a sec."

He darts off to make you your mystery drink, leaving you blushing like a school girl on your barstool. Get it together, you mentally chide yourself. Your fingers come up to fiddle with the ends of your hair, a nervous tick of yours, as you try to regain your composure. You start to think that joining a sex club in order to lose your virginity may not have been a good idea. Before you can make a cowardly dash for the door, however, the bartender returns with a lime green drink and sets it down in front of you. "An appletini, the house specialty", he beams at you.

You take an inquisitive sip, humming in appreciation at the sweet but crisp taste of the cocktail and smile back at the mystery man before thanking him. "So, what should I call you New Girl?", he asks as he wipes down the bar.

You sputter, coughing into your drink a bit, "Is it that obvious?"

Mystery Man hums, "I'm the bartender- I see everyone who comes in here- and I have never seen you before. Plus your eyes keep darting around like you are about to bolt at any second. It's normal for newcomers to be nervous, but I promise you that no one will do you any harm here."

Your hands return to their fiddling with your hair, a move that does not go unnoticed by the gentleman keeping you company. "Sorry, I've just never been in a place like this before. I'm Angel by the way." You reflexively stick your hand out over the bar for a handshake, only to immediately feel awkward about doing so because who shakes hands with the bartender?!

However, your worries were quickly dashed when a warm hand wrapped around yours, a curious look in his eyes as he regarded you, "People here call me Lu, unless they want to get cheeky and call me Lulu.", he laughs lowly to himself. You giggled and finish off your appletini, only to have a second one immediately replace it. You liked Lu, he was easy to get along with and made you feel safe and secure.

Before you knew it, you were six appletinis deep and never bothered to leave the bar. Over the course of the night you had let your guard down, your body draping over the edge of the bar as you leaned in to get closer to Lu and your fingers were relaxed around your martini glass. You were so engrossed in the story the blonde was telling about a disagreement he had with his family- most notably his brother Michael- that you hadn't realized the club had emptied for the night.

"So Angel, mind if I ask you just one last question? I'll admit, I have been dying to know the answer", Lu asked as he was wiping the bar down one last time. You nod, smiling and feeling a bit tipsy as you played with the apple garnish in your empty glass. Lu stopped wiping the counters down and turned so we was fully facing you, his expression still gentle but more serious, "Why are you here?"

Your gaze flickers back to your glass as your fingertips brush through the ends of your hair; you take a moment to gather your thoughts, mostly because you were not sure how exactly to voice them. Finally, you give him the only answer that really makes any sense, "I just don't want to do what others tell to anymore. I want to take control of my own life."

There's a heavy silence after your confession and you hesitantly look back up, expecting to see pity in those amber eyes. What you actually discovered in those honeyed depths, however, wasn't pity- but understanding. He looked at you like he was staring straight into the depths of your restless spirit and he held the key to your gilded cage; he looked at you in a way that one would discern their own reflection.

You lost track of time as you stared back into his golden irises, it could have been seconds or hours before he finally spoke again, whispering softly as though you'd bolt if he spoke any louder, "How are you getting home tonight Angel?"

[tayraedoll]

Love that two literal fluffballs are giving Yami guidance

[tayraedoll]

“Jeez. You have to take care of each other, you idiots.”

if u have ygo dm gif request hmu