It's a bit surprising to me when people criticize Dub!Kaiba on the basis of his making sarcastic jokes. Kaiba is funny across all adaptations! He's always "mweh heh heh"-ing in the manga, making snide asides in his head in the subs, coming up with inventively rude new things to call the Yuugi gang, and often doing this very performatively in front of Mokuba (which is adorable, as is the way Mokuba often rewards him with an evil little grin.)
The thing is he's not always successfully funny, because Kaiba is not suave, he's a dork who is tall and intimidating enough to trick people into thinking he might be suave until he opens his mouth. (And his favourite audience member will always laugh anyways, so there's no compelling reason for him to workshop his comedy.) But the urge to make rude quips is a pretty persistent part of the character; Kaiba flipping manically from "evil little jokester" to "Very Serious Important CEO" every two minutes is one of my favourite things about him.
you can kinda tell when a writer has spent a lot of time around kids bc they avoid most of the pitfalls that come with writing children. namely, not giving them a too cutesy or twee voice but making them sound more like extremely weird little adults. kids playing pretend will almost never cutely slot into some romantic scenario for the adults' benefit bc the adults are usually too busy cleaning up or wondering what the fuck is wrong with their child. kids also have surprisingly stringent hangups ranging from very petty grievances to downright chauvinist gender roles, more often than not the result of a tragic education but sometimes far surpassing what they were taught in intensity. what im saying is there's nothing inherently wrong with treating fictional kids as stock characters but it's always quite nice to see when they aren't
It's extremely common for very young children to suddenly say something extremely cogent and articulate, that's jarringly inconsistent with their normal speech. This is usually something that they heard an adult say recently. A kid will spend ten minutes telling you a story about how they fought a wolf yesterday using simple sentences of fifty cent words, then nibble a snack, wrinkle their nose and say something like "I feel like Mum was overenthusiastic with the salt today, and not for the first time either" before going back to their clumsy story. (They do understand what they're saying when they do this. Kids' communication is usually held back by their vocabulary and pronunciation, not their understanding.)
Young kids are also a lot more socially aware than people give them credit for. Young children are perfectly aware that adults don't take them seriously. They know when their parents don't actually like them. They listen and remember when adults talk about them while they're in the room. Kids will develop basic abilities to charm etc. from babyhood and will begin experimenting with social norms and concepts of deception, appropriate information, and acceptable language and attitudes in toddlerhood. By the time a kid is five or six, they have solid social strategies for relating to adults and separate ones fr relating to their peers, that they'll continue to refine for the rest of their lives. They will also say completely off the wall shit because they don't have the context to know what is and isn't considered super fucked up yet.
By the time a kid is eight or nine, their main difference from adults is in experience, interests, and ability for long-term focus. An eight year old can think as intelligently and coherently as a thirty year old, they just have less experience and information to draw from, and are likely interested in very different things. They're also likely still slightly hamstrung by vocabulary and literacy, though much less so than a younger kid.
Teens will behave like adults who have little power (a teen is often at the mercy of their parents and the state and rarely taken seriously, which is extremely frustrating) and who are high stress and mid-crisis, because they're going through a transitory period where their bodies and moods are changing and are having to constantly learn and adjust; a fourteen year old in a stable situation will act pretty much like a thirty year old with an oppressive boss who's just left a tumultuous relationship.
#oh is *that* why i feel 14 again after my fiance broke things off with me and i had to move halfway across the continent back in with my ma?
Yeah that's just what humans feel and act like when they're unmoored and powerless and unpredictably changing. Teenagers are pretty much constantly unmoored and powerless and unpredictably changing, and react reasonably to those circumstances.
Jou/Kero & Seto/Yue give the same energy. Kaiba would also refuse orders from Clow. Jou as a plush would be so cute. The millennium rod IS a magical girl wand. Id like to come back to this drawing sometime and finish it.
warnings: Red String Shibari, Rope Play, Sub Space, Anal Sex, Cunnilingus, More Contemplative Than Horny, Soulmate AU, Red String Of Fate
summary:
@joukaiweek day 2 - crossover/fusion || soulmates AU
Seto has never trusted the red string around his finger. He's never understood it. But things like that don't matter to Katsuya. It's made for him. Him and Katsuya. Bound together, as twisted up as two people can be.
warnings: Americanized Domino, Alley Sex, Boss/Employee Relationship, Marijuana Use, Dispensary AU, Small Business Seto Kaiba, Shotgunning, Intercrural Sex, Hook Ups, Hand Jobs, Facial
summary:
joukai week 1/19 - canon-divergent AU || shopkeepers AU
Joey works a few jobs to make ends meet, but the one who has his loyalty is Kame Smoke Shop. It's the only one he'd show up to for a morning meeting the night after he hooked up with a handsome stranger, especially if Solomon is announcing something big. Something like they have a new boss.
And three guesses who it is.
it's @joukaiweek!!! finally!!! of course the first one up is the hardest for me to write, but i wanted to make sure i posted it!! this is essentially the prologue to a dispensary au i have in my head. it's not even really about the dispensary but i don't think anyone's gonna complain.
this is hot off the presses and unedited. i'll add it to ao3 when i have time to look over it!
Y: you're coming to the meeting tomorrow right?
J: might skip. i'm on til midnight at this fancy fucking thing
Y: it's important. gramps is making a big announcement.
J: old man finally retiring?
Y: something like that.
Joey clicked his phone closed and brought the rolled spliff to his lips. The event was in full swing at the front of whatever venue they were working. The caterer's uniform sat too stiff on his shoulders, the starched collar scratching his neck. This was his third job, technically. Days were devoted to the Kame Smoke Shop, evenings to his bartending gig, and he kept his ear to the ground for opportunities like this. Catering was easy work as long as you didn't mind the standing, and the smiling, and the rude people ignoring you, and the managers yelling at you to move faster. What he wanted to do was dive straight into his bed and sleep for the next twelve hours. But Yugi asked him to show up to the morning meeting tomorrow because his grandpa had some big thing to share. Everywhere else wasa job, but the smoke shop was his people.
The alley behind the kitchens was sparse. Some speech was happening inside, the Domino Business Association or something like that. Joey didn't care. He was dying to ditch, and he'd been thinking up a stomach ache story for the past five minutes. He needed the cash though. Rent wasn't getting any cheaper. He leaned back against the brick wall and let out a stream of smoke. It danced up into the only floodlight that covered the stretch. Dumpsters were pushed back against the far wall. He was supposed to be bringing plates inside, but he took his time. No one would miss him for a while.
He breathed in and out. The mix of nicotine and marijuana settled as a nice buzz under his skin. It would keep him going through the shift, and hopefully he could sleep before the 9 am meeting. No, he wouldn't skip it. Not if Yugi asked.
The door to the kitchens opened, and Joey glanced up. He expected another caterer, or the event staff, but no. The man that stepped through was too cleanly dressed to be working. The purple fabric of his blazer shone in the back alley floodlight. The outdoor shadows cutting sharper lines across his cheekbones and the ridge of his nose. The brush of bang brought dark shadows that pooled beneath his eyes. A long coat stretched down his thin frame, the shirt underneath neatly pressed. A chain trailed over his collar, and the boots were shiny black leather. His manicured fingers held the door open for a beat longer when his eyes landed on Joey. He stood for a moment like he wasn't sure if he was in or out.
Joey did the neighborly thing and said, "Hey."
The door shut behind him.
The man didn't say anything for a minute. He reached into his jacket pocket and removed a vape pen. He circled Joey's personal space and put the pen to his pursed lips. His cheeks hollowed when he sucked in. Joey pulled on his own cigarette with a grin.
"Not staying for the party?" he said.
The man scoffed. His shoes tapped the ground as he walked to Joey's side. "It's not my idea of a party," he said.
Joey huffed out smoke. "Did you sneak through the kitchens?"
"I didn't sneak," he said. "Nobody stopped me."
He hummed happily. This guy was hard to miss in a crowd. Six feet tall and dressed flashy for this crowd, he'd stood out. Joey'd been making the rounds with champagne when they'd made eye contact. The guy had been in the middle of a group of old men in black suits looking bored out of his mind. His blue eyes had tracked him across the room, and Joey presented the tray with a smile. He'd watched his thin fingers pinch the stem of the champagne glass. They hadn't said a word to each other. Joey had taken the empty tray back to the kitchen and slipped off for his break.
It wasn't too surprising the man had followed.
"It's a dull crowd," the man said. "All they have to offer is drunken posturing."
"You one of the names they calling on stage?" Joey said.
His chin tilted as he admired the cigarette that went to Joey's mouth. "Kaiba," he said.
"Kaiba," Joey repeated. "Name's Joey. You winning an award or something?"
"Welcome dinner," he sighed, and vapor poured out of his mouth. "I don't plan to stick around."
He went for his pen again and grimaced. A red light blinked on the end. Joey snorted.
"Looks like you're running low," he said. "It's why I like the old school option."
Kaiba eyed his cigarette. "It looks like you rolled it yourself."
Joey grinned, sucking in a breath. He released it through his nostrils, not even minding the burn.
"It's a spliff," he said. "You party?"
A smile stretched across Kaiba's face. His long fingers curved around Joey's wrist, and their eyes met again as he brought it up to his mouth. His pink lips pursed around the spliff, and then his eyes fluttered when he breathed it in, long and slow. The chain on his chest made it easy to track the rise of his chest. Kaiba lifted his head back, sucking in another gulp of air, and when he released it was in smoke rings. Joey laughed.
"That was impressive," Joey said when he took the spliff back.
The man tilted his head with a smile. "It helps that you're carrying something of quality. Most people smoke shit around here."
"So you do party," he said and took a hit himself. "Figured everyone in there was a square."
"Not everyone," Kaiba said. "You're working all night?"
"Won't get home til midnight," Joey sighed. "It's why I got my little friend here. Helps to have a pick up on a long night."
"I think so too," he said. He leaned close to Joey. The feathered ends of his dark hair brushed against his cheek. "A shame you're stuck here."
"Well," Joey said, "I got twenty minutes before anyone starts wondering where I went."
His chest expanded as he took a deep breath of the spliff. He crooked a finger Kaiba's way, and his head dipped down lower. Their mouths were barely a centimeter apart, the soft touch of his lips plush against Joey's. Smoke poured between them, curling out where they didn't touch, but it was few and far between. As Kaiba breathed in the smoke, Joey pressed more firmly. Their mouths closed against each other.
This was what he was really itching for tonight. He hadn't had a real day off in a hot minute, with only the buzz off his weed to loosen the anxiety in his limbs. Nothing hit like this. He swept his tongue across Kaiba's pallette, tasting the weed and nicotine. Wet heat surrounded him as Kaiba sucked on his tongue. It was buzzier than the nicotine, and more of a head high than the sativa. He slid his knee between Kaiba's legs and pressed tight to his groin. Kaiba groaned in his mouth. Their bodies pressed together, and beneath the folds of fabric, he could feel him getting hard.
The spliff burned down to Joey's fingers, and he naerly dropped it as Kaiba pressed him against the wall. His hands moved down to the slacks Joey wore and thumbed the button. Dark hair curled over the band of his boxers, and before Kaiba could slide down any further, Joey gripped his wrist.
"You're gonna be surprised," he said.
Kaiba's brow quirked up, and his palm slid against the front of his boxers. His underwear was already building a wet spot. Being trans made hook ups a little tricky, but the way Kaiba's lip curled suggested it wouldn't be a problem.
"You thought I'd be disappointed?" Kaiba said. He curved his palm, digging his fingers into his underwear. They pressed hard to Joey's flesh, and he let out a low sound.
"Some guys are," Joey huffed as his fingers dug deeper.
Kaiba grinned, loosing his hand from his underwear. He sucked two fingers into his mouth slowly, deliberately, like he was savoring it. Joey leaned back against the brick, their groins pressed together, and he smoked the last of the spliff. Kaiba dragged his fingers free, and then he descended again. When their mouths met, Joey breathed out the smoke, and Kaiba's fingers dipped below the band to squeeze his clit. Pleasure jolted through him, and Joey wrapped his arms across his shoulders as he moaned.
God, his fingers were long, and they pressed inside him with ease. Wet slicked him up, and even as his fingers pressed to his hole, Kaiba still worked over his clit. He rubbed in and out, and Joey's hips bucked to ease him inside. Kaiba's dick pressed up through his tight pants, and the bulge buried itself in Joey's thigh. They frotted against each other, his fingers going deeper. Joey buried his face in the crook of his neck. His heartbeat pulsed in the vein, and without thinking, he bit down on top of it. Kaiba made a sharp sound, and his fingers curled. The pleasure tingled up through his whole body. Every inch of him was buzzing. He wanted more.
"You wanna fuck me?" Joey murmured in his ear.
Kaiba's laugh was low and resonated through his chest. "What am I doing?"
"Teasing me," he said. "You got anything on you? Condoms or lube?"
"Unfortunately not," Kaiba said.
Joey flicked the spliff away and yanked down Kaiba's zipper. His dick was already hard when he wrapped his fist around it and pulled it free of his underwear. Kaiba groaned with each pump of his hand. He spread both hands against the brick as Joey jacked him off.
"I got a suggestion," Joey breathed into his ear. "You can fuck me between my legs."
He felt Kaiba's shudder. His mouth pressed against his again. Kaiba murmured, "Turn around."
Joey angled himself against the wall. His pants pooled around his knees, the button up shirt hanging loose over his middle. The brick grated against his elbows while Kaiba situated himself. His dick slid against his thighs, the slick trail of precum streaking the skin. Joey didn't just crave sex. If an orgasm was all he wanted, he could put his vibrator on high and ride the wave, but this was what he needed. Pressed up against the wall, another man's hand on his ass, dirty and rough as he was fucked. His body thrummed with excitement. For all the stress he'd been feeling, this was his release.
Kaiba's dick slid against his cunt, and the heat from it made Joey groan. He squeezed his thighs together so he could sit easily between them, working the flesh as easily as he did his pussy. His stomach curved to Joey's spine. They were slotted together, and Joey groaned as he ground against his cock. Wet coated his underwear, slicking up his dick as they bucked together. His breath stuttered when Kaiba's hand reached down again, his finger sliding in with no resistance.
Fuck, this was good. Joey didn't let up, and neither did Kaiba. Their breaths were panted and shallow, soft sounds filling the air. Kaiba's teeth buried into his neck, and Joey's whole body arched. His cock pulsed between his legs, precum spilling over the head to drip onto Joey's thighs. His thrusting sped up, balls slapping against Joey's legs. Heat filled him from the tip of Kaiba's fingers to his gasping mouth. A third finger curled over his clit, edging him closer to his orgasm.
"Fuck," Joey gasped. "Why are you so good at this?"
"I'm good at everything I do," Kaiba said.
He laughed through every thrust. Kaiba's wet mouth spread over his ear, turning the laugh into a headier sound.
"I can show you what else I'm good at," Kaiba said, knuckle pressing to Joey's hole. "I have a car, and a house, and a lot of toys."
The offer was tempting, especially with Joey squeezing down on his dick. He had three more hours at his shift here, three hours of standing, smiling, being talked down to by everyone around him. At least if Kaiba treated him like shit, he'd get off.
"How about you finish here," he said, "before you start making promises."
Kaiba pushed him into the wall, hips slapping against his backside, dick sliding against his cunt, fingers deep inside him. Joey's open mouth spread wet heat against the brick. His body stretched and stretched and snapped. Come flooded his cunt, drenching Kaiba's fingers. He felt it spread over his underwear, and Kaiba didn't stop fingering him, didn't stop thrusting against him. Joey grabbed his wrist, pulling himself free of his grip, and he twisted around. Kaiba opened his mouth, but Joey was already on his knees. He spread his tongue over his palm and then gripped his dick again. Kaiba bowled over, hands pushing up against the brick. Joey pumped his cock from base to head, teasing the foreskin that bunched around it. Come spurted from his dick. It arced in the air and slapped across Joey's face. Air released from Kaiba's chest like he was breathing out smoke.
Joey grinned, and his tongue slid over his lips to sweep at the come. He gave Kaiba a minute to catch his breath. He pulled at his blazer and wiped his face on the inner lining. Kaiba pulled away with a grimace, adjusting the jacket.
Joey leaned back against the brick, chest heaving. His hair was pushed up all over, his collar yanked to show the dark bruise on his neck. The tie he'd knotted was slung over his shoulder. He hitched his pants back up as he stood, and he tapped his back pocket. An old cigarette case embossed with a floating turtle held the rest of his spliffs. Three more were tucked away. He pulled one free. His lighter wasn't with it, and as he looked around, a flame clicked on. Kaiba held out a silver light with a dragon twisted around it. He smiled and leaned in for a puff.
"The offer still stands," Kaiba said. "I'll get my car."
Joey looked up at him from beneath his blond fringe. He swallowed down the smoke and rolled his shoulders back. His chin went up as he released it into the air, a billowing stream that twirled towards the light. His body finally felt relaxed. The weed, the nicotine, the sex, the world no longer had that bite.
"I gotta work," Joey said with a shake of his head. "Unless you feel like covering my rent."
Kaiba had the decency to look disappointed. A pout pursed his lips, and he tossed his head back so his bangs fell away from his face. Joey bit down on the end of the cigarette, and then he pushed off the wall. He yanked Kaiba to his mouth and sealed them shut. Smoke poured from his lips to Kaiba's, and he slid his tongue along the seam. He pulled away at the end of his exhale and patted his cheek.
"Maybe we'll see each other around," he said.
Kaiba snatched his wrist as he pulled away, and he pulled one more hit from the cigarette. He pulled in air, and then released it. A smoke ring puffed against Joey's face. He stood tall, straightening his jacket.
"Maybe we will," he said.
He turned on his heel, and Joey watched open mouthed as he marched down the alley towards the street. He took another puff and then stubbed it out on the brick. One quick fix of his clothes, and he headed back inside. The chaos of the staff area hit him immediately, and he ducked inside the bathroom. He glanced at his phone and saw Yugi's message at the top.
Y: promise you'll be there
Y: 9am okay? i'll bring donuts
He sighed and tapped a thumbs up in reply. If Yugi thought it was important, it probably was. Who needed sleep anyway?
Two jobs down and one more to go.
—
Joey slumped over the counter as Anzu went through the morning checklist. She always worked morning shifts, assistant manager privileges, and also because she actually used a checklist while Yugi downed Monster energy drinks. Tristan had come in too, using the downtime to arrange the merch display. They were missing their midnight crew, but Rex and Weevil had grad school classes and research labs. Joey'd expected Solomon to be there to greet them all, but he was in the back office still on the phone. Yugi twitched with a nervous energy, but that might've been the Monster.
"So are we allowed to know what's going on?" Tristan said.
"He's retiring, right?" Joey said. "Yugi's gonna take over."
Yugi shook his head. "What makes you think I'd take over?"
"It's your grandpa's shop," he said.
Anzu dropped a case of vapes next to his head, and he winced away. "You look like shit," she said.
"I worked a catering gig last night," he groaned. "Where is the old man?"
"Careful with those 'old man' comments, Joey," Solomon said as he came out of the back office. He walked on a cane, and he still swung an arm at Joey. "I can still take you."
He put his fist up, popping the air. "Try me."
Solomon laughed good naturedly. He was a short Japanese man who looked a mirror of his grandson. He seemed in good spirits, which did ease Joey's worries. Solomon had been old as long as he'd known him, and while his mind was sharp, he'd had some health concerns over the years.
He picked up a donut and picked up his coffee. They all watched him expectantly, and it was Joey who finally blurt it out.
"Is it good news or bad news?" he said.
Solomon shook his head. "You won't be happy."
"Oh no," Tristan said. "What's going on?"
"I was waiting for our friend to arrive to announce it," he said, "but since everyone's so concerned. It's official as of today. Kame Smoke Shop has been bought."
Silence in the store. Anzu, Joey, and Tristan stared at Gramps, and Yugi bowed his head in anxious admission that he'd already known.
"What do you mean we got bought?" Anzu said.
Tristan slumped over. "We're all getting fired, aren't we?"
"No, no!" Solomon held up his hands. "Absolutely not. A popular dispensary is looking to expand business, and since we already have the licenses and set up, they're essentially rebranding the store. Part of the agreement is no immediate change to staff. In fact, thanks to your experience and expertise, the new owner has agreed to a pay raise."
"What?" Joey said. "What're they going to do?"
"Fresh paint, new signage." Solomon shrugged. "We may be closed for a week or two to renovate, but we'll have plenty of work with inventory and stock. I wouldn't sell if I didn't think this was the best idea."
"How long has this been going on?" Anzu said, looking to Yugi.
"A few months," Solomon admitted. "They wanted quick turnover, and they offered a good deal."
Her eyes flicked back and forth between the Mutos. "Who's going to manage it?"
"The new owners will make that decision," Solomon said.
"Wait, what dispensary is it?" Tristan asked.
Solomon's phone buzzed, and he pulled it out. "That's the new owner. I'll greet him."
He plodded out towards the lobby, and all three of them turned on Yugi.
"I wasn't allowed to say anything," he said. "I didn't even know the company name until like a week ago."
"He still hasn't promoted me," Anzu said. "And now some fresh owner is gonna bring in their own people. How long do you think they'll keep us around?"
"I can't believe he sold it," Joey said. "This place has been here since forever. He's not really gonna let someone else take the name?"
Yugi shrugged. "He decided to retire. He and I both know I'd be no good taking over, and they were offering a lot of money."
"Say the dispensary name," Tristan insisted.
The door jingled as the party came in. They all went straight, putting on their best customer service faces as the lobby door opened. Solomon walked ahead as the new owner held the door for him. His lean frame was accentuated by a white blazer that cinched to his waist, and long tight pants. Joey's eyes followed the length of his legs, admiring his waist, and then centered on his face.
He froze.
"Here's the majority of our team," Solomon was saying as he approached. "They've all worked here for years. This is the new owner of Kame Smoke Shop, Seto Kaiba."
Kaiba's mouth pulled back in a grimace. "It'll be a Kaiba Kush, officially."
"Of course," Solomon said. "This is our assistant manager, Anzu, my grandson Yugi, and our top budtenders, Tristan and Joey."
Kaiba's eyes landed on him for the first time. Yup. Yup. That was definitely the same guy. Cold water poured over Joey as realization dawned on both of them. But Kaiba only blinked and turned his attention back to Solomon.
"We're expanding to new districts in Domino," he said. "We've had great success downtown, and this is a prime location. You've already driven away some competition, according to my research."
"Kame's been here a long time," Solomon said, patting the counter. "She's gone through changes before."
"We'll be renovating," he said. Kaiba glanced up at the ceilings, looking at the brick work. "Bring you in line with Kaiba Kush aesthetics. The changeover will be official in two months. We have a renovation timeline, and Solomon has my guarantee that you will be welcomed as Kaiba Kush employees."
"What if we don't wanna be?" Joey blurted out. He immediately wish he hadn't. He'd never heard of this place, and he didn't know why it deserved to be here over Kame, but Kaiba's eyes zoned in on him. The expression on his face told him to tread carefully.
"Then," Kaiba said slowly, "you might find it very hard to pay your rent."
Joey's mouth snapped shut. Inside he seethed, but he didn't need to blow up Solomon's sweet deal by being an ass.
He barely heard what else Kaiba had to say. He and Solomon mostly talked among themselves, but Anzu listened in when he explained renovations. Tristan looked up pictures of the Kaiba Kush instagram, and the shiny blue and white aesthetic burned Joey's eyes as the guy stood ten feet from him.
Had he known? He couldn't have, and he'd looked just as surprised as Joey. It was a fluke, a chance of fate, a sick disgusting joke from the universe.
Somehow, Joey had fucked himself. It really was a feat.
He ducked into the employee bathroom and ran cold water through his hair. The meeting was basically over, and if he snuck out under the guise of needing his sleep, no one would care. Too much was happening, and he still had to bartend tonight. He threw open the door and ran straight into Kaiba.
"Fuck," he breathed. "Goddamn it, what are you—"
Kaiba's hand covered his mouth, and he shoved him into the bathroom, locking the door behind him. He shoved Joey away.
"Don't say a goddamn thing," he said. "I had no idea you worked here."
"I didn't know either!" Joey said. "I don't shit where I eat, okay?"
"That is a disgusting euphemism," Kaiba said. "Nothing happened, and nothing will happen again. I am expanding my business and not interested in attaching any kind of sexual harrassment charge to it."
Joey put his hands up in peace. "I don't know you. I didn't even know your dispensary."
He huffed at that, and it blew strands of dark hair from his eyes. "You don't have to lie that hard."
"I'm not lying about that," he said.
Kaiba's nose wrinkled. "I don't believe you work in cannabis and haven't seen my dispensary. We have the rooftop lounge and bar."
"Wow, that sounds pretentious," Joey said. "You're not gonna do that here, are you?"
"You'd be lucky if I did," he said. "But no, sadly this decrepit building can't host anything like that. It'll get its own upgrades."
Joey ground down his teeth. "This place has been around for twenty years, and your little trendy nightclub is a guaranteed flash in the pan."
Anger stretched over Kaiba's face. He leaned in close and said, "That sounds like the kind of shit talking I'd expect from someone who couldn't afford to go."
Joey grabbed his collar and shoved him into the wall. Kaiba's hands twisted around his wrist, and when he dragged him up their mouths met in the middle. Hands groped at each other, pulling hair, yanking shirts, tugging hems. The heat from the night before flushed against his face. Kaiba pulled away, teeth caught against his bottom lip. They stared at each other.
Kaiba drew his arm across his mouth. "Perhaps it's better if you aren't an employee of Kaiba Kush."
Joey sucked in air. Joey had spent a lot of his life adapting to sudden change. Stability was a dream. Kame had been here his whole life. Solomon had been a better father to him than his own. He was more than a boss, he was grandfather to his men. He had Joey's loyalty, and he'd earned it.
"How much more are you paying me?" Joey said.
"What?" Kaiba blinked.
"Gramps—Solomon said he negotiated us pay raises." Joey drew closer, refusing to leave his gaze. "How much am I making?"
"$22 an hour," Kaiba said, begrudgingly.
Joey grinned. "That's pretty good money."
"I swear—"
"I'm guaranteed employment, right?" He picked a strand off Kaiba's blazer. "He's not letting you fire us, not at first anyway."
"Within reason," he grumbled.
Joey beamed up at him. "Let's see what you do with the place."
He patted his face one more time and backed out of the bathroom. He skedaddled out the door as fast as he could from there. Hopefully everything was already signed. Joey wasn't about to blow up his life for no reason.
He'd stick with Kame, even if she got a new coat of paint. He loved that place, and with the increase, he might be able to lose one of his other jobs. All he had to do was keep Kaiba off his back.
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