Kaiba watches him and Chenzira for a moment, and...something heavy settles in his chest. He gently shifts Selene onto the pillow beside him, tucking the blanket over her so he can fully process his emotions without fear of waking her.
"It's...hm. Maybe it'll help if you know where I'm coming from."
He exhales sharply and closes his eyes. "I don't know how much you learned about me when you were...ah. Planning for Battle City, but. I wasn't always a Kaiba. I was born into a normal family and might've lived a normal life, but my mother died giving birth to Mokuba. The grief killed my father shortly after. We were bounced from relative to relative, and they spent everything our parents left us before dumping us at an orphanage."
His hand reaches up to touch the locket he wears, opening it for a moment. His brother's smiling face is enough encouragement to keep him talking.
"If you're an orphan, people think something's wrong with you. I tried to impress adults by being a good kid anyway, but I couldn't find anyone who was willing to adopt Mokuba too...until Gozaburo Kaiba came to the orphanage as a publicity stunt. I knew he wasn't going to win Father of the Year, but it was the only option to get us out of there together. I'd endure anything I had to to secure a good life for Mokuba."
He squeezes the locket in his hand, almost to the point it cuts him.
"I'd convinced him to train me as his heir. He kept us in separate wings of the mansion because seeing my little brother would distract me. He kept me in a choke collar, whipped me if I failed to ace any of my tests. Trained me to be brutal and ruthless...and when he dared me to take control of the company from him, when I played his game to perfection, he taught me his last lesson. To lose is to die. Turned out later he'd faked his death so he could attack me again later, but...seeing that was a turning point for me. I'd completely turned into his mirror image as a monster who'd stop at nothing, caring for no one. And that didn't change until the Pharaoh shattered my soul and forced me to rebuild it."
A deep exhale, and his head slumps forward, bowed over his knees. That...was a lot. "Our stories aren't the same, but...I have a long way to go too. I'm the last person who can judge."
The Egyptian listens intently, eventually looking up when Kaiba starts talking about the orphanage. It had never occurred to him, mostly because he didn't actually know how those sort of places were run, that adopting siblings together would be such a strange concept, especially with them being as close as they are.
He sacrificed so much for Mokuba to ensure they live a good life. A slow burn plan and a risky bet but it sure as hell paid off in the end. They say parents have children to become their replacements. If Gozaburo hadn't been expecting Seto not to take over the company and replacement him as head of the "dynasty" then he was a fool. Faking his own death proved that.
What an interesting coincidence that both would wind up turning into similar versions of their fathers. Marik with his rage, stubborn pride, and cruelty. Kaiba with his sharp mind, brutality, and tenacity.
The blonde gets up, scooping Chenzira up to place on his shoulder, then takes a seat next to Kaiba. He sits silent for a few moments before speaking.
This should be where he comforts him. Tells him it's alright now. That they've over come their hardships.
Instead he asks one thing in a calm voice: "... Is he gone now? Your father."
"Mm, finally," Kaiba answers carefully. "What happened was---it turned out he'd been so willing to adopt me because I resembled Noa, his biological son. My stepbrother had been fatally wounded when he was about twelve, so Gozaburo uploaded his brain into a computer...and he got so busy training me that he slowly forgot about Noa. But when I seized the company, he uploaded his own brain into the same computer and they hatched a plot for revenge."
This part is...actually important, but the details aren't, so he starts to speak a little faster.
"When we were on the blimp during Battle City, they launched their attack. Forcibly uploaded Mokuba and I into the computer, and they accidentally trapped Yugi and his friends too. Noa battled us, manipulated Mokuba, the Pharaoh had to save me yet again...turned out their plan was to eject one of their brains into my body so they could seize control of the company that way. When that failed, Gozaburo betrayed Noa and switched gears to launching nuclear strikes on the world's centers of government---Noa kept Gozaburo locked down and launched a strike on the computer to prevent that, so both their minds are gone."
It had been too much for Seto to process at the time. He'd coldly told Mokuba they needed to move on, but now...
"Gozaburo had treated Noa much more kindly than he'd ever treated Mokuba or I, but it was all a farce to control him in the end. Noa befriended Mokuba in there, and...he gave up his own chance at life to prevent Gozaburo from winning. He'd only been twelve, and he never got to truly live."
Kaiba squeezes the locket once more. "Living freely is something most people take for granted, but it's a gift. I don't want to waste it this time."
Marik... vaguely remembers some of these things happening. It's a fog though since he was half a spirit roaming around without his body. That's not something he ever wants to experience again, that's for sure. The blimp being attacked, explosions. Huh... his head hurts a bit trying to remember. Perhaps because those are his darker half's memories.
So Gozaburo did have a decent plan all along. At least until the end. Marik suppresses a smile as Kaiba tells him about how all of that came tumbling down and literally blew up in the man's face. Serves him right. What Noa did was noble in his eyes, and... hearing that he was only 12 when this all went down... maybe what Marik did wasn't... so bad? (No, it's still bad.) That's not important right now though.
Kaiba and Mokuba won't suffer at Gozaburo's hand anymore and are able to carve their own paths in life. That's good. He hesitates a bit before putting a hand on Kaiba's shoulder although he's fully expecting the other teen to swat him away.
"It... It really is. You've already done so much back home. Even here... you're going to do great things. I know it," he offers a small smile. "You've said it to me so I'm going to say it back: Don't sell yourself short. You've gone through... well, I doubt many people have gone through things as bizarrely and traumatic as we have... but the fact that you keep a calm head in most situations, that you've got a pretty clear idea of what you want in life... I'd say you're pretty well put together. Especially after the Pharaoh broke your mind. I've never heard of anyone who's survived that Shadow Power before. But you not only came back, you're even more certain of things. You always find a way to bounce back and better yourself."
"... I'd be lying if I said I wasn't envious of your tenacity and strength."
Kaiba reaches over to idly stroke Selene's head. The little Eevee is soft and cozy...it grounds him. And the more he's talked, the more he's felt strangely light. He knows he's carried a burden all this time, but...this strange world is a chance to live the way he chooses.
He doesn't seem to mind the supportive touch, as evidenced by the little smile on his face. It's strange to admit to himself, but he trusts Marik. They're a team. He does reach for Marik's hand...but instead of pulling it away, he grasps it.
"We were dealt bad hands, but a duelist always has tools. You have a strong team...and you have me. Don't impose limits on yourself."
He squeezes Marik's hand warmly before dropping it.
Marik is honestly surprised that Kaiba reacts in a positive manner to his touch. Neither are particularly familiar or comfortable doing those sort of things. He himself usually sees it as a sign of weakness. It's a useful tactic when trying to get someone to lower their guard. But both of them are open right now. There's nothing selfish to gain from this. It's not... weak. Being able to unload like this has helped him feel lighter, something he hasn't really felt since his split personality was banished to the Shadow Realm. It seems to have helped Kaiba as well.
The blonde grunts in agreement, looking down at the floor for a time before returning his gaze to his companion. Chenzira watches the two with a small smile. Marik's hand returns to Kaiba's shoulder.
"Thank you, Kaiba."
Speaking of duelists, if their cards are on the table right now...
"... You're the first real human friend I've had." He worded that carefully on purpose. Marik cherishes all of his pokémon, especially Chenzira, but there is still a small disconnect.
His grip tightens a bit on the other teen's shoulder out of reassurance. "I promise I won't let you down and... that I've got your back, no matter what happens."
Kaiba feels...strange. It's so weird to let Marik close to him like this, to willingly drop his guard. But they've bonded on the start of this strange journey, and away from all the drama of the past, surrounded by teams who love them...maybe they can both stretch beyond the boundaries they lived within before.
Even still, the word feels heavy on his tongue. A concept he scoffed at so many times, yet...
"You're my first human friend too," he admits softly. He'd had something with the Pharaoh by the end, and Yugi had wanted them to be friends, but...they'd never gotten there. Maybe it could've happened someday. But now he has this. Marik, teaching him the ways of the wild and encouraging him on this journey. And he wants to make sure Marik finds his dreams too. If anyone deserves freedom, it's him.
He reaches back, winding his own arm around Marik's shoulder. "You too. Looks like we're stuck together, and...I protect what's mine, including my. Friends."
It's said with an awkward little chuckle. Still getting used to that word.
It's a strange word for him as well. It sounds right when describing his team but to a person...? Hm. He hopes it didn't sound forced when he said it.
What Kaiba does and says next though causes him to stare, eyes widened and his mouth open slightly. The other teen isn't one to beat around the bush, he already knew that. And he knew about his possessiveness. But to hear it applied to him, to have that arm around him. Human contact. Human affection. Unfiltered emotions. Everything feels so muted nowadays to him. His highs and lows never last long, almost immediately mellowing out. There's a reason he's begun to stagnate while in this place although he doesn't know what it is.
This is the first time in what seems like forever that he's feeling something deeper than usual. Are those...? Ugh. No. His eyes are beginning to tear up. Of all the stupid emotions to leak through, why did it have to be this? Marik bites his lip, looking away to clench his eyes shut and to try and calm himself down. He lets out a huff and turns back to Kaiba, having recovered quickly enough, offering a slightly awkward smile.
"Yeah... Friends." A pause followed by a quiet chuckle. "... Honestly never thought I'd use that word to describe someone in my life, you know?"
Luckily, Kaiba's not experienced enough in dealing with emotions on the regular to realize what Marik is experiencing. He gently pats his friend's shoulder once more before letting go, taking a deep breath. This is real, then. They're friends.
"Think you'll be able to sleep well?" he asks, soft and just a little awkward. He's worried he might've stirred something up back there.
The Egyptian nods and moves off of Kaiba's bed, pulling the sheets back to climb into his own. Chenzira climbs over to rest on his trainer's chest and sprawl out.
He debates asking the other what he's thanking him for. He didn't really do anything in his eyes. Unless Kaiba's admitting it did him good to get that all off of his chest as well. Whatever the reason Marik smiles over at his friend, idly patting Chen's back. "Night, Kaiba."
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
cw: adding parental death to that...
"It's...hm. Maybe it'll help if you know where I'm coming from."
He exhales sharply and closes his eyes. "I don't know how much you learned about me when you were...ah. Planning for Battle City, but. I wasn't always a Kaiba. I was born into a normal family and might've lived a normal life, but my mother died giving birth to Mokuba. The grief killed my father shortly after. We were bounced from relative to relative, and they spent everything our parents left us before dumping us at an orphanage."
His hand reaches up to touch the locket he wears, opening it for a moment. His brother's smiling face is enough encouragement to keep him talking.
"If you're an orphan, people think something's wrong with you. I tried to impress adults by being a good kid anyway, but I couldn't find anyone who was willing to adopt Mokuba too...until Gozaburo Kaiba came to the orphanage as a publicity stunt. I knew he wasn't going to win Father of the Year, but it was the only option to get us out of there together. I'd endure anything I had to to secure a good life for Mokuba."
He squeezes the locket in his hand, almost to the point it cuts him.
"I'd convinced him to train me as his heir. He kept us in separate wings of the mansion because seeing my little brother would distract me. He kept me in a choke collar, whipped me if I failed to ace any of my tests. Trained me to be brutal and ruthless...and when he dared me to take control of the company from him, when I played his game to perfection, he taught me his last lesson. To lose is to die. Turned out later he'd faked his death so he could attack me again later, but...seeing that was a turning point for me. I'd completely turned into his mirror image as a monster who'd stop at nothing, caring for no one. And that didn't change until the Pharaoh shattered my soul and forced me to rebuild it."
A deep exhale, and his head slumps forward, bowed over his knees. That...was a lot. "Our stories aren't the same, but...I have a long way to go too. I'm the last person who can judge."
no subject
He sacrificed so much for Mokuba to ensure they live a good life. A slow burn plan and a risky bet but it sure as hell paid off in the end. They say parents have children to become their replacements. If Gozaburo hadn't been expecting Seto not to take over the company and replacement him as head of the "dynasty" then he was a fool. Faking his own death proved that.
What an interesting coincidence that both would wind up turning into similar versions of their fathers. Marik with his rage, stubborn pride, and cruelty. Kaiba with his sharp mind, brutality, and tenacity.
The blonde gets up, scooping Chenzira up to place on his shoulder, then takes a seat next to Kaiba. He sits silent for a few moments before speaking.
This should be where he comforts him. Tells him it's alright now. That they've over come their hardships.
Instead he asks one thing in a calm voice: "... Is he gone now? Your father."
no subject
This part is...actually important, but the details aren't, so he starts to speak a little faster.
"When we were on the blimp during Battle City, they launched their attack. Forcibly uploaded Mokuba and I into the computer, and they accidentally trapped Yugi and his friends too. Noa battled us, manipulated Mokuba, the Pharaoh had to save me yet again...turned out their plan was to eject one of their brains into my body so they could seize control of the company that way. When that failed, Gozaburo betrayed Noa and switched gears to launching nuclear strikes on the world's centers of government---Noa kept Gozaburo locked down and launched a strike on the computer to prevent that, so both their minds are gone."
It had been too much for Seto to process at the time. He'd coldly told Mokuba they needed to move on, but now...
"Gozaburo had treated Noa much more kindly than he'd ever treated Mokuba or I, but it was all a farce to control him in the end. Noa befriended Mokuba in there, and...he gave up his own chance at life to prevent Gozaburo from winning. He'd only been twelve, and he never got to truly live."
Kaiba squeezes the locket once more. "Living freely is something most people take for granted, but it's a gift. I don't want to waste it this time."
no subject
So Gozaburo did have a decent plan all along. At least until the end. Marik suppresses a smile as Kaiba tells him about how all of that came tumbling down and literally blew up in the man's face. Serves him right. What Noa did was noble in his eyes, and... hearing that he was only 12 when this all went down... maybe what Marik did wasn't... so bad? (No, it's still bad.) That's not important right now though.
Kaiba and Mokuba won't suffer at Gozaburo's hand anymore and are able to carve their own paths in life. That's good. He hesitates a bit before putting a hand on Kaiba's shoulder although he's fully expecting the other teen to swat him away.
"It... It really is. You've already done so much back home. Even here... you're going to do great things. I know it," he offers a small smile. "You've said it to me so I'm going to say it back: Don't sell yourself short. You've gone through... well, I doubt many people have gone through things as bizarrely and traumatic as we have... but the fact that you keep a calm head in most situations, that you've got a pretty clear idea of what you want in life... I'd say you're pretty well put together. Especially after the Pharaoh broke your mind. I've never heard of anyone who's survived that Shadow Power before. But you not only came back, you're even more certain of things. You always find a way to bounce back and better yourself."
"... I'd be lying if I said I wasn't envious of your tenacity and strength."
no subject
He doesn't seem to mind the supportive touch, as evidenced by the little smile on his face. It's strange to admit to himself, but he trusts Marik. They're a team. He does reach for Marik's hand...but instead of pulling it away, he grasps it.
"We were dealt bad hands, but a duelist always has tools. You have a strong team...and you have me. Don't impose limits on yourself."
He squeezes Marik's hand warmly before dropping it.
no subject
The blonde grunts in agreement, looking down at the floor for a time before returning his gaze to his companion. Chenzira watches the two with a small smile. Marik's hand returns to Kaiba's shoulder.
"Thank you, Kaiba."
Speaking of duelists, if their cards are on the table right now...
"... You're the first real human friend I've had." He worded that carefully on purpose. Marik cherishes all of his pokémon, especially Chenzira, but there is still a small disconnect.
His grip tightens a bit on the other teen's shoulder out of reassurance. "I promise I won't let you down and... that I've got your back, no matter what happens."
no subject
Even still, the word feels heavy on his tongue. A concept he scoffed at so many times, yet...
"You're my first human friend too," he admits softly. He'd had something with the Pharaoh by the end, and Yugi had wanted them to be friends, but...they'd never gotten there. Maybe it could've happened someday. But now he has this. Marik, teaching him the ways of the wild and encouraging him on this journey. And he wants to make sure Marik finds his dreams too. If anyone deserves freedom, it's him.
He reaches back, winding his own arm around Marik's shoulder. "You too. Looks like we're stuck together, and...I protect what's mine, including my. Friends."
It's said with an awkward little chuckle. Still getting used to that word.
no subject
What Kaiba does and says next though causes him to stare, eyes widened and his mouth open slightly. The other teen isn't one to beat around the bush, he already knew that. And he knew about his possessiveness. But to hear it applied to him, to have that arm around him. Human contact. Human affection. Unfiltered emotions. Everything feels so muted nowadays to him. His highs and lows never last long, almost immediately mellowing out. There's a reason he's begun to stagnate while in this place although he doesn't know what it is.
This is the first time in what seems like forever that he's feeling something deeper than usual. Are those...? Ugh. No. His eyes are beginning to tear up. Of all the stupid emotions to leak through, why did it have to be this? Marik bites his lip, looking away to clench his eyes shut and to try and calm himself down. He lets out a huff and turns back to Kaiba, having recovered quickly enough, offering a slightly awkward smile.
"Yeah... Friends." A pause followed by a quiet chuckle. "... Honestly never thought I'd use that word to describe someone in my life, you know?"
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"Think you'll be able to sleep well?" he asks, soft and just a little awkward. He's worried he might've stirred something up back there.
no subject
"Better than I have in years, I think. How about you?"
Kaiba helped him immensely today. He hopes... that he was able to return the favor, even if just a little.
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"...I'll be fine. Make sure you get your rest now before we hit the road again."
And he'll carefully crawl into bed beside Selene, laughing as the little Eevee snuggles up to him. Everything's surprisingly fine.
"Good night you two. And...thanks."
no subject
He debates asking the other what he's thanking him for. He didn't really do anything in his eyes. Unless Kaiba's admitting it did him good to get that all off of his chest as well. Whatever the reason Marik smiles over at his friend, idly patting Chen's back. "Night, Kaiba."