Family Fued

Part 3 - Tad bit of drama

Yusei finished wiping the plate with his tongue and rose, patting his belly in fullness. A great swig of his water later, he took a few steps over to his eagerly-waiting friends and smiled. "Again, thanks!"

"No problem child~!" Jack cooed, patting Yusei's back, whist the 'child' stood, blank-faced.

Crow scratched his head, diverting his attention to his wallet lay on the side. He checked the contents, sighed, and turned back to the pair.

"Jaaack... psssst Jaaaack!" Hinting at the blonde still clinging to his child, Crow beckoned Jack over to him for a conversation out of Yusei's hearing range.

Jack joined his ginger friend and leant in (after glancing over his shoulder to ensure the shuddering man hadn't noticed him move).

Whispering under his breath, Crow stated he had bare amounts of money to spend today, for what they planned to do with Yusei. Jack spat.

"We don't need that much money, come on."

"I don't think you understand..." Crow showed his wallet off, and the empty insides excerpt from a few coins and a dollar note or a few. At max, he had around $10 (rounded up of course).

"Oh." Jack sighed.

"You don't happen to have any spare?" Squinting his eyes at Jack, Crow pouted and asked.

A simple shake of his head confirmed Crow's suspicions.

"Guys? Having a mothers' meeting over there?" Yusei queried, wincing at the close hugging occurring between the two who had leaned in to each other so far that at first glance, Yusei thought they were commencing to make more children. Eep.

Jack and Crow glanced at each other, frowned, then shoved each other away, looking away as they stood metres apart.

Yusei chuckled, then proceeded to enter the couple's 'squabble space', in the middle of the fire.

"Yeh yeh son. Well..." Crow began, feeling somewhat ashamed of his words, "we were planning to take you out around and ya know, treat you like friends-"

"Parents." Jack interrupted.

"... Should." Crow finished, scowling at the smirking man.

Yusei sighed, sheepishly grinning. "Sounds fun."

"But we don't have much money... To spend like that." Looking away, Crow slumped on the side counter in a defeated way.

His friends looked to him, whilst Yusei stepped closer, laying a hand on Crow's shoulder.

"Crow." He glanced over at Jack to direct his attention to both, saying "Jack" to have both their attention.

"It doesn't matter what money we have. It doesn't matter what time we have. It doesn't matter how we spend both; what matters is that we spend it together... We don't need money to walk around together, to duel, to laugh and to talk. We just need each other. And that's all I want, to spend time with you guys – time away from work and solitude here, I don't mind what we do, where we go, how we do it. What matters to me is who I'm with; you guys."

Crow and Jack blinked, staring at Yusei as the camera seemed to pan slowly around him during the monologue.

Eventually, as Yusei stood holding both men's hands at this point as at some time during his speech, he had inexplicably slid his hands to hold the other two's, alike to a child holding their parents' hands, Jack spoke, tightening this hand grip.

"Yusei. I understand, and agree. Completely. Crow's just being petty."

At this, Crow's neck twisted to the blonde, feeling rage build.

"PETTY?! ME?! You, pal, are the one always saying "Ooh, expensive coffee is best, ooh, gotta spend money on coffee and ramen, that's the only way you know it's good! Money money money!" Hypocritical, much." He had pulled from Yusei's grip and was burning in front of Jack, enraged at the ignorance of his ideology.

"Tch. Ramen reminds me of the times we ate together, that's why I consume in in such quantities." Jack turned, pouting.

Crow sighed, alongside Yusei.

"I get it. But we can do other things together. You're the one who never hangs with us and, oh, is the TRAITOR!!"

This word seemed to trigger Jack.

"W h a t." He monotonously stated, blankly staring. Yusei cowered and backed up slowly as Crow continued.

"Yeah, traitor, stealing Yusei's card and the duel runner we worked so hard on for your own selfish gain. You can't talk about our togetherness."

Jack twitched. "You are the one who left Team Satisfaction first. DO NOT call me the traitor."

Fire burnt in the room. Heat rose. Yusei gulped.

"Shortly before you, yeah. Least I stayed with Yusei and helped him get over what you did."

Jack cracked his head to Yusei, who was cowering on a back wall.

"Is this true, Yusei?" Jack began making his way to Yusei, one step at a time.

"W-well... I was hurt but..."

"How hurt?" Jack closed in as Crow watched.

"Um... I mean, I got over it..." Yusei felt Jack corner him, shuffling over to a more free area, to no avail as Jack slammed his hands against the wall, trapping the shivering man to his place.

"HOW. HURT?" Jack yelled almost in his ears, startling the Fudo in letting an "Eep!" Escape his lips.

"He cried."

Far back behind, Crow spoke, more serious and calm.

Jack turned his head over, then back to face Yusei, whom did not seem to deny it.

"You... Cried when I left?" He asked, expression seeming to soften as his voice quietened.

"C-Crow, that's a stretch—"

"No it isn't. It's true- he came to me at night, after it happened and after returning Rally to the guys..." Crow walked up to the pair as Jack left the wall, giving Yusei more space yet never leaving an eye off him.

"He was drenched in rain, was tired, and sulky. I asked what was wrong and immediately he threw himself to the ground and yelled "He's gone!" – obviously I was confused." Yusei bowed his head, murmuring to Crow to stop as Jack glared more attentively to Crow.

"I asked who had gone, then he said you. I didn't understand, and by how Yus had reacted, I thought you died, as he began crying and sniffing. 'Cause, I guess a part of you did die that night..."

Yusei never looked up. Crow looked off. Jack... Jack looked to the two consecutively, reaching a hand out to the pair and grabbing their arms in a somewhat pained manner, causing both to eye him.

"I didn't know... It would affect you that badly, both of you." He gritted his teeth, guilt welling up. After the pair noticed his expression change, they felt guilt also build.

"N-nah, man, we're over it. I-uh..." Jack's expression had greatly contorted, worrying the others.

"I'm truly... I-" Jack's speech had broken as he shivered, growling and gritting himself to calm himself.

"Jack..." Yusei murmured.

Suddenly, the shivering blonde grasped both men and tugged them into himself, hugging them tight. They both gasped, not usually having such a close embrace with the blonde.

Jack murmured through both their clothes as he buried into them. "I'm sorry... I was resentful too after, it wasn't worth it... It broke us..."

Crow reached his hands up to hold onto Jack, "Hey! C-c'mon, don't make me..." He felt himself let out tears, this buried his face in his friend's chest to cover himself. Yusei leaned in closer (if physically possible at this point) and hugged back.

"What happened happened. Our bonds weren't broken, we're here, stronger than ever – it made us stronger. Please, don't let it tear at us anymore!"

Jack held them closer, biting his lip. "Yeah... I- I love you both..."