[kaiba listens carefully. and he does listen, really and truly, as opposed to the façade of it. he still holds his hands though there's no reason to do so, and while tech won't look at him, he looks at tech. he knows why he's nervous. and he can guess at what's happening here, though he's kind enough not to call it out. no need to embarrass him.

kaiba listens, but by the end, he just shakes his head.]

I want to get back just as much as you do. You know that. But...

[he laces their fingers together. might as well, since they're so close.]

You're going to short out like this. And then you won't be any good to anybody. Just take it easy, at least for a few days. We'll find a solution.

[we. at long last, he did seem to mean it.]