Blood flowed freely through his fingers as his torn knuckles screamed agony. Scarlet droplets fell onto the asphalt as his hand receded to his side, shoulders finally sagging. It wasn't the first time Katsuya Jounouchi had punched a wall and it certainly wouldn't be the last.
He spat a bitter curse into the night air and turned away from the abused brick wall outside his father's apartment. Yet again the drunkard had refused Jounouchi even the courtesy of entering the run down flat to collect the last of his belongings he left there since his move two months ago. Oh well, he figured – he could just come back when the man wasn't at home. After all, the old oak out back was just as good an entrance as the front door.
He hissed as another throb of pain hit his fist. Right now his main priority should be getting back to his own flat and treating his hand. Yugi will get worried if he comes home to a bleeding and frustrated Jou. And a worried Yugi wasn't what Jou wanted to top his day off with. His boyfriend could get real clingy at times, not that he minded as it was highly endearing. So, even though he knew he could handle the injury easily – after all, he'd had much worse – he decided to hurry back to his bike and start his way home.
When he got to his bike he dug around in his pocket for the ignition key, plugged it in, and watched his baby roar to life. He straddled the seat and pushed off, soaring through the lit up streets of his familiar Domino. Maybe, just maybe, Honda's love for these metal beasts rubbed off on him a little. The thought made him smile a little and some of the tension in his chest ebbed away. He'd not seen Honda for several months now as the other had enrolled to a University in England along with Ryou. Jou guessed Honda's schoolgirl crush really did pay off in the end.
And in a way, so did his own. He always admired Yugi for his determination and courage. In time, after their dueling adventures ended, that admiration grew into more, possibly love. It'd been hard at first, Yugi suffered from the loss of the Pharaoh considerably more than anyone else and it had taken him a long while to get back to his usual self. Jou could hardly blame him; the Pharaoh had been a part of him for so long, losing him must have been hell. When the Pharaoh left Yugi lost a part of himself that Jounouchi wasn't sure he would ever recover. They plowed through the pain though, together with their friends, leaning on each other for the support they so badly needed. Now they were fine, although their adventures would always leave a lingering shadow over them.
Yugi was the one to ask Jounouchi out, some half a year ago now. They went on dates, did cute couple stuff, eventually moved in together - both so Jounouchi wouldn't have to live with his asshole of a father and so Yugi could get away from the game shop after his grandfather's passing away. That had been another blow; Yugi's grandfather had suffered from a severe heart attack five months back, leaving Yugi devastated and alone in the game shop. Sooner than later he decided that he couldn't stay and signed the shop off to Otogi. He still worked there when University would allow it; for old times' sake.
Both Yugi and Jou were relatively happy save for occasional melancholy swings at the reminders of lost loved ones. They could manage though, as long as they were together.
Jou flexed his aching hand on the handlebar as he neared his apartment block. It was nice and modern though rather dull, and as he rolled his bike into the garage he noted that the evening air seemed to be getting chillier. Winter was approaching fast.
He grabbed his keys and climbed up the stairs that lead to his apartment. In his opinion using the elevator just to get to the second floor was rather wasteful. Once in, he made a beeline straight to the small kitchenette that harboured the medical kit. He grabbed it, plopped down on the futon that doubled as his and Yugi's bed and began treating the wounds. Ok, maybe the apartment wasn't exactly luxurious but it was the most two University students with only part time jobs to support them could afford, and it wasn't too shabby anyway. To Jou it honestly felt more cosy and lived-in this way.
Hissing as the disinfectant seeped into his flesh he flexed his hand a little to get some feeling of adequacy from it, and proceeded to apply gauze and bandages to it. Yugi would be asking questions later but at least he wouldn't have to see the worst of it. With that in thought, Jounouchi sprawled out on the sofa and decided that the perfect way to spend the time his boyfriend would take getting home from his literature class would be with a nice long nap.
AN: Off to a slow start I guess, but chapters will definitely be getting much longer! Take this as an into if you will. Also, just to eradicate any confusion - this will be a puppyshipping fic, it just needs time to develop (With my current plan Seto appears at the end of chapter 3, if you were wodering). It's my first fanfiction so please be kind! That said, reviews and comments keep me happy, motivated and improving so constructive criticism is very welcome! Also I'm in dire need of beta readers so if anyone is willing to help - I'd be so, so very grateful!