Dlbn: Hey, everyone! We're back!

Nbld: Finally got bitten by the writing bug for this, so it's coming out. This is the companion/side story for Lollipops and Chainsaws I mentioned in the last few chapters of said fic.

Dlbn: As such, some scenes will overlap with Lollipops and Chainsaws. I did my best to make them not exactly the same and toss in the inner thoughts of Joey and/or Kaiba instead, but some things may be similar because there was no way around it.

Nbld: Most of this is already written out, so we shouldn't run into any issues we had with LAC where there was a long hiatus because inspiration as missing and we caught up on what had already been written.

Dlbn: Hopefully I will have it written completely by next week or so. We shall see.

Nbld: Enough exposition. Let's get on with it!

Disclaimer: I own NOTHING but the plot and random side characters that don't matter. Seto Kaiba, Joey Wheeler, and other Yu-Gi-Oh canon people, places, and things belong to Kazuki Takahashi. I make no money from writing this. I'm just a fangirl having a good time.

Dedication: This fic is dedicated to all of my readers from Lollipops and Chainsaws, whether you reviewed, favorited, alerted, or just glimpsed through and thought I was on drugs. Enjoy!

000

If his friends caught him here, he'd never hear the end of it. At least, that's what Joey Wheeler bitterly thought to himself as he downed his tenth glass of Pepsi since he'd arrived at Domino Lounge three hours ago. The food was subpar, as was the company, but at least he'd get time to himself. He loved hanging with his friends, and Serenity when she felt like hanging with her big brother again, but sometimes he just needed some Joey time. He'd seen no one of interest enter or leave the facility and he was pretty certain it was going to be like that all night. He really needed to use the bathroom, but he didn't want to leave his seat and risk not having one when he returned. It was rather packed for eight on a Tuesday night. He glared out of the corner of his eye at a young couple laughing and standing a little too close together while they ordered their drinks from the rather busy bartender. All his friends had someone they at least had their eye on. For starters, there was Yugi and Atem's strange relationship. And Marik and Bakura's rather obvious, but still secret budding relationship. Not to mention, Yami and Ryou seemed to be getting awfully close. Though she had no chance with him, Tea had a strange crush on Atem, and another on a boy named Daisuke. Duke and Tristan both had their eyes on Serenity, though Joey would kill either one if they even thought of making a move on his precious baby sister. Two of his classmates named Rex and Weevil were starting to get close enough to raise eyebrows, since they were academic rivals and all. But he was alone. Well, so were both of Marik's older siblings and all three Kaiba brothers-though Mokuba and Mai's cousin Rebecca were getting pretty close since they spent time together at summer camp the previous year-so maybe he wasn't so pathetic compared to everyone else. He knew Mai liked him at least a little bit, but more like a sister would like a new baby for a few days when they first came home from the hospital with mommy and daddy.

His eyes drifted to the VIP section upstairs, which was being rented out for a private party for the evening. The people up there were either rich or famous, he was certain, and their booming laughter was coursing through the establishment like blood through his veins. Joey sighed, declining another drink when the bartender asked.

"It's on the house, doll." She informed him, preparing a fresh glass with a little umbrella. "A young man in VIP requested it."

He blinked. He wasn't used to people buying him drinks.

"Oh…uh…tell him thank you…?" He replied, taking the drink.

She smirked at him and gave him a wink before going to help other people. He felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up and shivered. Someone was behind him, weren't they?

"All alone, Wheeler?" A familiar voice wondered. "Where's the rest of the loser crew?"

Joey rolled his eyes. "None of yer business, Rich Boy." He stated. "Go bother someone who gives a damn, would ya?"

"How polite." The other teen took a seat at the bar next to him. "But I guess I can't expect anything more from you."

"Hey, who invited you to have a seat, Kaiba?" Joey glared.

Seto cocked a brunette eyebrow. "Who said I needed an invitation?"

Joey glowered and closed himself around his drink. He wanted to get away from everyone he knew. Not spend time with the guy he hated most. The guy was a grade A prick. He might have been the Principal's son, but Joey wasn't going to give him any special treatment for it. At least his brother Mokuba and their adoptive brother Noah were tolerable. Noah was normally apologetic for the eldest brother's behavior, but Seto never cared.

"Get lost." Joey ordered. "I don't wanna be bothered."

"You're at a club, you idiot. People are going to bother you."

"I'd prefer people over you." Joey snorted. "Seriously, get lost. I need space."

Seto rolled his eyes, flagging down the waitress with a lift of his wrist and asking her for a soda. She nodded and prepared the drink for him quickly.

"Free bar."

"I'm surprised you're not up in VIP with the rest of the Snob Club."

Seto shrugged. "Nothing in it for me." He informed. "But for your information, I needed to get away from the crowds."

"You picked the wrong place to avoid crowds." Joey snorted. "Pretty sure all the girls will be all over you once they realize you got dough."

Seto rolled his eyes. "I don't care much for women, Wheeler." He stood, slapping a tip down on the counter. "And thus far, no one's bothered me."

Joey rolled his eyes as the eldest brother walked away, disappearing into the crowded dance floor.

"You know, normally people are a little nicer to guys that buy them drinks." The bartender informed, appearing in front of him while wiping down the inside of a glass.

"That was Kaiba?" Joey looked over his shoulder, but didn't spot the tall brunette anywhere. "Why the hell would he buy me a drink? We hate each other."

"Some people are more complicated than you think, hon." She informed. "I'd give him a chance. He's a cute one."

"He's a dick."

"Well, you know what they say."

"I do?"

"You are what you eat." She winked, laughing as a blush spread across his face, before leaving.

Wait, did she just out Kaiba to him? That was odd. He laughed, head down and blonde locks obscuring his face as he did so. Kaiba bought him a damn drink. Just what was he playing at? Joey looked up at the VIP and spotted Kaiba leaning on a guard rail just to the left of being right over him. He couldn't see where his eyes were, but they certainly weren't on the redhead girl next to him in the low bearing top and high rise jeans. But he was talking to her, it looked like. His arms were crossed over the railing, hand holding his glass of Sprite barely gripping onto the nearly empty glass. He seemed to sense someone watching him and his eyes shifted towards Joey. The blonde looked away, blushing wildly. Alright, the bartender had a point. In the right light, the guy wasn't bad looking. But he was still a douche!

000

Joey burst into the men's bathroom of Domino Lounge about fifteen minutes after his encounter with Kaiba. He didn't want to lose his seat, but his bladder was screaming at him to use the bathroom or wet himself. He quickly unzipped and relieved himself, groaning in content as his bladder emptied and his stomach stopped hurting. One shake, two shakes, and he turned to the sink to wash up. The bathroom door opened and he barely caught a glimpse of a long white coat without sleeves and brunette hair in an angular cut. He didn't have time to groan before he was spotted.

"Quit staring." Seto complained. "Creep…"

Joey clenched his hands into fists on the edge of the sink. "Thanks for the drink." He muttered.

Kaiba seemed surprised as he finished. "Yeah." He stated, using a sink three to Joey's left.

"Why?"

"What?"

"Why did you…?" Joey shook his head. "What do I care? Thanks. I'm outta here."

"Wait."

Despite everything in his body telling Joey to ignore the pretentious high schooler and keep going out of the bathroom, he stopped.

"What?"

"You could at least look at me when you thank me."

Joey turned on his heel, glaring out from under his bangs. "Are you frigging kidding me?" He complained. "You really are full of yourself, Kaiba."

"Haven't we evolved past last name calling, Wheeler."

"Name the last time you said my first name."

The other's lips pinched into a frown.

"Thought so." Joey folded his arms over his chest. "What the hell are you playing at?"

"Excuse you?"

"You just don't go and buy drinks for someone you hate, idiot."

Seto rolled his eyes. "You're assuming I hate you. And here I hoped you'd be smarter than that."

"You trying to compliment me? What gives?"

You are what you eat. The bartender's joke flashed through his mind.

Kaiba rolled his eyes. "I said I had hoped that you were. But you've proven me wrong, Wheeler. Excellent job."

"Can you not be an asshole for five damn minutes?"

"Can you not be a total moron?"

Joey glared, hands balling into fists at his side. He wouldn't strike the guy. That would get him kicked out of the club. It might have been a slow night with barely any interesting people running around, but that didn't mean he wanted to get kicked out of the place and never allowed back.

"You buy me a drink, but you're a douche about it." Joey rolled his eyes. "Why am I not surprised?"

"Why are you so fixated on this?" Kaiba folded his arms over his chest as well, spreading his legs a bit in a casual, but defensive, stance. "A lapse in judgment, clearly."

"…"

"What? Normally you can't shut up. Now you're speechless."

"You're…uh…you're into guys…right…?"

"Where do you get off asking something like that? That's not your damn business." Kaiba glared, but there was a blush poking through his flawless skin.

"Judging from the look on your face, I'm not off base." Joey smirked. "You wanna keep secrets, Kaiba, be my guest. Just do a better job at hiding them, would ya? Save yourself the humiliation."

"Why?" Seto smirked. "You interested or something?"

"Never!" Joey glared. "I can't frigging stand you, rich boy."

He didn't miss the look shifting in Kaiba's eyes or the little grimace, but he'd pretend he did.

"Makes two of us." Seto snorted.

"Good." Joey folded his arms over his chest and turned away. "Glad we're on the same page."

"As am I." Seto just stared at the blonde's back as he left.

With a sigh, the brunette glared at his reflection in the mirror. It just wasn't his night.