Disclaimer; I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh.

Closer Than You Think – Prologue

Seto Kaiba stared miserably at his now empty glass of alcohol, silently regretting his decision not to buy more that afternoon. Normally it would not have been a problem but lately he'd been going through his supply like it was going out of style. His little brother was confused and worried about his behaviour, however he was constantly ignoring the small boys questioning and assuring Mokuba that he was fine. No-one, not even his brother, could know what had happened… That was the problem. If only he hadn't been so scared and selfish. He should've told the world how he felt but instead he snuck around as if he had something to be ashamed of, and in doing so he drove away the best thing that had ever happened to him.

"I'm such an idiot." He slurred, resting his head on the table, allowing his mind to drift back to that terrible night that changed his life.

FLASHBACK

Joey sat on Seto's bed looking down at his lover with wide, puppy-dog eyes, "Hey Seto?"

"Mmmm, what is it puppy?"

Joey fidgeted nervously, "I know we've already discussed this but… when are you gonna tell people about us? Only, I don't like lying to my friends and I just…"

Seto sat up, narrowing his eyes dangerously, "I told you before that I have nothing else to say on the matter. I won't have my reputation ruined just because you can't stand keeping secrets from your precious friends!"

Joey jumped up and glared back at his blue-eyed boyfriend, "Your reputation! I get it now, you're ashamed of me!"

"Stop being ridiculous mutt! Now quit your whining and go to sleep."

"So why can't we tell Mokuba then? Because you think he'll find you disgusting?"

"SHUT UP! YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT?" Seto shouted back, glad that Mokuba was sleeping over a friends house that night.

"OH DON'T I? YOU'RE BLOODY ASHAMED OF ME SETO! DON'T BOTHER TRYING TO DENY IT CAUSE I'M NOT AS STUPID AS YA THINK I AM!"

Seto's expression was now as cold as ice and he shrugged nonchalantly, "Fine, I'm ashamed of you. I don't want any one to know that the great Seto Kaiba has been fucking around with a dirt poor loser mutt like you."

He regretted the words as soon as they left his mouth but his stupid pride prevented him from apologising. Instead he watched impassively as his puppy's eyes filled with tears of hurt and shame.

"What? Fucking around? Is that all we've been doing? FUCKING AROUND!" Joey turned and hurriedly threw on his clothes, blinking back the tears that threatened to spill, "Fine, well consider all the 'fucking around' over Kaiba."

Seto did nothing to stop Joey as he walked to the door, hesitating slightly before pushing it open.

"I just thought you should know that I love you Kaiba." He sighed, letting the door shut softly as he left.

'Oh gods, what have I done? I've got to get him back.' Seto thought anxiously.

He ran out of the room and followed the path to his front door, hoping he could catch the blonde before he left. Unfortunately it seemed Joey had sped up his exit after calmly leaving the room because by the time Seto opened the front door he had already disappeared.

"PUPPY!" He screamed, collapsing onto his knees, "JOEY!"

END FLASHBACK

Seto staggered down to the kitchen drunkenly, determined to find more booze to drown his sorrows in. At this point he didn't care if it was the expensive stuff he usually drank or just something cheap that was hidden away. All he knew was that it would numb the pain caused by the loss of his puppy.

"I'm sorry puppy." He mumbled as he collapsed onto the floor just outside the kitchen, "I love you too."

AN: Just thought I'd let you know I lurve reviews. They are my life source. Lol.