Joey coward in fear as he was once again kicked into the wall of the alleyway. "Please stop" he whimpered, but the beating continued, it stopped momentarily as a huge hand came down and pulled him up by the collar.
"Never show me up again, you hear?" Joey nodded feebly and then he was dropped again. He heard footsteps walking away from him, and he was left alone shivering in the back street, soon after Joey passed out…
As he opened his eyes Joey twitched as light poured into his vision, he could feel that his chest was bear apart from the soft bandages wrapped around his abs. He sighed heavily and grabbed his waist. Joey had no doubt in his mind that Serenity had found him in the alleyway and cared for his injuries inflicted by their father. "Ahh, your awake" Joey heard from across the room, this however, was not Serenity's voice, nor was it the voice of any member of his family. He opened his eyes to see Seto Kaiba sitting at his desk, Seto was the eldest son of the Kaiba family. He pulled off his glasses and dropped them on the table, he stood and proceeded to approach Joey. Joey frantically looked for his work jacket until Seto sat next to him,
"I'm sorry, I won't take up any more of your time, Master Kaiba" Joey said looking just below Seto's chin, eye contact was completely off limits.
"Don't worry about it, After all, you have been in here for over 2 hours, sleeping while I tended to your injuries" He chuckled in reply,
"You sir?" Joey asked surprised, Seto laughed again, he didn't bother to answer the question,
"You know what Wheeler? You remind me of a dog we once had in this house" he laughed. Joey dared to look up,
"Begging your pardon sir, but I have no recollection of a dog ever living in this house, and I've been working here since I was 7 years old, that's 9 years ago" Seto laughed again, it was more of a chuckle, Seto Kaiba didn't laugh, he just smiled, "Yes, it was only a mere puppy I had when I was 5, you would have only been, what, 2 at the time? Any way, it was always misbehaving and my father hit it every time it did, eventually the poor thing died" Seto paused for a moment and seemed to look into the distance, "Do you know why I have compared you to that puppy? Wheeler?" He asked,
"Because, I'm always… being beaten?" Joey hazard the answer,
"Well, yes, but why are you being beaten? Because you always misbehave, that's why your father treats you so, do you understand now?" He asked, once again not excepting an answer, he stood and walked back to his desk. Joey found his jacket and pulled it on gently, but he still caught his muscle and he gasped sharply and stumbled as he did so, the amazing thing was, Seto didn't seem to move, but as Joey fell, Seto caught him, and helped him up, "Thank you sir" Joey mumbled, "Sir, I was wondering, what do you think of my sister?" he asked hesitantly, every member of the Wheeler family knew how Seto Kaiba looked at her,
"What? I have no interest in your sister, my mind is settled on someone else" He smirked,
"Do you mind me asking who?" Joey asked noticing Seto still holding his wrist gently, Seto inched closer and Joey tensed,
"You" he whispered in Joey's ear. He pulled away, and stumbled to the door, "I swear Wheeler you tell anyone what I just said, and I'll see my father sacks your whole family" Seto smiled walking back to his desk,
"Very well, is there anything else I can do for you sir?" Joey asked,
"Oh yes, button up your jacket"…