Title: Even A Jerk Like You (No One Should Be Alone On Christmas)

Pairing: slight Puppyshipping

Words: 937

Warnings: No fluff. Just hurt and hints at shit that might go down.

Summery: Sometimes, even when someone hurts you as deeply as Seto had hurt him, you can't help but try to piece yourself back together and take care of them. Puppyshipping, angst.

Chapters: One for now. Toying with the idea of writing another from Seto's half-perspective.

Authors Notes: Check the bottom.

It had been years since they had seen each other.

Years since they fought, years since they became lovers, years since Joey's heart had been shattered.

Years since Joey last cried.

It wasn't by accident. No, Joey meant to see Seto. He had to-he was interviewing to be his secretary after all.

The holiday season had snuck up on the recent collage graduate, and he found that he needed a job. Seto's-Kaiba's, Joey reminded himself-last secretary had just quit, claiming to be unable to 'put up with Kaiba's emotional shit'.

Joey was rather good at that, so he decided that was what he was going to try for.

Things went well-neither yelled, nor cried, nor tried to drudge up the past. They merely went through the interview and Joey found himself with a career.

Christmas was a week away, and Joey was working like a madman. He was being paid a hefty price, and he was earning every cent if it killed him. He knew more now about Seto than maybe even Seto himself did-more than when they were intimate with each other, that was for sure.

Because that's all it had been, according to what the CEO had told him. Sex and kissing. Sex and kissing. Sex and kissing.

But it hadn't been,. Not for Joey.

It was quite by accident that Joey discovered that Seto was alone this holiday. Mokuba's flight had been cancelled due to snow, and for some ridiculous, foolish reason, the thought of the other by himself on Christmas just killed him inside. Instead of cancelling Seto's day off, he decided on the end of the day and said that during that time, Seto would be unavailable for personal reasons. Then he set about getting a tiny tree and some ornaments-he'd get there early in the morning and put everything up the day of Christmas, even if it was his day off.

To say he'd shocked the brunet was a gross understatement. The workaholic stood gaping for a moment and turned to his secretary, who was busying himself with arranging a few boxes beneath the tree.

There was an awkward silence for a long time, but eventually, Seto sat beside Joey on the small couch in the office.

"I don't know what to say."

"Thanks would suffice."

"Not about that. I didn't get you anything.""You gave me a job. I think we're even. Not that my presents for you are as good, but it's something."

"That doesn't count. I gave you the job because you deserved it, not as a gift."

"Don't worry. It's better than being given a gift but no job.""I still don't have anything for you.""I know."

More silence, and Joey handed Seto the boxes.

"Well, tear into them."

The elder did, finding a scarf, hat, and gloves, all woven in white and blue, small silver trimmings here and there.

"I saw you didn't ever wear any, and decided I didn't want you to freeze to death."

"Thank you, they're beautiful. Where did you get them?"

"I didn't. I made them."

A brown brow arched, but its owner opened yet another box, greeted by more cloth. It was a blue and white blanket, plain save for the tassels on the outside that kept it together, and wrapped in it was a worry doll.

"I know you don't believe in the whole magic thing, but I thought you'd appreciate the idea of how this one works. You leave it under your pillow and think of your problems before you go to sleep, and you're supposed to wake up to find them fixed or with an idea of how to fix them."

There was more silence, and this time, it was Joey who broke it.

"I have to go-I promised Serenity that I'd meet her for lunch. Do you want to come along?"

"I don't want to intrude, but thank you."

"You won't intrude-I told her you were going to be alone and she asked me to ask you.""…Then I'll come to keep from being rude.""I thought you might."

They were together the rest of the day and though it was extremely awkward, Seto was glad Joey was making such an effort to give him company.

Which is why they found themselves at his door, saying goodnights and wishing each other a happy holiday.

"I guess this is a silly question, but any hope of Moki coming home for New Years?"

"No. He has other plans that day-he's proposing. To your best friend, actually."

"Finally? I've been wondering why it took so long. Makes sense. Smooth of him."

Silence, and then, "Well, I'm going to head home. Happy Christmas, Kaiba."

He went to turn, and Seto grabbed his wrist.

"…Would you like to stay?"

"What?""Would you like to stay here?"

"I don't know, Kaiba. That might not be the smartest thing."Because he knew he'd go to sleep crying, and that was the last thing he wanted on Christmas.

"I've missed you."

It threw Joey off, but he'd heard it loud and clear.

"…You can't exactly blame me for that one."

"I know."

Being Joey, the blond turned to the house and gave a weak smile.

"Let's go inside before we catch our death."

It wasn't a romantic night full of sex and want and all the other things Seto had claimed to have wanted from their relationship before, if it could've even been called that. It was innocent, the two sharing a bed and nothing more, but that said more than an 'I'm sorry' ever could, and for that moment, Joey was okay with that.

…God, this was so hard to write.

I wanted to try a new style of writing, one that wasn't so personal and…well…omnipotent… and ended up writing what will never happen to me and therefore making it more personal. Well, to me. I was doing so well until they were saying goodnight, and I started crying-I thought I had gotten over my 'dragon' and I hadn't. Haven't. Won't. But this will never happen, and I'm tired of being unable to write the pairing we're so similar to.

I'm terribly sorry if my puppyshipping from now on is terribly bittersweet, but I'm writing from a more realistic point of view now.

Happy holidays, everybody. Merry Chrismannakwanzaa. Or, for people like me who are agnostic (or atheist), happy season-where-you-get-shit-because-other-religions-do.

~MelodiousBloodshed