"You're an amateur."

"You're just a second rate duelist ."

"You're dog and a loser with no skill."

"You're a disgrace to the game."

"You'll never amount to anything."

"Joey."

Joey opened his eyes slowly to find himself staring at his feet. Valon observed Joey with concern, the blonde had gone through the initiation no more then a few hours ago. At the moment Valon was trying to help the crimson eyed teen with his wounds, but Joey every now and then seemed to zone out.

And every time he did Valon noticed the way Joey's eyes narrowed, the way his lip pulled back into a faint snarl, the way his ruby eyes seemed to ignite with hatred.

For some reason it caused something to stir within the brunette. What it was he couldn't quite pin point though. The pain and humiliation Joey felt made Valon feel...furious.

The Aussie paused seeing that Joey wasn't responding to him, he cleared his throat softly before continuing, "Don't worry Mate, they won't be able to hurt you anymore," he promised.

Joey didn't respond though, he didn't so much as blink or nod to show any sign that he had even heard what Valon had said to him. This caused the Aussie to let out a sigh of resignation, the blue eyed biker instead turned his attention back to the blond's arm.

He continued wiping off the blood that was caked there, while at the same time trying to be mindful of the other cuts and bruises strewn about the otherwise flawless sun-kissed skin.

"Why are you here?"

Valon widened his eyes and looked over at the younger boy, "What do you mean by that?" he asked curiously. Joey opened his mouth, but stopped before he said anything. He licked his dry lips, "..What happened to you..." he asked slowly and hesitantly.

Almost as if he was trying to figure out how to phrase his question. Like he was afraid to ask Valon the question, as if he was scared of being reprimanded for it. Valon's gaze dropped upon understanding the blonde's question.

"Dartz found me in a juvenile correction facility," he replied in a nearly monotone voice and pretended he was concentrating on Joey's injuries. "He offer'd me a way out 'a there, so I took his offer," he explained calmly while he smoothed out a bandage over the cut.

"And I can tell ya one thing Mate, I've never regretted it," he said.

Crimson eyes finally looked down to meet pools of azure. And this time Valon saw something different reflected in those ruby orbs, it wasn't hatred this time, nor was it pain, it was...more like pleading. Sort of a form of desperation.

"..Really?" Joey asked his voice trembling with uncertainty, innerly begging for some type of security some form of reassurance that he had indeed made the right decision and hadn't walked into another trap. That's all he had done his entire life; he trusted people and they led him into trap after trap after trap. And god he prayed that this time it was different. Because he honestly didn't know what he'd do if it wasn't.

Valon's eyes softened in understanding, he knew the pain that the blonde felt. He remembered feeling it every single day living in that orphanage and that facility. Waiting everyday for someone, anyone to take him away from his never ending nightmare. And feeling the sting of betrayal when no one ever came to his aid.

He slowly removed his hands from the blondes bruised arm and gently took both of his hands. Joey's eyes widened in surprise, but didn't try to yank his hands backwards or snap at Valon. Instead he just stared at the brunette waiting with baited breath to see what he would do next.

Valon wrapped his two hands around both of the younger boys smaller ones, and gazed up into the others eyes.

"It's all over now. You made the right choice," he said slowly and confidently. Joey seemed to sag back with a strange sense of relief, but he didn't move or break eye contact with the other man, at most he let out a small silent breath that he felt he had been holding for much to long.

If anything that reaction only made Valon grasp the younger boys hands more firmly. Almost on instinct he slowly started rubbing his thumb over the duelists wrist in a circular motion. Trying to soothe any distress the young blonde might be feeling.

Joey remained still; almost too still, he felt so strange. What was happening to him? Why did it feel so hard to breath right now?

This was too overwhelming it was too much to take in all in one day. And feeling these warm hands wrapped around his own, watching those beautiful cerulean eyes staring at him, hearing that low soothing voice lulling all his doubts and fears...it was too much.

"I-I'm tired," Joey said suddenly and a little too quickly for his taste. Valon blinked in surprise, "Oh...alright then." he said softly and removed his hands from the others. Valon stood gracefully from his kneeling position on the floor; lacking all forms of tension that Joey was feeling at the moment. Although Joey would never admit it out loud, as soon as Valon let go his hands; they felt cold and he suddenly yearned for the others warmth again.

"I guess I'll show ya to where ya gonna be bunkin'.." he stated cooly waiting for Joey to stand and follow him. Joey understanding the unspoken cue got back to his feet; wobbling slightly only to be steadied by the brunette once more. Joey blushed and hurriedly leaned back from the blue eyed boys chest. Valon shifted his weight slightly, "M'fraid that ya gonna have to stay in my room for now," he said rubbing the back of his neck.

"O-Oh..thats fine," Joey stuttered slightly keeping his eyes down casted. Valon cast a worried look down at the shorter boy, "Everything alright Mate?" he asked.

Joey's face flushed once more and he forced himself to nod while trying to will the redness in his cheeks to fade. The two stood there for a moment in silence, until Valon figured he should take the silence as a cue to start walking. Joey immediately began to follow Valon as he lead him down a long hallway. Valon gave the blonde a reassuring smile, "Don't cha worry. You'll get used ta everything soon."

Joey glanced up through his golden bangs and replied with a nervous chuckle. In a self conscious habit he had wrapped an arm around his middle and had begun holding his other arm; nervously tensing his fingers around the fabric of his shirt.

"T-There are other people here?" Joey asked with a tinge of curiosity. Blue eyes once more wandered over the Aussie's shoulder to gaze back at the duelist.

"Yeah, I forgot to tell ya 'bout them didn' I?" he mused aloud. Joey listened as Valon made a soft humming sound before he started again, "We got two otha members here. Alister and Rafael." Joey nodded to show he was paying attention, his fingers tensing around his arm again, "Oh..a-and why are they here?" he asked his eyes searching the floor to avoid looking at the brunette.

"Alister used ta live in a country where a war was goin' on. His lil brother was killed in a' explosion. Dartz found him and offered ta take him in too. Rafael's family was hit by a tidal wave when they were on vacation, they all died and he was stranded on an island. Until Dartz came and took him in."

Joey looked down his eyes saddening, "Oh...m'sorry to hear that," he mumbled. Valon let out a soft sigh, "Don't worry 'bout it Mate. That's the whole point of comin' here, it's so you can heal." he replied evenly. Joey seemed to sag a little though despite that reassurance.

Maybe he didn't deserve to be here. After all his life hadn't been as bad as all three of theirs had been. Compared to their lives his must have seemed like a breeze.

Valon looked back at Joey again noticing the other had grown silent, "Hey."

Joey looked up to see a pair of concerned eyes looking at him, "What's wrong with cha?" Valon asked his brows knitting together. Joey let out a nearly inaudible breath and felt his hand tensing around his arm again. He stopped and his eyes fell to the floor when he lowered his head causing his bangs to drape over his eyes; hiding his features from the bikers penetrating gaze. Valon stopped as well and turned around so he was facing the younger boy.

"..Maybe I don't deserve to be here.." Joey whispered in a doubting tone. Valon's eyes widened at the absurd statement, not deserve to be here?

"Don't de-.." Valon sputtered. "What on earth would make ya think that?" he asked frustration teasing at his words. But not because he was angry at Joey...he was just angry at the fact that still after all he went through and had to suffer through he still didn't think he belonged.

Joey fell silent, he chewed nervously on his bottom lip as he tried to think of how to reply. Tentatively he released his lip, "Well...all of you have been through a whole lot worse than me. Maybe I don't deserve to be here," he repeated.

"Well if I ever done heard a more stupid comment in all my life!" Valon bristled. His heavy accent making itself known as felt his vexation grow. Joey's eyes widened at the almost harsh reply, he picked his head up meeting the boys gaze, to discover the look on Valon's face wasn't anger.

It was more like irritation or frustration, but it was by no means angry or hateful. Valon sent the shorter boy standing before him a stern look, "I don' wanna hear you goin' on and sayin' that you don' think you're good enough to be here." he informed the crimson eyed boy.

Joey blinked a couple times in bewilderment, he wasn't per say used to having people telling him things like that.

Valon let out huff at the look he received from the boy, "You got just as much right ta be here as the rest of us do," he stated vehemently.

Joey opened his mouth his brows furrowing, "But-"

"Ah!" Valon interrupted sharply holding up a finger to silence the blonde. "No buts from you Mate. You belong here, ya got that." he said. Joey's eyes widened at the last statement.

Belong.

Valon turned around though and continued leading Joey down the hallway, Joey followed, but the expression on his face didn't change.

He..belonged here?

Valon finally came to a door on one side of the hall that he pushed open, "Well here it is, you can take the bed on the left, alright Mate." Valon said jovially. Joey stepped past the brunette Aussie into the room, Valon eyed the boy for a few moments as he looked around.

"Well you go on and get some rest then, I probably won't be goin' ta sleep for awhile." he notified him. Joey looked over at Valon and nodded slowly before wandering almost shyly over to the bed that was situated against the left wall. He sat down on the side of it and looked back at Valon who was still standing in the doorway; watching him.

Valon, who seemed to have just realized that fact himself, blushed and cleared his throat awkwardly. He turned around flipping the light switch off, "Well g'night then." he said walking out and closing the door behind him, leaving Joey alone in the darkened room.

Joey laid down on the bed and let out a long sigh as he silently relished the soft feeling of a bed beneath him. He had almost forgotten how much he missed this. It was different, almost strange, but good for the first time in god knows how long he was going to go to sleep without having to fear getting beaten up by his father in the morning, or have to fall asleep to the scent of liquor and blood.

/You belong here, ya got that./

Joey allowed a tiny smile to drift onto his face as he let his eyes slip shut.

Finally, he belonged somewhere.

TBC

Yeah...next chap. Noticed not many people were interested...yeah. But again just like my legendary knights of atlantis fics there isn't a gigantic group of fics for this pairing and there aren't a lot of fans. But i'm going to write this dammit! Lol Anyway didn't think that i'd actually just be doing it on this, i was a little confused on where I should make the second chap ...but i guess this works. I like the Angershipping exchanges :3 well...also the other thing it im really trying to incorporate some australian accent in this..for some reaosn i can picture valon saying that whole "ever done heard" line...lol well anyways I hope everyone enjoyed this chap. Please REVIEW!