Chapter 2: A Good Deed
The first thing Seto noticed when Joey entered class a week later was his whole face was more bruised than flesh colored and swollen. The second thing he noticed was that he was limping as he made his way to his desk.
Seto started to ask what happened but was interrupted by the teacher, who started class. He would have to ask in detention.
After class, Seto arrived to find Joey already seated at his desk, in obvious pain. "How long has it been going on?" he asked with an uncharacteristically sympathetic voice.
Joey looked up at him, his eyes watering from the pain. "What are you talking about, Kaiba?" he asked, holding his ribs.
"It takes an abuse victim to recognize one." Seto answered wisely.
Joey's eyes widened a little before narrowing. "I don't know what you're talking about." He snapped.
"Fine. Be in denial. But those injuries look nasty." Seto slid into his seat and set his bag down.
The teacher arrived and set them to work doing homework. Seto swept out of room after detention and headed to the limo. Joey headed for home.
Seto settled into the plush seat of the limo for the drive home. As Rolland drove, he spotted a shaggy blond figure limping down the sidewalk that was very familiar. "Rolland, follow that teen at a distance." He ordered, leaning forward. It had started to rain steadily.
"Yes sir." Rolland nodded. He slowly crept the limo forward, though it wasn't necessary. Joey was going slow, in obvious pain.
Seto watched Joey, saw his hair and clothes dampen, the latter clinging to his body. The teen seemed to have no destination in mind, though after fifteen minutes, he turned toward a lower class apartment building. "Wait until he goes inside and then park down the street. Let me know if he comes out." Seto ordered.
"Yes, sir." Rolland nodded.
Joey entered the apartment and Rolland parked in front of the house next door. Seto could hear shouts and cries from within the building bringing to the surface memories he'd rather keep buried. He shook his head, but remained in his seat, afraid to make things worse.
"Sir, are you all right?" Rolland asked, noticing his employer's distress.
"Yes, I'm fine." Seto answered, his emotions tightly in check. He could not show weakness. Weakness, his stepfather drilled into him, was something people could exploit. That was unacceptable.
A half hour later, Joey exited the apartment. Seto immediately noticed that fresh wounds had appeared. He had also two black eyes and his nose was broken. He was also holding his ribs as he walked. "Follow him." He ordered.
"Yes, Mr. Kaiba." Rolland nodded.
The limo slowly followed Joey as he made his way through the neighborhood. Seto soon recognized where the teen was headed. "Stop a few yards from the shop." Seto ordered.
Joey stepped in front of the Game Shop, obviously disappointed at the closed sign on the door. Seto decided to act, stepping out of the limo. "Wheeler." He greeted, nodding.
Joey turned, sighing. He winced. Seto noticed up close his left eye was swollen almost completely shut. The only recognizable feature on his head was his messy blond hair. "What do you want, Kaiba?" The rain started to fall harder.
"Get in the limo." Seto ordered, wiping rain from his eyes.
Joey managed to look surprised. "I am not your charity case." He replied shortly.
"I'm not offering charity. You'll catch a cold or worse if you stay out in the rain." Seto pointed out, getting annoyed.
"I'll be fine." Joey answered, defiantly. Then a thought occurred to him. "Wait, how did know where I was? Were you following me?" he demanded.
"Of course. You were hurt. It was a moral responsibility to make sure you were all right." Seto pinched the bridge of his nose.
Joey snorted, then winced. Blood sprayed from his nose, splashing his white shirt. "You have a moral responsibility?" he asked, skeptically.
Seto rolled his eyes. "Do you want warm clothes and a shower or not?" he demanded.
Joey considered Seto carefully with his good eye, considering whether he was serious. "Fine."
Joey tried to walk to the limo but his wounded leg collapsed under him and Seto caught him. They walked carefully to the limo and Seto helped him into the vehicle. Seto slid in beside him.
Rolland drove them to the mansion they got out. "Go on inside, I need to talk to my driver." Seto told Joey. Joey slowly made his way to the mansion. "Go get clothes. I will contact you with the sizes. Put it on my tab. Grab a few days worth."
"Yes, Mr. Kaiba." Rolland nodded as Seto shut the door. He drove away.
Seto headed inside and found Joey struggling up the stairs. Seto went over and helped him upstairs. "Thanks." Joey gave him a small smile.
"Don't want you falling down my stairs and suing me." Seto replied wryly.
"Don't make me laugh." Joey groaned as they reached the top. Seto helped him to the spare bedroom. "I can handle it."
"I'll check on you in fifteen minutes." Seto promised. He left the room, shutting the door. But before the door closed, he saw Joey remove his shirt with his back to the door. Fresh slash marks were all over his back, making a fresh wave of sympathy wash over Seto, surprising him.
Seto returned to his room, the memories overwhelming him. Before he knew it, fifteen minutes had passed. He returned and knocked on the door. "Joey?" he called.
"Come in." Joey answered.
Seto entered the room. Joey was sitting on the bed, a towel around his waist. Purple, blue, green, and yellow bruises covered his chest and stomach. "I sent Rolland to get you some clothes." He offered.
"You didn't have to." Joey protested.
Seto shook his head. "You need dry clothes and I am too tall. So don't think anything of it."
"I'll pay you back." Joey promised.
"You can't afford the clothes I am getting you." Seto replied. Joey started to protest, but Seto cut him off. "I mean, I usually buy high end clothes."
"Don't tell me you're buying a suit for me." Joey groaned.
"No, he has seen your style." Seto stood. "When you're dressed, we need to talk."
"About what?" Joey was confused as Seto headed for the door.
Seto paused at the door. Without looking at him, he said, "How you got those injuries."
Joey was baffled as Seto left. Seto headed downstairs and saw Rolland had returned. "He's in the blue room." Seto instructed. "Tell him I'll be waiting in the living room. Help him if he needs it."
Rolland headed upstairs with the bags. Ten minutes later, Joey made his way slowly down the stairs and Seto met him part way to help. "You wanted to talk?" Joey asked, pain in his voice as they sat down.
"Don't give me any bullshit about how you got those injuries." Seto narrowed his eyes. Then his expression softened. "I know how you got them."
"What?" Joey's good eye widened.
"I'll show you mine if you tell me the real story." Seto offered, seriously.
"I guess." Joey shifted uncomfortably, wincing.
Seto turned so his back was to Joey and removed his school jacket and white shirt. Joey gasped as visible scars came into view on the teen's back, eerily similar to his own. "My stepfather was very cruel in raising me." Seto explained. "He worked me tirelessly and whipped me with a belt when I failed to meet his expectations. It left more than physical scars, as does all abuse."
Forgetting his side of the bargain as Seto turned around, buttoning his shirt, he asked, "Why do you never tell anyone?"
Seto snorted. "I'm a CEO of huge company. People expect certain things, none of which is one with baggage. I would be voted out of the company in a heartbeat."
"But that's not fair." Joey protested.
"Life's not fair, a lesson we learned early in life. Now are you going to fulfill your side of the bargain, or not?" Seto reminded him.
Joey hesitated, closing his eyes. "My dad's a drunk." He blurted out, his voice shaky. "When he drinks, he beats me. He once put me in a medically induced coma for a week."
Seto nodded. "I lost so much blood during a whipping I had to have a few pints. You are staying here. No argument."
"What?" Joey asked, shocked.
"I will not allow you to go home and risk your life. Every second you're with your father has another chance to kill you."
Joey was touched. "I didn't know you had it ya." He said, smiling a little. "Are you sure this isn't a charity case?"
"No, it's a concern for my fellow human's well being." Seto replied simply.
"I'll need to go home to get some things." Joey insisted.
"Make a list and I'll send Rolland to get whatever you need from the store. You shouldn't go home since he was beating you not so long ago." Seto reasoned.
"Okay." Joey nodded. "I think I'll go lie down."
"I'll have a doctor come check on you." Seto was firm, ending the discussion.
Joey looked him in the eye and saw the teen wasn't going to back down. "I'm not going to do the hospital." He replied shortly. Seto helped him upstairs.
"If you need it, I will drag you there myself." Seto promised. "And insert an IV."
"You don't know how." Joey accused, looking over at him as they slowly ascended the staircase.
"You don't know that. And do you want to test your theory?" Seto looked at him and raised an eyebrow.
"I'd rather not, thanks." Joey rolled his good eye. "Just get me to my room before I pass out."
"I have a better idea." Seto carefully picked Joey up, surprising the teen with his strength. He carried him to the room and gently set him on the bed. He covered him with the quilt.
"Kaiba?" Joey asked, which caused an unexpected thrill to go through Seto at the mention of his name. An unexpected bond had formed between them. "Thanks."
"Just do what the doctor says." Seto ordered. "Is there anything I can get you while I'm here?"
"My leg is kinda hurting. Can you put a pillow under it?" Joey asked.
Seto found a pillow and slid it under the leg Joey gestured to. "I'll be in my office. Use this to call one of the butlers or maids if you need anything." Seto set a walkie-talkie on the bedside table.
"What if I need company?" Joey asked, as Seto headed for the door.
Seto turned so he had his profile to the teen. "Ask them for a book from the library." He left, shutting the door behind him.
"That explains a lot." Joey muttered. "No wonder he's so cold. Everyone who was supposed to love him turned their backs on him."
Joey fell into an uneasy sleep and awoke as a doctor entered. "Mr. Wheeler, how are you feeling?" he asked, going over.
"Like I got the hell beaten out of me." Joey explained, wincing as the doctor pressed a stethoscope to his chest, right over a bruise. "Watch it." He was too weak to do much more than snap.
"Sorry, Mr. Wheeler. Can you sit up so I can look at your back?" the doctor asked.
With the doctor's help, Joey sat up and removed his shirt. With a clinical detachment, he observed the slashes, not quite believing the tale Seto spun about a fight at school, but being paid well to keep his mouth shut. He finished the exam, putting away his instruments. "I'm going to give you an antibiotic for the cuts. Nothing I see warrants a hospital trip. I want you to take it easy for a few days, staying in bed unless it is necessary. Get as much sleep as you can and let your body heal." The doctor advised.
"Yes, Doctor." Joey nodded.
"I'll come back in a week to check on you. Are you allergic to penicillin?" the doctor asked, pulling out his script pad.
"I'm pretty sure I'm not. I've been on it before for my many fights." Joey felt grateful that Seto had not spilled the beans to this stranger.
The doctor left and Joey fell asleep. Seto slipped in to check on him and sat beside him, trying to figure out what to do about the father situation.