Hi guys I'm back. I have midterms this week so I'm writing this chapter in a rush. Hopefully I'll get it out this week. I've been really very excited about writing about happens next cause we're leading up right into that first kiss. Is it in this chapter? I don't know.
A Drunken Night and Awakened Feelings
Kaiba was in the driver's seat of Joey's cheap Toyota Camry. He had never driven a car under $100,000 before, that being because most of his cars were foreign and imported. He was quietly observing the inside of the small but cozy car. It was very neat and kept together, carpeted floors and clean black non-leather cushioned seats with purple tinted windows. It was a direct contradiction to Joey's messy personality and given the sorry state of the disarray in his garage the fact that his car was so clean showed that he had an undying respect for cars in general. In the front, dangled around the rear view mirror was a miniature red eyes black dragon figurine showing his playful love for the fabled beast. Kaiba chose to withhold the information that said figurine was a manufactured product of the Kaiba Corporation. On the right bottom corner of the windshield were two pictures, one positioned above the other.
"Quit staring at my wheels, Kaiba," Joey closed his eyes in an attempt to hold back the things he wanted to say at that moment. After all he was the one who gave him three months' rent and an awesome project, the '67 Mustang, to work on. "I know this car isn't up to your standards and you want to try as some sort of I've-never-driven-a-cheap-car experiment, but it's not that fascinating so let's drive."
"On the contrary, it's very fascinating," Kaiba responded obviously completely ignoring what Joey had just said. "Who are they?" Joey noticed that Kaiba's cerulean eyes rested on the bottom of the two pictures, the one underneath the photo of him and his friends laughing like idiots.
"That's…" Joey looked away. "My family…" he started playing with his fingers.
"Family?" Kaiba turned to him. "I wasn't aware you had one. I always thought you were a stray."
Joey resisted the urge to clock him one.
"So this is your mom and dad? Who's the girl?" He eyed the cute little one. She looked like Joey's mom.
"That's my little sister, Serenity." Joey answered putting on a forced smile. "That's when she was seven years old."
"She's pretty cute, unlike you." Kaiba lied, to which Joey crossed his arms with a scoff. He didn't lie about Serenity, the girl was absolutely adorable with a bright smile very similar to Joey's. He lied about Joey but the fact that Kaiba found even a modicum of appeal in Joey was such a minute and unnecessary detail that it would only be shared on a need to know basis.
Joey turned away and recited a small prayer in barely audible tone to which Kaiba stifled a chuckle when he heard it. He prayed for the strength and wisdom to unclench his fists, take a breath, and not fight with Kaiba. It had been four years since the last time Kaiba actually did something nice for him and he wasn't going to let Kaiba's condescending taunts and asshole personality stop him from showing some goddamn gratitude.
So he was a big brother as well? Just another one of the things he never knew they had in common. Mokuba momentarily crossed his thoughts. "I never knew you had a sister. Somehow you seem like the type though." He started the car and leaned back. "So you got a place in mind, or am I choosing?"
"Oh no way are you choosing, I'm treating remember? Ritzy, fancy places are not my style and way above my pay grade." Joey looked at Kaiba and his attire. He was wearing all black with his arms and legs buckled with leather belts all underneath a large light blue long flowing jacket. Now on any other given day, Joey would have wished that his jacket too flowed with the same epicness that Kaiba's did, however loud and popping with a degree of self-fortitude was not his style especially when they were just going to buy drinks at a bar near the entrance to the slums. Kaiba was definitely overdressed for the occasion. "Speaking of which, Kaiba? Your outfit's a little…" he cleared his throat not needing to continue.
"What?" Kaiba gave him the dirtiest look he could muster and resisted the urge to curse him to oblivion. Kaiba's image was somewhat important to him. I mean it wasn't everything but Kaiba never went anywhere without carrying about the three Ps: Proud, Powerful, and Privileged. It was kind of a subconscious effort to forget about what his life was like before all the luxury. There was a part of Kaiba that asked himself why he was even doing this. He had plenty of better things he could be doing than having a drink with Wheeler of all people. It was Wheeler. Joey Wheeler. The same Joey Wheeler that he had latent feelings for back then, feelings he forcefully repressed in the form of picking on him and making his life miserable. The Joey Wheeler he never got along with in high school was the same Joey Wheeler that was sitting next to him right now offering to buy him a drink. Kaiba removed his light blue trench coat throwing it in the back seat. He next removed all of his buckles and threw them to the floor. Finally, He undid the first three buttons on his black shirt, exposing his collarbone and the top portion of chest. "This good enough? Or do I need to get a whole new wardrobe just to be seen with you?"
Joey laughed nervously under his glare. "Well, I'm good. Drive, drive." Joey gave him all the directions to the place as they hit the road. "We won't go too deep into the slums because it gets pretty dangerous at night."
"I can handle myself, Joey. I don't need you looking out for me."
"Oh but you do." Joey replied. "You don't know this cause you don't come around here often but there are plenty of people around here who would love to get their thieving claws into you and I'm sure it's not to shake your hand, probably to put you up for ransom."
"You're a genius. Like I haven't been dealing with that my whole life? Only took you 22 years to comprehend such a thing, you really should be proud of yourself." Kaiba made a right turn into the parking lot of the bar in question.
Joey laughed at Kaiba's sarcasm. "Trust me, Kaiba. You don't wanna know what they do to people down there and what a nightmare it is. I know this place though. My ex-girlfriend works here. It's nice in a cheap and somewhat safe sort of way."
"Somewhat?" Kaiba raised a brow.
"Yeah, somewhat. Don't worry, rich boy. I'll protect you." Joey opened the door after giving Kaiba a playful grin. He got out closing the car door behind him.
"I said I don't need your protection, you can't even protect your own shoelaces." This was true as the shoelaces of his worn out sneakers had been untied and dragging on the floor since when they were at the mechanic shop. Kaiba nearly guffawed at the thought. He didn't work out every single morning to be protected by the likes of Wheeler or anyone else for that matter. He too exited the silver Toyota, hearing the sound of music and laughter in the distance as he followed Joey inside.
The place was very reminiscent of an old western tavern in which Kaiba had only read about but had no idea that they still existed. Some modern rock garbage was playing in the background but someone like Kaiba would never recognize it. There were wooden tables where various people were eating things that someone like Kaiba could never consider as food. And behind the bar was a beautiful woman with long curly blond hair and purple playful eyes.
"Joey! It's been a while!" The woman took off the black work apron that was hiding her smooth long legs and came around from behind the bar. With a growing smile she walked up to him and threw her arms around his neck, pouncing like a newly tamed cat on its master, capturing the blonde's lips into a deep yet succulent kiss.
Joey placed his hands around her waist and kissed her back a bit before pulling away. "Mai, you still think that's a greeting? You haven't changed at all."
"I wouldn't dream of it." The name of the gorgeous young woman was Mai Valentine. She was older than him by almost two years but was the first and last girl Joey ever had real feelings for. And she was the only girl Joey had ever dumped because he knew it wouldn't work out. He didn't want her to get hurt in the end. He was in love with her to the point that he had actually let her in and told her many things about himself that he had never shared with anyone else. They met two years ago when she came to get her car fixed at his shop. She came back every day to watch him even though she knew the car wouldn't be ready and they would argue like cats and dogs. By the time her car was fixed they had become accustomed to seeing each other and Joey couldn't let her go.
They dated for almost two years and Joey found himself caught up in the seriousness of his feelings for her. Through their hot kisses and nights of passion Joey was almost certain he would marry this girl. Until the day she stopped by while Joey wasn't there and made her way to his apartment calling for him where Joey came home to find his father choking the lights out of her. Had he been there few minutes later she could have been dead. His father was his biggest secret and when it had finally been unleashed, he broke it off. Ending things with her was just about the hardest thing he ever had to do. Of course she fought for him but after months of talking and numerous different experiences they decided to remain friends and his feelings of romance towards her slowly started to stagnate. In the two months they had broken up she had become a good friend to him, almost like a sister. You know, that really hot sister that you can occasionally make out with cause you know that she's not really your sister and that you're not really related?
Of course these were lies he told to convince himself that he was actually over her. In reality, he was still very much deeply in love with Mai even though he had learned to control his romantic impulses around her. But his heart reminded him on those particularly lonely nights, how much he missed laughing with her till they fell asleep, or feeling her body under his, or her long hair that would tickle him awake with the flowery fragrance that was unique only to her. There would never be anyone quite like Mai.
Mai noticed that Joey was not alone. "I see you've brought a treat for me," She circled Kaiba, eyeing him through her plum colored irises. Without warning she pulled Kaiba's face to hers. Their noses touched and she kissed him almost as ferociously as she did Joey. "Yep, just like I imagined it would be…"she said breathless after a few minutes.
"I have a girlfriend…" Kaiba stated in a controlled manner but he was very surprised at the actions that just took place. Her hand was still on his face and the faint scent of roses filled his nose. He closed his eyes and smiled a little. Even Kaiba, who was known for his heart of ice, wasn't immune to the advances of a beautiful woman.
"Of course you do, what kind of place would the world be if Seto Kaiba were single?" she whispered that into his ear before grabbing his ass. "Lucky her." Before she entertained anymore thoughts of fooling around with Kaiba she left to return behind the bar.
"Still don't need protection?" Joey asked half amused. His jealousy was quelled by Kaiba's latest statement. Joey had always been an honest straightforward guy. His emotions had always been easy to read but in the last two months he had become an expert in hiding Mai-related sentiments with a smile, which included feelings such as jealousy over guys who ogled her or anger over her flirtatious ways which had grown considerably after they had broken up.
There was a reason for that, a reason that Joey was completely unaware of which was that Mai was deliberately trying to make him jealous. Perhaps even unbeknownst to Mai herself was the fact that deep down maybe she hadn't given up on them after all, maybe deep down there was a glimmer of hope that if she flirted with other guys in front of him he would chase after her again.
"Well, no one can say that the great Seto Kaiba isn't a good kisser. That was in my top three, babe." Meeting Seto Kaiba was the last thing she ever expected but she was sure glad she took full advantage of it.
"I've been single a couple times in my life," Kaiba sat on the stool in front of her. "Maybe the next time I am, I should come find you."
Joey swore inwardly as his chest tightened but his smile never wavered. He ran a hand through his hair nervously.
"Cocky too." She pulled out a beer. "You know, I like that in a man. So what's the deal, Joey? I've only seen you bring girls here and I thought you hated this guy. Are you two on a-"
"No." Joey quickly interjected. "It's not like that. The feelings between us haven't really changed. It's just that he kind of unknowingly got me out of a really tight bind so I'm treating him to drinks." Joey looked at Kaiba and he nodded in agreement.
You told me you hated this guy so much you used throw daggers at his picture and now you're buying him drinks? Mai cleared her throat trying to keep her own curiosity intact. She couldn't let it get the better of her now, not in front of Joey who she now considered a friend, could she? At least she could have that much right? She didn't want to once again go through the hell of driving him away with her pushiness and thinking she would never see him again. "You know I always thought that Kaiba was supposed be this big bad corporate monster that would never be caught in this part of the city but sitting next to you, he almost seems… human. So, what can I get you?"
"Gin and tonic," Kaiba ordered. He was going to have this one drink, talk to Mai for a little bit and then leave. "You can't believe everything you hear. I may be big but I'm not that bad. I will admit I'm pretty unrelenting to anyone who gets in my way but on my downtime I think you'll find that I have red blood running through my veins just like everyone else." He took a large sip of his drink.
Joey may have originally planned to only have one drink when he came in but he certainly felt like drinking now and was already drinking the beer Mai brought out for him. He started to feel terrible and he needed something to take the edge off. "I'd like some whiskey," he cut in, interrupting their friendly little conversation. Mai brought out the whiskey bottle and poured Joey a shot. "Oh come on Mai. I'm the son of an alcoholic, you're gonna have to do better than that."
Mai was afraid he'd say that. Joey had already finished the beer and the shot. She sighed and gave him the whole bottle while Kaiba looked on in amazement. This was going to be a long night.
Mokuba opened the front door to the mansion, his lips locked with his new friend. His hands ran through her hair ruining whatever was left of her ponytail. He kicked the door closed before kissing her against the wall. "You know… we… should stop," he said between kisses.
"Uh-huh." She agreed through kisses nodding as her auburn hair falling past her shoulders. She broke the kiss briefly trying to catch her breath. Emerald eyes stared into blue-gray ones until she could no longer resist.
"I mean… I….have…a girlfriend," he reminded her as the crashing of their lips grew more intense. His hands were at the base of her shirt getting ready to rip it apart.
"Girlfriends…" she corrected as she tore Mokuba's jacket off and started unbuttoning his shirt. She moved her hands slowly through Mokuba's abs and torso before exploring his back and pulling him closer to her. Her chest rose and fell against him furiously, breathing hard with her lips traveling from Mokuba's mouth to his neck.
"Do all Americans take control like this?" The woman continued to kiss along Mokuba's collarbone. "I think I like it." After the fan, once invited into the limo, had gotten over her fandom and her star struck fantasies came to life, and after they had made out for 20 minutes, she had let him know a bit about herself. She was a half Japanese half Irish American and she had actually attended all the shows in every city on his world tour. Even in the freezing February temperatures of London England, she had waited on line in front of the venue overnight in the pouring rain. They actually succeeded in having a deep conversation about his music before they continued to act on their carnal desires as the limo pulled up to the mansion.
Mokuba felt bad as he was already in a relationship, three in fact, but as stated above he obviously didn't feel bad enough to stop. A small piece of his conscience wondered why and how he had ended up this way. His insatiable love for women had led to a chain of broken hearts as long as the whole archipelago of Japan. His whole life his yearning for someone caused him to seek attention in women. He loved women. He wanted women. He needed women. All the time. How long had he been like this? In the last four years his libido had spun completely out of control on every level.
Seto figured that the woman who left him behind, the one he had been searching for had left a hole in his heart. He knew that Mokuba was just seeking attention from anyone willing to give it to him. He tried to get through to Mokuba but it was something that Seto didn't understand nor did he have any way of understanding feelings that were so opposite from his own. It was a delicate sensitive subject for Seto to try to pry into and was perplexed about him for a while. However he concluded that as long as Mokuba remained a gentleman, showed even the tiniest bit of sophistication, and was engaging in safe sex he would try not to get involved cause he knew that Mokuba was trying to fill the void of the one woman he needed the most.
"Humph!" The sound of someone clearing their throat caused both parties to break their kisses and turn towards the sound. Standing a few feet away was a young woman 23 years of age. She was thin yet filled all the right places much to Mokuba's delight as she happened to be one of the curviest and bustiest women Mokuba had ever laid eyes on. It took him a while to realize who she was as he had never seen her in such revealing clothing. She was wearing one of Seto's white dress shirts with the collar open and her cleavage exposed coupled with black booty shorts. She pushed up her glasses and closed her gray eyes in annoyance, crossing her arms with authority. Her straight ebony tresses had loosely fallen around her face and rested at the middle of her back.
Mokuba had the wind knocked out of him as he had never before noticed how unbelievably captivating Saeko was. Oh man Seto. I take back everything I said about your taste in women. In Mokuba's eyes, the personal assistant turned girlfriend was always seen wearing her Kaiba Corp. work attire with her black hair always pulled into an uptight bun. Never had he noticed that she had such curves, a stunning swimsuit body, and an alluringly exotic face. He could no longer tell whether she was a personal assistant or a model. She was a knockout. You're always right about everything, Seto. One of these days I am DEFINITELY getting myself an office chick.
"Who's this?" The young Irish American eyed the unknown guest while gripping Mokuba possessively. "Is she your girlfriend?"
"She's my brother's girlfriend," Mokuba replied, her tense shoulders relaxing at the words. "Hey I'll tell you what. Why don't you go to my room and wait for me, I'll be up in a minute. It's on the second floor, center room at the end of the hall."
She looked at him with dreamy eyes. "Okay." She said breathlessly before she kissed him one last time. She whispered into his ear, "Don't keep me waiting too long." Then walked past Saeko with a smile and disappeared up the stairs.
Mokuba put his hands up in the air and laughed nervously seeing that Saeko was slightly irritated at what she just saw. "Hey, no one was supposed to be home. I didn't know you were- What are you doing here?"
"I came to surprise your brother," Saeko began, uncrossing her arms and placing her hands at her hips. "He was supposed to be coming home with you, where is he?" Looking behind him for a moment to make sure she hadn't missed anything, she reconfirmed that Seto had indeed not come home with Mokuba.
"I don't know," Mokuba gave her an answer that she hardly believed. She knew that the brothers always kept tabs on each other. "He was supposed to pick me up but the car broke down so he sent the limo. Last I checked he was at some auto shop trying to get it fixed. I'm just as surprised as you are that he's not home yet."
Skepticism was replaced with worry. "Well then where can he be?" She reached into Mokuba's pocket and pulled out his cell phone. Dialing Seto's number it rang and rang and continued to ring. Then it went into voicemail. This wasn't like him. The only time he ever left his phone unanswered is when he was in a meeting. Also Seto was very punctual, too punctual in fact. He was exact, almost a fault and was always where he said he'd be. Saeko knew Seto had a lot of business enemies, and he wasn't exactly the most likable guy on the planet. Maybe someone could've attacked him? "You don't think anything happened, do you?"
"Pffft! To Seto? No way. The man can fight off a grizzly bear. When he's angry he's practically a killing machine." Mokuba briefly recalled some less than fond memories of broken ribs and bad bruises during training or when he had managed to piss Seto off enough. His memories didn't end there as he also recalled a few times that Seto physically assaulted anyone who threatened Mokuba which usually ended in Mokuba pulling his brother off the victim and pulling him away from the situation so he could calm down. Actually in that regard, Seto's fighting skills coupled with his anger had always been a great cause of concern to Mokuba. He would always find himself questioning how sane Seto truly was as opposed to how sane Seto appeared to be. He yawned and took back his phone and checked the time, 9:30. Saeko looked down in worry still not convinced. "He's been training his entire life to protect us, and trust me, I've gone a few rounds with him myself. If I weren't his brother I'd be dead. You'd need to worry about the other guy, homicide's still illegal you know." Saeko sighed and nodded in agreement plopping herself on the foyer leather couch. With that he ventured up the stairs for some unfinished business.
Kaiba and Joey started off with a few drinks as Joey implored Kaiba to talk about himself and his doings in the last four years. Kaiba narrowed his eyes at the request but eventually took the bait. Of course this led Joey foolishly drinking to every one of Kaiba's accomplishments, as there was so many of them. It was like playing corporate beer pong. When alcohol had loosened him up enough Kaiba then spoke of how proud he secretly was of Mokuba and the unwavering success he's had in his singing career but that he'd never let him know it since he gave him a lot of grief about in the beginning. This was news Joey happily drank to as he was coming up on a bottle of Hennessey.
"So, what about you? What have you been doing in the last 4 years?" Kaiba asked him, slightly curious.
"Me?" Joey laughed. "The great Seto Kaiba that stands on top of the world wants to know about what I've been doing these past few years? I'm honored."
Kaiba rolled his eyes.
"Well let's see. I failed most of my classes but I managed to get my high school diploma. I'll drink to that!" Joey took a shot of the Hennessey. "Then for the next two years, I did what I could only describe as odd jobs. And for the last two years truthfully speaking I was doing—"
Mai cleared her throat and shot Joey a concerned look before handing him a glass of ice cold water. "Joey don't you think you've had enough? How are you going to get home?" Joey guzzled down the ice cold water thinking it was a drink. It cleared his head for a little bit.
"Truthfully speaking you were doing what?" Kaiba inquired.
"I was doing Mai," cocking his head to the side he looked at her in a questioning manner. "Wasn't I, Mai? Or did you forget that? I can't quite tell." Joey's smiled faltered for a moment into a look mixed with anger and annoyance. It was probably over the harmless conversation she and Kaiba had been engaging in. Even though he had no right to be angry with her, the alcohol had made him oblivious to that for only that moment.
"Watch it." Mai blushed furiously before her expression visibly darkened. "Don't be an ass, Joey."
Kaiba shifted uncomfortably unable to believe alcohol made Joey this insensitive. "Okay Wheeler, maybe you HAVE had enough…" He attempted to take the shot glass away but Joey raised it out of his reach in that moment.
"You know what I was doing? I was doing nothing. I was doing nothing but saving up for the shop. That dingy little place became my pride and joy. I'll drink to that!" Joey took another shot of Hennessey before he giggled at the hot feeling running down his throat. "But I'll tell you what, Kaiba. In these four years I had wonderful support from my family."
"Your family?" Kaiba reconfirmed what Joey had just said as Joey hadn't seemed so eager to talk about them in the car.
"Oh yeah. They're the greatest. In those four years I didn't have to struggle at all. You saw how adorable my little sister is, she's so kind, and she's always doing things for me." He raised his glass and took a shot for his sister. "My mom's so gentle and loving, she's always helped me from behind without me even knowing it," he said as he refilled and took a shot for his mom. "And my dad…" he paused and thought for a few seconds. "Well my dad's the greatest guy I've ever known. Believe it or not, he taught me everything I know. And he's so strong, I wanted to be just like him. He's the greatest dad that ever lived." Mai looked away, seeing what Joey was doing to himself was too painful. She was sure that if he wasn't drunk, he would have cried just talking about them, especially his father. Like the way he did the night they broke up.
"Must be great, having that kind of family. The only person I ever had was Mokuba." Kaiba smirked. Opening up to Wheeler and sharing even that piece of information definitely meant the alcohol was starting to affect him. "But that was great too."
Joey smiled before turning to Mai and grabbing the bottle of Bourbon. "By the way Mai, to answer your question it's not enough. Not nearly enough. Though is it ever?"
By 10 o'clock, Seto had sobered up but Joey was completely plastered… plastered doesn't even begin to cover it. He was belligerent. Seto guessed that Joey pre-paying for all the alcohol in the beginning was a bad idea. It was a good thing that he only had a few drinks so at least one of them could drive but Joey had been drinking for three hours straight. He went through these phases of laughing, crying, dancing, all in rotation and it seemed like he was trying to get Kaiba to understand him but it was all coming out as nonsensical statements. That's right. Not babble because grammar was still pretty much intact. They weren't just full complete sentences they were statements, drunken bullshit passed off as fact.
"Kaiba, Kaiba, Kaiba, Kaiba, Kaiba," Joey said as if the CEO billionaire didn't hear him the first time.
"What?" Kaiba looked at him with slight apprehension, uncomfortable with his swaying and slurring.
"You know you're not as bad as I make you out to be," He grabbed Kaiba's face and their noses touched. "Your eyes are like ponds filled with blue algae." See? He wasn't just saying dumb shit, he was stating it. He tripped and fell on top of him, his head hitting Kaiba's shoulder before knocking both of them to the ground. Kaiba winced as his back collided with the wooden floor. Joey would have done the same were it not for two things. For one, he was too drunk to feel anything and secondly he landed on top off Kaiba who happened to make an alright cushion. Kaiba stared at Joey's flushed face and Joey grinned and giggled at the position they were in. Kaiba exhibited restraint all night, taking Joey's tomfoolery in strides but he had had enough.
"Alright it's time for you to go," Kaiba pushed him off roughly and got up dusting himself off. Joey remained on the floor for a while his drunken statements not out of earshot but ignored. Kaiba then helped him up by putting one of Joey's arms around his neck and lifting him from the floor.
"I want one more!" Joey tried to free himself from Kaiba's grasp but his mind was so garbled with everything he wanted to say and do at the same time that he became dizzy and almost fell over again.
"No, Wheeler. We are getting out of here now, before you get alcohol poisoning." Kaiba swore mentally at himself. He should have never let it get this far. He wasn't even sure if Joey needed medical attention or not.
"Kaiba," Mai called for him as they were leaving. "Try not to be too angry with him. He's going through so much that you don't even want to begin to know. I know him. He only drinks like that when he's got a lot on his plate." Mai threw the empty bottles away before wiping the table down.
Kaiba had comprised a list of things to say to that buffoon as soon as he was sober enough to hear it, but when he heard what Mai had said about Joey something tugged at his heart. He completely forgot about how angry he was and looked at him, happy in his drunken stupor with a sleepy look on his face. Kaiba's scent filled Joey's nose. "You smell important Kaiba, real important. You're like the fucking ambassador of importance, Kaiba…" he said bordering the line between consciousness and unconsciousness.
He carried Joey to the car, opened the door and helped him in. He was about to go the driver's side when he heard the sound of glass breaking and footsteps approaching. He whirled around to find three men, one holding the end to the bottle he just broke. "I've been waiting for you all night, Kaiba. Why don't we make this simple? Give me all the money you have and leave the car. If you do that, you and your friend can leave with both of your lives," the two other men were laughing at their leader's gracious offer to spare them.
These men had made two mistakes right off the bat. They chose to address Seto Kaiba, CEO of the Kaiba Corporation, in such a tone. However this could easily be ignored on Kaiba's part as he had the more pressing matter of sobering Joey up and making sure he was okay. Secondly, they had made the egregious error of believing that Kaiba had drunk as much as Joey did. Not that the situation would have turned out differently if he had. Probably would have ended up worse for them seeing as how Kaiba was an aggressive drunk.
But since he had not been drunk, and since he was more concerned about Joey more than he was angry at these idle loitering thugs, he gave them a chance. He really did, sincere from the bottom of his heart. "Listen, I'm not in the best of moods right now. You really don't want to push it with me," he warned them. "Just tell me how much you want and if I have it on me I'll give it to you. Then disappear if you know what's good for you."
The leader of the men laughed in disgust. "See? This is why I can't stand guys like you. You think that just because you have money you can step all over the little people? We suffer in the ghettos so that you rich bastards can eat your caviar and escargot. You better start begging for your life before it's too late, Seto Kaiba!" He charged at Kaiba with the fragmented bottle, its edges sharp and serrated.
It was over in an instant. Kaiba's fist had completely shattered the guy's nose and caved it into his face. That one punch also knocked out two of the man's teeth and he simultaneously fell over backwards in plank form till his head came crashing into the pavement. The two men that were with him looked down and saw him leaking blood from every orifice the guy had. They knew he needed help or an ambulance but they were too frozen with fear to do anything about it. Damn near ready to pee themselves.
Kaiba pulled out his wallet and dumped every bill he had on top of the guy. This was proof that Kaiba had matured into a much kinder person. The Kaiba of yesteryears wouldn't have given those filth anything and probably would have laughed a little while stomping salt in their wounds. "I told you to just tell me the amount and not waste my time…" He looked at the other two, who at this point had stopped breathing.
Joey had not had a clue to what was going on outside but noticed vaguely when Kaiba returned to the car. He was still off his face and his reactions were considerably slower than they usually were but he was slowly starting to sober up by the time they hit the road. He saw stars and colors and was staying unusually quiet so Kaiba pulled the car over to check on him.
"Joey," Kaiba slapped his face gently. His skin was hot and flushed and he was breathing hard struggling to say something to Kaiba.
Joey felt a bit nauseous but luckily he had stopped drinking in time otherwise he would have been throwing up all night. He had a high tolerance for alcohol which explains why he could drink for three hours straight and not become comatose. However his body felt like a thousand pounds and he was struggling to get out his thoughts before thousands of his brain cells died and he forgot what he wanted to say. He also wanted to focus before he said something stupid. Focusing was critical. "Kaiba?"
"Yeah?" Kaiba was trying to unbutton Joey's shirt to keep him from burning up.
"I'm sorry…" he grabbed Kaiba's hand and held it to his chest. Kaiba's hands could feel the heat radiating off of Joey's skin and he could feel Joey's accelerated heartbeat. "I… didn't mean… to get…. this… drunk…" Joey said in bits and pieces and then looked at him apologetically.
Kaiba smirked. That's what he was trying to get out? "It's not like I expected any better from you. You're still the same from high school. Every part of your personality includes reckless. I should have known this would happen."
Joey chuckled with a look on his face that you could swear he just heard the funniest thing he ever did hear. "Where are we… going…?"
Kaiba looked back at the road. "Don't worry. I'm driving you to the mechanic shop. That is where you live, right?"
"You can't." He shook his head. "Leave me here…"
"You want me to leave you on the side of the road drunk off your face?" Kaiba looked with disbelieving amazement at the mop of blond hair covering Joey's drunken face. "Yeah okay, I'm not listening to you anymore." Kaiba started the car back up again.
Joey was still very drunk, this was true. Unfortunately, it didn't matter how drunk Joey was, he knew what he was talking about. He placed his hand over the gearshift and shook his head much to Kaiba's irritation. "You can't." he said taking off his seatbelt.
"Why not?" He locked the car doors to make sure Joey couldn't get out.
"Because," Joey said breathlessly. "I'm…drunk…"
"Yeah, I can see that. So?"
"So… I can't… defend myself…"
Kaiba's eyes widened in surprise and he became slightly alarmed. "Defend yourself?" Kaiba couldn't understand what he was talking about. "Defend yourself against what?"
Joey plastered a stupid smile on his face. "Against… against life…." He tried to open the door but he couldn't get out. He shook his head again. "You can't… You can't…" he repeated shaking his head in a swaying motion against the headrest.
"Okay, okay." Kaiba relented. He figured he wouldn't be able to understand anything Joey said until the morning when he can reopen the investigation. "Shhhh," he whispered trying to calm a drunken Joey down. "Look, I won't take you back to the shop, so just relax." Kaiba shook his head in amazement. He would rather be left on the street than to be defenseless at home. Something was very wrong with that scenario.
That seemed to be good enough for Joey as he slipped into a nap long overdue.
The ride to the mansion was a half hour at the most. Kaiba didn't really want to bring Joey back but he didn't have any other options after the drunken display he pulled earlier. He better not complain about being here when he wakes up. He parked the car in the parking lot next to the gate as the parking lot near the mansion was already filled with his and Mokuba's own personal cars. But this posed a problem. This meant that Joey would have to walk up to the mansion which Joey was clearly not prepared to do.
Joey stirred as he felt someone lift him from the car. Strands of chestnut brown began tickling his face and he felt very light. Was he being carried? He felt strong back muscles against his chest. Although he was still drunk he was not as drunk as before and had some semblance of what was going on. Kaiba was carrying him some place other than the shop. That's all he knew. That's all he needed to know as he rested his head against Kaiba's shoulder. "Thank you, Kaiba." The influence of alcohol still apparent but he was grateful that Kaiba had listened to him.
Kaiba on the other hand was very distracted by the fact that Joey's somewhat labored breaths were hitting his ear repeatedly, a sensitive part of his body. He tried to stop from blushing but couldn't and he was starting to feel hot and bothered.
"You know, Kaiba," Joey whispered into his ear. "I always thought you were a pretty cold person. Hell, you still are." Joey tightened his hold around Kaiba's neck. "But at the very least, this back, I'm glad that it's so warm."
Kaiba's heart skipped a beat. He stopped, not taking another step. "What did you just say?" It was no use. Kaiba could feel that Joey had fallen asleep, the guy's breathing hit his ear in a less ragged more regular succession. But to Kaiba that small thing Joey had absentmindedly noted in his drunken daze, that tiny thing had made him so happy. The feelings that Kaiba repressed for all these years came bubbling to the surface until could no longer hold back the smile on his face and the joy he felt from being this close to the one he liked.
Liked? He liked Joey Wheeler? His mind had caged those feelings for more than seven years. He had pinned them down with constant denial and repressive indignation keeping that portion of his heart locked away for the inconvenience and the ridicule of it all. Because even the great Seto Kaiba was scared of something: The magnitude of pain he would feel from the rejection he was sure to face. Proud denial was better than a truth he didn't want to hear. And yet, all that was broken down by spending one evening with Wheeler. All that effort was wasted the moment they met again. As he walked up the steps to his large home he checked his watch, 11 pm, and he started to remember the first time he realized that he liked Wheeler.
"I hate you, Kaiba!" Joey screamed at his classmate as Kaiba laughed walking out of the classroom. Kaiba had managed to embarrass Joey in front of the whole class when the teacher had told Joey to answer all questions dealing with last night's homework. Of course all the questions came from Kaiba who had every impression in the world to know that Joey did not do the homework. Then Kaiba thought it would be funny to make dog references all day and somehow always found a way to use Joey as an example. Lastly as a final kick in the teeth, he basically made the teacher announce everyone's grades. Everyone now knew that Joey was worst in the class and in the end he got laughed at till the bell rung.
"I am going to punch that guy's lights out someday. I hate him." Joey reiterated to Yugi with an angry look on his face. "He's always messing with me like I can't kick his ass. I used to be a bully, you know. I used to eat guys like him for breakfast." Joey crossed his arms, steam blowing out of his nostrils.
Yugi sighed. "You know if you had done the homework, Kaiba wouldn't have been able to get to you. He did that because he knew that you didn't."
"Yeah bu-" Joey's face came plummeting to the floor as he tripped over something. Kaiba's leg was sticking out as he was reading the morning paper. It just so happened that it was a complete fluke occurrence that Joey tripped over said leg but he looked up angrily at Kaiba.
Kaiba was finished with the business section and put the paper down. Apparently he hadn't noticed the new luggage over his foot and had been completely unaware of what just happened or at least he pretended to be. He looked down at Joey with a smirk. "You've come back for more humiliation?"
"Kaiba, I'm warning you. You better not say anything else to me or I will rip you apart." By no means was Joey joking.
Kaiba nodded in understanding and closed his eyes. He rolled up the paper and threw it down the hall. "Here boy, fetch."
Had Yugi, Tristan AND Tea had not been there holding Joey back, Kaiba wondered what would have happened. Both of them probably would have ended up on the evening news. Kaiba laughed, greatly amused at the colors and sounds coming out of Joey's face.
The truth is, Kaiba was very lonely at school. He had no friends, and wasn't really interested in the hordes of girls that probably just wanted his money or the recognition of being with him. All he had in the world was Mokuba and even though the little kid adored him, he wasn't always around. Kaiba was so much smarter than everyone else, and made more money than any of those people would grow up to make in their lifetime. Because of that, people feared him automatically and stayed away. People were afraid of him and his power so no one had really cared to get to know him. Although he never dwelled on it, he would never admit how alone he felt sometimes; at school, at home, or even in the world. Kaiba didn't know it at the time, but picking on Joey was the only thing he really looked forward to at school. It was the only thing that made him feel like he wasn't being completely ignored. See, had he messed with anyone else, his name alone would've scared them away. But this was Joey and Joey wasn't like everyone else. Joey would get angry, yell at him, and tell him to stick it where the sun doesn't shine. Joey was the only one who treated him like his name and status didn't matter. Joey was the only one who made him feel like a normal person.
But the day it all changed for Kaiba, was the day an apparently expensive watch had gone missing; the kind of watch that meant absolutely nothing to someone like Kaiba but meant everything to people like Joey. Everyone assumed the worst of him. Everyone thought that Kaiba stole it because he was bored and knew that even if he got caught it wouldn't mean a thing. Yet they were all too afraid to say anything. They were afraid their parents would lose their jobs, or the school would shut down, or the principal would get fired; all things that the power and wealth Seto Kaiba possessed were capable of. Everyone was afraid to confront him. Well, almost everyone.
After school, Kaiba had been led into an alley where the guy whose watch was missing wanted to meet with him. That watch meant everything to him. It meant more than his parents losing their jobs or the school shutting down. It meant more than the entirety of the wrath Kaiba could possibly throw at him. That's why he faced Kaiba with no fear of the consequences.
"Hey. I've been missing a watch and word is you took it," the teen began. "I know you're rich and all but that watch is very important to me and I want it back!" his words dripping with venom spat in Kaiba's direction.
"Hey, Kazuya! Do you know who that is?" His friends watched on in horror. "That's Seto Kaiba, just let it go man!"
Kazuya had tears in his eyes "No way! That watch was the ticket out of the slums! And that guy took it because he doesn't want us to get out of here! He doesn't want us lowlifes to get to where he is and that way he can look down on us forever!" Kazuya crossed his arms scornfully. "Why are you here anyway? Your stay's been a little too long to be some sort of rich boy experiment. I know you have one of the prep schools on the other side of the tracks waiting for your safe return from riff raff like us. Instead you're here playing mind games. Are you really that bored?"
"Yes, I am." Kaiba smirked, damn near laughed at the troubled boy. The ridiculousness of it all, that he would give a damn about a watch that didn't even belong to him. Had his life become that idle that he was reduced to becoming the prime suspect in a petty theft that occurred in the only public high school of Domino City? A theft of a watch no less? Like the watch Kaiba was wearing couldn't buy that boy's whole apartment complex? "Did you see me take it? If you didn't, I advise you to reflect on your own uselessness and not project blame onto others." Kaiba's eyes narrowed dangerously. "At least then you can keep what's left of your dignity, and no one would call you pathetic for it." The stupid boy never should've brought it to school in the first place.
Kazuya's eyes changed as well, they were boiling over in anger. "I'm sure you did it so you could laugh at us later on like all you rich people do, but if you don't give it back, I will kill you…" Each spectator's mouth fell agape.
Kaiba scoffed. "Kill me then." As if Kazuya could when Kaiba had been engaging in real life combat since before he had been adopted. His words brought on the gasp of everyone present. Kaiba didn't give a fuck and his indifference was apparently clear. Even if Kazuya succeeded in the insane task, that wouldn't bring his watch back, the thought alone was enough to make anyone laugh.
Kazuya raised a clenched fist without warning and charged at Kaiba. Perhaps, this wasn't about a watch. Perhaps this was about something more. Lord knows the Kaiba name was responsible for a lot of misery and heartache in the poorer parts of the city. The lord knew it and Kaiba knew it too. Gozaburo was guilty of things Kaiba couldn't even begin to imagine. He used people and then threw away anyone or anything he didn't need. Threw them away like they were nothing, forgetting that they're human beings, and these were lives he was playing with. He made deals that would cause a lot people to lose their homes and their jobs all for the sake of selfish profits and personal gain. He even told Kaiba himself that he viewed these people as "nothing but trash to be stepped on to reach a higher goal" and told Kaiba to think the same way. Seto Kaiba knew that the bad blood of the Kaiba name was something he had inherited without question and it was something he needed to conquer.
This is why he chose to go to Domino High in the first place. He wanted to learn about them, and teach himself a different way to look at them, as he absolutely hated his stepfather and didn't want to grow up to be anything like him. He fought his stepfather tooth and nail to avoid going to an expensive prep school. Kaiba didn't want to use the money built on the blood, sweat, and tears of others just to eat in a pampered school lunchroom.
And yet, despite the fact he knew what he would face, he still could not erase the hatred from their hearts. Though they were afraid of him and what he was capable of, in the sea of eyes placed on him at any given moment the only things he could find were contempt, disgust, and ulterior motives. Eyes that wouldn't accept him. Eyes that constantly rejected him. Eyes that looked away, like his existence didn't mean anything. Or more like, he didn't have the right to exist at all. No matter where he had gone, rich or poor, these eyes were always the same. It was excruciating, suffocating but he was much too proud to ever show it and protected himself with Gozaburo's belief that he truly didn't need anyone. Deep down, underneath all the pride and the bravado, a tiny part of him felt sympathy for the anger and agitation around him. That's why he closed his eyes and did nothing when faced with a fist hurling towards him. He could take a punch, just this once.
But the fist never came. However, Kaiba heard a sickening THUD. He opened his eyes to find that Joey was standing in front of him with his arms outstretched. Kazuya's fist had collided squarely into Joey's forehead and the point of impact was slowly leaking blood. Joey was furious. Livid even. He opened his eyes and stared Kazuya down. "What the hell do you think you're doing, Kazuya? This is low, even for you."
"Joey I-"
Kaiba was shocked. Gob smacked. Bewildered. None of these words could explain how he felt in that moment. Joey was really the angriest he had ever seen him. More angry then he gets with him on any given day. Kaiba wanted to say something but the words were lost in his throat.
"I didn't mean-" Kazuya backed up slowly but Joey followed him. His back soon hit the brick wall as Joey took another menacing step towards him.
"You and I both know that Kaiba's a lot of things," Joey had Kazuya completely backed against a wall. "But he's not a thief, so anyone who doesn't have proof…" Joey raised his fist and tightened it, the bones in his knuckles cracked the tighter it got, "better get out of here right… NOW!" At that moment Joey sent a fist whipping in Kazuya's direction.
Kazuya was sure his life was over. He closed his eyes and thanked god for the little things he received in life, like his pet cat Spots and his turtle Harry. He thought of his parents who would probably be mourning his death rather loudly at his funeral, his little trinkets in his boring life that he had become enamored with, anything but the damned watch that got him into this mess. He also had begged god to spare him, that if he were to live, he'd want to become a minister someday, maybe somewhere in the Philippines where they could really use them.
Joey's fist hit the wall next to his face, leaving a dent in the brick and that was good enough for Kazuya. Pieces of brick fell all over Kazuya's shoulder but even scarier than that was if looks could kill, the look Joey was giving him could send him to the afterlife ten times over. He, along with everyone else, decided to get the hell out of dodge and leave Joey and Kaiba in their dust.
After a couple minutes, when Joey had calmed down, he turned around and smiled, "No need to thank me, rich boy. You've got one manicure too many."
"Are you crazy?" Kaiba had found his voice, he touched Joey's forehead then looked at his finger. Blood. "If you were going to be some vigilante and swoop in to save the day, why didn't you just stop his fist? Why did you get hit for me?"
Joey shrugged. He hadn't really noticed he was bleeding, nor did he mind getting hit. "I don't know. There was no time to think. My body just moved on its own."
And there it was. In that moment, Kaiba's heart was beating particularly hard. Joey, who he had always given a hard time, Joey who had professed his undying hatred for him on a daily basis, used his own body to protect him. And he got angry because he believed in him, believed in his innocence. Joey of all people didn't even have to ask, he just knew that Kaiba would never do something like that. In Joey's eyes, there had always been a certain kind of warmth even for people he didn't like. He judged Kaiba on Kaiba's actions and Kaiba's actions alone; not on his name, his power, or his wealth. He may not have been accepted, but Joey's eyes never denied him. And they never rejected him. Of course he had never felt this way before so he could not recognize the feeling of liking someone from the bottom of his heart, but something took hold of the wall of ice he had put up to shield himself. For the first time, Kaiba felt like he could breathe and every moment Joey placed his eyes on him he relived that feeling. He relived the feeling of knowing that being alive wasn't such a terrible thing, it wasn't such a lonely thing.
"I think a better question is why didn't you just tell him that you didn't do it? Why did you have to be a jerk about it? Why didn't you defend yourself like any other normal person would have?" Joey was exasperated at the fact that being a jerk and a first class troll was a priority to even defending his own innocence. "Why do you have to be such a prick, Kaiba? I'll never be able to figure you out."
'Even if it's just one person,' Kaiba thought. 'Even if it's just him, I want to mean something to him. I want to be accepted by him…' Kaiba gave Joey a thoughtful gaze and Joey raised a brow wondering what his problem was. Kaiba's pride once again returned and he shook his head dismissing his thoughts to which he could only deem them ridiculous and sentimental.
He patted Joey's hair very softly. "Good dog." Joey was angry all over again.
Saeko opened the front door with a smile on her face, ready to greet Kaiba properly the way she had wanted to earlier but was surprised to find that Kaiba was in an indignant position as he carried Joey into the house.
"Saeko? What are you doing here?" Kaiba asked placing Joey gently on the foyer couch.
As soon as Kaiba turned around she put her arms around his neck and leaned into him capturing his lips without warning. "I came to surprise you. You promised that we would celebrate the Leicaleitz signing together." She said after breaking the kiss. On any other night Saeko would have been exactly what Kaiba needed. Her gray eyes met his blue ones and she watched him give her an once-over. He noticed she was wearing of his shirts and part of him was excited she was wearing almost nothing underneath but something was off. Not with her but with him.
"Is something wrong? And who's that?" she shot a concerned look over to Joey who was fast asleep on the couch and was shaking his head unconsciously. "Is he alright?"
"He's a friend of mine, from high school. And he's fine, he just… drunk." Kaiba kissed her again. "Look, I'll be up in a minute, I just want to get him to a room then I'll call one of the maids to take care of him so pop the champagne wait for me?"
Saeko smiled happily, "Okay, I'll be waiting." She kissed him one last time and then went back to his room.
Kaiba carried Joey into a guest room on the first floor and placed him gently on the bed. He knelt down and stared at him for a while. Joey looked so peaceful like he hadn't sleep this well in a long time. His hand gently stroked Joey's golden tresses before it fell on Joey's face. His skin was slightly red with the heat of his drunken night. When would he get the opportunity to be this close to him again? Kaiba hadn't even known that he anticipated it. After tomorrow Kaiba would have no more reason to see him. He would have no more reason to be close to him like this. He was sad but he could not pinpoint exactly why he was sad. Seven years ago he could not convey his feelings. Seven years later would be a repeat performance of his inability to express them. Seven years of longing to touch Joey, to kiss Joey, to make Joey his would probably go unanswered and repressed once again. Because he didn't want to take a chance. He didn't want to see Joey's rejecting eyes and be once again subjected to that suffocating existence. He wouldn't be able to handle it if Joey's warm brown eyes turned as cold as all the others.
"I shouldn't trouble you… with these useless feelings…" he said softly as he patted Joey's head once more. "They'll make me ache for you." Gozaburo's voice resounded in Kaiba's head. Love is for the weak, Seto! Seize power! Affection will get you nowhere! When will you learn that?! Kaiba's fingers traced along Joey's nose and right above his lips before he pulled them away. "They'll make me weak, so I'll just… bury them here." He leaned forward and kissed Joey on the forehead looking back at him one last time before leaving the room.
After he had called the maid, Seto had returned to his room to find a glass of champagne waiting for him. Good, he thought. I could use a drink. Saeko crossed her legs and handed him a glass giving a toast to their success. Seto had finished the glass in one gulp, the latest in a succession of things that were uncharacteristic about him that evening. He poured himself another glass.
"I called you, you know," Saeko began. "It was very unlike you not to pick up. Mind telling me where you were all night?"
"You called me?" Seto checked his pockets. "I must have left my phone in my jacket, which I left in Wheeler's car. We went out for drinks."
"Who did you say he was again? A friend? You have those, a guy like you?" she asked. By no means was she suspicious, she was merely curious. Seto Kaiba was a man obsessed with work. He hardly went out for drinks with "friends" especially when there were no business agreements behind them.
"What's with the interrogation, Saeko?" Seto raised a brow as he finished his third glass of champagne.
Saeko laughed. "Relax, Seto. I trust you. It's just that the way you came back tonight," she gave a thoughtful look as she sat on his lap, "I don't know, you seem more human. I always thought I was dating the corporate superman. I'm just happy you broke out of you shell a little bit. Although I'm a little jealous I wasn't the one to do it. I've got to thank that friend of yours." She leaned in for another kiss and felt Kaiba's hands through her hair. She was exactly where she wanted to be as Seto lowered her to the bed.
Seto on the other hand was having a completely different experience. When he closed his eyes the person he was kissing was not Saeko. He ran his hands through blond hair and tasted every inch of Joey's mouth. He ripped Joey shirt open, making his way down biting into Joey's long inviting neck before nibbling on his collarbone. He moved his lips teasingly along Joey's firm chest and circled his tongue around the peaked flesh before biting it softly, and he returned to capture his lips once more forcing his way into Joey's warm cavern, their tongues colliding with unspoken passion.
Joey moaned under Seto's touches and trailed his fingers down the buttons of Seto's shirt. He unbuttoned then one by one until Seto's body was exposed. He pulled Seto against him burying his face into Seto's neck. Joey's hands gripped his back with need.
At the very least, this back, I'm glad that it's so warm.
Seto stopped abruptly and opened his eyes. Joey was no longer underneath him, it was Saeko. Was he dreaming? Fantasizing about being with Joey when he was really with Saeko? Fantasizing about Joey and enjoying it? Seto sat up incredulously. Wanting Joey, longing for him, needing him, that wasn't who he was, right? What happened to burying his feelings? It was all part of his imagination, it had to be!
Saeko sat up. "What's wrong?" She asked breathlessly.
"Nothing!" He nearly shouted. He ran his hands through his face and sighed heavily. "Nothing," he said in a softer less alarmed tone. "I uh, I just need a drink, that's all. It's nothing." He kissed her softly before getting up and pouring himself another glass of champagne. Saeko smiled and chalked it up to Seto being overly stressed about work. If only that were the problem. If Seto had entertained any thoughts about making it through the night with his peace of mind intact, ONE drink would never cover it.
20 pages: Fufufufu! And that's the end of chapter 2. I would just preemptively like to say that I apologize for Mokuba. He's a lot more of an animal than I intended him to be. It ended a lot sooner than I thought it would although I ended up at the same place as I did last time. Also I use the word incredulous entirely too much. The overuse is gross, someone toss me some synonyms. Please review. I look forward to your comments good or bad. I'll update as soon as possible. kthnxbai