Author's note: This chapter ended up being more randomness, than informational (as it intended to be).
Chapter 2 - One Sex on the Beach, please
Alister saw that he was at the right address, but was not sure if he was at the right block of apartments. He had been walking around for a while. Eventually, he saw someone who looked a bit familiar, looking up at a building. The clothing and the spiked styling of his brown hair; ...his dusty blue eyes. He did not have to get any closer to know who it was. It was Valon. They used to work together and have not seen one another since they went after their targets. "I'm surprised that you showed up."
Valon looked over at him, then back up at the building. He seemed to ignore what Alister was saying. "Do you think that one's it?" Valon was like a statue. He did not want to move.
Alister looked up, then down to the door. "Well, there's only one way to find out." As he started walking towards the door, Valon jogged over and pulled on his arm. Alister stopped and looked back at the shorter man.
"We can't go in, yet."
"Why?"
Valon looked sad, "She's not here, yet."
Alister pulled his arm away, "You're kidding me, right?" Valon threw his hands in the air. "You mean, you came all the way HERE just to talk to Mai?"
"I'd do anything to see her, again."
Alister started to walk towards the door, "I see that."
"Five more minutes!"
"NO! They're expecting us." Alister took out his invitation and dialed a number into the call box. They heard a buzz.
"Yo!" It was Joey that answered.
"It's Alister and Valon."
"Valon-!"
"Hey, guys," Yugi interrupted. Alister could hear Yugi whisper something to Joey. They seemed to argue a bit, before they settled. "I'll come get you."
All of a sudden, the door buzzes and Alister opened and held it. He turned to Valon, "Come on!"
"No."
"Valon, Joey will let her in if she so much as breathes on this door. If you don't get in here now, then he'll never let you in."
"I just need another smoke."
"No, you don't." He looked at the ground, where Valon was standing before. There was not a single cigarette butt on the ground. Had Valon really been that much in his own head?
Yugi ran over and put his right hand on the door, "Hey, guys! Why didn't you-?" Although Yugi never had much interaction with either man, he knew the expression on Valon's face. Yugi looked up at Alister and his voice was soft, "Do you mind if I talk with him for a moment?"
"I don't know what good it will do, but go ahead."
Alister had no clue what Yugi said to Valon, but it worked. What did Yugi say to Valon, that got him into the building after talking to him for one minute? After riding the elevator up, they walked to Joey's apartment. Yugi opened the door and walked inside, followed by Valon, then Alister. Talking, laughing, and lively music was heard. Quite the opposite of what the atmosphere was outside, between Alister and Valon. Valon followed Yugi into the kitchen, while Alister looked around the room. 'Gonna be a Good Night' by Black Eyed Peas was playing, in the background. It was good that there was not a lot of people there, but to Alister he would have been less nervous joining alone, then with Valon tagging along. In fact, being around Valon made him feel a bit more lonely than he was by himself.
"Hello. My name is Bakura, Ryou," Bakura held out his hand and Alister shook it. "Let me introduce you to everyone." He followed Bakura to a table of people playing a card game.
Joey and Tristan, "I, de-clare, war!" Joey throws his arms in the air and cheers as Tristan groans. Joey pours the rest of his beer into the pot cup, then Tristan picks up the pot and starts gulping it down. The rest, around him, yelling the word 'chug', in unison. They all cheered after he finished.
"The lady's name is Mazaki, Téa."
Téa turned to them and waved her left hand, "Hey." She was wearing a ruched turquoise strapless dress. It had a v-shaped cutout down to her bustline with corset lacing the zig-zagged down to her stomach, then tappered off at her right hip.
"The raven haired guy is Devlin, Duke."
"How's it going," Duke said with a smile as he offered a hand, which Alister shook. He had a glimpse of him once, while Mai was dueling Joey, but he never thought he would ever meet the man, who created Dungeon Dice Monsters. "Our loser of tonight is Tristan," Duke said as he pointed to Tristan.
"HEY!" Tristan was very slow and shaky, but he managed to stand up. Alister noted that he was the tallest of their group and was of similar height to himself. Tristan shook Alister's hand a bit roughly.
Tristan, Téa, and Duke, say in unison while pointing to Joey, "And, THAT is our birthday boy!"
Joey starts dancing around, "Oh, yeah!"
Bakura smiled, "Yeah... That's Joey." Duke and Téa left for the kitchen. Bakura bowed, "May I take your coat?"
Alister looked him up and down, during his hesitation. He realized that Bakura was sober, before handing him his jacket, revealing that he was wearing a black mesh tank top, underneath.
"Oh, GEES, this is heavy!"
Téa smoothed the back of her turquoise dress as she sat on a bar stool in the kitchen, "Duke, dear? I need to have more 'Sex on the Beach'." They both laughed.
Duke picked up the blender pitcher and turned around, "Oh! We could have 'Sex on the Beach' all night long! Can't we?"
"We sure can!" They both leaned over the island counter as they laughed.
After Duke saw Valon starring at Téa, he quickly stopped and gave him an angered look, "What are YOU looking at!?"
Yugi's eyes widened as raised his eyebrows at Duke and Téa: 'be nice'. "Duke, this is Valon." Duke stood, leaned back, and crossed his arms. He did not look happy.
Valon smirked, "Nice to meet you. But, I'm more interested in meeting the ladies."
"Same here," Duke replied in a heavier voice; his expression unchanging.
"Who's your lady friend?"
Duke blinked as he turned his head to his right side. After he started twirling his bang, he looked up into the air; away from Valon. "She's Yugi's good friend, Téa Mazaki." He tilted his head back towards Valon, to look at him as he let the hair unravel from his finger. "I don't know about you, but Téa would be the first person, in this place, to kill you, just to keep Joey safe. Got it?"
Téa looked mad, "Duke!"
Duke glanced at her, and as he turned around, said, "You didn't say it, but you didn't have to, either." He picked up the pitcher and shook it, "Now, do you want to have some 'Sex on the Beach' or don't you?"
"Well, if she won't, then I will," Valon said as he held his cup out, with a smirk on his face.
As Duke started to fill Valon's cup, he looked at Téa, "See? I'm starting to like Valon more already."
Valon turned to Téa, "Téa, right?" Duke went on to start filling Yugi's drink as Valon took a sip of his drink. "It's nice to meet you. I promise not to hurt Joey, if you don't poison my drink, tonight." Duke laughed, then started filling Téa's cup.
Téa held out her right hand, to shake on it, "Deal!" They shook hands.
Duke smiled, "Don't worry. She'll kill you softly with one of her 'friendship' speeches."
"Really...? Tell me more about these friendship speeches." Duke and Yugi quickly exited the kitchen with their cups and the pitcher.
Téa crossed her arms, "Why did you come here?"
Valon scratched his head for a moment, "Well, I normally start a conversation with a 'nice to meet you' or 'how are you doing'-."
"Just answer the question."
"I partially came to say sorry to Joey...PARTIALLY."
Téa looked to the living room, then back at Valon, "Honestly, I don't trust you as far as I can throw you."
"Well, I didn't willingly come here to make merry with Joey."
Téa angrily took a large mouthful of her drink, then swallowed. "Now, we're getting somewhere. So, who put you up to this?" She pointed behind her into the other room, "You can tell me. No one's listening."
"Honestly, I think it's too soon to say 'sorry' to him. But-."
"So, you're just here for the free drinks? Maybe even embarrass him?"
"This wasn't ideal, you know! I always meant to do this, but I don't think his birthday is the right occasion."
"Of course not." She stood up, "Do us all a favor and leave! Go back to Australia! No one wants you here!"
"It was your friend Yugi that invited me. Maybe, you should be a little more like him and give me a damn chance!"
"Why should we even give you the time of day?"
Joey walked into the kitchen and put his arm around Téa, "Hey, Téa. Is this guy bothering you?"
"It's not him, as much as his guts for showing up, after what we've been through with him."
Joey let go of Téa. He had a bit of a solemn look on his face when he turned to Valon, "So, ...you're wondering if Mai's coming out with us, too?" Valon's face looked slightly more serious. Joey shrugged, "I don't know, I don't know. I wish I could tell you that she was, you know?" Joey walked over, sat down in Téa's former seat. "But, all that mess between you and me because of Doma...let's just forget about it."
Valon looked confused, "What?"
"I didn't want to fight you, in the first place. And, I don't know your reasons for capturing souls, but I really don't want to rehash that part of your past. If I never forced Mai to tell me about her past, then why should I force you to tell about yours? There's no reason for us to fight. And, honestly, I forgive you, man." Joey put out his hand.
"Joey Wheeler? I think I like you better when you're drunk." They shook hands.
"I'm not drunk."
"Do you think Téa will have some 'Sex on the Beach' with me?"
Téa starred down into her cup as she started to swish it around, "I'd never have 'Sex on the Beach' with a man who's willing to kill people."
"Well, it's a good thing that your pharaoh isn't here. Eh, love?" Téa looked at him with shock, for mentioning Atém in that way. And, she would never face the fact that Valon was right. She saw and knew that Atém's ruthlessness would have killed Seto, while they attempted to save Yugi's grandfather. And, they all knew that Atém had used the seal of Orikalcos against Rafael. Atém's rashness then, had caused Yugi to lose his soul. It wasn't until Atém defeated Dartz, that all of the souls that were taken were returned. Valon did not look smug, but regretful, "That look on your face... The way you feel about him? How come I don't have the right to feel that way about Mai, too? Why does everyone tell me that I don't have the right to feel that way about her!?" Téa's eyebrows furrowed. The whole time, she thought she was the only one who felt the way she did, about someone. Before now, it seemed like no one else understood how much she loved Atém.
Joey turned and saw the look on Téa's face, "Téa? Do you mind leaving the two of us, alone? Just tell the guys that I'll be back in a minute."
Téa rested her right hand on Joey's knee. She softly asked, "You sure?"
Joey rubbed his left hand on Téa's back. "Yeah." He smiled at her, "Go." From across the room, Yugi saw Téa and Joey kiss one another on the cheek. Next, Téa walked out of the kitchen. She was not walking too fast in her silver five-inch platform heels.
"Hey. Téa's back," Tristan smiled. "So, who's going with who?"
Téa tugged at her dress, under her armpits, before she sat down next to him upon the arm of blue plaid chair, "I'm going with Yugi and Joey."
Duke smiled at Téa, "Since, I don't want Tristan to mess with my radio, I'll take you, guys."
Bakura pointed at himself, "So, I'm taking Tristan, Alister, and Valon?" Duke nodded at him. "Okay. It's settled. Joey! Valon! Let's go." Valon was following Joey out into the living room.
"Wait, wait." Duke held up a pitcher, "We gotta finish this before we head off. How about a toast?" After he heard some cheers, he started pouring the liquor. Bakura moved his index finger and thumb towards each other, to signal that he wanted no more than a shot, before Duke poured out his portion.
"Fill-er up," Tristan said.
"Yeah, 'filler-up'," Valon echoed. Duke did so and did the same for Alister, though he did not say anything. Maybe Duke picked up on how he was feeling.
"That's ENOUGH, Duke!" Téa slapped his arm and some of the liquid fell onto the table. She heard a few people yell 'party foul', around her.
Valon looked at Téa, "You gotta clean that up, you know."
Duke made a tsk-ing sound. "Aww, too bad. I'll be nice. I'll be a gentleman and pour you some more instead of punishing you." As he topped off Téa's drink, she seemed a little mad. Once he tended to Yugi's drink, Joey poured some of Téa's drink into his.
"Hey," Bakura yelled, "That's against the rules!" Téa shrugged at him, while Joey looked smug. Everyone started to yell at each other.
Yugi stood up, "Hey. HEY!" The room started to fall silent.
Joey swiped his hand through the air, "Don't worry, I'll clean it up."
Everyone's eyes were on Yugi. He raised his glass and looked to his left, "To Joey." Everyone stood and held up their glasses. On the other side of Joey was Téa, Duke, Bakura, Tristan, Alister, then Valon on Yugi's right.
"I first met Joey, after he took my millennium puzzle. But, once he regretted doing that, he started doing things to say he was sorry. And, I welcomed him as my friend. Little did I know how great of friends we'd become within a short time. And, over four years later and after all of our adventures together, you're still the first person to be there if I ever needed help. To Joey...my first true friend. Happy nineteenth birthday. Cheers!" Everyone joined in as they clinked their glasses together and also danced to one more song, before they left the apartment.
"I got shotgun! Nyeh!" Joey ran over and got into Duke's car.
"You sure that you want Joey riding in front, with you," Yugi asked.
"He's the birthday boy. It's no big deal," Duke said as he played with his hair, with his index finger. Téa got into the two-door car, behind Joey, and Yugi got in behind Duke. Once Duke spotted Bakura's car exit the complex, he started to follow him. Joey was talking so excitedly, that Duke just seemed to get in his replies before Yugi could add his opinion. Next, Yugi looked down, as he felt Téa's hand on top of his. He watched as she slowly clasped his hand, then looked up at her. Téa had a small smile on her face. After Yugi interlaced his fingers with hers, they smiled at each other.
