Shadow: (laughs) oh my, the first het couple of this lot? What is the world coming to…? And oh – I malign Joey. I do. But I love him…
Shipping: Polarshipping – Joey Wheeler x Mai Valentine
Little Gifts
11) Slip and Slide
Joey Wheeler took a run up; leapt on to the ice-slide he'd 'built' with his two friends Yugi Mouto and Tristan Taylor, and promptly fell over.
"Man…" Tristan leaned on the railing of a nearby fence, watching the blonde make a prat of himself, "Joey, you suck."
Joey picked himself up, scowling. "Let's see you do it if you're so great then!"
A roll of eyes, but Tristan obediently took a run-up and launched himself at the slide much like his American friend had done before, only…he executed the full slide perfectly. It was rather an average performance, but it was more than Joey had managed. "Oh yeah," Tristan hopped off at the other end, gleeful, "I rock."
"I can do that!" Joey determinedly stalked off for another try, only to be caught by Yugi's hand at his elbow, the smaller youth's gaze concerned.
"Joey, are you sure you're not going to hurt yourself…?"
"I'll be fine, Yug'." The blonde appeared to be psyching himself up. "Just watch, I'm gonna ace this slide!"
"Let's see it then, genius." Tristan crossed his arms over his chest. Joey huffed at him, preparing for another run.
Yugi tried again. "Joey-"
The American ignored him, jumped upon the slide, and promptly fell over once more.
"Joey Wheeler…" A new voice spoke, causing Yugi and Tristan to raise their eyes from where they'd been looking at their fallen friend, Joey blushing and scrambling up rather awkwardly from his icy seat to greet the new arrival. "Do you never learn?"
"Mai!" Joey was mortified the woman had watched him fall over. Man…why did he always have to make an idiot of himself in front of Mai?
The woman smiled. "Hi. Yugi, Tristan…" She nodded to the two other teens. "How's life been?"
"The usual." Tristan shrugged.
Yugi was a little more elaborate, asking sweetly: "So…what're you doing in Domino, Mai? Last I heard you were still out in America."
"I felt like a change in scenery." Mai was dressed for the winter weather, a tight jumper covering her upper half, long, slim jeans and boots protecting her from the cold. "Thought I'd come visit some…old friends over the Christmas period. It's just a fluke I met you all here though…I was off shopping."
"It's wonderful to see you." Yugi was still as welcoming as ever. "Have you got anything planned for the big day itself? Everyone else is coming over to the game shop in the evening; if you like, you could come too."
"That'd be nice, thankyou Yugi." Mai smiled. "Hey…do you want to come get a coffee with me? All of you." She glanced to Joey and Tristan too, her eyes lingering a little longer on the former. "We could talk, catch up on news."
Tristan beamed. "That's be-"
Yugi yanked the other boy down, and clamped a hand over the brunet's mouth. At the bemused look his two blonde companions shot him he merely smiled innocently. "I'm sorry Mai, Tristan and I would love to go but – well. We have…Christmas things to do." He tried to look secretive and meaningful, but failed rather spectacularly.
"Um…" Mai looked a little confused.
"Joey's free though." The smallest of their party added helpfully.
"I am?" Joey stood there stupidly.
"You are." More meaningful looks from Yugi, a muffled blather of noise from Tristan.
"Then…I guess I am?" Joey looked to Mai. "Still up for that coffee?"
The woman laughed, apparently catching on to Yugi's idea, taking a step towards the brown-eyed youth. "Yes, I -" one of the heels she wore hit a patch of ice and she skidded, about to fall and –
And strong arms caught her, Joey having launched himself onto the slide, leapt off it, and caught Mai – all without losing his balance. Yes, he was cool. Ha. He'd told Tristan he could use the slide. Just…why did it have to be when he wasn't trying…?
Tristan finally pried Yugi's hand away from his mouth. "…Wow." He whistled.
Mai blushed a little, hanging in rather a compromising position in Joey's arms. "…You can let me go now."
Going a little red himself, Joey hastily let the female go. "Sorry."
"No…don't apologise." Mai smoothed out her ruffled clothes. "You saved me a fall, so thankyou."
Joey smiled. "Coffee?" he was on top of the world. He was great, he was fantastic, and he was the coolest thing ever.
"Coffee." Mai smiled once more in return, and began walking off down the street. "See you two later." She waved a hand goodbye to Yugi and Tristan.
Joey pointed a thumb at the departing woman. "What she said." And darted after her. Yugi merely laughed behind him, Tristan looking a little lost, but Joey didn't care. His ego was full-inflated, his pride restored, he was walking down the street with perhaps the most beautiful woman in the world -
And then he put his foot down oddly on a patch of ice, and skidded into a lamppost.
