Well hello there... lol it has been a while, hasn't it?
I want you all to know that I have never given up on this story and I probably never will. I have lost all of my progress and outline on this story because my computer crapped out on me years ago and I lost my passion for this story- but I never gave up on it. I am having to redo the outline for this story and I am not sure how long this will take. Please be patient with me and thank you - SO MUCH for the continuing support over the years and for loving this story. Here is a chapter - dedicated to you all.
Thank you again.
Joey wasn't sure what he was more stressed about; the incoming attack on Pious or the confirmation of Seto's feelings. Suspicions were high regarding Kwan being the attacker and Seto wasn't sure what that meant. Ghaffar had been so far away from any conflict, so Joey wasn't sure how to react. It was only the more developed countries that had been in wars.
Kwan and Cassius had been the most recent. However, that had been settled and taken care of before Joey had been born. Kwan seemed like the agitator of the world. What did King Pegasus have to prove?
Seto was restless and Joey was sure that he hadn't eaten or slept since the attack. He had bags under his eyes and he hadn't had any meals with them. Joey was positive Seto was more distressed by it than he led on. Mokuba seemed to be quieter as well, distracting himself with games and schoolwork.
Joey had barely seen Rolland or the guards since either. They must all be doing their duty to their king.
"I wish there was something I could do!" Joey groaned, grabbing at his hair as he sat across from Yugi on his bedroom floor. A duel mat was in front of them and they were playing Duel Monsters.
"All you have to do is destroy my trap card-"
"No, I mean with Seto. I want to be able to help him with whoever is attacking Pious, but I don't know how I would even do that. I have wracked my brain and can't come up with anything. It's been two days!"
Yugi sighed and leaned back on his hands. "I know what you mean... Ghaffar is a peaceful country. We have never had anything like this happen at home."
"I know that's what I mean. In all of my study sessions my father made me attend, I never was taught how to handle this. If he did I never paid attention! How am I going to be a king with Seto if I can't even offer my help?"
"Well, have you asked him how you could help? Perhaps there is something that you could do that would help ease the burden?" Yugi asked curiously.
Joey shrugged. "I haven't but I doubt that would go over well as Seto keeps saying he has everything under control. If that was the case, wouldn't he be less stressed?"
Yugi scratched at the back of his neck. "True. Maybe asking him isn't the right way to help..."
"Knock, knock," said a familiar voice as the door swung open. It was Mokuba. He didn't seem to be sleeping either. Poor guy was probably scared. "Playing Duel Monsters?"
Joey snorted. "We were, but Yugi beat me like usual."
Yugi smiled sheepishly, "You almost had me though, Joey."
Joey rolled his eyes, "Quit lyin' Yug. What's up Mokuba?"
Mokuba leaned against the bedpost and looked down at Joey, his small face looking tired. "Seto has been trying to get ahold of King Pegasus but he won't answer. Yami and Bakura said that their spies informed them that Pegasus isn't at his palace. They aren't sure where he is."
Joey and Yugi exchanged worried glances.
"What does Seto plan to do?" Joey asked the boy.
Mokuba shook his head. "There's nothing we can do. There isn't actual proof that it was Pegasus that attacked us. If we did then... I suppose we would go to war. Pious hasn't been in a war in centuries. However, Kwan has been known to pick fights with other countries that deem better than it."
Yugi looked down at his hands and Joey chewed at his cheek before wondering aloud. "There anything I can do?"
Mokuba shook his head. "Seto is working hard to find proof. He has been looking over the remnants of what was found from whatever blew up down there, hoping there would be a clue. So far, no luck."
"Do you think we could be attacked again?" Yugi asked.
Mokuba's eyebrows furrowed with worry. "Not sure. Probably. If this attack was just a warning, then I'm sure whoever did it will warn us again."
"But what would they be warning us about?" Joey asked. "Sure, Pious is an advanced country and all but what would they have against Seto?"
Mokuba gave Joey a leveled stare. "Pegasus has always been wanting to sink his claws into Pious. He is very greedy. My stepfather has always denied Pegasus' wishes to collaborate. Now that my stepfather is gone... I'm sure that he thought he could get his way now that Seto is king. However, with word that Seto plans to combine Pious and Ghaffar... I'm sure he feels threatened."
"But why?" Yugi asked. "Ghaffar is peaceful, out of date country. How would he be threatened?"
Mokuba shrugged. "I don't know all the details, but I know that Ghaffar is a very large country. Ghaffar also has collaborated with other countries before, giving them more power. Seto wanted Ghaffar because he wanted to help the country and create peace for the world. His allies with Cassius would also benefit him. This leaves Kwan on its own and overpowered."
"Man... so it's my fault," Joey said, running a stressed hand through his hair.
"No, Joey. It's not. Seto knew what he was doing when he offered to marry you," Mokuba corrected. "We talked about it before he went. He wanted to make sure I was okay with it."
"Does this mean Ghaffar could also be in danger?" Yugi fearfully asked.
Joey snapped his head up as he hadn't even thought of that possibility.
Mokuba stayed silent and looked down, giving them the answer they didn't want.
Joey couldn't let his family and friends, his country be attacked by Pegasus. He had to find a way to protect them. But how...?
oO0Oo
Joey found himself outside of the control room door later on that night, after everyone else had declared they were going to bed. Joey had stayed behind after dinner and made up his mind when Seto again did not join them. He lifted his hand to knock but hesitated. Seto would more than likely throw him out, insult him, make him angry. Should he honestly go in there?
Joey sighed. He still wasn't sure how to be with Seto. After their heated kiss, Joey knew for a one hundred percent fact that the brown-haired boy was attracted to him. He also had to admit that he too was attracted to Seto. There was no denying any longer. However, where did that leave them? With threats against their countries, what would they do? They were going to be married soon and neither of them could properly talk to one another. Joey ran a hand through his hair, messing it further.
He had vowed that he would be the man his father could be proud of. He needed to do this, dammit.
Joey rose his hand again to knock, this time going through with it.
He listened for an answer but heard nothing. He knocked again.
Was Seto in there? No one had seen him leave.
With still no answer, Joey decided to open the door to check.
There he was, but he wasn't at his control panel. He was slumped on the couch behind it, his coat draped over his shoulders. Joey walked into the room and towards him, realizing he was passed out.
This was the first time Joey had seen Seto asleep. Taking a couple of steps closer, he saw that he had pretty long eyelashes. His hair swept to one side, leaving his peaceful face to be looked upon by Joey's wondrous eyes. Seto was handsome. He could be a right jerk but Joey figured he had to be. It must be a defense to keep himself from being vulnerable. Joey understood that, as he too was the same.
Perhaps they were more alike than they gave each other credit.
Joey quietly sat down in the chair next to Seto and watched. How long had he gone without sleeping before he finally couldn't take it anymore? Joey frowned and looked over to the control panel, noting the many different boxes of security camera footage. Looked like Seto was surveying the whole country.
"What are you doing here?"
Joey jumped almost a mile high at the sudden voice of his fiancee. Scrambling to keep right in the chair, he looked at Seto who was setting his coat down on the arm of the chair neatly.
"I-I was checking on you. You haven't been eating."
"Rolland has been bringing me food," Seto stated, giving the blond a leveled look.
Joey nodded, swallowing down his nerves. Good, at least he was eating - and sleeping, as it seemed.
"Missing me?" Seto teased and Joey couldn't help but glare up at him. He had been expecting this. Seto just smirked at him, but the bags under his eyes took any anger Joey felt at the accusation. Even if it was sort of true.
"Shouldn't you be sleeping in your bed?" Joey asked, deciding to ignore the jab.
Seto stood and walked over to his control panel. "I don't need to. I've just been taking cat naps in between surveillance."
"Are you trying to catch Pegasus?" Joey asked out of curiosity, standing as well, and looking up at the screens.
"More or less," Seto answered.
"I'm worried," Joey couldn't help but admit.
"No reason to be, I have it under-"
"Control, yeah I know. I'm worried about my family... my country."
Seto went silent at that.
"My tie to you could cause harm to my country and I worry about it. Is there anything we can do to -"
Suddenly, Seto pressed a key on his rather large keyboard and the screens changed. Joey stared up with wonder, recognizing all the screens to be in different places in Ghaffar.
"You-"
"I have been monitoring Ghaffar since the attack. Nothing has happened so far, but as it is now just as important of responsibility as Pious is, I have been treating it the same. I have assembled the military of Ghaffar to keep watch."
Joey felt something within him warm at the explanation and the display in front of him. Seto wasn't as cold-hearted as he had once thought. All those insults towards his country in the past rang through Joey's ears but they were immediately swept away by the change in front of him. Seto had been worrying about Ghaffar without Joey even having to ask him to. It was just... too much.
Joey hesitantly rose a hand and placed it on Seto's arm, getting the taller boy's attention. "T-Thank you."
Blue eyes met brown and they held their gaze for a few moments. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Seto turned towards him and grabbed the hand on his arm.
"Wheeler... I..." Seto trailed off and Joey held his breath, wishing he could read his thoughts. When he didn't continue, Joey couldn't help it. He lifted on his toes and kissed him.
Seto sighed into the kiss, his hands taking Joey's hips into his hands and pulling him closer in response. The blond gave a muffled moan, enjoying the closeness and the warm, tingles within his body as Seto's lips moved along his.
They released one another after a long moment and gently broke their connection. Joey looked up at Seto under half-lidded eyes. His heart hammered in his chest, making him breathless.
Seto's reaction was music to his heart, glad that he hadn't imagined what had happened between them prior. He did have the same feelings.
"Seto... I am so glad that-"
Seto's finger suddenly on his lips stopped him from uttering his feelings aloud and he gave the taller boy a look of confusion.
"Wheeler, you need to go back to your country."
Joey froze under the finger and his blood ran cold. He stood there dumbly, unable to process what Seto had just said after they had shared such a passionate kiss.
Joey collected himself and smacked Seto's hand away so he could speak, his eyes turning into a glare.
"Why all of a sudden?" Joey's heart didn't want to know the answer. "Are you calling off the wedding?"
Seto removed his eyes from the blond's face and Joey saw the tension form on the king's face.
"No, I still plan to marry you. Right now though, you need to be with your country. I need you there to protect it. I can't be in two places at once and can only do so much from behind a screen."
Joey stared at him, relieved to hear that they were still getting married but didn't like how Seto was dismissing him so easily after everything.
"Oh," he said lamely. "But I wouldn't even know what to do. I haven't been taught to-"
Seto rolled his eyes and Joey glowered. He had been raised in a peaceful country, it wasn't his fault he had never dealt with this sort of thing before.
"Look, I just need you there under the pretense that we aren't getting married anymore. If it were to seem like we had cut ties, Ghaffar would be safe."
Joey blinked. He supposed it did make sense, but Joey still didn't like the decision. "You want to lie? To everyone?"
Seto sighed and pressed his fingers to his forehead. "It's the only option I have in regards to Ghaffar. If I could do the same for Pious, I would. I need Ghaffar in one piece. I assume you want the same."
His heart pulled though at having to leave Seto. He had found a home there, strangely enough. Mokuba, Rolland, Yami, even Bakura. Of course Seto too... how was he expected to just be okay leaving now? If this had happened before he had gained feelings for the man in front of him, he would have jumped at the chance.
Hadn't he wanted to leave? Now he didn't want to.
"I understand... So we are putting our wedding on hold for now? What would be the reason?" Joey asked, holding onto the hope that there would be a wedding still and he would see Seto again to continue with whatever was going on between them.
In his heart though, he had a feeling that wouldn't be the case.
Seto thought for a moment. "That we couldn't get along. Not much of a lie, now is it?"
Joey felt a strangled emotion almost leave his throat. No, they hadn't got along. Not at first. But now...
"When do I leave?" Joey asked with a thick swallow.
"Tomorrow morning. I'll arrange a car. You and Muto will head back first thing. I'll have your belongings packed."
Seto turned away from him then, and Joey stared at his back intently.
"That's rather quick," Joey thought aloud, not liking the answer.
Joey could see the king had nodded. "The sooner the better."
Joey didn't like that either. His heart was tightening and loosening then tightening again in his chest. This was it then. Did Seto care? It was hard to tell.
"W-When will I come back?" He asked with a semi level voice. He didn't want Seto to know just what this was doing to him.
"I'll send for you when it's okay for you to come back."
Seto didn't know then, Joey thought disheartened by the king's words. If he didn't know, it could be months... years... what would become of them? Would they ever actually see each other again?
Somehow it didn't feel like they would get married anymore, despite what Seto said. If they didn't know when they'd even see each other again, how could they expect to hold onto the hope to get married?
Joey suddenly got angry. Angry at the situation and angry at Seto for just letting him go like that.
"So this is it, hunh? After all that shit you said to me? After we... we kissed!" Joey spat, unable to control his emotions that were wobbling at the surface.
Seto didn't turn and clenched his fists down at his sides. "You were right though Wheeler, nothing good would come of this. It's best to keep you and Ghaffar out of this impending war. This is a fight between Pious and Kwan."
Joey glared at his back through tears, his body betraying him. "You don't mean that, do you? That nothing good would come of us. You and I both know what we feel for one another-"
Seto suddenly spun around, looking angrier than ever. His steely blue eyes penetrated Joeys with fierce emotion that Joey couldn't read.
"You got what you wanted Wheeler! Wasn't that your plan all along? To sabotage my plans? To embarrass me? To go back to your pathetic country? Don't act as if you care now that we had a couple of meaningless moments of vulnerability!"
Meaningless-
"You're right, ya bastard! This is what I wanted. I hated you from the moment I met you and nothin has changed! Fuck you and your country!" Joey spat in his face and quickly evacuated the room. He couldn't stand to see Seto for another minute.
Fuck him! Joey had been an outright fool to think anything had changed. Seto was just as much of an asshole as he had always been. Joey had probably been just a pawn in his game the whole time and when things went south, Seto knew Joey was expendable.
If Joey could have left right then, he would have. When he got to his room, he threw all of his belongings onto his bed in a pile. Then, left the room to head for Yugi's. Might as well break the news to him now.
He pounded on the door and Yugi swung open the door, wearing only a shirt and boxers with his hair mussed from sleep.
"Joey?! What's going on?" He asked in a sleepy panic and let the blond push past him.
"We are leaving this godforsaken country tomorrow mornin Yug. I can't stand another minute in this place. Fuck King Seto."
Yugi closed his door and looked at Joey with confusion.
"Joey, what happened? Did you and Seto have words again? I thought everything was going good-"
"So did I Yug! But that bastard messed with my head again! It was all just a game to him. I'm meaningless in this. The wedding is off. Seto is ordering a car first thing tomorrow morning."
Yugi worried his lip and walked over to his angry and hurt friend who was currently grabbing at all Yugi's stuff and piling it onto the bed.
Yugi grabbed Joey's arm before he could continue and the blond looked at him through a tear-streaked face.
"Joey... I'm sorry."
Joey suddenly realized he was crying and he swatted at the tears furiously before falling in a heap on the floor.
Yugi didn't say anything else, probably unsure of what to say, and just wrapped his arms around Joey to comfort him.
Joey felt his heartache and he felt like he could burn the country down if it made his heart stop hurting.
oO0Oo
Duke and Serenity welcomed Joey and Yugi home the next day with big smiles on their faces. Duke was relieved to have the prince home. They were best friends and always would be.
He had been worried about both of them since the announcement of there being an attack on Pious. He hadn't wanted anything to happen to either of them.
Yugi exited the car first and gave Duke a quick hug. They hadn't seen each other since the bonfire and although they had left with tension, Duke was relieved that Yugi still considered him a friend.
"I'm sorry Yug," Duke mentioned in the spiky-haired boy's ear.
"Don't worry about it, Duke!"
Yugi sounded cheerful but something seemed off.
Duke and Yugi released each other as Joey climbed out of the car. Two palace officials grabbed their belongings from the trunk and headed inside.
Joey didn't seem happy to see any of them and he had dark, puffy circles under his eyes.
"Prince Joey! Glad to have you-"
Joey walked past them all without saying a word, not even to his sister who stood with a solemn frown in his direction.
"What happened?" Duke asked Yugi.
"The wedding is off, Duke. King Seto called the wedding off... it had seemed like things were going well. They were getting closer but..."
Yugi trailed off and looked down at the ground. Duke looked up at the car from Pious with a dark glare, before they drove off. Seto Kaiba had gone too far.
"So... Joey is not marrying King Seto? Isn't that what he wanted?" Serenity asked them, worry evident in her voice.
Yugi looked up at Duke, sharing glances before he looked over to Joey's sister. "Joey... he..."
Duke bit his lip, looking over to the palace where Joey had disappeared into.
So Joey Wheeler had fallen in love with Seto Kaiba.
oO0Oo
Joey sat silently before his parents, his father blaming his behavior for the wedding being called off. Joey didn't even have the energy or care to defend himself. It wouldn't matter anyway.
At some point, his mother stopped his father from continuing and had dismissed him.
He knew Duke was worried about him too because the guard kept following him around. He didn't speak though, which Joey was thankful for. He didn't want to talk about anything at that moment.
Yugi had gone home, he suspected, and so Joey was left to find his room by himself. Duke had disappeared and so Joey entered his bedroom quietly.
Once inside, he realized he wasn't comforted by his old bedroom. It seemed foreign to him now. He lay himself down on his bed and stared up at the red canopy above.
He hadn't even said goodbye to Mokuba... the boy was probably heartbroken to know they wouldn't be seeing each other anymore.
Joey swallowed back his emotions, having cried a whole year worth of tears by then, and rolled over into his belly to bury his face into his pillow.
Stupid Kaiba.