Chapter Twenty-Three

While the others reacted variously, from horrified-yet-fascinated groans from Sota and Nadia to Rin turning completely away to Ishio rudely on his phone, Yugi watched. Watched as the dentist drilled Daisy's tooth. Watched as he yanked it out with pliers.

Joey had caught on. His hand came to Yugi's shoulder and he squeezed. Yami put his hand on Yugi's other arm. Yugi realized he was clenching his fists.

/Aibou? Yugi, what's wrong?/

Yugi watched as the drill skidded up her face and sank into her eye. As everyone around him but Erica, Ishio, Joey, and Yami gasped or squealed, Yugi jerked to his feet. His chair fell over with a bang. Everyone looked up, he could see them staring at him, but he was still watching the screen.

"Yugi?" Erica and Rin questioned at the same time.

Suddenly, he realized it was going differently. No misquoted plagiarized line from an old movie. No TV pulled forward. Although the movie camera of course got a good, lingering shot of Daisy's brutalized face, the clamp was different from Yugi's memory and so was Daisy's shirt. Her mouth had been stuffed with cotton pads, probably to stifle her screams so the other hotel guests wouldn't hear, whereas in the dream her screams had been piercing. The dentist's smock had been clean before he'd started on Daisy, and while it was splattered with blood now, it was not as filthy as the one from the nightmare. Also, the dentist was wearing glasses.

The scene went black, but Erica ignored the computer that was running the file. She had crossed the room and turned on the lights just as the scene finished. Everyone was still staring at Yugi, who felt his heart hammering in his chest.

Joey and Yami had gotten to their feet and were reaching out to Yugi as if to steady him. But already realizing how silly he'd been, Yugi let out an self-conscious laugh.

"Sorry!"

"Are you okay?" Erica asked, coming over to him.

"Yug' doesn't like horror movies," Joey said.

"Then why'd he decide to be in one?" Ishio asked sneeringly.

"Hey, I don't like them either and I'm in it," Rin said. "It's okay, Yugi, I couldn't watch it either."

"It's fake," Ishio said in disgust, rolling his eyes. "Stupid, but fake. Grow up."

Joey rounded on him. "You shut the fuck up, asshole."

As Ishio gave Joey a condescending smirk, Erica cut in.

"I've had it," she said. "Ishio, you do nothing but bait everyone. Out." She pointed toward the door. "Out and I'll talk to you later."

Ishio rolled his eyes again, got up, and left the room. Erica turned to Yugi.

"Listen, Yugi, if you can't-"

"No, I'm fine," Yugi said quickly.

"Because this coming just after-"

Knowing she was going to talk about the attack, Yugi shook his head. He felt stupid and embarrassed. Yes, he hated horror movies, and yes, the nightmare had been terrifying, and yes, he'd been assaulted, but he was safe, he was fine. He felt shame roll over him for causing a scene.

"No, really, I mean it. I'm okay. Um, it just surprised me is all, the…the drill."

Joey knew Yugi was lying and Yami suspected, but Erica searched his face and seemed to believe him. She patted his shoulder and turned to the group.

"Okay, we'll stop for the day. It's almost four anyway. Those of you who aren't horror movie fans certainly don't have to watch the footage on any other day we may decide to review it together. Don't be embarrassed and feel you have to. Now, tomorrow we're not filming. I've got a lot of stuff to do with the distribution studio. Sorry I forgot to say anything. I forgot all about it with all that's going on. Enjoy your day off and don't worry, you will be paid." She sighed heavily. "Now excuse me, I need to go talk to Ishio."

"Hope she fires that dick," Joey muttered. Then he looked at Yugi in concern.

So was just about everyone else, except Sota, who seemed more bemused than anything. Mortified even more, Yugi mumbled a goodbye and turned from the room. Joey, Yami, and Tristan went with him.

"What's going on?" Tristan asked as the four of them headed to his car.

Knowing that they wouldn't let him go without telling them, Yugi sighed and told Yami and Tristan his nightmare. Tristan had no idea Yugi had prophetic dreams and merely whistled at the 'coincidence' and how he could see how that would be surprising.

"Don't worry about it, Yugi," he said. "You don't have to be embarrassed."

Yami, who knew even more than Joey about Yugi's visions, having shared his body, spoke to him silently. /Aibou, maybe this really is-/

/No./ Yugi knew he shouldn't be so vehement about leaving the movie. But he felt stupid. Ugly, gross, upsetting, it was still fake. /It was just a nightmare, Yami. And it has nothing to do with…with the break-in./

/I know it doesn't. Although that man hurt and scared you, and I will show him not a hint of mercy if I should ever find out who it was, I know that you have not been traumatized if that is what you are worried about. No one more than I knows how strong you are./

Yami sounded so much like Joey sometimes. No wonder they got along so well.

/Then you know I can do this. You even told me I can./

/Yes, of course, but-/

/I was just surprised to see my nightmare on the screen. I'm over it now./ That was at least mostly the truth. He still was disgusted, and not eager to see and appear in even more depravity, but definitely over his shock.

Yami let it go. Throughout their silent conversation, Joey and Tristan had kept giving Yugi encouragement that he had only half understood, but recognized for what it was. He'd responded in a distracted manner, his attention torn between them and Yami, but now he focused fully on them.

"Really, guys, I appreciate it. I'm good."

The next day being what was supposed to be a film day, he and Joey arbitrarily decided to check out some of the apartments they were interested in. Two seemed promising. In fact, one was just two blocks over from the Game Shop, which meant Yugi could even walk back and forth instead of driving. It was also a bit closer to the warehouse than their old one. They decided to apply.

"We need to start packing," Yugi said as they left the apartment office. It was just after one in the afternoon. "Maybe even today. Even if we don't get that apartment, we have the whole day off."

"And I work every day," Joey agreed.

"That's true, you haven't had a full day off since-"

"A week ago last Saturday. You're not packing up everything all by yourself."

Yugi wondered if Joey also just didn't want him at the apartment alone. He decided not to ask. He couldn't fault him for his continued concern.

The landlord had changed the locks some time ago and gotten them new keys. Yugi actually didn't have his, since they had never left the dresser top in their manor bedroom after Joey had brought them home, but Joey had his on his key ring since they were driving his car, and so they detoured to the old apartment. First, they stopped at Kaiba Corp office, since it wasn't too far out of their way being in the financial district along with the Kame Game Shop.

Mokuba met them down in the lobby. Yugi told him about their decision to move and asked if Kaiba Corp had any empty boxes they could have.

"Yeah, tons," Mokuba said. "Office supplies. Hang on, we'll get you set up."

'Set up' meant thirty-something folded, but usable, boxes being brought down along with two massive packing tape rolls. The boxes came in four different sizes. Yugi thanked Mokuba profusely and he and Joey headed to the apartment.

Yugi was supremely pleased to find he didn't feel a single ounce of anxiety when they pulled up. He was even feeling a little bit of sadness that they were leaving it. This had been his and Joey's first apartment. An official couple for about five years, they'd lived here together for three.

They spent some time building boxes, then split up and started packing. As he worked on the living room closet, Yugi wondered how they'd ended up with all this stuff. When was the last time he'd even worn this jacket? Why did they have a snow shovel when the apartment complex took care of clearing the snow? This lamp didn't work anymore. That picture frame was ugly.

After what felt like hours, Yugi stood from kneeling by the sideboard by the door, sorting through the collected junk, and popped his back. Grunting, he plodded upstairs to see how Joey was faring.

The hall closet was empty. The vacuum stood beside two boxes filled with cleaning supplies and their bed linens folded with some semblance of neatness. A peek in the spare bedroom showed Joey had stripped the guest bed of its covers and gotten down the two pictures and mirror. The extra alarm clock and the lamp were gone from the nightstand. At least there hadn't been much in there.

In their bedroom, Joey was finishing digging out the bathroom linen closet, another box of towels and wash rags at his feet. By the clothes closet and dresser were three boxes filled with clothes and belts.

"How'd we end up with ten towels?" Joey asked as Yugi came into the bedroom. "When we only have seven washrags? And still, we have seven washrags. There's only two of us! And why is it an odd number?!"

Yugi snickered. "I know. I was wondering how all the junk downstairs multiplied without us seeing. We have three packs of playing cards."

"When's the last time we played a card game that wasn't Duel Monsters?"

"When we had your twenty-first birthday party, I think."

Joey dumped the hammer on top of the box of bath linen, then stretched with a groan. "What time is it?" He looked up at the wall clock, realized he'd packed it, then looked at his watch. "After six!"

Yugi sighed. They still had to finish the bathroom, the kitchen, and the pantry. At least the living room and both bedrooms were done. "If we stay a bit longer, we should be able to finish tonight."

"Yeah."

Together, they moved over to the bed and sat down on it. Joey then flopped over on his back with an exaggerated noise of exhaustion. Yugi smiled at him, then looked out over the bedroom. The walls were bare. The closet was empty. The dresser and their nightstands.

Yugi felt another pang of nostalgia. This was for the best, but he sort of felt like they were running away. As well as leaving a good time of their lives behind. Of course, it didn't matter where they lived, as long as they were together, but it still was saddening.

Joey had sat up on his elbow and something must have shown on Yugi's face, because he reached out and rubbed Yugi's arm. "You want to change your mind?"

"No. It's just, we had some good memories here."

"We did. But don't worry, Yug', we'll make some more at our new place." Yugi turned to him and smiled. Joey blushed and grunted. "Sap, I know."

"Yeah, but it's cute."

Joey groaned and rolled his eyes. He sat up and scuffed Yugi's hair. "You're the one who's cute, Spiky."

Yugi tried to push him and Joey wound an arm around him and scuffed his hair even more. Knowing he now resembled a tangled anemone, Yugi managed to squirm out of Joey's arm lock, then tried to grab him. The blonde stood up, turned around, then flattened Yugi to the bed and started tickling him.

"Ahh! Joey, don't!" Yugi giggled, squirming and kicking.

Joey relented immediately. He bent and kissed Yugi with a smack, then started to get up. Yugi pulled him back and initiated a far more intimate kiss. Joey moaned, his hands going back to Yugi's sides, but definitely not tickling.

Breaking the kiss, Yugi stood up. He moved in front of Joey and then sank to his knees, sliding his hands up Joey's thighs.

"Let's have one more good memory," he said.

Joey nodded mutely. Yugi undid his jeans, pushing Joey's hands away when he went to help, then pulled him out of his boxers. He was half hard and Yugi purred, leaning forward to mouth him. Joey grunted and rested one hand on Yugi's head. Yugi started little kitten licks he knew always got Joey going. Pushing his boxers down further, Yugi stroked him, feeling him harden and thicken in his hand. He leaned forward again and rubbed the tip of his tongue right where the shaft met his balls and Joey whined.

Standing up more on his knees, Yugi swallowed Joey down his throat. He remembered the first time he'd shocked Joey to learn he didn't have much of a gag reflex. Now he bobbed his head along the full length.

"Nngh. Fuck, Yug', you're good at that."

Yugi hummed and smirked inwardly as Joey groaned obscenely. Running his hands up and down Joey's legs, Yugi moved his head faster. He felt the hand tighten in his hair and he knew Joey always worried he'd hurt himself. Still humming, he dragged slowly up and Joey arched and slid down onto his forearm. The hand left his hair and Yugi opened his eyes to see Joey's head tossed back, down on both forearms and his hands grasping the sheet. His shirt was clinging to his chest, which was starting to heave.

Very much liking that sight, Yugi kept his eyes open as he popped off to breathe and watched as Joey looked down at him. Holding his gaze, hands still on his thighs, Yugi leaned down to run his tongue up his length. Joey's eyes squeezed shut and his hips jumped.

"Watch me," Yugi commanded.

Joey opened his eyes and Yugi stared back up at him as he opened his mouth and slowly took him in again. Joey's brow furrowed and his teeth showed as he hissed and tried not to buck. Yugi drew back up to the head, flicked his tongue into the slit, then pushed down again, further than before. Joey's thighs and abs contracted as he jerked against the bed in another stifled thrust. Yugi lifted back up and licked his slit again before sliding down all the way until his nose was pressed to clipped blonde curls. He closed his own eyes then and simply held the position, listening to Joey pant.

"Fuck," Joey gasped. "Mm!"

Yugi swallowed around him. Joey was cussing a blue streak, squirming against the bed. The hand returned to Yugi's hair and threaded through the spikes. Yugi held Joey in his throat until he had to breathe again, then lifted up.

"Yug', I want to fuck you," Joey rasped.

Yugi pulled off reluctantly. He'd wanted to suck Joey to completion, but getting fucked sounded just as good, so he stood and shucked his shirt. A gasp left his mouth as Joey sat up and yanked him to him, ripping open the fastenings of his pants and shoving them down to his knees. His lips wrapped around Yugi's cock and Yugi grabbed his shoulders. Joey couldn't deep throat Yugi himself, but he made up for it by having the most agile tongue.

"Ahh! Joey, mm, wh-what happened to f-fucking me?"

Joey lifted up and started kissing up Yugi's stomach. One calloused hand wrapped around his erection while his other arm held him close. Yugi cupped Joey's head and let his own drop back, his knees getting weak. As Joey's breath puffed against his skin and his hand jacked him slow and tight, Yugi felt his muscles tensing up. He gasped and pulled Joey's head back. Bending down, he kissed him hard, relieved and disappointed both when Joey let go to hold both his hips.

They broke apart and Yugi stepped back to finish kicking off his pants and boxers. Joey stood and shucked his own clothes, then grabbed the lube out of box that held the stuff from his nightstand. He turned around to see that Yugi had got on his hands and knees and was looking at him over his shoulder. Smiling, Yugi wiggled his ass.

Joey growled and leaned over him to kiss him, reaching down to massage his hole. Yugi whined and shivered. Joey trailed lips over his cheek to the soft spot behind his ear. Then he tilted his head and nibbled above the collar Yugi still had on. Yugi heard the cap of the lube and spread his legs a little more.

A finger slid inside him. Moaning, eyes closed, Yugi rocked back. Soon a second finger joined the first and they scissored, then both rubbed tight and firm over his prostate. Yugi bit his lip to try and smother a cry. Joey was dropping kisses and bites all over his back. He added a third finger, then rotated his wrist and Yugi tossed his head back.

"Please," Yugi panted. "Joey, please, come on."

The fingers withdrew and Yugi heard him slicking himself up. Then he was pushing into him, slow and deliberate. Yugi felt every single inch sinking into him and he bit his lip. Hips flush to his ass, Joey thrust and jostled Yugi forward.

"Oh, god," Yugi gasped. He dug his hands into the sheets and pushed back even though Joey was as deep as he could get.

Joey held still, then ground slowly against him, keeping himself to the hilt.

"Joey, please!"

"You're so tight, Yug'," Joey said breathlessly.

He started thrusting, fast and hard from the get-go. Yugi screamed, belatedly covering his mouth, then put both hands back in the sheets and just moaned as Joey pounded him. He was on target with his sweet spot and Yugi was seeing stars in seconds. His erection bobbed between his legs and they both ignored it, Joey clutching Yugi's hips and Yugi fisting the sheets.

Joey was grunting with every snap of his hips and Yugi let the sound wash over him, just as the pleasure washed through him. The bed creaked a little and then the headboard starting hitting the wall. Desperately hoping their neighbor wasn't home, Yugi did nothing to stop Joey's force.

Yugi pressed his forehead into his forearm, ignoring how musty the sheets were having lain unchanged while they were living at the manor, and curved his back. Every sharp thrust from Joey punched the breath out of him and he felt dizzy.

His shoulder ached, but he ignored it.

Joey suddenly slowed down and then slipped out. He turned Yugi over, bending down to kiss him, then pressed back inside. Yugi hooked his legs around his waist, arms around his neck. Joey hugged him tightly, their bodies pressed together. Joey started the rhythm again, building up speed as Yugi moaned into his mouth, trying to raise his hips in counter rhythm.

Joey brought one hand up and rubbed over Yugi's chest, then down his stomach until he took him in his fist again and started stroking fast. His thumb rubbed his slit over and over, smearing the precum and sending electric shocks straight to Yugi's toes.

"I love you, Yug'," Joey gasped against his neck. "Come for me. Fuck. Come for me, Yugi!"

Yugi's back arched and he whined desperately. Joey bit into his neck above his collar and he screamed, spilling over his stomach and Joey's fist. He could barely hear Joey's muffled growl over the blood throbbing in his ears, but he definitely felt Joey spill inside him, short, sharp thrusts to his prostate pounding his orgasm higher and higher. He dug his fingers into Joey's shoulders in a death grip, his scream cutting itself off.

They slumped in a quivering heap, legs hanging off the bed, Joey half on Yugi, hand trapped between their stomachs, other arm pinned under Yugi's back, his breath rapid against his neck. Yugi ran his hand down Joey's sweaty back, slid the other fingers through damp hair.

Joey idly rubbed his thumb along his softening dick and Yugi twitched and hissed at the overstimulation. He felt Joey smile against his neck and he tugged his hair. Joey chuckled tiredly and pulled his hand away, then gathered enough strength to push himself further up onto the bed and drag Yugi up with him. Feet still hanging off, Joey curled into Yugi and nuzzled into his hair. Yugi kissed his shoulder and drifted in the haze of afterglow.

Tbc…