Author's Note: So sorry everyone for the lack of updates. I actually did have this chapter written earlier but my computer has been having technical difficulties and I lost all of it. So now I'm rewriting this chapter and I thank everyone for their patience.

**

First Chances

When Yami and the others had asked him to get together with Joey, Marik hadn't ever really expected to start liking the somewhat aggressive, loudmouthed blonde. But he hadn't ever really expected Joey to be so nice about things either. Joey may have very well saved his life, not to mention getting the ever-precious Millennium Rod back for him. So what was he to do now that nothing had gone the way he'd planned?

Get a new plan, naturally.

Though he was still uncertain as he stood outside Joey's bedroom door, trying to talk himself into knocking. This was an unusual state of affairs for him; he wasn't used to feeling confused and unsure. He hoped it was a temporary condition.

Stupid, he chided himself, reaching up to knock on the door. He's not going to say no. Sure he rejected you once, but you mean it this time.

It wasn't as reassuring as it should have been.

Joey smiled at him curiously as he opened the door. "Hey Marik. I didn't know you were still awake. It's awfully late, isn't it?"

"You're still awake too," Marik pointed out. "What are you doing in there?"

"History homework," Joey muttered with a groan. "I don't suppose you know anything about Ancient Greece?"

"Nope, only Ancient Egypt. Um, if you're busy then, I could talk to you later…"

"Nah, come on in." Joey opened the door a little wider in invitation. "I could use a break anyway."

Marik stepped inside, mentally going over what he'd planned to say one more time before he said anything. "Joey… I know I haven't given you any reasons to trust me."

"That's for damn sure," Joey commented, sitting down and folding his arms, waiting for Marik to continue.

"And I haven't been very nice to you or your friends…"

"True that. What's your point?"

Marik took a seat as well, hesitating a moment before going on. This was so unlike him. "I was hoping you could forget all that, and maybe give it a chance."

Joey looked confused. "Give what a chance?"

"You, me; us."

"What, like together?" Joey nearly yelped, blinking in startled confusion. "Going out and all that?"

Marik nodded. Joey's eyes narrowed.

"When you first started showing up over here and saying you liked me, that was all a lie, wasn't it?" Joey demanded.

"No! Well, yes. A little. But that was before…" Marik gestured to the bruises that still mottled his skin. "…everything that happened. It's true now."  

"And this isn't some sort of take-over-the-world, take-over-my-mind, laugh-at-how-gullibly-stupid-Joey-is-behind-his-back sort of deal, is it?" Joey pressed.

"No!" Marik insisted. "I'm done with all that. Honest."

"Honest, huh?" Joey thought about it, then shrugged and smiled. "Yeah sure, why not? Ya don't seem all that bad anymore. We'll give it a try. But no funny stuff."

"Funny stuff?" Marik asked. "What, like telling a joke?"

Joey laughed. "You know what I mean."

Marik smirked. "Yeah, I guess I do." He stood up, heading for the door. "I'll let you get back to your homework then-"

"Hey, wait a sec," Joey said, standing up quickly and walking over. Marik paused at the door. "If we're gonna be together then, we oughta act like it." Smiling almost shyly, he pulled Marik a little closer and kissed him.

It was sort of awkward, as Joey hadn't ever had that much practice kissing people, but Marik didn't seem to mind it all that much. In fact, he seemed fairly pleased when Joey drew back.

"Tomorrow," Marik murmured, lightly tapping Joey on the tip of the nose affectionately, "we'll work on your technique."

"Heh, will look forward to it." Joey smiled, watching Marik leave off to the guest bedroom. He thought about returning to his history homework, but decided it would spoil the pleasant mood Marik had left behind. Not bothering to change for bed, Joey crawled under the covers, and turned out the light.

**

Marik was still smiling as he returned to the guest bedroom, hardly seeing the world around him as he flopped down on the bed and stared at the ceiling, contemplating what had just happened. That hadn't been so hard, had it?

Yes, yes it had.

But the prize was his. Tonight he'd gotten Joey Wheeler. Tomorrow he'd get the Millennium Puzzle. Then he would have everything he wanted.

**

Seto lay belly-down on the bed, practically quaking with pleasure. "Ah! Yugi… f-fuck, right there… please, harder Yugi!!"

Yugi sighed slightly. "Would you shut up? Mokuba will hear."  

It was apparent Seto was a little too far gone to care, gasping softly, "…don't stop, Yugi…"

Yugi made a face. "How come you never make this much noise when we're having sex?"

Seto stretched leisurely, turning slightly onto his side so he could look at his short boyfriend. "To a CEO, a back massage after a long day of work is almost better than sex. Trust me."

"I think you keep so quiet just to make me work harder," Yugi muttered with a pout.

"That too."  

There was a knock on the door. Yugi hopped off the bed and ran across the rather large room to answer it.

"Phone for you," Mokuba said, holding the cordless telephone out to Yugi. "It's Ryou. He says it's important."

Seto raised an eyebrow at his little brother. "What are you doing still up at this hour?"

"You expect me to sleep with all that noise you're making?" Mokuba said incredulously. Seto came rather close to blushing.

Yugi finished talking with Ryou, saying goodbye and hanging up. Mokuba took the phone back and ran back downstairs to return it to its place.

"So what was so important that Ryou had to call so late?" Seto asked.

"Said there was going to be an emergency meeting of the 'What To Do About Joey Because He's Starting To Act Weird' Committee tomorrow," Yugi said. "Marik wants to talk to us about something."

Seto yawned and stretched. "What a pity, I think I'll be too busy tomorrow to attend."

Yugi frowned, poking Seto in the side. "…okayyy, but you owe me then."

Seto smiled at him. "If it gets me out of going, I think I can live with that."