I'm back! Sorry for taking so long with this... ^^;;; I've been really busy
lately. Anyhow, I'll be trying to update as much as I can while school's
still not here, so look out for more stuff! *CRIES cause she doesn't wanna
go to school* Also, if anybody knows anything about Yugi or Duke Devlin's
past/family (especially about parents), I'll give them a cookie! ^_^ And if
they ask real nicely, maybe even a one-shot! R&R!
~*~*~*~
The man took his shoulder in a hold that felt like it'd dislocate the thing. "Please don't struggle." He was pulling at the boy without too much success, as his other hand was clamped onto the doorframe with a death grip, nails scoring the wood in an attempt to resist being dragged away.
"Well, gee--" Joey spoke haltingly in his efforts to twist away, feeling splinters of pain shoot up and down his arms from both how tightly he was being held, and how his grip on the doorframe was slipping. "at least-- I get abducted by-- POLITE guys...." He rolled his eyes, redoubling his efforts with a grimace as an idea came to him.
Who _cared_ if this guy outmatched him in weight, height, and strength? He was tenfold this guy's superior in brains, and he wasn't afraid to fight dirty. After all, there was nothing about this situation that was good, anyway. They were practically kidnapping him!
He strained backwards and held onto the doorframe as tightly as possible for balance, waited for the inevitable jerk to haul him towards the guy, then brought his foot up in a vicious snap kick. His captor's eyes widened in an almost comical way, and he doubled over in pain, letting go of Joey to clutch his groin protectively.
Joey took the opportunity to balance himself again, mind racing. They might try to break down the door if he went back inside, but if he ran, they had a good chance of catching him....
Who said he couldn't hide? As much as he wanted to pulverize those jerks, he was willing to settle for the one blow he'd gotten in. With that in mind, Joey was off like a shot, running for all he was worth, with blood pounding in his ears.
No, wait, that wasn't it. That sound was footsteps. Joey felt a heaviness in his stomach as he was lifted into the air by a fistful of shirt and jacket. Crud, and here he'd thought he could outrun that second guy.... He let fly several expletives.
"Watch your mouth." The second man scolded him, before turning back to his companion, who had by now managed to straighten back up. "I got him, Rob. He didn't get too far."
"Good." The first one-- Rob-- had a voice that was significantly higher than it had been before. "Put him in the back, and let's go."
Ignoring the second man's disapproval, Joey cursed the entire trip there, trying to keep from repeating any one word, and managed to come up with some very creative word concoctions, as well as throwing in a few curses that he'd heard used here and there by foreign exchange students. This was not good....
~*~*~*~
"What parents? Stay... and who of men is my sire?" Seto reached out, grabbing Tristan's sleeve.
Tristan pulled his arm back, eyes closed, and smirked. The expression seemed strange on his face, especially when contrasted with Seto's apparent distress. "This day shall show thy birth and shall bring thy ruin." He informed the taller teen.
"What riddles, what dark words thou always speakest!" Seto exclaimed, pressing a hand to his temple and shaking his head, seeming to be trying to curb his temper.
"Nay, art not thou most skilled to unravel dark speech?" Tristan taunted, his normally mild voice now challenging.
"Make that my reproach in which thou shalt find me great." Despite how riled he looked, the words were haughty.
Tristan opened his eyes to peek at his script, then closed them again. "Yet 'twas just that fortune that undid thee." He countered, seeming to flow from being angry to being patronizing.
"Nay, if I delivered this town. I care not." Seto returned disdainfully, though he was still holding Tristan's sleeve.
"Then I will go: so do thou, boy, take me hence." Tristan scoffed, turning his head to the side, where Tea stood waiting. There weren't enough boys in the class for this play; they'd had to make do with a few girls assuming masculine roles.
"Aye, let him take thee: while here, thou art a hindrance, thou, trouble: when thou hast vanished, thou wilt not vex me more." Seto gave Tristan an almost violent shove, and the spike-haired brunet stumbled backwards. Tea immediately steadied him.
Tristan scowled in Seto's direction, taking Tea's arm and opening his eyes to look at the script again, needing to read out his speech. "I will go when I have done mine errand, fearless of thy frown: for thou canst never destroy me. And I tell thee-the man of whom thou hast this long while been in quest, uttering threats, and proclaiming a search into the murder of Laius-that man is here,-in seeming, an alien sojourner, but anon he shall be found a native Theban, and shall not be glad of his fortune. A blind man, he who now hath sight, a beggar, who now is rich, he shall make his way to a strange land, feeling the ground before him with his staff. And he shall be found at once brother and father of the children with whom he consorts; son and husband of the woman who bore him; heir to his father's bed, shedder of his father's blood. So go thou in and think on that; and if thou find that I have been at fault, say thenceforth that I have no wit in prophecy."
Seto walked off to the side, Tea and Tristan headed in the opposite direction. He couldn't really fault Tristan's performance; the teen was fairly good, as actors went. At least he didn't read in a monotone, like some people were apt to; and he didn't have a voice that bounced all over the place, like some of the more easily excitable girls. It was just.... well....
Well what?
He just wasn't the person Seto preferred to work with. As good as Tristan was, Seto much preferred to work with Joey. He often got the leading male roles, by this point, and the mutt usually was given the role of sidekick, or chief antagonist. They just had a charge between them, probably from practice. They were natural spitfires on the stage, counterbalancing and complementing one another. Just like when they argued in private, only with a streak of exhibitionism to it. The only difference was, unlike when it was only between the two of them, Seto's characters didn't always win.
Speaking of which, where WAS that cur? He hadn't been to school for a good four days, now, and had been missing for several days before the one day he did come. Seto knew what the first disappearance was from, but this one was rather unsettling. Shouldn't that inconsiderate mongrel have at least called to give him the doctor's number, and how much money the treatment cost? It WAS his father's life at stake, after all. But not Seto's, so he shouldn't worry about it....
Shouldn't, even though he was. Maybe he'd go pay Joey a visit after school, just to ask about that.
The next scene started, and Seto followed the tangent his thoughts were leading him on, devoting a small portion of his mind to speaking his part, Oedipus, the damned king. A flawed hero. He always seemed to get those sorts of roles. Not in the play he was making, though; that was probably because there were no heroes. Just condemned lovers.
They'd found a way around Artemis' hatred of men, rigged Joey's part to ensure the Apollo's returned affections, and left both figments entirely oblivious of the havoc they were wreaking. All that was left to do was figure out how to force them apart without needing a third actor, and writing out the script itself.
And the performing of it. Seto was definitely not looking forward to that. Who wanted to wear a dress, anyway? He'd been tricked! Joey would've been better suited to the role... But alas, nobody could have their way all the time, no matter how much they deserved to. Even hapless Oedipus, his entire life twisted by powers beyond his control, was made bow to the gods.....
~*~*~*~
The limo stopped by the ramshackle house, and Seto slid out, telling the driver to wait for him. He reached for the doorbell, then paused in mid- action, noticing that the door was unlocked. Frowning in puzzlement, the CEO pushed open the door, noticing scratches on the doorframe from Joey's nails, though he was unsure as to why they were there. The TV was on, Joey's backpack was on the floor next to the rather shabby couch, and it all looked as though he'd just picked up and left that afternoon.
A quick tour of the house later, Seto found Joey's room, surveying the small piles of junk covering the floor with obvious distaste. How could anybody LIVE in this kind of filth? He kept HIS room immaculately clean. But Joey wasn't here, obviously. And there was no sign of where he went. Maybe he should look at the park, next? Or maybe he should just check around; few could match his skills with the computer, and those skills included tracing people. Just one more perk of being an elite hacker.
But Joey was probably fine; just at the park playing basketball with his little friends, or something. Like he even cared? He was only seeking out the misbegotten gutterwhelp to show that he really did keep his promises. That and to keep working on the stupid play. Shaking his head at his own foolish worries, Seto left the room, going back outside to get into his limo. He wasn't acting like himself, he knew. This was sheer madness on his part....
But what if he was wrong? What if Joey really had gotten himself into trouble? The boy didn't have any family around to help him, any friends that would come over often enough to notice him missing. He'd be alone.... Seto shuddered at the thought. He was rarely alone, and was immensely thankful for it. He would have died ten thousand times over without Mokuba. Mokuba was his light in the dark, his anchor in the raging sea, his trusted ally when the entire world was against him. Mokuba was the only thing that got him through the day, sometimes. When things were really bad, he didn't know what he'd do without having his little brother waiting to make him feel better. Mokuba was both of their hearts and souls, the thing that kept their little family of two going. Thank heavens for that.
He felt a sudden pang of pity, knowing that Joey was separated from his own sibling. Her name.... Serenity, wasn't it? He was fairly sure. What must it feel like to have nobody to come home to? Nobody in the world who he could turn to when all else failed. A horrible fate, the like of which he wouldn't wish on anybody, even the mutt.
Anybody would be miserable alone. It was human nature to be gregarious. Safety in numbers, yes? They were very pack-minded. Or hive, if you would. Mankind was something like ants or bees, in his opinion. Everybody was wanted and needed, to do some specific job, to be something to someone. A place for everyone, and everyone in their place.
What happened to you when you had no place?
~*~*~*~
He was alone. All alone. Surrounded by people, but alone.
No man was an island, but he had been isolated for four days. No school, no work, no friends... Nobody and nothing that was familiar to him. Everything he was surrounded by was strange, and he didn't want it to become familiar, either. This wasn't his world. This place was as alien as if he'd been dropped off at Venus. He'd been torn from his world, and the wound still rubbed raw, the pain of separation still fresh.
He'd hated it here from the very first. Adults with sickly sweet smiles, telling him how sorry they were, how much he would like it here, how they were sure somebody would take him soon.... They were all horrible liars, every one of them. Everything was a dreary, whitewashed color, with occasional bits of dull grey and gleams of lackluster metal. The furniture always seemed hard, he had yet to find a meal he could stomach without disgust-- an extraordinary, though somewhat dubious distinction, considering his appetite--, and residents-- he wanted to call them inmates-- like himself were all treated more as if they were dolls for display, or beasts being groomed for a pet show. They provided you with overly nice clothes, made sure you looked good, stuffed you into a miniature hospital facility if you were sick.... All they were concerned about was your appearance.
No thought was really given to the other things. Like school, for instance; they gave you books, and set aside a period of time for people to read and study, but nothing else. How were you supposed to learn the lessons without a teacher, if you couldn't grasp them from the books? He never thought he'd say it, but he actually missed school. And what about how you felt? He didn't think anybody was really very happy here. The other people his age were absolute _pricks_, usually the worst being the adults' favorites, and seemed hellbent on making life miserable for him. For his part, he usually tried to avoid them; this wasn't like when he'd been in a gang. He didn't have any friends to fall back on here. Retribution if he tried anything serious would probably be profound, exhaustive, and exceedingly painful.
His friends.... His friends were all back in the real world, far out of reach from this hellhole. How were they doing? Did they know where he'd gone? What he wouldn't give to have Tristan with him right now, or maybe Yugi.... Tea coming to visit would be nice to cheer him up. She was great at giving pep talks. Even Seto would be nice to have around, if only for the fact that he could probably get him out, whether by hook or by crook. He didn't particularly care how, as long as he got out _somehow_.
"Man...." Joey groaned, rolling over onto his stomach on the bed, and burying his head into his arms. This really sucked....
"Well, well, if it isn't our favorite whipped dog...." A deep voice declared, rich with suppressed laughter.
"Huh?!" Joey nearly fell off the bed in his surprise, propping himself up on one elbow to see Seto standing over him. How did that guy move so _quietly_?! He hadn't even heard the door open!
"Hello to you, too." Seto's expression hovered between a smile and a smirk, and he looked almost affectionate. "Still beaten into the ground, I see."
"What're you talking about?" Joey demanded, feeling slightly irritated as he sat up entirely. Hadn't he just been wishing that Seto were here a minute ago?
"Well, it's obvious that you didn't come here by choice." Seto gestured, as if he were explaining some difficult concept to a child. "You were defeated, and like a pathetic dog, you've stayed down in the mud."
"Not like I had any CHOICE." Joey growled. "They lock the doors at night, same with the gates. And in the day you're watched too closely to do a thing." He scowled bitterly at the thought of the adults.
"I know." Seto nodded sympathetically.
"Yeah? And why did you come here, to gloat?" Joey groaned. He should've known Kaiba was never up to any good....
"Get up." Seto commanded gently.
"What?" Joey blinked.
"Get up." He repeated, this time more firmly. "You're coming with me. I'm taking you out of here."
Joey stared at him, goggle-eyed. Well, an unlikely knight in shining armor, but he'd be insane to refuse the offer. "Really?" He stood up.
"Yes, really." Seto seemed amused. "I don't lie when I don't have anything to gain by it. Now, come on." He opened the door.
"Um...." Joey had the presence of mind to grab his old clothes, the only things he had here, and followed Seto. "Th-thanks...." He shook his head, still stunned. "Thanks a lot. I mean, you're... you're saving my butt, here. That's.... I mean.... I really don't know what to say...." He could hardly believe it was possible.
"Don't mention it." Seto told him; his tone was dangerous. "Ever."
"I... I won't." Joey agreed, and raised an eyebrow at his expression, rather uneasy.
"Good boy." Seto regained his confident look, and led the blond out into the evening's waning sunlight, through the gates, and to his limo. More importantly, leading to freedom.
If he hadn't buckled his seatbelt already, he would have done a victory dance. He waited until they were being driven back to his house to ask a question. "How come nobody put YOU in the slammer for not having any adults to look out for you?" He'd never thought about that until they'd been in the same position, but if HE needed a guardian, then surely Seto did too, right?
If Seto had been holding someone's arm as tightly as he was gripping the door handle now, he surely would have cracked their bones, if not outright broken them. "I'm sui juris." He said laconically.
Joey opened his mouth again.
"No, I'm not going to explain, so don't ask." Seto cut him off gruffly. "Please." He added after, voice harsh, but almost.... pleading? His grip tightened further, and he looked pointedly out the window and away from the blond, feeling the prickle of tears against his eyes, which he adamantly refused to shed. No, he wasn't THAT weak.... He'd never give anybody the satisfaction of breaking down, whether they were dead or alive, especially over the past. It was over; why should still stir him? Why should he cry? It would be pointless. Pointless.... To steady his nerves, and give him something else to think about, Seto took his laptop out of his briefcase, firmly pushing the memories to the back of his mind.
Joey's mouth snapped shut at the request, and he nodded unsteadily, but peered over Seto's shoulder at the screen. "What are you doing?"
"Just a bit of unfinished business." Seto took a deep, calming breath, and set himself to work. For several minutes, the only sound filling the backseat was the staccato tap-tap-tap of Seto's fingers deftly moving across the computer keys. He clicked a button to send, mind swirling with thoughts and emotions which he carefully put a mask over. Thank goodness for satellite internet....
~*~*~*~
Some time later, back at Domino City Children's Shelter, it was time for dinner to be served. A woman knocked on the Director's door. She wore modest clothing, a severe bun, and a pinched expression on her face, which made her look to be somewhere in her 50's. She absolutely abhorred the brats she had to deal with in her job, but unfortunately, was unable to find a better one. "Mr. Dalton?"
"Come in." Mr. Dalton called through the door. He was a squat, stocky man, a tad bit pudgy, with a very pronounced bald spot. "What can I do for you, Miss Price?"
"We're missing a child." She informed him, and had to think to figure out what the boy's name was. "Joseph Wheeler."
He frowned. "Have you checked the rooms?"
"Every one of them, sir." She nodded firmly.
"What about the grounds?"
"With a fine-toothed comb."
"Well, perhaps--" Mr. Dalton was interrupted by a familiar chime from his computer, alerting him to a new message received. At the same time, his fax machine began to hum as it printed out some papers. He opened the email with a frown, and seemed somewhat confused. Why would someone want him to look at his electronic bank account? The director took the papers that he'd been faxed, and read them as he followed the instructions in the email. There a new deposit in his account, one he hadn't made, for.... "Why, that's extravagant....." He breathed in astonishment, but seemed pleased, nonetheless.
"What?" Miss Price demanded, looking alternately at the screen and papers.
"See for yourself." Mr. Dalton showed her the deposit amount, then handed her the papers. "The adoption forms for your missing child, filled out by one Mr. Kaiba."
~*~*~*~
The man took his shoulder in a hold that felt like it'd dislocate the thing. "Please don't struggle." He was pulling at the boy without too much success, as his other hand was clamped onto the doorframe with a death grip, nails scoring the wood in an attempt to resist being dragged away.
"Well, gee--" Joey spoke haltingly in his efforts to twist away, feeling splinters of pain shoot up and down his arms from both how tightly he was being held, and how his grip on the doorframe was slipping. "at least-- I get abducted by-- POLITE guys...." He rolled his eyes, redoubling his efforts with a grimace as an idea came to him.
Who _cared_ if this guy outmatched him in weight, height, and strength? He was tenfold this guy's superior in brains, and he wasn't afraid to fight dirty. After all, there was nothing about this situation that was good, anyway. They were practically kidnapping him!
He strained backwards and held onto the doorframe as tightly as possible for balance, waited for the inevitable jerk to haul him towards the guy, then brought his foot up in a vicious snap kick. His captor's eyes widened in an almost comical way, and he doubled over in pain, letting go of Joey to clutch his groin protectively.
Joey took the opportunity to balance himself again, mind racing. They might try to break down the door if he went back inside, but if he ran, they had a good chance of catching him....
Who said he couldn't hide? As much as he wanted to pulverize those jerks, he was willing to settle for the one blow he'd gotten in. With that in mind, Joey was off like a shot, running for all he was worth, with blood pounding in his ears.
No, wait, that wasn't it. That sound was footsteps. Joey felt a heaviness in his stomach as he was lifted into the air by a fistful of shirt and jacket. Crud, and here he'd thought he could outrun that second guy.... He let fly several expletives.
"Watch your mouth." The second man scolded him, before turning back to his companion, who had by now managed to straighten back up. "I got him, Rob. He didn't get too far."
"Good." The first one-- Rob-- had a voice that was significantly higher than it had been before. "Put him in the back, and let's go."
Ignoring the second man's disapproval, Joey cursed the entire trip there, trying to keep from repeating any one word, and managed to come up with some very creative word concoctions, as well as throwing in a few curses that he'd heard used here and there by foreign exchange students. This was not good....
~*~*~*~
"What parents? Stay... and who of men is my sire?" Seto reached out, grabbing Tristan's sleeve.
Tristan pulled his arm back, eyes closed, and smirked. The expression seemed strange on his face, especially when contrasted with Seto's apparent distress. "This day shall show thy birth and shall bring thy ruin." He informed the taller teen.
"What riddles, what dark words thou always speakest!" Seto exclaimed, pressing a hand to his temple and shaking his head, seeming to be trying to curb his temper.
"Nay, art not thou most skilled to unravel dark speech?" Tristan taunted, his normally mild voice now challenging.
"Make that my reproach in which thou shalt find me great." Despite how riled he looked, the words were haughty.
Tristan opened his eyes to peek at his script, then closed them again. "Yet 'twas just that fortune that undid thee." He countered, seeming to flow from being angry to being patronizing.
"Nay, if I delivered this town. I care not." Seto returned disdainfully, though he was still holding Tristan's sleeve.
"Then I will go: so do thou, boy, take me hence." Tristan scoffed, turning his head to the side, where Tea stood waiting. There weren't enough boys in the class for this play; they'd had to make do with a few girls assuming masculine roles.
"Aye, let him take thee: while here, thou art a hindrance, thou, trouble: when thou hast vanished, thou wilt not vex me more." Seto gave Tristan an almost violent shove, and the spike-haired brunet stumbled backwards. Tea immediately steadied him.
Tristan scowled in Seto's direction, taking Tea's arm and opening his eyes to look at the script again, needing to read out his speech. "I will go when I have done mine errand, fearless of thy frown: for thou canst never destroy me. And I tell thee-the man of whom thou hast this long while been in quest, uttering threats, and proclaiming a search into the murder of Laius-that man is here,-in seeming, an alien sojourner, but anon he shall be found a native Theban, and shall not be glad of his fortune. A blind man, he who now hath sight, a beggar, who now is rich, he shall make his way to a strange land, feeling the ground before him with his staff. And he shall be found at once brother and father of the children with whom he consorts; son and husband of the woman who bore him; heir to his father's bed, shedder of his father's blood. So go thou in and think on that; and if thou find that I have been at fault, say thenceforth that I have no wit in prophecy."
Seto walked off to the side, Tea and Tristan headed in the opposite direction. He couldn't really fault Tristan's performance; the teen was fairly good, as actors went. At least he didn't read in a monotone, like some people were apt to; and he didn't have a voice that bounced all over the place, like some of the more easily excitable girls. It was just.... well....
Well what?
He just wasn't the person Seto preferred to work with. As good as Tristan was, Seto much preferred to work with Joey. He often got the leading male roles, by this point, and the mutt usually was given the role of sidekick, or chief antagonist. They just had a charge between them, probably from practice. They were natural spitfires on the stage, counterbalancing and complementing one another. Just like when they argued in private, only with a streak of exhibitionism to it. The only difference was, unlike when it was only between the two of them, Seto's characters didn't always win.
Speaking of which, where WAS that cur? He hadn't been to school for a good four days, now, and had been missing for several days before the one day he did come. Seto knew what the first disappearance was from, but this one was rather unsettling. Shouldn't that inconsiderate mongrel have at least called to give him the doctor's number, and how much money the treatment cost? It WAS his father's life at stake, after all. But not Seto's, so he shouldn't worry about it....
Shouldn't, even though he was. Maybe he'd go pay Joey a visit after school, just to ask about that.
The next scene started, and Seto followed the tangent his thoughts were leading him on, devoting a small portion of his mind to speaking his part, Oedipus, the damned king. A flawed hero. He always seemed to get those sorts of roles. Not in the play he was making, though; that was probably because there were no heroes. Just condemned lovers.
They'd found a way around Artemis' hatred of men, rigged Joey's part to ensure the Apollo's returned affections, and left both figments entirely oblivious of the havoc they were wreaking. All that was left to do was figure out how to force them apart without needing a third actor, and writing out the script itself.
And the performing of it. Seto was definitely not looking forward to that. Who wanted to wear a dress, anyway? He'd been tricked! Joey would've been better suited to the role... But alas, nobody could have their way all the time, no matter how much they deserved to. Even hapless Oedipus, his entire life twisted by powers beyond his control, was made bow to the gods.....
~*~*~*~
The limo stopped by the ramshackle house, and Seto slid out, telling the driver to wait for him. He reached for the doorbell, then paused in mid- action, noticing that the door was unlocked. Frowning in puzzlement, the CEO pushed open the door, noticing scratches on the doorframe from Joey's nails, though he was unsure as to why they were there. The TV was on, Joey's backpack was on the floor next to the rather shabby couch, and it all looked as though he'd just picked up and left that afternoon.
A quick tour of the house later, Seto found Joey's room, surveying the small piles of junk covering the floor with obvious distaste. How could anybody LIVE in this kind of filth? He kept HIS room immaculately clean. But Joey wasn't here, obviously. And there was no sign of where he went. Maybe he should look at the park, next? Or maybe he should just check around; few could match his skills with the computer, and those skills included tracing people. Just one more perk of being an elite hacker.
But Joey was probably fine; just at the park playing basketball with his little friends, or something. Like he even cared? He was only seeking out the misbegotten gutterwhelp to show that he really did keep his promises. That and to keep working on the stupid play. Shaking his head at his own foolish worries, Seto left the room, going back outside to get into his limo. He wasn't acting like himself, he knew. This was sheer madness on his part....
But what if he was wrong? What if Joey really had gotten himself into trouble? The boy didn't have any family around to help him, any friends that would come over often enough to notice him missing. He'd be alone.... Seto shuddered at the thought. He was rarely alone, and was immensely thankful for it. He would have died ten thousand times over without Mokuba. Mokuba was his light in the dark, his anchor in the raging sea, his trusted ally when the entire world was against him. Mokuba was the only thing that got him through the day, sometimes. When things were really bad, he didn't know what he'd do without having his little brother waiting to make him feel better. Mokuba was both of their hearts and souls, the thing that kept their little family of two going. Thank heavens for that.
He felt a sudden pang of pity, knowing that Joey was separated from his own sibling. Her name.... Serenity, wasn't it? He was fairly sure. What must it feel like to have nobody to come home to? Nobody in the world who he could turn to when all else failed. A horrible fate, the like of which he wouldn't wish on anybody, even the mutt.
Anybody would be miserable alone. It was human nature to be gregarious. Safety in numbers, yes? They were very pack-minded. Or hive, if you would. Mankind was something like ants or bees, in his opinion. Everybody was wanted and needed, to do some specific job, to be something to someone. A place for everyone, and everyone in their place.
What happened to you when you had no place?
~*~*~*~
He was alone. All alone. Surrounded by people, but alone.
No man was an island, but he had been isolated for four days. No school, no work, no friends... Nobody and nothing that was familiar to him. Everything he was surrounded by was strange, and he didn't want it to become familiar, either. This wasn't his world. This place was as alien as if he'd been dropped off at Venus. He'd been torn from his world, and the wound still rubbed raw, the pain of separation still fresh.
He'd hated it here from the very first. Adults with sickly sweet smiles, telling him how sorry they were, how much he would like it here, how they were sure somebody would take him soon.... They were all horrible liars, every one of them. Everything was a dreary, whitewashed color, with occasional bits of dull grey and gleams of lackluster metal. The furniture always seemed hard, he had yet to find a meal he could stomach without disgust-- an extraordinary, though somewhat dubious distinction, considering his appetite--, and residents-- he wanted to call them inmates-- like himself were all treated more as if they were dolls for display, or beasts being groomed for a pet show. They provided you with overly nice clothes, made sure you looked good, stuffed you into a miniature hospital facility if you were sick.... All they were concerned about was your appearance.
No thought was really given to the other things. Like school, for instance; they gave you books, and set aside a period of time for people to read and study, but nothing else. How were you supposed to learn the lessons without a teacher, if you couldn't grasp them from the books? He never thought he'd say it, but he actually missed school. And what about how you felt? He didn't think anybody was really very happy here. The other people his age were absolute _pricks_, usually the worst being the adults' favorites, and seemed hellbent on making life miserable for him. For his part, he usually tried to avoid them; this wasn't like when he'd been in a gang. He didn't have any friends to fall back on here. Retribution if he tried anything serious would probably be profound, exhaustive, and exceedingly painful.
His friends.... His friends were all back in the real world, far out of reach from this hellhole. How were they doing? Did they know where he'd gone? What he wouldn't give to have Tristan with him right now, or maybe Yugi.... Tea coming to visit would be nice to cheer him up. She was great at giving pep talks. Even Seto would be nice to have around, if only for the fact that he could probably get him out, whether by hook or by crook. He didn't particularly care how, as long as he got out _somehow_.
"Man...." Joey groaned, rolling over onto his stomach on the bed, and burying his head into his arms. This really sucked....
"Well, well, if it isn't our favorite whipped dog...." A deep voice declared, rich with suppressed laughter.
"Huh?!" Joey nearly fell off the bed in his surprise, propping himself up on one elbow to see Seto standing over him. How did that guy move so _quietly_?! He hadn't even heard the door open!
"Hello to you, too." Seto's expression hovered between a smile and a smirk, and he looked almost affectionate. "Still beaten into the ground, I see."
"What're you talking about?" Joey demanded, feeling slightly irritated as he sat up entirely. Hadn't he just been wishing that Seto were here a minute ago?
"Well, it's obvious that you didn't come here by choice." Seto gestured, as if he were explaining some difficult concept to a child. "You were defeated, and like a pathetic dog, you've stayed down in the mud."
"Not like I had any CHOICE." Joey growled. "They lock the doors at night, same with the gates. And in the day you're watched too closely to do a thing." He scowled bitterly at the thought of the adults.
"I know." Seto nodded sympathetically.
"Yeah? And why did you come here, to gloat?" Joey groaned. He should've known Kaiba was never up to any good....
"Get up." Seto commanded gently.
"What?" Joey blinked.
"Get up." He repeated, this time more firmly. "You're coming with me. I'm taking you out of here."
Joey stared at him, goggle-eyed. Well, an unlikely knight in shining armor, but he'd be insane to refuse the offer. "Really?" He stood up.
"Yes, really." Seto seemed amused. "I don't lie when I don't have anything to gain by it. Now, come on." He opened the door.
"Um...." Joey had the presence of mind to grab his old clothes, the only things he had here, and followed Seto. "Th-thanks...." He shook his head, still stunned. "Thanks a lot. I mean, you're... you're saving my butt, here. That's.... I mean.... I really don't know what to say...." He could hardly believe it was possible.
"Don't mention it." Seto told him; his tone was dangerous. "Ever."
"I... I won't." Joey agreed, and raised an eyebrow at his expression, rather uneasy.
"Good boy." Seto regained his confident look, and led the blond out into the evening's waning sunlight, through the gates, and to his limo. More importantly, leading to freedom.
If he hadn't buckled his seatbelt already, he would have done a victory dance. He waited until they were being driven back to his house to ask a question. "How come nobody put YOU in the slammer for not having any adults to look out for you?" He'd never thought about that until they'd been in the same position, but if HE needed a guardian, then surely Seto did too, right?
If Seto had been holding someone's arm as tightly as he was gripping the door handle now, he surely would have cracked their bones, if not outright broken them. "I'm sui juris." He said laconically.
Joey opened his mouth again.
"No, I'm not going to explain, so don't ask." Seto cut him off gruffly. "Please." He added after, voice harsh, but almost.... pleading? His grip tightened further, and he looked pointedly out the window and away from the blond, feeling the prickle of tears against his eyes, which he adamantly refused to shed. No, he wasn't THAT weak.... He'd never give anybody the satisfaction of breaking down, whether they were dead or alive, especially over the past. It was over; why should still stir him? Why should he cry? It would be pointless. Pointless.... To steady his nerves, and give him something else to think about, Seto took his laptop out of his briefcase, firmly pushing the memories to the back of his mind.
Joey's mouth snapped shut at the request, and he nodded unsteadily, but peered over Seto's shoulder at the screen. "What are you doing?"
"Just a bit of unfinished business." Seto took a deep, calming breath, and set himself to work. For several minutes, the only sound filling the backseat was the staccato tap-tap-tap of Seto's fingers deftly moving across the computer keys. He clicked a button to send, mind swirling with thoughts and emotions which he carefully put a mask over. Thank goodness for satellite internet....
~*~*~*~
Some time later, back at Domino City Children's Shelter, it was time for dinner to be served. A woman knocked on the Director's door. She wore modest clothing, a severe bun, and a pinched expression on her face, which made her look to be somewhere in her 50's. She absolutely abhorred the brats she had to deal with in her job, but unfortunately, was unable to find a better one. "Mr. Dalton?"
"Come in." Mr. Dalton called through the door. He was a squat, stocky man, a tad bit pudgy, with a very pronounced bald spot. "What can I do for you, Miss Price?"
"We're missing a child." She informed him, and had to think to figure out what the boy's name was. "Joseph Wheeler."
He frowned. "Have you checked the rooms?"
"Every one of them, sir." She nodded firmly.
"What about the grounds?"
"With a fine-toothed comb."
"Well, perhaps--" Mr. Dalton was interrupted by a familiar chime from his computer, alerting him to a new message received. At the same time, his fax machine began to hum as it printed out some papers. He opened the email with a frown, and seemed somewhat confused. Why would someone want him to look at his electronic bank account? The director took the papers that he'd been faxed, and read them as he followed the instructions in the email. There a new deposit in his account, one he hadn't made, for.... "Why, that's extravagant....." He breathed in astonishment, but seemed pleased, nonetheless.
"What?" Miss Price demanded, looking alternately at the screen and papers.
"See for yourself." Mr. Dalton showed her the deposit amount, then handed her the papers. "The adoption forms for your missing child, filled out by one Mr. Kaiba."