A week passed. Kaiba managed to fill every position except the one for lawyer. He checked applications again and again, watched security tapes of the interviews, did employment checks, everything in his power to have a professional knowledge of the applicants. Yet no matter how deeply he probed it always turned out that Wheeler was the most qualified for the job. He didn't have any major felonies after age 18, had experience, and seemed to have at least a rudimentary knowledge of business. Of course, it worked to Wheeler's favor that most of the other applicants were either blithering idiots or had some other major problem - felonies, bad employment, background not checking out… It must have been the day that all other competent lawyers had gone on vacation. Or perhaps Kaiba's reputation with lawyers still stood firm; in all his years with Kaiba Corp. he had been through at least a dozen.
Damn, of all the desperate lawyers looking for a job, why did life mock him and make Wheeler the best of them? The personal side of him wanted to pretend that he hadn't seen Wheeler, to mark the whole interview off as a waste of his time. The business side of him knew that out of the men he had at his fingertips, Wheeler was the one who could do the job best. When it came right down to it, who was he to risk his business because of a personal vendetta? He had put it aside for the entire interview - as had Wheeler. Maybe there was a chance that they could work together with mutual distaste.
But the personal side of him was obstinate and demanded a second interview; one to see how well Wheeler would really act under pressure of Kaiba on a bad day. He set out for Wheeler's place late in the evening, using the address on his job application. 'Home' for Wheeler turned out to be an apartment building - it seemed decent enough. At least Kaiba didn't feel contaminated entering it, and the elevator didn't smell ungodly. The hallways were clean and it wasn't too loud; there was just enough noise coming through walls and closed doors to indicate that there were families living in the building.
He reached the door; fourth floor, left side of the hall, sixth door down. Otherwise known as A-406. He knocked. There was a crash within, followed by a curse and yell: "Just a minute!" Kaiba looked at his watch, counted the seconds. Ten seconds. More swearing. Twenty seconds. Hurried footsteps. Thirty seconds. The door opened. Wheeler was soaked from head to toe, chest bare and panting. "Yea…? Oh." Wheeler stood a little taller, his expression hardened. "Do you need something?"
"I'm doing a second interview," Kaiba said brusquely.
"Uh, I'm a little busy…" Wheeler trailed off as a squeal filled the air, followed by a wet naked toddler running out the door and down the hall. "Damn it! Alex!" Wheeler pushed Kaiba out of the way and chased the boy down the hall, catching him just short of the elevator. He held the kid up over his shoulders, laughing. Kaiba stared, shocked to realized that he knew that kid, recognized the face, the build... He was the little boy Yugi had in the park, the one who had been asleep in the stroller. If Yugi had been babysitting… the kid was Wheeler's? That seemed inconceivable. Wheeler was capable of raising a kid?
Then again, he wouldn't have thought that Wheeler could become a capable lawyer either. The blond was full of surprises nowadays.
Wheeler was still laughing, passing Kaiba. "Fine. Come in; sit down. Just give me a minute to finish his bath." Wheeler was tickling the kid, eliciting shrieking laughs from the toddler… Alex? Kaiba entered, closing the door behind him and sitting in a chair, watching as Wheeler disappeared into the open bathroom door, closing it behind him, still chuckling to himself.
Kaiba examined the apartment while he waited. It was one of the homes that Kaiba thought was in completely opposition to his, the sort that showed that there was real life held within the walls. There was an armchair and a love seat, both facing a coffee table. The coffee table was littered with books - textbooks? - and magazines, toys, as well as plates and empty soda cans. There were more toys on the floor, and Cheerios, both crushed and whole. There was a TV on what looked like a child's desk. The wall across from Kaiba had two doors: one that led to the bathroom, and one that was open enough to reveal a small bedroom. To Kaiba's left there was a kitchenette, with a narrow waist-high partition separating it from everything else. Kaiba didn't see a table, but there were dishes in the sink, and a pot on the stove. The walls were decorated with pinned-up pictures of Wheeler's friends and family; Kaiba recognized the little boy, and Wheeler's sister… he couldn't remember her name, though. There was a framed picture on top of the TV: a wedding party. Wheeler was standing beside Yugi, proud smile on his face. In fact, Yugi's usual group of friends was in the picture and then some… Oh. Yugi was the one getting married. He recognized the bride, the brunette one that never seemed to leave Yugi's side… another name he never bothered to remember. So they had gotten married? Interesting; Kaiba had never imagined Yugi getting married, let alone to one of his friends. He would have to see if he could find any old news articles on that.
Kaiba watched as Wheeler switched rooms, crossed from the bathroom to the bedroom. Finally Wheeler returned, dressed in dry clothes, pajama-clad kid slung over his shoulder. Kaiba studied the kid a little closer. Now that he got a good look at him, Kaiba didn't know why he didn't see it before. He wasn't a clone of Wheeler, but there was a definite resemblance: similar mop of hair - darker than Wheeler's, nearly brown - and the same brown eyes. "Sorry," Wheeler said sheepishly, setting the kid down in front of some toys and dropping onto the couch. "If I'd been expecting…"
Kaiba cut in, "I wanted to do this impromptu." A part of him wanted to see Wheeler break under the pressure. And another part wanted to see him rise to the challenge in Kaiba's voice. And then there was the third part, which was telling him that being in Wheeler's apartment was a waste of his time and that he would be much better off hiring someone incompetent, firing them in a month, and then hiring again - eventually someone worthy would turn up.
Part two won; Wheeler straightened up. His disposition changed, and Kaiba knew immediately that he was all business. "Well?"
Kaiba nodded towards the boy. "Where is his mother?"
"That's a personal question; it shouldn't have anything to do with business."
Good answer. "I already know enough about you as a lawyer. I'm here to see about you as a person."
"Then this isn't an interview; my personal life should have nothing to do with work."
"Rules are different for some of us."
Wheeler shook his head. "They shouldn't be. If that's all you have to say, you can leave."
Kaiba chucked humorlessly. "Good. You aren't as easily goaded as you used to be."
Wheeler didn't show any emotion. "Do you have any real business here, Mr. Kaiba?"
Mister? Hmm, how formal. It was hard to believe that it was the same Wheeler from high school, that Wheeler used to call him many other, less pleasant things. Kaiba wasn't easily impressed, but at the moment he was seriously considering it…
Apparently a lot had changed in 15 years.
He could work with someone who didn't like him. In fact, he did so on a regular basis - he knew half of his employees couldn't stand him. It was something of a challenge. Kaiba liked challenges. He held out a hand, and Wheeler stared at it as though it was infected. "You have the job," Kaiba said smoothly, "if you're still interested."
"I didn't know it was you when Yugi gave me the address," Wheeler said. It was the first time that Wheeler had acknowledged their old hatred; the fire was in his eyes, like he was daring Kaiba to do something. Kaiba, surprisingly, didn't take the bait.
"And I didn't know it was you that Yugi was telling me about. But out of my applicants you're best suited for this job. Take it or leave it."
Wheeler seemed to be indecisive for a moment, glancing from Kaiba's hand to his son on the floor, who was busily building up blocks and making incoherent noises. Then, a little jerkily, Wheeler took his hand. "Fine."
"Welcome to Kaiba Corporation." Of all the things he had never expected to say to Wheeler… "Do you mind if I ask you some questions that aren't related to the job?"
Wheeler glared for a second… then softened, leaning back into the loveseat and shrugging. "Whatever."
Kaiba pointed towards the boy on the floor. "Is he yours?"
"Yea. Alex; he's almost 3." Killing two questions with one answer, and before Kaiba got around to asking - Wheeler must have learned how to use his brain in 15 years. Took him long enough.
"Where's his mother?" he asked again.
Wheeler's expression darkened for a moment. "I'm not sure. You know how it goes…"
"Actually I wouldn't."
"Well, something like this: meet a nice girl at a trial one day, start dating, propose, only to find out that she isn't interested in a real relationship. She goes to live with her parents. Next thing you know you've got full custody because she doesn't want a kid, wants to develop her career instead."
Kaiba didn't ask him to elaborate, instead staring at the little boy on the floor. Wheeler had a son. Kaiba knew that Wheeler was going to have a hell of a time both working and raising a kid; Kaiba had done it once. He had learned quickly that Kaiba Corp. was a demanding mistress, even for the most miniscule workers. "How do you intend to work and keep track of him?"
"Yugi helps a lot. So does Serenity, and there's a woman down the hall who watches him when no one else can. But you know, when it comes right down to it, he's more important than any job."
That didn't exactly sound good for Wheeler's job, but Kaiba almost smiled - almost. He remembered times when he was willing to forgo anything and risk everything for Mokuba. Shame that all good things had to come to an end. There was silence between them. Wheeler cleared his throat. "I saw Mokuba on the news last night." Speak of the devil.
Kaiba had watched it in his office. "Yea."
"It's great, him working with kids like that. Where was it?"
"China. Orphans in China."
"Must be proud of him, doin' something noble like that."
Kaiba nodded. "Very noble." Very far away.
"When I was 26 I wasn't doing anything so meaningful."
Kaiba saw the opportunity to change the topic and seized it; he didn't want to talk about Mokuba. That was something personal, and he was more interested in learning more about Wheeler's personal life, not divulging information about his own. "You were becoming a lawyer."
"Yea…"
Now that the topic was up in the air… "How'd you come to that conclusion?"
"Sometime during my senior year; it just sort of hit me that I might like it. I was originally going to be a divorce lawyer, but… a lot of bad memories attached to that." Wheeler stared off into space for a moment before he shook his head and continued, "Decided I couldn't watch people break up their families like that. Moved into business-y stuff…"
'Business-y.' How official. Kaiba was starting to see more and more of the Wheeler he once knew - the mutt - coming out as Wheeler talked, but… it was subdued, grown-up. Odd. Wheeler kept talking about being lawyer, and Kaiba half-listened and was half-lost in his own thoughts. He was going to work with Wheeler. He was going to entrust his legal affairs to Wheeler. The more he thought about it, the queasier it made him. Part of him remembered the many times he'd seen Wheeler make an ass of himself… many, many times. Maybe it was some sort of bad omen that the blond was his best applicant. Good thing that Kaiba didn't believe in omens.
In the middle of the Wheeler's talking the toddler wandered over and pulled at his arm, whining wordlessly. Wheeler looked down and he whined again, eyes widened with his plea. Wheeler smiled and held up one finger. "Just a moment, Alex."
"He's quiet."
Wheeler shrugged and smiled affectionately at his son, ruffling his hair. Alex's pout almost instantly changed to a smile. "He doesn't talk much around strangers. Just a minute; he's hungry."
Kaiba watched at Wheeler picked Alex up and carried him into the kitchen, setting the boy on the counter as he opened the fridge. Kaiba watched as Wheeler held up several items; each time Alex shook his head and punctuated his distaste with a firm, "No." Kaiba smiled to himself, just for a moment - he remembered that phase all too well from childhood. Finally Wheeler asked exasperatedly, "Well, what do ya want?"
"Cheerios!"
Wheeler rolled his eyes. "I'll get a bowl."
"No." Alex settled on a taking the entire box of Cheerios and going back to playing on the floor. Wheeler returned to his spot on the couch. Kaiba made sure that he wasn't smiling.
"You know," Wheeler said thoughtfully, "it's odd, just sittin' here talking - you know, really talking, not yelling. The years really mellowed you out, huh?"
Kaiba shrugged. "Maybe. I guess one can't keep that adolescent spark alive forever."
The blond nodded in agreement. "Eh, who would want to? You're not so bad; so far I've only wanted to hit you twice."
Kaiba wasn't sure how to respond to that. He didn't want people think he was losing his edge, but he knew that he wasn't like he had been before he left. If he was going to work with Wheeler he would have to accept that the blond would learn that.
Wheeler cleared his throat. "So, when do you want me to start working?"
"First thing tomorrow. We're work up some sort of schedule then, but sometimes you're going to deal with some odd hours," Kaiba warned.
Wheeler nodded. "Okay."
"8 o'clock, my office." His voice was harsher, more boss-like, and Wheeler was slipping back into all-business mode. Strange… hadn't they been talking like humans 10 seconds ago? Kaiba liked the change; talking like they were acquaintances was a little unnerving, and definitely unfamiliar territory. Besides, he was starting to like the idea of Wheeler working for him… he had always wanted a reason to tell Wheeler what to do.
"Okay," Wheeler said. "Tomorrow morning."
Kaiba stood. "Goodnight, Wheeler."
"Have a good one."
Kaiba left.
Kaiba left, and found himself wondering if his brain had stopped functioning when he wanted into that apartment building. He had gone to Wheeler's apartment hoping to find a reason not to hire him. Instead he came out with a new employee.
notes
"Okay," you could say now, "what the hell? Joey has a kid...?" Then you might roll your eyes and brace yourself for disgustingly fluffy domestic situations.
To which I say, "Hey, seems logical; the guy is a bit of a porno-creep. And stop that eye-rolling thing; we're not setting ANYONE up for domestic daddy-type stuff fluff." (not that it wouldn't be cute...)
I think I'm enjoying starting these notes off with hypothetical dialogue. XD Anyway, thanks goes to Nyoko, who read over this while it was still in the editing phase. ^^
Actually, the idea of Joey having a son was originally for another story; it was a highly AU KaibaxJoey story (I've sort of been in the mood for that lately, haha) that never got past that concept of Joey having some girlfriend shipped off to live with her grandparents and raise his kid. The original idea was that Kaiba was somewhat disgusted that Joey would leave a child without a father... but that's a tangent, lol. Anyway, so while I was writing this and developing the 'what has happened in 15 years?' train of thought, it occurred to me as something that could have very easily happened. The kid actually underwent a lot of change, but that's sort of dull. ^_^ Generally I don't like OCs, so I'm hoping to kid isn't to intrusive. I actually fought with myself whether or not to keep the Cheerio scene in there, and in the end decided it could stay. Hopefully it's not bad...
On the law(yer) thing... yea, this story has caused me the major physical pain of having to tear apart our storage closet to find said books. So can we call this a labor of love? XD
As far as Kaiba hiring Joey... well, I've sort of tried to show that they've all mellowed out to some extent (I keep repeating this... hmm, I should quit that), and I can't see Kaiba simply ignoring good canidates just because he didn't like him when they were teenagers. It doesn't make sense, ya know? But I could seem him trying his damnedest to somehow proofing Joey wasn't really as worthy as he seemed...
Mokuba! Is alive. :) I knew he had to be gone somehow, and I wasn't about to kill him -- I'm not so sure Kaiba would survive that. And somehow I could see him working with orphans, seeing how difficult things were for him & his brother when they were younger. There'll be a little more about him later.
..:: responses to reviewers ::..
Arrowsphere: ah, you know, I actually had it in there that Yugi said he was babysitting the kid, and then I decided that it didn't seem very natural to say; it didn't occur to me the other meanings that it could have. but yea; he's babysitting. as you may have noticed, lol. and I be glad you like the idea.
Ranma Higurashi: was this soon enough? ^^
Lady Kaiba: Haha, yea, I figured the lawyer bit was a bit predictable.
Duo's Only Chick: thankies. :)
Nenya85: am glad you liked. ^^
lotus re-incarnate: really? Haha, Yami as a a lawyer; that's sort of a fun visual. thanks. I meant for reviewing, not the visual, lol.