The Science of Attraction 3
IceAngelDarkMoon
***Thank all of you again for reviewing!! I think before too long this fic will become my longest and most reviewed. And to think I never even planned on it being written!***
THIS CHAPTER WILL CONTAIN SOME CAHRACTER ABUSE! I know that some people are a little squeamish at the thought. But child abuse is a very real problem!! There are so many kids getting abused by their parents it should make anyone sick. But I have it in here to further the plot and to add some twist. I will try not to put anything too graphic, it will not help my plot! Please read even if child abuse offends you (as it should) because it will not be too bad. There will also be some more shonen-ai in this story, but in later story. But there will be nothing more than hugging, holding, comforting, and a few kisses. Please enjoy the story! IADM
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The scene from before is still going on. Seto is holding up Joey's sleeve looking at the bruise. They are still a little flushed from their long pillow fight.
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"How did you get it?" Seto asked quietly, one hand still holding Joey's sleeve up and the other was pressed gently on the bruise itself. His eyes never left the black and blue mark that disfigured Joey's shoulder and upper arm.
"I...I...I got it in a fight yesterday." Joey stuttered and looked at the ground as if it held all the answers of the universe. Kaiba sighed at the obvious lie. Then Joey glanced at the cloak and saw it was 7:30 (they had a really long pillow fight!).
"Damn it! I was supposed to be home a 7. I have to go. I'll call you about getting together tomorrow to work on the project. Please don't call!" Joey's face was stricken by shear fear. He pulled away from Seto and pulled his sleeve back down to cover the bruise, and ran as fast as he could down the stairs. He ran so fast that Kaiba did not get the chance to say what he had wanted to say to Joey. SO he spoke to the space Joey had just vacated.
"You don't have to lie to me," his voice and face held some deep sorrow. "At least tell some one the truth, before it's too late." He finished in a barely audible voice.
As Joey ran down the stairs of the Kaiba mansion, he passed Mokuba. Mokuba had a look of pure confusion, and wasn't even given the chance to utter a word to the fleeing boy. Mokuba couldn't help but fell like the duke left in the after math of Cinderella's flight from Prince Charming. But this time who knew if there would be a happy ending, it was harsh reality and not happily ever after fairy tale land.
Joey cursed silently to himself when he saw the car parked in the driveway of his house. He knew he would be in for a beating. Before he had even crossed the threshold of the door he was assaulted by the stench of old alcohol. The TV was blaring form the family room alerting him as to where his father was. He started for the stairs hoping to edge past his father and the TV. But his father's voice and the sudden silence of the room stopped him.
"Where in the heck have you been, boy?" His father's voice was harsh and held none of a normal father's concern. It had such an edge to it you could probable cut something with it. The silence suddenly became pressing and loud in its own way.
"I...I was at a friends house working on a science project for school." Joey said meekly and studied the floor at his feet. He was sure Kaiba would have objected to be referred to as that but it was the first thing that slipped out of his mouth. Then what he had been expecting and dreading happened. His father hit his first blow. It was a hard hit to his face. It felt like his face was on fire. He didn't dare utter a sound or else his father would intensify the beating because he was weak. Besides he had decided a while back he would shed no more tears because of the man in front of him.
"That is no excuse, and don't stutter, it makes you sound stupid." His father shouted and more blows rained down on Joey. He had tried to recede to the farthest corner of his brain and detach himself from the blows that were showering him. His whole body felt like it was on fire. But his father kept the blows come the whole while tell Joey how bad he had been, and altogether brainwashing him.
"You deserve this! You were bad and deserved to be punished. Now, you will never be late again, or you will get worse. Do you understand, boy?" His voice was dangerous and low. But even as he spoke the blows kept coming. But they stayed away from the face and other visible parts, he didn't want Joey to have to try and explain them.
"Yes." Joey wheezed from his spot on the floor. He had collapsed after one of his knees had been kicked.
His father kicked him in the chest cavity and easily bruised a few ribs. "I will be treated with respect, young man!" His father shouted angrily.
"Yes sir." Joey wheezed again and then passed out from a knock to the head he had received in the beating. It was his only meager escape from the pain that always was in his life. He could no longer remember ever not being abused. The pain did not follow him in his sweet oblivion, but it waited hungrily for him to reawaken.
In his unconsciousness a figure was waiting for him. This figure was starting to appear often in his unconsciousness more and more often. But Joey never questioned the figure it just was there. The beings face was always hidden in shadow, but the eyes glowed a bright blue, a vaguely familiar blue. He had angel wings and the air around him was comforting and protective. There was something comfortable and familiar about him, but Joey never stopped to ponder the fact. He ran to the figure like his life depended on it and latched on to the being. The thing silently held him to its own chest and let him spill his tears down its front. Joey's tears were steaming silently down his face, he would never sob out loud it would show more weakness. The angel was strong and sturdy (and very well ripped under his flowing robes, if you know what I mean!!). The angel was someone Joey could trust and lean on and there was no real reason he felt that. Joey had no one in reality he could trust so completely like this. Sure there was Yugi, but he was so naive and innocent, it didn't seem right to tell him. He just sat there and let his tears fall onto the dreamscape around him and dampening the angel's robes while being held. When his tears had almost stopper flowing the angel spoke to him.
"Why won't you tell me what's happening to you love?" The angel questioned gently to the blonde in his arms. The voice was not anger in the least, but held a very deep sorrow in it. Joey didn't understand what it was asking. He also didn't understand the endearment in the question. How could this wonderful angel love him? Seeing Joey's puzzlement to the question the angel tried again. "I exist in reality too, little one. I carry my wings in my heart and cannot wear them. I cannot help you until you revel to my true form what is going on. Find the courage to trust again and you will what you desire." The voice was comfortably rumbly; Joey could feel it when the angel spoke. There was a musical and familiar edge to it, but who could it be? It was as if his heart knew who it was but wouldn't tell him and the name was just sitting on the tip of his tongue. This was all Joey really wanted, to have someone to hold him and comfort him and to protect him and probably most importantly to love him. He could feel the clammy hands of reality pulling him form his unconscious state.
As he awoke he swore he could still fell the angel's protective arms around him and protecting him. But the feeling disappeared as reality came into focus around him. He was lying on the floor in the middle of the kitchen where his father had left him, and only two hours had passed. His father luckily was passed out on the couch from some sort of alcohol. Joey carefully picked himself up off the floor and limped up the stairs to his room in the attic, if that's what you could call it. All that was in there was a blanket and pillow on the floor and a closet holding a change of clothes. It was his prison; one he longed to leave, but was too afraid to leave. There were three pictures on the ground near the pillow. One was of his sister; one was of his family before the divorce. And the most important was one of al his friends on Duelist Kingdom. It was Yugi, Yami, Ryou, Bakura, Tea, Tristan, Mokuba, Mai, and Seto. But he didn't even glance at he photos; he just flopped on the blanket. He was too exhausted to even care if it hurt to do so. He had barely even touched the blanket before he fell into a deep slumber. But this time the angel was not there; just dreams of the past and nightmares of the pain. He did not sleep well.
TBC
***What do you think? Please review and tell me what you liked and didn't like. One small note to anyone who cares. I am alternating between Seto and Kaiba, because it is suppose to show how Joey is thinking of Seto. He is slowly starting to call him Seto all the time. There is a slight method to my madness, but just this time!!! IADM***