Science of Attraction- 15
IceAngelDarkMoon
***************Hola, everyone! I'm really sorry it took me almost the whole summer to write this poor excuse for a chapter. But as some of you know I did move this summer and spent most of the summer disconnected form the web (a really painful thing!). Then I've since had a lot of computer trouble (this chapter getting deleted for one! GRRRRRR) and some family trouble. Plus then there is always the infamous summer homework, double GRRRRRRR!!! But I want to thank you all for being so patient with me. Special thanks to GGKT my wonderful Beta reader! **************
@@@@@@@@As always this is a shonen-ai story, you no like, you no have to read! (I know it's not good grammar, I'm doing that for effect!) I also do not own Yu-Gi-Oh or anything famous in here. The plot and what the characters have become is all mine. Take and I WILL come after you, don't even question it! @@@@@@@@
&&&&&&&&&&&I light of my very first real flame I have a note to all other people who don't like some aspect of the story. Please if you are going to try and flame me get your facts straight first, and then SPELL everything at least close enough so I can tell what the heck you are flaming about. And in the famous words spoken to another author to defend his story, if you don't point out the faults in the accusation you look guilty. First of all to anyone who is wondering about my Tea bashing, I admit I hate her. But I cannot kill her off because of the fact that this story is actually the prequel to my other story, in which she is a main character. I would have killed her off early in this fic except for the fact that I needed a villain! Like I said I can't defend myself form the last part of the flame because I have no idea what the person was trying to say! I sincerely apologize to all my good reviewer who had to put up with this speech!&&&&&&&&
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^VERY IMPORTANT NOTE FOR ALL READERS: In the next few chapters Joey will be dealing with his child abuse problem. I tried to do some research for this, which lad for what they do in this story (the web search). BUT I IN NO CASE CLAIM TO KNOW WHAT TO DO IN THIS SITUATION! Please this is only my guess at what is the correct way to go about this. The only thing I got right I think is them contacting someone who knows how to handle this sort of thing. If you are in the same situation as Joey please get help. No one deserves to go through this. I have not had to deal with this in my life nor has anyone close to me to my knowledge so this is only my guess at what to do. Please get help if you need it before it's too late! Thank you! Ice Angel^^^^^^^^^^^
Seto stared at Joey for a brief moment and his smile slipped off his face; he seemed to be having an internal battle. In that brief internal battle a myriad of emotions crept onto and faded off of Seto's face. The one that struck a cord somewhere in Joey was the reoccurring emotion of hope. He would break free of his father if not for himself then for the love of his life: Seto. Finally a grim sort of determination and happiness settled onto Seto's face and he leaned in for a quick comforting hug before starting to walk down the hallway.
"Come on, we have to go to my study. I've never had to go through this, so we need to contact some people with experience with all of this." Seto said in his 'taking charge' voice. Joey couldn't help the smile that took over his face in his boyfriend's determination. He stopped, reached out and caught Seto's hand to stop him for a moment.
Joey put on his brightest and happiest smile before he spoke to the confused brunette, "Thank you…for all your help. You saved me…you know that right?" Joey asked looking up through his lashes. He didn't wait for Seto's answer and leaned up to lightly kiss Seto's cheek. Seto looked surprised for a moment then his expression darkened a little.
"Don't thank me yet, you're not in the clear. But no matter what I'll be here to protect you, little one," Seto replied and kissed the top of Joey's head before continuing down the hall pulling Joey along for the ride. (Anyone recognize this yet, look for clues in past chapters, I'm giving BIG hints to the end of this fic. But if you're lazy like I am, just wait for the end of the story for the answer!!) Joey knew that what Seto said was the scary truth he could not forget. If he slipped up in front of his father, even once, it could mean the end of his life, literally. He had no doubt in his mind that his father would kill him or worse if possible!
Seto dragged Joey and himself to his study where their whole relationship really had begun. There he began to search for child support groups for child abuse. He found to his joy and disgust that there were many sites out there for the reporting of child abuse and the support of the victims. It was good for the victims, but it also meant that there were a lot of people this was happening to. There he and Joey spent about a half hour reading all information on what to do and not do in Joey's situation. They were interrupted by the buzz of the brownies in the oven finishing. Then just as Joey was taking the chocolate confection out of the oven the front door rang: it was the pizza they had ordered for dinner.
They sat next to each other at the table and began discussing all they had read and how they wanted to use that information (again here I state, I have not had to go through any of this, nor anyone I know has had to go through this to MY knowledge. So this is most likely not correct, please don't use this as a base for anything since I know it's not all correct. If you need help in this type of situation, please contact someone, anyone, just GET HELP. You should not have to go though this!!!)
"I know I have to contact these child protection places, but what if it doesn't work and I end up back there and he beats me even more because I told?" Joey asked while he toyed with the cheese on his pizza, instead of eating it. Seto could feel the nervousness and anxiety radiating off of the blonde.
"Don't worry if for whatever reason they can't separate you two or they try to move you somewhere else. You can come live with Mokuba and me." Seto said with all the sincerity he could muster. He grabbed Joey's hand and kissed the back of it for emphasis. "You know that right?"
"Thank you Seto, you're the best thing that's ever happened to me. Do you think it's alright if I wait until this weekend to contact the people? I want to be in a position where when he finds out I can run if I need to and not get in trouble for it." Joey gave Seto his pleading eyes. It was again painfully obvious to Seto how uncomfortable Joey was about all of this. But he knew that it was the best thing and it would mean better things in the future: their future.
"Of course you can, it's your life, I'm only trying to help you. I'll go with you or be by your side when you call if you like." Seto offered as well as asked if he could be there with is love.
"I'd like that a lot, thank you." Joey whispered quietly. Then he added with a smirk, "Of course we're only telling him I want to be free and to stop hurting me. I don't think he's quite ready for me to tell him I'm in love with another guy!" Seto smacked Joey upside the head playfully and nodded his agreement to the statement. That was just about the worst thing they could do right now!
They continued their playful bantering the rest of their time together. Even during the movie they were attempting to watch while they ate almost all of Joey's brownies. They were just getting comfortable lying in each other's arms to really start to watch the movie (they'd be joking and tease, and kissing and hugging, but nothing beyond that! Let's just say they're not ready…yet, I haven't messed with them enough!) when they realized it was almost 7 again.
"Come on, I'll drop you off at the corner by your house again." Seto offered and grabbed his car keys, he felt like driving.
"Thank you, they'd make it a lot easier."
"De nada, and thank you for the brownies, you were right you're really good at making them. I guess you'll just have to come back to shoe me how good your cookies and cakes are!" Seto teased as they got in his car and pulled out of the mansion's gigantic garage.
"I'm glad you liked them, I just hope Mokuba gets his piece. And just name a time and I'll make you the best double chocolate cookies you've ever had!" Joey teased right back.
"You can count on Mokuba getting his brownie; I don't think I could eat another bite of anything right now!" Seto quipped. As they pulled up to the spot where Seto let Joey out, Joey leaned over and quickly kissed Seto on the cheek and hopped out.
"Thanks again for the ride and the pizza!"
"No problem mutt!"
"Hey I'm not a mutt," Joey called out but Seto had already pulled away, Joey turned and slowly made his way to his house.
As Joey passed through the kitchen on his way upstairs he heard his father's voice. "And where have you been this time?" His voice reveled he wasn't as drunk as he usually was which in itself was dangerous.
"I was at a friend's house for dinner again; I left you the note, sir." Joey really hoped his dad would leave it at that. And to his utter amazement his father made no comment back and went back to the sofa to watch TV. Joey stood there for a moment of stupid shock, and then ran to his room. He quickly changed and hopped into bed. Tomorrow was Thursday (at least I think it is from looking back, I lost track for a while!) which meant two more days until the weekend.
********************Downstairs from Todd's (Joey's father's) point of view***************************
Something's up with that boy, and I don't like it. He never spends this much time with his friends usually. And now he's coming back with a dazed look in his eyes. If I didn't know better I would say he's fallen in love, and that's where he's going every day. I better try to find out what he's up to, last time I hit him he no longer looked afraid of me, and we can't have that now. But if it is not a girl then I may have a problem. I never really like his friend Yugi; he was always just a little too sensitive. Tristan; now there is a great kid, he was the best person Joey's brought home, him and that Tea girl. They're both going places in this world, and they know what's acceptable and what's not! I better not find some weird cult friend or something they might be a bad influence on Joey. Ouch… my head hurts, better go get some more beer.
TBC
Please review and let me know what you think of the story. I'm already trying to work on the next chapter of this so hopefully it won't be as long a wait. As always thank you to all of you who do review! IADM