Disclaimer: I don't own Yugioh or TBAA. I don't own Pokemon, either, but since they're not in the story, it really doesn't matter now, does it??
Author's Notes:. Hello everyone! I don't know what Joey's mom's name is, so I made up a name for her also. Her name is Carla. Thank you to all who reviewed so far. A special thank you goes to my beta-reader, Hyatt Insomnia!
Warnings: Mild violence and language, so far.
To Steal, Kill, and DestroyChapter Six: Stabs in the Heart
Kaiba was absolutely furious at what had just happened. "What the hell was that for!? Are you both insane?"
The guard who had hit Joey looked up at his boss. "We were just doing our job, Mr. Kaiba."
"Your job? Since when does your job involve knocking innocent victims unconscious?"
"But…but you told us that you had a dangerous intruder in your office..and to subdue him using any means necessary!"
The billionaire was narrowed his eyes. "I never said any such thing! As a matter of fact, I specifically told you both to let him go."
The other guard spoke up. "I never heard you say that, sir."
"Well, you had better hear this…you're both fired. Now get out of my office, or I'll toss you out myself!"
The first guard gasped. "B-but sir…!"
"Get out. Now." Kaiba pointed towards the door.
"B-but…but…my w-wife's pregnant, s-sir….I n-need this job…."
"Then you should have thought of that before."
"B-but…"
"Get. Out."
The second guard sighed. "C'mon, Charlie, let's go." He slowly left, with his friend trailing reluctantly behind him.
As soon as they left Joey's mother rushed to his side. Kaiba knelt down by him, also. As he did so, Mrs. Wheeler slapped his face. "How dare you do this to my son!"
Kaiba was caught off guard at first. Then his entire countenance darkened…you could feel the rage radiating off of the CEO. "Oh, yes, here comes the loving absentee mother to the rescue."
"How dare you!" She repeated.
"No, how dare you. How dare you come into my office and play the part of the concerned mother! Where were you when he really needed you? When your husband was beating the hell out of him day and night?"
"My ex-husband," she interrupted, "And you have no idea what you're talking about!"
"Don't I? You think this is bad? This is nothing compared to what he's been forced to put up with all these years! And yet you have the nerve to come into my office and slap me. Tell me, what did you to your husband for nearly beating your son to death every night? Did you do anything at all?"
"I don't have time to argue with you!" Kaiba's comments had hurt her deeply. She could feel tears threatening to well up inside her. "I have to attend to my son."
"I see. And exactly how many years did it take you to figure that out?"
Beneath them, Joey stirred and groaned. "Joey, honey, wake up…it's mom."
The blonde teen blinked a few times, then slowly opened his eyes. "M-mom?"
"Yes, sweetheart, it's me."
Joey groaned again, and slowly sat up, rubbing the spot in which he had been hit. "Wha…what happened?" He glanced over and saw Kaiba kneeling down next to him on the opposite side. "Oh yeah…now I remember…ya sicced yer guards on me!"
Kaiba rolled his eyes. "I did not do anything of the sort, mutt. If I had wanted to…as you so eloquently put it…'sic my guards on you'…..I can assure you that you wouldn't be sitting here talking to me right now."
"Yeah, right," Joey grumbled.
"We should take you to a doctor and have you looked at. That looks pretty nasty."
"I don't need a doctor, ma! I'm fine!"
"She's right, you know," Kaiba agreed, "You really should see a doctor."
"Whatsamatter, Moneybags, afraid I'm gonna sue ya?"
"Are you always this annoying, Chihuahua?"
"Look, I don't need no doctor. I've had a lot worse than this, and I never saw a doctor. This is nothin'!"
The tears that Carla Wheeler had been trying to hold back spilled over onto her cheeks. She buried her face in her hands and began to cry softly. Her son's eyes widened. "Mom! Don't cry…I'm fine! Don't cry, mom."
"I-I'm…so s-sorry…J-joey…"
"Mom…," he moved to put his arms around her, but she quickly ran from the office.
Monique seized the opportunity to mercilessly rip into Joey. "You ought to be ashamed of yourself, young man! Making your poor mother cry like that! She obviously loves you very much. And this is how you repay her? By causing her more trouble and grief?"
"I…I ...d-didn't mean ta…"
"That poor woman! I give her credit for even attempting to raise someone like you! It's no wonder she had to leave you with your father. If I were her, I would have-"
Kaiba cut into the auburn-haired woman's rant. "Perhaps you ought to go check on Mrs. Wheeler."
"Yes, of course. She needs someone to comfort her, the poor thing..after all, look at what she has to deal with every day." Monique then quickly exited the office.
Kaiba moved to help Joey up, but he swatted his hand away. "Jus' leave me alone!" The blonde teen jumped up and fled from the CEO's office.
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Monique found Mrs. Wheeler in the bathroom down the hall, dabbing at her eyes. "I'm sorry…I didn't mean to break down like that."
"Oh, it's all right, Mrs. Wheeler…you're doing what you do best…abandoning your son."
"Excuse me?"
"That poor boy…no wonder he's so angry! After all, look who he had for an example. And I just can't imagine what it feels like to have your own mother leave you!"
"It wasn't like that! You just don't understand!"
"No, of course not," Monique replied, crossing her arms. "I could never understand how any woman could give up her own son!"
"You don't have the slightest clue about what I've gone through," Carla shot back indignantly, "I couldn't take Joey! My ex-husband wouldn't let me…he just wanted to hurt me."
"And you couldn't have fought for him?"
"My ex was not an easy man to fight," she explained, "He was as stubborn as a mule. He insisted on taking Joey. Otherwise, he would have taken me to court. I….I just couldn't stand a long court battle! And I knew my daughter Serenity wouldn't be able to last with him…I didn't have a choice..and Joey knew that!"
"Did he?"
"I don't need to hear this!" She grabbed her purse and quickly left the washroom.
Monique smiled happily to herself, her eyes flashing red as she watched her leave.
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