To See You Smile
# CW: Back delivering mindless mush directly to your computer! I got five/six reviews!! They popped outta nowhere and I was like 'EEK!' #
Joey felt terrible.
Mai had just cried herself to sleep. Nobody seemed to want her.
Except him.
He had to go out. He had to go into town and get something extra-special for her. To show he cared. Flowers just wouldn't be enough.
He stepped out of the elevator on the reception level and made for the automatic doors, the exit to the hospital.
He froze. His mouth went dry.
Outside the transparent doors stood at least five film crews, some guys with recording equipment and about twenty men and women with notebooks.
The press was here.
Joey took a deep breath and prepared to be dunked into a sea of questions.
He was through the doors.
'Mr Wheeler?'
'Joey Wheeler?'
'Are you the guy who saved that girl from the fire?'
'Joseph Wheeler, I presume?'
'Yeah, that's me.' Said Joey monotonously.
'Did you save Mai Valentine from certain death?'
'It it true you risked losing your own two hands to the fire for her?'
'Can you describe the relationship between yourself and Miss Valentine?'
'Didn't you come second place in Duellist Kingdom?'
'Ok. Firstly, no, I didn't save Mai. She could've done it all on her own. Two, I was in no danger of losing my hands, they're just kinda burnt. Three, Mai and me are friends, nothin' more. Four, yes, I did come second place in Duellist Kingdom, and five, I am leavin' now.'
Joey strode away, followed by a torrent of: 'Mr Wheeler!'
'Joey Wheeler!'
'Joey!'
'Excuse me, would you care to answer a few more questions?'
'I got nothin' more ta say.' Joey waved the reporters away and kept walking.
'JOEY!'
'Oh my God! Joey!'
Joey rolled his eyes. More people to pester him.
He had time to blink twice before a spiky-haired flash hurtled into him, squeezing all the air out of him in a massive hug.
'Hi – Yugi.' Joey had to force the words out because his lungs were all but crushed. 'Long – time – no – see.'
He looked up. The rest of the guys were standing around.
When Joey finally managed to peel Yugi off, Serenity had him in an embrace just as tight, Téa was clinging to his arm, Tristan was ruffling his hair, Duke had him in a one-arm-hug and Ryou was slapping him on the back.
'My brother! You're so brave!'
'Way to go, Joey!'
'Who's ma main man?'
'Come on! You're a hero, man!'
'Jolly good! Amazing!'
'Hey, uh, shouldn't you guys be out in a field somewheres?' asked Joey, trying to shrug them off.
'I went into town for supplies and saw you in the newspaper!' explained Yugi. 'We were so worried, 'cos it said: 'Both teenagers have been rushed to hospital. We can only pray they make it out alright'. We hurried right back to see if you were Ok.'
'Ah, that's the press for you.' Shrugged Joey.
'Hey, got any war-wounds, man?' asked Tristan eagerly.
'You're askin' me to undo my bandages, huh?' Joey folded his arms, looking stern. 'I could be at risk from infection, you know.'
The guys gave him a beseeching look.
'Whatever.' Joey unwrapped the dressing from his arm first and showed them the stitches where the glass had stuck in him. He then showed them the wrinkled burns on his hands and arms.
'Oh, Joey!' gasped Serenity. 'Do they hurt?'
'Not much anymore.' Lied Joey.
'What're you doing out here, man?' asked Duke. 'Shouldn't you be getting some rest?'
'Nah. Doctors said I could go.'
'What about Mai?' asked Ryou, concerned. 'How's she?'
Joey sighed. 'Not good. She's really upset. The police have said it was arson.'
'You mean someone's trying to kill her? Is she hurt?' Téa put a hand to her mouth.
'She's still in hospital with severe burns and a fractured ankle.' Replied Joey.
'Poor Mai.' Téa hung her head. 'How many people are there in this world who would do such a thing?'
'And how many people in this world deserve it less than Mai?' Serenity's voice cracked. 'Why would they do it?'
Duke and Tristan both put an arm round her at the same time, shooting each other warning glances.
'The sooner this is solved, the better.' Reasoned Yugi. 'Perhaps we could help.'
'Thanks, guys, but this is between the cops, Mai and me.' Replied Joey.
'But Joey - ' began Téa.
'No, really. We can handle it. What are the police for otherwise?' Joey didn't see the little twinkle of realisation appear in Téa's eyes. 'Now, if you'll excuse me, I got some business to attend to.'
He wandered off with Téa smiling secretly after him.
Fishing out his wallet, Joey realised the most he could afford was twenty dollars (he'd been saving). It would have to do.
Joey wandered along the high street, glancing into store windows, avoiding the glances of others in case they recognised him and started pestering him about the fire.
Suddenly, something caught his eye.
It was in a jeweller's shop window, and Joey found it amazing that he had spotted it.
It was only small. A little pendant on a silver chain.
The pendant was beautifully shaped to look like a delicate feather, and each individual strand of metal was coloured alternately a deep heart- grabbing indigo and a bright, shiny silver.
It reminded Joey of Mai. Mai was like a feather, blowing wherever the wind may take her, surviving gales by riding upon the back of the fierce wind itself, away from the main body itself, solitary, alone.
In fact, even the silver that the pendant was worked from reminded Joey of Mai. Hard, impenetrable. But silver wasn't all that tough really. All it needed was perseverance to break it open.
That was what Joey would do. He would work until the end of his strength to soften Mai's tough metal shell, then crack it open with one final blow.
Joey wandered into the shop, bought the necklace and went on his way.
Mai lay in the hospital bed, staring around her.
Nothing much to look at, just more proof that she was stuck there, immobile. Not a nice thought if you're Mai.
She felt lonely. She felt pathetic. Joey had literally rocked her to sleep and she hadn't resisted. She hadn't pushed his arms away and told him she wasn't a baby. She had just allowed herself to be cradled in his arms, limp against his body, almost grateful for his warmth and the rhythm of his heart against her.
Now she felt cold. It was as if there was an empty void where he had been. Mai needed someone next to her.
She wasn't afraid. Mai had forgotten what it was like to be truly afraid.
Or maybe she hadn't. In the final moments of that duel with Malik, she might have been afraid. In the fire, there had been no time to be afraid.
Mai was just tired and confused. Someone wanted her dead and she didn't know who. The anaesthetics and other sedatives had long since worn off, leaving her body numb. She hated feeling helpless.
That was why she had cried before. She felt as if she could no longer do anything for herself.
Mai hugged a pillow to her chest to fill the void a little.
It didn't work. The pillow didn't have a heart to beat against her, or strong arms to cradle her, or two deep brown eyes to gaze into her soul...
The almighty smash came before she realized what she was thinking.
She looked up, her arms still tightly embracing the pillow.
The window across the room had imploded under the force of the tall man who now stood before it.
His big black boots crunched over the glass shards as he crossed the room towards her. She couldn't see his face; he wore a balaclava.
'Hey, li'l lady.' His voice was familiar somehow. 'On your own, huh? No little boyfriend to hold you tight? Aww. Let me ease the pain.'
He began to draw something from his pocket.
Mai took a sharp breath when she realized it was a gun.
'Leave me alone!' she hollered. 'Get out! You're not going to kill me! You wouldn't dare!'
'Ssh now.' Said the man. 'We don't want everyone hearing, do we? Oh, don't worry, sweetheart. You won't be alone for long. You won't have to wait around for your little boyfriend much. You two will be sharing your own little cloud up in heaven.'
'Yeah, while you're doin' time in HELL!'
Mai looked up. Joey stood at the door, his eyes flashing.
He leapt for the man and knocked him out of the way before he could pull the trigger.
They struggled over the pistol. Joey, though tall and strong for his age, was having difficulty matching the power of the taller man.
A second gunshot rang out, then a third.
Joey crumpled to the floor, motionless.