Chapter 4: Baby Steps

One week later…

This was the moment that Joey had been dreading. It was painfully awkward and he didn't want to be there. However, Mai had persisted until he finally agreed to do it himself. It was at moments like these where he really needed to be drunk, but, he promised that he'd stop drinking. To make up for it, he got high more often, which wasn't saying much. But as his luck would have it, Mai didn't want him to be high for this either.

So, Joey entered Yugi's room uninvited, unexpected, sober and not as high as he could have been. Baby steps.

When Joey saw Tea, who was trying to feed Yugi with her neck still in a brace and using a cane, suddenly convulse in fear of his presence, he grinned. He then shook it off, reminding himself that it wasn't funny. With every step he took towards them, they seemed to flinch.

The first person he turned to was Tea who had backed her body up against the wall. He then did just the opposite of what she feared he might do. He used one arm and hugged her softly so as not to disturb her injuries. After a friendly kiss on the cheek, Joey asked her how her head was. Her only answer was to hug him much more tightly than he thought she could.

He then turned his attention to Yugi, who was looking very unsure of what to do. He didn't know what he could possibly say to the poor boy and to be completely honest he didn't feel like saying anything. Instead, he did something much better. Joey opened up his jacket and, from the inside pocket, pulled out Yugi's Millennium Puzzle.

Yugi's eyes filled with tears of joy as he stretched out his arms and took back his prized possession. He struggled to speak but he was at a loss for words. For a while he thought he would never see it again, or Joey for that matter. Joey then turned to leave, not wishing to stay any longer and explain everything to them.

"Joey wait!" Yugi called out just as he was about to leave.

"What?" He said still facing the open door.

"It's nothing." Yugi said after a second of thought. "Thank you." Joey's smile was hidden from view, but he gave a thumbs up as he left the room. Once Joey had gotten to the entrance of the shop, the door swung open and there to greet him was Tristan.

For a second, Tristan looked surprised, then he smiled. "Well it's about time you got here."

"God damn. It's Tristan." Joey half muttered looking like his day had just been ruined. You know; the look you get when that aunt you cant stand with the loud makeup and gawky jewelry comes over and pinches your cheeks, even after you're 14 years old.

"Come on, did you really think you could sneak away that easily?" He said, opening his arms out to him for a hug.

"I had hoped, yes." Joey answered. He simply looked at Tristan's opened arms but couldn't fight him off when Tristan hugged him anyway. Maybe a few months ago when he was still an energetic person.

As he held him, Tristan could see that he kept patting the pocket he usually held his switch blade in. "You don't have it, do you?" Tristan chuckled, hugging him tighter.

"She took it." Joey muttered, but after a while he couldn't help but chuckle too. Tristan seemed somewhat contented by that and finally let go.

"So, where is Mai?" He asked, sounding much more serious.

Joey sighed and took out a joint he had prepared. "She's gone." He answered, lighting it and taking a much desired drag. After blowing the smoke up into the air he continued. "Said she'd be back when I quite smoking." After a moment's pause, he laughed at the thought. "Damn. I'm really gonna miss her."

"She'll be back."

Joey looked at his joint and shook his head. "No, I don't think she will."

Tristan laughed at him. He knew how much she still meant to him but now he was acting like he'd be happier with the drugs than with her. "She always pops back up again. All she really means is that by the time she comes back, you'd better have quit."

Joey looked at him. This time it was the kind of look you give grandparents who take you to places you don't want to go and then meet up with a friend of theirs, so they start bragging about you and all their other grandchildren and pull out embarrassing baby pictures. Yeah, one of those kind of looks.

"So, are you thinkin' about helping me or what?" Joey said, heading out the door with Tristan close behind.

"I think we could work that out." Tristan put an arm around his shoulder. Then, he snatched the joint right from Joey's mouth.

Joey looked at him stupidly and snatched it back from him, placing it back in his mouth. He took a long drag and blew the smoke in the other direction. Once again, Tristan took the joint from his mouth and, this time, dropped it on the floor and stomped it out. Joey looked at Tristan maliciously and snatched another joint from his other pocket, pulled out his lighter, and slowly lit it in his mouth, smiling as he did so.

"Baby steps Tristan. Baby steps."

The End

That's it, the end of this darkened story. Now that your done reading, it's time to start reviewing. I hope you enjoyed the story.