Author's Note: I'm terrible for not answering your reviews. I know. ;P You love me anyway, though.

Also! Chill out, guys! It's just a story! No need to get so horribly offended by any of the characters, alright?

Chapter 4

Joey was worried. After the storm had ended, he'd flown straight home, hoping to find Seto and maybe talk with him about what happened. However, after a thorough search of the castle, he couldn't be found. When a day had passed, and he still hadn't returned to feed him, he knew something was wrong, which called for a visit to his friends.

He found Yami in a sour mood, as he'd expected. "I'm sorry my cousin did that to you, Joey."

Joey sighed. "Yeah, whatever. I heard that already." Turning to the smaller of the look-alikes, he frowned. "Yug', I need somethin' for pain."

Yugi frowned in concern. "Did he hurt you, Joey?"

"No, I think somethin' hurt him—The storm ended the day before yesterday, right? Well, I came home as soon as it ended, but Seto wasn't there, and he's always there t' feed me." The blond sighed again and crossed his arms worriedly. "Even though he forced himself on me, he's always taken care of me. He's fed me, made sure I'm comfortable—even when I want nothin' t' do with him. He hasn't come back t' feed me and I'm worried; the only thing that would keep him from comin' back would be if he was hurt. If he's in pain, I want some way t' dull it until I can get him home t' take care of him."

"I find it admirable that even though he's done something unforgivable to you, you still want to help him," Yami stated, narrowing his eyes. "You're usually more vindictive, Joey. What has he done to deserve it?"

Joey turned his gaze on the ground. "…He hasn't asked me for anything. He hasn't touched me. He hasn't said anything t' me unless he's had to. Hasn't looked me in the eye." He paused, then scuffed the ground with his foot. "…Hasn't even asked me for a blanket even though he's freezin' and I've got blankets t' spare."

"What I can't fathom—" Yami began, as if ignoring everything he'd just heard. "—Is why he'd just rape you. He's never shown any interest in having a mate, and even when asked about his Other, he said he'd rather do without finding his; something about how he wouldn't know how to act around them because he's never seen how a mated couple is supposed to act. I suppose that's true, but if he wasn't interested in a mate, why would he force his claim on one?"

Joey frowned in thought. From what he saw of Seto, he was pretty stubborn (always putting his blankets back when he obviously didn't need them was a sure sign of that), and he didn't go back on his word. So why would he—

"Yami? When you found out that Yugi was your Other, what did you do?"

Yami blinked at the abrupt change in subject, then frowned thoughtfully. "I was filled with so much joy and love that I didn't know what to do with myself, so I took a flight to think about how I was going to go about courting him."

Joey frowned, but then, suddenly, everything seemed to make sense.

Seto wouldn't just jump into something like mating without thinking unless he had a very good reason. Plus, he'd never seen how two mates were supposed to act except for what he'd seen from Yami and other mated couples, so he wouldn't know how to act around his mate intimately. He'd been starved of affection growing up, so it would figure that he wouldn't know how to react to feelings of love and affection, especially if they came suddenly and out of nowhere. And he seemed genuinely remorseful about hurting him in the beginning, and had done everything to get back in his good graces.

He'd… he'd really hurt his Other.

Joey let out a cry of pain as a lance of heat shot through his heart and grabbed his chest. "Ah! Hurts-!"

"Eek! Joey! How do you hurt? Is it a burning hurt or is it a flesh wound kind of hurt?" Yugi exclaimed frantically, hurrying over to help him sit without falling. "Joey!"

"Agh! Burn hurt-!" the blond exclaimed, tears forming in his eyes as the heat began moving from his chest outward. "Ah-! Hurts!"

"Burns! I have something for burns!" the smaller boy exclaimed, scurrying over to his wall of poultices and balms. "Stay there!"

Joey mewed helplessly and clutched at his chest harder, trembling. It hurt so badly. Is that what Seto felt when he first saw him? Damn, it hurt!

Then as soon as it was there it was gone, leaving him feeling drained, cold, and lonely. Was that what Seto felt when he slammed the door in his face? Was that how he felt when he snarled at him, when he went to his cold, dark room at night, curled up beneath his two useless blankets on his uncomfortable bed?

Joey let out a sob. How could he have done this to his Other after he'd sworn to himself that he'd only do his best to make his Other happy when he was a child? Seto had tried so hard to please him, to make him happy, and he'd just pushed it away like it didn't matter to him. How many times had Seto been crushed by being pushed away by someone that was supposed to love him, by being insulted and snarled at and treated like trash?

He'd called him a coward for never standing up for himself. He hadn't realized that maybe Seto just didn't want to deal with the hurt that would come from the argument that would surely ensue if he did. How could he have been so cruel? And now Seto was out there somewhere, hurt—

"Oh fuck. Yug', I gotta go—I'm fine now—I need t' find him!" Joey exclaimed, scrambling back to his feet as he gently but hurriedly pushed his friend away. "I gotta—Oh shit, I'm such a jerk—" Spreading his wings, he leapt off of the ledge, still cursing himself for his stupidity and heartlessness.

.-.-.-.-.-.

He found him in a crumpled, pathetic heap.

Joey stumbled a little in his rush over to his mate and nearly fell, but managed to get his balance back just in time to be able to kneel next to him without actually flipping over him. "Seto!"

The brunet groaned quietly but didn't move his wing to uncover his head.

"Oh, Ra, how long have ya been here-?" The smaller boy grabbed his shoulder and shook him. "Seto!" He gasped as he saw the hole in his twisted wing that was crusted with blood, then covered his mouth and looked down at his mate in shame.

Why? Why was he just finding out now that Seto was his Other? He had only done his best to make him happy, but he was the one suffering the most. Why couldn't he have figured it out before going to see Serenity, before Seto had fled into the storm?

Joey hesitated before reaching out to gently pull his wing to uncover the brunet's head. "…Seto…" When he saw a glassy blue eye peering up at him in confusion, he smiled. "I'm so glad you're awake. Are… are you okay?"

Seto let out a rumble and let his eyes drift closed. "No."

The blond flinched at that, then wrapped his arms around his waist and lifted him upward, grinding his teeth at the feeling of gritty mud covering his mate's body. He must have been cold. "…Seto, I… I don't know if I can carry ya all the way home. You're heavy, and… Lookit this…" he whispered, placing his hand over the hole in his wing. "…We need t' get Yugi t' heal this."

The brunet scowled. "No."

"…But why?" Joey asked quietly, brows furrowing together in confusion.

"Because, Joey, everyone would be better off without me. …And Yami probably wouldn't let him treat me anyway," he stated bitterly.

The blond felt his heart throb at the angry, broken expression on the older boy's face. He… he really believed that it was better if he died. "But… but what about me?"

"What about you? You get the castle. You get all of my money. You get to go look for your 'Other—'" he began resentfully.

"But I already found my Other," Joey whispered, brows furrowing together.

Seto looked up at him sharply, then scowled and wrapped his good wing around himself protectively. "Well that's just peachy. You realize I'm your Other just when I decide it would be best if I die. It figures."

The blond frowned in confusion. "…I thought you'd be happy…"

"I'm pleased as punch. It only took my little brother and my cousin disowning me and you calling me a coward just because I didn't want to be hurt. If this is love, I'm not interested!" he snarled, peeking out at him for only a moment before ducking back behind his wing.

"But… Seto, I'm…" Joey bit his bottom lip. "…I… I just learned… I… I didn't mean to…" Tears forming in his eyes, he let out a shaky sigh. "…I know I was cruel t' ya, but I didn't know. I just thought you'd come outta nowhere, and—" He paused, then allowed a small sob to escape his lips. "I'm sorry. I realize how much it musta hurt ya, and I'm sorry. I didn't know."

"It's probably my fault anyway," Seto mumbled, sighing in frustration as he uncovered his head. "…I'm just no good at this 'sire and dame' thing."

"…I think you're doing an okay job," Joey argued quietly. "…'specially for someone whose mate didn't want anything t' do with him."

The brunet sighed again, then turned his gaze on him, frowning. "What do you propose we do about it then, Joey?"

"…Oooh…" The blond chewed on his bottom lip, then lowered his head a little. "…We… we could start by movin' in t' the same room, so we can get used t' bein' with each other. I'm not sayin' we should stay in the same bed or nothin', but—" He frowned when the older boy immediately shook his head. "Why not?"

"At least when we're in opposite rooms, I can dream about being close to you. I don't need you taunting me by making me stay in the same room with you," Seto spat. "I'm not interested in staying in the same room with you. I'll try to touch you, and you'll just slap me away again."

Joey fidgeted anxiously; he had no idea he'd so seriously hurt the other man's confidence. "…W-well, I don't think I'm ready for sex, but—"

"I didn't say I wanted sex. I said I wanted to be able to touch you," the brunet cut in. "I want to be able to run my fingers through your hair, rub your back, kiss your neck, stroke your scales."

"You… ya wanna stroke my scales?" the blond asked quietly, blushing a little. "…No one's ever wanted t' stroke my scales before. Why would ya wanna…?"

Seto raised an eyebrow and sat up a little, motioning toward the blond's tail. "May I?" When he received a timid nod, he placed his hand on the ebony scales and gently traced them with his fingertips before slowly dragging his hand downward. Once he'd reached as far down his tail as he could, he slid his hand back up, glancing upward as the younger boy gasped and blushed. "I've seen other couples do it. I assume it isn't sexual, because they don't mind doing it in front of others, but it feels very nice, doesn't it?"

Joey blushed even more and sighed. "Yeah, but—Seto, it's only if—"

"…So I'm wrong then…?" the brunet asked quietly, frowning.

Seeing the disappointment in the other boy's eyes, the black-scaled dragon sighed again. "You're not wrong, you're just—my tail's sensitive, Seto. Ya can't stroke my scales that hard unless ya wanna get me hot and bothered."

The older boy blinked, then looked down at his tail. After a moment, he looked back up at him in confusion. "I'm not sure I understand."

The blond rolled his eyes and groaned quietly in frustration. "Listen, just promise ya won't touch my barb and you can stroke my scales anytime ya want."

Seto flinched. "I don't think I want to touch your barb."

Joey was reminded of the brunet's first experience with his poison; he decided that he'd be lucky if Seto would stroke within a foot of it along his tail. Sighing again, he rested his head against the white dragon's shoulder, letting his eyes flutter closed tiredly. "Whatever, Seto."

The older boy blinked, then hesitantly lifted his hand to rest it on top of the smaller dragon's mop of blond hair. "…I suppose sharing a room with you wouldn't be too bad."

Joey looked up at him and offered a timid smile. "…You can move into my room, if ya want. The… the bed's big enough for both of us t' have plenty of room, a-and there are plenty of blankets. I'd… I'd like t' try and get t' know ya now."

Seto paused, then nodded slowly. "Okay. As long as you don't hit me with your barb again."

The blond winced. "I'm sorry…" When the older boy stayed silent, he began to pet the brunet's hair gently. "Really. We'll… we'll get through this, Seto. I promise."

"…Okay," the white dragon repeated quietly. "Okay."

.-.-.-.-.-.

"Wow, Seto, that's healing really well," Yugi commented, prodding at the small hole in the brunet's wing.

"Ow."

"Sorry." He didn't really sound sorry.

Joey frowned. "Ya could at least sound more concerned when ya say it…"

"I'm not, though. It's healing well, he probably won't have any lasting damage, and he whines like a kit anyway," the smaller boy replied, raising an eyebrow at him. "You should have seen him when he broke his arm in a dominance game. He whimpered and whined the entire time. Considering Seto's past injuries, this one was a piece of cake," he sighed, giving the wound another prod.

"Ow."

"Oh, grow up, you big baby," Yugi snorted, then stood to leave. "Well, I better get going."

"How did ya convince Yami t' let ya come alone, anyway?" Joey asked, frowning, as he stood to walk him to the door.

The smaller boy snorted and waved the question away flippantly. "I told him I was coming to visit you and I had no interest in watching him glare at Seto the entire time. He just sighed and nodded and said he'd go visit Téa."

"Oh."

"Yugi-?"

The smaller boy turned and tilted his head. "Hmm?"

Seto paused for a moment, then turned to look at him. "…Have you heard from Mokuba?"

Yugi frowned and tapped his fingers together anxiously. "…Sort of. Yami went to go see how his courting with Serenity was going, now that Joey discovered he was your Other, but apparently Serenity is so opposed to being related to a rapist that she won't mate with Mokuba until you're dead, even if she is Mokuba's Other. …Mokuba didn't really state his opinion on the matter."

"…Leading me to believe that he wants me dead, too," the brunet muttered, turning to face forward again. "I'll see you around, Yugi."

Yugi frowned. "…Right. Bye."

Seto listened to him leave, then let his wings wilt dejectedly. His mate was willing to start over with him, but his family wanted nothing to do with him. Perhaps it would have been better if he'd died. Joey may not have been able to find his Other, but he could have had a chance at being happy with someone else. Mokuba would be mated with his own Other, and Serenity wouldn't worry about her brother anymore.

Anything would have been better than having his only family want nothing to do with him.

Seto stiffened in surprise as he felt a pair of arms sliding around his waist, then turned in confusion.

Joey frowned at him, brows furrowing together. "I need you."

The brunet couldn't help a small smile at that. His mate was trying to make him feel better. That made him feel… warm. And happy. And Joey was smiling at him now—and that was all he'd ever wanted.

Seto hesitated before turning his head to brush his lips over the blond's cheek. When the other boy stiffened, he quickly turned his head away, but then the younger boy grabbed his hair and yanked his head around to mash their lips together. He let out a surprised rumble and parted his lips, and he suddenly found his mouth being attacked by an inquisitive, willing tongue.

Joey broke the kiss slowly and smiled, humming thoughtfully. "Mm. It's better if both parties are involved."

"…Yeah," the brunet replied quietly, then turned and slid his arms around the other dragon's waist. Nuzzling into the blond's stomach, he sighed. "…I'm sorry I'm not a better mate."

"…You're tryin' your best," Joey whispered, frowning again. "What makes you think you're a bad mate?"

Seto refused to answer for a few minutes, but after the blond began stroking his hair, he sighed again. "…I'm your Other. I was supposed to protect you, but instead, I hurt you. Sires… sires don't do that." He dug his fingers into one of the blond's wings and groaned. "I haven't even done anything to make it up to you, and you kiss me like there's nothing wrong. I don't know how I'm ever going to be a better mate."

"…Seto…" The blond's brows furrowed together in frustration. "You're not a bad mate, ya just… ya just have trouble dealin' with your feelin's. I'm not… I'm not mad at ya anymore. I'm gettin' t' know ya. We like each other. …We're gettin' better…"

"I'll never be able to make up for that first time," the older boy whispered, frowning, and hugged him tighter. "And the others will never forget, either. Will you… will you take Mokuba and Yami their birthday gifts when the time comes? I… I know they don't care for me anymore, and they'll probably just throw the gifts out, but… I would like them to…"

Joey sighed and hugged the brunet tighter, tears forming in his eyes at the sadness in his mate's voice. His cousin and his brother wanted nothing to do with him, and he was still going to try and send them birthday gifts, even with the thought that they'd probably end up in the trash anyway. He just kept reaching out for love and affection, only to repeatedly be pushed away.

And he'd been partly at fault for pushing him away, too.