KD: Our beta is back! Hooray! Good thing too because she's amazing and we feel she does an amazing job touching up the chapters. Like this one. So enjoy!
Chapter Twenty-Five: No Straight Answer
Song for chapter:
Stevie Nicks: Talk To Me Lyrics
"Kaiba is gone on another work retreat?" Joey shouted in his phone. He then winced at the pained sound that filtered through the speakers. "Sorry, Mokuba, didn't mean to yell." He voice went back to its normal tone. "When did he leave?"
"A few hours ago. I don't know how long he will be gone for though." Mokuba replied calmly.
"Thanks for telln' me, Mokuba." Joey sighed and hung up the phone. Valentine's Day had been three days ago, but Joey had not seen nor heard from the CEO since he'd been forcibly removed from the house. His butt still had a bruise from the push. "Why couldn't he tell me he was leaving for work? I thought after that dinner we had together, that we made some progress, but I guess not."
Joey laid back on his bed and grabbed a magazine off of his nightstand, flipping through it. His mind, however, drifted off to other things. "I mean, where do we stand in our relationship? We did do something for Valentine's Day. But knowing Kaiba, it was because Mokuba told him to. I mean, we never really established if well… if we are dating or not. Come on, Joey, stop thinking about this." Joey tried to focus on the guys fighting hand to hand in his magazine, but it was no use. He knew that it was a waste of time to worry about this odd relationship, but he couldn't help it. He needed to know.
"I mean is Kaiba even, well, gay? I have never seen him with anyone before. Could it be that he just happens to be attracted to me, but not guys in general? I mean, Kaiba is the first guy I have been attracted to. So does that mean I'm gay? Does it even matter if I am or not. Or if Kaiba is or not?" With a sigh, Joey put the magazine back down and knew that his mind was too preoccupied to even try again.
"That's it, when Kaiba gets back from that little trip of his, I'm asking him. Where do we stand and what are his feelings towards me. If we are gonna make this work, then I need ta know," Joey finally declared it to himself, feeling a little better for it.
After about two weeks, Seto came back from his work retreat. Joey always did wonder where Seto went on these long trips, but never bothered to ask. Even though the CEO was back, he was still too caught up in his work at Kaiba Corp, and Joey was too busy at his part time job, so they still had not seen each other. It was almost as if the fates were conspiring against Joey's plan to find out the truth about the brunette.
"Hey, Joey, when you get off work, you should come over. We can play some video games." Mokuba was with Joey and Kit in the break room. The young teen had some work to do at Kaiba Land, so he thought it would be a good chance to stop by and see Joey. "Since you have been so busy lately, I thought you needed a break."
"Sure, Mokuba," Joey ruffled the smaller boy's hair. "I get off at five. I'll see you then." As soon as he was off of work, he dashed off to the Kaiba mansion eager to get started.
The entire mansion was quiet as usual while the two teens played video games. Joey's head perked up when he heard the front door of the Kaiba mansion slam shut. He wasn't the only one; Mokuba took notice of the rather aggressive entry followed by brisk footsteps. They watched as Seto walked right past them without a word, rubbing his forehead with the hand that wasn't burdened by his briefcase.
"Looks like it was a rough day at the office," Mokuba murmured.
"I don't get it," Joey whispered to Mokuba. "How can Kaiba have a rough day? I mean, he's president, right? Doesn't that mean he can do whatever he wants?"
"It doesn't work like that, Joey," Mokuba told him. "Because my brother is so successful, other companies are constantly competing with him and trying to sabotage his work. Of course, my brother's too smart to be beaten by anyone, but still… he has days where he pushes himself too hard." Mokuba looked up at Joey. "Joey, ever since you started working, Seto seems a little happier, and he even smiles now and again. Honestly, I think you bring out the fun side of himself that he buried away after we got adopted."
Joey was taken aback by this statement. "Come on, Mokuba… I know it seems that your brother and I are getting along alright, but I think you're overestimating me a bit."
Mokuba shook his head. "No, it's true. That's why I don't want you to ever give up on Seto, no matter how distant or cold he acts. If you try hard enough, you might actually be able to bring out that better side of him."
Joey smiled and rubbed Mokuba's head. "I dunno about all that, but I promise I'll do what I can."
"If that's how you feel, then you should go to him right now," insisted Mokuba. "Whenever he comes home like this, he usually goes straight to his study and works for another hour or so before passing out."
Joey hesitated again, but the concerning image of Seto passed out on his desk made up his mind for him. "Fine, Mokuba, I'll go." Joey said, standing up from the couch and heading to the stairway, "But I really think I'm the last person he wants to talk to." Joey walked up the stairs towards Seto's study. He knocked on the door, but there was no answer. "I know you're in there, Kaiba." Joey hit the door harder, but Seto still didn't not reply. Joey wiggled the door knob and realized that the door was unlocked the whole time. He opened the door and stepped into the room, seeing Seto in front of his computer and his coffee next to him. "Does this guy have a coffee machine in every room?" Joey thought looking around for the coffeepot, forgetting why he originally came up there. "Wait, Joey, get back on track here." He took a deep breath and walked over to Seto, who was obviously oblivious to his surroundings, deep in his work before him.
As Joey's hand got closer to Seto's computer he saw piercing blue eyes shoot up over the rim of the glasses. "What do you think you are doing, Wheeler?" Joey placed his hand upon the top of the computer, and Seto's eyes plainly spelled out murder. Joey didn't hesitate as he tried to push the laptop screen down so Seto would stop his work.
"We need to talk, Kaiba, and I'm sure you can live without your computer for fifteen minutes. It's not like it's directly linked to your heart." Joey said, trying to push it down with little luck. Perhaps he had spoken too soon.
Seto was resisting the closing of the lid with one hand while his other, no surprise, was still typing. "I have work I need to finish, Wheeler."
Joey's expression hardened and without warning he leaned over the laptop and kissed Seto full on the mouth. Joey hadn't actually expected this to work, but found that it astounded Seto long enough for him to snatch the laptop away and shut it. "Learn to take a break once in a while."
"Big mistake, Wheeler," Seto growled as he stood up, now looking thoroughly upset.
"Bring it on, rich boy," Joey taunted, glaring defiantly up at him. "I'll take you any day. But try looking at yourself first. Ya look like you can barely stand."
"How I take care of myself is none of your business," Seto told him scathingly.
"Ya don't take care of yourself at all," Joey retorted. "And the hell it's none of myself business. I have a right ta worry about my boyfriend!" Joey blushed as he realized what he had blurted out. After all… there had never been any true verbal establishment that the two of them were exclusively a couple.
Seto, however, didn't acknowledge Joey's boyfriend comment at all. "Is that all you came here for, Wheeler?" Kaiba asked as he got up from his desk in attempt to take back his precious laptop.
"No," Joey said, knowing what Seto was after, but not sure where to hide it. Part of him wanted to throw the damned thing out of the window, but could imagine the brunette's reaction at seeing his precious technology and year's work in tiny pieces. "I need to ask you something.
Seto looked at Joey as if to say, 'Go on.'
"Are you…" Joey stuttered not sure how to ask. He was not even sure of himself what he was.
"Am I what, Wheeler?" Seto's voice rose a bit, clearly annoyed.
"Are you near sighted or farsighted?" Joey blurted out.
After giving Joey a glare, Seto took his glasses off. "These are reading glasses, Wheeler."
"I knew it!" Joey exclaimed. "Your body is being affected by your bad habits." Joey nearly dropped Seto's laptop from his exciting discovery, but Seto swiftly caught it.
"Be more careful, you idiot," Seto muttered angrily before going back to the desk.
"Stupid Joey," Joey thought to himself as he watched Kaiba gingerly place his computer back down on the table, but much to Joey's surprise he didn't turn the laptop back on. "Just ask him. Just say it."
"Well, Wheeler, is there any other useless questions you wanted to ask me." Seto turned around facing Joey after placing his laptop.
"Kaiba are you…are you having a good day?" Joey said, once again avoiding the question without meaning to.
Seto lightly sighed as he realized that Joey was avoiding his real question. "Stop beating around the bush, Wheeler."
Joey was taken aback, "Did you ever think I just wanted to talk to you about your day?" He was slightly defensive, "I know Kaiba is not one for small talk but still, how do I ask him a question like this." Joey lightly swallowed still unsure how to word his question. So far he'd struck out twice, and Seto's patience, what little he had left, was wearing thin. Joey shook his head before uttering out, "Why me?"
Seto stared at him for a few moments. "Shouldn't I be asking that question?"
"That's not… I mean…" Joey knew his face was beginning to turn red as he felt the blood rush to his face.
"I know what you meant, Wheeler," Seto sighed, walking past Joey and sitting on the couch in the corner. He glanced up at Joey who was still standing, staring at him looking nonplused. Seto gestured to the seat beside him in silent command.
Joey quickly took the hint, not wanting to ruin his chances of having an actual conversation with Seto. He placed himself beside the brunette, wondering if he should wait for him to speak or try to say something himself.
Seto once again made the decision for him. "First off, why are you asking this now?"
Joey shifted a little in his seat. "Well… I kinda always wondered about it. I just wasn't sure how to approach you with it."
Seto relaxed his chin in his hand, propping his elbow on the arm of the couch. "Well then, are you asking why I took an interest of you of all people or are you just curious about my sexuality as a whole?"
Joey was lightly twiddling his thumbs, "Well, both actually…" He looked up at Seto, who looked like he was contemplating his answer.
"You are the first person to intrigue me in this way, so I really cannot answer it fully myself." Seto looked down at Joey, who was not satisfied with this answer. However, at the same time, it made Joey feel a bit better about himself. If Kaiba really didn't know, then it should be ok if he fully didn't understand himself.
"Fair enough." Joey said, shrugging his shoulders. He knew it was not right to press any more if neither of them really did had a straight answer. However, it was still bothering Joey that he didn't know if Seto saw him as a boyfriend or not. If Joey knew the answer to that simple question, it would at least shed some light on where they both stand in the sexuality department. "So, uh, if ya don't mind me asking, when did ya, um, take an interest?" He chanced a glance at Seto, who had a thoughtful look on his face.
"I would have to say when you first challenged me in duelist kingdom," Seto replied after a small period of silence. "I was impressed with your confidence, however misguided it was. I was also intrigued when I later heard you used the prize money to save your sister's eyesight. Not many would do that."
"Wait a minute, so if that's the case, then why did you always act like you hated me?" Joey demanded.
"Please, Wheeler, do you honestly think I wanted to let on to anyone that I was even remotely interested in you?"
"Once again, fair enough," Joey acknowledged. "So then, that thing you did to me around the time I first started working for you…."
"I won't lie, a part of me just wanted to humiliate you and put you in your place," Seto stated bluntly. "The other part… well, I've never had need to express myself in that way before, and I wasn't sure how to go about it."
"So you molested me in order to show you cared," summed up Joey. "That's messed up no matter how you look at it."
"I didn't hear you complaining," Seto reminded with a cocky smirk.
Joey turned red from anger, embarrassment, and arousal at the memory. "I told ya to get offa me."
"But you never once said 'stop'," Seto pointed out.
'Gah! I can't win with this guy!' Joey thought frustrated. "So what? Ya saying if I had said 'stop', you would've?"
Seto looked at him with a very sober expression. "Yes."
Joey was taken aback by the other man's seriousness and suddenly he felt guilty for even bringing it up. "So, I gotta know, where do we stand?" Joey asked. "I mean, is this whole thing just…"
"If it were, do you think I would have let it get this far?" Seto said, before reaching up and gently stroking Joey's head. "We'll be fine, as long as you don't do anything too stupid."
"What do you mean by too stupid?" Joey asked, totally forgetting that this could be considered another doggy/master moment.
Seto didn't answer him but removed his hand from Joey's hair. "Is that all now, Wheeler?" Seto said, he eyes looking shot, as if he would fall asleep on the couch right now if he were not talking to Joey. Joey, feeling that was as far as he was getting tonight, nodded at Seto and the two continued to sit there together not moving from their spots.
Joey thought that he saw Kaiba's eyes flickering in and out of sleep and decided that he should leave. After all the busy CEO seemed to have a rough day and he needed his rest since he seemed to get so little of it. "I'll let myself out then…"Joey started getting up, "after all, my boyfriend needs sleep." He hoped to get a response from the boyfriend remark this time, but looking at Seto, it was clear that he was so tired that he truly didn't care.
After leaving the study, Joey thought he heard a pair of feet running down the stairs, "Mokuba." He thought to himself, heading down the stairs and into the living room to see Mokuba watching tv, trying to hold back a big grin.
"Hey, Joey," Mokuba said, still holding back his smile and giggles. "How did things go with Seto?"
"Fine I guess…" Joey decided he didn't want Mokuba to know he knew that he was spying on them. "But he looked like he was gonna fall asleep, so I left him." Joey shrugged it off as if it were nothing. He could tell that Mokuba was getting pouty because of how indirect he was being, but what was the point if Mokuba had heard the entire conversation. "If Kaiba was still awake he would tell you to go to bed." Joey added, "So you should get going." He tried scooting Mokuba off the couch and up the stairs as he made his leave.
"Fine," Mokuba said. "After all, you are like a brother." He scooted up the stairs, and Joey left for the night.
"Why can't Kaiba answer my one question? Are we or are we not?" He snorted. "I sound like a desperate girl right now." Joey kept walking home, his thoughts wandering back and forth, thinking of a way he could get a direct answer.
KD: I know it doesn't seem like this chapter has a point, but trust me it actually does serve a purpose. What is that purpose you may ask? Well, you'll just have to stay tuned to find out, won't you? ;)