A.N. Hey everyone, sorry it took longer than usual. I was conflicted with some things regarding the parallel guys and didn't know what to make of it. But everyting's fine now (hopefully).

17. Heart of the Underdog

Joey had been restlessly walking from one corner of the room to the other when Kaiba came back. "Where were you? It's almost time for the duel! Did you talk to Mokuba?"

"Yes, he's fine. I told him to come back tomorrow to talk to his brother."

"That's great! Well, let's go, then! We didn't change the decks yet. I'm can do it if you distract him for like half a second. I hope."

"Yeah, there's only one problem. Don't shout. I kind of gave the deck to Mokuba."

"WH—" Kaiba promptly covered Joey's mouth with his hand.

"No shouting, I said. I had to. What's done is done. I'll just beat him with my skills."

"Man, I'm beginning to think insanity is contagious. Why would you do that?"

"I already told you that I had to. Don't push it. Let's just… hope he caught a sudden cold or something."

"I never thought I would have to do this because of you, but…" He hit his forehead with his open hand.

"Right, whatever. Let's go already."

Yugi was waiting outside the room to take them to the duel area. "Good luck, Ka— Kiryu."

Kaiba just sighed. I think I'm gonna need a little more than that.

oOo

There were dozens of people watching. The place was made to look like a large 70s pub, albeit without a roof. There was even a jukebox playing oldies. B. was sitting on a huge round chair that looked fit for a villain. He wore a brand new suit that looked exactly like his old one. Joey sat in a regular chair next to him, trying to shoot laser beams from his eyes. B. paid no mind to him.

Kaiba and the Master met each other in the middle of the room and shook hands. The Master got the deck from his pocket and put it on the table.

"May the best man win." He smiled confidently at Kaiba.

"Always."

Kaiba started playing it safe, and got the lead for a few turns.

"What the hell? Why is he playing like a pussy?" B. was puzzled.

Joey hated that he had to lean closer to him to whisper. "Well… the thing is… I can't explain right now 'cause there's too many people but… he lost the deck."

"WHAT?" When a few people turned to look at him, he lowered his voice. "What the fuck happened?"

"Leave this for later. Now we can only watch and hope to hell he wins."

"Oh, fuck me. He's going to lose, you'll both leave and I'll never walk straight again."

"Eh?"

He sighed. "Nothing, Puppy. Nothing. Watch the duel."

"Why are there so many people here?"

"It's up to the Master if he wants to duel privately or make a spectacle out of it. Guess which my Puppy prefers. Now shut up."

With each turn, Kaiba's piles of chips got smaller and smaller. It took him a lot of self-control not to call the Master a cheating fuck and just walk away from the whole thing. He could smell the faint perfume that emanated from the cards, but how that dog could distinguish one from another bewildered him. The only reason he wasn't angrier was because he could simply grab Joey and return to their world as soon as it was over.

But he did promise his other self he would help him, didn't he? Despite saying he owed him nothing, he knew deep in his heart he couldn't simply abandon him like that. Neither him nor his brother. So he focussed. His only hope was to get the best cards.

Yugi would tell me to believe in the heart of the cards. Hn. What a load of crap. Even if I did it would probably be useless against the cheating fuck. Oh what the hell. Heart of the cards, I need a King and an Ace of Hearts.

The dealer gave him a King of Hearts and a Two of clubs. Huh. What a bust. That's what I get for thinking nonsense.

By the end, the Master managed to beat him with a simple Flush. He got up and shook his opponent's hand again.

"You were incredible, probably the second most difficult opponent I've ever had. Your style is similar to…" He searched around but didn't find B. "Well, anyway. Welcome to the family!"

Seto Kaiba was never a graceful loser, but he simply shook the hand presented to him and left.

oOo

"Are you okay? What are we gonna do?" Joey met him in the room he was starting to think of as theirs.

"I'm fine. I don't consider it a real duel if the other player is a cheating fuck." He removed the wig and sunglasses and sat on the bed, holding out his arm to Joey. "What do you think we should do?"

Joey went to him and held Kaiba against himself, while he passed his arms around him. "Well… he is a scumbag, and I'm still pissed at him for kissing you, but… it wouldn't feel right to just abandon him."

"I know. And I promised his brother things would be back to normal tomorrow."

"Why did you give him the deck?"

Kaiba told him the story.

"I see. He needed the money today."

"If I had more time, I would have gone back to our world to get some of my own money, but I didn't."

Joey remained silent for a while, then took Kaiba's hands and brought them to his face. Kaiba thought the action was strange, but didn't say anything. Suddenly he spoke in a surprising low tone of voice.

"Stay here, I'll be right back."

Kaiba raised his head and looked at him, a little stunned, but a little stirred up as well. "Where the hell did that come from?"

"Well, he speaks with a different voice when he's trying to hide the accent, so I figured I could try too. I was practicing when I was alone. Not being able to speak is such a drag. I could just tell him some days I can speak more than others or some other shit."

"Wait. What are you planning to—"

"Think you're the only one who learned how to play Poker? I might have not looked like, but I paid attention to that psycho's lessons too."

"Don't tell me you're going to challenge him."

"Yep. I've managed to keep the voice this far, I think I got the hang of it."

"But… but his dog nose…"

"Well, I guess you can say it's a Joey Wheeler trait, 'cause I could smell about fifteen different perfumes from your hands."

Kaiba shook his head, pulling Joey down to straddle him. "Idiot. You never even played a single game. Do you really think you can defeat him?"

"Hmm…" Joey tangled his hands in Kaiba's hair. "There's only one way to find out." He kissed him, slowly and passionately, then got up and opened the door. "Every dog has its day, after all."

Kaiba surprised him with one of his very rare laughs.

"Hey, Wheeler."

"What?"

"Don't say that, it's a jinx."

Joey smiled at him before closing the door. "Oh, shut up."

oOo

He found out the Master was still in his old-fashioned pub, celebrating his victory with all the liquor in the world. On the way there, he saw B. speaking secretively with Yugi. When they saw him approaching, Yugi smiled at him and left.

"So, you're still here. What happened, decided to take pity on poor ol' Kaiba and be his partners in haremship? All my work for nothing. Now I have to escape again, make another machine, find yet another dimension, and—"

"Just you wait, you maniac. You're in for a surprise. Nice shiner, by the way. Hadn't noticed it before."

It was probably -100°C in hell right now, as B. actually blushed. "Wh-what happened to your voice?"

Joey simply smiled at him, content with B.'s black eye, content with his decision, and continued to the pub.

oOo

The Master was using a bottle as a telescope and finding it to be the funniest shit ever. As he saw one of his guests approaching, he lowered it, pretending he wasn't stupidly drunk. "Ah, Mr. Fudo. Shouldn't you be consoling your partner at a time like this? Oh, I forgot you can't speak. My apologies."

"Actually, my voice seems to be working just fine today. Master, I challenge you to a duel."

TBC

*spits cereal* Kaiba lost?!

+ Villain chairs are a thing. A beautiful and ridiculously expensive thing. I need one *cries*

+ Kaiba believing in the heart of the cards. That's a new rock-bottom for oocness. Officer Trudge from the Fanfiction Police will probably come to arrest me in a few minutes.