Underdogs
Disclaimer: I do not own YGO.
I tried to make the titles kinda give away as to who the chapter would be about.
Friday
Joey was nervous, that much was true. Ever since Battle City he had wanted to ask her out and show her how he truly felt about her. He drove to her house and did a quick overview of everything. Dress shirt and nice pants, check, cologne, check, hair combed, check, breath mints, check. Joey took a deep breath as he got out of his car and walked up to her door, knocking as calmly as he could.
"Hey Joey." Mai said as she answered the door, stunning him for a moment. Her dress, though casual, was very tasteful, halter top that tied behind the neck and dipped just low enough to be considered revealing, and just ending at her knees. Her hair was down as always, but she wasn't wearing the arm warmers, showing the beautiful pale skin of her arms.
"You look great Mai." Joey managed to say.
"Thank you, you don't look so bad yourself." Mai chuckled as they returned to the car and drove on.
"So where are we going?" Mai asked.
"A four star restaurant." Joey chuckled as the expression on her face.
"Type of food?" Mai asked.
"French." Joey said.
"I didn't know you liked French food." Mai said in awe.
"As long as it's not those snails, I'm good." Joey chuckled. Mai laughed as they pulled into the parking lot and parked. Joey quickly got out and rushed to the other side to open Mai's door.
"You're such a gentleman." Mai teased as she got out. Joey locked and set the car alarm before they walked into the restaurant.
"Reservation?" the man asked.
"Two for Wheeler." Joey said with a polite smile.
"Certainly sir, your table will be ready shortly. If you would like, you may take a seat." The man said gesturing to the little couches. Joey and Mai nodded and took a seat as the man suggested.
"This is a really nice place." Mai said.
"Yeah, read the reviews in the paper a few days after asking you out and thought it would be something new to try." Joey chuckled.
"You did good Joey." Mai said with a smile.
"Thanks." Joey said.
"Wheeler?" a host said. Joey and Mai stood and followed the host to their table and took their seats. The host handed them their menus.
"Anything to drink?" he asked.
"Tea please." Mai said.
"I'll just have some water." Joey said, not feeling in the mood for alcohol or soda. The host nodded and left them to get their drinks and to think over what they may want for dinner.
"So how's the modeling going?" Joey asked.
"Surprisingly easy, though I do have to watch what I eat and exercise often, but it is fun." Mai said.
"I know the obvious answer is clothes, but what do ya model?" Joey asked.
"Dresses, latest designs and intimates." Mai said. Joey froze at the last one but remained calm as he could.
"Do you work with other models?" Joey asked.
"Male or female?" Mai asked, sensing his jealousy.
"Either." Joey replied.
"Yes, female or solo. No male models yet, Jetta hasn't felt too much of a need for that yet, and she hasn't planned a big trip for me yet, says I need a little more time in the industry before we get there." Mai said with a smirk at the sudden relax in Joey's shoulders.
"Makes sense." Joey replied.
"So, how has work at Kaiba Corp been?" Mai asked.
"Pretty interesting. I knew Seto was a jerk and had a lot of enemies, but I never expected the amount we get, not to mention the angry clients that come in daily to try and buy Kaiba Corp, or anything else stupid. I mean seriously, I've had to up so much security on Mokuba alone in the last month because of kidnap attempts. He carries a gun now, but I just was amazed." Joey said.
"That puts a lot of pressure on you doesn't it?" Mai asked.
"Yeah, I am head of security." Joey replied.
"I know it just must be a little overwhelming at times." Mai said.
"It can be, some days it is, but others it's boring." Joey said.
"I can imagine." Mai said.
"See anything on here you like?" Joey asked after a moment of comfortable silence.
"Yeah actually, it's just hard to choose what I like more and what's healthier for me." Mai said.
"You go to the gym tomorrow right?" Joey chuckled.
"Not the point." Mai said, rolling her eyes.
"Have you decided on dinner?" the waiter asked. They placed their orders and handed them their menus before talking again.
"I think Seto was getting mad at Yugi and me today." Joey chuckled.
"Why do you say that?" Mai asked.
"Because we have our dates today while he gets his tomorrow. I think he's just a little pissed about that." Joey chuckled.
"You can be such a dope." Mai said rolling her eyes. The waiter brought them their food and they started to eat happily while talking in between bites.
"I'm surprised Joey, you're not eating a million mils an hour." Mai teased.
"I can be mannered you know." Joey chuckled before hearing some cat calls.
"Hey baby girl, why don't you come over here and hang with us hun." A guy said from the next table over.
"Get lost." Mai said aggravated.
"Come on baby, you know you want to." Another said.
"Why hang with that loser when you could be with a few guys like us." One chuckled.
"We have more style and class than that wannabe." The other laughed as they all stood and walked over the short distance, all not even looking at her face but her chest. Mai could see that Joey was seriously struggling to not start the fight, his shoulders were tense and clenched, and Mai knew what the muscles looked like under his shirt after all.
"We could give you a fun ride." One offered, his hand brushing her shoulder before she slapped it away and stood, glaring at them with a fire that could make Kaiba look nice.
"Listen you halfwits; Joey has stood by my side even when I didn't know I wanted him to. He helped me grow and become a better person than anyone else I ever knew. He saved me from myself and anyone else who would try to hurt me and brought me to my senses when I was going through a rough time in my life. He would tell me that I was better than what I would reduce myself to because of what someone else said and gave me the confidence and safety that not even my parents could offer. He gave me friendship and a reason to do what I do, and I am eternally grateful to him, and you four bozos could never take the place he has in my heart, now get lost." Mai said, not only shocking them, but shocking Joey. The put their hands up in surrender and left the restaurant.
"Did you really mean all of that Mai?" Joey asked after Mai had calmed down from her rant.
"Yes, I do. Think about Joey, you really did all of that for me, even when I told you to get lost, even when I would insult and belittle you, you would still come back and help me. Think back to when Marik was psycho and trapped me in…" Mai stopped, shuddering at the memory.
"I'm touched Mai, really I am." Joey said taking her hand in hopes she would forget about what Marik's evil side did so many years ago.
"I mean, I am grateful to you Joey, and I never thought you would forgive me after that Orichalchos fiasco." Mai said.
"That was by far the worst thing I ever had to go through." Joey said.
"I understand why, but care to elaborate?" Mai asked as their food was brought to them.
"Having to face you and knowing that one of us would lose everything, seeing how you were manipulated because you were found in a vulnerable state of mind and knowing that I wasn't there to help you and prevent that from happening to you when I should've been, that was the worst. Knowing that if I would've known where you were and that I could've done something, anything, in my power to help you and keep you away from Dartz so that you wouldn't have been put into that position was what really hurt. I felt like I was the worst friend in the world because of that." Joey said.
"You really are just a big softy under all that muscle and stubbornness aren't you?" Mai teased, though was trying to keep her eyes from watering.
"I can be a nice guy when I want Mai." Joey laughed as they continued to talk.
"It's funny to think about." Mai giggled after ten minutes of broken up talk and eating.
"What?" Joey asked.
"How a chance encounter has changed so much. Yugi and Téa have been friends since they were kids, then Yugi puts together that puzzle and Atem gives him confidence while Yugi gives him patience and kindness, and through Yugi's kindness he met you and Tristan, and even though you guys bullied him, he thought of you as friends, enough to take a beating for you. Then Yugi's grandpa gets soul-napped and you and Yugi enter Duelist Kingdom while the other two stow away on the boat. That's where we met and became friends, with Kaiba keeping his distance, then because of his competitiveness and want for power he throws Battle City, where we meet up again after a few months or so after Duelist Kingdom, and in enter Marik and Bakura being evil against their will in a way, and we find out more about Atem. Because of that craziness after Yugi gained all the gods, then we have the Orichalchos nuts, me being a part of that…what I'm trying to say is everything led up to us all meeting and becoming friends and eventually more." Mai said.
"Yeah, as Atem and Yugi would say, fate has a funny way of making itself clear." Joey chuckled at the memory of the Pharaoh.
"No kidding." Mai chuckled before taking another bite of food.
"So what would you like to do after this?" Joey asked.
"I'd like to just go back to my place, you can stay for a while obviously, and we can watch a movie." Mai said.
"What kind of movies do you have?" Joey asked.
"Little bit of everything." Mai said with a shrug.
"Sounds good to me." Joey chuckled.
"Pardon me, would you like dessert?" the waiter asked. Joey looked to Mai who gave a small nod and gave her order and Joey gave his. The waiter left and they resumed talking intermittently until they received their desserts. Once they finished eating they got up and went to the front to pay the bill and then left the restaurant.
"It's nice out." Mai said quietly.
"Yeah." Joey chuckled before he unlocked and disarmed his car. They got into his car and drove back to Mai's place where she began to look through the movies.
"Ya know Mai; those guys back there probably thought you were talking romance goo." Joey said.
"Yes, but you know otherwise, don't ya Joey?" Mai asked, not looking away from her movies.
"Course I know that." Joey replied.
"Then that's all I really care about. What kind of movies do ya like?" Mai asked.
"Action, comedy, horror, sci-fi." Joey listed. Mai grabbed a movie and placed it on the coffee table in front of Joey while she went to get something to drink.
"Want something to drink?" Mai asked.
"Sure, rum and coke." Joey replied. Joey put the DVD in the player and let it roll through the commercials until it got to the main menu as Mai returned.
"Thanks." Joey said with a smile.
"No problem." Mai said as she played the movie. Mai rested her head on Joey's chest while they watched the movie and Joey had his left arm around her shoulders.
"You know, you've made me a softy Wheeler." Mai said about forty-five minutes into the two hour movie.
"How so?" Joey asked, honestly confused by her statement.
"Before I met you and the others I used to think that friends were non-existent and fake, only wanting to gain something from you. But after meeting you guys that all changed, you give and gain all at once. And then there's you, the young man that has flipped my world upside down with your overprotectiveness and admirable loyalty. The only one of the guys that can beat you at that is Yugi, but only by a little. Also, I only used to think that guys like your group of pals were good just for a few things, packing boxes and bags, moving furniture, and stringing along like a dog. I'll admit, I used to do that, but then you guys came along and changed my whole perspective." Mai said looking down and her cheeks flushing. Joey tilted her head up and looked her in the eyes.
"Thank you Mai. You may have been stubborn as hell, and it's a relief that you admit that, and what else are friends for?" Joey asked with his famous grin, making Mai's heart stop.
"Friends?" Mai asked, tilting her head adorably.
"Well, they're your friends, I, however, have a better idea in mind for what we could be." Joey chuckled.
"And that would be?" Mai asked although she already knew. Joey only smiled before leaning down and kissing her gently yet passionately all at once, giving her his all like he did in Duelist Kingdom, like he did when he tried to save her in Battle City, and during the Orichalchos ordeal, he made sure to express that all in this one breathtaking kiss and Mai relished in it, returning the kiss with the same fervor, hoping that in some way this would show just how sorry and grateful she was for his efforts to keep her safe from those who tried to hurt her, even herself.
A few moments passed before they finally separated from the kiss.
"You still didn't answer my question." Mai giggled.
"Boyfriend and girlfriend." Joey chuckled, rolling his eyes at her antics.
"I would like that Joey, I really would." Mai said before kissing him quickly on the lips and turning her attention back to the movie while Joey smiled like a moron. He didn't care what others may think, he was just happy that Mai had finally accepted him as more than just some big-mouthed punk and a friend. Once the movie ended they both decided it was late and just before Joey headed out the door he kissed her again, never able to get enough of her, and then walked out the door with a smile on his face. Mai turned off her television, locked her door and windows and headed up to her room.
"That crazy kid finally grew into the man I always suspected him to be." Mai said with a smile as she lay down, turn off her lamp, and went to sleep, confident that she would have dreams and not nightmares.
So much fluff and humor it is ridiculous. Only 4 more to go.