Chapter Eight: A Deal with the Devil.
Even though he felt the rivalry burn in every centimeter of his stomach as the muscles contracted involuntarily from the scares the brunette had unknowingly left, all Joey could see were the cobalt currents that had encased him the day the sky fell down.
He had sworn to himself again and again that he had over-thought the sequence of the oricalchos falling down around their souls, I mean hell, we'd just been trapped Ancient-Egypt-Style in stone slabs by fucking Milo Thatcher—like what was this? Atlantis? Joey's eyes bulged, Of course I was disoriented, I lost my fucking soul to the Crocodile Hunter, he shook his head absurdly; somewhat evidently to avoid admitting it had been the other way around, because he couldn't bear to admit that he'd sacrificed his soul for her.
Except he knew he was lying to himself, because in a lot of ways he brought the subject to attention anyways by telling himself NOT to think about it. But it was confusing whenever he felt the pain of Mai being stolen straight from his life, because it was Kaiba's face that he tried to blink away. Whatever, it was probably nothing at all anyways, Joey tried again to excuse it, at least I had a soul to recover in the first place, Kaiba was probably just running low on batteries, he rolled his eyes at his exaggeration, but the robotic motions that usually entertained him just drew the brunette more deeply into his thoughts.
I mean, he's the last person I thought would care if I chose to go back or not; if anything, I was surprised that Roland hadn't already arrived and set up a 'Going Away' celebration. He heaved a deep sigh, continuing to follow the directions scribbled on the back of his hand. It was no use, even he knew that he was exaggerating to overcompensate for the fact he preferred to see Kaiba as inhuman, but there was definitely a heartbeat behind the way the brunette's eyes opened eclectically, widening into such transfixing spheres that were unfamiliar in comparison to the condescending, cat-like slits that so often watched him. Kaiba had willingly exposed his features towards Joey, and Joey specifically, and they were not secretive or sharp, they cast child like vibrancies of blue that clouded with the kind of concern he expected from Mokuba, but never his brother. He's never really looked at me, Joey felt the intensity of Kaiba's mysteriously compelling, yet enigmatic eyes fall over him in contrasting shades of dark and bright blue, not through his actual eyes at least.
Not that he really cared to analyze the intricate waves that seemed to change their color, but he was usually pretty good at noticing little things about people. The fact that he'd known Kaiba for years though, and never noticed that several shades of blue occupied his lenses made Joey sort of sad. The way those auras were ringed with multi-colored layers made Joey think about how many title waves had beat such shallow puddles down into the oceanic depths that swallowed his attention in one effortless gulp, becoming trapped within the hypnotic holds of the darkening spectrum.
I guess he didn't really know anything about Kaiba's personal life, besides that he and Mokuba were adopted, but Joey had always disregarded becoming Bill Gates overnight as a "hardship," and so he never really put much consideration into the words he spat back. Wondering now if any of them had ever gotten farther than the surface level as the unique coloration processed and recorded the information. Except he doubted it, because Kaiba had always gone out of his way to be an ass, so it was certainly not like he couldn't interact with people, he just never did it nicely unless it concerned something important.
He almost kicked himself for the comparison, but he really did feel sort of unworthy, and somewhat jealous, of how Kaiba's eyes looked like a pure bred husky, and his own were mangy and inconsistent, like the mix breed Kaiba always addressed him as. He wondered how dull he must look to eyes that can tear right through people, or how powerless and dark. Joey actually sort of envied that Kaiba's gaze said everything and yet absolutely nothing with such intimidation, and as usual, under his unhindered confidence and control.
Joey sighed, he used to like that his eyes were darker, so that nobody knew the anxieties that emptied them, but now he couldn't stop thinking about helpless it looked to Kaiba. It was an awful feeling that stirred, and he degraded his own qualities now without the brunette there to amuse himself with his insults that were always so cavalier and perfectly timed. He wondered if the other boy knew that what Joey was really hiding form behind smoke screens was him. I mean, his own father didn't make him feel a worthless as Kaiba could; the brunette could ruin his whole day with one word, and Joey felt an awkward dependency form around these controversial memories as they transposed with whatever did or didn't happen the night they discovered they were living in the same place.
Whatever terrible twist had fated this was something so cruel and unusual that Joey referenced it as Kaiba Karma, a term he'd coined years ago as the only possible reason these awful interactions always surfaced when he did nothing to provoke them. This whole thing was like a bad reunion spin off, Joey was the immature flunky and Kaiba was the valedictorian mastermind, and as much as it hurt to remind himself, replaying their dedicated rivalry, like a marathon in his head, was the only way Joey felt significant, leaning subconsciously towards someone he'd never had a real conversation with, but who had confirmed in a single night, without his recollection, that Joey wasn't capable of taking care of himself.
After a week of trying to write it off, his tactics had proved useless; somehow Seto Kaiba had surfaced in the exact same town as Joey—which meant they'd both left home around the same time. So no matter how much Kaiba insulted or disregarded things like fate when they were in public, there was no way in hell that this was a coincidence. It has to mean something,he trailed hesitantly up the steps, because he came and checked on me. He took me to get help, Joey shook his head confusedly at the fact Seto Kaiba had paid his medical bills under no real obligation, because the brunette knew that Joey couldn't have afforded a lawyer to sue him in the first place, and Kaiba knew he didn't have the balls to try and take him to court. So there has to be a reason, because it doesn't make any fucking sense, Joey thought agitatedly, letting his fist fall against the door; he needed someone right now, and whether or not it was canon—they had a history. And without Duel Monsters to drive the competitive wedge between them, there really wasn't any reason for them to be so resentful, because besides in competition, they had never spoken, let alone done anything to offend the other so vindictively—and Joey couldn't help but hope that maybe Kaiba was as lonely as he was right now.
Balancing a conference call between his ear and his shoulder, Kaiba was struggling to light up a cigarette when his door vibrated. "M-th-r fu-k-r," he mumbled incoherently, pulling the object from between his lips, hoping no one else on the call had heard.
"Mr. Kaiba?"
"Yes, I'm still here," the brunette spoke accordingly, fastening his robe around his torso while he approached the door in agitation, wondering who the hell could have been looking for him at this time of night.
On the opposite side, Joey's chest pounded and his hands felt clammy, he was nervous as hell. Not to mention his 'plan,' in its entirely, was so impulsive, that he never even thought of what to say. There was a soft creaking, and the knob twisted.
"Listen Rob, I'm going to have to call you back," the executive clicked off the call, staring at the blonde unpredictably.
"Uhm, hi?" Joey asked awkwardly, trying not to stare at the toned patch of flesh exposed between the loose fitting terrycloth.
"Didn't you read the sign in the lobby Wheeler? No animals allowed."
The uncouth banter sparked a little of Joey's confidence as he grinned, "Y'know I was wondering if you put that up just for me."
Blue eyes rolled back, "Just get inside before someone sees you."
-.-.-
"Evicted already?" Seto entertained sarcastically once the blonde was inside.
"Wouldn't you love that," Joey replied.
"Did you follow me home or something?" Kaiba redirected with a risen eyebrow.
"I didn't have to," his lips pulled into a side grin, "you took care of that for me when you signed off as my emergency contact."
"So where's the fire?" the brunette turned towards the living room disinterestedly.
"Aren't you a stand up citizen," Joey followed sarcastically.
Kaiba ignored the remark, folding one leg over the other, "Will you please tell me why in god's name you're in my apartment right now?"
"I wanted to see you," Joey's eyes looked up innocently.
"You wanted… to see me?"
"Well, yeah."
"Why?" his face fluctuated uncertainly.
"Because we're both in the same situation right now, and I think you need this," Joey's response left his lips before he had the chance to think how concerned it sounded.
"So, why would I need you?" he stared confused, trying to rationalize the situation.
"I don't know, maybe because you don't have any friends?"
"So?" Kaiba glared, not reacting to the sadness he really felt at that moment.
"So," Joey stammered quietly, "You're alone."
"You're always alone," Kaiba generalized, "It's natural."
"How is that natural?"
Kaiba was both intrigued and offset by Joey's inclusive nature. To be honest, he'd never thought of himself as "belonging" to anything. He understood that reality was not sugarcoated, that the word was cruel and imbalanced, "Because all you have is yourself Wheeler, when it comes down to it, that's all you ever have." Bad things happened to make you stronger, and Kaiba wasn't used to this inability of control that caused those same things to weaken his defenses, unsure of how Joey could stand in his apartment, after everything, and still try to extend his hand. "Relationships complicate everything."
"So does being alone," Joey countered.
"Maybe for people like you," Kaiba stuck his nose up prominently, "I'm too busy to concern myself with such frivolity."
"I think we both know that's a lie."
"And I think you should learn to hold your tongue."
Joey's eyes pierced, "You know Kaiba, that's your problem," the words struck his adversary, "you don't listen to anyone."
"Because I don't need to, I don't need to listen—I'm the one giving orders," he folded his arms, "I make my own rules. It's the only way to ensure everything goes accordingly, which is why I can't even conceive what set you're following right now."
"Cause there aren't any to follow," Joey leaned forward, propped against his knees, "Don't you get it? Life isn't a business deal Kaiba."
"Correction, my life is business, " Kaiba systematically argued. "They are identical in every aspect, every day has its own agenda, and every conversation is a negotiation. Your decisions are like deals that risk or wage success, and financial security is a measure of achievement."
"And just when I think you can't get anymore shallow," Joey sighed.
Kaiba sounded almost offended, "I'm not shallow. I'm just not insecure, so I don't need anything."
"Whatever helps you sleep at night," Joey shrugged.
The motions perturbed the executive, "What's that supposed to mean?"
"I thought you knew everything?" Joey replied provokingly.
Seto huffed, "If you came here just to play games Wheeler, then the door is still where you left it. I don't have time for this."
"See!" Joey exclaimed, "You can't even spend ten seconds with someone without losing your temper. So maybe you've got everyone else fooled, but don't bullshit a bullshitter—I don't think you're half as confident as you pretend to be."
"You forget your place dog. You have no room to be condescending, me—insecure? Look who's talking."
"Yeah, maybe I don't have a fancy ass house to hide behind," Joey spoke resentfully, "But you said security is material—if that's true then you're set right? So why are you here?" he accused, "Why run away from all your accomplishments?"
The brunette's posture stiffened, and Joey didn't quite know what it meant when he didn't say anything back. Instead, staring directly into Joey's eyes, Kaiba felt his sight straying absently. This isn't his style, Joey noted; such a silence was like an unchartered realm to the blonde, an untouched area that instantly became open for interpretation. He was unable to gather his own thoughts long enough to establish an opinion, but the emptiness was something, and to Joey, it did not go unnoticed.
Clearing his throat, Joey sought to take an incredibly pivotal risk, but he couldn't go back to being alone. "I have a proposition for you."
The disoriented duelist regained his situational awareness and Kaiba's confused eyes refocused. "What?"
"You said it yourself, life is like running a business, right?" Joey asked hypothetically, "And I'm cutting you a deal."
Kaiba's nose furrowed, "Proposing," he corrected, "You're proposing a deal. You can't cut a deal unless you have an advantage over the competition."
"Whatever," Joey sighed. "Now let me finish, this is a presentation, not a negotiation. Honestly, where are your business ethics now?"
The brunette scoffed and folded his arms tightly while his brain became calculative and strategic as it switched into a mode of professionalism. "I'm listening."
"Well, I propose," he intentionally emphasized out of spite, "That we spend a week together, and if after one week you can prove to me that someone else can't make the slightest difference, then I promise I will leave you alone."
"Offer rejected."
"Why?"
Kaiba's eyes narrowed, "It's the first rule of business, never accept what you can't gain from."
"Nice try smart ass," Joey's lips curled up, "You can't know that if you never tried it before."
"Call it intuition Wheeler."
Joey sighed, "Okay fine, I understand Kaiba, if you can't handle that type of commitment then you could've said so." Joey turned to leave coaxingly, "I mean, it's not your fault that you're too scared to take a chance, but I never thought The Great Seto Kaiba was such a coward." Joey shrugged again thoughtfully, "I guess I'd do the same if I knew I'd lose."
The hairs on the back of Seto's neck prickled. "What did you say to me?"
Joey turned around disinterested, "I said that'd you'd lose."
Kaiba's entire face burst into a fit of rage, "I never lose."
"Prove it."
"I plan to!"
"Then I can count on seeing you tomorrow?"
"You can count on having your ass handed to you is what you can count on Wheeler."
"Let the game begin." Joey closed the door behind him, relishing in such an unprecedented victory. Hook line and sinker, he smiled triumphantly. Who that knew that to hunt down the top of the foot chain, all you had to do was tie the bait to a tree.
That was easy. Too easy, Joey thought intriguingly, What are you hiding behind that mask Kaiba? The wind blew curiously along the lakefront as the blonde tried to fathom the extent of how far he'd taken this discovery. Seto Kaiba was the last person Joey every wanted to think about, but he was the only thing that came to mind. He continued to saunter down the inclining meanders of grass and concrete, watching as the powerful gusts tossed the still, watery surface about. As powerfully as the currents resisted, the wind persistently threw them off course. With this new trial run in place, the duelists decidedly embarked on an uncertain sea. They were no longer game masters, but Captains, trying to navigate through a temperamental territory. The tides were restless and the glittering surface disguised the depths that they were now at the mercy of. Traveling in separate vessels, both boys had composed a crew of different strengths, testing and challenging the undertow in order to keep the baggage they harbored afloat. Joey came from the east, raising his mast to the prospects of exploration, while Kaiba wearily wandered from the west with his anchor still dragging below, unwilling to trust where the waters would take him. They positioned themselves with alternating expectations, but they're destination would be the same.
-.-.-
lol sorry for the run-on sentences! And as usual, please review :) I'm working on the next chapter right now, and feedback is always appreciated.