Disclaimer – I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh! of The 12 Pains of Christmas by Bob Rivers

*Rated T for Teen

Charities

The seventh thing at Christmas that's such a pain to me is charities.

"Go get a job you fucking, lazy bum!" roared Seto as he walked past the gates of his mansion. Moving quickly, he finally reached the front door.

The closer it got to Christmas, the more people crawled out from whatever rock they were hiding under to ask him for money. And he hated it! But Joey would definitely think differently; he was just too nice for his own good.

Shedding off his trench coat in the foyer, his Puppy eagerly greeted him.

"Hey, Dragon," Joey said sweetly as he stretched up to give Seto a kiss. "How was your day?"

"Too long," Seto grumbled in response. "The driver's sick, so I had to walk home from work. About every five fucking minutes, some crazy hobo nearly tackled me and asked me for money."

"And did ya give these crazy hobos some money?"

"Hell no. If they want money then they can get a damn job," Seto snapped, heading for the living room with Joey in tow.

"That wasn't very charitable of ya, Seto. It's almost Christmas. The least ya can do is offer them somethin'," stated Joey seriously.

"Why? So they can spend the money on booze and drugs? I don't think so," he quipped, sitting down on the couch. Joey sat next to him.

"Ya don't have to give them money. Ya could pass out food or old clothin' or somethin'. At least that way ya know that what you're givin' them would be put to good use."

"Hn. They'd probably just throw it away. They want cold, hard cash, not warm clothes or hot food."

Joey grew quiet. "You'd be surprised what people would accept when they're livin' out on the streets this time of year," he said, pulling his knees up to his chest and wrapping his arms around them. He seemed to grow distant after that.

Seto looked at him fully at that. What did he mean? His Puppy couldn't have—

"You've been like that," Seto said suddenly, realizing what Joey meant. "You've lived out on the streets like them."

Joey nodded his head slowly.

"I'm sorry, Puppy. I didn't know. Why didn't you tell me before?" And what had happened those days when he'd lived out on the streets?

"It wasn't somethin' I cared to relive. It's hard, especially durin' the holidays. When you're out on the streets, ya see all the families runnin' around together, goin' shoppin', eatin', and havin' fun. They look so happy, cheerful, warm, and content. And then you're just standin' there, freezin' your ass off, wonderin' if you'll survive the cold that night so that ya can see it all again tomorrow. You're hungry, so ya dig through the trash, lookin' for leftovers that just might still be warm. And when ya need to sleep—that's the hardest. Ya have to find a spot to hide, where the cops can't find ya and where other hobos can't find ya…or else they'll steal your clothes so they can survive the night. It's not easy, Seto. Not one bit."

Seto was speechless. After hearing Joey's story—what he'd been thorough—it made him feel…guilty. He hadn't realized how much he'd taken his own life for granted.

"I would've given just about anythin' for a hot meal or a safe place to sleep," Joey continued, "but now I have ya. Seto, I just want ya to think twice before ya start degradin' people livin' on the streets. Sometimes there's never a choice."

If he felt guilty before, he sure as hell felt guiltier now, especially since it looked like his Puppy was about to cry.

Reaching over, Seto pulled Joey into his lap and held him, feeling the need to wash away all those cold, lonely nights his Puppy had spent out on the streets.

Joey sighed while Seto rocked and kissed him. It felt good to be safe, loved, and cherished, to feel like you were worth something. Not everyone got to feel that way.

"We're taking the family out tomorrow," said Seto, breaking the silence.

"To do what?" Joey asked, twisting his neck so that he could see his lover.

"We're going to do a bit of shopping and put together some gift packs to give out to the homeless. I'll also see what I can do about finding them some shelter."

"Ya mean that?"

"I do."

Joey's eyes lit up and he embraced his strong Dragon. "Thank ya."

"Anything for you."

"Hey, Seto?"

"Hm?" he answered, glancing down at his loving Puppy, who now had a mischievous twinkle in his eye.

"I'm feelin' a bit charitable right now. How about ya?" Joey smirked as he suddenly rubbed his Dragon's crotch.

Taking him by surprise, Seto growled as he swept Joey up in his arms bridal style and marched toward their room.

Seto decided that he could be charitable in more ways than one, especially with a naughty little Puppy he knew.

End Drabble