Author's Note: Rated T because of potty mouth!

W is for Wound

Joey burst into the room and stumbled after seeing his lover speaking to a doctor. He was sitting up. He was breathing. He was alive. Sobbing quietly, he covered his mouth and leaned against the doorway. "Oh God-!"

Seto frowned in concern and moved to stand, only to have the doctor gently push him back down. He let out a rumble of disapproval and glared at him, then turned his gaze back on the blond and motioned for him to come. "Come here, love. I'm okay."

The blond whimpered and stumbled over to him, sliding up against him and sobbing into his shoulder. "Do ya know how scared I was when the hospital called and said you'd gotten shot?! I thought ya were dead, or hurt really, really bad—I was so worried—what if you'd died?! I'd be all alone! Oh, why do ya hafta be such a fuckin' TARGET!"

"…Joey…" Sighing, the older boy pulled him onto his lap, then glanced up at the doctor who was eyeing them skeptically. He waved his hand in dismissal. "You can go now."

"Mr. Kaiba, I wasn't finished talking to you about—" the man began, only to cut himself off as the brunet shot him one of the iciest glares he'd ever seen. "…I'll come back after I finish my rounds," he sighed, then turned to leave.

Seto sighed as well, then turned his attention back to the sobbing puppy in his lap. "Shhh… It's okay, puppy. I'm okay. See? It wasn't even that bad. He's in jail; he can't get to me again."

"But you— But I— When I— If you'd—" Joey sobbed again helplessly; he couldn't find the words he wanted. Why couldn't he understand how frightened and how angry and how devastated he'd been?!

The brunet frowned as the younger boy began pulling at his button-up shirt. "Joey? What're you—"

"Lemme see it! I gotta see it and know you're okay!" the blond exclaimed, sniffing softly. "I hafta see it!"

Seto caught his hands quickly as his fingers came too close to his still tender wound. "Ow! Joey, calm—" He frowned as the blond immediately shrank away from him, looking heart-broken. "…Joey…?"

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean t' hurt ya-!" Joey whispered, then sobbed again. "I'm just hurtin' ya even more now, huh?! I should just go back and stay with Yug'—"

"But, puppy…" Pulling the blond into a gentle hug, he began placing petal-soft kisses on his forehead. "…Who will kiss it better if not you?"

The pup looked up at him anxiously, lip unconsciously jutting out into a nervous pout. "…Ya mean it?"

Seto smiled and reached up to unbutton his shirt to expose the slightly pink bandage on his shoulder. "I think it might need to be kissed daily for it to get better, though."

Joey frowned at him skeptically, then hesitantly leaned in to brush his lips over the bandage. "…I'm still upset with you," he stated softly, looking up at him through his still damp lashes. "I was so afraid I'd never get to see you smile at me like that again—so afraid for Mokuba—"

"I love you, Joey, and I would never leave you hanging like that." He pressed a kiss to the blond's cheek lovingly. "I promise."

"…Okay," Joey answered quietly. "Since ya promised."