Joey's p.o.v.
I am hanging out in the courtyard at school with my friends for lunch and people watching while getting into arguments with various people. No one really notices when Bakura and Marik sneak off but I do. It reminds me of when I sneak off to see my boyfriend Seto. Yeah I know, it's weird, especially since he and I fight all the time. But under that cold, tough exterior he really is a nice person. Of course that wouldn't stop him from killing me if I ever told anyone that. Tristan and Yugi are talking in the background while Anzu is busy chiming in and staring at Yugi's puzzle like the lovesick fan girl she is. I take my focus off the group for a minute when I see the familiar shape of Seto walking towards us.
"Oi! Moneybags! Come join us!" I call good naturedly across the school yard. Yugi and Tristan immediately stop talking to watch Seto's reaction. Kaiba stops in front of our table and looks at me with a slight sneer; I am the only one who sees the love in it though. His white trench coat billows behind him and he is clutching his ever present briefcase. He is just a few inches taller than me, which always make him seem more imposing and intimidating than he is. Or maybe it is the scowl he wears religiously. His cold cerulean eyes bore into mine and if it was anyone else in my place they would have shrunk down into a whimpering mess on the bench. I stay strong though and meet his glare boldly.
"Seriously, Kaiba, come join us." I smile invitingly. He sniffs in disdain.
"Why would I want to do that, Mutt? I have important work to do that you geeks would only distract me from. No offense, Yugi." Kaiba says coldly before walking on. I stand angrily, causing Tristan and Yugi to latch on to my arms in restraint.
"There's no need to be rude ya big jerk! I was trying to be nice since you aren't exactly welcomed at anyone else's lunch table!" I growl at his retreating back. He pauses for a minute and looks back.
"Because I don't need anybody, Mutt." He says and carries on.
"I aint a damn dog, rich boy!" I yell at his back.
"Prove it, Mutt!" is shouted over his shoulder and it's all Tristan and Yugi can do to get me to sit back down at the table.
"Just let it go, Joey." Yugi says as Tristan tightens his grasp on my chest. Anzu looks like she wants to say something but she is too busy staring at Yugi's puzzle again to form a coherent thought. Yugi sighs and sweat drops as he decides he can't ignore her any longer. A few seconds later and light surrounds Yugi as Yami joins us.
"Come walk with me, Anzu." Yami says in his deep baritone voice. It'd be creepy if Yami wasn't such a good friend of mine. He gets things about me that no one else knows. Anzu squeaks and immediately latches on to Yami's arm as he leads them a few paces away for a quiet conversation. I turn to Tristan to maybe have a bit of a chat and notice him staring longingly at Duke Devlin.
"Hey! You're dating my sister!" I exclaim smacking the back of his head. He grasps his head as he looks at me in surprise.
"I'm just looking!" he says defensively.
"As long as that's ALL you're doing." I growl warningly. As soon as I say that Duke comes trotting over, leaving a wailing crowd of disappointed fan girls.
"Hi guys!" he says cheerfully, but somehow still infusing that seductive tone that the girls eat up. I eye him warily as it seems Tristan goes a bit weak in the knees. It becomes obvious Duke is focusing on Tristan but I am distracted when a sobbing Anzu rushes past the table. I look at Yami and I notice a large sweat drop as he watches Anzu disappear. I fight a smile as I walk over to him.
"What did ya say to Anzu, Yami?" I ask, trying not to giggle. He sighs and looks at me with sharp crimson eyes.
"As if you didn't know." he says, chuckling.
"Hmm. Maybe it was that one thing. No wait. I know what it was. You told her you still sleep with a plushy!"I giggle as Yami smacks me.
"I simply told her I could not return her feelings as I am in love with someone else." He says, and then frowns.
"Besides, the only plushy I sleep with are the ones that Yugi drags into bed during thunder storms." I burst out laughing.
"So when are you gonna tell Yug you love him and his plushy cuddling habits?" I ask, knowingly. Yami cuts me a sideways glance.
"When are you gonna admit about you and Kaiba?" he asks with a knowing look. I stop laughing and stiffen.
"What about me and the rich bastard?" I demand, starting to get scared. Yami rolls his eyes and chuckles.
"Oh, Joey. You should know by now if you have a secret I will most likely know about it. I haven't told anyone though. Seto and your father are your secrets to share when you wish too." he says, patting my head softly. I sweat drop.
"Really, Yami?!" I yell as he chuckles and disappears back into the puzzle, letting Yugi have control again.
"Get back here, Yami! I'm not done talking to you!" I yell at the puzzle, surprising my littlest buddy. Yugi looks at me in confusion.
"What's wrong, Jo? What did Yami say to you?" he asks, with large innocent amethyst eyes. I sweat drop again and face palm.
"Nothing, Yug. It's nothing." I mutter as I look around for the rest of our group. Duke and Tristan have disappeared and I snarl.
"Devlin better be keeping his hands to himself. If I find out Tristan is cheating on my sister I'm gonna kill both of them." Yugi looks at me in confusion again.
"Why would Tristan cheat on Serenity?" he asks.
"It seems he has a thing for Devlin." I hiss, looking around again. Bakura and Marik appear out of nowhere and I jump, falling off the bench with a surprised yelp.
"Jeez! Where did you guys come from? And what have you been doing?" I ask suspiciously as Bakura looks embarrassed and Marik looks smug. Bakura turns bright red and Marik starts whistling, refusing to look at me and Yugi. I sigh. Where is Malik and Ryou when you need them?
"It's almost class time. We should probably head inside." I say just as the bell rings. Bakura looks at me with surprise.
"Since when do you care about class?" he asks and everyone watches me carefully. I sigh.
"I don't. I just ate a big lunch though and need a nap." I say, staying true to my form of being a notoriously lazy student. In fact if it wasn't for Kaiba tutoring me and making me do my homework, I would probably be failing worse than I am. Yugi sweat drops and Marik laughs maniacally. His laugh is truly terrifying, even more so than the look on Seto's face when he found out there was a rumor going around saying that every time he smiled a puppy died. I hid under the bed for two days with Mokuba after that one. Needless to say that rumor died very quickly. I roll my eyes and suppress a shiver as I stalk off towards the buildings, hoping that if I can time it right I will bump into Seto and see if I can get him to admit I'm not a damn dog. One by one the gang heads off to their classrooms. Once Yugi and I are outside our classroom I make the excuse that I have to go to the bathroom, and would he tell the teacher for me. I set off for the bathroom and actually do run into the brunette I was looking for. With a quick glance around us we duck into the bathroom unseen.
"You're late, Pup." Seto growls quietly.
"I had to make sure none of my friends followed me or were suspicious, Seto." I breathe defensively as he pushes me into an empty stall and closes the door behind us, so I am pressed between him and the cool metal wall.
"You know better than to keep me waiting, Pup." Seto breathes in my ear hungrily.
"You could have joined us at the lunch table; I probably would have been able to sneak away with you making excuses for us." I whimper as his breath teases the soft spot on my neck.
"Or you would have had to explain to your friends why I can't keep my hands off of you after I took you right in front of them." Seto growls, lightly nipping at said soft spot.
"Yeah, yeah. You sure do talk big." I tease as I try not to melt into Seto's tall lanky frame. I fail though as Seto wraps his arms around me, one hand knotting in my hair to force my head up and exposing my throat. There is no space between us and I feel my knees go weak as he continues to play with the soft spot on my neck. I can feel his teeth grazing lightly down my throat and I shiver.
"Don't you dare." I hiss, "We are still at school and I have enough trouble hiding the ones you've already given me." Seto slowly sinks his teeth into my soft spot and I groan, my knees giving out completely so he is the one supporting my weight. He chuckles and kisses me passionately.
"Behave, Pup, or I won't let you go to class." Is all the response I get as he kisses me again. When I finally get some air I laugh.
"Well, I don't think that would be beneficial in any way since someone is bound to come looking for me if I don't show up soon." I say with a teasing grin. The insistent buzzing of Kaiba's pager cuts off his retort. He snarls at the little box and suddenly I feel bad for it, and whoever is calling him.
"That'll be work." He says disdainfully. He shoves a hand into a pocket on his trench coat and pulls out his cell phone. Somehow he keeps me in his arms against the wall as he answers the call.
"Kaiba." He snaps. CEO Seto is not someone to mess with. I shiver but I know better than to make a sound. I settle for running my hands through his hair instead and trailing a few kisses down his neck. I silently muse about the poor bastard who had the unfortunate duty to interrupt us. Kaiba runs a gentle hand through my hair as his face goes stone cold to whatever the phone is saying. He presses a quick kiss to my forehead before yelling at the phone.
"You interrupted my lunch break for that?!" he yells, glaring at the phone menacingly. I flinch and feel a stabbing flash of sympathy for the other end of the conversation. That is Seto's 'someone is going to be fired' voice.
"I am very displeased with you. I will deal with this later though. Do not call again unless it is a REAL emergency!" Seto snaps before hanging up and thrusting the offending piece of plastic back into his pocket. He is really pissed now. He growls as he kisses me forcefully and I have no control over my body as my legs wrap around his waist or the moan that escapes my mouth and the other reaction my body has to him. The intensity I feel from him fades a little but not enough for me to feel comfortable just yet. This can only mean one thing for me. He is going to want me home tonight instead of letting me go to Yugi's like I normally do on Wednesdays. I wrap my fingers in his hair as we grind tighter together, eager to remove even the tiniest of spaces between us. We are both panting heavily when we finally break for air.
"Damn you're hot when you're angry, Seto." I gasp. He leans his forehead against mine and sighs as he stares into my eyes.
"I have some business at the office that has to be taken care of. I am leaving after next class. Can you sneak away and meet me before then?" Seto asks quietly, and I hear the need in his voice. I frown. Something is not quite right about this business he has to take care of I am sure.
"I can try, but I don't know. What's wrong?" I ask, deciding to try and get straight to the point. Seto sighs.
"It doesn't concern you, Love. But by the time I get home tonight from the office I want Mokuba in bed and you waiting in mine. Am I clear?" he says, and he shifts into his slightly bossy CEO mode.
"Seto…I'm supposed to stay at Yugi's place tonight. It's Wednesday remember?" I softly argue. Seto looks at me as his face hardens. That's my definite clue that something is really wrong with whatever this supposed business is.
"You will be home with me tonight. No arguments. I need you, Joey. I don't care what you have to say to Yugi or your friends but I need you at home with me." Seto says his hands trapping my face as his eyes bore into me. Swirling in the cerulean depths I see a bit of fear and a whole lot of need.
"Seto…" I whimper. Kaiba kisses me softly and then sighs again.
"Please, my pretty puppy? I swear I will explain later." Seto says, with a tone that says that that is as close to begging I will get before he just takes me straight home now.
"Alright then, Dragon, I will be home for you tonight." I sigh as I press one final kiss to his lips before wriggling out of his arms and the stall. Seto growls and tries to catch me again but I shake my head no since we are most definitely late for class now.
Seto stays in the stall a few moments longer and goes to wash his hands as I fling open the door to find Yugi about to come in.
"The teacher was getting worried, Joey, so she sent me to come find you." Yugi says as I stop in the doorway, surprised. Suddenly I am shoved forward by Kaiba pushing past me and hitting my shoulder. I put on a look of outrage and Yugi sweat drops.
"Hey Kaiba what's the big idea?!" I shout at his retreating form. He simply smirks over his shoulder and says, "You were in my way again, Mutt." I snarl and pretend to lunge at him, causing Yugi's sweat drop to grow bigger and Yami to take over and grab the back of my jacket.
"No, Joey! That is enough!" he yells and I look at him in shock, and uncertainty. I see the brief flash of jealousy in Seto's posture before I turn away though. Seto chuckles in a disdainful way.
"That's right, Mutt. Be a good pup and listen to your friend." He snarls as if in contempt. I silently send a prayer that Yami doesn't say anything before Seto disappears into his classroom.
"Lemme at him, Yami! That pompous prick needs to be taught a lesson!" I growl. Yami just shakes his head.
"I don't know why you guys just don't tell people you guys are dating so you can quit with the rivalry and bickering act." Yami says with a small sweat drop. I am dumbfounded as Yami drags me down the hallway but I recover enough to stick my tongue out at Kaiba as we pass by his classroom. Kaiba rolls his eyes and fixates back on the teacher as we disappear to our own class. Before we go inside the classroom though, I turn to Yami.
"I don't want to ruin Seto's reputation. I don't want him to be shunned or ridiculed because of me. I don't want his business dealings to suffer either. Which I fear might happen if we ever came out publicly." I whisper to Yami. He looks at me with those crimson eyes of his and shakes his head.
"That is your choice, but I do not think Kaiba would care either way. He would look at it as their loss if any business partners shun him. Kaiba Corp is one of the biggest and most productive businesses in the world. Anyone who gives up a deal with them will be easily replaced by those who are smart enough to realize what an asset having such a powerful ally is and who won't care whether the owner is gay or dating someone like you." he says and I just stare at him.
"I…" I say but I can't make my mouth make any other sounds.
"I am giving Yugi back now. You might want to let him know that you won't be staying over tonight. I think you could say you have to babysit Mokuba or something believable like that. Don't use your father." Yami says and I nod dumbly. A split second later and Yugi is back, looking at me worriedly.
"Oh, hey Yug." I say, acknowledging my buddy.
"Wow. What did Yami say to you now?" he asks.
"Uh… nothing. He just gave me another talking to about Kaiba and how I should stop picking fights with him." I say. Yugi looks unconvinced but nods anyway.
"I see."
He moves to open the door and I stop him.
"Hey, Yug, listen. I know I said that I'd come over tonight but Kaiba has some unexpected business and needs me to babysit Mokuba." I mumble, turning red. Yugi looks at me in surprise.
"Why is Kaiba asking you to babysit?" he asks. I swallow nervously.
"Well…. Since my dad kicked me out I've been crashing at his place a bunch and Mokuba is getting pretty attached to me and asked Kaiba if I could babysit him when Kaiba has things to do." I say, looking at the floor.
"Joey?" Yugi says, which makes me look at him in the eyes.
"Are you embarrassed about staying at Kaiba's? Is that why you didn't tell us? And I won't tell anyone else. I swear." I grab my little buddy into a big hug as tears sting my eyes.
"Thank you, Yug. You have no idea what that means to me." I choke out. Yugi pats my back comfortingly.
"I just have one question. Why did Kaiba even agree to let you crash at his place in the first place?" Yugi asks. I cringe and stiffen at the same time. I finally decide on a lie that is fairly close to the truth.
"Um… well… that's mostly thanks to Mokuba. The night my dad kicked me out I go into a pretty bad street fight, remember how I was out of school for like a week a few months back? I managed to crawl to a nearby park and take cover under a tree, where Mokuba found me when Kaiba took him there to play. Mokuba managed to convince his brother to let me stay until I was better. When I finally regained consciousness and told them what happened Kaiba said that I could crash there as often as I needed, just no more getting into fights since he didn't want to keep replacing carpet from blood stains. And of course as long as I don't irritate him while he's working and I can keep Mokuba entertained. Mainly it's just keeping Mokuba busy since Kaiba has to work so much. I apparently am cheaper to keep than the servants who normally did that. But don't tell anyone about that, Yug. Kaiba would kill me if he knew I'd told anyone that story since it makes him look like a nice guy." Yugi nods and I sigh in relief.
"Thanks Bud." I say as we walk into the class.
"You are late, Mr. Wheeler." The teacher says as Yugi and I sit down.
"Sorry, Teach. Nature called." I say, smirking. The teacher rolls her eyes.
"Unless you are talking about your ape cousins I want all four legs of that chair on the ground Joey and no more commentary. If you are late again I will have to give you a detention." The teacher says smoothly and coldly. I know better though. The last teacher who gave me a detention had a personal visit from Seto wanting to know why I wasn't at home when he got there. She retired two days later. But no one else needs to know that story.
"Yes, Ma'am." I say with a sheepish sweat drop. I pick up my pen and try to focus on the lesson when Yugi slips me a piece of paper.
-so if your father kicked you out a few months back and you stopped getting into street fights, who put those marks on your neck and wrists?
-no one!
-right.
-please Yug. just drop it.
-fine. but I am going to be talking to Yami about this and I won't back down until he gives me the answer because I know he knows.
-aww c'mon Yug.
Yugi just smiles serenely and crumples up the note. I sigh and notice how all of the lies seem to be coming to a head now. All because Yami finally got me to actually speak a snippet of truth that I didn't want to. Then I remember something.
-Yami won't tell you anything Yug. he already told me my secrets were mine to tell when I was ready.
-indeed I did, and I must say my aibou is very unhappy with me right now due to that.
-I am sorry Yami.
-just tell him the truth Joey. then at least I can talk to him freely again.
-I can't Yami. I can barely handle the fact that Seto knows.
-and actually did something about it? rather than just sit silently by while you haphazardly covered the marks?
-well that was my doing.
-Joey, how long did you pretend that your dad was still hitting you?
-I
-exactly.
-please Yami. don't make me do this.
-Joey, it is always your choice. coming clean about where you will really be tonight actually frees you more than you think. for once you can come to school and not have to pretend to have bruises because your friends think you went home and had another street fight.
-I have never had to fake bruises…
-so Kaiba likes it rough huh?
-DAMMIT YAMI!
Yami just starts laughing, causing the teacher to look at us suspiciously.
"Mr. Moto! Mr. Wheeler! What are you doing?" she asks seriously.
"It was not Joey, Ma'am. I was just remembering something someone told me at lunch. A joke finally made sense. I am sorry." Yami says suddenly and I look at him in surprise. I'm not the only one either.
"I would expect that sort of behavior from Joey but not from you Yugi." She says a little mystified.
"I'll try not to let it happen again, Ma'am." He says smiling.
"Ok, Mr. Moto." She says, resuming her grading. I cut a glance at Yami and he slides the paper back to me.
-Seto is the one who finally put that bastard away. I can't just lay that part bare to Yugi, or my other friends.
-can't or won't?
-can't. I'm too scared Yami.
-scared of what exactly?
-that they'll hate me for not letting them help me sooner. that they'll hate me for letting Seto of all people be the one to set me free from the hell of my house. I know they probably know that my dad was rough for years but I never let them do anything about it.
-except for Seto.
-only because he knows what it's like.
-I see.
-I was dating Seto before my dad beat me that last time.
-I figured. Kaiba doesn't seem like the type to let that happen more than once.
-he wanted to do something before that but I wouldn't let him. I wanted to do it on my own. I was saving the money to leave and everything. I didn't want to be weak. but my dad hurt me so bad the last time that I almost died, twice.
-and that was when Kaiba sent your dad to prison.
-yeah…
-so then you guys have been dating for awhile.
-yeah. We dated for about four months before I got hurt.
-so then almost eight months now.
-yeah…
-and I guess you have no problems with the intimacy since I have seen the marks.
-DAMMIT YAMI! no… the intimacy is fine. I don't have an issue with Seto ever looking or feeling like my dad.
-even when he gets… rough?
-no. it's hard to explain but Seto makes me feel… safe. I never felt safe like this before. not even with Yugi and the gang.
-yet you confide in me?
-well you already kind of know. that makes it a little different.
-you feel more comfortable since I already know the secrets.
-yeah.
-very well, Joey. I shall make sure Yugi understands that you trust me like he does and I will not break that trust.
-thank you Yami.
-you are welcome Joey.
With nothing else to do until the end of class I lay my head down on the desk and just let the memories that talking with Yami stirred up. It makes me crave alcohol, or Seto, but since I can't have either one at school I let the memories fill my head.
*flashback*
I stumble up to the security booth outside Seto's main gate, struggling for air.
"Master Joseph? Master Kaiba isn't expecting you for another few hours. He's in a meeting right now." the guard says, frowning. I place a steadying hand on the wall and he gets a better look at me from under my baseball hat and hunched over position.
"Oh! What happened?!" he exclaims. I wobble again and sink down the side of the building slightly as I grab my side.
"Please. Get Seto." I whisper just before my vision goes fuzzy and my knees give out. Fortunately the guard manages to catch me before I hit the ground. All around me is a field of noise but I see nothing but black before me. When I wake up I am in Seto's bed and he is laying next to me, tie undone, and hair a mess. Worried blue eyes watch me with dark shadows under them. A glass of water floats in front of my face and I wince as I move to take it. I am covered in bandages and hurt all over.
"Finally, Pup. I thought you were going to die on me. Again. If it wasn't for the screaming when I move away…" Seto says, and his eyes cloud over. He is scowling but I know it's not at me. I drink half of the water and sigh in relief as the water soothes the soreness.
"I'm sorry, Seto. I didn't mean to worry you. I just didn't have anywhere else to go." I whisper hoarsely. My throat feels a bit swollen too. Not that it's that surprising since my dad almost strangled me. Seto's eyes soften even more and he cuddles me closely, carefully avoiding the bandaging and my wounds.
"Your dad did this didn't he?" he asks quietly, and I know he is remembering his own dark past at the hands of his step father.
"He found out about me being gay…" I whisper, shivering as I recollect the fury in his eyes as he swore he would 'beat the gay right out of me'.
"He won't ever touch you again, Pup. I made sure of it. He won't get away like my step father did." Seto growls fiercely. I snuggle into Seto's chest, taking comfort in his scent and the feel of his warm skin. I start to cry as everything is processed in my head.
"Seto, I don't have anywhere to go now! What do I tell my friends? What do I do?" I sob, starting to shake. Seto strokes my hair and cuddles me closer, letting me cry it out.
"You know you always have a place here, Pup. How often do you sleep over anyway? But I can't sit back any longer and watch him hurt you."
"Please Seto, don't do it." I beg.
"He almost killed you, Joey. Do you even know what your wounds are?" Seto growls. I shake my head slowly.
"Concussion, internal bleeding, stab wound, broken ribs, and a fractured wrist. I couldn't even take you to the hospital because I knew they would recognize the hands prints on your throat. You flat lined on me twice. Twice! If you hadn't needed me so much I would have tracked the sorry bastard down and killed him myself. Instead I settled for having a few of my bodyguards collect him and assure his place in a cell. I did it for you as much as him and me." Seto's voice breaks and I feel a slight wetness on my head. I realize then just how scared Seto was for me and how upset he was.
"How is him going to prison just as much for me as you and him?" I ask, confused, the concussion plainly obvious now.
"If he didn't get sent there for the rest of his wretched life and had somehow gotten his hands on you again or you had succumbed to your injuries I would probably be sitting in that cell instead for killing him. What good am I in jail? What happens to Mokuba then? What happens to my company? My whole world revolves around you, Pup. I couldn't handle losing you, not like that." Seto whimpers and I feel my heart break as I listen to him, yet at the same time my heart swells with such love that it feels like I'm going to burst.
"I didn't though, Seto. I'm right here. I'll be fine." I murmur softly, stroking the side of his face gently with my uninjured hand. His piercing blue eyes lock on to mine and I see something almost frightening in them.
"Your screaming was the worst part. If I even left your side for a minute you would start screaming uncontrollably. Mokuba is having nightmares from seeing you when you were first brought inside, from seeing me destroy several rooms in the house, and from hearing the screams you gave. I thought my heart would stop each time I heard you. I kept hearing myself when my step father would start hitting me. Even I am having nightmares when I manage to get some sleep. The doctor knocked you out with anesthesia when he stitched you up and set your bones, but you still screamed and twitched until he finally let me in the room with you. I destroyed my study while that happened. Then when you flat lined I destroyed another room each time. Mokuba still flinches when he sees me and it's been three days!" Seto growls and I flinch, feeling myself go pale as well.
"I-I-I didn't know Seto. I'm sorry." I whisper but Seto shakes his head sadly.
"The worthless piece of shit you call a dad should be sorry, not you, Pup." Kaiba says softly, kissing the top of my head gently. I cuddle up to the blue eyed brunette again and I feel him relax against me as I yawn.
"I love you, my fierce Dragon." I whisper sleepily.
"Sleep my beautiful puppy." Seto whispers as he kisses the top of my head and starts humming our song. I smile as sleep takes me away.
*end of flashback*
A rather insistent poking motion and noise starts to wake me up and I feel my groin react to a nearby presence.
"Dragon…" I moan but the hands I feel are all memory, not reality. A gravelly voice invades my dream and I smile as I recognize Seto's bedroom voice. Only it's not Seto. It's Yugi.
"Joey! Joey! Come on Joey, class is over!" I turn my head and groan again. Suddenly I am crashing to the floor and I yell as I am shocked awake.
"Hey!" I yell indignantly from my position on the floor at Kaiba's feet. Seto towers over me and I instantly know something wrong. His face is livid.
"Class is over, Mutt." he snarls and I shrink back against the floor. Then I glance around me and see the class watching me with held breath. I bristle and stand up so our faces are inches from each other.
"That's no reason to knock me out of the chair rich boy!" I retort. Kaiba is still pissed and I wonder just what I did wrong, or if it is even me he is mad at.
"You were in my seat." He growls and sits gracefully in the desk I was just occupying.
"There's a whole room of desks! You telling me you couldn't have picked one of those?!" I yell. Seto's mouth twitches like he wants to smirk but can't.
"I like this one." he says simply, going to set his briefcase down and knocking me down again to his level.
"You were drooling and moaning. You said my name." Seto hisses under his breath and I suck in a sharp breath. 'SHIT!' I yell in my head as Seto straightens up.
"Just wait rich boy. One of these days I'll teach ya to mess with me." I growl as I stand and brush myself off to join my friends in the doorway. Seto just raises an eyebrow and gives me a half smirk, telling me his message loud and clear. 'Bring it.' his demeanor says and I just ignore him as I stride out of the room, confused because I thought he was leaving after the last class for his office. I frown as I think about it. Did something happen and that's why he was so mad? Then I frown even deeper as I stop in the middle of the hallway. A hand grabs my arm and I am drug into the nearest bathroom by Yugi. He crosses his arms and looks at me with a serious expression on his face. I suddenly feel nervous as hell.
"Spill it, Joey." Yugi says and I swallow, desperately wishing Seto or Yami will appear and save me.
"What?" I ask, my mind suddenly blank from panic. Yugi rolls his eyes and takes a step forward.
"What were you dreaming about, Joey." Yugi says and for a split second I see Seto instead of my best friend.
"Why do you ask?" I stutter nervously.
"You won't answer the question. You're sweating and looking around for an exit. Plus you were drooling and had a ridiculous grin on your face. When we tried to wake you up the only intelligible word you said was dragon. And that was after we heard something like Kaiba when the bell rang. Then you looked terrified when Kaiba actually showed up and kicked you out of your seat." Yugi says as I slide down the wall weakly.
"I-I-I was uh, just uh, um, I-I was hungry." I offer up quietly. Yugi starts tapping his foot and looks at me with a raised eyebrow.
"Really." He says, starting to smile slowly. The hair on the back of my neck stands up and I shiver.
"Yug, please don't do this." I choke, fear setting in as images of my dad flash through my mind. I start shaking as Yugi goes still and seems to be fighting with himself. The bathroom door is flung open and Seto stands in the doorway, radiating a cold furious presence. He looks at me on the floor and his eyes soften. Then he looks at Yugi and back to me. His eyes turn back to ice and I whimper involuntarily. The door slams shut and Seto comes and kneels by me. He gently touches my face and I let out a deep breath. The tension I was holding melts away and then he stands to face Yugi.
"Moto. What. Are. You. Doing." Seto growls darkly. A quick flash of light around Yugi tells me that Yami is visiting.
"I am sorry, Joey. My aibou did not mean to do that to you. Seto, I know about you and Joey. I figured it out awhile ago, just like I know about his father. Nobody else knows but me. I have made sure of that." Yami says. Seto stiffens and looks vaguely surprised but his main expression is still anger.
"Seto, I want to go home." I murmur, looking at him with my puppy dog eyes. He looks at me with soft blue eyes and I see him melting.
"You're lucky I managed to push my business back a bit and finish out the school day, Pup. But fine, let's go home." Seto says, and then he glares at Yami.
"I want you coming too. We need to have a talk." Seto growls and scoops me up off the floor. He turns on his heel and storms out of the bathroom as Yami follows behind. There are a few whispers and stares as Seto carries me to the car but I keep my eyes closed and pretend to be asleep. Yami slides into the limo first and Seto sets me on the seat gently before climbing in next to me.
"Take us home. Pick up Mokuba on the way." Seto growls to the driver before turning his attention to Yami. I slide over to curl up against Seto's chest, seeking refuge and comfort from the memories plaguing me since I know Seto won't approve of me drinking before I have to take care of Mokuba, but the itch to grab a bottle from the fridge is intense. I'm also hoping to calm him down so he doesn't kill Yami.
"So, you must be Yami then." Seto says and Yami nods. Seto strokes my back comfortingly and I nuzzle my face into his neck.
"How did you come to know about my pup's secrets?" Seto asks quietly.
"I am a five thousand year old spirit. I would like to think I have learned a few things because of that. But I have seen the bruises and marks and heard the poor excuses and I know what kind of person Joey is. It wasn't hard for me to figure it out. Then I put some pieces of your past together and suddenly everything clicked. You shared a similar fate as Joey. Only it was your step father and he died before anyone charged him. Just like Joey you dealt with it to protect your younger brother. When you two started dating, though I am still unsure how that came about, it started a subtle difference in Joey. He became a bit more relaxed, the marks started disappearing and even the way you guys argued changed. I also saw the way you guys looked at each other when you thought no one was watching. Shortly after Joey missed that week of school I knew it had to be his father so I talked to him. He confided in me when I confessed that I pretty much knew everything he was hiding. He told me what you did to his father, that he was pretty much living with you, and how he was scared of announcing that he was dating you. I have not told anyone because Joey asked me not to. Not even the one I share a body with knows. So now Kaiba I have a few questions with you." Yami says and I sense the energy shift as he settles into Pharaoh mode. Seto stiffens slightly and I tense too.
"I fail to see what questions you could have for me since your other half started this whole issue with my pup." Seto snarls. I can feel Yami's glare through my back and I flinch for Seto.
"If you please Kaiba, do not interrupt me. Now I want some blanks filled in. Maybe it will help solve some issues Joey has as well. How do you feel about being secretive about your relationship? Are you concerned about your reputation being harmed if you come out as dating Joey? How did the two of you even put aside the rivalry to start dating?" Yami asks and I whimper as I clutch tighter to Seto's white trench coat. Seto wraps his arms around me comfortingly and returns a glare at Yami.
"Keep upsetting my puppy and I will make sure you suffer, no matter if you are a five thousand year old spirit or not. First, even though it is really none of your business, Joey and I started dating after we met in a bar and got drunk out of our minds. I refused to let him go home in that state so on the way back to my place we started talking. I realized just how much in common we really had, until he got sick in my limo. I was slightly more sober so I helped bathe him when we got back to the mansion. That was when I saw the bruises he was hiding and realized what they were from. It pissed me off that someone was doing that to him. The next morning we kept talking and I realized that all of our rivalry was based on not understanding each other. As well as my own prideful misconceptions and desire to hide the fact that I had envied him. He always seemed so happy go lucky, as if he never had any problems. He earned my respect when I realized just how strong a person he was to go on and be such a nice person even after suffering all he had. I've told Joey that it is his choice on whether we go public or not. I don't mind either way. My reputation is solid; rumors have never touched me because I can ruin whoever tries to destroy me or my loved ones. I'd rather have Joey by my side than a spotless reputation and cold bed." Seto says and I look up at him, desperate for reassurance.
"You really mean that, Seto?" I ask my heart filling with love. He nods.
"I do, Pup. I have told you this before, though not in so many words." Tears sting my eyes and I fling my arms around him tightly.
"I think that helps put some of Joey's fears to rest. Can I tell Kaiba those fears Joey?" Yami says, and I nod, unable to speak.
"Joey was scared that coming out would hurt your reputation or your business and he didn't want that. He was trying to protect you in a sense, as you are protecting him. He has also been afraid that his friends would hate him for allowing you to do something about his father when for years he has been fighting that battle on his own. He is afraid that they'll hate him for dating you." Yami says quietly.
"I see." Seto says and looks lost in thought. Yami appraises Kaiba and suddenly I speak up.
"Shouldn't we have arrived at Mokuba's school by now?" I ask. Seto nods and frowns.
"Where are we?" he asks the driver sharply.
"Stuck in traffic, just a block away from young master's school." The driver calls back. Seto slams the privacy screen back up, cursing about incompetent fools. I touch his shoulder gently and he grunts.
"Yes, Pup, I know. I should be nicer to my staff." He growls. Yami bursts out laughing. I look at him in questioning and he quickly tries to compose himself.
"It is just that you two are so alike, yet so different. Right now I just had a vision of that differentness and I swear it is like you two are hikari and yami." Yami says and I am confused.
"What is a hikari? And a yami?" I ask. But Seto smiles gently and answers instead of Yami.
"Hikari is light, Yami is dark. It is like yin and yang, two halves of a whole. I am guessing Yugi and Yami are bonded in that sense as well." Yami nods in agreement to Seto's words and I look at Seto playfully.
"So then which one of us is the hikari and who is the yami?" I ask. Seto looks at me lost in thought but it is actually Yami who answers.
"Joey, you are the hikari to Kaiba's yami. Even though you both have seen the dark and been touched by it, Seto is the only one who still embraces it. You ground each other as a compliment. You, Joey, keep Kaiba from slipping too dark, while Kaiba, you keep Joey from being too exuberant. Kaiba is actually very lucky, because he is one of the few people who have more than one hikari."
"I have more than one?" Seto looks at Yami like he is nuts. "I am faithful in my relationship with my puppy." Yami shakes his head, smiling.
"You also have Mokuba. Mokuba is a hikari, just like Joey. Both are yours. Mokuba will never complete anyone like he helps complete you." Yami says and I am left confused once more, but it has to wait since Mokuba bounds into the limo ecstatic to be picked up early.
"Big brother! Joey!" he cries as he launches his small body at us both, making a very awkward yet warm group hug. Then he notices Yami in the corner.
"Oh, hi Yugi." Mokuba says, uncertainly. Yami laughs.
"Actually, Mokuba I'm Yami. Yugi is letting me visit for awhile to talk to your brother and Joey." he says with a smile. Mokuba just cocks his head to the side as if confused.
"So you know about my brother and Joey dating then." He says. Seto puts a hand on Mokuba's shoulder.
"Mokuba, that's enough. Driver, I think we can drop Yugi off at his house now. Then drop me at Kaiba Corp and take Mokuba and Joey home." Seto says, before turning back to where we are all looking at him in shock.
"Seto!" I exclaim, trying not to openly chastise him for being rude.
"Enough, Pup. I have business to take care of. I have neglected it for too long. I have heard what I need to from Yami, and he has heard what he needs to. If you want to tell your friends I have always said it is your decision. That being said, thank you Yami, for helping me set some things straight. Although, maybe next time you can help Joey understand his friends won't hate him if they are the true friends they claim to be. Maybe make a move on your own hikari as well. Mokuba, bed will be early tonight. No whining. I am having a night with Joey, alone." Seto concludes and Mokuba pouts in the corner silently.
"Thank you for hearing me out, Kaiba. I will take your suggestion into consideration the next time I speak to Yugi." Yami says politely. We all fall into silence as I think about all that was said. As Yami exits the limo I make a snap decision.
"Yami? You can tell Yugi everything I have told you. I don't want you to keep my secrets any longer. Tell him I will talk to him tomorrow after school. We can hang out at the arcade or something." I say, locking eyes with the crimson eyed male. Yami simply nods.
"Take care, Joey. Kaiba. Mokuba." He says before disappearing into the game shop Yugi's grandpa owns. The limo soon drops off Seto at his company and I whimper as he gives me a hug goodbye.
"Hush now Pup, I will be home soon. Then I won't let you go all night, alright?" he whispers lowly in my ear. I shiver and nod.
"That's my pup." He whispers before patting Mokuba on the head and exiting the limo.
"Alright, Roland, Take us home." I say as I lean back into the seat that Seto just abandoned. A cold shiver runs down my spine and I fight the urge to run to Seto. Something does not feel right and I know something is about to happen. In fact, I am so preoccupied with my thoughts that I don't notice Mokuba talking to me until he goes silent and pokes me rather hard.
"Ah! What Mokuba?" I ask, wincing as I rub my arm.
"You haven't heard a single thing I said have you?" he asks, sounding sad.
"Sorry, kid. I just have an off feeling about that business your brother says he has to deal with." I say as I ruffle his hair. Mokuba nods.
"I don't like Pegasus either." He says and I pale.
"HE'S MEETING WITH PEGASUS?!" I yell and the limo swerves suddenly. Mokuba flinches and I throw open the door to jump out of the moving limo in a desperate attempt to get back to Seto. Mokuba flings himself at me and knocks me down before I can quite achieve my goal.
"NO JOEY WHAT WOULD SETO SAY?" Mokuba yells at me and I push him off me.
"To me jumping out of the moving limo or interrupting his meeting with one of the sleaziest men on the planet?" I ask, growling.
"Yes." Mokuba answers, deadpan as I face palm.
"Well he would scold me for being careless and then for being jealous and paranoid and interrupting his meeting. He would then probably ground me to his room for a week." I snarl, my fists clenching as the feeling of something being wrong intensifies.
"ROLAND! TAKE ME TO KAIBA CORP!" I bellow through the privacy screen, fear raising the pitch of my voice higher.
"But, Sir." Roland says, trying to argue.
"JUST DO IT! SOMETHING IS WRONG!" I yell, starting to panic. Roland recognizes the precursor of a panic attack and quickly turns the limo in an impressive u-turn to speed back to Kaiba Corp. I start hyperventilating and vaguely hear Roland talking on the phone, trying to get a hold of Seto and failing. Mokuba is yelling at Roland and when the limo screeches to a halt I stumble out and into the building.
"JOEY! JOEY STOP!" Mokuba is yelling and I hear Roland freaking out but I cannot stop myself moving forward toward the lifeless lump of white on the ground next to the elevator. The receptionist is drooling on herself, vacant eyed and limp, but I drag myself along the floor even though I am shaking.
"Seto? Seto, please. Answer me, Seto." I beg in my most pathetic voice, as tears well in my eyes.
"Isn't this touching? Kaiba-boy finally has someone to miss him." A cold pompous voice sneers from behind me. I hear Mokuba struggling in someone's grip but I can't help him. My knees are jelly and I am gasping as I touch Seto's cold body.
"JOEY HELP ME!" Mokuba cries and I shake Seto harder.
"Sorry, Joey, but you won't wake him. I have trapped his soul in this card here because he refused to do a deal with me. I also want Kaiba Corp for my own, and with Kaiba-boy out of the way I can have Mokuba here sign it over to me." Pegasus says and I look up at him to see a golden eye peek out from under his silver hair.
"Enough, Pegasus! You cannot use your millennium item like that!" a familiar voice yells from the door way and I look past Pegasus to see Yami, with a glowing Eye of Horus on his forehead.
"Oh, Yugi-boy! How good of you to join us! How is your grandfather?" Pegasus says in feigned surprise. Yami growls and I flinch. He is pissed.
"Fine, no thanks to you. Try and take someone else's soul that I care about again and I will send you to the Shadow Realm permanently." Yami thunders. Pegasus just giggles like a school boy.
"Oh, I would really like to see you try, Yugi-boy. But I have my doubts that you know how. After all, you have not mastered your Millennium Item yet." Yami glares at Pegasus and the puzzle glows a bit brighter. The world around us all goes dark and I feel frozen. I can only watch as a duel stage takes place around Yami and Pegasus.
"Then I challenge you to a Shadow Game, Pegasus. If I win you give the souls you took back, and if you win then I will give you my puzzle." Yami says, and I want to cry out no but I can't. Yami is good, and a five thousand year old spirit, and the Pharaoh that actually created the Millennium Items but Pegasus is a sleazy cheater and can't be trusted. Pegasus just smiles like a kid at Christmas and takes his spot in the duel arena.
"Alright then, Yugi-boy, let's duel." He says, and a cold feeling travels down my spine as his left eye glints.
"Let's duel!" Yami exclaims as their life points appear on the counter. I watch the duel through fuzzy eyes. All I can think of is Seto, how much we won't get to do now. I want a drink so badly that my mouth is dry like chalk. Attacks ricochet in the background and an agonized yell is what finally drags me out of my stupor. Yami still has a glowing eye on his forehead and Pegasus is crying. Yami has fifty life points still while Pegasus's reads zero. One of Pegasus's henchmen picks him up and a couple cards fall out of his pocket. As I watch, the pictures painted on them fade and Yami turns to me.
"It is alright Joey. Just breathe." He says before walking out of Kaiba Corp. I look down at the lifeless heap on my lap and start crying again.
"Shh, Pup. Stop that." A familiar voice says and I look down to see haunted blue eyes looking at me.
"Oh, Seto." I gasp as I bury my face in his chest. He wraps me in a hug and holds me as I let my panic attack subside. Mokuba crawls over to us and Kaiba wraps him into our embrace as well.
"Are you ok big brother?" Mokuba asks worriedly. Seto nods.
"Let's go home now though. Roland. Help me. Make sure Pegasus gets taken into custody for his attack on us." he says as he shifts Mokuba and I around to stand up.
"Yes, Master Kaiba." Roland says as he helps us all stand and walk out to the waiting car. I crumple into the seat next to Seto and Mokuba shaking uncontrollably, even after Seto wraps his arms around me and hums our song. Mokuba looks at Seto worriedly.
"He will be fine, Mokuba." Seto says quietly. With shaking hands I reach past Seto and Mokuba and grab the bottle of whiskey that is hidden in the mini fridge. Seto sighs as I gulp down the burning liquid without stopping until the bottle is halfway gone. Suddenly Seto takes the bottle and slaps me while Mokuba looks horrified.
"NOT IN FRONT OF MOKUBA!" Seto bellows but I am so far gone I can't even care. The world starts spinning and goes black while Seto shakes me and Mokuba starts crying.