Anger burned through my veins as I stared down the man in front of me.

He knew who I was the entire time. He's going to make my life miserable. I'm broken out of my maddened thoughts by his simple greeting:

"Hello, mutt."

"Shut up!" Joey backed up and turned to leave, "I'd rather sleep on the fucking bench."

"Are you really stupid enough to break a contract with me, mutt?"

A frozen sensation washed through my body as I stopped. That's right. The experiment for the place to stay. My feet are frozen in its place as I weigh my chances of making it through the night without killing my host. That probably wouldn't look good on my couch surfing profile.

Sighing, and turning to face the victorious smirk of the damn asshole, I cross my arms defiantly across my chest and trudge toward the doorway.

"Fine, you know what they say rich boy, keep your friends close, and your enemies closer."

He scoffed, nose high in the air, "Just don't track dirt in the house with your dirty flea-ridden paws, mutt."

"Yeah, yeah, Kaiba." I was too tired to fight. My dreams of a warm and comforting home vanished before my eyes. I get to stay with an asshole for winter break.

Merry fucking Christmas.

The inside was just as neat and organized as I imagined. There weren't cheesy decorations or anything festive. Rich boy is a scrooge.

"No Christmas decorations?"

"No."

"I'm sure Mokuba would like them"

"I would appreciate you minding your own business you filthy mutt."

Speaking between the two of us was sparse until we came to the guest bedroom. As simple as it was with only a canopy bed, nightstand and dresser, there was a mural on the ceiling of dragons. Blue-Eyes White Dragons, Red-Eyes Black Dragons, Baby Dragons, and so much more swirled around the ceiling in every earth toned color imaginable.

"Don't drool on my floor, mutt."

Snapping my mouth shut, I shot him a glare as he smiled and led me to the private bathroom, which included a Jacuzzi tub with candles around the surrounding ledge.

"So, here it is: Your room. Only for the break, however. Wash up and come downstairs. There are rules, and explanations of living here and the experiments you will be put through." Kaiba spoke away from me as he walked out the door.

I buttered my voice and smiled sickeningly sweet, "Oh Kaiba, did you even put everything in a binder so I can study it?"

Kaiba turned at the doorway and deadpanned, "Of course, and study well, there's a test."

"Fuck ya, rich boy." I growled and held up my middle finger.

"Hn. Or I could call the police and arrest you for trespassing."

"Hey! You allowed me to stay!"

He smiled, "Who are the Domino police going to believe, hm? A worthless street dog like you? Or a respected businessman?"

I slammed the door to the bathroom and waited for Kaiba to leave. Before I heard the door close, I heard him walk in the room and set something down. I rushed out to investigate, but saw nothing.

The Jacuzzi was better than I imagined. The bubbles and whirlpool made all the stress seem to wash out into the bath water. Laying my head back, I slowly drifted into a sound sleep. The first one in years.

"Joey! Joey!"

I was being shook. Violently. I forced my eyes open to see Kaiba leaning over my naked body…wait. Naked?!

Pushing him off me and grabbing a towel I growled, "What the hell, asshole!"

"What do you mean 'what the hell'?! I just saved your goddamn life you idiotic dog! I knocked on the door and heard a bang and when I walked in I saw you knock yourself unconscious and slip under the water. I knew you were brainless but think for once in your… what are you doing, mutt?"

I was absentmindedly coming closer and closer to him as he told the story, and my wide signature grin came into full bloom.

"You. You were worried?"

Kaiba stopped and pushed my head away from him, "Not in the slightest. I simply don't want to fill out any paperwork if you die on my watch. I have the paparazzi on my ass enough as it i- would you stop looking at me like that?!"

His eyes explained it all. When I woke, there was terror in them. Fear of losing someone. No one has ever felt like that about me.

Without thinking, and during his rambling defenses, I latched my arms around his shoulders.

"Thanks."

He shoved me away, "Don't think for one second I care about you or anything, because I don't."

"Wouldn't dream of it, rich boy."

The silence lasted for a good minute before Kaiba sat up and looked over at my towel-covered form.

"Just get your flea-bitten ass downstairs after you get dressed. I don't have all day. I do have a job, you know."

Soon disappearing out of the room, I saw Kaiba left a pair of athletic shorts and t-shirt with a note: "Wear these, mutt".

Maybe living here won't be so bad after all.