It wasn't often that Seto took Joey out on dates. In fact, this was probably only the second time. The first had been the night they got together.

This was was, partially, because Joey had informed him that being showered in gifts and going to fancy restaurants made him somewhat uncomfortable and partially because Seto was still somewhat suspicious that Joey was using him for his money. The less he treated him to fancy things, the less chance there was of Joey staying just for the money. Sure, so far it seemed that Joey was content but maybe he was biding his time. Lying in wait for him to drop his guard so he could strike.

It was unlikely, he knew. Joey was impatient and brash and he'd soon grow tired of pretending to be content if he really wasn't. He'd drop whatever act he was putting up.

But after the way he'd acted the night before, Seto couldn't bring himself to do much other than take him out to eat.

It was nothing too incredibly ritzy, just a nice restaurant on the edge of town that didn't get a lot of business. They could get wine and some good food there, and that was all that really mattered aside from making sure Joey wouldn't be too uncomfortable.

Besides, maybe if he slowly started introducing him to more high-class things they'd make him a little less jumpy.

"Where are we headed, baby?" Joey shifted next to him, looking out the limo window.

"Out." Seto said simply, rubbing a circle into the tense back of Joey's hand. "Relax, puppy."

"You know I can't relax not knowing where we're going." Joey muttered critically, but he squeezed Seto's hand and leaned back a bit regardless. His eyes searched their surroundings through the tinted glass, lips pressed together. Soon, his eyebrows scrunched together. "Are we leaving the city?"

"Not quite." The brunette pulled him close, gently turning his face with a finger. Once he managed to catch the other's brown eyes, he gave the most reassuring smile he could. "Relax," He insisted.

Joey slowly nodded. "Alright, alright." He seemed to deflate, leaning against him and closing his eyes. Internally, he hated that Seto could calm him down so easily. Hated how nice it felt to be wrapped up in the other's arms. But, oh, he loved it. It felt so, so nice to be held.

It was only through thinking about that that he managed to obey the brunet and relax. He had to keep his mind on the arms around him, the warm feeling of breath rustling his hair and lips pressing gently into his forehead - that wasn't hard. If he was honest, being in Seto's arms was kind of an all-consuming feeling. He found it difficult to think of anything else, most of the time.

Was that love? He wasn't sure.

Distracted as he quickly became, he still realized it when the limo came to a stop. He made to look out the window, but before he even opened his eyes, Seto put a hand over them.

"Keep your eyes closed, alright puppy?" He kissed his temple. "I'll lead you."

Joey hesitated. Did he trust Seto that much? Could he even pretend he did? He took a deep breath and nodded. "Okay."

The other removed his hand as the driver opened up the door. Joey slid out of the limo, keeping his eyes squeezed shut. The driver, no doubt knowing Seto's plan, guided him onto the sidewalk and closed the door after Seto. For half of a terrifying second, Joey thought that maybe he was going to be abandoned on the side of his road like the dog Seto had always told him he was. But then an arm wrapped around him and gently guided him up the walk.

"This way, puppy." Seto prompted.

He couldn't help obeying.

I really am a dog, aren't I? He sighed internally, Following my master's every whim… He didn't get to ruminate on it for long, fortunately. Seto steered him around for a bit, then stopped him and he heard a chair being pulled out. A restaurant? He wondered. Is this a date? Why is it so quiet?

"Sit down, puppy." Seto nudged his shoulders.

Joey's hand sought out the back of the chair and he maneuvered around it, sitting down nervously. He heard Seto chuckle softly, then another chair being pulled out. Well, at least he's sitting down too.

"You can open your eyes now." Seto chuckled again.

Joey did so, looking around immediately. The room they sat in was dimly lit by candles and a genuine-looking chandelier above him. It certainly looked fancy, but the paint was peeling and there were some cracks in the walls. It was probably much more popular, once, but the popularity had clearly waned and the upkeep of the restaurant clearly wasn't the most important thing to the owners. And it was kind of familiar, now that he thought of it…

A restaurant at the edge of town… He knew this place. It was the fanciest dive in all of Domino. Well shit. He thought, He took me to the ritziest dump he could to keep me comfortable. How considerate.

Even with the sarcastic, sour note in his head, he couldn't help the warm feeling in his chest. That really was sweet of him - he really had paid attention when Joey told him that fancy shit made him uncomfortable.

When his eyes finally trailed back to the millionaire, he had to clench his teeth to avoid smiling. Seto looked so concerned, so scared that Joey wouldn't like his idea. "Do you like it?" He asked after a moment.

Joey nodded immediately. "Don't look so worried." He chided. "I'd stick it out even if I didn't."

"I know you would, but I want you to enjoy it when I take you out on a date." Seto shifted.

Joey felt a lump in his throat. It was a date. Seto really did care - that was painful. "That's sweet, baby." He managed not to sound choked. "That's really sweet."

He blinked back a sudden welling of tears. How could he keep up this stupid charade now? How could he keep lying? Seto really, really cared and he was just using him. God, he felt guilty. And sure, he knew he wasn't really in love with Seto yet, but perhaps now was the best time to get this out. Before it got more serious. Before his job was over and he had the chance to flee and never tell the older male.

"Is there something wrong, puppy?" Seto frowned slightly.

Joey shook his head, "No, no. I just… I need to tell you something. Promise you won't get mad?"

Immediately, something about Seto went rigid. But he nodded. "I promise."

"I…" Joey swallowed. I'm stupid. "You already know I work for the Pharaoh, yeah?"

"Yeah…?"

"Well, I… Um…" He took a deep breath, swallowed again, "When this started… It was a job. A mission."

Seto clenched his jaw. "Really, now?"

"Yeah." Joey flinched. "To get you to sign over the company. A-and at first I only agreed 'cuz I really wanted to mess with you. But I…" He trailed off, directing his eyes to the ground. Seto waited silently for him to work up the courage to say, "But I just can't lie anymore. I can't hurt you like that."

"What do you mean by that, exactly?"

He flinched again. Seto's voice was so cold. He hadn't heard that clipped tone in weeks. "I can't keep pretending that I got with you because I already loved you. It was a job. It was an assignment and I hated it. I hated you. But I… I don't anymore. I really care and…" He choked.

"Puppy…" The coldness seemed to melt away. "Why did you even tell me about that? You could have gone on and I'd never have to know."

"I know. But the guilt was killing me, baby." Joey blinked back more tears, taking a deep breath to steady himself. "And I didn't want to keep quiet because if I didn't tell you I would have taken off the first chance I got to escape the guilt."

Seto seemed to consider it. "Alright."

He looked back up at him. "Please don't break up with me."

He received a frown. "Why shouldn't I, knowing that?"

"Because I genuinely want to fucking be with you now. And I'd never be able to live with myself if I had to go back to being alone after… After you were so loving and sweet and…" He had to stop himself, "Look, baby, I know I'm a huge asshole but I want to have the chance to return the favor."

The brunet considered it, blue eyes studying him for a long moment before he sighed, nodding. "Alright, puppy. I won't break up with you. I'm not pleased, though."

"I didn't think you would be." Joey scratched the back of his neck. "I was going to tell you when we got home so I could just leave and give you a chance to think about it, but you're too damn sweet and I couldn't take the guilt long enough for us to finish our date."

He slowly nodded again. "I believe you about that. You wouldn't have told me otherwise."

Joey gave him a weak smile. Seto smiled back. When the waiter finally arrived at their table, the date went on as if their conversation hadn't even happened. They talked about the progress of the change of management in Kaiba Corp, about the way that Seto would remain the figurehead for the company, taking orders from the Pharaoh, and how Joey would continue to be his messenger. Seto questioned him about his role in the Immortals and seemed quite surprised to learn that not only was he one of the higher ups, he was the Pharaoh's right hand man.

"No wonder he put you on this job. He trusts you to get it done."

Joey shrugged. "If you want something done right, do it yourself or send your closest lieutenant, I guess."

Seto snickered at that. "What's your code name, then? I'm sure you have one."

"Bruiser." Joey gave him a weak smile.

"Puppy, that sounds like a dog name."

"It is." Joey chuckled. "My sister used to have a Pit Bull named Bruiser. He was pretty sweet most of the time but he had his vicious moments."

"I see why you chose it then, my sweet Puppy." Seto grinned at him.

Joey blushed. "Oh, shut up."

Seto continued to good-naturedly poke fun at him until they'd finished their food. Joey didn't want to admit it, but he really didn't mind the jokes. He actually liked it when Seto made fun of him like this. It was so gentle and such a careful way of going about it - always making sure he hadn't actually offended Joey on accident.

Joey could almost hear "I Won't Say I'm In Love" playing in the back of his head.

On their way out of the restaurant, Seto stopped him. "Puppy…" He pulled him close and kissed him. "Thank you for telling me the truth." He murmured when he pulled back.

The blonde could feel his eyes welling up with tears again. He buried his face in Seto's shoulder, murmuring innumerable apologies. The other didn't have to ask what he was apologizing for. He already knew. He was apologizing for having lied for as long as he did, for having tricked him.

"It's okay, puppy…" He whispered into his hair. "I forgive you."

And then Joey began to sob.