Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ A Love / Hate Relationship With Spring ❯ Chapter 6 - First Aid ( Chapter 6 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: whosjeebus 
In which Seto is miraculously healed, Joey is molested, and Santa Claus does NOT make a cameo.
Anime/Manga: Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Drama / Comedy | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 05.01.2005 | Pages: 3 | Words: 6.2K | Visits: 504 | Status: Work In Progress
In which Seto is miraculously healed, Joey is molested, and Santa Claus does NOT make a cameo.
Anime/Manga: Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Drama / Comedy | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 05.01.2005 | Pages: 3 | Words: 6.2K | Visits: 504 | Status: Work In Progress
Title: A Love / Hate Relationship With Spring - Chapter 6/7
Author: WhosJeebus
Rating: NC-17
Pairing(s): Seto/Joey
Beta: Jennie B. ('cause she's all about the grammar, yo)
Spoilers: Maybe just a few mentions of the Battle City / Noa Arc
Disclaimer: Are you serious? Oh, OK. I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh, I just twist it around and use it for my own perverted satisfaction. Don't look at me like that. I'm not the only one. You're reading this, after all.
Summary: Joey Wheeler has no shortage of reasons to hate the season of flowers, butterflies, and rebirth. Can someone unexpected give him a reason to enjoy it as well?
**A/N: I wasn't lying in the chapter summary. There is absolutely NO mention of Santa Claus in this installment. Review responses follow the fic! (points down) ***
~~~~~~~~~~*****~~~~~~~~~~
WHEN WE LAST LEFT OUR HEROES...
Temporarily mesmerised by Yami's words, Seto didn't immediately notice that the rest of the group had moved off, leaving him alone with Joey. He surveyed his reluctant companion, contemplating the pharaoh's parting statement.The blond cocked his head at the taller boy's appraising stare.
"Stop lookin' at me like I'm the dessert tray. You're creepin' me out."
Seto sighed deeply. "Come on mutt... let's get this over with."
Joey shrugged and set off back down the trail, a limping Kaiba draped awkwardly over his bare shoulders. If it occurred to him that the other boy was pressing a little closer than was strictly necessary, he didn't mention it.
~~~~~~~~~~*****~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter 6:
To help take his mind off of Joey's half nude state and close proximity, Seto paid rapt attention to their surroundings as they travelled. This close to Domino City Park, the buildings were older but still immaculately kept. Mostly brick, the structures on either side of the walkway were of varying sizes and heights, having evidently sprouted up in a hodge-podge fashion over the intervening years. He was mildly surprised to recognize the names of several businesses he actually owned but had never visited.
They passed Maxine's diner on their way, and received a wave from the owner herself. The older woman was standing outside on the sidewalk taking a smoke break and obviously enjoying the warm Spring sunshine. When Joey waved in return, she gave a loud catcall at his state of undress. The blond smiled cheerfully and called over his shoulder, "Stop harrassing me you dirty old lady!" He chuckled and shook his head fondly. Seto only frowned, deep in thought.
Another block further on, the buildings became older and more run-down, but didn't appear trashy or intimidating in the least. They paused in front of a four-story dark stone edifice, and Joey huffed a long sigh. "Well, this is me. I gotta warn you though, my place is on the third floor and the elevator's busted." Seto groaned inwardly but gave the blond a terse nod. Compared to the earlier part of his day, this would be a piece of cake. The two boys entered the apartment building and proceeded to heave, claw, curse, and shove their mutual way up three flights of stairs. At the top, they paused a moment to catch their breath while Seto eyed the nondescript entrance in front of him. Other than appearing slightly battered, the door bore no identifying markers save a small placard affixed crookedly over the old-fashioned buzzer. It read simply, "Wheeler."
Joey leaned against the wall, fishing around in a front pocket for his keys. He met the taller boy's eyes and held them, a serious expression clouding his face. "Look. It ain't much, but I expect you to behave like any other half-mannered guest. No doghouse or kennel comments, got it?." He opened the door and helped the limping CEO over to the living room couch, easing him down into a sitting position. While Joey busied himself in the galley style kitchen, Seto took the opportunity to survey his environment. The apartment was pitifully small but, for the most part, clean and neat. The sparse furnishings and their threadbare condition obviously denoted the residents' level of income. Or lack thereof. From his vantage point, he could see straight into the kitchen, which was separated from the living area by a small bar with four stools. To his left, an open door provided him a glimpse of the blond's bedroom and the chaotic condition within. He smiled to himself. Some things were just TOO predictable.
Somewhat distracted, Seto didn't immediately register the other boy's presence until a glass of lemonade was thrust in his face. "Here. I'm gonna find me a shirt and go raid the medicine cabinet. Don't touch anything."
He disappeared through the open door and returned just seconds later tugging a black t-shirt over his head. Seto suppressed a sigh of disappointment. He noted wryly that the lettering on the front of the shirt read, "My Best Friend Went To Kaiba-Land And All I Got Was This Lousy T-Shirt!" He sipped his lemonade and his eyes widened surprise as they followed Joey's path to the bathroom. A picture of a Blue Eyes White Dragon adorned the back of the blond's shirt. Seto felt a little shiver run up his spine. He blushed and hurriedly averted his eyes. His gaze alighted on a framed family photo, clearly a number of years out of date. He cleared his throat and made an attempt at conversation, "Where are your parents, Mutt?"
Joey's preoccupied voice suggested he either hadn't heard, or wasn't planning to acknowledge the insult. "Uh, my dad's gonna be...um, away on business for the next few days, an' my mom and sis' live out of town." The rustling noises emanating from within ceased, and he stuck his head back outside the bathroom door. "You've met Serenity; I thought you already knew all this."
Seto continued to stare at the photo, transfixed by the blond's grinning ten year-old face. "I didn't think you were worth bothering to find out about," he murmured in reply. Seto jerked his head up just in time to see Joey's face crumple. That really hadn't come out sounding the way he had intended it...
"Shit Kaiba, do you really have to be an asshole twenty-four seven? Couldn't you take just ONE day off?" He ducked back around the corner, accompanied by more rustling and then the sound of a cabinet slamming shut. He emerged soon after carrying a number of small items, including a worn, pocket-sized book. Joey briefly consulted the paperback, then plopped himself down on the opposite end of the couch. He placed the other items on the coffee table and made a grab for the CEO's feet.
Seto hissed at this rough treatment. "Take it easy, Mutt! Do you even know what you're doing?"
"Calm down, willya? It says right here in the Boy Scout First Aid Manual, that the first thing you do is "elevate the bitten extremity." I'm just tryin' to help - seein' as how I'm responsible and all..."
Seto felt an unfamiliar flash of guilt resulting from his earlier words, ashamed at making the smaller boy feel he was to blame for the incident. He relented and allowed Joey to raise his legs and place the injured appendages in his lap. Seeking a way to distract himself from the intimate contact, Seto questioned in a scathing tone, "YOU were a Boy Scout?"
Joey frowned as he pawed through the accumulated first aid supplies. "No, but I did beat the crap outta a few." Unable to help himself, Seto barked a sharp laugh. Joey's scowl deepened. "What? Where else would I have gotten the handbook?" He shrugged dismissively. "I wasn't always such a goody two-shoes, y'know." He uncapped a bottle of antiseptic, and began dabbing it on the individual bites with a cotton ball. His ministrations were gentle, but the liquid stung horribly on contact. Seto trembled at the burning sensation, and sucked in a harsh breath. Joey made a sympathetic sound, and leaned over to blow lightly on the moistened skin.
The physical reaction was immediate and astounding. Seto felt his eyebrows climb into his hairline and his dormant erection sprang fully back to life in only a matter of seconds. He glanced down at his crotch and realized with a mixture of dismay and pride that his condition was not likely to go unnoticed. Thinking swiftly, he seized a throw pillow from behind his back and settled it over his groin. He smiled benignly down at Joey, who eyed him suspiciously.
After cleaning the bites thoroughly, Joey once again consulted the manual. He muttered softly to himself, lips moving as he read. Out loud he said, "Administer oral antihistamines." He snickered. "Heh. Oral." Seto groaned. "Cut me some slack, Kaiba. I'm sixteen; everything's dirty." He quirked one blond eyebrow. "But I guess you wouldn't know anything about that, huh? What with you bein' such a cold fish all the time..."
Kaiba was sorely tempted to snatch the other boy's hand and let him feel exactly how FAR from cold he truly was at the moment. The imagined response was rewarding enough to make him smirk. He turned a disdainful gaze on his rival. "Some people are simply more juvenile than others." This statement caused his brain to reflect back on his dream from earlier, and the smirk faltered slightly. He suddenly noticed the label on the bottle Joey was currently reaching for, and he clutched at the smaller boy's wrist roughly. "Bleach?! What the fuck are you trying to do to me, Mutt?"
Joey winced and tried to pull his wrist back. "Dammit Kaiba, turn loose! I'm just doing what it says in the book! See for yourself!" He shoved the handbook at the brunet and renewed his efforts to twist his arm free.
Seto only tightened his grip as he perused the open manual. "It says here that the third step is "apply a topical steroid cream, such as hydrocortisone;" I don't see any mention of BLEACH!" He ground the blond's wrist bones together viciously, causing the smaller boy to whimper and give up trying to extricate himself from the painful grasp.
"Ow! That HURTS, you asshole!" Joey furiously blinked tears from his eyes and gritted out, "I couldn't FIND any hydrocortisone. If you look at the bottom part, it says you can substitute a solution of equal parts bleach and water."
Angrily, Seto scanned the page, discovering the truth in Joey's words. He abruptly released his hold and leaned back, throwing one arm over his eyes to conceal his mortification. "Fine. Just get on with it."
Rubbing his sore wrist and staring reproachfully at the other teen, Joey applied the solution to each insect bite. He wasn't nearly as gentle with his efforts this time. Despite this harsher treatment, Kaiba soon sat up in astonishment. The effects from the bleach solution were instantaneous, and he was left with barely a tingle from his formerly agonizing feet. He was so pathetically grateful for the relief that he didn't even protest when Joey sulkily handed him two pink and blue capsules to swallow.
The blond abruptly stood, shoving Kaiba's feet out of his lap. He stalked into the kitchen and angrily snatched the telephone handset off the cradle. "I'm callin' you a cab. I assume you won't be headin' over to Yug's place?"
Seto blissfully closed his eyes and waved a hand in the air dismissively. "Whatever." Yawning, he stuck both hands behind his head and propped his feet on the sofa. He grunted in annoyance when the cordless telephone struck him in the abdomen. He opened one eye to glimpse Joey standing over him, fuming.
"You're not even gonna apologize, are you?" The blond shook his head in exasperation. "You are un-fucking-believable! OK. I'll buy that this whole mess is somehow MY fault. Hell, I'll even take responsibility for not warnin' you about the bleach; but the fact that you're just gonna lie there and be all smug about it after I dragged you home and patched your sorry ass up - "
Seto opened his mouth to cut into this tirade, but before he could form the words, Joey had snatched the pillow from the CEO's lap and was waving it menacingly. "So I think you should just take your arrogant - " He cut off, eyes widening. Seto cursed his rotten luck and rebellious libido. The more the brown-eyed boy had ranted, the harder Seto had become. There was no concealing his condition, and any explanations he might have once thought of using had already fled his brain in abject terror. He was on his own.
Joey allowed the pillow to drop from nerveless fingers. As he gradually regained control over his motor functions, only one thought blazed brightly in his head. He turned an accusing glare on Kaiba. "Cell phone, huh?" He swallowed. "Kaiba, is that... uh, do you... um - " He ran his fingers through his hair several times, unable to bring himself to ask the question. Finally he blurted, "Are you hot for me or somethin'?"
Seto glared intently at a spot just over the other boy's right shoulder, and manufactured a loud snort. He thought he sounded rather convinvcing when he said, "Don't be ridiculous! Why would someone like me be interested in a loud-mouthed, second-rate duelist like you? Forget your dueling skills, there's nothing at all appealing about you in the first place. Your temper's so out of control, it's a wonder any of your so-called friends are even willing to drag you out into public. You're obnoxious, slovenly, boastful - "
"Oh yeah? Well at least I'm not a stuck-up prick who feels the need to overcompensate for everything! I mean, gimme a break! The Blue Eyes White Dragon Jet? Please! Don't even get me started on that God-damned blimp! What kind of shortcomings are YOU tryin' to make up for?" He smirked at the brunet's groin. "Or maybe I already know..."
Seto took the gloves off. "At least I don't rely on everyone around me to solve all my problems for me! Your big stupid mouth is constantly writing checks your ass can't cash! When are you ever going to figure out that Yugi only sticks around because he feels sorry for you?! You're so passive aggressive it makes me sick! You stumble around with your head shoved so far up your ass - "
"Passive aggressive??!!" Joey shrieked, balling his hands into fists. "I'm not the one with more issues than a magazine stand! You're so fucked up, Mokuba's the only person on the face of this planet who can stand you! You're always lordin' everything you have over everyone else! Underneath all your fancy gadgets and expensive clothes you're nothin' but an obsessive freak! That's right! I called you a freak, you pompous - "
Seto leapt to his feet at being called a freak. Towering over the blond, he inclined his face down toward Joey's and growled, "Don't you DARE drag Mokuba into this, Mutt. If I hear his name so much as pass your lips..."
Joey looked up to meet the other teen, nose to nose. He dropped his voice an octave and flatly hissed, "You'll WHAT?"
Kaiba drew his arms back suddenly and PUSHED the shorter teen. Not with violence, but with definite intent. Joey found himself trapped flush against the wall, unable to meet the fiercely burning eyes of the boy above him. He cringed in anticipation of the first blow. Instead, Seto pressed against him with the length of his body, placing his hands on the wall along either side of the flustered blond. He lowered his head, clamping his mouth over Joey's and kissing him hungrily. Joey pulled back violently, striking his head on the wall behind him and grunting a muffled protest. The harsh lips followed his every movement and pressed even harder, a tongue questing for entrance to his mouth. Having nowhere else to retreat to, he set his palms against Seto's chest and shoved as hard as his limited leverage would allow. His efforts had no effect other than to evoke a low moan from the aroused teen. Joey opened his mouth, intending to try and talk some sense into the other boy, but that hot tongue took the opportunity presented and slipped inside to short-circuit his brain. Joey felt his heart drop like a rock into his stomach, and he closed his eyes, giving himself over to the kiss.
Seto came back to his senses all at once, abruptly aware of the fact that there was no air in the room; no sound or motion, save for the wild thud of his own heart inside his ribcage, and Joey's laboured gasps for breath. He felt a moment of smug triumph, akin to winning an arduous duel, when Joey returned the kiss, opening his mouth and wrapping his arms around Seto's neck. Encouraged by this unexpected reaction, he threw caution to the wind and ground his erection into the other boy's hip, a growl forming in the back of his throat. He knew he was behaving recklessly, but the sensations awakened in him were too powerful to ignore. They overrode every last control mechanism he had hardwired into his brain and drowned out the voice of reason screaming in his ear. Allowing instinct to take over, he ghosted a hand over the blond's side, feeling him tremble at the touch. The hand continued its way down the length of Joey's slim body, pausing when it had successfully sought out the juncture of jeans and an exposed stripe of skin. Seto slid his fingers under the edge of Joey's t-shirt and trailed them upwards to graze a nipple, smirking into the other's mouth as he felt it contract under his fingertips. He bestowed the same treatment on the other nipple and was rewarded with a strangled groan. He revelled in the feeling of that firm body writhing under his hands and pushing urgently back against his own. The gratifying realization of a reciprocal erection pressing into his leg made him even bolder. Seto traced a line of wet kisses over Joey's jawline and down to his neck, using one hand to shove at the obstructing t-shirt until it was bunched up under the smaller boy's arms. For long moments, he was lost in the exploration of the blond's throat, fastening his teeth on a pulse point and eliciting a noise that was more moan than gasp. Joey's arms tightened about Seto's neck, his fingers sinking into silky hair at the brunet's nape, wrapping around and holding tight. Seto lowered his head, brushing his mouth over one nipple before biting down gently. Hands tightened in his hair, tugging urgently, and a breathy "Oh," encouraged him to repeat the actions - with similar results. Using his mouth to continue driving the other teen to distraction, Seto maneuvered his way to the button of Joey's jeans. He effortlessly unfastened it one-handed, and gave an expert tug at the zipper. Slipping his hand down inside the opening and under the waistband of Joey' s boxers, Seto murmured huskily into the blond's chest, "I've been thinking about this all day long..."
Joey was about to mumble a suitably preoccupied response when the brunet's words struck home. His eyes flew open and he gazed down just in time to see one well-manicured hand disappearing inside his underwear. He jerked his own hands out of Seto's hair and frantically scrambled along the wall, extricating himself from the busily questing hands and mouth. Taken by surprise, Seto fell backwards to land on his rump, panting heavily and glaring at the blond from under a brow darkened with confusion. Joey heaved in great lungfuls of air himself, shrinking back against the wall as though he were anticipating the other boy to pounce at any second. When Seto actually did make a move toward him, Joey yelped and skittered nervously around the corner.
"What is your PROBLEM, Wheeler?!"
Joey hurriedly zipped up his pants and yanked his shirt back into place before answering, "YOU'RE my problem! What the HELL was that all about?"
Seto dredged up his trademark smirk. "I would think that it was rather obvious. Even for someone as dense as you."
"Dammit Kaiba! You know what I mean! One minute we're fightin' like always, and the next you're all up in my Kool-Aid!" Joey crossed his arms and glared at the CEO. "What exactly are you playin' at here?"
Seto stood back up, brushing at his pants and surreptitiously adjusting his slight... problem. He was beginning to feel like he'd had an erection for YEARS now. "I think it's safe to say, that for some unfathomable reason, I find myself physically attracted to you." He studied his hands intently. Damn. He'd been THIS close... He snapped his head back up to pin the blond with a piercing stare."And judging by your enthusiastic reactions, I'd say the attraction is mutual." Kaiba's aggravating smirk just wouldn't quit. "You may be a complete idiot, but at least I can't fault you for your taste."
"Who are YOU kiddin', you big jerk? You're the one who jumped ME!" Joey turned his nose up in the air. "Anyway, I was SO not into it."
"Oh really? Would you like to explain to me why you're still hard, then?" Seto glared pointedly at the other teen's crotch. There was noticeable activity going on in there and the faded, snug-fitting jeans did virtually nothing to hide it. "Why don't you just admit it? I may have taken you by surprise, but you were all over me like white on rice, Wheeler."
Joey visibly reddened, but refused to accede the point. "Don't flatter yourself! Besides, I like GIRLS!"
"Oh please. Have you ever even KISSED a girl?"
"Sure I have!"
Seto quirked an eyebrow. "When?"
"In second grade, I kissed Jenny Simpson in the lunch line!" The smaller boy pondered his own statement for a moment. "She, uh, smacked me in the face with her tray." He grinned sheepishly. "Maybe not the best example... but I'm NOT gay!"
"OK then. I'll play along." Seto crossed his arms and seated himself on the couch. "If you're not the least bit attracted to me, answer me this. Why did you react the way you did? YOU allowed me to kiss you. YOU kissed me back. YOU could have gotten away at any time. Why didn't you?"
Joey toed the worn carpet and fished desperately for an answer that would let him come out of this situation unscathed. "It's just that, well...you were doin' those things, and they felt REALLY good, and uh...shit Kaiba, you're a good-lookin' guy, you know? With a GREAT body - not that I've ever really thought of you THAT way - not really." He was truly starting to sweat now while Kaiba, if it were genuinely possible, looked even more smug. "Oh sure, I've NOTICED you before. Completely innocent of course - just in passin' like in the locker room or uh, gym. But that doesn't mean..." Joey had a sudden mental image of himself standing at the bottom of a freshly dug hole, shovel in hand, peering up at a self-satisfied Kaiba perched on the edge. He exhaled noisily. "So OK, FINE! There's some weird chemistry there." He pointed an accusing finger at the brunet. "But I'll have you know I flunked chemistry! TWICE!" Seto remained oddly silent throughout this, and Joey tentatively crossed the room to seat himself beside the other teen. "What are we supposed to do about this?" He ran a hand through his untidy blond locks. "I don't even like you very much, you know."
"This may have escaped your notice Mutt, but I'm not all that fond of you either." Seto's face transformed itself into a mocking grin. "Just admitting to finding you desirable has been difficult, to say the least."
Joey leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees, head in hand. He wearily rubbed his forehead. "I dunno. I suppose it wouldn't hurt for us to try to get to know each other better. Maybe if we found some things we have in common, it would make this easier to deal with?" He shrugged. "It could be worth a shot."
Seto nodded absently and brought a hand up to his hair in a self-conscious gesture. He encountered the sticky mess on top of his head and grumbled, "I don't suppose your Boy Scout manual says anything about removing tree sap?"
"Nah, but I already know the best thing for that." The brunet looked at him expectantly, and Joey smiled broadly before answering. "Peanut butter."
"You're joking!"
The smile grew wider. "I happen to know first hand just how well it works."
Seto seemed hopeful. "So you've tried it yourself then?"
"Nope. But, I've helped Yugi get it out of his own hair lots of times. That big 'do of his has a tendency to get caught in low-hangin' tree branches." He grinned fondly in remembrance. "You got lucky. Pine sap is the WORST."
"How did you - ?"
It was Joey's turn to smirk. "Oh, I've done this PLENTY of times. I can TELL."
Not ten minutes later, a dubious Seto Kaiba found himself reclined in an uncomfortable chair, head in the Wheeler's kitchen sink. He was having some difficulty accepting the fact that not only was he ALLOWING the mutt to smear peanut butter in his hair, he was also taking the blond's word that it would actually WORK. Such a strange turn of events in an infinitely stranger day, but he realized he was starting to enjoy himself a bit. The normally clumsy hands felt soothing on his scalp, and he had to admit that the view was rather nice from his prone position. He felt a bit like Alice after stepping through the looking glass, and smiled to himself at the mental image of Joey with an "Eat Me" sign around his neck. Oh yes, he was definitely cracking up at this point. Stranger still, the thought didn't bring much distress along with it. He relaxed further and listened with morbid curiosity as the other boy made hesitant attempts at small talk.
"So Kaiba, what would you like to talk about first? Since we're gettin' to know each other and all...?"
"Let's talk about getting naked."
Joey rolled his eyes and gave the gooey, chestnut hair a sharp yank. Kaiba winced, but continued to leer up at him. "Quit bein' a perv; I'm tryin' to be serious here." He scooped more peanut butter into his palm and massaged it into the stubborn globs of tree sap gluing the soft tresses together. "OK then, I'll start. My favorite color's green. What's yours?"
"Black."
"Now we're gettin' somewhere!" Joey rinsed his hands in the other side of the sink, then dried them off on a towel. "And for your information, black is a SHADE, not a color. I learned that in art, which is my all-time favourite school subject." He turned on the faucet, carefully adjusting the water temperature. "That would be your cue to share, Moneybags."
Seto grunted. "High school is pointless. I'm intellectually superior to everyone there, including the teachers."
Joey gave a long-suffering sigh as he sprayed the taller boy's hair with warm water, dislodging clumps of sap and peanut butter alike. "Alright, maybe we should try something a little more personal." He reached for the bottle of shampoo he'd set close at hand, and scrunched his face in concentration. As he lathered, he blurted out, "Your parents. What were they like?"
Seto was briefly floored by the question. No one outside of Mokuba and an obviously disinterested state psychologist had ever asked him that question. Why would the mutt ask him this? What was he up to? He gave a rote answer that he hoped would lead to the subject being dropped. "They were like everyone else's parents I suppose." He waved his hand, dismissing the question's validity. "They were kind, loving, et cetera..."
Joey wasn't falling for such an obvious cop out. "Don't bullshit me. I'm asking because I wanna know. What were they REALLY like?"
Unbidden, an image of his mother arose in Seto's mind. A memory surfaced in crystal clarity, and he tried desperately to will it away. Seto's grade school teachers, in awe of his genius and constantly taking false pride in his accomplishments, had let the young boy run amok at school, bereft of even the most basic discipline. After receiving yet another tearful call from a classmate's parents, his mother had had enough of her son's domineering tendencies and called a conference with Seto's school principal. He remembered shrinking fearfully in his chair, alarmed at his mother's tirade and her insistence that the prinicipal "do something" to curtail her son's out of control behaviour while he was away at school. When she had sufficiently browbeat the poor academic behind the desk, she had turned her wrath on Seto. She informed him, in no uncertain terms, that his egotistical machinations had come to an end, and he would apologize in person AND in writing to each and every student he had bullied and/or manipulated. In later years, he had found it ironic that Gozaburo himself had encouraged and nurtured these same destructive tendencies. During all of this, his mother's love and concern for him had shown through despite her harsh words, and even at that tender age he was smart enough to realize she only had his best interests at heart.
His intuition had proven him correct, as usual, when she had taken the chastised boy aside later and informed him, "Seto, you're a brilliant, special young man. I don't want you to EVER doubt your self worth or the fact that you will go far in life." She paused, levelling a steady gaze at her contrite son. "But you must always remember, other people have feelings the same as you. Being smart doesn't give you the right to treat them as less than they are. You're bigger than that, and most importantly, you have a kind heart. You should try harder to demonstrate that."
Seto recalled feeling vaguely patronized; he knew his own intellect far outshone his mother's, but that didn't prevent him from worshipping the very ground she walked on. She had taken him for ice cream afterwards, and he had always regarded that day as an early turning point in his life. One of many, and unfortunately not one that had stood the test of time. He felt faintly ashamed, wondering what his mother would say about him were she to see him today. His mind shied away from this uncomfortable line of thought.
He came back to himself and observed the blond still waiting patiently for an answer. Looking up into Joey's warm brown eyes, he perceived nothing but guileless curosity and genuine concern. Finally he spoke, more truthfully this time. "They really WERE kind and very loving. They also didn't care how smart I was; they treated me the same as any other boy my age, even when I'd disappointed them." He gave a wry half-smile. "Which I did frequently."
Joey nodded as he busied himself rinsing shampoo lather out of Seto's hair. In a soft voice he asked, "What happened to them?"
Seto had expected this follow-up question, but he still paused a moment before answering, "Mom died giving birth to Mokuba and my father died in an automobile accident three years later." He continued without prompting. "After that, we went to the state orphanage for a while before ending up with Gozaburo Kaiba." He gave another one of his self-mocking grins, this one considerably darker than before. "Which was all my doing, of course." He visibly shuddered before regaining control of his emotions. "But you already know all of this, thanks to Noa."
"I'll bet it was hard for you, havin' to keep Mokuba safe and be strong for him durin' all of that." Joey warmed to his subject, his concern evident in his words. "Noa didn't care one way or another if the whole world was witness to all your secrets, he just wanted his revenge no matter who got hurt." He absently toweled the CEO's hair dry. "I know I wouldn't have been able to stay so strong, be so focused and determined..."
Seto disagreed with this last statement vehemently, somewhat bewildered by his own violent reaction to the other boy's words. "Don't be dense, Mutt. I've seen you do it a number of times. You're one of the strongest people I've ever met."
Tension descended between the two teens, and Joey broke its hold by forcing a laugh. "What a fucked-up pair we make, huh Kaiba? You had two wonderful parents who died and I'm stuck with two live and healthy ones who couldn't give a shit about me." He shook his head ruefully. "I'd say the massive amount of baggage we have between the two of us might be the only thing we actually have in common." He gestured toward a framed photo of Serenity in the adjacent hallway. "That and the fact that our siblings are the closest thing we each have to a REAL family. I only wish I had my sister with me like you have Mokuba. I'd give just about anything for that..." He trailed off, thinking he may have said too much.
Seto appeared introspective for a moment as he sat back up. "I will say one thing about you, Wheeler. You have far more insight than I would have ever given you credit for."
"Thanks, Kaiba." Before he could stop and talk himself out of it, Joey leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to the other boy's lips. He recovered his wits and asked in all seriousness, "Now what?"
Seto smiled - the first genuine, warm smile the blond had ever seen from his rival. "I have an idea." Powerful heads of state and industry giants alike had trembled at these selfsame words when spoken by Seto Kaiba. Joey Wheeler just smiled back.
~~~~~~~~~~*****~~~~~~~~~~
tbc
NOTES:
< br> It's that time again! Time to pay homage to all of you who took the time to whisper sweet nothings in my ear. Well, figuratively speaking of course.
Beysie - I hope you're still with me! I apologize for the not-lemon. I realize that was evil of me, but it's what I do. I should also probably apologize for making you nearly pee your pants, but I'm too tickled that I made you laugh that hard. It's quite a compliment. Don't worry about poor Seto's, uh...problem. He'll get it taken care of. One way or another. This IS the next to last chapter after all! **evil grin**
bookwormloverjen - Nice to see you back again, and spanks for the review! Damnit, I LURVE Gobstoppers, but I'm on freakin' diet! **grumbles** Well, maybe just one wouldn't hurt...
Bluelilly1928 - I'm glad I could bring the funny. If it made you laugh, then I guess I did my job. Hope you enjoy chapter 6, and as always, I appreciate you taking the time to review!
cas - I know you've moved on to stalking my LJ, but if you're still here with me on mm.org, then I'll just say thanks again! **waves**
A little tidbit here - "Spring" is a wrap, and I'll be posting the final chapter and epilogue later this week. Thanks again to all my reviewers and readers, you've really kept my spirits up and inspired me to finish my VERY FIRST FIC EVER! It's a big milestone, and I'll be doing the happy dance about it for some time to come. Special announcement next chapter regarding the future of Seto and Joey in my little universe.
Peace,
CJ
05/01/05
Converting /tmp/phpbp70cX to /dev/stdout
Author: WhosJeebus
Rating: NC-17
Pairing(s): Seto/Joey
Beta: Jennie B. ('cause she's all about the grammar, yo)
Spoilers: Maybe just a few mentions of the Battle City / Noa Arc
Disclaimer: Are you serious? Oh, OK. I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh, I just twist it around and use it for my own perverted satisfaction. Don't look at me like that. I'm not the only one. You're reading this, after all.
Summary: Joey Wheeler has no shortage of reasons to hate the season of flowers, butterflies, and rebirth. Can someone unexpected give him a reason to enjoy it as well?
**A/N: I wasn't lying in the chapter summary. There is absolutely NO mention of Santa Claus in this installment. Review responses follow the fic! (points down) ***
~~~~~~~~~~*****~~~~~~~~~~
WHEN WE LAST LEFT OUR HEROES...
Temporarily mesmerised by Yami's words, Seto didn't immediately notice that the rest of the group had moved off, leaving him alone with Joey. He surveyed his reluctant companion, contemplating the pharaoh's parting statement.The blond cocked his head at the taller boy's appraising stare.
"Stop lookin' at me like I'm the dessert tray. You're creepin' me out."
Seto sighed deeply. "Come on mutt... let's get this over with."
Joey shrugged and set off back down the trail, a limping Kaiba draped awkwardly over his bare shoulders. If it occurred to him that the other boy was pressing a little closer than was strictly necessary, he didn't mention it.
~~~~~~~~~~*****~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter 6:
To help take his mind off of Joey's half nude state and close proximity, Seto paid rapt attention to their surroundings as they travelled. This close to Domino City Park, the buildings were older but still immaculately kept. Mostly brick, the structures on either side of the walkway were of varying sizes and heights, having evidently sprouted up in a hodge-podge fashion over the intervening years. He was mildly surprised to recognize the names of several businesses he actually owned but had never visited.
They passed Maxine's diner on their way, and received a wave from the owner herself. The older woman was standing outside on the sidewalk taking a smoke break and obviously enjoying the warm Spring sunshine. When Joey waved in return, she gave a loud catcall at his state of undress. The blond smiled cheerfully and called over his shoulder, "Stop harrassing me you dirty old lady!" He chuckled and shook his head fondly. Seto only frowned, deep in thought.
Another block further on, the buildings became older and more run-down, but didn't appear trashy or intimidating in the least. They paused in front of a four-story dark stone edifice, and Joey huffed a long sigh. "Well, this is me. I gotta warn you though, my place is on the third floor and the elevator's busted." Seto groaned inwardly but gave the blond a terse nod. Compared to the earlier part of his day, this would be a piece of cake. The two boys entered the apartment building and proceeded to heave, claw, curse, and shove their mutual way up three flights of stairs. At the top, they paused a moment to catch their breath while Seto eyed the nondescript entrance in front of him. Other than appearing slightly battered, the door bore no identifying markers save a small placard affixed crookedly over the old-fashioned buzzer. It read simply, "Wheeler."
Joey leaned against the wall, fishing around in a front pocket for his keys. He met the taller boy's eyes and held them, a serious expression clouding his face. "Look. It ain't much, but I expect you to behave like any other half-mannered guest. No doghouse or kennel comments, got it?." He opened the door and helped the limping CEO over to the living room couch, easing him down into a sitting position. While Joey busied himself in the galley style kitchen, Seto took the opportunity to survey his environment. The apartment was pitifully small but, for the most part, clean and neat. The sparse furnishings and their threadbare condition obviously denoted the residents' level of income. Or lack thereof. From his vantage point, he could see straight into the kitchen, which was separated from the living area by a small bar with four stools. To his left, an open door provided him a glimpse of the blond's bedroom and the chaotic condition within. He smiled to himself. Some things were just TOO predictable.
Somewhat distracted, Seto didn't immediately register the other boy's presence until a glass of lemonade was thrust in his face. "Here. I'm gonna find me a shirt and go raid the medicine cabinet. Don't touch anything."
He disappeared through the open door and returned just seconds later tugging a black t-shirt over his head. Seto suppressed a sigh of disappointment. He noted wryly that the lettering on the front of the shirt read, "My Best Friend Went To Kaiba-Land And All I Got Was This Lousy T-Shirt!" He sipped his lemonade and his eyes widened surprise as they followed Joey's path to the bathroom. A picture of a Blue Eyes White Dragon adorned the back of the blond's shirt. Seto felt a little shiver run up his spine. He blushed and hurriedly averted his eyes. His gaze alighted on a framed family photo, clearly a number of years out of date. He cleared his throat and made an attempt at conversation, "Where are your parents, Mutt?"
Joey's preoccupied voice suggested he either hadn't heard, or wasn't planning to acknowledge the insult. "Uh, my dad's gonna be...um, away on business for the next few days, an' my mom and sis' live out of town." The rustling noises emanating from within ceased, and he stuck his head back outside the bathroom door. "You've met Serenity; I thought you already knew all this."
Seto continued to stare at the photo, transfixed by the blond's grinning ten year-old face. "I didn't think you were worth bothering to find out about," he murmured in reply. Seto jerked his head up just in time to see Joey's face crumple. That really hadn't come out sounding the way he had intended it...
"Shit Kaiba, do you really have to be an asshole twenty-four seven? Couldn't you take just ONE day off?" He ducked back around the corner, accompanied by more rustling and then the sound of a cabinet slamming shut. He emerged soon after carrying a number of small items, including a worn, pocket-sized book. Joey briefly consulted the paperback, then plopped himself down on the opposite end of the couch. He placed the other items on the coffee table and made a grab for the CEO's feet.
Seto hissed at this rough treatment. "Take it easy, Mutt! Do you even know what you're doing?"
"Calm down, willya? It says right here in the Boy Scout First Aid Manual, that the first thing you do is "elevate the bitten extremity." I'm just tryin' to help - seein' as how I'm responsible and all..."
Seto felt an unfamiliar flash of guilt resulting from his earlier words, ashamed at making the smaller boy feel he was to blame for the incident. He relented and allowed Joey to raise his legs and place the injured appendages in his lap. Seeking a way to distract himself from the intimate contact, Seto questioned in a scathing tone, "YOU were a Boy Scout?"
Joey frowned as he pawed through the accumulated first aid supplies. "No, but I did beat the crap outta a few." Unable to help himself, Seto barked a sharp laugh. Joey's scowl deepened. "What? Where else would I have gotten the handbook?" He shrugged dismissively. "I wasn't always such a goody two-shoes, y'know." He uncapped a bottle of antiseptic, and began dabbing it on the individual bites with a cotton ball. His ministrations were gentle, but the liquid stung horribly on contact. Seto trembled at the burning sensation, and sucked in a harsh breath. Joey made a sympathetic sound, and leaned over to blow lightly on the moistened skin.
The physical reaction was immediate and astounding. Seto felt his eyebrows climb into his hairline and his dormant erection sprang fully back to life in only a matter of seconds. He glanced down at his crotch and realized with a mixture of dismay and pride that his condition was not likely to go unnoticed. Thinking swiftly, he seized a throw pillow from behind his back and settled it over his groin. He smiled benignly down at Joey, who eyed him suspiciously.
After cleaning the bites thoroughly, Joey once again consulted the manual. He muttered softly to himself, lips moving as he read. Out loud he said, "Administer oral antihistamines." He snickered. "Heh. Oral." Seto groaned. "Cut me some slack, Kaiba. I'm sixteen; everything's dirty." He quirked one blond eyebrow. "But I guess you wouldn't know anything about that, huh? What with you bein' such a cold fish all the time..."
Kaiba was sorely tempted to snatch the other boy's hand and let him feel exactly how FAR from cold he truly was at the moment. The imagined response was rewarding enough to make him smirk. He turned a disdainful gaze on his rival. "Some people are simply more juvenile than others." This statement caused his brain to reflect back on his dream from earlier, and the smirk faltered slightly. He suddenly noticed the label on the bottle Joey was currently reaching for, and he clutched at the smaller boy's wrist roughly. "Bleach?! What the fuck are you trying to do to me, Mutt?"
Joey winced and tried to pull his wrist back. "Dammit Kaiba, turn loose! I'm just doing what it says in the book! See for yourself!" He shoved the handbook at the brunet and renewed his efforts to twist his arm free.
Seto only tightened his grip as he perused the open manual. "It says here that the third step is "apply a topical steroid cream, such as hydrocortisone;" I don't see any mention of BLEACH!" He ground the blond's wrist bones together viciously, causing the smaller boy to whimper and give up trying to extricate himself from the painful grasp.
"Ow! That HURTS, you asshole!" Joey furiously blinked tears from his eyes and gritted out, "I couldn't FIND any hydrocortisone. If you look at the bottom part, it says you can substitute a solution of equal parts bleach and water."
Angrily, Seto scanned the page, discovering the truth in Joey's words. He abruptly released his hold and leaned back, throwing one arm over his eyes to conceal his mortification. "Fine. Just get on with it."
Rubbing his sore wrist and staring reproachfully at the other teen, Joey applied the solution to each insect bite. He wasn't nearly as gentle with his efforts this time. Despite this harsher treatment, Kaiba soon sat up in astonishment. The effects from the bleach solution were instantaneous, and he was left with barely a tingle from his formerly agonizing feet. He was so pathetically grateful for the relief that he didn't even protest when Joey sulkily handed him two pink and blue capsules to swallow.
The blond abruptly stood, shoving Kaiba's feet out of his lap. He stalked into the kitchen and angrily snatched the telephone handset off the cradle. "I'm callin' you a cab. I assume you won't be headin' over to Yug's place?"
Seto blissfully closed his eyes and waved a hand in the air dismissively. "Whatever." Yawning, he stuck both hands behind his head and propped his feet on the sofa. He grunted in annoyance when the cordless telephone struck him in the abdomen. He opened one eye to glimpse Joey standing over him, fuming.
"You're not even gonna apologize, are you?" The blond shook his head in exasperation. "You are un-fucking-believable! OK. I'll buy that this whole mess is somehow MY fault. Hell, I'll even take responsibility for not warnin' you about the bleach; but the fact that you're just gonna lie there and be all smug about it after I dragged you home and patched your sorry ass up - "
Seto opened his mouth to cut into this tirade, but before he could form the words, Joey had snatched the pillow from the CEO's lap and was waving it menacingly. "So I think you should just take your arrogant - " He cut off, eyes widening. Seto cursed his rotten luck and rebellious libido. The more the brown-eyed boy had ranted, the harder Seto had become. There was no concealing his condition, and any explanations he might have once thought of using had already fled his brain in abject terror. He was on his own.
Joey allowed the pillow to drop from nerveless fingers. As he gradually regained control over his motor functions, only one thought blazed brightly in his head. He turned an accusing glare on Kaiba. "Cell phone, huh?" He swallowed. "Kaiba, is that... uh, do you... um - " He ran his fingers through his hair several times, unable to bring himself to ask the question. Finally he blurted, "Are you hot for me or somethin'?"
Seto glared intently at a spot just over the other boy's right shoulder, and manufactured a loud snort. He thought he sounded rather convinvcing when he said, "Don't be ridiculous! Why would someone like me be interested in a loud-mouthed, second-rate duelist like you? Forget your dueling skills, there's nothing at all appealing about you in the first place. Your temper's so out of control, it's a wonder any of your so-called friends are even willing to drag you out into public. You're obnoxious, slovenly, boastful - "
"Oh yeah? Well at least I'm not a stuck-up prick who feels the need to overcompensate for everything! I mean, gimme a break! The Blue Eyes White Dragon Jet? Please! Don't even get me started on that God-damned blimp! What kind of shortcomings are YOU tryin' to make up for?" He smirked at the brunet's groin. "Or maybe I already know..."
Seto took the gloves off. "At least I don't rely on everyone around me to solve all my problems for me! Your big stupid mouth is constantly writing checks your ass can't cash! When are you ever going to figure out that Yugi only sticks around because he feels sorry for you?! You're so passive aggressive it makes me sick! You stumble around with your head shoved so far up your ass - "
"Passive aggressive??!!" Joey shrieked, balling his hands into fists. "I'm not the one with more issues than a magazine stand! You're so fucked up, Mokuba's the only person on the face of this planet who can stand you! You're always lordin' everything you have over everyone else! Underneath all your fancy gadgets and expensive clothes you're nothin' but an obsessive freak! That's right! I called you a freak, you pompous - "
Seto leapt to his feet at being called a freak. Towering over the blond, he inclined his face down toward Joey's and growled, "Don't you DARE drag Mokuba into this, Mutt. If I hear his name so much as pass your lips..."
Joey looked up to meet the other teen, nose to nose. He dropped his voice an octave and flatly hissed, "You'll WHAT?"
Kaiba drew his arms back suddenly and PUSHED the shorter teen. Not with violence, but with definite intent. Joey found himself trapped flush against the wall, unable to meet the fiercely burning eyes of the boy above him. He cringed in anticipation of the first blow. Instead, Seto pressed against him with the length of his body, placing his hands on the wall along either side of the flustered blond. He lowered his head, clamping his mouth over Joey's and kissing him hungrily. Joey pulled back violently, striking his head on the wall behind him and grunting a muffled protest. The harsh lips followed his every movement and pressed even harder, a tongue questing for entrance to his mouth. Having nowhere else to retreat to, he set his palms against Seto's chest and shoved as hard as his limited leverage would allow. His efforts had no effect other than to evoke a low moan from the aroused teen. Joey opened his mouth, intending to try and talk some sense into the other boy, but that hot tongue took the opportunity presented and slipped inside to short-circuit his brain. Joey felt his heart drop like a rock into his stomach, and he closed his eyes, giving himself over to the kiss.
Seto came back to his senses all at once, abruptly aware of the fact that there was no air in the room; no sound or motion, save for the wild thud of his own heart inside his ribcage, and Joey's laboured gasps for breath. He felt a moment of smug triumph, akin to winning an arduous duel, when Joey returned the kiss, opening his mouth and wrapping his arms around Seto's neck. Encouraged by this unexpected reaction, he threw caution to the wind and ground his erection into the other boy's hip, a growl forming in the back of his throat. He knew he was behaving recklessly, but the sensations awakened in him were too powerful to ignore. They overrode every last control mechanism he had hardwired into his brain and drowned out the voice of reason screaming in his ear. Allowing instinct to take over, he ghosted a hand over the blond's side, feeling him tremble at the touch. The hand continued its way down the length of Joey's slim body, pausing when it had successfully sought out the juncture of jeans and an exposed stripe of skin. Seto slid his fingers under the edge of Joey's t-shirt and trailed them upwards to graze a nipple, smirking into the other's mouth as he felt it contract under his fingertips. He bestowed the same treatment on the other nipple and was rewarded with a strangled groan. He revelled in the feeling of that firm body writhing under his hands and pushing urgently back against his own. The gratifying realization of a reciprocal erection pressing into his leg made him even bolder. Seto traced a line of wet kisses over Joey's jawline and down to his neck, using one hand to shove at the obstructing t-shirt until it was bunched up under the smaller boy's arms. For long moments, he was lost in the exploration of the blond's throat, fastening his teeth on a pulse point and eliciting a noise that was more moan than gasp. Joey's arms tightened about Seto's neck, his fingers sinking into silky hair at the brunet's nape, wrapping around and holding tight. Seto lowered his head, brushing his mouth over one nipple before biting down gently. Hands tightened in his hair, tugging urgently, and a breathy "Oh," encouraged him to repeat the actions - with similar results. Using his mouth to continue driving the other teen to distraction, Seto maneuvered his way to the button of Joey's jeans. He effortlessly unfastened it one-handed, and gave an expert tug at the zipper. Slipping his hand down inside the opening and under the waistband of Joey' s boxers, Seto murmured huskily into the blond's chest, "I've been thinking about this all day long..."
Joey was about to mumble a suitably preoccupied response when the brunet's words struck home. His eyes flew open and he gazed down just in time to see one well-manicured hand disappearing inside his underwear. He jerked his own hands out of Seto's hair and frantically scrambled along the wall, extricating himself from the busily questing hands and mouth. Taken by surprise, Seto fell backwards to land on his rump, panting heavily and glaring at the blond from under a brow darkened with confusion. Joey heaved in great lungfuls of air himself, shrinking back against the wall as though he were anticipating the other boy to pounce at any second. When Seto actually did make a move toward him, Joey yelped and skittered nervously around the corner.
"What is your PROBLEM, Wheeler?!"
Joey hurriedly zipped up his pants and yanked his shirt back into place before answering, "YOU'RE my problem! What the HELL was that all about?"
Seto dredged up his trademark smirk. "I would think that it was rather obvious. Even for someone as dense as you."
"Dammit Kaiba! You know what I mean! One minute we're fightin' like always, and the next you're all up in my Kool-Aid!" Joey crossed his arms and glared at the CEO. "What exactly are you playin' at here?"
Seto stood back up, brushing at his pants and surreptitiously adjusting his slight... problem. He was beginning to feel like he'd had an erection for YEARS now. "I think it's safe to say, that for some unfathomable reason, I find myself physically attracted to you." He studied his hands intently. Damn. He'd been THIS close... He snapped his head back up to pin the blond with a piercing stare."And judging by your enthusiastic reactions, I'd say the attraction is mutual." Kaiba's aggravating smirk just wouldn't quit. "You may be a complete idiot, but at least I can't fault you for your taste."
"Who are YOU kiddin', you big jerk? You're the one who jumped ME!" Joey turned his nose up in the air. "Anyway, I was SO not into it."
"Oh really? Would you like to explain to me why you're still hard, then?" Seto glared pointedly at the other teen's crotch. There was noticeable activity going on in there and the faded, snug-fitting jeans did virtually nothing to hide it. "Why don't you just admit it? I may have taken you by surprise, but you were all over me like white on rice, Wheeler."
Joey visibly reddened, but refused to accede the point. "Don't flatter yourself! Besides, I like GIRLS!"
"Oh please. Have you ever even KISSED a girl?"
"Sure I have!"
Seto quirked an eyebrow. "When?"
"In second grade, I kissed Jenny Simpson in the lunch line!" The smaller boy pondered his own statement for a moment. "She, uh, smacked me in the face with her tray." He grinned sheepishly. "Maybe not the best example... but I'm NOT gay!"
"OK then. I'll play along." Seto crossed his arms and seated himself on the couch. "If you're not the least bit attracted to me, answer me this. Why did you react the way you did? YOU allowed me to kiss you. YOU kissed me back. YOU could have gotten away at any time. Why didn't you?"
Joey toed the worn carpet and fished desperately for an answer that would let him come out of this situation unscathed. "It's just that, well...you were doin' those things, and they felt REALLY good, and uh...shit Kaiba, you're a good-lookin' guy, you know? With a GREAT body - not that I've ever really thought of you THAT way - not really." He was truly starting to sweat now while Kaiba, if it were genuinely possible, looked even more smug. "Oh sure, I've NOTICED you before. Completely innocent of course - just in passin' like in the locker room or uh, gym. But that doesn't mean..." Joey had a sudden mental image of himself standing at the bottom of a freshly dug hole, shovel in hand, peering up at a self-satisfied Kaiba perched on the edge. He exhaled noisily. "So OK, FINE! There's some weird chemistry there." He pointed an accusing finger at the brunet. "But I'll have you know I flunked chemistry! TWICE!" Seto remained oddly silent throughout this, and Joey tentatively crossed the room to seat himself beside the other teen. "What are we supposed to do about this?" He ran a hand through his untidy blond locks. "I don't even like you very much, you know."
"This may have escaped your notice Mutt, but I'm not all that fond of you either." Seto's face transformed itself into a mocking grin. "Just admitting to finding you desirable has been difficult, to say the least."
Joey leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees, head in hand. He wearily rubbed his forehead. "I dunno. I suppose it wouldn't hurt for us to try to get to know each other better. Maybe if we found some things we have in common, it would make this easier to deal with?" He shrugged. "It could be worth a shot."
Seto nodded absently and brought a hand up to his hair in a self-conscious gesture. He encountered the sticky mess on top of his head and grumbled, "I don't suppose your Boy Scout manual says anything about removing tree sap?"
"Nah, but I already know the best thing for that." The brunet looked at him expectantly, and Joey smiled broadly before answering. "Peanut butter."
"You're joking!"
The smile grew wider. "I happen to know first hand just how well it works."
Seto seemed hopeful. "So you've tried it yourself then?"
"Nope. But, I've helped Yugi get it out of his own hair lots of times. That big 'do of his has a tendency to get caught in low-hangin' tree branches." He grinned fondly in remembrance. "You got lucky. Pine sap is the WORST."
"How did you - ?"
It was Joey's turn to smirk. "Oh, I've done this PLENTY of times. I can TELL."
Not ten minutes later, a dubious Seto Kaiba found himself reclined in an uncomfortable chair, head in the Wheeler's kitchen sink. He was having some difficulty accepting the fact that not only was he ALLOWING the mutt to smear peanut butter in his hair, he was also taking the blond's word that it would actually WORK. Such a strange turn of events in an infinitely stranger day, but he realized he was starting to enjoy himself a bit. The normally clumsy hands felt soothing on his scalp, and he had to admit that the view was rather nice from his prone position. He felt a bit like Alice after stepping through the looking glass, and smiled to himself at the mental image of Joey with an "Eat Me" sign around his neck. Oh yes, he was definitely cracking up at this point. Stranger still, the thought didn't bring much distress along with it. He relaxed further and listened with morbid curiosity as the other boy made hesitant attempts at small talk.
"So Kaiba, what would you like to talk about first? Since we're gettin' to know each other and all...?"
"Let's talk about getting naked."
Joey rolled his eyes and gave the gooey, chestnut hair a sharp yank. Kaiba winced, but continued to leer up at him. "Quit bein' a perv; I'm tryin' to be serious here." He scooped more peanut butter into his palm and massaged it into the stubborn globs of tree sap gluing the soft tresses together. "OK then, I'll start. My favorite color's green. What's yours?"
"Black."
"Now we're gettin' somewhere!" Joey rinsed his hands in the other side of the sink, then dried them off on a towel. "And for your information, black is a SHADE, not a color. I learned that in art, which is my all-time favourite school subject." He turned on the faucet, carefully adjusting the water temperature. "That would be your cue to share, Moneybags."
Seto grunted. "High school is pointless. I'm intellectually superior to everyone there, including the teachers."
Joey gave a long-suffering sigh as he sprayed the taller boy's hair with warm water, dislodging clumps of sap and peanut butter alike. "Alright, maybe we should try something a little more personal." He reached for the bottle of shampoo he'd set close at hand, and scrunched his face in concentration. As he lathered, he blurted out, "Your parents. What were they like?"
Seto was briefly floored by the question. No one outside of Mokuba and an obviously disinterested state psychologist had ever asked him that question. Why would the mutt ask him this? What was he up to? He gave a rote answer that he hoped would lead to the subject being dropped. "They were like everyone else's parents I suppose." He waved his hand, dismissing the question's validity. "They were kind, loving, et cetera..."
Joey wasn't falling for such an obvious cop out. "Don't bullshit me. I'm asking because I wanna know. What were they REALLY like?"
Unbidden, an image of his mother arose in Seto's mind. A memory surfaced in crystal clarity, and he tried desperately to will it away. Seto's grade school teachers, in awe of his genius and constantly taking false pride in his accomplishments, had let the young boy run amok at school, bereft of even the most basic discipline. After receiving yet another tearful call from a classmate's parents, his mother had had enough of her son's domineering tendencies and called a conference with Seto's school principal. He remembered shrinking fearfully in his chair, alarmed at his mother's tirade and her insistence that the prinicipal "do something" to curtail her son's out of control behaviour while he was away at school. When she had sufficiently browbeat the poor academic behind the desk, she had turned her wrath on Seto. She informed him, in no uncertain terms, that his egotistical machinations had come to an end, and he would apologize in person AND in writing to each and every student he had bullied and/or manipulated. In later years, he had found it ironic that Gozaburo himself had encouraged and nurtured these same destructive tendencies. During all of this, his mother's love and concern for him had shown through despite her harsh words, and even at that tender age he was smart enough to realize she only had his best interests at heart.
His intuition had proven him correct, as usual, when she had taken the chastised boy aside later and informed him, "Seto, you're a brilliant, special young man. I don't want you to EVER doubt your self worth or the fact that you will go far in life." She paused, levelling a steady gaze at her contrite son. "But you must always remember, other people have feelings the same as you. Being smart doesn't give you the right to treat them as less than they are. You're bigger than that, and most importantly, you have a kind heart. You should try harder to demonstrate that."
Seto recalled feeling vaguely patronized; he knew his own intellect far outshone his mother's, but that didn't prevent him from worshipping the very ground she walked on. She had taken him for ice cream afterwards, and he had always regarded that day as an early turning point in his life. One of many, and unfortunately not one that had stood the test of time. He felt faintly ashamed, wondering what his mother would say about him were she to see him today. His mind shied away from this uncomfortable line of thought.
He came back to himself and observed the blond still waiting patiently for an answer. Looking up into Joey's warm brown eyes, he perceived nothing but guileless curosity and genuine concern. Finally he spoke, more truthfully this time. "They really WERE kind and very loving. They also didn't care how smart I was; they treated me the same as any other boy my age, even when I'd disappointed them." He gave a wry half-smile. "Which I did frequently."
Joey nodded as he busied himself rinsing shampoo lather out of Seto's hair. In a soft voice he asked, "What happened to them?"
Seto had expected this follow-up question, but he still paused a moment before answering, "Mom died giving birth to Mokuba and my father died in an automobile accident three years later." He continued without prompting. "After that, we went to the state orphanage for a while before ending up with Gozaburo Kaiba." He gave another one of his self-mocking grins, this one considerably darker than before. "Which was all my doing, of course." He visibly shuddered before regaining control of his emotions. "But you already know all of this, thanks to Noa."
"I'll bet it was hard for you, havin' to keep Mokuba safe and be strong for him durin' all of that." Joey warmed to his subject, his concern evident in his words. "Noa didn't care one way or another if the whole world was witness to all your secrets, he just wanted his revenge no matter who got hurt." He absently toweled the CEO's hair dry. "I know I wouldn't have been able to stay so strong, be so focused and determined..."
Seto disagreed with this last statement vehemently, somewhat bewildered by his own violent reaction to the other boy's words. "Don't be dense, Mutt. I've seen you do it a number of times. You're one of the strongest people I've ever met."
Tension descended between the two teens, and Joey broke its hold by forcing a laugh. "What a fucked-up pair we make, huh Kaiba? You had two wonderful parents who died and I'm stuck with two live and healthy ones who couldn't give a shit about me." He shook his head ruefully. "I'd say the massive amount of baggage we have between the two of us might be the only thing we actually have in common." He gestured toward a framed photo of Serenity in the adjacent hallway. "That and the fact that our siblings are the closest thing we each have to a REAL family. I only wish I had my sister with me like you have Mokuba. I'd give just about anything for that..." He trailed off, thinking he may have said too much.
Seto appeared introspective for a moment as he sat back up. "I will say one thing about you, Wheeler. You have far more insight than I would have ever given you credit for."
"Thanks, Kaiba." Before he could stop and talk himself out of it, Joey leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to the other boy's lips. He recovered his wits and asked in all seriousness, "Now what?"
Seto smiled - the first genuine, warm smile the blond had ever seen from his rival. "I have an idea." Powerful heads of state and industry giants alike had trembled at these selfsame words when spoken by Seto Kaiba. Joey Wheeler just smiled back.
~~~~~~~~~~*****~~~~~~~~~~
tbc
NOTES:
< br> It's that time again! Time to pay homage to all of you who took the time to whisper sweet nothings in my ear. Well, figuratively speaking of course.
Beysie - I hope you're still with me! I apologize for the not-lemon. I realize that was evil of me, but it's what I do. I should also probably apologize for making you nearly pee your pants, but I'm too tickled that I made you laugh that hard. It's quite a compliment. Don't worry about poor Seto's, uh...problem. He'll get it taken care of. One way or another. This IS the next to last chapter after all! **evil grin**
bookwormloverjen - Nice to see you back again, and spanks for the review! Damnit, I LURVE Gobstoppers, but I'm on freakin' diet! **grumbles** Well, maybe just one wouldn't hurt...
Bluelilly1928 - I'm glad I could bring the funny. If it made you laugh, then I guess I did my job. Hope you enjoy chapter 6, and as always, I appreciate you taking the time to review!
cas - I know you've moved on to stalking my LJ, but if you're still here with me on mm.org, then I'll just say thanks again! **waves**
A little tidbit here - "Spring" is a wrap, and I'll be posting the final chapter and epilogue later this week. Thanks again to all my reviewers and readers, you've really kept my spirits up and inspired me to finish my VERY FIRST FIC EVER! It's a big milestone, and I'll be doing the happy dance about it for some time to come. Special announcement next chapter regarding the future of Seto and Joey in my little universe.
Peace,
CJ
05/01/05
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