Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Broken Hearts ❯ Hangover confessions ( Chapter 11 )

Broken Hearts
Chapter 11: Hangover Confessions
Anubis_himura

**

“Marco!” Joey yelled, his eyes shut tight as he waded through the water.

“Polo.” Tea’s voice softly whispered.

“Marco?” He repeated, feeling as though he were getting closer to someone.

“Polo!” Tristan yelled from somewhere behind him.

Joey turned quickly and heard splashing water. “You can’t get out of the pool Trist.”

“I’m in the pool.” Tristan smiled and ran around the outside of the pool, waiting for an opportune time to jump back in.

“Marco.” Joey said again, ignoring Tristan.

“Polo.” Yugi said, but he was sitting on the edge of the pool with Tristan.

“You guys.” Tea whispered urgently. She was the only one in the pool.

“Marco.” Joey smiled when he heard a girlish squeal, as he made contact with Tea’s arm. “Sorry Tea.” He opened his eyes and Tea glared at the two boys sitting at the edge of the pool.

“What? Our feet are in the water.” Tristan smirked.

“So technically, we’re not out of the pool.” Yugi added.

“Whatever. I’m it.” Tea said closing her eyes. “Marco.”

**

“What is that ruckus?” Seto asked as he looked over his word document.

“What ruckus sir?” Seth asked, trying to cover for Joey and his friends as long as possible.

“The ruckus coming from the pool room.” He looked up, giving Seth his full attention. “Is someone slaking off on their work?” he asked, assuming the noise was made from one of his employees.

“No Sir. I don’t believe so.” He said, trying to back away from Seto.

“Is it Joey?” he asked, anger flaring up inside him. “And his little friends?”

**

“Marco!” Joey tried again, somehow he had wound up being “it” again. He waited for a response. “Guys come on… marco.”

“Polo.” A stern, very unhappy voice echoed. Joey gulped in fear as he realized who the owner of that voice was. He opened his eyes and saw none other than Seto Kaiba standing at the edge of the pool. “You. Out. Now.” He ordered. “You.” He pointed to everyone else. “Leave. Now.” Everyone did as they were told.

“So what are you my father now?” Joey mumbled as he walked passed Kaiba.

“Listen to me Jounouchi!” Kaiba spat as he grabbed Joey’s arm, forcing Joey to turn about and look at him. “You live with me. You listen to me. Do I make myself clear?”

“Fine.” Joey wrestled his hand from Kaiba’s grip. “Then I guess I don’t live here.”
**

“I screwed up.” Kaiba sat in his reclining chair, staring out the third story window. “He’s gone. All gone.” Kaiba threw down the bottle he had been drinking out of, and the remaining alcohol poured over the plush white carpet. Luckily he had been drinking straight up vodka, and it wouldn’t leave a stain.

“Sir, I think sleep is best. Joey will come back.” Seth tried to comfort Kaiba but it was ineffective, Kaiba was three sheets to the wind, and in need of serious therapy. No one would be talking to him tonight.

“Why did I say it Seth? Why was I so brash. So cold? So…”

“Yourself?” Seth let it slip before he thought. “I didn’t mean it Sir.”

“No… you’re right. I am always like that. Why am I always like that?” Kaiba stood up, walking around the spare room. “Look at me? This room doesn’t even house a point. I live in this gigantic mansion, with only my little brother and maids. Why do I stay here? Why did I invite that mongrel to live here in the first place?”

“You know what happens to him at home Sir.” Seth realized he could talk freely to Kaiba in this state (anything he said would be forgotten by the CEO by morning).

“Yet it was more than that. I didn’t invite him to live here purely because I thought he needed a home where abuse was nonexistent. No… I invited him here because… I love him.” Kaiba sulked out of the door, he was headed uneasily to the front door. “I need to get him back Seth.” He said, his words surprisingly clear despite his inebriated state. “I’ve got to get him.”

“Wait till you’re sober Sir. A drunken impression will only turn him away. His father drinks. Think of it, he will associate you with that, which he doesn’t like.”

“I need to tell him I love him,” Seto gulped in air, as though he couldn’t breathe properly. “I need to tell him now, before I sober up and get scared again.” Seth tried not to laugh, he watched as his boss passed out in the hallway.

Joey walked inside. He had just needed a walk. He knew he would never go back to his father’s house, no matter how bad things got at Kaiba’s. Sexual and physical abuse was much worse than emotional belittling. He saw Kaiba lying in the hallway and ran up to him.

“Kaiba!” He yelled, kneeling beside the CEO. He looked much less intimidating in this state, he looked… human. Not like the God Joey had built up. “Kaiba answer me!” he ordered. He could smell vodka all over Kaiba, it didn’t bother him though. Sure, it upset him that Kaiba thought he needed to drown himself to feel better; but it wasn’t anger like with his father. It was general concern. Kaiba opened his eyes and blinked a few times.

“I was scared.” He said, closing his eyes again.

“Of what?”

“Scared that you would never come back to me.” Kaiba passed out after that. Joey smiled.

“Seth,” Joey called.

“Yes sir.” He appeared and waited for instructions.

“Will you help me bring him to his room?”

“Your room is closer Sir.”

“Okay.”

~ Kaiba blinked as the sun harshly hit him. His head was throbbing, and as the sun hit it, the pounding started. He opened his eyes long enough to notice a figure sitting on the bed with him. He felt the silk of the covers on top of him, and realized he wasn’t wearing a shirt. He wondered what had happened the night before, but he had blacked out entirely.

“I thought you were dead.” Joey said, standing up.

“Why are you yelling?” Kaiba asked, groaning at the volume.

“I’m not. You have a hangover.” Joey said patiently.

“Why am I undressed?”

“Your shirt is off because you smelled, and you were sweating so I thought you were hot.” Joey felt himself blush a little at the memory of removing Kaiba’s shirt, so delicately. He shook the thought away.

“You took care of me?” Kaiba asked, parting his eyes enough to see a shaky nod from Joey. “Why? After all I did… and said… why do you care?”

“I guess it’s because… I care, I dunno. Why do you care why I care? At least I do. That’s more than I can say for you.”

“You’re getting defensive, which means you have something to hide.”

“How do you have energy to argue with me right now?”

“I don’t. But an argument with you is better than no conversation at all.”

“I agree.” Kaiba looked at Joey intensely and Joey looked back. “All I’m hiding from Kaiba is rejection. I want you to appreciate my presence, and I dunno, maybe even care.”

“I do care Joey. Why do you think I asked you here? It wasn’t for a tax right off. It was because I wanted you near me. Because I wanted to make sure I could see you every day, whenever I got up the courage. I wanted to see you Joey. I wanted to be with you. How could you not see it!”

Joey felt tears stinging his eyes. “Do you know how long I have loved you Kaiba? Since that first day I saw you, and you pushed me out of your way.” Joey laughed at the memory. “I didn’t even know then really what was going on in my head. I just knew that I felt differently about you than anyone else. Then, as years went on and your taunts became less bearable, I moved on. I found love in my friends, and in Tristan. I gave up on you Kaiba. And just when life wasn’t so shitty, you pop up again, asking me to live with you, and then treating me like crap at a close distance. Then we work together on a project for a little while, and it almost feels like we’re friends. Then the walls go back up and here we are. So you know what Kaiba? Fuck it all. Do you love me or not?”

“Yes.” Kaiba didn’t hesitate. He knew in his heart this was not the time for doubt. His head was pounding, his stomach was flip-flopping and his heart felt like it was breaking with every word Joey spoke. “I love you Joey. I have for some time. I’m afraid.” He had never spoken such vulnerable words. “I can’t doubt it any longer. I can’t lie to you any more. So there it is. I love you Joey.”

“I love you too Kaiba.” Joey sniffed back his tears, “But you’re too late. I’m with Tristan, and I can’t betray him. I won’t.”

“You are far nobler than I am.” Kaiba felt his heart crumble, but he remained strong. “I’m going back to sleep.” He announced, rolling over and closing his eyes.

“I’ll leave you alone then.” Joey walked out, closing the door very quietly. The least he could do was try to be Kaiba’s friend. It would be awkward now… but when wasn’t it awkward?

~*~ That’s it for now… but I’m back! I can only promise updates at the whim of my professors. When my social life isn’t in the way, and when my professors aren’t being sadistic I’m writing full force I assure you. But that doesn’t mean anything if I don’t get a chance to post… so bear with me (as you’ve been so lovely about doing thank you so much!!) and this fic will be finished up in no time! Thank you so much for your love!!- always
Anubis

Ps for all the times I spelled Jounouchi wrong… my bad ^.^ lol