Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Common Ground ❯ Chapter 4

Seto awoke to a string of profanities and grunts. He lifted his head to find Joey taking wobbly steps away from the bed.

"Joey Wheeler! What are you doing up? You shouldn't be walking around."

Joey made a yelp of surprise from the yell and looked back over his shoulder. "I have ta take a leak and I didn't think ya wanted me ta piss all over yer bed."

The brunette climbed out of bed quickly and helped support Joey as they went into the bathroom. Seto was still holding him up as they stood in front of the toilet.

The blonde's cheeks grew pink. "Uh, I don't think I need yer help for da next part."

Seto cleared his throat and carefully let go of Joey before he turned away politely and waited. It did not matter where he turned though, he could still see the shorter teen in the many mirrors in his bathroom. He tried his best not to watch, though.

The sound of urine hitting the water rose through the air and Joey sighed heavily in relief. The CEO was amazed how long he was standing there. He glanced over into the mirror a few times to make sure he was not imagining, but saw the look of blissful relief upon Joey's face.

An eternity later, there was silence then the soft shuffling of clothing before Joey flushed the toilet and washed his hands in the sink. Seto once again helped him back into bed.

"We should find a better way so you won't have to get up to use the bathroom."

"Don't ya even suggest that fuckin' catheter again. You see how much you like havin' a stick jammed up yer dick.. I'll be fine. I gotta start walkin' around anyway or I'm gonna end up with bed sores on my ass."

The brunette smirked slightly. "We could always put some paper down in the corner, puppy."

"Keep it up and I will piss in your bed next time."

"That will be the first and last time you do before I put you in diapers, Joey."

Joey's jaw dropped, "Okay, getting off da subject now... Why didn't ya tell me I looked like a walkin' zombie?"

"You look better than you did a few days ago. The bruises are starting to fade."

The blonde gingerly touched his head where it was stitched. "Ya didn't tell me I had a bald spot."

Seto sat back on the bed. "It'll grow back. Just leave it alone. All your stitches should be out soon. How are the other ones doing?"

Joey quirked his head. "Ya know, I forgot ta look. I don't even know where they are."

The shorter teen looked down at his slightly bruised stomach as he searched himself. When he could not find anything there, he carefully pulled back the waistband of his boxers and peered inside.

"Found it. That's gonna leave a scar for sure."

To Seto's disbelief, Joey pulled the side of his boxers down to show his sewn incision. There was a two-inch cut running diagonally across his lower abdomen and towards his groin. In the process of showing his mark, Seto managed to spy a few blonde curls of Joey's pubic hair.

"Alright, Joey. I believe you. Just pull your pants up," he flustered.

The blonde secured his boxers again and chuckled.

"What's da matter? Squeamish?"

"Yes," Seto replied a bit too quickly in his lie.

Joey got himself propped up and relaxed as he leaned back. "So, did ya tell everybody about what happened? They seemed ta take it well."

Seto propped himself up as well as he felt his exhaustion returning slowly. "No. I only told them that you had been in.. an altercation with your father and that you were in a coma. I thought that you would want to tell them yourself when you felt it was the right time.. I didn't tell Mokuba either. I'm too afraid that it will make him remember when we were young."

"Thanks fer waitin'. I guess I'll tell them eventually. But ya might want ta talk ta Mokuba. Ya can't protect him forever and it's best he know so he can protect himself.. In fact.. I think we should both talk ta him. He loves ya after all. And it might help us all ta heal a little, ya know?"

"I'll think about it, Joey."

The blonde stared at his lap quietly and fidgeted with the sheets. "... So, uh.. What happened ta.. my dad?"

Seto took a deep breath. "I'm not sure exactly. I didn't ask my bodyguards the details, but I can assure you that you will never have to worry about him again. This promise will be one that I'll be sure to keep."

"So he's really gone.. Ya know.. It's weird in a way. I sorta miss him since he was my ol' man an' all, but everything else in me is glad he's gone.."

The two sat in thoughtful silence before Joey spoke up once more.

".. Seto? Can I ask ya somethin'?"

"What is it, Joey?"

"I want ya ta bulldoze my house down.. I want it gone.. I want something good ta be put in its place. There's too many bad memories in there for me.. I want something better ta come outta that place ta make up for what I had ta go through. Like a safe house or something for abused kids an' teens.."

A soft smile came to Seto's face. "I'm quite touched. That's a very noble thing for you to do, Joey. And I think that it's a wonderful idea."

Joey sniffled softly and wiped at the small tears that had formed in his eyes. "Maybe it'll help kids like us an' give 'em a place ta go when they need ta get away.. I know I would have gone ta it."

The brunette placed his hand on Joey's shoulder. "It's over now."

The shorter let out a long breath as he started to cry. "It still hurts.."

Seto was surprised when Joey wrapped his arms around him and rested his disheveled head upon his clothed shoulder. He let the teen cry and very softly held him while he absently stroked Joey's blonde hair comfortingly.

Azure eyes closed. "It still hurts for me too, Joey.. But I think we'll get through this together."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Talking with Mokuba was harder than Seto thought. Even though he couldn't remember much, he still recalled how their adoptive father had beaten his older brother and had taken blows just to protect the young child.

Joey and Seto had tried to make everything as comfortable as possible when they finally spoke with the boy. He sat on the bed between the two and listened with tearful eyes. The blonde went first and by the time he had finished, Mokuba was curled up in his brother's lap and sobbing into his chest.

Gathering his strength, the taller teen then confessed everything that he had kept from his baby brother while they were growing up. The raven-haired boy looked up pitifully into Seto's bright blue eyes.

"Oh, Seto!.. Why didn't you tell me?.. I'm so sorry, big brother!" he wailed as he wrapped his arms around the brunette's neck.

Seto held his precious little brother tightly and felt some tears escaping his own eyes. "It wasn't your fault, Mokie.. I just didn't want you to be hurt like me.. I would never let that happen to you."

Joey rubbed Mokuba's back softly. "Hey.. Don't be sad, kiddo.. We're okay now. And me an' yer brother are gonna get some help so we get better. We'll be just fine.. Okay?"

Mokuba sniffled hard and rubbed at his teary eyes, but gave a little nod. He stayed with the two until he had cried himself into an exhausted sleep and Seto carefully tucked him into the bed between them.

"It would be best for him to be near one of us. I can go sleep somewhere else," he said softly so as not to awaken his brother.

"Hey, don't go. He'll be upset if one of us is gone when he wakes up. Just stay in here with us."

The taller nodded softly. ".. Joey? What did you mean when you told Mokuba that we were going to get some help?"

"I think we both should talk ta someone. Ya could have a shrink come in so we could get on with our lives an' put our past behind us at last.. It'd make me feel better at least."

"Alright. I'll contact someone. But I think we should wait until you're healed first."

"Deal. Now let's get some sleep. It's late."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was a few more days before Joey insisted he felt well enough to walk around again. He still had a few tender spots, but he was feeling like his old self again. Especially after a visit from Serenity. Soon after that, his stitches were removed and he proudly showed off his 'battle scars' to Mokuba in order to gross him out.

He and Seto began seeing a private psychiatrist to help them deal with the painful memories of their abuse. Things were really starting to turn around for them.

It was a while before Joey could finally face his friends and tell them the truth, but they all offered their support in any way they could.

He could not help but notice Yugi seemed as distraught as Mokuba had been. Yami held his hikari in his lap and tried to comfort him. Joey ruffled his diminutive friend's spiky hair.

"Hey, don't worry, Yug. I'm still here after all. You don't have ta cry more tears over me. I'm doin' good now."

"Joey's going to be okay, aibou. You needn't worry yourself so," Yami said soothingly.

Yugi nodded slightly, still sniffling, and the dark spirit kissed him tenderly upon the lips.

Joey blinked at the display, but realized that it was not surprising the two had apparently gotten together. They were soul mates after all. No one else seemed that surprised either. Joey found out later that all three yamis had developed relationships with their hikaris.

The blonde grinned before Yugi turned to look up with a bright blush.

".. Uh.. I guess you found out about Yami and me," the youth said sheepishly.

"Don't worry about it, Yug. I'm just glad that ya found someone. Ya two are a cute couple."

Yugi smiled. "Thanks, Joey."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was almost three weeks to date that Joey's house was scheduled to be torn down. He stood behind the safety barricade beside Seto and watched as the wrecking ball slammed through the walls.

Once there was nothing but a pile of rubble, the blonde breathed a heavy sigh of relief. He could almost feel the inner demons being set free from his soul.

Seto put his hand on Joey's shoulder gently and the shorter teen wiped his eyes.
"Now it's over.. But just until da new beginnin'."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

With a large amount of persuading from Joey, the CEO found himself where he had vowed never to go again: the third floor. He could feel the nervous sweat upon his brow as he stood in the hallway.

"Just go slow. I'm right here with ya."

"I can't do this, Wheeler.."

"We're not goin' anywhere, we're just standin' in da hall. Now, I just want ta ask ya.. What do ya want me ta do ta help ya like ya did fer me?"

"I want to get rid of everything. I don't want anything left that reminds me of him."

"Okay. You want me ta sell it? Burn it? Let Marik and Bakura at it?"

Seto wiped his hands upon his pants nervously. "I don't care, I just want it gone."

"I'll give Bakura and Marik a call then. They'll have a field day with this.. But I'll make sure they don't burn down da house for ya, okay? And after everything's gone, how about we do some remodelin'?"

"What do have in mind, Wheeler? I hope you have some sort of idea."

Joey nodded and took Seto by the hand to give it a squeeze. ".. Ew, yer hand is all clammy!"

The brunette flustered and jerked his hand away as his face became tinted pink. "That's enough! I'm going back downstairs.." And left in a flash.

The shorter teen called after him, "Hey, Seto! How about we build a 24 hour pizza place up here?"