Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Dead End Street ❯ chapter7 ( Chapter 11 )

Dead End Street

by Dragondreamer and Yami Dragon

Disclaimer: We don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! DUH! If we did, the show wouldn't be fit for kids, that's for sure!

Warning: This story contains shouenen-ai (guy/guy relationships) and yaoi (guys having sex with guys). It also contains coarse language and violence. If you don't like it, or become offended by such things, what are you doing here? Haven't you figured out by now that all our writing contains this stuff?

Note: /…/ Tristan's thoughts

[…] Seto's thoughts

~*~*~*~*~

YD: Here we learn what a dick Tristan's father really is.

Tris: Oh, joy.

DD: And Tony and Max are plotting again.

Joey: Tell me I'm safe.

YD: Ppfftt.

DD: You know better than to ask questions like that, Joey.

~*~*~*~*~

Seto pulled Tristan close to him, gently kissing his face. "I don't like leaving you alone today, baby."

"I'll be fine, amante." Tristan replied. "Mokuba and I are just going to shoot some hoops and then we're going to take Kendra shopping. Maybe buy a crib or something."

"I just wish I had been able to reschedule this meeting."

"I'm fine."

"I know. It's just that today is…" Seto trailed off.

"I know what today is, Seto." Tristan replied tersely, moving away.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean…"

"Look…just go to work." Tristan leaned in and kissed Seto briefly. "I'll be fine."

Seto looked into Tristan's eyes, seeing the fear there. What had happened to Joey last night had really scared him. Especially considering that the blond had insisted on going to work that morning. Bakura had accompanied him, intending to keep an eye on his lover.

"I love you." He said quietly.

"L'amo anche(I love you too), amante." Tristan put his arms around his husband and hugged him hard. "Go on."

"I'm going to call John and ask him to go with you when you guys go shopping."

"Okay." Tristan nodded.

Seto reluctantly released Tristan and turned to the door, looking back at his husband one more time before leaving.

Tristan stood, watching him go. As soon as the door shut, his shoulders slumped and he turned, heading back up the stairs. He wanted nothing more than to crawl back into bed and wait for the day to end. To wait for Seto to come home again.

He couldn't though. Mokuba was home and he felt a responsibility to keep a good face on for the boy.

"Tristan!" Mokuba came running up the hall. "Ready to go play?"

"Sure, little guy." Tristan pulled out a smile from somewhere and put it on.

Mokuba, however, wasn't fooled. He reached out and took Tristan's hand. "You okay?"

"I'm okay. Let's go."

Mokuba bit his lip, looking up at the brunet. "Umm…are we going shopping later?"

"If Kendra wants to."

"She said something about needing a new pair of shorts."

On their way outside, Tristan stopped a maid and asked her to find Kendra and let her know to come get them when she was ready to leave.

He led Mokuba out to the basketball court behind the garage, intending to lose himself for a while in the younger Kaiba's exuberance.

~*~*~*~*~

An hour later they came back inside, wondering why Kendra hadn't come looking for them.

Entering the foyer, the butler came up to them.

"Excuse me, Master Tristan?"

"Yeah?"

"I apologize, but…your father is here."

Tristan's eyes widened. "My father?!" /He's supposed to be in Singapore!/

"I didn't know what you wanted so…I put him in your den. Shall I tell him you cannot see him?"

"I…" Tristan looked down at Mokuba. "Go get Kendra and wait for me, Mokuba. I won't be long."

"But, Tristan…"

"Don't argue." Tristan said sternly. "Go."

"Okay." Mokuba ran up the stairs, knowing it would do no good to argue.

Tristan watched him go up the stairs and then turned to the butler. "Did he say what he wanted?"

"No, sir."

Tristan nodded and began to climb the stairs. They seemed to stretch out into infinity ahead of him.

/What does he want? Why would he cut short his trip? Unless…Mom must have told him Seto and I got married. Why do I have the feeling this is going to turn ugly? Gods, I wish Seto was here. I don't know if I'm strong enough for this./

~*~*~*~*~

"Brad," Tony let his head sink into his hands, the tears flowing. "Sono cosí spiacente. Lo prometto prenderò la vendetta. Per favore, il mio amore, me perdona." (I'm so sorry. I promise you I'll get revenge. Please, my love, forgive me.)

Pegasus stood, leaning against the doorframe, watching his lover.

"Brad…ti amo. Sono spiacente…sono spiacente." (Brad…I love you. I'm sorry…I'm sorry…)

The silver haired man went to Tony, kneeling in front of him. "Shh, my love. It's alright."

"Max…" Tony reached for him.

"I promise you," Pegasus took the younger man into his arms, stroking his hair. "You WILL have your revenge."

"Where do we go from here?" Tony asked, burrowing into Pegasus' shoulder.

"There is one other I know he cares deeply for. But it could take some time for my plan to come to fruition. We shouldn't strike again soon. We want them to be lulled into a false sense of security."

"It hurts, Max. It hurts that he's lying in a cold grave…murdered by that bastard. He was so good. So loving."

Pegasus cooed sympathetically, gathering Tony closer. "I would never ask that you forget him, but please, I care for you, Tony. You have to trust me."

"Mi curo di lei anche. Significa un lotto. .. tutto lei fanno per me." (I care for you too. It means a lot...everything you are doing for me.)

Pegasus pulled back, wiping the tears from the other's face. "Come, my love. Dry your tears and I will tell you what I have planned."

Tony did as he was told, leaning into the older man as he sat beside him, listening intently to the plan Pegasus laid out.

"We only need to await the perfect opportunity." Pegasus concluded. "I will have Aaron follow our target and take action when it arises."

"Thank you." Tony whispered, brushing his lips against the other man's. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

"You'll never have to know." Pegasus replied, smiling.

~*~*~*~*~

Tristan stepped into the room, seeing his father standing at the windows, staring out into the yard.

"Hello, Dad." He greeted the man quietly. "I thought you were in Singapore."

Doug Taylor whirled around at the sound of his son's voice. "Tristan! You're mother told me! What the hell were you thinking?!"

"What are you talking about?" Though he had been expecting it, Tristan was taken aback by his father's venomous outburst.

"You're coming home with me right now."

"What?! Why would I do that?! THIS is my home!"

"No, Tristan, it's not." Doug approached the young man. "You're coming home with me…where you belong. I promise you I'll get you help."

"Help? Help for what?" Tristan was stunned. /Has he been drinking or something?!/

"This isn't right, son. What you've done has shamed our family. I will not allow it to continue."

Tristan rolled his eyes. "Dad, there's nothing you can do about it. I'm legally an adult…"

"I never signed those papers!"

"But Mom did. And there's nothing you can do about it. Seto's my husband. It's all legal."

"It was no legal marriage." Doug's hands clenched into fists.

"Yes, it was." Tristan said patiently, as though to a child. "I'll show you the marriage certificate if that's what it takes."

"Your brother would be ashamed."

"Don't you DARE drag Michael into this!" Tristan shouted, his temper flaring. "You bastard! Don't you dare try to make me feel guilty!"

"You're my son, Tristan!" Doug shouted back. "You ARE going to come home with me and start behaving like a normal person. I'll make you forget this perversion of a relationship you have with Seto Kaiba!"

"I will not!"

"You belong at home with your mother and me!"

"I belong with Seto! I love him and there's nothing you can do to change that!"

Doug growled, advancing on Tristan. Tristan froze as his father's hand came up and closed over his throat. A small whimper escaped him as he saw his father raise his other hand and he was backhanded across the face.

~*~*~*~*~

John came in through the front door, seeing Mokuba running across the top of the stairs, heading down the hall. He could hear the shouting even from where he was.

He ran up the staircase, catching up with the younger Kaiba and grabbing him by the arm just before they reached the source of the noise. "Mokuba! Wait!"

"John…it's Tristan!" Mokuba struggled in his grasp. "His father's in there with him. They're fighting."

"I'll take care of it. Stay here."

John bolted in through the open doorway just in time to see Tristan's father hit him. He quickly grabbed the man and hauled him off Tristan, who crumpled to the floor, his wide, terrified eyes locked on his father.

"Let go of me, you son of a bitch!" Doug raged. "Tristan! I swear..!"

John dragged him out of the room, seeing Kendra standing at the end of the hallway, her arms around Mokuba. "Stay there!"

He forced the infuriated man down over the stairs, meeting with the gate guards in the foyer. "Take this piece of shit and throw him out."

He shoved Tristan's father at them, leaving them to drag him kicking and yelling from the mansion.

He ran back up the stairs and to Tristan's den, finding the door shut and Mokuba and Kendra calling through it to Tristan. He gently pushed the boy and the pregnant woman aside and knocked on the door.

"Tristan?" He tried the doorknob, finding it locked. "Tristan, open the door."

There was no answer.

"Kendra," John turned to the young woman. "Call Master Kaiba. Mokuba, please go with her."

They ran to do his bidding and John turned back to the door, calling out to Tristan again…and again receiving no answer.

He placed a hand flat on the door, leaning his head against the wood, sadness overwhelming him. "Tristan…I'm sorry."

~*~*~*~*~

Seto burst through the door and up the stairs, his heart in his throat.

Kendra had called him, pulling him from his meeting, saying that something was wrong with Tristan. All she had been able to tell him was that his father had shown up and they had gotten into a raging fight. When John had come back from removing him from the mansion, Tristan had locked himself from his den.

He reached the section of the hallway outside the den door, seeing John standing with Kendra and Mokuba, still calling out to Tristan.

"Has he said anything?" Seto asked, out of breath.

"No." John shook his head.

Seto bit his lip. "Kennie…take Mokuba and go."

"But, big brother…"

"Mokuba," Seto turned to his brother, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Please, do as I say. I promise that as soon as I find out what's wrong, I'll tell you."

Big, grey eyes glistened with tears. "O-Okay."

Seto ruffled his hair, meeting Kendra's eyes. She looked back with perfect understanding and led Mokuba away.

As soon as they were gone, he turned to John. "Give me something to pick the lock with."

John immediately pulled a pen from his shirt pocket and snapped off the clip, handing it to Seto. Seto got down on his knees, slipping the small piece of steel into the lock. Concentrating, he quickly had the tumblers shifted and the lock clicked open.

Standing, he handed the clip to John. "I think I should go in alone."

John nodded. "I'll be right here if you need me."

Seto's eyes grew worried as he put a hand on the doorknob. He felt John's hand on his shoulder and he drew strength from it. He opened the door and stepped inside.

"Oh, shit." He whispered.

Tristan was sitting on the floor in the corner by the window, his legs drawn up and his arms wrapped around his knees. There was blood on his face and he was chewing on his lip, which was also bleeding, his eyes blank.

Seto approached warily and sank down in front of him. "Tristan?"

Tristan whimpered and tried to shrink back further into the corner. "Don't…"

"It's okay, baby." Seto reached out.

"No!" Tristan eyes snapped into focus. "Don't touch me!"

Seto let his hands drop. "Okay, love. I won't touch you."

Tristan's eyes slid out of focus once more and he started chewing on his lower lip again.

"Tristan…please…don't." Seto pleaded. "Come on, stay with me."

"Master Kaiba?" John was standing in the doorway.

Seto looked up. "John, get me a wet facecloth."

John left to quickly return, coming into the room and handing the required item to his employer and then hastily backing away.

"Tristan…Tristan, look at me." Seto waited until he had Tristan's attention. "Don't chew your lip. You're hurting yourself."

"Seto…he…he hit me."

"Shh…love, I need to wipe off your face, okay?"

"No!" Tristan flinched away as Seto held the cloth up. Tears welled up in the hazel eyes and spilled down his face, streaking the half dried blood. "Please…don't."

"Tristan, please…"

"I thought he was dead." Tristan whispered. "I saw him myself. I saw what Bakura did to him. How can he still be alive?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Brad. He…" Tristan shivered. "He was here. He…he hit me again."

"Tristan…baby…that wasn't Brad. That was your father."

Tristan looked confused. "Dad was here. He hit me. Then he was gone and Brad was here."

Seto clenched the wet facecloth in his fist. Tristan wasn't making any sense. First he said Brad hit him, and then he said it was his father. The blue eyed brunet looked up, meeting John's worried gaze.

"He's in shock." John said quietly.

Seto turned back to Tristan. "Baby, come on. Get up."

"He…Dad said I had to go home." Tristan looked up at Seto, his eyes pleading. "But I don't, right? Please, Seto…I want to stay here with you."

"No, love. You belong here with me. You don't have to leave." Seto carefully placed a hand on Tristan's knee. "But we need to get you cleaned up before Mokuba sees you. You don't want to upset him, do you?"

"Oh, gods. Mokuba didn't…see anything, did he?"

"No, he didn't." John answered.

Tristan looked up at the big man. "John? It was you, wasn't it? It was you that made him leave."

The bodyguard nodded. "I did. He's gone, Tristan."

"Thank you." Tristan said quietly. He grasped Seto's wrist, bringing the taller brunet's hand up until the washcloth touched his face. "It's…okay, amante."

Seto gently wiped the blood from Tristan's face, trying not to wince at the painful grip Tristan kept on his wrist. Tears filled Seto's eyes as he remembered another time when Tristan's face had been bloodied like this. He tried to fight them back, but they escaped, sliding silently down his face. At least this time Tristan was letting him touch him.

"I'm sorry, amante." Tristan reached up, tenderly wiping away the wet trails. "I'm sorry I lost it. I didn't mean to scare you."

Neither one noticed John's discreet departure from the room.

"I want you to call the police." Seto said, dropping the bloodstained facecloth to the floor. "We can't let him get away with this."

Tristan shook his head. "I can't. I don't want to do that to Mom."

"Tristan…"

"No. Seto, please. Just let it go."

"But he hit you!"

Tristan went silent, his lip trembling. He suddenly reached out and grabbed Seto, pulling him toward him. Seto wrapped his arms around his husband, holding him close. He kissed Tristan's swollen face, making soft, crooning noises and tenderly rubbing his back.

"It…it was just like Brad." Tristan's voice was husky as he tried to hold back another flood of tears. "He g-grabbed me by…by the throat. He hit me…in the face. Oh, gods! When John pulled him away, I didn't see Dad. It was Brad, Seto! It was Brad!"

"You had a flashback, love." Seto said. "It's only natural you would. What happened…the way he hit you was the same. You were scared. I'm not surprised." He pulled back and looked Tristan in the eye. "You know Brad wasn't here, right? You know it was just your dad?"

Tristan nodded, beginning to chew his lip again.

"Tristan, stop." Seto gripped Tristan by the shoulders. "Stop biting your lip like that."

"Sorry." Tristan mumbled, pressing himself against Seto.

"Come on." Seto pulled away again. "Up. I promised Mokuba that I'd talk to him as soon as I knew you were okay."

Seto stood, holding out his hand to Tristan. Tristan hesitated, wanting only to close the door and stay where he was. He didn't want to face anyone. He was plagued by a compulsion to hole up somewhere dark and quiet and be left alone.

Seto saw it and shook his head. "You can't. I won't let you, love. Not facing it isn't healthy. You have to deal with it."

"I know. It's just that…I don't know if I can."

"I'll be with you, Tristan. I promise." Seto told him. "Now take my hand."

Tristan reached up slowly. When Seto's fingers closed over his, warmth spread through his body, calming him. He let Seto pull him to his feet.

"Ti amo, amante." Tristan put his arms around the taller man.

Seto hugged him back, relieved to hear Tristan's tone returned to normal. "I love you too, baby."

~*~*~*~*~

"Did he sleep last night?" Kendra asked as she met Seto in the dining room.

"Barely." Seto sighed. "He had nightmares. He's sleeping now."

After managing to calm Tristan enough to get him to leave his den yesterday, Seto had tried to get him to continue his day normally. It hadn't worked.

Tristan had been jumpy, easily startled. He had been withdrawn too, even with Mokuba. And he had been clingy with Seto, either clutching his hand or pressed up against him.

Kendra went to Seto and put her arms around him. "He'll be okay, Seto. Just give him some time."

Seto buried his face in Kendra's hair, fighting back a feeling of helplessness. Suddenly, he felt something poke his stomach and he pulled back, eyes wide. "What..?"

Kendra laughed and took Seto's hand, placing it on her stomach. "He's not big on people getting too close to me."

Seto smiled as he felt the baby kick his hand. "That's so amazing, Kennie."

"What's amazing is how it can keep me up at night."

Mokuba came bouncing into the room and, seeing Seto with his hand on Kendra's stomach, immediately placed his next to his brother's. "Oh, wow! The baby's moving!"

Another hand was placed with theirs and Seto and Mokuba looked up.

"Tristan," Seto frowned. "I thought you were sleeping."

"I couldn't." Tristan rested his other hand against Kendra's stomach as the brothers removed theirs. "I woke up and you were gone."

"I have to go to the office." Seto looked worried.

"That's okay." Tristan shrugged. "I'm going to go down to the club."

"Are you sure you want to…"

"I have to." Tristan interrupted his husband. "The workers are starting today."

"Can I come too?" Mokuba piped up.

"Mokuba," Seto said. "I don't think it's a proper place for you to be."

"Awwwww! Come on, Seto!" Mokuba pouted. "It's not like I'm going to be able to go when it's open."

"I want to take him." Tristan said quietly, caressing Kendra's stomach, feeling the baby calm under his touch.

Seto looked at Tristan closely. He didn't seem quiet as on edge as he had last night. There was a little smile on his face as his hands stroked across Kendra's stomach. After yesterday, he seemed to be almost back to normal. Wanting to take Mokuba with him was typical of normal behavior for Tristan.

"Okay." Seto relented. "But take John with you."

Tristan nodded. "Okay."

"Wow, Tristan." Kendra placed her hands over his. "He's been kicking for hours. How did you do that?"

"I don't know. It just seemed right." Tristan leaned down and dropped a kiss on Kendra's forehead. "Do you want to come with us?"

"I'd love to." Kendra smiled. "That way if he starts kicking again, I've got you around to quiet him down."

Seto chuckled. "Well, if you're sure, Tristan…"

"Yeah." Tristan turned to Seto, taking his hand. "About yesterday…"

"Come on, Mokuba." Kendra held out her hand to the boy. "Let's go get ready."

"Kennie has such a sense of discretion, doesn't she?" Seto said as his friend led his brother from the room.

"She does." Tristan pulled Seto close to him, wrapping his arms loosely around the taller brunet's waist. "Amante…I'm sorry about what happened yesterday. I just couldn't…" Tristan bit his lip. "When I looked up and saw Brad…it was…"

"It's okay, baby." Seto kissed him softly. "You don't have to try to explain it to me."

"I didn't mean to scare you."

"I know you didn't. All that matters to me is that you're okay." Worried sapphire eyes met Tristan's. "Tristan…I was thinking. Maybe you should see someone. You've never really dealt with it. The nightmares are getting worse and you're not sleeping."

Tristan shook his head. "I don't want to."

"But…"

"I can't, amante. I can't talk about it. Not to a stranger."

"Well…what about Dr. Cray? Maybe he can help."

"I don't know." Tristan looked away, avoiding Seto's eyes. "I'll… think about it."

"Okay." Seto decided to drop it. There was no sense pushing Tristan over this. He would only get defensive. "I'd better get to the office. What time will you be home?"

"Before you. I just want to go over the plans with the architect and make sure they have everything they need."

"Sounds good, love." Seto bent his head and gently kissed Tristan's swollen bottom lip. "Try to keep from chewing on your lip today, okay?"

"I'll try."

Seto held him for another minute and then grudgingly let go. "I'll see you later. Call me if you need me."

"Ti amo, amante." Tristan said as his husband left him.

~*~*~*~*~

That evening, Tristan met Seto at the door when the CEO arrived home from work.

"What's wrong?" Seto immediately asked, seeing how pale Tristan was.

Tristan didn't reply, just handed Seto a letter that was clutched in his hand. Seto dropped his briefcase, taking it and quickly scanning it. He stopped halfway through and went back to the beginning, reading more carefully. His eyes widened and his face flushed with anger as he continued to read silently.

"Fucker." Seto ground out as he came to the end. "Does your mother know about this?"

Tristan shook his head. "I called her at work. She didn't know anything about it. But…that's not all. Dad called about a half hour ago. He said that he'd tell his lawyer to destroy the papers if…" Tristan's voice dropped to a pained whisper. "If I left you and went home."

The letter fluttered to the floor and Seto reached out, grasping Tristan by the arms. "You ARE home. THIS is your home, Tristan. If that jackass who's married to your mother thinks that disowning you is going to break us apart, he's mistaken."

"Why, Seto? Why can't he just accept us?" Tristan asked. "I've already lost my brother. Why do I have to lose my father too?"

"Listen to me, love." Seto drew Tristan into his arms. "Even if you DID leave, your father would make the rest of your life a living hell. He doesn't love you for who you are. You know he'll never accept you. Not unless you live his lie."

"I won't leave you." Tristan whispered, burying his face in Seto's neck. "I won't leave you and Mokuba. You're my family."

"And it's his loss if he can't accept that." Seto replied. "Your mother's accepted it. She doesn't want to lose you. He can't…and won't…see that by doing this he's going to lose you. He thinks he can make you conform to HIS idea of what you should be."

"I know who I am. I'm your husband…and Mokuba's brother. I won't be what he wants me to. I can't. You're the best thing that's ever happened to me, Seto. I won't leave you just to keep him in my life."

"I know you won't." Seto pulled back enough to press a tender kiss to Tristan's lips. "I know that you love me. Don't think I doubt how much."

"I don't. I was nothing before you, amante. Nothing else matters to me but being with you." Hazel eyes grew determined. "If he wants to disown me, let him. I've got you and Mokuba. And our friends. That's all I need."

"What did you tell him when he called?"

"I told him I wasn't leaving and that he could do what he wanted. He went on about what a pervert I was and I hung up on him."

"Good for you." Seto grinned. "Next time, tell him to call me. I'll take him down a peg or two."

Tristan laughed, his mood lightening at the mischievous glint in Seto's eyes. "I'm sure you'd leave him in a whimpering puddle, amante."

"Damn right."

Tristan shook his head, amusement in his eyes. "Tell you what. Let's forget about this and go cook dinner."

"Tristan, I'm going to have to lay off Eugene if you keep taking over his duties. He's been complaining that you're under his feet."

"Hey! I like to cook." Tristan pulled from Seto's arms and took his hand. "Besides, he boils the hell out of everything."

Tristan smiled as Seto's laughter rang through the foyer. His father could go to hell for all he cared. This is what mattered.

He may have lost the man who raised him, but he had received in return someone who loved him unconditionally. And no matter what life threw at him, he knew Seto would always be by his side to help him through it.

~*~*~*~*~

Tris: Okay. This isn't good.

Bakura: Who are they going after next? And do I get to kill them?

YD: You're just going to have to wait.

DD: The club opens in the next chapter and Tris gets to meet an old friend.

Tris: *rolls eyes* Great.