Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Family By Choice ❯ chapter24 ( Chapter 24 )

Family By Choice

by Dragondreamer & Yami Dragon

Disclaimer: We don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! If we did, the boys would be running around naked all the time and we'd never get ANY work done.

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, take off already!

WARNING: THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS EXPLICIT YAOI (MALE/MALE SEX)! IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT, GO READ SOMETHING ELSE! YOU DON'T NEED TO BE HERE!

Note: /…/ Tristan's thoughts

[…] Joey's thoughts

{…} Seto's thoughts

[[…]]Yami's thought and mind link to Yugi

//…// Yugi's thoughts and mind link to Yami

{{…}} Otogi's thoughts

*…* Mokuba's thoughts

`yak, yak' Sadie's(AI) voice

~*~*~*~*~

DD: We are so sorry for the late update.

YD: Things have been REALLY busy. We've been working, and the holidays were hell.

Tris Tell me. Too much time with your parents.

YD: No shit.

DD: Anyway, on to the story.

~*~*~*~*~

Tristan stopped the Harley about a half a block away from the bar and cut the engine.

"Tris," Joey pulled off his helmet, pushing his golden hair out of his eyes. "I don't think you should go in there."

Tristan yanked off his own helmet. "You want to stay here all night waiting for him?"

"I've got an idea."

"What?"

"Let me go in."

"Joey!" Tristan was shocked. "Are you nuts?!"

"No, angel." Joey got off the bike and laid a hand on the bigger man's leg, his eyes serious. "Look, if you go in there, you'll get jumped for sure. I can go in and find him and draw him out."

Tristan raised an eyebrow, seeing the sense in his husband's word, but not liking it. "How?"

"Tell him I'm looking for a fix." Joey shrugged. "He'll figure I want to pay for it the old fashioned way and I can get him to meet me out back."

"You're fucking kidding me."

"I'm not. I'll get him out back, you jump him from behind and we'll beat the shit out of him. Come on, Tris, we've done this before."

Tristan lifted a hand and gently touched the scar at Joey's temple. "Baby, I don't want you to put yourself through that."

"No, Tristan." Joey's hand covered the brunet's. "Don't deny me this. I need it."

"Okay, fine. But if you're not out back in five minutes, I'm coming in after you."

"Fair enough." Joey leaned down and brushed his lips against the other man's. "I love you, angel."

Tristan pulled Joey to him and held him for a moment. "I love you too, baby."

"Just like the old days, huh, Tris?" Joey grinned and shoved his helmet into Tristan's hands.

"If you say so."

Joey gave Tristan another quick kiss and turned away, heading for the bar without looking back.

~*~*~*~*~

Bakura pulled his motorcycle into the parking lot of the bar and dropped the kickstand, yanking off his helmet.

"Gods, what a dump." He muttered to himself, looking around for Seto's bike.

Seeing it parked halfway down the street, he cut the engine and stood up, movement catching his eye. It was Tristan, ducking around the corner of the building.

Bakura snuck off after him, wondering where Joey was. Stopping at a ladder bolted to the side of the building, he grabbed the bottom rung and pulled himself up, quickly reaching the roof.

Crouching low, he ran for the alley side, throwing himself down on his stomach and peering over the side. Looking down into the dim, dingy alley, he saw Tristan moving in behind a dumpster, the shadows swallowing him.

A wicked grin lit the pale thief's features. This was going to be interesting.

~*~*~*~*~

Joey swallowed hard, trying to calm his fluttering stomach, as he stepped into the bar.

He glanced around, his heart pounding. [Gods. Too many familiar faces.]

Not seeing the one he was looking for, he headed toward the bar, knowing that if Dan was here tonight, Marty would know. He slipped onto a barstool, waiting to catch the owner's attention.

"What can I…" Brown eyes widened and Marty backed up a step. "Joe. What…what're you doing here?"

Eyebrow raised at the other man's reaction to seeing him, Joey scanned the terrified face. Marty looked much as he had the last time he had seen him, except for the fact that someone had obviously broken his nose.

"I'm looking for Dan." Joey replied, shrugging slightly. "He here?"

"Umm, yeah." Marty backed up another step. "He's over at the pool table."

"Thanks, Marty." Joey said, trying to keep the grin off his face as the bar owner paled. "I'll see ya around."

"Umm, yeah. S-Sure." Marty stammered, quickly turning away.

Joey headed toward the back of the bar, doing his best to ignore the greetings of the patrons. Every last one of them was a blatant invitation.

He approached the pool table, tucked into the back corner, and took a deep breath before speaking. "Dan."

Straightening up from his position leaning down to make a shot, Dan Atkinson's eyes widened in surprise. "Joe? What the hell are you doing here?"

"Lookin' for you." Joey said, ducking his head slightly so his bangs hid his eyes.

"Looking for me, huh?" A wicked grin crossed Dan's lips. "What for?"

"Need a fix." Joey mumbled, looking down at the floor, trying his hardest to sound like he was hurting. "Always said come to you if I needed it."

Dan tossed his pool cue to one of his companions and walked up to Joey, stopping directly in front of him. He cupped the blond's chin in his hand, tipping his head up. Joey let his eyes go unfocused, not really wanting to look Dan in the eye. He trembled, praying that the other man would take it as need, rather than the fear he was feeling.

"I thought you were clean, Joe."

Joey shrugged. "So's everyone else."

"You need it, huh?" Dan looked the blond right in the eye, a sadistic smirk on his face.

[You bastard. Who the fuck are you to hurt Otogi?] Joey's fear evaporated, leaving anger and the overwhelming urge to pound this freak into a pulp.

"Yeah." Joey whispered, letting his words slur slightly. "I c'n pay cash."

"Oh, no. No cash." Dan pulled Joey against him. "I prefer to take it out in trade, Joe."

"Dan…please." Joey hedged; working to make it sound like the last thing he wanted was to leave here with the bigger man.

"You want it bad enough, you'll pay for it the way you used to."

Joey sighed, hanging his head, his voice dropping to a whisper again. "O-Okay. Meet me out back. I'll…I'll give you what you want."

Dan grinned wickedly and let go of the blond. "Five minutes, Joe."

Joey just nodded and turned away, shoulders slumped. He walked swiftly from the bar, not daring to look at anyone for fear they might see the grin on his face.

[I shoulda been an actor.]

~*~*~*~*~

Bakura frowned as he saw Joey round the corner of the building into the alley alone.

"Where's the fucker?" Bakura muttered.

He rose and backed away from the edge, crossing to the ladder and quickly shimmying down. He crept toward the front of the building, hiding himself in the shadows.

He saw Dan come from the bar, walking straight past him and heading for the alleyway. He was about to follow when another familiar figure came out and crossed the parking lot. Bakura smirked when he saw the huge man head for the motorcycle parked next to his own.

"Oh, now this I can't resist."

He snuck up behind the behemoth, reaching up and tapping him on the shoulder. Or almost. He couldn't quite reach that high.

"What?" The big man turned around, his eyes flying wide as he looked down at Bakura.

"Well, hello there." Bakura grinned in a friendly fashion. "Long time no see, Butch." Chocolate eyes scanned the man's neck, seeing a jagged scar. "That healed rather badly. Then again, most of my prey doesn't live to heal."

A low, choking sound came from the big man and he backed away, shaking his head.

Bakura waved a hand airily. "I'm in a bit of a mood tonight. Shall we dance?"

He launched himself at the man, landing squarely on his chest and wrapping his arms and legs around him. They fell back into the bushes bordering the cracked concrete of the parking lot just as Bakura attached himself to the healed wound he had left on the other's neck during their last encounter.

~*~*~*~*~

[Damn it, Tris. Where are you?]

Joey moved to the end of the alley, stepping into the circle of light cast by the dirt encrusted streetlight. His eyes narrowed as he saw Dan step around the corner of the building.

[You prick. You're gonna pay for what you did.]

"Once a whore, always a whore." Dan sneered as he approached. "You just can't give it up, can you, Joe?"

Joey looked up at the bigger man, struggling to keep the look of disgust off his face. "Gotta do what I gotta do." His eyes flickered to a spot just over Dan's shoulder and it was all he could do not to laugh outright as he saw Tristan sneaking up behind him. "Suppose you're gonna want me to……….first."

"And here I thought you were a happily married man." Dan mocked him as he reached for his belt buckle.

"Actually," Joey let the smile he was holding back slip out. "I am. Meet my husband."

Dan stared at Joey blankly for a couple of seconds, giving Tristan the opportunity to get close enough to grab him.

"What the fuck?!" Dan struggled as his arms were pinned firmly behind his back. "Let go!"

"Not a chance." Tristan growled, tightening his grip. "You're damn well going to pay for what you did to Otogi."

"Otogi?" Dan went still. "Otogi Kiotou?"

Joey clenched his fists as Dan burst out laughing. "You're going to stay away from him from now on."

"He's a little hellcat." Dan grinned maliciously. "Last time was fun."

Something inside Joey snapped and he plowed his fist into the other man's face. "Bastard!"

Dan sagged against Tristan from the force of the blow, shaking his head to clear it. Tristan hauled him upright, a grim smile crossing his lips as Joey punched him again. He kept his hold on the stunned man as Joey continued his assault.

Joey cocked his fist behind his ear, preparing to hit Dan a third time. His eyes widened when he looked at the man in front of him. It wasn't Dan, it was Marty. Anger flashed through him and he threw all his weight behind the punch, feeling something crumble in the other's face as he made contact.

Tristan staggered back a step, thrown off balance by Dan's weight. "Who was the other guy, Dan?"

Dan didn't get a chance to answer as Joey punched him in the stomach.

Small continuous, sobs came from Joey as he beat Dan. Every time he hit him, the face would change. Names resounded in Joey's head…names he barely knew for the most part. The names of all the men Keith had forced on him.

He finally backed off, missing Tristan's worried look. "Who?! Who was he?! Who was the asshole you brought with you that night?!"

"Fuck you." Dan muttered through bloody, broken lips. "You'll figure it out. He likes you, Joe."

Tristan shifted his grip, reaching back with one hand and pulling out the knife Bakura had given him. His temper flared out of control at Dan's remark and he pressed the knife to the other man's neck. Dan went rigid, feeling the razor sharp edge cut into his skin.

"Answer the question." Tristan snarled, twisting the blade slightly. "Or I swear I'll cut your throat."

"Fuck you." Dan said again. "I'm not giving him up."

Joey opened his mouth to speak, only to freeze when Tristan hooked his hand into Dan's hair, pulling his head back. The hair Tristan's hand was tangled in wasn't short and brown….it was long and blond.

"Keith…."

The whispered name plowed straight through the red fog clouding Tristan's mind. He recognized immediately that, while Joey wasn't having a full-blown flashback, he was hallucinating. Then he realized that an opportunity was presenting itself.

/Time for Joey to get some of his own back./ Tristan let Dan go, bringing the knife around and cracking him in the back of the head with the hilt.

He dropped the knife as Dan fell to his knees. "This is your chance, Joey."

"My….my chance?" Joey looked at Tristan, blinking.

"Do it, baby. Take him out. Show him you're not afraid of him anymore."

Joey looked down at the man kneeling at his feet. Rage boiled up inside him and his foot lashed out, kicking Dan square in the face. He sneered as Dan fell over onto his back and began to go after him again, only to stop when he realized it wasn't the man he thought it was.

A small whimper escaped him and he looked at Tristan, trembling, his eyes wild. "Tris?"

"I'm here, baby." Tristan stepped over the fallen man and wrapped his arms around the blond, relieved when Joey didn't try to move away.

Joey clung to his husband for a moment, forcing the trembling from his body. He looked down at Dan, seeing the man was barely conscious. Contempt rose up, replacing the rage he had earlier felt.

He pulled from Tristan's arms and took his hand, giving him a gentle tug. "Let's go home."

Tristan simply nodded and allowed Joey to lead him from the alley, neither of them looking back.

~*~*~*~*~

Bakura made it to the roof again and looked down into the alley in time to see Joey kick Dan in the face. He watched as Tristan held Joey for a moment and smiled to himself as the two left. He waited until he was sure Tristan and Joey were gone before making his move.

He dropped the fifteen feet from the top of the building, knees bending to absorb the impact and the fingers of one hand barely brushing the ground to steady himself. Straightening, he sauntered with a casual air to the body lying on the ground.

A small, rumbling growl began in his chest as the smell of fresh blood reached his nostrils. He crouched over the fallen man, his lip curled in a sneer as he looked at the one who had not only hurt Otogi, but Joey as well.

"Wake up!" Bakura snarled, slapping Dan across the face.

A weak moan was his only reply.

"Damn, Joey." The fiend grinned, taking in the broken bones in the man's face. "Good job."

Bakura tilted his head, noticing that there was a cut on Dan's neck that looked out of place. Experience told him that a right handed person, as Joey was, standing in front of him, didn't make it. It was a knife cut, located on the right side of the beaten man's neck, obviously made by a left handed person standing behind him.

"Why didn't you finish the job, Tristan?" Bakura frowned, noticing the dagger he had given Tristan laying on the ground at Dan's side. He picked it up with a sigh. "You should know better than to leave behind evidence."

He settled on Dan's chest, his voice taking on a conversational tone. "If I've told him once, I've told him a thousand times…DO NOT leave anything with your fingerprints on it at a crime scene. When will he learn?"

"Well, you're not very talkative." Bakura frowned. "S'matter? Got nothing important to say?"

A little giggle escaped him as he leaned forward and ran his fingers across Dan's face. "They did a pretty good job though…for amateurs."

He grinned down at Dan's half open eyes, licking the blood from his fingers. The taste made his head pound worse than it already was and he stretched out on the prone body below him, lowering his head.

Ignoring the additional blood soaking into his clothes and hair, he traced his tongue across the bigger man's neck, shuddering at the taste of the sweet, mortal nectar.

He was just beginning to lose himself to the sensation when his skin prickled, caused by a sharp drop in the temperature in the alleyway. His head snapped up and he rose shakily to his feet, his eyes narrowing at the swirling vortex of purple and black mist forming in front of him.

"What the…"

Five figures emerged from the mist, looking around cautiously.

There was a girl, perhaps sixteen or eighteen years of age with long brown hair standing close to a small, frightened looking boy with a shock of yellow hair. Behind them stood a slender man with glasses, next to him a larger, more muscular man with shoulder length hair that had a bluish cast to it. In the faint glow of the street lamps, Bakura could see he had a patch over one eye.

"Fuck me." Bakura whispered, seeing the last figure step into the dim light.

He was huge; big enough to render Tristan looking like Ryou. Bald headed, he had a scar running across his eye.

They were all dressed similarly, bearing a range of weapons, Bakura noticing the war hammer the boy carried looked so heavy he vaguely wondered how he lifted it. The man with the glassed turned to the long haired man, who exuded an air of leadership.

"He is not here."

"Yet he has been."

"We are late." The boy said.

"Hush, little one." The leader said. "We will find him."

"Who is that?" The girl asked, pointing at Bakura.

A deep growl came from the mountain trying to pass itself off as a man and he took a step forward, only to be stopped in his tracks as the one with the eye patch raised his hand.

A sarcastic smile flitted across his thin lips. "I greet you, prince of shadows."

Bakura blinked, trying to make sense of the man's words. It wasn't easy. The ringing in his ears, brought on by his drunken state, made it hard to concentrate.

"Who the fuck're you?" He snarled.

"Do you not recognize us?" Again that same mocking smirk appeared. "Then again, it has been a rather long time. Some five thousand years, to be exact."

Bakura's breath caught in his throat as he noticed the five identical tattoos adorning the bared arms of the people in front of him. "No fucking way."

"We seek our leader." The leader said. "We sensed he was here. We have come to aid him."

"You're a little late." Bakura retorted, giving the body at his feet a kick. "Some crack crew YOU are."

The girl tilted her head to one side, confused. "Crack crew?"

"Never mind." Bakura rolled his eyes, fighting back a giggle. "What are you doing here? And you reek of the Shadow Realm."

"We have come from the shadows." The man with the glasses said, his look clearly stating he was loath to give Bakura any information. "We seek him. Do you know where he is?"

Bakura shrugged. "Home probably." Then something struck him. "How the hell did you end up in the Shadow Realm? I've never seen you there."

"Yet we have been there." The leader stated, leaning slightly against the smaller man next to him. "We five sacrificed ourselves to close the final portals after the last battle."

"You're kidding me." Bakura swayed slightly, the drunkenness he was feeling tightly gripping him.

"I am not." The man frowned. "We have been seeking him since. We found him some eight years ago. Now we have returned to aid him."

"Where have you been since then?" The pale thief demanded. "If you're so fucking up on helping him, where the hell have you been?"

"He did not require us." The leader said. "He has been reunited with his brother and the one he loves."

"Then why are you here now?"

A single, red eye narrowed. "That is not your concern, thief."

Bakura snorted, kicking Dan again. "Fine then. If you want to help him so bad, get rid of this. Go dump it in the Shadow Realm or something." His voice dropped to a low mutter. "Stupid fucker had the balls to put his hands on Joey…Otogi too."

The entire group tensed, four of them looking nervously at their leader.

"He laid hands on her?" The long haired man ground out.

"Huh?"

"She is safe." The shorter man laid a hand on the other's arm. "He will protect her as he always has."

"What the hell're ya talkin' about?" Bakura asked. It was becoming more and more difficult to stay on his feet. A giggle escaped him. "Look, just get rid of it. I gotta get home to my light."

The leader snapped his fingers and the enormous man detached himself from the group, approaching Bakura. The white haired thief took a nervous step back. This was one person he did NOT want to tangle with. Not again.

Reaching down, the big man picked Dan up effortlessly, throwing him over his shoulder. His gazed raked Bakura once and he growled, turning away and moving back to the small gathering.

"You will not tell him of our presence, prince of shadows." The leader said. "We will make ourselves known at the proper time. Not before."

Bakura nodded. "Yeah, sure. Whatever."

A portal opened behind them and, collectively, they turned, filing in until only the leader remained. He turned back, the look in his eye one of approval.

"You have come a long way, thief. You are an asset to his family."

Bakura stood, blinking, as the vortex closed. "Stupid fuckers." He growled low. "Suppose I'm gonna have to deal with them now."

A wave of dizziness overcame him and he staggered, bursting out laughing as he barely caught himself against the side of the building. "Oh, well. Fuck the lot of `em, I say! Gotta get home to Ryou. It's playtime."

High pitched giggles bounced off the walls of the dim alleyway as he staggered away, licking the blood from his hands.

~*~*~*~*~

Tristan watched Joey out of the corner of his eye as the blond kicked off his boots and tossed his helmet onto the shelf in the closet.

/Damn. I had forgotten how hot he looks when he's like this./ Tristan followed his husband into the kitchen, going to the fridge and grabbing two bottles of water, tossing one to Joey. /Kinda brings back memories./

Tristan tried to keep himself under control, but it was difficult. Joey was leaning back against the counter, chugging the water, his hair still plastered to his face and his eyes still holding that look they had during the fight. A shudder passed through Tristan as Joey tipped the bottle back too far and the water spilled down his face, soaking his shirt and making it stick to his leanly muscled chest. It made him remember all the times when they were teenagers and they had gotten into brawls. The way Joey looked after a fight…it had always aroused him to no end.

Suddenly, Joey slammed the bottle down on the counter, his eyes locked on Tristan in a feral gaze. He stalked toward the brunet, reaching out and hooking his hands into Tristan's shirt and ripping it open, sending buttons flying everywhere.

/I lose more good shirts that way./

Tristan's arms came around Joey as he blond lowered his head, running his tongue across the bigger man's collarbone and up his neck to bite down gently on his pulse point with a small growl.

Tristan hissed, pulling back and smiling down at Joey, his look a mixture of amusement and encouragement. "Looks like Bakura's not the only one in this family who suffers from bloodlust."

Joey grinned wolfishly. "You. Upstairs. Now."

"Why?" Tristan asked mischievously, one eyebrow raised.

"Because I feel like making YOU suffer." Joey replied, grabbing Tristan's hips and pulling him flush against his body, grinding into him. "I want you. And I'm going to have you."

"Oh, really?"

Joey leaned up and pressed a kiss below Tristan's ear. "Really. Not that you won't enjoy it…I'm sure."

"Promise?" Tristan smiled, kissing Joey's forehead.

"Once I've got you naked and writhing under me, I don't think you'll find the need to complain." Joey said, his voice husky as he ran his hands down Tristan's body.

He snagged Tristan by the belt and turned, pulling the unresisting brunet up the back stairs and into their bedroom.

Once there, he turned to his lover, drawing the ruined shirt from him and beginning to press hot kisses across his shoulder. He drew back just long enough to rid himself of his own shirt before wrapping his arms around Tristan and molding his body to the taller man's, laying his head against Tristan's chest with a sigh.

He listened to Tristan's heartbeat thundering beneath his ear as he struggled with himself. He wanted Tristan in the worst way. He was feeling a need he had never felt before. The need to dominate. The need to just take Tristan and fuck him until he screamed.

He knew it was a reaction to what he had seen that night, the visions of all the men he had been forced to be with. But that didn't make it right.

"Baby," Tristan's quiet voice startled Joey from his thoughts. "It's okay."

"It's not." Joey whispered.

Tristan could feel his golden love trembling with what he knew was a combination of need, fear, and adrenaline. He knew Joey needed to let go and, quite frankly, the prospect excited him.

"I want you to." Tristan pried Joey off him, setting him at arm's length and looking into his eyes. "I want to give you what you need."

A low moan escaped Joey before he could stop it. "I want to. But…you've had enough of giving people what they need. After last night with me and the other night with Seto…"

"No." Tristan reached out and pushed Joey's hair out of his eyes. "Don't you see, love? Seeing you like this…gods, it turns me on. I want you to take me. I want to see you lose control for once. I know what you're feeling. I'm feeling it too."

"Really?" Joey looked up at Tristan, his eyes dark and full of need.

"Hell, yes."

Joey launched himself at Tristan, tumbling him back onto the bed and coming down on top of him with something akin to a snarl, crashing their lips together. Tristan parted his, giving up immediate control. Joey took it, plunging his tongue into Tristan's mouth and shuddering when his lover moaned.

Breaking the kiss, Joey pushed himself up on his hands so that all his weight was on his hips. He ground into Tristan, tearing a whimper from the bigger man that set his blood boiling.

"Fuck," Joey groaned, looking down into Tristan's flushed face. "You're so beautiful like this."

"I want you." Tristan whispered. "Take me, Joey."

Joey breathing kicked up a notch at the request and he lifted himself completely off of Tristan, his hands moving to the brunet's belt.

In no time flat, he had them both naked, his hands running over Tristan's heating flesh. Tristan moved up further on the bed and held out his arms, his eyes begging for Joey to come to him.

Joey complied, only to grab Tristan's wrists and pin his hands over his head. He knew that his husband would have no trouble breaking the hold, but he wanted to see if Tristan really would allow him complete control.

"I'm all yours." Tristan said, tipping his head back and exposing his neck. "Make me yours, baby."

[Mine. He's mine. I can take what I want. Not because he HAS to give it to me, but because he loves me and wants to.] Lust, and a feeling of power; something he was not accustomed to; tore through Joey's body, leaving nothing but a raw, uncontrollable need in it's wake. [Mine.]

Not knowing why he needed to do it, but needing to nonetheless, Joey lowered his head, growling as he bit down hard on Tristan's bared neck. He heard Tristan gasp, but it didn't register.

"Joey…" Tristan pushed slightly against Joey's hands. "Baby, stop."

Joey sank his teeth in deeper, the need growing. There was anger there, but he didn't understand it, didn't see it for what it was. It wasn't until the coppery taste of blood filled his mouth that he came to his senses.

"Joey…please… you're hurting me."

Joey pulled back, staring wide eyed at the thin trail of blood coursing down Tristan's neck to quickly stain the pillow beneath him. "Oh, shit…"

He leapt from the bed, grabbing Tristan's jeans and fishing the tube Master Kiotou had given him from the pocket. He turned back toward the bed, seeing Tristan laying there, his fingers pressed to the bite mark on his neck.

All the desire fled his body, along with the need to dominate the man lying on the bed, leaving self-loathing. "Tris…angel…I'm so sorry."

Tristan shook his head as Joey sat down next to him. "It's alright, baby. I know you didn't mean to."

"But…I hurt you." Joey's whole body was trembling as he opened the tube, squeezing a small amount of the dark paste onto his finger. "Here…let me help you."

Tristan removed his hand, shivering at the feeling of the blood trickling down his neck again. He winced as Joey applied the medicine to the wound, gritting his teeth against the sharp stinging it caused.

Joey got up again, going into the bathroom and coming back with a wet facecloth. He sat back down and gently wiped the blood from Tristan's skin, his eyes full of tears and feeling extremely grateful to see the bleeding had stopped.

When he was done, he just sat there, staring at the bloodstained cloth, the tears escaping.

Tristan took the facecloth from him, tossing it onto the bedside table and drawing Joey down next to him, taking him into his arms. "No. Don't. Please, love. Don't feel guilty. I told you I wanted you to lose control."

"But…gods, Tristan, I hurt you! I made you bleed!" Joey sobbed, burrowing into Tristan's embrace. "I couldn't stop. I didn't want to stop."

"Joey," Tristan interrupted him, his voice serious. "I could have stopped you. I didn't really want to. The only reason I did was because I was bleeding. I don't want you to stop."

Joey jerked back, staring up at Tristan like he had lost his mind. "What?!"

"Baby, you were turning me on so bad. I want you. I want you to be like that." Tristan took Joey's hand in his and guided the blond to wrap his fingers around his still hardened length. "Can't you tell that I want it like this?"

Joey shook his head in disbelief. "How can you want this?"

"I've never seen you this way. All out of control. I know you wouldn't seriously hurt me. I trust you." Tristan leaned in and kissed Joey's jaw, his voice dropping to a rough whisper. "I need you."

"Gods…Tris…" Joey moved to kiss Tristan's neck, carefully avoiding the mark he had left. "You really want this?"

"Yes. I do."

"I can't." Joey whispered, burying his face in Tristan's neck so he wouldn't have to look at him.

Tristan tangled his hand in Joey's hair and pulled him back; looking into tear filled amber eyes and seeing the hurt and anger there. "Tell me, baby."

"I hate him!" Joey sobbed, clinging to Tristan. "I hate him! He made me into a whore! All those guys…gods! I thought I had it under control, Tris. I thought for sure I did. But seeing Dan tonight…going into that bar…seeing so many familiar faces. I hate him." Joey's voice dropped to a pained murmur. "And I hate myself."

"Joey…no." Tristan wrapped his arms tightly around his husband. "Don't hate yourself. And Keith is gone. He can't hurt you anymore."

"He can." Joey insisted. "He did tonight. He did last night. Every time I have a flashback, every time I see, or think I see, someone I've been with…he hurts me. They all hurt me."

"Well, Dan's not going to hurt you again. You made sure of that. He's not going to hurt you and, thanks to you, he's not going to hurt Otogi again either." Tristan stroked his fingers through Joey's hair. "Did it help? What happened tonight?"

Joey nodded. "It felt good. It felt good to put Dan in his place. Not just for Otogi, but for me too."

"Baby, listen to me. If that's what you need…if you need to track down every bastard that Keith forced on you and beat the shit out of him, I'll help you. If you need me to hold them down so you can get your revenge, I will."

Joey shook his head. "No. I just want it to be over. But…it's never going to be."

"Joey…it will only hurt you as much as you let it." Tristan said softly, kissing the top of his love's head. "You've come so far. You have to let it go."

"You make it sound so easy."

"Isn't it? You've never given yourself permission to heal, love. You've been hanging on to this anger for too long." Tristan placed a finger under Joey's chin and tipped his head up. "It's up to you, Joey. I'm here, but I can't do it for you. I can help, but, ultimately, it's up to you."

Joey looked into Tristan's eyes, wanting to believe him, wanting to believe it really was that easy. With a small sob, he pressed his lips to Tristan's briefly then scattered tiny, fleeting kisses over his face.

"Help me, angel." Joey whispered, nuzzling the side of Tristan's face. "Help me wipe away the memories."

"Whatever you want…whatever you need. I'm here for you, Joey." Tristan replied softly.

Joey pulled from Tristan's arms and lay on his back, reaching out as Tristan propped himself up on one arm. "Please?"

"What, baby?"

"Will you…I want you to lie on top of me."

"Joey…"

"Please." Joey grabbed Tristan by the arms, drawing him down. "I know you'll let me up if I get scared."

"Of course I will." Tristan lay down, lying half on top of him with his head on Joey's chest, and put an arm around him.

Joey tensed. He was being pinned to the bed. Tristan's weight, while not completely on him, was still enough that he couldn't move. All he could feel was an extremely muscled body weighing him down. He fought not to struggle, telling himself over and over that it was Tristan…not Keith. All he had to do was say so and Tristan would let him go.

Tristan stroked Joey's side, feeling his husband quivering with fear. Everything in him was screaming at him to get up, to put a stop to this, but he didn't want to move unless Joey told him to.

"Tristan…" Joey's voice was a frightened whimper.

Tristan began to move off the smaller man, but Joey grabbed him, pulling him back down. He felt Joey's hands leave him, felt him still trembling, and he bit his lip, tears filling his eyes. "It's okay, love. It's just me."

Joey tentatively brought his arms up around the brunet, the tips of his fingers lightly caressing the broad back. [This is Tristan. My husband. My best friend. We have a daughter together. He's not like Keith at all. He's gentle and loving. He loves me. He's never hurt me.] Joey opened his eyes, not even realizing until he did so that they were tightly clenched. He looked at Tristan, making comparisons. [Tris is bigger than Keith was. And Keith used his physical strength to hurt people. Tris only does that if someone hurts the people he loves. He's never use it against me. He never would. He's always protected me, loved me. He's my angel.]

Feeling wetness against his chest, Joey realized Tristan was crying. [He loves me. He loves me so much that seeing me hurting makes him cry.]

"Joey…please…talk to me." Tristan said, his voice choked. "Tell me what you're thinking."

Joey stroked his fingers through Tristan's hair. "I love you."

Tristan lifted his head to reveal tears streaking his face. "I love you too."

"You're nothing like him." Joey trailed his fingers over the wet paths on his lover's face. "You're his exact opposite. But you know…I could have walked away. In the beginning. But I chose to stay. I can't blame everything that happened on Keith. I have to take responsibility for some of it."

"We all make mistakes, Joey. If I hadn't walked out that day, you never would have left with him. Then none of it would have happened."

"Let's not go there again, angel." Joey said, rubbing his thumb over Tristan's cheekbone. "I think…I think that right now I want you to make love to me."

"I'd love nothing more." Tristan reached up and took Joey's hand in his, kissing his fingers. "You mean everything to me, Joey. You and Lexi. You're my life. All I want is for you both to be happy."

"I am. And so is Lexi. You're the best father…the best husband. I love you, angel."

Tristan lowered his head and pressed a gentle kiss to Joey's chest. "My beautiful boy…I love you."

Joey sighed softly as Tristan began covering his body with warm, faint kisses. A low moan was torn from his throat when Tristan moved up, teasing at a nipple with his tongue.

Tristan moved up further, capturing Joey's lips in a deep, tender kiss. Joey opened to him, a little sob coming from him as their tongues tangled.

Pulling back, Tristan looked down at his husband, seeing his eyes shining with tears. "Don't cry, love."

"I love you so much, Tristan." Joey said in a ragged whisper. "There's times when I can't believe you're still with me."

"I've always been with you, Joey. I've always belonged to you...even when you didn't know it."

Joey pulled Tristan close, his lips ghosting over the side of Tristan's face. "Make love to me, my angel."

"Joey…baby…" Tristan said softly, his voice rough with emotion. "Love you so much."

Joey moved back to take Tristan's lips with his, kissing him deeply, moaning as their tongues entwined again in a familiar, comforting dance. He felt Tristan's hands on his body and he arched into his lover's touch, feeling the same swift arousal he always did when the brunet touched him. It had always amazed him before and it still did.

"Tris!" Joey shuddered hard, pressing closer. "Gods…please."

"Tell me what you need, baby."

"You. I need you."

"You have me, love. Always."

"Take me now…please." Joey gasped, suddenly overwhelmed with the need to feel Tristan inside him. "Please!"

Tristan reached for the bottle of oil on the bedside table, popping the cap open and pouring some into his hand. He moved down, pressing a gentle kiss to Joey's quivering stomach as he brought his hand between the blond's spread legs.

"Tristan! Yes!" Joey's back arched as he felt the penetration.

Tristan kissed Joey's stomach again before moving to take his arousal into his mouth. He sucked hard, inserting another finger and moaning as Joey cried out again. He fought to finish preparing him, trying not to give into the steady stream of pleas coming from the writhing blond.

"Tris…need you…please, angel…please!" Joey begged, his body twitching.

Tristan shuddered hard, withdrawing his hand and releasing Joey's erection. He lifted his head, looking into clouded copper eyes. Joey reached for him, drawing him up on top of him. He lifted one hand to gently touch his love's face.

"Love me, angel." He whispered as he reached down to guide his husband into his body.

Hissing at the tightness and heat, Tristan pressed slowly into his lover's body. Once he was firmly inside, he stopped, his eyes locked with Joey's, waiting for the other to tell him it was okay.

"Please, Tristan…please…move." Joey pushed up against the brunet and wound his legs around Tristan's torso.

"I love you, Joey." Tristan said softly, beginning to move gently.

A small sob fell from Joey's lips and his eyes filled with tears. "I love you too."

Tristan leaned down, careful to keep his weight off Joey, and kissed him lightly on the lips before trailing across his face and down his neck to nip at the hollow of his throat. Joey groaned, his arms coming around Tristan and tugging on him, pulling him down on top of him.

Tristan stopped his movements, looking into Joey's eyes. "Baby?"

"It's okay." Joey shifted slightly to get more comfortable. "Really."

Tristan nodded and picked up the pace again, driving deep into his lover's body. He shivered as Joey began to writhe beneath him, whimpering. It had been so long since he had felt the length of Joey's body against his as they made love. And he suddenly realized how much he had missed it.

"Tristan!" Joey cried out, arching beneath him as the brunet struck his prostate. "Please…please…"

Tristan slipped an arm under Joey's back, pulling him up tightly against his body. Joey moaned, tightening his grip with his legs and bucking up, trying to reach the end.

Tristan bit his lip, fighting back his own climax, trying to hold out for his lover. Suddenly, Joey's body jerked violently and he screamed. Tristan whimpered, feeling Joey release between them, and quickly followed the blond into oblivion.

When he became aware again, Tristan realized he had collapsed on top of Joey and he began to push himself up, not wanting to pin him.

"No." Joey wrapped his arms tightly around his husband. "Please…don't move. Stay there. Just…stay."

"Okay, baby. Whatever you want." Tristan replied, letting his weight settle against the other man. He laid his head down on Joey's shoulder, smiling as he felt Joey stroking the back of his neck. "I love you."

"I love you too, Tristan."

Though he couldn't see Joey's face, Tristan could tell he was smiling. He lay quietly, waiting for Joey to tell him to move, figuring that sooner or later, he would become too heavy for the blond's smaller frame to bear.

It never happened.

Tristan lifted his head as a soft snore reached his ears. Joey was sound asleep, still clutching on to him tightly. Tristan settled back down with a sigh of contentment, snuggling against the other's warm body.

Soon enough, sleep claimed him as well.

~*~*~*~*~

Ryou waved goodbye as Seto pulled away and closed the door behind him.

He climbed the stairs, reaching out through the link to check on Bakura. He rolled his eyes when all he received was an almost hysterical giggle.

"Here we go again." He mumbled to himself as he headed for the bathroom.

Turning on the taps in the bathtub, he checked the temperature and stuck the plug in the drain. He had just set out the shampoo and conditioner when he heard a loud crash.

Ryou ran into the bedroom, looking out the window into the small parking lot behind the shop. Bakura's motorcycle lay on its side, the back tire spinning lazily. He had obviously gotten off of it and forgotten to drop the kickstand.

He was just heading for the door when it flew open, revealing his blood drenched other. "Gods, `kura!"

"Hello, my little light." Bakura grinned, falling through the doorway.

Ryou caught him, shaking his head. "I've got the bath running, love. Come on."

"Sure thing, Aibou!" Bakura pushed himself upright, leaving a bloody smear on the wall. "Lead the way!"

Ryou shouldered up under his dark's weight and began to move down the hallway. Halfway to the bathroom, Bakura stopped short, pushing Ryou up against the wall.

"You really are beautiful, you know. I love you so much." Bakura said huskily, his lips traveling across the side of Ryou's face. "Kinda makes me want to throw you down and fuck your brains out right here."

"Oh, quit it." Ryou pushed his yami off him. "And speaking of blood…the tub's going to overflow."

"Rather make you overflow." Bakura giggled, bringing his hand between his other half's legs.

"Oh, bugger off." Ryou retorted, slapping his hands away.

"Bugger?" Bakura tried to grab him again. "Is that an invitation?"

"Not fucking likely." Ryou muttered, grabbing Bakura's wrists and dragging him into the bathroom.

They arrived just in time to save the bathroom floor, and Ryou let go of his lover and bent to pull the plug to let some of the water out.

It proved to be a mistake.

"Oh, hell yeah." Bakura ran his hand appreciatively over his light's backside. "Now that's definitely an invitation."

"Remove your hand this instant." Ryou said sternly, straightening and turning around.

"But, Ryou…"

"No." The smaller man said in a no nonsense tone, his hands moving to unbutton Bakura's shirt. "Another perfectly good piece of clothing ruined."

"Well, rich boy'd probably fire me if I went to work naked, yanno." Bakura retorted peevishly.

Ryou didn't reply, just finished divesting his yami of the rest of his clothes, ignoring the effect the blood lusted state had on his other. "Get in the tub."

Surprisingly, Bakura didn't argue, and once he was in, Ryou set to the task of wetting down his blood caked hair. He rinsed it as best he could and picked up a washcloth, lathering it with soap and quickly washing his yami's body.

"Okay, behave." Ryou said, slapping Bakura's hands away as the other tried to pull him into the tub. He let the water out and filled the tub again, turning to pick up the shampoo. "Come on, love. Let's get your hair washed."

Bakura let out a long suffering sigh and shut his eyes to avoid getting suds in them. He began to get drowsy as Ryou's fingers dug into his scalp, scrubbing away the blood.

"What in the name of…" Bakura sniffed, opening his eyes. "Is that strawberry?"

"Yes." Ryou replied nonchalantly, rinsing the foam from the white locks with a cup Lexi had left on the side of the tub with her bath toys. "Now hold still. Your hair's a bloody rat's nest. I need to put some conditioner in it."

Bakura grunted noncommittally and closed his eyes again. After a few moments, they snapped open again and he stared up at his light, horror written all over his face.

"AIBOU! NOT THE VANILLA!"

"Oh, hush up." Ryou picked up the cup and rinsed Bakura's hair clean.

"But, Ryou," The name came out in a protracted whine. "How am I suppose to dominate the world if I smell pretty?!"

"You gave that up years ago, yami." Ryou replied patiently, leaning back to avoid the spray as Bakura slapped at the water pettishly.

"But everyone's gonna make fun of me."

"Bakura, don't whine."

"But I don't WANNA smell nice!"

Ryou sighed and pushed to his feet. "Stay there. I have to get a towel out of the dryer."

"Fine." Bakura pouted, crossing his arms over his chest, his bottom lip stuck out.

"Either horny or childish." Ryou muttered to himself as he left the room. "All hail my blood crazed yami."

Ryou quickly retrieved the towel and hurried back to the bathroom, afraid of what he might find. The sight that greeted him, however, was the last thing he ever expected to see.

Bakura was playing with Lexi's tub toys.

"I am the mighty Pharaoh!" Bakura said in a high falsetto, poking a rubber duck in front of him, setting it bobbing in the water. "All bow before me! Blah, blah, blah."

Ryou leaned against the doorframe, hand over his mouth, fighting not to laugh out loud and cursing himself for not having the video camera handy.

"I am the mighty Tomb Robber!" Bakura roared, brandishing a green, plastic frog. "Kiss my ass, Pharaoh!"

A little snicker escaped Ryou, going unheard by Bakura as he squeezed the frog and a stream of water hit the duck squarely in the face.

"AAAHHH!! I'M DYING!" Bakura shrieked, pushing the duck under the water and making bubbling noises. He shoved the duck down to the bottom of the tub, switching to a deep baritone. "BWAHAHAHA!!"

Unable to stand it any longer, Ryou burst out laughing.

Bakura whirled around, sending water splashing out of the tub. The duck bobbed to the surface, spinning wildly.

"See, `kura?" Ryou pointed. "Yami always comes back."

Bakura scowled and stood up. "The water's getting cold."

Ryou fought to beat back his laughter, holding open the towel. Bakura snorted at the look on his light's face and allowed himself to be wrapped up in the towel.

"I do love you, yami." Ryou said, kissing his other on the cheek.

"I love you too." Bakura said softly, returning the kiss. "Let's fuck."

"Oh, for the love of…." Ryou smacked Bakura in the chest. "Ruin the mood, why don't you? Gods, how many people did you kill tonight anyway?"

He had meant it as a rhetorical question, but Bakura took it as an insult. "Only one! Well, maybe…he was still breathing when I left him. Didn't have time to kill the other one."

Ryou just blinked.

"Well, I got interrupted." Bakura took the towel and threw it over his head, beginning to dry his hair. "By a bunch of frigging poisonous bugs."

"Huh?"

"Oh, never mind." Bakura tossed the towel aside and scooped up Ryou before he could protest. "Let's go to bed."

"But I have to dry your hair." Ryou said in an effort to stall.

"It'll keep."

Ryou sighed and let Bakura carry him into their bedroom. Not that he really had a choice.

"Hurry up and get naked." Bakura demanded, setting Ryou on his feet and turning to crawl into the bed. "I'm horny."

"What else is new?" Ryou rolled his eyes as he began to pull off his clothes.

Smiling at the sight of the naked form of his lover, Bakura held out his arms. "Come here, baby boy."

Ryou took Bakura's hand, being drawn down into the bed and into his yami's arms. A blissful sigh escaped him as their bare skin touched and he felt Bakura's lips press against his own. No matter his complaining, he enjoyed his other is this state, and his body began to react to the thoughts of what was to come.

Suddenly, Bakura went limp against him, his mouth falling away from Ryou's as a loud snore ripped the air.

"You have GOT to be kidding me!" Ryou said, pulling back and looking at Bakura.

Sure enough, he was asleep, his mouth hanging open to permit the expulsion of snoring. Ryou growled quietly, pushing Bakura over onto his back and reaching across him to turn off the light. Something caught his eye and he grinned.

"There's my revenge on you, yami." The lighter of the two snickered, fingering the other's pink stained hair. "I'll have to remember to call Tristan and Seto in the morning."

Snapping off the lamp, Ryou settled down next to his other half, a little giggle escaping him.

~*~*~*~*~

Bakura: *raises eyebrow* I do NOT play with tub toys.

YD: Well, you do now.

Ryou: *giggles* That was too funny.

DD: So, leave your guesses as to who those five were in your review and we'll hand out the plushies next chappie.

Lexi: Lexi wan and ow pushies!! *bounces*

DD: Okay, honey, you can do it.

Lexi: TIPPIE!

YD: Again, we apologize for the long wait between chapters. The contract work we were doing is done, so hopefully we'll be doing more writing now.

DD: *hugs readers* Hope everyone had a great holiday.