Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Stronger Than Before ❯ Chapter7 ( Chapter 7 )

Stronger Than Before

by Dragondreamer and Yami Dragon

Disclaimer: We don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! If we did, we'd be rich. But we don't, so we're not.

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, leave now! Don't bother flaming us, because we'll just laugh at you.

Note: /…/ Tristan's thoughts

[…] Joey's thoughts

{…} Seto's thoughts

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

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

`yak yak' (Artificial Intelligence) Sadie's voice

~*~*~*~*~

A/N: Okay, for some strange, obscene reason, AFF is not allowing our bold type or italics. So, here's the scoop. Sadie's voice will be denoted with single quotes (`…') and emphasized words will be in capitals from now on.

~*~*~*~*~

DD: Frying pan! Get your frying pans here! *hands frying pans to readers*

Seto: What do they need those for?

YD: *thwacks Joey over the head with one* That's what for.

Joey: @.@

Tristan: That can't be good.

~*~*~*~*~

Seto stood next to the bed, watching Tristan sleep. It hadn't been a peaceful night.

The first time he had woken, it had been because Tristan was clinging to him, whimpering in his sleep and calling out to Joey. Seto had tried to wake him, but he couldn't. So he had just held him until he settled down.

The night had continued like that, with Tristan caught so deep in his dreams Seto couldn't wake him. Somewhere around dawn, he had finally fallen back into a dreamless sleep.

Seto sighed as he laid down the bundle of clothes he had retrieved from Tristan and Joey's room. He could see why Tristan didn't want to sleep there. It had been hard enough for him just to walk in the room. There were images of Joey everywhere. From a picture of him and Tristan on the dresser to his old jean jacket hung over the back of the desk chair.

He'd have to go in again later and pack up Joey's things. He had a feeling Tristan would be spending a lot of time with them for the next while.

"Seto?"

Snapping out of his thoughts, he looked to see Tristan sitting up in the bed, looking like he'd been dragged through the proverbial knothole. "Hey buddy. How are you feeling?"

"I'm okay." Tristan lied, tears filling his eyes.

Seto shook his head, sitting down on the bed and pulling Tristan into a hug. "You don't have to lie to me, you know."

"What time is it?" Tristan's voice was muffled by Seto's shoulder.

"After nine."

Tristan pulled away. "I have to get to the office."

"Oh, no you don't!" Seto grabbed him by the shoulders. "Number one, it's Sunday. And two, you're not burying yourself in work!"

"But Seto…"

"No! Get up, get a shower and we'll talk about it over breakfast. But you're not going in to work! Understand?"

"Fine!" Tristan glowered, shrugging Seto's hands off him. "Asshole."

"Yes, I am. Now get up!" Seto got up and slammed from the room.

"Jerk!" Tristan yelled at the closed door before bursting out laughing.

Leave it to Seto to pull the "I am Seto Kaiba and I WILL be obeyed" attitude to yank him out of his depression. The cold demeanor that cowed people and froze them in their tracks had never worked on him. And Seto knew it. He used it, instead, to pull Tristan out of an undesirable mood and get him laughing.

His good mood lasted about as long as it took him to get out of the bed and into the bathroom. That's when the tears started again.

~*~*~*~*~

Keith got home to find Joey lying on the couch, staring at the ceiling.

"What's up, Joe?"

"Hi Keith." Joey smiled drunkenly at him. "Didn't expect you back so soon."

Keith shrugged. "The job didn't go through."

"Mmm." Joey sat up so Keith could sit next to him. "S'too bad."

"Didn't pay enough anyway." Keith ran a finger up Joey's leg, smiling when he giggled. "You're out of it. How much did you smoke?"

Joey reached over and picked up the tin, shaking it to show Keith it was empty. Keith just laughed and pulled another bag from his coat pocket. Joey made a grab for it, but Keith pulled it out of his reach, smirking.

"Oh, no you don't." Keith smacked Joey playfully. "This is for later."

"Fine." Joey groused, half serious. "I need to get a shower anyway."

"I have something special for you when you're done." Keith grinned suggestively.

Joey rolled his eyes as he got up from the couch. One thing he could say about Keith…he was insatiable. That was for sure.

Joey's high was starting to fade as he stepped into the shower. Not a good thing.

[Gods. I had forgotten what it was like coming down.]

He stood still under the hot spray, letting the water pound into his sore muscles.

[Why the hell am I doing this? Well, it's not like it matters. Yugi probably won't talk to me any more anyway. I mean, Seto's going to side with Tristan, and Yugi IS his husband. He's gotta live with him. Ryou and Bakura…same thing. With them living above the Game Shop, they've got to keep on Yugi's good side.]

Joey sighed as he began to wash his hair, the pain receding. The hot water was doing the trick to bring him down.

[So, I guess I'm on my own. If it wasn't for Keith, I don't know what I'd do. He's being awfully good to me. I still don't get it though. I don't know. Maybe he really does care. Maybe…maybe I should try harder, show him how much I appreciate what he's doing. If I'm just staying here, and sleeping with him…kinda makes me feel like a whore.]

Joey got out of the shower, shaking off the last of the fuzziness as he toweled himself dry. He stopped by Keith's bedroom to pull on a clean pair of jeans, not bothering with a shirt, before heading back to the living room to see what Keith had "planned". Whatever it was, Joey swore to himself he'd go along with it. He felt he owed Keith for being so understanding and opening his home to him.

If he thought it had anything to do with sex, he was in for the shock of his life.

Keith was still sitting on the couch, but he had been busy. On the table in front of him was a small mirror, with lines of white powder decorating it. He looked up as Joey walked into the room and held out a cut down soda straw to him.

"Surprise."

Joey stopped dead in his tracks. "Is that…coke?"

"Sure is." Judging from the size of the older blond's pupils, he was already well on his way. "Really good too."

"I…I can't." Joey ran his hand through his damp hair nervously.

"How come?" The scowl on Keith's face gave Joey pause. He looked kind of ticked.

"Keith…I was…that stuff…" Joey groped for the right words to say no. "I was hooked. It almost killed me coming off."

"Who said anything about being hooked?" Keith's voice rose in volume slightly. "This is a one shot deal. It's too fucking expensive."

"I just…"

"Man, Joe!" Keith was practically yelling now. "Do you know what I had to go through to get this?! I got it thinking you'd be down for it! I got it for you!"

"I'm sorry. I-I…"

"Fine then. Your loss." Keith picked up the straw he had thrown down on the table and leaned over the mirror, inhaling deeply.

Joey watched, shifting from one foot to the other, as Keith laid his head back against the couch and sighed.

[I can't…but…I don't want Keith to be mad at me. I said I was going to do anything he wanted. If he gets mad, then he'll make me leave. Then I'll be alone. I don't…I don't want to be alone. Keith's all I have now. Tristan won't take me back. My friend's won't want me around any more. Not now. I'm alone. Maybe if I do it just this once…]

Joey walked across the room, kneeling down next to the coffee table, eying the object of his former destruction.

[It's only once. Keith said so.]

He held out his hand to the larger man. "Give it here."

Keith opened his eyes, and seeing Joey sitting in front of him, smiled, handing him the straw.

[Just this once.]

~*~*~*~*~

Seto walked into the kitchen, finding Yami talking to Odette.

Yami turned as he came in, giving him a small smile. He handed the brunet a cup of coffee, reaching up to place a soft kiss on his cheek.

"Odette, could you give us a few moments please?"

"Certainly, Yami." She gave Seto a bright smile as she left the room.

"Yugi still in bed?"

Yami looked seriously at his husband. "He saw you."

Seto put his cup on the counter, leaning against it and burying his face in his hands. "Yami…I couldn't…he needed me."

"It's okay, love." Yami put his arms around the taller man. "I understand. Really, I do. I'm not mad at either of you."

Seto put his arms around Yami's shoulders, slipping his fingers through his soft, spiky hair and pulling him closer. "Yugi?"

"He's upset. Heartbroken." Yami laid his head against Seto's chest. "He doesn't understand the way I do."

"Where is he?"

"Outside. Seto, you need to talk to him."

"I know." Seto clung to Yami. "I just don't know what to say. How do I make him understand?"

"I can't tell you that, love. This is something you're going to have to do on your own."

"I know." Seto sighed, pulling back slightly, tipping Yami's face up and kissing him gently. "Thank you for understanding."

Yami shrugged. "I've always understood. You have a very unique relationship. You've always been there to comfort each other, however that comfort was needed. And Tristan needed you last night."

"Yami," Seto looked him directly in the eyes. "This is the only time this has happened since we've been together."

"I am aware of that." Yami stepped from his arms. "Go talk to Yugi."

Seto leaned down and kissed him again. "I love you."

"I love you too. Now go on." Yami gave Seto a gentle push towards the door.

~*~*~*~*~

Joey lay on the floor, watching a few dust motes dance in a shaft of sunlight coming through the window. For some reason, it was imperative that he didn't take his eyes off them.

Little things were suddenly very important. Each breath he took, the feeling of the individual carpet fibers pressing against his bare back, how he could feel the air pressing against his skin. And the things that hurt were so remote. He wasn't thinking how his friends would feel if they found out where he was or what he was doing. Tristan was just a distant memory, and one that hurt less with every passing minute.

All that mattered now was the euphoria coursing through his body, thanks to the drugs.

He looked over at Keith, who at some point had lain down next to him. The other blond's eyes were glazed, staring at nothing.

Joey rolled over, pulling himself up to lie on Keith's muscled chest. "Hey."

"Mmm?" Keith tried to focus his eyes.

"Thanks."

"For?"

"Lettin' me stay here. Bein' so nice and stuff."

"Care to show me how much?" Keith lifted his head and kissed him.

Joey looked at him blankly until Keith grabbed a handful of his hair and pushed him down.

[Oh…I get it. He wants me to…hmm…okay.]

Keith hissed as he felt Joey's hot mouth enclose him. "I always knew you'd make a great whore, Joe."

The comment didn't register in Joey's cocaine swamped mind as he worked to show Keith how much he appreciated him.

~*~*~*~*~

Tristan made his way into the kitchen, looking for Seto. He was surprised to find Yami the only one there.

"Good morning, Tristan."

"Hey, Yami. Where's Seto?"

"I just sent him outside to talk to Yugi." Yami leaned against the table and crossed his arms over his chest. "He walked in on you two this morning."

"Oh gods! Yami…"

Yami held up a hand, silencing the brunet. "Before you go on, let me say something. I understand, and I'm not mad. Yugi, on the other hand, is completely devastated by this. I will do what I can to try to make him understand if Seto fails to. But I honestly do not know if I can make him see."

Tristan saw the sadness in the crimson eyes of the Pharaoh. Sadness for his hikari's pain. Guilt flashed through him. He had never meant to cause Yugi any grief. Yet he felt no guilt for what happened between him and Seto last night. It was the way it had always been. He and Seto had a special relationship, one that neither of them could explain. He knew that Joey had never understood, but he had thought that because Yami understood and accepted it, so had Yugi. And now, because of his assumption, Yugi had been hurt.

"What can I do, Yami?"

"Talk to him. Let him know you're not trying to take Seto away from him. I know that's what he thinks. I can feel his fear. He's afraid that Seto would choose you over him because of your past relationship."

"He'd NEVER do that! Seto loves you guys more than anything!"

"I know that, Tristan." Yami rubbed his temples wearily. "But despite that fact, Yugi still harbors the fear of abandonment. He always has, you know that. And it has only gotten worse since his grandfather died."

"Damn it, Yami. I never meant for this to happen. And I didn't mean for last night to happen either. It just…happened." He finished lamely.

Yami pushed away from the table and came to put his arms around Tristan. "I know that, my friend. But it did. And now we need to fix this. And we will. I promise you I will do whatever I can."

"Thanks, Yami." Tristan hugged the smaller man back. "I'd better go try to talk to him."

Yami stepped away from Tristan, smiling up at him. "It will work out, Tristan."

Tristan just nodded, heading outside to try to mend fences and help his best friend save his marriage.

~*~*~*~*~

Seto found Yugi sitting on the grass, underneath a large, imported maple tree. He had his eyes closed and his head laid back against the smooth bark. Seto's heart clenched when he saw the tearstains on the other's face.

He sat down quietly, noticing Yugi tense. "Yugi?"

Hurt filled amethyst eyes opened, releasing a fresh flood of tears. "Why, Seto? How could you?"

Seto flinched back from the pain in his husband's voice. "He needed me."

"That's it?!" Yugi's eyes were blazing with anger now. "He needed you?! That's your excuse?!"

"It's not an excuse." The brunet said quietly. "I've tried to explain it to you before, but you've never understood. When he needs me, I can't deny him, no matter what. The same goes for him. Last night he needed the comfort of knowing that I, at least, still love him."

"What?! You're kidding me!" Yugi was on his feet now, hands clenched, shaking. "That's not comfort Seto, that's sex!"

"Please, Yugi. Let me try to explain."

"Forget it! There's nothing to explain. Now that Joey's gone, you figure you can just pick up with him where you left off! Damn you, Seto!"

Yugi turned and stormed towards the mansion. Seto got quickly to his feet to follow him, seeing Tristan coming across the yard.

"Yugi." Tristan stopped in front of him, reaching out to grasp his arm.

"How could you?" Yugi hissed, his hand flashing out to make contact with Tristan's face.

Tristan staggered back as Yugi pushed past him. He felt hands enclose his arms, steadying him.

"Let him go, Tris." Seto's voice was choked.

Tristan turned around, seeing tears in his friend's eyes. "Seto…I don't know what to say."

"Come on." Seto took his hand and lead him across the lawn and into the maze, saying nothing until they were in the clearing in the middle.

Tristan sat down on the bench, pulling Seto down next to him. Neither one said a word, just sitting there, absorbing the events of the morning.

"I don't regret it." Seto broke the silence.

"I don't either." Tristan leaned his head against Seto's shoulder. "But why? Shouldn't we? I mean, I feel guilty for hurting Yugi, but not for being with you."

Seto sighed, tightening his grip on Tristan's hand. "I know. Maybe…maybe it's because it's how things have always been between us. Yami understands. But Yugi never has."

"I'm sorry Seto. I never meant to come between you. I was just so messed up…I…I don't know. I'm sorry."

"No." Seto leaned back, causing Tristan to raise his head and look at him. "No apologies. You needed me. I was there for you. Just like I always am."

Tristan reached up and touched Seto's face softly. "Love you, pal."

"Love you too." Seto's eyes grew wistful. "I just wish that I could make Yugi see that it's different from the way I love him."

"You will. He loves you, Seto. He's hurt right now. Yami told me he'd talk to him."

"I can't lose him." Seto whispered, a lone tear escaping to track down his face.

"You're not going to." Tristan cupped Seto's face in his hands and leaned in, brushing their lips together. "I'll distance myself if I have to. I won't let you go through this pain."

"Don't say that. Please…Tristan." Seto gripped Tristan's wrists. "I need you both. You're my best friend. I can't be without you."

"I'll do what needs to be done, Seto. I care too much about you to be the cause of anything that causes you pain. You know that."

Seto wrapped his arms around Tristan's waist, moving closer and claiming his mouth in a heated kiss. Tristan responded with equal feeling, both of them knowing that it was probably the last time.

Seto's brow furrowed as he thought he heard a small click, followed by a minute whirling sound. He was about to pull back when Tristan tangled his hands in his hair, deepening the kiss. All thought fled as he concentrated on just feeling Tristan.

Neither one of them wanted it to end, but air was fast becoming necessary. They broke apart reluctantly, leaning against each other.

"I should go." Tristan whispered.

Seto nodded, unable to look at him.

Tristan placed one last kiss on Seto's forehead, pulling from his arms and standing. He stroked his hand through the other's hair before turning and quietly walking away.

~*~*~*~*~

Joey came to, finding himself on the bathroom floor, his whole body throbbing with pain. His stomach churned as he pulled himself up, gripping the sink. Pain lanced over his back and across his chest as he finally made it to his feet.

"Gods." Joey moaned, bringing up a hand to rub across his chest. "What the fuck happened?"

Wondering why his hand felt wet, he raised his head, nearly losing his balance when he saw blood smeared across his palm. He looked at himself in the mirror, shocked to see small cuts standing out on his chest and collarbone, most of them seeping blood.

They weren't deep. It looked as if a blade had been pressed against his skin just hard enough to draw blood. He shifted, feeling his back sting and knew the trickle of warmth he felt there wasn't sweat.

He felt movement behind him and heard a sharp gasp.

"Oh, holy shit!" Keith whispered.

Joey turned around slowly, seeing Keith standing behind him with a small switch blade in his hand. There was blood on it.

"Joe…I don't…I didn't mean to." Keith dropped the knife. "I'm sorry."

Joey's eyes widened as the realization crashed into him. He tensed as Keith reached out to touch him.

"Please, Joe." Keith gripped him by the forearms. "I'm sorry. It was the coke. I swear."

Joey's vision receded, and he collapsed, head throbbing from the let down of his high. He felt Keith gently lower him to the floor and the sound of water running. He sight came back again when he felt Keith pick him up; whimpering at the feeling of his raw skin rubbing against the other's clothed body.

"Hush…Joe, its okay. Let me help, please."

Joey hissed, fingers digging into Keith's shoulders as he was lowered into the tub, the warm water making the cuts feel like they were on fire. Keith kept an arm around Joey's shoulders, holding him up, until the smaller blond relaxed.

"What happened?" Joey winced as Keith began to gently rub a soapy cloth over the cuts on his back.

"I don't know. We were both pretty high."

"Then how come you don't look like you're hurting?"

Keith shrugged. "I never get hung over. Doesn't seem to matter what I do or how much."

"Lucky you." Joey buried his face in his wet hands, trying to will the pain away.

Keith pulled Joey's hands away from his face and looked into his eyes. "Joe, I'm really sorry."

Joey searched the light blue depths, trying to see if the remorse was genuine. There was something there, but he couldn't tell what it was.

[It's not his fault. It was the drugs. He didn't mean to. He said so. I can't be upset, he's all I have. This is all I have left.]

Joey reached up and brushed his lips against Keith's. "It's okay Keith. I forgive you. It wasn't your fault."

Keith smiled and reached around Joey, trying to avoid the cuts as he helped him from the tub. "Come on. Let's get you dried off and in to bed. Things'll be better once you've slept if off."

~*~*~*~*~

"Aibou, wait." Yami grabbed his hikari by the arm as he ran through the kitchen.

"Let go!" Yugi struggled feebly, his sobs bordering on hysterical.

Yami ignored his protest, leading him from the kitchen and into the den. He pushed Yugi down on the couch, going to the bar and pouring some brandy into a glass.

"Drink it." He commanded, handing the glass to Yugi.

Yugi was about to protest when he saw the determined look in his dark's eyes. Biting back another sob, he downed the liquor, gasping as it hit his stomach like a fireball. He felt it spread through his limbs, the warmth calming him somewhat.

Yami took the glass, setting it on the coffee table. He sat down next to Yugi and took his hands in his, pulling the other man close.

"Why, Yami?" Yugi's breath hitched a little as he cuddled into the spirit.

"Try to understand, Aibou. What happened between them last night was necessary."

"How can you say that?!"

"I find it surprising given our relationship and that of Ryou and the Tomb Robber that you don't understand, my light."

Yugi shook his head, amethyst eyes confused.

"They share a bond not unlike our own. But because they do not have a mental link, they express it other ways. Each of them only existed until they met. There's more to their relationship than friendship. I do not think that even they can understand it."

"But they slept together!"

"And that was an extreme circumstance. Had things not happened as they did with Joey, I do not believe it would have happened. For Tristan, it was always the ultimate form of comfort he received from Seto. Just as Seto giving up control to Tristan in the form of physical pain was the best release for him."

Yugi was silent for a while, absorbing what Yami had said. Yami could feel the emotions pouring through the link from his light and he held back, letting him come to terms with what he had been told.

"So," Yugi finally broke the quiet. "They're like yami and hikari?"

"In a manner of speaking, yes. They…complete each other. Without the other near, they feel as if there's something missing. Something vital."

"I'm afraid, Yami." Yugi whispered, burrowing in closer. "What if…what if Seto leaves us? If he feels that way about Tristan…I've lost Grandpa, and now Joey. I don't think I could bear losing Seto too."

"Oh, Aibou." Yami put his arms around his hikari, hugging him tightly. "Seto is not going to leave us. He loves us. Yes, he loves Tristan too, but it's not the same. It's not a…romantic love, if you will. It runs deeper than friendship, but it doesn't take away from what he feels for us."

"I need to think about this, Yami." Yugi said, untangling himself. "I need to be alone for a while."

"I understand. But you need to talk to Seto."

Yugi sighed, getting up from the couch. "I will. Just give me some time. I'll be downstairs."

Yami waited until Yugi had disappeared down the stairs before getting up to go find Seto.

~*~*~*~*~

Tristan wandered through the empty house, mind numb, trying not to think of why it was so quiet.

/I can't stay here. Everywhere I look, I see him./

He made his way back into the living room, opening up his laptop and logging on to the Kaiba corp. mainframe. Inputting his security code, he went to the page reserved for top executives. There didn't seem to be anything that needed his attention. Not that he could deal with much in his present state anyway.

He noticed that no one had the cottage that Seto kept for an executive retreat booked for the next week.

/He did tell me to take the week off. Well, maybe three days. I need to get away. Maybe if I'm not around, Seto will be able to patch things up with Yugi./

He sighed as he booked out the seaside cottage for four days, just in case. Then he sent an email off to Teddy, letting him know where he had gone and asking that he let Seto know.

He went upstairs to pack, eventually finding himself standing in front of the dresser, a small pine box in his hands. It was his grandmother's jewelry box, containing a few pieces of jewelry that were meant for Tristan to give to his wife when he got married.

/Well, Nana, sorry, but that's not going to happen. Somehow I don't think that would upset you too much./

With a small smile, he opened the box, his gaze immediately falling on Joey's ring. Placing the box back on the dresser, he took the ring out, turning it between his fingers.

/Where are you, Joey? Do you really want this? I'd forgive you anything you've done, if you could find it in your heart to forgive me. I miss you./

He took a long, thin gold chain from the box, one he remembered his grandmother wearing. He threaded the ring onto it and put it around his neck.

Forcing back the tears that seemed to come so easily now, he picked up his bag and left the house, already dreading his return.

~*~*~*~*~

Seto sat at his desk, looking out the window.

"We need to find him, love." Yami stood behind him, rubbing his shoulders.

"I know. I'm worried. He's just disappeared."

"I don't believe for one minute that he doesn't want to be found."

"Tristan didn't mean that, Yami." Seto turned his chair and pulled his husband into his lap. "That was the pain talking."

"I'm sure it was, but we still need to find Joey."

Seto picked up the phone, dialing the number for his security force. He swiftly gave instructions, stating that they were to stay on the streets until the blond was found and report back to him four times a day.

A small smile graced Yami's lips as he marveled once again at Seto's efficiency.

"Done." Seto hung up the phone and put his arms around Yami. "Now comes the hardest part. I need to talk to Yugi."

"I believe he's coming to terms with it." Yami replied. He had told Seto of the conversation he had had with Yugi.

Seto sighed and buried his face in Yami's hair, not saying anything, just holding him tightly.

"Everything will work out, my dragon." Yami pulled Seto's arms from around his waist and stood. "Go talk to him now. He's down in the control room."

Seto stood as well, running his hand through his hair. Never in his life had he felt so scared. No board meeting, no business deal had ever come close to the nervousness he was feeling now.

He left Yami in the office, heading for the lower floor, feeling the butterflies that had taken up residence in his stomach.

All his business expertise would do him no good in this situation. He was completely terrified.

~*~*~*~*~

Keith stopped at the newspaper kiosk to pick up some cigarettes for Joey.

"Excuse me, sir?"

Keith turned to look at the man who looked like he had stepped out of a Secret Service movie. Dark blue suit, shades and an earpiece.

"Yes?" Keith tensed as he noticed the small silver pin on the man's lapel. KC.

"Have you seen this man?" He held out a picture of Joey.

Keith pretended to look carefully at the photograph, his heart pounding. "No. Can't say as I have."

The man pulled a business card from his pocket and handed it to the blond. "If you do see him, please call this number."

"Sure." It was Seto Kaiba's business card.

Keith turned away quickly, hurrying towards home.

He had to warn Joey they were looking for him. He had to keep him off the streets. There was no way he'd let the other blond go back. Joey was his now, and he intended to keep it that way.

~*~*~*~*~

Tristan: *takes frying pan from YD and smacks Joey*

Joey: @.@

Tristan: Now I see what they were for.

Yugi: So, am I leaving Seto, or what?

DD: Haven't decided yet.

YD: We invite you to review and thwack Joey with your frying pans.

DD: You may keep them for upcoming chapters!