Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Stronger Than Before ❯ chapter14 ( Chapter 14 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

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.

WARNING: THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS EXPLICIT YAOI (MALE/MALE SEX)! IF THAT'S NOT YOUR THING, THEN LEAVE NOW!

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

~*~*~*~*~

YD: Sorry it took so long to get this chappie out.

DD: But it's extra long.

Chibi Yami: Help! Mommy!!

YD: Tris, don't squeeze her so hard.

Tris: *lets go of kid* Sorry, I was just giving her a birthday hug.

Chibi Yami: X.X

DD: Oh! We have a YGO web site now!

YD: Yeah! It's http://www.geocities.com/mellybean72ca/DDYD

DD: It's not done, but we have some of our stories up.

YD: Enjoy the chappie, I think you'll all like it!

~*~*~*~*~

Joey woke up to a severe let down. He was sick to his stomach, his body ached and his head was pounding…but his mind was crystal clear. For the first time in a long time, he was able to think straight.

[Oh, gods!! What am I doing?! How long have I been here?!]

Everything…Keith, the drugs, what he had been doing to earn money, everything was in the fore front of his mind.

[I can't do this anymore…I need to go home! I can't do this!! Tristan! Gods, Tristan…please…]

He curled up on his side, relieved he was alone, and began to sob.

[I'll beg him to take me back. If he doesn't…I'll…I'll check myself back into the clinic and dry out. I just can't do this anymore…I can't keep being Keith's whore! I'm better than this!]

Joey got up out of the bed and pulled his clothes on. He decided he would leave everything. He wanted nothing that would remind him of what he had done. He was just grateful that his dueling deck was in the safe at Seto's house.

[Maybe I should go to Seto's. Yugi wouldn't turn me away, no matter what. I don't know what I was thinking…he'd never turn his back on me.]

He walked out into the living room to see Keith in his usual spot on the couch.

"What's up, Joe?" Keith asked. "Marty's coming over."

"I'm leaving." Joey said, not looking Keith in the eye.

"You're what?!"

"I'm leaving. I can't do this any more, Keith."

"So, going back to Tristan, are you?"

"If he'll take me…yes."

"Well, he won't." Keith stood up. "What would he want with a no good, druggie whore like you?"

Joey flinched, backing up as Keith advanced. "I have my friends…they won't turn their backs on me."

"I'm sorry you feel that way, Joe." Keith's fist shot out, catching Joey in the jaw and knocking him unconscious.

He caught the smaller blond before he hit the floor, picking him up in his arms and laying him down on the couch. He sat beside him, reaching for a needle and preparing it.

"You're not leaving." Keith slipped the needle into Joey's arm. "You're mine."

~*~*~*~*~

Ryou kicked open Tristan's bedroom door, a mug in each hand. Tristan was sitting up on the bed, inspecting his arm. Master Kiotou had just left after taking the bandages off.

"Wow." Ryou handed Tristan one of the cups before sitting cross legged next to him, sipping at his own coffee. "That's amazing. Three days and it's already healed."

Tristan shrugged. "I guess. It wasn't that deep to begin with."

"Is it going to scar?"

"He said it would." Tristan stared into his cup. "He said he was glad it was going to. That I needed a reminder of what I almost did to my friends."

"Tristan…" Ryou laid a hand on his arm. "You don't still…want to kill yourself, do you?"

Tristan looked up to meet chocolate brown eyes filled with tears. He felt like someone had stabbed him in the heart. Ryou hadn't left him alone for a minute. He took care of him; made sure he ate and took his medication, slept by his side at night. That was Ryou for you…always putting everyone ahead of himself.

"I…Ryou, I'm sorry." Tristan put down his cup on the bedside table, taking Ryou's from him as well.

He put his arms around his friend, stroking his soft, white hair. Ryou returned the hug, struggling to hold back his tears.

"You didn't answer me." Ryou sniffled, pulling back so he could look Tristan in the eye.

"I can't answer that. I…Ryou, without Joey…it's like I've lost half of my heart."

"Without you, Seto would have lost half his soul." Ryou retorted, albeit gently. "You know that, Tristan. It'd be like me without Bakura…Yami without Yugi."

Tristan shook his head. "It's not like that with us. Bakura is your yami."

"It's not exactly the same, but its close enough and you know it." Ryou's eyes narrowed. "I think it's time you talked to him. You haven't spoken two words to him. You're anger is totally misdirected, Tristan. It's not Seto you're mad at, is it?"

"No." Tristan whispered, looking away.

"Then why are you making him suffer? Haven't you done enough?" Ryou's voice was rising, his face flushing with anger.

Tristan looked back at him, his eyes widening. He had never heard Ryou raise his voice at all. Not even to Bakura.

"Come downstairs and I'll make you some lunch." Ryou changed the subject, feeling his temper getting out of control.

"Ryou," Tristan grabbed his arm, keeping him from getting up. "You're right. I have a lot to do to make it up to you guys…especially Seto."

"He's really upset, Tristan."

"I'll call him…ask him to come over."

"That would be for the best." Ryou smiled. "He really misses you."

Tristan smiled back. "I'll make it up to him…to all of you. I promise."

Ryou threw himself at Tristan, squeezing him hard. "I'm glad, Tristan. Life wouldn't be the same without you!"

~*~*~*~*~

Joey woke up again, vaguely aware of pain in his jaw. He had the sluggish feeling that always came after a drug-induced blackout.

He turned over, opening his eyes when he felt a hand run through his hair. "Marty?!"

"You passed out on me, Joe."

Joey realized that he was in bed, and Marty was lying next to him. They were fully clothed, but…

"Did we..?"

"Nah." Marty grinned. "Just the usual. I offered the Bandit a lot of money, but he said no."

"Oh." Joey looked away. "You'd better go, Marty. Keith might get upset."

"Looks like he already did." The bar owner fingered the bruise on Joey's face.

"I…I don't remember."

"Well," Marty got up off the bed, heading for the door. "See ya around, Joe."

Joey watched as the other man causally sauntered out of the room. [What happened? I remember I was trying to tell Keith something…something important. Doesn't matter, I guess. I must have blacked out again.]

Joey turned over again, burrowing into the covers, and went back to sleep.

~*~*~*~*~

Tristan was helping Ryou clean up the kitchen when Bakura came in, a sour look on his face.

"What's wrong, yami?"

"Otogi's here." Bakura looked at Tristan. "He wants to talk to you."

Tristan sighed, putting away the plates he had in his hand and turning to leave the kitchen. "Give us some privacy, okay?"

"Here, `kura." Ryou handed his dark a dish towel. "You can finish drying these for me."

Bakura bit his lip to keep from saying what he really wanted to and picked up a wet coffee mug, drying it like it was the most important thing in his afterlife.

Tristan shook his head and left the kitchen, confident that Ryou would keep Bakura occupied.

He found Otogi sitting in the living room, looking expectantly towards the kitchen. He smiled when Tristan came in.

"Hi, Tristan." He reached for Tristan's hand as he sat down next to him. "When you didn't call, I thought I'd stop by."

"Otogi…" Tristan pulled his hand away.

"What the hell is this?" Otogi grabbed him by the wrist, eyes narrowing at the long red mark running the length of Tristan's arm.

"Nothing." Tristan pulled away and stood up. "Otogi, I'm sorry, but I can't go out with you again."

"Why not?" He looked up at Tristan, his emerald eyes confused.

"It's just…" Tristan took a deep breath. "Look, it's Joey, okay? It wouldn't be fair to you."

The raven haired man stood up and went over to Tristan, putting a hand on his arm. "I understand, Tristan. Really…I do. You still love him."

"I'll always love him." Tristan whispered, not meeting Otogi's eyes.

"Well then," Otogi leaned up and kissed Tristan's cheek. "I guess I'll have to settle for being your friend."

"Thanks, Otogi." Tristan smiled.

Otogi threw himself back down on the couch with a grin, patting the spot beside him. Tristan settled down next to him just as Bakura walked into the room.

"Coffee?" The white haired spirit glared at the dice master.

Tristan rolled his eyes. "Please."

"I take mine black." Otogi beamed a huge smile Bakura's way. "Please."

Muttering to himself in Egyptian, Bakura stalked out of the room.

"He doesn't like me, does he?" Otogi observed.

"He's hell bent on bringing Joey home. I think he wants to see me with Joey and no one else."

Now it was Otogi's turn to roll his eyes. "You'd think I was in here molesting you or something."

Tristan laughed, smacking Otogi in the arm. "You're impossible."

"Yeah, well, that's me." Otogi's eyes went to Tristan's arm. "Will you tell me what happened?"

Tristan shifted uncomfortably, tugging at the sleeve of his tee shirt as though he was trying to cover his arm. "Ummm…"

"Tristan, no one is worth that." Otogi's green eyes regarded him seriously. "No one."

"Have you ever been in love?" Tristan asked him.

"Well…no."

"Then you couldn't possibly understand." Tristan stated, a little defensively.

"I didn't mean it that way…" He was cut off by Bakura and Ryou coming into the room.

"Here's your coffee." Bakura practically growled.

"Oh, yami…be nice." Ryou sat down on the loveseat and pulled Bakura down next to him.

Bakura relaxed some as they sat and talked, seeing that Otogi wasn't all over Tristan. By the time the emerald eyed man left, Bakura grudgingly admitted, just to himself of course, that he kind of liked him.

Ryou ordered pizza in for dinner and when they were through, Tristan said goodnight to the two and went upstairs to call Seto.

~*~*~*~*~

Joey screamed as Keith tore into him. He couldn't get away, pinned as he was under the larger man's weight.

"Don't be such a wimp, Joe." Keith growled, grabbing a handful of the other's golden hair. "You know you like it."

"Stop! Please, Keith…it hurts!"

"I told you…you're mine." Keith continued to pound into him. "Now shut up and lie there like a good little whore."

Joey whimpered, trying to take himself to a place where there was no pain…no Keith. His heroin fogged mind helped.

[Tristan…]

He looked up at Keith, seeing Tristan instead. He smiled seductively, snaking his arms around the other's neck and pulling him down, kissing him passionately. The pain was gone…but then, Tristan never hurt him.

"I love you." Joey whispered, arching up against the other. "I love you, Tristan."

Suddenly he couldn't breathe. There was a hand wrapped around his throat, squeezing.

"Bitch!" Keith growled. "Stop thinking about him!"

Through the haze of near unconsciousness, Joey realized that Keith was choking him. [I don't care. Maybe he'll finally kill me this time. Then I won't have to live like this anymore.]

He heard Keith moan and his weight settle limply against him just before everything went black.

~*~*~*~*~

"Where are you going, Mokuba?" Yami asked the younger Kaiba.

"Out." Mokuba replied testily. "If I have to listen to Seto cry for another minute, I'm going over to Tristan's and smacking him one!"

"Seto's crying?!"

"He's in his office. I was walking by and I heard him." The grey eyes grew sad. "Why is Tristan acting like this?"

Yami put his arms around his brother-in-law. "He's hurt and confused. I know he'll come around."

"He shouldn't be doing this to Seto. He's supposed to be his best friend!"

"I know, Mokuba." Yami let go of the teen. "I'll go see Seto and find out what's going on."

"I'm going over to the lab for a while." Mokuba headed for the front door. "Call me if you need me, okay, Yami?"

"I will." Yami stayed where he was until he heard the door shut.

Turning, he headed upstairs to Seto's office, briefly touching Yugi through the link to let him know where he was going.

He paused outside the door, listening carefully. No sound issued from within. Cracking open the door, Yami stuck his head in to see Seto lying on the couch, an arm thrown over his chest and the other hanging limp at his side.

Yami snuck across the room, perching on the edge of the couch by his husband's side. Tears filled his crimson eyes. Seto was so pale, and his eyelids were swollen, giving evidence that he had been crying.

He ran his hand through the sleeping man's hair before reaching out and pulling the blanket off the back of the couch and covering him with it.

//Yami? Tristan's on the phone. He wants to talk to Seto.//

[[He'll have to wait, Aibou. He's asleep. I'm not going to wake him.]] Yami tucked the blanket securely around the brunet. [[What does he want?]]

//He wants Seto to go over…I think he wants to apologize.//

[[Tell him we'll send Seto over when he wakes up. He needs to sleep.]]

//Will do, Yami.//

He felt Yugi's attention turn back to the phone conversation. He settled down next to Seto, laying his head on his chest and stroking his face.

Whatever Tristan wanted would have to wait. Yami only hoped it really was to apologize. Seto had been suffering like never before over his best friend's anger at him.

Seto shifted in his sleep, his arms coming up to hold Yami. He sighed, burying his face in Yami's hair.

[[Sleep, my dragon. Rest. It will work out.]]

~*~*~*~*~

Tristan hung up the phone, disappointed.

Now that Ryou had made him realize just how badly he had hurt Seto, he wanted to make it up to him as soon as possible.

/Gods, I've been such an idiot. Seto has always been there for me. And now, when I need him the most, I turn away from him, making him think I don't want him near me. I do need him. More than ever./

He changed into a pair of sleep shorts, grabbing the book he had been reading, and stretched out on the bed. By the time he had to read the same page three times, he realized that he wasn't going to distract himself.

He glanced at his alarm clock. It was just after ten.

/What am I going to say to him? `I'm sorry' sounds so lame after what I've put him through. He's been through it all with me. And he's stayed so positive about getting Joey back, more than I've been. I hope he gets here soon. I need to see him, let him know that I still love him. He's the other half of me. I did know it, but it never really sank in. It took me trying to take my own life to see that. He knew it. He tried to tell me that day, but I didn't want to listen. I want him to know that I won't turn my back on him again./

Tristan lay on the bed, staring up at the ceiling, letting his thoughts wander. He'd wait all night for Seto if he had to. He knew he wouldn't sleep until he saw his best friend and let him know how he felt, that he was sorry and wouldn't try to leave him again.

~*~*~*~*~

Seto woke with a start, sitting up abruptly, calling out Tristan's name.

"You're awake." Yami stated the obvious from his current position on the floor.

Seto shook his head, trying to clear it of the nightmare that had woken him. It was the same nightmare he had had last night. The one where Tristan had succeeded in killing himself.

"I'm sorry, love." He reached down and pulled Yami up off the floor and into his lap. "I didn't know you were there."

"I'm fine." Yami leaned up and kissed him. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah. Just a nightmare."

"Tristan called."

"He did?!" Seto sounded so hopeful that it nearly broke Yami's heart.

"He wants to see you."

Seto bit his lip. "Yami, if I see him…if he's…"

He was interrupted by Yugi's entrance.

"Seto, are you going to see Tristan?" Yugi settled next to him. "He called earlier."

"I want to." Seto seemed hesitant.

"Go…be with him." Yugi reached up and cupped his face. "I know that's what you're worried about it. It's okay."

Seto raised an eyebrow. "Yugi…"

"Seto," Yami interrupted. "If you need to be with him, we understand."

"We do." Yugi smiled brightly. "Did you think I was only kidding when I told Tristan I was okay with it?"

Seto put his arms around Yugi. "I don't know if I could handle it if he tried it again. If I lost him. I can't be without him."

"I know." Yami slipped his arms around Seto's waist and he and Yugi just held him for a minute.

"Go on, love." Yugi pulled away. "If you don't come home tonight, it's alright."

"Thank you for understanding…both of you." Seto took each of his husbands in his arms in turn, kissing them deeply.

~*~*~*~*~

Seto let himself into the house, locking the door behind him.

He went into the living room, hearing the TV on. He smiled at the sight that greeted him.

Bakura was sitting on the couch, feet up on the coffee table, watching TV. Ryou was lying next to him, his head in his dark's lap and his hair covering his face. He was sound asleep.

"You guys can go home if you want." Seto said quietly, crossing over to the couch and reaching down to brush Ryou's hair back.

"Staying the night?" Bakura's face was expressionless.

"Probably."

"'bout time you two made up. I was getting ready to gut Tristan." Bakura looked down at Ryou, a smile softening his features. "We'll stay. He's exhausted. He's been so worried about Tristan he hasn't slept much in the last few days. I'm just going to finish watching this movie and then I'll take him to bed."

"Sounds good. Bakura…thank you. You guys stayed with him when he wouldn't let me. That means a lot to me."

The white haired man waved a hand dismissively. "Ryou wouldn't have it any other way. You know how he is."

"I do." Seto squeezed Bakura's shoulder before bending and brushing his lips against Ryou's forehead. "But thank you anyway."

"Go on. Go see him. He's waiting for you." Bakura smirked. "Kiss and make up or something."

Seto grinned. Bakura said the same thing every time he and Tristan had an argument. He shook his head and left the two men, heading upstairs where hopefully Tristan was waiting to talk to him.

He paused outside the bedroom door, his hand on the knob. {Please…talk to me this time.}

Taking a deep breath, he pushed the door open and stepped inside, shutting it softly behind him.

"Seto…" Tristan rose from the bed and came toward him, stopping a couple of feet away. /He looks like hell. And it's my fault./

Seto bit his lip, tears coming unbidden to his eyes as he searched Tristan's face. For what, he wasn't even sure of. Just seeing him on his feet, alive, was enough to tear a sob from him as the tears spilled over.

Tristan held out his arms. "I'm sorry, pal."

Seto threw himself into Tristan's arms and buried his face in his friend's neck. He was sobbing helplessly, which alarmed Tristan.

"Oh gods, Seto." Tristan tightened his grip. "What have I done to you?"

"Tris…p-promise me something."

"What?" Tristan pulled back, reaching to tip Seto's face up and meet the devastated sapphire eyes. "Tell me what I can do to make it up to you."

"Promise me you won't do it again."

"I promise." Tristan whispered, wiping the tears from Seto's face.

"I love you, Tris."

"I love you too, pal." Tristan ran his hand through Seto's hair, kissing his cheek. "I'm so sorry. When I saw Joey, I thought it was over. I though I was alone. I wasn't thinking straight."

Seto sighed, tightening his arms around Tristan's waist and pressing close. "I want to stay with you tonight."

"Sure. You look like you need some sleep." Tristan untangled himself and began unbuttoning Seto's shirt. "Get undressed and let's settle in for the night, okay?"

Seto nodded, letting Tristan help him undress to his boxers, and crawled into the bed with him, immediately moving into his arms.

"Bakura told me about when you saw Joey." Seto said, looking up at Tristan. "You don't think that this guy was who he's with?"

"No." Tristan shook his head. "I just can't figure out why he was doing that."

Seto reached up and stroked Tristan's face, seeing tears in his friend's eyes. "I know why."

"What?! Why…I mean…why haven't you told me?"

"I was hoping I wouldn't have to until we got him home. Tris…he's…doing it for money…and drugs. At least as far as we can tell."

"Gods! Seto, we need to get him home." Tristan's voice was pleading. "He's going to get himself killed at this rate."

"We will, Tris." Seto moved in close, lulled by the warmth of the other's body. "You and I…we'll go out ourselves first thing tomorrow, okay?"

"Okay, Seto." Tristan kissed him on the top of the head. "Go to sleep. I'm not going to leave you…I promise."

Seto sighed, making himself comfortable, and listened to Tristan's even heartbeat until he fell asleep.

~*~*~*~*~

Joey eased from Keith's grip. Even in his sleep the older blond was possessive of him.

He slid slowly from the bed, careful not to wake the other man. Silently, he pulled on his clothes and snuck from the room.

He stopped by the door to pull on his boots before unlocking it. The small click of the bolt sliding back seemed to echo through the apartment and Joey paused, holding his breath.

He eased open the door and stepped through, his heart pounding. [Tristan…I'm coming home.]

Suddenly his scalp exploded with pain as he was grabbed by the hair and thrown backwards into the apartment.

"Where the fuck do you think you're going?!" Keith roared.

He didn't give Joey a chance to answer as he slammed the door shut and spun around, punching the smaller man in the stomach.

Joey went down on his knees, body curling in on itself against the pain. Keith grabbed him by the hair again and dragged him into the living room and up onto the couch.

When Joey tried to rise, Keith punched him in the jaw, forcing him back down.

Placing a knee on Joey's chest, pinning him down, Keith's lip curled into a sneer. "How many times do I have to tell you…you're MINE! You're NOT leaving here unless I say so!"

"Please…Keith…"

"Shut the FUCK up!" Keith picked up a knife from the coffee table and slashed at Joey with it. The smaller blond's tee shirt parted under the blade, revealing a thin line of crimson. "Obviously I'm going to have to teach you a lesson."

Joey clenched his eyes shut and tensed, waiting for the beating to start. Minutes crawled by, but it never happened.

Joey cracked open an eye, looking to see if Keith was waiting for him to look before he started. His eyes flew open when he saw what the other man was doing.

Keith turned from where he was kneeling next to the coffee table and slipped the belt around Joey's arm. He pulled it tight, and before Joey could protest, plunged a needle into his arm.

Every form of argument was taken from him as the drugs hit him. He could tell right away that it was more than Keith had ever given him before.

The world swung away in a swirl of color and nothing mattered anymore.

~*~*~*~*~

Tristan opened his eyes to the feeling of soft lips against his bare chest.

It took him a minute to remember where he was and who was in his bed. The familiar smell of Seto's cologne brought him fully awake.

"Seto?"

Seto looked up and, in the soft glow of the bedside lamp; Tristan could see unshed tears shining in his eyes. "I need you."

Tristan's eyes widened. "What brought this on?"

"I almost lost you." Seto moved up, leaning his forehead against the other brunet's. "Please, Tris…I need…I need to be as close to you as I can. Let me make love to you."

"But, Yugi…" Tristan suddenly became aware that they were both naked, Seto having obviously undressed him while he was sleeping. /How the hell did I sleep through THAT?!/

"Yugi and Yami told me to come here…to be with you. They really do understand, Tris. They understand that sometimes we just need each other."

Tristan felt his body responding to having Seto's naked form pressed against him. "Seto…"

"You can't deny that you need this as much as I do," Seto leaned in and kissed him softly. "Can you?"

Tristan looked into the azure eyes of his best friend, feeling the connection that they had always shared; stronger now for having almost lost it.

"No." Tristan shook his head. "I can't. I need you too, pal."

He tangled his hands in Seto's hair, drawing him down and kissing him deeply. Seto responded with tender eagerness, running a hand down the other's chest.

"Tell me what you need." Seto asked, as he always did, when the kiss ended.

"Make the pain stop, Seto. Please…make it go away…even just for a little while."

"Don't I always?" Seto asked rhetorically as he bent to kiss Tristan's pulse point.

"Yes." Tristan whispered, feeling the fire flowing through his body as Seto bit down gently on his weak spot.

Seto slipped one arm under Tristan's back, pulling him close, while his other hand drifted over his chest and stomach to wrap around his already weeping arousal.

Tristan cried out, thrusting up into Seto's grip. Hearing and sight were taken from him as his release crashed into him out of nowhere.

After a minute, he forced his eyes open to find Seto looking at him, an amused expression on his face.

"Not funny." Tristan groaned.

"Well, that's what happens when you deny your body what it needs, buddy."

Tristan growled, hooking an arm around Seto's neck and pulling him down until their lips met. He plunged his tongue into the other's mouth, smirking to himself when Seto moaned. He felt Seto trailing his fingers through the sticky fluid on his stomach and then suddenly a single slick digit entered him.

He pulled away from Seto's lips with a small hiss. "Oh, gods…"

"Shhh…relax." Seto began trailing feather-light kisses down the shorter man's neck.

He licked and nipped his way down Tristan's body until he could lick away what was left of the other's release before returning to his lips and claiming them again. Tristan moaned deeply at the salty taste overlaying familiar the cinnamon-like flavor of Seto's kiss.

Seto pulled back to look deeply into Tristan's eyes; need blazing in his own sapphire orbs. "I…I can't wait…"

"Don't." Tristan pulled Seto down on top of him.

"Tristan…" Seto sobbed as he pushed slowly into him. "Oh, gods…Tris…"

Tristan felt tears tracking, unbidden, down his face as Seto began to move slowly on him. He held him close, feeling his heart pounding in time with Seto's. Completion, love and contentment flowed through him at the other's tender actions. This was what he needed. To be with someone who cared about him, who loved and understood him.

"Seto…Seto, please!" Tristan locked his legs around Seto's, meeting his thrusts.

"Don't leave me, Tris." Seto began to thrust harder. "Please…don't ever leave me…please."

"I'm not…Seto…I'm so sorry." Tristan tightened his arms around the other man, kissing the side of his face.

"Can't be without you…Tristan…oh gods." Seto's movements became more frantic as he felt the edge approaching.

"Please…oh gods, Seto! I need it…I can't…"

"Give into it, Tris. Let your body feel…don't fight it." Seto angled his thrusts, slamming into Tristan's prostate.

Tristan began sobbing uncontrollably as he felt the tension pooling in his stomach. A whimper was torn from him as Seto continued to pound into him, bringing him closer and closer to the end.

Suddenly, two deep cries simultaneously shattered the semi quiet and they collapsed, limp, into each other's arms.

~*~*~*~*~

Ryou bolted awake as the sound of two passionate cries echoed through the house. "What was that?!"

"Seto and Tristan." Bakura pulled his hikari back down, covering him up again.

"Oh." Ryou snuggled his sleep warmed body against his yami's, already half way back to sleep.

Bakura stroked his light's hair, feeling him slip back into slumber. He kissed Ryou's forehead and held him close.

"I told them to kiss and make up…not fuck and make up." Bakura smirked into the darkness.

~*~*~*~*~

Joey lay sprawled out on the couch next to Keith, trying to think. He wasn't sure how long it had been since he had last tried to leave. He thought it was about three days, but the combination of heroin, pot and alcohol the older man kept pumping into him kept his mind in a haze.

The only thing he knew for sure was that it was night, and late at that. Keith had been drinking and was loaded, as the bruises and small cuts Joey sported testified to.

"Here, Joe." Keith turned to him, needle in hand.

"Too much." Joey protested weakly. It was easily three times as much as Keith had ever given him.

"Just shut the fuck up and give me your arm!" Keith yelled, grabbing Joey's wrist and yanking him forward. "You're coming down too fast and I getting sick of prepping your hits!"

Joey yelped as Keith stabbed the needle into his vein, not even bothering to use the belt. As soon as he yanked it out, he unsheathed a knife from his hip, pressing the point to Joey's chest. "Fucking idiot. You're useless."

Joey cringed as the Smokey Mountain Toothpick cut through his shirt, drawing blood.

"What's the matter, Joe? Don't you like my little toy?"

Joey shook his head.

"Hmm…" Keith smirked, bringing down the knife and scrutinizing the blade. "Tristan didn't like it either. Oh, look…there's still some of his blood on it."

Joey's eyes went wide as Keith used the hem of his shirt to scrub at a rust colored stain near the hilt. [Tristan's…oh GODS! The day of Dad's funeral…someone attacked him…it was…KEITH!]

Joey slowly backed away, fighting the lethargy of the drugs, struggling to get to his feet. [I have to get out! I have to tell Tristan!]

"Where the hell do you think you're going?" Keith asked as Joey finally managed to rise.

[Something's wrong…] Joey's vision was starting to blur at the edges and he couldn't stop shaking.

"Get back here!" Keith staggered to his feet, reaching out to grab the other man.

Joey's hands went to the coffee table, grasping for something to defend himself with. His fingers closed over the edge of a heavy, cut glass ashtray and he grabbed it up, swinging wildly.

He felt it make contact with something, but his mind was shutting down, unable to process what he had hit, even as blood splattered across his face. Hoping and praying he had hit his target, he ran.

Without knowing how he got there, he found himself outside. Some was reaching out to him, asking him if he was okay. Joey looked up and saw his father, pulling back his hand to hit him.

"NO!" Joey tore away and ran in the opposite direction.

He tried to duck down an alley, but it was being blocked by the Blue Eyes White Dragon. It roared loudly and Joey backed away. He spun around to come face to face with the Dark Magician and the Cyber Commander.

"You can't go this way, Joey." Dark Magician said. "He'll find you."

"Go to Master Kiotou." Cyber Commander pointed in the direction he had come from. "Tristan will find you there and keep you safe."

Joey did as he was told and ran.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw his father and Keith running toward him. His steps faltered as fear paralyzed him.

Suddenly the Man Eater Bug leapt down from the top of a building and grabbed his father. A wet crunch and a piercing scream filled the air and they disappeared in a flash of light.

Keith was only a few feet away and Joey cowered. Out of no where, the Red Eyes Black Dragon appeared, reducing Keith to a burning cinder. Joey moved away and found the Flame Swordsman at his side.

"Go, Master." The monster said. "Go now!"

Like an animal, running only because it's survival instinct told it to, Joey spun around and continued to run. He quickly found himself in front of a familiar downtown shop, other duel monsters having appeared to guide him.

He reached out to knock on the door when a massive convulsion ripped through him. He couldn't breathe. He felt himself fall and everything went dark.

~*~*~*~*~

Tristan accepted the bottle of beer Yugi handed him and smiled as his smaller friend plunked himself down in his lap.

"Anything?"

"No," Tristan replied, his smile fading. "Not a sign."

"That doesn't mean we're not going to find him, Tris." Seto put an arm around Tristan's shoulders, squeezing him.

It had been three days since Tristan and Seto had started looking for Joey themselves. There wasn't a trace of him any where in the city.

They had come back to Tristan's just a half hour ago. It was late and they were exhausted.

Seto had practically moved in with him, refusing to leave his side until they found Joey. The others had taken to meeting at Tristan's at the end of the day, offering support when the two friends came back empty handed.

"It's late. I need to go to bed." Tristan gave Yugi a hug before removing him from his lap and standing.

"We're staying." Bakura said from his spot on the loveseat where he was sitting with Ryou. "I think we should all head out in the morning."

"I agree with you…for once." Yami stood up from his place in Seto's lap. "Seto, why don't you sleep with Tristan tonight? Yugi and I will take one of the guest rooms."

"Okay…" Seto was cut off by the ringing of the phone.

"Got it." Bakura grabbed the portable phone lying on the table next to him. "Hello?"

They could all hear a blast of noise as Bakura was forced to hold the device away from his ear.

"Please…I can't understand you." Bakura tried to cut in. The only thing he could make out was Tristan's name. Then he heard something that made all the color drain from his face.

"What?!" Tristan asked as Bakura hung up.

"It was Mrs. Kiotou. I couldn't understand what she was saying…she was screaming at me in Korean."

"Why did you hang up?" Yugi asked.

"We have to get over there…" Everyone stared in shocked silence as tears began to race down the white haired spirit's face. "I could hear Joey screaming in the background."

~*~*~*~*~

Ryou: Not another cliffie!!

DD: Sorry, but we couldn't help it.

Ryou: *rolls eyes* Yeah, right.

Seto: *hugs sexually frustrated Tris*

Tris: *jumps Seto*

Joey: HEY! Hello? I'm back!

YD: Well, sorta.

Joey: Crap…

DD: Please review!!