Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Stronger Than Before ❯ chapter18 ( Chapter 18 )

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

~*~*~*~*~

DD: Where's the tissue?

YD: *hands box* Get a grip, would you?

DD: I can't help it if writing this chappie made me cry!

Joey: That don't sound good.

~*~*~*~*~

Seto sat behind his huge, imposing mahogany desk, elbows on the surface and fingers steepled in front of him.

"What makes you think he's going to give her up?" Tristan asked, standing at Seto's side.

Seto raised an eyebrow. "If he doesn't, I'll give him to Bakura."

Tristan grinned wolfishly. "Hopefully he can still talk."

Just then there was a knock at the door and Gina stuck her head in. "Bakura's here."

"Let them in." Seto said. "Then leave."

Gina nodded and threw open the double doors, revealing Panik; Bakura at his side. Bakura gave him a shove and followed him into the room, stopping in front of Seto's desk.

Tristan's eyes raked coldly over the man they had been searching for for months; the one who had dared tell such far-fetched lies about Joey.

He hadn't changed much since Duelist Kingdom, still looking like the star of a low budget horror movie; except for the bloody nose.

Tristan noticed a bloodstain on Bakura's shirt sleeve and gave him a questioning look.

Bakura shrugged. "I had to convince him it was in his best interest to come with me."

Seto pushed a piece of paper and a pen across his desk. "You will sign this statement testifying to the fact that Rita Adams paid you to lie."

Panik snorted. "What's in it for me?"

"You get to live." Tristan stated flatly, letting his gaze flicker to Bakura.

Panik caught the gesture and shifted uncomfortably, but he wasn't going to give in right away. "All this over Bandit Keith's little fuck toy?"

Tristan growled, his hands clenching into fists.

Seto grabbed Tristan's wrist as a similar growl came from Bakura. Panik cut a nervous glance at the much smaller man at his side.

"How has business been since you left Pegasus' employ, Panik?" Seto asked, squeezing Tristan's wrist in warning before letting go. "Have you found much work?"

"Hardly." Panik shifted again at the continuous low growl coming from the white haired man.

"Sign this and a sum of money will be deposited into your bank account before the close of business today."

"How much?"

"I don't think you're in any position to bargain." Seto looked pointedly at Bakura.

"Fine." Panik picked up the pen and signed the bottom of the document. "Didn't like the bitch anyway."

"Bakura, please show him out of the building." Seto gave his friend an admonishing look. "And make sure he's in one piece when he leaves. I'm not having blood cleaned from the elevator again this month."

"Killjoy." Bakura grinned widely, showing off pointed canines.

The color drained from Panik's face and it was all Tristan and Seto could do to keep their composure.

"Let's go, you." Bakura prodded Panik in the side and the big man jumped, practically running from the office.

Bakura turned in the doorway and winked at the two brunets, who finally let the grins they had been hiding break out.

"Oh, gods!" Tristan snickered, dropping down on the top of Seto's desk. "That was rich! `Clean blood out of the elevator again'? You should have been an actor, pal."

Seto just smiled and picked up the statement, handing it to Tristan. "Well, we got what we wanted. Besides, he caved too quick. Took all the fun out of it."

"I'll get this to the press right away. Should take some of the wind out of her sails."

"How's Joey?" Seto took Tristan's hand, lacing their finger together. "I'm sorry to call you away, but I wasn't sure if he was going to give me trouble."

"He's okay. He's just a little…scattered. I never know what he's going to say next."

"It'll get better, buddy."

"That's what I keep telling him. I'm worried though. The medicine Master Kiotou gave me isn't working. He's still in a lot of pain."

"Well," Bakura sauntered back into the room. "That was fun."

"Is he still alive?" Seto asked.

"Of course!" Bakura replied, mock-indignant. "You told me not to kill him, didn't you?"

"Did I?"

"Very funny, rich boy."

"I'm going to get this faxed off to the media." Tristan stood. "I want to get back to Joey."

"Send Ryou home, will you?" Bakura asked.

"If I can get him to leave, I will. I'll call you later, pal."

Seto got a feeling of immense satisfaction as he watched Tristan stride out the door. One more knot in the noose he was preparing to hang that bitch of a so-called reporter with.

Hopefully they'd be able to put a permanent stop to her soon.

~*~*~*~*~

Joey didn't pause to return the greeting, or offers, of the other men in the bar. Instead he headed straight for the back, opening up the door to Marty's office and slipping inside.

"Joe!" Marty stood up from his desk. "What are you doing here?"

"I need a fix, Marty."

"You look like you're really hurtin'." The bar owner commented, noticing how badly the blond was shaking.

Joey nodded.

"So, he took you back, huh? He know you're here?"

"No."

"He and his two friends really did some damage here the other night, and no one's seen the Bandit since."

Joey wisely changed the subject. "I haven't got any cash."

"That's fine." Marty smiled as he opened his desk drawer and took out what he needed. "Come here, pretty boy. I think this time you should pay me first."

Joey walked over to Marty, who sat back down, and dropped to his knees. He blanked his mind as he reached for the other man's belt.

"I've missed you, Joe."

~*~*~*~*~

"I'm going to check on Joey." Ryou informed the security guard as he rose from the piano.

Making his way upstairs, he quietly opened the bedroom door; not wanting to disturb Joey is he was asleep.

His heart stopped when his gaze fell on an empty bed and an open window.

"Joey?" Ryou called. "JOEY!"

Ryou was barely aware of footsteps pounding up the stairs as he ran to the window and looked out.

"Sir? What's wrong?"

Ryou turned around, his already pale features gone chalk white. "Joey's gone."

~*~*~*~*~

Joey sighed as the last of the pain faded. "Thanks, Marty."

"Hey, no problem, Joe." Marty pulled Joey against him, tracing the outline of his lips with a single finger. "I still want to have you, you know. But on the off chance the Bandit survived your boyfriend…well, I ain't gonna chance it."

"You know the rules, Marty." Joey said. "Keith or no Keith. They still stand."

"So, you gonna keep coming back?"

"I don't know." Joey shuffled his feet. "Tristan and my friends want me to quit. Besides, I can't keep coming here."

"That should be your decision, Joe." Marty said slyly. "Tell you what…meet me at the stand of trees at the edge of the park on South tomorrow morning and I'll see you're supplied for a good week."

"What if I can't make it?"

"I'll leave it for you. I'll find a way to mark it so you'll know it's there." Marty ran his hands down Joey's back. "Then we can discuss rewriting the rules."

"O-Okay…I guess."

"How about a little down payment then?" Without waiting for an answer, Marty pressed his lips to Joey's, plunging his tongue into the blond's mouth.

Joey fought not to gag, standing passively until the bar owner was done with him.

"I have to go." Joey said, avoiding Marty's eyes.

"Maybe I'll see you tomorrow then, huh?"

"Maybe." Joey turned toward the door.

"Around ten, Joe."

"Sure."

Joey broke into a run as soon as he was outside the bar. He ran as fast as he could, trying to escape the memories of the last half hour.

[I fucking hate myself.]

~*~*~*~*~

The second Tristan came through the door he knew something was wrong.

"Tristan!" Ryou flew down the stairs and threw himself at Tristan, sobbing. "Oh, gods, Tristan! I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!"

Tristan's arms came up to hold the near hysterical man. "Ryou, what's wrong?"

Ryou was unable to answer.

"Mr. Wheeler is gone."

Tristan's head snapped up and he saw Lenny standing in the doorway of the kitchen. "WHAT?!"

"I searched the entire house and the yard, sir. It seems he went out the bedroom window."

"Oh, gods…Joey…" Tristan buried his face in Ryou's hair.

"I'm…I'm s-sorry, Tristan…"

"No, Ryou. It's not your fault."

"Hey! What's going on?"

Everyone turned to see Joey walking through the still open front door.

"Joey!" Ryou tore himself away from Tristan and ran toward the blond. "Where did you go?! You scared me to death!"

Joey sidestepped Ryou's outstretched arms. "I just went for a walk."

Tristan looked at Joey carefully. He seemed nervous, jittery, and he was scratching the inside of his arm.

Tristan gently pushed Ryou aside and looked into Joey's eyes. The pupils were dilated. He grabbed Joey's wrists and turned his arms. The injured one was clean, but the other one held a tell-tale red mark.

"Where did you get it, Joey?" Tristan's calm voice belied the quickly rising rage growing inside him. "Tell me."

"I don't know what you're talking about." Joey replied belligerently, trying to remove himself from Tristan's grasp.

"Damn it, Joey!" Tristan spun the blond around and pinned him to the wall, his temper flaring out of control. "Tell me! I'm going to fucking KILL whoever gave you drugs!"

"Tristan…please, stop!" Ryou grabbed his arm, trying to pull him off Joey. "You're going to hurt him!"

"Who was it?!" Tristan demanded, ignoring Ryou.

Joey shook his head, whimpering in pain and fear as Tristan's hands moved from his wrists to his arms, gripping tightly.

"Tell me, Joey!"

"Stop!" Ryou tugged uselessly on the bigger man's arm.

Lenny moved up behind Tristan and wrapped his arms around his body, pulling him off Joey. Tristan struggled in a blind rage, trying to throw Lenny off him. He managed to get an elbow into the other man's stomach when, out of nowhere, someone clipped him in the jaw.

~*~*~*~*~

Seto was about a block away when he felt it.

Tristan had left his cell phone on Seto's desk and Seto had decided to drop it off and check to see how Joey was doing.

He gasped as pure, unadulterated rage poured through his body…but it wasn't coming from him.

He fought to keep the car on the road as his vision dimmed.

{Tristan!}

His heart began to pound as his sight cleared and he put the gas pedal to the floor, fishtailing as he turned onto Tristan's street.

He made it to the driveway without killing anyone, jamming the gears into park and bolting from the vehicle.

He burst through the door, quickly assessing the situation.

Joey was huddled on the floor in Ryou's arms, shaking. Ryou was staring in horror at Tristan, who was being held back by Lenny, shouting almost incoherently at the cowering blond.

"Tristan!" Seto approached his friend. "Tristan! Talk to me!"

Tristan didn't seem to hear him and, knowing how dangerous his temper could be, Seto did the only thing he could think of. He pulled back and punched him.

"Ryou, get Joey out of here…now!" Seto commanded as he grabbed Tristan, helping Lenny hold up the momentarily stunned man.

Ryou pulled Joey up, leading him quickly through the living room and out through the kitchen.

Tristan straightened, shaking his head to clear it. "Seto? What are you doing here?"

"It's a good thing I showed up when I did." Seto nodded to Lenny, who let go of the shorter brunet. "What the hell were you doing?"

"Where's Joey?"

"I had to have Ryou take him out. He was scared to death, Tristan."

"Oh, gods…" Tristan clutched Seto's arms. "He's high. I can't…I lost it."

"Lenny…outside. I'll call you if I need you."

"Yes, sir."

The door shut behind the guard and Seto wrapped his arms around Tristan. "Tell me what happened."

"I don't know." Tristan laid his head against Seto's shoulder. "I came in and Ryou was crying. He said Joey was gone. Lenny said it looked like he went through the bedroom window. Then he walked in like nothing was wrong. He wouldn't tell me where he got the drugs and…I couldn't help it. I lost it and started yelling at him. I pinned him to the wall. I-I think I hurt him."

"You need to talk to him, Tris. You really scared him."

But what…" Tristan's voice broke. "What if he thinks I'm Keith again? I don't think I could handle that. Damn…I didn't mean it, Seto…I didn't!"

"Shh…it's okay. I'll be with you, buddy."

"I'm scared, Seto."

Seto put a hand under Tristan's chin and tipped his face up. "I know you are. Lean on me, alright?"

Tristan nodded and stepped from Seto's arms, taking his hand and leading the way out onto the patio.

They found Ryou and Joey sitting on the bench together. Joey seemed to have calmed down. In fact, to look at him, one would think he had forgotten what just happened.

"Ryou," Seto addressed the white haired man. "Can you call Yami and Yugi and have them pick up Master Kiotou and bring him here?"

Ryou nodded, rising from his seat. "Bakura's already on his way."

Tristan reached out and stopped Ryou as he passed them. "I'm sorry, Ryou. Really…I am."

"Don't worry about it." Ryou slipped his arms around Tristan's waist, hugging him. "It's already forgiven."

"Thanks." Tristan squeezed him back briefly before letting go and turning towards Joey.

"Go on." Seto said, nudging him. "I'll stay here."

Tristan approached the blond cautiously. "Joey?"

Joey looked up from where he was watching an ant crawl across the deck. "Yeah?"

"Can I sit down?"

Joey shrugged.

Taking it as a yes, Tristan sat down, reaching out to take Joey's hand. "Joey, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to lose my temper. I just…please, Joey, tell me where you got the drugs."

"No way!" Joey shook his head. "I'm not gonna let you hurt my friends!"

"Joey," Tristan beat back the anger bubbling up inside him. "These people aren't your friends if they're giving you drugs."

"He is so my friend!" Joey jerked his hand from Tristan's.

The blond stood up and stalked toward the house, intent on going inside. Seto grabbed him by the arm, stopping him.

"Tell me one thing, puppy." Seto said quietly. "How did this friend of yours make you pay for it? Because I know you don't have any money."

Joey blanched. "I…I had to. That's how it works. I didn't have a choice."

Tristan came up behind him and laid a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Please, baby."

"I can't." Joey shuddered. "I don't want you guys to hurt him."

"It's not important right now." Seto held up his hand, forestalling Tristan. "You do realize that you're going to come down. And when you do you'll go through it all again."

"I can't do it!" Joey sobbed suddenly, burying his face in his hands.

"You have to." Seto put his arms around Joey as Tristan's encircled him from behind. "We're going to be here, Joey, and we're going to make sure you don't get your hands on any more drugs."

"You don't understand, Seto…I need it!"

"I know it feels like that now, love, but you've been here before." Tristan pressed a kiss to Joey's neck. "You beat it then and you can do it again."

Joey's arms went around Seto's waist and he laid his head against Seto's chest. "Don't let go."

The two brunets held the blond tightly between them, saying nothing. How long they stood there, none of them knew, but eventually Joey's sobs quieted and he shifted closer to Seto, reaching back with one hand to pull Tristan tighter against him.

"I'm sorry." He mumbled.

"Hush, babe." Tristan freed a hand to rub Joey's back. "We'll get through this. We're all here to help you."

Joey shivered as he felt Seto kiss the top of his head. He had never done that before.

Joey lifted his head, shocked to find the bright azure eyes clouded with tears. "Why?"

Seto shrugged. "Because I love you."

"R-Really?"

Seto smiled almost playfully. "If I didn't, do you think I'd put up with you?"

Joey snickered and looked up at Seto with glazed eyes. "I love you too…you asshole."

"Mutt." Seto retorted, albeit fondly.

"Why don't you go and see if Ryou got a hold of Yami and Yugi?" Tristan asked Seto.

"Sure." Seto knew that Tristan wanted a few minutes alone with Joey before everyone showed up. "I'll be inside if you need me."

Joey clung to Seto a moment longer before loosening his grip. "Seto?"

"Yeah, pup?"

"Thanks."

"No problem." He sent Tristan a look, plainly telling him to keep a rein on his temper.

When Seto left, Joey leaned back against Tristan with a sigh, bringing his hands up to grip the brunet's arms, which were still wrapped around him.

"Tristan, I'm sorry." Joey let his head fall back against Tristan's shoulder. "I just…I can't handle the pain."

Tristan buried his face in the long, blond hair, feeling exhaustion sweep over him in a large wave. "We'll talk to Master Kiotou when he gets here."

Joey turned around in Tristan's arms. "Tell me you won't leave me alone, Tristan. Please?"

"I won't, babe." Tristan reached out, brushing Joey's hair from his eyes, letting his fingers trail across the other's cheekbone. "How could I?"

Joey's eyes slipped shut and he tipped his face up, silently begging.

Tristan bent his head, taking gentle possession of his lover's lips; his own moving softly over the blond's, seeking nothing more than to reassure him with the comfort of his presence.

"I love you." Joey whispered as the kiss ended.

"I love you too. Let's go inside. Are you hungry?"

"Starving." Joey smiled. "I feel like I could eat a whole cow."

"Well then, let's get you fed." Tristan kept one arm around Joey's waist as they went back inside.

~*~*~*~*~

"He's starting to come down." Seto said quietly, nodding towards Joey.

Tristan's eyes went to the blond, who was sitting on the loveseat, talking to Yugi. Joey's hands were trembling and he was pale and sweating.

"Joseph," Master Kiotou called from the kitchen. "Come in here please."

Joey got up from his seat, a soft moan of pain escaping him. Yugi jumped up to help him, but Seto motioned him back down. They had all agreed they wouldn't go running to help Joey with every little thing.

They watched as Joey staggered into the kitchen where Master Kiotou was awaiting him, along with Yami.

"I cannot give you any thing more for the pain. I can, however, give you a sedative so you can sleep and something for your stomach."

"Thank you, sensei." Joey whispered, avoiding the old man's eyes.

"Sit down, Joey." Yami pulled a chair out from the table, shaking his head as the blond collapsed into it.

Joey reached out with shaking hands to pick up the cup the herbalist placed in front of him. Yami wrapped his hands around Joey's and helped him drink.

"You should go lie down now, Joseph."

"Yes, sensei." Joey said obediently, rising from his chair and leaving the kitchen.

No one moved to help him as he began to laboriously climb the stairs.

Halfway up, Joey stumbled, falling to his knees with a sob of pain.

"This is too much." Tristan got up from his place on the couch next to Seto.

Ascending the stairs, he stood over Joey, reaching down to touch the other man. Joey looked up at him, his eyes darkened with pain, his lip bleeding where he had bitten it when he fell.

"Tristan…please?" Joey whimpered. "Can you help me? It's…it's too hard."

"Of course I'll help you, baby." Tristan said quietly.

There wasn't a dry eye in the place as the others watched Tristan bend down and pick Joey up in his arms, carrying him to their bedroom. Even Master Kiotou, standing in the doorway of the kitchen watching, was crying; tears running down his weathered face.

~*~*~*~*~

The evening wore on and Tristan began to lose track of time.

Joey was sleeping upstairs with Yami and Yugi watching over him and Bakura had gone to get more coffee, figuring they'd need it.

Tristan left Seto sitting at the kitchen table talking to Master Kiotou and stepped outside to have a cigarette. He was just about to light one when he heard a muffled sob.

Turning toward the source of the noise, he saw Ryou sitting on the bench with his feet on the seat, hugging his knees. The silver trails of his tears were illuminated by the soft glow coming through the kitchen window.

Tristan immediately dropped what he had in his hands and went to sit next to the white haired man. "Ryou? You okay?"

Ryou looked up at him, his eyes swollen from crying, looking much younger than his twenty one years. "It's all my fault."

"What are you talking about?"

"It's my fault Joey got high. I was supposed to be taking care of him. I'm sorry."

"Oh, Ryou." Tristan put his arms around his friend. "You don't honestly think I blame you, do you?"

Ryou shook his head, unable to answer.

"I don't. It's not your fault."

Ryou pressed close to Tristan, sobbing into his chest.

"Hush, little guy." Tristan comforted him. "It's okay. I'm not mad at you."

"You…you're not?" Ryou sniffled.

"Of course not."

"I just feel so guilty. I should have stayed with him, but he was asleep."

"And you couldn't have known, right?"

Ryou nodded. "I guess so."

"So don't beat yourself up over it, okay?"

"Okay." Ryou sighed, cuddling closer to Tristan's warm body.

Tristan held him, resting his cheek against the soft, white hair, until Ryou went limp in his arms.

Tristan stood, tapping on the window to get Seto's attention. He picked Ryou up and carried him into the house, Seto holding open the door for him.

As he walked into the living room, Bakura came in. He stopped Tristan long enough to kiss his hikari before letting the brunet carry him upstairs.

Gaining one of the two guestrooms, Tristan gently laid Ryou down on the bed, removing his shoes and pulling a blanket over him.

He shut off the light and closed the door, deciding to go look in on Joey.

Opening the door to his own room, he couldn't help but smile at the sight that greeted him.

Joey was lying in the middle of the bed on his side, his arms wrapped around Yugi the way a child would hold a teddy bear. Yami was spooned up behind him, his arm draped over Joey's waist. All three men were asleep.

He went back down to the kitchen to find Bakura standing at the counter, impatiently drumming his fingers on the surface and growling at the coffee pot.

"That's not going to make it brew any faster, Bakura." Tristan commented dryly, sitting down next to Seto.

Bakura rolled his eyes at Tristan and settled for glaring at the machine instead.

Seto moved his chair closer so he could put his arm around Tristan. "Master Kiotou and I have been talking."

"About what?"

"Joseph needs to be removed from the temptation…" The old man began.

"I'm NOT putting him in that clinic!" Tristan interrupted.

"Hear us out, buddy." Seto met Tristan's eyes, fighting not to recoil at blazing anger he saw there.

"You should take Joseph from the city." Master Kiotou continued. "I believe you will be better able to watch over him away from here."

"Take him to the retreat." Seto said. "I've already made sure there'll be no one there for the next few weeks."

"Finally!" Bakura yanked the cupboard door open, taking out mugs. "Who wants coffee?"

"Me." Tristan and Seto said in unison.

"Thank you, Bakura, no. I do not drink coffee."

Bakura looked at the old man like he was insane. Shaking his head, he brought three cups and the coffee pot over to the table. He poured Tristan and Seto's before sitting down with the pot in front of him.

Seto raised an eyebrow. "Do you want a straw or should we just hook it up intravenously?"

"Bite me." Bakura poured himself a cup and took a long swallow, sighing blissfully. "Elixir of the gods, this stuff."

Tristan shook his head, grinning. Bakura's sense of humor was certainly helping to alleviate some of the stress…as usual.

"Take him tomorrow when he wakes up." Seto turned the conversation back to the original topic.

"I will come there tomorrow afternoon to check on you." Master Kiotou promised.

"Okay." Tristan nodded in agreement. "I just hope this works. I can't stand seeing him like this."

"It'll work out, Tris." Seto pulled Tristan closer so the shorter brunet could lay his head on his shoulder. "It has to."

~*~*~*~*~

Tristan: Oh, man!

DD: I can't believe we made Ryou cry!

YD: Yeah…it was fun.

Bakurasgirl: GRRRRRRRR!!

Seto: Please tell me Bakura's NOT going to be on a caffeine high.

DD: One high person is enough for this story.

Joey: Very funny.

Yugi: Please review.

YD: If you're lucky, we may have the next chapter out this weekend.