Chapter Text
By the time Joey made it to the convention center, he was doubled over and panting for breath. He thought he had a lot more stamina than this.
“I shouldn’t have skipped the gym.” He groans to himself, leaning against the railings of a metal fence for support.
The fancy dress suit suffered the most however. The button of his blazer was lost along the way, leaving behind only a stray thread as the only evidence. His shirt was completely untucked and lop sides too, the creases noticeable and disheveled.
He knows Kaiba's going to kill him for this.
But his appearance, and Kaiba's fury, didn't matter right now.
He looked up at the large screen displayed above the doors of the convention center, advertising the event in all its glory.
“DUEL CON, WITH SPECIAL GUEST YUGI MUTO”. The bold, slick text was accompanied by a professional looking photo of Yugi himself, in his iconic black clad outfit.
Joey couldn't help but smile up at the sign, with the monumental image of Yugi for all to see. He could just imagine how awkward he must have been in the photo shoot, being put in front of a green screen and directed around like a performing seal.
Though his smile quickly faded, as he looked ahead at the ever growing line to the venue, which snaked around rows of partitions to keep the lines distanced.
This was going to be a pain…but his desire to see Yugi again outweighed the immediate impatience he felt.
The long line was a slog to get through, what with everyone bounding at the chance to meet the one and only king of games. But Joey knew The wait would be worth it.
Something that struck Joey however, was the emptiness he felt in the line. Back in the day, he and the whole gang would have been up and early to see Yugi make his big appearance. They would have been the ever present cheerleaders, hollering him on from the front row.
And yet, here Joey stands, alone with his hands in his pockets shuffling inches at a time, while standing heel to toe with the person in front.
…
As Joey finally made his way through the front doors, he immediately caught sight of the growing sea of fans. The center was packed with budding duelists, all looking for the chance to duel and trade with one another. Joey shifted his way through the crowds, scoping out any sign of where Yugi may be.
As his body squeezed through the crowds, awkwardly apologising and announcing his presence to the blockades of people, he over heard a conversation which gave his heart a sudden tug.
He caught wind of a pair of duellists, their clothes proudly displaying the familiar royal blue of the Domino High uniform. He overheard one of the boys, proudly showing off his deck to his friend.
“What do you think?! I fancied up my deck just like you said!” The kid said, fanning his cards out with a jut of his hand.
His friend seemed to scrutinis the cards, flashing him a smile.
“Woah, this is *way* better then your last attempt.” His friend commented.
“You think?! I’m aiming to take the whole tournament with this deck!”
Joey couldn’t help but stop and linger, eavesdropping on their conversation. The boys strong enthusiasm radiated something that made Joey’s chest tighten. The strong desire to learn, the illusion of having infinite time to grow and change.
Joey was that kid once. Where did his drive go?
Before he could be swept up by his own thoughts, Joey’s eye was grabbed by another attendee. Or more specifically, what he was holding.
An autographed photo of Yugi.
Joey sucked in a gasp, as he tried to rise above the tides of people. He lifted himself up to his top toes, even hopped on the spot to get any sort of leverage.
His eyes land on a familiar tri-coloured star.
Yugi sat at a desk, signing autographs and greeting excited fans. He still looked great, the ever bright and optimistic Yugi he knew.
Joey felt the buzz of excitement again, as he tried bursting through the crowds towards Yugi's table.
“YUGE! HEY, YUGE! ITS ME!” Joey shouted, cupping his hands around his mouth to bellow across the room.
But there was no reaction from Yugi. Joey’s voice becomes drowned out by the fans.
Joey groans, as he pressed on ahead to get closer. He muscled his way through the crowds, parting the waves as he bull headedly pressed on.
His advances lead to a slew of agitated grumbles from guests, and some fleeting insults as he passed. But Joey couldn’t hear any of them. All he could hear is his own heart drumming in his ears as he finally emerged from the other side.
As Joey stepped out into the open space, the pair looked up at each other, almost in sync.
Yugi looked up at Joey, his expression initially met with confusion, a blank stare for a second. For a brief moment, Joey felt an internal grimace.
Did he not recognise him? Did he just make an absolute clown of himself?
The feeling of dread almost immediately subsided though, as Yugi’s face lit up with an uncontrollable joy.
“JOEY!” Yugi shouted fondly.
They were back.
Joey was quick to approach Yugi, although a pair of beefy bodyguards were on standby to ruin the mood.
Yugi held his hands up to quickly subside the bodyguards, who acted as a barrier between their reunion.
“I-It’s okay! It’s just Joey. We’re friends!” Yugi vouched.
The bodyguards looked at Joey wearily, before stepping aside to allow him through.
As soon as he was given the go-ahead, Joey immediately jumped to the chance to wrap an arm around Yugi’s shoulders, playfully jostling him.
And gosh, he was just as pint sized as ever.
“Long time no see, Yuge! How’ve ya been?!” Joey says, finally giving Yugi his space.
Yugi gave an awkward laugh to Joey’s advances, though it lacked the joy behind it.
“Hey, Joey! I was actually thinking about you. I was wondering gif you’d still be in Domino.”
Joey smirks at him, holding a fist out for a fist bump.
“Weeeell it ain’t domino city without ya favourite Joey around.” He says, before pausing for a beat.
“I am your favourite, right?”
“You’re the only Joey.” Yugi says, returning the fist bump.
“I didn’t know you’d be here though! I didn’t see you on the duelist line up. You… are still duelling, right?”
Joey’s gaze drifts away for a moment.
“Eh, yeah, about that…why don’t we catch up, huh?”
….
“You work with Kaiba? ” Yugi says, sitting up as if the news sent a shock down his spine.
The pair sat in a backstage area of the con, a cold can of soda in both of their hands.
Joey gave a shrug at Yugi’s reaction, as if to shake off the underlying severity of the situation.
It was only slightly a lie. After all…he DID work for Kaiba until about 2 hours ago.
“What could I do! I was down on my luck. And believe me, that nimrod wasn’t my first choice. I’m just surprised that he gave me the job in the first place.” He says, leaning back in the cushioned armchair.
“Yknow, it could be worse. I could be playing a mascot in one of his theme parks.” He says, though he stopped in his tracks.
“Wait, no, he *did* do that. But I was the best dang Kuriboh in the park!”
Yugi sips his drink modestly, a concerned expression crossing his face.
“Who would have thought. Maybe Kaiba’s had a change of heart after all this time.”
Joey gives a wry laugh.
“I wouldn’t give him too much credit, y’know.” He says.
Almost like a deflection, Joey downs the whole can, before clanking it down onto the table.
“Buuut enough about me! What’ve you been up to all this time, huh?! You’re like an international superstar!” Joey enthuses.
Yugi flashes him a weary smile.
“I really wouldn’t go that far. But…I guess I’ve gotten a little popular. Ever since that duel with Diva and Kaiba, I guess I’ve been getting more attention.” He starts, leaning back in thought.
“But…to be honest, I haven’t really played duel monsters in a while now.” He says.
That earned a look of disbelief from Joey.
“What?! No duel monsters?!”
“Not…’no’ duel monsters, but I guess I’ve kind of branched off into other games. You know, outside of card games.” Yugi replies.
Joey had never even thought of the prospect of other games. Truthfully, because they never interested him. He knew his bond with duel monsters wasn’t just because of the game itself, but for the nostalgia he felt when he played. The swelling in his chest when he thinks of how deep his friendships grew because of the game.
“I guess they don’t call you ‘King of Games’ for nothin’, right?” Joey says.
Joey was truthfully, proud of what Yugi had accomplished. He knew that he’d go far, not just with his skill and his knack for games, but with his heart of gold. Yugi radiated hope, he was his anchor throughout all their misadventures. It was clear that if anyone was going to pave their own future, it would be him.
So why did he feel a gnawing sense of sadness?
Joey shook the feeling off.
He could feel a selfish sense of jealousy creep up behind him, and he wasn’t about to let it become his shadow. Not for his best friend.
He instead rests a heel up on the coffee table that separates them, glancing at Yugi with a smile.
“Listen, you came at the perfect time.” He says, waiting for Yugi’s interest to be peaked. And peaked it was, as Yugi’s gaze met his..
“I’ve been tryin’ to get in touch with the others. I wanna hold a reunion, get the gang back together!” He declares.
Yugi pauses, as if a million different thoughts are passing through at once.
In the end, he seems to settle on one.
“You really think we could get the others back to Domino City?”
“‘Course I do, Yuge! And I’m thinking with your help, we can get something going here. After all, you brought us together once, what’s one more time for old time sakes, huh?!
How long are you in Domino for?” Joey asks, his legs dropping back down on the floor in a surge of excitement with his legs manspreading across the seat.
“Well, I’m here for another 4 days before I fly to Canada. I’ve been invited to another convention over there, so…I can’t stay too long.”
Joey leans forwards, hands resting on his knees with a cheeky smirk.
“Then we gotta make these 4 days count. Besides, it’s another 4 days I don’t gotta think about-“
Joey freezes, as his eyes cast towards the doorway. An imposing figure looms into the room, his scowl sharp and deadly.
Seto Kaiba.