Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The halls of KaibaCorp were quiet. No one was typing on computers or discussing the latest development. There were no phone calls, no cell phones, no voices. No doors opening and closing, no pens on paper. The air was still.

The building was empty.

And somewhere far from it, where one could hear the birds sing and the breeze brush the trees; Seto stood in front of a shrine with one name etched into it. His clothes were black, the stones were clean and new, and it was quiet here.

There was a depth beneath his eyes. They were tight and heavy. His mouth laid flat upon his face and his brows forever in a small crest. A flower twisted between his fingertips, but he did not put it with the rest. There were more offerings than one person could possibly need, even someone who has been spoiled in life.

No. Not spoiled. Seto would never call it spoiled. To go from nothing to everything is not spoiling; it is providing. And Seto had provided.

The edges of the flower between his fingers had begun to wilt.

At the end of the aisle, four people waited for him. They talked among themselves, but only in brief moments. They lost their voices, and sometimes felt better falling silent. What was there to say? It hardly felt worth speaking anymore.

Joey stared at Seto from this distance away. “Guys,” he said quietly to the others. “I don't think he's gonna move.”

“I want to wait for him,” Yugi insisted softly. “I don't think he should be alone right now.”

“But maybe that's what he wants.” Joey stared at Seto and spoke absently. “We all have to take our time.”

Tea spoke up. “Maybe Joey’s right,” she said. “We should let him be alone.”

Yugi’s expression fell, but he nodded.

No one moved right away. Their feet shuffled, but they didn’t go anywhere. No one wanted to be first, so they all moved at once.

It felt like trying to wade through water. The air was heavy around them, and they were all chained together. One by one, they'd glance over their shoulders until eventually they couldn't see Seto anymore.

It was cold at night. His legs were sore and his feet ached, but Seto did not move. The moon was full overhead. The blue light painted the white flowers. They could have been beautiful.

A shuffle of feet came up beside him, but Seto didn't turn his head away.

“Gonna stay out here all night?” Joey asked.

Seto didn't respond.

“Your legs gotta hurt.”

Seto didn't respond.

His fingers froze. The flower stopped moving.

“Ya gotta go home, Kaiba,” Joey said calmly. “Ya can't stay here. I know--”

“You don't know anything.” Seto’s voice was soft and rough. He tossed the flower in amidst the rest. He tucked his hands in his pockets and brushed past Joey. “Go home, Wheeler. I don't need you to be my keeper.”

Joey didn't go anywhere. He let Seto walk away.

The moon made that hilltop bright. Joey read the name etched clearly into the stone pillar, and his mind still couldn't make sense of it. After the kotsuage. After the wake. After the bones and the flowers and the funeral. It still didn't feel real. It would probably never feel real.

But the name was carved clearly into the stone.

Kaiba Mokuba

Chapter Text

Mokuba held out the colorful cube to his brother, and Seto eyed it with a critical brow.

“What?” Seto questioned.

“Try and solve it,” Mokuba encouraged.

Seto humphed and took the cube. It was made up of colorful squares, and if one turned and twisted the sides, eventually all the same colors would end up on each side. He sat back in his chair and scrutinized the toy. It wasn't a game they had invented, so it was a wonder why Mokuba had it.

“You could probably solve it,” Seto said.

Mokuba pressed back into his pillows. “I wanna watch you do it.” He smiled. “I like watching you play games.”

Seto glanced at him. He humphed to himself. “Not a very fun game to watch. But I'll solve it.”

“Thanks--” Mokuba was cut off. He coughed into his fist. Then waited. He dropped his hand to his lap and smiled at Seto. “I'm fine,” he assured.

Seto didn't take his eyes off him.

“Go on,” Mokuba encouraged. “Solve the puzzle.”

Seto stared at the ceiling. He didn't know how long he had been awake, but the blanket was growing warm over his body. A thin layer of sweat covered his skin, but the discomfort made his limbs no less heavy.

He threw the blanket off and sat up. He sat on the edge of the bed and stared at the edge of the wall. There was half a glass of water on the bedside table making a ring. The moment the liquid touched his lips it was gone. There was an itch of dust in his throat and a persistent ache in his temple.

Seto rose from the bed. He showered, brushed his teeth, combed his hair, but never looked at himself in the mirror. He dressed in black clothes and exited the bedroom into a dark empty house.

The windows were covered with curtains. Slivers of silver light painted the hallways in even streaks.

Seto crossed through the mansion and down into the kitchen. He made an egg, put it on a plate, and sat down at the kitchen table.

Steam poured off the food until it didn't. By then the sun was low in the sky.

Seto took his plate and stood up. He threw away the egg and stacked the plate in the sink. The streaks of silver had grown red and were fading fast. Seto returned to his bedroom.

He discarded his clothes, got into bed, and stared at the ceiling.

The night was loud. Wind tapped on the windows, bugs hummed outside. Seto could hear the pulse of his heartbeat against the still air. He was somewhere between wake and sleep, and watched colors of the dark dance across the ceiling while his mind wandered away from his body.

He heard the beeping, and the strained breathing in the bed beside where he sat. But whenever he tried to speak, no words came out.

Did you solve the puzzle yet? 

No, not yet. But he would get to it.

The hand in his own was soft, but it was thinner than he thought it was supposed to be.

You should do something else, Seto 

He didn't want to do anything else. There was nothing else in the world worth doing.

Seto awoke with a start. A sick sour feeling consumed his throat. He gripped his aching chest with his fingertips. The blunts of his fingernails dug into sweat covered skin.

His insides felt hollow, like he could crack through the soft outside and there would be nothing to find.

He sat up on trembling limbs and fought the bile in his throat. His stomach turned, nausea made his vision blurry and his skin bristle. His throat flexed as if to throw up, but nothing came of it.

Seto released a held breath.

He pushed to his feet, took the glass from the bedside table, and refilled it on the bathroom sink. The water fell like a brick into his empty stomach.

He drank two glasses.

The bed was too warm. His fingertips pressed into the sheets as if he could put holes in them. He stared at the ceiling, wide awake, and refused sleep even when it tried to force him.

Those colors danced on the ceiling and he watched them in a trance.

A sliver of light cut across the dark, and Seto couldn’t remember when it got there.

He stared at the ceiling until that light disappeared.

Chapter Text

Seto put down the tea cup in front of Yugi and sat down across from him.

“Thanks,” Yugi muttered. He pressed his fingertips into the warm porcelain.

Seto absently stirred the leaves around his cup and didn't say anything.

Yugi took a small sip. He studied his friend, and watched his thin fingers pinch and stir the small spoon through the tea. Seto was dressed in black, his hair was done and he had no musk. But his eyes were distant and half lidded; sunk into his head to make room for the dark skin taking residents under them.

“How long has it been since you left this place?” Yugi asked.

Seto’s hand paused. He gently tapped the edge of the spoon on the rim of his glass and replaced it on the saucer. “There's nowhere to go,” he claimed.

“Have you even gone outside?”

Seto was quiet for a long time. “Why are you here, Yugi?”

“Because we're worried about you. No one can get a hold of you, we heard you fired all of the people who worked here, Kaiba Corp is still shut down--”

“So?”

“So we want to be here for you, Seto. You shouldn't be going through this alone.”

Seto clenched his jaw. “Kaiba Corp will survive,” he muttered.

“I’m not worried about the company. I'm worried about you.”

Seto was quiet for a long time. “I don't know what you want me to say, Yugi. I only opened the door so you would stop bothering me.” He stood up and took his cup of tea with him. “You've done your due diligence. You can report back to the loser brigade that I'm still alive.”

Yugi’s brow pressed together. “Are you?”

Seto dumped the tea down the drain. He placed the cup and saucer neatly on the tower of dishes. “I'm standing right in front of you, aren't I? Unless you think a ghost answered the door.”

Yugi’s expression fell. “I think a ghost did answer the door,” he muttered.

Seto stared into the crowded sink and didn't respond.

Yugi stood up. “You can talk to us, Kaiba. Any of us.” He placed something down on the kitchen island. “I'll be back,” he promised. “Next week.”

The door opened and closed, and suddenly the house was quiet again.

Seto stared at the drain until it was too dim to see. Absently his eyes drifted to the stack of dishes topped by the teacup.

He took the saucer, cup and all, held it over the floor and dropped it. The saucer shattered and the cup bounced and rolled off somewhere.

Seto took a plate and dropped it in the same spot. Another plate. And another plate. Until the sink was empty.

He turned around, and went upstairs to bed.

Mokuba moved his monster across the board with a satisfied little smirk on his face. His hair was pulled back out of his face, and he was still in his pajamas in the middle of the day. Seto sat across from him. He rubbed his chin and examined the board.

“Come on, Seto. What, ya scared?”

Seto humphed, but did not give to the goading. “You wish.” He moved his piece out of the way of an impending attack.

Mokuba thrummed his fingers on the table and twisted his brow. He coughed once into his hand, then made his move.

Before Seto could take his turn, an alarm went off on his belt. He stood from the stone bench and went around the small table. “I'll be right back. No cheating.”

Mokuba frowned. “I wouldn’t cheat,” he grumbled. “Anymore.”

Seto went into the kitchen and grabbed one of the pill pouches and a glass of water. He returned to the garden and gave these things to his brother. Mokuba frowned, and took them in reluctant hands.

Seto sat back down on the other side of the board. “Is the fresh air helping?”

Mokuba tore open the pill pouch. “I dunno. It doesn't feel much different.” He stared off at the garden beyond the small gazebo. The beds were neat, and filled to the brim with flowers, bushes and vines. It was a sizable space behind the mansion, and had been routinely pruned even if it was rarely admired. “Feels nice to be outside, though.”

Seto nodded. He made his move. “I destroy your monster.”

Mokuba’s attention was suddenly back on the board. “Huh!? No way, you cheated!”

“Don't be petty, Mokuba, you know I didn't.”

Mokuba looked the board up and down, a deep determination in his brow. Eventually he sat back. “You win,” he admitted.

Seto examined the board himself. “I guess so,” he agreed. “Play again?”

Mokuba pressed back into his wheelchair and nodded. “Mhm.”

“You look tired.”

“I'm alright. I wanna play again.” His head lulled to the side and he stared at the garden again. “I didn't even know we still had a gardener,” he said. “I don't think we’re home enough, Seto.”

Seto started setting up the board again. “There were better things to do than sit at home all day.”

Mokuba was quiet. “Yeah. I guess you're right. At least I get to sit here now.”

“You haven't taken your medication yet.”

Mokuba frowned. He slapped his hand over the pill pouch that had been opened but not emptied. “Oh yeah,” he grumbled. He grabbed them in his fist, but still made no moves to take them.

Seto didn't say anything for a moment. “They’ll make you more comfortable,” he claimed. “Just take them.”

Mokuba took the three pills one by one, and in no hurry to do so. “There,” he said. “Done.”

“See? Easy.”

Mokuba sat up. “Whatever. Let's just get to the game so I can beat you.”

“I’d like to see you try.”

“You're gonna see me more than try.” Mokuba coughed a few times into his fist.

He grabbed his monster piece and made the first move. 

Someone was hitting the buzzer.

Over. And over. And over.

Seto groaned to himself. His eyes split open to the ceiling and he shielded his face from the light coming in through the gap in the curtains.

He rolled over and covered his ears with a pillow. But that didn’t stop the buzzing, and it didn’t help him get back to sleep.

Then the yelling started.

“Hey! Kaiba! I know you’re up there! Open the dang door! Hey!”

Knowing Wheeler, he had jumped the fence.

“Come on, rich boy, I brought some food! Lemme in, would ya! I’m just gonna get more annoying! You think I can’t yell all day!? Guess again!”

Seto growled and threw the pillow off his head. He got up, but did not entertain Wheeler’s antics at that very moment. He could yell until he was blue in the face, Seto would complete his morning routine before opening any door.

By the time he emerged from the bedroom and made it downstairs to the front door, Joey was still banging and yelling. He almost hit Seto in the face with his fist when the door suddenly opened up in front of him.

“What?” Seto demanded.

Joey’s mouth opened in a small ‘O’ his eyes opened wide as he set them on Seto’s face. “You look terrible,” he said.

Seto’s expression remained stony. He was going to shut the door, but suddenly Joey was inside the house and marching towards the kitchen.

“Thanks for lettin’ me in. I brought some food, Yugi said you looked like a ghost so I’m here to put some meat on ya.”

Seto let the door swing shut, and silently followed the other man into the kitchen. Joey stopped short as he went around the island and spotted the mess of broken porcelain on the floor beside the sink.

“What happened here?” He picked up the only intact dish - a teacup with a small chip in its rim - and placed it on the counter. “Topple over a stack’a dishes?” He asked.

Seto sat down at the kitchen table and didn’t respond. Joey abandoned the mess and put a plastic convenience store bag on the table in front of his friend. He dug out a pair of egg sandwiches, onigiri, a couple sodas and yogurts.

“Eat,” Joey encouraged, pushing the food forward.

Seto stared at it, but did not move.

“Come on, don’t tell me you’re too good for convenience store food?” Joey said.

“I’m not hungry.”

Joey was quiet for a moment. “Yeah,” he said sarcastically. “You definitely don’t look hungry.”

Seto crossed his arms and legs. Joey sat down across from him and hunched over the table on both elbows.

“What do you want out of this?” He asked. “What are you trying to do? We’ve left you alone, we let you have your time, but we’re not gonna do that anymore. How long’s it been since you left this place?”

Seto didn’t answer right away. “I only opened the door so you’d shut up,” he claimed. “What I want ‘out of this’ - whatever that means - is to be left alone. Usually when someone doesn’t respond that’s what it means.”

“I mean what do you want out of this/,” Joey pressed. “Out of being alone and ignoring everybody. Where do you want that to take you? Because it’s not gonna make ya feel better, I guarantee that.”

Seto scowled. “I’m not trying to feel better,” he spat.

“So what is it?” Joey demanded. “What are you trying to do?”

“You keep asking me this stupid question,” Seto growled. “I don’t know what you want from me, Wheeler. You can ask the same question over and over again and I’ll just give you the same answer.”

“No, you haven’t answered me at all. You can’t just sit in this house alone and rot away until you die. That’s ridiculous. You think that’s what Mokuba woulda wanted?”

Seto suddenly stood. The chair pushed back with a loud screech. A searing burn bursted through his chest with such intensity it made him dizzy. “Get out,” he spat through his teeth.

“No, I’m not gonna get out,” Joey snapped back. “I’m staying here and you ain’t gettin’ ridda me.”

Seto marched away. His vision filled with stars and colors as he went up to his bedroom and slammed the door. His body suddenly felt light, and he almost stumbled. He caught himself before he fell and stayed still a moment while his vision cleared and the dizziness dissipated.

He slowly stood up straight and padded over to the bedside table. He filled his glass in the bathroom sink two times over. The moment he finished the second glass it almost came up again, but stopped in his throat.

Seto went to put the glass down on the counter, but he missed, and it shattered on the floor. He stepped over the mess, removed his clothes, and went to bed.

Finding anything in a big empty place was a hassle. But after more than enough looking, Joey found the broom closet and grabbed what he needed. As he marched back to the kitchen - mop, bucket, broom and dustpan in hand - his steps echoed through the empty hallways and corridors. Not a single light was on, and all of the windows were tightly covered.

When he made it back to the kitchen, he dropped his tools on the floor and took off his jacket. First he used the broom to sweep up the glass, then the mop to get those little shards he couldn’t see. Lastly he wet a rag, and did one more swipe of the floor to make sure no one would get a sliver. He doubled up the trash bag and - after hunting around the property for significantly too long - he found a bin to put the trash in. Kaiba was rich, he probably had his garbage collected.

He went back inside and grabbed the food he’d brought. When he opened the fridge he stopped short.

Empty.

There were no left-overs, no water, juice, snacks, fish, meat, condiments, nothing.

Joey put away the food he’d brought and checked the cupboards. There was cereal, bread, tea, and a couple bags of soup.

That was it.

Joey had not failed to notice the un-eaten toast that had been in the trash. He had figured it was left over from breakfast, not that it had been the entire breakfast.

He slapped the cupboard shut and humphed to himself.

“Not on my watch,” he grumbled. “Ya stubborn jerk.”

He grabbed his jacket, and marched out the front door.

Chapter Text

Seto stared at the edge of the far bedside table. His eyes were still blurry from sleep, and his body was sore from being in bed. He made no effort to move. As he laid there contemplating the wood, he was suddenly distracted by the smell of food. It itched his nose and made his sneer, and it was enough to make him sit up and consider investigating what was going on.

As soon as he was upright, he paused, and stared absently at the wall.

There was no good reason to go downstairs. If someone had invaded his home and was using his kitchen, it was of no consequence. If they accidentally burned the house down, that wasn’t his problem.

Seto was about to lay back down when someone banged on his bedroom door.

“Hey, Kaiba! Get your lazy butt outta bed, I got breakfast downstairs!”

Seto growled to himself. He buried himself beneath the blanket, threw the pillow over his head, and ignored the other man out of pure spite.

Seto scrambled the egg in the pan. It felt archaic, but it was what had been requested of him. Fish cooked in a pan on the opposite burner, and was almost done. It was a combination he wouldn’t pick for himself, but he was not picking, he was merely the cook. He put the eggs and fish on separate plates, and scooped a bowl of rice out of the rice cooker.

He placed the plates on the kitchen table in front of his brother, then went on to prepare Mokuba’s drink of choice. Somewhere, sometime during their many travels, Mokuba had tried chocolate milk made fresh with chocolate syrup, and had since rejected powders or pre-made alternatives. Seto stirred the chocolate syrup into the milk until it was just right, and gave this to his brother alongside a glass of water and the pill pouch.

Mokuba ate his eggs first. “What are you going to make yourself?” He asked.

Seto sat down across from him. “I’m not hungry,” he claimed.

Mokuba poked at his food. “You sure?” He asked.

“I’m sure. You should eat. I’ll eat later.”

Mokuba ate in small bites, and picked at his food one at a time. He drank in small sips, and occasionally coughed, but never went into a fit. They sat quietly across from eachother for most of breakfast.

“Did you solve the puzzle yet?”

“What puzzle?”

“The one I wanted you to do, the cube.”

“Oh. No, I haven’t started it yet.”

“You gotta finish it, Seto.”

“I think I have more important things to do than solve a puzzle.”

Mokuba picked up a piece of egg but didn’t eat it. “I think anyone coulda made me breakfast,” he said.

“Maybe.”

“That’s okay, I wanna watch you solve it. I bet you could do it super fast.”

Seto humphed. “Probably. All the more reason to prioritize other things.”

Mokuba nodded. He looked at the egg between his chopsticks, then down at the rest of his meal.

“Can you finish?” Seto asked.

Mokuba shook his head. “I don’t think so.”

“Try to eat just a little more.”

Mokuba tried, but didn’t get very far. He had a few more bites of egg, and a bite of fish, but that was as much as he could manage. Seto threw the egg away and put the fish and rice away for later.

“Can we go out to the garden again?” Mokuba asked.

“Once you take your medication.”

Mokuba frowned. He grabbed the untouched pill pouch off the edge of the table and tried to tear it open. His fingers trembled, and struggled to grip the smooth plastic packaging to any great effect. After several moments of trying, Seto’s hand suddenly appeared, and gently took the package away. He tore it open with ease, and gave his brother the medication.

“Thanks,” Mokuba grumbled.

Seto finished cleaning up the kitchen. When he was done, he grabbed the handles of Mokuba’s wheelchair, but they didn’t go very far before Mokuba stopped them.

“I wanna walk around,” he said. “Or try, for a little while.”

Seto silently allowed his brother to get up from the chair. Together they slowly made their way back to the garden.

Joey set the plate in front of him. Seto did not even look at it. Joey plopped down right across from him with his own plate of food, but didn’t start eating.

He stared at Seto, but the other was looking past him, with a steely far off look in his eye.

“Told ya you couldn’t get ridda me,” Joey said. “You don’t eat, I don’t eat.”

“Then I guess you’re going to starve.”

Joey shrugged. “Guess so.”

Seto didn’t immediately respond. “You know, I could ask you the same question.”

“What question?”

“What do you want out of this?”

“Outta what?”

“Out of coming to bother me when I’ve made it obvious that I don’t want to be bothered.”

“Want you to live. That’s what I want out of it.”

“I’m obviously alive.”

“No, I think you’re in denial. I think you’re trying to do something and you don’t even know that you’re trying to do it.”

“And what’s that?”

“Suffer.”

Seto scoffed.

“I’m not gonna ask you to talk about it,” Joey said. “I’m not that stupid. I’m just asking you to eat.”

Seto glanced down at the bowl of rice in front of him. “Fine,” he grumbled. “If it will get you to shut up.” He took up his chopsticks and picked up a bit of rice. His throat flexed, and he swallowed at nothing. He brought the food to his lips, but they pinched together as if drawing away.

He swallowed again and took a breath.

He quickly took a bite, and swallowed the food whole without chewing. His mouth watered, but all he took was a bite. He put down the chopsticks and leveled an icy glare at Joey.

“There. Happy?”

“Not really. But it’s a start.”

Seto humphed. He stared at the bowl of rice, and swallowed all of the saliva that had gathered in his mouth. He crossed his legs and arms and watched the man across from him eat fish and rice at a slow, leisurely pace. They watched eachother like a predator and its stubborn prey, and scarcely looked away.

Joey finished his food, and cleaned up after himself, but did not take Seto’s bowl of rice away.

Joey walked backwards down the corridor, up the stairs, down the hall, all the while prattling on about anything that popped into his brain. Seto didn't stop or slow down, nor did he try to get past him. Instead he watched the other man’s feet, stoically waiting for him to trip up and fall on his ass.

Joey hip checked a couple tables, but unfortunately never lost his footing. He diligently followed from the front, facing Seto the entire time, and was in the middle of talking about his latest championship win when they reached the bedroom door.

His back hit the wood and he casually - very uncasually - put a hand on each side of the threshold effectively blocking Seto. All the while he was still talking.

“So he summons this monster, and boom, all my guys are off the field, by I had a counter trap and a graveyard effect so he thought he was being slick when actually--”

“Move.”

“Hold on, I'm almost done--”

“Wheeler. Move.”

“Don't ya wanna hear the end of the story?”

“No.”

“You're really gonna go right back to bed? I didn't take Seto Kaiba for a lay about.”

Seto grabbed one of Joey’s wrists and removed his hand from the door frame. He slipped inside of his bedroom and slammed the door behind him.

Joey turned around. He made out the shadow beneath the door where Seto was leaning against it. He was quiet, any semblance of nonchalance gone from his frame.

“None of us are ever gonna feel this as hard as you're feeling it,” he said after a while. “None of us. I’m not gonna pretend to understand. But no one should be alone. I know that much.”

Seto didn't respond. His shadow disappeared from under the door

Chapter Text

Seto stood at the window and watched. Joey had apparently found the Gardener's shed.

The Kaiba mansion’s landscaping was a fusion of western and Japanese sentiment. It was defined by patches of manicured lawn interwoven with stone paths, bushes, trees and purposeful flower beds. Vines were kept a tasteful length along the gate and there had always been a wild yet uniform look about it.

In the past however many months it had grown to be nothing but wild. The vines had grown so rapidly around the gate that Seto wouldn't have been able to open it even if he wanted to. The grass had grown into a field, many of the flowers had died and the bushes had fingers sticking out of them like fuzz. Moss had overgrown the paths and the stone gardens were in complete disarray.

Joey’s shirt was soaked. He had his hair pulled back with a wet bandana and his short sleeves were rolled all the way up. He fought with the overgrown vines and tall grass, and pulled all the dead plants out of the ground.

It must have been over 40 degrees outside and there was no shade in this yard.

Seto closed the curtains and stepped away from the window. Everyone had the right to make a fool of themselves. That was no concern of his.

He made his way downstairs and one by one closed all of the curtains that had been thrown open that morning.

There was a bowl of fruit on the kitchen table and a bowl of snacks on the kitchen island. The fridge was well stocked, there was a half empty can of coffee on the counter and the lingering smell of food in the air.

Joey’s everyday shoes were by the front door and a haphazard pile of cards had been left in the living room on the coffee table alongside an open notebook with hand written notes.

Seto walked through the living room and turned off the TV that had been left on. He grabbed the throw blanket and tossed it in the laundry, and scattered the pillows around the house where no one would think to look for pillows.

He returned to the kitchen at the same time Joey was taking a water break. They briefly locked eyes, but Seto quickly avoided his gaze.

“Sure is hot out there,” Joey commented. “You could help me, ya know.”

“Why would I help you do something that doesn't need to be done?”

“Good to get outside, do some work, build some muscle. Get ya outta the dark.”

Seto humphed to himself. “You're wasting your time.” He passed through the kitchen and headed for the upstairs.

“Where ya going?” Joey called. “Don't tell me you're going back to bed already.”

Seto ignored him. He was almost to the stairs when the doorbell rang. He didn't immediately move to answer. Before he could consider walking away, Joey appeared and answered the door for him.

He had a brief exchange with whoever it was, and came back with a large pale yellow envelope in his hand addressed to ‘Seto Kaiba.’

“You order something?” Joey asked, handing the envelope over.

Seto took it and read who it was from. Recognition briefly flashed in his eyes, but he replaced it with the usual stony expression. He walked away from Joey without answering, and this time wasn't pursued.

Mokuba wrote slowly. His fingers shook, but the writing was legible. Seto sat beside the bed and looked over the other paperwork. A burst of bile rose in his throat at the sight of it, and he soon set it aside to be dealt with later.

“We don't have to do this now,” he said. “You should be resting.”

Mokuba finished what he was writing before he responded. “We have to get this done, Seto.”

“No. This is the last thing you should be thinking about right now.”

“That's not true,” Mokuba said calmly.

Seto clenched his jaw. Mokuba finished what he was filling out and handed the form over to his brother. “Can you put that with the other stuff for the doctor?”

Seto stood up and went to his desk where the outgoing documents were being gathered. As he did, he glanced at the page and caught sight of something.

Do not resuscitate

He stopped short and read more carefully. But he had seen it correctly.

Do not resuscitate

Seto turned around and faced the paper to his brother.

“What do you mean by this?” He asked.

“By what?”

“You put ‘do not resuscitate.’”

“Yeah? What about it?”

“Why shouldn't we try to save you if you take a turn for the worst?”

“Because that's what I want, Seto.” Mokuba's voice became hoarse. He coughed once into his fist.

“You shouldn't be filling this stuff out yet,” Seto insisted. “I'm not giving this to the doctor.”

“Seto--” Mokuba was cut off by a cough.

The room came to a pause.

Seto watched him.

Mokuba coughed again, and again and again. He turned his head away and coughed until there were tears in his eyes and his hand gripped his chest. Seto put the paper down and returned to the bed.

Blood spattered into the white sheets. Seto grabbed the mask and turned on the machine. Mokuba gasped and struggled as his brother calmly put the breathing mask over his mouth. The medicine clouded the plastic, and Mokuba began to calm down.

“I got blood on the sheets,” he rasped.

“Don't worry about that. I'll take care of it.”

“I'm sorry.”

“Don't apologize.”

Mokuba coughed again, and it was obvious that he was trying to restrain himself.

“Does your chest hurt?” Seto asked.

Mokuba nodded.

“Try to relax.” Seto took the bloodied blanket off his brother’s lap and tossed it on the floor. He replaced it with a fresh one from the closet and laid it over his brother’s lap. “You're not too warm?”

Mokuba shook his head. “I'm okay.”

“Try to relax.”

A maid came in and quietly took the blanket away to be cleaned. Seto went to the bathroom and wet a cloth with warm water. He cleaned his brother's hands and face, then took his seat beside the bed.

Mokuba’s breathing was strained. He rested back against his pillows and closed his eyes. Seto reached across the sheets and took his brother’s hand.

Mokuba gently squeezed back.

Seto sat down at the desk in his bedroom. The first thing he pulled out of the envelope was a handwritten note.

“Dear Seto Kaiba,

I'm not sure why you’ve asked me for this paperwork, but it has me concerned. There are some things that you've asked about that I do not feel comfortable giving you information on considering the potential state of your mental health.

I urge you to contact a mental health professional--”

Seto threw the note in the trash. He moved on to everything else in the envelope and started reading over the paperwork he had requested from the doctor. In amidst the forms were more notes of his doctor refusing his requests, and urging him to seek a mental health professional.

Seto threw these away and filled out the forms that were actually of use to him. It only ended up being two, and there wasn't much to write. So instead he took out a piece of paper and poised his pen over it with the intention of writing a letter.

He paused, realizing that it would mean nothing without a witness. He put his pen down and stood up in search of his phone. When he didn’t find it in the bedroom, he went hunting in the kitchen, but it wasn’t there either.

The mansion was too big to go hunting all day, so instead he went outside. The sun made him wince, and he squinted out at the front yard without going much further past the threshold. When his eyes adjusted to the sunlight he got a good look at what Joey had been doing out there all this time.

The bushes were trimmed, the grass was cut, the paths were cleared, and the vines had been beaten back. Seto humphed, and marched down the steps to follow the path around back. He found Joey on the side of the house, humming along to the headphones in his ears and digging in the dirt.

Seto popped a headphone out to get his attention. “Give me your cellphone,” he demanded.

Joey jumped at the sneak attack, but quickly calmed. “Geez. Warn a guy, I coulda knocked you out.”

Seto stood up straight and held out his hand, waiting.

Joey stood from a crouch, took off one glove, and grabbed the cellphone out of his back pocket. “What’s wrong with yours?”

“I can’t find it.” Seto flipped the phone open and dialed. He walked away as it started to ring, and went to stand in some far off corner of the side yard.

His lawyer picked up after far too many rings. “Kaiba!” He said instead of hello. “I was beginning to fear you’d fallen off the face of the earth. How are you?”

“I need a medical notary,” Seto said. “Send one to the mansion.”

“A medical notary? You don’t wanna come--?”

“No. One hour.” Seto hung up. He returned the phone to Joey, who had gone back to gardening, and grabbed the phone with his dirty glove.

“What was that about?”

“None of your business.”

Seto marched back inside. As soon as he was back in air conditioning he realized how warm it had been outside. There was already a thin layer of sweat on his skin, and his clothes felt sticky. He humphed to himself and marched back upstairs. Joey was an absolute fool for taking on all of the yard work by himself on such a hot day. He was going to collapse of heat stroke if he wasn’t careful.

Seto stopped halfway up the stairs. Suddenly his throat was tight. He gently gripped the aching, painful feeling in his chest, and his hand tightened around the railing. After a quiet moment, he turned around and went down to the kitchen.

He pulled a water bottle out of the fridge and brought it outside where Joey was still working in the same plot of dirt. Sweat dripped down the side of his face, and slicked his skin, which was growing red under the beating sun. Seto scowled, and wondered if the man had even put on sunscreen.

He stood beside him and held the water bottle close to his face. A bit of cold condensation dripped onto Joey’s cheek, and he slapped at it like it was a bug. He looked up and did a double take.

“Back again,” he said, standing up. “This for me?”

“The last thing I need is you collapsing of heat stroke on my property.”

Joey took the water and cracked it open. “Ya know, I always liked how you showed so much care and consideration for other people.”

“Take more breaks,” Seto demanded. “Or better yet, stop altogether.”

Joey took a few good gulps of water and came down with a refreshed sigh. “I guess I could use a break.” He took off his gloves and tossed them on the ground next to the gardening tools. “I’ll make lunch, whataya eatin?”

Seto humphed and followed him back into the house. Instead of going to the kitchen, however, he broke off and headed back towards the stairs. Joey stopped short and turned around.

“Aw, come on, Kaiba, at least come and sit with me,” he insisted.

Seto stopped just before the stairs. His fingertips just brushed the railing. He waited, and listened for Joey’s disgruntled grumbled as he walked away.

Seto turned around and went back to the kitchen. He caught the fridge door before it shut and grabbed a water bottle. Joey whipped out a bowl and a hundred ingredients and started whipping something up with vegetables and a grater. He shredded the vegetables at a breakneck pace, added some torn up lettuce, crumbled hard boiled egg, sesame seeds, dry fruit, and some ungodly combination of dressings. When he was done he separated some of the salad out into a much smaller bowl and brought it over to the table.

The big bowl he placed in front of himself, the small bowl he gave to Seto, who promptly sneered.

“Don't be a brat,” Joey said. “It's good, try it.”

Seto crossed his legs and arms. “I'm not hungry,” he claimed.

“Ya know, you're probably the most polite rude person I've ever known.”

Seto didn't grace that with a response. Joey sat across the table and didn't eat.

For a while they were at a standstill, one statue staring at another.

“What are you waiting for?” Seto asked eventually.

“You know what I'm waiting for,” Joey countered.

“I wouldn't eat your gross weird salad even if I was hungry.”

“It's not gross or weird, you're just a jerk.”

“I'm not eating it.”

“What, ya scared?”

What, ya scared?

Seto swallowed the sour feeling in his throat. His hands tighter around his arms. “Fine,” he muttered. “If it'll get you to shut up.”

He pulled the bowl closer and studied the mess of veggies and dressing. His stomach cramped and turned, but he fought the apprehension and took a bite.

The flavors weren't the hodge podge abomination he'd been expecting, and instead paired well together. It was almost infuriating. Joey had thrown a bunch of random crap in a bowl and it tasted amazing. Nothing should look this disgusting and be so delicious.

“There,” Seto said. “Happy?”

“Sorta.” Joey started eating.

“Don't you have a tournament to train for?” Seto discretely took another bite.

“In a month. Plenty of time to prepare. You know who I might be going up against?”

“I don't care.”

“Big man himself,” Joey said. “Our friend Yugi Muto. He told me he gave you a couple of tickets with his note last time he was here.”

“i didn't get any note.”

“Yeah ya did, the envelope was sitting right on the counter.”

Seto didn't respond right away. He searched for the memory of Yugi giving him an envelope, but none existed.

“You don't remember,” Joey said.

“No,” Seto confirmed.

“Must not’a handed it right to ya.”

“Must not.”

The conversation died. Seto remained at the table while Joey finished his food and cleaned up after himself. In the middle of washing dishes, the doorbell rang. Joey turned off the water and wiped his hands to go answer, but Seto was already on his feet.

Joey quirked a brow and discrete followed. He watched Seto open the door and let a woman inside who was dressed like she walked in an office, and carried a soft briefcase with her.

“We’ll be in the library,” Seto said to the woman. “I just have to get you some things.”

Joey watched curiously as Seto led the woman further into the house. He waited a few beats, then slipped out of the kitchen and followed them towards the library.

They sat on the smaller of the two libraries; the one Seto set aside for his own studies. There was a couch, two chairs, and a table between them. The notary sat on the couch and watched as Seto wrote out a note stipulating all of the things his doctor refused to give orders for.

“You will notarise this, correct?” Seto said.

“Yes,” the notary confirmed.

“I have no family and no medical advocates. Should my wishes be denied Kaiba Corp will get involved.”

“I can't speak for the decisions of others outside of my own control, I can only validate the document.”

“I am giving a copy to my law firm and the doctor.”

The notary nodded. “Understood.”

Seto finished filling out the documents and writing out his wishes. He excused himself to go make the copies in his office, and on the way there passed Joey in the hallway. They briefly glanced at eachother and didn't speak.

Seto returned to the library and the notary asked him some questions.

“You understand that you are refusing medical treatment.”

“Yes.”

“You are currently of sound mind and body.”

“Yes.”

“You are refusing any and all life saving treatments.”

“Yes.”

“You are enacting this decision upon yourself and are not being persuaded or influenced by a third party.”

“I am the only one making this decision.”

“In the event of a major medical emergency, you will not be resuscitated.”

“Yes.”

The notary stamped all the documents. Seto stacked them neatly on the table and walked her back to the front door. The moment he closed it behind her, the mansion was quiet again. He lingered there, a weight tugging at his stomach like he'd swallowed concrete.

Bile leaped into his throat. He covered his mouth with a trembling hand, suddenly overwrought with nausea. His vision filled with colors. He stood still and waited until his head cleared.

He stood up straight and took a deep breath.

The silence of the mansion suddenly hit him. He went outside and briefly looked around, but Joey wasn't in front, on the side, or in the back. At least not anywhere obvious.

Seto went back inside and gave up his search. There was a sudden sense or urgency that nipped at his heart and put a skip in his step. He walked swiftly back to the library. Halfway there he rounded a corner, and almost rammed right into Joey.

They didn't collide, but Seto stopped so suddenly that the colors filled his vision again. He thought he'd merely stumbled, but suddenly he didn't know where his body was in relation to the world.

Before he fell a hand haphazardly grabbed his sleeve and his shoulder.

“Whoa!” Joey exclaimed. “You alright?”

Seto stood up straight, and tried to level his gaze at the other man. The colors slowly disappeared before he spoke.

“Fine,” he claimed. Now that he could see Joey he could see that his hair was damp and his clothes were different. He twisted a brow. “Did you take a shower?”

“Yeah? I was all sweaty.”

“Which shower did you use?”

Joey shrugged. “I dunno, one in a random bedroom. You got, like, a million of em.”

Seto scoffed. “Just make yourself at home,” he said sarcastically. He brushed past him and returned to the library.

Joey followed, and stood in the doorway while Seto gathered all his paperwork.

“What's all that?”

“None of your business.”

“Hey, how many pre-loaded phrases you got?”

Seto shouldered past him. He returned to the bedroom and closed himself away.

Chapter Text

They were multiplying. Seto stood in the window and watched Tristan and Joey work around the yard like they'd been hired to be there.

Joey still hadn't explained exactly what he was trying to accomplish, and now he's dragged his other friend into it. But not only Tristan, Tea had shown up as well, and even Yugi was around there somewhere.

They were all working hard for nothing.

Seto closed the curtain and left the bedroom. As he walked down the hall he closed all of the curtains that had been so enthusiastically thrown open. One by one the light became mere slivers, and the Kaiba mansion was as it should have been. He got downstairs at the same time Joey was coming into the house.

“Ey, you're up,” Joey commented. “Feel like helping us out today?”

Seto brushed past him. “Didn't I tell you to stop working outside.”

“You can talk a lot, don’t mean I'm gonna listen.”

Seto grabbed a water bottle from the fridge. “Evidently.” He cracked open the bottle and took a small sip.

Joey pursued him. “Whataya eatin? I'll whip up somethin quick.”

Seto sat down at the kitchen table. “I'm not hungry.”

“Not hungry my ass. You laid in bed all day yesterday, didn't even get up to get dressed. You ain't pulling the wool over my eyes.”

Seto didn't respond. He sipped his water.

“Fine,” Joey conceded. “But I'm making you some tea. Least get something in your system.”

Seto didn't respond. Soon enough a cup of tea was placed in front of him. His eyes centered in on the chip on the lip of the cup.

A voiced echoed from the front hall. “Joey!? What are you doin in here, man? I thought you were--” Tristan stopped short in the kitchen. He found Joey standing beside the table where Seto sat. “Oh.” His eyes landed on Seto, and there was a glimmer of surprise. “Uh--”

“I'm comin out,” Joey said. “Don't gotta start yellin.”

“I wasn't yelling, I was calling.”

“Same difference.” Joey rushed over to his friend, playfully grabbed him around the neck and marched them out.

Seto listened to the door close. He stared down at the tea, but didn't take a sip.

Tristan was quiet as he swept the pebbles back into the stone garden. A few paces away, Joey was spraying some bushes, and he glanced at his friend every once in a while.

“Alright,” he said after a time. “I can tell you're thinkin about something. So spill it.”

Tristan didn't respond right away. He stopped sweeping and leaned on the broom. “I didn't expect Kaiba to…look like that.”

“Yeah, weird ain't it. But what did you expect?”

“Honestly I expected him to throw himself into his work.”

“He'd probably still look like that.”

“Maybe. But he probably wouldn't look so…I don't know.” Tristan kept sweeping. “I don't know.”

Joey was quiet. “I get what you're sayin,” he muttered. “When Yugi said he looked like a ghost I didn't think he meant it.”

Tristan nodded. The conversation fizzled out. They finished up in the stone garden and moved on to the next section of landscaping. They met up with Tea, who had been laying gravel and mulch and planting bulbs.

“Seen Yugi?” Joey asked.

“I think he's in the way back, over in that gated area.”

“What time is it?” Joey searched for his phone and pulled it out. “We've been working for a while. How about we all go inside for some food?”

Tea wiped her forehead. “Sounds good to me. Are you sure Kaiba won't mind?”

“He's probably back in bed by now.” Joey tucked his phone away and went to find Yugi. “I'll grab Yugi, you guys head in.”

He made his way to the back while everyone else went to the front. He crossed through a black gate and found Yugi on a little back deck that was all flower beds and stone. In the very back there was a small gazebo covered in vines where Yugi was sitting and staring at a board game that had been left outside. It, too, was made of stone, board, pieces and all.

Joey stood in the threshold. “Hey Yug. Whatcha doin?”

“Oh, hey Joey. Sorry, I got distracted.” Yugi stared at the board where it looked like the game had stopped in the middle. “Kind of reminiscing,” he admitted.

Joey looked at the game. “Hey, isn't that the capsule monsters game?”

“Yeah. Mokuba used to love this game. Seto must have put this in for him.”

Joey studied the board better. “Looks like it's not done,” he muttered. “Like they stopped halfway through.”

They both fell silent, the weight of the empty seat settling on their chests. Occasionally everyone still had the thought.

I should tell Mokuba about this

We should invite Mokuba

I bet Mokuba would like this game /

But by the time they reached for their phones, they were struck with the truth that there was no one to call. There was a new empty space, and no way to fill it.

Yugi suddenly released his breath, and it felt like his chest caved in. He didn't fight the pressure behind his eyes, but wiped his tears with his sleeves and took a deep breath.

“I don't think this is a feeling I'll ever get used to.”

Joey reached out and squeezed his friend’s shoulder. “No, none of us will,” he muttered. “It ain't the kind of thing you just…let go of.”

Yugi nodded. He took another deep breath and cleared his throat. “I can't believe it's already been three months.” He was quiet for a moment. “I'm really worried about Seto. How's he seemed?”

“Stubborn. The one time I mentioned Mokuba he looked like he wanted to punch me. Haven't tried to bring it up since.”

“He hasn't kicked you out yet?”

“No. Keeps hiding the blankets, though.” Joey’s shoulders sank. “He doesn't have an appetite. Puts on his tough facade, but I think he's in a pretty bad way.” He looked around the garden that they were all working so hard for. “Kinda hoping bringing this back up to snuff will encourage him to get outside a little, even if he doesn't leave the property.”

“I hope so too.”

Joey gently smacked his friend on the shoulder. “Come on. We're all taking a break inside.”

Yugi followed Joey back inside through the back door. They meandered through the corridors, and as they did, Joey opened all of the curtains. Eventually Yugi started to help and it took half the time.

When they reached the kitchen, they were greeted by a strange sight. Tea and Tristen were eating sandwiches at the kitchen table, and Kaiba was sitting exactly where Joey had left him, tea since gone cold and eyes closed.

“Hey, you didn't disappear into the abyss,” Joey commented.

Seto opened his eyes into slits. He looked at Joey without moving his head, but didn't respond. Joey moved to the fridge and started pulling out ingredients. He whipped up two and a half egg sandwiches. One for himself, the other for Yugi. The half he cut in half a second time, and served to Seto. He plopped down right across from him and they stared each other down.

Seto eyed the quarter sandwich. “I'm not hungry,” he claimed.

Joey shrugged. “Guess I'm not eatin then.”

“Fine.”

“Fine.”

At the other end of the table, Yugi, Tea and Tristan watched the pair come to a draw, and anxiously glanced between them wondering who would do what next.

Neither of them spoke or moved.

When someone finally did, the trio's attention was on them.

“You’ve been working outside all day,” Seto said. “You’d be stupid not to eat.”

Joey shrugged. “Maybe. Too bad, I guess.”

Seto's cold expression didn't change. “Too bad,” he repeated.

They fell into a stalemate again. Eventually Joey stood up. He made another pot of tea, dumped out the cup that had gone cold, and refilled it.

This time Seto drank. It was only a small sip, but it was better than nothing. Joey still didn't eat. His stomach audibly grumbled.

“You know this game is stupid,” Seto said.

Joey only shrugged.

Seto rolled his eyes. He picked up the sandwich and took a small bite of one corner. Joey visibly relaxed, and started eating. By then everyone was done with their food and had been watching the scene play out. Once the conflict resolved, they all quietly cleaned up after themselves and left the two alone.

Joey ate at a leisurely pace. He didn't watch Seto the whole time, and would swear that everytime he looked at him there was another little nibble taken out of the quarter sandwich. He finished up and cleaned up after himself. When he rose, Seto rose, but they headed in opposite directions.

“You headin back to bed?” Joey asked.

Seto paused at the bottom of the stairs. He didn't respond for a moment. “Yes.”

“Okay. Then I'll see you tomorrow.”

Joey left without another word. Seto remained at the bottom of the stairs.

Mokuba’s breathing was noisy and strained. He slept with the mask on, and his mouth hung open as if searching desperately for air. Seto sat beside the bed. It was well past midnight. The mansion was quiet besides the hum of machinery.

Mokuba’s fingers occasionally twitched against his lap. He slept sitting up, and his lips moved like he was speaking in his dreams.

Seto's eyelids stung. They drifted shut no matter how hard he fought them.

He didn't realize he was asleep until a small voice woke him.

“Seto?”

Seto flinched upright. He scrubbed his eyes and squinted at his brother. “What's wrong?” He asked. “Are you okay?”

“I'm fine,” Mokuba rasped. He took the mask off to speak. “Or, as good as I can be,” he joked.

“Did something wake you up?” Seto's voice was hush in the dark.

“No. I just woke up.” Mokuba studied his brother. “You look tired,” he muttered.

“I'm fine. Go back to sleep.”

Mokuba was silent, but he did not go back to sleep. His voice was small when he spoke. “You should do something else, Seto.”

Seto did not immediately respond. “I don't know what you mean.”

“This,” Mokuba insisted. “Being here and nowhere else.”

“I don't want to be anywhere else right now.”

“You have to be. It can't be easy sitting here day and night. You have to take care of yourself.”

“I'm fine, Mokuba.”

“You look so tired.”

Seto adjusted the blanket over his brother's lap, and Mokuba settled into his pillows, but never took his eyes off his older brother.

“You should be sleeping,” Seto muttered.

Mokuba’s eyes drifted to the puzzle sitting on the bedside table. “You haven't solved it yet,” he grumbled.

Seto glanced to see what he was looking at. “I'll get to it,” he claimed.

Mokuba rested his hands atop Seto's, gently asking them to stop. “You should sleep in your room tonight,” he encouraged gently. “Not in that chair. Not next to me.”

Seto took a deep, quiet breath. He cupped his brother's hands in his own and clenched his jaw. It felt like his chest was caving in, he squeezed Mokuba's hands as if he could make them warm.

He shook his head. “No,” he whispered. “No…”

“No…” A whisper left Seto’s lips. “No…”

Joey stared down at him. It didn't look like he was having a nightmare. But maybe Seto’s nightmares were quiet. His normally stoic brow twitched and furrowed. His voice was soft.

Joey avoided the broken glass on the floor and quietly cleaned it up. He had been passing the door when he heard something shatter, and peeked in the room just to make sure everything was okay.

Seto was asleep - though perhaps not soundly - and his hand was resting on the bedside table, a broken glass in the floor. Joey put two and two together.

He wrapped the glass in a paper towel and put it in the trash, then wiped the floor with a damp rag to banish any invisible shards.

In the middle of doing this, he suddenly felt a pair of eyes on him, and looked up.

Seto was staring at him, but his eyes were cloudy and distant.

“What are you doing?” He muttered.

Joey kept his voice hush. “You broke a glass. I heard it in the hall.” He stood up and folded up the rag. “I just cleaned it up real quick.”

Seto’s sleeping eyes stayed on Joey, but he didn't respond for a moment. “I'll clean it up,” he slurred.

“I already did it. I'm goin’a bed now. I think if you were awake you'd kick me out.”

Seto slowly blinked at him. His brows moved as if he was trying to make sense of what he was looking at. He blinked again, and that cloudiness was gone.

“Are you a pervert?” He asked, his voice much clearer now.

Joey was suddenly indignant. “Hello to you too. You awake now?”

Seto sat up and scrubbed his eyes with his palm. “What are you doing in here?”

“You broke a glass, I cleaned it up. I already told your sleeping self.”

Seto furrowed his brow. “What does that mean?”

“You were talking to me in your sleep.”

Seto didn't respond for a moment. “Oh.”

Joey frowned. “Why'd you ask me if I was a pervert?”

“Because I don't have any clothes on.”

Joey’s indignant stance faltered. “Oh. No, I ain't a pervert. Just saving your feet.” He marched off to the door. “Now I'm goin back to bed. See you tomorrow.”

He closed the door quietly behind him.

Seto looked around the room. He peered over the bed in search of glass. The cup has disappeared from the bedside table. The curtains were open and the moon was out.

It felt like he had just been there, and that he hadn’t been alone. He gripped the empty feeling in his chest and could hear his own breathing.

He held his breath until it hurt.

His stomach turned and cramped so intensely it made his toes curl. He rolled into his side and concentrated on the pain. His throat flexed and suddenly his dry mouth filled with saliva. He closed his eyes and swallowed at nothing, and tried to get back to sleep.

The curtains were still open. Seto covered his eyes with his hand and tried to convince himself he was still asleep. That became much harder to do when his bedroom door bursted open and Joey waltzed in like he owned the place.

“Rise and shine, sleeping beauty! It's two in the afternoon and I'm not waitin for ya anymore.”

Seto pointedly ignored him and pretended to be asleep. Joey grabbed his wrist and lifted the hand off his eyes.

“Come on, I finished up outside and I wanna give ya a tour of the place.”

Seto pulled his wrist out of the grip and rolled over. “I live here, I know what it looks like, Wheeler.”

“You say that, but now it's got the signature Joey touch.”

“That sounds like the opposite of a perk.”

Joey marched off towards the dresser, and was surprised to see how well stocked it was. Well stocked with the same outfit over and over again, but clean clothes nonetheless. He pulled out a shirt and pants and tossed them on the bed.

Seto laid in his bed and stared at the ceiling, ignoring the other man’s efforts. “Are you sure you're not a pervert?” He asked after a while.

“Would ya quit callin me a pervert.”

“I'm not calling, I'm asking. It's weird to rifle through someone's drawers. I'm also still naked.”

“Ahhhh, naked shmaked. Ya seen one dick, ya seen em all.” Joey searched through the drawers for Seto's signature belts. “Not that I can see your dick, you're under a blanket.” He managed to find them and pulled them out, but looked at the four with a quirk in his brow. “Are the ones you wear on your arms and legs interchangeable?”

“I'm surprised you know such a big word.”

“Guess it doesn't matter.” He tossed these on the bed alongside the rest of Seto’s clothes, then went hunting through the closet.

Seto sat up. He watched Joey get swallowed by the closet, and only then removed himself from the bed. He grabbed the black shirt and pants that had been taken out for him, but left all of the bells and whistles. He closed himself in the bathroom to complete the rest of his routine, and when he emerged Joey was still there, and was now contemplating two of Seto’s jackets.

Seto put the accessories away while Joey appeared to use all his brain power on this one decision.

“I'm not wearing either of them so you can stop thinking so hard.”

“Aw, come on. Don't you wanna dress up? Give it that old Kaiba flare?”

“No.”

Joey humphed to himself. He put the jackets away and followed the other out, jogging to catch up. “I always liked the purple one more, personally. The white one makes you look like a douche.”

Seto didn't respond. He walked down the steps and went towards the door. Joey stopped short.

“Where ya goin?”

Seto stopped and frowned at him. “Isn’t the entire reason you dragged me out of bed to look at what you did outside?”

Joey blinked at him. “Oh yeah!” He skipped into step and led the way. “Looks like a brand new place.”

Seto humphed to himself and followed the other man outside. Everything was trimmed and taken care of. There were new flowers in the beds and all of the stones had been power washed. The trees and bushes had been trimmed, but not excessively. There was still a certain wild look about the grounds that mixed with the uniformity of the arrangements.

Joey led them around to the side deck where metal chairs and tables had been neatly arranged for use.

“Pulled these suckers outta the shed. Cleaned ‘em up, made this stone slab a nice little sitting spot.”

Seto hardly bothered to look around, and did not react to the enthusiasm. Joey showed him around to the revamped stone garden and the benches there. He pointed out bird houses and tucked away nooks.

When they reached the fenced off back deck he seemed most excited. “This we cleaned up real nice,” he said.

Seto stopped a few paces away from the gate. He studied the vines that hid the porch from the rest of the world, and followed their fingers with his eyes.

Joey fiddled with the latch on the gate.

Seto clenched and I unclenched his fists at his sides. “I'm going back inside.” He turned on a heel.

Joey called after him. “Hey, wait, but this is the last--”

“I don't want to see it.”

Seto's shoulders were tight. He leveled his gaze at the path ahead.

Joey released the latch and pulled the gate shut. “Some other time,” he muttered.

Seto clenched his fists so hard his wrists hurt. He marched off and went back inside. Joey had opened all of the curtains again. He closed them with screeching force, one by one by one by one, banishing the light from the mansion. Each one he gripped tighter than the last, until there was a sudden burst or rage and a blur in his mind.

He ripped them down.

The screws pulled out of the wall and the fabric tore. He ripped them down with reckless abandon, in a furious haze, as if the curtains were his greatest enemy and he was finally getting revenge on them.

His breath heaved, and just as soon as the high began, it ended.

He stopped as a curtain rod rattled to the floor, the curtain itself still gripped in a trembling fist. Seto’s vision was filled with stars. It was a moment before he caught his breath, and even longer before the dizziness went away.

He didn’t realize he had knelt down until the floor suddenly came into view.

At the end of the hall, Joey watched, but did not approach him.

Chapter Text

Mokuba flipped through the channels on the television. Beside him, Seto sat on the couch with his arms and legs crossed, but his eyes closed and head occasionally lulling to one side. He jolted awake every time, but the fatigue was becoming increasingly heavy on his body.

Mokuba frowned at the screen. “I can’t find the tournament,” he complained. He coughed into his fist, and at this his brother woke up.

Seto lifted his head and scrubbed his eyes. “What are you looking for again?”

“Joey’s supposed to be in a tournament this weekend, but I can’t find the channel it’s on”

Seto humphed. “You’re clicking too fast, you can’t even see what’s on screen.”

“It’s one without commercials.” Mokuba coughed a few times. He closed his mouth tight and swallowed, but started to cough again.

Seto jumped to his feet, but Mokuba grabbed the mask himself and turned on the machine. He took as deep a breath as he could, and cleared his throat.

Seto lowered himself back to his seat. “Maybe you should go back to the room and rest,” he suggested.

“I wanna be out here,” Mokuba rasped, rubbing his sore chest. “I’ve been stuck in that room all day.”

One of the bodyguards approached them. He leaned over to speak directly to Seto.

“Master Kaiba, we have Dr. Han on the phone.”

Seto immediately rose. “Mokuba, I’ll be right back.” He pointed to another body guard. “You. Get Joey Wheeler’s tournament broadcasted directly to this screen.”

The man nodded. “Yes, Mr. Kaiba.”

Seto took the phone call in his office, and skipped all of the pleasantries. He kept a stoic expression as the doctor spoke to him, but his jaw was clenched so hard his teeth hurt, and the furrow in his brow began to grow sore. He listened to the doctor speak, and absorbed everything that was said to him and committed it to memory.

“There are risks--” the doctor tried to explain.

“That much is obvious. How experimental is experimental?”

“It’s a new antibiotic,” Dr. Han explained. “It looks hopeful, it has all the same risks as any other antibiotic, but we can’t guarantee your brother’s strain won’t be resistant, or that it won’t come back resistant.”

“We’ll do it. When’s the soonest you can have it sent over?”

“We would like Mokuba in a clinical setting.”

“For how long?”

“Just a week to monitor his progress, then he can continue treatment at home.”

“Fine. We’ll be in today. Be ready.”

Seto hung up the phone and rushed back to the living room. Mokuba was absorbed in what was happening on screen.

“Mokuba, Dr. Han’s team want to try a new treatment. We’ll leave for his clinic in an hour, I’ll have the maids pack your things.” Seto turned to rush off and start preparations.

Mokuba blinked up at him. “Huh? Wha-- Wait, Seto--” He grabbed his brother’s jacket. “Wait,” he rasped. “Hold on.”

Seto turned around. “What is it?”

Mokuba gripped the fabric under his fingertips. “Seto…this is the fifth one. Dr. Rosemary said--”

“Forget what Dr. Rosemary said,” Seto snapped. “She just didn’t try hard enough. Dr. Han’s team is the best of the best, if they think they’ve found something--”

“They probably didn’t.” Mokuba said calmly. “Dr. Rosemary was the best of the best, too. I’m…I don’t wanna do it anymore, Seto. I just wanna rest.”

Seto clenched his fist, but he kept his voice soft and his emotions in check. “You’ll have to stay at the clinic for a week,” he said. “I’ll make sure you’re comfortable.”

“But Set--” Mokuba was stopped short by a cough. “Seto,” he rasped.

Seto was giving orders to the servants and bodyguards. Mokuba’s hand dropped from his brother’s jacket. His expression sank.

He watched Joey’s match until it was time to go.

Seto sat at his desk. He read over the paperwork he had sent the doctor and spotted a few mistakes that he hoped would not be used against him. If he wasn't careful with his words and actions then someone might take it upon themselves to try and take control of his life.

He set the paperwork aside and scrubbed his forehead.

His stomach cramped, but he had started to grow used to the sensation. The pain radiated through his body as if it belonged there. He carefully stood from the desk and began getting ready.

When he went downstairs Joey was sitting at the kitchen table with a pile of cards. He was staring intensely at one while chewing on the edge of a coffee can.

When Seto entered the room, he looked up.

“Mornin.”

Seto didn't greet him. He grabbed a water bottle out of the fridge and sat down at the kitchen table. Joey’s cards were all spread out. There were two neat stacks amidst the chaos. Joey put the card he'd been holding into one of them, and picked up another.

“Whataya eatin?” He asked past the rim of his can.

“I'm not hungry.”

“You're a lousy liar.” Joey tossed down the card and stood up. He grabbed a protein drink out of the fridge and tossed it over.

Seto caught it. The immediate condensation trickled down his wrist. He humphed and put it on the table, and turned his attention to the piles of cards.

Joey sat back down and looked through one of the neat stacks. He flicked a card out to the unorganized pile and replaced it with something else.

“I'm hoping I can duel Yugi in the finals,” he explained without prompt. “So I gotta be prepared. But I also gotta be prepared for everything that comes before that.”

Seto opened up the protein drink. “Obviously,” he grumbled.

“Say, how's about you and me have a duel?”

Seto paused before drinking. He frowned. “I don't duel anymore.”

“What? Whataya mean?”

“I mean I don't play that stupid game anymore, Wheeler. It's a waste of time.”

Joey paused. He studied Seto, but the other man's posture and expression betrayed nothing. He looked like the same jaded, bored man he always did.

Joey went back to his cards. “That's lame,” he said. “Ya know, Seto. You're kind of lame.”

He watched for a reaction, but didn't get any.

He kept talking.

“You know, life keeps going. It goes and goes, whether we're happy or not. I'm not asking you to be happy, God knows I can't ask you to be happy right now. And I know it probably feels like half the world was ripped outta your hands. But ya ain't doing anything by being alone in the dark all the time. Laying in bed, doin nothing for yourself. Life goes on.”

Seto didn't immediately respond. “I told you, I’m not trying to feel better.”

“So you’re gonna do this for the rest of your life?”

Seto's scowl deepened. “That's none of your concern.”

“Do you know how stupid that is? How God damn selfish that is?” Joey threw down his cards and pointed a sharp finger at Seto. “Mokuba had his whole life ahead of him and he didn't get that chance. He didn't get the chance that you got and I got, and all you wanna do is rot away! You're acting like an idiot--”

Seto slammed his fist on the table. “Shut up--!”

Joey stood up. “No, I’m not gonna shut up! Like it or not, you're my friend. You're a selfish self righteous jerk, but you're my friend! I already lost one'a those! I'm not gonna sit back and watch you waste away like a moron! Call me selfish, but I ain't gonna do it!”

Seto stood up. “We’re not friends! I never asked you to come here! I never asked you for any of this! The only person acting like an idiot here is you, trying to save someone who doesn't want to be saved! So stop wasting your time, and get out already!”

“If you want me out, you're gonna have to throw me out on my ass yourself!”

Seto went around the table, and Joey wasn't prepared for the strength with which his collar was grabbed and he was suddenly being dragged towards the door. He grabbed Seto by the wrists and tried to pull the hands off, but they were like two vices.

He resisted, but Seto kept trying to drag him away. They struggled against eachother until Joey finally managed to get free, only for his sleeves to be captured again. This time he didn't move.

“Get out,” Seto growled through his teeth.

Joey tried to push him away. “I ain't goin anywhere. You're gonna have to do better than that.”

A burst of rage erupted in Seto’s chest. He grabbed Joey by the front of the shirt, and with a surprising amount of strength, dragged him forward and threw him on the ground.

Joey tried to catch himself, but couldn't. He hit the tile hard, but managed not to get hurt.

“You don't want to leave? Fine! I'll make it so you don't want to be anywhere near me.”

“I already don't wanna be anywhere near you,” Joey snapped. “You're a selfish, insufferable jerkface! But I'm here anyway.”

“Oh how noble,” Seto said sarcastically. “The kind hearted Joey has been so great to his lowly, selfish horrible, stupid, selfish, self centered so-called friend! I hope they give you a medal.”

Joey pointed at him. “Now you're putting words in my mouth, I didn't call ya all that.”

Seto still stood over him. “But it's true! That's the way it is, isn't it!? That's what I am! Selfish selfish selfish selfish selfish! God damn it!” He turned and punched the wall as hard as he could. As soon as his hand hit the drywall a blood curdling scream erupted out of his throat.

He collapsed to his knees and gripped his wrist.

Joey rushed over. “Kaiba!” He tried to get a look at the other man’s hand, but Seto tried to push him away. “Lemme look! Stop it, lemme look--”

Seto weakly tried to push him away. “Get away from me.” His voice was so much smaller.

Joey gently inspected the hand, but when he tried to move it around, Seto hissed in pain, and pushed him away with more force.

“I think you broke your hand,” Joey said.

Seto pulled his hand away and grunted at the pain. He pushed himself to his feet and tried to go upstairs.

“Kaiba. Hey! You have to go to the hospital,” Joey called after him.

“I'm not going to the hospital,” Seto growled through his teeth. “Get out already and leave me alone.”

“You stupid idiot. Fine! Fall apart! But ya still ain't gettin rid’a me that easy.”

Seto marched upstairs and disappeared. Joey stood up and went to inspect the wall Kaiba had punched. He brushed some of the broken dry wall aside and revealed the solid wooden beam.

Seto hissed as he tried to move his fingers. They curled towards his palm, and were resistant to responding to his demand to move. When he tried to force them, or sent such an intense pain up his arm that his vision filled with stars.

There was already a sizable bruise developing on his palm and the back of his hand.

It was definitely broken.

He huffed and let his hand go limp.

It didn't matter. He wasn't doing anything anyway. If it healed wrong, if he had to live with the pain, that was of no consequence. It would end.

He wrapped it in gauze and medical tape and left it at that.

For the first time in a long time he wasn't tired. His body was probably still pumping with the adrenalin from breaking a bone. Once he crashed he would go to bed.

Until that happened he prepared for sleep. As he changed out of his clothes, he felt that high dying down.

When it suddenly dropped the pain in his hand became all the more distracting. He laid down anyway, and tried to ignore it.

Seto knew he was awake, but the stars and colors covering his eyes completely obscured his vision. He could feel his own heartbeat, and was struggling to maintain steady breath.

His hand was pulsing and it felt like his blood was trying to break out of his skin.

He remained calm.

Slowly Seto rose from the bed. He didn’t move his hand, and carried it at his side like a limp stone. Even the most minute movement sent a burst of burning pain through his body. It was so intense it made his stomach turn.

He shuffled blindly from the bedroom, and his voice struggled past his parched lip. “Joey--” He swallowed at nothing and tried to wet his mouth. “J--- Joey--” he could not get much louder.

The pain and dehydration had his head spinning. He used his uninjured hand to follow the wall.

“Joey…Joey…”

It occurred to him through the haze that he didn’t know what room Joey was staying in. He didn’t even know if the other man was still there.

Joey was stubborn. He was still there.

“Help…I need…help…” he breathed as if winded, and the dizziness became worse until suddenly he was looking at the ground.

But he never fell. When he stumbled, he was not alone. He couldn’t see clearly, but firm hands gripped his shoulder and arm, keeping him upright.

“Whoa whoa whoa, hey--”

Joey’s voice sounded far away.

“Hey, you with me? Hey. Hey, Kaiba--”

Seto blinked at the face in front of him, but couldn’t really see it.

“Oh, shit--”

Was the last thing he heard before he completely passed out.

Chapter Text

/\,_,__,_/\,_,__,__,_,_/\,_.____,__.__,_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Joey paced the waiting room.

His feet were growing sore and his legs tired, but anytime he sat down he had to get right back up. It was past midnight, so he didn't bother to call anyone else and tell them about the situation. That would be a task for the real morning.

Joey eventually sat down. He hung his head over the floor and propped his elbows on his knees. He traced the lines on the tiles with his eyes and searched for a distraction.

No one was going to speak to him. He could just leave.

The thought left a hollow feeling in his chest. So he stayed.

When the clock hit 2am he walked up to the window again.

“Would I be able to see Seto Kaiba?”

The lady typed something in on her computer. “Are you a relative?”

“Uhhhh--” he considered lying. “No.”

“Kaiba cannot take visitors right now.”

“Any idea when he can?”

“No, I can't tell. You're free to wait, but it might be a while.”

Joey’s shoulders sank. “Okay, thanks,” he grumbled.

He shuffled back to his seat and plopped down. As soon as he was seated, his brain told him to get right back up, but his body was suddenly a puddle. His head lulled to the side and his eyes drifted shut.

He thought he would just rest for a little while. Close his eyes for a bit to get the ache out.

When someone started shaking him awake, he jolted.

“Geez--” he grumbled at the nurse. When he tried to sit up his entire body objected. “Aw, geez--” he grunted again.

“Are you waiting for someone?” The lady above him asked. “The receptionist said you fell asleep here last night.”

“Last night? No, I just--” it was then Joey noticed the light coming through the windows. “Okay, last night,” he grumbled. He looked at the lady. “Yeah, Kaiba Seto. He taking visitors yet?”

The woman stepped away and went back around the desk. “Let me check.” She sat down and typed something into her computer.

Joey got up as shuffled over to the counter. There were a few people waiting, but no one in line. The woman paused, and pulled a strange face.

“Okaaaay,” she said after a moment. “Mr. Kaiba is only allowing two visitors. Joey Wheeler and Yugi Muto. Are you Wheeler or Muto?”

“I'm Joey. You wanna see my ID?”

“Uhhh--” she appeared to be reading something on the screen. “Yes. Apparently Mr. Kaiba was incredibly specific about this.”

Joey handed over his ID and the woman quickly verified it. She told him Kaiba’s room number and how to get there. Joey thanked her, and tried not to run.

He walked swiftly down the hallways and hit the button for the elevator a few too many times. Kaiba was on the third floor, which was somewhat calmer than the first floor had been. He reached Kaiba’s door but hesitated before knocking.

There were a few things about Kaiba that were certain.

He was a billionaire.

A hard worker

An arrogant jackass

A genius

But if there was one thing he absolutely wasn't, it was vulnerable. The last place on earth he probably wanted to be seen was in a hospital bed.

Joey almost lowered his fist.

But he stopped. He had been on that list. He had lived in that house, he had carried him naked and passed out to the car. Someone couldn't get more vulnerable than that. It was a wonder why Seto was letting him see him again at all.

Joey knocked. He waited, but no one responded. Curiosity at its peak, he carefully opened the door and peeked inside the room.

Seto was laid up in bed asleep. His arm was elevated and his hand was secured in a cast that wrapped all the way up his ring and pinky, and well down his wrist. He was in a hospital gown and partially sat up, his legs covered by a blanket.

Joey carefully approached the bed. This was the first time he'd ever seen Seto look so peaceful. Even in his sleep, the man had a bend in his brow or a slight frown on his face. For the first time it actually looked like he was resting; like there was nothing on his mind and nothing to bother him in his dreams.

Then suddenly that peace was disturbed. His eyes drifted open and landed right on Joey. That subtle crinkle in his brow returned. His lips moved, but it only came out an incoherent grumble.

“Hey, Kaiba.”

Kaiba slowly blinked at him.

“You with us?” Joey asked.

Kaiba’s eyes started to clear. He took a deep breath and looked around the room. He removed his broken hand from its perch and pawed at the IV in his opposite arm with the unwrapped fingers. Joey raced forward and took his hand.

“Whoa, whoa, hey, none’a that. Your medicine's probably in there.”

Seto groaned and gave Joey a dirty look.

“They must have you on sedatives or painkillers or something.”

Seto grumbled something incoherent.

“I would ask you what's the deal, but you don't seem in a position to talk.”

Seto didn't appear to be paying attention. He looked around the room, and tried to reach for the nurse call button. His fingers fumbled with the cord and he struggled to grasp the trigger. Joey took over and hit the button for him.

He plopped himself down in the chair against the wall and waited for the nurse. For a while they were quiet. Seto stared at the wall and Joey let him alone. The only sound was the heart monitor.

___/\,_,__,_/\,_,__,_/\,_,__,_/\,_,__,_/\,_____________________________________________________________________

Seto suddenly ripped the monitors off of his chest. He smacked around the machine until he found the off button and shut it down completely.

A nurse suddenly ran into the room. She relaxed as soon as she spotted Seto awake and frowning, heart monitors on the floor and machine turned off.

“Mr. Kaiba, we've asked you to please not remove the heart monitor.” She marched forward and turned the machine back on.

Seto covered his chest with his uninjured hand and shook his head. The nurse sighed, but turned the machine off.

“Are you refusing to wear the heart monitor?”

Seto swallowed before speaking. “I won't wear a heart monitor,” he said. His voice was quiet, but clear.

The nurse rolled the monitor aside. “Okay. Do you need anything else?”

Seto held out his arm. “I don't consent to an IV.”

“That IV has your pain reliever in it, not fluids. We are aware of your refusal to take fluids.”

Seto humphed and put his arm down.

“Through an IV,” the nurse continued. “Do you want a cup of water?”

Seto didn't respond for a moment. Eventually he nodded.

“Okay, I'll be back with a cup of water.” She left the room and closed the door behind her.

Joey looked at Seto. “How come you ain't taking any fluids?”

Seto looked at him without moving his head. He stared straight. “Don't worry about it.”

Joey frowned. The nurse returned a moment later with a cup of water. Seto took a small sip, then replaced the cup in the bedside table.

“We’ll be back in to see how you're doing in a little while.” the nurse said. “Once the drugs wear off entirely, you’ll be free to go, unless you rescind your refusal of treatment. Okay? So a few more hours. Push the button if you need anything.”

Seto humphed to himself and the nurse closed the door behind her.

Joey pulled his chair right up to the bed. “Hey, Kaiba, what's she talkin about this refusing treatment stuff?”

Seto didn't look at him. “None of your business.” He glanced at him. “Why are you even here?”

“I've been waiting for you, ya prick. You scared the crap outta me.”

“I'm fine now.”

“You clearly ain't fine. A broken bone doesn't make you faint in the middle of the night. So what happened?”

Seto lifted his cast and inspected his fingers. “It was compound,” he grumbled. “They did reconstructive surgery. And there was a crack in my wrist.”

Joey winced. “Sheesh, a compound fracture in your hand? I didn't see that when I looked at it. Ya know you punched a stud? You musta punched that sucker pretty hard to get a compound fracture in your hand.”

“Evidently.” Seto rested his arm in his lap.

“Still doesn't explain what happened. Less you were bleeding to death.”

“I wasn't. No matter how many times you ask, it's never going to be any of your business.”

“Hey, I drove your sorry naked ass to the hospital, feels like if anybody oughta know it's me.”

“Your logic doesn't check.”

“You're really coherent for a guy who should be hopped up on painkillers.”

“I'm alive, you can leave now.”

“If I leave, how are you gonna get home?”

“I'm a multibillionaire, I'm sure I can find a way.”

Joey was quiet for a moment. He stood up. “Ya know, this whole time, I sorta kept wondering--” he paced the room. “Why am I here? Why am I doing this? Why do I care so much? Kaiba would never do the same damn thing for me, least I don't think he would.” He stopped short and looked at Seto. “But that's just the thing. I think you would do the same thing for me. Crap on friendship all you want, but I think if I was pulling the exact same shit you are, I think you'd be in my position. And you’d be way less nice about it. So I've decided I'm gonna be as stubborn and bullheaded and determined as you are--” he plopped right down in the seat next to the bed. “And I ain't going anywhere.”

Seto looked at him with a blank expression. “Nice speech,” he deadpanned. He stared straight ahead and settled into the bed. “Do whatever you want.”

Joey sat back in his seat. “I will.”

______________________________________________________________________________________/\,_,__,__/\,_,__,__/\,_,__,

“Why did you do that?”

“Because I couldn’t--”

“Do what I wanted?”

Seto’s eyes split open. His lungs took in a deep breath as if they'd been off this entire time. When he tried to look around the room, his neck was stiff and achy. He winced as he sat up, and was suddenly aware of the sticky dryness in his mouth. He reached for the cup of water on the bedside table and took a long sip.

Half of the lights had been turned off in the room. It was quiet. No heart monitor. No machines. But the sheets were still itchy and the room was still bland and the blanket was still thin.

His chest tightened, and suddenly steady breath was shallow.

Seto laid his racing mind flat. Wherever it was trying to go, he clenched his jaw and gripped it with trembling hands, demanding it and his body to remain calm.

His breath steadied.

His heart still shuddered beneath his palm. It struck his ribs like an animal trying to escape its cage. Things would be better outside of this body. A hollow husk was no place for a heart.

Seto gripped his chest as if that would keep it inside. He pressed back into the bed and stared at the ceiling.

When the tightness left his throat and his heart had calmed, he unclenched his jaw and settled back against the pillow. It was only then he noticed the other person in the room.

Joey was still in that chair. He was sitting up with his head lulled to one side and his arms crossed over his chest, fast asleep.

Seto humphed to himself. He sat up on shaking limbs and quickly took down the rest of the water before throwing the blanket off his lap.

He kicked Joey on the shin with his bare foot.

“Wake up, Wheeler.”

Joey jolted awake. He sniffed and scrubbed his eyes. “Huh? Kaiba?”

Seto sat on the edge of the bed and contemplated the floor. He could feel the tell tale buzz in his limbs. Regardless, he carefully put his feet down one at a time. First to test the strength of his leg and then to stand up.

He looked around in search of his clothes, but there was nothing in the immediate area.

Joey stood. “We fall asleep?”

“Where's my clothes?”

“You didn't have any clothes. Remember? You stumbled right outta bed.”

Seto frowned. He examined the hospital gown he was wearing and humphed. Joey hunted around the room and found a pair of pajamas.

“You could put on the pajamas. Least your ass won't be out.”

Seto accepted this compromise and began getting dressed. As soon as he took off the hospital gown, Joey flinched and turned around.

“Whoa! Warn a guy!”

“You've already seen me naked. Don't be a child.”

Joey remained turned around, but now he was indignant. “Forgive me for thinking you should have some privacy.”

“I'm already done”.

Joey turned back around. “You dress quick for a guy with a broken hand.”

Seto quickly downed the rest of the water, and took a brief look around for anything he might be forgetting. He put on the slippers provided and marched for the door. Joey skipped to catch up, and walked beside him as he shuffled down the hospital corridor in search of the exit or an elevator.

Joey gave him a couple minutes to search, then took him by the elbow and steered him in the right direction. Seto followed with a quiet humph but no objection.

He discharged himself at the desk, and had to sign something saying he had refused treatment.

When they got outside it was night. Seto stopped just outside the door; his slippers shuffled against the dusty pavement. The sliding door rattled close behind them, and suddenly it was quiet.

Seto stared straight ahead, expression soft and dead. His eyes steadily rose to the moon hanging in the sky. He stared at the bright ball of light until it lost its definition and the world around it became nothing but fizzle and dark. Suddenly a breath left his body and his shoulders dropped.

“Wheeler. Bring the car here.”

Joey frowned. He approached from behind. “I ain’t a chauffeur, ya know.” He whipped out his keys and swung them around this finger. “But just this once. Since you were in the hospital and all.”

Seto kept an eye on the moon until his eyes went blurry. He didn't see the car pull up in front of him until it honked at him. Joey rolled down the passenger window.

“Get in, Princess. Chariot awaits.”

Seto didn’t bother frowning at the colorful nickname. He got in the passenger seat and hooked himself. The seat beneath him was well worn, with cracks in the old leather and a tiny split in one of the seams. It briefly occurred to him that Joey was more than able to afford something new and far nicer, he just chose not to.

Seto settled back into the seat as they started driving. His eyes were heavy, but he kept them on the window. He could not remember the last time he’d seen the world outside his window.

There were so many lights in the street. People were still out. They hung out on sidewalks and outside of restaurants. Blinking signs and tourist spots lit up the pavement. People smoked and laughed and argued; with waving hands and sharp fingers or bright smiles that broke the barrier of distance.

Seto’s fingertips drifted to the glass, and he flinched when they touched.

Joey pulled over and parked in front of a 24 hour convenience store. Seto looked at the lit up sign and watched two college students walk out holding late night sandwiches and drinks. Joey hopped out of the car and threw back a quick ‘be right back’ before closing the door.

Seto humphed to himself. He crossed his arms, closed his eyes, and waited. He barely registered when the car jostled until something cold was pressed to the side of his cheek.

He opened his eyes and turned to see Joey holding out a bottle of water. The lights outside silhouetted his frame and their colors reflected in his eyes, which stared at Seto with an intensity that suggested he was not asking.

Seto took the bottle but immediately offered it back. Joey cracked it open and Seto drank.

They left the city, and left the lights behind with it.

The car ride was quiet, little more than the wheels on pavement and the wind at their windows. Joey leaned back in his seat and drove with one hand on the wheel and the other on the stick.

“Nice night, huh?” He muttered after a while. “Sometimes it’s nice to just drive around. Don’t ya think?”

Seto didn’t realize he was shaking his head until he already did it. He stopped short and stared out the window.

“You really want me to take ya home, huh?” Joey grumbled. “I was hoping you’d ask me to take you somewhere else.”

Seto’s throat tightened. He didn’t look at the other man, “I didn’t ask you to take me anywhere.”

Joey was quiet. He pulled into a spot off the road and turned the car around. Seto did not object.

“You don't know what you want--”

“Yes I do--”

“There's still time--”

“Seto. Please. There's nothing anyone can do. Not even you.”

Seto sat with his elbows leaned on his knees. The popsicle between his fingertips was half eaten, and dripped juice into the sand between his feet. Joey reclined on the other side of the bench, one arm thrown over the back, his legs out straight. He finished up his popsicle by taking the rest between his teeth and sliding it off the stick. He swallowed in one go and tossed the stick in the garbage right beside him.

The sun was rising above the ocean. It hadn’t shown it’s face yet, but yellow and orange sparkled across the water announcing its arrival. A heavy breeze whipped Seto’s cheap hospital shirt and made his skin goosebump. The cold broke him out of his trance long enough to realize his fingers were sticky. He tipped the stick and let the rest of the popsicle fall into the sand.

They both stared at the ocean. The bench was so far from the sea, high tide couldn’t reach them, but the water was loud regardless. Every once in a while a car drove by behind them, but the lights of the city had dimmed with the promise of day. Flecks of sand tickled their faces every time a breeze brushed by.

“Looks like it’s gonna be a nice day,” Joey muttered.

Seto didn’t respond. His eyes drifted away from the ocean, and down to his sticky fingers. They were orange with melted popsicle. He pressed his thumb into the wood and watched the liquid move between his skin and the stick. It was still cold.

“Why’d you pick orange?”

Seto glanced at Joey. “I just picked something,” he grumbled. “I told you I didn’t want one.”

“But you picked orange.” Joey leaned his head all the way back so he was facing the sky. He yawned so hard his eyes watered. “I’m pretty sure you don’t like orange popsicles.”

Seto didn’t respond right away. “I’m indifferent,” he grumbled.

“Your brother liked the orange ones, didn’t he?”

Seto squeezed the stick between his fingers. He stood up and tossed it in the garbage. “Take me home.”

Joey lifted his head. “I’m pretty comfortable right here.”

“Fine. Then I’ll walk.”

Joey leaned his head all the way back. “Okay. See ya.”

Seto shuffled off without saying anything. He had reached the road and was well on his way when Joey finally leaped to his feet and chased after him. “Okay, okay, I’ll drive! Ya stubborn ass!”

The radio was fuzzy, but Joey kept it on. The air conditioning in the car was broken, and the sun had finally risen. A noisy breeze spit through the cracks in the windows, but it was silent between the passengers.

Seto watched out the window until the coastline became trees. He stared straight ahead and tried to ignore the static on the radio. Eventually he turned it off, and Joey didn’t seem bothered.

“You sure you don’t wanna go anywhere else?”

“Yes.”

“Guess you should probably just chill out.”

Seto didn’t respond.

For a while the car was finally quiet. The windows had been closed and the radio was off, and neither of them said anything.

They were almost back at the mansion when Joey piped up.

“I think you should see someone.”

Seto opened his eyes. He awoke without knowing he’d fallen asleep. “What does that mean?” He grumbled.

“See someone. For your…grief. Like. a counselor or something.”

Seto humphed and leaned his head back. “I don’t need anything like that.” He closed his eyes.

Soon enough they pulled up in front of the house. Joey hit the breaks a little too hard, enough to jostle Seto awake.

“Why not?” Joey asked.

“What?”

“Why don’t ya wanna see someone? Think it’ll make ya weak or somethin?”

“No.” Seto got out of the car and closed the door behind him.

Joey followed after. He locked the car and stayed a pace behind. Seto didn’t bother closing the mansion door behind him, and went right to the stairs.

Joey was not far behind. “You can always talk to me, ya know.”

Seto paused. His eyes laid absent on the stairs. “There’s nothing to talk about,” he muttered.

“Have you even cried?’ Joey blurted out. He lost his resolve just as quickly and took a small step back. “They said…I mean your guys…they said you didn't. Or at the funeral. Or here alone.” His voice teetered off at the end.

Seto's hand clenched around the railing. His voice was barely a mutter. “I can’t do that.”

“Of course you can--!”

“No,” Seto snapped. He lost the fire the moment it blared. “I mean…I can't.”

Joey paused. “You--”

“Goodnight, Wheeler.” Seto went up the stairs as fast as he could manage.

He stalked to his bedroom and closed himself inside, where the world was quiet.

Chapter Text

Joey glanced over his shoulder from the stove. Kaiba had come down, dressed, showered and ready, and had sat down at the table without a word. When asked what he was eating he didn't even say he wasn’t hungry, he simply didn't respond.

Seto sat with his cast on the table and stared at the wall. Joey presented him with an egg and sat down across from him. He did their usual thing, and waited for Seto to take the first bite.

“You--”

Seto picked up his fork and took one bite. He carefully put it down and replaced his hand in his lap. Joey quietly humphed to himself.

“Alright then,” he grumbled. He dug into his own breakfast.

Seto pushed his plate forward and Joey ate the rest of the egg. When breakfast was done, neither of them went anywhere. Seto remained still and stoic and Joey sat in a similar position. It was a quieter morning than usual, and certainly a quieter morning than previous. Right around the corner there was still a hole in the wall.

“I was gonna run out and grab some stuff today,” Joey said. “To patch up that hole you put in the wall.”

“Don’t bother.”

“Well, you don’t want a hole in the wall, do ya?”

“It doesn’t matter. So don’t bother.”

“Well I don’t like holes in the wall.” Joey grumbled at the end. “Lived in enough houses with those.”

“Fine. Do whatever you want.”

“You should come with me.”

“Why?”

“To do something other than wallow at home. Ya know you ask a lotta stupid questions for such a smart guy.”

“Do you even know how to fix a wall?”

“It's pretty simple.”

“For an intelligent person.”

Joey frowned. “Yeah yeah. Only one of us is acting like an idiot.” He stood up and gathered the dishes to wash up.

When he was done he grabbed his keys and slipped on his shoes, and Seto was still sitting at the kitchen table.

“Last call, Kaiba!”

Seto stared at the cast on his hand. His free pointer finger tapped against the table.

“Alright,” Joey called. “Fine. I'll be back.”

The door rattled open. He skipped down the first step and started to pull the door closed behind him when it suddenly met resistance.

He looked over his shoulder and found Seto holding it open.

“You know I won't be of any help to you,” he said.

Joey shrugged. “Don't need help, just want the company.”

Seto stepped out of the house and pulled the door closed behind him. “Weird that you keep choosing me.”

Joey skipped after him. “Call me a masochist.”

The hardware store smelled like wood and was dusty all over. It was small, with narrow aisles and packed shelves. They perused a row of nuts, bolts and screws; which came in containers, or could be bought individually.

Seto stood by and studied the cramped little space with a scrutinizing gaze, but no comment. Joey scrubbed his chin and squinted at all the different options.

When it seemed this process was taking exceptionally long, Seto spoke up.

“Are you sure you know what you're doing?”

“Hey, how many walls have you patched up?” Joey, however, still looked unsure. He humphed, and muttered to himself. “Probably shoulda looked at the hole before I drove all the way out here.”

Seto rolled his eyes. Joey shrugged, and picked out a few single pieces from the bins. He marched confidently towards a different aisle, and Seto stalked right behind. They wandered a few ways over to a somewhat wider aisle, where Joey quickly picked out what he needed.

It was a block of drywall, perhaps one foot by one foot across, and more than enough to fill the hole Seto had made with his fist. They got a knife, drywall tape, drywall nails, and the filler, and made their way up to the front.

Seto did not speak. He silently observed his friend and these antics, as well as the scarce customers. It wasn't often he wandered the streets and shops like everyone else in the world. Usually he was too busy running a multi-billion dollar corporation and addressing the public.

Or in recent memory, taking care of his brother.

A sudden sting nipped at Seto’s throat. He clenched his jaw to banish the sour feeling, and occupied his mind by reading the drink and candy bar selection at the front check out counter.

Joey grabbed one of the candy bars and threw it in with the rest. “That too.” He looked at Seto. “Want anything?”

“No.”

Joey paid and thanked the clerk. They left the store for the hot street, and stuck to whatever shade they could find on their way back to the car. Joey had - for whatever reason - parked a block and a half away and around a corner.

Seto watched the sidewalk and avoided any cracks and dips. He walked right into Joey’s back when the other suddenly stopped short.

“Wha--”

“You want Soba?” Joey asked.

Seto frowned. “No. I do not want Soba.”

“Well I do. I’m starving.” He skipped off the sidewalk and headed to the dinky little shop across the street.

“Didn’t you just eat breakfast?”

“Come on, it’ll be nice on a hot day like this.”

Seto followed. “I said I would go to the hardware store, not out to lunch.”

Joey ignored this and ducked into the shop. It was a tiny place with an L-shaped counter and four two person tables tucked against the walls, with only a narrow space between them for people to walk. The walls were covered with tacked up pieces of printed art, and it smelled heavenly. There were two people behind the counter, a fan in the corner, and a couple of customers; both at tables.

Joey sat himself down at the counter and called out right away. “Two zaru soba, two waters, please.”

Seto lowered himself into the stool beside Joey and stared at one of the menus stuck sideways into the edge of the counter.

“And two beers.” Joey added.

The water and beers were given to them alongside some pre-meal snacks. Seto slid the can of beer he’d been given over to Joey’s side of the counter. It was quickly slid right back to him.

“I am not drinking,” Seto insisted.

Joey cracked open the can. “One won’t kill ya.” He dug into the snacks and his own can of beer. He took a long sip, then crossed his arms over the counter and looked around.

Seto stared at the can. He glanced around the restaurant, and after a moment - when Joey wasn’t looking - took a small sip. The alcohol was dry and bitter, and not in any way pleasant.

He took another sip.

This time he was caught, but Joey didn’t say anything. Seto put the can down and took a sip of water.

“You should eat somethin,” Joey said, sliding the snacks to the middle. “Otherwise you’ll be drunk after one,” he chuckled.

“I doubt it,” Seto grumbled. He drank the beer again.

Joey nursed his own can, and was far more liberal with his sips. “When’s the last time you were in a place like this?”

“I don’t know.” Seto glanced around. “Maybe never. Unless Mo--” he stopped short, his mouth snapped shut. “Probably never,” he amended.

Joey slurped his beer and watched his friend. He put the can down on the counter with a klunk. “Ya know. I think you should get drunk.”

Seto frowned. “Excuse me?”

“Yeah, get drunk. Let loose. Ya already punched a wall and tore apart your curtains and broke all the plates in your house. Why not get drunk?”

Seto quirked a brow. “You want me to get drunk? Now I’m sure you’re a pervert.”

Joey frowned deeply. “Ha ha,” he grumbled sarcastically. “You’re not funny.”

“I’m not trying to be.” Seto drank more of his beer.

They were served their meal, but neither of them ate right away. Joey stared at Seto and waited, but nothing happened.

“You should eat something,” he encouraged. “Not ‘cause I think you’re starving but because you probably don’t actually wanna get drunk.”

Seto picked up one noodle and dipped it in the sauce. Joey started eating with far more vigor. Soon his beer was empty, and he ordered two more. Seto finished his own beer, but didn’t start drinking the other until Joey cracked it open.

It was there, and it tasted bad, but it was something to drink.

The second one went down far faster than the first.

It felt like every muscle in his body was both tense and relaxed. His breathing had slowed, and he wanted to find that concerning, but all of his thoughts had become blurry and calm. He ate absently, and drank with equal lack of care.

The soba was savory with a hint of sweetness. It may have been the best tasting thing he had ever eaten. When he reached for the beer again - which he could have sworn was empty - the can was heavy and full.

So he drank until it was empty, and that heavy space in his head was suddenly so much lighter. Indeed, his whole body felt lighter. He stuck his chopsticks in the bowl, but there were no more noodles. He blinked at the bottom of his bowl and poked it again, something here not making sense.

He took a deep breath and released it slowly.

“How you doin’ over there, Kaiba? You’re lookin a little worse for wear.”

Seto blinked at him. “Fine,” he said.

“Want anything else to eat?”

He searched for words, but they did not come quickly. “I’m not. Hungry.”

“Uh-huh.”

Joey gestured for one of the guys behind the counter. “We’ll close out.”

Out of the corner of his eye he spotted Kaiba going for one of the empty cans. He shook all the cans on the counter until he found one with liquid in it. Before Joey could stop him, Seto drank the rest of a beer that wasn’t even his.

Joey quickly tucked away his wallet and got down off the stool. “Wow, I did not think you’d actually do it. Alright, Kaiba, time to go home.”

Kaiba - who had brought nothing with him - searched his pants pockets.

“I already paid,” Joey said. “Time to go.”

Seto paused and stared at him for a moment. “You paid?”

“Yeah.”

Seto scoffed. “You can’t pay for me.” There was a certain dizziness in his half lidded eyes, and the subtle hint of a slur in his words.

“Well, I did. Now get your drunk ass off that stool and come on. I gotta fix a hole in your wall.”

Seto grumbled something incoherent and started climbing down from the stool. The moment his feet were on the ground he stumbled. He almost knocked over the stool trying to catch himself, and probably would have wiped out had Joey not rushed over to help him steady.

“Who knew Seto Kaiba was a lightweight.”

Seto swatted him off and tried to walk on his own. He couldn’t walk in a straight line, but he made it to the door without passing out, so that was something. Joey grabbed the bag from the hardware store and rushed to follow. He kept a hand on Seto’s arm as they walked down the sidewalk, and occasionally pulled him upright when he started to lean too far in one direction.

“Congrats, Kaiba, you got drunk. Have you ever been drunk?”

Kaiba scoffed. “You’re wrong,” he slurred. “I’m not drunk.”

“Uh huh, uh huh.” Joey let go of him.

Seto noticeably slowed down, and took his steps with more care. Even with this amount of concentration, he eventually started to lean a bit too much to one side. He stumbled, and almost fell, when Joey grabbed hold of his arm again and stood him upright.

“I’m not drunk,” Seto said again. “I’m just dizzy. People get dizzy when they don’t eat. It’s a thing that happens.”

“Yeah, and you never eat.”

“Not never. Just not often.”

Joey eyed him, and began approaching with care. “How often is not often?”

Seto was quiet for a moment. “Not often,” he repeated. “You can go a lot longer without food than you can water before you die. I drink water.”

“You should eat more.”

“No.”

“You’re human, Kaiba, ya gotta eat.” They reached the car. He opened up the passenger side door and helped Kaiba into the passenger seat.

“Then it wouldn’t hurt,” Seto grumbled.

Joey paused. He crouched down and sat on the curb next to the car.

“What wouldn’t hurt?” He asked, trying to sound casual.

Seto relaxed into the passenger side seat and looked at Joey with cloudy eyes. “It wouldn’t hurt,” he repeated. “It has to hurt.”

“What’s gotta hurt?” Joey pressed gently.

Seto went quiet. It was unclear if he didn’t understand, didn’t hear, or wasn’t answering.

“Broke your hand,” Joey said. “That hurt.”

Seto shook his head, but didn’t speak.

“Didn’t hurt enough?” Joey asked.

“That didn’t hurt,” Seto muttered.

“Definitely sounded like it hurt.”

Seto was quiet again. “I would shatter my hand. Both hands. My leg, my arm, I’d give anything…I wish I could have given him anything.”

Joey didn’t respond for a moment, trying to gather his response. “I think you gave him a lot.”

Seto shook his head. “I was useless.”

“No ya weren’t. You weren’t useless, Kaiba. No one on earth could have done more than you did.”

“I was useless. I was useless--” Seto shook his head. “It’s my fault. He suffered--” He looked at his hands and kept shaking his head. “He suffered because of me--” suddenly his breath was heavy and strained. He lifted his broken hand and slammed it down on the dashboard.

Joey quickly jumped up and caught his wrist. “Whoa, hey, hey--”

Seto took his uninjured hand and slammed it as hard as he could on the dashboard. Joey caught this one as well.

“Stop that. What the hell do you think breaking your other hand is gonna do?” Joey now stood awkwardly hunched into the car and holding both of Seto’s wrists.

Seto suddenly calmed down and relaxed back into the seat. He stared at Joey with a dead expression, and after a moment, spoke.

“You annoy me.”

Joey humphed a humorless laugh. “Right back at ya.”

Seto pulled his wrists out of Joey's grip and rested his hands in his lap. He sighed and closed his eyes, pressing back into the seat.

“Take me home.”

“Ya know a please probably wouldn't kill ya.”

“I wish it would,” Seto slurred quietly to himself.

Joey paused as backed out of the passenger seat. He eyed his friend.

“Well I'm glad it doesn't.” He stood up and carefully closed the car door and went around to the driver's side. When he climbed in, Seto had totally relaxed and closed his eyes like he was ready to sleep on the drive home.

He turned on the car and drove away. Every once in a while he glanced at Seto, but they never spoke.

“I'm worried about him, Yug.” Joey held the phone in one ear and the spreader in another. He filled in the narrow opening between the old wall and the new drywall. “I honestly think someday I'm gonna try and drag him outta bed and he's not gonna wake up.”

“I'm sure it was just some drunk rambling. I don't think Seto would ever…you know.”

“That's the thing about being drunk, you’re a lot more honest.”

“Still. I don't think he'd do something like that.”

“I dunno. You haven't spent as much time with him as I have.” Joey carefully evened out the layer and put his phone on speaker so he could use two hands as he measured out the drywall tape. “Starting to think I read this whole thing wrong.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean one of the first things I told him was that I thought he was trying to suffer and he didn't even know he was doing it.” Joey cut the tape. “But now I'm pretty sure he's doing it on purpose.”

“You really think so?”

“He slammed his super broken hand into my dashboard. Yeah, I'm pretty sure he's doing it on purpose.”

“Why would he do a thing like that?”

Joey was quiet for a while. He concentrated on putting the tape on straight. “He said somethin’...” He trailed off. “He said somethin about it being ‘his fault.’ That ‘he suffered because of me.’ Stuff like that.”

Yugi didn't immediately respond. “Do you think he's talking about Mokuba?” He asked quietly.

“But why? He made sure Mokuba had everything at the end of his life. Wouldn't even leave his bedside.”

“I don't know. But what else could he be talking about?” Yugi’s voice softened into something more sullen. “I think Mokuba is the only thing he thinks about.” 

Joey grumbled. “I probably would too if I lost Shizuka.” He finished what he was doing and put the phone to his ear again. “It feels wrong to lose a friend, but to lose a brother--” he stopped short. “I can't imagine feeling worse, but I bet it does.”

“Maybe this was just a bad day. It happens with grief. There's good days and bad. Maybe this one is just really bad.” 

“He almost said his name earlier. I don't think I've heard him say it since…well, ya know.” Joey winced against the pressure behind his eyes. He cleared his throat. “Anyway, I think you should come visit soon. We can all sit down and have a meal together or something. He won't eat, but having people around is good for people.”

“It's a good thing he has you.” 

“Yeah yeah. I'm a freakin saint.”

“I gotta go. Thanks for keeping me updated.” 

“Yeah, I'll see ya.”

“See ya.”

The line went dead. Joey sighed and closed his phone. He stuffed it back in his pocket and took a good look at his handiwork. The floor was covered in dust, but he'd done a good job of keeping the filler on the wall and the tray and nowhere else.

He started cleaning up when he spotted Seto coming down the stairs.

“Well, hello sleeping beauty,” Joey called. “Sober yet?”

Seto was in his robe, and answered with a sneer and a grumble as he shuffled past.

“Maybe not quite yet,” Joey grumbled. He gathered his materials and threw everything but the trash back in the plastic bag it had come out of. He followed Kaiba into the kitchen and found him filling a glass with water.

“I'm gonna make you something to eat, how's your stomach?”

Seto sat down at the kitchen table. “I'm not hungry.”

“You'll sober up faster with food in your system.”

“That’s a myth.”

“I’m makin’ you something anyway.” Joey washed up, and whipped out all the ingredients for his abomination of a salad.

“Whatever.”

Joey went to work, and this time when he distributed the salad he did it evenly.

“Made your favorite.”

Seto stared down at his bowl. He picked up his fork, took a bite, and put it down. Joey ate at a leisurely pace. It had been a few hours since they’d gotten home, and as soon as they had, Seto stripped down and went to bed. He barely even waited until he was in his room.

They ate in silence; Seto only occasionally taking a bite, and usually small.

“Ya know,” Joey said, picking at the food left in his bowl. “I wish I knew…how to talk to you.”

Seto didn’t immediately respond. “You are talking to me.”

“I mean…I wanna tell you to do stuff. But I know you’re not gonna listen. But I really want ya to, because if ya listened, maybe ya wouldn’t…I dunno. Do whatever it is you’re trying to do.”

Seto didn’t respond. He took a sip of water and stared at his barely touched food.

“What is it that you want to say?”

“Just what I’ve been saying. I want you to talk, Kaiba. Talk to me, talk to Yugi, talk to anyone. Talking…helps. Maybe it don’t fix anything, but it’s better than just keeping all that inside’a you.”

Seto took a long sip of water and gently placed his cup down on the table. “I told you,” he said. “I have nothing to talk about.”

“I think you do.”

Seto shook his head. “No,” he said softly. “I don’t.” He stood up. “My head still hurts. I’m going to lay down.”

Joey watched him go.

Seto sat on the toilet seat and stared at the orange pill bottle in his hand. Pain medication for his hand. He was supposed to take one a day, or whenever he needed them, but he hadn’t taken any since coming back from the hospital. Now his hand ached, and his other one didn’t feel great either.

He held the bottle in his unbroken fingers and managed to get the lid off. He stood up and walked to the sink where his glass of water sat on the edge. A thin, pale figure stared back at him. There was no strength in this body.

Perhaps Yugi had been right.

Seto took a pill. It sunk heavy down his throat.

Seto took another.

Seto took another.

One a day.

He took another.

It felt like his stomach was filling with acid, and the pain brought him back to the mirror.

Seto stuffed his fingers down his throat and threw up into the sink. What little was in his stomach came back up, alongside pills that were still well intact. He turned on the water and watched the bile wash away. A line of drool trailed from his lip, and his head felt like a brick. He cleared his throat and spit into the mess, his mouth dry and burnt.

He heaved heavy breaths and hung over the sink, all the weight on his elbows.

It felt like his body was trying to melt off his bones. It wanted to sink into the floor and disappear. His vision filled with stars, and he was dizzy without moving. That pain and cramping returned to his stomach. It reached through him like harsh, bony fingers; squeezing every muscle in his abdomen, trying to suffocate it. But it found no satisfaction, so it kept constricting.

His throat suddenly jumped. He gagged and heaved, and what little was left came out.

Seto cupped his hands under the running water and scrubbed his face. He spit, rinsed his mouth, and turned the water off.

Falling into bed provided no comfort. His robe made him too warm, his head was aching. But it was all welcome. He wrapped himself in the blanket until it was so hot it was difficult to breathe. His breaths were shallow and warm and made condensation on his face and the fabric.

It was wholly uncomfortable. He stayed there, and never fell asleep, but wasn’t exactly awake. His mind drifted in and out, but that stark discomfort always kept him awake no matter how relaxed his body became.

“That probably hurts.”

Kaiba adjusted the wrapping over his finger. He pressed it into place and put a piece of medical tape on it so it would hold. “It’s fine,” he claimed.

“Are you sure you don’t need stitches?”

“I’m sure.” Seto looked at the tray on his brother’s lap. “Are you finished?”

Mokuba nodded. “Mhm.”

Seto summoned a maid to take the tray away, and Mokuba replaced the mask on his face. A second tray was brought with a glass of water and several pills. It was the pouch, and two additional medication, all of which Mokuba frowned at.

“I don’t want to take them,” he said sternly.

“They’ll make you more comfortable.”

“I don’t want to take them.”

Seto made a gesture, and the pills and water were replaced on the bedside table and the brothers were left alone.

Seto stood from his chair and went to the window. “You’re alright with the curtains open?”

“Yeah, leave ‘em. I like the light.”

Seto stared at the wet glass and the clouds outside. “Not much to see,” he grumbled.

“Why? Is it starting to--” Mokuba took a moment to breathe. “Rain?”

Seto closed the curtains. “Yes. We’ll keep them closed for now.”

Mokuba started to shift towards the edge of the bed. Seto rushed towards him.

“What are you doing? Do you need something? I can get it for you.”

“I wanna go outside.”

“What? Absolutely not. The rain is going to get worse.”

“But I wanna go out,” Mokuba insisted. His breath was steady but strained. He made it to the edge of the bed and tried to stand.

Seto stood in front of him. “Absolutely not. You’re not going out in the rain in your condition.”

Mokuba scowled at his brother. “If you won’t help me then I’ll--” he paused to breathe. “I’ll get outside myself.”

“No,” Seto said sternly. “I’ll take you out to the garden tomorrow, the weather should be clear by then.”

Mokuba pushed himself to his feet on shaking limbs. “I want…to go outside--” He tried to walk, but barely made it three steps before his body gave out on him. Seto caught him before he fell, and carefully knelt them down.

Mokuba gripped his chest and coughed until his eyes watered and he lost all the air in his lungs. The cough turned into a wheeze, and he held the mask over his face and tried to breathe in the medicine, but it made no difference.

Blood spattered on the inside the mask, and his throat filled with bile and mucus. Seto grabbed the garbage from beside the bed and pulled it close. Mokuba coughed up into the trash and tried to clear his throat. He hacked up more mucus and blood until he was red in the face and his cheeks were covered with tears.

When the outburst died down, his breath was slow and shallow. Seto held his brother upright and watched him with care.

“You should try to rest,” Seto muttered.

Mokuba breathed slowly, and did not immediately respond. “I wanna go…to the window.”

Seto clenched his jaw. He nodded, and helped his brother to stand. They shuffled to the window. Mokuba undid the latch and pushed it wide open. A gust of cold air bursted into the room, and the rain had turned the sky stark grey. He knelt down and clung to the cil with one hand, while the other he held outside. Cold raindrops smacked his palm and clung to his skin.

Seto quietly brought over a chair and encouraged his brother to sit.

Mokuba stayed by that window, hand forever outstretched.

A light flashed through the room. Seconds later, a great crash followed. The muttered sound of raindrops on the glass pattered through the dark room.

Seto sat up and stared at the window.

He removed himself from beneath the blanket and stood from the bed. The robe hung from his frame like a ghost clinging to his shoulders. The floor was cold on his bare feet, but it was the only sensation.

Thunder rolled outside, and glimpses of lightning painted the walls in white narrow streaks. Seto stalked through the halls of the mansion. He followed some invisible memory that took him to one of the side doors.

Wind brushed the garden, occasionally whipping the branches and leaves, but only in short bursts. The stone was cold and wet, and rain pelted the world in heavy, sporadic cries.

Another flash of lightning lit up, and for a moment Seto could see the world. Raindrops got stuck in his eyebrows and lashes; it soaked his hair and trickled down his skin like cold, gentle fingers. The robe was suddenly so much heavier.

He leaned his head back and closed his eyes.

Time disappeared. He became no colder, and no warmer, no heavier and no lighter. The pelts of rain melted into his skin until they became part of it.

He was only broken from this trance when he heard something behind him.

Seto opened his eyes and slowly lowered his chin. His neck was sore. He glanced over his shoulder, and noticed the figure behind him.

“You should come inside before you get sick,” Joey said.

Seto stared straight ahead. “Getting sick from rain is a myth.”

“Still. I’ll run a warm bath for ya.”

Seto pulled his robe across his body and tied it closed. “I want to be out here,” he muttered. “So leave me alone.” His voice broke, barely a whisper. “Please.”

Joey didn’t respond. He quietly cleared his throat and wiped the rain away from his eyes. Without another word, he turned around, and went back inside.

Chapter Text

Seto watched the man across from him use a third tissue to blow his nose, and then add it to the pile gathered at the end of the table. Joey cleared his throat and sniffled, but quickly went back to his breakfast.

He was crunching on a bowl of cereal while simultaneously looking through his deck and no doubt ramping it up one last time before the tournament. He sniffled until he stopped, got another tissue, and blew his nose again.

Seto narrowed his eyes at the other man. Suddenly he stood up, leaned over the table, and put his hand on Joey’s forehead.

This sudden and strange action gave Joey immediate pause.

Neither of them said anything. They remained frozen in this position for an entire ten seconds before Seto pulled back and sat down as if nothing had happened.

Joey hesitantly went back to eating his cereal, now paying more attention to what his companion was doing. When he was done he finished off Seto's breakfast and cleaned up after them. As he washed the dishes, he fell into a sneezing fit, and had to pause a few times to blow his sniffly nose.

Seto remained seated at the kitchen table with his arms crossed and his eyes closed. There was still a subtle chill in his body from when he had been drenched last night. He had fallen asleep on the living room couch in a soaked robe and woke up cold. Before Joey could catch him in such a sorry state, he had collected himself and gotten ready like any other day.

Joey blew his nose again. He sniffled and grumbled something to himself as he finished up the dishes. When he was done he left them in the drying wreck and shuffled out of the kitchen.

“I'm beat. I'm gonna go lay down for a little while. You stay up.”

Seto opened his eyes and watched him leave. Once he was alone he stood up, and made his way to the front door. He dug through Joey’s jacket pocket, found the keys to his car, and left the mansion.

Joey’s head was full. No matter how he blew his nose or cleared his throat, it didn't go away. Now his entire body was heavy, like his bones were made of lead. Everything he blew out of his face was a disturbing green color, and it just kept coming. There was a constant tickle in his nose that was ready to sneeze but didn't always go through with it.

Joey had found himself a real bed to sleep in. When he heard the tell tale sign of a classic engine wake up and drive, he figured it was a dream.

In his half asleep haze he had no idea how much time had passed. Those pillows were so soft and that bed was so comfortable. The mansion was kept so cold that he could cozy up under the plush comforter and live out his illness in peace.

Probably the worst time to get sick - four days before a big tournament - but he could tough it out. There wasn't much more he could do with the deck. He went over his card list in his head and drowsily considered changes, but those were all fever induced thoughts, so he didn't put a lot of consideration into it.

The quiet sound of the door clicking shut drew him out of his thoughts. He watched Kaiba approach the bed with a tray of stuff and put it on the bedside table.

Seto had brought two bottles of water, over the counter pain reliever, and cold medicine. He also had a sweet drink, and a rag.

Joey watched the hand as it touched his forehead. Seto's skin was so cold.

“Idiot,” Seto grumbled. “You made yourself sick standing in the rain.”

“You're the one who said that's a myth,” Joey mumbled.

“You probably caught something at the hospital.” Seto stepped away from the bed. “The rain just didn't help.” He went to the bathroom and wet the rag warm. He returned to the bed and placed it on Joey's forehead.

Joey freed his arms from beneath the blanket and watched Seto open the boxes of medicine and pop a few pills out of the blister packs. He put them all in a little plastic cup and left them on the table.

“Take those,” he demanded. He took everything off the tray and left the room.

Joey sat up and looked at what he was being given. It wasn't anything he wouldn't pick for himself, so he popped the pills and washed them down with one of the bottles of water.

Seto returned to the room with a small trash can and a box of tissues. He pointedly checked the little cup, and relaxed once he saw it was empty.

“You should rest,” he said.

Joey settled back against the pillows. “Now you're the pervert.” He smiled, and started to chuckle, but was interrupted by a cough.

Seto visibly stiffened. He carefully replaced another dose of medicine in the plastic cup and set it aside. “Not that there's anything to see,” he grumbled flatly.

“Ha ha ha. You're still not funny.”

“I'm not trying to be.” Seto briefly touched the rag on Joey’s forehead. “Try to sleep “ He turned for the door. “I'll be back later.”

Joey settled back into the bed. He sniffled and tried to sleep.

Seto was a diligent caretaker. And Joey was a tolerant patient. He laid there while his friend-not-friend replaced the rag on his head, prepared the medicine, replaced the water, and brought him food, all the while hardly speaking except to tell him to rest, take his medicine and stay hydrated.

It was well into the evening and Joey was starting to feel well enough to sit up and take one more look at his deck. He was still a bit sniffly but his head was clear. Seto came back into the room with a fresh cup of water and looked into the little cup, which had not been emptied despite it being four hours later and an appropriate time to take another dose.

He held out the cup. “You can take this now.”

Joey glanced at it. “I feel okay right now.”

Seto held it more pointedly. “Don’t wait until you feel worse again, that’s stupid.”

Joey looked up at him. “Kaiba, I’ll take ‘em in a minute. Chill out.”

Seto frowned. “If you’re diligent with your medicine it won’t last as long. I don’t need you spreading your germs all over my house.”

“I’ll disinfect the bed myself.”

Seto humphed. He walked around to the desk and dragged the chair over to the side of the bed. He then grabbed a remote from the bedside drawer and pressed one of the buttons. The wall across from them opened up and a screen emerged. He tossed the remote on the bed.

“If you’re bored, you can watch TV.”

Joey glanced up. “Sweet digs,” he commented.

Seto left the room and soon came back with a book. He sat down in the chair and started reading.

Joey turned on the TV, and it made for good background noise. He kept organizing his deck until his mind started to grow foggy again. At that point he took his medicine, and didn’t miss the way Seto watched him the entire time.

Once the medicine was down, Seto closed his book and stood up. “You should rest,” he repeated for the hundredth time. “Your third rate deck is good enough. You’re not going to beat Yugi anyway.”

Joey was already putting the deck away. He frowned up at the other man. “Man, I really missed all your kind and encouraging words, Kaiba.” He put the deck down on the bedside table and drank some water. “I ain’t tired, I’ve been sleeping all day.”

“It’s what your body needs to recover.”

“It’s just a cold, I’ll recover no matter what.”

It’s just a cold, Seto. You worry too much. /

Seto stiffened. His hands clenched around his book. He stalked out of the room without another word, and turned the light off on his way out.

Seto clenched and unclenched his unbroken fist. Both of his hands were shaking, and his breath was shallow but quick. He kept his lips shut tight, and breathed only through his nose, trying to remain quiet and steady. He sat at the desk in his room and stared at the wall, and spoke to the heart that beat so heavy it felt like it was trying to break out of his ribs. He told it to settle down and shut up. Nothing was going on. There was no reason for him to feel any way but calm and indifferent.

But it felt like the blood in his body was moving too fast, and there was a buzz under his skin. His broken hand ached, and it tried to flex alongside the other.

Why was he shaking? No matter how he moved or breathed or calmed, these hands would not stop shaking.

Seto took a deep breath and stood up. He took a shower, and stood under the warm water until the spray became part of his skin. The shaking was gone by the time he turned the water off, and nothing occupied his mind. He didn’t bother to dry, and went immediately to bed.

His hazy mind swirled between sleep and wake. It was uncomfortable to lay on his stomach, but his body had become a stone that was difficult to turn over. His eyes were only half closed, and occasionally he caught the sight of something in the room that influenced where his mind went as it tried to sleep and tried to stay awake.

Wind rattled the window behind the curtains, and the sound of the sheets shifting sounded like an ocean. He heard someone cough, and his hands took the mask and placed it over someone’s mouth, encouraging them to breathe.

Try to calm down 

But they were still coughing; and no matter how many times he repeated the action, it never got any better. Then he remembered his hand was broken, and that must have been why. He couldn’t put the mask on properly. Instead he handed them a pouch of pills. But the coughing continued. It kept going no matter what he did.

Calm down

Just breathe 

It got worse and worse until Seto’s eyes popped open. He sat up, his head still in a fog and his body only half awake. He heard the coughing from down the hall and quickly scrambled out of bed, wondering why he had been in bed in the first place. When had he gotten there? When had he gone to sleep?

Fumbling hands took the robe from the chair and haphazardly put it on. He rushed from the room and followed his memory right down the hall. But when he tried to open the door, it was locked. He pulled on the knob and the door, but it wouldn’t open. Why was it locked? What idiot would lock the door of a sick--

And suddenly Seto was awake.

And standing in front of that door again.

His trembling hand broke from the knob, but he did not move away from it.

When his senses completely returned, he took a step back.

He stood there until the world came back, and he heard that coughing again. Seto rushed to the bedroom and found Joey on his side having a coughing fit. He didn't look completely awake; his body limp and eyes closed. In the brief spouts when he stopped coughing, he looked peaceful. But his body would soon tense again and the fit would continue.

Seto’s muscles twitched, his jaw clenched. He went down to the kitchen, and winced at the light when he flicked it on. He threw open the cupboards and dug through each one. They were now full and well stocked with snacks and other food, all of which was in his way.

He haphazardly grabbed everything off the shelves and threw it aside. After a lot of searching, he found what he'd been looking for and rushed back upstairs. Seto carried with him a small resealable bag with a smiling cartoon lollipop on it, and broke it open before he even entered the bedroom.

He put the bag on the table with the rest of Joey’s medicine, and tore the paper off of one of the lollipops.

“Wheeler,” he said, gently shaking him by the shoulder. “Take this,” he demanded.

Joey only barely awoke. A lollipop was put in his hand and he put it in his mouth without question and drifted back to sleep. The pop eased the fit down to an occasional croup.

Seto lowered himself into the chair beside the bed. He watched Joey without thought; concentrating only on the silence. Joey peacefully returned to sleep, the lollipop halfway fallen out of his mouth. Seto took it out of his hand and held it.

He was careful not to let the stickiness touch him, and relaxed back into the chair. He didn't take his eyes off the other man, even as they started to close.

Joey stared at the man across from him. Seto was asleep in the chair, a half eaten lollipop held carefully between two fingers and hanging off his lap. His lips were slightly parted, and body was relaxed. It was probably the most content he'd ever looked.

Joey sat up on weak limbs. A small cough escaped his throat, and the moment it did Seto was awake. His eyes blinked open, and he clumsily tried to sit up. Joey swiped the lollipop before it fell and stuffed it in his mouth.

“Mornin’ sleeping beauty.” There was a subtle rasp in his throat.

Seto blinked the sleep from his eyes. He quietly cleared his throat and stood up.

Joey watched him leave. “You ain't even gonna say morning?”

Seto didn't respond. Joey humphed and deflated. “Alright, fine,” he grumbled to himself. “Grouch.” He kept sucking on the pop and found it surprisingly effective at soothing the itch in his throat.

Just when he thought he had been abandoned, Seto returned to the room with a cup of tea and some crackers. He silently put them on the bedside table and prepared the medicine in the small plastic cup. He was still in his robe, and his hair was disheveled. At this point Joey had seen him in various states of put together-ness, but it always felt off to see Kaiba anything but perfectly groomed.

Seto briefly touched Joey's forehead, and must have determined nothing from it, because he made no move to replace the rag.

“Take your medicine,” he demanded flatly. “Eat first.”

“Yes mom,” Joey said sarcastically.

Seto glanced at him, but didn’t say anything on the way out.

Joey took a small sip of his tea. It burned his lips and went down warm; briefly soothing the ache in his throat. It hurt to speak more than to eat, so he scarfed down the crackers and diligently took his medicine.

He couldn't remember the last time someone had taken care of him when he was sick. Even when he was a kid, he usually took care of himself. As a teenager Yugi or Honda would drop off food or grab him tea or medicine, but neither of them ever stayed for long.

Thinking about it, Joey was sure no one had ever taken care of him. Though, it wasn't as if he had ever been dying.

That thought immediately left a sour feeling in his mouth. He swallowed it down and scrubbed his aching eyes. He laid on his back and stared at the ceiling, and suddenly he was thinking about what it must have been like.

On the rare occasions he got to see Mokuba, his friend had looked so small and pale, but he was always smiling. Even after the grave news, he was always smiling. He wanted to play games and talk about tournaments and dumb TV shows, or a manga he had read. Normal things a 17 year old talked about.

It never came up.

Even after coughing fits and IVs and heart monitors, and six medications every four hours. He never talked about it.

Those memories had a small shadow in them, the more that Joey thought about it. Seto was always there. He almost never engaged except to remind his brother to take his medicine or put the mask over his face or help him get around.

He had never come to the door.

He scarcely spoke.

But he was always there.

Joey humphed to himself and finished off the lollipop with a bite. He tossed the stick in the trash and remained on his back, just enjoying the feeling of a clear nose for the few fleeting moments it would last. His body didn't feel too bad, so he hauled himself out of bed and took a shower.

The warm spray was overwhelming but the steam kept his nasals clear. It occurred to him - somewhere between daydreaming and washing - that none of his clothes were close by. He had been relying on diligently washing what little he'd brought with him, and now all of that stuff was in the dryer on the opposite side of the mansion, or way downstairs in the living room in his nap sack. Nothing was handy except the clothes he'd discarded, and those stunk.

Joey shrugged off his predicament and stayed in the shower until he body grew tired and fatigued. He turned off the water and stepped out into a steamy bathroom. The entire mirror had been painted white, and a few drips of water trickled down its surface. Joey blew his nose and roughly dried his hair with a towel. He wrapped the towel around his waist and went on a hunt for clothes. He was a bit wobbly on his feet, but not enough to deter him.

Joey took his time. He went slow and occasionally sniffled, but his nose wasn't bothering him yet. He waded through a bout of minor dizziness as he wandered through the halls of the mansion, trying to get to the laundry room.

On his way there he thought he vaguely recognized the area, and slowed down to find his bearing. He came upon another hallway, and was about to round the corner when he noticed Seto standing about a third of the way down.

At first, he thought about engaging, but stopped short when he noticed the strange scene. Joey snuck back behind the wall and peaked just around the corner.

Seto was dressed now. He stood in front of one of the double doors. His expression was as unreadable as it always was, but he was holding a key in his hand. He looked down at it, and twisted it between his fingers.

After a while he tucked it back in his pocket, but his fist stayed there and his arm stayed tense, as if he would pull it right back out.

After a beat, he quickly pulled his hand out of his pocket and walked away.

Once he disappeared into his own room - only a couple doors away - Joey sprung from his hiding spot. He quietly padded to where Seto had been standing and looked at the double doors.

Joey knew this room. His heart sank to his stomach. A hesitant hand wrapped around the knob, but even before he tried, he knew what would happen.

Locked.

He let go and turned away, and was one step in when Seto emerged from the bedroom.

They both froze. Seto’s steely expression subtly pressed into confusion.

“Why are you naked in my hallway?”

“It's not on purpose.” As soon as Joey started talking, his nose betrayed him. He sniffled and cleared his throat, which only made him cough. “I forgot I didn't have any clothes in the room.”

Seto glanced down the hallway. “Where are they?”

“They're in the dryer. In the laundry room.”

“Which laundry room?”

“Aw, hell, I dunno. Whichever one is in that direction.”

Seto humphed. “Go back to bed. I'll get your clothes.”

“I really don't feel too bad--”

“You'll irritate your condition by getting up and doing things before your body is ready. Just go back to bed.”

Joey frowned. He didn't argue, but he did not explicitly agree with the treatment. He went back to his room in the same slow shuffle he had left with. As he passed the double doors he glanced at them, and briefly wondered if Seto was always this strict when someone was sick.

He tried to remember.

That ever present shadow.

Joey went back to his room and let his mind wander with his legs.

This place was so big and cold. Any semblance of personal touch was small and fleeting, and did nothing to stagger the broad feeling of emptiness that greeted every corridor. There wasn’t much art on the walls and what existed was dull and impersonal. None of the window nooks looked used and half of the doors were locked. There was a thin layer of dust over every surface.

Joey tried to clean up the spaces they used, but had never touched any of the other rooms. The mansion was too expensive. Sometimes he wondered why anyone would want to live in a place like this.

Then again, it wasn't always this empty. Most of the staff had lived there; the servants, the maids, even some of the bodyguards. Seto had let them all go the day after the funeral, with a glowing reference and six months rent. Since then no one had been able to reach the older Kaiba, not even Isono, arguably one of his most trusted associates.

That was the only way Joey and the rest knew any of this. Isono had reached out to Yugi after two months of no contact. Seto had no idea where his phone was - if it wasn't just lying broken somewhere - but even if he did he probably wouldn’t pay any attention to it.

Joey reached the room he was staying in and climbed back into bed. It felt good to lay down, and he wasn’t aware of how tired he was until he was horizontal again. He wasn’t even aware he’d drifted back to sleep until a quiet ruckus stirred him from his slumber. His eyes split open, but his vision was blurry. It vaguely occurred to him that his ass was out, but he wasn’t awake enough for this to bother him.

He watched the blurry figure of Seto take a knee and pick up the folded laundry off the floor and place it back into a basket. He slid the basket to the side of the bed and quietly humphed to himself.

Joey felt something fall over his back and heard the quiet mutter of ‘idiot’ from above.

He heard the tink of glass and the sound of pills hitting plastic, then the door closing. He was almost back to sleep when he heard the click of the door again, and the gentle thud of someone sitting in the chair beside the bed.

Joey drifted back to sleep.

Joey was seated next to the bed, three cards in his hands. Mokuba sat cross legged across from him, a game laid out before them. He looked at his cards and his opponent with equal scrutiny and determination. Joey smirked. He tossed a card down on the bed.

Mokuba froze, his mouth popped open. “Aw, come on,” he said. “Seriously? You’ve had that in your hands three times!”

Joey was still smirking. “Read it and weep, Mokuba.”

Mokuba started gathering up his cards. “You’re too good at this game, Joey.”

Joey heard a scoff behind him. Seto appeared beside the bed.

“That’s the overstatement of the century,” he commented, handing Mokuba a glass of water. He tore open a pill pouch and gave this to his brother as well.

“Hey, which one of us is in the pro circuit, me or you?” Joey asked.

“Which one of us has won every duel we’ve ever had?”

Joey leaned his elbows on the bed and stared up at Seto. “You and I haven’t dueled in years, smart guy. We’re due for a rematch.”

“I have more important things to do than play a card game with you, Wheeler.”

Mokuba swallowed the last of his pills and put the cup on the bedside table. “I’d watch,” he said with a smile. “I haven’t seen you duel in forever, Seto.”

Seto was quiet for a moment. He lowered himself back into his chair. “Like I said, I have more important things to do.”

Mokuba’s smile faded into a tight frown. “Yeah, sit in that chair all day,” he grumbled. He sighed and picked up his deck. “I’m kinda tired.” He coughed into his fist and cleared his throat. “You know if Yugi is still gonna drop by?”

“Yeah, he got caught up at the game store. Gramps is outta town and Yug didn’t wanna close early. Should be on his way soon.”

Seto humphed behind Joey, but kept to himself. Mokuba looked at his brother.

“It’s okay if they stay for a while, right, Seto?”

Seto didn’t immediately respond. “How long they stay is up to you,” he said after a moment. “As long as you’re feeling well enough.”

Joey looked at his friend. “Yeah, how ya been, Mokuba? Any word from the doc?”

Mokuba glanced at his brother before he responded. “They’re still…figuring stuff out. But I feel--” he was interrupted by a cough. “A little better today.”

“You look a little better.”

Mokuba nodded. He glanced at his brother again, and this time Joey mirrored him. He could swear that Seto looked even more tense than usual.

Sensing a certain tension in the room, Joey stood up and excused himself for the bathroom. As soon as the door clicked shut he took a deep breath and quietly released it. Seeing a friend laid up in bed was never an easy thing. Mokuba had been sick to various degrees for a couple of months, and his explanation of his illness was always vague at best.

Joey had a sour feeling in his chest that he couldn’t shake.

He didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but the Kaiba brothers could not speak so quietly.

“I feel like I should tell them.”

“Why? Nothing is set in stone. You shouldn’t make your friends worry.”

“Seto…” Mokuba said the name in a tired way; like this was a conversation they’d had before. “Dr. Rosemary--”

“Is a hack. She doesn’t know what she’s talking about.”

Mokuba was quiet for a moment. “It’s not responding to treatment,” he said, his voice now hush, Joey barely caught it.

“To those treatments,” Seto insisted. “Nothing is incurable. That’s ridiculous.”

“Seto--” that tired tone again.

“I’m in contact with several doctors. Dr. Rosemary is one person. You’ll be fine in a couple of months.”

“Fine. Whatever,” Mokuba grumbled.

Joey stepped back from the door. That sour feeling was now much more pronounced. Suddenly his breath was far heavier. He swallowed the feeling and tried to scrub away the pressure in his face. He flushed the toilet and ran the sink. When he emerged from the bathroom he was perfectly composed.

He grabbed his deck off the bed with a wicked smile. “Alright, Mokuba, wanna lose again while we wait for Yugi?”

Mokuba smiled back. “You’re on.”

Joey stared at the ceiling. It was dark, but the moon came through the window and left a blue haze over the room. He lulled his head to the side. It didn’t look comfortable, sitting up in a chair. Seto had his arms and legs crossed and was leaned against the wall. It looked like a practiced position.

Joey shifted onto his side and scooted to the very edge of the bed. Part of him didn’t want to wake the other man, but he wanted him to be comfortable. Sleeping there was not comfortable, no matter how practiced a position it was.

Joey reached out and tugged on Seto’s sleeve. The small gesture immediately woke him. Seto took in a sharp breath and flinched awake. He uncrossed himself and sat up.

“What’s wrong?” He rasped, his voice hoarse from sleep.

Joey’s own voice was soft and groggy. “Go to bed, Kaiba. You need to actually sleep.”

Seto calmed, and returned to his previous position. “I was asleep,” he claimed. He closed his eyes and leaned his head against the wall. “Did you take your medicine?”

Joey coughed a couple times. He sniffled and took a sip of water.

“You should,” Seto grumbled. “Or you’ll relapse.” He settled back against the wall and fell back asleep.

Joey sat up. He ate a few crackers and took the medicine that had been left in the little plastic cup. He settled back down into bed and stared at the man across from him. Words left his lips without thought.

“I’m sorry,” he muttered quietly. “He should be here right now…” the words trailed off. “I’m sorry.”

He closed his eyes as they started to ache. His breath quietly hitched, but he tried to keep the noise in his throat. His shoulders shook, and tears coated his cheeks. He opened his mouth to try and breathe, and it hung open in a silent sob.

It felt unfair to do this. As he laid there crying, he prayed that Seto would not wake up again. But to hold back would be impossible. The pain, the ache; Joey wondered if it would ever become any less overwhelming.

He could not imagine containing this feeling.

Joey closed his mouth and tried to breathe. He tried not to think, and instead go to sleep. As he tried to calm down, he felt something touch his wrist. It was ghostly and small, and pulled away as quickly as it had come.

This was enough of a distraction to pull him away from the depths he had fallen into. He managed to steady his breath, and turned his head to the side.

Seto’s arms were crossed, his head was still leaned against the wall, but his eyes were open into narrow slits.

They remained there in silence until his quiet voice broke the dark.

“You don’t have to be quiet,” he muttered. “You should cry.” His voice softened further. “Someone should.”

Joey responded without thinking. “I’m sorry, Kaiba,” he murmured.

Seto was quiet. “I always hated that,” he said after a moment. “What do you have to apologize for? You’re just wasting your breath.”

Joey didn’t immediately respond. “When’s the last time?”

“Last time what?”

They both spoke in hushed mutters, but theirs were the only thing in the room.

“You cried.”

Seto blinked slowly, and for a moment Joey thought the question would go ignored.

But then-- “I can’t remember.” Seto paused. When he spoke next, it was absent, and Joey wondered if he was asleep again. “It’s probably happened. But I can’t remember.” There was another long pause, and he spoke again. “Gozaburo,” he muttered. “Didn’t tolerate crying children.”

Joey debated how far he wanted to take this conversation. Seto never talked about Gozaburo. Not that he talked to anyone about much of anything. The one person he did have was no longer around.

Joey paused at the thought. It had not occurred to him until that moment.

Seto did not burden his brother with his emotions. There weren’t many to burden anyone with. But there was something; there were things. Things that bothered him, that annoyed him, that frustrated him. Now there was no one he shared that with. There was no one to tell. Letting others in was not a skill Seto Kaiba had ever managed to grasp.

So Joey asked.

“Gozaburo was an ass, huh?” He grumbled.

“Gozabura was an ass,” Seto repeated flatly. His voice softened. “I hate this place. I’ve always hated this place. Sometimes I just want to burn it down.” His eyes drifted shut. “Maybe while I’m dying I’ll light a match in my bed.” His voice drifted off.

Joey lifted his head, and looked at him more clearly. Seto was definitely asleep now, and he might have been the whole time. Joey carefully lowered his head back to the pillow and stared at the ceiling.

“I want you around,” he said, his voice more than a mutter. “I’m not lettin’ you go anywhere, Seto.” His eyes drifted shut. “Not…anywhere

Chapter Text

Seto waved a half open fan in his face. He had abandoned the book in his lap and watched the condensation drip down the side of his glass. He had been painstakingly dragged outside and given a lemon soda just so he could sit in the sweltering sun and watch Joey pick weeds out from between the stones on the side deck.

The fan wasn't doing much, but it was there so he was using it. Joey’s cold lasted three days and he still had a cough, but his energy was back.

Seto had wasted his breath enough that day trying to tell this idiot that he shouldn't jump right back into this nonsense. So instead he monitored. It was too hot for someone who just got over a cold to be outside doing work.

Joey stood up from the stone and wiped his wet forehead. “Alright, that's enough for now.”

Seto frowned and closed the fan all the way. “It's enough forever. I told you to stop wasting your time out here.”

“Well, if I'm gonna be here for a while, might as well have a nice place outside. After the tournament I'm gonna invite the guys over to celebrate, win or lose.”

Seto quirked a brow. “You do realize you don't actually live here.”

“I think I should fill in this flower bed a little more, whata you think?”

“I'm starting to think you're acting dense on purpose.”

“Not dense.” Joey smirked. “Just stubborn.” He turned around and marched over to Kaiba. He leaned over and put his hands on the arm rests so he could look Kaiba right in the eye. “You're comin’ by the way.”

“To what?”

“The tournament. We gave ya tickets.”

“Haven't you dragged me enough places, Wheeler?”

“Nope. I'm never gonna be done dragging you outta the house, Kaiba.”

Seto smacked one of Joey's hands with his fan hard enough to hurt.

Joey pulled back and shook it off. “Geez. What was that for?”

Seto stood up and brushed past him. “You were in my way.”

“Ya know, adults usually use their words.”

Seto didn't respond. He picked up the lemon soda and dropped it on the ground, shattering the glass. “Whoops,” he deadpanned.

Joey frowned. “Talk about a brat.”

Seto went back inside without responding.

Joey laid his cards out on the bed and casually did a few practice rounds with himself. Seto was laying on his side and absently watched the other man who had unabashedly barged into the room and declared he was going to take one last look at the deck before the tournament tomorrow.

Trying to kick Joey Wheeler out of anything had proven a futile effort. Seto had decided not to waste his time. Instead he tried to sleep. But of course Joey wouldn't shut up. Whether it was muttering to himself or talking about something or another, his mouth was always moving. Sometimes he still coughed or sneezed or blew his nose, but nothing seemed to deter him for long.

Seto watched the cards move around. A card hit the bed that he had seen several times during Joey’s stay there, but he didn’t recognize it. In a half asleep action, Seto reached out and grabbed it. He squinted at the small writing. When he was done, he put it back down without comment.

Joey picked it up and looked at it. “What?” He asked.

“Nothing. I didn’t know what it was.”

“Pretty good, huh?”

Seto closed his eyes. “It’s half decent.”

Joey shuffled his deck together. “Gotten me outta one or two sticky situations.”

Seto humphed. For the first time it was quiet, and he was almost asleep. There was still the mute shuffle of cards against cards, but Joey wasn’t talking anymore.

Seto was almost asleep. Or maybe he was already asleep. Half of the time he couldn’t tell anymore. But whether he was asleep or awake, it didn’t matter. Time passes.

Life goes on 

“Last night--”

Seto flinched, and part of him woke up. He blinked at the blur in his eyes, but as soon as he woke up, his mind tried to fall asleep again.

“You awake?”

Seto blinked at him.

“I wanna ask,” Joey continued. “Cause I felt like I was imagining it. But did you touch my wrist last night?”

Seto didn’t immediately respond. He blinked at the blurry figure in front of him, and his mind inadvertently wandered back to the night before. He couldn’t summon the memory - not in its entirety. Everything about the night before was blurry, and Seto - while he would never admit it - did have a tendency to talk in his sleep.

But he did remember.

He remembered the brief moment he awoke and heard the choked sob from the bed. What compelled him to reach out was a mystery, but he had. That was what people did for the mourning. They reached out.

But as soon as his skin had touched skin he snapped to his senses, and pulled away. Perhaps comfort was something people offered to others; but it was not something Seto Kaiba readily gave. Trying to share pain with another was a futile and foolish pursuit. Trying to soothe them was even more so.

Besides, they weren't friends. They didn't actually care about each other.

“Yes,” he answered after a moment.

“Why?”

Seto considered a lie. But that was a skill he had lost years ago.

“I don't know,” he answered honestly. “Maybe I was feeling human for a moment.”

“Hate to break it to ya, Kaiba, but you are human.”

“Obviously.”

Joey put his cards on the bedside table and leaned back. “You really gonna lay there all day?”

“I’d probably be able to sleep if you'd leave me alone, already.”

“We both know that ain't gonna happen.”

Seto closed his eyes. “Pervert,” he grumbled.

“Yeah, yeah.”

Seto did eventually sleep. It was the middle of the day, the sun was still slitting through the partially drawn curtains.

Joey was half tempted to wake him. Instead he stood and wandered to the window, and drew the curtains shut entirely. Lack of food lowered blood pressure. It made staying up and awake more difficult.

Sometimes Joey gave him a break. They all deserved a bit of wallowing, and after taking care of a sick person, Seto's mind needed the rest.

Joey shuffled to the bathroom. Fatigue still nipped at his frame and there was a tough itch in his throat. But he was up. Otherwise Seto probably would have stayed in that chair. The illness had subsided enough. There was work to be done.

Joey shut the door and flicked on the light. He was almost knocked over by the state of the room. The shock subsided and he found he wasn't actually all that surprised.

There were clothes and towels all over the floor, and the detachable shower head had been left hanging. There was a crack in the shower door that went diagonally to the middle. It looked like everything had been taken out of the medicine cabinet and dumped on the counter.

Joey approached this mess and scanned the flurry of pills and medicine. He picked up the empty bottle of painkillers Kaiba had gotten from the doctor. He inspected it with a twisted brow, but soon something else caught his eye.

There was another bottle of pain pills, this one empty as well. He found an almost empty bottle of appetite suppressants, and a totally empty bottle. A half empty bottle of sleeping pills, tranquilizers, and stuff that made no sense; antibiotics, and something Joey didn't recognize at all.

Pills were spilled all around the counter, in amidst a mess of toothpaste stains, hair, and something that looked suspiciously like dry puke or bile.

Joey grimaced at the mess. He frowned, and tossed the bottle back into the pile. With a new determination in his brow, he marched downstairs and hunted down garbage bags and plastic gloves.

Joey tossed out the appetite suppressants with more force than necessary. They were first in the bag. Then everything else. All the pill bottles went bye bye, and they were followed by empty toothpaste tubes, clumps of hair, tissues and paper towels. He hunted through the cupboards and threw away even more appetite suppressants. He put back what little there was to put back, then donned a mask and started wiping down the counter.

He scrubbed adamantly at the stains and remains of illness and fatigue. When it was clean, he moved on to the towels and clothes. He cleared everything from the floor and gathered it into baskets. Once that was out of the way, he swept, then moved on to scrubbing the shower and everything else.

By the time he was done it was like a whole new bathroom.

He was gazing triumphantly upon his work when the door suddenly slid all the way open. Kaiba stood in the threshold, his normally drab expression wide. He scanned the bathroom with slow, calculating eyes until they landed on Joey.

“Mornin’ sleeping beauty,” Joey said. “I did a little clean up. You're welcome.”

Kaiba’s eyes darted to the counter. He briskly made his way over to it and opened the cupboard. He froze, staring at the scarce pickings.

His voice was low. “Where are my things?” He asked evenly.

“Oh, ya mean all the pills you’ve been popping? I threw them out.”

Kaiba’s voice grew a touch deeper. “I wasn't popping pills,” He growled. His posture was slumped, his fingertips dug into the counter and he faced the sink “Do you think it's easy to sleep? Or to get up? Or to move through this God damn world? You had no right, Wheeler.”

“No. I don't think it's easy.” Joey's expression hardened. “But we both know that's not all you had. Most of what I threw away was appetite suppressants.” The stonyness dropped from his expression, he took a step forward. “Kaiba, what-- what are you tryin’a do? Seriously. What are you trying to do?” He raised his voice a touch. “What do you want out of this?”

Seto spoke through his teeth. “I want to be left alone,” he gritted. “I want to be left alone.” He slammed his fist against the counter. “Damn it, Joey! Why won't you let me die in peace!?”

Joey was taken aback, his mouth dropped open. He quickly recovered and set his jaw. “I see now,” he muttered. “Okay, Kaiba. I see how it is.”

A long, heavy silence settled between them. Neither spoke. Neither moved. It was as if - for a moment - the other did not exist in their world, and they were two statues alone in a room.

Statue was perhaps too solid of a word for what Seto looked like. No. He was a ghost hunched over that counter. His eyes were wide, the once sharp blue was sickly pale. He looked like sticks wrapped in skin with a scowl on its face.

Everything else in the room disappeared, and all Joey could see was Seto. For perhaps the first time he truly saw him as entirely human. Of course it was something he had always known, but even at his lowest Kaiba had carried a certain air of confidence or arrogance; a certain disregard that kept him distant from the average man. He was stubborn when he broke his hand and stubborn when he was starving.

This was not that beast.

This beast was tired.

Joey swallowed at the dryness in his mouth. His throat flexed around the dull ache of an old ailment; one that felt so far gone from this moment.

He didn't know how long they'd both been standing there. The initial shock had worn off; the thought had settled in.

“So when is it?” Joey asked. He was surprised by how soft it was. When Kaiba didn't respond, he raised his voice. “Well, come on, spit it out,” he demanded. “When's it gonna happen? When's your last day? Tell me. I know you know.”

Kaibe remained hunched over the sink for a moment longer. Slowly he grew to full height, but did not turn around.

“October 20th,” he said.

Joey did some math in his head. “Less than three months,” he said. “Okay,” his tone was deceptively casual. “I'll be there.”

Seto slowly turned to look at him. “You'll what?”

“I'll be there,” Joey repeated. “You really think I'm gonna sit by and let you die alone? No way, bozo.”

Seto’s face contorted into a confused frown. “What?”

“You heard me, rich boy, I’ll be there! When you’re laid up doing whatever you’re gonna do, I’m gonna be there.”

Seto’s frown settled. His glare iced over. “No,” he said calmly. “That’s ridiculous. I’m not inviting you to my death, Wheeler.”

“Who said anything about an invite? You can try to keep me out, but I ain’t goin’ nowhere. You lock all the doors, I’ll ram ‘em down; you build a taller fence, I’ll climb it, you re-enforce this place, I’ll scale the fucking walls.” He pointed a sharp finger at the other man. “You better believe it, Kaiba.”

Seto’s shoulder sank. “Everyday you invent new forms of idiocy.”

“Not to call someone on a suicide mission and idiot but--” he pointed to himself. “Pot--” he pointed to Kaiba. “Kettle.”

Seto frowned. “You’re replacing my appetite suppressants,” he said.

“If you want those back, you’re gonna have to go out and replace ‘em yourself.” He tossed his car keys.

Seto caught them with surprising ease.

“You know how to drive,” Joey said. He shrugged. “But if I find ‘em, I’m just gonna throw ‘em away again”

Seto put the keys in his robe pocket. “You’re banned from my room,” he declared on his way out.

Joey sat at the kitchen table. His pose was deceptively casual. One hand in his pocket, the other on the table top. His fingers thrummed gently against the wood, and he stared at the same spot until the lights started to dim.

His mind wandered away from the mansion and occupied itself elsewhere. Anywhere. But mostly on Seto.

His stomach turned.

His brain was flooded with the thought of another funeral. Seto had been the only one to do kotsuage for Mokuba. Who would be there to do it for him? Would he even want a funeral? Would he just want to be burned and left alone? That felt like something Kaiba would want; he was always asking to be left alone.

Joey suddenly felt sick. His hand threw to his mouth as if he were about to throw up.

The sound of a banging door made him flinch.

Seto appeared in the kitchen. He stopped short in the threshold and just stood there, meeting Joey’s stare.

A white plastic bag hung from his fingertips. Joey’s eyes slowly wandered from Seto's face down to his broken hand.

“How do you drive like that?”

Seto dug into his pocket and tossed the beat up set up keys onto the table. “It's not that hard.”

He turned and walked away.

Joey fell back against his seat. He stared at the keys until all the light disappeared from the house.

The Kaiba mansion felt quieter than usual. Joey turned onto his other side and stared at that wall for a while. He turned again and stared at the opposite wall for a while.

The hour was deep, his body ached.

He sat up and scrubbed his face. His hands plopped limp to the gathered blanket in his lap. Joey looked around the room, but it was too dark to see anything. His curtains had been pulled shut tight and it was a cloudy night.

His eyes caught the outline of a chair beside the bed. It was still and unoccupied.

Joey swallowed at the lump in his throat. He shifted out of bed and brushed the hair back out of his face. Once he was on his feet he felt even more awake.

The hallway was even more overwhelmingly quiet. Every breath, every step, was stifled by the heavy, silent air. He wandered through the corridors, his feet carried him better than his mind, but when he ended up where he wanted to be, he stopped.

Some part of his senses started to wake up, and his mind hit him with a million futile thoughts; as if he could find anything to say, and saying that something now was the right time to say anything. That was some fleeting sense of rationality telling him to turn back and wait for tomorrow.

Joey grabbed the doorknob. He was surprised to find it turned.

The door pushed open with ease, and he let himself inside.

Seto was laying on his back. His breath was steady and calm. It actually looked like he was asleep.

Joey sat down on the chair beside the bed that he had pulled up earlier. His hands hung limp between his knees and his back pressed heavy into the back of the chair.

Quiet breath.

In.

Out.

In.

Out.

Joey listened. He scrubbed his aching face.

“I don't really know why I'm all torn up,” he muttered to himself.

Even his voice was stifled by the silence. It felt like he could be screaming and it would sound like a whisper.

“You don't care. That's okay. You don't have to care.” His fingers hung from his chin. “It's a lot easier not to care about stuff.”

He paused and shook his head.

“What am I even talking about?” He whispered. “What am I even saying?”

He paused for a long time and tried to gather his thoughts. It was like trying to herd cats.

“I can't…watch my friend die.”

“Then don't.”

Joey’s heart jumped. He looked at the bed and found a pair of sharp eyes staring back.

Seto lulled his head back and stared at the ceiling. “I watched my brother suffer for months,” he muttered. “And in the end, it was my fault.” He looked at Joey again. “Don't make my mistake. Let me go.”

Joey was quiet at first. He fiddled with his fingertips and swallowed at nothing. Maybe it was the dark. Or maybe it was how genuine Seto sounded. There was no bite; no venom. Just pain. Like that ‘please’ in the rain.

Joey swallowed again. His tongue was so dry. “But you're…not sick.”

Seto didn't immediately respond. For a moment Joey thought he had fallen back asleep. Or just wouldn’t answer.

“So?” Seto's voice was small.

“So you're not dying. You're not-- it's not the same.” Joey looked down at his hands, trying to make sense of things.

“Joey.”

Joey looked up. Seto was suddenly much closer. He had moved to this side of the bed, and was propped up on one elbow. His eyes pierced the dark.

“Stop thinking about it. Go to bed.”

“How am I supposed to stop thinking about it?”

“Because, I told you when it's going to happen. So you're not going to wake up and find me gone. I'll be at the breakfast table tomorrow, and you can try to feed me something that I won't eat. Like always.”

Joey picked at his fingernails. He couldn't remember the last time he had so much doubt.

“You have a tournament tomorrow, Wheeler. Don't let yourself get distracted.”

Joey clenched his hands together, anger rose in his throat, but it was interrupted.

“I expect to see you win, Joey. You'd better not disappoint me.”

The rage died. Joey’s muscles relaxed, and suddenly the fight in him was snuffed.

“You're gonna come?”

“If you produce the tickets, I will provide the audience.” Seto rolled over and pulled the covers up. “Now go to bed. I expect something worth watching tomorrow.”

Joey didn't leave right away. He took a deep breath and forced himself to stand.

“Okay, Kaiba,” he grumbled on the way out. “I'll give you the best show'a your life.”

Chapter Text

Joey studied himself in the mirror. He adjusted the dog tags over his chest, the way his hair fell, his shirt over his torso. His hands fidgeted with his clothes like a kid going to his first dance.

The room was still a little steamy, and water dripped down the mirror. The counter was damp, and spotted with more products than Joey remembered owning.

He sniffled a cologne before giving it a spritz on his wrist, and for good measure, a spritz on the shoulders of his shirt.

He took a deep breath and looked at himself in the mirror.

Seto looked into his eyes. He leaned in so close his nose almost touched the mirror. He pulled at the bottom of his eyes and felt his cheek with his fingertips. He could not remember looking so pale. Weren't his eyes brighter than this?

Seto stood up straight and grabbed the appetite suppressants off the counter.

He stared at the label, and twisted it in his hand.

After a moment he put them back down and dropped the robe from his shoulders. He turned the water to cold and took a long shower.

Joey flicked the coat over his shoulders. He popped his collar, and straightened the dog tags one last time. His deck was ready and waiting for him on the bedside table.

He flicked through it one last time and read the names of these old trusty cards. He paused on the one Kaiba had picked up the other day.

Unity

Joey tucking the deck into the holster on his belt and marched out of the room.

Kaiba pulled the purple sleeve over his arm with care, making sure it didn't catch on his cast. It was a snug fit, but a fit nonetheless. Unfortunately he could only wear one bracer, and the lack of symmetry made him consider skipping them.

When he studied himself in the mirror without it, something looked off. So he settled for asymmetry.

Seto adjusted his collar and pulled himself away from the mirror. He grabbed an almost empty bottle of cologne out of the cupboard and contemplated it in his hand. He couldn't remember the last time he'd had to replace it.

Seto sprayed the edge of his collar, and made a mental note to get another bottle.

He adjusted his jacket over his shoulders and marched out of the room.

Joey grumbled a random tune as he flipped a pancake. He glanced at the door as Seto walked into the kitchen, and did a double take when he noticed what he was wearing.

“Ey, you almost look like yourself,” he commented. “Welcome back, Seto Kaiba.”

Seto sat down at the kitchen table without acknowledging the comments. “What time does the tournament start?”

“11. But I gotta get there early.”

Joey carried over a plate stacked with pancakes. “So eat up, sleeping beauty. Less you want me to starve during the tournament.”

Step humphed. “If you think this is what I'm going to be eating for breakfast then you're more delusional than I imagined.”

“What, you a health nut all of a sudden?”

“I don't like pancakes.”

“You don't like-- and here I thought you couldn't get any worse.”

Seto stood and grabbed a protein drink from the fridge. He sat back down and cracked it open.

Joey pointed at him with his unused fork. “You know that doesn't count as real food, right?”

“It provides more sustenance than what you've got.”

Joey pushed himself upright, his chair screeched back against the floor. “You're a real smart ass.” He threw open the fridge, grabbed something out of it, and returned to the table.

He deposited a single strawberry on Seto's plate and sat back down.

Seto quirked a brow. “I'm the smart ass?”

“I know the drill by now.”

Seto humphed. He took the strawberry and popped it in his mouth, stem and all.

Joey gaped at him. “What the hell was that?”

“What was what?”

“That. What the hell did you just do?”

Seto furrowed his brow. “Have you lost it, Wheeler?”

Joey pointed at the plate. “You didn't take the green off.”

“So?”

“So that was weird. Who does that?”

“That’s how I've always eaten them.”

“Who the hell taught you how to eat?”

“Aren’t you supposed to be in a hurry?”

“Is that how Mo--” Joey's mouth snapped shut. He stabbed into his pancake but didn't eat. “Sorry,” he grumbled.

Their morning went quiet. Seto stared at the edge of the table and occasionally sipped his drink. Joey poked at his syrup covered pancakes and watched the stickiness drop from his fork, but suddenly didn't feel much like eating.

Seto put the bottle down and crossed his arms. When Joey was halfway done, he stood up and grabbed his plate.

“We should probably go.”

“He thought it was weird.”

Joey paused. “What?”

“He thought it was weird,” Seto repeated, his neutral tone betraying nothing. “The strawberry thing. He thought it was weird. Sometimes I'd make a point to eat them in front of him just to annoy him.”

Joey didn't immediately respond. He huffed a small laugh, and his lip quirked in a crooked smile. “You’re a jerk.”

He shuffled into the kitchen and cleaned up after breakfast.

Domino City was alive with duel lovers. They packed the streets and sidewalks so tightly it disrupted traffic, and ten blocks down from the arena Joey and Seto were stuck in wall to wall traffic.

There wasn't a lot they could do but sit back and wait. Joey kept checking the time, and Seto watched all of the people out the window. There were kids still in their school uniforms moving in groups towards the venue, and families with small children, some of whom held various balloons in the shape of Red Eyes Black Dragon, Dark Magician, Koribo and Blue Eyes White dragon.

Seto absently wondered who was putting on the tournament. He wouldn’t know, even if it was his own company. He couldn't even remember the last time he'd read the news. The outside world had become a grand mystery. The most likely culprit for the tournament was Industrial Illusions. Perhaps they were trying to make a grand come back after their leader’s untimely death however many years ago. Industrial Illusions has survived, Kaiba was unsuccessful in acquiring all of it upon Pegasus's demise. But they had stayed pretty under the radar and were doing consistently well.

“I hope this doesn't make me late,” Joey grumbled. “Ah well. Whataya gonna do?”

“Leave earlier.”

“Yeah, yeah. I mean right now, wise guy.”

“You could walk.”

“How am I gonna do that? I'm driving.”

“Idiot. You get out and walk. I'll drive the car the rest of the way.”

Joey paused. He smiled. “Oh yeah, that is a pretty good idea.” When they got another full stop he leaped out of the car. “See ya there, Kaiba!”

Seto moved across the center and put himself in the driver's seat.

He watched Joey run between the cars and disappear into the crowds on the sidewalk. Seto leaned his head on his fist and resigned to waiting in traffic.

The traffic was finally nearing the arena, and the crowds were even denser on the outside than the streets surrounding. People waited in long lines for a chance to get a last minute ticket. Tellers were scanning passes as quickly as they could to let people in, and there were security guards and checks all around the building. Two huge buses were lined up right in front, and a handful of adults were trying to wrangle and line up an ocean of children of various ages.

In amidst the madness there were calm spots. Streets that were more heavily guarded, where only the few got to enter. Seto pulled the car up to one of these, and stopped at the gate. The guards there approached the vehicle. They began to ask for identification as soon as the window started to roll down, but stopped short when they saw who was in the car.

Suddenly the large, calm confidence drained from their faces.

“S-Seto Kaiba,” one stuttered. He quickly straightened. “We're sorry, sir, we weren't aware you were going to be attending the event.”

“I trust there's a space for me.”

“Of course, sir.” The guards spoke something into the mic on his collar, then addressed Seto once again. “The valet will take your car. You can pull up to the back entrance.”

Seto closed the window. The bar lifted and he pulled forward. He placed the vehicle behind a line of cars that were already waiting to be moved. Most of these cars belonged to duelists, some of whom had bodyguards to open doors for them. Keys were quickly passed to waiting valets, but those who had a driver drove off right away to park in the private garage below the arena.

Seto got out and found a young man already waiting on the sidewalk. The moment the kid saw him, his mouth dropped open.

“Se- Seto Kaiba.”

Seto stepped onto the sidewalk and dropped the keys in the boy’s hand. “Fix your face, kid.”

The boy’s mouth snapped shut and he straightened up. “Right. Your car is in good hands, Mr. Kaiba.”

Seto didn't respond. He entered through the back doors among the other privileged individuals, and everyone he passed paused to do a double take. He heard the whispers.

“Is that Seto Kaiba?”

“It's Seto Kaiba.”

“Do you think he's making an appearance?”

“Did you hear about his brother?”

Seto clenched his jaw. He walked faster, but not obviously. He had told Joey that if he provided the tickets, then he would provide the audience. In all honesty, Seto didn't need tickets for an event that took place at a venue that he owned. It made him wonder who had organized the entire thing. His planning committee was incredibly effective, and KaibaCorp - as he assumed - had been successfully running normal operations during his absence. Every head of every department had been hand picked by himself, and there were no more treacherous shareholders.

The ownership of KaibaCorp has been split evenly between two people.

Now it was one.

Seto banished the thought and tried to figure out where he was going. It had been a long time since he'd helped design this arena, and his memory of its entire layout was foggy at best. This was the back entrance; reserved for special guests, the duelists themselves, and anyone who could pay their way to special treatment. There were private hallways leading to the boxes, and at the very top was Kaiba's own private room where he could watch the action from above.

He vaguely wondered if Joey was still around there somewhere. There were rooms for the duelists to wait in while the other duels were going on.

Joey was hopefully trying to psych himself up for the match, so Seto decided against trying to find him.

It occurred to him that there had never been a reason to seek out Joey Wheeler, but Seto didn't linger on the thought. He pretended like it had never occurred to him and pressed on.

He broke away from the others who had trickled in beside him and found a service elevator. He typed in his bypass code and quickly pressed the door close button. This elevator was massive, with more than enough room for ten people. The floors were red and scuffed and the walls were grey and equally worn. Generally this was reserved for cleaning staff or other employees.

The car gently buzzed as it quickly ascended. This elevator was not as fast as the ones for guests, and it only went halfway up the building. That was alright, though. If memory served, the elevator that went the rest of the way up was right beside it, and Seto could finish his journey from there.

The elevator slowed to a stop. The double door behind him slid open. Seto exited, and immediately turned for the next elevator, only to find there was yellow tape over the entrance, and a sign stuck to the door.

Out of Order 

He paused, and humphed to himself. Nothing was supposed to be left out of order at a KaibaCorp owned property. Every single elevator repair firm must have been booked or gone out of business, otherwise this would be wholly unacceptable.

Seto marched out of the Employee Only section and resigned himself to taking the regular patron elevator. If there was another service elevator - which was not unlikely - he didn't know where it was and didn't feel like hunting for it.

He entered into a sea of people all moving in the same direction. There were lines of people at the food stands scattered about the massive hallways, and small groups tucked against the wall. Seto remained close to the wall and followed the signs for an elevator. When he found one, he discovered it was just as crowded as the hallway, with people packing in one big group after another.

Seto humphed to himself and instead searched for a sign for the stairs. He rounded several corners before he finally found the door at the end of a hallway.

He made his way towards it, but as he did he heard something strange. It almost sounded like a squeaky door, but it was too quiet and inconsistent, and this place was far too clean and advanced to have squeaky doors; at least not anywhere patrons would be.

Seto stopped, and listened. He knew this sound. He knew he knew this sound. But for some reason it escaped him. He slowed to a stop, and looked around. That was when he saw it.

Behind him, tucked into the slot of one of the vertical beams against the wall, was a little girl. Her face was red, and her lips were pinched together. She had her hands tucked tight behind her back, and buried herself in this hollow space, effectively avoiding the crowd. She squeaked; her cries quiet and restrained, and every once in a while she would look into the crowd with a desperate glint in her eye.

Seto looked around, searching for an adult with an equally concerned expression as the girls. There seemed no such person.

He looked at the little girl again.

The best thing for a lost child to do was stay put. There was always the possibility the parent had left her there, but the amount of crying suggested she was lost.

Seto went against the crowd and stayed close to the wall. He could not remember the last time he had interacted with a small child. The girl couldn't have been more than five by his guesstimate, and hopefully she had been educated on the idea of stranger danger.

Kids were not exactly Seto's forte. He would not call himself particularly maternal, and had been told by his brother that he had a mean face, which often put children off when they met him in person. They loved his theme parks and his duel disks and all of the theatrics. But for all that Seto created for children, he was not particularly good with them.

To lower the risk of coming across as imposing or intimidating, Seto took a knee a foot or two away from her. The girl has clocked him the moment he started his approach, and eyed him with clear apprehension.

“Are you lost?” Seto asked.

The girl pinched his lips together and swallowed. She nodded, and clumsily wiped the tear stained hair out of her face.

“Do you know what section you and your parents were sitting in?”

The girl sniffled and wiped her nose with her wrist. “Um--” her voice trembled. “I don’t know where anyone is.”

Seto figured the girl’s parents did not do their due diligence and make sure the girl at least knew what section they were sitting in. Seto had taken care of his little brother starting at ten, and he would have known to do as much at that age.

His fist inadvertently clenched, and an old sour feeling rose from the depths of his memory. He stifled the rage, and told himself he knew nothing about this girl’s parents.

What was important right now was the girl herself.

This arena was huge; the biggest in the city. Finding a lost child was like finding a needle in a haystack.

Seto considered his options. He could simply remain with the girl until her parents found her. He could also try to take her to security where she would theoretically be in safe hands, and be in a concise place for her parents to seek her out.

“Have you just stayed in the same place since you realized you were lost?” Seto asked.

The girl nodded.

“Good. That was the right thing to do.”

The girl’s chest moved in quick breaths, she cleared her throat and sniffled her nose, a clear sense of discomfort still evident in her frame. Which was arguably good, it meant she didn’t trust strangers easily and probably wouldn’t have been led away by someone with ill intentions. Seto, however, was not a person of ill intention, and he feared that if he remained there, she might wander off, and that would be a problem. If he left and kept an eye on her from afar, she might wander off as well. But if he left completely that was just irresponsible.

Seto thought for a moment, and tried to remember the body language of the people from the orphanage. Most of the people there were kind, and trained to deal with children; especially frightened children. He wracked his mind for the memories, and the first thing that came to him was posture. Whenever the caregivers were dealing with a scared child, they sat cross legged on the floor a safe distance away. It was a more comfortable and less imposing position. By putting their legs in a cross they were closer to eye level, if not below, and it was relaxed, which suggested a lack of pressure.

Seto took up this position and remained the same distance away. He didn’t think he could get the girl to follow him so he could take her to security. At least not at this stage. He tried to recall the orphanage again; how the caretakers had regarded his brother, who had been far more outwardly afraid than himself. It was difficult for a five year old to understand not only death, but abandonment. One day they’d had a home, and the next they didn’t. Instead they shared a room with seven other boys in an unfamiliar place. Mokuba had been understandably nervous.

Seto shook away the thoughts of his brother and tried to concern himself with the girl in front of him.

“My name is Seto Kaiba,” he introduced himself. “Can you tell me your name?” He tried his best to fix his tone so he didn’t sound so mean and harsh. Even if it wasn’t purposeful - though, frankly, it usually was - he had a tendency to sound far meaner than he meant to.

The girl sniffed again, but her tears were starting to dry. “Miko,” he said in a tiny voice.

“Miko. That’s a good name.”

The girl wiped her eyes. “I like Seto Kaiba.”

“Yes, my name is excellent. Do you know what that word means?”

“Very good. Like better than other stuff.”

“Exactly. Now, Miko, there is a place in this building where you can go and they can try and call your parents to come get you. It’s called a security desk. Would you like me to take you there?”

Miko glanced around the hall. The crowd had thinned significantly, signalling that the tournament was about to begin.

Miko shifted from foot to foot. “What if they come back?”

“At the security desk they can call over the speaker in the hallways and tell your parents to go there and get you.”

Miko’s expression changed. The tears suddenly dried, and she looked at him with wide eyes. “What? How?”

“There are speakers in the ceiling. There’s a system that they speak through and it reaches all around the building.”

“But I don’t have parents.”

Seto paused. “Then they’ll call for whoever came here with you. Did your aunt or uncle or an older sibling come with you?”

Miko shook her head. “No. We’re on a field trip.”

It started to make more sense how she could have gotten so lost. If it was a field trip, then there were probably only a few teachers keeping track of an entire class of small children. It was no wonder one of them ended up lost in the crowd. His festering rage against irresponsible adults began to dwindle. It did not disappear entirely, but he tried to imagine trying to wrangle up to twenty five year olds with what was probably a maximum of four or five people. It was a plight he had no empathy for, but could at least imagine sympathy.

“With your class?” He asked. “How many teachers were with you?”

Miko shook her head. “With the orphanage.”

Seto paused.

Miko continued to explain. “We only have Ms-- Ms, um-- Ms. Niki and Ms. Kato.”

“I see,” Seto said slowly. His mind lingered on one of the names, but he tried not to worry about that. “How many kids were with you?”

“Uhhhhh--” Miko clumsily counted on her fingers and under her breath. She paused at seven. “Um. More than seven.”

It was probably the Domino City Orphanage, which, while heavily funded by Kaiba Corp, was still under staffed for all of the children who lived there. Despite building a dormitory on the property, there were still four or five kids per room, and only a few caretakers at a time. Because of variances and licenses and other bells and whistles - including the size of the property itself - they were only able to build one dormitory with 20 rooms. Since that had been suitable enough and there was little else to do, the rest of their funding went to the elementary school, maintenance, health care and food.

Seto wondered if one of the duelists or perhaps Industrial Illusions itself had extended a hand and paid for a bunch of the kids to attend the big tournament. If that was the case, they probably had their own little section, and shouldn’t be too hard to find.

There were probably significantly more than seven kids. For the sake of fairness, whoever had extended the invitation should have done so with the intention of taking everyone. He recalled the buses parked out in front of the building, and wondered if those had been carrying the kids from the orphanage. They had probably been split into smaller groups for the sake of ease.

“Domino City Orphanage?” He asked.

Miko nodded. “Mhm.”

“I know that place. You said Ms. Niki was your teacher?”

Miko nodded. “Mhm.”

Seto humphed to himself. “Do you know why you guys got to come to this tournament today?”

Miko was starting to relax. She shifted, and occasionally stepped around, but this was a restless movement, not a nervous one. “Um, the teachers said that we get to go ‘cause we were picked-- all of us were picked to go.”

A booming voice came over to the speaker.

And the show is about to begin folks! Hold onto your seats! First up we have-- 

Seto stopped paying attention when they didn’t say Joey’s name. “I see,” he said to Miko. “In that case, all of your friends and teachers are probably in a special section of the arena. If we go to the security desk, they can probably find where you need to be.”

Miko shifted from foot to foot, that nervous fidget returning. “Are you sure?”

“Yes. I am sure. Seto Kaiba would not say anything he is unsure of.”

Miko cracked a smile and laughed a little. “Seto Kaiba,” she repeated.

Seto extended a hand. “Now would you like to go to the security desk?”

Miko nodded. Seto stood, and she took his hand.

“Let’s go then.”

They made their way down the hall, and soon found a map of the arena on the wall. All the while colorful commentary was coming from the speakers describing the frankly pitiful duel playing out on the main field. Seto located the security desk on the lower level, and led Miko there. Her little hand hung loosely in his own, and her fingers fiddled restlessly against his palm. Her steps scurried, and Seto tried to remain at a slow pace so she didn’t feel the need to keep up with him.

They took the elevator down to the lower level where there was less of a crowd. Miko was significantly more relaxed now, and was looking around the venue with interest.

As they approached the desk, they heard the frantic voice of the woman standing in front of it. She had on knee length shorts and a long vest, her hair short and straight. She leaned over the desk with a frantic look in her eye and quickly gave a description to the other woman standing behind it.

“She’s about three feet tall, shoulder length black hair, and she was wearing a pink shirt and blue shorts, little--” she stuttered through her description. “Little flowers on her sandals, they’re white--”’

Suddenly Miko called out. “Ms. Niki!”

Ms. Niki turned around immediately. Her eyes widened. “Oh, my god, Miko!”

They rushed towards each other, and Ms. Niki squatted to meet the little girl. She grabbed her in a tight hug, but quickly pulled back to get a good look at her.

“Are you okay? You scared the crap out of me, I told you to stay with your sisters!”

“I’m sorry Ms. Niki.”

Ms. Niki released a sigh of relief and hugged the little girl again. “Just try not to do it again.”

Ms. Niki suddenly noticed Seto, and stood up to approach him. The moment she got a good look at him she paused. Her expression pressed into slight confusion.

“Seto?” She asked.

Miko bounced on her heels. “Seto Kaiba,” she repeated.

“Seto?” Ms. Niki brightened. “Oh my gosh! You’re so-- tall!” She laughed and looked him up and down. Suddenly she rushed forward, and before Seto could do anything he was embraced in a brief hug. She stepped back and took a good look at him. “Wow, it’s so weird seeing you in person,” she laughed.

Ms. Niki looked exactly the same according to Seto’s memory. She was twelve years older now, but no less bright. There were flecks of silver in her hair, and smile lines on her face, but not much else had changed.

That smile suddenly disappeared. “I was so sorry to hear about your brother,” she said. “You have everyone’s deepest condolences at the orphanage.”

Seto’s throat was suddenly tight. “Thank you,” he muttered, only to avoid being rude to a person who didn't deserve it. “So you’re still at the orphanage.”

Niki’s smile returned, but it was softer now. Miko hugged her, and Niki put a hand on the little girl’s shoulder. “It’s hard to leave,” she said. “I mean…kids need someone to take care of them.” She smiled fondly at Miko. “There’s not a lot of people left out there who will do it.”

Seto nodded. “I see.”

“So you’re here for the tournament? You’re not playing, are you?”

“No. I don’t really play anymore. I know someone in the tournament.”

Niki’s soft smile brightened. “Well, good luck to them.” She started to turn away, and waved goodbye. “I really have to get back. But it was really nice seeing you. It’s not everyday I get to see one of my kids again.”

Miko held Niki’s hand and they walked off together. She turned over her shoulder, and waved.

Seto waved back.

The booming voice returned over the loud speaker.

Up next! Joey Wheeler! 

Seto typed in his code to the private room and the lock clicked open. He flicked on the light and found a room that had gone months undisturbed. There was a thin layer of dust on every surface. Kaiba sneered. He went right for the sink in the faux kitchenette, dampened a couple paper towels, and started wiping everything down. The room was fit with two chairs sitting in front of a large window, and a countertop, under which was tucked a fridge, a wine cooler, and glasses hanging upside down. There was also a couch and a TV, but those often went unused.

Seto had rarely indulged in the alcohol in the fridge or the cooler. He rarely drank at all; only fleeting or fake sips at important events or appearances where not participating would reflect poorly on the company.

Or four beers at a dinky soba shop in some random part of town.

Seto liked to maintain that he had not been drunk, but he knew that he had been. He was well aware that he was the lightweight of all lightweights, part of the reason he rarely drank even when social obligation called for it. The CEO of KaibaCorp was a man who had to keep his wits about him at all times.

He wandered over to the window and stared down at the duel taking place below. The monsters hovered above the field like gods; dwarfing their masters. They had reached a point in the duel in which the more powerful beasts were starting to rear their heads. The life points were displayed all around the arena, and Joey was on the ropes. He had a measly 500 to his opponent’s 2700.

Seto humphed to himself. He watched the remainder of the duel with care. If there was one thing Wheeler had gotten good at it was getting himself out of sticky situations. That scapegoat card got a lot of mileage, and Joey still relied pretty heavily on cards determined by luck. They had gotten him out of just as many scrapes as they had gotten him into.

Seto settled into one of the chairs and didn't look away from the duel. Joey had two face down cards and two monsters on the field. One of those was Red Eyes Black Dragon, the other was Flame Swordsman

His opponent had a Seiyaryu and one other worthless monster on his field. It was Joey’s turn and he drew a card. The moment he took a look at it, his hard expression turned into a smirk.

“Alright, smart guy--” he threw the card down. “I play a monster in attack position!”

The Time Wizard materialized on the field.

“I activate my monster’s effect! When this guy is summoned, we flip a coin. And if I call it in the air, you can say bye bye to all your monsters. A’course if I’m wrong, I lose all the monsters on my field and get hit with more damage than I wanna think about, but let’s see how this ends.”

Seto’s throat tightened, his fist inadvertently clenched.

The coin spun in the air.

Joey watched it as it fell. “Heads!” he called.

The coin finally fell.

Heads to the sky.

Joey punched the air. “Alright!”

Seto relaxed. All of the monsters on the opponent’s field were destroyed, leaving his life points wide open. Not a spell, trap or monster card in sight. Joey attacked with his Red Eyes and then with his Warrior, wiping out those life points down to zero.

The field lit up and announced Joey as the winner. He raced towards his opponent, hand outstretched, and gave the guy a firm handshake.

“That was a great duel. You really had me on the ropes there.”

The other guy smiled. “I really thought I had you. Should have known better going up against Joey Wheeler.”

“Ey, don’t say that. We’re all in this tournament, aren't we?”

The other guys smiled. They parted ways, leaving the field in opposite directions. Joey Wheeler was announced as the winner and was moving on to the next round.

You’ll see him later folks 

Said the announcer

But will we see him in the final showdown? Find out! Tonight at 8pm! It’ll be a battle you won’t wanna miss 

Up next!

You know him, you love him-

Yugi Muto!

And his opponent--

Seto stopped listening after Yugi’s name was announced. He took a deep breath and tried to relax. There was an unpleasant tingle in his skin. Joey had been an idiot to play the Time Wizard. It had worked out, but that didn’t change the fact that it was a dumb move. He could have been out of the tournament in the first round, and then all of this would have been a huge waste of time and effort.

The door bursted open behind him.

“How ya like that, Kaiba! Your man Joey really knows how to call ‘em, huh?”

Seto relaxed, his expression stony. He barely spared a glance over his shoulder as the other sauntered into the room with the confidence of a man too big for his britches.

“That was a risky move,” he said cooly. “And a stupid one. That duel could have ended with the flip of a coin.”

“Ay, I won, didn’t I? Either he was gonna whip me his next turn, or I was gonna get a good call.” Joey ducked into the fridge and pulled out some alcohol and a pair of glasses. “When I win this whole thing, we’re gonna whip out the good stuff.” He read whatever it was he’d whipped out of the fridge. “Damn. Okay, guess we’re having good stuff now and better stuff later.”

He filled two glasses and carried them over.

“How did you even know I was up here?” Seto asked, taking his glass.

“I figured you weren’t gonna be down there with all the peasants. I knew you had your secret little hidey hole up here.” He tinked their glasses together. “To a solid win.”

“More like a stupid one.” Seto took a sip of his drink.

“You better take it easy or you’ll be passed out before my duel with Yugi.”

“If you’re referring to my alcohol tolerance, I assure you I won’t be getting drunk on one glass of wine.”

Joey leaned back in his chair. “Of course not,” He smirked. “It’ll take one and a half.”

Seto humphed. He took another sip of his wine and left it at that. They watched Yugi’s duel together, and were not surprised to see him wipe the floor with his opponent. When he was declared the winner, Joey had a huge grin on his face.

“One step closer to facing my buddy in the finals tonight.” He tinked his glass against Seto’s. “You still gonna be here?”

Seto eyed him with a neutral expression. “I've got nowhere else to be,” he said, tone as flat as his facial expression.

“Maybe you'll be sober by then.”

“Maybe you'll have grown a brain by then.”

“Haha. Haha. Haha.” Joey downed the rest of his wine and leaped to his feet. “Alright, I'm outta here. I got a couple more duels to win and then it's showtime, baby.” He marched off to the door and threw it open. “See ya later, rich boy. I'm goin’a meet up with Yugi.”

Seto absently swirled the wine in his glass. He didn't take his eyes off the window.

“Wheeler.”

Joey stopped short and turned halfway around. “Yeah? What's up?”

Seto didn't immediately respond. He fought the clench in his jaw. The words left his lips reluctantly. “What you learned…yesterday--” he paused. “Don't tell Yugi.” His voice softened. “Please.”

Joey's hand clenched around the knob. “I won't mention it,” he muttered. “See ya later, Kaiba.”

He rushed out and closed the door behind him.

Seto twisted the glass in his fingers and stared at the duel field below.

Chapter Text

They were multiplying.

Again.

First it was Joey, and now the entire loser brigade had invaded Seto’s private box, and were helping themselves to what was in the cooler. They had even brought their own snacks, and pulled an extra two chairs out of somewhere.

The group consisted of Tea, Tristan, Bakura and Solomon. Apparently Yugi’s grandfather made it to all of the events, and ran special promotions in the shop whenever his grandson was competing. Out of all of them, Solomon was almost the most tolerable. He sat and quietly watched the duels, but still had moments of excitement, or commentary to add. He mentioned more than once how the game has changed so much since they first started carrying cards in the shop.

He spoke as if speaking to Seto, but the other never responded. That did not seem to deter the old man.

Seto was still nursing the first glass of wine Joey had poured him, and would never admit that the light empty-headed feeling that came with alcohol was already setting in. He would be further in the depths of intoxication after a second glass, but he probably wouldn’t be drinking a second glass, especially not in front of this crowd.

The pitiful duel in front of them ended and some nobody was announced the winner. Joey’s duel was next, and then it was down to the final four, and after that, the final two.

Seto took a small sip of his wine.

“How exciting,” Solomon said. “Just one more duel and then the two of them could be going up against each other. That’s what Yugi had been hoping for, to go against his friend. It’s always a great duel, those two.”

Seto took another small sip of wine.

Suddenly everyone was at the window.

“Look at that, the duel’s over,” Tristan commented. “I barely even watched.”

“I wonder who won.” Tea said.

Solomon chimed in with the winner, and Seto finished his wine. He put his glass down on the table beside the chair and didn’t acknowledge any of Yugi and Joey’s friends.

That didn’t stop them from trying to force him.

“You been here since the beginning, Kaiba? You catch Joey’s duel?”

Seto didn’t immediately respond. He was half tempted to just ignore the question.

“Yes,” he said after a moment. “I watched his first duel.”

“How’d he convince you to leave the house?”

The moment Tristan finished the question, Tea smacked him in the stomach. “Tristan,” she scolded under her breath.

“What? He hasn’t left his house in months,” he whispered back.

Seto waited for their tiff to end before he deined to answer. “He told me he was going to put on a good show. I came to watch him embarrass himself.”

The trio exchanged a look, and Seto pretended not to notice. His bite had gotten softer, and they all knew it was a front. As long as no one said what was going unsaid, then Seto didn’t have to think about it.

When Joey came up to duel, everyone’s attention was suddenly on the window. Bakura snuck up and offered to refill Seto’s wine glass; an offer which was promptly refused. These people were putting away more wine in an evening that Seto had in ten years. It didn’t matter, so he didn’t comment.

Everyone cheered on their friend. They hollered for his victory as if he could hear them. Their cheers were hard to (phase) out, but Seto tried to concentrate only on the duel. Joey’s “luck” had gotten him into yet another sticky situation, with him sitting at a measly 1000 lifepoints compared to his opponents 3500. This was worse than last duel, and Seto wanted to be convinced that this was the end. Joey Wheeler would lose, and go out in the quarter finals.

But there was an inkling.

A frustrating doubt in the back of Seto’s mind that told him not to count Joey out just yet.

Only a few turns later, that inkling ended up being very right. Joey pulled a combo that increased his monster’s attack, destroyed the opponent’s spell card, and kept him alive for one more turn. His final turn wiped out the opponent’s monsters and his life points, all with the help of those flaky luck cards.

As soon as those life points hit zero, the room erupted into cheers. They all gave each other high fives and jumped up and down.

“Semi-finals, watch out for Joey!” Tristan declared.

Seto tried to ignore their celebrating. Had he no alcohol in his system, this would be far more annoying. He stared out the window and tried not to think about the antics going on behind him. The crowd was probably incredibly loud, but this glass was sound proof. The sun was beginning to set, and glow sticks and other lights popped up in the sea on people.

The room erupted again, and Seto didn’t bother to see why.

Suddenly a pair of hands was on his shoulders, and they gave him a little shake.

“How was that, rich boy?” Joey hooked his arm around Seto’s neck and hung over his shoulder. It garnered no response. “Told ya I was gonna win.”

Seto ignored the overly familiar gestures. “I don’t remember saying you wouldn’t.”

Joey disappeared for a moment, and there was a ruckus in the background.

“Damn, you guys really tearing through this stuff, huh? Good thing he’s rich.”

There was the tell tale sign of another bottle of wine being popped open. Joey returned to Seto’s side and filled his glass after everyone else’s.

“Had your other half yet?”

Seto eyed the wine as it went into the cup. “No.”

Joey stopped halfway up. “Then here ya go.” He raised his own glass. “To a good duel. And one step closer to the finals.”

Everyone raised their glasses in unison and called ‘here here!’ and took a sip. Seto didn’t participate in the theatrics, but he did take a drink.

“You’re celebrating like you’ve already won the whole tournament,” he commented. “Why don’t you slow down and concentrate on your next match.”

Joey took up a seat next to Seto. “Nah, because then I’d think too hard about it. I work better when I forget there’s anything riding on this duel.”

“Somehow that doesn’t surprise me.”

Joey tinked their glasses together. “But when I do win this whole thing, we’re gettin’ out the sake. That’ll really get you drunk.”

“What is your obsession with getting me drunk?”

Joey smirked. “Call me a perv.”

Seto’s lip inadvertently twitched upward. He quickly put his hand over his mouth, and discreetly wiped away the expression.

Joey gently elbowed him, and kept his voice low and between the two of them. “Almost had ya there.”

Seto humphed and sipped his wine.

Now everyone was hanging out around him because Joey was hanging out around him. They talked about work and duels and other aspects of their life that Seto had little use for. Fortunately they didn't try to get him to engage. The conversation rarely steered into territory he related to, and there was nothing happening in his life anyway.

Life was merely waiting.

“What about you, Kaiba?”

Seto blinked. He hadn't been paying any attention. He looked around and found all eyes on him. It was the first time in his life he almost stuttered.

“I wasn’t listening,” he said.

“We were talking about getting together after the tournament, trying to see if everyone’s in.”

“I think you know the answer to that.”

Joey hooked an overly familiar arm around his neck and pressed close, his grin far too wide. “He’ll be around. We’re having our victory party at his place.”

Tea frowned. “Joey, I know you practically live there now, but it’s still not your house. You can’t just invite people over for a party.”

Joey waved her off. “He’s not gonna stop us.”

“Don’t talk about it like Kaiba’s not even here.”

Seto suddenly grabbed Joey by the front of the shirt and stood up. “I need to speak with you,” he declared.

He pulled Joey out of his chair with a surprising amount of strength, and dragged him all the way out into the hallway. The door shut behind them, and everyone was left stunned still at the display.

Joey gripped the wrist holding his shirt. “Kaiba, what’s up? It was just a joke. If you really hate the idea, we won’t have it at your place--”

Seto dragged him against the wall and put up a silencing hand. He took a breath and fought the edge of intoxication he was standing on.

“I don’t want to do this,” he said evenly.

Joey relaxed, but his hand tightened around Kaiba’s wrist. They both let go at the same time. Seto - in a rare and strange display - awkwardly flattened Joey's crinkled shirt down.

“I do not want to be drunk in front of your friends,” he said evenly.

Joey smirked a little. “Cause you’re a lightweight?” He teased.

Seto scowled. “I am aware that I am a lightweight.” He paused. His fingers flexed against Joey’s chest. “And inviting all of them up here wasn't part of the deal.” He stared at his own hand instead of Joey’s face; lips picked in a thin frown.

Joey didn't immediately respond. He registered the hand still pressed to his chest, and almost tried to remove it, but stopped short of actually doing so. “I don't think it's good for you to be alone right now,” he said evenly.

“You don't get to decide that. I'm here for you. I'm not here to entertain them.”

“I can tell them to cool it, but I ain't gonna tell ‘em to go.”

Seto clenched his jaw. “Fine,” he spat. “But you're not having your little party at the mansion. You can go somewhere else.”

“We can keep it outside--”

“No,” Seto said sharply. He quickly calmed, and averted his eyes. “I want to sleep,” he muttered reluctantly. “And I won’t be able to if all of your little friends are crawling around the mansion.” He closed his eyes, and in a rare moment of vulnerability, his voice was soft and pleading. “I want to sleep tonight.”

Joey gently took Seto’s wrist, but didn’t remove the hand from his chest. “Okay,” he said. “We’ll go somewhere else.” He pulled the hand off, but didn’t let go. “I can tell you’re tired.”

Seto frowned at him.

Joey continued, he lowered his voice further. “I'm surprised you can't sleep, honestly,” he said. “Usually when you don't eat anything, sleeping is easy.”

Seto tensed. His jaw set in a stubborn frown, but he did not look at Joey. “Tired or not, we can't control what our minds do,” he muttered. He looked him square in the eye. “And that's not something you're going to mention to the loser brigade either.”

Joey was quiet for a moment. He gently squeezed Seto’s wrist. “Ya know the more people who know the more people can help you--”

Seto pulled out of the grip. “I don't want your help. And I especially don't want theirs.”

He marched away before Joey could respond, and slipped back into the box. Joey slumped against the wall. He took a deep breath, pushed himself upright, and went to rejoin the others.

Seto didn't hear the conversations. But he didn't miss how Joey pulled each of his friends aside one by one and probably told them to try their best to leave Kaiba alone. It didn't have to be so hush hush, but he was doing what he said he would, and there was a notable shift in the air.

For Seto it felt calmer, but he could feel the edge of awkwardness in the rest of them. Especially since Joey decided to put himself between the two parties, and take the seat beside Seto while everyone else was on his otherside. He divided his attention between Seto and the rest, with most of his attention on everyone else. Yet despite this, Joey moved no closer to them, and remained steadfast at Seto's side.

The next duel came to an end and Joey leaped out of his chair. “I should head back down. I'll see you guys after.”

He threw a smile to Seto, a silent promise.

Seto watched him leave until the door clicked shut.

Outside the window, the crowd had grown so loud. They cheered and called for Joey Wheeler.

Seto took a sip of his wine and waited for the show to begin.

Chapter Text

The room was silent.

Joey had pulled a bad first hand, and it didn't look like it was getting much better from there. Trap, luck and spell cards did more to keep Joey alive than any of his monsters, and anyone who put down on the field was wiped the moment they were summoned.

Even when he did manage to get a good set up, his opponent set up two Swords of Revealing Light in a row.

Seto sat forward with his elbows on his knees and his hands folded in front of his face. His throat was tight and his brow sore. His heart beat uncomfortable against his chest, like it was hopping up, down and sideways. No matter how many times he swallowed, his throat became no less dry. There was wine, but that wasn't helpful. He would have stumbled to the fridge for water, but he couldn't tear himself away from the duel.

Neither could anyone else.

They were all standing or sitting close to the window. They chewed their lips or their fingers or bounced their knees a mile a minute. No one was drinking or talking, they all seemed to be holding their breath.

The one who seemed the least nervous was Solomon, who watched the duel with care but occasionally hummed and pet his beard.

Seto went over Joey's entire deck list. The opponent had two strong monsters on the field now, Joey had managed to save his life points from complete destruction, and even got one or two hits in, but they were minimal. Joey had 700 life points to his opponent’s 3700. The next turn would clinch it. He needed something now.

Seto could recall only a couple of cards that could save Joey without relying on luck. It may have worked in the last two duels, but everyone's luck ran out. Even Joey Wheeler’s.

Shield and Sword would be extremely helpful at a time like this. That way Joey could at least get one of the monsters off the field and save himself for another turn. A De-Spell wouldn't hurt either.

Joey drew his card.

Everyone in the room tensed up.

He looked at his card, and smirked.

“Alright--” he threw it down. “I activate the spell card Friendship, and offer you a hand shake. You take it, and our life points get combined and split between us.”

The opponent was taken back. “What? No way. Not when I'm this far ahead, Wheeler.”

Joey shrugged. “Too bad,” he revealed one of the cards in his hand. “I’ve got Unity in my hand.” He extended for a handshake again. “So you gotta take it.”

The opponent huffed, and looked to the judge. He received a nod, and was forced to walk to the center of the field and shake Joey's hand.

Some of the tension in the box dissipated as the life points split into 2200 for each opponent.

Joey's smirk became a lot more confident. “Alright, let's do this!” He threw down another card. “I activate Pot of Greed! Now I get to draw two cards.”

The tension returned to the room and they all watched closely as he did. The moment he got a look at them, that smirk windend.

“Now I play Monster Reborn, and bring back my Flame Swordsman. Come on out!” The Warrior appeared on the field and took up a fighting stance. “Now I tribute summon, come on out, Red Eyes Black Dragon!”

The great Red Eyes appeared from the card and released a mighty roar. But even with this impressive monster, the opponent still had the upper hand.

“Nice monster,” the opponent goaded. “But it's still not enough to beat mine!”

Joey pulled another card from his hand. “Just wait wise guy. I play Shield and Sword! This swaps all your monster’s attack points with their defense points--” he smiled. “And I know one'a your guy's ain't got a lotta defense on his side. And by not a lot, I mean none at all.”

The opponent paled. His anger suddenly dropped into deep worry. The conviction soon returned, and he stood his ground.

“Now! Red Eyes, attack that monster!”

The beast roared and reared forward. The opponent threw out his hand.

“I don't think so! I activate Negate Attack!”

“Figured!” Joey called back. “I activate my face down, Solomn Judgement! So say bye bye to your trap card!”

The Negate Attack disappeared, along with half of Joey's life points. But it didn't matter. The monster with no attack points was taken down by Red Eyes, and the duel came to a decisive end.

Joey was declared the winner, and the crowd erupted into cheers so loud that they hummed through the sound proof glass.

The box was hyped with relief and excitement as well. They were even louder than they were earlier, and declared over and over that their friend had made it to the finals by the skin of his teeth and a few lucky draws.

The unease in Seto's heart settled. He sat back but didn't relax. The box was suddenly so loud again.

“Looks like Joey’s not gonna be embarrassing himself tonight, ey, Kaiba?” Tristan commented.

Seto stood up. Everyone watched him cross the box, and leave the room without responding.

The hallways were no less noisy than they’d been at the start of the tournament. As he wandered down the hall, Seto absently wondered if these were all the same people from earlier. There were probably all-day tickets and cheaper ones broken down but round. Most people just went to a tournament and watched all day. There was no good reason not to, especially when Yugi Muto was competing. At his level he was almost guaranteed to make it past the second round, and watching him in the finals was always a treat; especially since he wasn't in as many tournaments nowadays.

Joey Wheeler was the other person everyone was there to see, despite his up and down win streak. He was a favorite among the people, whether he was reigning champion or not.

Seto wandered absently through the crowd, and found the chatter of hundreds of people somehow less grating than that of four. They had every right to celebrate, but it left a strange and sour feeling in Kaiba’s throat, somewhere on the cusp of anger.

The spectators were using the break to get on their feet and walk the halls, or grab food from the various vendors. Popcorn and candy were being handed out in droves, and people could buy event exclusive packs of cards for a chance to get something shiny and rare. Some kids were excitedly tearing open packs next to one of the snack stands, and one of them happily cried out when they got something on the rarer side.

Seto brushed through the crowd and let the noise wash over him. He eventually came to a spot that wasn't as busy, where there were a couple people sitting by the wall and looking at something in a magazine. He passed by them, but after a few paces he caught the amazed whispers of the pair realizing they had just seen Seto Kaiba.

As he approached the next corner, he spotted a paper sign on the wall. It had been crudely taped there, and he felt the need to correct it.

It was wholly unprofessional for a KaibaCorp owned property to be taping signs to walls. They had an entire closet of metal signs that adhered easily to every surface, and accounted for almost every single possible need. He knew this, because he had ordered it himself, and it had taken him, Mokuba, the body guards and two retail workers a week to come up with every phrase they might possibly need.

Seto didn't read the sign before he adjusted it, but once he was done the words became clear.

Domino City Orphanage 

With an arrow pointing down the next hall. Seto gently furrowed his brow. He followed the sign to the next sign - which has been hung straight - and to the next sign. It was quickly becoming clear to him where these signs were leading, and he made it there himself.

This arena was massive, and could easily accommodate a party of over 500 people for a wedding, party, or other event. Seto made his way to the room especially fashioned to host these kinds of events - the doors of which occupied their own private hallway.

The wall had four sets of double doors and spanned an area so wide that it curved with the building. Seto opened the door, and was greeted by the chatter of dozens of kids.

Scattered around the wide room were neatly arranged tables and chairs, where some kids and adults sat and ate catered food off of small plates. Toys, cards and children were scattered all over and around the floors and tables.

This private party room also had a private section of 200 arena seats, part of which were occupied by kids of various ages.

The range was between four and sixteen, with some of the older kids looking out for the littlest ones while the adults were occupied helping children get food, settle an argument or not hurt themselves by doing something stupid. Even with the older kids, it was obvious that the adults were well outnumbered.

Seto noticed a big group of kids gathered around, and in amidst the noise, he heard a familiar voice. He approached the group and easily towed over them. There, surrounded by eager and nervous children, was Joey. He smiled and laughed and chatted with them as he signed autographs. A little girl kept a sketch book pulled close to her chest and her chin tucked away. Joey spotted her and offered a smile.

“You got drawings in there, sweet heart?”

The little girl nodded.

Joey brightened. “Mind if I take a look at em?”

The girl nodded again. She remained tightly clamped over her book for a hesitant moment. She released it to Joey, and he took it with care and started flipping through it. He nodded at every picture.

“Nice, very nice. Ey, you're a real talent, kid.”

The girl pinched her lips together in a stifled smile. She bounced on her heels and thanked him in a small voice.

Joey stopped on one of the pages. “Oh, I know this guy.” He smiled wide. “That's my favorite dragon.”

The girl brightened. “Red Eyes is so cool,” she said. “He's so big and scary.”

Joey laughed. “That's right. Nobody messes with Red Eyes!”

Another older kid chimed in to tell Joey how awesome his winning move in the last duel was. Other children spoke up after that.

Suddenly a high pitched voice yelled from somewhere else in the room.

“Seto Kaiba!”

Before Seto could react his legs were suddenly wrapped in a tight hug. Miko grabbed his coat in her little fists and buried her face in the side of his thigh.

When he looked up, the group of kids surrounding Joey was looking at him with open awe and excitement.

“Seto Kaiba--”

“Holy crap, it's Seto Kaiba--”

“What's Seto Kaiba doing here--”

“I thought he was a shut in now.”

Joey stood from the group and approached him. “Look at that,” he said. “Seto Kaiba’s payin you guys a visit too, huh? Boy you kids sure struck it big tonight.” He put an arm around Seto's shoulder and pulled him to his side. He patted his chest in an overly familiar gesture - which appeared the theme of the night - and addressed the kids. “I seen this guy wipe the floor with some of the toughest duelists around. None’a you better get on his bad side.” He put his hand next to his mouth and pretended to whisper. “But between you and me it ain't all that hard.” He laughed at his joke and released the other man.

The kids seemed to calm down, but they still didn't approach the CEO.

The only person who was braver than Joey was little Miko, who was still attached to Seto's side.

Joey seemed to only just notice her. He glanced between her and Kaiba. “Ey, I think you got a leech.”

Seto looked down at the little girl, who he had frankly forgotten was there.

“Miko,” he said firmly, but not overly harsh. “Release me.”

Miko pouted but let go. She immediately took his hand and planted her feet and didn't go anywhere. Seto decided it was better than a hug.

Joey smiled and squatted down to her level. “Miko, huh? You know Mr. Kaiba here?”

Miko eyed him cautiously, but answered with a nod. One of the many kids who had gathered around them tried to get Miko’s attention. He whispered to her from far away, which wasn't much of a whisper.

“Yeah, Miko, how do you know Seto Kaiba?”

Miko lifted her chin. “He saved my life,” she declared confidently.

Everyone was taken aback by this, and started chattering among themselves about what this could possibly mean.

“She's exaggerating,” Seto said to no one in particular. He looked down at the little girl. “It's bad form to lie.”

Miko frowned at him. “I didn't lie,” she claimed. “You saved me!”

“I took you to the security desk.”

“But I didn't lie!”

Seto considered it. From a five year old’s perspective being reunited with her group probably did feel like having her life saved.

“I wouldn't say that I saved your life,” he said. “But I understand why you feel that way. So fine. You didn’t lie.”

“I told you.”

Seto didn't respond to that. He suddenly looked at Joey, who was watching this entire interaction with a fond smile on his face.

“I was wondering who had invited the orphanage. I guess that was you.”

Joey’s smile faltered. “Oh. Uhh, no. It wasn’t me.” He tried to replace the smile. “I just offered to stop by and see the kiddos.”

“Was it Yugi?”

“Uh, nope. Not him either.”

“Then it was probably Industrial Illusions itself.”

Joey didn't respond to that. He swapped to a different subject. “So what are you doin down here? Get stuffy in your ivory tower?”

“I needed a moment away.”

Joey paused at the honesty. “You thought a room full’a kids would be more peaceful?”

Seto quietly observed the room for a moment. “I just ended up here. I had been wondering who arranged this trip for the orphanage.”

“You gonna stick around?”

Seto glanced down at Miko, who remained stubbornly clamped to his hand.

“I won't if I can help it.”

Many of the kids who had once gathered around them had dispersed to occupy themselves elsewhere. A lot of them still stared at the duo of pro duelists, but since Seto’s arrival, everyone had become hesitant to approach.

Everyone except Miko, of course.

Joey smacked Seto on the back of the shoulder. “Come on, stick around. You don't like being up there with the rest of them anyway.”

“I could just kick them out.”

“If you were gonna do that, you woulda done it already. You can stay down here and catch up with your old care takers.”

Seto paused. “My old caretakers?” He questioned.

“Yeah, Domino City was the orphanage you came from, isn't it?”

Seto narrowed his eyes. “It was, but I don't recall ever telling you that.”

Joey’s smile briefly dropped. He shrugged. “You must have. Or maybe your brother did, I dunno.”

Seto narrowed his eyes further. “Why do I feel like you're lying?”

Miko piped in. “Bad form to lie,” she echoed from earlier.

Seto gently squeezed her hand. He turned to her and took a knee to address her at eye level. “Miko, go find Ms. Niki or one of the older kids to keep track of you. I need to have an adult conversation with Joey.”

Miko pouted. “Are you gonna come back?”

Seto glanced at Joey.

“I don't know,” he answered. “Now go on.”

Miko reluctantly released Seto’s hand and ran off to one of the older kids, who appeared to welcome her. Seto stood up straight and marched towards one of the double doors.

“Come on.”

Joey followed, and they found privacy in the hallway just outside the room.

“What is it that you're not telling me?” Seto demanded right away. He stood in front of Joey with his arms crossed and his expression cold.

“Kaiba, it's not a big deal,” Joey insisted. “I just ain't saying anything because I don't wanna upset you.” He hesitated to continue, his jaw moved but he didn't immediately speak. “You…seem like you're doin okay today. I don't wanna spoil that.”

Seto's tense expression softened a touch. “Just spit it out,” he grumbled. “I'm not a child.”

“You don't gotta be a child to be upset.” Joey paused, the tension in his shoulders sank. “It was Mokuba,” he said. “That's who invited all these kids here. That's…why the tournament exists at all.”

Seto's hand tightened around his arm, his brow pressed. “How did I not know about this?” He muttered between his teeth.

“He didn't keep it from you per-say--”

“How come you knew and I didn't?” Seto demanded.

Joey kept himself composed and spoke calmly. “He said he wanted to do something fantastic, like a big goodbye. Said he wanted to do something for the kids at you and his old orphanage. Said they treated you better there than Gozaburo ever did. But he knew you would want him to rest and concentrate on feeling better and not do any kind of work so--”

“So you went behind my back and let him plan all this?” Seto spat. “When he was sick in bed?”

“He wanted it,” Joey insisted. “He knew what you'd say, he knew you'd wanna just take it over or give it to someone else, or totally shut it down, but he wanted to plan this for the kids himself--”

“That doesn't mean he should have!”

Joey calmed down. “Kaiba, it was the end of February,” he said softly. “He wanted this, he wanted to do this before--”

“Shut up!” Seto's eyes were wide with rage and red around the edges. “Why would he feel any need to plan this with you and not me? KaibaCorp was our company, we planned these sorts of things together. We lived in this orphanage together, that was our home, those people took care of us, we could have--” he stopped short, the anger suddenly dropped from his face. His eyes widened, and there was an unpleasant but not unfamiliar pressure in his skull. A breath suddenly forced itself from his throat. His jaw clenched so hard his teeth hurt.

Joey took a hesitant step forward. “It's not what you think,” he said, trying to extend a comforting hand. “Seto--”

Suddenly that rage returned. “Shut up,” Seto spat. “You don't get to call me that.”

“Fine, Kaiba, but calm down, you don't understand--”

“No, I understand. I understand fine. I understand that I made a mistake I can never take back and I can never apologize for! I understand that my brother died hating me!”

“That's not true! Kaiba, just shut up and listen--!”

Seto stormed off, and whatever Joey yelled from behind went unheard. His ears were filled with the raging sound of his own heartbeat. As he marched away his vision filled with stars and colors, but his conviction didn't die. He stumbled out of the private hallway and blindly fumbled his way to the closest bathroom.

His body carried itself, acting on behalf of a desperate need that he had not met. The alcohol in his system made him woozy and the spike in blood pressure went straight to his head.

He came to when water touched his lips, and found himself drinking from a water fountain in some far forgotten hallway. His head was still foggy and rage still boiled in his throat. But his chest was heavy and tight with an indescribable agony that was familiar, but became no easier to bear. Being conscious made this pain far more concise, and he felt it in every inch of his being.

I'm not happy anymore

Seto pressed the balls of his hands into his eyes.

Why didn't you listen to me? 

“I'm sorry--”

Why couldn't you listen to me? 

“I'm sorry. I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry--”

The words felt empty on his lips. His fingertips curled into his hair, his breath shallow and words hush.

“I would take it back. I want to take it back.” He fell against the wall, his words shattered into a broken whisper. “Take it back. Let me take it back.”

The cheers of the crowd shook the arena. They were a mutter outside of the concrete walls, a hum of white noise. Joey gripped his deck in his fist, he feels the cards through his palm; every one of them like a heartbeat.

Joey's own heart shuddered in his chest. It seems determined to lodge itself in his throat, and he constantly swallowed it back down. He hung his head over his knees and supported himself on his elbows. A narrow drop of sweat trickled behind his ear, it gathered in a thin layer on his forehead, but it wasn't all that warm in the waiting room.

With a great deal of effort, Joey steadied his breath.

In through the nose--

Out through the mouth.

Slow. Calm. Never let his body get the better of him. He didn't let that tear in his heart rear its head and eat up the rest of his insides. The tightness in his throat was just a sensation, the ache in his head just the nerves.

He should be here 

He took a quick breath and wiped the ache out of his forehead. He took a deep breath as he stood up straight.

He should be here 

“Shut up,” he said aloud to himself. “I know he should be here. I know! Just shut it already! He ain't here!” He stood up with a force. “But I still am.”

The door clicked open, a guy with a clipboard and a headset peeked in. “Five minutes until walk out,” he said quickly before dipping out.

Joey took another deep breath. He stepped out of the waiting room and made his way to the hallway where he would make his grand entrance as soon as they called his name. It was dark in there, but the stadium was loud. Those roars shook the very ground he stood up.

They called his name, called Yugi's name, they waved their glow sticks and screamed like they would never lose breath.

The announcer called his name over the roaring specters. He held it long as Joey skipped out onto the field.

He met his friend in the middle.

“Ey Yug. Ready to be back on top?”

Yugi smiled. “Not if you have anything to say about it.”

Joey smiled back.

The ref produced the coin. “Wheeler calls it.”

The coin spun in the air.

“Heads.”

The ref caught it in a fist and turned it onto the back of his hand. “Heads. Wheeler chooses.”

“I'm going first.”

“Now shake hands.”

The two locked hands and gently squeezed. Joey offered his friend a silent smile.

“This one's for Mokuba, ey pal?”

Yugi smiled sadly in return. “For Mokuba,” he agreed.

They went their separate ways and room position on either side of the field.

Joey drew his first card.

The duel began.

Seto could hear the cheering through the walls. The muffled announcement of Yugi Mouto and Joey Wheeler. But he was buried by concrete walls; hidden in a stairway reserved for work crews and helicopter pilots.

The stairway was narrow and the hallway echoey. The stairs were slatted metal and the railing was thin and cold in his palm. Every step pranged against the wall as Seto dragged himself up. It was not a fast ascent. He took his time. Dragged every step like he carried a thousand extra pounds on each leg.

Joey attacks with his Red Eyes! Will it be a decisive blow!?

Up and up, until he reached a door. The metal creaked open, and on the other side were yet more stairs.

No! Yugi counters with a trap card! Both opponents are still going strong!

Seto felt the smooth concrete wall with his fingertips and he made his way upwards. Speckles of dust stuck to his skin, but he found it didn't bother him. This hallway was wider than the last, but not by much. All of these stairs made his body burn and ache.

Yugi has summoned his Dark Magician! This is turning into a real nailbiter, folks!

The walls vibrated with the roar of the crowd. It was a muted hum in the background of an isolated space. As he climbed, everything became so constricting. The jacket, the high collar of his shirt, the brace on his arm.

He tore the brace from his wrist with fumbling fingertips. It dropped like iron and fell back down from whence he'd come. He grabbed the collar of his shirt and pulled it away from his neck in a desperate search of relief.

There was another door. More stairs behind it. But this time it wasn't so long until Seto reached the top. The moment he opened the last door the wind whipped his clothes and forced him to shut his eye and hold the handle so the door didn't fly off its hinges. It flew back and smacked him in the shoulder. He tried to move forward, but stopped short when the door caught on the edge of his jacket. He didn't think, he just pulled and tugged until the corner tore free.

The gust soon died, and Seto continued his march onwards.

The city lit up the skyline, cars were honking, people were talking, the crowd cheered only a few feet away. Lights flashed along the rim of the roof, echoing the excitement inside. Seto didn't bother to close the door behind him. He shuffled towards those lights, and came to stand between them. He peered down at the city below. It moved like blood through veins.

Everything down there was so small. They were so far away. He peered down at them with ease, nothing between him and the sidewalk. There was a nice clear space down there. No one else would get hurt.

Seto suddenly felt the breath in his lungs. The world was suddenly so quiet.

He breathed in slowly.

His toe knocked a pebble off the ledge.

A soft breeze brushed his jacket.

The crowd roared in his ears.

And that clinches it!

The announcer blared.

We have our winner!

Seto took a breath.

Chapter Text

Their friends hadn’t waited in the box. They used their special passes to meet the two in the waiting room, and were there to congratulate the winner. As soon as Yugi and Joey entered the room, it erupted around them. Tristan hooked his arm around Joey’s neck and dug his knuckles into his hair.

“Bet you think you looked like a big shot out there, huh?”

Joey smiled and fought back. “Yeah, you wanna take me on, wise guy?”

Yugi looked around. “You said Kaiba came, right?”

Joey shoved Tristan off of him for good. “Yeah, he was here. He was wanderin’ around before the duel.” He looked at their friends. “Did he come back to the box?”

Tea shook her head. “No, and he left a while ago. We tried to leave him alone.”

“He’s a sensitive guy, you could breathe and it would annoy him.” Joey inadvertently clenched his jaw. “I ran into him before the duel. We kinda got into it.”

Yugi looked at him with concern. “You fought?”

“Wasn’t much of a fight. He figured out Domino City Orphanage was here, and made me admit Mokuba was behind the whole thing.”

The mood in the room sullened. It was quiet for a few heavy seconds.

“He didn’t take that too well,” Joey grumbled. He took out his cellphone and flipped it open, only to remember that Seto’s phone had long since disappeared. He snapped the cell shut with a huff. “Idiot doesn’t even have his phone.” He marched towards the door. “I gotta find him.”

Tristan pursued and grabbed his friend by the shoulder. “Joey wait--”

“What?”

“Listen, I know you’re concerned for the guy, we all are. But if Kaiba wants to march off and brood by himself, you don’t always have to go after him.”

Joey shouldered out of the grip. “You’re seriously saying that about one of our friends?”

“He’s--” Tristan glanced at the rest of the group. “Joey. Mokuba was our friend. Kaiba barely wanted anything to do with us, even at our friendliest. You just won a huge tournament, a tournament you helped put together with our real friend, in honor of him. You should be celebrating right now.”

Joey frowned, and studied the group. “You all feel this way?”

Yugi stepped forward. “No way,” he said quickly. “Tristan, I know our relationship with Kaiba has always been rocky, but the Kaiba brothers - both of the Kaiba brothers - were our friends. They helped us, and we helped them. And right now, Kaiba needs our help.”

Tristan relaxed. “Listen, I’m not trying to sound like a jerk. We all feel for him right now. I’m just saying--” he looked at Joey. “You’ve spent a lot of time with him, but there’s only so much you can do. Sometimes you have to let people handle things the way they’re gonna handle them, and you start hurting yourself the more you try to force the issue.” His voice considerably calmed. “Kaiba’s going to grieve for a long time, probably the rest of his life. There comes a point when there’s just nothing you can do.”

Joey’s fists clenched at his sides, but quickly relaxed as Tristan’s words sank in. “I get what you’re sayin’,” he said calmly. “But…things are different now. Something’s different now--” he stopped short. He wanted to tell them he couldn’t talk about it, but then they would know there was something to talk about. The truth sat right on his tongue. He swallowed it down and stowed his resolve. “I can’t really say anything,” he continued. “Cause it ain’t my business.” He looked at his friends with a stern expression. “But I gotta find him. I gotta find him now. You can help me look, or I can run around this whole place myself.”

The group exchanged a brief series of glances. Yugi was the first to step forward.

“Of course we’ll help,” he affirmed. “Is there anywhere you think he would have gone?”

“We should check the garage first, see if my car’s still there. If it’s not, then he’s gone.”

“Even if it is still there, he could have left the arena.”

Joey rushed towards the door, and the others followed. They split up and fought through the crowds. There were plenty of people staying for the award ceremony, which was supposed to take place 30 minutes after the final duel. Joey wasn’t sure if he was going to make it, but that was the last thing on his mind.

He ran through the hallways, he called for Seto Kaiba without fear of drawing attention.

I understand that my brother died hating me! 

Joey scanned every face, kept an eye out for anything purple, or people taller than him.

No 

He thought.

You stupid idiot 

His breath became heavy.

I didn’t get the chance explain 

Joey was forced to slow down, and he found himself in a more isolated hallway. He supported himself with his hands on his knees and tried to catch his breath. He wiped his wet forehead with his sleeve and stood up straight. There wasn't much around here. It didn't look like somewhere visitors were supposed to wander. Joey briefly wondered if he had accidentally wandered into an employees only area.

As he contemplated, he heard an odd banging. When he rounded the corner, he discovered a metal door that had been left open, and was now rocking back and forth and banging itself against the frame. There was a sign on it.

Roof Access

Authorized Personnel Only 

Joey's heart stopped. He looked around. “Hey! He called. Anybody around here!? You left your door open!”

There came no answer.

Joey tried to keep his breath steady. He bit the inside of his mouth and looked up the stairs flashing behind the door.

He wouldn't.

No, he wouldn't 

He told me--

Joey bolted up the stairs. “Kaiba! Hey, you up here!? Kaiba!”

His voice echoed in the narrow space. The rattling metal stairs were noisy.

“He's not up here,” he grumbled to himself as he ascended. “He's not up here. Some bozo just left the door open.”

Then something appeared on one of the stairs. Joey stopped cold, his heart stilled and face paled.

A bracer sat on one of the steps a few feet up.

Joey felt his heart in his ears. He raced forward and grabbed it off the step. There was suddenly much more energy in his body.

“Kaiba!? Hey! This isn't funny!”

He reached the flapping door to the roof and shoved it open.

Suddenly it was quiet.

Joey breathed hard and looked around. The roof was like a black landscape in a sea of gold. The city was so bright. The wind blew, and a flash of purple caught his eye. He looked down and saw a torn piece of purple fabric caught between the door and the frame. The color was immediately recognizable, Joey grabbed it and felt it between his fingertips.

His throat was so tight it was hard to breathe. He ran out onto the roof and called Seto's name.

“Kaiba! Seto!”

He yelled himself hoarse, and ran along the edge, searching for any sign of the man. His breath heaved, not only from the running.

“Seto!”

That date circled around and around in his head.

October 20th
October 20th
October 20th

It's only August 1st you son of a bitch! 

Joey’s toe caught something, and he went flying forward onto his front. He landed hard, and laid on the ground for a few aching moments.

“Damn it,” he muttered.

With a pained grunt, he tried to sit up. Little stones stuck into the palms of his hand, some drawing blood. His wrists and one of his cheeks was scraped up from the fall, and his whole body hurt. He managed to sit up, and as soon as he did his phone started buzzing in his pocket.

Joey picked up when he saw it was Yugi.

“Hey, Yug--!”

“Are you still running around like an idiot, Wheeler?” 

Joey paused. All of the air left his body, and he deflated with unspeakable relief. “Kaiba?”

“Come down here. You're going to be late for your big award ceremony.”

Joey stood up and jogged back to the door. “Where are you, ya big jerk!? You had me worried sick!”

“Why would you be worried?” 

Joey pulled the door shut behind him and tugged on it to make sure it closed properly. “Well…the way you stormed off. I was afraid--”

“You know the date already.”

Joey's body numbed. He couldn't manage a response.

Seto continued. “I try to stick to my plans.”

“You don't gotta wave it in my face,” Joey grumbled. “That's cruel, even for you.”

Seto didn't immediately respond. When he spoke again his voice was considerably less harsh. “I'm not dangling it in front of your face. I'm trying to reassure you.”

Joey calmed down. He skipped down the steps as fast as he could without wiping out. “Where are you?”

“You're going to be late for--”

“Screw the ceremony! Tell me where you are, Kaiba!”

Seto was quiet. After a while Joey thought he might have hung up.

“Kai--”

“I'm with the kids.”

Seto hung up. Joey pulled the phone away from his head and looked at the screen. He steeled his expression, stuffed the phone in his pocket, and took off running the moment he reached the bottom of the stairs.

Joey barely knew where he was going, but his body took him there. It felt like his mind was tricking him. Kaiba had sounded fine. He hadn't sounded like a man who had hiked all the way up to the roof with who knows what on his mind. That insistence about the date felt like a lie. It didn't matter what Kaiba said; it still felt like Joey would look away and he'd be gone.

Joey stopped at the double doors and suddenly realized how winded he was. He took a moment to catch his breath, and wiped the sweat off his face with his sleeve.

When he felt ready he took a deep breath, and entered the room. All the kids were still there, but the mood has calmed down since earlier. Almost all of them were seated, and some of the caretakers were occupied holding younger kids who had fallen asleep after all the excitement. It was past 8 and past a lot of their bedtimes. The older kids - the 10 to 16 range - were wide awake, and talking about life and the tournament.

Then Joey spotted him. A tall slender figure in black, posture as stiff and straight as ever. He stood with his arms crossed, staring out at the duel field from behind the stadium seats. He was missing his jacket, but as Joey got closer it became clear where it had gone.

Beside Seto there were three chairs side by side, and they were occupied by three little girls, none of them older than five. The trio was fast asleep, and tucked under the long purple jacket which more than sufficed as a blanket.

Joey walked over to them. He didn't think before touching Kaiba gently on the arm to announce he was there. The other glanced down at him, but didn't say anything.

Joey studied the kids. He recognized one of them as Miko, and when he studied the other two, he quickly figured out that he wasn't sure who was Miko.

“She multiply?” Joey asked.

Seto barely glanced at him. “They're triplets,” he provided flatly. “Obviously.”

“You playin babysitter?”

“They wouldn't leave me alone.”

Joey couldn't help but smile at the kids. “They look tucked.”

“Astute observation, Wheeler.”

“Did they ask to use your coat, or did you do that yourself?”

Seto's jaw clenched, his hand tightened around his arm. He steeled his expression. “They looked cold,” he said. “The air conditioning in this building is exceptional."

Joey huffed a small laugh. “Yeah, it's kinda cold in here.”

Outside there were fireworks going off. Yugi was waving from down on the podium, having taken the second place slot. Joey was missing, and the announcer had made some excuse. The crowd seemed no less excited.

The kids looked at the fireworks with awe and excitement. The colors danced through the glass as they were set off all around the edge of the building. It all looked so loud, but that room was quiet. Joey was so mesmerized by the scene that he almost didn't hear when Seto said his name.

“Wheeler.”

Joey glanced at him. “Huh? You say something?”

Seto remained stone faced, but his tone lacked its usual bite.

“I need you to answer a question for me.”

“What?”

“Why do you care so much what happens to me?”

Joey frowned. “I told you--”

“We're friends, I've gathered that much of your reasoning. But I want you to think about it. Why are you bending over backwards, worrying yourself sick, for me? Actually think about it. Don't give me your usual friendship drivel. Actually think about it.”

Joey tried to do that. He tried to think of any other reason he might worry over Kaiba so much, but all he could come up with was their friendship. Sure it was rocky, and perhaps ‘friend’ was a strong word for their relationship, but Joey couldn't imagine losing anyone close to him again.

After a while he shrugged. He watched a firework fly into the air and explode. “I dunno what to tell ya,” he muttered. “Maybe you just don't get it because you’ve never been a big believer in the friendship thing.”

Seto didn't immediately respond. “I don't think you're afraid of losing me.”

Joey looked at him, surprised at the accusation. “Kaiba--”

Seto put up a silencing hand. “I'm not saying that to be a jerk,” he clarified. “I'm saying it because I really mean it.”

Joey calmed, and shut his mouth, inviting the other man to explain.

Seto continued. “I think you're afraid of the pain,” he said. “That feeling of loss. Even if we aren't close, we still know each other, we’ve still been part of each other's lives. So losing me would leave an empty space. I think you're afraid of feeling that again when your other wound is still fresh.”

Joey shook his head, and argued back just as calmly. “I don't think so. I don't think that's all of it. I think it's just hard for you to believe that somebody cares about you.”

“What will you miss about me?”

“What?”

“What will you miss?” Seto repeated. “When I'm gone. What will you miss?”

Joey sputtered at the question. “You. I'll miss you.”

“But what about me?”

“There's nothing specific. Just the whole person.”

Seto was quiet. His voice became hush. “I miss his smile,” he said. “It always made me feel like the world wasn't so terrible.”

Joey’s mouth moved, but his heart was lodged in his throat, and his tongue suddenly numb.

The kids started moving in a group and Joey returned to the world outside of their conversation.

“Okay kids!” One of the caretakers called from the door. “Line up with your big person, and stay with your buddy. We are going to go back down to the buses! Older kids, please help keep track of the little ones, no one's getting left behind today.”

The caretakers and older kids went around and roused those who had fallen asleep. Seto pulled his jacket off the little girls, unceremoniously waking them up with the cold. The one in the middle seemed particularly perturbed. Her face scrunched more than the others and she grumbled unhappily, burying herself into the chair in protest.

“Liko, it's time to go,” Seto said.

“Liko?” Joey questioned.

Seto pointed to them. “Miko, Niko, Liko. Apparently their parents weren't very creative.”

He took Liko by the arms - not harshly - and stood her right up.

“Noooooo,” she whined. She looked about to sink to the floor.

Seto stood her back up. “You can sleep in your bed. Go line up with your sisters.”

Ms. Niki rushed over. “Girls, come on, we’re lining up.”

Liko raised her arms at Seto. “Carry me,” she demanded.

Seto stood. “You're perfectly capable of walking.”

Liko pouted. Her face scrunched and she stomped her feet. “I want you to carry me,” she whined.

“You will get nowhere by whining.”

Ms. Niki came around the chairs. “Come on, Liko. We'll go straight to bed when we get home, but right now you have to walk.”

Liko whined even more, and was on the verge of a complete temper tantrum. Ms. Niki stood over here.

“Liko, we are not doing this. Come on. We're doing the head count.”

Liko was unwilling to move. Niki took one of her hands, and hoisted her onto her hip by one arm. It appeared a practiced move. Even now that she was being held, the temper tantrum had already taken hold.

“I want Seto Kaiba to carry me!” She cried.

“Mr. Kaiba does not have to carry you. He's a guest, not a caretaker.”

Seto did not carry any children, but he did hold Miko and Niko’s hands and walked them to join the group. Joey followed, and they ended up following the entire process. The kids were counted twice, then broken into groups, which came to around 22 kids per adult.

They all stuck together, but breaking the kids into groups helped the adults keep track of them. They took private hallways down to the lower level to avoid the massive crowds. The buses were parked in the back of the building away from the front traffic.

Seto and Joey stuck with them the entire way. Niko and Miko were allowed to hold his hands the entire time, but Seto barely acknowledged them. Joey lagged behind and watched the group move.

The city was still alive at night, even where the buses were parked. Everyone was ushered onto the buses and they counted again. Seto approached with the girls, and tried to release them back to Niki. Niko sleepily let go of his hand and got on the bus without issue. Miko, on the other hand, was clamped to his side.

“Miko,” Seto said. “Release me. It's time to go.”

Miko shook her head.

“You're holding up the buses.”

“But I don't wanna go!” She insisted.

Niki took her hand. “Come on, Miko,” she said. “Time to go.”

Seto straightened out his hand, but she clung to his palm as long as she could.

Niki smiled at him. “You should visit sometime,” she said. “All the kids really loved you. And I know Ms. Nagisa would love to see little Seto again.”

Seto furrowed his brow. “That woman is still alive?”

“Still kicking. Thanks for all your help. We’ll see you around, Seto.” Niko looked down at Miko. “Say bye bye.”

Miko pouted at the sidewalk and didn't say anything. Niki offered Seto an apologetic smile, and walked the child onto the bus.

Joey stood beside him, and they both watched the buses pull away. The kids waved at them from the windows, and Joey waved back.

The two of them remained standing on the sidewalk long after everyone was gone. Seto stared straight ahead, his blank expression betraying nothing. He had put his jacket on one arm while the other side hung from his shoulder and hid his broken hand. The city moved around them, people walked by, cars honked, street lights lit up the depths of night. Yet between the two of them there was a strange sort of peace and quiet that the noise of the city couldn't pierce.

Seto’s voice broke the silence. “I want to get drunk tonight,” he declared with all the enthusiasm of a corpse.

Joey was so taken aback, it was a moment before he could respond. “Well. Don't take much.”

“Very drunk.”

“Probably not a habit you wanna get into, Kaiba.”

Seto turned and walked back towards the building. “I'm not going to become an alcoholic, Wheeler.”

Joey jogged to catch up to him. “You gonna go home and drink by yourself? That's pretty pathetic.”

The jab got no rise. “You're going to celebrate your victory with your friends,” Seto responded smoothly. “So yes.”

Joey moved his jaw around, but didn't speak. He stuffed his hands in his pockets. “Not gonna try and drink yourself to death, are ya?”

“I already told you--”

“The date, I know, I know. But you worry me, ya know.”

“I wouldn't worry you if you stopped caring.”

“I can't just turn my feelings off.”

“Once I'm gone you'll realize you don't miss me.”

Joey clenched his fists in his pockets. “Let's stop talking about this.”

“Is it upsetting you--?”

“Yes,” Joey snapped. “It's upsetting me.

“Fine. I'll stop talking about it,” Seto grumbled.

They went along quietly. Joey wasn't sure where they were headed, he just followed. Yugi had texted him at some point while they were with the kids, and stipulated that they were all going to gather at his house for the celebration. Joey said he'd be along a little later and to go on without him.

“Are your friends still here?” Seto asked.

“I don't think so. Told ‘em I’d find my own way there.”

“I can find my own way back. You can go.”

Joey suddenly noticed the tear in the corner of Seto’s coat, and remembered what he had found.

“Oh yeah--” he pulled the brace and the fabric out of the inside pocket of his jacket. “I almost forgot. I found these.”

Seto accepted the items. He tucked the fabric in his pocket and secured the brace on his wrist, and offered a muttered thanks in return.

“I can drop you back at the mansion before I meet up with the guys.”

“That would require driving out of the city and back into the city. I can procure other means of transportation.”

“It's not that much of a drive.”

“You're just trying to keep an eye on me.”

“Maybe.”

Seto walked off. “This is becoming an obsession.”

Joey pursued. “Hey, you’re not doing a lot to ease my mind.” He kept up with Kaiba’s brisk pace. “What were you doing on the roof anyway?”

“I needed air.”

“You couldn't have walked outside the front door like a normal person?”

“Were you afraid I'd jumped?”

Joey grabbed Seto's wrist and pulled him to a stop. He looked him on the eye. “Yeah. I was.”

Seto glanced at the hand holding him, but didn't immediately pull away. He tore out of Joey's grip on one curt motion. “Why?”

“After we talked, you seemed kinda messed up. You didn't let me explain.”

“You don't need to explain.” Seto tried to walk off, but Joey grabbed him again.

“I think I do,” Joey insisted.

“Save it,” Kaiba spat. “I don't want to hear it,” he tried to release himself, but Joey wouldn’t let go.

“He didn't die hating you--”

Seto's temper suddenly flared. That calm and collected expression broke into an ugly sneer, his eyes blaring. “I said shut up--”

“He was worried about you--”

Seto tried to free his wrist again, but his struggle went unanswered. “Shut up! Let go of me!”

“No!” Joey insisted. “Just listen!”

“Joey! Let go of me!”

“He wanted to do this for y--”

Joey stopped short, his head suddenly whipped to the side; a harsh throbbing pain in one cheek. He blinked at the shock. He released Kaiba’s wrist and slowly brought a hand to his face. When he looked up, he found Kaiba staring at him with wide eyed horror, his jaw clenched and lips in a tight pursed frown.

Joey's hand shot out like a bullet and slapped him in the face even harder than he'd been hit. He turned on a heel and stormed off.

Seto remained frozen where he stood, the shocked expression gone and replaced with indifference. Shaking fingertips rose to his skin, where his cheek was red and sore.

Chapter Text

Joey swirled the sake in his little cup and stared at it with a pout. They all sat around the Muto table, sharing snacks and stories and alcohol. Despite being the one celebrated, Joey was the quietest among them, and it did not go unnoticed. For a while they left it alone; Yugi occupied the conversation with how things were going in the shop, and Tristan was talking about what his family was up to these days. Solomon shared some old stories, and every once in a while they refilled their glasses with a nice bottle of sake.

Tristan shoved Joey's shoulder from across the table. “Alright, man, what's up? You've been moping since you showed up. We're all here to celebrate you, ya know.”

Yugi chimed in. “Are you just tired?” He asked.

“Or did something happen with Kaiba?” Tea asked.

Joey put his glass down but kept staring at it. “Yeah,” he admitted reluctantly. “We got into it again.”

“Have you ever considered just leaving him alone?” Tea asked.

Tristan frowned. “Hey, it's not Joey's fault that he's got a bad attitude.”

Yugi frowned woefully at his friend. “I think we should cut Kaiba a little slack. We all know these last months have been really hard.”

“That’s not a reason to mistreat someone.”

Joey chimed. “Don't be so dramatic, he ain't ‘mistreating’ me. Mentioning Mokuba just sets him off something fierce. And I think this whole thing with the tournament really set him off.” He sat forward and huffed. “If that idiot would just let me explain then we wouldn't be fighting. But the moment Mokuba comes up, he doesn't wanna hear anything.” Joey drank his sake. “Stupid jerk.” He absently rubbed his cheek, remembering the sudden slap to the face he'd received trying to force the issue.

“So are you gonna go back there, or what?” Tristan asked.

“Yeah, I'm heading back there tonight. Better cut myself off before I can't drive myself home.”

Solomon poured them all one more glass. “I hope that young man finds peace amidst his loss. Perhaps it would have been wise to explain the purpose of the tournament well before hand.”

“That was the problem, gramps, we couldn't,” Joey said. “You can't even say his name without Kaiba flying off the handle. He doesn't even say his name, doesn't even wear the pendant anymore. Trying to tell him Mokuba planned a big tournament for his brother’s favorite game as one last post mortem hurrah and goodbye is a lot to get outta your mouth when someone’s yellin’ at you to shut it.” Joey raised his glass. “Tonight we played for Mokuba, and we drink for Mokuba. This win was for him.”

Everyone raised their glasses.

“To Mokuba,” they agreed.

The mood lightened from there. Joey joined the conversation more enthusiastically, and they all shared stories of Mokuba as the boy had grown into a young man. There was a certain melancholy to their words, but they laughed and smiled and spoke with longing and fondness.

The conversation died down and they nursed what remained in their glasses. Joey tapped his cup on the table and sighed.

“Well, it's getting late. I should probably head out.” He stood up and gathered his coat off the back of the chair.

“You're alright to drive?” Solomon asked.

Joey hummed. He reflected inwards. “Well, none’a yous can drive me, can ya?”

Yugi raised his hand. “I feel fine,” he said. “If you want, I can drive you, Joey.”

“You sure, Yug?”

Yugi nodded as he stood up. “I've just been drinking the same glass. You know I'm not much of a drinker.”

Joey nodded. “Yeah, guess so.” He tossed Yugi his keys. “Looks like you're driving.”

Yugi caught the keys with ease and they headed out. Solomon offered to let Tea and Tristan stay overnight, but the two declined, saying they would walk home together. The group of friends walked out together, and headed in opposite directions.

As they walked to the car it started to lightly drizzle. Yugi had to adjust the seat so he could drive comfortably, and they started the quiet ride up the hill to Kaiba Mansion. Joey didn't realize how buzzed he really was until he was in silence. The radio was off, and there was only the hum of tires between them.

They passed out of the city and into the woods. The headlights pierced a pitch black sea. Other cars were scarce, and street lamps even more so. Joey stared at the sky through the window and was consumed by the stars. He relaxed back into the seat, and felt soothed by the gentle rumbled of the car.

“Ey, Yug?” He grumbled.

“Hm? You say something, Joey?”

“Yeah.” Joey readjusted and sat up. “Do you think I should leave Kaiba alone?” He relaxed and slumped back again. “I sorta think maybe Tristan is right. Maybe there ain’t nothin’ I can do for him.”

Yugi was quiet for a long time.

“Joey,” he said after a while. “There’s a reason I asked you, out of all our friends, to go see him.”

“Hm? Why’s that?”

Yugi smiled. “Because you’re stubborn. And you and Kaiba know each other. All the jabs and insults - the way you two annoy each other - I thought that kind of blunt stubbornness was the kind of person Seto needed to wake him up a little bit.” His smile softened. “He needs someone who’s too stubborn to let him fall. I thought you could be that person.” He glanced at his friend. “But Joey, if being around him is making you feel worse, then it might be time for you to take care of yourself. Tristan may be right, Seto will grieve for the rest of his life. You have to decide what you do with that.”

Joey gazed out the window in front of them. “Rest of his life, huh?” He grumbled.

“Hm?”

“Nothin.” Joey readjusted in his seat. “I’ll think about it.”

The car was quiet again. Joey closed his eyes, but hadn’t realized how close he was to falling asleep until he was jolted awake by Yugi’s voice.

“Huh?” Joey scrubbed his face. “What did ya say?”

“I asked if you two have been fighting a lot.”

Joey crossed his arms and yawned. “Aw, sorta. You know. Just our usual back and forth. I’m pretty sure Kaiba and I can’t have a conversation without throwing a few insults around.”

Yugi chuckled. “I guess some things will never change.”

“I actually think it’s good, ya know,” Joey slurred, somewhere between asleep and drunk. “Makes him think. He had some pretty funny ones recently.” He inadvertently settled back into the seat and closed his eyes. His voice grumbled and trailed off as he quoted a few of Kaiba’s most recent jabs.

Yugi smiled. The rest of the drive was quiet.

Joey yawned as he shuffled through the door. He almost missed the hook as he hung up his coat, and pushed the door shut behind him. He kicked off his shoes and wandered further into the house. By force of habit, he blindly found his way to the living room where he used to take up residence before moving into one of the bedrooms.

He spotted the light and heard the sound before he entered the room. He stopped short in the threshold and squinted at the couch like he wasn’t sure if the scene was real.

Kaiba was laying on the couch, the TV was on. He was asleep, and there was an empty bottle of sake on the table, knocked on its side. He was laid awkwardly on his side, almost rolled onto his front. One arm was slung off the couch, and still gripped a small glass between his fingertips.

Joey shuffled into the room and grabbed the remote. He turned the TV off and looked down at the man sleeping on the couch. For some reason he felt the invisible urge to reach out to him. Maybe wake him up, drag him to bed. But Joey was so tired himself, and still a bit buzzed. Seeing Kaiba knocked out drunk on the couch wasn’t as weird as it should have been.

Then again, at this point, Joey had seen Seto in more vulnerable positions than this.

Without thinking, and too tired to go someplace else, he moved Kaiba’s legs aside and plopped himself down on the end of the couch. A heel kicked him in the side of the thigh, and there was a disgruntled grumble from the opposite side of the couch. Kaiba rolled onto his back and straightened his legs out so that they occupied Joey’s lap.

Joey was already almost asleep, so he barely noticed the change. His hands rested over Kaiba’s ankles and he leaned his head all the way back.

The alcohol and the fatigue took hold. Joey drifted off to sleep.

Mokuba had the plans laid out over his lap. He breathed heavily through his mouth, and his eyes struggled to remain open. He cleared his throat and coughed out a chunk of phlegm, but this did not phase him.

“You good?” Joey asked. His voice was muffled by the double layer of masks he had over his mouth.

Mokuba nodded. “Mhm.” He scrubbed his palm into the edge of his forehead and tried to sit up a little more. There was a mountain of pillows behind him, and machines on all sides of the bed. The medicine mask, a heart monitor, his IV, his oxygen. Joey sat in a chair beside the bed, and some of his cards were laid out. Mokuba had all the paperwork in his lap. He traced something on the Arena map with his fingertip.

“The kids--” he was interrupted by a coughing fit. He grabbed the small metal trash from next to his pillow and hacked up phlegm and blood before he could speak again. “There’s a section here,” he said, casually setting the trash aside. “It’s for big parties. This one is the nicest, it can host - cough - 500 people. I wrote down the numbers--” he paused for a moment to breathe. “For the caterer. The tickets will automatically be sent to the orphanage in June. I have the people at KaibaCorp involved, so they can help out - cough - once I’m gone.”

Joey took a look at everything Mokuba had written out. He nodded. “Got it. Understood.”

Mokuba’s breathing was heavy. He swallowed, and rested back against the pillows for a moment before speaking. “We have to figure out…how many rounds it’s gonna be.”

“Well, since it’s a single day tournament, it can’t be too long.”

They heard the door click. With a sudden burst of energy, Mokuba shoved all of the plans off his lap and into Joey’s chest. In one swift and practiced motion, Joey stuffed the papers into the bag sitting beside his chair. Seto entered the room. Thin streaks of water ran down the side of his face from the damp tips of his hair. He was dressed in plain black clothes, but wore no mask.

He absently adjusted the pillows behind Mokuba. “Are you comfortable?”

Mokuba nodded. “Mhm.”

“You’re not feeling too tired?”

Mokuba shrugged. His voice was small. “I’m always tired.”

Seto lowered himself into the chair beside the bed. “Do you want Joey to stay a bit longer?”

Mokuba nodded. “Mhm.”

“Okay. He’ll stay as long as you want him to.”

“He probably shouldn’t stay too much longer,” Mokuba said. “I don’t want him to get sick. You should be wearing a mask, too, Seto.”

“I’m fine. We’re all vaccinated.”

“But that’s no guarantee. I’d still feel better if you’d just wear a mask around me.”

Seto didn’t immediately respond. After a moment he reached into the bedside drawer, pulled out a medical mask, and put it on. “There,” he said quietly. He gently took one of Mokuba’s hands and held it in both of his own.

Mokuba’s thin fingers gently flexed around his older brother’s larger hand. “Thanks,” he muttered.

He pressed back into the pillows and closed his eyes. His breathing was so heavy, it was hard to tell if he had fallen asleep or was just resting.

Joey stood up and gathered his bag. “I should probably go,” he said quietly. “We’ve been hanging out for a while. He’s probably tired.” He swallowed the lump in his throat and fought the pressure behind his eyes.

Mokuba was so pale. He was thin, and his skin looked like there was no blood in his veins. But his clothes and sheets were clean, his hair was tied back into a neat braid, and the flecks that would fall in his face had been carefully pinned up. Joey reached out and briefly squeezed his friend's hand.

“I’ll be back, pal,” he muttered. “You sleep good.”

He shuffled out of the room without goodbye, and found his own way to the exit.

The moment the car door shut, the world was too quiet. That deep ache Joey had been swallowing all day suddenly lodged itself in his throat. He released a harsh breath and bowed his head to the steering wheel. Suddenly that ache raged. It gripped his throat and his brow. He slapped the steering wheel with his palms, and kicked at the floor.

“Damn it!” he swore. “God damn it!” He collapsed into a hiccuped sob, and kept a firm grip on the steering wheel as he pressed his forehead into it. A keen escaped his throat that collapsed into hitched cries.

His breath shook and shuddered, and he remained statued there for some amount of time; he didn't know how long. When the tears dried and his throat closed, eventually he lifted his head. He wiped his face and took a deep breath, and put his hand on the stick. But the car didn’t go anywhere. He hadn’t even put the keys in the ignition. His hands were numb.

Joey took another deep breath.

The car clicked to life. He put it in drive and left the Kaiba mansion.

Joey’s nose twitched. He wiggled it around his face as he came to. His eyes split open to a dim room, and for a moment he didn’t know where he was. He was laying on the couch, but not halfway like he expected. No, he was laying comfortably on his back, his lap covered by a thin blanket. There was a bit of soreness in his neck, but nothing he couldn’t manage.

Joey sat up, and immediately recognised the smell of food. It was heavenly, and pulled him right to his feet. He followed the scent to the kitchen, and there he found Seto sitting at the table like he usually did. Except this morning, his posture was deceptively casual. Indeed, instead of the upright, uptight posture and crossed arms, he sat with his head on his fist and his elbow on the table; absently flipping through a magazine that he could not look anymore disinterested in.

He flicked the pages one by one, and didn’t appear to be reading anything. After a few seconds, he glanced up, and met Joey’s eye.

They stared at each other for for half a moment before Seto went back to his magazine. He lifted a loose finger and pointed vaguely in the direction of the stove.

“There’s food in the oven,” he said. “You slept longer than I thought you would.”

Joey blinked out of his inadvertent trance, and looked at the oven. He shuffled forth and bent over to try and see through the glass. “You made something?” He asked. “I didn’t know you could cook real food.”

“Of course I can cook,” Seto responded, irritation gnawing at the edge of his indifference. “It’s not hard.”

“What did you make?”

“Doria.”

Joey quickly returned his attention to the oven. “Oh, seriously?” He grabbed a pair of oven mitts off the counter and whipped open the door. He found an oval shaped pan that was probably about nine inches across. He removed it from the oven and kicked the door shut as he placed the dish on the stovetop.

“It’s probably dry now,” Seto grumbled, still looking at his magazine.

Joey slipped off the mitts and grabbed a bowl. “I don’t even know what time it is.” He grabbed a smaller bowl. “You eat yet?”

“You know I didn’t.”

Kaiba’s casual tone somehow made him sound even more disinterested than usual. Joey served himself a heaping scoop, and gave Kaiba the equivalent of two or three bites. He delivered the food to the table and plopped down at the kitchen table. Seto glanced up from an article that he actually appeared to be reading.

“You didn’t even brush your teeth, did you?” He asked, somewhere on the edge of accusing.

Joey shrugged. “I just got up.”

Seto scoffed. “Stupid mutt,” he grumbled to himself.

Joey didn’t get the chance to rebut before Seto continued.

“It removes harmful bacteria that builds up overnight, and prompts saliva production that will protect tooth enamel when you eat.”

Joey paused, and furrowed his brow. “You a freakin’ dentist now?”

“Unlike some people, I try to educate myself.”

“About dental health?”

“One should know what’s best for one’s body.”

“That’s real ironic coming from you right now.”

Seto was quiet after that. Joey took a big spiteful bite of the food in front of him. He immediately melted at the taste. Doria was not a very complicated dish, but boy was it good. It always hit the spot. Joey couldn’t remember the last time someone had made it for him, or if anyone had ever made it for him. It wasn’t something he picked when he ate out, and he’d never made it for himself. The last time he’d eaten it was at the Muto house a couple of years ago when he happened to be over for dinner.

Seto abandoned his magazine for one moment to take a bite of his food, then went right back to it. Joey nodded across the table.

“Whatcha readin?”

Seto flipped to the front cover as if he didn't even know. “Motor Monthly.”

“I didn't know you like cars.”

“It was just sitting here.”

Joey studied the other man. Seto looked considerably relaxed for someone who had been particularly wound up the night before. Joey figured the alcohol had done its work, and as the thought crossed his mind, he came to a sudden realization.

“Are you still drunk?” He asked.

Seto scoffed. “No,” he said, with all the indignity of someone who was definitely drunk.

Joey snorted a laugh. “Holy crap, you are.” He stifled another laugh. “The great Seto Kaiba drunk at breakfast. Guess it was only--” he counted on his fingers. “Dunno, ten hours ago? That you drank a whole bottle of Sake by yourself? I'm surprised you didn't puke.”

Seto groaned and laid his head down on the magazine. “Do you ever stop talking?”

Joey winked at him. “Only when I sleep.”

Seto sat up, but propped his head on his fist. He stared blank-faced at the man across from him. His eyes lingered for a long, extended period of time, until they started to feel heavy.

Joey frowned. “What?”

“How's your face?”

“Huh? Oh--” Joey touched his cheek. “Ya didn't hit me that hard.”

“If I didn't hit you that hard then why did you hit me harder?”

“I didn't hit ya that hard, come on.”

Seto lifted his head, and turned to the side. He used his finger to trace the ghost of a bruise on the edge of his jaw. It spread up to his cheek bone, and was pale, but visible.

Joey flinched at the reveal. “Alright, maybe I did hit ya that hard,” he grumbled. “Sorry.” He frowned. “I wouldn’t have hit ya at all if you didn't freak out and slap me.”

“I wouldn't have slapped you if you had just let go of me.”

Joey paused. “Is that why you slapped me? I thought it was because--”

“No. I needed you to let go.”

“Oh.”

Seto sat all the way up. He spoke with care, any slur from his words gone and his voice calm and steady.

“I do not like. Being grabbed.” He stood up and took their dishes with him. He dumped what he hadn't eaten back into the pan and washed Joey's dish. He covered the remaining Doria and put it in the fridge.

Joey nodded. “Right,” he grumbled. “I don't like bein’ grabbed either,” he muttered, even softer.

Seto sat back down at the table. He crossed his arms and scrutinized Joey from across the table again.

“I lied, by the way.”

Joey's ears perked. “Bout what?”

“The roof.”

Joey swallowed his heart back to his chest. “About…why you went up there?”

Seto silently nodded.

Joey took a steadying breath. “Well. Glad ya didn't.”

“Like I said, I like to stick to my plans.”

Joey sat forward. “Kaiba,” he started carefully. “I know ya don't wanna hear it. And I'm not gonna get into it with you again. But he planned that tournament for you. Like, as a goodbye. Something to do at the end of his life, like a send off.” He briefly paused, and watched Seto's stony face remain unchanged. “He didn't keep it from you because he hated you. He just wanted it to be a surprise.” Joey brushed the hair out of his face. “But…we probably should have told you. Or said something before. And I'm sorry about that.”

Seto was quiet. He stared at the center of the table, and had taken up his usual cold and upright position. His arms and legs were crossed, his eyes set and expression unreadable.

After a moment, he spoke.

“It doesn't matter,” he grumbled. “You couldn't understand.” He slowly rose to his feet. “Maybe there is a merciful God out there, and maybe he'll let me see my brother one last time before sending me to hell. Just so I can tell him I'm sorry.” He drifted away from the table. His voice softened into a mutter. “My head hurts. I'm going to bed.”

Joey didn't watch him walk away. He stared at the edge of the table and took a deep breath.

The mansion felt quieter than usual.

Chapter Text

Seto pointed to the words on the page and Mokuba carefully read them aloud. They were squished together on a chair in Mokuba's room, their feet dangling from the edge. Each held one side of the book between their laps, and whenever Mokuba struggled with a word, Seto helped him sound it out.

The night had long since fallen, and Seto swallowed every yawn. The tutoring given to his brother was minimal compared to Seto's own. As they neared the end of the chapter, Mokuba’s reading slowed to a stop.

Seto glanced down at him. “What's wrong? You tired?” He found his brother silently fixated on something. “Mo--”

Mokuba suddenly reached out, and gently touched the back of his brother's red-streaked hand. Seto flinched away.

“It's-- they're fine, Mokuba.”

“Do they hurt?”

“No.” Seto held the book more firmly. “Let's just finish this chapter then get you to bed.”

Mokuba quietly watched his brother, but eventually did as he was told. When they were done, he leaped off the bed and ran to the bathroom. He returned a moment later with salve and some bandaging.

Seto quickly denied him. “I told you it's fine,” he insisted. “It doesn't even hurt anymore.”

Mokuba frowned. “I know that you're lying.” He held out stuff again, a firm expression on his little face.

Seto hesitated. “Will it make you feel better?”

Mokuba nodded. “Mhm.”

Seto sighed. “Alright, fine,”

Mokuba rushed them into the bathroom and made his brother sit down on the toilet so he could be taken care of.

“I can do it my self, Mokuba,” Seto halfheartedly insisted.

Mokuba had a bend of determination in his brow that was not to be deterred. “Nope,” he said simply. “You just sit there, big brother.”

For a seven year old, Mokuba had excellent dexterity. He took his brother's larger hand in a gentle grip and used a cotton swab to coat the broken skin in salve. Skin that should be smooth and youthful was streaked and bruised. Seto felt sick watching his little brother deal with the wounds like a studious caretaker.

“Who was your tutor today?” Mokuba asked.

“Butler”

Mokuba humphed. “Figures.”

He finished one and started on the other. When they were done, Seto looked at his wrapped hands, and made a mental note to remove the bandages in the morning.

He approached his brother at the counter and grabbed a scrunchie from the drawer. Mokuba tried to run off, but Seto grabbed him by the sleeve and dragged him right back.

“You want your hair to be a big mat in the morning?” Seto asked.

Mokuba pouted. “No,” he answered reluctantly.

“Then stay still.”

Seto gathered his brothers thick hair into a bun on the top of his head. Mokuba frowned at himself in the mirror.

“I look dumb,” he complained.

“You're gonna be asleep, it's not like you're going out like this. Go put on your pajamas.”

Mokuba rushed off to do as he was told. Seto spotted himself in the mirror, and his gaze lingered there. He pretended that his brother didn't notice the fatigue in his face.

By the time he left the bathroom, Mokuba was already dressed, and was digging for something in his bedside drawer. Seto wandered over and turned out the light by the door, leaving the room lit by the moon outside the window. As he approached the bed, Mokuba leaped atop the covers and held out what he had found in the drawer.

“Here, Seto, I got this for you at school today.”

Seto looked, and flinched when he found he was being offered a candy bar. He quickly swiped it out of his brother's hand. “Where did you get that? You know you're not supposed to have that stuff.”

“It's for you,” Mokuba insisted. “Father sent you to bed without dinner again--”

“Nevermind that,” Seto quickly hid the candy bar back in the drawer. He pulled the blankets aside and ushered his brother under them. “Come on, it's time for bed. I don't want Butler to catch me in the halls again.”

Mokuba settled under the covers and his brother tucked him in.

“I just wanted to help,” he grumbled.

Seto paused. He adjusted the blanket up to his brother's chin. “You don't have to do anything, Mokuba. It's okay.” He adjusted the blanket again. “The last thing I want is for you to get into any trouble.” He looked at his brother, and found he was still pouting. Seto softened his tone. “I’m not trying to be mean,” he said. “But it's my job to take care of you, right?”

Mokuba quietly nodded.

“So try not to worry over me, okay?”

Mokuba nodded again.

Seto adjusted the blanket one last time, and wished his brother goodnight.

As he left the room, he glanced over his shoulder, and felt a stark but tiny pain in his chest. He left the room and quietly closed the door behind him.

Seto stared at the back of his hand. Most of the time he didn't notice the scars. They were pale now; faded. No one could see them unless they were looking for them, and he often forgot they existed himself.

He lowered his hand to his lap and stared at the ceiling. He couldn't remember the last time he had thought about his childhood, let alone dreamed about it. Though that childhood still ached in every fibre of his being, and it stuck to him like grease; he tried not to think about it.

There was light coming through the narrow slat in the curtains. For a moment Seto almost considered getting up. Instead he closed his eyes and tried to fall back asleep.

He was thwarted when there came a knock at his door. Joey let himself in.

“You awake, sleeping beauty?”

“No.”

He crossed the room and started digging through the drawers. “Come on, I'm taking you out.”

Seto scoffed. “I'm not a dog, Wheeler. That would be you.”

“Haha. Still not funny.”

“I'm still not trying to be.”

It had been a week since the tournament, and Joey had gone a surprisingly long amount of time without bothering Seto. He’d allowed the other man to lay in bed all day sustaining himself on water and willpower - and likely some amount of food though Joey hadn't seen him eat. But apparently today was the end of that.

Seto sat up as clothes were being laid out on the end of the bed. “I'm not a child, Wheeler. I don't need you to lay out clothing for me.”

“Just trying to speed up the process. You're real sluggish these days.”

Seto frowned. He climbed from the bed and shuffled to the bathroom. Joey was no longer phased by his nakedness, and Seto very simply didn't care.

Joey busied himself trying to find something in that room that wasn't a black shirt or black pants, and did manage to locate - in the very bottom drawers of the dresser, buried under everything else - a long since forgotten button up shirt and matching green pants. He held them up and gave them a sniff. It smelled like these clothes had been in a drawer for ten years, but musty wasn't the worst they could smell.

He gathered the pair and tossed them on the bed instead, forgoing the black on black he had already gotten out of the drawer. Seto emerged from the bathroom and completely ignored the other man’s efforts, and started dressing in his usual garb.

“Ey, I got somethin for ya right here,” Joey said.

“I told you I don't need my clothes laid out for me. And I thought I had banned you from this room.”

“Can't keep a good man out.”

“Or a bad dog,” Seto grumbled before pulling the shirt over his head.

“You are so boring.” Joey skipped towards the door. “Fine. I'll be waitin for ya downstairs.”

Seto humphed and readjusted the collar over his neck. His fingertips lingered at the base of his neck, and he eyed the clothes laid out on the bed.

Joey packed the containers neatly into the cooler bag and checked his jacket pocket for his keys. He zipped up the bag, threw it over his shoulder, and walked out of the kitchen. As he made his way to the front door, he spotted Seto coming down the stairs, and immediately stopped in his tracks.

Joey couldn’t help his smile. “Well well well well well,” he whistled. “Lookin’ snazzy there, Kaiba. No green pants?”

Seto adjusted the collar of his shirt. “Don’t push your luck.”

Joey chuckled. Seto had replaced his black turtleneck with a green button up, which he tucked into his usual black pants. The first couple buttons were undone, and it was a stark difference from the formal full coverage of the high neck, long sleeved shirts he’d been wearing. He drifted to the front door and waited.

“Well? I thought you were taking me out.”

Joey skipped into step. “Sure am!” He threw open the door and marched out. He leaped down the steps and yoinked the keys out of his pocket as he went around the car. “Come on, rich boy.”

Seto followed behind with far less enthusiasm. He climbed into the passenger seat as Joey shoved all the crap he had into the backseat. He glanced at the cooler bag and knapsack with practiced disinterest.

“What is all that?”

Joey hooked in his seatbelt, and reached across the aisle to pull the seatbelt over Seto. “You’ll see.”

Seto confiscated the belt and hooked himself in. He swatted the other man away and settled into his seat.

Joey whipped them out of the driveway, and drove in the opposite direction from Domino City.

Seto wasn't aware he was being dragged on a trip. Had he been informed that this ‘taking him out’ would consist of an hour long car ride, he simply wouldn't have conceded. Joey stopped at a cafe, got them two beverages that were way too sweet, and then they were off again. But instead of a highway or main road, they were on back roads and wooded areas.

“If you're driving me out to the country to murder me, you could have saved the effort and just done it at home,” Seto said.

“You wish. You and I are goin on a little getaway.”

Seto frowned. “I thought you were taking me out. I didn't know I was being kidnapped.”

“If I told you we were gonna leave for more than just a couple hours you wouldn't have come.”

“Lying and manipulation. I didn't think you had it in you, Wheeler.”

Seto expected some kind of retort. When he didn't get one, he looked at Joey and found a surprisingly serious expression.

“I think you and I need a couple days away, is all,” Joey said after a while.

Seto humphed and crossed his arms. “You're right, I wouldn't have come. I'm not even prepared to be away for a couple of days.”

“Don't worry, I packed you a bag.”

Seto did not ask when Joey had done this. “Pervert,” he grumbled, just loud enough for Joey to hear.

“I even brought your robe, in case you wanna wallow around the cabin like the diva you are.”

“I hope you don't expect me to stay in some back woods cabin, Wheeler.”

“Cool your jets, princess, I got us some fancy-schmancy digs in a nice spot in the woods, not too far from civilization.”

Seto didn't respond. He crossed his arms and stared out the window. He couldn't remember the last time he had left the city, or willingly gone out into the country. It had probably been years. He didn't go on vacation, he didn't camp, there was very little leisure in his life.

As they drove further and further out, Seto let his mind wander. He started to think about his memories from the night before. Most of his dreams were memories, but most of those memories were of the hallucinations he'd suffered at the hands of the Pharaoh. The experience of death had followed him for years, and what most might have considered nightmares, he had come to think of as any old dream.

But his mind had wandered recently; to an experience of death far different from terrifying monsters or being torn limb from limb.

Seto half heartedly hoped that maybe this excursion would bring back the monsters. Then perhaps he could sleep peacefully.

Not that he would admit aloud that Joey may be right about needing time away from the mansion. Lack of sleep was a suffering Seto was not unfamiliar with, but had never grown used to. Even starvation settled under his skin and became familiar. Fatigue pulled at his insides like a demon trying to drain the blood from his body.

A drop of something cold dripped onto Seto's leg, and he was taken out of his thoughts. He turned forward to find Joey holding out the long forgotten drink.

“Drink this before it's all melted,” he demanded.

Seto humphed and took the condensation covered cup. “You have to know by now that I don't have a sweet tooth.”

“Yes I do, which is why yours is half sugar and no whipped cream.”

Seto took a sip and found the blended - now melted - beverage was not as unbearable sweet as he figured it would be. He kept the straw in his mouth and drank until the cup was empty, or else risk being bothered again. He put the cup back in the cupholder and continued staring out the window.

“We're gonna pass through a town,” Joey said. “I brought food for the three days we're gonna be here, but it ain't far from where we're gonna be if you wanna grab something.”

Seto didn't respond.

Joey continued. “We're gonna drop our stuff at the cabin then head to the first thing on our roster.”

Seto didn't immediately respond, and Joey figured he was being ignored again. Until--

“Which is?”

Joey smiled. “It's a surprise.”

Seto humphed and didn't respond.

The car was quiet again.

Calling the place they were staying a ‘cabin’ was a gross understatement. Even the most luxurious cabins were deceptively simple. This was a penthouse with wood siding. There was a deck all the way around and a sizable half dome situated on the side. It was made of hexagon shaped panels, with a large window that looked out into the woods.

The place was comfortably secluded but completely modern; and half of it was made up of windows. It was practically a fish bowl.

Joey hauled a bag out of the trunk and came to stand beside Seto. They both looked up at the place; one with enthusiasm, the other indifference.

“Told ya it was nice,” Joey said.

“From the outside,” Seto countered.

Joey held one of the bags out to Seto. “This one's yours.”

Seto just looked at it. He walked away. “You can carry that. You're the one who dragged me all the way out here.”

Joey frowned. “Geez, you really are a princess.”

He hauled the three bags into the house with no problem, but dropped Seto’s stuff right inside the door. The place was as fancy as advertised. It was spacious, with most of the lower level taken up by an open floor kitchen, dining area and small living room. The upper level was host to a sizable bathroom, and the bedroom was located in the dome structure out on the deck, which connected directly to the main house. There was also a sauna on the deck, and warm baths.

Seto stood in the middle of the room and looked around. It was nice but all of the amenities felt wholly unnecessary. He approached the dining table and ran his finger across it, and found not a speck of dust.

Joey unpacked the food into the fridge and tossed his bag in the bedroom. Seto watched him do this.

“You got a place with only one bedroom?”

Joey shrugged. “It's got two beds.”

“You're not beating the perv allegations."

Joey ignored the accusation and sauntered to the door. “Yeah, yeah. Now come on, we got a whole day ahead of us.” He grabbed a smaller cooler bag that had been stuffed into the first, and skipped outside to the car.

Seto was slow to follow. The door locked automatically behind him and could only be opened with a code. He climbed into the car, but it didn't start moving.

He waited, and eventually realized that he was being stared at.

“What?”

“Seatbelt?”

“Really?”

“Car ain't moving less you put it on.”

“That implies I want the car to move.”

Joey huffed, reached across, and hooked Seto’s seatbelt himself. “There. Want me to wipe your ass for ya too?”

Seto didn’t respond.

Joey put the car in drive and they took off.

Joey seemed unusually excited as they pulled into a gravel parking lot in the middle of the woods. He was beaming, and practically buzzing in his seat. Whatever this was, Seto didn't think it could possibly be worth this reaction.

Joey turned off the car and hoped out, taking the cooler bag with him. Seto was slow to follow. They immediately came to a path and followed it through the trees. There was evidence of other people - the cars in the lot and the distant sound of voices - but no one else was in sight. There had been a sign, which probably said what this place was, but Seto hadn't read it.

They rounded a small hillside and began their descent into the park. It became obvious from there where Joey had taken them. The small valley was dotted with metal structures, small bodies of water and bridges, and trailed with paths that wound around and about the sculptures and woods.

Seto looked around. There weren't many people there, but there were some. The first attraction was a bridge leading to a circular dias sticking out of the water, which crossed to the other side and led to a nature path. On a different dias, right next to the first, there was a triangular shaped structure made up of four equal parts.

“You dragged me all the way out here for a sculpture park?”

“Yup!” Joey pulled something out of his pocket and tossed it over.

Seto caught it against his chest. He suddenly found himself with a disposable camera.

Joey ambushed him, taking a photo with his own disposable camera. He twisted the shutter until it clicked.

“A hundred photos each.” He turned on a heel and marched off. “Try and get my good side.”

Seto humphed and hung the little camera from his wrist. It was sunny, with very little shade around the sculptures. All in all the park wasn't very big, but Joey seemed determined to trek every inch of it. After investigating the sculpture in the pond, they crossed to the other side and went into a grove of trees that were all straight as stalks and evenly spaced. Their bark was pale, and almost blue in color. Joey walked through in a rush, but Seto was far slower.

He observed the uniformity of the wood and absently wondered if this had been done on purpose or if the trees had grown this way. It appeared too perfect to be natural, but nature has a strange relationship with perfection. The idea of mathematics - a science that strived for perfection - found its origins in nature. Perfect circles, perfect lines, perfect spacing; all of it could be found in the natural world.

Seto couldn't remember the last time he'd walked through the woods.

He kept on, and when he looked ahead he found Joey had stopped and was looking at something on a tree.

Seto raised his camera and took a picture. He was sure that if he didn't take any then he would be bothered about it later. Joey squatted down and carefully raised his camera to whatever it was he'd been looking at. The moment his finger hit the button, it flew away.

Joey stood up straight. “Dang it.”

They met up on the path and kept going. As they mosied on from sculpture to path to sculpture, Seto remained fairly absent minded. There was nothing to do but stare at art and trees, and it prompted little reaction. Interacting with the sculptures was allowed and encouraged, and Joey took full advantage of this. He climbed up the steps of a metal structure and stood at the top looking down with a big dumb smile on his face.

“Ey, Kaiba, take a picture of me.”

“You're backlit, it won't make for a good picture,” Seto argued from down below.

Joey took his own picture of Seto. “You're no fun at all.”

He raised his head and relaxed, leaning on the edge to take in the view. It wasn't very tall, probably around 12 feet or a bit more, but it provided a view of the whole valley.

Seto raised his camera and snapped a picture, and lowered it by the time Joey looked at him again.

“Come up here.”

Seto walked around to the other side and climbed up the stairs. The top of the structure wasn't very spacious, and could probably fit three people if they were incredibly comfortable with each other.

Joey turned around and ambushed Kaiba with another photo. The shutter release clicked as it turned. “I'm gonna get ya to smile in one's these.”

“No you won't.” Seto took a brief look around at the valley then went back down.

Joey skipped down the steps and they stayed together as they wandered around the rest of the park. There was a circular stone ramp built into the ground and surrounded by tall, thin trees that people could walk down into. At the bottom Joey took a picture of the sky with the leaves of the trees in it. Seto looked around and found it one of the more boring installations, despite the interactive nature.

He went back before Joey, but stopped halfway up and looked at the thin leaves of the trees growing all along the edges. They bounced gently in the breeze. Hidden among them, there was a tiny spider web, and a tiny spider.

Seto humphed. “Stupid place to build a web.” He raised the camera and carefully peered through the viewer. He waited until his hands steadied and snapped the photo.

When he tried to stand up straight, an overly familiar arm hooked around his neck and suddenly Joey was pressed to his side.

“Whatcha takin a picture of?” He whispered.

Seto shrugged him off. “Nothing.”

He stalked off, but was quickly followed. One of the last installations in the park was another stone swirl in the ground, but the one didn't go down. It had a tail that wiggled across the field and led to a perfectly trimmed tree. Joey followed the path from the center of the swirl out to the tree.

Seto stood in the main walkway and observed. He snapped a photo of Joey when his back was turned. When Joey reached the tree he turned around and took a picture of Seto from all the way over there. He would probably waste all of his film taking bad pictures.

They met back up on the path and continued onwards to the end of the park. There was one more path left that led them up a hill and towards a wooded area. Instead of following the path, however, Joey broke off and sat down on the crest of the hill overlooking a small section of the park. He put the cooler bag beside him and waved Kaiba over.

“Come on, we're takin a break.”

Seto walked over, but didn't sit down.

Joey tugged on his pants leg. “Come on, sit down,” he encouraged. “I don't need you looming over me.”

“I'm not sitting on the ground, Wheeler.”

“Oh, I'm sorry your highness. You don't wanna get dirt on your royal ass?”

“Yes.”

Joey chuckled. “I figured you were gonna be a brat about this. Good thing I came prepared.” He dug into the cooler bag and pulled out a small towel which he laid on the ground next to him.

Seto reluctantly sat down. Joey pulled a sandwich and a pair of water bottles out of the bag. He tossed another container to Seto.

“Bon appetit.”

Seto dropped the container back into the bag. “I'm not hungry.”

Joey took it right back out. “You know the drill.”

Seto humphed. He popped open the container and found a few strawberries. Joey watched, and waited, and only ate his sandwich once the other had eaten a strawberry.

“I don't actually like strawberries that much,” Seto said.

“Maybe you don't like them because you eat them like a freak.”

Seto ate another. Joey reached across and grabbed one for himself.

“I'm gonna teach ya how to do this so watch carefully. See?” He held the green part in his fingers. “You hold this part. And just eat the red.” He demonstrated very deliberately. “Ta da.”

Seto held the berry by the green part and ate only the red.

Joey lit up. “See? Not so hard.”

Seto popped the green part in his mouth and ate it by itself.

Joey gaped at him. “You ass!”

Seto stifled his smile, but not all the way. He didn't register the click of the camera until Joey was turning the shutter. Now Joey was smiling.

“Evil smirk still counts as a smile,” he claimed. “Technically.”

Seto didn't respond. He ate one last strawberry then put them away. Joey finished his sandwich, and when they were done they just sat there for a while. The grass was dry and brown; hindered by the unrelenting sun of a heatwave. Their skin was slick with a thin layer of sweat, there was no cloud cover and scarce shade. The shirt Seto wore was long sleeved, but lighter than his turtleneck would have been. The open collar provided only marginal relief.

Seto undid another button. Joey pinched the center of his shirt and used it to fan himself.

“Geez, talk about a heat wave,” he grumbled. “I sure picked a good day for a walk in the woods.”

Seto stared out at the park and didn't immediately respond.

“What day is it?”

Joey glanced at him. “Huh?”

“I asked what day it was.”

Joey furrowed his brow. “It's Friday.”

Seto humphed quietly to himself.

“What day did you think it was?” Joey asked.

“I don't remember the last time I knew what day it was.” Seto cracked his water bottle open and took a sip.

Joey poured some water right over his head and shook his hair out. “Phew. That feels good.” He spread his legs out straight and leaned back on an arm. “Nice place, huh? Can I pick ‘em or what?”

“Or what.”

“Ya gotta admit our digs are pretty nice.”

“When did you start planning this?”

“Day after the tournament.”

“Why?”

“Told ya why.”

Seto didn't respond. He chose not to comment on the nature of the motivation, or question the thought that two of them needed to get away together, and not instead spend an infinite amount of time apart. In some deep dark place in his heart, Seto almost admitted that he was glad Joey hadn't just packed up and left.

“Usually people go away to mend something,” Seto said absently. “You can't mend something that never existed.”

“Maybe. Maybe I just wanted you to get outta that damn house.”

Seto didn't respond.

Joey continued. “I don't think it's good for you,” he grumbled. “Being in that house all the time.”

“You've made that abundantly clear.”

“I don't just mean bein inside, I mean being there. Being in that house. So I brought us out here.”

Seto didn't respond. He stood up and removed the small towel from the ground. “It's too hot,” he said. “Leave it to Joey Wheeler to plan a trip in August “

Joey zipped up the bag and sprung to his feet. “Ya know that warm bath could be a cold bath.”

They hiked back to the car, and both were not overly enthusiastic about the broken air conditioning in the vehicle. Wind wiped through the windows as they drove down the country roads. Joey went way too fast, but Seto didn't complain. It was better than a slow leisurely ride.

There were no radio stations, and Joey occasionally referred to his map, but seemed to know exactly where he was going. Seto stared out the window until the car slowed to a stop in front of something that definitely wasn't where they were staying.

“I saw this place in a local guide. It looked really good.”

Seto looked out the window as Joey got out. He was slow to follow. It was a small patch of civilization, made up of maybe a total of four buildings. The place they were going had a chalkboard A-frame out front welcoming customers and telling them about the specials.

It was an open building with a hodge podge of furnishings. Most of the tables and chairs didn't match, and some parts were cozier than others. The sliding doors were wide open, and another set of doors was open to the back deck. It looked out over a river, and woods. There were a few people sitting out in the chairs on the lawn, and a pair by the fan inside.

They were welcomed and told to sit wherever they liked. Joey led them to the back deck and put them in a corner in the shade. A plain piece of paper made for the menu, which looked like a copy of a hand written note. Joey took one look at it and put it down. When someone came to take their order he ordered for both of them.

“One matcha roll, two forks. And two iced hojicha, please. The milk tea. Make his less sweet.”

The waiter nodded and rushed off.

Seto leaned back and crossed his legs and arms.

“People will think we're a couple.”

“So? Let em. What do you care? You're gonna kill yourself.”

“Currently killing myself.”

“Yeah yeah,” Joey grumbled.

The conversation stopped. They both sat there, staring at anything but each other. Occasionally Joey glanced at Seto, but only ever found him staring at the river. They both resigned to staring at the trees and hills of the valley, and found it not as unbearabley hot in the shade.

Joey leaned his head on his fist and tried to remember the last time he had left Domino. It has probably been around a year, having taken the previous dueling season off. Regardless, he was always in a city. He couldn't remember the last time he'd taken a drive and ended up on the outskirts.

“I know you're just trying to stop me.”

Joey flinched at Seto’s voice. He sat up straight and looked at the other man. “Whataya mean?”

“From commiting suicide” Seto said. “I know this is all some ploy to convince me that I want to stay in this world.” He looked at Joey. “I hope you know you're wasting your time.” ”

Joey shrugged and put his head back on his fist. “Well, what else is there to do? We gotta waste time until October 20th, right? You might as well do somethin’ with the time ya got left.”

Seto quirked a brow. “Have you actually come to terms with my decision?”

“Have you?”

Seto clenched his jaw.

A piece of cake was set between them. The waiter put down the drinks, nodded to them, and walked away. Joey picked up one of the forks, but didn’t eat. He waited, and watched the man across the table.

Seto remained stubbornly still.

After a long staring contest with no winner, he finally grabbed the fork and sat up. He took the first bite. It was small, but big enough that he got cake and cream.

Joey only ate when Seto ate. They took bites back and forth, one then the other. Seto barely touched his drink. They had water alongside their tea, and he drank more of that.

Seto choked down another small bite of cake, then put his fork down for good. Joey poked at the cream and ate some by itself.

“You like matcha?”

“You’re asking me that after you ordered the matcha cake?”

Joey shrugged. “You seem like a person who would prefer matcha over chocolate.”

“Those two flavors aren’t comparable.”

“Do you like chocolate?”

“I don’t hate it.”

“You just don’t like stuff that’s too sweet.”

Seto nodded.

Joey wagged his fork around above the cake. “Ya know. I just realized something.”

“About?”

“You.”

Seto humphed. “Oh yeah?” He picked up his fork and took another small bite of cake. “What do you think you just realized?”

“You’re not a picky eater, are ya?”

“No. Not really.”

“But ya don’t like pancakes.”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“I’ve been sick of pancakes since I was ten years old.” Seto took another little bite of cake. “Pancakes are easy to make in big batches. We had them almost everyday at the orphanage.”

“Eggs ain’t hard to make in big batches.”

“Almost everyday.”

“What about rice?”

“There was rice. But no fish. We didn’t always have eggs. They couldn’t always afford a meat. So we ate pancakes.”

“And you got sick and tired’a pancakes.”

“Very.” Seto ate another small piece of cake. “I’ve developed a very refined pallet. But I don’t like wasting food. So I’ll eat almost anything.”

“So you’ll eat something even if you don’t like it?”

“Yes. Most of the time.” He took another small bite of cake.

“Is there anything else you won’t eat?”

Seto thought for a moment. “Nothing comes to mind.”

“Ya know what I hate?”

“I don’t care.”

“Dates.” Joey grimaced. “Ulgh. Hate the texture.”

Seto quirked a brow. “Do you like matcha?”

Joey took a bite of cake. “Not really.”

Seto took another small forkful. “You should have gotten strawberry.” He put his fork down for good this time.

“You said you didn't like strawberries that much.”

“Do you like strawberries more than matcha?”

“Yeah.” Joey finished off the cake.

“Then just order what you want.”

“I want you to eat food you actually like, not just tolerate.”

Seto humphed, but didn't respond. He took a sip of his drink.

“But,” Joey continued. “You ain't gonna order anything for yourself. So I'm flyin blind over here.”

“Then maybe you should stop trying.”

Joey finished his drink and stood up. “I gotta take a leak. Don't run off.”

Seto rolled his eyes. He stuck his straw in his mouth and drank until his cup was empty. A gentle breeze ruffled the surrounding trees, and the babble of the river and the people blended together into comfortable noise. Clouds have developed overhead and made shadows on the ground as they passed. Birds sang, bugs hummed. There were a couple children playing in the yard. Little bugs sprung from the grass as they ran through it. They laughed and chased each other around; playing some made up game that only they understood.

Joey returned to the table and stood by his chair. “I paid,” he said. “Ready to go?”

Seto looked up at him. He spared one last glance at the kids, then quietly stood up and left. Joey followed, and they climbed back into the car.

Joey hummed along to the music as he cooked. He occasionally muttered the words, and divided his attention between the stove and Seto, who was sitting at the small dining room table in his robe, having come down from taking a shower. Joey had showered first to wash the sweat off his skin, and offered to make dinner when it was Seto’s turn.

He finished up and distributed two even bowls of curry rice. Seto examined his meal with a neutral expression, and the two of them came to their usual stalemate.

“I don’t know why you made so much food,” he commented.

“Hey, if ya hate wasting food, just eat it. I know you’re hungry.”

Seto quietly sighed. But it was not the usual sigh of annoyance. No, this sounded tired, like he had just worked a twelve hour shift and had been told he would have to work another. He picked up his spoon and scooped a bite, but paused before bringing it to his lips.

Joey waited, ready to eat. But Seto never finished. Instead he put the spoon back down, and crossed his arms over his chest.

“I’m not hungry,” he claimed.

Joey’s shoulders sank. “You serious?”

Seto clenched his jaw and swallowed hard, eyeing the food. He silently nodded.

Joey tossed down his spoon, sat back, and crossed his arms. “Okay. Guess we ain’t eatin’ tonight.”

“I don't know why you do this.”

Joey shrugged. “Yeah ya do.”

Seto remained stubbornly still. Joey leaned back in his seat.

“I was really looking forward to this, too. I love curry rice.”

“How do you know I even like curry rice?”

“Who doesn't like curry rice?”

“I think you said the same thing about pancakes.”

“No, I just said not liking pancakes makes you worse. Don't misquote me. I take that back, by the way.”

Seto didn't immediately respond. “Curry rice is fine,” he said after a beat.

“So eat it.”

“I'm not hungry.”

“I'm hungry.”

“Then eat, Wheeler.”

“You know I ain't takin one bite until you do.”

Seto uncrossed his legs and arms and leaned forward. “Then I guess you're going to starve.” He stood up and marched to the bedroom.

Joey frowned deeply. He pressed back into his seat and watched Seto close himself away. He stared at the food on his plate and felt a deep cramp in his stomach.

The dome was spacious and plush. The window looked out into the woods, but there wasn't much to see with so little moonlight. There were two twin beds, and a nook right in front of the window made up of pillows and blankets, where a more cozy pair could make themselves comfortable for an evening.

It was all air conditioned, but not noisy. The dome was slightly warmer than the rest of the house but still plenty cool. Joey was already in his pajamas, and closed the door quietly behind him. Seto was in bed. He laid on his side facing the wall and was situated as far away from the other bed as he could get.

Joey climbed under the plush covers and settled in. It was early for him, but there wasn't much else to do. He laid facing Seto, and tried to sleep.

There were cicadas outside. They were so loud they pierced the window, and created a steady hum throughout the room. It was almost soothing.

Joey laid and stared at the ceiling. He tried to close his eyes, but they wouldn't stay shut. He wasn't sure how long he had been laying there when he heard a grumble from the bed beside him. At first, Joey thought he was hearing things. The bugs were loud, and he must have mistook their hum for something else.

But then he kept hearing it, and realized that it was Seto talking in his sleep again. Joey lulled his head to the side and watched the other man shift under the covers. Seto groaned and mumbled, and gripped his bangs in his fist. He was restless, and occasionally raised his voice. Whatever he was experiencing, it didn't sound like he was enjoying it.

Joey quietly climbed out of bed and went around to Seto’s side. From this close he could make out words amidst the mumble.

“Please…please…please…please--” he muttered under his breath. “Please…stop…stop…”

It was all a grumble, barely spoken past his lips. He shifted and grabbed his hair in his hands, and drew in on himself as if trying to protect his body.

The mutter turned into a groan, and Seto fought an invisible battle. He covered his face with his broken hand, and seemed to be trying to get the hair out of his face. His eyes were moving behind the lid, but no matter how distraught or restless he became, he never rolled over or shifted. He remained on his side and occasionally flinched or twitched.

Joey watched this for what was probably too long. Part of him wanted to wake the other; release him from this obvious nightmare. But Seto was asleep, and that was a rare phenomena. If the nightmare woke him, that would be that, but if it didn't then he got to rest.

Though this didn't look much like resting.

Joey reached out his hand to touch Seto’s shoulder. Right before he made contact, the other jolted awake. They both flinched, and suddenly Seto laid wide eyes on his roommate.

They both remained frozen and staring at each other for a beat before one of them spoke.

“What?” Seto demanded.

It was a second before Joey found his voice. “You, uh…um. Are you okay?”

Kaiba frowned, and twisted his brow like this was a stupid question, and Joey frankly felt dumb asking it.

Kaiba turned around with a huff. “Just nightmares. Let me sleep.”

Joey frowned, not sure why he was being blamed for Kaiba's lack of sleep. Instead of getting into it, he shuffled back to his own bed and laid down. The moment he faced Kaiba, the other man turned over.

Joey took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and tried to fall asleep.

Chapter Text

Joey spent a long time staring at the ceiling of their dome and trying to convince his body that they should get up and do something instead of laying in that impossibly comfortable bed. The air conditioning was cold, the outside world was hot, but under that blanket was just right. He didn’t have anywhere to be anyway.

Well, not officially, but he did have plans for them that day. There were 48 waterfalls that were just begging to be hiked.

As Joey contemplated giving everything up for that bed, a tall figure came to loom above him. Seto stood in his robe with his arms crossed, and a tight, annoyed look on his face.

He whacked Joey in the head with a rolled up newspaper. “Don’t tell me you dragged me all the way out here to sleep all day,” he bit. “Get up, Wheeler. I’m sick of waiting for you.”

Joey groaned. He grabbed the offending newspaper, but Seto kept a firm grip on it.

“Where’d you even get this?” he grumbled.

Seto pulled the paper free. “Just get up.” He marched out of the room.

Joey sat up on his arms, and mentally prepared himself for the air conditioned room. He slept in a tank top and his boxers, so the air greeted him with a chill. Unlike some people, he did not have a fancy robe to fight off the cold in the morning. He scurried out of the room with a change of clothes and his arms wrapped around himself.

Seto was sitting at the kitchen table, composed as ever, reading the newspaper he had previously used as a weapon.

Joey made quick work of getting upstairs and getting ready, and after a warm shower and a change of clothes he was awake and ready to face the day. He skipped downstairs and found a steaming hot bowl of curry rice waiting for him at the table. Seto was sipping a cup of tea, and was still reading his paper.

“You eat?” Joey asked, taking a seat.

“You know the answer to that.”

Joey scooped up a generous portion of curry rice and held it out. Seto glanced up from the article he was reading.

“No.”

“Come oooooon. Just one bite.”

“Don’t treat me like a child.”

“Then quit acting like one.”

“I’m not hungry.”

“Ya know, lying’s pretty bad form Mr. Seto Kaiba.”

Seto frowned at him. He reached out, grabbed the spoon, ate the curry rice, and handed it back.

“There. Now you can shut up.”

Joey smiled, highly satisfied with himself. “You wish.”

Seto humphed but didn’t otherwise respond. He finished his tea and his article, and went back to the room to get dressed. He hadn’t actually looked at the clothes that Joey had packed for him, and while not surprised to find shorts and short sleeved shirts, that made it no less annoying. At the bottom of the bag he found a pair of plain black sneakers that he recognized as his gym shoes. He put on his black pants from the day before, the sneakers, and a white, short sleeved button up, hoping Joey had enough sense to pack sunscreen on this cloudless, scorching hot trip.

Joey was washing dishes when Seto emerged from the bedroom. He looked up from the sink and smirked.

“Woooooow. I don’t think I’ve ever seen your arms.”

“You’ve seen me naked,” Seto deadpanned. He looked down at himself. “I don’t even know where you found this shirt.”

“You got a big closet.” Joey flipped the dish into the drying wrack and turned off the faucet. He meandered over to Seto, and in a strange and swift motion, pulled the shirt taut against his body.

Seto instinctively pushed him away. “What are you doing?”

“Looks big on you.”

“I know it's hard for you, but don't act like an idiot.”

“How much do you weigh now?”

“That's none of your business. Are you dragging me back into the woods or not?”

Joey brushed past him. “Yeah yeah. Get ready for a relaxing nature walk, rich boy.”

Seto humphed and followed Joey to the car.

It was another 20 minute drive. Seto absently wondered why Joey hadn't tried to get them a place in the town closer to both of the places they had gone so far. He figured it had something to do with quality. In all fairness, he would be complaining significantly more if Joey had set them up in a shack.

They pulled off the dirt road as they approached the welcome center and parked in a patch of grass. The air was moist, but the ground was dry, and the sound of bugs and animals greeted them the moment they got out of the car. The brush was thin in this part; having been cleared away to make room for the building and it's visitors.

The path from the lot to the building was clear, but not smooth. Joey led them inside and immediately grabbed one of the maps off the counter. The welcome center doubled as a small museum, which explained the history and legend of the falls, and talked about the wildlife.

While Joey paid, Seto took an absent look around. There was a sign with a cartoon salamander letting people know that this valley was home to the giant salamander, and they might be lucky enough to see one during the day. People were encouraged to leave them alone if they did.

Seto doubted anyone would be seeing a giant salamander in the middle of the day during a heatwave.

Joey nudged his arm. “Ready?”

Seto responded by walking away. Joey skipped into step behind him.

He carried with him a backpack, which no doubt had food, but hopefully had water. When they got outside Joey took something out of the bag and tossed it to his companion.

Seto caught it, and found he had been given sunscreen.

“Make sure to do your face,” Joey said. “Supposed to be a hot one today.” He took out a separate bottle and started slathering his arms and exposed shoulders. He wore a tank top, jeans and sneakers. His skin was already slick with sweat. There were enough trees to provide relief from the sun, but this walk would be close to three hours.

Joey faced Seto and held out his arms. “Got any white on me?” He asked.

Seto looked him over, but all of the sunscreen had been properly rubbed in. He shook his head, and carefully began applying sunscreen to his face. He finished up, snapped the cap shut, and was about to hand the bottle back when he suddenly found Joey standing way too close to go.

Seto frowned. “What?”

Joey pointed. “You got a streak on your forehead."

Seto scrubbed his forehead. He shoved the bottle into Joey’s chest. “Personal space, Wheeler.”

He walked off and quickly found the start of the path. Walking the valley was easy, the trail was mostly flat and there weren’t many obstacles. It immediately cooled in the shade. They were surrounded on both sides by hills and elevated trees. The further they got from the building, the quieter the world became.

Seto followed the well worn stone path beside the brook. He could hear the rumble of the first small waterfall as they came up on it.

He stopped to look at the flowing water. It wasn't all that impressive. White waves trickled over a few short steps. He stood there and calmly contemplated the scene for a minute before he was interrupted.

“Hey rich boy.”

Seto looked over his shoulder at Joey, and found a camera aimed at his face.

“Smile “

Seto did not. Joey snapped a picture. He stepped up onto the rock Seto occupied - which was arguably too small for two people - and handed him a camera.

“You almost forgot this.”

Seto took the camera and hung it from his wrist. He stepped off the rock and kept going.

Their walk was quiet. They occasionally heard signs of other people somewhere off in the woods, but never ended up running into anyone. Joey snapped pictures sparingly, and Seto even more so.

Joey tried to walk together, but Seto kept moving ahead.

Two hours and 32 waterfalls in, they took a rest. They found a shady spot in an open area and settled down against a tree. They had long finished a pair of water bottles, and were both working on their second. Joey was eating a sandwich, and Seto was ignoring the sandwich he had been given. The container sat on his lap. They protected their clothes from the dirt with a small blanket, and sat quietly beside each other, taking in nature.

The water wasn't within sight, but they could hear it from where they were. Occasionally voices sounded like they were coming near, but they still hadn't run into anyone.

Joey finished his sandwich and reclined against the tree. He stared up at the leaves and let his mind get a little lost.

Being out here was helping more than he thought it would.

At least helping one of them.

Seto stared blank faced somewhere in the distance. He had taken one bite of his sandwich and abandoned it. Joey found himself staring at the man, searching for something behind those eyes that wasn't misery and longing. Even through his stony looks and absent expressions, Seto's face spoke volumes. There was a tiredness to his eyes now, like he was always waiting to go to sleep.

Joey felt a sick sour feeling in his throat. Seto was waiting to sleep. He was waiting until he could sleep for a long long time.

Joey slid further into the dirt and folded his arms behind his head.

“How’s KaibaCorp run without its head?” He asked out of the blue.

Seto closed up the container on his lap. “Fine. The departments all have their own heads.”

“You paid much attention to your stock lately? Made sure no one's going for another hostile take over?”

“KaibaCorp went private years ago.”

“Seriously? So you're--”

“The sole owner.”

Joey readjusted on his back and stared at the canopy above. “Jeez,” he grumbled. “Can't imagine how much dough that rakes in.”

“I lowered my salary.”

“Gave everyone a raise?”

Seto nodded.

“Woooow,” Joey said. “Pretty altruistic, rich boy.”

“Not really.” He stood up and tossed the container in the backpack. “It's not like I can take it with me.”

Joey swallowed at the sudden tightness in his throat. “What's gonna happen to the company when you're gone?”

“It’ll be passed to someone else.”

“Who?”

“I haven't decided yet.”

“Runnin outta time.”

“I've got time.” Seto picked up the backpack and dropped it on Joey's stomach, knocking the wind out of him. “Let's keep going.”

Joey frowned and sat up. He climbed to his feet and slung the bag back over his shoulder. They walked back down to the water and continued following it to the remaining waterfalls.

“I wonder if we're gonna see one’a those giant salamanders. That would be pretty cool.”

“They're nocturnal, we’re not going to see one.”

“They come out during the day sometimes.”

“I wouldn't bet your life on it.”

“Can I bet your life? You don't want it anyway.” Joey tried to smirk at his joke, but it just made him feel sick.

“I’m still using it for now, but I’ll let you know in a couple months.”

They moved on down the path, and their scarce conversation went quiet for a long time. They were accompanied only by the stream and the rustling trees. Sometimes a cool breeze would move through, but it did little to alleviate the heat. They stopped at another small waterfall and Joey took a picture of it. Behind him, Seto took a picture of him standing in front of it, but lowered the camera before Joey turned around.

During this brief pause Joey opened up the trail map and noted where he thought they were. There were trail markers, but he also counted the waterfalls.

“We’re not too far from the end,” he said. “It just sorta circles back around.”

Seto moved on. “Good, it’s too hot out here.”

Joey tucked the map away. “Yeah, who needs a sauna when you have the woods?”

He fell into step with Seto, and noticed how much the other man was sweating. He wasn’t sure if he had ever seen Seto sweat. It felt like something perfect CEOs didn’t do. But his skin was shiny, and thin drops of sweat dripped from his damp hairline. Suddenly conscious of his own sweat, Joey used the edge of his shirt to wipe his mouth.

“I think I’m gonna take a cold shower when we get back.”

“Hopefully you don’t have some other great nature adventure planned for us,” Seto grumbled.

“Nope, just another cafe.”

“Great,” Seto grumbled sarcastically.

“Don’t worry, this one’s closer to civilization.”

Seto humphed. They hiked on.

The landscape didn’t change much. Stone, trees, water, it all blended together after a while. The air was so thick and heavy with heat, Seto found himself growing mildly frustrated with the situation he had been put in. If he had to pick a trip, it wouldn’t be nature walks in the middle of August. It would be an air conditioned tech conference or a quiet beach house where he could listen to the ocean but not have to touch it. He would have much preferred a different city, a corner cafe, a cool office, hell, even a boat.

Not a hundred degrees in the woods.

They had to hike up a slight incline, and he was ready to bury himself right there.

“I’m picking the next vacation,” he grumbled, breath suddenly heavy and body suddenly spent. “I hope you don’t expect me to sit, sweaty and disgusting, in a public place.”

“You’re fine, ya big baby. Everyone stinks in the summer.” Joey smirked and nudged Seto with his elbow. “And next vacation, huh?” He wrapped his arm around his neck. “When are we takin’ that trip, December?”

Seto elbowed him off. He humphed, a tight frown on his face, and walked ahead.

They were nearing the tail end, and the last few waterfalls. Three hours and 47 waterfalls later later they found themselves at a calm part of the stream. Joey glanced at the water and did a double take. He stopped short and grabbed Seto’s shirt to get him to do the same.

Seto frowned. “What--”

“Shush.”

Seto frowned deeper.

They were right on the bank of a large pool mostly shielded from the sun. There was a constant hum in the air from the bugs, and birds called in the distance. Joey carefully stepped towards the pool and squatted down.

Seto followed his eyes, and spotted the distinctly shaped blob in the water. It was right by a rock, almost wrapped around it. A sliver of its back stuck out of the water, the sun reflected off of the slimy surface.

Seto stood on the bank right next to Joey, and stayed as still as a statue.

They stared at the salamander for an unknowable amount of time.

The forest seemed to grow quieter, the world more distant. The salamander didn't move. It was big, but not as big as it could be. Seto absently wondered just how large these creatures could get.

After a while, Joey stood up. His legs protested, he shook out the pins and needles and curled his toes.

“Looks like he's staying put. We should keep going.” He smiled. “Cool we got to see one, huh? Lucky us.”

Seto raised his camera and took a picture of Joey’s smiling face.

“Lucky us,” he deadpanned.

He kept walking, and Joey skipped into step with him.

Wind whipped through the windows, but all it did was let in hot air. Keeping them up wasn’t a better alternative. Seto held his head on his fist and kept his eyes closed, trying not to think about how impossibly uncomfortable he was at that moment.

“What idiot doesn’t get his air conditioning fixed in the middle of summer?” He grumbled. “It’s not like you can’t afford it.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Joey grumbled. “You ain’t the only one who’s hot, rich boy.” He smirked. “And I’m hot in more ways than one.” He laughed at his own joke, but his smirk suggested a level of sincerity.

“Don’t start thinking too highly of yourself, Wheeler.”

“Oh, says the guy who’s ass is glued to a pedestal of righteousness."

Seto was quiet for a moment. “I don’t stand on a pedestal of righteousness,” he muttered. “Don’t assume I’m not aware of my own short comings.” His voice softened further. “Just because I’m a better duelist than you, that doesn’t mean I’m a better person.”

Joey glanced between him and the road. A heavy silence settled between them. He readjusted his hands on the wheel and chewed the inside of his cheek.

“Ya know,” he said after a while. “You ain’t as bad as you used to be. I mean, you’re still a jackass, but at least you ain’t homicidal anymore.”

“That feels like a pretty low bar to clear.”

“I just mean you are a very different person than you were seven years ago.”

“Just because I’m a different person that doesn’t mean I’m a better one.”

“I don’t believe that. You went from trying to kill me to saving my life, that’s a big difference. You went from letting your brother die to doing everything in your power to keep him safe. That’s a big difference. You are a better person.”

Seto closed his eyes. “Just give it a rest,” he muttered.

Joey took a deep breath and released a long one. His shoulders sank, and his hand hung loose on the wheel.

The rest of the car ride was silent.

Chapter Text

This cafe was simpler than the other one. But calling it closer to civilization was a stretch. There was a small town nearby. They had to drive through it to get there. But it was still hills and valleys on all sides. The building was an old style, and there were few decorations, and no art on the wall. Tables and chairs were spaced far apart from each other, and there was a row of seats sitting directly in front of a window. There was also a seating area off the back of the building that had fabric ceilings and square windows.

Joey and Seto had enough of the sun for one day, and sat inside, close to the counter, in front of a fan. The same as yesterday, Joey ordered for them, and they both ended up with cold juice and a shared piece of soy milk cake. Dry sweat stuck their clothes to their skin, and a sweet scent wafted through the air. They hadn’t spoken to each other since the conversation in the car, and despite his hunger, Joey poked at the cake more than ate it.

He put his fork down and it tinked against the plate. He sat all the way back and studied the man across from him.

“The waterfalls were cool,” he said.

Seto didn’t respond. After a moment he took his fork, and silently ate a small bite of cake.

“It’s pretty good,” Joey commented. His knee bounced beneath the table. His legs were sore and begging for rest, his skin was a touch red, and his hair stiff with dry sweat. It was only three in the afternoon and he already felt like taking a nap.

Kaiba sipped his juice. Joey tried to eat more of the cake. He got lost staring at the edge of the plate, and trying to convince himself that he was definitely going to stay awake for the day, and keep Kaiba company, and resolve whatever messed up tension they had created in the car. But he had no solution to that, so it was better not to put his foot in his mouth, even if he had no idea what had gone wrong in the first place. People who thought so low of themselves couldn’t be talked out of that mind set no matter how stubborn the speaker was.

“Why this?”

Joey was snapped out of his thoughts. He looked up and found Seto staring at him.

“Huh?”

Seto put down his cup. “I asked why this. Why is this the trip you decided to drag me on?”

Joey picked up his fork and poked at the cake again. He shrugged. “Dunno. Maybe I wanted something that sucked.”

“Don’t be dramatic.”

“Says the drama queen himself.”

“You obviously thought it would be a good idea.”

Joey shrugged. “Just thought it would be nice to get outta the city. Far away from that house, from Domino, from everything. No better place to go but the middle of nowhere.”

Kaiba took another bite of cake. “You put a lot of thought into it,” he said, his complete lack of intonation betraying nothing.

Joey shrugged, avoiding Seto’s eyes. “Maybe I wanted it to be nice.”

They settled into that silence again, and Joey thought that was going to be the end of it.

“It is,” Seto said.

Joey looked at him. “What?”

Seto ate a small piece of cake. “It is.”

Joey blinked from across the table. He sat up straight, a smile beaming from his face. He took up his fork, and they finished the rest of the cake.

Joey reclined in the cool bath water, a wide smile of relief on his face. Seto sat on the stool and ran a constant flow of cold water over his head. It trailed down his back in a massaging stream, and provided much needed relief from the sweat on his skin and the heat outside.

Neither was willing to wait for the other so they used the bath room at the same time. Joey had been quicker to shower, and so took the tub before Seto had the chance. The air conditioned building already provided some relief, but the cool water was heaven on earth.

Seto left first. He turned off the shower head and hung it back up. He held the towel around his waist as he stood, and put on his robe hanging on the hook outside the door. The place came with a set of pajamas and slippers for each of them, but he ignored these and just folded the robe tightly over his body to prevent it from falling open in any revealing way.

Downstairs he put leftover curry rice in a bowl and stuck it in the microwave, but didn't turn it on. When he heard the tell tale sign of the door rattling open and closed, he pressed the button and retreated to the bedroom.

Joey hopped downstairs with a new spring in his step and followed the hum of the microwave and the irresistible smell wafting out of it. He looked around the open room and found himself alone.

He hunted around the building and quickly found Seto in the bedroom, sitting on the bed and reading a book.

In a bold moment of familiarity Joey plopped himself on the bed right next to him and peeked over to see the words on the page.

“Of course you found the only book in this place.”

Seto side eyed him. “There's a whole shelf of them. You'd know that if you used your eyes and your brain at the same time, but I know that's hard for you.”

Joey frowned and grabbed the book out of his hands. “Lemme see this. What are you even reading?” He looked at the page, but immediately squinted and cringed. “You're not reading, you faker,” he wagged the book in Seto’s face. “This ain't even our language.”

Seto snatched the book back. “It's Russian,” he clarified. “Which is just one of the many languages I'm fluent in.”

Joey scoffed. “Yeah, right. You expect me to believe you're fluent in more than two languages? Gimme a break, I know how long that stuff takes.”

“It goes a lot faster when your options are ‘get it right’ or ‘get a whipping.’”

Joey paused. “Oh.” He awkwardly rubbed his head. “I kinda forgot how much of a jackass your dad was,” he grumbled.

“Gozaburo,” Seto corrected. He closed the book and got off the bed. “And he didn't do much of the whipping. He left that dirty work to someone else.” He drifted towards the door. “Your food should be done. Eat it before it gets cold again.”

Joey hopped off the bed and followed him out. They sat across from each other at the table, but only one of them had food. As soon as he sat down, Joey got right back up, and came back with a small bowl and another spoon. He took out a portion of curry rice and slid it across the table.

“Don't tell me we're doing this again,” Seto grumbled.

“Don't tell me you're not used to it by now.”

Seto sat up and took one bite. Joey started eating. He had been given a pretty sizable portion, but after a three hour walk under the sun - even after lunch and a snack - he was absolutely starving. They continued the trend of silence. Seto stood and returned to the table with two glasses of water. As he put down the cup next to Joey’s bowl, Joey eyed the slender hand. He thought he caught sight of something pale and faded against the skin; a strip of discolor that echoed all the way to the wrist.

Joey absently wondered if it was like that on the other hand, too, and then remembered the cast.

When he looked up, he found Seto staring down at him, and instinctively looked away as if he hadn’t noticed anything. Seto returned to his side of the table and sat down.

Joey poked at the small reminder of food in his bowl. “So when's that cast coming off?” He asked. “You haven't gone to follow up with the doctor.”

Seto calmly sipped his water. “The doctor said September.”

“For the follow up?”

“When it's coming off.”

“Ah. I got it. You want a ride?”

“I'm capable of driving.”

“Yeah, but ya haven't, so you want a ride?”

Seto sipped his water. “I'll think about it.”

Joey finished his food and cleaned up. He finished what was left in Seto's bowl, too, and washed that as well. The sun was still up, but neither of them felt inclined to go back outside.

Joey reclined on the small couch and read a magazine, Seto remained at the kitchen table, but had gotten a book to read. After a while Joey laid the magazine over his face and hung his arms limp at his sides. His breath was warm against the pages, and left condensation on his face. His mind wandered to his and Seto’s conversation at the cafe.

It is 

He wondered if, despite all the bellyaching and insults, Kaiba was enjoying himself. The idea that he had gotten the stubborn, cold, closed off Seto Kaiba to actually enjoy something made Joey feel a little too proud of himself.

He took the magazine off his face and sat up. “Howd you sleep last night?” He tossed the book on the table as he stood up. “I meant to ask this morning but I forgot.” He shuffled back to the table and sat down.

Seto didn't look up from his book. “I was sleeping fine until you woke me up.”

“I didn't even touch you.”

“Your annoying presence was enough.”

Joey frowned. “Well excuse me. You looked like you were having a nightmare.”

“I was, until you rudely woke me up.”

“I think most people would say ‘thank you, Joey, for waking me up from that terrible nightmare.’ You're welcome, Kaiba, don't mention it.”

Seto closed his book. “I didn't,” he said pointedly. “I prefer nightmares to the alternative.”

“Which is?”

Seto was quiet for a moment, contemplating the edge of his book. “Memories.”

Joey relaxed, the frustrated frown faded from his face. “Oh.” He asked before he could think not to. “Of…your brother?”

Seto put the book down and stood up. “I'm going to bed,” he muttered. “Don’t wake me up tonight.”

Joey pressed back into his chair and watched Seto walk away.

Joey stayed up until the sun was down. He could have watched TV or read, but he just went to bed. The pajamas provided by the accommodations were comfortable, but a little too warm. He took off the shirt and climbed into bed.

Across from him, Seto muttered and flinched.

Joey wondered what those nightmares looked like. He laid on his back and settled beneath the covers, but he wasn't tired. His eyes were wide open, his mind wide awake and going for a run.

He had a plan for tomorrow, but was reconsidering it considering how miserable the walk had been that day. He hadn't realized when making the plan that the walking trail would be that long, and it was way hotter than the forecast said it would be. Or at least it felt hotter. Joey thought that if Seto just ate a real meal, then he wouldn't be so pissy and frustrated; but that thought was fleeting. They had both been a bit frustrated after a while.

It was actually a good thing.

The first month Joey had been with Kaiba, the only emotion he had seen was anger. Everything else had been met with indifference. Being annoyed, being calm, quipping back. It was all a good thing. It gave Joey a little bit of hope.

73 days.

Tomorrow it would be 72.

Joey swallowed his heart.

He inadvertently drifted back to that question he had been asked.

What will you miss about me?

It was a stupid question. Only a suicidal jackass would ask it.

And Joey hadn’t had an answer.

What would you miss?

I dunno, ya jerk, don’t ask a guy that. How’s he supposed to answer?

Joey blinked awake, unaware he had even fallen asleep. He took a deep breath and looked around. The room was still quiet besides Seto’s mutters. They were shielded from the noisy bugs outside, but not entirely. Joey lulled his head to the side and found that Seto was facing him. There was more of a moon tonight, just enough to provide a small amount of light.

Joey’s eyes adjusted to the dark. He watched Seto’s sleeping face twist and twitch, his lips moved in a soft mutter. His fingers flexed, like he wanted to clench his fist, but he never did. His face was pressed into the pillow, his body awkwardly on its side but leaning more towards the front. The arm with the cast was laying straight out on the bed, far from where he could accidentally roll over it. Half of the blanket had been pushed off his body, and Joey traced the lines of his frame. He had seen Seto naked, that was true, but he hadn’t spent a great deal of time looking at him.

He remembered thinking he felt lighter than he was supposed to.

“You,” he muttered aloud, his voice so quiet it barely pierced the silence. “You. Everything that means.” His eyes drifted shut. “Just. You.”

Chapter Text

It was a beautiful sunny day in the middle of nowhere, and Joey woke up Kaiba by cruelly ripping the blanket off of him at two in the afternoon.

“Wakey wakey sleeping beauty. I didn’t drag ya out here to sleep all day.”

Seto curled in on himself and groaned. It was a surprisingly juvenile display, and Joey couldn’t help but smirk. He tossed the blanket on the opposite bed and walked out.

“Come on, we’re goin’ out to eat.”

Seto sat up with a disgruntled frown on his face. “You’re a nuisance,” he spat.

“Yup.” Joey closed the door behind him to give Seto some privacy, and finished packing up for the day. He packed four water bottles, two protein drinks - hoping Kaiba would drink both - two sandwiches, and some fruit. He had swapped the regular protein drink he’d been buying for a high calorie alternative, and so far Seto hadn’t noticed. He probably hadn’t gained any weight back, but he probably wasn’t losing as much as he had been. Joey had managed to get him to drink two a day, which totaled over 1,000 calories, plus the bits of food he forced out of him. It was little things and little lies, but it was better than nothing.

Seto emerged from the bedroom dressed in a pair of brown pants and a dark blue tank top. The frown on his face was even deeper than before.

“These aren't my clothes, Wheeler.”

Joey looked him up and down. “Huh? They aren’t?” He said, feigning innocence. “Whoops. Musta mis-packed. My bad, guess you’ll just have to live with it.”

Seto looked down at himself. “I look ridiculous,” he grumbled, briefly lifting his shirt to reveal the belt desperately holding his pants up.

The tank top hung too far down his chest and armpits, and he was half tempted to just wear the sweat soaked clothes from the day before. There was only one more set of clothes after this, leading Seto to assume this was the last day they would be there.

Or at least hope this was the last day and Wheeler didn’t just forget to pack for a fourth day.

The sun coming through the windows promised another hot day, and while Seto was annoyed that his clothes had been swapped for something that was distinctly different from anything he’d be caught wearing in public, he was quietly thankful for the short sleeves, even if this shirt was far too revealing.

Joey slung the backpack over his shoulder and ushered them out the door. They climbed into his boiling hot car and took a short drive into the small town close to where they were staying. It was all narrow streets and small inclines, and houses tilted with hills.

This was a motorcycle and motorbike town, not very car friendly. Joey parked in one of the few places he could, and they walked the rest of the way. The Cafe was in a tiny building. It offered four coffees, three cakes, two lunches and one juice.

Seating was limited, and most people took their food to go. Joey ordered them coffees, and a curry egg sandwich for each of them. They sat in small bar stools in front of a window that looked out over the street.

When the food came Seto just stared at it.

Joey waited.

And waited.

The bell rang above the door and someone came in for a pick up order. They paid, thanked the worker and left.

And Joey waited.

“We're goin on another walk today,” he said. “Don't need you fainting halfway up the trail.”

“Oh joy,” Seto muttered. He took half the sandwich, ate a bit, and put it down.

Joey still didn't eat.

Seto looked at him. “Well?”

Joey shook his head. “Not enough.”

Seto sneered. “You're kidding.”

“Nope.”

“You can't just change the arrangement. The deal is that you eat when I eat. I've eaten. So eat,” Seto demanded.

“Technically I never gave you an amount, I've just been taking the bare minimum. But I ain't gonna do that right now.”

Seto’s scowl softened into a neutral expression. He calmly pushed the plate away, sat back, and crossed his arms. “I'm not hungry.”

“You are so full of shit.”

Seto shrugged. “If you want to stay hungry, be my guest.”

Joey crossed his arms and slumped back into his chair. “Alright, fine.”

“Fine.”

Joey's stomach audibly grumpled. He kept the stubborn frown on his face and they both stared out the window.

“You're being an idiot,” Seto said. “If you're hungry, just eat.”

“Are you gonna eat?”

“No!”

“Then no!”

“Fine!”

“Fine!”

They both fell back in their seats.

Another customer came in and left with a to-go order. Joey's stomach grumbled again, and Seto rolled his eyes.

“You're wasting daylight.”

“You're wasting daylight,” Joey shot back. “It doesn't gotta be this hard.”

“You're right, it doesn't have to be this hard. So why are you making it so hard?”

Joey's stomach cramp. He answered it with a deep frown, and crossed his arms tighter over his chest. The food looked and smelled so good and he was so hungry. But he knew that if he stopped paying by the rules then the game would fall apart. He'd never be able to get Seto to eat again.

“Okay, one more bite,” he conceded. “Just take one more bite and we can just move on.”

Seto humphed. He took one more bite and tossed the sandwich back on the plate.

Joey ate his sandwich, wrapped up the rest of Seto's, and put it in the cooler bag in his backpack.

The walk back to the car was silent.

The road leading to their destination was narrow. They slowed as they neared a short bridge with red railings. They went around a curve, and found themselves in a small parking area that was completely empty. It was little more than a cleared plot of dirt, and the only reason they knew they could park there were the tire marks left from previous visitors.

They were surrounded on all sides by trees and hills, and could hear water not too far off. The path leading into the trees was paved with uneven stones, but it was a smooth walk.

Joey led them to the start of the trail. They came upon the stream immediately. It was running parallel to the path that had been built up and carved into the cliffside. The trail was completely paved, and the short ups and downs had shallow stone steps. There was even a railing in places where there was a considerable drop.

It was blissfully shady, but the humidity was still almost unbearable. All of the rocks were covered with moss, but the water was low. Shadows dotted the stream but covered the entire path. The green of the moss and leaves shined in the light, and the water sparkled. Seto absently watched as they walked. He would never admit it, but the tank top provided much needed relief from the heat.

The forest was quieter than the waterfall trail had been. Seto ran his hand along the railing as they walked, and both he and Joey took a leisurely pace.

“How long are we going to be out here?” He asked, more out of genuine curiosity than with any expectation.

“It’s not that long,” Joey said. “Maybe an hour.”

“What’s so special about this one?”

Joey smirked over his shoulder. “You’ll see.”

Seto frowned. He clicked his tongue, but didn’t respond. Instead he watched the water, and the stones and the moss. The trees were occasionally brushed by the scarce breeze, but remained otherwise still.

After spending half the time in the sun the day before, both men were thankful for the shade. Everything about this was a far more pleasant walk than the one before.

They did not walk beside each other.

Joey walked ahead, and Seto remained a meter or two behind him.

There was still an ill of tension in the air. It was not as severe as it had been at the cafe, but it had not disappeared. This sour feeling was something the both of them had long grown used to. In all the years they’d known each other, no exchange had gone without a trade of insults or ire. That had not changed.

But now these fights felt different.

There was a new kind of familiarity that made the stubbornness sting and all of the arguments weigh on them. Joey could speak it aloud.

I care about you 

But Kaiba would remain stubbornly silent.

It was like a rock trying to move a hard place. It banged and banged, but the hard place never budged. And in turn, the rock never tired.

Their walk was quiet. They remained a safe distance from each other. The path curved, and rose, and sank. And about an hour in - as promised - they came upon the end.

They stopped before a stone gate.

Seto twisted his brow. “A shrine?”

“Supposed to be for a rain god or somethin,” Joey said. “Maybe if I put a few coins in the box it’ll rain, huh? God knows we could use it.”

“Let’s hope this god knows we could use it,” Seto grumbled as he passed through the gates. To his knowledge, neither of them were religious. But he supposed one didn’t have to worship a god to find the water nice to look at.

He passed under the gate, and the moment he did, an intense wind whipped through the valley. It rattled the trees into a noisy applause, and slapped their clothes against their bodies. Seto was so off guard, he almost stumbled down the short incline. His hair whipped in his eyes and slapped his cheeks. The wind died only seconds later, but the two of them remained inexplicably paused where they were.

Joey smirked. “Apparently the gods don’t like to be sassed.”

Seto scoffed, and kept walking. “The only gods I believe in are Egyptian,” he grumbled.

Joey jogged to catch up, and they walked beside each other the short rest of the way. The stream they had been following funneled into a short waterfall that escaped into a crystal clear pool. The pool created a thin stream out the other end that flowed down a sheet of inclined stone. The smoothness of the rock, as well as the distinct indent further up, suggested that there was usually more water than this. The summer had been impossibly hot, and many places were experiencing drought.

Just past the gate, only a few meters ahead, was a set of stairs, then a straight path, and another set of stairs that led down to the sheet of stone and the pool of water. There was a small wooden structure built into the side of the cliff that had an offering box, and other little trinkets along its four railings.

Seto walked down to the pool as Joey put a small monetary offering in the box. He squatted down at the edge and stared into the water. There weren’t any fish, but the pool was so clear he could see straight to the bottom.

Seto reached out his hand, and touched the surface with his fingertips. It was cool, almost cold, and felt nice on his skin.

Joey sat down cross legged beside him, so close their shoulders almost brushed. For a moment he remained quiet, and just stared at the waterfall and the trees and stone surrounding them.

“Pretty nice, huh?” He muttered.

Seto removed his hand from the water, and flicked the remnants at Joey, causing the other to flinch. Joey smiled.

“Jokes on you, that feels good.”

The ghost of a smile appeared on Seto’s face; so brief it was gone in a blink. Joey gaped at him, but the shock went unnoticed. He shook off his surprise and dipped his hand in the water. When he pulled it out, he returned the flick, but Seto didn't react.

Another wind whipped through the valley, and the spotted shadows of the leaves began to blend into an ocean. A cloud drifted overhead, a crisp chill touched the air. Seto’s skin goosebumped. He rubbed his arms to banish the tingle. Joey leaned his head all the way back and watched the cloud pass.

Kaiba grabbed the camera from his pocket and took a picture of the man beside it. The trigger clicked, he turned the shutter. Joey glanced at him, Kaiba replaced the lens on the water, but when he tried to take a picture, the trigger caught. The little ‘100’ in the corner had flipped to zero.

The sun returned. They remained seated by the edge of that pool. When Seto's knees started to ache he switched from a squat to a sit. These weren't his pants anyway, so he didn't care if they got dirt on them.

“Is this our last day?” He asked after a long beat of silence.

“Yup. Heading back tomorrow.”

Seto humphed in acknowledgement.

Joey sat up and took the backpack off. He opened it up on his lap and pulled out two water bottles for them, and a sandwich for himself.

“I can't believe you're still hungry,” Seto grumbled.

“Not all of us are trying to starve ourselves.” Joey took out the unfinished breakfast sandwich and offered it up.

Seto took it without protest, and ate without having to be asked. He kept his crumbs on the paper, and when he was done, wrapped it up and stuffed it back into the bag.

Joey kept the backpack hugged to his chest, and leisurely ate as he observed the world around them. Another stiff breeze blew through as he was finishing up. Further up the path he could see the woods growing dark. Beside him Seto was distracted with the water. He stared into it with a blank expression and poked at the wet stone with an absent fingertip.

As the darkness grew nearer, Joey tilted his head and squirted his eyes. He looked at the sky, but found most of it obscured by the woods. Despite this, he could tell it had gotten much darker.

Joey furrowed his brow. “I think it's gonna rain,” he said.

Seto scoffed. “Yeah, right.”

“I'm serious. I think--”

A thick drop of water landed right in the top of his head. They began dotting the stone, Seto held out his hand and felt a trickle on his palm.

Joey stood up. “Maybe we should head back.”

They packed up and started back up the trail. As they passed back through the gate, the trickle became a shower, and that shower became a downpour.

Buckets poured from the sky and bounced off the stone with so much force it was difficult to see. Cold rain slapped their skin and soaked them through in a matter of seconds. Even the abundant trees did little to ward off the attack. They both squinted, and held their hands above their eyes in an attempt to keep their vision clear.

As soon as Joey spotted an overhang, he steered them towards it.

Seto followed, but stood right inside. The rain still nipped at his heels and back.

“We should keep going,” he said. “We're already soaking wet.”

“We can wait it out,” Joey insisted. “Dry off a little and start walking back when it's calmed down. It's just a freak downpour, it'll pass.”

Seto looked over his shoulder at the path. He stuck his head out and looked back and forth at the sky. The trees and rain obscured his view, he couldn't tell how big the cloud was.

He conceded to remaining under the rocky overhang. The stone was wet from run off, but the rain couldn't touch them in there. They stood against the wall facing the path, and waited.

Seto stood with his back straight and his arms crossed. Beside him, Joey took up a more casual stance, putting his hands in his jean pockets. They watched the white wall of rain pelt the stone outside in an angry, relentless battle.

“Well,” Joey's voice broke the silence. It echoed against the walls. “Least we can't complain about the heat anymore.” He chuckled at his own joke, but it died when he received no response.

Seto remained silent and stoic. He glanced at Joey in the corner of his eye. “I still say we should keep going,” he said flatly. “How long has it been?”

Joey checked the time on his phone, but he hadn't looked when they entered the shelter. “I dunno.” He shrugged and put it away. “Maybe ten minutes.”

Seto watched the water drop from the edge of the overhang. “It hasn't let up at all,” he stated. “We should keep going.”

“We just have to wait.”

“Do you want to walk back in the dark?”

“We have plenty of daylight. Besides I probably can't drive in this weather anyway, what are we gonna do when we get to the car? Just sit there?”

Seto's tone grew stiff. “It would be better than standing under a damp rock.”

“And just as useless.”

Seto huffed to himself. “I don't know why everything has to be so difficult with you,” he grumbled.

Joey sputtered. “Me? With me? I'm difficult? Oh, I'm sorry, is it because I don't do everything the great Seto Kaiba says? Look in a mirror, you've been nothing but difficult the entire time we’ve been here.”

Seto set his jaw. “I’m sorry if I don't like being dragged on nature walks in the middle of August,” he said sarcastically. “Or wasting food because you keep making things when you know I won't eat them. I'm not the one being stubborn here. I've gone along with every excursion, I’ve gone to all the cafes and drank all the drinks and walked all the trails. You're lucky I'm even still here right now. I could have left. I could have let all your effort go to waste.”

“I'm so sorry you've had to suffer so much,” Joey said sarcastically. “If you wanted to leave so bad, then why didn't you!?”

“Because I don't want to,” Seto snapped. He finally looked at Joey, and his expression brought their argument to a stark pause. It was not the set jaw and sharp gaze Joey had been expecting. This was something different - open - a tight trembling lip and glazed over eyes.

Seto quickly looked away.

There was nothing but the rain. He clenched his hands around his arms.

“I can't stand being in that house,” his voice shook. “Living in that empty place. Knowing he's not there, that nobody is there. I'm still here because I have nowhere else to go. Because--” his voice collapsed. “Because nothing matters anymore. Not this. Not here. Not…whatever stupid thing you want to drag me into. Not the rain or-- anything. I don't care about anything.”

Joey watched Seto's shoulders tremble. He relaxed, and let the words hang in the air.

After a moment, Joey spoke. “If you don't care so much, then why even fight?”

Seto’s shoulders stilled and relaxed. He walked out from under the overhang. “I'm going back,” he muttered. “You do whatever you want.”

Seto walked away, and Joey didn't follow.

Chapter Text

It was a half hour before the rain let up. It was still raining cats and dogs, but the sky was no longer at war with the ground. Joey left his hiding spot and hiked back up the path. He squinted at the rain in his eyelashes and moved in broad steps. It was too slippery to run. His hand diligently kept hold of the railing.

He emerged from the trail and was almost surprised to find his car still there. If Kaiba knew how to break into and hotwire a car, it wouldn't have come as a surprise.

What he didn't find was the man himself.

Joey looked around the immediate area. “Kaiba!?” He called. “Hey! Kaiba! Come on out, rich boy!”

He waited, and expected to hear something back. He expected to hear a biting remark about being a loud dog, or an annoyed statement about being too noisy.

But there came no answer.

Joey got into his car. He closed the door harder than he meant to and fired it up. Water immediately pooled into the seat from his soaked clothes. He pulled out of the space, and started driving back down the narrow road they had come from. It was a curvy path wound off the side of a hill. The only thing between him and a steep drop was a rusty guardrail.

He took it slow, and worked the windshield wipers to their max. His heart drummed against the inside of his chest. He gripped the wheel in a white knuckle fist, and kept an eye on every window.

It was ten minutes before he came upon a figure walking down the road on the side of the guard rail. Joey almost didn't recognize him in those clothes.

He pulled the car to a slow roll beside him and rolled down the window.

“What, were ya gonna walk home?”

Seto didn't respond. Joey's shoulders dropped.

“Get in the car, Kaiba”

Seto didn't respond.

“Kaiba. Get in the freakin car. You're gonna get sick walking out in the rain like this.”

Seto didn't respond.

Joey clenched his jaw. He whipped the car around and pulled it right in front of Seto, the front bumper tapped the guard rail.

Seto stopped short. He frowned. “Are you crazy?”

Joey stormed out of the car. “Me? Am I crazy? Where are you even going!? It's raining cats and dogs out here, you're soaked to your skin! I know you don't care what happens to you, but I do!” He pointed a sharp finger at the vehicle. “So you're gonna get in that car, even if I have to drag your sorry ass into the passenger seat with my bare hands!”

Seto scowled at him. “You bark like a dog,” he grumbled. He brushed past Joey, went around the car, and got in.

Joey remained standing there. He caught his breath. The air was heavy. After a moment he took a deep breath, got back in the car, and drove them back down the hill.

The rain wasn't coming down as hard as the bottom of the mountain. Joey pulled them off in a little town in front of a convenience store, and got out of the car without a word. Seto stared out the front window and concentrated on the cold water streaking down his skin. It sent a shiver through his body that made his muscles stiff and his hair stand on end. When he blinked his eyelashes still dripped.

Joey returned. He tossed something in the back seat and climbed in the driver's seat. Seto glanced over his shoulder and spotted two packs of beer. He faced forward and didn't say anything.

Joey turned the key in the ignition and the car sparked to life.

“You and I are getting drunk tonight.”

Seto stared out his window and didn't respond. They drove back to the house, and carried their soaked sorry selves inside. Joey immediately discarded his socks along with his shoes, and took off his shirt. The edge of his pants still trailed water across the floor. He put the beer on the table.

“Too cold, too hot, too dry, too wet. There’s just no winning.”

Seto trailed water into the house, not bothering to discard any of his clothes. He grabbed a beer, and headed for the stairs.

“I’m taking a bath.”

Joey trailed behind him. “I’m taking a shower.”

Seto reclined in the warm bath water with a warm towel on his face. A half empty beer sat on the floor beside the tub. Joey poured a bucket of warm water over his head and was still running the shower head. He sat in the stool facing the wall and shook out his hair.

The warmth seeped into their skin and banished the chill. Every once in a while Seto would sniffle, and Joey glanced over his shoulder, but never found him in a different position.

“Don’t fall asleep in there.”

Seto grunted. He reached out of the tub, grabbed his beer, and finished it in one long swig. He neatly placed the can back on the floor and sank further into the water.

Joey faced forward. “Man, I shoulda brought a beer up here.” He grabbed the shower head and held it over himself. He sighed at the warm water and sprayed it right in his face until his skin was red.

Seto removed the towel from his face and stood up. He wrapped a towel around his waist and left first. Already warm and clean enough, Joey wasn’t long to follow.

Seto put on his robe and tied it tight to prevent it falling open too far, and Joey changed into pajama pants. It wasn’t very late, and it was still raining outside. Seto made himself a glass of water and sat down at the kitchen table. He grabbed another beer from the box and cracked it open.

Joey went to the fridge and started taking out food to make for dinner. He grabbed a beer for himself and drank while he cooked. He steamed vegetables and threw together all the elements of their last day meal. Maybe they had argued, gotten too hot, gotten too cold, gotten too wet and too heated and too angry and too indifferent, but Joey had made a plan. So he was sticking to that plan. Seto always ate when he was drunk.

This recipe was very involved, and Joey had used his time alone in the mansion while Seto wasted away to perfect it to the best of his abilities. Hardest part for him as a novice was the sauce. Half of the ingredients he’d had to hunt around town for, and they were not cheap. So despite the tension in the air, he wasn’t about to let all his effort go to waste.

The timer beeped on the stove and Joey pulled the steaks out. He plated them with the vegetables and poured a generous helping of sauce over his own, but put a bit less on Seto’s plate.

Seto was already three beers in on an almost empty stomach. He was sitting with his head face down on the table.

Joey put the plate down in front of him and kicked him in the ankle. “Wake up,” he said. “Dinner.”

Seto groaned. He lifted his head and squinted at the plate in front of his face.

He sat up and pulled it closer to him. “What is this?”

“Your favorite.” Joey sat down across from him.

“My favorite what?”

“Meal.”

Seto twisted his brow, he was still squinting, and it was unclear if this was because he was confused or because suddenly the lights were too bright. He relaxed his face and quietly regarded his meal. He picked up his knife and fork and started eating. Sometimes the fork missed, but he ate without an ounce of protest. Indeed, he ate like a man who had been starving himself.

Joey watched him from across the table. It was sort of funny to see an already drunk Seto struggle to maintain his rigid posture while being unable to properly use a fork and knife. He stared at the food and used his tools with an excessive amount of blurry concentration. Sometimes he looked at the plate like he was confused, as if the fork and knife weren't working properly and it wasn't user error.

Joey bit his lips between his teeth to hold back his laughter.

Seto finished his meal and pushed his plate aside to lay his head back down on the table. Joey took his time. He had put a lot of effort into this meal and would savor every minute of it. He finished his second beer and started cleaning up after dinner. Seto eventually lifted his head and wandered into the kitchen to refill his glass of water. He shuffled over into the little living room and plopped himself down on the couch and stared at the blank TV screen.

Joey finished clean up and dimmed the lights, and joined Seto on the couch with another can of beer. He brought the case with him and set it on the coffee table.

“Wanna watch something?”

Seto stared at the TV for a long time and didn't immediately respond. “Does this TV work?”

“I think so.” Joey stood up and wandered over to the wall. He found the remote, a DVD player, and a bunch of DVDs. “Ey, look at this. We can watch a movie.” He shuffled through the options. There were rom-coms, horror movies, animation. He picked one out that felt appropriate for the trip. “I think I’ve seen this one. It's all about nature and fighting with spirits and stuff.” He waved the box in the air so Seto could see. “I'm gonna put on this one.”

Seto only grunted in response. Joey put in the disk. He turned out all the lights and plopped down on the couch. Seto was now working on his fifth beer. He sat with his legs up and his head lulled to the side. The movie started with a beautiful music score. The animation was striking, and music mesmerizing. The calm scene quickly turned into something far more terrifying. A young man on a deer was chased by a horrifying demon.

Seto lifted his head, slightly more invested through his drunk haze.

When the conflict ended, the young man was cursed, and as a result was banished from the village per their laws. It was a solemn scene. The elders forced to give up their young prince. Joey watched with a deep frustration. If they didn't want to give up their prince, they didn't have to. But this boy left silently and obediently.

If Joey had seen this movie, he didn't remember anything about it. As the boy is about to leave, his sister runs up to him, despite the law declaring her brother an outcast.

Joey felt a deep tug at his heart strings. His throat went tight and there was a pressure behind his eyes. He sniffled and wiped his face, but couldn't stop himself from crying. He couldn't help but imagine his own sister, when they were separated. Forced apart by different needs and wants, but not the needs and wants of either of them.

Long after the scene ended, the main theme of the main character hit Joey right in the chest, and he was still thinking about that scene. Separation. The loss of one’s world. The loss of a sibling.

“Are you crying?” Seto asked, not in the kindest way.

Joey wiped his face. “Shut up.”

“It's a movie. It's not even real.”

“That doesn't mean it can’t make you feel things. That's what stories are supposed to do.”

Seto didn't respond. He laid down on his back with his knees up and a new beer in his hand. Eventually he laid his legs over Joey's lap so he didn't have to hold his robe closed. Neither of them paid much mind to their position on the couch. They shifted and moved around, and kept their attention firmly on the movie.

Joey cried more than once, and the beer wasn't helping. They neared the climax, where the humans and the creatures of the forest were preparing for battle, and a different group of humans prepared to kill the spirit of the forest.

Joey was on the edge of his seat. Seto was laying on his side, drunk enough, beer abandoned. He was barely keeping his eyes open. His legs sat in Joey’s lap, his ankles gripped by firm, anxious hands.

“I thought you said you'd seen this movie,” Seto grumbled.

Joey shushed him.

Seto humphed. Joey anxiously drank another beer, but didn't take his eyes off the screen. They had finished one pack and were into the second.

The music of the movie was striking, and added to the overall atmosphere. Joey felt it go straight through his heart. His fingers absently flexed against Seto’s ankle, other hand occupied with a can, and his eyes dead set on the screen as the last scenes played out.

The forest spirit got its head back, and the sludge destroying the land was stopped, but it was still dead. The green returned to the forest, and the two main characters - who had fallen in love despite their differences - decided their worlds could not be one, and separated.

When that happened Joey's jaw dropped. “They’re not staying together!? Idiots! You two belong together! You went through all this crap, and you're not together!?”

“Of course they're not staying together,” Seto grumbled. “The conflict isn't over. They're not going to get some happy ending.”

“But they love each other!”

“So? Not all love has some story book ending tied up with a nice bow. That's dumb.”

Joey shook Seto’s leg. “But this is fiction. It can have whatever ending it wants.”

“Use your brain, if they got to stay together at the end, it would disregard both of their characters and the themes of the movie.” Seto sat up. He took the beer out of Joey's hand and drank the rest of it.

Joey took his drink back but it was already empty. He put it on the table with the rest of the cans. He stole the second box - which was already half empty - and moved it to the floor behind his legs. He may have been drunk, but he had enough wits about him not to let Seto get anymore drunk.

“I'm cuttin you off. You're a menace.”

Seto grumbled something incoherent and reached for the box over Joey’s lap. Joey wrapped his arms around his chest and tried to stop him.

“Didn't I just say I'm cuttin you off?”

Seto put his hand on his face and pushed him off while he used the other hand to grab a beer.

“Ya drunk idiot,” Joey grumbled. Seto sat up on his knees and cracked open what was probably his last beer. His limbs were loose and his expression empty. Joey helped him out by pulling his robe tighter over his body and tying it shut.

Seto didn't seem to notice. He sat back on his haunches and stared at Joey for a long time.

Joey glanced between him and the TV. “What? What ya lookin at me for?”

Seto leaked in closer and squinted his eyes. “Are your eyes brown?”

“Are you serious? How long have you known me?”

“I never paid attention to your face.”

“You have looked me square in the eye.”

“Why would I pay attention to what color your eyes were when all I could think about was how much you annoy me.” Even with a slur, Seto's words were cutting. He sat cross legged on the couch and didn't bother with proximity.

Joey grabbed one more beer for himself. “Ya know, I always found your eyes freakish.”

“Freakish?”

“Yeah, kinda your whole look is weird. Your hair's a weird color, your eyes are too light. Your eyes are too blue. You look weird.”

“That's a lot coming from you, blondie.”

“You should dye your hair.” Joey pressed their shoulders together.

“That's a dumb idea.”

“Bright green.”

“You're drunk.”

“We're both drunk, stupid.” Joey stood up and immediately stumped. “Whoah--” he used Seto's shoulder to keep himself upright, and managed to regain his balance. “I'm gettin water, you need some water? I'm getting you water.”

Seto laid down on the couch and grumbled an incoherent response. Joey stumbled his way through in the dark and didn't even try to get glasses. He grabbed two bottles of water and returned to the couch. The journey, while wobbly, ended in success.

Until Joey tripped on his own feet and wiped out on the floor between the coffee table and the couch.

He groaned. “I'm just gonna stay here,” he grumbled. He held a water bottle not that far above his head. “Here. This for you.”

Seto swapped the side he was laying down on and took the water bottle. He lifted his head, took a sip, and barely managed to place the bottle on the table without causing an accident.

Joey stared into the dark void beneath the couch and let his mind go wherever it wandered. He spoke absently at nothing, and didn't expect an answer. He barely even remembered that he and Seto were still in the same room together.

“I feel kinda stupid, I didn't think you'd like this stuff but I sorta wanted something different. Gotta be different. Your house sucks.”

“My house does suck,” Seto echoed, staring at the ceiling with equal absent disinterest. “You suck.”

“You suck.”

“You suck.”

“Yeah, I suck, whatever.”

Seto was quiet for a long time. “You don't suck that much,” he grumbled. “You are annoying, though.”

“Gotta be annoying. Sometimes being annoying only way to help people.” Joey rolled over on to his back. “Why do you even wanna kill yourself?” He muttered. “You're gonna say that's a dumb question, but not everyone in pain wants to kill himself. So whys you wanna do it so bad?” His voice was a quiet mutter, his mouth barely moved to get the words past his lips. “Ain't even gonna try’n get better.”

Seto was quiet. He stared at the light on the ceiling coming from the TV, and thoughts stirred through the drunken haze of his mind. “I don't want to get better,” he said absently.

“I think you just say that cause you feel so bad. It's never gonna feel, like…good. You're gonna feel bad about this forever. But there's other things to feel good about. There's other reasons to live.” Joey paused, tears in his eyes, but his voice was smooth. “Life goes on.”

Seto swallowed at his dry throat. “But that's not really true,” he mumbled. “Life goes on. But…it doesn't. It stops. And everyone else has to live with that.” He slowly sat up. His voice was a whisper. “I don't want to live with that.”

Joey sat up. The TV had gone dark, but there was still a faint glow to the screen. Rain pattered against the house in a broken, steady rhythm.

Neither of them moved for a long time.

Joey shifted onto his knees, and slowly stood up. He put his hand on Seto’s shoulder.

“We should go to bed.”

His fist gripped the fabric of his robe, pulling it away from the shoulder.

“We gotta clean up in the morning.”

Seto didn’t move right away. Joey’s hand loosened up, his fingers brushed skin. Words sat in his throat, but he didn’t speak.

His hand dropped to his side and he shuffled to the bedroom.

Seto was still sitting on the couch. He stared at the front door. The blank TV screen. The raindrops pelting the window.

This place was so quiet.

Seto stood up, and went to bed.

Seto gently combed his brother's hair. Every once in a while he glanced at the mirror and looked at Mokuba's face, but his expression never changed. He remained blank, and staring at the edge of the counter, a deep thought behind his eyes.

Seto separated the hair into sections and tied it into a neat braid. Mokuba climbed off the stool when they were done. His brother took the pajamas out of the drawer for him.

He stared absently into space, his mouth held in a small, subtle frown, and his gaze distant.

“Dr. Rosemary is overreacting,” Seto said calmly as he laid the pajamas on the bed beside his brother. “We’ll seek out a second opinion. For now, try to get as much rest as you can. That will help your body heal.”

Mokuba didn’t even nod. Seto left him alone to change, but stood right outside with the door cracked open. Mokuba was slow, but managed on his own. His room was now home to medicine and machines. There was a machine that administered a gaseous medicine that was supposed to help him breathe, and Dr. Rosemary had insisted on giving them a heart monitor for when he slept.

Seto leaned against the wall in the hallway with his arms crossed, and his heavy eyes closed as he contemplated their next move. There were other doctors. Medicine was so advanced now, even compared to where it had been only ten years ago. He knew that there was an expert who would give them a better answer.

After a few minutes he leaned off the wall and gently knocked on the door. “Mokuba? Are you done?”

It was a moment before he got an answer.

“I’m done.”

Mokuba’s voice was small and raspy. He was sitting on the edge of the bed and staring at the floor, that same far off look on his face.

Seto pulled the covers aside and ushered his brother under.

“Try not to think about what the doctor told you,” he said as Mokuba settled against the pillows. “All you need to worry about right now is resting. We’ll find someone to give us a second opinion.”

Mokuba gently nodded. Seto sat in the chair beside the bed.

“Isono picked up the next volume of that manga you like. Maybe it will help get your mind off the appointment.”

Mokuba didn’t respond right away. He looked at his brother. “Seto?”

“Yes?”

“Will you play Duel Monsters with me?”

“Sure.” Seto stood to retrieve his cards from his bedroom. “We can play one game.”

“Maybe we should play more than one,” Mokuba smiled. “Since you’re probably gonna beat me pretty quick.”

Seto smirked back. “We’ll see.”

They played on the bed. Mokuba sat up and sat cross legged. Seto wasn’t necessarily going easy on his brother, but he also wasn’t trying his absolute very hardest. He took the opportunities presented to him, and they played five games, all of which were won in three or four turns.

Mokuba didn’t play much duel monsters. His deck was weak and a little out of date. He had a few too many monsters, and not enough spell cards, but he managed to get one or two moves in on his brother.

He smiled the entire time they played, and in turn Seto couldn’t help but smile himself. He smirked when he won, and smiled when Mokuba successfully used a combo or destroyed a monster.

After the sixth game, Seto called it. “Alright,” he said, standing up. “You need to get to bed.”

Mokuba tossed down his cards. “Okay, fine.” he yawned. “I guess maybe I’m a little tired.”

Seto gathered up the cards and set them aside on the bedside table. He turned out the light as Mokuba settled in, and took his seat beside the bed.

He got as comfortable as he could in the chair, and the room fell quiet as they both started to relax. The night grew deep, and Mokuba’s breathing grew calm, but strained. Seto kept an eye on his brother until he, too, started to drift off.

He awoke at the sound of a whisper.

Seto’s eyes blinked open, and he listened.

There was a small hitch from the bed. The room was dark, so he could not see his brother, but he could hear him.

It was not the labored breathing or soft breath of sleep. But a whimper. Soft, and whispered, like he was trying to be quiet. He sniffled and cried, but it all stayed close to his chest, and barely disturbed the silence of the room.

Seto rose from his chair. He found the bed with his fingertips and lifted the blanket just enough to fit under it. He sat down, and blindly pulled his brother against him.

Mokuba wasn’t so quiet now. He gripped his brother’s shirt and cried into his chest, all the while Seto held him.

He held him until he had cried himself back to sleep, and did not let go after. 

Lightning lit up the room.

A crack of thunder boomed in the distance.

Seto sat up in bed.

It was pitch black. The moon was covered by the clouds, the rain still pelted the outside. It was louder in the dome than in the building.

When the lightning flashed he could see the room.

Joey was asleep on his stomach, hugging the pillow to his face. Seto was still in his robe, and his head ached. Their clothes and bags were haphazardly thrown about the room. The pillows and sheets were disheveled. Rain drops made shadows from off the glass.

Seto threw the blanket from his legs and stood up. His body was a little wobbly from the alcohol, but his mind had cleared. He shuffled to the comfortable spot in front of the window and knelt down on one of the massive pillows. It was almost a whole other bed there. It was set into the floor, and plush, covered with big pillows and thin throw blankets.

He was almost tempted to go outside. It was probably warm, but surely the rain was cold. He stared at the sky and waited for the flash of lighting that left his vision white. The trees were lit up like black and white comic pages, but the lightning itself cut the sky in streaks of pink and blue and orange.

Seto watched, trying to find something in the clouds that he could no longer find in anything.

He felt the presence of something near.

“Did ya sleep?” Joey asked.

He stood behind Seto, wrapped in a blanket. His voice was hush.

Seto didn’t look away from the window. “I just woke up,” he muttered back, surprised by the softness of his own voice.

Joey shuffled forward and knelt down beside him. He silently stared ot the window until two passes of lighting. Then he spoke.

“Kinda cool,” he said. “Lightning.”

Seto nodded without realizing it.

“It’s so fast,” Joey continued. “You barely get a glimpse of it.”

Seto nodded again. It was a dumb, mindless thing to say. Of course lightning was fast. But he found himself agreeing.

“But it lights up the world,” Joey muttered breathlessly. He yawned and settled down in the pile of pillows. “I think if I was an element, I'd be thunder,” he grumbled; his mind still in a half drunk, half asleep haze. “And you would be lightning.”

Seto looked at him. It was such a dumb thing to say. Those weren't even elements. But he was probably still a little drunk, because he started to think about it.

He laid down against the pillows and watched the sky. When the lightning streaked through the clouds, he thought of the person he used to be.

When the thunder broke, he thought of Joey.

The rolling rumble lulled Seto back into a dreamless sleep.

Chapter Text

They left the house the way they had found it. The pair spent a hazy, head achy morning cleaning up cans, taking out the garbage, and wiping up messes. Seto stripped the beds, Joey took the remaining food out of the fridge.

The rain had gone, but the ground was still wet. They packed up the car, closed up the house, and drove out of the woods. Seto watched the trees as they thinned, and in a matter of minutes they were on the main road.

They didn't stop anywhere for food until they were almost halfway home, and hadn't spoken a word to each other. It was not a contentious silence, but a tired one. They both fought a hangover - Seto’s worse than Joey’s - and didn't feel the need to feed the headaches by trying to have a conversation with each other.

Joey pulled over for coffee part way through, and they drank the water they had left. Seto reclined all the way back in his seat and kept his eyes closed to fight off the sunlight. He put on whatever had been left in the bag - which was a pair of Joey's shorts and a short sleeved button up that was probably his own - and succumbed to the fate of looking stupid. His head hurt too much to care.

Joey downed some pain meds, a bottle of water, and half a beer that morning, and that helped mitigate the hangover.

After almost an hour of fighting for his life, Seto spoke up.

“I'm never drinking beer again,” he grumbled.

“You went hard last night.”

Seto grumbled something incoherent in response and settled back into his seat. “I hope you're taking me back to the mansion.”

“Actually I was gonna leave you on the side of the road.”

Seto humphed.

“Nah, we’re goin back to your place,” Joey said. “But I'm gonna stop at my apartment first to grab some clothes.”

“How about you just stay there and I'll walk home.”

“No. But I could drop ya off first if ya want.”

Seto leaned his head against the door. “I don't care.”

“Then we’ll go to mine. Oh, and I gotta stop and drop off the film. We’ll do that, too.”

Seto didn't respond. He absently stared out the window and watched the clouds float by.

Joey probably could have afforded a nicer place. It wasn't bad by any means, just simple. There was a nice little balcony with a pair of chairs and a couple plants that were barely hanging onto their lives. There were a couple framed posters on the wall that were stylishly arranged. Above the couch it was Red Eyes Black Dragon surrounded by smaller framed Scape Goats of the various colors. The apartment was well lit, with a small wash room, small kitchen, the living room, and one bedroom.

Joey dropped his duffle bag right inside the door and took off his shoes. Seto followed suit. At the mansion he had always left his shoes on, but Joey’s - like most people’s - was shoes-off.

Seto couldn't remember the last time he had been to someone else’s house.

It was cozy and quaint and tiny. He wandered in and stood in the middle of the living room. Unlike some people he did not make himself at home without an invitation.

Joey wandered off to the bedroom. “Make yourself at home. I'm gonna be a minute.”

The apartment wasn't air conditioned, but it wasn't too hot. Seto flicked on the fan next to the couch and sat down in front of it. He leaned back and closed his eyes.

His rest was interrupted when he heard the buzz of a cellphone. His eyes split open and he watched Joey's phone buzz towards the edge of the coffee table. It stopped briefly, then started back up again.

Seto grabbed the phone off the table to see who was calling.

Tristan 

Seto rolled his eyes. “Wheeler,” he called to the next room.

“What?”

“Your phone is ringing.”

“Well then answer it.”

Seto sneered. The phone started buzzing again. He flipped it open, but before he could get a word out Tristan shouted into his ear.

“Joey! Geez man, you said you would be back today. How'd everything go with Kaiba? I was almost afraid you were dead.”

Seto frowned. “Why? Did you think I'd kill him?”

The line went silent. Then it went dead.

Seto almost smirked to himself. Joey emerged from the bedroom. “Who was it?”

“Tristan.” Seto stood and tossed him the phone. “You should call him back, he probably thinks you're dead.”

Joey twisted his brow. He called Tristan back while Seto put on his shoes and waited by the door.

“I told him to answer, ya idiot. And yeah, we're back…quit cryin ya big baby. I'll call you later, okay?...we’re goin to lunch…no. I'll call ya later. See ya. Bye.” He closed the phone and wagged it at Seto. “You are not funny.”

“I hope by ‘we’ you mean you and the other dorks in your posse.”

Joey stuffed his phone in his pocket and marched towards the door with far too much confidence. “Nope, ‘we’ means you and me, baby.”

Seto rolled his eyes and followed Joey out of the apartment.

Joey lived in a quiet part of the city. The neighborhood was characterized by shorter buildings and wider walkways, and trees lining the road. There was even a park nearby.

As they walked from the small apartment building to wherever they’d be eating, Seto felt a strange sense of deja vu. He looked around for something familiar, but didn't clock anything specific. He glanced down one of the side streets and spotted a bridge. Suddenly he remembered.

Everything was different but familiar.

He stopped short in front of one of the store fronts. It was exactly as he remembered it, and the memory struck him right in the chest. The sign above the door was faded, and the hanging open sign on the window was worn from years of turning.

Joey stopped ahead and turned over his shoulder. “What's up?”

Seto looked at him. “You didn't tell me you lived near the orphanage.”

Joey shrugged. “Yeah, it's right around the corner. Why?”

Seto didn't respond for a moment. He stared at the open sign on the candy shop door.

“I didn't think it was a big deal,” Joey continued. “You don't got bad memories of that place, right?”

Seto was tight lipped. His eyes pressed together. “Not exactly,” he muttered.

“Well, what's that mean?”

Seto didn't respond right away. He kept staring at that door. Mokuba used to hunt for stray coins on the street and at the playground, then beg his brother to walk him to the shop to get a piece of candy. The kids ten and older were free to go to the park and shops by themselves, and Seto was allowed to bring his little brother.

Joey came closer. “What's up?” He asked. “You okay?”

He reached out and touched his shoulder. Seto flinched out of his trance.

“Fine.” He kept walking. “Are you hungry or not?”

Joey chased after him. They fell into stride and took the rest of the walk in silence.

Joey took them to his favorite ramen spot. They sat at the counter and he ordered for both of them. This place specialized in spicy ramen, and when asked what spice level he wanted Seto responded simply.

“It doesn’t matter.”

“If ya don’t tell me, I’m gonna get you the spiciest one,” Joey threatened.

“Fine.”

Joey twisted his lip. He didn’t want the spice level to deter Kaiba from eating, but at the same time he would kill for the opportunity to watch the other man sweat over a ghost pepper broth.

He ordered Seto a mini portion of the spiciest ramen on the menu. Not just the normal spiciest, but the challenge level spicy. The bowl that people ate and got their picture on the wall for.

The man behind the counter taking their order quirked a brow. “You sure?” He asked.

Joey grinned. “Positive.”

The man nodded. “Okay.”

Seto sat back in his stool and had his arms crossed. Every once in a while he glanced to the side out the window. Joey tried to figure out what he was looking for, but didn’t see anything out there.

“Are you still pretty familiar with this part of town?” He asked.

Seto glanced at him. “Not really.” He took a sip of water. “It’s changed a lot.”

“Sure, but the layout’s probably still the same.”

Seto didn’t respond.

Soon enough they had their ramen. Joey watched his friend with an absolutely wicked smirk across his face.

“Go on, Kaiba,” he goaded. “You know how it works.”

Seto took up his chopsticks and spoon. He calmly ate a generous portion of noodles, and an even more generous portion of broth. Joey waited for the reaction, his smile growing even more wicked with anticipation.

Seto put down his utensils, sat back, and crossed his arms.

Joey waited.

And waited.

Until the smile died off his face, and his brow twisted in confusion.

He frowned, and called over the guy who’d taken their order. “Scuse me.” He pointed to the bowl. “I asked for the spiciest ramen ya got.” He pointed to Seto’s completely unaffected face. “He’s not even red.”

The cook shrugged. “I gave you the spiciest.”

Joey frowned. “A likely story.” He grabbed the bowl, and took a long sip of the broth for himself. It was mere seconds before his entire mouth was completely on fire, and his eyes were overflowing with tears. He breathed with his open mouth, desperate for some amount of relief. He downed his water, and Seto’s, and was mercifully handed a glass of milk.

Beside him, Seto smirked. “Oooh, did I forget to mention?” He leaned over to Joey’s suffering face. “I’m immune to capsaicin."

Joey’s watery eyes widened. He huffed his breath, still searching for relief from the unbelievable spice. It felt like his tongue was being stung by a million bees, it hurt to even breathe.

“You…are such a jackass.”

Seto cackled and sat back in his stool.

Joey laid his head face down on the counter and tried not to die.

When Joey recovered from his near death experience they walked to the camera store to drop off the film. Joey had a deep frown on his face, and walked with a slouch, still jaded from his experience at the ramen shop.

“Immune to capsaicin, who the hell is immune to capsaicin?” He grumbled.

“I'm also immune to mosquito bites.”

Joey shot upright. “Oh, what, you immune to fire, too!?”

Seto scoffed. “Don't be ridiculous.” He paused for a beat. “I’m immune to poison ivy.”

“Have I ever told you that I hate you?”

Seto smirked. “Not enough lately.”

Joey poked him in the cheek. “You’ve been real smirky today.”

Seto's smile dropped and he slapped the hand away from his face. “Don't touch me. What's wrong with you?”

“You laid halfway across my lap yesterday with your dick out, I think we're a little past a poke to the face.”

Seto frowned. “I don't remember that.”

“Yeah, cause you were drunk off your ass.”

The conversation came to a pause as they approached the camera shop. They developed on sight and had next day service. Joey talked to the clerk while Seto stood by and perused the different film, cameras and lenses for sale.

It was a small shop with new and old equipment. Joey started chatting with the clerk and talking about the trip they'd just taken. Apparently the shop owner had been to that area and photographed the falls in the past. He was excited to see how their pictures turned out.

Joey thanked the man for the conversation and Seto followed him out. They did not start walking back towards the apartment, but Seto didn't say anything.

They walked in silence for a while. They passed a few more businesses that Seto recognized from his childhood. He and Mokuba rarely went into any of them. They were orphans, they didn't have any money, and they had no way to work for it through chores. Some of the older kids, in the 12-14 range, picked up odd jobs walking dogs or cleaning streets or helping elderly people. Seto hadn't been old enough to do any of that stuff, but he put in extra time finding money in the street so his brother could get a treat.

“Ya know, for such a closed off dude, you sure don't mind being naked,” Joey commented.

Seto quirked a brow. “What in the world does that mean?”

“I mean it doesn't seem like you care about being naked in front of people, but you also cover your whole self up.”

“It's not like I'm undressing in front of a crowd.” Seto considered it for a moment. He probably wouldn't be embarrassed even if he did find himself naked in front of a crowd. A body was just a body, it wasn't something to make a huge deal out of. “But I guess I am more comfortable in my nudity than other people,” he conceded flatly.

“If that's the case then how come you hate shorts and tank tops so much?”

“That has very little to do with nudity, and more to do with looking stupid.”

“You really think shorts and tank tops look stupid?”

“I think it's a poor way to present yourself.”

“What, you think everyone's goin to a freakin gala? Get real, man. Most people dress like people, not anime characters.”

Seto shot him a glare. He dismissed the subject for the new one. “Where are you taking me now?” He demanded.

“Bakery. I'm gettin a treat for myself after the ordeal you put me through with the ramen.”

Seto scoffed. “You act like a child,” he grumbled.

“Better than acting like I got a stick up my ass.”

They rounded a corner, and Seto stopped short. Joey went on without realizing he had lost his companion.

This, Seto recognized.

He stood across the street from a building that resembled a school. It was smaller, and one portion of it had more floors than the rest. The memories lingered on the edge of his mind. On the surface - in many ways - they were not unpleasant. He remembered being dropped off, he remembered the feel of the tiny hand gripping his own, he remembered the resolve with which he’d entered with.

He would not fail his little brother the same way everyone else has failed them.

Seto suddenly felt sick.

His jaw clenched so hard his teeth ached. He steadied an uneven breath. His eyes wouldn't focus, and the rising bile stung his throat.

But it was worse this time than it had been previously.

Seto suddenly realized he was going to be sick.

He ducked into the nearest alley and threw up over a sewer grate. What little he had in his stomach was immediately and ruthlessly purged. His breath stung as he huffed, a gross string of drool hung from his lip. His stomach shifted, and he gagged, his body tried to throw up again, but it had little to give.

He leaned against the building, supported by one arm, but suddenly his body was weak. Before he knew it, he had slid to the ground. He remained upright on his knees, but his vision had filled with stars to the point he couldn't see.

He barely heard the voice calling to him.

“Kaiba? Hey!”

It came closer, and there were hands on his shoulders.

“Hey,” Joey said. “You alright? What happened?”

It was a moment before Kaiba’s mind cleared. He spit into his mess and wiped his mouth. When he tried to stand, the world started moving.

“Whoa whoa whoa--” Joey said, helping to keep him steady. “You look like shit. Let's get you back to my place, huh?”

Seto didn't argue. He stood until his vision cleared, then slowly followed Joey back to the apartment.