Take Me Home
Joey’s POV
Yeah, I moved into Seto’s place. He lives on the top floor of
KaibaCorp. The
elevator doors opened and I gasped. The walls were decorated with the finest
wallpaper. It looked expensive. The floors were decorated in expensive
carpets. The furniture, mirrors,
everything looked expensive. Even the
air in this place must cost Kaiba a heavy bundle of cash!
Seto took me to my room at the end of the hall. The bed had a
large canopy on it. The furniture was covered in velvet material. “Every bedroom has its own bathroom. Dinner is served promptly at
I put my few belongings on the bed. “So, where do you keep
your caviar and piles and piles of money?”
“I don’t leave anything laying
around, Wheeler. I’m not stupid. Let me show you around.”
Kaiba took me to the library. The walls were lined with
books! Thousands and thousands of books!
A large black marble fireplace was in the room and in front of it was an
old Oriental carpet. On both sides of
the fireplace, stone gargoyles sat with their tongues hanging out. Fancy furniture filled with room.
He took me to the study which was like the library, just with
more files and folders. There was a
fireplace here, too, but it wasn’t as grand as the one in the library. More Oriental carpets filled the study. What
is it with this guy and Oriental carpeting?
For some strange reason, Seto showed me his bedroom. He said
it in case I ever needed him in the middle of the night, I’d know where to go.
Yeah, right. Like I would crawl into his bedroom and lay next
to him!
I’d like to.
I’d really would.
I’ve slept on the streets for an entire year. Alone. Is it wrong
for me to want company? The only one who slept with me was my father. After my father pounded me into the mattress,
he usually passed out and slept beside me.
It would be nice to at least slip next to Seto and have him hold me, but
it’ll never happen. He’ll probably bite
my hand if I touch him or something.
After that, he told me he had to go attend to some
business. Dinner was at
six, so I had some time to go do what I
wanted.
I asked Kaiba for some petty cash to go buy myself a new
shirt. The one I have on is kinda falling apart and faded. Kaiba gave me some cash.
Sucker.
Well, I do need a shirt. Besides, if I don’t come home with a
shirt, he’ll wonder where my money went.
I went to a store and bought the cheapest shirt I could find. I needed some money to buy some of that Good Ol’ Jack. I can hide
it in my room. No one will notice.
It’s a good thing Kaiba doesn’t have any kids. They’d find it where I would hide it.
Mokuba’s not a kid anymore, but I’m sore he could get into trouble if he wanted
to.
I went and bought some Jack Daniels. I ran into an alley and guzzled a quarter of
it down quickly. Damn! I didn’t think I was that thirsty!
Rushing back to KaibaCorp, I was
able to gain entrance easily. I ran to
my room and hid my Jack under my bed. Nobody will find it there! Ha!
I heard a commotion in the hallway. I opened the door to find Ryou crying and
running down the hall into Seto’s open arms.
Bakura left the elevator and his growling could be heard down
the hallway.
“Hikari, you will come home NOW!”
Ryou shook his head and cried. Poor guy.
What did Bakura do to him this time? I ran up to Kaiba and Ryou.
Bakura chuckled. “Since when do you take in stray dogs,
Kaiba?”
“What I do under my roof is my own business, Bakura! Now, get out of my home!”
Bakura narrowed his eyes. “Or what?
What can your security people do to me? I’ll send them all to the Shadow Realm
faster than you can say your name, moneybags!”
I stroked Ryou’s white hair. Ryou turned to his yami, shaking
and whimpering. Whatever happened must have scared the poor kid to death! Then
again, Bakura does everything with violence, there’s never anything trivial
that happens between those two.
Ryou shivered in Kaiba’s arms. “Please, yami…please…j-j-just
g-g-go.”
Bakura pointed an accusing finger at Ryou. “You’re boyfriend
can’t protect you all the time, Ryou!” Bakura left, disappearing into the
elevator.
‘Boyfriend?’ Seto likes Ryou? I didn’t know. I
was hoping……
Yet another one of Joey Wheeler’s dreams crushed to tiny,
tiny pieces.
Kaiba helped Ryou to his bedroom. I watched as Kaiba sat Ryou
on the toilet and snapped Ryou’s wrist back into place.
“I wonder how many times we’ll be able to reset that bone,”
Ryou whimpered.
This was a gentler side to Seto nobody ever saw. Seto was actually very gentle with Ryou. They have to be together! Seto doesn’t give a shit about anyone! Why
would he care about Ryou? He must really
care about Ryou!
“Where did he hurt you, Ryou?”
Ryou unbuttoned his shirt slowly. He turned around and Seto
and I turned our heads away. A sob
escaped from Ryou. “He whipped me again.”
Seto took the alcohol. “I’m sorry, Ryou. This may sting. Joey, hold his hand.”
Ryou wrapped his arms around my waist as Seto placed an
alcohol-covered cotton ball on one of the lash marks. Ryou buried his face in my shirt and screamed
at the top of his lungs in pain.
“He won’t stop, Seto!
Gods! It hurts so much!”
“I’m sorry, Ryou. I’m trying to go easy.”
Ryou cried into my stomach as Seto cleaned him. When he was done, Seto put Ryou’s shirt back
on and let him rest on his bed.
I sat with Ryou, stroking his hair. He’s been through hell. Like me.
******************************
We sat down for dinner and we ate quietly. Ryou picked at his dinner slowly. I picked at
it like I always done. I should be thrilled. It wasn’t every day that dinner
this good came my way.
I took a mouthful. Delicious! I started shoveling the food
into my mouth, unable to stop. It was so good and I was so hungry!
After dinner, Seto disappeared with Ryou. I finished my dinner quickly and
ran to see where Ryou and Seto had
disappeared.
I heard voices in the library. I put my ear against the door listening to
the dialogue inside.
*****************
Normal POV
“It really pisses me off when he beats on you like this!”
Seto said pacing the floor.
Ryou curled up on the couch. “I tried to make him stop, Seto.
But, he…he wouldn’t stop! All I did was…I
refused him…I refused…I refused him sex.”
Seto narrowed his eyes angrily. “That is why he whipped you
like an animal?”
Ryou nodded silently, burying his face in his hands. “I’m sorry, Seto. I’m so sorry!”
Seto walked beside Ryou, sat down, and held the white-haired
boy close to him. “It’s going to be
okay, Ryou.” Seto gave Ryou a small kiss
on the forehead. “It hurts me to see you like this, Ryou.”
Ryou sniffled. “Thanks for holding me,
Seto. I just…I don’t feel safe with anyone else but you.”
The CEO nuzzled into the white hair below him. Ryou was so cuddly! Seto felt comfortable around Ryou. He didn’t
feel he had to play the big, powerful, stern, perfect CEO of a multi-million
dollar corporation. He could just be Seto Kaiba, imperfect human being with
real emotions.
“You shouldn’t have to put up with Bakura, Ryou.”
“I have no choice. He is my darker half. I’m bound to him by the Millennium Ring.”
Seto pet the white hair. “You can feel safe with me, Ryou.
You know how I feel about you.”
Ryou looked up at Seto with his large, chocolate brown
eyes. “I know. I care for you, too,
Seto. I always have, you know that.”
Seto let out a long sigh. “There’s somebody else that I care
deeply for. I love you, Ryou, but…..I’m…in
love with someone else.”
Ryou cocked his head to the side. “Who is it?”
Seto opened his mouth and hesitated. “I can’t, Ryou! I can’t
tell you who it is. I’m not supposed to
feel this way towards someone who probably doesn’t give a rat’s ass about me?”
Ryou sighed. “You know how I feel about Bakura. He may beat
me and I hate him for it, but deep down I know he can change. I know my yami is capable of being kind. I don’t know why he is so cruel or what has
made him the bloodthirsty maniac he is, but I don’t want to give up on him. Why should I love someone who beats me, whips
me, and rapes me on a daily basis? Love
is a funny, twisted thing, Kaiba. Why do
we love the people who hurt us the most?”
Kaiba shrugged. “I don’t know, Ryou. I…I… I think I’ve fallen
for the mutt.”
Ryou’s jaw dropped. “You think you love Joey? Since when?”
Kaiba shook his head. “I don’t know. I know he looks at me
every day. I just found out he’s been living on the streets. To keep a better eye on him, I brought him
here to live with me.”
“Did you want him near so you could confirm your
suspicions? Maybe you are attracted to
him, Seto. If you are, you owe it to
yourself and Joey to be honest with him.
Maybe he cares for you, too. I
rarely see you both say anything remotely casual to each other.”
“If other people see that I care for the mutt, then people
aren’t going to take me seriously!”
Ryou shook his head. “No, Seto, they will see you are
human. If you don’t want others to know,
I respect that. I understand. Joey is a really good guy, Seto, and he has been
through a lot. He’s been through more
than you could possibly imagine.”
Seto raised an eyebrow. “Like what?”
Ryou shook his head. “Joey swore me to secrecy. I won’t betray his trust. But give Joey a chance, Seto.”
****************
Joey’s POV
I can’t believe what I just heard! I kneeled in front of the
door and spied through the keyhole.
Seto loves me? He has feelings for me? I didn’t know. Seto, I care for you, too, you big jerk.
I looked into the keyhole. Seto had moved Ryou onto his
lap. Ryou was straddling his waist.
“Promise me, Seto, that no matter what happens, I want you to
be happy.” Ryou stroked the brunet’s cheek. “I know you care for me deeply. If
you and Joey do end up together, I’m happy for you. Just promise me, Seto, that
nothing will change between us.”
“You and I will always be close, Ryou. Nothing will change that. I will always be here for you no matter what
your yami does to you. No matter what
happens, Ryou, I promise to be by your side.”
Ryou smiled. He has such a cute little smile. So innocent.
Ryou leaned in and kissed Seto gently on the lips. If only I
was the one sitting on his waist and kissing his lips! I’d be in my heaven!
I watched Seto snake his fingers through that soft, white
hair. Then, the unthinkable happened….Seto
moaned into the kiss with Ryou!
Gods, I want to kiss him! I need to have my lips touch his!
The fact I can’t be there and kiss him hurts. If I can’t put my lips on Seto, I’ll put my
lips to something else.
Time to go nurse my Jack Daniels.
*****************************
Normal POV
Seto wrapped his tongue around Ryou’s tongue, stroking
softly. Seto knew this was the only affection Ryou was getting. His yami tortured him and Steven was always
away digging for mummies and buried treasure.
Ryou pulled Seto close to him, desiring more contact. Seto’s hand glided up Ryou’s shirt, running
along Ryou’s sides and feeling the skin heat up under his touch.
Seto pulled back from the kiss looking up at Ryou. Resisting the
urge to put the white-haired boy on his back in front of the fireplace was becoming
difficult. Seto wanted nothing more than
to take Ryou in front of the mantle, but, their relationship had never become
physical.
“Ryou, I would love to make love to you right now. I want to share love with you right now, but…..Joey. I can’t.”
Ryou sighed. “I understand, Seto. Seto, go to Joey. Tell him
what you’re feeling. Maybe he feels the same way.”
“But, Ryou…what if I look weak?”
“If you love someone, that won’t matter to you. You aren’t
afraid of confessing your feelings to me. You love me. So why is this any
different?”
“It’s Joey.”
“If Joey loves you like I do, he won’t think any less of you.
Go talk to him, Seto. You have nothing to lose.”
Seto sighed. “What about you?”
Ryou shuddered. “I have to….go back home.”
Seto took Ryou’s shoulders in his hands. “Ryou, please go stay
with someone tonight. Yugi
or Tristan or…someone!”
Seto picked up the phone. “You’ll stay at Yugi’s tonight. I don’t want you hurt, Ryou. Besides, your scars are deep and you’ll need time
to heal.”
Ryou sighed in resignation. There was no use talking Kaiba out
of this one.
***********************
Normal POV
Seto watched Yugi come and pick Ryou up.
“Seto, I’ll be fine,” Ryou protested.
“No, Ryou. You need time to heal.”
Ryou hugged Seto tightly. “Thank you for everything, Seto.”
Seto pat Ryou on the shoulder. “Go rest, Ryou.”
Yugi and Ryou left. Seto turned around. Where did the mutt go?
Seto checked the library and the study. He checked the kitchen thinking Joey was hungry.
No.
Maybe he was sleeping in his room. Seto walked into the room and found Joey putting
a Jack Daniels’ bottle to his lips.
“Joey! What are you doing?”
Seto grabbed the bottle and put it on the table. “Joey, why are you doing this to yourself?”
“I heard everything about what you were talking about! You care
for me yet you were kissing Ryou!”
”Joey, please let me explain!”
“You hate me! Why would you care what happens to me?”
Seto narrowed his eyes. “Because I love you,
you ass!”