Chapter 8

The days went by nearly in a blur after that night. Joey constantly thought about Kaiba's feelings for him and sometimes, why he was so damn happy about it, knowing full well that it must hurt Seto that he doesn't return his feelings. Yet he feels strangely giddy whenever he thinks about it.

They have a routine by now. Every Monday and Thursday after dinner Seto, and by now Joey even started to call him that, taught Joey about notes, which is the more boring part about learning to play the piano. Every Sunday after dinner Seto lets him play a few notes on the piano, helping him to get it right and by now Joey can play some simple and short songs, or rather short passages of simple songs.

Every Tuesday and Saturday Joey plays some of the games after dinner and every Wednesday and Friday, Joey reads in a book with his head leaned against Seto's leg while he's working, he doesn't even know why he started to do it but he really likes it.

By now Joey woke up in Seto's arms every morning since that first time and so far the strange pain Seto once had didn't return. After getting ready for the day, while Seto gets dressed, Joey always makes breakfast. He also makes a bit of lunch for both of them to take to Seto's office during that time. During the mornings and afternoons Joey was mostly bored but every Wednesday Kaiba makes up some excuse to kick Joey out. Just to give him a chance to see his friends and let him visit Serenity, who has recovered nicely and can once again see perfectly. By now Seto is confident enough to not spy on Joey during those visits, knowing that his friends won't be able to get Joey to leave him. Joey always comes home to the mansion before Seto and then calls him in time for dinner.

There never was a change to that. Not until today. It's Friday and on the previous Wednesday Duke had given Joey an invitation for a party. That wasn't all that unusual, Joey had already been wondering how much longer Duke would be able to go without a party and what excuse he would come up with next. Apparently the excuse is that he just broke his own record. He'd never been this long without throwing a party and to celebrate that, he throws a party.

The invitation is for Seto as well, Duke claims that it's in the hope that Kaiba will be more likely to let Joey go and Joey wasn't sure if even that will help. The party starts at nine and Joey is going with Seto's permission, but apparently Kaiba won't join. Joey doesn't even know why he's so upset about it. He knew from the start that Seto wouldn't be found dead at such a party, so why does it bother him so much that Joey doesn't even feel like going himself? He's preparing some dinner for Seto and has planned to get ready for the party while Seto eats but instead he just sits down with him and watches him eat while he will eat later at the party. Duke said there'd be enough food to feed an army of Joeys. "You're sure ya don't wanna come?" Joey asks for god knows how many times only that day.

"Of course I'm sure." Kaiba replies, "I have way too much work to do anyway and I wouldn't even know what to do there."

"You could dance with me." Joey suggests, "Or talk to Yugi and Duke. You don't dislike them that much that you couldn't do that, do you?"

"But I don't like them enough to neglect my work for them either." Seto says.

"And for me?" Joey asks, sounding disappointed.

"You have your friends there and probably won't even have time to miss me." Seto points out for god knows how often. "Now shouldn't you be getting ready? Or do you want to go there wearing a suit?"

"I guess you're right." Joey says with a sigh and gets up to leave but in the door he adds, "You could still think about it though and come later. I would be glad to see you there."

A little later Roland is driving a sad looking Joey to the party. Joey doesn't really feel like going and would rather have stayed with Kaiba reading a book. But he can't just tell Duke that he doesn't want to go to his party and see him and the others and considering how bad they already talk about Seto, Joey can't lie and tell them that Seto didn't allow him to go and blame it on him either.

Once there Joey tries to ignore the fact that he misses Seto and tries to forget about him and have some fun. It works only partly. He does enjoy seeing his friends and even dances with some of them a few times. After a while Joey is starting to enjoy the party a little and dances with a few others that Duke invited too.

He's there for just two hours when one of them starts to flirt with him a little more. Duke had introduced him to Joey and the others earlier and they had talked for some time. Joey had enjoyed it and even started to dance with the guy after he had asked but during that the guy started to flirt a little. Making Joey one compliment after the other. Joey tries to stay polite but already decides not to dance with him again. He also doesn't return any of the compliments and tries to show him that he really doesn't want to hear any of them either by reacting to them as little as possible and frowning from time to time already considering to stop dancing before the song ends.

Unfortunately the guy doesn't seem to take a hint and towards the end of the dance he tries to kiss Joey. Since Joey hasn't expected him to do so he is too slow to stop him before their lips meet but he does end the kiss right after it started.

After that Joey ends the dance right away too and leaves the guy standing in the middle of the dance floor. He glares towards Duke for a while after that but then tries to put it behind himself. Of course Duke would try to pull something like that to stop Joey from staying with Kaiba after this deal is over. He can't really stop thinking about Seto after that though. He can't help and wonder if Seto can dance as well as some of the others here. But most of all he wonders if Seto would want to kiss him too? "You can't stop thinking about him, can you?" Yugi asks at some point after midnight and Joey looks at him in surprise.

"If you mean that idiot Duke tried to hook me up with then you're way off." Joey grumbles.

"I know." Yugi chuckles. "I meant Kaiba."

Joey looks surprised towards his friend but then nods saying, "I just don't know why."

"You mean you still haven't figured out that you love him?" Yugi asks laughing a little while Joey stares at him in surprise. "Honestly Joey, sometimes I think he's right, you really are slow. You've always liked him, haven't you? I really thought you knew that you love him when Tris told you that he likes you. The way you looked all happy about it I really thought you did. You are happy that he loves you too after all, aren't you?"

Joey blushes a little and says, "I'm happy he likes me, yes, but do you really think it means that I love him?"

"You really shouldn't ask me that." Yugi says, "Just think about it yourself. How you feel around him and how you would feel if he'd be here with you now, or how it would feel, if he wouldn't want you to stay with him. If he'd want someone else." The colour seems to be drained right out of Joey's face at the last part and Yugi grins knowingly. "I bet he misses you too right now."

"Are you trying to get me to actually go for it?" Joey asks in surprise.

"I was from the start." Yugi replies. "Even when I sent Mokuba to help you. I knew that if Kaiba wasn't really torturing you by then as Tristan seemed to fear, you'd never even consider his help but that you would help them make up. I've noticed how long Mokuba had been gone and assumed that they had a fight. I hoped it would help you get Kaiba to you like. Because even if I'm not sure if he lied to Mokuba about his feelings or if it's a good idea for you to try and be with him. I do know that you'd regret it some day if you don't use the chance he provided with that deal. And anyway, if I truly had wanted to get you to stay away I would have reminded you that Serenity was worried about you and needed you, so if he doesn't let you see her you'll have to find a different way to repay him and forget this deal for her sake. That would have helped way better than just telling you that he can't make you stay, I really wonder why Tristan didn't think of that? Oh and you have to tell Kaiba something, if he does hurt you, I'll make him pay for it big time." And with that Yugi grins towards Joey asking, "What are you waiting for? Don't you want to go and tell him that you love him?"

Joey just grins and nods. He gives his friend a hug before saying goodbye and asks Roland, who never was far away throughout the evening, to take him home.

Back at the mansion Joey walks right towards Kaiba's room, assuming to find him at his desk, but instead of that Kaiba is at Joey's usual place when he plays a game. On the couch in his room. "What are you doing?" Joey asks surprised and only after that notices the strong smell of alcohol.

"Nothing." Kaiba mumbles and lifts a bottle of Tequila towards his lips.

"You've got to be kidding me." Joey says, not that he hadn't had anything on that party but Kaiba never had more than an occasional glass of wine during Joey's time with him. And even that only about 5 times. "Give me that bottle." It looks nearly empty and Joey wonders if it could possibly have been full. He might have to call an ambulance if that's the case.

"Why?" Kaiba asks. "Why should I do anything you say?"

"Because I want to help you." Joey replies, "You never drink that much, so why on earth are you now?"

"Lyer." Kaiba mumbles, "You lie when you open your mouth, don't you?"

"What the heck are you talking about?" Joey complains, "I mean sure I might have tricked Roland to let me call you once and maybe miscalculated the dinner time a few times on purpose to get you to come home sooner. But that's all."

"You never even meant it when you said it, did you?" Kaiba asks seemingly ignoring what Joey just said, "When you said you'd stay?"

"Of course I meant it." Joey grumbles, here he comes home much sooner than he usually leaves one of Duke's parties, just because he wants to tell that jerk that he loves him and he accuses him of something like that.

"And what about those guys?" Kaiba asks. "I know that you danced with one after the other and even kissed one."

"Did you spy on me?" Joey wants to know, sounding even more upset. "Because if that's the case then you should find better spies. I never kissed anyone. Some idiot tried to kiss me and maybe I was a little too slow but I didn't want that kiss and stopped it right away."

"Even if that's the case." Kaiba complains angrily and glares towards Joey, "You will leave me for someone sooner or later, won't you? You must know that you'd try to find some idiot or some bitch sooner or later. Probably rather sooner than later. Did you do all this because you felt sorry for lonely little me, did you?" Kaiba walks over to Joey, or rather sways over since he's way past being able to walk in anything that even remotely resembles a straight line. Once Kaiba is in front of Joey he stares down at the slightly shorter man and with a speed that truly surprises Joey, considering how he moved before Kaiba grabs him and pushes Joey to the floor saying, "I make you pay for letting me hope." The glare is increasing and starts to slightly scare Joey.

"Stop messing with me." Joey nearly shouts, "I never meant to hurt you and I meant what I said, I'll stay no matter what. I don't even care what you'll do now, I'll keep my promise."

"Stop that lying." Seto orders and tries to slap Joey but Joey manages to duck his head out of the way. Kaiba uses Joey's distraction to grab both of Joey's hands and quickly tie them together with his necktie while Joey starts to struggle a little against that. Joey might have been able to stop him if he'd been willing to hurt Kaiba by kicking him or hitting his own head against Seto's but Joey refuses to hurt him, knowing that Seto only reacts this way because he himself had hurt him. Even if he hadn't meant to do so, Seto is right in saying that he did. To Seto it must really look like he didn't mean any of it. After all, how is Seto supposed to know that the only one Joey wants to be with is him, when Joey himself hadn't been able to figure it out until now? "I'll make you pay." Kaiba says and forces his lips roughly against Joey's, letting him feel the bulge in his pants and now Joey wishes that he had kicked him. Fearing that Seto will try to rape him in his drunken hatred. But even in that situation Joey can't help but wonder how big the little dragon that is currently creating a huge bulge in Seto's pants must be.

"Don't do this Seto." Joey nearly begs and tries to keep a calm mind. Even with bound hands he can still try and fight back and Seto is clearly drunk enough to have a huge disadvantage against Joey who only had two beer at Duke's party. "I meant what I said," Joey tries to say calmly and looks deep into Seto's angry looking eyes, "I want to stay with you and no one else." And after that Joey leans up towards Seto's face that is still leaning above him and gently kisses him. He notices how Seto freezes in surprise and then adds, "Just please don't do this like this."

"You're lying." Seto states again but this time he looks rather weary than angry.

"I'm not." Joey says gently and then adds, "Please Seto, trust me just a little more." He gives him another kiss and wonders how he can enjoy it this much knowing what Seto had been willing to do with him just now, and what he still might try to do. "Let's get to bed, Seto. You and me, okay? And I'll make sure that you'll never have to doubt me again. Because I meant it, you won't get rid of me, no matter what." Joey feels Seto's arms move around him and try to pull him up. Joey helps as good as he can and walks with the strongly swaying man towards the bed. "Untie me, please." Joey says but Seto just looks wearily and shakes his head. "Kinky, aren't we?" Joey grins certain that if he tries to push for it, Seto will just doubt Joey's words again and get angry and that's the last thing he wants right now.

Once on the bed Joey tries to cuddle into Seto's arms and starts to kiss him again. He feels Kaiba's hands move over his body and starting to pull his top up. Soon Seto's hands are wandering under Joey's top and Joey actually starts to really enjoy the feeling he gets from Seto but really doesn't want this to happen while Seto is this drunk. The way he always acts like he couldn't care less about anyone keeping him company, he definitely never did something like this with someone he loves, if he did it at all. "I'll always be here for you." Joey whispers into Seto's ear between kisses and tries to move his bound hands around the other and slow the kissing a little, trying to get Kaiba to relax a little more, just enough to let the alcohol do the rest. Joey notices how Seto's movements get slower after a while and starts to just gently brush his lips against Seto's until he finally notices that Seto doesn't return the kiss or moves his hands anymore and sleeps.

Joey tries to get his hands close enough to his own mouth to use his teeth to untie them but Seto moves and Joey fears that if he wakes up he'll just be angry and notices the trick Joey used to get him to sleep, so he stops and decides to try and sleep like this. After all, it's not the first time that he sleeps in Seto's arms and he sure hopes that it's not the last one either.

Joey wakes up when Kaiba's alarm starts and quickly turns it off before Kaiba even moves. His hands are still tied together but Kaiba is still fast asleep and didn't notice him moving, so Joey cuddles against him but tries to use his mouth to untie his hand. After a while he wonders were the hell Seto learned to make such damn good knots even when he's totally wasted.

After three hours he gives up and sneaks Seto's phone out of the pocket of his pants, that Seto's still wearing since neither one managed to get really undressed with everything that happened the previous night. Once Joey has the phone in his hand he tries to find V's number, happy that he can manage to use the phone with his hands tied together.

He manages to call him after a moment and as soon as V picks up Joey can hear his cheerful voice saying, "Whatever you want don't forget the please."

Joey just has to chuckle and asks, "Do you always say that?"

"Oh, hey Joey." V says still cheerful, "Yeah sure. Too bad that it never worked so far but I'm not giving up. But how comes that you have his phone and more importantly, why isn't he in his office? He's never not in his office when I start working...Well to be completely honest, I've never seen him not being in his office unless of course he is at a meeting but he definitely is always working."

"That's gonna change today." Joey says, "He got drunk and I mean like really, really drunk. For a moment I feared that I'd have to call an ambulance for the guy. But he proved to me that he still had plenty of energy and didn't need that one. But he's still fast asleep now and I think that he wouldn't wake up from a bomb that explodes right in this room at the moment."

"I guess that means he's having his first day off work since," V thinks about it for a moment and then adds, "I think since he took over."

"I guess he deserves it then." Joey chuckles, "I bet his company can manage to survive one day without it's mommy."

"Better not let him hear that mommy part." V laughs. "But sure, I'll get everything arranged that he can stay home, so try to tie him up while he still sleeps or he'll be here later on."

"I think I know how to distract him and I really don't wanna talk about tying up." Joey grumbles.

"Why that?" V wonders.

"Don't ask." Joey grumbles even more upset, "Seriously, never, ever ask me that. Anyway, I'll probably see you next week and if there is anything that you guys need mommy Seto for just call and I try to wake up our dear sleeping beauty."

"Okay," V chuckles, "I'll see you then."

Joey watches Seto for a while after that not even bothering with Kaiba's necktie around his wrists anymore. It's close to noon when Seto finally moves and to Joey's demise he suddenly looks like he's in pain and touches his left hip again with a groan escaping his lips. "Shhh Seto, it's alright I'm here, calm down everything is fine." Joey says right away and puts his hands on top of Seto's.

Seto who is looking in that direction sees that Joey's hands are tied and forces himself to ask Joey, "What happened?"

"Nothing you need to worry about, so just calm down for now." Joey replies wondering why it doesn't help today. "I'm right here and I'm not going anywhere."

"Not for now maybe." Seto mumbles hardly audible for Joey.

With a sigh Joey figures out why the pain doesn't end and why it returned all of a sudden. Seto still thinks that Joey will leave him for someone else. Joey leans down to him and just presses his lips onto Seto's. Effectively shocking Seto so much that he seems to forget about the pain. He isn't exactly relaxed since the shock also stops him from that but he doesn't seem to be in pain anymore. "But before I explain, could you please finally untie me?" Joey asks, "These are starting to hurt a little."

Seto looks surprised but then opens the tie with ease while Joey just wonders how he did that. "What happened?" Seto asks moving his thumb over the bruise that is now around both of Joey's wrist where the tie held him.

"Someone." Joey says pointedly looking at him but still with a grin on his face to make sure that Seto knows that he's not really angry at him. "Got a little too upset over nothing and then got drunk and angry while being drunk and wanted to pick a fight. But don't worry, I dealt with it and now you have the rest of the day off. I called V already."

"What did I do to you?" Seto asks, noticing that they both are still dressed and hopes that he didn't hurt Joey any more than the bruises on his wrists.

"Well I'd say you also got a little too horny." Joey says causing Seto to pale, "But it's not too bad so calm down."

Seto watches Joey for a moment and looks thoughtful before he get's out of bed, grabs a suitcase from under his bed and then starts to put Joey's new clothes into it. "What are you doing?" Joey asks.

"What does it look like I'm doing?" Seto asks, "You're leaving now."

"Didn't I tell you that I won't leave you even if you want me to?" Joey asks grinning at him. "You're stuck with me now."

"Whats the point?" Seto asks angrily. "I hurt you and I might just hurt you again so get the hell away right now. You're going to leave at some point anyway. You might intend to keep that promise and stay for a while longer but you will leave eventually, latest when you fall in love with someone."

"I would be stupid to leave you." Joey points out and then grabs Kaiba's hand, "And now stop packing my stuff because you'll just have to unpack again. I'm not going anywhere, oh and Yugi told me to tell you something."

"And what?" Seto asks.

"That he helped you so far but if you dare to hurt me he'll just make you pay for it big time." Joey grins.

"Help?" Seto asks. "He got Mokuba here to have him bust you out. How can he call that help?"

"That wasn't his plan." Joey replies." He got Mokuba here because he knew how I felt about you and since Mokuba hadn't been around Yugi assumed that if I help you two make up with each other it could help me get you to like me a little more."

"What do you mean." Seto asks and looks at Joey like he's trying very hard to stop himself from hoping what he must knew to come, "How do you feel about me?"

Joey grins and moves his hand around Seto's neck to pull him a little closer before whispering, "I love you."

Seto stares at Joey for a moment, unable to believe his own ears but then moves his arms around Joey's waist and pulls him even closer to himself asking, "You really mean that?"

"I do." Joey says still holding on to Seto. "I love you, and I won't leave you ever again, so don't worry okay?"

For a moment they just stand there while Seto tries to wrap his mind around the possibility that Joey might actually love him back. A few moments later Seto loosens his grip on Joey and removes one of Joey's arms from around himself to look at Joey's bruised wrist with a sad expression. "How can you say that if I truly did what you just hinted last night?"

"It wasn't so bad actually." Joey replies trying to play it down a little. He had been a bit scared for a moment but in the end, it really wasn't all that bad since Seto is one hell of a kisser even when drunk.

"I tried to rape you, didn't I?" Seto says sounding even more upset now. "How on earth can that not be so bad?"

"You didn't try to rape me, you tried to screw me." Joey says, "That's a big difference."

"I fail to see the big difference, considering that you didn't want that and that I had to tie you up." Seto says and then adds sounding a little scared, "It didn't come to that...did it?"

"No it didn't, and the difference is that rape means that I wouldn't want you at all." Joey says with a smile, "I might not have liked the idea of letting you screw me while you were pissed at me for believing that I wouldn't stay, even though I promised and even mumbled about me lying about it from the start. But I seriously wouldn't mind spending the rest of your work free day in that bed and if you hadn't fallen asleep, I'm sure I would have enjoyed you're kinkiness in the end. I sure enjoyed kissing and making out with you."

The way Seto looks at Joey he's clearly very interested in starting some kink right now but instead he closes his eyes for a moment to get his thoughts straight again and then asks, "You still shouldn't stay, I might hurt you again."

"I know." Joey says and can see how Seto fears that Joey will take his advice and leave. "Just like I might hurt you again. I know that Roland or someone must have told you that this crazy guy tried to kiss me and that I was a little too slow. I didn't want that. Really, if I had gotten something for every hint I dropped to him that I'm so not interested in him, I'd be richer than you. But you see, we both can and at times might unintentionally hurt each other. But that won't change the fact that we love each other. And I told you already, you're not going to get rid of me that easily. I stay and will work to get even closer to you and that's final." Joey grins at him for a moment, happy to finally see a smile on Seto's face again.

"I doubt that you'd be that rich since you just met him that day, but I'm still very happy to hear that." Seto says "Too bad that I can't use Yugi's threat to see if I can fight his attempt to make me pay. I bet I can win that one."

"Why can't you?" Joey asks grinning and pulling Seto closer again.

"Because he'll only start if I hurt you." Kaiba says and leans down towards Joey's lips again, "And I really don't want to do that." And with that said, he finally kisses his lover.

The End

Authors Note: Thanks to noffermans, BlackButlerQueen666, dancing elf and Cascade00 for the reviews and by now I'm very happy that 10 of people faved this story and 16 follow it. I can't believe it since I was hardly coherent when I wrote most of it.

BlackButlerQueen666 asked in a review for a sequel, I'll doubt I do that since right now I wouldn't know what to write but my annoying doctor won't let me go back to work for yet another week and I'm so bored so I might write some other stories. I already wrote a one shot yesterday and my friend will be fixing the mistakes later today and after that I'll update...if she has a better idea for a title because I have no idea how to name that story...Right now the name is "This story needs a better name" So let's hope that my friend has a good idea :P Also if you're really lucky I get more ideas for this but right now...it doesn't look like it so sorry BlackButlerQueen666.