Here's the last chapter! Enjoy!
- Chapter 17 -
"Yugi!" Mokuba was standing in the corner of the waiting room of the hospital. His ear was glued to his brother's mobile phone. He had decided to call Yugi for he deserved to know…that Joey was hurt. Also he could use the support. His brother was still completely out of it – Mokuba hadn't been able to get a word out of him.
Seto sat on one of the really uncomfortable hospital chairs. He sat there, acting as if he was in a trance – just staring into space. Mokuba could guess, hell he knew, what Seto had done. But he couldn't believe it – Seto would never hurt someone. They were getting along so well also. It was something that Mokuba didn't understand – and Mokuba doesn't like not understanding things.
"No, Seto's not hurt." Mokuba paused to let Yugi talk. "Yes. Yeah, well, see you soon." And with that Mokuba hung up. He turned and sat down next to his older brother.
"Can't you tell me what happened?" Seto just looked down at his hands. Mokuba brought his legs up on the chair and hugged them, leaning his head upon his knee. He sighed hoping that…that Joey was okay of course but also that…whatever happened that caused Seto to do that…
"Mr. Kaiba?" A doctor stood in front of Mokuba and Seto.
"Yes," Mokuba jumped to his feet, hoping for some news on Joey's condition. The doctor looked slightly surprised for he had been addressing the older Kaiba brother, but after noticing the trance like condition that Seto was in he turned to Mokuba.
"You brought in Mr. Wheeler, correct?" Mokuba nodded. He glanced at Seto and them he and the doctor stepped to the side so that they could talk privately about Joey's condition. He didn't want to worry Seto any more that he had too.
But Seto wasn't even listening anyway. But although he looked like he was in a trance, he wasn't no matter how much he wished he was – or had been. He knew what he was doing, when he hit Joey and no matter how much he'd like to blame it all on the OCD, he couldn't. He knew what he was doing but he didn't think he'd actually go so far as to hurt him. It was hard seeing anyone lay on the ground completely lifeless let alone someone – yeah, he admitted it – he cared about.
"…He's in room 126…" Seto finally caught up with reality and heard a tidbit of the conversion Mokuba and the doctor were having. He took a deep breath and stood, silently walking off without Mokuba or the doctor noticing.
Though most people wouldn't be able to walk down the hospital halls without getting in trouble but then, there were a few perks to being the one and only Seto Kaiba. A serious look claimed his face as he sauntered down the halls. He glanced at the door numbers as they past not stopping until he came to 125. He knew the door he wanted was the next one over but he just couldn't get his feet to take the extra few steps.
Just as he was about to take one step backwards the door of room 125 burst open. One of the hospital's candy strippers was pushing a cart of magazines from the room which almost ran over Seto.
"Sorry! I didn't see you there!" She exclaimed apologetically. "I really didn't…are you okay?" Seto nodded and somewhat dazed he let her help him up from the ground. She was about his height with dirty blonde hair which hung in a loose ponytail. She was wearing the usual red and white stripped uniform.
"Please don't say anything," She pleaded. "It's only my first night and I really need this job." She continued pushing the cart towards the next room which happened to be the room Seto needed to get too. She noticed that Seto hadn't left and was standing behind her. "Oh… are you lost?" She asked. Seto just nodded towards room 126.
"Oh! What a coincidence!" She exclaimed flirtatiously causing Seto to roll his eyes. The girl opened the door of the room and pushed the cart in. Joey happened to be sitting on the bed, struggling to get his arm into shirt. His right arm was covered in plaster.
"Oh my God, I'm so sorry!" The girl again apologized again for the second time within a little less than five minutes. Joey just smiled brightly at her. He hadn't noticed Seto standing behind her.
"It's okay." He murmured. He noticed the magazines lying on the cart. "I'll be leaving in a little while," He added. Now the cart and the girl were fully in the room, making room so that Seto could also walk in. Joey noticed him standing there and he could swear he felt his heart skip a beat. Seto just looked from the bandage on his forehead and to the cast on his arm. He gazed at the ground ashamed. The girl with the cart seemed oblivious to the awkward silence. She giggled slightly.
"I just ran over…" She glanced at both men hastily. "Your boyfriend here with my trolley," She said as if it were the funniest thing ever. Both Joey and Seto flushed red at this allegation which only caused her to giggle even more.
"Well," She started. "I guess I'll leave you two alone," Seto was positive that he'd strangle her if she didn't leave soon. Joey was just sure that he looked somewhat like a fairly large and very red tomato. She left and the door shut softly behind her. The occupants of the room remained silent. So silent that Seto even wished that the annoying candy stripper were still in there so to avoid the silence.
"…Can you help me?" Joey broke the silence, motioning to the shirt that was only half on him. Seto nodded hurriedly before rushing towards him. He helped Joey get the shirt sleeve over the cast and started buttoning the shirt up.
"I can button it up myself," Joey smirked slightly. Seto turned red again as he practically jumped backwards. They stood – or sat in Joey's case – in silence as he finished buttoning his shirt. Seto stared at the cast that encased Joey's arm.
"I'm sorry," He blurted out, but for some reason he still felt that there was more he needed to say. It's just he didn't know what it was.
"For what?" Joey questioned taking Seto by surprise for he thought that it was obvious.
"For breaking your arm," He replied taking a step towards Joey. "I still can't believe…I can't believe I hurt you. I didn't want to hurt to…I'm sorry that I…It's my fault…I…" Was it the Seto Kaiba that was tripping over his own words? But he couldn't help it – there was so much he needed – wanted – to say and just didn't know how. "Everything's paid for and if your arm hurts or anything don't be afraid to ask…" Seto trailed off, noticing the hurt expression on Joey's face.
"That's all you care about isn't it?" Joey accused a confused Seto. "I couldn't care less about my arm… That's not the only thing you broke," Joey said; the pain in his voice apparent. But before Seto could say anything Joey continued. "I've been sitting here for awhile, thinking over what you said. And I wonder how you could just say that, that it was all a mistake when…when…" Joey trembled slightly. "How could you say those things if you didn't want to hurt me?" Seto stared.
"And don't tell me it was the OCD crap! I know you; you're strong enough to fight it! Yet you didn't…you said it was a mistake not caring how much that…" Joey had to stop. He didn't want Seto to see him crying, nor did he want to cry for that matter. He was standing now, head bent as he tried to wipe the tears away from his eyes. He hiccupped. "It hurt," Joey whispered. "A lot," Seto wanted to deny it. That he did try to fight it. But he couldn't muster the words.
"…Or did you mean it?" Joey asked, recollecting himself.
"I'm sorry," Seto finally said. "I tried, really but…"
"But what?" Joey asked scornfully. "But what damn it!" Joey swore.
"I was scared!" Seto yelled, silencing Joey.
"You, scared?" Seto nodded reluctantly.
"Though I may seem that I don't care what people think..." He shook his head. "I do. I actually do." Seto laughed. "As unbelievable as it seems I do want to be accepted and there are people who don't accept people like…" He motioned towards Joey and himself. "Like my stepfather," Joey looked up at Seto, knowing that Seto rarely talked about his stepfather. Seto sat down next to Joey on the bed. He took a hold of Joey's hand in his own, hoping that Joey wouldn't pull away.
To put it short he didn't.
They sat in silence, their hands intertwined with each others.
"You know, I'm sure Mokuba wouldn't care if we were…" Joey began. "And I know my friends wouldn't…" Seto interrupted.
"I know; I just...I got obsessed with the idea and it got out of hand."
"If you ever feel that… you can always talk to me," Joey stated. "But you have to tell me the truth," He added. Seto nodded in agreement. He smiled. Everything was good and everything had been said, well, except for one thing.
"So, are you – we –, like the candy stripper said?" A blank look appeared on Joey's face. Seto smirked and whispered into Joey's ear.
"Are you my boyfriend?" Both men laughed at how clichéd that question sounded but Joey grinned all the same.
"I assume that's a yes,"
"Hell yeah," Joey murmured just as Seto planted a kiss on his lips. As Seto deepened the kiss a soft moan escaped from Joey's mouth.
"I guess you like that, eh?" Seto teased.
"Shut-up," Joey growled playfully before he pulled Seto into another kiss.
Mokuba had noticed that Seto had disappeared after he finished his conversation with the doctor but he soon forgot about it as Yugi, Tristan and Tèa appeared.
"Can we visit him?" Yugi asked hopefully. Mokuba nodded and the group started down the hallway looking for room 126.
"So what happened?" Tristan asked.
"Well," Mokuba wasn't sure of what to say. "He has a slight concussion and a broken arm."
"How did that happen?" Yugi asked, knowing that Mokuba was hiding something. Mokuba opted for the truth.
"I don't really know," He said and before they could ask about the really part they arrived at Joey's room. Tristan forgot about getting an answer for the question and was about to open the door when Tèa stopped him.
"I don't think you want to open the door," She said smiling nervously.
"Why not?" Tristan questioned. She pointed towards the window in the door.
"That's why not," Tèa said as they stared through the window.
"Oh my…" Yugi said, blushing.
"Go Joey!" Tristan mumbled, earning himself a reprehensive look from Tèa.
"What's going on?" Mokuba finally exclaimed, confused for he was too short to be able to see through the window. Tèa just smiled at Mokuba.
"Maybe when you're older squirt," Tristan added, grinning. Mokuba scowled, and tried to jump up to the window.
But then the door opened and that told Mokuba what he had been wondering all along. Seto and Joey walked out into the hallway. Their hands were still entwined, their faces were red and Seto's shirt was buttoned up the wrong way. Mokuba's eyes went wide in realization.
Seto gaped at the group, feeling alarmed and not to mention embarrassed as hell. Joey lightly squeezed Seto's hand reassuringly.
"Hope you guys didn't wait long," Joey joked, causing the group to burst into laughter.
"How's your arm?" Yugi asked.
"It's okay." Joey started, and then he smirked. "But Seto here made it feel a whole lot better," Joey teased. Seto felt all of them stare at him. He knew he'd have to get used to comments like that if they were together but he'd really need to talk to Joey about saying those suggestive comments around his little brother. He didn't want to scar the kid for life.
"I did, didn't I?" Seto said as he wrapped his arm around Joey's shoulder. The group relaxed.
"So what are we doing just standing here?" Joey exclaimed. "Isn't dinner time?" And as if right on queue Joey's stomach growled.
"There's a café near by," Tèa informed them. And so they walked down the hallway towards the exit of the hospital.
And it seemed that Seto didn't need to worry about scarring his little brother. Mokuba seemed very happy about this arrangement. In fact all the way to the café he was singing "Seto and Joey sitting in a tree K-I-S-S-I-N-G…" Or at least until Seto yelled at him to stop.
A few miles from a café where six teens were eating lunch, an English teacher sat at her desk trying to grade the homework she had just collected fromher students a few days ago. It was meant to be an easy grade but even so there were many students who did badly or outright did not do it at all.
Of course Joey Wheeler was not one of those students. Not any more anyway.
The teacher was rather happy about that, considering it was her idea for Joey and Seto to have the group therapy thing. And she assumed that was what raised his English grade. She smiled happily as she began grading Joey's homework. All the answers were right – though it was debatable on whether or not they were readable. Then she came to the last question; the creative question on the homework, the question with no wrong or right answer.
If you were acting like Id, what would you do?
She had gotten the usual boring answers and she expected another one. But after reading Joey's answer she had to read over it again to make sure her eyes weren't playing tricks on her.
I'd kiss Seto Kaiba.
The teacher pursed her lips, her eyes feeling as if they were about to pop out her head. She blinked and reread it a couple times. Yup, that's what Joey wrote. It was even in Joey's usual messy handwriting.
She stood, picking up her cup of coffee, and walked over to the window. She gazed out into the yard, thinking.
Not that it was any of her business; but she wondered how Joey suddenly changed his opinion on Seto Kaiba. Because she knew that they had been enemies. Perhaps it was because of the group therapy thing…
She gaped slightly. What if she set loose two hormonal, sex-craving teens? What went on those Thursdays after school?
"Damn," She muttered, slightly worried.
But then she shook the thought out of her head and went back to grading homework. Because like I said, it was none of her business. And anyway, it's not as if anything really happened during those sessions, right?
Of course not.
- End -
Thanks for reading!