Family Portrait

Joey ignored the glass shards and stepped into the room. Seto lay on the floor sobbing, something Joey had never seen before. He gently reached down to touch Seto’s shoulder. A hand shot out and grasped his wrist.

“Don’t touch me, makeinu.(1)”

“Seto, with all your growling, you don’t scare me. I’ve been married to you for three years now, you think one sharp growl is going to send me running?”

Tear filled blue eyes stared up into concerned brown ones. Seto knew there was no way he’d get out of this without explaining to Joey the reason. He took a deep breath and stood. He moved back to the desk he had no idea he’d even left.

“The orphanage that handled Mokuba’s and mine adoption folded. They asked if I wanted the files concerning my brother and I. I did want Mokuba to know about our parents, but they were worried about that.” He pulled out a fresh newspaper clipping and handed it to Joey.

“Man escapes prison, looking for sons.” Joey’s eyes widened as he noticed the resemblance between the man in the clip’s photo and Seto. “This is your birth father? What did he get locked up for?”

“Murder. And he’s out for more blood... yours.” Seto took a deep breath to steady himself. “Problem is, he has no clue where you are. He thinks that you corrupted me and that he can also cash in on my money.”

Joey sat down on the floor with a thump. Death threats were noting new to him. Ever since he’d married the richest student at Domino High their senior year, dispute the fact that they were VERY under age. Girls all over Japan had been insanely jealous of him that he’d been the one to win the billionaire’s affection. Joey was in disbelief himself when it had happened. Seto had hated him for so long that when he’d asked him out on a date, Joey had fainted.

“I know what you are thinking. My father wants to kill you because you took me away from being single. If I’m taking care of you, he thinks I’m not caring for Mokuba.”

“Mok’s 17, can’t he care for himself?”

“Joey, the real reason Mokuba is close to me is because ever since he was born, I was the one who cared for him. My mom had Post Partum Depression, and everything sparked an argument between them. Mom tried to not let it get her d she she kept the house clean, kept the bills paid and everything, the only problem was that she didn’t like my dad running around. We never had much money because she kept the bills paid. Dad didn’t like that very much and he beat her for it. If Mokuba cried, I got beaten. My situation was very similar to yours but not. There is only one way to get my father off your back.”

Seto slid a slim blue folder across the desk. He inwardly cringed at the knowledge of what the file contained. The real reason for the documents inside was he felt that Joey no longer loved him. His real father be damned, there was NO way for him to even set foot in Kaiba Corp property. The documents were quite real, but the intent was to test Joey. Seto hated to do it.

Joey stood and picked up the folder and opened it. His face went white then he turned and stalked to the fireplace. He chucked the file, papers and all into the blaze. Seto sighed in relief.

“Why would you even hand me those?” Joey smiled at Seto. “I passed that test, we both know that.”

Seto crossed the room in a few easy strides and took Joey in his arms. Joey leaned in and gently kissed him. The room spun around them as they mutually deepened the kiss. Time stood still until the sharp bang of a door being flung open snapped them back into reality.

Mokuba stared at his brother in amazement. Seto had definitely changed for the better in the past few years. Since the wedding between him and Joey, Mokuba had noticed that Seto’s manners had calmed.

“Whadda ya want, runt?” Joey teasingly asked Mokuba, who topped him by mare inches. “Ya kinda interrupted us.”

“Well I kinda figured you two would like to know of my leaving the house...” Mokuba stopped when he noticed Seto’s face pale. “Uhh.. I take that as a no... Seto.. What’s wrong?”

“Mokuba, I know it’s wrong to keep you locked up in the house, but I’d appreciate it if you took two bodyguards with you. I know I sound crazy, but things aren’t totally settled about Joey’s and my wedding.”

Joey stared at Seto in shock. He knew that the treats had died down a long time ago. Seto was now only protecting his brother from the father he’d never known.

“But..SETO!! How am I supposed to go on a date with two dumb jocks hanging around me?”

Anger flashed in Seto’s eyes. Behind that was sheer terror. Joey saw the tiny clasp of control snap behind the terror. He slid his arm around Seto’s waist and gently held him. It wasn’t enough, and Setos’ knees buckled.

“Because.. I..said...” Seto’s voice broke as tears slid down his cheeks. “don’t..want..to.. loose...” Seto couldn’t finish what he was trying to say.

“Mokuba, call your date and have them come here. I’m sure you wouldn’t mind doing that, that way Seto knows you are safe, and I don’t have to worry either.”

Mokuba glared at his brother and Joey then stalked from the room. Joey had never seen Seto loose control like this. All the strong walls around him had begun to crumble after he’d gotten the files from the Domino Orphanage. Joey saw scattered photos laying on the floor near Seto’s desk. He picked one up and looked at it.

A happy looking young boy with shocking blue eyes stared up at him. His smile was genuine and innocent, just like the baby he held in his arms. The baby looked close to newborn age with dark eyes and dark fuzzy hair.

“Mom had that photo taken two days after she came home from the hospital. Mokuba was only five days old. I was happy to finally hold my brother. We were a very happy family, till he was born. Then the world changed. Mom got sick, Dad started drinking and I don’t know what. He beat Mom and me.”

Seto looked up at Joey. His blue eyes were red, but the ice was gone from them. They looked haunted and distant.

“Joey, after he was born, my life just turned upside down. I realized that love isn’t material, but that’s all the love I’ve ever received. Mokuba’s different though. I want to protect him, shelter him from the horrors of life and give him the things I never had growing up.”

“Seto, that is love. I have given up alot in my life, and I also grew up in a rough home. I thought I’d never know what love was. I met Yugi and we became friends, that’s when I began to realize what love was. I love my friends, my sister, and I love you.”

“You can’t love me enough for the both of us.” Joey’s heart stopped as he heard the ‘old’ Seto emerge.

Joey responded to that by holding Seto closer and began to kiss his neck. As he reached Seto’s ear, he began to nibble lightly delighting in the small moan the action earned him. He felt Seto move slightly then lean back, pulling Joey on top of him. Joey grinned slightly to feel Seto’s body responding to the tender treatments he was giving it. He felt Seto’s hand slide down between them and begin to rub his already hard member.

Across the room, the door slid open and Mokuba popped his head around it. The sight before his eyes made him gasp. He reached over to pull his ‘date’ into the room. Joey looked over and was dimly aware of to boys standing to the side, one of them’s mouth slid slack. Seizing the opportunity, the other boy began to kiss him. Seto’s hand obscured his vision.

“Hey..I’m waiting.”

“Look” Joey whispered, bearly audibly. “Look at Mokuba’s date.”


Seto looked over to see his brother in the make out session that made him beyond horny. It wasn’t the fact that it was his brother.. it was...

“I think we’d better leave them alone.” Joey had already stood and helped Seto to stand. Together, they left the study and went up to Seto’s room.

(1) big dumb dog