Tell Me a Secret

~::*Tell Me A Secret*::~ - Part 2

Seto wrung his hands together, anxious and worried that his puppy hadn’t been at school. He worried that he had broke Joey’s arm or something the night before, but knew deep down that he hadn’t hit the other boy hard enough to do that.

He used to be able to count on Joey for a good fight, but lately Joey was running away from Seto, as if he truly were afraid of him. What on earth was wrong with the puppy?

The weekend passed slowly as Seto Kaiba anticipated school on Monday. He wanted, no, needed to confront Joey, tell him sorry, and to make up for everything he had ever done wrong to the poor kid.

The hours of Saturday ticked by slowly, and Sunday seemed even longer. The teen billionaire spent his entire weekend pacing is study, rarely taking meals with his younger brother, Mokuba.

Finally, it was Monday morning, and the Kaiba brothers climbed into the back of the limousine for their luxurious ride to school. Seto twiddled his thumbs impatiently. He needed to see Joey. His heart hurt, and he didn’t know why. He couldn’t place the feeling into a category that made any sense.

Yes, he had thought of love, but he had stopped that thought dead in its tracks. Why would he, the great Seto Kaiba (as he had sarcastically been dubbed by many people), develop feelings for an insolent street thug, a punk who picked a fight with any kid who crossed him or his friends? No, he couldn’t call it love.

Little did he know he was oblivious to his own hearts true feelings.

Joey wasn’t anywhere to be seen. Seto shared no classes with him ‘til after lunch, but he still expected to see him in the hallways or something before then.

When lunchtime finally came, Seto sat at his lonesome table, eyeing Joey’s designated seat longingly. He always loved watching the lanky half-starved pup chow down at lunch time, for his own laughs, and missed the ritual. For half an hour, he waited for Joey to make a late entrance with a sheepish grin Seto knew would be on his face. But Joey never showed up.

Seto’s heart gave a tug when the bell rang. Why would he miss the mutt? He should relish in the day of peace, a day without argument.

No, Seto didn’t care what words or actions took place, as long as he could lay his eyes on the perfection that was Joey Wheeler. So he left school after lunch, and headed for the blonde’s house.

When he had arrived, he stared at the door of the pitiful hovel, trying to decide if he should knock or not. Not but a few seconds went by, before he lifted his hand to the door.

A groan of annoyance reached his ears. “Who is it?” rang Joey’s voice, though it sounded a bit strange.

“Joey? It’s me - er – Seto.”

“Go away!” Joey yelled more audible this time.

“Why haven’t you been in school?”

“That’s none of your business, Moneybags! Now GO AWAY!”

Seto sighed. “Not until I see you. Open the door or… Or I’ll kick it in!”

Silence stilled the air for a few moments, before Joey asked Seto, “What do you care if I don’t show up for school? Since when dis my schedule concern the great Seto Kaiba?!?”

Seto would not be moved. “I said open the damned door! I wasn’t joking about tearing down the door.”

“No! If you do that, he’ll kill me!” Joey cried, exasperated.

“Then get over here and open it for me… What’s your problem, anyways? Afraid to show your face to me in this dump you call a home?”

………… “Yes,” Joey said softly. Kaiba heard him perfectly; He hadn’t realized the other boy had moved to stand by the door. “I’ll open it, Kaiba, but I swear, if you laugh at me, I’ll break your neck!”

Seto wanted to retort and say, “I’d like to see you try, pup,” but held his tongue. Then the door opened slowly.

Seto stepped back in shock at what he saw standing before him. There was no golden puppy. Joey’s hair was nearly completely brown, for all the dry blood matting it. The face of his innocent little puppy was disfigured.

Joey’s nose was crooked, welts and dark bruises littered his face, and one eye was swollen completely shut.

The rich teen dared to lower his eyes further, taking notice in the bruised and torn up arms dangling at the other boy’s sides, and tears welled up in his eyes.

“Well, this explains a lot, Joey…”

“Are you crying, Kaiba? I thought only wusses cried.”

Seto ignored that remark. “What the fuck happened to you?!? Who did this to you? Was it a gang? Those look like brass knuckle marks to me!”

Joey slowly shook his head. Seto’s eyes flickered to the room beyond the door ‘til his eyes landed on the blood covered knuckles on the coffee table.

“Oh my God!” Seto gasped, his hand flying up to his mouth, vomit rising in his throat. “Your father did this to you?”

Again, Joey said nothing, but gave a slight nod before looking down in shame. He watched as Seto fell to his knees, put his head in his hands, and sobbed. He said nothing this time; He was too amazed at Seto’s actions to do anything. He just waited patiently for Seto to regain his composure, which didn’t happen for a while.

But when Seto did get control over his self, he stood up and gently pulled a semi-unwilling Joey into a hug. “I’m so sorry, puppy. I’m sorry for ever hurting you. I’m sorry for everything your bastard father has ever done to you.” He hugged Joey a little harder, which brought a pained groan from the broken boy. “There’s more?” he almost screamed, as Joey gingerly touched his aching chest.

“It’s nothing, really, Seto. I’m okay,” he said softly, trying to console the billionaire.

“Show me, now,” Seto cried, and when Joey obliged, he screamed. “I’ll KILL HIM. He’s dead! You hear me? Dead!!”

Joey’s entire torso was a deep purple, some places closer to black, even. “And why would you try to avenge me?” Joey asked. “We’re the enemies, remember? You hate me. Why the sudden change of heart?”

Seto eyed the puppy in awe. “You think I hate you?”

Joey nodded.

“Do you hate me, Joey?”

“I… Sometimes I think I do, but usually I just dislike you a lot. I’m ashamed to admit this, but the way you treat me, well, it hurts. A lot. I can’t figure out for the life of me why you hate me so much.” Joey sighed as his shoulders slumped. “You couldn’t begin to understand all the ways I feel about you.”

The brunette pondered that last sentence for a moment. “You’re coming with me, Joey. Today is the day that I finally open my cold, dead heart, and adopt a puppy, mutt!”

“Hey! Enough with the dog jokes! I am human, you know!” Joey yelled, about to slam the door.

Seto laughed. “Well, it’s either come with me, or I call the vet.”

A deep growl escaped the others parched throat. “I’m warning you, Kaiba! No more dog jokes. I am tired of hearing them.”

“Okay, pup, okay. I get it! Now are you coming with me willingly, or am I going to have to put you on a leash and drag you home?”

Joey sighed. This was one fight he was never going to win.


TBC