Closer Than You Think

Closer Than You Think – Chapter Four

“Puppy?”

Joey groaned loudly and stood up, “The one and only. Why’d ya have ta attack me like dat Seto?”

“Attack you! I thought you were attacking my brother!” Seto shook him head, “That’s irrelevant anyway, what the hell are you doing here Joey?”

“What do you mean what the hell am I doing here!? You brought me here dumbass.”

Seto narrowed his eyes and glared at Joey, “Okay, assuming this isn’t some freaky dream, I think we have a lot to talk about… and please put some clothes on, I think you’ve paraded around naked in front of my little brother for long enough.”

Joey blushed when he remembered he wasn’t wearing anything and quickly grabbed the sheet from Mokuba’s bed, wrapping it around his waist.

“Hey!” The young boy protested, “That’s mine!”

“Go and get another one Mokuba.” Seto ordered, grabbing Joey’s arm and dragging him to the door, “Then go back to sleep, you’ve got school tomorrow.”

Seto turned and forcibly dragged Joey out of the room and down the hall to his own bedroom, pushing the blonde inside. He was pretty certain he wasn’t dreaming, at least it didn’t feel like a dream, in which case he was beginning to get a bit freaked out. It wasn’t everyday you woke up in the middle of the night to find your dead boyfriend in your little brothers bed completely naked.

“Okay pup, explain to me what’s going on.” He said calmly, sitting down on his bed and motioning for Joey to sit next to him.

“How am I supposed to know? All I remember is our fight and then I woke up in the body of that damned dog!”

“Dog?”

“Yes! Merry I believe his name is. Fuck Seto, I’m as confused as you are.”

“You don’t… remember what happened after you ran out on me?” Seto asked, tears filling his eyes.

Seeing the tears Joey began to worry, Seto rarely cried and it was always a sure sign of bad news, “N… no. Why?”

“Puppy… you…” He got up and went to his desk, pulling out an old, crumpled newspaper, “Here, I… I can’t tell you.”

Joey cautiously took the paper and looked at the headline, promptly fainting as he read the words.

*Innocent Teenager Killed In Drunk Driving Accident.*

---

“Fucking hell, he’s such an asshole!” Joey growled to himself as he sped away from Kaiba Mansion, “Fucking around! How dare he.”

The blonde was filled with rage as he recalled what his boyfriend had said to him, making their relationship seem like some sort of fuck buddy arrangement. Seto had no right to do that! Joey had done nothing but make sacrifices for the CEO, lying to his friends and family, and this was how he was repaid. He was so busy being mad at Seto that he didn’t notice the speeding car heading right for him, going at least twice the speed limit and making no effort to stop.

“What the?” He said, looking up just as the car hit him, sending his bike skidding across the road dragging him with it.

There was blood all over the bitumen, left behind from the wounds created where Joey’s skin had been torn from his body. The right side of his face was completely shredded, his eye closed as blood oozed from beneath the lid. Unable to control himself with the onslaught of physical pain, caused by the accident, and emotional pain, caused by the fight, he screamed and cried as he fought of the people who’d come running to help him.

---

Joey jerked awake as he was doused in cold water, compliments of Seto, “What the fuck Seto!” He sputtered.

“I want answers puppy, don’t think you’re off the hook just cause you fainted.” He glared, “So, did you really want to get away from me that much?”

“What?” Joey looked confused, “I don’t follow ya.”

“Why did you fake your own death? And if it was to get away from me then what the hell are you doing here?”

“You fucking nuts Seto! I didn’t fake my own bloody death. I didn’t even realise I was supposed to be dead cause I sure as hell don’t feel it.”

“If you expect me to believe that ridiculous story about the dog then you must be stupider then I thought.” Seto growled.

“Yeah, well it’s da truth and if you don’t wanna believe it then it ain’t my problem blue eyes.” He turned and started to leave the room.

Seto grabbed him and threw him onto the bed, glowering at him, “What were you going to do to my brother mutt?”

Joey sighed in exasperation, “I already told you, I wasn’t gonna do anything to him.”

“I don’t believe you. I saw you in my little brothers bed, holding him while he struggled to get away.”

“Don’t be dense Seto! He couldn’t see who I was, how was he supposed to know I wasn’t some psycho trying to kidnap him or something?”

“For all I know that’s exactly what you were trying to do.” Seto retorted.

“Why the fuck would I do that!?”

“Revenge.”

Joey burst into laughter, “Honestly Seto, do you think I’m the kind of person to use an innocent kid ta get revenge. If I hated you that much I wouldn’t hurt Mokuba, I’d hurt you!”

Seto sat down next to Joey and looked at him thoughtfully, “Okay, I’ll admit you’ve got a point there… but I still refuse to believe you got turned into a dog.”

“Well,” he looked down sadly, “I guess we’ll just have to go to sleep so I can show you tomorrow.”

“How are you going to show me?” He looked curious at Joey’s suggestion.

“Okay, how about tomorrow when I’m a dog again I’ll show you where I hid your underwear that time Mokuba was on a three-day school camp.”

Seto frowned as he remembered Joey’s irritating, yet amusing behaviour that weekend, “Very well, if the dog can do that then I’ll believe your ludicrous fairytale.”

“So… should I sleep here or go back to Mokuba’s room.” Joey grinned.

“Get your ass in here now mutt.” Seto growled, climbing back into bed.

“See ya in the morning then blue eyes.” He yawned as he dozed off.