Hate, Fight, Fall. (Puppyshipping)

Hate runs out.

Joey sighed heavily. Alone on the school roof top, he sat on the railing with his legs dangling over the edge. The English lesson in which the blonde was supposed to have been, was already 10 minutes underway. School did nothing for Joey anymore. Especially now when he needed it most, he still could not find any foreseeable purpose for it.

Gripping tightly onto the rails, he gasped. The rooftop door flung open swiftly. Turning his head to face the person who had invaded his escape place, his stomach turned and his body boiled with anger. "No. Not him!" Joey thought silently, forcing his eyes shut and begging silently that this wasn't happening. But of course, Joey's most hated person on earth appeared before him. Seto Kaiba. Surprisingly, the brunette didn't say a word; he simply mimicked the ex-gang member's position on the railing and heaved a heavy sigh. Joey couldn't believe his eyes or ears. Kaiba had actually ignored Joey and gone a whole 30 seconds without throwing the blonde an insult.

The wind blew softly and tugged at the young CEO's hair. He sat in silence for a good few minutes but curiosity and anger got the best of Joey.

"I know I'm gonna regret this but what the heck are you doing here Richboy, eh?"

"Now now, no need to get feisty mutt. I was actually enjoying it up here until you opened your mouth." Kaiba said in his usual monotone voice.

"I'm not a dog! And this is my escape spot, you just had to come here and ruin it!"

"Whatever..."

"Don't dismiss me, why are ya up here?"

"Not that it's any of your business but I'm not in the best of moods." Kaiba snarled.

"Since when are you ever?" The blonde smirked at his own comment.

The brunette huffed slightly and let his gaze drift out into the city scenery.

"Wow, I silenced the great Seto Kaiba, something must have really got to you eh?"

Once again, silence thickened in the air and the blonde was getting rather irritated at the unusual behaviour from the other.

"Listen here Kaiba! We all got our problems and ignoring someone when they're trying to..." Joey was cut off.

"My brother is in the hospital." The CEO spoke in an emotionless tone.

"What happened?" Clear worry was in the ex-gang member's voice.

"They used him to get at me. They put a gun to his head and beat him into oblivion."

"Is he going to be alright?" Joey completely dropped his anger and annoyance, suddenly rather worried about the younger Kaiba.

"What is with the interrogation mutt?! Just stop with your damn questions!"

And the anger and annoyance were instantly back. However the blonde softened his expression and decided to drop the subject, probably one of the only smart moves he'd ever make.

"The doctors had to put him in coma alright! They said he should wake up in a couple of days and he should be well." The CEO spat sharply after an awkward silence between the pair.

"Damn, that's rough. Poor Mokuba. But don't worry, I guarantee he's gonna be A-Okay!"

"What do you know Mutt? Even if he does recover, he doesn't deserve to come back with me. I promised to protect him, to always be there for him and I couldn't. It's my fault he is in this state. "

"Hey, don't be so hard on yourself, it's not your fault." Joey said in a hushed tone.

"Don't try and be an expert in things you don't understand. You have no idea about the situation between me and my brother." Kaiba snapped.

"Well maybe I don't understand what goes on between you and your little brother, but I do know what it's like to break a promise." Joey said softly, looking out towards the clouds. He thought of his sister, Serenity. After battle city, he promised he would always be by her side from then on. Then just as things got back to normal, his mother up and left, taking Serenity with her. His sister was stolen for the second time in his life and there was nothing he could do. He broke his promise. So yeah, he did know how the brunette felt.

"I had no idea dogs could empathise."

Joey scowled at the other.

"Anyway, now you know my story. What are you doing up here mutt?"

"I come up here to escape. Which was working rather well until you decided to show up." He replied angrily.

"If you recall, you're the one who started this conversation."

The ex-gang member scoffed and went back to his distraction view.

A good few minutes past, silence lingering in the air. But neither of the two minded, their heads were elsewhere. However soon enough the school bell hollered and sent a vibration throughout the building. The brunette stepped up from his seat on the railing and headed toward the door. But as he was about to head down to his awaiting limousine, he noticed the other; still perched upon the metal bars.

"Aren't you going back to that pathetic place you call a home Wheeler?"

"What home?" Slight sadness was in the boy's tone.

"I'm not in the mood for games..." Kaiba said bluntly.

"My dad kicked me out this morning okay?" The blonde replied regretfully.

"Ha, I'm surprised he didn't kick your sorry ass out sooner!"

"Just stop Kaiba, I have had a bad day as it is, I don't need you making it worse."

Joey sighed and placed his chin on the rail. He had no home. Nowhere to go. No family left. But the boy kept his spirits up, he did have his friends after all. However the subject of his father, they were still ignorant to and always would be. Joey could never admit to his friends he was being beaten and that he now had no place to stay. This part of his life, he had to sort out himself.

Kaiba stood dead still. He couldn't quite understand what was holding him back from simply turning around and leaving. He had nothing but hatred towards the blonde and had the lowest opinion of him. But something stopped the brunette from moving even an inch. It was his brother. Mokuba would never let someone be alone or live on the streets. Though he was a Kaiba, unlike his older brother and step-father, the ravenette had affability.

Maybe it was what Mokuba would have said if he was here, maybe it was the sight of his brother's state, or his guilt triggering other emotions. Or maybe a combination of them all. But whatever it was, it made Kaiba set his mind on something. And that was making sure the blonde had a roof over his head.

"Follow me Mutt."