OLD ATST Seto/Joey

"Commiserating-3 Joey [8/8/15 fix done]

The entire day had held a sort of charged tension.

It crackled and zapped through the air. Nearly everyone could feel it Taya got snappish, Ryou got really soft spoken and was quietly muttering to only Yugi and Joey.

Joey he was tense, charged ready to strike but anticipating the blow.

This was the moment before the rain hit. When the storm loomed and gathered into a mass of washed out grays and sharp edged blacks.

The moment you know it's going to hit just not when, only that the wrath with rain down soon.

He could hardly stand it.

Silently he counted off in his head it always helped.

One "I don't get just -" Joey started then Kaiba spoke.

He graciously let himself be cut off. There was a established rhythm to this sort of thing.

It went something like this

Seto said something witty.

Joey barely paused and seemed to let it fly over his head.

Today though he didn't feel like a combatant exchange.

He couldn't break the pattern, he needed to say something totally implausible but get his point across.

There he had it!

" quite watching me would ya! " Now the barb. "don't care if ya see something you like its freaking creepy " Chew on that Kaiba.

Pause.

Seto's turn then his turn simple, easy, efficient, and comprehensible.

Then came the hard part, reading between the lines.

"There's not much to see anyway." You look thin, I have your lunch see me later mutt. "However, I must ask are you trying to tell me something Joey ?" In Kaiba speak that translated to What's going on tell me now! "Other than how high a decibel your vocal chords expand ?" What has you in a tizy ? Joey froze after making the proper translations.

The voice was its usual dry conceding but he could swear anyone who knew the Kaiba well would know Seto's heart wasn't in it.

Quick fire back I need to at least appear indigent. Not remain shocked. There is no reason to be stunned by "that". Its not like we don't know Seto has a heart.

So he did "Now you ! " He started shaking his head.

No good he had to act more flustered.

Maybe add in a few stutters for good measure? "..You ...you! look here !" Shut up, I'm fine!

Better,more defiantly he needed to sound a touch more agitated.

He had to send his grave annoyance home to haunt Seto but how? Kaiba raised an eyebrow as if to say "An de-niles not just a river in Egypt. He isn't buying what Joey is selling today.

"I'm anxiously awaiting your answer, for some of us time is in fact money." I'm right now agree and lets go!

Joey bit back a scoff, smug was he?

He wisely settled for scraping his shoes against the ground in response.

It was as much to buy a couple minutes and stall as it was to wait for the opportune moment.

This argument was of course all part of Joey's scrupulously laid out plan.

At least that's what he was telling himself.

Motivation, conviction and confidence, in his ability to sound less than intelligent was the key. He reflected back on the ever so predictable moment to blow up.

The timing for his special talent to make a good loud interruption or eruption couldn't of been better.

He glanced at the clock.

Amazing.

Brilliant.

The class was almost over. If he timed it right.. All around them students gathered up their items. Joey inwardly smirked then rolled his eyes " How rich"

The Bell rang. Seto moved to intercept and he put as many desk's between them as he could not bearing to look shot back over his shoulder

" tch keep your weighty words" He caught a glimpse of Kaiba behind him the brunette had stopped and watched him. Seto I wish I could I do but I have to go, I have to. Seto's eyes and the clench in his jaw firmly said You have to go? No you don't not unless its with me . But it was good for the CEO to learn he couldn't always get what he wanted.

Wheeler felt he had done nicely.

Played everything off rather well. There had been a set in Kaiba's shoulders he had recognized in himself before. Seto had given up the chase for today but not the hunt.

Joey shuddered,glad he was outside the packed school halls. he dumped his bag and made quick work of getting of the main roads.

Where was the encore? That was a five star performance. Grammy worthy.

OK, maybe that was too much credit defiantly, overboard but he tried or rather didn't . He sympathized with Leonardo DiCaprio on the Grammy part.

It was all to fall into a persona once you set one up.

People didn't expect much, not from a dirty clothes dirty mouthed dirty blonde. Probably scholarship student. Which you think it would clue them in on the whole," wait he is actually smart thing."

Wear a mask long enough it begins to do more then just fit your face.

No, Joey wasn't inclined to remove his any way. It was slowly being peeled away. Every time he engaged Seto for that moment, that span of time he felt...Alive. He knew Seto could feel it too the way he could see something in the CEO wake up, come to life.

What was with all this deep stuff couldn't he spend his normal quiet walk to there without psychological analysis ?

He couldn't afford to slip up!

This thing with Seto whatever it was had to stop !

Alright. He thought I have till I reach there to feel sorry for myself, then that's about enough wallowing. He needed his game face.

It wouldn't do for Yugi or Serenity to see him like this.

Unbeatable, stronger, and more stable than a pillar protective Joey, crumble.

He ought to stick to his lines, keep with his part.

That didn't seem like it was going to happen. Well had only ever played the tree in the school play.

That was not to say he couldn't still deliver a stellar performance.

Under Kaiba's close scrutiny he didn't feel inclined to make a mistake.

Let Seto take the stressing mastermind role.

This was the brunet's pony show. Let him handle the dog trick half of it.

Ah,dah irony, truly it hurts.

Taking a deep breath cause why the heck not? He knew what was coming. An made a face at the trash can just because he could.

Hey, he berated himself now he needed his game face.

He didn't allow himself to linger.
Wheeler swung open the door.

He couldn't hesitate if he did he wouldn't go, unflappable yeah that was him.

" Your late boy! "

Before he could stop it, dread venomously coiled in the pit of his stomach at that single statement .

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