Fire and Ice

Chapter 4: The Beaten Puppy on the Street

    The day finally came to an end, Yugi and Yami left for the shop, Tristan left for home, Tea left for her job at Burger World, Seto watched his puppy leave for his appartment.

“Hopefully Dad isn’t drunk again.” Joey mumbled to himself as he quickened his pace at the thought of his father being drunk and beating him for not being home at a certain time.

    Seto sat in his limo in front of Mokuba’s school waiting for him to exit the school, the entire time he waited for Mokuba he was thinking about Joey, was he alright? Was he safe? Was his father drunk and beating him yet again? When Mokuba finally exited the building and hoped in the car Seto ordered his driver to go back to Joey’s apartment.

“Sir, might I ask why?”

“No you may not, now do what I pay you to do!” Seto snapped and the driver did as he was ordered to do.

    Seto walked up to the apartment he saw Joey enter and knocked, he heard stumbling and rustling until he saw what he presumed to be the blonde’s bastard father.

“The fuck you want?” The man was clearly drunk as he slurred.

“I’m looking for Joey.” Seto stated calmly.

“Brat’s in his room.” Seto walked in and he was instantly hit by a wall of alcohol, the scent was horrible in the brunettes nose, but he continued to what he guessed was Joey’s room.

    He knocked on the door with the sign saying it was Joey’s room, no response, not even a shuffle or rustle.

“Joey it’s me.” Still no response, he opened the door to see most of his room was empty minus a few things, like he packed up and left!

“Damn it! He ran away! His father did something, that’s the last fucking straw!” Seto thought to himself as he stormed out of the apartment in a hurry ignoring the angry parent calling after him.

“Drive around town, now!” He commanded as he watched the people from his seat trying to find Joey as he called the police to report the blonde’s father for child abuse.

    He looked for the puppy into the night and with a few worried calls from Mokuba, he gave up reluctantly.

“Head home.” He said in a monotone voice, and sighed in frustration.

“Please be ok puppy.” The brunnette repeated in his head.

    He noticed something by the gate of his mansion, blonde hair, blue uniform, it was Joey!

“Stop the car! Take it in I’m walking the rest of the way in!” Seto ordered as he frantically jumped out of the car and rushed at the shorter male, “Joey!”

    The blonde turned his head to the sound of his name being called and was surprised it was Seto.

“Hey Kaiba. S-sorry to bother you but-”

“No it’s fine I was just at your apartment but you moved out I guess before I arrived. Come on in we can set up a room for you right away.”

“T-thanks.” Joey was at a loss for words, Seto saw what it was like at his old home, his bastard father, and more than anything else, he seemed to have been worried about the blonde!

“S-sorry if I worried you Kaiba.” The blonde looked down sadly as he followed Seto to the mansion door.

“It’s alright Joey, I’m just glad you’re alright.” The shorter male smiled, hearing his actual name being used by Seto Kaiba, he probably shouldn’t be becoming used to it but, it felt good to hear him say it at the same time.

    When they entered the large mansion a servant took his luggage and up the staircase to the room he would be staying in. Suddenly the blonde felt the taller take his chin and pulled it to face him gently, making him blush.

“You took quite the beating Joey. I called the police on your father, it’s settled you are staying here with me! No arguments!” Seto had this gentle look in his eyes despite the commanding voice.

“A-are you sure Set- Kaiba?” Joey avoided the tallers gaze.

“You can go ahead and call me Seto puppy, and I’m sure. Don’t worry about this Joey I’m just looking after what’s mine.” He patted the shorter on the shoulder gently and took him to his room so his bruises could be treated and he could rest for the night.