WARNING: SETO X JOEY LEMON! NAUGHTY LANGUAGE, …and Aria snaps a man in half at the end, so…I guess…Gore, too.

*Note: I didn’t get the idea for the “Heart of Darkness” card from Terra’s story.

Note: This chappie takes place from October 30-31^st.

Bonding

Trevor sat in the room with the Parole Board. His boss knew he couldn’t pay off the board without the Feds taking notice. So, as an alternative, Seto placed Trevor in the parole board to keep an eye on the happenings.

“What do you believe?” one of the jurors asked Trevor.

The undercover “Public Relations” member crossed his legs. “The man is a sick bastard. Why do you think he deserves to be released?”

“The man has paid his debt to society,” a woman had told him.

Trevor raised an eyebrow in disbelief. “How can you believe that? You saw the evidence of what this maniac---.”

“He’s not a maniac, Mr. Belsing. He’s a person. And just like any person, he deserves respect.”

Trevor glared at the others. “How can you people believe that a man who tied down a four year old boy only to rape him repeatedly deserves respect? How can you believe that this man deserves respect after accepting money and gifts from other men to use this child as a sexual toy? There is no room for respect here. I’m sorry. I can’t give respect where it is not deserved.”

One of the parole board members flipped through the accused’s file. “He has behaved himself here in Domino State Prison. He has not tried to escape. His manners have been exceptional---.”

“Maybe I am not making myself clear,” Trevor said leaning forward. “This…man…raped a child for almost 3 years. The man humiliated the child, starved the child, abused the child emotionally, physically, and sexually. This man should not be allowed to roam the streets of Domino City. He should not be allowed to roam any street! He’s best behind bars where he can’t harm anyone anymore.”

One woman shook her head. “This man deserves to breathe the sweet air of freedom!”

“This man is a god-damned rapist!”

“That’s disrespectfull!”

Trevor shrugged. “Do you think Charlie had any respect for the child’s life that he ruined?”

Everyone on the parole board remained silent. Trevor looked around at the faces. How could these people being so passive? How could these people not care about Hayden?

‘If they could see this kid in front of them, would they be so compassionate towards him?’ Trevor thought.

“It’s time that we take a vote. All in favor of releasing Charlie McGinnis from Domino State, please raise your hand.”

************************

Trevor cursed under his breath as he left the prison. He lit his cigarette with an angry growl. “Shit! Can’t believe they did that!”

Trevor sucked on the cigarette furiously as he slammed his car door shut.

“Mr. Kaiba is not going to like this! Assholes, the lot of them!”

Trevor turned the ignition and his car roared angrily to life. He pulled out of the garage and headed straight to KaibaCorp.

“God damn it!”

His cellphone buzzed loudly.

“Hello?”

[Hi, daddy!] It was Trevor’s four year old girl.

“Hello, baby girl. How are you?”

[Just calling you to say sweet dreams.]

“Have a good sleep, angel. I’ll be home soon.”

[When you get home, can you give me a kiss?]

“Sure can, sweetheart.”

[Love you, daddy.]

“Love you, too, angel. Goodnight. Can I talk to Cathy?”

[Sure!]

A few moments later, Cathy, his babysitter picked up the phone. Trevor had lost his wife to cancer the year before.

[Hello, Mr. Belsing.]

“Cathy, I have to stop off at work. Can you stay for another couple of hours? I’ll pay you double time.”

[Sure, Mr. Belsing. I don’t mind.]

“Thanks a lot.”

[No problem. Bye.]

“Bye.”

Trevor replaced the cell on the charger. “Mr. Kaiba is going to be pissed beyond belief.”

*********************

Seto pressed his lips to Joey as he entered him. Joey wrapped his arms and legs around his lover, silently embracing Seto above him.

Seto kissed Joey’s neck. “Love you, puppy.”

Joey moved his hips against Seto, signaling that he was ready for Seto to begin moving.

The CEO entered his lover slowly, his length pulsing with the heat of his lover surrounding him.

‘I want to marry you so bad, Joey. I shouldn’t be so nervous,’ Seto thought as he looked into the brown eyes of his lover which were clouded with passion and desire.

Joey reached up and stroked Seto’s face gently. “You feel so good, baby.”

The CEO gave a soft moan as he kissed Joey again, the momentum of their lovemaking quickened.

Their bodies started glistening with sweat in the candlelight.

Seto buried himself deep into his lover as he turned his attention to sucking on one of Joey’s neglected nipples.

Joey kissed Seto’s ear and whispered. “I love you, Seto.”

Seto moaned as he started moving again with his lover. Joey’s body and the bed shook with Seto’s penetrations.

Both men started quivering as they felt each other’s orgasms approaching. Seto was kissing Joey’s chest when he felt his lover climax between them.

The CEO plunged deep into his lover, releasing his essence deep inside of Joey.

A knock sounded on the door and Seto gave an aggravated sigh. He pulled the covers over him and Joey, but didn’t want to remove himself from the beautiful, sweat-covered blond below him.

“ENTER!”

Trevor walked into the room, his face turning red that he had interrupted his boss and his boyfriend making love.

Trevor walked over to the bed and saw Joey below Seto, the sheer sheets barely concealing what was beneath.

“What is so important as to interrupt me at this time of night?”

“This was important, sir.”

Seto bit his lip and suppressed a moan as Joey rocked against him slowly. “What is it?”

“Charlie McGinnis has been granted parole.”

Joey and Seto’s eyes opened wide. “WHAT?!”

“Charlie got parole.”

Seto growled. “How the fuck did he manage that?!”

“Beats the hell out of me how me managed that. The board was convinced that Charlie was a changed man.”

Joey narrowed his eyes as his tears threatened to flow. “People like Charlie don’t change! How does one ‘grow out’ of wanting to sexually abuse little boys? He can’t be let out!”

Trevor shook his head. “I pleaded my case, but the board ignored me.”

Joey gripped Seto’s arm. “Why don’t we take Hayden to that board! That will show them. I want them to look into Hayden’s eyes and tell him that they released Charlie!”

Seto shook his head. “No. This is going to scare the child out of his wits.”

“But he has a right to know!” Joey pleaded with Seto, panic clear in his eyes.

Seto nodded. “Yes he does. Hayden goes NOWHERE without someone from ‘Public Relations.’ Trevor, you will be Hayden’s personal bodyguard from this moment on. He goes nowhere without you. Do I make myself clear?”

Trevor nodded. “Crystal clear, Mr. Kaiba.”

“I mean it, Trevor! He doesn’t go to the bathroom without you!”

“Yes, sir.”

Seto started to pet Joey’s hair in an effort to calm his panicked lover. “When will he be released?”

“The warden releases him. The parole board doesn’t know where Charlie will be placed when he is released.”

Seto narrowed his eyes. “Okay. This is what you are going to do. Take Karl, Maxine, and Asher. Pick one of the son of a bitches who is responsible for Charlie’s release. Find them. Tie them up.

Rob them. Burn the place to the ground.”

“Yes, Mr. Kaiba.”

“Turn around, Trevor.”

Trevor turned around so Seto could disconnect himself from Joey, who was clutching onto his pillow, sobbing quietly. Seto called Karl, Maxine, and Asher and told them to come to his bedroom.

Seto gathered Joey into his arms and covered themselves with the comforter.

Asher, Maxine, and Karl arrived in the bedroom, not reacting to the scene of his naked boss and his boyfriend in bed.

“Listen to me, you three. You are going to go on a little ‘escapade’ tonight. You three are going to go with Trevor and track down one of the bitches who saw fit to release Charlie from prison!”

The three members of ‘Public Relations’ gasped.

“Charlie??!” Karl gasped with shock. “I thought he’d be in the slammer permanently for what he did to Master Hayden!”

Maxine, the Oriental thief, narrowed her eyes. She had kids of her own that were five years old. Maxine also had a fifteen year old girl. She found it appalling that anyone would do what Charlie had done to a child. Maxine crossed her arms and clenched her teeth in rage. “How did that bastard manage that?”

Asher growled. “Fire….must……burn…….Charlie. Fire is nice.”

Asher’s eye twitched with each syllable.

Seto pointed at all three of them. “You are to go with Trevor and track down one of the people who decided to free that son of a bitch! Karl, do your thing! Tie them until their god-damned skin turns gray! Maxine, take what you can carry. Try to find something nice that I can give Mokuba for his birthday, okay? Asher, burn the fucking house, apartment, neighborhood right to the fucking ground! I want no evidence, you three! Do I make myself clear?”

Maxine crossed her arms and bowed. “Yes, sir, Master Kaiba.”

Karl nodded. “Yes, sir. No evidence.”

Asher’s face lit with a sadistic grin. “I get to burn something tonight……lucky me.”

“Asher!”

“Master Kaiba?”

Seto narrowed his eyes. “Make it look like it was an a flaw in the electric wiring. Nobody screws with Hayden and gets away with it! I want this job done and I want it done right, do you understand me?”

The four people nodded. “Yes, sir.”

“Now, go. Trevor, give me a full report in the morning.”

“Yes, sir.”

The four people left and Seto gathered Joey against him.

“It’s going to be okay, puppy. Nobody stands a chance against those four.”

Joey bit his lip and trembled. “What if Charlie comes back for us? What if he tries to go back to his old tricks?”

“Charlie knows not to screw with us anymore. Besides, Bakura and Yami wiped out his entire following.”

Joey looked up at Seto with teary eyes. “But what if he gathers another following? What if he tries to take Hayden away from us?”

“Puppy, nobody is going to take Hayden away from us. I won’t let anyone break up our family.”

The blond clutched tightly onto his lover. “I don’t want to lose Hayden, Seto. I love him as if he were my own son. I love him so much and he’s been through what we’ve been through as kids. I don’t want him to suffer anymore.”

Seto ran his fingers through the blond’s hair. “He’s with us, Joey. Charlie knows better than to try to take anything away from me, including the people I love.”

The blond snuggled closer to his lover. “I hope you’re right, Seto. I truly hope you are right.”

*****************************

************************

Aten took a leftover styrofoam ball from his science project and stuck it on a thin wooden stick. He looked at his ball on the stick and grinned.

“This is al-moss a Minimum Rod!”

Aten pained the ball and glued two opposite ends of the Rod’s top to the ball. “My own Minimum Rod! Go me!”

He ran to his bureau and grabbed a pair of blue jeans and a plain purple shirt. He put the clothes on.

“There’s just one more thing I need!”

Aten ran to the bathroom and found some hair gel. He stepped on the stool and put some of the gel on his hands. “This stuff feels yucky.”

Aten dumped a pile of hair gel on his hair to make it spiky like his father. “I’m so going to loot lite my daddy!” The boy spiked his hair, emptying the entire bottle on his head.

Aria opened the door. “Aten? Are you using all of my hair gel?”

Aten shifted his eyes uncomfortably. “No.”

Aria grabbed the bottle. “Aten Bakari Ishtar!”

“Aria Kanika Itemri!”

“You used my hair ge---. You look like Daddy Marik!”

Aten looked at Aria from head to toe. “You look….like Unkie Seto!”

“I needed the gel to keep my hair from spiking!”

Ryou came upstairs. “Kids, what is all the yelling about?”

“Mommy, Aten used the entire bottle of hair gel!”

Ryou reached up to the medicine cabinet. “I bought an extra one in case this happened.” You don’t be the mother of two chibi yamis and not expect this stuff to happen. One needed spiky hair, one needed flat hair.

“There we go, you two. You both look so adorable! I could eat you both alive!”

Ryou kissed Aten and Aria’s cheek. “Now finish your hair, Aria.”

Ryou returned downstairs.

“What was all that racket?” Marik asked.

“Your son hogged the hair gel.”

Marik grinned. “That’s my boy!”

Bakura groaned. “Don’t tell me Aria’s going out Trick or Treating as a princess again.”

“No, she’s going out as Seto Kaiba for Halloween.”

Bakura shook his head. “Something’s wrong with that.”

Malik chuckled. “What’s wrong with that, Bakura? She won’t be going out anymore soon, so let her have her fun.”

“When my daughter goes out as moneybags, something is wrong.”

“She adores Seto, Bakura.”

Bakura sighed. “Sometimes I wonder if she is my kid.”

Ryou crossed his arms. “I know you are and I have the scar to prove it.”

Aten called from the top of the stairs. “Ready to come down!”

Aten came down the steps holding his cardboard and Styrofoam Millennium Rod. His white and blond hair was gelled spiky.

Marik clenched his teeth as his son approached him.

“See, daddy, I have a Rod, too! Do you lite it?......Daddy???”

Marik’s entire body trembled. “Oh………..sweet………..Ra! COME HERE, CHIBI MARIK!”

Marik grabbed his son and held him tightly across his body. He buried his face in Aten’s neck and growled just as he did when Aten was an infant. The little boy screeched and laughed as his father assaulted him with kisses on his face continuously.

Aria walked down the steps with black pants and a white shirt. She “borrowed” one of Ryou’s ties for the occasion. When Ryou wasn’t in his room, she broke into his closet and took one of his ties.

She walked up to her father and crossed her arms like Seto. “Father, I need help with my tie.”

Bakura raised an eyebrow. “Mr. Big CEO needs help with his tie?”

“Yes.”

Bakura leaned forward and tied the tie around her neck. “Somehow I doubt that Seto Kaiba would wear a pink tie with flowers on it.”

Ryou blushed. “Aria, where did you get that?”

“From your closet.”

Ryou sighed. “Dear, please don’t take clothes from my closet without asking. So much like your father sometimes.”

Bakura grinned. “That’s my little girl! Whose got daddy’s bloodlust?”

Aria looked at her father with a blank gaze. “I am Unkie Seto. I am not Aria!”

Marik ran for his camera and took a picture of the two chibis holding their pumpkin containers.

Someone knocked on the door.

“ROBBIE!”

Aten ran to the door and opened it.

“Hello, my girlfriend’s brother!”

“Umi!” Aten laughed. “How are you?!”

Mako’s son hugged the little Egyptian boy. “My daddy said your mommy said that I could go Trick or Treating with Aria!”

“Robbie should be here soon. He’s going Tit or Teeting wif me!”

Umi walked in and looked up at Bakura. “Hello, my girlfriend’s daddy!”

Bakura growled. “What are the rules, Sea-Boy?”

“No spawning.”

“And?”

“No kissing.”

“And?”

“No touchy.”

“Good. We understand each other. If I find you put a hand on my daughter?”

Umi took a deep breath. “You will send me to the Shadow Realm for all eternity and I will never know the joys of manhood because I will be eaten and tortured by every single monster in your deck and the Nightmare Dragon will tear me to pieces and you will personally make it your duty to see that the rest of my life is a living hell for all eternity.”

Bakura nodded. “Good. We understand each other. We just have to wait for moneybags to arrive.”

Umi walked to Ryou. “How do you like my outfit?”

Ryou picked up the little pirate. “You are so cute!” Ryou was kissing the chibi when Mako came in.

“Hello, my friends!”

“Hi, Mako! How are you?”

Mako laughed. “Just fine! The ocean winds have become colder. The Little Minnow and I have given up our search for my father until the weather becomes warmer.”

“It is getting chillier out. Son, do you have a sweater?”

“You don’t wear sweaters! I tant wear a setter if you don’t wear them.”

Marik raised an eyebrow. “I would if I was going outside to gather treats in a cold wind. Now march upstairs and get yourself a sweater, son.”

Aten sighed as he climbed the stairs. “Yes, father.”

A knock sounded on the door and Aria ran to open it.

“Hello, Robbie! Come in!”

Ryou smiled at the boy in brown camouflage stepped through the door. “Who are you, Robbie?”

“An army man!”

“Wow! You look great,” Malik complimented him.

“Yeah! I got a canteen! I got a toy gun! I got toy ammunition! I got a toy dagger! I’m a mean army guy! Watch me! Grrr!!!!! I even put stuff under my eyes!”

Marik nodded. “You look intimidating, Robbie. I’d hate to be your enemy right now.”

Ryou nodded. “Yes. I’m….umm…speechless.”

Robbie smiled. “I know I look good. Where’s Aten?”

Aten ran down the stairs. “Hi, Robbie!”

“Hi, Aten! Wow! You look like your daddy!”

Aten smiled and held up the Rod he made. “I have a Rod like my daddy!”

Robbie smiled. “That is the neatest Rod I have ever seen! Can I touch it?”

“Sure!”

Marik snickered and left the room unable to control his laughter.

Bakura laughed. “All of a sudden, I’m glad I had a daughter.”

Robbie’s finger touched the toy Rod and Aten blushed.

“It feels weird.”

Ryou shook his head. “You keep thinking that, Robbie, for another twenty years.”

Seto knocked on the door and entered. His eyes focused on the female Chibi Seto standing in front of him.

“Who are you?”

Aria crossed her arms. “I’m Seto Kaiba.”

The CEO raised his eyebrow. “I wouldn’t wear a pink tie with flowers. Marik, is that your tie?”

“Does it look like I would wear a tie in the first place?”

Aten ran to Seto and held up the Rod. “Unkie Seto, would you lite to tush my Rod?”

“Aten, I don’t know where to start in telling you what is wrong with that sentence.”

“That’s a neat Rod you got there,” Joey said. “Did you make that yourself?”

Aten nodded excitedly. “Yes! I sure did! With my own two hands!”

Jaimen, dressed as a lion, ran in. “Wow! Aria! You look like my daddy!”

“I know! I’m Unkie Seto!”

Ryou looked around. “Where’s Hayden?”

“He didn’t want to come Trick or Treating this year. He’s watching TV with Jeanie and Mokuba.”

Aten jumped up and down. “I love Tit or Teeting! It’s fun!”

Robbie hugged Aten. “You and I are going together!”

Aria hugged Umi. “Umi and I are going with Unkie Seto and Unkie Puppy!”

“Who’s going to go with Aten and Robbie?”

“Joey, maybe you should go with them.”

Joey pat both boys on the head. “Yeah, I can go with them.”

***************************

Joey took Aten and Robbie along the same side of the street.

The neighbors complimented Aten and Robbie on their suits. They gave Aten some sugar-free candy, knowing he could not have the sugared candy.

Robbie and Aten stood in front of Mr. Gillam’s house, petrified.

“What’s wrong with this house, boys?”

Aten hid behind Robbie. “This man talls us bad names.”

Robbie took Aten’s hand. “This man calls us ‘fag boys’ and ‘queers.’ He’s not a very nice man.”

Gillam stepped out of his house. “Don’t you fruits come to my door! I want no part of you queer boys!”

Joey narrowed his eyes. “You wanna pick on somebody your own size, you bastard? Come pick on me!”

“You’re not worth my time, Ass-licker!”

Miranda stepped outside. “Don’t you use that language when my son is around!”

“Oh, yeah, lady? What are you going to do about it?”

Miranda crossed her arms defiantly. “Last time I heard, calling a gay man an ‘Ass-Licker’ and a ‘fruit’ is considered harassment based on sexual orientation! So, if you don’t want me to pick up the phone, I suggest you crawl back into your hole and stay there.”

Gillam screamed. “You’re a bitch, Miranda!” Gillam disappeared into his home.

Joey, Robbie, and Aten walked up Miranda’s driveway. “Thanks for the backup, Miranda.”

“That butthole has it out for my son. Nobody harasses my son like that and gets away with it.” Miranda looked at the two smiling chibis. “Oh my God! It’s Marik!”

Miranda crunched Aten close to her when she found that he dressed as his father. “You deserve to be pounded flat, Aten! You’re so cute!”

“My daddy isn’t cute!”

“Sure he is! Quite a looker! I can see you’ve got his good looks, Aten, babes.”

The Egyptian boy blushed and Miranda gave a quick pinch of his cheek.

“It’s so cute. You can hardly tell when he blushes with that dark skin of his.”

Miranda held out a bowl of candy and gave Aten an apple. “Have your mommy cut that apple up for you for school on Monday.”

“I will!”

“Robbie, feel free to spend the night at Aten’s home if Ryou doesn’t mind. I already talked to him today about it.”

“Really? Truly?”

Miranda nodded. “Go have fun, boys. Robert, behave yourself.”

“I will, mommy!”

Joey walked the kids around the street and met up with Aria and Umi carrying heavy containers of candy.

“How did you make out?” Robbie asked.

Umi pointed to Seto. “We can’t.”

Robbie shook his head. “No! I didn’t ask you if you DID make out! I wanted to know HOW you made out.”

Aten and Aria snickered at the misunderstanding.

“I can’t kiss Umi with Unkie Seto here. He told Umi and I we can’t hold hands.”

Aten took Robbie’s hand. “We tan with Unkie Puppy around!”

Aria’s lips curled into a smile. “Let’s trade! We take Unkie Puppy! You go with Unkie Seto!”

Aten and Robbie looked up at Seto. “But what if we can’t hold hands with him?”

Aria whispered. “It’s Umi and my’s turn to hold hands, Aten! Come on! I’ll give you anything you want!”

Aten looked through her candy container and grabbed a lollipop. “I want this.”

“Deal. Unkie Seto, can Umi and I go with Unkie Puppy?”

Seto raised an eyebrow. “Why? Don’t you like Trick or Treating with me?”

“We do, but Unkie Puppy might want to spend time with us. Jaimen can come, too.”

Jaimen jumped up and down. “Yeah! Can I? I want to go with Other Dad!”

Seto sighed. “Okay. We’ll meet back at Ryou’s house.”

Seto escorted Aten and Robbie around the next block. While they were there, they knocked into Gabby and her mother.

“Hi, Aten? Where’s Aria? Have you seen her? I haven’t seen her and I’ve been out for a really, really, really long time….like, an hour!”

Robbie and Aten blinked.

“Aten, I don’t speak ‘girl.’ What is she saying?”

Aten looked at her, trying to follow her English, but missing some of the words because she spoke so fast. “You just missed my sister. She’s going out with Umi.”

“I KNOW!” Gabby squealed. “ISN’T THAT COOL?! Umi is really good looking, don’t you think so, Aten?”

Aten nodded. “He is good looting.”

“I called after her, but I guess she didn’t hear me. I don’t know why people don’t hear me sometimes. Maybe I talk too much. Do you think I talk too much, Aten?”

Aten and Robbie blinked. “Ummm…..”

“Do you think I talk too much, Aten? Many people say I do, but I don’t think so.”

Robbie backed away. “I have no idea what she is saying.”

Aten hesitated, trying to decipher what she had said. “Umm…yes?”

Gabby stopped and burst into tears. “YOU HURT MY FEELINGS!”

Aten started to shake. “What did I say, Gabber-el?”

“You said I talk too much!” the girl cried.

Aten’s heart sank. Aria was going to be pissed that he made her cry. “Gabby, I’m sorry. I tould not unner-tand you! You talt too fass for me to unner-tand. My English is not good. You know that.”

Gabby stopped crying as if someone threw a switch in her head. “Oh, yeah. I forgot.”

“I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings.”

“Oh, okay. Bye, Aten!” The girl skipped away leaving Robbie questioning what had just happened and why her crying suddenly stopped.

Robbie’s jaw dropped as she skipped away. “What the heck just happened?”

“Gabby thought I hurt her feelings. She was wondering where Aria was.”

Robbie shook his head. “It’s a good thing you have a sister, Aten. You wouldn’t have been able to understand a darn thing she said.”

Aten shrugged. “Gabby and Aria are good friends. I’ve learned how to speat their langish kite well.”

Seto and the kids stopped off at Karl and Jay’s home.

“Mr. Kaiba!” Jay gasped.

“Oh my! What are you doing here, sir?”

“Taking the kids Trick or Treating.”

Jay leaned down to the kids. “Do you want a trick or a treat?”

“I want a treat!” Robbie said.

“I want a tit!” Aten screamed excitedly.

Jay and Karl bit their lips and used the doorway to stay on their feet.

“We can’t help you with that, Aten. How about a treat instead?”

“I want a teet!”

Seto turned red and used the iron railing to hold himself on his feet.

Jay put two pieces of sugar-free candy each. “There’s your treats, boys.”

“Thants for the teets, Gay!”

“It’s ‘Jay,’ Aten.”

“Sorry. I didn’t mean…”

“It’s okay, Aten.”

Seto leaned against the doorway. “Trevor told me that last night went well.”

Karl nodded. “It did. Asher got a little carried away, but that’s to be expected.”

“Maxine grabbed herself a nice necklace for her kid. You should see it. Sparkly.”

Robbie turned to Aten. “Maybe we can race Seto to your home. What do you think?”

Aten looked up and down at Robbie’s foot. “Tan you run?”

“My foot’s been feeling good for the past few days. I think I can run.”

“Otay.”

Aten and Robbie slowly snuck backwards as Seto talked to Jay and Karl. They crept away then broke into a run.

“Unkie Seto didn’t even notice us!”

“We’ll beat him home!” Robbie said laughing.

Aten and Robbie turned a corner and collided into three bodies.

Aten and Robbie fell backwards from the impact, spilling their candy on the ground.

“Well, well, well…..if it isn’t the queer boys, Aten Ishtar and Robbie Morgan!”

Robbie and Aten felt hands pull them off of the ground. The two boys gasped.
”ERIC! JASON!”

Jason grinned as he held his hockey stick. “Well, well, Aten. I didn’t think you celebrated Halloween! Why aren’t you dressed up as a fairy?”
Eric laughed. “Meet my big brother! He’s in high school!”

Robbie and Aten looked up at the towering teen. Both boys gulped loudly.

Eric approached Robbie. “Why aren’t you dressed up like a pixie, Morgan?”

“I’m not a pixie! Aten is not a fairy!”

“Could have fooled me!”

Robbie struggled with his assailant. “Let me go! Now!”

Jason approached Robbie. “Do you like my costume? I’m a hockey player!”

“You’re nothing, Jason!” Robbie snarled.

The boy holding Robbie squeezed his collar.

“Do you know why I love hockey? The fights. Nothing is better than when a player goes like this!”

Jason took his hockey stick and sliced it across Robbie’s face, cutting him on his forehead.

Aten growled. “Leave him alone!”

Eric stepped up to Aten. “Are you trying to be brave and help your boyfriend, Ishtar?”

“Robbie! Talt to me!”

Jason took the stick and whacked Robbie across the head, knocking him unconscious.

The teen dropped Robbie on the ground. The teen drew a pocket knife out of his pocket and pointed it at Aten’s throat.

Jason stood in front of Aten, watching the Egyptian tremble.

“Are you afraid of us?” Eric asked with mocking concern.

Aten looked down at the knife and closed his eyes.

***Flashback***

Aten looked up at his grandfather hovering over him.

“No! Don’t tush me! Peas! Don’t tum near me!”

Steven removed a penknife and held it to the two year old’s throat.

“Be a good boy and do what I want or I’ll slit your mommy’s throat. And I’ll make you watch as every drop of blood seeps from his neck!”

************

Aten looked at the pocketknife. “I’ll be good.”

Eric grabbed Aten’s candy. He sifted through it. “Sugar-free shit! That blows!”

Jason threw the candy at Aten. “Go back to Egyptania or wherever you’re from, Aten! We didn’t think that queers liked sugar-free candy shit!”

“It’s Egypt! And I need sugar-free tandy for my heart! I tant have sugary tandy!”

Eric picked up a piece of candy. “Eat it.”

“It’s totlate! I tant have totlate tandy!”

Aten felt the blade pressed against him. He reluctantly opened the piece of candy and looked up at Jason and Eric. “I tant.”

“Eat it! Now!”

Aten took a bite out of the chocolate and curled his nose.

“You’re even more weird than I thought, Isthar. You don’t like chocolate?”

Aten could feel his pacemaker struggling to keep up. “Tant…have…totlate.”

Aten finished the chocolate and Jason pushed a lollipop towards him.

“Eat this!”

Aten panted heavily. “I tant…have…sugar!”

Jason took his hockey stick and hit Robbie’s bad ankle with it. A loud snap was heard.

“HEY! KIDS!”

Seto ran up to the kids. Seto punched the kid holding Aten, making the Egyptian boy fall to the ground.

“Just what do you think you are doing? I know you! You’re that punk, Eric!”

Eric and Jason laughed. “Try to get us, Seto Kaiba!”

Eric and Jason ran off, laughing.

“Aten?”

Aten curled up in a ball, shaking. “Gantfatter….don’t kill my mommy.”

Seto growled. “Great….flashback. Aten? Aten?”

Robbie let out a moan from the concrete.

“Robbie? Oh, shit! He’s bleeding! Damn!”

Seto flipped open his cell phone. “Karl. Jay. Both of you get down the street on the double!”

Karl and Jay arrived a few minutes later. “Oh no!”

“Jay, pick up Robbie. Karl, pick up Aten.”

Karl put his hands on Aten and the Egyptian boy shrieked. “NO! Hands off! Don’t tush me!”

Seto waved Karl back. “Don’t touch him, then. Aten? We have to go home. I’m taking you to your mommy.”

Aten looked up. “Really?”

“Really. Come on, Aten. Take my hand.”

Aten stood up slowly and took Seto’s hand.

They walked through the door of Ryou’s house and Ryou was clinging to Aten like a magnet.

“What happened?”

Aria and Umi walked in laughing with their candy. Their laughs subsided when they saw the two boys. “What happened?”

Malik ran to get a cloth to clean off the blood from Robbie’s forehead.

“People….attat….us.”

Ryou rocked Aten slightly. “Tell me about it.”

Aria and Bakura stood side by side listening to Aten’s account, their hair going spiky and their throats rumbling with growling.

Aria looked at her father. “If Robbie bled, some of the blood might be on the attacker.”

Bakura growled. “That’s it! Ryou, look after the kids. Marik, stay here with your son. It’s time for some father-daughter ‘bonding.’ What do you say, angel?”

Aria’s nails sharpened and her canines lengthened. “Time for payback! Nobody hurts my brother and my friend like this!”

Marik watched as the duo left. “Whoever did this is in deep shit.”

************************

Aria ran ahead of her father, detecting the minute smell of blood. She stopped suddenly at an intersection and turned her head in each direction. Bakura narrowed his eyes as he looked down each street.

“What do you say, Aria?”

The scent of blood was strongest to the north.

“North!”

Bakura followed his daughter as the scent of young blood grew stronger, tingling his senses, adding fire to his fury.

Aria stopped in front of a house with a black iron fence. She growled furiously. “The scent is not coming from inside the house.”

Aria climbed up the gate and Bakura jumped over it. “It’s coming from behind the house.”

Aria and Bakura ran out back and saw Eric, Jason, and Eric’s brother drinking beer.

“So! You thought you could hurt my brother and get away with it?”

Eric laughed. “Ah! Aria! So nice for you to come here to see me! Is it because you find me irresistible?”

Aria growled. “No, you’re an asshole! There’s a difference!”

Eric and the boys laughed. “So, you don’t find me attractive?”

“You’re as attractive as a cockroach….and just as smart as one.”

Eric growled. “I’ll have you one day, Aria! You’ll see!”

Bakura growled. “You put one hand on my daughter and I will scatter your body through the cosmos!”

Eric laughed. “Aww….brought your daddy to protect you?”

Aria growled. “No. My daddy has powers I don’t. And it’s time for me to teach you another lesson!” Aria took a deep breath and looked at the teenager. “I can smell Robbie’s blood on you.”

Aria raised her fists together in front of her. “Kasar.” (Arabic=to break)

Eric’s teenage brother snapped in half with a loud crunch. Jason let out a scream. Eric’s brother’s intestines spilled out as he was torn in two separate pieces by Aria’s action.

“HOLY SHIT!” Jason screamed.

“OH MY FUCK!” Eric screamed.

Bakura’s Millennium Ring glowed.

“Ring of Gold

Send this Body

To the Realm of Dark and Cold!”

The body of the teenager disappeared.

“Ring, Erase Their Minds!”

A bright light emanated from the Millennium Ring.

Aria raised her arms. “Shadow Powers, take us to the Shadow Realm!”

Aria and Bakura disappeared into the Shadow Realm.

At their feet laid the body of the teenager. A timid little two year old child crept up to the father and daughter duo.

“Hello.”

“Helpless Child, this scum hurt Aten.”

The sound of metal armor was heard. The Decayed Commander stood beside the Helpless Child.

“Who are you?” Bakura asked the monster.

“My master was hurt because of him. I could smell my master’s blood on this….person’s….clothing.”

The White Magical Hat appeared. “Hello, my master.”

“I need you to dump this body somewhere. It hurt Aten and Robbie.”

“The dragons have been getting hungry. I’m sure they’ll find this pile of bones a tasty morsel.”

Aria looked up and saw her Nightmare Dragon approaching.

The Decayed Commander stepped back to allow the dragon to lean down and get a pet from its master.

“Mistress. You have returned.”

“This boy hurt Aten and Robbie. Take care of it.”

The Decayed Commander impaled the torso with his sword and carried it away.

The Helpless Child looked up at the dragon. “I cannot carry that. It is too heavy.”

The dragon grinned. “The Blue Eyes, Red Eyes, and myself will enjoy this. Thank you, Mistress.”

“I knew my dragon was getting hungry.”

The dragon picked the pelvis and the dangling legs. It flew off, leaving The Helpless Child standing there.

“I didn’t know Robbie had a monster. Not everyone has a monster,” Bakura commented. “I wonder why The Decayed Commander showed up.”

The Helpless Child looked up at the spirit. “I am Aten’s monster. My master’s companion has a monster for a reason.”

“Why?”

The Helpless Child took a deep breath. “Because one day, Robbie will inhabit the Shadow Realm….like my master. Robbie will need The Decayed Commander, even though he has betrayed my master.”

“How?”

“He was one of The Unfaithful Guardian’s followers.”

Bakura growled. “Steven? Is he still here?”

The Helpless Child shook his head. “I cannot say. If he is here, I have not seen him.”

Aria looked up at her father. “We won’t be blamed for the punk’s death, will we?”

Bakura shook his head. “No. Jason and Eric won’t remember a thing. All they’ll know is that that punk wandered off somewhere. They won’t even remember hurting Robbie and Aten. I wiped back their memory from this night.”

Aria growled at her father. “I wanted them to remember what they did! I wanted it to haunt his dreams! Plague his nightmares!”

Bakura grinned. “That is what I replaced his memories with….nightmares. He won’t get a decent night sleep for the rest of his life.”

Aria grinned. “Who’s my daddy?”

Bakura lifted up his daughter. “Who’s got daddy’s murderous tendencies? Who’s got daddy’s bloodlust?”

Aria’s hair spiked and her canines were revealed behind her grin. “Me. I AM CHIBI BAKURA!”

“You better believe it! Now, we had better go home.”

The White Magical Hat bowed as his master left. “I wonder if The Unfaithful Guardian is still here……..”

*************************

Aria and Bakura returned home. Robbie was awake and was clinging to Ryou. Marik had Aten in his arms, rocking him and singing Egyptian to him.

Aria and Bakura walked through the door. “We took care of him, Aten. He won’t bother anyone anymore.”

“Where is he?”

Bakura turned to Seto. “With any luck, your dragon won’t choke on him.”

“As long as he doesn’t have a bra hanging off of him this time, I’ll be happy.”

“Robbie, do you want to go home or---?”

Aten struggled off of Ryou and went to Robbie. “I want Robbie to stay!”

Malik put away the rubbing alcohol. “At least the cut wasn’t too deep on Robbie’s forehead. What do you say, Robbie? Want to stay here?”

“I want Aten.”

Malik went upstairs to get the boys’ bed ready. The two boys were given baths and something light to eat.

When they went to bed, Aten and Robbie gave a contented sigh.

“I was worried about you, Robbie,” Aten said with a sniffle.

Robbie sighed as he closed his eyes. “Me, too, Aten.”

Aten looked up at Robbie. ‘Should I hug him?’

Robbie blinked at Aten. ‘Should I hold him like we always do? What if he doesn’t want me to do it anymore?’

The two boys laying in bed just looked into each other’s eyes, waiting for the other to make the first move.

“Do you….want to come over here with me?” Robbie asked.

“Do you want me to?”

Aten and Robbie avoided each other’s eyes for a minute. ‘This has never bothered me before,’ the boys thought in unison. ‘How come it feels different between us?’

“If you want,” Robbie said.

Aten looked down between them. There had never been this much distance between them before in bed.

The Egyptian boy shifted closer to Robbie and put his head on Robbie’s chest.

These feelings….

They felt different….

What were these feelings?

Aten looked up at Robbie. “I’m glad you decided to stay.”

Robbie smiled. “Me, too.”

Aten leaned up and planted a soft kiss on Robbie’s lips.

‘This feels…..different somehow,’ Aten thought. ‘It feels…..good.’

‘I don’t want this to end,’ Robbie thought.

Robbie reached up and cupped Aten’s cheek in his hand. Aten’s hand touched Robbie’s bare chest.

Aten felt sensations running through him that he never did before. It felt good to touch Robbie like this. It felt different, though.

He couldn’t explain it.

Aten pulled back from the kiss to see Robbie’s face red.

“Goodnight, Robbie,” Aten said softly.

Robbie hugged Aten close to him. “Goodnight, Aten.”

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