Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Lantern, burning
Flickered in the night for only you

When Atem had been offered a second chance of life by the gods and sent to earth to remain by his partner’s side for the rest of his days, he had not expected to find Yugi nearing twenty-six and shoulder deep in adult life. 

In his mind, he had assumed Yugi to be that eighteen year old boy forever. Of course, logic told him that could never be the case as time moved differently in Aaru. 

For what was only a few days there were years on earth. 

Appearing in his partner’s new apartment, drenched in golden light and shocking the very much not a teenager into a fainting episode was not how he’d expected their reunion to go. 

For being older, Yugi still looked relatively the same. He had matured of course, his clothing was more professional and he’d grown a couple of inches taller. His face was a little sharper. His cheeks were less round, but overall he was very much still—Yugi. 

Atem, on the other hand, looked the same as the day he’d left Yugi. Eighteen seemingly forever. Although, he’d been told he’d begin to age the longer he was on earth. 

This time, he had his own body and was able to move freely. 

To touch freely. 

Something he’d desperately yearned for while he’d been a spirit. 

Something he had yet to be able to attempt. 

After the initial shock of his reappearance, Yugi asked him a million questions, terrified that something had gone terribly wrong and that he was being punished in some way. That everything they’d worked for in the past had been for nothing. 

Atem reassured him that this was his own choice and that by fulfilling his duty and destiny, they had looked within his heart to offer him a gift. A gift Atem would forever cherish. 

His gift, however, was surprisingly skittish around him. 

It was hardly believable at first. Yugi and he had shared a body and a heart. During that time, they had become closer than anyone could ever imagine.

For Atem, those days were nearly yesterday. 

For Yugi, they were seven years prior. 

Although Yugi was welcoming and ecstatic to have him back, he was more guarded and he for some reason, didn’t want Atem to touch him. 

He hadn’t said the exact words, but each time Atem had attempted to reach out, to find that spark that he longed for, Yugi drew away and excused himself to do something else. 

Atem respected his space, despite wishing to touch his partner’s soft hand. To run his knuckles over the light freckles on his cheek. To remember how his silky hair felt. 

More than that, he just missed their connection. 

Atem, of course, lived with Yugi in his tiny little apartment in the city near his job. He’d purchased him a futon and helped him buy some clothes. (Yugi’s had been too big.) With connections, Yugi was able to get him documents and legal papers to be a citizen. 

It had been overwhelming at first; having his own things and living in modern day Domino with two sets of memories plaguing his every thought. 

But just being near Yugi was enough to calm him. Even on the days he became homesick. 

He had hoped it would be similar for Yugi, but he was always so busy that Atem wasn’t sure if it would be possible for him to ever be calm anymore. 

Atem worked days in the game shop, to obtain his own money and give him some sense of purpose, and had been told Yugi had become quite the workaholic. 

It had begun in university, apparently. He’d set his goal and had done everything and anything to obtain it. Atem admired him for it. He’d always known his partner was a strong, resilient person and would achieve anything he set his mind to. 

All good traits to have, but could easily backfire when priorities shifted. When careers became an identity.  

Atem had noticed this while living with Yugi.

He slept very little and skipped breakfast, even when Atem offered to learn how to make him something. (He was still finding his way around the kitchen.) He worked late into the evening, sometimes not even coming home and sleeping in his office, only to come home and shower, change his clothes and leave again. 

Atem had become really worried but with the wall between them now, this lack of connection that hadn’t been there before, he didn’t know how to approach it. 

The Yugi he’d known before would have been easier to talk to. 

This Yugi now nearly felt like a stranger. 

No… he’d never be a true stranger, Atem reasoned with himself. It was still him. Very much so. His quiet strength and kindness was alive in his eyes. His heart and his spirit that Atem adored were there in every smile he gave Atem or every word he spoke. 

The solution to all of their problems came to him by accident.

He’s been sorting through their shared closet to fit his newer clothes inside, feeling a sense of satisfaction of being able to store his own clothes alongside Yugi’s, when a book tumbled out of a clumsily closed box on the top shelf. 

The book was old, had a black cover, and looked to have been stored for quite a long time due to how dusty it was. 

Atem blinked at the title. 

“Submission and Dominance 101.” 

Strange, he thought, and then flipped through the pages. At first, he was startled to read such a thing but then he became sucked into the intriguing world that he’d stumbled into and plopped himself down on Yugi’s bed to read it properly. 

By the time Yugi returned home from work, only to shower and fall into his bed to sleep, Atem had come up with his plan. 

He waited until the weekend, when Yugi was planning to work in the game shop and allow Atem to take days off. He’d arranged with grandpa beforehand, however, conspired really—to let Yugi have the weekend off as well. 

Atem got up with the sun, as he usually did, and spent countless amount of time in the kitchen preparing a hearty breakfast. 

If he was going to remind Yugi of what he needed, Atem was going to first make sure he ate an actual meal. 

Yugi exited the bedroom, rubbing his eyes and looking more like his teenage self with his tousled hair and light blue cotton pajamas. 

Atem’s heart did a little flutter at the sight. He missed him. 

“What’s all this?” Yugi asked as he stopped at their tiny table near the window. 

Atem pulled out the chair closest to him. “Breakfast.” 

Yugi’s eyes flickered from the food to Atem. “You made this?”

“Yes,” Atem said, keeping his voice steady. Not wanting to reveal that he was extremely self conscious about how it tasted. 

“Wow,” Yugi said with a small smile. “You really shouldn’t have, though. I have to be at the gameshop soon. I don’t have time to—”

“Grandpa gave you the day off,” Atem told him and watched as Yugi froze, then frowned with distress. 

“What? Why? Did something happen? Is he okay?” 

Atem lifted a hand to try and stop his panic. “No, he’s fine. I promise. But he wanted you to have the weekend off. He knows how hard you work.” 

Yugi still didn’t look happy with the news. He almost looked disappointed. 

“Oh,” he eventually said. “Alright then.” 

He sat down in the other chair across from Atem and stared down at the platter of food. Atem suppressed his own frown and sat down in the chair he had pulled out. 

They ate in silence, (the food thankfully edible) as Atem subtly watched Yugi. He hated this. He hated not knowing what he was feeling. What he was thinking. 

He hated that he couldn’t just reach out to him and ask him. For him to explain what was on his mind. 

He wouldn’t even look at him. 

It was infuriating. Devastating. 

“Thanks for breakfast,” Yugi said with a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I haven’t eaten like that in forever.” 

Atem returned his smile, taking the dishes to the sink. “You're very welcome. I’ll cook for you from now on.” 

“Oh, you don’t have to do that,” Yugi said with a grin. “This isn’t the norm so—”

“But it could be,” Atem interrupted, back to Yugi and bracing himself on the sink. 

“What?” 

Atem took a deep breath and turned around. “This. Me cooking for you. You taking days off. It could be the normal.” 

Yugi’s brows furrowed. “I highly doubt that with how much work I have to do,” he said and then shrugged, running his hand through his hair. “Besides, since I’m not going into the game shop, I probably should just pull my laptop out and—”

“Don’t.”

Yugi froze. His eyes widened. 

Atem’s heart quickened in his chest and he crossed his arms, trying to channel in on some of his authoritative tone. “You will not be working today.” 

Yugi’s mouth fell open, as if to protest but Atem quickly cut in again. 

“No arguments.” He uncrossed his arms and slowly, cautiously approached Yugi. “You’ve worked really hard for years now, partner. You’re doing so well for yourself and I am incredibly proud of you. But you have earned a day to rest.” 

Atem watched Yugi’s eyes glaze over with an emotion he had never seen before. They began to shine, almost as if he would shed a tear, but Yugi blinked it away before it could form. 

“O-Okay,” came the sweet, gentle answer that soared Atem’s heart. 

His shoulders sank with relief. “Good. Now, go take a warm shower and then we can spend some time together, hm?”

Yugi stared at him, gaze lingering, nearly in awe of Atem, before he smiled. It was a tiny, almost shy smile, but it lit up his eyes in a way Atem hadn’t seen in a very long time. 

Atem watched him go, disappearing into the bathroom, and closing the door. 

He grinned widely to himself in victory. Perhaps there was more to this than he’d originally intended. 

They spent the rest of the day playing video games and ordering takeout. Atem couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt so at home. At peace. Yugi laughed more. Smiled more.

They easily fell into the comfortable roles of before when they’d needed to work together to win a goal. 

It was bliss. 

But Atem knew that his efforts were far from being enough. 

This was only day one and he was aware that once Monday came, things would more than likely return to the way they were.  

“Here,” Atem handed Yugi a cup of chamomile tea. “This is to help you sleep.” 

Yugi took the steaming mug with a look of surprise. “You’ve noticed I don’t sleep well?”

“I notice everything about you, partner.” 

Yugi hid his next shy smile behind his mug. “You’re the same.” 

Atem faltered and tilted his head. “What do you mean?”

Yugi shook his head a little and then took a drink. “Thank you for the tea.” 

Atem watched him turn around and head for bed, leaving him in quiet silence. 

When Atem came to bed that night, Yugi was already asleep far sooner than usual. Atem knelt beside his bed, watching him sleep, something he did often without him knowing. Something he’d done frequently as a spirit. 

Yugi’s long lashes fluttered against his cheeks. His breathing was steady and gentle. Unable to help himself, Atem touched very light fingertips to the back of Yugi’s hand. 

Soft, warm, lovely. 

Atem sighed inaudibly. He spoke it again in his head as his heart clenched painfully: I miss you. 

The next day, Yugi was in far better spirits and Atem knew it had to do with the fact that he’d slept a more than decent amount. He’d even slept through breakfast. 

Atem didn’t mind. He knew he needed the sleep. 

Once again, Yugi was out of work and he insisted he open his laptop to do some progress on his current project.  

Atem allowed it for a few hours but refused to let it go past the four hour mark. 

He entered the bedroom to find Yugi at his desk, tapping along the keyboard. He didn’t notice Atem approach until he was right next to him and speaking. 

“That’s probably enough for the day.” 

Yugi glanced up at him with a jolt. “Oh, gosh, you scared me,” he admitted with a small laugh. “I’ve got a lot still to do, actually. So I probably won’t have time to play games today, but—”

Slam.

Yugi jumped back, the laptop now closed with Atem’s hand on it. He looked down purposefully into Yugi’s wide eyes. 

“You worked really hard today, even on your day off, partner. I ordered us dinner. Come join me.” 

That same emotion took over Yugi’s face for a very brief second before his shoulders deflated. “Alright. Yeah, I could eat.” 

Atem smiled happily and straightened, heart racing. “Good. I enjoy spending time with you.” 

Yugi’s cheek tinted a little pink when he smiled back. “Me too.” 

That was all Atem needed to hear. 

They ate their dinner and watched shows on the television, side by side, until it started to get late. 

Atem turned the tv off. “You should get to bed. You have work in the morning.” 

Yugi leaned back on the sofa. “Oh, it’s alright. I can stay up longer and watch another one. It’s only ten.” 

“Yes,” Atem said, keeping the remote in his hand. “But you get up early and sleep is important to do your best.” 

Yugi nearly pouted and Atem held back a smile. “But I don’t want to go to bed yet. I enjoy spending time with you.” 

Atem’s heart fluttered and he wanted to reach out. To touch his hand. Or his shoulder. Or something. 

He tightened his hand on the remote instead. “We can spend time together any time you want,” he reminded him. “If you come home for dinner, we can do this every night.” 

Yugi’s eyes lifted to Atem’s warily. “I’ll think about it. For now, let’s just watch another one and then I’ll go to bed, deal?”

Atem struggled with himself. He wavered. And then—“On one condition.” 

Yugi perked up at the give and grinned. “Name it!” 

Atem’s ears felt hot all of a sudden and he had to unstick his tongue from the roof of his mouth. “I’d like to watch this show with you, but I’d like to feel closer to you. Could we… hold hands?”

Yugi went still in surprise. Atem’s heart thudded in his chest with every second of silence. 

“Of course,” Yugi eventually said with a wobbly smile, cheeks a rosy hue. “We can, uh, hold hands. If you want.” 

“I do,” Atem said immediately. More than anything. 

The color in Yugi’s cheeks darkened in response and then he scooted closer to Atem on the sofa. Their arms brushed and Atem’s entire body tingled. He held his breath and dropped his free hand closest to Yugi palm upwards onto his knee. 

Yugi hesitated only a second before his soft hand pressed against Atem’s. Their fingers threaded together and Atem nearly cried in utter relief. 

He turned the show back on to prevent himself from doing so, but didn’t pay a lick of attention to what was happening on the screen. 

All he could focus on was Yugi. His arm pressed against his. His hand in his. The way the spaces in his fingers fit Yugi’s perfectly. Like they were two puzzle pieces meant for the other. 

This was what was supposed to be between them. 

A long time ago, they had declared how they felt for one another but they had been forced to place it high upon a shelf to never reach for, due to Atem’s destiny to return his memories and achieve peace in the afterlife. 

They had never believed they stood a chance. For how could a boy and a spirit continue to love each other for the end of time? It wouldn’t be possible. 

And yet, a part of him had yearned to remain the way they were. Without knowing his future, of being allowed this second chance, Atem had believed their love had been doomed from the beginning. 

Now, there he was, sitting with the love of his entire existence, his entire purpose of being, holding hands with him like any other person could—it was nearly too much. 

It was almost overwhelming. 

He blinked back hot tears and stared intently at the show until it was nearing its end. 

“This is nice,” Yugi broke the silence, drawing Atem’s attention to the way he adjusted their hands. They were sweating a little but he refused to release him. 

“It is,” Atem confessed before he looked over at him only to inhale in surprise. He hadn’t realized how close Yugi had become. 

“I…” Yugi trailed off and his eyes lowered. 

“What is it?” 

Yugi shook his head, as if thinking better of it. “Never mind.” 

Atem couldn’t fight the instinct. He used his other hand to gently lift Yugi’s chin with a finger until their eyes met. “You can tell me anything. You know that,” he murmured and Yugi’s breath came out a little shallow. 

“I know,” he whispered. “It’s just been so long.” 

Atem’s heart tightened in response. “For me, it hasn’t been nearly as long as it has for you. I will never forgive myself for leaving you here alone for so long.” 

Yugi shook his head hastily, dislodging Atem’s finger from his chin, only for it to tentatively trail gently down Yugi’s soft jawline. 

“You were supposed to,” he replied. “I wasn’t supposed to see you again, Atem. We fought so hard for your memories and your peace. For you to be reunited with your friends and family.” 

Atem’s throat bobbed as his brows furrowed. “Yes,” he allowed himself to admit. “And at the time, that was what was necessary. But no amount of time or space could rid you from my heart.” 

Yugi’s jaw trembled then. His eyes filled with tears. 

And then—

Yugi threw himself at Atem, wrapping his arms around the man’s neck and burying his face into his chest. “I missed you so much. I missed you—”

Atem embraced him back, holding him tightly and pressing his nose into Yugi’s sweet smelling hair. “I missed you too. Even the gods could tell. They granted my wish, as I did for you all those years ago.” 

Yugi laughed brokenly through sniffles. “We wished for the same thing.” 

“What do you mean?”

Yugi lifted his head and met Atem’s misty eyes. “I wished for a friend and got you. You wished for a love and got me.” 

Atem smiled softly, heart nearly full. His arms very much full of his very lovely partner. “And now?” He couldn’t help but question.

“Now?” 

Atem’s hope bubbled within his body, nearing eruption. “Am I still a friend to you or am I… more?” As before? 

Yugi’s eyes clouded with an emotion Atem desperately wished to feel. Desperation clung to him and Atem tried to keep his heart from bursting as he waited for an answer. 

Yugi smiled, not quite reaching his eyes in the way Atem yearned to see. “Atem, I’ve always loved you. I never stopped. I probably will always love you, but…” 

Atem froze with dread. There shouldn’t have been a “but”. 

“But things are different now,” Yugi said gently, even though a hand touched Atem’s cheek and felt how it tightened under his palm. “Very different. How could we ever be the same?”

Atem paled and felt his heart splinter just a little at the question. At the reality that was staring him directly in the eyes. 

How could we ever be the same? 

There was only one true answer to that. 

They couldn’t. 

Chapter Text

How could we ever be the same?

Atem stared up at the darkened ceiling for most of the night, unable to get Yugi’s voice out of his head. At one point, that may have calmed him, but now it just caused his now beating heart to wither and tighten with pain. 

Because Yugi was right. 

They couldn’t be the same. Ever again. 

Atem had assumed that somehow when he returned that it would all go back to how it had been, just more. Now that he had a body, they’d be able to love properly without any hesitation or inconveniences. Without fear or doubt. 

Everything would have been perfect and fine. 

But that couldn’t be the case, Atem told his wishful thinking and his endless hopes. Yugi had lived without him for an entire seven years. He was at a different stage of his life now. The time that felt like yesterday to Atem was far, deep in the past. 

A muffled noise broke through the night’s silence and his tortured thoughts. Atem instinctively turned his head only to see Yugi moving around in his bed with seemingly distress. 

Atem waited a second, wondering if he’d relax back into sleep, but Yugi’s breathing picked up speed and incoherent words left his mouth which had Atem sitting up with concern. 

He untangled himself out of his blankets to kneel by Yugi’s bed, hands hesitant to touch him only for a second before he took Yugi by the shoulders. “Yugi,” he tried to rouse him, “Yugi, partner, wake up. It’s okay, it’s alright—”

Yugi’s hands pushed at Atem’s efforts, eyes still shut and a tight pull to his brow, with tears streaming down his cheeks. 

Atem climbed up on the bed and scrambled Yugi up into his arms in hopes that if Yugi felt safe, he’d calm down. But Yugi continued to thrash, moaning in despair in his sleep. 

Atem held him even closer in response. He snaked a hand into Yugi’s tangled hair and held his head to his chest, his other arm wrapped around him protectively. 

“It’s alright, partner,” Atem murmured helplessly, heart pounding violently as a nervous sweat broke out over his skin. “I’m here. Sh… shh. I’m here, partner. It’s alright. It’s okay.” 

Fingernails dug into Atem’s shoulder blades to a nearly painful extent and tears drenched his sleep shirt. Yugi shook and trembled against him and Atem knew he was awake now, but he refused to let go of him. 

Not even for a second. Not until he was sure Yugi was okay. 

After what felt simultaneously like hours and seconds, Yugi’s body began to relax, his breathing evened out and he melted against Atem, his damp forehead meeting Atem’s collarbone tiredly. 

Atem finally loosened his arms, in case Yugi decided to move away, but was grateful when he didn’t. Soft sniffles and gentle breathing filled the room for several seconds. 

“I’m sorry,” said Yugi, voice cracking and exhausted. 

Atem rubbed his back with careful attention. His lips brushed the top of Yugi’s hair. “There’s no need to apologize,” he told him gently. 

Yugi sighed heavily before finally pulling away from him, leaving Atem cold and his arms empty. He watched Yugi avoid his eyes and rub at his wet cheek with the back of a hand. 

“I haven’t had a nightmare in a long time. I thought they had…” Yugi trailed off. “I am sorry that I woke you.” 

Atem shook his head. “You didn’t.” He paused. “Did you have nightmares a lot before?”

He couldn’t remember him having these types of dreams while he was still with Yugi. He knew if he had, they’d stick out quite easily in his memory.

Yugi looked down in shame. “Yes,” he admitted quietly. “But they stopped years ago so I thought I was over them.” 

Atem wanted to ask. Wanted to know what the nightmare entailed. What triggered them. Everything. But with the way Yugi was fidgeting and unable to look up at him, he kept silent and looked down. 

Everything was so fragile between them and Atem had never felt so uncertain with him before. He absolutely hated this. 

“Thank you,” Yugi murmured, drawing Atem’s attention back to him. “For waking me and… everything. I appreciate it.” 

Atem’s heart thudded painfully in his chest. “Of course,” he said, and after a moment’s hesitation, covered Yugi’s hand on the bed with his own. “I will always be here for you, partner. You should know that.” 

Yugi’s gaze slowly fell to their hands. “Yeah,” he whispered. “I know that.” 

Did he? Atem wondered. Did he remember? Did he… believe him? 

Atem suppressed the urge to prove himself. It wasn’t the time, nor the place to do so. 

He pushed himself up off the bed and felt Yugi’s eyes lift to him. “You should try to get back to sleep. You have work in the morning.” 

Yugi nodded, a frown marring his face. Atem climbed into his futon, looking back up at the ceiling as he heard Yugi shift under his covers again. 

When he finally looked over, he saw Yugi’s back facing him. 

Despite being there on earth, in the flesh and no longer a spirit, he felt miles apart from him than he ever had before. 

A deep, dark voice spoke in the back of his mind that maybe… it would have been better if he’d stayed in Aaru. 

The next day, Atem lingered in the kitchen as he listened to Yugi get ready for work. He stared down into the coffee he had prepared for Yugi to take with him, uncertain of his plans now. 

Perhaps they were unwelcome. Perhaps… he was unwelcome. 

“Hey.” 

Atem jolted and straightened, turning to see Yugi in creamy slacks and a red button up. The silver on the buckle upon his neck sparkled in the sunlight streaming through the window. He looked so beautiful to Atem that it was hard to look at him. 

“Hey,” Atem echoed and then slipped the lid onto the coffee cup. “Here you are.” 

Yugi hesitated, before shocking Atem into stunned silence by covering Atem’s fingers instead of just taking the cup. Yugi smiled softly at him. “Thank you. I don’t think I’ve told you enough that I am really glad you are here. This weekend was one of the best I have had in a long time. I have missed you a lot, Atem.” 

Atem’s mouth fell open, his heart stuttering back to life at the gently spoken words.  His fingers twitched under Yugi’s. 

“I… me too.” 

Yugi’s eyes lit up to a glitter that left Atem too mesmerized to do anything else except stand there as Yugi took the cup from his hand. 

“I’ll see you after work.” 

Atem watched him turn after only a second’s pause and leave the apartment with his blazer, bag, and coffee. 

Atem put a hand over his heartbeat, feeling its rapid pulse. 

A smile turned his lips as he suddenly had an epiphany.

Perhaps there was hope after all. Perhaps it didn’t need to be the way they had been. Perhaps they just needed to find a new connection. 

After careful consideration and a more positive outlook on it, Atem decided to continue his plan. Yugi had reacted well to his attempts and during those moments it had brought them closer together than they had been previously. 

It had even sparked an honest conversation between them. 

That was a wonderful step in the right direction, despite how much it had hurt his heart. 

“When do you take your lunch break?” Atem asked him one morning that week as Yugi slid his blazer on. 

“Oh, uh, around eleven, why?” 

Atem swallowed down his nerves and approached him. Yugi’s eyes were trained on his every movement.

“I’ll take mine then too. I will call you, so make sure your sound is on.” 

Yugi blinked and Atem read concern in his frown. “Is everything okay?”

Atem smiled to reassure him. “Of course.” He took Yugi’s lapels and after dropping his gaze down to them, began adjusting his blazer on his slightly broader frame. Atem looked up to finally meet Yugi’s intrusive gaze. “I just want to talk to you.” 

Yugi remained silent. He watched Atem carefully, as if trying to understand the situation. Atem stared back, ignoring the way his heart pounded in his ears, worried about possible rejection. 

Yugi’s hands slowly lifted to touch Atem’s wrists, still posed on his blazer. “I’ll be waiting then.” 

Atem’s shoulders loosened some of its tension, although it felt like his stomach was now invaded by thousands of butterflies. “Good.” 

Yugi didn’t immediately pull away to leave this time. He looked down into Atem’s eyes, mouth falling open as if wanting to say something more. Atem held his breath. 

Yugi’s fingers circled Atem’s wrists. “Is there anything else you want me to do?”

Atem stilled in surprise. He blinked in confusion. For an instant, he wondered if Yugi had found him out, but that couldn’t be at all right. There was no way Yugi knew—

“One more thing,” he relented slowly, as if trying the words on for size. To gauge his reaction with a different approach. “Drink an entire bottle of water today.”

Yugi’s took on that glassy exterior that intrigued him. 

His partner’s lips curved ever so slightly. “Okay. Should I take a picture to prove it to you?”

Atem’s stomach swooped at the idea. Atem gazed into his eyes and struggled with forming words. Finally, he allowed a: “Yes.” 

A light pink tinted Yugi’s cheeks as he slipped his hands away. Atem dropped his to his sides to allow him to step backward.

“I will,” Yugi told him with a certain type of sparkle to his eyes. 

Atem watched him leave in silent surprise, body turning warm and his skin tingling. 

Yugi threw him another smile over his shoulder that was nearly mischievous before leaving the apartment. 

A chuckle of disbelief left Atem’s lips once the door shut. 

That was interesting. 

They spoke on their lunch break about work and other things that brought smiles to their faces, cradling the spark of hope fondly in Atem’s heart. 

Despite this, he did not expect Yugi to be home at a decent hour. 

Atem had returned from the game shop and took a shower, cleaning dust and work off of him, only to leave the bathroom to retrieve the shirt he’d forgotten in the bedroom. His softer pants clung low to his hips and he toweled his neck and the bottom of his hair as he headed down the hall. 

The door to the apartment opening made him falter in his footing. 

“I’m back,” Yugi called and Atem turned to meet him in the living room, watching him remove his bag and set his reusable cup on the table. “I bought dinner so—”

Atem met Yugi’s eyes across the room, watching him freeze at the sight of him. At first, Atem was too stunned by his unexpected appearance to realize Yugi’s gaze had traveled down his half naked body with shock. 

A bright blush took over his pale cheeks as he spun away from Atem. “I didn’t realize you were changing.” 

Atem’s brain rapidly came back online and he looked down to see himself not properly dressed. Oh. 

“I’m sorry, I wasn’t expecting you home. I thought you had taken overtime,” he explained with embarrassment and a warmth to his face. 

“It’s alright,” Yugi rushed out, back to him, fingers gripping the back of one of the chairs. “I’ll wait for you. To uh, get dressed. Then we can eat.” 

Atem nodded to himself and hurried into their bedroom to grab his shirt. When he returned to the main living area, Yugi had set out their dinner on the table. He had loosened his shirt around the collar, allowing a rather alluring sight of his porcelain complexion that contrasted with the bright carnation red of his shirt. 

Atem pointedly tried to avoid staring at the rather familiar mole peeking out at him from under the draped material of his shirt, tempting him. 

“You’re home early,” Atem commented as they dug into their meals, trying to keep his wits about him. “Is everything alright?” 

Yugi moved around his rice without looking up at him. “I wanted to come home tonight.” 

Atem sat down his chopsticks to give him his undivided attention. He glanced over Yugi’s appearance again with a different perspective. “Are you tired? You didn’t sleep all that well.” 

Atem had watched him toss and turn for the majority of the night. Thankfully there had been no nightmares though. 

“A little,” Yugi admitted. “But I was hoping to spend some time with you.” 

Slowly, Yugi lifted his eyes to meet Atem’s over the dinner table. Atem stared back at him with surprise. Since he’d come back to Yugi, he had never once done such a thing for the sole purpose of seeing him. 

“Ah,” Atem said gracefully, body becoming a little warmer. His lips lifted in response. “I’m glad.” 

Yugi smiled back. “Me too.” 

The rest of their meal was lighter then and filled with the smiles that Atem craved. He cleaned up, after sending Yugi in for the shower to get ready for the evening. 

He was wholly unprepared to hear a shout of distress from the bathroom. 

Atem stilled in the kitchen and looked over in the direction of the door. When he heard Yugi again, he made a run for it. His hand gripped the door knob, but just barely stopped himself from barging in.  

“Yugi?” He called instead with a keen panic. 

“Ah—Atem! I, uh, I got soap in my eyes. Can you grab me my towel, I can’t see and—”

Atem didn’t hesitate. He threw open the door without thinking, ready to assist Yugi in any way, and snatched the folded towel from the sink vanity.  

“Here,” he offered, getting closer to the cracked shower door. 

It slid open completely and Atem froze at the sight of his naked partner, wet, with soap in his hair and face. He very carefully kept his gaze on his cheeks.

“Thank you,” Yugi replied quickly, reaching for the towel but finding Atem’s shirt instead. “Oh, uh—”

Atem smiled at Yugi’s precious expression and adjusted the towel in his hand. “Allow me to help, partner.” 

Yugi didn’t let go of his shirt, perhaps to steady himself, as Atem drew closer and then gently wiped his eyes and rounded face with the towel. 

Dark, long lashes fluttered before opening to reveal beautiful blue-violet eyes that stared at him in a way that left Atem a little breathless. 

All too soon, Atem realized just how absolutely bare his partner was right then. His breathing grew shallow and his heart pounded wildly in his chest. 

Yugi’s hand didn’t let go of him. 

Atem swallowed deeply. “May I rinse your hair?”

Yugi blinked a couple of times, his face a mask of shyness and vulnerability, before nodding his consent. 

Atem sat the towel down on the rug at his feet and then took the shower head from the hook. Yugi hesitated when Atem looked at him readily, and then turned slowly to reveal his back to him. 

Atem’s mouth ran dry at the sight. Of his beautiful, willowy frame under droplets of water. His bare freckles dotted his back and called to Atem’s yearning fingers. 

He clenched the shower head instead and gently guided Yugi’s head backward. He carefully and lovingly rinsed the soap from Yugi’s thick hair, taking his time and making sure it was all gone. 

He noticed soap had left trails along Yugi’s shoulders and spine,  and let the water from the shower head rain down over his beautiful skin with reverence. 

Yugi’s head fell forward and Atem lost the rest of his breath. 

An image of him pressing up against him and licking away the remaining droplets from his throat momentarily overwhelmed him and he shut his eyes for a second to stop himself from actually doing it. He didn’t need to scare Yugi off after so much progress. 

“Thank you,” Yugi said without turning around when Atem sat the shower head back upon the wall. 

Atem respectfully didn’t look down further than his spine. “Of course. You can always depend on me to do this much for you, partner.” 

Yugi finally turned around, his face flushed from the shower and his eyes a little glossier than they had been. Perhaps from the soap. 

His wet hand reached out and took Atem’s. “If there is anything you’d want me to do for you, anything at all, just tell me. Okay?” 

His voice was lower. Huskier. And it nearly did Atem in. 

There his partner was. Naked and damp. Flushed and sweet. Looking at him with his gorgeous, kind eyes and alluring words on his pretty lips. 

Atem’s hand moved on its own and his fingers slipped up Yugi’s arm to his elbow. “Partner,” he murmured. “If I were to tell you what to do, when to do it, where to do it… how to do it, would you?”

Yugi’s mouth fell open, his little pink tongue poking through. He was silent for nearly five seconds that drew out Atem’s anxiety and the depth of the matter. 

“Like before?” Yugi finally whispered. “Like when… you took control of me? Of my body?” 

Atem’s heart jumped. His pulse raced under his heated skin. 

“Yes.” Yugi’s eyes flickered down to Atem’s mouth and Atem’s hand drifted up to Yugi’s cheek. “Would you trust me with you again?” 

Yugi swallowed loudly in the bathroom. His eyes clung to Atem’s like they held all of the answers of the universe. 

He covered Atem’s hand with his own. “I’ve always trusted you,” he told him with kind sincerity. “And I always will.” 

Atem’s features softened and he inched a little closer. He stepped into Yugi’s breathing space and gazed up into his eyes. “Even with our connection being… different?”

Yugi took Atem’s hand and lifted it to his mouth. He pressed a sweet, warm kiss to the back of it. “Our connection may be different, but you are very much the same. I trust you with me.” 

Atem gripped Yugi’s fingers. “I’ll take care of you. I promise.”

I Yugi smiled then, eyes becoming a little teary and spoke the words Atem had been desperately needing to hear since he’d returned. “I know you will, other me.”