Shadow: Kinda sweet this time again. I don't think this counts as fluff exactly…but…I dunno. Is it? Anyway, this pairing needs more love. Much more love. Love it, somebody? (hopeful smile)

Shipping: Monarchshipping – Yami no Yugi x Pharaoh Atem


Little Gifts

7) Christmas Lights

To look upon them standing there brought a smile to everyone's lips who passed.

Twins, most surmised, both dressed in velvety black from throat down, long coats falling to their mid-thigh. Their fingertips were twined together, encased in black wool to protect them from the cold, one long scarf wrapped around both their necks as the paler of the two lay his head against the other's shoulder.

They cut quite a pretty scene, the two of them, curled up together on a bench in the town square with the various coloured lights twinkling and flashing above their heads. Cerise eyes, warm as flames followed the antics in amusement, sighing in delight as they fell upon lights arrayed together like a curtain of stars.

Together, they really were the royal 'we'. Seamlessly, their coats blurred together under the night, a curving, delicate mass topped with twin crowns of ebony, ruby and gold. Beautiful faces. Beautiful eyes. One of them was white as snow, the other a light tan.

"They're beautiful." A comment from the darker one, his tone wondering as his free hand reached up into the sky, as if to touch the thousand and one lights above, the stars of heaven above them further still.

"I know." Yami smiled at Atemu, his golden bangs dangling in front of his face as he sat up a little straighter, raising his head. Brushing a hand across the smooth skin, Atemu reached out to tuck the errant fringe behind his lover's ear. "Yugi took me to see them for the first time last year."

"Yugi…" A vague smile touched the corners of Atemu's lips. He was truly fond of the smaller boy, as Yami was, the little light's exuberance and sheer joy for life hard to resist. "Did you not wish to go with him again this year to look at them?"

Yami hesitated a little before answering. "Do…I…I think the winter lights…" he glanced up to the sky, his tone soft, "they're special. And this winter…" He went back to lean his head on Atemu's shoulder, "I wished to share them with you. Yugi is my light, my aibou, but…" an incomprehensible noise, "must I explain it? It's…only you."

Atemu smiled again, leaning back into the seat behind them. Time went by. The lights above them continued to glow, and the night above got darker, the stars coming out more clearly. Yami yawned.

"Tired?"

A nod from the paler of them. "A little. It's been a long day."

"Should we head back to the game shop?"

"…If…you don't mind?"

"Not at all." As Yami shifted from his shoulder Atemu stood, extending his hand towards the other youth. Yami took it gratefully, their gloved fingers twining together once more. "Let's go through the park."

"Alright…"

Their walk home was slow, meandering, winding its way around the park's bending paths, along the pavements under the streetlights all the way back to the game shop. The place was empty that night, save them – grandpa was out visiting old friends who were in town for a week or so, Yugi was over at Tristan's with Joey. It was why Yami had taken Atemu out to see the lights in the first place.

About to switch the light in the living room on so he could see what he was doing, Yami felt a hand curl around his wrist, halting him. "Don't." A little bemused, Yami looked at his lover. Atemu smiled a little mysteriously, releasing the other's hand and pulling his gloves off, dropping them on a sideboard. "We don't need them, do we?"

"If you say so…" Yami slid his coat off his shoulders, tucking his own gloves in the covering's pockets before wandering back out into the house's hall to hang it up. Walking back into the living-room he was met by a warm body, familiar arms winding about his waist and holding him, a head lying on his shoulder, lips against his neck. A candle had been lit in the window, small flame shining perfectly in the dark of the room. "Atemu…?"

Kisses trailed up his throat, soft as the murmur from the youth in whose arms he stood, smoky as the vaguest scent of sandalwood that whispered against his skin. "…Egypt is warm this night…"

Vaguely amused and vaguely confused both at the somewhat cryptic comment, Yami arched his neck, allowing Atemu more skin to touch, his own arms curling around the other boy's shoulders. "…Atemu, the desert is cold at night. Freezing, in fact. You know this." His hair fell about his eyes, blocking them from his lover's view.

"I am not speaking of the desert…" Fondly, Atemu tucked the golden fringe behind Yami's ears, a familiar gesture. "You are my Egypt, the Egypt, my blood and my home. Beautiful, proud, strong. Mine."

"How possessive of you…" More kisses, Yami pleasantly warm now, enjoying the attention. Shifting his head he brushed lips across the mouth caressing him, initiating a kiss there, slow, sweet. Breaking for air, forehead resting against Atemu's. "I never took you for being sentimental."

A shrug, Atemu leaning in for another kiss, longer this time. "…I have my moments." Withdrawing again, undoing Yami's hold about him and pulling the other with him to the room's sofa, laying down there and pulling his companion with him.

Yami hmmed softly, amused once more. Pressed so closely to his lover, the vibrations of his throat sent a pleasant shiver through both of them. Content, warm, he pressed his head against Atemu's chest, listening to the pharaoh's heart beating. It was a reassuring sound, constant. The candle at the window burned brightly, and the darkness curled around them, inviting and deep.

Atemu and Yami fell asleep there, still wound about each other, side by side, and dreamed of Christmas lights.