Prompt: Yugi and Téa, hanging out. For Aqua girl 007!
Pairing: Peachshipping
The two of them had stood like that, eyes watering in the brilliant blaze of the sunset over Domino City, fingers wrapped around the chain-link fence on the roof of the high school, for what must have been an hour at that intently listening to the other's careful breaths, in, out, in, out, Yugi furrowing his brow, chewing on the inside of his cheek, Téa perking up whenever she thought she heard him clear his throat. No avail.
The two of them had spent a pleasurable if slightly cautious day together-they had met at Domino Station, grabbed a quick bite, and set out on a stroll throughout the town.
They had enjoyed themselves, to be sure, yet they had both pointedly avoided the arcade.
It can't go on like this, she thought halfheartedly, almost miserably, heart thrumming in her chest and eyes prickling.
He was so close-she could reach out her hand, nestle it in his hair, pull him up to his tiptoes and press his lips onto hers... but at this point, could she be sure he wanted that anymore?
Or was it merely the memory of the long-gone Pharaoh she missed, wanted to touch?
No. It's not that, not anymore...
Could she be sure?
This suggestion she had increasingly begun to doubt, as the memories and dreams of the proud Pharaoh that had plagued her had begun to be replaced by sweet dreams of her Yugi, not the "other Yugi", the Pharaoh. Just... her Yugi.
The Yugi whose own tender heart shone a light that could never be matched.
Would Téa fall short? She wasn't as smart, as witty as other girls, and far too gawky-looking for him... the petite Rebecca Hawkins, for one, had her reeling in her tracks.
If she were to do what she so wanted to do, to prove that she wanted to be his once and for all, with no Pharaoh and no shyness to muddle the moment... what would happen?
Would she ruin their closeness?
Would he reject her?
The sunset is so beautiful, she thought witlessly, as the last of the gold was swallowed up into a purple-red blaze of impending night.
It reminded her, cruelly, of his eyes.
Yugi heard her shifting, her constantly agitated body, and felt his heart ache. He felt stupid, utterly so, to have invited Téa on this-this outing, this date, whatever she wanted to call it, when he knew he never had a chance with her, and never would.
She loves-loved the Pharaoh, he thought painfully. Not me.
She was beautiful, kind, sophisticated, and she could never find him a worthy replacement. They had made the tenuous journey from classmate to friend to this, all with the help of the Pharaoh.
Yet if he were to do what he had longed to do for such a long time now, and reach out his hand...
... and cover hers with it... tilt his chin up to meet hers, lips to her lips...
... he would undoubtedly spoil everything.
The words bunched against her lips, demanding to be said. "Yu-Yugi," Téa stammered, the taste of his name overripe on her tongue.
Yugi turned his head and regarded her with interest, violet eyes shining in the dimming reflected light. He recognized something dangerous in her own glittering cerulean ones.
"I-I want you to know... gosh, I can't believe I'm saying this, when it's hopeless at this point..." Téa moved her hand to cover his.
Yugi was never quite so red as he was in that moment. Until...
"Yugi, I think I like you." Téa moved her hands to cover her own blush, her chest positively vibrating.
... until that. Yugi bit his tongue so hard he tasted blood.
"Téa..."
"I know that you won't believe me because of the Pharaoh, but I promise that it's all in the past now. I like you, Yugi..." choked out Téa thickly behind her hands, fighting to keep tears of humiliation from streaming down her face, a rivulet of snot from running into her mouth. Fuck. I've ruined it now.
"Téa," Yugi began, a tiny chuckle of relief creeping into his voice. He reached his hand to her shoulder, pulled himself towards her and planted a kiss on her hands.
"Me too."
I like you too, Téa.
Believe me.
At this, Téa looked at him, eyes blurry, and buried her face in his neck, arms wrapping around him like he would sink into the floor without her.
She murmured against his neck, tickling him, "well, we've got ourselves something on our hands, don't we?"
Yugi held her close. She could feel him nod, and he could feel her heart against his own, as the sky blanketed itself in deep blue.
