Shadow: So I'm…a whole week behind with these now? Accckkkkk… (type-type-type)
Shipping: Wishshipping – Yugi Mouto x Joey Wheeler
Little Gifts
14) Winter Break
Five…
Four…
Three…
Two…
One.
"Freedoooommmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!" Joey Wheeler burst out through the doors of Domino High School at the head of an army of students, the first among many, tearing out into the grounds and promptly running around in a mad frenzy of utter celebratory joy.
Yugi Mouto, somewhat amused, followed behind at a much more sedate pace, Téa and Ryou at his side.
Winter Break. The winter holidays. The period of two-three weeks in which to not do all the homework assigned, and simply let loose and party. The cold days full of so much more light than the long summer even seemed to hold, the half-smiles exchanged between wry friends, the Christmas trees and stars nearly poking everyone's eyes out, and yet no-one ever seeming to mind…
"Joey seems to be happy." Ryou's observation was dry, his smile faintly amused as he watched his American friend race around the schoolyard in insane glee. The term had been a long one, and they were all glad to be let loose for the holidays.
"Joey could amuse himself in an empty room…" Téa sighed, watching as the named blonde finally ended up running into someone, both people going down in a tangle of limbs and colour.
"Joey!" Yugi took off from between them, racing to see if his friend was hurt.
Ryou smiled a little more, tilting his head to one side, gaze knowing. "…Don't you think he'd find things so much more amusing if Yugi-kun were there?"
"Things are always more fun when there's someo- oh." Téa laughed a little subconsciously, catching herself when she caught what her companion was hinting at. "Ah…yes, I guess he would. Not that he'd ever say so or anything…Yugi either." The girl's tone was a little wistful, remembering. Yugi was beside Joey, helping the blond up and brushing the other down. The other boy he'd collided into was Tristan – the brunet was heaving himself up and smacking Joey over the back of the head; Joey was complaining loudly.
Ryou averted his eyes from the bickering, attention on his friend beside him. "…You miss being his first crush, don't you? Even though you never…?"
"Yugi's always been my friend. I was his first friend, his first crush…" Téa sighed, wrapping her arms around herself as if to ward off the cold. "It made me feel a little special, y'know? Wanted. I never liked Yugi in that way, but…all the same…"
"I think I understand."
A long pause. Tristan finally got fed up abusing Joey and, spotting Téa and Ryou, began heading their way. Joey and Yugi still stayed in the middle of the yard, talking about something or other, Joey rubbing his battered head and occasionally sending a glare after Tristan's retreating back. Yugi stood close to him…they were both smiling.
Téa sighed again, still watching the two. "Boys are oblivious."
"…Excuse me?" Ryou uttered a token protest.
Blue eyes glanced his way shortly. "Ryou Bakura, when the situation calls for it, you can be as thick as two short planks. You're male – your species damns you."
"My 'species'?"
"Yes." No elaboration from Téa. "…Do you think if we painted a giant placard professing their feelings towards one another they'd cotton on about each other and finally get a clue?"
Another pause, Ryou looking over to Yugi and Joey, the two's smiles, the faint laughter that drifted over, the sounds of the conversation. Joey's arm around Yugi's shoulder, their bodies conspiratorially close… "I…I think they'll get their eventually Téa, by themselves."
Tristan finally reached them, grinning with absolutely no idea of the conversation topic. Behind him Joey leaned do, pressed an affectionate, little-more-than-friendly-but-not-too-much kiss to Yugi's forehead. The smaller teen blushed, mumbling something quickly. Joey smiled.
Téa sighed for the final time and let Ryou pat her consolingly on the shoulder. "…They always do."