Joey, Tristan, Tea and Mai all hung around Yugis place that night, playing console games with one another while Atem watched and talked with them. Yugi was ignoring them, lost in his journal in the corner of the lounge. He had read through this book time and time again he almost didn't need it anymore but still, he turned the pages, examining the words and diagrams, going through scenario after scenario in his mind as his eyes glazed over the ink.
"Yuuuuuugi."
"Huh?" Yugi perked up eventually.
"What pizza do you want?" Joey asked as he held the phone to his ear.
"We're having pizza? Umm… Whatever Teas having."
"Alright."
"You okay Yugi?" Tea asked as she climbed up next to him to lean on his shoulder affectionately.
"Yeah. I can't shake the feeling I'm missing something. I've been through this book often enough I can recite it."
"Relax Yugi. If what every one tells me is true then you've got nothing to worry about. Even Atem is confident in your ability." Mai said happily. He put the book down at his feet and rubbed his eyes tiredly.
"I'm confident in my ability to do this, it's what I don't know that concerns me. But your right. I need to take this as it comes." Yugi said.
"Come play a game with us." Tea said happily, dragging him from his place on the couch to join them by the console.
"Keep working yourself too hard Yugi and I'll have to make you relax later." Atem whispered to him internally.
"Keep that up and I'll show you what working yourself hard can feel like." Yugi whispered back to him cheekily.
Sunday.
Yugi waited impatiently in the car with his seat leaning back and legs on the dash, bopping his foot over his knee. It was too early in the morning for the doors to the museum to open but he couldn't sit idly at home. All he needed was his key then he could retrieve the items but even with his clearance the guards would not let him in. So he waited, a hot chocolate warming his fingers and his radio on softly in the background.
Atem was still sleeping within his mind and with how much fun they've been having together over night he didn't expect him to be awake anytime soon.
A blush crept upon Yugis cheeks as he thought fondly of their activities lately. He was excited to give Atem his own body again so he could live among them instead of sharing his body. The perks the come with were enough to drive him to do this. But since they've been together he wanted this even more. Touching him, spending time with him, exploring one another within his mind felt real enough but to actually have him here with him… He wanted this more than anything.
8:00 ticked over and he began moving to leave.
Now the hour had ticked he was permitted entry. The lights were still off and every doorstep echoed down the halls loud enough to wake the dead. There would be minimal staff here today so he wasn't worried about being caught doing this.
Using his ID to let himself through the staff entry and bee lined to his office, switching the light on. He left the door open.. He wouldn't be long and aside from him there were only the guards in this building right now.
He needed his key which he kept in a safe beneath his desk, but to anyone else his desk was built into the floor and couldnt be moved. This key was also the reason he chose not to move his office. He went over to his computer, opened a few programs and clicked a button. When he heard the beep of the security camera chime softly he knew he was good to do whatever he wanted in here until he told the camera to stop looping. The security guards wouldnt suspect a thing.
Turning a totem pole around and stepping on the tile beneath it he heard the click behind his desk: now he could move it.
"Good morning." He heard from the door and immediately he spun on his heel to meet Leons gaze from the frame.
Panic gripped him instantly but grasped whatever nerve he had left and collected himself. Atem was asleep, the security camera was looping and no one else was around… this was Leons chance to strike him quickly and he wouldn't know how to defend against his abilities without Atem or the items.
But Leon leant on the frame, arms crossed over his chest, a tired hollow expression on his face. His eyes were almost blank, his cheeks sullen. His hair was unwashed and his clothes were wrinkled and unkempt. Still, as much as he appeared to have fallen he held a certain smugness about him as if his appearance and wellbeing was the last thing he was concerned about. He knew events of the future and his confidence in his abilities shone through his blank image. His eyes were locked onto his; no sparkle or sign of life, just calculating fire.
"Leon. Mr. Owoi is looking for you." Yugi said calmly.
"Im sure. Have you decided to quit yet?"
"Thought about it. Have you decided to finish the job?" Yugi asked, matching his strong tone.
"Thought about it. Youre rarely alone these days. I was hoping the hospital wouldn't be able to save you so I wouldnt have to get my hands bloody."
"Because a little blood would hurt your appearance. What happened to you Leon?" Yugi asked.
"I saw the future. It's funny… my job is to uncover the past so that we may learn from it, to build a better future with the knowledge of the past as our foundation. But all I found was a future, burning and crumbling and people dying and screaming."
"And im the one that causes this if I'm not wrong." Yugi said as he casually leant against his desk, folding his arms across his chest too.
He felt Atem stirring within… He must sense his tension. He reached out to him to tell him to be calm but on alert. When he was sure his message was recieved he ignored his growing concern to focus on Leon. Atem would be out soon enough he was sure.
"In the eye of the storm. You are the one that pushes the first domino. Domino city is where ruin will spread and you are the reason why they fall. If i dont stop you before the month is out I will have failed man kind."
"Why don't we cut a deal then? You tell me the area in which I make this discovery and I won't go near it. Curiosity aside i cant destroy the world if i dont do whatever it is that destroys it." Yugi proclaimed as Atem floated cautiously out to sit beside him. When he saw Leon he tensed immediately, ready to switch places at a moment's notice but Yugi held him back. He wanted to see where this would go. If Leon attacked or this became heated then he would let Atem do his thing. Until then this was his fight.
"I can't do that Yugi. I myself don't actually know what you discover but the spirits do. They wont tell me, in fear i will discover it instead but they have seen you make it… in almost every scenario you make it and when you do you will unleash the end of days upon us. If you quit now, live a life on the downlow we can avoid bloodshed … or I can kill you here, ensuring that only one life is spilled rather than countless millions."
"Do you expect me to let you kill me? I've had a deathwish once before, I've got too much to live for now to just decide it's okay for you to slide in that knife your carrying." Yugi said, pointing to the hilt of an old dagger he was lazily hiding in his belt. He slid it out, admiring the craftsmanship of the carvings before he tossed it to the floor between them where it slid and spun to a stop.
"I don't want to kill you Yugi." He said.
"My hospital bill says otherwise." Yugi said snarkily.
"I do apologise for that -"
"No. You apologise because I lived. Your here today to instill fear and doubt in the hopes that i will run where you will be able to finish me off without anyone interrupting. Dont think me an idiot Leon, because i dont think that of you. If i quit my job at the museum that wont mean im no longer an archaeologist with the ability to discover things without these resources. You know that even if I were to quit, the chances ill make this discovery are still high and you are mad enough to believe that the only way to ensure the worlds safety is with my death. You were never an idiot Leon, dont start acting like one now." Yugi snapped at him.
"So you admit that im going to have to kill you." Leon offered.
"I admit that your going to have to try." Yugi said. Leon pushed off the frame to enter the room but as he did Yugi moved his heel to hit a switch on his desk and immediately two spears shot from the floor to block his entry, narrowly missing his feet and impaling his body. He stood, frozen and wide eyed… now he showed emotion: fear.
"I told you not to think me an idiot. Dont think ive let my guard down because there are security guards all over this building."
"That could have killed me Yugi. Good to see your living up to expectations. I suppose its fitting that if youre going to destroy mankind then i would be the first blood spilled trying to stop you."
Yugi said nothing, he merely watched, ready to set off the next trap if he were to try and get around the spears… he didn't want to but he would if he needed to. He only wished the cameras weren't looping. If he killed Leon here even in self defence he wouldn't be able to explain his way out of court… this was dangerous.
"Does Mr. Owoi know you've rigged your office?" Leon asked, stepping back to gather himself.
"Hes the one who paid for it." Yugi replied and as he did the spears retracted back into the floor.
Leon sighed but eventually nodded. "You have to leave this building eventually and when you do you won't have your traps to protect you. I won't offer you another chance Yugi. The next time we meet I will kill you." Leon left on that note, his footsteps echoing down the hall until Yugi heard the gentle slam of the staff door locking behind him.
That's when Yugi allowed himself to let go of the tension he'd been feeling, sighing deeply and sinking to his knees. His heart was racing as adrenaline ran marathons through his body. He shook a little, trying hard to keep his calm but he was so shaken up he couldnt help it. Atem crouched beside him, touching his shoulder gently and pulling him into a comforting and strong hug. He felt the warmth and even though he was too on edge to enter the protection of his own mind where he could feel his embrace, he was even more ready to bring him back for good. He wouldnt have his power to protect him against Leons abilities, but he would have his support and knowledge that he would he safe even if Leon attacked.
"Yugi, are you okay?" Atem asked him softly.
"Yes. We need to do this tomorrow… as early as possible." Yugi said strongly. His voice oozed determination and fire and passion… it was almost frightening to Atem but still he held him until Yugi stood to close the door.
"The nerve of him to come in here and threaten you on your own. The coward cant fight you when youve got protection." Atem said angrily.
Yugi said nothing as he picked up the dagger Leon had tossed aside. It was Syrian… very old. Likely he got it on his latest trip there… why he chose to bring a few hundred year old dagger as his choice of weapon instead of a modern blade was beyond him but perhaps it held some significant irony.
"What's on your mind? Your closed to me." Atem asked.
Yugi approached him, tossing the dagger onto his desk lightly before bringing them both into his mind, into a room that looked just like his office. He gave Atem little time to adjust when he pushed himself onto him, locking his lips with his and grabbing his waist to pull into him. He pushed Atem back onto the desk, standing between his legs as he pressed his pelvis against his. Atem moaned and sighed as Yugi licked his neck, nibbling on his ear and sucking on his skin. Atem gripped the side of the desk tightly as Yugis hands explored his body, tugging at his clothes until they wished them off.
Atem wrapped his legs around Yugis waist, taking his hands to hold his jaw and kissed him passionately, his tongue dancing with his, fighting for dominance.
It wasn't long before Yugi had Atem pinned against his desk; His books and papers and computer all pushed off haphazardly as he took him with such loving force. Atem deep violet eyes burned with such love as he gazed into Yugis lustful lavender, and with every thrust Yugi came closer to losing his mind within him until finally he couldn't. He felt Atems breathing shift and as his moaning became louder they released together, panting and breathing hard as their bodies rocked and shook, softening and relaxing.
Atem lifted Yugis face to his, kissing him softly and slowly. A tender motion to contrast the aggression Yugi had been feeling earlier.
"Feel better?" Atem whispered to him lovingly.
"Much." Yugi giggled.
"Soon we can do this for real." Atem said as he nuzzled his nose affectionately.
"Maybe without trashing my office though." Yugi joked.
"Your the one that did this, not me." Atem laughed.
Yugi let him off the desk, bringing himself back into the real world to clean himself off and make himself somewhat presentable. He was thankful for now when they were together he was a lot messier in his mind. His body reacted as it should and he found he'd need to wait a while before leaving the room but he wasn't in a rush to leave. When they do this in person it'll be a different story.
He smiled fondly at the word; when… soon. Starting tomorrow Atem would have a body of his own and once they recovered they could have one another whenever they wished.
Until then Yugi sat at his desk, not trashed at all, and waited for his body to calm down while Atem sat beside him, feeling awfully smug about not having to do this.
"You wanna know what I find surprising?" Atem asked him but his tone suggested a level of cheekiness Yugi was hesitant to humour.
"What?" He asked anyway.
"I find it surprising how forceful you can be. You come off all innocent but get you in the mood and your a beast." Atem giggled.
"Your not helping." Yugi sighed.
"You know what else is surprising?"
"I'm sure you'll tell me."
"You've rigged your office." Atem said incredulously.
"Oh yeah the traps are only active when I've turned the lock on my desk."
"Lock on your desk?" Atem asked.
Yugi stood to slide his desk out from the wall about a foot before he climbed underneath it.
"My desk is built into the floor so it can't be moved. But if I unlock the floor it's standing on I can move it to get to a hidden safe underneath. Most people would think if I were to hide anything it'd be amongst all my shit but this way even if they tear this room apart they won't find the safe unless they know to turn the pole and then move the desk."
"That's clever. But what if they did remove everything, they'd get to the pole eventually." Atem asked as he leaned over his shoulder.
"They need my combination to get in the safe and currently there's very few people who can even guess what it is and even less that remember it exactly."
"May I ask what it is?" Atem asked cheekily.
Yugi opened the door and slid out a small envelope before straightening back up again to let the key fall into his hand. It was an ordinary looking key, gold in colour and shining brightly as if brand new.
"The day you left." Yugi said fondly.
Atem smiled warmly, feeling his heart bubbling again.
"You know what else I find surprising?" He asked softly.
"How sentimental I am?" Yugi asked as a joke.
Atem draped himself across his back, nuzzling into his hair in an affectionate headbutt.
"How much I love you."