"Seriously? None of you even made it to chapter five?" Anzu scoffed at the boys sitting with her, each of them avoiding her gaze in their own way… and sighed, hands dropping until her fingers and textbook hit the table. "How do you plan to get through the readings before the test on Friday if you're focused on math for Wednesday?"

Yuugi flinched, silent as Jounouchi grumbled and Honda cleared his throat.

Anzu didn't even sound irritated. She sounded concerned.

And that was way worse.

"We'll be fine," Jounouchi insisted with a snap in his voice, but when Yuugi glanced his way, he saw he was glowering out the library window, not at Anzu. "It's nothing a couple of all nighters can't fix– and we can just catch up on sleep and relax on Saturday."

"There are still the essays and our history test on Saturday."

"On Sunday, then!"

Anzu shook her head, giving up on Jounouchi for the moment to– look at Yuugi.

Yuugi sucked in a breath and stared back, caught, prickles running up his spine.

Because Anzu just… looked at him. No feeling behind the look. Just– looking.

They hadn't talked yet. Yuugi had lingered so long in bed that morning – with Atem – that he'd missed her on the road and barely made it to school before they shut the gate.

And he'd spent lunch focused on Jounouchi, accepting his offer of a duel or four as they grabbed bites out of their bentos, so this was the first time he'd properly interacted with Anzu all day… and it didn't look like they'd get a chance to speak in private. Not unless he asked, "Hey, can I talk to you alone?" outright, and caught Jounouchi and Honda's interest in the process.

Not that Yuugi was sure what he would say, even if he did. He wasn't sure if he should acknowledge that he knew. It might upset Anzu to know that he and Atem talked about her. That he was worried about her, wondering at her completely usual demeanor that day, and what it might be hiding.

But he couldn't exactly hide his feelings, so when they locked eyes? And he blanched? He saw the understanding rising in her eyes.

She knew he knew.

He gulped, frowning, allowing his worry and concern show. His fear. Because she knew about him, too. About him, and Atem, so… what did she…

She smiled, the same as always, the faint weight behind it not touching her voice at all. "Have you started prepping for the history test yet, Yuugi-kun?"

"Huh? Oh, no?"

"Here, why don't you copy my notes? You can read them over properly when you're ready to study for it."

Yuugi looked down at the folder she offered… and took it, a smile soggy with relief and uncried tears bursting across his face. "Thanks, Anzu-chan."

The smile she offered back was the sweetest he'd ever seen… until Jounouchi snapped the moment with a snort.

"Dude, it's just some notes. Not a Dreamcast."

Yuugi laughed, grateful and relieved by the cut-in while Anzu looked sorely unamused. "She'd have to be a wizard to get us that. They're not even out yet."

"Eh, you know what I mean."

Anzu didn't instigate further. Just huffed and told Yuugi to hurry up and write, she had to leave soon.

And the moment passed.

Half an hour later, she was gone, off to her dance class, notes were all copied, and Atem walked into the building, his eyes curious as he skimmed the bookshelves he passed. His partner rarely visited the place, usually preferring the school library if he needed a book or a spot to study, so Atem had only faint 'first hand' memories of the public library, despite living only a few blocks from the place.

But Yuugi and Jounouchi had been suspended from the school library for dueling, so they were trying something new.

"Hey. Are you guys ready to…" he began the second he turned a corner and caught sight of familiar heads… and his words trailed off as he neared his partner and friends' table, and took in what was going on.

Honda was in the chair closest to him, snoring away with his nose buried in an open book, while Jounouchi and Yuugi–

"Mou hitori no boku!" Yuugi smiled as he looked up and saw him. "Did you come to pick me up?"

"Yes, it's nearly dinner time. You weren't answering your phone, so I assumed you were studying," Atem explained, eyeing Jounouchi's shameless smile and the field of cards laid out between him and Yuugi… before looking back at his partner, smirking. "Focusing hard, I see."

Yuugi had the good grace to look embarrassed as he snickered.

"So if it's in defense position, it can still be destroyed, but I won't lose life points," Nagase said, the words coming out slow and slightly uncertain as she looked to Atem for confirmation.

He nodded as he considered the cards laid out on the shop's game table, swallowing back a chuckle when he looked up and saw the determined frown on the college student's face. She was taking his efforts to show her the game seriously, and he was not going to discourage that with impulsive teasing, but it was still difficult to stifle his amusement as he answered. "That's right, at least most of the time. There are effects, traps, and spells that can make the damage carry over to your life points regardless. That's usually called piercing damage."

Nagase looked up and stared at him with a mix of confusion and an irritation that Atem could only translate as, 'You just said–'

He bit back another laugh, grinning wider. "Don't worry, you'll know when the exceptions happen, or see the signs when your opponent tries to surprise you with it. The cards themselves will state it when the rule doesn't apply: here." He reached into his deck holster and pulled out his cards, thumbing through them until he found the one he had in mind. "Spiral Spear Strike. This card allows me to inflict piercing damage to defending monsters, but only if I'm using specific 'Gaia' monsters, and I have to draw and play this card successfully with a Gaia on the field."

"…So, it's situational."

"Exactly," he agreed, repocketing his cards. "It's a powerful effect, since it makes the opponent reconsider using basic defense strategies, but I have to be lucky enough to draw the right cards, or build my entire deck around making that one thing happen on queue, so there is still a clear benefit in defending yourself in most situations."

Nagase nodded her understanding, frowning down at the cards again… but eventually wilted under her own thoughts, turning lost, frustrated, but trusting eyes back on Atem. "But how are you supposed to know when to do what? If the person I'm playing against is going to use a piercing tactic, I would have just attacked while I have the chance, but if they don't…"

Atem smiled, his humor relaxing into something softer, and encouraging. "You don't know, at least not when you jump in. But learning to read your opponents and how they play is just as important to the game as how the cards work– No, even more important. There are countless cards in Duel Monsters, but only forty or so in your opponent's deck, and only one player using them. And understanding the person you duel, forming that connection with them? That's the best part of the game."

Nagase's frown faded as he spoke, turning slowly into hesitant, but clear wonder, and she looked at the cards again with a more intrigued eye. "Oh."

"For now, don't worry about being prepared for everything. If you really want to build your first deck, just look for the way you'd like to play. You can adapt as you find friends to duel."

She nodded, fingering the edge of a Herald of Perfection card a second before asking, green eyes hesitant, "Do you know anywhere I could try dueling for the first time? I still plan to approach the club on campus, but they all use those Disks and really complicated cards, so–"

Atem beamed at the question, already reaching for a flyer from the pile on the table. "Are you busy Marine Day?"

"Huh? No, I don't think so. Why?"

Five minutes later, Nagase left the shop, a fairy-themed starter deck, three card packs, and a flyer for the sale and expo next week in her shopping bag.

Atem waved at her back, a pleased smile on his face– and jumped when a dark chuckle hummed right by his ear.

"Hehheh, you really do have a way about you, Atem-kun."

Atem grimaced, rubbing the unpleasant tickle from his ear as he turned towards a grinning Sugoroku, who had apparently just slunk in from the storage room. "What?"

"I really don't get why you don't want to know that one better! Sure, she's a little older than you are, but she's such a cute thing! That warm blue hair, and with that little white ribbon braided through her hair…"

"…You're not supposed to hit on the customers."

"I didn't say a thing to her!"

Atem didn't humor that with a reply. Just leveled a flat, flat stare on the man until Sugoroku broke eye contact under the guise of an impatient huff, returning to the register.

"Fine! Be all serious about it. Honestly, even Yuugi has a better sense of humor than you do!"

Ignoring that very false statement, at least as far as Sugoroku's antics were concerned, Atem turned back to the table, gathering the remaining duel cards up to store with the loose cards they were stockpiling for the sale. If Yuugi got back from his 'studies' at the library soon, perhaps he'd help him sort them while they waited for dinner. But if yesterday was any indication, though, Atem might have to go fetch him again…

"…You really were quite good with her, though."

Atem's hands stilled, and he turned, shooting Sugoroku a look that was a little more heated.

Sugoroku instantly tossed his hands in the air at the eye contact. "I don't mean that! I mean introducing her to the game!"

"…Oh."

"It really is something of a gift," Sugoroku went on, relaxing when it was clear that Atem was simply surprised, a rare but still familiar seriousness taking over the older man's face. "I've seen a lot of people show others how to view and play games in my time, but it's not often I see someone convince another to actually embrace a game they weren't already drawn to on their own."

Atem smiled, turning back to the cards, grouping them in loose piles before reaching under the table for the display box he'd taken them from. "I just wanted to give her the chance to find the same joy in games that I know."

"Yes, but it's not always easy to guide someone to that," Sugoroku insisted, and Atem looked up to see him leaning into the counter, his elbows to the glass as he smiled at him. "It takes confidence and a personal love of games few have. And I'm sure it goes a long way that you already have a talent for bolstering confidence in others. I've seen what it's done for Yuugi, and his friends."

Atem shook his head, but there was still a gratified warmth in his chest as he packed up the cards and stood up with the box, facing Sugoroku. "Whatever you've seen in them was all them. I didn't put it there."

"Mhmm, but you certainly helped them find it," Sugoroku countered, his smile taking on an almost proud light as he looked at him. "Don't be humble about it, Atem-kun. You have a talent here, and you could take it in so many different directions, if you only tried."

Atem didn't fight him. Didn't really even disagree. He considered what Sugoroku claimed… and knew he would gladly take up a challenge like that. The idea of guiding others through the joy of playing games, not just playing against them, that had become his favorite part of working in the shop. And the thought of only building on that–

He looked briefly around the store, the space he had come to know in a whole new light in the last few weeks… and smiled.

Well.

It was a thought.

But he let it go, shaking his head against untapped potentials to focus on Sugoroku, whose own smile had faded, his gaze sober as Atem smiled at him. "Thank you."

"Yes, yes."

"…Though you know," Atem started, relaxing into a smirk as a means to break the sudden tension struck him. "If I really have such a gift, perhaps I should play something with aibou's mother. See if I can get her to like a game."

Sugoroku snorted, opening the cash drawer to count out for the night. "That might not be as hard as you think."

Atem blinked, taken aback, but Sugoroku didn't say more.

Just chuckled to himself as he counted out bills.

"Aaaaah–" Yuugi scratched the fingers of both hands through his hair, ruffling his spikes to pieces in his effort to shake loose a few able brain cells.

"Having trouble there, aibou?"

Yuugi sighed, but smiled all the same as he looked up from his spot at the family room table, taking in his boyfriend's lounging form on the sofa. "With my own brain, yeah."

Atem dropped his book – some new novel Yuugi hadn't caught the title of yet – on his stomach, smiling at him as he folded his hands over the spine. "You've been reading since you got home. It's not good to do so much without any breaks."

Yuugi knew he was right, but still he shook his head. "I just want to get it over with." And there really wasn't any time left, anyways. Finals had started in earnest, and while the topics he was tested on that day could be set aside, the ones coming up…

And, ashamed as he was to admit it, he had a fair bit to catch up on. He and his friends really didn't get anywhere at the library yesterday… again…

He'd refused an offer to return there that day, deciding to go straight home, plopping down at the table the second he arrived with a proclamation that he was not getting up until he was finished studying for the night.

Strangely, his mother hadn't seemed pleased by the vow, staring at him in open alarm a good few seconds before asking what happened with his test that day before shaking her head and walking out without another word at his mute reaction.

Yuugi grimaced to remember it– but he had been true to his word! He'd managed to get through two weeks of readings in three hours with a little help from Mama's studying advice, and once Atem came in from the shop… well…

"Aren't you bored, mou hitori no boku?" he asked, scratching at the open page of his notebook. "That book doesn't seem like it's keeping your interest, and you haven't moved from that spot since you came in, and you even ate dinner here with me. You could get the gameboy or something, at least."

Atem shook his head, his smile warm, and perfectly content. "I won't do that in front of you. Not right now. And I'd rather be down here with you."

…Yuugi turned away, facing the shutoff television as a very sudden and very silly urge to cry hit him.

"…Aibou?"

He swallowed back tears and turned back to discover Atem suddenly on the floor, kneeling beside him, confusion and concern plastered on his face. But Yuugi just looked right past it, shaking his head. "You're so good to me."

Atem stared at him for a moment… then chuckled. Relaxed back into a smile and, after throwing a look at the hallway door, planted the quickest of pecks on Yuugi's lips. "Don't worry. You can make it up to me later."

Yuugi sniffed back the rest of his silly tears, and shot him a grin. "Hey, I thought you liked being here."

"Yes, but I'll milk any opportunity if I can."

"Haha, greedy."

"Only for you, aibou."

"You really think he can help?" Jounouchi asked, doubt clear in his voice as he looked up at the door of Bakura's apartment.

Yuugi smiled reassuringly at him, only answering after he rang the bell. "Of course! You know he'd be willing, don't you, Jounouchi-kun?"

"Well, yeah. Nobody's more willing to lend a hand than Bakura."

"Then what's the problem?"

"I'm just saying, he doesn't come to a lot of our study sessions for a rea–"

Jounouchi cut himself off as the door opened, and they both turned to see their friend's smiling face.

"Hello, Yuugi-kun! Jounouchi-kun," Bakura greeted, looking between them curiously before opening the door wider in invitation. "What brings you over? I would have thought you'd be studying."

"Oh, we were," Yuugi assured him as they walked inside, smiling as he took a quick look around the familiar apartment front room before facing Bakura again, hiking his backpack strap up his shoulder. "But, we kind of wondered if you had time to, well…"

"Anzu said you finished the civics stuff already," Jounouchi explained, shuffling on his feet as he frowned seriously down the hall, away from them both. "And Yuugi and I can't focus worth a damn lately, especially together, but Yuugi heard I didn't get anything done on my own yesterday–"

"And we were wondering if you were busy prepping for the math test tomorrow," Yuugi finished, before his best friend could finish highlighting the worst of their study habits.

But Bakura didn't look disapproving or anything. Just taken aback, and perhaps a little flattered. "Oh, no! I finished my readings for math yesterday. Nothing staying up a little past two didn't fix!"

Yuugi and Jounouchi both grimaced.

"And I think I'm ready for Friday and Saturday both at this point," Bakura went on, looking slowly between them. "Were you… wanting me to tutor you both?"

"Basically," Jounouchi sighed, Yuugi nodding with a weak smile.

"If you're willing, yes."

"Well!" Bakura grinned, clapping together hands stained with a dozen different shades of paint. "I'd be happy to! I have a bunch of note cards I could read directly from, if you like… But, I was actually in the middle of a project this evening. Something I'm trying to get done before we leave for Egypt next week, so… do you think we could arrange something of a trade?"

…Yuugi and Jounouchi looked at each other.

Uncertain.

"Where is that boy?" Yui huffed, frowning as she looked up at the kitchen wall clock. "He knows when dinner is."

"He went out to study with Jounouchi-kun," Atem explained, while beside him Sugoroku let out a long hum. When he looked his way, Atem saw the Mutou grandfather was slowly tugging a plate of fish towards himself.

"Why don't we go ahead and eat?" Sugoroku suggested, not looking up from his quarry. "We can save a leftover portion for Yuugi."

Atem eyed the man's hungry face… and stood up, looking at Yui. "I'll call him."

"Please do."

A minute later he was in front of the family room phone, dialing Yuugi's cell number and listening to it ring as he stared at the wall…

"–Hello?"

"Aibou," he answered, earning an instant, regretful sigh, so tired that Atem automatically frowned.

"Sorry, mou hitori no boku. I know I'm late."

"What's wrong?"

"Well, we came over to Bakura-kun's to study, but he needed our help to paint some monsters for Monster World. He's quizzing us as we paint, but–"

"Will you please stop crying, Jounouchi-kun? You're making the texture on the blood run."

…Atem held the phone away from his face, staring at the receiver with faint, growing horror.

That was Bakura's voice.

"…Mou hitori no boku?"

Atem put the phone back to his ear, his words a mere whisper. "Do I need to come get you?"

"…Maybe."

"I'll be right there."

Atem stared out the window without really seeing anything through it, black sky and city lights all a blur as he kept his attention on the room around him. It was a grounding impulse that kept him aware of where he was, what was real. Helped keep his mind calm and nerves loose, even as his heart refused to unclench.

The exercise kept him so aware of his surroundings that he was quick to turn and look to the bed at the merest shuffle of sound, a cursory glance catching and lingering when he saw his sleeping partner, face just visible in the half-dark.

It was twisted in pain.

Atem stared, not breathing, struggling to process… and Yuugi didn't move, didn't even twitch, but that expression lingered, and before he was quite conscious of it, Atem pushed back the desk chair, slid over to the bed, and touched his partner's shoulder.

"Aibou?" he whispered, leaning in close to his ear, peering down into that sleeping, disturbed face. Yuugi's features were obscured by Atem's own shadow, but he grimaced, clearly reacting to his voice. "Aibou, wake up."

No reaction, no reaction, and then at a simple shake Yuugi jerked, snorting with the shock of consciousness as he stared up at Atem with wide, wide purple eyes, shot with surprise and disorientation… and for two heartbeats Atem wondered if he had been wrong, if he had disturbed nothing– then Yuugi's face crumbled, the tears that had been missing in his sleep rising and catching in his eyes as he squeezed them shut, rolling forward to press his face into Atem's hip.

"Mou hitori no boku…"

Atem's heart unfroze and cracked at that lost, miserable call, understanding and regret replacing alarm as he slid his hand to Yuugi's back. "That dream again?"

Yuugi didn't speak. Just nodded once, fingers catching soft but desperate on Atem's thigh, holding on.

And Atem let him. Let the silence linger as he stared at the wall behind his partner's bed, blind, and haunted.

It was that dream. That one that had Yuugi in tears not long after museum. And it wasn't the first time Atem had seen it return. Atem struggled to sleep after their sleepover at Bakura's, that week when they barely spoke beyond strained pleasantries, and he'd been awake to see it when Yuugi started out of his sleep, hands shaking as he held his head– but he'd dodged any show of concern Atem tried to offer, disappearing to the bathroom for at least half an hour on nothing more than 'I'm fine'… If Atem hadn't refused to sleep until his partner came back and spoke to him, reassured him, he might not have ever known what had distressed him so.

But it was just a nightmare.

A nightmare that kept coming back, though when it reared its head again later, just a week or two ago, Yuugi had taken to the comfort Atem offered eagerly, sliding out of bed to sit with him on the futon until he calmed down.

It wasn't nearly so agonizing then, when Atem didn't feel useless, unable to do anything about it… but his partner still hadn't shared what troubled him so.

He knew the bare details. Yuugi kept dreaming of Zorc's game world. Of it collapsing, of Atem and the broken Puzzle.

But, that wasn't the truth of it.

It wasn't a lie, Atem was certain of that, but there was still something always held back, hidden behind Yuugi's dodging eyes and tense shoulders when he spoke of the dream… but Atem had never pressed him on it. He saw easily that it was something his partner was not comfortable sharing, and it wasn't due to a lack of trust.

It was something else.

But whatever it was, it was Yuugi's secret to keep, and Atem's privilege to dry Yuugi's tears with smiles and assurances and company, to sit with him and soothe him until the clouds passed.

…But Atem couldn't find his own easy smiles that night, his arm around Yuugi's back but his eyes and mind elsewhere… until a dragging silence dragged his eyes off of nothing and he looked at his partner… to discover him looking back at him. Still pressed to his side, loose and still, but watching him, his earlier distress replaced by concern and– "What's wrong?"

Atem blinked down at him, not speaking. Not really reacting at all, even inside his own heart. Even as Yuugi slowly pushed himself up to sit beside him, so close as he peered at him, focus shifting between his eyes as he searched. Sought. "Mou hitori no boku?"

That was it. No real question. Just a seeking, delicate name, and the wall Atem raised around his heart as he stared for hours into the night sky crumbled down. His eyes slid shut, and he leaned in to brush his nose against his partner's… then bent lower, clutching Yuugi's arms as he pressed his face into his chest.

…Arms rose and gathered Atem close, and they shifted and adjusted around each other in the silence, stilling only when they were wrapped tight in each other's arms. And Atem found comfort in pressing his ear to Yuugi's chest, holding his breath until he could hear a heartbeat– though whether it was Yuugi's or his own, echoing back at him, he couldn't say.

A chin pressed softly into his hair, and nothing was said for so long that the world settled in, both boys relaxing into the hold… and when Yuugi finally spoke, he was so quiet that Atem felt like he could just float away on his voice, into nothing. "Was something else keeping you up, or… you, too?"

Did you have another nightmare, too?

Atem sighed out a breath through his nose, leaned more of his weight into Yuugi's chest, and murmured back, "Me, too." Similar to others he'd had, but different, too. A vision, abstract and horrid, hot and bright– then cracks and shadows. His friends, his partner, disappearing in flames and darkness, crushed beneath sand and stone as Atem could only cower, powerless as he could touch nothing, be nothing, a wisp that blew away on the breath of loud, jeering laughter.

It had sounded like Zorc.

It said nothing, but it taunted him all the same. Mocked his powerlessness, his futility, his impulse to protect and his inability to see that it was he who harmed. He who caught everyone he loved up in his choices.

His friends. His partner.

Victims to the Pharaoh's destiny.

Atem destroyed simply by touching.

But to let go, to not touch– that was powerlessness, too.

He could not help. He could not save.

He could only hurt.

All thoughts knocked out of his head the moment he woke, and he acknowledged it all as irrational and self-indulgent misgivings.

Still, the tension lingered.

He lay awake in the dark, sat in the dark until Yuugi's distress stirred him from his silence.

And he confessed that nightmare to his partner's warmth… and felt the want to protect and comfort in his partner's grip on his back, shifting and tugging him up into a full embrace.

Yuugi shook his head, the shift of his hair tickling Atem's ear. "It didn't, mou hitori no boku. It didn't swallow us up. We're fine. We took care of each other. You stayed strong, and our friends helped… and I don't regret anything at all. I never could have. I'm just grateful that I got the chance to help you."

Atem smiled for the sweetness of it, for everything Yuugi was, contained in those words… even as Atem shook his head, too, hands sliding up his partner's back to grasp his shoulders. "You did so much more than help me, aibou. If you weren't there…"

If he hadn't saved him.

If he hadn't ever solved the Puzzle and accepted him and been by his side the entire time.

If he wasn't Yuugi.

Atem breathed deep, and slid back, lingering in his partner's grip but moving far enough away to look at him. To let him see his smile.

And he saw Yuugi smiling, too, relief and gratitude in his eyes.

It meant so much to him, being there for Atem.

And Atem understood perfectly. He wanted to be there for him, too.

…If only it didn't cost so much, nursing that want.

However good things felt, he was only threatening it all by staying, and–

Atem blinked.

Stared at his partner as Yuugi drew away from his face, his kiss was still warm on Atem's brow. "Whatever you're thinking about, stop it. It's making your forehead wrinkle."

…Atem frowned.

Held back a petulant, it is not.

But Yuugi snickered like he'd heard him, squeezing his forearms. "Worry about it tomorrow. We should sleep."

Atem's sigh was long-suffering, but he nodded, accepting his partner's wisdom– but as Yuugi moved to slide under his twisted covers, Atem caught his hands.

Yuugi looked back, surprised and curious, and quickly attentive when Atem hesitated to speak. "Yeah?"

Atem let the question hang on his tongue, the request fully formed in his mind… and breathed it out, any natural hesitance dying when he looked into his partner's eyes. "May I sleep in your bed?"

Yuugi's eyes nearly doubled in size, but Atem felt no doubt at the sight, his smile merely warm when his partner's face turned red, clear even in the dark room.

"Yeah!" he breathed, bright and shocked and smiling back, and Atem did not begrudge him his surprise. He hadn't shared Yuugi's bed since that once a few nights ago, and that had been completely colored by emotion. They had not tried it again since, the incident dismissed as an unsaid fluke since neither dared ask to repeat it.

But Atem couldn't care to demure anymore. Not if Yuugi didn't mind.

Even when Atem offered an allowing, "If you're sure," Yuugi just shook his head and used their joined hands to guide Atem into his bed, a few seconds shuffling finding them both under the covers.

Atem resisted Yuugi's call to lie down fully, though. As soon as his partner stilled, he crawled over him, wiggling for room between him and the wall until Yuugi got the point and scooched over.

Yuugi rolled over to face him as soon as they settled, his expression baffled.

Atem smiled, resting his cheek on the corner of Yuugi's pillow. "You never sleep on your left side."

Yuugi went right on staring at him… for a few seconds. Then understanding rose to his face, shy and tickled: If Yuugi slept next to the wall, he'd almost inevitably roll away from Atem in his sleep– if he didn't just stay on his back.

Either way, Yuugi accepted the point with a smile, meeting him happy gaze for happy gaze before raising his arm, the blanket lifting over their sides.

Atem beamed at the invitation and slid closer, sneaking an arm around Yuugi's waist as he settled in under his chin.

Yuugi slowly mimicked him, a hesitant hand settling on Atem's back as the blanket fell around them, covering them up to Atem's ear. "Comfy?"

Atem hummed, relaxing into his partner's chest as the contained heat settled in around him, so warm. "Thank you."

The chest against his cheek shuddered with a laugh, the silent sound sliding through Atem, leaving him full, and empty. "You don't have to say that. I also…" Yuugi started, only to trail off. And just as Atem thought to question, to check on him, the touch at his back grew firm. Yuugi drew him into a tighter embrace, whispered, "It's us." Nothing else.

Atem opened his eyes, stared at the underside of the cover… and said nothing.

Left his cheek on Yuugi's chest, and listened, letting his heartbeat slowly hum him to sleep.

He woke to a sky still dark, his head still on Yuugi's chest, though they had rolled some time in the night.

Atem rose to his elbows, stared down into his partner's face… and kissed his cheek.

Slowly, repeatedly, until Yuugi stirred, just long enough to look at him.

The smile Atem earned was brief, and wonderful. And when Yuugi shut his eyes again, Atem tucked himself back into his arms, sighing as they closed around him.

He shut his eyes and slept.

Cup noodles did have their charm.

Atem stuck another forkful into his mouth, the pork and ginger flavored pasta lingering on his tongue as he considered the taste before swallowing.

It was all right, but no rival to Yui's cooking.

Most afternoons there were leftovers or a completely fresh meal waiting for Atem at lunchtime, but the family had eaten nearly everything at dinner last night, the little remaining preserved for Yuugi's bento that day, and Yui was out, so it was just Sugoroku and Atem.

And cup noodles.

Atem eyed the abandoned noodle cup on the other side of the table as he ate – the remnants of Sugoroku's own lunch – and slurped down the rest of his meal before picking up Sugoroku's cup and stacking it with his own to toss in the trash can.

The phone rang.

Atem stalled, hand still on the trash lid, and looked out into the hall, the phone rings echoing back at him from the family room.

Should he answer? It was likely a call for Yui, and she wasn't in. But, it could also be for Sugoroku, and he was just in the shop.

…

He moved towards the hall, the third chime jolting out an impulsive response, and made it to the phone mid-fourth ring, picking it up. "Hello?"

"Hello?"

He froze, eyes wide as he stared blind at the wall.

It was–

He didn't reply. Didn't even breathe, because then the speaker would hear him.

But Atem already had spoken, and in a beat the voice on the other end came again, a little hesitant and touch harder, irritated with the clear fear of a dead line. "Hello?"

"…Hello," Atem echoed, his throat tasting of cotton as he gave a clipped, "This is the Mutou residence."

"Yes, I know. But who are… Aaaa, are you Atem-kun?"

"Yes," he managed, the quickly lightening, friendly tone of the speaker raking over his nerves. He just– he felt so exposed, like if he didn't do something, the caller would know too much simply from speaking to him. That he would hear it– and the fear didn't feel so irrational when he asked, "Who are you?" and the words fell out like lead.

"I'm sorry. I'm Mutou Renju. Yui's husband."

Atem nodded, swallowing as he focused on a faint tear in the wallpaper. "Yuugi's father."

"Yes, that's right."

A short silence followed, Renju clearly expecting some response. A proper introduction, perhaps. But Atem just let it hang, unable to form words… or rather, to dredge up anymore lies by pretending ignorance.

The older man's natural impulse to smooth things over quickly took over, though, and Atem could only stare through the fond knowledge and pained surrealism. "I'm sorry if I came off as abrupt. I was simply expecting my wife, and thrown off by an unfamiliar voice. But that's no excuse for being rude."

Atem shook his head, relaxing a touch into the easy tones. "No, I understand."

"Thank you, I appreciate that… Is Yui-san there, by the way?"

"No. She went to the government office to take care of a water bill."

"…Is something wrong?"

Despite himself, Atem smiled, shutting his eyes at the instant, contained distress in Renju's voice.

He remembered that voice. Remembered the man, still young, yet heavy with worries, all frowns and contained stress… Even his smiles were such resigned, troubled things, even when they shone with the most welcoming light.

Smiles so similar to his partner's, in the worst of times.

Atem's gut twisted at the thought, but was it really so wrong to compare? They had always carried stress the same way, hadn't they… It wasn't strange at all.

Would Yuugi start to grey by thirty, too?

…No. No, Yuugi wouldn't let life distress him like that. Atem wouldn't allow it.

…

Atem opened his eyes, tossing the thought aside. "No, they just used an estimate for the monthly charge instead of an actual meter reading, and carried over a high bill from last year when the sink was leaking. She already called and they said they'd likely reduce it, but she's bringing in the repair records just to be safe."

"…Copies of the records?"

"Yes."

Renju sighed, the relief in his voice so strong that one would think he'd just been assured that a friend of his had survived some life-risking surgery. It made Atem smile, but he didn't speak, assuming that Renju would take the explanation and leave it at that: his wife was unavailable. He'd have to call back later. Thanks for the explanation.

Instead, the man asked, "Are you getting along with the family?"

Atem blinked, struggling for what answer Renju could be expecting, finally settling on a simple, "Yes, they've been very welcoming."

"You don't miss your own family too much?"

Atem glanced back at the room, the space he knew from a lifetime of memories, and shook his head. "No, I feel very at home here."

"That's good. Yui-san speaks well of you, though you seem to baffle her a bit. 'A hard egg to crack,' as she put it."

Atem sniffed at the well-meant claim, scratching at the edge of the phone table. "She doesn't think I talk to her enough, I know."

"Or rely on her or the family enough," Renju added, Atem's finger pausing at the sudden, but gentle drop in his tone. "You should let them take care of you more, Atem-kun. They welcomed you into our home, after all, so you shouldn't feel bad for relying on any of us."

Atem frowned, uncomfortable with the heat that rose to his face, even when there was no one there to see it. "Yui-san told you about the glasses."

"That you repaid her for them, yes. You really didn't have to."

"My insurance covered it. There was no need for her to take on that burden."

Renju didn't fight him further. Just sighed, like it was really too bad Atem didn't see the point– and Atem was baffled by how effective it was. He hadn't yelled, he didn't even sound mad. But Atem still felt shockingly ashamed of his own refusal. The feeling simmered out of his forefront notice, though, when Renju allowed, "It is commendable how dependable you've been, from what I've heard. I'm honestly glad you showed up, even if just temporarily. Otou-san could use the help."

"He manages well enough without me, though I'm happy to lend whatever help I can," Atem said, glancing at the door as he hesitated, unsure if… but he went ahead and asked, "Would you like me to call him to the phone? I was supposed to relieve him in the shop, anyways."

A short silence followed, and when he spoke, Renju's voice was still kind, but stiff. "No, that's all right. Thank you."

…It didn't surprise Atem. Renju had always tried to be respectful and civil towards Sugoroku, especially around Yuugi, but there was an innate tension there that even a young child would see. A clash of personalities that was only exacerbated by old grudges Yuugi – and thus Atem – never really understood. It probably had something to do with Yuugi's grandmother, and Sugoroku's long absence from their lives, but the tension was plain to see on Renju's rare visits home, when he could get away from his work in Hokkaido. And Sugoroku's dismissive, open prodding that his son should lighten up would only exacerbate Renju's unexpressed complaints.

But it was nothing new, and nothing Atem could help in the moment, so he simply said, "All right."

"Yes, well… what about Yuugi-kun? Are you getting along with him?"

Atem smiled, the expression nearly splitting his face. "Yes. Very well."

"Oh. Good. He's a good kid, but an only child, and used to having his own space. I was afraid he'd be awkward about sharing his room for so long."

"No, not at all."

"Good," Renju repeated, sounding satisfied, and like he was done with the topic, perhaps even preparing a farewell.

But Atem heard the withdrawal and frowned, a thought humming up in his mind, and said, "He'll be sad he missed your call," without much thought.

The response was another pause, but Renju's voice was merely surprised when he spoke, no weight behind it. "You think so?"

Atem nodded, ignoring the wary warning in his head that he likely sounded presumptuous, that he shouldn't be this certain. "Definitely."

There was another pause, then Renju spoke so lightly, he might have been talking to himself. "I hear a good deal from Yui-san. That he's doing well lately. But it's hard to call when he's not at school. I never thought he minded, though."

…It really wasn't odd that Renju thought that.

Yuugi always interacted far more smoothly with Sugoroku, after all, and phone calls made him feel awkward. And Atem knew that. Knew of years of 'bonding' phone calls that were all stiff words and short answers, his partner too shy to say a quarter of the things he wished to while on the phone with his serious, equally awkward father, all of the tact Renju had apparently mastered in the business world crumbling away in the face of his shy little son.

But still, Atem shook his head, his voice gentle, but insistent. "He would appreciate it if you called him." Even if he struggled to say so, to burden anyone by saying so, Yuugi missed him.

Renju was silent for a while, but where Atem expected doubt, or even questions into what made him so certain, he received only a belated, "Then, I will try to catch him soon. When I get the chance."

Atem smiled, shoulders slumping. "Good."

"Yes, well… for now, I had better go. I have a meeting in ten minutes. Will you let Yui-san know I'll call at the usual time tomorrow?"

"Yes."

"Thank you… It was nice speaking to you, Atem-kun."

Atem nodded, swallowing back a tightness he didn't quite understand as he stared at the phone base. "Good luck with your meeting."

"Thank you. Goodbye."

There was a quick click, and then the dial tone, prompting Atem to return the phone to its cradle even as he continued to stare… finally shaking off the strange, surreal weight with a smile.

Well.

He returned to the shop, his step lighter than when he had left.

"Okay, okay, so you'll meet us at the ice cream parlor at one, right?"

"Of course, aibou," Atem answered, grinning as he sat on the bed and watched his partner rush about getting ready for school, more stumbling and second guessing himself than actually getting anywhere. "You don't think you'll want a real lunch, though?"

"Mama said she'd pack me a bento. I can eat that right before we leave school, and the others said that's where they want to go, so– argh, where's my collar?!"

Atem chuckled at Yuugi's frustrated outrage, then finally made a laid-back effort to help, looking back over his shoulder at the bed… and spotting a strip of leather sticking out from under Yuugi's pillow.

He grabbed it and held it up, dangling it by a finger through the buckle. "Oh, aibou?"

Yuugi turned to face him, stared at the collar, and flushed bright red when he noticed Atem's smirk.

It was only natural it would be in the bed, after all. Honestly, Atem should be insulted Yuugi didn't realize that himself. Had he actually forgotten that Atem took it off of him that morning, deciding to wake him for the day with a few well-placed kisses?

Really, and Yuugi had seemed so receptive to it– until the alarm went off and reminded them that they couldn't linger.

A reminder that came again on Yui's calls when they tried.

But, perhaps Yuugi wasn't so forgetful as that. His expression was certainly flustered enough as he came over and swiped the collar from him, voice a stubborn grump as he insisted, "You're still a tease."

Atem smiled, joy making his voice sweet. "Only for you."

Yuugi huffed, pinching back a smile as he buckled the leather around his throat… but worry was quick to resettle on his features. "Seriously, though. I think I studied enough, but– well, we did spend a lot of time on Mario last night."

"Because you said your brain was too fried to read anymore."

"Well, yeah."

Atem watched regret and indulgent memory flash across Yuugi's face, and chuckled, rising to his feet to step up to him, grasping both of his partner's forearms. "You'll be fine, aibou," he insisted, looking fondly into eyes that so naturally turned to him for approval. "You've worked hard this last month, and you're almost done. It's just a few more hours."

"Right," Yuugi breathed, letting out a big, centering sigh. "Just one last final."

Atem nodded– then beamed, leaning in to prod for his attention with a nose bump. "Do you need a kiss for good luck?"

Yuugi blinked at him in surprise, then snorted, a goofy smile splitting his face. "No," he insisted, only to tug an arm free and hook it around Atem's neck, pulling him close anyways.

Atem chuckled for the show of confidence, but soon smothered the sound in a kiss. He relaxed quickly into the firm, insistent hold, his freed hand finding his partner's hip… and held back a sigh when Yuugi stepped away far too fast.

His partner still grinned like he saw his reluctance, mimicking his nose bump with warm eyes. "Come on. Walk me to school."

He smiled. "How demanding."

"Only for you."