A/N: here we are. We've come a long way. The story progressed in ways not even i expected but I'm very happy to have shared the journey with you. Thank you everyone for you amazing support, a huge thank you to Saij for all of your incredible encouragement and I hope all of you find the ending to this story a warm and resolute one xx thanks guys!
[Can we talk please? Get back to me when you get this.]
Yugi stared at those words and silently reeled in the anxious nausea they brought with them. His heart pounded, furthering to upset his stomach no matter how he sat.
Atem had gone home tonight upon Yugi's insistence he be allowed to sleep well at least once this week; but now he almost regretted that decision because he really could have done with his company.
He tried to imagine what he would say.
"Don't go. He doesn't deserve your time." Was likely. "Let me go, I promise not to hurt him." Wasn't likely but maybe in jest. "Agree to go and we'll go get your things instead." Was definitely something Joey would say.
He turned his screen off and let his phone fall to his chest with a heavy thud again, opting to hopefully get sucked into the TV. But his heart was hammering. His mouth was dry and swallowing his own saliva upset his stomach.
What do I do? He thought miserably.
He knew he needed to talk with Taylor. He needed to at least end things with him and doing it from the safety technology could offer wasn't how he wanted to do it. He wanted to know why he did what he did, what has been getting him so angry and demanding of late, if he still loved him. He wanted to know if there was a chance they could fix this.
Everyone else thinks I shouldn't try anymore. He won't change back…
But he missed him. He missed the way Taylor would charm him. He missed the way he would impress him with his various skills like drink mixing and card playing. He missed being told all of his weird and rambunctious stories that had to be made up. He missed the way he would cuddle him while he played games. He missed the way he would kiss him, not expecting anything to come from it but simply to tell him he loved him. He missed the way Yugi could tell him anything and he would listen, no matter what. He missed when Taylor would surprise him with random little acts of love like a bouquet at work or a kidnapping to the amusement Park.
Where was that Taylor? He wondered sadly. He hadn't heard from that Taylor in months. About the time I started working more.
He had started working more so they could afford the rent and bills and still have a little leg room. They'd been fine for the longest time but then they found themselves behind and risked eviction. Their only option was to pick up more shifts to make up for the rent they missed and ensure it wouldn't happen again. He never figured out why they suddenly had issues though. Nothing had changed. But it was after this that Taylor he and Taylor stopped doing much of any of those things. They were often too tired or too mistimed and still strapped for cash.
He sighed and checked his phone again, reading that message Taylor had sent two days ago. His phone had been charging at the time and he hadn't been alive enough to check until today. But he didn't bother until after Atem had left… and now he faced this dilemma alone.
Swallowing a lump in his throat and hovered his fingers over the keypad, trying to think of what to say exactly.
[Now you want to talk?] Too argumentative. [Somewhere pub - I don't feel saf- somewhere public because -] No. [I want to talk too but you hit me] No. [I want to talk too but somewhere public.] Maybe?
He didn't know. He wanted to talk to him, but he was so afraid Taylor would lash at him again. He definitely didn't want to be alone but he doubted they'd talk properly if his friends were there to protect him. But he hated conflict and wanted to avoid it if at all possible. I doubt I can though. This is like planning a fight. He thought miserably.
Then he saw the three little dots of dread appear and he quickly put his phone down and tried his hardest to ignore the way his heart pumped harder. He'd lingered too long and clearly Taylor had seen his own dots appear. He hoped maybe he was at work but apparently not.
He waited for an eternity that lasted all of 2 minutes before checking again, this time only his notifications so the message wouldn't be marked as seen. He saw the message and held his breath. [I'm sorry for hitting you, can we please talk?]
Okay… he's addressed it. Maybe I can work with this.
He opened the message and took a long, quiet breath. [I want to talk but I'm afraid. You've never hit me before and you didn't stop when I asked you too. I just want to know why? What has made you so angry? Did I do something? I want to fix things but I don't know how. If I did something I'm sorry but that's no reason to hit me and treat me the way you did.]
Send.
He released the breath he held and waited. He felt so sick. His stomach was in his chest and his heart was like a dizzying buzz. Taylor would either be angry with him or sympathetic and he really didn't know if he trusted his apologies anymore. He could just use his pretty words to get me to agree to meet him. In which case somewhere public.
He hated that sentiment. He hated feeling so afraid of him that the public was the only answer. It felt wrong and disgusting of him to think that way.
No. It's the old Taylor I hurt by thinking this way, not this violent stranger in his body. He thought bitterly and it felt a little better putting it that way.
He checked his phone again.
[Can I call you?]
His heart almost jumped from its cage and threatened to take his stomach with it. That was the last thing he wanted. He preferred to try and build up the courage to see him in person rather than suffer through a phone call. But that message was sent almost 10 minutes ago. If he didn't respond now he would call. [No. Please don't call me]
He sighed and made sure his phone was definitely on silent.
[Can we meet up somewhere? I don't want to do this over text]
Meeting up. He could do that. Atem won't let me. Neither would mum or grandpa. Not alone anyway. He thought. [Tomorrow morning. Round 10 at Gloria's.]
Gloria's was a fairly popular coffee store in the middle of town. He could get there by walking and if he left before Atem arrived then he'd have no issues getting there unseen with time to spare. He'd have to leave in the morning before mum and grandpa to avoid answering their questions, but this was fine. He'd manage.
[Okay. See you tomorrow.]
He resisted every urge to write back that he loved him or to wish him a good night. He didn't want to give Taylor the impression that Yugi forgave him or that he wasn't upset with him, or that he could use him. It was a natural response that he fought against that only became easier to ignore once he buried his phone under his back.
The TV wasn't helping. The news was prattling on about things he didn't know about or didn't care to. The only thing that piqued his interest was the prospect of the weather clearing. The next week would be partly cloudy with around a 10% chance of showers. He might see the sun tomorrow. That will be nice.
Atem woke much later than he intended but he felt so refreshed for it. He barely remembered going to sleep last night. The moment his head hit the pillow he was out didn't move.
He stretched and yawned and dug out the first pair of clothes he could reach: jeans and a dark red shirt. With those he automatically went to shower.
He didn't need to rush. He wasn't scheduled to work today but he wanted to see Yugi and check on how he was doing. He seemed well enough yesterday. He was definitely on the mend. With any luck today he might be well enough to discuss what he wanted to do going forward.
Washed, dressed and more or less ready to head out save for something to eat, he went out to greet Ryou, of whom he predictably found sipping on a tea before a well made English breakfast.
They smiled at one another and Atem hung his leather jacket softly over the back of the chair he claimed.
"Good morning."
"Good morning."
"I made extra eggs and beans if you want so help yourself." Ryou chirped happily. Smiling Atem helped himself, fetching a plate and cutlery to match.
"Have any plans today?" He asked conversationally.
"Just a bit of study. Nothing remarkable. Heading over to Yugi's after breakfast?"
"Yep. See how he's doing." Atem said, sitting down now. Breakfast like this was nicer fresh but it had only been sitting for the last half hour or so. It wasn't too bad.
"I might come with you. Just in case." Ryou mused as he idly scrolled through his phone.
"Just in case?"
Ryou looked up at him as if the answer was obvious, smirked and then returned to his phone. "He's feeling better and wants to do something about Tay?"
"Ah! Yes, I hope he's feeling good enough for that." Atem agreed.
"Yeah, but let's not push him. He's still getting better. It might be better if we can go get his things for him instead."
Atem frowned in thought about how best this would go down. He was fine with going to the apartment without him. He was even okay with Taylor being there, helpless to stop him and his friends from taking Yugi's things - but he knew Yugi wouldn't want that. He'd want to be involved. For that though he really didn't want Taylor there. It would complicate things for Yugi too much.
"We'll need to talk to Yugi about it. See if we can't arrange to do it while Taylor's gone." Atem said.
"Yeah. We could do with Joey or Tristan's help too if they're free. Some extra car space." Ryou proposed and Atem nodded.
"Yugi will want to be with us. At least to fetch his car."
"Agreed. I'm gonna get changed. Leave when ya done?" Ryou asked, taking his plate with him.
"Yep."
The suns out today, but don't forget your umbrella just in case." Ryou called back from the hall.
Ryou and Atem drove to the game shop around 10. The shop was open and Grandpa Moto was happily helping a customer choose a game. They gave the elder a smile but stopped shortly after when he moved sharply.
"Sorry. Boys he hasn't come out yet. Just go knock on the door." He said to them happily before returning to his customer.
They did so, happily taking the stairs quickly. Yui wasn't home, likely at work so the rest of the house was eerily silent but not unexpected. With Yugi's cold as vicious as it has been it didn't come as a surprise if he needed more rest.
They knocked on the door gently and slowly Atem creaked the door open.
"Yugi? It's only us." He spoke quietly but not too quietly, just enough to stir him from his slumber gently. He got no response but he saw the heaped blankets upon the bed where he rested. "Yugi." He spoke a little louder as they approached.
He didn't move. At all. The blankets didn't even rise or fall. He must have been deeply sleeping. Not even the light of the sun stirred him.
As he got closer though and he stood in the sunlight, not even it could fight against the chill that shook through him when he saw Yugi wasn't in bed.
Carefully he lifted the blanket, saw he most definitely wasn't in bed and then looked around.
"Bathroom?" Ryou shrugged, leaving to check.
Atem glanced around though and saw his laptop was here but his keys, wallet and phone were gone. It's likely they might have been outside the room but he couldn't shake the feeling something terrible was amiss.
"He's not in the bathroom." Ryou quipped quickly.
"I'll ask grandpa." Atem said hurriedly. Before he did though he scanned the kitchen bench and the tables in the lounge room but saw no sign of him or his things.
The elder Moto had just finished with his customer and happily smiled at him as he entered. But then his smile faded when he saw the alarmed look painted on Atem's face.
"Are you sure you haven't heard him today?" He asked and Grandpa frowned deeply.
"Yes? What's wrong?"
"He's not in his bed and his phone and keys are gone."
"ATEM!" He turned to the voice of his British friend upstairs and raced for it. He took the stairs two at a time, thundering through the house back to Yugi's room. He didn't know what to expect but the alarm in Ryou's voice as he called for him was unsettling.
He found his friend hunched over Yugi's laptop and he stood aside for him to see. The screen was on a social media site featuring a conversation between Yugi and Taylor. As he read it it became very clear what had happened.
"We should go. It's just past 10." Ryou said hurriedly.
"Yeah." Atem breathed and hastily followed Ryou.
They spirited through the house, leaving with little more than "Yugi's left the house" and "We're going to go get him.". If grandpa said anything they were gone before they could hear it.
Atem's mind was racing. His heart matched its pace. He worried Yugi would make a rash mistake. He worried Yugi would decide to handle this on his own. He almost prayed that he was too sick to make a decision like this.
Now all he could do was pray that wherever Yugi was now he was safe. If people were there surely Taylor wouldn't strike him. Surely Yugi wouldn't decide to go anywhere private with him. Surely he would be smart enough not to do anything stupid.
Yugi bounced his knee impatiently, checking the time again for God only knows how many times. He glanced around at every movement he caught while his fingers busied themselves with tearing a sugar satchel. He'd ordered a tea purely so he had somewhere to pour the contents of the satchels and proceed to tear the weak paper. He was so nervous he contemplated running. He thought of going back home or stopping by Ryou's nearby. Maybe he'd find Atem there.
But he remained, paralysed by his nerves just in case as soon he stood Taylor would arrive. If he saw him leaving he couldn't even predict what would happen.
He checked his phone again and saw not even a minute had passed since he last checked. He breathed out nervously and glanced around, checking his escape routes, looking for familiar faces or some distraction.
His nerves fell away briefly when he saw the familiar black spikes of his boyfriend. His thin frame walked towards him with purpose but what gave him pause was the bandage over his nose and the stitch bandage over his cheek. He knew Atem had been responsible for his nose but was he also responsible for the black bruises and swelling of his cheek? More than likely. He thought grimly.
He stood nervously and Taylors hard expression softened. He wanted to hug him and kiss his good cheek, to hold his hand and bury himself in his chest, to ignore the past several weeks and pretend for just 5 minutes that everything was okay.
But he clenched his fists and held them to his side tightly and made a point of digging his feet into the concrete so he wouldn't betray himself.
"Yugi." Taylor said quietly.
"Tay…" Yugi breathed. His voice had barely returned and sounded far more husky than usual. A clear sign of his cold still present and it made Taylor do a double take.
"Are you okay?" He asked.
"I'm getting over a cold. Are you?" Yugi asked, obviously aware of how simple and dumb a question that was.
"Been better."
They sat down and Taylor waved off a waitress who came to see them. Yugi sat with his hands between his legs to try and stop from fidgeting but his legs bounced uncontrollably.
"I'll cut to the point. I want you to come home." Taylor said stiffly.
Yugi appreciated the lack of small talk but he was still hardly prepared for this.
"I don't want you to hit me." Yugi said just as plainly. He wasn't going to beat around the bush though. He was nervous, he wanted to run, he wanted someone he trusted with him and he regretted not telling anyone he was doing this - but that said he felt strong. He felt safe enough among the people around to stick to whatever guns he had.
"I'm sorry. That was an accident."
"What about what you did after? The cloak?"
Taylor laughed darkly in disbelief. "You care more about that stupid cloak than me."
"That's not true." Yugi's voice wavered with the sting from his words but he fought the tears. He would not cry this soon into their talk.
"Then why did you try to stop me?"
"Why did you do it anyway?"
"Because you were keeping it from me. If you had just let it go maybe you'd look at me the same way."
"So you're jealous?" Yugi knew the answer to that already but he wanted him to say it. Instead he scoffed and shook his head, smirking angrily.
"If he loved you he wouldn't have hurt you. I helped you recover from that asshole. He's dangerous, look at what that unhinged little prick did to me. And you want to accuse me of being jealous?"
This isn't my boyfriend. Yugi thought sadly. The cold hard fact secured its place in his mind and now he felt like every word Taylor said was more transparent than glass. He wasn't talking to his boyfriend. He hadn't been for a while. Whoever this guy was, this poisonous snake in his beloveds skin, was not the guy he loved. This wasn't the man he gave himself too, the one he wanted to defend, the one he missed and loved. This was someone else. Someone that disgusted him, that made him feel disgusted in himself for being so blind.
"Atem will never hurt me."
"He already hurt you. Did you forget how he left you? You were an injured soul when I met you and you became strong because of me."
Yugi shook his head and sighed.
"He needed to leave. Whatever happened to me after that was my doing, not his. You helped me grow, yes and I loved you. I loved you so much. But somewhere along the line you changed. You're not the same person who rescued me. You're not the man I want to come home to. I don't want to fear you being in a foul mood. I don't want to endure your anger. I don't want you to hit me and use me because you think you can."
"I'm in a foul mood because you won't touch me. I work my ass off, heaven forbid I want you to touch me."
"You don't care about me anymore." Yugi's voice croaked because hearing the words was hard, even from his own mouth. Taylor looked about ready to argue but Yugi cut in first. "If you did you wouldn't have forced yourself on me. You wouldn't have picked me up after you hit me just to shove your…" he trailed off before he could embarrass them both but his point was made and he was even more certain now.
"This isn't about Atem. You've been like this since before he came back. You just never treated me like this until his presence threatened you and now I can see that the man I loved isn't here anymore. I don't know you anymore."
"I haven't changed Yugi, I'm just fed up because you won't touch me anymore. You walk around like some meek little mouse, you cry to your friends about how badly I treat you but I work my ass off for you. I don't have to. But I do. Suddenly this guy comes back and you want to spend so much time with him instead of me, so much you don't even sleep with my clothes anymore but you'd prefer his rags? You're fucking him, aren't you?"
"No!" Yugi snapped exasperatedly. He remembered the kiss they shared and how he tried to force himself onto Atem. Technically he hadn't remained faithful. He chose to kiss Atem. He hadn't slept with him but he would have. If Taylor knew this he would have the right to be angry. But he had decided. He wouldn't give into his desire again. Compared to their other issues, this wasn't his biggest concern right now. "Atem and I are friends. That's it."
"Uhuh. Sure. So what now? You're not happy with me anymore but it's cool cause you have him to fall back too?" Taylor asked him angrily.
"This isn't about Atem." Yugi said firmly, blinking away tears that threatened to make him crumble. Tears of frustration though. Taylor's words hurt like a burning blade but he was beyond frustrated with how childish he was being.
"Tell me you won't go home to him."
"I'll be going home to my family. Whether he visits is not my doing. This is about who you are now. You're so angry, all the time. You say it's cause I don't touch you anymore but you've been like this for ages. Far longer than the last time we slept together."
"You haven't touched me since he left the house." Taylor snapped.
"You've been so distant and angry since before he came back."
"I've been working hard to cover our expenses, so have you. But you've got loads of time on your hands now but the only way I can get any is if I corner you."
"You're not supposed to corner me!" Yugi shouted at him, earning himself a few curious and disturbed glances. He shrunk from them and breathed slowly. "This is my point. If you cared about me you wouldn't force yourself on me."
"If you cared about me you wouldn't force me to."
Yugi shook his head in disgust and sat back in his chair angrily.
This was it. He thought he could fix their relationship but there was nothing else to fix, was there? He saw it now. They were just on two different pages now of a different book. He didn't know when they changed but there was little point in figuring it out. Taylor wouldn't budge and he didn't want to be his plaything to use as he pleased with no gratitude or affection.
"We're over Taylor." He said quietly, swallowing the lump in his throat. He felt cold and hollow but somehow very clear and vindicated.
"You're gonna walk away from this? After everything I've done for you?" Taylor asked him.
"I've done so much to try and fix this. I've been so patient with you, so accepting and so willing to ignore how you treat me but not anymore. I've also worked my ass off. Since we were struggling, I've taken on more work than I can handle just to keep us afloat and at first we were fine, but then we weren't and I don't know why. I've tried to talk to you, I've tried to make time, I've tried to reconnect but my needs and yours don't mix anymore. God knows I have put up with so much of your shit and I am done. I'm done Taylor." He said strongly, feeling very proud of himself for how articulate he was given how overwhelmingly stressed he felt.
"I don't believe this." Taylor said quietly, shaking his head.
Yugi breathed inwardly, ensuring every part of him wasn't about to back down. He felt self conscious when Taylor's eyes lingered longer than he liked.
"You'd already decided to end this before you came here. That's why your collars' gone."
Absently he touched his neck and felt he was right about that at least.
"I had someone else take it off the night you abused me." He admitted quietly.
"So what now? We share a house together."
"I'm going to get my stuff and move back in with my family. I'll call the landlord and tell him I've moved out. Maybe you can move back in with your friends or have someone else move in with you. I don't know."
"You're not even thinking about me, are you?" Taylor snapped at him.
"No. No I'm not. I've been thinking about you every day, trying to work out what's wrong and why you're so angry and I'm done with it. I'm tired. I work so hard for us and all you want is to use me. I'm supposed to be your boyfriend not your sex toy. So no. I'm not thinking about you right now, for once I'm thinking about myself. I don't want to go back to that apartment, not with you. So I'm moving out and once I talk to the land lord we are through."
Taylor sighed and shook his head again, kicking the table in anger that made him jump. Now was a good time though as any so he took the queue to stand.
"I'm going to get my stuff."
"Now?" Taylor asked incredulously.
"Yes. Now. I'm sick and I'd like to get home and be done with it."
"You can't walk away from me so easily, Yugi." Taylor said matter of factly.
"Yes I can. This is me. Walking away." Yugi said simply with a little shrug and sure enough turned on his heel to leave.
He heard Taylor's chair scrape against the concrete and he almost looked back but he paused when he saw Atem and Ryou standing nearby, watching them, hovering close by like loyal guards.
They kicked off the wall they'd been leaning against and he gratefully met them and wordlessly lead them away. He wanted to look back at his now ex but he told himself no. He'd be a bigger person by simply walking away. When he turned a corner then he would crash and burn and crumble but right now he held himself high and stalked away proudly. Because that was the hardest thing he had had to do in years.
"Are you okay?" Ryou asked him.
The three of them stormed down the street with acute purpose.
Yugi power walked, ignoring the burn in his calves and the tears that warmed his cheeks. The faster he walked though didn't seem to help. It was better than stopping and allowing the reality sink in that he had just ended his relationship, but that was fast approaching regardless.
He felt strong up until he turned that corner and the seconds that passed by, every step he took, brought with it a league of pain he didn't expect. He shook, his fists trembled and he felt his knees threatening to give out. His body desperately wanted to stop so he could collapse and cry and scream but his mind was pushing it to keep going. To at least find somewhere safe and not intrusive.
"Yugi." Atem's voice was soft behind him. He was aware they were lightly skipping to keep pace with him but he couldn't divide his attention now. If he answered them, if he stopped to regard them it would be all over.
It's over. I said those words. He was right to be angry but he didn't even try. He didn't even acknowledge there was something wrong that we should fix. He just blamed me for everything. So what did he want from me? Some good boy that serves and never talks back? If he wanted a flesh light he could just buy one…
"Yugi!" Ryou and Atem both shouted, making him jump but that was quickly forgotten when they tugged him backwards just a moment before a bus passed him.
"Mate I understand you're upset but you've gotta look where you're going." Ryou chastised him gently and he let himself breathe.
And then cry. He couldn't do this anymore.
His knees buckled. He sobbed and his body rattled. He'd have fallen to the ground had his friends not held him. He clung to Ryou's chest, his shoulders heaving with the strangled cries he tried to hide. He felt hands on his back and Ryou held him closely and protectively.
"Let's find somewhere private." Atem muttered quietly. He agreed with that idea and quickly rubbed his eyes. He somehow managed to tighten his hold on himself long enough to spy a nearby Cafe. He liked that place. They had booths he could hide in and if he was quiet he wouldn't draw a crowd.
Ryou had the same idea and took Yugi's hand to guide him safely across the road. Atem affectionately kept a hand on his back.
They moved in quickly and Yugi noticed and appreciated how accommodating the cashier was upon seeing them. He must have looked pitiful because she immediately found an empty booth at the back for them and kindly told them she'd be right back. They sat down either side of him and he buried himself in his arms on the table. The darkness and warmth was comforting but only mildly compared to how gross and empty he felt. He hardly believed he had done that. He never imagined a day like this and now he didn't know what to do or how to feel.
"We're here for you mate, take your time." Ryou said gently.
He felt Atem leave but he didn't look up. He didn't want to exchange the darkness for anything else. He returned a moment later though, touching his arm encouragingly.
"Here. Take this." His voice was patient and warm, and carefully he looked up enough to see a generous stack of napkins in his hand. He smiled and laughed weakly but gratefully took them and leaned back in his seat. He took Ryou's hand with him by accident but a small "sorry" and "it's okay" later and all was fine.
He dabbed at his eyes and nose and held the crumpled up napkins to his mouth to hide his trembling lips, all the while staring blankly at the table before him. His heart burned and he wanted so badly to dive in the river to douse the flames.
He didn't regret his choice though. He didn't want to go back there and take it all back. He meant what he said and he felt incredibly sure of himself. It didn't stop this from hurting though. Vaguely he wondered what it would feel like to not feel pain. He barely remembered what life was like before Taylor. He didn't even remember a day in recent weeks that he wasn't hurting.
"So… is it over?" Ryou asked carefully and Yugi nodded absent mindedly before really registering what he had said.
"Yeah. It's over." He said sadly, quietly breathing to stop more tears from taking hold.
"I'm proud of you. You did what was best for you." Atem said quietly. He nodded but he really didn't feel right accepting praise. This wasn't a good thing. Yes, maybe it was best for him… but nothing about this was good. He loved Taylor and for his own sake he let him go. He never wanted this but he knew he needed it.
"It's gonna be hard for you but we're all here for you, mate. No matter what. Be it 3am melt downs or drunk fridays. We're here." Ryou chimed warmly. Yugi appreciated that and to show it in lieu of a trustworthy voice he leaned his head on his shoulder.
He knew this would be hard. He wondered if it would be harder than dealing with Atem's loss… he prayed it wouldn't be but he took comfort in knowing that if it was then he had his friends with him. Including Atem.
The waitress returned then with a large glass cup filled to the brim with varying flavoured ice creams, drizzled in chocolate sauce and topped with marshmallows and sprinkles. It looked amazing. Like something out of a desert magazine.
But he was confused. They didn't order this. Atem didn't have time to either.
"It's on the house. You look like you've just had the worst day of your life." She said sweetly, smiling sympathetically at him.
"That's very sweet, thank you." Ryou answered for him when he struggled too long to form a word.
"No problem. Is there anything else I can get you boys?"
"Actually might I trouble you for a caramel latte?" Ryou asked her politely.
"And a glass of water please." Atem added just as politely.
"Sure. I'll be right back." She chirped before leaving with a bounce in her step.
Yugi looked at the icecream before him, touched by the gesture but he didn't know if he could tackle such a beast. His stomach was already upset from the whole ordeal before, he didn't have much of an appetite as it is and this whole thing on the best of days would have been too much.
I can't let it go to waste though, making this was so kind of her. He thought, tiredly taking the spoon to play with the fluffy, smooth contents.
"That was nice of her." Ryou mused happily.
"I don't know if I can get through this." Yugi muttered quietly.
"We could help you?" Ryou suggested and Yugi immediately shot him an imploring look, silently asking him if that was alright. Ryou only laughed though and nodded at Atem.
"I'll get us some spoons." He said happily and Yugi watched him walk away.
It didn't take long. Atem bounced by the counter, reached for some wooden cutlery and returned just as swiftly, smoothly swinging himself back to sit beside him with a little affectionate nudge. He slid Ryou a spoon and the three of them helped themselves.
Yugi savoured his bite, licking his spoon clean while the other two took careful, smaller helpings.
"How did you know where to find me?" Yugi asked after the waitress had delivered their orders and rushed off.
"I saw it on your laptop. Sorry for snooping." Ryou apologised sheepishly but Yugi merely shook his head. He didn't mind, he had nothing to hide from them.
"Why didn't you tell anyone what you were doing?" Atem asked him softly with just a hint of reprisal in his voice.
"I knew you'd all have stopped me. I didn't want to bring any of you down with me. And I thought that if Tay saw you guys with me then our talk wouldn't go down so well." Yugi answered, digging out another small spot untouched by the others.
"We didn't hear anything." Ryou admitted. "We heard you raise your voice but beyond that we weren't there for long."
Yugi nodded as he sucked on his spoon. He remembered every word clearly and he wished he didn't. He still felt violated for wanting anything more than what he got from him. That he believed his boyfriend was still in there. Childish. He thought dismissively of himself.
"Thank you for not interrupting." He spoke quietly and sighed. The ice cream was one of his absolute favourites but he truly didn't feel enjoyment from it like he normally would. He just didn't want it. He didn't want anything save for the quiet comfort of home where he could snuggle down and brood before a movie.
"What do you want to do now?" Atem asked him patiently and again Yugi sighed.
"I told him I would go get my things."
"Today?" Ryou asked. "You don't have to."
"I'd rather get it out of the way than wait. Besides, he's not home right now."
"Yugi…" Ryou sighed and then adjusted to face him. "Listen, you have our support. We'll follow your lead, but in my honest opinion you're still recovering a cold and you just broke up with your boyfriend. Going back to the apartment not might be more painful than you realise. Think about this for a moment, are you sure you're ready to cut your ties so quickly?"
Yugi agreed with him to an extent. He wanted nothing more than to go home and sleep just to avoid everything. But he didn't have any clothes at home and he knew that sooner or later he'd need to go and get his things. His car at least. If he did it later he risked bumping into Taylor on accident, not to mention he'd just have the reminder to go collect his things heavy on his mind and he didn't want that.
"I don't know what's best at the moment but I know I don't want to deal with this later. I'd rather at least get some clothes and my car." He said tiredly.
"I'll support whichever you choose." Atem said calmly. "Though if we go get your things now I'd feel a lot better knowing they're safe with you rather than there with him."
Yugi offered a half smile, languidly reaching for another small bite. He didn't think Taylor would break his things… but then he didn't think he'd rip into Atems cloak and abuse him the way he did either. I don't know him anymore. I shouldn't take the risk.
"I agree." He sighed solemnly.
"Alright. In that case, should I call the boys? Do you think we'll need their help?" Ryou asked.
Too many people… He thought sadly. "Wait till we get there. I might be able to fit everything in my car."
"Okay. We always have mine too." Ryou added.
Yugi nodded. He didn't actually know that they had driven here but he was right. He didn't have much there as it was that he could think of but having a backup couldn't hurt. There were some things there he wasn't sure what he'd do with. He never anticipated needing to separate his things from Taylor. His games belonged to him of course but he had put in more than his share for some other things they had there, like the TV, the bed… their washing machine was a gift from his mother when they moved in…
I suppose that kind of stuff will need to be sorted out later…he thought sadly.
Ryou drove them back to Yugi's apartment as planned. As they parked though Yugi stared at the building, tense and stiff like a statue. He never thought he'd ever stand before his home with the intents to empty it without Taylor. He was so happy to sign the lease with him, so happy to take that step in his life. Now though he wondered if he just wasted the last 2 years of his life.
"We don't have to do this." Ryou said gently beside him.
It lasted but a moment but he considered it. His car was just inside the car park. He could go get it and leave. Come back another day or night when he knew he'd be working.
No. I have a point to make. If I don't get my things now Taylor will use that against me. If I take them then he'll know I'm serious. He thought determinedly and with that took his steps towards his decision.
As they turned the last corner on the last flight of stairs they stepped aside to let someone else pass. Yugi barely saw him as he fumbled with his keys but curiously he stopped when he noticed Atem had paused and turned towards him.
"James, right?" He asked.
Yugi's key was in the door but his attention was on the stranger and the inquisitive way Atem faced him. The man didn't look familiar at all. How does Atem know him?
"Uhh, yes." James sounded nervous but smiled at them all the same. "Uhh… you're the guy at the game store."
Yugi came by to stand beside his friend and James took a step back and gasped. "Y-you're Yugi. Right? I recognise you from the photos…"
"Yes that's me." Yugi said was used to stardom but this guy seemed more afraid than in awe.
"Yugi this is the guy that dropped off your things. One of his friends." Atem explained and slowly Yugi nodded.
I know all of his friends. Who is this kid? He wondered, his eyes travelling up and down the man before him. He couldn't be older than they were. He was likely the same age or just out of high school. He was young and shy and meek but the slight stubble and frame suggested he was around their age. He didn't know him at all. He could be a work colleague…but why would he send him and not one of the others?
Then he noticed the collar. It wasn't remarkable but it looked much too much like his own…
It's too big a stretch, collars like that aren't uncommon… he thought.
"Well um, I should go. I just came by to see if Taylor was home."
"He's not." Yugi said rather coldly. He couldn't figure out why but he didn't like him. He didn't know him. If he was Ben or Josh or Kazuya then fine, but this kid? Yugi knew all his friends. Why did Taylor trust this kid?
"Yeah… well, nice to meet you. I'll head off." James left well before they could say anything. Yugi lingered for a moment longer than necessary, feeling his ears burn and his heart racing. Something about him pissed him off and he didn't know why. He was right to be in a bad mood but he didn't know that man, he had no right to be angry with him.
"Yugi?' Atem asked him and he jolted back, giving his friends a half smile before he returned to the door.
He thought stepping foot into this place would be like any other time, but he was wrong. The happy memories flooded back to him like a dam had opened.
Their first kiss under the threshold, Taylor and Joey moving the fridge in, the gradual build up of boring adult things like new plates and wine glasses. He heard their laughter, felt the thuds on the wall during their heated moments of desperate passion, and remembered the softer moments whenever they were sad. He cherished every memory but now they hurt terribly and threatened to suffocate him. It was almost too much for him to bare.
Ryou was right… this is harder than I thought.
"Yugi." Ryou touched his shoulder gently and he braced himself. He knew what his friend would suggest. I at least want my clothes. He thought stubbornly.
He stepped forward and froze once more before the kitchen. Their last argument played freely in his mind. He heard his own screams, the ripping of material. He felt the sting of the smack and then the choking as Taylor raped his throat…
He stared at the corner where he was forced and felt sick at how weak and pathetic he was that night. All their fighting had worn him down, all of the stress of the last several months had made him vulnerable and malleable. The perfect little slave…he thought bitterly.
He saw the broken mug now on the bench to the side among a mountain of fast food rubbish. He wasn't surprised he hadn't kept the house clean or bothered to cook for himself but the mug angered him. It had been one of Yugi's favourites. A sonic one he liked because of its size; and he had to use it to free himself of Taylor's assault.
"What's first?" Atem asked beside him, bringing him back to why they were here.
He cleared his throat, wiped his eyes and walked further in.
"My games are by the TV. All of them are mine. You can probably find some reusable bags in the pantry. I'm going to get some clothes." He said clearly before leaving down the hall.
His bedroom was another place that brought him pause. Perhaps one of the more painful. He shared almost every night with him here and not all of it was sex… though many were. The things they did here and experimented with… the things I let him do to me…
He felt disgusted again and angrily he ripped open his cupboard to start piling his clean clothes onto the sheetless bed. He would find a basket later or a suitcase, but for now he just needed to rip into something and pulling hangers off the rail satisfied that.
The piles were heavy but that suited him nicely because the violent way in which he tosses them felt nice. He was puffed by the time he had emptied the cupboard and drawers but he hated the clothing that remained, the ones that belonged to Taylor.
Am I in the right to set it all on fire? What about ripping into them like he did to Atem's cloak? He thought, teetering on the edge of actually doing it.
But he was too kind and tears were close by. He sat down instead, sinking on his side of the bed and finally letting the sting in his chest expand, to fill him up and call on those tears he kept at bay.
He cried quietly so he wouldn't draw attention but gods did he want to scream. He wanted to break something. To shout and punish and demand that something in his life go right. The anger he felt was so overwhelming he didn't know want to do beyond pull at his own hair.
Then he noticed the photo frame and it was pure rage that made him take it and toss it against the wall. It shattered loudly and sure enough he heard the racing steps of his friends in the hall but it didn't matter anymore. He cried freely, sinking to the bed he once shared with him.
He felt someone touch his arm and he shook it off. He didn't want to be touched or crowded, no matter how much his friends just wanted to support him. He was angry and frustrated and scared and he didn't know what to do with it all.
"Yugi why don't you go wait outside and we'll finish this." Ryou suggested.
He didn't want to. He didn't want to go outside in this mood. He wanted to break something. He wanted nothing more than to destroy something. He wanted Taylor to come home and feel how much he hurt him.
But he couldn't stand being where he was any longer so he did leave the room. He stormed out of it but was greatly disappointed at how little he could go. His apartment was small. Where else could he go without pacing or leaving?
Then he noticed something. On the corkboard which he normally ignored was a note pinned above all the bills and reminders. He noticed it because of the big love heart and knew neither of them had drawn something like that recently.
It was hand written in writing he didn't recognise … and it froze his blood.
[Welcome home Daddy. I'm wearing the new plug like you asked so I'll be ready for you tonight. I've washed the sheets too but they'll need to be hung up. Can't wait to please you, love your little cum slut.]
…
…
…
…
…
…
"Yugi?"
*snap*
He didn't think. He didn't need to. He trusted his body knew what it was doing when he grabbed the butchers knife from its place. He trusted his bodies instincts as it took him between his friends, his ex's previous love note in hand. He felt right to be standing in his bedroom, coldly staring at the mattress that had been defiled.
He shook though, because he didn't want to destroy his own clothes but they were in the way of his target.
"Yugi, what are you doing? Put the knife down, please." Ryou begged of him, his voice clearly panicking.
"Can you both get my clothes and take them outside with you, please." It wasn't a question. It was a demand. His voice wavered with the rage that bubbled underneath. They hesitated but did as he asked, though they never left the room.
He didn't need them to. He just needed them to let him move.
Once his clothes were out of the way he walked slowly around the bed to Taylor's side and gently glided the blade edge along the mattress.
He knew he recognised that collar.
He stabbed the bed just under Taylor's pillow and pulled down, fighting against the mattress's resistance. Two horizontal lines followed, one on top of the vertical and one in the middle.
All those late nights and no shows.
He stabbed it again, drawing a large U.
Whenever I said no he would leave and not come back.
Again, this time a C.
How long? Is this why?!
K
He took a moment to breathe. He didn't know mattresses were so hard to cut into but it felt so good too. So good but it did little to quench the anger he felt.
Did I drive him to this? Is this my fault?
Frustration forced his hand to move, moving further down the bed to draw a Y.
I loved you!
He cut an O as best as he could but curves were hard and it looked more like a long wonky rectangle.
All that time… WASTED!
He cried as he drew the last letter, an unsatisfying U and collapsed to his knees on the mattress. Repeatedly he stabbed at it beside him, crying helplessly from the horrible wrenching pain in his chest. His attacks were weak now. His arm and fingers begged for him to let the knife go but he liked the feel of the handle. He felt safe with it.
After a while he simply breathed, staring at the hate filled message he was leaving his ex. He had only one thing left he wanted to do.
He pulled himself off the bed and trudged back over to the photo he'd tossed. Carefully he moved the glass to slide out the photo, gently placed it on Taylor's pillow with his home wreckers note and stabbed the knife through it.
Now all he felt was fatigue. He was so tired. All his rage was satisfied for now. He didn't even care for clothing. He just wanted to leave.
So he did.
He walked passed his friends still stood in the doorway and dragged himself through the house.
How long his friends took to gather his things didn't matter to him. He sat on the steps outside and just enjoyed how silent his mind was. He tried to think. He figured that was healthy. But he couldn't stay on one thought for long. The rage he displayed inside silenced even his mind it seemed. He walked on eggshells around himself.
When they did come out with several heavy bags that pulled meanly on their handles and two large suitcases he presumed were also full, they walked out without a word. Nothing needed to be said. He was sure they had seen why he lashed out and he was sure they wouldn't dare question him. Sure, he had been the one to buy that mattress himself, but he figured if he was moving back into his family's house then he didn't need it, but the happy couple did.
They loaded everything into Ryou's car. Yugi had gone towards his own but Ryou bravely stopped him and simply shook his head no.
He thought Yugi might argue this but he didn't. Didnt even try. He just went to Ryou's car and waited for them to be ready.
Then he noticed both Atem and Ryou moved sharply and he saw them facing their backs to them as if to shield him. Then he saw briefly the outline of his now ex.
"No, don't you dare." Ryou snapped angrily.
"Turn around Taylor." Atem demanded.
"What you're going to stop me from going home?" Taylor spat disrespectfully.
Yugi gently touched their shoulders and they parted for him.
Taylor inwardly took a breath and he saw spark of anger flash through those eyes. But he no longer cared.
"Yugi. Good you're still here…"
Quick as lightning, so quick not even Yugi realised what he had done until after, he swung his hand and slapped him right across his face. It wasn't as hard as he would have liked, he wasn't entirely prepared for it and he'd used up a great deal of anger inside, and Taylor was much taller than he, but with his broken nose it hurt. He took several steps back, clutching at his nose and gasping.
Yugi didn't believe in violence and a small part of him wished he had hit him rather than smacked him, but this was fine. He would go upstairs and see what he'd done and he'd rather not give Taylor the satisfaction of making him resort to such barbarity.
"We can leave now." Yugi said quietly.
Wordlessly they climbed into Ryou's car, grateful that Taylor hadn't stopped them and Ryou wasted no time bringing it to life and driving off. Yugi sat in the back for the sake of privacy. His things took up the rest of the room with him. He didn't know what was left in the apartment and frankly he didn't care enough yet. They were moving and he was just mutely glad of that.
EPILOGUE
7 months later.
Atem breathed out nervously as he took a tentative seat at their table. "I have to admit, if I'd known where we were going I'd have dressed into finer wear." He said stiffly, smiling at the passing waiters and various other patrons he'd caught the attention of.
He looked quite underdressed compared to everyone else in their evening wear and fine suits. Even Yugi dressed for the occasion though if his smirk was anything to go by, he deliberately refrained from telling him purely for his enjoyment.
"You always look fine to me, I didn't think it would matter." He said slyly.
But it did matter. He should have thought of this sooner. But no. At the time when Yugi casually asked him out earlier to dinner he didn't think anything of it. He'd been so calm about it, smiling happily, not nervous at all as the question slid out from his lips that Atem had thought he meant to come over for dinner; as had become a frequent custom of late.
Still, he blushed at the compliment and awkwardly looked around in a vain attempt to find someone as casually dressed as he was. A simple black T under his leather jacket and faded grey jeans was not the usual kind of attire one wore at a fancy restaurant, no less in a potentially romantic atmosphere. Especially when the person you were dining with was wearing a lavender button up rolled to the sleeves, black dress pants, a deep purple tie and his suit jacket was politely hanging off his seat.
A waiter came by and handed them menu's to look through and Yugi ordered them champagne, their finest. A curt bow later and the waiter left them. Atem scrutinized Yugi who merely beamed under that blushing smile and he wondered what it was his little friend could be planning. This was incredibly unlike him.
"Alright, what's the occasion?" He asked and Yugi shrugged.
"What do you mean?" He asked nonchalantly, only adding to Atem's suspicion.
He leaned on his elbows and Yugi couldn't hide the grin he wore. He normally had such a great poker face, but this time he wasn't even trying.
And it served to excite him.
"This wouldn't be a date, would it?" He dared to ask.
"That wouldn't be a problem, would it?" Yugi asked him back in the same cheeky tone.
His heart pounded and he retreated back in his seat. He should have known. But how could he have?
Yugi had been slowly recovering and with the help of his friends and some therapy he had been doing remarkably. He quit his job in favor of working at his grandfathers store along side him. He finalised details with his landlord to have himself removed from the lease. With the payment he took from his long service leave he refurnished his room, spoiled himself with a new car and a brief holiday to the islands for a week. He smiled now, he laughed and hung with his friends more. He was so much more alive than Atem had seen him since his return and in all that time they had remained close but only friends.
Yugi had given him little indication of that changing and after Taylor and all that trauma he had not made a single move on him. They played but not more than Yugi played with everyone else and any lingering look or touch Atem reeled in very quickly.
The last month or so might have been seen differently. Those stolen glances, flittering touches, off base remarks and lingering cuddles might have been seen as a step closer; but Yugi had never said anything and Atem didn't seek anything.
But nothing needed to be said. Atem loved him still. Adored him and cherished him. Somewhere he thought maybe Yugi's forbidden feelings for him were still buried under all the complications surrounding it, but he never pushed him. He wanted to wait until Yugi showed irrefutable signs that he was ready to explore.
And now it seems that sign just smacked him in the face and now of all times he was not prepared for it. Had he known this was a date he would have dressed up, he would have trimmed his hair just to neaten it, he would have shaved the stubble along his jaw to present his smooth skin like he normally does. He would have done something to impress him.
"So how's Ryou?" Yugi asked him casually. Small talk was not his best suit but it filled the silence.
"He's good. He's just about ready with the next arc for our campaign." Atem answered easily.
Yugi beamed and bounced in his seat. "Great! I've been wondering when he'd be ready. I still think the Gorgon is a red herring."
"Yeah?"
"Mmm… turning men into stone is one thing, but a few towns back we heard of that Jade Witch that rumored to live on this hill and I noticed he once described the statues we passed were made of Jade, not stone. So…. I think it's actually her we're gonna run into." Yugi surmised and Atem smiled. He had to admit he knew a little bit of what was to come. Not all of it but it was difficult to ignore the idle mutterings his friend thought were private when he was focused.
"Good theory. I suppose we'll find out when we start." He said simply.
"What do you think about it?" Yugi asked.
"I think…" He paused, unsure if he should voice what he knew or play coy. "I think we're in for a surprising twist. You're right that the Gorgon seems a bit obvious. Ryou likes to run us around I think, gather our thoughts and perceptions before planning the next scene. I think by now he'd know we think the Gorgon is the obvious choice and will be planning around that. But for Joey and Tristan's sake is still trying to push the Gorgon idea."
"Yeah." Yugi laughed happily.
"So there's a new tournament coming up." Atem said shyly. He knew Yugi would know this already but neither of them had said much about it other than it's details to customers.
"Yes there is." Yugi mused and Atem smirked. He knew that tone. Yugi was playing with him, wanted him to lead the conversation.
"Are you thinking of joining?" Atem asked him.
"Dunno yet. Are you?"
"I think so. Having an identity now makes me feel a lot more at ease doing those kinds of things and it might be nice to get back into the spotlight." Atem said happily. He swayed his legs a little and accidentally bumped his foot against Yugi's. He apologised quickly and pulled his foot back but then he felt Yugi's touch his - and slowly he guided him back to the center so they could shyly play footsie under the table.
Now that was an obvious sign. If the prospect of this being a date wasn't one, this was it. And it made Atem's heart dance rapidly. He tried to hide how flustered he was by gripping his arms and smiling, but he was blushing like mad, he knew it.
"It was nice of Kaiba to do that for you. I'm sure that in conjunction with the tournament have nothing to do with one another." Yugi laughed and Atem joined him.
"Yes I think you're right there."
"I think you should. It'll be fun to watch you work."
Atem's eyes bulged from their sockets and he had to swallow hard to regain some level of clarity. It wasn't so much what he said but the sly way in which he said it. He was flirting with him… right?
All he could do was smile but this was fine as a waitress came by with a bottle of champagne and two generous glasses. She presented it to them both and Yugi nodded his approval, and as she poured them their glasses he smiled at Atem and threw him a quick little wink.
The waitress left and Yugi hid behind his menu. Atem copied him but he couldn't focus on the words before him. That wink, that smile, his words, the way his foot rubbed against his leg… he couldn't concentrate. All of this was so sudden and he feared being lulled into a false sense of security. Why didn't I dress up or ask beforehand where we were going? He berated himself silently.
"I think I'll order a steak tonight. I deserve a treat. How about you?" Yugi chirped happily, setting aside his menu.
He hadn't decided, so he picked the most common thing that wasn't too expensive. Something he could afford at least.
"The chicken schnitzel and salad looks good."
Yugi smiled at him and leaned on his hands, gazing at him adoringly.
Atem couldn't handle it much longer. There was a reason Yugi brought him here and it wasn't just to schmooze. "If you wanted to flirt with me you didn't need to bring me here."
"I know that." Yugi nodded and Atem squinted at him, trying to get passed the fact that Yugi didn't deny that at all.
"So what's the occasion?"
Yugi sighed but it was a happy sigh, a mock one of defeat. He took his jacket in hand and smirked at him. "Alright you got me. I am celebrating a well earned victory and I'm choosing to take the next step in my life." Yugi said.
Atem frowned in confusion as he watched Yugi dig out an envelope from his breast pocket and tossed it to him.
It was addressed to Yugi… from the Domino Court House. Yugi nodded for him to open it and he did, carefully scanning its contents.
Dear Mr. Moto, as requested please find attached the copy of your AVO for one Taylor Smith. He read and sure enough paper clipped to the back was an official copy of the restraining order Yugi had fought for against his ex. He didn't even know he had succeeded. He knew Yugi had gone to court regarding Taylor because of the letters and infrequent visits, the phone calls and inappropriate photos he'd been harassing him with, but he didn't know he had been approved.
"Yugi." He breathed in surprise.
Yugi beamed at him proudly. "I got the approval a fortnight ago but I wanted physical proof of it. That came today and I wanted to celebrate, because this means that I am officially free of him. If he breaks it the police will be on him. So this means I don't have him breathing down my neck anymore… which…"
He trailed off, sliding his hand forward across the table, shyly asking for Atem's hand.
Atems heart thudded painfully and excitedly and he reached for it. Their fingers touched and curled and he loved how soft Yugi's were. He held his hand openly and Atem felt so happy in this moment.
"Which means….if you still want to… we could take a step forward for ourselves?" Yugi posed it as a question. Yugi held his breath and Atem couldn't help but breathe out slowly.
He just asked me out, didn't he?
Internally he was screaming, but all he could do was squeeze his hand and nod. "S-sure." He breathed and then laughed at how simple and ridiculous his response was.
"Sorry, yes. I'd love to! Yes!"
"We don't have to if you don't want to." Yugi shrugged nonchalantly but he knew he was teasing him now. If he was serious he wouldn't have squeezed his hand or ran his foot higher up to his knee.
"I want to. Gods I want to, I've just been waiting."
Yugi grinned proudly, flirtatiously raising his brows at him. "Good."
"Are you gentlemen ready to order?" A waiter came by and they quickly parted. Yugi ordered for them, double checking with Atem first before waiter stalked away with their order.
"Come here." Yugi gestured Atem to lean over and obediently he did so. He thought Yugi had seen something judging by the way he reached to move his hair.
But he brushed it behind his ear and whispered. "I was going to order desert but seeing as things have changed, perhaps you'll indulge me later?"
Atem choked on himself and Yugi snickered, leaning back enough to watch him, a dangerous twinkle in his eye. They were both blushing now, even in spite of Yugi's daring proposition. Atem didn't know what to say though. He wanted to. GODS he wanted to. He wanted to take him now. Lead him back to his car, back home, maybe a park somewhere… but that was so bold he didn't know if Yugi was messing with him or not.
He tried to speak but nothing came out. Then he noticed Yugi's eyes flashed down to his lips and his heart forgot how to keep a rhythm.
The last time he'd kissed him it had been much too soon. He hadn't even ended things with Taylor yet. By all intents and purposes he had made Yugi an unfaithful man… but now he was free and offering and willing ….
He met him, fluttering his eyes closed and holding his breath until he felt Yugi's lips on his. They softly pressed together and he felt Yugi sigh happily, deepening the kiss but mindful of where they were.
Atem wanted to lose himself in it but Yugi parted before he too could fall into temptation.
They smiled shyly, both feverish and excited and their minds more interested in what happens after dinner than the promise of a fine meal.
They held one anothers hands and Atem stroked the back of Yugi's fingers idly with his thumb while Yugi resumed rubbing his leg. They talked about little things, the tournament, upcoming things at the game store. Inconsequential things that meant the world to them, because what could be more important than the time they shared together?