Tangled
By The Long Name Ending In Cookie
Disclaimer: I lay no claim at all to the characters/places/etc from Yu-Gi-Oh, I'm just borrowing them.
Notes: Just a few things to be clearthis is a Duke x Yami pairing, so if that idea displeases you, don't hesitate to leave, but no flames please. Also I hope it's not confusing that Duke refers to both Yugi and Yami as Yugi because obviously he doesn't know there's a difference. Thanks :)
It was a warm, clear night in which the city unwound from the day. Though the air temperature had dropped significantly, a sticky second-hand heat still rose from the road over which a young man now walked.
His hair shared the same black velvet quality as the sky above, and he delicately twined a lock of it between two fingers. Emerald eyes did not see the path ahead, just as the rest of his body failed to register the warmth. Duke was lost in recollection.
Barely a few hours previously he had stood beneath the glare of the spotlights. The heat these lights generated was negated by the industrial strength air conditioning that chilled the air; but then, as now, Duke did not notice the temperature. He was locked in desperate combat with the enemy.
The enemy—all Duke's attention was given to the boy who faced him from the opposite side of the game board. Yugi Moto, the so-called King of Games, whose audacity fanned the flames of Duke's anger. He stood there, arms folded, wearing a smug, slight smile—as if he deserved the misbegotten title. And yet… there was something in his bearing; he carried himself like a true king—and not just of games. Though he was below average height, he had the presence of a man seven feet tall. Also, Duke had never seen anyone quite so exotic—his hair grew naturally in three different colours, and his eyes were deep and violet. For a low down dirty cheat, Yugi was quite attractive.
Not only that, but he was charismatic. Rather than gloat over his previous move, he paid a compliment to the Dungeon Dice Monsters concept. It struck a chord within Duke. His game was his greatest achievement and close to his heart. For a moment, he was touched.
It was a brief moment. Duke quickly remembered his anger and the moment was lost.
But not completely. Now, it returned to the forefront of his mind. Among other things.
After the game, when Duke had become capable of listening to reason again, Yugi had forgiven all the accusations. His demeanor was different outside a duel; he was not so stern and commanding. Rather, he was sincere and friendly, and seemed diminished, as if his true height became obvious again. He was still as charismatic as ever, as well as attractive. In all, Duke was glad to leave the game shop as Yugi's friend, rather than having to remind himself to be angry with him.
His train of thought was interrupted as a car rounded the corner and caught him in the glare of its headlights. Duke instinctively shielded his eyes with the hand that had been playing with his hair. The car passed, stirring a momentary breeze of the warm air.
"Crap." Duke was unable to lower his hand again. His index finger was tangled in the lock of hair. With a sigh and a few deft tugs of the silken strands, he freed his hand and returned to his thoughts of the King of Games.
On another level of consciousness, Duke became aware that he was moving to a beat. His entire being had a tempo; the beating of his heart was in sync with the sound of his footsteps, even the slight clicking as his earring swung was in harmony. The constant steady rhythm was reassuring.
But Yugi was throwing it off. The thought of the boy was causing Duke's heart rate to climb, putting it out of synchronization with the rest of the beats. It was disorienting, like being somehow out of step with the rest of the world.
Damn Yugi, messing with my mind…
With his feet on autopilot, Duke had found his was home. He headed straight for the bathroom and a cooling shower. Clothes were thrown into a corner. Head-, arm- and wristbands were placed by the sink. Hairtie and earring followed. Duke climbed into the shower and stood for a moment, meditatively, allowing the water to just wash over him.
In his mind he went over the day's events. It had been an emotionally charged one; he'd finally come out of a low and was currently cresting a wave of happiness. After the waiting, the uncertainty, and finally giving up and seeking "revenge", Duke had received word from Maximillian Pegasus. Dungeon Dice Monsters was set to be introduced to the world. His hard work had paid off and his dream was becoming reality.
That thought was enough to justify an emotional high for anyone. But Duke, by now rinsing shampoo from his hair, found that his greatest feeling of pride and gratification came from Yugi's compliment. The memory played itself across his mind for the hundredth time that day. Duke treasured it. The unconcealed impression in Yugi's eyes, the sincerity of his words, that deep voice like a caress…
Duke forced himself back to reality. He shut off the water and stepped out of the shower, taking a towel and drying himself roughly. He then stood and stared at his reflection in the mirror.
Absently, acting out of habit, he picked up a cleansing product and cleaned off the remains of his eye makeup. He was debating his next course of action.
Duke had been quite happy with his original plan of simply going to bed. But now, suddenly, the twelve hours between tonight and tomorrow, the twelve hours until he could conceivably see Yugi again, seemed unacceptable. The King of Games was firmly lodged within his thoughts.
Duke Devlin's reflection gazed at him from the mirror, dark hair tumbled freely about his bare shoulders. As his physical body stripped naked, so were the desires of his heart and soul laid bare. Duke turned away, and got dressed. Absently following his usual ritual, he meticulously brushed his hair, tied it back, replaced his accessories and reapplied his streak of eye makeup. Then he ventured back out into the night.
Duke was going to see Yugi again. He didn't know why, or what he was going to do when he saw him. He knew only that he couldn't possibly not see Yugi again tonight.
Outside a cool breeze had now picked up. It seemed to breathe energy into Duke, and energy was the last thing he needed more of right now. With every step closer to seeing Yugi his heart rate seemed to go up, speeding adrenaline through his body, quickening his pace, and throwing him further out of step with the world.
Rounding a corner brought the game shop into view—and Yugi. Immediately Duke stopped, one hand going up to a strand of hair, nervously twisting it between his fingers.
What is Yugi still doing out?
Down the street, light spilled from the game shop out onto the footpath. It bathed, Duke realized, two figures. Yugi was holding a conversation with Joey. Even as he watched they said their goodbyes, and Joey disappeared down the road. Duke forced himself to let go of his hair and cross the street to approach Yugi.
Even as he took the first step he realized that he had been wrong—he was not out of step. He had been completely liberated from the march; the worn, mundane path trodden by those who had nowhere else to go. Duke had a better place to go to, and it was Yugi who had set him on the road, and it was Yugi that would be at the end of it.
Yugi had watched Joey leave and now he turned to go inside. But stealthy footsteps were approaching. Out of protective instinct, Yami came forward and took over, alert for trouble. A figure stepped into the pool of light.
"Oh, it's you Duke." Yami relaxed.
Duke nodded. "Yeah, me again."
He realised he wasn't at his most articulate. He was preoccupied; fixated on those deep and ageless purple eyes. They were not soft and open as they had been earlier that evening in the game shop. Now they were hard and piercing, as they had been during the afternoon's dice monsters game. Hard, piercing, and alluring…
"What are you doing back here?" Yami asked. Duke snapped back to reality.
"Well, I…" just wanted to see you again… "I still feel bad about today."
Yami smiled. "You shouldn't let that keep you awake; I forgive you."
Duke smiled back. His heart rose to see the was Yami looked upon him in friendship. "I know—thanks." Yami acknowledged him with a nod. "Because I said a lot of things I want to take back. Nobody deserves more than you to be called the King of Games." Duke realized he was beginning to blush. Like some giggling schoolgirl talking to her crush! He was glad it was dark.
"Thankyou, Duke," Yami was saying. "Your compliment means far more to me than the title itself."
Now Duke was definitely blushing. He realized he had also been playing with his hair nervously, possibly for the entire conversation. His heart rate was through the roof. And still Yami stood calmly, looking irresistibly gorgeous.
Duke forced himself to return his hand to his side. He finally knew what he was going to do.
Yami was surprised when Duke, who had been oddly quiet, suddenly advanced upon him. Before he could say a word the dark-haired boy was pressed up against him, kissing him with boundless passion and intensity. Shocked, Yami instinctively tried to pull away, but he was held fast in Duke's arms.
In the back of his mind, Yugi voiced his own surprise. "Yami—I'm sorry; I wanted to be Duke's friend, but… I didn't think I was giving him that kind of signal…!"
Duke stopped, to draw breath, and face Yami's reaction. Released, Yami again tried to draw back. But he was cut off short again.
"Ow!"
They both looked up, and realized. Yami's blond bangs were tangled in Duke's asymmetrical fringe. They were tied together by their hair.
Duke started to laugh. Yami looked at him quizzically, plainly uncomfortable.
Still laughing, Duke caught Yami's hands as he reached up to try and free himself. "Don't fight it," he grinned. "It's a sign. We're meant to be together!" With laughter in his eyes, Duke kissed Yami again.
Okay, I was advised not to end here but to continue, so I guess I will. Don't hesitate to disagree with me if you review.
