"It looks good, right?" Yugi was standing in front of his bedroom mirror wearing a carefully assembled outfit, which included a leather shirt that appeared to be made entirely of belts, a collar, spiked wristbands, high black lace-up boots, puzzle hanging on its heavy silver chain. His eyeliner was carefully applied; his accessories perfectly coordinated; black on black and leather on leather and chains and buckles and intentionally ripped mesh, all artfully arranged on his thin frame.

His other self, phantasmally projected onto his desk chair, nodded approvingly. It's great, partner. Very... He searched for a word. Bold. And very black.

Yugi preened, moved part of his bangs aside and made last minute adjustments. "I'm gonna wear it to the mall." he proclaimed, with a determined grin.

Do it, he said, daring him.

"For real this time."

Go for it!

And Yugi Muto stood up as straight as he possibly good, all brave and towering five feet of him, and took a deep breath, and grabbed his backpack, and marched out of the room with his head held high.

Five seconds later he practically sprinted back inside and threw open his closet to reach for his uniform. "No, I can't, it's too much, I gotta cover it up with something—"

C'mon, you were so close!

"The spikes are a bit much too, right? I'll just wear my normal wristbands, and maybe just sneakers..." A prompt, nervous disassembling, clothes and accessories rapidly discarded until the room was covered in what looked like the remnants of strip poker between members of Bauhaus.

The other Yugi watched the outfit whither away in a flurry of gothic cowardice, a little amused and a little more disappointed. You spent an hour putting all of that together, and now there's not going to be anything left.

"I know, I just..." Yugi didn't finish the sentence, looking mournfully down at a pair of black cargo pants, gripping them a little too tightly. There were words on the edge of his tongue, important concepts like 'normal' and 'pulling things off' and 'not being laughed at,' but he couldn't quite get the shape of them all together, figure out how they fit or what he really meant.

The other one leaned back in his chair with an exaggerated sigh. And now I suppose Anzu will never see it, what a shame...

"You're making fun of me!"

I'm not! he laughed, She would have liked it!

"I won't get rid of everything, okay?" he said, pulling his arm through his familiar uniform jacket. "I'll keep the shirt. Just...underneath." He put a hand on his chest, leather hidden a layer or two down, and smiled sheepishly.

But no one will know.

"I'll know it's there, though." Yugi looked in the mirror again, knit his brows. He looked exactly like he always did, every single day. A plain and unremarkable navy blue, with just a few touches, a few accessories, jewelry here and makeup there. Enough to stand out a little but not to break the uniform code, enough to be interesting but not enough to really be noticed, enough to feel like himself but not quite like the person he wanted to be. "It's just for me, anyway. Is that stupid?"

It's important to you, partner. It can't be stupid.

"Next time. I swear."

Next time. He smiled. I know you can do it.


"Uniform again?" Jonouchi asked, at the bustling food court table where they'd agreed to meet. "It's Saturday."

A prime-spot table for six, only three seats currently occupied. Jonouchi had probably claimed it for them early, always here first since it was near the end of his paper route, and already gotten food while everyone else still waited on their orders. The place was noisy and busy and crowded and chock-full of teens, and not a single other person in the building was wearing their school uniform on a weekend.

Honda shoved a stolen french fry in his mouth. "I don't think he owns other clothes, dude."

"He does." Bakura said, ever helpful. "I've seen his closet."

Yugi slid into a chair, avoided eye contact. "It's just easier. You don't have to worry about what to wear, right? So everything is faster."

"But you're late." Bakura pointed out, again very helpfully.

"Sorry. I just got caught up in something, I guess." He wasn't late because he was getting dressed, at least. Technically he was late because he'd been getting undressed. That had to count for something. He watched Honda reach for another fry and get abruptly halted halfway, Jonouchi catching his arm with almost scary reflexes.

Otogi appeared behind them, dropping several people's burger orders on the table. "Not as late as Anzu. Did she cancel?"

"She said something about dance practice." Honda noted, currently in the process of being put in a headlock.

"Can you just eat your own food?!"

"Nope."

Otogi sat down and glanced him over. "Hey, Yugi. New bracelets?"

"Huh?" He looked down. He realized with terror that he hadn't swapped them out after all, must have forgotten in the rush. Words spilled out slightly too fast, hiding internal panic. "Oh! Yeah. Um, I thought they might be a bit loud—"

"Nah, I like 'em."

"Yugi always has good taste." Bakura looked at the ceiling, a little wistful. "I could never pull something like that off..."

"Thanks!" Yugi felt his face heat up and dealt with it by seeing how quickly he could obtain a burger to shove in his mouth, fighting off an urgent and insistent smile.

I told you, said the him that no one else could hear.

Next time. Definitely next time.