Puzzleshipping (Yami no Yugi x Yugi)
(This is a popular one…I'll do my best.)
The darkness pressed on him, choked him, tangling him up and dragging him downwards into the night. He wanted to scream, but the shadows only swallowed his noises and pulled him deeper. He struggled, flailed, but there was no escaping it –
Yugi gave a muffled yelp and struggled upward. His blankets were tangled around him, causing him to almost fall out of bed. He lay still for a moment in the soft dimness of his room. His breaths came heavily, and he stared at the blankness of his ceiling as though to find comfort there. There was none, of course.
"Yugi…are you all right?"
Yugi blinked and sat up. The ghostly projection of Yami no Yugi appeared at the foot of his bed. Those burning red eyes were soft with concern, so very different from their usual harsh confidence. The darkness seemed to lift slightly, because all though no lights were on, he could see the form of the pharaoh easily.
"Oh, other me," Yugi said. "I'm sorry; did I wake you up?"
Yami no Yugi shrugged.
"You were scared," he said. "I felt it…are you all right?"
Yugi blushed slightly.
"I'm fine. It was just a bad dream."
"It felt like quite the nightmare."
"Mm…yeah…"
The silence grew between them for a long moment. Yugi glanced up at his other self. Yami no Yugi was no taller than Yugi, but he seemed to take up so much more space. There was a regality to his bearing; even just sitting on the edge of the bed, he looked like a king on a throne. And yet, right now, there was also a softness to his figure. It made Yugi feel better, less alone.
Yami no Yugi stood up and walked around to face Yugi.
"You've been having these a lot lately, haven't you?"
Yugi thought about saying no, but it wasn't like he could lie to someone in his head.
"Y-yeah…" he said sheepishly. "I used to have the same nightmare a lot when I was a kid…after my dad disappeared. I thought I was done with them after you came along, though."
Yami no Yugi's eyes softened. He put a hand on Yugi's forehead, and although he wasn't really there, Yugi could feel the warmth on his skin.
"It's going to be okay, partner," he said. "I promise."
Yugi just nodded.
"Can you sleep now?"
"I think so."
"Good."
They didn't move for a long moment. Then the projection of the pharaoh faded away, and Yugi slipped back under his covers. The darkness didn't feel so thick anymore. He didn't feel so alone. In fact, he actually felt sleepy. Usually the nightmare would keep him up all night.
"Good night, other me," he whispered.
Yami no Yugi didn't answer, but Yugi felt a warm presence tighten a bit more around him. His eyes closed, slowly. Somehow, he knew the nightmare wouldn't be bothering him again.
A/N: Well…how'd I do? I'll be honest with you guys, I don't support this shipping. In theory, it's adorable. But whenever I read fanfictions where these two are actually in a relationship and/or are more directly romantic towards each other, it never feels quite right to me. I think if this as more of a brotherly relationship. They really care for each other, but it's not romantic, as far as I'm concerned. Contrary to popular belief, you can be willing to die for someone that you're not "in love" with. Next is Pushshipping (Noa x Seto x Otogi).
