Angelicshipping (Bakura Ryo/Raphael)

. . .

"Oh," Ryo breathes. "They're beautiful."

Raphael has to take a bit of a double-take, because no one in years has ever called his worn out, beaten down cards beautiful. But there's Ryo, leaning over the three kept carefully in their display case until he needs them for a duel, and looking at them with awe shining in his eyes.

Raphael almost hesitates, because he doesn't want to break the moment and make Ryo change his mind. Doesn't want to hear, yet again, how he should get the cards replaced. About how Industrial Illusions will replace old and worn cards that aren't tournament legal anymore if you send them in, and they'll reprint them.

"They are," he finally breathes. "I'm...I'm glad you think so."

Ryo looks up at him with that same awe still shining in his eyes, the light above reflecting in his irises.

"Why wouldn't I?"

Raphael shrugs, ducking his eyes away.

"Most people think they're...old. Worn."

Ryo tilts his head and smiles.

"But doesn't that make them even more beautiful? You loved them so much and they were with you through everything. Doesn't the wear and tear make them even more alive?"

He is the first person in years to have said anything like this—the first person in years to say exactly the words that always rose to Raphael's lips in his card's defense when people told him to just get them replaced.

He opens his mouth, but he can't find words. He can only find tears bubbling in the corners of his eyes, and he covers his mouth. Ryo walks forward, quiet, gentle, and places a hand on his shoulder.

Raphael lets a few tears roll over his fingers before he whispers between them.

"Thank you."

. . .

A/N: Aww. Next is Analogshipping (Honda x Ryo x Anzu).