Prompt III: Clock
Yami hated school with a passion. He hated listening to humans teaching him their values and all the frustrating whispers that came with his presence there. It was the one thing he hated when he joined Yugi's pack. They'd enforced his rule of being in school immediately, with the secondary alpha Sugoroku—Yugi's grandfather, surprisingly—claiming him as a long lost cousin. It had been the easiest, when they saw how close in appearance they were. Yami didn't like the label, but Yugi seemed okay with it. He didn't care in the slightest and went along with it no matter how much it frustrated Yami himself.
He supposed he could live with it, though, because it did make everything so much easier. No one knew he'd been in Sapporo aside from the teachers, in which case none of them had mentioned the sudden transfer or his absence for the last two months.
He was given some leniency, for a back story Yugi's family had created for him that Yami had only partially listened to. He'd run off to join Yugi when the other boy had offered him his room later that day. They'd gotten snacks and eaten and Yugi had made him a makeshift cot bed, but the new environment had made him nervous and he must have woken him, because Yugi asked him to sleep with him. And so they'd fallen asleep together, breathing in sync and waking when the alarm went off for them to go to school.
Yugi had shown him all around, then told him if he needed him he'd be nearby in the neighboring wing, since he was a year ahead of him in classes. Yami hadn't realized until then that Yugi was older than him, because he was shorter and he looked so much…cuter. He had cheeks of baby fat and rounder, much wider eyes that were bright purple with the smallest flecks of brilliant blue that looked blue-violet when his lashes cast shadows.
He was adorable.
Yami flipped his pencil in his fingers and narrowed his eyes as he stared up at the clock. The ticking made his head hurt; it was too constant. The other students were curious about him, but they'd only come up and spoken to him a couple of times, as if afraid he might turn on them.
The other pack members didn't spend time together for the most part, as if they were afraid of showing a social hierarchy that might expose them or something of that matter. It was really only Yugi who broke that protocol, coming to his classroom to wait for him to come out and walk him home. Yugi was always sweet about it, even if it must have been something of a burden.
The bell chimed for them to leave, finally, after what seemed a lifetime. He scrambled to grab his backpack from the floor and stuff his books inside. He could hear some of the other students chatting loudly in the hallway, but the words were a monotonous roar. He didn't care much for their chatter. He only ever listened when his or Yugi's name was mentioned; they were curious, so of course they talked about them. It was never malicious, but it always peaked his attention.
He heard Yugi's footsteps as he wandered out the room.
The other boy turned the corner, saw him, and quickened his pace to get to his side. His smile was bright and his eyes were almost glowing as he got to him.
"How was class?"
Yami shrugged. "I'm tired of school."
Yugi grinned. "Me too." He raised a brow and tilted his head. "I hate school."
The other boy shot him a flustered look. "Atem told me it was necessary, though."
He nodded. "Definitely necessary. You don't want anyone to notice you're not attending school. Authorities sometimes get involved and things get super stressful from there." He paused and looked over. "Or so I've been told."
"It's probably just an excuse to get us out of the house."
Yugi snickered. "I've always thought that too!"
"I hate seeing how little time has passed between classes. It's frustrating."
"It's also exciting when you look and you've only got a few minutes left though," Yugi pointed out. He smiled at him and Yami tilted his head. "I mean, watching the clock is boring until then. Then it's amazing because you don't have to worry about it. The bell goes off and you can just rush home after that."
Yami nodded slightly, wondering vaguely if Atem or his parents would be able to track his scent from the rendezvous point Atem had made for him. He was only allowed to visit on the weekends, waiting and wondering sometimes if he'd missed them. He swore he could smell them sometimes, but it must have just been his memory playing tricks on him. Yugi never claimed to be able to smell anything. He usually sat with him and talked, sometimes burrowed into his side and took a nap, but he never claimed he smelled anything.
Even when Yami was insistent, Yugi would shake his head and tell him he didn't smell it. Occasionally he praised him about how much better his nose had to be than his and Yami would feel ready to burst with pride.
But they never approached the territory to find him if they had wandered that far. He was always sure to rub against trees and bushes to ensure he left his scent there for them to follow. He didn't want them to worry about him too much if they couldn't immediately see him.
"Yami?"
He jerked when Yugi touched his shoulder. "W-what?"
The other boy opened and closed his mouth, then grinned. "I just didn't want you to run into the wall. Sorry."
Yami stared at him for a moment, then shrugged it off. "Oh, okay."
"So, are we heading out as soon as we get home today or did you want to wait a little while?"
The red-eyed boy frowned slightly. Yugi hated rushing off to the city limits when there was any daylight left. And he hated it even more when they barely got time to put their things down before they went.
"Uh, no… We don't have to."
"I don't mind."
He minded. He just didn't say it.
Yami remembered the slightly exasperated and flustered looks Atem would give him when he pressed too hard. Yugi did it too.
"We'll go later, when it's dark outside."
He wanted to go then, but that didn't mean he would force Yugi to follow him. And Yugi would follow him, no matter what. He knew that. He always did. Yami had argued once and Yugi had glared and insisted. He didn't know what that was actually about, but he never left the rendezvous point without Yugi there with him.
"You sure? Normally you can't wait."
Yami shook his head and fiddled with the strap of his canvas bag. "It's okay. I know your parents don't like it when we leave so early anyways. We can play games or something instead."
Yugi looked like he was going to argue, but suddenly decided against it. "Okay. We'll play Spyro when we get back. I haven't beaten the last boss yet."
Yami nodded absently. He'd watch Yugi play until he couldn't anymore.
And then he'd be staring at the clock again.
