Warnings: Referenced Wounds, Insecurities, Implied Sexual Content
Prompt XXV: Beauty
"Happy birthday!"
Yami looked up from his homework, blinking, and found Yugi holding a small cupcake in front of him. The candle was a brilliant purple almost to match his eyes and the red velvet pastry reminded him slightly of Atem's eyes. He blinked again, then flushed slightly as he raised his gaze to Yugi's once more. "Oh, uh, thank you."
But hadn't they promised not to make a big deal about it? His heart was pounding in his ribcage. Yugi hadn't listened to him either time before, but he'd toned it down from insisting they bought a cake and candles. A cupcake was much smaller, far less of a celebration, and it made him feel warm all over to see his face lit up by the single small flame.
"I know, I know," Yugi whined, "but your birthday means something to me, okay? So, I thought, why not? We need to celebrate! And, so, here it is. Here's our tiny, two-person celebration."
Yami snorted and smiled slightly, reaching for the pastry and licking his lips as their fingers brushed. He considered, staring at the flame and then leaned forward to blow it out. The little wisp of smoke made his nose itch for a single second, tickling him. And then it faded as he looked up again.
"Did you wish for something?"
He nodded slightly. "Yeah."
"I hope it comes true then."
"It probably won't," he snickered, then searched his eyes and exhaled slowly. "Was there a present included?"
Yugi snorted. "I baked you a cupcake. You don't need anything else."
He bit his lip and took the pastry from him, studying it as he gently rolled it between his palms. The paper crinkled almost imperceptibly and his heart seemed to skip and falter in his chest. "If I said I wanted something from you, would you give it to me?"
Yugi blinked and straightened, bewildered. "Name it."
Yami didn't look up, humming as he considered. He wasn't used to this. And they hadn't truly gotten very far in anything intimate as it was. They hadn't even kissed yet, but he'd been dreaming about it for a while. And he did love him. They both knew that. He loved him more than anything.
He…
And Yugi loved him back, right? He'd said so more than once.
He'd…
Yami looked up. Yugi was staring at him, bewildered and slightly alarmed by his silence. "I want you."
The other boy tilted his head. "You already have me."
He shook his head and rubbed at his wrist where it had been broken the year prior. His stomach knotted as he remembered and his fingers itched for a moment where they touched his skin. "No, Yugi," he breathed, amazing himself that he even knew how to speak, "I want you."
The words seemed to confuse him for a single moment. And then Yugi blinked and furrowed his brows and stared. He didn't speak for a long time, then moved to take a seat on the bed. Yami didn't know how to perceive the change of stance. Was it a silent rejection or was it consideration?
The room was oddly suffocating now, the silence making it hard to breathe. He focused on the candle where the wax had dried from his constant hand movements. He braced himself for rejection and waited.
"You want to have sex?"
Yami shifted his weight, cheeks heating fiercely. He spoke so bluntly, as if it were simple and easy and not the slightest bit embarrassing to bring up.
And maybe that was the difference between them, perhaps the biggest.
Yugi was more mature than him.
And Yami still sometimes struggled to even curse without feeling childish.
He licked his lips. "Yeah, I, uh… I want to have sex w-with you."
Yugi was quiet for a long minute. Then he shook his head slightly, smiling as he got to his feet. "Why?"
Yami flinched and looked down at the cupcake.
"I'm not saying no, aibou. That came out wrong. I'm sorry. I meant to ask why now? We haven't even…done anything. We've held hands and hugged and slept in the same bed. We haven't even kissed before. That's a huge jump to make." Yugi's voice was soft and calm and warm as Yami looked over at him again. His mouth was dry and pasty. "I don't want to hurt you."
Yami swallowed hard. "I… I don't know. I just…want to."
Yugi blinked and frowned, studying him. "I love you. I'll love you even if we don't sleep together right now."
He looked at the pastry again. "I know. I just… I want to do this with you. I want it more than anything."
The admission made his belly twist and coil and he was almost breathless with a mixture of anticipation and embarrassment. His heart hammered in his chest. His fingers shook minutely. And when he risked a glance once more, Yugi offered him a gentle smile. He gestured for him to come over and Yami hesitantly obeyed, pausing only long enough to put the pastry aside on the desk behind him. He hovered for a moment, swallowing hard, and Yugi reached for him, one hand touching his hip and the other moving to his shoulder. He guided him down, until he was straddling him with his knees to the mattress.
Yami hesitated a few seconds. Yugi watched him, then leaned forward.
"Come closer."
He swallowed hard, mouth suddenly dry, and crouched there, straddling his hips. His heart raced. His eyes widened. He licked his lips. He felt sweat bloom in his palms. He shivered. And then he shifted forward and searched his face.
Yugi tipped his head up.
And Yami found himself melting when Yugi's lips met his.
His fingers tightened on his hip and his shoulder ached beneath the bruising grip he used. Yami felt his body tingling with excitement even as Yugi drew back to study him. His lips curled up into a small grin and his eyes sparkled as Yami peered back at him.
"I love you."
