Zypher: so we come to the next installment of the Dragon Rider AU. the plan at the time of writing this for the prompt was going to be about house cleaning buuuuuuut, Gandora!Yugi crept up on me asking for more. the result was so worth it as it visualizes this relationship more and started giving me the ideas of turning this in a full work~
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Day 13: Yugi loved baths, especially for his dragon self. So out of pure indulgence and giving Atemu something to do, he asks for his rider to assist him with a bath at the nearby lake. Fun ensues.
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If there was one thing Yugi loved most with their solitary life away from kings, queens and multitudes of villagers asking for so much and can't even pay back his dear rider for their assistance is bath time. As a dragon, he loved to play and soak in a nice lake. The water running down his scales and polishing his gems. Such a fine and relaxing time. But it has been a while since Yugi had the luxury of a nice soak. Of course, this was ignoring the nice soaks and baths he'd get in his human form and shared with Atemu. The knowledge of such left him sitting with a mild pout on his face as he sat on a torn stump not too far from their cottage home, having felled a sizable tree and chomped down on the trunk to make some firewood. There was a lake nearby and the shimmering waters was tempting but it was also lunch time. Atemu was waiting for one of his culinary creations and didn't want to disappoint his rider. "Guess a bath can wait. Time to make lunch." Yugi hummed as he stood and gathered the firewood, heading back to the cottage.
When he arrived, Atemu was outside in the garden, tending to the weeds that sprouted. "Atemu, you know you don't have to do that for me." Yugi admonished, setting the wood to the side and moved into the garden as the other stood. Atemu smiled as he watched the shorter male run over to him and settled a hand over his head, making Yugi purr as fingers massaged his scalp. If his tail were showing, it would be wagging happily at the gesture. Atemu knew he didn't have to do anything but felt terrible in letting Yugi do all the work. From cooking to cleaning, the little dragon did it all and for him to do nothing in return aside from agreeing to bond with him as his rider, which inevitably grew into a deeper connection, felt wrong. He had to pull his weight around even with the infliction he suffered.
"Come now, little one. I may be blind in one eye but I can't let you do all the housework. You did so well in learning all these little things that I have to pull my own weight somehow. Not doing anything reminds me of my old life and don't want you waiting on me hand and foot as much as you'd like to." Atemu spoke as he dusted his hands clean as best he could. The other wasn't wrong but Yugi did enjoy taking care of Atemu as dragon instinct would with a wounded mate. But at the thought of Atemu helping made his mind drift back to the long awaited bath in the lake he so desired, humming thoughtfully. Perhaps there was something he could help with~
"Actually Atemu, there is something you could help me with." Yugi cooed as he sidled up beside his rider, wrapping his arms around one of his, smiling with his violet hues bright with glee.
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A huge splash nearly soaked Atemu, making the rider grateful he donned only a pair of pants and free of his boots as he waded into the waters of the lake. The splash had come from his exuberant partner who was in full dragon mode and putzing about the lake like a dragonet. To see the great dragon of destruction like this would turn many heads but Atemu found it pleasantly adorable. On the shore were brushes and rags and a bucket filled with soaping oils and once Yugi was done having his fun, Atemu would get to the task at hand. Yugi wanted to have a nice scrub and asked for Atemu to help.
Atemu will agree it has been a while since Yugi had allowed himself to be free and loose with his form, too attached to his human disguise to be able to cuddle and love Atemu as he loves to do. He had no problem with that at all but secretly hated that Yugi never got to do anything as a dragon. They may not see work as they used to after refusing to be pawns to the kingdoms that can't bother to provide them rewards for their services as the last known dragon riders around but Yugi deserves a little freedom instead of being so hyper focused on his needs since the accident. Perhaps he'd start forcing the dragon to at least stretch his wings and fly for a couple hours with a promise to let Yugi pamper him once he came back. A compromise Yugi wouldn't refuse after knowing him this well.
His attention was pulled from his thoughts, feeling muggy air breathed over his face, looking up to see the panting dragon standing before him with curious golden eyes and smiled. "Just thinking." he murmured, reaching up to scratch under the large beak and Yugi purred. Of what, the deep rumble questioned and Atemu chuckled. "Of how to get you out the house for a few hours. Fly around, enjoy yourself and stop worrying about me for a while." If dragons could pout, Yugi managed to find a way to perfect it but Atemu kept his jaw shut with a hand before he could protest. They lived together for months now and while Atemu was appreciative of Yugi's care, he hated the idea of Yugi tying himself down so much to fuss over him. He knew well that anything could happen without his dragon partner by his side but the very same, for that to happen, someone would have to know about where they were.
Aside from the few stubborn lords and ladies that try so hard to get them to guard their kingdoms, or themselves personally with no plans to grant them coins for it -those few finding themselves a quick trip into Yugi's stomach on the grounds of getting too bratty and wouldn't be missed-, Atemu was sure no one of evil intent would find their way to their humble little home. Settling another hand over his beak, Atemu drew the large head down and pressed a kiss along the ridge, just above the nostrils that snorted humid air to the affectionate touch. "For me, Yugi? Pretty please? I mean, just look at yourself when it comes to having a bath?" Yugi gave a protesting whine as it was a sound argument but he really and truly hated the idea of leaving Atemu alone.
But Yugi knew if he didn't agree to Atemu's demands, he wouldn't be allowed to mate with him for a predetermined amount of time. That was a punishment he refused to acknowledge. He loves mating with Atemu when given the opportunity.
Yugi huffed but finally gave in and Atemu smiled, letting him go. See, that wasn't so hard, Atemu teased as he turned, ready to grab the things to give Yugi his bath but yelped as the large head of the dragon bumped him into the water. The rider lifted himself from the water and glared at the dragon, Yugi puffing his chest proudly before moving out the water to sit on the bank. "Cheeky dragon you are." Atemu huffed as he joined the other, grabbing the bucket and a brush and motioned for Yugi to lay down so he could reach the hard spots. Yugi gave a rumbling purr as he plopped into the grass, head nestled over his claws and wings laid out at his sides. Once the dragon was settled, Atemu smiled and dunked the brush into the bucket, moving to Yugi's side.
Yugi let out a heavy bellow of a purr as the hard bristles touched his scales, freeing them of dirt and lightly molted scales. While this wouldn't show on his human form of which he took regular baths, Yugi's true dragon form was a mess and hated the grimy feeling that came with not having a chance to properly bathe. But that time was finally here and oh~ Atemu's hands are absolutely magical~ The dragon rider took care around the gems and peeled away stubborn flecks of dead scales at the edges of said gems. The purrs that emanated from the dragon practically vibrated the ground around him and Atemu snickered. "Feel good?" he teased as he moved along the body, scrubbing at spots to make sure that nothing was left uncovered by the frothy soap.
Yugi didn't respond with anything more than another rumbling purr, a puff of dragon smoke leaving his jaws. "I'll take that as a yes." Yugi hardly gave an argument, wanting nothing more than to just be scrubbed down and feel positively clean. It took Atemu a bit to get around Yugi's body, taking care to make sure none of the soap got into his eyes as he worked the brush around his face. When Yugi was soaped down from head to tail tip, Atemu gave a nod before switching from the hard brush and took the softer one in hand. Another dip into the bucket and he was working on the ruby red gems lining Yugi's body. To this day, Atemu couldn't imagine such a pretty feature on Yugi was the single point of massive destruction as his true name and title portrays. To see those gems glitter in the sun made Yugi's dragon form as a whole absolutely gorgeous.
Truly, Atemu was honored to be his rider and was glad that they had that fortunate meeting with Yugi having such curious eyes to come down and face him when he had no need to. But without Yugi, Atemu would be wandering still with no purpose to go on, just the need to get far from his family and the life left behind. His hands slowed as he thought about it, wondering if his parents were even worried for him. Perhaps even sending out parties to search for him. He doubted it after this long and shook his head free of the thoughts as he continued his work. If he allows his mind to wander and distract him from scrubbing, Yugi will take note of it and won't stop prodding him until he gets an answer out of him.
It was a good hour and a half before Atemu found himself finished with scrubbing every inch of Yugi's body from top to bottom, front and back, between his claws and under his magnificent wings. Clapping his hands to wake the dragon from the doze he fell into, the rider stepped back. "Time to rinse." Yugi hummed as he stood, wading off into the water of the lake and went out into the deep, sinking down until his body disappeared under the water. Atemu took a seat on the bank to wait for him to surface, picking up a rag to fiddle with until Yugi came back up. A hand reached up to brush a loose bang from his face, fingers brushing over the taut skin warped from the ashes that had taken his eyes and hummed. The world had always been perceived so differently since losing half his sight and wondered if there could've been a different outcome that night. So many different scenarios came to mind, most of them not good and sighed, closing his one eye and mused silently, unaware that Yugi had surfaced from the lake and spotted the expression on his face.
No matter how much Atemu would tell Yugi not to worry about him, he would do so anyway. The drive of pure dragon instinct and love made it hard for Yugi to downplay any sort of negative emotion to come along and bother his mate and rider. He hated it even and would always be a step ahead when it comes to helping him cope. Just like now as he silently moved towards Atemu, making sure the water wasn't disturbed to reveal he had appeared. Once he came to shore, Yugi made to settle his claws on either side of Atemu, looking down at him with care before lowering his head. The action to follow made the other jump as a wide, flat tongue passed over the majority of his chest.
"Y-Yugi!? Quit it! I'm in no need of a bath!"
But the dragon persisted, bumping the other to lay on his back before he continued to lick across his rider's body. You're distracted again, the heavy rumble of Yugi's voice spoke without missing a beat in his act of licking. Atemu huffed as he tried to protest and Yugi, just as easily as Atemu stopped him before, did the same, licking a short trail across Atemu's face, making him sputter. A playful glare was all Yugi could see and made him proud of what he accomplished, sitting back and resting a part of his jaw over Atemu's lower half. The rider sighed but he was smiling. Leave it to his silly dragon to always lighten his mood by being so absolutely playful. The two continued to lay there for a while until Atemu's fingers tickled Yugi's nose. "Get up, little one. I was supposed to be shining up those gems of yours." A light exhale left his nostrils before Yugi sat up, giving one last pass of a wet tongue over Atemu before climbing out the water and settled down once more.
Atemu huffed as he sat up as well, swiping the saliva away with the rag before taking another and moved to the dragon to get to work. The gems were warm under his palms and Atemu was pleased by this. He couldn't bear the thought of Yugi ever getting sick and the gems going cold. When he finished two hours later, Atemu was delighted with his work. The dragon was radiant under the sunlight, clean, polished and gleaming. Yugi was happy and went to give Atemu another lick when a hand pressed under his jaws, stopping the advance. "I already need a bath of my own thanks to you, mister. Just give me a nuzzle then take five, alright?" Atemu chided playfully and Yugi snorted hard, ruffling his hair but nuzzled Atemu's cheek happily.
A pat to his beak and Atemu was gone, carrying the bucket closer to the water to use before stripping off the partially soaked pants and got into the cool waters of the lake. As for Yugi, he took five alright...
Took five meant counting slowly up to five before changing forms.
Yugi promised Atemu that he would find enjoyment of his dragon side more. A promise he won't deny...but before that, he would find enjoyment of his partner and mate. After all, Atemu couldn't think to bathe in front of Yugi and not expect him to think of how long it's been since they last been together in a passionate embrace. Much too long, Yugi thought as he stripped from his day clothes and crept towards the lake's edge. Violet hues were trained on the strong back of his rider, rag sliding across beautiful sun-kissed flesh lathered with soap. Yugi was too lucky to have such a handsome rider~
"Atemu~"
"What is it Yu—GAH!"
Yugi had tackled the other into the lake once he turned, sealing their mouths with a warm kiss and any argument Atemu tried to make died on his lips and conceded to Yugi's whims. Sure, he had to wash up again alongside Yugi but by the end of the day, both were content with the reminder of their deep, passionate and loving bond together.