Wow. It's been a while for this one, hasn't it? Sorry guys! I admit that this one kinda slipped down the priority list... I've been meaning to finish this chapter for ages, but school and other fics kept making me forget! D: But, hey, here it is! And I must say, the end was so much fun to write! I honestly almost left it off at the second page break, but I decided we'd need some better closure for this fluffy thing. Plus - more for you guys to read. Think of it as a profuse apologizing for forgetting about all the lovelies out there who were waiting me to get off of my ass and update this story. *laughs*
Well, I hope you all enjoy! Take a few minutes to tell me what you think once you're done, please?
~ Chapter V ~
Settling In
The ride back to his home-and-workplace was relatively quiet. Yuugi was seated in the back of Honda's police cruiser, going at a moderate speed just below the street's limit, with only a little bit of traffic to deal with. Domino was quite small, compared to other bay-side cities in Japan, so he wasn't too concerned about it. The only noise that offered to break the silence, was the muted static-and-chatter that would crackle through the police scanner every now and again up front, and the soft breathing (with the occasional, also-soft snore here and there) from Atemu, as he rested peacefully in the former-duelist's lap. He'd refused to sit anywhere in the vehicle that was not already covered by some area of Yuugi's body – namely, his lap, considering it was the easiest place of him to take a nap on.
The pale man inhaled, and breathed a long, quiet sigh through his nose, head gradually leaning more and more to the side until his cheek rested lightly over the mounds of spiky hair that had been tickling at his neck a few minutes ago. The child's head was placed snugly against Yuugi's chest, just below his neck, with one arm holding to a spot on the adult's back. The other, lay limply over his partially-folded legs. Atem had slipped off his shoes to "avoid getting his Aibou all dirty", and they now sat unused on the floor next to Yuugi's own (still on his feet, of course).
Yuugi shifted carefully, his knees spread slightly to accommodate the five-year-old's legs and rear in their half-fetal position, one arm supporting his small back, with the hand of that same arm holding his neck gently, to keep his head from moving around too much. His blank, rather tired purple gaze shifted, to focus on that peaceful, sleeping face. The faintest trace of a smile pulled at his lips, before his sights drifted outside. The skies were overcast with light, dove-gray clouds, promising rain and chilly wind by later that evening.
His eyes closed, and another breath escaped his lungs. I have absolutely no idea on what you think this is going to do, or what you may have planned for us... I don't even know if I'll make a suitable parent for him. But... if he's here now, it must be with a good reason. So I promise that I will try my best, to give him a suitable home, and to help him grow up to be the best person he can possibly be.
He wasn't speaking to anyone in particular. Be it Ra, another god or deity, his parents, or his grandfather. He was just... wishing. Praying, that beyond all shadow of a doubt, that he would be able to bring up the incarnation of the spirit he had once shared his life with. Maybe even loved.
Well, he mused silently, unconsciously shifting to hold the child closer, eyes opening halfway, I guess, this time... at least he'll be able to experience all the things he couldn't when he was my other self...
A more complete smile made its way to his face. Yuugi liked the thought of that.
He can be his own person now.
By the time Honda reached the Shop, Yuugi was in a half-asleep daze in the backseat, with Atemu still snoozing soundly in his arms. When the tires rolled to a stop, he could feel the area around him shift and fall motionless, which was more than enough to tell the man it was time to wake up. Even if that idea didn't really appeal to him at the moment. In all honesty, he would've been more than happy to just lay down and spend the rest of the day with the younger version of the Pharaoh snuggled away in his grasp.
But, he told himself in retaliation, giving a quiet yawn as his eyelids fluttered open, you have to take care of Atemu. He needs food and clothing, and an actual bed to sleep in tonight. His fingers absently combed their way up through that mass of tri-colored hair. It was matted towards the roots, and felt somewhat greasy to the touch. And a bath, he added with some amusement, though it was mostly drowned out by his concern for the boy. Nine days, in unfamiliar cities, all by himself...
Those thoughts seemed to steel Yuugi's resolve, and he forced his eyes to open the rest of the way, a louder, more drawn-out yawn leaving him as he shifted to sit up straight. There was the slamming of a car door as Honda vacated the vehicle, and the tapping of shoes on asphalt as he came around the rear to reach Yuugi's door, and let him out. Stiffening the set of his spine and shoulders in a half-hearted stretch as Honda opened the door, Yuugi gently wriggled his arms in an attempt to rouse Atemu.
"Atem," he murmured, freeing one of the limbs to gently shake the boy awake, "Atemu, wake up."
His only reply was a stubborn, sleepy whine, the Egyptian's face turning into an displeased expression at being disturbed, before he promptly burrowed further into Yuugi's figure. He heard Honda snicker, and the elder man gave a soft laugh, rubbing the remnants of sleep from one eye with his fist. "C'mon, sleepyhead," he cooed, "We're here. You're home."
The word had never sounded sweeter.
He just moaned another complaint. "Don' wanna..."
Yuugi gave a hum, thinking on an incentive that would make the boy willing to get up. He and the officer exchanged glances, the latter of whom just giving a shrug. Yuugi cast him a sarcastic look, before and idea came to mind. He blinked, before grinning slyly. "Atemu~" the trinette sang, "If you get up, I'll make you some hot chocolate when we get inside."
Red eyes flickered open. The two adults couldn't stop themselves from chuckling as the little one looked up in wonder. Yuugi could see the stars dancing in those garnet irises. "R-Really?" Atem asked, starting to smile.
"Yup!" the adult returned with a grin, "But we've gotta get your shoes on, and get you inside first!"
Atemu quickly slid from the elder's lap, and grabbed his tattered sneakers. Without untying the grayed laces, he slipped them on, using a small finger to hold up the broken backs of each shoe as he slipped them over his feet. Yuugi made a mental note to add 'new shoes' onto his list of necessities to buy for the child, when he scrounged up the time and money to go shopping.
Yuugi glanced up as he heard what sounded like a door being tossed open at Honda's back, and tried to peer past the man as he stood straight, and turned towards the noise. "Honda! It's about freakin' time, man! What the hell was that, up an' takin' our buddy downtown like that?" he heard the somewhat-irked voice of Jounouchi. He could hear shoes quickly tapping their way over to them. When the brunette didn't reply, it only seemed to annoy Jou further. "Seriously, dude, what the fuck?"
"Katsuya Jounouchi!" Yuugi scolded sharply, hands instinctively clasping over Atem's ears, as if to block the foul language from his impressionable head, "You watch your language when there's children around!" He shifted into the threshold of the vehicle, solely for the purpose of glaring daggers at the shocked-looking blonde. His wife was waiting a few paces behind him, lavender eyes blinking owlishly. Even Honda appeared a little taken aback by the usually-complacent male's sharp tongue.
Jounouchi shook his blonde head, as if falling out of a stupor. "Eh? Children?" he mumbled, glancing around, before peering at his friend curiously. "I don't see any kids outside, 're anythin'..."
His voice trailed as he caught sight of another figure behind his best friend, just catching a glimpse of black-and-red hair. Yuugi started as he felt little hands press into his back, and a small chest lean across his spine as Atem's tan face poked up over his shoulder. "Who's that, Aibou?" he asked, squirming an arm from beneath himself to point at Jounouchi. He saw the blonde pale, and Mai gasped loudly from behind him.
"Wh-Wh-What the-!" Yuugi's icy leer made the accented man bite off another curse. "Y-Y-Yuugi... what... h-how the... Who the heck is that?!" For lack of better words, Jounouchi jabbed a finger to point, almost in an associational way, at the five-year-old hovering over Yuugi's shoulder. He felt Atemu shrink up against his side timidly. "He-He looks jus' like – d-did, just, what ? When did you knock someone up?! Who was it? Why didn't you tell me you were seein' someone?"
He paused, and then guessed:
"One-night stand?"
Yuugi's face flushed a bright, deep shade of red. "N-No! Gods, no! I-I've never even slept with a woman before-" his face flushed darker as he caught the accidental implication "-o-or anyone for that matter! Let alone done something as... as cold as a one-night stand!"
"Well then where did he come from?!"
He felt Atem cringe against his back, moving to hide completely behind Yuugi. Something inside of his chest gave a painful throb as he heard a miniscule sniffle from the child, and his eyes widened. "Atem, Little One, what's wrong?" he asked, turning to face the child. His heart hurt when he saw water lining Atemu's large eyes, and the boy rubbed at them with a fist.
He looked up, and the complete vulnerability in his gaze made the older trinette want to cry along with him. "D-Do... Do you no-not want m-m-me, Aibou?" Yuugi immediately cupped the child's rounded cheeks in the palms of his hands, shushing him gently.
"Oh, nononono!" he murmured quickly, quietly, "Of course I want you with me, Atemu! Why wouldn't I?" Before the little Egyptian could reply, he added, "Jounouchi-ojisan is just being an idiot; he does that a lot."
"Hey!" said 'idiot' protested, before being blatantly ignored.
Atemu blinked, a tear freeing itself from his lashes. Yuugi's thumb gently swept over the curve of his cheek to wipe it away."Oji-san?" he murmured hesitantly.
"Mm-hmm," Yuugi hummed with a smile, "You're here, so you're a part of the family, aren't you?" Atemu's visage began to brighten at the concept of having a family again, and Yuugi gave a cheery little chirp. "So is he, so he's your family, too, and so is Mai! She's your Oba-san." He grinned at the excitement that came across the young Egyptian's face, and couldn't help but to chuckle along with the younger's bubbly giggle. "Now, how about we go inside and get you that hot chocolate, alright?"
"Yay~!" Atem cheered, stumbling out of the car behind Yuugi as the man playfully jogged towards the door, enticing the young one into a small race. Which he allowed Atem to win, of course. The happy child ran straight past a bewildered set of blondes, Yuugi following after with a laugh as the other made it to the door, and rocked somewhat impatiently on his heels as Yuugi caught up with him.
Yuugi opened the door, glancing over his shoulder as the boy scampered inside and started to take off his shoes again. He raised an expectant brow at the three adults, giving a short gesture for them to come back inside. He knew Mai, at least, hadn't finished her mother-hen episode over Yuugi, and wherever it was his pregnant wife was at, Jounouchi would follow. Honda? Well... he didn't know if the brunette was still technically on-duty, but he was also welcome to take a small break from work, and come inside. Without waiting to see if they advanced or not, Yuugi toed off his own sneakers, and placed a light hand over the waiting Atemu's shoulder, guiding him inside.
"Do you want something to eat with your cocoa, Atem?" he offered kindly, gently leading the curious child down the hall, "I can make you something, if you'd like."
The boy, who's head had been whipping left and right as he took in his surroundings, paused. There was a hopeful gleam in his eyes at the prospect of something edible. "Yes, please!"
Yuugi smiled fondly, briefly going over ideas of something quick and easy to make, that would be ready within the shortest amount of time for the boy to eat. Something quick... he mentally pondered, Would he like onigiri? It would take a little while to steam the rice, though. Maybe I have some instant noodles, or something like that? Gods, if I had enough money to spare, I'd offer to go out and get something. But with bills and ordering stock for the shop, and now I need to buy children's clothing and an entire bedroom on top of that, I need as much money as I can get. Come to think of it – where will he sleep tonight? He felt a hand tug hesitantly on his sleeve, effectively breaking Yuugi from his train of thought. He started, having stopped at some point in the middle of the corridor. Atemu was peering up at him curiously. He blinked, "O-Oh, uh, yes, Atem?" he asked after a moment, trying to clear to daze from his head.
"I think you passed the kitchen, Aibou..." he murmured quietly, almost shyly. Yuugi looked up, and behind them. Sure enough, the entryway to the kitchen had been passed. He flushed slightly, and from behind him, Jounouchi, Honda, and Mai began to enter the house as well. An idea came to mind.
"Oh, uhm... I was thinking that we should get you into a bath and some clean clothing, before we eat. Is that alright with you, Little One?" he asked, slowly steering the child towards the stairwell. "Then you'll feel nice and fresh when you come back down, and everything should be about done, so you won't have to wait as long!" Atemu immediately nodded, apparently liking the idea. "Alright, just head upstairs, and go to the door at the end of the hallway – I'll be up in a few minutes, okay?"
The child nodded, chirping a quick "okay!" before quickly following Yuugi's directions. The trinette took the opportunity to get Jounouchi's attention. "Oi, Jou," he said in a hushed tone, "You know where everything's at, right?" Of course he did. The lanky man had practically lived there half the time in their later teenaged years. "Would you mind going through the cupboards, and whipping something up for him really quick? Please? Oh! Or, I could give you some money, and you could run down to Burger World, or something?" Jounouchi looked a little taken aback, blinking, but giving a numb nod, either way. "Thanks, you're the best!" He then looked to Honda, giving a small motion towards the married couple in a silent question. The brunette nodded in understanding, and Yuugi smiled. "Thanks again – I'm going to go and help out Atem. Be right back!"
He turned and ascended the stairs, skipping one every now and again in his rush to get to the bathroom. Now that that's taken care of, he thought, I can get Atemu in a bath and find him something to wear for now, until I can go out and buy him some new clothes. And shoes. And a bed. Gods this is going to be expensive, I hope I have enough for the utilities – and I need to order new stock for the shop. Ugh, it's like when I was his age! How the hell did Jii-chan manage this?! We're going to be living paycheck-by-paycheck for awhile until everything gets settled...
An enthusiastic "hi, Aibou!" brought Yuugi back to his senses for a second time, and the elder trinette smiled. "Hello, Ate'," he returned, before turning around and closing the door. Atemu followed him around and Yuugi plugged up the tub, and turned on the water, letting the five-year-old test it to make sure the temperature was satisfactory. "Alright, then, do you need any help cleaning up, or can you do it on your own?"
"I-I... I think I can do it..." the child murmured, glancing away shyly. There was a sympathetic smile, and Yuugi playfully ruffled the kid's hair. Atemu was still for a moment, before gripping the ends of his soiled shirt, and trying to pull it over his head. Yuugi blinked, taking the moment where Atem's eyesight was blocked by cloth to look him over more thoroughly. What he could see of his caramel-colored chest and belly, was decorated here and there with smudges of dirt and grim. And, heartbreaking as it was, a few scrapes, even bruising and cuts on his ribs. Something mixed between fear and rage swelled up in Yuugi's chest.
Had someone hurt Atem, in his week-long stay on the streets? Or had they been caused by some sort of accident? But if someone had injured the child... or what about some sort of... some sort of pervert had tried to harm him? His mind immediately began to swirl with worst-case scenarios, and Yuugi physically shook his head to fling them away, to the point where a light ache formed in his temples. Still, those bruises looked like a little more than some kind of clumsy mishap. And his ribs... Yuugi could see them! Not all of them, which helped soothe him (just barely), but still! It looked as if the boy had gone hungry long before his Domino-bound romp in the streets. What kind of facility was his former orphanage? Were they underfunded? Were all the children there going hungry, looking like this? He surely hoped not.
His darker thoughts were, again, disturbed, by a frustrated whine from the boy. He flailed slightly as his shirt refused to leave his body, and Yuugi couldn't help but to give a hushed laugh when the burgundy neckline caught beneath his chin. He gently reached forward, and hooked the cloth from around the child's neck, before standing up. He grabbed a folded-up washcloth that had been set on the bathroom counter, and handed it to the boy. Deeming the water level in the tub as satisfactory, he turned the tap off, and straightened. "I'm going to find something for you to wear tonight, okay? Be sure to wash well, and I'll be back to check on you and help with your hair in a few minutes." Atem nodded blankly, and Yuugi gave a final smile, before exiting the bathroom, closing the door securely behind him. Downstairs, he heard the kettle whistle on the stove top, before it quickly died down, meaning someone had removed it from the heat.
He paused halfway down the hall, gazing thoughtfully at the separate doorways, cheek moving to rest in the palm of one hand. He hummed quietly to himself, thinking hard. Jii-chan and Kaa-san did store a couple of things over the years from when I was a kid... he pondered, Maybe there's something in there I could use, until I can buy all this stuff Atemu will need? Some pajamas I could wash, or a mattress, maybe? With the silent resolve to do some digging later, once everything was settled to a degree, Yuugi slipped into his bedroom.
It was a medium-sized, simply furnished space with pale, gray-blue walls and a carpeted floor. To left was a master bed. On the wall opposite of it was a window with dark curtains drawn over it to block out the sunlight, with a bookcase at the window's immediate right, tucked into the corner of two conjoining walls. There was a small bedside table on the other side of the mattress and frame, and a wardrobe/dresser sitting by itself in the center of the east wall. Yuugi made his way to it, and began digging through the drawers for something Atemu would be able to wear. At least, until his current clothes could be cleaned.
Settling on a larger, short-sleeved shirt for now, he slung it over one arm and left the room. That, and a pair of his boxers. They're be big on him, sure, but it was better than going without pants and underwear. Besides, the waistline had elastic, which would help keep them on. It would suffice for now.
I should probably wash his clothes now, so he has them sooner.
Yuugi knocked on the bathroom door, waiting for a reply before opening it. The room had filled with steam, and Yuugi smiled in amusement as he saw the five-year-old idly splashing in the water and drawing little figures in the moisture that had collected on the tiles of the wall. He looked over his wet shoulder and grinned at Yuugi as said man set the folded-up clothes on the bathroom counter. He smiled back, before noticing the darkened color of the bathwater. Atem's skin was cleaned a bit, sure, but it'd be doing no good to have him sitting in a pool of scrubbed-off dirt.
They decided to unplug the drain, and let the dirty water run out of the tub, Atem still sitting inside. He'd covered himself with the washcloth from earlier for some sort of modesty, and had his legs drawn to his chest. Yuugi found it both cute and rather amusing, and he politely averted his eyes from the boy to keep him from feeling sheepish. After all the dirty water had drained from the basin, he turned on the detachable showerhead in its stead, and fulfilled his promise of helping Atemu with his spiky hair. Making sure it was at a warm-but-not-too-hot temperature, he wet the child's hair to the roots, rubbing his fingers through the grimy locks to make sure he cleared away as much filth as he could. After that, he squirt some shampoo into a hand, the showerhead set on the floor of the tub until it was needed. He chuckled when the boy leaned into his hands as he scrubbed away at his scalp, running his fingers through the tangles multiple times to assure they were smoothed out (making it all easier to brush out afterward). As he rinsed the suds out, petting the limp tresses and parting them with soothing strokes of his fingers, Yuugi heard the boy release a slow, contented little hum, and noticed the boy's head bob forward some, before jerking back up. Yuugi had to bite his lip to hold back a coo as he saw the boy's eyelids drop groggily, and his peacefully blank expression.
"Hey, now," he murmured, making Atem glance up at him sleepily, "Don't go nodding off on me now, sleepyhead. You still need to dry off and get dressed." At Atemu's tiny pout, Yuugi sang, "Plus, I think your Uncle Jou and Aunt Mai made you some hot cocoa~"
It was incentive enough, and in a couple of minutes Yuugi was helping Atem dry out his hair while the boy held a second towel over his body like a makeshift shawl, hiding his bare self in embarrassment. "C-Cover your eyes, please?" he asked after Yuugi pointed out the clothes, and the man acquiesced accordingly, turning his back to the child and covering his amethyst eyes with a hand while Atemu dressed himself.
"It'll be pretty big on you," he informed, "But I hope it'll be okay until I can get you some new clothes, and wash your old ones."
He felt small arms squeeze his waist, and Yuugi looked down at the body they were attached to. The sleeves of the T-shirt stopped just above his elbows, and the waistline hung down past his thighs, while the boxers were just a little bit longer than his original shorts had been. His hair was still very damp and tousled, the usually-erect spikes limp and leaning in every which way, clinging to the sides of his face and neck in scattered black-and-maroon strands. His golden fringe hung straight around his face. Atem's face had a large but sleepy grin, and his garnet eyes could have burned brighter than fire in joy and adoration as he gazed up at his new guardian. "Thank you, Aibou," he murmured earnestly, pressing his cheek to the outside of Yuugi's upper leg. Yuugi reached down and ran his fingers through the boy's hair a few times, smoothing it away from his face.
"You're very welcome, Atemu."
When the two finally meandered back downstairs, Yuugi was met with a vaguely familiar scent that made his mouth want to water. Upon entering the kitchen, he found his three friends in a fairly peculiar setting. Mai had her hair tied back in a hairband, while the men had removed their jackets at some point and slung them over two different chairs. But that wasn't the odd part. The odd part was the off-white, powdery substance that covered nearly every surface in the kitchen – their bodies included. Jou and Honda both looked like they'd gone out and stood beneath some falling snow for a little while, and it clung to their hair. Their clothing was dotted in large, damp splotches of the stuff, and their hands were covered in a substance that Yuugi could only compare to super glue. The worst of the damage Mai had was a smear of it on her left cheek, and probably a minor headache, credited to her husband and his friend. And only God knew how long it'd take poor Yuugi to remedy the mess they'd left on the counter tops, the floor, the table, the cabinet doors, the sink...
In short, it looked a lot like the two men had decided to make his kitchen into a lab for making cocaine.
Oh, that, and there was about an entire fucking diner's worth of pancakes stacked on just about every visible surface they could find.
Jounouchi and Honda were squabbling, and Yuugi stopped in the doorway just in time to see Honda shove the blonde's face into a bowel of batter, who was kicking and screaming the entire time. The twenty-seven-year-old gawked at the scene, his jaw dropping and his eyes almost as large as the plates a few fortunate hotcakes had managed to actually, you know, make it to the damn plate.
Mai noticed him, and Yuugi, still slack-jawed, swung a finger at the scene in utter disbelief, as if to ask "what the absolute, ever-loving fuck happened?!"
She held up her hands in a defensive gesture and said, "I swear I only left them alone for, like, two minutes."
The woman's voice seemed to have caught the two idiots' attention, because they stopped fighting, and looked over. Both had the humility to go pale beneath their batter-made masks, and Jounouchi offered a sheepish wave and a "hey, Yuugi..."
Atem, who had been surveying the scene while clinging to Yuugi's leg, chose that time to start laughing, childish and innocent. "Aibou!" he cheered, motioning towards the chaos, "it looks like it snowed pancake stuff in the kitchen!" Yuugi sent a sweet smile to the boy.
"Yes it does, Ate'," he agreed, voice sugar-sweet, before scooting the five-year-old towards out into the hall, adding, "Now, can you do Aibou a big favor by waiting here a moment and plugging your ears, please? I'll get you some pancakes and hot chocolate while you wait."
"Yup!" the boy cheered, eyes shining with unwavering trust as Atemu cupped his hands over his ears, and sat down cross-legged on the floor. Yuugi thanked him, to which he replied with a loud "what?", before Yuugi left Atem's sight, and went back into the fray. By the time he returned, Jou and Honda had straightened their postures, standing in an almost military-esque fashion, faces devoid of emotion and arms stiff at their sides as they watched him. Yuugi's brows furrowed, despite the smile on his face, and he could almost feel a vein pulse on his temple in irritation. He noticed Mai step back and lean against the only clean wall that was left, arms crossed and a wickedly amused smirk on her lips.
"Now," he managed to say, trying to keep his temper under wraps, and avoid yelling. Having Atemu cover his ears was just a precaution, but it was better safe than sorry. "I am not going to get mad." It was more to convince himself than them, honestly. "I am going to sit here, and let you two provide me with a perfectly reasonable explanation for why it looks like a giant sack of pancake mix decided to have some 'me-time' in my kitchen. Which, if I may point out, was just about spotless when I left forty minutes ago." He folded his hands in front of him, trying to quell the steadily-rising aggravation as he forced his visage to keep from falling into a scowl. Vaguely, he noted a frying pan on the ground, which was probably what they'd used to cook up the resulting monstrosity that was his kitchen.
How the hell had he not heard this when he was upstairs with Atem?
"You have ten seconds. Use them wisely."
Jou started. "Well – uh, w-we were makin' the kid some food, l-like you asked, after Honda here explained everything-"
Honda continued, "-and we made a lot more than we expected, but we didn't want to waste the extra stuff-"
"-an' then this guy," Jou pointed in accusation at his friend, suddenly scowling, "decided ta' pour half the bowel of pancake batter on me!"
Honda rounded on him. "I tripped! You're the dumbass who decided to shove scalding-hot pancakes down my pants!"
"You're the one who chucked an entire plate of 'em at my head!"
"You started throwing that gunk at me with the measuring cup!"
"You started tossing handfuls of the dry stuff at me, so I thought I'd return the favor!"
"You poured syrup in my hair!"
"Oh, somebody call the waaahmbulence! You almost choked me to death by force-feeding me this crap!"
"You tried to hit me with the skillet! In the face! That thing's still hot!"
"You just tried to drown me in fucking pancake batter!"
"What? I thought the mutt could use a bath!"
"I'll show you who's a mutt!"
Before Jou could leap at Honda again, something plopped to the floor with a moist sound. They all froze, and Yuugi glanced down.
It was a goddamn pancake.
He looked up to the ceiling, where it had fallen from.
More fucking pancakes.
Yuugi's eye twitched.
Needless to say: as Yuugi, Atemu and Mai happily munched away and sipped hot chocolate, Honda and Jounouchi spent the rest of the day cleaning.
They may or may not have been nursing a couple of bumps on their heads at the same time.
Probably from the skillet.
I admit I made myself grin like an idiot at more than one point in this story. Especially with the "Uncle Jou" part - mostly because I, myself, have an uncle named "Joe", and it sounds really similar. So I dunno, I found it amusing. *laughs*
Oh! By the way - I've got a poll on my profile (it's been there for a couple months now, actually) for you guys to help me decide on which story/stories I should write next! You can find all of them either already posted on my profile (stories on hiatus), or in my Teasers collection, so you can get a feel of each of them before making a decision. I'll be taking it down once I finish another story of mine, Metamorphosis, which only has a chapter left - so, please, if you haven't already, spend a couple of seconds and leave your mark! Every vote counts. :)
Hope you guys liked it! Hopefully I'll get around the writing the next chapter soon, yeah?
Stay safe, everyone!