Theme: 20 Yesterday
Title: Delayed Pursuit
Word Count: 574
Summary: Sequel to Corruption. The morning after, Yami is content to play the long game. There's implied sex here — nothing explicit.
- — - — -
His partner doesn't want him to move. That much is clear when he tries to disentangle himself and Yuugi holds on, making noises of half-asleep protest.
"Go away, Grandpa." Yuugi mumbles. Yami slumps back onto the bed, into Yuugi's arms. It's not as though he minds staying in the warm bed, pressed against Yuugi's warm and bare body. But his partner will, when he finally wakes up. He waits a few seconds as Yuugi stirs. His partner opens his eyes.
"Other me!" Yuugi wakes up panicked. If the blush that colors his face is any indication, he remembers last night, at least—unless he's just embarrassed to be waking up naked. Yuugi has so many insecurities about his body.
Yuugi curls up, hiding beneath the covers. His voice is muffled. "What's going on?"
"Good morning." Yami trails a hand down Yuugi's back deliberately. Yuugi shifts again, and his discomfort is something palpable. "Is something wrong?"
"No." Yuugi's head pokes out from beneath the covers. "What time is it?"
"Seven."
"Oh. Should we get up?" Even as he says this, Yuugi starts to duck under the covers again; Yami has the impression he would rather die than have to get up and face the horror of Yami seeing him.
"It's a little late for modesty now, isn't it, partner?"
"Just—don't look, okay?" Yuugi mutters as he clambers out of bed. Yami lays his forearm obediently over his eyes, and listens to the rustling as his partner escapes into the bathroom, the door slamming loudly behind him. After a few seconds, there is the steady sound of the shower, and Yami gets up and dresses in his clothes from last night.
When Yuugi emerges, clean and damp and still nervous, Yami offers him the most reassuring look he can manage. It has an effect – he can see Yuugi's shoulders drop a little – and he makes the bed to give Yuugi the chance to make the first move.
If he holds back a little, perhaps his partner will come to him. Certainly he made the first (and for that matter the second and third) move last night.
"Did you sleep well?"
He has not slept at all. He still cannot, and he says as much.
Yuugi's face falls. "Oh. Sorry…you must have been bored last night."
"You didn't spend much time sleeping." Yami points out, smirking. "I'm accustomed to it. Don't worry."
"Okay." Yuugi buckles on the belt with the deck pouch, repacks his suitcase, and then puts on his Duel Disk again. Yami does so as well. "Other me…about last night…?"
"Yes, partner?" Yami makes an effort not to sound amused at Yuugi's timidity, thought he is. It's cute that he's so hesitant, but there's no reason for him to hold back. He won't shame him for his feelings, whatever they are.
"Was I…you know… any good?"
"You were perfect." Yami tells him without pause. He takes Yuugi's hand and watches his ears turn red. "Did you enjoy yourself?"
Yuugi's 'yes' is so quiet that he almost misses it. He smirks again, pleased, and lets Yuugi change the subject and drag him down to the hotel continental breakfast. He doesn't press him again, and Yuugi looks relieved when nightfall comes again and Yami makes no confessions of love, and no attempts to seduce him again.
Yuugi needs some time.
That's fine. He's willing to wait.
- — - — -
A/N: Does anyone want to see more of this? I'm just curious.
