Title: Even If It Kills Me
Theme: 08 – Resolutions
Summary: "I'm your partner. It's going to take a hell of a lot more than destiny to keep me away from you."
Rating: K
Genre: General
I stare at him, mouth partially open in a shocked look that my face isn't used to expressing. "Are you serious?"
Yugi looks back at me, amused. "Yami, I am the vessel of a three thousand year-old spirit just because I solved some ancient puzzle. Ever since I've finished it I've been dragged into dark game after dark game so frequently that it's grown as familiar to me as brushing my teeth. After being bullied and alone for fifteen years of my life, I have actual friends and acquaintances at school. And my best friend is an Ancient Egyptian pharaoh. If that doesn't tell you that I'm serious, I don't know what will."
"Yugi – partner…" I can't help but stare. I know it's against bad etiquette, but he is just saying all the things I'd never expected, all the ones I'm not sure if I want to hear. "This will be dangerous. I don't know if I want to risk it, so if there's a chance that you might – "
"Lose my soul?" Yugi huffs out a laugh. "Look, we've been through it all before. I'm not leaving you. I know it'll be dangerous. I'm not going to blindly wander into something bigger than I am without preparing myself for it first." Yugi gives me a look. "I'm your partner, aren't I? I'm coming to Egypt with you. I'm going to help you get your memories back."
It takes me a moment, but finally, I smile. "Yes, you are. I… thank you, Yugi."
Yugi gives me an odd look that I'm not quite sure how to decipher; like I'm a puzzle he has yet to figure out, but damn if he never gives up. "…I don't like being left behind," he says finally, a confession. "And you know, if you left without me, I'd probably just follow anyway." His posture changes now, determination setting in his eyes. "Nothing you can say will make me sit back while you risk your life for the umpteenth time, you know? We're in this together." A lopsided grin. "Sorry, but it's going to take a hell of a lot more than destiny to keep me away from you."
And I can't help but laugh.
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