Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh

XXIX: Lips

Atem hesitated as he took a seat and watched. He tucked his paws to his chest and blinked, tilting his head as the human boy grabbed his net of fish and began to haul his catch toward the shore. He was humming a song Atem felt he knew as a dragonet but could not remember as an adult. The God Dragon watched as the human lugged his catch, carefully inspecting the shiny mass of fish. Atem watched him reach in and dig through for a few moments before withdrawing with a rather small fish in his hand. He tossed it back into the river, then began digging through once more.

Atem appreciated he was not willing to kill the juveniles in the mass of his plunder. Atem watched as the male dug through a few more times, dropping them into the water and further inspecting his catch. The shivering mass of scales scattered about the net ropes made his belly growl.

His mouths watered as he waited. When the human left, he would come forward and eat his own fill.

But he froze as he saw the human stand and look around.

He'd seen him before, though now he recognized them for an entirely different reason.

"Yugi?" he breathed, then scrambled for his paws. The human stopped short, blinked, and then grinned. Atem was used to the friendly expression from humans hunting together. He knew that flash of teeth as a joyful expression rather than aggressive, and that was the only reason he did not snarl and bristle and glare.

His eyes were still the most beautiful he'd ever seen, warm and glittering blue-violet. His pupils had turned circular as a human, rather than slits as they should have been. His lips peeled back into a wider grin, showing each of his teeth. They were brilliant white, flattened and much fewer than they had been when he was a dragon.

Atem crept forward uncertainly, then looked around slowly before turning back. "Do you always fish like this?" he asked, tilting his head and staring in confusion.

"Usually. It makes it easier for me. It's weird, but I'm more comfortable in the water like this." He blinked, smiling a little wider, and looked at the net after a moment. Atem remembered his face when he'd spotted him hiding in the bush once, when he'd seen his fresh moose carcass. He had never been spotted by a human before, and now it made sense as to why he had known he was there. "Sorry for worrying you."

Atem blinked. "Hmm?"

"It must have been a shock to you for a human to be this far up the river catching fish."

"I…I didn't notice," he admitted, flustered. "I was more surprised by a human taking the juvenile fish from their net."

Yugi smiled, turning to him. For the first time Atem noticed how tiny he was in comparison to him. His arm was the length of one of Atem's claws and his full height barely reached his chest plates. His hair actually looked like a plume of feathers, glossy and warm and multi-colored. It looked fluffy and soft to the touch and Atem wanted so badly to.

"Atem?" he asked, tilting his head. He smiled, brows slowly knitting together and expression puzzled. "Are you all right?"

"You just look so different." He stepped closer, looming over him. Yugi considered him, searching his face. Atem lowered himself to lay down, studying him intently. "You're so much…smaller and…your hair looks so soft."

Yugi reached up to run his fingers through the strands. "Thanks. It's one of the nicest things about being human. That and not shedding or molting. It's nice."

Atem narrowed his eyes and flicked his tongue out. It was almost the length of his body when he stretched it. Yugi stared at him, laughed, and reached out a hand as if to touch the bright blue muscle. Atem almost flinched back but the moment passed. Yugi dropped his arm again.

"Have you ever turned human before?"

Atem blinked and frowned. "No. I've never considered it."

"It's actually nice sometimes."

"I'd expect so," he said softly, "seeing as you so often like to utilize it."

Yugi laughed and turned away, studying his catch again. "I mean, I guess it makes sense that you'd never have to use one. You're a God Dragon, and you're much better adapted for your lifestyle. If I wasn't so scared of water half the time, I'd probably never use mine, either, honestly."

Atem considered him a moment, then wondered what he himself would have looked like. He'd never once turned human before. He'd never considered it. He was dangerous and well adapted. He knew every muscle in his body and was able to kill without a second thought.

"I do occasionally miss being able to interact with the humans sometimes," Yugi admitted. He hummed the tune from before once more. "They were good company for the most part."

Atem tilted his head. Were they? Had he truly cared for that? Atem couldn't imagine how that might be true, but he was sure spending eight moons with them could make them more enticing.

"Of course, I'd trade their company for yours any day," Yugi continued, working the rope apart to open the net completely. Atem watched him as he tugged a few of the larger fish out. When he turned around, it was to hold them out for him. "But it was always nice to hear their stories. They differ a lot from ours, even when they revolve around the same things."

The God Dragon blinked and took the fish as delicately as he could, careful to avoid touching him with his teeth. Humans were fragile. He remembered that much well enough. They had no natural armor and their skin was easily cut.

Yugi smiled at him as he swallowed his meal, turning away again to dig through once more. Atem watched him a moment, then got to his paws. It shouldn't be too hard; he could change between his Origin and Battle Form with no problem. Turning human shouldn't be too difficult…right?

Yugi was still digging through the net for larger prey when Atem felt himself shrinking and changing. It was an odd sensation, scales itching as they shrank and turned to soft flesh. His claws were no longer hollowed for wind distribution, but rather flattened and reddish in color, just long enough that he felt he could do some kind of damage though not much. He was still lanky, upright and tall like a tree rather than serpentine. The lack of wings was upsetting, but he refused to say so aloud.

Yugi turned his head and froze, dropping the fish he'd grabbed as his mouth fell open. Atem considered his hands, peering at the soft flesh and wondering at the loss of his natural defensives. Even his teeth were weak, his jaw uncomfortable with so few. He pressed his tongue against his incisors, the flat and smooth enamel where it should have been curved and sharp and somewhat serrated to cut through flesh.

"Atem?"

He looked up. "This is a very strange form."

Yugi blinked, eyes stretched wide with shock, and peered at him in amazement. Atem shifted his weight and folded his fingers, stretching them in front of himself before dropping them to his sides. Yugi fidgeted his for a moment, then leaned forward, peering at him. He looked too stunned to speak, but his lips pulled back into a far wider smile and his eyes sparkled with something Atem couldn't quite read.

His eyes were far wider, framed with long hairs that were jet black like a raven's feathers. His cheeks looked soft and warm and Atem wanted again to touch him. His fingers twitched with the desire but he refused to act on the impulse.

"Wow, you're gorgeous even as a human." Atem felt disturbingly hot, his cheeks aching briefly with the sensation. Yugi's entire face lit up, eyes warm and stunning as they burned into his. He searched his face, licked his lips as he leaned forward, and whispered, "You're a god like this, too."

Atem swallowed hard and licked his lips in turn. "I, um… You're gorgeous, too." He flushed when Yugi tilted his head and smiled wider. He looked satisfied and warm and…soft. "Are you all right?"

Yugi opened and closed his mouth, peering at him as if he did not know what to say. He hesitated a moment, then licked and chewed his lip, staring at him with an expression Atem almost did not recognize. It was only when Yugi looked away and shook his head that Atem understood.

"Yugi?"

He turned back and offered a smile. "Can I kiss you?"

He stared, tilting his head and blinking. "Kiss?" he echoed, flustered. He felt weak, heart leaping into his throat and beating rapidly. He couldn't think straight. What did that mean? Was it similar to mounting? Atem couldn't imagine doing so as a human. It seemed awkward and…unpleasant, somehow.

Yugi's smile grew a little softer. "It's a human tradition. It's where you press your mouth to someone else's." He paused. "Everyone always seemed to enjoy it. And I just…always wondered."

Atem frowned. Why would they want to press their mouths together? He supposed it was not as unsightly as mounting in the human form. He puzzled for a moment, licked his lips, and pursed before biting them. Yugi was watching him intently.

"Can… can I run my fingers through your hair if I let you do that?" he asked, narrowing his eyes as he considered. Yugi's hair just looked so soft and warm. If he wanted to press his mouth against his, surely he could run his hands through his hair, right?

Yugi laughed, looking at him once more in amazement. "Absolutely!" he agreed. He came closer and reached for his hands. Atem stared at his fingers, heart pounding and pulse racing. His entire body locked in place as satisfaction crashed through him. He was so warm. His fingertips were soft as they traced a path across his hands. He reached up, pulling them, and sank Atem's hands into the soft plumage of his hair.

He froze for a second, startled, and then shivered with delight. It was soft and fluffy, like fur! He remembered once sleeping beside a dog when he was younger, snuggling into its warm body and feeling its fur so thick it covered the length of his tail-tip. He remembered that sensation now, lowering his fingers toward Yugi's scalp and trembling. His skin was so warm!

Yugi smiled and laughed at him, eyes sparkling. "You're so adorable!" he teased, and Atem searched his face and nearly sobbed with affection. He was so soft and sweet. And he was putting up with him acting like a dragonet, a hatchling too excited to retain its manners. He shivered, heart racing. "Does my hair really fascinate you that much?"

Atem felt hot again, as if his entire face was burning. But he did not withdraw his fingers, his heart still pounding. He licked his lips and pulled his hands from the mass of his long hair, amazed by its defiance of gravity and the bright blue-violet of its tips. His bangs were goldenrod, brilliant and lightning-like in shade, and the startling change of color was amazing.

"It's…it's so nice," he managed, embarrassed despite himself. He shivered when Yugi laughed aloud and closed his eyes. He let Atem continue playing with the strands until he felt too guilty to continue. Yugi had kept his end of their deal; he owed him his half. He slowly withdrew his hands and smiled when Yugi opened his eyes again and looked at him with a wide grin once more. "It's so soft and shiny."

Yugi laughed and shook his head. "I bet yours is just as soft."

"You think so?" He blinked and reached up, considering. His hair was soft, but cold. He didn't have the body heat Yugi possessed. The affect seemed lost on him. It was not as pleasant as sinking his fingers into Yugi's. It did not give him the same thrill at all. "It's not as much fun to play with mine as it is yours."

Yugi tilted his head. "Really?"

Atem nodded and studied him. "Did you still want to kiss me?"

Yugi snorted. "Yeah, that hasn't changed in the last couple of minutes," he laughed. He leaned forward, hesitated a moment, and slowly reached for his face. Atem swallowed hard, almost bristling, but did not oppose to the sudden touch to his cheeks. Yugi framed his face with his hands and his palms almost burned, though not painfully. He licked his lips and tilted his head, leaning forward and pressing their lips together.

His heart pounded faster than ever, threatening to burst. Yugi's lips were soft and warm and incredible against his. When he breathed against his lips and repeated the gesture, Atem felt a tremor in his hands.

When he pulled back, he didn't release his cheeks. His palms were still warm and gentle against his face. Atem watched him tilt his head and look him over, eyes flickering from his mouth to his eyes again. And then he laughed as he dropped his hands.

"I can see you're still interested in my hair." Atem tried not to flinch. Yugi wasn't wrong. His hair was still interesting and he liked how it felt between his fingers. Yugi's mouth felt amazing, but his hair was just as great. Yugi smiled and grabbed his hands again. "How about this? You play with my hair and I get to keep kissing you."

"Deal!"