AN: Don't own Yu Gi Oh!

To the two reviewers so far that I can't p.m.:

Naomi: Thanks :)

Sweet Dreams: Thanks also :) (for both reviews) lol and thanks for the Language review, that one is actually one of the ones I've written for these for far that I like the most (this is another one right here)

4. Closet

In those three words Yuugi's face had gone from placidity to stone. Atemu could only watch as Yuugi's entire body went rigid; he visibly shrugged off the older man's presence.

"No," Yuugi shook his head; he looked pissed.

No? Really? What the hell was that supposed to mean, in response to 'I love you'?

But really he knew what Yuugi meant. He was just in denial.

Atemu's lips pulled back, ready to snarl.

It wasn't like it was the first time he'd said it to Yuugi.

...It was just the first time he'd said it not during or in the afterglow of sex.

If anything, the look on Atemu's face only seemed to make Yuugi angrier; he wasn't going to back down from this fight. Whoever thought that Yuugi's personality was that of the innocent little kitten image he presented to the world was truly an idiot.

It wasn't like he'd planned on saying it, the words had just spoken themselves. Yuugi was supposed to be happy, be grateful.

Instead he looked quite ready to shove Atemu out of the way and leave his apartment for good.

"Look, if you want to say it during sex, Atemu, fine," Yuugi's fists were clenched in his rage, "But I am not doing this with you." The younger, smaller man crossed his arms across his chest. "If you want to have just fun that's fine,whatever, but I am not going to be a part of your fucked up bullshit just because it suits your goddamn whims."

Atemu flinched. Curses were a rarity with Yuugi.

And hadn't this been like the speech he'd fed Yuugi and so many others when this whole 'thing' they had had started? Hadn't he warned Yuugi not to get too attached because, as he'd said countless times before, he was 'only interested in having a good time and not interested in a relationship or making a political statement'? Hadn't those been his words, his warning, to Yuugi, the one who had appeared so sweet and innocent he'd imagined the boy would be falling in love with him by the end of week one?

He'd never thought it would be himself here instead.

"What if I want more than that?" he demanded right back; it was a challenge.

Yuugi wasn't buying it. He barked harshly, bitterly, nothing like his true melodic laughter.

"You can't love someone and be ashamed of them Atemu," he hissed. "It doesn't work that way."

"I'm not ashamed!" An angry red was flushing his face.

"No? So it's fine if everyone thinks you're the office slut, but no, heaven forbid, it would be the end of the world if someone found out you fuck men!" Sarcasm dripped from his loud words.

A terse silence fell. They were matched, glare for glare.

It was Yuugi who broke first.

He shook his head and looked away. He laughed again; still bitterly, but this time with underlying forlornness.

"I'm going Atemu."

'and I'm not going to come back' Atemu heard the unspoken message all too well.

"Yuugi," he grabbed the other's arm as he passed; Yuugi shook it off roughly, but stopped for a moment to look up into Atemu's eyes. And what Atemu saw there made his stomach curdle with loathing for Yuugi and for himself.

Pity. No anger anymore, no sadness for his own self, just pity. Pity for Atemu.

"If you want to stay in the closet Atemu, that's fine. I won't try to change your mind, I know you have your reasons." The actual understanding Atemu saw in those bright violet eyes made him want to vomit. "But I'm okay with who I am, with what I am, and I'm not going to let anyone else make me feel remorse for that. Not even you Atemu."

So quiet, so heartfelt.

The sound of the door closing behind his now ex-...lover? fuck buddy? friend?...was the only thing that shook Atemu from his stupor. He slunk over to the coach and sat down and buried his face into his hands, running his fingers through his hair.

He'd warned Yuugi not to get too attached, maybe he should have warned himself.

Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed! (And I'd love a review too please!)