Chapter Text
The two of them were sat on a sofa, maybe an arm's length apart. Yugi was fiddling with his buttons. Anzu was drumming her fingertips on the armrest. And though the party itself was a cacophony of music and laughter, what stretched between them was pure, suffocating silence.
"How is... how is college?" It was Yugi, eventually, who made the first effort to break the tension.
"Good. Another year after this, and then I guess I'll start applying for studios and stuff. I might even do Broadway." With the line that he threw her, Anzu was able to fire out a fair few lines of dialogue. Time to toss it back. "You?"
"Work's pretty crazy. I hardly have time for anything, between the press and the duels and everything else." Oh no. It was fizzling out.
"Yeah, I noticed." The line was sinking.
"Yeah."
...cue another five thousand years of soul crushing silence.
Anzu's head was spinning, and the drink she was periodically sipping on for something to do wasn't helping one bit. She realised a couple minutes in that Yugi had never even seen her apartment. Now wasn't the best time to give a house tour, but if he stayed the night, then maybe...
She jolted; and Yugi turned to her with those ever wide, curious eyes. She cursed herself for ever thinking something like that could happen. Besides, he still needed to apologise for letting their friendship devolve into what it was now.
"Anzu, I..." It seemed that the apology she'd been waiting for (and subsequent opportunity to lecture him and cry and so forth) was just on the horizon, when Honda flopped between them with an audible thump.
"You guys..." He slurred, leaning his head back. "I am SO drunk."
"I'm getting there." Anzu smirked, taking another sip. On the one hand, she saw Honda as her guardian angel for flopping in at just the right time to break the silence. But on the other hand, Yugi may have been just about to bring up what she needed to discuss most.
"Holy shit, it's Yugi!!" For some reason, Honda had only just noticed him there. "JOU, YUGI IS HERE!"
And with those words, Yugi was swept away by a swarm of drunken old friends, and Anzu (yet again) was left alone.
She took the opportunity to breathe easy and take in her surroundings. Over in the corner, her little round side table was stacked with crates and bottles; so much so that the light wooden legs were beginning to wobble under the weight. If anyone were to collapse onto it, it would definitely break. But it was just a table. On to the next thing.
She took in the smells around her, and the sounds; thinking that maybe focusing on something else would put her in a calmer place when she decided what exactly she wanted to do about... him. A pleasant mix of nice perfumes and sweet spirits wafted through the air, thanks to the several puddles of drink that had been spilled on her floors. Luckily, she and Mai had packed away the rugs earlier, so it was nothing that a quick mop couldn't fix. The air was full of American house beats and warm laughter. It made Anzu feel better knowing that at least half of the people at this party were ones that she knew and cared for. It made her feel safe. And it was a startling realisation that Yugi being there didn't make her feel comfortable anymore.
"Anzu." Mai had sat down next to her without her even realising. "Are you okay?"
Those words were all she needed to collapse into the other girl's arms, her body heaving with quiet sobs.
"He's here- and I- I don't even know what to do." She wailed; the combination of drink and emotions catching up to her. "I hardly recognise him anymore."
Mai's heart ached for the poor girl. Sure, drunken sobbing was pretty much standard for at least a handful of guests at a college party, but there was such a sense of panic and sorrow in Anzu's voice. It made her want to simultaneously smack Yugi and never let go of her friend.
"It's okay, chicken." Mai soothed, "we'll figure it out. Just try to calm down. It's okay."
With a handful of short, calming statements, Anzu managed to dry her eyes.
"My makeup must look awful." She let out a hoarse laugh through sniffles. "Bathroom?" And off they went.
...
Of course, Yugi had seen her cry.
His heart sunk into the bottom of his shoes. Mai was completely right; he was an asshole, and had hurt Anzu more than he'd ever cared to consider. Through mindless conversations with several of his old friends, a fear settled in him that he might never have the chance to heal all the pain he'd caused her. It felt like falling into a deep hole.
What he really needed was a smoke. He didn't smoke often; usually only when he needed an excuse to exit a situation. So, now.
"Sorry guys, I need to step out for a bit. Need a smoke and some air. I'll catch you in a minute though, okay?" A nameless group of Domino graduates nodded and waved him off, and he gratefully rushed outside to heave a much needed breath.
The night stretched out infinitely before him, from Anzu's little balcony. It occured to him that he'd never even visited this place before- a fact that entrenched him in deep sorrow as he stared up at the distant, glowing stars. They seemed so peaceful, each encapsulated in a soft halo of light. Home.
But this place wasn't home to him. The buzz of traffic and the wafting scent of takeaway wasn't familiar like it was in Domino City. He felt foreign- uncomfortable. But seeing Anzu, or even picturing her face was enough to settle him. Maybe, if she was here, he could learn to call this balcony a home, too.
The door swung open, and he was joined moments later by a friend that he truly needed.
"Hey, Yuge." Jou nodded to his friend, moving to stand beside him on the balcony. "How are you feeling?"
"Like dirt." He admitted in a blunt tone. Though he hadn't spoken to Jou in a while, he realised, he was still able to relax and tell the truth around him. Why couldn't he feel like that with her?
"Aw, come on, man. You know Anzu's a sad drunk anyway." Jou put an arm around his shoulder. "Don't take it personal. From what I hear, college has been rough too."
"It has? Why?" Yugi looked up, eyes wide.
"Well..." Jou was on the brink of telling him. "Actually, no. You should ask her yourself. Mai's with her, in her room. If you ask her, and I'm not saying she'll say yes, but you might be able to score some alone time with her. Worth a shot, right?"
He stubbed out his cigarette and left the butt on the railing. To be honest, he didn't have any idea what he was going to say to her. He had no excuses- only a handful of apologies that she'd be right to deny. And the more he seemed to try, the more dramatic and messy the situation became. But Jou was right. It was worth a shot.
As he headed inside, the old friends shared a classic fistbump. At least some things had stayed the same.