Chapter Text
A week swept by.
Domino City’s night sky wore a dress of obsidian silk. Littering the pitch-black fabric, opalescent stars twinkled like embedded jewels.
As silent as the sky was, the world below was anything but. It seemed the residents appreciated Domino’s attire being absent from clouds or rain. Crowds wove through the labyrinth of colourful stalls. Chatter rippled through them, broken with the occasional pop of laughter or joyous yell.
Yet through the din, Joseph Wheeler still rang loud and clear.
‘Relaaax Tea, they’re comin. Any minute now and we’ll see their spiky heads pop out a nowhere.’ The lanky blonde was lounged against the side of a stall, oozing chill.
Tea sighed, rubbing her forehead. ‘I hope you’re right…why is Yugi always so late.’
Tristan raised an incredulous eyebrow at her. ‘It’s Yugi. When has he ever been on time?’
‘He’s always on time to save the world. Never a second late. But to meet up with his friends?’ she mumbled irritably.
‘Yugs is probably gonna be later now that he has Atem.’ Joey suggested calmly.
Tea looked up at him. ‘What do you mean?’
Joey inspected his fingernails. ‘Those two are probably caught up bein’ smitten with each otha.’ He met Tea’s gaze, grimacing. ‘Unknowingly, of course.’
‘Ugh, why won’t they just confess already?’ Tristan cried, face palming. ‘They’re like, the smartest people I know.’ He paused. ‘Except maybe Kaiba. But they can’t see how madly in love they are!’
‘Guys, hold on.’ Tea snapped. ‘They’ve always been so intertwined, since – well, Duelist Kingdom! It might be difficult for them to recognise. Besides, we have no right to assume they even have romantic feelings for each other!’
Joey scuffed the grass. ‘You’re right…that’s for Yugi and Atem to decide.’ he muttered.
Tea’s gaze flickered to the ground, voice low. ‘If they really do, I just hope they confess soon. I don’t want Yugi getting hurt again…like when Atem left.’
Silence, hard and heavy, hung over the trio. Their shared concern for Yugi constricted them, muffling the vibrant festival. Joey strolled over to Tea, placing a firm hand on her shoulder. At the contact, she stared up at him with large, watery eyes.
‘Yugi’s the strongest guy I know. He’s faced much tougha than this, even when he was alone!’ Joey declared. ‘Now, he’s got us. They’ll figure it out – they always do.’
Tristan joined Joey, nodding. ‘Yeah, Atem will be super serious about it.’ Tristan cleared his throat, dramatically gripping his hips. ‘So let it be written, so let it be done.’ He stated, crudely imitating Atem’s baritone.
The trio broke down in hysterics, clutching each other for support.
‘Hi guys!’
Yugi materialised in front of them, offering a small wave.
‘Yugiii!’ Joey leapt forward; arms wide. Yugi surged into his friend’s embrace. Joey grinned, launching an onslaught of tickles and noogies.
‘H-hey – ah! Joey, no fair!’ Yugi gasped between fits of laughter, squirming in Joey’s unmerciful grip.
‘Na-ah Yugs, its totally fair – for making us wait!’
‘My apologies for arriving so late.’ Atem drifted into view, dipping his head.
‘Don’t worry about it.’ Tristan dismissed kindly. He looked Atem up and down. ‘Looking good dude!’
‘Thank you.’ Atem smiled. ‘And thank you for suggesting these colours, Tea.’
Tea smiled warmly back, clasping her hands. ‘I’m so glad you like it! You pull them off well, if I say so myself.’
Joey put an arm around Atem’s shoulder, having finally released a now pouting Yugi.
‘Alriiiighty, now that we’re all here – shall we get goin’?’
_________________
After having their fill of the festival, the group soon found the KaibaCorp stall. Mokuba had his back to them, humming as he packed up. On either side of him, a bodyguard loomed, their pristine suits a sharp contrast to the festive Yukatas.
Joey grinned sleazily, nudging Atem. ‘Looks like Kaiba finally learnt from all the times Mokubas been kidnapped, eh?’
He soon doubled over as Tea delivered a sharp elbow to his ribs.
‘Hi Mokuba! Need a hand?’ Yugi greeted.
Mokuba spun round, smile splitting open upon seeing them. ‘Oh hi! I’m all good thanks, had lots of help,’ he gestured to the bodyguards.
He tilted his head, quirking an eyebrow. ‘Uh Joey…are you ok?’
‘Yep - cough - all good here.’ Joey groaned.
‘So how was business?’ Tea asked.
Mokuba tapped his nose. ‘Now that would be telling, wouldn’t it?’ He grinned smugly, hands on hips. ‘Just rest assured that KaibaCorp’ s venture was more than successful.’
Atem chuckled. It was as though Kaiba was actually here. Yugi’s face had a knowing look as he eyed Mokuba up and down.
‘Well, that sounds very promising – and a lot of profit and paperwork to sort out. You still have time to come see the fireworks?’ Yugi probed innocently.
‘Oh yes! Let’s go let’s go let’s go!’
Turns out it wasn’t easy to just ‘go’. To say the hill for viewing the fireworks was overcrowded would be an understatement.
‘Over here guys!’ Joey called, pointing to a free spot.
Atem followed Joey’s dark silhouette, squeezing his way through cramped bodies. He grunted as a stray foot stepped on his own, and again as an elbow jabbed into his side. His breath hitched; it was almost as suffocating as the puzz-
Yugi latched onto his hand, giving a gentle pat of reassurance as he tugged him to their spot at last.
‘Are you ready, Yami?’
Atem smiled at hearing his old nickname slipping from Yugi, likely out of excitement.
He gripped Yugi’s hand harder. ‘I’m always ready to experience new things with you.’
Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeew
Atem’s gaze snapped upwards.
Golden streaks burned through the black sky. Atem only just heard Yugi’s ‘Ah!’ before thunder cascaded around them.
Yugi said the fireworks would be loud.
They didn’t just sound loud. They felt loud, ringing inside his skull.
A moment of silence in which he could breathe.
Then, more piercing whistles tore through the air, imitating their predecessor like a swarm of wasps.
Atem’s eyes swivelled along their invisible path as they burst into blazing fireballs of colour. He winced. Each one burned brighter than the last, akin to destructive fire that once ravaged Egypt…
Atem’s left arm raised into duelling position.
The fireworks bellowed again. The booms became repetitive, melding with Atem’s cascading heartbeat to form a dull, ominous rhythm.
It shook Atem’s bones, reverberating through his quivering feet and the earth below.
The Dark One’s footsteps.
The people’s cheers distorted into screams, screams Atem thought he’d never have to hear again. His right arm instantly grabbed onto where the puzzle used to be – no, should be.
It clutched nothing. Where Atem’s grasp was futile, it seemed fear had successfully clasped a cold claw around his heart.
I can’t protect them, I can’t protect Yugi –
Before him, twin fireworks swelled into two piercing crimson eyes.
Under Zorc’s gaze, Atem snapped.
Yugi turned to him, realising that his friend was quiet. More so than usual. In the light of the fireworks, Atem’s eyes were blown open, glimmering with tears.
They latched onto Yugi’s for a heartbeat, before his whole face crumpled.
Without a word, Atem turned and ran.
‘ATEM! WAIT!’
Yugi pounded after him, thrusting through the crowd despite many a disgruntled yell or indignant shove thrown his way.
‘Ate – huff- Atem, where are you?’
Yugi found himself back by the stalls, raking his surroundings.
A black-red spike poked out from behind one of the stalls.
Clutching his heaving chest, Yugi paced towards it.
Atem was crouched in a quivering ball, hands over his ears.
Yugi collapsed next to him. He could not tell whether his chest ache was from running or seeing his partner so broken.
‘Yami, Yami I’m right here.’ Yugi bit his lip, racking his brain for something, anything that he could do.
‘I need you to breathe with me. Ok?’
Silence. Yugi clasped Atem’s shoulders.
‘Yami – breathe. I’m here, breathing with you.’
‘O – ok …’
‘Good, good – breathe in.’
Atem’s chest inflated, shuddering.
‘Breathe out – that’s it, that’s it.’
Yugi saw Atem’s chest expanding and retracting rhythmically. He caught a glimpse through Atem’s blonde strands – his eyes were squeezed shut. Yugi licked his dry lips.
‘Ok, you’re doing great – which strategy defeated Kaiba the first time you duelled him?’
‘I – um – Exodia The Forbidden One…’
‘Good, good – can you name all five pieces?’
‘Right Arm, Left arm – er – left leg….’
‘That’s it, keep going.’
‘Right leg…and the head,’ Atem finished, his voice creeping back to its usual firmness.
Yugi carefully manoeuvred them so Atem was leant against his chest, and Yugi was against the stall side. Atem let out a shuddering sigh, his body having finally stopped trembling.
‘Feeling any better?’
Atem’s dull eyes slowly rose to meet Yugi’s concerned gaze. The fine lines etched in the skin around them protruded like chasms.
The golden, legendary Pharaoh looked anything but.
Instead, Yugi saw his bruised, bullied past self, dejectedly staring back.
‘I, Yugi – I’m deeply sorry.’ Atem murmured. ‘No matter what angers or scares me, my father had always told me to stand up to it.’
Atem bit his lip, eyebrows furrowing.
‘But I cannot even do that. I - I ran like a coward, unable to face my fears.’
With a sharp grunt, he punched the stall side. Yugi immediately caressed his arm, and Atem slumped against him entirely.
‘Now – now I have failed both Egypt a-and my father!’
Yugi felt hot splashes on his hands. Gentle sniffles broke the surrounding air.
‘Atem. Listen to me, carefully.’ Yugi placed a hand over Atem’s, gripping tightly. ‘As Pharaoh, you saw things no one alive could – ever – brave facing. You made the ultimate sacrifice without hesitation. Tell me, is there anyone else who could do that?’
‘You.’
Yugi huffed and smiled. Atem mumbled something about his answer being serious.
‘No…you have a special kind of courage, the kind I will always look up to. The courage to put yourself on the frontline, not once looking back, to fight to the end of the world for what is right.’
Yugi exhaled slowly, brushing his thumb over Atem’s.
‘However, you were so…young. You sacrificed so much and received so little in return. That’s why you’re here, to live for yourself.’
Yugi gently turned Atem around, latching onto his gaze.
‘You’re allowed to be human, Yami. You’re allowed to have cracks.’
Atem smiled weakly. Yugi looked at him expectantly, patiently waiting for his friend to explain.
‘He still lives.’ Atem said simply.
‘Who?’
‘Zorc.’
A pause.
‘Atem, he’s gone. We – you – defeated him.’
Atem pointed to the left side of his chest, shaking his head softly. ‘He lives…in here.’
He looked at the sky.
‘When the show started, I saw his fire. Heard his footsteps – and my people screaming. Then his eyes, staring into my own, as though 5000 years made no difference.’
Yugi heard the unresolved grief aching from Atem’s words.
‘Maybe…maybe you need to change your perspective.’ he tentatively said.
‘I don’t understand, partner.’
Yugi gently unravelled himself and stood up, his back to Atem. ‘Do you trust me?’
‘Always.’
Yugi turned, holding out his hand. ‘Then follow me.’
He led Atem around the stall, before guiding to him to sit back down on the other side. Here, they had a better view of the fireworks. Being downhill, they did not seem as close or as loud. The lack of people meant Atem wouldn’t be subjected to their cheers…or rather, their screams.
Sat next to him, Yugi abruptly looked Atem in the eye, his jaw set and eyebrows furrowed.
‘If at any point you want to go home - tell me straight away.’ he commanded.
Atem was silent for a moment, taken back by Yugi’s seriousness, but grateful.
‘I will, partner.’
‘Good. Ooh - look up, Yami.’
Fireworks like violet flowers cartwheeled above them. Atem’s breath hitched.
‘Its – Its Zorc’s fire.’ He whispered.
Yugi’s face scrunched into a thoughtful pout, scratching his chin.
‘Hmm….no, I don’t think so.’ he chimed, almost cheerfully. He dismissed Atem’s statement with a lazy wave of his hand. Atem blinked at him.
‘It looks more like Dark Magic attack.’
Atem hesitantly peered back. As though Yugi’s word were a spell, Zorc’s flames twisted and burst into the purple sparks of Dark Magician’s awesome power.
He felt his heartbeat slowing, and elation gradually flood through his body.
‘I…it does.’
Yugi merely smiled at him, before multiple gold pops sprang up in the darkness, shimmering.
‘What do you think those are, partner?’
‘Ha, now those look like the Duelist Kingdom star chips!’ Yugi cackled.
They continued like that for a while, Yugi explaining what each firework meant to him. Atem gradually found himself grinning, nodding along.
Then, the pair gawked as a huge firework unfurled. The sky splintered into gleaming silver cracks, extending in every direction.
Atem laughed, his whole body shaking. He smirked at Yugi, rolling his eyes.
‘That was Blue Eyes’s White Lightning, was it not?’
Yugi grinned. ‘Definitely!’
Two whistles tore through the air. ‘Looks like it’s going to be a another big one…’ Yugi muttered.
Once again, two crimson eyes borne of vicious flame burned Atem’s vision.
This time, Atem accepted help.
This time, he accepted the moment to be vulnerable.
He clasped onto Yugi’s hand. Yugi’s head snapped towards him, not daring to breathe a word.
When Atem spoke, his words resonated with the firm strength that commanded the Dueling arena.
‘Partner. What do those fireworks mean to you?’
Instead of answering, Yugi stared at Atem. The Pharaoh’s lips formed a hard line, stoic gaze firmly latched upon the sky.
Yugi sighed, following Atem’s line of sight.
He wanted to look Atem in the eye and tell him that everything was ok.
In that moment, he realised he didn’t need to.
Because to Yugi, the crimson hue of the fireworks was not Zorc’s eyes.
It was Atem’s.
The colour blazed with the intensity of Atem’s confidence.
The tenacity to fight adversary after adversary, the determination to save his friends.
He turned to Atem, smiling softly.
Atem met Yugi’s watery gaze. He instantly reached out to him, but Yugi shook his head gently.
‘Those fireworks remind me of the confidence you taught me, and the bravery you show every day. They remind me I’m safe.’
Yugi’s lips split into a bright grin. He allowed tears to trickle down his cheeks, glistening like pearls.
‘They’re your eyes, Atem.’
Just like that, Atem saw himself, not Zorc, staring back at him. Determined. Strong. He allowed himself a moment of pride – pride of how far he had come.
I wouldn’t be who I am without him, though.
Changing his focus to Yugi, Atem leant forward, tenderly cupping Yugi’s damp face. His lips twitched upwards as he stroked a thumb over one cheek.
He planted a kiss in between Yugi’s eyes, slow, deliberate and full of care. Yugi rested his forehead against Atem’s.
After years of sharing a mind, Atem knew his partner could feel his gratitude without it being spoken.
They stayed like that for a moment, or two, perhaps longer. Enjoying the simple bliss of being together, whilst the fireworks melted to a hum in the background.
‘Atem?’
‘Yes, partner?’
Yugi gently pulled away, looking at the ground.
‘I can’t guarantee you won’t react to the fireworks the way you did again. There may even be other things that will trigger memories of your past. I – I…’
‘Yugi?’
‘…I’m sorry for bringing you here. I should have known better, giving that the last time you probably heard sounds as loud as fireworks was, well. You know.’
Suddenly, Yugi grit his teeth, snapping his head up to meet Atem’s eyes with a renewed vigour.
‘I guess with the fireworks, I was trying to show you that good can come out of the bad. But there are people, uh, healthcare professionals – that can properly help with this sort of thing. We can reach out to them if you want. And – well – I’m here to support you if you do.’
Atem wrapped Yugi in his arms, and Yugi relaxed, exhaling deeply.
‘I could consider that. Don’t apologise partner – it’s not your fault. Like I said…I’m always ready to try new things with you’.
‘Do you want to finish watching the show, or would you rather call it a night?’
‘I don’t feel ready to walk yet…can we stay here? Just for a little longer?’
‘Sure.’
As they gazed at the fireworks, Yugi nestled into the side of Atem’s neck. Atem chuckled tiredly, resting his head against him.
Within the haze of his exhausted mind, Atem became acutely aware of the intimacy blooming between him and Yugi. Despite not sharing a body anymore, their bond had grown astoundingly over the last few months.
From best friend… to something deeper.
It seemed his perspective had changed not just on the fireworks.
But Yugi too.
That was one adventure Atem couldn’t wait to start with him.
_______
Joey squinted over Tea’s shoulder at her phone screen.
Me and Atem are ok, probs gonna head home soon. We’re still up for arcade day tomorrow! See you then!
Tea sighed, before starting to type a reply to Yugi’s text.
‘I’m glad they’re ok – it’s too easy to lose short people.’ she muttered. ‘I wonder what they’re doing?’
Tea regretted the words as soon as they left her lips.
Joey waggled his eyebrows, face stretching into a crooked grin.
‘Well Tea, when two people love each other very mu – OOF!’
And that was how Joey received his second elbow in the ribs that night.