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The first time Yugi noticed him, he was busy dealing with another customer.
He saw a man who couldn’t be that far from his own age standing awkwardly next to the counter. He wore a large black hoody which might look strange on anyone else, but on this man it looked adorable and coupled with black skinny jeans it worked.
The hood covered the man's hair but Yugi could see his face well enough to appreciate how lovely he looked. He was looking at a stand of card packs, but Yugi knew well enough by now when someone didn’t intend to buy anything.
Not that it bothered him much. He didn’t mind people coming into the store to escape the rain or cold outside and not buying anything, it gave him some company for a while on slow days.
He wondered what the man wanted, if he was waiting to speak to him about something or just passing time.
He hoped he wanted to talk to him. It had been a while since someone had caught his eye so easily.
The woman he was serving asked him another question which he was happy to answer, but as soon as he could, he looked back to the stranger who had moved a little closer to the counter.
When Yugi made eye contact with him, the other man looked away quickly, ducking his head shyly and turning back to the display he was looking at.
He smiled to himself and returned to what he was doing.
He finished with the customer he was serving and turned to the man who had moved just a little closer and was pretending to be interested in some of the more collectible items in a glass case.
“Hi.” He said cheerfully. “Can I help you?”
The other man looked up, soft eyes stared back at him, a hint of panic and uncertainty in them and Yugi wanted to make him feel more comfortable…he just had no idea how. He gave him his warmest smile.
A small shake of the man's head was his only response. Those soft eyes moved away from him and to the large bowl he kept on the counter stocked with several kinds of candy.
He laughed and pushed the bowl toward the man.
“You can take one if you like.” He said, trying to reassure him. “They’re free.”
The man looked up at him and gave him a small smile that made Yugi's heart skip a beat. Now he had a chance to look at him properly, Yugi was struck by how beautiful the stranger was.
He waited patiently as the man picked through the different pieces in the bowl slowly, as if he was really thinking about which piece he wanted before he selected one and smiled shyly at him again.
That smile brought butterflies to his stomach and he couldn’t help but smile back.
Yugi was about to ask the man for his name, or try to have some sort of conversation with him but instead the other turned away and made his way out of the store without saying a single word to him.
He was confused and a little disheartened but maybe it just wasn’t meant to be. It wouldn’t be the first time. He sighed and busied himself with retrieving some more stock from the back room.
To his surprise, Yugi saw the man several more times after that first day. He came in every other day, almost always at the same time and he’d begun to predict his visits. After the fourth time of speaking to the man and not receiving anything but shy smiles in response, he decided to make a plan.
He wanted to talk to this handsome stranger, get to know him and hopefully find that the attraction was mutual then ask him on a date…
There were two things he could count on.
The man would show up around lunch time, and he would take a piece of candy from the bowl on the counter.
So Yugi took the bowl off the counter, hiding it underneath and he waited.
Just as he expected, the bell above the door rang cheerfully at 12:05, a figure not far from his own build and height stepped inside slowly, hands hidden in the baggy sleeves of his hoody and the hood pulled over his hair as always.
Yugi smiled at the man as he always did, gave him a small wave and his usual greeting, and the man smiled back, turning to one of the shelves and looking over the games there.
He waited patiently, pretending to be busy rearranging things behind the counter as the man moved slowly toward him.
Yugi looked up at him when the man came to stand in front of the counter.
“Hi again.” He said with a smile.
The man smiled at him.
“How are you?” He asked.
The man's eyes moved away from his face and to the counter between them, he realised the absence of the bowl of candy and seemed genuinely upset for a moment when he looked back up at Yugi.
“Don’t worry.” He laughed quietly, reaching under the counter and picking a piece of candy from the bowl. He held it out toward him with a smile.
When the other reached out to take it, Yugi pulled it away playfully, laughing again at the frown on the man's face.
“In exchange for a name.” He said as he moved the piece of candy closer to the man's hand.
Those eyes that had captured his attention on that first day found his and the man laughed softly. “Heba.” He said quietly.
“Heba.” Yugi repeated with a smile. “Here you go.” He placed the candy in his hand and was rewarded with a smile and another laugh. “So, you come in here a lot, do you live nearby?”
Heba gave him a look Yugi had seen multiple times on the faces of opponents he faced when he duelled, it was quietly smug and held the promise of a challenge. Then Heba turned away and left the store and he was alone with his thoughts again.
………………..
The next day, Heba came in unexpectedly and Yugi was unprepared to see him again outside of his usual routine. He should have been happy, but he was so tired though, working double shifts had almost killed him this week, and his tone lacked the usual warmth when he greeted him.
Heba looked at him for a moment and then he turned and left again and Yugi felt awful.
He groaned and laid his head on the counter. What if Heba never came back now? He’d wanted to get to know him better but now he wouldn’t have the chance. He was doomed to be single forever.
Yugi wasn’t sure how long he spent with his face pressed to the counter under him, sleep tugging teasingly at the edges of his consciousness, but the bell above the door ringing made him sit upright a little too fast. He closed his eyes to try to stop the room spinning.
When he opened them again Heba was standing in front of him, smiling as he held out a takeout cup to him.
Yugi frowned in confusion but Heba only laughed and moved the cup closer to him. He reached out to take it but Heba pulled it back, a playful smile on his face.
“In exchange for a name.” Heba told him.
He couldn’t help laughing as he heard his own words repeated back to him. It was only fair, he supposed.
“Yugi.” He said.
“Yugi.” Heba said with a smile, moving the cup closer to his hand and letting him take it this time. “You look tired.”
He nodded and placed the cup on the counter.
“I’ve not had much time for sleep lately.” He said. “Thank you though.” He lifted the cup to his lips and took a sip, smiling at the taste of coffee.
Heba didn’t say anything else to him, he only gave him another gorgeous smile. Yugi pushed the candy bowl toward him, returning the smile easily.
“How are you today?” He asked as he waited for Heba to pick a piece out.
“Good, thank you.” Heba said, unwrapping a hard candy and popping it in his mouth.
Yugi wondered if this would be the day Heba spoke to him properly, maybe they’d broken whatever barrier was between them now… maybe he’d test it.
“I didn’t expect to see you today.” He said conversationally.
Heba shrugged, giving him another shy smile and Yugi laughed quietly. He understood now, this was a game, and he loved games.
Heba seemed happy with his response and smiled at him again, then he walked away, just like always.
This time though, Yugi wasn’t disappointed, he was excited. He looked forward to the next time they met.
……………………..
After a few days of exchanging candy and caffeinated drinks over small questions about each other Yugi understood the rules of their game perfectly.
Heba greeted him with a soft hello and a shy smile as he entered the shop but beyond that he’d wait for Yugi to hand him a piece of candy and ask him a question. He’d answer the question and then hand Yugi a latte and ask him a question in return.
There had been days where Heba would only answer one of his questions and then leave, but there were others where he’d stay for a while, look around the shop at the games and answer other questions in exchange for more candy.
Today Yugi was ready to test a theory in their game. He wanted to know more about Heba, he had so many questions and whilst their game was fun it was also beginning to frustrate him.
At the rate they were moving it would take them months to learn more about each other. So he’d taken himself to the store earlier and bought another bag of candy he filled the bowl with.
Heba arrived at the same time he always did, smiled at him shyly, gave him a quiet hello and then walked straight toward the counter to join him.
He looked just as perfect as he always did, and Yugi's heart began to beat faster the closer he got. He was looking at him with those gorgeous eyes which seemed to sparkle with curiosity.
Yugi held his gaze and smiled, holding up the small bag of unopened candies he had under the counter. Heba looked at the bag then back at him, tilting his head to the side curiously, a small smile on his face.
He put the bag on the counter between them.
“How many answers will this get me?” He asked.
Heba laughed softly and reached out to pull the bag closer to him. Yugi watched as he lifted it, turning it over in his hands and looking through the clear packaging for a moment before tucking the bag in his pocket and looking back up at him.
“Start asking your questions and find out.” Heba said with a smile.
He laughed happily, leaning against the counter and propping a hand under his chin.
“How are you?” He asked.
“Great, thank you.” Heba smiled as he placed the usual takeout cup in front of him. “Have you managed to catch up on your lost sleep yet?”
“Almost.” He said as he pulled the cup closer to him. “You’ve helped me get through the day with these.”
“Happy to help.” Heba said softly.
Yugi looked away from those gorgeous eyes for a moment, giving himself time to breathe.
“So, I’m assuming you either live or work around here since you visit most days?” He asked as he looked back up at Heba.
Heba blushed and looked down at his hands.
“Yeah.” Heba said. “I work in an office just down the street… it’s nice to come here on my lunch break.”
“You’re always welcome here.” He said happily. Heba looked back up at him and smiled. “Do you live in the city too?”
Heba nodded and Yugi worried that he might have already used up all of his questions.
“How about you?” Heba asked.
He was about to make a joke about their game but decided not to. A latte was worth way more than one question in his eyes anyway. He nodded.
“I live upstairs actually.” He said.
Heba laughed and looked around the store.
“I’d love to live above a game shop.” Heba told him. “I think there’s something…magical about shops like this. So many products born from people’s imaginations-” Heba suddenly stopped talking and looked down at the counter. “Um, yeah, it’s nice.”
“You’re right.” Yugi said, pausing to take a sip of his drink before it got too cold, Hebas words made him smile. “I’d love to be able to design a game which was as good as the ones in here. I admire people who are creative enough to do that…”
Heba moved so he was leaning against the counter opposite him, smiling as he looked back at him. He found himself breathless as he looked back into Heba’s eyes and he suddenly became aware of the fact that this was the closest they’d ever been.
“Um,” He said awkwardly, trying to remember any of the things he wanted to know about Heba was becoming difficult. “So what do you do for work, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“I’m an artist.” Heba said quietly.
“That’s amazing.” He said, Heba shrugged. “Do you do any particular art?”
“Sometimes…” Heba sighed. “Mostly I just do whatever my boss wants I guess.”
“Oh… well do you ever do any art for yourself?” He asked.
Heba smiled at him and nodded.
“When the mood takes me.” Heba told him.
Yugi laughed, a nervous response to finding himself in situations like this when he wasn’t quite sure what to say. Usually he was much more confident than this, but Heba had him struggling to grasp coherent thought for the most part.
Before he could say anything else Heba pushed himself away from the counter and stood upright, giving him another gorgeous smile that had the butterflies in his stomach fluttering wildly. Yugi knew he was leaving and he was disappointed as always…but he also thought that this was a big step in getting Heba to speak to him more.
He was content with what he’d found out about the other and felt like things were definitely moving in the right direction.
“I’ll see you later Heba.” He said with a warm smile that Heba returned before he turned and left the store.
He sighed happily once the door closed. Heba had only just left and he already couldn’t wait to see him again.
………………………
Heba came in earlier than usual that day, and Yugi was so glad to see him. He was greeted by the usual soft smile and quiet hello that never failed to melt his heart and he returned the greeting easily.
The shop was empty, but he waited for Heba to initiate what had become a sort of ritual for them. He smiled as he leaned against the counter and picked a piece of candy out of the bowl, one which he had recently found out was Hebas' favourite.
When the other reached the counter, Yugi held out the candy with a smile.
“How are you today?” He asked.
Heba smiled shyly at him as he took the offering, tucking it into the pocket of the oversized hoody he always wore. Whilst oversized clothes usually made him look way smaller than he was, on Heba it just made him look even more adorable.
“I’m okay.” Heba said. “Better now I’m here though.”
Yugi laughed softly and Heba gave him a radiant smile that never failed to fill his stomach with butterflies. Heba held his gaze and Yugi thought he could look into those soft eyes all day.
A takeout cup was placed on the counter in front of him and he smiled.
“How are you?” Heba asked quietly.
“Better now you’re here.” Yugi said softly.
He didn’t miss the way Heba looked away from him shyly, a blush visible on his cheeks.
“Can I help you with anything?” Yugi asked politely, clearing his throat awkwardly and trying to maintain some form of professionalism.
Heba shook his head and looked around the shop. Yugi smiled as he stepped away from the counter and walked over to a shelf of recently released games.
He wondered if Heba would ever buy anything from his shop or if he only came in to steal candy and send Yugi's head into a spin with his general attractiveness and soft smiles. Maybe he didn’t mind.
Maybe today would be the day he could finally work out how to ask Heba on a date. He’d been thinking about it a lot more than he cared to admit. He’d learned more about the other man gradually over the last few weeks of exchanging candy for answers to his questions in a game that neither of them had ever discussed but both seemed to know the rules of.
Heba had taken to bringing Yugi caffeine in exchange for answers to questions about his own life too.
He watched Heba reach up to one of the higher shelves, fingers just brushing the side of a game box he wasn’t quite tall enough to reach even on his tiptoes. Yugi smiled to himself, walking around the counter to where Heba was standing, looking up at the shelf with a small frown on his face.
“I’ll get that for you.” Yugi said, reaching up and grabbing the box Heba had been trying to reach.
He turned to Heba with a smile on his face but paused when he realised how close they were standing.
“Oh…I’m sorry.” Yugi said quietly, trying to convince his legs to cooperate and take a step back but Heba shook his head, a small smile on his face.
“No..” Heba said. “It’s okay…”
Did Heba seem closer to him than he had been? He couldn’t be sure, but what he was sure of at that moment was how beautiful Heba was up close, how his eyes weren’t really blue but a light shade of purple, and how soft his lips looked…
He leaned in a little closer and when Heba leaned into him too he felt his stomach fill with butterflies and his cheeks heat a little at the thought that he could… just kiss him. Maybe Heba would let him, he was moving closer after all-
A hand on his arm made him jump, he tried to catch the box in his hands again but it was too late, the box bounced against his palms, slipped through his fingers, fell to the floor and opened, game pieces scattered across the floor and rolled away from them both.
He laughed awkwardly and stepped back, intending to begin picking up the pieces but before he could force himself into moving Heba had stepped closer to him again, kicking the box to the side as he reached out to him.
Hands found the edges of his jacket and pulled him forward, soft lips pressed to his and for a moment he just froze, unable to react to what was happening.
The kiss was short, testing, but it left him feeling like he had to sit down for fear his legs might not hold him if he stayed standing.
“Um…” He managed as he stared back at Heba in shock.
Heba bit his lip, letting go of Yugi's jacket and stepping back.
“I’m sorry.” Heba said quietly. “I didn’t mean to-”
“No, it’s okay.” Yugi said quickly, rushing to reassure him. “It’s…yeah, it’s okay.” He added with a smile and a soft laugh.
Heba smiled at him shyly and looked down at the floor.
“We should probably clean up.” Heba said.
“You don’t have to.” He shook his head and dropped to his knees, reaching for the game pieces which had rolled away under the shelf.
Heba joined him on the floor, placing a hand over his and smiling at him.
“I’ll help.” Heba said when Yugi looked up at him.
He smiled, the blush on his cheeks had to be so visible to Heba right now, but he also couldn’t find it in him to care much. Not when Heba was slipping his fingers between his own and moving to hold his hand instead of looking for the lost game pieces.
“I guess this might be a good time to ask if you wanted to…go on a date with me?” Yugi said quietly.
Heba bit his lip, looking down at their joined hands for a moment before looking back to him with a shy smile on his face.
“Yes.” Heba said softly. "I'd love to."
......................................Art By LLAngel........................................
