Chapter Text
The sun was bright but the wind was crisp, creeping into the light jacket Yugi wore as he made his way up the stairs to his apartment.
He had been gone for about a week this time for the October baking competition down in Checkers Chase and was incredibly relieved to be home.
The stairs creaked under his sneakers, the wood old and splintered, crunchy autumn leaves collecting at the corners.
Yugi stepped onto the landing, considering the door to his apartment for approximately two seconds before promptly walking to the door right next to it.
He knocked lightly, a smile on his face, exhilaration coursing through his veins as he waited.
Moments later, the door swung open to reveal the most gorgeous man Yugi had ever set eyes on.
With his dorky Duel Monsters t shirt and messy hair, golden rimmed glasses and tawny skin. And the mesmerizing way the light glinted off of his red irises—he absolutely took Yugi’s breath away.
“You’re back,” Atem said, a shy smile growing on his face.
Yugi involuntarily blushed and held up a tin of muffins in greeting to hide it.
“These are for you. I… I got second place this time. I think I know what the problem was with the recipe, but I hope you like them anyway.”
Atem held the tin to his chest, like it was the most precious thing he’d ever held, eyes sparkling when they returned to Yugi.
“Thank you. You’re too kind to always share these with me.”
“Not really,” Yugi shrugged modestly, shifting in his shoes. “I just know how much you love muffins.”
Their gazes stayed on the others for an unnecessary amount of time, until Yugi’s cheeks tingled and his surroundings seemed to disappear.
The crisp Autumn breeze ruffled Yugi’s hair and sent goosebumps down his arms. He fumbled nervously with his jacket sleeve.
“Um, well, I should go grab my bag and unpack. I… just wanted to give you those.”
Atem’s smile widened, revealing straight, white teeth. “Thank you, Yugi. I know I’ll enjoy them.”
Yugi’s heart was rapidly beating out of his chest by the time he made it into his apartment.
As soon as he was able, he took out his notebook that was nearly full of scribbled recipes and jotted down more notes for Atem’s muffins, then went to work in his kitchen.
With a spring in his step, he knew he’d perfect it this time.
The leasing office was tiny and a couple complexes away, but Yugi took refuge in it after a long day at his grandfather’s bake shop to get out of the downpour of rain and pay his upcoming rent.
Thunder rolled in the distance as he pulled the door open, his chilled bones welcomed at once by the heavenly warmth of the heated office.
To his disappointment, his landlord, Mr. Hawkins was not there and in his place was his granddaughter.
He just about tucked tail and fled back into the cold rain.
On more than one occasion since Yugi had lived at the apartments on Hyacinth Avenue, she would show up and make her attraction for him known.
That night proved to be no different.
“I heard about the competition,” Rebecca said with a pout for his benefit, holding onto his arm without consent as he tried to hand her the envelope with his rent. “Those dumb judges don’t know anything.”
“They know a lot actually,” Yugi countered uncomfortably, attempting to pull his arm back, but was surprised by the strength she possessed.
“Well, if they did then they would have known that you are the best baker in the world and given you first place!”
Yugi’s shoulders drew up to his ears. “Well, I don’t know about that—”
“Can you bake some things for my Halloween party this weekend?”
Yugi started at the random request and change of subject. “Oh, well, yeah. Just put an order in at the shop and—”
“I want you to come too! Personally deliver them, won’t you? We will all have a great time. You can even bring friends. I don’t care. The more the merrier!”
Yugi chuckled uneasily and rubbed at the back of his head.
He looked down into her pleading emerald eyes and felt himself cave.
“Uh, sure. Why not?”
Later on that evening, Yugi spoke on the phone to his friend Ryou about the party, elbows deep in flour as he tried to calm his aggravations with baking.
A coping mechanism he’d had ever since he learned what butter and flour could do.
“Please come with me? I have a feeling she wants more than just me to bring food to her party. The way she looks at me…” he shuddered at the thought.
“Why didn’t you just tell her no?”
His friend always made the most infuriating sense.
Yugi clicked his tongue. “It’s like you don’t even know who I am.”
Ryou sighed heavily. “Okay, sure. I’ll come.”
Yugi’s breath rushed out of him in relief. “Thank you. I really appreciate it. You can choose the game we play next at game night.”
Ryou chuckled. “It’s a deal.”
As they were going over the details of the party, there was a knock on Yugi’s door. Yugi glanced over at it curiously. He hadn’t been expecting anyone and so he wondered if it was him.
He always came over at the most random moments and never ceased to bring a smile to Yugi’s face.
“Hey, let me text you later. Someone’s at the door.”
“Of course! Talk to you soon.”
He hung up for them so Yugi didn’t need to touch his phone, which he was grateful for as he was currently covered in sticky dough.
Yugi quickly washed his hands and ran for the door, towel in his hands, and all the tension disappeared from his body when he saw Atem standing there.
Yugi shivered at the cool October air that rushed in. “Hey!”
Atem smiled under his glasses and it immediately warmed Yugi exponentially.
His smile was so cute and soft, Yugi didn’t think he’d ever seen something so adorable on a person.
“Hey. Are you busy?”
Yugi grinned. “Not really. Just getting a head start on this order I have for the weekend. Do you want to come in? It’s kind of cold out there.”
Atem inclined his head shyly. “If you don’t mind.”
Yugi snorted happily. “Of course I don’t mind! Come in.”
As soon as they were in his kitchen, Atem sat down on one of the breakfast stools and Yugi went back to rolling dough. Atem watched him, fumbling with his hands on the counter for a moment before finally speaking up.
“I was hoping you’d be up for a game of Duel Monsters tonight. You’re the only one I know who’ll play with me, but I don’t want to bother you if you’re busy.”
Yugi beamed. “I’m not that busy! Let me go ahead and put this in the oven and I’ll play a round with you.”
Atem visibly relaxed and his grin returned. “Great! Because I brought my deck over. I’ve been thinking all day about that strategy you mentioned last time and I really think it’ll work against that one trap card that—”
Yugi laughed despite himself. “You remember that? It’s been like a month.”
Atem stopped fidgeting. “I remember all of our conversations.”
The words were spoken so innocently and genuinely that Yugi’s cheeks burned brighter than Atem’s eyes. “R-Right. Sorry, go on.”
Shortly after, the apartment smelling like warm cinnamon and sweet sugar, they were on Yugi’s worn rug playing their second round of Duel Monsters for the evening.
“Haha! It appears that the strategy did work! I win,” Atem beamed brightly, giddy with excitement.
Yugi laughed and rolled his eyes. “Yeah, yeah. Keep talking and that head will get so big it’ll explode.” He stood up to check on what was cooking in the oven. “One of these days, I’ll finally beat you.”
Atem followed him with a chuckle. “If you practiced more, then I know you could beat me,” he told him confidently, before wrinkling his nose. “If only you would stop playing that dreadful new dice game.”
Yugi laughed at his audacity. “It’s Dungeon Dice Monsters and it happens to be a lot of fun. Not everyone just plays one game, Atem.”
Atem shrugged, almost looking put out. “Still.” He watched Yugi carefully take out the cookie sheet. “What order is this? If you don’t mind me asking.”
Yugi turned and leaned against the counter. “It’s just an order for a party I was invited to. The landlord’s granddaughter, Rebecca, asked me to come.”
Atem’s eyes lowered to the counter. “Doesn’t she have a big crush on you or something?”
Yugi shivered from a cool gush of wind that roamed over his skin and glanced at the door to make sure it was closed all the way.
There must have been a draft.
He shrugged his shoulders. “Yeah, I guess. I’m not going with her though. I actually asked my friend Ryou to come with me so I wouldn’t be alone.” Yugi hesitated, stomach flipping at the idea. “You, uh, you can come too if you want.”
Atem’s shoulders visibly tensed at the invite and averted his gaze. “Oh, no. That’s okay. I hope you have a fun time.”
Yugi heard the desire to leave in Atem’s voice and he frowned, unsure of what he’d said wrong.
He was aware Atem was shy, which was why he had always declined game nights with his friends in the past, but he hoped he hadn’t put too much pressure on him.
Atem turned away from his probing stare. “It’s getting kind of late, isn’t it? I should head home. Thank you for playing with me. I’ll talk to you later?”
Yugi blinked and straightened his back, laying the oven mitts to the side. “Oh, right. Of course.” He watched Atem collect his crinkled cards and worn deck case, then walked him to the door. “Thanks for stopping by. It was a lot of fun.”
Atem turned and smiled at him, eyes once again warm like sun-tea on a summer afternoon. “It was. I… I hope we can do it again soon.”
Yugi’s breath grew shallow at the sincere hope in his eyes.
“Anytime.”