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It’s rather chilly tonight. Yusei’s garage really isn’t the best place to be but he can’t sleep. So he tries to distract himself by doing anything else. His bike needs maintenance after the time travel ordeal anyways. The ordeal which Yusei cannot stop thinking about. He should leave it behind him. Crimson dragon’s time traveling ability is probably a one time thing, and it was a ‘desperate times calling for desperate measures’ situation.
But Yusei can’t stop thinking about the messy brown fluff of hair and the smile that’s forever ingrained in his brain. It’s impossible, mathematically speaking, to go back in time. And you can’t simply summon the power of an ancient dragon all willy-nilly. So seeing Judai again is...impossible. Yusei won’t admit it out loud but the thought breaks his heart. Judai was someone that could understand him in a way not many do. He has felt the burden of saving the world, the loss of friends and comrades alike. Yusei has been through it too. He has a love for duel monsters and an appreciation for the cards the same way Judai does.
Yusei wonders if Judai could still be alive in his time. If they could meet again somehow. But will Judai even remember him? For him it’s probably been…decades. That’s scary to think about. When they met Judai only seemed to be a few years older than Yusei despite the school uniform. That’s the thing with time travel. The rules of the universe get twisted. Yusei and Judai were born decades apart but they met while looking only a few years apart. And honestly Judai very much still had a baby face. Was the guy really 19, maybe 20 when they met or was Judai messing with him? Yusei wishes he could go back and ask.
—
The next morning Yusei feels a shake on his shoulder. He lifts his head up and he can practically feel the imprint his D-Wheel left on his cheek- his D-Wheel? Oh he slept in the garage again. When he lifts his gaze he sees a couple of blonde strands dangling in his face and an annoyed purple eyed stare.
“You overslept. Again. This isn’t like you.” Jack huffs and Yusei sits up rubbing his cheek. It’s rare to see Jack admit he is concerned.
“I was fixing the problems with my D-Wheel. It has been through a lot of strain lately.” What with the time travel and all. It almost got jammed when he tried to rev up the engine yesterday. That's when he knew the problem needed to be addressed as soon as he could. And since sleep wasn’t on the table last night he figured he can be productive.
Jack crosses his arms, glaring down at Yusei. “You keep sleeping in the garage and you haven’t done anything except eat, sleep, and fix things ever since you came back from…whatever happened back there.”
Yusei didn’t know how to exactly explain himself. Explain that he wants to go back…one more time. Say goodbye properly. “Do you need anything?” Yusei sleepily murmurs out.
“I. Well. No.” Jack groans and turns the other way. “Do what you want, I don't care.” Aaaand there he goes. Typical of Jack…But even he was concerned. Yusei really must be out of it.
Yusei rubs the bridge of his nose and looks down at his D-wheel. Back to work. He ponders if there really could be a way to go back in time. He looks down at his arm… Maybe if he could…activate his signer mark somehow? Maybe the crimson dragon could do him one small favor?
—
Judai looks up at the sky, the wind gently blowing through his hair and laying down in the grass of some random park. His mind can’t stop going back to the day he met the mysterious time traveler. Yusei was his name…that Judai will try not to forget. Judai remembers the way he clung to Yusei while they were traveling through time together. Yusei was going so fast, Judai felt his heart would jump out of his chest, but maybe the speed wasn’t the only reason. It felt really impossible to say goodbye. It must have been the same for Yusei. Right, their hands lingered a little longer than they should, as did their eyes before Yusei had to return back in his own time to see if everyone was okay. And Judai gets it… He wishes he could go check on his own friends too, but, well. He hasn’t seen them in years at this point. Would they even want to see him again?
Judai feels someone lean over him and, when he opens his eyes, he doesn’t see the sky but the spirit of his partner. “You have been sitting here for a while, I thought you slept.” Yubel hums and they look concerned.
Has he been laying here that long? They should probably keep moving. No time for stopping when you are basically a nomad. “You’re right we should keep going-”
Yubel puts a hand in front of him and shakes their head. “That’s not what I was implying, Judai. Are you okay?” Their gaze and voice lower and Judai sighs. “I wouldn’t say okay, but. It’s not important.” Judai waves his hand dismissively and slowly picks himself up. Oh Pharaoh was sleeping next to him- And now the cat is angrily whining from being woken up.
Yubel gazes down at the cat before bringing their eyes back to Judai and crossing their arms. “If it’s not important, then why has your mind been wandering off? We share a soul. I can tell what you are feeling, Judai...This sort of…longing. Like you miss someone.”
Judai feels flustered when Yubel says the quiet part out loud. He misses...Yusei...A guy he literally only knew for a day. But Yusei made him remember his friends, the people he deeply cares about, and he has started missing them too. But he has Yubel now and they are always with him! So why is he lonely-?
“Judai.” A ghostly hand brings up his face and the guy sighs, slumping his shoulders. “Okay, maybe I do miss-” A pause unsure what to exactly say, “-a few people,” he blurts out. But Judai shouldn’t go looking for any of them. They all have their own lives now without him in them. Without him putting them in danger again.
Before he has time to dwell too hard he feels a flick on his forehead. “You are overthinking. You really should pay them a visit if you crave their company so deeply.”
“Aou!?” Judai groans and slides a hand under his bangs to rub the spot on his forehead. What the hell he felt that. “Even so- Would they want to see me?” Judai’s voice wavers slightly.
Yubel stares at their friend, deadpan. “Are you really asking that?”
Judai groans and throws his bag over his shoulder. “I’ll think it over. Come on, Pharaoh, we gotta move.” He nudges his cat along and it simply meows in disdain. Pharaoh’s nap is very important, you see.
Judai simply rolls his eyes and starts walking regardless. Pharaoh always follows him anyway. Can’t say no to the free food. But Judai has other troubles in his mind. He slowly reaches back and fumbles inside his travel bag until he finds a crumbled piece of paper (that he tried his best to fold and keep safe but still it’s been years makes sense it’s falling apart a little bit.) Judai looks over the little doodles of his friends with a fond but longing smile. The paper implies they will meet again but…Judai hasn’t reached out in a good while. He can’t help but wonder where are they all now?
Suddenly a roaring sound snaps him from his thoughts. It sounds like the engine of a motorcycle? Judai glances around confused on where the sound is coming from until he sees a familiar…bright red… His heart stops and his eyes go wide. No way- The timing is way too good-
“Judai?” Yubel asks, concerned, only to be blatantly ignored by Judai’s loud screech.
“YUSEI!?” Judai’s legs move before the rest of him does and they rush to the familiar bright red shine of a freshly painted motorcycle. “Yusei!” Judai beams full of life as if all his worries went away.
Yusei promptly comes to a halt and takes off his helmet, looking at Judai with wide eyes. It worked. He. He did it- He really did-
Before Yusei has a chance to speak, or dismount, he feels a tight squeeze around his shoulders and a familiar mess of brown fluff pulling him into a hug. Oh. It feels...Yusei can’t find the words and, without thinking, he wraps his arms around the other guy tightly, scared to let him go, as if he is going to disappear again. “Good to see you again.” Yusei murmurs softly and Judai pulls back looking at him with a smile that could rival the sun-
“I- How! I thought you were from the future! Why are you here? I-I’m not complaining! But- but just how!” Judai talks so fast Yusei can barely understand what he is saying but he smiles back. Just hearing his voice again feels like a dream.
“Heh, slow down, slow down, I can barely understand you-”
Judai blinks and then blushes a little bit. Yusei didn’t know Judai could even get flustered. The guy was oozing confidence last time. “Oh- right- Sorry…” Judai laughs and the way his face reddens is…really cute. “I’m just- how are you here I thought...I wouldn’t see you again.” Judai murmurs still in shock. His brown eyes are still full of disbelief as if Yusei is a ghost that happened to pass by.
“I have my ways.” Which include begging crimson dragon but he would rather not get into the details. It was a lot and he honestly wants to forget what a mess getting here actually was. All that matters is that he can say a proper goodbye to Judai and-
“You can’t just say thaaaat,” Judai whines and shakes Yusei in his arms like a maraca. Yusei feels the tremble through his whole body but despite the shake it makes him laugh. Judai makes him laugh; it feels so freeing to be around him. It’s like he doesn’t have to hide anything.
Judai stops his frantic shaking when he hears Yusei laugh and stares at him with big brown eyes and a mouth agape. Yusei feels concern bubble up in his chest. “Is something wrong?” Now he is slightly worried. Judai is not moving at all but then Yusei notices the corners of his mouth perk up.
“No just- Hearing you laugh like that caught me off guard…in a good way! Very…good way…” Judai slowly manages to spill out his words. Yusei will admit the way Judai looks at him makes him feel flustered too.
“Oh- I couldn’t help it I suppose-”
“Please do it again-”
Yusei blinks. “Huh?”
“It’s been so long since I heard a friend be so happy to see me, I…” Judai looks away and Yusei feels the heat rise up to his face.
“We’re friends?” It comes out without Yusei thinking about it. He obviously considers Judai a friend after what they’ve been through together. It's just not often that...someone else feels the same way he does.
“Of course we are!” This time, Judai cups Yusei’s face in his hands and squeezes it. “We saved Duel Monsters together, of course we are friends!”
“O-oh…” How in the world has Judai managed to make Yusei this flustered? Judai is so energetic it’s hard to match his enthusiasm. Also his hands are on Yusei’s face and Yusei is not sure what he is supposed to do, so he awkwardly puts his hands over Judai’s, shyly holding them there. Now Judai’s face burns up redder but he still looks so happy. He leans in and presses his fluffy forehead against Yusei’s.
“Are you this touchy with all your friends…?” Yusei can’t help but ask.
“Sometimes…” Judai murmurs but nuzzles against Yusei’s face. “I haven’t been this touchy with anyone in a while,” he admits with a sigh, closing his eyes.
Yusei doesn’t dare to move away. He will stay as close as Judai likes.
“Please don’t leave so soon this time…” Judai whispers and his voice sounds so small. It makes Yusei’s heart tighten up.
“I will have to go back eventually,” Yusei replies softly. “But I’ll try to stay longer this time okay…?”
“Okay…” Judai whispers, and this is rather strange, the way he and the other guy act as if they’ve known each other for years instead of simply meeting once. This connection goes much deeper than Yusei thought. He could blame time travel but that’s not exactly it. A lot of times it takes him some warming up to open up and be close to another person. Or well it takes forever for other people to warm up to him. But with Judai it’s different. Everything about him is different. He is unique from anyone Yusei has ever talked to before.
“Yusei? You look lost in thought, everything okay?” Judai pouts and Yusei presses his nose against the other guy’s without thinking.
“Yes, everything’s fine. I was simply thinking about...us?” It comes out so awkward.
Judai tilts his head a little but then opts to nuzzle his nose to Yusei’s. “Us?” Judai hesitantly pulls back a little. “Ahaha is this too much-? Sorry, I didn’t realize how close we were-”
“No- no, no, I didn’t mean that!” Yusei sighs and pulls Judai closer again, liking the feeling of him there. Really Yusei didn’t realize how much he craves physical touch until Judai started being all touchy with him. “I’m just baffled how comfortable we have been and it’s so…warm.”
Judai looks confused again. His big brown eyes are too adorable when they stare at him like an innocent kitten. “Warm? Heh, people usually say I’m pretty cold when they touch me.”
Yusei smiles and tilts his head “Well, your hands are rather cold. I more so meant…the feeling is warm?” Yusei is not really great at describing his feelings out loud. He is more actions than words.
“Oh- I will agree with that.” Judai giggles with that childlike smile of his and Yusei can’t help himself anymore. He gently coaxes the other guy to slide into his lap on the bike and Judai happily obliges, sliding his arms around Yusei’s neck, no questions asked. Oh, Judai sure is. Forward.
“Getting comfortable there?” Yusei manages to swallow the lump in his throat.
“Very comfortable.” Judai smirks and looks down in Yusei’s eyes.
Judai feels like his heart is about to stop. Why did he have to get so attached to a man from the future? Why can’t Yusei stay forever? He wants Yusei to stay forever. And oh shit- Judai is slowly realizing what this feeling is. It’s not really friendship isn’t it? It's a little different. Yusei is his friend of course! But Judai wants to close the gap between them, press his lips against Yusei’s face, kiss that distinct yellow mark that moves down his cheek. He wants to ask why Yusei has it… He wants to know more about Yusei. About who Yusei is, what he has been through. About how Yusei feels in Judai’s arms, how Yusei tastes.
“Judai?”
Judai blinks, hearing the time traveler’s voice, and shakes his head. “Sorry, I got a lil lost in thought.” Damn, he must look dumb right now. His face must be all red and stuff. It’s so hard to not over think when he has a handsome guy like Yusei in his arms.
“Hey-” Judai’s mouth starts before he can think, and Yusei hums in acknowledgement. “Can I kiss you-?” NO NO STUPID MOUTH WHY WHY WHY ABORT ABORT-
Yusei freezes up but his own mouth moves before he can think about it. “Sure-”
Judai chokes up his eyes wide and he is baffled at the answer but he can’t miss his chance, ya know!? When you have a hot guy in front of you, you have to! Right!? Judai is making so many excuses right now instead of admitting to himself that he fell for Yusei from the first time they met and he fell HARD.
Judai remembers how he found any excuse to hold onto Yusei’s waist a little longer as they rode that bike, hold his hand a little longer when Yusei placed it on top of his own while the sun was setting, and how they had to say a hasty goodbye. All of that… He was doomed from the start. And since he is doomed anyway, Judai might as well. He doesn’t want to have to say goodbye again.
Judai grabs Yusei by the flaps of his jacket and pulls him in, crashing their lips together like a messy traffic accident. Fitting considering they are still on Yusei’s bike. Judai tries to fix his mess of a kiss but, before he knows it, the other guy is kissing him back. And the kiss fixes itself. And Judai, just like the weak gay idiot that he is, melts.
Yusei is no better, melting to it as well, and it makes Judai’s heart flutter knowing the other guy is enjoying this. Judai curses the universe for having to pull away so he can breathe. He pants softly and looks into Yusei's deep blue eyes with a shy smile. “Tha…thanks.” Judai is not used to being awkward. He usually just goes with the flow of things but well when you like someone you are bound to get nervous right? At least Judai thinks this is how it works.
“No need to…um…thank me. It was…nice.” Both Judai and Yusei are very inexperienced in the whole kissing guys department or kissing people in general department. One thing’s for certain, both of them don’t want to let go. Yusei will have to go back eventually but, for a day, Judai will have him to himself.
“Yeah…it…was. Hey. How about we go for a ride? I can show you around!” Judai playfully grins. He isn’t very familiar with the area but he has been in this city for the past week or, so so getting around is not thaaaat hard.
Yusei smiles back, slowly nodding his head. “I would like that. Come on, hop on back.” Yusei gently pats his waist and Judai feels like his heart is about to burst. Agh. He shakes his head and finds the strength to slide off Yusei’s lap and reposition himself on the back of the motorcycle.
Yusei puts his hands on the handles of the bike properly and revs the engine. “Ready?” He tilts his head to look at his new passenger behind him.
“Yup let’s go!”
Yusei hums and slides his helmet back on. Judai, unable to keep to himself, wraps his arms around Yusei’s waist and leans his head forward as the bike roars to life and drives off. Judai could get used to this. And maybe tomorrow...He will plan a visit to some old friends.
Yusei could very much get used to this himself. He doesn’t want to think about returning to the future at the moment. Judai’s arms snug around his waist snaps Yusei back to the present and it’s a nice feeling. Judai must feel it too. This sweet warmth like no other. Just two guys, a motorcycle, and the whole world waiting to be explored.