Work Text:
As much as Johan loved all things shining and was overall a cheery guy, Christmas had always been a…complicated time for him. Sure, he loved the way the lights twinkled against the snowy world his home always became, but those moments were temporary. No amount of lights or carols about peace and goodwill changed that the Christmases of his childhood were spent usually in the corner whispering to his cards. Alone. Definitely not helping the rumours the other kids had. And as much as the staff at the orphanage tried to make the season “magical,” celebrating a family centric holiday with people paid to take care of you and kids that looked at you funny quickly drained the season of any of this magic. At least the crafts were always fun, and he could add all the glitter he wanted.
But this year, he was in Japan and this year he had a friend (and maybe more but they hadn’t breached that topic yet). And in Japan, you celebrated Christmas with maybe mores, with dinners, lights and markets. Things Johan could get behind. Yet that wasn’t even the best part. In Domino, a special duel was taking place for the holiday, one where two old friends would be reunited.
Judai had been talking about it since the announcement at the beginning of November, so of course he dragged him out there on the first ferry to the mainland.
“Oh my gosh!” Judai exclaimed while they looked out at the water. “I can introduce you to Gramps.”
Johan’s heart fluttered. “Your grandfather lives in Domino?”
“What? No. But remember what I told you about my last trip to Domino.”
“Ah yes. How could I forget one of your many heroic adventures.”
“Hey, that one was actually a lot of fun. And I can say I know Yugi Muto’s grandfather, even saved him. And after today, you’ll know him too! I bet he’d love to see those Crystal Beasts of yours. Who knows? Maybe we’ll be lucky and catch The King of Games himself.”
Johan grinned at his friend's eager wink. “Knowing your luck, we probably will.”
Judai through an arm around his shoulder. “We can only hope.”
— — —
To say Domino city was bustling would be an understatement. They barely managed to squeeze between the cracks amongst the bodies towards the little game shop near the center of the city. Though that had mostly fell away with Johan focusing intently on Judai’s grip on his hand and how his heart was rattling at his ribcage like it was about to make a prison break.
“Just a little further,” Judai shouted above the voices.
‘Kame Game’ was just closing up when the two boys won the battle for the door. In the light they could make out an elderly man with spiky grey hair tied up in a black bandanna flipping the sign to ‘Closed.’ He froze as soon as he spotted Judai.
“Oh Judai,” Sugoroku Muto cheered, waving the two boys inside. “Come in, come in. You two look like you’re freezing.”
Who were Judai and Johan to refuse the hospitality of their hero’s grandfather?
“Closing early, Gramps?” Judai asked, shivering at the shift in temperature.
“Of course. Can’t have Yugi being hounded before his big duel. He’s already jumpy as it is about it.”
“Yugi is here?” Johan breathed.
“Of course. This is his home after all.”
“Yeah but…I didn’t actually think…”
Judai threw his arm around him again, jostling him about this time. “Getting a little starstruck.”
“And you’re not,” Johan huffed in amusement.
“You wanted to meet him last time, didn't you Judai?” Sugoroku asked. “I’m sure he could use a distraction.”
“We couldn’t impose,” Johan stammered out.
“Nonsense young man. Like I said, you’d probably be helping him. And honestly, I owe a lot to your friend here, so really, it’s the least I can do.”
“Hey,” Judai whispered as Sugoroku led them upstairs, “relax. Seeing you so tense is weird.”
How could he not be when his hero was just a few steps away and his possibly-more-than-friend still held him close, even if his hand shifted to his back, breath tickling his ear? But Johan did know how to fake it. He took a breath and let out a full laugh. “Sorry. I just didn’t realize we’d be getting the VIP treatment.”
“Being a hero has some perks.”
As big as Judai’s grin was, Johan could sense the fractures in the way his fingers curled into the fabric of Johan’s coat. “Judai—"
“Take a seat,” Sugoroku prompted. “Yugi should be out in a minute. I was just finishing up some hot chocolate. Might help you boys warm up before setting out again.”
“Thanks Gramps,” Judai mused, already making himself at home. Johan could only chuckle as he settled in himself. “This is Johan by the way,” he continued
Sugoroku nodded, bringing over a tray of steaming mugs. “Yes. We’ve heard quite a bit about you and your Gem Beasts.”
“Really?”
“Quite the popular man,” Judai teased with a nudge.
They murmured polite ‘thank yous’ as Sugoroku passed around the mugs. But before they could start catching up someone gasped behind them. “It’s you.”
It was Judai’s turn to tense. But still, he rose to his feet, turning to face the King of Games, politely bowing. “It’s…It’s an honour to see you again, Yugi.”
Yugi laughed, a soft little thing. “No need to be so formal. How are you? How’s Winged Kuriboh?”
“He’s good. Things are good. Well…mostly.”
Yugi quirked a brow. “Mostly?”
Judai shook his head, his smile falling for a second. Johan reached so his fingers could graze his friend’s wrist. “School has been…” Johan answered instead. His gaze fell to the band still on his wrist. “Kind of strange, to say the least. But I think–No–I know we’re close to figuring it out.”
Yugi eyed Judai, grimacing with a fog of knowing in his gaze. It left Johan with a sinking feeling, even when the man’s smile returned only a second later. “I have faith that whatever is going on, everything will work out.”
Judai nodded eagerly, collapsing back down on the couch. Yugi followed in a gentler manner, seating himself beside his grandfather.
“So, I already know you Judai, but this one…”
Johan smiled bashfully, rubbing the back of his neck. “My name is Johan.”
“Ah yes, I thought you looked familiar.”
“What?”
“Those Gem Beasts of yours are really something.”
Johan grinned, nice and wide, nerves and the worries back at Duel Academy melting away. Instinctively, he patted at his deck holder. “They definitely are.” An idea popped into his head. Carefully, he removed his deck from the holder. “Would you like to see them?”
Yugi blinked. “Are you sure?”
Johan nodded, extending the cards to him. “If I could trust anyone with them—Other than Judai of course—It would be you.”
And as Johan entered into a lively lecture on his deck, he failed to notice Judai. The way his eyes glimmered as if he hadn’t heard this spiel a million times before. Yes, Judai just loved Duel Monsters in general, but Duel Monsters didn’t leave his cheeks tinted pink. And instead of a rapid pounding, his heart was set in a more janky flutter that jabbed his lungs every now and then. He almost felt sick, but at the same time…it wasn’t a bad feeling either.
Johan may not have noticed, but someone did. Yugi met his gaze for a moment, smiling fondly, which only made Judai blush harder. Maybe he could blame it on the heat from the hot chocolate.
“Well,” Sugoroku groaned, rising from the couch, “As much as I’d love for all you boys to stay chatting about cards, you better head out soon if you want to catch a good spot for the duel.”
“Oh right!” Judai cried, hopping to his feet and pulling Johan up with him. “We got to pick up something to eat too. Thanks for the hot chocolate, Gramps. And it was nice talking Yugi.”
“It was a pleasure to meet you both,” Johan manages to get in before being dragged out the door.
They were just stepping outside when Yugi appeared once more behind them. “Judai, wait!”
Judai turned around to catch Yugi gesturing to him. He tilted his head, but hey, who could turn down the King of Games.
“What is it?” Judai whispered, picking up on the desire for privacy.
“Don’t let that pass you by.”
Now he was even more confused. “What?”
Yugi simply nodded towards Johan waiting patiently in the doorway.
“I used to have someone who looked at me the way you look at him. It was never going to work so…we never breached the subject but…He was always going to have to leave, but still. I regret not telling him how I felt.”
Judai scrunched up his nose. What look?
“You love him, don’t you?” Yugi asked, as if reading Judai’s mind.
“Well yeah. He’s, my friend. Best friend.”
Yugi chuckled softly. “Yes, but listen. Do you love him?”
Judai stole a glance over at the blue haired boy. That strange flutter returned. But that was just excitement, right? It was only natural to feel that way after finally finding someone who understood him, who was practically on the same wavelength. Someone who could be his hero when he was collapsing under the title.
“Thanks again, Yugi,” Judai said with a nod, taking Johan’s hand and pulling him out into the crowd.
— — —
After getting a quick bite to eat they settled into a spot with a perfect view for the duel that was to come. Yet they were still trapped in a sea of bodies, leaving them shoved against each other. This position did have some perks, Judai couldn’t hide the tension flooding his limbs. Johan glanced at the clock: they still had half an hour before the duel.
“So, what was that about?” he asked. Slowly, carefully.
“Nothing you need to worry about.”
Johan’s eyes narrowed. “Judai.”
“What? He just…Was giving me a bit of advice is all.”
Johan jabbed his friend’s side playfully. “Well, you better take it. It’s not everyday you get advice from the King of Games.”
Judai smiled tightly. “Yeah…”
“Judai. What is it actually? You’ve got that serious un-Judai look in your eyes.”
“Just…What he said has me thinking…”
“That doesn’t sound good.”
Judai shoved him lightly. “Hey!”
“I just don’t want you hurting yourself,” Johan snickered, hoping his teasing could lighten the mood.
“Again: hey!”
They lapsed into a silence for a moment, Johan waiting for Judai’s proper answer and Judai purposefully ignoring the whole situation. But luckily for Johan, they were quite literally trapped with the ever growing crowd.
“Have you ever been in love, Johan?” Judai murmured.
“What brought this on?”
“You know Christmas is different here than back in your home, right?”
Johan swallowed thickly, heat rushing to his cheeks. But he couldn’t get his hopes up. Judai was a strange one when it came to emotions, never quite able to grasp anything beyond excitement or anxiety. “Yeah?” he finally replied after a moment of collecting himself. “What about it?”
“Romance kind of goes hand-in-hand with Christmas Eve so…Tell me. Have you ever been in love? Because I don’t really know if I have and…I guess being surrounded by all kinds of couples has me curious.”
Johan knew there was more, but he’d humour him a bit. “Yeah…Only twice. But it never went anywhere, never even got the chance to confess either time.”
“Do you regret it?”
“Sometimes. But honestly, it’s gotten a little easier recently.” Heart pounding so hard he feared his ribs would break, Johan grazed Judai’s hand, taking hold once he was certain Judai wouldn’t pull away. “You’ve actually made me grateful I never confessed.”
“What does it feel like?” Judai asked, voice barely audible now.
“Well, you can feel warm, your heart-rate may feel weird. Overall, you feel…weird. But not in a bad way.”
“Christmas is for couples here.”
Johan laughed airily, leaning in closer, nose tickled by Judai’s hair. “I know. You said that already. Does that make us…”
“I…” Judai took a shuttered breath, squeezing Johan’s hand. “I think I’d like that. A lot. But I will warn you, I have no clue what I’m doing.”
“Don’t worry, Asuka already warned me that you didn’t even know what a fiancé was.”
Judai couldn’t help but laugh even if it was at his own expense. “Who knew you could be so mean.”
“I was just stating a fact. But seriously, it’s okay. I don’t really know what I’m doing either.”
“Then we’ll figure it out together,” Judai stated, pulling Johan into a hug.
“I look forward to it.”
As the duel began, Johan guided Judai’s arm around his shoulder, cuddling in as close as possible. Jonouchi Katsuya was the first to come out and Johan and Judai hollered as loud as the could. When Yugi emerged seconds later, giving his friend a friendly smile before turning to the crowd with a wave. His gaze eventually fell to Judai and Johan and his smile grew. He gave them a wink before turning to his friend once more. Johan looked between Judai and Yugi, brow raised in confusion, before connecting the dots. So that’s what they talked about. Johan just shook his head, silently laughing to himself. He’d have to thank Yugi if they ever got the chance to meet again.