Chapter Text
Atem both loves and loathes the mornings.
He wakes to warmth and comfort. Arms loosely wrapped around him, but keeping him close. A head nuzzled into the crook of his neck. Soft lips whispering sweet nothings in his ear.
He leans into the embrace. Kisses the lips. Runs his hands down the sun-kissed warmth of the arms. Back up. Weaves his fingers into the thick shock of dark hair.
They break for a breath. Kiss again.
And again.
And again.
And Atem is pulling Yugi down into the depths of the blankets with him.
“We have to get up.” Yugi resists Atem’s pull. Holds himself up with a hand pressed to the pillow under Atem’s head. Meets Atem’s gaze with a fond look from purple eyes that glow lavender in the morning light.
“Do we?” Atem prevents the answer he knows Yugi will say by sealing their lips together again.
Yugi kisses him back for the briefest of moments. Then breaks away. “Our patrons are going to expect the shop to be open on time.” He blocks Atem’s next kiss with a finger to the lips.
“Hmm.” Atem pushes himself up onto his elbows. “They can wait.”
“Atem.”
Innocently, “What?”
“It’s time to get up.” Yugi tries to start moving off the bed.
Atem blocks him with a hand to the chest. “What if we stay like this just a bit longer?”
If this is a dream, Atem doesn’t want to wake up. Doesn’t want to lose the warmth or the comfort. The little flecks of indigo in Yugi’s eyes. The sunlight or the way it makes the leaves of Yugi’s little plant (a rare herb he’d dug up when they’d walked in the woods together outside of town, back when their fingers were hesitant to brush against each other) on their windowsill glow.
The herb has grown quite a lot. No longer a tiny sprig. Its heart-shaped leaves climb down the windowsill. Atem doesn’t fear for it quite as much as he did when they first brought it home as a delicate little bundle. It’s proven it’s determination to live. It’s still delicate. It can still be crushed under the right amount of pressure no matter how much Atem doesn’t want it to be but it’s thriving.
“Atem.” Yugi’s voice pulls Atem back to the present. “It’s time to start the day.”
This time Atem doesn’t argue when Yugi moves to get out of bed.
Yugi’s coffeehouse is a small establishment nestled in the heart of Domino. It wakes up earlier than most, as to be open for most of its neighbors’ owners before they start their own work days, but notably later than the bakers, as neither Atem nor Yugi truly want to be up as early as the bakers.
It’s a place of creaky floorboards and well-kept secrets. Suncatchers twinkling in the windows and quiet conversations in alcoves. It is peaceful and wonderful and Atem loathes the inevitable day when he will have to leave it.