Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Atem stared down at the microphone all but shoved up his nose with an air of contempt.

His fingers clenched around the cup of coffee in his hands tightly enough he was worried about crushing it. He really should have just made himself a cup back at his place like Mahad kept telling him to do. It just never tasted as good when he made it himself.

And now he was paying the price of his hubris for daring to leave the relative safety of his apartment.

“Mr. Sennen, what brings you out here today?” one of the reporters asked, the one who seemed to think that the closer the microphone was to his face the better the answer would be.

Atem leveled him with a flat, blank look, “Coffee,” he said as bland and dry as toast with no butter. The reporter stammered as if only just realizing that they had all accosted him stepping out of a simple café. The microphone was pulled away only for a recorder to take its place a moment later.

Neutral face, calm and collected. Don’t give them anything you don’t want them to have.

They’ve already taken enough of you.

“Mr. Sennen, how are you preparing for the upcoming Regionals?”

Atem swallowed back a sigh, “By getting coffee.” He wiggled the quickly cooling drink in his hand for emphasis. He longed to duck away from this sooner rather than later. Where was Mahad when he needed him for a quick escape?

That’s right, he was enjoying his day off. Which Atem was supposed to be doing as well, but no, he can afford any luxury except for privacy it seemed. He’d be as bitter as his coffee, if he didn’t prefer it a tad on the sweet side.

“You look tired, has the anxiety of trying to maintain your title for the tenth year in a row begun to get to you?”

“No, I probably look tired because I haven’t had my coffee yet,” Atem replied, biting his tongue to try and not sound as annoyed as he felt. But he knew from experience that no matter what he said, no matter how carefully he schooled his features, something would come out of this that he hadn’t intended. He didn’t even know why he bothered at all anymore.

A few more questions were thrown at him carelessly, and he tried to let their voices flow over him as if they were water over an unmovable stone. At least until one particularly shrill voice broke through with the first question that actually stood out from the rest.

“Mr. Sennen, what are your thoughts on Yugi Mutou?”

Atem froze, mostly just because after so many years of being asked the same questions over and over, this one was the first of its kind. He found himself caught off guard as he blinked over at the tiny blonde reporter who held a notepad in her hands and had a pen tucked behind her ear, how very old fashioned of her.

What is a Yugi Mutou, some kind of mixed drink?

“Am I supposed to know what that is?” he asked in a bored tone, already lamenting the time he’d already lost in getting trapped by this latest batch of reporters. Honestly though, outside his favorite café? Now he’d have to find another one to frequent that didn’t mess up his admittedly complicated order. And this one had been so conveniently close to his apartment...

“Yugi was last year’s Junior Champion title winner,” she supplied with a wide grin.

Atem blinked, now officially done with the conversation, “I have not followed the junior division since I was in the junior division,” he dismissed, all interest lost again.

But it seemed she wasn’t done as she moved a step closer, her eyes narrowing into something sharper, “Were you aware then that last night he beat Seto Kaiba for the title of Regionals Champion for Eastern Asia?”

And his interest flickered to life once more.

No, no he had not been aware. Of course, he’d known the regionals that his number one rival was a part of were concluding last night. He’d chosen to go to bed early rather than watch, having already given up on anything exciting happening during the finals. Kaiba always won after all, and with the same tactics he'd been harping on for years. But now it seemed Atem had been wrong about that. A shame he missed it live, but he could always look up a video later of Seto’s face as he was trounced by someone other than Atem for once. Perhaps he should pick up popcorn to snack on while doing so.

Although that would mean he’d have to risk going out again and having reporters ask him why he was buying popcorn. Would it even be worth it at that point?

“What does Yugi’s rise in the ranks mean for you and the World Tournament next year, Mr. Sennen?” she asked, breaking him from his thoughts again.

He met her gaze unwaveringly.

“Just because this Yugi kid was able to beat Seto Kaiba does not mean that he can beat me. Or have you all learned nothing from the last nine years?” he scoffed, narrowing his gaze to angry slits as flashes of cameras started to erupt around him. His fingers curled around the scribbled marks on his coffee cup. The last thing he wanted was an article to appear tomorrow listing his preferred coffee order and where to get it, while another painted an ugly picture of a spoiled celebrity with picky tastes. The picky part may have been partially true, but no one needed to know that.

“As of now, Yugi means nothing to me. Now, if you would excuse me, I have plans I am now late for,” he snapped when one reporter got just a little too close to his elbow. He pulled away from the microphones and began to push his way through the dense collection of cameras and recording tech all pointed at him.

His scowl deepened as he finally broke free, and he hurried down the street to where his car was parked before they could catch up. He knew of course that a few would make an attempt to follow him to find out where he was headed, but thanks to Mahad, Atem knew how to lose tails when necessary.

At least he would have his coffee to keep him company for however long it took to shake them off. He just hoped it hadn’t gotten cold being held against his will.

As he pulled away from the curb, his mind finally allowed him to actually think about this ‘Yugi Mutou’. Had Kaiba finally lost his touch? Or was there something more to the latest up and comer? 

Perhaps he had lied a little when telling the reporter that Yugi’s rise meant nothing. Atem did not expect, although maybe he hoped, for a challenge after so long. This could just be a fluke easily too though, and this truly would mean nothing to him. Yugi could lose the title back to Kaiba in next season’s Regionals and nothing would have changed for Atem.

Yes, this truly could mean nothing in the long run.

But part of him wondered if it meant that maybe...just maybe, it would mean things would get interesting once more.

He still wanted that popcorn though. Perhaps he’d call Mahad and have him bring it by later.

Chapter Text

The popcorn lay forgotten in his lap as he watched the final match between Kaiba and the newcomer, Yugi Mutou. If Atem had not already known who would be victorious in this match, he could have assumed from the start, watching them walk up, that once again his rival would prevail just on appearance of his opponent. Even knowing he still felt a level of disbelief as he watched the short, young man step onto the field, looking about as confident as a mouse facing down a lion. The somewhat punk-ish goth hybrid clothing he wore did very little to harden his softer features and round eyes. Everything about his face screamed youth to Atem, and it made Yugi appear very much like he’d just stepped out of the Junior’s League. He practically felt a cavity starting to develop just looking at his sweet little face and shy smiles as he waved to the crowd.

It wasn’t until the bell rung and the duel began that Atem could bring himself to believe that this boy had actually managed to beat the second best duelist in the world. Suddenly the shy mouse was gone and in its place was either a snarling chihuahua or a rabid rabbit that met every one of Kaiba’s vicious moves with a snap of his own little teeth. 

Even when it looked like Kaiba had him cornered and was about to go for the slender throat clad in a collar of all things, Yugi managed to flip it around like a kitten pulling a seismic toss of something twenty times its size. 

He was good. Very good.

Kaiba was no pushover though, and victory did not come easily to either party. In the end though, it had been a solid, strategic pull out for Yugi as Kaiba’s life point fell to zero. It could not be attributed to luck, even Atem had to begrudgingly admit that. Although it would remain to be seen if Kaiba’s ego would allow him the same clarity. 

Going off of Kaiba’s face as the two were positioned on the podium, Atem was not so sure that had happened yet. The scowl was more deeply set than even what Atem had seen while standing above him at past World Tournaments. He barely even twitched in any sort of recognition as his name was announced in second place, and somehow defied all sense of physical limitation when the scowl went impossibly deeper as Yugi was crowned as the new Regional Champion. 

Atem studied the boy as he shyly ducked his head as the crowd cheered loudly as his name was announced as the first-place winner. He seemed almost…delicate as his arm stuttered into something that might have been a wave. Small, and shrinking further under the lights and attention. Atem felt a sudden and uncontrollable urge to shield the little one from it, because no one knew better than Atem what came next. What awful things would come next...

This was only his first few months in the big leagues, and whatever attention he may have garnered in Junior’s would be nothing compared to what would come now. Yugi had made his name known loud and fast, with no time to allow for a slow and measured introduction into this kind of notoriety and fame. No one knew better than Atem what would come next. He almost pitied the little thing. But it was not his place to care, and certainly not his place to do anything about it. 

Yugi signed up for this when he joined the adult League, he’d have to deal with all that came with it and adjust. Just as Atem had to do. 

“Do you think his manager has him dress like that to appear more intimidating?” Mana asked around a full mouth of popcorn.  

“If they do, they have failed miserably. Like putting a spiked collar on a papillon puppy,” Atem mumbled, finally allowing himself a handful of the popcorn before Mana ate it all. 

Mahad calmly sipped at his wine, “I believe the original purpose of those spiked collars was actually to protect the wearer, not to appear intimidating.”

“Well, given how Seto looks like he would like nothing more than to bite out Yugi’s jugular, maybe his manager had the right idea having him dress like that,” Mana giggled. 

Atem grimaced, imagining what Kaiba was likely doing at this very moment in the wake of his loss. He’d barely taken it when Atem beat him year after year at World’s, he could only imagine how poorly he’d react to losing to someone who was honestly not on anyone’s radar until now. Junior league transfers usually took years to build up the skill and stamina to work up to regional rounds, so none of the professionals really paid any attention to them from the start. Up until now, Atem and Kaiba were the only ones who came out of Junior’s hard and fast, and that had been almost a decade ago. 

“He seems a gentle soul, don’t you think, Atem?” Mahad asked, drawing the duelist’s attention back from the past. 

Atem shrugged, “How am I supposed to know? That innocence could all be an act for all we know. I’d have to watch the Junior’s recordings to see if it holds up. But I truly don’t care enough to bother right now. He’s not even in my region, I won’t have to face him for months at the earliest. And that’s only if he qualifies for World's.”

What Mahad didn’t need to know was that as soon as him and Mana left, Atem would be doing just that. While his bodyguard and personal assistant were likely the only people he would dare count as close friends, this was too much to openly admit even to them. He trusted the two of them with his body, but he trusted no one with much more than that these days. Too much of himself had already been exposed over the years thanks to cruel reporters and fans who didn’t seem to understand his desire for privacy. So much of himself had been lost to them, whatever remained his own was guarded under lock, key, and a metaphorical bullet proof safe.

“But if he maintains the title, or ranks in the top three of the Region by next year then you’ll see him at World’s,” Mahad pointed out.

Atem grunted in way of reply, and grabbed for more popcorn just as an excuse to not dignify any further response. But part of the reason he liked to keep Mana around was because she knew how to lift a mood. Even if it sometimes was done rather loudly.

She sighed wistfully, leaning forward as they all watched Yugi appear in the post-event press conference interview, “He just looks so sweet, even with how they dressed him! Oh, I just want to give him cookies and wrap him in a blanket before the media and stress gets to him, you know?”

Atem snorted indelicately, throwing back a sip of his wine, “It’ll be too late for that. He’s probably already been swarmed by them. They won’t let up until he finally loses and fades into nothingness, or the pressure gets to him and he drops out. And maybe not even then.”

“And what will you do now that you have won the Regional Champion title, Mr. Mutou?”

“Well, I guess there is still a couple more tournaments coming up. I’ll try my best at all of those,” came the timid reply. Yugi’s eyelids were fluttering as he winced through each and every flash of came on his face. 

“And what do you have to say to all of your future opponents?”

”Uh…good luck and that I look forward to dueling?” Yugi sounded like he was answering with a question, and Atem could not help but chuckle sadly as he shook his head. Mana groaned sympathetically, having dealt with a response like that before.

“Wait until tomorrow when the news is just a sound bite of him saying ‘good luck’ like it’s some sort of taunt,” she bemoaned. Mahad took a bigger sip of wine. 

“They’re going to eat him alive,” Atem predicted darkly. Neither Mana nor Mahad tried to correct him. They’d seen it too many times already. Yugi would be no different. 

The dueling world was not an easy one. Even less so for those fighting for their lives at the top. It didn’t matter any of their original reasons for getting into dueling in the first place, it was a bloodthirsty business as much as A-List actors or top athletes. Not everyone was cut out for it.

And looking at Yugi cringing under the bright spotlights above, Atem had to wonder how long it would be before they broke him. Just like they broke everything else they touched.

This world either ate one up and spat them back out once they were done chewing them through, or you were stuck within its maw where escape was impossible, and you learned to just live with the teeth around you. Atem had been trapped here for almost ten years now, and he was still waiting for when he’d get spat out. Sometimes it seemed preferable to whatever life this was. 

Atem stared blandly ahead, gaze unfocused, as cameras shuttered in his face and microphones were all held aloft. He drew in a long breath to let it out slowly, trying his best to keep his features smooth. Mana had been coaching him almost daily now to stop appearing so ‘frowny’ for the cameras, but it was starting to feel like it was the only battle Atem could not truly win. Even now he could already feel his brows beetling together as he tried to make sense of what was being asked now.

Wasn’t this interview supposed to have just been a pre-season catch up before his regional's qualifications? Why did it sound more like they were trying to write an article for a gossip magazine? 

“Mr. Sennen, rumors have been circulating that you’ve begun seeing your gym instructor, is this true?”

Atem sighed, “I do not have a gym instructor, so no. A question pertaining to dueling next, please?”

“Mr. Sennen as the reigning champion for nine consecutive years, are you at all worried—“

Wait for it…this may be a relevant one…Atem held his breath.

“—that your advancing age will start to negatively affect your game?”

So close. He’s actually have preferred it to have been about his non existent dating life.

“I’m still in my twenties, I’m hardly considered geriatric,” he said, rubbing at his temple where he could feel the beginnings of a headache forming. A regular occurrence at events like this. 

“Mr. Sennen, is it true that you were seen outside of a hotel with a young woman in Alexandria?”

And there was the dating life question. He instantly regretting mentally asking for one.

Atem blinked once, twice, and a third time before replying, “I have been in Alexandria many times, seeing how it is where I am originally from. I have stayed in many hotels. And if I recall correctly, women exist in my home city. Unless this leads to an important question regarding dueling, I don’t see why you are wasting your breath asking me such things.”

He heard the slap of skin from off to the side of the table where he knew Mana had likely slapped her hand over her eyes hearing the reply. Atem knew he’d be scolded later, but honestly, what was he even supposed to say to that kind of question? Were they expecting him to cave in and admit to some sordid affair that lasted all of one night in some unnamed hotel in a massive city he was from? One that very much did not happen?

Thankfully another reporter stood up next and Atem tried to mentally manifest an actually pertinent question to be asked this time.

“What are your thoughts on Yugi Mutou?” This one asked, and Atem qualified it as somewhat relevant at least.

He shrugged, “I have not dueled him yet, so I cannot say much about him.”

But even with the indifferent reply, this reporter got that glint in his eye that many did when they thought they scented blood in the water. Atem braced himself and saw Mahad straighten up out of the corner of his eye, his bodyguard probably wondering if he’d have to haul Atem out of there before something violent happened.

Metaphorically anyway. Atem was known for being calm, aloof and indifferent for the most part after all. He left all the violence up to Keith.

“But as your new rival, surely you want to be ready to face him in you meet up at World’s.”

“Rival? How can he be a rival when I’ve never even met him, let alone dueled him?” Atem felt something in him snap.

“He beat your long-standing rival, Seto Kaiba, this makes him the top contender for taking your title seeing how no one has ever come close save for Kaiba,” the reporter shot back just as quickly.

Atem felt himself bristle, “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Just because he beat Kaiba does not mean he can beat me. The kid needs to be a lot stronger than what very little I’ve seen of him if he wants to stand a chance.”

Another slap of skin sounded from the far end of the table. Atem bit his tongue after that and another reporter finally took over, this time asking him about what diet he followed to remain so lean. 

It was only years of training from Mana that stopped him from replying with some ridiculous answer just to spite them. Although telling them that he ate a pinecone a day for breakfast would have certainly been funny…for a few minutes at least. Until he later found out half his fans were starting to eat pinecones because their favorite duelist told them to.

No more questions were asked about Yugi at least, and Atem hoped he’d hear nothing more about the kid until it was time for World’s. 

After so many years in the spotlight, Atem felt that he lived in a constant stake of fluctuating between not caring the slightest bit of what the media thought, and then caring too much about what they thought. 

But he’d also learned long ago that appearing defensive of anything they said only made things worse.

And as he was coming to learn now, apparently appearing indifferent could be just as bad.

“Atem Sennen, long standing and senior champion of Duel Monsters, has all but completely dismissed new up and coming duelist Yugi Mutou as any sort of competition. Even going so far to say Yugi Mutou doesn’t matter, much to the young duelists heartbroken dismay. But experts are saying—“

Atem leaned forward, rubbing at his temples as he fought against his latest headache. Senior? Really? Since when was that a term used for his title? Just stick to King of Games, please, before they started calling him Elder of Games or something else equally insulting.

And he hadn’t even met this Yugi Mutou yet, and already he was quickly becoming the bane of his existence. As much as he liked to remind the media that he was not old, he was feeling it these days when Mana kept sending him news clips like this. They were even worse when they included the kid in question on the other half of the coin. 

“Twenty-year-old, Mr. Mutou has also been asked about the developing rivalry on multiple occasions and had this to say...”

The camera cut to Yugi’s face as he blinked like a deer in headlights, seemingly caught outside of what looked like a basic game shop, “O-oh, uh, I guess it’s fair that he doesn’t have much of an opinion on me. I am kinda new and all that. And he’s a legend! I don’t think I’d compare myself to him either. It’s an honor just being mentioned in the same sentence as him,” Yugi replied candidly, blushing as he rubbed a hand through his hair. 

Atem felt the Yugi shaped cavity deepen.

“Despite all of Sennen’s insistence that Mutou doesn’t stand a chance against him, Mutou appears to be letting it all roll off his shoulders as we all wait eagerly to see what match ups could be on the horizon for World's next year.”

“Thanks for that update. I’m sure we’ll hear plenty more from both duelists as we move deeper into the season. For now, here is a report on the ranking of top ten sexiest duelists that are still rumored to be single! And see where the new and darling Yugi Mutou ranks among his older competitors. And after that, join us as we talk about who is rumored to be dating who in the North American division!”

“Great, he’s becoming their little sweetheart,” Atem mumbled as he thumbed through the several other clips and articles Mana had sent overnight. Honestly, did she ever sleep? He’d gotten something sent almost every hour through the night. He grimaced as he saw an article that had a picture of him from a year ago standing outside of his apartment building where a fan had stopped him for an autograph. Unfortunately, the photo blocked the paper he’d been signing and they were claiming he’d taken yet another lover to his bed. Despite it being a year-old photo and untrue, Atem knew he’d make it once again to the top rank for the biggest players in dueling. And by player, he did not mean actual dueling. This was just Mana’s kind way of warning him that he’d won that title again.

Even though Atem hadn’t even found the time or desire to be intimate with anyone in years, it seemingly didn’t matter. The media would see what it wanted to see and nothing else. 

He could remember a time when the reporters had been kinder to him too. When he used to smile sweetly at the camera like Yugi did. Before he’d learned their sneaky ways and the fact they were more interested in a story that sold rather than the truth. Or anyone's feelings.  

It was only a matter of time before Yugi learned his lesson in that sense. He tried to convince himself he didn’t care that he knew eventually they’d turn on the kid too. Just like he tried to convince himself that it shouldn’t bother him how vulnerable a seemingly sweet kid like Yugi was leaving himself so open for them from the start.  Nobody cared when they’d turned on him years ago. Why should he feel bad for anyone else?

“Atem, I’m begging you. Please stop engaging with the reporters when they ask about Yugi. Each time you do they just warp it to sound like you’re bullying him. It’s bad for your image, and I hate when they make you out to sound so mean when we both know you’re an absolute teddy bear at heart,” Mana whined as she started to put away the make-up supplies.

Atem was leaning forward to check her make-up work in the mirror, pleased to see she’d done a good job on it once again. Mahad lurked around the back of the dressing room, arms crossed over his chest.

“I don’t know if even I would describe myself as a teddy bear, Mana,” Atem said as he got up to check the clothes she’d picked out, “And while I do not appreciate them making up a mortal enemy I did not ask for, there is little I can do to stop them at this point without making it worse. If Yugi manages to keep his rank and manages to meet up against me at World's, then I’ll just beat him there and this will be over and done with. We’ve got six months to survive through until that.”

He quirked a brow as he took in the clothes laid out for him, once again marveling at Mana’s ability to fill so many roles for him so well. He once had a full team working for him at the start of his dueling career, but after one too many breeches in confidence, Atem had shrunk his team down to the only ones who had been faithful from the start. Thankfully they were also incredibly competent. Mana seamlessly filled the role of personal assistant, public relations, manager, scheduler, make-up artist, and wardrobe stylist. 

And even if Mahad’s actual title was just that of bodyguard, Mahad would argue he functioned as nursemaid and therapist in addition to that. 

And that was all fine and well to Atem. He didn’t need more than that anyway. 

A fitted dress shirt that went well with his preferred gold jewelry, accentuating make up, and sinfully fitted jeans would do well for a simple TV interview like this one. Even seated, it would still do wonders to show off his best assets. He had to maintain his rank as number one on the sexiest duelists list, after all. Mai was getting a little too close to stealing the only other title he cared about lately. Thankfully Yugi was still far down ranked at number eight, although Atem wondered if that was a fair ranking. It seemed a little low to him, not that he would dare to say such out loud. Maybe he’d lost points with that innocently sweet disposition of his?

“Did they agree to stick to the approved questions list?” Atem asked as he undid the top three buttons of his shirt and began to roll the sleeves up past his forearms.

Mana grimaced, “The assistant at the front desk said she couldn’t find the signed agreement.”

Atem rolled his eyes, they both knew that really meant that they’d chosen not to stick to the listed questions. Of course, they had the choice now of leaving the interview entirely because of the breach of contract, but they’d done that before and they’d played it up to make it seem like Atem had thrown a royal tantrum and stormed out because they didn’t have his favorite snacks in his dressing room. 

He waved his hand dismissively to Mana, a silent assurance he’d go on with the interview anyway. It was TV after all, they couldn’t get too inappropriate at least. 

Or so he thought.

“So, Mr. Sennen, your dating history has been…colorful, wouldn’t you say?” The female reporter on the left asked, her painfully bright red lipstick pulling back into a grin that looked almost demonic.

Atem leaned back in the chair, careful to keep his body language open and calm even as he felt his entire body tense up so fast he may have pulled something internally, “I don’t know if I would say that at all,” he replied cautiously. If anything, it was a stunning shade of beige of late.

“But you have been seen with both men and women over the years. Many in fact,” she pressed.

Atem sucked at his teeth before replying, “I work with people every day.”

“We’re talking about dating them.”

“Are we? I don’t believe I’ve ever confirmed dating anyone,” Atem shot back.

“Ah, so you are saying you prefer one-night stands?”

“I’m not saying that either. I cannot confirm anything of the sort. My love life, or lack thereof, is not up for discussion,” he said, reciting what Mana had made him repeat back to her five times before letting him get on stage. 

The reporter’s eye twitched, but the smile stayed in place as if made of plastic, “I see. Well, perhaps you can comment instead on your rival’s recent reveal. We’re you aware that yesterday Yugi Mutou made it public that he was bisexual?”

Now it was Atem’s eye that twitched as many years of speculation and uncomfortable interviews, rude comments, and public pressures all came barreling back to the forefront of his mind unbidden. His own coming out had been less of a reveal and more of unwanted and too sudden exposure. He could not imagine revealing such a thing willingly after the backlash he’d gotten. 

He shifted uncomfortably in the chair, drawing a leg up as he closed his hands over his ankle just to have something to grab onto that wasn’t the squeaky leather armrests that would give him away. 

“I don’t see what that has to do with dueling. I don’t care about any of that. What I care about is if he can hold his own against an opponent, I don’t care about who he takes to bed. Mutou should focus on his game and nothing else if he wants to keep his rank, and if he ever hopes to place against me,” he snapped. 

He heard the slap of skin off stage, and knew he’d gone and messed up again. He sat back in the chair again, letting himself sink deeper into it, just like he kept sinking deeper into the hole he’d gone and dug for himself once again.

Atem’s face was buried in his hands as the week from hell continued to play out in every form of media that existed. Half of it was speculations of Atem and his impending mental breakdown (which honestly may not be that far off), or clips played of Yugi’s heartbroken expression as reporters told him to his sweet little face that his dueling idol seemingly hated him and told him to focus on his game.

Mana grimaced as she clicked to a different news channel that showed a clip of Yugi training in one of Japan’s well-known arenas, seemingly taking the advice to heart at least. And then cut to a clip of Atem getting coffee from another café...and not training. Making him look like an even bigger jackass than they’d already concluded he was. And honestly Atem felt like they may be right for once. 

“Forgive me for suggesting this, but perhaps it would be wise to reach out to Yugi directly? Clear the air as it were?” Mahad suggested. Atem had no public events today, and Mana had made sure that anything for the next two weeks was cancelled, so there was really no reason for Mahad to even be there with them as they watched his shame play out on TV…but even so, Atem was grateful for his calming presence all the same. As much as he longed to be left alone…he didn’t want to be alone.  

“That’s not a bad idea, Atem. I can reach out to whoever manages him and ask for his number,” Mana said gently. 

The massive luxury apartment he called his own felt stiflingly small right now after days of shutting himself away inside. He did not want to be caught outside right now, not by anyone. He didn’t want to be perceived, judged, admired, hated, or even seen right now. 

But he hated being stuck here all the same. 

“Knowing me lately, I’d probably find a way to make him cry,” he groaned through his hands. 

“Maybe they’d be tears of joy because his idol was speaking to him?” Mana offered brightly. Atem whimpered and let himself fall heavily on his side, the couch all that saved him from crashing to the floor. He flung his arm over his face, unable to face his friend’s concerned gazes right now. He was making all their lives more difficult, and it wasn’t even intentional. He didn’t deserve their kindness. 

He heard her sigh and the remote click again as she changed it to another channel.

Suddenly Atem heard Yugi’s voice coming from the screen and he brought his other arm up to cover his entire face, not wanting to see those massive eyes staring back at him, probably welling up with tears or red rimmed. He didn’t think there would be a more damning sight than those eyes, that probably would use candy dishes for contact lenses, looking back at him sadly because of something he’d said. 

But then he actually listened to what was being said on the TV and he frowned behind the sleeves of his linen shirt.

“If that old man thinks he can hold the title forever, then he’s got another thing coming. Me. I’ve dealt with bullies my whole life. He doesn’t scare me at all.”

Atem’s arms fell away as he bolted up from the couch to stare at the TV, seeing not Yugi’s round eyes red rimmed and glassy, but sharp and angry as he looked down at the camera.

Mahad gaped openly beside him as Mana let out a soft gasp of shock.

Atem’s mouth opened and closed a few times before finally forming words. Old man?!

“Why, that jumped up little shit.”

Chapter Text

So, the little mouse had teeth outside of the arena after all. Atem was starting to regret the week of self-imprisonment he’d subjected himself to as it appeared that Yugi had gotten over the heartbreak of his idol rejecting him and was spitting back like a seasoned pro wrestler in shit talking in the span of a day. 

Maybe he’d last longer in this business than Atem thought?

While this should have made him feel a little better to have been part of the reason Yugi was growing a bit more of a backbone, Atem found that he still felt guilt over it even so. It made him think back to all the cruel things said about him when he’d first come on the scene, and all the venom spat between the meaner duelists that he’d tried to stay above. He had never wanted to be part of that cruelty that sometimes came with the territory of competition, but found himself in it all the same it seemed. And to have it directed at Yugi, even if unintentionally, may have made Atem feel like the bully Yugi accused him of being. 

Despite his reluctant entrance to the ‘shit-talking’ side show, Atem still firmly believed he was still above other participants in the side game like Keith and Haga were. He just hated to be grouped with scum like them at all. Keith especially. He’d rather be ranked among the worst dressed list three seasons consecutively than be placed in the same category as that man. 

Thankfully Mana was much too good at her job to land him in anything other than best dressed every time. 

Atem knew he’d have to redeem himself at least a little as his own Regional’s Tournament drew closer. While he didn’t think his unfortunate slip ups regarding Yugi would have any effect on his game, it would still make all the required press conferences a nightmare to behold. 

But at least they couldn’t hold him responsible for being the one to make Yugi cry himself out of his top rankings. Already Yugi had taken part in two smaller charity tournament events and come out blazingly on top each time. Once again proving his duel with Kaiba was hardly a fluke. Not that Atem ever believed it was. The kid was far too interesting, and Atem found himself drawn in in spite of himself. He should be distancing himself from the kid. But instead, he was just digging himself in deeper into his Yugi shaped hole by following along with his ranking and the news surrounding him. 

Atem couldn't remember when he'd last spent so much of his time pouring over articles and clips of the game. It was stirring something awake inside of him, oddly enough. It almost got him excited for his own regionals coming up. Almost. He still knew it would be like all the other hundreds of tournaments he'd competed in over the last decade, not truly worth getting his heartrate up really. 

Thank goodness that Yugi would not be in attendance to the upcoming regionals for his division at least. Atem didn’t want to think what it would be like to come face to face with him right now. For all he knew, the media had riled up their new little darling enough that the kid would go fully feral and claw at his eyes the moment their eyes met. 

Although it was difficult to imagine even that given how kind his face appeared when he now wasn’t clapping back at whatever accidental word vomit Atem had managed to spew that day. 

Maybe Atem was overthinking it. Besides, it was unlikely he’d see Yugi until World’s anyway. That was plenty of time for things to cool down.

It turned out that while Atem may not have had to worry about meeting Yugi any time soon, he probably should have worried about meeting anyone associated with him.

Because apparently Atem forgot that newcomers like Yugi usually came with friends who hadn’t learned to hate him for his fame yet. Ones even willing to fly out to an event outside of the country to confront him.

“Hey, Sennen! You’ve got some fucking nerve talking shit about my friend like that.”

Atem paused, caught off guard at the sudden harsh voice ringing out over the usually happy screams of his gathered fans lined up outside the event. Mahad shifted closer at his back, placing his body instantly between Atem and whoever was raising their voice startlingly louder than the shrill masses of teenaged girls. Unable to contain his curiosity though, Atem peered out past the bulk of his bodyguard to try and see who was making that racket.

Quickly he caught sight of the person, mostly because of the raised fist in the air as well as his face being the only one not starry eyed and screaming to have his baby. He seemed to have quickly noted Atem seeing him because his reddened face darkened even further as he pushed his way through the crowd of fans until only the stanchions and security team were holding him back. 

“Can I help you?” Atem asked warily. Mahad made a tsking noise behind him, clearly unhappy Atem was engaging with an angered person. This meant Atem would be getting a scolding later, but he’d come to expect it anyway. He just couldn’t do anything right these days.

“You bet you can help me! I want you to lay off Yuug,” he snapped. 

Atem frowned, his head tilting to the side in confusion, “Yuge? Is that slang for something?” He turned to Mahad, although he didn’t know why. Mahad was even worse when it came to whatever strange words the youth were making up these days. Didn’t they already have enough words without adding more nonsensical ones every year? They needed Mana for this.

“Yuug. Yu-gi! Yugi Mutou, you old creep! That’s my friend you’ve been dissing and I’m not about to let you just keep getting away with it,” he said, raising his fist between them only for Mahad to easily push it back down.

Mahad leveled Atem with an unimpressed look as he easily held the struggling kids arm down, “Atem, what did you say about Yugi now?” he asked.

Atem gaped, raising his hands in defense mode, “Hell if I know this time, I haven’t said a word about him in weeks. You know that!”

The kid was listening though and scoffed loudly, “Yeah, well you’ve said plenty before that! You have any idea what those words did to him? You were his idol, you arrogant prick. I bet you aren’t half the duelist he is, but we aren’t even going to get a chance to find out because I’m gonna be the one to knock you out of World's before you even get a chance to get near him,” the kid spat back.

Atem frowned, looking his face over with more care this time. He grimaced when a name finally clicked in place, “Wait, I know you. You took sixth at Regionals in Japan. Kaiba beat you to advance.”

The kid puffed up his chest, “That’s right, you better get used to hearing the name Jounouchi, because me and my buddy Yuug are coming straight up to the top to take your crown. About time the new generation brought life back to dueling,” the duelist, Jounouchi said proudly. 

Mahad rolled his eyes as Atem scowled, “You think you’re the first recent Junior’s transfer to say that to me? Nine years and no one has lived up to the promise. I’ll wish you all the luck just like all those that came before you,” he said with a wave of his hand as he walked into the event. He heard Jounouchi sputtering behind him, but paid it no mind as Mahad escorted him away from the screaming fans that finally managed to drown out his voice. 

Strangely though, as the door closed behind him, he swore he still heard the challenge ringing through his mind. 

After seeing one too many celebrities fall to dangerous vices over the years, Atem knew better than to drink himself into oblivion just because he found himself once again alone in his apartment on a Friday night.

He longed to do something just to break free of the prison he’d found himself in for years, but knew he didn’t want to deal with the consequences of even allowing himself a few hours of limited happiness. Even sneaking into a movie held little appeal, because the last thing he wanted was to be recognized sitting alone in a theatre only for there to be a report the next day about his lonely ass not even having a date for a movie. Even going for a walk came with risks unless he wore some disguise, and his pride made it very difficult to reduce himself to such a level just for a stroll through the park.

Coffee was the only thing worth the risk these days, and he’d even given that up in favor of giving Mana or Mahad an additional bonus if they brought it to him.

At least he was fitter than ever before thanks to his apartment complex having their own gym. It was the only thing he left his rooms for just for a change of scenery. He’d probably look even better if he didn’t have to keep ordering in food just to avoid going shopping. He had even tried to have a shopping service do it for him, but they were always terrible at picking out the best produce and he’d given up fast after that.

What he wouldn’t give to not be himself for a few hours...

Atem slowly paced around the large expanse of his apartment. Taking in elegant pool table in the back that no one but him had used in at least three years. Then turning to see the long wooden dining room table that even he hadn’t used since his interior decorator insisted on it. There were ten chairs seated around it. Ten. He could only think of two people he’d ever want to share a meal with, and he paid them to work for him.

The massive sectional leather couch that had cost some unseemly amount of money had only one decorative pillow and one single throw blanket in the only spot that got used by him. The rest of the couch was almost pristine, with not even the hint of an indent where anyone else sat since the cleaners came through.

There was a guest bedroom that had never been touched. Atem didn’t even want to look at the door as he stalked past it, because it only made him wonder if he’d ever have someone want to partake in a life like his.

The large patio beckoned to him welcomingly due to the lovely sight it had over his city, but he’d avoided for years thanks to a journalist with a very impressive zoom lens that had managed to catch his latest tryst and Atem enjoying the hot tub and then the patio chairs...and then the patio floor...

He shook his head, as much as he’d like to enjoy memories of that adventurous night, they’d been spoiled by the images being leaked online. That had been years ago now, and he still couldn’t bring himself to go outside on the patio anymore. Even alone.

He walked past it and decided that he couldn’t do the gym for the third time today without hurting something. He may as well just go to bed early.

Which led him to his bedroom.

His interior decorator had done a marvelous job making the room scream opulence and comfort. Everything just bragged of money, even if Atem didn’t truly care all that much about the money. He’d just wanted a comforting place to call his own, and he’d gotten that.

It was indeed comfortable...and it was indeed his own. Only his own.

He yanked back the black satin sheets, wondering if it weren’t for the cleaners that came by if a plume of dust would have risen from the other side of the bed. The sheets felt cool against his skin as he slid in. Never warm at first, because it was only ever him here. No one else was there to keep them warm after all.

But it was fine. The mattress was the perfect ratio of soft and hard. The sheets cost more than he cared to admit. And the comforter was as heavy and plush as it could be without crushing or suffocating him at night. What more could he possibly ask for?

He asked himself that again and again over the next few hours as he stared at the ceiling, waiting for when he finally was able to fall asleep.

The flurry of movement around his bedroom almost seemed foreign to the space given all it had seen of life in the last years had only been himself.

It was just a shame it was only by two people he adored like siblings, and not anyone of more promising reasons to be here.

“Mana, I really don’t want to do another public event so close to regionals,” Atem said, trailing behind her as she began shoving armfuls of clothes into his suitcase. 

Mahad was sitting on his bed, flipping through the latest issue of Duelist’s Elite magazine absently. Atem grimaced when he saw Yugi’s face on the cover as he tried not to think of how good the photo was of the younger duelist. It had been a moment of weakness that he hadn’t instantly burned it once it showed up in his mail. He hoped Mahad didn’t question why it was in his bedroom of all places that weren't the trash, because Atem had been asking himself that all week. 

“This is a charity event, Atem. It’s not only good for your image, but you always attend a few of these before dueling season really takes off. You’ve been so holed up lately that you haven’t even gone to one. They’re the only non-dueling thing you actually look forward to,” Mana said over her shoulder as she began to pack his toiletries bag for him. 

Atem tried not to question how she knew exactly what he usually packed himself, but then again, he paid her to know everything. Still, how did she even know that drawer was where he put his belts?

“It’s one of your favorite charities too, Atem. Besides, I’d like to visit that city again. There’s this little street food cart that I’ve been dreaming about for a year now,” Mahad said, still thumbing through another article. Atem stuck his tongue out with disgust to see Keith’s shirtless body flexing from behind a block of text saying ‘he was ready to squash the competition’. 

Atem was far too old to whine, so he groaned instead as he flopped back on his bed that still felt too large even with Mahad and his suitcase taking up most of it. 

Mana hummed some happy sounding tune as she gleefully dumped another armload of clothes and travel items into the open case. Atem didn’t even bother to try and stop her now. It would take too much effort to unpack, and they were right. He did enjoy attending the charity events. Not the actual attending part, but the giving back part. For all the trouble his fame caused him, he still could appreciate the draw they he brought when he showed up at events like this. It always meant more money being poured into whatever cause he was supporting that wasn’t just from his own bulging wallet. 

Thankfully, news reporters were usually confined to the outside of charity events, and he wouldn’t have to endure their attention for long. He was usually safe within the ballrooms where events like this were held. And maybe if the stars and planets aligned he could find someone who may not know his name or face well enough to risk a romp back in his hotel room. After the last month, he felt like he could use the release. It had been far too long. 

“Fine. Just pack the black suit and the dark maroon shirt. I’d like to fade into the background this time,” he sighed and let Mana finish packing for him. He tried not to read too much into the strange relationship he had with the two people who were technically his employees when he saw Mana slip condoms and lube into a side pocket. At least she had faith in his love life, even if Atem didn’t.

It’s just a charity event, not even one held in a region he competed in. If he was lucky, the only people who would recognize him would be the fans and reporters forced to stay outside the ballroom. 

Yes, maybe this wouldn’t be so bad. Perhaps it would even help turn his recent miserable existence around, and maybe even distract him from even thinking about anyone named Yugi for a least a few hours.

He should have known he wouldn’t be that lucky.

Chapter Text

“Okay, let’s run through the evening plans one last time, shall we?”

Atem rolled his eyes as he gazed out the windows of the limo, but did not bother to try and stop him. Nothing had changed since they’d gone over the same schedule before leaving their last interview for the day, but he had a feeling it had more to do with Mahad wanting to make sure Atem did not go ‘off script’ on his watch. Mana was already back at the hotel and doing whatever magic she did to keep Atem’s career reined in, so it was up to Mahad to be the sole handler for a while longer.

Absently he fiddled with the cuffs of his suit sleeves, hating how restricting it felt on his wrists.

“Once the limo drops us off, I will escort you through the red carpet they have set up. There will be photographers, camera men, as well as a few journalists for the first half, and then fans have been allowed to be there for autograph signings if you wish to do so,” Mahad recited, ticking off his fingers as Atem was forced to listen.

They knew that even if Atem would like nothing more than to just run inside without interacting with anyone, he should try to restore some of his tarnished image by posing for as many photos as he could, while interacting with as many fans as well. At least his most of his fans didn’t seem to hate him yet, and he truly adored their passion for the game.

“Once we are inside, I will escort you to the ballroom for the event. They do not want bodyguards present inside as they have hired their own security and don’t want tables taken up by those not contributing to the funds, so I will leave the building only once you are inside the ballroom and not before then. That means you are not to leave the ballroom until either the event ends or you have called for me and I am visible to you. We both know reception has been spotty for us in this city, so if you can’t get a text through you still need to wait where you are until I respond. Atem, are you listening to me?”

Atem grunted, slouching back from the widow to look over at Mahad’s stern expression.

He leveled a lazy look at his friend, “Yes, I know. No sneaking off until you’re there to hold my hand on the way back to the hotel room. Only eat or drink things provided by staff. No talking to strangers. No elbows on the table, and watch my manners. Anything else I’ve forgotten, dearest mother?”

“How about mind your tone, young man?” Mahad said after a pause, and Atem found himself chuckling wryly. If anyone were to ask journalists how to describe him, ‘young’ would not be among their choices given how lately they’ve tried to play him up as some ancient being among all these modern youths. It made him wonder what they truly saw when they looked at him.

Atem sighed and brushed some invisible lint off of his pants, once again marveling at how well Mana had dressed him. “Did Mana ever manage to get the guest list off of the organizers?” he asked just as the screams of fans could be heard outside of the limo. He peered out the tinted windows to see cameras already flashing.

“She was not successful, no. Understandable given it’s a room full of rich and famous people. I can imagine they would not want a running list of guests circulating,” Mahad said with a shrug. It really wasn’t anything new, but Atem had hoped to find out if anyone he tolerated as a human being would be around the party to talk with. It seemed he’d be forced into small talk with strangers then.

He’d been trying so hard to look forward to this event as a chance to remind himself why he used to love his life and all the excitement it used to bring him. But instead, he only felt dread as the limo came to a stop and the bright red carpet could be seen right outside the door.  

“Atem? Are you ready?” Mahad asked gently.

Atem drew in a deep sigh before nodding and sliding over to let Mahad exit first.

His ears were still ringing as he stepped into the lobby of the hotel where the event was being held. It also happened to be the hotel where Mana had booked his room, so he was happy to know he could have a quick getaway when it was deemed appropriate for him to duck out.

The doors shut behind them, the voices of the crowds outside muffled to the point he could hear the soft tinkling of piano keys playing. All cries of “It’s the King of Games!” faded, but the feeling lingered all the same.

“That wasn’t so bad, now was it?” Mahad cooed at him.

Atem let himself smile a little, “No, it really wasn’t actually.” Maybe the night wouldn’t be a total loss then. The dueling fans outside were all happy and eager, smiles brighter and blinding than even the cameras still flashing around him for every step he took. The reporters were thankfully more willing to ask questions about the charity than dueling, or even his personal life of late. And he had happily sung what praises he had for the organization and all they had accomplished, and all they wanted to accomplish after tonight. It felt good, and he didn’t leave with any more trauma than he arrived with. There was hope for this night yet.

“Come on then, your highness,” Mahad teased, gently pushing Atem forward towards the open doors of the ballroom, “Your ball awaits you.”

Atem rolled his eyes, playfully elbowing him in the stomach, “I’ll text you when I’m ready to leave the event. Go find your food cart, and try not to get food poisoning.”

“Behave while I’m gone,” was Mahad’s final warning before Atem walked through the doors. Only then did Mahad finally retreat for the night.

Inside the ballroom was the expected amount of grandeur and elegance an event like this usually had. There was a stage where speeches would be made, and white clothes tables with unreasonably huge floral arrangements at the center of each. There were live musicians and an open dance floor that no one had braved stepping on yet. An open bar that already had a line coming from it. Atem didn’t even make it deeper in the room before one of the organizers approached him and started up conversation, asking him if his speech was ready.

He patted the breast pocket where he felt the notecards Mana had made for him with a smile, assuring her everything was fine. As soon as she scurried off to make sure there were no other lurking disasters for the night, Atem found himself surrounded by a few of the donors and he began playing his part for the night seamlessly. A few times he checked his phone he noted once again he had almost no reception, and he hoped that didn’t mean he’d have to wait until the bitter end of the party for Mahad to come.

Everything was going fine for now at least. He was eloquently thanking the donors for their contributions and urging them to continue to support in projects such as this, while also reciting all the witty (and sometimes painful) puns that Mana had written into his note. People would chuckle or laugh at the right cues, it seemed everything was perfectly going to plan...until midway through his speech he happened to look up, for no discernable reason, and spotted an unmistakable head of hair at one of the tables.

Were he less practiced in giving speeches he may have actually swallowed his tongue seeing Yugi Mutou of all people in the crowd. Even so, he did pause for a breath too long as he tried to remember what words were and how to read them on the cards in his hands. He cleared his throat and hurried through the last few cards though, eager to get off stage so that he could have more time to question all his life decisions that led him here and now.

What was Yugi even doing here? Had he gone out of his way to hunt down Atem like his ‘friend’ Jounouchi had? Maybe he should text Mahad to come bail him out in case Yugi was here to lash out. No, that couldn’t be it. This party was by invite only. That meant someone invited Yugi Mutou of all people.

But why? Didn’t rich people watch the news? Why would they willingly invite something that may actually stir up drama at their stuffy party?

As he woodenly made his way back to his table, he could not help but glance over to where Yugi was seated a few tables away, and caught him staring back. And truthfully, the kid looked as shocked to see Atem as he was to see Yugi. There would have been some comfort there if Yugi’s shocked expression didn’t almost instantly fall into something that looked like he had sucked on the lemon from his drink. Was the kid even old enough to drink here? What country were they in again?

Atem sat down and kept his chin held high despite the bubbling anxiety he began feeling. Something felt off about this. Yugi wasn’t even listed as one of the special guests speaking tonight.

He sat through several more speeches, but didn’t hear a word of them as he tried to not turn his neck to try and catch another glimpse of the other duelist in the room. It was far more difficult than he cared to admit and even resorted to trying to catch any mirrored reflection he could in the ridiculously large vases on the table, but Yugi was too far away or too distorted to make out much besides his black suit and...was he still wearing that collar?

Once the speeches ended though, Atem all but flew out of his seat and made a beeline for the bar. A drink would be the only thing to carry him through the night now. A few people congratulated him on a wonderful speech, but Atem could not honestly even remember what he said. He managed a nod and a thank you to each of them as he skillfully weaved his way through the crowds and ducked behind the nearest pillar to hide.

He leaned against it heavily, throwing his head back so he could properly bang it against the hard stone a few times because he deserved it seeing how Mana wasn’t here to slap him upside the head for being so stupid over his reaction. Atem had stared down hundreds of intimidating duelists since he started competing and he’d never so much as flinched away from them. Not even to Keith who may have actually tried to throw some punches.

Atem was being ridiculous. Yes, he felt a little guilty for his carelessly thrown words, but Yugi had rebounded just fine. He probably hated Atem, but he would have learned to hate him eventually anyway when he eventually would crush his dreams of winning the Worlds Title. Yugi just got more of a head start than most.

Letting out a long breath, Atem calmed himself. He was more confident than this. He should not be so shaken by one chance encounter. He would have eventually met up with the kid at some point after all. Even if this seemed a little too coincidental for him to easily brush off.

He should just finish his drink and go back out to mingle as he was supposed to. He’d give it an hour at most before he called Mahad to come take him back to his room though.

Then he glanced down at his phone to check the time and his reception again and choked on his drink when he saw a message from Mana pop up.

Mana: Atem, it’s a media trap! They invited Yugi to catch you two meeting up for the first time and drum up more attention for the event. Someone must have tipped off the media about it, I saw a bunch of the dueling gossip magazine journalists sneaking into the hotel. You need to lay low and stay away from Yugi!

Given how he only had half a bar of service, this text may have been older and only just gotten through. He’d have no fucking clue how long those media hounds had been sniffing around outside, or if they’re still lurking inside.

“Shit,” he cursed under his breath, putting his glass down on the nearest tray and hurling himself towards the nearest exit he could see.

He wasn’t even going to risk it. While there was security for the event, it was all inside the ballroom, where Yugi was. After nine years of maintaining a confident and regal presence befitting his title of King of Games, he’d been reduced to eating his own foot more often in the last month than he had in his entire career. He didn’t want to taste verbal toe jam again today and then have it be spread to the lurking media hounds by morning. Even if they couldn’t get to Atem, they could certainly catch Yugi whenever he left the party. Best not leave anything to chance and just leave before he messed up again.

In his haste, he may have forgotten to text Mahad.

That was his first big mistake of the night besides showing up at all.

As soon as he stepped out from the ballroom doors, he realized quite quickly that the hotel staff was not prepared to hold back all the reporters, and it didn’t take long before he heard the first shouts of his name be called out from down the hall.

Atem managed to turn in the opposite direction with a somewhat measured pace until he found the first corner to turn down...and then broke into a sprint.

It seemed all that extra time at the gym was finally paying off because he was flying down the hallway before even the first flash of the camera went off. If they were lucky, they would have gotten an action shot of his shoe and nothing more.

If they didn’t get a shot of his face, then the story would be dropped. He just had to keep ahead of them.

But he didn’t expect them to be fanned out in the halls. Or maybe they were just fans? Atem didn’t even have time to pause and find out, he couldn’t risk it. He nearly fell over as he skidded around another corner.

He could still hear more voices drifting down the halls, and they could have just been hotel guests, but Atem was too far lost in his own panic to just get away that his brain couldn’t even begin to comprehend them as anything other than a threat.

He just had to find some elevators, then at least he could make it back to his floor and maybe get back to his room before he was caught. He’d deal with Mahad’s scolding later. Preferably after Atem had made use of the room’s mini bar after all this was done.

But voices were getting louder, and he swore this time he heard his name being said followed by Yugi’s as he made one last desperate scramble around a corner. Only to come to a very dead end.

“Fuck,” he panted, staring at the wall before him with one nondescript door upon it. No exit sign was above it, but it didn’t have a key card lock on it. Maybe...

He didn’t have time to consider it further as the voices got closer and he heard fast footsteps in pursuit. Atem grabbed for the handle, grunting in effort when it only seemed to move a little. He snarled under his breath and used every last sinew of muscle he’d unintentionally put on in the last month and yanked at the door, finally having it swing open before him...

With Yugi Mutou’s stunned face staring up at him holding the other side of the door that appeared to lead into a janitor’s closet.

“Hey, get your own closet!” Yugi whispered harshly.

Atem opened his mouth to ask him what he was doing in there, but the voices got loud once more and Atem thought questions like that were overrated anyway and shoved the younger duelist forward until they were both crowded in the small space and then pulled the door shut behind them.

Chapter Text

Both of them held their breath as the sounds of voices and footsteps could be heard just outside of the closet. Atem swore he could hear his own heartbeat frantically beating in his ears as he waited for what he felt like the inevitable.

Atem was actually glad that Yugi had not managed to turn on the light in here because it may have given away their position as well as having him literally face to face with the kid who he could feel was scant inches away from him at best.

The doorhandle was wiggled and both Atem and Yugi dove for it, their hands closing over it together to keep it from opening. They could feel the person trying to jiggle it more, but they held it firmly in place, hoping that they would assume it was locked. It shook once, twice, and one last time before it stopped and the voices faded away.

He could have crumpled to the floor in relief if not for being overly aware of just who it was that he was practically holding hands with. Yugi must have realized this too, because he was suddenly yanking his hands back with a huff before switching on the lightbulb above them.

Atem flinched at the sudden light, but took the moment to look at where he’d ended up. Any excuse not to have to look Yugi in the eye just yet. It wouldn’t have been that small a closet if not for how many shelves and cleaning tools were lined up inside of it. Atem wrinkled his nose at the dirty mop heads level with his face and took a half step back only to freeze when he realized it moved him closer to the room’s other occupant. The one that was watching him warily.

“Okay, they’ve moved on. This was my closet. You can go get your own now,” Yugi said, waving his hand over his head dismissively. 

Atem snorted, still not looking at him, because he was pretending that looking at dirty mops was more interesting than looking at Yugi’s pretty face, “If you think they don’t have people still prowling around out there, then you truly are new to the game. Besides, if I leave from here, I may lead them right back to you. Just because you’re their little darling right now does not mean they won’t gladly write up some sordid excuse for you hiding in a closet with the King of Games. I think it benefits us both to just stay put and once we are out of here never speak of this again.”

“Fine,” Yugi sighed and turned to lean against the wall, his hair oddly looking in place among the feather dusters hung there.

Atem knew he could only look at cleaning appliances for so long before even Yugi may start asking invasive questions about his interests, so he pulled out his phone to check for any more messages from Mana. Or better yet, try to text Mahad to come and save his sorry ass once again. He didn’t even care if it made Mahad laugh at him for the foreseeable future, Atem just wanted out.

“There’s no reception in here,” Yugi pointed out just as Atem saw he was right.

Atem scowled and shoved it back in his pocket.

“Wonderful,” he sighed, rubbing at his temples and wishing he had the forethought to bring his drink along with him. It would have helped right about now. With a sharp sigh he dropped his hand back to his side, “We may be here for a while then if we want to be safe. Leaving too early they may catch us both leaving together, and I imagine that’s not a headline either of us wants.”

Yugi shoulders slumped miserably as he nodded, “No, not really.”

At least they could agree on that.

Atem eyed the abandoned suit jacket that Yugi had already tossed aside, leaving him in just his black dress shirt and purple vest, sleeves rolled up messily at his elbows. Leather cuffs could be seen on his wrists which Atem quirked a brow at seeing as this was supposed to be a high-class event. It seemed the kid wasn’t overly fond of formal wear. Not that Atem could blame him. The sleeves of his own constricting jacket were enough to make him want to rip it off...but he was more composed than that and calmly slid it off his shoulders instead and hung it on the handle of a vacuum. He leaned against the opposite wall of the younger duelist, trying to keep his face in the practiced confident façade he wore to all his duels. It was comforting, like putting on armor for whatever battle may be ahead of him.

But as he watched Yugi across from him, he didn’t really get the vibe that the kid wanted a fight. Not unless it was going to be with his own feet given how he was staring down at the ground quite intently. Maybe he could salvage something here like Mana had hoped he could with a phone call?

For all that Atem had expected drama, flames, shouting, and possibly broken objects from their first in person meeting, he found the actual situation much more sedate than that. The kid looked more tired than angry. Had the media played up Yugi's anger and Atem hadn't caught on? 

To say he was relieved would have been quite the understatement. 

Slowly he began to roll his own sleeves up, done dealing with the cuffs. It wasn’t like the window cleaner would be offended if he let his hair down a bit. They were in a closet, not a ballroom. He eyed Yugi as he slowly turned to face him. 

Atem cleared his throat, “No one had told me that you were attending this event,” he said, tugging the second sleeve into place.

“No one told me either,” Yugi replied, his voice sounding both annoyed and sad. Atem tried not to let that bother him as much as it did. This kid had called him old quite recently after all and was openly making threats to take his title. It just didn’t sit right that someone that practically oozed liquid sunshine in all those clips Mana sent him could look so put out in a dingy, poorly lit closet.

Atem felt his lips pull back in a grimace, “I got a message from my manager that she spotted the tabloid vans pulling up and warned me to leave the party. She thought it was an attempt to stage our first public meeting together. I admit I left quite quickly after that. I did not want a public confrontation.”

“We figured as much too. Anzu messaged me the same, she saw a news station reporting on the party and mentioned you were here too. I didn’t really want to make a big deal of it so I figured hiding would be my best bet. Until you came along and invaded my hiding spot,” he said, finally lifting his head enough for Atem to see a little glint of challenge in those deceivingly sweet eyes.

Atem rolled his eyes, “I did not know you had laid claim to this closet. I apologize for my lack of foresight into such things. I thought you had told the media you were done with hiding in closets,” he said, rubbing at his neck and tried to twitch his lips into something he hoped looked like a friendly smile.

Yugi’s laugh was bitter, and it twisted something inside of Atem, “Ha ha. Not like I had much of a choice in that. But now we’re both stuck in here. Kind of feels a bit like high school in a way actually,” Yugi mumbled, and Atem swore he saw the twitch of his lips into something that may have also been considered a smile.

Atem chuckled against his better judgement, “There is a joke in here somewhere, I suppose.”

“Yeah, probably hanging beside the dirty mops,” Yugi said, wrinkling his nose and making Atem chuckle again.

They were making jokes, that was good right? Yugi hadn’t gone for his throat and Atem hadn’t said anything to make him cry. It was sad that he considered this one of his toughest victories to date. At least he could allow himself to relax slightly, and propped one foot up against the wall he was leaning on. He crossed his arms over his chest to observe his reluctant companion more closely not that he wasn’t looking at Atem like he was a monster from Bonz’s deck.

He slouched further against the wall, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly now that he didn’t feel like he was one poorly placed word away from disaster. He just had to keep this up for however long it took for the halls to clear out, or for Mahad to call in a search party with the local police when he discovered Atem wasn’t in his hotel room or the party anymore.

As glad as he was neither of them was spitting venom at the other, Atem found himself a little at a loss for what to say next. This was not at all what he had expected meeting Yugi for the first time. And not just because it was in a closet of all places. He had expected Yugi to come at him with the same calculated and surprising ferocity that he'd seen in that duel with Kaiba. And instead, Yugi was being...calm? Civil? Tolerant? 

It was a fucking miracle. 

He didn’t want to accidentally say the wrong thing now that things seemed peaceful between them, but he felt like the awkward silence between them would be just as damning if it kept up for too long. The media had been working for years to pass off his introverted nature as being aloof and arrogant, and he could only assume Yugi would have already absorbed that as truth. Everyone else did after all. Sometimes it was easier to lean into the skid, rather than try to fight it. Sometimes it was just easier to be what they wanted him to be, just so his real self could be safe from them. But for once, in this case he was hoping that Yugi may be able to see past what he'd been painted as. And maybe eventually know Atem never meant to hurt Yugi's feelings. 

Stealing a quick glance down where Yugi sat, he noted that the kid was still staring at the floor. It gave Atem a little more leeway in observing him openly, even if he worried why Yugi was avoiding even looking at him. The kid was much nicer to look at than cleaning chemicals after all. 

After seeing a shameful amount of videos of Yugi’s past duels, Atem already knew that he was a little on the short side...if he was being generous. But Yugi made up for it with his charisma and agreeable nature that came through in his interviews as much as it did in his duels. That glint of determination that seemed to overtake the kid like a different person during competition did not take away from what was obviously a sweet and kind person. Even when taunted by Kaiba or a few more of the mouthier kids in the Juniors division, Yugi either smiled blissfully through it all, came back with wonderfully witty taunts back, or just came at them even harder through the game. Even when Atem would have sworn he’d wilt, he never did.

Yugi wasn’t even wilted now, although he did look quite tired. Not surprising seeing how it was getting quite late and for all Atem knew he still had a bedtime.

The kid was intriguing, that was for certain, and not just because he was nice to look at. Even when the backdrop was dusty brooms and stained rags.  Atem couldn’t remember the last time he’d had any such interest in an opponent before they’d dueled even once. There was something about Yugi thought that sparked an old flame that used to burn more brightly inside of Atem, back when he first started competing just because he loved the challenge of it. Winning everything for nine years had dulled the thrill of the challenge to an almost numbness, almost to the point Atem didn’t even remember what it felt like to be excited by something anymore.

But, something about Yugi was kindling what he’d thought had died out long ago. He didn’t feel threatened by Yugi, but he felt that old feeling of challenge tickling something inside under his ribs. Like he’d been hunting for years and only just caught scent of game ahead.

And Yugi had already proven he could hold his own against whatever rubbish, twisted taunts were made by Atem’s words. There was more mettle in the kid than he gave him credit for. Just as there was more to his dueling too, somehow managing to take down the second best duelist in the world in his first year. Oh yes, Atem's interest was quite piqued now. 

But now as he watched as Yugi fiddled with the leather cuffs, seemingly unable to stop fidgeting in their shared boredom, it seemed like a way to not look back at Atem. Almost like he was intimidated by him, or afraid? No, maybe it was hurt? Atem felt a little part of him shrivel thinking that. While he usually took great joy in striking fear into his opponents on and off the field, he didn’t think the reason Yugi was looking away from him had anything to do with his title.

Whatever the reason, Atem didn’t like it.

He wanted to see more of that person he saw in the videos and interviews. The one who didn’t back down from a fight. The one who liked to prove everyone wrong. The one who looked like they could be made of cotton candy, but dressed like they’d fallen into a Hot Topic clearance bin.

How could he bring him out? He just had to start by getting the kid talking perhaps.

Casual conversation may be his worst skill of late, but he could try. 

“You seem to have quite the affinity for belts and the like,” Atem said, jerking his chin down at the cuffs and the studded belt slid into dress pants. He internally winced at the odd opening, but at least he said something. And he did appreciate Yugi's look. Atem was almost certain there was some fashionista designer that would faint seeing the combo in person, but he found the look suited Yugi and did not mind it.

Yugi’s lips twitched up into a smile as he peered up at Atem through his eyelashes, and he just barely saw the hint of teeth bared, “Like you’re one to talk. I’ve always wondered if you were allergic to sleeves or something. Did they not have sleeves back in your day?”

Atem threw his head back with a laugh, startling himself and Yugi. Ah yes, there he was. There was the glint he’d been hoping for sparking in Yugi’s eyes. That was easier than he thought to lure him out.

“And here everyone thinks you’re a sweetheart. You have some fight to you, don’t you?” Atem asked, looking down where Yugi was settling more comfortably on the floor, sitting on a somewhat clean pile of towels.

The kid shrugged carelessly, but Atem saw that glint come back to his eyes. The one he saw when this saccharine faced kid took down Kaiba. Yugi was no longer looking at the floor, his large eyes narrowing into something sharp as he looked up at Atem.

“I’m still a nice person, but I’ve learned not to just roll over and take shit from anyone. Not even those reporters who keep chasing me all over the place. And not from old duelists who say I’m their rival before even meeting me,” Yugi said with a dramatic roll of his painted eyes towards Atem.

“The media made that claim, not me I’ll have you know,” Atem confessed, and to his surprise Yugi didn’t look shocked at the revelation. He nodded, his face twisting into something sour again.

“Yeah, we thought it was weird too after we thought about it more. You’ve never been one for being petty with other duelists in the past. Eventually we realized we were probably being strung along. Maybe we figured it out a little too late for me not to react poorly though, sorry about that,” he said, only sounding slightly sheepish, “But really, they can go suck a big fat one. Do you know how stressed out I was thinking you hated me without even meeting me? They try that again I’m sicking Anzu on them. See if they try to fuck with me again,” he scoffed, crossing his arms over his chest moodily. 

Atem gaped at him through his wide smile, leaning forward as if he were being let in on a secret, “So, are you telling me that you aren’t their little darling after all?” he whispered in mock surprise.

Yugi snorts, kicking out one leg to stretch in the tiny little closet. If both of them weren’t as small as they were, it would have been impossible to get comfortable. But Atem found himself relaxing even more as Yugi’s more spitfire personality came to life before him.

“As if. Like I said, I’m a nice person and nice usually is boring enough I’m hoping they may leave me alone more often than not once I’m no longer shiny and new. If I told them how I really feel all the time then they’d never leave me alone,” Yugi said, loosening his tie with a grimace.

Atem hummed, shaking his head in sympathy, “Boring does tend to keep you out of the headlines, but from what I’ve seen you are far too interesting for your own good. Taking out the regionals champ in your first season...” Atem whistled impressed.

“I don’t know about that. I’m only doing what you did,” Yugi said quietly. And it was true. It was exactly what Atem had done his first season too. And no one had done since.

Atem sighed, turning to stare at the buckets of floor cleaner rather than what he knew would be a searching gaze from the other, “Yes, and that means I can say from experience that it is unlikely that they’ll let you stay boring. We only went two weeks without the media getting fresh taunts from either of us, and in response they tried to orchestrate us meeting and I suppose they were hoping for a brawl of some kind.”

Yugi snorted, “Well, we’ll just have to disappoint them then. I didn’t really want to fight you. I don’t start fights with the elderly.”

“And I am not one to take any brats over my knee unless they ask for it,” Atem shot back quickly, his lips pulling back into a grin that Yugi shared.

Something stirred again within Atem.

“Careful now, those are fighting words. I may just change my mind,” Yugi warned, but the effect was lessened because it was said around charming little giggles that sounded like musical wind chimes to Atem’s ears.

Atem mock gasped, hand resting on his chest, “Are you telling me you aren’t actually made of sunshine and puppies as you’ve led us all to believe?” Atem asked, strutting over and sliding down the wall to share the stack of towels. He counted victory number two when Yugi moved over to give him more space to sit.

Yugi wrinkled his nose again, “Being made out of puppies sounds kinda morbid actually. And I’m pretty sure my old high school science teacher said I was made out of carbon.”

“Aren’t you still in high school?” Atem teased and felt his heart flip in his chest when Yugi laughed and elbowed him in the side.

At least an hour had passed, but the two of them managed to fill the time with idle conversation that started with light teasing and then shifted into their shared interests. Most notably, Duel Monsters and the other competitors. Atem could not think of a time he'd enjoyed talking like this with anyone besides Mana or Mahad. Yugi was charming, witty, and apparently didn't hate Atem as much as the media had decided he should. 

This was the best time he could ever remember spending in a closet. 

“If I had known a Juniors transfer was going to come in and take down Kaiba, I would have gladly gotten front row seats just to see his face as the life point counter hit zero. I would have taken a selfie with the score board and kept it as my lock screen,” Atem mused, hands folded behind his head as he pictured what would have been one for the books for sure.

“I don’t think anyone could have predicted that win though. I think no one was more surprised than me when it was over,” Yugi said around a wide yawn.

“Nope, I watched that clip at least a dozen times. Trust me, no one was more surprised than Kaiba.”

Yugi’s eyes widened from where they’d become half lidded as the night grew later, and Atem belatedly realized he had just revealed having watched Yugi’s victory not once, but many times. But Atem didn’t bother trying to save face, surely Yugi would know it was just something the more serious competitors did. And not for any other reason. Well, besides watching Kaiba lose by someone other than himself for once.

“I heard that the North American Regionals should be finishing up their tournament later this week. I’ll try to tune into a few of those, but I’ve been trying to focus on my own training, cause some wise old man told me I should focus more on that,” Yugi said with a teasing wink.

Atem refused to blush, but was more grateful than ever for his darker complexion that would have hidden it better than most, “Ah, that. Perhaps I should apologize for saying that. That interview had brought up some less than comfortable subjects, and I may have lashed out in the wrong direction.”

Yugi waved him off, his own blush showing full force, “You don’t need to apologize. It’s fine, really. You weren’t wrong and even though it hurt at first to hear, I was glad to have something else to focus on after that week. You don’t have to coddle me, I’m young, but I’m not a baby. And I swear I’m not as weak as I look.”

Atem startled, turning his head and dropping his arms to look at Yugi, “I never thought you were weak. Vulnerable maybe...but not weak,” he mumbled, feeling the truth of it within himself. He was surprised to say as much to Yugi out loud, but maybe the kid deserved to hear it. It sounded like he'd had it just as rough as Atem these last few months.

Yugi grimaced, peering at him through the corner of his eye, “Weak, vulnerable. Aren’t they the same thing?”

Atem shook his head, “Not to me. Weak places the blame of harm on you. Vulnerable...that places the blame on those who would take advantage. You are open with yourself and your emotions, that’s just who you are. The fault is on those who would take that as an opportunity to take advantage.”

“Oh," Yugi said, looking surprised, "Do you think I should be more closed off then?” Yugi asked, and he sounded truly curious.

Atem opened his mouth to respond with what he immediately thought was the right answer...but his tongue stilled as he thought about it. About what his first reaction had been the first time he’d been bitten by fame. Lowering shutters around his soul, and putting up walls and locks around everything he felt he needed to protect. It had protected him, there was no doubt about that. But if he really thought about it. Thought about his lonely apartment. The unused pool table and couch. The bed too big for one person. The fact the only people he claimed as friends were among people he paid to work for him...

He had to wonder if it was all worth it. But he was safe at least.

“I don’t know if I’m the best person to answer that, Yugi. You should do...what makes you happy though. Regardless of what anyone else thinks,” he said after what was probably too long a pause.

But there was Yugi looking up at him with those wide, overly earnest eyes that gave away every emotion, and Atem felt a pulse of something run through him.

Yugi nodded slowly as he absorbed the words, and Atem had to wonder if maybe he could have helped the kid for real this time. If he had a good impact. If—

“Your advanced age has made you very wise.”

Atem sputtered as Yugi peeled with laughter that lit up the dingy closet more than that tiny lightbulb ever could.

When Yugi finally stopped long enough to wipe mirthful tears away from his eyes (at least Atem could be happy they weren’t sad ones for once), “Anyway, who do you think will take North America’s Regionals?”

Atem grimaced, knowing that who he would like to see win and who actually would win were two very different people.

“I believe Keith will come out on top again, unfortunately. Although I do hold some hope that will change someday. Otogi may advance ahead of him if he focuses on his gameplay rather than his taunting this season. But after two years of the same, I am doubtful.”

“There’s hope yet. There’s a girl in Junior’s that pretty damn good. I think once Rebecca turns twenty and moves to the big leagues she’ll give Keith a real challenge,” Yugi said, smiling fondly at something only he must know.

Atem looked over at his companion with an assessing eye, “And what do you think of Keith?”

Yugi tilted his head back, tapping his chin as if considering, “I think if my science teacher was right about what people are made of, then I think Keith may be a freakish waste of carbon on a good day.”

Now it was Atem’s turn to break into laughter, the feeling almost strangely foreign and making the muscles in his stomach hurt from not being used in far too long, “I’m regrettably starting to like you.”

“Well, I am dueling’s little Darling now, right?” Yugi asked through a flutter of his eyelashes.

Atem wrinkled his nose, “Gods above, is that what they will start to call you? I suppose there are worse things to be called.”

“Yeah, not all of us can be dubbed ‘King of Games’.”

Atem nodded sagely, “This is very true.”

“Is it, Captain Obvious?” Yugi sarcastically.

“I believe it’s King Obvious to you, Little Darling.”

Yugi chuckled again as he leaned back against the wall, pulling out his phone to grimace at the time, “How much longer do you think we have to be stuck here?”

Atem hummed, glancing over at his screen and absently noting the wallpaper showing Yugi among a group of what he assumed were friends. Once he was able to tear his eyes away from their many happy faces, he saw that the time was indeed getting late. But he knew the party would likely be going on for at least another hour. Leaving now would still be risky, and he told Yugi as much.

He pulled out his own phone to see if reception had somehow miraculously appeared in the form of at least half a bar of service, but a screen absent of any frantic messages from dear mother Mahad told him that he had no such luck. At least this hadn’t been as bad as it could have been.

He could have been stuck here in a sullen silence with Yugi this entire time. Or they could have shredded each other to pieces like two tom cats trapped in a box. Or, Atem could have been stuck here alone. Given all that had happened since shutting that door, he believed being alone would have been the worst thing that could have happened, but he wouldn’t have even known it. And wasn’t that a depressing thought?

But what would happen once they left?

Atem knew he'd like to keep whatever this was alive. He absolutely did not want to go back to the stress and misery that had been the last few months pitted against someone he'd come to respect. But what did Yugi want? Would he be happy to wave his goodbye and end things until they met up in the arena someday? Or could they consider each other...friends?

“So, what now? What do we do once we finally get out of here? Do we go back to trying to avoid each other and bringing up names in interviews?” Atem asked, leaning heavily against the back wall. They were close enough he could feel Yugi’s shoulder brush up against his with each breath. He tried to sound calm, despite the way his heart began to race wondering what Yugi would say. 

“I suppose...or we could fuck with them?” Yugi said with a small shrug and a wide yawn, slowly sliding even further down the wall in an uncomfortable looking slouch.

Excuse the fuck out of me, what?

Atem’s stomach flipped in the best way, like the first drop of a rollercoaster before the thrill began.

“Oh, please tell me what you have in mind?” he all but begged, suddenly enthralled by whatever Yugi was proposing. 

Yugi shrugged, a mischievous grin edging onto his lips as he turned to face Atem, “I was just thinking, why tempt the beast by changing anything now? If we suddenly start getting along, they’ll want to know why and hound us all over again. In this case, the status quo may actually be boring enough that they’ll let it rest a bit. And if it doesn’t, then at least we know between us there’s no harm meant. It'll be revenge for the shit they just put us through the last two months, or in your case longer. And...it could be fun,” he said with a shrug.

“Hmm, that may actually be fun. I’ve never tried actively deceiving the media before,” it actually sounded more thrilling than it ever should. Mana and Mahad would hate this idea, and it only made him love it more, "I think I'm game."

"Then I'm game too," Yugi said, sticking out his hand for Atem to take. 

Yugi's skin was pleasantly warm as they shook on it, and Atem swore he felt a shock of something at the touch. Perhaps it was just static shock from sitting in towels so long.

Another yawn was heard at his side.

“Is it past your bedtime, little darling?” Atem teased as Yugi sleepily rubbed at his eye.

“Isn’t it past yours? And maybe it is past mine if you count jet lag on top of not sleeping much lately. Suddenly everyone I’ve ever known wants to party into the night,” Yugi mumbled around another yawn.

Atem smirked, remembering those early days well. He still thinks he hadn’t fully recovered from them.

“A growing boy like you needs their sleep. Go ahead, I won’t do anything to you. I may even wake you when the party ends,” Atem chuckled.

Yugi wrinkled his nose again as he peered up at Atem through suspiciously narrowed eyes, “Glad to hear someone thinks I’m still growing. But yeah, I may just do that. Folded towels have never felt comfier,” he said, snuggling down deeper into the stack.

The kid was out like a light, and Atem tried to not stare at how his already sweet face softened with sleep, just like he tried not to take comfort in having someone close for what felt like the first time in forever. He forced himself to keep still so he didn’t accidentally wake him, and that was all that stopped him from leaping into the air when suddenly Yugi’s body tilted into his side and stayed there.

Atem had to remember how to breathe after that, but even so, he did not pull away. Not even when he relaxed into the warmth of a body beside him. And not even as he felt his lips still stretched out in a real smile that didn’t seem to fade even as the cause of it stayed fast asleep beside him.

For all he knew, it didn’t even fade as he finally let his own exhaustion take over his common sense and he also fell asleep against the duelist next to him.

Chapter Text

Atem startled awake with the sound of the door opening.

His entire body was tensed up and ready to start snarling at whatever camera was about to be shoved in his face, but then he saw just who was standing at the door and he allowed himself to sink heavily back against the previous warmth he was just in with a relieved sigh.

For maybe a second.

Then he realized just who was smirking down at him at the same time it clicked in his head just why he was warm and comfortable.

Atem jerked back up again with a strangled sound coming from his throat as he felt something shift beside him. Well, someone shift beside him.

Yugi blinked awake and brought a hand up to rub at one eye blearily. Once the sleep was cleared from his vision though, the world seemed to catch up to Yugi and he also jerked away with a high pitched squeaking noise that made the man standing in the door grin.

“Shit!” Yugi groaned, ducking behind his hands as if they would be enough to keep the paparazzi from recognizing him.

Atem rolled his eyes and slapped Yugi’s hands down from his face.

“It’s fine, Yugi. He’s not from the media,” he said.

He’s something much worse, he thought darkly.

“My, my, my. Now what do we have here? Atem, did you make a friend?” Mahad asked, his soft voice just bordering on being filled with what sounded like glee.

“You’re late,” Atem replied in lieu of any sort of answer. He crossed his arms over his chest, although he knew any stern effect would be lost seeing how he was still sitting on a stack of towels in a closet, with none other than his supposed arch nemesis draped against his side.

Mahad’s eyes were practically twinkling with mirth as he took in the scene before him, “Well, you were rather difficult to locate, and you never replied to any of mine or Mana’s calls. We’ve been all over the hotel, but you weren’t in your room or anywhere else we could find. I was debating calling in the police when you hadn’t shown up after hours of searching, but then the hotel was kind enough to pull up security footage for us and we traced you here. Honestly, Atem...” he said, shaking his head with a sad sigh.

Atem stood up and grabbed his jacket, trying his best not to seem as shaken as he felt, “Sorry to have worried you, Mother.”

“You should be,” Mahad replied and helped him back into the constricting sleeves. As Atem turned to slip on the other arm, he caught Yugi’s gaze from where he was still shrunken back against the shelves of cleaners, nervously fiddling with the cuffs on his wrists.

He looked almost frightened as his eyes darted between Atem and Mahad, and he found himself taking pity on him. This night hadn’t been as much of a disaster as it could have been, and his time trapped in here with Yugi had been both enlightening and possibly even pleasant despite the tense atmosphere and less than stellar accommodations.

He shrugged the jacket back in place and kept his attention on the other duelist as he took a half step forward, all the while wondering just what Mahad was going to make of all this.

“Yugi, this is Mahad. My bodyguard,” he said gesturing to the man behind him.

Yugi’s head craned back trying take in Mahad’s impressive height. Timidly, he waved up at him, “Oh, hi. I’m Yugi Mutou.”

“Oh, I know who you are, young one. Very pleased to meet you in person. Atem has not stopped talking about you since you came on the scene,” Mahad said pleasantly, ignoring Atem’s betrayed gasp.

Yugi shrugged, “Well, to be fair I’ve probably talked about him a lot to my friends even before then.”

“Well, I don’t see any open wounds or fresh tears. The only missing clothes seem to be your jackets. Does this mean Atem behaved himself?” Mahad asked, inquiring like a mother after her unruly son.

A musical giggle erupted from Yugi as he nodded, “Yes, he was a perfect gentlemen.”

Mahad turned to Atem with a grin, “There is hope for you yet then. Mana will be proud. But as much as I hate to end your lovely little date night early, I’m afraid we must be getting Atem to bed,” he said, resting his hand on Atem’s shoulder.

Atem was tempted to shrug it off, and he rolled his eyes heavenward as he tried to keep hold of whatever dignity he had left intact after tonight.

“Yeah, I hear the elderly need their sleep,” Yugi teased, making Mahad chuckle.

And there it went. The last of his dignity.

Atem waved him off, half turning away with a flourish, “Yes, well, babysitting is an exhausting job. Besides, it is way past our little baby duelist’s bedtime,” Atem shot back, and was pleased when instead of looking insulted, Yugi’s smile grew wider, stretching out into a smirk that somehow suited his usually innocent face.

“Yeah, I should get back to someplace with reception so I can call my friends. They’re probably worried I’ve been silent so long,” Yugi said, grimacing as he took out his phone and noted the now very late hour.

A trickle of something shivered down Atem’s spine and he turned back to face Yugi fully.

“You do have someone here with you, right? A manager or bodyguard?” he asked carefully.

His stomach flipped uneasily when Yugi shook his head with a small shrug, “Anzu is pretty much acting like my manager, but she’s back in Japan right now. I came here alone. And I don’t think a bodyguard is really necessary for me, no offense,” he said, nodding up at Mahad who waved it off understandingly. Most duelists didn’t need one if they were one of the lesser-known ones. And even if Yugi was very new, he was hardly lesser known.

Atem tried not to frown, but failed in the attempt.

“Do you at least have a room here in the hotel that we can walk you to?” Mahad offered kindly, picking up on Atem’s concern. Atem was hardly surprised at Mahad’s offer. Yugi had the look of someone who needed to be placed in protective bubble at all times, and it would have no doubt awoken Mahad’s incessant mothering instincts in full bloom.

“Oh, yeah I’ve got a room, but you don’t have to walk me there. Better we aren’t seen together, right?” he said, winking at Atem.

Atem absolutely refused to blush, and it was easy to quell it when his frown was deepening. He knew Yugi was right, especially if they wanted to preserve the image of media induced tension between them. Still, it did something inside of him to nod in agreement all the same.

“Fine, fair enough,” Atem relented.

“If it helps, Mana enlisted the help of the hotel staff and the security team from the party to remove anyone who was not a hotel guest or had an invite to the party. You should not encounter anyone from the media on your way back to your room, but all the same. Please be careful,” Mahad said, inclining his head slightly.

Yugi gave a polite bow back, “Thank you for your off and your concern. I should be fine. And thank you for an...interesting night, Atem. See you in the arena someday?”

“Earn your way and you just might,” Atem replied, and felt a thrill run through him at the answering glint of a challenge that sparked in Yugi’s eyes before he slipped past the two of them and down the hallway.

It wasn’t until he was out of sight that Atem finally turned with Mahad to go their own way.

Atem refused to look at Mahad’s face because he just knew he’d be reading far too much into this moment, not to mention the position they had been found in. It would probably take him weeks to get him to believe Atem when he said nothing happened.

Mahad didn’t even say anything, but he didn’t have to. The relentless smirk on his otherwise blank face was enough to have Atem scowling all the way back to his room.

After that night, Atem followed Yugi’s dueling with an almost embarrassing eagerness. As much as he tried to hide it from Mana and Mahad, the two of them almost seemed to pick up on his growing interest despite not giving them any real reason to.

Mahad had betrayed him and told Mana everything he’d seen an observed, and for whatever reason the two of them seemed to liken the innocent, if not awkward situation was of a far more impure nature. At least that’s what Atem assumed they were implying given how much eyebrow waggling the two of them exchanged behind his back when they thought he wasn’t paying attention.

They had taken to updating him with every single news clip, each video interview, and every single photo of Yugi that came out in the weeks after the charity event.

As if they truly believed he wanted to be flooded with even more things related to dueling’s little darling.

Although, perhaps it was because Atem had yet to tell them to stop...

Atem bit at his lip as he thumbed through the latest clips and photos that Mana had sent him through all hours of the night before. It was almost like having to read through a morning newspaper with how much had been sent over. Honestly, when did she sleep?

He rubbed at his face as he ignored the coffee cup by his elbow. It was his latest sad attempt at trying to make his own again. He didn’t know why he even bothered.

He still wore his sleep clothes from the night before, and was still wondering if it would even be necessary to change out of them at all today. Without proper coffee, he didn’t think he could even make it down to the gym after all. What was even the point?

He thumbed past an article about Yugi’s favorite duel monster cards, and stopped when a paparazzi photo showed on his screen. This one taken outside of that same little game shop that Atem recognized from that interview clip a month ago. He looked like he’d been caught off guard again, but Atem didn’t care so much for that as he did noticing that Yugi looked a bit...tired. His smile was no less brilliant in the daylight that made his face practically glow, and once again making Atem wonder if the kid was actually made of sunlight as he’d guessed and not just carbon after all.

Still, he wondered if Yugi was doing well, and what would have caused him to have such dark circles under his eyes.

Even if at the same time Atem wondered why he even cared.

Yugi just not been what he expected. While the gossip and magazines had him pegged as an overly innocent, naïve prodigy, the person who Atem had seen in that fiery interview and then the witty and sweet person he’d met in that closet seemed to all merge into something truly puzzling and yet insurmountably intriguing. Yugi was shaping up to be a thrillingly complex and challenging young thing, far more interesting than what the media had led them all to believe. Even Atem, who was all too well aware of how they could warp a person to fit their desired viewpoint, had fallen for their oversimplification of this new comer.

Atem had not even dueled him yet, and somehow, he found himself feeling the building tension of a worthy opponent walking into his arena. He could not remember the last time he’d ever found himself anticipating an opponent with anything other than boredom or vague awareness of their existence.

He dropped his phone onto the marble countertop, wrinkling his nose in disgust at both his coffee and himself. His casual interest in the young duelist was bordering on something obsessive, and he did not appreciate the interruption from his otherwise mundane and passive existence. Sure, it was a lonely existence, sometimes dreadfully boring, but he was safe and everything was predictable. Just as he liked it.

And then his front door opened unexpectedly.

“Oh, Atem! I’ve got a surprise for you,” Mana sang as he busted through the door of his apartment. It made Atem wonder why he ever gave them both a spare key.

And then Mahad appeared trailing on her heels despite Atem being reasonably sure it was supposed to be his day off, and then he saw the tray of coffee cups in his hand and all was instantly forgiven.

Atem made grabby hands up at Mahad until he chuckled and handed one of the paper cups to him, the one proudly labeled with his overly complicated order scrawled on the side. Atem allowed himself three scalding sips before feeling ready to take on whatever had Mana’s eyes glowing like that.

Whatever it was, it was most likely going to be an inconvenience to him. He’d seen that look before.

“Tell me quick, before I finish this coffee and both of you lose any reason to stay here,” he said, blinking up at the two of them. One standing perfectly still while the other practically vibrated in place.

“You’ve been requested for a promo photo shoot for the new duel monster card booster release!” Mana all but screamed, making both the men in the room wince and recoil.

Atem blinked once. Twice. And one last time as he waited for some sort of punch line or follow up, but it seemed one was not coming.

“That’s fine, but I don’t see why you are so excited about it. I’m asked to do those all the time,” Atem said with a shrug, taking a longer sip of his coffee. It was just good enough he wondered if it was time for Mahad to get another raise.

Mana’s answer was prefaced by a happy squeal that pierced his eardrums and woke him even faster than the extraordinary amounts of caffeine he was consuming.

Mahad calmly rubbed the ear closest to her and cleared his throat, “Perhaps a verbal reply would suffice, Mana. Tell him what is different about this promo shoot.”

“Please,” Atem all but begged, sagging heavily on the counter between them. With any luck they’d answer and he’d be left alone with his only real mistress in life, caffeine.

Mana bounced in place again and clapped her hands excitedly, “I saw who else was asked to be part of the shoot! They’ve asked Yugi Mutou to pair up with you!”

There were several instant reactions that coursed through Atem all at once. First, and perhaps the most damning, was excitement. He’d get another chance to interact with the challenging young man that brought an almost forgotten thrill back to his otherwise sedate existence. Perhaps even enjoy something for a change. But then his second reaction was one of apprehension. This would be another opportunity to screw up the one thing that promised him that excitement that had come from his dueling in years.

But perhaps he was overcomplicating it. He and Yugi had already agreed that they would continue the charade of hating one another, which added a new level of excitement as well as security. Yugi expected Atem to be brash and rude, whether he truly intended it or not. It would be hard to even mess that up.

Atem took another sip of his coffee as he thought if over and then remembered that he was the King of Games. He’d stared down hundreds of opponents over the years, dealt with obnoxious media, overbearing fans, and survived it all. Surely he could survive another interaction with Yugi, and with any luck he’d maybe even enjoy it.

“Fine, I’ll go,” he said with a heavy sigh and braced himself for Mana’s answering squeal of delight that may have rattled his glass windows.

And then suspicion set in as he noticed his two employees staring at him far too closely than something like this warranted.

He leveled them back with a mirroring suspicious look.

“Do I want to know why you are both so excited about this?” he asked warily.

Mahad placed his hand over Mana’s mouth before she even finished opening it.

“Most likely not. But please, do not let us deter you from going. I also believe this is a fine opportunity for you,” Mahad said with a cheer that did not suit his usually stoic manner. Atem’s eyes narrowed further, but knew better than to ask now.

He doubted he wanted to know the answer in any case.

“So where do I have to go for this promo shoot?”

“Japan!”