Work Text:
He wasn’t supposed to be there.
He should be on his office, finishing the planes for the new duel disc. The best ever built and the one that will represent a winning of billions to his company. But, when came to his ears that Yami was having a duel in the hologram room, he couldn’t stay put.
So, there he was. Surrounded by Yugi’s friends. Annoying as they were, all looked as surprise to see him, as he was to be there.
All except for Mokuba.
– I knew you couldn’t resist, big brother– Kaiba twisted his lips in a grimace.
– Shut up– he muttered.
From the monitors the CEO could see a majestic picture of the battle outside the room.
Yami was performing as good as always, destroying the little kid with all his strength, without compassion. And even if Kaiba was proud of his partner skills, there was some kind of hatred towards Yugi. The fact that Yami saw him as a rival, an equal, make Kaiba angry.
“His partner” the boy repeated inside of his head.
Since when was he calling him that?
He could not tell.
Everything started when Pegasus kidnapped Mokuba. The bastard had acquired a rare puzzle and, as he was incapable of complete it, toke Kaiba’s brother to ensure that the CEO will do it instead. With Kaiba’s technology, fix the damn thing was a children’s play. The last peace however, had to put it by hand. The puzzle didn’t take another way. And when Seto did it, the light was so blind full he get blind for a couple of minutes. Then he came back to Pegasus.
The bastard resisted, and tried to make everything more interesting by mounting a duel with him.
Kaiba accepted, confident on his own skills. But that bastard was harder than expected, when overcome, Pegasus blackmail him. Every time Kaiba takes points from him, Mokuba will get hurt, and Kaiba couldn’t take it.
He couldn’t hurt his little brother.
No in this live. Not in the next one.
He was going to surrender.
Then, Yami take control. Kaiba couldn’t do anything for a moment, just watch as this phantom defeated his enemy and free his brother. He regained control and everything was like a dream, something that never happened.
“You had awakened him” Pegasus has told before Kaiba take the puzzle and the eye from him. He didn’t know why he take them. In home, he put the eye in a very secure vault.
But couldn’t do the same with the puzzle. So, he kept it by his side. That night he dreams with him for the first time.
Kaiba saw him inside of the puzzle. A dark blue place full of stairs, empty rooms, and monsters. The same monsters of the carts.
He introduces himself as Yami. The ghost said he had no memories before the duel with Pegasus.
On the morning Kaiba though he was delusional, but Yami keep appearing, talking to him on his head. Annoying him to death with his ideals of friendship and his naive personality.
The only good thing Yami had was his extraordinary abilities on the monster’s duel. Even with his pathetic obsession with the heart of the carts.
Kaiba couldn’t believe that Yami beat him. Not one, but four, five times. In the beginning Kaiba blame him of knowing his thoughts, and cheating. So, he take the puzzle away.
But he didn’t wanted to lose such a good opponent. He created an artificial body for the ghost. Give him a face and an appearance with his holograms. And with the puzzle in place, Yami came to life.
The Kaiba organized a tournament. He wanted to show the world Yami’s abilities, so when he defeated him on public the victory will be even sweeter.
Yami accepted under the conditions of, if he defeated Kaiba, the CEO would start to look information about Yami’s origin and the puzzle.
It was on that tournament that they knew Yugi, and his similarity with Yami make the phantom curious of the boy.
Yugi lost with Yami, but so it does Kaiba, and with his defeat, came the time to accomplish his part of the barging.
Many has happened since them. They had fought many enemies, some crazier than others. But in the end, they had discovered a lot.
About Yami.
The puzzle and the millennial objects.
The world as Kaiba saw it change.
He change.
But he will never admitted.
The same that he will never admit how much painful was seeing Yami cried of frustration.
His pain, his anger.
How much he enjoyed when he was happy. How he enjoyed dueling with him. And with Yugi, so to say.
So, see him smiling to the Domino’s commoner touch a nerve inside of him.
Yes, Kaiba wanted Yami to be happy.
But, with him.
Smile.
Just for him.
Be his and his alone. Even if that means put the puzzle back on Kaiba’s neck and shout down the android, so nobody else will ever hear of him.
His pharaoh.
His partner.
His rival.
His.
Atem.
A name just the two of them knew.
Was that knowledge what keep him from accomplish his more darkness desires. Atem had an especial place for him on his heart. They were connected in many ways. The puzzle was just one of them.
Kaiba wasn’t sure of what it was, but their bound was deep. The two of them feeling it. Kaiba trusts him, as the Pharaoh trusted him.
So, he had to admit, even if just to himself, that the duel taking place in front of him had him nervous. Clenched his fist from Atem’s expression, knowing him pressured by Yugi.
The boy had put a good defense. A trap that takes away Yami’s Celestial Dragon. Letting him disarmed and with few live points.
“He can’t lose” Kaiba though. “Not with anyone else that me”
Yugi’s turn ended.
Then, Atem looked up. To him.
And smile.
– Sorry friend– Atem said, looking back to the young boy in front of him. – I cannot loose with my partner seeing.
Those words take Kaiba’s fears away. He took the communicator and spoke to the battle chamber.
– Finish him already– he commanded.
When Atem nodded Mokuba laugh.
Then the pharaoh revealed his trap card "Monster Reborn". Take back his dragon and called his dark magician to the field.
Slifer, the Celestial Dragon attacked first, destroying Yugi’s beast. Then the magician ended it.
Atem win. And Kaiba breath again.
Waiting for no one, he got down. Reaching the platform before the hologram of the dessert, the sand and the pyramids disappear. Atem was there, waiting for him to arrive, showing a smile.
– He is getting better– the pharaoh said, causing him to roll his eyes.
– You are getting rusty– Kaiba answered, obtaining just a smile in return. – I don’t like this soft spot you have for him. You would have let him win if I hadn’t been here.
– Maybe – Atem teased. – But that will put him between us. And I can’t allow that.
Kaiba heart didn’t melt under his eyes. Didn’t accelerate for his words. He wasn’t happy.
So, why was he returning the smile?
– You know better. – He said getting absorbed by those deep eyes he liked so much.
Whaite, liked?
– Yami-Sam– Yugi called taking away their attention from each other. – Thank you for the opportunity. I enjoyed a lot our duel.
– The pleasure was mine. – Atem answered. – Your abilities had developed magnificently.
– It has been thanks to your guidance– Yugi said, red as a flower.
And Kaiba didn’t tolerate it.
– Of course, it is. – he interrupted, stealing Atem’s attention from the boy – We have jet to discuss why you involved yourself on a duel without my knowledge.
– Just wanted to taste Yugi’s abilities. – the pharaoh answered – seeing him today make me realize what a change he had passed. It was my interest to measure his progress, so you will have someone to duel when I’m gone.
Kaiba heart falls.
Even with his coat, he felt the temperature drop a couple of degrees. Without thinking he grabbed Atem’s hand by the wrist.
He knew.
All the millennial relics were in Kaiba’s vault under very strict supervision. Just Kaiba knew the code to open it. So, he wasn’t afraid of losing them or Atem anytime soon. But the pharaoh keeps saying that kind of thing one or another day. And that have him on his nerves.
"That much you what to leave?” He thought.
Atem looked him through his eyes. Meeting their gazes in a deep interchange. Kaiba’s bother against the pharaoh intensity. However, the only thing Kaiba could see on his partner face was sadness.
Deep despair.
The CEO, how has provided everything for him, a home, a bed, fame, fortune. How even make him part of his family. He did it until now and will continue doing it.
So, why was Atem so sad?
Why he was always sad?
Why couldn’t Kaiba fix it?
– Come– he commanded dragging him trow he room and away from everybody curious gaze.
They stay silence on the hall, and the elevator, but when entered Kaiba’s room ,was Atem the one who said the first words.
– Are you going to let me go?
– Never– Kaiba answered by impulse. Missing the fact that was still holding the pharaoh hand.
That give birth to another smile on Atem’s face. Just when the pharaoh intertwined their fingers together, Kaiba understood what he had said.
The heat on his face makes him understand how flushed he was. Nevertheless, decided to ignore it. Instead, he looked to his partner eyes.
– You are not going anywhere. – He said – I will not let you leave me.
Atem’s eyes water, even if the tears never fall, Kaiba feel them as a punch.
– I don’t want to leave you– The pharaoh answered. – But we bout know it has to happen.
– I’m not doing that disgusting ritual with you. – Kaiba scream – and your test to that peasant had better not be to see if he is good enough to defeat yo and send you to the afterlife!
– Can’t be him– Yami’s answered – Even if he manages to defeat me, you are the only one who can finish the ritual and fulfill my destiny.
– Your destiny is here with me – Kaiba insisted – Not in a tomb in the middle of nowhere that we haven’t even found yet.
Silence.
Deep silence.
Shame. The pharaoh shame.
– What had you done? – Kaiba asked when Yami looked away.
His lack of answers put him on his nerves. So, he screams again.
– Atem, what did you do?
Hearing his name the pharaoh turned his head, facing Kaiba with misty eyes.
– I know where the grave is. – Kaiba pales under his words. His handshakes on his partner wrist, losing his grip around it. – I know you didn’t wanted me to. But I want to have everything ready in case.
– In case of what? – Kaiba slapped, so loud that his voice echoed on the walls and the floor like a cave. – That you had the opportunity to run away with that friends of yours so you can try to kill yourself in an ancient ritual that will leave nothing of you for me to mourn!?
– Will you cry for me Kaiba? – Atem asked bringing Kaiba’s fingers to his lips. So close he could have kissed them is he wanted to.
– That’s not the problem! – The CEO said taking his hand away from the pharaoh. – You betrayed my trust! You lied to me on my face!
– I didn’t! – Atem scream in return – It was Marin who told me about the cave. Is on Isis and him home.
– Fuck! – Kaiba scream hitting the wall with his fist.
“Why is everybody interfering!" He said inside.
He will send someone to find that guy, bring him to him and them punch him on the face. He told them, all of them to stay away from the pharaoh. If they don’t want to obey, he will make them.
– Seto– something broke inside of Kaiba when Atem called his name. Down, like a whisper. So, he composes himself and face him. – I will never betray you in any way. I… – he doubted. Kaiba knew, though he wasn’t going to continue, but Atem did. – I love you.
Thanks good he was already against the wall. Other way he will have fainted. His entire body feels weak, out balance. Shivering.
And Kaiba hated all of those.
But he didn’t care. How would he care when could barely believe what his ears heard?
Love him.
Atem loved him.
– I love you – the pharaoh repeated, in part tasting the sound of the words on his mouth, and in part to see if Kaiba reacted at all. – That’s why I have to leave. I’m getting greedy. Wanting you in ways that there are not correct. I know you don’t appreciate it. That you hate physical contact. But every day I found myself wanting you. Wanting to touch you, to feel you. – A pause. Atem search for his eyes, full of doubt and fear – even to kiss you.
Kaiba swallowed, dry as the hologram of the desert he maked for the pharaoh.
Nonsense.
Yami was talking nonsense.
– You are brilliant. – The pharaoh continued – Have a future in front of you. One day you will meet someone.
– Shut up– Kaiba commanded.
Atem obeyed, getting pale at his tone. But he misinterpreted him. Kaiba’s angers weren’t for that.
The CEO get to his side in an instant, wrapped his face in his hands and put him close.
They kiss.
Atem was taken by surprise. He didn’t respond at first, just clung to Kaiba’s body with all his force. Then he melted under Kaiba’s touch. He could feel him under his palms.
They get apart and Kaiba almost drowned in the deep of his eyes.
– I’m a ghost. – Atem persisted – A death man in a synthetic body. I don’t have a future. How can I be good enough for you?
– Even if you don’t breathe, I prefer you over anyone, anywhere. – Kaiba said, stroking Yami’s cheek. – That you are not good enough? I will be the judge of that. However, there is no discussion. You were a pharaoh in the past and a King in the present. More than anything I choose you! So, I will not accept any drama. Tell me where that grave is, so I can go and destroy it.
Finally, a laughter. Even if small, Atem was smiling.
– I can’t let you destroy an ancient tomb.
– Then I will just close it. – A new laugh and Kaiba found himself smiling back.
Atem came closer, until their foreheads meet.
– Never say you will leave ever again – he treated – if you do, I will lock you up.
Atem didn’t laugh this time, he knew Kaiba was serious. Interested he just nodded.
– Do you love me? – The pharaoh asked.
– Don’t – Kaiba started, but Yami interrupted him.
– I need to hear it- he whispered.
Kaiba knew he will not scape this time. He sighed.
– I love you too– he answered in the same tone.
– Then I’m not going anywhere. – Atem answered, and Kaiba believe him.
But, even with that, with they together, the CEO wasn’t going to take any risk. So, he changed the location of the millennial items. In addition, buy the land where the tomb was built.
Now nobody will go around without him knowing.