cards-have-no-heart:

blueeyeswhitemajesty:

She bulked at his harsh mutter that she was ‘too late’. Whether those words had been directed at her or not, she couldn’t help but want to reject them with every fibre of her being. It couldn’t be ‘too late’, it had been far later before and he had been dragged back into the light. 

“That I do not have an answer for, and I am sure you do not wish others to tell you what to do with your life, but I will stay here, I will help and guide you as I can, young master.” She took his hand in both of hers, she squeezed gently but her relaxed grip wasn’t tight so he could pull back if he wished. 

“Will you let me stay by your side, young master?” Honestly, even if he said no, she didn’t think she could return to her own realm so easily. “Please…” she whispered. She knew her card form was locked away - it was a part of her, how could she not - though she didn’t completely understand why, she could guess. Why duel when there is no-one to challenge? When the one who provides that thrill of rivalry is gone. “Nothing, would give me greater pleasure than to stay at your side, young master.”

For once in his too long yet all too short span of time on this earth, Seto almost yearned for someone to actually give him a direction. He had strained against Atem, fought to pull away from his guiding hand and chiding words. Yet the very moment those things had vanished from his life, chaos had descended. Seto didn’t know how else to be. “Control… is such a strange thing to grasp.” His voice was quiet, strangely distant. Seto’s words didn’t match or answer any of hers, more an answer to the swirling confusion they inspired in his heart. The warmth of her touch spread through him and he left his hand in hers, though he told himself it would simply take too much effort to pull away. His eyes no longer saw the sky directly in front of him. “You want to stay?” He sounded more present this time, but kept his face turned away. Seto knew the last of those steel walls he had erected around his heart would rust away if he looked into her eyes. “Most people run away from me these days. I push them away.” A wry, bitter laugh rumbled through his chest. “Don’t call me that. I’ve never been a worthy master of those dragons.”

She listened to him and let him talk, yet he still wouldn’t face her. But most of all he continued to deny his worth in relation to her. 

Kisara left his hand in one of hers and used the other to cup his jaw and make him look at her. “Of course, I want to stay. I do not think I need to tell you but I shall anyway. Over and over until you believe me. Nothing would please me more than to remain at your side. If you try to push me away, I will not leave. I have lived in your deck for many years and I have been tied to your soul before you were even born. As to what i call you, I will call you something else for your comfort but I will not desist in calling you young master because you believe you are not worthy. As the one serving you, only I can say when you are not worthy, surely?” Kisara smiled, sure she had him at that. 

“So young master, I regret to inform you I must intrude upon your home.” She did not regret to inform him in the slightest.

cards-have-no-heart:

Set reflexively smoothed out Seto’s clothing, though there wasn’t much to be done for the wrinkles born of long nights in the lab and quick catnaps on a sofa decidedly not built for the purpose. The instincts of a king were difficult to suppress. This body was different to his own and it was intensely strange to feel alive again, a heart pounding in his chest and breath rushing through his lungs. He smiled, watching the sobriety seep back into Atem’s eyes, grateful that the shock had worked enough to bring him back towards lucidity. The two of them had a great deal to discuss this night. The question had Set’s head tipping to the side as he considered his answer. “It is not usually so easy. Seto had lost consciousness due to overuse of his magic, leaving a gap for me to step into. We had swapped a few times in recent days while preparing the potion, but…” Set trailed off into silence as those emotions blossomed in Atem’s eyes, his own reading a sharply contrasting confusion. He and Atem had not been on the best of terms when last they had spoken, but he readily accepted the hug with every fibre of his being. Long arms came around Atem’s body and clutched him tight, his breath escaping him in a shaky sigh.  “By all the Gods, I have missed holding you,” Set whispered into Atem’s hair, hands trembling where they rested on the former Pharaoh’s back. “Atem…” The taste of Atem’s name on his tongue brought answering tears to his eyes, a wondering smile to his lips. “It is good to see you.”

The last of the liquid feeling drained from Atem’s body as Set explained. Of course. Seto wouldn’t have stopped and how efficient would it have been to simply switch places with Set when something was too complex or something Seto didn’t grasp. After all it was clear by Set’s involvement this was made of more than mere chemicals. Magic was involved. Had Seto said that? Maybe…It was all somewhat of a blur at this point. 

The only thing that felt real was this moment in time. Set’s arms around him felt more real that anything had in the last day and he clung to that as if it was a life line. “And I you.” He returned, hands digging into Seto’s lapels holding on with everything in him as if it were some fleeting dream he was fighting sleep to continue. “I never thought…” Atem pulled back to look into his eyes. Far less sharp and far more wise than he remembered. “I-I never thought I’d see you a-again.” His voice cracked with the weight of his statement. 

They needed to talk. The voice in Atem’s head (which most days sounded FAR too much like Yuugi for his liking) told him this over and over, but for now…for now Atem silenced it. That time would come, but for now, Atem wanted to pretend everything was fine. He wasn’t a vampire, Malice wasn’t an issue and Set hadn’t betrayed him.

…But he was, and it did, and he did…he had betrayed him…

No. No he wasn’t going to think about that. Not now, not yet. Right now he was going to cling to Set. He was going to hold him. “H-how long do you have?” He asked looking up at his priest, tears running down his face unchecked. He shouldn’t be crying. Not in front of anyone. ESPECIALLY not in front of Set. Kings did not cry, but Atem was no longer king and Set was so much more than just his priest. 

Everything felt just slightly off. Seto was taller than Set had ever been in life, but then Atem seemed taller than he had back in Egypt. The air itself felt different here, the fibers they wore odd against Set’s fingers. None of it mattered when he had Atem here, breathing and clutching him so desperately. The Gods were kind to have given him such a chance.  “I never thought I would be able to see you like this,” he echoed, knowing they had so much to discuss. Set didn’t know how Atem had spent those three thousand years. For himself, he had been all too aware. Three millennia was such a long time to examine your behaviour and motivations. To damn your own soul. Atem would not be so happy to see him when all had been revealed, Set was certain.  He lifted a hand to cup Atem’s cheek, his thumb sliding across wet skin to gather those tears and flick them away. A shaky smile tipped his lips, a tear sliding down his own cheek. “I am not certain how long we have. Seto is most certainly going to be out for a few hours at least. He is unused to using his magic, much as I have tried to encourage him. We should... take this chance to speak.” His fingers clenched in the back of Atem’s shirt. Gods, Set didn’t want to ruin this between them.

cards-have-no-heart:

His fingers slid over the cold edges of his monitor, brain detachedly noting the crack in the screen, the buttons along the edge that had been knocked out of their casings. His laptop had lost a few keys but appeared relatively whole, though the power cord had been jarred from its socket and would likely need to be repaired. No matter; he had copies of everything and more than a few spare machines. The matter at hand was far more distressing.

Seto swallowed, fighting back an uncomfortable tightness in the back of his throat and a forbidden wetness in the corners of his eyes. He sensed more than saw Kisara settled beside him and continued to pile up the things from his desk to avoid having to meet her eyes. Her words brought only a tired snort, his shoulders drawing together with a tension he couldn’t hope to ease. “Too late,” he muttered, the words harsher than he had intended. Seto fell back, his back resting against the solid wood of his desk as he stared out of the floor-length windows at the blue sky, struggling to put a name to the emotions racing in his chest. “Help? I sure as hell hope you have a better idea of how to do that than I do. It takes just about all I have to get out of bed in the morning.” One hand came up, gesturing futilely at the endless sky stretching out before him. “What am I supposed to do with my life now?”

She bulked at his harsh mutter that she was ‘too late’. Whether those words had been directed at her or not, she couldn’t help but want to reject them with every fibre of her being. It couldn’t be ‘too late’, it had been far later before and he had been dragged back into the light. 

“That I do not have an answer for, and I am sure you do not wish others to tell you what to do with your life, but I will stay here, I will help and guide you as I can, young master.” She took his hand in both of hers, she squeezed gently but her relaxed grip wasn’t tight so he could pull back if he wished. 

“Will you let me stay by your side, young master?” Honestly, even if he said no, she didn’t think she could return to her own realm so easily. “Please…” she whispered. She knew her card form was locked away - it was a part of her, how could she not - though she didn’t completely understand why, she could guess. Why duel when there is no-one to challenge? When the one who provides that thrill of rivalry is gone. “Nothing, would give me greater pleasure than to stay at your side, young master.”

It always happened this way. It was like he was on autopilot, his body doing everything without so much as a thought the second an order was given. He felt safe in this spot, mind floating freely. No decisions to make. Only orders to follow. Life was simple this way, when you had someone willing to take total and complete control over your life. Yugi loved every second he was allowed to drift through his space, his only concern making his master happy.

He did jump though when he felt the hand on his back. Yugi’s mind had effectively taken him a bit too deep, and the touch jerked him back to the moment. As much as he wanted to arch into the touch, he stayed extremely still. No messing up. Not again. Punishment was never something Yugi enjoyed, for the sole reason that it meant he had let Seto down. He had failed. And Yugi hated that feeling. 

Oh he knew Seto would take care of him. There was no doubt in his mind, and honestly it was the only thing he was completely sure of. Seto wouldn’t let him down. He would never leave or mess up. And that thought alone was why a tiny hum escaped Yugi. He found immense comfort in knowing just how safe he was with the other. Nothing would harm him. Nothing bad could happen so long as Seto was in charge. 

His voice did wonders in soothing Yugi’s fears. Any tension in Yugi’s body vanished, leaving him as nothing more than a limp body supported by the desk. “Yes, Seto-sama.” He whispered, voice almost too soft. He’d gone down another level, it seemed. The switch given away by the name that had slipped past his lips. Seto was always Sir or Master, until Yugi took a plunge and ended up further down than normal. A state that left him even more vulnerable than normal, and more in need of touch. 

Yugi took a breath, preparing for the first strike.  

Dammit naked sounded amazing. More than amazing. In fact SO amazing Atem had started to tug his shirt off. What was so wrong with naked? Now he was pouting. Full on. If people thought that Yuugi was good at pouting they had never seen Atem in action, especially when it came to denied cuddling of any kind. His eyes met Seto’s glassy ones and he wondered if he looked as far gone as his rival because woooooooooow, he was a lost cause for certain. 

But there were still snuggles to be had and in Atem’s drug induced state that was really all that was important to him. Again, naked just meant closer and Atem wanted to be oh so close right now. Pancakes? Had he mentioned pancakes. Atem tried to sift through the thoughts and words he had just had, but it was like trying to sift through maple syrup that would go on delicious fluffy pancakes…mmm…pancakes. Blood pancakes.

He started at the thought. Something clearly needed to be done. He was about to tell Seto that when he gurbled the world stapler and Atem let out a snort. “Stapler.” He echoed back but then Seto ruined all the fun by passing out which to be fair Atem felt like he was about four steps behind him and stumbling towards them fast. That was until the swap. Atem was damn nigh sober when Set came forward. 

“You…you….You can just DO that?” He asked in disbelief. How long had Set knew he could? Did Seto even tell him it was okay? It was good Set had taken control, Atem needed help. Seto was absolutely useless as the drooling puddle of mixed languages he had become, but without Seto’s permission Set was in a WORLD of trouble. 

Atem’s brow shot up, and he fought for clarity, but it was slow in coming. All he could think was that here was Set. His priest. His wonderful, whom he had assumed was lost priest and Atem promptly dove at him for a hug. “You’re here. You’re actually here.” 

Even as the tears sprung to Atem’s eyes something in the back of his head was buzzing. A little voice that reminding him things weren’t all hugs and puppies between he and Set, but still…for now he silenced it. 

“I s-suppose most m-magic I’ve seen i-is different than w-what I use.” He said. “I-I use my foci, a-and my own emotions, mindsets… T-there really isn’t a specific way m-my kind uses their magic. I-its just whatever they want it to be.” There were absolutely general ideas of how a spell was supposed to work, but it was up to the user the make it their own. “Lucky,” he sighed, head tipping to the side a little. “F-fire and… Pencils?” Fire he could understand and even see in Seto, but the pencil summoning? His kind couldn’t summon things out of nowhere as far as he knew. 

Tiny’s lips pursed, giving him a sympathetic little look. “I-I could see how that would be an i-issue.” He paused. “The underworld?” Head turning, he squinted at Seto, gazing up at him with a confused expression. The underworld? Of what variety? The underworld was connected to old gods of various religions… But they were pretty much dormant anymore.

The thought of colour connected to magic made Tiny hum. “W-well, that’s kinda similar. Colour i-is important, i-it’s a part of how you perceive the magic. Like… G-green, I use green a lot. I think it’s a soft, protective and healing colour. Kinda like how spring comes in and rejuvenate  stuff. I-it’s just however you want to think of the colour, though. S-some wizards use green fire.” He shrugged, then took in a soft breath. “Yeah… Dangerous idiots. Heh, t-that’s a way to describe things. Y-you’re stupidly strong now… You might catch the attention of lots of things. The White Council of wizards, a-any of the Fae Courts, possibly e-even vampires.” He paused. “W-well, no. The Red Court is… Gone. Maybe t-the White Court, though…” The wizard tapped his chin. They were wealthy, but more of a subtle group.

Merlin’s purrs were soft and squeaky, but audible all the same. His head pressed further into the CEO’s hand, entire body leaning against his arm. Yugi watched Merlin and Seto with a soft smile. “Coffee, r-right.” He hoped he didn’t mind the instant stuff. He went ahead and made himself a cup too, and on a chipped tray, brought out the coffee plus a container of sugar and cream. “G-go ahead and make yourself c-comfortable, I dunno how you like your c-coffee, so, I just brought the works.” Tiny said, setting the tray down on his table once he’d shifted some magazines, books and cards out of the way.

niisamasheart:

Mokuba almost let go at the sudden, obvious sign of pain, not sure where he had touched to cause it but knowing for sure that he didn’t want to do it again. “Nii-sama, I’m so sorry!” Worry and upset crossed his features that he would realise later wasn’t about to help but he couldn’t help himself, he didn’t his emotions like Seto did. “Wh -where?” he asked weakly, trying to remember where he’d just touched and nervous now about grabbing Seto went he bent forward. 

The sooner they got Seto healed the better, he was obviously in a lot of pain even without Mokuba making mistakes and he knew that were it someone with a normal pain tolerance they likely wouldn’t even be standing. He squeezed Seto’s hand again, Seto had squeezed his so it must be ok, and he nodded. “L - let’s fix you up,” he whispered.

Fuck him with his own fist that was painful just to watch. Was it Seto recoiling in pain or Mokuba recoiling in despair, Bakura couldn’t be sure. He didn’t need to be. Both options where equally fucked up to think about. So he didn’t think about them. Instead he locked that shit up into unhappy time land with the rest of his mental state and carefully began to pick his way over to the bed. Non threatening posture, slow deliberate movements, eye contact. Anything and everything he could physically do to keep Seto as the one in control of the situation unfolding, he did. 

“I’m gonna touch you now. That okay?” He waited, hands sort of hovering uselessly in front of him when Bakura had at last reached his destination of the bed. When no outright refusal came he moved forward more. “I’ll go as quickly as I can.” It takes him biting down on his lip to keep from saying sorry. No one wants to hear that in this kind of situation. But at least now Bakura has something to focus on besides the reason he’s here. The shadow magic flickers into existence a moment, and with a sour look at the reminder his default is still shadow based after so long, he forces the magic into the familiar red that makes it as his own. All that’s left then is to get to work and ignore the headache building.

cards-have-no-heart:

“That will be all, thank you,” he declared in a choked voice, seeing the confusion in her eyes and unwilling to explain. “Please take your lunch.” Seto gestured her out again and closed the door behind her with a quiet snap. He stared down at the handle without seeing it, hand still resting on the cool metal. What now? What could he possibly do with this new development? If Seto were to take this incident now as fact, what did it mean that she was apparently here, in the flesh, to talk to him. After all this time, after keeping the cards locked away… Could Seto even face her? Seto sucked in a deep breath and turned back to her, because no-one would ever be able to call him a coward. He crossed the office in a few short strides and ducked down to begin clearing the mess, taking anything that would distract him from her.  “What do you expect me to do with this?” They both knew he wasn’t talking about the equipment.

Kisara watched as Seto stood by the door for a long moment. She didn’t know what he was thinking now as she watched his back. He turned and walked towards her but it soon turned out he was simply going to the mess she had created on his floor with machinery that she didn’t understand. 

When he spoke she knew that he didn’t mean the machinery he was attempting to clean up. She slid off the desk and took the few steps to stand beside him before she took a seat on the floor, legs curled up beside her and hidden by her dress. “I don’t know, young master, but you called me here, I am sure unconsciously, but I want to help you in any way I can.” 

She smiled sadly. “I’m sorry I’m late, young master Seto.” Kisara whispered forlornly.