Yugi hears about the AtemAI that Kaiba crafted and he tries to pretend he doesn't care, that he doesn't need it, that its almost sad Kaiba can't just let him go. But it's all a farce, he can't help himself, he just...he needs to see it. He needs to meet it, to know that it's not actually Atem. Of course Kaiba couldn't have brought him back from the dead.
And he feels stupid for the whole trip, either he breaks in or he asks Kaiba to check it out or he hacks into their software, no matter how he gets to it, he feels ridiculous. His palms are sweaty and his heart is racing and he stares across the empty space between them to meet those achingly familiar eyes. He sees that smile, quirked up just a bit to the left and so shockingly real it makes Yugi sick. And of course it doesn't know him, it's not actually Atem, there's no way it could be-
"Partner," it calls him, it's eyes crinkling at the corners just like Atem's would and Yugi just stares. He can't feel his feet and his knees almost give out and he's shaking but it's crossing the distance between them looking almost excited, duel disk forgotten on its arm. "Partner?"
And Yugi is weak, he can't help it, he feels himself breaking as he collapses again it. It feels so real, so sturdy and strong holding him up, Kaiba really is a genius. An evil, cruel genius.
"Yugi," it says softly and Yugi's heart shatters, his last shred of dignity gone as he surges up to wrap his arms around it's neck, to press his lips against it's own, to cling to it so tightly maybe it won't leave him. And it's surprised, blinking slowly as Yugi just holds it tighter, practically begging it to give him anything.
And it does. It's slow and methodical, like it doesn't know what it's doing or maybe like it's shy. It's cold in the literal sense, much like he remembered Atem feeling when they'd touch while in their soul rooms. It's fingers like small icicles trailing over his scalp and sending shivers through him, making him choke on another sob. And it holds him. It trails it's hands down his back and it kisses the top of his head and it whispers to him so, so gently.
"Partner, Yugi, Yugi, Yugi-"
"Stay with me," he begs, gripping the hologram impossibly tighter. It looks almost sad when their eyes meet, the deep magenta of it's irises shimmering lightly. "Don't leave me, you should have stayed. Please I'm so sorry-"
It holds him tighter and it let's him cry.
And it's the closest thing to closure Yugi ever really gets.
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bro this part had me in TEARSSSS
i cant help but be so happy when slade and rose have even the slightest happy moment and then i feel like im being gaslit
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BECAUSE LITERALLY WHAT DO I DO NOW WHAT DO I EVEN DO NOW WHAT AM I SUPPSOED TO DO I AM GOING TO COMBUST HOW AM I MEANT TO FUNCTION. I AM NOT CUT OUT FOR THIS I AM NOT CUT OUT FOR THIS I AN GOING TO SCREAM UNTIL I DIE. HOW DO YOU EVEN NOT CARE ABOUT OTHERS. HOW. HOW HOW HOW HOW HOW HOW HOW HOW DO YOU NOT FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE BEEN SLICED OPEN.
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