Seto Kaiba and Yugi Muto - Always Together

I so wish this to be true, not (just) because of the Rivalshipping, but for Seto and Yugi to actually be friends after all they've been through...

(Also, Happy (late) Birthday, Seto Kaiba! (25/10/2015)
(Believe me, I haven't forgotten about him, this picture just took me 2 whole days to finish, and was supposed to be his present from me, ah well...)

Based on the card "Yu-Jyo-Friendship" and most importantly the fanfiction "For The Fun of It" by comic_books_and_bars on Archive of Our Own


Fanfiction: archiveofourown.org/works/4530…


BGM: www.youtube.com/watch?v=hk9M3T…

BGM2: www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkUxPw… (longer version)

BGM3: www.youtube.com/watch?v=LadFuC… (could be used as an intro, with Yugi being the new Duel King instead of a princess of course )


Timeline: Post-canon, 10 years after Yami Yugi's/Pharaoh Atem's departure into the afterlife


Introduction:

Nearly 10 Years after the departure of Pharaoh Atem, Yugi found himself wondering what he was doing with his life. He was still living in Domino City and spent his days in the Kame Game shop. With his Grandpa gone, having passed away two years prior, running the shop seemed more like a chore and he was yearning to break the monotonous cycle he was locked in.

Every day was the same, wake up at seven, open the shop at nine, work until eight, and sit alone thinking about times gone by until he fell asleep. There was little variance in his routine and it was killing him.

He found himself wishing he could do something crazy, get away, or just end his misery. While he always projected a happy exterior, when his friends showed up it became much harder to do. He didn't want to pretend anymore.

Examples:

It could have been hours that they stood there, barely touching, before a single tear rolled down Yugi's cheek. The sound of the tear hitting the glass counter was all it took for Seto to move his hand. This seemed to snap the smaller man out of whatever trance he was in. Yugi turned his head to hide his face from view.

Seto didn't speak and just lifted his hand to touch Yugi's chin and gently guide him so that they were looking at one another. No words were needed as he saw an expression he was all too familiar with: despair.

He remembered when his own parents died and he closed himself off from everyone, even Mokuba. At that age he understood he had to take care of his younger brother and gave himself no time to grieve. Eventually his emotions became too much and he became hollow. It wasn't until Mokuba insisted that he should take care of Seto for a while that he was shaken from his depressed state. That and Mokuba giving him the biggest hug was all it took for him to let go and just cry until he couldn't any more.

Still unsure what to do in situations like this, he did what Mokuba did for him and moved behind the counter to envelop Yugi in a comforting (he hoped) embrace. Gently pulling him closer he took a deep breath and said the only thing that came to mind, "you don't have to do this alone."

Seto's words and the feeling of closeness cracked Yugi's resolve and he couldn't stop the first choked sob from escaping his throat. When Grandpa had died, his friends gave him (far too much) space and said things like 'I'm sorry' or 'it'll be okay'. It all seemed so routine and flat. This was different, Seto didn't say he was sorry or insinuate that everything would be okay, because it wouldn't.

And there was nothing wrong with that.


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Yugi's quiet sobs shook his small frame and Seto could do nothing but hold him and rub one hand along his back comfortingly. He was no good with words in situations like these. He hoped that just letting him cry until he was ready would be enough.

Crying felt horrible, and Yugi would trade anything to make it stop. Each sob felt like it was pulling his carefully constructed walls apart from the bottom. He buried his face against Seto and let out a pathetic cry, "I don't w- want this. I can't-"

His voice was cut off by a hiccup that coincided with a particularly rough sob. He coughed for a minute which only seemed to make things worse. Once he regained his voice it was hoarse. "I'm sorry..."

Seto leaned back a fraction so he could look into Yugi's eyes. He seemed to be searching for something. "Don't be. Never apologize for taking what you need to live." His tone was caring, if firm.


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Once in the relative safety of the living room, Yugi looked up hesitantly, "thank you for..." He trailed off, at a loss for words. His hands fidgeted with the buckle on his collar as he tried to pull himself together. "Thank you for everything."

Seto probably should have expected Yugi to thank him for acting like any decent man would, but he didn't. He didn't see the point of it. After all the two of them had been through together it seemed the only right thing to do. "Don't thank me," he began as he removed his trench coat to hang it up by the door. When he turned to face Yugi and saw the lost look on his face he added, "it's what friends do. Right?"

The word 'friends' sounded so foreign coming from Seto Kaiba that Yugi could do nothing but laugh until he began to cry. This time his tears were of genuine happiness and exhaustion.

"Yes, it is."


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Yugi: "We've faced much worse in the past, rummaging for answers in the pages... we've always come through in the past,"

Seto: "Always loyal,"

Yugi:  "Always kind"
 
Seto: "and honest,"

Yugi: "Always generous,"

Seto: "Always happy together..."

Both: "Always loyal, Always kind and honest, Always generous, Always happy together...Always happy together~"