[fic] Scars - Yugioh, YamixYugi, general, G, theme 019 (100_chances)
Theme: 019- Scars; for 100_chances
Author: Chey (duelist_gurl163)
Rating: G
Genre: General
Pairings: YamixYugi
Archive: Here
Warnings: AU
Spoilers: None.
Summary: Looks might fade, but that doesn't matter when love is based on the heart.
Disclaimer: Still not Takahashi.
---
The nurse bent and shook the young man’s shoulder. He awoke with a start on the waiting room bench, looking up at her instantly. “What’s…?”
“Atemu-san is awake now if you would like to visit him.”
Yugi’s heart leapt and he rose to his feet. “Yes, yes, I would.”
“Room 703, down that hall. You may visit as long as you like, but do not make him talk or move.”
“Of course not. Thank you.” He took off at a stride, his heart pounding. Reaching the door, he peered inside.
“Yami…?” He took a step in, eyes falling on the motionless figure in the bed. “Yami, it’s me.” He took another step, making his way to the side of the cot. As much as he wanted to see him, it still scared him a little to see Yami lying in the hospital. It brought back nightmarish memories of seeing him lying on the stretcher in the ambulance after the fire, so badly burnt that when someone finally answered Yugi’s demands to tell him how Yami was, they told him to prepare for his death.
But he wasn’t dead. Bandages covered the recent surgery on his face and head, his eyes left uncovered enough to see. He had them cracked open, and Yugi could see his purple irises moving. Yugi met his eyes, and he saw the corners of Yami’s lips twitch slightly upwards.
“Hi there,” Yugi whispered, pulling over a chair. “The nurse told me you were awake. It looks like the surgery went well.” He reached out, gently touching his fingers on his left hand, which weren't bandaged. “Blink twice if you can hear me, okay?”
Slowly, Yami blinked twice, then his lips parted and he breathed, “I…I’m glad…to see you.”
“Shh, no, don’t talk,” Yugi said, tears coming to his eyes at the sound of his voice. “The nurse said you shouldn’t talk.”
“I want to.” His eyes kept a firm lock on Yugi’s. His gaze had lost none of its strength. “I…”
“No, no. You need to rest. We can talk later.”
Yami closed his eyes and sighed. Yugi took the opportunity to wipe his own eyes. He knew Yami was recovering. He had pestered the doctors and nurses so much that by now they knew to give him regular updates, and all signs seemed positive. But it was hard to tell sometimes. The burns on his arms left his skin looking raw and twisted; the doctors had decided to graft them later, as the ones on his face and chest were of more concern. His hair had been shaved away for access to wounds, a startling change compared to his former head of multi-colored locks. Before the surgery, half of his face had looked almost inhuman. It looked smoother under the bandages now, but the areas around the surgical wounds were red and swollen. Even though Yugi had been assured that Yami was healing, and he knew it would take months, it still hurt to see him and know he couldn’t magically fix him.
He tried not to cry around Yami, knowing it would distress him, but every time he saw him he’d feel the familiar sting. Even now, a week later, Yugi had spared few tears for the belongings and house they lost. From the moment he saw the smoke, the moment he saw the fire engines heading for their street and got the sick feeling in his chest…from the moment he arrived at the street corner, panting from running from his office, to see the house engulfed in flames…all he cared about was Yami. When he first saw his body carried out and was told the worst, all he wanted was to be gone with him. Losing belongings hurt, but all of Yugi’s tears were for his fear of losing Yami.
“Yugi?”
His eyes snapped open to see Yami looking up at him.
“Sorry.” He smiled and wiped his face again. “I’m just…glad you’re okay.”
“Yugi, I…”
“Shh, we can talk later. There's nothing you need to say right now, just rest.”
Yami’s eyes flicked to his arms and he struggled to speak anyway. “It won’t…be the same.”
“That’s okay. We have insurance…I’ve been back to the house, some things were salvageable. We’ll find a new place, we’ll buy new things. And…you’re alive. That’s all that matters to me.”
“I meant I…won’t be the same. I won't look...the way you're used to.”
Yugi gazed down at him. His hair would grow back. The bandages would be removed. The skin grafts would help. Perhaps plastic surgery could hide a few of the biggest scars down the line if they could afford it. But it was true, he would never look the same.
“Has that been bothering you all this time? Yami, that doesn’t matter,” Yugi whispered. “That has never mattered.”
His lips curled up as far as he could make them, his eyes shining. “Thank you, Yugi.”
Yugi smiled back, but gasped when he saw Yami trying to move his hand. “Yami, no, don’t move. You’ll hurt yourself.”
Yami didn’t listen as he inched his hand to the left, ignoring the pain. Yugi stayed still as he felt Yami slowly lower his hand over Yugi’s that was still resting on the bed. Despite the layers of scratchy gauze over his palm, Yami’s body heat still came through, and Yugi could feel the warmth on his skin. He smiled, eyes filling with tears he didn’t bother to blink back, and he gently placed his other hand over Yami’s fingers, where there were no burns.
“It’s going to be okay,” he said softly. “You’re going to be okay.”
“I know,” Yami replied, just as softly. “I have you.”
Yugi smiled wider. “That’s right.”
X - X - X
Notes: Yami's good-looking and everything, (and I'm sure Yugi agrees), but I don't believe their relationship was started or ever based on looks. "Atemu" is Yami's last name. I'm too lazy to think of a different one. ^^;
Happy St. Patrick's Day!