•{Bailey}•

having unwashed hair will have you believing shit like i can’t be saved

[one single bloodcurdling agonized scream] ok time to lock in

One fundamental misunderstanding I think people have about prideshipping is that it's just about ego and an undying desire to win. It's really reductive and doesn't take into account the following things; Kaiba was brought up to believe love was either a vulnerability that could be used against him, or an endless series of sacrifices he would have to make. Of course he rejects every direct piece of affection and assumes it is all false. Likewise, Atem has spent his entire life prioritising others and not really having the opportunity to process his own feelings. Duty comes before his own wants, and being with Kaiba actually allows him to acknowledge them. Kaiba rejects fate and challenges forces outside their control, which have been a continual source of stress on Atem. It is refreshing. Atem shows Kaiba the good in the world, and in turn, Kaiba shows him how to love himself outside of the things he does for others. Pre-DSOD, Kaiba has basically had his emotional walls torn down, only for the person who pushed his way in to disappear, and Atem has had to leave his friends behind for the sake of Yugi's growth. Of course it's Kaiba who hunts him down, despite Yugi being the better duelist, because it is not about pure skill anymore. It is about personal philosophy. Throw in how they're basically deified in their respective times, their dynamics with their loved ones, and shared passion, and you have an extremely nuanced ship.