#falconiiisms

"Yugi, I'm back~" he called as he brought the spoils of their labor into the kitchen. "You won't believe how many apples there are."

After setting the fruit on the makeshift counter, he turned to find his mate. Only to blink at the way his bunny was fussing over himself. Was he itchy perhaps as he was losing his winter coat?

"Need some help, love?"

The turn of the seasons was always a time when Yugi felt torn. On one hand, things were busy. The sleepy time of winter has melted away, the struggle to find food has faded to gardening and harvesting. The abundance of the crop yields was already showing itself and Yugi knew that come the fall they might have far more stores and might not have to worry as much come the next cold season.

And yet while summer brought energy and excitement and warmth, Yugi also felt like there wasn't enough time to get done all he wanted and felt needed to do in a day. The sun was in the sky longer and longer by the day and yet, it still set and he wasn't done with his list of chores.

Then there was his coat.

He never cared before. It wasn't like he had a reason to. But now he knew he looked ridiculous, pulling tufts of the thick snowy coat out and adding them to a pile. He had been at it for a while now, desperately trying to look somewhat presentable. Even if he thought his sandy summer coat seemed more boring now in comparison to his fluffy pale winter one. At least it would be better than looking absolutely disheveled.

Meme Source

Yugi knew he should be sleeping. He knew that technically he should maybe at least be studying for a test that he has coming up in a few days if he was going to be awake anyway. But he also knew that times like these where his mind was going a mile a minute, and he couldn’t seem to even process that he was thinking about anything meant he wasn’t going to be able to retain anything. In other words… it would be a wasted effort. The duelist sighs as he then sits up in his bed, his hands reaching out immediately to take back hold of the Millennium Puzzle and bring the chain back around his neck. Admittedly, the coolness of the metal along with the added weight did bring a sense of comfort and familiarity. Just that reminder that he wasn’t alone…

That was when he suddenly heard his other self’s voice, making him jump in surprise. Amethyst eyes open wide as he looks around and then finds the faint mirror image looking back at him, after mentioning his lack of rest. Yugi couldn’t help but to grin a bit sheepishly then, rubbing the back of his neck a bit.

“Probably… because I haven’t?” He admits to him before his shoulders sag a bit and he looks away. “Having a hard time sleeping… I feel like my body is tired, but my brain still hasn’t gotten the memo yet.”

He'd long removed his jewels and crown for the day and wiped them down. And of course he and his prince had indulged in one another a few times already. Now the king sat on some cushions in only the bottom half of his shendyt.

That bottom part was all he could be bothered to put back on and even that was only because of how cool Kemet became in the evenings.

Not that any of that registered right now as he set aside his project. Only to take a quick bite from the stem of grapes to satisfy the hunger that woke him to begin with. Although he'd figured that so long as he was awake, he may as well use up the last bit of his energy from the day.

And the energy he was expending? It was for a drawing he sat working on as his eyes repeatedly flicked back to the bed and back to the papyrus. But who could blame him when he had such a lovely muse?

The torch and lamp light gave his pale skin a warm glow. His hair, wild like his own was even more askew from their love making and the prince's sleep. His lips, so pretty and pink were just slightly parted in his sleep and his lashes were dark crescents on his pale as moonlight cheeks.

The fae markings were on full display and seemed to glow under the lamp light. Those that weren't hidden by the blanket that covered him that is. And his wings.. They seemed to have a glow of their own under the light and he watched them flutter every once in a while when a breeze came through the balcony doors.

His Yugi made such a beautiful picture that the Pharaoh couldn't resist immortalizing the scene so that he could keep it forever. Besides - he noted with a private smirk - he doubted he'd be able to keep his beautiful prince still long enough to do this were he awake.

But then, maybe he could. Maybe he'd ask him soon, for now he set his completed work aside after stroking the drawn cheek with a single finger and a loving smile. Rather than return to bed however, he moved to the balcony with a goblet of wine.

As much as he wished to return to his love on the bed. He didn't want to wake him by restlessly stirring as he waited for fatigue to return. And so opted to take in the quiet of Kemet instead and let the warm - turning cool - breeze caress over him.

There was something to be said for a fae to sleep. Especially so deeply, to be so relaxed, while eyes were trained on them. And yet, the prince slept soundly, his body stretched out languidly as those eyes trailed over him. No instinct of alert, no fear of needing to jump awake in an instant to fight or flee. For him to sleep undisturbed was a certain kind of flattery.

It was an intimate level of trust.

Which the prince did indeed have with the human that he trusted to hold his heart. He would rather be no where else than right here in this bed. Well, he would have preferred to keep his warmth at his side rather than sleeping alone, of course.

Which might have been why he finally did stir. Not because a gaze had been trained on him, no, but the warmth and presence of his beloved that was still relatively close by, moved further away. After a moment, he inhaled softly and shifted, stretching on the bed, wings flaring out before he blinked his eyes open.

Sitting up, he looked to the balcony before quietly rising and fluttering over. Pale as the moon arms draped around the Pharaoh's shoulder as he pressed soft, lazy kisses to tanned skin. Did he bother to clothe? Not at all, it was still warm for the moment.

It was late and rather than them cuddling up in bed, it seemed his hikari was distracted with other things. Although Atem knew that, Yugi was probably just as fatigued as he was.

He walked up behind the young man, his eyelids heavy. And rather than ask, lifted the shorter man into a bridal carry.

"Whatever it is, it can wait for morning," he softly admonished.

He hadn't even taken the time to take note of what had his love so occupied. It didn't matter to him, what mattered was the both of them getting some much needed sleep. And if they fell asleep cuddled up together, even better.

The call of their soft bed and warm blanket was a sirens song to him. And even more so as he set, Yugi on the bed.

Every day was marching closer to the solstice which meant Yugi was rather torn on a few things. On one hand, he was gaining more energy and his magic grew stronger. On the other, it was a nuisance to deal with sometimes and it meant he usually felt obligated to help with planning in the Other Realm for the festivities. Which… Meant being a prince that he certainly didn't feel he was.

Out of place. That's usually what was highlighted around this time. Did anyone really mention it? No not really, but that didn't stop Yugi from feeling such. He wasn't raised a noble, he's just a normal guy. So as usual, he threw himself into chores so he would stop thinking about it.

Much like he was now, running on auto pilot as he folded the laundry, zoning out as exhaustion was starting to set in despite his best effort. He didn't even hear Atem coming up behind him before he was scooped into the air and gasped softly, still holding the t-shirt he had been in the process of folding.

This year though, he'd had help. Or rather help was thrust upon him via their friends. Jou, Honda, Anzu and Ryou had all stepped in and together they had all come up with a plan.

Anzu spending much of her time in America had, had the main idea of something the Americans did called a cook out. Complete with grilled food, snacks to go with it, drinks and friends and family having a good time playing outdoor games.

"Its a summer time staple here," Anzu had said.

It seemed like just the kind of thing Yugi would enjoy. Cheeseburgers, friends together again, and games like something called corn hole or a ring toss. No high stakes this time, just fun.

Now, everyone was setting up in the park, Jou in charge of the grill of course. Anzu was in charge of the beverages and Honda in charge of the snacks. That left he and Ryou to set up the games which he'd done before he was shooed away to fetch Yugi. That and ordering the birthday cake he'd pick up a bit later.

For now, he let himself into the apartment and walked up behind aibou to enfold his arms around him.

"Happy birthday, dearest," he softly said, leaning his forehead to his. "I have a surprise for you."

If Yugi was honest, he forgot. He tended to do that, forget his own birthday. To him, it wasn't really an important day, not when he'd rather the spotlight be on others. So he was just keeping to himself, none the wiser of what was being planned and prepared.

Though as he hummed to himself, busying himself with chores, he didn't even hear Atem enter. But he did smile and lean back against him with a happy little sigh. Before blushing softly at the happy birthday. "Oh…It slipped my mind," he admitted with a small chuckle before he turned to wrap his arms around Atem's neck and kiss him softly.

Only to blink, curiosity getting the better of him before he could say that Atem hadn't had to do anything for his birthday. In fact he would have been just happy to spend the day together, cuddling and relaxing. "A surprise?" He asked, tilting his head.