When the 'hear me out' starts turning into 'I can't fucking live without them, they rot my brain and puncture my heart Every. Waking. Moment. I eat up every fucking fic, fanart and audio like it's crack. Ialsogoonoverthem'
I’m back at it again because I just love these guys so much. This time, it’s about what they’d be like as boyfriends. Writing this felt like drifting right back into that familiar feeling for why I adore them in the first place 💛💜
Yugi is the kind of boyfriend who makes love feel easy to trust.
He’s gentle with you in all the little ways that matter. He listens when you talk, remembers the small things you mention once and forget you said, and notices when your mood shifts before you explain it. He wouldn’t overwhelm you with big, dramatic gestures. With Yugi, love shows up in quieter ways—the way he saves you a seat, checks in when you’ve had a long day, or smiles to himself when he sees your name on his phone.
He’d love spending time with you, even if you weren’t doing anything special. Board games, late-night talks, walking home together, sitting side by side while one rambles and the other listens—it would all mean something to him. Yugi would never make you feel silly for caring. If it matters to you, he’d want to hear about it.
When you’re upset, he gets quiet. He wouldn’t push, crowd you, or try to fill the silence just because it made him nervous. He just stays beside you, close enough that you know he’s there.
After a while, his hand shifts a little closer to yours. He waits. And when you finally reach for him, he holds on like that was all he wanted to do in the first place.
He’d be nervous sometimes. Yugi would want so badly to help that he might stumble over his words or second-guess himself. But he’d stay and listen. If he didn’t say everything perfectly, you’d still feel how much he cared.
Yugi would keep little things from you and never really mention it. A picture tucked in his wallet. A charm you gave him. A note he’s folded so many times the edges have gone soft.
If you ever found them, he’d probably get embarrassed, but he wouldn’t deny it. Those things matter to him. They’re pieces of you, and Yugi would hold onto them carefully.
And when Yugi says “I love you,” he means it completely. No performance, no hesitation once the words are out—just his whole heart sitting there in the open.
“I still can’t believe I get to be the one beside you,” he’d admit, his cheeks flushed. “You make every day feel special, just by being here.”
Joey as a boyfriend would be loud, sweet, protective, and a little chaotic in the best way. He feels things hard, and once he cares about someone, he doesn’t know how to be casual about it. If he loves you, he loves you with his whole chest.
Joey would always find an excuse to stick around longer. He’d walk you home even if it meant going the wrong way, then act like you were the weird one for noticing.
“What? I was already heading over there.”
Joey would remember the snacks you like and toss them at you with a quick, “Here. Don’t make it weird.” Like he didn’t go out of his way to get them.
And if he knew you were having a bad day, he’d text you something stupid just to mess with you. Five minutes later, another message would come in. “You laughed, didn’t you?”
He’d mess with you all the time, sure. But if someone else did it and actually hurt your feelings? Joey’s smile would be gone in a second.
He’d be affectionate in a very Joey way, too. An arm around your shoulders when you’re walking together, his hand grabbing yours in a crowd, pulling you closer during a movie and pretending there’s a reason for it. He’d just like having you close, whether you’re out getting food, walking around late, or doing absolutely nothing on the couch.
Joey would mess up sometimes. He’d get loud, say something stupid, and realize almost right away that he’d gone too far. He wouldn’t know how to fix it at first, so he’d probably sulk for a bit, pacing around and arguing with himself.
Then he’d come back, awkward and frustrated with his own pride, rubbing the back of his neck.
“Look… I was being an idiot,” he’d mutter. “I’m sorry, okay?”
Under all the teasing and confidence, Joey has a softer side he doesn’t show to everyone. With you, he’d let that side slip out more. He’d get quiet when something really matters. He’d hold on a little longer. He’d look at you like he still can’t believe he gets to have this.
“You got no idea what you do to me,” he chuckles, brushing his thumb over your jaw. “Every time you smile, I swear my brain just— poof— gone. You’re it for me, babe.”
Seto wouldn’t fall for someone easily. He keeps people at a distance for a reason, and he wouldn’t let just anyone get close. But once you matter to him, that’s it. He may not say it in the softest way, but his loyalty would be impossible to miss.
At first, he’d be awkward with affection. He wouldn’t know what to do with someone being gentle, and he’d probably act irritated to cover up being flustered. But little by little, you’d notice how he cares. He’d make time for you even when his schedule is packed. He’d stand closer in crowded places. He’d notice when something was bothering you, even if you tried to hide it.
Seto wasn’t going to stand there and tell you he cared. That wasn’t him.
Your phone charger stopped working once, and he made one rude comment about buying cheap garbage before replacing it with something better. Another night, it got late, and before you could even mention leaving, he said, “The car’s downstairs.” No question. No explanation.
And when you shivered beside him, he didn’t ask if you were cold. His coat was already on your shoulders. “You’re freezing,” he muttered, looking away like he hadn’t been watching you the whole time.
And he would never say he liked having you around. He’d just keep letting you stay.
You could sit in his office while he worked, curled up in one of the chairs with a book open in your lap or your phone in your hand. You wouldn’t even have to say much. The room would be quiet except for the soft clicking of his keyboard, the occasional shuffle of papers, murmuring from the monitors on his desk. Every now and then, his eyes would flick over to you. Quick. Almost careless. But if you looked up fast enough to catch him, he’d arch a brow and say something dry before turning back to his screen.
But he’d be less tense with you there. That part he couldn’t hide.
When it’s just the two of you, he’d still be Seto. Sharp. Blunt. Hard to read on purpose. But he’d stand closer. His hand would settle at your waist when he passes behind you or brush your back like he doesn’t realize it. His voice would be quieter with you, and when he looked at you, he’d stay for a second instead of turning away immediately.
Seto wouldn’t always know what to do with what he felt for you. Saying it out loud would feel too exposed, and he’d probably get irritated with himself for even trying. So instead, he’d let you in piece by piece.
A place in his schedule. A chair in his office. Your things left somewhere he could see them and never once telling you to move them.
For Seto, that would say enough.
“I don’t need you to understand everything I do,” he says one night, his hand finding yours. “Just know that when I say you matter to me… I mean it. More than I can ever say.”
Yami doesn’t love casually. If he chooses someone, he takes it seriously. He’s careful with his feelings, but once he lets someone in, there’s no doubt about where they stand with him.
He wouldn’t expect you to stay quiet behind him. He’d want you next to him, speaking your mind, even when your thoughts didn’t match his. If you challenged him, he wouldn’t brush it off. He’d listen calmly because your voice mattered to him.
When you doubted yourself, he wouldn’t turn it into a speech. He’d stay close, look at you like he already knew the truth, and say, “You’ve faced harder things than this.”
He’d notice when you were running yourself down, too. A cup of tea would appear beside you. Your bag would disappear from your shoulder before you could argue. If you were sick, he’d be calm, almost too calm, setting water and medicine near you and telling you to rest. If you tried to protest, he’d give you that look—the one that says he’s already made up his mind.
His affection came quietly, tucked into moments most people wouldn’t notice. When a room got too crowded, his hand would settle against your back, warm through the fabric. If your smile started to slip, his fingers would find yours under the table and hold them. Before he left, he’d kiss your forehead, soft and brief, then stay close for one extra second before finally pulling away.
He would remember things. Small things. A drink you liked. A book you paused to look at. The way your hands curled when you were nervous and trying to hide it. You’d mention something once then forget about it, only to find it beside you days later without a word. He wouldn’t make a show of it. He would just notice, remember, and care.
Sometimes you’d catch him looking at you when he thought you were distracted, his expression softer than usual. The moment your eyes met, he’d look away, calm as ever, but you’d already seen it.
In private, he’d let himself be gentler. He’d enjoy the quiet with you sitting close while he read, listening to you talk about your day, letting your head rest against his chest without trying to fill the silence. Those peaceful moments would matter to him more than he’d say.
And beneath all that calm confidence, there would be a softer side that only you really get to see. With you, he wouldn’t always have to be composed or certain. He could simply be there, close and quiet, letting himself have the peace he rarely asks for.
“Remember this,” he says, his voice low but certain. “No matter what time or world we stand in—my heart belongs to you.”
Alright, time to go cry into the void and pretend these men aren’t fictional 😭
“So, you’re telling me the only modern thing you’ve done since you’ve been here, is duel?” She eyed Atem. It was getting easier to tell which was which whenever they switched. Yugi had trouble meeting her eyes, but that might be because he knew the fullest details of her and Atem’s relationship, and often stammered and rolled his shoulders down when he spoke to her.
Atem, her Atem, stood tall and proud when he spoke to her and could look nowhere else when she was before him, even before they began dating. Just as he was doing now from the brisk glances she could risk from the road. She could feel his stare. Studying her. Marveling at what was his.
“Dueling is a connection to my past and a direction for understanding my future. It’s led my friends and I on many adventures, answered and left just as many questions, and,” his hand snaked to her thigh and gave her an affectionate squeeze, “brought me to you. What more is there?”
“Let’s see,” Pretending to think while keeping her eyes on the road, she began to list the things she’d caught him doing since he’d spent more nights over. “You could learn to use Alexa.”
“I spoke to Alexis just the other day.” He squeezed her thigh unhappily.
“That was a microwave.”
“Kaiba said you can talk to technology now and it listens.” His pout deepened.
Stifling a laugh by pressing her lips together, she made a mental note to have Kaiba explain tech to Atem while she and Mai drank margaritas and bet which one would lose their temper first. “It does, but not all of it.”
“Oh yes,” He nodded, “Like the magic lights Tristen now has.”
“Exactly!” The drive through came into view, bright neon lights and a half lit up menu. Not that it mattered, she knew what they were getting. Atem had made a habit of asking her to order for him as he and Yugi had different tastes and he enjoyed hers better. “He uses his phone to control them.”
At the word, Atem cursed, “Phones. What noisy contraptions. The music is too loud and the screen too bright. People wear more glasses in this time than they did in mine.”
“Maybe because glasses weren’t invented yet.” She countered and grinned back at him.
A smirk adorned that handsome face, his eyes shining. “The problems of dating an older man.”
“I like older men.”
Atem pulled closer, his lips brushing against hers before pulling her in passionately. The car jerked forward and back when she slammed the break. He scowled, “Kissing was easier in carriages.”
“You were kissing other people before me?” She feigned shock and hurt.
Atem’s eyes widened and he turned scarlett. “No-I, my queen, I was young and stupid then! Had I known the real treasure was at this point of my life, I would’ve never looked at anyone before you!”
For the best duelist in the world, Atem always lost when it came to her wit. Chuckling, she kissed his cheek, grabbed the food, and handed him a drink. “I believe you. Ok, try this and tell me what you think.”
Inspecting it, Atem shook condensation from his hands and stared quizzically at her. “What is it?”
“It’s a sweet drink that tastes, well, it’s a bit hard to explain, but it’s a treat and I’ll think you’ll like it.”
Slowing down before getting to the main road, she watched in anticipation as his lips wrapped around the straw and sucked. Blue shot up and into his mouth, now twisted into a scowl, braced for danger, then…
“By Ra.” Atem held the drink in the sun. “By what manner of nectar is this?”
“It’s called a Baja Blast.”
“Can I drink more of it?” His eyes wide.
“There’s no alcohol and it shouldn’t make you sick, but there’s a lot of sugar so you might be wired for a bit.”
“Yugi shouldn’t mind that.” His cheeks hollowed and the drink disappeared.
Her hand found his and kissed it. “Don’t drink it too fast! You’ll get a brain freeze.”
Atem slowed down, mouth and tongue blue. “It tastes like the color blue. How do they do that?”
She shrugged, “Sugar and chemicals I guess.”
“Ha!” Atem declared, “I will have to tell Kaiba that I now know something more in this world than he does.”
“That’s probably a good idea. I doubt Kaiba’s had one before, but if you show it to him, he might invent a Blue Eyes drink to rival it.”
Atem was lost in the drink. “This is the sweetest liquid to grace my lips.”
“Hey!”
Face red, mouth blue, he set the drink down and kissed her, tongue cold and tasting like the color blue. “Besides you, of course, my queen.”
“Good save. Now, I have to concentrate on the road. Try not to be so handsome.”
“I only shine when you look at me.” He replied, hand stationed back on its designated place on her thigh. “Can you show me more modern marvels?”
“Stick with me handsome,” she secured his hand, “I’ll show the ropes.”
In an (un)surprising turn of events, Yugi Mutou/Yami Yugi won the last poll to write headcanons about them.
Did he cheat? We will never know for sure! (At the end of the day, Yugi never loses (???).)
So without further ado, let's go!
Yugi Mutou/Yami Yugi | Route (Part one):
Trigger Warnings: None, Sfw, wholesome, slight soulmate connection if you squint, slight miscommunication, Yami Yugi/Atem being insecure/self conscious about his reputation.
Sorry guys...instead of just being headcanons it ended up being a whole route (and this is just the first part.)
Keep in mind that, when I say "Route" I mean it like in a visual novel where you go and romance a character, this would be one of Yugi's routes if I ever came up with another one.
Also, when a route is closed, you can unlock a route with another character (that will be decided between posts!!)
So that's it for now!!
---
This may come off as something obvious for some, but I’ll clear it up anyway. Because Yami and Yugi are the same being, residing in the same body, if you date one of them, you're actually dating both.
Now, I know how the show ended, but for the sake of maintaining everything consistent, all characters are depicted as 18+.
I would love to depict Yugi as a full blown adult that is 23-25 years old even if Yu-Gi-Oh designs do not change too much, I want an AU where we can see some development.
Also proship/comship/whatever DNI please.
Now, onto the little route!!:
Yami has seen this pattern for a very long time…how his partner, Yugi, acts around you.
Words aren't even necessary between both men, no matter how much they would like to keep things private from one another, or bury their reasons to act the way they do, they always know.
And while Yami may have helped his counterpart to cultivate his own self esteem in Yugi’s youth, it is the latter who, ironically, will do all the heavy lifting when it comes to the relationship that he wants to build with you.
Yugi’s nature is kind and gentle, but purposefully determined when it comes to the things he knows will make him happier and/or grow as a person.
In his 20’s, I can see Yugi still helping his grandfather in the game shop, lifting boxes, and carrying heavier stuff. Because of this, he has developed a little bit of muscle, he has also grown taller (not much, but when shifting between personalities, now it's barely noticeable.).
After Tea/Anzu moved to the USA, it was evident that their feelings could not grow in these circumstances, so they both remained friends. She's really happy that her friend moved on and found you.!
Whenever you come to the shop, Yugi can actually feel you are near, even if he's not looking at you directly. His intuition is sharp enough to sense you, an ability that all millenium item hosts naturally have acquired with time.
— I’ll be right back, Y/n! — said the spiky haired man in front of you.
You always wondered how he did it.
It was funny how both of you met each other…
You weren't a duelist, at least not an advanced one. But you managed to land a job in a card shop, and you really wanted to do the best you could when it came to giving advice on what cards or strategies would be better for aspiring duelists who came to your shop.
There were rumors about the “so called” king of games living near, so you didn't expect much when you entered the Kame Game shop. How could someone so important live there? Shouldn't the guy be rich by now?
And…all of these assumptions were thrown out the window when you saw him over the counter, overhearing two conversations at once.
— Yes Grandpa, I’ll help you in a sec! Please don't try and carry all of that alone! — Yugi replied, shuffling between a preoccupied tone and an apologetic one — Joey, we’ve already talked about this…I can't lend you any more money for now - —
That's when he noticed you, and almost as if he knew it, he felt happy. A familiar sensation, like home.
Yugi interrupted himself, as Joey, his best friend, turned around to see you.
—...Can I help you? —
You were mesmerized, almost in a trance, barely grasping what the duel champion just said right now. Was he treating you like a normal person? Like an equal?. He wasn't like Seto Kaiba or other duelists, competitive and arrogant…you realized his gentle nature wasn't a facade, certainly.
—W-well…you might be able to help…—
You tried to convey what kind of help you needed, and you were willing to pay for a class in duel monsters, if that was possible.
Instead, you were greeted with warmth, the kind you would expect from a long time friend or a family member…they allowed you to stay after work to cover the basics of the games, and even Joey was glad to help you!
There was this immense feeling of gratitude, you got way more than you thought you would from this experience. Two months passed by quickly, however Yugi and his grandfather refused any kind of payment for the service they gave you.
—Why are they so stubborn…? The deserve some compensation, they have invested so much time on me…— You distracted yourself, thinking about the possibilities…
You had the habit of daydreaming between tasks and even during practice duels, until a soft voice grounded you.
—...y/n…Earth to Y/N…! —
You quickly snapped out of any other thoughts and inner doubts.
—...Ah! S-sorry!! I got distracted! —
Both Yugi and Joey chuckled at your reaction. Your opponent, Joey, was apparently eager to gain another victory.
— C’mon Y/N! This fella has another duel to win! — The blonde man sure exuded confidence through his words…
You came up with an idea.
—Joey, if you love the game so much and need a stable job...why don't you work at the shop? — You stopped yourself mid-sentence, trying to convey what you wanted to explain. —...You would do great in both coaching and teaching rookies for practice duels! I could talk to my boss about it! —
— That would actually be such a great idea! Joey is a trustworthy person, I can assure you that, Y/N. — Yugi looked more contempt than his own friend at the job proposal — If I couldn't attend the game shop for some reason, Joey would be the first person I would think of to cover me! —
— Oh…Yug! — Joey was almost teary, knowing how much his friend trusted him.
— Hmm, I don't know, I wouldn't trust Joey with our money, Yugi — Yugi’s grandfather interrupted the moment, eliciting a sigh of discomfort from the blonde.
Both Yugi and you laughed, and he stopped for a moment to contemplate you… the planes of your face, your smile…
You looked perfect.
He didn't have, or need, any other words to describe you, your smile and the sheer feeling of happiness your presence gave him.
— I’ll recommend him personally if you want to! — Yugi replied.
— That would be great!...But you didn't tell me how can I repay you for your services…—
— Oh! About that…well, I may have an idea…—
Yugi looked at the other men and winked, a universal signal that sent a jolt to both the older and younger one.
— I–, ah…I’ll be back in a while! — Solomon muto retorted, trying to hide his intention to leave you two alone.
— I- well, I…I’ll go to the toilet! — Joey then started dodging any furniture that could come up in his way, failing miserably in the process, and falling two or three times.
Suddenly, everyone was gone. It was only Yugi and you…or was it?.
There was someone else watching the scene unfold, without you being aware of it.
— Well, I was thinking about something…— Yugi looked behind him, as if he was looking for some kind of approval, but to no avail.
There wasn't even a trace of the shadow of his other self. He caressed the golden puzzle that rested on his chest, as if it was the source of his confidence.
With the last remnant of courage he had left, he finalized his sentence.
— You know, there's a cafeteria near here, I think we should go there, so we can talk in more detail about it... —
After some moments, both of you felt the bold, heavy whispers of silence… Thanks to you, though, it wasn't for long.
— Oh, that's great! — You almost beamed in happiness. Yugi almost jumped at your sudden reaction.
— You…you accept…? —
For the first time in some years, Yugi Mutou actually looked…puzzled. Quite fittingly, really.
— Sure, why not? It would be nice —
— G-great! Hah…— Yugi scratched his face nervously, with his index finger.
—...I can't help but feel a little bit guilty…I think I may have messed up... — His thoughts started tripping against the measly words he tried to utter, in an attempt to salvage the situation — Y-you know, It's okay if you don't want to, I– —
— Oh, it's getting late, I should get going! —
— W-wait, Y/n, I– —
Yugi tried to get up from the floor, while you put your shoes on. Joey, appeared behind a wall, startling Y/n in the process.
— Wah!! —
— Don't worry Yug! I’ll return Y/n to their home safely! —
— I…uh, thanks Joey — Yugi tried to hide his guilt behind a sheepish smile and closed eyes.
When you turned around and weren't looking, Joey lifted his arm and did a thumbs up to Yugi while smiling and repeatedly nodding, as if asking “how did it go?”. Yugi answered with another thumbs up, shyly.
Apparently, it looked like a success!
Joey retracted his elbow triumphantly. He was even happier than his friend at this point.
— Yeah! Well! Let's go Y/N!! —
You both left the shop and waved at Yugi.
—Hmm…you weren't entirely honest with them, did you? — Solomon asked, with one of his eyes closed, as if he was inspecting his own grandson.
— I…uh, Grandpa, I don't wanna talk about this…—
— Heh heh, don't worry about it!, let's rest and call it a day — He reassured his grandson, patting his back as the young man went to his own room.
Yugi let out a long sigh after closing the door.
— Why didn't you actually tell them?...—
Yami’s spirit was sitting on the bed when he asked. It felt like a jab at Yugi's heart...
— Well I should be the one asking that! You didn't even peak to help or encourage me! — Yugi wasn't even mad, he was just…anoyed, and hurt.
— You know…I know when you're hiding something. — Yugi sat by Yami’s side on the bed. — I take it you don't like Y/N, then…?. —
Yugi started changing into his bed clothes while waiting for an answer.
— N-no…it's not like that. Yugi, I…! — Yami tried his best, but couldn't come up with the words that could better describe how he actually felt, and the heaviness in his chest…—I… I don't know for sure…—
— Well, you will have to make up your mind Pharaoh…— Yugi muttered while climbing to his bed, then turning off the lights — We have a date tomorrow. —
— I see… —
Yami sat by the headboard of the bed, deep in thought, while observing his other half.
He was a 5000* year old spirit, yet he had heard enough insults about himself, been called names for actions he couldn't even recall, and having to live, yet again to own up for his mistakes in a body that wasn't even his.
“I’ve heard about you, you were an evil Pharaoh, a tyrant”
“You always take credit for being the king of games, leaving nothing for Yugi!”
“You don't deserve to be the current champion, that title belongs to me, and me only!”
“What about Tea, I bet you plan to have her to yourself too, huh?”
“You are evil, accept it.”
Each one stung more than the last, even if Yami didn't want to accept it, even if he wanted to stay strong at the time, the pain on his chest had him almost bent over…
It wasn't easy, for either of them. It wasn't easy to be both dead and alive at the same time.
It wasn't easy to be someone else’s shadow, yet shine so much no one could help but see him.
It wasn't easy to be accused of cheating repeatedly while being judged for taking all the credit at the same time.
But what Yami would never, ever do willingly, is hurt Yugi again.
— I lost him once, I can't afford to make the same mistakes again…—
Yami looked at his younger counterpart. Being a part of his life and sharing the joys of it, the ups and downs…
It was an immense privilege.
And he took it for granted way too many times to make the same mistake again.
— I would never deprive you from the happiness that belongs to you, partner…—
The ancient spirit looked to his younger, lively self sleeping peacefully.
The night was still young…
---
In the other part of the town, Joey was walking you home, the look of nostalgia and happiness washing over him, remembering how defenseless and weak Yugi was in the past. Now both of them reached maturity, even if Joey himself knew he had many things to overcome.
—...-and don't get me started on that one, you should have seen his face when Tristan and I took his millenium puzzle! —
You chuckled a little as the scene played in your mind.
— Oh, you two were so mean!! —
— Hahaha, you could say so!, but…— The blonde man looked to the horizon, then at the floor, searching for the words between every step. —You know…If anything ever happened to me, I would also trust everything I had to Yugi. The only family I have, my sister Serenity, and what little I might have at my home…
—Joey…— The sudden change in pace, and the vulnerability he just showed you…took you out of guard immediately. Almost walking past your original destination — Oh, it's here.
Joey stopped immediately, walking backwards a little, and brushing the back of his head with his hand, almost apologetically.
— Thank you, Joey…—
— No problem, Y/n! And…hey…please take care of Yugi's heart for me, will ya? —
— I…uh..sure…— You were confused by his last statement…what did he mean by that? —
You went into your house, and put your bed clothes on to relax. While you were undressing, however, many thoughts started racing on your mind.
—Simple enough, we go out together, I buy him a meal, and everything is covered…right? —
However…
Thinking about it more deeply…
“There’s a cafeteria near here…”
“It’s okay if you don't want to”
“I would trust Yugi with everything I had”
“Please take care of Yugi's heart for me, ‘will ya?”
For a moment, you felt a scream coiling at the bottom of your throat when it downed on you.
You signed up for a date.
Without you noticing, you gave your friend, Yugi, high hopes for something you didn't feel…or did you?
Were you starting to develop feelings for your friend? Was this all just a massive misunderstanding?
— I’m such an idiot…— You threw yourself at your bed, frustrated. — What do I do? What should I tell him?...What should I wear?? —
It was funny and annoying how your mood was swinging to match your current train of thought. You realized it was better to rest from this busy day, and give yourself a little bit of grace.
The harder decisions would be taken up tomorrow.
…..
Guys!!!
It ended being so long I had to decide to split it up in two chapters! Holy moly! I cannot believe I’ve written roughly 2500 words for this post alone! It's insane and I want to keep on writing lol xD.
Well...I hope you like this one, and see you in another post!!
