youreternalservant | [CAMPUS/IC]

[There's not a response from Yugi, as such. Right now, the poor boy is in a fitful sleep, but the hand of his still firmly on the card means that he can feel that voice and warmth again, causing him to calm... at least a little. It's enough to turn his dreams to the Magician, if nothing else.

Mahad...]

[No response... likely asleep, then. No, he's sure he can feel it through the card. As he brushes off Lisa's concerns and leaves to head for the boy's dormitory, he focuses on sending a feeling of comfort through the card.

It's not far, at least, before he finds the door. Now is it locked...?]

[The door doesn't seem to be locked, thankfully; either Pegasus forgot, or he was elsewhere in the small dorm.

The feeling of comfort soothes Yugi a bit more, making him mumble softly and pull the card closer to him, heedless of how he might be damaging it. His trusted friend...]

[Sinking down on the side of the bed, he reaches out to stroke slim fingers through Yugi's hair, soothingly. It's almost a parental gesture, the desire to offer comfort more than any of his usual hesitancies. Poor boy... to sleep holding the card so close. He must have been suffering.

Mahad won't leave him for now, at least.]

Rest well, Yugi...

Mn...

[The touch seems to rouse him slowly, Yugi reaching up a hand to wipe off his face. Even in sleep, even three days later, the tears hadn't stopped, though they had been flowing a bit more slowly.

That feels nice...]

Pegasus-san...?

[He groggily looks up, blinking his eyes, still so out of it he doesn't seem to register who it is just yet.]

...

[Softly, he uses his robes to wipe the tears away. The poor child... how he must have suffered.]

Not quite.

[It's when the soft texture of the robe is against his face that Yugi's brain starts to boot, leaving him blinking a little. Slowly, the eyes focus, blinking a couple of times before it registers who it is.

...No. It can't be. He'd felt it... he'd seen the sheet he was in front of that the other him placed, he knew who was under it, hadn't been able to stop himself from looking. So this couldn't be...

After a moment of being almost unable to breathe, Yugi slowly -- slowly -- reaches out a small hand to touch Mahad's face. It's a rude gesture, perhaps, but he can't even think right now, just wanting to see if it's real.]

Edited 2013-10-12 02:13 (UTC)

[A slight smile teases his lips, and he stays still, not drawing away from the touch. His skin is warm and soft to the touch.

His hand lifts in turn to rest atop Yugi's head gently for a moment before drawing him into his arms in a tight hug. It's impolite, he knows, but right now he just wants to offer what comfort he can.]

Forgive me, Yugi...

[It's real. The feeling of that skin, this hug he's been pulled into, the warmth from it all...

It's real. Mahad's alive. He's really alive.

The tears start afresh as Yugi laces his arms around Mahad's neck as best he can, burying his face in the magician's chest even as he starts to shake, from sobs and relief and happiness.]

Mahad!

[He feels the boy tense against him, feels the dampness of tears through the fabric of his robes, and for a moment he thinks he's going to be pushed away. But instead Yugi simply clings closer, sobbing against him. He feels a surge of relief.

His hands settle on the boy's back, rubbing it soothingly as he holds him.]

Yes... I'm real. I'm back.

[His voice is quietly calm, though Yugi's sobs are almost contagious. Poor boy... He won't let this happen ever again. Not even if he has to face down a thousand guns. Being taken by surprise was one thing. It won't happen again. He swears it, silently.]

I'm sorry... I'm so sorry...

[Yugi has no intention of letting go anytime soon, nor is the crying likely to stop either. There's so much going through him right now, relief and guilt and joy and fear.]

I couldn't help you... I couldn't do anything...!

[He keeps rubbing his back soothingly, frowning at those words.]

Yugi... please don't think like that. Putting yourself at risk needlessly wouldn't help either of us. I'm glad that you're alright. That's enough for me.

[Mahad... even after dying, he still isn't mad...

The sobs begin to calm a little, giving way into sniffling and gasps. The shaking isn't calming much, but at least holding onto Mahad is making him feel steady.]

I... if I could have summoned you... then I could've saved you... right?

...

If I had realized the threat in time, perhaps. But it was my folly. I'd never encountered a weapon like that before and he took me from behind.

It's possible it would not have been enough to save me.

[But if Yugi could have summoned him, he wouldn't have been in the halls to begin with. He'd been trying to find him, after all.

Ah, fate...]

Then...

[Sniff, sniff sniffle. He's calming down a bit more now, the soft reassurance and warm hold enough to chase away those violent feelings.]

I want to learn how to do it! I know we were practicing, but... if it even could have helped a little... I don't want that to happen again! I'll work however hard I have to!

Then, Yugi... If you feel up to it, we can work on it. I'll lend you what power I have. And I'll stick close to you until it's managed.

I'm sure you'll be able to manage it, with that determination.

[His friend... his warm and protective and caring and nice friend... he wants to be able to do something to help, to make sure that neither of them has to suffer again.

He pulls back, nodding firmly even with the tears still falling.]

I do! I'll... I won't stop until I can do it!

No, Yugi... [He wags a finger at him gently.]

You'll need to rest, that much is for sure. Summoning someone like me, even with my acceptance, will be tiring. But it'll be enough if you push yourself to an acceptable level. I'll stop you if you get too drained. I don't want you hurt.

But... I want to be able to do something if that happens again... I don't want to just have to feel it if Mahad -- [He can't say it. He just can't.] -- gets hurt again!

I can handle it...

Yugi... I told you, didn't I? I won't leave your side until you manage it. So if you need to rest, rest. I'll be right beside you. And we can keep going once you're rested, non-stop, if you like.

...Okay. I can do that.

[He snuggles back into Mahad, closing his eyes again. Even if he wants to start right away... he wants to stay like this for a few more minutes. The warmth and presence that reminds him his friend really is here...]

[As if sensing it, Mahad doesn't let go of him. That need for comfort that he can provide... He'll offer all of it that he can. As he holds him, hands gently rubbing Yugi's upper back still to try to soothe him, he speaks softly and slowly.]

The theory is simple enough. The card is the conduit, just as the tablets of my time were, but even without the conduit, summoning is possible if the bond between the summoner and the target is strong enough. At that time, the past you was able to call upon my strength even without the use of the Diadhank - a summoning tool - or the Millennium Puzzle, which he wore too. But that was due to our unique bond. He had known me since we were both children... it was natural for him to call for me when he was in need.

But, Yugi, you have the same strength of will within you that he did. It's hidden, buried deep, but it's there. You have the potential to grow even stronger... to grow beyond your past selves, standing on your own two feet.

[His own feet... Yeah, he and Mahad were friends, too. Different from the old him, but still friends on their own...]

If I can... then... can I protect my friends with it? I don't want to just sit around and watch or be in the way... for anyone.

And... I'd like to become Mahad's friend in a way that means I can call on him no matter what too. Even if I'm not that Pharaoh... Mahad is already someone really important to me!

Edited 2013-10-12 03:40 (UTC)

[He nods firmly.]

I'm sure of it. Though you could never be 'in the way', I'm certain that you can find the strength you need to protect those people that are important to you. It's buried there within you already, after all.

[Important to him... that thought makes him smile.]

And Yugi, you're already someone important to me too. Not just because you're like him... but because you're you.

Mm! I'm glad! Because that way, too... you have two friends! I was him, but I'm me too... so now it's me and him that are your close friends! And Tudor-san, too!

[He smiles brightly, wiping away the rest of the tears as that pain finally disappears, replaces by the happiness and relief.]

But... I don't want to make 'him' upset! So I'll work just as hard as he did!

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