If Atem Lived in my Head

Monopoly

"So who taught you to duel?" Yugi asked as he shuffled his deck.

"Myself" I shrug "everyone."

That doesn't make sense." Joey interrupted his banter with Tristan.

"I learned by watching, studying all the best and the worst duelists." I shuffle my own deck, it feels good to have it back in my hands.

"What can you learn from watching the worst duelists?" Joey slaps his hands against the table.

"A lot actually." Yugi answers for me.

"What do ya mean, Yug?" Joey is still missing it.

"You can learn things from everything if you let yourself." I tell him. I let my hands shuffle the deck expertly, honestly this is my casino shuffle, it's flashy and a nice party trick or an intimidation factor. I can't help but smirk as Joey watches my hands.

"That doesn't answer my question." Joey gives himself a shake to break the contact with my hands and my deck.

"Sure it does." Yugi says all light and smiley. "By watching everyone you can learn what works and what doesn't."

"Why make the same mistake as someone else when you can make your own." I smile at Yugi, he gets it. He's small, like me, it makes you see things differently.

"I learned from you too, Joey." I tell him.

"You did?" He seems surprised then he frowns "are you calling me a bad duelist?" He demands.

"No, I already told you, you have some nice tricks, I'll defiantly be adapting a few to my own deck."

"Really?" Now his cheeks tint pink with flattery. I bob my head in acknowledgment.

I believe you've made his day,  Atem smiles at me and rests a hand around my shoulders. Friends looks good on you.

Yeah? I don't know how I feel going out like this, leaving my responsibilities behind like this.

You deserve this he says, I swear I can feel his breath ruffle my hair as he hovers behind me.

"Hey, Nuni!" Joey throws something at me, I catch it on reflex. It's a bag of baked lays.

"You remembered?" I ask surprised.

"Of course I did." Joey smiles.

"Thanks." He passes out bags of chips to the others and Yugi hands me a Diet Coke.

"Here you go, Nuni." Yugi hands out one to Tristan and Taya and Joey before he sits down with his own drink.

"So we gonna play monopoly or what?" Tristan says.

"I hope you're all prepared to lose." I crack my knuckles and my neck.

Competitive, aren't we? Atem chuckles sitting beside me.

Of course I am, why do you think I'm so hard to be around? I ask as I select the thimble from the pile of game pieces.

On the contrary its one of your most attractive traits. He rests his chin on my shoulder and settles beside me to watch the game.

I can feel him. I shake the thought away before he can hear it.

"Let's go, Nuni." Joey challenges playfully "you're not gonna win this one."

"Hey, you're gonna have to beat me before you beat her." Tristan shook the dice and rolled a five.

Joey rolled a seven

Taya rolled a three

Yugi and I both rolled twelves.

"Guess we'll have to roll again." Yugi laughs and rolls another twelve. I take the dice but I can already feel when I'll roll.

"Twelve." I laughed a little, Yugi must have the same kind of luck with me as games.

Interesting Atem muses. You both seem to share an energy.

What the heck is that supposed to mean? I demand.

I noticed it in you a while ago, you play games very well. So well you seem to be unreasonably lucky. He runs his hands up the back of my head and I shiver. I love it when he does that.

Oh well.  I roll my eyes at him Yugi's got it too, this'll be fun.

"House rules." Is hand the dice to Yugi "this is your home, you go first, then me, then Joey, then Tristan and then Taya."

"Sounds good." Yugi throws the dice and the game begins.

The game consists of a lot of Tristan going straight to jail. Yugi and I obtain most of the board with multiple houses on the board and Taya idling playing, claiming the yellow and pink spaces. Tristan is just not good at games period, he's gotten the brown and light blue spaces but boardwalk and Parkplace are mine. I place hotels on them shortly after obtaining them, I own the railroads, Yugi owns the utilities and the green spaces.

I miss every jail card and so does Yugi.

You and Yugi are neck and neck Atem notes, running his hand up the back of my head, the short hairs quivering with each stroke. He lounges with his long legs stretched behind me as he props himself up on his elbow.

I've got plans

Do share. Atem purrs.

All in good time Pharaoh

"Hotel me." I hands my Monopoly money to Taya.

"Geese." Joey shakes his head "Another one?"

"I play to win." I tell him with a teasing smile.

"I noticed." Tristan smiles at me and I don't like it, it's the kind of smile that suggests something.

"Yugi." His grandpa comes in and interrupts our game "Yugi, it's time for dinner."

"Already?" Yugi yawns and glances outside, it's already pitch dark out.

"Oh wow." Yugi chuckles, everyone stretches as they stand.

"We've been at it for five hours." Joey exclaims.

"Oh gosh." Taya pushes her hair back "I need to get home, Tristan, can I get a ride?"

"Yeah, of course. I'm headed your way anyway."

"Nuni." Yugi whispers to me. "Joey is staying for dinner, would you like to stay as well?"

"Oh..." I hesitate

Nuni, please stay for dinner there is nothing you have to be home for. Relax a bit

"I... yes." I say "I'd love to."

"Great, and you can stay the night too, I'll set up the couch for you." He smiles at me like this is an innocent question but I see it. He's offering me some peace.

"Thank you." I watch him, he's just good.

"awesome!" He exlaims.

Dinner was great, Joey's really funny and Yugi and his grandpa are so nice, Atem keeps stroking the back of my head, petting me as I curl up on the couch and sigh in contentment.

Sleep well, Nuni he brushes the lightest of kisses to the top of my head.

I jolt awake covered in cold sweat a scream torn from my throat.

"Nuni!" Yugi and Joey appear in my doorway, Atem hovers over me, concern contorting his face.