puzzlekeeper | ( imeeji ) IC Inbox

[ Maybe he's relieved that Intensity doesn't run. Maybe that would have been another blow, one he doesn't know if he could take right now.

Or maybe it's distressing, that Intensity would just let him do whatever he wanted. Wouldn't stop him. Wouldn't fight back.

Either way, it's not like he knows what he even wants right now.

He thrusts the blade straight into Intensity's stomach -- but it phases through him harmlessly, like it's a mere apparition. His Heart Weapon is a blade that couldn't harm Intensity no matter what its wielder does with it.

King just makes a low, frustrated sound in his throat, hands trembling on the hilt. ]

[Intensity doesn't flinch. Even though he was expecting some little sting or irritation. Some inner desire in King that he did in fact just wanted him to go away. Did resent his presence here.

But it doesn't. Nothing at all. A gust of wind would have had more effect.]

[God he doesn't even have time to parse the million of emotions that hit him like a freight train when that happens.

Relief. Surprise. Warmth. Appreciation. Affection. ~~Love~~. And most importantly, trust. Pure, simple, and bottomless.

But there's no time to linger on that. No time because King is still...]

[Slowly. Carefully. He places his hand over King's trembling ones]

Just when I think you've played every card up your sleeve. . .

You never disappoint me, Atem.

[ He doesn't lift his head. ]

Wrong. I fail everyone.

[ The Heart Weapon dissolves, leaving his hands empty and bereft. ]

Oh really?

[Empty hands just means Intensity can lace his fingers with one of them. And grip the back of the base of King's skull to pull him even closer]

How so?

[ He tries to pull back, but it doesn't exactly work. ]

. . .

[ Softly, after a moment: ]

Don't just let people stab you.

[It does not work. Not in the least. And Intensity, unlike King, is not nearly gracious enough to give him an out]

I don't. It's reserved for rivals only. And only when I'm feeling generous.

So.

Are you going to explain what you mean by that? You won't like the alternative.

[ There's a long pause, and then it seems like some of the fight goes out of him, replaced with a bone-deep exhaustion. ]

I don't care.

Do what you want.

As if I'd do anything else!

[But it seems that what Intensity wants is to walk King backwards until he's pressed up against the nearest wall.]

[ Oh.

Okay?

Why are we doing this though? ]

[Why does Intensity do anything?

Maybe it's because King's avenues for escape are fairly limited like this. Maybe it's because Intensity can press his palm heavily next to King's head so he can loom over him.

(Maybe it's because there are no convenient Ferris Wheels to toss him out of. That worked last time. ... Sort of.)]

So.

If I am to understand this correctly.

You dying to save your kingdom, imprisoning your soul for countless years, was failing your people.

[ His arm jerks suddenly, like he has a renewed investment in breaking free. ]

What does this have to do with anything?

You say you fail everyone. Not true.

. . .

The only person you've ever failed is yourself.

[ He bares his teeth, anger suddenly flaring again. ]

And Yugi? You think I didn't fail him?

Has there been even one second since you found out where you haven't been thinking of how you're going to get to him? How you're going to get him back?

Of course not.

Then you haven't lost yet.

You don't fail until you give up. Or you're dead.

And not before.

. . .

And you know exactly why I can't believe that so easily.

Oh, but which reason could that be?

Is it the one where you think success is only measured in perfection? Failed Yugi? Don't make me laugh. All he could ever babble on about was how much you meant to him. And how much he wanted to be there for you in return. How many times did you shield or avoid hitting pep? How many times did I see with my own two fucking eyes you go to his aid? Does none of that matter now that the producers specifically are fucking with you because they know how much this hurts you both?

Or is it the one where you're not allowed to have any sort of solace at all because someone you care about is potentially suffering? That denying yourself what you yourself claim to be your strength, you're offering them some warped semblance of solidarity.

. . .

It better not be because you still equate yourself more among the dead than the living.

[ Intensity . . . Intensity, that's a lot.

This might be the most psychoanalysis anyone's ever done on him. ]

No.

It's because I know you've felt this exact way before too.

[ And even if King hadn't been awake to notice it -- there was that moment Intensity nearly tossed a thumbdrive across the room. ]

[He leans in. Dangerously close.]

And what did you see that day when our positions were reversed?

Don't tell me you went easy on the poor bastard.

[ He doesn't move. ]

I saw grief.

. . . And anger.

Half right. Grief means you're trying to come to terms with the loss.

And that won't do. Not for me. And not for you.

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