"Your heart will open minds"

[lostinshadows]

[It was over.

It was a long war, too long for Lavi to even appreciate to the fullest. Switching sides midway wasn't even surprising for his nature - Bookmen were never exactly loyal to any side but their own, after all - but what was surprising was how much Lavi began to enjoy their company, even if he and Shun didn't exactly see eye to eye. It was even longer until they managed to split everyone up again from Yuya and Yuzu, back into their respective counterparts.

With the dimensions still damaged from the war, it would take everyone's help to restore the proper balance again.

But now, it was a time of celebration. Everyone was enjoying themselves, partying as they celebrated having their friends back.

Lavi watched them for a bit longer from his place in the shadows, a hint of a smile on his face. However, it faded when he remembered that he still had a job to do - he needed to report back to his mentor - and sighed softly. Giving the party another look, he turns and walks out, fidgeting with the duel disk still attached to him.]

Comments

[lostinshadows]

Then I'll stay. Only for as long as you want me to.

[darkduelist]

You... will?

[He can barely believe in that. Is it really so simple? Is this really all he needs to do to make Lavi stay?]

[lostinshadows]

Yup.

[He's very simple in this way.

But he peers down at him seriously.]

But only for as long as you want me to stay, Yuto. [He doesn't give his heart out so easily to just anyone. And he doesn't want to give his heart and have it returned to him in pieces if Yuto ends up not wanting him anymore.]

[darkduelist]

[Yuto blinks and suddenly looks at him with seriousness and worry.]

Is... is it going to sound strange if I say that I don't want you to leave... at all?

[His heart just doesn't want to let go of Lavi, like him being here is too important and if Lavi ever left it would hurt.]

[lostinshadows]

[Lavi thinks for a moment before his own gaze turns serious. He gently cups Yuto's chin, looking at him in the eyes.]

If that's what you want, but do you really want me to stick with you? We still don't know enough about each other, after all.

[darkduelist]

[Yuto looks up at him with cheeks heated from embarrassment.]

I...

[He hesitates then gives Lavi a soft smile.]

I can't help it. This is how I feel about you now. And I want to know more about you.

[It's not like he's asking Lavi to date him or anything like that. They can take their time to get to know each other properly... And they can do this now, when the world is no longer endangered by war.]

[lostinshadows]

[Lavi studies him for a moment longer before he relaxes.

Letting him go, he smiles back.]

Alright then. I'll stay.

[darkduelist]

[Yuto gives him another small smile, then reaches out to take his hand.]

Then let's go back? Everyone is waiting.

[lostinshadows]

Alright.

[He takes Yuto's hand. He's sure that if his mentor learns about this, he'll get an earful for it. However, there will always be that one little nagging in the back of his mind. Lavi hasn't been lying earlier, after all.

If Yuto changes his mind about him wanting to be there, then Lavi will leave.]

I'm not going to get punched by Shun if he sees me holding hands with you, am I?

[darkduelist]

[Yuto gives him an embarrassed smile.]

Don't worry about him.

[And then a serious look.]

I won't let Shun do anything to you.

[Or at least he'll try his best to stop his reckless and overprotective best friend.]

[lostinshadows]

I believe you.

[He laughs.]

Except that I do know Shun and he's going to try to punch me, anyway. [That's what he kept doing to Lavi, after all, until his change of heart when they kept dimension hopping with each other.]

[darkduelist]

[Yuto frowns, but nods.]

He'll try... but I will stop him.

[So don't worry, Lavi!]

[lostinshadows]

My life is in your hands then.

[He guesses. He still doesn't have that much faith.]

[darkduelist]

[Yuto gives him a weak smile.]

It's not like he'd try to kill you.

[Shun isn't like that!... He thinks.]

[lostinshadows]

[...He gives a flat look.]

He tried to kill me even after Yuya tried to convince him I changed sides. During that time, I can understand since it was sudden, but still.

[Shun is the type of person Lavi has come to understand won't take things kindly to something happening to his friends. Even worse still if it involves either Ruri or Yuto.]

[darkduelist]

[Yuto frowns and sighs.]

I won't let him hurt you and he knows that I won't be happy if he hurts people close to me.

[So he hopes that's enough to stop Shun. Otherwise, he's not sure punching him over and over again will solve anything here.]

[lostinshadows]

Guess we'll just have to see how it goes first.

[darkduelist]

[Yuto looks at Lavi and squeezes his hand.]

It'll be okay.

[lostinshadows]

[He laughs softly, lifting their linked hands to brush a kiss against Yuto's knuckles.]

I believe you.

[darkduelist]

[Yuto blushes madly at that.]

Ah... [He's so surprised that he doesn't know what to say.] G-good... You should just believe me! [He blurts out eventually, then looks away.]

[lostinshadows]

[That gets another laugh out of him.]

You're not really an expert on admitting your feelings, are you?

[darkduelist]

[Well, of course he's not! It's not like he has much experience with romance.]

Is that a bad thing?

[lostinshadows]

It isn't, but it's a bit refreshing considering how much you didn't hesitate to suspect me when we first met.

[And was ready to fight him. Ah, good times.]

[darkduelist]

Can you blame me?

[They were enemies at first and Yuto had all the right to suspect Lavi.]

[lostinshadows]

I never said I did.

[He grins at him.]

I'll admit that it was fun making you confused whenever I saved you, though.