#puzzleshipping fic

[call-me-vico-or-nico]

Hello hello, I want to share something I wrote a few months ago that is not totally finished.

Is about how I imagine the return of the beloved pharaoh with his dear aibo.

So if you are a puzzleshipping writer, just enjoy puzzleship fics or if you love the dorky, fluff and domestic puzzle boys, just tell me if you want me to continue.

Two things: Is just a fragment, is not the total thing aaaand English is not my natal language so I tried to translate it the best I could. Enjoy!

•••••

The day that it all happened… Everything was very confusing, with various emotions mixed together.

Mokuba called him in the morning and in his voice Yugi could hear a lot of joy and a hint of pride. He asked him to go as quickly as possible to the KaibaCo. building because there was someone who wanted to see him.

Yugi suspected that Seto Kaiba had something going on, although he did not hesitate to go but throughout the journey he felt that something was happening, something big.

And fuck, it really was.

When he arrived at the facilities, crossing the large hallway towards one of the big offices, he could not believe his eyes.

Because Atem was there, dressed in modern clothes and talking to the eldest of the Kaibas. Although the last one was screaming rather than talking.

When the former king looked at him, his frown turned into a joyful smile, his eyes shining with excitement and nostalgia, ignoring Kaiba to go straight to Yugi, calling him over.

“Partner!”

Yugi was speechless, he was sure his jaw had fallen from its place. His eyes burn, his throat constricted, and his entire body trembled.

There were a lot of emotions going through his head, a lot of questions, but the one that sounded so loud in his mind was:

Is this real?

Yugi had already seen several simulations made by Kaiba, really good ones that made you doubt if it was a simulation. Yugi continued to be surprised when he saw them.

Yugi missed the pharaoh, he remembered him almost every day feeling the absence of his soul next to his own and the young one tried to always remember that his other self was where he should be.

Yes, sometimes Yugi watched Kaiba's simulations to alleviate that loss because there was nothing wrong with remembering someone you love.

But this...

Who could not assure him that this was not a simple and cruel joke made by Seto (not that Seto Kaiba was a fan of jokes but perhaps he would make some kind of virtual war just because he's bored)

So, when that "Atem" approached him with open arms clearly wanting to hug him, Yugi still didn't know what to do.

Should I hug him too?

Get away?

Scream?

And when he got close enough, that's when his mind and body reacted.

By hitting him.

In the face.

None expected that, not even himself.

•••••••

So, what do you think? (⁠・⁠∀⁠・⁠)

[river-nova]

Rating: Mature

F/F and M/M

Puzzleshipping and Crystalshipping

Chaoter 4 is now up! I updated a few days ago but forgot to say so here.

Atem is a selfless dumb dumb that keeps putting people over his emotions and doesn't realize that Yugi likes him too. Also, Mana is holding onto more than she is letting on and needs Atem to make good on his promise to her.

[x-puzzlejune-x]

PuzzleJune 2024

Welcome to PuzzleJune 2024: A Love Forever in Bloom!!

As usual, this month is all about creative freedom that celebrates the special and unique relationship between Yugi Muuto and Pharaoh Atem. Whether you want to share a story of them in the context of canon, or put them in an alternate universe where happy endings abound, we want to see your work! We love to celebrate his special love with poetry, fanfiction, art, or whatever you want to express your admiration of their relationship.

We want everyone who wants to participate to express themselves freely. Doing a prompt every day is not required. You can do one prompt a week, one prompt for the whole month, or maybe pick and choose which prompts you want to use for your creative works. Maybe you want to use multiple prompts for one work. No matter how you go about it, we want to see it, whatever it is! However you want to celebrate is great! This month is all about coming together to celebrate our favorite puzzleboys.

When you post to social media or Ao3, please use the following tags: #puzzlejune2024 #puzzlejunebloom So that others can find your work.

Also for Ao3 users, please post your fanfiction works to the following collection so that readers can enjoy these works for years to come! https://archiveofourown.org/collections/PuzzleJune2024/profile

Special thanks to @hikariandyamiblog and @cloudsmachinations for this year's prompts. Thanks to @wisyhana for the beautiful art.

Happy creating! And happy PuzzleJune!

[shewithoutrain-yugioh]

I have fic art!!!!

The wondrous, amazing, incredible, talented @kathairoette gifted me some beautiful art for And Lead Me From This Dark! 😭

There are two versions, one with blood and one without. I’ve shared both, so TRIGGER WARNING: blood after the fold.

I’m going to be waxing poetic about it at the end of this post and I don’t even care.

It’s Yami, guys. 😭 It’s MY Yami. With chains that weigh him down around his wrists and blood from where he scratches at them. And his expression???? He’s so unsure, so stunned, doesn’t even know if the hand that’s touching him is real, and he’s too scared to look in case it’s all a dream.

And his posture: tight, still, hardly daring to breathe in case it all disappears, hands clamped tightly between his thighs to restrain the urge to touch. Trying so hard not to do anything to displease the light, not to do anything at all.

All wrapped up in such beautiful, beautiful colouring. 💗

I’m honestly weeping. 😭🫶

Someone took so much time out of their life to create something for me — for US. We all know that’s no mean feat. If you enjoyed this gift even half as much as I did, please, please leave kudos or reblog to show your appreciation and love.

@kathairoette, thank you so incredibly much 💕

[dreamydelite]

"i haven't had the chance to tell you before but you look beautiful like this" 🌟🎇

[sparklee-gem]

Vampire Atem and Fae Yugi designs based on @hikariandyamiblog ‘s Amaranthine fic

An enemies to lovers, arranged marriage AU. And of course, with vampires and fae. I’m super excited for this story, go check it out if you haven’t already 🙏🏼✨

[lintpuzzle]

"He nudged the spirit’s knee with his again, gently, and let them stay touching. “What did you used to be?” “…There was a time,” the spirit said, slow, eyes now focused on the point of warm contact, “when my every step was hallowed ground.”

 The First Leaves that Fall by @c-l-y-d-e

(he's supposed to be wearing the Shintō priest clothes but I couldn't execute it well enough ;_;)

[alectoperdita]

Also congrats to us! We're now officially at the 2.5k milestone on AO3! 😍🥳🎉🎊

[princessofgames]

puzzleshipping fans need to stop being afraid to depict yugi and the spirit sharing a body like they do in the show.

[lord0f]

Just finished this lovely commission for @saijspellhart illustrating a moment from their fic Chained to You, which can be read HERE!

Thanks so much for the opportunity to illustrate for your writing, it’s always a pleasure to work with writers.

CHAINED TO YOU

Rating: T

Pairing: puzzleshipping

________

“CAN I?”

Yugi stopped, he'd only just backed up to the bathroom. "Can you what?"

"PREPARE YOU FOR WORK. I USED TO DO IT OFTEN."

Gears turned and clicked, and stuck, then turned again in Yugi's brain. He opened his mouth, inhaled, pressed his lips together then exhaled slowly through his nose. "Those mornings, when I couldn't remember getting up and ready for work, just sort of woke up already set to go…that was you, wasn't it?"

[lizaluvsthis]

Do you have anyidea of a fic for marware instead of art? I am genuinely asking since theres not much fluffy fics for them both

...

There is one- Tho it does feel a bit embarrassing to show but I guess- it's time.

This fic idea I have on mind is a bit complicated per say when it comes to "understanding your enemy" type of thing.

But then again I don't have the motivation to write a fic for them but just a silly idea-

☆★☆★

Title- ~Strawberries and Cigarettes~

(A song inspired by Troye Sivan)

This is a kind of story where Mario has a 'crush' on PV because- (he's a tv- and we all know how Mario acted when he's with his beloved tv-)

So wherever the tall man goes, Mario is there to follow him around. Tho this did bother PuzzleVision. He tried many times by ignoring/pushing/shoving Mario away.

But instead of him backing away, he gets even closer to him.

Pv didnt understand at first to why Mario kept following him until- he decided to ask the fat italian himself. Mario responded with a shout saying "go out on a date with me!" Pv gives him strange looks as to why Mario is asking him out on a date.

Yet he didn't understand the man so much that he thought it was a joke, thought it was an act played for a film. Mario got a bit angry and told him it wasnt an act- and that he's telling the truth of taking him out.

Pv did try to tell Mario that he wasnt interested to his 'kind of liking' since they're both different with each other.

Mario said he "didn't care" no matter what pv did even back there when he gave smg4's crew a hard time. Pv mentioned about being the antagonist from smg4, as where Mario just says he's forgiven.

Pv laughed as a result (since he didn't need forgiveness) Mario slowly admittted that- he did some things-

(like how you portray a character doing something bad by accident and not mean to do it on purpose to which they thought it was a good thing)

Mario didnt understand why pv didn't have interests between love or having a type- as pv briefly mentioned part of his past that

"no one seemed to be interested in me" or "no one finds me interesting" to the way Mario felt bad.

Mario too also opened up a part of his past, the mentions of "abandonment" and "being left out by friends" is what Pv heard by the fat italian himself.

Pv finally understood- that maybe they're both not so different as he think they are. (That doesnt mean he's still going out with him tho-)

By now, Puzzles and Mario are both standing there just waiting for a minute by to be met with an awkward silence.

Pv mustve understand now that maybe Mario isnt as bad as he think he is, even with how much they're in a different type of situation on dealing one thing. It matched them.

Mario breaks the silence asking puzzles if he'll go out with him. Pv didnt say yes, but did consider on thinking about it.

(Maybe get to know him a bit more? Maybe avoid the fact that he'd use him for something to get whats earned?)

He puts his face closer to Mario's telling him bout the stuff they both opened (about the past-) keeping things a secret- Mario couldnt help but stare at his face feeling admiration.

And on the second thought- his secret was safe. Mario gave him a thumbs up and Pv backed away standing straight. He proceeded with a bye bye and so as Mario too.

Mario waved him a goodbye and thinks through all of the thoughts inside his head.

Both walked opposite directions but thought of the same things that happened, being open, sharing glances, awkward silence and even- with that "asking-out-for-a-date" is hard to think of.

They will think about it- and plus-

To add more of that fluff- lets put up the scent.

To puzzles he thought about Mario of how he had strawberry scent, even if its supposed to be one of those pasta sauce. But it didnt.

To Mario, the thoughts about Puzzles made him think. How he smelled that type of smoke that has always been familiar of him. Cigarettes.

AND TO WHY - HOW THEY BOTH THOUGHT ABOUT THAT ITS JUST SO FUNNY BECAUSE IT SEEMS OFF CHARACTER THAT TOTALLY IS- SO PLEASE IGNORE ME BECAUSE I FEEL THIS IS A BIT EMBARASSING FOR ME TO PUT-

[bastetwastaken]

Trying to work out the vibe for the new fic idea I mentioned. Thinking about scenes which could work.

I'm having a lot of fun with this. ^.^

........

“Rich, coming from someone barely saved from exile.”

Those words made him pause, his back straightened and he forced a deep breath.

“And what is that supposed to mean?” He said, jaw clenched, fists balled against his legs.

Yugi's look of false innocence filled his stomach with fire and he had to bite his tongue. He knew what he was doing, he could tell.

“Oh nothing.” Yugi said. “Only that I’m… surprised you’d have such an opinion. After everything.”

His shoulders squared as he stared at Yugi over the fire, cold eyes fixed firmly on him as he fought the urge to reach for his sword. To teach the other a lesson for speaking to him in such a way.

“You speak as if you know everything that happened.” He said sharply.

“I never claimed to know-”

“Because you don’t.” He spat out, throwing the stick he’d been using to stoke the fire into the flames, glowing embers exploded into the air. “So I’d suggest keeping your mouth shut on matters which do not concern you.”

For a moment, Yugi didn’t react and he thought he’d won. That he’d let the conversation go, but then Yugi smiled and he had to grit his teeth.

“Noted.” Yugi said, his voice softer than Atem expected it to be.

He huffed out a breath and closed his eyes, making an effort to relax his body, to let go of the tension in his muscles. He opened them again only to see Yugi look away from him quickly. He frowned, but said nothing.

“We should sleep.” He said but before he could tell Yugi he could turn in first the other stood up, staff held casually at his side as he smiled at him again, this time his smile didn’t make Atem want to hit him.

“I’ll take the first watch.” Yugi said. “Get some rest.”

He was about to argue, tell Yugi that no, he’d watch whilst he slept but he wasn’t being given a choice it seems. Yugi was already striding away from him, checking the wards he’d placed around them when they’d made camp.

Reluctantly he crawled into the small tent, falling onto his side as he crossed his arms against his chest. He hated that the other dared speak to him so casually about something he knew nothing about, but more than that… he hated that his words had brought up things he’d much rather not think about.

Memories of arguments, words said in anger which he couldn’t take back, the flash of a sword… he closed his eyes tight.

It did no good to linger on the past after all.

[river-nova]

I'm writing chapter 4 of my fic, Learning Love, and I just had a random spark of inspiration. The fanfic gods have smiled upon me because I actually really like how it came out. Hopefully, it'll be out by Sunday or Monday.

[girl-of-ink]

Puzzlefic Recs

These Days We Celebrate / Reconfiguration by Phoebeus

Original synopsis: “Originally a series of canon-compliant stories spanning the six month gap between the defeat of Pegasus and the arrival of Otogi, it now includes a branch-off story that changes the climax of the Millennium World arc and explores what would have happened if Atem had gotten his own body a month prior to leaving for Egypt. [Manga-canon, Puzzleshipping]”

Type: Series of oneshots + one multichap longfic

Word count: 300k+ altogether

Rating: G/T/E

Warnings: None

Status: Complete

Times read: 3 times for the whole series, at least 5 or 6 for Reconfiguration specifically

Standout characters/aspects: Yuugi's mom & Honda

Notes: The holy grail. The puzzle fic to end all puzzle fics. Nothing beats it. It aligns almost 98% with my personal headcanons, & the small things we disagree on are contextualized in a way that makes sense in the story. Yuugi's mom is iconic in this story, & my own interpretations of her lean heavily on her portrayal in this series.

Haunted House Sweet Home by InkFlavored

Original synopsis: “Yugi doesn't believe in ghosts. He never has and, up until now, he thought he never would. But when he moves into his new apartment, things start disappearing, doors start slamming, and an ancient crown has it out for him. He's forced to face reality: he's living in a haunted house. But will he be ‘living’ there for long?”

Type: Multichap longfic

Word count: 150k+

Rating: T

Warnings: Mention of eventual major character death, brief mention of eventual Yuugi/Atem/fem OC in final chapter

Status: Complete

Times read: Probably 3ish

Standout characters/aspects: Feriha (fem OC) has a very small part, but she is integrated in a well-thought-out manner & quite likable.

Notes: This fic takes a lot of normal aspects of ygo like “cursed object” and “troubled king” and gives them a new spin! Bonus points for writing an OC villain who works as well as Hazim does.

Egyptology Exercises / All This We Do in the Name of Ma’at by Nedjemet

Original synopsis: “My attempt at redoing Yu-Gi-Oh with a focus on character development, magic, and historical accuracy instead of card games. While this is technically a series, "All This We Do in the Name of Ma'at" functions as a standalone story. All of the other stories are just in-universe follow ups to show what the characters got up to after the story was over. These shorts largely function as stand alones, too, since Ma'at follows cannon very closely in the important ways. All of the stories are ordered loosely in terms of when they occured. You can read them in any order.

All of the Egyptology is heavily researched and I did my best to get it right. If something is off and you have a source, please send it my way!

All of the stuff in modern Japan has minimal research done and is more for flavor than anything else. I'm going for anime-level accuracy with that, not realism.”

Type: Multichap longfic + a couple of shorter multichap fics + bonus work diving into the Egyptology research used in the fics

Word count: 200k+ altogether

Rating: T/M/E

Warnings: None

Status: Complete

Times read: Twice for All This We Do in the Name of Ma’at, probably 5-6 times for the two sequel fics

Standout characters/aspects: Nedjemet’s research on the Egyptology aspects is very impressive

Notes: Really good! The main fic is quite plot & research heavy tho, so I find myself revisiting the two shorter follow-up fics more often. More fluff than substance for me.

The Last Puzzle by Tenderwulf

Original synopsis: “11 years after the Ceremonial Duel, Atem and Bakura inexplicably find themselves back in Domino. When they meet their previous hosts, they realize how much things have changed: Yuugi, the now world-renowned King of Games, is going through a marriage crisis, Ryou is struggling to balance studies, work, and his brittle mental health, and Malik... well, Malik is living his best life—and his own yami is nowhere to be seen.

They soon realize they all have to work together in order to solve the mystery of the yamis’ return: some to make sure that they stay, and some to make sure that they don't.”

Type: Multichap longfic

Word count: 300k+

Rating: T

Warnings: Graphic depictions of violence

Status: Ongoing

Other ships: Tendershipping [Bakura Ryou/Yami Bakura], past Peachshipping [Mazaki Anzu/Mutou Yuugi]

Times read: 1

Standout characters/aspects: Yami Bakura’s character development is stellar.

Notes: Very good, altho I confess that I’m slightly more interested in the puzzle storyline than the tender story (which happens to be the main plot lol). Very much worth reading.

Keep the Light Shining by Clydeside

Original synopsis: “Yugi's new job as a lighthouse keeper sounds simple enough... until he realizes he's not entirely alone on the remote island: a dark spirit haunts Crawford Sound.

It lingers like a shadow in the night.

It watches, and it waits.

The past keepers warned of an inescapable terror, but as the days turn into weeks, Yugi begins to think it's not the ghost he ought to fear.”

Type: Multichap longfic

Word count: 50k+

Rating: M

Warnings: Major character death (Atem is already a ghost)

Status: Complete

Times read: 3

Standout characters/aspects: Worldbuilding!!!! This story is so gorgeously atmospheric

Notes: Please please please read Keep the Light Shining, it’s so good. The horror aspects combined with the romance and mystery aspects are so well-balanced.

Lineament by Zuzeca

Original synopsis: “Once seven, now three. A broken Pendant, a crumbling empire, and tugging at the seams of reality, hints of a sinister power returning. His faith in destiny strained past breaking, newly-crowned-and-deposed Pharaoh Set makes the questionable decision to try and solve the Millennium Puzzle with magic. As it goes with magic, his efforts are rewarded…but not quite in the way he expected.”

Type: Multichap longfic

Word count: 50k+

Rating: M

Warnings: Major character death (Ghost Atem again)

Status: Complete

Other ships: Logicshipping [Priestess Isis/Priest Seto]

Times read: 3

Standout characters/aspects: Set & Isis are very interesting & well-developed characters here.

Notes: Really interesting twist on the whole series. Somewhat of a time travel fic, but in a much more satisfying and less cheesy way than most.

Snake Charmer by InkFlavored

Original synopsis: “Prompts: ‘Wow, my pet snake looks so cute this morning and I’d be even happier if I actually had a pet snake.’ & ‘You curse under your breath in a foreign language and I know I shouldn’t be turned on but I totally am.’

Type: Oneshot

Word count: 20k+

Rating: T

Warnings: None

Status: Complete

Times read: 5

Standout characters/aspects: Osiris the snake is an icon

Notes: 100% fluff. Cute snake. Utterly delightful.

Cut Off / Whiskey, No Chaser by InkFlavored

Original synopsis: “Few people choose a day during the week to drink away their problems at a bar downtown. Most people wait until the weekend, content to simmer with their issues until Friday. Others do it at home with friends, and without worrying about how they're supposed to get home in time for work in the morning. All in all, it's rare that someone walks into a bar on a weeknight at ten-thirty to start drinking.

But that's exactly what happened to Atem.”

Type: Two multichap longfics

Word count: 100k+ combined

Rating: T

Warnings: None

Status: Complete

Other ships: Past rivalshipping [Mutou Yuugi/Kaiba Seto]

Times read: 2

Standout characters/aspects: Great way of showing how Atem becomes part of the friend group

Notes: It’s cute! Not InkFlavored’s best work, but all of their stuff is worth reading.

Macchiato Incommunicado by InkFlavored

Original synopsis: “Prompt: ‘my favorite coffee shop is closed for the day so i have to find somewhere else where i can get my overly-advanced pretentious order and i found the place where you work and now i never use the other place anymore because even though you always serve my drink with a “what the fuck has normal coffee ever done to you”-sigh you're really cute and i'd like to go out with you.’

Type: Oneshot

Word count: 15k+

Rating: T

Warnings: None

Status: Complete

Times read: 3

Standout characters/aspects: Points to everyone else in this fic for putting up with Yuugi & Atem’s stupid bullshit.

Notes: Pretty good interpretation of the dreaded miscommunication plot and the cliché coffee shop AU.

The First Leaves That Fall by Clydeside

Original synopsis: “When Yugi arrives in Yubari to settle the last of his grandfather’s affairs, he finds a mountain village in quiet decline. Most people have left for the city, buildings are crumbling, and nature grows dense and wild against its outskirts.

But among those who remain, superstition abounds, and they all offer the same advice:

Stay out of the forest.

Yugi, however, is intrigued. By the puzzle of its shifting paths. The riddle of a wind that speaks, if he listens.

And, perhaps most of all, by the stranger who always shows him the way out before dark.

Or: Yugi falls hard for the local cryptid. Not everyone is cool about it.”

Type: Multichapter longfic

Word count: 40k+

Rating: T

Warnings: None

Status: Ongoing

Times read: 1

Standout characters/aspects: Honda & Miho are really great friends, and bonus points for local Shinto priest Bakura, who is as ominous and strange as ever.

Notes: I love this fic!!!! Again, Clyde is the best at writing spooky & atmospheric stories. I can’t wait to see what really happened in Yubari to make the nature spirits (including Atem) so angry.

Chained to You by SajiSpellhart

Original synopsis: “Taking place after the events of Season Zero, all the shadow games happened but Yugi never found out he was possessed by the spirit of the puzzle. Now he's an adult, living on his own, and he starts to notice strange and spooky things happening around his apartment. When he sees his own shadow moving Yugi begins to suspect his new place is haunted. But is this shadow spirit malicious or... kinda sweet?

Yami does a bunch of stupidly sweet domestic shit for Yugi to help take care of him. Expect romance, fluff, self-care, and Puzzleshipping shenanigans.”

Type: Multichapter longfic

Word count: 100k+

Rating: T

Warnings: None

Status: Ongoing

Times read: 1

Standout characters/aspects: Yami is incredibly cute in this fic.

Notes: Really interesting AU where Yuugi never finds out about Atem as a high schooler, and so Season 0-esque shenanigans continue into adulthood.

He Has a Heartbeat by Kaibbage

Original synopsis: “Atem is back, and this time he's living and tangible. As such, Yugi cannot stop touching him - and vice versa.”

Type: Oneshot

Word count: 3k

Rating: E

Warnings: None

Status: Complete

Times read: 10 at least

Standout characters/aspects: 

Notes: So cute!!! One of the best Atem Comes Back oneshots out there. Very sweet short little PWP.

Superimposed / Bird Rock Lambchop (Bird Bigger Bird) by Toffeecape

Original synopsis: “Yugi wants his other self to have nice things.”

Type: Series of oneshots + short multichaptered fics

Word count: 70k+ combined

Rating: E/M

Warnings: Some installments mention major character death (but with the caveat that the characters cross over to the Egyptian afterlife), most have no warnings

Status: Complete

Times read: Superimposed probably like 5 times, whole series twice

Standout characters/aspects: Love Yuugi’s urge to provide for Atem, very sweet. I also love the chapter of Like a Stone into a Pond that focuses on Yuugi’s mom’s relationship with Atem.

Notes: This series is sort of YMMV for me. To be entirely honest, the smut gets a little too weird for me in a lot of installments, so I don’t revisit it too often, but the first installment is definitely my favorite, and I love seeing the intimacy between Yuugi & Atem grow while they’re still sharing a body. The 4th installment is my other favorite, as it focuses less on smut and more on character interactions.

Phantom Limb by Killdoll

Original synopsis: “In the hospital after the fire where Yuugi reassembled the Millennium Puzzle, Yuugi and his Other Self have a heart-to-heart.

(Puzzleshipping, set during anime canon, attempted ghost cuddling.)”

Type: Oneshot

Word count: 3k

Rating: T

Warnings: None

Status: Complete

Times read: 5+

Standout characters/aspects: Really great characterization

Notes: Very sweet examination of the aftermath of (the anime version of) the fire.

Pieces of Puzzleshipping by Phoebeus

Original synopsis: “Originally this was where all of my tumblr prompts and random ficlets would come to live, but it's quickly become home to all of my random puzzleshipping fluff, instead. We shall acknowledge it as such until at least one other ship invades!”

Type: Oneshot collection

Word count: 17k+ combined

Rating: E

Warnings: Author Chose Not to Use Archive Warnings (I don’t remember anything too triggering in these oneshots besides a safeword use that is immediately respected in chapter 10)

Status: Complete

Times read: 2-3

Standout characters/aspects: To be honest, I don’t remember these individual oneshots all that well, but I love all of Phoebeus’ work.

Notes: Bite-sized and enjoyable fluff!

Getting Rivalzoned (and Learning to Live with It) by Oogenesis

Original synopsis: “Finding out that your best and closest and most infuriatingly attractive rival has come back to life is one thing.

Finding out that he and his former vessel have eyes only for each other - well, that's quite a different matter.”

Type: Short multichapter

Word count: 8k

Rating: T

Warnings: None

Status: Unfinished (seems to be abandoned, but I recall the last chapter working fairly well as an ending, so it’s not too infuriating)

Other Ships: onesided Prideshipping [Atem/Kaiba Seto]

Times read: 3ish

Standout characters/aspects: Just so incredibly funny. 

Notes: This is my ideal prideship scenario. Sorry, Kaiba.

Visiting Hours by Oogenesis

Original synopsis: “Kaiba, at Atem's insistence, finally brings Yugi along on one of his visits to the afterlife, and promptly regrets it.”

Type: Oneshot

Word count: 1.5k

Rating: T

Warnings: None (possible major character death as Atem has already crossed over to the afterlife)

Status: Complete

Other Ships: One-sided prideshipping [Atem/Kaiba Seto]

Times read: 5ish at least

Standout characters/aspects: Same as the previous fic, just so funny to see Kaiba so deeply jealous while being completely ignored.

Notes: Love how excited to see each other Yuugi & Atem are.

Ours, Not Mine by MagiMevi

Original synopsis: “The spirit found such ease and amusement in simply perusing Yugi's daily memories, and Yugi no longer wanted to just share them with him. He wanted to make them with him – he wanted the spirit to create new memories – he didn't want to just amuse the spirit with the passing fibres of his life – he just – he wanted -

Don't worry about it, partner.”

Type: Oneshot

Word count: 5k

Rating: T

Warnings: None 

Status: Complete

Times read: 2-3

Standout characters/aspects: Great exploration of Yuugi’s character

Notes: Yuugi scheming like hell to try to get Atem to live & enjoy himself while in the puzzle is one of my favorite tropes, 10/10.

Take Him (Cut Him Out in Little Stars) by InkFlavored

Original synopsis: “Most people think of light and silence as comforting things. To Yugi, they're anything but. Atem's mind is tearing itself to pieces and no one understands.

PuzzleJune 2019 (Week 3: Light)”

Type: Oneshot

Word count: 5k

Rating: G

Warnings: Creator Chose Not to Use Archive Warnings (Major character death canon to the end of the manga)

Status: Complete

Times read: 5+

Standout characters/aspects: I love Atem’s talk with Akhenamkhanen.

Notes: Definitely one of the most influential Atem comes back fics to my own work! It’s fabulous, 10/10.

The Seldom Seen by Clydeside

Original synopsis: “Yugi’s soul has gone missing after reassembling the Millennium Puzzle in the fire, leaving the Other Yugi to fill his place.

As he tries to hide the truth from Yugi’s friends and family, he searches for his partner and the scattered pieces of his soul. But without Yugi at his side, he is losing control of the Puzzle’s power over the shadow realm… and the creature it contains.”

Type: Mid-length multichapter

Word count: 45k

Rating: T

Warnings: Major character death (albeit tagged as “only sort of permanent”)

Status: Complete

Times read: 3

Standout characters/aspects: Angst!

Notes: I love any fic that examines Atem’s relationships (or lack thereof) with Yuugi’s friends and family. 

Jolly Sailor Bold / Shellfish Tendencies by Kudalyn

Original synopsis: “‘The seas sing for those who are lost, and for those who find as well.’

Atem is a siren/merman and Yugi is a ghost haunting a sunken ship Atem comes across. Atem is intrigued by the ghost, hangs around enough that they start to get to know each other, getting attached, and falling for each other over time. But Yugi’s memories start to fade, as ghosts don’t get to stay forever on the living plane, and Atem has to deal with this loss.

My entry for the YGO Big Bang 2018!

Content Warning of character death and mourning, with reward at the end if you stick through it ;)”

Type: Series of two oneshots

Word count: 15k+ combined

Rating: M

Warnings: Major character death (sort of temporary? It’s complicated lol)

Status: Complete

Times read: 3ish

Standout characters/aspects: Honestly really interesting implications about the origins of mermaids……….

Notes: Super fun twist on a mermaid AU.

Untitled Puzzleshipping Doujinshi by Kaluda

Original synopsis: “This is a doujin I made in 2019 that I decided to post here as well. Inspired by the end of the Dark Side of Dimensions film.”

Type: Short comic

Word count: N/A?

Rating: Unrated (I would say G)

Warnings: None (Major character death canon to manga/anime)

Status: Complete

Times read: 3ish

Standout characters/aspects: Such cute art!!!!!! 

Notes: Rare comic example, but it’s posted on ao3, so I’m counting it as a fic. It’s really very sweet & short, go check it out!

Angle of Approach by InkFlavored

Original synopsis: “Definition: (in golf) the angle at which the club head strikes the ball. This affects the trajectory the ball will travel and spin. 

The only thing Atem hates more than his family’s annual summer vacation is the “family” part. A whole three months away from home, away from friends, and away from freedom. This year, he’s nearly resigned himself to the worst trip he’s ever been on, surrounded by people he couldn’t care less about.

Then he meets Yugi, and decides to make his own fun.”

Type: Multichap longfic

Word count: 130k+

Rating: E

Warnings: No archive warnings apply, general warning for emotional and slight physical abuse by parents, and definitely warning for workplace sexual harassment

Status: Ongoing (Unfinished? Abandoned??? I sure hope not)

Times read: 2

Standout characters/aspects: Yugi is phenomenal in this AU. I’m obsessed with him.

Notes: I love this fic!!!! I usually don’t like fics where Atem is an asshole, but apparently it’s fine if he’s a bottom lmao. Anyway I love seeing Atem very very slowly become a better person against his will, and I’m really hoping Ink_Flavored is still working on this fic. It’s one of my favorite ongoing works.

Dress Up Game by InkFlavored

Original synopsis: “The Mutou family, including the newly resurrected Atem, get invited to a wedding. Neither Yugi nor Atem have anything to wear to the event, but it’s not a big deal. All they have to do is go shopping to pick something out. How bad could it possibly be?”

Type: Two chapter fic

Word count: 25k+

Rating: T

Warnings: None

Status: Complete

Times read: 3

Standout characters/aspects: Really great attention to detail about Japanese culture. Taught me a lot about traditional Japanese weddings!

Notes: This fic is so cute! Really nice fic that focuses on Atem living life after coming back from the dead.

Await Red to Become Anthracite by Zigur_zig_ah

Original synopsis: “Yuugi, security guard un-extraordinaire, leads a particularly mundane life. He sits in front of a monitor for eight hours a cycle, pretends to concern himself with the safety of five-hundred and thirty-nine Roman coins of no value whatsoever, and occasionally, when work is especially slow, occupies the unenviable position of Duel Monsters champion of the known universe.

But something stalks the perpetual darkness of Proxima-b. A horror from beyond the grave, loosed in a moment of carelessness, has set its hollow, empty sights on Yuugi - and Yuugi, try as he might, can't seem to stay away from it.”

Type: Medium length multichapter fic

Word count: 30k

Rating: M

Warnings: Creator Chose Not to Use Archive Warnings 

Status: Complete

Times read: 1

Standout characters/aspects: Really fun combination of futuristic sci-fi, horror, canon, and ancient Egypt?

Notes: A bit less romance-y than plot-centered, but the way the story unfolds is really fascinating.

Hindsight by Cloudsmachinations

Original synopsis: “Yugi needs to wear glasses. Atem needs to calm the hell down.”

Type: Oneshot

Word count: 2.5k

Rating: T

Warnings: None 

Status: Complete

Times read: 3ish

Standout characters/aspects: I love an Atem that is down bad

Notes: So cute tbh

[puzzleshipping-library]

Hey, there was a pretty long puzzleshipping fic on ao3 where Atem used to be a famous duelist but quit a few years into his career, practically disappeared and bought a farm-

Then Yugi became King of Games and accidentally drove to Atem's homestead-

I loved it but I think it was deleted a few months back. I really liked it but I don’t have a copy or a link, I'd be happy with just the title even

Anyone able to help out???

[kathairoette]

“There’s a boundary that I can’t cross between us. I’ll remove it immediately.”

A long while ago I once wrote a role reversal s0 fic where these two’s positions were reversed — where Yami was Sugoroku’s distant-relative-turned-grandson, and Yuugi was a spirit who could control destructive, absolute light instead of darkness (this was before I knew abt GX)

This was a scene I never got to write, but it stuck on my head for a long while. With such ominous words, only good things could’ve been happening here :)