Archive of Our Own ^beta

Seto wasn’t sure what to make of Atem’s developed habit.

It had started a few months ago—he couldn’t quite remember when.

It wasn’t until he mentioned it to Mokuba that he might have had an inkling of an idea.

But that was mostly Mokuba’s intellect.

It was a silly notion. Seto still wasn’t quite sure he believed it.

But he was nothing if not a man of science.

So, he decided to conduct an experiment.

He was in his office, waiting for his lover to arrive, as was Atem’s wont over the last few months.

Seto glanced up to acknowledge his presence.

Atem smiled.

Seto looked down, but grinned at his desk.

Atem sat on the couch, cards arranged before him, casually checking his phone as he dueled opponents around the world, upholding his title and not-so-subtly amusing himself to pass the time.

Seto waited, using his laptop for a while longer, trying to be inconspicuous.

Atem didn’t seem to be paying attention. His fingertips brushed a strand of golden hair behind his ear.

Seto tried to be as subtle as possible when he reached into his desk and pulled out his experiment.

He’d already set up the bluetooth. It didn’t take long.

Pulled up an email, rested his fingers on the tactile keys.

And returned to work.

Almost the exact moment he began typing, Atem jolted on the couch.

Seto paused, glancing up for the briefest second.

Atem didn’t move.

Seto resumed typing once more.

A shiver. Another jolt from Atem.

Seto paused again, watching him a little longer.

Atem still wasn’t looking at him.

Seto continued to observe him as he worked.

Atem shivered once more, head to toe, squirming a little.

And giggling.

Giggling.

Seto paused, gazing him down. “Are you feeling alright?”

Atem swiveled in his direction. “Me? Er, yes. I’m fine. Why do you ask?”

Seto cocked an eyebrow.

And typed randomly on the board.

Atem shuddered and laughed again, clearly enjoying himself.

Seto’s lip twitched upward. “Do you like that?”

“What? I…what do you mean?”

Seto didn’t immediately respond.

Instead, he turned off the board and approached his lover.

“Seto…?” Atem tracked his approach, curious.

“Close your eyes.”

Atem blinked several times as Seto moved toward him with the board. “You’re not going to beat me to death with a keyboard, are you?”

Seto rolled his eyes, but smiled. “There are far more efficient ways.”

“Your reassurances always sound like vague threats. How long have we been together?”

“Six months.”

“Ah, that’s hopeful.”

“Do you trust me?”

The question seemed to startle Atem, but he slowly nodded. “...I do.”

He closed his eyes.

Seto smiled.

Approached him with the board, leaning in close to his ears, but not quite touching.

Atem strained toward the shuffling of his movements.

Seto started slow, gently clicking a few of the smallest, tactile keys.

Atem shuddered, jolting every now and then as Seto moved the board around his head, typing from ear to ear, clearly amusing himself.

Atem laughed once more, head bobbing, moving toward the source of the sound, startling and giggling when Seto surprised him with anticipatory tingles.

Seto grinned, pleased with the results of his experiment.

He leaned in close, whispering, eliciting an especially powerful shudder from his partner. “I think you might have ASMR, my dear,” he said softly.

Atem opened his eyes, blinking at him. “Huh?”

“Sensitivity to sounds. A physical response to auditory or visual stimuli. It’s a huge thing right now.” He chuckled into Atem’s ear, provoking an additional type of response.

Atem panted softly for a moment, but quickly regained his composure when Seto pulled away. “So…what does that mean?”

Seto gave him some air. After all, this was a workplace setting.

Not that that had stopped them before.

But for now, “It means,” he said, tucking the board under his arm, “that I’m going to do more research and perform some tests on you, if you will.”

Atem blinked several times, but grinned, relishing this game. “Tests, huh? I like the sound of that,” he said. “And then what?”

“And then,” Seto promised, reseating himself at his desk and powering on the board once more, “you and I are going shopping this weekend.”

Atem stared, grinning from ear to ear, listening intently as Seto returned to work.

Although he was swift to return to his cards and his matches, he couldn’t help wigging excitedly as he murmured in response:

“I look forward to it~.”