This story was written between myself and my friend, YugiMuffin!
It features several pairings, these are somewhat warped versions of the following: Sealshipping, Scandalshipping, and Blindshipping.
More information will be revealed as I update. Reviews are welcome, we hope you enjoy~
It was an overcast day in the kingdom of Egypt. The sun was fighting to crown amongst the clouds, but the tumbling grey thunderheads gave it no leeway. The air was humid and uncomfortable, even without the sun's warmth- but all of it went unnoticed by the young prince; or rather, as of now, the young pharaoh.
Since the passing of his father: the previous placeholder of king of Egypt, Prince Atem had eaten nothing and slept little. He made no attempts to communicate with his servants, guardians, or even his friends. Though perhaps the one most affected by this was not actually the prince at all, but his life-long companion and soon-to-be advisor; Mahado.
The priest was several years older than his young master, but his inability to see or talk to him at this time had him very distressed, and he too was having difficulty maintaining his duties for lack of sleep and nourishment.
On this day, Mahado had been cajoled into eating and then venturing to visit Priestess Isis.
As the only female, and wisest of the six sacred guardians, it wasn't uncommon for this young priest to visit her in times of uncertainty.
She knew not to ask about the prince. She was tactile as she dealt conversation; cautious not to further distress Mahado by discussing it. Fortunately, he seemed willing to. After he had formally greeted her, he sat on the opposite side of the sandstone fire-pit and spoke first of their new king.
"I have not heard from him in all of five days." He announced, wringing his hands nervously and distracting himself with the dancing ombré flames between them. "I am afraid for him… but also I am… just afraid." He murmured.
Isis watched him calmly, tilting her head a little to indicate that she was listening.
"I would not be afraid, Mahado."
He didn't respond; just continued staring at the fire as its reflection flickered in his glassy grey eyes.
"I too have been concerned for our new pharaoh, but if it will ease your mind… I can tell you what I have seen," this regained the priest's attention, "please." He said softly.
"He must be given time to grieve, however long that is. But when he returns to us, he will be ready. I have seen the man he will become; he will be a vicarious, noble, and righteous ruler. I very well dare say that he may be our chosen leader. He will serve Egypt like no one has before."
She ended with a very certain smile, and Mahado sat back as he took in her words. He moved his hands up and down his legs to anxiously smooth out his robes before exhaling deeply and nodding. He wasn't sure if even he was ready to see Atem become a man; he was so used to- and undyingly devoted to his prince. But he smiled with relief and bowed thankfully to Isis before striding on with the intent of a productive day.
Meanwhile, Atem was amidst another restless sleep.
The only people that had been allowed in were his servants. They would clean his room, air it out, and change his sheets, all while the prince was bathing in his private washroom- that, he still had the incentive to do. They would leave his meals outside his chamber, but only once had he found any bit of an appetite to eat it.
Unlike the real world, in his mind he felt somehow less alone. For several days and nights he was graced by a beautiful voice. It spoke to him and comforted him- and he would speak back to it.
He had asked now many times what the presence's name was, but the reply differed only in presentation: "I am you," "we are the same," and once, even, "mou hitori no boku."
Today, Atem had been bold enough to ask to see his imaginary friend, or so he had titled him.
"I am not imaginary, Rohi." The silky voice chuckled.
Atem glanced around the grey labyrinth he had situated these passing days.
"I wonder; why is it we always meet here? I'm not familiar with this place, yet you seem to know it well." he asked.
"This is your soul room, young pharaoh." He clarified. "I am a part of you."
"Please, I'd like to see you." The other insisted.
There was a pause.
"Very well, then." The illusive presence agreed this time.
There was a seemingly distant breeze that came down one of the many passageways toward him, gathering a slight updraft until eventually a figure manifest. Atem thought, for a brief moment, that he was simply being tricked; a mirror, he decided.
"I am no illusion, my pharaoh." The sly, fresh faced doppelgänger quickly explained, "I am a conscious being, just like you. But I reside in your soul room. We are joined by the millennium puzzle your father entrusted to you. I will guide you as I did him."
Atem was speechless, scaling this refined, chiselled looking version of himself. The boy seemed around the same age, but he was veritably taller- perhaps even taller than Seto. He was muscular too, perhaps this was some kind of illusion.
The spirit laughed again and corrected the young pharaoh.
"No illusion." He said airily, "I represent the man you will one day become. You too will be strong and wise- just like your father." He repeated.
"You knew my father?" Atem asked dumbly, seeming not to have been listening to the spirit.
He laughed heartily this time and patted the young pharaoh's shoulder.
"Your listening skills will need attuning, Rohi. But I will let no harm come to you as long as you are wearing the puzzle."
"…How old are you?" Atem asked, finally starting to get curious about this person.
"I am sixteen, just as you are."
"But… If you served my father, then surely you must be older."
"You are calculative, my young pharaoh." He grinned, "but my spirit is yours now, and I am thereby every ounce of you… Including your years."
"I'd say you were several ounces more." Atem cracked, though with a hint of despair.
The other boy laughed again, but this time leaned in closer and tilted the pharaoh's head up to meet his gaze. "You will become me. My body resembles your desires and aspirations while I am in your mind; I am showing you now who you will be."
Though Atem was wary of his words, he had no reason to doubt the spirit; cryptic and devilish though he was.
"You seem dubious of me, my king." He grinned, still with the young pharaoh's chin hooked between his thumb and forefinger. "Let me show you what else I can do for you, sire." He entreated.
000
A cold shiver ran over him, breath hitching as the stranger advanced pulling Atem closer towards him. Transfixed by the tempting jewel eyes, the Pharaoh allowed the action. He couldn't bring himself to move or look away. Still he didn't understand the situation.
"You said you were me?" He managed to choke out. His heart was racing with the unknown. That face dangerously close while a soft finger traced his bottom lip playfully.
"I am you." He murmured, tilting his head. "I am your fears, your sadness, your pain, your desires…"
"My desires?"
Something about the way he spoke the last word stirred something in the young Pharaoh. He swallowed harshly, stumbling backwards a little.
"I can make your pain go away, if only for tonight."
The seduction of the words was alluring. Atem's head swam with confusion. It had to be a dream. It just had to be. He promised to take away pain, but the king felt he would only bring more. Those sweet words were laced with poison. How could he trust this person?
The stranger sensed the apprehension and caressed Atem's cheek tenderly. It was hard not to be taken in by the warmth. To be swayed otherwise. But still there was a gut feeling that he should not allow this. He sensed darkness in the other man.
"I can make everything go away if you just let me." He promised with such a gentle voice. But his smile was a dark one.
"So what will it be, my Pharaoh?" He whispered, leaning down to press his lips against the startled king. He didn't move or make any attempt to stop his supposed other self as he felt the lips slide over his own in a swift movement.
Atem groaned at the feeling of ecstasy the small kiss caused. He knew the other man relished in hearing his soft sounds and loud breaths as he deepened the kiss, hungry for more.
Reluctantly, Atem parted for air, clinging to the other's neck. This was bad. He had never been so affected by a kiss before. He heard a laugh as hands snaked around his hips, holding him in place.
"I know you're the one used to being in charge, other me." His fingers danced across the thin fabric as his voice continued to entice and enrapture the king. Atem tried to stifle a moan as the hand finally found bare skin, squeezing his strong thigh firmly. The hand rubbed and caressed, daring to go higher.
"But here, I will be the one in charge." He breathed with a mischievous grin.
