A/N: I stubbornly refuse to accept all the credit for this story, since it was, in a way, a joint effort between me and my friend, Hidaka666 (who has a wonderful account on DeviantArt . com, by the way~), so if you could, please direct some of your praise that direction!

This is a non-canon story!

It involves no OC's, it contains only characters from the original story and while it does take place in Ancient Egypt, it follows a different story line. Some things remain the same, and others have been changed to fit the original plot. (If I get my facts about Egypt wrong, I'm so sorry, I'm not very knoweldgeable about Ancient Egypt.)

{Warnings: Character Death, SPOILERS, PAIRING: Sealshipping (Pharaoh Atem x Priest Mahad)}

Iridescent

Prologue Departure

Pharaoh Atem knew of Priest Mahad's plan to go out and challenge the King of Thieves in a fight to the death. He also knew that he himself was dying of the same illness that had claimed the life of his mother and the late Pharaoh, his father. He'd been young when they'd died, but he did remember the trembles in his father's hands and how his mother was so very tired, all the time. He remembered how he would hear his mother cough so harshly when she was in her room and thought no one was close enough to hear, and how his father would often press two fingers against his lips as if in thought, but young Atem would see the way his shoulders quivered with suppressed coughs. He remembered seeing the shadows under his parent's eyes from their sleepless nights.

And now he understood. As he tossed and turned in his bed every night, waking up frequently despite his exhaustion and desperate desire for sleep, the reason for the changes in his parents became apparent. Sometimes he would wake because of his own body-wracking coughs, other times he would wake for no apparent reason, leaving his hazy eyes to stare dully at the wall until he could drift into a doze again. But it would never last long.

To his relief, his hands hadn't started to shake like his father's had. This allowed him to continue to write and eat without anyone becoming suspicious. He didn't want to appear weak to anyone around him, but especially to his lover and highest Priest, Mahad. He knew that as soon as the loyal man got word or suspicion that his Pharaoh wasn't feeling well, he would command the entire troupe of healers to investigate and fix the illness. The only problem was that Atem had already been to the healers. When he first started coughing he had gone to them, not wanting to get any sicker, only to have them reveal the truth he had feared.

He was stricken with the same illness that had stolen his parents away. Shock, fear, denial, disbelief… So many emotions swirled through his mind at once he'd had to sit down and put his head in his hands, stunned and reeling. He sat there, breathing slowly and deliberately for a long time until he eventually, gradually, managed to pull himself together again, and he promised himself he wouldn't worry Mahad with it. Not until he had to. So he had the healers do everything they could to calm his cough and help him sleep, but after a while, the treatments stopped working.

That was when Mahad decided to lay a trap for the King of Thieves. And Atem couldn't stand the thought. He had spoken with Priestess Isis about the matter and had her use the Millennium Tauk to peer into the Priest's future. Pain, magic, and ultimately death was all that awaited him. Atem refused to believe it.

So he devised his own plan.

He leaned against the wall of the hallway, gripping it with one hand to keep his balance, coughing harshly into his other hand at the same time, his eyes closed tightly. The coughs tore through his chest, ripping up through his throat, making his whole body convulse with each forced exhale, and the episode lasted many long minutes before finally fading away. He took a hesitant breath to make sure it didn't start up again, then opened his eyes, looking forward, and took a few more calming breaths.

I already taste blood…the healers warned me of this…things will only go down faster from here… He steadied himself carefully, wiping the coughing-induced tears out of his eyes, and made sure he was breathing easier before moving away from the wall and continuing on. You have no reason to die, Mahad… He walked down the hallway towards the Main Hall where he knew Mahad was preparing to gather his men to go and set his trap. I will not let you do this.

He found Mahad already in the Main Hall, doing a head-count of the men that had arrived so far. Atem focused as best he could on hiding how sick his body was feeling and walked out to him, raising his voice a little to get his attention over the chattering murmurs of the soldiers.

"Mahad!" The Priest stopped and looked over at him, then hurried to him and got down on one knee and bowed his head.

"Yes, Pharaoh? What can I do for you?" was his immediate question. Atem looked down at him, then reached down and gently took his arm, pulling him up from his bow. He looked up at him sadly. If this is the last time I see you….

"Yes… tell me: is there anything I can say to convince you to not do this?" The Priest frowned a little and rested a hand on the Pharaoh's cheek, the only person to be allowed to do so without being struck dumb or dead by the Gods.

"For the good of the kingdom and your reign, Pharaoh, I have to do this." He looked the young man in the eyes. "I am sorry." Atem rested a hand over Mahad's, pain in his saddened eyes as he met his love's gaze.

"Mahad…if…" He swallowed a little, struggling to keep his words steady. "If you insist upon doing this…" He moved his hand to take tight hold of Mahad's. "Promise me something." The Priest nodded without breaking his gaze, his words completely and unfathomably earnest.

"Of course, Pharaoh. Anything."

"Come back." The words slipped from the Pharaoh's lips almost before Mahad was done speaking. "Come back safely. Come back alive." He knew that, if his own plan succeeded, Mahad would have no trouble keeping this promise. "This is not a request, Mahad; this is an order." The Priest kept looking at him, taking in his words, and nodded once in confirmation before leaning down to kiss his lips sweetly for a moment. Then he pulled back, staying just close enough to whisper against his lips, his breath almost tickling the skin.

"As you wish, Pharaoh. Of course I will come back." The Pharaoh smiled a little and wrapped his arms around Mahad's neck. But you must know about Isis' vision of your future… why would you agree like this… He looked up at him, his voice a murmur.

"Thank you." He leaned up towards him to kiss him passionately on the lips, tasting him, feeling him, knowing he'd never get to do so again. The Priest blinked in apparent surprise, then wrapped his arms around his back and pulled him close, returning the kiss deeply and closing his eyes. The Pharaoh closed his eyes as well, clinging to him desperately, keeping his lips pressed to Mahad's, not caring who might be watching. You must think me simply worried for you, Mahad, using that as a reason for why I am behaving like this… He pulled back reluctantly to look in him the eyes, staying as close as Mahad had before. "I love you, Mahad." The Priest smiled down at him, moving one hand to gently brush his soft bangs away from his face.

"I love you too, my Pharaoh. So very much." Atem smiled gently up at him, meeting his gaze again as if his thoughts and words could be conveyed to him through his eyes as well as his voice.

"I will never forget that, Mahado." He leaned up to kiss his cheek. "Promise me you will never forget my love either." The Priest nodded again, resting a hand on his cheek.

"I will never forget, Pharaoh." Atem smiled and hugged him tightly again, hiding his face against his neck.

"Thank you," he whispered softly. "Thank you…" Mahad hugged him tightly, nuzzling his cheek a little.

"Pharaoh. I must continue now." He kissed his cheek. "But I will be back. I promise." Atem pulled away reluctantly, looking Mahad up and down, from head to toe, never wanting to look away, remaining silent for a long time before finally speaking again.

"I shall hold you to that, Mahad." He smiled a little despite the pain thundering in his heart. "Come back soon." The Priest nodded, then bowed low.

"I love you, Pharaoh." He straightened up and smiled at Atem. "I will always love you." He looked at him closely, then turned and walked off to finish gathering his soldiers. Atem watched him go, staying still and silent for as long as he dared, then turned and ran to the stable where his horse was already set to go. He glanced around, then climbed up onto the beast's back, taking hold of the reigns. Please, Mahad, do not follow me too quickly… He steadied his position, then kicked the horse hard in the ribs with his heels, making it leap to a gallop out of the stables. I do not want you to see this.

A/N: Musical Assisstant: Iridescent by Linkin Park. That is the song that gave this fic it's name, unless I change it later.

The relationship between Mahad and Atem fascinates me, even without the romance, so I greaty enjoy writing about it. I hope I capture it well enough.

Please review.