Chapter 4
For days after that Atem felt more unsure of himself than he had for many years. He wanted to act on his urges, but some part of his mind was afraid of rejection.
The singer sighed, running shaking hands through his golden bangs. He closed his eyes, leaning forward in his seat. He was exhausted, but couldn't sleep because of his racing mind. He had also run out of sleeping pills about a week ago, and had no time to go get them.
The band was beginning to grow in popularity, just two days ago a recording company had connected with Ryou and signed them on. They had their first session in a little less than an hour.
Atem rubbed at his eyes tiredly, and then looked up as the door to the hotel room opened as Yugi let himself in.
His face was worried, Atem noticed. He smiled slightly at his friend. "Hey."
"Did you sleep at all, Atem?" Yugi asked, concerned. "You're as pale as a ghost."
Atem smiled again. "I'll be fine, no worries. Don't stress yourself."
Yugi sighed. "It's not me that needs to worry about it." He sat by his friend, placing a cool hand on his forehead. "No fever yet… But with how you've been stressing and lack of sleep you could very well get one."
Atem shook his head. "I'll be fine, really. I think I'm just a little nervous about tonight."
Yugi didn't seem to buy it, but he said nothing more on it.
The two sat silently for some time, just enjoying each other's company. Yugi stood suddenly. "I think we'd better get going."
Atem nodded, starting to stand as well, but his vision washed out and he reeled. Yugi quickly caught him, a sound of fear escaping him. "Atem?.!"
Atem just waved it off. "Just stood up too fast. I'm fine, I promise."
Yugi backed away from him slowly, but Atem stood fine on his own. Even so, the younger kept a close eye on his friend, worried deeply about him.
"Man, you look like shit."
Atem snorted faintly. "Thanks Bakura."
"He's right though." Marik pointed out, concern in his voice. "Are you sure you're okay?"
Atem scrubbed at his pale face with one hand. Malik frowned as he watched his bandmate. His younger twin was unerringly correct; Atem was as pale as a sheet, dark bags under dulled crimson eyes. Even Malik, who didn't really pay attention most of the time, had noticed.
Atem's hand fell away from his face, and he smiled gently. "Really. I'm fine, just a little tired. Let's get this going."
Bakura shrugged. "Whatever, Pharaoh."
Yugi chuckled as he heard that. Atem had picked up that name because he tended to be regal and proud, and sometimes lead the band. Likewise, Bakura was known as the Thief King, or as Atem called him, Tomb Robber. The white-haired guitarist was an unnaturally talented pick-pocket, and he had a fascination with Egyptian, or any gold.
Yugi hadn't quite gotten the nickname he'd wanted. Following Egyptian ways, Yugi, as second lead singer and the most timid in the group, was known as the Pharaoh's Servant, though it was usually shortened to Servant. The 20 year old didn't like it, but he learned to deal with it, as it was rarely used, and only in jest.
The Ishtar twins, however, came from a family of Tomb Keepers, so that was their nickname. They used it often to tease Atem, saying that they had his tomb all ready for him, fit for the 'Pharaoh' he was.
Ryou smiled at them as they came into the room. "Hey everyone, you read to record?"
There were nods and assurances all around, and then they moved into the room, all of them readying themselves in their own particular ways.
"Okay, we want to start with something a little slow to warm up…" Marik murmured, giving his violin a quick tune-up.
"How about Congratulations?" Yugi asked, suggesting the song he had written.
There were agreements, and then they began on their cue. As the session went on Atem seemed to get a little shakier, until his voice finally cracked during the third chorus in Into the Ocean.
"Atem?" Yugi asked, moving over to his friend as he shook his head fuzzily. "You okay?"
Atem nodded. "Yea, I'm okay. Sorry, can we try again?"
They all nodded, but then Ryou opened the door. "Why don't you guys take 5? Atem, you really don't look well."
Marik and Malik wandered off, and Bakura followed a moment later. Yugi stayed behind to keep a worried eye on his friend. Atem sipped some water from his bottle, and then seemed a little better.
As the others came back in Atem stood once more, but his skin paled even more and he put a hand to his head.
"Atem?" Yugi said, instantly going to the taller man's side.
"Yugi…" Atem frowned. "I feel rather… dizzy…"
"Atem? ATEM!"
Gods, he felt so tired… He moaned faintly as his head started pounding, shifting restlessly.
A cool cloth wiped at his forehead, and he heard a gentle voice. "Shh, easy, Atem. Don't stress yourself any further."
He managed to open his eyes at this point, staring into concerned violet. "Y-Yugi?"
Yugi nodded. "How are you feeling?"
"Like I was run over a couple times by a truck. What happened? All I remember is feeling dizzy." Atem murmured.
"You passed out. Too little sleep and too much stress. You've developed a fever just like a said you would." Yugi scolded lightly.
It was about now that the singer discovered his head was lying in Yugi's lap, and the man's hand was gently running through his hair. A light blush covered his cheeks, and he attempted to get up, but Yugi pushed him back down. "No, you really need to stay still, your fever…"
Atem frowned, turning his head slightly. He didn't have time for a fever, they had to get the recording done, he had to write more songs, and he needed to buy more pills…
Yugi wiped the tan forehead gently. "Stop it, Atem. You need to stop worrying; you're only going to make the fever worse." He smiled, tenderly sweeping the damp golden bangs away from Atem's face. "Now please, get some more rest."
Atem seemed to fight it for a while, but after some time his eyelids began to droop, and then he drifted off.
Yugi sighed, tracing the strong jaw and pressing a kiss against Atem's forehead. 'Please don't worry me like that again…'
Rather short chapter, but I thought that a short update was better than no update! Hope you liked it!