A/N: So let me just tell y'all something: I nearly died today. Dove and I both. My bus flipped in a ditch and it was terrifying and horrible and all that good stuff. My God. I was perfectly okay when we were skidding across the road, but when we hit the ditch, went sideways, and the back of the bus hit the ditch, I was no longer okay. Cheyenne (Not me, my friend. Confusing, I know.) screamed and fell out of the seat. That's when I screamed along with Dove and my sister and everyone else on that bus. Yes, even the guys. They screamed the loudest. Scariest moment of my life. ANYWAYS: Here's your Scandalshipping you wanted. BTW, this is kind of a prequel to the first one. This is when they first started getting together. Like, how it happened. Yeah. Gah. I'm still freaked. Thirty minutes ago I nearly died. Too surreal for a Friday. Er, I'm going to be posting this on a Saturday... SO whatever. Yes, it's more Scandalshipping. But hey, Exoticshipping is up next. Hetero. & this is for that guest that wanted this. Whoever you are. Enjoy.

~l~l~l~l~

Chapter Eight: Scandalshipping II

Atem sat atop his throne, face resting on one fist. He was tired. He was bored.

"Prince, if you'd like, I can create a diversion so you may escape." Mana whispered next to him. Set eyed her with curiosity. Surely she wouldn't blow up the palace if he allowed this.

...Would she?

"No, Mana. I need to stay..."

His eyes drifted lazily over the women dancing in front of him. He was to choose one of them to be his wife. As if.

"But Prince... None of these will make you happy." she whispered, softly brushing her fingers across his exposed shoulder. It wasn't a gesture of intamacy, only one of a long term friendship. She was trying to comfort him in the one way she had since childhood. WIth kind words and soft touches. She couldn't hug him, not in front of these people.

"You don't think I know that? I have to pick one, though. I have to have an heir. " he replied in a strained voice. Isis looked on at the charade with saddened eyes. None of these would ever suit her king.

Mana stomped her foot in an act of childishness. It was true, she was only sixteen, but Atem was only eighteen! It wasn't fair! He'd never been outside of the palace walls unless it was on business. How on earth could he find someone to love? He couldn't. Not unless they existed inside of the palace.

"So knock up one of the harem girls!" she cried. Set snorted to cover his laugher, while Atem just blushed.

"No. I don't... Go to the harem, Mana. Please, calm down. Sit." he said, sitting up a little straighter. Mana sighed and slid to her seat on a velvet pillow. Set slunk closer to stand behind Atem, arms behind his back. He looked on with a stoic face at the women so shamelessly flaunting themselves. None of these would suit his king.

No one anywhere under the power of Ra would be good enough. No one. No one deserved him.

"You can choose later in life, my king. Your father-" Yami cringed. "Did not choose a wife until he was well into his twenties."

"My mother." Yami breathed. He knew she'd been beautiful from the nurmerous statues and paintings. He'd never met her. She'd died in birth.

"Yes. Mana, if you would?"

Mana shot up and casually walked around the room, picking up a rock along the way. She winked in Atem's direction before throwing it at a shelf quickly. The thing toppled to the floor, taking everything and everyone in its indirect path. Seriously, how did it manage to fall there? Mana grinned and ran to "help" while Set took Atem's arm and rushed him from the room.

Women screamed and ran, freaking out though it was unnecessary. Atem ran on his own accord, away from everyone, dragging Set with him. They were both half running, half falling by the time they reached the gardens.

"Do you miss when we were children?" Atem asked, eyeing Set as they both tried to catch their breath. Set thought for a moment, wincing at the memory of his village.

"Define... Children." he answered, sitting on a marble bench. The smell of lotus assaulted his sense, making him pick the closest one. As Atem sat, he slid it behind his ear, liking the way it looked. Atem smiled and breathed deeply of the cool night air.

"When you came to the palace. How we would slip away from our tutors and take a swim in the Nile..."

Set made an ah sound, smiling widely.

"Of course I do. They'd always accuse me of trying to get you eaten. They thought it was me always giving the ideas. When it was you!" Set laughed and shook his head as Atem smiled up at him. The king sighed and laid his head on Set's shoulder, picking lightly at the golden band around the Preist's stomach.

"I wish sometimes... That we were normal. I don't want to be king. I don't want to be the person everyone looks to..."

Atem trailed off, eyes sliding shut wearily. It was all too much. No eighteen year old should be expected to run a home, let alone a kingdom! Memories of his and Set's childhoods flashed through his mind, bringing the sting of scraped knees and the joyful cries of children at play with them. Set shifted some, bringing him back to reality.

"I'm sorry, my pharaoh. Your father should not have left the throne to you so soon. At least you have your royal court…" Set tried in vain to comfort his king. Atem sat up quickly, striding away from Set only to stop at a fountain depicting Isis. He tore the lotus from his hair, throwing it into the water. He watched silently as it tumbled over and over in the waves he'd created. It reminded him so much of himself. Overtaken by the flow of a river, drowning just beneath the surface, no one able to hear you until it's too late and you're black and blue, eyes bulging, skin swollen. Dead.

He didn't realize the sob had escaped his lips until he felt Set behind him as he reached over to retrieve the flower.

"You know, the great thing about nature… No matter what we do to her, she comes back even stronger. Sometimes, you just have to get broken. But that doesn't mean that you're beyond repair. It just means that you've seen things, and came out stronger, better. Atem, don't forget your lineage. Pharaoh's before you have had the same doubts, and look at our Egypt. It's gorgeous, one of the strongest kingdoms around."

Atem sniffled softly, turning to allow Set to put the flower back into his hair again. He smiled softly up at his priest, eyes still teary. He reached for his hand, slowly, and then looked up.

"Set… Let's go to the Nile. Like when we were children. Please?" Atem was begging, he knew, but he needed to get free. His kingdom was sucking the life out of him before he could even be… married. Oh, how he loathed the word.

Set looked on unsure at first. He finally caved when he saw disgust cross Atem's features. He figured that he was thinking back to those women. He knew his king too well.

"As you wish, my king…" he breathed. Atem took off, purple cape flying behind him. Set pivoted and threw his arms in the air.

"Yeah, mature Pharaoh!"

He laughed lowly and made chase, catching him at the edge of the palace. Atem stopped at the gate, suddenly very still. Set looked on in confusion, lowering his voice.

"What? What is it?" he asked. Atem frowned.

"Look. The guards." he mumbled. Set smiled coyly.

"Leave them to me." he replied before taking off towards the hooded men. Words were exchanged and Set came back, a hooded cloak in hand. He threw it over Atem's face, smiling still.

"What? What's this?" Atem asked, slipping the garment on anyways.

"You don't know? It's so no one recognizes you. Come on, Atem. Keep up."

Was Set… teasing him? And if so, why did Atem feel a blush rise to his cheeks because of it? Surely he wasn't…

Set grasped his hand and led him through the palace gates to the outside world where a horse waited. Atem stopped, unsure for a moment. He'd never ridden with another before. No one besides his father.

"Set…" he began. He was blushing again, the thought of being that close to his dear priest made something in him stir. Set turned to him, moonlight lighting his features. He smiled again, softer this time, gave Atem a boost up onto the horse. Atem smiled and grasped onto the creature's mane.

"Well, come on then!" he said, hoisting Set up behind him. He roughly jerked the horse's reigns, making the beast shoot off into the night. No paths marked the sand, but he knew the way by heart. Even years of stress and turmoil could not remove the sacred hiding place from his mind.

Sometimes he wondered why he, and not one of the people who really wanted to rule, was chosen. He scowled. No, he would not think of such things while running. Set sat behind him, hands lightly resting on his waist. He urged the horse on faster, trying to make time move. Trying to ignore all his nagging thoughts, and the proximity of his priest.

"Here. Stop here. Hide Midnight behind that tree there. Make sure you tie him up."

Atem snorted. As if he'd never done this before. Alright, Set.

"There. Happy?" he asked. Set tsked and bolted for the midnight waters, throwing off various pieces of clothing along the way. By the time he hit the water, all that remained was the thin white tunic he wore beneath his garments, that stopped just above his knee. Atem followed suit, ending in much the same attire.

"After you my king!" Set cried, picking Atem up bridal style and chunking him in. Atem sputtered and thrashed before realizing all he needed to do was stand.

"Set! Jerk!"

Set smirked and dove in after him, hissing at the cold water biting into his skin.

"You know… I remembered this as being a lot warmer." he commented. Atem scoffed.

"You think? It's like midnight, Set. It's going to be cold."

Set stuck his tongue out and splashed the young king with water, laughing joyfully when the other dove trying to get away, only to submerge himself further into the icy waters.

"Cheater." He accused. Set looked at him, one hand on his hip.

"Am not." he replied. Atem threw a pebble at him.

"Are too!"

Set splashed forward, shoving Atem under. "Take it back!"

Atem coughed and laughed, shaking his head.

Set dove at his king, driving them both under the water. When they returned to the surface, Set's hands were on Atem's waist and the king's were around his neck. He shivered in the cool desert air, Set unconsciously bringing him closer. Atem's eyes raked over the wet tunic clinging to Set.

"Set, none of those girls will ever make me happy. Do you know why?"

Set shook his head, water falling from his hair. Atem smiled at the display, laying his head on his priest's chest.

"Because. I don't like women in general. Nothing against them, of course. I'm sure I could learn to love one... But it won't... Be the same..."

Set suddenly felt lost. He couldn't help his king. He had to have an heir.

"Knock up one of the harem girls." he suggested. Atem turned from him and splashed water angrily.

"Don't you understand, Set? I can't. There's no way. I have to marry. No one gives a damn if I'm happy."

Set slunk closer, twining his fingers with Atem's. "I do."

Atem looked up at him, eyes shining. "I don't want to return. No one..."

Set leaned down then and captured his lips, softly. Atem shuddered and pulled him closer, reciprocating with force. How he'd longed for this! Surely, he would be banished from the Afterlife. Sleeping with a priest was forbidden. But he didn't care. He'd just damned himself and the only man he'd ever love.

So why didn't it matter?
"Set... Amut will surely have our hearts." Atem whispered, fear lacing his voice. Though not for himself, no. For Set.

"Let him do his worst." he growled, taking a bruising hold on Atem's waist. He steered them towards the shore, occasionally slipping, but always catching Atem. Only the moon saw their sin. Set had to wonder just how much sin the shining beacon had seen in its time. Surely too much.

"Set..." Atem breathed softly as he was lain down. Set cupped his cheek in his hand, kissing softly at his neck.

"Yes, my king?"

Atem stiffened before rolling so that he was the dominant. "Call me Atem."

Set smiled softly, before trying out the name. Not since their childhood had he dared. If anyone heard him, he'd be beaten.

"Allow me to make love to you." Atem begged, rolling his hips slightly to drive his point home. The priest groaned and panted slightly, breathing his consent over his king's lips before capturing them again.

The wet garments were peeled away, revealing both bodies to the other. Atem kissed every inch of skin he could find, slightly nipping at Set's nipples. They explored eachother with careful care, virgin interest taking hold. Atem curiously kissed at certain areas twice, if it got a good reaction out of Set. The best place was Set's right hip for some reason. He kept kissing there, suckling the skin softly until there was a love mark.

"Nnnh. Atem..." Set moaned and closed his eyes, hands fisted by his head, member standing proudly. Atem tilted his head and took in the scene, groaning in approval.

"Yes, Set?"

Set's eyes fluttered open, blue depths capturing Atem. All of Set was unusal, including his looks.

"I want... you." he flushed and closed his eyes again. Atem slid up and slowly parted his thighs, not so sure of what to do next. He figured he should probably do something to loosen Set up. He was supposed to fit there?

He looked around in vain before wriggling his fingers. Yes, those would do.

"As you wish." he replied, sucking on three of the tanned fingers. He figured that should do. He knew Set would still feel pain, but it should help...

He made sure to coat all of them evenly, pulling them from his lips with a pop. He slowly circled the tight ring of muscle before slowly entering the first digit. Set yelped and tried to rid the odd intrusion, but Atem stopped him with a light stroke to his throbbing need. He moaned loudly and allowed his head to fall back.

"More..." he requested. Atem slowly entered the second, slightly moving them around and seperating them. He curled them slightly to stretched further and nearly pissed himself when Set let out a loud cry.

"Did I hurt you!?" he asked, panicked at the sound. Set shook his head and moaned loudly, trying to shove down onto Atem's fingers.

"No, again!" he begged, breath labored. Atem nodded and inserted the last of the three, repeatedly stroking Set's prostate. By the time he'd removed them, Set was a whimpering, sweaty mess.

He spit on his hand, rubbing his own length down with it. He groaned and bucked, the friction making him want to just finish it there. But one look at Set's needy face had him stopping.

"Are you ready?" he asked, slightly nervous. What if it wasn't good?

Set nodded quickly and opened his legs more. Atem fit between them with ease, lining himself up and entering with a low groan. Set made a choking sound, eyes shut tightly.

The pain! He felt as though he were being ripped in half, his insides burnig in the process. Atem shushed him and groaned, burying his face in his shoulder. It took all of his will power not to slam into Set.

"M-move.." Set whimpered. Atem slowly pulled out, angling this thrust differently, and was rewarded with that keening moan. Set's legs lifted and wrapped around Atem's tiny waist as he thrusted faster.

"Ah-hah. Yes. There. Nng." Set babbled throwing his head back. Atem felt his own release rushing towards him. It was his first time, after all, and Set's heat was driving him mad. He grasped the other's length, pumping in time with is thrusts. Set's eyes opened as the cried out to the moon. Atem gasped as he released, the sensation taking him off guard. Set whimpered and fell back, spent. He soflty kissed Set's face, calming his breathing.

"Never leave me." Set whispered. Atem nodded.

"Never."

A/N: Well, that was that. After this is Exoticshipping and that's Kura and Isis. Hm. Then Puppyshipping (for IAmTheTaintedAngel) then there's gonna be Heartshipping (Ryou/Yuugi) then there's gonna be another Puppyshipping for that other person who requested it that I don't feel like looking up. Kittykittyyaoilover or something of that nature. Did I get it right? Anyways, I'll do Irateshipping eventually. Maybe. Keep requesting! Keep reviewing! And YuGiOh on!

~Nightingale.