~ o ~ O ~ o ~
A quiet sigh broke through his semi-coherent musings and Atemu smiled softly as his new lover's diminutive form pressed up against him as though seeking the warmth of his body. The Pharaoh gave a half-hearted sigh and he propped his head up with his hand to rake the fingers of his free hand through the boy's luxurious tricolor locks, losing himself once again to his late-night contemplations.
Even though the memory of their lovemaking was still fresh in his mind, so were the questions that had plagued him from the conversation that had led to that act. So many thoughts rushing through his head and he found, much to his dismay, that he couldn't sleep despite the fact that he had been awake for the entirety of Re's journey and then some.
Nothing made sense. Nothing. And every time he gave credence to a certain theory there was always a loose thread left for him to pick at until the whole premise unraveled and he was back to where he had started.
The way his little one had acted since the moment of his imprisonment, the way he had given in so easily to his enslavement, his innocence, his open honesty, his charitable attitude towards those below the station he had once held, everything – there was something so very wrong with it. The least of which was that none of it added up to the spoiled, self-serving attitude of royalty.
A shadow of horror crossed Atemu's features, freezing him in place as he entertained the notion that boy in his bed was not who he had first believed him to be. Had his original conclusion been in error? Did he truly kidnap the wrong person – and an innocent one at that? Was the true heir to the Hyksos throne hiding somewhere, laughing at his mistake?
For the life of him Atemu could not recall laying eyes on his little one during the negotiations of peace between Egypt and Hyksos.
Not that he was truly upset with his find – not at all – but if the person responsible for the demolition of his village, for his friend's demise, was still free to run about with no threat of retribution...What then? This whole dilemma began and ended with the Hyksos throne. That was one fact he was certain of, other than that...
Unable to quell his restless thoughts any longer Atemu gently disentangled himself from peaceful form beside him, intent on seeking out the truth. He knew – in some far recessed corner of his mind – that his thinking tended to be slightly irrational with loss of sleep, but he couldn't let this rest until he knew at least some of the truth, held at least some grasp of the forces he was up against. For all he knew whoever was behind the destruction of Otogi's village was working his way up to his throne, leaving a trail of carnage and devastation behind him.
With that grim thought in mind Atemu washed the evidence of his previous activities from his body, scowling at the slight trail of blood that reminded him of the little one's previous virginal status. Once finished he threw on a light wrap, dressing hastily for a meeting with the only person in Egypt he knew who might hold the answers to some of his questions. It had become all too apparent that his little one had been sheltered from most of what had gone on during the time in question.
~ o ~ O ~ o ~
Marik leaned over the panting figure he had pinned to his mat, smirking heartily as he held the boy's arms above his head. They were both out of breath, chests heaving with the need for more air from the struggle which he had just emerged victorious. And he was fairly certain that he had never felt more alive, more complete in his all of his nineteen harvests on this earth.
He was also pretty sure that his little slave would say the same thing if he were being truthful, for the boy seemed to take a perverse sort of pleasure out of their fights, becoming almost demonic during the joining that always followed.
"Do you yield?" The larger of the two questioned, breathlessly.
Malik narrowed his eyes, hissing. "Not likely! I do not yield to the likes of you!"
"Pity." Marik replied with a self-satisfied smirk. "Then it seems I shall have to take what I want."
With a sudden movement the larger of the two blondes had the other one on his knees with his hands behind his back, knowing that this was one position they both enjoyed. He had begun preparing his captive for the joining that was to come when someone rapped smartly on the door to his quarters.
Marik growled low at the disturbance. No one was up and about at this time of night with the exception of those he hand-picked to guard the perimeter of the palace, so whatever it was, it had to be urgent. It had better be, he thought to himself as he pushed his captive away, heedless of the disappointed groan that flew from the boy's mouth, to clean himself up on his way over to the door.
"This had better be important!" He snapped as he threw the door open, only to stare into the confused, irritated scarlet eyes of his Pharaoh. "Ah! Your Highness...is something amiss?"
Atemu stopped his descent to the floor with a well-placed snarl. "So help me if you kneel...I swear to the gods I will not be responsible for my actions!"
Marik gathered his composure with a shake of his head and grinned ruefully. "Please Atemu, come inside before anyone notices that you are wandering about without your escort. What's on your mind?"
Atemu stalked into the sparsely furnished room, pacing the narrow length of the floor for a moment before his attention was caught by the blanket covered figure lying on his friend's mat. He tripped to a halt as the boy glared at him, one eyebrow raised at the blonde duo in question, before higher brain function kicked in and he realized what he had done.
"It appears that I have interrupted something –" He started, apologetically.
"– yes, yes you have!" Malik snarled. "And I would be extremely appreciative if you would leave so we could continue."
Marik stalked across the room, his hand raised to strike the one who had spoken so carelessly to his sovereign, only to be stopped by Atemu's hand on his shoulder. "He is right Marik; do not punish him for my lapse in conduct."
"But he should not be speaking to you with such a lack of respect, my Pharaoh." He murmured.
"Be easy, Marik, my friend." Atemu replied. "I wish that my thoughts had not led me to bother you at such an unseemly hour, but I fear they will not let me rest until I have some of the answers I seek."
Marik glanced over at his Pharaoh thoughtfully. His friend had definitely seen better days. Dark shadows loomed beneath lost scarlet eyes, the bereft expression so unfit for such a regal, commanding leader. He took a step back and appraised the entirety of his ruler's disheveled appearance, not liking what he saw in the slightest.
That glance was all it took for the head guard to make up his mind. In a gesture that was reminiscent of a time when they had been younger and less worried about propriety Marik grabbed a hold of Atemu's wrist and hauled him bodily over to one of the few cushions that were used for seating. Forcibly pushing the exhausted monarch down onto the cushion he motioned for him to stay seated as he tossed down a second pillow and situated himself, ignoring the glare he gained from his forgotten captive at his actions.
"So speak, Atemu." He urged.
Atemu flicked a casual glance over at the boy on the mat, who glared back at him mulishly, loathing written plainly across his golden features. The Pharaoh straightened his posture, lifting a delicate brow in silent rebuke before sighing, allowing his rigid stance to crumble.
The move made him look like the disgruntled teenager he really was, rather than the ruler of a nation. It's effect was wholly intended, for Atemu realized that perhaps he would get more answers out of the stubborn captive if the other saw him on the same level.
Lowering his head Atemu sighed audibly. "I find myself at a crossroads concerning my young guest. And unfortunately I doubt you hold the answers to my questions, Marik. It would ease my mind greatly if you did. But I suspect that your friend might have some of the information that I need, if you do not mind."
Marik glanced back at Malik, only for the other blonde to cross his arms over his chest and shake his head furiously, as if to say don't even think about it. Then he glanced back at his friend. "You may question him to your heart's content. You know this."
Atemu acknowledged the gesture. "I know this, but I figured it would be polite to ask first." With a glance towards Malik's defiant glower he queried. "Who, exactly, is Yugi to the Hyksos chain of command?"
"Go feed Ammit! What does it matter to you?" Malik shot back.
Atemu shrugged nonchalantly with the realization that he could use the blonde's emotional extremes to his advantage. All the other needed was a nudge in the right direction and he would be singing like a bird whether he wanted to or not. "It wouldn't...but I have never known any of royal blood to refrain from pleasures of the flesh and to find that not only has he not indulged but was quite frightened of the concept –"
As predicted Malik jumped up from the bed with an outraged shriek. "You did what?"
The smaller blonde's feet hit the floor with a slap and he went flying across the room. The only thing that stopped him from wrapping his hands around the Egyptian monarch's neck and squeezing unmercifully was Marik's arms as he put the younger look-alike in a choke-hold. And even then it was all that the captain of the guards could do to restrain the hissing, spitting Hyksos youth.
Atemu, however, calmly relinquished his seat to stand before the raging blonde with one eyebrow raised in question. "You are under the impression that I took something by force...not that it was freely given?"
The words stopped Malik cold as he blinked questioningly at the Pharaoh, before rounding on him with a snarl. "Yugi went to your bed willingly? Why do I find that so hard to believe? Oh yeah...CAUSE YOU STOLE HIM! YOU THREATENED HIM AND THEN YOU STOLE HIM! HE IS NOT A SLAVE! HE'S MY FRIEND AND THE RIGHTFUL HEIR TO OUR COUNTRY'S THRONE! GIVE HIM BACK HIS LIFE!"
Both Atemu and Marik cringed at the volume of the other's words before Marik found himself once again with a handful of wildly struggling teen. "Enough!" He roared, taking his captive to the ground and subduing him with a knee in his back, giving Atemu an evil look for his unusual method of interrogation.
"There is a reason for my inquiry..." Atemu sighed impatiently. He was at a loss as to how to explain to the distraught youth that he needed this information to keep his people from a repeat of the catastrophe that had befallen Otogi's village. But Marik seemed to understand what he was aiming at for the tall blonde wrapped his captive up in a crushing hold, as if attempting to squeeze the answer out of him.
"Answer him damn it!" He cursed when the smaller blonde remained stubbornly silent.
Eventually the Hyksos teen relented, nodding his assent. Whether it was from lack of oxygen or from the stream of unheard words Marik was whispering steadily into his ear was unknown to Atemu. But he was happy to have the other's acquiescence, regardless of the cause.
"Yugi is Hasim's youngest son of two." Malik rasped shortly as he rubbed at his throat with his free hand, getting shakily to his feet, glancing at the firm hand that never left his arm. Marik looked back at him with a casual shrug, refusing to slacken his grip while there were still doubts to his captive's intentions.
"Then why have I never met him before?" Atemu shot back.
Malik struggled momentarily until Marik cuffed him forcefully upside the head, then he bowed his head, his words holding a pleading tone. "Because Hasim was ashamed of him. He kept him hidden, had the idea that Yugi was some other man's bastard that Halima foisted off as his. But it wasn't true! Yugi's mother was a true noble! She wouldn't have done that...even if the marriage...wasn't to her liking. It was just that Yugi took after her in looks and temperament, instead of taking on his father's. It wasn't true! I don't care who said it."
Atemu gave his guard a startled look before returning his eyes to Malik. "Why do you assume that I would take issue with his parentage? It matters not to me which side of the marriage blanket he was born under. I merely ask in order to assure myself that I have the right person in my chambers. I do not hold with the idea of involving innocents in my affairs – even if they did deliberately mislead me with the noble intention of saving someone they care about."
Malik gave an incredulous, bitter laugh. "What a bunch of rubbish. You nobility are always interested in the purity of blood lines, regardless of what nonsense you spout. And anyways, if you truly held to what you were saying you would let him go now that you know the facts. Yugi is innocent! He always has been...too much so for his own good."
The last part of the Hyksos teen's comment was muttered more to himself than anyone else in the room and the two Egyptians glanced at each other again.
"And just what does that mean?" Marik questioned harshly.
Malik glared over his shoulder at his taller double. "It means that was he not so innocent he would not have attracted the attentions of certain people and he would not be in this predicament." His eyes slid towards the Egyptian monarch in accusation.
"How is it he has managed to preserve his purity?" Atemu pressed.
"That's what I'm talking about!" Malik shouted, waving his hands wildly. "If he wasn't so damn innocent he wouldn't have attracted that damn Pegasus' attentions...and if he wouldn't have done that then his father wouldn't have started negotiating Yugi's slavery in return for a partnership against you! All the old man was waiting for was Yugi's grandfather to die..." Malik clamped his mouth shut with the realization that this particular subject was bound to have him saying things he had no business saying.
"How does my little one know Pegasus?" Atemu's look became fierce at the mention of his rival. He had heard his captive muttering the hated Hittite king's name in his sleep before and wondered at their association. Perhaps he should have demanded answers as to why long before now.
At his words another tussle broke out between the two blondes, ending when Marik backhanded his smaller double across the face, drawing a spot of blood. Malik wiped it away with the back of his hand, his eyes speaking volumes even though his mouth remained stubbornly closed.
"Answer him!" Marik ordered in a menacing voice, his presence threatening as he loomed over the smaller blonde, his grip punishing.
Malik flashed a look of pure hatred at the Egyptian ruler. "He doesn't...not really. They've had a couple of run-ins when Yugi's father invited that flaming peacock around in hopes of an alliance against you! If it weren't for you he wouldn't have any of the problems he has! Why can't the lot of you just leave my friend alone?"
Atemu jerked back, stunned, as much from the force of the blonde's hatred as the news he had just imparted. He didn't know what to say. Was he truly to blame for his little one's plight? Instead of dwelling on the other's statement he asked. "Pegasus is gathering allies against me?"
"You better believe it." Malik spat. "And I don't know which of you is worse...so the best I can hope for is that the two of you kill each other."
Atemu chewed on his bottom lip. "Why did he not mention this before...?" He questioned softly, almost to himself.
It bothered him greatly that his rival was interested in the boy. Why would Pegasus need...Eyes widening Atemu gasped at the realization of why the Hittite king was so interested in his little one. He would have had to have been blind not to notice their physical similarities. His eyes sought out Malik's in his hesitancy.
"Pegasus wishes to have a look alike to punish for my victories against him." He stated firmly.
Startled by the unexpected emotion that crossed the Egyptian monarch's stoic features ever so briefly Malik nodded somberly, his rage losing momentum as his thoughts drifted back to the possessiveness displayed in the other's earlier statement. He huffed out a breath, deciding to play along for the moment, in hopes of gleaning some information to his friend's benefit.
"We couldn't help him...we just...he doesn't know anything about it...at least nothing we told him. Sometimes though...I don't know. Anyways, it just pisses me off that his father intended to sell him just as though he were nothing more than chattel! If it weren't for Hasim's fear of Solomon that piece of Hittite trash would have gotten his hands on him months ago. We even tried to sneak him out of the palace...but all of a sudden Hasim started to pay attention to him. It was all he ever wanted really, for his father to approve of him. He wasn't going to leave then. And we all knew why it was happening..."
Atemu wandered back to his seat, perching gingerly on a corner with his arms wrapped around his knees as he regarded Malik's calmer figure. "You insinuated that his grandfather could have been of some help. Why did you not go to him?"
Malik followed the Egyptian ruler's lead, dropping to the floor to gather his knees against his chest. He didn't exactly trust the imposing monarch, but the other did seem rather horrified at the thought of Yugi being in Pegasus' clutches, rather possessive in general for just a passing acquaintance.
With that thought in mind the smaller blonde began to watch Atemu very closely, gaging his reactions in order to discern the truth of his late night appearance. Why was the Pharaoh so interested in Yugi's past?
"We were threatened with Yugi's death when they found us eavesdropping on the transaction. We couldn't risk it, so we tried to convince him to sneak out with us. I don't know what the old man had on Yugi's father, but whatever it was it was enough to scare Hasim into allowing Me, Jou, Ryou and Shizuka to live in the palace...enough to keep him from following through on most threats. But not enough to keep him from going through with this...at least not after –"
"Why would your presence be of concern to Hasim?"
Malik chuckled mirthlessly. "Come on, you knew Hasim. You knew what he was like – what an ogre he was. Why would a man like that allow his bastards to intrude into his perfect family life?"
Atemu started, his eyes catching and locking with Malik's amused ones. "Bastards?"
"Oh yes, bastards. Or at least in mine and Ryou's case. I never knew about Jou and Shizuka, old Solomon remained very tight-lipped on the subject, but I have my suspicions. We all did. The only reason I knew about Ryou is that he was brought to the old man's attention late...he came to us only a couple of years ago. He was born on foreign soil to an unfortunate tavern wench who caught Hasim's wandering eye. Solomon retrieved him when she died of an illness."
"But why would he have sought out all of Hasim's illegitimate children? Why not just leave you to your own devices?"
Malik shrugged. "As a reminder, I think. A protection of sorts for us and Yugi against the Crown Prince – Raphael was a first class bastard in his own right – and a reminder for Hasim that he killed Yugi's mother, privately labeled Yugi a bastard and just generally destroyed everything that Solomon worked so hard to build. You know he's royalty right, Yugi's grandfather?"
Atemu nodded in understanding. It stood to reason that Hasim feared the elder man for the power he held. He had heard Solomon's name mentioned before in his dealings with the Persian royal family's emissary. "Yugi's grandfather used the fact that he was in line for Persia's throne as a threat against Hasim then. Just as he used the palace as a refuge for you knowing that neither one of them would step out of line so long as he was around – at least not within his hearing."
Malik shook his head somberly. "But a couple of weeks before...when Hasim...something changed. I don't know...something. Solomon left for Persia on an errand and soon after so did Hasim, only his intention was to declare war..."
Atemu laughed as the answer suddenly occurred to him. He had not paid too much attention to the foibles of the Hyksos royal house until his people were in peril. Perhaps he should have. "The unexpected death of the Persian king...Akare. That is what changed. Hasim wished to overtake the younger prince in his time of mourning and then ally with Pegasus to gain control over my lands...Tch, He should have known that the head of the Persian family was still a threat to his quest."
"I had heard that." Malik commented. "And he knew that King Akare's father was still alive, even though he had voluntarily stepped down. But that is neither here nor there...fact still remains that Yugi's fate was arranged by messenger just before his father's death and Pegasus will want to collect at some time."
"Yes, the old man is still around. He shall be here soon. Him and the rest of the council...along with Pegasus..." The Egyptian monarch tapped a finger against his chin, gazing solemnly at the floor, lost in his own thoughts. "No matter. Pegasus shall not have him." He muttered nearly silently. "Not so long as I still draw breath."
Malik's eyes shot to the young ruler's. "You have feelings for him. That's why your so interested. Isn't it?"
Pardon?" Atemu's eyes narrowed as he considered the other's statement.
"Oh this is rich!" Malik chuckled loudly after observing the other's stunned features intently. "That's why your so interested beyond the fact that you know Yugi is Hyksos' true king. That's why his virginity is such a difficulty for you, why you had to leave your comfortable bed in the middle of the night to chase after a question. Goodnight Pharaoh...I'm going to bed now. I have nothing further to say to you other than you had better start treating my friend right. He's loyal...not stupid."
With that said Malik stood gracefully, stretching out his tall form, and sauntered back over to the mat he had been lounging on earlier, before their unexpected visitor had come knocking. He laid down and shifted so that he faced the wall, intent on ignoring the other occupants in the room.
Atemu opened his mouth to remark that he was only interested for the simple reason that he had never met any nobility with such a strict code of morals unless it was forced upon them by another party. He wanted to say that he wasn't interested in the young Hyksos royal beyond his involvement in the raid on Otogi's village. But the words stuck in his throat and he frowned at the floor as he considered the blonde's parting comment.
"Atemu...your Highness." Marik's concerned face appeared in his line of sight. "You need some sleep. Let me escort you to your chambers."
Atemu nodded absentmindedly, his thoughts miles away. Marik helped him from his seat, leading him from his quarters. Together they made their way silently back into the palace, each lost in their own thoughts. Once they arrived at the door to his chambers the blonde guard called his name gently.
Atemu raised an eyebrow.
"Your Highness, if I may...some things will not fit neatly into the categories you attempt to place them in." When his gaze remained questioning Marik continued, "I know you, Atemu. Even now you're trying to analyze why the boy does not fit your expectations. He is not going to...none of them are. Even Priest Seto is starting to figure this out. You know this; you read his latest missive. From what I have overheard their upbringing was unusual, to put it mildly. But it is your choice what you do with this information."
"You care for him." Atemu stated.
Marik inclined his head. "Malik is unusual. He is like the light to my darkness. Worry not though, my loyalties still lie with you."
Atemu smiled, "I do not fear the changing of your loyalty, my friend. My little one...and the piece he represents in this puzzle, though, concerns me deeply."
"You'll figure it out. But first you need to sleep." Marik bowed deeply, pushing the other gently towards the doors before taking his leave. "Good night Atemu."
"Good night Marik." Atemu called back softly, turning to contemplate the entrance to his chamber, and the little one sleeping within. Light to his darkness. The notion intrigued him. With an exhausted sigh Atemu pushed open the doors and entered the room. He desperately needed sleep.
~ o ~ O ~ o ~
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