Prompt 21: Animal
Rating: PG-13 (rated for abuse and flashbacks of trauma. Please read with caution)

Summary: Seto wakes up from a terrible nightmare from his childhood and Atem is a little at a loss how to help. Luckily, he has Sophie with him.

NOTES: Post! DSOD and part of my Sophie and Louie series. Basically Sophie is an old therapy dog Seto and Atem rescued with Louie who is a Bengal cat. Also, there is mention of dog attacks in this story but know that no breed is born evil and I actually love dogs very much. This is all just to further backstory and past trauma of Seto's. I would recommend you read "Can't Have one Without the Other" for further explanation.

Thank you.

"What a disgrace you are, Seto! I bring you into my home, and what do I find? You slacking and sleeping instead of doing your studies!"

Seto jolted awake. He immediately sat up straight in his chair as Gozaburo Kaiba marched into the room and began shouting. He jumped to his feet, arms tight to his side, and head up, eyes down. "Sorry, Sir, it won't happen again, Sir."

"That's a typical answer from such a slacker," Gozaburo snarled, smacking the end of the riding crop against his leg; the young boy instantly tensed and clenched his fists, trying to drown out the sickening sound the whip made.

"This isn't the first time I've caught you resting while studying. So have your tutors, people whom I spend a fortune on to make sure you get the best education and proper training, and this is how you repay me? Such an ungrateful child."

Seto trembled but refused to cower. To show weakness was to bring even more pain. "Sorry, Sir, I will do better!"

"Hmph, I'm starting to think you were a waste of my time," the portly man grumbled, but then smirked viciously. "You know I should punish you for such insolence." He smacked the crop against his hand and sniggered when the young boy jerked. "But I think you might like the sting of the crop since you keep disobeying me. Perhaps we should bring in Boris."

Seto's eyes widened and he shook his head quickly. "No, please. I promised!"

Gozaburo laughed maniacally and stepped back, arms spread wide. "Yes, I think we need Boris in here!" He gave a sharp whistle and Seto whimpered, scrambling back. Outside the door, he could hear massive paws thundering up the stairs and down the hall, slamming so hard into the door it bounced on its hinges.

Another whimper and Seto slowly backed away. Boris the Rottweiler, growled and bared its teeth, drool pooling from its massive maw as it stalked into the study. Gozaburo grinned and beckoned the dog over, gripping it by its collar. "Do you want to play, Boris?" He taunted, keeping his eyes on the scared boy in front of him. Boris barked and snapped its jaws, struggling in his master's hold. "Ohhh, I think that means he wants to play!"

"S-sir," Seto held up his hands, hiding behind his desk, "I'll study harder—"

"Too late, Boy," Gozaburo snarled and tugged on Boris's collar before letting go. "Play!"

Boris barked and leapt through the hair. Seto screamed and made a break for the open door; the air was knocked out of his lungs as the massive dog pounced onto his back and then a searing pain on his neck.

Seto screamed, and the world went dark.

And then air returned to his lungs and the CEO sat up with a strangled sob, sweat covering his face, neck and upper body. The blankets pooled in his lap and he looked around frantically before blindly reaching out until his hand landed on another body.

Atem started and blinked his eyes furiously to escape sleep. Someone was touching him rather insistently and when he adjusted to the dark bedroom, he realized it was his boyfriend. He rubbed his eyes and sat up.

"Seto? Baby, what's wrong?"

"Tell me it was a dream," Seto whispered harshly, struggling to catch his breath. "Tell me it was all a dream!"

"What…" Atem frowned deeply, struggling to reach the lamp on his nightstand due to Seto's deathlike grip on his arm. Letting his eyes adjust to the light, he finally got a good look at the other male. Seto's eyes were wide and scared, very unlike him, his breathing was ragged, and he kept staring around the room as if something was going to jump out at him. At the foot of the bed, Sophie watched her master with big, concerned eyes but kept her distance for now, Louie nestled against her, head slightly tilted due to the sudden noise.

Seto's grip tightened on his upper arm and Atem winced from the sudden pain. He then reached over and carefully extracted his lover's hand and into his own, kissing his knuckles. "It was a dream, Baby," he whispered. "Just a dream… everything is okay."

"No it's not," Seto snapped and he started rocking back and forth a bit, his left hand covering the left side of his jaw. He looked like he was struggling to breathe and he kept stuttering. "I-it's not o-okay it… it… I need to… need to…"

Atem swallowed and felt a bit at a loss. Seto was starting to zone out on him and began curling in on himself, hyperventilating. "Seto, Baby… please, breathe… just try and breathe slowly—"

A soft, gentle whine hit Atem's ears and he watched Sophie stand up and crawl over to Seto. She very carefully nudged the brunette's arm that had wrapped across his knees, worming said appendage around her instead. Seto tugged her close and she laid her head against his chest. He squeezed tight, fingers curled in her fur, and his face hidden against her neck.

Atem sat back, wrapping his own arms around Louie when he came and sat in his lap. The bengal cat gave a soft mew and watched his big sister do her job; it took a while but Seto's breathing finally calmed down and his death grip in her fur was now lax. Seto slowly pulled his face free and sniffed, eyes slightly red and puffy, but smiled.

"Hey, Sophie," he murmured, petting the top of her head and ears. Sophie whined, bumped his hand affectionately and the brunette left a kiss on her nose. "Good girl. You're a good girl."

"... are you feeling better, Baby?" Atem asked after a few minutes, gaining his boyfriend's attention. "Can I get you anything?"

Seto shook his head and looked at Sophie, shoulders slightly hunched in embarrassment. "No… sorry for waking you up."

"You don't need to apologize, Seto," Atem smiled slowly, reaching over to tuck some of his brown hair behind his ear. "Just let me know if you need anything, okay?"

Seto nodded and finally turned to his boyfriend with a small hiccup, leaning over to press their foreheads together. "... it was just a nightmare?"

"Just a nightmare," Atem whispered, cupping Seto's cheek. "I'm here. Sophie's here."

Seto closed his eyes with a soft sigh and nodded, pressing their lips together before lying back down. Sophie resituated herself, making sure she lay right next to her master and the CEO wrapped an arm around her tightly, holding her close. Atem waited until he was sure Seto would fall back asleep before turning off the light and settling down himself. Louie meowed and mimicked her sister, laying tucked under the Egyptian's arm. He wrapped his paws around Atem's wrist and began purring.

Atem smiled and kissed the top of Louie's head before whispering to Sophie.

"Thank you, Sophie… such a good girl."

Sophie wagged her tail and buried her face into Seto's pillow.