Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh
XXIV: Charm
Atem glanced up as Yugi trotted past him. He had his head raised and his legs were spread as if he were trying to mimic a horse. Atem tilted his head, studying him for a moment and wondering at the strange movements. He seemed so determined about something or other, as if he were trying his hardest for a reaction Atem didn't know he'd get. Was he supposed to say something? Did he need to react a certain way? Atem fought the urge to flinch; if Yugi had expectations of him, he would likely never meet them. He was not made so impeccably that he could so much as try to meet them. Every expectation he'd had as a hatchling had been shattered. He couldn't even imagine attempting to match someone else's.
He watched the Gandora race a few feet away and then turn back, pouncing about as if he were a cat. Atem tilted his head further and frowned in bewilderment. Yugi continued jumping about for a few moments, glancing at him every other time he landed, and then straightened and seemed to reconsider. He looked determined, however, and Atem didn't know why or what about.
Had he done something? Was he supposed to do something?
Had he forgotten something?
Atem lowered his eyes, unnerved. He couldn't recall being asked to do anything. And he thought Yugi the type to remind him should something be overlooked. He couldn't imagine the Gandora wouldn't be kind enough to tell him. He wasn't cruel by nature, despite his genetics, and the ease with which he spoke to Atem said he wasn't afraid to gently point something out. He wasn't afraid to confront him and ask him to do something should he need to.
But they didn't do much other than hunt and they took turns for that. Was it his turn? He felt like it could have been. But Yugi had not mentioned hunger and he did not seem cranky as he had before. It was stunning to him. What was it he might have overlooked otherwise? The last time Yugi had pounced about their den, he'd smoothed every stone down. He was eating regularly again, without relying on Yugi to glare at him and shove food at his face and insist he eat. He was not ill. His scales were still glossy and cool to the touch…
Yugi pounced abruptly. He landed with his paws right next to his beak. Atem startled and jerked backwards, snarling with shock. What was he doing? Why had he done that? Was he upset with him?
Yugi leaned forward and licked his forehead. "I give up."
Atem blinked and peered at him, confused. "What?" he breathed, still tensed with the instinct to lash out or possibly flee. "What are you talking about?"
"It's too hard," Yugi continued. He licked his forehead again and took a seat. He was panting. "You're too difficult. You didn't even crack a smile. Usually when someone's mad at me and I start jumping around like that, it puts me back in their good graces."
Atem stared, stupefied. What? Mad at him? When had he given him inclination he was upset? He'd…. Oh. Atem blinked and shook his head. "I don't have good graces," he said quietly. "When you wrong me, I turn on you fang and claw."
Yugi snorted and smiled. "You know forgiveness," he answered, voice light and cheerful. "You just don't like showing it. If you didn't, half the things Timaeus said that upset you would have gotten his head chopped off."
Atem huffed. "Words are easier to overlook." He frowned and looked at him in bewilderment, shaking his head. "I'm not upset with you."
Yugi blinked and stared at him, confused. "You haven't even looked at me in over an hour. Or spoken to me even when I tried talking to you. I…" He paused. "Were you lost in your head?"
Atem looked away. "Apologies."
"Well, at least you're not sick or angry," the Gandora said cheerfully. He licked his forehead again. "I was scared I'd done something and upset you. I'm glad that's not true, though. I didn't know how to make you feel better if I couldn't even charm my way back into your good graces."
"I have none," Atem repeated. He reached a paw out to tap Yugi's, tilting his head when the Gandora looked down and trembled before sitting up taller. Atem stood after a moment, stretching and tapping his shoulder with his paw. "Besides, you're too delightful to cause me anger. I was…thinking about things better left undiscussed."
Yugi gave him a curious, unsure look. "But if you're struggling with them, I should help," he said with a more determined tone. "I'm good at finding solutions. My parents and Jonouchi always said so."
Atem chuckled and butted his forehead with his own, pulling back and looking him over. "Is that so? Three dragons have said so? It must be true!" he teased. He nipped him when Yugi huffed playfully and swatted at his beak. "I will look to you for all things guidance from now on."
Yugi chortled and sprang at him. Atem ducked and wove beneath his paws, straightening again where Yugi had been standing moments before. Yugi huffed as he turned around, growling playfully. "Don't you mock me!" he snickered.
"Oh, no, of course not," Atem snorted. "I would never."
Yugi laughed and sprang at him again. Atem dodged away, snickering. Yugi gave chase immediately, huffing and springing. He landed atop his back and Atem shrugged him off with his wings. The moment Yugi hit the ground, Atem plopped down atop him, pinning him there with a smirk.
"I can't ask you for battle advice, but most certainly for solutions to everything else."
Yugi burst out laughing and licked his beak. "That works!"