A/N: Guess who said she was going to take a break and then comes back with chapter 23? Yup! In saying that, now that this chapter is done I will be doing my best not to stress in future over updating. I'm starting a new project and will be reading a bit more. As always, I hope you enjoy this chapter. I think it turned out better than I feared :)

Yugi

The short few days that passed were definitely something. Every day I would be greeted by a very hungry, very eager demon who would only let me go to work after a thorough feeding.

Then I would be visited by said demon through the day begging for a treat to which I actually denied him until after my shift would end. No matter how well he put on the puppy eyes or how close he came to seducing my way out of my shift - I firmly made him wait.

Though we barely made it out of the parking lot before he would force me to pull over somewhere private. Let me tell you sex in the car is a lot more fun and romantic in TV shows than it is in real life. But this didn't deter him at all. It's not so bad when you can morph half your body into a formless shadow.

We'd manage to get home or do a few errands and for a few hours I would have some time to rest before his hunger would flare again.

I don't mind in the slightest how active he is, but I'm pretty sure my body is wearing down. My muscles and back in particular are starting to ache and my ass doesn't feel too great either after so much activity. But he's irresistible and the pleasure at the time is too good to pass up.

Though I have noticed that he is getting his energy back rather quickly now and the brightness of his eyes is maintaining for longer. He seems to be healing rather well, but still his 'cycle' as Shadi calls it, has yet to settle.

According to Shadi Atem should experience two mating cycles a year that last approximately 2 weeks. He's already been through one this year and this one was forced due to his near death. In those two weeks his libido is triggered by almost anything, he becomes impulsive to the point of reckless and if his needs are not met he can become aggressive - but Shadi also said he's only seen this once and it didn't last long because he easily broke out of the bindings Shadi had him in and didn't return for 2 two days; and when he did return he was so euphoric that he passed out for 16 hours.

We are just through week one, but Shadi and Atem both tell me that this feels different to his other cycles. He's a lot more possessive and affectionate, he's marking himself everywhere and leaving traces of himself everywhere I go including my car and work… traces like his feathers. I caught him once behind a shelf at work nuzzling a plush toy of Yoda. He hissed at me when I found him but promptly dropped the toy and left to inspect something else. I guess that counted as aggression.

But also he's following me everywhere. Currently we are running a little grocery errand before going home and today he is particularly protective. He's been keeping a body length distance between me and growling at anyone who comes close. He huddles around me while I browse the shelves. He even took my card from my hand so he could pay the clerk instead of risking me having any contact with the cashier.

I don't mind… but how much more is this going to be? Not to mention from the outside it appears kind of … abusive. It's not in the slightest I don't feel; I actually find it rather endearing; but I have fans and fans talk…

Anyway … Atem claims this is normal and he's just looking out for his mate - which is another thing! He's started using that term and terms like nest, and cycle and breeding - all of these are primal, animalistic terms. Terms he never used before. According to Tea it is not dissimilar to how angel's choose a partner. Especially cupids who mate for life. She claims that he's imprinted or something on me, which is pretty sweet.

I find it all fascinating, I just wish I knew another demon I could ask all these questions I have, because Shadi only knows so much from his close studies of Atem, Tea only knows so much because most of her interactions with demons involve killing them, and Atem is only telling me so much because most of his attention is spent trying to get into my pants.

"How much longer?" He asks as we leave the pharmacy. He's so eager to get home his voice borders on impatience. It's actually pretty fun to prolong our outing. The longer I make him wait after all the more ravenous he is at home.

"Ummm well…" I trail off, scrolling through my phone as I think of anything we might possibly need at home. I'm afraid we might actually be set for the week though.

"We should go." He says quietly. He stands close to me, so close I hold my phone right under my chin. I know he's anxious to get home but now he has me a little alarmed. Is this the aggression Shadi mentioned?

No. If it was he'd be looking at me. He'd be angry. Right now, with his hand firmly around my arm and his gaze set out at all the strangers around us - he looks pensive.

"What's wrong?" I ask quietly.

Then I sense it. I haven't sensed those eyes on me for a while. Not since our trip to the amusement park, but it's there. Someone boring into us. Watching us. "Atem."

"We should go." He says again, quieter. I agree with him and follow eagerly wherever he guides us.

I thought he'd take us to my car but instead he walk straight passed it and into an alley. I open my mouth to ask but then he pulls me into a tight embrace and suddenly a rush of wind whooshes through us.

When I open my eyes again and he lets me go I see we're safely in my apartment. No harm done, perfectly safe. He doesn't look relaxed though. He frowns, scanning the area, never letting go of my arm. I've never seen him like this before. I'm almost more scared of that than I am of whatever might have been watching us.

"Tem?" I ask quietly and finally he sighs. His grip loosens and he turns to me. He brings me close and kisses my forehead before rubbing his cheek over mine.

"I will protect you." He whispers. That's all well and good but what was that? And what about my car?

"You should ask your friends to return your car to the nest." He says in answer to my unasked question shortly before taking my bags to the kitchen.

I am … sort of speechless right now. I feel his tension is through the roof. He is unloading the bags but his focus is purely on his surroundings. I don't feel he's calm or relaxed enough to answer me if I were to ask what we sensed back there, so quietly I adhere to his suggestion. Ryou should be free to help me out.

When Tea came over an hour later Atem was still tense. He'd taken to perching outside on the balcony like some kind of gargoyle, wings out and everything, and when she came in he took her by surprise with how quickly he appeared behind her, claws at her throat and fangs bared.

She simply sighed and he backed down but it wasn't without a huff before he misted through the house and back onto his perch.

"What's wrong with him?" She asked me as she came to sit beside me. He growled at her, glaring daggers into her for proximity and when she did not move he purposefully strode over to take me and sit me on the other end. Then he perched on the coffee table and glared at her.

"We … um… I think we encountered something that could have been dangerous while we were out and he's been on edge since." I answered her carefully. His clarification was simply a sharp breath out through his nose.

"Dangerous?" She asks slowly, her eyes never once leaving Atem. I'm not too worried about them fighting. They've been sort of getting along I think. They both told me in detail how she helped him and how they've started seeing eye to eye. Right now if Atem does attack her, she'd simply shut him down. I think he knows that or he wouldn't be sitting there lowly rumbling like thunder.

"Yeah. I don't know, I felt like we were being watched and he insisted we leave. I didn't even get my car, I'm still waiting for Ryou to bring it back to me."

"You ran here?" She laughs.

"I teleported us here." Finally he speaks. His features are starting to soften now and his hands are not so tense. Finally he's relaxing.

"What was it?" She asks him calmly.

"Demon."

"Amar?"

"More than likely." He casts his eyes down and then with a start leaves to sit outside again.

Tea sighs softly beside me. "Should he be sitting out there if Amar's in the city on the hunt?" I ask quietly.

"He can sense her better from out there. There's a great deal of interference in here." Tea responds thoughtfully.

"But doesn't that mean she can sense him too?"

"It matters little. Even if she came to him she cannot touch him within his nest."

Right… He'd just come back inside. But then my apartment would become our prison were it not for Tea. "He hasn't explained to me what a nest is exactly." I say, watching him closely. His feathers dance in the breeze but he remains as still as stone. He's so shut off from me too. I've become so attuned to his feelings and the general tone of his thoughts - but like this he is silent.

"A nest is a demon's home. Like a burrow for a rabbit. It is how demons mark their territory. They'll mark it with their scent, leave things of theirs behind like scales or in his case feathers, and they'll protect it with spells and wards as he's done. I noticed it when I first came here he had marked this apartment as the beginnings of his nest. Since then he's now claimed the whole building as his."

"He has?" That's surprising.

"Yes. Of course he still has his own in the city as well he's maintaining. There are small pockets of his territory all over this city." She muses.

Right… his home before practically moving in. I'm sure Dionysus must be his too. I didn't know demons were so territorial.

Wait they leave feathers… so my car and work too? I shake my head at that. He's not as human as I thought he was but that's actually really okay with me. He's just even more precious.

"Have you sensed much of her recently?" Tea asks me gently.

"No. Not since we went on our date to the amusement park last week."

You sensed her then? I hear his voice in my mind and it makes me shiver. I didn't expect to hear it.

"Yes. And it's rude to telecommunicate among company." I say back to him cheekily. He doesn't look at us at all but he does fluff his wings and back as if huffing.

I continue softly. "I didn't say anything because I thought I was just imagining things. Until today, seeing Atem react to something unseen and something so unmistakable, I hadn't given it much thought."

"I understand. Your abilities are still awakening, it must be difficult to determine what is and isn't something of note."

"Yeah." I sigh.

When I told her about stopping time she told me she could teach me how to control it. Since the first time it hasn't happened again but she also didn't want to teach me while Atem is in the peak of his heat. Especially since his protective nature is now in overdrive.

"Well if she's skulking around the city then it's safe to assume she's not had enough of a scare. She probably thinks we can't protect everyone. She'll scope her field, get a grasp of weak points before she strikes."

"My friends -"

"Are safe. They cannot be used against us." She assures me and I do feel better hearing it. Even if she tried she can't possess them. She'll have to confront us herself.

But it only means that they are safe. No one else in the city. She could still possess anyone in this building, someone from work, a passerby and pose as a customer. It's not wise to let our guards down just because my friends are safe from possession.

The truth is we won't be safe until she is dealt with. If there's a way to trap her in hell I would prefer that - but I seem to be the only one in favour of that plan. Everyone else is more interested in going for the throat.

Atem makes a sudden movement and I look up in time for him to mist back inside and materialise by the door just as it knocks. He opens it and I briefly spy Ryou. Atem stands before him though, tall and dominating.

"Let him in Cb. He's clear." Tea sighs boredly. Atem hesitates but eventually steps aside just enough for Ryou to nervously slide inside.

"Just came back to drop off your keys." He says anxiously, never leaving Atem's watchful gaze.

I stand to greet him but just as Ryou drops the keys into my hand Atem turns into a black cloud again and passes between us to again go and sit outside.

"He's still unhappy?" Ryou whispers to me.

"Mm." I turn to Tea curiously. "What is Cb?"

She smiles. "A pet name. It's an abbreviation for a type of dark storm cloud."

Oh… Thats cute. She's giving him pet names now, and nice pet names - not anything mean or derogatory. I like that.

"So uhh… any updates?" Ryou asks happily.

"It's Amar but thats all we know." I answer with an apologetic shrug.

"I thought it would be. So what now?"

"Yugi and Atem lay low until I find her." Tea suggests so casually.

"No." Atem says sharply all of a sudden, looking over his shoulder towards us. "Amar is my responsibility."

"Amar is our responsibility. Frankly she is stronger than you and no match for me. Protect Yugi. I shall hunt the deava."

He hops off his perch to walk inside this time, his frown set firmly on her. He looks so threatening, so strong and powerful … so hot…

I shake it off though. This is serious.

"I appreciate your help but she is my responsibility. She is fixated on me and she threatens my mate. She is my history. She is my responsibility." He says strongly.

"Atem." Tea's voice is sweet, patient and soft - something I've not heard from her directed at Atem before. "I am an angel. It is my responsibility to ensure that no harm comes to anyone where a demon is involved. It matters not what personal feelings are involved. The fact is, she is a demon in this city and I am an angel. I understand your feelings, but in this instance, please allow me to handle this. You have a mate to protect. Not every angel would grant you the same chance I am offering."

I want him to take this. I don't want him hunting her. I look at him and he seems to be thinking about it but I don't feel his resolve shifting. Gently I take his hand and I feel him falter slightly.

"Atem." I whisper. He glances at me, his face still set in stone though. "I don't want anyone fighting her. I don't want Tea or you fighting her. But she's right. Please, don't go looking for her."

He casts his eyes down and his face looks so troubled. "Yugi. Tea. This isn't just about protecting what is mine. This is also about laying to rest my regrets." He says finally. I don't understand though. What about her could he regret?

I shall explain later. He says to me softly before kissing my temple and walking back outside.

"I understand." Tea says quietly. I don't…

"Wait so - what?" Ryou asks. He doesn't either.

Tea holds up a hand and shakes her head, and I guess we have to drop this for now.

"There is nothing more for it. Try to relax for now. She cannot touch us so long as we remain in here and she cannot harm your friends." Tea says comfortingly.

She can though. She can't possess them but she can hurt them. I think she and Atem know that too. That is why he isn't relaxing. So long as she roams this city, it doesn't matter if we are in here or not - she is a threat that must be dealt with.

And he is determined to see it through.

A frigid draft blows through the door and it makes me shiver in spite of the blankets I'm curled up in.

All afternoon he's been out there brooding. He wouldn't come in for dinner, he wouldn't come in to enjoy a few games with us. The sun has well and truly set now and still he's perched upon my balcony like a garden statue. Tea is patrolling the city. She left with Ryou a little while ago but still he won't come in.

Grumpily I go and fetch my fluffy white dressing gown and join him outside. His wings fluff suddenly and he glances over his shoulder before relaxing.

"It isn't safe out here." He says quietly.

I ignore him though and stand beside him, holding my gown closed.

"It's lonely in there." I say sadly.

The silence that follows hurts. I can feel the storm raging over his heart. I can feel how troubled he is, how torn he is between staying here and looking for her.

I hate it. I hate how quickly and easily she's stirred everything up. Everything was perfect. Finally. I found the love of my life and finally we were growing and then she comes and tries to ruin it all.

"I won't let her ruin this." He says quietly.

I keep forgetting which thoughts he can read.

"I don't want her to hurt anyone I love."

"I won't let her." He says but his voice isn't assuring or comforting. It's cold and distant.

"She already is." I snap at him. He flinches but he doesn't look at me.

Fine. He can brood all he likes. If he won't listen…

I turn to leave him, to go back inside into the warmth but as I touch the door I feel him behind me. He wraps his arms and wings around me, holding me close. I'm surprised how warm he is but more than that is how powerfully apologetic he feels.

"I am sorry." He whispers, burying his face into my hair.

Immediately I have forgiven him. After all I'm mad but it's not him I'm mad at. It's her. It's her effect on him. It's everything she's threatening.

"Take me away from here." I whisper, holding his arms close under my chin. I'm so scared. I just want to live in ignorance somewhere peaceful.

"I can… but no where we go will be safer than inside." He says softly near my ear.

That isn't the answer I wanted. I know he's right but… I feel so … caged.

He turns me to face him and I feel myself starting to lose whatever strength I had keeping myself together.

Since we were attacked last and he almost died, I've been telling myself that Tea scared her off for good. I've been so preoccupied with his recovery that I didn't want to imagine the possibility of her coming back. Even the nightly nightmares of that day still haunt me and still I lost myself in him because he makes me feel strong and safe.

But now… it's different. Today I felt her near us. I didn't even stop to think that the times I felt watched before could have been her stalking us. How close did she get before she made her very personal move? Today she got close enough that it's left Atem completely on edge and it frightens me so much that she could attack us again. She tried to kill me, she hurt my best friend, she wants Atem for whatever reason. Last time he almost died; yeah it was an incidental miss from Tea, but what if it happens again? What if next time it's fatal…

Everything is just too dangerous now and I don't know what to do about it.

His thumb strokes my cheek and gently he lifts my face. He probably heard all that too. I'm just so scared.

"Please have faith in me, my light. There is nothing in this world that has ever made me stronger than you. For what we have, I will protect it with every ounce I can draw."

"But… Tea said she's stronger than you…" I say quietly and he winces.

"Maybe so… but I have something far more important to fight for than she does."

Exactly… she has nothing to lose. Why wouldn't she go all out to hurt him?

"Please don't fight her." I am close to tears. I hate how emotional I get but I really really don't want to lose him. He's still recovering… he… I just can't lose him.

"Yugi." He whispers softly. He leans in close and easily stills my lips with a tender, deep kiss. A kiss so fierce that I literally feel every worry and concern stolen and pushed aside so all I know is him.

He pushes me against the glass door and swipes his tongue against the roof of my mouth. His hands effortlessly slide off my dressing gown and before I know it I'm running my hands through his hair, tugging and pulling and drinking the moans he feeds me.

What was I worried about? I don't even remember anymore.

Fire. Black smoke and fire chokes my lungs and laughter fills my ears. My blood is pounding behind my eyes and my skin feels as if it is melting. My nerves are screaming. I'm in utter agony and no amount of writhing can ease the pain.

"YUGI!" I look through tear soaked eyes and reach for my beloved as he soars towards me. Everything hurts so much but I know once I feel his touch he will take me away from this awful place. He will love and protect me, make this pain go away.
"He will not save you, little bird." Ryou's twisted voice hisses in my ear and the pain … my heart … my … life…

Everything is … so … white!

I wake with a start but I'm weighed down by something soft but heavy over me. I try to push against it, to find some kind of freedom but as I do I recognise the texture through my fingers. The soft feathers and their warmth. Someone groans beside me and I take a moment to pause and register.

Atem sleeps soundly beside me and we are safe in my room, in our nest, protected by magic charms and spells that are lightly singing around the edges of my consciousness. I can feel them, burning and singing and vibrating so softly I can almost ignore it.

I'm safe. We are safe. That fire, that place, Ryou - it was all a bad dream. Just a nightmare.

My light..?

"I'm here." I whisper softly. He lifts his wing and crawls over enough to pull me into him tightly. I can barely breathe with how much he's squeezing me but I love his affectionate nuzzling against my cheek.

Are you okay?

"Mm…fine." He lets me go and I softly brush his beautiful mess of honey blonde bangs from his gorgeous copper face. His dark red eyes twinkle and glisten like beautiful rubies. It is easy to get lost in the comfort and love those eyes hold even with the remnants of that horrid dream now on the outskirts of my mind.

"Something troubles you." He mumbles softly. I adore how attractive his sleepy morning voice is. I couldn't possibly worry him about something so minor.

"I'm okay. It was just a bad dream. I'm perfectly safe now." I say softly.

He smiles and gently caresses his face. "You are safe."

A knock rasps at my door and I sigh and groan heavily. It's too early for someone to be visiting me, especially when I have a hot naked demon in my bed to greet me. "Maybe if we ignore him he'll go away." Atem whispers softly, pulling on my face to bring me into a playful, excited kiss.

We laugh together as our lips dance and I lean over him. His wing moves to free us and his body moves under me. I find myself between his legs and his hands move to my hips.

Fill me Yugi, please. He begs in my mind. My body burns and tingles and I yearn for the feel of his body around mine. I want his nails dragging up my back, I want his teeth sinking into my flesh, I want my name on his lips -

More knocking.

God damn it.

His hands fall lazily to either side of him and he sighs. I hang my head in tired disappointment. Surely we could ignore the intruder but their knocking kinda distracts from the mood.

"I should go see who it is." I groan.

"He picks the worst times." He mutters under his breath as I climb off him.

I fetch the first pair of boxers I can find. My dressing gown is still somewhere else, thrown off recklessly in a throw of passion from last night. "You know who it is?" I ask as I leave the room.

"Unfortunately." I hear him moan.

Curious. I quickly find my gown discarded on the floor and wrap it around me as more knocking follows. "I'm coming!"

I hesitate over the door. The last time I answered it like this it was Ryou, except it wasn't Ryou - but I have Atem here and he seems to know who it is. If it's someone we know then they can't be possessed… but what if he's wrong? What if … Amar… some how?

More knocking startles me and I hastily slap my cheeks to psyche myself up. If it's dangerous, I have Atem here. Everything will be fine.

I open the door a little bit, just enough. Remember. Don't invite them in… unless I'm sure.

To my relief though it's only Shadi. I am surprised to see him here but incredibly relieved too. Atem told me that Shadi had guarded himself against possession long ago. If anyone is going to be safe from demonic influence it'd be him.

"Shadi."

"Yugi. Good morning." He smiles at me.

I open the door wider and look him up and down. He's wearing a white tank, light blue jeans and his beige turbourn, gold jewellery hangs from his ears and curiously he is holding a black woman shopping bag. "I'm sorry for interrupting but I thought I'd come over with a few things for Atem."

"Of course, come in." I say enthusiastically and it is only after the words leave my lips do I feel nervous again.

He steps in with a smile and a curt nod and I force myself to close the door. It's fine, I keep telling myself. Shadi is safe.

"Is Atem sleeping?" He asks, standing politely nearby.

"Uh no, he's awake. Just … not … decent." I say awkwardly. I should expect Shadi would expect so but it's still kind of weird for me. I mean, before Atem I was an absolute virgin.

"Of course." He smiles. I've half a mind to go fetch him but he comes out with a towel held around his hips as if he's making a statement. A bold statement. A statement that clearly conveys how much of a cockblock Shadi is being right now.

"Shadi." He nods at him in greeting and comes to drag me over to him. His wings fluff and curl around me protectively while his hand grasps my hip. "To what do we owe the intrusion?"

"I thought someone needed to come take care of you, after all I know how bad you are at it." Shadi shoots back before he digs through his bag.

He pulls out a soft bristled brush and a bottle of something. Some kind of product? Either way I feel many emotions from Atem ranging from annoyance to anticipation. I can't tell if he's excited or not. Either way I am confused.

"Now?"

"Is there a better time?" Shadi raises a brow at him. Atem looks at me but I have no idea whats going on. He sighs though and shrugs.

"Yugi, may we borrow your bed?"

Them?! My bed? Now? "For what!" I shriek. If he thinks he and Shadi are going to be doing anything in my bed -

Relax. He brushes my bristling cheek. "It's some self care. Shadi will help you."

I eye him suspiciously but I trust him. He promised me he'd never sleep with anyone else but me and he's kept his word. He wouldn't so casually ask me for that permission now.

He drags me with him down the hall and Shadi is close behind. I feel uncomfortable and nervous but as Atem lays on his stomach, wings spread out wide I am just confused.

"Judging by your expression he has not told you of this routine?" Shadi asks me. I open my mouth but …

"No. There has been no need to yet… There would still be no need to if I didn't know you better." Atem grumbles. He gathers my pillows under his chin and settles down comfortably.

"Yes because you'd handle it yourself."

"5000 years, I've gotten by just fine."

"Mhm. Ignoring him." Shadi turns to me and hands me the bottle and brush. The bottle reads Egyptian Gold Essential Oil. Are we massaging him? Cause that sounds pretty great but whats the brush for?

"Yugi. If you're going to be taking care of him then it's important you know how to groom him."

"Again - 5000 years of experience." Atem grumbles and I stifle my laughter. He's got a point. He's been doing this for 5000 years, why does he need our help?

"Yes and until I came along you had never had a decent groom. Need I remind you how glossy your feathers were after some actual TLC?" Shadi says back to him playfully.

It's pretty fun watching them interact like this. Shadi as far as I know is Atem's only friend. I've seen him around my friends but he's standoff-ish or too flirty for my liking. But Shadi is like a brother to him. They certainly fight like brothers. It's just fascinating especially since Shadi is human but he acts more like Atem's caretaker.

Shadi turns to me expectedly. "Yugi, have you ever seen him groom himself?"

"Um…" Is… is he trying to get Atem in trouble? "I mean he's showered obviously -"

"No no. Groom himself, like a bird or a cat. His body is fine, his wings and horns though require extra care."

"Oh… in that case… no?"

He grimaces and rolls his eyes but otherwise sets about searching through his bag. He pulls out another brush and yet even more oil.

"Grooming is an essential part to his health. Just like a bird his feathers can get damaged and break and if they're not taken care of properly can cause irritation and infections. As an Incubus he's naturally inclined to keep himself well groomed more than most demons but during his heat cycle he tends to get carried away."

"I've been grooming." Atem grumbles quietly.

"Leaving your feathers around isn't the same thing, shut up." Shadi sharply says. "We're going to need towels and lots of paper towel."

"Oh I'll get it." I say excitedly, leaving my items on the bed and rushing through the house to go fetch them. This is actually really exciting. I've been mesmerised by his wings ever since he showed them to me and now I know there's something I can do to help him? I am so excited for this.

I gather every clean towel I can find and my entire stock of paper towels. I have no idea how much we need but I'll be damned if we're not prepared.

Together the three of us set some towels under him and on the floor under his wings. The paper towels will be for us when we're finished with the oil. After that Shadi kneels beside me at Atem's left wing and gently he lifts it onto my lap.

"Okay, we're going to start by gently brushing over his feathers from the frame down, with the grain."

With the grain. I remember him telling me that the first time he let me touch them. I repeat the motions Shadi is doing with his own brush and I'm surprised such a gentle stroke can release so much dust. I never noticed because wings are always so shiny and glossy. Where has all this dust been?

"The white powder are natural oils to protect the feathers from mites or damage. You might notice him fluff his wings every so often or rub them together. I'm actually surprised you've not seen him by now groom himself but then I guess he spends most of his time in his human skin, correct?" Shadi asks casually.

"Um yeah he does." It feels weird talking about him like he's not right there. But I have noticed him fluff his wings like that. I just thought they were tied to his emotions though.

"I thought so. That makes sense. Anyway if you notice him doing that he's just releasing this dust. It's natural."

"So why are we doing this if he doesn't need our help?" I ask.

"I ask myself that every cycle." Atem grumbles.

"We're doing this because during his cycle he's producing more oils than normal and his hunger leaves him too unfocused to bother preening as much as he should be. But we're also doing this because he hasn't done it since he got injured."

I can feel how embarrassed Atem is right now. He hides his face in the pillow and his wings are heavy. The tone of his thoughts are somewhat sour but there's endearment and gratuity there too. We're doing him a big favour I see.

"Okay, so we're brushing his wings to release this powder." I clarify and Shadi smiles brightly at me.

"Yes. Once the excess powder has been brushed off then we can inspect his feathers."

Right. One thing at a time.

We brush through in tandem and after a while Shadi leaves me to tend to his other wing. I've seen other birds preen and clean themselves of course. The chickens on my folks farm did it all the time. More than once a day actually. Sometimes I'd see the powder float up into the air whenever they shook themselves. But I never really thought too much beyond that. I wonder if Atem's wings are much like a birds. In that case, does he produce an oil to protect him from water? Does he malt? How often should he be preening? How does he get to the back without things like brushes?

I ask them all of these questions and each one I feel Atem relax a little more and Shadi chuckles with my enthusiasm.

"He does produce a water protecting agent, he does malt and he should be preening daily - but as he doesn't done this form daily he gets away with it easily. You cannot damage what isn't used. And getting to the base of his wings is another reason why we do this for him. Left alone he would bathe against bark or sand which ends up doing more harm than good."

"That doesn't sound great." I agree.

Shadi points his brush at Atem with a knowing look about him. "I keep telling him that, he doesn't listen. He once complained of an irritating sting in his wing and he wouldn't let me look at it for him. After a month he finally relented and I found he had snapped one of his prime feathers which caused some bleeding and an infection where there feather grows from. I needed to remove the feather completely, disinfect the wound and after a few weeks it had grown back good as new. This is why we do this."

"I see." I laugh apologetically. Poor thing needs to take better care of himself. Not that humans are prime examples of self care though. "You mentioned his horns?"

"Yes, a quick polish should be fine I think. I noticed a few days ago when I was here last his horns appeared fine."

"They are fine." He mutters.

"Why don't you like this?" I ask him sweetly. He shifts a little bit to face me but the pout is strong in his face. You'd think we were torturing him.

"It's embarrassing. I can do this myself… mostly."

"We know you can, but you must admit a little pampering is nice." Shadi says patiently.

A small relaxed smile tugs at the corners of his lips and he slowly closes his eyes. "It is relaxing."

"Let us take care of you." I say kindly. He sighs but it's a long, relaxed sigh.

His wings are so large that it takes a good half an hour to brush through the top face of his wing. After that he is instructed to lift them so we can brush through the soft baby feathers underneath. We stand for this, bending where we need to. His large prime feathers need the least attention but further in the deepest reaches of his wing is plenty of downy feathers locking in an abundance of dust.

"It's okay if we can't get all of it. So long as most of it has been released." Shadi instructs. Still, it takes another 20 minutes or so before we're done with brushing.

We step back and once clear he fluffs his wings, flaps them gently and rubs them together. More dust falls serenely but after a few repeats of this he settles back down. It's fascinating to watch him move them. They'll never stop being so awe inspiring to me.

"Next we wash them. Do you have a hose?"

A hose? In a place like mine? "I'm sorry no." I say boredly. Of course I don't have a hose. I don't have a garden. I've no need of a hose so many stories high.

"Right. Um, a shower?"

"I…" How do I put this delicately?

"I won't fit in his shower with my wings." Atem sighs tiredly.

"A bucket?" Shadi asks hopeful. I do have a bucket… but we're more likely to wet my apartment than his wings.

"I'll be right back." Atem says and all of a sudden he disappears. Completely. The hell did he go?

"Atem?"

"He'll be fine. He's likely going to go find something to dive in."

"To dive in?" I ask.

He doesn't answer me right away. Instead I help him gather the towels and follow him onto my balcony to shake off. He seems to know exactly what he's doing. "How long have you been doing this for him?" I ask curiously.

"The first time I did this was actually the first time I met him. I had no idea what he was or what to do but he was injured and too tired to resist my aid."

"Oh! How did you meet?" I ask excitedly. He smiles fondly and I follow him back inside to reset the towels.

"It was in Egypt. I was on my way home when I heard something loud crash into a nearby alleyway. Cats scrambled from the darkness and curiosity got the better of me. I searched the alley and found a man huddled in shadow. Bright red eyes glared at me and I was frozen. I didn't know what to do. But as I stood there and stared into those eyes, I saw he was just as afraid as I was. So I crouched and waited. I averted my gaze and slowly tried to get closer to him.

I spoke to him, tried to tell him I meant no harm. He hissed at me, swatted at me as I got close, beat his wing but that only resulted in a cry of pain. He was injured, frightened and I felt responsible for him. I couldn't just go home and let him be found by someone or something less kind than I.

So I went to buy some water and he seemed surprised when I returned. I tried to win his trust with it and stayed with him for a while. I talked with him. I don't know if he knew what I was saying but after 2 hours he let me approach him.

I gently touched his hand and then all of a sudden he poofed into black smoke. I didn't know what had happened and it frightened me. But then from the shadows a box moved and bright red eyes met mine from within it. I stood to move away from the box and as I stepped back it moved forward. I had no idea what to expect, but communication with him via a box was not it.

But I sensed trust in it. I felt it wanted me to carry it. So I did. I picked up the box and water and carried him home.

Once there and safe he did not emerge 2 days. When he did I saw him in his demon form. He tried to antagonise and threaten me, to make me feel small and insignificant - but he was injured and the display was just that: a display.

It did not work. I saw him in all his splendor in spite of his terrorising appearance and when he saw I was not threatened he let me help him. He was wounded, but not gravely. His wing was fractured, his ribs were broken, his flesh torn in places. He allowed me to heal him under his watchful eye.

Only when he was healed enough to move without wincing did he leave. I thought I wouldn't see him again, but 1 month passed and he returned. His eyes were much brighter and he had with him a bottle of water. He offered it to me gracefully, his head down and wings flattened. It was then when I spoke to him that he spoke back and told me his name."

"Wow." What a beautiful story. From the moment they met they became friends. Shadi trusted something he knew nothing of so quickly and Atem - well he'd just come from something horrible and had little choice but to trust Shadi; and from there a beautiful friendship had formed.

"We've been friends ever since." Atem says kindly behind us, making us whirl around to face him.

He stands in nought but his towel but his hair, skin and feathers are wet and leaving a great puddle upon my floorboards. His hair is stuck to his face and his feathers are soaked. I appreciate he came back but must he stand right there wetting my house?

"Atem go dry outside!" I command sharply and he smiles apologetically.

"No no, dry off and lay back down." Shadi says, beckoning him over. He tosses a towel at him and he promptly uses it to dry off the pesky little rivers of water glistening down his bronzed muscles and perfect figure… God he's hot!

"Where did you go?" I ask him. I pick a towel up to help him but god if it isn't a task not to run my hands all over his body.

"There's a freshwater lake not far. Crystal clear, perfect for a dip." He flashes that cheeky, fanged smirk at me and it makes my knees weak.

"Yugi. The next stage is inspecting his feathers." Shadi says, his tone much more professional now. I feel as if I'm being taught by some kind of master but I can't say I dislike it. I'm learning so much about him recently.

Once he's dry enough he lays back on my bed, towels first, and spreads his wings. They're only lightly dripping now but the other towels catch that. Again Shadi kneels beside me and shows me how to inspect them.

"We're looking for any damage. Crooked rachis or frayed barbs and the like. Like this one." He finds one among the black damp mess and gives it a gentle tug. It falls out easily but he does flinch and his wing shakes briefly. He shows it to me and I see it does look broken. I think I know what I'm looking for now.

"Barbs like this one are fine, they'll sort themselves out once he dries, but the frays on the end of this are irreparable and will only get in the way of flight."

I follow his fingers for a while during his search. Most he gives a quick inspection and moves on but there's two more he plucks. When I feel I've gotten a handle of what I'm looking for I start my own search.

"Less broken feathers than usual." Shadi muses after a while. I still haven't found any and I'm trying to be very meticulous. I don't want a single feather getting missed.

"I told you I can do it." Atem sighs though he sounds very relaxed now.

"So… I think it got missed but when did you start grooming him like this? After you met I mean." I ask conversationally.

"That time I mentioned plucking that broken feather? It was a couple weeks after that that he asked if I would mind. After that once a week I would help him. He'd slowly open up more to me and I did my best to research what I could to help. I learned a lot about how birds preen and talked to vets about it too. I told them I was rehabilitating a bird of prey and they helped me understand a little more. I learned that brushing the dust off for him first helps his feathers soak in the water, and while his feathers are wet like this it becomes easier to search for irregularities in the rachis'. I also learned that his feathers will produce their own oils during the drying process but applying essential oils will strengthen his skin, help his muscles relax and it increases the flow of energy within, which promotes healthy feather development."

"Oh I see." So that's what the oil is for.

"If there were ever a beauty pageant for wings I'd win." Atem jokes and we laugh with him. He'd win anyway. He's too gorgeous, he'd win any competition.

We continue like this until his wings are perfectly preened and they've started to dry already. I watch Shadi apply a few drops of oil to the top of his wings and Atem does the rest by rubbing them together and shaking them. After that we follow him outside where he takes our hands and suddenly whisks us away. I feel as if I was just pulled along a very fast ride but when we stop and I gather myself I find that the three of us are in some kind of field. I see Domino not too far from us but we are well out of the city. We're in the hills somewhere and there's no one else around for miles.

Here Atem can spread and shake his wings properly, fanning them in the sun and drying them with large flaps.

A while later of watching this display and he takes off. He stays low, landing a few times to shake his wings before taking off again. The last time he takes off he remains in the sky and we watch him hover and draw circles around us.

"His wings were too wet. They're good now and will dry properly soon. When they're dry they'll be even glossier than you've ever seen them."

"Amazing. I didn't know there'd be so much care that would come with looking after a demon." I say in wonder as I gaze upon his majesty.

"Demons are complicated creatures. Most are more like horrific beasts as you'd imagine them to be. Creatures that desire nothing more than our torment and thrive on chaos. Atem was no exception once upon a time. Unlike most of his kind he did not make friends with his inner demons. He has come a long way to break free of the beast within and retain the humanity he lost. What you see up there, the man you have come to know - he does not represent his kind. It's important you remember that. Others are not so relatable or willing to communicate."

"Have you met other demons?" I ask warily. I understand what he's getting at. He's warning me about Amar and any others I might meet. Atem is the only demon I know … it's hard to imagine others will be different considering he is not so different to humans. More complicated for sure, but in comparison to what Shadi describes. He's more human than he thinks.

"I have met one. A long time ago. In my childhood. I do not like delve into that memory. I have not even told Atem. He knows I have, but he respects my choices."

"Hmm. I will too. Thank you for telling me all of this. You've helped me a lot to understand him better."

"He has been a charge I have not needed to take on for 2 years Yugi. If he has chosen you to be his mate after 5000 years of solitude, then it is only right I equip you with what you need to know to care for him. He is special, Yugi. I trust you will protect him."

I face him with conviction and determination. I feel as if Shadi is giving him to me and for someone as close to Atem as he is, it is an honor for me to accept this responsibility. I already knew in my heart he was mine to care for, but this feels so much more significant to both of us.

"I will protect him. You needn't worry about him." I say strongly and he smiles and laughs.

"Yugi. I will always worry about him."

Atem lands near us then, bright eyed and shimmering with life. His wings look much dryer now and Shadi was right: they have a sheen about them, a shine to each feather that makes them look like black diamond and silk. They're beautiful. They always were but now I see him in a light I didn't think possible.

He is gorgeous. His mind, body and soul. All of him. He's so beautiful. I will do everything to protect him.