The Sample Platter
Chapter 5
0
For all the things he had learned about nagas, Yugi knew they weren't immortal creatures. They had their faults and weaknesses, suffering anything a snake could in life even with their evolved biology for a human half. Yugi knew this and fully accepted the knowledge that anything could happen to Atemu. So one couldn't blame him when he received a late night call from a very stressed Mahad to come by the estate in the late hours of the evening.
It was a good thing Aleirtt was practically on speed dial, her bulky form made to traverse both biped and quadruped depending on the situation. Yugi rushed to get dressed, nearly tripping over his pant legs in the process but was ready and met the guardian outside his door in no time. "Tell me for real, Aleirtt, is Atemu ok?" Yugi asked, being lifted onto her back by one of her massive paws. Her face was grim, an expression that didn't bode good feelings for Yugi.
His heart thrummed heavily with worry and fear, holding tight to the guardian as she landed on her four paws and took off into the night. Her pace was swift, arriving at the estate much sooner than Yugi calculated and was brought inside without a moment to take his shoes off in the genkan. Up the stairs and into the familiar hall leading to Atemu's room, Mahad waited at the closed door for his arrival.
Aleirtt came to a stop before the magician, lowering herself down in a modest curtsy which was met with a nod before the piercing cerulean gaze landed on Yugi. "I'm glad you were able to come on such short notice. He wouldn't stop asking for you even at this hour of the night, refusing rest until you confirmed to come." Mahad spoke, bowing his head dutifully.
"It's fine. I can excuse the late hour if it means I can come check on Atemu." Yugi answered, removing his shoes before tapping the golden hood of Aleirtt's head as a sign to take them before he hopped down from her back. She did as requested, the tingling feeling of magic surrounding his feet to don them with a pair of house slippers cast efficiently by Mahad. "So what's wrong with him, if you don't mind me asking."
"He speaks that he isn't feeling well. He won't say what and wouldn't let me check him over to ascertain the problem. His blasé claims spoke that you would be the answer to whatever ails him but hopefully he'll just tell you what is wrong so I can make something to take care of it. The sooner we catch it, the better."
Yugi nodded, thanking Mahad for his insight, patting Aleirtt's paw when a golden nail caressed over his cheek fondly. Her concern was equally worrying and Yugi wouldn't want the guardians alongside Mahad to fret over Atemu's wellbeing. Turning to the door now, Yugi sighed and steeled himself for whatever he was about to walk into. For Atemu, he thought silently, reaching to open the door.
Once his eyes adjusted to the dark of the room, illuminated only by the light coming in through the window, the first thing Yugi caught sight of was the massive form on the bed, a pile of coils loosely gathered in a haphazard pile in the nest. Closing the door behind him brought no reaction from the body, allowing Yugi to step closer to the nest on slippered feet. The next thing he caught was that Atemu was not the form he was expecting for such a late night call.
When Yugi was at the side of the nest, he saw the naga prince had transformed, likely another test to transform outside of an anger-induced reaction to return back to feral roots. It was still a work in progress but it seemed this time around proved to have adverse effects, the serpent's face scrunched up in clear discomfort. The sight made Yugi frown, stepping forward to run a hand over his mate's coils.
"Oh, Atemu...what did you do to yourself? And why didn't you tell Mahad what was wrong..." he whispered, hand trailing the lengthy path of his body, feeling the smooth scales against his fingers and every breath he made. Still, Atemu didn't wake to the questing fingers, troubling Yugi more. He may have been perturbed to be up so late to visit but he had no regrets about such a decision.
What was wrong with his marvelous partner? Atemu was a yokai who doesn't show his weaknesses often, so Yugi could only imagine if he was ill, he would struggle to hide it. A foolish idea if that were the case yet he requested Yugi to come, meaning he trusted him enough in his hour of need. Running his hand further up his form, he eventually reached the hooded head, resting his hand there.
"Atemu, if you can hear me, please wake up."
The serpent didn't react for a moment, leaving Yugi to sigh as he stroked the top of his head fondly. He desperately wanted Atemu to wake up, tell him what was wrong and what he could do to make him feel better. It was painful having to wait here, expecting the worst when the prince himself didn't bother to tell his closest confidant. He was upset with himself, feeling useless for his partner when it was no fault of his own.
It was just his subconscious thought to be the kind of mate Atemu needs. If he can't help him here, then what good was he? Curse this self-depreciation habit of his. Yugi moved, resting his head over Atemu's hood, closing his eyes. It was for a short moment before his eyes snapped back open when he heard a groan come from the serpent underneath him. "Atemu?" Another groan met his inquiry, Yugi sitting up now.
A scarlet eye was open, a thin pupil looking directly at Yugi, a good sign for him as he rubbed the back of the large head. "Speak to me, Atemu. What's wrong? Why did you call for me? Please...you have everyone worrying about you." Atemu flicked his tongue out, scenting the air calmly before another groan slipped away from him, shifting til he was laying on his side.
"Yugi...my darling little sugardrop..." Atemu began, a hiss slurring the little pet name he had given the smaller male. A clawed hand rose, slipping into the wild tresses of Yugi's hair that went unattended, leaving him with a ferocious bedhead that would be amusing in any other context. "I called you because I wanted you to tend to me and my upset stomach. Something didn't agree with me after dinner and I wanted you beside me to help me feel better."
When the words left his mate's lips, Yugi openly gaped. He didn't know where to laugh or cry, maybe even slap the serpent across his nose. He settled for a glare, more amused than annoyed. His tone was still rather clipped as he spoke the first thing to come out of this entire episode.
"You...you woke me out of a dead sleep, rushed me over here, had me worried all because you had an upset stomach?!"
Atemu bemoaned his mate's anger, nodding his large head with a whistling exhale. "Was it wrong of me...to ask for your company and healing hand to rub my belly? Are you upset with me...?"
Yugi was silent before he relaxed his shoulders, smiling. "You silly danger noodle. Of course not. Any health concerns, even if you had a splinter in your tail, would have me rushing over. Just wish it wasn't so late at night. Luckily for you, we have a free day tomorrow so my sacrifice of sleep won't bite me in the ass." The corners of Atemu's lips curled up in a small smile, a rumbling purr escaping him when Yugi answered his request for affectionate rubs to his ailing stomach. They eventually shifted into a more comfortable position, Yugi brought into Atemu's coils, hugged close by them as he continued to rub hands along his stomach.
It was perhaps an hour after the condition was told that Mahad came to check on them, seeing Yugi still very much awake, Atemu snoozing away. "Yugi, what ails the prince?" he asked.
"Nothing more than a tummy ache, Mahad. He was just being overly dramatic about an upset stomach. I'll make sure he apologizes to everyone properly tomorrow. However, it would be a godsend if you can bring some form of naga-safe antacid. I'll make sure he takes it so he'll feel better sooner." Mahad would've slapped his own forehead for not noticing that earlier but obliged Yugi's request, closing the door shut with a promise to bring it soon.
Yugi nodded, turning back to the slumbering naga and reached out. He trailed fingers over the stubby snout, over the smooth scales on top of his head and down the line of his extended hood. It amazes him to this day how magnificent it was to see this form outside of his first meeting with it. The lack of fear made appreciating this form so much better.
The world of yokai was indeed fascinating. However, nothing the world could bring to the table could beat this moment in the embrace of such a powerful, venomous creature that held nothing but absolute affection for the human he keeps in his coils. It was late, Yugi reminded himself, not wanting to think for a second what time it was now since arriving.
Settling in beside Atemu, Yugi resumed the gentle strokes to his mate's stomach, feeling arms coming to rest around him, practically wrapping him in a scaly burrito with no threat of constriction from the large body wrapped around him. Such a dangerous yet comfortable place...
Yugi couldn't ask for a better spot than that.