Chuteshipping (Atem/Kisara)
. . .
She...wasn't entirely sure where she was.
Kisara hesitated, gnawing on her bottom lip. Oh, gods...she had gotten lost again. Set had asked her to stay where she was while he went to get something, but she had gotten thirsty, and she was sure she remembered where the fountain was, it would only take a few minutes to dart out of Set's room and back without anyone seeing her, or knowing that she was here in the palace at all. She didn't want to cause any trouble for Set...
She turned in a slow circle, trying to get a handle on the scenery. It was a wide corridor with a lot of pillars, vases lining some of the alcoves and statues in others. Paintings decorated the walls, of the king and his retainers and some of the gods and their stories. Kisara didn't know them very well, and she couldn't read the language here, so she didn't know what the words on the walls meant. Goodness, she really should have just waited, Set could have brought some water for her...
Oh, no there were voices!
Panicking, Kisara looked back and forth for someplace, anyplace, to hide!
That would have to do, she thought as she looked at a statue, darting across the hall and tucking herself behind the statue—just in time, as a group rounded the corner.
"And we should probably have someone look into what's gone wrong with the irrigation systems down river."
"I'll make a note to send someone right away, your Majesty."
Kisara bit down hard on her fist. Oh gods...the pharaoh himself!
Set had told her he didn't want her to have to be a secret. He planned to marry her, after all...but there were some here who feared her, who were frightened of the power that rested under her skin, the static that followed her everywhere she went. So Set wanted to make sure she was safe, first...she couldn't be seen by the other priests or the court, not yet—not until he had made sure there was no one here who would harm her, until he had gotten the necessary documents for her to make her a citizen of Kemet, and then the documents that would marry them and make her untouchable in the eyes of the kingdom's law.
She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to still her breaths, hoping that the sound of footsteps would disappear...
"My pharaoh? Is something the matter?"
Oh, gods, no, they had stopped...they had stopped right there. They knew, somehow! They knew she was here!
"...no," came the voice, young, but strong, and rich. "Would you mind going on ahead, Siamun? There is something I realize I left behind with Mana."
"One of the servants can fetch it for you, certainly."
"No, I think you know that I'm the only one that can get it from Mana in any length of time," the pharaoh said, and his voice was...light, cheerful. "Don't worry, there are guards on the ends of the halls, it's not like there are assassins in every shadow, Siamun."
"But—"
"Go," the pharaoh said, and this time his voice was firm. "I'll meet you in the reading chamber to discuss the imports from Punt."
There was a brief shuffle, a few more muffled protests, but then, slowly, footsteps receded. They were...leaving.
Or...well...
"Hello?"
Kisara jumped—but the voice was soft, curious.
"It's all right, I'm not going to call the guards. Are you all right?"
Kisara hesitated. His...voice sounded kind, at least...but...was it all right...?
Nervous, Kisara unfolded herself from her place behind the statue, peering around it.
He was...small, she realized. It was the first thing she noticed—if she stood in front of him, she would be significantly taller than he was. His hair gave him a few more inches, but he was much smaller than she thought a pharaoh would be.
And his eyes...they were the most curious shade of crimson...
The young man—the pharaoh—smiled. He extended one hand.
"I promise I don't bite," he said. "I'm Atem. What's your name?"
To have the pharaoh introduce himself so familiarly to her! She didn't know what to make of it.
She swallowed.
"K...Kisara," she whispered, still not moving from behind the statue. "I'm—I'm not sneaking around, or—anything."
Atem nodded.
"I sensed you when Set brought you here," he said. "You're the girl he loves, aren't you? He's been acting so strangely lately, love is the only explanation I can think of."
Kisara's breath caught. He had—what? Sensed her? She didn't...she didn't know what to think...
Atem just smiled, his hand still held out to her.
"You're lost, right? I know the way back to Set's room. It's all right. No one will bother you, as long as you're with me."
Kisara ducked her head.
"Forgive my insolence, your majesty...but why?"
Atem blinked, his lips parting.
"What do you mean?" he said.
"I...I'm not technically supposed to be in your palace, and yet...you chose to face me alone. I could be dangerous. You don't know me."
Atem blinked again. Then another smile crossed his face.
"I can sense it, you know," he said. "The light under your skin...I suppose I understand why you might think people would fear you."
He smiled brighter then, his hand stretching out a little farther.
"But I think it's beautiful," he said. "I've been waiting for Set to introduce me, you know. He doesn't think I know that you're here."
He laughed a little.
"I was wondering who the maiden could be that had captured his grumpy heart—I can understand why."
Kisara actually had to smile a little herself—there was something about Atem that was...disarming. She felt...comfortable. More comfortable that she had felt with anyone before, besides Set. His presence just felt...nice.
She cautiously came out from behind the statue, her hand reaching for his. Her fingers brushed his gently, and then she put her hand atop his.
"Thank you," she whispered.
Atem only smiled, squeezing her hand briefly. He looked so bright and happy, his whole countenance having lit up when she finally came to meet his hand.
"Let's get you back to Set before he has a panic attack," Atem said. "And I want to hear about how you two met!"
"It's not a very interesting story..." she mumbled.
"Nonsense! Anyone that can make Set'sheart skip a beat must have a fascinating story. Now come on, don't leave out the details—especially if there's anything in there that I can use to make Set embarrassed. You don't know how long I've waited to find something that can make him blush."
He was like...an excitable child. It was endearing, she thought, smiling as he lead her back down the corridors.
Maybe this new kingdom wasn't as scary as she had thought it was...
. . .
A/N: Next is Chimeshipping (Thief King Bakura x Marik x Mai).
