Warnings: Mild Cursing, Referenced Death, Threats
Prompt XXI: Machine
It had been a single bullet. Yugi got the news the next day as he was explaining to the pack. His mom and dad had come back from the initial identification at the morgue with the statement and Yugi had nearly thrown the chair he was sitting in when he saw his mom's eyes flicker toward Yami. The red-eyed boy had not spoken a word against his anger about Atem and he'd never bothered to argue when he'd spat and cursed until he was too hoarse to speak anymore. He'd broken down sobbing, Yami holding him so tightly he was amazed they weren't one person by then. Yami had stroked his hair and hugged him and rocked him back and forth in the worst of his fit. He'd never even objected when Yugi had spat at him that he should never have asked his family to take him in before immediately apologizing because he hadn't meant it. He hadn't. He'd just… He wanted someone to blame. And Yami was the easiest target. And he hated himself for that thought.
He'd whimpered apologies and buried his face in his neck and cried harder. And Yami had stroked his hair and rubbed his back. He didn't say a word. He didn't argue against him.
And yet his mom had the audacity to look at him like that and assume it was okay and—
He breathed in roughly and closed his eyes. Yami didn't speak. The pack refused to point fingers or lay blame. Yugi knew they understood. It was circumstance. The hunter had been nearby. The gun had been fired.
It had missed the wolf.
And it had shot through the glass and struck down Sugoroku.
It was as simple as that.
And yet Yugi could not convince himself to accept that.
Atem had caused all of this. If he'd stayed hidden instead of taking war to the damn hunters, Sugoroku would not have been shot. If he'd stayed in the shadows like he should have, his grandpa would not be dead.
His eyes shot to Yami. Yami was staring at the table. He looked tired, with bags beneath his beautiful eyes. His hair was limp and disheveled from where Yugi had tugged it out of place in his fit. His clothes were crumpled and a small spot of dampness still clung to his shoulder where Yugi had sobbed against him.
"Yugi?"
Everyone seemed to look over collectively. He blinked and glanced at his parents slowly, bewildered by their attention. Had he spoken out loud? Had they said something to him? Why were they all watching him now? His eyes shot briefly to Yami again but the other boy refused to look at him.
"I wasn't listening," he admitted finally, looking over. He made a point of ignoring the urge to watch Yami again. "What did you say?"
No one laughed like they would have otherwise. The yearlings always giggled when it came to things like that. Admitting they weren't paying attention usually caused laughter and teasing and relaxation amongst the pack. Yugi would have given anything to hear them all laughing at a moment like that.
"We asked what you planned to do."
Yugi blinked. What he planned to do? What did he plan to do? He blinked again and looked at Yami. The other boy refused to turn away from the table, but he knew he had his attention all the same. Yugi exhaled slowly and closed his eyes.
"We all know…that Atem waged war on the hunters in the area. We won't be doing the same. Grandpa was collateral damage in a fight that wasn't his or any of ours. None of us will get involved. None of us will even make mention of the events later. If I even see a single one of you look at Yami the wrong way," he continued, opening his eyes slowly, "I'll beat the insolence out of you myself. Make a single mention of the last few events and I'll rip your jugular out. If I hear blame laid on him for any reason, your punishment will be long and slow and painful. I'm glad we all understand. Blame will not be laid on anyone in this pack. I will not hear it."
And now Yami was staring at him. His expression was unreadable. His eyes were bleak and despondent and his face looked pale. But Yugi could not tell what he was truly looking at. He couldn't tell if it was guilt or remorse or pain or anxiety or what. All he could see was Yami staring at him, red eyes a million shades dimmer than they should have been.
He closed his eyes again. "That said, we'll need to tighten up on human procedures to make sure none of them suspect us as anything but. That means perfect punctuality for school, good grades, extra curricular activities where you can spare time. Make them feel like you're just the warmest, fuzziest little wolves in human clothing ever. No fights, no arguments, no detention. If I have to come down on this rule with any of you, you'll regret it." He sighed quietly and ran a hand through his hair. "You don't have to make best friends with any of the humans. Remember that. Just play the game, act the part, and remember hostility only brings us closer to problems that could cost one or all of us our lives."
The silence that swallowed the room made his head pound. He opened his eyes again and looked over at Yami again. The other boy looked as if he'd been punched, entire face paled impossibly more and eyes shaky where they focused in on him. He looked away abruptly, putting his hands in his lap and refusing to raise his head.
Yugi turned away, facing his parents and narrowing eyes. He drew in a deep breath, watching them both as he considered their next steps. "We'll do ceremonies after the funeral," he said in a voice so flat he was amazed it was his own, "I'm not doing them now."
