Sorry for the late chap! Long story short: between working longer hours, volunteering, getting new volunteering organized, and trying to redecorate after a damn windstorm destroyed my graveyard, I had NO time this week. Phew! plus last minute i realized during the editing process I realized there was another part I forgot to add and that took all day Friday to do.
SPECIAL THANKS TO VAL FOR BETAING! I love you so much, Val (glomps)
Also! See the bottom for an important announcement about November updates
Disclaimer: I own nothing
and as always read, review, comment, critique, ask questions, have fun and enjoy the new surprises this chapter reveals ;)
Chapter XX: Lotus
They left the city in the shadows behind them, and Yugi navigated it and the outside enclosure with the same skill he had when they were inside the city. In the haste, Timaeus caught a glimpse of the milometers measuring the depth of the canals, smaller temples built in dedication to previous kings and minor sanctuaries in the shadow of the great temple.
Yugi's attention was only on one: an elevated dais rising from the northeast corner plain of the great pylon. At first glance, Timaeus mistook it for a hill, but upon arrival he saw it was a square construction with steps making up its four corners. Yugi released a sound of triumphant delight, stopped only once to look at the sky then gently pulled Timaeus towards the stairs.
"We're almost there." he promised, letting go. Without the extra burden he raced up the stairs but Timaeus was not far behind him. His imagination spiraled with possibilities, but none compared to the site he saw when he joined Yugi at the top.
The dais was a spring ringed by recycled stone blocks and flaked with river plants growing between the waters and the shore. The construction alone was beautiful, but what stole his breath and stunned him to silence was even more so. Blooming brilliantly and nearly covering the entire surface of the lake, water lilies opened and fanned, spinning like they were dancing. Against the backdrop of the crystal blue lake, they shimmered like bright white, pink, and blue stars. Yugi kneeling over the side of the spring with the sunlight haloing his dark hair in a crown of gold completed the image.
"Yugi?" he breathed. 'What is this place?"
Yugi smiled dreamily. "This is Mut's sacred lake. Traditionally, only her hem-netjers are allowed here, but I don't think World-Mother will mind. You did save her House."
It wasn't her House she wanted me to save, Timaeus finally understood. He remembered the ferocity of the wind like a lion's roar, the rage and overwhelming sense of protectiveness that filled him when he saw her child hiding in the shelter of her embodiment. He knew well how fierce a mother's love could be.
"It's almost time," Yugi said, turning his attention to the sky then to Timaeus. "Watch," He pointed to the lake and Timaeus followed his gaze. He watched the lovely blooms, one in particular stood out among the wave of white and soft pink: a rich blue so much deeper than the others that it looked violet in the light. The same color as Yugi's eyes.
As the petals started to dance, Timaeus gasped and watched, enraptured, as they rose in a single curve: its golden heart retreated deeper into the softness of its petals. They rose and spun together, enclosing until they looked like a single tear-drop then slowly they vanished beneath the cool surface of water. He looked up, shocked to find several more tear drop pods and dancing flowers enfolding and sinking beneath the water until the whole surface of the Sacred Lake was clear and smooth like polished stone.
"Beautiful, aren't they?" Yugi grinned at the man's stunned face. "They're called Egyptian lotus, they bloom brightest and prettiest during the Anket."
"Magnificent," Timaeus praised in mystified wonder.
"You should see them when they rise," Yugi giggled.
"Will they rise on the morrow?" Timaeus asked, with childish anticipation.
Yugi shook his head. "No, it takes three days for them to sink to the bottom then rise again, and they won't bloom until mid morning. Sad they only bloom half a day."
"You know quite a lot about them?" Timaeus arched an impressed brow.
Yugi gave a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "My mother would bring me to see them every time they bloomed. They were the most magical thing I'd ever seen. Mother said we were all like lotuses: we're all in darkness reaching for the light." He said more to himself than anyone else.
"It sounds like a precious memory," he purred, rubbing his thumb over Yugi's palm. Then he looked away, his voice distant and vacant. "I wish I had those memories with my own mother." His neutral mask returned but Yugi saw the sadness glittering in his eye, and the twitch of a frown on his face.
Curiously, Yugi perked up. Other than the explanation of his origin, he never spoke of his family, and before that there seemed to be no need. He'd come to Atlantis alone, after all. A dark thought suddenly filled Yugi's mind, and he felt foolish for not understanding. He'd been a small child when his father died after all, but he'd had his mother, then Pas and Mut. He'd never been alone. "I'm sorry," he apologized unsure what else to say.
"It's not important," Timaeus said flatly, to Yugi's surprise. Timaeus reassured him with a small smile. "I've made my peace with it."
Yugi expected the answer, but he still couldn't accept it, and he spun in a half circle and wrapped his arms around Timaeus' shoulders and pressed his forehead to his back.
"Yugi?" Timaeus blinked confused. Yugi said nothing and held him tighter. The gesture was small but the comfort was sweet. Timaeus smiled and laced one of his hands with Yugi's. "Thank you, little one," he said over his shoulder.
When Yugi lifted his head, he looked into deep eyes filled with warmth and trust and reflected in the other. For a moment, all Yugi saw was that soft look. His palm rose to cup Timaeus' cheek and his thumb tracing the tail of his scar. Again he wondered where it came from. Did it happen the day his parents died? Who would do something so evil to a child? Or did it happen much later? And how could something so cruel look so gentle? Timaeus green and pearl eyes were smoldering and fixated on his. They blazed into his, alive and brilliant with such deep emotions. So many that Yugi couldn't read them all.
All Timaeus could see was the sweet child who held him once without even knowing him, who surprised and bewildered him with the simplest gestures and fascinated him with his kind heart and fiery spirit. He spun to face him and he didn't care where they were or who was watching, he leaned down, softly pressed his lips against Yugi's and kissed him, marveling at how soft and sweet the little one's lips felt against his own.
Yugi pushed back encouragingly. His heart felt ready to burst with the thrill of excitement. His fingers entangled in Timaeus' shirt and Timaeus' arm wrapped around Yugi's waist. He licked Yugi's lips, asking permission this time and Yugi relinquished it with a small moan.
It was nothing like their first kiss: it was not harsh or controlling, but relaxed and tender, and the gentleness created a new sensation that was even more intense. Heat spread between them, not in a pooling bit, but a wild flutter like the flapping of wings, that expressed itself as a gasp when they pulled away.
Blazing emerald and shadowed amethyst locked for a moment. Then the afternoon flickered and the sun began to fade.
"We should head back?" Timaeus said softly. Yugi's response was a dreamy nod.
They departed Mut's spring in a comfortable silence: smiles beaming and hands still laced at the fingers. When they returned to the palace, the temple was empty and the sunset shimmered over the Royal garden.
"I didn't think we'd be gone so long." Yugi said sheepishly.
"We stayed at the lake for a few hours," Timaeus said. "I'm sure everyone has retired for the evening."
They arrived at Yugi's room. The curtains were drawn and he rushed to open them. The evening meal was already prepared and waiting on a lion-paws table. "Don't you have to report to your King?"Yugi asked.
Timaeus gave a small shrug. "I will not disturb him. He will tell me tomorrow." He sat in one of the lion-shaped chairs and began pouring them both some wine. He did not ask and Yugi did not offer. "What have they brought this time?" he asked rhetorically examining a thick clay pot and empty bowls. The broth was sizzling and smelled of fresh herbs and baked meat. Vegetables of onions and leeks sat regally on a separate plate. Another held thick cakes of bread piled high between them and for desert: peeled figs lathered in honey and date juice.
Yugi grabbed one of those and devoured it greedily. Juice drizzled from his chin and sticky honey goldened his fingers, and Yugi licked up every drop.
Timaeus grimaced. "How on earth can you eat that?" He shuddered and blew on his sew before sampling meat he assumed was duck judging from the succulence of dark meat.
"You don't fancy sweets?" Yugi asked flabbergasted.
"Not in the slightest," Timaeus said grimacing and surrendered the remaining fig. "I enjoy fruits enough but honey and dates are far too much for me."
Yugi grinned and devoured it, before whipping his hands and dividing the bread between them. "Am I to assume you will be joining me for all my meals now?" Yugi asked, teasingly.
Timaeus grinned "If it pleases you. I've come to enjoy our time together, when you choose to acknowledge my presence."
For a brief moment Yugi wondered if he meant the kiss, but immediately decided against it. "I suppose you're not terrible company, and I imagine you must be terribly bored without the hem-netjer to harass."
Timaeus beamed at the praise, backhanded though it was. "I'm actually more pleased, I do not have to attend those meetings." Timaeus finished his meal and stretched his long legs. "Interrogations bore me to tears, but sadly I have nothing else to do for the rest of this tenday." He complained with mock wow. "At least your company made this one day pass by much more pleasantly."
Yugi snorted. "Was that supposed to be a compliment?"
"If you wanted it to be?" Timaeus purred with a roguish smile.
Yugi shook his head "You're impossible."
Timaeus chuckled and spotted the senet board on a separate table. "You enjoy games, Yugi?" he asked with curious flirting.
Yugi's eyes darted to the board. "I do," he confirmed with a sly smile. "Very much so."
"Care to play then?" Timaeus challenged.
"Are you sure? Senet is a little complicated for new players?" Yugi warned but he was already setting up the pieces.
"I assure you, little one, I am a quick study." Timaeus said removing his gloves. A tanned hand gathered the sticks and with a roguish smile he tossed them on to the table and they began to play.
Yugi read the lines and deduced the spaces and watched Timaeus move an obvious piece and grinned. It was too unfair, his advantage. He'd been playing since he was a child and already knew a strategy. He took his turn and grinned when the sticks came up four. Already he was past the first obstacle and Timaeus was lacking behind.
"Careful," Yugi warned teasingly. "You're approaching the river."
Timaeus grinned as Yugi took his turn. "How unfortunate for me that I come from a kingdom that knows nothing of crossing rivers." Timaeus teased and watched as Yugi made an obvious mistake, so well masked only a true player would see the error.
"Best be careful, little one," He warned, teasing Yugi as if reading his mind. "It'd be a pity to come so far only to have to start over again." He rolled the sticks: a two. He missed the river by a single space.
Yugi rolled his eyes, and moved his piece two squares. Underplaying his skills or not, he would never make such an obvious mistake. With Timaeus hot on his tail, he turned his focus to the game. "You're not a bad player, I'll admit."
"Why thank you," Timaeus said with gracious gratitude. "But speaking of play, you should leave this room more often and enjoy yourself more."
"I leave plenty," Yugi protested playfully. "You just never see because you're always waiting in the Audience chamber. It's your turn?"
Timaeus rolled without trying. "I like to be kept updated on any and all current events," He said in his defense. "Be it interrogations related to my King or how often my charge is left sleeping until Amun becomes Ra." He laughed when Yugi glared and puffed his cheeks. The effect no more threatening than a frazzled kitten forcibly given a bath.
"My sleeping patterns are hardly your concern," Yugi hissed, again not unlike a kitten in Timaeus opinion, as much of his energy seemed to be spent keeping his pale cheeks pink and not crimson.
"They are when you sleep away half the day," Timaeus said with a patronizing finger and a roguish smirk. "One would think you've taken a lover with how late you sleep."
The sticks dropped from Yugi's fingers. His face blanched and froze and Timaeus' laugher exploded. "Have you no shame!" Yugi leapt up, screaming.
Timaeus didn't flinch. "You frazzle quite easily don't you?" He teased with a coy smile that made Yugi want to scream. He smoothly added, "Don't forget to take your turn."
Yugi blinked then followed his finger to the sticks. With knitted brows and his mouth a thin line, Yugi grabbed his piece, moved it then returned to glaring at him.
"There's no need to be shy, Yugi," Timaeus chuckled gathering the sticks in one hand and let them roll from down his palm. "You are a handsome, confident and witty young man well of age. Surely you've taken lovers, yourself?"
Yugi said nothing and took his turn. His flustered look darkened: his gaze intense and biting then it fell. Timaeus dropped his smile and it set in a bewildered frown. He blinked in confusion and Yugi moved his pieces with a casual shrug.
He blinked. "Have you?" he asked curiously picking up the sticks.
Yugi smiled at his confusion and said. "I am."
Timaeus jaw dropped and he staggered from his chair the sticks flopping to the floor. "W-What?" he chocked.
"Don't look so surprised," Yugi wanted to laugh but Timaeus pitiful stare ruined the effect. "Being a priestess's son requires a lot of travel and as you can imagine being a guest of the hem-netjer didn't leave me much time to socialize." He explained flatly.
Timaeus flopped in his seat with a defeated look. "My apologies." His tone was low and apologetic. "I had not meant to embarrass you, Yugi."
Yugi looked up sharply with a blink of surprise. He's fingers brushed his forehead and he leaned forward, a tormented look of guilt etched stress lines across his brow and jaw. Yugi's brow furrowed with irritation. Did he think him some immature, inexperienced maiden simply because he was chaste?
"Had I'd known I would not have been so forward with you," Timaeus concluded, and Yugi could take no more.
"Stop that!" He stood and slapped his hands on the table. Timaeus leapt up, the board shook but none of the pieces moved. "I am not some naïve, fainting slip. Simply because I've not taken a lover of my own does not mean I am any more innocent than one that has. I could seduce a toad if I wanted to, I've simply decided that rather than enjoy casual flirtations I will wait until I find someone I love like my father and brother did."
Timaeus blinked twice then his lips curled into a smile. "That is certainly admirable," Timaeus praised with a nod. "I must confess, I was about your age when curiosity and loneliness simply got the better of me, but I must say." his face was radiant with mischief and green eyes glittered with delight. "I'm surprised, given your amorous teasing," he picked up the sticks and rolling them on the table. "I did not think a virgin could be so coy?" He winked.
Yugi flushed then challenged. "And what if I am?" He asked in a sultry song then with a leering smirk added. "Would it bother you if I had taken other lovers before having met you?"
Timaeus threw his head back in a hearty laugh, "Don't mistake me for the little village boys you're use to frequenting, Yugi. You may be young and vibrant, but I am in my prime. I am not so immature that all I think about is physical pleasure nor am I insecure in my performance that I feel the need to compete with your previous lovers. I have much more respect than that."
"Then we are in agreement," Yugi smirked.
"We are," Timaeus' grin widened playfully and there was a gleam in his eyes that hinted at naughty secrets. "Though I am curious, little one, if I may be blunt?" His tone was clear and needed no permission, "You are clearly confident in your seductions, yet you seem to blush quite frequently when this is a topic of discussion between us, no matter how indirect." He leaned closer, his voice deepening, lowering to a purr that rolled off his tongue. Yugi fought the shiver of desire chilling his spine. He'd be damned if he shook in this man's presence.
"So," he continued leaning closer, "Perhaps, it is not the act of sex or the desire for that that makes you blush, but me." It wasn't a question and Yugi had no answer. Timaeus was so close Yugi felt his warm breath ghosting his lips, and suddenly he remembered something else ghosting his lips, something softer and more tangible and so dangerously close like fire seducing one with its blazing colorful dance just before you were burned.
He felt Timaeus' fingers grace the back of his hand, then spider over his fingers then curl them into his palm, something secure between them. With a grin he whispered. "It's your turn."
He pulled away leaving Yugi breathless and blinking. He looked at his hand, the senet sticks secured in place.
Yugi swallowed a scream and threw them down in a harsh roll and took his turn. To his surprise his jumped right off the board. "I won?" he gasped, unable to hide his surprise. He glanced up.
"Congratulations," Timaeus purred, unsurprised: two fingers curled under his chin, watching him.
Yugi's eyes narrowed. "You let me win?"
His brows arched but the surprise didn't reach his voice. "I did no such thing. Perhaps it is you who underestimated yourself?"
Or underestimated you, Yugi thought already resetting the pieces. "This time I want you're finest skill."
"As you wish," Timaeus grinned, taking the sticks in a firm hand and threw them down with practiced hands.
The game continued and Yugi was stunned, his guardian was such a fierce player. His own determination and strategy failed under Timaeus' practiced rolls and skilled moves, and it shocked him even more when Timaeus ended up winning their game.
"You are impressive," Yugi conceded, not bitter but exhilarated. "It's been a while since I've had a challenge."
"Indeed," Timaeus smiled. He glanced at the window then rose from his chair. Only then did Yugi notice the shadows flickering in the candle light.
"It seems we must depart for another night," Timaeus frowned with a chivalrous bow. "Good night, little one." He turned to leave.
He'd almost reached the door when Yugi banished his resolve and called "Timaeus?"
The guardian turned to his charge.
"Shall we break our tie tomorrow? After your meetings and I accompany the Royal Wife to the morning prayer?"
Emerald eyes glittered and he pounced on the suggestion. "An excellent suggestion. I would be delighted."
Hope you enjoyed their kiss ;) and Timaeus' reaction to finding out Yugi's a virgin ;) Personally that lotus scene was my favorite ;)
little note on the Egyptian Lotus, its actually not a real lotus and is actually a water lily but it takes about 3 days for it to sink to the bottom of the lake and then rise again and they rise around 9 in the morning (Egyptian time) and then close about mid afternoon so i thought it would be a nice touch and give them a way to break the ice.
IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT NOVEMBER: Okay, I decided to try and give NaNoWriMo or National November Writer's Month a shot in the chance to complete my rough draft of my novel the Red Kings, or at least get as many chapters done as possible, as such I don't want to have to stop at all since its a BIG project, so my goal this week is to get the remaining four chapters of Part I of Timaeus done and possibly the first chapter of Part II (u have it planned) but I'll be working four days next week, volunteering possibly three days and figuring out what I'm gonna do for Halloween, plus i always edit the chaps before i post them which also helps too, but the goal is to NOT loose time, so I'm gonna get as much done as i can this week, but even if i do, part one will end the week before Thanksgiving, so I'm not sure if I'll post Part two the following week or if once i get a few more chapters written.
November is gonna be a busy month, but I absolutely LOVe you guys and i LOVE LOVE LOVE this story even more, and though i haven't yet missed an update, but I want to let you all know since my original work is what I want to focus on in November. Thanks for understanding, everyone.
ON THAT NOTE! I know some of you have expressed interest in reading some my original work, so if you're still interested I have an experiment i want to do with my Red Kings novel: I want to have two groups, one that will read the story a chapter as a time (usually i'll e-mail or doc manage if that's better for some people) the chapters once or twice a week depending, and I'd love your feedback, comments, etc, and another group that i'll send the whole story too at once. Believe it or not, you get VERY different opinions for each method (which i learned at my Writer's conference) so if anyone sounds interested in that please let me know. If i can Finish the Red Kings rough draft my next challenge will either be tackling Wonderland or turning the Dragon's Rose into an original novel. So again if anyone is interested let me know as well as which group you think you'd prefer ;) Thanks everyone!
Second Note: if any of you haven't seen yet, i also posted a new fic idea which I'm debating making Knightshipping as well, so i'd love your feedback on it ;)
Next Time: As negotiations heat up, Yugi and Timaeus both begin to contemplate their futures-together-and the hem-netjer's true plot is revealed!