Atem had made sure to take his time on the way to the dining room. Living above the shop made the house a bit odd but it was comfortable to him. The front of the house was actually the back of the building and the back half of the ground floor was part of the house while the front eas all storage and the shop. He glanced over at Terry who stood there frozen in the doorway a little behind him. The fact she was actually afraid of something was surprising to him, and the fact that he knew it was his mother made it a little funny to him. He said nothing though, watching her fidget a little, memorizing the rare expression. He wanted to memorize everything about her, the good and bad.
"Well, shall we go inside?" He finally spoke up, snapping her from her thoughts. Seeing her practically jump out of her skin was bittersweet. On one hand he wanted to hold her and the other he wanted to laugh at how adorably cute she was being. His small mother was nothing but concentrated motherly kindness and Terry's fear of her was a bit odd to him. He understood why though and was not going to deny her feelings. Grabbing her hand, he gave it a light squeeze.
Terry looked up at the squeeze and smiled a little meekly, taking a deep breath before letting Atem lead her into the room.
"Ah, there you two are! I was just about to send Yugi to come get you. Please, come sit! Do want anything specific to drink?" She looked to Terry, half raised from her seat.
"Oh, no! Water is perfectly fine, thank you very much." She carefully bowed. Is it 30 degrees or 45 degrees? I brought sweets...wait did I bow before? What do I do if I didn't? Should I apologize? What do I do?! She internally panicked for a moment when she suddenly felt a hand on her shoulder.
"Terry, you can stand!" Atem lightly shook her shoulder. It seemed she was lost in her head and had not heard her mother insisting she not bow and to just have a seat and enjoy the food. You really are a foolish girl. He bit his lip to hide his laughter as he motioned her to a seat next to Yugi who had purposely sat in the middle. As much as he disliked the arrangement, he also found it endearing.
"Here, you can sit here on my left and big brother can sit on my right!" Yugi grinned broadly, it obvious he wanted to sit next to both of them without compromise.
Cockblocked by my brother how many times now? He sighed as he ruffled Yugi's head. I can't wait until you're old enough to get some loving brotherly revenge!
As everyone settled once again in their seats, the food was passed around and everyone started to fill their plates with the sides and main dishes with Yugi narrating all the while of what he had done and chosen along with detailing what was his favorite and which was Atem's favorite. The banter was a bit much, but Atem could see it helped Terry relax so he had not said much. He silently watched the two interact and it struck him how he never had someone over that honestly enjoyed his younger brother's attention. Kyohei and Anzu hardly cared for him, in fact they crossed the line often with him and Atem had to step up. He stopped bringing the two around at all to avoid any trouble.
They were pretty shitty to my family as a whole now that I'm thinking about it...damn, did I really not see that? He frowned to himself, stopping mid-bite as he thought over the times the two had interacted with his mother or grandfather. The guilt that built up quickly grew into anger at himself and the two of them, his anger bubbling to an almost visible point as he grit his teeth and clenched his left hand on his lap away from sight when he felt a hand suddenly touch it. He glanced down and followed the arm to Terry who was eating with her left hand. She's left handed...that's right. He thought, it someone he knew about her that he never realized he took note of until just now.
"Everything ok Atem?" His mom asked and he quickly turned to give her a convincing smile which was actually more honest that he thought it would be.
To think I'd be so easily comforted by a simple touch like this. Damn...how do you not see how you leave me so breathless?! He wondered to himself as he glanced at Terry only to catch her smiling at him. His cheek burned a light red as he turned back to his food. It was always so dark in his head and heart, yet here he was filled with something so light. Everything was always such a blur but not he was so keenly aware of minor things. It made him wonder where they would go. Falling feels a lot like flying if it's supposed to be like this.
Terry had been aware of the changing mood of Atem. She always found herself looking for him more and more. Since the first day she had been looking for him. In the beginning it was more so for her to avoid him, however slowly it became something more. Now she actually worried about him. Wanted to see what he was up to and to just watch him. Seeing him gave her an odd sense of comfort now and it was odd to think people who were so at odds would one day be as they are. The more she watched, the more she learned about him. She now could tell how he was feeling and how contrarian he tended to be at times. It was cuts to see him flustered and it unsettled her to see him upset. With one look she knew he was upset and she acted without thought, reaching for his fist to give some ease as he was giving her.
"So Terry, how have you liked school here? Atem's told me that you're a new student? You're from overseas?" His mother's voice suddenly spoke up again, snapping the two from their little silent world.
"Me?!" She squeaked out as she pulled her hand away from Atem and Yugi snickered
"You're the only Terry here." He teased, making her laugh a little.
"Y-yeah, of course! Uhm, yes I'm from overseas technically...I lived aboard most of my life though I was born here in Japan. My father thought it best I experience at least my final year of high school in an actual school and get to know people my age and normal life since my life was not so normal." She replied, her voice a little shaky as she tried to speak as properly as possible.
"Oh my, you're a lot more polite than I thought. From what my boys tell me, I imagined you a little different...but maybe you're just being courteous of me? You needn't be so, I'm their mother after all!" She kindly laughed, it clear she wanted Terry to be at ease and was not offended by her being so stiff.
"I, you, well...I'm sorry...thank you." Terry stumbled a bit on her own words, looking down at her plate. Part of her wanted to explain the situation to the kind woman, but she knew that was hardly appropriate to say all of the sudden.
"No need to apologize, you haven't done anything. In fact, I should be thanking you for taking such good care of my boys! I heard what you've done for Yugi and Atem's said some things here and there about how you've been helping him as well. They're such handfuls sometimes, but they're my handfuls and I love them."
"Mooooom," the two boys groan in protest at how she spoke of them, essentially letting Terry know they spoke about her, and often enough for their mother to know a good enough amount.
"Now, now, none of that at the table you two!" She firmly scolded them before looking to Terry once again. "Thank you for taking such good care and please continue to do so."
"Not at all, it's been my pleasure! I'm happy to have met them both, I hope Atem continues to care for me as well. I'm in his care more than he really knows since I'm always doing something without thinking all the way from time to time since life is so different here." Terry nervously laughed as she thought of the many embarrassing moments she had in the start of her life here.
"From the life I've heard you led, it's understandable that how we all live would be confusing! I'm surprised you don't find it a lot more boring after living with such action and adventure. My father-in-law was a an archaeologist as well in his younger years." She motioned to Sugoroku who took the chance to snatch up Terry's free hand.
"It must be fate that a lovely young maiden such as yourself met my handsome grandson. We were destined to meet, such a young vivacious beauty with young blood is just what the doctor ordered for a dashing old man like myself!"
"Ah...I...well I'm sure being their friend I'd eventually meet you yes...but I hardly would call it destiny." Terry tried to be kind to the elderly man, pulling her hand away only for him to snatch it up once more and lean closer still. Oh boy, not this again! What do I do?!
"No need to be so shy, you must feel it too! Don't mind the children at the table, how about after dinner you and I have a more adult conversation just the two of us hm?" He offered, insisting once more and Atem quickly stepped in once again as he pulled Terry's hand away and leaned over from behind her to come nose to nose with his grandfather.
"That's enough outta you old man! Can't you just leave her be, she's here to spend time with me not babysit you!" He scowled.
"Oh ho, is that so? Are you sure she wouldn't enjoy a more mature company?" He tried to peek at Terry but Atem easily intercepted him.
"Mature?" He scoffed. "More like geezer and no, she's perfectly fine with the company she has."
"Yeah, don't be weird Grandpa! You'll scare her away and she'll never come back again!" Yugi puffed his cheeks as he threw his arms around Terry and hugged her as best as his arms would let him from where he sat.
"What? How cruel, to have my two grandsons attack me so!" Sugoroku hid behind his arm and sniffled before looking at them with tears in his eyes.
"Those are your eyedrops! You can't fool me Grandpa!" Yugi huffed as Atem plucked the bottle from the inside of his sleeve.
"Yeah, nice try Gramps. You used this way too much with us. Now just leave her be and let us all eat in peace or I'm gonna have to move her far away from you by taking her back to my room or something!" He scowled.
"Now, now, please all of you! We have a guest!" Mrs. Muto quickly tried to settle the three but was surprised just like them at the sound of laughter. They all turned to see Terry who was completely at ease and in fact enjoying the banter.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't be laughing! It's just, you're all so lively and fun! You all really do love each other too, but that tears trick was just too cute and funny." She snickered, Sugoroku about to jump at this chance of being called cute but was face to face with both grandsons instead.
"He's not cute, he's old and wrinkly and weird!" Yugi puffed his cheeks. "I'm cute!"
"Yeah, you can't call someone like him cute!" Atem agreed, the two upset with Terry now it seemed and she quickly tried to pacify the two.
"He is cute in an elderly and grandfatherly way Yugi, you're cute in an lively and boyish way." She clarified, Yugi giving a small 'oh' as he settled in his seat again.
"And what about me?" Atem's voice suddenly rumbled in her ear and she jumped a bit seeing him suddenly so close to him. His azure eyes were piercing through her and she felt herself fumbling for words. "Am I cute to you?"
"Uhm... yes?" She whispered, her throat suddenly a little dry.
"Oh, how so? You told them in what way, only fair you tell me too." He hummed, noting her ears were a little red and it was growing down to her cheeks and neck. He smirked a little at this reaction, wanting nothing more than to tease her more and forgetting where the two were currently.
"How so? Uhm, well, you're just...you know." She managed to mumble out, her heart hammering at her ribs as the almost kiss played over and over in her mind at the moment no matter how many times she tried to squash it.
"No, I don't know. Please do elaborate for me Terry." He smirked, chuckling as she glared at him while her face grew redder.
"Cute in a more, uhm, mature and cool way!" She tried to sound firm but it came out in an almost barely there whisper. "You happy now?!" She huffed. Atem leaned closer as if to kiss her and she closed her eyes tight. A sharp clearing of a throat from his mother stopped him as he shifted gears quickly and bit her nose playfully instead.
"Pfft, look at you closing your eyes like that! What were you expecting?" He laughed as she jumped at the bite. She gaped at him, utterly speechless as he stood there so full of himself and smug.
"You, I swear!" She puffed her cheeks, crossing her arms. He laughed, reaching out to poke one of her bubbled cheeks but was met with her teeth that caught his finger. "Now we're ewen!" She managed to say, it obvious she had forgotten where she was because when his mother spoke up her face had went from pale to red in a matter of moments.
"Well now, it's clear you know how to handle these two quite well indeed! I'm glad, now if you all can leave her alone! I would love she could enjoy the meal Yugi and I made her." She scolded the three boys who uniformly apologized and began to eat as well Giving a warm smile to Terry, she resumed her own food as well before Terry hid her face to focus on her food. It tasted delicious, but she was unable to remember the first few bites because of how embarrassed she was for doing all that.