Chapter 14

By the time Thursday afternoon rolled around, Yusei was incredibly aware of all the people around him. In the days since his little slip up with Rafael's team, he had assumed that a rumor had gotten out about him being a Faunus. Nobody had approached him or given him any trouble yet though apart from the scumbags in Rafael's team, so he still wasn't sure if he were being paranoid or not when he nervously watched the other students talk amongst themselves. Atem had assured him he was probably just being paranoid, but when you were so used to being the butt of everyone's joke, he couldn't help it. Every time he heard the word 'Faunus' his head would snap around expecting a group of people to be staring at him. He needed to remember though, he wasn't the only Faunus at Beacon, and there were a handful of others who were comfortable to show off their traits. If anything, what he overheard was probably about them.

Yusei sighed as he leant back in his chair. The afternoon had been going incredibly slowly, and it was doing his head in. Though that may have been because they were currently in Atem's favourite class-History. The man himself had his head down on the desk beside Yusei, scribbling over his page that was devoid of notes. Yusei cracked a smile.

"You better slow down or you'll be ahead of Godwin," he joked.

Atem continued to look at the page he was slowly destroying, "Shh," he said, "I'm thinking."

Yusei raised an eyebrow, "About what?"

He was met with a shrug, "The meaning of life? Anything but this."

A chuckle sounded from Yusei's lips, and he nudged his partner with his knee, "At least look like you're listening."

Atem cast a glance down to where their teacher was rattling on about the advancement of the kingdoms, before shrugging. "Godwin doesn't care," he said, before adding, "Or he doesn't notice, either one."

Crow glanced to the pair beside him as the comments thrown back and forth eventually turned into a game of footsies under the table. He then turned to look at Aki, Jack and Kiryu who were sitting on the other side of him. They were all somewhat paying attention, and oblivious to the couple's antics. He shook his head; even if he hadn't walked in on them he imagined he would have caught on by now, and was surprised that Aki hadn't made a comment about them either.

I mean really, he thought to himself, how close do you have to get before 'friends' no longer seems to cover it?

Atem was pressing his arms onto the table as leverage as he tried to stamp on the foot of the man beside him, and he quickly looked forwards when Godwin glanced in his direction. However, this endeavor caused him to miss the hand that slipped down under the table, before two fingers pressed into a pressure point on the top of his knee.

Letting out a sound that was not unlike a squawk, Atem's knee flew upwards and slammed into the underside of the table, causing two sets of laughter to erupt from either side of him. Crow was slapping his notebook with an open hand as he howled with laughter, while Yusei was snickering on the other side of him, a deviously proud look on his face.

A few pairs of eyes had glanced over at the commotion, and after a moment, Godwin spoke up. "Care to share what's so funny, boys?" he asked.

Now bent over the desk as he rubbed his sore knee, Atem could feel how warm his cheeks were. "No, we're good thanks."

Crow tried to set his expression neutral. "Sorry Sir, please continue."

As Godwin turned back to continue writing things on the board, Yusei glanced to his partner, who was sulking beside him. With a small but cheeky smile on his face, he reached over to place a hand on Atem's sore knee. "I'm sorry," he whispered, "Want me to kiss it better later?"

Despite the sour look on Atem's face, Yusei could see the hint of a smile trying to break through. "You damn well better," he muttered in reply.

Yusei let out a chuckle, before Atem reached his hand under the table as well, to rest on top of his. Looking back to crimson eyes, he was met with a warm smile. For the last ten minutes of class, they sat like that; seemingly paying attention to Godwin as two hands sat joined under the table.

Finally, Godwin brought the class to a close, just as the bell sounded from above them. Yusei and Atem were trailing behind their friends as they walked out, but the Faunus stopped when he felt a hand hesitantly tap his arm. He turned, to see a girl with brown hair and green eyes looking up at him, and a name soon came to mind. Mana.

He allowed her to pull him aside for a moment, and he noticed the mice ears on top of her head twitch nervously. "I uh, I wanted to ask you something…" she murmured.

Yusei blinked down at her, "Uh, sure, go ahead."

She looked to the side for a moment, watching students rush past, most of which were out of ear shot anyway. "I overhead something yesterday," she began. "Rafael's team were talking about…you being a Faunus."

There it was. The one thing Yusei had been anticipating ever since his slip up, and it was coming from the very reason he'd exposed himself in the first place. Well, at least he hadn't received any hostility yet.

Mana was still trying to finish her sentence. "I was, well, I just wanted to know if that was true or not," she managed. "I know they talk a lot of bullshit sometimes, so…"

Yusei looked down at the girl before him with kind eyes. Mana, along with a handful of other Faunus at beacon, had been subject to the bullying of Rafael's team, something that Yusei had managed to avoid until very recently. Though his fear of people finding out was still very real, and he wished to keep his guard up, he decided he was happy to confide in the girl before him, for he couldn't deny the hopeful look in her eyes. Besides, she was a Faunus herself; she would completely understand his fear.

Yusei turned away from where only a few students were gathered now, and after a careful look around, he pulled back one of his gloves. Mana looked confused for a moment, before she saw what he was revealing, and stared wide eyed at the rosette's on the back of his hand. She then looked back up at him with an open-mouthed smile. "You are."

Yusei nodded, "You're one of two people here who actually know," he murmured, not wanting to count Rafael's team, as they had not seen his rosette's, and therefore had no proof. "I'd like to keep it that way."

Mana nodded, "Of course," she said. "May I ask who the other is?"

Pulling his glove back over his hand, Yusei found himself smiling. "My partner."

…

Leaves crawled their way across a cracked footpath, as two pairs of feet stepped over them, the afternoon breeze causing Atem to wish he'd brought a jacket. The walk from Central Vale over to the cemetery wasn't very far, as he and Yusei made idle chit chat along the way, and the buildings and roads slipped away, replaced by tall trees and soft grass. Yusei wasn't very familiar with this part of town, so he allowed Atem to lead him to the cemetery gate, and they wandered into the grounds. There were two small hills, littered with dots of grey, and trees sat sporadically across the land. The pair walked silently as they made their way over to the section dedicated to huntsmen and huntresses, and soon Atem stopped by a tree. He was looking ahead at a row of plaques, for those who were either cremated or whose families did not have a body to bury. Atem's father fell into the latter category.

"Would you mind waiting here for just a moment?" Atem asked, turning back to his partner.

Yusei reached forwards to grasp Atem's hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "Of course. Take your time."

After nodding and voicing his thanks, Atem placed hands in pockets as he wandered over to the plaque. It was a lot smaller than the gravestones that sat a little further up the hill, but was pretty much identical to those that sat beside it. Nothing to show how he differed from every other huntsman who lay on this hill, just that he'd done his job, and died serving his kingdom. Atem blew out a large puff of air through his nose in a sigh, as he stopped in front of his father's plaque.

'Anthony Muran

1969 – 2013

In loving memory'

"Hey Dad," he murmured, looking down at the chunk of bronze before him. "I'm sorry I haven't visited in a while, things have been a little hectic-as I've been telling everyone. But I've finally gotten to Beacon, and I've met some wonderful people. You were right though-it is hard work, but I'm getting there. I'll get there…" he then stayed silent for a moment, before casting a glance over his shoulder, seeing Yusei leaning against the tree where he'd left him.

"I've also got a-uh, another boyfriend," he continued, a small smile on his face. "Not like the last one though, he's…well, he's a Faunus. And I know you always wanted me to stay away from them, but Yusei isn't like the ones you met. He isn't a criminal. He's sweet, and dedicated, and I care about him a lot."

Knowing that said man was waiting patiently a little way behind him, Atem decided to wrap up his babbling. "I wish you could have met him, Dad. I really think he would have been able to change your mind."

Stepping back from the plaque, Atem's eyes scanned the words that he'd read so many times already. He didn't say it out loud as he turned back around, but the words floated through his head like a whisper. I miss you.

When he looked back over to where Yusei was waiting, eyebrows rose when he saw another person approaching through the trees. A small smile appeared on his face; of course she would be here. Yusei hadn't seemed to notice the girl approaching, but she had certainly noticed him, and after looking between the man and Atem as he walked back over to him, a grin appeared on her face for only a moment.

Atem only had the time to mutter, "Incoming," as he reached Yusei, before the man noticed the older girl as she appeared and enveloped her brother in a hug, causing him to step back as he chuckled lightly. "Hello to you, too," he said.

Yusei had only caught a flick of blonde hair as she'd stepped into his vision, but soon he was able to look at the girl properly, as she stepped back from Atem, eagerly looking the Faunus up and down.

"Please tell me this is who I think it is," she said with a grin.

Yusei anticipated the eye roll before it even happened, as Atem jumped into introductions. "Yes, this is Yusei," he said, somewhat less excited than she was. "Yusei, this is my sister, Rebecca."

Feeling habit kick in, Yusei reached a hand out, "Nice you meet you," he said with a smile.

Bec gave him a grin as she shook his hand, "Really, the pleasure's mine," she said. "I'd like to be able to say I've heard so much about you, but someone won't tell me anything." She shot a pointed look towards her little brother, who simply shrugged.

After they were done with the pleasantries, the mood settled down once more as the trio headed over to the plaque. Rebecca had brought some flowers with her, and knelt down to place them in front of her father's name.

"They're gorgeous," Yusei had murmured, standing on Atem's left, as Bec knelt down beside her brother.

"Lotus', they were Dad's favourite," she murmured in reply, standing back up.

As Atem stared down blankly at the plaque-the only thing left of their father bar the bandana on his arm-he felt Bec curl her fingers around his comfortingly. He looked up, and only just saw glassy eyes turn back to the plaque. Then, reaching out to his left, Atem caught Yusei's hand as well, and the man happily obliged, joining their hands and squeezing tightly. Nothing else was said as the trio stood there, hand in hand as the breeze swept through the cemetery.

Despite the fact that coming here usually made Atem upset to a certain degree, he found himself feeling at peace in that moment. He could still feel the dull ache in his heart that his father's passing had left, but standing here, beside two of the people who mattered most to him, he could feel the ache slowly subsiding, replaced by a steady warmth.

The only thing that would have completed this would be his mother joining them as well, but he knew she would visit in her own time.

After a few moments, Bec broke the silence. "Do you remember way back when your mother taught you that first song on the piano and it drove Dad mad because you wouldn't stop playing it?" she murmured.

The smallest smile appeared on Atem's lips then. "Yeah. He hated it so much he bought me a beginners piano book so I would learn more."

Yusei chuckled beside him, and Atem turned to him with a small smile, "It's true. That's probably the reason I took it up seriously."

Bec leant forwards then to look at Yusei, "Have you heard him play?" she asked.

Yusei smiled, "I have had the privilege to hear him play a couple of times." He then glanced at his partner for only a moment, "He's incredible."

The sun slowly started descending in the sky, and the trio spent the rest of the afternoon walking through the surrounding parklands as the siblings reminisced about their father. It was bittersweet, and a little sad at times, but Yusei loved hearing all the stories they had to tell, even if one of them brought tears to Bec's eyes. Losing a family member was incredibly hard-Yusei knew that, but he could see that while Atem was still very upset over losing his father, he was slowly moving on from it, and finally taking in the lessons the man had been trying to teach him. A face had then popped up in the front of Yusei memory, one that he was both angry and upset at, but he realized soon that he, too, had things to learn about losing people.

By the time they were back in their dorm again getting ready for bed, the pair were quite content as they went about their usual night routine. Yusei had just finished brushing his teeth when Atem came up behind him, wrapping arms around a slim waist. He stood up on his toes to press a light kiss on the side of his neck. "Thanks again for today," he murmured, before letting go to move around the man and lean against the bench top beside him.

Yusei smiled, as he turned and lifted a hand to Atem's cheek. "It was nothing," he murmured. Only a moment had then passed before he leant down to capture those lips, and Atem accepted the kiss willingly, eyes falling shut as he reached for his partner's waist. Atem loved that they shared a room together with no one else, for it gave them the opportunity for moments like this, no need to worry about prying eyes or awkward glances, just the two of them. His hands curled into the sides of Yusei's shirt as lazy lips moved together, the pair content to stay right where they were.

The kiss was sweet and pleasant, and if Atem were going to be completely soppy, he would say his heart had danced to the rhythm of their lips. He loved the feeling that any sort of affection from Yusei gave him, which had been absent in his last relationship. It was one reason why he wanted to savor every moment. Every kiss, every touch, every word of affirmation, he wanted it ingrained into his memory.

Atem and Yusei had been in this position quite a few times now. It was familiar to them, comfortable even, so it was only a matter of time before they wanted more, to push further into unfamiliar yet exciting territory. Lips parted as Atem pulled Yusei closer, hands tightly grasping the sides of his shirt as he felt that chest press against his. The Faunus could only smile into their kiss as he ran his hands up Atem's spine, pulling back for just a moment to take a well-needed breath.

Despite how much Atem was enjoying this, he hated having to tilt his neck up so far to reach his partner-damn his short legs-and so while neither of them were inclined to move for the time being, he released his hands from Yusei for just enough time to lift himself up onto the counter top. He was met with an amused smile from his partner, before he shot Yusei an impatient look and dragged those lips back to his.

Yusei could only smile as they began to kiss again, only now their height difference was gone. Yusei's heartbeat had increased considerably in the last minute or two, but he only welcomed the adrenaline that coursed through his veins as Atem's hands found the skin just under the hem of his shirt.

Atem then felt an exhale of hot breath as Yusei pulled a bottom lip between his teeth, and a groan had left his throat before Atem could think to stop it. This only encouraged Yusei to deepen the kiss as one hand found its way to dark hair, the other trailing across Atem's bare waist beneath his shirt.

It suddenly began to grow much warmer in the small space between them, as hands trailed their way across torsos and a kiss that started out soft and slow turned much more eager. The pace had been set to the rhythm of their hearts that were beginning to pound, and the air they needed was almost being denied for their unwillingness to pull apart.

It was Yusei who broke first, taking a well needed breath as he settled for trailing lips across a jaw line, and Atem could feel every breath he let out; every grasp of a hand in the material of his shirt. He could feel an unfamiliar desire unraveling in his stomach, and he pushed Yusei's shirt up to fully reveal a scarred abdomen, littered with rosettes.

Yusei's hands were trailing a path down his partner's sides, and then they were running over his thighs, pressing hard into the fabric of those jeans as his lips moved to the side of Atem's neck. The reaction he received then was well worth it, as hands tightened their grip on his waist, an almost silent exhale of breath brushing over his ear. It made him want to push further, to find every spot on his partner's body that would grant him these reactions, to be the only person to make Atem grasp onto him so tight.

Yusei could barely describe the rush. It was something he was familiar with, yet completely new to at the same time. Atem's touches were driving him insane and his mind was quickly turning into a blur of nothing but the man before him. His only focus was moving his lips along the sensitive skin of Atem's neck, trying to find which spot granted him the best reactions.

Still feeling the sensation Yusei's lips were creating running all the way down his spine, Atem bit down on his lip to avoid letting out any unnecessary noises (especially since it was almost lights out and there were other students in the room next door). It didn't take him too long to drag those lips back to his though, and soon the pair were all but wrapped around each other, parted lips daring to raise their heartbeats even higher.

Yusei was pressing himself as close as he could get to his partner, the counter top preventing him from getting any closer. His hands still firmly grasped the sides of Atem's thighs as the other man's hands were making their way up his shirt. Heat had risen so quickly between them that the Faunus was glad he had already taken off his jacket and gloves, though with the way they were going his mind anticipated that that wouldn't be the only clothing he'd be without.

A moment later and they had to part for air again, chests rising and falling against each other as the pair continued to cling to each other. Atem could feel Yusei's breath trailing over his jaw and down his neck, and a shiver then ran down his spine.

"I'm not gonna lie," Yusei breathed against his neck. "I don't want to stop here."

When those lips settled on his neck again, Atem rolled his head to the side to allow him to continue. He shuffled further forwards on the bench top. "Neither do I," he replied, fingers grabbing hold of belt loops to pull the man closer.

A grin then made it's way onto Yusei's face as he felt Atem's chest flat against his. His heart was beating hard in chest, and he could feel anticipation coiling in his gut. Not a moment later and he felt those lips on his again, hearing the sound of their heavy breathing as desperate hands tugged on his shirt. Atem felt an eager expel of air against his lips then, as Yusei pulled back for just a moment, and suddenly the shirt was gone and forgotten, as marked skin was completely revealed to him. He then took that opportunity to place his lips on a collarbone, hands trailing a path up the Faunus' back as Yusei's hands grasped the sides of his thighs.

Yusei's head slowly tilted back as Atem's lips worked their way up his neck, and a sigh escaped into the air. The sensations that were running down his side were enough to make Yusei forget everything that had been on his mind up until now, all but the man whose lips were on his skin.

Yusei's hair was tickling Atem's forehead as he felt hands pulling on his own shirt, and it wasn't until he had pulled skin between his teeth and received a wonderful sound in response that he pulled back so that the garment could be discarded. Cold air was then felt against Atem's chest as he was relieved of his shirt, but when Yusei moved forwards again almost instantly, he could feel nothing but warmth. Scarred hands had reached up to grab either side of Atem's jaw, and then those lips were on his again, working at a rhythm much similar to that of his heart. Atem could taste the mint of his toothpaste, feel the warmth radiating off of his entire body, and hear the ragged breaths that were bleeding between them every time they parted. It was nothing short of exhilarating.

The huntsman's hands were finding the top of Yusei's jeans again, using those same belt loops to pull the man completely against him this time. The feeling of Yusei's chest against his was giving him a craving for those hips, and now that Atem was on the edge of the bench top, knees on either side of said hips, he could indulge.

Yusei's hands had moved to Atem's back, and the moment he felt himself pulled so that they were flush against each other, he couldn't help but tighten his grip on smooth skin, feeling hot breath against his lips as Atem reacted to the feeling of nails scratching down his back.

An almost uncontrollable desire was very quickly unraveling in Yusei's gut, and he moved eager hands to Atem's hips, shamelessly grinding against him as his partner tried his best to suppress a groan of pleasure. Yusei would have loved to hear Atem make all kinds of sounds, but he still had just enough coherent thoughts to remember they had to be quiet, so between the onslaught his lips were delivering, he quickly teased, "Shh."

Atem could feel Yusei's grin against his lips, and he all but growled in response as he gasped for breath, "You…asshole."

There was a chuckle in response before the air was filled with suppressed groans once more, as hips grinded together eagerly. Atem pulled Yusei's bottom lip between his teeth as he hooked his legs up around the Faunus, ankles locking together behind him. Despite the fact that Yusei's heart was hammering in his chest though, it wasn't enough. He wanted more. His hands had run a course down Atem's back, before reaching the top of the man's jeans, and lazily trailing around to the front.

Atem's breath had hitched the minute he felt those hands on his belt.

Yusei had pulled back very slightly from their kiss as heavy breaths filled the space between them, and he breathed a question against those lips. "Can I?"

There was only a moment before Yusei felt his partner's legs tighten around him, and hands squeezed where they were holding his biceps. "Please."

Yusei grinned then, and he quickly moved to unbuckle the man's belt as lips teased their way along Atem's jawline. "Because you asked so nicely…"

One of Atem's hands had moved up to tangle in Yusei's hair while his insides coiled in anticipation, and his heart slammed into his chest as Yusei's lips pressed against his neck again. Despite how much Yusei had been enjoying the man's reactions so far though, nothing could beat the satisfaction he received the minute his hand dipped beneath the waistband of those briefs.

Atem's whole body then seemed to tense up as he suddenly drew in a shuddering breath, pleasure darting out from where Yusei's hand met heated flesh. The Faunus felt those legs tighten around him even more, and his heart all but sung the minute he heard his name come out of the man's mouth.

"Yusei," Atem managed to breathe, almost as a plea for the Faunus to follow through with his actions so far. Yusei's lips then lifted from his neck and pressed to Atem's once more, and he complied, beginning to move his hand in a manner that would set off all of the nerve endings he could.

Nails dug into his bicep as a strained moan bled between their connected lips, and Yusei couldn't help but grin at the glorious reactions he was pulling out of the man. He could feel Atem's hand clenching in his hair, pulling against him, and he merely pushed back, heat radiating off of every spot they were connected, a light sheen on sweat coating their torsos.

Atem had to break their kiss quite frequently now to let out a small gasp or strained moan, as Yusei's hand delivered waves of pleasure through him. The Faunus would then press their lips fervently together again to stop him from creating much noise, and he would pull against the man's hair or dig his fingers into Yusei's bicep to try and counter it.

Their ears then registered the sound of someone knocking on the door of their room, and they both froze. It was one of the teacher's announcing lights out. Yusei recovered from the surprise quite quickly, as he continued his movements from before, while reaching behind to the switch on the wall and turning the light out. As darkness enveloped the room, Atem's senses were only heightened while his eyes adjusted, and he dropped his head down onto Yusei's shoulder as heavy breaths tore from his lips.

They spent the next half an hour in that bathroom, as Yusei's lips then replaced his hand, and Atem's head fell back the minute he felt that tongue run over his erection in agonizing pleasure. He'd bit down on his lip so hard he'd almost tasted blood whilst trying to hold back every moan and curse that he wanted to let out.

When those lips brought him to the brink of unraveling though, he'd clenched his hand in the man's hair as he threw his head back and let out in a shuddering breath, "God, Yusei…"

There had only been a few moments of the man coming back down from his high, before he had jumped off of the bench and shoved Yusei into the opposite wall. The Faunus hadn't complained at all though as hands all but ripped his jeans down, and then the man was kneeling in front of him, teasing him in such a way that almost made his knees shake. It had been terrifyingly wonderful; the feeling of Atem's lips closing around the source of his need while his tongue drew out delicious gasps and strained moans. He'd used a hand to push his hair back at one point, feeling the sweat that was beading on his forehead from the onslaught Atem's tongue was delivering between his thighs.

By the time he did reach climax-head back against the wall and panting out Atem's name-his knees were shaking, and as soon as the man had lapped up all the evidence of said orgasm, Yusei had sunk to the ground in front of him.

Two sets of heavy breathing was then all that could be heard as they knelt together on the floor, pants still undone and sweat coating their bodies. Yusei had leant forwards to rest on Atem's shoulder, while the other man wrapped loose arms around a marked waist.

Breathing against Atem's neck, Yusei's eyes drooped in exhaustion, "That was…unexpected," he breathed. Those shoulders then shook as Atem let out a lazy laugh, before grabbing Yusei by the shoulders and pulling the man back to look at him.

"Bed?" he suggested.

Yusei nodded, "Bed."

Atem had been the first one to stand-pulling up his briefs as he did so-and he then pulled Yusei to his feet, who followed suit. They'd left their jeans discarded in the bathroom to deal with the next day, and moved to the closest bed, before lazily entwining themselves underneath the sheets. As Atem had been falling asleep, able to feel the smooth skin on Yusei's legs and chest while hearing the Faunus' deep breathing, his mind had still been in a state of bliss.

Now if only he had run into Yusei before he had started at Beacon, he could have felt this wonderful feeling sooner. It was this that he focused on while slowly being pulled into slumber-it was like a rose bud slowly opening up and revealing all the gorgeous petals within, or a thread unraveling itself within his chest. It made him feel warm and wonderful, and as he tightened his arms around the Faunus with him, he was aware of his heart thumping harder for only a moment.

And during that night, neither of them had a single nightmare.