Dripping Wings

Yuugi stood at the entrance of the palace aviary, his jaw nearly unhinged. This place was more than massive, more than huge, it was simply gargantuan. The method used for measurements was not something he was familiar with, but as he sat calculating in his head what the Prince had told him, Yuugi had a pretty good guess at the size of this massive room.

Room. Ha. More like a building.

The ancients had built it, with numerous prayers and helpful hints from the goddesses. It stretched from the far end of the palace out for nearly a mile. The walls were constructed out of solid white and peach marble stone. The walls themselves towered into the air almost three thousand feet. The inside was devoid of anything but a smooth floor of...what had Atemu called it? Nyanta? Yuugi didn't know what it was supposed to be, but he compared it to contained mush. He could walked on it without sinking entirely, but it was obvious this floor was not meant for walking, it was meant for catching falling objects.

Or, more precisely, falling flyers.

And the commoners believed this was what? Some grand creation to show the power of the ruler? With no real purpose in mind but monumental consequence? To be remembered forever?

It was a training room. That's all it was. It was to teach the royalty how to fly, away from eyes that should not see them.

Yuugi was still gaping.

"Impressive, isn't it," Atemu asked next to him. "Higher up, there are ledges to rest on while. Glides are easy, and that's what you'll start with right now. I'll fly you up there because your muscles can't support a flat ground take off yet. They will, though, and with the training program that has been in practice here for eons it won't take much more than a fortnight before you're physically fit."

"Impressive," Yuugi asked. "Good gods, if the builders of Babel could have gotten a hold of the architects for this, there would be eight wonders of the world."

The Prince had learned that the myths of history of Yuugi's old realm were very different from his. He was curious about it, and frequently questioned about the past. Unfortunately for the teen, his old people had a sketchy past, patched together by heresy, gossip and ill placed documents. "What is Babel, Yuugi?"

"There were a group of men who wanted to build a tower that reached up to the heavens. Supposedly, however, God became angry about this, and cursed the workers. None of them could understand each other, as suddenly they all spoke a different language. The tower crumbled under the encumbered work, and was never completed."

The Prince frowned. "That was cruel."

Yuugi frowned too. "Yes, well, a lot of the myths of the gods where I am from don't have the best reputation for being just all of the time." He felt arms wrap around him, turned around, and looked up into the Prince's handsome face.

"Ready?"

"I'm ready," he stated. Powerful wing beats lifted the two of them easily into the air. Yuugi watched as the ground grew smaller and smaller beneath him. He had never really been on large heights before, and therefore didn't know if he had any fear. However, when the thought hit him that he'd have to navigate the air space on his own, this high up, he became nervous.

Perhaps he was asking for trouble. In fact, Yuugi was positive that he was. But for the life of him his curiosity would not leave him alone. So, for reasons beyond his comprehension, he acted. Slowly enough to still be considered innocent yet unsure, Yuugi glided his hands up Atemu's back, digging his fingers into the soft linen of the Prince's shirt. He hid his face in the muscular chest, smelling that sweet, musky cologne the Prince always exuded.

He felt the arms around him grow a little tense, then held him tighter. "You'll have to look down sooner or later, Yuugi."

Hm. So far, his ploy seemed to be working. But was it really a ploy when Yuugi found himself thoroughly enjoying the contact as well?

"Not yet, I don't. I'll wait until I'm on a solid piece of stone to sit on, then I'll look."

The Prince laughed, his diaphragm vibrating...oh, Yuugi shivered when the term 'deliciously' shouted in his mind. And the Priestess was worried about Atemu acting up? She doesn't know me very well, apparently.

Wind whipped about his hair from those massive wings. Atemu's were larger than his, a fact that didn't surprise him, but still awed the teen.

After a while of their silent contact, Yuugi gently moving his fingers over the soft cloth in quiet contemplation, he felt solid ground rise up to meet his feet. Atemu allowed his hold to release, stepping back and allowing Yuugi to fully see the space around him.

The slab of black granite they were on jutted out from the wall about fourteen feet long, and nearly twenty feet wide. Yuugi walked towards the edge, slowly getting to his knees and the height below him felt like it was trying to drag him down. "Ah," he said, slinking back just a bit. "We must be a thousand feet high."

"Feet," Atemu asked. "Now there's a funny form of measurement. But yes, I suppose the equivalency is about right. We're about thirteen hundred staves high."

Staves. Now that, in Yuugi's opinion, was a funny form of measurement.

"You're not getting me off this ledge."

"Oh, I'd like to think otherwise. Just remember Yuugi, when you're out keep your wings fully extended. They will catch the air for you and keep you in flight."

A foot shoved Yuugi off the edge of the slab, and he began to plummet. "Atemu, you bitch," Yuugi screamed at him. He heard rich laughter from above him. The teen's stomach had jumped up into his throat, and Yuugi closed his eyes, feeling the air rush past him. Keep your wings fully extended...

Well, they were, surprisingly, pressed tightly against his sides. Out of fear and not knowing what else to do, Yuugi unfolded them entirely.

For a moment, he stopped falling, and time seemed to slow. He was able to open his eyes, and saw the open sky in front of him.

But then the weight of his body pulled on his wing joints, and once again a streak of white pain laced across his vision. Yuugi screamed, feeling his wings crumble in on him again. He started to fall again.

But just as soon as he started to fall, he found his face pressed against a strong chest garbed in linen, and felt powerful arms wrap around him and refuse to let go. He grabbed a hold of the Prince and didn't open his eyes until he felt them land once again on the granite slab. Atemu held him at arms length once they were sitting, the teen panting as his panic left him.

"Yuugi, what happened? Are you all right?"

Yuugi winced, stretched one of his wings again. The joint was still a little sore, but he was beginning to think it was more of a jarring shock than the pain his confused mind made him think it was. "It hurt! It's like my body weight pulled at my wing joints, and it hurt. I wasn't expecting it."

The Prince gave a sigh of relief. "Well, your body was exactly crafted for flight, Yuugi. Your bones, yes, but not your structure. You're wings have to be able to support your weight, no matter how it might try to jar them. Are you all right?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Shocked more than anything. It just...it seems kind of cheesy that those two little areas are the only things connecting me to what's keeping me air borne."

Atemu shrugged. "Yes, well, our whole body is like that. The brain is poorly protected in the skull, organs in your abdomen are only protected by a thin layer of skin and muscles, arteries in your neck are constantly exposed, and the playground is in the sewers. That's just the way it is."

"Oh, Atemu, that's a nasty way to put it," Yuugi frowned. The Prince laughed. "Playground in the sewers," Yuugi whispered to himself in disdain. "Make me thing twice before...yeah. Anyway. Back on subject."

Atemu chuckled. "Do you think you're ready to try it again? Prepared this time?"

Yuugi sighed, resigning himself to the task at hand. "Yeah, I guess."

"And don't close you're eyes this time."

Yuugi nodded, stood up, but looked behind him. "Don't push this time."

The Prince held his hands up defensively. "It's all on you. Just don't dawdle."

Yuugi snorted. Turning back around, he touched his foot over the edge, pretending to be a diver ready to head straight into a pool.

Hey...there's an idea. Treat it like the high dive. One step back, two...and the leap. Yuugi felt his feet leave solid ground, extended his wings, and braced for the pressure. It hit, but not as hard this time, and he felt himself actually start to glide across the way. He could actually see ledges scattered everywhere on the wall visible to him. The other end of the room extended for what looked like forever.

He flapped, and felt himself gain just a little more height. Perhaps he could get the hang of this. Yuugi actually found himself enjoying the flight. Atemu flew up next to him, keeping easy pace with the new beginner. "Are you ready to try a dive," Atemu asked.

"A dive," Yuugi asked.

"All you have to do is close your wings tight. You'll start to plummet. When you want to stop, open your wings up again. It's very simple."

"Hmm, well, all right." He looked down. Here goes nothing. He closed his wings, and felt his head start to fall towards the ground far below.

It was exhilarating. That's all there was to describe it. Yuugi enjoyed the thrill that a sky diver does until he guess he was maybe five hundred feet above the ground, spread his wings wide, and started to fly again. This time, he wanted to climb, so he tried flapping as much as he could. The only problem was, he didn't realize just how taxing it was. With each pump he felt his energy slipping further and further behind him.

Atemu flew up next to him, noticing as Yuugi's eyes started to droop. "Atemu....I-I'm starting to get tired." His flight started to falter.

Atemu grabbed him quickly, but did not have time to turn around before they headed straight for a wall, and slid across a granite slab far below the one they'd first landed on. Yuugi gasped for breath, trying his best to let his muscles rest for the moment, and noticed with a mild shock that the Prince was directly on top of him, catching his breath as well. Their faces were consequently mere inches apart, and Yuugi was hardly abashed to meet his gaze. The Prince froze, feeling Yuugi's hand slide up his arm and clutch at his shoulder. Their chests were breathing against one another, and for the life of him he simply couldn't move.

Yuugi's eyes took on a lazy, sleepy look, reeling him in. "Why don't you kiss me already," Yuugi asked him breathlessly.

He wanted to so bad it hurt. He didn't even have to do all the work; Yuugi met him part way.

Yuugi was surprised and delighted at the same time to learn that Atemu tasted a lot like summer sunshine and exotic spices. He didn't get addicted to much, but he was easily developing a need to taste him again later. Yuugi squeezed tighter, feeling both of the Prince's arms wrap around him and hold him, if possible, even closer.

Atemu could hardly believe that Yuugi tasted a lot like the dragon's blood fruit he so adored. Bright and fresh and sweet enough to leave one craving for more. He held on to his only scrap of self control as Yuugi sighed and mewled appreciatively into their intimate embrace. And oh how he wanted to continue, but his breath had been stolen from him, and he found his lips leaving Yuugi's far too soon, lingering just above them as he tried to set his mind back in working order.

"Hmm," Yuugi hummed happily. He gave Atemu a chaste kiss again, setting one hand gently on the Prince's face.

"Yuugi," Atemu started, almost losing his voice.

"Hmm?"

He ran his fingers through the teen's inexplicably soft ebony hair. "There...there's three different ways we can respond to this, all with very different outcomes."

Yuugi noted the pained look that marred that handsome face. Something was wrong. His brow knitted together in concern. "What's that?"

"To begin with, you have to remember that royalty can not do frivolous fraternizing. It's scandalous, and highly frowned on. Royalty can not date as the common people do."

Oh, shit. I knew I was getting myself in to trouble, but like this? Dear goddesses, what was I thinking? Yuugi swallowed a little, waiting for him to continue. He nodded his understanding.

"The first option is to forget this ever happened. We walk out of here and pretend we never so much as looked at each other as...as the way we are now."

Yuugi frowned. He didn't like that thought at all. "What are the other options," he stated, praying for a better way. Atemu noticed how Yuugi's grip on him tightened. For him, it was a good sign.

"Our second option is for you to go back to school and not mention this until you're training is over. Then, we can declare an official relationship."

"That's an awful long time to not touch you," Yuugi whispered. "Eight years."

"And the third option is to declare betrothal now. Since your status will go from student to future co-consort, you will move into the palace, and receive private tutelage here."

So that's it, Yuugi thought. It's all or nothing. Either take him now, or not for a very long time. He ran his fingers through Atemu's hair. "Not be with you for over eight years? I don't think I could handle that. It's too long, and too many chances to find ourselves sneaking out late at night." He indulged in a kiss again, once more happily accepted.

Suddenly, the Prince's face brightened, and he smiled warmly. "Then it is settled. You move in immediately. As soon as your tutelage is done, there will be a coronation ceremony for you."

"Coronation? As in, I'd actually rule with you?"

Atemu nodded. "That's right. Bondage with me includes a throne. Royalty can Bond for love, just as long as it's not a shady union."

Yuugi scratched at his head curiously. "What good would I be at ruling a county? Goddess, I'd muddle through everything and muck everything up."

Atemu chuckled, silently relieved he wasn't in the least power hungry. "No love, you'd do fine. There are classes that would help you through a lot of Sekeshan politics. If it truly bothered you, you wouldn't have to do much, but it would give you the power to be with me as often as you liked."

Yuugi smiled. "I think I can live with that."

Atemu smiled again well, giving him a soft, slow, deep kiss, this time allowing his hands to wander.

I know that he's in love with me already, but I'm still falling for him. Well, like in an arranged marriage, one gets married first and then starts to fall in love. We'd still be engaged, not even having 'tied the knot' yet. Good grief, this is odd, talking to myself about marriage to another male.

Speaking of which, Yuugi was curious about something. They broke the kiss, and he voiced his question. "Atemu, people here won't care about gender?"

The Prince laughed. "Heaven's no, why would they?"

Yuugi bit his lip. "What about an heir?"

His question was waved easily aside. "Oh, there's plenty of ways around that."

"And why do you call it a Bond? I'm familiar with the term 'marriage' or 'wedlock.'"

"Hmm. Interesting. Well, it's called a Bond because at the time of the ceremony, a spell is cast that gives us a telepathic link that can't be broken."

Yuugi smiled again. "That sounds incredible." He embraced the Prince, a thought suddenly fluttering to the top of his mind. He chuckled, perhaps a little darkly.

"What's so funny," the Prince asked him.

"What's the Priestess going to say about this."

Atemu's face paled just a little. "Good grief, I dead finding out."

xxx