Prompt IV: Life

Yugi raised his head as Atem moved about the den. The God Dragon looked as if he'd been unable to sleep and Yugi wondered abruptly whether he'd woken again. He wondered if he'd woken him. He'd been having trouble sleeping for some reason, and Atem had seemed to have fallen asleep at some point, though now Yugi wondered.

Had he heard him fall asleep? Or had he assumed so because of how still Atem had laid there?

He didn't remember hearing him coo. If he hadn't cooed, then he'd pretended to sleep to keep Yugi from worrying. He'd rested with his eyes shut and refused to move or speak, had not stirred until he assumed Yugi was asleep. He'd done what he could to hide his inability to sleep so that Yugi wouldn't be alarmed. He'd tried to keep Yugi from noticing so as to prevent Yugi seeing his weakness, because that was something he still sought to hide.

He'd had to learn to hide any hesitation or hint of fear, any wound or ache. He couldn't afford to show weakness, and he hadn't been able to reconcile in his head that he was safe to do so around Yugi. He wasn't always able to convince himself to be relaxed around him, especially when he had night terrors.

And sometimes it was best to just let Atem deal with it on his own, because he so often shut Yugi out, but others he seemed to welcome him. Yugi had the feeling he was just afraid to ask him for comfort, for fear the Gandora would take advantage of what he saw as such an incapacitating weakness.

The God Dragon paused halfway through circling, considering him a moment, and slowly paused. "Did I wake you?" he finally asked, uncertain and quiet in tone. Yugi blinked and shook his head, shifting his weight and drawing his paws toward himself. He got up after a moment, and Atem stood frozen before him, studying.

"You didn't wake me," he said gently, searching his face. "But I don't remember sleeping, and you didn't actually sleep any, either, did you?"

Atem was silent for a long moment before he sighed softly and shook his head. He flexed his claws, tucking his wings into his sides, and hissed, "No. I never fell asleep. I just didn't want you to think you needed to stay awake with me."

"I don't mind staying awake with you," Yugi muttered, surprised by the annoyed glint in Atem's eyes at the words. But the Slifer turned away abruptly and Yugi realized it was guilt which frustrated him so much. He stepped forward. "Can you lay with me? I might sleep better if you're with me."

Atem looked as if he didn't believe him for a second, eyes flickering suspiciously, but after a moment he moved closer. Yugi hurried over to him, relieved when Atem didn't pull away. The Sky Dragon lay down after a moment for him to snuggle into his side, and Yugi put his chin on his shoulders and relaxed, exhaling softly.

Atem was quiet for a long moment. "Why do you never grow upset?"

Yugi blinked. "Huh?"

"My first instinct isn't to go to you when I'm hurt or tired or can't sleep, yet yours is. I don't welcome you when you do it, and yet you're content. Why do you never grow upset?"

It was all said so quietly, as if Atem were puzzled rather than angry. When Yugi pulled away to look him over, the God Dragon was watching him with a bewildered expression.

Yugi smiled and licked his forehead. He nuzzled his cheek and sighed, then yawned and lay his chin on his shoulders again. "I love you. Why would I get upset with you when you're not used to me being around?"

"Because I treat you poorly sometimes."

"You aren't like me," Yugi said, opening his eyes again and exhaling slowly. "Atem, I'd have to forget what you've gone through in life to be able to get upset with you for being like this. You're not malicious. You're cautious. If I were going to be mad, I'd need to be blind to everything you've gone through."

Atem was silent for a moment, then muttered, "Thank you."

Yugi licked his cheek again, closing his eyes. "I love you." He paused after a moment, then murmured, "Did you want me to move?"

"No. You're okay." Atem paused. "I'm not upset with you. I just… I don't understand sometimes."

"I know you don't." Yugi flicked his tongue and snuggled into his scales, exhaling slowly and closing his eyes. Atem sighed softly, and Yugi smiled slightly.

Of course Atem didn't understand. He'd been mistreated since he could speak, bullied by his brothers and forced from his nest prematurely. He'd been seen as a prize by any to wander into his territory, all of them seeking to sink their claws into his hide to make a name for themselves as the conqueror of the God Dragon of the East. They'd wanted him to be stuck in the den, all but their slave, and bound to them solely.

Atem had been so horrified upon his loss to Yugi, he'd demanded to know whether Yugi had challenged him just to humiliate him. He'd doubted every word Yugi said when he reminded him he loved him, and he always gave him sideways glances when Yugi showed him patience toward his inabilities and shortcomings in processing their mating bond.

It had only been two moons, but Yugi knew he struggled.

He'd seen him wake and stare at him, startled or aggressive with confusion before remembering himself. Atem always made sure to try to include him whenever he so much as left the den, but Yugi could see the moments where he forgot himself. Sometimes he seemed so lost in thought that even when he spoke to Yugi, there was a noticeable distance between what he was saying and what he was focused on.

Atem shifted his weight and flexed his claws. Yugi glanced at them as they sank into the river sand and then slowly stretched and released again. The God Dragon muttered, "Good night" so softly he almost missed it, and Yugi shivered with pleasure for a split second.

"Good night, Atem."