Prompt IX: Healing
Yugi jerked from his sleep when he heard the snarl rip through the den. His head snapped around and his eyes stretched wider than ever. Atem was fast asleep next to him, breathing growing ragged with the snarl underlining each exhale. After a moment he jolted away as if he'd been burned, whipping around and blinking a few times as he considered their surroundings.
After a moment he shuddered, huffed, and dropped to lay down on his belly once more. He yawned and glanced at Yugi sideways, tilting his head and grumbling, "Nightmares."
Terrors, Yugi corrected silently, but offered him a smile instead. It was the first time Atem hadn't gotten up and wandered away in the midst of his panic upon waking. It was the first time he hadn't gone to the other side of the den, refusing to look at him after he settled and curling so tightly into a ball he seemed almost to disappear he became so small.
He licked his forehead when Atem remained beside him. He was staring at the entrance of the den as if he expected someone to come through, golden eyes glazed with exhaustion. Yugi considered him a moment and tilted his head.
"Did you want to talk about it?"
Atem was quiet for so long Yugi almost thought he'd dozed off. Had it not been for his eyes glittering in the dark and the way he seemed so fixated on the tunnel leading to the entrance, he would have thought he was asleep. But the God Dragon abruptly turned to him, considering him intently.
"You used to tell me that talking always helped," he said, voice hardened as if he meant to reprimand him somehow. Yugi nodded and watched as he struggled to pick his words for a few moments. "Do you honestly believe that? Or do you mean to make me more comfortable?"
Yugi blinked. "No, I definitely believe it works," he said gently, surprised. He watched Atem narrow his eyes and nod slightly and smiled a little more. "Did you want to try talking to me about it?"
Atem considered him, then huffed. "Not if you're going to sound so smug about it."
He snickered. "Never!" he laughed. "I'd never be smug about my God Dragon relenting and listening to me for once."
"I should bite you," Atem grunted, laying his head on his paws again. "You're annoying. Go away."
"I'm comfortable. If anyone's moving, it's you."
He scoffed loudly. "I'm a deity."
"And I'm adorable, so…"
Atem snickered. "Is that what it's called? I thought you were just foolish and naïve, and especially a brat."
"Ooh," Yugi teased, "I'm so wounded."
"I'll show you wounded," he growled, standing and spinning around to tackle him so quickly Yugi didn't have the chance to move. Atem knocked him backwards, so that he was pinned beneath him, and lay atop him with a grin. Yugi snorted and tried to shove him away, but the God Dragon didn't care to move and he knew he wouldn't manage to budge him on his own. Atem was a lightweight dragon by species and design, but he could tighten his muscles so firmly he'd knock the breath from an opponent. He'd only implemented it a couple of times in play, but Yugi had never managed to so much as wiggle from beneath him.
"Atem," he grunted when he failed to move. The God Dragon blinked down at him and grinned. Yugi laughed and shoved gently again. "Get off."
"Why would I do that? I have to punish you for being a brat." Atem smirked and turned away, glancing toward the den entrance for a moment. He abruptly got up and moved away, as if in a trance for a split second, before he looked over as Yugi rolled to his paws. "Do you ever just wonder if you've done more good than bad? Or do you always just assume the good outweighs the worst of it?"
Yugi blinked and considered him. "You've done plenty good. And I don't think defending yourself warrants doing bad," he answered, tilting his head and frowning. "Being forced to kill isn't your fault, especially when you've always been clear about what you expect of your challengers. And Keith was a menace. He deserved to be killed a long time before that."
Atem narrowed his eyes. "Yes, and when he got away from me, he managed to do all of that damage."
"That's not your fault. That's his. You didn't tell him to enslave a Clan or try to breed dragons that he claimed would be superior to the God Dragons. You did none of those things. All you did was deal with him."
Atem grimaced and shook his head. "I feel like I should have taken him more seriously when he told me he planned to do those things. I dismissed him as bitter and wayward and he…did so much damage."
Yugi huffed. "Hindsight is always easier to understand than foresight." He shook his head. "You can't blame yourself for this, dear heart. You did what you could. You stepped up when the other three didn't. As far as I'm concerned, you did more than they ever did."
"You say that, but you're biased."
"I bet you all of the dragons who were no longer caught under his control were happy to hear it was you. I bet they all thought you amazing for it." Yugi fought a sigh. He knew Atem would blame himself for far too long, because somehow he always managed to make these things his fault. But how was he to know the Barrel Dragon had not been bluffing? He didn't have foresight. He didn't have the ability to watch declarations of war or spy on the futures of other dragons. "You're…just processing it right now. And it won't be easy for a while, but…you'll eventually heal from it. You always have."
Atem considered him for a moment, mouth opening twice before he sighed and turned away. "Dawn is coming," he finally muttered, and turned to dart out of the den.
Yugi watched him go and sighed softly, shaking his head. He'd heal from it eventually. It would just take a little time and patience. And then maybe one day he'd wonder why he ever blamed himself so fervently. Or…at least Yugi could hope for the latter.
