Chapter IX: Fish

"Have we finished our quest for needless violence?" Atem asked, flexing his claws and wishing more than ever that he could escape. He wanted to tell Yugi about penguins and killer whales and how the land seemed to shimmer and fade in and out of existence in the north. He wanted to sit and laugh and snuggle into his side and… He'd even take the company of their unnatural son at the moment. He just wanted to go home. "I'd like to see to it Yugi is properly taken care of."

Jaden narrowed his eyes, studying him intently. "Can Yugi not stand on his own paws for even a moment without your guidance?" he hissed, staring almost coldly. "Are you truly telling me that Yugi—as a Gandora—must defer to you as if you are his father?"

Yusei bristled. "Jaden," he hissed, "what is wrong with you?"

"If Yugi has a problem with how I treat him, I assure you he will be the one to tell me," Atem snarled. He glanced over his shoulder and bore his teeth as he turned back. He blinked slowly and narrowed his eyes. "Now. It is winter in my region. There is snow on the ground. There is heavy wind. The sun just poked out from behind a cloud. I am leaving."

The words made Jaden bristle, though he thought him more interested in his news of the sun rather than anything else. Atem studied his face and then glanced toward the sun and back. He could see that, right? He could see where a cloud had just drifted away from the sun, couldn't he? Or was he so eager to pretend Atem controlled the sun and the moon he was willing to overlook it?

The Leviathan shook himself out as if he'd been scolded with hot water. "We have visited all of the territories. There's no reason to keep him here."

"We never visited his."

Yusei looked as if he wanted the earth to swallow him whole. "Jaden, knock it off." He sent Atem an anxious look. "Ignore him—please."

The Leviathan glanced between the three of them and took a seat, eyes sparkling. Yusei stared at the other male, eyes stretching wider as the seconds passed. Jaden looked away from Atem, grunting, "Just be ready to answer summons when we need you next."

Atem snorted and nodded. He shook himself out, glanced at the sky as his scales ached with the coming burden of heat, and dipped his head respectfully toward them. Yusei and Leviathan returned the gesture immediately, but Jaden eyed him a while longer before doing so. Yusei stared at his former mate as if he had grown a second head and even the Leviathan considered him quizzically.

Atem ignored the prickle of unease in his veins as the desert heat began to seep into his scales. He shook himself again, then sprang into the air and hurried toward his territory. He was a mile and a half from his region when he realized. Atem blinked and braced himself, spotting the mountain range and studying the huge peaks as they rose high overhead. He slowed, holding his paws out, using his toes and claws to cushion his weight as he lowered himself at a steady speed toward the ground. A second passed, then another. Atem feigned obliviousness as he trotted forward, flexing his claws with each step, and bore his teeth into a sneering snarl.

Yugi heard the war cry just as the others did. His head snapped up and he jumped to his paws, bristling fiercely. He didn't recognize the call. It was not just Atem's. He raised his head and peered toward the sky, straining his eyes. Yami chirped softly, confused, and Yugi looked over with a horrified expression.

"S-stay here—oh, a-and be quiet, okay? Stay quiet, little ruby!"

When Yami merely stared, Yugi tried to steady his shaking paws. He threw himself through the entrance and sprinted. A long, hideous, low whine entered his ears. A beam of lightning surged through the air, aimed through the trees miles ahead. He skidded, hurrying to redirect himself, and almost fell over his paws like a hatchling.

He was panting when he got within range of the sight to greet him. He stumbled over himself, falling and straightening. He shook himself out and panted again, gulping greedily at the air in an effort to steady his shaking frame. He blinked and looked up as someone called, "Atem!"

Yusei was midair, shrieking at the two God Dragons snarling and snapping their teeth at each other. Atem had inflicted a heavy gash across Jaden's head, almost removing his eye. He was bristling, spitting and snarling with the scales along his spine raised and his wings tucked into his sides. He was tensed to lunge again, and Yugi could see where Jaden had taken a nasty hit to the side, one of his six wings torn and shattered.

"Atem?" he sputtered, eyes wide.

The Sky Dragon didn't look over. He snarled, opening both mouths as drool dripped from his teeth. Yugi could not tell if he was anxious or infuriated. The way he was positioned spoke of both in equal amounts. And he could tell Atem had taken the other male by surprise. Jaden had scratch marks across his face but Atem's left forelimb had been mangled by the other's teeth.

The Fire Dragon was just as defensive, snarling and spitting in turn.

"What happened?" he snapped when he got within range. Atem swung his tail at him without looking, knocking the wind from him when it struck his side. He rolled a foot, stumbled to his paws, and then shook himself out. The Sky Dragon had positioned himself more pointedly between Yugi and Jaden.

Yugi looked between them and bristled, eyes locking on Atem once more. The red male snarled, the noise a mixture of pure rage and open distress. He had curled his wings to protect his flanks, entire body tensed. The thunderous noise reminded him of the river, seconded by the rivulets of saliva dripping from his teeth in his rage.

"Jaden pushed his luck," Yusei snapped, still airborne. "And Atem lost his temper."

Yugi shook his head. "Atem," he called quietly, "don't."

His mate thumped his tail, but the blades were still firmly shut. Relief surged through him for a moment. Thank the gods Atem had not lost control. His temper was still reigned in. He was just infuriated, not lost to instinct or aggression.

Yugi opened his mouth to call to him again, then spun with a snarl. He raised his paw, spine arched, tail thumping and wings tucked to his sides. He spat at the looming figure that had lunged toward him.

In the split second he'd turned to face them, Yusei let out a warning cry. And Yugi barely had even a second to understand. Atem had launched himself at the offending figure. They rolled, spitting and snarling, and then separated. Atem's mouths were filled with a sticky, disgusting-smelling sludge that looked like mud. He clawed at his jaws with huge eyes, stunned, and Yugi opened and closed his mouth with a horrified expression.

The Leviathan shook himself out and took a seat. "Can't bite if your mouths won't open."

Atem snarled, slammed his tail into the ground, and tensed impossibly further. In an instant a hideous crackling noise came again, accompanied by the most alarming whine. A burst of lightning came from both jaws, and the Leviathan began laughing, taking the hit without so much as a flinch. Atem ceased a few heartbeats later, bristling and spitting again.

He was breathing hard now, panting for a single second. Then he bore his teeth more forcefully and scowled, glaring. His left paw shook faintly beneath his weight.

"Atem," Yusei pleaded, "cease."

The Sky Dragon snarled, but spun on Jaden. "I did not extend invitation," he spat, seething and glaring. He shook with his rage, flexing his claws and peeling his lips back further to show the ridges of his brilliant teeth "You invite yourself here as if you have any right."

Yugi froze, eyes widening. Atem had struck him for landing in their territory, because the den was barely a few miles away and he was scared. Yugi looked between them rapidly. Yusei clearly understood what had happened. And the Leviathan had only meant to cause distraction.

"Atem," he croaked, shaking, "we're okay."

His mate didn't seem at first to notice he'd spoken. Then he turned his head slightly, baring his teeth at him before looking to Jaden once more. "You may be eldest, but I do not defer to you." He thumped his tail. "You are within my territory. You are unwelcome as a guest. And I told you I'd box your brain from your skull should you not mind your own business. You. Have. No. Right."

Yugi shivered and looked between the four of them. Jaden was licking at his wounded wing, though his eyes remained steadily focused on Atem. The Fire Dragon huffed, looking to Yugi then.

"My, my, with how desperate he was to hide you away, I'd almost assumed he'd killed you and hung your corpse."

Yugi bristled. "You didn't follow him here because of me. Don't pretend." He looked at Atem sideways. He'd lifted his left paw up slightly, claws more noticeably bearing his weight. He could see where Jaden had broken one of the bones with the bite he'd managed. His head swung back toward the other Fire Dragon, springing forward and spitting. "You lay a paw on him again and I'll rip your head off."

Yusei had landed, chin to the ground. "I seek your blessing."

Atem grunted. "You have it. Remove your friend before I take his heart."

Jaden laughed aloud. "Do you really think you could manage that?" he hissed. Then he tilted his head, watching them closely. "For a Fire Dragon Atem claimed to be so tired and sluggish, you are awfully mobile."

"I've been awake a while," he snapped. Anger made his entire body tremble and he felt warmer than he should have, the rage boiling his blood. He truly wanted nothing more than to launch himself at the other male and clamp his teeth into his throat until he stopped moving. He bristled and thumped his tail again, spitting. But he forced himself to shed his anger just enough to look away. "We're okay, Atem. We're fine."

The red male blinked, looking at him in his peripheral. Yugi could tell he understood what he was saying, even around all the fear that kept his muscles wound tight.

"We're okay," he repeated gently. He watched Atem shift his weight and lower his chin toward his paw. His tongue ran over his wounded leg and he let out a soft, shuddering breath as he forced the tension from his body. Yugi almost trembled with relief. He turned back. "I suggest you leave."

Jaden was watching Atem with a curious, calculating look. "So, he does dictate your decisions," he snorted. Yugi blinked and raised his head, startled. Had this all been to see if Atem would lash out should Jaden get too close to him? Had that been the purpose behind his actions? Had he truly followed Atem just to see how much control he had over the Sky Dragon? "Interesting. I thought the rumors a majority of exaggerations. But you truly are ruled by your mates, aren't you? Yugi could tell you to drop dead and you would, wouldn't you, Atem?"

"Yugi could also tell him to kill you and he would," Yugi snarled, demanding his attention again. Atem's tongue had paused licking his wound, pressed against his bleeding limb as he stared at the Gandora in surprise. "Leave now, Jaden. Just go."

Yusei was glaring at Jaden. "You're an idiot. Is your curiosity sated? Let's go. Before Atem gets his second wind and comes after you again."

Jaden snorted, watching Yugi and Atem with cold eyes. Then he shook himself out and sprang into the air. The moment he was touched by sunlight, his entire body glowed as if he were a live flame. In an instant the wounded wing he'd been favoring seemed to straighten and heal and the Fire Dragon hovered briefly before taking off the opposite direction. The Leviathan huffed, glanced at them, and murmured, "Are you all right?"

Atem shot him an annoyed look. "Yes."

Yusei snorted and the Water Dragon laughed before launching himself into the air after Jaden. Yusei watched them both until they had all but disappeared from sight, then looked to them.

"I am so sorry. He's…a little anxious right now, to the point of lashing out needlessly. There's a lot going on and the eclipse really rattled him—"

"Why is it you make excuses for him? He has never once apologized to me himself. You do it for him. Do you never grow tired of it?" Atem snapped, looking at him. "I do not apologize for Yugi when he acts out. That is his own responsibility. You are no longer even mated to him. Why do you insist upon doing this for him?"

Yusei sighed. "It's complicated and it's a long story and I just…" He shook his head. "If I do not apologize for him, he will not do it for himself. Besides that, this time it was partially my fault. The Leviathan and I were not paying attention when he took off after you. We thought he was headed for his den until we heard his war cry when you attacked him."

Atem snorted, baring his teeth. "I should have knocked him from the air and eviscerated him," he snapped. "He deserves no less."

Yusei nodded slightly. "Thank you for holding your paw then."

He huffed. "Go, and make sure he does not come back here. I won't be so lenient a second time."

The Ice Dragon nodded. "Thank you for accompanying us to the Clans, Atem. Stay well, Yugi."

He was gone in an instant. Yugi watched him disappear, then turned to Atem. "How's your paw?"

Atem looked over, pausing in the midst of licking, and held it out for him to inspect. Yugi grimaced. Jaden had done just enough damage that he was sure it would be tender for the next moon or so. He'd managed to break a bone, but Atem hardly seemed bothered by that. It was more likely he was trying to heal it a little faster by grooming it so Yami would not see. Yugi sighed and ran his tongue over it, feeling useless and small.

He should have gotten there sooner.

It was stupid to think so, but he could not help himself.

If he'd been there, maybe he could have stopped him getting hurt.

"Don't start," Atem grumbled, and when Yugi looked at him, the Sky Dragon was staring at him with something between playful and flustered. "You couldn't have stopped it even if you'd been here. You did what you were supposed to. You took care of Yami. That's all that matters."

Yugi huffed a breath and shook his head. "You matter, too."

The Sky Dragon looked at him as if he didn't agree, but failed to argue. Instead he stood up, testing his weight on the injured limb. "Perhaps I should wrap it with something," he mumbled. He looked puzzled as he considered it. "I could do as Timaeus did for my side. If I remember the poultice, it'll heal quickly enough."

"I can go ask him!"

Atem looked at him as if he had three heads. Then he chuckled and butted his shoulder. "No, little one, he shall come later. I know he heard my war cry. He'll come to investigate. I will ask him then." He tilted his head and looked over his shoulder. "Is he actually okay?"

"Yami is fine," Yugi said gently, licking his forehead. "He's warm and happy and safe."

Atem nodded slightly, looking him over. Then he licked his cheek and turned to trot toward the den. Yugi followed quickly, moving to his side as if he could help him should his leg give beneath him. He knew he couldn't, but just being there made him feel better. Atem limped slightly but it was not enough to slow him, and Yugi wondered with dread just how often he'd been forced to do so as an adult after the thousands he'd had to as a hatchling. He couldn't imagine conditioning himself to walk on wounded limbs or fly with a broken wing, or use his paws despite claws being torn off. He couldn't imagine being so used to pain that he no longer outwardly responded with cries but rather internalized it and utilized it to strike out harder and faster.

Yami was still by the dying fire when they got to the den. Atem stepped inside, looked over, and visibly lost his tension. The hatchling squeaked, sprang to his paws, and hurried over. He bumped beaks with them both in greeting, sniffed and licked at Atem's wound until Atem eventually had to nudge him away even as he screeched in protest, and then scrambled back over to the fire. He plopped down with his rump to them, clearly offended, and Yugi laughed as he took a spot next to him.

"It has to hurt, little one," he said gently. Yami looked over at him in bewilderment. "So, he doesn't want you to mess with it too much."

Yami looked at Atem a moment, then squeaked loudly. Atem didn't know what to make of it, tilting his head and eyeing him curiously. He definitely seemed to understand what was being said. But it should have been impossible…

"I never did ask," Yugi said abruptly, turning to him with wide eyes, "if you had a name in mind for him. I know I kind of just…said I wanted to name him Yami and you went along with it, but if you had your own preference, I'm open to hearing it."

Atem had never considered names for a hatchling before. He shook his head. Yugi had grown up imagining what a clutch between them might be like, to the point of picturing Slifers running around in abundance. He had never been interested before but when he was young enough to assume life was always happy and wouldn't be so terrible. He hardly had experience with clutches as it was.

He looked over.

"He responds well to it."

Yugi raised his head and puffed his chest out with pride. Atem chuckled and lowered himself awkwardly to lie down. His leg stung, but the ache seemed almost…residual. He looked down, but the wound was still gaping and sore. He wondered why he did not feel it as acutely.

He lowered his chin to his paws and closed his eyes. "Yami is a good name."

The hatchling chirped and Atem cracked an eye open to find the dragonet mirroring Yugi, chest puffed and head raised. He laughed just as Yugi did and they swapped looks of shared affection. The Gandora butted their offspring on the rump and Yami chirped as he tore off toward Atem. The red dragonet stopped in front of his beak, bumped muzzles with him, and plopped down at his paw. He was staring at the wound as if he expected it to disappear if he blinked, and Atem wondered at the sight.

Yami tipped his head up and squeaked, and the sound seemed curious. He looked at Atem and then back to the wound and let out a small huff. Atem almost wanted to ask if he was confused as to the smell of blood, but the thought passed. Yami laid his chin on his paw and looked to Atem with an expression he couldn't quite read.

He snuggled into his flesh, huffing before chirping softly. It sounded sad and quiet, warm and soft, all at once. He closed his eyes and the breath to leave him was soft and low, a cooing noise that faded into a whistle.

"I think he likes you best."

Atem froze, hearts hammering as he considered the words. He looked at Yugi, frantic for a second to deny the statement. His mouths opened and he fought a tremble, desperate to argue. He expected the rage he'd seen when Seto had said the same about their mother to Bakura when they were younger and he swore the panic threatened to swallow him whole.

But then he saw Yugi's face. He was not hurt. He was not even upset. He just looked…warm. He looked as if he admired the fact, actually. He looked fit to burst with happiness the more Atem studied him.

"Oh, he's just so cute! He's the cutest little hybrid ever to exist! And he looks perfectly like both of us!" he cried, trembling. He crept forward and plopped down in front of them, eyes bright and glittering with happiness. "It's amazing."

Atem smiled faintly. "It is," he agreed. "It's amazing."

Yugi hesitated, eyes widening. "He's probably hungry. Uh… Oh! Fish! Fish would be a good first meal, right? That's easy to eat?" He looked at Atem with a flustered expression. "I couldn't leave him to hunt and you went with the others. So, he's… Oh, he has to be so hungry, Atem."

Yami squeaked, stretching himself out atop Atem's leg. He looked content but exhausted as well. Atem wondered how Yugi was not jealous of the position Yami had taken. He wouldn't have been, because he still did not feel the warmth he knew himself meant to, but Yugi clearly had no such detachment. Yami cracked an eye to look at him before yawning softly.

"Fish would be best, yes." Yami purred as if in response, snuggled further into his paw, and smacked his lips. Atem watched him a moment, then looked over to find Yugi beaming.

"I think he likes your voice."

"I…talked to him a lot."

Yugi looked at him, curious even as embarrassment ate at Atem's insides. The Gandora tilted his head, studying his face intently. "What about?"

He hesitated, then looked to the hatchling uncomfortably. "I used to ask him if he was alive…if he could send me a sign to show it."

Yugi blinked wide eyes. "Did he?" he asked, entire body still with mounting tension. "I mean…"

"No. He… It is not as if I would have known what to do had he." Atem shot Yugi a puzzled look. "I…would have likely panicked and thought something had gone wrong."

Yugi smiled gently, leaning forward to lick his forehead. "I'll go get some food." He faltered. "How much do you think he'll need?"

"I…I do not know. I used to eat twice as much as my siblings even though I was half their size. My father would catch them each around twenty and as many as sixty for me," Atem admitted, unsure. He looked down at Yami and wondered if he could eat nearly that much in one sitting. "It…depends on who he takes after more, I suppose."

"I'll fill a net and bring it back and you can both eat," Yugi announced. He nuzzled Atem's cheek and licked his neck before springing away. "I'll be back as soon as I can!"

When he ran from the den, Atem lowered his eyes to their hatchling once more. Yami was still fast asleep atop his paw, stretched across the length of his leg and snoozing softly. Atem studied the length of his body, from his brilliant scales to the dull ridges along his spine and the nubs of his claws. He couldn't remember the species of dragon he so closely resembled, but he knew there was something. He recognized the shape and length, color and wings and everything.

But he did not know the name.

Atem lowered his chin to his other leg. Yami snored softly and Atem wondered if he got the trait from Yugi. He thought for a moment the hatchling must have inherited it. Yugi snored every night, and the first was often a terrible and loud noise like a roar before it would turn into a gentle whistle.

Atem had always enjoyed the sound when he'd gotten used to it. On the worst of his nights, he lay beside him and listened and reveled in the gentle tone. He shifted his weight and pulled his right paw toward himself, folding it to rest his chin atop. He eyed the entrance until being awake became too hard and fell asleep.

It was not much later that he awoke. He raised his head as Yami chirped from his spot on his paw. The hatchling was quivering, golden eyes huge with excitement, and he sprang forward just as Yugi came through the entrance. Yami bounced from paw to paw and chirped louder, eyes glittering. Atem shifted his weight to press into his right paw, straightening to a seated position.

It was only when he stood and shook himself that he realized there was no longer even a residual pain from the wound. When he looked down, it was still there. It did not look as angry as it had formerly. But he could still see mangled flesh. There was no spear of white to pronounce bone, however.

Atem faltered and glanced at Yami, unnerved. The hatchling was on his back legs, stretching his forelimbs toward Yugi and whining. The Gandora grinned and butted his belly, working to undo the knots in the net with his teeth. It was a moment later that he looked at the fish and then Yami and back. His eyes grew huge and his entire body froze for a second before he looked to Atem.

"I don't… I don't know what to do. I don't…"

Yami chirped and sprang about, squeaking loudly. Atem stared down at the net for a moment, then lowered his eyes. Yami was barely half the size of the fish on the top of the pile. Atem tilted his head. Yugi had rushed back far faster as well. He must have gotten too excited. The net was barely halfway full.

He smirked and shook his head, shifting his weight and trying to push away the ideas in his head. "My parents chewed it to mush sometimes. Other times my father swallowed it whole and I'd lick his mouth until he'd regurgitate." Atem blinked and considered Yami. The hatchling had turned to him, watching intently. "It was always easier to eat when it was regurgitated. They'd chew it for me when I was about six moons, but it didn't last long. I was able to eat whole prey a few days after my seventh."

Yugi nodded. He trembled once, looking at Yami, and then hurried to pull the net open again. Atem watched him grab a couple and hesitantly glance toward him.

"You should do this."

Atem stopped short of laying down again, blinking as he looked over. "Hmm?"

Yugi smiled, the gesture slightly shaky. "I don't want to stress you out, Atem. And I know you would be if Yami were at my mouth like that." He shook his head, voice soft and gentle. "Besides, it'll show me better how to do this."

The Sky Dragon hesitated. "I… Okay."

All the arguments had gotten caught in his throat. He'd wanted to say he wouldn't. He'd wanted to say he trusted him enough not to. He'd wanted to say he knew better.

Yet, he'd struck him when he'd ventured too close to Yami's egg. He'd drawn blood without even meaning to. He'd snarled at him when he'd asked him to grab the egg for transportation, before he'd had to flee the den to give Yugi privacy to do so.

Yugi was right.

Atem didn't trust himself not to lash out if he saw his teeth near Yami. It didn't matter Yugi was his father, too. It just mattered he was seeing a dragon near his hatchling that was not another Sky Dragon. It just mattered Yugi was a Gandora, a dragon known for violence and destruction. That was all that mattered.

Yami squeaked and Atem looked down. He was staring up at Yugi, squeaking again as he stretched himself out to his fullest. Yugi snickered and lowered his chin to the ground, letting the dragonet scrabble awkwardly across his beak to his muzzle. He took a seat, chirped, and then curled up as if to sleep.

Yugi nearly trembled when Yami began purring. Atem slowly stepped forward to dig into the fish. He swallowed them whole, stopped at half the net, and then shook himself out. Yugi watched him as he flicked his tongue several times, then shook his head back and forth rather sharply. And then his stomach heaved twice and he coughed a few times. And, finally, to Yugi's surprise, his top mouth opened.

Yami chirped and got up, stretching a paw out as if he might be able to reach. Yugi moved to let him jump forward but Yami squeaked in protest and squealed at a high pitch. Yugi glanced at Atem uncertainly and the Sky Dragon cautiously stretched his head out until their beaks were touching. Yami stretched himself out awkwardly, back paws on Yugi's beak and front on Atem's. He hungrily gulped down the regurgitated food, purring and trembling.

Yugi was struck with the odd sense the hybrid was attempting to keep them from snapping at each other. The little male hadn't bothered to leave Yugi for Atem in order to eat. And he had failed to trigger Atem's regurgitation, though Atem being able to do so on his own was still rather surprising to the Gandora.

Yami ate every little scrap, even dipping his head so far into Atem's mouth that he could pick the rest of the meat from behind his teeth. Yugi blinked as he watched and Atem had a tired expression on his face now as they looked at each other. Yami squeaked and purred again, then turned and trotted back to settle on Yugi's muzzle once more.

"Are you still hungry?" Yugi asked quietly.

Atem blinked. His eyes focused on Yami. They waited for even the smallest of responses. But, to Yugi's amazement, the little hybrid was passed out. He was curled up into a ball, breathing softly and lying comfortably atop his muzzle.

"I'm guessing not," Atem teased. He moved to straighten and then shook himself out again.

"How'd you know to do that to regurgitate?"

The Sky Dragon faltered for a moment, then looked away. "I'd forgotten, but Timaeus did it for me a few times. It wasn't fish because he wasn't good at catching fish. But he had to do it in order to help me once when my stomach began to ache after too much red meat. I couldn't stop puking after eating, so he tried that about an hour after we'd finished."

Yugi frowned. "You didn't realize it would hurt your stomach?"

"No, I wasn't aware. I was too young to know. And Timaeus didn't know much about Sky Dragons to begin with. It was a learning experience." He shook himself out, then moved to lay down on his belly. "I'm hoping Yami will not have to worry about it. He's part Fire Dragon, though, so I would assume it would not be too damaging for him to survive mostly on red meat."