Chapter XII: Plans

Timaeus landed nearby but did not approach the den. Atem hurried to meet him, butting heads with him and taking a seat. The Knight Dragon glanced toward the entrance and Atem almost snarled, but swallowed the noise instantly. He knew Timaeus would never have harmed Yami, but the thought of him seeing him when he was so young made his belly ache. He couldn't afford it. Timaeus was his best friend and Atem would have given a heart if he ever needed it, but instinct spoke against allowing him anywhere near, and he couldn't ignore it.

It was amazing sometimes he had not lashed out at Yugi for being so close. But he also noticed Yugi made a very clear effort to read his body language before he so much as approached. There was always a split second of eye contact before he made any move. And Atem realized it had to be that single moment of acknowledgment cast toward him that had eased his protective nature.

"Do you know how much of a nightmare it was to get here this time around?" Timaeus huffed in greeting, shaking himself out as he took a seat in front of him. "It was as if I was expected to fight my way through the territory even without placing my paws on land."

Atem tilted his head. "Do you believe it to be because of the altercation with Jaden?"

Timaeus turned his head, calling, "Or the younger generation is just rude."

Atem laughed as Yugi lifted his head and called back, "Or you're just annoying and they can sense it!"

Timaeus chortled and grinned widely. "Maybe they can," he agreed, turning back to Atem. "I see your paw healed nicely. It looks better than I imagined it would. Yugi must have taken better care than I expected."

"He refused to let me from the den to exercise it and changed it every other hour," he lied jovially. He smiled at him, hoping not to give away his lack of agreement, and turned away. Yami had to be a God Dragon. There was no denying it, despite how Atem had snarled the opposite when Yugi had asked his opinion on the matter. "I was not allowed to hunt, or bathe it at any point."

"I almost wish he was my mate for how well he takes care of you." A sharp laugh echoed from the den. Atem burst out laughing and Timaeus chuckled, shaking his head. "Thanks for the soft rejection, Yugi."

Atem laughed harder, shaking his head as well. "Yugi only has eyes for me."

"Absolutely!"

Timaeus snickered alongside him at Yugi's loud agreement. They both shook their heads and Atem shifted his weight as he murmured, "What did you come by for, Timaeus? Is this to check on me or was there something else you needed?"

"I came to check on you mostly, but I did have a request."

"Name it."

Timaeus paused for a moment, then tilted his head. "Critias wished for me to ask you to Bless the nest when they leave for their own territories."

His eyes stretched wide. "Is that so soon?" he asked, stunned. "I had thought there was more time before they'd leave."

He shook his head. "They're almost fully mature. There's likely less than six moons for them to reach sexual maturity and maybe a year left before they're physically mature." He hummed. "You'll have to see them. They've sprung up since the last time you saw them. They're almost as tall as I am."

Atem blinked and wondered how long it would take for Yami to reach even Yugi's height. How long would it be before he was Atem's? Would he be as tall as Timaeus? Would he reach the height of the Leviathan? Atem couldn't imagine. Yami was so tiny now. He wondered if he'd always be so small.

It was an injustice. He knew that. He should have been ecstatic for any growth Yami exhibited. But he was not so blind as to realize the idea he might become as tall as the Leviathan made him nervous.

"I… He wishes for a Blessing?" he said quietly. He felt nauseous; the Blessing had not seemed to go so well when he had done it for his brother. What if it went sour for Critias and the others as well? What if he somehow cursed them as he'd seemed to with Seto's nest? Would he be haunted by nightmares of them begging for death as he had before?

Atem blinked and glanced toward the den. Would he dream one day of Yami begging for death? Or was Seto…telling him to kill Yami in those dreams?

He nearly barked a laugh. He'd made his grave. He'd lay in it one day.

Now was not the time, however.

"He requested I ask. If you are uncomfortable, I will tell him and he will be okay. He said he didn't want you to feel forced, and his siblings were shocked when he asked." Timaeus snorted. "I don't understand why any of them were so surprised. Critias adores you and Yugi. I was expecting him to ask sooner than he did, truthfully."

Atem nodded slightly, looking away. "I see."

"Don't feel you have to, Atem. I promise it is not necessary if you feel uncomfortable."

Atem opened his mouth to answer, just as a voice squeaked, "Timaeus!"

The God Dragon stiffened. Yugi sprang forward from the den with a frantic look. The Wind Dragon blinked, confused, and turned his head. Atem's abrupt snarl made him spin back around. The Slifer looked both horrified and aggravated all at once. Timaeus immediately lowered himself to his belly, flicking his tail as he tucked his wings into his sides and stared up at Atem submissively.

"How. Did. He. Get. Past. You?" Atem snarled, springing forward to meet the other male. Yugi shook his head, looking stunned and horrified, and paused as Atem loomed over him with his teeth bared. For a split second Timaeus truly feared he might strike out. And then he saw Atem dip his head down to pluck something from the ground.

"He won't hurt me!" the same voice protested. Timaeus raised his gaze and froze, stunned. The dragonet dangled from Atem's jaws, loosely held but just firm enough it could not escape despite its rapid squirming. Its paws flailed as it struggled, then whimpered loudly. Its huge golden eyes locked on him and it redoubled its efforts.

In a split second it squirmed from Atem's jaws and landed with a thump. The God Dragon froze for a split second, then turned back on the hatchling. It scrambled forward but was caught with a paw to its back, claws caging it beneath its toes.

Atem snarled again, the sound low and dangerous, and trembled as his eyes locked with Timaeus's. The teal dragon blinked, opened and closed his mouth, and then sprang away several yards. He lay there again, refusing to look over despite his growing curiosity.

"Did he do it to you, too?" Yugi demanded breathlessly.

Atem looked over at him and then away toward the hatchling. "You bastard."

The hatchling tried to squirm its way from beneath his paw, then wailed, "Daddy, please!" in such a desperate voice that Atem flinched. The God Dragon let out a soft, disgruntled noise. His eyes fell on Timaeus for a moment, unsure, before he glanced down at the hatchling again. A heartbeat passed, then another, and slowly he lifted his paw.

Yugi sputtered, "Atem!"

His pupils had flipped to a horizontal position. Atem glanced at him and shook his head slightly. The hatchling took off in a sprint toward him. Timaeus bristled fearfully, risking a glance toward Atem and Yugi as they stared at the dragonet. The hatchling was purring when he got within an inch of him.

Timaeus kept his chin to the ground, focused on Atem even as the hatchling plopped down in front of him. It was long and lanky, with wings too big for its frame, barely the size of his paw.

"Hi!" it squeaked. It shook with excitement as it stretched its beak to his. Timaeus let out a huff of air in greeting, but opening his mouth could easily send Atem into a frenzy. He'd looked as if he might strike Yugi when he'd spotted the hatchling. He couldn't imagine what he would do if he thought Timaeus a threat.

The hatchling huffed, turning to look at Atem and complaining, "He's scared you'll attack him if he talks to me!"

Timaeus jerked back, eye wide in alarm, and looked to Yugi. The Gandora flinched, staring at Atem. The Sky Dragon tossed his tail and scowled, glaring at the hatchling. The hatchling which had called Atem "daddy". The hatchling that looked…amazingly like his best friend.

Atem looked to him slowly. "Yami appears to have a little bit of a talent," he said icily, sneering, as he lashed his tail. But Timaeus realized he was not so angry with him as he was with the circumstances. Yami… If that was his name, the hatchling had acted as if his talent was just the most natural thing in the world. Timaeus blinked and backed up a step, bristling uncertainly. "I don't make any promises not to snarl or snap, but Yugi is sure to stop me if I try to hurt you."

Yami huffed loudly. Timaeus cringed. Lovely. Yugi bristled and glared.

"Are you happy now, you disobedient menace?" Atem hissed. "Go make friends."

"You're so cranky all the time," the hatchling growled, glaring at him. He shook his head, scowling in such a familiar way to Atem when he was younger that Timaeus snorted. And it was even funnier because Yami was clearly winning this debate. He was making Atem feel bad, he noted, because the larger male scowled and then looked briefly away and back.

"You'd think he'd be nicer," Yami said suddenly, turning to him. He grinned and took a seat neatly, tail around his paws and voice a vibrant chirp. He was so young that it reminded him of Critias when he had first been born. "He's so cranky all the time, though."

Yugi snorted, "He is, isn't he?" His voice was light as he came to take a spot between Timaeus and Atem. The Gandora took a lazy relaxed position between them, stretched out on his belly and chin on his paws. Clearly he didn't think he'd have to jump between them anytime soon.

"Oh?" Timaeus asked, smiling and tilting his head. "I wasn't aware."

The hatchling whipped around when he realized he was talking to him, then sat up proudly, entire body trembling with elation. He tipped his chin up, blinked slowly, and purred. He seemed so incredibly happy, and Timaeus genuinely couldn't tell if it was because he was teasing him or the fact that he was speaking now that made him react so strongly. For a single second Timaeus swore he saw pupils, long and narrow like lightning forking the sky, but it must have been a trick of the light. Because, when Yami blinked his eyes open, they were nonexistent.

"You're Daddy's best friend!" he declared. And then he paused, turning his head to look at Atem as if in approval of his phrasing. But the Sky Dragon was curled into Yugi's side to allow the Gandora to groom him. Yami lost interest immediately after, turning back and grinning. He came forward a few more steps and plopped down right at the tip of his beak, grinning with huge eyes. "He said I could meet you when I was older."

Timaeus studied him. He looked as if he'd just hatched. He still had his egg teeth and his claws were stubby and small. Of course they'd told him he could meet him when he was older. He looked too young to even be outside the den like this…

"How long ago was that?"

"A couple of minutes."

Timaeus burst out laughing. "I don't think he meant a few minutes when he said you had to be older," he teased, shaking his head. "I think he meant moons."

"So?" Yami huffed. "I can take care of myself."

Timaeus reached out and tapped him in the side. The hatchling looked at him as if he were crazy. The Wind Dragon laughed louder and nudged him gently in the side with his beak. "You can't even dodge that. You're definitely not able to take care of yourself."

He bristled, scowled at him, and whined, "Daddy!"

Both of them stopped chortling to look over in confusion. Atem was still smirking and Yugi looked puzzled. Yami stood, puffed up and glaring as he pointed a paw at Timaeus.

"He says I can't take care of myself!" he declared. Atem and Yugi swapped looks, as if trying to determine who should tell him, but Yami cut their thoughts in half abruptly. "But I totally can! Attack him!"

Timaeus burst out laughing. Atem blinked, guffawed, and shook his head. And Yugi covered his face with his paws, laughing. Yami glared for a moment longer, then plopped down and giggled, flicking his long tail and closing his eyes halfway.

"I can totally defend myself," he said after a moment. He gestured with a paw. "If they didn't know you, you'd be half-dead by now, you know."

"Oh, I'm aware," Timaeus chortled. Yugi was shaking his head and Atem was watching Yami with a fond look. The hatchling sat up slightly straighter. "I'm definitely aware. Yugi would skin me if he thought you were in danger."

Yami nodded vigorously, proud of himself. He smiled at his parents and then lowered his eyes and flexed his paws after a few seconds. Yugi was back to grooming Atem and the Slifer looked more amused than ever. Timaeus studied the hatchling, smiling slightly.

"You've got two of the best parents ever. Did you know that?"

Yami looked over at them and back, then sat up even taller. "I know! They're the best!" he declared. Then he blinked again and leaned forward, peering at him curiously. He seemed to be looking for something, but Timaeus wasn't sure what. "I have the best parents ever. I'm half Sky Dragon and Gandora! I'm going to be the strongest dragon ever!"

Timaeus chuckled. "You're going to have to be a lot older and bigger to be the strongest dragon ever," he teased. He nodded toward Atem and smirked. "And you'll have to best your dad over there."

Yami blinked, then looked to Atem. "He'd beat me. But we can just pretend I'm stronger than him…right?"

Atem chortled and lay his chin on his paws. "Of course we can."

Yami spun already and smirked. "See? I'm the strongest dragon ever!"

Timaeus laughed, delighted, and watched as Yami moved to lay at his side. He was so small and delicate, and Timaeus thought of baby birds and curling autumn leaves. He smiled as Yami settled and laid stretched at his side. When he risked a glance, Atem was watching intently but without the slightest hint of malice, perhaps curious and maybe fascinated. Yugi had tilted his head and scooted away a few steps to be able to see past Timaeus's paw to keep Yami in his line of sight. Timaeus wondered for a split second which of them might lunge first if something were to happen.

"Atem would," Yami said with certainty, as if it were not a question. When Timaeus turned to him, slightly startled, Yami blinked and looked up with a tilted head. "He's faster and he's got the stronger instinct."

Timaeus considered him a moment. "Is that so?"

The hatchling nodded and lay with his neck stretched out. "Yeah." He glanced at him again sideways. "Yugi would kill you, though, before Atem would."

He nodded slightly. "I can see that."

Yami searched his face. "Yeah, I guess so." He smacked his lips and closed his eyes. "Do you ever miss your eye?"

Timaeus stiffened for a moment, startled, and then tilted his head. He saw Atem and Yugi both freeze in his peripheral. "No, not really. I've grown used to it." He paused. "Yami, is it?"

The hatchling raised and turned his head, eyes bright. "Yeah. Dad named me!" he chirped, gaze glowing like the sun. He paused and reconsidered his words, then smiled wider than ever. "Yugi named me that because he wanted a name that's a combination of Yugi and Atem."

Timaeus faltered and glanced over at the Gandora. "Huh?"

Yugi looked flustered. "I'd have to show you how the humans write our names. If I do that, you'll understand better." He glanced at Atem. "I never did show you, did I?"

"No, but I don't think now is the time to entertain that," the Sky Dragon said somewhat brusquely. "I don't know how soon Jaden might return and I don't want you human if he does."

Yugi tilted his head but nodded. "It can wait."

Atem watched Yugi pluck Yami gingerly by the neck, movements slow and cautious as he moved back to the den. The hatchling whined a soft protest, stretching a paw out, but instantly yawned and began to nod off again. Timaeus snickered and got to his paws, going over to the God Dragon's side.

"So, he's what you were so afraid of Jaden finding."

Atem blinked and looked up at him. "Yes." He glanced at the den and huffed. "He…he hatched during the eclipse. In the midst of it, Timaeus. He hatched during it and Jaden has been so…forceful about entering my territory. I fought him off in a panic, because I didn't want him anywhere near the den."

Timaeus nodded. "I understand."

"He's going to kill him if he finds him," Atem said softly, eyes sharp and darkening. The gem on his forehead was almost black with stress. "He went looking for bloodshed that day. And he's going to kill him if he ever finds out. He doesn't need to know he was born during the eclipse. All he needs to justify his bloodlust is his existence."

"What species is he?"

Atem's eyes glazed over and he stared at Timaeus almost blankly for what seemed hours. Then he shook his head slowly, hissing, "I don't… I don't know."

"It doesn't matter," he assured him as quickly as he could. "It's okay, no matter what he is. He's your son. He's a miracle. I don't believe that little hatchling has a malicious bone in his entire body. Do you see him? He's sweet and innocent and just…precious. Jaden can go through me if he wants to get at him."

Atem blinked and considered him closely for a single second. Then his eyes stretched wide. "You… You could be the answer to this."

The Knight Dragon tilted his head. "Huh?"

The God Dragon nodded. "You could be the solution, Timaeus. We need someone to watch Yami, while Yugi and I keep up appearances so that Jaden can't assume we're hiding anything."

"You…wish for me to move into your territory?"

"Yes, for a while; Kris will be leaving soon after the clutch goes on their own and in the meantime, after their departure you can stay here with us to help keep track of Yami. I don't… I don't know when Jaden might return, but I know he will."

Timaeus looked toward the den. Yami was so akin his father, almost a spitting image in shape and gestures to mimic Atem. Even the way he'd trotted over to him was so alike him that Timaeus almost thought for a moment he was hallucinating. But Yami sounded nothing like Atem, even when they'd first met. Atem's voice had sounded like wind in tree branches and river water. Yami's was like whistling snow against rocks as the air vibrated and danced with shimmering mist. He was soft spoken and elegant. He was a perfect mixture between the depth of Atem's voice and Yugi's much lighter but louder tone.

"You don't have—"

"No, no, I will," he said, turning back, "but it will have to be after Critias and the others move on. I don't want Kris to worry and it should be a smooth transition for her, seeing as it's her first clutch. I…I owe that much to her."

Atem blinked, processing the words. "You owe that much to her? You speak as if you've wronged her somehow."

"No, not yet." Timaeus grimaced. "But she does love me. She wanted me to remain with her."

"Did you wish for the same?"

"I love her, but I don't know that it's enough." He fell quiet, then sighed. "I'm not a Sky Dragon, nor is she. But she wanted forever. She trusted me to raise our hatchlings with her, which you know isn't normal for our species. I think she thinks I'm the safest mate she'll ever have. I think it'll scare her when I say I'm not staying with her."

Atem peered at him for a long time. Then he looked toward the den and seemed to consider something or other. It faded a moment later as he turned back. "You may tell her you're moving into my territory after the spat Jaden and I had. She knows you're my best friend. She may very well understand that notion."

Timaeus snorted and shook his head. "No, I'd rather not run the risk of her approaching us to demand answers." He sighed. "Will Yugi be okay with this?"

"If it's for Yami, or me, he'll agree to anything." Atem fell silent. "I do not like the idea of bringing you into the equation if I can avoid it. Jaden doesn't need to set his sights on you as well."

"He already did prior. You know he was suspicious of us when he saw us interact before. He's already set his sights on me. He just never had a reason to act."

"We'd be giving him one."

"I know. But…" Timaeus turned to him and shook his head. "Yami is a little miracle, Atem. If we don't protect him…"

The Sky Dragon nodded, flexing his claws. "I know."

He hesitated. "Is he a God Dragon as well?"

Atem flinched. "I…I didn't want to believe it before, but there's no other explanation. He's… He reads thoughts. He heals wounds. He…steps into my dreams. I don't… I don't know what else he could be but a God Dragon. I refuse to believe the eclipse was an omen of ill fortune—not when it brought him. He's too sweet. He saved Yugi when he was still in his egg and he…" He tossed his head roughly, then turned to him with a snarl. "Timaeus, swear an oath to me. You will not breathe a word of his existence to anyone."