Chapter XXI: Expectations

"Atem."

He turned his head, blinking, as Yugi came forward. The Gandora paused a few steps away, then shook himself out and went to his side. When he took a seat, he leaned forward to rub against him, sighing softly as if with contentment. Atem wasn't sure what should make him so happy, but he would not question it. Things felt easier to deal with when Yugi was happy.

"Did you come to find me?"

"You weren't in the den and Yami is asleep with Timaeus tonight." His voice was slightly envious, but it died and turned into pure affection when he continued. "So, I decided I'd come out and sit with you."

Atem blinked and nodded. "Second choice for everything these days."

Yugi laughed and butted his shoulder. "Absolutely not." When Atem snickered but didn't lay down as Yugi was attempting to coax him to, the other male paused. There was a lengthy moment of silence and then, quietly, "What are you thinking about so hard?"

He snorted. "Everything."

Yugi stretched himself out onto his belly and looked up at him. "Would you like to share any of it? I know you've never taken me up on it, but I'm still here to listen if you'd like." He paused, then grinned. "And, let me remind you, my parents and Jonouchi say that I'm good at problem solving and giving advice."

Atem chuckled, looking over again. "Unless it pertains to battle, in which I'm clearly the superior."

"Absolutely!" he agreed, grinning wider. "So, I'm ready to offer advice."

He smiled and shook his head. "I don't know I want any." Yugi didn't seem offended even when he nodded in acknowledgment. Atem wondered again how easily Yugi could accept his closed off nature, especially when he tried so hard to be open with him at all times. "I can't stop thinking about Jaden and the possibility he'll find out."

Yugi blinked. "You've run yourself ragged about the subject already. You should leave it, dear heart." He paused. "We've exhausted what we could think of. For the moment, we're at a standstill."

"I know. I just…" Atem looked away. "It's hard. I'm not used to having something like this looming over my head. Suitors don't declare war when they challenge me. But Jaden… He seems to want me dead."

He almost wished Yugi might lie and agree. Instead his mate shook his head and murmured, "No, he wants control of you. He doesn't wish death on either of us just yet. Of course…that could change when he finds out about a second generation God Dragon."

Atem blinked once, long and slow. Then he looked over. "There's no proof," he snapped before he could help himself. Yugi gave him a skeptical look and Atem's insides grew hot with embarrassment. How many times had they had this argument? He'd lost count after the first ten. "I…I don't want him to be a God Dragon."

"You may not wish it for him, but he is."

He shuffled his paws and sighed. "I… No. If Jaden should say a word, I'm denying it. Yami is as normal as you."

Yugi snorted. "Oh, gee, thanks, Atem."

Mortified, Atem sputtered, "I didn't mean it like that!"

His mate laughed and leaned against him again, shaking his head. "I know, bright sky. Lay down, okay? I don't want to crane my neck all night."

"I don't want to lay down."

"Then I guess we're just not talking."

Atem snickered, tilting his head and watching as Yugi stubbornly raised his chin but risked a glance in his peripheral. Immediately after he realized Atem was still watching, he lifted his chin further and turned pointedly away.

"Tip your chin any further up and you'll have your neck craned regardless."

Yugi laughed and gave him a small glare, entire face bright with affection. "Hush." He grinned and butted his forelimb, closing his eyes and sighing. "You know denial doesn't look good on anyone, right?"

"Not even your favorite God Dragon?"

"Yami isn't in denial."

Atem laughed and Yugi grinned up at him again. "Wow, thanks, Yugi."

"You're welcome." The Gandora smiled wider, then shifted his weight and tilted his head. He seemed to consider him a long moment, then looked away again. "It doesn't look good on my favorite God Dragon, either, Atem. I love you and everything about you, but denial is not an emotion that looks good on anyone."

He grimaced. "I know."

"But it's okay. I know why you're scared like this. I know why you're so against the fact." Yugi turned to him and tilted his head, watching his face. "I don't care for the arguments, but I understand why we have them, Atem. You know I love you."

He nodded slightly. "Yes."

"I don't know what else we can do to protect Yami. At the end of this, it's us against Jaden and potentially Yusei and the Leviathan as well." Yugi's eyes caught the moonlight and Atem found himself almost mesmerized. "They won't strike you down. You're too good for that. I know that. You might worry, but I know when it comes down to it, you'll win as you always have. It's me and Timaeus I have to worry about. And if we fall, Yami…"

"If I can manage it, we'll all make it out of this alive."

"But you might not be able to. And if you can't, I want you to protect Yami before you do anything else. Yami before us. But not before you." Yugi leaned forward to butt him gently again. "You're my heart. You come first. If it comes to it, just as I said with Keith; if it comes to battle, Atem, you fight with everything you have and kill where there's an opening. And if it comes to that point, you run if you can't anymore. It doesn't matter who gets left behind. I want you safe before the rest of us."

Atem fell quiet, watching him for a long moment. He looked away and shifted his weight. "You promise the same and I'll give my word," he said finally.

Yugi was quiet for a moment. Then he mumbled, "I can't promise that. I'll see your life secured before mine."

He shivered and looked over again. Yugi smiled and shook his head. "Well…then I guess we have a problem."

Yugi laughed. "I guess so," he teased, smiling even more warmly before looking away again. He shifted his weight and pulled his paws toward himself, flexing his claws and sighing softly. "I don't know the extent of Yami's powers, but I think they're growing."

Atem blinked. "What? How?"

"He said he saw you and the female arguing and could even hear it. He said you were at your favorite sunbathing spot by the river and she'd come to court you. And that you were both arguing about your refusal to accept her challenge." He paused and looked over then, eyes burning into his. "He said she challenged you about having a mate because you weren't Claimed."

Atem bristled, fear creeping through his blood. He stared at Yugi, motionless. And then, reluctantly, he nodded and mumbled, "She did. I… How did he…?"

"He says he saw it. He says he saw where you were, and that she was aggravating you. He…even knew when you sensed Jaden and began to panic." He tilted his head. "Is that…accurate? That it happened around the time she spoke about you not being Claimed?"

He lowered his eyes. "Yes."

"He said you panicked."

"Yes."

"I can't tell…if your guard was down and he was able to see into your mind because of that or if it had more to do with him sensing your panic. I don't know if his…abilities have grown so much he can see things in the territory he shouldn't or if something else happened." He paused. "I don't know if this is because you laid his egg and spent so much time with him. I don't even know the full extent of what he can do. I don't think he does, either. But I… Atem, if he's this strong now and he's only on the cusp of seven moons, then how are we supposed to hide him?"

Atem glanced toward the den. "I…I don't know." He shivered. "We can ask him to tell us more."

Yugi smiled faintly but looked exhausted. "This is overwhelming," he admitted after a moment, eyes sparkling but expression tired. "He's so precious. But I didn't realize how much trouble this could bring. I…I hadn't considered it. I was so ecstatic when you told me about his egg, and now I'm realizing I never thought of the consequences. I never considered Jaden might come after him. I never considered he'd have powers. I never even thought past what his name would be and what I hoped he might look like. I… It puts in perspective just why you're so scared sometimes."

He frowned. "Are you?"

"I am now. I wasn't before, because it was so much simpler when I was thinking about how much of a happy shock this was." Yugi searched his face. "Even Timaeus is scared, despite how willing he is to help. I can see it on his face and in his stance. He looks at Yami like he's a miracle, but there's that stiffness in his muscles that says he's terrified as well."

Atem opened his mouth.

"It's not your fault." Yugi sat up and met his eyes, expression unrelenting. "It's not. You have a right to privacy just like the rest of us. No one is arguing with Jaden and trying to encroach on him. The fact is he's targeting you because you don't roll over for him like he was expecting. Sky Dragons aren't usually ones for confrontation and he took your species for weakness. He deserves to get his brains boxed from his head. And maybe it's scary to think he might try to declare war on us if he finds out about Yami, but that'll just be another thing we weather. Just as Yami's magic and everything will be. Once he's trained and knows how to hone his skills, he'll be fine. You'll see. We just have to get there."

He tilted his head. "You believe that?"

Yugi grinned at him. "Why would I tell you if I didn't?" he asked softly, laughing when Atem narrowed his eyes skeptically. "I'm not going to offer false comfort when there's so much at stake, Atem. That's not fair on any of us."

Atem nodded slightly. "Good."

"But I will say I believe in you. You're a lot smarter and more capable than you give yourself credit for, Atem." Yugi paused and glanced over his shoulder. "Speaking of, I don't think we can underestimate Yami, either. He's taking a lot more after you than I was expecting. He's smarter than he pretends and he's probably capable of just as much as you. I think it just requires us teaching him to utilize it."

"How? I don't have his abilities. You don't, either." Atem shivered when Yugi turned back to him. He wasn't upset, and Atem marveled at it. Why wasn't he? He should have been. Atem was all but discounting his ability to lead Yami. But it was true. Yugi wasn't a God Dragon, and Atem had no such powers. "I don't know how to teach him something I can't do myself."

"That may be something he learns on his own. But you've managed to block him almost completely. He says he still gets drifting thoughts and feels your emotions a lot of the time, but it's not to where he can see or hear it. So, maybe if we teach him somehow to block those abilities for a short time…"

Atem felt sick. "But that's… I feel like we'd be hurting him."

"I don't like the idea by any stretch. But it may be necessary." Yugi shook his head and lowered his eyes. "But if Jaden can't sense him, then it's all the better for us, right?"

"We don't know that he can."

"We also don't know he can't."

Atem faltered. "But what if this hurts him?"

"And what if it saves him?"

They looked at each other quietly for a long moment. Atem shuffled his paws and turned his attention to his claws, flexing them. Yugi leaned over to rub against him, sighing softly.

"I don't know if it'll hurt him. I don't know if it will save him. I don't know anything. I'm doing this by wing, Atem. I don't know how we can help him. I don't even know if we need to. But we've never asked if he wants to read minds or feel others' emotions or drift through dreams. We've never questioned it because it was never a thought to suppress it. Now might be reason enough to teach him to."

"I don't know how to suppress mine. I don't even know if I have any."

Yugi huffed. "Atem…"

"I know. I know. I'm not…" He sighed. "I just don't know that I have any. If I do, I've never used them consciously."

He opened his mouth to answer, then stopped short. Atem looked past the Gandora just as Yugi turned around. Yami was walking straight toward them, head raised and eyes on Atem. He stopped a few feet away, then plopped down.

"Timaeus is still asleep. I snuck out." He blinked and looked at Atem, tilting his head. For a moment he seemed to pick his words, and then he shuffled closer, eyes sparkling and ethereal. "Teach me to fly."

The blunt statement made Yugi blink and then grin, snickering. Atem tilted his head, peering at him in surprise for a split second. He hadn't shown any interest prior. After the initial attempt to breathe fire, Yami had shied away from it. That he wanted to learn now genuinely shocked him.

Atem glanced at Yugi. "Have you tried teaching him to breathe fire again?"

His mate shot a guilty glance toward their son. "No, I… After what happened, I haven't tried again. Sorry, Yami." He looked at Atem. "But maybe you should teach him instead. You know how to breathe ice, too. You probably have a better insight into how to pick your fire lungs."

Atem tilted his head. "It's wind and water lungs opened at the same time, with the wind magic more concentrated for the cold." He faltered and then glanced at Yami. "I can teach you to fly, sure. We just have to get you breathing fire first. It helps keep you in flight."

Yami trembled with excitement. "Okay!"

Yugi looked so proud he might burst, chin raised and eyes bright with affection. Atem glanced at him but kept his attention mostly on Yami when he murmured, "When did you want to start?"

"Now!"

Atem snorted. "Oh, little ember, we can't now. It's too dark. Someone might see it and panic." He wrapped his tail around his paws. "You should never use your fire breath unless absolutely necessary after dark. It tends to be a panic signal when you utilize it otherwise."

Yami shifted his weight, as if he wanted to jump up and protest but realized it was too childish. "Oh, okay. Then t-tomorrow?"

Atem nodded. "Sure."

"Stop wiggling!" Yugi laughed. "You can't breathe fire if you're wiggling!"

Atem snickered. "Stop lecturing my son about stances. I'm trying to teach him."

Timaeus smirked where he lay several yards back, paws crossed and eye locked on them. Yugi smirked and swiped at Atem who dodged aside and burst out laughing when the Gandora growled, "Your son, huh? When he wants to learn to fly again, he's your son. Is that it?"

"Yep!" Yami chirped, grinning wider when Yugi turned his head and gaped for a split second.

Atem laughed harder and trotted aside, smirking. "Even Yami knows how this works. Why are you so confused?" he teased. Yugi spun and leaped at him, missing by barely a wing when he landed. Atem stopped behind him and smirked at Yami. "You should know by now. If he wants something from me, he's my son. The rest of the time, he's all yours."

Yugi laughed. "So, then really he's all mine until he needs you."

Atem smirked. "He's yours unless he asks for something. Then he's all mine." He dodged when Yugi swiped again. "I mean, one of us has to provide for him properly."

Timaeus guffawed and Yugi stumbled, so startled he tripped before he began snickering as well. Atem circled back and grinned, then turned to Yami with a smirk.

"See that? Even he knows."

Yami smiled wider, then looked at Yugi and raised his head. "Slacker!"

"Wow," Timaeus laughed. "He even has Yami in agreement with him."

Yugi swatted him and hurried over to Atem. "You stop lying to our son."

"My son," the Sky Dragon corrected, smirking, "and I have some fire breathing exercises to do. So simmer down over there, Gandora."

Yugi butted him in the hip and bit his leg playfully before moving a few feet away. He took a seat and wrapped his tail around his paws, sitting straighter and watching intently. Atem considered him a moment, then turned back, and Yami found himself excited but terrified. Atem's ability had come to the surface, sharp and terrible like claws and warm as the blood in his own veins. He suppressed a shiver and shifted his weight, peering up at his father.

"Stand straight as you can, lift your head, and breathe in deeply."

Yami hesitated a moment, curious, but followed instructions. He drew the deepest breath he could and held it as Atem seemed to. He could hear it when Atem began to sort it throughout the sets of organs. He heard the flicker of fire, the stir of wind, the crackle of lightning, and the soft ripple of water. Each had a strange but powerful aura, trembling and magnificent as the air seemed to quiver and dance. He felt them all in different parts of his body, making his scales itch or his wings tremble or his teeth tingle.

Yugi remained as he was, seated and watching him with brilliant eyes. Yami wondered if he'd be embarrassed or crestfallen if Yami failed yet again and the thought made his entire body feel cold. He didn't want either of them disappointed in him…

Atem tilted his head, staring down at him in bewilderment. He'd ceased the breathing exercise at some point, and the power Yami had sensed brewing beneath his scales had dissipated again. He ducked his head, ashamed, and mumbled, "Sorry."

Timaeus shifted his weight and peered at them in confusion. Yugi frowned and tilted his head. Atem watched him with an unreadable expression for a moment, then butted his shoulder.

"It's easier if you don't expect a lot," he mumbled, just loud enough Yami could hear. "If you don't go into this expecting to fail, you won't. And if you don't go into this expecting to perfect it, the disappointment is minimal if it even exists. If you take it one moment at a time, everything is less daunting."

Yami blinked and tilted his head, eyes stretching wide. Was that how Atem coped with things? It seemed impossible to imagine he wasn't aware of just how strong he was and how certain his movements and powers were. But if he expected a mediocre performance from everything and went into a fight wondering whether it would be his last, it made sense. He didn't expect to make it out of skirmishes unscathed. He'd never gotten into a fight where he assumed he'd win immediately or he'd have the power to avoid every attack. He went in thinking he'd do his best and if it surpassed his expectations then that was all for the better.

It was Yugi who thought to do things at their best or it wasn't enough. He was the one with high expectations that faded only when he didn't meet them. But he didn't give up. Yami knew that from his memories. Yugi had struggled with that net for over a moon. He'd set it and tested it and half the time the rocks he'd used to weigh it down had gotten snagged in the branches and refused to yield.

Yami frowned and hissed, "What if it doesn't work?"

"Then you try again." Atem smiled. "Just because your expectations are lessened doesn't mean your will needs to be."

The hatchling hesitated a moment, wondering. If his expectations were lowered, but his determination was still high, didn't it still leave room for disappointment? And it wasn't his own he worried about. He just didn't want Yugi or Atem or even Timaeus to look at him and judge him as too small or too young or—

"You do your best and that's all that ever matters, Yami."

The words made him falter. Yami blinked and tilted his head, then smiled faintly and looked down. "And what if my best isn't good enough?"

"Your best is always good enough. You don't have to meet everyone else's expectations. Your own are the only ones that matter. Focus on your goals and you'll go farther than worrying about what Yugi or I might think."

He flinched, looking up. "How did you…?"

"Because you worry too much, like I do. I always think too much. It makes everything harder when the time comes to do what I said I would." Atem butted him again. "It won't change our opinions of you, whether you thrive now or need more time. It doesn't matter."

Yami blinked and tilted his head. "But…I'm supposed to be a God Dragon."

"Divinity doesn't mean perfection. It took me a long time to realize, but I'll tell you sooner so that it doesn't weigh you down as it did me." Atem smirked. "You're already ahead of me in life now."

He grinned, unable to stop himself puffing his chest out. Atem snickered and butted his shoulder again.

"Want to try again?"

Yami considered a moment, the impulse to shake his head and decide against it stronger than he wanted to admit. And then he nodded. "Okay."

Atem straightened and drew in a deep breath as he had before. Yami listened to the sound of each set of lungs as they opened once more. He concentrated on the noise, drawing in his own breath and holding it. He felt each element in his chest, surging forward to the surface all at once, and the sensation was overwhelming but somehow comforting as well. When he looked at Atem again, the God Dragon had tilted his head once more, studying him intently.

"All right?"

Yami nodded slightly, feeling lightheaded for a split second. But the pressure on his lungs seemed to fade. He blinked and the sensation lessened to a pleasant humming in his chest. All of his lungs were still open, demanding his attention, but it felt softer and easier to handle now. Something about the way Atem looked down at him made the pressure lessen, and the chill in his bones turned to vibrant warmth. He could have purred if he were not trying to hold his breath and maintain his focus.

"Do you feel the power in each of them?"

Yami nodded again, blinking. It felt amazing, but terrifying as well.

"Good. Focus on that for a moment. Embrace it."

He tilted his head, searching his face for a moment. It occurred to him if something happened, Atem could handle it. There was a reason he'd survived so long like this. He'd bloodied his claws and lost his will and struggled and dragged himself from the dirt more than once. He could do it again, no matter the circumstance. If Yami messed up now, Atem could just as easily fix it.

He shifted his weight and tried to focus on the heat in his chest, where he knew his fire breath lurked. It sparked and slithered in his lungs, singing and dancing about. He shivered and shrugged the fear away. Atem could handle it. If something went wrong, Atem could handle it…

Of course he could.

"Focus on it. Center yourself." Atem looked him over, then took a few steps back. Yami had the impulse to hurry after him, but it died when he saw the calculating expression on his father's face. Atem was judging distance. He was working in his head where he could stand to allow Yami to breathe fire, but also to counter any potential incident as he'd caused before.

"Okay…focus and release, Yami."

Yami hesitated a moment, then shifted his weight. He pressed his weight into his right paw and lowered his upper body to a crouch, angling his head slightly up, and exhaled heavily.

The flame was bright blue at the core, white to the edges, and black as Yugi's scales at the very tips. It danced and crackled and the smoke it released was instant and suffocating. Yami blinked several times, risking a glance at Yugi as he ran out of air.

Atem tilted his head and looked over. "And now we know he's related to you."

Yugi burst out laughing as he raced over to them. Timaeus hovered where he was for a moment, then came forward to celebrate as well. Yami was butted, licked and nuzzled more times than he could count. Yugi was by far the most persistent in showering him with affection, while Atem was somewhat more wary though excited for him all the same. When he smiled, Yami thought it looked awkward and slightly tight.

"Your fire breath is a lot stronger than mine," Atem said quietly, studying him intently. His eyes were both sharp and faraway, as if he were dazed by the realization. Yami didn't know what to make of the expression. "I…I would have assumed so, but…"

Yugi looked over in confusion. "Atem?"

The God Dragon blinked again, then shook his head slightly and butted Yami's shoulder gently once more. "It doesn't matter."

Yami wished his defenses weren't so sharp. He wished with everything in him that he could see his thoughts, read them and peer into whatever murky water Atem seemed to be struggling against.

There was a small moment of silence as Atem considered him again. His expression turned thoughtful as he tilted his head and watched him intently. "I suppose we could try flying later today, if you'd like. But you'd need more control of your fire breath before then. So take some time to practice breathing it some more." He looked at Yugi. "I'm hungry, so I'm going to get some fish. I'll be back."

Yugi blinked. "Don't be too late returning. You don't want his first attempt to fly to be in the dark, remember? We don't know if he can see as well in the dark as he can in the day."

Yami frowned. "I can see perfectly at both times of day," he interrupted the potential squabble, flustered when all three adults looked at him as if he were crazy. "I can see further than all three of you, too."

Yugi glanced at Atem with a bewildered expression. "Like when you saw Atem with the female at the river? Is that what you mean?"

Yami nodded, pleased for a single second before Atem's expression turned from surprise to mild anger. He fought a flinch and instead took a seat, looking at Timaeus as he continued. At least Timaeus didn't seem upset with him.

"I've tracked Daddy through the territory before. He usually goes to the sunbathing stone, then swims for a while or goes to the forest past there to the cliffs. He likes to sit down at the lowest and watch the humans some nights. Others he likes to wander toward the valley and watch some of the deer before he goes fishing. There's this…perch that he sometimes sits on and just watches the birds, too."

Yugi stared at Atem, expression unreadable. Timaeus glanced over after a moment as well. Atem eyed Yami uncertainly before huffing, "Stop staring at me. I do exactly as he said. It helps me think, all right?"

Yugi turned to Yami immediately after. "When you say you see him, what does that mean? Do you see everything else or is it just Atem?"

"It was just Atem for a while—or you. But then it started growing. I…I see almost everything now. I've seen the humans, but I don't usually understand what they're doing, so that doesn't mean much. I see a lot of the animals but I don't always know what they are, so I don't know what they're doing. And it took a really long time, but now I see the surrounding areas whenever Atem is present in them." He paused and shuffled his paws. "I have to try to use it, though. I can still see to the river now, but I have to try harder to see past that. I only ever do it in order to make sure Atem is okay when he leaves."

Atem blinked. Yugi froze for a second. Timaeus snorted, "If I ever doubted he was related to Yugi prior, it's gone now. You both worry needlessly all the time."

Atem burst out laughing and shot his friend a glare. Yami blinked and smiled warmly, looking at Timaeus with a strange but vibrant relief. The teal dragon truly believed Atem capable of handling anything that came his way. He didn't worry about Atem as Yugi so often did, though Yami understood their relationships with the dragon were completely different.

Timaeus didn't feel the need to fear for Atem so often because he knew the other male's capabilities and his friendship went no further than deep rooted affection. Yugi was worried so often because he loved Atem so much and knew so much more of his past than Timaeus likely did. It made sense for him to worry as he did, and for Timaeus to simply rely upon his knowledge of Atem's capabilities rather than concern himself constantly as to his wellbeing.

Yugi felt he had to protect him from each and every thing that might pose a threat, while Timaeus thought only to step in when Atem was truly ruffled. Yugi had overstepped more than once, and Timaeus had often been forced to step in to stop worse bloodshed when he allowed Atem to test his claws on an opponent. Both of their mannerisms had merit depending on situation.

"I think Daddy can beat anyone or anything!" he declared, sitting up taller. Atem looked over, still laughing, and tilted his head. "I just…like to know where he is."

Timaeus snorted. "Because you worry all the time like Yugi. Don't even bother denying it." He butted Yami gently and smirked at Yugi. "I know those worry genes are passed along to hatchlings."

Yugi scowled and swiped at him playfully. Atem smirked, saying, "I wouldn't question it" and Yugi pounced on him. Atem laughed and shrugged him off using a wing, dodging the second attack.

Yami wondered, not for the first time, why every day couldn't be so easy and light on Atem's shoulders. The God Dragon seemed so rarely genuinely happy. Usually he forced it, even to the point of teasing Yugi or Yami with a slightly quieter tone. It always made Yami's stomach ache to see him trying so hard not to impose his worries on them.

Maybe the discussion before had helped…

He hoped so.

Yami turned to Atem again as the God Dragon shrugged Yugi off once more. Yugi huffed as he hit the ground and took a seat, glaring at him playfully. Yami could see he was looking for an opening to spring at him when he least expected.

And that made him wonder if Yugi truly understood just how close he came to being struck down every time he did.

Atem had always remembered himself so far. But Yami wondered if Yugi knew that Atem's first response was to go for his throat immediately. It happened so quickly in Atem's head that Yami didn't think even he noticed it, so surely Yugi couldn't have.

But Yami did.

He felt the trickle of power in his father's muscles, followed by the immediate release of tension as he once again blocked Yugi away with his wing.