Chapter XXIII: Senses

Yugi looked up as they came closer to the clearing. Timaeus was lying on his back, legs folded against his stomach, as Yami pounced upon his belly. He was laughing and growling about how fierce he was to take down the Knight Dragon. Yugi assumed it was to distract Yami while he and Atem had talked. It had turned into an awkward mounting, after all, and likely Timaeus had worked to distract him should Yami have made any inclination toward it. He still didn't know why Atem had become so insistent that he do so, but he had accepted it regardless. And, as they'd moved about the trees and wandered back to the den, Atem had merely spoken quietly and refused to answer him when he'd asked if he was okay.

It wasn't until he saw them playing about that he realized Atem seemed oddly as if he felt guilty. When he looked over at the red male, Atem was watching Timaeus and Yami intently. He glanced at Yugi sideways, expression almost unreadable, and smiled faintly when he pointed his beak toward them. Yugi smiled in turn, deciding for the moment that whatever guilt he read in Atem's posture would need to be addressed another time.

"I don't think he's ever done that even for Critias," Atem whispered, leaning toward him. "I would remember if he'd ever done so for me."

Yugi looked over, grinning. "Is someone jealous?"

"Well, slightly," Atem grumbled. "I could have used the practice for leaping."

Yugi snorted. "You had no problem leaping. Don't even."

The red male smirked. "Okay, maybe not, but it still would have been nice to be able to."

"Well, if it makes you feel better, you can leap on me anytime."

Atem burst out laughing and Yami fell over the side of Timaeus's leg, yelping with shock. The Wind Dragon rolled over and got to his paws, shaking himself out. Atem kept his eyes on Yugi, tilting his head and grinning as the Gandora laughed and raised his chin as if he were provoking him to respond.

"It does me such good now!"

Yugi laughed and licked his face, hearts warming with affection. "It's not my fault it's a missed opportunity," he snickered. "I didn't know you back when it would have mattered."

Atem shook his head, still smiling, and turned away only when Yami came running over. He bumped beaks with them both in greeting, then took a seat and announced, "You went toward the river, near the den I hatched in but further south. You lingered around the humans' herb garden and recited what Timaeus said that day when he was showing Yugi how to make the poultice. Then, Yugi met with you when you began to follow the river again toward the foothills. And then you guys spoke about everything and I spoke to Timaeus and we started play-fighting while we waited for you to finish."

Yugi blinked and felt an intense wave of embarrassment crash through him. Yami definitely knew what they'd been doing. He'd more or less witnessed it due to his abilities. Whether he'd paid enough attention to know the full extent of it or not was something else, but he had a feeling Yami knew it all the same. He'd likely seen it in memories at some point, when he himself thought vaguely of the ordeal.

He wondered then what Yami might have thought of their conversation prior. What might he have thought of the discussion about him and Timaeus? Had it upset him or had he merely acknowledged that they knew? Was he nervous about it?

Yugi shook his head slightly. Atem kept his eyes on Yami, but Yugi could tell his peripheral was glued to Timaeus as well. "Was it easier to focus on everything when I joined him? Or was I wrong about that?"

"No, you were right. It became easier when you were together. It's not nearly as hard to concentrate when you're both in the same spot." Yami tilted his head. "I mostly focused on Atem. He asked me to track him, so I paid him the most attention."

Yugi nodded. "That makes sense."

Atem stretched and yawned, teeth clicking like the sound of rocks tumbling. He straightened, lurched forward to stretch his back legs, and arched his spine before shaking himself out. "I'm going to sleep," he announced, glancing at the sky for a moment before turning to Timaeus. "If you'd be so inclined as to return my son to the den later, I'd be happy."

The Wind Dragon snickered and smirked. "What happened? Your old age finally caught up to you?"

Atem snorted. "I was going to argue, but I really can't."

Yugi laughed and butted his shoulder before turning back. Yami was watching Atem intently, as if he were waiting on something. It occurred to him only when the God Dragon turned to look at Yami again that he realized what it was.

"You were right. I followed the river, I visited the human garden, I wandered toward the foothills and Yugi found me."

The words made Yami tremble and then puff his chest out with his chin raised. Yugi smiled and shook his head, studying their son with a warm look as he considered the two of them. The expression on Atem's face was warm but guarded and Yami looked so proud of himself he might burst. The contrast between them made Yugi almost snicker.

But the thought struck him again. Was Atem still so afraid of Yami's abilities? Or was he wary due to his lack of sleep? He didn't know what to make of their interaction at the moment but for Atem had clearly made Yami the happiest little dragonet alive.

The moment broke when Yami rushed forward to rub beaks and lick Atem's forehead. The God Dragon snorted, butted his shoulder, and turned to wander off. Yugi watched Yami turned tail to race over and pounce on Timaeus again, who laughed and swatted at him. He watched Yami tumble about, far too fast for Timaeus to dodge or knock aside, and smiled when he made eye contact with his son. Yami leaped like a doe over Timaeus's wings and landed close to him, panting before rubbing beaks with him as well.

"Dad is going to want you to lay with him," Yami mumbled, tilting his head. "He seems…unsettled."

Yugi nodded and licked his forehead. He was sure Yami was right. Atem was always restless when they mounted, though this time he seemed unusually so. He didn't know what had made him so closed off and guilty, but he supposed he'd find out when Atem cared to share. For the moment he'd have to wait and see if his presence helped at all.

"Got it," he teased, butting his rump and turning away. When he glanced back, Yami had taken off to play with Timaeus again.

It was only when Yugi vanished from sight that Yami paused to catch his breath. He huffed and took a seat as Timaeus looked over curiously. He blinked and grinned, springing to his paws once more.

"You don't have to stay up with me. You're probably tired, too."

Timaeus snorted. "I'm used to being awake later. Critias was prone to being awake late at night and Kris couldn't keep up with him most times." He tilted his head. "Besides, if I went to sleep, what would you do?"

Yami tilted his head. "I like to watch the territory until I can fall asleep. The river is soothing." He got up and circled around a moment, wondering how Atem had ever gotten used to sleeping without expelling the energy in his limbs. It made no sense. How did he lay down with Yugi and not become so restless he had to get up and wander? He almost wondered if that was why some of his nightmares were so vivid. Maybe when he didn't expel enough energy he got nightmares. If that was true… How did Atem even sleep? It would have been nightly. "I wouldn't leave the den, if that's what you're worried about."

"No, you're not the one I'd worry about wandering away in the middle of the night," Timaeus snickered. He got up and shook himself out. A fine sheen of dust glittered in the air as it fell from his scales. "When I healed your father's side, he tried to leave the den and I had to sit on him to keep him in place."

Yami blinked and stared at him, struggling to picture it. "Really?"

"He was so excited and wanted to go out that night because he wasn't tired yet. He was barely a head taller than you, so he was easily managed. Anyways, he insisted he wanted to go out and his night vision is terrible and he was newly healed so I told him to go to bed. When he insisted he wanted to leave the den and I told him no, he reminded me I wasn't his father. And then he decided to threaten to poop on my head."

Yami laughed before he could stop himself, grinning and shaking his head. "No way!" He grinned wider. "Daddy threatened to poop on your head?"

"He did; little menace he was." Timaeus smirked and closed his eye, shaking his head. He sighed and the sound made Yami's entire body feel warm. "So, I told him to take it back and when he didn't and insisted he was going to leave, I let him wander a few feet, then sprang on him and sat on him. I had to pin his wings so he couldn't knock me off, but I did it all the same. He squirmed and struggled for hours and then finally fell asleep sometime after arguing with me."

Yami laughed and looked away, shaking his head and smiling wider. "That's amazing."

Timaeus turned to him. "You remind me a lot of him."

He raised his chin proudly, chest puffed out again.

"And Yugi," he chuckled. He shook his head. "But, thankfully, you actually have two parents willing to do anything for you. You don't have siblings to contend with or the envy Atem had to constantly navigate."

Yami frowned. "Who…who did that to Atem's side? He…he dreams about it sometimes, in little flashes, but I've never seen who did it."

Timaeus was quiet for a moment, then he snarled softly. "You've already met the brother responsible for it," he hissed. He huffed and flexed his claws. "And if Atem weren't so against needless bloodshed, I'd have killed him long ago for it."

He nodded and turned away. "Seto was…happy to see me—or at least he seemed to be. Maybe it wasn't happiness, so much as it was amazement. But he was…excited. I felt that much." He looked over. "Is… Is Atem right when he says Seto could get us all killed if he tells everyone about me?"

"It's not your fault if it comes to a fight," Timaeus said simply, huffing. "Atem didn't mean to imply it that way. He's just scared."

"No, I…I know that. I just… Is he right?"

"Yes." He looked over again and flexed his claws. The sound of them cutting into the ground made Yami bristle with surprise. Timaeus curled his toes closer to himself and Yami saw the grooves in the dirt with a sickening feeling. He couldn't imagine what damage the other dragon could do if he were to utilize them in a fight. "If Seto opens his mouth enough about your existence, it can lead to battle. You're…a miracle. And that means you're going to be sought after."

"No," Yami argued, voice growing angry, "say it as it is. I know Atem is terrified of me sometimes. I shouldn't exist. That's the truth of it. He would never hurt me, but he's always afraid. He knows I could be dangerous in the future. And I won't be sought after. I'll be hunted."

Timaeus stared at him for a long time, then laughed and looked away with a sharp shake of his head. "You're right. As far as Yugi and I are concerned, you're a miracle. But to everyone else? You're someone who should not exist and you're an omen. You won't be sought after more than you'll be hunted as a scourge." He turned back. "But the whole point of the three of us being here is to prevent that for as long as possible."

"But it won't be forever. It can't last forever," Yami whispered. "At some point it will get out. Atem will suffer for it. Yugi will suffer for it. You will suffer for it. I… Is it worth it?"

"It's not worth it. You're worth it."

Yami blinked, then smiled slightly and looked away. He shifted his weight and glanced toward the den, considering the path and wondering if his parents were asleep. He would have peeked in at them, but whatever was weighing Atem down likely didn't require his assistance. He'd probably only make it worse.

"What if it turns to war?" he asked quietly, turning back after a moment. "Jaden will want me dead. And Atem won't let it happen. So what if it turns into war?"

"Then I guess I'll die fighting," Timaeus said with a huff. "I don't understand why you're asking me this, Yami."

"Bloodshed like this seems so…needless."

"Bloodshed usually is. Wars are prominent shows of force with no admirable outcome. Between the two of us, the only reason I'd participate in one is for you or Atem. Yugi is a…close second," he added when Yami tilted his head. The dragonet snickered and shifted his weight. "But, truthfully, if it comes to that, I have no doubt between Atem and Yugi we'll find a way to stem the flow."

"That's a lot of faith to put in them."

"If I didn't have faith in Atem, I would never have bothered to check up on him every mating cycle. Yami, I know you're in the dark about a lot of things despite your abilities, but there's a reason so many dragons choose to live in Atem's region rather than another. He's considered a myth at times, and a scourge others. He's feared throughout neighboring areas and his strength is rumored to be a thousand times more than others'. To be frank, I never bought into rumors about the other God Dragons. But Atem? I'd believe all of it." Timaeus shook his head. "I've seen him at his weakest when he scraped himself off the ground and still got up and survived. I've seen him kill and I've watched him grow. I've witnessed when he makes the worst decisions and the best. If anyone can take down Jaden or Yusei or the Leviathan, it's Atem."

Yami blinked and then nodded. "I know."

"Then why worry?"

"I don't want anyone to get hurt because of me." He paused, then laughed softly. "It's inevitable, though. I know it is. Atem doesn't worry so much without there being reason. And Seto… I know he's spoken about me. I…I can feel it."

Timaeus blinked. "Feel it?"

"It's like when someone says your name and you turn around? I…I feel it like that, but…more? When someone says my name, I… It's like my scales are itchy."

The Knight Dragon stared at him uncertainly. "You…feel it when you're being spoken about?"

Yami nodded slightly. "It's…weird."

"Do you know what's being said?"

"No. Not…usually. I only know for sure when Atem or Yugi are talking about me." He blinked. "I think that's because they're my fathers, though."

Timaeus smiled faintly. "I see."

Yami tilted his head. "Really?"

"I think so." He relaxed his claws and shifted his weight to lay more comfortably, back legs angled toward Yami and belly half-exposed. "I don't think Atem would want me telling you the myth, but there was a fifth God Dragon at one time. She was considered stronger than the rest and it was rumored she could hear it when others spoke of her. It was usually in prayer, which meant whenever her name was said she was able to hear what someone wished for. She would Bless them accordingly to what their hearts desired."

Yami snorted. "I can't Bless anyone!" he laughed. "And I don't hear wishes. I just hear my name."

"It's also just a legend, Yami. It could just be your father's paranoia is getting to you. Considering how much alike you are to Atem, it wouldn't surprise me in the slightest."

Yami huffed. "That's mean."

"It's also far more likely."

He hesitated. "There was a fifth God Dragon, though?"

Timaeus's expression turned sour, eye flashing as he grimaced and turned away. "Yeah, but you'll have to ask Atem or Yugi to tell you about it sometime. It's not my place to teach you things like that."

"Okay."

The silence they fell into was not wholly uncomfortable, but it was not as warm as it would have been otherwise. Timaeus turned to him again after a while, studying him with a guilty expression. Yami smiled to show he was not upset, but the expression only made Timaeus look away again. A few seconds passed between them before Yami finally turned to him with his head tilted.

"Timaeus?"

The Wind Dragon immediately raised his head and looked at him with a puzzled expression. When Yami did not respond to the change of posture, Timaeus tilted his head and shifted a little closer. "Yes?"

He opened and closed his mouth, then paused as he reconsidered. Now likely wasn't the best time, but the thought of sitting back and waiting so much longer was exhausting. "Can I ask you something?"

He blinked, eye glinting with caution. "Of course," he said gently. "What is it?"

Yami found the ground suddenly far more interesting. He flexed his claws and narrowed his eyes and drew in a deep breath. "Is…is six moons too young to be in love?" he asked. But his tone came out demanding much to his chagrin and he felt small and far too young all over again. He ignored the tiny voice in the back of his head that hissed he was too young for everything. "I mean, do you think it's possible?"

Timaeus was quiet for a long time. "I believe it's possible, yes. Yugi was in love with Atem the moment he saw him and he was only six moons old," he said slowly, voice soft. "But it's not common and it's likely considered impossible because of that."

Yami blinked and looked up. "So, do you think it's…genetic?"

"The ability to love earlier in life? No, of course not. I think it just depends on the dragon in question." Timaeus yawned and put his head down, tilting his head to press his cheek into his paw and peer at him. He smiled and flicked his tongue. "Why? Are you in love with someone?"

"I think so?"

The Wind Dragon stared at him for a long moment. Then he got up and shook himself out. When he stretched again his back popped and he sat with his wings against his sides. "It's a flattering concept, but you're too young for me right now," he said gently.

Yami was on his paws in an instant, growling. "I didn't say it was you!" he snapped. "I... You're a dog-butt!"

Timaeus burst out laughing and leaned forward to lick his forehead. "You're so cute. I don't know what to do with you," he teased. But he tilted his head, losing his smile again. "Listen, Yami, if you still feel this way when you're older, then maybe we can discuss this. But for now, little one, I think it's safe to say otherwise."

Yami shook himself out, then huffed and took a seat with a frown. "What if I'm never old enough?" he whined. "I feel like I'm too young for everything!"

"Everyone feels that way for a while. You'll miss your youth when you get older. Everyone does." Timaeus smiled kindly, butting his shoulder. "When you're younger everything is much easier."

He grimaced. "It wasn't easier for Father."

And he had the feeling it wouldn't be easier for him, either.