'Hathor of Dendera… Daughter of Ra… Your name spouts greatness up till the stars…'
Distant words hummed in Atem's mind as he woke up.
He didn't feel the initial strength to pull himself into a sitting position. Slowly, he was able to securely sit properly, looking into the eyes of the two who usually greeted him.
"Good morning, my lord!"
They said, unified.
Atem groaned quietly, looking around the room with a drowsy face. The sun made his head ache; the Pharaoh rubbed his temples gently until the headache slowly faded a little.
"Are you well, this morning, your greatness?" The two said, unified, again. Atem simply nodded in silence, standing up and walking to the groomers room where he threw away his bedclothes and hopped into his bath without a second thought. His body was sweaty, he stank like a mule, and all he needed was a bath and massage to loosen up all of his tightness from yesterday.
The warmth engulfed him like a hug. He sank downwards in water, so the level just went above his mouth, and closed his eyes, letting out a gentle sigh of relief under the water, creating small bubbles.
"We have a few choices for your oils today, thyme, lavender, peppermint, cedar, rose, and almond." The main one in charge of bathing atem in good scents spoke while Atem stared at the ceiling. "We also have a sweet cinnamon bark blend, which we can layer on top of another scent if you want. But be wary, it may burn a little."
"Do we not have any Jasmine and Coconut oil left?" Atem inquired, his head tilting to meet the dark eyes of the groomer. He sadly shook his head.
"We have someone gathering and making more, however for now, we do not."
"Shame." Atem huffed, "Okay, could you use a lavender, cedarwood, rose blend please?"
"Whatever you wish, sir."
Atem loved layering smells.
They tended to last longer.
He stepped out of his bath, stretching out and waiting for one of the servants to dry him, which they did swiftly.
Atem stood patiently as the other two dressers in the grooming chamber grabbed his freshly washed and dried clothes, dressing him in them and leading him to the stool for his makeup and hair to be done.
As they were grabbing the stuff they needed, Siamun walked in and closed the door, latching it behind him.
"Because we cannot have you storming away from your duties, I am warning you now." Siamun crossed his arms, his face more serious than usual. Atem gave a light smile.
"What? It can't be that bad."
"The thief that desacrated your father's tomb returned, stole everything remaining and has escaped."
The Pharaoh sat in silence for a moment. He processed each word over and over in his mind, his heart bleeding with each replay in his mind. The young king stood up, the stool being kicked to the ground and the brush in his hair being torn away from him, pulling his hair harshly. Atem gave a quick glare to the hairstylist, followed by meek apologies from them, and slowly began pacing around the room, ignoring Siamun's attempts to grab his attention.
"Please sir, sit down."
Atem gave Siamun an angry face, "Is anything left?"
He didn't speak.
"Is ANYTHING left, Siamun?!"
"Only stuff he did not take with him to the afterlife."
The King shoved the old man away and stormed to the door, furiously trying to unlatch the door. The man grabbed Atem by his undecorated collar and pulled him back.
"Where do you think you're off to, Atem?"
"UNHAND ME, SIAMUN!" Atem yelled, trying to struggle out of Siamun's firm grip on him.
"I am not letting you leave this room without your kohl or hair done! You would be a disgrace to the gods!"
The man dragged the young Pharaoh back to his stool, standing it back up with his foot, and nudged him until he finally sat down unwillingly.
Atem bit his wobbling lip, staring at the ground.
"Don't go crying again." Siamun yelled, "You'll spill your Kohl. This is why I didn't tell you in the hall, you would run off again and you wouldn't get anyhthing done!"
Atem didn't speak. Silently, the makeup artist and hairstylist continued their work - the hairstylist finishing up with the work faster than the makeup artist who required more precision.
The artist tried his best to apply Atem's kohl in a neat, speedy fashion, struggling to do so with Atem refusing to look up from the floor. It was rare to see Siamun this serious and worked up; the makeup artist held onto Atem's chin and tried to pull his face upwards, grunting a little in frustration.
"What was that, Azibo?" Atem's eyes looked up to glare at the young artist as he struggled to finish up. He moved the brush away from Atem's face and apologized.
"So sorry..sir.."
Atem grunted and stood up, forcing the door open and leaving angrily. He stomped down the hallway, running into Yugi who was leaving his guest room; though Atem didn't stop to acknowledge him, Yugi followed behind anyway, knowing that there wouldn't really be many other places he could go at the moment.
The Pharaoh sat on his throne, legs crossed tightly, and clapped his hand loudly until Siamun finally caught up. Someone else walked into the audience hall, ready to talk about duties for the day.
"Get me a court audience."
"But sir, these people came to prostr-"
"This is important." Atem snapped.
He waited for everyone to gather, Yugi stood in the corner, away from the rest of the crowd.
The crowd sat down, awkward and unsettled, waiting for Atem to speak.
"I order at least one of you to guard my father's tomb all day until this vermin is squashed."
"But are we not preparing for some prophecy right now?" the lady, Isis, asked, she touched her millennium item, "I have recently felt a disturbance. This child is right, something will happen and-"
"That doesn't MATTER!" Atem boomed, "Have you no respect?! Disgraceful! Isis! You'll be the first one keeping watch! Maybe it'll teach you respect!"
"I… Yes sir.."
He tapped his foot impatiently on the ground, waiting as the court one by one left, Isis giving Yugi a worried glance as she tapped him on the shoulder.
"Here." She took off her Millennium Tauk and placed it in Yugi's hands, whispering into his ear gently with her cool voice, "I have foreseen something terrible. You must take this item and hide it."
"Why me?" Yugi opened up his waist-attached container and placed it in, closing it firmly.
"Because you a-"
"ISIS! MOVE, NOW!" Atem snapped, she nodded and quickly ran off to go perform her obligations.
Yugi walked slowly to Atem. He bit down on his lip, getting up from his throne and approaching the wall, where he muttered to himself. He lifted his arm past his side and threw a harsh punch to the wall, the outer coat cracking and being stained with a light amount of blood as he hit it again.
"Hey… Don't do that." Yugi pulled Atem away from the wall and held his punching hand into his own. Yugi toon a small roll out of his pocket and unraveled it, holding it in his space hand as he carefully inspected the bleeding injury.
"What are yo-"
"Hm… It's not that bad but still.."
Yugi carefully began wrapping the Pharaoh's knuckles tightly, the pressure soothing the sharp sting he felt as he tensed up.
"Hey, I am not dead yet, no need to wrap me already." Atem grumbled. It took Yugi a moment to process what that meant before he laughed quietly.
"I'm covering your wounds so they won't be infected." He could see Atem's anger soothe a little. "If you want to meet your end soon, I can always undo the wrapping and introduce you to some deadly infections."
"I think I am fine. I would rather not meet with Anubis right now."
Atem lets Yugi gently put a little pressure on the wound, wrapping one more time until the blood stops leaking.
"Thank you."
Atem seems flustered.
"I understand that you're upset." Yugi's voice was quiet and soft, unlike the voice he usually projected - one of strength and absolute authority. "Do you want to talk about it?"
"Not really.." Atem frowned, "What are you doing today?"
"Oh, I'm going to the silos and collecting a bit of grain, specifically wheat."
"Wheat? I thought you were protecting me from a war, not making bread. Wheat nor bread will fight off attackers."
"Oh trust me, it will." Yugi grinned, "By the way, where is the place called Kul Elna?"
Atem walked out to the edge of the hall, where many stairs were, and pointed to a distant village on the horizon, shrouded in dark.
"Not many live there."
"Hm.." Yugi tried to stand on his toes to get a better look.
"Do.. Can you see? Want me to pick you up? If you are too short, I can easily scoop you up. " Atem laughed, Yugi shook his head, pouting.
"I have a better idea than being carried by the likes of you, follow me!"
Yugi grabbed Atem's hand and dragged him behind him, sprinting throughout the corridors with absolute confidence despite not particularly knowing if he was going the right way or not. Atem tried to break away from the handhold, finally submitting once Yugi's grip grew tighter. The sound of Yugi's prosthetic crashing against the ground made the Pharaoh's ears hurt.
It must be hard, that metal leg does not seem too steady, he thought.
As they were running, Atem says, "For someone who lost a leg, you sure do run fast."
"I used to run all the time!" Yugi skidded to the side and began running up some stairs to the hall of bedrooms, "I'm a very fast person!"
"I hate running." Atem gasped for breath as Yugi hopped up the steps and stood out onto the balcony where they chatted just the night before.
Silently, the king squinted, trying to spot the far away place. The balcony wasn't at the right angle, Atem sighed to himself, too bad. Atem shrugged.
"You can't see it from th- uh.. what in the name of Ra are you doing?"
Yugi took a piece from the roll he took out before and tied his hair up with it, the breeze making him struggle to make it into a stable bunch of spiky, mismatched hair. He felt along the wall and grabbed onto the brick, jumping over the railing guard and digging his feet into the gaps as he slowly climbed up.
"You'll fall!! You surely can't survive another fall!"
"I won't!"
Yugi grabbed the next brick, his prosthetic foot slipping. He loosely dangled from one hand, huffing. Yugi kicked his prosthetic backwards, detaching it, and caught it with his spare hand. Then, he tucked it behind the gun sheath he wore on his back.
Atem watched nervously and intensely as Yugi managed to scale the wall up onto the roof. He reached his hand out, hanging basically upside down, and waited for Atem to grab it. Then, with as much force as he could muster, Yugi pulled Atem up and helped sit him down on the roof.
"That was impressive."
"That was easy."
Yugi giggled happily, then gave Atem a very cute look, "Where's the place?"
"Oh. Muh.." Atem glanced away for a second - the boy was adorable with his hair tied up. "There."
"So small!"
"Not many reside there." Atem explained, "They are quite poor too, being so far away from the precious Nile makes it hard to gather resources."
He supportively held onto Yugi's back and pointed at a small village far away.
"Wow"
Yugi mused as he grabbed the bricks under him with his hands and flipped off onto the balcony again, landing with a quiet thud.
"Uh. How do I get down?"
"Just jump, I'll catch you if you fall off."
Atem cowered for a long moment before slipping off of the roof. Yugi managed to grab him before he hit his backside on the railing, resting against the railing himself due to his prosthetic being detached, and securely sat him down on the balcony. The Pharaoh shakily stood up, holding onto Yugi's arm as tried to regain his balance. Yugi took his leg from behind his sheath and clipped it on, stamping in place until it clicked properly, and moved it around a few times to make sure it was working fine.
"Were you not going to the farm?" Atem asked curiously. He needed a distraction. He needed something to keep his mind off of everything - his father, the coming battle, the looming threat of his birthday right nearby… He looked into Yugi's eyes. It might be nice to watch the little farms do their quaint work.
"I was."
"May.. May I come?"
"Do I need to bring out the bad Pharaoh speech?" Yugi put his hands on his hips as he began walking to the closest exit - one that led directly outside from their space on the second floor. Atem tailed behind like a duckling.
"I want to see my people working."
"Oh~ What if they're slacking off~? You gonna beat 'em?"
"I.. Do not know what that means." Atem stretched his arms as he walked, "Your language is weird. Whoever taught you to speak was a very bad speaker. And… I do not use physical discipline. It feels wrong."
Yugi gave him an unamused look.
"I know.. I know.. 'Bad Pharaoh' this, 'Bad Pharaoh' that."
Yugi took Atem to the farmlands, the Pharaoh admiring it with awe as he inspected every last inch of it from his place next to his tiny companion.
An old lady stumbled up to the two with a big smile.
"Hello again! Thanks for saving our farms, they're doing great and- Oh! My king! Hello! I did not see you there!"
The old lady dropped to her knees, cracking a little as it popped out of and back in place.
Good.
Atem shook his head, no, he must not be spoiled.
"Stand up, ma'am." Atem gave a small bow, "I do not need you to prostrate right now, for you wish for no blessings, I am-"
"Mrs. Khepri, where are your silos?" Yugi asked politely, cutting off Atem, "Me and the Pharaoh here require wheat. Of course, I will do a fitting trade for whoever can provide."
"Oh, of course! Right this way!" She smiled. "Be careful today, Amun predicts that it will be the hottest day ever as soon as Ra brings the sun above us. Amun is never wrong!"
"Thank you for the warning." Yugi smiled, following her to the little domes of mudbrick. She spoke to somebody, some sweat-filled shirtless man, who nodded and stuck his hand through the slit in the dome, taking out a large batch of wheat.
Yugi took out a large roll of fabric
"Where did you get that?" Atem asked quietly. Yugi shrugged.
"It's better not to ask questions like that, my king."
In the background, Atem heard people asking around, "Someone took my weaving!" and such. He hit Yugi in the shoulder with his elbow, Yugi winced loudly.
"Did you steal that?!" He whispered loudly into Yugi's ear.
"No!! I am just a very good weaver!" He whispered back, smirking afterwards.
The people, thrilled by this trade of material, handed Yugi the wheat.
Yugi waved goodbye and started returning to the Palace, Atem by his side, when the Pharaoh broke the silence with his voice.
"Hey, would you like to be a temporary commander?"
"Huh?"
"You seemed to understand arching well before, and they listened to you.. I was thinking you could maybe train them?"
"Yeah sure." Yugi shrugged, "That works for me. I can train them to be snipers to protect you in the coming event."
After putting the wheat away in Yugi's guest room, while skillfully avoiding Atem's constant questions about what the grain was for or how it would help with anything, Yugi asked to see the grounds he would be responsible for.
Atem nodded, wiping away some sweat from his forehead as he carefully led Yugi to the closest grounds. Small, quaint even, with a few targets and a scuffed, dusty floor. The grounds were used mainly for the main guard, a small collection of soldiers who help protect the Pharaoh specifically during events, audiences and battles.
Ten people did their usual - some practicing arching, some sparring another, two sitting in the corner seemingly resting after a few moments of training. Yugi huffed. What a pathetic display.
"There's a larger ground where the main quarters work, but these are the few who guard me specifically." Atem waved at one of the men, who waved back eagerly. He clapped loudly a few times to get the peoples attention and waited for them to line up in a row.
"Men! From now until further notice, this is your new Commander, Yugi." Atem stomped. The men all stood up straight, "He will teach you how to arch properly and will teach you the strategy and skill you need to become good... Uh.. Um.."
"Snipers." Yugi interrupted. "Would you like me to start now? They could clearly use the…Guidance."
Sure." Atem smiled, "Don't push yourself though. I must leave."
Atem managed to block out Yugi's orders as he got them all to stand up straight in unison. The Pharaoh chuckled, giving one more glance at the boy as he wiped stray sweat from his forehead. The boy seemed like a tough commander to deal with.
Walking along the endless confines of his courtyard, he sat down next to his prized collection of outdoor vases and undid the tie that kept his cape in place.
It really was hot, that lady from before was right in saying so.
He glanced up at the sky, the boundless shades of blue and gold making his eyes ache, his mind rushed with thoughts.
A shadow cast over him.
"Hi 'Temu."
"Mana!" Atem smiled. "Sit."
She did so. "Mahad is watching your fathers tomb. There's no sign of the thief yet."
"Thanks for the update."
An emtpry silence.
"Hey.. Uh.. Atem..?" She placed a hand over Atem's, he didn't fight it despite her hands being sweaty from helping Mahad. "I.. Was wondering.. Since you're almost 18, and we know each other so well.. Could I be.."
She stopped. She watched as Atem seemed to space out.
"Are you okay?"
He snapped out of his trance, pulling his hair away from his face and looking at Mana with teary eyes.
"Why is this happening to me?" Atem asked, "Mana, did I do something wrong?"
"Why?" Mana quietly asked.
"I was told that I'm going to die because people hate me." Atem sighed, "My father's tomb is a husk of its glory, I miss when I was a child, when I did not have to worry about it all.."
He rests his head against Mana's shoulder. "Did my father put up with this burden? All on his own?"
"This isn't your fault" She affirmed, gently wiping away Atem's tears with her thumb. "And, you don't have to put up with it alone. You have me. I'll always be two steps behind you, okay?"
"Thanks Mana."
He grinned. "Oh, what were you asking me?"
"Haha, nothing much!" She laughed, hopping onto her feet, "I.. Uh.. Forgot!"
"Ah. Typical!" He giggled, before turning around. "I'll go check on Yugi."
"O.. Okay.."
She waved, happily? Atem detected a hint of sadness on her. Was he too dense to see how she truly felt? Or was he too emotionally stupid, thinking her happiness was sadness?
He stepped into the training grounds, where he saw Yugi.
Atem wiped his face again, the sun pounding even heavier than before. His dark skin prickled with the heat as he walked up to the traveler.
Yugi stomped his foot into the ground and yelled.
"OI! YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE AN ARCHER, NOT A LITTLE BITCH!!"
The men gave Yugi a confused look, before trying to straighten their backs. Yugi inspected each one closely, he grabbed one of the men's arms and pulled it into a better position.
"You really think you're going to hit anyone like that?!" Yugi snapped, the man he was yelling at whimpered quietly and lifted the bow upwards.
The traveler huffed, storming off back to his spot under the boiling hot sun. He wiped away the thick sweat on his face with a shaky sigh. That fog of tiredness came over him again, Yugi stumbled and hit his back against the pole, watching the people keep on practicing.
"Yugi! How is everything?" Atem greeted.
Yugi glanced at Atem, he barked, "Oh, fucking wonderful! Your 'best soldiers' are stupid! They can barely hold a bow eff.. E.. Eff.."
Yugi trailed off. His eyelids drooped.
"Yugi?" Atem stepped closer. Yugi shuffled away. "Yugi are you doing alright? I am sorry if my soldiers are not up to scratch, but I am sure your training will pay off and- Yugi?"
"Si... Since.. Since when were there two of you.?" Yugi could hear his violent heartbeat in his ears. The world looked like it was being split in two. Yugi stumbled over, he staggered to the men practicing and yelled;
"LIFT HIGHER! YOU'LL NEVE.. NE..." Yugi's voice trailed off. "What was I saying..? Uh... Why.. Am I here?"
Atem slowly walked back up next to Yugi and placed a hand on his shoulder, he could feel the steaming sweat from under Yugi's black clothes.
"You should sit in the shade, it is the hottest day of the-"
"Yami..?"
"Huh?"
"You... Yami.. Ya.." Yugi's eyes were red and teary. He sniffed loudly, before turning around and screamed at the people.
"SERIOUSLY? HOW MANY ARROWS ARE ON THAT TARGET?! YOU NEED THEM ALL ON.."
Yugi felt his eyes slowly close, eyelids heavy. He turned to Atem and held onto his arms, he buried his face into Atem's chest and slowly muttered.
"Hmn.. They're so.." Yugi could feel his knees buckling under his body weight, "What's... Ha.. Who..."
Atem quickly caught Yugi as he slumped into a limp position.
"Yugi!" He pressed his hand against Yugi's cheek, "Oh Lords.. He's burning up.. I need to do something- SIAMUN!!"
The old man rushed over, panting.
"What do you need, sir?"
"I need something to cool Yugi down."
"Alright."
Siamun rushed off. Atem lugged Yugi's unconscious body to the shade of the outdoor corridor. The Pharaoh sat the boy down.
"Is the commander alright, my lord?"
One of the training men walked over and bent down, checking out the boy as he sleepily muttered to himself. Atem shook Yugi, trying to wake him.
"Where am I.."
"You must of overheated." Atem sighed, "Okay, come, breathe with me."
Atem helped Yugi sit up a little straighter, and slowly instructed Yugi to breathe in and out slowly. Yugi didn't seem to be able to, his breath barely able to keep up with Atem's.
Siamun came back with a vessle of cold water and a cloth from the grooming room. Atem gave Siamun an approving nod, ordering to place it next to him.
"Eheheh.. Ehh.. Hehe.." Yugi giggled, his head rolling limply to one side, "Wrinkly..."
"He is dazed." Atem dunked the cloth into the water and let it soak. He used his wet hands to pry away Yugi's top, the leather sticking to his sweaty skin. Atem grunted, finally being able to pull the black shirt away from Yugi's burning skin. The Pharaoh could see the boys face start to rash deeply, getting redder with each sleepy, shaky shudder. He deliriously moaned, occasionally dozing off before snapping awake as Atem hit him on his burning arms a few times - the boy needed to stay at least a little present.
Yugi could barely move his arms, as if they were locked into place. He could feel his mind fog over, barely able to tell who the person was who sat next to him.
Atem soaked the towel once again and slowly wiped Yugi's bare arms with the chilled water. Yugi let out a relieved sigh, feeling the cramps in his arms fade. Atem took the container Yugi carried with him and tipped some water into his hands - it was too hot to drink. The Pharaoh poured it into the ground and filled the container with the new water, handing it to Yugi.
"Drink."
Yugi nodded slowly, weakly gulping down the water, internally wincing at the unfiltered taste. His head pounded, but at least his heartbeat settled a little.
After a large amount of quiet sipping, Yugi found everything around him going dark again. He tried to reach his arm up, his voice cracking.
"Ya..mi.."
He croaked, his arm dropping to his side as he passed out.
"Should we carry the commander to our resting station?" One of the men asked, straight-faced.
"No.." Atem stood up. "I shall have Siamun carry him to his chamber. You may take leave until tomorrow."
"Yes, sir!"
They all said in unison and walked away, also in unison. They weren't that unified when Atem last saw them - Yugi really seemed to be an effective commander.
"SIAMUN!" Atem clapped, "Carry Yugi to his chamber."
"What about the vessel of water?"
"I'll find someone to carry that there too before it heats up."
"My lord, everyone is away following your orders."
"The- then.. Then I shall carry the-"
Atem tried to pick up the vessel, to no avail. He struggled for a minute while Siamun scooped Yugi up.
"Why don't you take the Commander and I'll carry the water?"
Siamun smiled. Atem groaned, taking Yugi into his arms and resting him on his back as he walked. "I cannot believe a mighty Pharaoh as I has to do this.."
"You did this when you found him, no?"
"Well.. Yes.. But.."
"Then do not be spoiled." Siamun snapped, walking indoors. Atem followed suit, Yugi's head resting against his broad shoulder.
"Ya..mi...i..." Yugi muttered admist his slumber. Atem scoffed.
"What does that even mean."
He sighed, suddenly wincing as Yugi's posture changed - stiff, frightened, awkward.
"He must of gotten affected by the sun greatly." Siamun placed the water down - atem barely realised that they made it to his room. "Just like when you were little, and-"
"Shush, Siamun."
The Pharaoh laid his new commander in his small leather sleeping platform and sat next to him.
"Would you like me to fetch you anything?" Siamun asked in the doorway.
"Could you get me some wine to enjoy while I try to get him back to his senses?"
"Of course."
Siamun rushed off.
Atem soaked the cloth he was using beforehand and pressed it against Yugi's cheek, the boys frightened expression softening. Atem looked around nervously, good, no one was around. He gently poked Yugi's cheek with his finger. It would be very awkward - seeing the almighty Pharaoh, ruler of the lands, stoop to a level where he felt the need to poke someone - but the boy had such puffy cheeks that he had to.
Yugi mumbled words Atem didn't understand in his sleep, a form of mixed gibberish. Siamun returned with the wine, before closing the door behind him.
Atem wiped Yugi's arms some more with the cold water, he could tell Yugi's body temperature was slowly dropping down. What could cause all of these scars? From healed gashes, to ancient grazes, to cuts so olf that skin grew around the edges of it, unable to recover all over his body; how could someone so small have so many injuries? He sipped his wine, amused at each aspect of the boy's appearance that he finally inspected properly.
This person, whose face was scarred beyond belief and whose clothes were an unfathomable form of anachronistic...
When you looked close, he was adorable.