Small TW: Anxiety and Paranoia over accidental death scenarios.

"I have to admit, that dinner went a lot better than yesterday's," Marik commented as he and Kat walked through the front door of the house. "Though, that 'salad' he ate could have at least been cooked longer."

"Well, spite is an improvement from just ignoring the fact of the matter," Kat stated.

"True, though I'm sure he's probably only doing it in hopes I'll ask him to go back to that. Except, he forgot who he's going up against," Marik said with a devilish grin.

Kat chuckled as she placed her shoes beside the door.

"Sounds like you two had fun," Atem said casually from across the room.

Kat furled her brow as she noted that he was eating out of a fast food container while leaning against the wall.

"You know, there is a table…"

Atem hesitated in the bite he was about to take. "I've been hunched over that thing most of the day. I need to stand for a bit. Is it bad that I miss having to spend several minutes walking from one side of the palace to the other?"

Kat sighed. "I'm sorry that this place is small. It was never intended for more than…well…me. On occasion Mkhai stayed here, but only when he had meetings here in Domino for our fake company."

"Speaking of Mkhai, has he made any progress in finding me somewhere else to live?" Atem questioned.

"I didn't ask, though I'm sure as soon as he does he'll let us know."

Atem sighed then resumed eating.

Kat turned and spoke to Marik off to the side. "You said you had homework. Do you mind working on it upstairs? I need to speak to Atem about something for my brother."

Marik placed a small peck on her cheek. "Holler if you need me."

Kat smiled and chuckled lightly. "I always need you…but that's another matter entirely."

Marik smiled and shook his head in amusement, then walked up the stairs, leaving Kat and Atem alone.

"So, about Mkhai," Kat began as she turned back towards Atem. "Would you be open to entertaining the idea of helping him with something?"

Atem paused mid-bite as he lifted his gaze over to his former wife. "I already told him 'no'." He then resumed his eating.

"Atem, he needs this."

Atem gave up on his food and placed it down on the table. He then returned to leaning against the wall with his arms folded across his chest. "What good would it even do? I'm not an immortal being."

"And by all logic, he shouldn't be either."

"So what are you suggesting? That my father was god in disguise?"

"It's entirely possible."

"I doubt it. I saw his body. You saw his body. Did he look like he was just waiting to revive in the same manner as you? Think about how long the embalming process took. He was dead the entire time, Katrina. His insides were removed and placed in canopic jars. His body was wrapped. We both saw him being placed inside his sarcophagus and the lid sealed shut."

"Maybe…he was a Godaeshan descendant without magae, like Yugi? Maybe it altered something and that's why Mkhai isn't like the rest of us? Think about it: What if the same thing could happen to any children Yugi might have? Wouldn't you like for him to know that it's a possibility?"

Atem sighed heavily. "Why is this so important to either of you?"

Kat walked over and took Atem's hands in her own. "Atem…Mkhai never got to meet either of his parents. My Ama-shae was certain in who his father was, but if somehow he wasn't…that means she…" She winced once again at the implication that she couldn't bring herself to say aloud.

Atem relaxed and lowered his head. "I still wish I could have stopped that from happening. It should never have been an option."

"It's done. We can't undo it…as much as I wish we could. All we can do now is try to get some answers for our brother. Is he really asking too much of you?"

Atem closed his eyes and thought on her words. "I suppose not…and you did make a fair point about how it might help Yugi. It wouldn't be right to leave either of them with unanswered questions." He opened his eyes and smiled softly as he looked into those of his former wife. "Very well. I'll do it."

Kat enthusiastically gave Atem a quick embrace. "Thank you," she said with a smile as she pulled away. She then chuckled lightly. "I would say 'you won't regret this'...but this is Mkhai we're talking about."

Atem lifted a hand to his temple and rubbed it back and forth a few times. "Yes…that is true," he said with an exasperated sigh. "What happened to the kid that used to run into walls because his nose was buried in a scroll?" he asked with a chuckle.

"Don't forget the pond!" Kat said with a bit of laughter. "How many times did we have to grab him by the top of the head and turn him so he wouldn't walk into something?"

"And he would keep going, completely oblivious to the world around him. How did he never run out of scrolls to read?"

Both laughed at the recollection.

Atem absentmindedly began to reach out to place a hand on his former wife's cheek, but quickly caught himself and pulled it away.

"Still having trouble with that, I see," Kat said towards the attempted gesture.

"Old habits. You can't expect me to just drop them after only a few days."

"No," Kat said softly. "But I can see that you are trying." She looked downwards and began to play with a section of hair that had fallen over her shoulder. "I didn't get a chance to thank you for yesterday."

Atem sighed heavily. "Like I told Marik last night, I was simply doing what was right."

"And I deeply appreciate it," Kat said with sincerity. "It gives me hope that we can move forward from what happened between us. A part of me will always belong to you…but…"

"But not the part I want," Atem finished for her.

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be. Like I said before, I brought this on myself." Atem sighed heavily again. "Not to change the subject…and I hope you don't take offense…but yesterday is a very good example of why I need somewhere else to live. Neither of us can properly move forward while I am here."

It was Kat's turn to sigh heavily. "I'll talk to Mkhai and see if he can find some way to expedite things. Maybe if I loosen up on a few things, he'll get better results."

"Loosen up on a few things? What do you mean by that?" Atem asked in confusion.

Kat looked away while fidgeting her fingers. "I've pretty much been having him search for the perfect place. Not too big or small, high end luxury, within walking distance of a lot of places, and most importantly…high levels of security. I want you to be both comfortable and safe."

"Well, I can't argue with some of those requirements, but I don't need to stay somewhere fit for a king."

Kat turned her gaze slightly towards him. "You were torn from one way of life and are now having to adjust to another. I'm simply trying to make things easier on you."

"Have you forgotten about having to adjust to the lives of all my hosts?"

Kat closed her eyes and slowly shook her head. "They were all well off." She then opened her eyes and looked directly at Atem. "The closest you have ever come to living a life that was well below what you were used to was with Yugi."

"I'll admit, his life isn't the most elegant…but it's not that bad either."

"You can't even cook for yourself. Do you plan on living on take-out?" Kat asked while motioning towards the box on the table.

"It's good enough for you…"

"I don't have to worry about cholesterol and heart failure!" Kat argued loudly.

"High-end or slums, I won't be able to cook for myself in either case."

"No, but at least with high-end we can hire people that will see to your basic needs."

"Great, just what I need…more servants taking care of me. How am I supposed to stop thinking of myself as a Pharaoh if I can't even take care of myself?" Atem said aloud to himself.

Kat groaned in exasperation. "Well…I don't know what to do about that. I guess…sign you up for cooking lessons? But that only covers food prep. What about cleaning? Laundry? Shopping? There's a lot that you've never had to do for yourself."

"I've watched Yugi do a lot of those things. It can't be that hard."

Kat covered her face. "Oh…you poor thing. You haven't the slightest clue." Kat lowered her hand and looked at Atem boredly. "I'm gonna have to hire you a live-in staff. You'll starve…or burn the place to the ground…or die of disease!"

"You make it sound as if I'm both helpless and hopeless," Atem stated in annoyance.

"Yes on both accounts." She grabbed her head as multiple disastrous scenarios played through her head. "I can see it now: You'll flood the place in an attempt to do laundry; then slip, fall, and break your neck on your way to grab a mop. Would you even think of grabbing a mop? What if you just panicked, slipping as you tried to figure out what to do? What if you get injured? No one would be there to help you. What if-"

Atem quickly raised his hands in a motion to stop her. "Calm down. I highly doubt I'm going to get injured or die because I attempted to do a load of laundry."

"How can you be so sure!"

Marik poked his head over the railing, attempting to investigate the reason for his girlfriend's raised voice.

"Is everything alright down there?" he asked.

"No! Atem is going to die trying to do laundry!" Kat said in a state of panic.

"No I'm not," Atem stated while rolling his eyes. "You're vastly over-exaggerating and making it sound as if I'm incapable of learning how to do simple, everyday tasks."

Marik looked back and forth between the two in mass confusion. "What the hell did you say or do to make her think you'll die if you do laundry?"

"She thinks I can't live on my own without servants," Atem stated boredly.

Marik stared blankly for a moment. "Yeah. I kinda see why she's worried now. You're gonna die. Knowing you, you'll probably try to make toast while taking a bath."

The panicked look on Kat's face intensified as she grabbed Atem by his shirt. "Please…do not do that. No electrical appliances near any sources of water. You know what, how about no electrical appliances in general…or water…or…anything." She then threw her hands up in exasperation. "Forget it! You're not moving out! You're staying here until you die of old age…or boredom…whichever comes first!"

Atem glared bitterly at Marik for even making the suggestion. He then returned his gaze to his former wife.

"I was alone for several hours while you were away today. I think I'll manage just fine." Atem said calmly. He then gestured around. "Look. The house isn't flooded or burned to the ground. I didn't get hurt or die. I even managed to order and pay for my dinner without needing help. If I can survive a few hours on my own, I'm sure I can learn the basic necessities and survive."

"Alone…? You've…been…alone…? When did-…when did Kura leave?" Kat asked slowly, her eyes wide with concern and still a bit panicked.

"Before you and Marik left. I'm surprised you didn't notice?" Atem replied.

Kat slowly began to relax. "I thought…he was just out back for a smoke…"

"No," Atem said while shaking his head. "We started arguing again."

"That's…not surprising."

"No, it isn't." Atem stated. "Has your paranoia calmed? Or do you still think I'm going to die living on my own?"

"Yes, and…yes…but I guess I can't protect you from everything. I'm sorry I freaked out."

"It's okay. I understand your concern. I supposed if our roles were reversed, I would be just as worried."

"I'll…tell Mkhai that he just needs to find someplace in the good part of town. I'm sure that will make it where you can be…on your own…by the beginning of next week," Kat said, choking on the words 'on your own'.

Atem could plainly see the uncertainty in his former wife's eyes. It was obvious she was more than concerned for his safety and well-being.

"I promise I'll be fine. I won't make toast while taking a bath," he said with a slight chuckle. "And if I flood the place while doing laundry, I'll walk very slowly to grab a mop."

"Okay…but if you die on me again, I'm gonna march into the Halls of Osiris and kick your ass," Kat stated sharply.

Atem smirked in amusement. "Thanks for the warning."

Had to make fun of the old 'toaster in the bathtub' movie trope for stupid ways to die.

Kat's paranoia is due to the fact that she's been around long enough to have seen way too many stupid deaths, and that she's experienced her own fair share of them.