Chapter XCIV: Wisdom

Atem glanced at Timaeus sideways after a moment. "Yami is in the territory?"

He blinked. "What? I didn't say that…"

"No, but you said he knows Yugi and I were talking about everything. He had to be within the area." Atem paused. "Unless his abilities have grown so much. I can't imagine they haven't, but he never said anything to indicate it. Then again, we didn't speak for so long about what he could do and rather what he was hoping would happen when he and Dimitri finally fought."

Timaeus faltered and tilted his head. He hadn't thought Atem would notice that much from what little he'd told him just then. But it made sense. Atem had always been extremely aware of everything around him and memorized the most minute details. He'd never been stupid, though he'd always remained cautious. Even when they'd first met, Timaeus had been able to tell his brothers had left a huge gaping wound in him. The outside one had healed, but the inside had not.

Atem had never become the carefree little hatchling he should have been. He'd never dove into anything without considering it to the point it almost drove him crazy with frustration. He'd never launched himself blindly into play with anyone and he'd never been so soft and gentle that his teeth were not aimed immediately for someone's face when they made the wrong move.

He still remembered Atem snarling at Yugi when he'd gotten hurt at the cliffs. He'd collapsed and spat at Yugi for getting too close to him. Yugi had been hurt but listened when Timaeus had told him to back up slowly and give Atem more space.

Timaeus had wondered more than once if Atem truly would have killed Yugi in a fit of fear like that. He'd taken Timaeus's eye, but he thought that had to do more with fear blinding him to aim rather than sparing him. If he'd not been so hurt and so anxious, would he have severed his head? It was a question Timaeus had never wanted an answer to, but thought about at times when he saw how closed off Atem could be.

The God Dragon was not so closed off everyone was an enemy. He'd let many dragons settle into his territory without homage, dismissing them when they insisted later. Timaeus even remembered he'd once told a newly mated pair to take the offering they'd tried to give him because the female was pregnant and she'd need it more than him. He hadn't accepted any of it, going so far as to snap at them when it was suggested. He didn't enforce a yearly count of offspring and parents in his territory. He didn't even turn on them when they crossed into his territory by accident during hunts.

He still remembered the Sky Dragon hatchling chasing a rabbit as if his life depended on it and running straight into Atem's leg. Timaeus had burst out laughing and Atem had checked on the hatchling before the mother and father had come racing out of the nearby woods. Atem hadn't been the least bit alarmed or ruffled even as the parents had scolded their offspring and apologized profusely. The God Dragon hadn't cared they'd wandered so far from their own territory and into his. He hadn't even minded being run into.

He'd only minded when the parents had insisted the hatchling catch the rabbit as an offering for the God Dragon. Atem had visibly grown annoyed, telling them repeatedly no, until finally he'd lost his patience and snapped at them that it was unnecessary. Timaeus had snorted when the parents had looked at him in shock and the hatchling had paraded about happily, and the entire incident had ended with Atem going back to fishing while the little family left.

The territory was one huge mountain range of different dragons and families scattered about. They lived close enough they could call on Atem if they had need but far enough they did not encroach on his food or water. Timaeus had always found it mystifying that they all lived rather easily within the mountains. He'd never heard of fights breaking out or border skirmishes that Atem had been forced to deal with. Perhaps it was because of how large the mountain range truly was, or maybe it was just because no one lived in absolute fear Atem might come to find them and force a head count.

If Yami was there now, it was likely easier than ever for him to hide about the territory without Atem feeling the need to find him. But it hadn't seemed as if Atem knew, considering how startled he appeared upon hearing the news.

Timaeus fell quiet for a long time. "He's somewhere near the village. I remember him thinking about going down among the humans when winter came."

Atem blinked and glanced at the sky. "I need to summon snow soon."

He waited for him to say something else, but the God Dragon slowly lowered his head and looked toward the river. He headed for the bank after a long moment, then waded into the water and disappeared under the surface a few seconds later. Timaeus watched him and sighed, wondering if he should have said something else. Atem wasn't as prickly about the hatchling, but he didn't seem thrilled to discuss him, either.

"Atem."

The God Dragon came up from the water a moment later, blinking brilliant golden eyes. "What?"

"Are you all right?"

Atem blinked at him once, then twice, and said, "Yes" before popping underwater again. Timaeus snorted and shook his head, then took a seat and waited. When his friend finally came out again, he swallowed the last of his meal and shook himself out as he stepped onto the bank. Timaeus snickered at the rain shower and moved aside. "I'm fine. I just wanted to eat. And Yugi is still taking care of Jonouchi, so I thought you'd like to keep me company."

"Right." Timaeus tilted his head. "But you seemed to get closed off again when we were talking about Yami."

"Oh." Atem blinked. "Apologies. I was thinking about summoning snow and how badly it went the first time with Yugi."

Timaeus faltered. He still didn't know the full extent of the story, but he didn't suppose it mattered. Atem had always gone quiet and looked remorseful when it was brought up. If it was that painful, he didn't need to know. He wasn't his mate, so it didn't require his acknowledgment, he felt.

"Anyways, if Yami is here, then it must be the best place for him at the moment. He's not stupid. I'm sure he came here for more reasons than just the humans." Atem shook his head. "Although for what else, I don't know. I'm not privy to that information. All I know is what little I've been told. Yami doesn't know what he's doing and he needs to find his footing before it all comes to a head."

Timaeus nodded slightly. "I can understand that. I can't imagine how horrifying it has to be to know you're the only one who can really stand up to another Divine, especially when Yami never wanted to lay a claw on anyone or bloody his teeth." He paused. "Although, from what I remember, I thought you said you would be the one to deal with Dimitri?"

"I was under that impression, but I don't know anymore. Yami can only tell me he's afraid of what might happen because none of it is clear to him anymore." Atem shook his head. "If I get the chance, I'll kill him myself, but if I don't then I suppose it's up to Yami."

"Do you think you can kill Dimitri? He's a Divine."

Atem looked over, locking eyes with him. "I'll have to. It's not an option for him to kill me," he said slowly. "And I'm stronger than the other three. If Yami is right about that, then it's likely only me who can kill him."

"Don't you worry what he can change into?"

"His cowardice precedes whatever dragon he takes the form of. I don't see a reason to fear someone more afraid of me than he'll ever admit." Atem fell quiet. "I'm more worried about him going after Yami now that he realizes he's alive. I feel like if he truly kept Noah alive for the purpose of seeing further and using what limited abilities he was given, then there's nothing stopping him from trying to utilize Yami the same way."

"Wait… Noah and Dimitri have abilities?"

"Noah might be dead by now, but yes. He had stronger foresight and the ability to see more clearly, from what Yami told me. So Dimitri killed the other three and tried to use Noah as a way of strengthening the limits of his own ability. As far as I know, that more or less worked. But knowing that, he'd be wise to try to force Yami to harness his abilities as well." Atem tilted his head slightly. "Or to eat his hearts, which is what he's likely done with Noah."

Timaeus flinched. "That's…horrifying."

"But it also ensures he would get something from the endeavor," Atem commented quietly, turning away. Timaeus glanced over his shoulder in the direction of the den but there did not seem to be much to see there. "And I'm sure if that can mutate another dragon to develop other lungs and alter physical appearances, then eating a Divine's heart would give him the ability he's looking for."

"But he… They were siblings."

Atem didn't answer and Timaeus could see his thoughts had drifted. He was likely reminded again of his own brothers. Timaeus's stomach churned as he looked at him. No doubt Atem had imagined more than once what worse could have happened had he stayed in the den with them despite all of the abuse. His side being carved open had been the warning he'd needed to leave, but he likely wondered if he'd left too soon. Timaeus knew he had to have, especially when things had gotten to their worst and he'd been laying there starving to death…

"It makes me happy Yami can't have siblings."

Timaeus blinked, startled.

"My parents should have cast me from the nest when they realized I hatched on a false moon. The three of them could have killed each other and I'd never have had to deal with all of this. Yami being unable to have siblings is a blessing, no matter how you look at it. No one for him to have to fight for attention, or food, or even trick when he fled the den. No one so close as to be born the same day for him to worry about dying because of him."

He flinched, eyes stretching wide.

"And he gets the freedom of only having to worry about his parents when things get to their worst." Atem barked a sharp laugh and turned away, snarling. "At the end of it, he got the better deal than the rest of us. He may be lonely at times, but he doesn't have to worry about his siblings being hunted alive to get his attention. He doesn't have to worry about sibling rivalry or someone as disgusting as Seto or Dimitri or Bakura."

Timaeus shivered and ignored the urge to lower himself to his belly. Atem sounded so angry and spiteful, as if the world were conspiring to destroy him altogether. He turned away and thought to open his mouth, but the words died in his throat.

"I don't think you get the right to make that call," a new voice commented. Timaeus looked over his shoulder, startled. Atem huffed but didn't look up. "You always dwell so hard on the bad things and never acknowledge any of the good. And maybe you don't like recognizing it all the time, but maybe you should learn to try."

Atem snarled softly and looked over finally. "You say that as if you don't know that all I've done has been for me rather than others."

"Oh, so it was for you that you don't take homage and let everyone live here without constant intervention?" Yugi scoffed. "I'll remember that when we have this argument again."

Timaeus was amazed by how flustered and chastised Atem appeared for a split second. Then the God Dragon huffed and scowled, hissing, "Yugi, leave it alone."

"Oh, so I bow to you now?" Yugi snapped. "I wasn't aware you tell me what to do these days."

The Sky Dragon looked as if he wanted nothing more than to launch himself and rip him to pieces. But he didn't move for a long time aside from breathing and after a moment Timaeus realized the anger had faded. The longer he looked at Yugi, the further the aggression strayed. He didn't want to fight with him any longer and the conversation didn't seem to matter anymore.

"You were an only dragonet," Atem said slowly, quietly. "You didn't have siblings like me and you were happier and healthier for it, I'm sure."

"Maybe, but that's not the point." Timaeus almost admired Yugi's insistence to continue the argument. His determination to break through was almost enough to make him shiver. The Gandora stepped closer and bore his teeth at Atem, hissing, "You've done plenty. You have the most peaceful region, you maintain the weather so there aren't random patterns in other places. No rain during the dry season in the south, no tornadoes in the north because you decided you'd rather have sun than winter. You stopped Jaden from declaring an edict on Keith's clutches—and all but Dimitri seem to have appreciated it and failed to cause problems. You fought and killed Keith at the cliffs when that war wasn't yours to fight. You stopped Dimitri taking over the Fire Clan even when that's not your region to protect."

Atem considered him, lashing his tail. "Yugi."

"And I hate to break this to you, but if your parents had thrown you out of that nest when you were younger, things would be a thousand times worse. There's a reason Yami insists the next God Dragon shouldn't be active and Jaden needs to live. There's a reason he looks at you and tells you he needs you to help him, not the other three." Yugi huffed and bore his teeth. "And maybe you've forgotten this, but you are Yami's star. He looks to me when he can't have you. But we all know it. He thinks the world of you and more. I don't care how badly you feel some days, if nothing else you should remember that. Do it for him if you can't for yourself."

Atem blinked and stared, and Timaeus could see the thoughts racing behind his eyes, but he couldn't tell what he was truly thinking. The God Dragon considered Yugi for a moment, opened and closed his mouth, and then finally grumbled, "Where is Jonouchi?"

Timaeus snickered at Yugi's snarl of annoyance before he regained his composure and shook himself out. "He's still in the den. He finally fell asleep again, so I'm hoping that means he's healing enough he'll start resting throughout the day like he's supposed to." He looked away with a huff. "Thanks for asking, even if you're only doing it to avoid me winning an argument."

He burst out laughing and Atem huffed, "Shut up, Yugi."

The Gandora grinned and licked his forehead before moving to duck his head and get a small drink of water. He looked as if he were trying his hardest not to puff his chest out proudly and Timaeus found himself laughing harder. Atem shot him a dirty look but snickered after a moment and turned away again.

"The wound is healing?" Atem pressed.

"Yep. Not as quickly as I thought or we'd hoped, but it's definitely healing some." Yugi turned back and sighed softly. "I didn't realize he wouldn't heal as quickly here as he would in the desert. It's stupid that I overlooked it because I should have known, but I guess I just didn't think it would matter because I've always healed fine. But, either way, he's healing some and I'm glad he's not dying anymore."

Atem nodded slowly. "Good. I want to kick him out soon. He snores too loud."

Yugi laughed and shook his head, glancing over his shoulder. "He's always snored when he's healing. Usually he's barely audible." He turned back and tilted his head. "But thank you for letting him rest with us."

Atem stared at him as if he had two heads. "He's your best friend. I would expect you to let Timaeus rest with us whenever his idiot impulse kicks in and he gets himself hurt"—Yugi laughed and looked over, smirking—"so the least I can do is allow Jonouchi to stay here while he gets his guts to go back inside."

Timaeus snickered. "My idiot impulses are still better than yours," he scoffed. "And very eloquently put. I've always heard guts going back inside is a really good way of saying healing from evisceration."

Atem snorted. "Guts stay on the inside. If they come out, there's a problem."

Yugi snickered and shook his head. "That's my all-knowing God Dragon," he laughed, "always reminding us where our insides should go."

"You're both idiots," Timaeus laughed, ducking when Atem swiped at him playfully. "I could have expected as much from Atem, but you, Yugi? I thought you were better than that."

Yugi grinned. "I follow my all-knowing God Dragon's wisdom. So far it's sufficed." He looked at Atem. "What knowledge do you have to share today?"

Atem snorted. "Guts go on the inside. That's my wisdom."

Timaeus burst out laughing again. "You're an imbecile. You are literally stupid," he snickered, dodging away again and ignoring it when Yugi growled playfully. It was nice to see them both somewhat relaxed, though he could still sense the tension in Atem's bones, as if he were prepared to snap his teeth and dodge away at a second's notice. "Your wisdom for the day is good enough, though, I guess."

"It'll have to be. I have no other wisdom to share."

Yugi smirked and stretched, then abruptly reared up and smacked him in the head. He puffed his chest out and stood there proudly as Timaeus reeled back from the sudden blow. He gaped at him but Atem burst out laughing, smirking.

"Atem said you looked like you needed to be boxed upside the head, remember?" Yugi snickered. He grinned at him widely and Timaeus scowled before looking at Atem sideways.

"What? He's vicious. He's the most vicious Gandora ever. I told you." Atem smirked but paused after a moment and looked away toward the den. "I don't hear him snoring anymore. Is he okay?"

Yugi bristled faintly, then tore off for the den. Timaeus barely heard him blurt, "Oh!" before Atem took off racing. The Wind Dragon blinked and hurried after them both, startled, but the clearing didn't erupt in snarls or roars. No one spat curses and he didn't hear any yelping.

But his heart stuttered when he got into the entrance.

"Oh…"