[For Atem, offering this trust and asking for trust in return is what is right and fair. If he expects Ryou to trust him to be careful with his own life, then Atem has to do the same for Ryou. Even if he doesn't like it -- even if the idea of Ryou carrying someone else's wounds hurts, even if he's afraid that if Ryou takes enough physical injuries, Ryou won't be able to be there to talk to Atem, which is what he wants from Ryou, not horrible horror-game healing--
...he's got to respect Ryou's choice to play the way he thinks is best.
Atem strokes the side of Ryou's face, a touch that's more human-to-human than human-to-dog, but which does involve fingers lacing through fur.]
I know. Each memory I lose...that's a part of my heart that I'll never get back. It's really serious, now...I'll have to be more careful. I won't choose death again!
[He means it. Even though showing AM he's a threat was worth it to him, Atem doesn't want to lose any of his memories. They're incredibly important to him, and besides...he only has so many. The ones from when he was alive, and the ones from Domino -- both of them are precious, and both of them are few.
He takes hold of Ryou's dog-face in both hands as he goes on, looking him right in the eyes.]
But...you already protect my heart. By listening, when things are hard, and understanding things no one else really does...don't you see? You were good at taking my pain away from the beginning -- monster-ability or not!
[How does he express to Ryou how precious that is to him? How much it matters, that Ryou does that for him, in a way no one else he knows can? How Ryou doesn't have to suffer to provide invaluable support?]
no subject
...he's got to respect Ryou's choice to play the way he thinks is best.
Atem strokes the side of Ryou's face, a touch that's more human-to-human than human-to-dog, but which does involve fingers lacing through fur.]
I know. Each memory I lose...that's a part of my heart that I'll never get back. It's really serious, now...I'll have to be more careful. I won't choose death again!
[He means it. Even though showing AM he's a threat was worth it to him, Atem doesn't want to lose any of his memories. They're incredibly important to him, and besides...he only has so many. The ones from when he was alive, and the ones from Domino -- both of them are precious, and both of them are few.
He takes hold of Ryou's dog-face in both hands as he goes on, looking him right in the eyes.]
But...you already protect my heart. By listening, when things are hard, and understanding things no one else really does...don't you see? You were good at taking my pain away from the beginning -- monster-ability or not!
[How does he express to Ryou how precious that is to him? How much it matters, that Ryou does that for him, in a way no one else he knows can? How Ryou doesn't have to suffer to provide invaluable support?]