[Feeling safe...here...that's an illusion, isn't it? You never know where the next hit's going to come from...even when Atem's present, the forces here can hurt the people he cares about...he hadn't been able to stop the dollmaker from replacing Riley's voice box. And, even with three months of time to find a way, Yugi's not out of the game...
But maybe that's not the point here. Even if you can't really be safe, feeling safe is important for things like sleeping, like going to a beach with friends, like having a home to come back to. You can't be on, watching for danger from any corner, every second of every day. Even if it's a lie, being able to feel safe sometimes is important. He's...he's got to let Ryou have that. Protect that, for him, even if Ryou gets hurt sometimes.
(And, in the meantime, strengthen his own position. He'll find a way to do it, without compromising his principles...he'll kill in public, in a way that sends a message, but that protects his friends...If you can cheat, I can, too!)
Atem's arms tighten, like Ryou's did.
The horrible truth is that this could have been worse. He's furious, red-hot mad every time he's reminded that it happened at all, but at least Ryou is here. At least he's alive, he didn't take a death, he is handling the added injuries so well it's actually a bit concerning (it's got to be because Ryou's spent so much of his time injured that he's much, much too used to it, and doesn't see the point of waiting to kiss until he's feeling better, which, fucked up, Atem just wants to talk).
Ryou's breathing, he hasn't lost his mind, he's not lost his memories. He's not gone.]
I'm glad I can. I'm glad I didn't lose my chance...
[He pulls back, far enough to look at Ryou, get one hand back on Ryou's cheek, letting the other rest across Ryou's waist at his hip.
Atem's so glad Ryou wasn't killed, so glad it makes his heart hurt.
(this hurt will be repaid, he swears it, paid for in agony and blood.)
He moves in again, and he's going to kiss those feelings out, until thinking about it hurts less. The snakes aren't exploring comfortably, not like before -- they press themselves to Ryou's face and hair, wherever they can reach. Nothing like Ryslig to make you grateful for the little things, like "at least the torture wasn't fatal this time." Atem's own fingers trace Ryou's cheek, under his eye. Some of the snakes are hissing again, but not the ones in close.]
no subject
But maybe that's not the point here. Even if you can't really be safe, feeling safe is important for things like sleeping, like going to a beach with friends, like having a home to come back to. You can't be on, watching for danger from any corner, every second of every day. Even if it's a lie, being able to feel safe sometimes is important. He's...he's got to let Ryou have that. Protect that, for him, even if Ryou gets hurt sometimes.
(And, in the meantime, strengthen his own position. He'll find a way to do it, without compromising his principles...he'll kill in public, in a way that sends a message, but that protects his friends...If you can cheat, I can, too!)
Atem's arms tighten, like Ryou's did.
The horrible truth is that this could have been worse. He's furious, red-hot mad every time he's reminded that it happened at all, but at least Ryou is here. At least he's alive, he didn't take a death, he is handling the added injuries so well it's actually a bit concerning (it's got to be because Ryou's spent so much of his time injured that he's much, much too used to it, and doesn't see the point of waiting to kiss until he's feeling better, which, fucked up, Atem just wants to talk).
Ryou's breathing, he hasn't lost his mind, he's not lost his memories. He's not gone.]
I'm glad I can. I'm glad I didn't lose my chance...
[He pulls back, far enough to look at Ryou, get one hand back on Ryou's cheek, letting the other rest across Ryou's waist at his hip.
Atem's so glad Ryou wasn't killed, so glad it makes his heart hurt.
(this hurt will be repaid, he swears it, paid for in agony and blood.)
He moves in again, and he's going to kiss those feelings out, until thinking about it hurts less. The snakes aren't exploring comfortably, not like before -- they press themselves to Ryou's face and hair, wherever they can reach. Nothing like Ryslig to make you grateful for the little things, like "at least the torture wasn't fatal this time." Atem's own fingers trace Ryou's cheek, under his eye. Some of the snakes are hissing again, but not the ones in close.]