softspokenlandlord | IC Inbox

Okay...

[Ryou is still kind of...staring at his handiwork, utterly taken in by it. Atem did this for him and he's going to show his gratitude soon. Over and over, as much as he can, he'll express it. It's only because he's half-focused on the hand and half-cognizant of the fact that Atem is very dirty that he doesn't immediately pull Atem into what might possibly be the most emotional kiss since their hopped up anniversary celebration.]

I...I love you too. S-so much, I can't even express...and when you get washed up, I'll make sure you know...

[Admittedly, once he's left to his own devices, Ryou does get a little distracted with the hand, and with Tybolt as well. While Atem's showering the sins off of himself, Ryou ends up ripping the broken finger off of AM's hand and allowing Tybolt to chew at it. Of course, he sets a towel down, better the towel than the carpet, and being the good boy he is, Tybolt understands what his Tall Dad wants.

Which means--food! Snack! Cool!

Meanwhile, Ryou eventually puts the hand away and, despite the fact that he really, really doesn't need to be drinking anymore, he's decided to heat up some blood and mix it with equally heated wine. Fuck it, he's getting creative. They are having a nightcap over this.

They deserve to celebrate the start of Halloween like this, with wrongs righted, suffering imparted in fair measure (he can only hope).

That's what meets Atem once he exits the bathroom. ]

[It's also a relief to wash it all off. It's over, it's done, the trigger has been pulled, and he's made it clear no one's off limits because of their power if they cross him and Ryou. No one.

He doesn't smell the blood until he shuts the water off, and sniffs interestedly in the direction of the bathroom door.

When it opens, a cloud of steam pours out, and Atem will be drying out his hair with one towel and modestly covered from waist to knees with a second as he steps out.]

That smells good...

[There's an extra dimension to it that's not usually there? What did Ryou put in that?]

It's nutritious and alcoholic, so I imagine it's not going to be too terrible.

[Ryou turns towards Atem, holding one glass out. And...even though he definitely shouldn't be doing so, he does give Atem an appraising look. Modesty or no, he's allowed to do that. It's been a minute, and Atem's definitely done something to get Ryou's positive attention.

Sometimes...you have to eye your boyfriend semi-respectfully after he takes revenge on your torturer.]

Let me know if it's too much. I haven't tried it yet...but I can mix it better if I have to.

[All of Atem's scars he's gotten in this form are out -- the stabs and cuts on his chest, the burns on his back. It's not possible to miss the expression on Ryou's face, though, and dark purple bruiselike spots appear on Atem's cheeks.]

Ah--

[He accepts the glass, swallowing once, as the towel he was using for his hair falls down into the crook of his arm.]

I'm sure it's good!

[He raises it to Ryou, a small gesture but unmistakable, before taking a sip of it, through his fangs. A breath in, a sigh out, and a few more of his cares slip away. He nods, indicating it's fine as it is.]

Mm. Warm blood really is the best...

It is, isn't it? I remember the first time I had some. You...well, a bit of you, at least, helped me through things, and heated up my first meal.

[Ankhsunatem is a part of Atem, in a way. That's how Ryou thinks of it.]

It was nice. And...I owe you a great deal, for doing what you did. I didn't want to stop you, because I said I wouldn't. But I was worried. Why wouldn't I be?

[He reaches a hand out, gently cups Atem's unusually warm skin while he's still fresh from the shower, and his clawed thumb runs along Atem's cheek.]

Thank you. For taking on such a burden for my sake. I hope that in the future, I can do the same for you, somehow. Protecting one another is important, and you've been working so hard, for so long...

I...

[He feels strangely vulnerable, like this. As though in offering this to Ryou, he's somehow bared a part of his soul. He knows Ryou knows who he really is, what he is, how he balances scales with kindness or with brutal force depending on what's called for, but he's put his whole self into this, he's done his absolute best, he can't think of anything else, and...

...he's put his whole self into this. For weeks. Now that it's done, what is he supposed to do but lay it at Ryou's feet, and hope, that--]

...I hope it's enough.

[He hopes he's enough.]

Oh, Atem...

[Ryou releases his glass, but it doesn't drop to the ground. Instead, it stays mostly in place, levitated securely. He needs both hands right now, one to keep touching Atem's face, while the other pulls him closer. So what if he's a little less clothed at this time? That's not the point.]

It's more than enough. This is perfect. You must know...it isn't just that you protected me from further harm by working to deter AM. You've also brought peace to the darkness in me, and the darkness in you.

It had to be righted...and you righted it. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you...and even that's not enough.

[If there's any doubt left, then Atem might also find that the conviction spreads to Ryou's extremely expressive tail, which is alternating between two different shades of blue, like the reflection off of a clear spring pool.

Well, that and the fact that Ryou leans down to kiss him full on the lips, but...hey, multiple signs are good, right?]

[He closes his eyes, and opens his mouth, still tasting like blood, to the kiss. The hand not holding the glass goes to Ryou's chest, to rest over his heart, to feel the heartbeat.

His mood is so strange. It might be because, if Ryou chose to do it, he could smash Atem into a million pieces, inflict the kind of emotional hurt it's hard to ever really come back from. A betrayal now...it'd be the ideal time, if this was a long game, if Ryou had been hiding something from him as effectively as Beat had.

Every bit of self-preservation, every instinct to remain in control, to hide his cards, to bluff, is gone, silenced -- and, it's a little scary.

He's not usually the one who melts into kisses, far from it, but that's absolutely what's happening now.]

[It's definitely quite the role reversal, but Ryou takes it in stride, for once. He supports Atem, keeping him close while kissing him more deeply, eyes slipping shut. His tail curls forward, coils around Atem's leg as if to hold him in place.

As far as Ryou's concerned, he's happy to kiss until at least he's out of breath, because he's still very highly attracted to what Atem had done for him. The shade instinct is still pleased, and Atem's the reason.

But Ryou does eventually pull away.]

You're always sweet, Atem, but this...it's bordering on cute.

[It's a tease, but it's gentle and good-natured.]

[He doesn't know how to get out of this mood. He only knows that he trusts Ryou, and has no choice but to trust him completely, after going this far, for his sake...]

I love you.

[He says, by way of explanation.]

I want to protect you. I don't want to lose you...to pain you go through.

I'll fight for you. However I have to.

I know...I understand.

[He pulls Atem closer, into a firmer embrace.]

I would do the same for you. I hope you know that. But for now...you're the one that's done it. You put yourself into a dangerous position, and even though people were there, it doesn't mean that what you did has any less value.

I'll do my best not to be hurt again.

[He draws in a long, almost-painful breath, then exhales it slowly.]

But we both know what this place is like. So all I can promise is my efforts.

And, if you are hurt...my vengeance. I'll rain it on whoever moves against you, just like you've done today.

[A quick squeeze, then he pulls completely away.]

Come on, let's sit for a moment. Or, go to your room, whichever you like. You need to rest...it's late.

[Or early, all things considered.]

[Atem has to trust that it will be enough. That Ryou's efforts not to be hurt again...that the protection Atem's bought him, with his actions...will be enough, to keep Ryou near him. He's all in, all of his chips are on the table, he's wagered everything on Ryou, because Ryou's worth that, to him.

He leans against Ryou, as he's held, then holds his glass of blood and wine loosely in his fingers as Ryou asks where they should go.]

I'm a night monster again, remember...? It's not that late!

I'll go wherever you want me.

[There's something charged in how he says it. The fact that he's not wearing much, and has just gotten clean, has something to do with it.]

Tonight was for you.

IC Inbox | ryslig

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WELCOME TO YOUR PRIVATE CHANNEL, WhiteWizard. FOR SECURE COMMUNICATION, USE 007.80.751.19 * WhiteWizard has joined 007.80.751.19 <WhiteWizard> Hello, this is Ryou Bakura! <WhiteWizard> Feel free to reach out to me if you need anything. :) <WhiteWizard>** I will get back to you as soon as possible.