[Open] RNG Path
It had been nearly dusk, you and Atem walking side by side on the way to somewhere. As you both continued walking there were strange flashes of light in front of your eyes, but he didn't seem to be reacting strangely so you didn't say anything. Next you were feeling heat, flustered, unnerved by something. It was then that Atem finally turned to you
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Instead, whenever he spoke, he would just get laughed at and beaten. If he didn't understand what they asked him to do, they'd give him even smaller portions, or 'forget' to feed him at all. Eventually Yuugi just stopped talking to them, trying to bite back the pain and tears enough to feel numb every time the whip cracked. Over time he learned enough of their strange language to figure out what they wanted, and even if he did whatever they wanted without question or complaint, they still felt the need to punish him.
He wasn't sure how much he could take. How long had this been going on for? Weeks? Months? His pale skin had actually held some bronze to it; nowhere near those that kept him prisoner, but considering how easily he burned in the sun, it would've been shocking had he cared. At least they were 'nice' enough to give him scraps of fabric for clothing, to deal with heat stroke and to be decent once his clothes from home became too big for him to wear.
All he had to do was bring back a jug of water from the small oasis not far from the cave. He'd done it before, but for some reason, the jug seemed so much heavier than usual. A few drops spilled once he teetered, and he had to pause a moment to regroup. No, he couldn't afford to spill any. He had to be careful.
The sounds of the fight up ahead almost made him drop the jug entirely, tensing up in surprise once he saw the man fighting off the bandits who have been keeping him locked in a cave for so long. His heart tightened in his chest as he caught that crimson gaze briefly. Yuugi wasn't sure what to do. Should he run and hide? Try to help? He strained to listen to the words spoken by the others in panic, screaming to each other in a language still so foreign.
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The sight of the younger so emaciated and worn out grabbed at his guilt complex like nothing else. However it also gave him an added boost of needed anger as he had really decided to take on an entire hoard of thieves without much planning.
"You will surrender or die for your crimes." He said calmly, sticking his sword into the back of another man without a blink. Half of them seemed to give up just then. The rest spat and cursed Atem's name. He spared one look back to the other.
"Stay back." He warned, puzzle around his neck glowing brightly all of a sudden.
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...of course, Atem ended up finding him. But wasn't that how it always turned out? He opened his mouth to say something, but found his throat was too dry to even muster up enough of a voice to yell out something. Plus.. when was the last time he even heard himself speak?
Instead, he nodded, setting down the clay pot and grabbing hold of what he could carry of his own chains, trying to move out of harm's way. Back by the oasis.. there were rocks there, right? Maybe he could hide behind them for now.
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"Judgement." Something he would usually sit by his whole Court and preform but he just didn't have the time or patience right now. The puzzle glowed, seeking out their hearts and minds, and without any mind to the contrary Atem could already feel how disgusting and dark they were inside.
Without another thought towards it he sentenced them to death. Taking Yuugi had not been their only crime, surely it would have been enough though. Once the air was finally quiet, he staggered back a few steps. Now where had his partner gone?
"Aibou?" His sword was sheathed at his side, slid in-between the golden waist band he'd been wearing. His voice was definitely weaker than it had been when he'd first spoken.
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When the silence returned and he heard his title, spoken with a voice he'd been dying to hear, he slowly peeked out from behind the rock, disrupting the silence with the jingle of chains. Any form of a smile that might've formed at being reunited flickered with uncertainty and worry. Was Atem hurt? What could he do like this?
Regardless, he moved back to him quickly, as if waning strength was no longer an issue, chains dragging through the sand behind his bare feet.
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In one easy moment of weakness his arms wrapped around the slightly smaller form, pulling him close. "I'm sorry I didn't get here sooner." Only the utmost extreme regret in his voice. Yuugi's position had been all his fault. He'd never be able to forgive himself.
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Even if it was considered weakness, Yuugi embraced him in return, frail arms wrapping about his neck and face pressing against his shoulder. He was... so relieved. So thankful. And as Atem apologized, he felt guilty, too. He himself grew so hopeless in the whole situation that he gave up ever seeing Atem again. But how could he say that?
He shook his head, swallowing sharply. Ugh. His throat felt as dry and as gritty as the sand around them. After a few failed attempts, he managed to get his voice working, though it was hoarse from lack of use. "It's not your fault... mou hitori no boku. I couldn't get away from them. I tried.."
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"But I will rectify it as best as I can." First was getting them back to the cave to find a key to get those chains off. "How badly are you injured?" He murmured after setting him down and starting to check through pockets.
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The cave was a relief from the sun even if the temperature change wasn't all that much. Still, it brought back horrible memories... and Yuugi wanted to be as far away from it as humanly possible. He stood on his own, unsteady only for a moment before he focused his remaining strength on staying upright.
"Not much.." He stated, nervously chewing on his lip as he tried to peer at his back. Obviously, he couldn't.. but at least most of the wounds from the whips of the bandits had already started healing over. Considering he was mostly shirtless, since the bandits didn't give him much, he couldn't hide them all that well. The glance over his shoulder didn't last long, because he then realized how he could help.. despite the gruesome scene of Atem rummaging through pockets.
"Him." He pointed at one of the fallen forms, the nicest dressed of them all. "He's the leader. He should have the keys around his neck."
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Instead he nodded wordlessly to the aid, going over to the boss of these rouges and taking the knee just long enough to snack the chord around his neck. The key was brought back and the chains were quickly severed from Yuugi's being.
After doing so he unclipped his cape from his shoulders, giving it to Yuugi to wear however he wanted. At least some protection from the sun or a cover-up if he wanted it. A weak, still guilty, smile was given to him. "My horse is waiting just outside. Let's go."
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Yuugi tried not to frown too much at the guilty smile, and felt a pang of his own. He didn't want Atem to feel responsible. It wasn't his fault, at all. Even if Yuugi knew it wasn't, and wouldn't blame him if it was anyway, he still wished he could change his other's mind. After all, if Yuugi spoke up sooner when he felt strange, this probably would have been avoided entirely.
He did take the cape willingly, wrapping it around himself with a nod. Gods only knew what happened to his clothes.. he didn't want to think about it, honestly, preferring to follow Atem to his horse instead.
"Where did you end up when you arrived?" A hoarse inquiry. Enough strange stuff has happened to him that he normally doesn't ask 'why'.
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"Some people apparently recognized me and brought me back to the palace." The palace that wasn't really the palace. It was plain on his face that despite this should have been home it left him feeling anxious and uneasy.
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