Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Journey to Heaven ❯ Strong Enough ( Chapter 21 )

Note: This chappie happens 3 months later…..ATEN/ROBBIE LIME!!!! MENTIONS OF INCEST.

 

Marik Ishtar77: *hands coconut cream pie* I love these. Fire at will.

Kat: I wonder exactly how long it took for Malik to be able to walk normally again.

I is me: *hands hot chocolate and marshmallows* Get some rest.

Anubiset: Maybe I can arrange it later for Yami to be sealed up, but for right now, he is needed out.

Draza: Poor Zira…..he handled that as well as he could.

Beysie: people are so quick to judge. Seto's people will be busy.

Kura Magician Girl: Miranda will do everything she can to bother Marik in a good way…and she enjoys it.

Broken Time: It may be a while before Yami is physically caught.

Shadow of Light: The family will pull through. It will be some interesting times ahead, though.

Valea: Marik likes Robbie…and any attempt to see Miranda is always a joy for him.

Caterfree: Good for you on your solo! I'm so proud of you! *hugs and hands Aten plushie*

Jupitor Knight: HOLY HECK! HI, YOU!!! Welcome back! *hugs*

 

//…….//-Aku

/…./-Aten

[…….]-Flashbacks

[[[…….]]]-Aria to Aten through mindlink

[[……..]]-Aten to Aria through mindlink

 

Strong Enough

 

Malik opened his eyes and saw a tan arm wrapped around him and hung limp over his chest. He turned his head and heard the slight snoring from his husband. He felt his husband press against him in his sleep and give a satisfied moan in his sleep. Slowly, he moved Marik's limp arm away from his chest and rolled out of bed. He looked down at his sleeping husband and smiled.

Malik watched as Marik turned over on his stomach and crossed his arms under his chest. The sleeping yami buried his face in the pillow and let out a snore. The hikari covered his tired yami with the comforter and brushed his hand through the blond spiky hair.

He smiled and leaned down to kiss his yami. “Love you, Marik.”

The yami let out a little whimper into the pillow.

Malik slipped on a pair of boxers and stepped out of the room. Robbie climbed up the stairs with a laundry basket in his hand.

“Robbie? What are you doing?”

“Laundry. I just figured I'd give a hand. I also washed the dishes, dried them, and put them away.”

Malik raised his eyebrows. “Wow. Don't overdo it, Robbie. I know that foot of yours has been giving you problems.”

Robbie shrugged and smiled. “Well, this helps you out. I have been sticking around to help care for Aten.”

“You've been a big help, Robbie. We really do appreciate the help.”

“It's no problem,” Robbie said. “I can manage. I have to get Aten up for his physical therapy session.”

Malik nodded. “Yeah, I'll take him to the hospital if Ryou and Bakura aren't out of their room yet. They've been needing to spend time with each other.”

“That's fine. I'll go with you and Aten.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

Robbie carried the laundry into Aten's dark room. “Morning, Aten.”

Aten pulled the covers over his head with a moan.

Robbie snickered. “Wake up, sleepy head. Time to get up and showered for your physical therapy session.”

Another moan came from under the comforter. Robbie grinned. “Aten! WAKEY, WAKEY!”

Robbie stood by the bed and felt on top of the comforter. He grinned and began to randomly tickle the comforter. Laughter sounded from underneath the comforter.

“I'm going to have to tickle you awake this morning, huh, Aten? I haven't done this to you in about….twelve years!”

Aten laughed as he was tickled. He threw back the covers and grinned.

“That's right! You haven't tickled me awake for such a long time! Isn't there some other way you'd want to wake me up?”

The blue-eyed teen smiled. “Well, yeah. I would like to wake you up a different way.”

The Egyptian's arms were raised above his head. His long white and blond hair covered the pillow and fanned out. The sheets were draped below Aten's belly button.

His brown and purple eyes sparkled.

Robbie leaned down and brought his lips within an inch of Aten's. “Well, there is one way I'd like to wake you up one day.”

Aten smiled. “And….how would that be?”

Robbie licked his lips. “How about this?”

Robbie pressed his lips against Aten's, his tongue slipping between Aten's slips slowly. Robbie's hand lightly touched Aten's belly and moved up to his chest, his thumb brushing over a nipple.

Aten moaned into the kiss and raised his hand to touch Robbie's cheek. The Egyptian tugged at Robbie and the light-skinned boy cautiously slipped on top of his friend. Aten's body gave a shudder as Robbie mounted him, but Aten quickly closed his eyes.

//He's trying to make love to you, Aten.//

/……..Just let me try and enjoy this./

//Do you feel this comfortable with this yet?//

Robbie kissed Aten's dark mocha skin. He traced Aten's jaw with kisses and kissed slowly down his neck, taking care to kiss every inch.

Aten turned his neck to the side, exposing more of his neck for Robbie to kiss.

//This is familiar, isn't it, Aten?//

/Stop it. Let me enjoy this./

//You have to fight the memories of those who hurt you before you can do this with him.//

Aten spread his legs and allowed Robbie to settle between him.

Robbie kissed along Aten's collarbone slowly. Robbie supported himself on his hands, careful not to put too much weight on Aten's thin body.

“I love you, Aten.”

//Does he really love you?//

/Yes, he does. I know he does. Why don't you trust him?/

//I am trying to protect you from being hurt. Your grandfather claimed to love you, too. Look where it got you.//

/Robbie is different./

Robbie kissed down to Aten's nipple and lapped at the tightening bud.

“Robbie,” Aten moaned softly and whimpered.

//How can you be sure?//

/Please…..just let me be./

Robbie sucked on Aten's nipple and licked it to hardness.

//You're enjoying this…..too much.//

Aten shifted as he felt his body start to react to Robbie's tongue on his body. His hips started to thrust up against Robbie.

[My little grandson is so sexy…Look at his sexy little body…]

Aten tensed. “Robbie, stop…..”

Robbie picked up his head. “What's wrong?”

“We…….We have to get ready to go to the hospital. And I have to get showered.”

Robbie smiled. “You're right. We can continue this tonight. I want to take you out to dinner tonight. Do you think you'll be up to it?”

Aten smiled. “If I take my nap today, I don't see a problem with it.”

“It's a date, then.” Robbie crawled off of Aten and winced. “We'll pick this up later, then. I'll let you get showered and dressed. What do you want to eat for breakfast?”

Aten stretched and arched his back. “Toast with jelly and milk.”

Robbie smiled. “Okay.”

Aten watched Robbie leave the room and close the door behind him. He threw the covers off of himself and looked down at his hard arousal. He gave a hard sigh.

“I have to learn to get around what I feel when Robbie does that to me. Robbie's not going to want me to freeze on him.”

His hand moved to his arousal. “I have to get used to being touched and ignoring what my grandfather did.”

//You won't forget….you can't forget.//

/I will! I have to….for Robbie's sake./

Aten rolled out of bed and staggered to his closet to grab his bathrobe, between his legs throbbing from Robbie's close contact.

*******************************

The Egyptian teen walked on the treadmill slowly as the wires connecting himself to the heart monitor swung loosely in front of him.

“You're doing good, Aten,” Katie praised him. “How do you feel?”

He shrugged. “Not too bad. Getting a little sore, though.”

“Think you have another mile in you?”

Aten sighed. “I'll try.”

“If you get out of breath, just stop, okay?”

“I will.”

Katie wrote down Aten's speed and time. “So what do you and Robbie have planned after this?”

“We're going out to dinner. We're going to the Riviera for dinner tonight. Just Robbie and I. I feel up to it today. I feel that a nice dinner alone is just what we need.”

“That's nice, Aten. I hope you have fun.”

Aten smiled. “I don't know how he can afford it. That place is so expensive!”

Katie smiled. “Well, don't you worry about that, Aten. You just enjoy yourself.”

“I will….*pant*….Okay..*pant*….I think I've had enough.”

Katie turned off the treadmill and Aten started breathing heavy. “You okay, Aten? Sit down over here. Come on.”

Katie lead him over to the chairs and brought him a glass of water. “Breath deep, Aten.”

“Dizzy.”

“Okay. Deep breaths. Calm down.” Katie took Aten's arm and pressed the wrist to monitor his pulse. “You're heart rate skyrocketed. Not good. You weren't on there long enough for your heart to be working this quickly.”

Aten sipped the water and panted. Sweat formed on his forehead.

“You'll be okay, Aten. Do you want your father to come in? Robbie?”

Aten shook his head. “I'm okay.”

“I don't want you to overdo it, Aten. Have you had enough?”

Aten nodded. “No more. I'm done.”

“Well, your endurance is getting a little better. You went about one and a half miles. That's good.”

“Not good enough for me, though. I should be doing twice that.”

Katie put her hand on his shoulder. “Aww, Aten. Don't rush yourself. You're doing well and it takes time to get your strength back.”

Aten growled in frustration. “A sixty year old patient with heart failure can probably go farther than I have today! That's all I am. I'm a sixty year old man trapped in a teenager's body! I'm so useless.”

Katie poked Aten in the chest. “You listen to me, mister! You are not useless. Your parents love you very much and your mother was terrified of losing you. Would you call that worthless?”

Aten leaned over and started to cry on her shoulder. He wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly.

“Oh, Aten…..come now, boy. Don't cry.”

“I can't do anything! I can't help out my mother! I can't go to school! I can't do anything at all!”

Katie held the crying teen. She quietly stroked his hair just as she had done when he was a two year old boy. She remembered holding his thin, emaciated body in her arms after his abduction with his mother. His body just laid in that dark room for weeks, his eyes had become photosensitive.

She knew it wasn't easy for him. He wanted to recover quickly, but his body wasn't recovering as quickly. Not only did he worry about his recovery time, but it wasn't easy for him knowing that five years of life is all that he had left.

“Aten, your parents only ask that you take your time and get better. You're doing wonderfully. Really.” She wiped away the tears from his wet eyes. “Now, now, sweetie. You are one lucky boy to still be here.”

Aten looked down. “Sometimes…I…..”

Katie put her finger to his lips. “Don't even finish that sentence, Aten Bakari. I know what you are going to say and all I can say is that your parents have sacrificed so much for you. They love you so much. I don't think they would want you to wish you were no longer around.” Katie smiled. “I still remember handing you to your father for the first time and the look on your mother's face when he first saw you in the incubator. What I saw was a mother concerned for her little boy.”

Aten sniffled. “I'm sorry, Katie. I guess….I guess I'm being too hard on myself.”

“Darn straight you are, Aten Ishtar! You're a good kid, Aten. Everyone heals at a different rate, okay? If you need to talk, you have lots of people you can rely on.”

Aten nodded. “I know. Sorry to break up on you, Katie. I don't mean to.”

“No apologies needed. Okay?”

Aten smiled slowly. “Okay.”

“You go out with Robbie and you have yourself a good time.”

“Thank you, Katie. I know I will.”
Katie pat Aten on the shoulder. “You should go home and get some rest for your night, Aten. I'll just tell your father about your progress.”

Katie lead Aten out to the waiting room and called Marik into the physical therapy room.

“How's he coming?”

“He was able to go a mile and a half today on the treadmill. He could lift about five pounds comfortably. His heart rate seems to spike suddenly when he exercises. I don't recommend that he lifts anything heavy or does too much walking. It was almost a split-second incident as his heart rate increased dramatically.”

Marik sighed and ran his fingers through his spiky hair. “At least he's improving. It may be slow, but anything is good at this point.”

“Your son seems very upset at himself for not recovering quickly enough.”

“I can't blame the kid. I'd be frustrated and angry, too.”

Katie showed Marik the medical chart. “He's progressing reasonably well, as you can see.”

Marik flipped through the pages. “It's amazing. This kid went from weighing 2 pounds at birth to weighing 94 pounds now. I don't know how he remains so damn thin. He was eating well there for a while and his appetite has become worse since he's gotten sicker every year.”

“Try protein shakes for him. It may help him put a few more pounds on.”

“We tried that and he doesn't like them.”

“Well, when he starts feeling better, he'll eat again.”

Marik nodded. “I hope so. The kid is bones as he is right now.”

“Well, you're doing a good job caring for him, Marik. Keep up the good work.”

Marik grinned as his eyes skimmed Katie. “Sure thing, beautiful.”

“That's it, Marik Ishtar! Goodbye!” Katie smiled as she grabbed the file. “Your son is just as bad as you.”

Marik licked his lips. “Well, what do you expect? He's my son.”

“Marik, what am I going to do with you?”

The yami grinned, his canines showing. “Use your imagination, gorgeous.”

Katie shook her head. “Time to go, Marik. Bye.”

Marik watched the nurse walk away with a feral grin. It was so much fun to watch the nurses walk away!

He left the therapy room and went to his son. “Ready to go home?”

Aten grinned. “Robbie and I have a long night tonight. We really should go home.”

Robbie took a deep breath as he nodded in agreement.

Tonight was going to be the night he would ask Aten for his hand in matrimony.

******************************

Aten and Robbie walked up to the restaurant and were seated after a long wait. Aten's eyes looked around at the extravagant décor.

Red silky curtains decorated the windows. Similar colored table cloths covered each table. The walls were decorated with white and gold trim.

In the middle of their table was a single burning candle and a rose.

In the corner, Aten could see the fireplace blazing.

The Egyptian shook his head. “I still don't know how you can afford to take me here.”

“Aten, don't be such a worry-wart! I can handle this. It's no big deal, okay? Trust me.”

Aten looked at his menu as their waiter came to take their drink order.

“I'll have an ice water and Robbie?”

Robbie looked up from his menu, his forehead already sweating from anxiety. “I'll….umm…have a Root Beer, please.”

The waiter left and Aten raised an eyebrow.

“Robbie, are you okay?”

“Yeah, Aten. I'm fine. You?”

“Oh, I'm fine. It's really nice in here, isn't it?”

Robbie nodded. “It sure is! Umm….if the waiter comes, Aten, I'll have the Chicken Parm, okay? I have to….use the little boy's room.”

“You can say `bathroom,' you know.”

Robbie blushed beet red.

“Are you really okay, Robbie? You look….like a cherry!”

“I'll be fine. Be right back!” Robbie stood up and ran to the men's bathroom.

He opened the door and ran to the sink. He splashed his face with cold water and looked down into the sink. “Calm down, Robbie. This will work out.”

He pulled the velvet box out of his pocket and looked up at the mirror.

“Let's see…..'Aten, you know how I feel about you. And….' No. That's dumb. `Aten, will you marry me?'…….No. He may just have another heart attack on me. `Aten, I love you so much that it hurts'……Geeze, that sounds pathetic!.....'Aten, you know how I feel about you and I want to take this opportunity to show you how I feel.'……Well, that's better than the first three. Man, I have to get this just right!” With a sigh of resignation, he returned to the table.

“Feel better, Robbie?”

“Kinda….did the waiter come?”

“I ordered for you. Thanks for taking me out to dinner, Robbie. I appreciate it.”

“Anything for you, Aten.”

Aten smiled as he heard violin music being played by a violinist in the corner. “Wow! They even have a violinist here! This is so great!”

Aten moved his finger to the tune of the musician with a smile.

Robbie took in a deep breath, inhaling the smell of the vanilla scented candle in front of him. His eyes wandered over Aten and his features in the candle light.

Aten's smile was one of contentment. Aten looked so much like his mother, except for the blond streaks mixed with his white hair. When his eyes were open, his purple eye sparkled like its brown twin.

Robbie reached out and took Aten's hand that laid on the table. “I love you, Aten.”

Aten opened his eyes and smiled. “I love you, too, Robbie. This is turning out to be such a wonderful night already!”

“There's more to come, Aten.”

“What could possibly make this night any better?”

The waiter brought over their dinners.

“Dinner Time!” Robbie smiled as he bounced excitedly in his chair. “Dinner Time makes everything better!”

The two boys ate their dinners. Robbie finished his chicken much sooner than Aten had finished his dinner.

When they were done, Robbie paid the bill and they left.

They walked down the street towards home, holding hands.

“It's such a beautiful night,” Aten said as he looked up at the stars. “Ra has made this night so perfect! Not a cloud in that sky.”

Robbie squeezed Aten's hand quickly. “It's going to get better. Trust me.”

Aten walked to the door, but Robbie walked to the backyard gate.

“Aten, come into the back with me.”

The Egyptian followed Robbie into the backyard. Robbie sat on the back porch and pat the space beside him. His friend quietly sat beside him and looked up at the starry sky and the full moon.

Aten reached out and held Robbie's hand. “Such a beautiful night, Robbie. Thank you so much for dinner.”

Robbie smiled and kissed Aten on the cheek. “Don't mention it, Aten. It was my pleasure.”

Aten grinned and kissed Robbie's cheek. “Oh, no. It was mine.”

Robbie bit his lip and took one more look at the moon. His heart raced. His hands became sweaty, but Aten didn't let his hand go.

“Aten…..there's something I want to ask you.”

Aten turned his head to Robbie, half of his face hidden in shadow. The moonlight illuminated the right side of his face, the purple eye blinking. “What is it, Robbie?”

“I have to ask you something…important.”

“Which is?”

Robbie took a deep breath. “Aten, do you know how much I love you?”

Aten smiled. “You have to ask me that after taking me to my physical therapy appointment and taking me out to dinner? Let me also mention not leaving my side since my heart attack? You've done so much for me, Robbie, and I am very grateful. I hope I can make it up to you someday.”

The blue-eyed teen smiled. “I love you very much, Aten, and I know there's nobody else who can make me feel so wanted, so special.” Robbie reached into his pocket and removed the velvet box. He opened the box, revealing the two rings with blue and purple stones. “Aten Bakari Ishtar, will you marry me?”

Aten's eyes widened and his jaw dropped. His eyes gazed at the gold ring and the stones, glittering in the moonlight.

“Aten, will you be my husband?”

Aten reached out for the box with shaking hands. The moonlight illuminated his tears as they crawled down his cheek. A choked sob came out of him as he looked at the rings.

“Aten,” Robbie whispered as he kneeled on his left knee. He used Aten as a support for his bad foot. “I love you, Aten…with all my heart and soul.”

Aten looked up from the box and smiled. “Of course I'll marry you, Robbie.”

Aten threw his arms around Robbie and laughed crying. He pulled Robbie into a kiss as both boys started to cry.

Robbie removed Aten's ring and held up his hand. “I pledge my life to you, Aten. As long as we both shall live, I will always be there to love you and help you.” He slipped the ring onto Aten's finger and kissed Aten's hand gently.

Aten picked up Robbie's ring and slipped it onto Robbie's finger. “I will love you until my dying day, Robbie, and for all eternity.”

Aten pressed his lips against Robbie's softly, running his fingers through Robbie's slightly curly hair.

Robbie winced and sat beside Aten again. “Stupid foot.”

“I like your foot,” Aten said.

“I love everything about you, Aten,” Robbie said with a smile.

Both boys looked up at the stars for a long time with their arms wrapped around each other. The wind blew through their hair as they gazed into the heavens.

“Robbie?” Aten asked quietly. “Will you spend the night with me?”

Robbie nodded. “Of course I will…..baby.”

Aten put his head on Robbie's shoulder and sighed contentedly.

A cold breeze suddenly filled the air and Aten shivered.

“We should go inside, Robbie. I can't get sick.”

“Good idea.”

Aten walked inside the house and went up to his mother. With a quick motion, he hugged his mother.

“Robbie and I are getting married, mother!”

Ryou smiled and hugged his son. “I'm so proud of you, Aten! Robbie is such a great boy! Come here, Robbie!” Ryou hugged Robbie tightly. “Welcome to the family, Robbie! Then again, you've always been one of us.”

Robbie laughed. “Without the Shadow Powers, of course…..and eating things that are not even cooked.”

Aria walked into the room. “Don't knock it `till you've tried it.
”Sister! I'm getting married to Robbie!”

Aria smiled and hugged her brother. She turned to Robbie and hugged him, whispering in his ear, “Take care of him……..”

“Oh, I will, Aria, don't worry.”

“Or I will take care of you,” Aria added with a snarl in his ear.

Robbie swallowed hard. He knew what Yami Aria was capable of and knew how protective she was over her brother.

“I promise to take care of him, Aria.”

“See that you do, Robbie. Congratulations,” she added with a smile.

Ryou looked at their rings. “They are so beautiful, Robbie! How could you afford them?”

“I owe Seto Kaiba a huge favor later on, I'm sure. I'll work it off.”

“I'll have to thank Seto the next time I speak to him,” Ryou said.

Aten gave a fake yawn. “I'm tired. I'm going to bed. Goodnight, mother.”

Aten kissed Ryou on the forehead. “Where's father and everyone else?”

“Bakura and your father are out with Malik. They'll be back late. You should go to bed if you are tired, sweetheart. You've had a long day.”

Aten nodded. “It was a hard day. Goodnight, mother. Goodnight, sister.”

“Goodnight, Aten,” Aria said with a smile.

[[[If you intend on sleeping with Robbie, block me this time, will you?]]]

[[I will, don't worry. I don't want you to read what's going on in my head anyway during it.]]

[[[Afraid?]]]

[[Wouldn't you be?]]

Aria walked up to Aten and hugged him. [[[Don't let grandfather's memories win, Aten. This is Robbie.]]]

[[I know….it's just…..Aria, I can't run away from this, like Chapman told me.]]

[[[Just relax, Aten. If something doesn't feel good or right, tell Robbie to stop. If he doesn't stop, summon me through the link and I will kick his ass out of this house so quickly, his head will spin. Okay? I'll be in my room. Call me if you need help.]]]

[[Thank you, sister. I love you.]]

Aria grinned. [[[What are big sisters for?]]]

[[You're only three minutes older than I am!]]

[[[Still! That makes me your big sister. Now, go get him, tiger!]]]

Aten raised his eyebrow at his sister's comment and left the kitchen with Robbie quietly.

************************

Aten slipped into bed without any clothing. He laid on his back, anticipating Robbie's arrival into the bedroom.

//Are you going to go through with this?//

/I want to make love to Robbie, and you are going to let me./

//Since when does the hikari order the yami around? You still do not realize that I am here with your best interests in mind.//

/Let me make love to Robbie. I want to do this./

//You cannot keep the ghosts of your past hidden from him. You may as well confess.//

Aten shook his head. /I can't do that. Robbie mustn't know./

//And what does that accomplish towards this person you appear to love so much? It breeds deceit. Are you willing to do this to Robbie? Deceive him before you even get to the altar? You cannot hide who you are….or the wounded child you have become.//

/I am not wounded!/

//You fail to admit it to yourself even now…..Let me watch how well you handle it when your mental barriers between you and your memories of your grandfather break down and crash all around you. If you believe you can handle it without my help, then let me watch and see.//

/I'll show you how strong I am now!/

//Fine. Let me see the strong creature you have become.//

Robbie walked into the room and closed the door behind him. He shed his bathrobe and slipped beside Aten in bed. The two boys cuddled up to each other as they had always done since they were young.

Robbie looked at Aten's eyes and smiled. “Who knew we would one day lay side by side married to each other, huh? Kind of funny, don't you think?”

Aten nodded nervously. “Yeah, that is funny.”

“You okay, Aten?”

“Yeah, I'm fine. Really.”

Robbie reached up and cupped Aten's cheek in his hand, feeling the Egyptian give a quick shudder.

“Shh…baby. It's okay.”

Robbie leaned over and gave Aten a kiss on the lips. Aten closed his eyes as he let his hands drift slowly and uncertainly over Robbie's body. Though they had done this many times before, they were friends. Now…they were going to be married. They had only touched each other……now, was it really going to be actual lovemaking?

Robbie moaned as he felt Aten's thin fingers brush against his nipple and his skin, warming it up.

Robbie's hands lightly touched Aten's side, his fingers brushing along Aten's thin body and along his hip.

Robbie leaned forward and kissed down Aten's neck, taking time to suck on the tan skin at the base of the neck. Aten's eyes widened in horror as Robbie pulled Aten's body against him slowly.

//You can handle it, huh?//

/Stop it….This isn't anything we haven't done before, but it still gets scary./

“I love you, Aten,” Robbie moaned as he kissed down Aten's chest.

“Robbie,” Aten moaned as he rolled onto his back.

“Will I hurt you if I get on top of you?”

Aten shook his head. “No, Robbie. I want you to do this. I'll be okay.”

//This is a bad idea. He has never mounted you before.//

/This is Robbie….he wouldn't hurt me./

Robbie crawled on top of Aten and kissed the Egyptian's chest. With a single stroke of his tongue, he licked up from Aten's sternum to his neck. Shivers of pleasure flooded through Aten and he let out a whimper.

Robbie licked his lips. “That was fun.”

Aten laughed. “Are you enjoying yourself?”

Robbie rubbed his hip against Aten, allowing their bodies to grind against each other. “Aren't you?”

“Sure am.”

//You dirty, rotten liar…..You're scared to death!//

/That's it! That's enough out of you for one night!/

Robbie stopped. “Aten, are you angry?”

“No, why?”

“Just now you looked like you were furious. Do you want me to stop?”

“No, Robbie. Go on.”

Aten closed his eyes as Robbie lapped at his left nipple, coating it, and wetting it with a tiny bit of saliva. He pulled back and blew on it, sending more shivers up Aten's spine.

The tan skin heated under Robbie's touch, the body below him writhed under him.

Robbie kissed lower on Aten's body, stopping to kiss each protruding rib. Aten gripped the sheets below him.

//You're losing the battle….//

/No, I'm not/, Aten panted heavily. /This is Robbie….This is Robbie…./

Robbie dipped his tongue into Aten's belly button.

/This is Robbie….This is Robbie./

Robbie kissed lower, arriving at the first row of curls surrounding Aten's manhood.

/Oh god…..oh god….oh god……I think you're right…./

Robbie watched Aten gripping the sheets tightly. “Aten?”

“I'm okay, Robbie.”

Robbie looked down at Aten's half-aroused length. Robbie's tongue lightly touched the head.

Aten's eyes shot open in horror. He wheezed, trembled, and tensed. “Gantfatter! Stop! Please!”

Robbie looked up to see Aten flailing his arms wildly. “Aten!”

“Gantfatter! Don't!”

Robbie crawled up and held Aten. Aten's eyes were opened wildly as he pushed against Robbie.
”No! Go away! Don't hurt mommy! Please!”

Robbie held onto Aten. “Aten, I never hurt your mother! It's me! Robbie!”

Aten pushed against Robbie again and tried to punch him. “Stop touching me! Please! Bad touch!”

Robbie's eyes widened as Aten broke free from his grasp. Aten rolled off of the bed and ran to his closet door. He kneeled in front of the door and pulled at the doorknob. “Mommy…..screaming…..why won't they stop hurting my mommy?!”

Robbie sat in the bed watching Aten kneeling naked in front of the door. Aten fell forward onto his hands.

“They're hurting my mommy……my mommy won't stop crying….”

Robbie stood up slowly. “Aten?”

Aten started sobbing as Robbie approached him.

“Aten?”

Aten looked up. “Gantfatter?”

“Who?”

Aten kneeled in front of Robbie. “Please don't hurt my mommy…..I'll make you feel good if you don't hurt my mommy anymore.”

Robbie watched Aten grab his length and lick the head lightly with his tongue. Robbie shifted back.

“Aten, stop. This isn't right.”

“I'll be a good little boy, gantfatter….just like you told me to.”

Robbie stepped back as Aten tried to swallow his erection again. “No, Aten. Come on, stand up.”

Aten wrapped his arms around his body and rocked himself. “Screaming….”

Robbie kneeled beside Aten. “Aten? What is wrong? Please tell me.”

“Gantfatter….hurting mommy……putting his penis inside him….mommy is yelling…mommy is crying...I saw it all.”

Robbie's eyes widened. “What is going on, Aten? Please tell me.”

//Looked like you blew it, Aten.//

Aten blinked and looked up at his friend. “Robbie?”

Robbie looked down at his friend with concern in his eyes. “Aten, what happened?”

Aten looked around and noticed his arms wrapped around himself. He looked behind him at the closet door. “Oh Sweet Isis…..it happened, didn't it?”

“What happened?”

Aten grabbed Robbie, trembling to his very core. “Hold me, Robbie….please.”

Robbie held Aten silently. Aten cried into Robbie's shoulder.

“Please forgive me, Robbie.”

“There's nothing to forgive.”

Aten shook his head. “There is a lot to forgive.”

Robbie kissed Aten's temple. “I'll hold onto you as long as you need, Aten.”

Aten sniffled. He blinked as he clung desperately to Robbie.

//Come clean, Aten……//

Aten closed his eyes as a tear ran down his cheek. “I want to go back to bed.”

“Can you stand?”

Robbie helped Aten to his feet and helped him over to the bed. The two boys slipped under the covers and Robbie held Aten against him.

Aten took a deep breath. “When I was two years old, Robbie, my mother and I were kidnapped. We were placed in this dark place….this dark basement. We were locked in there with no food or water. I don't know why my grandfather did that to my mother and I. One day, we were forced out of the home and I cut my hand on some glass trying to run away. That's why I have a scar on my palm.”

Robbie looked at Aten's hand. “It's very light now. You can hardly see it.”

“Mother and I were taken to another place…a cabin. We were locked in the basement again.”

“No wonder you are afraid of basements!”

Aten nodded. “Sometimes, my grandfather would take my mother away. I'd hear him screaming from upstairs and he would come back downstairs, limping and whimpering. My grandfather would bring down a meal for me afterwards. Mother and I lived in that basement for a long time, it felt like. Then one day, my grandfather took my me upstairs. He carried me by my shirt. He carried me into a room where I saw this other boy hurting my mother…..he was….raping my mother. I….I was forced to watch, Robbie.”

Robbie's jaw dropped and he held Aten closer. “Aten…..I'm so sorry.”

“One time my grandfather laid me on the bed beside my mother. He kissed me and undressed me……My mother begged him not to hurt me and my grandfather slapped my mother. My grandfather touched me……and one time he gave me a bath and he touched me there, too, only……he did to me what you just did. I'm so sorry, Robbie! I didn't mean to panic on you!”

Robbie clenched his eyes shut as a tear slipped out of his eyes. “Aten, I never knew. I never even suspected that could have been the reason why you were afraid of basements! I thought you were afraid of the dark.”

“My grandfather was the one who cut into my back, Robbie. My grandfather cut into me, beat me, and then…..he…..no…I can't say what else he did. But he did to me the same thing he did to me at 2 and 3 years old. When you licked me, it brought back all of those feelings. My own grandfather….raped me.”

Robbie cradled Aten against him and kissed his forehead again. “Shh, Aten. It'll be okay. I understand. We don't have to make love right away, you know. We can just cuddle.”

Aten sniffled as he draped his arm over Robbie and rested his head on Robbie's chest, listening to his heartbeat.

“Are you angry, Robbie?”

“Of course not, Aten! Why would I be angry at you?”

“I was too scared to tell you….I didn't know what you would say.”

Robbie sighed. “I've never been one to judge you, Aten.”

“I know. I should have known that I could trust you.”

“You always can, Aten.” Robbie held Aten with a smile. “No matter what happened to you, Aten, I love you just the way you are.”

Aten smiled and sniffled. His eyes slowly closed and his body went limp.

*****************************

Robbie woke early the next morning and saw Aten sleeping on his side. He slipped away from Aten and crept out of the room with his bathrobe. He sighed as he closed the door.

He walked downstairs and heated the kettle for the morning tea.

A purple haze filled the room and Robbie turned around to see Aria walking out of a portal to the Shadow Realm carrying a half-empty bottle of milk.

“Why was the milk in the Shadow Realm?”

Aria yawned. “The lid wouldn't close, so I sent it to the Shadow Realm. Then I thought about how pissed my fathers would be without the milk for the coffee, so I went into the Shadow Realm to track it down.”

“Where did you find it?”

“The Helpless Child drank half the damn bottle!” Aria grumbled loudly.

Robbie laughed. “He's only a kid.”

“Milk is not meant for duel monsters.”

“Still…isn't he only a kid?”

Aria groaned. “Oh well, Umi and I will have to go out for more milk today, then. So, how did it go last night?”

Robbie bit his lip. “Fine.”

“My brother loves you a lot, you know.”

“I know he does. He…he told me about his grandfather.”

Aria stopped and turned around. “He did?”

Robbie nodded. “He ran to his closet and started trying to get into it. He was crying and everything. I didn't know what to do for him.”

Aria pursed her lips. “Ooo…I see. Well, Robbie, if he happens to do that, just don't leave him alone. Just be there and speak to him calmly. Hearing someone's voice usually helps.”

Robbie sighed. “Does he have these often?”

Aria nodded. “They can get repetitive sometimes. It's usually touch or smell that gives him flashbacks. When mother has a cut, Aten goes into a panic. When he sees blood, it gives him a flashback. He's really sensitive to the smell of blood. Just be there for him, Robbie. That's all you can do, really.”

Robbie nodded. “I will, Aria. I won't give up on him. I love him too much.”

“Aten needs you, Robbie.”

“And I need him.”

Aria sifted around in the cupboards. “Where's my peanut butter? Don't tell me I went through an entire bottle already!”

*************************

Donny arrived at Seto's office with the morning mail. “Things are quiet downstairs for a change.”

“That won't last long, Donny. You know that as well as I do. This is the calm before the storm.”

Donny looked out of the window. “How can you be sure?”

“Our stocks are dropping faster than a brick crashes to the ground,” Seto commented as he opened his first envelope. “My stockholders are not pleased at all.” The CEO looked at the letter. “Damn, another place is pulling our stuff out of their stock. Donny, this is not good at all.”

The sniper turned to his boss. “We'll find a way out. KaibaCorp's been in hotter water than this.”

“Not this hot, Don. Something has to give,” Seto said as he opened his second letter.

The CEO read it. “Hayden is not improving. They're thinking of moving him to another facility for permanent care.”

“Poor Master Hayden. Where are they thinking of moving him to?”

“Arcadia Mental Hospital. It's a larger facility better equipped to deal with people in Hayden's mental state. I'll have to think about that one.”

Seto opened the next letter and froze.

The letter read:

 

[If you continue this forbidden union with your lover,

Heed these words: Duck and Cover

If you say `I do' with that foul breath

Be prepared to meet your death.

 

----A friend]

 

Seto threw the letter onto the desk and opened the next letter:

 

[Marry your lover and suffer pain

Let's see you cry out

When there's a bullet in your brain!

 

----A well-wisher]

 

Another letter read:

[Together in Life

Together in Death

Together you shall take your dying breath

 

---An Associate]

 

 

Seto growled as he opened the next letter. Seto narrowed his eyes.

 

[One word: Payback.

 

---Yugi Motou]

 

Updates: Saturday

Note: Sorry, guys, I want to get back into the Saturday-Wednesday update schedule.