Atem has waited, patiently, for this to blow over, for him and Ryou to heal from it on their own, because Ryou had asked him not to fight, not to seek revenge. He wasn't content, to let matters be -- it made him feel weak, made him feel shame, ate at the sense and instinct left over from the shadows in his mind, the sense for how many pounds of flesh the scales would require in order to be balanced again. It's eaten at him, like rot, like an infected wound, hot and feverish despite all his attempts to cut off its blood supply, tightening a tourniquet around his sense of right and wrong, of strength and weakness.
And now there's another wound, another infection. He can guess the man behind it.
How much of Atem's self is he going to lose, from Bakuras asking him to leave it alone?
When Atem's mouth twists in rage, in helpless fury, the edges split again, revealing sharp needle-fangs that go all the way up his jaw to his ear. Breath whistles through them, as a pitched-down growl starts to issue from his chest. His voice is unsteady, thick with emotion, thick with hurt.]
How many times, Ring-Spirit?
How many injuries are you and Ryou going to make me bear...?
[He looks directly into the Ring-Spirit's eyes, his other hand coming up to the other shoulder, the fingers of the first hand separating and entangling with the clawed harpy-hands as best they can.]
Harm to you is harm to me. Insult to you, is insult to me. I'd give up everything I have in this place if I knew it would make him and me even for what's been done, what's been taken from me--!
[There's an animal-noise, from deep in Atem's throat, so deep it sounds like his chest.]
If it's what you want -- then, I won't act! I won't even things out, I won't take away from him what he has from me. But--
[breathing. breathing. Atem holds eye contact, doesn't let it go.]
I won't let it go. I won't f̷̧̤͒͝o̷̗͋r̵̙͑g̷͇̙͐̄è̶͉̤͈t̴̙́́. And I certainly won't ever f̵̡̳̫̯̑̚͜ǫ̷̝̪̀̇̈́͝͝ͅͅr̵̭̿̕͝g̸̛̜̝̯̎̒̀ͅi̸͈͓͚͈͌͒ͅv̶̰͚͇͊̍̈è̸͇͚̿͝͝ it. I'll hold it in my heart like a flame, until I can visit it on him, without it bringing you or Ryou further harm. Just know -- know, that I would have, and that if you ever change your mind -- if what you want ever becomes evening the scales--!
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Date: 2022-07-13 12:09 am (UTC)In, and out. In, and out.
There's fury in his face.
Atem has waited, patiently, for this to blow over, for him and Ryou to heal from it on their own, because Ryou had asked him not to fight, not to seek revenge. He wasn't content, to let matters be -- it made him feel weak, made him feel shame, ate at the sense and instinct left over from the shadows in his mind, the sense for how many pounds of flesh the scales would require in order to be balanced again. It's eaten at him, like rot, like an infected wound, hot and feverish despite all his attempts to cut off its blood supply, tightening a tourniquet around his sense of right and wrong, of strength and weakness.
And now there's another wound, another infection. He can guess the man behind it.
How much of Atem's self is he going to lose, from Bakuras asking him to leave it alone?
When Atem's mouth twists in rage, in helpless fury, the edges split again, revealing sharp needle-fangs that go all the way up his jaw to his ear. Breath whistles through them, as a pitched-down growl starts to issue from his chest. His voice is unsteady, thick with emotion, thick with hurt.]
How many times, Ring-Spirit?
How many injuries are you and Ryou going to make me bear...?
[He looks directly into the Ring-Spirit's eyes, his other hand coming up to the other shoulder, the fingers of the first hand separating and entangling with the clawed harpy-hands as best they can.]
Harm to you is harm to me. Insult to you, is insult to me. I'd give up everything I have in this place if I knew it would make him and me even for what's been done, what's been taken from me--!
[There's an animal-noise, from deep in Atem's throat, so deep it sounds like his chest.]
Rrrȑ̸͇͉͝r̶̟͊̽̑r̸̡̊̌̕r̵̦͓̉a̵͈̱͋ͅg̷͍̹͂̕ḧ̴̻́̊̈!̴͔͇͆!̴̝͉̈́̇͠
If it's what you want -- then, I won't act! I won't even things out, I won't take away from him what he has from me. But--
[breathing. breathing. Atem holds eye contact, doesn't let it go.]
I won't let it go. I won't f̷̧̤͒͝o̷̗͋r̵̙͑g̷͇̙͐̄è̶͉̤͈t̴̙́́. And I certainly won't ever f̵̡̳̫̯̑̚͜ǫ̷̝̪̀̇̈́͝͝ͅͅr̵̭̿̕͝g̸̛̜̝̯̎̒̀ͅi̸͈͓͚͈͌͒ͅv̶̰͚͇͊̍̈è̸͇͚̿͝͝ it. I'll hold it in my heart like a flame, until I can visit it on him, without it bringing you or Ryou further harm. Just know -- know, that I would have, and that if you ever change your mind -- if what you want ever becomes evening the scales--!