Bonjour!

Just a couple brothers. Feel free to drop us a message, ask a question, or start up some conversation! (OOC: freelance oc ask blog, rp blog)

[ancientruler]

[ancientruler]

The sound of Jonathan’s voice surprised Atem, but he agreed with what the other was saying….

[ancientruler]

Bonjour!: ancientruler: theangelbros: ancientruler: The sound of Jonathan’s…

[ancientruler]

He let out a small, still-silent breath of relief, lying fully back down again; this caused his muscles to relax entirely and he only felt a small pain in his wrist. He looked up at the ceiling in the silence, thinking back to the nightmare he’d had.

He remembered a bunch of shadows moving swiftly about him—they had to just be people of course, that didn’t worry him. He didn’t think this was anything unnaturally-created.

But then why did he still have the feeling of hands around his neck? Even in the dream, it’d felt like they were really THERE. It sent another shiver down his spine and he straightened suddenly when just THINKING about it made the feeling return. He relaxed shortly after, but gently closed his eyes and put his good hand to his neck again. Once again, there was nothing; just the feeling of his own hand gingerly touching the bruising.

[theangelbros]

Victor gave Atem another small smile. "You'll be better soon, Sir. You've already been recovering really quickly."

Jonathan looked up from his book at the two, though landed his eyes on Atem as he spoke. "Good thing, too. Vic hasn't left for any reason other than to shower, change, and come right back here. Scarlet's been by herself at the house for a while now."

[ancientruler]

The sound of Jonathan’s voice surprised Atem, but he agreed with what the other was saying. But even with painkillers, that didn’t change the tight feeling on his neck. He even put his good hand up to his neck, gingerly touching it and…

[ancientruler]

If not for the situation, the look of sheer horror on Atem’s face at the mention of Noah’s reaction would’ve been comical. However then he let out a breath of relief; he could count on Shelly to keep Noah calm enough—but he still fully expected the blond to try his hardest to find some way of payback. [At least with him calmer though, he knew it wouldn’t be anything Noah’d get arrested for…]

However then another thing caught his attention and he became shocked again.

…Four days…? Already?

It’d hardly felt like even a day had passed, let alone four; he must’ve been out after getting to the hospital longer than he believed…

[theangelbros]

Victor nodded again. “You were in really bad condition… You’ve improved a lot, actually.”

"You were almost totally out once you got to the hospital," Jonathan said. "You were in the intensive care unit for the first day and a half."

[ancientruler]

Bonjour!: ancientruler: theangelbros: ancientruler: The sound of Jonathan’s...

Again, the look of shock was back, but this time, Atem looked off. He'd been in THAT BAD of condition?--he hadn't even been able to tell--but then it didn't seem too far off the truth either...

He felt another twinge of pain in his neck from using it; he winced, putting a hand gingerly to his neck, though not touching it again. He wondered how visible the bruises were...if Noah had seen them--if any of the others had seen them...

[theangelbros]

"If it's any consolation, your bruises are yellowing," Victor said with a hesitant smile. "They'll be gone in no time."

Jonathan set aside his book and picked up another from the floor. "And they shouldn't hurt as bad after tomorrow, plus you'll have painkillers."

[ancientruler]

[ancientruler]

The sound of Jonathan’s voice surprised Atem, but he agreed with what the other was saying. But even with painkillers, that didn’t change the tight feeling on his neck. He even put his good hand up to his neck, gingerly touching it and…

[ancientruler]

If not for the situation, the look of sheer horror on Atem’s face at the mention of Noah’s reaction would’ve been comical. However then he let out a breath of relief; he could count on Shelly to keep Noah calm enough—but he still fully expected the blond to try his hardest to find some way of payback. [At least with him calmer though, he knew it wouldn’t be anything Noah’d get arrested for…]

However then another thing caught his attention and he became shocked again.

…Four days…? Already?

It’d hardly felt like even a day had passed, let alone four; he must’ve been out after getting to the hospital longer than he believed…

[theangelbros]

Victor nodded again. "You were in really bad condition... You've improved a lot, actually."

"You were almost totally out once you got to the hospital," Jonathan said. "You were in the intensive care unit for the first day and a half."

[ancientruler]

The sound of Jonathan’s voice surprised Atem, but he agreed with what the other was saying. But even with painkillers, that didn’t change the tight feeling on his neck. He even put his good hand up to his neck, gingerly touching it and finding nothing around it; his hands just felt cold against the bruised skin.

Not to mention, he still didn’t speak and hadn’t spoken. His hand slowly fell away from his neck as he looked off, falling back to his side as a small shiver crept up his spine again.

[theangelbros]

"I’m very sorry, Mr. Atem," Victor muttered.

"I’m not speaking for him or anything, but I’m pretty sure if he could talk right now, he would tell you that it’s not your fault," Jonathan put in. "Just talking from personal experience."

[ancientruler]

(Even the laugh Atem gave was silent.) But still, he gave a small nod in concur, glancing between the two before taking in another deep breath, and silence fell for a little bit again.

After that bit, he looked between the two of them again…how was he supposed to ask anything??

But then he forgot his heart would do it for him.

Have you called them yet…?

[theangelbros]

Victor nodded. "Yeah. The moment we got here, actually. Noah was beyond angry, as expected. But Shelly calmed him down. He came to see you the moment he hung up the phone. You were asleep, of course, and eventually he went home."

"He left with a few words of getting revenge, though," Jonathan added. "I told him it was a really bad idea, but you know how stubborn he is. I called Shelly to tell her to try and convince him not to do it, since he's not gonna listen to me. Everything's probably taken care of by now. It's already been over four days."

[ancientruler]

Atem still trembled lightly, but relaxed his neck muscles; no wonder the side of his face felt wet, if he’d been crying…

He took in a deep breath, wincing from the pain in his rib cage, but then nodded once again tersely to Victor. His throat felt clenched, he couldn’t really speak still…he even tried, but he ending up mouthing words instead of sound coming from his mouth, so he stopped and gently closed his eyes, feeling small pain in his heart from the eerie tight feeling on his neck.

…I can still feel hands around my neck…

[theangelbros]

"I’m so sorry, Sir…" Victor looked away a bit. "I would take the pain in your place if I could…"

"That would get us nowhere," Jonathan voiced from the corner of the room, not looking up from his phone. "By the way, the doctor said he can send you home by tomorrow with a bottle of painkillers."

[ancientruler]

The sound of Jonathan’s voice surprised Atem, but he agreed with what the other was saying. But even with painkillers, that didn’t change the tight feeling on his neck. He even put his good hand up to his neck, gingerly touching it and finding nothing around it; his hands just felt cold against the bruised skin.

Not to mention, he still didn’t speak and hadn’t spoken. His hand slowly fell away from his neck as he looked off, falling back to his side as a small shiver crept up his spine again.

[theangelbros]

"I'm very sorry, Mr. Atem," Victor muttered.

"I'm not speaking for him or anything, but I'm pretty sure if he could talk right now, he would tell you that it's not your fault," Jonathan put in. "Just talking from personal experience."

[ancientruler]

Atem’s eyes snapped wide open, though three shudders in a row shot through his system. For a long bit, it still felt like he had hands around his neck, but then the feeling transferred to his arm, which Victor still held onto.

Then, with increased difficulty compared to earlier, Atem turned his head, his neck causing him to tremble lightly at using its muscles, and he gave a silent sigh of relief when he saw the angel. It was difficult for him to swallow back the lump he had in his throat, but he managed it and gave a terse nod that caused him to wince. He forgot to hide it though, and he looked to the other apologetically when he’d done so.

[theangelbros]

Victor bit his lip and let go of the other’s arm. “Y-You were crying, Sir… And you looked like you were-… Was it a nightmare?”

[ancientruler]

Atem still trembled lightly, but relaxed his neck muscles; no wonder the side of his face felt wet, if he’d been crying…

He took in a deep breath, wincing from the pain in his rib cage, but then nodded once again tersely to Victor. His throat felt clenched, he couldn’t really speak still…he even tried, but he ending up mouthing words instead of sound coming from his mouth, so he stopped and gently closed his eyes, feeling small pain in his heart from the eerie tight feeling on his neck.

…I can still feel hands around my neck…

[theangelbros]

"I'm so sorry, Sir..." Victor looked away a bit. "I would take the pain in your place if I could..."

"That would get us nowhere," Jonathan voiced from the corner of the room, not looking up from his phone. "By the way, the doctor said he can send you home by tomorrow with a bottle of painkillers."

[theangelbros]

"……-ke up! Sir! Wake up, Sir!"

Victor gently yet urgently shook Atem’s healthy arm again. “Sir, are you alright?!”

[ancientruler]

Atem’s eyes snapped wide open, though three shudders in a row shot through his system. For a long bit, it still felt like he had hands around his neck, but then the feeling transferred to his arm, which Victor still held onto.

Then, with increased difficulty compared to earlier, Atem turned his head, his neck causing him to tremble lightly at using its muscles, and he gave a silent sigh of relief when he saw the angel. It was difficult for him to swallow back the lump he had in his throat, but he managed it and gave a terse nod that caused him to wince. He forgot to hide it though, and he looked to the other apologetically when he’d done so.

[theangelbros]

Victor bit his lip and let go of the other's arm. "Y-You were crying, Sir... And you looked like you were-... Was it a nightmare?"

[ancientruler]

Atem continued to smile, though after a long while, he suppressed a wince and a shudder from the pain. He kept a hand over Victor’s but he had to lie back down. Movement was not his friend; his eyes were almost glassy from held-back pain.

Still, he looked to Vic calmly, hardly any pain showing on his face, though he still didn’t speak; he felt tired as well, but he didn’t want to rest again just yet. He wanted to be sure Victor was alright now—that the other had no doubt in himself, if anything at least for the present moment.

[theangelbros]

Bonjour!: ancientruler: theangelbros: ancientruler: Atem slowly released the…

After a while, Victor’s hiccups and sobs slowed to quiet sniffles, and he wiped away his tears.

"Thank you… I’ll be back in a while. Get some rest." With that, Victor stood up and walked out the door.

[ancientruler]

Atem watched the door for a bit, even after Victor left; at some point he must’ve fallen asleep—somehow, considering the pain he felt in his neck and wrist and basically his whole body—but he did.

But the dream he had was lucid, and not in a sense where he could control it; he saw blurred shadows of people moving around him at an unnatural speed, but he felt pain in his sides every time the shadows came too close to him. At some point he felt a twinge of pain in his wrist; one of the shadows must’ve snapped it, whether purposeful or accidental didn’t really matter.

Then he was blanketed by darkness—someone was on top of him, he felt his head hit the ground all too hard—and there was the tight feeling in his neck. The feeling of someone’s hands around it, suffocating him and giving a pretty good shot at killing him.

…let go…LET GO…!

[theangelbros]

"......-ke up! Sir! Wake up, Sir!"

Victor gently yet urgently shook Atem's healthy arm again. "Sir, are you alright?!"

[ancientruler]

[ancientruler]

Atem slowly released the other [as if it DIDN’T cause extreme pain] looking to the blond sternly.

And who was it that has been there for me anytime I’ve had a problem and tells me it’ll get better…?

[theangelbros]

"…Me… B-But-"

[ancientruler]

Atem put his…

[ancientruler]

Atem looked at Victor serenely, not a hint of doubt on his face. Not even pain could be seen on it right then.

Of course I do…how could I not? You’re too close to my heart for me not to…

He smiled, probably for the first time that evening, and it spread up into his eyes, his silvery-white irises shining almost.

[theangelbros]

Victor sniffled and wiped at his eyes with his sleeves. “I-I’m glad, Sir…”

[ancientruler]

Atem continued to smile, though after a long while, he suppressed a wince and a shudder from the pain. He kept a hand over Victor’s but he had to lie back down. Movement was not his friend; his eyes were almost glassy from held-back pain.

Still, he looked to Vic calmly, hardly any pain showing on his face, though he still didn’t speak; he felt tired as well, but he didn’t want to rest again just yet. He wanted to be sure Victor was alright now—that the other had no doubt in himself, if anything at least for the present moment.

[theangelbros]

After a while, Victor's hiccups and sobs slowed to quiet sniffles, and he wiped away his tears.

"Thank you... I'll be back in a while. Get some rest." With that, Victor stood up and walked out the door.

[ancientruler]

[ancientruler]

Atem slowly released the other [as if it DIDN’T cause extreme pain] looking to the blond sternly.

And who was it that has been there for me anytime I’ve had a problem and tells me it’ll get better…?

[theangelbros]

"…Me… B-But-"

[ancientruler]

Atem put his…

[ancientruler]

Atem looked at Victor serenely, not a hint of doubt on his face. Not even pain could be seen on it right then.

Of course I do…how could I not? You’re too close to my heart for me not to…

He smiled, probably for the first time that evening, and it spread up into his eyes, his silvery-white irises shining almost.

[theangelbros]

Victor sniffled and wiped at his eyes with his sleeves. "I-I'm glad, Sir..."

[ancientruler]

Atem slowly released the other [as if it DIDN’T cause extreme pain] looking to the blond sternly.

And who was it that has been there for me anytime I’ve had a problem and tells me it’ll get better…?

[theangelbros]

"…Me… B-But-"

[ancientruler]

Atem put his hand [his one without the broken wrist] firmly to Victor’s shoulder. He looked at him sternly still.

No. You’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. You’ve been strong in so many cases where I haven’t been, Victor. I can rely on you to be there…and I can’t offer that same trust to many.

[theangelbros]

"You-... Y-You trust me, Sir...?"

Finally, Victor slowly pulled away from Atem to look at him, his eyes red and dripping tears.

[ancientruler]

Atem slowly released the other [as if it DIDN'T cause extreme pain] looking to the blond sternly.

And who was it that has been there for me anytime I've had a problem and tells me it'll get better...?

[theangelbros]

"...Me... B-But-"

[theangelbros]

Victor read the words, crossing his arms over the bed and letting himself drop onto the chair near it. He hid his face in his arms.

"I-I’m so sorry, Sir…"

[ancientruler]

Atem’s eyes widened, a hand still to Victor’s shoulder,…

[ancientruler]

The next moment, Victor was held against Atem’s chest, tight in an embrace as the pharaoh kept his arms around him. He didn’t care about the pain, it was just flesh wounds right now. He shut his eyes either way, keeping his mouth tight shut as well [from fear he might start yelling in pain] but held onto Victor either way. Even if he couldn’t speak, he desperately wanted the other to hear him.

No. Don’t think that. Don’t ever think that. This wasn’t your fault and you did everything you could. You were surprised and scared when I came in. You didn’t know what happened and you did everything you could. This wasn’t your fault. You did everything you could.

[theangelbros]

When he was suddenly against the other, Victor buried his face against his shoulder, carefully hugging him back.

He hiccuped a bit in his words. “I-I’m not… li-ike you… I c-can’t-… I’m n-not strong… like y-you…”

[ancientruler]

Bonjour!: ancientruler: theangelbros: ancientruler: theangelbros: Victor read...

Atem was quiet for a moment before his heart responded again.

...Who was the one who told me not to keep things to myself when that greyface was getting to me...?

[theangelbros]

"...M-Me..."

[ancientruler]

[theangelbros]

Victor read the words, crossing his arms over the bed and letting himself drop onto the chair near it. He hid his face in his arms.

"I-I’m so sorry, Sir…"

[ancientruler]

Atem’s eyes widened, a hand still to Victor’s shoulder,…

[ancientruler]

The next moment, Victor was held against Atem’s chest, tight in an embrace as the pharaoh kept his arms around him. He didn’t care about the pain, it was just flesh wounds right now. He shut his eyes either way, keeping his mouth tight shut as well [from fear he might start yelling in pain] but held onto Victor either way. Even if he couldn’t speak, he desperately wanted the other to hear him.

No. Don’t think that. Don’t ever think that. This wasn’t your fault and you did everything you could. You were surprised and scared when I came in. You didn’t know what happened and you did everything you could. This wasn’t your fault. You did everything you could.

[theangelbros]

When he was suddenly against the other, Victor buried his face against his shoulder, carefully hugging him back.

He hiccuped a bit in his words. "I-I'm not... li-ike you... I c-can't-... I'm n-not strong... like y-you..."

[theangelbros]

Victor read the words, crossing his arms over the bed and letting himself drop onto the chair near it. He hid his face in his arms.

"I-I’m so sorry, Sir…"

[ancientruler]

Atem’s eyes widened, a hand still to Victor’s shoulder, though he gently squeezed it and looked at him with an expression asking ‘What for—?’

[theangelbros]

"I-I-…" Victor shook his head against his arms, sniffling a bit. "I could… f-feel that something was wr-rong… b-but I didn’t-… I didn’t go looking… I-I should’ve-…"

[ancientruler]

Atem’s eyes narrowed and he put both hands to the other’s shoulders [regardless if it hurt his broken wrist]. His heart reached out to him, and it hurt to hear him talking like this.

No. This wasn’t your fault. I can’t even remember who did it—you couldn’t do anything, you didn’t know it was happening. Please, it’s really okay…

[theangelbros]

Victor's shaking hands tightly clutched the fabric of the sheets, and he shook his head again. "No... N-No... I-I could have d-done something... I-I should have called the doctor right when y-you showed up..."

He took in trembling breaths, his shoulders jerking with his quiet sobs. "I-I'm sorry... I'm n-not strong eno-ough... t-to help you...like y-you... help me..."

[ancientruler]

Atem smiled serenely, putting a hand firmly to Victor’s shoulder and nodded once, even though the action hurt his neck and he coughed a couple times. He still seemed sick and he was a bit pale; but he kept a hand to Victor’s shoulder, still trying to tell the other he was alright.

He tried a couple times to ask about the other, ask if Vic was alright, but the words were lost and he could only mouth the words.

[theangelbros]

Victor read the words, crossing his arms over the bed and letting himself drop onto the chair near it. He hid his face in his arms.

"I-I’m so sorry, Sir…"

[ancientruler]

Atem’s eyes widened, a hand still to Victor’s shoulder, though he gently squeezed it and looked at him with an expression asking ‘What for—?’

[theangelbros]

"I-I-..." Victor shook his head against his arms, sniffling a bit. "I could... f-feel that something was wr-rong... b-but I didn't-... I didn't go looking... I-I should've-..."

[ancientruler]

Atem didn’t watch him leave, but he took in a strained breath once he was gone. He didn’t WANT to throw his life away—he hadn’t expected for this to happen! He didn’t want to worry or frighten anyone; he couldn’t even remember what had happened, it was all blank in his mind. He just woke up left-for-dead on the street—and someone DID try to kill him, he knew it from the bruises he felt around his whole neck—and he’d just subconsciously gone to the nearest place. He wished he would’ve just gone straight home; Noah would’ve taken care of him even with his injuries, and he wouldn’t have told anyone about what happened if Atem didn’t want him to.

He just gazed at the sheets now, giving a couple quiet coughs that made his skin pale each time; he suddenly felt like he didn’t want to talk at all, not to anyone. Hardly anyone realized he still felt confused and jumpy and a bit afraid. He HAD nearly been beaten to death, and he couldn’t even remember it happening.

He just wanted someone to tell him he’d be okay; because right then, he didn’t feel like it. In many ways he wished Noah was there; while the blond would be extremely angered at whoever did this, he’d stay with Atem and just keep telling him “you’ll be okay” “everything’s alright now”. And that was what he really wanted.

He gave a couple more coughs, a bit rougher than before.

[theangelbros]

From the corner, the small form of Victor began to stir a bit, before he yawned heavily and stretched his legs a bit in his chair. He sleepily looked over to where Jonathan had recently been sitting, noticing he wasn’t there and beginning to search the room slowly.

However, when he spotted Atem sitting up, the drowsiness in his eyes was gone and he stood up and hurried to the hospital bed.

"Sir! S-Sir, are you okay? Are you feeling any better?"

[ancientruler]

Atem smiled serenely, putting a hand firmly to Victor’s shoulder and nodded once, even though the action hurt his neck and he coughed a couple times. He still seemed sick and he was a bit pale; but he kept a hand to Victor’s shoulder, still trying to tell the other he was alright.

He tried a couple times to ask about the other, ask if Vic was alright, but the words were lost and he could only mouth the words.

[theangelbros]

Victor read the words, crossing his arms over the bed and letting himself drop onto the chair near it. He hid his face in his arms.

"I-I'm so sorry, Sir..."