[ Atem notices it the second that Lunafreya's soundless sob bursts from her; he's known the whole time that she's let her emotions overflow, but now it seems that something else, something more, is distressing her. He pulls in his arms around her, and for just a moment, everything else going on in the background fades away. Of course he knows that they're still surrounded by their companions, but his priority in this moment is her. ]
Luna. [ He notes, perhaps not for the first time, how much he likes that name of hers. Her full name is beautiful too, of course, but whenever he says the shortened version, he just gets struck by how fitting a name it is for her. And now, when he says it, if she can hear it through her tears, there's nothing but love in his voice. ]
I'm right here. I won't be going anywhere, I promise. [ It's strange to think how quickly and completely his priorities have shifted, but now, the last thing he wants is to ever leave any of them. He can't imagine leaving Lunafreya behind, and of course he never wants to leave Yugi, unless Yugi himself comes to the realization that he no longer needs him. If that ever happened, of course he'd have no choice, but he decided not that long ago to just hold onto the fact that for now, he remains here with them.
He presses another loving kiss to the side of her head, and lowering his voice again so only they can hear it, he adds: ] I love you, Luna. [ It doesn't feel wrong to say those words; in fact, those words feel so right that he could just repeat them to her again. ] I wanted to make sure you know that.
[ And then as Gentiana continues to speak, Atem turns his gaze back to her, while still keeping his firm hold on Lunafreya. ]
Then I suppose that we should consider ourselves honored that she allowed us to visit her here. [ And he does. He didn't take it lightly that she asked them to come see her here.
'Yes. I had a feeling that her story was a sad one, at least in part.' And now it seems that they're about to get a bigger picture of her story.
When Gentiana drops the bombshell that Lunafreya's mother was murdered, Atem's fists clench even though he still keeps his hold on her. Yugi's outburst echos his own feelings, but he also adds: ]
I didn't know that was what had happened. [ He has to pause to let the gravity of this wash over him. Now it's clear that the hand that Lunafreya has been dealt is a hard one, but it's also clear that she's stronger than most, perhaps even stronger than she realizes, although it isn't his place to make assumptions. ]
no subject
Luna. [ He notes, perhaps not for the first time, how much he likes that name of hers. Her full name is beautiful too, of course, but whenever he says the shortened version, he just gets struck by how fitting a name it is for her. And now, when he says it, if she can hear it through her tears, there's nothing but love in his voice. ]
I'm right here. I won't be going anywhere, I promise. [ It's strange to think how quickly and completely his priorities have shifted, but now, the last thing he wants is to ever leave any of them. He can't imagine leaving Lunafreya behind, and of course he never wants to leave Yugi, unless Yugi himself comes to the realization that he no longer needs him. If that ever happened, of course he'd have no choice, but he decided not that long ago to just hold onto the fact that for now, he remains here with them.
He presses another loving kiss to the side of her head, and lowering his voice again so only they can hear it, he adds: ] I love you, Luna. [ It doesn't feel wrong to say those words; in fact, those words feel so right that he could just repeat them to her again. ] I wanted to make sure you know that.
[ And then as Gentiana continues to speak, Atem turns his gaze back to her, while still keeping his firm hold on Lunafreya. ]
Then I suppose that we should consider ourselves honored that she allowed us to visit her here. [ And he does. He didn't take it lightly that she asked them to come see her here.
'Yes. I had a feeling that her story was a sad one, at least in part.' And now it seems that they're about to get a bigger picture of her story.
When Gentiana drops the bombshell that Lunafreya's mother was murdered, Atem's fists clench even though he still keeps his hold on her. Yugi's outburst echos his own feelings, but he also adds: ]
I didn't know that was what had happened. [ He has to pause to let the gravity of this wash over him. Now it's clear that the hand that Lunafreya has been dealt is a hard one, but it's also clear that she's stronger than most, perhaps even stronger than she realizes, although it isn't his place to make assumptions. ]