[The petting helps. Ryou doesn't pull completely away, because he doesn't want to, but he does start to relax, and his fingers loosen so that his claws aren't pricking against the skin just under Atem's wing joints anymore.

Atem's words swirl in the back of his tired mind, like platitudes. He's not sure if they are, or aren't. He doesn't think Atem's petty like that, of course. But his mind is buzzing with the realization that he'd screwed up, badly.

Not here, not with Atem. Maybe a little, but that's...not what was weighing on him.]

I...thought if I went to Yugi's place for a little while, it would be nice. We could play a few games, talk about things...and you could rest.

[He stops there, but his mind completes the rest.

"I wanted to protect your heart from the weakness of mine."

Atem had a lot to worry about already. About his temporary form, the mental changes that had wrought havoc on him and given him nothing but broken relationships and more than a handful of stress.]

I never meant for things to get out of hand but...after a few drinks, I just got so irritated, thinking about the gods, and the excuses people make for them, because they're just manipulators.

[Ryou stares into Atem's eyes as he says this, and although there's determined anger in the forefront, what's more obvious is the fear lurking just past that, accented in the way Ryou's ears slick back and how he's breathing just a hair more rapidly than normal.]

I spoke with the Fourth.