[He's still not sure he trusts this. It's too much to ask, he understands now: everyone in Ryslig is suffering, everyone in Ryslig has their own problems, and everyone has to manage them as best they can on their own. He can't be there for everyone, without looking out for himself, or it'll get him killed, maimed, out of his mind.]
Be careful. [He says it over Beat's shoulder.] That kind of promise...this place isn't going to let you keep it. It'll find a way, it won't, I can't--
[His hands tighten again around Beat's back. He could have called Yugi to his side at any time, but for some reason, he hadn't -- it hadn't occurred to him in the moment that he could, because he and Yugi had worked so separately, for so long...
And, when he'd seen Yugi's name in the graveyard, he'd finally tried to use the sigil. The sign they'd drawn on their hands in the falling-block room, proof that they'd never turn against one another no matter what Kaiba tried, proof that no matter how far apart they were, they'd always be in each other's hearts.
No one came, and Atem was left standing alone with nothing more than memories.
When Atem goes on, his throat is tight, and his eyes sting.]
And you can't. It'll pull you apart, if all you do is help out others, and you don't do anything to protect yourself. You'll lose, Beat.
[Lose memories lose yourself lose your people lose your heart. Atem doesn't want that for him. Atem wants himself to be safe, but that doesn't mean he doesn't want that for his friends, too--]
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Be careful. [He says it over Beat's shoulder.] That kind of promise...this place isn't going to let you keep it. It'll find a way, it won't, I can't--
[His hands tighten again around Beat's back. He could have called Yugi to his side at any time, but for some reason, he hadn't -- it hadn't occurred to him in the moment that he could, because he and Yugi had worked so separately, for so long...
And, when he'd seen Yugi's name in the graveyard, he'd finally tried to use the sigil. The sign they'd drawn on their hands in the falling-block room, proof that they'd never turn against one another no matter what Kaiba tried, proof that no matter how far apart they were, they'd always be in each other's hearts.
No one came, and Atem was left standing alone with nothing more than memories.
When Atem goes on, his throat is tight, and his eyes sting.]
And you can't. It'll pull you apart, if all you do is help out others, and you don't do anything to protect yourself. You'll lose, Beat.
[Lose memories lose yourself lose your people lose your heart. Atem doesn't want that for him. Atem wants himself to be safe, but that doesn't mean he doesn't want that for his friends, too--]