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Atem had left his nest with Bakura and Malik to discuss political matters with Set. It was better that Malik was with him to go over the naga side of things, but he’d stayed by Bakura instead. He wasn’t sure why, as Bakura also seemed to be acting on edge.
Malik approached him as he came out of the stables, sweeping him up in an embrace that drew a boyish laugh from Atem.
“I was gone for only a couple days!”
“You were missed, terribly so.” Malik replied, carrying him toward their den. “We have a...surprise.”
Atem raised an eyebrow at that. Malik sounded more nervous than excited in tone. “You don’t sound excited.”
“That’s because Bakura’s been in a mood since–”
“Atem’s home? Get him in here, humans have lots of body heat!”
Atem blinked at what was probably the most unsexy thing he’d ever heard Bakura say. To say his jaw dropped when he walked into their den and saw an egg nestled in Bakura’s coils is an understatement.
“Umm…”
“Surprise! We’re eggbound!” Malik laughed, sounding a bit more nervous now that Atem’s jaw was hitting the floor.
“Dammit Malik, you might as well have put a human baby in his lap. You know, like what your sister did to us?”
Atem shook off his shock, looking at the blue mottled egg Bakura was coiled around. “Is...are we really...?”
Bakura huffed, slumping over his coils with a pout. “No, but it’s the duty of the Matriarch– or in this case the Patriarch– to care for eggs while the mother builds her nest when the father isn’t present. Apparently.”
“This is what I’ve had to deal with while you were away: pouting and demands.” Malik huffed, lifting Atem to sit on Bakura’s scales. “Get comfy.”
Atem didn’t mind this much now that he understood, settling between Bakura’s coils and the egg. He could feel a thrum of warmth and movement barely against his thigh, and Atem wondered if this was like how babies moved in a mother’s womb.
“Hello little egg, I’m Atem. Sounds like you’ve been causing a lot of trouble even though you’re not even out of your shell yet.”
Bakura snorted at Atem talking to the egg, and Malik watched in mild amusement. “Well, when you put it like that.”
“Sounds like you’re good enrichment for the snakeling in there, because it’s stopped doing that nudging thing against me.” Bakura mused, patting the top of the egg.
Atem petted over the shell, feeling the uneven grooves despite it looking so smooth from far away. He looked up at Bakura thoughtfully. “I never had to think of who would take my throne, Seto was a good fit as he was my cousin. Can we–”
“Don’t…finish that thought.” Malik grumbled, looking away flushed. “Neither of us can produce eggs. Or even live young. We...may have considered trying before.”
Atem winced, recognizing a sore spot when he saw one. He shifted so he could lean closer to Bakura’s torso, giving him a small squeeze. “Well, we’re doing okay with this one, right?”
Bakura grunted, looking slightly hesitant before speaking. “There is a way, your magician mentioned. But I don’t think I’m ready just yet.”
“Maybe that’s why sister found you an egg to care for, get used to nesting and responsibilities.” Malik teased, tucking a cushion between Bakura’s scales and the egg.
Atem smiled quietly to himself at the idea of a snakeling that was a mix of his mates, purple iridescent scales with tiny fluffy wings that found a way to wind around his leg so he had no choice but to surrender his snack to the adorable child.
A tap underneath his head startled Atem, making him laugh quietly. “Yes, hello, I’m still right here, little one.”
Malik and Bakura glanced at each other, Atem continuing to coo at the egg unaware. They agreed they weren’t ready, but the way Atem talked to the egg made them realize he was the odd one out. He clearly was enjoying his part in this, but it was unclear how he felt about actually having a snakeling of their own.
“Uhh...Atem?”
“Hmm?”
Malik shifted, draping his torso over Bakura’s coils to watch Atem. “It sounds like you’re a bit more eager than us with the whole egg thing.”
Atem’s serene expression dropped, his cheeks reddening as he looked between the two with alarmed confusion. “N-No, that’s not it at all! I would need to learn so much if you both changed your minds, it’s just…”
Atem ducked his head, looking at the egg. His people thought the nagas were all gone or dead, yet here they were: returning home and even starting families.
“If this is your first care of an egg, that means your people feel safe enough to lay one. And this little naga is going to be the first in a new era for your people.”
Bakura smiled softly, clicked his tongue and leaned in to kiss Atem’s cheek. “Well, when you put it like that…”
Bakura peeked down at the egg, gently petting its shell. “No offense, kid. Your Patriarch is still getting used to things going back to normal.”