***This is a Lemonade Prompt gone rouge. Also, my first serious attempt at femslash, so hopefully it's not too bad. I'm giving it an M rating specifically because of chapter 8, but everything before then is fluff.***
Ishizu frowned as she stepped into the club. The bass rattled in the pit of her stomach, and the cigarette smoke made her nose wrinkle. "It's awfully loud," she shouted over the speaker to Marik who was leading her deeper into the press of bodies.
"It's a club, Ishizu!" Marik called back over his shoulder.
"Maybe this was a mistake! I should call a cab and go home!"
That made Marik stop and spin around. He wore his usual grandeur, arms and throat garnished with gold, a strange top that Ishizu could only describe as a male corset showing off his physique, and a thin layer of purple shadow near-hidden beneath the traditional kohl markings. Compared to her little brother, Ishizu always felt a little common, and with them both standing in the crowded, noisy club, she felt out of place as well.
Marik rested his hands on his hips, irritated. "No way. You're always lecturing me about being more social. Well, that goes for you, too."
"I'm social." Ishizu crossed her arms over her chest.
"Emailing museum nerds about work doesn't count."
"Marik, I simply don't feel like I belong here."
Bakura appeared beside her, making her jerk. She hadn't noticed when he had left Marik's side as they all entered the club.
He handed her a small glass of what looked like orange juice. "Here, this will help."
Ishizu reached out and accepted the glass. "Thanks." She took a polite sip and then scrunched up her face. "There's alcohol in this."
"That's the point," Bakura said.
Ishizu pushed the glass back at Bakura. "I can't drink this."
Bakura stood with his arms at his side, ignoring the glass. "It will help you relax."
"I don't want to relax," Ishizu argued. "Why should I need to? If I'm uncomfortable here, that means I don't belong here."
Marik made a frustrated sound that was mostly swallowed by background noise. "You're not even trying to have fun." He sighed. "Okay, I can't make you stay, but will you at least give it an hour?" he asked. "I'm going to go dance with Bakura, we'll check up with you in an hour and if you're still unhappy we can leave, but if you'd just try dancing I think you'd like it a lot, Ishizu."
She sighed, taking another sip of the spiked juice. "Very well. One hour, but then I'm going home and washing this smoke out of my hair."
"Great." Marik gave Ishizu a smile that she didn't quite trust not to be manipulative. "Don't stand in a corner the whole time- find someone to dance with. We'll check on you in an hour."
Marik grabbed Bakura's hand and dragged him into the crowd. It only took a second for them to disappear. Ishizu sighed again, wrinkling her face as she took another drink from her glass. She was drinking it to have something to do more than in an attempt to relax. Marik told her not to stand in a corner, but that's exactly what she did. She stood in the darkest corner she could find and watched others dance. When her drink ran out, she purchased another one because having something to hold in her hands helped. Halfway through her second drink, Ishizu decided that the music wasn't too bad, and at least everyone else was having fun.
She wanted to join them, wanted to have fun. She knew Marik meant well dragging her to a nightclub, but she wasn't fit to be outgoing or easy. Ishizu had been old for too long, living in an old tomb with old customs and old prophecy. She'd tried to do her best to make up for the mother Marik never knew, but as a result, she grew old too fast and she'd been that way ever since.
"Asshole," someone cursed beside Ishizu.
Ishizu blinked out of her own thoughts, again aware of the smoke and thumping speakers. She glanced at the person standing in her corner, a long-nailed manicured finger swiping furiously at her cell phone. She was lost in her own bubble of space, not noticing Ishizu as she stared at the backlit screen of her phone. The garish lights turned the girl's pale hair into a kaleidoscope of pink, blue, and violet, with a pronounced streak of lime cutting across her bangs from the closest light. Ishizu couldn't see her face at first because of the the way her hair hid everything from view, but after a moment, she sighed and looked up, and Ishizu realized she recognized her.
"Mai Kujaku?"
Mai jerked her head in Ishizu's direction, only in that moment did she realize that someone was standing next to her.
"Oh, uh … Ishtar? Right? I remember you from Battle City a few years ago."
Ishizu nodded, a little relieved to see a face she recognize even if she didn't know her well.
"Yes. You can call me Ishizu if you'd like."
Mai gave a little nod, but then frowned at her phone again.
"Is everything alright?" Ishizu asked. She tried to sound casual, but she couldn't filter out the polite quality in her tone.
A crestfallen look flickered across Mai's face, but she replaced it with well-practiced faux sheepishness.
"I got stood up, again, by the same person as last time." Mai snorted, cramming the phone in her black handbag that matched her black cocktail dress. "Who needs them, right? There's lots of people in the club tonight."
"I wish there were a few less." Ishizu finished her drink and held the glass as if it were a shield between her and the crowd.
Mai's eyes traveled up and down Ishizu, and Ishizu felt common in her long white dress compared to Mai's stylish black one.
"Aren't you here with someone?" Mai asked.
"Marik and Bakura are here. Marik thought I should get out of the house."
"He's right, you know. It's good to unwind."
"Yeah." Ishizu gave Mai a helpless shrug. "I only wish I wasn't so … awkward."
Mai laughed. "You don't look awkward at all. You look amazing."
A little smile snuck onto Ishizu's face. "You're very kind."
Mai started laughing. "No one's ever said that to me before!"
Ishizu shrugged. "Well, no one's ever said I look amazing before, either."
"That can't be true!"
Ishizu only shrugged again because it was true. She's been told she looked nice, even lovely, but nothing more from anyone that wasn't Marik or Rishid, and brothers didn't count.
"Okay, okay, how about this," Mai shouted over the noise, "You seem a little bored, and my plans just got cancelled, so how about I stay here a bit and keep you company?" She winked at Ishizu. "But if you see a cutie you want to dance with, then feel free to ditch me."
"Oh I wouldn't dance with a stranger." Ishizu blushed. "That doesn't seem appropriate." She fiddled with the rim of her glass. "And, I appreciate your offer, but please, go have fun. Don't hold back on my account."
"Nonsense, it'll be fun!" Mai stole Ishizu's glass. "What are you drinking?"
"It's just alcohol and orange juice."
Mai gave Ishizu a strange look, and Ishizu wondered if she'd said something stupid. It happened sometimes. She wasn't wholly ignorant of the outside world, but since she spent most of her time in museums she tended to be naive.
"Did I say something wrong?" Ishizu asked.
Mai shook her head. "Screwdrivers are kinda basic. I'm going to get something more fun, okay?" she said as she walked off.
Ishizu felt twice as alone after Mai left than before she'd stumbled over to Ishizu's corner. She glanced out at the crowd again and listened to songs she couldn't recognize, although she was sure they were popular and familiar to everyone else in the room. She didn't notice Mai return until she felt the chill of a glass next to her arm. Ishizu gasped and stepped back, looking at the drink in Mai's hand. It was red on the bottom, orange on top, and had a cherry and orange slice sticking on the rim.
"Sorry if I startled you. Here. It's a tequila sunrise. Pretty, right?"
"Yes." Ishizu nodded, holding the drink with both hands. "Thank you very much." Ishizu took a sip. The drink was stronger, but she'd already had two so she was used to the taste of liquor by then. "It's good."
"Yeah, and cheaper than therapy." Mai laughed.
"I'm sorry?" Ishizu asked.
"Nothing." Mai shook her head. "It was a stupid joke. Just ignore me."
"I'm sure it was funny." Ishizu sighed. "I'm just hopeless at socializing unless it's on an academic level."
"Says who?" Mai grinned, slipping on her matching drink. "Don't worry about what anyone else is thinking, even me. Just have fun."
Ishizu smiled again. "Thank you. I'll try."
They fell into a brief silence. Ishizu took another drink. She was starting to feel light from the alcohol, like she was made of dandelion fluff. Without realizing it, she started to sway with the music, her subconscious naturally picking up on the rhythm. Her arm brushed against Mai's and Ishizu stepped back.
"I'm sorry."
Mai giggled, leaning over and bumping Ishizu's arm back on purpose. Her laughter was contagious, and Ishizu found herself joining in and giving Mai's arm another meek tap. It turned into a sort of game, back and forth, with both of them laughing as they tried to outdo each other, until Ishizu leaned into Mai's side too hard and stumbled.
Mai caught her and straightened her up. "You don't drink a lot, do you?"
"No." Ishizu felt her cheeks heat up- from the liquor and crowded atmosphere - but mostly because of how obvious it was that Ishizu was a novice at social activities.
Mai pulled the mostly-empty glass from Ishizu's hand. "I think I'm going to finish this for you, then."
"Can I eat the cherry?" Ishizu asked, and then she realized she was drunk because she would have never asked something so stupid if her wits were intact, but she loved fruit.
In the tombs they had dates, raisins, figs, and dried apricots during special occasions, but after she left the tomb, Ishizu discovered blackberries, and oranges, cherries and currants, cantaloupe and papaya, and she could never get enough fresh fruit. Although the cherry on her drink looked candied instead of fresh, she still wanted to eat it very badly.
Mai plucked the stick holding up the orange slice and cherry, and handed it over to Ishizu. Then she tilted her head back and finished the last of the drink in a quick, impressive gulp.
"You're much better at drinking than I am." Ishizu pulled the orange slice away from the stick and nibbled at it.
Mai gave her a humorous snort. "Practice makes perfect. I'm going to get rid of the glasses."
Ishizu found a trash bin for the garnish stick and then returned to her safe spot, waiting for Mai. She watched others dance, trying to copy their movements a little.
"Why don't you go onto the dance floor?" Mai asked.
Ishizu jerked, but kept her balance. "Oh no, I couldn't."
"Yeah, go. Have fun."
"No. No. I don't know how."
"You don't have to know how. It's dancing. You just do it. Watch." Mai started to wind her hips in a figure eight, one arm sweeping up to raise her hair and let if fall down in a torrent of club-light tinted curls. "Okay. You try."
Ishizu shook her head.
"Yeah, come on."
Ishizu stared down at her shoes poking out from her cream colored skirt. "I …"
"Come on." Mai laced her fingers with Ishizu's and pulled her a little closer.
Ishizu's mouth dropped and her eyes widened. She blinked, trying to gather her thoughts, but having trouble. Before she registered what she was doing, she was moving in time with the music with Mai.
"See? You're great!" Mai winked. "And if you really like the person and want to add some spice, do this." Mai spun around and backed up against Ishizu, dropping a little lower and grinding against her.
Ishizu forgot how to breathe. She felt like she was trapped in slow motion. Ishizu wasn't used to casual touch and didn't know where to put her hands, or where to stand, or how to move. It was fun, but it was foreign and she couldn't help but feel like she was messing up somehow, not doing enough. Mai turned back around. She was smiling and a little flushed from dancing.
Ishizu found herself gazing at Mai, in admiration, at how easy she made it seem to have fun. A flash at Mai's breast caught Ishizu's attention, and she noticed a little pin fastened there. Ishizu looked a little closer. It was hard to see with the flashing lights, cigarette smoke, and Ishizu's own intoxication, but she made out the image of a woman sitting on a crescent moon. The silver looked beautiful, changing colors in the light.
"That's a nice pin." Ishizu pointed to it.
Mai looked down, then looked back up, biting her lower lip. "Yeah? You like it?"
"Yes. It's very beautiful." Ishizu nodded, then added. "You're dress is nice, too."
"You look good, too." Mai giggled, grabbing Ishizu again. "Let's dance some more."
"O-okay." Ishizu agreed.
She didn't see why not. There seemed to be all sorts of people dancing without any reason or pattern to who paired up with who, and it was welcomed over standing by herself.
Mai pulled them towards the main throng of people. The mix of smoke, booze, sweat, and cologne overwhelmed Ishizu. She leaned closer to Mai, focusing on the light orchid and jasmine scent of Mai's perfume to help her ignore the mess of scents around them. The music grew on Ishizu. She started looking forward to each new song as they danced. They were stiff and awkward at first, Ishizu blamed herself for that, but after several songs their bodies stood a little closer together, Ishizu relaxed, and their movements became fluid.
Ishizu lost herself in the experience. Long after the drinks sweated out of her system and her head cleared she found herself breathless and excited as they brushed against each other. She didn't even see Marik walk up behind her.
Mai's plum colored eyes widened and she stepped back as if suddenly nervous. Ishizu frowned, wondering why Mai looked almost scared, and then she spun around and noticed Marik. Then she remembered what had happened during Battle City and she felt guilty. She stepped back as well, placing a reassuring hand on Mai's shoulder.
"Has it been an hour already?" Ishizu asked.
Marik's mouth dropped a little. Beside him, Bakura leaned his forehead against Marik's shoulder as if he couldn't stand on his own. His hair was tied up in a knot, and most the hair stuck out in one direction or another, yet somehow he made it look stylish.
Bakura muttered something, and then Marik nodded his head. "Yeah, it's four in the morning, Ishizu. They're going to close at five."
Ishizu looked around, only just noticing that the crowd had thinned and the man at the bar on the opposite wall looked like he was cleaning up for the night.
"Oh … I … hadn't realized. I thought you said an hour."
Marik smirked, and Ishizu knew whatever he said next wouldn't be a complete truth.
"Sorry. I lost track of time."
Bakura muttered something else and Marik laughed.
"And Bakura lost track of how many drinks he had."
Ishizu chuckled at that, thinking about how she almost did the same before Mai took her glass away. Mai shifted beneath Ishizu's touch as she adjusted her handbag strap against her opposite shoulder.
"Well, I should be going, too. Good seeing everyone again."
Ishizu felt her heart drop into her stomach at the words. She'd actually managed to have fun because of Mai, and it felt wrong to have Mai rush off to never be seen again, but Ishizu didn't know what to do about it.
In a panic she shouted, "We should duel!"
Mai and Marik both gave her an odd look. Bakura lifted up his head long enough to scowl at her. Dueling wasn't something they often talked about, too many bad memories for most of them, but before, when she, Rishid, and Marik were young, they'd had a lot of good memories as well, so Ishizu pressed onward.
"I mean, not now, of course. It's late. B-but maybe Sunday? Y-you could come over and play. There aren't many people in Domino that are challenging enough so I haven't had a game in awhile, but you're really good, Mai. It'd be a good game." Ishizu held her breath, looking away. She wished she had the Necklace. It always guided her in the past and now she felt blind.
Bakura started laughing, still bracing himself against Marik's shoulder, but tossing his head up into the pink and lime lights.
Mai scowled at him. "What's your problem?"
He snorted. "Nothing. I was just wondering if you had to balls to duel a tombkeeper, or if you were going to chicken out."
"I could kick your ass in a duel." Mai grabbed her handbag, and Ishizu wondered if she had her deck stored there. Duel Monsters was still popular in Domino City.
Bakura gestured with one hand while holding onto Marik with the other. "I can hardly walk let alone duel." He smirked. "But I'm not the one who challenged you, am I?"
"Cell phone?" Mai asked Ishizu.
Ishizu slipped it out from a hidden pocket in her skirt and handed the device over to Mai. Mai punched in her number, handed back the phone, flipped her hair, spun around, and stormed away on black stilettos. "Fine. You're on, Ishtar. Text me your address and I'll see you Sunday."
