Pairing as of now is one sided Malik x Ryou—the warning is that it is going to change later. Ryou and Bakura are brothers, as are Malik and Marik.

Warnings: Alternate Universe (AU), stalking, incest

When Malik dreamt of Egypt, the sand was only warm and felt soft and loving like his mother's touches before his father shattered her hands.

Prologue

"What's wrong?"

The sidewalk was bordered with the still-falling snow, its pathways icy and cold. Malik's face was pressed up against the glass of a window, shivering as the melted snow in his sneakers started to freeze.

"Ryou?"

They left him at the beginning of winter. Ishizu and the ghost of his brother, off to the light and warmth in Egypt again. Malik didn't mind; he would be able to stay up later, go out when the sun disappeared in some far away distance, and he would be hidden in the shadows, the only place that was safe. The only place none of them—

"Are you okay?"

—would be able to see him.

Inside the warmth of the house, Bakura was leaning worriedly over his brother, taking the younger one's hand in his own as he checked for bruises. Ryou sat on the couch in boredom, his stare lazy and uninterested at the television screen. This was a nightly routine—Bakura fussing over Ryou like the kind person everyone else knew he wasn't, and the latter letting it happen as if Bakura haven't already taken care of the bullies.

Malik's frost bitten hands clenched into fists.

Bakura's sigh was muffled through the window and its frost, but from watching his expression Malik could tell he was relieved.

I should be the one protecting him…

Malik's breathing quickened, his breath making smudges of white against the glass of the window.

"…Good…"

Malik wanted to scream, to pound his fists against the wall and let them, let him know that he was right there and watching, watching the way Ryou turned with a smile and Bakura leaned down. He wanted to break the glass and distract Bakura with the pieces so he could steal Ryou away…

"…I love you…"

Malik had been observing them for many nights. He knew what would happen, after Bakura found that once again, nothing was wrong.

The worst part was that it didn't change.

Ryou was smiling. "I love you too," he said simply, then leaned forward. Bakura's eyes closed and their lips met, and Malik didn't think for one second that they were brothers, just that Bakura was kissing Ryou while Ryou was his—

"…Mmh…"

Ryou.

Malik fists shook.

Ryou, you betrayed—

"Does that feel good?"

—you betrayed me…

"...Mmn, Bakura…"

Malik knew Ryou was never his. He was Bakura's, he was Bakura's brother, and everything else that brotherly love and love itself could be. He was beautiful and fragile and broken, but Bakura was fixing him while Ryou would be perfect staying damaged and crying. Malik had been there when he cried about the wound on his shoulder and later the death of his father, his tears beautiful and pure in pain.

Bakura didn't appreciate that. Bakura tended to him and cared for him, couldn't he see that all he was doing was making him less beautiful? But Malik—Malik loved it like he treasured the bone fragments of his mother's hand. Malik would keep him and love him for what he was and forever will be, because he knows better than anyone else—especially Bakura—that a shatter to the body would never heal in time for life to end, much less one to the heart.

I love you, Ryou…

"…Bakura…I love you…"

Malik pushed himself off the window, turning to walk away. Bakura was the only reason Ryou was getting further away from perfection every day. It was Bakura…

Malik was still freezing when he went home. His knuckles were white when he turned on the heater—white from anger. His hands shook as he spun the knob, pushing it inwards in barely restrained rage.

Bakura needs to go…

A resounding click echoed around the room.

That last dramatic part? Malik broke the heater. Poor guy.

Had this plot rotting somewhere in my hidden folders for a while, finally had the inspiration to get it out.

I'm scared to use the beta system. Would anyone help me with this if you like where you think it's going?