*hello peoples! i wrote this while i went through a brief stint of writer's block with 'blue eyes, white lies,' and i really liked it, so it's gonna be a full-blown story... yusei's a tad ooc, but, hopefully, not too much. i borrowed my oc's last name from the japanese... you'll see why in a bit. anyway... welcome to 'face down,' for lack of a better title. enjoy! (summary is first)'
During a heavy storm, Yusei Fudo finds refuge with Mara Aoyama, a girl living on her own after her brother's incarceration and her parent's apparent disappearance. Though she attempts to keep her secrets from Yusei, Mara will learn that her houseguest is more than just a little concerned by the bruises and scars that she so desperately hides... Inspired by "Face Down" by The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
Chapter 1 - - Introductions
Rain hammered a deafening drum-roll on the rooftops of New Domino City. Any souls brave enough to remain outdoors during the downpour were soaked down to the bone and shivering. A bolt of lightning cut across the sky, giving the night a momentary glow. Then it was dark again, and the rain went on, as did a shadowy figure laboriously pushing a scraped-up duel runner.
Why he was, stupidly, still outside was beyond him.
He wandered the wet streets, gritting his teeth to prevent their clattering together. His clothes clung to his sore and water-logged body, weighing him down by an extra couple of pounds.
Yes, he needed to find a place to rest for the night. One of the homes in this slightly suburban area of the city might provide a warm bed, something to eat, and a few hours of sleep - - or they might not. He greatly doubted that any of these 'fine citizens' would let him beyond the threshold. Him; an outcast, a convict, a Satellite.
Rolling his damaged runner alongside him, he pressed on, gazing blandly at his surroundings. Fresh green lawns joyously greeted those who came, those who were wanted, that is, and flowers in a variety of cheerful colors lined the porches. It all looked too perfect... Deep down, he wished the Satellite could look half as good as this.
Deciding he had no other options, he forced the kickstand down on his runner and abandoned it by the curb, sprinting up to the house directly on his left and rapping on the heavy wooden door.
"Hey!" he called. "Hey, I'm freezin' out here! If you're there, open up!"
Silence answered him. No one was home.
He muttered a hushed curse, his normally fiery emotions dulled by the chill in his body. Under any other circumstances, he would remain calm and collected even in a stressful situation like this. Now, however, his patience was running thin.
Guess it's better than being rejected, he thought, and crossed the street to try that house. After yelling out a similar greeting, he waited. Nothing.
He groaned in frustration. Slowly, the heat of anger was leaking back into him. He repeated the action once more on the place next door. Not a sound was heard from inside.
His temper boiled over. "Damn it!" he shouted, pounding continuously on the door, "I swear, if some one doesn't open this fucking door right now I'll - -"
His fist froze in midair as the door opened abruptly and a girl appeared, her pale, pretty face startled. She appeared to be about sixteen or seventeen, with dark hair that was draped about her shoulders and pale eyes widened in surprise. A robe that had been sloppily tied was layered over a tank top and long pants, and the ensemble was completed with fluffy slippers.
"Uh...hi," he said awkwardly, running a hesitant hand through his messy black hair.
She blinked. "Hello," she said slowly in a voice made throaty by sleep. She looked him up and down carefully with a trace of suspicion in her expression.
"I...well...um..." He couldn't locate the correct words. What could he say? He'd woken her in the middle of the night, emerging from the rain like some psycho, with a very questionable air about him. The situation was nothing short of uncomfortable.
She cocked her head inquisitively, awaiting the possibility of an explanation.
"I'm lost," he said at last, with a sheepish sort of smirk, "and I need a place to spend the night. Is it okay if I rest here? I mean, it's only for tonight a - -"
"That's fine, just get out of the rain before you come down with pneumonia!" she exclaimed, seeming almost relieved that he had asked to stay. Her hand waved him inside.
He glanced back to the street. "Uh...my runner - -"
She peered past him. "Oh! I'll get the garage door for you." She raced off, skidding in her slippers, while he reluctantly returned to the storm to retrieve his runner.
The garage door raised as he wheeled it up the driveway, and she waited in the yellowish glow cast by the light in the ceiling, smiling by the door to the house. He set his runner in place and walked as casually as possible to her. The gentleman in him taking control, he motioned for her to go in before him.
"Ladies first," he told her sincerely, smiling slightly.
Chuckling, she padded inside.
The interior of the house was dark, and the temperature cool but more comfortable than the mid-August storm. He relished the feeling of every gently warm breeze over any and all exposed skin, which, unfortunately for him, was very little.
Dripping water onto the hardwood floor, he stood idly by the entrance while she closed the door and grabbed a towel from a closet nearby. The lights came on to show a cozy living room to his left and a kitchen to the right. A hallway stretched on the opposite side of the room, two doors on each side. He could tell one opened into a staircase.
"You really shouldn't be out in this kind of weather," she scolded delicately, smiling. He was now able to see that her hair was a dark blue, nearly black; her eyes were silver. She held out a bundle of dry clothes out to him.
"This is some of my brother's old stuff," she explained as he took it, draping the towel around the back of his neck. "You're about his build, so it should fit. I hope."
"Thank you," he said, then yanked off his gloves and shrugged out of his navy blue jacket.
When he began to reach for the hem of his tight black sleeveless shirt her smile twisted into a nervous grin, her face flushing pink.
Rubbing her arm, she stammered, "I-I'm gonna be up-upstairs getting some stuff, if you need me. Be back in a se-sec..." She skittered off across the room, down the hall, and up the steps.
He smirked as he pulled off his boots, pants, and underwear, cringing at the icy stickiness. Either this girl was completely clueless or unbiased, because she had yet to mention the gold marks emblazoned on the left side of his face, the marks that gave him away as a felon. Although those charges - - escaping the Satellite - - had been cruel and unfair, they were true and inevitable. She knew he had done some wrong by Sector Security, yet she hadn't said a word...
Strange, he thought, toweling off his frozen arms, legs, torso. All of the wet garments he dropped into a pile, which steadily leaked out a puddle of water. It certainly felt odd to be standing there stark naked in some one else's home, but for the moment he ignored the sensation and redressed with the clothes he'd been given: sweatpants, socks, t-shirt, and boxers.
His host returned with mere seconds to spare. Piled in her arms were a few blankets and pillows, which were stacked so high that she could probably only guess where she was going. However, she maneuvered easily to the couch and set her load down.
"I'll take those for you," she offered, indicating the wet clothes on the floor.
He gathered them up and handed them to her. She held the bundle away from her body and carried it down the hall, through the first door on the right.
She returned with a bright smile filled with humor. "In all this, I totally forgot," she laughed, and extended her hand. "I'm Mara. Mara Aoyama."
He took it. Her touch was gentle and warm.
"Yusei Fudo," he replied.
Mara released her grip and stood back, crossing her arms loosely across her stomach. "Nice to meet you, Yusei. Did you want something to eat or drink? I can fix up some chicken broth pretty fast."
Yusei nodded. "Sounds great."
She entered the kitchen. Unsure of what else he could do, he followed her. She reached into a cabinet above her and made quick work of opening a carton of broth, pouring some into a mug, and sticking it into the microwave. Fifty seconds later, she handed it to him, carefully blowing away some of the steam wafting from the rim.
"Thank you." He sipped it without caution, stifling the tiny reflexive tears that formed in the corners of his eyes when the hot liquid singed his tongue. It was a little strange, but being in such a secure environment with something warm to chase away the chill reminded him of being with Martha, and that took his mind off the mild pain.
Mara leaned against the counter and twirled a straight lock of hair around her finger. "If you don't mind me asking, what exactly are you doing here, Yusei? I mean you're a... you've spent some time in the facility."
He eyed her over his mug and quirked a questioning brow, silently inquiring how she figured such a thing, though he already knew her answer.
Her finger traced a partially crooked line down one side of her face, then a small slash, imitating the design on his cheek.
"Right," he muttered. Damn Goodwin. "I'm looking for...for a friend. I got lost is all. I can probably leave by morning." Taking another swig of broth, he added, "And if you're wondering, this - -" he tapped the tell-tale marks " - - is because I escaped the Satellite. And dueled."
Something flashed far in the silvery depths of her eyes, a series of emotions. First disappointment, then wonder, then hurt. She bit her lip for a moment, and then stared at her slippered feet. "Oh."
"And if you don't mind me asking, where are your parents?"
She looked up fast, a frightened expression distorting her attractive face. "Not...not here. They're on vacation for the next couple days. Why do you ask?"
He frowned, taken aback by her reaction. "I think anyone would worry about a girl living all alone in the city."
"Oh. R-right." She smiled slightly. "Thanks for your concern, but I don't need it. Um... I need to get some sleep, errands to run tomorrow. You're welcome to the couch."
"You're amazing. Thank you." His smile was genuine, as was his immense gratitude.
She blushed. "It's nothing. Bathroom's down the hall, first door to your right. I'm in my room upstairs, so holler if you need anything. Goodnight, Yusei."
He looked her dead in the eyes. "Goodnight, Mara."
Her cheeks reddened even more, and she hastily left. Yusei heard her footfalls on the stairs, and then all was quiet.
He finished his broth then went to the living room, set out a few blankets, fluffed his pillows and collapsed to the couch with a grunt. Sleep came quickly and easily for once.