Elloelloello!
Sorry this chapter is a little short... But it seemed like a good, fluffy place to end it, and it would be WAY too long otherwise. Yesh.
Disclaimer: I is in teh owning of nufink. NUFINK.
"What do you have now?" Bakura wiped the sweat from his brow as he surveyed Malik. The Egyptian grinned, pulling back on his coat, fluffing his blonde hair out from under the collar. "What?"
"You're all sweaty." He smirked again, lavender eyes glinting mischievously. Bakura only rolled his eyes, his chest heaving slightly as he still panted.
"We had quite a workout." He responded crisply, a hand lingering on a bony hip. Malik bit his lip, his gaze lingering on Bakura's rear as he turned slightly. "More than quite."
"Get used to it." Malik retorted, raising a sandy eyebrow. "We'll be doing it alot before next Wednesday." Bakura exhaled deeply, running a hand through his hair.
"Yeah, I know." He groaned, still hefting the tinfoil prop in his hand. "I forgot that Macbeth had a swordfight." Malik chuckled, shaking his head, the fake sword in his own hand.
"You barely know any of the play." Malik argues, concern evident in his face. "How the hell are you going to have it all memorized by next Wednesday, Bakura?"
"I'll do it." Bakura muttered, averting his gaze from Maliks' face. "Geez, trust me, will you? I've got a great memory."
"I just don't think you could do it." Malik protested as he started to walk out of the wings to the stage, his props stored neatly away. "It's a lot of work... We would have to be doing so much rehearsal." Bakura smirked. That's the point of it all. The more time I spend with you, Malik Ishtar, the better. Everytime he even just looked at the Egyptian, little fireworks went off in his chest.
"It's easy to grasp once you get it." Bakura nodded, following the teenager after carelessly tossing his dummy sword away. "So... What have we got now?"
"Morning break." Malik stretched and yawned as he made his way down the steps that led off the stage, students chattering and laughing around him. "Twenty whole minutes of freedom..."
"Oh joy." Bakura rolled his eyes, stuffing his hands into his pockets. "They don't give you much time now, do they?" Malik merely shrugged, making his way up the asile.
"Hey..." After a few steps, the blonde paused, and turned around. "Bakura, are you okay?" The white-haired man blinked, regarding Malik with confusion.
"Yeah..." He frowned. "Why would I not be okay? Did something bad happen?" Malik rolled his eyes and shook his head, fighting back the urge to lightly smack Bakura.
"I'm talking about before." He explained, his lavender eyes softening. "When the period started and you randomly freaked out over something." Bakura froze, and a fresh wave of cold fear washed over in his stomach.
"O-Oh... Yeah." He finally murmured, unable to look Malik in the eye. "That. Yeah... I'm okay." He finally looked back up again, and resumed his brisk walk. "I'll be okay Malik, really." Bakura forced a smile. "Just had a bit of a moment. Nothing to worry about."
"... Okay." Malik finally frowned, still suspicious towards the male. But he seemed really upset... What's he not telling me?
"Where do we have this break?" Bakura picked up his pace, almost jogging towards the auditorium door. "Outside, or what?"
"No..." Malik smiled, speeding up to keep in step with the man. "We just have it in the cafeteria. It's not even much of a break really... Everyone just sits around and talks... Some do some homework..." Bakura let out a snort, rolling his eyes.
"Sounds just like classes." He commented, pushing open the door and walking into the hall, joining the flow of students. "God, I'm all ready sick of this place..."
"Then why did you join up?" Malik walked beside Bakura in the hall, frowning as he stared at the male. "Ryou told us about how you were only staying for a week... Why even bother? Isn't sitting around at home more fun?" Bakura shrugged.
"Probably." He sighed. "But what can I say? I find the... Company here better." At this, he actually winked at Malik, before starting to walk again, oozing self-confidence. Malik stood frozen in his step for a moment, his cheeks slowly flushing at what Bakura had just don't. That was flirting! That was a direct pass at me, I know it! What the hell is this psycho doing to you Malik? Make him stop. Just tell him to go away...
"Hell no." Malik muttered to himself, before breaking into a jog to catch up with Bakura. "He's way too fun." And hot.
No!Malik shook his head. You're not supposed to think that, remember? You don't swing that way anymore. You know what your family would say if they found out... Malik swallowed. And your friends... Sure, they're all queer themselves, but they'd sure act differently around you.
"Oi, Malik!" Bakura frowned as he spun on his heel, raising an eyebrow at the Egyptian. "What are ya doing way back there? Come on, this break's not too long..." Malik, who was staring off into space, a strange look on his face, snapped back to reality, and blinked, nodding as he started running again, to catch up with Bakura for the second time.
"... Yeah, okay." He still looked a little lost. "Uh... Come on, we have to go this way." He steered Bakura to the left, and down a side hallway. It was a virtually unknown shortcut to get to the cafeteria, but one Malik often used. Sure enough, they reached the large room in a matter of minutes, and Bakura followed Malik wordlessly as the tanned blonde started to walk down past the tables, looking like he owned the place. Well, Ryou did say the group he hung out with was the most popular in school...
"Malik, Bakura!" Ryou waved from the large table in the middle. Seto sat beside him, his laptop up, a scowl on his face. "How was drama class, huh?" Bakura broke into a smile as he grabbed the plastic chair beside Ryou, and spun it on its' leg. He sat down in the moulded black plastic backwards, resting his hand on the edge of the back.
"It was... Interesting." He locked eyes with Malik for a split second, before looking away, over to Ryou. "I'm in the Drama class play assessment." Ryou's brown eyes widened.
"What?" He gasped, shaking his head slowly. "Bakura... Are you sure that's a good idea? I mean... How many lines do you have?"
"He's Macduff." Malik sighed, somewhat gloomily, crossing his arms on the white table and resting his forehead on them. "And he doesn't know a single line."
"I do to!" Bakura protested. "Uh..." Malik only groaned. "What? I was only trying to help you out... Geez..."
"And I'm sure he appreciates it." Ryou intervened. "But what Malik is trying to say is that he has a lot riding on this play, and he doesn't want anything to go wrong."
"I wont fuck up." Bakura muttered patiently through gritted teeth. "Why the hell do people fail to understand that? I can do this, it's not hard..."
"Bakura..." Ryou leaned over to whisper the words in the male's ear. "Are you doing this for the play, or to... To spend more time with Malik?" Bakura's head turned, and he locked eyes with Ryou for a long time. The teenager stared wordlessly at Bakura his hand folded in his lap.
"... Maybe." He tilted his head to one side, regarding Ryou with a smirk. "We'll talk later."
"What a day." Bakura wiped at his brow over-dramatically as he walked down the walkway. Due to their status, the other students parted way for the three, letting them walk freely. "How do you weirdo's put up with that all day every day?" Ryou froze, and his mouth fell open slightly, as he gave Bakura the strongest silencing glare he could muster. "I would have left ages ago." Malik frowned at the man he was walking alongside with, a backpack slung over one shoulder.
"You mean you didn't go to school?" He raised an eyebrow. "'Aint that... Kind of against the law?" Bakura blinked, and froze, realising his mistake.
"Bakura's homeschooled." Ryou explained, thinking as quickly as he could. "My uncle's really strict on it... He's been tutored all of his school like, haven't you Bakura?" He smiled sweetly at the man.
"... Yeah!" Bakura latched on to the out. "Didn't I tell you? I had stuffy professors teach me most of what I learned... Not that I ever listened." Malik still looked slightly suspicious, and deeply thoughtful, but shrugged.
"That... Explains a lot." Malik broke into a smile. "No wonder you're so messed up." Bakura gave a mock gasp, playfully pushing the Egyptian in the side. "What? Just staying."
"Well don't." Bakura made a face. "I really don't wanna think about it, talk about it, or... have anything to do with it. Okay?" The two teenagers were quiet as Bakura sped up, his hair flying behind him as he jogged down the path, heading towards the street. Ryou and Malik exchanged a glance, before following him, two pairs of feet thudding against the pavement.
"Bakura..." Ryou pleaded as they turned into the footpath. Bakura was still walking briskly, his arms crossed. "Don't be mad at Malik, he doesn't know." It felt like a conspiracy. Bakura sighed, but slowed down in his walk, until he was still, his arms crossed and eyes fixed pointedly on a spot in mid-air.
"I don't know what?" Malik asked indignantly, his hands on his hips as he frowned at Ryou. "What am I missing out on? Come on, tell me."
"Don't." Bakura muttered the short syllable, his voice low and growling. He started to walk again, his coat flaring out behind him.
"I won't." Ryou promised. He fell into step beside Bakura, clutching his school bag. "Have a good day anyways?" The whitenette asked, staring at Bakura with is large, innocent brown eyes. The man shorted, and rolled his own, stuffing his hands into his pockets. "What?"
"You're to cute for your own good." Bakura muttered, shaking his head. "Don't you think?" He turned to Malik, smiling a little. The Egyptian grinned, and nodded.
"Oh, he's the best." Malik announced, jokingly looping an arm around Ryou's skinny shoulders. "Cute as a button."
"Hey!" Ryou protested, pouting. "That's not fair..."
"Awwh, what a cutie pie." Bakura joked, enjoying his playful torture of the teen. "Look, he's even pouting."
"Bakura, stop it!" Ryou complained loudly. "You're not being funny!"
"Awwwwhh..." Malik teased. "Is Ryou getting cranky? Does he need a nap?"
"I'm not a baby!" Ryou wrenched himself free of Maliks' hold, and spun around, glaring at the pair. "Both know that!" Bakura only rolled his eyes, but Malik looked guilty.
"We know you're not." Malik sighed. "We were just kidding. You're not a baby Ryou..."
"Yeah, babies don't have sex." Bakura remarked wryly. Both Ryou and Malik froze, wide-eyed.
"What?" Malik looked from Ryou to Bakura rapidly. "Y-You told him?" A blush started to colour his tan cheeks rose.
"No!" Ryou burst out, looking like a deer in the headlights. "O-Of course not."
"Told me what?" Bakura frowned. "Maurice?"
"Maurice?" Malik blinked. "Who the hell is Maurice?" Ryou closed his eyes, wincing, and Bakura frowned, tilting his head to one side slightly.
"Then who are you talking about?" Bakura pressed, staring at Malik. "What the-"
"No one!" Ryou pressed his palms against his temples. "Can we stop?"
"Maurice... That's not anyone at school." Malik frowned. "Why... Ohh..." He smiled. "Ryou, you fell in love with someone and never told me-"
"NO!" Ryou uttered the word as loud as he could, his slim frame rigid. Bakura cringed, and took a step towards Ryou, but the whitenette fled, turning away from the pair and taking off down the street. Bakura swore under his breath, and followed the teen, leaving Malik alone and confused on the pavement.
"Ryou!" Bakura protested, easily dodging past the people on the street and catching up with the whitenette. Ryou cried out as the man easily tackled him, wrapping strong, leather-clad arms around his chest, pinning his arms to his sides. "Ryou, stop." He muttered the words in Ryou's ear, the teenager shaking violently in his hold.
"I-I d-don't..." Ryou was having trouble speaking, overcome with shock and misery and anger. "I don't love him." He finally spat out, his head bowed, hair falling all over his shoulders and hanging down.
"I know you don't." Bakura kept his voice as calm and level as he could, straightening his back and pulling Ryou up along with him. "Come on, Malik doesn't know... Don't be angry at him."
"Doesn't know what?" Malik frowned, studying the pair as he finally caught up with them. Ryou tensed in Bakura's arms as the silver-haired man spun around, and forcefully pushed himself out of Bakura's hold, straightening his grey jersey, which had hiked up a little from the struggle.
"... Nothing." Ryou finally muttered through gritted teeth. How many times had he gone over this in his mind? Ryou had tried so hard to keep it all secret from Malik. He was terrified of what he would say if he knew that he was sleeping with landlord for free rent (The words 'whore' and 'slut' often sprung to mind).
"It's not nothing." Malik argued, standing opposite Ryou. Bakura was off a little on the side, studying the pair intently. How could Malik not know? How could Ryou not tell him for support? But then again, not even Malik knows a shred of detail about Ryou's private life. There's keeping business to yourself, and there's shutting people out and reusing to let them come close. Does Ryou even know the difference anymore? "Tell me."
"... Isn't your apartment down that block?" Ryou avoided the question deliberately. "Bakura and I have to go this way."
"Ryou, no." Malik pleaded. "I just-"
"See you tomorrow, Malik." Ryou finished abruptly, his school bag still swinging from one hand. "You have a good night!" He forced a note of cheer into his voice as he waved goodbye, and started to cross the street. Bakura stood frozen, looking between Malik and Ryou, lost.
"I don't-"
"Go with Ryou." Malik muttered, turning on his heel and starting to walk down the street. "See you tomorrow, Bakura."
"... Yeah." Bakura's shoulders slumped in a long sigh, sad that his meeting with Malik had to end on such a sour note for the day. He spun around, and started to cross the street quickly, dodging traffic, before he made his way across to the other side of the street.
"I don't want to talk." Ryou was near tears as he slowly walked down the street, making sure to keep his face turned away from Bakura. "I-I'm just not in the mood."
"... Okay." Bakura finally shrugged. "We don't have to talk if you don't want to... What about singing. You like singing? We could sing really loud and annoy everyone in a teen foot radius. Or if that doesn't take your fancy, then we could-"
"Bakura, please." Ryou begged, although a weak smile had slowly formed across his face. "I just want to think for a while. Today's been really big."
"Not as big as yesterday." Bakura reminded the whitenette. "I'm really happy you did that shit for me, Ryou." He just walked along silently, his eyes fixated on the pavement. "Oh, come on." Bakura slung an arm around Ryou's skinny shoulder, holding him close. "Be happy! Life is good. Look, I know you've been through a lot of shit, but it's gonna be a lot better from now on. I'll make sure it'll get better for you." Ryou only shrugged, almost insignificantly, the corners of his lips remaining firmly dropped down. "Really." He firmed his point, but Ryou didn't respond. "Oh, come on, kid!" Bakura was exasperated. "Evil demon powers, remember? I can do anything I want... Well... I can within a week, anyway."
Ryou finally looked up and smiled.
Awwhh. What a crappily semi-fluffy ending XD