Aurora
By Neon Tiger and Yuki Ryu
Chapter Ten
----
"Nnngh... It's... getting hard..."
"Don't stop now... you're almost there..."
"But I can't finish it...! It's too BIG..."
"No it isn't. Just relax and take it nice and slow..."
"But... it's just so much to swallow at once!"
"Not if you do it a little bit at a time."
"Mfff... I can't... I've got a headache..."
Bakura let out an irritable huff as he leaned back against the headboard. "Fine, we'll take a break," he said, trying not to show his frustration.
"Sorry," Malik murmured as he slowly closed the book. He glanced back at Bakura, feeling guilty over being so difficult. "I... I guess I'm just not smart enough."
"No, you just convince yourself that you're too dumb to learn anything and defeat yourself," Bakura grunted as he made a vague gesture in the air with his fingers. "You will never learn to read if you don't stop doing that."
Malik slumped his shoulders, sighing softly. "I'm sorry..."
Bakura let out a weary sigh before he pulled the blond back against him. He had been sitting behind Malik, helping the other boy try to read one of the books from the library, which had been comfortable save for the tanned boy's pessimistic attitude. "Stop that."
"I'm so-," Malik immediately cut himself off, covering his mouth. He glanced back at the thief and shrugged helplessly.
Bakura eyed the tanned boy blandly. "One day, Malik, I'm going to break you of that habit so that you'll only say you're sorry when you actually mean it," he proclaimed dryly. He then lifted his legs slightly, placing the bottoms of his feet onto the sheets, so that he could allow for better circulation while he waited for Malik to get ready again; inadvertently he brushed them against the other boy's hips because Malik sat so closely in front of him that the blond was practically sitting in his lap.
Malik blinked as he noticed Bakura shift, then sighed and leaned back against the thief. Things had changed so drastically since the incident in the bathing room days before. Ever since then, Bakura had grown increasingly more "hands on" - it was inconceivable that the silver haired boy had ever been embarrassed by it.
The former slave had finally finished healing completely, scar and blemish free thanks to the wonders of sorcerer medicine. He was finally able to explore the cave and do some work without worrying Bakura, but he soon found things were still radically different.
Now that he didn't need to do anything, the former slave found himself having to ponder what he'd like to do. Such a thought never occurred to him before.
It was during this time that Bakura had discovered Malik's inability to read. Malik hadn't thought too much of it, but the thief had made up his mind: he was going to teach his former slave how to read, one way or another. Malik suspected it might have had something to do with proving his father wrong; something Bakura was almost obsessed with doing.
Almost as obsessed with goosing him whenever his back was turned...
As if his former master could read his mind, Bakura's hand chose that moment to slip sneakily towards the tanned boy's rear to gently squeeze it, just short of pinching the tender flesh.
Malik jumped with a squeak, immediately snapping to attention. "Ah-!?"
Bakura immediately put his hands behind his head and quickly found the wall quite fascinating just before the other boy turned to look back at him. After a moment he pretended to notice Malik's attention for the first time and glanced at the blond as if nothing had happened. "Hmm? Done with your break yet?"
Malik wrinkled his nose as he eyed Bakura suspiciously. "...Oooiii..."
"What?" Bakura asked, acting as if he were the very picture of innocence.
Malik sighed and shook his head before settling back down. Bakura would always sneak attack him, so there really wasn't any point in getting upset about it. Besides, it wasn't as if he didn't like the attention - though, he could do without the pinching.
It was at this time that Bakura started to softly caress Malik's thigh, interrupting the other boy's thoughts once again.
Malik squeaked softly as he snapped to attention once again, and then glanced down at his thigh in an attempt to spot the culprit.
Unfortunately Bakura proved once again why he was an excellent thief with those quick and sneaky fingers of his, which had been discreetly moved to idly scratch one of his knees. He appeared rather bored as he gazed at the walls, apparently innocently waiting for the blond to be ready to read again.
Malik turned to look at Bakura dryly, his expression deadpanning.
It apparently took a moment for the thief to notice the other boy's gaze. "Hmm?" Bakura tilted his head slightly as he looked at Malik. "Yes?"
Malik huffed before crossing his arms as he continued to gaze at Bakura.
"What?" the bandit asked, feigning innocence quite convincingly. "Is there something wrong?"
Malik made a noise of frustration. What was the point in getting irritated? Bakura would only pretend to be innocent about the whole matter!
Without warning the thief chose that moment to steal a kiss from the blond's lips.
Malik jumped in surprise and sat up, turning to face Bakura completely. "O-oi!"
"What?" Bakura asked between soft chuckles before he leaned in closer to the other boy so that they were nose to nose. "Did you expect me not to steal a kiss from those pouty lips of yours?" he teased. Again he surprised his companion with another sudden kiss.
"Mwr-!" Malik's cheeks tinted brightly at the kiss. He leaned back and glowered at Bakura, though the feeling was definitely more sulky than angry. "I t-thought you were going to teach me to read, not molest me!"
"Oh, so you're finally done with your break now?" Bakura asked as he quirked an eyebrow.
Malik paused at that, blinking, before eying Bakura suspiciously. "...Was that what you were trying to do?"
"What was?" Bakura asked coyly as he tilted his head slightly. Sneakily he placed a hand on Malik's stomach, softly rubbing the other boy through the slightly rough clothing.
"Y-you know perfectly well-!" Malik broke off with a gasp as his stomach quivered against that rubbing. "O-oi!"
"Hmm?" Bakura paused in his actions as he tilted his head a little more.
"You're teasing me!" Malik whined, looking terribly embarrassed.
"Me?" Bakura gasped before he feigned as if he had been wounded by the accusation. "I'm just waiting for you to be ready to learn how to read again!"
Malik huffed as he eyed Bakura, and then picked up the book. "Fine! Let's just get this over with!"
"I am so glad to see you enjoy my lessons," Bakura quipped sarcastically before sitting up so that he could read over Malik's shoulder.
Malik paused at that before drooping guiltily. "...Sorry... I didn't mean it like that..."
A slightly frustrated sigh escaped Bakura. "I know," he said as he slipped his arms around Malik's waist, pulling his former slave close.
Malik leaned back against Bakura, tilting his head so that his forehead rested against the thief's cheek. "...How did you learn to read?"
Bakura blinked at the other boy. He hesitated for a moment before answering. "My parents taught me a bit of it, but I mostly had to teach myself," he explained before reaching out to tap the book the blond held. "This was one of the books I used in fact."
"Oh," Malik blinked at the book before peering at Bakura. "...Wow... that must've been hard..."
The thief couldn't help but let out a weary sigh at the memory. "Extremely."
Malik looked at his former master before nuzzling him. "I'll... try harder."
Bakura blinked at the action, and then couldn't help but smile affectionately at the blond. "Good." He then moved to kiss his companion softly.
Malik blushed before turning to stare at the book. He made a face and slowly opened it, trying to ignore his feeling of dread. He once again exposed the numerous squiggly lines that were supposedly words, staring at them blankly. "...Um..."
Letting out another sigh, Bakura reached out to place a finger beneath one of the strange marks on the parchment. "Okay, repeat after me: 'the sky is blue'," he said slowly, sounding out each part of the word as his finger moved beneath each character on the page.
Malik's eyes followed Bakura's finger. "The - sky - is - blue." he repeated, though he didn't understand why those squiggly lines stood for that and not something else.
Bakura noticed the expression on the lavender-eyed boy's face and let out another sigh. "Let me guess: you've forgotten what each symbol stands for, right?"
"I... I'm sorry..." Malik replied, slumping his shoulders again. "I just... can't tell one squiggle from another!"
Bakura resisted the urge to sigh again as he held his head. If nothing else Malik was teaching him a valuable lesson in patience. "Maybe we should try another approach," he muttered as he took the book and closed it. "How about I just write out all of the symbols and you repeat each one until you've memorized them?"
"Yeah, okay," Malik nodded, smiling weakly. He was disappointing Bakura so badly, he had to try to make it up to him. "I can try...!"
Bakura noticed the other boy's look and nuzzled Malik's cheek. "Don't let it get to you," he said soothingly. "You will get it eventually." He went silent for a moment as something that had been nagging at the back of his mind since that morning once again reminded the thief that it was there. He looked to the book as he set it aside, purposefully not looking at Malik as he spoke casually. "And when you do, you will have something to do whenever I leave the cave..."
"Leave?" Malik looked alarmed at that. "Leave the cave?!"
Bakura kept his expression carefully casual, still not looking at his companion. Ever since the incident that occurred the last time he left the cave, he had refrained from even so much as mentioning that he would have to do it again. Unfortunately the thief could only put it off for so long. "For things like getting supplies in town," he elaborated. "We are a bit low on a few things, so..."
"So I'm coming too, then!" Malik interrupted his former master, moving to cling to Bakura's shoulders. "I don't want to be left behind!"
Startled, Bakura turned to stare at the other boy. "What?" he asked, as if he didn't hear the blond's declaration correctly.
"I'm coming too!" Malik repeated, a bit more firmly. "I'm going where you're going!"
Bakura didn't know what to say right away, as he hadn't expected Malik to demand to come along with him so vehemently. He had thought that the blond would get upset and beg him to stay, maybe even cry, but instead the once slave was showing a surprising amount of forcefulness. "It'd be safer if you stay here," he said after he recovered his bearings. "The city and desert can be dangerous."
"You'll be with me," Malik replied, shrugging. "I'm safe if I'm with you."
Bakura couldn't help but let out a slight snicker and grinned crookedly at his companion. "Okay, you have a point there."
Malik nodded in agreement. "So it doesn't matter if the city and desert are dangerous. If I stay with you, no one can hurt me."
Bakura mulled the idea over for a few moments. The idea seemed to be a good one, but still, he had some reservations about it. "Are you sure you can handle a trip to the city?"
"Yes!" Malik was adamant. He wasn't going to stay behind – he would stalk Bakura if he had to.
Bakura regarded the determined expression on Malik's face. He had to admit; the blond seemed more determined than he had ever seen the other boy about anything else. It was kind of a turn on. "All right... but only if you stay close to me the entire time and do everything I tell you to."
Malik nodded vigorously, smiling brightly. He was glad Bakura was allowing him to come, as stalking a horse would be difficult. "Yes, yes, okay!"
Bakura couldn't help but feel good at the sight of Malik's bright and cheerful smile, and returned it with one of his own. "Good."
Malik beamed, then paused and made a face as a thought occurred to him. "Um... would your horse protest?"
"Probably not if I got him used to you first," Bakura said thoughtfully.
"Probably...?"
"Well, I am sure that Dusk won't buck you off and trample you to death with me there."
"..."
----
"Are we there yet...?" Malik whined; his face distorted with discomfort. His rump ached terribly, unused to riding, and it reminded him of this fact rather strongly.
Bakura let out a weary sigh as he sat behind the blond with his arms wrapped around the other boy's waist while holding the reigns firmly. Ever since they left Malik just would not keep quiet about how uncomfortable the ride was. It made the thief almost long for the days that Malik was too terrified to speak when he first kidnapped his former slave, let alone complain. "The city gates are just up ahead and we will be inside them in a few minutes," he answered, his tone denoting just how weary he was at their journey.
"Good," Malik breathed a sigh of relief. "My rear hasn't hurt this bad since my father beat me unconscious with a chair leg!"
Instantly Bakura felt a wave of guilt hit him, causing his insides to feel as if they were twisting slightly. Of course Malik was silent and obedient last time they rode Dusk because of the other boy's horrible father taking to beating the poor boy as a daily ritual until the blond feared to utter a single word unless it was to beg for forgiveness. Even if Malik had been extremely annoying with his complaints, that was far better than seeing him weak, frightened, and broken due to abuse. Unable to help himself, Bakura pulled the once abused slave closer to his body. "Don't worry, we'll be there soon," he murmured in his friend's ear.
Malik blinked and glanced at Bakura, surprised by his sudden change in mood. However, he supposed it might not be a good idea to press Bakura – the thief would most likely deny it. Instead, he nodded hesitantly, and then managed a weak grin. "Okay..."
However Malik was quickly distracted from Bakura's change of mood as Dusk trotted towards the city gate. Even from the distance, Malik could hear the sounds of every-day life. The former slave went silent and listened intently, tensing slightly. He had never been outside in a crowd before, and had even been lectured (and beaten) into outright avoiding them. Yet, here he was going to the market of a large city during one of the busiest times of the day!
His father would have had a heart attack. Malik himself felt a similar episode coming on in spite of himself, suddenly feeling rather exposed and bewildered. He leaned back against Bakura, his breathing quickening.
"Calm down," Bakura whispered soothingly in the blond's ear, as he noticed Malik's growing panic. "It's okay. Just ignore them."
Malik twitched slightly before turning to glance at the other boy. He swallowed nervously and nodded, then leaned back against his former master seeking his comforting presence. Everything would be okay - he had Bakura with him.
"Just remember what I told you," Bakura said quietly as he brought Dusk to a halt just outside the gate. "Stay close to me and listen to me at all times."
The blond nodded vigorously as he pressed up closer to Bakura. "I know... I will..."
Bakura nodded as well, pleased at the response. "Good." He then carefully disengaged himself from the other boy before hopping off of Dusk's back, landing gracefully on the sand. Once there he turned to reach his arms out to Malik so that he could help his companion down as well. "Come on, we have to go the rest of the way in on foot. Dusk doesn't like crowds."
"He's not the only one," Malik replied as he moved forward to grip Bakura's shoulders, using the other boy for support as he slipped off the horse's back. "...I feel so naked."
Such a comment was rewarded with an odd look from Bakura as he regarded the blond blandly. "With how much clothing you're wearing?"
"...Well, I just recently got used to being bare around you," Malik muttered. He fidgeted and glanced down at himself, particularly his plain robes covering most of his body. The thief wouldn't allow him to wear the veil and hood, but he at least consented to the rather bulky clothing. "...But now a whole bunch of strangers will be looking at me, too!"
"I did not say I wanted you naked around anyone but me," Bakura grunted as he put a hand on his hip. "I just meant for you to wear something comfortable like I am." He then gestured at himself and what he wore; a large nicely designed open blue robe, which exposed his chest, a darker blue sarong, and light colored slippers. The thief also adorned his ensemble with some jewelry, which helped to make him look as if he lived in the palace rather than in a cave.
"I know, but I still... No one's ever seen my face except for my father, my sister, and you. So it's... a bit weird." Malik shrugged helplessly. "I guess it's... silly to think that way."
"Yes it is." Bakura nodded in agreement before he poked the other boy's stomach. "Now, come on, let's go get something to eat before we start shopping."
Malik squeaked in surprise, jumping as he covered his stomach. He huffed and rubbed his tummy before eying Bakura. "F-fine, but remember! No stealing... and no hurting anyone."
Bakura made a face at that as he remembered the promise he had made to his once slave before they left their home. Malik had been as insistent towards coming along as he had towards his demand that the thief not steal from anyone or hurt anyone as he had the night that they first met. Bakura had no choice but to agree to the promise, or his companion would have kept whining and giving him sad, almost heart-breaking looks until he did. "Right... Unless it's in self-defense."
"How can you STEAL in self-defense?" Malik asked, arching an eyebrow.
Bakura gave his friend a sly look. "I have my ways," he answered enigmatically as he took the blond's hand and led his friend towards the city.
Malik blinked at that but made to follow Bakura, squeezing his hand. There was no point in arguing with Bakura - he had promised, so that was all that mattered.
The thief returned the squeeze as he grinned at his companion, and pulled Malik closer as they walked past the guards at the gates and into the city.
"You look like a nobleman," Malik murmured as they entered the city, staying close to Bakura's side. "Or a rich master of a palace with hundreds of slaves."
Bakura blinked at Malik, surprised at the comment, though he couldn't help but chuckle. "What would I need slaves for when I have you?" he teased as he pulled the lavender-eyed boy closer.
Malik blushed and let out a soft giggle before turning to smile at Bakura. Anything he was about to say had been cut off when the two of them entered the thick of the market place. Malik let out a sharp gasp as the city buildings gave way to people - hundreds and hundreds of people.
"Keep close to me," Bakura said lowly in the blond's ear, though he kept his voice loud enough to be heard over the din of the noisy crowd. "It's easy to get lost in a crowd like this and there are usually at least a handful of pickpockets looking for an easy mark."
"...A thief trying to rob a thief?" Malik murmured, amused at the thought. However, he moved closer to Bakura just the same.
As Bakura wrapped his arm around the other boy's waist, he regarded Malik with a flat look. "I'm more worried about someone targeting you."
"Yes, well..." Malik smiled wryly. "They'd still have to contend with you."
"Of course they would," Bakura chuckled before a predatory look appeared across his features. "If anyone even thinks of touching you, they will regret it."
Malik blushed brightly at the expression and nodded. "...You'll protect me. I trust you... so it's okay."
Bakura returned the nod with one of his own and a grin that allowed the other boy to catch a glimpse of his fangs, before he concentrated on where they were going.
Malik walked slowly with Bakura, occasionally glancing at him before looking around at their surroundings. "...Will Dusk be alright by himself?"
"He'll be fine." Bakura waved dismissively with his free hand. "Dusk knows where to go to find food, water, and shade near the city wall."
"No one will try to steal him?" Malik pressed as he walked with Bakura through the crowds. He was barely aware of the eyes occasionally turning to peer at him, though he tried not to show it; he felt like he was being appraised like a piece of meat for sale.
"The last time someone tried to ride Dusk, he kicked them in the face with his hooves and knocked out a good number of their teeth." Bakura smirked at the memory.
"...Okay, so it's a stupid question," Malik murmured, sounding a bit dazed. He idly wondered if Dusk really was a horse, or a wild cat in horse's clothing.
"Are you okay?" Bakura asked; growing concerned by the expression on Malik's face, as well as the other boy's tone.
"Ah?" Malik blinked, then smiled nervously and nodded. "Y-yes, just a... little flushed. But that's because of the heavy clothes, the heat, and being so close..."
Bakura let out an exasperated huff. "That's because you wouldn't listen when I told you to wear something sensible. Didn't I tell you this would happen?"
"I'm fine..." Malik assured the thief, shifting slightly. "I'm fine, really!"
"Good, then you won't mind if we go buy you some new clothes." Bakura then changed the direction that they were walking in.
"Buy-?" Malik faltered before moving to step in front of Bakura. "Buy me new clothes?! But... that'd be so wasteful!"
Bakura paused as he put his hands on his hips and gave Malik a piercing gaze, saying nothing.
Malik paused before he withered under Bakura's gaze, hunching his shoulders. He could practically feel Bakura disapproving of what he just said, eliminating the need for the thief to say a word. The blond shifted slightly, then shrugged. "...Okay?"
Bakura grinned, smug in the fact that he won the argument without even speaking, and slipped his arm around the other boy's shoulders. "Good."
Malik sighed and walked with Bakura, idly noting it was best to pick his battles. Particularly if it was a battle he knew he couldn't win.
"What do you MEAN this is the best you can offer me?! I bought this at twice the price!"
Malik stopped in his tracks, his entire body going tense as his eyes widened to the size of dinner plates.
Bakura stopped as well as he looked at his companion. "What's wrong?"
Malik trembled slightly as he felt his insides freeze. Slowly, he started to turn his head to find the source of the screams. He knew that voice...
"That's not good enough!" a man's voice bellowed, easily heard over the noise of the crowd. As such it was easy to find the man with a tightly braided wig of hair wearing regal robes shouting at a cowering shopkeeper. "I DEMAND you pay me full price!"
Malik's entire body started to tremble as his breathing quickened. He knew that voice, even above all the sounds of the crowd. He would always remember that voice, haunting him in darkness and light; a reminder of what he had been and what he had accepted for too long.
It was his father.
"Malik?" Bakura asked, speaking loudly to get through to his friend. He glanced between his companion and their surroundings, trying to find what had upset him. His gaze quickly settled on the loud man, suspecting that the person upsetting the other people in the market place might be the culprit.
"...F-father..." Malik whispered, his voice harsh.
Bakura's eyes widened before they narrowed sharply. Without a word he grabbed Malik, pulling the other boy close to him so that his body hid the blond's face, and then he quickly escorted Malik away from the man he hated so much.
Malik didn't seem to respond at first, forcing the thief to drag him. However, the further away they got from the father, the more the boy seemed to come to life. The young former slave moved to wrap his arms tightly around Bakura, like a vice grip, and buried his face in the boy's chest as he murmured hysterically.
Once they were out of earshot of the reviled man's yelling, Bakura pulled his friend into an alleyway for some privacy so that he could hold Malik closely and comfortingly, cooing into the other boy's ear assuringly, "It's okay, Malik... Don't be afraid..." Rage bubbled within the thief just beneath the surface. He so desperately wanted to kill Malik's father, and was tempted to at least tell the old man off in front of everyone, maybe even instigating the bastard into trying to hit him with that whip Malik was so afraid of so he could keep his promise to his friend and only hurt people in self-defense. He wouldn't have killed the elder man in front of everyone; just broken every bone in the man's hands and feet so that they would have to be amputated. However, because of the fact that Malik was there and was so terrified, Bakura had quickly decided that what was more important right now was to calm and reassure Malik.
"Don't let him take me..." Malik whimpered as he pressed up his entire body against Bakura's. "Bakura... I don't want to go with him... don't let him hurt me...!"
"Shhh..." Bakura rubbed the blond's back in small circles as he held Malik as closely as possible, returning his attention completely to the frightened boy in his arms. "It's okay... I won't let anyone take you away from me. Not now. Not ever." His voice dropped to an almost hiss. "I will kill them if they try."
Malik nodded, brushing his forehead against Bakura's chest as he clung to the thief with all his might. Slowly his body started to relax, allowing himself to be soothed by the comforting voice of his former master. He was safe - his father would never hurt him again.
Even as Malik began to relax, Bakura continued to rub his former slave's back. He even started to hum quietly in the blond's ear to help soothe the stressed boy. Malik would always relax faster when he hummed or sang to his friend.
Malik sighed softly and slumped against Bakura, his body no longer tense. He was safe in Bakura's arms, shielding him from everyone and everything that might try to harm him.
"Feel better now?" Bakura asked softly, his breath lightly tickling the other boy's ear.
"Mmm-hmmm..." Malik mumbled in response, shivering slightly at the ticklish breath. He shifted before lifting his eyes to look at Bakura.
"Good." Bakura smiled gently at the blond before brushing a few stray hairs away from the other boy's amethyst eyes. "Do you want to go to an inn now, or home?"
"...We still need to get supplies," Malik grunted. "We came all the way here, so we can't leave as soon as we arrive...!"
"Are you up to going back to the market?" Bakura asked quietly, watching his companion's reaction carefully.
"...Y-yes," Malik nodded hesitantly. "...But is it okay if we... avoid the area he's at?"
Bakura grinned crookedly. "Well, that one clothing shop I mentioned earlier is in the opposite direction..."
Malik nodded as he gripped Bakura tightly. "Okay..."
As Bakura slowly escorted Malik out of the alley, his thoughts turned to one thing: punishing Malik's father for all that he had done to his friend.
It was only a matter of time.