A/N: Alright, really short chapter just to introduce the next plot arc-ish...thing. Yah I'm such an articulate writer...anyways, I figured Yu-Gi-Oh wiki has everyone else's birthdays listed but the yami's of course never get one and since this is an AU, Mariku definitely needed one! Coming up with ideas for it was a ton of fun (why can I plan a psychos birthday but not my own sweet sixteen? Why, why, why?) and I can't wait to write it, hope people like this (unfortunately short) intro!
Disclaimer: Not Mine!
"Morning Sato-sensei!" A loud voice called and the teacher looked up from the marking she was doing with a confused expression on her face.
"Good morning Ishtar-san," She replied slowly but Mariku blew right by her, practically bouncing as he crossed the room in three bounds, grinding to a halt in front of Malik and Bakura, the latter who was sitting in his chair with his palm on the other's abdominals rather suggestively as Bakura leaned back smugly under the touch.
"Someone had too much sugar this morning, unless your back on the drugs again Mariku," Bakura sniped as Malik quickly pulled his hand away from its rather odd position. Mariku gave them funny looks as he took in their proximity, though Malik backed off quickly.
"What are you two doing?" He asked, even his voice sounding hyper while he ignored the reference to his Prozac days.
"He didn't believe me that I had a six pack," Bakura said smugly as Malik rolled his eyes, crossing his arms with a huff.
"It's not my fault you look like a stick; how was I supposed to know you actually had muscles?" He sulked though his eyes were now appraising Bakura speculatively.
"I would take my shirt off for you but I think it might make Sato-sensei jealous. It'll have to wait till we're in private," Bakura jibed back and Malik flushed, quickly returning his eyes to his face.
"I will never sink to asking you to take your shirt off for me," He snapped, nurturing his commonly targeted pride.
"Sure you won't," Mariku threw in though the comment held little significance since he was still fairly bouncing on the spot like a hyper child.
"Is there a reason you're in such a good mood, Mariku?" Ryou asked shyly, ignoring the daily banter about Malik's questionable sexuality.
"Friday Night Lights, it's on between us and Shibuya tonight and we're definitely going to win with me on defence!" He crowed delightedly. "Which means you all better be there cheering me on," He added, piercing all three of them with a look that had Malik and Bakura groaning in unison.
Anyone who knew Mariku had been privy to at least one of his yearly Friday Night Lights games that seemed to go on forever, rich with competition and obnoxiously competitive fans.
Thinking back Bakura recalled seeing Malik there the year before but he hadn't thought much of it at the time only vaguely realizing that Mariku's younger brother actually attended their school.
"Don't worry Mariku; I'll make sure they're both there with me," Ryou chirped happily and Bakura sent him a glare at the presumptuous words though he knew it was useless to resist. Mariku would sulk for days if he didn't come to the game and he figured he could sacrifice a couple hours of his life to avoid that.
Plus Malik would be there, which was always a plus.
Maybe if it got cold enough he'd even have a good excuse to cuddle with him...
The thought had him shaking his head hard, trying to knock the image from his head. God, what was wrong with his brain? It had been over a month since he met Malik but that wasn't an excuse to be thinking about cuddling.
Touzoku Bakura did not cuddle, ever with anyone. It was a perversion of nature itself to even think about it. Luckily for him none of the others noticed his appalling thoughts because Mariku was fairly glowing with Ryou's promise to be at the game, clasping his hands together happily like a small child.
"You're being so nice to me today Ryou-chan," He gloated, the hearts nearly pouring out of him. It was almost sickening to watch and Malik looked like he was going to puke over the 'chan' ending which Bakura knew for a fact that he had a strong aversion against. Even Ryou sweat dropped, scratching the back of his head sheepishly.
"Um, well, it is your birthday today, it's the least I could do," Ryou said sweetly and Malik swore explicitly, nearly falling out of his chair.
"You forgot, didn't you?" Mariku accused, pointing at Malik who gripped the edge of his desk, bringing his chair back onto all four legs to keep from tipping backwards.
"No..." He said guiltily but it was utterly unconvincing. He might as well just own up and admit he completely forgot about his brother's birthday.
"Am I coming over tonight?" Bakura asked casually, folding his arms behind his head and Malik's eyes widened at his words. "To celebrate of course," He added in a suggestively silken voice while Malik glared, pouting slightly at the purposefully twisted words.
Mariku seemed oblivious to their exchange, grinning wickedly at Bakura.
"I already told my hosts to leave the house to me tonight, so we can do whatever we want without them around," He said enthusiastically and Ryou palmed his face, hearing the double meaning to the words just as clearly as the others had.
"I hope you come to, Ryou-chan," Mariku said innocently and Ryou turned red as Bakura cracked up and Malik couldn't quite repress his smirk either.
"Threesome anyone?" He muttered, succeeding in making Bakura bite his lip to suppress the sound of his laughter though his shoulders were quivering slightly.
He completely lost it though when Mariku paused for a moment then said, "I suppose you can come to brat. At least it'll make 'Kura more enthusiastic." Malik's face was a mask of horror at the words and Mariku finally seemed to notice, cocking his head slightly in confusion as Bakura let out long peels of dark laughter that had several people looking their way.
"Good to know you want to sleep with me so badly," Malik huffed, shoving Bakura lightly who just got that familiar glint in his eyes as he leaned closer.
"What are you two going on about now?" Mariku asked, interrupting their little 'moment' and Bakura laughed again quietly, shaking his head as he moved out of Malik's personal space.
"Don't worry about it," He said flippantly, smirking slightly but not sharing the joke with Mariku who would likely turn it into more. Malik's expression at the idea of a foursome with his brother was gift enough.
"I'm sure all three of us will be there tonight Mariku, and we'll treat you well on your birthday. Right Bakura, Malik?" Ryou said lightly but there was an unusually dangerous glint to his milk chocolate eyes when he stared at the other two.
Bakura hesitated, grumbling slightly to himself but agreed when Ryou pressed the matter and Malik swallowed nervously then agreed. There was something wrong with the world when Ryou was pushing Bakura around.
"Good, now that that's agreed it shouldn't be a problem to meet up at your house after the game," Ryou said cheerfully as though he hadn't just been looming threateningly over the other two to make them agree and Malik wondered for a moment what he would have done if they'd refused to be 'nice' to Mariku.
Sing a song? No, he probably had some form of blackmail over Bakura's head and as a last resort he could always break down in tears and blame it on them. Any teacher would buy that pathetic Bambi eyed look he'd perfected.
"Great," Mariku beamed, grabbing Ryou in a close hug. Ryou's eyes widened, giving a squeak of terror when Mariku squeezed him tightly.
"S-sure," He stammered, hugging him back quickly before stumbling out of his embrace and retreating to his desk looking shaky.
"You should stop trying to scare him to death, he's going to have another break down if you keep it up," Malik commented shrewdly, eyeing Ryou cautiously and Mariku just shrugged, sparing a glance in Ryou's direction as well.
"He'll get over it. It hardly even bothers him anymore," Mariku said confidently though Bakura looked a little more sceptical, glancing between them slowly. Malik watched his appraising gaze bounce between them almost mischievously, wondering not for the first time if Bakura was honestly trying to push them together in his own standoffish way.
He wouldn't mind getting in on a scheme like that, it was sort of sad to see the two trying so hard to be 'friends' when they clearly wanted to be more. Not to mention he kind of liked the sound of mischief making with the thief king.
Heat crawled up his neck when he realized what that sounded like even in his own head, an onslaught of images he didn't seem able to stop flooding his mind's eye. No, he did not want to make 'mischief' with Bakura that way! Not even a little bit.
Well...maybe a little bit.
He groaned slightly, banging his head off the desk with a dull thump.
"Go away," He grumbled at the thoughts that wouldn't leave him alone now, spreading the heat to his cheeks with embarrassment at his own thoughts. Bakura gave him a curious look and he quickly avoided his gaze, not wanting to explain his likely obvious blush and completely inappropriate thoughts.
Right, he wasn't even supposed to be gay...
"Did you bring your motorcycle today?" Bakura asked abruptly and Malik sat up a bit, knowing the Thief King could only be talking to him.
"Of course," He said proudly.
"You're giving me a ride back to your place tonight," Bakura told him bluntly and Malik's eyes widened, lips parted slightly as he stared at Bakura. Realizing where Malik's thoughts were headed, Bakura smirked, leaning across the desk to flick his forehead affectionately.
"Stop being so dirty minded," He rebuked though he didn't really mind as Malik flinched backwards, sticking his tongue out at the other equally affectionately if also immaturely.
"That's definitely not what I was thinking about," He denied but it fell on deaf ears as Bakura merely gave Mariku a smug look.
"He's so into me," Bakura gloated and Malik grit his teeth against the heat rising again in his face, telling himself to calm down. Bakura always took advantage of him like this; he couldn't back down so easily!
"Fine," He huffed, "I'll give you a ride back to my house after the game and you can stay however long you want."
"How about all night?" Bakura purred and Malik just shrugged.
"Whatever you want," He responded and then saw the blankly suggestive looks he was getting from all three of them including even Ryou who didn't seem to miss the direction their conversation was taking.
"That's not what I meant," He moaned, voice muffled as he palmed his face but from Mariku's laughter and even a small giggle from Ryou that he wasn't able to repress, he got the feeling he wasn't going to convince anyone that he didn't want to sleep with Bakura.
This was going to be a very long evening...
A/N: At the beginning I mentioned 'Prozac' and for anyone who doesn't know what that is, it's one of the most common drugs they use to treat patients who suffer from depression. Obviously Mariku isn't depressed anymore; that's why I threw it in as a sort of reminder that he use to be. Oh poor Malik, I simply have too much fun making fun of him through Bakura and Mariku...but that's what it's like being the youngest. I should know!