Here, as promised, is the next chapter! Apologies for that cliffhanger but I updated super-fast for you XD Apologies again for any typos, it's once again far too late at night to be up. Or early in the morning, depending on your perspective. Anyway, Enjoy! - Jem
Ryou stared in utter shock at the furious form of his father in the doorway. His brown eyes were hollow slits in his pale skin, arms crossed in front of him and muscles stretched taught as he regarded the rather compromising position his younger son had been caught in.
Ryou was frozen. He couldn't comprehend the situation, didn't want to accept it as reality – Dad caught me, he followed me! How much did he see...how much does he know about Melvin...Oh my gosh, Melvin! Suddenly reclaiming use of his body Ryou jumped quickly up in the air, grabbing his clothes from the floor and pulling them on hastily, looking everywhere but at the other two occupants of the room. Melvin sat up slowly, reaching for his own cloak and wrapping it around his form, tugging his trousers on underneath. Ryou backed away when his dad advanced, but those cold brown eyes focused instead on the Egyptian currently perched on the sofa.
They looked at each other calmly. Ryou's dad eventually said "I remember you."
"Yes," Melvin responded harshly. "You knocked me out with a knife last time we met."
A small smirk tugged at Adam's lips as he surveyed the scene before him. Without breaking Melvin's eye contact he said "So, Ryou. You failed to mention this at the hotel. Why?"
Ryou swallowed, throat dry. "Um, I...dad, I swear, it hasn't been going on for long...this is the first time..."
"The first time for what, Ryou?" His father hissed, whirling to face him and advancing slowly. Ryou stumbled backwards until his back hit the wall, and his dad took advantage, stepping closer and forcing Ryou to stand still. "First time being with a...a boy?"
"Is that a problem?" Melvin's voice cracked through the air like a whip. "And get away from him."
"He's my son," the white-haired man hissed. "And I will do what I like."
Ryou blinked up at him. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you dad, but...well, it's not like we were doing anything that bad, is it?"
His father glared. "Do go on."
"Well," Ryou continued hesitantly. "It's like you said in the hotel – we're teenagers, it's only natural that we'd want relationships..."
"Not with other males, Ryou," his father hissed. "It's bad enough that Bakura brings danger to us without you adding to it."
Ryou blinked. "D-danger? What danger, dad?"
"Don't you call me that," his father leaned closer, threatening. "No son of mine would be involved in this...this sin!"
Ryou's eyes widened, and he gasped. "D-dad? What..."
"So it's true," Melvin's harsh voice sounded once again from behind his father. "Bakura was right. You are homophobic."
His father whirled to face him, and Ryou was relieved to see that he was now fully-dressed. Ryou quickly pulled on the rest of his clothes whilst his father was distracted.
Melvin advanced slowly. "Well old man, you don't have to like it but you can't do anything to stop us."
"We'll see about that..."
"No," Melvin interrupted. "We won't. What we're doing is completely legal, and it's what we both want. So you can either accept that, or you can get the hell out of our lives, alright?"
Ryou blinked. "Melvin..."
"I'm sorry Ry, but it would seem Bakura was right about him after all."
"No!" Ryou shook his head, tugging urgently at his dad's arm. "This doesn't really change anything, does it? I know it may take some getting used to, but I'm still me, you still want to see me..."
"I want no such thing!" His father gripped his arm in harsh fingers, flinging his son away and sending him crashing into the coffee table. It fell under his weight and Ryou landed in a mess of broken teacups and scattered shards of glass, wincing as he felt his hands slit open, blood trickling down. There was a roar from above him and Ryou looked up to see Melvin launching at his father, tackling him and forcing him against the wall. He froze, however, when he felt cold metal at his ribs.
Adam chuckled. "Yes, that's right, you were there last time – you'll know what I did to 'Kura. So I suggest you step away from me right now."
Melvin glared at him, deep purple eyes flickering furiously until Ryou piped up, voice shaking slightly. "Melvin, please...don't get yourself hurt..."
Reluctantly, the Egyptian stepped away, eyeing the man in front of him with hatred. "You go near Ryou with that thing and you'll live to regret it."
Adam chuckled darkly, the sound very close to Bakura's usual habit. "I don't really think you're in any position to be making threats."
Melvin roared and lunged again, making Ryou cry out, but everyone froze at a new voice in the doorway.
"What...what's going on here?"
The voice was hesitant and nasally, but it continued after a slight pause. "Oh, Gods, Bakura don't come in here..."
"Why the bloody hell not, Marik? Get out of the way-"
"No I really don't think you should-!"
There was a shove and then Bakura appeared, framed in the living room doorway. His crimson eyes surveyed the scene slowly, freezing in place when he saw his father with a knife. "Well," he drawled casually. "Just look what the cat dragged in."
Adam hissed. "You're one to talk, 'Kura. I always knew you would be a disappointment, but Ryou? Really, I thought he had more class..."
Ryou swallowed, eyeing his older brother with fear. Bakura met his gaze, eyes burning. "What does he mean, Ry?"
"He..." Ryou sniffed loudly. "He caught me..."
"Caught you doing what?"
Ryou drew in a shuddering breath and Adam stepped closer, pulling him upright and forcing him closer. "Tell him Ryou," he almost purred. "Why don't you tell him what you were up to just as I walked in the door?"
Ryou's mouth opened and closed soundlessly.
Bakura stepped forwards but Adam fixed him with a glare, brandishing the knife rather close to Ryou's throat. Bakura froze.
Adam continued, his voice silky. "Tell him, Ry. Tell him how I followed you home after you voluntarily came to see me..."
"Ryou?" Bakura's voice shook. "You went to see him? What did I tell you-!"
"There's more 'Kura," Adam grinned devilishly. "There's oh so much more. Tell him how I walked in here to find you practically naked, lying on the sofa..."
Bakura balked and Ryou gasped. "No, don't say..."
"...With that rather large Egyptian in the corner," Adam finished, smirking. "Melvin, I presume?"
Bakura froze in his tracks. His eyes turned to stone.
Silence hung in the room.
Bakura turned, excruciatingly slowly, and advanced on Melvin, who held his ground. "You were doing what with my little brother?" He hissed.
Melvin met his gaze, purple eyes burning. "You heard your father."
Bakura roared and lunged for him, but tanned arms wrapped around his waist, jerking him backwards. "Bakura!" Marik yelled in his ear. "Priorities!"
"Marik!" Bakura struggled violently, forcibly throwing his partner off him before aiming for Melvin again, only to have his legs swept out from under him as he was tackled by the younger Egyptian.
"Think!" Marik panted, struggling to hold him down. "Think, Bakura, because..."
"Marik, I swear to God you'd better let me go right now-!"
"THINK BECAUSE I BELIEVE YOUR DAD IS ABOUT TO ATTACK RYOU WITH A KNIFE!" Marik screeched the words into the empty air, relieved when he felt Bakura go slack beneath him. He scrambled upright and turned to Adam, hands raised in the air. "Listen, I don't know what your game is but just put the knife down, alright? No one wants anyone to get hurt..."
"On the contrary," the man purred as he held Ryou against his chest, knife still dangerously close to his throat. "I believe you all deserve to be punished for cursing my family like this."
Bakura leapt upright, circling his father with a low growl. "Being gay isn't a curse, idiot."
"Oh come now Bakura," his dad leered at him. "We both know that isn't true. Just look at what you did to Amane and my wife, hm?"
"She wasn't your wife after you walked out on her," Bakura spat. "And you know that didn't happen because I'm gay."
"It was your fault thought 'Kura, you can't deny that."
Ryou's jaw dropped. "'K-Kura? What does he mean?"
Bakura's eyes flashed. "I think you have a lot more explaining to do than me, Ryou. Was it Melvin you were meeting earlier?"
Ryou swallowed. "Um..."
Bakura glared daggers. "Answer me!"
"Y-yes!" Ryou gasped out. "But I swear nothing happened..."
Bakura yowled and leapt for him, knocking his father backwards and pulling Ryou free. Melvin relaxed visibly as the knife rolled safely away and he dived for it, snatching it up quickly before Adam could get his feet under him.
Meanwhile, Bakura had lifted Ryou clean off his feet and proceeded to shout in his face. "What the hell were you thinking? Melvin?! He's a psychopath!"
"You're one to talk," Melvin scoffed from the corner.
Bakura rounded on him, not releasing Ryou. "You stay out of this! What the hell have you done to my little brother?!"
"I've done nothing; it was all his idea." Melvin strode forwards angrily. "And you'd better let him go right now before I make you."
"I'd like to see you try," he spat.
Melvin lunged for him with a roar but Marik quickly got between them, forcing his brother back. "Melvin! No! That isn't going to help the situation!"
"Oh really Marik? And just what is, exactly?"
"Just let them talk," he hissed. "And keep an eye on their father."
Adam seemed content to watch for now though, regarding his sons with a smile playing about his lips.
Bakura shook Ryou again, still holding him off the floor. "What the hell is wrong with you?"
Ryou drew in a shuddering breath. "Nothing's wrong...I just wanted to..."
"To what, Ry?" Bakura was absolutely irate, crimson eyes flashing. This was the maddest he'd ever been in his entire life. "What the hell did you expect to happen?! Especially if you'd gone to see that bastard father of ours voluntarily! I warned you not to! I warned you what he was!"
"I-I didn't believe you," Ryou stammered. "I'm sorry, I just wanted to see him again..."
"Not good enough!" Bakura abruptly let go and Ryou crumpled to the floor. Bakura towered over him, still furious, still glaring. "Get out, Ry."
The smaller teen stared up at him, eyes going wide. "Wh-what?"
"Get. Out." Bakura turned away, disgusted, until his eyes fell on Melvin. "You too! Get the hell out of my house, both of you!"
Melvin's brows knitted together. "You can't kick your own brother out, Bakura."
"Watch me."
Ryou gasped softly. "But 'Kura..."
"DON'T YOU CALL ME THAT!" Bakura seemed to let go of the last vestiges of control as he screamed at his younger sibling, spittle flying through the air. "DON'T YOU EVER DARE CALL ME THAT EVER AGAIN! GET OUT OF MY FLAT, I DON'T WANT TO SEE YOU ANYMORE!"
Ryou fell back, feeling tears streaming down his face as he looked into Bakura's furious crimson eyes. I don't see my brother there at all...he's gone. I've lost him, just like I've lost everyone else...
But then a soft dark voice spoke from the shadows. "Come on Ryou, let's go – we need to let him cool off. Come with me?"
Ryou looked up into Melvin's deep eyes, taking his hand and allowing himself to be pulled upright, blood still trickling from the cuts on his hands. As they left the room Bakura gripped Melvin's shoulder tightly. "Don't you dare touch my brother," he growled, voice still vibrant with emotion.
Melvin just pulled away before leading Ryou out of the door.
Silence reigned once more in the room. Bakura turned away, resting his palms against the wall as he breathed deeply; Marik watched him with concern in his violet eyes, gaze flicking occasionally to the other man still in the room; Adam watched with a smirk playing around his mouth.
"Well son – the truth will always out, hm?"
Bakura didn't turn, breathing still forced. "You can get out and all. I don't want to see you anymore."
Adam laughed slightly. "Why so keen to get rid of me, hm? Scared I'll tell your boy toy there the rest of the truth?"
Marik flicked him a nervous glance before edging closer to his partner. "Bakura, what..."
"Stay away from me just now, Marik," Bakura ground out, still not turning from the wall. "I don't have enough control."
"And why would that be, 'Kura?" His father sounded almost pleased as he stepped closer to Marik. "Don't want this one finding out your true nature, yes?"
Bakura punched the wall in his fury, actually denting it slightly. "Don't you dare say a word!"
"I don't know..." His father leered at Marik, who backed away nervously. "Oh come now, don't you want to know? 'Kura is responsible for his mother's and sister's deaths, after all...I should know, I was there..."
"Say one more fucking word," Bakura growled, "And I swear I will kill you where you stand."
"You'd be used to that, wouldn't you?" Adam was definitely smiling now, stretching out a hand to stroke Marik's blonde hair. "Well, I can see what you like about this one...he is very attractive, I suppose..."
Bakura roared and lunged for his father, pulling him forcibly away from Marik and smashing him against a wall. "Don't you dare touch him! Don't you touch him!"
His father leered. "Why? Scared of what I'll do? You're the dangerous on he-"
Bakura cut him off by slamming his head into the wall, hard. Adam's brown eyes glazed over until Marik ran forwards, tugging at Bakura imploringly. "Let him go!"
"Marik, get out of the way."
"No!" Marik grabbed him again but Bakura shook him off furiously. "Bakura! This isn't the way to deal with it – just get rid of him and we can talk, but you seriously need to calm down..."
Bakura snarled, not releasing his father as he pinned him with a glare. Eventually he stepped back, throwing his father towards the door. "Get out of here," he hissed, watching him leave. "And don't you dare ever show your face in my life again. Don't you come near any of us, or I swear to God-" He choked.
Adam regarded him coldly before turning and exiting the flat.
Marik stared at Bakura with wide eyes, shocked by his heavy breathing and by the fury flashing in his eyes. His hands were still balled tightly into fists, pale skin stretched so taut that Marik could almost count the tendons flexing beneath the flesh. He seemed frozen, hard as a rock, coiled as tightly as a spring that could fling out and attack the next person to touch it. But Marik knew better – this was his Bakura, after all. Bakura would never hurt him.
Would he?
One way to find out. Hesitantly, Marik stretched out an arm, hand trembling slightly as it came to rest on Bakura's shoulder.
The older teen jerked violently, whipping around to face him. Marik flinched at the sight of those burning eyes.
They stared at each other for a long moment before Marik stammered out "B-Bakura...we need to talk..."
Bakura remained silent, not relaxing even for half a second.
Marik took a breath. "Look, if I start talking will you promise not to attack me?"
Bakura gave a quick jerk of his head that Marik took for a nod. The Egyptian closed his eyes in relief before once more meeting Bakura's gaze. "Right, well that was a hell of a lot to take in. And not at all what I was expecting. So, uh..." he trailed off, laughing slightly, trying to ease the tension. It didn't work. He swallowed before continuing. "So I guess, uh, what's got you most...like this...is what your father was saying? Though I guess finding out Ryou's with Melvin is pretty difficult too..."
"Ryou is not with Melvin," Bakura spat viciously, turning away slightly. "They aren't and they never will be together."
Marik chewed his lip. "I agree the thought is kinda disturbing but, I dunno, if they're happy..."
Bakura span back around to face him, clenched fists rising between them. "What the hell are you trying to say?!"
"Nothing, ok, nothing!" Marik backed away slightly, arms raised in surrender. "Ok, er let's drop that for now...what was all that stuff your dad was spouting? Why does he blame you for the deaths of your mum and sister?"
Bakura cursed loudly, turning away again. "I am not talking about that, Marik."
"...Ok..." The Egyptian sighed, walking around to make eye contact again. "Well you've got to do something. You have to calm down..."
"I will not bloody calm down!" Bakura gripped Marik's shoulders hard enough to cut off the blood supply, shaking him madly. "My whole life is falling apart! And your rotten brother getting his filthy hands all over little Ryou, how dare he!"
Marik glowered at him. "First of all, Melvin is not filthy. And second, it looks like Ryou isn't so innocent in all this either, so don't pin all the blame on my family!"
Bakura's jaw dropped, his grip tightening impossibly. "Did you know about this?"
"What?" Marik stared in shock. "No! Of course not!"
"Don't lie to me Marik!" Bakura roared right in his face. "It wouldn't be the first time, and I swear if you knew about this and didn't tell me...!"
"I didn't know!" Marik struggled to free himself but Bakura was too strong. "I'm not particularly happy about the idea either-"
"But you were spouting all that fucking rubbish earlier about being accepting," Bakura was wound up completely now, veins standing out in his forehead as he leaned unpleasantly close. "You knew about this and you didn't tell me! You dragged me out of the house to give them some alone time! Do you have any fucking clue what you've done, you bloody stupid CHILD!"
Marik drew in a shuddering breath, finally wrenching himself free of Bakura's grasp. "You have no right to talk to me like that! I did NOT know what our brothers were doing, all I knew is Ryou liked someone!"
"And you expect me to believe he didn't tell you who?"
"Of course he didn't!"
"Rubbish," Bakura snarled, lunging for Marik again but the lithe Egyptian dodged.
"BAKURA!" Marik was breathing hard as he glared at his partner. "You have seriously got to calm down-"
"How the fuck am I supposed to calm down?" Bakura roared, whirling once more with fists flailing. He smashed his hands into the wall once more and Marik heard a nasty crack from his pale wrist. Bakura didn't even notice. "You've betrayed me again! You don't trust me!"
Marik stared. "I don't trust you? How about you not trusting me?! You won't tell me what the hell is going on with your dad..."
"It's none of your business!" Bakura whirled to face him again, whole body tense and wired.
"It IS!" Marik shouted. "IT IS my business when your dad is a crazy homophobe with a knife! And now he thinks you killed your family, he could be telling the truth for all I know! You don't tell me anything..."
Bakura's fist snapped out, colliding harshly with the side of Marik's jaw.
Marik stumbled backwards, mind barely registering what had happened. His hands flew to his face, tears smarting as he felt the bruise already beginning to form. Shocked, he lifted violet eyes to meet still-burning crimson ones.
Bakura regarded him coolly. "Get out of here."
"Wh-what?" Marik stepped forwards. "Bakura..."
"GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE!" The words were screamed right into his face.
Marik backed away. "You...you hit me..."
There was no flicker of emotion in Bakura's hard features – no sign of remorse at all.
Marik stared at him, eyes hard. "If I walk out of here now, I am never coming back."
They regarded each other, fire and ice.
Bakura was first to break. "Get out. Now."
Marik didn't let himself think. He just stormed out of the door as fast as he could, slamming it hard behind him.
Adam walked away from the flat with a smirk playing about his lips. Things had gone better than he could have ever hoped. Of course, losing Ryou as an ally was problematic – he had sincerely hoped at least one son of his would remain true – but he had played the situation perfectly; it was almost handed to him on a silver platter. Bakura's overprotective nature had come into clear play, coupled with his desire to keep his rather gritty past secret – oh yes, Adam had his eldest son exactly where he wanted him.
Alone.
That big Egyptian could almost be a problem, but he was too wrapped up in his concern for Ryou to really be a threat. In all honesty Ryou couldn't have picked a better partner to be sinful with – the only person who could possibly harm Adam, now tied down to the only person who would never let him. Ryou still loved him, Adam knew that, and he would never let someone destroy the only family he had left. Adam also knew that Ryou would be incredibly hurt by Bakura's words, and to top it all off he had been kicked out of the flat. He would run to Melvin for support, and the couple would be too tied up with each other to fuss about the other Travis brother.
Then there was the small problem of Marik. The idea that anyone would want to be in a relationship with Bakura was, frankly, laughable, and so Adam couldn't see that splitting them up would be too much of a problem. In fact, they might have already done so – judging by Bakura's fury and Marik's confusion once he had left the flat, Adam very much doubted they'd be able to sort things out. Bakura wouldn't want to share the secrets of his past, and Marik was Melvin's brother – it stood to reason he'd want to defend him, at least a little. Yes, it would be difficult indeed for them to stay together. Everything was going exactly to plan.
Adam smiled as he made his way back to the hotel. His work in Domino was almost complete.
Melvin set Ryou down carefully in the living room of the Ishtar house, disappearing briefly to the bathroom, returning armed with plasters and antibacterial lotion to use on the small teen's hands. Ryou had been near-hysterical the whole way home, shivering and crying at regular intervals until Melvin eventually just swept him into his arms, carrying him through the streets quickly and ignoring the stares from passers-by.
Now he took the young man's hands gently in his, swiping softly with the lotion before wrapping the cuts up in plasters. Ryou shuddered occasionally with the pain, sometimes letting out a soft groan but generally remaining quiet. When Melvin was done he sat carefully on the sofa next to Ryou, concerned when the pale teen burrowed into his chest, tears dripping gently onto his shirt. Melvin wrapped an arm around his shoulder, bringing him further onto his lap and breathing "Do you want to talk about it?"
Ryou drew in a shuddering breath, trying to control his tears. "I...I just, I can't believe Bakura..."
"Forget about him for now," Melvin replied, voice a low growl in his ear. "Forget what he said. He was furious."
"I-I know," Ryou hiccupped. "That's the worst I've ever seen him...e-even with mum and A-Amane..." Ryou shuddered again, pressing himself closer to his Egyptian.
Melvin sighed, stroking his back gently. "Don't think of them now. There's nothing you can do."
"B-but that's just it..." Ryou sat up slightly, dashing away his tears. "When Bakura's in this state I don't know what he'll do..."
"If it's to your father I couldn't care less," Melvin growled. "That man is a nutcase."
Ryou blinked. "B-but Marik's over there too..."
Melvin stopped short. "Bakura would never hurt Marik."
"I never thought he'd kick me out either..."
Melvin hissed. "If he touches even a hair on his head..."
Just then the front door opened and a sobbing Marik hauled himself into the living room, collapsing dejectedly onto the floor with both hands clutching at his chin.
Melvin stared for a moment. "He kicked you out too, huh?"
Marik made no reply other than to sob louder.
Melvin tried to shift closer but Ryou held him tightly, curling deeply into his chest. With a slight eye-roll Melvin reached forwards and swept Marik off the floor, juggling the two 18 year olds precariously until he succeeded in dumping Marik on the cushions beside them. "Right, spill. Tell me what happened."
Marik reluctantly choked out the story, slowly lowering his hands to reveal the violently purple bruise standing out starkly against his tanned skin.
Melvin's eyes hardened. "I'll kill him for doing that to you."
"He should be the one k-killing you!" Marik stammered out, tears still flowing endlessly from his lids. "You slept with his brother!"
Ryou choked a little at that. "We didn't actually get that far..."
"You were g-going to though!" Marik turned away from them angrily, violet eyes flashing. "This whole situation is your fault! Bakura and I are OVER now because of you!"
Melvin blinked at him. "Um, I think they're dad had a lot to do with it as well..."
"Don't you DARE try and shift the blame!" Marik jumped to his feet, fixing them both a piercing violet stare. Both Ryou and Melvin flinched away from the pain in that burning gaze. "I'm going to my room. And I don't EVER want to see EITHER of you EVER AGAIN!" He stormed out of the room and up the stairs, tears flying behind him as he went.
Melvin stared after him in shock. "I...I think I may have just lost my little brother."
Ryou looked up in amazement at the simplicity in his tone, not missing the undercurrent of hurt and anger in his dark velvet voice. Ignoring his own tears, Ryou reached up to wipe the solitary drop of salty water away from Melvin's face. "Don't worry," he breathed. "I lost mine too, today. But we still have each other, right?"
Melvin met his gaze with stormy purple eyes. Ryou manoeuvred himself a little more upright, arms wrapping tightly around Melvin's neck and pushing. The older Egyptian allowed himself to fall backwards onto the sofa, clutching Ryou tightly against his chest.
They remained holding each other for the rest of that long silent night, taking comfort in each other when they had no one else.
Marik lay curled up on the bed in his old room – the room he had hoped never to return to. Here was where his dad had locked him up, here was where he lay and dreamed about escaping – here was where he ran from when he first went to Bakura's arms...
But that was over and done with now.
He curled himself into a ball, knees drawn tightly up to his chest as his fingers went to his chin, fingering the bruise. This is what we've come to now, this is where I'll always end up...my dad battered me because I was worthless, what did I honestly expect? That the abuse would just end because he was locked up? No, that's daft...no one could ever love me. I'm a failure. I'm useless. I'm worthless. Dad was right all along...
Marik had been stupid to ever think otherwise, really. To allow himself to get complacent, to actually feel safe in Bakura's arms...to think he could ever be free of his curse..."Stupid," he whispered bitterly. "So stupid, to think you could actually move on..." The scars on his back itched as he rolled over and he found himself wishing for the salve, but no, that was back in the bathroom of the flat he'd once called home, the place that had brought him so much happiness. No more of that now. No more pain relief now. And as Marik thought of the cooling salve he wondered if it would even help, because all the other times it had been the hands administering it that had truly calmed him down...those cool pale hands stroking softly at his back, making the scars seem soft, making them manageable...
Bakura...
All gone now, he told himself harshly. Time to move on. As if it were that easy...just forget the past four months of bliss, the peaceful times between the drama and angst, the days they'd spent together, the kisses and touches, so gentle, so loving...But Bakura never really loved me, Marik realised, once again fingering the bruise on his jaw. Because you don't hit the ones you love. I could cope with my dad, I know he never wanted me but Bakura...he is a really good actor. He never loved me. He never loved me. He never...
Marik curled himself tighter, rocking on his hated bed sheets in that hated room, back burning and jaw aching as he tried to forget the empty space beside him where his partner ought to lie.
He was all alone now.
Bakura destroyed the flat.
Once Marik was safely out of the way, he allowed himself to lose the final strands of control that had been all that stopped him from lashing out at everything and anything in sight.
When he was done, and the furniture broken and turned upside-down, he ended up tucked in a corner of the living room, sliding down the wall until he rested his arms on his knees, face buried deep into his pale skin. How fucking fabulous. Here I am alone again, just as I should be...just as dad wants me. Maybe dad's right; maybe I am cursed...
He pushed away all thoughts, curling himself tighter and trying not to think of what he had learned that day. All images of Ryou and Melvin he pushed into a small corner of his mind; anything his father had said he banished completely. But Marik...
Marik...
That silly Egyptian refused to leave him alone. All Bakura saw when he shut his eyes was Marik's shocked and hurt face, fingers clutching his jaw where the bruise was forming. Bruise from Bakura's own fist...Well he shouldn't have got in the way, idiot...But now he was gone and Bakura was all alone.
"If I walk out of here now, I am never coming back..."
That sentence repeated over and over in Bakura's head until it was all he could hear, all he could think. Never coming back, never coming back...well what the hell did I expect, it's not like he could ever love me. No one could love me, not after what I've done...
But that was a dangerous thought, and Bakura pushed it away.
Marik soon swam back into his head and he started rocking, slowly at first but becoming faster and more rhythmic, head snapping back to meet the hard cement of the wall. Flakes of old white paint came off in his hair, but he paid no heed. That silly young Egyptian would not leave him alone.
"If I walk out of here now, I am never coming back."
Well what else was he supposed to do? If Bakura had let Marik stay he'd probably be as beat up as the furniture right now...except Marik already was, he had the bruise to prove it...
"If I walk out of here now, I am never coming back."
Well good riddance! Good riddance to bad rubbish! He would do much better without that stupid idiot watching his every move, stopping him having fun, trapping him with his beautiful smile and playful attitude...his gentle kisses and sweet caresses...the way he felt in his arms each night...
"If I walk out of here now, I am never coming back."
And Bakura had let him go.
He'd let him go, walk out of here just like that. He didn't even apologise. He didn't explain why. And now he had lost him forever. Because there was no way in hell Marik would ever come back now...
Bakura clenched his fists, curling up tighter in the desolate, empty flat. Marik was gone. Marik was gone. He had left without a backwards glance, the bruise on his cheek the only thing to remember him by...Bakura was left with nothing, no sign of his partner, no image anywhere...
Except that wasn't true...
Marik's favourite purple cushion on the sofa. His laptop sitting open on the floor. The pictures on the mantelpiece, of the two of them together at New Year's, on those precious few days that they'd had just to themselves, no one else interfering, just the two of them alone...
Alone...
That was all he had to cling to now. Memories, and emptiness. He'd driven everyone away, as per usual.
"If I walk out of here now, I am never coming back"
Was it any wonder?
Bakura was alone.
Ah, so much angst! Still, I hope you enjoyed. Thanks so much for reading and to all who have reviewed/favourited/followed/PMed or showed support in any other way! I truly am eternally grateful XD Not long to go now until we start to chug towards the end! - Jem
