What was he doing? I mean, I know what, but why? Why were they doing this? What good would staying an extra night do? Make us suffer until morning? Was Marik going to carry Bakura to bed? Was he going to let us help him undress Bakura?

No. They were going to sleep on the couch- MINE AND BAKURA'S COUCH!

I was done, so done. I marched into the kitchen, flicked off the light- on purpose because I knew how this was going to end- and opened the freezer. There was no light, so I had to crack the fridge opened as well until I found what I wanted, a pint of black sesame ice cream. I snatched the ice cream, and a spoon, and plopped down into the closest chair. I held the carton with my hands, willing it to thaw quicker, and enjoying the numbness the cold brought to my palms.

"Kek? What the hell are you doing here in the dark?" The door opened, ruining my cozy dark hide-a-way with the light and Bakura's silhouette.

"The dark is the only safe place," I said. It sounded far more ominous than I intended it, so I added, "From Marik."

Bakura flicked on the light and I winced and growled, but didn't try to stop him when he sat beside me.

"What the fuck are you doing?"

"It's called a fucking cheat day." I dug the spoon into the ice cream then shoved it into my mouth.

"Kek-"

"Fuck you, Bakura. I'm pretty sure it's a universal law of science that you get ice cream when your heart gets broken."

I couldn't swallow because fresh tears seized my throat shut. The spoon dropped somewhere to the floor and I screamed don't when Bakura's hand touched my shoulder. At the same time I clutched him to my chest.

"That was our couch. It was our couch."

"Kek, I don't understand."

"If you and Marik stay the night where will you sleep? On the couch! That was where we first slept."

"Well, actually, we were on the floor." Bakura faked a grin, but I knew it was a fake. It was only half as big as it should have been.

"Next to the couch."

We held each other for a moment longer and I let the tears flow. I didn't see the point in holding them back. Fuck, I earned all these emotions, didn't I? That first night as I held Bakura in my arms while he slept. I fully decided to be human then, and sometimes humans wept.

"Can I come in?" Marik asked from the doorway.

Called it. I fucking called it.

This wouldn't be a problem if the lights were still off. I pulled away from Bakura and stared at my lovely, black ice cream. At least the ice cream was dark even if the room wasn't.

"I'll get some blankets." Bakura stood up and left us alone.

I knew he'd do that too, leave me alone with Marik. And yes, Marik and I needed to talk, but this was self-pity-ice-cream-time and not reconcile-with-the-dominant-personality-time.

"I was thinking about taking some vacation time. I'm pretty worked-out from my last deal…" Marik sat down, analysing me. "Ryou said I could stay here, but I wanted to know how you'd feel about that."

"How long?"

"At least a few weeks… maybe longer. I don't really need to be anywhere. The operation is self-sufficient at this point. Rishid runs it." Marik chuckled. "I just do the fun stuff. The project before this last one was handing out books to kids. It was one of my favorites."

"I teach kids, at the gym. It's more like babysitting than boxing though." I scrub the tears off of my cheeks, calmer now.

"Look… is there somewhere else you want us to sleep? We don't have to sleep on the couch."

"This was inevitable. I knew this would happen, I just…" I shook my head. What could I say?

"Maybe it'd be better if I got a hotel on my own-"

"I don't care that you're here Marik. That doesn't bother me at all. It's not you being here, it's-" fuck, crying again. I'd just stopped. Is this normal or am I too emotional? "It's that he's leaving."

My voice cracked. I had to pause. I didn't even have my spoon, so I had to get a new one just so I could stir the melting ice cream around the carton and not look at Marik even as I continued talking to him.

"And you lingering for two or three weeks is like a slow death instead of a quick one."

"He's not a jacket I'm taking with me, you know."

"Yeah, I know it's not like that, but it hurts less to pretend it's like that. We just want Bakura happy."

I take a bite. It's that perfect melted texture. At least the calories will be worth it.

"Does that have dairy in it? Why are you eating it?" Marik winked his nose.

"Because it's good." I press a loaded spoon up to Marik's lips. "Taste it."

Marik frowned. "We don't' eat animal products."

"I do. Taste it. I promise you won't lose your vegan status with just a bite."

With a muffled growl (that I'm quite familiar with), Marik lets me feed him from my spoon. His eyes rounded and he licked his lips. "That's… really good."

"So are cheeseburgers." I chuckled, drying my cheeks yet again. "Don't worry. I won't make you try one of those."

"Yeah, that's a little much." Marik snorted, drawing on the table. "You know, there's another reason I should stay a bit, so I can talk to you. I just feel… like it's something that has to happen."

"Yeah." I nod between bites. "I can feel it too."

"I'm not happy to see you like this, crying, but… well, I guess I am, in a way. Not out of any sadistic impulse. But… because you're human now. It's… weird to see, but I'm happy for you, and… would it sound condescending if I said I was proud of how much you've grown? I'm… I'm sorry I wasn't very good at taking care of the system." Marik looked away. "I'm sorry, Kek. I'm sorry."

Damn, I'm crying again.