Everything, like, ssssswirlllled, and I was cackling as Kek hugged me to his chest. Hmmmmph, asikhfddhjs… warm. He was warm. So warm. Missed him. Fuck, I've missed him. And Ryou. Ryou was too far away but Marik was close enough and that was exciting. Marik, and them, and me were piled on the couch, and it was about fucking time this happened in my life.
"Fuck, Aaru." I kept laughing. "Fuck Heaven!" Cackling, cackling, cackling, with Kek's warmth and cologne all around me as I nuzzled against him. "This is better! Remind me to give an offering to Ma'at for sending me back."
"We are an offering to Ma'at. I balance out Marik. You balance out Ryou. Ryou balances out me. And…" Kek faltered. "I forgot where I was going, but it made a nice even circle in my head when I thought of it."
"I help balance out Bakura," Marik said.
"Yeah! Like an oroborus. We bite at each other's tails."
"Mmmm… getting tail." I giggled again, squirming in order to take advantage of our proximity.
I thought about it. In slow motion. No, not getting tail, well, yes. I was thinking of that, too. But I was thinking about the circle thing. Kinda like how the room was going in circles, but it was like a merry-go-round so I didn't mind… oh yeah, circles. We balanced each other out. It was true. Okay, damn, memories of the last time Kek and I were this drunk after a fight together kept interrupting. Kek looking up at me with those damn violet bedroom eyes of his was not helping.
My hands wandered across Kek's chest, groping at muscle. Daddy had missed those fucking muscles, sweet fucking gods, I had missed those fucking muscles. Kek and I were still laughing, when Ryou's little voice cut through our nonsense.
"Bakura?" Ryou yawned. "You're home?"
"Yeah, I'm home." I grinned.
I knew he meant from the bar, I knew, but I meant I was home. Home. Crunched together with all three of them was my real home. I reached out, twining my right fingers with Marik's hand, and using my left hand to drag against Ryou's scalp.
"That's nice. I miss this."
"I miss you," I said, continuing to comb through Ryou's hair.
"I miss you, too." Ryou's eyes fluttered open.
He twisted to look at me, but started when he saw Kek beneath me. Ryou looked up, face glowing pink when Marik smiled down at him.
"Oh, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to fall asleep on top of you." Ryou pushed himself up, trying to distance himself from Marik.
Marik rested his hands on Ryou's shoulders to keep him from scurrying away. He leaned toward Ryou. Ryou's eyes grew huge, all pupil and shock and I wanted to lunge forward and kiss him myself.
But Marik hesitated, easing back a few centimeters. No, dammit, no. Don't hesitate with Ryou! He doesn't like that. Do it or don't do it, just don't tread the fence because it'll confuse him and then he'll doubt himself.
JUST KISS ALREADY!
Pleeeeeaaaase…. I was gonna die if they didn't kiss. Like the end of some fairy tale. Only the kiss can save the day.
"Marik? Maybe I should just go to bed, so I don't use you as furniture again." Ryou licked his lips, cheeks rosier than ever as he reached up to lower Marik's hands away from his shoulders.
"Wait-"
Marik squeezed Ryou's shoulders, pulling them together and slurping at Ryou's top lip. He pulled away after he did it, as if he were expecting Ryou to slap him just to call it even between them. Marik's words were quick, rushed, a little frantic.
"Permission, right? You said the kissing was permission. Well…" Marik gave Ryou a sheepish smile. "Consider that permission to use me as furniture any time you'd like."
Ryou grunted, pulling their bodies together again. He paused with his lips hovering near Marik's lips. I held my breath. I could feel Kek's heart pounding against my chest - as excited as my own.
"What else do I have permission to do, Marik?" Ryou lidded his eyes. "Please be specific, I want to hear exactly what you'd like me to do."
"Well…" Marik grinned as he snatched a quick kiss. "You can text me whenever you'd like." He kissed him again. "Or ask me out." He kissed him again. "Or grab my hand."
"May I touch your hair?" Ryou grinned.
Marik kissed him instead of answering and Ryou ran his fingers through Marik's hair- and oh my fucking god-god-god-gods it was beautiful to behold!
"What about sitting in your lap?"
A kiss and then Ryou slid into Marik's lap like he belonged there (sorry, Ducati. That's now Ryou's real estate).
"Wrap my arms around you?"
Another kiss as Ryou slung his arms around Marik's neck.
"Marik?" Ryou asked in the softest of voices.
"Yes?"
"May I kiss you?"
Marik's eyes slipped shut. He nodded and Ryou swept in, dragging his lips against Marik's, tilting Marik's head back to deepen the way their mouths moved against each other.
"Oh gods," Kek whispered.
"Oh gods," I whispered.
"Oh gods," we whispered again at the same time.
"Wait." Ryou pulled away. "You haven't been drinking with them, have you?"
"Ryou, I've been sitting here with you all night long!"
"I just- I mean- when did this happen? When did you change your mind?" Ryou shot us a look. "Did you two know about this?"
"I sure as fuck did!" I laughed, slipping my arms around Kek's waist and teasing my fingers under his shirt. "Marik's been wanting to kiss you for a couple of weeks now."
"Shut-up you drunk blabbermouth!" Marik snapped, but I just laughed at his tone.
"You're so dumb." Ryou growled in that cute way of his that was anything but intimidating. "If you wanted to kiss me you should have just asked! You know- you knew how I- you're so stupid!"
"Ha!" I snorted. "Who's the dumb one now? Yeah, it's not me for once."
"Don't worry, Bakura."
Kek kissed right where my neck and jaw connected, and I'm pretty sure I cooed in delight at the tingling feeling, despite his next words.
"I still think you're the dumb one."
"Fuck you!"
Kek popped into a seated position. Since I was on top of him, the motion had me reeling up with him. He used the momentum to shift me onto my back on the sofa, bracing himself by setting one foot on the floor as his opposite knee dug into the couch cushions between my legs. He loomed over me, eyes darker than Marik's but still in that range of purple that I secretly loved to look at. His grin was all teeth. I wanted those teeth sinking into my neck. I wanted to arch up. I wanted to scream their names.
Kek brushed our noses together. I gripped his shirt, damn near clawing for it as his weight grew heavier against my body.
"Bakura," he purred in a dark, rich gravelly voice that had every gay fiber in my being singing to the heavens. "Since our RPG, you have tried to seduce my bard character 27 times- and failed."
"Give me some dice. I'll roll again."
"No, I'm going to kiss Marik instead."
He smooched my forehead- damn asshole! I was hard enough to jump on a horse and use my dick as a lance in a joust, and that fucker kissed my forehead! Then he swung around and budged in between Marik and Ryou so he could grab Marik by the face and lick his lips.
Marik opened his mouth, reaching out with his own tongue and licking along Kek's lips. They frenched kissed, back and forth.
I couldn't help but smack Kek's ass. He jerked from reflex, made a muffled, annoyed sound, and then plunged his tongue back into Marik's mouth to spite me a little more.
"Oh gods," Ryou said.
"Holy fucking gods," I rubbed my face.
There was no describing the visual feast set before my eyes. Their fingers clutching at their hair, the way their lips gleaned from spit, Ryou's face- gone from pink to crimson- watching with the same awe that I had for the moment.
"Ryou."
I crooked my finger, remembering how long it had been. I hadn't kissed him since I had kissed him goodbye and that was a grievance that needed to be fixed immediately. By the way Ryou's eyes brightened, I could tell he felt the same way.
He stood up so he could run to my side of the couch and crash into my arms. We bumped noses, playfully at first, but then they turned into affectionate nuzzles. It took a moment before Ryou tilted his head and parted his lips, licking me much as Kek had licked Marik.
Ryou tasted like cookie dough, and salted popcorn. The contrast of salty and sweet was perfect against the backdrop of his tongue. I whimpered, the universe spun out of control and I could feel it inside of me as it spiraled away. I was afraid I'd never kiss him again, but now I was, and I was home, and I could barely breathe as we sank deeper and deeper into our kisses.
When we broke to gasp for breath, I noticed Marik and Kek gaping and staring at us.
"I… uh… I think I hear Hamyaa crying for attention." Kek jerked up and stumbled toward the kitchen.
Marik looked a little confused, but Ryou was giggling behind his hand. I could hear the can opener buzzing, and all four kittens trotted toward the kitchen, shouting like a rowdy choir.
"Little jerks, how dare you hide all night long in the bedroom but come out for food." Marik stomped toward the kitchen after them.
Ryou turned back toward me, pinching my side.
"You could have told me. I was trying to be polite and not get too cozy with Marik all night long!"
"And ruin that beautiful surprised look on your face? Never. Besides, fuck you- watching Willow behind my back."
"Oh." Ryou laughed. "Did you find out about that already?"
"Yeah, cuz you were passed out. Ryou-"
"I know." Ryou sighed.
"Look." I rubbed his shoulders as I spoke, trying to knead my words into his stubborn mind. "I know I didn't take good care of either of us in that cute body of yours, but you need to take care of yourself better than this."
"I know." Ryou hid his face against my shoulder. I pushed him back enough to make him look at me again.
"Ryou… I love you. Take care of yourself, okay? I can't stand the thought of anyone I love-"
Ryou kissed my face multiple times. The kisses tickled, and I could hear my laughter ringing out despite the fact that I was sobering up.
"Are we kissing Bakura on his scrunching, precious fucking nose?" Marik asked as he walked back into the living room with Kek right behind him. "Because I'm always down for that."
"Yes!" Ryou laughed, moving over so Marik could slip close and place a quick kiss on my nose.
I opened my mouth to protest, but Marik's lips were on mine before I could demand a better kiss from him. Kissing Marik could make me dizzy quicker and harder than any number of sake bombs. He pulled back and sat on the sofa arm next to me. His fingers ran through my hair.
"I guess… we should go." I drew symbols on my jeans when I noticed Ryou yawning again.
"No, don't." Kek coiled his arms around Marik's waist, hiding his face against Marik's back, but avoiding the center of his shoulder blades where Marik hurt the most.
"Ryou looks like he needs to go back to sleep," Marik said, thinking the same thing I was thinking.
"I'm fine. I'm great! I can just make some coffee, and-"
"Ryou." Marik cupped his face. "We'll come back, don't worry."
"Yeah." I sat up so I could reach out and trace my fingers along Kek's knuckles. "I still have to seduce the bard."
I was trying to laugh, but my stomach was already feeling heavy at the thought of leaving them. I'd just found my way home, I didn't want to leave. I leaned forward and kissed Kek's knuckles.
"If you wanted to watch another movie, we could." Ryou toyed with his hair. "The worst that will happen then is that I fall asleep on the couch again."
"What if Bakura and I stayed overnight on the couch and you go sleep in your be?" Marik leaned back into Kek's embrace. "We could eat breakfast together again when we wake up. That was fun the other week."
"How about we all just lay down in the bed," Kek said.
Yes. Amen. Fucking gods yes.
My eyes went to Marik's face, sobering a little more as I studied his expression to make sure he didn't look overwhelmed.
Pfffffft, no, not overwhelmed. He was still leaning back against Kek and looked like he was ready to fall asleep in Kek's arms standing right there in the living room.
"The bed would feel better against my back."
"I know what would feel even better against your back. This." Kek slipped Mairk's shirt away enough to kiss across his right wing-scars.
"Is the bard trying to seduce me?" Marik's gaze grew hazy, he sighed heavily through his nostrils.
"Sorry, I don't have my dice on me." Kek worked his way to the nape of Marik's neck, brushing the hair away to make room for his lips. "For tonight we'll have to make do with holding each other instead."
When did my ex-ish-but-kinda-not-ex boyfriend become a fucking sex god? No, seriously, when did this happen? I remember his first sloppy kiss and us barely knowing how to touch each other during our first time. Now he was turning Marik into a weak-kneed puddle right before my fucking eyes.
Gods-fucking-damn it's good to be alive!
"Can you carry Bakura?" Kek asked.
"Yeah?" Marik blinked, trying to focus on the question despite being blatantly distracted.
"Good. Let's take our Bakuras to bed, then." Kek scooped Ryou up and marched toward the bedroom.
I tried to protest, but I was in Marik's hold before I could get three words out. I felt too giddy to complain once we started moving, so instead I decided to relax and enjoy the ride. Taking advantage of my position to kiss the top of Marik's chest.
Ryou giggled and smacked at Kek's shoulders as if he wanted down, but grabbed Kek's hair hard and pulled their mouths together before Kek settled him in the middle of the bed.
Marik rested me next to Ryou. He and Marik stood over us with thoughtful expressions on their faces.
"Do you like what you see?" I slipped out of my jeans. My boxers were still on, but that didn't stop from spreading my legs in a tempting gesture.
"Hard to choose, isn't it? I mean one of us has to deal with that one all night long." Kek chuckled as he gestured at me.
"Fuck you, bastard!" I shouted up at him.
"Well, technically we're still on our dates, so-" Marik slipped behind Ryou, spooning against him.
Ryou looked surprised for a moment, and then sighed, settling into the comfort of being held- Ryou's secret kink. I felt Kek behind me, cradling me against his chest-
"Oh, now you want to cuddle?" I grumbled.
Oh fuck, it was easy to forget that spooning was my secret kink, too. Fuck internal drunk honesty. I didn't want to even think about how much I loved it.
"Oh? Did you want to swap?"
"You better squeeze me harder with those huge fucking arms of yours."
"If you insist." Kek crushed me against his chest and I couldn't help the little mewl that escaped from my mouth.
OKAY FINE I REALLY LOVE TO BE FUCKING SPOONED. FUCKING HELL! I ADMIT IT!
And my face felt like fire. Ryou twined his fingers with mine. Kek held me. Marik had his leg threaded between Ryou's so he could rub his toe against the top of my foot. My life was so good at that moment that it was hard to breath. Swaddled by bodies, swarmed by light touches, reaching out and getting to touch them in return, I could have lived another 3,000 years and remember that moment long after I'd forgotten anything else.
"Welcome back, both of you." Ryou smiled, eyes closed.
"Yeah." Kek nodded above my head. "We're glad to have you both back home."
"Home?" Marik grinned, although half of his face was lost in the blizzard of Ryou's hair.
I used my toes to toy with Marik's feet for a moment, noticing that his grin widened as he watched me. I blew him a kiss, whispering to him the very thing I was feeling at that moment.
"Yes. Home," I said. "Welcome home."