Author's note: A lot of people have been asking this so I wanted to clarify; yes, it is Yami Marik in this story, the lord of creepiness. Dark evil and frankly psychotic Marik. And I pray Marik's voice sounds better in the Japanese version of the anime…  

Things Unexpected

**

The Millennium Puzzle. The treasure he coveted above all others. And here the Pharaoh was, offering to give it to him. No duels, no tricks, just as a reward if he managed to seduce one Joey Wheeler.

And how hard could that be? Marik thought as he strode along the sidewalk. Joey was a loudmouth, bragging, over-eating amateur of a duelist. He couldn't be very bright. But Marik was sort of looking forward to this little game. It was hard to resist the chance to manipulate someone, and for once he was actually encouraged to. Besides, it'd be fun to play with Joey. Not that he'd admit this to anyone, but Joey was kinda cute.

He estimated that he could make Joey his in a little less than three days. Then he could have the Millennium Puzzle, and a new slave to play with besides.

A shame he couldn't just use the Millennium Rod on Joey, Marik thought as he approached Joey's house. But Yami and the others had forbidden it, and they would know if he'd cheated. It was a pity, but it didn't change the fact that he was still going to win.

Confident in his own competence, Marik knocked on Joey's door.

"Yeah yeah, I'm comin'!" Joey called from inside. There was a shuffle, and a moment later Joey opened the door.

Marik tried for a nice smile. Joey slammed the door in his face.

"Hey!" Marik pounded on the door, hard and angrily this time.

"Go away, you freakin' creep!" Joey shouted from inside. "I'm not in the mood to deal with your insane plots and weirdness right now!"

"Damn it, that's not what I'm here for!" Marik shouted back. "Can't I come by to just talk?"

Joey opened the door again and glared at him. "Are you the good Marik, or the bad Marik?"

"Not in Kansas anymore, are you, Toto?" Marik said with a grin. "Guess you'd probably consider me the bad Marik."

Joey glowered at him. "Then fuck you."

"Offering already?" Marik asked with his usual maniacal grin. "I was thinking dinner first, but if you're that horny…"

"Alright, what do you want then?" Joey asked, huffing slightly. Marik had to be one of the most aggravating people he'd ever met.

"I told you; dinner," Marik said.

"I'm not on the menu," Joey snapped.

Not yet, anyway, came an unbidden thought, making Marik's grin bigger. "You really should stop being so paranoid. I'm not here to eat you either. I just noticed you being a little depressed lately, and thought I'd come by to cheer you up."

"Since when do you come by just to 'cheer people up'?" Joey demanded, folding his arms and glaring.

"Since now," Marik said, reaching out to flick a few stray hairs out of Joey's face. "I like you, Joey. It's not a crime to do something nice for someone you like."

Joey blinked at him, taken somewhat off guard. "You like me?"

Marik smiled and nodded. "Mm-hmm. Just come to dinner. We can even go to a public place so you won't have to be paranoid that I'll kill you or something."

"Well…" Joey hesitated.

"I'll even pay," Marik offered.

And just as he'd expected, the offer of free food was too much for Joey to resist. "Alright! I'm there! Lead the way!"

**

And all the way home from the restaurant, Joey tried to figure out what was making Marik act so weird. All through dinner, Marik had been… nice. Well, not nice per se, for neither he nor Joey could keep up politically correct politeness and mannerisms for more than five minutes, but Marik had just the right level of pleasant crudeness to make Joey feel comfortable in his company.

They'd talked, made fun of overly snotty and stuck up waiters, made fun of the people at school, and even managed to get to know each other somewhat. Every time Joey tried to catch Marik off guard and make him act like the freakishly cruel psycho everyone knew him to be, Marik would make a noncommittal gesture or murmur, and calmly change the subject.

So the question was, what the hell had happened to Marik? And why had Joey enjoyed spending time with him so much?

Joey had never done so much thinking at one time before, and frankly, his head was starting to hurt from the effort. So he gave that up and just enjoyed having Marik walk with him home.

After he'd unlocked the door of his home, Joey turned to say goodnight to Marik. But he didn't get much of a chance to say anything, because Marik stepped forward and kissed him.

Joey was still standing there stunned when Marik drew back, still smirking in that psycho way of his. "See you tomorrow then, puppy," Marik said, using the nickname affectionately though he knew it irked Joey to no end. And since Joey was just standing there staring at him, Marik shrugged, turned, and walked away.

As Joey watched Marik walk off, only one thing really registered in his mind. He didn't seem to mind being called "puppy" so much when it was Marik who called him that.

Marik hummed softly to himself as he walked back home along deserted sidewalks. He had plenty to think about, and lots to plan besides, and yet one thought stood out, making him smile. That being; Joey Wheeler tasted good.