Author's note: Hey, I got my first flame today. From someone who even admitted to not reading the story. They appeared to have a problem with my pairing Marik and Joey together. They called me sick and suggested I get counseling.

I would just like to make one thing clear. It is alright if you don't like my story. But if you're going to insult it, I'd like for you to actually read it first. Also, not liking a story is no reason to call the author's mental stability into question. Thank you for your time.

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Little step forward, Big step back

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Tuesday afternoon, and Joey was having one hell of a time concentrating on his homework. The main reason being, he was still trying to figure out the twisted puzzle that was Marik. They guy's a psychotic freak who wants to take over the world and has no qualms about manipulating people to get what he wants.

And then he comes over to Joey's house, saying he likes him and taking him out to dinner. The two facts just didn't add up properly. Marik couldn't be a manipulating freak and a nice guy… could he?

There was a knock on the door. Joey sighed and put down his pencil. Marik had said something about coming over today. Guess now would be a good time to figure out the answers to all those troubling questions.

Marik stood outside, with two people Joey didn't recognize standing behind him. The two strangers were laden down with loads of pizza boxes and videotapes.

Joey blinked, then pointed to the strangers. "You never said you were bringing company. Who are they?"

"I don't know," Marik said with a shrug. "I needed someone to carry the stuff." He twirled his Millennium Rod in his hand. "So I… persuaded them to help."

"You made them mind-slaves??" Joey demanded, his temper flaring. "Aw come on, we thought you were all through with doing that!"

Marik blinked at him, as if he didn't comprehend why Joey was suddenly pissed off. "Why would I stop?"

"Because it's immoral and rude to take over people's minds like that!" Joey shouted at him.

Marik shrugged. "Can I come in?"

"Let them go first!" Joey ordered, folding his arms.

"Okay. I'm done with them anyway," Marik said cheerfully, as if it were as simple at that. He took the pizzas and the videos from them, brushing past Joey and heading inside.

Joey blinked at him, then at the two strangers outside his door. "They're still just standing there…"

"Picky, picky…" Marik grumbled. He looked back outside and snapped at the two, "You can go now."

They wandered off down the street, looking a little dazed. Joey frowned as he watched them go. "You can't go around doing that to people."

Marik was in Joey's living room, opening a pizza box. "Why not? I wasn't hurting them."

"It's wrong," Joey insisted as he closed the door and walked over to glare at Marik. It was hard stay pissed when there were half a dozen pizzas in front of him though.

"I didn't know what kind you liked," Marik commented, lifting out a slice of cheese pizza. "So I figured I'd give you some options."

Joey sat down, grabbing some pizza from the open box and gobbling it down. "What movies did you bring?"

"Anything I could find with blood, guts, or sex scenes in it."

"Right on!" Joey grabbed his soda from the table where he'd been doing his homework, pushing the pesky math papers off onto the floor. "Movie marathon!"

But as it turned out, Marik found Joey a lot more interesting to watch than the movie. Joey was a naturally very expressive person, and it was very entertaining seeing the faces he made during the movie. Joey really could be very cute.

Every so often Joey would glance at his creepy and intriguing guest. And whenever he did, Marik was staring right back at him. It was definitely unnerving, but Marik's interested expression also made Joey shiver a bit in a different way. He supposed he didn't exactly mind Marik watching him.  

When the first movie ended and Joey hit the rewind button on the remote, he looked over at Marik and caught him staring again. "Alright, you've been looking at me for a full hour. Why the heck are you staring at me?"

Marik gestured to Joey's lower lip. "You've got pizza sauce right there."

Joey wiped at his mouth to get it. "Still there?"

"Yep. Better let me get it." And he moved forward and kissed Joey.

This wasn't like the quick kiss from the day before that left Joey momentarily stunned. This was hotter, more intense, and demanded a response. And Joey, after the initial shock of it, couldn't help but give into it.

But when Marik's hands started to wander of their own accord into improper areas, Joey pushed him away. Marik blinked as Joey stood up and yelled at him.

"I don't know what you're trying to pull here, but I'm not having it!" Joey snapped.

"What are you talking about?" Marik asked, looking up at him from his seat on the floor.

"Don't you think I've forgotten what you did to me at Battle City!" yelled Joey.

Marik made a frustrated sound. "Great. Is everyone going to hold that against me?"

"And I don't know what your big plan is here, but I'm not going to let you use me again. I'm not helping you get any rare cards or the Millennium Puzzle or whatever it is you're after!"

Marik stood up. "If I were going to use you for that, don't you think it'd be easier to just use the Millennium Rod on you like last time?" He picked up said item and twirled it in his hand.

Joey glowered at him. "One of these days I'm gonna shove that damn Millennium Rod right up your ass."

Marik grinned. "Kinky."

"Get out of here!" Joey shouted, pointing at the door. "I don't know why I even let you in here in the first place!"

"The same reason I came," Marik said. "I like you, and you like me."

Joey snorted. "Like hell." He walked to the door and opened it, pointed outside. "Go."

Marik shrugged, walking past Joey and out the door. "You do like me, and I don't even need a Millennium Item to tell me that."

Joey watched Marik walk halfway down the block. Then he glowered when he realized he'd been staring, and slammed the door closed.