Chapter 1: One Bright Day in the Middle of the Night
"All right. That's it. We'll break for lunch and come back to finish the forms in an hour." Malik sighed as he pulled his gloves off and tossed them into a trashcan. His partner, Ryou, pulled the sheet over the corpus's face and pushed the cart out of the way. Without turning around, Malik rolled his eyes at the disapproving look Ryou was sending him. "We can afford to wait on the paper work, you know. It's not like it was anything other than another natural death. She really was a looker though, wasn't she?"
"If you dig dead girls." Ryou shrugged, as he pulled his own gloves off and threw them away in the same trashcan.
"Aww, you know I only love you." Malik grinned.
"You… you shouldn't talk like that." Ryou stammered.
"Jeez, Ryou. I was only kidding. You really need to grow a backbone."
"It's not that. I just get…" Ryou began.
"Flustered." Malik finished as the pair walked towards the showers. "I know, I know, oh innocent one."
The pair opened their respective lockers and began to prepare for the showers. Turning around Malik draped himself over Ryou's shoulder and sighed, causing the albino doctor to jump.
"You know what your problem is?"
"Enlighten me."
"You can't say no, it's that simple. "
"I can too say no." Ryou protested, as he pulled off his shirt and pants. Grabbing a towel and some shampoo and soap, Ryou started towards the showers, wearing nothing but his underwear.
"Yummy." Malik called out, causing Ryou to blush fiercely. Hurrying into he showers, Ryou quickly scrubbed himself clean. He watched Malik's feet disappear into another stall and decided it was all right to venture out. Wrapping a towel around his waist, Ryou hopped across the cold floor to his locker and dragged out a fresh set of clothes. He felt a presence come up behind him and sighed.
"Malik, turn around. You know I hate it when you watch me change."
"Than it's good that I'm not Malik."
"What?!" Ryou gulped as he turned to see another man. "Ba-Bakura!"
"Hello, love."
"Wha-what are you doing here?"
"Looking at you. You're beautiful, you know that. Especially when you're naked, wet and blushing." Bakura laughed as he took a step forward. Ryou took a step back and gulped when he felt the wooden bench hit the back of his knees. Bakura laughed as Ryou lost his balance and sat down heavily on the bench. Bakura leaned over the boy and pulled the towel off Ryou's lap.
"B-Bakura… stop." Ryou begged as he tried to cover himself. "I mean it… please?"
"I don't think I want to… OW!" Bakura yelled as he grabbed his head and straightened up quickly. The pair looked over and saw Malik standing in the corner with his towel wrapped around his waist. Malik narrowed his eyes into slits and took an aggressive step forward towards Bakura.
"He said 'Stop', Bakura. Now get the hell out of here before I throw my other shoe at you." Malik glared, and Bakura glared back. Finally, Bakura tossed Ryou's towel back at the smaller boy and laughed.
"Cover up, Ryou. I don't want other people seeing what's mine." Bakura winked before leaving the two doctors. Malik watched the older man leave before he looked back at his partner who was trying to still his shaking enough to change.
"You okay, Ryou?" Malik asked as he walked over to Ryou and place a hand on Ryou's shoulder.
"Yea. I'm… I'm fine." Ryou blushed, looking at the ground.
"I don't know why you cover for that guy." Malik sighed as he dropped his towel, causing Ryou to squeal and spin around in embarrassment. "Relax, it's not like you haven't seen it before."
"This is different and you know it. Really, Malik, you shouldn't flirt with me now that we aren't dating anymore."
"No. This is an ideal time for me to flirt with you. At least you know I mean nothing by it."
"You still shouldn't." Ryou protested before mumbling. "Bakura doesn't like it."
"Damn it, Ryou. Why do you even listen to that jerk off? You're just the unattainable for him. Once he gets close to you, he's just gonna fuck and dump you. Listen to me, Ryou, and if you're deaf, read my lips. He's bad, B-A-D, bad news."
"I… I know." Ryou sighed as he looked down at his locker and finished dressing. Looking up, Ryou frowned and looked over at Malik who was trying to climb on top of a set of lockers. "Uh… Malik?"
"Yea?" Malik asked, as he finally climbed on top of the lockers.
"What… exactly are you doing?"
"Getting my shoe. What did you think I defended you with?" Malik asked as he found his shoe and sneezed, causing dust to cloud the air.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"I'll have another." Bakura told the bartender.
"Bakura, it's not that I hate your company, but it's only four and you're getting yourself drunk. Why don't I call you a cab?"
"Look, Devlin, I pay up front, don't I?"
"Yes. You do."
"And I don't have an outstanding bill, do I?"
"You don't."
"Than what's the fucking problem? If I wanna get shit-faced, let me."
"Bakura…"
"Bakura!" Yugi shouted as he ran into the bar. "Finally! You didn't show up for work today. What's the matter with you?"
"Screw you, Yugi." Bakura snapped, ignoring the presence of Yami and Marik who had just entered the bar.
"Don't talk to my boyfriend like that, Bakura." Yami warned, as he and Marik came closer.
"Whatever, Yami. I was defending the wimp long before you showed up and seduced the kid."
"HEY! I'm just as old as you are, Bakura, and don't you forget it." Yugi cried, annoyed with Bakura's 'kid' reference.
"Oh, relax, you two. Especially you, Yami. I really don't want to listen to your bitching for the next week." Marik snapped at his partner. "Besides, can't you tell? Our sweet Bakura is sexually frustrated. Light of your life turn you down again, Bakura?"
"Screw you." Bakura snapped, as he tried to punch Marik in the face.
"Not right now, thank you. I'd bet you'd prefer Ryou anyway." Marik laughed.
"I wouldn't laugh so loud, if I were you, Marik. I'm considering killing that crush of yours, Malik."
"You touch him and I'll kill you." Marik snapped, glaring at Bakura. Rolling his eyes, Bakura grabbed Marik's neck and pulled the blond closer so that they could kiss.
"Excuse me?" Devlin asked, cautiously. "Would you two mind taking it upstairs?"
"Fine, fine." Marik grumbled as he pulled away slightly and the pair began to make their way towards the stairs at the back of the bar. They made it the stairwell and halfway up the stairs before Marik grabbed Bakura and began to work on his shirt. Groaning, Bakura reached for Marik's belt and slipped his hand into Marik's pants.
"Oh my God." Bakura moan into Marik's mouth before he tore his lips away, panting. The pair looked up at the sound of a door opening and muffled voices from the bar. There were some shouts, but Bakura shrugged and pulled Marik back for a kiss.
"Ba… OH! Uh…" A voice hissed from the bottom of the stairs. Bakura looked up and Marik turned to see Ryou standing at doorway of the stairwell.
"Ryou?" Bakura asked.
"Well. I guess I didn't need to apologize for my partner's behavior." Ryou muttered. "You seem pretty happy with yourself."
Pulling his hand out of Marik's pants, Bakura disentangled himself and turned to explain everything to Ryou. But Ryou had already left. Almost tripping as he ran down the stairs, Bakura hurried into the bar and glanced around, before hurrying over to where Yami and Yugi were sitting.
"Did you see…"
"Ryou?" Yugi asked, not looking up from his water. "Just missed him. Sounded like he was heading home."
Without bothering to thank his partner, Bakura turned to leave the bar.
"Bakura!" Devlin called as Bakura sprinted towards the door. "Button up your shirt."
Bakura didn't seem to hear, but Devlin just shrugged and walked into the back room, leaving Yami and Yugi alone. Marik wandered through the bar a few seconds later, but he didn't seem to notice the pair as he left.
"Well." Yami said after a second. "I told them."
"Told who?" Yugi asked in confusion.
"Everyone. I told Ryou not to go see Bakura. I told Marik and Bakura not to fuck around with each other, no matter how casual it was. Damn it, I so saw all this coming."
"At least Bakura isn't your partner. Marik'll be a little put out, but Bakura's going to be a bitch to deal with." Yugi moaned.
"I know." Yami sighed. "Wanna go home?"
"Sure. It's not like either one of us is going to get any work done today." Yugi shrugged. The pair stood and Yami called to Devlin that they were leaving. Yugi frowned as he walked out of the bar and looked out at the rain, which had just started up. He looked up as Yami appeared next to him holding an umbrella. "Where'd you get that?"
"I stole it from Devlin." Yami grinned, before leaning down to kiss Yugi. "Lets go home before the rain really picks up."
"Do you think Bakura will be okay? He doesn't even have a jacket and it doesn't look like the rain'll let up any time soon." Yugi frowned, worrying about his partner.
"He's a big boy now." Yami shrugged.
"Yami, have you ever noticed that we, as in ourselves, are the only ones in our… uh… 'circle' with a relationship that makes any amount of sense?'
"Yes. And, damn it, if I don't thank every deity for it. Bakura's aspirin bill alone must be through the roof." Yami laughed and Yugi giggled.
"Love you too, Yami."