Woot! I had about two corrections for this chap! (and neither of them weres spelling, missing words, or elementary grammer!) Woot!!!
I sort of steered away from one of my pairings to a different one, but that's okay! It's a better one anyway (at least I think it is).

Lines of Pain: Chapter Five

As Yugi and Bakura entered the dim movie theater, the yami being loaded down with candy, the boy wondered was he was being treated so well. Bakura had taken him to the zoo and then to lunch, and he'd even been allowed to pick the movie they would see. The yami hadn't said anything unkind or even suggestive, unless it was something about Yami, nor had Ryou been mentioned at all, which was greatly surprising. But as surprising as the day was, it was definitely a welcome break from his heartless, deceiving, abusive yami (AN: sounds like 'Kura, huh?), and he definitely wanted it to last.

Bakura glanced down at the young hikari–who was searching for good seats–thinking something a little different, such as: Damn this stupid "be nice" business! Damn it to hell and back! He may have a soft spot for his hikari, and even Yugi a little bit, but he didn't act this nice even around Ryou. Yugi though…Yugi was a bit different; there was something about him that made it seem necessary to be this nice. He been hurt so much in the past–and by his own yami nonetheless–he would doubtless break if another treated him like that.

"Hey Yug', Bakura!" called a voice from near the center of the theater, dragging them both out of their thoughts. Yugi smiled and led Bakura down a row of seats to four teens sitting at the very center of the theater.

"Hi, Jonouchi!" Yugi said, sitting down next to his friend. Next to Jou was his boyfriend, Seto Kaiba, and then beside him were Malik and Merik.

"Inu–" Kaiba was the only one how could get away with calling him that– "why do they have to sit with us? I'm not in the mood to argue with Yami right now."

"'Cause Yugi and Ryou are my friends," Jou answered, then he turned back to the newcomers and went on, "Where are Ryou and Yami?"

Yugi winced slightly at his yami's name. "They didn't come with us."

When Jou gave him a questioning look, Bakura added, "It's just an experiment we're doing. Nothing to worry about."

"So, Ryou finally ditched you, Bakura?" Malik taunted, leaning forward so he looked over Kaiba's lap. "Or did you two sneak out of the house?"

"Shut up, Malik," Bakura ordered, blushing slightly.

"I take that as a yes. Here, Jonouchi, switch places with me."

Jou scowled at the order, but he complied to some extant, choosing to sit on his boyfriend's lap instead of by Merik. Malik smiled gently as he sat down next to Yugi and placed an arm over the boy's shoulder, trying to pull him closer.

"Hey Bakura, you don't mind, do you?" Malik asked, glancing up slightly.

The yami in question shrugged and shifted the candy on his lap. "Why are you asking me? I'm not the one you're trying to seduce."

Yugi blushed slightly, still trying to push away, as Malik answered, "Yeah, but since you came in together, I figured you were on a date or something."

"Not really," Yugi murmured, finally realizing that he couldn't escape the Egyptian. "I guess I don't mind, Malik."

"Good." Malik pulled him closer and grabbed a few candy bars out of Bakura's lap.

"Malik, you didn't ask my opinion," Merik hissed quietly behind Kaiba's back. Malik grinned and tossed him a candy bar and then made a show of tearing the wrapper off of another one and giving it to Yugi.

"But you know how I feel, Merik," he answered, holding Yugi very close. The boy was quite glad the room was getting darker as he blushed very deeply. He thought that Malik and Merik liked each other, that they'd be going out sometime soon, but from what was happening now, that must not be the case. Well, not for Malik at least. Merik on the other hand…he kept shooting death glares at Yugi for even talking to the other hikari. Maybe he was getting involved in something he shouldn't be involved in.

As soon as the movie started, most of the other boys' attention was turned to it, though it gave Yugi very little room to breath since Malik didn't seem at all interested in what he should be watching. Instead, he was–well, flirting was the only word for it. He never let go of the boy's shoulders, not once, and he didn't seem to like long silences. But even though Yugi didn't really like Malik much, he didn't particularly mind the affection the Egyptian was giving him. In fact, about halfway through the movie, he sort of snuggled up against the taller boy and closed his eyes.

"Are you sleepy, Yugi?" Malik asked quietly, trying not to disturb the others. Yugi smiled and nodded briefly, which just made him cuddle with Malik more.

"A little. Um, Malik…?" He paused, shivering slightly at his next thoughts. "What do you think about Yami?"

"Why? Do you like him or something?"

Yugi noticed there was a slight bit of worry in his voice as he said that. "No, I'm just wondering what you think about him."

Malik frowned and ran his fingers through Yugi's hair. "I don't like the Pharaoh at all." Yugi stared up at him with surprise. "I know he's just acting when he's around you in public. It's really obvious if you watch carefully."

"You mean, you can tell…?"

"Yeah. He…he beats you at home, doesn't he?"

Yugi took a sharp intake of breath when he heard this question; no one had ever seen through Yami's façade, much less uncovered the actual truth…but if Yami ever found out, Yugi would be the one punished.

"I'm not allowed to tell you," he whispered.

"I'd say that's a 'yes'," Malik said quietly. He leaned over and wrapped his other arm around Yugi, pulling the boy into an affectionate hug. "Don't worry, Yugi. I…I'll protect you if you want."

"Malik, um…" Yugi smiled and hugged him back. "Thank you."

Yugi was asleep by the time the movie was over, so Bakura gathered him up in his arms and sighed, staring forlornly down at the candy bars left in the seat. He was just about to turn away when a tan hand grabbed him by the shoulder and held him back.

"Um, Bakura…." Malik began, glancing cautiously back at Merik.

"What?"

"Do you mind if I…um…if I come with you?"

"Why?"

"Well…." It was clear that Malik wasn't use to telling people about his feelings. He took a deep breath and started again. "I, uh, I want to stay with Yugi."

Bakura smirked and stared down at the small body in his arms. "You know, it's kind of pointless to hit on him if he's asleep."

"I-I'm n-not–"

"No? Seems that way to me. Your emotions are like an open book, Malik." The yami turned his gaze back on his Egyptian friend. "Sure, it's fine with me. Only…"

"What?"

Bakura sighed, silently berating himself for even thinking of what he was about to say. "Listen, Yugi's been hurt. A lot. His own yami beats him at home, he's been picked on by every bully at school numerous times, and his grandfather doesn't even seem to notice it. He doesn't need anyone else to hurt him. So don't try to force him into anything, especially if you can't go through with it. He doesn't need that."

"Wow…" Malik bit his lip, thinking about Bakura's words. "And you know, he's not the only one who doesn't need it." He slid his arms under Yugi next to Bakura's and lifted him up.

"Malik–"

"Don't worry, I'm not going to hurt him. I couldn't…not Yugi. Though I never would have suspected you to be so compassionate."

Bakura scowled at him and picked up the candy bars from his seat. "Shut up. And if you're coming with me, you'd better hurry up."