A Phone Call Away
A/N: Wow. Lazy, much? Procrastination sounds nice. Dunno why I took so long, I guess I got caught up in X-mas, then just….I dunno, maybe someone ate my plot bunny. Reading it back over, they seem a little out-of-character. You know, I have to adore those authors who can really flesh out a character and a story. For some reason, most of what I write feels kind of… flat. Generic. Paper-cut-outs and things. I dunno. So… X-mas in July, anyone? This one's from 3rd person, instead of character POV.
This is a kind of first draft. It's late, I can't sleep, and I feel bad for not updating anything since Christmas. So if you read this and beta it for me, then email or review with some tips to improve it, I'd love you forever and stuff. Then I'll fix it up some time, put up a chapter 3 2.0, lol.
Summery: Bakura wonders about how close a simple machine can make you, no matter the distance, be it by hand or heart. Shortfic, Tendershipping Ryou/Bakura.
Disclaimer: Don't own. Don't even have a cell phone. Feel my sadness radiating from your computer screen.
The first rays of sun shine crept their way into Ryou's blinded window at an angle. Ryou hadn't been able to sleep, and instead mulled for hours over the petty words thrown the previous night, and wondered how his darkness was fairing. Probably eating, he thought as his stomach sounded his own hunger.
The snowy sky from last night had cleared up, and if he had felt like drawing the blinds, Ryou would see that the whole world had a positively cheerful appearance this morning. The sky was a bright, cold blue, and the snow sparkled on the lawns. He felt more like the parking lots; dreary slush and mud. At least his body felt clean after the shower. He was tired, but couldn't sleep, especially now that it was morning. He threw another glance at the cheap phone on the even cheaper bedside table and decided that he wouldn't even think about it anymore. Today he was going to spend some time on himself.
Searching picking up his jacket and looking in his wallet, he figured he had enough money for a small breakfast. He got up his few things and left, making sure to turn in the key at the office.
He wandered down the quiet road, occasionally passing a few people out for early shopping and other wanderers like himself. The bakery was just opening, and he bought himself a warm sticky bun and tea for breakfast. As he sat nibbling, determined not to think of Bakura, he wondered what he was going to do all day. He could always spend the day with Yugi, he thought with a wince. He didn't have to tell him why. Just say that he felt like shopping. It wouldn't matter that he had little money. He checked the time. Kami game shop would open in an hour, he would go then.
Ryou stood in front of the Kami Game Shop, now unsure as to whether or not this was a good idea. He was sure he looked a terrible mess, having spent the night in the clothes he left the house and went stalking through the snow in. He hadn't even been able to properly comb his hair, although he had tried his best to make it look smooth and presentable. That was nearly impossible with his unruly hair anyway, so it didn't make an incredible difference. Finally plastering on what he hoped was a bright, cheerful smile, he pushed open the door.
The sound of a bell greeted him. "Ohayo, Yugi-kun," he said with a smile. The shorter boy was piling a few boxes of game cards and looked up at his name.
"Bakura-kun, what brings you out here so early?" he asked in a friendly way, though his eyes blinked curiously about his usually neat friend's rough appearance.
"Not much," the white-haired boy replied, unwavering. "Just thought I'd like to see how you were doing this morning."
"Wow, someone looks like they've been through hell," came Jounouchi's voice from the door into the house.
Ryou blinked, though he knew he shouldn't be surprised to see him here so early. The two best friends were rarely seen apart. "Ohayo, Jounouchi-kun."
The blonde clapped him across the shoulders in greeting. "What're you doing here, Bakura?"
"Well, not much, really," he answered, refraining from flinching. "I just haven't seen anyone in a few days, and I was wondering if maybe we could spend some time together?" he finished weakly.
Yugi looked as though he knew it was more than that, but said nothing more than, "I do have to work today, but you can hang out here if you like."
That was a slight relief. Thinking over his own idea, he didn't want to explain why he wanted go shopping with no money, and that he couldn't go home to get more.
"Sure, I'd like that," he said simply. "Need any help?"
"Oh, would you, really? I've got a ton to do, and I'm supposed to be on the register today," Yugi exclaimed with a bright smile. Ryou felt his shoulders sag in relief. Work would take his mind off of Bakura, and he could spend time indoors with food and friends. He nodded and set right to work sorting boxes, stocking shelves, and taking inventory.
6'o'clock came, closing time on Wednesday. It had been a busy day, with Christmas approaching. Yugi said that, as payment for all his hard work, Grandpa wouldn't mind if Ryou picked something out for himself, as long as it wasn't anything too expensive. Ryou couldn't help but look for something Bakura might like for a gift, but ended up picking out a few slightly rare duel monsters cards for their decks.
"So, um, how's the spirit of the ring?" wondered Yugi as they sat around the kitchen table. Yugi had made the three of them ramen to eat, and they were all hungry.
"He's.. alright," was the uneasy response. Ryou tried to sound light, adding, "He's probably bored to tears all by himself all day." It bothered him slightly that they never called him by name, but then again it might be a little confusing to call the both of them Bakura. His friends hardly ever called him by his first name.
Truthfully he hoped Bakura was worried about him, at least a little. He had no way of knowing that his other half was on the verge of working himself into a depression with boredom and anxiety. Usually Ryou would have come back sometime before the next night, and he still didn't want to go back just yet, not even to change his clothes. This would probably be the longest he'd ever been away. It wasn't that he was angry anymore, he just wanted to show Bakura that he wasn't the predictable, needy vessel he sometimes accused him of being.
"Hey, Yugi-kun," he asked suddenly, "Do you think I could maybe borrow some of Jounouchi-kun's clothes and spend the night?"
Yugi blinked, surprised. "I.. guess." he said slowly. "Is there something wrong?"
"No, not at all, I just feel like being a little spontaneous, and it's been forever since I spent the night away from home." Just a small lie wouldn't hurt anyone.
"Don't you think you should call home and let him know where you are?" Yugi asked.
Ryou cast a brief glance at the phone on the wall, forcing away the memories of last night. "No. He'll be fine," he answered, maybe a little coolly.
"I got clean clothes here you could use," Jou offered, and Ryou was grateful. He couldn't stand the thought of another day in these dirty clothes, and nothing Yugi owned could ever fit him.
Suddenly realizing that he had been absent al day, he asked, "Where is Yami no Yugi-kun?"
"He's on a trip with Grandpa. They went to a convention to show mou hitori no boku what it's like, and I stayed behind to watch the store." Yugi beamed, obviously proud of being left in charge. It still made Ryou smile to hear Yugi refer to the dark one as 'the other me,' even though they had separate bodies now. Secretly he was grateful, the pharaoh's presence could be overbearing and intimidating at times, although he was friendly towards Ryou.
So the three boys camped out on the couches that night, staying up late watching movies and sharing snacks. Jounouchi's clothes were a big large for Ryou, and draped loosely over his slight frame, but they were comfortable and clean. He even managed to not think about Bakura at all, unaware of the fact that, in his own house, the spirit was wishing his light would call and assure him that he was safe. They fell asleep at around 2, when they ran out of videos, energy, and things to talk about.
Bakura groaned softly and opened one eye. He'd fallen asleep on the sofa again, and his back and neck were stiff. Looking around blearily, he checked for signs that the boy had come home. Coat still gone, coat rack still on the floor, door not locked. No, he was still gone. He was almost quite done feeling sorry, and now was more concerned with where the boy had spent the night. No one had come barging in demanding an explaination, that ruled out a few options. No one had called, either. He pouted slightly, still groggy with sleep. Stupid boy, where did you go?
But he would worry about that more when he was fully awake. Right now he wanted food. Bacon, if possible, but his light was not here to cook for him, and Bakura did not like the electric stovetop. He would have liked getting a gas oven better, but this was the stove the apartment had, and Ryou said that they did not need a new one. Maybe Bakura should make them need a new one, but not right now. The boy was already angry with him.
He threw some of the greasy cold strips on a paper towel and a plate and tossed them into the microwave, the simplest thing he could think of. They wouldn't be crispy, but it was meat, and it would be warm.
It had been cold all last night. He hoped that the boy wasn't stupid enough to spend the night in some doorway, or out in the open. He ripped a piece of the greasy meat with his teeth, not bothering to blot it on the paper first.
He glanced again at the phone, not admitting to himself that he still wanted Ryou to call. It mocked him with it's silence, and he turned away with a narrowed eye. Whatever the foolish child did it was not his business, he forced himself to decide and tried to push last night into the back of his mind.
For Ryou, day made things seem better. For Bakura, they forced things into the stark, cold light of brute honesty. Nothing changed when the sun came up, you could just see it clearer. Night was the time to be folded up inside your thoughts, silently feed off of them. Day was the time to act, be rational, and not think too hard on little things. It had always been this way. Nighttime was for drama, the daylight was for living.
On good mornings, the boy would greet him with a smile and hug, however unresponsive or half-conscious Bakura might be. Then he would make breakfast for the two of them. Only on bad days did he really like the good days.
If he had been the type to do so, Bakura would have sighed. However long it took his ex-host to come home, he would have no choice but to wait. He had already spent one full day in anxiety and guilt, he was determined not to spend today similarly. Though there wasn't much else to do. One day alone, and Bakura had already begun to get a little stir-crazy. Maybe he could blame his emotional night on ennui.
He pushed his pointed fingers through his hair. He allowed himself to hope that Ryou would come back today and not make him wait any longer, and ate another strip of bacon.
A/N: Yeah.. Kinda sucks.. Hope no one's too disappointed. Again, please, TELL me where I mess up, what seems OOC, I want to improve, but it's hard if nobody ever corrects me. .
Oh, and if you want to read an EXTRAORDINARY tendershippy fiction, zip on over to "Powerless" by Ochodre. She's a phenomenal author, and everything about the story blows me completely away. The plot is deep and engaging, everyone's awesomely in character, and it's just -so- realistic .. I'm not sure how fiction is realistic, but it is. All of her stories rock, really. And she updates more than I do. Lol.