Pastelshipping (Marik x Esper Roba)
The Millennium Rod was scathingly cold in Marik's palm. The item always felt like that. It was eerie. Like it was something that didn't belong to this world, something he wasn't supposed to be touching, burning his hand with ice in a warning.
But, however, that was probably mostly in his head. The harsh golden glint of the thin item in his hand was merely cool to the touch. It was only his mind that conjured the snow. Of course, Marik know firsthand that just because it was in his head didn't mean it wasn't real.
Today was not going well. Battle City had begun. He had arrived in Domino a few hours later than he had hoped due to faulty engines in the boat. Now he stood restlessly in the harbor, watching boats dip gently up and down in a breeze generated series of waves, rolling the cold Millennium Rod between his hands to spread the cold evenly across his palms, while he waited for news from Rishid. His attempt to take down the pharaoh with the empty headed man and Slifer had failed. He should have known that no ordinary duelist could have defeated Yugi, even if Marik was the one pulling on the strings. And due to his own arrogance and haste, he had lost one of the God Cards. He was left only with Ra – a powerful card to be sure, but he would have liked the insurance of two of those cards in his deck.
He snarled to himself. Could this day get any worse?
"Hey, Ryori! Don't go too close to the water!"
"I'll be careful, nii-chan."
"You watch your brother, Ryori. I don't want to fish Kyouto out of the water."
The beginnings of a baby's sobs floated down towards Marik. He glanced up with harsh violet eyes.
The owners of the voices were a group of nearly identical brothers – for they had to be brothers, there was no other explanation. All of them had the same close cropped, pastel blue hair. One was significantly taller than the other two leaning over the harbor to look into the water. The tall one shifted the harness on his back to bring a small baby in front of him, the origin of the cries.
"Sh, sh, Sojuro," the boy said.
He started bouncing slightly to calm the little boy, whose cries slowly faded. They were replaced by great cries of laughter as his older brother started to toss him a little bit higher.
"Nii-san, that's no fair! You won't toss me in the air," one of the other younger boys said.
"Well, you're too big for that now. Your brother's not that strong!"
"Rishid, throw me up, high as you can!"
"You might be too big for that now," Rishid laughed.
"Nuh-uh! You're really strong, you can do it!"
"Kyouto!" the other younger boy said. "Race you to the dock, right now!"
"You're on!"
"Kyouto Ryori, don't run!" the oldest boy said
The younger two boys ignored him and bolted down the harbor, laughing so loud that Marik was sure it was echoing across the city.
"Ishizu, I'll race you to the dirt mound!"
"Okay."
"Ready...set –"
"Go!"
"Hey, Ishizu! No fair, you cheater!"
"Ishizu, Marik! Please don't run, there are snakes down here!"
"Nyeh, nyeh, try and catch us Rishid!"
The Millennium Rod dipped in temperature, yanking Marik back to the present. It was if the metal was trying to remind him what he was here for. He swore under his breath when he realized the tear growing in the corner of his eye.
He didn't have time for these thoughts. He would never have time for them. They belonged to a past that he wasn't allowed to return to. They weren't his anymore.
Only then did he realize that the oldest boy was looking at him from across the harbor. Marik blinked with surprise. They stared at each other for a moment. Marik forgot that he wasn't supposed to be Marik. He forgot that he was supposed to hide all of his feelings behind a mask. Instead, he was certain that every thought he was having was dripping out through his eyes.
By the time he realized that he wasn't hiding himself, the other boy had already looked away. Marik swore.
Maybe he'll forget, Marik thought. He'd better forget.
And then, inexplicably, the boy turned around again, meeting Marik's gaze with such force that Marik almost stepped back.
And he smiled. Just smiled. The boy in his arms squirmed and then burped. The older boy held Marik's gaze for just a minute longer. Then he looked away and started down the wharf to catch up to his brothers.
Marik stood stock still for a long, long moment.
He would never have moved if Rishid had not returned.
"Master Marik," he said. "I have found a Duel Disk for you. And I have acquired sixteen locator cards."
Marik squeezed his eyes shut. The image of those happy brothers danced across the back of his eyelids.
"Very good," he said, struggling to keep his voice monotone. "We will proceed."
He made sure not to look Rishid in the eye as he brushed past.
He wasn't sure what his eyes were saying.
A/N: Aw. :( Marik misses having a family. Esper Roba just reminded him of all the things he lost. Next is Passionshipping (Pegasus x Jonouchi).
