Curveshipping (Marik Ishtar/Rishid Ishtar/Jonouchi Katsuya)
. . .
Marik actually hatedbars, but he was all too used to them. Back in the day, he had spent a lot of time in them, softening up the resistance of potential recruits, or bribing information off of the barista. Now, he really didn't have a reason to be here, though. It was noisy, crowded, it smelled like body odor, and he didn't even like alcohol. Still, it was warm, and outside, not so much.
Marik crunched himself into as small of a space he could in the corner, picking at the basket of french fries that Rishid had bought. Just as he thought of it, Rishid appeared again, somehow managing to melt out of the crowd so silently and softly that Marik actually jumped when his brother slid into the space across from him.
"Sorry," Marik said, noting the way that Rishid looked guilty. "You're just way harder to notice than someone your size should be."
Rishid just grimaced a little, but he nodded. He really still wasn't much for talking, even now. Marik didn't blame him—Rishid had spent most of his life biting down his tongue so that he wouldn't say anything to anger anyone around him. Marik was partially responsible for that himself. He felt a twist in his stomach just thinking about it.
Rishid slid the little packets of ketchup that he had gone to get across the table, and Marik sent him a grateful smile. He would have liked to actually try and hold a conversation or something but...it was so noisy. Must be a special event night or something, but Marik still wasn't very good at reading Japanese so he couldn't tell what was written on the blackboard behind the bar.
Marik was just squeezing out a packet of ketchup on top of the fries when Rishid tapped the table. It was a very particular sort of double tap with two fingers, just enough for Marik to feel the table shake but not enough to draw anyone else's attention. He looked up at Rishid, and then followed his pointed gaze across the bar.
Marik breathed in slowly—that was Jonouchi, wasn't it? He had half a mind to stand up and call out except...
Ah, Marik thought. That was why Rishid was bringing his attention to it. Jonouchi looked like he was in a spot of trouble.
The blond stood somewhat hunched with his back to the bar, arms shoved in his pockets and shoulders up around his ears. He looked tense, his eyes flickering between more than one face. It was a little hard to tell with the crowd and the move and shift of people, but Marik was good at noticing the tides, and he could tell. Jonouchi was surrounded; three of them, Marik thought. No, four. One of them leaned in on the bar, resting his elbow down to box Jonouchi in, a sardonic smile on his face. Marik couldn't tell what was being said, but it was clear that Jonouchi didn't like it. The man leaning against the bar caught the barista, and motioned for drinks. Jonouchi said something, his face looking a bit twisted and angry, and then—
It was a little too fast for Marik to quite catch, but he understood what had happened. One of the other three had come in close on Jonouchi and now Jonouchi was bent over, clearly trying to still his breaths, but it was obvious that he had just been punched.
Marik stood up with a snap and caught Rishid's eyes.
They didn't need to speak to get the words across.
Rishid might easily blend into a crowd more than he had a right to, but when he wanted to be noticed, he was noticed. The crowd parted almost instinctively as Rishid waded through, Marik hot on his heels.
Jonouchi saw them first, and his eyes flickered a little wider. The motion made his opponents glance behind them, and Marik took some perverse satisfaction in seeing their faces blanch.
Rishid put a hand on the shoulder of the young man who had punched Jonouchi.
"You should go," Rishid said.
"What the fuck, stay out of this, stupid gaijin," the man said, slapping Rishid's hand away.
"This doesn't concern you," another one snarled.
"Oh?" Marik said, feeling his voice easily settle into his crime boss tone. "This young man happens to be a friend of ours...so I'd say it concerns us quite a bit."
Marik moved in front of Rishid so that he could meet the eyes of the one he had determined must be the leader. He folded his arms and let a small smile flicker over his lips.
"I'd say you should turn around," he said. "Before we have to make other decisions."
They were gone so quickly that Marik didn't even see the crowd move with their disappearance. For a few moments, he and Rishid just stood there, just as stock still as before.
And then Jonouchi snorted.
Marik's whole persona dissolved with surprise as Jonouchi began to laugh.
"Oh my god," he said, collapsing back against the bar, actually chortling. "Oh my god, they're going to think I have international gang ties now—holy shit, you two, you looked like something out of a goddamn movie!"
Marik actually felt a little miffed as Jonouchi almost fell down to a sitting position, he was laughing so hard. He glanced up at Rishid and...and Rishid was smiling too? Rishid quickly hid his smile behind a hand, but it was actually too late—Marik was chuckling a bit too and trying to hide it.
"You're welcome," he said in between laughs. "By the way."
Jonouchi grinned up at the pair of them.
"You guys have the best timing, you know that?" he said. "But seriously—thanks. I owe ya guys one."
Marik shook his head, feeling a real smile on his lips as he glanced up to meet Rishid's eyes.
"Consider us even," Rishid said, saying exactly what Marik was thinking.
"Since you're here, want to join us?" Marik said, nodding back to their booth.
Jonouchi smiled, and started to get up from where he had fallen against the bench. Marik extended a hand to help him up, and Jonouchi took it with a slightly bigger grin.
"That sounds great," he said. "We have some time to catch up then—day didn't end up too badly at all, I guess."
Marik had to smile, his previous discomfort all of a sudden gone.
"Not at all," he agreed.
. . .
A/N: I had a lot of fun with that one. Next is Cunishipping (Mai x Anzu x Shizuka).
