A/N: This chapter is written in first person POV. For ease's sake, any chapter written in 1st POV is from Malik's POV, alright? Now that that's been cleared, enjoy. Yes, I know. It's short. Sorry.

Tainted - Part Two

I watched him hunched over the bar.

Grasped in one hand was a small glass, clinking with ice and filled with cold amber liquid that was causing condensation on its container. My eyes followed the cup's progress as it lifted from the table and pressed against full lips to expel its intoxicating content down a hungry throat. I observed the bobbing of his Adam's Apple as he swallowed, and soon the glass slammed back against the bar with a loud clank, empty but for it's cache of ice.

"I think you're drinking more than the customers."

I made my way over to the bar, my serving tray tucked carelessly beneath my arm. He had lifted his head at my comment, and was gazing at me with an arched eyebrow and a somewhat amused expression.

"Really now."

I flashed a lazy grin as I settled myself down on the stool next to him, leaning back against the bar and stretching out my body for comfort. "Absolutely." I lifted an elbow and leaned it on the bar top, turning my head to eye him. "What's that, the third drink you've had tonight"

He shrugged and traced his fingertips over the rim of the glass, and I noticed they were glossed black. "Second. And hey, discount for employees. Might as well take advantage of it while I'm on my break."

"I don't think the boss will be too happy with drunk waiters."

He just chuckled lightly. "I'm not drunk; just tipsy enough to think you're fucking hot."

I licked my lips lightly and shifted closer to murmur into his ear. "I was already godly in sex appeal to begin with."

"Don't let it get to your head, Malik."

"Which head are you talking about"

He rolled his eyes and turned his face to lick the corner of my mouth playfully. But as he opened his mouth to retort, I moved forward and claimed his lips before the words could slip out. His mouth willingly opened beneath mine and I could taste the bitter alcohol on my tongue.

"Quit trying to take advantage of me" he said as he pulled away, reaching up and brushing some of his long bangs from his face. He paid absolutely no attention to the nearby patron staring at our blatant act of intimacy.

"It's not like you ever try to stop me." I licked my lips and made a face at the tart taste left in my mouth. "Why can't you ever order anything sweet"

The fingers of one hand had reached into his glass, and he plucked out a small piece of ice. Bringing it up to his lips, he lapped at it absently with his tongue before popping it into his mouth, his reply somewhat garbled from the small obstruction. "They're not strong enough." "And pray tell; why do you need something so strong"

"Because I like the way it burns as it goes down." I'd spent enough time with him to know that he was lying.

"Don't try to shit me."

He rolled the remains of the ice around in his mouth a bit before responding. "Why do you want to know"

"I have my reasons." They consisted of worry as to why one as young as he spent his time drowning in liquor and curiosity over what would cause him to do such a thing. But mostly it was mere curiosity.

"So do I" he said as he picked up another piece of ice and slipped it between his lips"and I'd prefer not to disclose them."

I knew where the limit lay in terms of prying into personal information, and I was straddling the line. So I held my tongue and my curiosity. "Alright, whatever."

There was a small stretch of silence before"I should get back to work." He glanced up at the clock and sighed before sliding off of the stool, grabbing his serving tray off of the bar in one quick motion. I watched as he strolled off, all slender limbs and black leather, to a table with newly arrived clientele, grinning at them as he asked them what they wanted. I allowed myself to study him for another moment before going back to my own work.

I wanted to see how long it would take to unravel Bakura.

-TBC-