He tore his murderous gaze away from Marik's neck to glare at his face, trying not to look forlorn - and not really succeeding.
"Why?" Bakura spat, choosing to gloss over the absolutely ridiculous statement that had just left Marik's lips. "Why now? We made that video months ago!"
Marik bit his lip and pulled away his hand quickly, as if expecting to be bitten. Bakura hadn't wanted his pity, but the touch had still been from Marik, and he couldn't help but glance longingly at the strong, warm hand as it left his shoulder before burying his face in his own hands again.
"... Did you mean that?" Marik asked softly.
Bakura refused to reply.
He had meant every word.
He was heartbroken; even though he had known that Marik would never love him- to think for even a second that he might- and then to have it torn from his grasp! It was painful. More painful than anything he had experienced since he had been trapped in the accursed ring.
He wanted to be alone.
No, that wasn't true, he thought bitterly - he wanted to be with Marik. But that clearly wasn't going to happen.
As Bakura sat silently on the couch, face covered by thin, pale hands, shoulders slumped, looking utterly defeated, Marik watched him, thinking silently.
Love?
Someone... loved him?
And not just anyone - but Bakura. The one person he considered a friend in his crazy life, even if he'd never told him.
He had thought he was hated! He thought that if he ever said anything to Bakura, the spririt would tell Marik to go away, knowing that his presence actually made Marik feel good, feel wanted.
And then Marik would have been alone again.
He contemplated all this in silence, unmoving, watching Bakura in his misery, and feeling a twinge of guilt - but how could he have known?
Bakura broke the awkward silence first, standing up and turning away from Marik to hide the devastation plain on his face.
"... I'm going out."
To kill something. Or possibly many somethings.
A hand caught his arm as he started to move.
"... Wait."
Bakura turned, slowly, hesitantly, afraid that Marik was going to say something else idiotic and drive him deeper into his depression.
Marik looked him straight in the eyes, expression unreadable, conflicted.
"Say it again."
Bakura's breath caught in his throat; was Marik really so cruel? Did he want to tear his heart and stomp it into the ground?
But his face didn't seem smug, or like it wished him harm - it seemed... curious... and contemplative - as if it were weighing something valuable. And completely serious - something he'd never seen in Marik before.
"Please."
Please? The boy was asking permission to crush his feelings again?
But inwardly he sighed, knowing he couldn't actually refuse this idiot - he was head-over-heels for him, and he hated how easily he'd give in.
The words came out hollowly, lacking the confidence from before - not that the feeling in them had dimmed, but he had lost that glimmer of hope that he would get similar sentiment in return.
"I love you."
It hurt this time. Physically hurt.
He didn't like it.
And he didn't like the way Marik continued to stare at him, right in the eyes, with that strange, contemplative look.
He almost wished the idiot would go ahead and blurt something stupid already. He knew how to deal with that.
But... This… This was unnerving.
Marik flicked his gaze between Bakura's rich, almost red, brown eyes. He could see the despair in them, he could see the pain.
He could see the honesty.
Marik swallowed nervously.
Where did that leave him? What was he supposed to do with this information now?
He wasn't... gay.
...He wasn't even sure if he was actually straight.
How are the hell you supposed to know what gender you like if you've never liked anyone before? He had never even really met anyone outside of his family until he came to Battle City!
Bakura furrowed his brow as Marik's hand slipped behind his neck.
Marik wasn't sure what he was doing. He wasn't thinking, as usual. He didn't really like thinking. Not that he was dumb or anything, just that thinking always led to remembering, and remembering always led to...
Stop thinking and do it already, Marik.
And he did it; he did the rashest, most impulsive thing he'd ever done.
Marik leaned forward and inched Bakura's face closer to his, pressing their lips together, kissing him softly.
Note: Yeah, I know, another cliff hanger. I like writing short chapters I guess, I write these on my notepad on my phone. Anyways, I know this one's not as funny as the last one, but... enjoy~ I have another one coming in a few minutes.