Malik was asleep again in my bedroom; his crying had worn him out. I, however, was sitting on the couch, head thrown back, attempting to untangle all the knots within my mind. If there was ever a more confused person in history, I truly gave them my sympathies.
Should I call some child protection thing? No, they would never be able to prove that Marik was abusing Malik. He's too smart to be caught like that. Not to mention that Malik would hate me for doing that. I can't understand how he can hate Marik, yet want to protect his brother at the same time. Not wanting him to get in trouble, but wanting him to die. I propped my head on my hands, the heels of my palms digging into my eyes. What a stupid contradiction, and a stupid way to think. First things first, I need to get Malik to open up. Maybe if I can get Malik happy, or, I don't know, something then he'll confess against Marik.
I felt a twinge of guilt when my thoughts echoed in my head, because I sounded like I didn't care if Malik was happy just to be happy. It sounded more like I wanted him to open up so he'd get revenge against Marik. Yeah, I hated Marik to the point of wanting to break his neck, And how easy it would be to just walk up behind him in the locker room when he wasn't suspecting and - shit, okay, need to focus. What would Malik like to do? What does he like? Fuck! I fell over onto my side on the couch and stared blankly at the TV. What would I like to do if I was in his position? If I was free? I rolled over onto my back and gazed at the patterns in the ceiling, letting ideas come and go until one caught my interest.
I had a plan.
X
Malik jolted up in an explosive gasp, only to fall back onto the bed with a groan as he realized that it was just a nightmare. He glanced over at the dresser and let out another groan, realizing that it was only four in the morning. He caught sleep when he could take it, and even though he was free from Marik, he still felt that at any second Marik was going to pop out of the closet and snatch him away. With a shiver he lay in bed for a while longer, blushing as he remembered sobbing in Bakura's arms.
I can't believe he saw me like that. Malik shook his head, trying to crush the feeling of embarrassment.
Swinging his legs out of the bed he made his way out of his room and down the stairs. The smell of eggs lingered faintly, but it didn't make him sick now. Malik was so hungry he could've eaten a whole carton of eggs.
He felt absolutely horrible, though, as he rifled through the cabinets stealthily. Finally, he found a pop tart, the last one, and pulling the foil off Malik wolfed it down. His hunger somewhat sated, still licking pop tart crumbs off his lips, Malik threw the garbage in the trash and started to explore the house.
He found Bakura in the living room, asleep on the couch, snoring slightly. Malik's lips formed a soft smile and grabbing an old quilted blanket he draped it over Bakura, trying not to wake him. Bakura only murmured in his sleep and drew the blanket around himself. Hunkering down, Malik gazed at Bakura's sleeping face.
So peaceful. His hand reached out and brushed some of Bakura's hair back from his forehead. Murmuring again Bakura captured Malik's hand with his hand and kept it against his face. Malik froze at the feeling of Bakura's hand on top of his, but with another mutter Bakura let go. Malik slowly pulled his hand back, but he stayed where he was, staring at his hand.
"Malik." Startled, nearly jumping out of his skin Malik's eyes darted to Bakura. He relaxed slightly when he saw that Bakura was still asleep. He stayed still, waiting to see if Bakura would speak again, but when he didn't Malik decided to sleep next to the couch. It was too scary up in Bakura's bedroom, too many places that Marik could hide. Down here next to Bakura was definitely safer. Bakura would keep him safe.
X
A shaft of golden sunlight hit my face, shattering my dreams into a million pieces. Blinking, my hand shading my eyes, I almost stepped on Malik when I got off the couch.
He was curled up next to the couch, clutching part of the blanket he must have covered me with in the middle of the night.
He's cute. I thought, smiling. Picking him up I settled him onto the couch. Pulling down the window blinds I went upstairs into the office to go do some research on the internet.
We're going to have fun today.