~12/20/20~

o/`I don't have anyone at home
o/`To talk to
o/`And you don't have anything
o/`To do

Marik and Bakura were out again. This time they were just walking around the neighborhood. They took the same route, but in different directions.

Then it started to get colder than they expected. They started to hurry home. They picked up their pace.

They took the same route they always did, not knowing that they were going to and from the same place.

The two winter wanderers, heads down to shield themselves from the cold, didn't notice each other.

Thinking they were alone, they complained to themselves. With each word, they took another hurried and desperate step closer.

"I wish..." Marik said.
"I wasn't..." Bakura said.
"So..." they both said.
"Alone," finished Marik. "Bored," Bakura said at the same time.

With their final word, they heard each other at last. They looked up at the last second.

And colided head-on with each other.

Because they were going somewhat fast, they fell back into the snow. Neither Bakura's hair nor Marik's hat did anything to prevent a hard collision.

"Dammit!"
"Oof!"

They both rubbed their foreheads in the spot where they had bumped. They managed to sit up. When they did, they both blinked in surprise and recognized each other. "You again?" they said at the same time.

Bakura was able to pick himself up and stand up. He brushed the snow off of his black trench coat and shook his head to shake the excess snow off his hair.

"Um... A little help here?" Marik said. He held out a hand. It looked like he was in too deep to get out by himself.

If it was anyone else there in the fallen person's place, Bakura would have just laughed at them and walked away. But it wasn't anyone else. It was... him. So he grabbed the hand and helped him to his feet.

Marik found his balance and let go of the other's hand. "Um... Thanks."

"Uh... You're welcome?"

Marik raised an eyebrow. "Why did you say it like that?"

"Like what?"

"Like it was a question. What you aren't welcome for helping me? I shouldn't thank you?"

"No need to have an attitude about it!" Bakura snapped "Maybe I should just push you back in."

"Okay okay okay fine!"

The two stood there in silence. Then Marik broke it. "Um... Thanks."

"You already said that."

"No I mean... For... I don't know... I guess for talking to me..."

"Oh... Right... You're lonely apparently."

"And you're bored out of your mind."

They blushed ever so slightly at the knowledge that the other person had heard them admit their heart's biggest current issues.

"So uh..." Marik said. "What's your name?"

Bakura blinked in surprise. "Wh-why do you care?"

Marik shrugged. "So I can call you if I fall in the snow again."

"Yeah right." But after a moment, he decided to answer. "Bakura. Yours?"

"Marik."

They stood there silently, just looking at each other. Purple gazing at brown.

Then Marik broke the silence. "Well I should probably get going..."

"Yeah me too..."

"Maybe I'll see you some other time?"

"For both of our sakes... I hope not." Bakura walked around Marik and continued heading home. Marik watched him recede for a second, then turned away and also continued walking home.

Both of them thought as they walked away, I hope I see him again.