The vid is up...

~12/23/12~

o/`So I'll spend my birthday with you

Marik woke up at exactly 8am without an alarm clock, as he usually did from December 22 to December 25. But while the 22nd and 24th were just preparatory days for him, the day in between was more significant.

His birthday.

The first thing he did after getting out of bed and eating breakfast was go to his computer and check his email. He had six new emails. All of them said "Happy Birthday". (Except one that was just spam. Which, almost as a joke, seemed to have to do with Spam.)

One from Ishizu, written at exactly 1:00 that morning. One from one of his teachers who knew him well, sent yesterday. Two from two of his schoolmates who he had given his email to for a group project once, both sent around the same time just a few minutes ago. One of them had made it all fancy and colorful and even included a random funny picture that she knew Marik would like. And one from an unknown, sent at exactly 12:00 today. All it said was "Happy Birthday. Have fun in the snow! ;)"

Usually, he only got those first four. Who was the unknown emailer? First of all, what was with the evil wink? Perhaps it was from someone who happened to know when his birthday was and asked one of those other four senders for his email address. Could be. The suspicious thing was that he couldn't look at the address of the mysterious sender. Maybe they just wanted to hide their email address because they didn't know him well enough? But then why bother sending him and email if they didn't know each other? It was definitely suspicious...

But Marik didn't think much of it and silently thanked the anonymous person. Then he smiled and replied a quick 'Thank you' to he other four, adding a bit more to Ishizu's reply, and turned off the computer. After that he changed out of his pajamas into a simple black sweatshirt and matching sweatpants.

He spent the time from then to the afternoon decorating the lame-ass tree with the boring white lights he had bought last week. Then he started setting up the logs.

To anyone else, having a fireplace in an apartment building would have been odd. But Ishizu's job paid well and she actually paid for the installation of one, which was only possible (or allowed) because he lived on the top floor. It was better than having to pay for heat, which saved money and made up for the cost of the fireplace. Now if only there were such things as iceplaces...

Everyone else who lived on his floor or had visited the roof at some point knew about it and had grown used to the idea. And surprisingly, no one was jealous of him.

He found a box of matches and set it in front of the fireplace to light it later, then got up and made himself lunch.

As he ate, he looked at the tree, unlit and bare. Maybe I should have bought some colored bulbs? Maybe in purple or yellow? Or red. Red is an okay color, too.

.

When he finished lunch, he decided to hang out on the roof. On his way to the staircase that led there, the few people he passed wished him a happy birthday to which he replied "Thanks".

He stayed up there for about half an hour, just looking down on the city, thinking about the people who sent him emails (not including the unknown person), and practicing his aim by throwing snowballs at a snowman he made for exactly that purpose. He would destroy it later when he left.

Who exactly was he practicing his aim for? Though he knew a lot of the people in town, he wasn't truly close to any of them. The only person he could think of that he would really like to throw a friendly snowball at was...

Bakura.

That Bakura guy... Marik was sure he felt something towards him that he couldn't put his finger on. He assumed that it was just a longing for a friend. But maybe it was more than that?

He honestly couldn't tell...

I didn't run into him yesterday, he realized. And I haven't seen him today so far. But that doesn't mean anything since he probably doesn't even know where I live. And even if he did, he wouldn't be able to find me because we never told each other our last names... He frowned and threw another snowball. It hit the snowman in the head and knocked it off. He smiled. 'Next time I get a chance, I'm going to do that to him.' He decided that it was time to go inside. On his way back to the stairs, he jumped on the snowman to destroy it.

.

By the time he got back inside, it was starting to get dark. It was still light out though. He decided to watch some random movie that was on. Then he turned to the fireplace. Then to the fridge. He hadn't opened the box with the cupcake yet. But now he wanted to.

He retrieved the box from the fridge and opened it in front of the fireplace. He smiled at its contents. The same cupcake she gave him every year, along with a candle. And this time, he saw when he removed it from the box, she had also given him a little card. Something new. It was like the card that he had received on the email that morning, but more personal and more for siblings. "Miss you, sis." he whispered.

He looked at the window. It had gotten darker. And if the weather report was right (he had learned his lesson after being caught in the storm three days ago), it was also colder.

Perfect.

He took out a match from the matchbox and lit the birthday candle. Then he held it up to the fireplace with the intention of using it to start the fire.

But there was a loud knock...

At the window.

"What?!" Marik cried out in surprise and turned to the window. Had he been mistaken? No one was there. Or was there?

He stuck the candle in the cupcake and walked over to the window. As he got closer, he noticed the elbow of a black coat sticking out. Someone WAS there! But who?

Marik opened the window. Cold air rushed inside and blew out the candle. Shivering, Marik stuck his head outside the window and looked around. He saw a person with long white hair and a black trench coat standing on the fire escape.

"Bakura? What are you doing here?!"

Bakura turned his head when he heard Marik opened the window. "Hey there. Let me in?"

Marik ducked back inside to go get a sweater. He zipped it up and climbed out the window. "How did you find me?!" he asked. "And why are you here?"

"Can you just let me in?"

"Wh... Why should I?"

"Because it was a bitch climbing up here carrying this," he carefully swung his arm around to show Marik the box he was carrying with one hand in a transparent bag. The bag had the logo of the same pastry shop Marik (and, unbeknownst to him, Bakura) had been at just yesterday.

"What were you doing there?"

"Oh nothing... Just getting your name... And your address... And what's inside this box. By the way..." Bakura winked somewhat evilly. "Did you have fun in the snow like I told you to?"

Marik gasped and put a hand up to his mouth. So the mystery email was from Bakura? However he did it, it was reason enough to let him in. Marik motioned to the window. "Um uh... Come on in."

Bakura climbed inside the window and headed straight for the kitchen. "Honestly, don't you thieves know how to use the freaking door?" Marik called as he closed the window.

"That question contradicted itself. I don't even use my own door."

"You're weird."

Bakura walked back in. "You weren't really going to light that, were you?" he asked, pointing to the small birthday candle from Ishizu.

"I already did," Marik told him. "But the wind blew it out. And why are you here? How did you even find me? And where did you get my email address from?"

"Let's go up the list, shall we?" As he talked, he walked over to the closet and hung his coat on a hanger, then took off his boots and put them by the door. "I got your email address from your friend Mr. Jacobus. I just asked. It was actually quite boring because I didn't even need to threaten him."

"Why-"

"As for your address," Bakura interrupted, "I overheard your last name yesterday when you were there..."

"So you were spying on me?"

"...and when I got home I happened to notice that you live directly above me."

"I- what? You live in this building too?"

"Isn't that what I just said? I'm right down here." He pointed at the floor, under which his apartment was. "Now you know. But one thing I don't understand. You knew my name, yet you didn't even notice it listed twice on the wall downstairs. How do you not notice something like that?"

Marik shrugged. "I dunno. I never really look at that list. Never needed to. And even if I had noticed it, I would have probably written it off as a coincidence." Marik didn't even consider the fact that Bakura had mentioned that the name was there twice.

"Whatever. Anyway... The answer to your first question is in the kitchen. And it's waaaayyy better than what you have in front of that fireplace."

Marik looked at the cupcake there, then back at Bakura. "What do you mean?" he asked a bit defensively. "In case you didn't know, that was from-"

"Your sister? I know. But mine is better."

"Your... what?"

"Come."

Marik sighed and followed Bakura into the kitchen. "So what's in the bag anyway?" he asked, walking up to the bag and poking it. "What did you buy from there?"

"A cat."

"Don't be sarcastic."

"The box! I bought this. Obviously."

"You actually bought something with money as opposed to stealing it? Wow I'm impressed."

"Yes I do crazy things sometimes. But if I had to I would hae stolen it. But I couldn't exactly steal something I have to ask for."

"Okay, Bakura. Where are you going with this? What did you get?"

Bakura smiled and removed the bag. He held a hand on the lid of the box and blushed. "Happy Birthday," he said as he opened the box.

Marik looked at what was inside. His eyes widened and his jaw dropped.

It was a cake. It was circular and decorated differently on either side. One side had purple frosting and read "Happy Birthday Marik" in gold icing. The other side had red frosting and read "Merry Christmas" in green icing. In the very center, overlapping both halves, was a small white snowflake with a tiny aquamarine (December's birthstone) in its center. It was beautiful.

Marik was speechless. He stood there staring at it for a few more seconds, thinking about how perfect it was and what this gift meant, before Bakura poked him in the arm to make sure he was still alive.

The poke snapped him out of his daze. Then he, to put it simply, glomped Bakura.

"Holy shit!" Bakura shouted in surprise, clearly caught off guard by the total tackle-hug. "Marik..."

Marik smiled wide and squeezed Bakura tight. "Best birthday present ever," he whispered.

Bakura smiled and hugged back.

It took him a few seconds to register that Bakura was hugging back, at which point he realized what he had just done and abruptly broke away. "Oh um... Sorry about that!" he rambled. "It's just that this is the nicest thing anyone has done for me in a long time and I just didn't expect this and it's so perfect I just..." He moved closer and gave him a second, much milder hug. "Thank you... So much..." He broke away again. He felt a warmth in his cheeks and realized he had been blushing. He silently willed the blush to go away, but it didn't work. "One more question I have for you..."

"What?" Bakura finally said.

"Why?"

Now it was Bakura's turn to blush. "Well um... Because..." He looked away. "Because I think I..." Again, like on the roof, he just couldn't say the words aloud. He wasn't used to expressing his emotions out loud, even when alone. He prefered keeping his feelings to himself and letting his actions speak for his mind and heart. And that was with people he couldn't care less about what they thought. Here and now was someone he did care about, so it felt ten times harder to say it.

Well he did just hug me, he reasoned. So I'll let him decide what happens now.

"Um... Bakura... Hello? Anyone there?"

He hadn't zoned out or anything, he simply hadn't answered. Which made Marik concerned. "You okay? Are you gonna answer my question or what?"

"I...will let you answer it yourself."

What?

Bakura put his hands in his pockets and casually walked out of the kitchen, as if he was just checking up on something and hadn't just sidestepped a question that was a big deal to Marik.

So...why? The two of them were still technically strangers. They weren't even friendly enough to be acquaintances. Of course, this encounter had certainly changed that. Marik could read people fairly well. He could tell that Bakura wasn't the type of person to go out of his way to do nice or even remotely helpful things for other people. So why start now?

Marik knew the answer. He was sure of it now. And thanks to Bakura, he no longer had any doubts about his own answer.

"Marik... This is honestly the dullest Christmas tree I have ever seen."

"Shut up," Marik replied with a quiet laugh. He walked over to Bakura and stood right next to him.

"You figure it out yet?" Bakura asked him.

"Yup."

"Well then why do you think I did it?"

Bakura held his breath. Maybe the hug was just an impulse reaction. Maybe he was just really grateful. Then why were they holding hands?

Wait what!

Yup... They were.

"Me too," Marik whispered. "I-..." Maybe Bakura didn't want to say it, but he would. He tiptoed and whispered in Bakura's ear, "I fell in love with you too."

Bakura gasped. Not only did Marik understand how he felt and was okay with it, but he also felt the same way. "When did this happen?" he asked, trying to lighten the mood a bit.

"First day," Marik automatically responded.

"Same here."

"At first I thought it was just me meeting someone and feeling desperate to befriend them. But later I realized that it was something more. Passing you by that first day really seemed like-"

"Love at first sight," they said at the same time.

"Yes... Thank you again... For giving me the best birthday present ever."

"And thank you."

"For?"

"For giving me a purpose in life. And someone to love and make me smile. I haven't...been able to feel anything for anyone in...such a long time."

"You're welcome."

They wrapped their arms around each other in a warm embrace.

Bakura then broke away and headed for the kitchen. "Where are you going?" Marik asked.

Bakura stopped for a second to reply, "Where do you think? I just bought you a birthday cake, with actual money, mind you, and you don't even consider actually eating any of it? I'm getting it now. I'll bring it over there."

Marik smiled and moved over to the fireplace. "Hey aren't you going to ask why I even have one of these?"

"No. I've heard the rumors that someone on the seventh floor has a rich relative and paid for it. I know it's you. Saves money and pays for itself, doesn't it?"

"Mmhmm."

Bakura walked back in the room. He had taken the cake out of the box and transferred it to a large plate. He also brought out two smaller plates, two forks, and a knife.

Marik noticed the last of these, and immediately ran over to grab it.

Bakura smirked at him. "What? You don't trust me with a knife?"

"I don't even trust you with a plastic butter knife."

"Thaaaats niiiice..." He sat down cross-legged and put a plate in front of each of them. "Match?"

Marik held the matchbox in his hand, but shook his head.

"Oh come on! I'm not a arsonist!"

"I know! I'm just messing with you." He handed it over.

Bakura took the candle that Mr. Jacobus had put in the box himself and stuck it right on the dot of the i in "Marik". He took out a match and struck it against the side of the box, then lit the candle. When the flame caught, he threw the match into the fireplace.

"Go ahead," Bakura whispered. "Make a wish or something."

Marik smiled. He blew out the candle without a second thought.

As soon as the candle went out, the logs in the fireplace caught fire and flared up, creating the illusion that blowing out the candle had lit the fire.

After a few moments of silence, Bakura said, "Not to complain, but that was awfully quick for a birthday wish."

"It didn't need much thought," Marik explained, "because it already came true." He put an arm around Bakura's shoulder and pulled him close, then one hand on Bakura's knee. After a moment, Bakura did the same and placed his hand on top of Marik's.

Marik got up for a few moments to turn off the lights in the kitchen and living room, leaving only the light from the fire, and sat right back down in his original position.

Bakura freed his arms and reached for the cake to remove the snowflake. Before he could figure out where to put it, Marik gently took it from him and stuck it on Bakura's forehead. Bakura rolled his eyes but said nothing, grabbed the knife without any protest from Marik and cut it down the middle, splitting the birthday half from the Christmas half.

He then cut two slivers of cake from the birthday half and put each one on a separate plate. He gave himself and Marik one plate each, along with a fork. "Happy Birthday," Bakura whispered.

"Thank you again," Marik whispered back.

"You know... I've never actually tasted anything from that place before so could you tell me in advance if this is any good?"

Marik nodded. "'Course. Stuff from there is always good." He took a forkful of cake and put it in his mouth, then continued to talk as he ate. "Especially the stuff that..." he trailed off and his eyes widened. "Holy crap..."

Bakura looked at him with concern. "Uh... Marik?" he asked worriedly. "You okay? What is it poisoned or something?"

Marik slowly shook his head, then swallowed. "No. It's just that... Wow... The best I've ever tasted. You got one of the better ones. And that's saying something."

"I guess it's safe then?"

"Obviously!"

"Good." He picked up a forkful and shoved it in his mouth. "Because if I were to have died from eating food that I bought from someone else, I would probably react by killing them... Hm...wow this really is pretty good."

The two continued to eat as they talked. "How could you possibly kill me? You would have died already."

"I never die."

"...Okay seriously?"

"Yup. I'm like several thousand years old. Literally. Well my spirit is..." He saw Marik open his mouth, probably to ask a question, but help up a hand to stop him. "I'll tell you about it another time."

"Fine. But anyway why would you kill the person you bought it for? Kill the person who sold it to you."

"That isn't how I work. I wouldn't have bought it otherwise. And I don't do people favors. So if I did do someone a favor and I died because of it, that is reason enough to personally punish them."

"That's nice..." Marik said with a laugh. "You really are something..."

"I know. I know."

"You know what I think? I think you just might be full of yourself."

"You got that right. I'm totally arrogant. And evil too. But it works for me so don't complain."

"Who was complaining? Not me..." Marik set down his empty plate and wrapped his arms around Bakura's waist. "I don't mind..." he whispered.

Bakura smiled and replied by putting an arm around Marik's shoulders and drawing him close until Marik was leaning on him. "Love you, Kura..."

Bakura set his plate down as well so he could put his other arm around Marik. "Love you too Marik."

"Thanks for the email again. You're very resourceful. Mr. Jacobus told you? How did you get him to do that?"

"I just asked yesterday and said I was a friend of yours."

"Oh. Can I get yours then? I couldn't see the email address there."

"Not now. Just add the sender to your contacts. I don't feel like telling you right now."

"Why not?"

"Because you're probably going to get up to write it down."

"The problem with that?"

Bakura hugged tighter. "I don't want you to get up..."

"Fine..."

They sat there for a little while, about five minutes maybe. Just enjoying each other's company and the warmth of the fire. They were both silent.

They watched the orange flames dance around and felt physically warmed by the fire, but emotionally warmed by the other's presence.

Then Marik quietly broke the silence. "Bakura?"

"Hm?"

"Does this mean that... Well are we...?"

"Go on..."

"Are we a couple now? Like...together? We are, right? I mean at this point it's pretty obvious."

Bakura shrugged a bit and nodded slowly. "I guess we are. Why not?" He close his eyes and nodded once confidently. "Yes. We are. You're right. It is obvious at this point. You are mine and I am yours... Right?"

"Right."

They stopped talking for a few seconds more. Then Marik shyly asked, "Um... I know you have your own place literally right downstairs... But are you... Um I don't know. Staying here tonight?"

Bakura blushed, but the warm orange glow of the fire hid it. "Well I would say that it's a bit early for that. But I will stay over tomorrow night."

"Why? What's tomorrow night that isn't tonight?"

Bakura looked at Marik with an 'Are you serious?' look on his face. "Um... Christmas Eve. Unless that tree is just for show and you don't really celebrate it..."

"Oh I do... I do. I just forgot..."

"Of course you did."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means you fail."

"What?"

"You fail for not remembering Christmas Eve and you fail for not finding my name on the wall once I told you it."

"...Oh whatever."

Another pause...

Then they felt like all of the tension had died away and the conversation had died with it. It was time to part for the day.

"Well, Marik... I think it is time for me to get going. I'm not doing anything here and we can do something tomorrow. I can't stay here all night." He started to get up.

"Kay... No wait!" He pulled Bakura back down.

"Hm? What is it?"

"Come here..."

"Hm?" Bakura leaned in closer...

Marik put his hands behind Bakura's head and pulled him closer still, planting a kiss on his lips.

He was caught off guard for a moment, but was kissing back within milliseconds.

They continued for a few seconds before Marik let go. They smiled at each other. Marik remembered to take the snowflake off Bakura's forehead. Then Bakura stood back up to finish what he was doing.

Bakura went to the closet and retrieved his coat then went to the door and picked up his boots. "Wait where are you going?" Marik asked as he put them on.

"Leaving, like I said. I'll be back tomorrow."

"I know that you're leaving. I'm just wondering why you're putting your stuff on."

"It's cold outside! I'm not going to freeze my ass off just because I live right below you."

"Wait... You're leaving through the window! Aren't you?"

"Obviously."

"Why? I have a door!"

"I left through my window. The keys are still inside my room and the door is locked."

"Oh... Still... Oh nevermind. Who am I to question your strange habits?"

"No one. Good night."

"Night."

They hugged goodbye, then Bakura opened the window and climbed through it. Marik watched as he descended the fire escape and climbed into an open window below. Marik shook his head, thinking of all the snow that must have blown in.