Title: Umbrella
Fandom: Yu-Gi-Oh!
Characters: Yami no Malik, Ryou Bakura, Isis, Malik and Rishid Ishtar
Prompt: #66 Rain
Word Count: 1642
Chapter: 3/100
Rating: PG-13 for a little violence
Summary: Marik's eyes fell on the black umbrella in the corner next to the door. He frowned and turned his gaze to the window. Rain drops hit the glass rhythmically, making his frown deepen.
Author's Notes: Warnings: Yaoi, AU, romance, little violence, Yami no Malik will be referred to as "Marik", and Ryou Bakura as "Ry'" by Marik only, here.
"Oi, Ry'!" someone familiar called him, when he was about to leave the campus for work. The young, silver-haired one stopped and turned, smiling slightly at the older, more tanned youth with blond, spiky hair. The blond one was at least one foot taller and grinned down at him. He was one of the biggest school bullies and the smaller one one of the most likely victims – though these two were friends ever since they both moved here with their families at the same summer vacation and met at school.
"Hi Marik. What do you want?" the younger one replied, tilting his head back to look the other in the eye. Most still found it shocking whenever they saw how these two acted around each other. Everyone always thought Ryou too shy to talk boldly with anyone, especially someone stronger. And more surprising for them was surely that the silver-haired youth was one of the only ones to get away with it on a regular basis.
"Isis is making a traditional Egyptian dish tonight and asked if you would try it. Plus she made it clear that 'no' is not optional," the taller one, Marik, smirked down at the other, lying an arm loosely around his shoulders. If Ryou's way of acting around the tall Egyptian baffled most, more were stunned by Marik's reaction. The blond was someone you really didn't want to mess with, even if your life depended on it. Those muscles were not just for looking at.
"Thanks, I'd like to try that," Ryou smiled, leaning on his friend. Suddenly, he looked up pleadingly. "But I'm late for work again. Takeshi-sensei kept as longer than necessary and I'm running out of time... Give me a ride?" He did his best version of the feared 'puppy dog chibi eyes' and who could resist, the least Marik. And thus, seconds later, both were found on Marik's motorbike, racing downtown.
It had been a hard day at work, but dinner was perfect with the Ishtar siblings once again. They had lots of fun with teasing the twins, Marik and his brother Malik. It was a daily occurrence, which always made him laugh. Ryou smiled up at the young woman with long, black hair in front of him friendlily. "Thank you for the meal, Isis." He bowed politely and then turned to face a smiling Rishid and Malik, giving them a smile in return. "Thanks."
"It's no problem, Ryou," Isis replied, nodding her head for emphasis. They all knew how hard it was for the youth ever since his father died recently. Not that the man had been home often, but now the silver-haired one had to work right after school just to come up with enough money to live. That was why either Malik or Marik invited him over for dinner every so often.
He turned to Marik and his smile softened a notch, murmuring 'thanks' again gently, though they almost didn't hear it. The older youth walked up to the silver-haired one, grinning mischievously and ruffled his hair. "Take care, Ry'." The blond Egyptian always worried about his young friend coming home safely and sometimes walked him home, however, that day Ryou insisted on going alone because it was late...
The silver-haired boy waved to them one last time before turning around the corner. He moved down the road hastily, not wanting to stay in the dark alone for long. Ryou shivered in the cold and when he was halfway to his home, it started raining again. When he had walked to the Ishtar residence after work, it had done that, too, but he had had an umbrella so he got there dry enough. He stopped and sighed, oh well, said umbrella was left behind with the Ishtars, so no way he could get away from the rain.
Marik's eyes fell on the black umbrella in the corner next to the door. He frowned and turned his gaze to the window. Rain drops hit the glass rhythmically, making his frown deepen. Ryou was gone for about ten minutes by now. With a sigh, he threw on his jacket and fetched his keys.
"Marik? Where are you going this late?" Isis called out after him and stuck her head out of the kitchen door.
The blond Egyptian snatched the umbrella, opening the door with his other hand and paused in the doorway, glancing back at his sister. "Out." He stared off into the darkness, the splash sounds of the rain echoing through the silence. Isis just shook her head after a moment and vanished in the kitchenette to finish off the dishes.
The rain resembled a storm in Ryou's opinion. The few minutes it took from the Ishtar's house to his apartment, the world had sunken in the sea. He gazed into the alley way and stopped, unsure of what to do. He could go along the main road, which was save and longer. Or he could take a short cut... Dripping and freezing, the silver-haired male then made his decision. After all, he didn't want to catch a greater cold than really necessary.
It happened when he turned the second corner left, in the middle of a labyrinth of back alleys. There stood three bulky men, one smoking a cigarette and looking his way. Ryou shivered, this did not bode well... Slowly, he took a step back, then another. He immediately froze, when one of the gang members began to speak.
"Look what a little rat we found here!"
The silver-haired boy had instantly known that these guys were not to cross, but apparently they were out for some blood. And he was the unfortunate person running into them. Great. Hastily stepping backwards further, another addressed him sharply, while they started approaching.
"Where does it want to run to? There's no rat hole close here, is there?"
The three laughed and Ryou panicked, a cold shiver running down his spine. He didn't like this, they were too close for his liking. Just when he turned around and started running, they were directly behind him. He stumbled, then one hit and he lay on the floor, in a mud puddle nonetheless. He closed his eyes, awaiting the oncoming beating.
I should have accepted your offer, Marik... I'm sorry I'm not as strong as you...
Rain drummed on the black tissue, while he was hurrying down the back alleys. If he wanted to reach his friend before the other was home, he had to be fast, thus he used the few short cuts Ryou surely wouldn't use under any circumstances – well, maybe he underestimated the youth because that exact moment, a familiar scream made him flinch. He paused and listened intently in the silence, turning right when the next cry of pain echoed off the walls.
Shortly after, Marik arrived at the crime scene. Ryou lay huddled on the ground, thoroughly soaked. Surrounding him stood three men in their early twenties, laughing. The blond Egyptian growled threateningly, stepping forward and lifting one of them by the back of the neck. With little effort, he threw the man into the next wall and the creepy sound of bones breaking alerted his companions.
"If I were you-," Marik hissed, "-I would be running now."
The message was obviously brought across and the three hastily left. The Egyptian ignored them in favor of the shivering boy, kneeling down beside him.
"Ry', it's allright, they're gone. Hey, Ry'!" He shook him slightly and the youth flinched, looking up cautiously.
"Marik?" he whispered, sitting up. "What are you doing here?"
"Saving your ass," the blond deadpanned, helping the other boy up and keeping the 'pretty' to himself. "And getting you home relatively dry," he added, waving the umbrella for emphasis. Ryou giggled softly and leant on Marik for support.
"I think I've twisted my ankle." The whitenette looked up, seeing his friend nod in mutual understanding. He smiled, relieved. They walked the rest of the way in silence, at a slow pace so Ryou could keep up with the blond. Soon they reached their destination and Ryou fiddled for his keys. After unlocking the door, they stared at each other uncomfortably.
"W-would you like to come in? You can't return without getting wet right now...," Ryou stammered, blushing nervously.
"I'd love to," Marik replied, grinning regrettably at his friend, "Alas, Isis would worry about my whereabouts, so..." They stood there in silence, neither knowing what to do next.
"Then just take m-my umbrella, okay? So you won't catch a cold after all..." the silver-haired boy proposed, smiling up at the elder male. He gained a questioning gaze in return
"So... shall I return it tomorrow then?" the Egyptian asked, filled with hope. His heart beat faster then before, was this the right moment?
"No, don't worry!" Ryou quickly answered, laughing embarrassedly. "Don't make such a fuss about it, I'll just come by after work... if that's alright with you...?"
Marik nodded quietly, he understood. Although Ryou was too shy and too polite to actually ask a bigger favor of someone, however, his situation was a tight one. The blond got the hint that the silver-head's finances were not good looking right now. The relieved smile on his friend's face was all the repayment he needed.
"So... I'll see you tomorrow then." Ryou's eyes shone in the dark like stars and Marik could feel himself slowly leaning in closer. An expression of confusion, wonder and curiosity passed the pale one's face for a second, before he broke out in a bright smile, pecking Marik on the cheek. "Good night!"
The door closed and left the blond Egyptian dumbfounded. However, his purple eyes shone happily and he carefully touched the spot where he had felt the other's lips.
R&R