A/N: Okay, major angstshipping chapter ahead! I absolutely loved writing this, because it lets me make Marik into more of a jerk and yet less of a jerk at the same time. For the record, I decided to do something I haven't seen a lot of people do with this pairing and that is to make Ryou the jealous one instead of Marik. I realize that usually it's the tough guy who is jealous but I see Marik more as protective physically and Ryou jealous emotionally. Warning: Much bad language and possibly offensive name-calling in this chapter!
Disclaimer: Not Mine!
"Can I have this dance?" A voice murmured in his ear and then that same someone pressed a quick kiss to his cheek sweetly. Marik circled around to the front, leaning on the other side of the piano that had been rolled in for practice earlier. His smile was almost playful as he looked at his boyfriend who smiled back in his usual sheepish way.
"I'm pretty sure that both of us can only dance the male part and since I'm shorter I'd have to be the girl. And I don't bend that way at least, Marik-kun," Ryou replied, cracking a joke at the expense of his own sexual orientation.
"Marik-kun?" Marik parroted back with a small pout, picking up Ryou's hand in his own. The white haired boy blushed just the tiniest bit, his usual shade of soft pink in his pale cheeks.
"I just figured since people were still coming and going from the change rooms..." he trailed off doubtfully though he didn't pull his hand back. Marik just scoffed, rolling his eyes.
"They already think I'm a freak and you're far too nice for anyone to hate you," he teased, knocking his head lightly with a fist. Ryou ducked half heartedly, smiling back with childish pleasure.
"You know I heard this weird thing from Mutou-san," Marik said casually, leaning forward to press his forehead against Ryou's, lavender eyes locked with milk chocolate. Ryou's eyes widened a little fearfully which made Marik frown as he pulled back.
"O-oh really? What'd he say about me?" Ryou asked a little too quickly and a little too nervously for Marik's liking.
"He said you knew about millennium items. He said you might appreciate knowing I had one," he said questionably, raising a fair eyebrow at his boyfriend, whose jaw dropped, looking completely shocked.
"You have one to?" He demanded.
"To?" Marik repeated, feeling lost.
"So he didn't tell you about it then," Ryou murmured, relief showing through. He began to unbutton his shirt, now ignoring the people occasionally coming and going from the change rooms, pulling from beneath it a golden ring with a pyramid shape in the middle, and several sharp cones hanging from it.
"The millennium ring," Marik breathed in awe, reaching out to touch it gently.
"It used to be evil," Ryou said darkly then shook his head quickly. "If it weren't for Yami I would be dead," he continued in a grateful tone, noticing with curiosity the brief flash of annoyance and jealousy on Marik's face before he wiped it away.
Ryou smiled a little, knowing how much the other boy disliked 'Mutou-san' as he called him so 'politely'.
"That was a long time ago though," he assured him. "Now the ring just points to millennium items so it's kind of constantly pointing towards Yami. Why did he tell you anyways?" He asked suspiciously and Marik sighed, leaning away from the piano.
"I witnessed a rather intense shadow game of his. You know the tailor who got fired earlier this week?" Ryou winced, making a face. Nobody had particularly liked that tailor, even a sweetheart like Ryou. "That was him," Marik confirmed.
"He bloody deserved it," Ryou grumbled to Marik's surprise, blinking his eyes rapidly. Did Ryou just...damn another person?
"I mean, he didn't deserve to have his soul damned," Ryou hurriedly corrected, looking to Marik with puppy dog eyes that screamed 'innocent'. "It's just; he treated Miho-chan really badly and didn't listen to anything she said." Marik rolled his eyes with a small laugh.
Only Ryou. There were many things only Ryou would do though, and it made Marik smile contentedly just to think about them all, especially knowing he hadn't yet learned them all.
"I also have a millennium item," he said while the mood lasted, seeing from Ryou's expression that it wouldn't last long. He looked...scared, actually holding his body rigidly away from Marik for a moment as he searched his eyes carefully, obviously looking for something. When he didn't find it he relaxed a bit. Noting Marik's questioning look and he laughed sheepishly, colour splashing his cheeks again.
"I was controlled by the ancient spirit of my millennium ring," he explained. "I guess not everyone can be as lucky as Yuugi to have such a good spirit," he continued with a frown as he carefully slid the pendant back under his shirt.
Marik reached out a hand to stop him when his fingers were only half way done. Ryou looked up curiously, seeing Marik's intense gaze on him as he circled around to face him.
"I promise you I am in complete control of my rod, you have nothing to worry about from me," he said solemnly as Ryou smiled sweetly.
"I'm glad Marik," he whispered, averting his gaze shyly. "I guess it's probably not a fear I'll ever get over but with people like Yami and...You...around, I feel safer," he said, absentmindedly finishing up with the buttons while he said 'you' in a slightly reverent voice.
"Good," Marik said with a relieved sigh. "Now, I have something for you," he said with a small grin as Ryou's eyes shone, widening excitedly. One of the things he had learned about Ryou: He loved presents.
It didn't matter how big or small or expensive it was, anything given to him along with the word 'present' shot his mood into the 'above the rainbow' zone as Marik had dubbed it. Clasping his hands together eagerly, Ryou smiled hugely at Marik.
"Really? Why?" He asked and Marik smiled more slyly, narrowing his eyes at him. He had wondered if Ryou would forget, being a sentimental romantic he thought he'd remember but hey, why complain? It just made the surprise that much better.
"Two months," he said simply, holding up the shining golden band in his hand before pressing it into Ryou's pale hands where it flashed beautifully in the light. Ryou's jaw dropped, turning pink whether over his forgetfulness or the gift Marik wasn't sure but it lightened his spirits considerably, especially because the gift was such a heartfelt one, something he wouldn't have given to anyone else.
He wouldn't admit it just yet, but he felt about Ryou the way he never had for anyone else as corny as that sounded.
"Y-you're giving me...but this is your...and two months..." Ryou seemed completely flustered, unable to find the right words. Suddenly he threw his arms around the taller male, once again ignoring the fact that they were in public and they had avoided public displays of affection carefully over the last two months of their relationship.
"I can't believe I forgot, it's been on my calendar for weeks! I'm so happy...two months!" He exclaimed, firmly in the 'above the rainbow' zone as he snuggled into Marik's chest happily. Marik patted his back gently and he quickly pulled away, gaining a small semblance of rationality.
"This looks familiar," he said holding the slightly heavy golden hoop up in the light to examine it. It was perfectly polished, completely without blemish and about the size of a large fist.
"It should," was all Marik said in the way of a hint, folding his arms with a small laugh. It was then that something, or rather the lack of something, caught Ryou's eye. He gasped, eyes growing to the size of dinner plates as he ogled Marik's bare right bicep.
The right still had his traditional golden armband secured tightly around his upper arm but the left was strangely bare. And Ryou knew for a fact that Marik, never ever parted with any of his gold. The traditional Egyptian jewellery was very important to him.
"OhmyGod," Ryou said in one rush, drawing a deep breath. "But...I can't take this! Its solid gold and very important to your family traditions, not to mention it probably costs more than I'm worth" –
His words were cut off by Marik's lips against his, forcing him to stop speaking. It was a quick kiss and Marik pulled away, glaring down at the smaller boy, more out of irritation then anger.
"Its cost is nothing compared to what you're worth," he said roughly, "Don't ever say that." Ryou flushed prettily, gingerly holding it out to Marik for him to put it on. Circling around behind him silently, Marik opened the band and cinched it around his left bicep tightly so there was no chance of it falling off.
"To tight?" He asked in his boyfriend's ear, making him catch his breath.
"No," he squeaked, reaching up a hand to touch the smooth metal as Marik pulled his hands away slowly. It was harder then he'd admit, giving up his gold like that. Those simple metal bands, as some people might see them, were worth more to him than most other things, but Ryou was worth far more than that in his books.
"Now," Marik said firmly, turning the smaller boy to face him as he pressed him back against the piano, one hand sinking into his voluminous white locks softly, "There's another part to my gift."
"Oh?" Ryou asked simply.
"I'm about to kiss you, possibly in front of several people, and you're not going to resist, alright?" Marik instructed in his own way of asking permission.
"Okay," Ryou said breathlessly with a small nod. Marik took a deep breath and started to lean in but Ryou stopped him, raising a hand to his lips. "Marik are you sure this is okay?" He asked nervously. Pulling his hand away with his free one Marik stared down at him longingly.
"Right now I don't really give a damn if it is or not," he growled before taking his lips by storm and as promised, Ryou didn't resist, kissing back only a little hesitantly.
His free hand not entwined with Marik's, found his lovers waist, curving around it shyly. Marik pressed forward in the embrace eagerly, his favourite way of showing pleasure for something Ryou did. The moment was sadly interrupted though as a loud catcall shattered the air.
"Hey faggots, how about you get a room?" A voice called and Marik let out a territorial sound of discontent, pulling away from Ryou. The smaller boy could feel the tenseness in his muscles bunching beneath his hands.
"Just let it go, you knew this would happen," Ryou whispered desperately but Marik just shook his head fiercely.
"There is no way in hell they're getting away with that," he snapped, turning to face the group of three boys standing there. One just looked vaguely uncomfortable, shifting away from the more aggressive ring leader and flunky.
Ironic, Marik thought, that he was known as a womanizer while these creeps were considered normal.
"He is not a faggot," he said harshly, fixing them with a contemptuous glare that hid his true anger. If they were smart they'd leave now. Unsurprisingly, they weren't smart. Ring leader with his short blond buzz cut, stepped forward with a cocky grin.
He wore a varsity football jacket that he probably picked up in a thrift store and his body was built like, of course, a dancer. Nothing Marik hadn't dealt with before. This guy would have been easy pickings in the system Marik used to work back in Egypt.
"Really because, I'm pretty sure kissing you makes him a faggot," the guy said, cocking his head a little as he gave Marik a small delicate push. Almost like a little girl would, Marik thought dryly, though the motion made him bristle.
He did not appreciate being touched by anyone other than Ryou, Anzu, Rishid or Ishizu, in that order.
"I don't care what you call me but I won't stand for you calling Ryou names while you cower like a pathetic little girl," Marik replied coolly. Ryou winced; he was just asking for a fight. Blonde seemed to think so as well as he got his back up.
"You're calling me a little girl, douche? I'm not cowering behind nobody, so why don't you come out and fight like a man?" Then he smirked as though something ingenious had just occurred to him. "If you even are a man," he added slyly and the other guy snickered loudly at the comment while the third took a step back, looking alarmed.
Clearly he had not signed up for this sort of bullying. He was the only of the three who noticed the dangerous glint in Marik's eye though he didn't say a word.
"Besides," Blonde continued, running the show now, "Bakura's always been a pushover. Nice guy, always getting along with the girls but it's pretty clear where he wants to be getting in now, huh? What's it like, fag sex? Does it make you feel better cause you can't get a girl of your own?" He asked, getting right in Marik's face.
"Ryou is a virgin, unlike someone un-pure like me or you," Marik said calmly though his temper was building slowly. One more comment against Ryou would be the only excuse he needed...
"Un-pure?" The guy laughed as though the statement were absurd. "What do you think you are, God or somethin' homo?" He asked, pushing Marik again. "You think your God?" He repeated, giving another harder shove.
"Come on, fight back. Fight back ya prick!" He shouted this time, shoving him in the chest hard enough to make most people shift back a step.
Marik didn't budge, his lavender eyes burning with hatred. He kept it contained though as he always did. Like he said, he wasn't here to fight on his own behalf; he'd taken out enough anger of his own on other people in his life.
"Maybe you'd prefer if we had a little chat with 'Ryou' huh?" The guy asked, changing tactics. "What d'ya say Bakura, old pal? Never took you for the fag type, but if you're hooking up with tall dark and handsome then I guess you need some sense beaten into your pretty little face," he said in an almost light hearted tone before lunging forward with one hooked fist.
Ryou merely flinched and shut his eyes, as though used to this sort of treatment. The contact that finally did come to his skin was little more than a feather soft touch.
When he opened his eyes warily he saw the back of Marik's tanned hand touching his cheek ever so gently while holding the other boy's fist in his strong grip. Tightening his hand enough to make it hurt a little, Marik thrust his arm forward easily, his expression almost bored though it hid smouldering anger as he threw the boy back. He stumbled a couple feet, but quickly got his balance again, being a dancer after all.
"You really shouldn't touch Ryou, if you don't want to be humiliated," he lectured calmly, stepping between them. "Now, I think you've insulted him enough to justify me kicking your ass. You want to fight? Come here and fight 'like a man'," he taunted, a hard look coming over his face. The other boy quickly raised his fists, green eyes narrowed angrily.
"You're no man," he spat, edging closer, "I'm going to feed him your balls so you'll really be a girl." Lunging forward again, he made the same fatal mistake –stupidity. He let his anger blind him, and did a typical fight opener that an experienced combat artist like Marik could easily deflect.
He chose not to though, rather embarrassing him by merely catching his fist again, though he had to use two hands this time. Seeing the wicked gleam in his eye for the first time, the other boy blanched, now at his mercy as he twisted his wrist sharply, forcing him to his knees.
"Apologize to Ryou," he said in a mockingly kind teacher-like voice.
"I won't apologize to that fag," Blonde replied and gave a yelp of pain as Marik twisted farther, bending his spine to try and compensate the pain.
"Really? You won't? That's too bad because where I come from I'm not known for giving second chances," Marik said in a buttery smooth voice that turned nasty at the end as he dredged up his reputation of the past.
The guy barely had time to look nervous before letting out a whine of pain when Marik twisted far enough that he could no longer compensate with his spine. Any farther would damage his wrist.
"Come on man, enough already," the guy's friend said nervously but Marik ignored him, glowering down angrily at the boy at his mercy.
"Y-yah, enough already," Blonde stammered desperately, face a mask of fear and pain.
"What was that? I didn't hear you, care to repeat?" Marik asked politely before wrenching his wrist in a way that it definitely was not meant to turn, resulting in a scream of pain from the no longer very manly man who he kicked to the ground with disgust. He lay there writhing, tears of pain coursing from his eyes as he gripped the sharply angled wrist.
"Fucking asshole," Marik muttered nastily, planting one foot on his ribs threateningly.
"H-He's sorry man, really, he'll never bother you again!" His friend stammered, though he himself backed away from the angry Egyptian quickly.
"I'm not sure you get the idea," Marik said coldly. "I'm sure everyone in this school has heard my reputation. Ryou is the nicest guy you will ever meet; his sexuality shouldn't matter to you after that. Beating him up is like picking on a defenceless kitten. It's cruel and meaningless. Me? I am by no means a nice person, nor have I ever claimed to be. I've done stuff in my life you only read about around here. I've never laid a hand on a person in this school up until now, and I'd like to keep it that way from now on. Now you can pick yourself up and move on, or I will continue to kick the crap out of both of you until you get the message," he snarled and the guy gulped nodding quickly.
"I get it; really, I'll never bother Ryou ever again!" He swore, raising his hands pleadingly.
"Good," Marik said simply then gave the boy on the ground a firm kick to the ribs, making him moan loudly again while his friend hightailed it out of there after their other friend who disappeared long ago. Smart guy.
"That was for being a completely wimp. For Ra sake I only sprained it, stop blubbering!" He snapped at the boy still rocking on the floor in pain.
"Marik, enough," Ryou said pleadingly, a frightened look on his face as he put his hands around his waist gently.
"Alright," he said in a softer tone, expression immediately changing from antagonistic to gentle. Taking his boyfriends hand, he allowed him to lead him away into the change rooms where they'd have a little privacy.
Once inside, Marik dropped all pretence of control. Ryou had been able to sense his anger all along in the tenseness of his muscles, despite his cool air, and he watched now with concern as he paced agitatedly around the room.
"I could have killed him for talking to you that way," he announced, eyes flashing furiously, and then, seeing Ryou's expression, ran his hands through his wild hair with a tortured moan.
"No I couldn't have, you would have hated me," he groaned painfully in admittance, shutting his eyes for a moment though he kept pacing, whirling perfectly each time to avoid hitting the benches on either side of the room.
"I could never hate you, Marik," Ryou assured him with a frown, watching him go back and forth. "If you did something like that I might not...like you, but I don't think I could hate you unless you cheated on me in which case it would be hate born of lo –um, romantic feelings," he quickly corrected with a small blush.
Marik caught the slip up and knew what he had meant to say but he didn't call him out on it, too frustrated right now to add more emotions to the mix. Sitting down hard on the bench he massaged his temples hard, trying to focus as he kept his eyes firmly shut.
"You would hate me if you knew what I'd done in the past," he said simply in a low shameful tone, but when he opened his eyes Ryou was just smiling a little as he crossed the room towards him. Grabbing the more aggressive boy's hands, he yanked him forward on the bench so that he could straddle his legs, moving his arms around to his neck, and leaning in flirtatiously.
Marik was a little taken aback by his actions, making Ryou smile even more, the gold band still weighing his left arm down pleasantly.
"I don't really care about the past; it's over and done with for a reason. Someday I'd be curious to know where you got all these," he said, trailing a finger under Marik's collar where a thick white scar marred his smooth skin, "But I promise not to let it matter to me until you want to share it."
Marik winced, wondering when exactly Ryou had noticed the scar. Probably up at the beach, though Marik had his shirt on most of the time, and he kept his back which held the brunt of his scars carefully to the lawn chair or the sand for most of the day. Sometimes Ryou's gentle watchful nature was a curse.
"Alright," Marik whispered back, a world weary expression on his relatively young face.
"As for back there," Ryou continued with a shy grin on his face, "I found it a little flattering. Besides, he was being rude and like you said, you only sprained it." Marik's eyes popped wide with shock at his boyfriend's words, never having expected to hear such a thing out of him.
"That doesn't mean I want you beating people up for me...I don't like that you did it, but since you already did I mine as well be happy knowing you're willing to," he said with a small carefree laugh and Marik couldn't help smiling despite the torrent of unwanted memories.
Noticing the return of his smile, Ryou also smiled cheerfully, leaning forward to kiss him sweetly on the lips.
"Did I ever mention that you're amazing?" Marik asked after he pulled away from the short moment with a small romantic noise. Marik's smile was even more pronounced now, a little dimple showing in his left cheek that Ryou secretly loved, though he never mentioned it because he knew Marik would immediately stop smiling if he did.
He hated being called cute or anything close to it. A life of intimidation did that to a person.
"Flattery will get you nowhere," Ryou reprimanded lightly, tapping his nose with one finger.
"Au contraire," Marik growled with a smirk as he stood up, pulling Ryou along with him, "Flattery will get me everywhere with you."
The way he said it sent little shivers up and down Ryou's spine as he wrapped his arms around Marik's neck again, allowing him to spin them both once then Ryou jumped, wrapping his legs around his partner's waist.
"I thought you didn't know the girl part?" Marik asked, supporting him automatically as warmth spread within him along with Ryou's new seductive position. He felt nothing when Anzu clung to him so suggestively during practice but just this simple move made him feel hot all over with Ryou.
"I've seen Miho-chan do it enough times, I picked up a few things," he said simply, and then decided he was done talking, and began kissing his boyfriend hungrily instead.
Marik couldn't say he minded.
A/N: Alright who wants to kill me for the 'OOC-ness'? Bring it on; any and all constructive criticisms will be appreciated in your reviews! Personally, I don't think of this as OOC, but I'll be happy to argue about it (or agree) with anyone who wants to converse with a lonely authoress xD
Here's a preview for the next chapter:
Whatever had him all depressed over the past week would blow over eventually or he'd have told her already. It hurt her deeply that he wasn't considering her feelings in this matter, he could at least show up for goodness sake, but she couldn't bring herself to say anything.
Things were falling apart badly enough as it was.
Next chapter is more about the revolutionshipping...but it might not be as happy as some people would hope...