AN: Hi there! In the midst of working on my other Yu-Gi-Oh fic, I suddenly found myself enamored by angstshipping and I couldn't get them out of my head. This will be a series of interconnected fics exploring the relationship between Ryou and Marik and I hope that you enjoy them as much as I do.
A deep sigh escapes the lips of Marik Ishtar as he sat outside on the roof of the home that he and his two siblings inhabited in Egypt. The last few days felt like a blur that his chaotic mind was still trying to process. From the initial call from Yugi Muto telling him that he was finally returning to Egypt with the Pharaoh's spirit and the Millennium Puzzle, to having the honor of watching the Ceremonial Duel, to finding himself suddenly without a purpose. He'd never asked to be a tomb keeper, that much was for certain. His back seemed to itch just as he thought about it. But at the end of the day, he'd seen his family's mission through; the Pharaoh had finally been allowed to move on. Now where did that leave him?
For years his life seemed like it was mapped out for him, from being born a tomb keeper to the fateful day of his tenth birthday where his father came at him with a hot knife for hours, to his shadow being born and choosing a new path that night that led him to running a criminal organization across the globe… It had definitely been an adjustment once the pharaoh helped defeat his shadow. His time running the Shadow Ghouls in his early teens had left him and his family with a comfortable life, including a large home with plenty of natural light, and anything the three of them could have desired. For him, he only knew two true loves: the rush of riding around on his motorcycles and the warmth of the Egyptian sun. It had taken him a long time to work on himself once they returned to Egypt after Battle City. His body and mind had both been ravaged from the time he'd spent seeking his revenge on the pharaoh. But every day he worked on himself, and there was still work to be done, he was certain, but he was young, and he had nothing but time.
He knew Ishizu would love it if he went to university for something. But really, what need did he have for a formal education? He was more knowledgeable when dealing with Egyptian artifacts than most with an actual education as it was. He would love to travel more, but he knew both Odion and Ishizu mostly stuck close to home unless Ishizu was escorting some artifacts around the world, and the idea of traveling on his own wasn't exactly appealing. He was finally, truly free, and yet he had not a clue what to actually do with that freedom.
The sound of a doorknob turning jarred Marik out of his thoughts, the Egyptian jumping slightly as he turned his torso to see who was joining him. His siblings never usually came up to the roof, knowing it was his sanctuary of sorts, but they currently had a pretty full house for the first time. He knew Ishizu was thriving having the house full and Odion was likely by her side making sure their guests were comfortable. Yugi and his friends had been pretty quiet though since returning from Luxor, choosing to find comfort in each other. His brow furrowed slightly as he realized who it was, "Hey. How are you feeling, Bakura?"
The pale, silver haired male paused for a long moment as he realized that the roof was, in fact, not empty as he thought it might have been. He had been cautiously exploring the house, looking for somewhere to find some peace of his own, feeling strangely caged in, despite the large house, "Oh," His cheeks burn as his eyes lock on Marik's. "S-sorry, Marik," He says softly. "Um, actually, all things considered, could you please call me Ryou?"
Marik could both see and hear the pain that the other young adult was carrying with him. The haunted look in Ryou's eyes was something he was all too familiar with. Though he didn't know the full story, he did know the gist of what Ryou had endured through the years. He nods once, his gaze turning apologetic, "Of course. Sorry, Ryou. Are you okay, though?"
A soft scoff escapes Ryou's lips as he moves further onto the roof, his gaze somewhat wary of Marik. The Egyptian wondered vaguely how much Ryou remembered of the first time they had met back in Battle City, "I haven't figured that out yet," He admits with a shake of his head. "I'm still a little uncertain if this is even real, if the Millennium Ring is truly finally gone."
Marik ached as he listened to Ryou's words. He knew all too well what it was like to be possessed by a particularly angry spirit, even though he had created his own shadow, rather than being possessed by someone else's. He even had intimate knowledge of Bakura's, or rather Ryou's former spirit as well, considering they had both inhabited Ryou's body for a short time.
"I mean, unless you're planning on digging it up from that tomb, I don't think you'll ever have to worry about seeing it again," Marik points out with a hint of a smile. The ring, along with all the other millennium items had vanished underground once the Ceremonial Duel was completed. Along with the tomb itself caving in, Marik highly doubted that the ring would see the light of day again any time soon, at least not without someone digging it up.
"It wouldn't be the first time I believed I was finally rid of the damn thing only for it to reappear a few days later without me even realizing it," Ryou shakes his head, drawing a slow breath. That had always been the case. The ring would disappear for a few days at a time and then suddenly he would wake up in random places and be hearing that damn voice again. He rubs his chest over where a scar in the shape of the ring and its points was burned. "Tristan attempted to get rid of it a few times before and it always found its way back to me. But maybe you're right. Maybe being buried hundreds of feet beneath rocks and rubble is just what it will take to ensure the ring never finds its way back."
"You know, it took a lot of mental convincing to believe that my shadow was truly gone too," Marik sighs, brushing his fingers through his hair as he looks out at the horizon. There were still times he could swear the shadow lingered nearby, could still hear that vile laugh. "The nightmares don't make it any easier either, you know?"
"Trust me, I know," Ryou nods, his eyes somber before he rubbed his face tiredly. He was always so tired those days. He wondered if things might truly start to change for him. But he was only a few days removed from the spirit finally being separated from his body and he was truly still incredibly wary. "Anyway, I'm sorry to encroach on your space. I'm just trying to give everyone else some space. They're all mourning the Pharaoh's departure in their own way and I feel like I'm intruding. I never really had a connection with him like the others did, all things considered."
Marik observes Ryou as the silver haired male turns to leave, "Hey, wait a second," Marik reaches out suddenly, carefully taking hold of Ryou's upper arm. "I'm kind of feeling a little caged in here too. I don't mind having so many people stay here, but it is a little stifling. Do you maybe want to get out of here for a bit?"
Ryou looks to where Marik holds onto him, his touch surprisingly gentle. He wasn't sure what to make of Marik's offer. Before now they had barely interacted, though he was aware of Marik's interactions with the Thief King, though he would never bring them up, "I'm not him, you know," He says softly to Marik, though he doesn't pull away. "I know everyone around me is somewhat wary, but I need you specifically to know that I'm not him."
From the angle they stood at, Marik could swear that Ryou's eyes seemed different somehow. The fading sun hit them, and he could no longer see any shade of dark brown in the irises, but rather a far lighter shade. Or maybe the sun was just messing with him, he wasn't sure. As he listened to the other male, he couldn't blame him in the least for what he was being told, "Ryou, I know you're not the Thief King any more than I'm the shadow that tried to destroy the world. If anyone is able to make that distinction, it's me."
A long silence stretches between the two former hosts, each of them holding the other's gaze before Ryou finally nods. Truth be told, getting out did sound like a good idea. It would at least take his mind off of the last few days, and maybe the last few years, at least for a little while, "Okay," He softly relents, his gaze going soft once again. "What did you have in mind?"
"Follow me," Marik answers simply, leading the way back to the staircase that would return them to the house. He didn't release Ryou fully, however, keeping a gentle grip on his hand. Together they stuck close to the walls, hearing muted voices talking nearby, but never encountering anyone as they walked. Marik led him down to the garage, where there were two cars and several motorcycles parked along the side of the wall. Ryou's brow furrowed slightly as Marik went for one of the bikes, "Ever gone for a ride on one of these before?"
Ryou shakes his head as Marik picks up his own helmet and moves to search for his spare. As soon as he locates it, he holds it out, "Well, I'm more than happy to pop your cherry," the Egyptian grins as he starts to walk the bike out of the garage, not wanting to startle anyone in the house when he started it up.
"Are you sure about this?" Ryou asks, trailing behind Marik, holding onto the helmet he'd been given. It was one thing to decide that spending time alone with someone who'd once allowed himself to inhabit his body without permission, it was another to literally be trusting him with his life on a motorcycle.
"Don't worry," Marik says, his tone oozing confidence as he let the bike rest on its kickstand so he could turn to face Ryou once again. "I won't let you fall. And it's been a long time since I've wiped out. I also have never wiped out with a passenger, if it makes you feel any better."
"But you have wiped out before?" Ryou arches a brow, his uncertainty growing just slightly as Marik nodded. He barely knew Marik, and he wondered if, after the last few days, he would be foolish to trust him so easily. But the young man standing opposite him was clearly not the angry, vengeful child he'd encountered back in Battle City. He drew a slow, deep breath, before finally putting on his helmet, "If you do wipe out and kill me, I swear I'm coming back to haunt you."
"I'd look forward to it," Marik offers him a wicked grin as he straddles his bike, holding it steady so Ryou could join him before he started it up. He didn't miss the soft sound that escaped the other as the bike started to purr beneath him. "You'd be much more interesting company than my current demons, I'm sure."
Ryou felt his cheeks warm as he settled onto the bike, carefully grasping onto Marik, not wanting to make the other uncomfortable. A low chuckle escaped Marik at Ryou's hesitance, glancing back at the other, "You're going to want to hold on a little tighter, unless you're planning on flying off the back once I get going. I promise, I don't bite without consent."
At that point, the fair skinned male was quite certain that his cheeks might never stop burning. He adjusted his hold slightly, holding onto Marik's waist, not missing how solid the other seemed to be. He definitely wasn't blind to the physical changes that Marik had gone through since Battle City, his body now solidly muscular. There was no denying that Marik was attractive, and it had been a lot longer than he wanted to admit since he'd found someone attractive, but that was neither here nor there.
Seemingly satisfied that he was not about to go flying off the bike once they started to move, Marik revved the engine before seamlessly taking off and guiding the motorcycle away from the property. If there was one thing that Marik had ever been certain of in his life it was that he never felt more alive than when he was on his motorcycles. Having spent the better part of his teenage years using the millennium rod to enchant others into joining his rare hunters, he'd amassed a small fortune that he and his siblings were now living off of. It had paid for their home and any luxuries they could have wanted, not that they had many to begin with. But Marik couldn't help but indulge his passion for the bikes he collected.
Marik wove through the streets with ease. The destination he had in mind wasn't far from his home, but it would definitely allow them to breathe a little easier for the time being. He could sense Ryou relaxing behind him as well, his grip on his hips no longer vise-like, though still pretty tight. Finally the city started to fade away as a view of the Nile River appeared in front of them. When Marik finally parked, the surrounding area was quiet, and the sun could be seen fading in the horizon.
He toed the kickstand and killed the engine before pulling off his helmet, holding his hand out for Ryou's, "This is where I sometimes come to think," He explains to Ryou as he starts to walk closer to the shore, the other starting to follow him.. "The Nile is beautiful this time of day, and watching the sunset… I don't think I find anything as peaceful as this. Except maybe sunrise; I kind of have a thing for the sun, if you haven't realized."
Ryou had to admit that Marik definitely had a point. The setting sun was a sight to behold over the Nile. He followed a few steps behind the Egyptian, adrenaline still pumping through him, his heart racing from the feeling of weaving through traffic on Marik's motorcycle. His legs shook slightly, but he managed to keep up with the other, "Your love for the sun doesn't surprise me," He admits softly, watching Marik as he sat on the sand by the shore. "You grew up underground, right?"
Marik nods, watching as Ryou sat beside him. So the other did know some things about him. Interesting. He wondered what else he knew, "I did. But I'm sure you understand that I prefer not to talk about that time in my life, all things considered."
"Oh, of course!" Ryou instantly shook his head, his eyes widening as though he had done something terrible. "I'm sorry. Of course I knew that. I only meant that it makes sense that you enjoy the sun so much since you grew up without it and now it's something constant in your life and—" his voice trails off and he looks away from the other, "Sorry, I'm rambling. I just… I ramble when I get nervous."
Marik quirks a brow, amusement gleaming in his lavender eyes, "Do I make you nervous, Ryou?" He asks in a low tone, his voice smooth as silk, and right on cue the blush returns to Ryou's cheeks as he had anticipated. A low chuckle escapes him at the reaction he gets, "Relax. I promised I wouldn't bite unless you consented to it first."
Marik could swear that time stands still as Ryou looks at him again. He realizes that he hadn't been imagining the change in the other's eyes. As they held each other's gaze, Ryou's irises seemed to nearly match the rose blush that now colored his cheeks. It was a far cry from the dark brown, almost black that they had been when he'd been a vessel for the Thief King. His sister had commented on his eyes seeming different as well, not long after his shadow had been banished. He found himself wondering if there really was some truth to one's eyes being a window into their soul, and now that Ryou was free as well, his eyes were finally changing to reflect the change within him. He felt as though he might be getting a look at the true person that Ryou could be.
Ryou wasn't the only one with blush coloring his cheeks as Marik cleared his throat softly, suddenly feeling a warmth that had nothing to do with the Egyptian heat. How long ago had it been that Ishizu mentioned possibly finding himself a nice girl, only for him to have to break the news to her that he, in fact, had never felt an attraction towards any female? Not that long, now that he thought about it. He trusted Ishizu and Odion with everything he was and everything he had, despite knowing that they both could very well turn their backs on him for the person he was. Though, in hindsight, him finding the same sex attractive seemed a lot less likely a reason for them to cut him off than the other crimes he had committed. But still the fear had been there. But they had only embraced him and whispered words of encouragement to him, though warning him to be careful as their homeland would not be the most accepting of who he was. He truly did not believe he deserved either of them most of the time, which was likely why he never hesitated to give them the world.
The silence stretched between the two young men, both of them seemingly lost in their own thoughts. It wasn't uncomfortable, though, both of them drawing long, slow breaths that somehow seemed to sync up the longer they sat watching the sun fade over the horizon.
"Do you ever wonder what our lives would have been like without the millennium items?" Marik asks finally, his fingers drawing idle patterns over the sand, his eyes on the water. It had been a thought that constantly plagued him after the end of Battle City when he'd felt lost and uncertain of his future after his shadow had been banished. He couldn't help but wonder if Ryou experienced something similar.
A somewhat dark sounding laugh escapes Ryou at the question, "Only every single day of my life," He admits without much hesitation. "I honestly don't know where I would be today if I never put on that ring. I was a vessel for the Thief King from such a young age, and as a result I've basically been hurting people my entire life—"
"It wasn't you," Marik cuts Ryou's statement off, Ryou's eye's going wide in response to the abrupt statement. He opens his mouth to say something, but Marik keeps going, "Trust me when I tell you that for like the first year after Battle City I had to keep reminding myself that the things I had done, the people I hurt, it wasn't really me. At least, not towards the end. I won't lie and say that I'm completely blameless, because I did plenty of terrible things, but towards the end, it was all the shadow. But in your case, it really wasn't you, Ryou. The spirit of the millennium ring took control of your mind and body whenever it wanted. He's the one who hurt your family and friends. I can see how much even thinking about what you went through is hurting you."
"I wish it was as easy as just trying to stay positive and remind myself that it wasn't me," Ryou says softly, shaking his head. He wanted so badly to believe what he was being told, to be able to move on, and maybe he would be able to in time, but the wounds were still raw, still bleeding inside his heart and mind, inside his own very soul. "But I'm sure you know it's not as simple as that, Marik."
Marik looked up as Ryou says his name, lavender eyes locking on rosy irises, unable to stop himself from thinking that he rather does like the sound of his name on the other's tongue. He draws a slow breath, turning his attention back to the water, Focus, he reprimands himself. Ryou was pouring his heart out and he was busy looking at Ryou's lips. Ra in heaven he had it bad already.
"I do know," Marik nods at last, drawing a slow, deep breath. "The nightmares still haunt me, the darkness still paralyzes me. I prefer to sleep during the day than at night because of it. But I'm definitely able to function better than I was. I meditate a lot, I pray to the Egyptian Gods to help me retain what's left of my sanity… my brother and sister are a huge help on the bad days too, but I hate burdening them too."
"My mother and sister died in a car accident over a decade ago," Ryou admits softly. He hated talking about his family, but he needed Marik to understand. "And my father was the one who initially found the millennium ring. But when he put it on the ring rejected him, so when it chose me, he rejected me in turn. He kept me in our family home as long as he could tolerate me, but when the Thief King started taking me over more frequently as I grew older, and people started getting hurt, he started paying for an apartment for me to live on my own. He provided food and whatever I needed, but he left me there alone to fend to myself. Even now, as I'm almost an adult, he acts like I don't exist. The fact that I do revolts him more than anything."
Marik's heart aches as he listens to Ryou. The fair skinned male's pain was so apparent, he could only imagine what nightmares and demons haunted him. They were probably just as powerful as his own. He knew he could handle them, but could Ryou? "What about Yugi and all of them?"
"Yugi's always been kind to me," Ryou answers without hesitation. "He's never hesitated to welcome me into their group, to remind me that I'm not at fault for what the spirit did. Even when his friends are wary of me, he's pretty much the one person that I've never had to worry about or doubt his true intentions."
"He's definitely a good person to have on your side," Marik nods, returning to drawing shapes in the sand, if only to distract himself from the other thoughts rushing through his mind. "Something tells me once all of this is over, once you return home and you all find a new normal rhythm, he'll still be by your side."
Ryou considers that for a moment. He had no idea what the future could actually look like for him. They had to go back to Domino soon. They still had a few months of school left, and then after that…? He didn't have a clue, "I think it's a little sad, but I truly don't know what to expect once we get back to Domino," He admits softly. "I never bothered truly thinking about the future because I never actually thought that I'd be rid of the spirit of the ring, and now that I am…." His voice trails off again before he looks back at Marik to find the Egyptian watching him once again. Now it's his turn to be flustered once again as he looks the other over. Between the lavender eyes, bronze skin, blonde hair, and the muscles… A low groan escapes his lips before he even had time to stop it.
Amusement sparks in Marik's eyes as he heard the soft sound that escaped Ryou. Huh. He wasn't sure if he should be surprised or not, but Ryou looked absolutely mortified with himself and Marik just couldn't help himself, "You okay, Ryou?" He asks, a low hum escaping him, his eyes narrowing just slightly.
Ryou nods instantly, face, ears, neck all aflame as he found himself unable to look away from the Egyptian beside him, "Um… yeah! I'm totally okay. Not a single problem here. Why would there be…?"
"You're rambling again," Marik comments, amusement continuing to glisten in his eyes. "And you look a little flushed," He carefully reaches out, a hand coming to rest on Ryou's cheek. "Are you sure you're okay?"
Marik's touch, though simple enough, seemed to set something inside Ryou alight. Suddenly he was burning, something inside of him turning molten and without hesitation or further though he nuzzled into the touch, his eyes closing. Gods, how long had it been since someone had touched him? He wasn't even certain that someone had ever touched his face like that before.
As he watched Ryou all but melt into his touch, Marik's gaze softened further. It was clear to him that Ryou was starved for the affectionate touch and he could only imagine that the other rarely experienced any gentle touch, considering what he'd been going through, "You really have been to hell and back, haven't you?" Marik's tone echoes the softness of his gaze and touch, his thumb gently stroking along Ryou's cheekbone. "Who could ever want to hurt such a gentle soul…?"
Marik shifts closer to Ryou, hesitating for just a moment before he presses a gentle kiss to Ryou's lips. He gives the other a moment to pull back, but when Ryou starts to kiss him back, his fingers shift from Ryou's cheek to his hair, eliciting the softest moan from the other's lips.
If Ryou thought that Marik's touch caused something to burst into life inside of him, the kiss had him completely melting at the seams. He'd never shared a kiss with anyone, and yet suddenly here he was, completely emotionally stripped down, having shared things with Marik that he never usually shared with anyone else. And yet somehow, he hadn't scared Marik off. If anything, for the first time he felt seen and understood. He supposed that it made sense in some way; Marik knew what it was like to lose control to a vengeful spirit just as well as he did. If there was one person who could truly understand even a little of what he'd been through, it was the man who was currently taking his breath away.
Ryou shifts closer to Marik, a hand coming to rest on the Egyptian's chest. He would be more than happy to just stay in that moment with the other man. His world faded to include only the two of them, sitting on the sand, completely lost in one another. He felt Marik gently pull him closer, and without hesitation he moved closer, happy to just let the rest of the world continue to fade away.