TW: Body dysmorphia. Consider this an ongoing TW in regards to Bakura (just like with Apep, but for obviously different reasons).

Bakura leaned on the edge of the bathroom counter as he stared at the reflection in the mirror. No matter how many times he looked at the face that stared back, he still struggled to accept that it was his. Not that he would ever tell anyone. He would just keep pretending that this face was one of the many he could become. That was something he could accept. It was the one thing he'd always been good at. Pretending.

That is, until Ryou called him out on it.

You're a fake, just like the one that 'pretended' to care.

He tried to ignore the biting remarks said by his own heir, but for some reason they still stung. Ryou's words were yet another reminder of his own failings. How once again he had fucked up, and because of it another family had been ripped apart.

There was a light knock on the bathroom door.

"Bakura, are you finished in there?" Atem asked from the other side.

Bakura covered his face with a palm. He'd done plenty of stupid shit before, but this had to be by far the stupidest. He hadn't lied about not wanting to figure out the shit in his head either. He was already sick of digging for an answer that obviously didn't want to present itself, and he was sick of driving himself beyond crazy trying to figure out 'why' to the events in Italy. He decided to give into the madness and see where it took him, and apparently it had taken him to suggesting a casual relationship with the former Pharaoh.

Atem knocked again, only a bit louder. "It would be nice to have a turn," he said, sounding a bit irritated.

"Hold your royal horses! Do you have any idea how long it takes to brush through this mess on the top of my head?" Bakura answered in annoyance.

"If all you're doing is brushing your hair, I'm coming in."

"Fine by me."

The door swung open and Atem walked in.

"Is that mine?"

Bakura looked at the hairbrush he was holding. "Finders-keepers."

Atem jerked the brush out of his hand, then proceeded to clean out the mess of white strands that were caught between the bristles.

"How can you shed this much and still have hair on your head?"

"It unfortunately grows back immediately. I could shave myself bald and it would all grow back in less than a minute," Bakura replied boredly. "Honestly, I hate it. It's so fucking long and constantly gets in the way."

"So why not just tie it back?"

Bakura stared blankly for a moment.

"I'm gonna be honest, I've never had to tie my hair back before. I've helped Kat, but I've never done it on my own head."

Atem shook his head in disbelief. "Would you like help?"

Bakura thought about the offer. "You won't tell a single soul," he demanded.

Atem shook his head again. "Trust me, I'm not telling anyone about anything from this morning. Now where's your hairbrush?"

"Gonna level with ya: I've been using yours this whole time."

"Please tell me you haven't been using my toothbrush too?"

Bakura remained silent.

Atem placed a hand over his eyes in exasperation. "You can keep it. I'll get a new one while we're out."

"Why does it matter? You already shoved your tongue down my throat."

Atem lowered his hand. "I'm not even going to reply to that. Now turn with your back towards me for a moment."

Bakura did as asked, only to hear a loud sigh from behind.

"On second thought, I'm going to need you to sit on the bed. You're too tall."

Bakura snickered as he followed Atem out of the bathroom and sat on the bed.

Atem began running the brush through his hair to bring it back, and he couldn't help but want to melt into the sensation of the bristles massaging his scalp. After a few passes, Atem stopped.

"You need to sit still."

"How do you even know how to do this?"

"Katrina and I enjoyed helping each other get ready for the day," Atem stated as he resumed brushing. "We took pride in knowing that what we presented to the kingdom each day was done not by the hands of servants, but each other."

"So that lovely paint-job that she liked to strut about in?"

"That was done by my hand, yes," Atem replied.

Bakura was impressed. "Damn. That was some nice work."

"There, done," Atem said as he tightened the ponytail on Bakura's head one last time.

Bakura stood and went to check how he looked with his hair up. He was a bit surprised by what he saw.

"I left some down in the front to frame your face. You still look like you, just more put together," Atem said casually.

"That's an understatement," Bakura said as he leaned closer to the mirror, still not believing what he was seeing. "Give me a scar, a few extra pounds of muscle, and a very healthy dose of melanin, and I might actually look like myself again."

"A healthy dose of what?"

Bakura leaned away from his reflection, looking at Atem like he was the biggest idiot on the face of the planet. "I'm gonna dig out one of my biology books, and you're gonna read the whole thing from cover-to-cover. This is basic biology that I know for a fact was discussed in class while you were still an oversized piece of jewelry around Yugi's neck."

Atem's face drew into an offended pout. "I had more important things to focus on, like trying to remember who I was."

"Which you now know was a complete waste of time."

"Maybe you could have given me a hint instead of trying to place people in Monster World figures."

"Nah. It was more fun listening to those little souls scream and beg for mercy."

Atem shook his head as he walked away. "You are deranged."

"Awww, how sweet of you to notice!" Bakura said in a mocked tone as he followed into the bedroom. He then began to rummage through one of Atem's jewelry boxes.

Atem heaved an irritated sigh. "Do you think that everything in this room belongs to you?"

"What are you talking about? Everything in the world belongs to me…the world just doesn't know it," Bakura replied without looking up.

Atem shook his head in exasperation for what was probably the umpteenth time since he'd woken up. He then proceeded over to where Bakura was scrounging for rings and plucked out one in particular.

"Take all the rest if you like, but this one stays with me."

Bakura watched as Atem slid the gold trinket on his finger, taking particular notice of the lapis colored lotus pattern embedded into the gold.

"That's an unusual, and finely crafted piece…considering the period it's from," he pointed out.

Atem stared down at the ring he had placed on a pinky. "It supposedly belonged to my mother."

"Ah, nuff said," Bakura stated as he went back to foraging through the box of royal treasures.

"That's it? No remarks or sarcastic comments?" Atem questioned.

Bakura paused, then slowly shut the lid on the jewelry box. "Why would I? I've lost two mothers. I understand wanting to hold onto anything that reminds you of them." He walked over and retrieved the Millennium Ring that was still on the nightstand, placing it around his neck and hiding it as usual before walking towards the door.

"The great 'Thief King' is leaving empty handed?" Atem asked with suspicious sarcasm.

Bakura raised a middle finger to reveal a gold band with a green gem embedded in it. "Not entirely empty handed. Your treasury was looking a bit sparse, so I figured I would leave some behind. It's no fun raiding it if there's nothing to steal."

Atem mocked a sigh of relief. "You gave me a scare. I thought perhaps you weren't the real Bakura."

Bakura smirked devilishly. "Maybe I'm not. Maybe 'Bakura' is gone and I'm someone else entirely."

Atem lifted a curled finger to his lips, appearing to think as he gave Bakura a curious glance.

"You may be right. I don't think the real Bakura would go to a casual outing with his shirt tucked in."

Bakura glanced at the burgundy button down he'd paired with black jeans and vest.

"Huh, you're right. This looks too formal."

He untucked his shirt and unbuttoned his vest so that it hung open. "Better?"

Atem shrugged. "You don't look like you're ready to barge into your own funeral anymore."

"Thank the gods," Bakura mocked in relief. "That's always an awkward experience. I never know what to do. Like, is it okay to stick around for the buffet, or is that just considered rude?"

Atem simply shook his head and waved Bakura out the door.

I'll admit, I'm having fun with getting everyone ready for the mall outing. And these two getting along? ish? Consider this the calm before the storm...