When I Said, "Someone Fuck Me," I Didn't Mean Life

Chapter 03 | That

Yugi offered a small smile. "Are you back in Domino for a while?" Malik managed to nod. The smile grew to a wide grin. "Great!" Wait, what? "Do you want to come in? I can make tea or coffee. Or something else if you want. We were about to close up for lunch."

If he went in, Yugi could hurt him- wait, no. No, Yugi liked him now. He'd redeemed himself. Stupid little twit, he could still fit both hands around Yugi's neck quite nicely- "I... yeah, sure." Malik tried to smile again. "Thanks."

"It's not a problem." Yugi turned towards the shop and led Malik inside. Although the shop hadn't changed much outside, inside it had been updated. A lot. The floors were new, polished wood, and the shelves were now all clear glass. They even had a few glass cases with more expensive games, cards, and figurines on display.

Malik's eyes landed on one of the Duel Monsters Pop figures. Blue-Eyes White Dragon and Dark Magician. Of course Kaiba would get them done first. Ra wasn't there. What, was Ra not good enough because Kek had used it-? Malik squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head, and the name was gone as soon as it had come.

"Ready to close up, habibi?"

Malik's head jerked up, and he nearly screamed. The Pharaoh stood behind the counter, glaring him down, covered in his regalia. Hot wind blew through the shop and Malik could hear the chanting. His back burned and he wanted to tear his shirt off his skin, away from the cuts before it was soaked with blood-

"Marik?" Malik jolted and looked over at Yugi. No sand, no hot wind. The shorter man just looked concerned. "Are you alright?"

Malik looked back up at the Pharaoh. He wasn't glaring. He also looked a little but worried, and there was no robes or jewelery- well, there was a little jewelery. He looked more like his former self - dark skin and burning red eyes. He didn't have Yugi's mess of dyed hair anymore - neither did Yugi as a matter of fact. Instead, his hair was long and black with purple dyed streaks, pulled back into dreadlocks. He wore nice clothes. Some sort of tight fitting shirt and skinny jeans, but nothing like the leather from Yugi's teens. And nothing befitting a Pharaoh. "You're back." Get out.

The Pharaoh nodded. "As are you."

"I didn't die." Not quite. Although the Pharaoh had already died once. What was a second rise from the dead? Get out. He could kill Malik- or Malik could kill him- either way he had to move.

"Atem's been back for a few years now." Yugi licked his lips.

Malik looked over at him. He wasn't sure if it was because Atem looked different, or because he was focusing more now, but he finally noticed that Yugi had done more than grow a few inches into his twenties. He had filled out, lean muscles across his arms and chest. His jawline was actually noticeable, and Malik could see the vague shadow of facial hair that was probably shaved the day before. He still wore leather though - a skin tight black shirt, leather knee-high boots, and leather pants. His hair was black and short now, cropped only two or three inches away from his scalp, and the only thing he kept dyed was his blond fringe. He still had no fashion sense, but it was better.

"I see," Malik finally managed to force out. He didn't. "How...?" It didn't matter how, unless it helped him get away from the situation.

"Ryou with his occult fuckery." Yugi shook his head. His bangs fluttered around his face in a way that never would have been possible with the amount of gel he used to lather into it. "He didn't really mean to. We were just trying to contact Atem to make sure he had passed over into Aaru." Atem looked uncomfortable now, staring down at the figurines below the counter he stood behind. "But he just kind of... appeared in Ryou's living room."

"Oh." The word almost died in Malik's throat. Of course the Pharaoh found a way to come back. Of course he still made it hard for Malik to breathe. Of course he couldn't just stay fucking dead. "So you..." He swallowed. "You live here now?"