Evil Partners (with benefits)

Chapter One

Bakura's eyes flitted from card to card in his hand as he weighed his possibilities. His pale hand trembled as he chose his card, placing the creature in defense mode. A cackle from across the field forced his eyes to look at his opponent, the violet-eyed villain preparing to monologue again. 'Bloody Hell..,' Bakura thought to himself, 'another damn monologue. Does this wanker ever shut up?!'

"And that's why gummy bears need to be banned, why you all need to a big hug, and why I'm going to kill all of you." The Egyptian finished his speech with a wide smirk crossing his face. For living underground for years, he had surprisingly good dental health. He fondled the Millennium Rod in one hand, not even looking at the cards in the other hand. His eyes pierced Bakura's, another laugh bursting forth. "Are you afraid, Bakura?" He drew out his opposer's name teasingly.

Bakura clenched his empty hand, a confident grin appearing. "Why should I be afraid of someone who claims they're a man but looks like a girl who just dressed themselves for the first time?" The insult sent his opponent into a stammering, frothing rage, and Bakura's smirk grew. "Face it, Melvin. I've won this battle, and your soul will be sent to the Shadow Realm!"

"Oh really now?" Melvin chided as the purple shadows set in. "Isn't that a little harsh, sending poor little Marik to such a scary little place where he'll be all alone?" He pouted his lip before cackling again. "Not that I care!" He drew his card and laughed louder, sacrificing his other creatures to summon his God card: The Winged Dragon of Ra.

Bakura laughed upon seeing the God in front of him, as he knew exactly which card to play next. He chose the card from his hand and revealed it. "I play 'Change of Heart'! Your God is now mine, Melvin." He watched as the golden god disappeared from behind his opponent and reappeared behind him. "Ra, attack his life points directly!"

Melvin cried out and, in the blazing light of the God's attack, switched control of the body with Marik. He knew it doomed him to the Shadow Realm (he would be back due to some 4kids plot device soon enough) but he also knew that Marik would feel all of the pain. Marik screamed in agony as his life points were drained and he collapsed, injured by a children's card game.

The shadows around them faded as Bakura strode over to the still villain. "What's wrong, Marik? Did your God hurt you?" Sarcasm was ripe in his voice and he knelt beside the body, grabbing the blond hair and yanking Marik's head up. The violet eyes were closed, blood dripping down his brow. Bakura scoffed and released Marik's head, letting his forehead crack against the stone ground. "Pathetic," he spat. "You're utterly pathetic." He stood and turned his back on Marik, beginning to walk away.

A voice stopped Bakura dead in his tracks. Bakura, what are you doing? He hissed under his breath at the voice. "Shut up, Ryou. Why does it matter what happens to that wanker?" Because, the voice continued, you can't just let him lay there and bleed out because of a bloody children's card game! The internal British voice kept Bakura in his place. He didn't care about Marik, but he was a fellow villain. He imagined the evil deeds they could accomplish together, selectively cutting out the idiocy Marik possessed and replacing it with his power and will. They could be unstoppable together. They would be unstoppable together.

Bakura found his feet carrying him back to Marik, and he kneeled by the Egyptian again. He looked the body over, almost admiring the physique and golden skin. Shaking his head, he scooped up Marik into his arms, stood, and headed to his base of operations.