Chocolate Roses

DH: Alright, here's another new one-shot!

OW: This is for any Deathshippers who like fluff.

DH: Deathshipping got its name from the idea that Ryou wouldn't survive in a relationship with Marik, but we think it can be fluffy too.

OW: Hope you enjoy, and we own nothing!

-DDLDHoW-

"What are you doing?"

Ryou Touzoku jumped, almost dropping the pot of melted chocolate in his hands. His older brother was leaning over his shoulder, an eyebrow raised.

"What have I told you about sneaking up on me like that, Bakura?" Ryou scolded, turning back to the chocolate. Bakura gave a noncommittal grunt. Ryou sighed. "If you must know, I'm making chocolate for someone."

Bakura's raised eyebrow arched higher. "Really? So who's the lucky boy?"

Ryou tensed. He hadn't told anyone but Malik, Yugi and his twin Heru that he was gay, and they had all been sworn to secrecy. "Who says it's a boy?"

Bakura raised an eyebrow. "Come on, Ryou. I know."

Ryou shook his head and stirred the chocolate. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Bakura picked up the card on the counter that Ryou had already written. "'To Marik, Happy Valentine's Day'."

Ryou's face flushed and he looked down. "That's... I'm making this for someone else to give him."

Bakura sighed. "Ryou, all of our friends and family are going out with someone."

"That's not-"

"I'm with Yami, Akefia's with Atem, Malik's with Yugi, Joey's with Seto, Duke's with Tristan, and Heru and Heba are both with someone."

"Chad and Uryu," Ryou reminded him. "And I have other friends!"

"Really?" He arched an eyebrow. "Who?"

Ryou hesitated. "Uh... It's for Malik from... Anzu?" There was a moment of silence. Then Bakura burst out laughing. Ryou glared at him. "It's true!"

Bakura stopped laughing. "Ryou, Anzu's in America," he said flatly. "Plus, she's dating Mai." He looked at the card again. "It also says 'from Ryou'."

Ryou swallowed and busied himself with pouring the chocolate into the square-shaped pan, doing his best not to meet Bakura's gaze. "Okay, I like Marik. No big deal, right?"

Bakura shrugged. "I don't know why you thought it would be."

Ryou put the pan on the counter. "I guess it's just an irrational underlying fear."

Bakura nodded. "Understandable. Are you going to give it to him tomorrow?"

"Yeah," Ryou confirmed. "After school."

"Good idea." Bakura swiped a bit of the spare melted chocolate on his finger. "That way if he rejects you, you don't need to wait for a few hours to run home."

Ryou frowned at Bakura. "You're not helping."

Bakura chuckled and ruffled Ryou's hair. "It'll be okay."

-DDLDHoW-

"This is not okay!"

Malik sighed, burying his head in his hands. "Marik, you're overreacting. You burnt cookies. So what? We both know you can't cook."

Marik glared at him. "Shut up." He picked up the tray of blackened cookies without an oven glove and yelped in pain, dropping it.

The cookies broke when they hit the ground. Malik sighed and grabbed the dustpan and brush. "You're unbelievable."