Alone Together

10: Poor thing

Quick note that may confuse everyone but please roll with it as best you can: in Ryou's POV chapters (which is all the even numbers), Melvin is Mariku because he was told that that was his name
Also, forgot to mention last chapter; the amazing cover was made by heartofthecards ! Thank you!!!!!

Setting his phone down after placing the order, Ryou went to the living room and dusted the room a bit. He rearranged the pillows and couch cushions, and angled the TV to just the right degree.

Ryou sat on the couch, smiling to himself. He hadn't found a chance nor a reason to order pizza in a while, so he found himself a little excited for it.

Still, he felt quite bad for Mariku. He had locked himself out of his apartment, lost his phone, and was crying at his door. He was cold, and soaked in rain. Ryou felt his heart ache just looking at him.

But why he did this for him, he wasn't quite sure.

Surely, his parents had taught him not to let strangers into his house. Especially the strangers that touch you funny.

Although, Ryou felt that perhaps his reasoning was a sense of empathy. Someone was making Mariku hurt, and Ryou knew what that felt like. It felt absolutely horrid, like the world goes totally dark, and every minute feels like there's a little less air to breathe. Ryou felt that, yes, it wasn't his business, but Mariku needed a friend more than ever right now.

Maybe he already has a friend somewhere, Ryou now thought, Maybe I'm putting all my efforts in for someone who doesn't need it. What if I'm just wasting his time...?

No. This isn't about me right now. If he's got it figured out, he'll tell me, and that'll be that.

He promised himself that he wouldn't press Mariku for questions. In fact, Ryou swore that he wouldn't remind him of it at all. Of course, talking about the issue might help, but he wasn't going to force it; if and when Mariku told him the problem, he would be there for him.

After all, the poor thing looked like he needed a friend.

Mariku opened the door, wearing the pajamas Ryou had given him. The bottoms were not too small, but the top looked-

Oh my.

"The shirt didn't fit right," Mariku said, gesturing to it, pointing out the certain areas where it was a little too tight. He wasn't wearing the shirt.

He wasn't wearing a shirt at all.

Ryou's face felt hot, and he pulled his knees to his chest. "You don't...have to wear the shirt..."
Mariku's reaction to the remark made Ryou begin to stammer.
"N-no! I meant...like...since it doesn't—erm, fit. You know what I mean."

Mariku raised a brow at his stutters and blushes, and thought about taking this opportunity to flirt with him some more. After all, he was shirtless and in Ryou's house.

But, for some odd reason, he couldn't bring himself to do it, even though the opportunity was near perfect—no managers to scold Ryou for how he must have felt, no one to make him feel ashamed for wanting to stare right at Mariku's bare chest.

So what was stopping Mariku from replacing Bakura in seconds flat?

Maybe he was sick of being someone's toy.

A knock on the front door followed.

Ryou broke from his daze and smiled. "Pizza's here!" He grabbed his wallet from the counter and said, "Be right back!"

He zipped down the tiny hall and toward the door, hiding his red face in his hair.

***

Ryou had never seen someone practically inhale four slices of pizza so quickly before. No judgement, but...wow.

The pizza box lay empty on the table, and Ryou began to unfold it entirely so he could throw it away. "Alright, we've had dinner, we've cleaned up and we're dressed in our jammies," Ryou yawned as he stuffed the box in the garbage. "I'm going to head to bed."

Ryou gestured for Mariku to follow as he fumbled around the bathroom linen closet for an extra toothbrush.
"Now, I'm not going to force you to go to sleep. But, however, if you have anything you need to do, please do so as quietly as you can." He said with a yawn. "I have work tomorrow."

He held out an assortment of colored toothbrushes. "Color preference?"

Mariku considered red, like the blood of the innocent, but ended up picking teal. Because teal rhymes with seal and seals are awesome.

Anyway.

"Alright. The toothpaste is right next to the sink, floss is in the drawer." Ryou said, gesturing to the things and their places, trying not to catch an extra glance at Mariku's upper body. 
"Now, is there anything else you might need?"

Mariku asked, "How long do you plan on keeping me here?"

"I mean, I'm not trying to keep you. I figured tomorrow you could probably retrace your steps and find your lost stuff. Or you could call up one of your friends—"

"I don't have friends."

Ryou silenced himself quickly. 

"What if something comes up?"

"There's a regular house phone on the counter." Ryou guided him to it in the kitchen. He took out a piece of paper and scribbled on it. "That's my number. I usually have my mobile with me, so if you need anything, just call."

Picking it up and eyeing it closely, Mariku studied the number, mentally repeating the digits over and over again.

"Now, you know where everything is." Ryou said, and yawned again. "My room is across the hallway from the bathroom. Again, if you need anything, don't be afraid to wake me up, alright?"

"Okay."

Ryou began to walk to his room with tired eyes, but he turned around and said, "I know it all seems a bit much, but..."

Mariku raised an eyebrow.

"...I don't have friends either, so we're in similar boats." He then giggled a little bit. "You want to know something my mum always said to me?"

What a momma's boy. "What?"

"Even the rainiest days can't outlast tomorrow." He beamed—it's what got him through everything as well. "Go to bed, things will be better in the morning."

Mariku wanted to cringe at the cheesiness of the phrase.

"Goodnight, Mariku."

Then he shut the door.

Ryou pressed his back against it, releasing a huff. He was excited to have a guest, but a little nervous that his guest was, well, a stranger. 

"Maybe I shouldn't have said anything..." he muttered to himself. "I always mess it up by saying something..."
Still, he brushed his hair and fluffed his pillows.

The moonlit night was a different one. The air was colder and the sky was darker. No stars, and the moon was barely visible through the clouds.

Despite it all, there was a warmth in Ryou's heart. He smiled and lay down on his bed, closing his sleepy eyes, hoping to have that dream again.

In his dreams, Ryou could have such a thing. Reality, however, was harsher and meaner.

Mariku was a broken-hearted man. Maybe Ryou wouldn't be able to feel loved and cared for, but he refused to let Mariku suffer the same fate.

No matter what.