What I Expect

Reconciliation

"Knock knock," I knock twice on Akefia's door, talking as I do. It's such an awkward action but I can't help feel like an outsider once again. The hopeless fool lovesick over someone he can't have because of outside forces. In this case, internal forces. Myself. There's knocking I hear from the other side of the door.

"Go," knock. "Away," knock.

"Oh come on Akefia..." silence fills the hallway. I wait long after I know there won't be a response. "Can I borrow the book I was reading? Please?" I just want to see you. I want to make sure you're still alive in there. Hear your voice, touch your hand when we pass the book over. I need something from you Akefia, it's killing me how you isolate yourself.

Akefia opens the door but jams his foot in the corner of the other edge, preventing me from opening it wider. I wasn't going to, he really has such little trust in me? He looks even more of a mess than me. Sunken cheekbones frame dark outlines under his eyes more hollow than I've ever seen. He wears only a fluffy blue bathrobe, boxers and slippers. His hair in disarray, longer than his shoulders now and heavy with neglect. He holds the book in his other hand. The fresh new paper makes me remember its illicit origins. I don't even like that he pirates shows, can I read a stolen book?

He hands it out to me and I take it. Our hands don't touch, there's no spark that makes everything alright again. Instead he just starts closing his door. I grab the edge of it and hold it firmly halfway open, not letting him cut me off. "What can I do to fix this?" I ask plainly. If Akefia is going to be literal and blunt, I am too.

"I don't think there's anything you can do, Marik," he shakes his head, the steely gaze softens. He's just as miserable as I am. He's saddened by this just as much as me. How did I miss the red circles around his eyes? "I had trust issues, you knew that. And you broke my trust time and time again. I don't know how you can possibly fix that,"

"I... I thought I was making progress with your trust thing,"

"Until you reversed all that progress by invading my privacy," the scowl is back, emotion drained from his voice. He grips the door handle firmly again.

"I'm sorry!" I cry desperately. "I was confused, I wasn't thinking,"

"Yeah you weren't," In my moment caught off guard he slams the door closed, a distinct locking from the other side. Here I am the same place I was when I met Akefia. Trapped on the other side of the door.

I don't hear Yugi until he arrives on this level. He was looking down at his MacBook but stops when he notices me standing there. "Oh, hi Marik," he gives me a sympathetic smile. He doesn't know the full story but he knows some of it. The small person just wants to help and I admire his kind countenance. If only it could be used on someone who deserves it.

"You have a calming voice. You know, you'd be a great emergency call operator,"

Whatever he expected me to say, it wasn't that. "Thank you?" he chuckles, looking me over. I look pathetic I know - so alone. "Hey, do you want to come to the museum with us this weekend? I heard they're unveiling an entire diplodocus skeleton!"

"Really?"

"Yeah, its name is Dippy!"

"Wait, did you say 'us'?" I furrow my brow in confusion. There's no way in Hell I'm going on a pity outing to be the third wheel on a date with Yami.