***Here y'guys go. The ending. Next Monday will be a Thiefshipping AU one shot. Have a great week, everyone!***

"I love when you come home from work because you smell like fresh bread." Ryou nuzzled against Mariku's hair and sucked deep breaths through his nose to catch the warm bakery scent.

They sat on the sofa, watching an old Hitchcock film, The Birds, while waiting for delivery food. It was their Friday tradition.

Mariku wrapped his arm around Ryou's shoulder and pulled them tight together. Ryou blushed, more interested in the warm, solid feel of Mariku's body than in a movie he'd already seen. Kissing was no longer a struggle between them, and Ryou felt relieved. He didn't like holding back affection of any kind, and it was good to be able to express himself without restrictions

He noticed other changes is Mariku as well. He no longer had nightmares, no longer talked about violence, and no longer referred to himself as an alter ego except in the past tense. Watching Mariku develop and accept his own humanity was like watching a time lapse film of a rose blooming.

And watching Mariku heal from a broken past that was only ever half his made Ryou feel like the same could happen to him. Thus, Ryou's nightmares - the Millennium Eye, Slifer, Zorc - diminished, and on the occasional night when Ryou did wake up sweat-dewed and panicked, it helped that a huge set of arms would always hold him while Mariku's voice hushed him back to sweeter dreams.

Their dinner arrived, and they finished the movie while they ate egg rolls and fried rice. Ryou's phone beeped, and as he checked it, he frowned.

"What is it?" Mariku asked.

"Um… nothing."

"Ryou Bakura, you're horrible at lying."

Ryou smiled and then sighed. "It was just Yugi wanting me to go to the movies with him and the gang next weekend, but don't worry, I'll think of a reason not to go."

Mariku stared at half an eaten egg roll. "You should go."

Ryou shook his head. "I see them every Monday."

Mariku smiled. "You see me every day."

Ryou finished his food and leaned against Mariku's shoulder. "I know."

"So you should go."

Ryou frowned. "I don't know. I really like our weekends together."

"It's just a few hours."

"It won't even be a scary movie. They'll probably pick an action movie."

"But you have to admit." Mariku shifted on the sofa so he could give teasing nips to the tender skin lining Ryou's throat. "If you leave in the afternoon, it'll be even better when you see me that evening."

Ryou sighed, closing his eyes and giving Mariku free reign of his neck, grateful that Mariku no longer ran away whenever they grew close. "To be honest, I'd probably just daydream about this - about you - the entire time."

"I like that idea." Mariku moved his mouth Ryou's ear, sucking on the lobe. "That I'm the one you think about even when you're with them."

"I always think about you," Ryou muttered, looking away in embarrassment.

Mariku ran his fingers across the streak of coral highlighting Ryou's cheek. "I could really use a nap right about now."

Ryou's heart sped up. A nap never meant a nap. His voice was quiet, weak with eagerness. "Let's go."

Mariku snatched Ryou's hand and half-dragged him down the hall. They ended in front of their bed, tearing the clothes from their bodies and falling to the mattress. Ryou ground hard and fast into Mariku's hips, desperate for as much pressure as he could get against his cock.

"Ryou," Mariku growled, jerking his hips with the same desperate fervor. "Ryou, I need more."

Ryou grabbed the lube, pouring it onto their bellies to make their movements slippery. Mariku grit his teeth, his jaw locked in frustration, his moans high-pitched, almost pained.

"More!"

Ryou couldn't move any faster or harder. In his own frenzy, he already gave everything he had, wanting, wanting, needing, to cum.

"I need more," Mariku demanded, begged.

Ryou shook his head. Not knowing what else to do, he grabbed Mariku and stroked him, hoping the direct stimulation would please his partner, but it didn't. Mariku whined at the touch, pushing Ryou away only to climb into Ryou's lap.

"More." His breath was hot on Ryou's face, the veins in his neck popped out from the strain he put on his jaw.

Ryou opened his mouth to ask Mariku what he meant when Mariku pressed himself against the tip of Ryou's cock. Ryou's nails dug into the scars on Mariku's back, and he screamed as the pressure overwhelmed him. He felt a giving way of flesh as he pressed past the initial tightness and into the warmth of Mariku's body.

Mariku grunted, wasting no time to adjust and rocking in Ryou's lap with deranged jerks of his hips.

"Ma-Mari-k-ku!" Ryou cried out, already trembling, already climbing. It had been so fast, so fast a switch between familiar touching and actual love-making that Ryou couldn't stop the swelling in his loins. He felt his shaft twitching, his nails sinking deeply into flesh, his orgasm consuming everything inside him. Ryou screamed. He screamed and screamed and happy tears filled his eyes, though he didn't shed them.

Mariku stayed in Ryou's lap. He rocked his body even after Ryou slipped out, and he stroked himself.

Ryou kissed Mariku's chest, fondling his pectorals, biceps, and shoulders, trying to help push Mariku to the edge, embarrassed that he'd finished so soon. "I'm sorry. You caught me off guard. I-I wasn't ready for that,"

"Shhhh. Shhhh. Just touch me, Ryou."

Ryou obeyed, sliding his fingers along Mariku's sides, around the curves of his hips, and up and down his thighs. Mariku's fingers found Ryou's hair and he tugged at it with his left hand, right hand still stroking. Ryou gave a soft cry when Mariku pulled his hair; he rather liked the feeling.

"Harder," Ryou whispered. Knowing Marik felt self-conscious about bedroom violence, Ryou usually tried to keep things gentle, but at the moment he couldn't help himself.

The muscles in Mariku's chest bulged as did his biceps. Mariku was an exotic, golden beast and Ryou wanted to feel the strength of him as he bucked and swayed in Ryou's lap. Mariku growled, adding tension to his grip on Ryou's hair. He leaned forward, biting and sucking at Ryou's throat just as he'd done after their first kiss. Ryou moaned, sinking his nails into Mariku's outer thighs He'd yearned for all of this - hair pulling, biting, Mariku thrashing in Ryou's lap, and sweat glazing their skin - he yearned for it, dreamed it, fantasized about it alone in the shower, but he feared he'd never have it.

Mariku muffled a scream, and Ryou felt sticky warmth spill onto his stomach. Mariku shrank close to Ryou's chest, and Ryou held him as tightly as his slender arms could manage.

"Don't run away," Ryou begged into his hair.

"I don't have to listen to you - you apologized again."

"Let's take a shower and then try again."

Mariku looked up. "Really?"

"I'd really like to."

Mariku tilted Ryou's head to the side, examining the bruise on Ryou's throat.

"I'll just wear a sweater," Ryou said, smiling. "It was worth it."

"You weren't afraid?" Mariku whispered.

"Were you?"

A thoughtful look crossed Mariku's face. "I'm still not sure if I know the difference, but it's been so long since I've killed anyone, I think I'm forgetting what that feels like."

"I hope you forget forever." Ryou combed his fingers through Mariku's hair. "Not because I'm afraid, but because I want your life to be better than violence."

"Hey creampuff?"

Ryou kissed his temple. "Yeah?"

"Didn't you mention something about a shower?"

"I don't think that's all I mentioned."

Mariku grinned. "Then let's hurry."

Ryou laughed. "You made me wait all this time and now you're impatient?"

Mariku sprang off of the bed. "I never pretended I was as virtuous as you."

Ryou followed Mariku into the bathroom, admiring the way his back muscles defied the scars covering his skin by rising and sloping into beautiful sculptures that drew the eye away from the married flesh and demanded the eye notice Mariku as a whole instead of a part. Ryou made sure he stepped behind Mariku in the shower so he could kiss the contours of Mariku's back as his white fingers snuck across Mariku's firm, toned belly.

They only rinsed off in the shower, spending most of their time kissing this or that of each other. They waited until they were both hard again, and then turned off the water. Ryou dried himself. The tips of his hair were damp, but since he hadn't washed it, most of the white mess remained dry.

Mariku nipped Ryou's ear. "Ready?"

Ryou felt moths fluttering inside his stomach. It reminded him of the killer's room from Silence of the Lambs. He nodded, licking his lips. Mariku stared at Ryou, his eyes rich, purple velvet. He lifted Ryou into the air and carried him back to their bedroom.

Ryou brushed his nose across Mariku's cheek. "I used to hate when you picked me up."

"I know." Mariku set Ryou down on the mattress.

"I thought you did it because you thought I was weak."

Mariku shook his head no, settling down beside Ryou and kissing his swan-white shoulders. Ryou sighed, shutting his eyes a moment and enjoying the feel of Mariku's lips on his skin.

He grabbed Mariku's shoulders and flipped their bodies so that Ryou lay on top. "Yeah, I know that now."

He dragged his lips across Mariku's until the other male moaned. Ryou's mouth snaked down Mariku's throat and chest, his abs and pelvis, and his kissing trail ended at Mariku's entrance. His tongue moved in slow, broad arches. Mariku's hips twitched with each flick of Ryou's tongue. Small twinges at first, but as Ryou deepened each lick, Mariku's hips began to roll, trying to snatch as much feeling as he could. When light, airless moans accompanied the lulling of Mariku's hips, Ryou grabbed the bottle of lube still on the bed.

Mariku shook his head when Ryou started prepping him. "Skip that."

"But I don't want to make it hurt."

Mariku turned away. "I do. At least a little."

Ryou pursed his lips, thinking. He pulled his hand away and pushed into Mariku's body, sinking deep until they lay face-to-face. "Pull my hair again when you cum."

Mariku's cheeks flared and his eyes glinted like a steel blade in streetlight. He combed his fingers through the white gauze of Ryou's hair. He nodded, and Ryou could tell by his face that he was okay with the idea. Ryou closed his eyes and experimented with moving his hips.

Mariku grabbed his hips, forcing Ryou to push faster. He sighed and allowed Mariku to set their pace. Each thrust was rewarded with tight, hot flesh squeezing Ryou's cock. He struggled to breath, heartbeat rattling against his ribcage. They moved, on and on, in continuing ecstasy until Mariku was near-tearing Ryou's hair out and screaming in orgasm. Ryou blushed at the sounds, breathing with quick, irregular gasps. Mariku's arms fell limp around Ryou's neck and he held Ryou.

Ryou slowed down, trying to catch his breath, close but tired and sore from their movements. Ryou shifted, giving his knees greater purchase against the bedsheets. The rocking of his hips slowed. Mariku gasped with each thrust, squeezing his legs around Ryou's body.

Ryou held his breath and curled against Mariku's chest as he finished. His limbs shook and his breathing came in gasps. "Mariku."

He combed his fingers through Ryou's hair again. "Did I pull too hard?"

Ryou shook his head. "No. That was lovely." He smiled. "All of it. Every moment of it."

A shaky smile played on Mariku's face, as if he wasn't quite sure how Ryou survived the experience.

"Hey." Ryou traced the outline of Mariku's mouth. "You alright?"

He shook his head no. "Happy. I'm too happy."

Ryou smiled, brushing his nose along the curve of Mariku's temple. "There's no such thing as too happy."

"I... never thought... I-I'd get to be - th-this close to anyone." Mariku's words fragmented into tears. He brought his fists up to his eyes and tried to knead them away from his face.

Ryou grabbed him in a tight hug, petting his sun-tipped spears of hair, allowing the emotion to flood out.

"Of course," Ryou whispered. "Of course we're close. Mariku, I love you."

He clung to Ryou's shoulders, too emotional to echo the words, but Ryou didn't need words. He could tell how Mariku felt by the way his fingers dug into Ryou's skin, and by the heat of his tears. They held each other until they fell asleep, and when they woke up, Ryou made ramen for dinner and they ate it while watching Paprika.

The next morning, Ryou only half-awoke as Mariku kissed his face, whispering I love you as he slipped out of the apartment to go to work. Ryou muttered nonsense in return and fell back asleep until his own alarm woke him. He'd missed several texts from Yugi, and had to use video games as a cover for why he'd stopped answering the phone. Although, Ryou couldn't help but giggle at the thought of texting back the truth.

Sorry I ignored you, Yugi, but I was cuddling on the couch with Marik's darkside.

Sorry I ignored you, Yugi, but I was taking the virginity of Marik's darkside.

Sorry I ignored you, Yugi, but I'm in love with Mariku and I don't want to watch a stupid action movie this weekend when I could be at home eating cream puffs and watching Ichi.

Ichi had a scene where a man suspended by hooks gets tortured. It wasn't the kind of film Ryou could enjoy with just anyone. Miike-level violence made his other friends squeamish. Only Mariku found the same joy in horror as Ryou did.

The fantasy was amusing; however, the resulting drama wouldn't be, so Ryou stuck with the gaming excuse.

So are you going to meet us tomorrow?

Ryou sighed through his nose.

Yup! I'll meet you at the theatre.

Great, see you at 2.

Time dragged by slow for Ryou. When he was finally free, he stopped by the store. He wanted to make something special for dinner, blushing as he thought of Mariku calling out the night before, and aching as he thought of the tears that followed.

When Ryou walked into the apartment he heard the shower running. Ryou smiled, sneaking into the kitchen to make dinner before Mariku finished washing. He had both plates on the table and was soaking the wok when Mariku walked into the kitchen wearing only boxers and drying his crazy hair with a towel.

"Smells good."

Ryou smiled, trying not to stare at the cut of Mariku's muscles or the way they moved as he walked. "Extra spicy."

"Are you?" Mariku asked with the corner of his mouth raised in a crooked smirk.

Ryou felt the fire on his cheeks. He sat down in front of the stir fry. "Find out."

Mariku's smirk turned into a large, greedy smile. He sat down, started eating, but kept a hungry gaze on Ryou the entire time. The look made shivers crawl across Ryou's skin. He fought to swallow each bite, suddenly not hungry for spicy beef and thai chilis.

"It's good."

"Thank you," Ryou muttered as if out of breath.

They tried to watch TV, but their arms kept brushing together, sending jolts down Ryou's stomach. He squirmed for a few minutes, trying to focus on the commercial of a guy tossing noodles into a pot.

Ryou jumped to his feet, grabbing Mariku's arm and pulling him to his feet. "Bedroom. Right now."

"Read my fucking mind."

They raced to their bedroom, stripping off their own clothes in a rush and then grabbing each other at once. Ryou pushed Mariku towards their bed, but they somehow missed their mark and ended up on the floor next to the bed. Mariku straddled Ryou's waist and neither of them bothered pushing themselves up to the bed.

Ryou reached up and behind him, catching the nightstand drawer with his fingers and dragging it open, but he couldn't reach the bottle of lube inside. Mariku lunged forward, grabbed the bottle, and started to pour the cold liquid on Ryou's erection. He spent a few moments teasing Ryou, bobbing up and down against Ryou's head before plunging down his shaft and calling out. Mariku's moan made everything tighten from Ryou's stomach to his balls.

Ryou lay limp and relaxed on the carpet, watching Mariku bounce on top of him. Mariku's every movement was quick, desperate, and greedy. The way he stroked himself, the way his lion's mane of hair whipped to and fro from his rocking, the way his pectorals tightened and the veins in his neck swelled - every detail about Mariku was expression shaped into flesh. Ryou closed his eyes in an attempt to calm his own lust or he'd finish too soon again.

Then Mariku was grabbing Ryou by the hair, pulling him into a sitting position. He stayed in Ryou's lap, bouncing a little slower in order to bite Ryou's neck, his nails scoring down Ryou's shoulder.

A timid growl shook Ryou's throat. The teeth and nails against his skin made Ryou feel an odd sort of possessiveness for Mariku. Ryou slapped the hand Mariku used to stroke himself away so that he could stroke Mariku instead. Mariku gave his own growl, deep and trembling against the skin of Ryou's neck. Mariku used the other hand to dig into Ryou's lower back, sending more delightful, stinging shivers down Ryou's spine.

Ryou felt Mariku twitch against his palm and knew he was on the edge of climax, so Ryou stopped holding back, focusing on the heat and pressure engulfing his own erection and climaxing seconds before Mariku.

When all the eager energy poured from their bodies they sat together like two marionettes with their strings knotted together and stared at each other with stupid expressions on their faces. Mariku's eyes flicked over to Ryou's shoulder, burning with scratches.

"Don't you dare apologize," Ryou whispered, his voice harsh from heavy breathing.

Mariku grinned. "You're one to talk."

Ryou rested his forehead against Mariku's chest. "Well? You never let me get away with it, when I do apologize."

They sat in silence, listening to their breathing.

"I'm okay," Mariku whispered, as if he knew how much Ryou wanted to hear the words.

"Really?"

"Yeah. It's okay. I think... I'm starting to figure out the difference."

"It's okay... if we need to slow down again."

Mariku grabbed Ryou's chin and lifted up his head, kissing him. Ryou closed his eyes, exhaling through his nose and concentrating on the feel of his lips against Mariku's. Mariku traced his fingers up Ryou's cheekbones, slipping them into Ryou's long hair. "Don't slow down," his voice barely reached Ryou's ear, "and don't hold back. I finally feel human enough to have..." He stared in Ryou's maroon eyes. "All the things I never knew I wanted for myself." He gave Ryou a bashful smile, pressing his lips one last time to Ryou's. "Instead of acting out Marik's desires... I finally have my own."