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Bakura was laying down catching up to his favorite series on his phone. Meanwhile, Malik was resting naked against him, napping after the amazing sex they just had. Bakura could still feel his skin tingle deliciously at the memory. It was the best way to spend a Saturday evening.
However, it was his appetite that decided to ruin the pleasant atmosphere of the moment, his belly growling and demanding food. The thought of getting up felt too much of a task, but the more time passed the louder his empty stomach complained.
Defeated by his own body, Bakura carefully untangled one of his lover's arms from his waist and retrieved his underwear that had been tossed away in a far corner of the bed, walking towards the kitchen.
He didn't have the energy to cook something. He thought of making popcorn to go along with his marathon of horror and blood but three minutes felt too long to wait for food. When he opened the fridge he almost thanked some God for finding some leftover pizza.
Unlike his partner, he didn't have any problem with eating cold food and in his opinion, a good pizza is still good even if it's cold. He also grabbed one of the fruity alcohol drinks Malik liked to buy since he hated the taste of regular beer. Artificial kiwi flavor goes well mixed with alcohol.
As much as he would love to go back to the warm comfort of his bed he had the brain to go sit on the couch and turn on the tv, particularly to use it as a source of dim light, repetitive commercials trying to sell dubious quality products were beginning to showcase. Bakura had also turned down the volume to a minimum so he wouldn't wake up the other boy but none of that did the trick, as he was biting on the second pizza slice he heard light footsteps coming to the living room.
Malik appeared, a pair of boxer briefs and a navy blue shirt now covering his skin. He rubbed at his face trying to regain his sight, a yawn escaped him followed by a gentle smile when he finally spotted Bakura.
"Why are you awake?" Bakura inquired softly, mouth full with food.
"I couldn't feel you anymore, so I thought you had already left."
"Nah, I was just hungry. You didn’t sleep that much, it is still night."
Malik seemed surprised, taking on what he had said but the confusion quickly disappeared. He sat next to Bakura, using his shoulder as a pillow, which made the other laugh.
"Missed me that much?" Bakura mocked.
"I just sleep better when I'm with you." He confessed.
Bakura glanced down to take in the sight of a Malik at peace, with no worries and no fears. In the night the world is just the both of them.
"I'll finish this quickly."
"'s okay."
Malik gave him a soft kiss on his shoulder and stroked his arm reassuringly, running his nails gently along it. The action sparked an exquisite chill that ran through all of Bakura's body; he had to suppress a moan trying to escape his mouth.
Even after he had finished his food they stayed there on the couch for a couple more minutes, not paying attention to the lady on the screen, just basking in the company of each other. It was only when Bakura started to feel cold again he made a motion with his body for them to go back to their bedroom.
"I'll just clean, I'll be there in a minute."
"Okay."
Malik squeezed their hands together, not wanting to leave without him but he could survive long enough for a hygiene routine. It is not that he was clingy, but in the dark, there was no one he could trust but Bakura to help him subsidize his fear of the shadows. It was true that his sleep had become better with Bakura at his side, occasional nightmares would wake him up but when he opened his eyes and saw his partner holding him tightly he knew he was safe.
He took his place under the bed covers and closed his eyes as he waited. He followed on the 'click' sounds of lights switches and doors opening and closing, he kept them closed still when he felt the bed dipped on one side but Bakura instead climbed on top of him, both legs trapping him. Malik blinked his eyes open in surprise and stared back at him.
"Hey there." Bakura saluted with a smug grin on his face.
"What are you doing?" Malik giggled, unexpected to have him on top of him. Not that the position was unwelcome, under other circumstances he absolutely loved having him there.
But Bakura shrugged. Malik should be used to this man's spontaneous actions, but no matter the time together, it still surprised him. Bakura leaned down, started to kiss Malik's face, almost worshipping him. Malik couldn't help the sudden blush and shiver that spread through his face and body, a moan reverberating in his throat. He had no plans to stop Bakura any time soon.
To his disappointment, it didn't go further than that. Bakura retreated with a gentle kiss on his lips and rolled on his back, taking his side of the bed and pressing Malik closer to his body.
"Go to sleep, you have work in the morning." Malik lectured him as if he was a rebellious kid.
"So you do, princess ."
Malik sighed again and rolled his eyes, a rebellious kid indeed. "Sleep then."
Bakura didn't say anything else, pale fingers began drawing circles on Malik's back, it was barely noticeable but Malik appreciated the feathery touch. Just as he was starting to doze off he heard Bakura telling him something that he didn't quite catch.
"What?"
"I said, I think we should get married."
"Huh?" Malik got up, supporting his weight on his forearms to look at Bakura, astonished.
"I don't want any fancy party and signing papers is a hassle but, I guess that's how people do it these days. Would you like to go to the beach?" Bakura spoke, so blatantly casual as if he was talking about their breakfast options for the morning rather than a wedding.
"Bakura… what?! "
"Can we marry here? In this city I mean." The hand that had been stroking his back moved to delicately comb his golden hair.
"Bakura, this isn't a very complicated plan to get things for free or just go to the beach, is it?"
"Wait, if we tell people they give us things?!"
Was this really the only thing that surprised him?
"Bakura…” Malik called with a serious and exasperated tone that announced that he needed to stop playing pranks on him.
"Ok, ok but what I said. Yeah, I wanna marry you."
For the following seconds, Malik didn’t say a word, contemplating and waiting for Bakura to start laughing and call it all a joke. But that rebuttal never came.
"Ummm, why?"
It wasn't what Malik really wanted to say but a part of him was filling up with doubt, incredulity reflecting in his eyes and yet Bakura was looking at him, pensively, gathering his thoughts before speaking.
"Would you not want to? It's fine if you don't, we don't need government papers I just thought… I don't know, I wanted to become official?… mmgh, no, it's…"
"Become… a family, maybe?"
"Yeah! Well, I think I've been officially part of your family by now, I considered it happened after your sister included me on the family chat and stopped trying to blackmail me when your birthday was approaching."
Bakura sounded far too proud of that little achievement when in truth it had been Malik who pleaded to his sister to treat him better, just as he had pleaded to Bakura to stop being so rude to her. The comment made him huff a laugh, he was happy that they both had trusted him and they had surpassed the hostile and aggressive interactions they had with each other in the past.
"Bakura, do you want to be an Ishtar?" The blond inquired with a still dumbfounded expression.
"I don't remember my name, at all, and we've already accepted it is lost in time forever. And it is weird and confusing when I'm hanging out with Ryou."
"So you just wanted a new surname, I see." Malik turned his head with faked sorrow in his voice.
"It's the fastest way to get one!" Bakura teased back but deflected quickly. "But it's not just that, mmm…"
Bakura didn't know how to explain everything that he wanted to express and why he wanted it. He grabbed Malik's hand and toyed with his ring finger. He had promised to himself to be away from rings and old jewelry, he was tired, not wanting to be tied again to any of those things or curse himself on accident. It wasn’t that he needed any of those physical proof of what they were but maybe, all he needed was confirmation from Malik. No rings, papers, or expensive ceremonies, he just wanted to hear if Malik felt the same way towards him, if he wanted this for as long as they could have it just as much as Bakura wanted it. To keep what they had been building up together all these years.
"So, the beach?" Malik spoke, breaking the sudden reverie Bakura had fallen into.
"I don't remember when was the last time I saw the ocean."
"It's just a lot of water but I remember the freedom I felt when I first saw it. It was exciting." Malik confessed feeling nostalgic about the memory.
"So water excites you."
"Shut up! Says the one who wants to fuck in the shower."
There it was, back to their usual banter.
"It saves time." Bakura continued.
"If I wanted to save time I'll do it myself alone or not at all, it's not the same if I have to hurry when I'm with you, I don't enjoy it… as much."
Malik repositioned to rest his head on Bakura's chest. Neither spoke for a while and Bakura almost thought Malik had fallen asleep again.
"I want to get married." The Egyptian admitted timidly.
"Mmm, so sudden. What gave you the idea?" The ex-spirit joked.
"Asshole." He pinched Bakura's side and shook his head as he carried on.
"I want a party after we sign those official documents, you'll take my name and you'll carry me like the brides in those romantic movies you hate but still watch when they are on tv, we'll invite people we know and they must bring a gift or they won't be allowed to enter the party. After twenty minutes we'll leave them to get drunk or whatever. I have better plans for that night."
"Ditching your own party, mischievous." Bakura laughed, already imagining that day and how ready to comply he was.
"It is my wedding. I can do whatever I want."
"Tsk, sure you can your highness." He knew that once Malik had his mind settled on something it was hard to make him change his mind, he was the same.
"That's a yes, by the way, just in case it wasn't clear."
"Good, because sometimes your plans are confusing."
“Let's just go back to sleep, silly.”
“Mmhh”. Bakura agreed as he was already closing his eyes and by the rhythm of his breathing, Malik could tell he had already nodded off.
Silly Bakura, not only stealing his heart but his ideas. Malik had been planning for a good place and occasion to ask for the same thing and yet Bakura had surprised him, doing it before him. He did it so effortlessly but confidently, as if he already knew the answer deep down. And he was right, he often was. They would probably have been together for the rest of their lives and the next, ceremony or not.