Work Text:
Steven Grant’s most recent customer seemed a bit… odd.
Now, Steven didn’t want to be rude and far be it from him to judge the people who came into the museum’s gift shop, but there was something different about this young man, something that didn’t sit right with him. Maybe it was how he moved, or it could be the way his dark coat wrapped around his pale, thin frame like it was cloaking him in wisps of shadow.
Or maybe he was just going mental. He wouldn’t really be surprised at this point.
Steven busied himself at the register as the customer perused the shop but kept sneaking glances. Out of curiosity, if nothing else.
The young man looked like a university student. He had long white hair that trailed down his back. Besides the long coat, he wore jeans and a simple blue jumper. A most unusual accessory was fastened around his neck by a brown leather cord. It was gold, or at least it looked gold and would have been at home with many other exhibits at this museum. An outside ring enclosed a triangle, at the centre of which stood a stylized eye. Five tines hung from the ring, ending in five sharp points.
The customer examined several sections of the gift shop but settled by the Taweret plushies. He lifted one into the air and muttered something to himself, stifling a laugh. Steven wondered if he was on a call, but he didn’t see any kind of earpiece. Steven also realized he had been staring too long, so he looked for another task to keep his attention. He didn’t want to be rude, even if the young man was a little weird.
After a few minutes, the customer approached the register, hippo toy in hand. Steven greeted him with a customer service smile, but before he could speak, the young man stated emphatically, “This place needs more snakes.”
“Pardon?” Steven asked, but the customer had already continued.
“To protect the exhibits, of course. And also to liven the place up. It does seem to be dreadfully dull in here. Nothing compared to an actual tomb; those have traps which make things much more interesting.”
Steven recalled that Ancient Egyptians used snakes as a symbol of protection. “Do you mean live snakes or just pictures or something else?” Also, he was very much not the person to talk to about this; he just worked in the gift shop, and even if he was a tour guide like he wanted, they didn’t deal with the acquisition of exhibits, much less snakes.
The young man tapped at his chin. “I guess it really doesn’t matter.” He shook his head. “That’s not why I’m here anyway.”
“At the gift shop or the museum?”
“Yes!” The young man extended his hand. “I’m Ryou Bakura. Call me Ryou; it’s much less confusing that way.”
Steven shook the offered hand. “Steven Grant. Steven with a “V” if it’s not too much of a bother. What can I do for you, Ryou?”
Ryou hummed. “Have you worked here long?”
“A bit, yeah.”
Ryou nodded, running a finger down his leather cord. “And have you noticed anything odd here during that time? Any glowing artefacts? Maybe a particularly rowdy sarcophagus?”
It would be rude to question the sanity of a customer, so Steven didn’t. “Nothing that I’ve seen.” Steven looked down at the artefact around Ryou’s neck, and curiosity got the better of him. “What’s that then?”
Disappointment from Steven’s answer gave way to excitement in Ryou’s red eyes. “Oh, this is the Millennium Ring. It’s very cursed.”
“Is it authentic?” Steven brushed past the curse comment.
Ryou nodded. “It’s over three thousand years old.”
“And you just carry it around? Something like that should be in a museum, shouldn’t it?”
“No, it shouldn’t,” Ryou stated simply. He pushed the Taweret plushie closer to Steven so that he could ring it up. Steven handed the toy back in a plastic bag.
“I guess we came here for nothing then. Thank you for your help.” Ryou turned away, then paused and muttered, “No, I guess you’re right. We can do that next.” Then he walked away, not giving Steven a second glance.
This encounter turned out to be a portend of more unusual things to come.
“Hiding in the bathroom until closing, do you really have to be such an amateur?” The spirit condescended, floating in the air with red eyes glowing faintly.
Ryou pulled on a pair of dark gloves, the material fitting snugly over his fingers. “We’re not here to steal, just to investigate,” he emphasized. “And you said you’d let me do this my way.”
The spirit rolled his eyes. “I wouldn’t have if I’d known you would be so boring, Yadonushi.” He let out a dramatic breath of air. “It’s probably nothing anyway; the Ring’s just acting up.”
Ryou pulled a handful of cards from his pocket and flipped through them. “You’re just pissy because Marik’s away visiting his sister,” he said. The spirit snorted, vehemently denying the claim. The spectral form of a large white snake curled around Ryou’s shoulders, his tongue flicking at Ryou’s cheek. Ryou giggled softly.
“Hello, Diabound. Are you ready in case there’s trouble?” Ryou patted the creature’s head, and a steady hiss of air broadcasted his agreement.
Bakura scoffed. “There’s not going to be trouble; it’s a bloody—“ Bakura stilled at the same time that Diabound raised his white-scaled head. “Fuck, something’s happening. Smells like a bloody crocodile.”
Ryou walked past the bathroom stalls with a teasing smile, tilting his head. “Then it’s a good thing I don’t listen to you,” he said, passing through the door.
Ryou stuck to the shadows, letting Diabound’s power flow over him, concealing him from view. A growl reverberated through the air, and a voice echoed over the intercom.
“Steven Grant of the gift shop. Give me the scarab, and you won’t be torn apart.”
Ooh, that sounds like a fun time.
“Focus, Landlord.”
An object flew past Ryou, followed by a monstrous jackal-like creature. “Diabound, go protect the nice gift shop fellow,” he whispered, drawing out a spell card. “Change of Heart.” Ryou’s form flickered back into view as the large snake slid from his shoulders. An apparition of a half-light, half-dark maiden materialized and flew into the jackal, a faint glow suffusing the creature. Ryou felt the slight pull of magic draining from his reserves.
He heard the bark of a second jackal and turned. “Go get him, boy,” he ordered. His jackal growled, eyes glinting, and rushed the newcomer.
“That spell’s not going to last long.”
I know what I’m doing, Bakura.
Ryou drew out two more cards. He lifted the first into the air and called, “Headless Knight: Defense.” A shiny suit of armour with a fancy cape appeared in front of Ryou, raising its impractically large sword. The tangle of spindly limbs that made up the two jackals separated as Ryou’s spell faded. Ryou played his magic across the back of the second card.
Ryou heard the panicked voice of the gift shop employee a short distance away as the two jackal beasts approached. He crossed his arms and tapped a foot, feigning impatience. “Well, I haven’t got all day.” He thought for a second. “Or night, rather.” One of the beasts growled low in his throat and charged his knight. Ryou held up the card in his hand. “Mirror Force.” The jackal’s form shattered against the protective bubble, and the second creature disappeared with it.
“Those didn’t look like crocodiles to me, Bakura,” Ryou said, some petulance leaking into his tone.
Bakura remained silent for a few moments. “Call back Diabound, Yadonushi. We’ve got a bit of an issue.”
“How could anybody be afraid of him? He’s got such a sweet face!”
“He’s a giant fucking snake, Ryou.”
“I know! And he’s adorable.”
Diabound bobbed his head from his place wrapped around Ryou’s shoulders, flicking out his tongue. Ryou paused at the door of the employee bathroom, hearing the muffled sound of someone shouting.
“I’m not giving you control!” And wasn’t that a familiar sentiment. Ryou raised his fist to the door and knocked. The voice stuttered and went silent.
The door slowly creaked open, revealing the dishevelled face of Steven Grant. His brown eyes widened as he caught sight of Diabound. Then he turned to the bathroom mirror and yelled, “Shut up! I need to think.”
Ryou held out his hands placatingly. “You don’t have to be afraid of Diabound. He doesn’t bite unless I tell him to.” Ryou tilted his head to the side. “Ancient Egyptian spirit or alternate personality?” he asked.
Steven Grant swallowed and looked back at Ryou. “What?” he asked, a slight waver in his voice.
Ryou stepped into the bathroom, letting the door close behind him. He smiled pleasantly. “I was just wondering who you were talking to. I’ve seen both.”
“I-I don’t know.” Steven tugged at a strand of dark curly hair. “I just keep hearing a voice and waking up in strange places, and these people are after me, and there’s something about a scarab…” He let out a breath. “I just don’t know.”
Ryou hummed, leaning back against a washbasin. “I know what you mean. That used to happen to me, too.” Steven looked up, surprise flickering across his face. “Just talk to them, the voice, I mean. Maybe they’re friendly and just trying to help. Or maybe they’re evil, and you must go on a journey to fight the darkness inside yourself.” Ryou let out an airy chuckle. “Or something like that anyway.”
“Fuck you too.”
Ryou pulled out a piece of paper and scribbled his number onto it. He held out the paper, and Steven took it, looking it over. “I’ve got a lot of experience with Ancient Egyptian shenanigans, so call if you’re in trouble, and I’ll see what I can do. Besides, my boyfriend’s out of town at the moment, so I could use the distraction.” He smiled again and bowed. “It was nice to see you again, but I’ve got class in the morning, so I’d better make sure I get some sort of sleep tonight.” Ryou spun on his heel and disappeared through the wall.
“You sure about that? That bloke looks like he’s in some deep shit.”
“Why, Bakura. Weren’t you just complaining about being bored?” Ryou asked innocently.
The spirit chuckled. “Fair enough, Yadonushi. You’ve got me there.”
Alone in the bathroom, Steven stared into his reflection.
“He’s right, you know. We should talk,” the voice said.
Steven ran a hand down his face. “Alright, I’ll hear you out.”