Work Text:
It happened out of nowhere, while visiting Jonouchi and Malik at their apartment.
“Where are the tongs?”
“What?”
“The tongs, Katsuya. You did the dishes.”
Jonouchi made a face and headed into the kitchen, leaving Mai at the table with her drink. The interaction was so domestic and she had never wanted to be domestic in her life. Excluding perhaps a couple times when she was a child and hadn’t understood what domestics truly entailed.
Girls were supposed to dream about such things, after all.
The bickering in the kitchen was muted and not heated. In all honesty, it was not much different from when the two weren’t dating. She leaned in her chair, but still could not see into the kitchen. So she stood up, the pretense of needing to stretch her legs, and moved so she could peek in.
They had found the tongs, but Jonouchi was the one using them. Malik had his arms wrapped around Jonouchi from behind, his chin on his shoulder.
Mai wasn’t sure she wanted that either, but she could not deny her envy. For what? Not since she was a teenager had she any interest in dating or settling down. Maybe she was not completely unattached to people like before, but the single life had made her happy.
Why did she suddenly want this?
“Is this how you treat your guests?” she teased, wrapping an arm around her front as she sipped from her glass.
“Only particular ones,” Jonouchi shot back.
“Sorry, Mai. Had to call dibs for a second.” Malik shrugged. He was unafraid of public displays of affection. Jonouchi didn’t seem to mind it either, even if she had never seen him instigate it.
“Sure, hun.” She chuckled. “If it gets dinner done sooner, I’m not complaining.”
Dinner was good. The conversation was fun. Playing cards with the two would always keep her on her toes. Jonouchi’s poker face was better than it used to be, but she never knew if he was having good or bad luck. Malik could be impossible to read.
Yet Mai went home with an ache in her chest. A familiar one. Except this time it wasn’t because she had pushed away all forms of friendship. This was more frustrating, because she had never wanted to be a woman who needed a man.
“But you don’t need one.”
“That’s what I’m saying!” Mai exclaimed into her phone, pacing in her apartment. It was the middle of the night, but it meant Anzu was awake in her current part of the world. “I shouldn’t need a relationship like that. It’s annoying.”
“Not needing one doesn’t mean you don’t want one. It’s different.”
“Not different enough.” Not good enough.
“Mai, you’ve rankled at the thought people might think you aren’t complete and independent on your own. Are you sure you aren’t letting what someone else might think about you dating stop you from checking out something you want?”
Anzu had always been the wise one of the group, but Mai had never thought she would reach the point of getting romantic relationship advice from her. Once again, the younger woman had herself more put together than Mai.
“If you want something, no one should stop you from trying to get it.”
Mai stopped pacing and dropped into a chair. Leaning her head back, she stared at the ceiling. “I can’t believe you’re quoting me at me, hun.”
Anzu laughed. “Someone needed a reminder!”
No one should stop her. Not even her.
“I haven’t dated since I was in high school. How do you do it?”
“I’m not the best person to ask. All my first dates have come out of nowhere.”
Anzu hadn’t been looking for them. Mai was used to people chasing her too, but she didn’t want a man who would chase her while she wasn’t looking. Did she?
“I don’t think you’ll be as passive as me though.”
“Anzu,” Mai said firmly, “no one should ever call you passive. Not even you.”
Yet Anzu was right. If Mai was looking for someone, it was a different vibe from Anzu who had let her dates come to her. Mai had to figure this out on her own.
It did not mean she wouldn’t listen to her friends. Especially the woman she had regarded as a little sister for several years now—ever since Mai had unofficially adopted Jonouchi as her weird younger brother.
Because having siblings was fun and she wished she’d had one before.
As it was a Sunday, the mall was busy. Mai did not mind. Even if she or Jonouchi would get some attention, most of Domino had reached the point of leaving their celebrities be.
“This would be the cutest on you. You have to try it on.”
“Okay!” Shizuka said, taking the top Mai thrust in her direction.
“Jonouchi, take Shizuka’s bag so she can get changed.”
Mai didn’t have to tell him to do so. He was already reaching out for it. He knew what his role was. Sometimes Mai was surprised Jonouchi liked to come to shop with them, considering how much she liked to push him around when he was. Yet he apparently liked joining them on such outings.
“Thank you, Katsuya,” Shizuka said.
Before Jonouchi could say anything, Malik’s voice cut through the sounds of the mall.
“There you all are!”
Mai raised an eyebrow. Not like she minded, but she hadn’t known Malik was joining them today. And not only him, but Rishid.
Jonouchi’s surprise showed she wasn’t the only one. “Hey! What are you two doing here?”
“Work day got cut short.” Malik shrugged. “An electrical issue means one of the alarms keeps going off. They’re fixing it now and I’m trying to get the ringing out of my head. So I thought I’d drop by and buy Shizuka something!”
Shizuka covered her laugh with a hand. “You don’t have to do that…”
“Nonsense! You’re trying on that top? Let’s find something to go with it!”
“Don’t argue with him, hun,” said Mai. “He’s trying to buy his way into your good graces.”
“But… he’s already there.” Shizuka frowned.
It was something to consider about dating. If it went well, Mai would have to ingratiate herself to a boyfriend’s family and friends. Much like he would have to with hers. And her friends could be something at times. There was Yugi, who would befriend anything with a pulse. Then there was Isis, who would stare you down from a distance, coldly polite until she had a reason to be warmer.
Of all the Ishtars, Mai knew Rishid the least. He was quiet and kept to himself. Nice enough, she supposed.
“Make the most of it,” Mai urged.
They found Shizuka a few skirts and leggings which might work with the top. Mai went with Shizuka as she went to the dressing rooms, leaving the boys to chatter.
“You haven’t been dating lately, have you?” Mai asked through the door.
“Wh-Where’d that come from?”
She laughed. “It’s not an interrogation, hun. I’m curious. You know I wouldn’t out you to your brother unless you wanted me to.”
“I-I know that! It was just a surprise.” She heard the muted rustling of Shizuka undressing.
They hadn’t talked about it in a while, Mai supposed. Mai loved poking for gossip with other people’s relationships. She did it to Anzu all the time.
“Anyone have your eye?”
“Not recently. What about you?”
Usually Mai would laugh it off. It was Shizuka’s teasing. This time it opened the avenue of conversation Mai wanted to have with her. “Looking.”
“…what?” The door creaked open and Shizuka’s eyes could barely be seen through the slit. “Say that again?”
“Be nice, hun.” Mai rolled her eyes with a smirk. “I’m thinking of dating. However… I’m not sure where to start.”
Shizuka smiled broadly before the door shut again. “Well, what are you looking for? What will he be like?”
“Well, first of all, he can’t get in the way of me.” She meant everything she was, not exactly all of her actions. Her favourite people in the world now were those who had gotten in her way.
“Of course! That means the same for you, yeah?”
“Depends on him.”
“What else?”
This was the hard part. She glanced out of the changing area where the other three were still talking. Well, how Malik and Jonouchi were talking.
“Probably a more talkative version of Rishid,” Mai decided.
Shizuka laughed, coming out. Mai put her hands on Shizuka’s shoulders to steer her in front of the mirror for them both to examine the outfit.
“It suits you. Malik shares my discerning eye.”
“It’s my favourite out of them,” Shizuka admitted. “I’ll still try the others.”
After checking it out for another ten seconds, Shizuka headed back into the room.
“So… Rishid, huh?”
“Someone like that. Not him.” Mai glanced out. “He’s loyal and patient. You can see the sort of things he’s tried to bring out in Malik. Malik doesn’t spend a lot of time trying to change people around him.” Or act like he was better than everyone, unlike how he was when Mai had first met him. “He also doesn’t put down women. Something Rishid and Isis must have had something to do with.”
From the little she knew about the rest of the family, Malik would not have learnt how to treat people from his father.
“That’s sweet.” From Shizuka’s tone, it was also hilarious. “You should ask him out.”
“Your brother’s boyfriend?” Mai asked, unable to believe Shizuka meant the other (more likely) option.
“Rishid!”
Shizuka came out with the next skirt. Mai had to agree: the first one was the best, but Shizuka should get this one too.
They moved to the mirror again. “I said a more talkative Rishid.”
“Maybe he talks more and you just don’t know it.”
Fair enough.
After deciding what to get Shizuka at this store, they left the changing rooms. Mai strode up to Rishid. She expected a no to a romantic date, but there were other reasons to talk to him more. He was the brother of her best friend’s boyfriend.
“You know, hun, we don’t know each other as well as the others. We should fix that.”
Rishid raised an eyebrow. “I suppose we don’t.”
Mai smirked. “Then it’s a date!”
Jonouchi made his adorable squawk of confusion. Malik was only slightly more coherent.
“What are— what? What?”
“It’s Mai.” Jonouchi put a hand on Malik’s shoulder. “Don’t take it the wrong way.”
“One absolutely, for real, legitimate date,” Mai clarified. “Are you interested?”
Shizuka was stifling her laughter. Mai swallowed hers back as well. If anything, the other two men were more surprised than Rishid. Not like he wasn’t as well.
“Yes.”
It was Mai’s turn to be surprised. Yet the interest pleased her. It was different when someone was interested in her after she asked.
“What?” Malik repeated.
“You’ve got my number, right?” Mai asked.
He did. As they parted ways, with Malik demanding answers from Rishid, Jonouchi did the same to her.
She didn’t have to answer to anyone. If anything, the entire experience would be worth how blown away Jonouchi and Malik were.
Dressing for a date wasn’t hard. Mai always looked amazing. She had no worries about it.
However, she did wonder if she should be nervous or something. This was well out of her wheelhouse. Even if she knew exactly what she wanted to do. Yet Mai did not feel uncomfortable. Perhaps it was because she knew Rishid. Not super well, but well enough. He had ended up closer to where she sat during any of the huge gaming nights at the Mutous. Mainly because of Malik and Jonouchi.
Still.
They were to meet at the restaurant. Rishid had offered to pick her up from home, but allowing it would be a bit much. She couldn’t imagine why he would bother.
He was there when she strode up to the restaurant. As always, he looked amazing. She couldn’t deny it. He usually dressed in plain clothes, but something simple could be sharp and he made it work. From the bits of gold, she wondered if Malik helped with the ensemble. When was the last time she’d noticed any of his earrings.
“Been waiting long?” she asked.
He shook his head.
“I have plenty planned for tonight, so I hope you’ve brought your A-game!” She winked.
Rishid smiled. “I expected nothing less.”
Nice, but quiet. What if Shizuka was wrong and Rishid was this quiet the entire night? How would she handle an entire night of being the conversationalist with no one to bounce off?
It was what the date was for. She could always call it after dinner if she knew it wouldn’t work. Rishid was nice enough he wouldn’t take it personally. At least, she figured he wouldn’t.
Rishid opened the door for her. Mai raised an eyebrow, but entered the restaurant regardless.
The restaurant had a beige and cream aesthetic, with the lighting enough, but still dim enough when not sitting underneath the lights to still feel like it was evening. As they were led to their table, Rishid pulled out her chair.
A door was one thing, but this was ridiculous. She sat down. “I’m not surprised by you being a gentleman, but I don’t give points for old fashioned chivalry.”
He paused just as he was to sit down, then seated himself. “Points?”
Huh, he wasn’t doing it to impress? It would be odd of him to lie about it. She was the one who asked him out, after all.
It had not occurred to her to check the menu beforehand until sitting here. To her relief, there were options. But…
“Are you vegetarian like your brother, Rishid?”
He shook his head. Before she could despair for conversation, he actually continued. “I don’t eat meat often, but not because I avoided it. It does feel like a dish for a special occasion.”
“Is this a special occasion?”
“Of course it is.”
It didn’t take long for them to order. As they waited for their meal, Mai decided to get into the most burning question of all.
“Why did you say yes? I doubt you’ve been waiting to ask me out on a date all this time and all your prayers were answered. I could tell how surprised you were.”
“I was,” Rishid agreed. “Mostly? I’m curious.”
Mai chuckled. It was a good reason.
“Other than curiosity, we should get to know each other better.”
“I had the same thought.” She ran a nail across the tablecloth. “Malik and Jonouchi.”
“You are a member of his family.”
Practically, she would have said, but she knew enough of Rishid’s history by this point to realize perhaps he felt some affinity for her. Her family life wasn’t horrible, even if it hadn’t led her to the best life before she had met a bunch of kids on an island, but her “adopted” siblings were more family than anyone she was blood related with.
“Any other reasons?” She leaned forward, arms on the table. Mai couldn’t help herself. She was used to the one reason men looked at her.
Rishid looked at her. Mai could not tell if he kept himself at eye level by force or not.
“You are gorgeous.”
She heard it all the time. From friends it raised her ego. From strangers it usually annoyed her. It didn’t do either right now. Mai had been egging him on, after all. It didn’t sound less sincere.
“Most people say that at the start of a date.” She guessed. They did in all the movies and books.
“I thought you said you had more planned. Isn’t this the start?”
Mai laughed.
Okay. When Rishid talked? He was intriguing.
Maybe she talked more than he did, but Rishid was not silent. By the time they had finished eating, she wondered where she had gotten such an idea. Maybe because he didn’t push himself into group conversations as much? She usually only saw him when plenty of other people were around.
“What is next?” he asked, interest in his voice.
She leaned in so the waiter wouldn’t hear her. “I must take you gambling.”
He was Malik’s brother. Rishid did not blink an eye at her suggesting something illegal. Anyway, it wasn’t like gambling hurt people unless they were stupid.
Well, maybe some other reasons. Mai knew how the whole system worked and she could have fun with it. Win some, lose some, she knew when to call it quits and when she could keep going. (Also when to get out before the dealer got suspicious.) She knew Malik had been playing nice because of Isis’ requests.
“I’ve never been.”
“Well, I’m not taking you to pachinko.”
More to Mai’s surprise, Rishid admitted to having never played poker.
“Never?” she was aghast. “Malik knows!”
“You taught him.”
“Did I?” Mai pondered it as she scanned the underground casino. They knew her here, so they didn’t question her guest. Mai had managed to keep a balanced enough, but still positive, record at this place.
Rishid nodded. He watched her, but on occasion would also look around his new surroundings.
“Then I’ll show you the ropes first before I join the match.” She walked toward her table of choice, crooking a finger over her shoulder. “Come!”
She sat him at the far right of the table. “Hey, Marina!”
“Mai! Good to have you.” The other woman at the table grinned. “New friend?”
“Old friend, new date.” Mai leaned into Rishid’s shoulder. “He’s never played poker before, can you believe it?”
“No!”
Rishid’s face betrayed nothing. It was such a poker face.
“Mind if I take the first hand to show him the ropes?”
“Want to teach the newbie, boys?” Marina asked the other two with her.
They all agreed.
Rishid did not win the first few hands, but he was a fast learner. Not like poker was complicated. Not with the rules, anyway. Mai pressed into his shoulder, hand up so the other three could not read her lips, as she whispered into his ear.
“Often it doesn’t matter what’s in your hand. Only what everyone else thinks is in your hand.”
When one of the other men left, Mai sat in and they played for real.
“Raise.”
“Call.”
“Out.”
The truth about poker faces was you had to show some emotion if you wanted to manipulate the other players. Show confidence when your hand was bad and feign nerves when your hand was good.
Rishid hadn’t gotten the hang of that part, but he certainly recognized it in her. He always bowed out when she showed any hesitance. Honestly, if he kept it up other people might realize her ploy.
He won a few hands and after a few more changes in their opponents, Mai decided it was time to go.
“Not bad.” She smirked. “How’d you feel about it?”
He smirked too. “Not bad.”
The last place she had in mind, after having plenty of time to digest their dinner, was a club. One could always figure out how they felt about someone in a club. Well, for those who liked to go.
Mai would need a man who could go to a club though, so if it wasn’t Rishid’s scene… It would be a shame, but she would take this as a plus in the friendship column and head elsewhere for some boyfriend material. Rishid had taken to everything like a champ so far, so she figured he would get it.
Like he said: they needed to know each other better. No matter what else came of this.
People in line stared. Of course they would, this wasn’t like her gambling halls. They let people be for being whoever. People here would stare at Rishid for being black. They would stare at him for having what they thought was a tattoo, but what Mai knew was very intricate scarification of the kind she had not known was possible.
Still. The people in line might have had problems, but the people at this club knew Mai. The bouncer in front might have raised an eyebrow, but with Mai giving him a wink and Rishid’s ID in order, nothing would stop them from getting in.
The sound of the music descended upon her head and filled her head. Glancing back at him, Rishid appeared uncertain for the first time.
Or outwardly uncertain. Who knew how sure he had been the entire night so far.
Funny how he hadn’t minded all the stares outside, or going to an illegal gambling den, but this was the first thing to crumble his confidence.
“Never been?” she shouted over the music. She made sure to enunciate as he watched her lips. It was sometimes hard to remember he was not a native Japanese speaker. One would think being Egyptian would make it obvious.
Rishid shook his head.
“Follow my lead, hun!” She took him by the wrist and dragged him out to the dance floor.
Duck out of water indeed. It was adorable to watch Rishid quickly study everyone around him and realize he wasn’t coming up with anything to copy.
“After me!” She slid her hands up his arms and onto his shoulders. “No one else cares what you’re doing! Only me!”
Only you? She could not hear him at all, but she could read his lips. The vibration from the music beat over her skin and the vibration from Rishid’s voice slipped up her fingertips. He moved as she guided him. Mai pulled back and forth, giving him more and then less freedom as she thought he needed.
More and less guidance.
Rishid did not pick up dancing as fast as he had picked up cards. Mai didn’t care. He had stopped paying attention to the people around them and only had eyes for her. Less awkward. Her heart pounded from exertion, it pounded from his eyes.
She could work with this. Mai slid his hands to her side as she leaned into his chest for the next song. Moving fast, but nowhere near as much tension as was going on between other dancers on the floor.
Mai wasn’t trying to get him all hot and bothered. She wanted Rishid to be enjoying himself. From the smile on his face, he was.
And with a body like his, Mai sure could teach him how to dance. It would take more than tonight, but as long as he wanted to do this again?
What was the time? She lost track. It was time to get a drink though, that was for sure. She dragged him from the floor to the bar. The music was still loud, but had dimmed enough in this part of the club for them to hear each other again.
They ordered. Rishid paid before she could grab her wallet.
“I didn’t need you to do that.”
“Consider it a thank you for introducing me to this place.” His voice resonated in her ear and made her want to drag him to the dance floor.
Maybe Shizuka was right. Maybe she wanted to ramble about this night to Anzu already. Maybe Mai had needed a night like this no matter who it was with.
It was hard to tell.
Their glasses clinked together. Neither drank fast. He sipped at the same rate as she did, staring back at the throng of bodies still dancing their hearts out. When Mai was done watching him, she did the same.
“Sometimes you just need to take in life.” She gestured to the nonstop motion.
Rishid nodded. “Sometimes one can forget that.”
She nudged his arm with her elbow. “If you find yourself forgetting something like that, hun, you had better call. I’m always down for a reminder.”
He was a handsome man. There was no doubt about that. Yet his smile made him drop dead gorgeous. She could have kissed him.
Another couple at the bar gawked at him. She glared until they noticed her instead and quickly made to ignore them both.
Mai leaned into his arm. “Let me know if you want to hit the dance floor again.”
“I have another song in me.”
He had more than one. Once again, Mai lost track of time.
It was past midnight. A lot past midnight. Mai hadn’t stayed out this late in a while. She affected a bad girl persona still (even was one in a way), but it had been a few years since she had been out all night.
She hadn’t even thought anything of Rishid escorting her home. Mai didn’t need an escort, but she hated the thought of sending him away more. The night air was refreshing after the heat of the club and the nightlife of the city was so quiet in comparison to the music.
“He had no idea what he had done wrong,” Rishid continued. “I considered leaving him there. For a moment.”
Mai’s laughter echoed down the street. “You would never!”
“No. I would not. But I would think of it.”
“You picked him up and took him home, I’ll bet.”
Rishid chuckled. “Almost. I picked him up and left him on Otogi’s couch.”
She had to clutch Rishid’s arm so she wouldn’t fall over. It was hard to talk. “Y-You what?” Her stomach was starting to hurt. Even giggles made her stomach feel sore at this point.
“Malik keeps telling me it is not my job to clean up his messes.”
“Oh, I bet he regretted his words then!”
Rishid shrugged. “It worked out.”
Oh, she was home. Mai considered her options. “I should invite you in for a nightcap. Or to crash on the couch.” It would be the early morning commute soon, followed by the dawn.
“I’ll be fine.”
Mai pulled herself off Rishid’s arm. She could finally feel the soreness in her feet. This night would make her pay for it soon. Painkillers, water, and sleep would be a must. “Are you sure?”
“Thank you for tonight.”
Such sincerity in his voice. Mai leaned in and pressed her lips against his cheek. The swallow she spotted told her how much she had caught him off guard again.
It had not been her intention, but it pleased her anyway.
“You’re welcome. I had a lot of fun.” She smiled up at him. “We might have to do all this again.”
Rishid nodded. After everything, only now was he at a loss for words. Funny, she had been worried about that to start with, but she didn’t mind it now.
“You and your siblings are coming to game night, right?” she asked, taking a step back.
“Malik and I for sure. Isis… may.”
“I’ll have to call and make sure that she will. I’ll see you on Saturday, hun!”
Mai did her best not to look back one more time before entering her apartment. It had been a good night. A lot of fun. She did want to do all of those things again. Maybe find out where he would take her if he was in charge of the date.
Was it something she might want to be serious about though? What if this was all just platonic? Friends.
Friends would be nice too.
Mai didn’t know. Perhaps it was a bad time to think it through.
She had a few days to consider the night before seeing Rishid again. Time didn’t do much to help her. Then again, dates were about finding out if someone wanted to become serious or not. It was weird Mai wanted to be so sure before talking to him again.
With other people around too… Rishid probably wasn’t expecting her to say anything much about it in front of the others.
She took her bike to Yugi’s. Who knew what games they would end up playing tonight, but she did bring her deck and duel disk. Jonouchi would never go a single game night without challenging someone to Duel Monsters and Mai enjoyed giving him a run for his money.
As she got close to her destination, she saw two other motorcycles turn down Yugi’s road before her. She recognized both bikes. Rishid and Honda. Probably had a work shift together at the garage.
By the time she pulled up, the other two had already parked their bikes next to the other three there. Ah, three. Isis had come. Mai smirked as she went to park her bike next to Isis’ and make it six motorcycles in a row.
One might think there was a convention nearby.
As she pulled up, she spotted Rishid and Honda at the door. Rishid had opened the door, standing aside for Honda to walk in.
Holding the door for someone else.
Mai blinked, then remembered to watch where she was driving. Her heart pounded as she turned off the engine. Why? What had thrilled her about that?
It didn’t take her long to realize what had tickled her. It was Rishid’s chivalry. What he had done for her on their date. It wasn’t because it was a date. It wasn’t because she was a woman.
It was because it was Rishid. He didn’t do that just for her, or just for Malik and Isis. Of course not. He was a man who was polite to everyone.
Why had she ever thought otherwise? It was so obvious.
She dropped to the ground, pulling her helmet off and letting it dangle from her handlebars. Two hands through her hair would undo some of the flattening. She unzipped her jacket as she walked to the front door.
Rishid had waited, still holding the door open.
“Good to see you, Mai,” he said.
Mai stopped in front of him and, getting onto her tiptoes, kissed him.
On the mouth, because she really needed to know.
She could taste his gasp before feeling his hands at her waist. Her hands went around his neck, even if it meant her keys catching on his collar. Oh, this was like dancing. He had no idea what he was doing, but was following her lead. He let her in and her tongue ran across his teeth, against his own tongue, before the sound of Malik’s enthusiastic squeak reminded her they were in company.
Mai rested back on her heels, leaving her hands on his shoulders as she easily untangled her key ring from his clothes. “Remember when I said we might have to do all that again? I meant to say we definitely need to do all that again.”
Rishid cleared his throat. Maybe he would be blushing if his skin could show it? She had felt the warmth from his face increase.
He took her hand and for a moment she wondered if she had overplayed herself. Despite taking it off his shoulder, Rishid did not let go. Mai’s moment of panic subsided.
“I had spent all day wondering if I should ask as much tonight,” he said.
People were talking just inside. Quietly. Mai ignored them. She didn’t care that they had an audience. Her attention was meant for Rishid right now.
“Always speak your mind with me. That’s the only way we’ll know if this is going to work.”
With a smile, Rishid nodded.
Wrapping an arm around him, she made him walk inside with her instead of remaining as a doorstop. The confusion and delight on everyone’s faces was worth it all too.
“I take it you’ve all met my boyfriend?”