capeandcowllogs | (no subject)

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(no subject)

WHO: Bakura and Alastair
WHERE: Hell Towers
WHEN: Late Friday night after Ben's dinner
SUMMARY: After staying at Ben's for the last few days, Bakura is finally ready to come home and face what he ran away from.
FORMAT: Para

Bakura paused at the door to 1006, his over night bag over his shoulder, Pelor in her travel case. There was a small flutter of his pulse, but it was nothing like it had been before.

Taking a deep breath, he pushed open the door.

"I'm home!"

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Alastair was somewhat oblivious to most of this. He sat rubbing the back of his neck, mulling things over without much focus on any one thing. "I'm not saying I'm any kind of expert on relationships," he murmured. "Maybe I'm the one who's got it all fucked up. But I don't think there's like...rules, or a way it's supposed to be. It's different for everybody, right?"

He glanced toward Bakura. "I mean, sure, my way gets you laid more often, but that's not for everybody."

Bakura covered his mouth to hide a small laugh, something about that statement, combined with his realization just striking him as utterly hilarious.

He gave a small nod, hand falling as he turned to give Alastair a warm smile. "Un, I don't think I could do it. I wouldn't know what to do at all. I freeze up badly enough when you're just showing off, I don't know how I'd survive anything more than just that," he said with a self depreciating smile.

"I think you're right. Yuugi-kun... Yuugi-kun was the first person I really thought I liked like that. He was also my first close friend. I'm probably just confused between that, especially with how..." He paused, blushing. "How good looking you are," he half mumbled with mild embarrassment. "Mistaking attraction and friendship for something else."

Alastair flushed a bit as well, though mostly in discomfort. He did deliberately attract attention when and where he could, but this was different. "Whatever it is...just. I don't know. I can't do anything to fix it and I can't change who I am, so. It's all up to you. Do whatever you have to do in order to get over it."

Bakura gave a soft sigh. "If I knew how to, I would have before," he said softly. "But I'll try... I don't-- I don't want things between us to change," he said uncomfortable, fidgeting a bit once more. "Being close to you... it means a lot." He looked to the side with a soft laugh. "Makes me wish I wasn't gay. Then it wouldn't be a problem at all."

"Yeah, well. It's never easy, no matter who you are," Alastair sighed, though he really didn't mean much by it. He didn't know how the other half lived, after all, and didn't much care either. But he had to watch Valon flit around Mai, that was enough to make himself decide he was an expert on straight people and their stupid relationships.

"I'm gonna try to be...you know, sensitive to the problem, in case I need to tone it down or something," he idly offered, staring at his hands. "I can't wave a magic wand and fix it, though. Don't think anybody can."

Bakura gave a small nod. "I know you can't. Magic only fixes curses and physical damage," he half joked with a smile. "Most of the times... I can ignore it. It's just... like at the club," he fidgeted. "It was all I could think about. Not that I would expect you to change how you are in places like that just because of me!" he added quickly.

"Eh..." Alastair scratched awkwardly at the back of his neck again. "...maybe you shouldn't come clubbing with me all that often if that's gonna be a problem. Just sayin'."

It was so odd for him, being in the presence of a fellow guy expressing attraction to him and not wanting to invite him into his room. That must be the firm, unyielding line of friend and family versus interest. It wasn't wavering at all, Alastair's will was solid for once. It was a new experience, one he had to sit and savor for a moment.

Bakura nodded, rubbing the back of his neck slightly. "U-- un. I never... never wind up feeling too comfortable there anyway," he admitted, almost a bit ashamed. "I guess... I'm really just... not ready. For anything like that."

"Well, if it's not your thing, it's not your thing," Alastair tried to reassure. "There's nothing wrong with that. I mean, it's not like I'm gonna say, you can't room with us or can't go on vacation with us just because...you know." He waggled a hand idly to indicate that Bakura should finish the sentence himself. Anything he said would just be even more awkward. "I'm not kicking you out or anything."

"And I'm really grateful for that," Bakura nodded with a soft smile, looking almost a little embarrassed.

Yeah, he had been a bit worried about that too.

"So... it's all all right then? Nothing has to change or anything?" he asked after a moment.

"Not unless you think it has to," Alastair replied. "I mean. You already know sometimes I just don't wanna be touched or bothered...but that's nothing new. It doesn't mean I don't want you around, I just don't feel like it just then."

Bakura nodded. "Un. I know," he said with a small smile.

There was a slight hesitation. "... is now one of those times?" he asked quietly.

"Uh..."

Alastair sat for a moment, not sure how to answer. He was feeling pretty awkward. "What...exactly were you thinking...?"

"Sorry, just... with everything..." Bakura fidgeted, looking utterly embarrassed. "Never mind," he half mumbled. Much as he wanted a hug, he'd forgo it if it were going to make Alastair uncomfortable.

Alastair's concession was to reach out and pat Bakura on the shoulder, and then ruffle his hair like old times. Nothing too drastic. "It'll work out," he said quietly. "I mean, look at me and Kyosuke. We're back on good terms, like nothing ever happened. It's not fatal or anything."

Bakura ducked his head slightly with a warm smile. "Un," he nodded. "Now we just need to hope Saitou-san doesn't decide he likes you too, else we know there's something to be worried about," he joked.

"Oho, no worries there," Alastair laughed. "Saitou's got that straight-as-an-arrow look about him. And even if he wasn't, I'm pretty sure I'd be last on his list."

He made a loose fist and jabbed Bakura lightly in the arm with it. "You'll find somebody someday, I'm sure. Especially if you get stuck here for the long haul. You're date-able material."

Bakura gave a soft laugh, mock flinching from the punch with a smile. "You really think so?" he asked, sounding almost shy about it. "For other guys too, not just stalker fan girls?"

"Psh, of course," Alastair said boldly. "Turn those girls to your advantage - tell 'em you're looking for the right guy and some of 'em will be all too happy to help you find another cute boy to hook up with."

"Eh?! For real?!" Bakura exclaimed, eyes wide. "They won't try to-- well, you know how girls can be when they get an idea in their heads, right?" he said awkwardly, rubbing his cheek. Last thing he wanted was girls here trying to convince him that he was just mistaken about not liking them.

"I've heard rumors," Alastair smirked. "No, really, sometimes you run into the type who think it's cute. I've never known any personally, but. Eh. Even if you don't, there's plenty of people around here who understand. Just, uh, be careful who you take advice from, from now on." His lips twisted into a bit of a sulk. "I swear, I should go to those idiots and tell them to stay out of it. Did they want you to get your heart broken? Honestly!"

Bakura rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "I was the one who asked," he admitted, ducking his head a little. "And... it wasn't all bad advice, I think... just not really very helpful for this situation. And I doubt most of them really realized..." he trailed off a moment before rubbing the back of his neck again. "And even people who realized who I meant didn't exactly... I mean, Anzu-chan and Ben..."

He trailed off again. Yeah, there was no real non-awkward way to say anything he was trying to say there.

"Yeah, no. Something tells me Yuugi's gal-pal there especially would be all hearts and flowers and encouraging you not to give up. Nooooot the right advice for this." Alastair shook his head slowly. He'd reserve his ire until a better time, when he could say frivolous things about people not messing with love lives and not get ignored or shouted down because life-or-death was more important.

"Did you actually tell anyone it was me?" he wondered, vaguely worried about his own reputation coming out of this intact. Whatever parts of Bakura's posts he had hacked, there was still some private stuff he couldn't get into.

"Aaa..." Bakura faltered a bit before ducking his head. "Most of them guessed..." he admitted sheepishly. "The ones who knew me, anyway."

Alastair clapped his hands over his eyes again. "Oh god. No, no...how many guessed?"

He could only hope that imminent destruction would make them all forget in the meantime. Hopefully.