Lean back and grab some popcorn, people. This chappy's gonna take awhile. Be warned, there are a lot of time skips that switch back and forth. Why did I write it like this? Idfk.

Melvin lay on the bed, feeling his racing heartbeat in his chest.
Propping himself up by his elbow, he smiled and looked over at Bakura, who lay beside him. "I never thought you'd get me of all people to do this with you."

"Don't talk about it." He said, coldly. "It gets weirder if you do."

"Hey, you brought me here." Melvin leaned over and crawled on top of him. "Beggars can't be choosers."

Bakura smirked. "Good point."

Their lips met in short kisses. Melvin began kissing the sides of his face until Bakura stopped him.

"What?"

"You're new to this, aren't you?" Bakura sat up, crawling out from under him.

Melvin's face went red, but still he sat up too and asked, "What was your first clue?"

"Kisses." Bakura reached out and tossed Melvin his clothes. "You kiss with your lips pressed shut. And that's just weird."

The sarcasm in Melvin's voice was strong. "Well, not everyone is an expert at this. My bad."

"That's why you've got me to help." After Melvin got his shirt back on, he yanked on it to pull him closer. "Now observe carefully."

This new kissing was intense. It was sticky and wet and kinda gross, but Melvin went with it. He kissed Bakura back, failing to hold back a smile.

"What is it, now?" Bakura was annoyed, but Melvin only smiled wider.

"You're replacing someone with me, aren't you?" Melvin put the rest of his clothes and he sneered, although, inside, he felt kinda used. "Is there someone else you'd rather be doing this with?"

Bakura huffed and shook his head. "Would you believe me if I said no?"

"Not for a second." But in actuality, he did.

"What if I meant no?"

"Then I still wouldn't believe you."

Bakura stretched and sighed. "Then there is no convincing you." He hopped off the side of the bed and put on his shirt. "Didn't you say you had a curfew?"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm going." He pulled on his socks and shoes, and put on his cape. He stood up, looked back and said, "Should I believe you?"

"I see no reason not to." Bakura stopped him before he could leave. He said, "You have my number?"

"Yeah."

"Then I'll text you," then he pulled him in and whispered, "if I want to see you again."

Melvin finally turned and headed out the door, feeling a warmth in his body. Ra, did he love it.

This wasn't where Bakura lived, but they just rented a room, had a few drinks, and Bakura ended up taking him to his room to introduce Melvin to something he had no idea about.

Still, he felt great as he walked home, knowing he'd have to be as quiet as possible if he wanted to not get caught.
He actually wanted to be with me. He thought as he got to his front porch, and he wore a grin. He actually didn't mind that I got close.

Before he could get his key, the light by the door turned on, and he saw Ishizu standing in the window.

"Shit..."

Ishizu left the window and opened the door. Needless to say, she was not happy.

"Hey sis."

"In the kitchen. Now."

***

Have you ever screwed up something so bad that you want to curl up in a ball and die?
You feel like you cannot show your face to anyone again, because you screwed up so bad.

Not even Melvin's cape could make him feel better.

He just shut the bathroom door of his apartment and turned off the lights, huddling into the bathtub and only letting the dim glow of the eye on his forehead give off any illumination.

Tears had streaked on his face, but his eyes were wide open. Melvin didn't wipe his tears away. He just let them fall. He rested his chin on his knees, and he held himself. His jaw was clenched shut.

I am disgusting. He thought, sending another tear to trickle and hang on his nose. I am without a doubt, utterly revolting.

The worst thing was that it has always been this way. Flirting, screwing around, and screwing in general was just his way of getting the thought out of his head.

But he knew.

He always knew he was gross.

***

"Thirty minutes is all you get." Ishizu crossed her arms. "Take what's yours and get out."

"You're kidding me! Just because I missed curfew?" Melvin's head began to spin. "I haven't hurt anyone!"

"But you can't prove that." She stood up straight, trying desperately to quiet Melvin down so that she could keep Marik asleep and in his room. "This is not the first time you've skipped curfew, and it is definitely not the first time you've disobeyed any of the rules for living in this house!"

"Well, where the hell am I supposed to go?!"

"We've checked your room. I don't know how you've gotten it, but you have enough to rent out an apartment or something." Ishizu did the talking, but Odion was beside her in case Melvin would lash out.

Melvin was infuriated, mostly to hide the fact that he felt completely helpless. "I know nothing about rentals or anything! I couldn't just sleep in it tonight, anyway!"

"You should've thought about that while you were out doing Ra knows what." Then she pointed to his room. "Pack, or I'm calling the police, like I should have before. We want nothing to do with you."

"This is ridiculous!"

"Thirty minutes, or prison."

Melvin stood from the chair and grumbled, "Prison would at least have a bed..."

***

It was the first time in a long time that he willingly changed his bedsheets; they seemed revolting, now. He even went and basically picked up the whole apartment just to give himself something to do.

This is so weird. He thought to himself. It wasn't like him to clean up anything at all.

He just felt sickened and disgusted with himself. With everything.

It was tempting, for a moment, to just burn down everything. The only thing stopping him was the fact that it might take out the whole building, and poor Ryou would get taken down with it.

Melvin muttered swears under his breath-- cursing at the whole world, including himself.

The amount of dust everywhere made him sneeze, and no surface of carpet or sheets even looked clean.

This place is gross.

***

Melvin had only just walked out the door of his house when the door was shut behind him, and the click! of the lock made him shake.

This was actually it. He was officially without a place to live.

The chill of the night felt colder now. The sky felt darker. The world felt quieter.

Everything felt different.

"I don't give a shit." He said to himself, angry. "Not a single one."

He walked toward the driveway, seeing that they left a car out. The key he snagged from the counter felt good in his hands, so he unlocked it and threw his bag inside. Quickly he shut the door and locked it, making sure that slamming that door was as loud as he could make it. He wanted everyone to know he was taking the car.

"No shit given." He sneered, backing out of the driveway and driving away before that front door could open again to stop him.

He wanted to drive anywhere, anywhere that wasn't this shithole. Melvin wanted nothing to do with anything.

After a few minutes of fumbling with the radio, he stopped on some random song that he'd never heard of. He didn't listen to music often, so he just wanted to have some background music as he drove off into the night.

***

The fridge of his own, surprisingly, had stuff in it. It wasn't full, but there were some things he didn't even know he had.

There was a whole jug of orange juice, an (expired) carton of milk, a pack of raw bacon, and...

Melvin cringed. "Eggs..." He was never going to live that down.

He threw a lot of stuff away. It was expired and useless and he just didn't care for it. He didn't care for much at all.

He found his own stomach making rumbling sounds, so he figured that he'd make something. Melvin had only seen a few episodes of "Cutthroat Kitchen". Cooking shouldn't be that difficult.

Ryou was never lying, was he? Never playing any games. Never trying to manipulate him. He wouldn't have gone as far as to put himself in danger—Bakura never would have done that.

And now look what he's done—he's gone through the lengths he could to punish Ryou for something he was never doing in the first place, just because he was so afraid of someone getting close.

And now Ryou didn't want to see him.

He looked in the freezer and found a whole, raw chicken wrapped up tightly and remained unopened.

Please. Please let this be a decent apology.

***

The apartment complex wasn't going to allow immediate rentals, especially so late at night. Melvin just parked in a lot in the middle of nowhere. It might've been somewhere, but he hasn't a clue where he was.

He was lost, alone, and angry.

Most importantly, he was terrified.

What would happen if he died? Would anyone even know? What about when he was sick? Who would drive him home safely if he had had one too many?

Who would be there for him when he needed someone?

No one.

No one would be there.

No one cares.

Melvin wanted to leave the heater on all night, but that would just cost too much. Not to mention, he wasn't an expert on cars. How was he supposed to know what leaving the heater on for several hours straight would do?

He rolled down a window to the slightest degree. The air was cold, but it had oxygen, so whatever.

He locked the doors and crawled to the backseat. Using his backpack of stuff as a pillow and his cape as a blanket, he curled up and shut his eyes, trying the best he could to fall asleep in the cold air.

Turns out that his cape was thinner than he thought. All he wanted now was a warm bed and some heat. Even though his family didn't like him all that much, he felt lonely. Their presence at least gave off a loving warmth, even if that love wasn't meant for him.

Goosebumps covered his skin, and his teeth chattered against his will. Ra, he was so cold.

Melvin sniffled after a moment. He assumed it was car dust, but his watery eyes let tears overflow and roll down his cheek.

He was all alone.

***

The chicken was still thawing when a knock on the door ensued.

Melvin froze in his spot, knowing that the apartment owners were probably here.

"Don't be them." He whispered, not letting himself falter. "Don't take my home away."

He opened the door quickly, and Melvin looked down to see Ryou.

"Hello." He said, looking lost and confused. Like he didn't know why he knocked.

Melvin immediately grinned, not sure why he wanted to pounce on him and pull him to the ground so he could hold him.
"You gave a hell of a heart attack. I thought you were here for my rent."

Ryou laughed, but it didn't have much heart in it. A moment of awkward silence passed before he offered the pajamas. "I brought these back for you."

"Aren't they yours?"

"They don't fit me, they're better off with you."

Melvin smiled, taking the clothes from him and letting his hand linger on Ryou's for a little too long.
He was overdoing his affections with Creampuff, and even Ryou knew it.

"Mari--" Ryou corrected himself first. "Melvin?" Then he took a step closer, reaching out to hold his hand. "Are you alright...?"

Melvin just smiled. "Why wouldn't I be?"

"You look like you've been crying."

Oh. I guess I do.
"Dust." He lied. "I was cleaning this place out. Lots of dust."

Ryou didn't look convinced, but he didn't push it. Instead, he gave his hand a tight squeeze.
"Ive decided that I'll let you choose."

Melvin crossed his arms, mostly because he was cold. "What does that mean?"

"Do you still want to stay with me?"

He didn't think he'd be considering it. "But, I have my stuff. All I'm doing is leeching off of you and you know it."

"I'm not banishing you from your other apartment. I just thought that you could use somewhere to stay until you can pay for your place." Before Melvin could say anything, Ryou added, "If you stay with me, though, you're answering all my questions. And, first thing in the morning, we're getting groceries and you're coming with me."

"How early in the morning?"

"Around 5:00. I have to go to work, and the grocery store's packed after I get out."

A heavy and irritated groan ensued.

"Don't complain! I'm the one who's not getting supper tonight!"

Melvin rocked back and forth on his heels, thinking it over.
Ryou couldn't be serious, could he? Melvin had almost just killed a man, not to mention he swung pretty hard and Ryou took the hit. This was not something he had considered to be an option anymore.

"I didn't mean to hit you." Melvin's voice was like a quiet whimper, and he kept his head down. "I really didn't."

"You shouldn't have been trying to hit anyone." Ryou's voice was quiet, soft, and comforting to hear. Melvin had been scolded for a lot, but Ryou didn't sound like he wanted to bash his skull in with a rock. That was nice of him.
"But I want a real apology."

Melvin looked up again, feeling like something was tugging at his heart-- which surprised him. Something was actually there in his chest. Who knew?

"I know you didn't mean it, but are you sorry?"

He nodded.

"Okay then. Tell me so."

Um...
3rro3r 404: server Melvin.exe has stopped responding
"Uh..." he gulped, and tried to form the words that he'd never said before in his life. Not with meaning, anyway. "I...m..."

Ryou was mostly confused, but didn't discourage him. "Whenever you're ready."

"I'm...s-sor....ry..."

"Now, put it together."

Melvin wanted to jump out the window; he felt so embarrassed. "I'm...sorry..."

Ryou just laughed. "We'll work on that." Then he twirled a lock of his hair, looking down. He was the one upset now, because he said, "I think I owe you an apology, too."

"I hit you." The unamused-ness in Melvin's voice was strong. "Try me."

"I was a bit harsh. I didn't like pulling your hair." Ryou forced himself to look into Melvin's eyes. "I'm sorry for calling you a wanker."

"What does that even mean, anyway?"

Ryou's face went red. "Uh..."
He gestured for Melvin to lean closer so he could whisper it.

Even though Ryou so close to him felt nice, he couldn't help but laugh at what Ryou told him. "So, you've discovered my secret?"

Ryou's eyes widened. "Uh..." then he shrugged, still weirded out. "I don't judge. You do you, I suppose."

"I'm kidding."

"That's exactly what a wanker would say."

Melvin only laughed some more-- the only genuine smile he could make all night.

And Ryou smiled too.

*drinks water and sits down* goodness... that was like running a marathon....

*drinks more water* holy crap I've lost like ten pounds writing this

My thumbs are so buff