When Melvin woke up, his arm was dead. He wiggled his fingers to feel a spiky and tingly feeling in them, and when he opened his eyes he only saw a bunch of white and blue in front of him. This bundle was warm and soft. Melvin's other arm was around his waist.

He moved his head closer and buried it in Creampuff's neck, smiling. Finally, the bed was warm beside him.

"Good morning, Creampuff."

Ryou hardly moved except by shifting his weight so Melvin could get his arm free. When Melvin freed it, Ryou went right back to snoozing. Aw... he thought, seeing Ryou's other arm over Melvin's to pull it closer to his chest.

Although they had just declared their feelings through kisses just the night before, it was much too soon for any "I love you"s- it would seem too soon for spooning, right? Ryou didn't care. He surely didn't want to leave Melvin alone on the couch after they were, well...snogging.

Damned if he don't; Ryou deserved a cuddle.

Melvin ran his fingers along the bridge of Ryou's nose. "Do you have work today?"

"Yes." But despite needing to leave when the alarm went off, which would be in a few minutes, he turned and curled into Melvin's arms for more warmth.

Smiling, Melvin scooped him up and held him dear. "Creampuff is still sleepy?"

Ryou whispered quietly, "Mmhm."

Stud Muffin kissed his forehead just as the alarm went off. Creampuff groaned.

"Do you want me to kill it?"

"The alarm? No. Well, yes, but I need it."

Melvin leaned closer and pressed kisses against his face. "You can just not go to work, Ryou. We can lay here all day."

"That sounds lovely, but I need to go." Ryou wriggled free from Melvin's hug (;-;) and kicked on his slippers.
"I'll shower, then make breakfast." He turned and asked him, "How do you like your eggs?"

The squint he received in return was the only answer he needed.

"Ah, right. Well, I'm cooking mine. You do your thing."

"Wow. Wow."

Ryou hopped onto the bed, moving a lock of Melvin's hair and hooked it behind his ear, mainly to reveal his cheek. He kissed him quick, meaning only a peck, but Melvin snaked his arm around him and pulled him closer, rubbing Ryou's nose with his own.

"I'll drive you to work." Melvin enticed, whispering in his ear. "Five more minutes."

"Melvin..."

"Please?"

Ryou huffed, setting a timer on his phone for five minutes. Then he let Melvin lean in to kiss him softly on his smile. It'd be good to enjoy morning again. If it meant waking up curled in the arms of a snuggle, morning may soon become his favorite time of day.

***

Ryou didn't have much else to stack as he waited behind the counter. Their inventory wasn't getting much bigger, but Ryou still needed to keep awake and work hard, especially if he needed to get to the amount of money he had raised before.

He still wanted to go to Europe, and he was still rather disappointed with his outcome after months of hard work. Oh well. Time to start over, with Bakura's money as a head start.

It would take a while to think it over, but even though Melvin was just recently decreed his boyfriend, he could only hope that he'd stick around long enough to help out. Ryou could even make the trip for two.

Ryou had just finished texting Melvin that he'd appreciate it if he went out for groceries when the bell rang, indicating that a customer came in.

"Hello!" He spoke out, not before looking at who it was. Then Ryou said, "This is getting repetitive."

Bakura hadn't seemed to notice Ryou until he'd said something. He looked up, pressing his lips together while figuring out what to say.

Ryou remained quiet for the time being, looking away to leave him be. Neither of them were excited to talk each other again, although their paths seemed to keep crossing, leaving them unprepared for conversation or a reaction.

Continuing about their business, they decided to ignore each other unless absolutely necessary.

He decided to just check his phone, seeing a text from Stud Muffin offering to pick him up from work. He promised to bring some lunch, even offering to let him eat it in the car.

Ryou suppressed his smile because he was in public of course, but he couldn't help blushing. The feeling in his heart that Melvin gave him...he simply couldn't describe it. It was nice, though. He loved it very, very much.

He snapped out of his daze when he felt that things were a little too quiet. Looking up again, Ryou saw Bakura with several objects in his hands- some more hidden than others- trying to leave the store. The store was small and mundane, so it didn't have any alarms except for fires or break-ins.

"Ahem." Ryou made his presence known.

Bakura stopped in his tracks, cursed under his breath, then continued to the counter that Ryou repeatedly thrummed his fingers against. Kura scowled at Ryou's little upper-hand smirk.

Ryou scanned his items one by one, and Bakura fished through his wallet for some cash he hoped he had on hand. This is a load of bullocks...

"Why do you look upset? Thievery is illegal for a reason."

Bakura pursed his lips. "Does the excuse 'I'm a kleptomaniac' count for anything?"

"No," Knitting his brows, he added, "and especially not for that chocolate bar."

In response, he sneered and asked, "How do you know it's a chocolate bar?"

"The wrapper. It made a crinkling sound."

Bakura crossed his arms. "There are plenty of things that can do that."

"None of which you're going to steal from the store. I'm not getting fired because of you."

"Would it even matter? I'd have expected you be on your first flight home, there'd be no reason to keep working here."

A response to that was difficult to phrase. Since Bakura gave Ryou the money, it belonged to him. Just because he hadn't used it for the intended purpose doesn't mean it wasn't his. So Bakura wouldn't get angry...right?

Ryou's silence raised several questions, but Bakura just went with, "You did get my letter, didn't you?"

"I did."

"Then I rest my case."

"Good grief..." Ryou rubbed his temples. "Even if I did buy my way home, it wouldn't be so soon. I'd still have to pack everything, hire movers-"

Bakura was starting to piece things together. "Even if? What the hell did you spend it on?"

"It's not like you need to know. I didn't spend it on anything bad."

"Ryou, I'm serious. That was hundreds of dollars I gave you. You should at least be able to tell me what it is."

"You're likely to tell me I'm stupid if I tell you."

"No, I won't. Look, I'll pay for the chocolate bar, and the other things-" he took a variety of items from his jacket, from ramen noodles to a tube of toothpaste, so he revealed that there was more he could've stolen. "-just tell me what you did."

"I...I spent it on rent."

Bakura was unamused. "You mean to tell me you work two jobs and still struggle with payment? What, it's not like you have friends-! Er...no offense."

"None taken."

"It's not like you're buying birthday presents for all your stuffed animals. I mean, yes, you've got Mel-"

And then, just like that, he figured it out.

Ryou felt guilt bubbling to the surface, making him prattle all sorts of excuses. "Bakura, he needed it more than I did. I swear, I wouldn't have done it if he'd had someone to lean on. Being alone? It hurts. Especially if you don't want it. I wasn't going to do that to him; I couldn't just do what I wanted when I knew that he needed me. After all, that's what-"

"-that's what I did. To you."

They both fell silent, and tension and unease crept into the store. The ceiling lights hummed with electricity, the air conditioning chilled the room.

Ryou just looked down and took the items from the counter, scanning them just to give his hands something to do.
He cleared his throat. "Paper or plastic?"

"I'll carry it, I'm going home after this."

He nodded, but he reached into his pocket for an extra dollar, setting it on top of the chocolate bar. "This one's on me."

Bakura accepted it with no rebuttal. Of course he was undeserving. No one deserved Ryou in their lives; he was too good.

They probably could've gone on to talk about everything they did wrong when they had dated. They could've talked about Melvin, how he was the topic that seemed to break the ice between them each time. They could talk about Europe. It was obvious that Ryou used to blame himself for not doing enough. Bakura knew it was his fault because he left on his own affairs. They could've spewed apologies that would go on forever- but it wouldn't fix the past.

Scooping up his belongings after paying for it, Bakura decided to say a few things. At this rate, it was likely that they'd see each other again. Even so, he wasn't going to risk that.

"How did Melvin take the news?"

Ryou glanced upward again; his neck was starting to hurt from looking down so much. "What news?"

"The rent thing."

"Oh." Ryou tried to hide his blush. "He was upset at first, but he understood."

"That's good." Bakura decided to slide another question in. "How did he kiss you?"

"Closed mouth, very respectful-" then Ryou realized he walked right into the trap. He blushed madly, covering his mouth with his hands. "Uh oh..."

Bakura started laughing. "I knew it! I knew- Ra, this is insane. I always thought it would work out just fine, I knew both of you very well. And would you look at that: I was right."

Ryou said nothing as Bakura began asking him several questions, although he was answering them himself.

"He kissed first, didn't he? You wouldn't have, I know that for a fact. Closed mouth, though, that's something else. Then again I don't think that you two would've been frenching the first time you've kissed."

"That's none of your business." Ryou huffed.

"Oh." Bakura grinned. "So you have?"

"No! Not at all! All I'm saying is that how we kissed is none of your business!"

"There's nothing wrong with a little tongue, Ryou. I don't know if you know this or not, but Melvin's is one of a kind."

Ryou shook his head. "We're done talking about this."

Bakura snickered, knowing full well that his dismissal of the topic only meant that he was still shy after all this time. Ryou was an innocent little thing, and he was too good for the world around him. How he managed to survive this long was beyond anyone's knowledge.

And now he had Melvin at his side, probably to lighten the load of the things that held him down. The two would be an unstoppable couple.

Before Bakura left, Ryou snuck in one last question. "How'd everything go with Marik?"

"Hm?"

"Marik. The bloke you asked me about. Did you take my advice?"

"Oh. Yes. I did."

Ryou leaned forward. "And?"

Despite the daily cigarettes, Bakura inhaled deeply and sighed. "I don't know. We were just two friends watching a movie. I think I put my arm around him at one point- and he didn't fight me, so that was good- but nothing happened. I don't get how this is supposed to help me love him."

"Well, this is a step in the right direction, most definitely. Be patient with him, let him figure out how to feel." Ryou felt glued to his spot. He didn't have much place to move while behind the counter, but he still felt as if his legs were locked in place. "Most importantly, talk to him. Or he'll talk to you. Either way, talking about your feelings may be the best outlet."

Bakura only nodded his head. Whether or not he was going to listen to a whole whopping ounce of any of that advice, Ryou had no clue. But Bakura still accepted the fact that Ryou was helping him out when he really did need him.

"You're a good friend, Ryou."

Ryou ears perked up at this. "I had no idea you considered me a friend."

"You seem to be a friend to anyone, despite how...undeserving they might be, and you're a good one, at that."

He looked the boy-was "boy" even appropriate? He seemed too mature for that title, although "man" didn't fit quite right either. He was just...Ryou.

Bakura looked Ryou up and down one final time, said, "I don't think I'll ever understand you." before turning and walking out.

Dumbfounded, Ryou looked down again, knowing that things were now moving forward. He no longer felt stuck in life, with Bakura hating his guts and getting home just to fall asleep alone. He crawled out of the mud, just because Melvin came into his life and lent a hand.

Maybe he just didn't know it. If it weren't for Melvin, Ryou might've started to rot.

Speaking of Melvin, Ryou's phone buzzed with another text that he was already waiting in the car with lunch at the ready.

His tummy grumbled, but he still needed to finish his shift until the next employee would come in. Under his phone, he noticed the chocolate bar.
Ryou silently thanked Bakura, although he would never be able to understand how he did it when Ryou was watching the whole time.

The chocolate melted on his tongue, it's taste sweet and delectable and- how didn't he notice that Melvin was walking in through the door? The bell rang and everything.

"I think I like this job better." Melvin said, creeping up to the counter to watch Ryou eat his little treat. "Its smaller, and the door makes a little bell sound. I like that bell."

"Unless you're here to buy something, I can't exactly do anything for you. I can't leave until noon-ish."

"Noon-ish needs to get here sooner, then. The food'll get cold."

"You really didn't have to buy me anything." But Ryou's grumbling stomach protested.

Melvin knit his brows. "Didn't you just eat?"

"I eat way more at lunch than a chocolate bar...my body used to more, I guess."

"Do you want me to bring your food in here?"

"I'll leave soon, just not at the moment."

He leaned forward, closer to his Creampuff. "Am I allowed behind the counter?"

"No."

"Fine..." he looked up. "Can I get a kiss?"

"Melvin..." Ryou blushed as his smile widened. He covered his mouth. "I'm at work!"

"Just a peck." He puckered his lips.

Ryou broke off a final piece of his chocolate bar and put it in Melvin's mouth. "There's something sweet to hold you off for a little."

He chewed but looked grumpily at him. "But it's not the sugar I hoped for..."

"Noon-ish."

"But-!"

"No buts."

Melvin huffed, but he persisted. He slipped a couple bucks over the counter, but Ryou still shook his head.

"You're not going to pay for kisses."

"They're not just for kisses." Melvin shrugged his shoulders but he still looked down, like he'd ruined everything-because he felt like he had. "I owe you so much."

"You don't owe me anything. I chose to stay, didn't I?"

"I'm paying you back." Melvin bought a pack of gum, slapping money onto the counter. "Watch me, Creampuff. I'll get a job. I'll make and sell art. I'll set up a lemonade stand, if that's what it takes. I'm not stopping until I've paid back every last penny."

"I'm flattered, I really am, but-"

"No buts."

And that was that. Ryou's coworker hurried on in to pick up their shift, so Ryou gave Melvin a little smile. "It's noon-ish."

Melvin smiled back after Ryou moved around the counter, taking his hand in his own and interlocking their fingers. Ryou missed the handholding part of the whole relationship-thing. Melvin liked Ryou's hands, since they seemed to fit in his own so well.

***

Ryou's lips were even softer than Melvin had imagined. He couldn't resist them; he kissed them repeatedly, letting them curl up into a smile that he loved so much.

His hands rubbed his back, and Ryou wouldn't let go of his face. Melvin sat across from him on the couch, trying to convince him to sit perched on his lap, but Ryou was just fine where he was. It didn't really matter to either of them where they sat, so long as they were together.

After a moment, Ryou tried to pull away for a second to speak, but only to be kissed even more. He laughed- he could get used to this.
"Wait-! I have a question."

"Dear Ra..." Melvin let go of Ryou's back and held his hands, kissing his knuckles, slightly anxious. "Ask me."

"Okay...I know you really don't want to hear this..." he pulled them away and scratched his head. "...what is this?"

"Um...kissing? Making out? Snogging?"

He giggled. "I know that. But I mean us. Are we friends? Are we doing the whole...relationship thing?"

A pang of guilt and fear struck Melvin's heart, making him back away slightly. "I mean, I don't mind staying friends if that's what you want. I just kinda...feel really strongly about you, but I'll tone it down. I promise." He didn't notice he had grabbed Ryou's arm and hugged it.

"Oh! Um...no. I'm not saying that. I just...I want to take things slow, that's all. Let's not rush into things."

Melvin let out a sigh in relief and kissed his hand again. "Okay. I thought you were dumping me."

"No! No! I wouldn't do that. I didn't spend all that money on you just to dump you."

"Good."

Ryou put a hand on Melvin's cheek, brushing it with his thumb. "I just don't-" he bit his tongue.

"What?"

He shook his head. "The last time I spoke my mind, you got very angry. I'm just wondering if this is still too touchy a subject."

Melvin frowned. "Bakura?"

"I'm not..." Ryou tried to phrase the words as best he could. "I'm not a...replacement...am I?"

"What?" Melvin was initially shocked, which soon turned into a mixture of anger and a sense of consolation. "No! I couldn't. That's what he did to me, Ryou. Why the hell would I do that to you?"

Ryou gently shushed him to calm him down. He massaged Melvin's temples with his thumbs, letting him regain composure. "Okay. Okay. Thank you, Melvin. I appreciate that."

"Sorry. I didn't mean to lash out."

"You're forgiven. Breathe, okay? I just want to talk to you." He offered his hands. "If things get too overwhelming, just squeeze. I don't want you panicking."

"I also don't want to break your hand."

"Then I'll keep it as simple as I can." He took a deep breath and Melvin was already squeezing his hands. "I feel like...I feel like this is going a little too quickly."

"That makes sense."
It was obvious that Melvin was doing his best to keep Ryou in his life, and it stressed him out that anything he could say or do would force him to be alone again. He hated to admit it, but he was clingy.

"The whole 'moving in' part was completely over and done with, even before the kisses. My main concern is...well..." Ryou wanted to say this with no offense. "...you've just gotten out of a 'relationship' with someone else."

Melvin opened his mouth to intervene but Ryou put a finger to his lips.

"I don't want you declaring all of your feelings right now just to decide later on that this wasn't a good idea. Don't get me wrong, my hopes are up, but I think you need more time. After all, my breakup took me months to heal. I'm not sure that rushing into another relationship is the best idea."

Melvin was limited in moving his mouth to talk, but he did anyway. "What does that mean for us, then?"

Ryou moved his finger away, using it to scratch his nose. "I'm not sure."

It didn't take too long to figure out that Ryou's uneasiness was part of his fear of a relationship going completely wrong, and he was right to feel that way. Relationships were about togetherness, and they'd both been left alone because of them.

"Whatever I'm feeling, whatever I choose," Melvin leaned into Ryou and kissed his cheek. "I'm not going to abandon you."

The corners of Ryou's mouth curled up, and he turned his head to kiss Melvin's lips. He really did want this relationship, but he also wanted it to be the best it could be.

At one point, Melvin moved his hands to Ryou's caboose. Ryou thought, Two can play at this game. And gave the side of Melvin's rump a poke with his finger.

They parted because Melvin couldn't stop laughing, and Ryou was red in the face and trying to figure out what to say. Eventually, he laughed too.

"Ryou..." Melvin composed himself and bopped foreheads with his newfound lover.

"Yes?"

"How about I take you out for ice cream this time? No coupons, though. My treat."

Ryou kissed him again, his smile wide and joyous. "I should like that." He couldn't help it, he leaned forward and fell into Melvin's arms.

"Are you okay?"

Melvin's fingers traced along Ryou's face. His touch was gentle, and he felt safe.

"I...I'm sorry..." Ryou spoke in hushed whispers, smiling and blushing as Melvin only pulled him closer. "I think I'm just going to need a moment..."

Melvin moved back a bit, resting his arms on each side of Ryou. "Alone?"

"Goodness, no..." Creampuff chuckled softly, shaking his head. He reached up and held the sides of Stud Muffin's face. "Never again."