"You need to understand that you don't have bad mental health - you have mental illness."
Malik didn't teach Bakura how to love himself, but he was the bridge that helped him get there.
[ Credit for cover: samael_dire on Instagram ]
[ MLM, Thiefship...
Hey, guys. Sorry that this was late - I wanted to get people with DID to finish looking over it before I posted anything with specific content. But here we go! I'll update early on Saturday to make up for it and to celebrate me getting through my first college term. Hope you enjoy! (Also I gave up on making up a nice thing for the chapter titles, rip)
CW: Intrusive thoughts, dissociation, anxiety, talking about Kul Elna but making it a massacre by police
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Malik stepped out of the taxi with a small hum. The hotel wasn't bad. It wasn't exactly what he had been used to as leader of the Ghouls but- no, he wasn't meant to compare his life to that anymore. That was bad, and he was good now.
It was still five star - he may have funnelled some money away from his time in Japan without telling his sister. Just a little bit. That wasn't bad. The money would have just sat in the account otherwise. It wasn't bad to use it- he should have told his sister- but it wasn't bad.
He didn't stay long at the hotel - the vague attempt at faux homeliness didn't interest him. He just checked in, left his suitcase, and took his keycard with him.
It was odd walking through the streets. He found himself in back alleys that he hardly remembered, feeling like he was sixteen again. He didn't like the feeling. It was like he was out of control again. He had to pause and squeeze his eyes shut several times - focus on where he was, what age he was, who he was. He didn't even realise where his feet were taking him until he was standing outside the game shop. He wasn't meant to be there.
Little had changed in six years. They had painted the front, and the sign was new - Malik supposed more money came in now that the King of Games officially worked there. But it was still the same old converted game shop with cheery yellow walls and a multicoloured name nailed up above the door. The new duel disk hung in the window - it was supposed to only hook around your wrist, like a bracelet, and then expand when you needed it. Trust Kaiba to find a way to bring a duel disk everywhere- It didn't matter.
Malik looked up at the sign again. He should go. The sun shining down on the colours hurt his eyes. He should go. He swallowed. He should go. The door opened and a bell chimed. He should go. No, stay and do something. They hurt him so he could- no, he had to go.
He looked down again, levelling his gaze with the door. Yugi stood a little bit taller, carrying out a small box. He was smiling. He could get rid of that smile if he just- no.
He should go, but Malik couldn't tear his gaze away. Yugi dropped the box into the rubbish bin beside the shop and brushed off his hands. His gaze lifted, and amethyst eyes locked on Malik. Yugi's jaw dropped a little. "Marik?" He always had an issue with pronouncing the 'l' as an 'r'. If he- no, he had to stop.
Malik swallowed again and tried to smile. "Hi." He was using his customer service voice again. He tried to stop. He always zoned out when he used it. "I, uh..." He cleared his throat. His head was already pinching and he had been having trouble focusing since he stepped off the plane.
