Hey, I'm really sorry this took so long but college and work got in the way. I hope you still enjoy this chapter! Also I do want to say that for the sake of plot convenience, Ryou is aware Malik killed his father. It happened earlier in an off-screen emotional conversation because I didn't think to write it and at this stage, it would feel weird to introduce. Enjoy!

Content Warnings: Mentions of murder (Malik's father), familial issues/boundary crossing, infantalisation of disabled people

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The sun woke Malik, as it always did, far too early. Malik groaned and burrowed his face in Ryou's chest, having turned into him at some stage in the night. Ryou held him closer, still fast asleep.

After a few minutes, Malik fumbled for the phone he'd just about remembered to plug in when he woke up to go to the bathroom and checked the time. Half nine. Not bad, all things considered. A text caught his eye from his younger brother, which rarely ever happened, so he pulled it up. A soft chuckle escaped him when he saw the photo.

Ryou stirred beneath him and whined softly as he opened his eyes. "What time is it?"

"Half nine," Malik replied, typing out a quick text back.

"Too early." Ryou reached up his free hand to rub at his eyes. After a moment, he peeked at Malik with a smile. "What's got you grinning at this ungodly hour?"

Malik raised an eyebrow, though his grin didn't fade. "You know, most people consider this to be a perfectly reasonable time?" Ryou waved off his question. "Kek text me." He held up his phone, so Ryou could see the photo. Kek stood in the middle of a mostly furnished apartment, chock full of Monster World figurines and band posters despite the couch still only being half-made, fingers held up in a v for victory with his tongue sticking out. "He got his apartment, so he's moving in a few days."

Ryou's smile grew and he gave Malik a small squeeze. "That's great. I'm glad he'll be closer to you and Rishid. He seemed nice."

"Nice?" Malik's eyebrow arched again, and Ryou laughed.

"Absolutely insane, in the best way." He kissed the top of Malik's head. "Now, I believe I promised you coffee?"

Malik hummed, leaning into the affection. "Please. Have you-"

"Cappuccino cups? Of course." Ryou rubbed his arm. "With one- two sugars?"

"Please," Malik said again. He reluctantly released Ryou so he could get up and propped himself up on his arm while Ryou searched for his boxers. "It's still so weird you know my coffee like that. I barely even knew what I wanted."

"Magic." Ryou flipped his hair over his shoulder and winked as he shimmied a clean pair of boxers up his legs.

"No such thing."

Ryou giggled and leaned in to press a kiss to Malik's lips. "Tell that to my coffees." He sauntered out of the room, grabbing a discarded t-shirt to pull on as he did so.

Malik chuckled and sank back into the pillows, dosing, until the smell of coffee wafting right beside him woke him again.

"I told you it was too early," Ryou chuckled, handing him a cup.

Malik took a sip and sighed happily. "Maybe a little, considering how late we were up."

"Exactly." Ryou settled back into the bed, propping pillows up behind him so he could sit up. "You should listen to me more often."

Malik grinned at that and took another sip of his coffee as he checked the rest of his notifications. A handful of emails, including one from Rishid on his accounts, some social media notifications, half a dozen late-night memes from Bakura, and- he choked on his coffee. A missed call from Isis.

"Are you okay?" Ryou touched his arm, but Malik nodded.

"Yeah, sorry. I'm fine." He put his phone face-down on the dresser.

Ryou hesitated and set his own coffee aside. "You don't look fine."

Malik pursed his lips. "I missed a call from my sister."

"Ah." Ryou nodded slowly. "Do you... want to call her back?"

"No," Malik admitted, gaze flickering to his phone, "but I should..."

Ryou gently squeezed his shoulder. "Is there anything I can do to help?" Malik grimaced, mind coming up blank. "Let me rephrase - would you like me to leave so you can talk to her?" Immediately, Malik shook his head. "Do you want me to stay in the room when you do?" After a second, Malik nodded. "Do you want to do it now?"

"I'm not sure," Malik admitted.

Ryou nodded. "Want to watch some YouTube videos and drink your coffee first?"

Malik relaxed a touch. "That does sound nice."

Ryou smiled and shifted a little closer, so his arm brushed Malik's when he unplugged his own phone and brought it over. "How about... some bridezilla AITA videos?"

"Some what?"

Ryou giggled and clicked into a redhead's video. "Oh, they're great - you'll hate it."

Malik snorted and rested his head on Ryou's shoulder, eyes fixed on the screen. After a few trashy wedding videos full of grooms' mothers showing up in wedding dresses and brides screaming about people being insensitive to their wants, their coffees completely done, Malik finally took a slow breath. "Okay, I think I'm ready."

Ryou set his phone aside and gave Malik's arm a small squeeze. "I'm here if you need me."

"Thanks." Malik picked his phone up. It was after ten, so after three in the morning in Egypt, but knowing Isis, she would be awake and on her way to the early Wednesday market for discounted prices. He dialled her number, holding his breath as it rang.

"Malik?" Sure enough, he could hear the engine running in the background.

"Morning, Isis," Malik greeted. "Sorry I missed your call last night, but I figured you'd be up."

"You were correct." The horn sounded. She was an even more manic driver than Malik was. "Is everything alright?"

"I should be asking you that," Malik pointed out. "You never call that late at night."

Isis paused. "With Kek," she elaborated. "I see he... has new accommodation."

Malik frowned, and Ryou rubbed his arm. "He does," Malik confirmed. "He's living in Domino again. He got a promotion at work and had to relocate."

"And he's not living with you or Rishid?"

"He wanted to stay on his own." Isis sighed and Malik swallowed. "He's an adult, sister. He's been living on his own in Osaka for a few years now."

"In an assisted living complex," Isis replied. "I'm not sure how comfortable I am with him living alone after... everything. I'm sure you understand."

Malik's jaw clenched. "I'm afraid I don't."

"Malik-"

"Kek has been doing fine, Isis. He's healthy, he's going to therapy, he's held down a steady job doing what he loves." All of which was more than Malik could say for himself. "If he says he's ready to live alone, then that's his decision."

"Brother, you know I support his independence, but after what he did-"

"I was the one who killed our father." Malik pursed his lips. Ryou gently massaged circles into his wrist with his thumb. "I'm the only one with a history of violence. If you have no issues with me living on my own, then I don't see why you are with Kek."

"I am not worried about him hurting others. I'm worried about him hurting himself."

"He's been doing fine," Malik repeated. "You should... You should really see him. You'd be surprised. He's been doing so much better since he moved out of Egypt. So much better. He hasn't even had any emergency sessions in years, or had to go to hospitals, or anything. It's... it's good to see. I think you'd feel better if you saw him."

A pause. "I suppose."

Malik rolled his eyes. All that meant was she would ring Rishid to try to convince him to stop Kek living alone instead, and then eventually she'd fly over for a long weekend to try to do the same herself when that failed.

"I also wanted to talk to you about your translations."

Malik's throat closed. "What about them?" Ryou rubbed his arm again and mouthed, 'breathe,' which Malik tried to remember to do.

"They're good. Much better than your usual work."

Malik's shoulders slumped. "Really?"

"Yes." The odd, tense tone still laced Isis' voice. "I was surprised to see your email about that translation, but you seem to have worked it out from the museum's reaction. Who were you working with?"

Malik smiled and reached up to take Ryou's hand, squeezing it. "Dr. Ryou Bakura. He's-"

"I know exactly who Dr. Bakura is."

Malik's smile dropped again.

"His work is... contentious. You'd do well to avoid him."

Malik chewed his tongue. "Well," he said slowly, "I actually asked him out the other day."

Isis sucked in a sharp breath. "End it."

"Isis-"

"I don't care, Malik. He is not a good influence, academic or otherwise." Malik's eyes burned. "I think you should come home, Malik."

"What-?"

"To Egypt. Just for a while. Japan is... apparently a bad influence on your work."

Malik gripped Ryou's hand harder. "No."

"I know it would be a change, but you could access the archives here and-"

"Isis," he cut in, "no. I'm not leaving."

"Malik, I'm trying to look out for your best interests."

"I don't care." He took a breath. "I love you, sister, but I can't do this. The constant checking in. The calling Kek behind my back all because I checked a translation with you. It's not fair, Isis."

"I'm worried about you-"

"I understand that," Malik said, "but it's affecting me badly, and I can't- Isis, it's too much." He paused, gathering his thoughts, and for once, Isis waited for him. "I'm finally happy, Isis. I'm having fun. I'm eating better, and I'm enjoying my life. I can wear what I want, and I'm going to spend time with whoever I want, regardless of whether you approve of them or not. I'm not going back to Egypt, and I need you to... to stop harassing me over my work and everything I do. It's my life, Isis."

"I know." Isis' voice was softer now. Her car must have stopped because the noise cut out. "I know it's your life. I just... I was trying to help."

"I understand that, but you weren't helping." Malik closed his eyes. "I need you to stop acting like me finally, finally, having a life outside work is the end of the world."

"If I ever made you feel like that, I'm sorry. I never meant to hurt you." Isis took a slow breath. "I... I think I'm going to take a while and... try to process this. Is it alright if I call you back later today so I can react properly?"

"I'd rather you didn't," Malik admitted. "Can we talk in a few days?"

"Of course," Isis agreed after a few moments. "I'll... talk to you then, so. Have a good day."

"Thank you." Malik nodded. "Enjoy the market." He hung up and sank into Ryou's open arms. "Shit..."

"Are you okay?" Ryou murmured.

"Not really," Malik whispered. His chest didn't ache as much, but his scars itched. "I needed to do that though."

Ryou kissed the top of his head. "I'm proud of you. That took a lot of courage."

Malik snorted but nuzzled closer to him. "Thank you."

"No problem." Ryou smiled. "Would you like another coffee or anything?"

Malik shook his head. "I'm okay. I just... can we stay like this for a while?"

"Of course." Ryou kissed the top of his head. "Can I ask something though?" Malik peered up at him. "Why does your sister not like me?"

Malik snorted. "The articles you wrote on the nameless Pharaoh. That was the Pharaoh our bastard of a father thought was coming back. She didn't like that you pointed out his failures and the massacre of Kul Elna that came to light under his reign."

Ryou's lips parted. "I- I'm sorry?" His brows furrowed. "I didn't mean to bring up your father, but... that massacre didn't even happen under that Pharaoh? His only failing was being a literal child in a war that didn't understand politics and the gravity of life."

Malik snorted. "I know. Trust me. I read your work after we started working together, but she sent it to me in a rage when it was published."

Ryou rolled his eyes. "Wow. I didn't realise my work was that dividing."

"Right?" Malik grinned. "Who knew the truth in history would cause issues."

Ryou smiled and kissed the top of Malik's head. "I'm sorry for bringing your father up."

"I did it first, technically," Malik pointed out. "Besides, it's funny if you think about it. I end up dating the very man who humanised the cult figure my insane father was obsessed with? What are the chances?"

"Well, when you put it that way," Ryou giggled, "it is pretty funny."

"Exactly." Malik smiled. He leaned up and pressed a tiny kiss to Ryou's lips.

Ryou followed him back to steal one right back and smiled. "I think I'm going to make breakfast. How do pancakes sound?"

"Delicious," Malik said. "I'll help."

"Perfect." Ryou stole one more kiss and pulled the blanket away. The cool air teased Malik's skin. He pulled on his skirt and shirt, following Ryou out to the kitchen. He wrapped his arms around Ryou's waist from behind as he gathered the ingredients.

Ryou chuckled and leaned back into Malik's chest. "This will make it hard to cook."

"Just a second." Malik gave him a squeeze. "Thank you for that. I really appreciate it."

Ryou turned in his arms, returning the hug. "It's not a problem. I'm happy to help." He smiled and cupped Malik's face. "But seriously, I need to make breakfast, and I'm really craving pancakes."

"Of course." Malik chuckled and pulled back. "I can't get between you and your sweet tooth."

"Well, you can," Ryou teased as he fetched a mixing bowl, "but I'm not sure you'd survive it."