Marik is honestly surprised that Kaiba reacts in a positive manner to his touch. Neither are particularly familiar or comfortable doing those sort of things. He himself usually sees it as a sign of weakness. It's a useful tactic when trying to get someone to lower their guard. But both of them are open right now. There's nothing selfish to gain from this. It's not... weak. Being able to unload like this has helped him feel lighter, something he hasn't really felt since his split personality was banished to the Shadow Realm. It seems to have helped Kaiba as well.
The blonde grunts in agreement, looking down at the floor for a time before returning his gaze to his companion. Chenzira watches the two with a small smile. Marik's hand returns to Kaiba's shoulder.
"Thank you, Kaiba."
Speaking of duelists, if their cards are on the table right now...
"... You're the first real human friend I've had." He worded that carefully on purpose. Marik cherishes all of his pokémon, especially Chenzira, but there is still a small disconnect.
His grip tightens a bit on the other teen's shoulder out of reassurance. "I promise I won't let you down and... that I've got your back, no matter what happens."
Kaiba feels...strange. It's so weird to let Marik close to him like this, to willingly drop his guard. But they've bonded on the start of this strange journey, and away from all the drama of the past, surrounded by teams who love them...maybe they can both stretch beyond the boundaries they lived within before.
Even still, the word feels heavy on his tongue. A concept he scoffed at so many times, yet...
"You're my first human friend too," he admits softly. He'd had something with the Pharaoh by the end, and Yugi had wanted them to be friends, but...they'd never gotten there. Maybe it could've happened someday. But now he has this. Marik, teaching him the ways of the wild and encouraging him on this journey. And he wants to make sure Marik finds his dreams too. If anyone deserves freedom, it's him.
He reaches back, winding his own arm around Marik's shoulder. "You too. Looks like we're stuck together, and...I protect what's mine, including my. Friends."
It's said with an awkward little chuckle. Still getting used to that word.
It's a strange word for him as well. It sounds right when describing his team but to a person...? Hm. He hopes it didn't sound forced when he said it.
What Kaiba does and says next though causes him to stare, eyes widened and his mouth open slightly. The other teen isn't one to beat around the bush, he already knew that. And he knew about his possessiveness. But to hear it applied to him, to have that arm around him. Human contact. Human affection. Unfiltered emotions. Everything feels so muted nowadays to him. His highs and lows never last long, almost immediately mellowing out. There's a reason he's begun to stagnate while in this place although he doesn't know what it is.
This is the first time in what seems like forever that he's feeling something deeper than usual. Are those...? Ugh. No. His eyes are beginning to tear up. Of all the stupid emotions to leak through, why did it have to be this? Marik bites his lip, looking away to clench his eyes shut and to try and calm himself down. He lets out a huff and turns back to Kaiba, having recovered quickly enough, offering a slightly awkward smile.
"Yeah... Friends." A pause followed by a quiet chuckle. "... Honestly never thought I'd use that word to describe someone in my life, you know?"
Luckily, Kaiba's not experienced enough in dealing with emotions on the regular to realize what Marik is experiencing. He gently pats his friend's shoulder once more before letting go, taking a deep breath. This is real, then. They're friends.
"Think you'll be able to sleep well?" he asks, soft and just a little awkward. He's worried he might've stirred something up back there.
The Egyptian nods and moves off of Kaiba's bed, pulling the sheets back to climb into his own. Chenzira climbs over to rest on his trainer's chest and sprawl out.
He debates asking the other what he's thanking him for. He didn't really do anything in his eyes. Unless Kaiba's admitting it did him good to get that all off of his chest as well. Whatever the reason Marik smiles over at his friend, idly patting Chen's back. "Night, Kaiba."
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The blonde grunts in agreement, looking down at the floor for a time before returning his gaze to his companion. Chenzira watches the two with a small smile. Marik's hand returns to Kaiba's shoulder.
"Thank you, Kaiba."
Speaking of duelists, if their cards are on the table right now...
"... You're the first real human friend I've had." He worded that carefully on purpose. Marik cherishes all of his pokémon, especially Chenzira, but there is still a small disconnect.
His grip tightens a bit on the other teen's shoulder out of reassurance. "I promise I won't let you down and... that I've got your back, no matter what happens."
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Even still, the word feels heavy on his tongue. A concept he scoffed at so many times, yet...
"You're my first human friend too," he admits softly. He'd had something with the Pharaoh by the end, and Yugi had wanted them to be friends, but...they'd never gotten there. Maybe it could've happened someday. But now he has this. Marik, teaching him the ways of the wild and encouraging him on this journey. And he wants to make sure Marik finds his dreams too. If anyone deserves freedom, it's him.
He reaches back, winding his own arm around Marik's shoulder. "You too. Looks like we're stuck together, and...I protect what's mine, including my. Friends."
It's said with an awkward little chuckle. Still getting used to that word.
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What Kaiba does and says next though causes him to stare, eyes widened and his mouth open slightly. The other teen isn't one to beat around the bush, he already knew that. And he knew about his possessiveness. But to hear it applied to him, to have that arm around him. Human contact. Human affection. Unfiltered emotions. Everything feels so muted nowadays to him. His highs and lows never last long, almost immediately mellowing out. There's a reason he's begun to stagnate while in this place although he doesn't know what it is.
This is the first time in what seems like forever that he's feeling something deeper than usual. Are those...? Ugh. No. His eyes are beginning to tear up. Of all the stupid emotions to leak through, why did it have to be this? Marik bites his lip, looking away to clench his eyes shut and to try and calm himself down. He lets out a huff and turns back to Kaiba, having recovered quickly enough, offering a slightly awkward smile.
"Yeah... Friends." A pause followed by a quiet chuckle. "... Honestly never thought I'd use that word to describe someone in my life, you know?"
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"Think you'll be able to sleep well?" he asks, soft and just a little awkward. He's worried he might've stirred something up back there.
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"Better than I have in years, I think. How about you?"
Kaiba helped him immensely today. He hopes... that he was able to return the favor, even if just a little.
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"...I'll be fine. Make sure you get your rest now before we hit the road again."
And he'll carefully crawl into bed beside Selene, laughing as the little Eevee snuggles up to him. Everything's surprisingly fine.
"Good night you two. And...thanks."
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He debates asking the other what he's thanking him for. He didn't really do anything in his eyes. Unless Kaiba's admitting it did him good to get that all off of his chest as well. Whatever the reason Marik smiles over at his friend, idly patting Chen's back. "Night, Kaiba."