This story is pure self-indulgence.
I love Jaden and Suga so much, I've been thinking ages about how to combine them in a story and this is the result.
Dedicated to Trina for converting me into an ARMY.
''...And that's the last time I ever saw the guy'', Alexis finished, a slight frown still visible on her face as she tried to shake the memory of the stalker off that had made her life a lot more dangerous in the past.
The others were looking at her with a certain kind of incredulity, shocked that something creepy like this had transpired on school grounds.
They had expected a lot of answers from Alexis to Jaden's question what creepy experiences she had made here, but their expectations had merely ranged from 'my brother disappeared' to 'Chazz being a weirdo around me' and not really anything else.
But a crazy stalker that had presumably killed himself?
That was unheard of at the academy and it surprised them because the staff must have surely noticed it if one of their students had killed themselves, right?
Then again, it could always be a fake story, yet somehow they doubted that Alexis would make something like his up, especially not around her older brother who was incredibly protective of her anyway.
Seeing everyone giving her worried glances, she tried backpedalling a little to lighten the mood again.
''Hey, I just said I didn't see him again, he might have just dropped out when he realized I wasn't interested. Anyway, let's continue.''
She grabbed the bottle that was placed neatly in the middle of their group and gave it a slight push.
When it stopped again, the bottle neck was pointing right at Zane who sighed, having not recovered yet from his previous dare to imitate Rumpelstiltskin.
The memory still seemed to be present in his friends' minds judging by their suppressed laughter as he was chosen as the victim once again.
''You know, there are people in this circle who haven't made a fool of themselves yet'', he commented, hinting at Atticus who had been spared by the bottle up until now.
He couldn't understand how nobody seemed to care about this, he at least was itching to get some payback on his best friend for laughing about his ridiculous performance.
But he was also itching to get revenge on Jaden for putting him into this situation in the first place.
''He does that just by being himself, don't worry.''
''Hey!'', Atticus complained, all former traces of shock about Alexis's story wiped off his face. ''I have feelings too!''
As if seeking help, he tried to catch Chazz's attention, however, the black haired boy chose to ignore him, not eager to get into an argument where both his mentor and love interest were involved.
''Traitor...''
While he was sulking, Alexis turned back to Zane.
''Zane, Truth or Dare?''
''Truth'', was the immediate answer. He didn't want to risk a disaster again.
Having already expected this, Alexis thought of a fitting question almost right away that would neither embarrass nor ridicule the other.
''What's the strangest rumor you've heard?''
She didn't know what answer she had expected to hear, but she definitely hadn't thought that Zane would react the way he did.
He was taken aback by the question at first before collecting himself and looking around suspiciously as if he was afraid that someone might be listening in.
''Well, I did hear a certain rumor'', he admitted after a while, voice lowered so much that Jaden and Chazz who sat farthest away from him had to move closer to catch what he was saying.
''Has to be a spicy one if you have to lower your voice like that.''
Jaden's eyes were positively sparkling of excitement.
He was always up for hearing rumors and testing if there was truth to them or not, even more so the last few weeks since nothing spectacular had happened and he hadn't been on world-saving duty for a while now.
He guessed he should be thankful for not having to deal with crazy psychopaths that wanted to destroy the world all the time, but truth be told, he needed that extra thrill in his life to not be bored out of his mind, so he payed close attention to Zane's next words.
''You might have already heard of it, but there's rumored to be a sort of prison hidden underneath a certain spot in the forest.''
Everyone turned their head towards the forest in unison, Syrus was even shuddering for a moment, but Jaden just seemed vaguely disappointed about the revelation.
He had hoped to learn something new, yet what Zane had suggested was something he had already known since his duel with Belowski.
Speaking of, what had happened to him after the duel?
Had he been sent back down there?
''I have heard of it. It's not just a rumor, it's true.''
''How do you know that?'', Chazz inquired, his tone of voice giving away his disbelief in the supposed rumor.
''I've dueled Belowski before when Crowler tried to make me lose my motivation for dueling. They locked him up because he had the power to do that, but thankfully, it didn't work on me.''
He wasn't surprised that none of the others remembered his encounter with Belowski, after all they had spent a big amount of their time squealing over mokey mokey and being put to sleep by it.
''Belowski?'', Zane repeated, visibly confused. ''No, the rumor wasn't about him at all, it was about a group of people actually.''
A group of people?
There were more people with the same ability as Belowski?
Or were they down there for an entirely different reason?
''Why would the academy just lock random students up? Care to explain that?''
Alexis wasn't convinced by the story at all even though she had to admit that it wouldn't be the weirdest thing the academy had ever done.
''No, not students, they were from someplace else, but I don't remember from where.''
He made a dismissing gesture with his hand, realizing that there was no use in telling them the rest of the rumor since they clearly weren't interested in hearing it.
Zane himself wasn't even sure if he should believe it or not, it was a little far-fetched after all, however, it wasn't completely ridiculous as he had just heard from Jaden.
''Since I have answered the question, can I continue?''
The others nodded with the exception of Jaden who was once again disappointed, only this time because he had actually taken interest in hearing the rest of the rumor and maybe figuring out where the secret spot was.
Not that he was about to go down there and look for this group of people...
Well, okay, maybe.
But who wouldn't, given this opportunity?
Before he could ask anything though, he felt the first drops of rain hitting him and his friends, effectively cutting their game short.
''Too bad'', Atticus smirked as he straightened up and stretched. ''Seems like you won't get your revenge just yet, Zanie.''
''Don't call me that'', the bluenette growled back, determined to get back at Atticus one way or another.
''I'll be on my way to Blue.'' Alexis picked her jacket up from the ground and held it over her head to shield herself from the rain that was slowly getting stronger. ''I've had fun today.''
''Yeah, at my expense.''
A sly smile appeared on her face. ''Maybe. Until tomorrow!''
She hurried off towards the girls dorm and the other two Obelisk Blue students made an indication to return to their dorm as well, but Jaden was at their side with a few quick steps, tuning Syrus out who called for him to hurry up before they were completely soaked.
Chazz had already taken the lead, striding gracefully back to the red dorm without even waiting for the other two to follow him.
On any other day, Jaden would have shouted 'wait up!' at him, today however, he had other priorities.
''Hey, Zane?'', he asked, successfully getting the top student's attention who turned to him.
It was obvious that he didn't want to spend any more time in the rain than was necessary, but right now, Jaden couldn't care less.
He needed to know what else Zane knew.
''So, about the rumor...''
