Chazz: And another one. Lovely.

Die: Shut it, Chazzy, or I'll make YOU the one to do this.

Chazz: No thanks, I'm good.

Die: That's what I thought.

Jaden: Black Die doesn't own Yu-Gi-Oh! GX. Now go read her story!

Pairing(s): past!Idolshipping (ZanexAtticus), past!Shroudshipping (Hell KaiserxAtticus), implied Geniusshipping (ZanexBastion), side of Rivalshipping (ChazzxJaden).

Warnings: Noncommittment/cheating, implied drinking, mild character death.

Prompt: Warped

Title: Lost

Word Count: 1,197

I came bearing roses, a gift to my beloved that I had never forgotten to give since the day I messed up. I set them on the granite for a moment so that I could remove the wilting roses in the vase, replacing them with the fresh ones I had brought. "Hey," I whispered softly, my tone as gentle as I could make it. "I brought you flowers like I said I would."

The boy at my side fidgeted, his jeans and thin Hawaiian shirt clearly no match for the sea breeze. I smiled gently at him, draping my black trenchcoat around his slender shoulders. "I told you that you should have brought your jacket," I teased him gently, only for him to stick his tongue out at me childishly. I knew he would only respond with a petulant remark as to he knew he could just steal mine anyway, so I cut off his argument with a soft kiss.

I sat down on the grass, having come prepared with a picnic basket and soft candles, purple since I knew he loved the color so much. "I even brought your favorite red bean ice cream," I murmured, leaning against a sturdy tree uncaring of the green stains I was no doubt getting on my black pants.

I heard a crash, raising my head off the couch to see him sitting there on the kitchen floor in a pile of silverware, happily digging a wooden spoon we used for mixing into the open box of red ice cream, his cotton pants doing little to hide his form from me. "Atticus, what are you doing?" I asked in a monotone, still a little tired. I had been sleeping, couldn't he see it was—here I paused, throwing a glance towards the television to confirm the soft blue numbers—3:15 in the morning? I tuned out his response, no doubt something involving some sort of craving for the 'crimson heaven of ecstasy' he loved so much, and rolled over, putting my head back on the couch arm. I'd deal with him, and the mess, in the morning. Preferably after nine.

The food was good, I had learned about all the best places for Chinese take-out during my year of living alone as Hell Kaiser, but I had a forlorn wish to uncork some wine before I shook my head, pushing the notion away. I never did have a good head for alcohol, or so I've been told. Personally, I thought I handled it just as well as anyone else did, but whatever. "I heard Jaden proposed to Chazz," I told her softly. "Really threw him for a loop, but he agreed. They haven't set a date for the wedding yet, mainly because I think he still plans to propose to him."

I suppose I should have felt guilty when I saw his face when he walked in on us—after all, I had told him I would be faithful to him, even if I had made the promise a lifetime ago—ago but I didn't. Instead, I simply told him to go away and turned my attention back to the girl in my arms. I didn't care what he did, so long as it was still my bed he curled up in at the end of the day.

"I figured you would be here."

A soft smile. "I love you."

I tensed at the condescending voice, turning my head to see the man standing there, his pale hands in the pockets of his flyaway black jacket with the sun-kissed brunet clinging to his arm with his red uniform jacket. "What are you doing here?" I growled at them, feeling protective and jealous. Jaden and Chazz had never suffered for their relationship, never had to try like I had.

A gentle kiss, shared because it was just the two of us alone in the alcove, waiting for me to graduate from this school and leave it behind me, even if I would wait for him.

"Bastion asked us to come by," Jaden replied softly. "He was getting worried."

"I love you too."

"Go back to the car, Jay," Chazz murmured in an undertone, turning to kiss his cheek softly. "I'll be a minute." He nodded at him, walking off, and then he turned to me, catching me with my traitor fingers playing with the sapphire pendant and silver chain around my neck. "You regret it, don't you?"

The call had come at the same time he was supposed to be home, so I picked up the phone, figuring he was calling me to ask for some time apart or maybe even explain why he was going to be late. Instead, I heard the screech of heavy metal, a dull thump, and then the line went dead.

"How could I not?" I whispered softly, retrieving my coat from where it was draped over a rough stone. He didn't say anything more, instead silently helping me collect my things. He and Jaden walked me home, where my husband Bastion darted from the door and took the basket from me without saying a word. I loved him dearly, my Bastion was a wonderfully sweet boy, if a little quiet and withdrawn, his life revolving around the mathematical formulas he worked with but he wasn't Atticus, bouncy fun-loving Atticus. Atticus wasn't mine anymore. He didn't belong to anyone now. For this, I was glad.

In that moment, I had never hated my black attire more. The only thing it was ever good for, ever decent and acceptable for, was a funeral.

Bastion was just what I needed. He didn't ask questions. He didn't need reasons. He just accepted. I was allowed to leave, once a week, to do this. He would worry and fret, sending Jaden and Chazz after me every time since I would only stay later and later, but he did not request me to share. He already knew I was too late, too lost, anyway.

Atticus Rhodes

1995 – 2015

Found too late, Lost too soon.

Bastion: As you might have guessed, the different additions were all memories. Italics were Zane's, bolds were Hell Kaiser's, and the underline was actual writing.

Die: This one I am much more proud of.

Chazz: I can't believe you had the slacker propose to me!

Die: Shut up, we all know HE'D do it before you would.

Jaden: YES!

Die: Reviews will make me a happy writer, and happy writers put up more stories!

Chazz: Now go look at the character table, you losers.

Zane = (Unnamed/Bane)

Chazz = Chase

Jaden = Jamie (female)

Bastion = Belle (female)

Atticus = Amber Lee Robinson (female)

Alexis = (Unnamed/Alexandra)