The Christmas Shadow

Author's Note: Well, this chapter is probably going to be boring, but I'm not sure, because I don't know what I'm going to write yet. I'm writing this thing off the top of my head (as I have for almost every other chapter). So, if you don't like it, feel free to say so (even though I won't pay it much mind).

Disclaimer: I own nothing but my character.

Shadow flopped down on the couch and turned on the television. She looked up to see Jack standing in the doorway, staring at her.

"What? I can't watch TV while we talk? I can multitask!…sometimes." Jack couldn't restrain his laughter and sat down next to a pouting Shadow. She shoved him, but eventually couldn't hold back her own smile. "Oh, be quite."

"Sorry." He apologized, trying to compose himself, and failing (miserably, might I add).

"What was it you wanted to talk about? I thought that I'd gotten my message through the first time." She said, suddenly bitter.

"I just wanted to apologize."

"Yeah, I got that. I'm still not sure I forgive you yet."

"I understand."

"…You do?" She was truly surprised.

"Yes. I don't blame you for being mad at me-"

"Oh, that's an understatement," She interrupted him. "Sorry, continue." He didn't say anything for a while and they sat there in silence. "Well?" Shadow finally said. He looked at her, startled, like he had been jolted out of his thoughts.

"What?"

"Aren't you going to say anything?"

"I don't know." Shadow looked at him in disbelief.

"What do you mean you don't know? Why would you even come here if you didn't know what you were going to say?"

"I just needed to see you." He said quietly.

"So, we're just supposed to sit here until you think of something to say?"

"Well, you've already got the TV on." Jack said, defensively. "Watch that."

"Maybe I don't want to."

"Then why did you turn it on?"

"Because I felt like it. You got a problem with that?"

"Maybe I do."

"Well, that sucks." After a brief pause, they both doubled over, laughing again. Shadow had to lean on Jack for support because she was laughing so hard. When they finally calmed down, they looked at each other, realizing how close they were. Shadow jerked away from him.

"Um…I…think I…should…-" She was cut off by Jack, who put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her back into him. She stiffened but gradually relaxed into his embrace. They stayed like that, watching-but not really paying attention to-the television. And that's how Kisa found them when she came home.

"Whoa! Didn't see that one coming. Way to go, Shadowmon!" She cheered.

"Shut up." Shadow said, flustered.

"No way! You did the same thing to me."

"That was entirely different."

"No it wasn't. You wouldn't stop talking when I got a boyfriend."

"He's not my boyfriend! I'm still mad at him."

"Uh huh, sure." Jack watched the two banter, clearly amused. Shadow looked at him and punched him in the arm, at the same time as Kisa did on his other side.

"Ow." He said, rubbing both his arms. "That hurt."

"Good," they said together.

"That was the point," Kisa started.

"Yeah, private conversation. You shouldn't eavesdropping." Shadow added. Jack looked at them, not knowing what to say.

"But, I'm sitting right between you," was all he could think of.

"That doesn't excuse you." This time, Shadow started.

"You really need to learn to respect people's privacy." Kisa added. Now, Jack was really confused. They had just been arguing, and now they were teaming up against him.

"They are certainly a couple of very complicated girls." He couldn't help but think. In the time it took him to think that (which isn't very long, by the way. He's not that stupid), the two had switched subjects and he had no idea what they were talking about.

"-I know. That is so dumb."

"What is?" He asked before really thinking about it. Shadow and Kisa looked at each other with raised eyebrows.

"Why do you need to know?" Kisa broke the silence.

"Do we need to go over the privacy matter again?" Shadow asked. Jack couldn't hold back any more.

"You're both insane."

"Why yes, yes we are." They stated at the same time. "Thanks for noticing." Shadow added at the end. She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. "But you're still not forgiven."

"For which thing?" Kisa asked.

"All of them." Shadow said matter-of-factly.

"I'm okay with that."

"I thought you might be."

"I'm not," Jack put in.

"Well, your opinion doesn't matter." They both, once again, said together.

"Do you two plan this out?"

"What do you mean?" They asked together, honestly confused.

"That. Speaking at the same time."

"Oh, that." Shadow thought for a second. "I guess I never really paid it any mind."

"Me neither." There was an awkward silence in the room.

"You never even noticed?" Jack couldn't believe what he was hearing.

"No," they, again, said together. "Not really." Again, the room grew silent. This time, though, Shadow was the one who broke it.

"I'm bored again."

"That does seem to be a continuing problem, doesn't it?"

"Yeah…so, what are we going to do about it?"

"I don't know."

"And, of course, because you don't know, it falls on me to figure it out, right?"

"Exactly."

"I hate you sometimes."

"But only sometimes. The rest of the time you love me."

"You're an idiot. Actually, I'm the idiot. Why do I hang out with you?"

"Haven't we already gone over this?"

"Hmm, so we have."

"Do you want me to remind you again?"

"No, that's okay. I'm not taking any chances in boosting your already abnormally large ego."

"Aww, you're no fun."

"Yes, I'm such a party-killer." Shadow said sarcastically. As Jack was listening to them, he realized that the way Shadow spoke to Kisa was similar to the way she had spoken to him when they first met. Her sarcasm seemed to come so naturally to her, and now he knew it was because she was used to this kind of behavior.

A/N: Okay, this chapter was horrible, I know. The next one will be better-and longer-I promise. Also, I've decided that Jack needs to go back to his regular cocky, arrogant self (just a little less self-centered). That will be in the next one too. Also, I promised that I would have this one out by Friday, and I didn't, but I started it on Friday (it's 2:00 in the morning right now), so that has to count for something.