Black and Red
Okay, I know this chapter is really short, but the truth is… the Shadow Rider arc is about to start and boost the word counts, and besides, the last chapter was exceptionally long anyway. Furthermore, these two episodes have none of the main characters except for Jaden, which does jack shit for my pairings. As a result, I'm gonna let it alone more or less and build up the next chapter! In the meantime, I'm gonna go back to my Pandora Hearts fic Miscalculation for now...
Please also read the companion story Black and Red and the oneshots that go along with this story.
No transcribing, yay.
This is the title of the English-dub for Episodes 27 and 28. Its Japanese version translates to "An Extra-Curricular Class is a Shadow Duel! (Part One)" and "An Extra-Curricular Class is a Shadow Duel! (Part Two)", but my own personal title for these chapters is "A Cause Worth Fighting"
I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh! GX and I never will.
Chapter 27/28: Grave Risk, Part One and Grave Risk, Part Two, or "A Cause Worth Fighting"
Chazz awoke slowly, not particularly wanting to be awake, not with that wonderful warmth snuggling into his side, but because there was something that told him he needed to be up. Letting out a tired groan, he lifted his head from the pillow, supporting himself on a forearm, which was pleasantly warmed by the body nestled in his arms. Blearily, he blinked open his silver eyes, feeling a sense of accomplishment that his twin was choosing to sleep so close to him, something he hadn't done since they were very little.
Wait… he could see there was a cot pulled up beside the bed, Bastion sprawled across the majority of it with familiar copper hair fanning over his yellow Ra jacket and the slender body cuddled up to his side. So if Sora was down there on the floor with Bastion, then who was- Chazz let out a yelp, twisting around to stare at the body sharing his bed with him.
… How the hell did Jaden Yuki get into my room? he fumed, his muscles stiff before they relaxed in one conclusive moment. He may not have been expecting it, but well… there were worse things for him to wake up to. With that thought in mind, he settled himself back down on the bed, one hand coming up to trace meaningless patterns onto the other boy's skin.
"Mmmm," the brunet hummed sleepily, squirming slightly, "Stoppit, 'azz, that tickles, I'm tryin' t'sleep."
The pale hand paused in its movements. How… how did he know it was me even when he was asleep? the ravenet wondered, brow pinching together with his confusion.
" 'azz," Jaden mumbled, snuggling closer to the other boy with a hint of his usual smile tugging at the corners of his lips, "hn, love you."
Silver eyes went wide with the confession before he shook his head, midnight spikes bouncing slightly with the force of the movement. Calm down, Princeton, he's dreaming, he doesn't know what he's talking about. Still, that didn't stop him from draping an arm over the Slifer's waist and rest his chin on the tan shoulder of his crush.
On the floor, Sora was finally coming to, both Princetons more than used to sleeping lightly since their brothers were assholes enough to sneak into the rooms of the youngest two and go snooping. The redhead yawned, propping himself up with his arms and stretching like a cat, somehow managing to balance himself without toppling off the cot or putting weight on Bastion. Both of the Princeton twins may have had slender bodies reminiscent of a dagger, but they were also more than used to knowing how to manipulate their limbs to be comfortable in confined, awkward spaces.
/Morning Boss!/ a cheerful voice chirped, and for a brief moment, Chazz was equally split between killing the owner or himself, /Morning Captain, what'cha gonna do today since the Boss and I will be busy movin' in?/
Sora turned to look at the little yellow spirit hovering over his twin's shoulder. "I don't know," he stated, shrugging. "Whatever Bastion feels like doing, I guess."
Chazz frowned. "You shouldn't orient your life around just one person, Sora," he said disapprovingly.
"Like you're one to talk," the redhead scoffed. "Besides, Bastion doesn't mind staying with me. He's done more than that over the past few weeks."
"More?" the ravenet yelped, struggling to escape Jaden's hold, "What do you mean, more?"
/Relax, Chazz, Bastion did nothing inappropriate to him./
"Chazz, Command Knight!" Sora whined, "don't you have any faith in me?"
"I have faith in you," Chazz replied, glaring daggers at the elder Ra, "it's Bastion I don't trust."
The gamer just groaned, burying his head in the warm pillow beneath his cheek. Unfortunately for him, he managed to nudge awake the other boy. "Sora?" the Brit muttered, cracking his eyes open and looking down at the Princeton snuggling into his shoulder, "what's going on?"
"Nothing important, Chazz is just being an ass," the redhead answered, his words coming out a little muffled from the fabric in front of his mouth but still somewhat understandable. "You can go back to sleep."
"I'm awake now, there's no point." The genius fought back a yawn, sitting up and causing the younger boy to slide into his lap since he refused to sit up with him. "Sora, come on, it's time to get up." The other, however, just let out an incoherent hum. Bastion shrugged, used to his fellow Ra's general dislike for movement first thing in the morning, and tightened his arms around the redhead. "All right then, if you don't feel like going to see the day, the day's going to come to you!"
"Nooooo!"
Chazz frowned, moving to get up to chase after his younger twin, protective even though he knew there had been amusement in those silver eyes as the elder Ra had carried him off. "They make a cute couple, don't they?" He froze, looking down to see sparkling chocolate eyes.
"Who?"
"Bastion and Sora."
"Hn, I guess," the Princeton answered grumpily, not entirely willing to admit he agreed since he didn't want to watch his little brother grow up quite so fast.
He received a blinding smile for his efforts. "You wanna know another cute couple?"
"Not particularly."
"We would."
The ravenet's protest died in his throat. "Jaden…" Whatever he was about to say again got lost as the warm body in his arms snuggled closer. "I suppose we would, slacker."
The brunet made a noise of delight, tightening his arms around Chazz and rubbing his nose into the pale collarbone before him. "I'm so glad you're back, Duel Academy's really boring without you around."
A warm, proud feeling flooded into the Princeton with that declaration. "Of course it is," he huffed, wanting to keep up the usual façade he hid behind.
The Yuki sat up with a slight frown tugging down the edges of his lips. "You don't have to wear that mask, Chazz," he huffed, the frown turning into a pout now. "I'm not going to let you get hurt for being anything but yourself."
"What if the mask doesn't come off anymore? Chazz asked, turning his silver gaze to the bed as if in shame. "But what if this is myself, Jaden? What then?"
Jaden gave a gentle smile, twisting around so that he was propped up on a single elbow and his free hand had come up to caress the other boy's cheek. "Then I guess we'll just have to figure it out from there," he answered cheerfully, then gasped. "Holy Hell, I'm gonna be late for that field trip Professor Banner's making us take!" Impulsively leaning in to plant a quick kiss to the tip of Chazz's nose, he darted out of bed, running the same mad dash he would every school day.
Chazz stared at the slammed door for a moment before he chuckled wryly. "Looks like some things never change," he mused to himself before throwing off his blankets and starting the day.
"Noooooo, Bastion, put me down!" Sora was wriggling and squirming from where he'd been thrown over the Brit's broad shoulder, but judging by the tight grip that was being kept on the tanned arms beneath the yellow jacket, the genius figured he didn't really want to be let go quite yet. "I don't wanna be carried like a sack of potatoes!"
"Oh?" the ravenet asked, quirking an eyebrow, "well then, would you rather be carried like this?" He twisted quickly, dumping the younger boy into his arms bridal-style rather than the awkward grip he had before.
Sora was quiet for a long moment, almost making Bastion wonder if he had taken it too far, before a soft grin tugged at his lips. "Yes," he replied softly, quietly enough that the genius almost missed it.
Bastion smiled gently down at the Princeton in his arms. "I'm glad," he murmured, cuddling the younger boy close as the gamer began cuddling into his shoulder, resting his cheek against it and closing his silver eyes to try to catch up on some of the sleep he'd lost out on. After a moment of harsh debate and lengthy consideration, Bastion leaned down to press a gentle kiss to the boy's forehead before straightening, steadfastly keeping his gaze focused ahead of him in an attempt to deny the crimson staining his cheeks from his rash actions.
Sora blushed sharply, staring up at the Misawa in shock. He… kissed me… he thought in wonder, a blush headlining on his cheeks. He actually kissed me… does that mean… could it mean… that maybe… Bastion might like me too?
... I'm bored. Let's get on with this...
Chazz: Everyone who reviews will get a kiss on the cheek from Jaden... Wait, WHO THE HELL MADE THIS THE REWARD?
Bastion: ... Um... *backs away slowly since he'd only been trying to save Sora*
Jaden: And that's a chapter, people! Tune in next time!