Chapter 2: The End to the Beginning
Atticus Rhodes, he was always a cheery, happy go lucky kind of guy, but when your sister's love and one of your best friends is hurt...he goes off the deep-end to put it lightly. He hates seeing his sister even remotely upset, and Jaden hurt is one of the few things he knew that could break her tough girl facade in no time. So, he decided it'd be best that he take care of her while she was taking care of Jaden, bring her a nice lunch being phase one in his quite elaborate plan.
When the brunette arrived at the boy's infirmary room, he knocked. But, to his surprise there was no answer of any kind. "Lexi, you in here?" He asked, poking his head through the door at an awkward angle. He wasn't surprised that she was there, but what did surprise him was the fact she was currently cuddled into Jaden's arms.
He smiled gleefully at the site, and thanked whatever gods he could remember that he always carried a camera. Unfortunately, he happened to forget the flash was on, and how truly light a sleeper his adorable little sister was. "Atticus?!" Alexis asked, casting a bleary eyed glare at her annoying brother. "What are you doing in here?!" She asked in a hushed tone, trying her best to not yell and wake Jaden.
"Alexis, are you alright?" Jaden asked, sitting up and rubbing his eyes. "Atticus, what're you doing here, man?" He asked, sleepily looking confused at the elder Rhodes.
"Oh, Jay-man you dog, you," Atticus wagged a finger at his fellow brunette, a sly smile on his face.
"Um, excuse me?" Jaden asked, not clueing in to what it was Atticus was talking about.
"Oh, Sissy is that why you like him so, that dense thing's just a major turn on, isn't it," He turned his teasing on to his glaring sister, probably not one of his best decisions. But, he's not exactly full of them.
"Do you remember the last time you pissed me off, Atticus?" Alexis asked, her tone low and threatening causing her bedmate to raise a brow at her.
"Chill Lex, don't go killing your brother before noon," Jaden said, rubbing his girlfriend's back soothingly.
"But, he took pictures of us sleeping, Jay," She slightly pouted, causing Jaden to chuckle slightly as he turned to Atticus.
"You may want to get that camera ready then, bud," Jaden said, a mischievous glint in his chocolate eyes.
"What are yo-" Alexis began to ask, before Jaden smiled and pressed his lips to hers. She could faintly hear the clicking of her brother's annoying flash, but honestly careless at the moment.
After they broke the kiss, Alexis was smiling peacefully and Atticus was chuckling evilly. "Man, cannot wait for mom and pop to see these," Atticus teased, looking through his taken pictures. "Dude, you're so lucky I already love you like a brother, I'd kill you otherwise," Atticus chuckled, smirking at his fellow brunette. "Oh yeah, I brought some food for y'all," He added, remembering the stacked plates he held in his hand.
"Sweet, I feel like I haven't eaten in weeks," Jaden exaggerated gladly taking the offered plate.
"You weren't serious about showing those to Mom and Dad, are you?" Alexis asked, taking the other plate as she hoped her brother would answer in her favor.
"Oh, they'll see 'em, but I'll let you break the good news to them," Atticus smirked, blissfully ignoring the growl of his irate sister. "So, how'd you two finally become a couple, I want to know it all," Atticus said, sitting down on the quite literal, edge of his seat.
"Well, it's kind of hard to explain," Jaden said, pausing in his meal. "You studied the shadow games, and all that right?" He asked, looking at the older boy expectantly.
"Yeah, but what would something like that have to do with you and Sissy becoming a couple?" Atticus asked, slightly riled by the question out of left field.
"When you were in Banner's class, did you ever go over a pair of people by the titles of Supreme King and Queen of Darkness?" Alexis asked, trying to help her boyfriend explain things.
"Um, not ringing any bells...sorry," He said, rubbing his head sheepishly.
"Allow me to explain, mortal," An armored figure said, appearing at Jaden's bedside.
Atticus yelled in a mix of terror and surprise, "GHOST!" He yelled, before noticing how calm Alexis and Jaden were. "Lexi, Jaden why aren't you two freaking out about the ghost standing right, there," He asked, pointing at the see-through vision of the figure.
The "Ghost" took his helmet off, shocking Atticus into silence, "I prefer to go by Haou, or Supreme King if you so choose," Haou said, sounding quite bored with the brunette's reaction.
"Jaden, the ghost like you," Atticus pointed out the obvious, rather yelled.
"Now you're catching on," Aeron said, appearing next to Haou. Making Atticus' eyes bulge considerably as he looked at a ghost version of his sister.
"Oh my God, Lexi there's another one and she looks just like you," He cried, his antics finally getting on Alexis' last nerve.
"That is Aeron, the Supreme Queen, and you'd shut up they'd tell you what's going on!" She yelled at her pinhead of a brother.
"Okay, okay, Yeesh," He responded, throwing his hands up in surrender.
"As I was saying," Haou cut in, ready to move forward. " Jaden and Alexis, are Aeron and myself reborn in your time; their being here means that a power known as the Light of Ruin has returned to this plane of existence and the power of Darkness is needed to combat it. Jaden and Alexis, are the catalyst of that power as Aeron and I were in our time," Haou explained, being sure to go over it slowly, assuming he'd need to. "Jaden passing out after his duel with Aster, was the effect of Light trying to turn him against his written path and make him, and my power, it's tool. But, it alerted me to awaken the powers within Jaden, starting the age old feud once again," He paused, seeing Atticus had raised his hand to ask a question.
"Okay, would this 'Light of Ruin' have anything to do with that Society of Light Chazz has been spouting about for the past day and a half?" He asked, making Haou have to think for a moment.
"It's possible, they've taken many names in their attempts to end the universe, though the key signs are when they begin to wear nothing but white and rant of things such as, 'being open to how the world truly works, and is supposed to be'," He answered.
"Sounds about right, but why would Chazz be behind all of this?"
"No, I doubt it's this Chazz pulling the strings, he's most likely just another tool used by the true possessor of the light," He answered, turning to Jaden. "Jaden, you need to rest up; The Gentle Darkness will increase your healing rate, but if you rest and stay inactive the progress will move much faster," Haou encouraged his reincarnation, a hint of urgency in his tone.
"But, if I stay out of it, it'll just spread like a wildfire, right?" Jaden asked, not liking that idea one bit.
"Yes, but we can recruit people to our cause just as they can, but we don't take their free will; Their our allies, not our servants," Aeron answered, seeing as Haou had taken all the fun of explaining.
"Let me help, well, I mean if I can, that is," Atticus jumped in, not wanting to let his baby sister and in his mind, future brother-in-law take this on by themselves.
"I've been meaning to ask, I sensed a great deal of darkness within you, granted not as powerful as Jaden or Alexis," Aeron paused, thinking of what she wished to ask. "What contact have you had with the shadows?"
Atticus paused and looked away in shame, automatically the thoughts of his alter ego appearing in his mind. "I was once something called a Shadow Rider, it was when an evil spirit by the name of Night Shroud over took my body and possessed me," He slightly struggled to answer.
"You weren't yourself then Att, it's not your fault," Jaden comforted, after feeling Alexis tense in his arms slightly.
"And, because of the portion of that being you still possess, you'll be able to accept the power of Gentle Darkness much easier than any other we recruit," said Haou.
"Atti, are you really sure about this?" Alexis asked, obviously worried for the brother she had barely had back for a year.
"Well, there's no way I'm letting you and Jaden take this on by yourselves, you're my sister and Jay is like a brother to me. I'll do what I need to," Atticus answered, his usually carefree eyes filled with determination. "I can do this."
"Fine," She conceded, but asked one last question of her past-self , "Aeron, will him accepting the power hurt him in anyway?"
"No, however, the expelling of the remnants of the corrupted darkness may have some effects on him," She responded truthfully.
"He'll be okay, Lex, he's tougher than you give him credit for," Jaden said, smiling reassuringly at his "Queen".
"Thank, Jay-man," Atticus chuckled, appreciative of the vote of faith.
Jaden chuckled himself, before asking his own question. "How will this work?" He asked, looking to Haou.
"I'll be able to do it for now, I will train you how to do it eventually, but I can't risk you straining yourself, right now," Haou answered. "Passing out and receiving my powers can put a burden on you."
"That goes double for you Alexis, this will be a easy task for Haou to complete, nothing for you to worry about," Aeron added, smiling a motherly smile at her reincarnation. Alexis smiled, nodding her head slightly in answer. "Don't take too long dear, we've still yet to fully reacquaint ourselves," She said, smiling seductively at her King before vanishing from the room.
"Gods, I love that woman," Haou mumbled, before looking back at Atticus. He didn't say anything, but his golden eyes began to glow a radiant light before he vanished into the boy's subconscious, and Atticus slumped back in his seat.
Deciding there was nothing else to do in their time, Jaden struck up a conversation. "So, how'd you sleep?" He asked, pulling Alexis back down onto the sheets and into his chest.
"Pretty well, this new pillow of mine is nice and comfy," She smiled, her cheeks tinting slightly as she'd yet to get used to flirting like this with Jaden.
"Glad to hear it," He smirked, kissing the top of her head as he rubbed her arm soothingly.
DNR
It had been an hour now, and Jaden had dozed off holding the still awake Alexis. It appeared their wait was over though, as Haou reappeared and Atticus sat up gripping his head. "My head is killing," He groaned, squinting slightly.
"Don't worry, that should fade in a few moments," Haou reassured, smirking slightly. "I was quite surprised, you would have been a Knight of the Darkness in my time," He complimented.
"A knight, dude, ladies love a knightly man," He smiled goofily, at the thought of his fan club.
"Why does my brother have to be such a pinhead," Alexis groaned, causing Atticus to pout heavily.
"So, that I'll have a relatable brother-in-law someday," Jaden yawned, nuzzling his face in Alexis' soft hair. Alexis rolled her eyes and decided to drop the subject, though a small smile came to her lips.
"Darling," Aeron appeared, her tone chaste. "Are you quite done, it's not wise to keep your Queen waiting," She gave a slight glare.
"Sorry, my love, I didn't realize how long it would take," Haou apologized, the memory of his wife's temper still fresh in his mind. "If you need us, you know how to reach us," He added, before disappearing with his Queen.
"Would you ever wear armor like that?" Jaden asked, raising his brow at his girlfriend.
"No, well...maybe," Alexis answered quickly, though decided to rethink it after the adorable pout Jaden gave.
"Well, it's not a no," He smirked kissing the hollow of her neck.
"It's really going to take some getting used to, I'd gotten so used to a dense Jaden," Atticus chirped in, chuckling slightly. "Well, I'm off, and I'll be sure to tell the guys you're up."
"Do not, tell them about us dating, I'd like to be the one to break the news," Alexis warned, casting a glare at her brother.
"Of course, Sissy, I'll let you tell them about the rest as well...my King and Queen," He joked, walking out of the room.
"Pinhead," Alexis muttered, sitting up from the bed.
Jaden sat up on his elbows, giving the blonde a curious look. "Where you off to?" He asked, sounding confused.
"Just sitting up, don't tell me you're already getting clingy," She teased, though in reality she could care less on the matter, she liked it when Jaden defended her; even if he knew she didn't need it.
"It's to be expected, considering I've been crushing on you since our duel on the lake," He smirked, playing with the ends of her hair.
"I know we just started dating Jay, but I'm glad it finally happened," Alexis admitted smiling that same beautiful smile Jaden loved.
"You and me both."
DNR