A/N: Yay! More boy-love!

Warning: Awesome-O says that this is GAY. Full of GAY. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I… I gots nothing. Really. Nothing. Sorry.

Summary: Challenge fic. 25 Random Words. The rules? Just use the word in a scene about the pairing. Chapter 17: Nay.

Remember:

"Blah" – Speech

Blah –Thoughts/Emphasis

Blah – Self Explanatory

17. Nay

There was shuffling of papers in the classroom, which smelled heavily of Febreeze Hawaiian Flowers. Ike was trying to quickly move through the Student Council meeting with little arguments. Unfortunately, Filmore was in a pissy mood. Extremely pissy. And Ike had a date—err, well, prior engagement.

"Alright," the Canadian said with a sigh, "On the subject of Drama Club payments, the board requests a five dollar increase to the set price of 2 dollars. Does any member second this motion?"

"I do," Flora said, rising her hand shyly. Ike smiled at her rare involvement, nodding at whoever was secretary, and they calmly took the note.

"All in favor say 'aye'," he announced, picking up his stamp for approval. There was a chorus of bored and lame ayes. His eyes darted about the room, scanning for disapproval. Filmore was seated somewhere beside him, shifting, but Ike couldn't make out his frown (which he knew had to be there). "Any nays?" He waited a space of a second, hearing Filmore's intake of breath. "No? Than the ayes—"

"Nay!" his V.P. declared. Ike hung his dark head, exhausted.

"Oh my God, Filmore! Really?!" he asked, rubbing his forehead. The secretary was scribbling furiously, the pen creating rough scratching sounds. "Don't write that!" he snapped. The secretary yelped, pen flying through the air, making the rest of the council duck. There was blue ink spraying lightly as it hit the wall across the room. "Okay, okay!" Ike exclaimed, standing up while everyone cautiously peered up from under the table. "I'm declaring the meeting recessed! Everyone leave and compose themselves. We'll adjourn in fifteen minutes."

A collective relief spread throughout the students. Almost unanimously, the council leapt up, heading for the door. Some were pulling out wallets, a few rushed off in the direction of the bathrooms, and a couple more went to just stretch out in the hallways. Meanwhile, Filmore was slinking his way toward the creaking metal door when Ike quickly blocked his path.

"C'mon, man, what's your problem?" he whined, "The meetings are usually fifteen minutes! You're making it three times as long! I haven't had to do so much dictating in months."

Filmore was scowling, crossing his arms. "I don't have a problem."

"Did you just hear yourself?" Ike asked, incredulous.

"Possibly," he said, then with a ragged breath, looked away, "Yeah… I heard myself."

"You're my friend," the younger male said, placing a hand on a square shoulder. "That means you can tell me anything. What's wrong?"

"It's… It's really complicated, Ike," he said, blushing. Ike moved his hand off the shoulder stepping closer.

"Please tell me?" he asked. He even tried using puppy dog eyes. That normally got his friend talking.

Filmore shook his neatly combed head, "I-I can't… you'll never think of me the same again…"

"We've known each other how long?" the Canadian teased. Then with a seriousness, leaned in and gave his childhood pal a warm hug. Finally, Filmore caved. He bent down and whispered into Ike's mess of ink colored hair…

Elsewhere, Shadow normally had detention after the schooling hours. He broke the rules from dress code to cigarettes to being defiant in class. This particular day was no different. Which wasn't too bad, seeing as it was Thursday and every Thursday was the Student Council meetings. So, after detention, Shadow wandered over to his favorite bench at the front of the school and waited for Ike's meeting to end. This bench was his favorite because it was in the perfect spot to sit and peek between the blinds of the Student Council Room's window.

And what exactly did Shadow's little black rimmed eye spy?

Some conformist-Nazi-jock all up on his Ike.

Ohh, this was not acceptable.

The meeting finished not long after that, and Ike came practically skipping out of the front entrance. Immediately, he was dashing over to Shadow, beaming widely. "'Kay! Time to go home!" he declared.

He grasped onto Shadow's hand (Stay calm, Shadow, take another drag), leading the goth down the street, inhaling a large amount of nicotine from a dying cigarette. It was hard to focus on Ike's insistent babbling, and the painted fingers peeking through scuffed leather gloves were twitching, not that Ike noticed… or if he did, he kept chatting.

"Right, so then after that happened—" Shadow was busy staring at the hand holding his. Ike's fingers were smaller than his own. Then again, Shadow kept forgetting that the Canadian was a genius and two years younger than the rest of their peers. "—the experiment continued another whole—" Inhaling smoke and tar, Shadow nodded, glancing up to see Ike turning around to him, "Like a balloon! I mean, isn't it awesome what the powers of the universe can do?!"

"The universe is a conforming thing, isn't it?" Shadow questioned. Ike smiled, tugging the goth closer.

"Sorry, I know that's not your kind of thing," he said, a hint of pink moving across his cheeks.

"Its fine," Shadow admitted, tossing a the used butt over his shoulder, "Keep talking…" Ike stopped suddenly, so suddenly, Shadow's brooding gait collided with the younger boy's prone body. Slightly taken aback, the goth found himself wrapping about Ike to keep balance (and really not minding it at all). "Wha—"

"Are you upset?" he asked. Shadow's dark eyes widened.

"How could you tell?"

"You're my friend. I know when you're upset," he said, tilting his head back to look up to the taller boy. For some reason, Shadow quite enjoyed the pose. Arched back, lifting head, hazel-green eyes staring solely at him, keeping his arms locked about a trim waist. It was like a perfectly metered poem. Something that made him less angry with the world.

"I'm always 'upset'," he pointed out. Ike rolled his eyes, settling back against Shadow's chest (Please don't feel that hectic heartbeat…).

"Yeah well… it seems… I dunno," the younger one began, fiddling with Shadow's hands lying on his stomach, "It seems deeper… You weren't really listening to me."

"Who's that guy you were hugging?" Shadow's question burst from his mouth like a dam giving way to a frustrated weight (&# %!). Honestly, he didn't mean for it to be said. Yes he was bothered by the jock, but it wasn't like he owned Ike or anything. Well, aloud anyway.

"Huh?" Ike eloquently said, leaving Shadow's embrace. It was like shattering an impeccable piece of fragile glasswork. Frowning, Shadow reached into his back pocket, looking for something to smoke. "Hugging…?" Ike had paused, thinking back, before a metaphorical light bulb exploded. "Oh! You mean Filmore?"

"Isn't he your nemesis? You guys hug?" the goth asked stupidly (and continuously coming back to that damn hug). For some reason he was growing agitated… and dammit! Where the hell was that blessed nicotine?!

"Filmore and I are actually quite close," the younger teen explained, pulling out his phone and displaying pictures of the two hanging out, "Unfortunately, school festivities pit us against one another constantly. I never really explained that to you, did I?"

"You have…" there was a surprised look gracing Shadow's face before it was chased away by nonchalance. "But, I never really thought you… ya know, had other friends."

Ike's brow crinkled and he quickly put away his cell, "Why? What made you think that?"

"I…" Shadow wanted to drop the subject but those owlish eyes were waiting for his answer. "It's just, you're always with me. At lunch, after school, your house, mine… I didn't think you had others you hung out with."

"Oh…" Ike was looking at Shadow oddly now, fidgeting in place. "I—I… um!"

The goth scratched the back of his head, thinking, "Not that it's a big deal or anything. You aren't—uh—socially awkward. I just… I dunno, thought you were…"

"I'm what?" Ike asked.

Shadow paused for the briefest second. In that second his mind was running faster than his mouth, and the two had a disconnect. (WhatshouldIdo?ShouldIactnonchalant?) "Well, I thought—" (Butthereisaconformingasshole tryingtostealawayIke!) "—that you were—" (Imean,hehastoknow,right?Whatsortofapersonletstheirfr iendhangoutwithajock?) "—mine alone." (Theysay—theconformingbastards—thathonestyisthebestpolicy… Wait, what the hell did I just say?)

Shadow's black rimmed eyes were rather wide, surprised by his own actions. Ike was staring at him, almost like he was about to burst. Whether in laughter or tears, the other boy couldn't tell.

"Are you… jealous?" he questioned.

"Yes." (FML.)

"Why?" Ike cocked his head to the side, those hazel-green eyes glittering up dangerously.

"I like you." (FMLFMLFMLFMLFMLFML.) By now, Shadow had lost of his control over his own mouth. It was probably the lack of nicotine… and the eyes… Mostly those adorable eyes staring him down… even though Ike was shorter.

"Good!" Ike declared, bouncing on his heels.

"Good?" (…Fml?) Shadow really must have lost his mind; because he could have sworn his friend say the word "Good" and the word "Good" can really only mean one thing.

"Because I like you too!" The blush was back on Ike's face, accompanied with a delectable shy smile.

Shadow was completely sure he was absolutely insane—probably with grief, because the little Canadian in front of him could not have just confessed to liking the goth. "You… What?" (…)

"I do," Ike seemed to understand the catatonic reaction Shadow was currently under, "I like you a lot, Shadow." He moved closer to the black-clad boy, taking black-painted fingers and interlocking them with his own. The move brought warmth flooding over the both of them that was quite distinct from the typically chilly South Park day.

"Really?" (Kiss 'im.)

"Really…" Ike nodded, loosing a bit of his nerve and glancing down to the damp pavement. Shadow, as if it was second nature bent lower, recapturing Ike's intelligent and gentle gaze.

"Seriously?" (Stop talking. Kiss 'im.)

"Yeah, seriously," the boy answered, a smile spreading across his cherubic face in amusement.

Relaxing, Shadow's fingers twitched, and this time, Ike did really notice. "I—Wow…" (Okay, no, really, fucking .)

"So, Shadow… Can we… um…" the younger one started, but ended up moving closer, hiding his face skillfully behind his bangs that had grown just a touch too long for him.

"Yes?" (Kiiiiiiiiisssssssss hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimmm!)

"I mean, now that you know… can we… um…" he was really struggling, and Shadow's hands moved without his rationale consent, tilting Ike's face up. Displayed in it's gorgeous cherry glory, Ike was blushing madly, his round eyes rounder at the forced proximity between him and Shadow.

"Can we…?" (Blue balls. They're real. They hurt. Remedy equals kissing. KISS. HIM.)

"I was wondering… can we… date?" he asked.

Shadow found himself smirking.

"Of course."

(SMOOCH!)

—END?—