"During either player's Battle Step, while an attack is occurring: You can banish this card from your Graveyard; negate the attack. You can only use the effect of 'Bacon Saver' once per Duel."
Pharaoh is home from staying at Yusaku’s place! Pharaoh and Jaden have a discussion.
Link to ao3 will be in the notes
⁂
Chazz was not impressed when he saw Jaden at the front door, Pharaoh purring happily in Jaden’s arms.
“I was hoping you got rid of that thief for good.” Chazz sniffed.
“Aw, I could never! The two of you just needed time apart, I know you can make up.” Jaden smirked. “Besides, I know you love him. You’d be devastated if I got rid of him forever.”
No, abandoning Pharaoh wasn’t in the cards, for several reasons. Jaden could get away with pushing him onto Yusaku for a few days, sure, but permanently? That was pushing it way too far. Then, there was Professor Banner. If their old teacher wasn’t going to pass into the afterlife, better he stayed with them, where he had people he could interact with. Jaden would miss Banner too much anyway.
Not least of which, though, was that Pharaoh was a very good cat. Jaden loved him. He couldn’t bare to part with the little guy.
Chazz rolled his eyes. “Ew. No way. I’d be glad to see him gone.” He turned away. “Just keep him out of my snacks.”
That, of course, was just Chazz speak. Chazz loved Pharaoh and everyone knew it. Chazz was just also very protective of his food.
He did help Jaden bring in all of Pharaoh’s things, though. Toys, food, litter box, scratching post, so many things for just one cat. And while they got all of Pharaoh’s things where they belonged, Pharaoh settled himself in a window so he could look outside.
Chazz rolled his eyes when he saw where Pharaoh was. “What a freeloader,” he mumbled, though it was full of Chazz affection.
Jaden laughed. "He's just loved lots."
Soon enough, everything was back in its place. And once it all was, Jaden plopped himself on the floor next to the window Pharaoh was in. He reached up to scratch Pharaoh under the chin.
"How was your trip out, buddy?" Jaden smiled up at the cat. "Did you make a new friend?"
Pharaoh yawned, and a ball of light flew out of his mouth. Seconds later, Professor Banner was sitting next to Jaden. "I think we made a new friend. It was interesting, to say the least."
“Interesting, huh?” Jaden hummed. “So you learned something.”
Okay, it wasn’t like Jaden lied to anyone. Chazz and Pharaoh truly did have a falling out, and Chazz truly did need time away from Pharaoh. Chazz hadn’t exactly given Jaden a choice in the matter by shoving Pharaoh out of the apartment. Those were all true things!
That didn’t mean it wasn’t an opportunity he couldn’t take advantage of.
…That sounded really malicious. He wasn’t trying to take advantage of anyone. It was just a chance for him to learn more about his buddy! It wasn’t like Professor Banner was going to learn anything Jaden couldn’t learn from, like, a sleepover. He was just speedrunning friendship a little. Was it a crime to be curious?
“Well, it was mostly quiet. Yusaku lives alone. But he spent a lot of time on his phone. And I know he was talking to someone, because I heard them speak about how suspicious Pharaoh is. Which is quite rude if you ask me—“
Pharaoh chose that moment to lean down and eat the ball of light again, making Professor Banner disappear.
That wasn’t exactly an extensive report, but when it came to Professor Banner, one had to take what they could get. Jaden thought about what he was just told.
Jaden hadn’t messaged Yusaku while Pharaoh was away. He didn’t receive any messages from Yusaku, either. Surely Professor Banner was familiar enough with Cal’s voice to recognize his voice, but Professor Banner didn’t specify who had spoken. Because he didn’t have the time to say, or because he didn’t recognize the voice? But if the latter was true…
Jaden tapped a fist against his palm. “Yusaku does have a friend besides me and Cal. And if I can figure out who it is…”
He’d be one step closer to the mystery that was Yusaku.
Yusaku was indeed a mystery. He was a loner, stuck to himself, other than Jaden and Cal. And Shima, but Shima wasn’t the type of person to call a cat suspicious for no reason. Yusaku didn’t seem to particularly like Shima’s company anyway, so why would he talk to him on the phone? Surely it was someone else.
“Need I remind you of how hypocritical you’re being?”
Jaden blinked and stared blankly up at Chazz.
“You’re mysterious enough with your own mysterious past. But I don’t see you opening up to him about it.”
“There’s no reason to.” Jaden crossed his arms. “I don’t need to use my powers around him. And I’m not going to go around to random high schoolers announcing my bloodstained past.”
“And there’s no reason for him to open up to you,” Chazz countered. “Not everyone has to like dueling. He doesn’t have to tell you why.”
“He had a panic attack in front of his classmates and disappeared for days afterwards. I’m a responsible adult in his life, I want to make sure I don’t trigger something like that happening again.”
“Responsible.” Chazz rolled his eyes. “Have you considered just asking?”
“Yeah, let’s remind him of his public panic attack and possibly trigger another one. Seems smart.”
“Ladies, ladies, calm down. You’re both pretty.”
Chazz and Jaden both turned to look at the newcomer to their conversation. Jesse flashed them a winning smile.
“Y’all both got good points. Makes sense that you wanna make sure the kid is safe, Jay. But Chazz is right. It is a little hypocritical.” Jesse put a hand on his hip. “If you really wanna go down this route, you gotta be willing to open up, too.”
Jaden brought his knees up to his chest.
“I know what you’re thinking, Jay. You’re worried what he’ll think of you. But you told the kids, remember? They don’t think any less of ya. Everything’s okay.”
Jesse kneeled down and put a hand on Jaden’s shoulder.
Jaden frowned.
He had a lot to think about.
⁂
The monitors blared with a duel replay: a duel between Blue Angel and Supreme Zarc.
Jaden took a sip of hot cocoa. Blue Angel was running for an Action Card, but Supreme Zarc got to it first. His attack went through, bringing Blue Angel down to 3000 LP.
A couple of chairs away, Yusaku was typing away at his keyboard. A history assignment, he’d told Jaden. Jaden and Cal were both all for Yusaku doing his homework, so they’d left him to it.
Supreme Zarc activated the effect of Wonder Balloons, sending the Action Card he’d just picked up to the graveyard.
Jaden took a bite of his hot dog. “What history are you writing about?” he asked with his mouth full.
Yusaku frowned. “River valley civilizations. I’m taking a world history class.”
“Huh. Neat.”
Truthfully, Jaden wasn’t all that interested in river valley civilizations. But his high school experience was…very different from Yusaku’s. It was interesting to see what the differences were.
Not that Yusaku gave much of an answer. Better than no answer, at least.
Kids Yusaku’s age should have lots of friends their own age. Study together, hang out together, that sort of thing. But Yusaku was alone, and he really wasn’t trying to make friends. Honestly, it seemed like he was trying not to make friends.
…Chazz had been right, before. Yusaku did remind Jaden of his last year of high school, didn’t he? Pushing people away, not turning in homework..
…trauma related to dueling.
Just because Jaden didn’t know what that trauma was didn’t mean it didn’t exist. Yusaku had a panic attack in the middle of a duel, and that wasn’t over nothing.
Supreme Zarc jumped on Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon’s back and ended his turn.
And Jaden wanted to know because he wanted to help. He didn’t want to needlessly drudge up Yusaku’s past, he wanted to help him with it. Give Yusaku the support he’d refused when he was in his shoes.
But was he willing to be as vulnerable with Yusaku as he wanted Yusaku to be with him?
The second Duel Carnival card theme is... Zombies!
Leo: Ooooooooo! Today’s theme is Zombie-Type!
Luna: Zombies are kinda spooky.
Leo: Yeah...So I wonder if there’s any monster that I’ll like...
Luna: I’m sure you’ll find something. Let’s choose!
Leo: Hmmm......Okay, I’ll go with this card! The Ritual Monster, Revendread Slayer! I can’t believe there’s a Zombie that looks this awesome!
Luna: Yeah. It kinda looks like a superhero.
Leo: Not a superhero, but an antihero. And that’s even cooler!
Luna: That card is powerful on its own, but it can use other Vendreads to become even stronger. It’s my turn to pick. I’ll choose...Bacon Saver! Isn’t it the cutest?
Leo: Sure is! Cute...and tasty!
Luna: When this card is in the Graveyard, it can protect its friends during battle.
Leo: Wow! That’s really useful! No bones about it!
Luna: There are many other Zombies that activate their effects from the Graveyard. So everyone, which card do you like better?
@datanamines I've been rereading Bacon Saver for the hundredth time because I love it and I couldn't get the idea for a Yubel/Jaden VRAINS avatar out of my head so I wanted to share this sketch with you, because I was thinking of you and hoping you're having a good day
