Chapter Text
Syrus crept back up the stairs, trying as hard as he could to be quiet. He knew even the outside walls to each room weren't well-insulated, and he definitely didn't want to go making an enemy of the entire dorm just because he needed to use the bathroom in the middle of the night.
He opened the door, turning the handle slowly to keep it from making a noise. As he cracked it open, he was surprised to be able to see inside, expecting the pitch-blackness provided by Chumley's black-out curtains. It wasn't the bright light of the lamp, that definitely would have woken the senior up already, but by this point Syrus firmly believed Jaden could sleep through anything.
He opened the door further and saw the source: a lamp at the desk, shaded by what was probably a towel over it to keep it as dim as possible while still providing some light. Syrus could both see Chumley's form in the top bunk and already hear him snoring, so the figure sitting at the desk, sorting through the cards scattered over it with a blanket draped over himself like a hood, must have been Jaden.
He hoped.
Distracted, he accidently let the door close with a click as he slipped inside, and nearly jumped out of his skin both at the unexpected noise and the figure whipping around towards him. On top of the surprise of the sudden movement, Syrus was shocked at the look in his best friend's eyes.
He'd never seen Jaden look so angry, or so afraid.
The two stared each other down for just a moment before Jaden relaxed with a sigh, turning back to whatever it was he'd been doing.
"I had been wondering where you went," Jaden murmured, just loud enough for Syrus to hear him.
With a nervous laugh, Syrus responded about as quietly, "Y- Yeah, had to use the bathroom... I'm surprised you're up though." He tip-toed closer to peer over Jaden's shoulder, trying to see what his friend had been up to this late at night. "Normally it's like you can sleep through anything, did you have a nightmare or something?"
Jaden didn't answer for a long moment, seeming to contemplate the cards in his hand, before he took one out and placed it lightly on one of the various piles on the desk. Syrus looked over them, suprised by the absence of his friend's signature Elemental HERO cards. Instead he could see Evil HERO cards, and realized Jaden was picking out supports for them.
"No," the other finally answered, "I just wanted to get up and do something."
"Just kind of restless, huh?" Syrus leaned onto Jaden's shoulder, but moved away again as he felt the other tense at the contact. Was Jaden mad at him? Did he do something wrong? Maybe he woke his friend up when he got up earlier and now Jaden's mad about not being able to get back to sleep? He slept all the time during the day, but he was always so energetic, it was hard to imagine him actually tired.
Really, even now, he didn't seem tired exactly. More like... subdued? The way he moved and spoke just seemed to have a thoughtfulness to it that Jaden usually just didn't. His friend was so rash and headstrong that it may have caused problems at times, but those were still traits Syrus admired in him. Yet at this moment, it just didn't seem like him. Syrus studied his friend's face, and had to hold back a flinch as the other suddenly met his gaze and narrowed his eyes.
"What?"
Syrus almost started to fidget, wondering again if his best friend was mad at him for something. Instead of voicing that though, he fell back on to asking something to maybe lighten the other's mood. "Um, I was just wondering what you were doing with those cards? I- I mean, that's not your normal deck after all..."
The other continued to scrutinize him for just a moment before turning back towards the desk and gazing down at the sorted cards again.
"I was just..." he began, pausing as he seemed to consider his words in a way that was very unlike his usual self, "... thinking about what other decks I could make."
"Oh!" Syrus was already impressed with Jaden's dueling ability, but Jaden always used the same deck. "Are you thinking about switching it up? Using another deck? I- I mean, your Elemental HERO deck is great of course but-!" He faltered, worried at further offending his already apparently-irritated roommate. "... It would also be really cool to see what you can do with another deck too?"
To his surprise, the other's face fell, staring forward and shifting half-heartedly through the cards in his hand. Syrus wondered and wondered as he watched his usually bright and energetic friend like that, but couldn't think of a single reason for the reaction.
The other sighed, and finally answered. "No. This deck will likely never be used."
"Huh? Why not? You could just try it out with me after class tomorrow or something, couldn't you?"
Eyes that looked almost golden in the lamplight met his own, strained and tired. "No, I can't."
Syrus almost tried to ask what he meant but the other suddenly started putting all the cards away, sorting the selected ones away from the rest and storing them with a quickness and precision that seemed almost... practiced? As if he had already done this routine many times before. He refused to turn back to Syrus, even as he stood and moved towards the bunk beds, blanket still draped around his shoulders like a cape.
"We should get some more sleep before it's time to prepare for class."
"What was that about last night, by the way?"
Jaden turned back toward his friend, his uniform jacket only halfway on. His face scrunched up in thought before he tilted his head in confusion. "What was what about?"
Now Syrus was confused too. "When I came back from the bathroom and you were sorting through some of your other cards?"
The brunette finished pulling his jacket on, adjusting it with a couple quick tugs. He gave his friend an exaggerated shrug. "I didn't mess with any of my cards last night, though? I slept like a log, I always do. Did you have a weird dream or something?"
Syrus started to ask Chumley for help but quickly realized their roommate had slept through the whole exchange and wouldn't be able to say anything in his defense. He sighed, also exaggerating it dramatically. "Maybe, or maybe you were just doing some weird sleepwalking!"
Jaden laughed, "Man, it would be super cool if I could strategize in my sleep!"
Syrus was relieved that whatever weird mood had taken over his friend the night before had passed, and that Jaden wasn't mad at him or anything. Even if he did pause oddly for a moment as he pulled his shoes on.
"Hey, Sy." He still wore that easy smile, but very clearly refused to look at his friend directly as he asked, "What cards was I looking at exactly?"
Syrus stopped in surprise. "Oh, um." He thought back. The exact set hadn't seemed important in the moment, just that... "It wasn't your normal deck, but it was still some sort of HERO cards," he thought aloud, "It was... an Evil HERO deck, maybe? Which is weird because why would heroes be evil, right?"
A strange look passed over Jaden's face, almost but not quite strained. "Huh."
"Why though? Is that important?"
Jaden hummed as he pretended to think. He smirked in his friend's direction before answering, "Only if you wanna be late to class!" and dashing out the door.
"Wha- Jaden!" Syrus rushed out after him, though he was careful to close the door silently this time. "Jaden, wait up!"