Fun and Games

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of Yu-gi-oh gx; I do own my own characters though.

Summery: It's all fun and games until someone gets hurt. After a strange moment with Sartorius, Aster sees a side of Zane he's never seen before

Chapter 1: Fun

Aster's POV

So there it was, out in the open for the whole word to hear. It rocked my world in the most unsettling of ways. I felt the appetizers I had swallowed not even ten minutes ago crawl back up my throat. This guy was like my brother … yet, Sartorius had just revealed his secret desire for me.

"Aster?" He said, gagging my response slowly. I could tell he wasn't happy with what he was seeing, well I wasn't happy with what I was hearing – we're even. "You're mad at me."

I corrected him. "I'm not mad… I'm just … shocked …How long have you felt this way?" I asked him. He turned his eyes to the floor. A long time, that's just great. If he could have held them in this long, why break it to me now? At this party where anyone could hear him? Besides him and a few other select group of people, no one knew I was gay yet. I'm not embarrassed by my sexual status. My motto in life is that people can take me as I am, or go to hell. But Sartorius had advised me that since people had mixed feelings about the subject, I should follow a 'don't ask, don't tell policy'. Well, gee, telling me that you loved me at an over-crowed party wasn't exactly 'don't tell' was it?

"Since we were children …" He finally answered. He kept looking down at that damn floor. I felt kind of bad, he had put a lot on the line for this and I couldn't give him the answer he wanted. I loved Sartorius too, but not as a lover. He was my best-friend – I couldn't live without him, but I didn't want to be with him romantically.

Suddenly, I was lost. Aster Phoenix lost? That's a new one. I just didn't know what to tell him. So, I just said the first words that came to mind. "I'm sorry." I'm sorry I didn't love you … I walked past him; I didn't dare to look back at him. I would look in his eyes, and my heart would start aching knowing the pain I had just put my best friend through. So I skipped a step and just let the guilt take over.

Tonight, we were suppose to celebrate. It was the start of the new proleague season, not only that, but it was the night before my birthday. My eighteenth to be exact. Maybe that was why he told me tonight. Because tomorrow I would be of legal age and there for able to date him. Now it seemed like I had little or nothing to celebrate for.

And how could this night get any worse? I'll tell you how – Zane Truesdale.

"Well, well, someone's looking a little pissed." Zane began. He was leaning against the wall, drinking red wine. He looked too confident for his own good, even after his absence from the proleagues do to a heart-problem. "What's wrong, Phoenix?"

I snorted. "Besides the fact you're talking to me, none of your business." He frowned. A part of me was sad to see his smile fade. I liked his smile, perhaps more then I should have. Zane and I had once worked together, but afterwards, our friendship had pretty much became a competition. One of us was the best duelist, but whom?

Zane smirked. "Well, you keep looking that way and it's going to be everybody's business. I can read you like a book." I kept my composure on the outside, but on the inside, I was crumbling. I was sure I wasn't as readable as Zane led on, however, he still knew. What was worse then your enemy knowing what bothered you? Nothing. Zane sighed, perhaps realizing just how much this all was bothering me. "Hey, where's your drink?" He asked.

I had left it back on a table when I left the 'friendly' conversation I was having with Sartorius. I wasn't about to go back and get it. I didn't want to go back and run into Sartorius, to have him take back the conversation and deny feelings that could no longer be denied for the sake of our friendship. The damage had been done; and I wasn't ready for damage control.

"I was my way to get another one." I lied, Zane saw through that too. But to my surprise, he didn't question it. He gestured to the bar.

"I'll buy you one." Zane said, my eyebrows flew up in surprise. We were competitors first, enemies second, and friends third. Honestly, we weren't really close friends. Sure, I had been stuck in an alternate dimension with him (try saying that out loud and not get stared at.) And we had a mutual friend in Jaden, but Zane buying me a drink? That was something he had never done for me.

I followed him to the bar, though. Hey, if I get a free drink out of it, what's the harm?

"What do you want?" Zane asked. I shrugged.

"Soda." I responded. He raised one eyebrow up at me; I would have laughed at the gesture. He looked weird, yet somehow … I don't know, sexy? Then again, being attractive was something Zane had mastered years ago. His blue that fell hard on his shoulders, his teal eyes 

that turned like a crystal ball. He was wearing a blue turtle neck, just tight enough to reveal his stomach muscles, with a modest suit jacket and pants. He was very attractive – you pretty much had to be in this business. Now, back to the drink order. "You know, I'm under aged."

"As far as I'm concerned if you're old enough to join the army, you're old enough to drink." He responded.

"I'm not turning eighteen till tomorrow." I muttered.

Zane smiled slightly. "Well, happy birthday, your getting wine." He said, turning to give the bartender my order. She didn't dare ask for an I.D. She was back with my red wine in a matter of seconds. It may surprise you to hear this, but I've never actually drank any alcohol before. I had worked to hard for my reputation to do something stupid like get caught under aged drinking. However, I had just been told by my best-friend that he loved me. I picked up the drink and sipped it, letting it fly down my throat. The taste was almost bitter-sweet, I didn't know if I liked it or not. "So, Phoenix, what's got you all freaked out?"

I pulled the wine glass away from my lips. "Was this your plan? To get me drunk so I'd tell you?"

"There are worse things I could do while you're drunk." Zane suggested. I merely glared at him and took another drink of my wine. Finally, I was relaxing, if only for a little bit. "Easy kid, enjoy it."

I finished off the glass and set it on the counter. "I need another one …" I was planning on paying but Zane was the one who nodded to the Bartender. "And who are you calling kid? I may be younger then you, but who's been in the leagues longer?"

"You just said it yourself … Your only seventeen." He said. The bartender set down another wine glass. I picked it up.

"Until tomorrow … Then we'll see who the kid is …" I took a huge drink of my glass. Zane semi-laughed.

"I'll still be three years older then you. I can call you kid for the rest my life." Though his statement was true, I chose to ignore it. I felt more relaxed by the minute. I finished this wine, and then the next. My mind felt really light, almost free. Was this what it was like to get drunk?

Then, I started rambling.

"You ever have a friend tell you something you didn't want to hear?" I said, my words almost slurring as they came out. You could understand me clearly, yet it was obvious I wasn't at my full game … yup, I was defiantly drunk.

"I might be having one of those moments now." Zane joked. I laughed with him and then drank more of the wine he bought me. Zane took my glass away. "I think you've had enough."

I took the loss with good faith and continued. "I mean, it's practically incest! Isn't that illegal? Seriously, is it? I just … I just wish he'd had thought this through."

Zane raised an eyebrow. "Maybe you should start from the beginning."

Had I been stable minded, I might have seen this as a trap. That what it was really. Zane wasn't interested in my welfare exactly, but was curious as to what had gotten me so down. I wasn't stable minded, though. For the first time in my life, I was drunk off my ass. So I gave him the information he wanted without even realizing it.

"Sartorius told me he loved me."

Zane's POV

It was fortunate he was too drunk to notice my frown. Though he'd never know it, I was angry. How dare Sartorius wonder on what's mine, my Aster. It was true – I had some kind of obsession with this silver-haired duelist. I had so many reasons to hate him – but for every reason I had to hate him, I had another to like him. Not to be cliché, but no matter how wrong it seemed, it felt so right.

He suddenly grabbed my sleeve, as if to balance himself. "I don't feel too well …" He said in a light, slurring voice. I hadn't meant to get him drunk, I was just going to buy him a drink, and somehow, I ended up buying him four. This little love confession must really have him on edge. I can't really blame him. It was like if Syrus had come up to me and told me he had romantic feelings for me … Creepy, weird, and extremely uncalled for. Anyway, I had a bad feeling that if I didn't get him out of this party, he was going to get sick everywhere. What ruins a dueling career more then a bad bout of puking? Not much.

I paid for the drinks and dragged him through the party. I had the valet get my car, he was leaning against the wall, finding that the only way to remain stable. Good god, he was a light drinker.

Finally my black Mercedes pulled up and I put Aster in the front passenger side, with me in the driver's side. I had only drank half a glass of wine, I was good to drive.

"Aster, where do you live?" I asked him. He looked up to his bangs, leaning his head back on the seat. He stayed like that for a minute or so and gave me a shrug.

"I don't know, is it normal to be this dizzy?" He asked. Well, isn't he just an adorable drunk?

I growled. "Phoenix, if you spew in this car, I will kick your ass."

"Hey, don't yell at me!" Aster snapped back. He almost sounded upset, his tone made me feel bad about snapping at him. I was just frustrated. I didn't know where he lived – hell, I might have a crush on him, but I wasn't like his fan girls who knew every little thing about him. So, I couldn't take him home, and it would be a mistake to take him to a hotel where the paparazzi could get a good picture of this really embarrassing moment. My place was the only option. At least until he was sober.

My penthouse was on the top floor of the building. When I opened the door, he ran for my bathroom, almost tripping along the way. He slammed the door shut. I slammed down on the couch. What did I get myself in to? Damn him, damn Sartorius, and Damn me. Why did I have to get involved in his business? Why did I care about what happened to him?

Oh yeah, the whole crush thing. That had started right after I dueled him – I was determined to destroy him after what he did to me. Then, I started seeing him as a worthy opponent … the one person who could truly beat me. Then after the whole other dimension thing, I had started seeing him as more then that. On the outside, he was stubborn and arrogant, like me. Only he was like a little boy, always wanting to prove his manliness and bravery. However, on the inside, he was all truth. He was as brave and powerful as he led you to believe. He stood behind his attitude, and be damned to those who didn't like it. I had thought I was the 

only one who was like that. I was surprised to find someone who wasn't a poser. Someone who was all true.

He emerged from the bathroom, wiping his mouth as he walked over. He sat right next to me, looking down to the ground.

"You hate me, don't you?" He asked. I was shocked by what he had said. I mean, I never gave him any hints that we were friends, but I never really said I hated him either, what had brought this all on? "You were trying to be nice, and I ruined it all!" He grabbed my arm, I raised my eyebrow and he brought his head to my arm. Oh right, he was drunk. This was all an effect of not being able to hold his alcohol. I was somewhat relieved. It was interesting to see Aster so venerable, but he seemed too out of character for him.

"I don't hate you Aster …" I finally said. He looked up at me with his big blue eyes.

"You don't?" He asked. I shook my head.

"Nope."

I felt his hand move to the hem of my suit. He was now at equal level with my face.

"How do you feel about me, then?" He asked, the alcohol coming off his breath. I didn't get a chance to answer. He pressed his lips against mine. I tasted the wine, but I tasted more too. A sweet, minty, apple taste I think it was. I had never tasted anything like this before. I leaned into the kiss, moving his lips against mine. I broke the kiss to catch my breath … it was a small kiss, but it had lasted minutes. I was about to go for another when suddenly, I felt a thump against my shoulder.

"He's asleep?" I asked myself. Aster's blue eyes were closed and he was breathing In and out lightly. I can't believe it – he kisses me and then falls asleep on me? Then I remember why he's at my apartment – he's so drunk he forgot where he lived. He didn't control his actions at the moment. The kiss meant nothing, it was just drunken kiss, and I had gotten into it. Well, this was awkward.

Still, I couldn't help but smile at the sight of Aster sleeping. His face was calm, relaxed. It was a pleasant change. Aster was always on guard, like he was ready for an attack, any attack. It didn't surprise me since his father had practically been murdered (by his legal guardian). D had caused Aster so much pain, and the little insecurity he had. That basturd deserved what he got.

I softly lay Aster on the couch. I took off his shoes, as well as the black vest he had worn to the party. His phone started vibrating in his pocket – it was Sartorius calling. I stared at the caller i.d., Aster needed to go home, but did he have to go now? Sartorius had been the start of all this and it was obvious Aster wasn't ready to talk to him yet, even if he were in the condition to do so. I answered the phone, and walked into my bedroom.

"He's safe." I told him. I heard a relieved sigh before he questioned me.

"Who are you? What have you done with him? Where is he?" He asked. I tried not to lay into him that would reveal my crush on the boy. The lingering of the kiss shook me for a minute before I answered.

"It's Zane, I found him wondering at the party, he got drunk, and I had to bring him here." I told him. Suddenly, the relief turned to fury. Now Sartorius wanted to lay into me.

"What the hell?! How could you do this?! I'm coming to get him right now!"

"He's sleeping on my couch, and I think you're the last person he needs to see right now." I snapped back. That had shut him up. I didn't like getting yelled at, especially when it was for something I had no power over. "Tomorrow morning, I'll get him over his hang-over, feed him some breakfast and take him back home."

"Tomorrow is his birthday." Sartorius answered.

I sighed. "Well, I guess you should have thought of that before you confessed your love for him, shouldn't you have? He'll come back home when he's good and ready, until then … He's staying with me." I hung up the phone and put it with his vest and shoes. I put them all on my bedroom dresser. It didn't seem right that Aster was on the couch. I walked out there and tried to pick him up but he would squirm and push me away. I gave up, if he wanted to sleep on the couch, hey go right ahead. I did take a blanket and pillow and put the pillow under his head and the blanket around him.

I sighed as I looked over him one last time. I wondered if he always looked this calm when he slept or if it was just the wine.

Hey, here's the first chapter of Fun and Games. I've wanted to write an Aster/Zane story for a really long time now. Hope you guys like it, please review!