#aceshun

I'm too lazy to do the rest 😞😞😞😞😞

Shun and Fabia have always struck me as "I wish we didn't have to meet like this" co-workers turned friends, more than anything romantic. I don't personally ship them.

Anyway, as for Shunace;

Thanks to Inesidora, I'm a fan of the idea that Ace was distracted (not by feelings just yet though) by Shun during the Alpha city tournament. He's the best brawler Earth has to offer that isn't Dan, so that's gotta be distracting, having to keep up in skill somehow. And that's ignoring Ace's hideous amounts of pride back then.

I headcanon that Vestals can sleep but don't dream, which made the first time Ace had to comfort any of the humans over nightmares a little weird for him. Nevertheless, Ace is very good at continuously talking until a nightmare is completely forgotten, very useful for Shun, who has a really good memory.

Ace's favourite story about Shun is the time Masquerade got upset about everything suddenly not going his way.

They mutually agree that it's a shame to wreck the mechanical bakugan, but it's required to keep Zenoheld from enacting any plans against the bakugan.

These two can run on 2 hours of sleep easily, which often means they stay up for hours on end, just talking about whatever comes to mind.

Ace loves Vestal dearly, don't get him wrong, but he does find living on Earth much less stressful; there's much more space for him to breathe on Earth, and also there's Shun.

Shun got good with darkus bakugan thanks to Ace's input on usage, which made Skytruss and Orbeum suddenly much more effective in battle.

Ace has occasionally had nights where he'd just lie awake (he can't dream unfortunately), because he was thinking about a scenario where he was human instead. Human Ace, in these scenarios, somehow always ends up in a brawl against Shun with an unknown outcome, and he always gets tricked by Masquerade before hand.

It should also be noted that human Ace massively enjoys Shun's company, and that was long before Ace realised he was feeling anything.

Cuddly bois. One is a space heater, and the other is like a cat looking for the warmest spot in the house for a nap.

Ace doesn't play with his own hair often, but Dan does joke that the day he's not combing his fingers through Shun's hair for a minute is probably the day he dies.

[part one]  Special Ment: @pbbmks (original requester)  DM if you’d like to be tagged / notified as this updates!

The shuttle docked smoothly as ever. Reservations aside, being an interplanetary celebrity had at least this going for it: you could get just about anywhere in the known galaxy quickly and in style. 

Mira smiled to herself as the hatch hissed open, a low whirring as it slowly hinged upward. Her eyes flashed with delight as Shun stepped out, cool and distant demeanor preceding him, as usual. She laughed, she couldn’t help it. “Stars and fire, Shun will you ever lighten up?” The utterly perplexed look on the human’s face almost made her double over. “I missed you,” she said, wiping a tear from her eye as she clutched her stomach. 

Shun quirked an eyebrow, “thanks?” Oh the ever-serious ninja. 

Jaakor didn’t seem to get it either, which nearly sent her back into a giggle fit. Wilda understood, of course he did. “She’s just happy to see a familiar face,” he explained, and the two visitors seemed to take that in stride. 

“Oh, well then just say so,” Shun replied, starting to smile himself. 

“A pleasure as always,” Jaakor agreed politely, though he seemed to still be a bit put off of the Vestal’s greeting. 

Mira finally got control of herself and waved them over, turning back toward her own ship, which she so often worked out of these days. “Come on in, guys. We have lots to catch up on, I think.” 

With some expectedly guarded agreement-- who knew what crazy thing the paparazzi would try next to eavesdrop-- they followed. 

She wasn’t surprised, really. If anything, from what she’d known of him and how Marucho had talked of him, she was surprised he hadn’t come to this sooner. They’d skipped most of the small talk and after only minimal beating around the bush, Shun had told her what was up. She’d had certain inklings before, but even with searching, she didn’t find anything particularly interesting on his face as he asked after Ace. 

“He’s on Vestal,” she said, voice almost longing in a distant, dreamy way, “I generally know the place, but...” She trailed off and came back to where they were as she heard Shun sigh.

“But there’s a catch,” he finished. He smiled wryly, “of course there is. There’s always a catch.” 

She smirked back, huffing a sort of chuckle. “Now, now, no need to be cynical,” she chided jokingly, “no catch.” 

Shun raised an eyebrow, “oh? Then why the pause?” His voice was somber at that last, still sounding like he was prepared for the worst, whatever that was. 

It was Mira’s turn to sigh. “The problem is, I don’t really have a way to contact him.” A look that was almost bitter warped her lips as she pressed them together before muttering, “kinda the point of going off the grid, of course.” 

Shun’s eyes softened. “So he hasn’t been around, even when you needed him?” His stomach tightened as he realized what he’d said. 

Mira’s eyes flashed, but not at him. When she did respond, her voice was mostly another, longer sigh, “yeah.” She looked back at him, eyes dancing, “but it’s alright. Maybe I can trust you to pick up when we call.”

Shun genuinely laughed at this, “not likely! Just ask any of the original Brawlers--” but he cut off, thinking once more of Dan and his departure. He jumped slightly as a hand-- Mira’s hand-- lay warm comfort over his arm and he looked up into her eyes to see soft understanding. He looked away, flushing slightly, “sorry.” 

She shook her head, moving her hand and leaning back into her chair. She didn’t respond for a moment, only looked at him a long, long time. Shun didn’t much like being looked at like that, with pity, but he bore it for their friendship. Finally, she spoke, shocking him into further silence. “You really do need time for yourself, Shun. Have you ever really gotten that? I don’t think so, and that-- stars. You deserve it.” Her voice was as tired as he felt. “I think you, of all people, you--” 

And suddenly he couldn’t stand it anymore. “I mean, Marucho probably--” his voice was louder, harsher than he’d meant it, and he cut off abruptly. “Alice, too...and Julie, and this is probably way harder for Runo, too. I mean--” His voice swelled with emotion and he hated it. Because he knew what Mira meant and knew the condolence wasn’t just for him. They’d spent so much of their lives taking care of the worlds, the universe. That responsibility, it seemed, had stolen something very precious from all of them. But what could they do about it now? 

They could get away. But they couldn’t. Marucho was stuck politicking. Alice was stuck in the industry, too, though on the tech and science part. Julie and Billy were also pretty heavily in the limelight. Runo, her and Dan having been so close, had cut herself off for some time. She was getting back out there, now, but... Maybe Dan and Drago had had the right of it, that leaving was what was best. 

But even so, the others had all stayed. Even Runo, who’d taken some time for herself, had ultimately returned to the public, helping where they could, taking up their burdens where they had to. And what was he doing? He knew he had to, for his own sake, but that didn’t change that this all felt like he was just running away again. Just like back then. 

An angry snarl misshaped his usually fine features, and a low hiss turned into a growl of frustration. It only softened as his vision blurred and shifted and he realized that he was crying. He swiped furiously at his tears, angry and disgusted with himself. This should have waited until he was alone, or at least just with Jaakor. But here, worrying Mira like this. She, too, was doing more for the worlds. She didn’t need his--

A soft hand on his shoulder made him gasp and look up. Her eyes were wet, but the tears hadn’t fallen for here yet. Her other hand lifted, half covering her mouth in that familiar gesture of one holding back emotion. “Shun...” But he didn’t want to hear it. 

His voice was a choked breath, “it’s not--” fair. But his voice hitched, and she stopped him. 

“I know, Shun. I know. And I’m so, so sorry...” 

They sat like that awhile, crying. Mourning their lost childhoods, for Mira’s had been snatched away, too. Finally, Shun rested his head in one of his hands, the elbow resting on his knee, and sobbed quietly into his gloved palm. 

The two Bakugan had been having their own conversation across the room, exchanging gossip and the like about their partners and worlds. Then the two aliens burst with emotion, startling them both. 

“What? Mira?!--” But Wilda cut off. Jaakor was just as stunned, but other than an exclamatory sound, he said nothing. Wilda sighed. A lot of that seemed to be happening that day. “You know I worry about her a lot,” the Subterra said, “she puts so much weight on herself, it’s not healthy.” Jaakor remained silent. He understood. He felt the same way about Shun. 

Then the Ventus Brawler rested his head in his hand, sobbing. Quiet as a light breeze, Jaakor thought. Who taught you to be so quiet about your feelings, Shun? Who made you think you had to be so quiet? And then something within him broke, just as it had broken within his partner, he suspected, and he turned back to the other Bakugan. “I’m so worried about him, Wilda. I worry that this won’t be enough. I worry that he’ll be just as restless, no matter where in the universe we go. I worry that this won’t be enough for him, that he won’t ever really find peace.” In this form, they were incapable of expressing emotions as things of flesh and bone, but Wilda was familiar enough in their rigid body language to see the pain and distress in Jaakor as he said, a bit exasperatedly, “and isn’t that what we fought for? To find peace?” The Ventus Bakugan turned bitterly, “what peace has there been for those who fought for it?!” 

“There never is,” Wilda responded quietingly, “and perhaps that is one of the greatest tragedies we must face, Jaakor.” 

The other Bakugan stared hopelessly at his partner, but didn’t say more. Wilda didn’t press it either. They both understood. Had they been in their living forms, he himself might have shaken his head, sat, and perhaps put his own head in his hands. 

After some time, the four got their bearings once more. They couldn’t pretend that it hadn’t happened, but they moved on just the same. Mira had gotten them some hot drinks and they’d sat sullenly for a few more minutes as they warmed up. Finally, she cleared her throat, “I can’t tell you exactly where he is, because I just don’t know. All I can do is drop a low-priority distress call for him and hope he responds soon. Her lip quirked, the last time I tried to check up on him, it took him a couple weeks to respond, but if you’re willing to stay here, awhile--” 

“That’d be fine,” he responded. And to his delight, his voice was not so monotonous as he’d feared it be, but colored, if only slightly, with the genuine appreciation he felt. 

I once read a pretty interesting theory that Shun died in Neathia, and that Dan and Marucho's companion in season 4 was actually some kind of imposter.

You know, I ship Ace and Shun together. In another AU of mine, they both have feelings for each other (Ace even tattooed his lover's name on his neck).

So what if Ace realized Shun wasn't him? I bet he'd go crazy, trying to prove it to everyone, but nobody would believe him.

¯⁠\⁠_⁠(⁠ツ⁠)⁠_⁠/⁠¯

I will write fanfiction in my country's language (I'm terrible at English, and if I use Google Translate, I won't know where the mistakes are).

Anti-drift photo 🌹🌹

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Shun choàng tỉnh giữa đêm bởi một cơn ác mộng, cậu thở hồng hộc từng hơi nặng nề, gấp gáp. Cậu nhìn lên đồng hồ, lúc này chỉ mới hai giờ sáng và Shun cũng chỉ vừa chợp mắt được ba mươi phút. Cậu nhận ra, chứng mất ngủ của mình ngày càng trầm trọng hơn từ sau lần bị Mylene nhốt lại để tiêm thuốc cho mấy thí nghiệm điên khùng của ả, và nếu cậu cứ gặp ác mộng dai dẳng như thế, sức khoẻ cậu sẽ ngày một tệ đi mất. Shun đặt tay lên ngực, cố gắng làm bản thân trở nên bình tĩnh nhất có thể.

Cậu rời khỏi giường, vớ lấy cuốn sách rồi bước ra khỏi phòng. Dẫu sao thì, Shun cũng chẳng thể ngủ lại được nữa, chi bằng cậu tự giải khuây bằng cách đọc sách, cậu vẫn mong việc đọc sách ít nhiều gì sẽ giúp cậu buồn ngủ hơn một chút. Trước khi đến phòng khách, Shun có ghé qua bếp, không phải tìm gì đó để ăn, mà là tìm gì đó để uống..nước lạnh chẳng hạn.

Shun bước đến mở toang cửa phòng khách và ngạc nhiên khi nơi đây vẫn sáng đèn. Nhìn về phía dãy ghế sofa được xếp ngay ngắn ở giữa gian phòng, Shun gặp một bóng hình quen thuộc nằm im thin thít trên ghế, tay vẫn nắm chặt cuốn từ điển dày cộp. Đó là Ace.

Cậu biết tên tóc xanh kia ham học hỏi, chỉ là gã đó cố tình thể hiện bản thân không quan tâm thôi. Nếu nói Shun không ngưỡng mộ Ace, đó sẽ là nói dối. Cậu ngưỡng mộ Ace, bởi lẽ cái tên ấy có khả năng tiếp thu và học hỏi cực kì tốt, đặc biệt là ngoại ngữ. Lần đầu cậu gặp Ace, tên kia đã có khả năng giao tiếp bằng tiếng Nhật, trong khi cậu vẫn chưa thể nói tiếng Vestal dù đã ở đấy những ba tháng.

Shun nhớ Ace đã cố gắng ngăn cản bản thân đấm cậu, bởi Shun vẫn hay mắc phải vài lỗi sai trong phần ngữ pháp. Mấy lúc như vậy Ace lại cằn nhằn không ngớt. Nhưng Shun lại chẳng hề phàn nàn về điều đó, đối với Shun, được gần cái tên khó ở ấy đã là đủ lắm rồi.

Shun đặt quyển sách xuống bàn, lặng lẽ quay trở về phòng mình để lấy cho Ace một chiếc chăn bông. Cậu vẫn nhớ như in việc tên kia sợ lạnh đến mức nào, hệt như một con mèo lớn vậy. Đắp chăn cho người kia, Shun cũng thuận theo đó mà ngồi xuống cạnh Ace. Trước đó, Shun đã tắt đèn phòng khách, chỉ chừa lại một ánh đèn mờ nhạt ở giữa gian phòng, đủ để cậu nhìn thấy Ace. Cậu bất giác đưa tay chạm vào gương mặt người kia, rồi như một thói quen, Shun lại đan tay mình vào mái tóc xanh của Ace. Cậu nhìn anh đầy âu yếm, Shun tự hỏi, liệu Ace có biết cậu yêu anh đến nhường nào không. Liệu Ace có biết, anh bây giờ là tất cả đối với Shun hay không.

Shun đoán, Ace sẽ chẳng bao giờ biết đâu.

Đôi lúc, Shun cảm thấy ganh tị với cách mà Ace đối xử với Mira, nhưng cậu cũng đành im lặng mà giấu đi tình cảm của mình mà thôi. Bởi lẽ, Ace yêu Mira, yêu da diết cô gái với màu tóc cam rực rỡ ấy. Và Mira cũng vậy, cô cũng yêu Ace lắm, chỉ là cô chẳng quá thể hiện ra thôi. Họ yêu nhau từ bao giờ nhưng lại giấu nhẹm đi tình cảm của mình. Shun cảm thấy họ thật ngốc, nhưng cậu thì khác gì nhỉ.

Chà..suy cho cùng, bọn họ cũng chỉ dám yêu mà không dám thổ lộ.

Chợt Shun nhớ về cơn ác mộng khi nãy. Giấc mộng ấy đã đeo bám Shun những bốn tháng nay, khiến sức khoẻ tinh thần của cậu ngày một sa sút. Ban đầu, nó chỉ xuất hiện với một mớ hỗn độn, gạch đá vương vãi khắp nơi. Nhưng dần dà, giấc mơ ấy ngày càng ám ảnh hơn, máu loang ra thành một vũng thật lớn, khung cảnh cứ tối sầm sầm. Và chỉ ban nãy thôi, Shun lại mơ thấy nó, tệ hơn mọi khi, lần này..cậu mơ thấy Ace. Mơ thấy người cậu yêu gào khóc đến đau lòng trước cái cảnh tượng đẫm máu ấy.

Shun nhíu mày, cố ngăn bản thân không nghĩ đến giấc mơ ấy nữa. Nhìn người mình thương yên giấc, Shun ước gì Ace lúc nào cũng yên bình như vậy. Cậu không mong cái giấc mơ quái đản kia sẽ trở thành sự thật, nếu vậy thì cậu sẽ đau lòng lắm. Shun mặc kệ việc Ace có yêu mình hay không, cậu chỉ cần ai đó sống hạnh phúc, đấy đã đủ rồi.

Shun is interested in someone, but the person being interested in doesn't realize it🥀🥀