#this is how the regionals finals went on with a Shrimpshipping angle

[ayma-nidiot]

Don’t Speak Their Names - Shrimpshipping fic Chapter 7

This chapter on AO3 can be found here.

Chapter 7 - Notions of Love

Weevil found himself staying more often at Rex’s house, and being the cunning young man he was, he always had an excuse ready for Roach. “Oh, I’m training to duel,” and “oh, I’m out on a business meeting” were his two favourite excuses. Despite how poor the Raptor family was, for once in his life, Weevil felt a true family life at that household. 

Nobody recognized this softening demeanour more than Rex, who even at school found himself thinking about the bug duelist more often. Weevil had just left the mobile home on the day of the finals, and Rex resolved to follow him soon after. “Aww, he was so happy just being here…”

“But you know, he is your opponent in the regionals finals,” Tricera cut in, sitting next to her stepson on the living room couch.

“I know that, Mama.” Rex flipped the channels, and landed on National Geographic. “But I’d rather not go. I’d much rather watch him beat the shit out of someone else.”

“Ooh, sounds like someone is in love.” Tricera cooed.

This notion had never even occurred to Rex. “L-Love?! Why would I be in love with a pinworm like him?!”

“He’s all you ever talk about.” Tricera made a quick trip to the kitchen to get popcorn, then returned to the couch. “Here, you want some?”

“Gladly.” Rex dove his fist into the popcorn bowl. “And aren’t you a bit old to be teasing someone about crushes?”

“And aren’t you a bit young to be talking to your mama that way?” Even when scolding her stepson, Tricera still held a jovial tone. “Speaking of, shouldn’t you get going to finals yourself, instead of loafing on the couch?”

In truth, Rex wanted to give Weevil plenty of time to get ahead, to avoid having to walk with him side-by-side. And now, he figured that Weevil was far enough ahead for them not to meet along the way to finals. “Yeah, yeah.”

Before Rex could take a step outside, Ptera came out of the master bedroom with Rex’s deck in hand. “I think that this would be a little important for the finals. Maybe.”

“Th-Thanks, Mom.” With that, Rex put his deck in one of his vest pockets - and was certainly surprised to see Weevil waiting for him as soon as he closed the door.

“You certainly took your time getting ready.” Weevil laughed. 

“Shaddup!” Rex gritted his teeth, and despite how the both of them were supposed to be at the venue in only thirty minutes, he felt no sense of urgency. “After you. ”

Weevil raised an eyebrow, but took his cue anyway, and began walking forward. “Are you really sure you care about this match, if you’re taking your sweet time getting to the place?”

The two of them didn’t get very far before Rex stopped again, just short of the crosswalk, and placed both hands on his chest. We only left the house 15 minutes ago… So, why is my heart racing?

“Um, Earth to Rex!” Weevil got right in Rex’s face, and poked him lightly in the chest.

No, don’t get too close! Rex turned away, hoping to the gods that Weevil couldn’t feel his heartbeat. “W-Well, would you look at that? The light just turned green!”

“Don’t just stand there, then! We’re going to be late!”

To their fortune, the boys weren’t late; nevertheless, the announcer of this match sounded nonplussed. “Gentlemen, the match starts in five minutes. I was going to give you time to run to the restroom and such, but you barely have time to shuffle each other’s decks. Do that, and head immediately to your dueling platforms.”

“It’s all your fault…” Weevil impatiently held out his deck for Rex to shuffle.

“You should have just went ahead, then. Oh, and just so you know, you’re going down.” Rex sounded tough for a spell. But he couldn’t help but lightly brush his fingers against Weevil’s at the deck exchange, and let them linger for a while.

“Are you just going to stall some more, or…?”

“M-My bad!” Rex hastily shuffled Weevil’s deck, handed it back, and immediately headed for his dueling platform. 

“See you on the platforms.” With that, Weevil walked off while giving Rex a wave.

It’s apparent that he doesn’t feel the same… Rex stared at his hands as an elevator began to take him to his platform. And-

Rex slapped himself to awaken from his thoughts. Wait, what am I saying? There’s no way… There’s no way I’m in love with Weevil… Am I?

He dropped the matter when he heard the crowd behind him cheer “Go Rex!” and “squash that bug!,” among other colourful insults.

“Haha, yeah right…” Rex spoke out loud as he had the first move in the duel. “And even if we were together, I’m sure I’d lose whatever respect I have as a duelist.”

“Huh?” Weevil held out his ear, not quite making out what Rex just said. “Did I just hear you say ‘I’m going to be bug juice?’”

“I think you meant ‘time to stomp this chumpasaurus.’” Rex drew his starting hand.

As soon as that announcer’s “duel standby” reached Rex’s ears, he put all notions of love out of his mind, focusing only on defeating his opponent. For a while, he had the upper hand… Then Weevil did. Then he had the upper hand once again. The projected outcome of the duel kept going back and forth as the finalists gradually expended almost all of their Life Points - and cards.

That was when Rex drew one of his strongest cards, Two-Headed King Rex. Hah! I don’t even need to Fusion Summon Bracchio-Raidus to defeat you!

“All right, Weevil! Consider yourself dinosaur chow! ...Your move.”

“Hehe… And all I’ve got is this weak little bug.” Weevil summoned one of his weakest monsters, Basic Insect, in attack mode.

Rex revelled in the cheering that followed what he believed to be Weevil’s swan song. Then he made his next move. “King Rex, let’s take this championship! Stomp ‘em!” 

“Hehehe…” Weevil was unfazed by Rex’s attempt to intimidate him. “You’ve attacked your way into my trap! But then, how would your tiny dinosaur brain know? When an enemy attacks, my Vortex activates!”

“Oh, no! It’s a trap card!”

No shit! “Which totally traps your King Rex in its inescapable embrace!”

Son of a bitch! Rex could only watch as Weevil’s trap card rendered Two-Headed King Rex powerless. “No! My King Rex!”

“And while he’s trapped there, I’ll upgrade my Basic Insect by giving him Insect Armor With Laser Cannon! Not such a weak little bug after all, hmm?” Weevil appeared sly for a brief second before ferociously yelling, “Attack! ...And King Rex is… extinct.”

“Aaaah!” Rex’s eyebrows twitched as his Life Points reached zero, and he looked to the floor in shame. “Aww, beaten by a bug.”

As both of their dueling platforms lowered, Rex ignored the cheers for “our newest champion,” as the announcer put it. He ignored Weevil holding up his deck in triumph and basking in the limelight. He got so sick of watching Weevil enjoy all of this attention that he turned for the exit.

But what he didn’t ignore was the announcer saying, “And now, to present your victory trophy is Maximillion Pegasus, the creator of Duel Monsters himself!”

Rex stopped in his tracks as a man with silver hair and (apparently) only one functional eye appeared from a trap door in the floor. “Eh?”

“Congratulations on your victory, Mr. Underwood. I look forward to seeing you and Mr. Raptor at Duelist Kingdom.”

So, this is the man who created all those cards of my beautiful greenhouse insects… Weevil blushed. “Y-Yes… Thank you, sir.”

No… Rex’s glare hardened on Pegasus. Get your hands off of him, you disgusting piece of-

In his anger, Rex didn’t notice Weevil walking up to him, that was until the bug duelist got within two feet. “Hahaha! In your face, dino brain!”

“...” Rex nearly crushed his deck in his hand, and forced his deck into one of his vest pockets. “Shut… up…” he whispered too quietly for Weevil to hear.

“What’s the matter? Embarrassed that I showed everyone that your dumb dinos are nothing but weak little salamanders?” Weevil certainly didn’t expect for Rex to hug him out of nowhere - and in front of a bunch of cameras, no less. “R-Rex…?”

So… So, it’s true… Rex didn’t care anymore if Weevil could feel - or hear - his heart beating so fast. He didn’t care, either, what people thought of him now stroking Weevil’s hair. I’ve finally realized that I-

Rex didn’t even care what people might say of the kiss he was about to steal from Weevil. But before he could, Pegasus cut in with, “Good try out there, Mr. Raptor! You’re invited to Duelist Kingdom, and with a good room, too! I look forward to your-”

Rex now shook in anger as he felt tears about to come on. “Do you ever stop talking? Good gods, man!”

So were Rex’s last words before he turned around, running straight for home. Unfortunately for the citizens of Domino City, it had begun to rain hard. But Rex didn’t care, and allowed himself to get soaked as he slowed down when he could see his house.

He didn’t even need to open the door for Tricera to greet him and allow him inside. “Goodness, Rex, you’re soaked! Didn’t you read the forecast for-”

Tricera stopped talking when she noticed that Rex’s face wasn’t wet just because of the rain. “Sweetie, I saw the duel on the T.V. Your mom’s at work now, but I’m sure she saw it on the bar T.V.s. I know that this loss hit you hard, but it’s not the end of the world.”

“Mama…” Rex finally began to talk, but didn’t stop crying. “You… You were right all along…”

“About what?” Tricera spoke as she wrapped a freshly washed-and-dried towel around her stepson.

Rex buried his face in Tricera’s chest. “I’m… I’m in love with Weevil! I’m madly in love with him! But… hic… I don’t think I’ll ever be able to tell him! If I did… I can’t even begin to imagine what the world would think of him! Or what he would think of me! ”

“Oh, sweetie, sweetie…” Tricera stroked Rex’s hair, even through all the wet tangles. “Shh… You guys will be fine. You can tell him whenever you’re ready. Just know that no matter what happens - even if the whole world hates you - your mom and I will always be here. Now, you sit on the couch and get warm while I make you some hot cocoa.”

“Thank you, Mama…” Rex stopped crying as he took a seat on the living room couch, wrapping the towel even tighter. Little did he know that about three years later, he would confess to Weevil with pleading eyes, praying to Hathor that his racing heart would convey the sincerity of his love.