Splendid opened his eyes, expecting everything to have been a dream. Until he felt that the bed was softer than he was used to and realized that he wasn't in his house. Everything had happened, his defeat, Splendid's proclamation, and everybody seeing his defeat. He tried to get up but was pushed back down by a hand, he looked at the person sitting next to the bed and it was Toothy, worried since he crash landed. "Don't get up Splendid! Y-you need to rest" who pushed his chest down with a hand. He looked to the side, ashamed of the aftermath of the fight.
"I lost didn't I?" asked Splendid monotonously, he knew it happened, he just wanted to make sure. Toothy said nothing, it pained him to see his hero in this state, and his defeat broke his spirit hard. "Thought so, I'm so pathetic" said Splendid, closing his eyes in shame. "That's not true at all! All you have to do is to beat him" said Toothy enthusiastically.
"It's not about that, it was about being able to defend myself. What kind of hero am I if I couldn't even protect myself!" bursted Splendid, the taste of defeat had left a bitter taste in his well-being. Splendid sighed when Toothy backed a bit from him, he heard many things about Splendid but him letting his emotions take over wasn't one of them. Splendid looked at Toothy and realized he lashed out at him, and sighed. "I'm sorry Toothy, I shouldn't have shouted like that, I'm grateful you took me here" said Splendid, Toothy was having excited thoughts inside his mind. "He knows my name! He knows my name!" thought Toothy.
"Actually, I got some help from Lifty and Shifty, they were mostly the ones to have taken you here" said Toothy. "Those two? Never thought they'd help me out…" said Splendid, amazed how the twins even managed to carry him. "Actually it didn't come for free" said Toothy, rubbing the back of his head. "Of course, why did I even doubt about that" laughed Splendid, with Toothy following along.
When the laughing subsided, Splendid's face returned back to a sad one. "Now what? I can't go back to being this town's hero again, Splendont will probably do a better job than me" said Splendid. Toothy thought about it for a second, if Splendid really did not want to go back to being a hero, what was he supposed to do? Toothy snapped his fingers and got an idea. "Why not just live like all of us?" suggested Toothy. "What do you mean? Aren't I already living with all of you?" asked the puzzled Splendid. "Yeah, but haven't you ever thought of becoming what you wanted to be before becoming a superhero?" asked Toothy.
Splendid thought about it, he hadn't really planned his life out other than being a superhero for the town, he's been a hero for so long that he didn't ever consider living a normal life for once. "I never really thought about it, getting my superpowers, trying to save everyone, it feels like it just happened, I can't even remember starting to do it" said Splendid, Toothy was astonished by his answer, Splendid never had a dream of becoming anything other than being a superhero? His whole beliefs about the seemingly perfect superhero was slowly collapsing around him, he had always thought that Splendid was an ambitious person when he wasn't on duty.
"Wait, so you never wanted to become a detective?" asked Toothy. "No, I worked at the happy tree newspaper company to keep track of crimes that happened, though I just did it to keep track of the news" said Splendid. "Live in a mansion?" asked Toothy. "No, I live in an ordinary house just like all of you" said Splendid. "Get a girlfriend or something?" asked Toothy. "No, I've never been in a relationship before, Wonder Wanda's already taken" said Splendid. These questions felt like his mind was being probed far too much than he liked. But then again, he looked around the room and realized that Toothy must have been quite the fan of his, everywhere he looked there were posters, figurines and even the theme of the bed sheets he was laying on was based on him.
"I see you're a big fan of me huh?" said Splendid with amusement, Toothy blushed at Splendid finding out how much of a fan he is. "S-sorry, I must be making you cringe right now, if you want I can call Lumpy and you could rest in his house inst-" he was cut off by Splendid's finger to his lips. "Heheheh, relax. I'm not angry with you, in fact I'm quite impressed with how you have every article on me pasted on the wall. It feels like I had a secret sidekick" said Splendid, hoping to rekindle the flame of Toothy's excitement.
"S-sidekick?! Me?!" said Toothy, blushing and heart thumping like mad from the compliment that his idol had given him. Splendid chuckled at his reaction, even found it cute how flustered the beaver got with him. "Yeah, a sidekick that had secretly always been by my side" said Splendid, laughing at how Toothy was literally putting his hands on the sides of his face.
Splendid knew that Toothy had always admired him since Toothy first saw him. But never did he expect it to last this long, but now that he was out of the picture, he could never be his sidekick. "Hey, since I'm out of the job, what about being Splendont's sidekick? He's better than me so you would have a more exciting career with him than me" said Splendid, even though it pained him to admit being inferior to his rival.
"Are you kidding? That guy's a total jerk. He's scary and if you ask me, he looks more like a supervillain to me" said Toothy, shivering and crossing his arms, trying to act tough in front of Splendid. "I know, but he's this town's hero now, he'll protect you now, just give him a chance" said Splendid. "No! I'll never accept him! You'll always be my hero!" said Toothy, yelling like a child who was about to be abandoned by their parents.
"You don't have to like him, as long as he does my duty better, you'll all be fine" said Splendid. "Fine but I still don't like him" said Toothy. There was an awkward silence on the partly unrequited agreement, finally Splendid broke the silence. "So, when can I leave then Toothy?" asked Splendid, "I don't know, how do you feel?" said Toothy. "I feel bit sore and tired, otherwise completely fine" said Splendid. "I don't know, but I think you should stay longer" said Toothy, not willing to let the squirrel go just yet.
Splendid sighed, he was hoping to get out of bed sooner, but he didn't want to seem ungrateful for the beaver's hospitality, and spending some cash just to get him here. "It's getting late though, you sure I could stay?" inquired Splendid. Toothy looked at the window and realized that in his regard to Splendid, he didn't take into account the time that had passed.
"Oh, uh, sorry. I forgot the time. I'll go make some food for you, I'll be right back" said Toothy, rushing to his kitchen. Splendid looked up at the ceiling, the only life he knew was now gone, tomorrow he'd have to find out a new calling for himself. Toothy came back to the room with reheated spaghetti, placing it down on Splendid's lap. "That was fast, but Spaghetti?" asked Splendid. "I just reheated it, it's your favorite food right?" asked Toothy, placing his own plate on his lap. "Heh, yeah, you really do know me" said Splendid, who started eating the spaghetti.
After eating the spaghetti, Toothy took the dishes from him, preparing to wash them. "I could help you know" stated Splendid, wanting to thank Toothy in return for his hospitable treatment. "Its fine, I'll do it by myself" said Toothy, rushing to the kitchen again before Splendid could say another word. He sighed, he wasn't even able to show his thanks toward the freckled beaver.
When Toothy came back, he just stuck his head inside the room. "If you need anything, call my name, the bathroom is in that door over there" he gestured toward the door in the room "and there's some leftover spaghetti in the fridge" said Toothy, preparing to leave. "But where will you sleep?" worried Splendid, "I'll be sleeping on the couch, don't worry I have my own pillow and sheets to keep myself warm there" said Toothy. Before he can leave, Splendid leaped from his bed and blocked his way with his superhuman speed, "Hold it, the least you could do is sleep on your own bed. You've been taking care of me all day" said Splendid with crossed arms.
"I insist, you're my guest for today. You've saved all of us a lot of times, it's the least I can do" retorted the beaver. Splendid contemplated the words of Toothy, he was grateful for him but he didn't really feel all that heroic to him since he admired him but remembered all the times everyone died because of him in the first place. "Then… Then sleep with me" said Splendid. "W-what?" blushed Toothy, Splendid blushed when he saw him blushing, "Not in that way! If you think you're indebted to me and I feel the same, then lets sleep together" said Splendid.
Toothy looked at the bed, "But it's too small for two people" said Toothy, "We'll make it work" insisted Splendid. With the speed only he can do, he got back in the covers of the bed, lifting and inviting the nerdy beaver with him. Toothy couldn't stop the reddening of his cheeks as he joined him on the bed, facing him. As evidenced by him almost falling off of the bed, it was definitely not made for two people. Splendid pulled him close, he could smell Splendid's breath and the feeling of muscular arms around his back didn't help the flushing of his cheeks.
"You comfy?" asked Splendid, not knowing the effect he was giving the beaver. Toothy looked down, trying to hide his face. A muffled yeah was all that Splendid got from Toothy whose face was practically buried on his chest. That was good enough for Splendid and he started sleeping with the younger male, this feeling was unlike anything he felt before. He always slept alone in his house, with nothing to look forward to except a non-catastrophic day. With Toothy however, he felt like he could do anything, and for once in his life, he could look forward to something new other than doing his usual duties and let sleep overtake him.