"Dude... you got so wasted last night."
"Not as wasted as you, man. At least I didn't stand up on the table and attempt to do shitty magic tricks with a Nosferatu tome. You nearly killed everyone in the room!"
Robin blinked at Ike. "I... I didn't dream that?" he muttered incredulously.
"You did not." Peach sang from her spot at the stove, stirring the pot of mac and cheese in front of her - classic hangover food that she knew several of the Smashers desperately needed. "But Ike, you also need to remember that you ripped off your shirt and began bellowing out showtunes at the top of your lungs - while Marth recorded you doing so."
Ike's head hit the table and he groaned. "Damn Captain Falcon..." he muttered. "Making his drinks too strong. It's like he wants us to make complete and total fools of ourselves!"
"Well, you know the saying that if you do something while drunk, you were already thinking about doing it sober." Peach hummed, taking the pot of food off the stove and pouring two helpings out for Ike and Robin. "So technically, it's not Captain Falcon's fault that you did those things."
Ike blinked before stabbing his fork into the noodles. "Shut up..." he mumbled before a flash of blue caught his eye and he glanced up to see Sonic entering the kitchen. "Sonic!" he cheered. "The master of shots! Where the hell did you go the rest of the night?"
The lack of a response from Sonic caught Peach's attention and she turned towards him, noticing his rather shaken appearance. His eyes darted around the kitchen lacking focus and she couldn't help but notice the slight limp he had when walking. Now, she knew Sonic had been quite drunk the previous night, but if he'd simply fallen then why did he look so guilty? Sonic's silence was only noticed by her however as Robin was too busy inhaling his mac and cheese and Ike was way too hungover.
"I, uh..." Sonic began. "I... went to bed early."
Peach could tell by Sonic's hollow tone that he was lying, but she kept her mouth shut and instead poured another bowl of mac and cheese. "Are you hungry at all?" she asked sweetly, offering the bowl to him. "Because I have hangover food that might make you feel a bit better."
Sonic shook his head. "No... I just need water." He opened the fridge and took out a bottle of water, cracking it open before exiting the kitchen leaving Peach confused and Ike and Robin oblivious.
/~/
It took Mario a good chunk of the morning to motivate himself to actually leave his room. After Sonic had left he'd found himself overwhelmed with emotion that he'd curled back up in the sheets and let himself cry over what had transpired. After calming down he went to wash up, tossed his stained sheets in a washing machine in the laundry room and mentally prepared himself to face the other Smashers he'd inevitably see.
Thankfully Sonic was nowhere to be seen in the dining hall, and Mario breathed a sigh of relief as he sunk down into one of the chairs and glanced around at the other Smashers. Isabelle excitedly chattered with Snake while the yellow tentacled Inkling - Bridgett - talked with Young Link. Meanwhile Lucina sat with Chrom, clearly ecstatic that her father was in the mansion with her.
"Mario!"
No matter how many times Mario heard it, he still wasn't used to Mega Man's deeper voice. He turned towards Mega Man and weakly smiled, noticing Pac-Man standing next to Mega Man sporting a wide grin. "Oh, hi guys..."
"So we're still meeting with Sonic today, right?" Mega Man asked, and Mario tensed. Right... their club meeting. So much for not seeing Sonic today as Mega Man and Pac-Man weren't stupid. If he or Sonic didn't show up, they'd know something was wrong and grill them about it.
"O-Of course!" Mario replied with a forced smile. "I wouldn't miss it."
"Perfect!" Mega Man clapped his hands together, a wide smile on his face. "We'll see you in the games room later then!"
Mega Man and Pac-Man turned and walked out of the room while Mario sighed and focused on the cup of coffee in front of him.
From the end of the table, Peach watched him with a frown on her face.
/~/
"The Double Gear system helped me so much on my latest adventure. Activating the Speed Gear slowed down time around me, and a simple upgrade made me feel what I imagine you feel like Sonic!"
Sonic made no reply, he just continued to stare vacantly at the wall. To Mega Man, it seemed like Sonic hadn't even been paying attention to anything he was saying. He shot a confused look at Pac-Man before he continued, "A-And the Power Gear was helpful too, doing exactly what it advertised and making all my weapons stronger. Isn't that neat Mario?"
No reply. Mega Man's eyes flicked over to Mario who was staring at Sonic with sad eyes, while Sonic kept his eyes focused on the wall. Mega Man glanced between the two before he sighed. "And I mean, the Double Gear was neat and all, but it was nothing compared to the food monster that invaded. It had a burger for a head, baguettes for arms and celery sticks for legs. It nearly did me in too but thankfully I had forks and knives with me and we fed the whole city."
Still no reply. Mega Man crossed his arms before he clapped his hands together loudly causing a metallic reverb in the room, startling both Mario and Sonic. Mega Man glared at both of them when they turned towards them.
"So is there any reason you're sitting there ignoring each other and ignoring my story that you asked to hear?" he questioned. "I mean, are you two still hungover from last night? Don't deny it, there's video evidence of both of you doing shots and leaving with each other."
Both Mario and Sonic paled as soon as the words left Mega Man's mouth. "What do you mean video evidence?" Sonic demanded. "Who took it? They had no business recording us like that!"
"Sonic, calm down..." Mario tried. "I'm sure it's fine..."
"How do you know?" Sonic cried, leaping up from his seat. "Before you know it the entire mansion will be talkin' 'bout it!"
"We don't even know what the video is of..."
"It doesn't matter! Everyone'll put two an' two together!"
"Sorry."
The fight ceased as both Mario and Sonic turned towards Mega Man who had his head down, guilt in his eyes. "I... shouldn't have brought it up. It's clear that you two have some unfinished business to take care of. I... I'm gonna go."
"Mega Man..." Mario tried, but Mega Man stood and wandered out of the games room. Mario and Sonic looked at each other in guilt before pixelated sounds came from Pac-Man, and even though neither could understand without Mega Man it was clear that Pac-Man was spouting off at them for allowing their argument to get in the way of the story Mega Man was clearly excited to tell. He too stood and left the games room, probably to find Mega Man, leaving Mario and Sonic alone together.
"Sonic..." Mario began, but Sonic put a hand up.
"Just... don't." he sighed. "I can't do this right now."
Mario had never felt more alone in his whole life.
AN: Surprise! Heh... heh. (I'mstillworkingonthenextchapterofRunawaysIswear) And I'm probably going to add a couple more chapters to this as well. I have ideas.
~Steel