Written for Val Creative for the 2021 Rarest of Rare Fic Exchange

A Different Kind of Mystery

Daphne sighed as she looked around at the attendees of the Coolsville Country Club event to which her parents had insisted she come. It was a campaign fundraiser for one of her father's business associates because the man was running for political office. Consequently, the place was full of wealthy and influential supporters.

A younger Daphne would have loved it. After all, back then she had always enjoyed any kind of opportunity to dress to impress and to rub elbows with the rich and famous. However, that was before she and the gang had joined forces. Now, after solving mysteries, unmasking people in monster costumes, and making a real difference on a regular basis, she found herself bored with the old scenes that used to delight her…as well as with the shallow people who continued to choose those things, as well.

At that very moment, she fervently wished that she was in the Mystery Machine instead of at the swanky event. She smiled as she imagined herself cruising down the highway in the colorful van and laughing with the others while they discussed their current case…until they had to stop for food before Scooby and Shaggy perished of their perpetual hunger. In fact, she smiled as she realized that could almost hear Shaggy's very distinctively pitched voice in her head - even over the drone of the walking tuxedos and evening gowns that surrounded her.

"Like, Daph...I didn't know you were going to be at this shindig. You look nice...'course you always do!"

Daphne shook herself out of her daydream and found that the voice had not been in her imagination after all because her friend was right there looking down at her fondly. Her eyes widened, though, when she noticed how good the lanky young man looked in a suit instead of the comfortably baggy clothes that he usually wore. It was also strangely incongruous to see him there with a tiny sandwich held between his forefinger and his thumb instead of one of those monstrous subs he liked that had to be carried in both hands.

"Shaggy?" she asked in pleased surprise, though, as a wide smile automatically rose to her face. "Jeepers! You look nice, too. You certainly do clean up well." As Shaggy beamed at the compliment, Daphne continued. "What in the world are you doing here, though?"

"Besides trying not to die of starvation, you mean?" he answered in his usual easygoing style as he waved his little sandwich around before he popped it in his mouth and swallowed it whole. Daphne just laughed at the familiar sight of food vanishing down the apparent black hole that was one of her best friends.

"Well…like…Mom and Pops…" he started to explain before Daphne nodded her head knowingly and finished the statement for him.

"So, you're here against your will, too?"

"Like, you know it," he replied and shrugged a bit helplessly while he also tugged at the tight collar of his suit. It may have looked nice, but it was obvious that it did not feel that way to him. "This isn't even their usual scene, but they said I needed to…like…get out more, think about my future, and network. But, like, I think I get plenty of 'net' work whenever I get stuck in one of Fred's crazy traps...lots of 'cage' work and 'pit' work, too, now that I think about it!"

Shaggy used air quotes to show her that he was just joking, and Daphne found that she had to fight back a laugh at both the bad puns and the reminder that Shaggy did tend to get caught up in Fred's contraptions almost as much as the villains did.

However, that repressed laugh soon turned into another sigh at the thought of the familiar words that she had heard from her parents a million times, as well. After all, they had made it perfectly clear that they did not think that "mystery solving" was a proper occupation for a well-connected young lady such as herself. Even though they did not expressly forbid her to do so, they still made their unhappiness known when it became clear that she would rather ride around in a van with a dog, a jock, a nerd, and a hippie (as they sometimes referred to her present companion) instead of attending to the social scene as much as they would like. Daphne loved her parents dearly, but she knew that they could be quite the snobs on occasion.

In fact, Daphne sighed again at the realization that they probably would not be very happy if they saw her chatting with Shaggy here at the Country Club – especially since they would say that there was so much "more appropriate" company to be found nearby. However, she managed to shake that negative thought out of her head when she finally realized what was obviously missing from the current scene. She looked around curiously.

"Where's Scooby?" she asked in confusion. After all, she knew that the Great Dane and the teenager in front of her were practically inseparable. This time, however, it was Shaggy who heaved a dramatic sigh as he pointed towards the entrance where Daphne could clearly see the giant "No Dogs Allowed" sign that hung there.

"They put that up after his last visit," he groaned. "Like, I guess they didn't appreciate the fact that it was his snack time and he cleaned out the clubhouse kitchen."

Daphne forced down another smile at his explanation. That definitely sounded like their Scooby! "So, you left him at home, then?" she clarified.

"Like, nah, I dropped him off at Velma's," Shaggy replied in a happier tone. "She wanted to run some kind of experiment and said that Scooby would make, like, the perfect test subject for it."

"And Scooby was okay with that?" Daphne asked doubtfully. She loved the big dog dearly, but regardless of his large size, he was simply not known for his bravery…not at all!

Shaggy just shrugged, however. "He was fine after Velma showed him the Mega-sized box of Scooby snacks she had bought just for the occasion."

Daphne did not even try to hide her joyous laughter that time. "That's our Scooby," she gasped in-between giggles before Shaggy joined in with a guffaw of his own.

"Like, yeah, it is," he admitted with a grin. "Plus, we all know that Velms would never hurt the big mutt. In fact, I would've preferred to stay with them, too…but, like, Mom and Pops insisted…" The smile left his face again and he looked around gloomily.

"What is this party supposed to be for, anyway?" he groused instead as he pulled on his restricting collar again. "Penguin suits, tiny food, no dogs…I think this is, like, my personal version of Hell."

Daphne could not help but to smile again at his comparison – especially since she now felt pretty much the same way that he did about those particular types of gatherings. However, she still tried to explain the situation to him. "It's a campaign party for Mr. 'I want to be a Senator and I need your money' over there," she told him as she pointed out the man in question who was currently making the stereotypical politician rounds to press flesh and kiss babies.

"Oh...is that what this is? I thought it was a campaign to bore me to death. Like, seriously, I'd rather be chased by a monster any day." He winked to show her he was just joking again. Daphne laughed at his unexpectedly playful humor as she also she suddenly realized that the dreadful party was not quite as dreadful anymore. Her unexpected companion had taken care of that.

Not only does he look surprising good in a suit, but who knew that Shaggy could be so funny and such good company on his own? she thought wonderingly.

However, Daphne knew that she and Shaggy had not really spent a lot of time together on their own without the rest of the gang around, so maybe she had somehow missed how fun he could be when there were no terrifying monsters to worry about. That was a problem she vowed right then and there to fix. After this night, she would definitely make a point to hang out with him more.

How have I missed the fact that Shaggy is so tall? she also wondered when the young man in question showed that he had an unexpected rebellious streak, as well – especially when he bent his head down and spoke in a low voice that tickled her ear and made her shiver.

"Like, wanna sneak out of here and find a place with some decent grub?" he suggested in a mischievous tone that Daphne found that she liked very much.

"Yes, please!" she therefore answered without hesitation – especially since she could see that her parents were currently headed across the room in their direction…with yet another "suitable" boy in tow to introduce to her.

For some reason, they…just like everyone else…always thought that she and Fred were a couple. Daphne knew that she may have had a bit of a crush on him when they were younger. After all, he was tall, muscular, and handsome. However, they had never become more than friends…and Daphne was fine with that - especially since it was clear that Freddy preferred the Mystery Machine and his beloved traps over matters of the heart. It was just the way he was.

At any rate, even though Daphne had told her parents the truth many times, that Fred was just her friend, her parents were still determined to show her the error of her ways and prove to her what she was missing. Consequently, they were constantly introducing her to those they considered to be "right sort of young man."

On this occasion, however, Daphne found herself completely unwilling to face yet another self-satisfied product of family money who was chosen solely to show her the only kind of boy who was certain to gain her parents' approval. Therefore, in order to avoid the whole uncomfortable situation entirely, Daphne simply reached for Shaggy, a person who was the exact opposite of all of that. She grabbed his hand and ran for the side door that exited out onto the golf course.

"Like, wait, Daph!" her companion implored as soon as they were outside and she started to step down onto the grass that was still wet from the evening sprinklers. "I know that you hate to get your shoes wet. You'll ruin them…and your pretty dress…in all that water."

Daphne was truly surprised by his consideration. They really were her favorite shoes, after all…and she was fond of the new dress, as well. She was particularly pleased, though, that Shaggy had noticed such a detail as her clothing and that he had proven to be so observant about something that was not food. After all, most boys would not be. That feeling, however, soon morphed into one of amazement when he smiled at her again and continued with an unexpected proposition.

"Here, like, let me give you a piggy back ride across the grass, instead."

As Daphne stared at him in disbelief at the suggestion, Shaggy was unfazed. He simply squatted down with his back to her. "Like, hop on," he commanded as he looked back at her with a grin on his openly honest face. Daphne knew then that, unlike all of those boys inside the Country Club, there was absolutely nothing superficial about Shaggy. He was simply himself…and she liked that a lot. In fact, she realized that she found it to be very attractive.

That completely unexpected discovery made her heart beat wildly for a moment, but before she had time to consider what it all might mean, Daphne spared just a glance behind her. She was able to see, through the large glass door that had closed behind them, that her parents were still looking for her and that they had almost made it across the room. That sight galvanized her and any confusion she felt, or any objections she might have had, disappeared immediately as she hiked up her skirts and leaned across Shaggy's back. She also draped her arms around his neck for security. For his part, Shaggy immediately tucked his arms under her knees, stood up, and took off with her across the golf course right as the Blakes reached the door behind them.

...

They both laughed like loons in exhilaration as they ran away from the ridiculous situation behind them. At the same time, though, Daphne could not help but to notice that Shaggy seemed to carry her effortlessly. Since she had seen him run away from every imaginable kind of monster many times before, she had known that he was fast. However, she had no idea that he was so strong, as well.

In fact, she had finally realized that even though he was not bulky like Fred...who would tell anyone who would listen that he could bench 220... Shaggy's body was still covered with hard wiry muscles. After all, from her close position against his back, she could easily feel them all working underneath his skin as he ran. It was a thrilling feeling, and she found herself wondering just how much Shaggy could bench...if he was into such things.

By that time, though, they were out of the sight of her parents and completely across the wet greenery of the course. Therefore, those questionable thoughts slipped away when Shaggy stopped running so that she could get down. Daphne let go of her grip across his neck and shoulders and slid down off his back for what seemed like forever until her feet finally touched the ground.

Jeepers! Definitely taller than I realized! she mused again as her hands trailed their way down his back - even after her body had already finished its descent. She thought she heard...or felt...Shaggy gasp in surprise in the process, but before she could ask him what was wrong, she was completely distracted by those surprisingly hard muscles under her hands again. She also could not help but to wonder if they continued everywhere else.

What am I doing? This is Shaggy I'm thinking about! Daphne reprimanded herself and blushed at her suddenly inappropriate thoughts as she quickly dropped her hands before she glanced back up at the friend who now faced her. Shaggy was a bit flushed, also…and uncharacteristically quiet…as he watched her. She did not know, though, if his condition was due to the exertion of the run itself…or because of their close proximity during it…like her own obviously was. In spite of all that...or maybe even because of it...Daphne noticed that he pulled on his collar more than ever. Whatever the reason was for his discomfort, the poor guy was obviously not used to such clothing, so she rushed to help him.

"Here, let me get that," she insisted as she reached up to loosen the unaccustomed tie and to undo the top button of the shirt that kept choking him. When her hand accidently brushed the sensitive skin on his neck, though, she felt him shiver at her touch. She mirrored the reaction when he reached up and caught her hand with his own when she was finished.

"Like, thanks, Daph," he murmured as their eyes met.

Daphne could not quite figure out the look she saw in his eyes, but whatever it was caused her heart to beat rapidly again. However, she tried to keep her voice even as she replied. "No. Thank you, Shaggy. After all, you were the one who rescued me from a boring night in tedious company." She squeezed the hand that still held her own and was thrilled when he returned the gesture.

"Like, maybe we rescued each other," he countered and his still-present flush deepened with his words. Daphne realized that the look was quite appealing on him...and her heartbeat increased even more as she desperately tried to figure out what it all meant.

"Like, maybe," she unintentionally repeated his words back to him as they stood there, hand in hand, on the rapidly darkening edge of the golf course. The adrenaline from their escape still raced through their veins, and its effect was compounded by the fact that they had suddenly became aware of each other in a way that was completely different from their usual friendship.

Daphne was the first to snap out of the almost trance-like state that the unexpected events of the evening had produced between them, though. "Now…about that food," she asked in order to cover up the heavy silence that had fallen. "Why don't we go get some pizza?"

"Like, yeah, pizza is always a good idea," Shaggy replied as he shook his head to clear the spell of their encounter also before he cheered up at the thought of food. "Nah, I take that back...it's a great idea, Daphne! Like, you're a woman after my own heart!"

Those particular words, however...given the circumstances...fell awkwardly between them and they just looked at each other again in silence for a moment.

Meanwhile, Daphne thought about everything that had happened between them that night. She thought about what a good friend Shaggy had always been, about how funny, kind, and considerate he was...about her newfound appreciation for his physical being...and about the fact that he seemed to be affected by her, also. Her feelings for him made a definite shift at that moment, and despite the fact that she knew her parents would never approve, she found that she just did not care about that...and so she finally made the first move. After all, she had always been the braver of the two.

"It's kind of weird, Shaggy," she admitted softly. "After all, we were just friends before tonight. I don't really know how things could change so quickly, but I think I could be...that I would like to be...the woman after your heart, I mean."

Shaggy went stock still with surprise for a moment until a goofy grin raced across his face at her apparent meaning. "You know, Daph, you're right. It's fast, it's weird...but I like it...and I like you, too." he replied and squeezed her hand. "But I want you to be sure, so why don't we go find out if this is really what it feels like? Aren't we supposed to be, like, good at solving mysteries, after all?"

"We're not just good at it, we're excellent!" Daphne replied with a bright smile that matched the light in her eyes.

"Well, like, let's get to it then!" Shaggy answered happily in return.

Still the brave one, Daphne did just that. She leaned up on her tiptoes as high as she could go and gave him a quick and gentle kiss. The dazed look on his face as she pulled away made her giggle a little, though. "Just collecting clues," she replied mischieviously.

"Zoinks! Like, did I ever tell you that I love clues!" Shaggy squeaked in a higher pitch than normal as he, now also feeling surprisingly brave, bent back down and collected one of his own. Again, the contact was short and sweet, but they were both smiling as they pulled apart.

Then, still holding hands, they turned and walked slowly towards the nearest pizza place. After all, they were no longer in any kind of hurry. Their parents...and the gang...could wait until they could figure out exactly what was going on between them. Needless to say, what was on their minds...and in their hearts...was definitely a different kind of mystery than the ones they usually solved...but they found that they were eager to continue collecting as many clues as possible.

In the end, that provided all the answers that they needed.