A/N: Just letting you know right now, mild Ike/Lucas in this chapter. Tee hee.
DISCLAIMER: Don't own anything...seriously, I don't. DON'T LOOK AT ME LIKE THAT, I'M SERIOUS.
—s—t—a—r—t—c—h—a—p—t—e—r—
Ness entered the room quietly so as to not disturb those that happened to be there.
There wasn't really a need to be so careful, however. The infirmary was completely empty save for two people: Lucas and Ike. The blonde lay in one of the beds to the right, covered up to the stomach with a thin blue blanket, the end of which his feet poked out of. He was laying flat on his back, staring up at the ceiling. Ike sat beside him in a chair, holding a newspaper in his right hand and a pencil in his left. He looked to be thinking for a moment.
"Six letter word, something green usually associated with hamburgers or sandwiches," Ike read aloud for Lucas to hear.
Lucas frowned in thought for a moment. Then, he nodded to himself and spouted off the answer. "Pickle."
Ike made a little sound of realization as he scribbled the word down. "Oh, good one. And it fits. You're a pro at this."
Ness walked towards them, amused at what activities the two partook in whilst alone. "Lucas would know all about pickles."
Lucas' face turned red. "N-Ness!" he stammered, fiddling with his thumbs.
Ike looked up at the raven-haired boy. "So he would."
Lucas buried his face in his hands. "Ike!"
Ness' smile suddenly disappeared. "Wait, you two have actually—"
"I am not having this conversation!" Lucas blurted, effectively cutting him off. Ike and Ness laughed at him.
"Okay, okay. So how did the operation go?" Ness asked, coming up to the other side of Lucas' bed.
Lucas shrugged. "It wasn't an operation, really. They just sewed me up, see?" He pointed down to his torso, which had a very long gash from the lower stomach to his collar bone covered in small stitches. "It took a while, almost two and a half hours, but they said it should heal without much scarring. The only downside is, it kinda hurts—owwch!"
Ness had just poked the blonde's stitches, curious as to how they felt. He pulled back quickly when he'd cried out, laughing sheepishly. "Ah, sorry."
"It's okay," he said, regaining his composure. "But do it again and I'll sick Ike on you."
"Ragnell and all," Ike added casually, still pouring over his crossword puzzle.
"I'm terrified," Ness scoffed.
"Oh!" Lucas exclaimed. "I don't know why that reminds me, but did you bring me clothes?"
"Yes. That's the only reason I came, dork," Ness replied, taking his tan backpack off his back and opening it up. "I don't fancy seeing you and Ike suck face all day."
Now it was Ike's turn to scoff. "Really?" he looked up, cold blue eyes amused. "A relationship doesn't have to entail sexual foreplay all the time. We're not allowed to simply hang out because we've been dubbed a couple?"
Ness frowned at him, hands rummaging around in his sack. "Chill out, dude, I was kidding. Now that I think about it, I've never even seen you two kiss before."
The bluenette turned his attention back to the paper before him. "Lucas won't let me kiss him in public."
Lucas flushed. "It's not proper!"
"And yet if one of us was a girl it'd suddenly be okay," Ike countered with a sigh. "Seriously, Lucas, it's not like we're the only same sex couple around here."
Lucas just shook his head, face still red. "Why are we even talking about it? Clothes, please," he held out his hands expectantly.
"Alright, alright," the raven-haired teen pulled the articles of clothing from his bag as he replied. There was a pair of denim shorts (go figure) and a yellow and teal striped t-shirt in his grasp as he set them in Lucas' hands. "There. Happy?"
Lucas just stared at the shirt with an unreadable expression. "Y-yeah," he said a few moments later, smiling weakly up at Ness. "Thanks."
Ness, oblivious to such small details, slung the backpack back on his shoulders and nodded back with a grin of his own. "Anytime. I'm going to the training room, catch you guys later."
"Take all the time you need," Ike called after the boy as he left, reaching over to help Lucas pull his shirt on.
"Oh, shut up." Ness opened and mock-slammed the door behind him, rolling his eyes. That Ike. Who needed him? He had to prepare for the match he had on Tuesday, a deciding brawl for him as it dictated whether he would stay in or fall out of the competition. With this thought in mind, the boy power-walked down the hall, cracking his knuckles as he went.
-asdfjkl;-
"You mean he isn't with you?"
Ness walked past Ike and down the hall, seeking out his friend. He had an important message to pass on. The blue-haired mercenary he'd just run into followed closely behind.
"No, Marth and I decided to spar for a bit, and he said he had to see Peach for a minute," Ike answered. "He was acting kind of...weird."
Ness snorted. "Yeah, well, what's new?"
The two continued until they neared the rec room, where one could hear voices buzzing in near unison with each other. Looking at one another for a moment, they proceeded inside, peering around for signs of their blonde companion.
What they found was not blonde.
There were quite a few Smashers gathered around the pool table, watching in awe as a boy in a yellow and teal striped shirt gracefully knocked the eight ball into the far left pocket, successfully winning the game. Red cursed out loud and scratched the back of his head. Upon closer inspection it seemed that he'd lost by a fair amount; he still had five balls left on the table. But the boy said "Good game," so Red returned the favor, and everyone who'd been watching started to clap for him.
But the boy's hair was red. So red it was almost orange.
Ness' jaw had long since dropped. "L-Lucas?" he gasped, unable to look away from the boy's new hair color. Ike also looked surprised at the sudden change.
The boy turned around, and one could see that it was indeed Lucas, but there was something...different about him. The way he held himself, maybe? He seemed very confident and laid-back, a far cry from his usually humbly shy and uptight self. He grinned at them very boyishly, which was also foreign to them, who were so used to the fleeting and shy smiles from before. "Oh, hey guys. You just missed me kick Red's ass at pool!" he laughed as said boy stuck his tongue out at the now-redhead. "So how'd the spar with Marth go? You won, right?"
Ike blinked a couple of times. "No, we...it was a draw. Lucas..."
"...what the hell did you do to your hair?" Ness finished for him, showing far less tact than the taller mercenary.
Lucas laughed. "I dyed it, of course. Remember when I said I needed to see Peach? That's why. It looks a lot better now, dontcha think? It's my favorite color."
The two gave each other dubious looks. "I thought your favorite color was blue," Ike raised an eyebrow at him, watching as most everyone who had gathered now headed their separate ways.
Lucas' expression turned confused. "Huh? No way. Orange is so much cooler."
A gloved finger tapped the boy on the shoulder. Lucas turned his head slightly to find Popo and Nana standing beside him, looking determined and charmed, respectively. "Lucas!" Popo said loudly. "I wanna play you next! I'm gonna win!"
Lucas frowned. "But Red's the best of all of us at pool. What makes you think you can beat me if he can't?"
"I've been practicing, and I'm sure I'm way better than him now!" the blue ice climber exclaimed, puffing out his chest accordingly.
Nana rolled her eyes. "He's such an idiot. But you were really something just now," she commented, gazing at Lucas endearingly. "Since when did you get so cool?"
The pseudo-redhead chuckled, smirking. "What do you mean, since when? I was born this cool, baby." He then turned his attention back to Popo. "Alright, you wanna take a beast such as myself on? Bring it on!"
Nana giggled despite herself as Popo fist pumped. "Yeah, let's go!"
Ness interjected, holding his arms out. "Wait, wait, hold on," he shook his head. "I came here to tell Lucas that Master Hand wants to see him. Like, now."
Lucas brought a hand to the back of his neck. "What for?"
"Probably because of that fight with Wolf, huh?" Nana reminisced, looking up at nothing. "That was pretty daring."
"I fought Wolf?" Lucas asked, genuinely clueless. "Oh, wait, yeah, I guess I did. I still don't remember why, though. Oh well." Lucas shrugged. "Guess that game of pool'll have to wait, Popo. Ike, come with me. I have a feeling Crazy Hand's gonna be there and he freaks me out." The bl—er, redhead grabbed his boyfriend's hand as he walked past them, dragging him out with him and shocking bluenette, Ness and the ice climbers alike. Lucas usually avoided most public displays of affection like the plague. Then again, it wasn't all that surprising...he'd been very out of character for days now. Maybe he was sick? In the head? "And by the way, Ness," he called behind him. "I set you up on a blind date, tonight at seven o'clock sharp!"
"What? Tonight? Wait a minute!" the addressed boy was taken aback by the sudden plan, but the two were already down the hall, paying him little mind. He sighed. "Blind date? With who?"
Nana giggled. "I know, but I'm not allowed to tell."
Ness grabbed the pink ice climber by the shoulders and shook her. "Nana! Tell me! It's not someone bad, is it? Oh God, is it Jigglypuff? No, no...is it you? Eucch!"
Nana suddenly got all up in his face. "What, are you saying you're disgusted at the thought of a date with me?"
"Well, yes."
Nana slapped him in the face, only half-jokingly.
Ness cried out, holding his cheek, which was turning pink. "Ow! Hey! That actually hurt!"
Popo waggled a finger in his face. "Don't call my sister ugly!"
"I never said she was ugly, I said I wouldn't wanna date her!"
"That's the same thing, moron!"
"No it isn't!"
Toon Link looked behind himself from where he was on the sofa, watching T.V. with Red with an aggravated expression. "Hey, shut up! We're trying to watch a movie!"
Nana whirled around. "Toon Link! Would you date me?"
Toon Link looked completely taken aback. "Uh...no?"
Nana put her face in her hands, wailing. "Ugh, why doesn't anyone find me attractive?"
Toon Link shrugged. "Nothing against you personally. I'm gay."
She wailed even more. "First Marth and Link, then Lucas and Ike, and now you? Jesus, are there any straight men here?" When Popo began to speak, she cut him off. "I can't date you, you don't count! Red! Would you date me?"
Red looked over and chuckled. Toon Link grabbed his arm. "No, he's gay too."
Ness, Popo and Nana stared at them. "Wait...you two are...?" Popo and Ness began, eyes widening as they put the pieces together in their minds. "For how long?" they both asked in semi-shocked unison.
Toon Link looked at Red. "Oh, I dunno. Couple months?"
Red nodded. "Something like that."
Popo and Ness both crossed their respective arms and nodded in understanding as Nana shouted to the ceiling. "Fine! You all can have your homosexual fun! One day I'll meet a man who loves me, I swear it!" she proclaimed with a gloved finger in the air. "I just gotta find him first!"
...Meanwhile, Lucas and Ike entered Master Hand's office rather nonchalantly, Lucas plopping himself down on the seat in front of the floating appendage's desk. "Master Hand," he called, "Lucas is here~." Ike smiled a little at his back, leaning on the wall behind the redhead.
A few seconds ticked by before Master Hand actually came out of the adjacent room. "Lucas? Oh, right. You're seated already? Good," he spoke (somehow...how a floating hand could speak was way beyond them), making his way behind his desk and facing the two finger-first. "I wanted to speak to you about your punishment, for that little quarrel the other day."
Lucas nodded. "Yeah, I kinda figured. But I was wondering...do you know why we fought? 'Cause for some weird reason, I can't remember."
Ike's usually somber face lit up. "Oh, that's right. I never did explain it, did I?" he suddenly remembered, arms uncrossing slightly.
Master Hand held up his...hand. "Allow me," he shot Ike down, the bluenette sinking back against the wall. "That's quite strange, but I don't mind telling the story; I'd like confirmation from Ike anyway. So, the way I heard it was like this. You and Wolf were apart of the eleven o'clock brawl. You won against him. He began speaking to you, and you spoke back. Eventually words got harsher and harsher until Wolf insulted your mother."
Lucas' eyes flashed and his fists clenched in their position on the chair's arms.
"You exchange a few more words before he does it again and you, Lucas, punch him in the face and pummel him into the wall. He eventually thrusts you into the wall and also punches a few times before giving you that," he pointed to Lucas' chest, on which the sewn up gash could be found under his shirt. "Though it was a shallow move on his part to take your mother's name in vain, it was you who made the first punch, Lucas. Therefore you are suspended from this season's tournament and your privileges outside the mansion are revoked until further notice—"
"Wait, hold on!" Ike blurted out, having pushed off the wall. "Isn't that a bit harsh for a first-time offender? He's been doing so well..." Ike was right about one thing; Lucas had been doing well in said tournament, placing ninth overall currently, which was a vast improvement over the last, in which he was finalized at twenty-seventh.
Master Hand's fingers clenched a few times, indicating he wasn't very happy about the interruption. "He is usually a very good boy, I will give you that. In any other circumstance I might let it slip. However, we are, as you know, very strict in our 'no fighting outside of tournament matches' policy. It clearly states in Article Three, Section Two, Line Four of the contract that every Smasher signed before coming aboard that if one began a physical fight of any sort outside of regulation, they would be suspended from the tournament and all non-mansion privileges for at least the duration of the season and then until the administrator, a.k.a me sees fit." His fingers became stationary. "It cannot be avoided."
Ike's face deadpanned as he leaned back against the wall almost helplessly. "..."
Lucas, who had been sitting silently as Master Hand spoke, now glance back at the mercenary. "It's alright, Ike. I'm a big boy, and I have to take responsibility for my actions," he smiled a bit before turning back around to face the floating hand in front of him once more. "But there is a question I'd like to ask, if you don't mind. What's Wolf's punishment?"
Master Hand chuckled, fingers flexing almost evilly. "Oh, he has to spend his evenings with Crazy Hand from this point forward, cleaning the bathrooms and Crazy Hand's room." The fingers shook slightly. "Trust me, that is quite a nasty punishment."
Lucas laughed. "Yeah, sounds like it might be," he agreed, secretly thrilled he hadn't been the one to receive that punishment instead. He didn't know what, but there was something very off-putting about Master Hand's younger, crazier relative.
Master Hand nodded itself a couple of times. "Indeed. Well, I think that was all I had to say. Good day Lucas, Ike," he said before floating back into the other room, leaving them alone.
Lucas chuckled once, scratching his cheek. "Master Hand doesn't really beat around the bush, does he?" he observed absently, standing up and walking to the other doorway, the one that led back out into the main hallway.
Ike followed him out. "He does like to get to the point, doesn't he?" he agreed as they walked. A few seconds later the mercenary sighed. "I'm sorry, Lucas."
At this, Lucas stopped and turned around to face his companion with an amused expression. "What for?" he asked, pocketing his hands. "Again, it sounds like all that was pretty much on me, anyway. Gotta be punished somehow, y'know? At least I don't get the Crazy Hand treatment." He paused, looking away for a moment. "Though it sucks I'm out of the tournament."
"That's what I'm sorry for," Ike corrected, placing a hand on Lucas' back. "All those hours spent training against me and Ness, wasted."
"Nah, not really. Next season I'll be able to put it all to full use, right?" the redhead laughed before grabbing Ike's free hand with both of his. "Though if you really want to make it up to me..." he trailed off, smiling mischievously, yet another one of those expressions you never saw on Lucas, though it fit him perfectly when he did. "...you'll let me come with you back to your dorm."
Ike chuckled, pulling the smaller boy closer to his side. "And what shall we do once we get there?" he asked, playing along.
Lucas began walking him down the hall, gladly brushing against one another, shoulder to arm, respectively. "Oh, you know, fun stuff. Like polishing Ragnell and watching 300."
The taller bluenette put an arm around Lucas' waist. "Or maybe eat a dozen omelets and watch Animal Planet."
Lucas laughed. "Hmm. Maybe we can do something that we both find fun..." he suggested playfully, looking up at his boyfriend.
Ike met his eyes. It was rather nice, this playful banter. Normally Lucas would have stuttered into a flushed silence by now, which was admittedly cute as hell, but this wasn't bad either. "Would this fun require the removal of clothes?"
Lucas cast his eyes to the side. "Perhaps."
They reached the stairs just as he said this. "Well, I'm sold," Ike chuckled, ascending them as fast as he could without having to drag Lucas up behind him.
Lucas laughed. "I never knew just how badly you wanted to get into my pants, Ike," he noted as they touched down on the second floor. He stopped mid-chuckle, though, as he remembered something rather important. "Oh, wait a minute. It's like five thirty, right? Better go help Ness get ready for his date tonight."
Ike sighed; of course they'd be interrupted. "He's a big boy, I'm sure he can do it himself."
Lucas grinned, separating himself from Ike once more. "Nah. I have a feeling he'll forget or something," he said, using air quotes accordingly.
Ike rolled his eyes. "Right." After a few second of just walking down the hall towards the psychics' shared room, he spoke again. "But do you really think this is a good idea?"
Lucas kept walking. "Of course," he answered matter-of-factly. "Ness may act like he's all big and bad and whatnot, but when it comes to things like this, he's quite clueless. I'm just...giving him a nudge in he right direction, if you will," he chuckled again.
Ike snorted. "More like a giant toss," he corrected as they neared the correct dorm. "You're such a good person, Lucas."
Lucas laughed. "Oh, you know it. Like a saint!" he proclaimed as he rapped once on his own door before opening it up anyway, peeking his head in carefully. "Knock knock. Anyone home?"
Ness sat on the couch in their living room-esque area, staring at the T.V. as he played Marvel vs. Capcom 3 almost idly. Lucas stepped inside fully, tutting loudly. "Shame on you, Ness. Shouldn't you be getting ready for something?"
Ness paused his game when Ike closed the door behind him. "What are you talking about?"
Lucas threw his hands up into the air. "Your date, of course! Don't tell me you actually forgot!"
Ness' eyes widened as he remembered that conversation from earlier. "Oh yeah. Hey, wait a minute! You never did tell me who exactly I was taking out," he frowned at the redhead.
Lucas returned the expression. "Well, that's why it's called a blind date, smartass. You're not supposed to know." He strode over and turned the PS3 off, much to Ness' dismay.
"Hey, I was playing that!"
"Key word, was. Now c'mon, we have things to do!" the ever so slightly taller of the two pulled Ness from the couch and over to the bedroom. "You must look stunning for your date."
Ness' left eye twitched, somewhat shocked yet irritated at the redhead's self-assertion. Asshole. He shot Ike a questioning look, a look which Ike gave a shrug in return. Ness pulled his arm away from Lucas, who looked back at him with a frown. "Alright, man, fine. But I don't have any good clothes up here. I'll go get some. And I can do it myself!" he stepped back when Lucas shrugged and approached him once more.
Lucas raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure? I can make you look like a sexy beast, though!"
Ness shook his head. "I think I'll manage," he assured, crossing his arms. "It's at seven, right? Where exactly am I going?"
"You know that restaurant, Grillsmith? That place," Lucas informed as Ness took off his backpack and rummaged around in it. "It's kinda far away, and it's kinda fancy, so make sure you look decent. The reservation'll be under Itoi."
Ness was still looking into his pack, frowning. "I don't have any money."
"That's fine, it's prepaid anyway. You can order whatever."
Ness raised an eyebrow. "That's awfully nice."
Lucas shrugged. "What can I say? Your date is generous."
Ness threw his backpack to the couch, resting hands on his hips. "...I see. So that's all I need to know?"
Lucas nodded. "Yep."
Ness exhaled. "Okay," he spoke, walking up to and opening the door. "See you guys tonight."
"Or if you get lucky, tomorrow!" Lucas laughed.
Ness slammed the door behind him.
"You really think this'll work?" Ike asked his boyfriend as the boy flopped down on the couch.
"Think? I know this'll work. Olimar's going to be so surprised. And Ness is going to make a fool of himself!" He laughed. "I wish I could be there, to see the look on his face when he sees him!"
Ike sat down beside Lucas. "But does Olimar like Ness back?"
"Of course. You act like I didn't do any research beforehand." Lucas climbed over into Ike's lap. "But enough about them. Let's talk about something else. Or, even better, let's not talk at all," he smirked, grabbing Ike's face and bringing it down to meet his lips.
-asdfjkl;-
Ness looked around him, making sure he was alone and not being watched before he opened the door and closed it hurriedly.
He was in the storage room, where everything from brawl-related items like Super Mushrooms or Home-Run Bats to miscellaneous crap like old brooms and extra lightbulbs were kept. Normally he wouldn't really have a use for this particular room, but today, he was on somewhat of a mission: he needed to look nice and spiffy for his blind date, but had no formal clothes. For this reason he snooped around inside the room, looking everywhere he could for something to wear. If any room would have fancy clothes, this one would. Maybe Peach's room, but he didn't want to go there if it could be avoided, because she would no doubt ask a flurry of stupid, gossipy questions. Ness could live without that.
After a few minutes of searching, the boy came across a mobile rack of clothes, on which were several different outfits, ranging from ratty and old to elegant and frilly. What in the world were these doing here, anyway? Ness, never one to question such good luck, ignored the rational part of his mind and sifted through his options, seeking something basic yet attractive. Orange jumpsuit? No. Hobo outfit? No. Frilly pink dress? Absolutely not.
Eventually he managed to find a nice gray polo, complete with black pants and a belt. It wasn't very formal, but it would have to do. Running back to lock the door to the room, he quickly shed his clothes and changed right there, feeling kind of self-conscious in the foreign space. Once he had everything on and belt firmly holding the slightly-too-big pair of pants up, he went to hang the hanger back up when he noticed something curious. A small cardboard box was shoved up against the wall behind all the clothes, like someone had tried to hide it, and there were big black words printed on it in scribbly handwriting: DO NOT OPEN.
Ness tilted his head to the side. Why would someone put a box they didn't want opened in plain reach of anyone? Plus, writing 'do not open' on it just made him want to open it more. After a few seconds of internal argument, he relented and grabbed the box from where it lay. It was very light. Ness opened the flaps and peered inside hesitantly, wondering what could be so secret about it.
It was empty.
Even more curious. But Ness was probably just reading too far into it. Shrugging, he placed it back where he found it and picked up his clothes, exiting the room as casually as if it were the bathroom or something.
-asdfjkl;-
"Mpph! Ike, wh-what are you doing?"
Lucas yelped loudly as Ike trailed kisses down his neck and to his shirtless torso. Said shirt was in Ike's hands, as he had just taken it off as revenge for the redhead pulling his own shirt away mischievously. The bluenette stopped what he was doing and looked at Lucas' shocked face. "Well, I was just about to start licking your n—"
"Not what I meant!" the boy blushed furiously, still not used to such...dirty talk. "I just have no idea why we're even...d-doing this. Where are we, anyway?" he looked around a bit. "My and Ness' room? Why? Ness could walk in at any moment!"
Ike sat up once more, placing the shirt he had taken from Lucas in his lap. "So you forgot again? How you get amnesia while we're going at it is beyond me..." Lucas squirmed a bit beneath him, feeling rather guilty and embarrassed. "You set Ness up on a blind date, remember? He won't be back for a while."
"I did?" he asked, genuinely surprised at himself. "With who?"
"Olimar."
"Oh..." he trailed off, though he still looked quite out of it. Then his eyes settled on the shirt Ike had in his hands. "Could you give me back Clau—my, m-my shirt, please? I don't...want anything to happen to it..."
Ike raised an eyebrow. "So you don't trust me with your shirt now?"
Lucas shook his head frantically. "N-no! That's not it at all! It's just..." he trailed off, grabbing it along with Ike. "It's special. I don't want to lose it. Not again."
Ike could see in the boy's eyes that the shirt held substantial sentimental value, so he let go, and Lucas took it and carefully folded it up, laying it to the side on the adjacent coffee table. They stayed silent for a minute, Ike trying to calculate the boy below him's demeanor while Lucas looked up at him with an unreadable expression.
When Ike moved to get off him though, thinking the mood had been killed, Lucas grabbed his wrists quickly, making the mercenary look back down at him. Lucas' face was red again, but he smiled shyly up at him. "Maybe we could...well, y'know, since we already got this far, we might as well..."
Ike just stared at him for a long moment before he threw his head back and laughed harder than he had in a while. Lucas was redder than a tomato and squirming beneath him. "Wh-what?"
The bluenette's laughter ceased as he brought his head back down to nuzzle into Lucas' neck. "You're so cute."
Lucas giggled a little, wrapping thin arms around Ike's back. "Well, you're not too bad looking yourself," he answered, enjoying the warmth radiating from his boyfriend's body.
An hour later, they ended up cuddled together, watching Animal Planet and eating omelets.
—e—n—d—c—h—a—p—t—e—r —
A/N: D'awww. Animal Planet is like the most romantic channel ever. -shot-
I swear I'm going to write that date that Ness and Olimar go on. I will. Might not be soon, but I will. Also, that box is important. Seriously.
And so Nana's quest for love begins! I really need to get some het couples in here. I will, one day.
So Claus!Lucas is basically a confident, charming, cooler version of Lucas. With dyed red hair. Wait until Lucas sees what he did to his hair...lol. Next up is Green!Lucas. Place your bets on his personality now!
So, didja find this chappie to be satisfactory? Leave a review telling me whatcha liked, didn't like, things I can improve on, etc. etc. They make me smile!
See ya real soon~. C:
