In the quiet of moonlit night, Shulk was roused from slumber by the soft click of a doorknob latching into place, muffled with care, not intended to disturb the others in the room. Opening his eyes into a squint, he saw a figure through the glass double-doors across the room, having just closed them, now moving to step closer to the edge of the balcony. He viewed all of this through a layer of sheer pink curtain, its fabric rustling slightly in the faintly disturbed wind.

The unfamiliarity of the bed he laid in reminded him where he was. The covers enveloping his naked body were plush and pink, and Robin's arm was heavily draped over his side. He was careful as he moved, not wishing to disturb the other man. Glancing around as he slowly and deliberately sat up, he saw Robin's slumbering face beside him on the pink silk of the pillow. The sight of his lover asleep made him pause, as it usually did, and he relished the warming that spread from his chest as Shulk was nearly overwhelmed with the urge to touch their foreheads together and return to slumber himself.

But, other items of interest held his attention at the moment instead. Beyond where Robin slept, another figure rested on its own set of pillows, curled up under the covers and facing the opposite direction. Shulk could only see the back of Marth's head, identifying him by his feather-soft blue hair. The royal-sized bed in Princess Peach's guest room was more than wide enough to cradle two cuddling couples with enough room to spare, so it was curious that one member of their party was missing. Shulk again looked to the balcony doors and slowly moved to swing his legs over the side of the bed, sweeping aside the sheer fabric of the canopy to make way for him. Robin's arm slid limply from his side and Shulk hoped that he had not roused him.

His bare feet padded down the steps of the dais that the bed rested on, and he stepped around the mess of pillows that had been the site of their earlier partying, which was still littered with snacks and games. From the pile, he rescued the oversized red t-shirt he was meant to have borrowed and pulled it on over his head as he made the rest of the way across the room to the doors.

Shulk was careful and quiet as he opened them, but even that minor sound of the latch clicking attracted Roy's attention, and he looked over his shoulder from where he leaned against the bannister. The moon was not full, and Shulk's eyes had not properly adjusted quite yet, but he thought that Roy's expression upon seeing him was one of surprise that melted into familiarity.

"Hey," Roy greeted him softly, and scooted over so that Shulk could stand beside him.

"Hey," Shulk returned, noticing that there was plenty of balcony space and that Roy did not have to move at all. He filled the position anyway, folding his arms and leaning down to rest his elbows on the cool stone railing. The vertical bars of the banister were beautifully carved into spirals, with hearts serving as flourishes. Flower boxes were placed around the balcony, spilling over the sides or just filling the air with their fragrance.

"You okay?" Roy asked, a little shyly, "It looked like things got a little... rough."

"Of course," Shulk assured, shrugging. It was true that Robin had played a bit rougher as the night went on, but even through the relentless toys and teasing, Robin had leaned close to his ear to quietly promise him that this was no real 'punishment.' He was saving that for when they could be alone, without the pressure of an audience. A shiver shook Shulk's shoulders, and he rubbed his arms under the loose sleeves, hoping that it looked to Roy that it was only the breeze that chilled him. "Robin takes good care of me," he finished by way of explanation for Roy.

Roy smiled, returning his attention over the balcony. "Check out the gardens down there," he directed Shulk's attention below them, his enthusiasm surfacing even through his hushed voice. "The Mushroom Kingdom has some awesome plants."

"It would probably be incredible to walk through there," Shulk observed the perfectly sculpted hedges and stone walkways that wound through them, some of the stepping stones shaped like hearts. Princess Peach seemed to have an especial fondness for pink roses. They were everywhere. In the hedges, in arrangements exploding out of huge vases, even curling around ornate fountain displays. The sound of water running over the fountains reached them even all the way up the wall on their balcony.

"Maybe before we leave tomorrow, we could tour through it together," Roy mused. "I mean," he was quick to correct himself, and Shulk looked at him. "Me with Marth, and you with Robin. Together. ...Is what I meant."

"Certainly," Shulk agreed.

Roy lapsed into silence, and Shulk hoped that he wasn't beating himself up for showing a little awkwardness. "I hope I didn't wake you up," Roy sighed, turning his head away and looking out over the castle's walls to the fields outside. It still took Shulk by surprise every time he gazed out at those hills in the Mushroom Kingdom and saw them gazing back emptily.

"Not a worry," Shulk deflected. "I should be the one apologizing, if you came out here to think and I interrupted."

"No, that's fine," Roy insisted as he turned back. "I was thinking, but it's probably better to have someone else to bounce your thoughts around with instead of keeping it all to yourself, you know? ...If you don't mind listening."

"Sure," Shulk was attentive, straightening from the railing to face the other. He hadn't expected Roy to open up to him with such ease, and was hopeful that he could lend a supporting ear.

"Well... it's a little weird to describe," Roy's eyes glanced aside as he struggled. "But when Marth and I first joined these Smash matches, there really wasn't... anyone else like us here. Coming back, and seeing so many new faces..." Shulk tilted his head inquisitively as Roy trailed off. After a moment to gather his thoughts, Roy's attention came back to him with vigor, his hands pulling into fists in front of his chest. "So many people here are so good looking now! It's crazy!"

Shulk spent a beat in shocked silence, before a laugh bubbled up the back of his throat and he had to cover his mouth to hide his mirth from the other boy. "Is that... so worrisome?" he asked between chuckles.

"Not worrisome," Roy corrected, loosened up a bit from Shulk's laughter. "Isn't it a little overwhelming? Everyone here is so darn attractive. That was certainly..." now Roy gave a little laugh himself, "not the case back then."

"I'm afraid I have no point of reference," Shulk admitted, finally having recovered from his laughter, although his smile remained.

"I guess not," Roy surrendered. He attempted again, gesturing vaguely with his hands. "What I'm mainly trying to get at, though, is that, at least as far as I know, Marth and I were... I mean, we were the only ones that were... involved. Outside of matches, you know? It wasn't exactly the most accommodating roster for... romance. ...You know?"

"I think I know," Shulk had to confirm that he knew that Roy was insinuating, or else the poor boy would keep floundering around the topic forever.

"And now," Roy went on, "I come back, and I learn that Marth has arranged this whole... harem situation."

Oh. So that was what this was all about. Shulk hesitated. He was unsure how comfortable Roy was with the topic, or whether he knew just how much Marth had worked to arrange. If Roy wanted to love Marth exclusively, then it might be in Shulk's interest to dance around this particular topic...

"You and Robin are involved in it, right? How did you learn of it? What was it like?" Roy inquired, gazing at Shulk with his bright, blue eyes.

Shulk's face reddened now that he was on the spot. There wasn't much sidestepping he could do here. And he didn't at all want to be dishonest with Roy. He resigned to answer truthfully, especially if it meant easing Roy's fears.

Taking a moment to compose his thoughts into words, Shulk thought back, and resurfacing the memories was warm and pleasant. "I was oblivious to any of it for a long time, and just fought in Smash matches as was expected of me. But... then I started talking to Robin one day, and I came to like him, a lot. That... happened between the two of us naturally. It was a very happy thing," Shulk smiled to himself, and noticed that he'd clasped his hands together at his chest. Embarrassed to be seen looking so vulnerable, he lowered them before continuing.

"I didn't know anything about Marth at the time. It wasn't until after I'd been with Robin for some time that Robin introduced me to Marth formally – outside of matches, I mean. And they filled me in on this group that Marth was in charge of, and that Robin was a participant in."

"What did you think of that?" Roy asked with wide, inquisitive eyes, hanging on Shulk's every word.

"Truthfully, it all sounded crazy to me at first," Shulk fidgeted, winding in his fingers the lower hem of the shirt that he wore. "Like there was this underground orgy ring happening behind the scenes of all these Smash matches."

"Did you change your mind?"

He hesitated again before continuing, "There was something deeper to it than that, I realized. Everyone involved in it all looked out for one another. It feels like we're all closer, now, and much greater friends than we would have been if we only clashed on the battlefield. Like we're family." He spoke softly, thinking fondly about the events that Marth had set up for him to introduce him to their activities. The fact that Marth now thought of him as a close enough friend to invite him to a slumber party. He added, "And Marth's greatest concern was always everyone's safety and happiness. There are so many precautions – but they're not invasive, they're just there so you can back out whenever you're uncomfortable. And knowing that we can just say one word or make one gesture to make everything stop – it makes you feel more powerful, in the heat of things."

Roy listened to Shulk's analysis with fondness. Shulk wasn't sure if he'd overwhelmed his listener or not, but Roy appeared to be deep in thought as he went over his words. "Marth has explained some of it to me, but... honestly, I haven't yet decided whether I want to participate or not. But you... you're doing a good job of persuading me." He shifted. "Are you and Robin still close, even after… well, everyone else?" It was a very quiet question. He did not look at Shulk when he asked it.

"Closer than ever," Shulk nodded firmly, wanting to reassure Roy on this point. "When you're established with someone, you have someone to come back to. And... it's kind of nice, too," he reddened as he explained further, "having learned some new things here and there, and being able to share that with your partner, and surprising them."

"That does sound great," Roy was wide-eyed. "I wonder if... well," he broke off, scratching the side of his face, uncertain. "I wonder if I could be that established person... for Marth."

There it was. The corner of Shulk's mouth pulled into a smile. "Honestly, seeing the two of you interacting today... I think you might already be there."

He could watch the blood traveling up Roy's face. Roy hurriedly turned aside to hide his overjoyed reaction, but Shulk could still see the tips of his ears burning.

"U-um," Roy's voice cracked, "Thanks. Um..." Shulk observed Roy building up the courage to say something else, and spoke to him again with resolve. "Did you know that, when you kissed me earlier, it was the first kiss I've had with someone besides Marth?"

"No, I didn't know that," Shulk admitted, a little shocked. "I, uh, I would have held back a bit if I'd known that you weren't officially in Marth's group... Sorry if it surprised you, or if I overstepped -"

"No, don't apologize for it," Roy insisted, shaking his head. "I was going to say just the opposite. That it was, er, nice." Now he looked away again, rubbing the back of his wild red hair. "I think you might have convinced me right then that I really should join. I mean, if it means... more of that. W... with you." His eyes returned to gaze at Shulk's, shy and uncertain. And Shulk wasn't sure that he himself looked very cool or comforting right now, either, or if his expression betrayed how surprised and heated he felt.

He could finally say that he understood, now, what Robin meant when he called him 'cute' or 'innocent.' They were words that Shulk did not particularly like having attributed to himself, thinking that they were silly (but, of course, he could not bring himself to feel frustrated at anything Robin ever said to him). But understanding finally dawned on him; what it meant to see the 'cuteness' in someone. He was seeing, right now, just how cute Roy was. And Shulk understood also what Robin described when he would say that Shulk's cuteness made him want to hold him and smother him with comfort and kisses, because that was what he was feeling toward Roy at the moment, too.

With searching eyes, he wondered if it would be inappropriate to kiss Roy right now. If he cradled Roy's face in his fingers and touched their lips together, just to communicate to Roy that he didn't have to be so nervous. That would be alright, wouldn't it?

It certainly felt alright. And Roy's fluttering eyelashes as their tender kiss broke apart, looking back up at him with relief, confirmed Shulk's intent in comforting him. From their close proximity, each of them searched the other, entertaining further thoughts, perhaps weighing what else might or might not be appropriate at the moment.

Shulk was certain that it would be inappropriate to bend over the balcony's railing while Roy took him raw. While it was too dark to see if anyone might be present in the garden below to observe their salacious public tryst. While holding his voice back to avoid bringing anyone's attention to them (a skill with which he knew he was terrible). While they were in full view of their lovers across the room, glass doors serving as the only barrier between them, if they happened to be awake.

Roy's chuckling freed him from his distracted reverie, and Shulk shook his head to clear his thoughts. Roy was moving back toward those glass doors with silent steps. To Shulk, he said, "I think that staying up so late has made both of us a little bit silly." When Shulk approached, Roy turned and hesitantly touched his fingers gently to the center of Shulk's chest. Against the quiet, he said only, "Thanks."

After that, he went inside. Shulk allowed him time to reach the bed and bury himself under the covers and under Marth's arms, looking out over the gardens bathed in starlight in the meantime. Then, he returned to his place at Robin's side as well, very gingerly and carefully sliding under the covers without disturbing him.

But once he had settled, and once the room has lapsed into silence once more, Robin shifted behind him. He tightened the grip of his arms around Shulk's sides, pulling their bodies closer. He nuzzled the back of Shulk's head, bringing his lips against his ear, and murmured very quietly, "You really want that punishment, don't you?" His teeth grazed Shulk's ear, delivering a little nip, before he retreated against the pillows again, silent once more.