Estimated Reading Time: 18 Minutes

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Boyz Chillin

Everyone turned their attention to Ness.

Ness: "Uh…"

Toon: "It's a little suspicious that you haven't said a word about Nate yet."

The room fell heavy. He didn't know what to say. He didn't want to talk about his clone. It's too awkward, but at the same time Toon Link is right. It's suspicious that he hasn't brought up Nate at all.

Link: "Nate? Oh! That's right, Master Hand told everyone that your clone helped saved Smash."

Popo: "What happened to him? He just kinda disappeared."

Lucas: "Yeah, uh, where'd he go?"

Sonic and Ness locked eyes. They both gave each other a worried look. They both knew what happened to Nate. They sent him back to Onett using The Travel Machine. They never told their friends about him.

Ness: "I-I… Well he…"

Toon: "He left and never gave us an apology for lyin'."

Sonic: "He left for Onett."

Popo: "That's where he's been?"

Ness: "Y-yeah."

Popo: "Why haven't you said anything?"

Ness: "I-I don't know. I just… You know because of all the terrible things he's done I thought it'd be awkward."

Link looked at Toon who got face in the red.

Link: "It looks like Toon has something to say."

Ness: "No shit sherlock."

Link: "Excuse me?"

Sonic stood in the middle and waved his hands in the air.

Sonic: "Alright, let's all take a breather."

Toon: "Do you two still talk?!"

Sonic: "Me?"

Toon: "No idiot! I'm talkin' about Ness and his stupid clone."

Sonic: "Bro, calm your attitude."

Toon: "No! *Points at Ness* This motherfucker is siding with his clone! Nate has done terrible things to each of us by pretending to be Ness and we're just gonna let that slide? Hell no!"

Link: "Yes! Let it out, Toon!"

Sonic and Ness gave Link a look.

Ness: (What the fuck is…)

Sonic: (Wrong with that guy?)

Popo: "I dunno if this is ok, Link. I mean, things are gettin' pretty heated."

Link: "Bottling up your emotions is never a good thing. I did that for decades. Trust me, he needs this."

Popo: "Uh…"

Sonic: "Dude, what?"

Link looked passionate. Too passionate. This is getting intense.

Toon: "Ness answer my god damn question!"

Ness: "Ok, ok, yes. We've been talking."

Lucas: "Is it like everyday?"

Ness: "Y-yeah."

Lucas: "Oh. Um, h-has he said-

Toon: "Has he even mentioned us?! I doubt he feels bad for what he's done."

Ness: "He feels bad."

Toon: "Not enough to come tell us to our faces."

Ness: "He's dealing with a lot right now."

Toon: *Scoffs* "And we're not?"

Popo: "Well we are. That's why we're having brofessional therapy."

Toon: It was sarcasm."

Popo: "Oh shit. Haaahaaa."

Ness: "Look, I don't want to talk about this."

Link: "It's good to be honest with your friends, Ness."

Ness: "Clearly I'm uncomfortable. I thought therapy was supposed to be a comfortable space."

Link: "It is, but in order to be comfortable, first you must be uncomfortable."

Ness: "Ok? But the first session?!"

Link: "Yes. I like to rip the bandage off immediately."

Ness: "What kind of therapist are you?"

Link: "One that doesn't beat around the bush."

Toon: "You're ignorin' me!"

Ness: I'm not ignoring you, but also Toon, I don't want to talk about this right now."

Sonic: "Yeah, even I'm like this isn't ok."

Ness looked at Sonic and smiled. The only one on his side is him which is kinda weird, but he appreciated it.

Link: "I think this is growth."

Sonic: "Weren't we talkin' about Popo's depression? Why are we suddenly talkin' about the dude who isn't even here?"

Toon: "You don't know what Nate did to us. You weren't there. I really thought he was Ness. I genuinely thought Ness wanted to be my friend again."

Ness: "I'm still your friend! Nothing has changed."

Toon: "Everything has changed! You stopped hangin' out with me years ago."

Ness: "I'm sorry! But hey, I'm here now."

Toon: "Do you even want to be?"

Ness: "At first I didn't, but now I do."

Toon: "Now you do? *Shakes head* You're changin' the subject. Why hasn't Nate come back?"

Ness: "He wants to live his own life."

Sonic: "Bein' in the mansion is kind of a trauma fuel for him."

Ness: "He's hurt all of you and in his head he thinks you all hate him. That's probably the main reason why he's not here."

Lucas: ["I don't hate him…"]

Popo: "I mean I don't hate him, it's just… I do wish he would apologize to us."

Lucas: Is he ever planning on coming back?"

Ness: "I don't know."

Toon: "Trauma fuel for him? What about us? What he did to us was traumatizin'!"

Ness: "It's complicated ok!"

Popo: "This doesn't help Nate's case. Bro ditched us."

Ness: "I know, I know, look, I'm not him. I can't force him to come back."

Toon: "Fuck that guy."

Ness: "I know it's frustrating, but look at his point of view too."

Toon: "How can you say that? He took your life!"

Ness: "I know! But he didn't have a choice."

Toon: "He didn't have to lie to us."

Ness: "Yes, he did, otherwise he would've been killed."

Popo: "Killed?"

Ness: "It's really complicated. Can we talk about something else?"

Popo: "As much as I wanna know more, I think we should respect it."

Link: "It's been over an hour anyway."

Toon: "What? We're just gonna stop talkin' about it?"

Link: "For now. We'll pick this up again next session. But on the bright side I'd say progress has been made."

Ness: (Next session? Please no, this guy is terrible.)

Popo: "Thank you, Link. It was nice of you to help us."

Ness rolled his eyes.

Ness: (Yeah, sure. Lots of help.)

When Link left, the room was silent for a couple minutes.

Popo: "Uh, so that was somethin'."

Ness: "He was terrible. Why him?"

Popo: "He was the cheapest one."

Ness: "It shows."

Sonic: "Damn. Ness over here roastin' the guy."

Ness: "What? You know it's true."

Toon Link stood up and left. Ness went in after him.

Ness: "Toon, wait!"

Toon: "..."

Ness: "I know you're mad, but I want you to know that I'm not Nate. I'm me. I don't know what he did to you guys while I was gone, but I don't hate any of you. If I did, I wouldn't be here. I'd make up some lame excuse like I used to."

Toon: "…"

Ness: "I want to be here. In fact, I've noticed I've been happier since I've started coming here every Thursday. Sorry about that one day I flaked. I guess a part of me thinks that I wasn't important. You'd guys be fine and still have a good time."

Toon: "Mate, you were my first friend in smash. Of course you're important. I just don't wanna be lied to anymore. No more games."

Ness: "Of course. Sorry I didn't mention Nate. It's just-

Ness was interrupted when he heard Popo's door open. They both turned around and saw Lucas.

Lucas: "Are you guys ok?"

Ness: "Yeah, we're good."

Toon: "What were you gonna say?"

Ness: ["I'll text you about it. It's about Lucas and Nate."]

For once in his life Toon felt important. Ness is going to tell him about an issue. He hasn't heard his friend vent to him in a long time. He smiled and said, "you better text me."

Ness: "I will. I promise."

Ness and Toon Link went back to Popo's room and sat on the couch.

Popo: "You guys good?"

Ness and Toon Link smiled at each other.

Toon: "Yeah, we're good."

Lucas: "I'm glad. I was worried there for a sec."

Ness: "We're all good. Now can we talk about our 'therapist' for a minute."

Sonic: "Oh my god Link is an awful therapist."

Lucas: "Tell me about it."

Popo: "Sorry, guys, I didn't mean for it to be so weird."

Lucas: "Why didn't you tell us about this beforehand?"

Popo: "I wanted it to be a surprise. I thought it'd be good for us ya know. We all gots problems so I wanted us all to get closer by gettin' vulnerable."

Sonic: "I get where you're comin' from, but…"

Popo: "Don't worry, I won't do this again."

Sonic: "Honestly, it's not a bad idea."

Popo: "Really?"

Sonic: "I can tell it's because you care."

Popo: "I do. Ever since Nana has been gone, I've been strugglin'. Toon cheered me up. It made think about the group. I want us to get closer and thought by being vulnerable, nothing could destroy our bond like how Nana did with me."

Lucas: "That's so sweet of you."

Ness: "I had no idea you were struggling Popo. You always seemed so happy."

Popo: "There's a reason why I smoke so much."

Ness: "I'm so sorry."

Popo: "It's ok. That's why I wanted to do this."

Ness: "So, we're getting Link again next session?"

Popo: "No. He kinda sucked. I mean at first it was nice."

He smiled at Toon Link.

Popo: "Toon, I just wanna say, thanks for bein' my buddy."

Toon: "Of course. I'm here for you."

Popo: "Honestly thank you all for always comin' over every Thursday. It's been helpin' me lots."

Sonic: "No prob~" *Winks*

Ness: "We're here for you."

Lucas: "Mhm."

Popo: "Sorry that the session got all uncomfy."

Ness: "It was a good try. It's not your fault. Link just sucks because of his big ego."

Sonic: "Kinda like you."

Ness: "You have a big ego too!"

Sonic: "Not as big as yours."

Ness: "I'm pretty sure you're worse than I am. You love yourself so much."

Sonic: "Self-love ain't bad."

Ness: "It is when it's too much."

Sonic: "I don't love myself too much. That's you."

Ness: "I don't love myself at all."

Sonic: "Yup, that's why you're always arguing with me that you're better."

Ness: "It's a fact."

Sonic: "Yeah?"

Lucas: *Snickers*

Toon: "They're at it again."

Ness and Sonic looked at the group and let out a nervous chuckle.

Popo: "It's always you two."

Lucas: "They share the same brain cell."

Toon: "For real."

Sonic and Ness: "Haha…"

Popo: "Well anyway, I'm definitely gonna get a different therapist. It might take a while though. Most of them are booked and expensive."

Toon: "We can help you pay."

Sonic: "Yeah, if it's for all of us."

Ness: "Yeah ok."

Lucas: "I don't mind."

Popo: "I can't believe you guys wanna try this again."

Sonic: "I dunno, you seem passionate about it."

Ness: "If I'm being honest, I don't like it, but it's important to you so I'll attend."

Sonic: "It brings us closer."

Popo: "Guys… *Sniffs* Thanks."

Sonic and Toon Link gave Popo a group hug. Ness and Lucas awkwardly stood there.

Sonic: "Join the hug god dammit."

Ness and Lucas nervously chuckled. They went over to the group and joined the hug.

Ness: "Well, Lucas and I are going to head out. It's late."

Popo: "Yeah ok. See ya Broskiiiis."

Toon: "Hey, Ness."

Ness stopped and turned around to face Toon Link.

Ness: "Yeah?"

Toon: "I'm sorry that I've been getting angry at ya."

Ness: "Honestly, I don't blame you. I haven't been a good friend in the past and I'm trying to change that."

Toon: "I want us to go back to normal."

Ness: "We will."

Toon Link shook his head.

Toon: "No, I don't want it to go back to the way it was. I want this to be even better than before."

Popo took out a blunt and smoked it.

Popo: "Hell yeaaaah!"

Sonic: "I thought you were quittin'."

Popo: "I never said that. I said I smoked too much."

Lucas: "You're not planning on quitting?"

Popo: "Hell no. Weed is my life bro. Buuuut I do wanna slow down. Ya know, live life and not be high twenty four seven."

Toon: "I dunno, Mate. I don't think weed is good for you at all."

Popo: "It's fine. The only *coughs* problem is I smoke too much of it. My life has been on fast forward for years."

Lucas: "I think that's a reasonable goal."

Ness: "It's realistic."

Toon: "But I want you to stop. What if you get too carried away?"

Popo: "Bro, if I stop, I WILL break and get carried away."

Sonic: "It's true. Cold turkey ain't the answer."

Toon: "Not cold turkey, but ease into it."

Popo: "Nah, dude. I love bein' high. Trust me, right now I'm at my worst. That's why weed seems so bad."

Sonic: "I smoke occasionally. It's not that bad."

Lucas: "I never would've thought you smoked, Sonic."

Sonic: "I don't do it a lot."

Popo: "I mean look at him, he looks like a fellow smoker. Haahaa!" *Coughs*

Sonic: "I do?"

Lucas: "Not to me."

Popo: "But yeah, I ain't gonna change much, but I will try to smoke less."

Toon: "As long as you're ok, I'm ok with it."

Popo: "Thank you, Toon. Sorry that you guys had to see the not so fun side of me."

Lucas: "You don't always have to be the fun one."

Ness: "Lucas is right. I like that we got to see the 'happy' guy finally show his true feelings."

Popo: *Takes a hit* "I dunno, I feel like I'm supposed to always be the high happy funny guy all the time otherwise I'm not Popo."

Sonic: "Not with us. We ain't goin anywhere. Plus you got a nice place. I like kickin' it here."

Lucas: "It is cozy."

Popo: "Really?"

Lucas: "I think so."

Popo: "Nah, this place is messy."

Ness: "In a homey way."

Toon: "It's not even messy."

Popo: "Don't check my kitchen."

Sonic ran to the kitchen and immediately ran back.

Sonic: "Ok, so his kitchen might not be as homey."

Popo: "Seee. I'm a lazy bum, but I think that's because I'm depressed."

Toon: "I'll help you clean it tomorrow."

Popo: "Aww, you're coming over tomorrow?"

Toon: "Of course I am. I'm probably gonna be here almost everyday."

Sonic: "That's a dedicated friend right there."

Ness: (I'm glad they at least have each other.)

Sonic: "Anyway, I'm gonna catch some Z's. See ya."

With that Sonic ran past Ness and Lucas. It caused both boys to almost lose their balance. Looks like that pesky hedgehog got his revenge from earlier.

Ness: "That damn hedgehog."

Lucas: *Snickers* "You kinda sound like the bad guy in his game."

Ness: "Dr. Eggman?"

Lucas: "Yeah, him."

Ness: "Eww! No way."

Popo: "I mean the way you talk about Sonic does make you sound like Dr. Eggman."

Ness: "Dr. Eggman is stupid. I'm not dumb."

Toon: "No, but you two got some sort of hate boner toward the guy."

Ness: "Eww! No!"

Toon: "Not that kind of boner."

Popo: "I mean…"

Ness: "Stop. No, you know what, I'm done. Let's go, Lucas."

Lucas: "Haha~ Bye guys."

Ness and Lucas left. Popo turned to Toon Link and gave him a confused look.

Popo: "Are you stayin'?"

Toon: "If that's ok with you."

Popo: "Of course it is, Broskii."

Toon: "I wonder if people are gonna think we're datin' like how people think Ness and Lucas are."

Popo: "Who cares."

Toon: "You're right, but I just don't want the smashers teasin' me about it."

Popo: "They tease Ness and that never stops him from being alone with Lucas."

Toon: "I have a feeling that he secretly does like Lucas."

Popo: "Now you're thinkin' like the other smashers."

Toon: "Oh no, people are definitely gonna think we're datin'."

Popo: "Eh, let em. We both know that we're just friends."

Toon: "You're right, sorry. It's just… I'm not used to that kind of attention."

Popo: "Nah that's when you make it not fun by goin' with it."

Toon: "You're immune to gettin' bullied I swear."

Popo: "Just gotta be chill."

Toon: "I dunno how you do it."

Popo: "Weed."

The two shared a laugh. Toon Link went back to his place to grab a sleeping bag. The two started chatting up a storm until eventually sleep took them.