Estimated Reading Time: 20 Minute

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Shy Blonde

Ness sat hunched over his desk, fingers flying across the keyboard as he and Nate queued up for another game of League of Legends. The glow of his monitor lit up his face, reflecting the animated battlefield as champions clashed in a chaotic frenzy.

For once, Ness's usual scowl was replaced with a calm, focused expression. Even as the chat box filled with flames from his team—angry red pings and sarcastic comments—he didn't bother responding. He just muted the chat and kept playing, his lips twitching in a faint smile when he outplayed the enemy jungler.

[- Ness

Discord

On Call

Nate: "Whoa, what's with your upbeat attitude?"

Ness: "What do you mean?"

Nate: "You're like happy or some shit."

Ness: "I've been doing some thinking, and you're right, I've been toxic in the past. I'm trying to calm down."

Nate: "Where's Ness and what'd you do with him?"

Ness: "Ha ha very funny."

Nate: "Wow, I didn't think you'd ever change."

Ness: "Yeah, well, I'm tired of being angry over a game."

Nate: "That's very mature of you. I'm proud."

Ness: "Don't patronize me."

Nate: "Whaaat. I mean it."

Ness: "Oh! Going top."

Nate: "Oh shit, ok!"

…

The two kept playing, match after match, and with Ness's newfound calm energy setting the tone, they found themselves dominating the competition. Each game flowed effortlessly, their teamwork sharper than ever. By the time the night was over, they had strung together an impressive streak, winning five games in a row with ease.

Creeaaaak

Ness flinched slightly at the sound of his door creaking open, his focus momentarily breaking from the game. His first thought was that it must be Sonic, but when he glanced over his shoulder, he saw Lucas standing in the doorway instead.

Makes sense, Ness thought with a quiet chuckle to himself. Sonic never enters my room through the front door. He couldn't help but laugh internally at how ridiculous that realization was, shaking his head as he refocused on the game.

Lucas, noticing that Ness had his headphones on and was fully immersed in his match, gave him a quick thumbs-up—a silent way of saying, Don't worry, I get it. Keep doing your thing. The blonde stepped inside with practiced ease, removing his shoes and placing them neatly on the shoe rack by the wall. Every movement was careful, almost routine, as if he were trying not to disturb the fragile calm of the room.

Without a word, Lucas made his way over to Ness's bed, pulling out his laptop from his bag. He propped himself up comfortably against the headboard, the faint glow of the screen illuminating his face as he navigated to a streaming site. Within moments, the quiet hum of a TV show filled the room, blending seamlessly with the faint clicks of Ness's keyboard and the distant sounds of in-game battles leaking from his headphones.

[- Ness

Discord

On Call

Nate: "Those were good games."

Ness: "They were!"

Nate: "But I think I'm done for now."

Ness: "No worries. Lucas just popped into my room, so I'm going to spend some time with him."

Nate: "Oh, y-yeah, ok. Well, I'll leave you two alone. Anyway, let's play tomorrow. I love youuu~"

Ness: "Y-yeah, me too. See ya."

…

After finishing his game, Ness leaned back in his chair with a satisfied sigh. He slid his headphones off, letting them rest around his neck as the sounds of the room came into sharper focus. The quiet murmur of Lucas's TV show played in the background, creating a comforting atmosphere that contrasted with the intensity of his recent matches.

Feeling a sudden need to unwind, Ness pushed himself out of his gaming chair and crossed the room. His feet padded softly against the floor as he approached the bed where Lucas was propped up with his laptop. Without a word, Ness plopped down beside him, the mattress dipping slightly under his weight.

"What're you watching?" Ness asked casually, leaning over just enough to catch a glimpse of the screen.

Lucas: "Infinity Stage."

Ness: "What's that about?"

Lucas: "You're actually interested?"

Ness: "I mean it looks fun."

Lucas: "Alex from Minecraft plays this girl name Tulip. She gets trapped in a stage that stretches on forever. Each portal just leads to a new stage. She eventually parties with R.O.B and Duck Hunt to figure out the mysteries of the infinity stage. It's pretty cool so far."

Ness: "Ok, fine, I'm interested. Go back to episode one."

Lucas: "Really?"

Ness: "Yeah. Restart it."

Lucas blinked in surprise, glancing sideways at Ness. It wasn't like him to take an interest in the kinds of shows Lucas enjoyed—lighthearted cartoons with quirky humor and a slow going plot. Ness was usually all about anime, diving deep into intense story arcs and epic battles.

Still, Lucas couldn't help but grin as he processed the unexpected shift. He paused the episode he was watching, navigating back to the main menu with a few quick clicks restarting the show back to episode one.

The next two hours slipped by effortlessly as the two settled into the show. Lucas was thrilled to see Ness engaged—laughing at the clever jokes and leaning forward during the more heartfelt moments.

It wasn't a long series, but it packed a punch. By the time they reached the final episode, the room felt quieter, almost reflective. The credits rolled, their cheerful theme song playing softly in the background, leaving the duo in a comfortable silence.

"That was... actually pretty good," Ness admitted, breaking the quiet as he rubbed the back of his neck. "Though the ending was kinda meh. I didn't care much for the conductor."

Lucas: "Yeah, that part was kinda lame."

Ness: "Besides that though, it was intense. I liked it."

Lucas: "I'm so glad. I have more shows like these if you're ever interested."

Ness: "I am! I'm so in the mood to watch more."

Lucas: "R-really? Right now?"

Ness: "Yes! Wait, but first, let's go to the convenience store. I want snacks."

Lucas: "Ok!"

Ness: "Lucky, guard the room."

Lucky: "Espii." (Sure, whatever.)

Feeling restless after their marathon viewing session, the two decided to head out for a late-night snack run. The cool night air greeted them as they stepped outside. They walked side by side, their casual conversation sometimes interrupted by the occasional sound of crickets and frogs.

When they arrived at the small convenience store on the corner, Ness immediately made a beeline for the snack aisle. His eyes scanned the shelves until they landed on a bag of buttery popcorn. He grabbed it, tossing it into the basket Lucas was holding, before wandering over to the fresh hotdog section grabbing two for himself.

Lucas, meanwhile, lingered in the candy aisle. He carefully picked out a few chocolate bars and a bag of sour gummies, smiling as he thought about how good they'd taste later. As they made their way to the frozen section, a tub of strawberry ice cream caught his eye. Without hesitation, he added it to the basket, its frosty surface already starting to cool his fingertips.

Ness: "You and your sweets."

Lucas: "I'm a sweet boy."

Ness: "Tch! Yeah, sure. Your taste in food doesn't match your personality at all."

Lucas: "Yours sure do."

Ness: "Are you saying I'm salty?"

Lucas: "Yep."

Ness: "I'm not salty."

Lucas: "You're definitely not sweet."

Ness: *Scoffs* "I am too! [when I want to be..."]

Lucas: "Which is never."

Ness: "It's all the time! What're you talking about?"

Lucas: "You're being salty right now."

Ness: "I… S-shut up."

Lucas: "Hahaha!"

The two made it back to Ness's place, the soft glow of the porch light guiding their way. As they stepped inside, Lucky trotted up to them with his tail swaying happily. He greeted them by weaving between their legs, his soft fur brushing against their jeans.

Lucas's face lit up as he bent down to pet the affectionate Pokémon, running his fingers through Lucky's silky coat. "Hey there, buddy," he said, his voice warm and gentle. Lucky purred in response, leaning into his touch.

Meanwhile, Ness strolled past them, heading straight for his microwave. The sound of rustling bags and the microwave humming soon filled the air as he popped the popcorn and prepared their snacks. Lucas stayed crouched for a moment longer, scratching behind Lucky's ears, before finally climbing on the bed.

Once everything was ready, Ness soon joined him. The big screen mounted on the wall flickered to life, lighting up the room as Lucas queued up another cartoon he loved. The two leaned against a pile of pillows, sharing a bowl of popcorn while the show played.

Every now and then, Lucas found his gaze drifting away from the screen. His eyes lingered on Ness's profile—the sharp yet soft angle of his jawline, the curve of his lips, the way his dark hair fell slightly over his eyes. God, he's so handsome. Lucas's chest tightened, and he felt a flush creep up his neck, spreading to his cheeks.

He tried to focus on the show, but his mind wandered. He imagined the two of them cuddling under the blankets, Ness's arm wrapped protectively around him. The thought made his heart race, and he had to fight back the overwhelming urge to reach out, to grab Ness's arm and rest his head on his shoulder.

Instead, Lucas stayed frozen in place, hands gripping the edge of the popcorn bowl a little too tightly. His eyes darted back to the screen, determined to act normal.

Ness: "Hahaha! Ok, that was a good joke."

Lucas: "My humor is comedy gold."

Ness: "Your humor is awful."

Lucas: "Yep. That's why you're laughing."

Ness: *Snickers* "Oh hush you."

After bingeing through countless more episodes, Lucas finally called it quits. He stretched his arms above his head, his joints popping softly as he let out a long, exaggerated yawn. "Sorry, Ness," he said, his voice heavy with sleep, "I can't keep going—I'm too sleepy now."

He sank back into the pillows for a moment, rubbing at his eyes with the heel of his palm as the weight of exhaustion settled over him.

Ness: "Whaaat!"

Lucas: "Yeah, sorry."

Ness: "Ffffine. We'll stop."

Lucas: "I'm glad you like it though."

Ness: "Me too. I'm surprised I do."

Lucas: "Same here. Oh, uh, is it ok if I sleep over?"

Ness: "Of course!"

Lucas: "Thanks. I'm just tired ya know."

Ness: "I get it. Plus I miss our sleepovers."

Lucas: "Same."

Ness: "Oh, uh—I do have something to tell you though."

Lucas: "What's that?"

Ness: "I uh—I like to cuddle people in my sleep…"

Lucas: "!"

He knows, Lucas thought, a cold knot forming in his stomach. He's probably going to ask if we can sleep separately.

The thought crashed into him like a wave, pulling all the warmth out of the room. It wasn't just the words Lucas feared—it was the finality of it, the way it would break the fragile bubble they'd created. The warmth of Ness's body against his side, the softness of his breath against his skin, all of it would vanish.

I knew this day would come, Lucas continued, his mind sinking deeper into that bitter truth. He had always known this wasn't something they could keep up forever. It was wrong to let Ness cuddle him without his consent, to take solace in that closeness when it wasn't something they had ever talked about. But... It felt so nice. It felt like—at the moment, they were more than just friends.

Ness: "Y-yeah, sorry. I didn't know I did that."

Lucas: "Really? N-neither did I…"

Ness glanced over at Lucas, noticing the subtle shift in his body language. The blonde had stiffened just slightly, his shoulders tense, and there was a slight unease in the way he fidgeted with his hands in his lap. Ness could see how uncomfortable he looked, and it made this whole situation awkward.

He always falls asleep before me, Ness thought, a knot forming in his stomach. That must be it. He didn't even know what I was doing. Ness had a toxic thought before, that maybe Lucas did know, but didn't say anything because he liked it. Then again, looking at his face now, said otherwise. Clearly he wasn't happy that Ness had been doing that while they slept together. Crush or not, at the end of the day Ness still crossed the blonde's boundaries.

Ness: "I'm sorry…"

Lucas: "H-how do you know you do that for certain?"

Ness: "Sonic."

Lucas: "What?"

Ness: "Lately Sonic's been breaking into my room without my consent. He refuses to leave and we end up having a sleepover almost every night now. I found out from him that I cuddle people in my sleep. You can imagine how awkward that was."

Lucas: "You guys sleep over all the time?"

Ness: "Without my consent mind you. He won't leave."

Lucas: "You can just use your psychic powers to kick him out."

Ness: "No. He'll break my window."

Lucas: "You gotta tell him that he's being creepy."

Ness: "I have! He doesn't care about my feelings."

Lucas: "He's… Weird…"

Ness: "Yeah. He's a freak who loves breaking into people's houses."

Lucas: "He does this to others too?"

Ness: "Uh…"

Ness couldn't help but recall the chaotic memory that had somehow stuck with him—one that still made him cringe every time he thought about it. The time when Sonic had broken into Lucas's room. They'd spent an agonizing hour and a half, hiding in the blonde's closet.

Ness shuddered at the thought, the awkwardness of that cramped closet still making his skin crawl. The smell of Sonic's awful body odor had been overwhelming, thick and stale, clinging to the air in the tiny space. Sonic had never been known for his cleanliness, but in that moment, the pungent scent felt like it was suffocating him.

Though, as awkward as the situation had been, Ness couldn't deny that Sonic's fur had felt unexpectedly plush against his skin. But that was far from enough to redeem the whole experience. The cramped closet, the fear of being caught, the vulnerability they shared—it was a nightmare he was desperate to forget.

The memory of Lucas's toy box didn't help. The toy box, hidden in the corner of his room, had been full of strange sex toys that made Ness realize how much of a freak Lucas is.

The worst part, though, had been the panic attack. The pressure of the cramped space, the constant fear of Lucas discovering them, and losing his best friend was the worst feeling he'd experience; besides being trapped in a cave for eight months of course.

I can never tell Lucas about that, Ness thought with a tight frown. He ran a hand through his hair, feeling the flush of guilt creeping up his neck. If I told him about that, it would be game over. I'd lose my best friend in an instant. He'd never look at me the same way again.

Ness: "No, he only does this to me."

Lucas: "Haha! He's like a stray cat."

Ness: "Great. I have two cats now. And one of them is smelly and gross."

Lucas: "You were born to be a crazy cat lady."

Ness: "Never would've thought."

Lucas: "Well, um, d-did you want me to go to my place and get a sleeping bag? I have one."

Ness: "Since when?"

Lucas: "I bought one for our camping trip that one time."

Ness: "Right. I forgot."

Lucas: "Did you want me to?"

Ness: "It's up to you. I… I just wanted to let you know that I do that. A-and I'm sorry that I… Well—touched you in your sleep. Wait! I didn't mean to say it like that, haha… But you get the idea."

Lucas: "I understand."

Ness: "Y-you're not mad?"

Lucas: "No."

Ness: "Oh, I thought you were because you seemed uncomfortable."

Lucas: "I… *bites lip* I should get the sleeping bag."

Ness: "R-right, ok."

Lucas walked back to his room, the weight of the evening settling heavily on his shoulders. As soon as he stepped inside, he let out a long, deep sigh.

He moved toward the closet, eyes scanning the familiar clutter before he grabbed his sleeping bag. The fabric felt colder than usual in his hands, and he couldn't help but notice how the simple act of pulling it out felt like a subtle, almost silent acknowledgment that things were different now.

Walking back to Ness's room, Lucas felt the weight of the night press in on him with each step. When he finally reached the door, he hesitated, his hand resting on the knob for a moment longer than necessary. Taking a deep breath, he pushed the door open, the familiar warmth of Ness's room greeting him.

Ness: "Oh hey!"

Lucas: "Hi…"

Ness: "Um..."

Lucas: "Yes?"

Ness: "I... Uh, yeah goodnight."

Lucas knelt beside the bed, quietly spreading out his sleeping bag on the floor. Once settled inside, he closed his eyes, but the emptiness of the room weighed on him. It felt lonely.