Estimated Reading Time: 25 Minutes

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Shy Blonde

The air seemed to leave Ness's lungs as he stared at the name on the screen. With a sinking feeling, he swiped Twitter away, his thumb hesitating before pulling up his call log.

There it was—multiple missed calls from Lucas, each one a dagger of dread. Ness's chest tightened, and his stomach churned. No, no, no. He saw it. He totally saw it.

His thoughts spiraled as his eyes darted back to the photos burned into his memory. To anyone else, it was just a scandalous story unfolding on social media. But to Lucas, his best friend—someone who knew him better than most—this could be a devastating betrayal if misunderstood.

Riley: "So you finally saw it, huh?"

Ness: "I didn't—! S-Snake took these photos and videos out of context! I wasn't trying to be a pig at all."

Kip: "Tch! Now you're lyin'."

Tina: "Guys… Stop…"

Riley: "Shh, just rest, darlin'."

Kip: "You're causing a scene, dude. Get out. We'll take care of her."

Ness clenched his fists, the urge to snap back at Riley and Kip gnawing at him. He wanted to shout that he didn't trust them to take care of Tina, but deep down, he saw the concern etched on their faces. Despite their chaotic entrance, they genuinely seemed worried about her.

His shoulders sagged as he let out a heavy sigh, the weight of the night pressing down on him. Tina was fine. He cured her poisoning and Riley and Kip were there to watch her.

There were bigger issues to handle, and right now. Lucas was at the top of that list. Ness needed to find him and set the record straight before the situation spiraled any further out of control.

With one last glance at Tina, peacefully lying on her bed, Ness turned on his heel. His steps were determined as he made his way to the door, pulling it shut behind him with a soft click.

A determined fire ignited in his chest as he set off on his new mission: finding Lucas and clearing his name.

Earlier that day, Lucas's side of the story…

As Lucas stepped into his room, he let out a long sigh, shutting the door behind him with a quiet click. The air felt heavier here, quieter, as if the room itself could sense his awkwardness from earlier. Gee, being with Sonic alone sure is awkward, he thought, running a hand through his blond hair. Then again, I could've said more to keep the conversation going.

His chest tightened at the memory. Sonic's lively energy had filled the space between them, but Lucas couldn't bring himself to match it. Every word that had passed his lips had felt forced, clumsy. God, why am I so awkward?

He dropped to the floor with a soft thud, plopping onto the round, padded cushion he kept near his low coffee table. For a moment, he just sat there, elbows propped on the table, his chin resting in his hands as his gaze lingered on his game console. The silence around him was almost suffocating. Finally, he grabbed the controller and powered it on, letting the familiar chime of the system fill the void.

Instead of something intense like Street Fighter, he navigated to Animal Crossing. The gentle, cheerful music that greeted him was like a balm to his nerves. He needed this—a calm escape, a way to distract himself from the tangled mess of emotions he didn't know how to untangle.

As he guided his villager to water flowers and catch fish, his thoughts drifted, as they often did. The brunet had been practically glowing with energy earlier, grinning from ear to ear and bouncing on his heels like a kid who'd just eaten too much sugar.

Why was he so cheery? Lucas wondered, tapping buttons absentmindedly. Ness's mood had been infectious, but it also left Lucas unsettled. He couldn't help but think back to the way Ness had been laughing and what was up with Sonic? The blue hedgehog always seems to be around him lately.

A sharp pang twisted in Lucas's chest. Are they hanging out more than Ness and I do? The thought made him pause, his thumb hovering over the joystick. His villager stood motionless on the screen, staring at the riverbank, forgotten.

Is Sonic slowly replacing me? The question hit him like a blow, and he quickly shook his head, as if to dislodge the thought. "No," he murmured under his breath, his voice barely audible in the quiet room. Sonic is just overly friendly. That's all. Ness wouldn't… Ness couldn't choose Sonic over me.

He set the controller down and leaned back, staring at the ceiling. The familiar shadows of his room were a comfort, but they couldn't chase away the unease building in his chest. Ness and I are too close for anyone to get in-between us.

Even as he thought it, he couldn't shake the tiny seed of doubt. It sat there, buried deep, gnawing at the edges of his mind.

The toxic thoughts clung to Lucas, swirling in his mind like a storm he couldn't escape. With a frustrated sigh, he set the controller down and pushed himself off the cushion. Sitting in his room, stewing in his own thoughts, wasn't helping.

He grabbed his jean jacket from the back of a chair and slipped it on, the denim fabric offering a small comfort. His sneakers squeaked faintly against the wooden floor as he left his room and stepped into the dimly lit hallway of the mansion. The stillness of the place was almost eerie, but Lucas welcomed it—it was better than facing anyone right now.

The cool night air hit him as he stepped outside, instantly grounding him. He stuffed his hands into his pockets and began walking with no particular destination in mind. His feet carried him toward the outside mall, a place he always seemed to end up when his mind felt cluttered. The familiar sound of footsteps on concrete and faint chatter in the distance was oddly soothing.

Even though it was late, the area was still lively with smashers and spirits milling about. A few were gathered around shop windows, while others enjoyed the warm glow of café lights spilling out onto the pavement. Lucas's eyes wandered, catching sight of someone walking an Espeon. The Pokémon's sleek fur glistened under the streetlights, its forked tail swaying gracefully with each step.

The sight immediately made him think of Ness and Lucky. He hesitated for a moment before pulling his phone from his pocket. His thumb hovered over Ness's name before he tapped it, holding the phone to his ear.

[- Ness

Calling Ness…

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.

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"The person you are trying to call did not pick up, please leave a-

Click!

"He's probably busy," Lucas murmured, slipping the phone back into his pocket. He tried to shrug off the pang of disappointment, but it clung to him like a shadow.

As he walked further, he found an empty bench tucked beneath a tall lamppost. He sank onto it, leaning back against the cool metal as he let out a long breath. The world around him buzzed faintly with life, but Lucas felt like he was watching it all from behind a pane of glass.

He pulled out his phone again, this time opening up social media. Scrolling aimlessly through posts and photos, he let the glow of the screen pull him away from his surroundings, if only for a little while.

Lucas's thumb paused as it scrolled through his social media feed. His eyes caught something that stopped his heart for a beat—a series of posts by Snake.

At first, it was just an image, one that made Lucas's stomach twist uncomfortably. It was a photo of Ness, his face pressed against Robin's chest. It looked... wrong. Lucas's chest tightened as he moved to the next post, his pulse quickening.

Then came a video. Ness was arguing with Mythra, but the music blared so loudly in the background that Lucas could barely make out the words.

The video shifted suddenly, and Lucas's heart skipped as he watched Mythra stumble, then fall. Ness simply rolled his eyes and walked away from her. He ducked into the bathroom, and moments later, Tina ran out, her expression wild.

Lucas froze. He watched in disbelief as Ness followed Tina, chasing her, his steps quick and purposeful.

He couldn't breathe. What... what is this? Lucas thought, his mind spinning. Ness never mentioned anything about being at a party with Tina. It was like he had a whole other life—one he hadn't shared.

His fingers trembled as they gripped his phone. Was he drunk when he did all this? The question stabbed at him. Sometimes people do things they desperately want to do when they're drunk. He could almost hear his own voice in his head, the doubt creeping in. But he never drinks...

Could it be true? Was Ness really like this?

Lucas couldn't hold the phone still anymore. His thoughts spiraled into a frenzy of confusion and hurt. He didn't believe the wild rumors about Ness—about him sleeping with half the roster. That was a ridiculous joke, one that he laughed off every time it came up. But this? These videos? It was different.

Or was it? This could all be taken out of context or edited. However, Snake did have a good reputation for not faking his videos. At this moment, Lucas couldn't think straight. Probably because he's gay.

Lucas stood up from the bench, his mind still racing, and searched for a place to escape. His eyes landed on the familiar sign: Raven's Coven. Without thinking, he walked toward the entrance and stepped inside.

The tavern's usual gloomy atmosphere greeted him, but tonight, it felt less intimidating. The low murmur of conversations, the clink of glasses, and the faint scent of incense filled the air, offering a sense of comfort. The dim lighting, casting soft shadows on the walls, made the place feel oddly calming.

Lucas slid onto a barstool, his elbows resting on the cool counter as he scanned the room for the familiar face of the Dark Angel. His eyes wandered through the dim lighting, not spotting him right away. Then, from the corner of his eye, he saw Dark Pit returning from what looked like a break.

As if drawn by some unspoken force, their gazes locked across the room. Lucas's breath hitched, his heart skipping a beat as he took in the sight of Dark Pit's maroon eyes gleaming under the soft lights. It was like the world around them faded for a moment, and all Lucas could focus on was the intense, almost magnetic pull between them.

"Oh, hey, didn't expect to see you here again," Dark Pit walked over to him, leaning his elbows on the counter as well.

Lucas: (H-he's closer now!) "Y-yeah, the place is nice."

Dark Pit: "I'm surprised. Last time you were here those two chicks were botherin' ya."

Lucas: "I-I suppose…"

Dark Pit: "Well, glad to see you back I guess. Need a drink?"

Lucas: "Maybe one."

Dark Pit: "Anything specific?"

Lucas: "Give me your favorite."

Dark Pit: "My favorite, huh? Heh, ok."

Lucas watched, mesmerized, as Dark Pit began expertly mixing the cocktail. His hands moved with fluid precision, flipping the bottles and shaking them with a practiced ease that made the whole process look effortless. It was like watching a hibachi chef at work, but instead of sizzling food, it was fucking liquid!

Dark Pit finished his routine with one final, flawless trick, sending the cocktail sliding effortlessly across the bar. The glass came to a smooth stop in front of Lucas, its deep cherry red hue glistening under the dim lights, the sugar rim sparkling as if beckoning him to take a sip.

"Enjoy," Dark Pit said, his voice cool and sharp, with a hint of something dismissive in his tone. His eyes met Lucas's for a brief moment before he turned away, wiping his hands on a towel with practiced indifference.

Lucas took a slow sip of the cocktail, the bitter flavor hitting his tongue first, followed by the subtle sweetness from the sugar rim. It wasn't exactly his favorite taste, but there was something oddly refreshing about it, a complexity that made it interesting. The drink itself was a work of art—its deep cherry color, the way the liquid shimmered in the glass—it was almost too beautiful to drink.

Once Lucas finished the drink, he slid the empty glass back toward Dark Pit, his fingers brushing the smooth surface of the counter. Without missing a beat, he asked for another. This time, his favorite: a strawberry banana cocktail.

As the familiar fruity taste hit his tongue, a smile tugged at the corners of Lucas's lips. He drank it eagerly, savoring the sweet, refreshing flavor. One sip turned into another, then another, until he found himself leaning forward, asking for yet another.

"One more," he urged with a grin, feeling the warm buzz spreading through him.

But after the fourth drink, Dark Pit's patience seemed to wear thin. "That's enough," he said, his tone firm. "No more."

Lucas blinked, taken aback, but nodded, feeling the alcohol's effect settle in, leaving him a little lightheaded and carefree. "Yeah ok…"

Dark Pit raised a brow, his sharp gaze lingering on Lucas for a moment longer than usual. He knew he shouldn't be so focused on the blonde, especially with other customers waiting, but there was something about him—something that nagged at the back of his mind.

It wasn't just the way Lucas eagerly drank each cocktail or kept asking for more. Usually, the blonde was so reserved, keeping to himself in the corner of the room. Dark Pit couldn't picture Lucas as the type to drink, especially by himself. He seemed so different tonight—more carefree, yet oddly distant. Something was clearly bothering him.

Dark Pit's brow furrowed as he turned his attention away from Lucas, grabbing a towel and methodically drying wine glasses. The clink of glass and low hum of conversation filled the air, but one particular topic caught his ear. He overheard snippets of a conversation between two customers about the 'Ness Allegations.'

"...Chased her out of the bathroom... making women uncomfortable..." one of them said, their voice filled with judgment.

Dark Pit's hands froze for a moment, the towel still in his grip. The words hit him harder than expected. Ness? Making women uncomfortable? The boy was always so innocent-looking, so earnest. That didn't sound like him at all. Yet, Dark Pit couldn't deny it. He didn't know the psychic well enough to say for sure, but it didn't sit right with him.

What did sit right, however, was how close Ness and Lucas were. Everyone knew that. They were practically inseparable. So why was Lucas here alone, looking so withdrawn and lost in his thoughts? His absence only deepened Dark Pit's suspicions about what had gone down tonight, raising a tangle of questions in his mind. Is Ness really the creepy type?

Dark Pit set the glass down with a soft clink and, sensing the lull in his work, made his way over to Lucas. The other customers were deep in their conversations, leaving him with a rare moment of quiet.

He stood there for a moment, watching Lucas from a distance before speaking. "Hey," Dark Pit said, his voice casual but laced with a hint of concern.

Lucas looked up, blinking in surprise. His eyes widened as he hesitated, and then, with an awkward motion, he pointed at himself. "Y-yes?"

"Uh…" Dark Pit scratched behind his ear. "I'm not really good at this, but I've noticed you seem off."

Lucas: "I do?"

Dark Pit: "You don't strike me as the drinking type."

Lucas: "I drink from time to time."

Dark Pit: "Ah, sorry, I didn't mean to assume."

Lucas: "You're good."

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Lucas: "Can I vent?"

Dark Pit: "Sure."

Lucas felt a strange wave of warmth spread through him, a mix of the alcohol and something else he couldn't quite name. Normally, he would never talk about his problems—especially not to someone like Dark Pit, a stranger of sorts. Not even Ness, his closest friend, had ever been let in on everything that weighed on his mind. But tonight, everything felt different. The alcohol had loosened his tongue, and, for the first time in what felt like forever, he felt the strange urge to be vulnerable.

Lucas: "It's about my best friend, Ness."

Dark Pit: "I figured."

Lucas: "Today I saw a post about him from Snake. From the angels it was taken, it looked like Ness was being a total perv to the women in the party."

Dark Pit: "That's what I heard not too long ago."

Lucas: "D-do you think… *sobs* he's actually like that?"

Dark Pit: "Not sure. I dunno the guy."

Lucas: "He wouldn't do that, right? I've known him for over a decade and he's never done anything like this before. He doesn't even like going to parties. But I've noticed something about him. After the terrible incident with Mario, Ness has been acting differently. Like it's not really him."

Dark Pit: "How so?"

Lucas: "He's still him, but he's becoming more outgoing."

Dark Pit: "Isn't that a good thing?"

Lucas: "Yes, but it sort of came out of nowhere. He says it's because he realized how much of a dick he was before and he's trying to improve himself. Which I'm proud for making that realization, but it's just not like him to start hanging out with other people. Especially when I'm not around. We always go places together. He's never once gone somewhere without me."

Dark Pit: "He didn't even tell you about the party?"

Lucas: "No! I'm so confused! Why's he doing this? Also I just learned that he's been having sleepovers with Sonic almost everyday now. He doesn't even ask me if I wanna join or anything. We used to have sleepovers all the time!"

Dark Pit: "Yikes…"

Lucas: "I feel like he's getting bored of me, now that he realizes he can make other friends."

Dark Pit: "I don't think that's true. He's probably just excited."

Lucas: "I dunno. I feel betrayed. I feel scared and lonely! He's been hanging out with Sonic more than me. I know he's been hanging out with Leaf who has an obvious crush on him, and the one that terrifies me the most is Tina."

Dark Pit: "Who's Tina?"

Lucas: "She's one of the inklings."

Dark Pit: "He's been hanging out with an inkling?"

Lucas: "It's so random. It came out of nowhere. And seeing the video where he chased her out of the bathroom is so suspicious. I have this terrible feeling that he secretly has a crush on her."

Dark Pit: "Do you have feelings for him?"

Lucas: "I… N-no, but… once he gets a girlfriend, he'll forget about me completely."

Dark Pit: "I see."

Lucas: "I'm just so scared, Dark Pit. I mean I've always sort of had doubts about our friendship, but now it's becoming more clear each day."

Dark Pit: "You two are slowly drifting apart?"

Lucas: "Yes! I can see it, but I don't think Ness realizes it."

Dark Pit watched in silence as Lucas's composure finally cracked. The tears came out of nowhere, streaming down his face in a rush that seemed to surprise even him. He was a mess—shaking, vulnerable, completely undone in front of someone he barely knew. Dark Pit stood frozen, unsure of how to react. His instinct was to step back, to give Lucas space, but he couldn't. The moment felt too raw, too real to just walk away.

He shifted awkwardly, his usual sharp and dismissive demeanor slipping away as he fumbled with his thoughts. He wasn't the type to offer comforting words. He wasn't even good at it.

Dark Pit's blunt nature usually drove people away. He preferred to keep to himself, maintaining a small circle of people he trusted—namely Pit, who, with his endless optimism, somehow managed to pull Dark Pit out of his shell whenever he needed it most.

But right now, there was no Pit to lighten the mood, no distraction to pull Lucas away from the painful moment. Dark Pit's thoughts flickered briefly to Ness. The psychic looked innocent and endearing but there was something off about him. He seemed like the selfish type. Looking at Lucas's state, Dark Pit wasn't about to make it worse by adding his own sharp opinions on Ness.

So, he did what he knew best: he stayed quiet. He stood there, his arms crossed loosely, watching Lucas's tearful outburst in silence, letting the words flow without interference. Sometimes, the best thing he could offer was the space to be heard.

As Lucas's tears continued to fall, muffling his words against the counter, the steady hum of the tavern seemed to fade into the background. Just as the weight of the moment threatened to become unbearable, a voice cut through the silence.

"Your shift is almost over. I can take it from here."

It was Metaknight, his voice low and steady, with a tone that brooked no argument. Dark Pit glanced at the clock on the wall, suddenly realizing how much time had passed. The hours had slipped by unnoticed, and now it was clear his shift had come to an end. He nodded silently, grateful for the excuse to step away, and without another word, he moved away from the counter.

Back in the staff room, Dark Pit quickly gathered his things. The process felt almost mechanical. He changed out of his bartender uniform and into his toga, the fabric flowing around him like a familiar shield.

After a brief pause, he walked back toward the bar, he wanted to just leave, but his eyes caught the blonde still sitting on the stool with his head buried in his arms. He tried to convince himself to ignore it and leave, but his legs moved on their own. He tapped Lucas lightly on the shoulder from behind.

Lucas jumped, startled by the sudden contact, and when he turned around, his tear-streaked face met Dark Pit's gaze. The blonde's eyes were red and swollen, his expression a fragile mix of surprise and exhaustion. Dark Pit took a small step back, giving him space, but his eyes softened ever so slightly.

"Would you like me to walk you back home?"