Chapter Text
Pike and his team had another successful day of adventuring. They had saved a village from stone golem and were now reaping the rewards. Block was off helping prepare a feast with the villagers, Meklavar had tracked down a lead on the Jewel of Jitan, Valayun was looking for a better bow for herself, and Shiro was… Well he was his usual pious, paladin self.
Which meant that Pike could sneak away like the ninja he was and take a dip in the hot springs. The whole reason Pike had wanted to go there in the first place was so they could go for a dip. But the golem and the village and the whole place getting cursed put a hold on that plan.
He sighed contently as he sunk down to his shoulders. It was so relaxing. Off in the distance he heard something. Said something was coming closer and it made Pike’s ears twitch. Before Pike could jump over and grab his weapons, a robed figure stumbled out of the tree lines. Said figure took two steps forwards before they collapsed into the hot spring, face down. He was kind of sinking.
“... Oh shit!” Pike quickly pulled the person out of the water and checked to see if he was breathing. Just for good measure he did a bit of CPR. When he was sure this guy wasn’t dead, Pike put his clothes back on. He then crouched next to his person and took off his hood.
This person looked like they might have been an elf but their ears were kind of short. So maybe a half-elf? He also seemed to be a ranger if his gear meant anything. Pike’s tail started to swish as he gently poked the man’s face.
The man’s eyes snapped open and he grabbed Pike, pinning him to the ground. “Whoa!” Yelped Pike. “Easy there elf boy! I just saved your life!”
“...” The man immediately collapsed on top of him and passed out.
“... What the hell?” Pike ended up dragging the dead weight back to the village. Shiro was the first to spot him and helped Pike take the mystery man back to the inn they were staying at. Block saw them, since he was cooking at the inn, and ran over to see if he could help
“So they guy just walked out of the trees and almost drowned?” Questioned Block.
Pike nodded. “Yep. Pretty much. I have no idea where he came from. He’s kind of aggressive though…”
Block nodded and waved his staff over the half-elve’s body. After a few minutes he shrugged. “Well he isn’t poisoned, injured or cursed. He’s just exhausted. He needs a good night’s sleep and some good food when he wakes up.”
Pike narrowed his eyes at him. “That’s your solution to everything.”
“Food is life.”
Shiro shook his head and sighed. “Okay guys, we have a bit of a problem though… We have two rooms at this inn. One small room with two beds and a larger one two three beds. The elf deserves a bed and we can’t ask Meklavar or Valayun to give up their beds since they aren’t here.”
One quick round of scissor’s, paper, rock, later and Pike had lost his bed. Hell, he wasn’t even sleeping in a bed. He lost his damn cot. They took the man to the room and he was placed on Pike’s cot. Shiro then went to inform their other companions about the guy they found while Block went to gather things to make stamina potions.
Pike was left alone with the new guys and sighed loudly. This was annoying. He wanted his bed back. The man slowly stirred and finally woke up. He sat up and rubbed his eyes.
“What the hell?” He muttered. “What happened?”
“You almost drowned, I saved you and you tried to kill me.” Said Pike. “You are welcome by the way. What happened to you?”
The man shrugged. “I was just tired… I’ve been awake for a few days. It’s not easy being a ranger.”
“Oh so you really are a ranger? I kind of picked that from your clothes.”
The man raised an eyebrow. “Oh? And what are you? Some kind of thief?”
Pike pouted. “I’m not a thief! I am a cool, super stealthy ninja… I’m Pike by the way. Who are you?”
“Thundar.”
“Thunder?”
“Thundar.”
“What kind of name is Thundar?”
“What kind of name is Pike?”
The two of them glared at each other. The tension so thick it could be cut with a knife. “I don’t think I like you very much.” Said Pike.
“The feeling is mutual.”
***
“Ha! Gaaaaaaaaaay!” Hollered Pidge from over the otherside of the game table.
Lance balked. “What? We are enemies! This is totally the set up for Thundar, dumb name by the way, to become Pike’s rival!”
Keith rolled his eyes. “I’m not good with coming up with names.”
Hunk patted his shoulder. “Thundar’s a good name. I mean, come on. My character’s name is Block.”
“I have to agree with Pidge.” Said Allura. “This does seem like the set up for either a rival’s to friends arch, or a rivals to friends to lovers arch. And I am here for it.” She looked over at Pidge. “That is the right phrasing? I am here for it?”
Pidge nodded. “Yep. Either that or big mood.”
“We are rivals!” Whined Lance.
Shiro shook his head. “Come on guys, let’s get back to the game.”
“Agreed.” Said Coran. “Oka, well we have spent enough time with Thundar and Pike. Allura, what is Valayun doing?”
As Allura went on to describe what her archer was doing, Lance leaned over to Keith and whispered. “Pidge totally ruined our character arch.”
Keith rolled his eyes and whispered back. “Relax. Thundar will do a bunch of things that will annoy the hell out of Pike. It’d say two or three sessions before Thundar starts developing feelings for Pike.”
“Good.” Lance laced his fingers with Keith’s under the table and smiled at him. Keith smiled back and they turned their attention back to the game.