Archive of Our Own ^beta

“Okay, Hon,” Dedede alerted his love with his newest proposition. “If we take off on Sunday, that’ll give us and the kiddos enough time for some fun ‘n the sun if y’know what I mean…”

It was currently the 7th out of 12 months on the Popstar calendar and Dreamland was practically bubbling with summer heat. Every child had an ice cream cone or sticking popsicle in their grasp and every adult who was lucky enough to work indoors blasted their air conditioning to the extreme.

Unfortunately… The power was overworked and overheated so intensely that the entire Dreamland grid had gone out of commission. So, to the displeasure of everyone, Popstar had become a hot, humid, Hellscape.

It was 9 PM and the blazing sun had finally begun to set, yet high temperatures continued to persist with no signs of cooling any time soon. 

Within the stagnant room of King Dedede, his best and most beloved soldier, Meta Knight, had been seated across a table from his partner. He was in full armor per usual but was just as vulnerable to the effects of the sweltering summer sun.

“Sí… It would be wise to go before the next workday… To avoid crowds and people alike…”

Every sentence the soldier spoke was riddled with deep breaths and unwanted pauses.

Dedede’s chambers were full of paper fans for the two men to utilize when they got too overheated, but as always, Meta Knight had to challenge himself. He felt obligated to never show signs of weakness, even in the confidentiality of his own love. 

“Here, Mety,” The King said with growing concern. He signaled the knight to come closer and Meta did. “Lemme take yer armor off for you’s. I can practically hear ya sweatin’ under the damn thing.”

His Highness was always quick to identify and point out what was wrong with his fiancé back at him. It was definitely not a hard skill considering how long they’ve been together now. Dedede’s love for Meta was enough to surpass even the most stubborn of his partner’s nonsense.

Gently unstrapping the harness of his knight’s armor, Dedede could feel his love’s shoulders slump and his leathery wings drape lethargically against his back. 

“There ya go, Shortcake. Ain’t that better?”

Meta had hunched over into Dedede’s chest rather lovingly but this did not stop him from scowling at his partner's insistent use of nicknames. 

“Not when you refer to me with such… Language…” Meta Knight rebutted.

As exhausted and sweaty as Dedede was himself, the King couldn't help but laugh at his knight’s dissatisfaction.

“Oh, puh-lease!” His Majesty emphasized his words and flung his hand with a dramatic wave. “Ya know you love it.”

The monarch didn't need to see Meta Knight’s face to know he was probably rolling his eyes into the back of his skull.  

The soldier plucked himself from his fiancé’s chest, the warmth between them growing too torrid and unpleasant, and removed the metal on his face that was practically hot to the touch now.

“I must admit your charm is unparalleled to any other in the kingdom. Perhaps throughout Gamble Galaxy even,” Meta Knight mentioned with an endearing smile. “Though, you still go to terribly unreasonable lengths to distract me from important tasks.”

Dedede paused at his partner’s accurate assessment with a guilty smile and wincing eyes. 

“Heh… Ya got me…”

“Naturally,” Meta replied with a huff and a smirk. “Now let us get back to planning our vacation day, Cariño. We have much to plan before we put our idea into execution.” 

His Higness scooched closer to his love, the space between them dwindling once more.

The King couldn't help but rub his hand over the silver ring that sparkled across his knight’s finger. A direct parallel to the golden ring Dedede wore every hour of every day. 

He and Meta had been engaged for about a full year now and the two had never been happier.

While Dedede still lived in his castle and Meta Knight kept his residence in the Halberd, the occasional sleepovers, some with and without intimacy, and the multitude of dates they had made up for it dearly. 

His Majesty reminisced over the piece of jewelry before speaking with half-lidded eyes and a lovesick smile.

“Ain't it crazy that we're engaged? Like, I know the two of us been together for a long time now, but I just can't get over how wild all this is, y’know what I mean?”

Meta squeezed his beloved’s hand and smiled at his partner in turn.

“Yes, It does feel rather impalpable how far our relationship has come. I’ve always often found myself dwelling on the past; but when the past is associated with you…” Meta Knight paused to take a deep breath. “...I can only think of how terribly lucky I am to have you in my life.”

“Oh, Meta~ !” Dedede swooned, rushing to hug his fiancé. “You ain't the only one who’s lucky! Nova, I would'a never guessed my mysterious, cunning soldier would turn outta be such a sappy sweetheart.”

“Well, it is not as if I haven't been swayed by your own influence, Mi Rey. Your kindness is one of your many strengths and I'd be foolish to say it hasn't affected me.”

Nothing else was said of the two as they had already interlocked lips and sank deep into a romantic kiss. Meta Knight’s arms wrapped around Dedede’s neck while he had a hand on the warrior’s waist.

It took a few moments for the pair to separate, but neither could help it, they were simply too in love with the other to stop.

“Mmm,” Meta Knight moaned as his lips left his partner’s. “You taste like sweat.”

His Highness rolled his eyes at his fiancé’s verbal jabs.

“No need to sugarcoat it, Honey,” The King replied with dripping sarcasm. “Can’t help that it's a kazillion degrees outside. You don't taste like a sundae either.”

Meta Knight paused, an indulgent idea brewing in his mind.

“...Now that you mention it....”

“Yeah, yeah. Hold yer horses, Mety, I’ll go get’cha that ice cream,” The King sat up, cracked his back, and readied himself for the trip to the kitchen and back. “Yer lucky I love ya with all my heart, Shortie.”

Meta said nothing, only lightly whacking Dedede in the side for his previous comment.

“Hey!” His Highness cried jokingly. 

Dedede looked out his balcony window observantly. Nightfall was soon approaching and Meta Knight was still in the castle. Even though his partner could see better compared to dusk than dawn, it still deeply worried the King that the love of his life was traversing through dark, empty skies all by his lonesome.’

Before His Majesty had a moment to attend to Meta Knight’s demands, he decided it’d be better to ask the paladin to stay now than to watch him soar off into the dim distance inevitably.

“It’s gettin’ late… Wanna stay the night? We can do whatever ya want if you’d like.” Dedede added in an extra incentive; just enough to tip Meta’s opinion over to the edge.

The knight made his move to stand up as well. Whether that be to make his way back to the Halberd or to follow Dedede while they ate ice cream together was up to him.

Though, it seemed as though his mind was already made up.

“I’d love to.” Meta Knight replied with a soft smile.

It wasn’t long before the two found themselves in a kiss again, this one much quicker than the last.

“I was hopin’ you’d say that,” Dedede ended their romantic session by marking a kiss on Meta’s forehead. “I was hopin’ you’d say yes.”

Two weeks passed and the couple, along with their two little children, were each prepared to spend their entire Sunday relaxing and enjoying the summer sun. 

It was 5 AM and, as always, Meta Knight bore the burden of being the first one awake.

Making his descent from the Halberd, the knight’s first stop was Castle Dedede. That way, the errand of waking up both Dedede and the children could be done in the same place, around the same time.

Since His Highness was a rather hard sleeper, Meta Knight decided to tackle that obstacle first.

“...Dedede… Dedede…” Whispers came from the soldier.

As expected, Dedede only responded by rolling over on his side to turn away from his fiancé’s voice.

The King proceeded to grumble with a deep tremor coming from his sleep-ridden tone.

“Mmmph…” His Majesty’s throat growled. “Wake me up ‘n five…”

Meta Knight’s tolerance for his partner’s antics was at an all-time low.

He and his fiancé were going to be on time and were not going to waste this opportunity and that’s that!

“You. Will. Get. Up!” Meta Knight demanded in frustration.

In his whirlwind of fury, Dedede’s covers were ripped straight from his body and thrown to the floor.

“Ughhhh!” The King whined ever childishly. “Honeyyyy!”

Meta’s insistence met no bounds seeing as he had made his move for the adjustable light switch and proceeded to turn the bulbs to full power. If he adjusted the knob any farther, he might've caused another mass power outage to Dreamland.

Dedede pulled his bonnet far enough for the silk to cover his eyes before letting out a troublesome groan.

In an instant, His Majesty arose from his slumbering cushions rather irritatedly. He made a full walk for his light switch in order to dim their brightness from blinding to mildly tolerable.

When the King turned his back, he was met with the arms-crossed, no-nonsense pose Meta seemed to utilize when dealing with the children or his subordinates. It felt rather disheartening when it was used against him.

Dedede rubbed his eyes with a balled fist and walked toward Meta to give him a hug.

“G’mornin’, Mety…” His Highness yawned after speaking.

Meta was quick to hug back.

“Good morning to you as well, Dedede. I’m glad to see you out of bed.”

Although muffled, the knight could hear his King huff in annoyance.

“Yeah, after ya terrorized me eight ways to Sunday…”

Ignoring his grogginess, Meta Knight found it appropriate to fill in his lover’s blanks.

“It is Sunday. Today is our day trip, no?” 

With that, Dedede ripped himself from Meta, pushing himself up from the shorter man’s shoulders, and finally opened his eyes wider than half.

“Oh my Stars!” The King announced in realization. “Yer right! What time is it?! Oh, Nova above, please let it be before 8 in the mornin’! We can’t miss that train!”

Feeling as though he had let Dedede ramble on a bit too long, Meta decided now would be a good time to interject his partner’s worrying.

“Do not fret. It’s currently a quarter after five. That should be enough time to gather the children and get them on the train; awake or not.”

His Highness paused at how well-thought-out Meta had gone through their vacation plans. It was actually quite strange. He was often the least excited person when it came to taking time away from work and his other countless responsibilities. 

The guy was a workaholic after all.

“You’s rather excited about our whole trip. Or at least I think this is what being excited is like for ya. It’s hard to tell sometimes with you, ya feel?”

Meta Knight’s anger subsided in turn for a more vulnerable, softer side of himself.

“Perhaps. I’m merely nervous. I am still unused to taking days off work, but I feel delighted that you’d feel obligated to take me along on your escapade.” The warrior’s confession was a short, but heartfelt one.

Dedede knew it was his job to soothe Meta’s insecurities, no matter how big or small they seemed.

“Of course I’d take you with me! Are ya crazy?!” Dedede projected far louder than intended. “I wouldn’t have you plan out every ‘lil detail and then just take me ‘n the kids. I love doin’ all sorts of stuff with you,”

The King’s ebony hand took his knight’s gloved one and wrapped an arm around Meta, drawing him closer.

“I wouldn’t just leave out the man I plan to marry from all the stuff in my life, now would I?”

At the mention of marriage, Meta Knight couldn’t contain the red-hot flush that spread from beneath his masked face. He’d been engaged to Dedede for such a long time now, but to even think about marriage; it made his heart flutter worse and worse each time.

“You…" The soldier mumbled to hold onto the last fragments of his composure.  "You embarrass me…”  

Calling his bluff, Dedede moved in even closer to move his knight’s mask and give Meta a peck on the cheek.

“But ya love me anyways,” His Highness claimed teasingly.

Meta Knight nodded his head in agreeance once less frazzled from his partner's previous comments.

“Yes, I love you plenty. You are very dear to me as a person, Cielo. The way you make me feel is unlike any feeling I am used to, but I am very happy to accept them. Te quiero.”

It took everything in Dedede not to squeal like a teenage fangirl, but his sounds of excitement couldn't be helped.

“Nova, yer just so sweet ‘n sexy, you know that?” The King replied earnestly.

Suddenly, the two's conversation took a rather sexual turn.

“If we didn’t have a fun beach day to look forward to, I would’a just kept you here with me all day. In bed. Naked, of course.”

At the sound of what Dedede's intentions with him could've been, Meta Knight smacked his fiancé's shoulder in an attempt to spare his own embarrassment.

"Enough out of you, you deviant," Meta Knight scolded, but all Dedede could do was smile deviously and snicker at his partner's beratement.

His Majesty’s proposal was quite an enticing one, but the two really couldn’t afford to waste this one day off that coincided with both their and the children's schedules. They could always do couple-y things and make love another time. It’s not as if they wouldn’t find time to regardless.

Realizing that their conversation would go nowhere if Meta continued to entertain it, along with the more than possible outcome that he could've been persuaded by Dedede's desires for sex, the soldier found it best to get back on track by mentioning what they'd do with the two sleeping children they still needed to wake up. 

“Esta bien, you need to get dressed and bring me your beach items before we wake up the children.”

Dedede’s eyes widened a little bit at the mentions of presumably Kirby and Bandee.

“Right, right. They gotta wake up too. It’s not fair I’m the only one up! …Besides you, of course.”

Meta Knight rolled his eyes and crossed his arms.

“You’re the adult, they are the children. It is our responsibility to make sure nothing goes awry.”

Dedede sighed at the notion. He knew he was being childish right now, but planning a vacation really was hard. But it must’ve been ten times harder for Meta Knight.

“Yeah, yer right,” The King claimed rather apologetically. “Sorry for bein’ so difficult, Honey.”

Meta Knight squeezed his partner’s hand lovingly.

“I forgive you. I know you are not fully awake yet.”

With one fell swoop, Dedede bent down to Meta’s height, making contact with his lips before heading toward his divider to change.

“I love you, Sweetheart.”

“I love you too, Cariño.”

The walk to Bandana Dee’s room was a rather short one. Short enough to span three minutes to be exact.

Thankfully, the adults would be killing two birds with one stone here as Bandee and Kirby decided to have a sleepover the night before in the castle.

The only problem now was getting them both to wake up.

Walking into the young Dee’s room the first thing Meta Knight and King Dedede noticed was the disarray of toys scattered all across the wooden floor. 

Normally, Bandee was a rather tidy child, priding himself on his intellect and maturity for someone of his age. But even he needed to be a child sometimes.

The two children were found fast asleep in an arrangement of pillows, blankets, and cutesy stuffed animals.

They were adorable.

It physically hurt Meta’s heart to have to wake them up at such a time like this, but they’d thank him later when they were at the beach and weren’t late for the 8 AM train.

Meta Knight bent over on his knees and inched closer to the sleeping Bandana Dee.

“Niños… Niños… It is time to get up now… We have lots to do…”

Seeing as it was 5:45 in the morning, Bandee wasn't going to get up so easily. The little spear wielder mumbled something unintelligible to himself before tucking his orange-haired head under soft blankets.

“Dedede,” Meta alerted his fiancé urgently. “He won't wake up. What should I do?”

The King’s face was one full of an appalling expression.

“ ‘What should I do?!’ ” His Highness repeated his partner's question in a whisper-yell. “What you should do is wake the ‘lil bugger up! You weren't this nice to me when I was tryna wake up…”

“That is different,” The soldier confided in his King. “They are simply too cute to wake.”

His Majesty rolled his eyes at Meta Knight’s half-baked explanation.

“Oh, but I'm too ugly to be woken up like that? Whatever, Meta.”

Dedede did not witness the panic overwhelm his fiancé’s features, but it was apparent to him his partner had said something he did not mean.

“No, you misunderstand,” The knight consoled his lover, trying his best to clear up his words. “They are cute, but you are handsome. The difference is clear as night and day.”

“Awww, you think I'm handsome?”

“ Muy, muy guapo,” Meta Knight admitted lovingly before shifting his focus back into gear. “We can discuss more of your wonder later, we must wake up Bandana and Kirby.”

“Neither of the ‘lil suckers wanna get up. C'mon kiddos, time to rise ‘n shine.”

Due to Dedede’s nudging of his little body, Kirby let out a tired groan.

“Nooo… Don't wanna…” 

“We gotta get’cha swimmy-suit on under yer clothes before we leave.” The King explained as gently as possible.

His soft words seemed to coax Kirby into agreeance.

“Mmm… Okay…”

It took a lot of convincing and persuasion, but Kirby and Bandee finally let themselves be woken up to change and groggily gather their things for the vacation. Floaties, sunscreen, and a plethora of plastic toys were thrown haphazardly into each child's satchel assigned by pink and orange color.

“Here,” Meta Knight said. “I'll put their items in my cape. 

“You got it, Sweet Cheeks.”

With an arm under each child, Dedede had little to no trouble carrying the young tots around. As each child snored into their King's chest, His Highness couldn't help but coo.

“Awww~ They’re such cuties.”

“They are rather adorable, aren’t they? Though, are you positive you can carry them both? I imagine that would become quite heavy quite quickly.” The soldier chimed in with his own worried reasoning.

Dedede answered him back with a smile.

“Nah. Don’t you worry, Mety. I got ‘em right here; safe ‘n sound.” The King reassured his lover who smiled softly at the sight.

“Wonderful,” Meta noted. “The chauffeur will arrive shortly to take us to the train station. If everyone has everything, I see it fit we leave for the Castle drawbridge now.”

While Meta Knight was in the midst of another of his intellectual monologues, the King made a glance down at his knight’s face. The way his golden eyes shimmered so beautifully with his mask made it nearly impossible for Dedede to look away.

That was until Meta looked up.

“¿Sí? Is there something you want to ask?” The soldier inquired in confusion.

Dedede faltered. He didn’t expect his fiancé to look up, and even less did he expect a flood of embarrassment and hot blood rushing to his cheeks.

“Uh- Well- No wait. I really meant… Um… ” 

At the sound of his lover’s sudden embarrassment and consistent stuttering, uncharacteristically, Meta Knight laughed.

It was a quiet giggle, but it was overflowing with such warmth and love it made the King’s heart melt nonetheless.

He couldn’t wait to be married to Meta.

It was early and the sun had still yet to rise, only peaking out slightly over the horizon. It was almost 6 and the driver was expected to arrive any second now.

But Dedede, noticing his lover's hyper-focused demeanor on each and every minute detail, opted to give Meta some verbal encouragement. Anything helped as long as the knight wasn’t stressing himself out anymore.

“Yer doin’ great, Baby. We’ll be at that station soon enough so just try ‘n relax when we get in the car, okay?”

With a deep breath from the sudden reassurance, Meta felt himself grow a little more relaxed.

But only a little bit.

“I’m simply wondering when this driver will arrive. I was under the belief he had served under you before, Mi Rey.”

Dedede’s nervous tick of itching his own neck and beard seemed to kick in at the mention of timeliness.

“Well, he has. But, um, y’know how my sense of time ain’t exactly the sharpest in the shed…”

The lack of words after his explanation really seemed to drive it home for Meta Knight.

“Ah, I see,” The knight replied with zero infliction in his voice. 

His tone was enough that Dedede almost believed he was off the hook. Almost.

“So, he is expecting us, in turn, you, to be late for his 6 AM deadline.”

“Prolly yeah…” The King giggled nervously.

Meta Knight was unimpressed.

“You’re a consistent tidsoptimist, I hope you know.”

“Honey, you know I haven’t a clue on Popstar what that means!”

“Good, then it won’t distract you from focusing your energy on being timely.”

“Touché.”

Over the horizon of a few mountains and relatively empty dirt streets, the tiniest black speck could be seen bolting down the roadway. With his incredible night vision, Meta Knight seemed to be the first person to spot the moving vehicle.

“I believe I see the car in the distance.”

Dedede whipped his head back and forth rapidly to try and catch even a glimpse of what Meta was seeing.

“Where? I don’t see no… Oh! There it is!”

The longer the couple and children waited, the more apparent the black flea in the distance became. Like magic, going from the teeniest dot to a luxurious, black limousine. Definitely something fit for a king like Dedede himself.

The car had pulled up right near the castle drawbridge and revved eagerly as the driver put the sleek machine in neutral. 

Rolling down his tinted windows, Meta Knight could make out the face of an older man with white gloves locked to a steering wheel and a black hat who definitely seemed to know his way around such a vehicle.

“Good morning, Your Highness.” The driver said, tilting his cap in the direction of His Majesty.

“And a g’mornin’ to you too, Driver Dee,” The King responded with gratitude. “Thanks for comin’ so early.”

The man shook off his King’s good graces.

“It’s my honor to be of service, Great King,” Driver Dee said humbly. “Though, I did not expect you to be of my aid before dawn.”

“Blame this guy,” Dedede replied thumb thrown behind his back to point toward his fiancé. “He’s always keepin’ me on course, y’know?”

Leaning forward, the chauffeur could properly make out the figure of a short man who wore a silver mask. It was a surprise the driver did not notice sooner.

“Oh, good morning to you as well, Sir Meta Knight.” The driver greeted.

Rather awkwardly, Meta found himself responding.

“Good morning.” He replied bluntly.

The knight never was the talkative type.

“Please watch your head as you enter, everyone, and we’ll be off before you know it.”

Once each and every person was safely secured and properly strapped in, Driver Dee shifted his stick forward and left Castle Dedede behind in his dust.

It was less than an hour's drive before the chauffeur and his passengers arrived at the Dreamland Train Station.

This old-fashioned, yet consistently reliable express was an easy way to get from point A to point B anywhere on Planet Popstar. And although the group wouldn’t precisely be leaving Dreamland’s borders, Orange Ocean still was quite the distance.

Even if Meta Knight had flown over it before in his aircraft, which he has, it would be impractical to stop his crew’s entire operations just for a day at the beach only for their captain. Plus, Dedede had convinced the knight that the idea of taking the Popstar Express would make for a good bonding experience. Meta Knight was simply too weak to refuse.

The train carts were older models, each with a divider separating every two rows of seats for privacy’s sake. This meant four people, average in size, could fit in one booth; it was practically perfect.

With Meta Knight opening the door for his fiancé, Dedede plopped each child in a seat beside the other; both dozing off again once settled. The King had decided to take up the room next to his love instead.

Aloofly, Meta dazed out the window, most likely lost deep in thought per his usual behavior.

“Hey, Honey,” The King said, getting the attention of his partner. “What’cha thinkin’ about?”

The knight didn’t feel like elaborating on his feelings.

“Nothing relevant. Ignore me.”

The soldier turned his gaze further away from Dedede in some sort of mild defiance. Meta’s behavior shifts were a frequent worry to the King.

In a bold, yet comforting moment of action, Dedede grasped the petite hand of his lover and proceeded to rub a reassuring thumb into Meta’s palm.

“C’mon, don't put yerself out like that. I won't push ya if you really don't wanna talk about it, but I’ll listen to what’chu gotta say.”

As if the soldier were deflating with a sigh, Meta Knight’s shoulders sank from the previous bout of tension. Thankfully, Dedede recognized this as a good sign his fiancé was beginning to ease up a little.

“...I’m unable to put it into words. Lo siento.”

His Highness could feel the guilt spread across Meta Knight’s face, even if he himself couldn’t see it with his own two eyes.

“Hey, hey, don't apologize!” The King moved another hand to Meta’s shoulders with the same intentions as the one strapped to his hand. “You're allowed to be confused, y'know. Ain’t nobody knows everything.”

Another sigh escaped Meta’s throat; this one more grounded in nature.

“Yes, I suppose you’re right. I appreciate your patience with me, Dedede.”

Turning his focus back toward his lover, Meta Knight finally locked eyes with his fiancé. The intimacy between them was further driven once the soldier removed his silver mask, only to reveal a deep-toned face with doting pink eyes and the sweetest smile imaginable.

Upon the sudden unveiling of his fiancé’s features, Dedede too felt a rush of blood coursing toward his cheeks.

“‘Course ‘m patient with you!” The King yelled in an embarrassed whisper. “I love ya, Mety. You deserve everything ‘n then some.”

Meta Knight couldn’t help himself when he turned his eyes toward the train flooring and covered his adorable smile with his free hand.

“You're too kind.” Meta felt the urge to admit.

The couple sought each other in exchange for a loving kiss.

“Anythin’ for that partner of mine.”

After the hour-long train ride and slow awakening of both children, the group made their way on foot to their beachy destination.

“Look, kiddos, we're here!” The King announced.

The King took it upon himself to point out the rushing ocean in the distance. Each wave shimmering beautifully in its tangerine luster.

“Aaaa! It's so cool!” Kirby squealed in excitement.

“It’s so… Orange!” Bandana Dee replied in glee.

“It is rather ‘cool’, no?” Meta Knight claimed, stroking the curiosity of both children.

“The coolest! I wonder if the water taste like orange juice…” The pink-haired child wondered in deep thought.

Perhaps Meta had stroked his curiosity a little too much.

“You will be disappointed and mildly sick if you attempt to find out.” The soldier informed.

The group’s back-and-forth conversation was swiftly stopped by Dedede’s demands.

“Enough of y’all’s chatter, just look!”

His Highness pointed his partner toward multiple optimal spots where they could leave their things while they all swam.

“And looking I am,” Meta Knight replied with a hint of attitude in his tone. “But enough of that, let us find a spot and to up our items.”

Meta made a knowing glance at Dedede as the two let the younger children stumble on ahead.

“Assist me please,” Meta Knight requested. “There are several things in my cape dimension that I need you to help me with.”

“Anythin’ for you, Sugar.”

The soldier blushed furiously and hid his already masked face under the extra protection of his palms.

“...No pet names… Not in front of the children, please…”

Kirby giggled with zero shame.

“You guys are so weird!”

Before Kirby had a second to run away from the chaos of two grown men trying to pull massive items from a towel-sized pocket dimension, Dedede was one step ahead; bottle of high SPF sunscreen already in hand.

“Where do y’all think yer goin’?” The King announced in a low tone. 

Dedede stepped towards the two children while steadily whacking the sunscreen against his palm in a threatening motion.

“Can’t wander off yet w’thout some of this here sunblock. ‘Specially you, Kirbs.”

Kirby gasped at the notion of being singled out like that.

“Hey! What did I do?!” 

“Nothin’, kiddo,” Dedede mentions bluntly. “You’ll just burn red like lobster tail is all.”

“Noooo!” The young tot screamed out in terror. “Not again!” 

While Bandee seemed to have more compassion for his buddy, Dedede found himself snickering at the sight.

“Don’t be so mean to him, Great Dedede!” Bandana quickly defended his friend. “It was only…”

The bandana-wearer took a moment from his verbal protection of Kirby to recount all the times the pink, little menace got himself hurt from underestimating or completely disregarding the advice of others.

Suddenly, defending Kirby’s past mistakes seemed less like preventing a tiny stain upon his “honor” and more like realizing the boy had a poor reputation, to begin with.

Bandee had been recalling previous incidents on each finger. Eventually, though, he had run out of fingers to label with certain events and decided it was best to give up the attempt altogether.

“Yeah… He’s kinda right, Kirby…” Bandana Dee admitted meekly, nervous tick and all.

Kirby threw his hands over his chest and cried out vengefully.

“Not you too!”

The pink-haired squire’s distress was short-lived as Dedede had already grabbed the adolescent before smothering him in the bottle’s cream-colored paste.

“Stoooop!” Kirby kicked and yelled in the King’s tight hold. “You’re gonna get it in my eyessss!”

Speaking of eyes, Dedede had rolled his at least several laps around his head in annoyance.

“It ain’t even on yer lil’ face yet!” His Highness combatted, rubbing more of the liquid on Kirby’s pale arms. “Don’t be no baby!” 

Bandee had a more gentle approach to Kirby’s misfortune.

“Don’t worry! Once you're done, we can swim in all the orange water we want!”

The child’s encouraging tidbit still wasn’t enough to get Kirby to stop whining.

In fact, Kirby thought it’d be better to get a third party involved in the matter. Maybe they’d help him get out of putting on some stupid sunscreen.

“METAAAA!” 

Everyone knew the kid was a professional whinner, but when he wanted to, his screams were sharp enough to shatter even glass.

Both Bandee and Dedede raised their hands to their heads in an attempt to cover their ears from the child’s screeching. This gave Kirby a golden opportunity to pry himself from Dedede’s clutches and run to the unbothered, not-paying-that-much-attention, Meta Knight’s safe hold.

As if he truly wasn't paying the three any mind, the soldier turned around to the sound of his own name only to be struck in the chest by a speeding pink blob of energy. 

Meta Knight wasn't given a single second to assess the situation at hand and was instead bombarded with the nuzzles of pink hair and countless crocodile tears.

“Dedede is bullying meeee! ” The child cried out helplessly.

A confused look plastered itself over Meta’s face while he began mindlessly stroking the back of Kirby’s hair out of habit. The knight decided to shoot his lover an estranged look as if to ask what happened in the moments he was pulling out two beach chairs and an umbrella from his cape.

Picking up on his fiancé's non-verbal queue almost immediately, His Majesty found it best to reply with the situation recap.

“See I was tryna explain to the lil’ guy that he needs a’lotta sunscreen ‘cuz he burns too easily and he’s bein’ all defensive like a baby about it and won’t let me put the rest on ‘im.”

Kirby whipped his head back from Meta Knight’s hold in anger.

“I am NOT being a baby!”

Just as quick as he threw his head back, he placed it back into Meta’s protection once satisfied.

The knight simply nodded his head at both sides of the story and peeled Kirby’s head from his chest in order to speak with him.

“Why do I have to put on sunscreen Meta…”

Instantly being met with big, blue puppy dog eyes and baby talk was not helping the child’s case.

The soldier sighed before finding the proper words to lecture Kirby with.

“Well, niño, you have to put on the sun protectant. It is going to help you.”

Currently, Meta Knight’s explanation was half-assed and Kirby knew it.

“But why?” Kirby questioned with a face even cuter than the last.

If Meta was any weaker, he would’ve let the child skip off scot-free and burnt to a crisp by the time the day was over, but he loved Kirby too much to let him get sunburned.

“It is in each person’s genetic makeup to be melanated in order to protect us from the sun’s wrath. While you are paler in complexion, Bandana, Dedede, and I range in darker shades due to the prevalence of melanin in our skin, specifically a type called eumelanin. Pheomelanin contributes heavily to red and yellow shades such as yourself and…”

Meta Knight had already won.

Kirby, Bandee, and Dedede sat there in shock at the extensive rant their vampiric friend was going into. Whether it was confusion, boredom, or a healthy mix of both, Kirby had already stepped away from the rambling soldier and picked up the bottle of sunscreen himself.

“... Larger pigment than… Because the molecular chemical structure is different enough to induce… Which is a rather major factor behind the science of UV rays…”

Meta wasn’t even looking in the direction of the group anymore, instead off in his own mental fortress of ramblings and scientific explanations. 

“Urm… Mety…?” Dedede’s voice slipped through the cracks of the paladin’s word vomit.

The voice of his partner seemed to be enough to shake Meta out of his own stupor.

“Which is a well-thought-out example of why you should wear… Hmm?” The knight opened his vibrant eyes again and removed the finger from his chin only to realize both children were both happily playing in the shoreline water.

“The kids…” His Highness began feverishly. “They already put their sunscreen on…”

“Oh? And when was this?”

“A few minutes ago. Kirby seemed so fed up he just put the stuff on himself ‘n dragged Bandee to the beach with ‘im.”

“Oh,” Suddenly, Meta Knight’s voice began to fill with disappointment. “I did not notice. I must have gotten carried away.”

Dedede frowned at his partner’s sudden crest-fallen attitude.

The King wrapped an arm around his fiancé’s shoulder and lifted up his mask just enough to give him a peck on the cheek.

“Don’t stress it, Honey. Yer just too smart for us sometimes. The kids ‘n I just don’t get what yer sayin’.”

“I suppose.”

Pushing down on his shoulders a little bit, Dedede ushered Meta to rest in the vinyl beach chairs the knight had brought in the first place.

With a rather guttural groan, the King lay beside his lover in the beach chair. Dedede’s swimsuit was a rather revealing one leaving his full chest and stomach on display.

It shouldn’t have surprised him as Meta had seen his fiancé half naked before, but the amount of bright blue hair on his body could easily rival that of any woodland animal.

Putting his hand behind his head and stretching his back just right, any second now Dedede would slip into sweet summer unconsciousness.

But… Not until he set something straight.

“You still feelin’ down, Mety?” The King was concerned enough to lift his head and watch as Meta Knight responded next.

“...Perhaps.”

The knight had another one of his precious books out. Definitely one of, if not the only relaxing activity Meta let himself partake in.

Thankfully, this gave Dedede an idea.

The King smiled while glancing up and down between the book and Meta’s mask-covered face.

“Could’ja tell me ‘bout that book you got there? I saw ya readin’ it on the train and it looks mighty interestin’ to me.”

Though it took a second and a slow start, Dedede could tell Meta Knight had smiled. 

The soldier found it much harder to stay upset nowadays. Holding grudges wasn’t as simple now that there was someone in his life who loved him unconditionally without fail.

“Why of course, Mi Rey,” Meta began. “The premise follows a young man in the gothic era…”

Dedede was paying attention. Of course, he was. But, the way Meta’s accent and calm voice washed over him like waves was absolutely hypnotizing. The way his R’s rolled and His Highness could point out the tiniest lisp in his beautiful voice just by ear. 

It was so enticing that Dedede never even had a moment to realize he had fallen asleep at the hands of his fiancé.

Meta peeked up from his book to see his lover fast asleep using a beach towel as a blanket.

Seeing Dedede’s hand slouched mid-slumber, the knight took charge of caressing the limp appendage before speaking in an endearing manner.

“Buenas noches, Dedede. We will speak when you awake next.”

Soon enough, it had hit high noon leaving Meta Knight with the task of adjusting the umbrella and making sure the children were fed.

With much thanks to his crew, the skyship subordinates helped the soldier prepare a delicious array of sandwiches and snacks despite his aforementioned lack of cooking skills.

Now that Kirby and Bandee had taken a break from waterplay to fool around with some plastic spades and pales, Meta Knight found it best to have them eat something before they got too carried away again.

“Bandana, Kirby,” The knight alerted both children who were in the midst of constructing a miniature sand castle. “Would you like to eat now? I have sandwiches and potato chips.”

“Would I?!” Kirby yelled in glee.

“I was sorta getting hungry so this is great!” Bandee agreed.

The two children politely cupped both their hands in preparation for receiving some delicious food.

Each child was given a juice box, a crunchy snack, and a sandwich of their choosing. 

Before the soldier was able to get his own lunch together after preparing the little ones’ meals, he was met with an adorable arrangement of gratitude.

“Thank you, Meta Knightttt~!”

Both tiny squires drew out the last “T” on Meta’s full name and gave him big, toothy smiles.

Meta found it completely heart-touching.

“Gracias, you two. But, I did not work alone. I will let my crew know you enjoyed the meal as well since they helped make it.”

“Well, of course they did!” Kirby began wildly. “Meta isn’t a great chef!”

Bandee took a double take at his friend’s sudden rudeness. He doubts Kirby meant to hurt Meta Knight’s feelings, but that’s still an unkind thing to say to somebody. Especially if they just fed you out of the goodness of their heart.

“Kirby!” Bandana Dee cried in an attempt to humble his friend’s outburst. “That’s mean!” 

“Oh- Uh-” The child stuttered. “Well, I didn't mean it like-”

With a shuffle of Meta Knight’s cape wrapping over its owner, the soldier decided to interrupt.

“That is… Quite alright, niño,” The knight forced the words out of himself to stop any of the child’s words from affecting him personally.

Awkwardness accompanied by the sound of crashing waves and Dedede’s unpleasant snoring filled the silence between them. 

“Soooo…” Kirby started, twiddling his thumbs together. “Does that mean we can go back in the water now?”

Meta shook his head back and forth for an answer.

“You and Bandana will get stomach cramps if you go swimming now. Wait here until I say.”

While Bandee had already gotten himself occupied with some seashells in the sand, Kirby wasn’t as happy about being banned from the water for the time being.

With crossed arms and a pout, Kirby sat on a towel and angrily pondered things to do while forced to wait. 

The child's expression finally lightened when he had cultivated the perfect idea for a beachside activity.

Though, that lightness in his eyes soon grew wicked with mischief.

“Hey, Meta?” Kirby alerted his elder with a question. 

Meta was just as quick to respond.

“¿Sí, Kirby?” The knight replied, curious as to what the problem child could be stirring up this time.

“How long do you think Dedede’s gonna be asleep for?”

“Hmm… Though I am not 100% sure, I doubt he will wake within the next half hour. He is quite a heavy sleeper. Why do you ask?”

The child rubbed his hands together with a wide smile similar to the cartoon villains he watched on TV. 

With a run and a jump, Kirby dashed toward the figure of Bandee who was currently preoccupied with the luster of seashells.

“Hey, Bandeeee!” The little squire called out.

“Huh?” The other child raised his head in confusion as to who was calling his name. “Yeah, Kirby? Is something wrong?”

“Bandee, Bandee! Guess what! Are you guessing? I just had a really good idea and I’m gonna whisper into your ear now!”

Bandana Dee was a little too overwhelmed with how fast Kirby was talking that he wasn’t really given a moment to process what he’d just said.

“...Um, okay I guess?”

Leaning on his tippy toes and covering the sides of his mouth, Kirby whispered his top-secret plan into Bandee’s unsuspecting eardrums.

The quiet composure of Kirby’s whisper was immediately opposed by the loud volume of Bandana Dee’s cry.

“WHAT!?” The orange-haired child screamed before covering his mouth and quieting down. “But- But what if he wakes up halfway through?! Why would you even wanna do that anyway?”

“‘Cuz it’ll be funny.” Was all Kirby had to say for himself.

Bandee was at a loss for words.

There was no way Kirby really expected to do that without Dedede noticing what was going on eventually.

Meta Knight, quickly picking up on what was going on between the two children and setting his book down, walked over to try and de-escalate whatever situation the kids were having between them.

“And why exactly are we screaming?” The knight questioned in his cold, apprehensive tone.

Neither Kirby nor Bandee could help themselves from feeling the chilling shiver that ran down their spine at the sound of their mentor’s voice of the look of his arms crossed unimpressively against his metal chest.

“I do not appreciate such noise. I won’t be able to differentiate whether you are playing or hurt if you continue to yell. Do you understand?”

Both boys shook their heads up and down wordlessly.

“But, Meta! Kirby! He wanted to- He wants to…”

Bandee tugged on the soldier’s cape, beckoning him to lean down a bit so he could whisper it into someone’s ear as well.

Compiling, Meta Knight did as instructed. He only rose back to his 5-foot stature once informed of what Kirby, and by extension Bandee, had intended to do to his fiancé.

“I do not understand the appeal of what you are trying to get at here. Why would you bury Dedede’s body in the sand?”

Kirby burst into a fit of giggles while Bandee trembled in a surge of fear.

“Doesn't that sound funny?! He’s always teasing me, now he’s gonna know how it feels!”

“Vengeance is not a good motive for completing an objective. Trust me when I say this, Kirby.” Meta spoke earnestly from past experience.

Though, Kirby didn't seem to care.

“But I think he’d think it’d be funny too! You just don’t have a sense of humor!”

Something about those words seemed to spark a deep insecurity within Meta Knight that he didn’t even know was there.

“No sense of humor…” The soldier’s words trailed off into nothingness.

Like a switch had flipped in his brain, the usually aloof, uncaring Meta Knight had suddenly developed a strange sense of discrediting Kirby’s former claims.

He’d show them “no sense of humor”!

Marching over toward their beach day setup, and more specifically toward Dedede’s slumbering body, Meta Knight had found just enough reason to prove the child wrong in his words.

“Sir Meta! Wait! Don’t do something super bad!” Bandee cried out anxiously.

By the looks of it, Meta Knight’s aura gave off nothing but a cold breeze in the open sun. Bandana Dee had a right to be scared his older friend would do something incredibly rash.

“Is he really gonna do it?” Kirby asked with a hint of bewilderment in his tone.

Standing over the love of his life, Meta Knight’s expression was shadowed by his mask while his back faced the children behind him.

A quiet stalemate passed between the knight and his sleeping partner. Only the rustles of palm trees and the crashes of waves could be heard.

Then, in a flash, Meta Knight raised his hands in a swift motion toward the clouds. Both children held confused looks on their faces until they felt the ground begin to rumble beneath them.

Like lightwork, trillions of tiny sand particles were raised into the sky. As delicately as they had risen, each particle fell the same, but this time their path was manipulated by a magical force to have them land over Dedede, encasing his body in the process.

From the neck down, The King of Dreamland was completely buried in golden sand, still snoring away as he slept without a care in the world.

With a sigh, Meta Knight dropped his hands to his sides, but not before rubbing them together as if he had maneuvered the sand himself.

All the work of a certain knight’s magical prowess and terraforming ability.

When Meta finally turned back around to meet the eyes of the children, nothing could prepare him for the starstruck look each child gave him.

“Oh. My. Stars,” Kirby spoke up first. His mouth was completely agape until something sparked and his eyes glistened with excitement. “He really did it!”

“Nova, he’s completely buried!” Bandee yelled in shock. “Is… Is he gonna be okay like that…?”

“Of course, yes. He is completely fine. Dedede will just be confused when he awakes.”

“Oh… Okay.”

“Would you like to check on him to ease your fear?”

“Mhmm.”

The child rested a hand over his jugular to feel his heart was still beating at the appropriate rate. Another giveaway the King hadn’t left this world would be his consistent, loud snoring.

“See? He is okay. I would never put Dedede in danger. I’ve made many promises to keep him safe from harm, even if they are unreasonable promises.”

“I know you have, Meta.” Bandee looked down at his sleeping guardian before a sudden wave of boldness washed over him. “Do you mind if I do something?”

The smile on the little warrior’s face indicated it wouldn’t be something of malicious intent, so Meta Knight let him do what he pleased.

Reaching into the left pocket of his swim trunks, Bandana Dee pulled out two clam-like seashells; both blue in color.

Without a second thought, the child pressed each shell over where he determined each of Dedede’s breasts to be.

At the sight of what Bandee had done, Kirby absolutely lost it.

“Bandee that is hilarious!” The child laughed while toppled over in the sand and clutching his stomach for support. “You gave him a bra!”

Kirby continued to bawl in laughter and roll around helplessly in the sand before Bandee turned his attention toward Meta Knight.

Instead of finding the action crass and scolding the child for doing such a thing, Bandee was actually surprised to find Meta holding a hand over his mask around his mouth area in an attempt to stifle his laughter.

The knight’s eyes were a bright pink and his voice could be heard through tiny chuckles his mask managed to quiet.

Bandee could only count the number of times he’d seen Meta Knight full-on laugh on only a single hand. It was really funny. Funny enough to make Bandee start giggling as well.

Everyone who was currently awake was caught helplessly in their own giggles. The laughing spell between the three of them was loud enough as if it would never die out.

Their laughter was so loud in fact, a certain king could feel himself being pulled from his deep sleep.

Blinking slowly into his wake, Dedede squinted at the sudden brightness of his surroundings, even if he was covered by an umbrella. 

By habit, the King went to rub his eyes while yawning obnoxiously as if to let everyone in Dreamland know their precious leader has awoken. However, these plans were soon put on hold when Dedede realized he had never rubbed his sleep-filled eyes. In fact, Dedede couldn’t move at all!

“Wha- What the-?!” The King found himself both confused and in a tight hold he couldn’t escape from. “Is this sand?!”

While still being able to have most free-range movement of his head and neck, Dedede was able to lift himself just enough to spot two children and his very own fiancé laughing hysterically while he was encased in sand.

“Dammit!” Dedede yelled as he struggled to free himself. “Did y’all do this?! I know ya did! Ooooh when I get outta here y’all gon’ regret it, you hear me?!”

His Highness’s outburst only prompted his friends to laugh even harder than before. 

After a while, the laughter was able to die down and Meta Knight was the first one to come back to his senses.

“Apologies, Mi Rey, the children were too persuasive. I could not resist their influence.”

“I’d expect this from Bandee and the lil’ pink pest, but you Mety… How could the love of my life do sum’ like this to me…”

While Dedede pretended to cry, Meta Knight couldn’t help but giggle at his King’s expense. He always had a way of making Meta laugh.

His Highness gasped in faked offense.

“And yer laughing? I just ain't one to believe I could'a planned to marry such a cruel man…”

“Do not act so irrationally, Dedede.”

“I’ll forget ‘bout this if you gimme a kiss right here.”

Dedede was puckering up for what Meta could only assume was a smooch. But who was he to deny his King a peck on the lips?

Meta Knight loved kissing his fiancé anyway.

“Make it good and I’ll release you, Cariño.”

“Of course, Mety.”

Lifting up his mask, the two lovers locked eyes first before locking lips in a rather passionate display of affection. Neither were discouraged from their kiss by the fake gagging sounds of Kirby or the adorable cooing of Bandana Dee.

When their kiss subsided, Meta Knight pulled down his mask once more and gave his partner an endearing look.

“You flatter me, Mi Rey. I suppose I can release you now.”

The soldier raised his hands again, this time properly dispersing the sand that had locked itself onto Dedede’s large body.

Once free, the King properly sat up and took a deep breath.

“Geez, Meta…” Dedede said with a relieved sigh. “Stop lettin’ the kiddos mess with yer head. That terraformin’ magic of yours is too powerful to be their lil’ plaything.”

“I’m aware, Dedede. But, it was quite humorous, no?”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever ya say… But why do I always gotta be the butt of yer jokes, Hon?”

“Vengeance.” Meta Knight said in a cold voice. 

To be honest, it was cold enough to give Dedede a bit of a fright. “You said before that I lack a sense of humor. I was suddenly driven by the need to prove you wrong.”

“Okay, Okay! I get it. I take back what I said; you’s a very funny guy, Shortcake.”

“It is hard to believe you when you insist on embarrassing me with such language.”

“I love ya too, Sweetheart.”

High noon fell into early evening as the summer sun began to rest itself over the orange horizon. 

Now that Dedede was awake, fed, and in a mood to fool around, he too had gone into the ocean to play with the kids.

But as quick as the King’s surge of energy had appeared, it was soon drained from his body from the neediness and overwhelming excitement of two little boys.

“Throw me next! I wanna go flying!” Kirby yelled happily, his pink floaties flapping around in the salty water.

“What? No! It was your turn last time! I wanna go this time!” Bandee argued back with his friend, his floaties sloshing around in the sea as well.

The amount of time the two were spending with each other was clearly starting to cause some unnecessary tension between them.

Dedede was getting exhausted from throwing the kids into the deep water only to have them resurge and ask to be thrown again.

At this rate, the only thing Dedede was gonna throw out was his poor, aching back.

While glancing around for any kind of escape while the children were distracted by their own bickering, His Highness could make out the figure of his fiancé; book in hand and completely unbothered.

But that aloof, unbothered attitude would soon come to a close.

“META! HELP ME!”

Peaking up from the pages of his novel with what Dedede imagined was a snide look on his face, Meta Knight had the aura of someone most uninterested with what his partner was going to say next.

At the sight of what was going on, Meta immediately sank his nose back into his book.

“Enough with the yelling of my name. You can handle them, Dedede.”

“But I can’t, Honey! Can’t you tell ‘em to quit their arguin’? Better yet, why don’t you get yer lazy butt in here ‘n, I don’t know, swim?”

Meta Knight was unphased by his partner’s demands and replied per his usual uninterested tone.

“You see I have no swimsuit on.”

“Don’t’cha lie to me, Meta! I know you got sum’ up on under there!”

“And what if I don’t?”

“You-!” Dedede began in anger. Meta Knight had such a strange way of pushing his buttons. “Just- Please?”

“Okay.”

Wow. That was easier than Dedede thought. Perhaps all the soldier wanted was some polite manners? It was certainly a weird way of displaying that need.

In the flash of an eye, the soldier wrapped his cape around him only to reveal that his armor had vanished into the fabric void, and underneath was a well-kept body in a tight, black wetsuit. The only piece of armor that remained was his mask, naturally.

Meta had rested his book atop the beach chair and elegantly made his way toward the shoreline.

Dedede’s mouth was agape.

Something about the way his fiancé carried himself, the tightness of his swimsuit, and the way he was left to imagine what was underneath; it was a complete turn-on.

The King hadn’t realized Meta Knight was already standing in front of him seeing as he was too focused on the naughty things of his imagination. 

“Is there something you’d like to tell me?” The soldier asked with mild concern. The way his partner blanked was beginning to worry Meta.

Though Meta Knight was serious with his question, Dedede thought it better to turn their conversation into a battle of teasing.

“Nothin’,” The King replied while glancing knowingly up and down at his fiancé, a devious smirk coating his lips. “Just wonderin’ if you got any fries for that shake.”

At the sound of his lover’s catcall, Meta Knight didn’t hesitate to turn back around and leave his fiancé by his lonesome with the children.

“Oh, guess I will go back to reading after all.”

“Wait! Honey! You know I ain’t mean all that!” Dedede stuttered in his explanation. “Yer just too beautiful to ignore.”

“You have such a way with words, Mi Rey. It’s quite enticing.” Meta spoke with sarcasm.

Thankfully, the dryness of his humor went undetected by his partner’s wits.

“Thank you, my beautiful lil’ knighty.”

The sarcasm had devolved into subtle, underlining romance. The two were so preoccupied with their own unconscious flirting, Dedede almost forgot the reason he had called Meta Knight over in the first place.

“So what do ya reckon we do with the tots?” Dedede asked glancing over at the two children, both still sulking over their previous argument.

“Perhaps the water is making them irritable? Let us find something other to do.”

“Like look at that?” His Highness ushered to something strange in the distance.

“Excuse me?” Meta turned his head a full 180 to investigate what exactly Dedede was pointing to. 

When the knight finally caught a glance, it was clear to him that whatever his fiancé was pointing at was behind a rather tall cliffside that seemed to be hollow on the inside and was smoking profusely.

“I will investigate. Stay here with the children.”

Without a second for Dedede to argue, Meta had already used his teleportation to travel to the mysterious location. 

It was less than a total of 10 seconds combined where Meta had teleported to the point of interest, investigated enough to make a solid conclusion, and teleported back to his friends.

“So?” The King questioned his partner in growing intrigue. “What’dja see?”

Meta Knight remained silent.

“I believe it best if you and the children follow me.”

Wordlessly Meta Knight wandered off toward what he had just seen, without teleportation this time, and Dedede, just as wordlessly as his fiancé, gathered the two children and followed in close suit.

The walk was less than 2 minutes total and it was a genuine surprise how the couple had managed to miss something so wonderful lying only a few meters away from them behind a cliffside.

“A hot spring!” 

“Scenically, it’s quite pleasant,” Meta Knight began hopefully. “Especially in a secluded area such as this.”

“Oh, Bandee, look!” Kirby had pointed out to his friend, already forgetful of the argument the two just had. “It’s bubbly! You think there’s soap in there?”

“It’s natural, so there wouldn’t be anything like soap or shampoo in it,” The bandana-wearer informed. “It bubbles because it’s really really hot!”

“You darn right it does!” His Highness announced with a smile.

It was only a moment before Dedede had made a run and jump straight for the spring, ending his display of chaos in a cannonball.

Unfortunately, that sudden burst of joy was incredibly short-lived when the King began crawling his way out of the spring in pain.

“HOT!” Dedede yelled once he managed to run out of the water.

The Monarch went as far as patting down his body as if he were extinguishing little fires that had spread across his body.

Meta was impassive towards the carelessness of Dedede’s actions.

“That was foolish of you, Mi Rey.”

“Don’t ya scold me over it…” The King sulked as he rubbed the sore spot of his skin. “That there water scolded me enough already…”

His lover sighed tiredly.

“Take it slowly. Watch me.”

As careful and cautiously as the soldier could display, Meta Knight slowly began dipping his body into the shallow spring. Thankfully, the pit of water was high enough that he could stand in it without standing on the tips of his toes or having his head completely engulfed in flaming liquid.

Once the knight had gotten accustomed to the temperature of the water, it actually wasn’t that bad. It was quite soothing even!

The consistent, essentially chronic, soreness Meta seemed to experience in his back and in the base of his wings was instantly massaged by the strange soothing properties of the hot spring.

“Oh… That’s very…” Meta’s words trailed off as he fell into a trance of lethargy.

Even Dedede was surprised at how easily the water was able to coax his partner into putting his head down between atop his arms on the ledge between spring and sand.

“Stars, if it’ll do that to ya then I gotta try it!”

Slow and steady this time, the King started with a toe in the water which extended to his whole leg. The walking appendage then gradually extended to his torso and before he knew it, everything from his chest down was completely submerged in the teal blue spring water.

“Wow, Mety… You was right… This water’s the best masseuse I ever had…”

“I wanna get in! I wanna get in!” Kirby cried in want.

“It looks really warm!” Bandee added on.

The sounds of both children caused the couple to synchronize their words of worry into one simple phrase.

“No!” Meta and Dedede yelled in unison.

Both had separate reasons for refusing the kid's entry, some more selfish than others, but all valid nonetheless.

“The water is too hot for someone your age,” Meta Knight claimed, knowledgeable as ever. “You could very well damage your skin barrier if you submerge yourselves in the hot spring.”

“Oh- Uh-” Dedede stuttered profusely. 

He had assumed he and Meta had the same reasoning for telling the children off for wanting to be in the spring, that reason being Dedede wanted some time to himself with his partner. But, when you were on vacation with two eager children, sacrifices were a need to be made.

“Yeah- What Meta said,”

“C’mon, pleaseeee?” Kirby begged with big blue eyes and hands clasped in a plee. “I promise to be good.”

“Can I get in too? The bubbles look nice and cozy.” Bandana Dee beseeched continuously.

The couple gave each other worried glances at what to say back. Both wanted the other to say something first, but push came to shove and Meta Knight was the one who lost the battle of wills.

“Perhaps we can make a compromise?” The soldier suggests after a moment’s thought. “You are both allowed to put your legs in, but nothing more. Breaking this rule will result in expulsion from the hot spring altogether, do you understand?.”

It may have been rather strict, but at the end of the day all Meta Knight wanted was for the boys to enjoy themselves without getting hurt. Something about both of their adorable faces made Meta wanna protect them with all his might.

“Okay!” 

While Bandana Dee took his sweet time with getting accustomed to the temperature of the water, Kirby found it best to stick his whole foot in without a second thought.

“Ow! It’s hot!”

“I told you, Kirbs!” Dedede scolded the little boy. “You’s gotta be more careful! Take it slow, ya goof.”

“I am!” The pink-haired adolescent argued back.

“Don’t say anything rash, niño. It would be unfortunate if you needed to sit outside the water.”

“...Sorry!” The child mumbled under his breath.

“Better.”

There were a few strings of conversation between Bandee and Kirby going on in the background; some hint of bubbling water and cool breezes too. But for the most part, the adults stayed rather silent during their relaxing time in the hot spring. 

It wasn’t until Dedede fetched his fiancé's hand from under the surface that the two decided to break their lack of conversation.

“Glad you decided to come with us instead of workin’ all day like ya wanted?” The King goaded his partner over his lack of inhibition to go on vacation.

“Yes, your intuition proved to be correct, Mi Rey… This time…”

“Don’t ya say ‘this time’!”  

“I kid, I kid. You are very intuitive, Cariño. It is one of your many strengths.”

Childishly and dramatically, Dedede put his hands over his cheeks and swooned lovingly over the compliments his partner had showered him with.

“Awww, you like me.” The King reasoned. 

“Not like,” Meta Knight interrupted Dedede’s loving delusions.

“Wha- What?!” His Highness stuttered in confusion. “You don't like yer own fiancé?!”

Under his mask, Meta Knight smirked.

“Let me finish, por favor. Not like; love.”

A strange silence washed over the two lovers.

“...”

“...”

“You sap.” Dedede found himself saying.

“How crass,” Meta replied.

A voice from the peanut gallery sliced its way through the adult’s conversation.

“You guys should just kiss already!” A starry-eyed child noted.

“What Kirby said,” Bandee agreed, inputting his unwarranted advice. “You two are always flirting with each other. It's kinda…”

“Gross!” The pink child spat without thinking; though when did he ever?

Bandana Dee was quick to soften the blow of Kirby’s harsh words. It wasn’t that he meant his words to be cruel, but it was too often the little boy spoke without thinking of the consequences that came with it.

“No, not gross! Don't be mean!” 

“I mean- It’s not gross, they’re actually really cute sometimes. But you guys are too lovey-dovey! That’s what’s gross!”

Nothing could’ve prepared the children nor the King’s fiancé for what he’d do next.

“I'll show you gross!”

In a whiff of passion and emotion, Dedede drew his lover in from his waist below the water to the corner of his back. 

Meta Knight’s often acute reflexes were put on hold as the soldier blanked at the sudden embrace of his fiancé.

His Highness whipped his partner to face him while his backside faced that of the children. And, in what felt like a lifetime though only lasted a few moments, Dedede had lifted the mask of his lover and gave him an amorous kiss against his soft, supple lips.

The knight had completely forgotten where he was and dug his sharp nails tightly against the flesh of his partner’s shoulders.

That was the extent of their affection for the time being.

Meta Knight was more than humiliated once the two separated and Dedede felt a wave of pride crash over himself.

Looking back at the faces of their two children, the couple could clearly see both had severely shocked reactions; both with gaping mouths and bulging eyes.

Before this moment, the two had never seen them kiss like this so up close before. Perhaps it was a romantic culture shock.

Neither had anything to say, but Dedede definitely did!

“Y’all better get used to that!” The King ordered his children. “You’ll be seein’ yer fair share of that at me ‘n Mety’s wedding!”

The mention of weddings seemed to shake Bandee from his stupor, but Kirby was still suffering from the effects of perpetual shock.

“Speaking of wedding…” Bandana Dee began. “Not to rush anyone, of course. But, did you two ever decide on a date? Or do you not know yet?”

The lovers locked eyes again, this time with more worry than compassion.

“We… Uh…” The King stumbled quite a bit with his words.

Meta decided to pick up the pace and respond to the child’s inquiry in his partner’s stead.

“We actually haven’t begun the wedding process yet, Bandana.” Meta Knight informed the orange-haired child. 

The couple expected the child to slump a tad in disappointment, but in fact, the exact opposite happened.

“Really?!” Bandee asked in excitement. His brown little eyes were dazzling in anticipation. “I could help plan stuff! Please let me help plan the wedding at least a little bit! Pretty please!”

Now that Bandana Dee was begging over something, this seemed to strick Kirby’s interest and knock him from his more somber state of mind.

“Wait-” The child interjected rapidly. “If Bandee gets to plan, I wanna help out too! I could use my cooking ability to make food and stuff!”

“Oh my Stars, Kirby, that’d be wonderful!” He praised his friend’s input. “There’s so much stuff we could do to make it perfect for them!”

“Super perfect!”

“Woah, woah-” His Highness stopped the kids in their tracks before they went off the rails. “We haven’t even contacted a weddin’ planner yet you two. If anything, you seem more excited about it than we are.”

The King knew that the last part of his sentence was false. He and Meta were also extremely ecstatic over their future marriage, but the sight of the two children- No- their children obsessing over the details of their soon-to-be wedding made the royal couple happier than ever.

“I believe one should be a ring bearer, the other, a flower boy.” Meta Knight insisted.

At his words, the children jumped to pick a role in the wedding.

“Ooh! Can I be the ring bearer?”

“Yeah! And I wanna be the flower boy!”

Though he did not specify who would have which job, he had to admit he was a little worried Kirby would choose the job that involved holding onto an expensive item for more than 60 seconds. 

“Of course,” The knight smiled at the little boys and their happiness. “It would be an honor to have you both play such detrimental, major parts in Dedede and I’s wedding.”

“Havin’ y’all participate in the ceremony is what we wanted to go down in the first place!” Dedede admitted with his full chest. “But I don’t know if y’all’s are ready for this kinda challenge yet…”

His Highness was clearly teasing the two, but their young, naive brains didn’t seem to spot his obvious sarcasm.

“No! We can do it!” The two yelled simultaneously it was almost scary to see them sync up as such.

“‘M just pullin’ your leg. Me ‘n Mety really want y’all to be there. Yer like family to us, y’know?”

Meta smiled as the children continued discussing their plans and requests for the wedding. Dedede chuckled at each suggestion the kids had, all while caressing the hand of his soon-to-be husband.

It was true the four acted like family. But that was only the half of it.

They didn’t pretend to be a family. They were one. 

An incredibly happy one.

The sun had set and the air grew quiet and cold. The tangerine waters of Orange Ocean had faded into a deep purple while seagulls seized their insistent cries for a time of rest

Once they had completely packed their things, the couple and their children made their way back to the train station once more. This time, it was their ticket to go home.

The ride back to the castle wasn't expected to be any longer than the ride to the beach they took in the morning. But an hour was still an hour no matter how you looked at it.

The locomotive hadn't moved once and most likely wouldn't for a few minutes until the final call was made.

Sitting in the same booth they arrived in, Kirby and Bandee sat beside each other while they paralleled that of Meta and Dedede.

Both kids were as lively as ever!

You could hardly tell they had spent a whole day swimming and in the sun, but Dedede just chalked it up to the wonders of childhood energy.

The King wouldn't exactly call himself “vigorous” in their current predicament, but it's not like he was gonna pass out the second he closed his eyes.

Meta Knight, however…

“You okay, Honey?” His Highness whispered to the knight in a soft tone.

Meta’s head leaned tiredly against his fiancé’s shoulder. The poor guy could hardly keep his eyes open from what Dedede could see.

A yawn stifled the soldier's words before he was given a chance to speak.

“I'm fine, thank you. Forgive me if I'm bothering you; it’s difficult to sit up straight at the moment.”

“You ain't never a bother to me, Mety,” Dedede claimed in earnest. “You just sit back and relax, Sweetheart. You deserve it after all the plannin’ and organizin’ you been doin’ today. I'll be right here when you wake up after some shut-eye.”

Dedede stroked the head of his lover in such a way as to usher him for a response. But, when no response came, the King grew worried.

“Meta? Shortcake?”

Once Dedede got a better look at him, it was no wonder he wasn't saying anything. 

Meta was out cold.

“He must've been tired if the tiniest bit of pettin’ conked him out…” His Highness thought lovingly.

While the kids chattered in the background and his lover dreamt over the warmth of his body, the stars in the sky seemed to sparkle in such a way that they illuminated the moon to its full beauty.

However, Dedede didn't need to look all the way to the moon to catch a glimpse of something lovely anymore.

He already had the most beautiful sight of all resting peacefully on his shoulder. 

Fin.