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Stinger really didn't know how he was able to tolerate Lucky. Ever since they had officially become a couple, Lucky never left him alone. He was constantly all over the place around him. Stinger was starting to forget what alone time felt like.
But yet, somehow he was tolerating it. Somehow he didn't mind Lucky pestering him constantly. Everyone seemed equally as shocked about that as he was.
Everyone had taken the news about their new relationship well. Lucky had announced it quite early into their relationship against Stinger's wishes. Then again, it wasn't like they were doing a very good job at hiding their relationship before anyway. Perhaps it was better to get it out of the way before people started talking.
There was one person who hadn't reacted exactly as expected. That being Naga. Stinger and Lucky both noticed he seemed different around them since they announced being a couple. Neither knew what to think of it. Neither wanted to bring it up with Naga either.
It was just another day. So far it was peaceful. Nothing to do. Stinger was trying to do some reading, but of course someone decided he wanted his attention. How Lucky managed to track him down no matter where on the ship he was, was still a mystery.
"Stinger... I'm bored." Lucky whined, throwing himself onto Stinger's lap for dramatic effect.
Stinger sighed. "Then go find something to do. I'm reading."
"But I want to do something with you." Lucky pouted at his response.
"Don't you have other friends? Go bug one of them." Stinger retorted.
This was quite usual for them. They always bantered over Lucky wanting his attention. But, in the end, Stinger often caved. Lucky knew that at this point. He just had to keep pushing until it happened.
"But I want to do something with my boyfriend." Lucky persisted.
"Like what?"
"Uh..."
"Exactly. You don't need me."
"Stinger!" Lucky whined.
Stinger rolled his eyes. "Are you five? Stop acting like a kid who can't have his way."
"You're so mean to me."
"I am not. I'm stating the facts."
"Can I at least have a kiss then if you won't let me hang out with you?" Lucky gave him a begging look.
"If it gets you to shut up."
Lucky sat back up, a smile on his face. Stinger rolled his eyes again and then kissed him on the cheek.
"That's all?" Lucky pouted again.
"You weren't being good so yes."
"Cruel..."
"How is that cruel?"
"Denying me kisses..."
"You're so needy."
"You are too, you just won't admit it." Lucky retorted.
Stinger got defensive. "I am not!"
Lucky smirked at him. "You are."
There bantering was interrupted by a presence in the area. Naga. He seemed startled. And then, almost as quickly as he came, he left.
Stinger and Lucky exchanged looks.
"What's with him?" Lucky questioned.
"Does he not like us dating?" Stinger pondered. "This keeps happening only now."
"But why wouldn't he like it...?" Lucky didn't like the suggestion.
"I don't know. It's obvious that something about our relationship is a problem for him."
"Should we maybe just bite the bullet and ask him?" Lucky asked.
"If you want to. I think you'd be better to ask him than me." Stinger shrugged. "I thought maybe Balance would solve this."
"Maybe he can't?"
"Maybe."
"I'm gonna ask him." Lucky declared, standing up.
"Best of luck." Stinger replied.
Lucky went off after Naga. He wasn't sure where to look. Where did Naga go after his sudden departure?
"Hammie! Have you seen Naga?" Lucky asked the first person he ran into.
"Hmm... he went toward the rooms so maybe to his room?" Hammie answered. "He seemed stressed."
"That's why I wanna see him."
"I hope you find him."
"Thanks."
With that new information, Lucky went toward Naga's room. Hopefully he was in there or else this was going to turn into a scavenger hunt. He just wanted to ask Naga what was wrong and solve whatever the weird tension was between them.
Lucky stopped outside of Naga's room. It was hard to tell if he was there from outside. There wasn't much indication if there was life in a room for any of them.
He knocked on the door and waited. It was an agonizing few minutes with him continuing to knock a few times. Was Naga not there? Had he gone elsewhere? Maybe he went to Balance?
And then the door opened up. Naga went very noticeably tense when he saw who was at the door. He looked like he saw a ghost.
"Can we... can we talk about... whatever this is that's going on?" Lucky asked.
Naga remained silent. Lucky waited. They really needed to talk. He wasn't leaving if he didn't have to. They really did need to solve whatever was happening.
Naga finally moved. He lowered his head and stepped back. Was he admitting defeat? Had he thought not responding would make Lucky leave? Lucky could only guess as he entered the room.
The door closed behind them. Lucky took a seat on Naga's bed and motioned for him to do the same. He was trying to stay as casual and friendly as he could. He didn't want Naga to think he was going to get yelled at or something.
Naga hesitated, but eventually joined him on the bed. They sat in silence for a while. Lucky wasn't sure how to begin this. He had honestly been expecting to not get this far.
"So um... can you explain what's up? Why are you so weird about me and Stinger now that we're dating?" Lucky asked.
It took quite a while before Naga answered. "I don't know..."
"Do you have even a slight idea?"
"Balance said it was... jealousy..." Naga mumbled.
"Jealousy?" Lucky repeated.
"I... maybe I... like you... both of you..."
"Eh?" Lucky stared at him, unsure how to process this new information.
This situation was because Naga liked both him and Stinger and instead of getting either of them, they were dating each other. That was one thought that had never crossed Lucky's mind about this. He didn't think any of this was because Naga had a crush on one of them.
"I'm sorry..." Naga whispered, looking down.
"Don't be. You can't help your feelings." Lucky replied. "But... what can we do about it...?"
"I'm sorry." Naga repeated.
"It's fine. Look, why don't I go talk to Stinger about this and then we'll come up with a plan to fix this issue. Okay?"
Naga nodded. He still refused to lift his gaze. Lucky stared at him for a moment longer and then left the room. He returned to Stinger. Stinger looked like he was waiting.
"So?" He asked the moment Lucky returned.
"Well..." Lucky repeated what Naga had said.
"He... likes us?" Stinger said. "That's... not the issue I was expecting here."
"I know but what do we do? Can we help him somehow?" Lucky asked. "He feels awful that he's acting like this. Even though I said it wasn't his fault. It's not like he's used to emotions like that."
"I don't know what we could do." Stinger replied.
"I... do have one idea." Lucky said, a bit nervously.
Stinger eyed him up. "And that is?"
"We could... date him too. Right?" Lucky offered with a nervous smile.
"What?" Stinger bluescreened at the suggestion.
"What? It was just a thought. I mean, if he likes both of us then... well... we'd both have to like him too and all and is it that? Is that why you're shocked cause I am I guess basically saying I do like him?" Lucky said.
"I... it's not... that. I just... not something I am very familiar with..." Stinger stammered out. "Not really a thing for my kind, you know?"
"Oh. Well, do you wanna think about it?"
"I... I need time."
...
It took a few days before Stinger came to a decision. Lucky was on board with his idea from the moment he suggested it. He was just waiting for Stinger to decide if it was a go or not.
"I guess we could try it..." Stinger said.
"Let's go tell Naga then." Lucky replied.
"Together?"
"I think we need to."
"Fine."
The two of them went searching for Naga. He had been avoiding them even more since he admitted his issue. It was hard to find him, but they eventually did. He was in his room.
There was a tense stare-off for a while before Naga let them in and the talks began.
"So, we talked about everything and well... do you want to join?" Lucky got straight to the point.
"Join?" Naga repeated, glancing between the two.
Lucky smiled and nodded. "Yeah. You could date both of us too. We agreed it's fine if you want to."
"I could... date you both?"
"Yeah. It's a thing. You don't have to only have one partner."
"I... okay."
"Awesome! So, uh, guess we should discuss boundaries for this, right?" Lucky said.
"Probably should so no one's feelings get hurt." Stinger nodded.
"Alright. Let's talk!"