Work Text:
Lucy was never really a party person.
One kid could only have a few Chuck-E-Cheese birthday parties past the age of 12 before it became old. And well, turns out that most foster parents' favorite go-to spot for a quick day of fun was in that raggedy rat’s grease (and miscellaneous bodily fluid) covered establishment. Lucy had hoped, and Lucy had prayed, that she would never have to step foot back into that hellish pizza joint. But of course, what does Skaia love more than to cause a Doom player misery? Cause them misery, while at a rager in a Chuck-E-Cheese of course.
She didn’t even know how Rose had done it. Renting a whole Chuck-E-Cheese, and for a party at that? And not some kiddy party with cake and balloons, no - The balloons weren’t the ones getting high tonight. Even more baffling was the fact the blonde had managed to convince Lucy to come along. Seriously - How was that woman so convincing? Maybe it was the shiny psychology degree she held under the belt, or the allure of unicorn churros - Lucy wasn’t sure.
What they were sure about however, was that their attendance was an awful, awful idea.
Thirty minutes in, and they had already resided themself to a corner over by the massive animatronic mascots. Now she was really thankful she wasn’t intoxicated like most of the attendees - Those glassy animatronic eyes and uncanny grins would’ve surely sent them into a spiral. Or, a deeper one rather.
The thing is, people don’t throw ragers at Chuck-E-Cheese for no reason. Today was certainly a special occasion, and Lucy didn’t understand how they hadn’t seen it coming. It wasn’t some brand spanking new Earth-C holiday, or an afterparty for one of Kanaya’s fashion line debuts, no. It was a certain Strider’s birthday party. And not the one she was on good terms with.
And when the birthday boy finally appeared, Lucy wished they could climb inside the suit next to them to hide. Seriously, maybe being shish-kabobed by the mascot’s endoskeleton wasn’t as bad as horror games made it out to be. Even then, if she did happen to be impaled - They would just revive back at their house.
…maybe suicide by a children franchise’s animatronic wasn’t a bad idea. And it only seemed like the most plausible and obvious course of action when Dave spotted them through the crowd. It was obvious that he was just as surprised by their presence as Lucy was - his brows furrowed almost imperceptibly, the little scar on his mouth stretching as his lips pressed together.
The expression was so Dave-like in nature, that the slowly bubbling pit of nerves in her stomach writhed like a hissing pit of snakes - and it only got worse when Dave waved off the guests around him and approached Lucy. Her fingers tightened around the red solo cup in her hands. They took back their earlier thought - She would’ve killed to be blazed right now.
“so”
The Strider shifted, burying his hand further into his pocket.
…Was he nervous?
“lucy right”
They take a sip of their drink to cover the way their breath shakes. The liquid burned the back of her throat. They might as well have been taking a sip of the forbidden airport jungle juice. Even after wetting her throat, her voice still cracks as she mumbles.
“yeah .”
“im dave”
“nice to meet you”
She can’t hide the way her throat tightens, and not just from the sting of the alcohol they keep sipping.
“i know .”
They watch as Dave’s shoulders straighten ever so slightly. It was strange seeing him so stiff. Her Dave was alwa—
They stop that train of thought right there.
Her face must’ve been betraying her thoughts, because when Dave speaks back up, it’s a bit quieter this time.
“so”
“egbert said you were like”
“really tight with the dave from your timeline”
“which is cool and all”
“but was it like a sherlock and holmes close or a drake and josh close”
“like was one of us the de facto leader cause if so i gotta step up my game’
“that and trying to mush in as much romantic tension between us as possible”
“i mean, those detectives were definitely sucking each others faces off behind the scenes”
“at least that was the sub text i was picking up on”
“You gotta admit, solving crimes with your bromeo is totally homoerot—
“dave .”
The blond clamped his mouth shut.
Lucy’s cup started to crumple under her tight grip.
“i get what youre trying to do here .”
“but you really dont have to .”
Obviously, he didn’t like the way they said that. He shifts his weight to his other foot, watching ravenette closely.
“what am i “trying to do here””
“from my perspective, im just catching up with an old frien—“
“we are not friends .”
Dave’s reaction is immediate. He frowns, the strongest emotion he’s shown all night.
That bundle of nerves in Lucy’s gut hardens into a ball of pure dread. They didn’t.. She didn’t mean to say that. That’s the kind of thing the old Lucy would say - not the one living peacefully on Earth-C with her friends. She was different now - that was the whole point of Denizen’s quest. They weren’t a child anymore.
But with Dave standing in front of her… She certainly did feel helpless.
They sigh, their free arm curling around their stomach as if to alleviate the weight in their gut.
“look .”
“i appreciate what youre trying to do here .”
“i really do .”
“but its really not necessary .”
She bites her lip.
“you dont need to pretend to know me .”
“or try to get along with me .”
“dont feel obligated to be my friend cause some versions of you were .”
“you dont need to be my “bromeo” or whatever .”
“im just fine with the way things are .”
She didn’t dare look at Dave now. She stared off into Chuck-E-Cheese’s glassy eyes, knowing hers were just as shiny.
“well im not .”
Their resolve almost slips.
“maybe its just a time player thing”
“but i hate loose ends”
She hates the way her throat tightens.
“and i hate acting like there was nothing between us”
“even if it was another version of me”
“and dont you say that you still dont care”
“i know you do”
“and you know you do”
He reaches out and grabs their shoulder. She hates the way her muscles automatically relax.
“stop running away lucy”
“stop running away from good things”
“stop running away from our friends”
“stop running from this”
“from me”
They still can’t bear to look at him.
“…”
“i dont know how .”
She hates the way her voice cracks.
“its all ive ever done .”
“i dont —“
She stays silent.
“…lucy”
His hand on their shoulder is firm. It slides to her neck, brushing against the raised scar wrapped around their skin. The touch is so familiar, and yet so foreign.
It’s not him.
It’s not him.
It’s no—
“lucy”
“look at me”
“please”
.
They slowly turn their head towards him.
She hates the way he can still make her cry.
They reach up to wipe at their eyes, smearing her tears along her cheeks. She can’t tell if Dave’s gaze has softened, but his grip has.
“i know its not the same”
“i know ill never really be the first Dave, or Davesprite, or the Dave after that”
“but”
His hand slides up to her cheek, his fingers tangling in her black tipped hair.
“i want to be your dave”
“i want to be here for you”
“so please”
“stop avoiding me”
“you dont —“
“you dont even know me .”
He tugs them a bit closer.
“i know”
“but i want to”
Lucy doesn’t try to stop the tears now. They slip down her face, wetting her cheeks and his hand. He brushes them away with careful fingers, as if even her tears were precious to him.
This Dave was obviously more attune with his feelings. Any other version of him would’ve panicked in silence over his friend crying. But this version of him was so soft, so caring…
She only cried harder at the realization.
He gently took her crumpled cup from her hands, careful not to spill the remaining contents. He set it in Chuck-E’s outstretched hand, (what a gentleman), and hugged Lucy tightly, shielding them from the rest of the party.
It was certainly a strange sight - someone sobbing over in the corner while a party raged behind them. But neither of them really cared.
After a while, Lucy finally calmed - their wet (and probably snotty) face pressed into Dave’s shirt. She hadn’t had a hug like this since… well - Davesprite. Even if he wasn’t really emotionally available, he sure was soft. Maybe they should ask Davepeta for a hug later…
But that didn’t matter right now. What did however, was the man now holding Lucy at arm’s length. His sunglasses had slipped down his nose revealing his ruby red eyes. The dim lighting didn’t do them justice.
“better?”
They nod.
“good”
“…”
“so uh
“whats the verdict bromeo”
Lucy grabs his arm and pulls him back into an embrace, squeezing him tightly.
Her Dave smiles.
“im gonna take that as a good sign”