vi.

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Disclaimer: Characters are not mine, but the story sure is!

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Ike stood at the entrance for the longest time. Somehow, he couldn't bring himself to move another step forward. Considering his situation, this was on the top of his list for "most awkward moments".

Ganondorf could only laugh at the hopeless boy. How many youngsters before him had he seen frozen at his doorway? He looked around his own shop, searching for something that would appeal to his new customer.

When Ike finally settled down and was able to relax his tense body, he saw the shopkeeper in front of him, hands wrapped around a handful of products.

"Here, as a small welcome, I gathered a few product samples for you, boy." The man practically dropped the packets of god-knows-what into Ike's arms. Ike took a moment to comprehend what he was carrying.

"Call it a 'beginner's package'. You may come back anytime if you and your boyfriend want something more... exotic."

Lotions and tiny plastic packets. Ike wasn't so oblivious that he didn't know what he was holding, but Ganondorf's suggestion was enough to give him rosy cheeks.

Plus, despite being a healthy male, Ike could honestly say he hasn't thought of doing anything like this in quite awhile. In fact, ever since he became "independent" (not counting the mothering from Marth), sex has been the last thing on his mind.

"Sir," Ike pushed the items back at Ganondorf, "I really don't think I'll be needing these... gifts anytime soon. Please take them back."

But the other man chuckled once more. Ike was beginning to hate the sounds emitted by this man he'd just met. "But if not for yourself, then what about your lover? It's no fun if you don't prepare yourself before the real thing."

Ike bit his lip. "Marth is not my lover! You've got the wrong idea!" Even the young man was shocked by the volume of his own voice. But what could he do? Ganondorf just wasn't listening to anything he said.

"Oh? And here I thought that beauty finally found himself a man that could make him scream-"

BAM!

Ike lost it.

Coming into this shop was a big mistake. With a man like this insulting his friends, no one would think less of him for throwing such a forceful punch at the dark skinned man. However, the shopkeeper was faster than he thought. Ike's assault was smothered by Ganondorf's right hand. He likely anticipated the attack. After all, Ike's build would have anyone on guard, and the only thing Ganondorf has done since he stepped foot in here was provoke him.

"You're disgusting, old man." Even with his fist trapped in Ganondorf's hand, Ike continued to shake with rage. A few moments of glaring on Ike's part, and Ganondorf finally let go. He placed a hand to his chest, in the area where his heart would be.

"My sincere apologies, young man." Yeah right. The bluenette could just tell the phrase had no regretful feelings attached. "I didn't know you felt so strongly for the people I mentioned." Ike continued to throw pointed looks at the man. "But surely, I'm not wrong about you having feelings beyond friendship for that beau- for Marth?"

At this, Ike truly did not know how to respond. Roy was the only one that knew of his slight crush for Marth, and here he was talking to a total stranger who had a hunch about his secret. Was he really that easy to read...?

"Look, my personal life has nothing to do with you," Ganondorf put a hand to his mouth as if to hold back laughter, "So I'm just gonna get out and pretend this day never happened... Except I'm so busting you on stealing Zelda's clothing designs."

Ganondorf just could not hold back. He bellowed loudly as he held his stomach, laughing to the state of tears. Ike grabbed his groceries once more and headed for the door, but an arm latched itself around his neck.

"You're too much, boy. I honestly haven't had such a good time in a long while. What's your name?"

"None of your business." It was rare for Ike to be this angry with someone. Ganondorf just wouldn't stop getting on his nerve.

"But it'd be nice to know the name of the person I'm about to show my private collection to." The older man walked on, signalling Ike to follow along.

Private collection...?

"Do you want to see what else I have? You may even find an album of Marth if you come in..."

That was the reason why Ike stepped foot into this place to begin with. In other words, this man... he could be dangerous. He wasn't sure what he wanted with Marth, but Ike didn't want to chance it. He cautiously followed the man to the back of the store.

At the door of Ganondorf's office, the student watched as the shopkeeper pulled a book from his shelf. He caught it clumsily when it was suddenly tossed his way.

"You should be grateful that I'm sharing this with you, boy. It's not something you get to see everyday."

"...It's Ike. My name's Ike." Being called boy the entire time annoyed him, so he decided to provide at least that much information about himself to the orange haired man. He flipped open the book and gaped.

It was a full album of Marth... in his Friday outfits at the cafe!

Marth as a maid on the first few pages. Marth in a sailor uniform in the next. Ike continued flipping through the book, wondering what other outfits had he not seen of his roommate.

He paused at a photo that had Marth in a white night gown, hugging a pillow and looking ever so innocent.

Ike could feel a huge thump in his chest the moment he saw it.

"Oh, that was one of the first photos I took of him. I believe it was also his first day on the job. That day, he won the hearts of dozens with his child-like innocence. I even tried to recruit him." Ike looked up.

"What do you mean... recruit?" He had a feeling he didn't want to know, but it may clue him in on potential dangers that Marth may face.

Ganondorf smirked. "His innocence could win anyone over in a matter of minutes. Had he agreed, I would've spread his image everywhere and he'd be a star."

"Y-you own a sex shop though! If he was crazy enough to agree you would've... you would've made him some gay porn star!" This was starting to be overwhelming. They've only met for about a half hour, and already, Ike knew this guy was nothing but trouble.

"Still, he would've been a star nonetheless. And with his looks, wouldn't you agree that even you would become a loyal fan?" More laughter was produced by the tall man, and more anger burned inside Ike.

"I'm leaving." What he wanted to do was confiscate this album, but Ganondorf held the book in place with a hand.

"Alright then, Ike," The owner grabbed at a loose photo sticking out of the album. "Take this one with you as a small souvenir, since you obviously have no interest in my wares."

Between those dark digits was a photograph of Marth in what appeared to be one of the more casual costumes that he had to wear. With a plain white dress shirt, black pants, and a bow tie, the only thing out of the ordinary was his posture.

Paying no attention to the photographer's lens directed at him, Marth's body was twisted in a way that made his butt stick out more than usual, a bit of red evident on his cheeks and his ears.

"Possibly my best shot of him!"

Grumbling and shoving the picture into his pocket, Ike vowed to return and have his revenge on the shopkeep for messing him up so badly. One day, Ganondorf will regret what he did tonight.

::::::

"Roy, did you remember to pay the landlord for this month's rent? She's been bugging me about it since Monday."

Roy was sitting on his bed and/or sofa with a spoon in his mouth. The nights were heating up which made his ice cream all the more enjoyable. "I gave the money to his wife a long time ago. If he doesn't know then they need to work on their communication." Marth laughed. It's a known fact in this apartment building that the landlord's wife yelled at her husband weekly. The whole first floor would always complain. Luckily, Roy found their place on the sixth floor, safe from the loud arguments.

"So where's Ike? I'm starving already!"

"I sent him out two hours ago... Maybe he ran into a friend?"

"I'll give him a call." Cellphone speed dial number three was Ike on Roy's phone. They didn't bother getting a phone for their apartment since everyone had their own already. A few rings and the other line picked up.

"What is it, Roy." Clearly, Ike wasn't happy with the call.

"Buddy, where are you? I'm hungry and running out of things to eat. Are you close to home?"

"I'm pissed off and at the door." Roy ignored the first statement, giving a small cheer and buzzed his roommate in.

"Welcome back, Ike." Marth quickly grabbed the groceries from his hands and took the items to the kitchen. Ike shrugged and walked into the living room.

"So, what pissed you off? Did you have to fight an old lady for bananas?" Roy hated grocery shopping. He always lost when the elders got whiney.

Ike wondered if he should tell Roy about his encounter. Unfortunately, it didn't seem like Roy knew much about Marth's job, so it'd be best to keep that part a secret. Instead, he chose his words carefully...

"I ran into a stalker of Marth's today." Or just quick and to the point.

"Ew, what?" Roy sat up and looked confused.

"Meant exactly what I said."

"...Who was it?"

"Some old man who I think could be dangerous."

"Does Marth know? Should we call the cops?"

"No, I don't have enough against him for the cops to do anything about this... but I'll talk to Marth later about this so he can protect himself."

Roy thought on this for a moment. "You sure you want to tell him?"

"Why wouldn't I?"

"Well, you know how people get really scared and uptight when they hear about things like this? Every little thing could set him off since he's on alert the whole time."

"I think it'd be better if he was alert at all times though. It's a stalker we're dealing with, after all."

"B-but..." Roy looked at Marth's direction. The cut-out in the wall of the living room was like a frame of the kitchen. Inside, Marth was busying himself making dinner for the two younger boys. Knowing that the oldest would take awhile, Roy nodded, as if deciding on something that Ike would soon know. "Listen, Ike. I'm happy that you care so much about our roommate, but the last time something like this happened, it left Marth pretty paranoid."

At the remark, Ike didn't know what to say. This wasn't the first time that Marth has been stalked...? Granted, he found Ganondorf to be a minor case, since the creepy shopkeep was observing his friend in the open where the other cafe workers could keep an eye on him. But... this new information Roy provided made Ike curious. He eyed the redhead, signalling him to go on.

"You see, in primary school, we were together all the time. We lived in the same neighbourhood so we came to school and came home together. I'd be at his place from time to time, and he'd come to mine." Ike was a bit afraid where this was going, but he let Roy continue. "In junior high we were separated, as you would know since I was in the same school as you, but Marth ended up in an all-boys high school. Then, during his last year there... was well, a bit of a situation."

"... A stalker?"

"Bingo. Some boy in a different class than him started following him home. He'd even leave letters at Marth's locker with some disturbing messages, which Marth tried to ignore."

Ike could feel the back of his neck cool from sweat. He didn't know the university student had been through something like this.

"The frequency of the letters grew and then Marth started to notice someone watching him. I remember running into him in the midst of all this once, and wow, did he look pale! I can only imagine how nervous he was about it. Anyways, he eventually told his parents, so they contacted the staff at school to be on the look out. I'm really glad they did, too!"

"W-what happened?" Roy's expression darkened, and the usually cheerful boy looked genuinely mad for once.

"The asshole pushed Marth down the stairs! Finally snapped and was angry that his love wasn't getting returned and that if Marth wasn't his, he shouldn't be anyone's. The staff caught the culprit immediately, otherwise who knows what else he'd do to Marth!"

Silence.

Ike had absorbed the information and was picturing it in his head. It played out like a TV drama in his mind. He just couldn't believe someone going that berserk for a person they liked. And for this to happen to his roommate... to Marth... A fire burned within him from the rage he felt to this individual that wanted to harm his friend. And he knew Roy felt the same way as he watched the knuckles of the redhead clench when he spoke.

"If you like someone, why would you hurt them! It makes no sense! The guy was a stalker and stalkers don't leave names! How is Marth supposed to know who was following him! Why the hell should they suffer for things they don't know about?"

"Roy..." Ike put a hand on Roy's shoulder to calm him down. The redhead heaved a big sigh and raised a hand to tell Ike he was fine. Thankfully, the television was on and the volume covered Roy's voice so Marth couldn't hear the conversation.

"My family heard about all this from a phone call after dad called his parents about it. There was a small article about it mentioning Marth's high school in the paper, so dad got worried and hoped it wasn't what we thought it was. Unfortunately, some things just can't be the way you want them to be."

"Didn't he live close to you, though?"

"Nope. He moved closer to his junior high after primary school, so I guess we fell apart. But our parents were still friends and chatted occasionally. But thank God he wasn't hurt badly and there's no scars on him. Since then though, I'm certain he's become wary of people around him, particularly men."

"What happened to the other guy?" Ike wanted to know what happened to that bastard. If he was let off, Ike would make sure to find him and make his life miserable.

"He-" Roy looked up and quickly shut up.

"What are you two gossiping about? It's rare to see you two have a deep conversation; you're making me worried!" The bluenette with an apron had come by, a plate of freshly cooked eggs and shrimp ready to eat. "Dinner's ready. I'm not going to spoon-feed you, now come and eat up before they get cold."

"Got it!" The heavy atmosphere around Roy lifted instantly and he was back to all smiles. Ike nodded at the oldest, but he was still looking for the answer to his question. When the youngest mouthed a 'Talk later' to him though, he relaxed a bit and took a seat at the dinner table.

:::::

"The asshole suddenly pushed Marth down the stairs. Finally snapped and was angry that his love wasn't getting returned and that if Marth wasn't his, he shouldn't be anyone's..."

Roy's words were the only thing that Ike could think about for the rest of the night. After dinner, Marth and Roy did the dishes while Ike went to put away the laundry. He finished before the other two somehow and locked himself in his room. Lying in bed and contemplating various things, he shifted about constantly. It just irritated him. Seeing the prince-like man socialize with people at the cafe, you could just tell he was liked by everyone. It's not that Ike couldn't grasp the idea of a man liking the bluenette, heck, he admitted to harbouring a crush for Marth himself. But for a feeling so pure to become so sinister... Ike just couldn't understand it.

'If you like someone, why would you hurt them! It makes no sense! ...Why the hell should they suffer for things they don't know about!' The more he thought, the angrier he got. It wasn't until the knock on his door came that he simmered down.

"Ike, it's me." Ike got up and unlocked the door for Roy. The shorter came in and closed the door behind him quietly. He chuckled when he saw the huge frown on Ike's face. "Sorry, did my story upset you that much?"

"Yes. I don't think I've felt so much hate in one day in a LONG time." First Ganondorf and now this unnamed dickhead. Ike would fill his monthly quota for rage with today alone.

"I just thought it was something you needed to know. I mean, I can tell you care for Marth and..." Roy scooted closer and whispered to Ike, just for the effect, "You're probably in love with him too."

Ike shoved at Roy with a blush on his face. Roy just laughed out loud and fell onto Ike's bed. "Say that ONE more time and I'll-"

"Oh c'mon, Ike. It's okay! I'm perfectly aware of how attractive Marth can be! I felt the same way years ago!"

...What?

"WHAT?" Voicing his thoughts was the only way Ike could express his thoughts at that moment. Roy... for Marth! He was getting confused now.

"Yup! When I was younger, Marth was the prettiest person I ever saw! I was a little heartbroken when I found out he was a boy, but I still liked him!"

"Wait, you're talking about liking him as a friend, right?"

"Hmm, well, back then it was probably more of a romantic feeling. Even little kids knew what it's like to want someone to be their boyfriend or girlfriend."

"B-but do you... still like him like that now?"

"Hmm." Roy's thinking pose was obvious. He'd put a finger to his forehead and start tapping. But the grin usually meant he had come to a conclusion. "I'll let you think on that!"

Goddamnit. Stupid Roy is always messing with my head nowadays.

"Well, I've made my confession into admitting that I might be less than straight, now where's yours?"

"Huh?"

"You. Why did you start liking our roomy all of a sudden? I don't recall you guys even talking much until you got that new job."

"...I don't even understand it myself." Spending time with Marth turned out to be more enjoyable than Ike imagined. At the cafe on a slow day, the only thing they'd do was talk about their daily life, how things are back home, or even Roy's latest mess ups with groceries. Their conversations were very casual, but one thing Ike noticed was Marth often held back about his family. Other than that, most of the time Ike was more absorbed in the expressions Marth would make during their chit-chat sessions. A smile filled Ike with happiness, a worried look made Ike worry as well, and the occasional blush from the older male would send Ike's heart racing.

"So, you just fell for a good-looking guy like a teenaged girl looking for some romance in her life?" Ike shivered at the description that Roy gave. The last thing he wanted was for his crush to be compared to a schoolgirl's.

"It's more that I like spending time with him... He's a good person. And, he takes care of me. Well, us." Roy nodded at that statement. Marth would make a good wife, but they were pretty sure the man was more straight than anything. "By the way, weren't you gonna tell me what happened to that guy?"

"Who?"

Ike frowned at Roy's forgetfulness. "The stalker that Marth had. Isn't that why you're here to begin with?"

"Oh yeah. Ha ha." Sometimes Ike wondered if Roy was faking it, but he'd save that conversation for another day. "Well, like I said, the staff at the school caught him before he could do anything else to Marth. They asked Marth's family if they wanted to take this to the courts, but Marth didn't want to."

"What? Why not?"

"I'm not sure. From what I heard from dad, the stalker kid was on medication and was a little nuts to begin with. They removed him from the school and no one's really heard from him since. As far as I'm concerned, as long as he stays away from Marth, I can rest easy."

"For me, I almost want the guy to suffer." Ike heard a small 'aww' from the redhead. He frowned at the shorter male who clasped his hands together and was making kissy faces. Ike then proceeded to smack Roy on the head.

"Ow! You're such a violent person!"

"I never said I wasn't."

"Your kids are going to hate you if you discipline them like this- Oh wait, you're gonna marry Marth anyways-" Ike hit him again for good measure.

:::::

Friday afternoon in the apartment was unusually loud. Roy was enjoying his off-day and was spending time at home playing a new online game on his laptop. He hooked up the sound to be blasted from his new speakers with heavy bass.

"Yeah! Take that you stupid ogre! My elf's going to wipe out your army!" He was smashing the keyboard like a maniac while still in his pyjamas, and Marth could only sigh at the sight. He took a plate of his lunch over to Roy and shoved a piece of toast into the redhead's mouth. "Fangs Warf." He assumed that was a thanks and went back to his room.

Meanwhile, Ike was seated at the dinner table facing the television as usual. Thanks to Roy's hook up to the speaker, nothing from the TV was getting to him. Which was fine for him, since he wasn't really interested in the show about "Epic Yarn". His mind was more pre-occupied by his nightshift. Today, he had a mission. And the other bluenette would soon find that his roommate knew more than he should.

"Wike, wry ru rook sho wor-"

"Roy, don't talk with your mouth full."

Roy tried again after finishing his toast. "Why d'you look so worried? Something happening today?"

"Just... work."

"What, are they putting you in a maid dress?"

"No. I might destroy the cafe's reputation if they did anyways."

"True. I don't think I wanna see a guy with your kind of muscles in something so delicate anyways. I have a few friends that might though." Ike was hoping said friends were female.

Marth came out of his room later with his messenger bag, dressed in a simple white dress shirt and blue jeans. "I'm heading out to work you two. There's still some of last night's dinner in the fridge, and Roy, I'm bringing the box for the speakers downstairs for recycling."

The two younger boys looked at each other and grinned. "We love you, mommy."

"Shut up."

"Yes, mommy."

"... Just lock the door." And the bluenette was gone. It took Roy a moment too late to realize though.

"Ike, I thought you said you had work?"

"Yup."

"... Why aren't you heading out with Marth then?"

"I... have a slightly later shift." In reality, he just didn't want Marth to know about his shift till later. If they headed to the cafe together, Marth might runaway from knowing Ike would be there tonight. But if he was at the cafe already, Zelda or Peach could probably keep him there.

"Well, if you're both gone, I think I'll call my friends and head out tonight too. No use staying here."

"I thought you were having fun gaming though?"

"That's the thing; it's not fun anymore. I just got it and my sprite's already pretty powered up. There's no challenge that way and all the other players don't seem to know what their doing." Speaking like a true gamer.

"Well, do whatever you want. I'm going to wash up and then go out."

"...Why do you need to wash up? You look presentable."

Ike paused. Why did he need to wash up...?

"There's going to be more girls tonight at the cafe."

He could hear Roy laughing as he made his way to their washroom.

:::::

"Marth, you're early today!" Zelda skipped over from the counter, happy to see her star employee.

"You told me to be here at five for fitting, remember?" The 'show' starts at seven, but Zelda would often get Marth to come sooner to try out his new outfit in case she wanted to add to it.

"Yup! But I'm just not used to people coming on time since I have to deal with Pit."

"Hey! I'm pretty punctual! I haven't been late once this week!" The brunette dropped off his tray so he could deliver his next order to the right table.

"You were late yesterday." The baby-faced boy winced.

"B-but I called ahead of time for that one! It doesn't count."

"Well, Peach is in the back helping me with a few decorations on your outfit; just go to the closet and you'll be in for a nice surprise!"

"O-okay." The hardest part of the job was anticipating what he'd be forced to wear. He could never read the elfin woman's mind. He was also afraid to give any input incase it led to changes that would show more skin.

Heading down the hallway, his head was filled with images of what his next outfit could possibly be. An angel? A ballgown? Maybe even a tutu. Whatever it was, Marth would be the centre of attention for all the female customers. He also knew the men would either ridicule him or question their own sexuality. Strangely, Zelda had a thing for making his outfits, and they would always suit his androgynous features perfectly without it looking out of place (yes, even the maid outfit).

When he knocked on the closet door, Peach opened up right away. "Marth! You're here! I just finished adding a few more frills to your outfit tonight; you'll look gorgeous as usual!" An awkward laugh was the only thing he could give his co-worker at the moment. Over the time he's worked here, he found out it's easier to give in and obey than to put up a fight with the girls. He just wouldn't win.

"I'm ready. Let me have a look." He stepped inside, and the first thing he saw on the table was a red dress decorated with black lace on the edges. "...What's the theme?"

"Red Riding Hood!" From the right side of the room, Peach retrieved a pink shawl and the dark red hood to make it more obvious. "I'm still debating whether to give you the white or black thigh-highs, so you'll have to put the outfit on and we'll just see which one works!"

"Anything but fishnets." And Peach gave a loud 'Ha!'.

"Never! Fishnets just don't work with you; you give up too much of that 'pure' vibe to be wearing something like that!" The criteria that needed to be fulfilled when Zelda and Peach thought up outfits for Marth were... a) It has to make him look innocent. b) It has to make him look soft and gentle. c) It has to make him look like a convincing girl but retain some features of a boy. And d) it has to show enough skin to force him to blush naturally. Personally, Marth hated the fourth criterion as it was the leading cause of male patrons falling for him. He would be on his guard every Friday night, especially when he went home from work. It was hard to tell from his small build, but he was quite the martial artist and could take out a bigger man if he needed to.

With one last sigh, he gathered the articles of clothing and went into one of the changerooms. From his bag, he took out his trusty pair of black biking shorts. Just in case. He'd never wear the dresses he was given without them. There were some really sick people out there who might find ways to take shots of the underside of his dress.

"Here, try it with these ones first!" Peach tossed a pair of black stockings over the curtain of the changeroom. The pair landed right on Marth's head. He groaned when he saw the equally fancy laced edge on the thigh-high stockings as the ones on his dress.

After putting on the full Red Riding Hood get up, he grudgingly lifted the curtain. "I-I think the stockings make me look a little...Hmm." Peach looked him from head to toe, then with a quick nod, she tossed him a pair of white knee-high socks.

"Maybe these ones will look cuter. The thigh-highs seem a little... risque." Marth twitched at the word. Standing up, the dress was just a little higher than his knees, but he knew sitting in them would leave his thighs showing. Despite showing more skin, the knee-highs were a better choice and made him look less seductive. He quickly removed the black ones and replaced it with the white. He noticed the little pink bow near the edge. Peach nodded in approval as soon as he stood up again. "Yup! These ones fit perfectly! Now, put these red flats on and we'll show you off to Zelda!" Well, on the bright side, at least he didn't have to trip over himself in heels tonight.

:::::

Ike got off the bus around six-thirty and headed to his workplace. Zelda had indicated that his costume was ready for the night, so he didn't have to wear anything specific and could change at work. He walked a few paces forward, then turned around and walked right back. He was nervous. Ike tried again, but stopped on the other side of the street from the cafe. His hair smelled like a kiwi shampoo that was usually reserved for Marth, and he put on a cologne that gave off a peppermint scent (courtesy of Roy). It's as if was going on his first date rather than heading to a nightshift at work.

"...The hell am I doing standing here..." He ruffled his hair and took a deep breath. No use trying to run now when he was already here. He pushed forward and through the cafe doors. What he didn't expect was to be greeted by an overly excited Pit.

"Ike! I heard! I heard! Today's your first nightshift, right!" Ike jumped a bit at his enthusiasm and made a 'Shhhh' sound to make Pit lower his volume.

"It is, but Marth doesn't know about this yet."

"What? How!" Again, Ike tried to shush him, but the brunette was obviously looking forward to tonight.

"We kept it a secret from him. I don't think Marth wants me to find out about his crossdressing to begin with."

"Well, he's not going to have to keep it secret for long." Pit dragged Ike by the hand and took him to the back. "C'mon! Peach is dying to show you your outfit!"

"Peach? Where's Zelda then?" He looked back at the cafe that was filling up with patrons. Girls were occupied by the handsome manager's skills in making coffee, but their lovely boss was no where to be seen.

"Zelda's around." A vague answer, but Ike didn't think much of it. As long as someone was here to help him out, he'd be fine. Hopefully.

Suddenly, Peach poked her head out from Zelda's office and waved Pit and Ike inside. Confused, Ike went into the small room. "Marth's in the closet trying to calm himself down, so you'll just have to change here instead, Ike." In Peach's arms was the wolf costume that Zelda finished recently. With the costume gathered in a bundle, Ike couldn't quite picture how the whole outfit would look on him, until Peach handed him a piece of paper. "I drew out how the whole thing is supposed to look when you're done. Just follow the picture and putting this on should be straightforward!" With that, Peach pushed Pit out of the room and shut the door behind her.

Ike looked at the picture, then back at the pile of clothes. "Something tells me the boss was checking me out during work."

:::::

"O-ow! Zelda, don't put that thing near my eyes!"

"No! Your lashes are so long; it'd be a pity if I didn't put more emphasis on them with this eye shadow!"

"W-what's that thing then!"

"Lip gloss! Marth, we go through this every week; you should learn more about make-up!"

The struggle with Zelda an hour ago was as tiring as always. One thing he refused to learn for the job was how to do make-up. He already had trouble admitting that he knew how to look good in women's clothes; if he added make-up to his list of "things I shouldn't learn to do myself but did", he could never revert back to the life of an ordinary man.

The clock on the wall made a light beeping sound, telling Marth that it was time. Seven o'clock on a summer day meant the sun was still out. The orange filtered through the windows and curtains, giving the cafe the perfect setting for their theme. The usually black walls were covered temporarily with paper decorated with painted trees. Mario was quite the artist and had helped Zelda out with mood-setting again. The Mario Brothers were an important part of Friday nights. Luigi would fix up the menu so all the items would go with the night's theme. It's no wonder the cakes that Pit took out from the kitchen were shaped like cute animals along with various other fairy tale references.

"Ooo, nice outfit, Marth!" Pit plopped the tray onto the counter and clapped a few times. Marth rolled his eyes but curtsied in response, causing the other to laugh. "I'm not in the cast today, but I still had to dress like a villager earlier for my shift!"

"If you added a hat, you could be Robin Hood." Pit quirked an eyebrow.

"You want Robin Hood mixed with Little Red Riding Hood? Heck, that'd be a neat idea! I'll go find a hat!"

"Just go change, Pit. Your shift just ended anyways." Sheik tossed his ponytail behind him, prompting a few of his fans to sigh. Marth would comment once more about the flowery and sparkly atmosphere that Sheik had around him, but he remembered the last time he mentioned it his words were thrown back at him.

"I'll be back quick! Really looking forward to tonight's performance, Marth!" A heavy smack to his back was felt, and Marth grumbled as the cheerful male made his way to the back.

"How does he continue to have so much energy after a full shift?"

"Coffee, maybe."

"...Right."

"Okay, don't just sit here now, our dear princess," The bluenette shot an angry pout at his manager. "Get to work and remember to look cute."

"I know, I know..." The straw basket was his prop for today. He dropped a few plates of cakes inside and delivered them to their designated tables, always with a sweet smile that made the customers gush. It was frightening how easily Marth got into character nowadays. His steps became more like dancing and he acted like a young girl to suit his role. The cafe was bustling with people eager to try the special menu and chat with the cute blue-haired Red Riding Hood. Many of the girls commented on his cute outfit, which he thanked them kindly with a light bow. Others asked him where his grandma was, and he responded with a rehearsed "I'll see her soon!", voice a little higher pitched than he would usually have it. Nonetheless, Zelda was the one that trained him, and the woman knew what her visitors liked.

Of course, there were times when the man would not need to cater at all. It was a strategy that Zelda used time and time again. Marth would be seated on a special seat of a make-shift stage and the only thing he had to do was be eye-candy. Like the first time Marth started this line of work, he'd be observed from all directions. His experience did not make the task easier though; he still fidgeted from all the gazing and analysing that everyone did.

"Oh gosh."

"Holy-"

"Is that...!"

"O-oh my god."

While Marth was seated in his reserved spot on stage, to his surprise the reactions today were a little...off. The attention was not on him, but... towards the hallway to the back...?

"...!" Red Riding Hood's jaw dropped. No way. No... It can't be... "IKE!"

Crash!

"O-ow..." The shock pushed Marth off his chair and he landed on the wood platform heavily. The patrons gasped and headed forward to help him up, but Ike dashed in immediately and was the first to reach the other man. Marth looked up. He couldn't believe it! Ike was... the Big Bad Wolf! He had a pair of tattered jeans, a vest made of faux fur, and some matching ears and tail. The thing that caught Marth most off-guard was that he wore nothing under the vest and had most of his upper body exposed. As if trying to hide himself, Marth backed into the wall and was beat-red from seeing his roommate. However, to the unaware guests, it looked more like a scene from the story, with Little Red cowering in fear upon seeing the wolf.

Ike smirked and bent down, grabbing Marth's hand and pulling him forward. Marth's head landed with a light thud in the middle of Ike's bare chest.

"Be careful, Little Red. Or I'm going to eat you."

And the crowd went wild.

:::::

To be continued in Chapter 7.

A/N: A long chapter after a long hiatus! And here we are, the anticipated Friday night arrives! But because this chapter was getting so big already, I decided to put the rest into the next chapter rather than squishing it into this one. Thank you for all the feedback that everyone has given me, and also a big thanks if you've managed to follow this story from the beginning till now! I do not always respond, but I promise I always read every message that comes my way!

-Fhal