Chapter Text
Lucario’s doorbell rang as he finished cutting up the vegetables. The Pokémon looked at the time and knew who it was and turned to go open his apartment door. Standing there were his friends, Snake and Samus Aran. Both fighters dressed casually and had brought what they’d said they’d bring for the evening dinner.
“I’ve got chicken. Samus brought a bag… bagwette…” Snake fumbled his words.
“Baguette. It’s fresh too.” Samus showed the long bread in a bag. Lucario smiled.
“Yes. This Apartment party dinner will be great! Come in.” Lucario led the two in his home and closed the door behind them. Snake and Samus set the things on the dining room table while Lucario headed back to the kitchen to continue fixing the food.
“If you wanted your friends here, why didn’t you invite anyone else?” Snake asked taking a seat. Lucario frowned facing his friend from the kitchen counter.
“I could barely afford this place. Do you really think I could feed everyone else too? Besdies… I want to keep living here, Any group of video game characters larger than three leads to unwanted shenanigans that I’m just not up for.”
“That’s a good point.” Samus said sitting down. She remembered the last get together involving food. They all still weren’t allowed to Fat Boy’s Burgers and owed money for property damage. Courtesy of some fighters wanting to Brawl in the open.
Samus shuddered at the thought of that happening again. There was ketchup everywhere…
"Hey Samus, why don't you help me with the rice?" Lucario asked from the kitchen pulling Samus from a potential flashback.
The bounty hunter looked at Lucario, then at what he was doing, and at the ingridients in the kitchen. She’d bought food specifically so she wouldn’t have to cook anything for this. And now, now she was being asked to do the very thing she was… nervous to do.
Lucario didn’t need his aura to sense the room’s temperature drop. Usually this would indicate danger but looking at the blonde bounty hunter he only saw… fear.
Was Samus... scared?
"Oh no. It's fine, I'll just stay here and let the master do their work." Samus waved off with a smile, though her hand motion was a touch frantic.
Lucario saw through it. After all, when was the last time she smiled like a valley girl? Never.
"It's fairly simple. You just add water to the rice then put it in the cooker." The bounty hunter motioned herself to look away from the kitchen as he said this. It couldn't really be true, could it?
"Really. You're the chef, I shouldn't just interfere with your... magic."
“I’m not a sorcerer. I’m a Aura Guardian.” Lucario replied.
“Oh, right. Well you know what I meant. You’re probably the better co-“
"You don't know how to cook, do you?" Snake's voice broke all tension.
For some reason Lucario didn't really think of the bounty hunter as the type to be embarrassed. Maybe it was her cool calm personality or how she never broke under pressure in the heat of battle that didn't do much to sway that perception he had. So, it came as quite the surprise when the 6’3 woman seemed to shrink and recoil into a ball in her seat.
If he wasn’t busy cutting vegetables, Lucario would have pulled out his phone and took blackmail photos. He’d NEVER seen Samus like this. And he knew he probably wouldn’t again.
"Well... I'm no Lucario but, it's mostly instant diet for me. It’s just easier you know?”
Wait… she’s got that figure on an instant diet? Snake looked down at his calves and felt a bit self-conscious. He’d had to maintain a careful diet and he still had love handles.
"Look believe it or not but cooking isn't up my alley. Unless you count knowing what to eat in the wild. But even I can manage the simple stuff." Snake replied trying to take his mind off of his chub. Samus didn’t notice.
"You may call it simple. I call it difficult."
Samus crossed her arms. Snake sighed and then stood up. The bounty hunter eyed the soldier as he beckoned her to follow him. She felt uneasy, pouting still, but stood up anyways and followed Snake to the kitchen. The two carefully avoided Lucario as he had several pots on a lit stove preparing the other courses of their meal. The two now stood at an opposite counter where the aforementioned rice cooker sat.
"It's pretty easy. First you just fill the bowl of rice with water." Snake reached into the cupboard pulling out a bag of the grain. Pulling out his pocket knife he cut the corner of it before handing it to Samus.
The blonde let out a chuckle. Snake raised a brow at Samus while she emptied the rice into a bowl. "Sorry, just, that was so predictable."
"It’s funny that I’m prepared?”
“It’s like you’re a boy scout.” Samus couldn’t help a laugh. Snake scowled.
“Well I’m prepared for any situation. You never know when you’ll need your knife.
"Now I see why you’re not allowed on airplanes.” Lucario piped up from the stove.
Samus nearly dropped the bowl laughing harder. Snake shot a glare at Lucario, the aura Pokémon’s back was turned but no doubt he was grinning at his joke.
"Then you just, add your water like so." Snake motioned to the sink. Samus turned the handle filling up the bowl until it was filled just right. She then looked to the cooker which still sat.
"And now?" Snake raised a brow.
"Isn't it obvious? Just put the bowl into the cooker. Then you set it to cook."
Samus looked to the rice in her hand then back to the cooker. Snake couldn't believe something like this would faze her. This was the same woman who exterminated Metroids for crying out loud.
Throwing away all hesitation Samus did as instructed. She clasped the cooker shut with a top keeping the rice and water contained. Reaching carefully Samus pulled the knob of the cooker adjusting it as instructed.
Lucario turned around smiling back at Samus. "Good! Now we'll have delicious rice in no time at all!"
________________________________________
Lucario stared at the charred remains of his apartment in disbelief. The Aura Pokémon had a blanket draped over his shoulders by one of the paramedics but stood still as Fire Crews smothered out what was left of the fire. It wouldn’t help. It was all gone to hell.
Just a few ways away Samus and Snake stood by an ambulance. Both their faces were covered in soot and ash as was their clothes. They two watched in disbelief at the scene.
"So... you can't cook." Snake said.
"I tried to warn you." Samus said glumly.
Snake scratched the back of his head. "I mean... it was just rice."
"I knoooooow." Samus held her head solemnly.
"I’m kind of amazed. We didn't even use any fire."
Samus shot Snake a frown. "Is this your way of consoling me? Because you're terrible at it."
"In my defense, it's why I'm never in a long-lasting relationship."
Samus spotted Lucario walking their way. She felt the weight of all that had happened grow heavier. Her heartbeat fastened and felt goosebumps crawl up her skin. Lucario stopped before her then and Samus took her chance.
"I - I am so sorry! I didn't mean to - I mean I - I suck."
Lucario blinked. He tilted his head at the bounty hunter whose eyes were remorseful. Shaking off the blanket Lucario walked past the two.
"Let's get pizza. I'm starving."
"Huh? But I-" Samus tried to interject but was stopped by Lucario. The Pokémon for some reason was smiling.
"You did your best Samus. Don't beat yourself over it. I'm just glad you tried."
Samus shared a look with Snake. The mercenary shrugging as he followed Lucario away. Though she still felt terrible Samus felt like a huge weight was lifted off her shoulders. Without another word she followed after Snake and Lucario leaving the destroyed apartment and legion of fire crew behind.
"I should probably find a new place though."
"Agreed."