Fic: Courage

[csi_sanders1129]

Title: Courage
Chapters: 3/10
Author: csi_sanders1129
Genre: Friendship. Drama. Romance. Angst. Humor.
Ratings: T
Word Count: ~1700
Pairings/Characters: Fred Jones/Shaggy Rogers.
Synopsis: Fred and Shaggy go from friends to more as they live through ten courage-requiring events at Coolsville High.

Comments: I’m writing slash for Scooby-Doo. I’m weird. I know. On that note, you have been warned. And, while reviews are awesome, flames will not be tolerated – they will be deleted. Original characters are mine, but everyone else belongs to Hanna-Barbera. It is set in the Mystery Begins/Curse of the Lake Monster!Verse, but does occasionally reference mysteries from Where Are You!, some references to Pup Named Scooby Doo via Red Herring, and one to Alien Invaders later on. This was also a ten-song challenge thing (that I totally cheated on) and so there’ll be song names at the beginning of each chapter, too. Enjoy!

This chapter also counts as one of my hs_bingo  prompts for class: home-ec.

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 |

Sugar Rush / A*Teens

Fred's free period before lunch is usually spent either studying or practicing. Today, it is being used as an attempt to track Shaggy down for information on their upcoming road-trip to Erie Point for their summer jobs.

"Alright, class," Mrs. Holmes, the home-ec teacher announces to her numerous students all grouped about and gathered near ovens. "Your final project dishes should be just about done now. You have five minutes to finish them up."

There are a couple of panicked whispers from some of the less impressive student-chefs, but Fred notices –as he lingers in the doorway waiting for the class to get out – that Shaggy is off on his own at a corner station, calmly leaning against a counter with his dish presumably already completed but nowhere to be seen.

"Is there something I can help you with, Mr. Jones?" The teacher says, and all eyes turn to focus on Fred. "Or perhaps you would like to assist me in taste-testing these undoubtedly delicious treats?"

Since it is before lunch, Fred's stomach gives an appreciative growl. He can always talk to Shaggy about the plans after school. "Ugh, sure."

"Nobody ever turns that offer down," Mrs. Holmes laughs as she ushers the school's star football and basketball player into the room. "We'll start with Amber's project," she announces, approaching the first table, now that the students have started finishing up their dishes. "Double chocolate chip cupcakes with white chocolate icing."

They both claim a cupcake and while it's a little overpowering on the chocolate levels, it's not half bad.

Next is Mark with an attempt at Key Lime Pie that somehow went horribly, horribly wrong.

Then, Kayla and Sam who worked together on a dish that sandwiched homemade ice-cream between impressive chocolate chip cookies made from scratch.

The various desserts rank sporadically as good and bad, and require varying amounts of bravery to test. At last, after a particularly dreadful try for S'mores cake, they come to Shaggy.

"Ah, Mr. Rogers," the teacher says, as Shaggy retrieves the chilling dessert from the nearby refrigerator, "you have likely outdone yourself again."

Fred isn't sure if he's surprised that Shaggy seems to be the favored student in the class – probably the only place where that's true, really. He wonders if he should be expecting something crazy and madly concocted, especially after the surprise ingredient in Scooby Snax was so casually announced. And, yeah, he knows Shaggy is entirely capable of making simple foods for movie nights, but this class seems like it goes beyond simple foods.

When Shaggy reveals a professional looking cake, he doesn't know what to think.

"It's, like, red velvet with peppermint cream cheese icing," he explains as he cuts a few generous slices, looking nervously at Fred like he's worried if he'll like it. "Personally, I would recommend adding some hot sauce, pickles, and pastrami to further appreciate the taste, but I'll, like, understand if you decline."

Mrs. Holmes gets to it first, and she doesn't seem to be suffering from any dog-food related aftertastes, so Fred tries it as well.

It is the best dessert in the room. It is quite possibly the best dessert he's ever had, for that matter. "It's awesome, Shag," Fred manages to articulate before he claiming another bite of the deliciously amazing cake. He attempts to further compliment the cake, but all that comes out is a jumble of incomprehensible mumbling because it's just that good.

Shaggy laughs and claims his own piece, grabbing his extra ingredients from the fridge, as well. He unrepentantly adds a few slices of pastrami, a collection of pickles and a liberal amount of hot sauce to the cake.

"Oh, Mr. Rogers, why must you ruin a perfectly amazing dessert with yet another of your wild creations?"

When the other boy frowns down at what he claims is a delicious masterpiece, Fred feels oddly defensive. "I'll try a bite of that, Shags, if you don't mind?"

The grin he gets in response is enough to keep him from regretting his offer. Shaggy offers him a forkful of the cake/icing/pastrami/pickle/hot sauce mixture and Fred warily stares at it for a moment before he can bring himself to actually get it into his mouth.

"You don't have to-" Shaggy tries, when he sees his friend delay.

"I wouldn't recommend it, Mr. Jones," the teacher warns, still distracted by her unsullied piece of cake.

That makes Fred give in, quickly devouring the bite sized blend of odd foods. It tastes a little weird at first, but it really isn't all that bad, he realizes, once he gets it down.

If Shaggy seemed anxious of his reaction before, he looks even more worried now. "If you don't like it, I understand. And, like, I have some soda in my bag if you want it…"

Fred moves his plate of regular cake closer to Shaggy's stranger supplies. "Can I have what you're having?" Whatever stomach ache it induces later will be worth it just for the look on Mrs. Holmes' face and the smile on Shaggy's.