#ALSO WE WONT TALK HOW TRICKS PROBS WOULDNT B ABLE TO SNEAK/WORM HIS WAY INTO SANCTURARY OK?

[hyperionshipping]

Party for two?

It’s 11:37 pm aka best time for me to post a fic. Do you remember that one sidequest where Claptrap has you deliver invites for his Sweet party? Yea well that was super sad and I am going to get everyone who didn’t go smh

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Tricks had gotten the invite a few days prior. It boasted an amazing party with pizza included. Hosted at no other place than Sanctuary! And that was what Tricks had been fighting. The invitation sat on his table as he paced thinking aloud. "Could I just sneak in? No, last time I tried that I got my ass shot. I can't not show up, I'm not that mean. Is there a group going into Sanctuary soon? I could probably blend in?" he groaned, sitting on the chair in front of his table, "this is hopeless. It's not like a can just show up with the invite like 'oh hey! Just me, local gun-for-hire who just did another job for the person you're all trying to kill! Just want in for a few minutes to see my bot friend!' They'd kill me on sight." sighing, he rested his head on his arms. "It's gonna be a long day tomorrow."

Getting a ride was easy enough, he had a car. Stolen of course, but a car nonetheless. He'd walk to Sanctuary, and hide the car. Easy. Next, he'd don his disguise. An old outfit he used to wear; Goggles and a torn leather jacket with a hood. In the hood was a rig that he wore to hold iron horns up. Pouches holding ammo hung from his sides, while a gun was holstered to his right. Strapped to his back would be one of his treasured sniper rifle but he felt it might be easier to get in without too much. Just in case things got sticky, he'd hid a knife in his boot.

The walk to Sanctuary was peaceful enough. It'd been a while since he'd been. Last time he went Roland had bought him a drink and tried to get him to join the fight. He told him the same thing, "Is it worth it? Pandora's a hellhole but I got money an' food. A place I can call home. I won't join ya, that's final." He had stopped trying after that. But outside Sanctuary they had met once again. Roland was kind, as he always was, and regarded him as a friend. It was a quick reunion but he told Tricks the same thing. "If you ever find yourself in need, the Crimson Raiders will always take you in. You have a home with us." He was sure that the offer wasn't up now. Word spreads quick in regards to Jack.

That didn't matter now. All that mattered was even getting into Sanctuary. He could see it. He could also see the guard at the entrance. He kept his head high as he walked by the guard.

"Wait," they said, putting an arm out. "Who're you?"

"Devil of the trade," Tricks said, smiling. The guard looked him up and down. "But you can just call me Devil."

"Uh-huh. What's your business?"

"Here for a friend. Wanna see?" Tricks reached into his largest pocket, watching the guard tense. "I'm sure you've heard. His party’s gonna be epic." The guard took the invitation.

"He's celebrating his birthday? You must be the vault hunters' friend or somethin'. Who'd even go?" they waved him off, but Tricks heard them call in. 

"Wow, no trust." he mumbled. "should have just said I'm a friend of Moxxi or somethin'. Fuck! I coulda just said I want a drink. Ugh, whatever." he took the goggles off, propping them just under the hood, following Claptrap's instructions. 

"Knock knock?" Tricks called out, turning the ally. "Anybo-"

"Tricks! You made it!!" the robot yelled excitedly. "You're actually… the only one who showed up. But I bet the others will be here soon." Tricks smiled again, nodding. 

"Who'd you invite?" 

"Well! The vault hunters, Moxxi, Marcus, Scooter. You."

"One outta that is a good start." Claptrap wheeled by him, looking down both ways. 

"Maybe they got lost?" 

"Yea maybe buddy." Tricks frowned, looking at the pizza. "Hey, I saw you didn't lie about the pizza. Mind if I have a slice before everybody shows up?"

"No, dig in. Sorry, it’s kinda cold," Tricks tore a slice of pizza, and quickly ate it. 

“Claptrap, I don’t mind. Do you know when the last time I had pizza was? ‘Cause I don’t.” he watched Claptrap buzz around. 

“Music! I forgot the music, can you turn that on?” Tricks nodded, turning the radio on. Some tune played as he finished his second slice of pizza. He watched as Claptrap danced a little. 

“Claptrap, may I have the dance with the party boy?” he asked, trying to lift the robot’s feeling. 

“Yes!” Tricks tenderly held Claptrap’s little claws, dancing to the music. He laughed, twirling Claptrap. “Happy birthday,” he said letting go of the robot’s claws. 

Claptrap grabbed the noisemaker, blowing. It took a few seconds before he turned to Tricks, “Hey uh, can you blow into this? Maybe it’ll help the whole party…” Tricks grabbed it and blew into it a few times. The yay that Claptrap made wasn’t exactly exciting. 

“I’m sure they just misplaced your invitation, or something came up.” 

“Yea, maybe. Are you enjoying it at least?”

“Of course I am. You know I’m always down to party with you buddy. I’d sneak into Sanctuary anytime if it meant partying with you.” That seemed to make him happy again as he went towards the pizza. 

“Well, it looks like I bought way too much pizza. You can take some home if you like.” Tricks nodded, looking at the boxes. 

“Hey Claptrap?”

“Yes, Tricks?”

“Thanks for inviting me. You’re way better than any job I could be doing right now. If you ever get outta Sanctuary again, you oughta come visit.” he grabbed a box of pizza, and then another. 

“Will do. Maybe one of the vault hunters could come with me.”

“Ehh, maybe not. Better yet, if you ever wanna visit I could pick you up. Just make sure you get out of Sanctuary. Don’t know how long I can sneak in for.” 

“Secretive. I like it.” Tricks nodded.

“I’ll try!”

“Cya Claptrap. It was a good party.” he waved goodbye, leaving the robot.

“Goodbye, Tricks! Come back soon!” he smiled. 

As he got home, he tacked the invitation to his wall. It was with other things that he kept. Mostly photos of old friends, and new ones. Drawings he’d done or gotten, an old piece of fabric an old mercenary friend patched him with, things like that. He put the pizzas down on his table, “ya’know I don’t think I’m gonna finish all these.” he shook his head, shoving the boxes into the fridge. That was future Tricks’ problem.