Always Sunny: Mac Finds Love

The Truth Comes Out (The Fallout)

"8:00 AM...Wednesday...Philadelphia, PA"

The sun had barely risen the next day, and Paddy's Pub was its usual disheveled self. Charlie was behind the bar, nursing a coffee that he probably didn't need but insisted on drinking anyway. He stared blankly at a list of ideas Frank had scribbled down, all of which were insane or nonsensical in some way, when the door swung open. Dennis entered, strutting in with the confidence of someone who had just scored a major victory. However, there was one thing missing: Kira. Charlie immediately raised an eyebrow. "Where's Kira?" Dennis leaned casually against the bar, his trademark smirk plastered across his face, as he settled in. "Oh, she left," he said, dismissively waving a hand, as though that was the end of it. "She had to get going early. Things were... wrapped up." Charlie narrowed his eyes. "What does that mean? She just left? In the middle of the night?" Dennis chuckled, a sly, almost too pleased grin creeping across his face. "You know how it goes, Charlie. A couple of drinks, some good conversation, and one thing leads to another. Had a great time last night." Charlie blinked, struggling to process the information. "Wait, you mean... you and Kira?"

Dennis, still basking in the afterglow, leaned in just a little closer to Charlie. "Yeah, buddy. Me and Kira. We spent the night together. Wasn't expecting it, but you know how it is—when a connection's made, there's no stopping it." Charlie's face lit up with confusion, then a slow realization. "Wait, but... Mac? Where was he? You guys weren't... were you doing this while Mac was out doing errands?" Dennis's grin only widened. "Exactly, Charlie. While Mac was off doing whatever weird thing he was doing, I was making the most of my time with Kira. It was perfect." Charlie just stared at him, unsure if he should be more shocked or disgusted. "So Mac doesn't know?" he asked, his voice a little quieter now, uncertain whether he should be getting in the middle of this. "Of course not," Dennis said, waving him off with a dismissive flick of his wrist. "I wasn't about to let him ruin the vibe. You know how he gets. Always too busy to notice what's right in front of him." At that moment, the door creaked open again, and Frank shuffled into the bar, his greasy hair tousled and his outfit as disheveled as ever. He immediately took a seat next to Dennis, grinning like a cat that had just eaten a mouse.

"So, what's this I hear about Kira?" Frank asked, leaning in, trying to eavesdrop on the conversation with a gleam in his eye. Dennis looked over at him with a look of pure exasperation. "Oh, don't start, Frank." But Frank wasn't deterred. "Nah, nah. I'm just sayin'—she's probably a little too good for you, huh? You sure you know what you're doin', Dennis? Kira? I mean, you look good and all, but she could do way better." Dennis's face immediately soured. "What the hell is that supposed to mean, Frank?" he snapped, his voice laced with irritation. Frank shrugged nonchalantly, his voice dropping to a sarcastic whisper. "Just sayin', Dennis. You're a bit... shallow. Maybe you didn't even take the time to really connect with her, you know? Could've been a one-night thing for her. You're good, sure, but there's no way she doesn't want someone with more... depth." Charlie, who was standing off to the side, couldn't help but laugh nervously at Frank's constant undermining of Dennis. Frank had never been one to miss an opportunity to get under Dennis's skin. "Yeah, Dennis, maybe Frank's got a point. You know, you do tend to rush things a little—sometimes people like a little more... substance."

Dennis shot Charlie a glare that could melt steel. "Shut up, Charlie." Frank leaned back in his chair, clearly delighted. "Well, I'm just saying. If I had a shot with Kira, I'd do things differently. I know how to... you know, build a connection." Frank's voice dropped to a low, guttural tone, making it clear he was once again overstating his own prowess. Dennis, however, wasn't having any of it. "Please, Frank. The only thing you build is a mountain of disappointment. Kira chose me, and we had a great night together." Just as Dennis was about to continue, the door swung open again, and Alexis walked into the bar, her presence immediately noticeable. She looked around for a moment before her eyes landed on Dennis and Charlie, and then—almost like a lightning bolt—her gaze snapped to Frank. But before she could say anything, Charlie immediately stood up and grabbed her arm, pulling her toward the back corner of the bar. "Come on, Alexis," Charlie whispered, pulling her away from the bar with urgency in his voice. "We need to talk." Alexis, now more curious than confused, allowed herself to be pulled aside. "What's going on, Charlie? Where's Kira? I've been trying to reach her all morning."

Charlie, his face filled with nervous energy, glanced back over at Dennis and Frank before speaking in a low voice, almost too soft for anyone else to hear. "Alexis," he said, his voice strained, "there's something you need to know. Last night... Kira... Kira was with Dennis. She spent the night with him. They, uh... they hooked up." Alexis froze. Her face went pale, and her eyes widened in shock. She shook her head, as if trying to process the information Charlie had just given her. "No. No way. That's not possible. She wouldn't—" Charlie took a deep breath, giving her a sympathetic look. "I saw them, Alexis. I didn't want to believe it, but it's true. Dennis and Kira... they were together. And Mac doesn't know about any of it." The silence that followed felt like it lasted forever. Alexis stood there, her fists clenching at her sides, her face a mixture of confusion, betrayal, and hurt. "Why didn't she tell me?" she finally whispered, barely able to get the words out. Charlie, who was clearly uncomfortable with how the situation was unfolding, patted her awkwardly on the shoulder. "I'm sorry, Alexis. I really am." Before Alexis could respond, there was a loud, obnoxious voice from the front of the bar. Frank was practically yelling now, trying to engage Dennis in some ridiculous conversation.

"Hey, I'm just sayin'," Frank was saying, "if Kira wanted someone who actually knew how to treat her, she could've come to me." Dennis's eyes burned with fury as he shot a warning glance at Frank. "Shut up, Frank." But Alexis, her face hardening, wasn't listening to either of them anymore. She marched straight toward the front of the bar, her fury now fully evident. Charlie watched helplessly from the back, knowing full well that things were about to explode.

This was going to get ugly.