#can also be rivals

Same circle

The hero has had a couple days off now, both their day AND night job is they finally felt save to meet their friends friend! They have heard so much about them now, they just know they’ll all be a happy family in no time. But when the other friend arrives … well let’s just say, the hero has to unpack their acting skills once more.

Later they excuse themselves to get another drink:

Hero, hissing: What the hell are you doing here ? Have you stooped so low you’re playing my friends now!?

Villain, hissing back just as venomous: YOUR friends?!? Excuse you? They are MY friends?! And how do I know YOU’RE not the one PLAYING ME?!

Hero, flabbergasted: WHAT?! Why would I risk the life these wonderful friends just to get back on YOU of all people?!

Villain: WHY THE HELL SHOULD I?!

Both stare at each other in shock, realisation hitting them equally hard: either one of them has to go right now and never talk to their friends ever again OR they have to play pretend and get along, only hating each other in secret.

Continuation: they constantly try to out do each other as the groups best friend. “I brought homemade muffins to the picnic!” “Oh? Well and I organised the picnic in the first place, villain!”

Bonus: the friends figured out beforehand of each of their identity and set them up to both have a bigger family and save the town. And when their fight for the group started they placed bets and are popcorn watching them being “secretive”