Work Text:
"I hate him" SMG3 thought to himself, lost in his thoughts while searching things up on his computer (we’ll never know what).
He was so angry at himself he was crying. Of course he didn’t actually hate SMG4, quite the opposite actually. Maybe it was his silly personality and goofiness that just made him so fun to be around with or the way Four would do anything for his friends, even his ex nemesis. The meme guardian really didn’t know, but it whatever it was made him fell *hard* (wink wink).
Thats mostly what drove him mad about his guardian partner, the fact that he cared so much for him, more than he wanted to. Three never actually thought he’d end up falling in love with his rival of over a decade. Sure, they had sex in an igloo once and kissed for a TikTok challenge, but he never realized how deeply he felt about those events. Just rethinking about it made his heart ache.
The day SMG3 realized he had a crush on SMG4 was the night after the whole castle getting destroyed incident, after saving his guardian partner from dying inside Peach’s castle. He was lying in bed until he thought about Four again.
What would he do without him? He was willing to wait outside for him of his room for hours, cried when he realized how much pressure Four had over his channel. He was willing to sacrifice his own safety just for him.
Thats when the "Oh shit, I’m actually in love with him" moment happened. It all made sense now. Even before the incident, things happened between them and the way SMG3 reacted to those just made even more sense for him to love SMG4. "God damn it why am I only finding about this now". (cuz ur fuckin stoopid), but that was in the past.
Now we’re in the present. The new castle is completed and everyone seems happy while things only got painful for Three. His awareness to how he felt about Four made every interaction he had with him hurt so much. He was much happier before, in ignorance. Every-time he was with Four, he just felt so damn happy. But then, when it was over, he realized how unreciprocated his love was, that SMG4 didn’t feel the same way he did, and that destroyed him emotionally.
One morning, he just had enough. Everyone annoyed him, even Four but he still tried spending time in the castle. His guardian partner seemed to have notice something was off and constantly went to check up on Three, who was of course, avoiding him. That only angered SMG3 even more and after a few days, he couldn’t handle the overwhelming feelings the other guy brought to him anymore, so he ended lashing up. Long story short: he said pretty hurtful things, which ended in him telling Four he hated him before leaving the castle.
The worst part is, he can’t even bring himself to go back and apologize. The hurt and sad look the other gave him before he left keeps haunting his mind, yet he can’t go back. He promised himself to keep distance from SMG4 ans even if he wanted to, the other friends probably wouldn’t let him. Everything hurts too much when he’s in Four’s presence. Keeping all the love he has hidden for nobody else to see is so painful.
After a while, Three got tired. He had been sitting in front of his computer doing jackshit for hours and crying over SMG4. He needed sleep. SMG3 got up to his room, got into his bed and tried falling asleep, unsuccessfully. After a while, he felt something laying close to him: Eggdog. Realizing his pet was hugging him, he hugged back, falling asleep with his baby in his arms.
….
It has now been sixteen days since he last saw the gang and his ex rival. Three didn’t think he would last but somehow, he did. That didn’t mean it was easy though. Many times, he almost voice called Four, but then he remembered he probably blocked him so he didn’t dare to try. If he was right and knew it, it was going to hurt more than staying in denial. So far none of the gang tried reaching out to him, so I guess that meant they didn’t care.
The meme guardian spent most of the last few days in bed, hugging Eggdog while thinking about the other meme guardian. He checked on his phone a few times but otherwise didn’t dare to touch any of his other electronics. The memes of the internet graveyard seemed fine so far, so I guess he wouldn’t have much to do anyway.
Is there a solution to any of that? Was there ever a chance they could have ended up together? If so, would they even last? Those questions were almost all he could think about. "Why can’t I just let him go."
Suddenly, he heard noises coming from outside. Curious, as it hasn’t happened in a long time, he checked outside. The noise was coming from a portal opening. "Huh? Thats weird. Nobody visits here at that time of the day and can make portals like that except-"
Oh.
Realizing who it may be, he kept looking until someone came out from the portal.
It was SMG4.
SMG3 felt really nervous all of a sudden. Why was he here? What was he going to do? "God I look like hell right now." It is true that for the past days, SMG3 hadn’t took good care of himself, so he clearly wasn’t in his best looking state. "He can’t see me like this. Plus I promised I would keep my distance." "SMG3?" yelled Four: "Are you there?" "Wait.. he’s here for *me* (no shit Sherlock). He tried looking at Four’s expression. He didn’t look mad, so I guess it was a good sign. His expression seemed more… worried? Did the other man miss him?
"Three.. I know you’re here. I’ve looked everywhere else you could possibly be at and this is the last one. Please come out." "His voice.." thought SMG3. God he didn’t realize just how much he missed hearing it and despite the context, all of his feelings came rushing back. "If only I had the guts to see him." Thats when Eggdog came out and went straight to Four. "Eggdog what are you doing?! Get back here!". Unfortunately, the dog was already in front of the other male by the time he said that.
"Oh, hello Eggdog." said SMG4, "Do you have any idea where SMG3 is? I.. I need to talk to him." The small dog responded with a sound. "You want me to follow you?". Eggdog replied by nodding and going back to his owner. "Fuck. Well I guess there’s no point to hide." A few seconds later, he was now in front of the guy he was avoiding for so long. "SMG3! Thank god you’re okay" said SMG4 before hugging his guardian partner tightly, which made Three’s face heat up before he pushed him away.
"What do you want Four? Why did you come back for me?" "Because I missed you, and I want to know whats wrong." Three was taken aback by this. He truly didn’t expect that. "Listen Three" continued SMG4. "I dont know what happened, and if I did something wrong, but I wanted to apologize. I know I’m definitely not the best, especially after everything that happened, but I want to know whats troubling you." "*Stop*" thought SMG3 "*Please stop*"
"I also dont believe you actually meant what you said before, at the castle. You were probably in a bad mood or something-" "THATS THE PROBLEM!" yelled back Three. "Wait what? What do you mean? I dont get it.." SMG4 then looked back at him, a confused look on his face. "You’re so stupid AND a loser, yet I still can’t bring myself to not care too much about you! Thats the issue.". Three looked down on the ground, tears forming in his eyes. "But we’re friends! Its okay to care about each-other!" "For you thats all we are. Not for me." "Wait a minute… oh."
Four now realized what Three meant and why he acted the way he did. He felt like such an idiot, and a guilty one indeed. How did this even happen in the first place? Why didn’t he figure this out sooner? "You finally realized it, didn’t you? Well anyways, it doesn’t matter anymore. Its my fault that I’m not able to deal with my emotions, not yours. You should go now." "Wait!" said SMG4, grabbing the other man’s hand before he got the chance to go away.
"I’m not letting you go! Especially after learning about that of all things!". For a moment, the two of them stayed in silence, not knowing what to say. Four was still holding Three’s hand, who made no attempts to remove it. "SMG3.. these past few months, you’ve changed alot. We all did but, you’re the one who stood out the most.
You helped me make new contant and uncancel my channel. While I was still being controlled by that keyboard, you checked up on me, more than anyone ever did. You had the chance to escape Peach’s castle, yet you stayed and was willing to sacrifice your life so you’d help me instead. You mean so much to me and I.. I want to make things right with you, no matter what."
Three’s face was now completely red. Hearing Four say all of those things to him felt so good. "Do you really mean it?" asked SMG3. "Of course I do." answered SMG4. He then said, in all honesty. "I love you dude." before leaning in and kissing the man in front of him. The meme guardian kissed him back, still crying, but this time of joy, knowing his love wasn’t unreciprocated after all.
After a while, Four pulled back and looked back at Three, who now looked like an emotional mess. "I- I love you too. You baka." Three said before Four brought him into another hug, this time hugging him back. "What does that mean for us now?" SMG3 asked. "I dont know, but I know one thing for sure."
"*It hurts to be something, but it’s worse to be nothing with you.*"