Work Text:
STUPID BINGUS (smg4): hey, can you come over? i think it’s getting bad again.
SMG3’s heart sank as soon as he grabbed his phone after waking up. Reading the message once, twice, and even a third time, he shot up. Three jumped out of bed and entered the elevator of his room. He then made a beeline toward the castle, ignoring all the “hello”s and “good morning”s sent in his direction by passersby. His entrance was dramatic, slamming both doors open and causing a loud bang to be sent throughout the building. He stomped all the way to SMG4’s room. He lifted his fist, questioning if he should knock before entering, inevitably lowering. He cleared his throat. “OI, IDIOT! I’M GOING TO COME IN, ALL RIGHT?”
And so he did, slamming the door open to see an SMG4 right outside. His hand was elevated, clearly about the open the door for SMG3 before he almost knocked it down. Three stared. Four’s hair was no longer covered by his hat, revealing his greasy hair. Just below that was very unkempt and uneven stubble. His eyes were half-closed, eyebags pulling at his lower eyelids. The clothing he wore was dirty and covered in stains. All of this caught Three’s eyes in a matter of seconds, leaving no time for Four to give an explanation.
“Dude…”
“I know, and… and I’m sorry. I know I said I’d never let it get this bad again, but…” SMG4 avoided any possible eye contact, rubbing his arm. He stepped to the side, allowing Three to step in and then close the door. He didn’t need anyone but the bearded man to see him like this. “You know how hard it is… I… shit, sorry.”
SMG3 eyebrows began to furrow as he noticed tears at the corners of Four’s eyes. He stepped up closer to the other, grabbing at his collar. Despite the intimidating stance, the grip was gentle. SMG4 took notice. “Hey, I better not hear another apology outta ya, cool? You don’t need to apologize for any of this. Well, you do need to apologize for that stench, however. Go take a shower.”
“Ah… Yeah, my bad. I kind of lose motivation to take care of myself when… When I get sucked into video making. Even with you here…” He now lifted his head, face heating up when he realised how close the other was. His hand shook, grabbing onto Three’s hand that had a hold of his shirt. “It’s just so hard. I really don’t want to, Three.”
That tactic was as clear as day, SMG3 knew what was going on. Calling him ‘Three’ and thinking he could get out of it just like that. He snickered, now grabbing onto the other’s hand and dragging him out of the room. “You’re getting clean, whether you like it or not, SMG4!”
“HUH???”
Due to there being no shower in the Castle—which SMG3 was this close to asking Four many questions about, but decided against it—he decided to haul his ass all the way to the cafe and down to his lair. SMG4 did little to protest, just dropping a few “this is fruity” comments whilst in the elevator; all of which were retorted with “I’m making you bathe with clothes on, jackass.”
They were now in Three’s bathroom, Four dressed in a tank top and shorts. He watched and waited as SMG3 tested the water. Satisfied, he grabbed a basket from a shelf, turning to the other man. Said basket was filled with bath bombs of different colours and scents. SMG4 looked up. “Dude, why do you have—”
“They are for Eggdog!” He established in a not-so-convincing voice. Four let out a giggle, grabbing a purple and blue mixed one. Tossing it into the bath, he dipped his toes in, allowing the warmth to completely consume him as he sat down. His eyes were preoccupied by the bath bomb’s sparkly colours, not noticing a certain man sitting on the floor, grabbing a container of soap, and pouring it on Four’s head.
“AH— Jesus, warn me next time! It’s cold!” SMG4 whined, attempting to not let it drip into his eyes.
SMG3 chuckled, beginning to rub the liquid into his hair. With his open hand, he grabbed a rubber duck, throwing it into the bath. “You are such a baby… But fiiine, I’ll warn you next time. Promise.”
It then went quiet. Three massaged the top of Four’s head and made his way down to his neck and shoulders. He was just now realising how soft the blue man’s skin was. SMG3 smiled, leaning his head to the side and just taking in the view. Even when he looked like a sopping wet cat, he couldn’t help the beating in his chest.
“Mmm? What, lost in my beauty or something?” SMG4 teased, catching the other man staring. Three quickly pulled his gaze away, hoping that his blush wasn’t obvious.
“THE HELL I WAS! You look like a loser right now!”
“ Your loser —” Four was cut off by the feeling of his head getting bonked. He pouted.
After a moment, Three grabbed a razor and handed it over. “Now, shave that horrendous beard. It looks like it’s going to jump out and attack me at any moment.”
“On it, boss.”
SMG3 raised a brow, but was able to make the connection that Four was growing too tired to even joke argue. He hummed, pulling out shampoo next. This time, though, he showed Four the bottle before pouring. He began massaging again. He quickly got into the groove of things. It was kinda like washing Eggdog, but instead it was this idiot of a man who can’t take care of himself.
“Hey, Three?”
SMG3 was pulled out of his train of thought. “Uh, yes?”
“Thank you a lot for this. Even though it’s kinda… kinda weird, it’s also comforting, in that same weird way.”
Silence filled the air again, and Four almost regretted being honest.
“No worries, man.” His voice was comfortable.
Phew
Once they were done, SMG4 was stuck between wearing a soaking-wet top and bottoms or wearing one of Three’s many pairs of the same outfit, With much embarrassment, he had to choose the latter. He quickly changed, and was met with the bursting of laughter once he left the bathroom.
“All right, dude, it’s not that funny.”
“Oh it totally is, HAH!” SMG3 pointed, falling back onto his bed melodramatically. He began choking on his own breath, coughing. Four just stared with a hand on his hip. Once the fit was done, Three sat back up, patting the spot next to him. SMG4 rolled his eyes before flopping onto the area next to him. Arms and legs spread out, he sighed.
“This was nice, actually. Thank you again.”
“It was seriously nothing, dude. I did it because I had free time, duh,” he blatantly lied.
“ Mhm , and Mario isn’t stupid.”
“OI!!”
SMG4 snickered, and so did three not long after. They both grinned at each other as Three fell back onto the bed as well. Staring up at the ceiling, they both could almost read each other’s thoughts:
You mean everything to me.