Apprenticeship [An SMG4 Fanfic]

Chapter 8: The Clubhouse Puzzle

SMG6 sighed, lounging around in his new room that SMG4 had helped him make after the crew had decided he was finally well enough to actually do things again. He rolled over on his bed. It was nice, don't get him wrong, but he needed something else. He'd been stuck here in the Showgrounds too long, cooped up and making videos. He'd even convinced the other three SMGs around to join him every now and then.

But he was growing bored of always being around his mentor. He liked SMG4, and may have gotten a little too comfortable calling him dad as everyone began to notice it now, but he realized he needed his own space. Outside of the building.

Then it hit him. He and SMG5 could build a clubhouse outside of the Showgrounds! Their own little place that they could go to whenever they needed time away from SMG4, SMG3, and the rest of the SMG4 crew. Ok... except maybe Luigi could be invited. And Mario. And Tar, And Meggy. And Saiko. And Melony. And Boopkins. Not Bob though. SMG5 would kill Bob if he entered their space. Or even their general vicinity. SMG5 was one of the kindest people he knew, it was one of the things he loved about them, but there was just something about Bob that rubbed them the wrong way.

Might have been his affinity with illegal things and activities.

SMG6 made his way down the stairs, walking past SMG4 as he sat on the couch working on his next video. "Hey. What are you doing out here?" He asked.

"I figured I'd spent enough time in my room while I was... sick. Plus, it started to remind me of some not-so-pleasant stuff," he laughed nervously, scratching at the scars on his face. "I figured at least moving out here to edit next week's video would be better than being cooped up in there. That and... I don't really feel like bothering 3 right now."

6's face fell. "Why?"

SMG4 sighed, patting the space next to him.

As Six sat down, Four started talking.

"So, you remember when I was sick?" He asked, partially joking.

"Wish I could forget," 6 laughed, attempting to return to bad attempt at humoring the event.

"Well... SMG3..." 4 sighed as he searched for the right words. "He doesn't know this, but... you know how I was conscious when you found me and put me back in bed?"

"Yeah?"

"Well, before that... when 3 left the room... he uh... kissed me."

"What?" Six asked, jolting forward to practically be in 4's face with a large smile on his own. "No way!"

4 rolled his eyes, smiling as he pushed 6 out of his personal space. "Yeah, well... I'm pretty sure that he thought I was still, uh... I guess I'll use the term 'asleep.'"

"I would say comatose."

"Close enough," 4 finished. "So... yeah."

"Well... do you like him?" 6 asked as he sat back and crossed his legs.

"I mean... yes?" 4's face became a dark blue at the question. "I do. I mean, pfft, I have for... since... ok so, I've been aware of my feelings for him since what happened to Peach's Castle, but... I'm pretty sure I've had feelings for him longer than that. But, after seeing his softer side... I don't know... and the fact that he risked his own life to save mine." He sighed. "Granted, not like I deserved it. I almost killed him and the rest of my friends, not to mention that I almost chose the perfect video over him."

"But you didn't!" SMG6 said as he elbowed the elder in the side. "Sheesh. You've seriously changed since your brain became whole again, thanks to the arguably better SMGs," he joked as he puffed out his chest.