The last thing SMG4 remembered were those words...

- Because I am a Villain, not a Monster... -.

For some reason his voice became familiar, but because of all the damage he had suffered, everything around him was fading little by little, he couldn't do more, so he felt like that stranger put something in his abdomen...
Then he felt intense pain, so much so that he began to shake...
Suddenly the pain increased...
So much so that he screamed in pain...
And then he fainted...

When he woke up, he realized that all his wounds were healed, however he couldn't move much. Just as he was about to get up, he felt that horrible pain again that he had had just before he passed out the day before. But this time it was so intense that he began to sweat too much, at the same time that his ears began to ring more and more. He put his hands to his head, while some tears came out of his eyes...

Suddenly he heard the door open, when he turned to see the door to the room, he froze...
The clothes, the mask, the logo, the weapons...
There was no doubt...
He was a Villain...

He felt intense fear, followed by very strong nausea, he knew that being defenseless, it would be easier for the Villain to finish him off...

He closed his eyes expecting the worst, but for some strange reason, the Villain did not attack...

If not, he approached him slowly, while carrying something on a plate, then sat on the foot of the bed and left the plate on one of the nightstands nearby.

- How do you feel...? -.

It was the same voice he had heard the day before, so he calmed down a little, since at least now he knew that this Villain wasn't so bad.

- Eve-Everything -hu-hurts so-so much... - the blue-eyed man responded with a voice that was too dull.

- After what happened to you yesterday, I suppose it's normal that you feel bad, I don't even know how you managed to take care of the other Villains -.

Silence was present for a few seconds, until he heard someone running into the room. When he turned to look at the door, he noticed that it was Eggdog and Beeg.

- E-Eggdog... B-Beeg - the blue-eyed boy said with a light smile.

As soon as the 2 heard 4's voice, they ran up to the bed and started hugging him. It was obvious, since by what had happened yesterday, for a moment, the 2 little ones believed that they had lost SMG4.

- They love you too much... Right? - asked the hooded man.

The blue-eyed boy just nodded his head, it didn't take long for both little ones to fall asleep (Something expected, since they couldn't sleep well at night, thanks to being very worried about 4). After that, the hooded man got up, put Eggdog and Beeg down (Because one of the Villains had opened a large wound in his stomach and he did not want the wound to reopen, since it would bleed and die). And he laid them down on a makeshift bed with 2 boxes.

- Tha-thank you... Fo-for sa-save us... -.

- It's the least I can do for a friend... -.

- Fri-friend...? - asked 4 somewhat confused - D-Did you and I-I already kn-know each other? -.

The hooded man sat down again, only this time he removed his hood, to reveal somewhat long and unkempt black hair, which was tied in a braid with some loose hair. He then began to take off his mask. At first, the blue-eyed man believed it was some companion he had met on one of his missions. But as soon as he took off the mask, he realized that no...
I could not believe it...
It was... It was...

- Hello SMG4 - said SMG3 - Or should I say, Scrub -.

It was noticeable that there were several changes in 3 since the last time they had seen each other (Which was to be expected, since 4 long and very hard years had passed). The most visible change was his hair, which was now much longer, and was also somewhat unkempt. Another change was that he now had 2 scars on his face, the first went through his left eye (As if it had been a scratch or a sword blow) and the second was on his right cheek (This one could be seen to have been made with an object. sharp, due to its particular shape of 2 lines that seemed to form an "L"). I also noticed that he was wearing a bandage on one of his hands and in the neck area...

Even though the red-eyed man smiled at 4 (as if to calm him down a little and not be surprised and/or scared), he simply stayed looking at him, while at the same time his breathing also began to increase rapidly. He put his hands to his head again, only this time he started repeating it over and over again.

- It's just a dream... It's just a dream... It's just a dream... It's just a dream... -.

The more he repeated the phrase, the more you could notice how SMG4's voice was breaking, so 3 took the hands on his head with his, he didn't squeeze them or anything, it was just to make him understand that the yes was from true and it was also to calm him down.

- I'm not a dream... Listen... I know it's sudden that I suddenly appear and try to convince you after everything that has happened... But I swear I'm not a dream... -.

After saying that, the blue-eyed boy began to calm down a little, but even so, you could tell that he was still too surprised and scared. Just when he was getting back to being somewhat normal, he felt the same intense pain from a while ago again. So as soon as 3 realized this, he released his hands and put one of his hands on her forehead.

- Mmm... As I suspected... -.

- Wh-what ha-happened t-to me? -.

- You have a fever and judging by the way you are shaking, it must be a high fever -.

After saying that, he got up, walked to the door and walked out. Only a few minutes passed, but for 4 (who was beginning to die in his bed) it seemed like hours. When the red-eyed man returned, it was evident that he was carrying a somewhat old metal saucepan, in which there was water and what appeared to be a rag or towel. Then he approached 4's head and very carefully put the towel on his forehead. It was very cold, but he knew that this would help lower her temperature.

- I hope the snow doesn't bother you so much -.

- S-sn-snow? -.

- Yes, we arrived a while ago, I took it from outside, because it is snowing very hard again - said SMG3 - Besides, I already knew that after the trauma that caused the other Villains, I knew that one of the possibilities was that you would get a fever, so that's why I took it and left it in here to melt in very cold water -.

After that, the red-eyed man sat down at the foot of the bed again, only this time with a first aid kit, and started looking for something, until he finally found it, it was like a thermometer, worse in the form of a bracelet, he put it on to 4 and put everything back in the medicine cabinet. SMG4 had many doubts, especially because that place reminded him a lot of base number 12.

- Wh-where a-are we-we? - asked 4.

- At base number 108 -.

- H-how d-did we-we g-get he-here? -.

- I brought you here, since it is one of the few bases of the Suns that, even though it is destroyed, has a secret nursing room - the red-eyed man began to explain - Because if I tried to cure you in base 106, I wouldn't go to be nothing -.

- You k-know a lot about t-the bases -.

- Well, sometimes they ask me to review the plans of the bases that they have already destroyed and well, I have to obey -.

After that, the blue-eyed boy began to feel a little better. While 3 was simply reading one of the books that he had found in that place, then, SMG4 turned to look at him and asked him.

- Hey 3... -.

- What's happening? -.

-What happened yesterday...?- he said -How did you find me...?-.

- Well... - the red-eyed man began to tell - They sent me and 14 other villains to destroy and loot base 106, once we arrived, my companions began to destroy and kill everyone, while I simply moved away, because I couldn't. I am a Villain who enjoys killing. After that, I remember that I decided to go for a walk around the area, since the Internet Graveyard. After walking through that abandoned and destroyed forest, I managed to hear as if someone was shooting. Since at first I thought it was the Suns, I didn't want to go back, but then I remember that one of my companions called me... When I arrived, I asked what had happened and they told me that a Sun had tried to save the base but that they were already containing it, so I was curious to see who that brave Sun was... I arrived at the area where the confrontation was, but when I saw who the Sun was, I couldn't believe it... It was you... Then I remember that one of my companions attacked you from behind and when you turned around, he opened a wound in your stomach... I was paralyzed, until that moment... I remember how anger and fear took over me when I saw you that way... Just like that fateful day at the Showgrounds... Just when they were about to give you your final blow, I intervened... I simply threw some grenades from afar, and they fell in front of them... Taking advantage of the confusion that I had caused them and the smoke, I approached to try to help you... You were very hurt and the wound they had made in your stomach was bleeding too much... I also remember that you were half conscious, but you were dying... Then I took off my cloak and used it as a compress to stop the bleeding... But since it hurt a lot, you started to shake, just when I was finishing, I remember that I had to touch your bandage to make sure that if you It was reducing the bleeding and for you to continue breathing... But when you touched it you felt it and you screamed... It was a very horrible scream of pain... Then I remember that I tried to apologize, but you were already completely unconscious, so I just picked you up... At the same time, Eggdog and Beeg didn't want me to take you, so I took off my mask so they would recognize me... Once they recognized me, I put them in your special backpack to carry them... Then, it started snowing again, so you started having hypothermia and freezing, so I stole one of my colleagues' motorcycles... After driving for almost 2 hours, we managed to reach this base. The first thing I did was look for the secret infirmary, once I found it, I laid you down and I started to heal you... After I finished, I went out to look for something to eat for both of us and when I came back you were already awake... -.

SMG3 closed his eyes, trying to hide his sadness and his tears... It had really hurt him to see his best friend in that situation... Silence took over the place for a few moments, but it was interrupted because the blue-eyed boy gave him a hug.

- Thank you... -.

Opening his eyes again, he noticed that his friend was standing...

- You shouldn't get up... You can hurt yourself... -.

Just when he was about to answer him, he felt that intense pain again and almost fell because of it, but thanks to SMG3's quick reflexes, he caught him and laid him back on the stretcher.

- I-I am so-sorry... -.

- No problem, I know you didn't do it maliciously -.

The blue-eyed boy gave him a smile, which was also reciprocated by 3. But at the same time, a very particular sound was heard, it was his stomach.

- Are you hungry? -.

- Y-yes...

- Here - he said, bringing him closer to the plate that he had left on the nightstand.

Just as he was going to take it, he felt a sting in his arm, as if he had just been shot again, so he quickly lowered his arm again.

- All good? -.

- Yes... My arm just hurts a lot... -.

- Why? Did they hurt you there too? -.

- Yes, but that was a few days ago... -.

SMG3 sighed, he knew he couldn't complain about something that most likely hadn't been his fault. So he took the plate and very carefully, brought a spoon full of Vegetable Soup to 4's mouth.

- What are you doing...? -.

- What does it seem like I do? I'm going to help you eat something, because if not you'll never get better -.

The blue-eyed man did not respond, he simply accepted the spoonful of food. The Vegetable Soup was very delicious, so he finished it quickly. Then, SMG3 started eating a salad (Which he had prepared with the provisions they had given him), while 4 was reading various documents that he had on his smart watch, he suddenly started to feel very tired, as if something was bothering him. draining energy...

-SMG3... -.

- What's going on? - he asked with his classic bitter voice

- I feel something strange... -.

The red-eyed man approached him, checked his temperature, heart rate and breathing again. Nothing was wrong, in fact everything was now at its normal levels.

- 3... I know it's a very strange question... But... -.

- But what? -.

- Can you give me a hug...? It's just that I'm very sleepy... -.

There, SMG3 understood that his friend had no problem, he was just tired and the medicines he had given him to help him were already taking effect. So at the same time he was going to start to get very sleepy (Because the medicines make you sleepy when you take them and since I had given him a lot of medicines, he was going to be too sleepy). So he sat next to 4 and hugged her... Not even 5 minutes had passed, when the blue-eyed boy had already fallen asleep... 3 just smiled, he was very happy to be with his friend again and he was never going to let them turn around again. to separate...