The One Where Six Finds His Best Friend
Six didn't know why he liked Four so much. He wanted a best friend, but he didn't like anyone else. Not One, with his unwavering loyalty, or Two with his hatred of everything, or Three with her inability to take when she didn't get her way, or Five with his snootiness. Not Seven with her quiet acceptance.
No, no, not Four. Not Four with his contagious joy, or his understanding of Six's power, or his infectious laughter.
(or how he made the Hulk calm down)
Not Four, who volunteered to stand under Two's targets, and snuck Seven candy, and didn't look at Six strangely when he admitted he was scared of his powers.
(not Four, who the Hulk was so uncompromisingly protective of)
Six decided he wanted to be friends with One. One was strong, and was liked by Dad, and would make him feel safe in his arms.
Six couldn't sleep one night. The whispering of bloodthirst and violence echoed in his head. He wasn't sure how to react. He heard Four's door open, and the sound of Four's steps and muted giggling followed. Six heard Four knock on Seven's door, and heard Seven whisper to him shyly. Six couldn't stop himself from opening the door slightly and sticking his head out to see Four and Seven wearing a jacket over their pajamas and Four showing Seven something in his hands.
"Four," Seven whispered when she saw him looking at them.
"What, Sevy?" Four asked absently.
"Six is right there."
Four turned to see Six standing there, staring at both of them silently. "We can't go anymore, Four," Seven said, sounding close to tears.
"Sevy, you underestimate your favorite brother," Four said, grinning at her before facing Six. "Now listen here, Six, there's two things you can do. A: You can go tattle on us to Dad, and live with the guilt of seeing us cry forever and ever." Seven giggled mutely. "Or, you can pull on a jacket and come with us."
"Where are you going?" Six whispered.
Seven smiled at him shyly. "The coffee shop right across from home. Four said he took some money from Dad."
"Don't look at me like that!" Four whined when Six glared at him disapprovingly. "It's for a good cause."
"Which is?" Six asked, his lips twitching reluctantly.
"Our happiness!" Four proclaimed, throwing his arms around Seven and kissing her forehead dramatically. "It's not like Herr Stark's gonna do it."
Six really wanted to go. "Let me get my coat," he said, running inside, Four's delighted squealing and Seven hissing at him to be quiet his accompanying noises. When Six came out, Four wrapped an arm around him and Seven and led them to the fire escape. "Howie closed it up, but my friend Bryce opened it," Four whispered to him. "Bryce is dead, btw."
"Four, why do you talk weird?" Seven rolled her eyes as she swung down the fire escape.
"Cause it's fun," Four said, swinging after her.
Six looked at the fire escape nervously. "Come on, Six!" Four yelled. "It's fun, trust me!"
Six took a deep breath, grabbed on to the fire escape and slid down. Four and Seven grinned at him when he came down. "Fun, right?"
"Sure," Six answered, his heart still racing from the drop. Four wrapped an arm around each of them and led them to the shop, babbling cheerfully.
When they got there, Four grinned when he saw Five sitting at a table, sipping coffee mutely. "Fivey!" he squealed, running over to him and hugging him. Five must've been in a good mood, because he let Four hug him for thirty whole seconds before swatting him off. "How'd you know we'd be here?"
"You're not very good at being quiet," he said dryly. He smiled faintly at Six. "I see you've dragged Six with you."
"Six never had a donut. Can you believe it?"
"Why didn't you grab One then?"
"You make it sound like One won't go squealing to Ol' Howie."
Wanda giggled before grabbing Peter's arm and dragging him to the donut displays. "Come hither, Six, and let Uncle Four teach you of the wonders of the delicacies that are donuts," Four said in a haughty accent, making Seven giggle harder and Five snort into his coffee.
Six grinned too and followed Four and Seven to the selection. "What's your favorite?"
"I like lemon, but Four likes chocolate," Seven said. Four nodded enthusiastically.
"Six, I think you'd like the St. Patrick Day special," Four said innocently. "The colors make your eyes pop." Seven hit his shoulder and Five rolled his eyes.
"Screw you," Six mumbled under his breath, smiling reluctantly when Four burst into giggles. "I think I want the same as you, Four."
"Hello, Leo, we'd like two lemons, two chocolates, and three, wait," Four muttered. "FIVE, DO YOU WANT HOT CHOCOLATE?"
"NO!" Five yelled back.
"Three hot chocolates, please," Four shot a charming smile at the waiter.
"Alrighty, that's $12.38," Leo said, smiling fondly when Four slammed a twenty.
Four smiled at him and Seven as Leo got their order. "You know, the old lady who works here said the donuts are magical."
"Really?" Seven asked, smiling indulgently. "Did she say why?"
"Yes, actually, Sevy," Four said at her. "She said it was because they put real sparkles in it!"
"Four, there's no way eating real sparkles is good for you," Six snorted.
"But it's so pretty!" Four pouted.
"So is paint. You wouldn't eat paint would you?" Five asked. Four didn't say anything. "Four repeat after me right now: I will never eat paint."
Four pouted more. "I will never eat paint," he said sulkily.
"Good." Five went back to sipping his coffee.
"Here you go," Leo said, handing Four the three donuts and three steaming cups.
"Thanks, Leo!" Four grabbed the bag and one of the cups. Six and Seven grabbed the other two cups and sat with Five. "Here we go!" Four said happily as he handed a lemon to Five and Seven, before giving the other chocolate to Six and taking a big bite out of his own. "Mmmmmm," Four said dreamily.
"Try it, Six," Four said eagerly. Six looked across to see Five and Seven already biting out of their donuts. Six shrugged and took a bite out of his.
"Mmmmmm," Six couldn't stop his moan. The donut tasted nothing like the bland stuff Dad gave them at every meal. "This is so good."
"I know!" Four exclaimed, reaching over and sipping his hot chocolate.
Six tried his and shuddered at the warmth that echoed through his body.
They ate and drank in silence, perfectly content to enjoy the food in each other's company. They got up when Five said they should probably go back. Four, Five, Six and Seven all threw out their trash and went home. When they were near the fire exit, Five grabbed his and Seven's hand and teleported them to the hall in front of their rooms. He disappeared and came back with Four a second later. "Try and get some sleep," was all he said before he disappeared into his room.
Four kissed Seven's forehead dramatically when Seven waved them goodbye and went into her room. "So, Six," Four said, turning to him. "Will you be joining us on out next adventure?"
Six grinned widely. "Duh, I am!"
Four grinned and hugged him. "Glad to hear it. I guess we should get some shut eye now."
Six grabbed Four's arm before he disappeared. "Can you - ?" He gestured with his arms, not sure how to phrase it.
Four understood. He smiled at Six fondly before following Six into his room and cuddling close with him under the covers. Six wrapped his arms around Four's smaller frame and relished being close with another human being.
He thought it would be One's strong arms that would give him this safety.
Turns out all he needed was Four's wiry frame in his arms.
The Hulk rumbled its approval.