Chapter Text
Taking a swift glance at the time, you think for a moment. It's about 2:45 now, about 15 minutes after Grimm had left. If you could remember which corner he was in, it wouldn't be hard to return his things to him. You could always wait and see if he'd get them himself, but you also knew he was having guests. You didn't know when but you didn't exactly want him to end up leaving them just hanging around.
Though, on another hand, you didn't want to end up interrupting their get-together. That would be rude! You debated yourself for some time before looking at the time again. Five minutes had passed. You groaned and decided your social anxiety could suck it and break down later.
You grabbed your rain gear again and the bag of forgotten goods before sighing and stepping out your front door. The rain got worse again, which only made you even more stressed. But you shook your head and tried to remember that first night. Lightning struck in the distance which made you shudder. But you pressed on, getting a hopeful guess of where his apartment was. You wish you checked the weather, because the storm only seemed to be getting worse.
Tightening your fists around both your umbrella and Grimm's bag, you pushed on. Rainwater splashed up your legs and you groaned. Rounding a corner, you hoped your guess was right and you walked up the steps. You shifted the bag to hold it with your umbrella in the same hand. Raising your now empty claw, you sigh and knock on the door.
You hope he isn't mad if you've interrupted anything, and you hope you can get back to your own apartment before the rain washes you away.
A moment passes where thunder rolls somewhere else and the storm pounds against the city structures. Then, the door opens.
Grimm looks behind him, a sharply toothed maw agape in what you had believed was a solid mask. He's laughing boisterously at something behind him, scarlet eyes sparkling with mirth. It stuns you somewh, but your attention returns when he looks at you at his mouth snaps shut with an audible click.
He appears confused for a moment, before he notices the bag in your hand and gasps.
"Oh my- you're dripping wet," his gravel voice mutters before he speaks louder. "Don't tell me you walked through that storm just to bring that to me."
You sigh and hold the bag out. "Well, I did. So here is your... whatever it is. I should go before the canals decide to flood..."
Lightning strikes and thunder cracks with it, surprisingly close, which makes you jump. Grimm laughs a bit, more rumbley than before. Looking beyond you, he seems to think a moment.
"If you'd like... you may come in. Perhaps wait to see if the storm dies down a little. I'd hate to hear you got washed away in the rain." He smiles with his eyes, though you now find yourself curious cow his face works if it isn't just a mask.
Then you realize his offer. It might be the safer option, and it wasn't like you couldn't just walk home if you absolutely needed to. But... "you have guests, I wouldn't want to bother your fun."
He waves a hand beside his head as if batting away the idea of you being a potential interruption.
"They won't mind at all! They love meeting new folks," he steps back a bit, opening his doorway wider. "Besides, Divine brought far too many èclairs for just three bugs." A somewhat familiar voice giggles from inside.
You hesitate a bit more, tightening your grip on your umbrella, before a large crash of lightning hits not far and you yelp, making your decision for you.
You step inside and close your umbrella, holding it close. Grimm shuts the door behind you then walks past towards his kitchen. Theres a nice, orangey red glow from the lights here (you wontered if he got special bulbs). The way his apartment is floored out seems to be exactly like yours but mirrored, as far as you can tell.
There are a few couches and a small TV, off, in his living room. On a loveseat, a familliar bug lays draped over the whole thing. The strange mantis you had met on the tram nearly a week or so ago wears a velvety red robe that manages to cover her well enough. She has a long cigarette holder with a half smoked piece on the holder. She takes a puff and blows a couple smoke rings towards you before laughing that laugh she'd done several times now. You assume she must be Divine. She still wears that half mask that sat on her face the first day you met.
On a large, quite intricate couch, a burly beetle sits with a drape of fur around their neck. They wear that same pattern of mask that seems to be reoccurring with anyone related to Grimm. You guess it has to do with his troupe, though it wouldn't make sense for them to wear it constantly then. You decide it's best not to ask about it for now.
The beetle wears a thick hooded, black jacket. You also realize that they're staring at you, which makes you wince when you realize you've been staring at them.
"Sorry-" you begin, but the beetle holds up their hand to stop you.
"Mrmm... It is all well. Have a seat if you'd like." Their voice seems to fit them quite well. They have a deep gravely voice. Similar in a way to Grimms, but far smoother than the tallers.
Grimm leans over the counter in the kitchen and speaks. "Just leave your coat and umbrella by the door. There's a rack right there if you need it." He points to a nicely carved wooden coat rach near your head before turning back into his kitchen. He seems to be doing something with the contents of the bag you brought.
You, still slightly stunned for some reason, hang your umbrella and poncho on the rack. You see Grimm's own things there, as well as two other sets.
After a moment appreciating the nice warmth within the apartment, you walk to the couch and sit. You sit on the very edge to attempt and remain cautious, vigilant. But, the seat feels quite soft, and the rain, even if heavy, patters against the window overhead. It's honestly very comforting, and relaxing after a long day is nice.
You do try bot to sink in too much at least.
Grimm returns to the living room with a tray of various treats. A charcuterie board if you will. Crackers, meats, cheese, whatever. He exits again and returns with another tray filled with éclairs, as well as a couple bottles of...
"Is that wine-?" You ask it a little quietly, not trying to be prying, but still curious.
Grimm grins with his eyes yet again and shakes his head. "You drink?" He asks with a little curiosity as well.
You shrug. "If I feel like it."
"Well, to answer your question, no. It's not wine. I don't bring those out til later. These are sparkling ciders." You nod, understanding. Though, once he sets those down on the coffee table and leaves to the kitchen again, you realize something.
He seems a lot more casual right now. You mean,it made sense. It was his own place and all, but it was also odd. You had heard him speak with a somewhat pulled together, tidied up tone before. Pronounciating perfectly and talking well timed. Now he was a lot more laxed.
It seemed nice to you.
"So... what is your name?" The beetle asks, turning towards you and leaning back into the couch.
The mantis holds her cigarette away for a moment. "Yes, what is it darling? You look... familliar." Still with that strange, unfitting voice as well.
"It's Y/n. What about you two?" You cross a leg over the other and place your hands upon your knee, attempting to path the casualness of them. Yes, somehow, you feel underdressed despite the both of them seeming to be wearing practically pajamas.
The mantis speaks first, reaching to the end of her holder and crabbing the butt off the end. "I am Divine." As you'd guessed. The clear side of her face furrows in focus as her makeup scrunches with her thought. She sticks the dead cigarette into an ash tray on a small side table beside the lounge chair she lay in.
"And I am Brumm. Pleasure to meet you." He reaches towards you with one claw, and you accept it in a handshake. He makes a small grunt, which your noting he seems to do often.
As you both lean back to your spots, Divine points her empty cigarette holder towards you with a look of realization. "That's why I recognize you! You sat next to me on the tram not long ago!"
"I did, it's nice meeting you officially." She smiles at you, then Grimm enters the room again. He carries four glasses and sets them all on the coffee table close enough to everyone's seats.
Seeming to be done, he sits down in a tall backed chair behind him. It's a velvet red with cushy arms and a fancy rimming. He crosses his leg over his knee and rests his arms on the chair's.
"So, everyone settled?" He gains no response though you don't believe he was expecting any. "How have you folks been? What's the news since last time?" He leans forwards towards the other two, curiosity sparking in his eyes.
Divine immediately perks up, setting her cigarette holder on the side table beside her. "You will not believe what I heard from Erich." Brumm leans forwards a bit, curious as well.
Divine scrunches up a bit as she sits up more, hands behhining to fly as she talks about some sort of gossip. Quietly listening, you understand almost none of the subjects. Grimm and Brumm ask questions here and there, but she keeps talking. You think that the topic of tea changes a few times but you would never be able to be certain.
Brumm says something that seems to be an inside joke of sorts, and the three laugh at it before Divine brings her rambling to a close. Brumm becomes the first to reach for the charcuterie board, just grabbing a cracker before stopping when he notices you. He leaves the cracker on the board and leans back. You realize he seems to have forgotten you were there, and when the other two look at you with momentary confusion, you find that they all forgot you were here.
That... stings a little, for some reason. But it's not a big deal. You didn't contribute to the conversation at all, and you were very still throughout. Plus, you technically weren't supposed to be here to begin with. Which tells you you should probably leave, but a loud crash of thunder and flash of lightning shakes that away easily.
After a awkward moment of silence, Divine working at getting a new cigarette set, Brumm stuffing his hands into his pockets, and Grimm's expression furrowing as he seems to think, Grimm then clears his throat.
"Would anyone like some cider?" He tries to remove the awkward feeling in the room to some avail, grabbing a bottle and pouring some into the glass closest to him.
Divine quits her efforts to light a new cigarette and sets her lighter and holder aside, snatching up her cup and holding it towards Grimm. He gladly fills her glass and she takes a swift swig. Grimm offers towards Brumm, who simply shakes his head. He then offers you some, and you oblige, somewhat grateful for his attempts to loosen the awkwardness.
Taking a sip of your newly filled glass as Grimm sets the bottle down, you hum in satisfaction as you find the flavor quite pleasant. You glance at Brumm, who seems a lot more antsy than before.
You were about to ask something, when he promptly stands and mutters something about the restroom before leaving the room and heading down the hall. Divine frowns a little as she watches him go, before taking another sip of her drink. Grimm uncrosses his legs and seems to be about to stand and walk after him, but stops and sighs.
You worry that you might have done something, so you begin to ask. "Is everything alright-?"
Grimm looks towards you and nods calmly, though his eyes show concern. "Yes, yes, he'll be fine. He just has a bit of... anxiety about eating or drinking around others. He's alright with us but your new so... it may take a little, that's all." He tries to offer some reassurance in his tone, but his warm eyes still hold that worry.
You don't say anything though, because you aren't sure if anything you'd say could help.
Grimm and Divine start talking again while you think and sip on your cider, before Brumm returns from the restroom. He fills himself a glass of the cider, and holds it up. His other fist is closed around something, and he lifts it to his mask. Ever so slightly lifting it, he shoves whatever was in his hand under it. He raises his mask a little more and takes a large swig of the cider before pulling his mask back down. He sighs and sets the glass down before looking towards Grimm.
Grimm looks back at Brumm with some sort of question in his eyes, still concerned. Brumm nods and the worry seems to melt from Grimm as his eyes spark with a new excitement.
Divine finishes off her glass and sets it down on the table before looking at Grimm and smiling. She leans forwards, almost preparing for something.
Grimm clears his throat before looking straight at you, which makes you stiffen. Caution rises in you as you begin to overthink immediately.
With a smile in his tone, he simply asks:
"How do you feel about karaoke?"