Chapter Text
Mumbo woke up slowly that day, just enough light starting to come in through the copper grating to eventually pull him closer to the waking world. Taking a deep breath and sighing, he rubbed his face with a hand, wiping away the sleep in his eyes before resting his arm over his chest, staring up at the ceiling as he let the world come into focus. He got his thoughts in order quickly enough. He'd agreed to stay over at Grian's house, only because Grian was not planning to dirt tower late at night while Mumbo quickly died just to get up into the Mothball, and it was an understandable refusal. They had been awfully tired, and climbing some stairs up to a house sounded much more appealing.
A movement to his side had Mumbo slowly turning his head, coming face to face with Grian, head pillowed on his arms and blanket drawn down just enough to let the fragile iridescent wings on his back lay out in the open, fluttering with every small movement, a telling sign that Grian was on his way to waking up as well.
He lays there for a moment longer, just staring at the ceiling and listening to Grian's gentle breathing interspersed with the sound of air disturbed by his wings. It was only once he felt his eyes growing heavy once more that he screwed his eyes together and began to push himself into a sitting position in an attempt to avoid the temptation to fall back asleep. He'd already made plans that day with other Hermits, and it would be awkward to turn up without a single thing prepared.
"Mumbo..." A groan followed by a pair of arms snaking around his waist protested his sudden movement, however, and Grian looked up at him with bleary eyes. "S'too early, go back to sleep."
If it were any other day Mumbo might have agreed and laid back down. He had made his choice, however, and with great reluctance he slipped out of Grian's arms. The man just sighed and stretched further, taking over the entire bed and basking in the warmth he had left behind.
"I'm sorry, love, but I made plans. Promise for next time, yeah?"
Grian tilted his head up to look at Mumbo, a final attempt to convince him to return, to then sigh and roll around, back facing Mumbo as he started to doze away in the morning light once more. Mumbo watched with a fond smile for a moment longer before moving away, lest he cave and ruin his and everyone else's plans. They were too busy to just reschedule things in the works for weeks, and things like End busting were much too time sensitive, otherwise you'd never make it out with anything valuable before other Hermits got there ahead of you. Not without travelling much further than intended.
He watches Grian's back for a moment longer, watching as his muscles relax once more and only then does he turn around and walk over to where he's sure he can find a spare suit he'd left behind on a previous night's stay, buried in the few chests that had been moved into the mostly complete home. He was right of course, and soon he extracted the full suit and began the process of stripping out of his loose nightwear and into his much more fitting suit, so used to this song and dance, even before their relationship became more, that he didn't even consider leaving the room to change. He instead focused on shaking out each piece of clothing.
So focused on shaking his clothes out and inspecting for any too noticeable wrinkles, he didn't notice Grian had decided to get out of bed until he felt a soft weight leaning against his side. Mumbo nearly jumped as his soft hair brushed his bare arm, only relaxing once he whipped his head around and saw that it was just Grian, watching him with the expression of a man who didn't want to be out of bed, but had been convinced.
Once Mumbo was satisfied that the clean suit was in order, he gently nudged Grian away so he could dress. Grian moved away without much effort and made to get dressed himself alongside Mumbo. He slipped his socks on first - he could hear Grian's huff of laughter over his order of dressing - before the trousers and belt came next. After he slipped his undershirt on and slipped his arms through the sleeves of his dress shirt, Grian made his presence known once more, wrapping his arms around from behind and taking Mumbo's hands in his, making him pause just as he had gone to grab the first button.
Silently stepping around, Grian pulled Mumbo's hands away and let them drop to his sides before stepping closer, beginning to button up the shirt himself. It was something he was familiar with, obvious in how he easily threaded each button through the correct hole, intentionally going slower if only to let the morning last a little longer before they would have to separate. He let his eyes lock onto Mumbo's only as he buttoned the last one. Reaching back, Grian wrapped his hand around the silky red tie sitting on top of the jacket and carefully looped it around Mumbo's neck, adjusting the collar before leaving Mumbo to tie it and finish getting ready.
Before Grian had the chance to step back, Mumbo's hands moved to rest on Grian's waist, holding him still. He leant down just enough to press a kiss into Grian's bed head, gently pushing to get him to turn around. He didn't resist, letting himself be directed until his back was facing Mumbo.
Mumbo reached down to the bottom half of the jumper, grabbing the buttons at the bottom and buttoning up the back until only the open back for his wings was left bare, at which point he let his arms fall around Grian's waist once more, leaning forward to press a kiss to the nape of his neck where the softer hairs were. He couldn't help the smile that spread across his lips when he felt the brief brush of wings fluttering, likely in response to the hairs of his moustache tickling the sensitive spot.
Grian swings around, expression amused but fond as he leans up just enough to bring his arms around Mumbo's neck and press their foreheads together. It doesn't take any prompting for Mumbo to close that tiny distance to finally share a proper kiss, chasing after Grian just for a moment after they split before Grian nudges him away with a chuckle.
"Git, you spoon. I'm not being blamed when you're late for your plans."
Rolling his eyes dramatically but unable to keep the smile off his face, Mumbo easily tied his tie and neatened his collar out before throwing his jacket on. A little neatening of his hair and moustache later, he was throwing on his armour and doing a final mental checklist of everything he'd brought with him. Satisfied, Mumbo joined Grian's side for one last time, leaning down for one more kiss before being practically shoved out the door, the pair laughing the entire way before finally going their separate ways for the day.
Though distracted with their own plans that day, each of them were happy to fall back into one another's arms at the end of the day and settle back into their night routine once more. There it would repeat, their slow mornings together before parting once more, coming together for overlapping plans or when both were too exhausted to stay awake any longer.
Or usually when Mumbo woke up in Grian's bed, having expected the man to be home. There he'd find him dozing at the dock, losing track of time until he's finally dragged to bed and they can curl up together, safe from any mobs that lurk in the night.