Chapter Text
Hey there Delilah
What's it like in New York City?
I'm a thousand miles away
But girl, tonight you look so pretty
The sun was shining rather bright this day and Grian, along with many other Hermits on the server, had decided to lay back and relax. He was aimlessly walking around his base, trying to find something to do to keep his mind occupied. He hummed a little tune as he walked. Perhaps he could build something?
No, he didn’t really feel like building. As much as he loved the activity he couldn’t think of anything to make. Go looking for a wolf or a cat to tame? No… They’d probably end up lost or hurt with how many pranks and other things he pulls. Plus he wouldn’t be able to give them much attention since he was always in the middle of something. This seemed to be the only time where he couldn’t find anything to do.
He wanted to do something. Not just anything, no. Something specific. Something to do with... Redstone? Did he feel like fiddling around with the confusing stuff? No, that didn’t seem quite right. He thought about it for a moment before he finally got it. Of course. Mumbo.
Yes, you do
Times Square can't shine as bright as you
I swear it's true
Hey there Delilah
He had flown to the top of his base and was currently standing on the roof of it, looking at the spherical base in the distance. He sighed, walking to the edge of the roof and sitting down, letting his legs dangle freely.
Mumbo had really outdone himself with his base, Grian thought with a certain admiration. It was beautiful. Just like everything else about Mumbo, he added to his train of thought. Deciding to ignore the sudden afterthought, he continued to stare at the other base, desperately wanting to fly over there and hang out with Mumbo. It was simple enough to do. All he had to do was set off some rockets and glide over with his elytra. It wasn’t that far. And yet it was at the same time. Or at least, the man inhabiting the home was.
Shaking his head of any more stray thoughts, he stood up and took off.
Don't you worry about the distance
I'm right there if you get lonely
Give this song another listen
Close your eyes
Upon landing, Grian had spotted the taller Hermit within seconds. Mumbo had let out a startled yelp as he turned around, having heard the unexpected footsteps behind him. The professionally dressed man visibly relaxed once he laid eyes on his visitor.
“Ah, Grian! What a surprise!” He said enthusiastically, wiping his forehead of sweat and getting Redstone dust on his face.
Grian let out a snort. “Hello, Mumbo. You, uh. You gotta little something,” he trailed off, gesturing towards his own forehead.
“I got dust on me, didn’t I?” Mumbo asked with an amused sigh.
“Yeah,” Grian smiled. Mumbo just laughed and shook his head.
Listen to my voice, it's my disguise
I'm by your side
Oh, it's what you do to me
Oh, it's what you do to me
“So, what are you up to?” Grian tried not to sound too interested.
“Oh, me? Just fixing up my storage system. It keeps clogging for some reason and I think one of the hoppers isn’t functioning properly. I was also thinking of making a couple of changes so it’s more efficient,” the engineer explained, turning back around to get to work.
“Do you need any help?” Grian offered, sitting on a stray chest.
“Ah, yes, that would be wonderful. Thank you,” Mumbo responded, not looking back at him.
Grian frowned just a bit, hoping he would turn around. There wasn’t a reason why he hoped it, he just really enjoyed looking into those dark eyes. He blinked and put on a small smile, standing up and handing Mumbo the Redstone materials he had asked for.
This went on for a while before Mumbo had enough items to work without Grian needing to hand him things. For now, anyway.
Oh, it's what you do to me
Oh, it's what you do to me
What you do to me
Grian was sitting on the same chest as earlier, watching the Hermit work in silence. Even without saying any words or looking at him, Mumbo did so many things to him. Just by looking at him for a brief second, his heart swelled, his mind went blank, and his stomach fluttered.
What he wouldn’t give to be able to wake up to the smell of Redstone dust and vanilla in the mornings. What he wouldn’t give to be able to kiss those slightly chapped lips just once. He can almost feel the faint tickle of Mumbo’s mustache on his cheek as they kissed.
Hey there Delilah
I know times are getting hard
But just believe me, girl
Someday I'll pay the bills with this guitar
We'll have it good
His smile had turned into a slightly sad one. While he was content with just being friends with Mumbo, he knew he’d never be complete. All he wanted was him. All he ever thought about was him. And watching the other work so close by made him realize just how far away he really was. At least, how far his heart was.
Mumbo would never see him in the same light he saw him. His heart twisted in heartbreak he hadn’t even received yet. He knew he was making assumptions, but to him, the assumptions seemed like truth. Mumbo had never looked at him as anything more than a friend. He could see it in his eyes. They held love, yes, but it wasn’t the type of love he had hoped for.
Thinking about it only made the pain he was feeling worse. Now his stomach had begun to twist into a knot. He felt like crying as he dug himself deeper into his thoughts. And he almost did let a tear fall down his cheek before he was pulled from his thoughts by the gentle touch of a hand on his cheek.
My word is good
Hey there Delilah
I've got so much left to say
Grian blinked a few times before he looked up, his vision focusing on those brown eyes he so easily got lost in. His breath caught in his throat as he subconsciously leaned into the touch. Whether Mumbo didn’t notice or didn’t care, he didn’t know. But he did know that this was the most contact he had gotten from the other in a while.
He couldn’t focus on the physical touch too long, however, as his attention was turned to Mumbo’s concerned face. The Redstone dust was still on his forehead, which almost made him smile.
“Hey, are you okay?” Mumbo finally spoke, his voice filled with genuine concern.
Grian took a moment to respond. “Yeah. Why?” he asked in an innocent tone.
“You… Look sad. Like you were about to cry,” Mumbo said in a gentle tone. “Do you need to talk? I’m sorry if it seemed like I was ignoring you, I wasn’t-”
“No, no. It’s fine. I’m fine, don’t worry,” Grian forced a smile. He didn’t want to worry his friend too much. He looked stressed enough with his storage system.
Still, despite his attempts at hiding his emotions, he couldn’t stop the faintest glint of hurt from appearing in his eyes. He couldn’t lie, even if it was selfish to admit, that he was hurt by the fact their relationship was labeled as just “friends.” His smile turned into a sad one.
If every simple song I wrote to you
Would take your breath away
I'd write it all
Even more in love with me, you'd fall
We'd have it all
“Are you sure you’re alright, Gri?” Mumbo asked.
The blonde perked up only a tiny bit. His heart fluttered at hearing the nickname he hadn’t heard in so long. Mumbo only used it when they were alone. And they hadn’t been alone together in forever. One was always too busy or they were together with other people.
“Yes, Mumbo. I’m,” Grian hesitated. “I’m alright.” He didn’t mean to hesitate, and he hoped Mumbo didn’t notice the short pause in his wording. His breath caught in his throat again as the other’s concerned look only got worse.
Oh, it's what you do to me
Oh, it's what you do to me
Oh, it's what you do to me
Oh, it's what you do to me
This was the thing that frustrated him. He didn’t want to worry the other, but it was so hard to lie to him and hide things. Especially when the look in his eyes was so pleading, begging him to say what’s wrong. Grian bit his tongue gently. Mumbo really did do so many things to him, huh? For better or for worse.
“Gri?” Mumbo asked, kneeling down so he was level with Grian, who was still sitting on the chest. The hand hadn’t left his cheek. In fact, Mumbo had begun to gently rub his thumb back and forth in a comforting way.
The shorter man looked away, letting out a breath. “I can never hide anything from you, can I?” He laughed quietly. There was no response.
“You… You know I’d never do anything to hurt you or this relationship, right?” Grian asked hesitantly.
Confusion appeared on Mumbo’s mixed expression. “What do you mean? Do you think I’m mad at you because we haven’t seen each other in a while? Beca-”
“No,” Grian interrupted a bit too firmly. “No, I don’t think you’re mad at me,” he said a bit calmer this time. “I just. I’ve got things on my mind.”
A thousand miles seems pretty far
But they've got planes and trains and cars
I'd walk to you if I had no other way
“...Like what things?” Mumbo seemed hesitant to ask. It was almost as if he had a guess of what the builder was about to answer.
“I. I have feelings for someone. And I’m not sure if they like me back and I don’t know if you’ll be happy about it,” was the response given. Grian watched as Mumbo’s expression became a mix of concern, confusion, unsureness, and curiousness.
“Who do you have feelings for? You don’t have to tell me, but I promise I won’t be mad,” Mumbo reassured, a soft smile appearing on his lips. The lips Grian could never stop thinking about, even now.
Grian sucked in a breath, staring at those lips for a short moment before looking back up. He knew he wouldn’t be able to hide the full truth, especially since Mumbo had him cornered, even if the Hermit was unaware of it.
Our friends would all make fun of us
And we'll just laugh along because we know
That none of them have felt this way
“You swear you won’t get upset or yell at me or send me away and never talk to me again because I couldn’t handle that.” And please let me down slowly, Grian added silently, feeling as if he was about to cry. Again.
“I swear. And if I do any of those things you have full permission to slap me as hard as you want,” Mumbo stated, saying the last bit half-jokingly, half-serious.
Neither man said anything for the next minute or so. Until finally, Grian placed his hand on Mumbo’s, still cupping his cheek, holding it and closing his eyes before opening his mouth and whispering,” You.”
Delilah, I can promise you
That by the time we get through
The world will never ever be the same
And you're to blame
He had said it quietly, but he knew Mumbo had heard him. He knew because the hand on his cheek had been retracted and the expression on the other’s face was unreadable. Grian’s eyes opened and they both stared at each other, both being too scared to say another word.
Or maybe it was only Grian that was scared. Scared of being hurt and being left behind, despite Mumbo’s promise. The longer they stared at each other without saying anything the more Grian’s eye’s filled with tears.
Hey there Delilah
You be good and don't you miss me
Two more years and you'll be done with school
And I'll be making history like I do
Without thinking, Grian was standing up and running away. His brain didn’t register the callings of his name or the footsteps behind him. All he was thinking about was running away and hiding in the darkest, most secret corner he could find so that he could never be found again. When he reached the edge of Mumbo’s base, he jumped off and took flight.
He had already pulled out his rockets by the time his elytra had opened. He set some off, trying to go as fast as possible. He didn’t even stop at his base. Instead, he flew further and further until the sun had sunk below the horizon.
He landed on a small island in the middle of nowhere, landing on the shore. Turning around he sat on the ground, pulling out a torch and setting it down. The island wasn’t big enough for mobs to spawn, much to his disappointment, no matter how small. He silently wished a Skeleton to shoot him. He’d even settle with being blown up by a creeper.
You'll know it's all because of you
We can do whatever we want to
Hey there Delilah here's to you
This one's for you
He sat there, staring off in the direction he had come. Grian didn’t know how long he had been sitting there, but he knew it was long enough to confirm Mumbo hadn’t followed him. Even still, he couldn’t help but stare off into the distance, across the large ocean in front of him, and hopelessly wish to whatever great power that he’d see the man he had fallen so hard for flying towards him.
Eventually, the sun had begun to rise and he let out a choked sob. Grian didn’t even know he had been crying. Along with that, he had no clue why he was crying. Mumbo hadn’t even said anything. Maybe that’s why.
There was no response, just an unreadable expression along with eyes that held too any emotions to sort through staring at him.
Grian laid back on the sand, staring up at the sky that was slowly turning bluer by the second. He had been an idiot. He shouldn’t have run away like that. But… What else could he have done? Sat there to hear the rejection?
Oh, it's what you do to me
Oh, it's what you do to me
Oh, it's what you do to me
Oh, it's what you do to me
No, no, no what was he thinking! He didn’t even know he was going to get rejected! But if he was going to be accepted and his feelings were returned, why didn’t Mumbo look happy? His mind swarmed with thoughts and he stood up in frustration. He was tired, but his mind was restless and he couldn’t handle that. So, he hoisted himself up into the air and took off again in the opposite direction of which he came.
Tears in his eyes, constantly being whipped away by the harsh wind, he flew on and on. He didn’t know where he was going but one thing was for sure: He was not going back to his base. He couldn’t. What if Mumbo had already went and told all the other Hermits? What if everyone laughed at him as soon as he got back? What if Xisuma kicked him for being gay? He had forgotten he wasn’t even out yet! Oh, what has he done!? He’s a complete idiot! Questions and doubts swarmed his mind, causing him to just go further and further. Further than any Hermit lived and further than any sign of the Hermits. He even flew further than that. In fact, he flew so far he reached the world border.
This seemed far enough. He could even dig out a little bunker so he was comfortable. Yeah, that sounded nice. Then he didn’t have to worry about facing Mumbo or Xisuma or anyone else and he could be at peace. And he’d never have to deal with what Mumbo does to him again.
“Oh, Mumbo. If only you knew what you do to me ,” Grian thought to himself with a broken smile.