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It’s with an exaggerated sigh that Scar closes the door to his room, slumping back against it slightly.
Finals had been ongoing for the last couple of months, scheduled in the awkward way that they always are: not quite constant but not spread out enough to allow for a break, and clashing with Grian’s in a way that’s barely let them speak. In fact, they haven’t really had the chance to talk for longer than half an hour in nearly a month, which is, quite frankly, a crime.
On the bright side, they’re over now. He’s free from the academic hell of exams, at least for the foreseeable future, so he can finally call his boyfriend and they can take a well deserved nap.
While it’s been slightly disheartening that they’re at different universities, especially at first, this whole long-distance thing isn’t as difficult as all the warnings would suggest. Or maybe they've just gotten unusually lucky, meeting as teens and growing together, building a bond so strong, so stupidly devoted, that it’s like they’re soulmates.
Glancing at the clock across the room, Scar notes that Grian should be getting home soon - his final exam would have ended about 30 minutes ago, giving him apt time to get back to his flat. Scar’s own exams ended a few hours before, the only mercy in their clashing schedules being that they finish on the same day, a detail that has left him beyond excited, because nothing quite beats a quiet, relaxing sleep call with your long-term partner.
It’s undoubtedly going to turn into a sleep call, because even if Grian is somehow still fresh as a daisy (which he most certainly won’t be), Scar is exhausted and somewhat disheveled. His eyes are reddened from far too much last minute cramming and his blazer stained with who knows what - sleeping for the next 5 years honestly sounds like an incredible plan.
Also, he just wants to have a nap with his boyfriend- nothing wrong with that!
With a deep breath, Scar pushes himself off of the door and removes his shoes, dropping them into the tiny wicker basket beside him. He doesn’t bother turning the lights on, instead marching straight over to the bed, placing down his phone carefully just in case Grian calls him first, and gets changed into pajamas. The dirty clothes get tossed carelessly back towards the door, just another thing to clean up later- but that’s tomorrow-Scar’s problem.
Oh, tomorrow Scar hates him, for sure.
He slides easily under the blue and white duvet, pulling it up to his shoulders and shuffling under the covers contentedly. He’s comfortable, warm, and going to talk to his boyfriend - what more could a man ask for?
A grin splits across Scar’s face at the very thought of being able to call Grian, and he reaches for his phone in an instant. Hitting call sends a slightly giddy rush through him, and he’d probably be a little embarrassed about acting like a teen at a sleepover if he wasn’t so absurdly excited.
It’s after only two rings that Grian picks up the phone, a video feed appearing near immediately. He looks slightly winded, Scar notes, with very apparent bags hanging under his eyes and mussed, frizzy hair, as though he’s been running his hands through it non-stop.
They’re both a little wide eyed for a few moments, a silence settling between them as they take in the other’s presence, even over a screen.
“Did… did you run to get the phone?” Scar asks, stifling a laugh as he curls further into the duvet.
Grian smiles warmly, the corners of his eyes creasing. “Hi to you too. I was in the middle of cleaning, you’re interrupting me- better be grateful I picked up at all.”
Observing the backdrop to the image shows Grian’s phone has been propped up against the wall his desk backs onto, set in a position to make answering quick whenever Scar ended up calling. The thought makes him redden, just a little, the knowledge that his partner was as excited for this as he was forcing his heart to drum an energetic beat against his ribs.
Piles of poorly stacked books and strewn flashcards surround Grian where he leans on his desk, standing with his crossed arms settled on the desk to support him. His room is an absolute mess, notes and folders scattered on every conceivable surface; his desk, bed and floor all carpeted in clutter, but Scar is definitely not in a position to judge such pragmatics.
Instead, he just stares at Grian, watches as he blinks and breathes, and his stomach swoops, chest swelling at the portrait of perfection on his phone screen.
“I missed you”, he says instead of voicing the butterflies in his gut, voice a little weak, helpless. He might be a charismatic speaker in any other situation, but right now he’s tired beyond belief and feeling far less shameless than usual.
Grian looks as though he melts a little, grin creasing further and bottom lip pulling up. “I missed you too,” he says softly, voice crackling a little, and Scar can’t tell if it’s the tinny quality of his phone’s speakers or if Grian’s voice is just breaking with emotion. “Are you in bed?”
Scar nods, sleepily, feeling as though he could start dozing right now with the company of his boyfriend’s voice and the comfort it provides. He can feel any tension left from the stress of the last weeks flooding from his body, and he’s just so tired.
“You should get ready for bed too,” he whispers. “You look very tired.”
Scar definitely isn’t lying when he says that, though he’s aware he doesn’t look much better.
Grian simply rolls his eyes, standing up to continue cleaning, and Scar watches as he begins to pick up the books dotted around the room and return them to his shelf, determinedly.
With a whine that he refuses to acknowledge, Scar prods, “c’mon, go get ready for bed, G-man. We can sleep call!”
Grian’s back turned to the camera now, plucking books scattered across his bed and letting out a chuckle. He turns back with a fond look in his eyes and faux exasperation on his face. “I need to clean up first, there’s stuff everywhere, dude. It looks like a rage room in here.”
“You can do that tomorrow! Your sleeping beauty wants to go to sleep and he’s well aware that you didn’t get any rest last night- texting me at four-thirty is pretty telling.”
Grian rolls his eyes again with an exaggerated sigh, and Scar clicks his tongue with feigned impatience. He rolls over onto his belly, pulling the duvet up to rest on the top of his head, and stares into the phone standing on his pillow.
“I’m only cleaning up a little, princess.” Grian takes a step back from the shelf he has been returning things to, hands on his hips and seemingly satisfied, “it won’t take too long.”
“It’s sleepy time or… I’ll hang up! I’ll do it, mister- stop laughing!”
Shoulders shaking with mirth and hip cocked to the side, Grian raises an eyebrow. “Oh yeah?”
“Yeah! Don’t- I sense that you’re doubting me, this is a very real threat, I’ll have you know!”
“Well, hang up then.”
Grian isn’t even looking into the camera anymore, having moved to push a pile of notes into the bin next to his desk drawers. It’s a movement that’s just out of frame - Scar can only see Grian’s legs as he’s leaned over - but Scar knows the layout of his room like the back of his own hand. Or Grian’s hand- he knows that pretty well too.
“I’m going to physically crawl through your phone and fight you.”
Grian is back in frame after that, actually leaning back to guffaw with a hand slapped across his mouth in a desperate attempt to keep from disturbing his flatmates. He lifts a hand to mime wiping a tear away, “and how do you plan on doing that, Scar?”
Fighting to keep a smile from his face, Scar shakes his head rapidly, “I totally could- I’ve still got my bag of magic crystals around here somewhere, one of them must be a teleportation crystal…”
Grian hums, placing the last of the pages of notes into the bin, then spinning on his heel to face Scar again. “There we go, I’m done- and I can actually get to my bed now,” he giggles at Scar’s seeming oversight of that detail. “I’m going to get ready, okay?”
Scar makes a noise of agreement as he watches Grian collect his pajamas and walk out of frame, towards the bathroom.
“Hey! Aren’t you gonna let me watch you get changed?” he pouts, trying to look as pitiful as possible, bathing in the dim light of the phone screen.
“What, so you can stare at my arse and call me adequate again?” Scar can hear the air quotations Grian must be acting out, just out of view. “Go to sleep, Scar.”
The muted click of Grian’s bathroom door closing echoes through the speakers, and- great, now his cruel, cruel boyfriend has abandoned him! He’s very warm though, so decides to be merciful and not crawl through the screen looking for vengeance- that’d be a waste of such a comfortable position!
Time passes slowly, the vague noise of running water and clumsy shuffling keeping Scar company, and he’s nodding off by the time Grian gets back. He’s wearing a pair of boxers and a tank top, tossing his dirty jumper and binder onto the desk chair, and Scar is far too content and exhausted to fight the drooping of his eyelids.
Another click sounds from the speakers followed by shuffling as Grian maneuvers across the dark room and into bed, dragging his phone with him. He lets out a contented sigh, laying on his side then turning attention back to Scar, where it belongs.
“Are you awake?” he whispers quietly, tugging his own duvet to his chin and settling down.
Scar, although technically awake, is far too drowsy to say so, instead opting to mumble a random collection of sounds that really have no resemblance to words. Everything is warm and comfortable, and he’s got his wonderful boyfriend with him, everything is perfect and he knows that Grian will still be there when he wakes up.
A hushed snicker can be heard, then, “I love you, I missed you so much.” Scar can hear the beaming smile in Grian’s voice, ringing with a breathlessness as if his heart is in his throat. “You’ve worked so hard and I’m so proud of you. Sleep well, Scar.”
He can’t think of a single place he’d rather be, as he drifts off to the sound of his partner’s soft breathing.