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It was late. Or maybe early. Point is, as far as Grian and Scar knew, most people were sleeping. Pearl alone in her tower, Joel and Etho across the way in the relation, Timmy and Tango in their ranch. Ren and Bigb in their ugly cobblestone box. The game was early enough that, at least for now, no one really had to sleep with one eye open.
Grian had too many thoughts whirring in his head though, and Scar hadn't been able to sleep for Grian's constant tossing and turning.
Eventually an effort had been made to try and tire Grian out so they could finally get some sleep before a new day rolled in, and while Grian was no longer moving around constantly, they were now a mess of tangled limbs, exchanging hushed words in the soft torchlight and pressing soft kisses to each other's faces when the bubbling affection looping between them got too much to bear.
One of Grian's wings rested over them both, softer than the hastily made blanket that had been tossed aside in the night's activities, and the other was tucked in so he could rest on his side. One of Scar's rough hands was softly working through the feathers on Grian's back, the other cupping Grian's face. Grian's birdlike feet twisted around Scar's legs, one grasping at his calf.
And it was here that Grian presented his admittedly very half baked idea.
"You know the chosen soulmates thing?"
"Scott and Cleo! Yeah, I know."
"Right, so, hear me out, what if I pretended to do that."
Scar's voice went flat and his hands went still. "Pretended."
Grian warbled and puffed his wings up. Scar refused to move his hand back to Grian's feathers.
"Nothing- nothing substantial. I'm not suggesting doing this to us for fun."
"Then explain."
"If we turn red first, someone willing to give their lives for us. If they turn red first, someone to kill for us."
"For you, you mean." Scar moved to untangle himself further from Grian, stopped only by desperate hands grasping at his shoulders and talons tightening around his leg.
"If they want me safe, that means protecting you."
"And who do you suggest, oh wise and powerful Grian?"
"No one who's familiar with avian courting, they'd see through me in an instant. But listen- listen. Martyn is probably enough for Bigb to want something better if I just give him a nudge."
"Better." His voice was still flat, but Scar's hand was finally buried into Grian's feathers again, even if he didn't return to gently running his fingers through them, "Grian, I'm not okay with you sleeping around for an advantage."
Deep breaths. "I don't want to sleep around. I just want to give Bigb a few gifts. Not shiny things. No nest. We should have enough wheat to spare a couple of loaves of bread soon."
"And while you're doing this?"
"You need to be jealous and upset."
"That won't be a problem."
"Scar." Grian grasped at Scar's hand. The one that had previously been resting on Grian's cheek. Scar let him. "You can say no, it was just an idea. I love you, Scar. I never want you to doubt that."
Scar pulled Grian closer and kissed the top of his head.