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Scar was currently shirtless, he had spilled milk on his shirt and since it was laundry day he had to wait for his clothes to dry before he could put on another one, and they didn't have any spare ore to make a chestplate. Grian was currently getting some stuff from their mob farm, therefore he wasn't there to yell at Scar to put on a shirt.
He knew Grian would 'order' him to put something on when he came back from his errand, but Scar didn't really care. He actually found it quite comical when his feathers would stick out, and his face would go all red, voice cracking while looking away. Actually now that Scar had a chance to think about it, his wings always did that wh-
Scars thoughts were interrupted when the same pesky bird that lived in his mind rent free walked through the door.
"Hey Scar, I think someone might have messed with the mob far-" Grian's sentence was cut short when he had noticed the lack of clothing covering Scar's torso
The avian sighed, a small reddish tint dusted his cheeks
"Put your clothes back on, Scar" He said looking anywhere that wasn't the red life standing a couple feet away "Well Grian, I would love to but I have no shirt to put on, they're all in the wash. There are also no chest plates" Scar replied with a smug expression, finding some humor in the current situation.
Grian was now looking at Scar, face flushed and wings fluffing out
"Take Mine" He said, taking the piece of armor off his chest, walking up to Scar reaching out for him to take it. But Scar just chuckled and pushed it back to Grian "I'll be fine Gri. I'll make sure to be careful and I won't leave the house until I have a shirt on, ok?" Scar asked, looking at the avian, waiting for a response.
Grian just gave a curt nod, staring at the ground. Scar took notice to how Grian's feathers were still sticking up, and was reminded to what he had been previously thinking about before Grian had showed up
The more he thought about it, the more confused he was. He thought back to all the times when he had forgotten to cover his chest, or when he had said something to complement his friend, Grian and his wings would react the same way.
Grian had gone over to the chest a couple feet away from Scar, seeming as if he was trying to busy himself. Or look for something to make a chest plate, Scar didnt know which.
"Hey Gri, I have a question" He asked "hmmh? What is it?" Grian replied
"Why are your wings fluffed out like that?"
Grian stiffened, obviously not expecting the question. "I-I, uhm. Well - Well, it's. It's because they need to be preened." Grian answered, a reddish tint dusting over his cheeks.
"Yeah uhm, I just haven't preened them in awhile, it's a little hard to do it on my own, since I can only reach so far, y'know? It's fine, I'll get to it later" Grian said, giving Scar a reassuring smile. Then returning his attention to the chest in front of him. "What if I help? So they stop bothering you?" Scar offered
"Scar, how much do you know about avians?"
Grian looked at Scar skeptically. Scar didn't know much, but he had heard it can be bad if the wings are left un-preened.
"Not much, but I'm sure I can be a big help if you tell me how." He said, smiling at Grian.
Grian looked at Scar, then glanced at his wings, soon back to Scar. He seemed to be thinking. Scar would understand if Grian refused his offer. He understood that avian wings were sensitive, and they often did not like others touching them.
"Alright." Grian said, standing up walking over the couch. Sitting down on the floor in front of the loveseat
Scar made his way over to Grian and sat on the cushion behind him.
Grian explained to Scar on how to preen wings. After twenty minutes Scar was running his hand gently over the right wing to see if he had missed any broken feathers when he heard a chirp come from the avian, who was as stiff as a board when the unfamiliar sound left his mouth.
Did Grian just… Chirp?
Scar was about to ask when they heard a familiar voice outside
"Jimmy! I told you to be careful Hun! How did you even get stuck like that?" Their front door was then opened to reveal their teal haired friend with a poppy behind his pointed ear, and panicked blue-ish gray eyes.
"Uhmm Grian? Me and Jimmy were heading up here and Jim may have gotten stuck in a sand trap" Grian stood up and rushed outside.
"Goshdarnit Tim, I just made that trap!" Scar could hear Grian and Jimmy arguing from where he was sitting.
"Why is there a pile of feathers right next to you Scar?" Scott asked
Scar looked down beside him to see a pile of red, blue, and yellow feathers that had formed while he preened Grian’s wings.
"Oh! Well, I was preening Grian's wings!" Scar replied cheerfully looking back up at Scott
The Teal haired man looked at Scar for a moment before chuckling and leaning on the table "Really? Good for you and Grian, you know people didn't know if you two were dating or just really good friends for a while" Scott said messing with his nails
Wait
What?
Him and Grian weren't dating, people thought they were dating? How long have people thought that?
Scar felt his face heat up just thinking of himself and Grian together that way
"Grian and I aren't dating, what does me preening his wings have to do with that?" Scar asked, confusion apparent in his voice. Scott stopped playing with his nails and looked back at the red life, now confused himself.
"Sorry for assuming, but do you not know?" Scott asked in return, Scar just shook his head, urging Scott to elaborate. "Well, uh, usually avains only let their, you know. It's a thing that only their-'' Scott cut himself off, seemingly trying to find the right words to say to scar.
"You know what? Ask Grian" After Scott had said that Grian had stuck his head through the doorway "Hey you two, I was gonna show Timmy what I've been working on, come on." Grian tossed a shirt to scar "-Put that on first scar"
And so Scott and Scar followed Grian out to his most recent trap. Scar decided that he would ask Grian about all that avian stuff later
But he never got the chance cause they were quickly ambushed by the red army, he actually never had a peaceful moment with Grian again.
That was until they were in a forest, one standing, Holding a sword to the other's throat.
With Scar kneeling down, ready to accept his fate, from the one he loved the most.
All of the sudden Scar could no longer feel the desert sand beneath him, no longer could he hear his winged partners cries and nonstop apologies. Instead he felt cotton beneath him and could hear purring. Scar opened his eyes and was welcomed by the site of his bedroom, and Jellie at the bottom of his bed. Feeling her owner shift, she opened her eyes and meowed, Asif she was saying hello to the man. Scar smiled, glad to feel back home on hermitcraft. “Well good morning to you to Jellie!” he said, reaching out to pet her, feeling her soft fur against his fingertips. She gladly accepted the gesture, rubbing her head against his hand.
“We better get up, we got a lot to do today!” he exclaimed, hopping out of bed.
Scar changed out of his pjs and put on his outfit, looking into the mirror. He kind of liked the fact that he looked like he came straight out of a 1920’s film. He was wearing his red waistcoat jacket, a green vest underneath, with gray tailored pants and brown dress shoes and a red top hat with a flashy looking cane to put it all together.
“Bye Jellie!” he yelled out to her, knowing his fluffy companion was most likely now perched on his pillow.
Deciding he was going to work on the swaggon, he got to work.
It was around noon when he ran out of materials, and while he could get the things he needed himself he saw this as a chance to go to the G-Train and bother Grian, seeing the avian was usually in that area. He also had not heard from Grian since 3rd life
As reached the multi-colored train cars he didn't see the avian anywhere nearby, now a little more disappointed he still decided to buy the materials he needed in the first place.
Scar had realized his romantic feelings for his dirty blonde friend during third life, but looking back on it they had formed during early season 7.
While Scar was looking through the chests he couldn't help but feel as if someone was watching him. He turned around but didn't see anyone, when he turned back towards the chests he was welcomed by the sight of Grian’s face mere inches away.
Scar quickly jumped away trying to hide the reddish tint appearing on his tanned skin. If he were to guess he would say grian also wasn't aware of how close he was to the other, taking a step back with pink cheeks and not sharing eye contact.
“W-well hello there Grian! You startled me!” Scar stuttered out, chuckling. Hoping to ease some of the tension.
“Sorry, I was just planning to restock some things when I saw the opportunity to scare you” Scar noticed Grian was a little tense as he was unloading shulkers into the chests with a scowl
Scar never really liked seeing Grian upset, well, he never really liked seeing anyone upset. But Grian especially. He knows from experience that asking him what's wrong would get nowhere, usually getting Grian’s mind off of whatever was troubling him and then he might tell you what's bothering him.
And scar knew just what would work. Hopefully.
“Hey G, if you were a chicken, you'd be “im-peck-able”.’
Grian stopped what he was doing and slowly turned his head up towards Scar, looking at him as if he had grown a second head
“What?”
“If you were a vegetable, you be a cute-cumber” Scar said with a wink
Grian tried to stifle his laughter and keep a straight face. He opened his mouth to reply but Scar quickly spewed out yet another cheesy pick up line before he could do so.
“Are you a magician? ‘Cause when I look you, at everything seems to just disappear” The avian failed to stop the smile that slowly that crept onto his face
“Scar that's so chees-”
“My name is Microsoft, so can I crash at your place tonight?”
Grian had started to laugh, cheeks red. Scar assumed it was from his laughing fit
“That-That's so bad Scar!” Grian stuttered out between laughs. One word to explain how Scar was looking at Grian in one word would be lovestruck. He remembered all the previous times he had done this to cheer up his friend. He loved how the others' laugh sounded like a perfect melody, and how contagious it was.
“Would you like to go outside for some fresh air? Cause you're taking my breath away. Or should I say I'm taking yours?” Scar started to chuckle when Grian almost lost his balance from all his laughter, causing Scar to grab onto the other hips trying to help him not fall over and possibly hurt himself.
“We’re al-already outside!” Grian tried to breath and regain his composure but he couldn't stop laughing. Scar opened his mouth to shoot out yet another pickup line but Grian put
his hand over the dapperly dressed man's mouth, interrupting him as he did Grian moments prior.
“No- no more, Scar.” Grian slowly pulled his hand away and wiped away the tears that had formed in the corners of his eyes, calming down from his laughing fit. Seeming in a better mood than he was previously, giving Scar a smile.
“Now there's the pretty smile I was looking for!” Scar said, letting go of Grian and taking a step back. Grian not expecting the genuine compliment, a red tint forming on his cheeks and feathers fluffing out.
This Caused Scar to remember 3rd life, more specifically what he and Scott talked about. But nevermind that, he'll ask Grian about that later.
"Do your wings need to be preened?" Scar gestured to the avian's multi-colored wings.
Grian seemed confused by the question until something seemed to click in his head
"Huh-What? Oh, yeah, sure. I'll get to it later" Grian brushed off Scar’s comment, going back to restocking the G-train
"Y'know I could preen them for you again, if you'd like" Scar offered, leaning onto the G-train. Grian glanced at Scar for a second then continued what he was doing
“It's fine, I wouldn't wanna bother you with something like that anyway.” The avian’s cheeks having a slight red tint to them
“It's fine Grian! I love to help, and I know it makes you feel better” Scar said offering Grian a gentle smile.
Grian let out a sigh and turned towards Scar
“Alright then, I'll be at your starter base at sunset” Grian reached out his hand and Scar thought he was going to put it on cheek but instead pat his shoulder as he walked past Scar.
Scar turned around as Grian spread his wings and he looked back at the dapperly dressed man
“Hey Scar, I hope you know CPR cause you really do take my breath away”
He winked, and with that he flew up into the sky. While Scar was flustered at the fact, Grian flirted with him. Now sure, it was super cheesy but Scar wasn't expecting it. It was usually Scar who flirted and Grian who brushed it off as a joke. Scar regained his composure, got the materials, and quickly made his way off to the swaggon.
It was an hour past sunset, mobs were looking for unsuspecting players to make their victims, when Scar entered his home. He turned around and let out a noise of shock when he saw Grian on the couch with a purring Jellie on his lap, he had forgotten about his plans that night.
“O-oh well hello there Grian! I'm so sorry, I for-”
“Forgot? It's fine, I guess I forgot to ask if the time worked for you” Grian interrupted Scar, still looking down at Jellie and petting the sleeping feline.
“Great! Well, would you like to do this in my room? We can both fit on my bed and your wings will have enough room to spread out”
Grian just nodded, grabbed Jellie and set her on the other cushion, careful not to disturb her too much. He then stood up and followed Scar to his bedroom.
Scar sat up in front of the bed frame while Grian sat a few inches in front of Scar, back facing towards him.
"Do you need anything? A pillow? Some water?" Scar asked
"Im fine Scar, but thank you though"
Grian spread his wings for scar to start preening them, While Scar admired them for a moment
He loved Grian’s wings, how they started red and ended in blue, and yellow acting as a border between the two colors.
“Okay, so you're going to want to start-"
"I know what I'm doing. Relax Songbird" Scar interrupted
"Scar, not to burst your bubble, but I'm pretty sure you've only done this once Grian chuckled
"Well, I might've done some research earlier"
Which wasn't a lie, Scar in fact did look into it. He had figured Xisuma would have some info on the matter, so Scar went to his base to ask him. Which included some teasing that scar still didn't understand like he hadn't with Scott. Anyway, Xisuma had talked to him, and even lent him a couple books on the matter, even though he only got a couple pages in when he realized it was late and decided he would head home and read.
Grian let out a little 'hmm', but even if he couldn't see Grian's face, Scar could tell he was flushed. Scar laughed fondly
Scar ran his hands through the feathers gently, careful not to hurt his friend. He sectioned through each wing, removing any stray or broken feathers, and straightening any crooked ones.
Grian melted into the touches as quiet chirps and coos left his mouth
Scar just listened to him, not wanting to point it out at this very point in time, maybe later.
As Scar finished, Grian was leaning against the other's chest. Scar wrapped his arms around the avian's waist and slowly leaned them both comfortably against the bed frame. Both were just happy and content sitting there.
As he was sitting there, he thought back to what he was going to ask Grian in 3rd life, and while he didn't want to possibly ruin the peace, he knew had to ask before he forgot again.
"Hey Grian?"
When Scar had not heard a response after a few moments he assumed Grian had fallen asleep, not that he minded.
Until he heard a faint, "hmm?" That told him otherwise
"I have a question, it kind of has something to do with 3rd life"
Scar felt Grian tense on top of him
"What about it?"
"It's about preening, Scott told me that preening was between an avian and their, then he told me to ask you. Will you please elaborate?"
The avian grew more tense under Scars touch
"W-well uhm, preening is considered a very, intimate thing between avians and their, partners" even though Scar couldn't see Grian’s face, he could tell he was blushing
Then Grian’s words registered in his head
Scar was really confused, if it was so intimate why would Grian agree to scars offers?
"Then why would you let me?"
Both were sitting up, one no longer leaning on the other. Scar no longer holding Grian
"I don't really have an issue with you preening me Scar, and I also kinda uh," Grian cut himself short, hoping to leave at that and maybe Scar wouldn't ask and leave it alone
But come on, it was Scar. Unless It made Grian uncomfortable he would bother him about for as long as he remembered
Scar looked skeptically, now he was extra confused and extra interested.
What was Grian going to say before he cut himself off?
"You what Grian? I can't understand when you don't finish your sentence, would you be so kind as to explain?" Scar said in a teasing way, leaning forward enough to see the side of
the avians face, hair covering his eye and cheeks flushed
Grian mumbled something, just quiet enough for other not hear him
"What? Can't hear you when you mumble Birdie" Scar said sweetly
Grians feathers fluffed out at that
Scar took notice, and grew more confused at this. How could they need to be preened again when scar had just preened them?
"It's because I, like you, Scar."
Grian's whole face was now red, most likely embarrassed
"Well I like you too, Gri! I would consider you one of my closest friends!"
Grian put his head into hands a let out a frustrated sigh
Leaving Scar confused, not understanding why his friend was getting upset
"No Scar, " I meant romantically. Like i have feelings for you"
.
.
.
oh
Scar just stared at Grian, wondering if he was telling truth
He must have been, right?
Sure Grian loved to pull pranks but he wasn't one to mess with someone like this
Right?
Meanwhile to Grian who had taken his head out of his hands and slightly turned his head toward the elf, who still held a shocked expression on his face
Grian started freaking out, thinking he made his friend uncomfortable. He started mumbling apologies as he made a move to get away from the other, then all of the sudden he felt two arms wrap around his waist as he was suddenly pulled backwards into his previous position, leaning on the other like before
Then he started to hear giggling come from behind him
"I feel the same way Gri!"
"Really?" Scar could practically hear the avians smile
"Of Course! If you don't mind me asking, how long have you?.."
Grian thought for a second
"I think, during the head game in Season 7"
Scar was shocked that he hadn't realized anything sooner
"Wah?! That long? You must've been very good at hiding it!"
"Not really, I think your just oblivious Scar" Grian couldn't help but chuckle, relaxing into Scar
They continued to lay there in comfortable silence, just content with each others company
"Do your wings fluffing up actually mean they need to be preened?"
Grian let out a sigh, mindlessly playing with Scar’s hands, specifically the indents between his knuckles. Scar found it weirdly comforting
"No, I lied about that. Usually when wings go un-preened they can become really itchy, it can make flying difficult, and a few other things"
"So what does it actually mean?"
Grian turned his head upward to look at scar, giving a him soft smile
"That's not important"
Scar opened his mouth to argue but was interrupted by the avian giving him a quick peck on the lips, leaving him speechless, face becoming warmer by the second.
Grian chuckled at Scar’s shocked expression, face slightly flushed.
After a few minutes of silence, when Grian seemed barely able to keep his eyes open, when Scar remembered something. He lent down to Grian's ear and whispered,
"So, I didn't know you could chirp" in a playful tone, ready to tease the other.
Grians eyes shot open as he tried to scuffle away from scar, but was unsuccessful when Scars hold on his waist didn't give
"Shut up! Leave me alone!" The avian shrieked as Scar started laughing