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Scarlet rolled over in her bed, turning to face the other person laying with her. A small frown rested on her lips as she flicked her eyes over his face. She couldn't sleep and the other wasn't helping.
Her brows furrowed a little. She's come to realize that he makes her feel so.. Warm. Something close to when she realized she was a woman, but so much different.
She wanted to reach out and just grasp the feeling forever. Press it close to her chest and never let go. Whisper to it as she basked in it.
She had somewhat a feeling of what this could be, but was shy to admit it. Mumbo was one of her closest friends and she didn't want to sneak in and admit her feelings for their partner. That just wouldn't be fair to him.
She sighed softly, a hesitant hand reaching out towards him. She would've never predicted that she would develop feelings for Grian. Actually, she could've. He's been there a lot for her, really being the first one to make her even consider she could be a lady.
She owed a lot of her happiness to him. She pulled her hand back to her chest, sighing once again. It's no wonder Mumbo and him were together.
She turned to face the ceiling as thoughts filled her head, ones she could ever speak aloud to neither the blond nor the ravenet. She felt she was betraying Mumbo's trust with even thinking about Grian as hers.
"Scarlet..? You awake..?" She heard Grian whisper and she rolled to face him. She nodded and she whispered back "Yeah. What's up?"
"What's wrong?" Grian was facing her now and she's not very grateful for the beam of the moon shining in through her windows. She can see the worry on his face. "Nothing," She responded, flashing a small smile "Just can't sleep."
"Okay" Grian murmured before whispering "You're hogging all the blankets" Scarlet stifled a small chuckle "Just how cold do you get?" She asked, kicking over the blankets to him. "It's such a warm night tonight - got the windows open and everything"
"Unfortunately, being an avian, I am not at all able to regulate my warmth" Grian grumbled, burying himself into Scarlet's blankets. "If you'd want, I can hold you. Pearl's told me I radiate so much heat" Scarlet offered, unaware of what it would mean.
Grian paused before shuffling closer to her "You sure?" He asked, looking up at her. Scarlet looked down to him and gods she felt her heart beginning to race. "Mmhmm" She hummed, nodding while opening her arms for him.
He shuffled himself into her arms and he just felt so right laying there, Scarlet noted. She wrapped her arms around him, feeling him bury his head under her chin. "Pearls right" Grian murmured, soft coos slipping from his throat "You really do radiate heat"
Scarlet softly laughed and said "Thank you. Thank you. I do my best"
She heard him making happy coos and chirps, melting into her warmth. Scar hesitantly rested a hand in his hair, unsure as to what the boundaries were. How far was she allowed to go into her friendship until it was considered something more?
She played with his hair silently, waiting for him to say something or for him to pull away, but it never came. He stayed in her grasp. She soon heard his chirps and coos calm and she glanced down, noticing that he's fallen asleep. A gentle smile rested on her lips at how fast he had fallen back asleep, then again he was kinda an easy sleeper.
She'd love to hold him as they both fell asleep again..
The smile on her face fell as soon as it arrived, remembering her place. They're still just friends. Friends don't get that connection she wanted to try with Grian.
She let out a soft gentle sigh, unsure how much movement she could do before accidentally waking the avian. Grian doesn't like her back anyways. She's going to have to remember that. Grian is already with Mumbo. Grian wants to spend his life with Mumbo.
A small thought spoke from deep in her mind, asking that if Grian did, then why did he ask to crash at her place? She only smacked the thought away with the fact that maybe her base was the closest as he was hanging out with her moments prior.
But still... He offered they both share the bed after she had insisted that she was fine sleeping on the floor...
She felt her heart start racing once again before she shot the idea down. He was just being a good friend. No friend would allow their other friend to sleep on the floor at their own house.
At least that's what she felt like. She would never let Pearl or Cub or Bdubs or even Grian sleep on the floor in their own homes. She felt it to be rude to them, even if they were her host.
Her eyes narrowed down to Grian. She needs to get some sleep. Her thoughts always decided to race at night, when she was left alone. She needed to go for a walk... But Grian was still in her arms. He was practically asleep on top of her. She couldn't move even if she so pleased.
She glanced over to her communicator sitting on the nightstand and carefully grabbed it, trying not to wake the blond in the process. She flicked it on and scrolled through the names of the people in the server. She wasn't sure what she was really doing. Maybe to try to cure her mind with the thoughts of the night.
She didn't even know who was awake...
She let her mind wander while she scrolled, her scrolling ending on the name of Cleo. It seemed like Cleo was awake at this hour, seen by her communicator pinging green.
It wouldn't hurt to talk to Cleo.. She clicked on Cleo's name and whispered a message to her, saying a comment about how she can't sleep and needs something to distract her mind.
Cleo immediately responded back, asking if Scarlet needed her to come over and Scarlet quickly told her no. As much as she would love for Cleo to come over, Scarlet still wasn't able to get up.
Cleo then asked if they would just like to call and unfortunately, Scarlet had to say no yet again. She then offered they just message back and forth and Cleo accepted the offer.
<><><><>
ZombieCleo:
>> What's wrong?
Can't sleep <<
>> And why can't I come over?
Grian's sleeping over <<
I don't want to risk waking him <<
>> Oh
>> What's keeping you up?
Thoughts <<
>> Would you like to share?
Maybe <<
>> Start whenever
<><><><>
Scarlet paused, thinking. Should she really be asking love advice from her mother figure? She narrowed her eyes, a small hum erupting from her throat. Yeah she probably should. Cleo's been in relationships before. She's gone through this before, Scarlet is sure.
<><><><>
ZombieCleo:
I think I like Grian <<
Well <<
I know I like Grian <<
More then friends way <<
>> Oh?
Yeah <<
But he's with Mumbo <<
So <<
>> You should bring it up to Grian
>> It'll be nice to get those feelings in the air
And ruin my friendships? <<
No <<
Absolutely not <<
>> It'll be better than bottling the feelings
>> You'll grow to resent Grian and Mumbo that way
<><><><>
Scarlet couldn't fathom the idea of even saying the words "I think I have feelings for you" to Grian. Well, she could. But she didn't want to say and risk losing two of her bestest of friends.
<><><><>
ZombieCleo:
I don't want things to go awkward <<
>> It won't if Grian and Mumbo are both good friends
I don't even know how I would do it <<
>> Talk to Grian one on one
>> Or do it how you came out
>> There's many ways you could do it
I want to do it one on one <<
But I don't know how <<
>> When the morning comes, you could talk to him
>> Just ask him if you can have a chat
>> And then confess your feelings
I'm scared <<
>> Of rejection?
Yeah <<
>> It's okay
>> If you get rejected, just send me a whisper
>> I'll be there to comfort you before you can even say Xisuma
Okay <<
>> You've got this, Scarlet
>> I believe in you
<><><><>
Scarlet turned off her communicator, setting it down on her nightstand again with a heavy sigh. She was really going to do this, huh? Her mother figure wasn't going to let her live this down now.
She looked down to Grian and ran a hand through his hair. Maybe it wouldn't be bad telling him. He'll let her down gently, she feels. He'll tell her he doesn't feel the same way and be gentle with her, asking if she'd like a hug, maybe. Tell her nothing has to change if she doesn't want it to.
A small smile laid on her lips. She'll be okay with that ending. As much as she'd love for him to like her back, she knew that was purely just a fantasy to play on repeat in head. And She's okay with that.
She felt the sleep crawling into her bones and let it take over, burying her in warmth as she fell into the land of sleep.