Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Grian stared at the ceiling as he laid on his bed in his base. He couldn’t fall asleep. His body ached with tiredness and pain that was clearly due to lack of sleep but he just couldn’t do anything about it. He didn’t know what was wrong with him. It felt like something was keeping him up.

The rift glowed a purple hue a few feet ahead of him. Grian managed to create a riff into something he didn’t know. It activated a couple of days ago and a mysterious vibration hummed from it. He knew what he was working with was dangerous. Everything he did was dangerous. Yet that was just how Grian worked. There was no fun doing anything safe. There was basically no thrill. 

Sighing, Grian sat up, debating whether to continue working on the base or fly to the shopping district and see if there were any weakness potions available. Golden apples could also do the trick to calm his body but it would cause more resistance trying to sleep. 

He rolled his shoulders, trying to massage his sore back muscles. The riff was most likely causing his paranoia. Of course there was nothing to be afraid of on the Hermitcraft server, even if you tried breaking the game. He was surrounded by friends that loved him and this server was the safest place to be if any crises occurred outside of it. No abnormalities could just waltz through the riff no matter the reason.

Either way, Grian had to check up on it. What if something did come through? Could that explain the feeling of being watched? Or was it the danger that could happen if Grian wasn’t keeping an eye on it? Maybe going up to check on it was the best option. After all, he was dealing with something that Xisuma wouldn’t be too fond of. 

Slowly, he descended onto the cold stone and checked his surroundings…

Nothing.

Grian looked in the direction of the riff. There wasn’t anything weird or wrong with it. It seemed like the portal was intact and it didn’t look any different from maybe a few hours ago? But just to make sure, Grian stepped forward. He got as close to it as he could and poked his head on either side. No mobs in sight. Then he stared directly into the portal. His own reflection staring right back at him… He felt uneasy staring into the purple void. It wasn’t everyday that you got away with game breaking experiments. Grian took a step back. He didn’t want to accidentally fall in. Who knows what's on the other side? That wasn’t a risk Grian wanted to make… At least not yet.

Suddenly, something moved. It was like the purple hue got darker. The more he stared the more he felt dizzy. Grian shook his head. His tiredness was finally getting to him. Grian rubbed the sleep away from his eyes and turned around. He was seconds away from leaving the underground space before a blackened arm came out from the portal.

Grian shrieked in fear as this limb grabbed onto his collar and pulled hard . The more he fought against it, the more he felt he wasn’t going to win. He clawed at the hand that was now wrapped around his neck…

Grian was no longer in his base.

***

“Grian!” Scar called out. 

He spent an hour waiting by the elf-cookie shop tree for Grian. Scar was promised a game of Hermit TCG. He waited a concerning amount of time before he decided that Grian wasn’t coming.

Scar, being an overly worried guy, took the only logical option and went out searching for him. He flew through the shopping district and his own base just in case Grian forgot where they were meeting up. But with no sight of him, Scar decided he must have overslept. They were supposed to meet quite early in the morning and Grian wasn’t typically a morning person…

“Grian?” Scar shouted again, staring dumbfounded at the message Grian sent a day before. Scar was now inside of the avian’s base searching.

“Where could he be…?” Scar muttered to himself. He spent a few minutes exhausting himself from running from room to room. He took a seat on the gravity-defying bridge. He couldn’t think of any other place Grian could be. Maybe the avian was busy with other things? That was always an excuse he gave when he just didn’t have the energy to communicate with anyone or was avoiding situations he didn’t want to deal with.

But it was weird that Grian never gave a heads up. That made Scar’s hair stand. The vex pulled out his communicator to check if he had missed a message in his adventure of running around in the server. He hoped that there was at least some sign of him.

A few hours ago.

Mumbo: anyone have redstone I could definitely borrow?

Impulse: Yeah check out Ibuy ;)

Tango: woww shameless plug huh

3 hours ago.

Mumbo left the game.

An hour ago. 

Grian joined the game.

Grian left the game.

Grian joined the game.

Grian joined the game.

Scar’s eyes flickered over the most recent words, “Grian joined the game.”.  This meant that Grian was still on the server. But where could he possibly be?! 

It wasn’t until Scar took a second look at the logs in which he noticed that something was off. 

How could Grian join the server twice? 

The vex had never seen a player’s join message be doubled… Could there have been a technical glitch in his communicator? Or was it a code glitch? Scar didn’t ponder on it but the fact that Grian was still online and somewhere on the server. He sent him a message

You whispered to Grian: Hey Gri? Are we still going to hangout today?

“That should be enough…” He muttered as he turned to face the entrance to Grumbot’s cave. Yet it still did not calm his nerves in case something did happen to the avian. If he doesn’t respond, then maybe he will need to get other people involved. But would Grian want that? He never really told anyone of his past or anything that bothers him really. What if something really bad happened? What if he-

CRASH

A loud booming echo bounces off Grumbot’s cave. Scar instinctively ran over to the commotion. “GRIAN?!”

***

When Grian first opened his eyes, his head pounded with overwhelming pain and confusion. He was blinded by the lights that beamed through a small window. He was laying in an unfamiliar yet familiar bed. But once he sat up he regretted ever opening his eyes. The room was old and dirty. A scent lingered in the air that smelled of doritos and sweat. His eyes adjust to the brightness before he fully realizes where he is. The room was small, it made Grian feel cramped. He looked around. This room, scent, and feeling was all too familiar but yet so distant. Grian sat on the edge of the bed before he caught a glimpse of a uniform discarded on the floor. A white shirt with a button up light brown jacket. Grian instantly remembers where he is. 

Highschool.

It was always highschool.

Grian immediately stood up but regretted the action as soon as his legs couldn’t support him. He caught himself before he fell.

A few moments later,  the door to his room opens. “Aye Gree-on we’re going to be late!” A voice shouts from the door but no one walks in. The door shuts once again before Grian could respond. “High School… Why me? Why again?” Grian tightly grabs his bed sheets. Emotion washes over him. Fear, anger, nostalgia, deja vu…

Grian almost falls out of the dirty and worn down mattress while trying to get up again. He catches his reflection in the mirror placed conveniently right beside his bed. Of course, he still had his wings and avian features. How could he possibly explain everything that happened after Sam single handedly ended this world? 

How is it even running ? Would Sam and taurtis even believe him if he told them he was from the future? Or would Sam call him names because of how he looked. After all, he was always treated as the crazy one. Would people even believe him? 

Grian’s eyes fell over to the basket of clothes that was messily overflowing. No jacket could ever cover his wings. He couldn’t make them disappear. Grian would have taken pride in how well taken care of his wings were but now, they were just a jumble of unkept feathers. 

Not to mention his feather ears.

His height could be explained by a sudden growth spurt and his face didn’t age much after a few years… The only advantage of having a baby face. 

Perhaps he could just try to squeeze his wings into a hoodie? Nono… That would be uncomfortable. He could just lie right? And say that he also didn’t know where they came from? Would anyone even care about the sudden change? Yeah he could get some weird looks and questions but… 

“Gree-on?” Sam opened his door again but this time, walking down the steps. 

Instinctively, Grian pressed himself against the mirror trying to conceal his wings with his arms. “Y…Yes?” He hated how his voice helplessly squeaked. After all that time, and years of healing, he’s still afraid. 

“What are you doing?” Sam squinted his eyes. “We’re late to school because of you.” He scoffed and crossed his arms before blinking twice. “Did…Did you get taller?” 

Sam moved closer.

Grian hoped that Sam moved on or ignored his anxious expression. Give him at least some sort of assurance. He didn’t know how the rabbit would react.

“I-I'm getting ready… I just gotta do something first.” The avian spoke.

Grian tried his best to relax his shoulders and stand up straighter. He wasn’t scared about what Sam did, but more of the fact that he COULDN’T predict what he would do.

Sam squinted his eyes, raising his hand to measure Grian’s height and comparing it to his. “You did get taller! No fair” Sam sighed defeated. But a small glint sparkled in his eyes. 

“Are you hiding something?” Sam tilted his head sideways. “You seem different…?”

“M-me? I’m always like this…” Grian lied through his teeth. He shuffled closer to the wall, ignoring how his wings pressed uncomfortably behind his back.

“Did you steal some special sugar again?” Sam signed and tried to look behind Grian.

“What? No, of course not!” Grian shouted in bewilderment while scooting across the wall.

“Fine dude. It didn’t even matter anywa- got ya!” 

Sam pushed Grian away from the wall, causing him to try and catch himself from face-planting into the floor. He looked up at the rabbit and bit his tongue.

Sam looked bewildered at him. “Wait what?”

Grian shields himself with his wings, nervous of his reaction.

“Why are you acting so weird?!” Sam questioned with a confused face.

Grian stretched out his wings, showing them off. “I… I got wings now. I d-don’t know how but-“

“Dude what are you talking about? You took all of it didn’t you?!” Sam crossed his arms unimpressed, leaving Grian more confused than Sam ever was. Could he not see them? Or is he choosing not to talk about them?

“Hey Sam?” Grian got up and took him by the shoulders. “Do I have wings?!” He shouted while making direct eye contact, fear evaporating from his body.

“Uh? Maybe you should lay off the special sugar…” Sam patted his back while nodding sympathetically. “I’ll go tell taurtis that we’re gonna miss the train.”

Once Sam left the room, Grian felt like a weight was lifted off his shoulders. He couldn’t see them. Could no one see them? Grian sighed in relief. The biggest problem was solved in a matter of seconds. 

He could still feel and make use of his own wings. Grian was still going to have to cut slits in the back of his uniform. But everything that ever happened in this world felt a lot weirder than having torn up clothing.

Sam also didn’t seem to be annoyed with Grian but rather concerned. Grian would rather keep it that way than being shouted at.

Now, all he needed to do next was to meet taurtis…

Chapter Text

“Xequla…”

An icy chill envelops your body, where were you?

Not a single shred of light penetrates the pitch-black abyss. Even if you waved your hand in front of your face, would you be able to see it? Are your eyes even open?

Your sense of direction was off. This void-like place was unfamiliar to the point you didn’t know if you were looking up or down. You could still feel your body and the steps you took. Should you walk? It felt like the only logical solution you could think of. 

You take multiple steps forward. Unaware of what you were trying to go to. After what feels like an eternity you catch a glimpse of light in your peripheral vision. You realize that you’re standing only a few feet away…

In what seems like an endless void without that source of light, should you walk towards it?

Or should you stay put?

The light began to burn brighter. Shielding your eyes, you took a step forward. What other choice do you have? Despite the brightness, you had no other option but to take a step forward. The bright yellow light expanded, growing even brighter. 

The closer you got, the more you could feel the heat that was emitting from it. 

You kept walking until you were only merely inches away.

When you tried touching the source of light, your hand merely went through it as if it were nothing. It didn’t seem like it had a physical source you could grasp. What was its purpose here? What was your purpose? 

You turned to look behind you again. Nothing changed from the void staring right back at you. But once you turned back to the light, it was gone… Vanish into nothing but void.

“Xequla.” 

In the silence, an ethereal sound echoes through the air. Who was that? What was that? A chill ran down your spine, causing your muscles to tense up. You planted your feet firmly on the ground. In this unknown void, you could only hope that you were strong enough to defend yourself from anything that resided here. You tried speaking into the crisp, cool air,

“01001000 01100101 01101100 01101100 01101111 00111111?” 

An almost transparent screen materialized in your hands. It emitted a subtle, iridescent glow. The only light source in the abyss. Your voice was uttering not words but a string of code that became clearer on the screen.

“Xequla?”

The divine voice echoed once more.

An overwhelming sense of dread and fear filled your veins, and you found yourself in a situation that defied logic and reason. You weren’t supposed to be here. You need to get away. You had to get away. Your instincts screamed for you to flee, to put as much distance as possible between you and these abnormalities, but just as you tried to step back, the ground beneath you started to shake. 

Thin streaks of purple ran through the ground, getting closer and closer towards you. A thick purple crack splits the floor right under you. You could hear your heartbeat getting louder and louder in your ears as your legs didn’t quite move away fast enough. Adrenaline was now the only thing in your blood…

An ominous presence lingers in the air. You felt the wind being swept out of your lungs, leaving you gasping for air. Your foot hits the edge of a platform before you finally feel weightless…

You were falling through the abyss, a cold and melancholic void…

***

“Grian?!” Scar shouted again. 

He flew down from the rock bridge and dived straight down into the cave where Grumbot resided. His knees were scraped against the concrete flooring. 

With a wince, he scanned the cave, hoping for any sign of Grian. Flying down here was more of an impulse than a plan. All he heard was a loud explosion and that was enough to send him into a frenzy. The Vex was no stranger to rough landings and so he dusted himself off and summoned his cane. He didn’t want to cause his knees any more issues. They were already in a poor state.

Scar looked around, trying to pinpoint the exact cause of the loud blast. "Grian? Are you pulling pranks again?" His voice bounced off the cavern’s walls. 

Once again, he received no signs of the avian. But one thing he did notice was the giant purple rift in the middle of the room that seemed to be staring back at him. He froze, staring blankly at it. His magic seemed to be affected by being next to the portal. Scar started down at his hands. He could feel his power being slowly drained away. “What the?” It wasn’t like that earlier !

The Vex felt as if there was something off about it. It was definitely different than when he first entered the cave a few minutes ago. Could that have been the source of the noise? Scar hesitantly advanced forward toward the opened rift. It seemed to pulse with an energy both eerie but captivating enough that Scar couldn’t help but gawk over it. 

He slowly made his descent over to the portal and stared into it. Each step felt like he was going to get told off if he broke something. The bright purple swirls danced with a hypnotic rhythm, almost beckoning him to enter it. 

Scar extended his hand out to touch it. His eyes were now glued only to the hues of purple that glowed around him. He could feel his energy being taken away, but that didn’t matter now. He wanted to touch it. He wanted to see how it felt, what it could do-  

A sudden shock of realization washed over him. He swiftly retracted his arm and took a couple of steps backward, unable to comprehend what would have happened if he actually did go through it. "What on earth is Grian messing with here?" The Vex looked up at the portal anxiously and fiddled with his thumbs.  

Being a wizard in previous seasons had made Scar quite experienced in magic and alchemy.  But this? This was a whole new level! He never once had been face to face with a source of overwhelming, pure energy. 

“Danger” was the only thing that weighed on Scar’s mind. Almost tumbling head first into that sneaky rift because of his magic? Not his idea of a good time.

Scar wasn’t going to try and mess with the portal anymore but his original so-called plan was completely thrown out the window. He still didn’t find the source of the explosion but got distracted and almost(? died!

Was there anything he could do to find Grian? Nothing in the cavern seemed out of place other than the rift that just tried to pull Scar in. Sighing worriedly, he pulled out his communicator again. The message that he sent to Grian wasn’t even read! He brought the keyboard to his fingertips and began to type,

Now:

GoodTimesWithScar: hAS ANYONE SEEJN GRIAN

GoodTimesWithScar: oopsf sorry caps

Scar sent pebbles skittering across the ground as he paced in the cave. There were a few hermits that he saw earlier that day and surely someone had seen the avian…

Eventually, someone did respond.

Mumbo Jumbo: Is he not at his base? Haven’t seen him today

GoodTimesWithScar: checked already and he isnt here we were supposed to meet up

GoodTimeWithScar: cant find him anywhere

Mumbo Jumbo: Oh dear, I’m guessing he hasn’t checked his communicator in a while

GoodTimesWithScar: yup i have been trying to get in contact but nothing mumbo! nothing!

Mumbo Jumbo: He’ll show up eventually, hopefully not in a million pieces :’)

Scar chuckled at the message. The redstoner was always really good at getting a chuckle out of him. It was reassuring that Grian wasn’t going to be “missing ” forever. Of course, this was just another overly worried Scar. 

Grian, being a pro pranker and flier and known outside of the Hermitcraft server didn’t surprise him. If he had any physical problems, he could handle it. He always did. But that couldn’t be said about his mental health…

Scar had seen what the life games had done to their friendship and relationship. Especially during 3rd life, when Grian wouldn’t dare to see Scar after the cactus ring fight. The Vex had to constantly assure him that he was safe and that whatever Grian did, wasn’t really his fault. Scar wanted to see Grian win. He wanted to enjoy themselves after the so-called game was over. He didn’t mean to hurt the avian’s feelings. He didn’t mean to give him panic attacks whenever they were in the desert together, or riding a llama.

All he wanted was Grian’s love and adoration but was blinded by it to the point he didn’t see the damage that was caused because of himself . 

Scar shook his head. That was in the past now. That misunderstanding had been resolved long before season 9 had started yet it still lingered in his thoughts. But that was an example of how hard it is for Grian to forgive and forget. Scar never wants to see his most precious companion break down in tears because of something he didn’t think through enough. It pained Scar to even think of the times he saw Grian cry.

The Vex covered his face with his palms, letting out a weary sigh. The chillness of the air stole his only warmth. He sent another message to Grian, still clinging onto the hope that he was so occupied with a project that he was oblivious of the time and missed the date that they were supposed to meet up. 

The echo of Scar’s breaths let loneliness linger in the quiet anticipation of a response that might never come…

Scar pulled out his pocket watch, its familiar weight which brought a comforting presence in his hand. With a click, he opened it, revealing the intricate gears and delicate hands that looked expensive and time-consuming to perfect. It was now midday. He gently placed the watch back into his jacket and cast a longing gaze toward the exit of Grumbot's cave. “Grian, please return soon…” Scar whispered into the stillness of the air, his words laced with hope and anticipation—a silent plea for Grian's speedy return.

As soon as Scar began to prepare for his departure, he was met with a face he knew all too well.

“Grian…?”

Chapter Text

After the whole ordeal Grian had with Sam, he decided to just let it go. As he learned before, going with the flow was better for him than going against it. He quickly ripped holes through the fabric of his uniform so his wings would be comfortable in this permaworld. Now that one of the two problems were sorted, he could focus on the one he dreaded the most.

Taurtis.

If you asked Grian if he and Taurtis were ever a thing, he would have laughed in your face. Sure in high school, he would have answered a slight yes, but they were nothing more than friends. Maybe a little gay to each other, but there was never anything that ever crossed the so-called line.

Taurtis gave everything he had to Grian. He was there for him if anything went south. If Sam had done something, Taurtis was always there to stop him, to protect him. Grian didn’t deserve it really, but as friends, there were still some moments in which they fought. There were some mistakes that Grian shouldn’t have made. They were both teenagers. They were bound to make mistakes.

Despite everything, Taurtis stayed with him. Even after Sam destroyed everything and as the world no longer existed, he still stayed right by his side. When Grian started the Evolutionary Server, their friendship flourished into something even more. They found themselves in a place where they could finally fall into each other’s warmth. There were many nights, filled with talking and laughter about a new update or Taurtis’ awful building skills. 

It filled the empty heart Grian carried. 

But nothing ever lasts forever.

Grian still remembers the way he was ripped apart from Evo. The first ever server he made from scratch. His pride and joy. But just in the same way he met everyone, he left them. Everyone he ever knew.

He just vanished.

The ender dragon fight marked the moment he got lost. Lost as a pawn for the Watchers to discover, a mere puppet. Even thinking about the Watchers made shivers go down his spine. The horrible, painful process. Grian didn’t want to think about anything anymore. 

He sucked in a breath.

He had to meet Taurtis. At least give himself some closure. See him one more time in this reality. It hurt Grian’s heart knowing that in this world, he never actually confessed to him. Taurtis never knew how much he actually loved him. Just one last real connection in this messed-up reality.

Yet. This Taurtis isn’t his Taurtis. The one he truly came to know. Would Taurtis even have any feelings for him in this time period? 

Or will it just be playful laughter and flirting that he only half jokingly said. Did Taurtis genuinely love him, or was it all part of a game?

It made Grian feel stupid. Of course Taurtis loved him. But this wasn't the Taurtis from years into the future; this was a version from an entirely different timeline. Did those feelings come to develop or were they there from the start? That was something that Grian didn’t want to know. It was hurting him even existing in a world in which he was right there. By his side.

After entering Hermitcraft by chance, his feelings started to dissipate. He grew more curious towards the new land he crashed into and… forgot about Taurtis as the months went by. 

In that server, he then met Scar.

Sighing, Grian finished preparing his bag. He stuffed a few extra clothing, writing utensils, and tools, loosely labeled as weapons. After years of experience, they were a must. It was a shame that he didn’t have a gun. That would have been a lot better than blunt scissors and a pocket knife. 

In this world, it was either kill or be killed. Grian wasn’t going to die before he got back to Hermitcraft. His home . He made sure of it. The avian swung his bag onto his shoulder. 

Grian faced towards the door. With each step he took, the more his heart raced.

“Taurtis, Taurtis, Taurtis, Taurtis…”

Does he even like Taurtis anymore? How do you interact with someone you know is going to be hurt by you? What do you say? What do you do? Closure was the only thing on Grian’s mind. He needed to apologize even if he didn’t truly understand why.

The avian’s foot slowly walked up the small steps. The weight of seeing Taurtis’ face once more was weighing down on him. Mixed feelings arose in him. Did he actually want to see him? Was running away an easier option?

Grian always ran away from things that scared him. He was never the one to confront.

He hesitated for a moment before finally reaching out to grasp the door handle, his breath caught in his throat.

“Gree-on!”

Sam ran forward and grabbed Grian’s sleeve. “Even Dom left for school before us! We’re already at least an hour late.”

Dom. He didn’t really deserve anything that he was dragged into but It seemed like Dom didn’t really care anyways. Being oblivious was a heavy trait that Dom had. It seemed to work in favor for him. His naiveness was something Grian envied. 

“Grian! I was told you took some special sugar earlier” Taurtis waltzed into the room, arms crossed. “Not cool, man!” 

He stood there, unchanged. His dark colored hair was ruffled and uncombed. Dishevel hair framed his face. His iconic LED headphones resting around his neck. But what struck Grian the most was the emptiness in Taurtis's eyes, a loneliness that seemed to weigh heavily on his shoulders.

Yet Taurtis covered everything with a smile, a dimple forming on his left cheek. The very same smile that he would have on the last time Grian saw him. Grian couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. He will forever be the only one to hold the memories they had together. 

“I-I wasn’t taking anything! I’m just… It’s been a hard week alright?”

Grian looked away, looking directly at Sam.

Surprisingly, the rabbit had decided to not press any further and turned to the front door of their shared apartment. “Alright alright. Let's go. It’s raining like cats and dogs.” 

Taurtis looked out the window with excitement, “There's cats and dogs?!”.

Grian stifled a laugh. Watching Taurtis being his usual self was better than anything. It gave him hope, a glimmer of possibility in this messed-up world. Maybe, just maybe, in this reality, he could make Taurtis have a better life.

***

Walking to the school was more difficult than they imagined. The rain poured heavy on their clothing, battling against the relentless onslaught of raindrops. Grian’s wings were uncomfortably moist even while shaking the water out. Each step was a struggle. But eventually they make it to the front steps to the school and Grian sighed in relief.

“I'm all wet now because of you!”

“Pft-“ 

“Quit it'' Grian annoyingly nudged Sam for his inappropriate joke. Then it hit him—this was high school. He would have been around 17 at this time. Would it be okay to act his supposed age? He’s been on Hermitcraft for years . Its rules had become ingrained in his mind, but here, in this world, things seemed to blur.

This wasn’t hermitcraft anymore.

Grian felt as if it was right to follow them. Hermitcraft changed him for the better. It gave him a home, friends, and love he so desperately craved.

A part of Grian wanted to loosen up. This was highschool! There wasn’t any harm in joking around and being a teenager again. 

But he wasn’t was he? Or was Grian overthinking as he usually does? 

The avian jumped as he felt a hand grabbing onto his arm, pulling him out of his thoughts. He was now practically being dragged through the glass doors. Once Grian felt the warm air hit his face, his shoulders relaxed. He could now properly shake his feathers off any leftover droplets.

When his wings were now comfortable against his back, he looked inside the entrance. There were students walking around, each preoccupied with their own affairs. The air carried a smell of cleanliness.

The building felt nostalgic. The avian exhaled softly. He let himself be consumed by the feeling as his friends were busy trying to pat themselves dry. It felt nice being back in school. Memories flooded from the corners of his mind. Not that most of them were good , but a bittersweet wave of familiarity washes over him.

The memories he had of him and the others goofing off and being a nuisance to the staff were fun. Moments like those, Grian could feel the pulse of excitement running throughout his veins. How he wished he could talk back to the very poorly hired teachers. In Grian’s mind, they most definitely deserved it. Whether it was a random chupacabra, an alien teacher, or a principal who clearly shouldn't be in charge of running a school, Grian couldn't help but chuckle. Looking back, they weren’t such a big deal if he just kept his mouth shut. 

But there’s no fun in that is there?

Grian looked back towards his friends. They were bickering over finding a perfectly dry umbrella in their bag. He rolled his eyes. Of course. “I told you! We’re late AND wet!” Sam frustratedly stomped on the tiled floor with a bitter expression. “Guys c'mon let's head to class already” The avian interjected. “Nuh uh! I wasn’t the one secretly hiding an umbrella.” Taurtis pouted. 

Grian sighed for what seemed to be the millionth time. They weren’t getting anywhere with this nonsense. It seemed like both of them still lacked responsibility. “Alright if you both don’t stop fighting I’ll walk to class on my own.” Grian sternly said, catching both of them off guard. The avian didn’t remember where the classes were or who the teacher was but he hoped that this would shut them up. 

“Oh…”

“Since when did you care about DrNurseMD class?” Sam squinted his eyes at Grian.

“I’ve been working on my education okay?! Now if you two just stop arguing like children and head to class that would be great.” 

A few moments of silence and suspicious glances were exchanged before the pair bursted into laughter, leaving Grian in the dark. “Wow you sound— hAH just like my dad!” 

“Are you calling me old!? ” Grian playfully pushed Sam backwards. Despite the disrespect, Grian found himself genuinely having fun. It felt as all the pieces fell in place and nothing seemed any different than how it was years ago. Tension that Grian didn’t even know was there evaporated. There was no fear or worry about his whereabouts; he was simply having fun. It felt like he didn’t need to think of anything else. What else could he even think about? But as always, he had a hazy feeling in the back of his mind.

It was telling him something that he didn’t understand. It felt urgent . Like it needed to be remembered or else it wouldn’t be remembered at all…

“Oh look, it's your girlfriend!”

What seemed to be an old man wearing the female’s school uniform, was positioned conveniently behind a locker that was behind them. Sticking their head out ever so slightly to stare.

“She's not my girlfriend Sam!” The avian huffed, recalling how it was always the abnormal or eccentric students that would be head over heels for him. Grian would be lying if he said he didn’t like the attention but some people took it too far. Bordering on outright stalking. It sent shivers down his spine, remembering memories of unwanted encounters.

“Aw, you scared her off!”

“Can’t you clearly see that's a man?! He runs the panties shop! ” Grian exclaims in disbelief of their obliviousness. 

“Grian!? Are you—”

“Let's get to class!” The avian shouts before grabbing onto both of their arms and steering them away from the supposed ‘ student’.

As they hurried off, Grian realized he had no idea which direction their class was in, but he was determined to keep distance from the increasingly uncomfortable man. They ran down many different hallways until Tautis points out that they ran past the classroom twice . 

Once they finally made it inside, they all clutched their chests trying to catch their breath.

“Dude how are you so fast? You were basically flying!”

“Really? Thanks man” Grian brushed his fingers in his hair, deeply exhaling. Now that they were finally settled down, time went by as usual. It was one class after another. Teacher Tori— Mr. ChuPa, DrNurseMD, and Geode. Revisiting their classes was nostalgic. Even if there were some mishaps, he got a kick out of talking back to the staff. Everything seemed to graciously go as normal as it could have gone. He sat down in front of the school, waiting for Taurtis and Sam to finally leave the building and head home.

But one question rang in his mind. He felt stupid for not thinking of it before. Grian always thought he was going to get whisked away, back onto the hermitcraft server. The whole reason he ended up here was because of the rift! He still didn’t know what initially grabbed onto him. All he felt were cold fingers pulling hard.

Grian exhaled into his arms. The rift opened for a reason. It taunted him with the lack of sleep just for it to swallow him whole. 

But if there's no rift in this timeline, who’s to say that Grian will get home? Whatever brought him here, must have a status of high enough power to be able to move through timelines. It wanted him to revisit all these memories and life. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. It felt too normal…

There had to be something wrong. Something out of place. Sam wasn’t being a total jackass to him! That counted as something right? Taurtis also felt… strange. His eyes didn’t match his smile. His eyes were different. Eyes? What if it’s—

“Gree-on!” A hand reached out and rested on his shoulder. “The meeting’s over.” Sam looked down at him. “Shall we head out?”

The avian stood up, regaining his balance and looked behind the rabbit. Taurtis wasn’t there.

“...And Taurtis?”

“He got detention and had to clean up some classrooms.” Sam sighed disappointed. “He said he’ll come home later.”

“Detention? For what?” Grian stood stunned. It was the end of the day! How could Taurtis possibly get into trouble at the last minute?!

The rabbit laughed. “He was showing off his cool karate form and accidentally kicked down one of the vases Geode had in his room. It was chaotic! Apparently that vase was more than billions of years old!” 

“Billions?! I told you! Geode’s not human! The Earth is only around 4 billion years old!” Grian exclaimed at this information.

“Yeah yeah but let's head home now, I'm starving.” Sam crossed his arms behind his head. “Can’t we help Taurtis?” Grian didn’t want to leave Taurtis alone. He still needed to figure out the purpose of why he was here.

“Nahh he said he wouldn’t take long. Besides we’re bros. He got this” Sam enthusiastically gave up two thumbs up before walking down the sidewalk, forcing Grian to follow along. He merely sighed. “Hey Sam—” 

“Oh look, it's your girlfriend again!”

“Sam! For the last time he’s a man and looks over 40 years old! Haven’t you seen the hair loss?!” 

The rabbit laughed. “So? She’s totally into you”

“That’s not the point! By the way I—“ 

Sam grabbed Grian’s arm, pulling him into a nearby alleyway. “Excuse me? What are you—“

“Yakuzas.” 

Grian immediately tenses up. Yakuzas? Here? For them? Grian recalls the last memory he had of them. It was the rooftop. It was always the rooftop. The way Yuki just… 

BANG

Chapter Text

Scar’s eyes fell to the figure in the corner of the cavern. He could only make out a face from the dim lighting. It was Grian. It had to be Grian! Scar couldn’t mistake his dark colored eyes. The ones that he would stare into each passing day.  The vex squinted to get a better view of him yet and as soon as he did, his heart sank. He cautiously stepped closer whispering his name, almost afraid of what he was witnessing as the body shuffled on the cement floor. "Grian?" 

But as always, he received no response.

The fluorescent lights kicked in from above. It was blinding at first but once Scar’s eyes were firmly adjusted, he wanted to panic.

Grian was on the ground, staring up at him with fear painted in his eyes.

There were many things wrong with the avian. His flushed face which had been stained by tears, his hair, his expression, and most of all his clothing. A blue jacket was loosely covering him but the Vex could still see the fragile shape he was in. The only thing normal(?) that Scar could pinpoint was his eyes. They were the only thing that didn’t change. 

Scar stepped forward, he wanted to cradle the avian in his arms. He couldn’t stand the state Grian was in. His mind was on autopilot. “ Worry now and ask questions later” but as he took a step, the avian scrambled to his feet, eyes wide in distress. He looked like he was on the verge of a breakdown. 

Scar wanted to help him, save him…

“Gri? What's wrong—”

“How the hell do you know my name?” Grian yelled, yanking out a dull knife from inside his jacket, pointing it straight at the Vex. “You’re working with the Yazukas aren’t you?! Tell me! Where are the others!”

Scar froze. Nothing was adding up. Yakuzas? What even was that? Scar stood still, eyes widened in shock? Pity? He was rendered speechless. Confusion was the only clear thing on his mind. Something happened when Grian was alone, yet there wasn’t a sign as to why or what in the slightest! Nothing was out of the ordinary in the past few days. Scar stared at Grian trying to find his words to at least try and diffuse the obvious weapon directed at him.

“What? Yaz-uas ? Grian I don’t- I-I… Are you hurt?” Scar instinctively reached his hand out. Instead focusing on the dried blood stains on his shirt and hair.

“Stop lying!” The avian wiped stray tears that fell down his cheeks. His hands were shaking but that didn’t stop the intense grip he had on the knife. Scar took a step back and raised his hands to signal no harm. “Grian… It’s okay. You’re okay…”   

The avian’s hand faltered. He could see the concerned expression plastered on the other’s face. It looked genuine. It felt genuine. Trust wasn’t out of the picture was it? After all, who else did he have? 

Grian lowered the knife enough to be able to relax his arms. They burned considering how little energy he had left. He kept a secure grip on the handle just to feel a little bit of control. What else could he do? “Who… Who are you?” 

“Scar, your… friend . Did you hit your head a few times?” He let out an airy chuckle to lighten the mood, yet Grian did not seem to appreciate that. 

“And… Where am I?” The knife, being held up once again.

“Your base.”

Baffled, Grian took a moment to glance at every single corner of the hollow cave. Not once letting the man in front of him leave his peripheral vision. The entrance in the ceiling was high and vast. If he wanted to get out, he most definitely needed help. There was tons of machinery and equipment placed in the corners of the space. One in particular stood out from the rest. 

It looked to be some sort of giant computer or robot? It made a low rumbling noise, signaling that it was most definitely on. 

But it was nothing compared to the giant wall that glowed purple beside it. It felt calming watching the colors and particles swirl within it. An odd thought occurred to Grian. Was the portal staring back at him? 

“I’m getting that… you’re not my Grian?” 

The vex fidgeted with his hands. It took him a few minutes longer than was needed to sense that the person he was facing wasn’t someone he knew, or rather knew yet . The avian was shorter and looked clearly younger. What made Scar do a double take was the absence of Grian’s wings. They were nowhere to be seen. His feathers which would have been stretched out and taken up a considerable amount of space were gone. Scar opened his mouth to question the absence but was immediately shut down as felt a shiver run down his back. The rift’s energy was pulsing around the cavern once more. The more he focused on the rift, the more he wanted to enter it. Danger was Scar’s only thought. Something was definitely up…

…And Scar was determined to figure out what it was.

***

Trying to get closer to this different Grian was more difficult than Scar could ever possibly imagine. If he said something that sounded even a little bit personal like his age or such, he would immediately have a knife pointed at his throat.

Of course he knew that such a weapon wouldn’t compare to an enchanted sword or even his armor (which he remembered to put on today) but he didn't want to cause any more emotional distress to the avain(?). Despite the threat he still needed answers to at least try to help him!

“I…I want to get out of this cave.” Grian tore his attention away from the hole in the ceiling to face the man in front of him. 

“There aren't really any stairs… considering how much you loved flying— but I could fling us out of here!” The vex said with a gleam.

The teen merely stared at Scar dumbfounded. “Excuse me?”

“If I get us out of here, would you then tell me who you are?” Scar reached out his hand, casting a smile to the other, hoping that this would lower his guard and convince him a little. 

A few moments passed before the teen nodded his head. “Fine.” He pocketed his knife and took Scar’s hand wearily.

“There we go!” The vex manifested his fireworks from his inventory and quickly  wrapped his arms tightly around the blond.

Before Grian could complain, the vex lit the fuse which shot them straight into the air,  entering the vast darkness of the night. 

“Eh?!”

After landing not-so-safety on the bridge made of gravity defying rocks, Grian released himself from Scar's grasp and grounded himself on the floor. Reeling from the aftershocks of a few seconds of flight.

Eugh

“Haven’t been flying?” Scar lightly chuckled at the blond. 

“No… Not at all!” Grian sprung up. “That was… wow. Fun to say the least but… I wasn’t prepared enough—“

Grian was cut off by an unbearably loud screeching coming from above. He looked up to see something that could possibly only exist in his nightmares. Flesh barely clinging onto bat-like bones were speeding down towards them. Terrified, he reflexively crouched down and covered his eyes and ears, just barely peeking through his fingers to stare at the misfigured creatures that could kill him in a matter of seconds.

As always, fear overtook his ability to fight back. He could feel tears start to form and drown his vision. The screams of the unknown creature were raging louder and louder. It reminded him how useless he was dealing with stressful situations. 

“hOT GUY!” 

For just a few moments, flaming arrows pierced through the already ragged skin of the mob, clearing them out in a record breaking scene. Their membranes falling onto the ground as their shrieking finally ceases. 

Grian felt a hand on his shoulder before removing his hands from his face to stare in shock at the vex above him. “What the hell were those things?!” He swallowed. 

“Phantoms. They’re monsters that come out when you don't sleep… so we better head inside before more of them come!” Scar pulled Grian inside of his rock base.

“There’s… THERE’S MONSTERS HERE?!” Grian yelled in disbelief as he stepped back from the door and into a more secure corner in the back of the room. He slid down the wall trying to calm himself down.

“Well Bdubs isn’t here! And the only way to skip the night is if he's online…” Scar scratched his head.

The more Scar spoke the more Grian felt dizzy. The only thing he remembered was waking up to a stranger calling out his name. What were you supposed to do in that situation? Not only that, technically he was in the future where people could fly and be tormented for not sleeping. Where the fuck was he? Grian found himself more stressed out than the time he was stranded in the airport, where his only option was to head to japan! 

Not to mention he thought he had the higher ground with his stupid knife that he had confiscated from Sam, yet the man in front of him pulled out a bow from seemingly nowhere that could shoot arrows laced with fire. How much more screwed could he get?!

“So where are you from, mister?” The vex crouched down next to him, making Grian slightly jump. “I… this is even worse than highschool…” He muttered, hiding his face in his knees. 

“Highschool?” Scar repeated, almost surprised. “You're more than a decade younger than Grian! Or rather… Future you?” A nervous chuckle came out of him.

“A decade?! ” Grian looked up at him in shock. “You’re saying I'm almost thirty?! I… oh wow… I…I didn’t expect that…”

“Expect what? Oh! Yep! Total nonsense huh? Well don’t worry! You’re just as cool as you are in the future—” 

“No I mean… I didn’t expect to live that long.” Grian cut him off. 

Those words caught Scar off-guard. Was he supposed to laugh? “What do you mean Gri?” Scar tilted his head at the blond and spoke with an underlying hint of concern. 

“Nothing of importance of course… haha… but where exactly am I? I was in my shared apartment before… I woke up in this place?” Grian tugged anxiously at his sleeves.

“You're in Hermitcraft! A whitelisted server where people can hangout.” Scar explained while taking several mental notes about questions he needed to ask later. “Hermitcraft is filled with a bunch of great hybrids that are fantastic friends.”

“Uh… huh?”

“That being said… What happened to your wings? …and your clothes?” Scar pointed out the bloody stains. “No injuries right?” He gave a comforting smile. 

“I'm fine… This…This wasn’t from me anyways.” The blond cringed at his soiled clothing, clearly remembering how they came to be. “But… What do you mean wings? like the ones you have?” Grian looked behind Scar, admiring the shimmer of purple that looked like it glowed from within. 

Scar merely shook his head. “You’re an avian! I thought you would have wings by now since you’re a teenager? Was that how it worked? ” The vex questioned while muttering the last sentence to himself. Scar wouldn’t call himself a professional ornithologist but he did clearly remember the moments that Grian would ramble about his traits and his life as an avian hybrid. Surely he would remember when Grian rambled on about when he sprouted his wings. 

Yet why can’t he remember anything now? It felt like all his knowledge that he knew about Grian’s species disappeared.

“Avian? As in like a hybrid? No, I'm not. I'm human, I'm pretty sure.” The teen tilted his head. Scar looked even more puzzled than he was before. Human? 

It felt like they were both back at square one.

“I… My Grian is an Avian. He has wings. Really pretty ones too…” Scar spoke.

“But technically I'm not your Grian aren’t I?” I think I'm human? In Japan there were loads of hybrids but my parents were human. So I doubt I am one.” Grian shrugs. “Would be pretty nice to have some sort of power… Instead of uselessly holding onto an ammoless pistol.” He pulls out a small pistol from one of his pockets in his jacket. 

“You have a—!”

“Yep. Cool huh?” 

Grian swung the weapon around his finger, resting his chin on the other hand. “Ran out of ammo so I can’t do jackshit with it.” 

The blond sighed as he tucked the gun away back into his clothing looking unimpressed as the vex had his jaw on the floor. 

“I–… Those aren’t allowed on the server!” Scar exclaimed. “It’s illegal! Hand it over, mister!” 

“Only illegal if you get caught!” Grian corrected.

Scar couldn’t believe what he was hearing. How did he even manage to obtain a gun? Wasn’t he in highschool ? How did It even get past the server’s security barrier?! Guns aren’t permitted due to a number of reasons. They cause heavy damage and pain on the target. Being killed by a firearm will have lasting phantom pains even after a respawn. Potions are the only way to numb the burning ache. 

Bows were much less likely to make a mess of blood and splattered brain matter. It also didn’t require gunpowder to enhance its function and deadliness. Overall, a gun had too many downsides to being used on a player. It needed to be confiscated.

“Even without bullets, hand it over.” Scar stretched out his hand towards him, demanding the weapon. Grian merely shrunk back clutching his jacket. “What no? This is mine! You got whatever that thing you pulled out!” The blond turned away.

“It’s dangerous!”

“That's the point… Scar! ” Grian crossed his arms. “What if the Yakuzas follow me here? What if Sam loses control again? What will I have to even try and defend myself with?!”

The vex sighed. He knew of the consequences that would come of him if anyone found out especially…

Shoot. 

Did Xisuma know anything? Did he also notice the unusual chat logs? Did anyone notice? Was he even supposed to tell? Surely someone else will also go out looking for Grian. Should he even tell Xisuma? That would be the most logical answer but Scar wasn’t all about logic was he? A few moments passed before the vex made up his mind. He had to tell Xisuma. He’s the server admin after all. Besides as much as it was shocking to see a younger version of his… friend? Lover? What even were they after all the death games? These questions for another day where Grian, the present Grian, could only be here. 

Shaking his head from the useless thoughts, he came up with a plan. He’ll learn more about Grian’s past as well as let Past Grian learn a few things about his future. If anything went wrong he could have Xisuma on standby! Scar didn’t necessarily need to tell the voidwalker right away. Maybe after he could take a grand tour of the server with Past Grian then he could tell the admin what occurred. 

A small buzz came from one of the vex’s pockets. It was his communicator.

BdoubleO100 Joined the game

“Well, it seems like we’re in luck.” Scar stood up, stretching his back. “With Bdubs on the server, the night will leave in no time.” 

“Bdubs?” The blond dropped his grip on his jacket and stood up next to the vex. 

“A very tall man with amazing texturing skills.” The vex chuckled. 

“No more of those eugh demon looking' things right?” 

The vex nodded. “Say, would you like a tour of Hermitcraft? It’s one of the best places I’ve ever been in and I was a part of many servers back in the day.” Scar stood proudly. 

“I guess… What other choice do I have?” 

***

After a few minutes ransacking Grian’s closet for better clothing, the blond finally felt comfortable enough to go touring. 

The sun was finally up, (thanks to Bdubs) and more importantly, there weren’t any creepy monsters flying head first into you.

The sun rays felt warm on Grian’s cold skin. On days like these, Grian would have enjoyed Taurtis’ comfort. Daydreaming the school day away while having fun breaking laws and rules. Would Grian even be able to return home? He didn’t give it much thought as he was already exhausted from the constant belittling from Sam. They fought the night before about something petty… 

Why was it always him that ticked Sam off? 

He was never this way with Taurtis or anyone in general. The only ever time Sam screamed at someone else was Jason, the grocery store employee. Sam tried hard to murder him. He really did.

Would Sam ever try to murder him? 

No matter how huge any argument got, Sam never once actually injured him. Sure he would threaten him but he never followed through with it. Grian only ever saw Taurtis get stabbed out of the two of them. Why was that? He was sober wasn’t he? Why did Taurtis take it instead of him? 

Did Sam know what Taurtis had to go through to recover? No. Of course not. How could he? Even the stranger that he just barely met was nicer than fifty percent of the population that lived in tokyo. 

Grian sighed. He wanted to go home. He wanted to see Taurtis. Yet there was a part of him that made him feel safe in this new world. No matter if there were flying demons. The blond looked down to his feet. This was his future . No matter what he does, he will end up here again. It was best to follow fate and return home. He needed to return home. 

“Hmm, should we bother Bdubs?” Scar placed a hand on the blond’s shoulder, eyes twinkling mischievously. 

Grian merely smiled back. Maybe his world could wait. Maybe he could finally have a taste of freedom, away from the mafia, away from school, and most importantly away from Sam. The blond sighed before nearly walking off the edge of the bridge he forgot he was on.

“Uh Scar…? How are we supposed to get down?” 

“Well that’s certainly easy! Ready?”

Grian was going to answer but he found himself already half way down the bridge in Scar’s arms. The wind whipped around them erratically. It was only a few seconds before Grian could feel the grass blades under his feet. Looking back up, he realized how small they were compared to the tall buildings and structures. It made Grian feel weak . There weren't such buildings back in Tokyo. Maybe a few skyscrapers here and there, but nothing compared to the looming rocks casually hanging overhead. Their jagged edges that would kill if it were to fall. 

In the distance he caught faint rhythmic strands of what seemed like a repetitive soundtrack. It had a melody that would drive you crazy in a matter of minutes. It vaguely reminded the blond of carnival music. Faint machinery-like sounds were also mingling in. 

Across from the giant rock bridge laid a stone cube-like structure. It was lined with blue wood(?) or what seemed to be some type of natural material. It screamed ‘mechanical and deadly’ but none of that mattered to the teen. Curiosity took over any sense of fear that he felt from the structure. He pointed towards it. 

“What about that? Can we visit that first?” 

“Oh? You want to visit Mumbo first?”

“ Mumbo ?”

“Mumbo! You know… works with redstone and stuff! Did your—“

“As in Mumbo k. Jumbo ?!” The teen’s eyes widened, cutting off the vex for the second time.

“Heh, have you already met Mumbo?”

“Well yeah of course?! It's been so long since I've last seen him… He— He was working on a project? Something to do with his broken camera that I may or may not have dropped…”

Scar chuckled as he started to walk towards the menacing base. Was Mumbo even online? Quickly checking his communicator said otherwise. He frowned at the message showing Mumbo’s last online activity, a few hours ago. “Well he’s not online at the moment!”

A sudden realization dawned on Grian. Online? “The hell do you mean online?? Why can’t I see him now?!” 

“He’s not the server right now.” 

“Then where is he?”

“I don’t know. He could be on another server for all I know.” Scar shrugged. Grian felt himself become more confused by the second. “Server? Like a video game type server?” 

“What?”

“You said server! This is a server we’re on, no? Where I’m from there’s only one so-called ‘server’ called Earth. We can’t leave whenever! Where would you even go?” The blond fidgeted with his hands, moving them around to emphasize his words.

“Huh. Looks like you really don’t know anything.”

“This future is crazier than any of Sam’s ideas!”

Scar chuckled, “Well come on! We could still take a look inside Mumbo's base.”

“Fine fine”

Chapter Text

“So what do we do now?”

Trying to hold his breath, Grian hunched behind a dumpster while Sam was huddled underneath a pile of trash. Why were the Yakuzas after us? 

Grian stared at the ground, his heart pounding faster than he could think. He was trying to make sense of their situation. “I don’t believe it… Did you piss them off again?!” Grian whispered harshly into Sam’s ear. Why else would they be here other than Sam’s stupid actions?

He tried racking his brain for any remnants of the mafia, muttering as distant gunshots acted as white noise. "Yuki's father? No, that can’t be right… What about just Yuki? She's dead, isn’t she? Revenge? But I thought we won—“ 

“Gree-on?” 

Grian shuddered as his name was called from beside him. He locked eyes with the brunette who brought a finger up to his lips, quickly shutting him up. “You’re so fucking loud.”

“Well, you’re not any better.” Grian scoffed, rolling his eyes.

“So everything’s my fault again? God, Gree-on , you’re such a pain in the ass.”

Grian stared at him, baffled. What was he on about? They will both die if Sam can’t get a grip on himself. They had almost nothing on them to at least fight back. No weapons or money to try and at least bribe them. Most importantly, this world is a hardcore server. One death, and you’re done. It didn’t matter what server you’re originally from.

It's different here.

“Sam, what do you have on you?”

Sam rummaged in his pockets for a few seconds before pulling out a useless crumpled piece of foil. “Uh, fuck, you want some gum?”

“Something useful, goddammit!”

Their time was running out faster than expected. Grian could hear their footsteps getting louder. Some were audible while others were felt from the floor. They were most definitely looking for them. The avian’s wings shifted uncomfortably; they were beginning to hurt from dragging across the street floor.

The nagging feeling was beginning to become more painful than annoying. He hadn’t paid enough attention to them ever since he realized others couldn’t see them. A sudden realization flashed in the avian’s eyes, causing him to jolt and bump against the dumpster, mentally cursing himself.

Was flying possible? 

His wings were invisible to everyone around him but he never really tested out if he could properly take flight. In most servers, he was allowed the freedom to spread his wings and fly. But in servers where the death games were held, his wings were shut closely together, as if an invisible chain kept him from being able to use them. Grian lightly flapped his wings against the concrete floor hoping that it would be strong enough. His wings created a small gust of wind that swirled torn-up pieces of paper and debris around.

“What was that?” Sam blinked in surprise as his gum wrapper went flying out of his hands and underneath the dumpster.

“Dunno must’ve been the wind.” Grian bit back a smirk which left Sam looking up at the sky stupidly searching for the source. That gust of wind was enough to move items around. If it was able to affect the surrounding area then that meant there wasn’t anything holding him back from flying away.

He lightly shook his wings of any rubble. Surely he was able to get his feet off the ground. But would that draw more attention rather than safety? He would be an easier target in the air as there wasn’t anything he could hide himself with. Besides they were being hunted by people who had pistols. Weapons . An advantage that neither of them has. The only plausible solution Grian had was to run. Run far away to buy some time and eventually get the Yakuzas off their tails…

He silently hoped that Taurtis hadn’t left the school’s campus yet. “Sam, we gotta book it. Anywhere that could lead us to some firearms or something.” Grian whispered as he peered over the dumpster looking for any immediate dangers.

“I keep some rifles under my bed!” 

“Why is that underneath your bed ?!”

Before Sam could respond, shots were fired in their direction, hitting the brick wall behind them and missing their heads by a few inches. Panic flowed throughout Grian’s body as his instincts were screaming at him to flee. 

He harshly grabbed Sam’s arm and booked it down the sidewalk. Grian lunged forward, his wings were propelling them a few inches forward and off the ground. Sam, being dragged along, laughed as the Yazukas were firing at them, hitting poles, walls, and the surrounding area. Everything but them. The avian turned into a dark alleyway, hoping that it was dark enough to buy them some time and calm his heart down. Going home wasn’t an option and neither was the school since it was already damaged enough and the fact that Taurtis was there sent shivers down Grian’s spine. If Taurtis were to get hurt again because of him…

Grian tiredly slumped against the dirty wall of a building. He exhaled as the adrenaline was beginning to wear off, reality taking its place. He looked up at Sam who surprisingly wasn’t fazed by the amount of exercise they had just done. Was being on Hermitcraft putting him out of shape? 

“Heh, see that? That was all me.” Sam announced, proudly hitting his chest.

Grian rolled his eyes over to the brunette. He didn’t have time to fuss over something small. He took in his surroundings. None of the buildings were ones that he recognized despite only merely running a few blocks. What exactly was going on? “Hey have… have we been to this side of the city?” he panted.

“How would I know? Everything looks the same.”

The avian sighed. He didn’t want to be here. He didn’t want to face the Yakuzas again. He didn’t want to even return to this server. Whatever brought him here, knew the exact events that took place. They knew what put Grian on edge. 

Sam excitedly paced around the cramped alley, running his mouth about how cool it was to escape. How great it was to feel the thrill of getting chased. Despite him being a rabbit(?) bunny(?) hybrid, he never felt the true fear of being the prey. Grian wondered if he had other traits of another animal. He couldn’t think of a time in which Sam talked about both of his parents. He met his father which Sam clearly took after but what about his maternal figure? Was she also some type of prey animal or something much greater? Whatever it was, Sam was never supposed to be the prey . If only he spoke more about himself. Then maybe his attitude could be justifiable. But never his actions.

Grian could clearly picture the knife puncturing Taurtis’s skin, watching as his blood seeped through his clothing and pooled onto the floor... 

Or the time he, himself was on the other end of his knife. Grian shuddered. Nothing could justify that physical and mental torment. Maybe things could change now? It’s different, isn’t it? The Yazukas were never after us after Yuki’s death. The Witness Protection Program was in place, wasn’t it? So why are they here ? Grian tilted his head out from the alleyway. It was dead silent except for Sam’s rambling. If only he could shut up–!

BOOM!

“HOLY FUCK!” Sam screamed as he and Grian were thrown out of the alley and across the road, scraping themselves as they slid on the concrete road. The back wall of the alley was completely blown apart. The avian screeched as he saw the Yakuzas slowly emerge from the dust and debris. They were pointing their pistols directly at them. Grian’s heart pounded in his chest once more as the adrenaline was finding a way to cloud his mind from the pain. His feathers were damaged as they were pressed up against the floor. He scrambled to his feet, pulling on Sam’s arm for him to get up. “We need to move! Now!” Grian yelled, his voice hoarse from the dust and the panic. 

Sam merely nodded as he let Grian drag him along. His pants were scraped up and ripped. His bunny hat was covered in soot along with his shirt. His body ached with the way he hit the payment. Grian looked down to notice the cuts and blood running down his legs.

The Yakuzas were closing in on them as they ran down the road, ignoring any cars that swerved around them. Sam yelled at Grian to run faster, as the bullets were slowly getting closer and closer to their figures. The avian couldn’t tell if the ringing in his ears was from the initial explosion or from the way his heart was pounding making the shouting from the mafia go unheard. He pushed himself harder, his legs burning.

Where was he to go? Where was safe for them? Grian continued running straight before taking a right through another alley. He scanned for any possible escape route. Sam’s ragged breath was mingling with his own. The avian’s eyes landed on a fire escape ladder leading up to the side of an old apartment complex. “Stay close to me!” Grian shouted over to the brunette before he started to clamber up the ladder. He collapsed onto the roof gasping for air, Sam right behind him.

He slowly got onto his feet looking for the mafia. They were below them. Shouting as they split up into different streets looking for them. Even with this advantage, they were bound to get caught. Grian ran over to the edge of the roof, looking down at the trash cans that awaited. “Hey, what are you doing?!” Sam cried out from behind him. The gap between the apartment complex and the house wasn’t too far apart. Enough for a person to jump over to one or the other. Grian turned to face Sam. If they could make the jump they could enter one of the houses and lock themselves in. There’s bound to be a knife lying around. “Sam, do you trust me?” The avian turned his head towards the brunette, not bothering to conceal his intention.

“The hell are you on about?!”

“Do you trust me or not!”

Sam debated the thought before he heard footsteps clambering up the ladder. He turned to see one of the Yakuza members stumbling onto the rooftop.

“I need you to jump with me.”

“Are you insane?!”

Grian laughed. How ironic of it to be coming from him. Before Sam could speak any further, Grian pulled him to his chest, making sure he had a tight grip on him before leaping off the edge. His wings gave him an effective but painful boost. He rolled onto the roof, still keeping the brunette close. “Damn! When have you taken a shower?” Sam disgustingly scrunched up his face. “No time for jokes, Sam.” The avian panted, letting go of him. The footsteps from before were becoming more audible. They jumped down from the roof onto a balcony. Grian shattered the glass doors, running through the home looking for anything to defend themselves with. Not caring if there were people home or not. He searched through the cabinets and drawers for anything . 

“Everything empty! Fuck!” Grian screamed with anxiety and panic as he began to rip out papers and other useless items that stood in his way. There had to be something. Grian didn’t want to die. If he had to, he wasn’t going down without a proper fight. Yet with what happened in the past, would there ever be a time in which anything was fair with the Yakuzas?

Sam rummaged through the fridge, pulling out a bottle of Pepsi and Pocky, seemingly unaware of their concerning situation. “Mm good stuff.” 

“Can you at least pretend to be concerned!” 

“Well I mean, at first it was fun but now it’s just getting boring .”

Grian harshly grabbed Sam by the shoulders, “Can you not? We’re going to die if you keep acting like some piece of shit!” Grian couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Was he unaware of the fact they could die? Or was he just that dense?

“You’re such a pussy. It’s just some Yakuzas.” Sam’s eyes bore into Grians. The avian stared back at him in frustration. It had always been like this. No matter what it was, Sam never cared if he was on the fine line of death and staying alive. What about earlier? Was this just an inconvenience to him? Grian sighed. Now was not the time. The Yakuzas are coming and what can they do? Everything felt like it was going against him. Why was it always him? Grian double-checked the kitchen for any knives. 

There was nothing.

“Found ya!” 

Grian and Sam both turned their heads to the raspy voice that was stumbling in the middle of the broken glass doors. A member of the mafia, hunched over, grabbed the frame with their bloodied hands. Blood poured down from their forehead onto the floor. “Dude, you look like you got run over” Sam laughed, his voice tinged with disbelief. Grian whipped his head over to Sam, shell-shocked. “You… You can’t run now! Haha!” The Yakuza slurred as they staggered forward. “Oh my god…” Grian whispered under his breath. He sucked in a breath as he watched the Yakuza try and lunge forward but to no avail. His heart sank and horror filled his eyes as he realized more mafia members began to filter in through the broken entrance. 

“Fuck!” 

Grian yanked Sam into an empty room, slamming the door shut and locking it securely. The room was devoid of any windows and no way to escape other than the door that they entered through. Outside, the bloodied man pounded on the door, his voice a mixture of rage and pain demanding that they come out. “I…I can’t…” Grian muttered as he tipped back, sliding down the wall with a hand covering his mouth in complete horror. 

This wasn’t the first time the avian saw blood but it wasn’t something he could be so desensitized to. Hermitcraft never had violence to this extreme despite it being so chaotic. It was always censored or contained, kept within the bounds of fun by Xisuma's high-health regeneration settings. Grian’s pranks with TNT or death loops were always a laugh, never a burden to others.

He had forgotten the many horrors this server brought.

He must have looked as shaken as he felt because Sam crouched beside him, putting a hand on his shoulder. “Hey… Are you good? Want one?” The brunette brought a Pocky stick up to his eyes, waving it about. Grian slowly took in a breath and reached out to the stick. He grasped it and brought it up to his mouth. His throat felt like it was on fire from how dry it was, his jaw aching from being clenched too tightly. 

“T-Thanks…” he murmured. It tasted like any other artificial strawberry-flavored snack, but it was enough to distract him from the gruesome sight outside.

“Well, we’re not so fucked, are we?” Sam lifted the Pepsi bottle, popping off the cap and chugging half of the soda. “Could be worse.”  The pounding from behind the door became less and less audible until there was finally silence. They had no means of escaping the small, cramped room. A few moments passed before another voice was heard from behind the wooden door.

“Are you content to cower in the shadows like frightened prey?" The voice was calm and collected but had an underlying tension that made Grian’s heart race. "We mean you no harm. Please, open the door and we can talk like civilized human beings.” It sounded more like an order than a plea. Grian exchanged a wary glance with Sam, who shrugged, nonchalant as ever. The avian had never heard such a voice from any of the Yakuzas. Is this another difference in this world? 

"Your silence only fuels our curiosity, and you know what they say about curiosity and the cat, don't you?" 

Grian stood up from his position on the ground. “What do we do?” He whispered. “Open the door I guess? There’s only so much Pocky I can give you.” Sam shrugged, taking another swig from his Pepsi bottle. Grian opened his mouth to speak but was cut off from the Yakuza. "Open the door," they commanded, their tone dripping with quiet menace, "or face the consequences of defiance."

Grian inhaled sharply before speaking, his voice trembling with a mix of fear and false confidence. "What do you want?" he demanded, his words laced with a tinge of desperation.

"We require your compliance," the voice sighed. "There is a task beyond our reach, one that threatens the very fabric of your city and life if left unattended. That is, of course, if you wish to not witness its destruction firsthand."

Sam rose from the floor and placed his palm against the cold surface of the door. “What are you doing?” Grian stared at him, wide-eyed, as Sam withdrew his hand and turned to face him. “There’s over 50 dudes out there… Might as well join ‘em.” Grian’s feathers twitched at the suggestion. Joining them? The last time he crossed paths with them was on the rooftop of the school, back when Yuki was still alive. How long had it been since then? A year? Maybe more? They never came back after her death. What made it different this time? 

Was it always like this? Grian couldn’t recall anything in his daily life while attending school other than the traumatizing bits that stuck out the most… The years merely blurred into one. Had the Yakuzas returned without him remembering, or was this some surreal dream?

Grian felt as if he was back on square one. 

If he was thrown back in time, did he already mess up? Just like the butterfly effect, no? Were the Yakuza consequences of him forgetting to do something? Or was being here only meant to torment him? If this is all real, then what type of god has the power to bring him to this–

It finally clicked.

Who else but the Watchers ? 

A bitter laugh escaped Grian's lips as he felt the weight of their gaze upon him. Millions of eyes bore into his figure to confirm his thought. Always watching. Of course, they never truly left him. Why wouldn’t they go out and find the precious player that they sacrificed everything to bring to a higher status? This was nothing but entertainment to them. This world needed to burn. Burn any unforgotten memories that he wished he could never remember. Grian didn’t need to fear any mafia members. Death at their hands would be a mercy compared to the endless torment inflicted by the Watchers. If they would even allow him to die .

But for now,

Grian would play their game.

Chapter Text

“This… This is it?” Grian frowned. His eyes raked over the stone walls, followed by a smaller stone block in the middle of a half-dug hill. “I didn’t expect his building skills to be perfect but...”

Scar threw back his head in laughter, “I'm sure he’s been busy. Let a man live!”

He stepped over the small hill, glancing over to the blond below. “Oh. As if I knew THAT.” Grian mumbled, staggering as he tried to follow Scar. “How do you even enter this thing? It’s surrounded by a wall. Is this the door?” His hand hovered over the only stone block in the center of many copper rods.

CLICK!

SIZZLE.

Grian stumbled away from the wall, clutching his slightly burned hand to his chest. “What was that?! Was that fire? Did I mess something up!?” Intrigued, Scar stepped close. His hand reached out towards the stone, feeling the warmth that radiated. “Ah. Mhm. Oh, I see. It's filled with lava.” 

“Lava? In there?!” Grian shrieked. Scar knocked on the stone before nodding his head. “I didn’t know he added that! But no worries, we can fly on over.” He assured them before picking up the blond and sweeping them onto the ledge of the stone wall. “There's nothing here. It’s empty.”

“Yes, but it’s free from any mobs!”

“...Honestly, I expected something more. A little disappointed, really.”

Scar sat down. His legs dangled off the ledge as he dusted off his lap. Despite the moon being whisked away earlier, it returned with an ethereal light overhead. The sunset glowed softly as it began its descent below the horizon and buildings ahead. Grian sighed as he sat down next to Scar. He took off his shoes and bloodstained socks that began to mold and tear, and placed them next to him. Scar made sure to take a mental note of getting him a new clean set.

“I'm sorry. For earlier, I mean.” Grian murmured softly, pulling his knees to his chest and burying his head. “I didn't know there were people like you. People who want to choose mercy.”

He fiddled with his fingers. Was he being too open? It's only been a few hours, maybe even a little less. Even so, he felt as if Scar opened up his chest and filled the emptiness that dared to root itself with a new seed. A small seed that wants to sprout and grow. He sighed before speaking once more, “The air feels crisp and… and clean. It's different from the suffocating, bloody air of Yandere High. It doesn’t smell of a rotting corpse or blood or even Sam. The grass isn’t uprooted or missing patches, nor have strange holes dug in. It's… I'm talking too much, aren't I?” Grian laughed bitterly, biting the inside of his cheek.

Scar merely smiled at him. Grian didn't know if he wanted to cry or jump right off the ledge they were on.

“Well, Hermitcraft is known for many things of that nature. But it's also known for its friendliness and support. It’s a place for friends to get together and stay.”

“I see.”

Grian's eyes fixated on the sun that dipped further down as the moon now finally landed into place. He inhaled the cold, fresh air, letting it fill his lungs before exhaling. He inhaled again, this time, choking as a realization dawned on him.

“The phantoms!” He yelled, stumbling as he rose to his feet before shoving his shoes back on. Grian managed to take a couple of steps before losing his footing and nearly planting straight onto concrete.

“G!” 

Scar held onto him from behind, hoisting him up and slowly descending down onto the soft grass. “The phantoms! They're coming and they're going to–”

“It's alright. It's okay.” The brunet cooed, letting Grian settle on the ground. “They spawn at midnight, there are torches placed… We are safe from any mobs, G.”

“Are… Are you sure?” Grian's voice comes out with a shallow, quick gasp of air.

“I wouldn't want to place you in any danger.” Scar brushed away the hair that hung right above his eyes. “We shall head to your base if that's alright. It has more light than mine.”

“Okay.”

***

Grian shifted awkwardly, his gaze fixed on his hands that were coated in dried blood that he wished to believe was just his. Scar and he were seated right next to the giant machinery of wisdom as Scar liked to call it. A small sign was located at the very front. ‘Grumbot Prime’ 

“Grumbot…” Grian muttered under his breath, liking the way it rolled off his tongue.

BRRRRRR 

The blond jolted back as the massive machinery lit up. The background LED lights powered on, and a whirlwind of buzzing and metal clinking occurred.

“Woah! Hey! You turned it on!” Scar exclaimed with enthusiasm. “I thought it was broken from the last time I was here.” 

BRRRRR SYSTEM REBOOTING…

“What's it doing? I didn't mean to turn it on, I swear!” Grian yelped as light flashed on the LED screen and buttons emerged from below.

A melody played as the robot finished starting up. A piece of paper was dispensed from a small box in the center of the machine. 

“There's… What is that? Paper?” Grian stepped forward, reaching out his hand for the sheet of paper. “Usually Grumbot Prime was created for err… Something else! Now he gives out a random assortment of things for you to do challenges with. Hmm… What does it say?” Scar spoke trailing behind him.

Grian picked up the piece of paper. “It says… ‘WELCOME BACK CREATOR.’” He glanced up at Scar hovering over his shoulder. 

“Did I make this?”

“Well of course! It's in your base, yes?”

Grian tilted his head, dumbfounded. A silly question to be answered, really. “How do I talk to it? It's a little scary, honestly…”

“Uh! One moment!” Scar rummaged through the chests that surrounded Grumbot. Despite the numerous storage options, none of them contained a clean sheet of paper. “I'll be back!” He announced, launching up from the ground and departing from the cavern. 

“Huh…” 

Grian glanced back down towards the heavy machinery. Its soft humming of clicking metal and droning soothed even the racing thoughts of his mind. “Uh… Hello Grumbot Prime?” He spoke cautiously into the air. He sighed when he received no response. Of course. It's a machine. It would be ground-breaking if it could speak on its own. Grian rolled his eyes at his own ignorance, rereading the paper he had. “Creator… What purpose did I create you for?” He muttered softly.

The blond crept closer until he was straining his neck to look up at it. There was a small metal desk with a pencil connected to it. A small box with the words ‘Input’ next to the dispenser. Could he reuse the paper he had? Grian grabbed the pencil and scribbled out what was written in pen. There were so many questions that Grian wanted answered. But only so many that he can physically manifest into words. 

After moments of pondering, he decided on the most important. “Grumbot Prime… Why am I here?” He scribbled. 

He hurriedly opened the chest and placed the paper inside. A few seconds pass by before a shuffle of colors and sounds is emitted. Grian's eyes widened once he saw a new piece of paper emerge from the dispenser. He quickly ripped the sheet from the box and looked it over once. A small buzz resonated from above. He noticed the ‘eyes’ of the machinery seemed to droop down in a comical sense.

“Grumbot?”

He stared at the paper in his hand, swallowing before unfolding it.

‘I CANNOT SPEAK ON IT’

Eyebrows furrowed, Grian wrote another question down.

“Why can’t you? How did I get here?”

A few moments of silence followed by a ding, granted his answer. His hands reached up for the paper.

‘YOU MUST LEAVE. IT IS NOT SAFE FOR YOU GREE-ON’

What? What was it calling him that name for?! Grian scribbled another note. “Why can't you just tell me goddammit!” He banged his fists on the dashboard, shoving the paper in and closing it harshly. 

He waited impatiently, stomping his foot to the sound of the melody it played out. 

“Why? Why can't you tell me? God, you sound just like Sam!” 

As soon as the paper was in view, he snatched it up, ripping it open.

‘GRUMBOT WANTS YOU TO LIVE THEREFORE GRUMBOT CANNOT SAY.’

“What the fuck?!”

Grian shrieked as streams of papers flooded out of the dispenser. Steam bursted out from the top, filling the cave with a foul odor. Fearful of it exploding, Grian grabbed as many as he could before ducking behind a lime green glass tank. He watched as the machine fizzled and shut down, its expressions changing erratically as the colorful lights flashed across the screen. The smoke filled up the room, smelling like burnt plastic and rubber. Grian coughed his lungs out before sitting down against the tank and opening up the letters that he managed to salvage. 

‘GRUMBOT CANNOT SPEAK’

‘GRUMBOT IS SHUTTING DOWN’

‘I CANNOT SPEAK’

‘YOU CANNOT LIVE’ 

‘THEY ARE WATCHING’

‘I CANNOT SCREAM’

Grian felt a shiver down his spine as he read the notes. He peered over his shoulder at Grumbot. Their eyes had a permanently cartoonish droop as the lack of LEDs glowing ceased. Grumbot's usual droning sound was now an eerie silence. 

“Grian?” Scar tumbled down, coughing as he waved the smoke out of his view. “What happened here?” He called out, stacks of papers in his arms. The brunet set them down on a desk before flying over to the machinery. “What? Grian! Where are you?!” 

“Im… I'm over here!” Grian shouted meekly. “I'm sorry! I didn't know that could happen! I was just asking it some questions and fuck! It started going up in flames after I was asking the reasons I was here and honestly I didn't know what it was saying but it started to get paranoid or something and–!”

“Grian! Grian, listen to me! Are you okay? 

The blond was visibly shaken, stunned in place. His hands were tugging at the ends of his sleeves. “I… I'm alright. I think I'm alright.” He stared at the crumbled papers in his hands. “Here…” 

Scar accepted the papers, pocketing them. He turned to the aftermath of Grumbot, wincing. Although he didn't know what occurred to caused it to have such a meltdown, he knew that the cavern wasn't a safe area. 

Grian felt himself being once again held up and ascending out of the ground. His feet touched the bridge, the stars gleaming down at him. He inhaled the air, immediately coming to his senses. “G… What happened?”

Grian swallowed hard. Glancing at the papers that Scar had taken inventory of. “It… I had the paper that it gave me originally. I reused it to ask it why I was here. It didn't seem to like that question. Or rather, it wouldn't tell me. I asked it another and another and it… exploded? I don't know. It shot out paper until it… died.”

Scar listened intently, retrieving the notes and reading them one by one. His face was concealed behind a veil of sympathy. If only Grian knew that this had happened before. Not to present Grian but to Scar. Yet that was something for another day. The brunet plastered on a smile (that even Grian could tell was forced) before gesturing to his base. “Come on. We can stay in my castle. I may not have any explosive robots, but I do have a cat if you're interested.”

Maybe Grian didn't need an answer.

“Pfft- If you say so…” 

***

Chapter Text

Grian held on tight as the wind whipped around them. No matter how many times he had flown with Scar, it was just as nauseating as before. Was this similar to car motion sickness Sam kept telling him about? He squeezed his eyes shut, clutching Scar's shirt.

Grian finally opened his eyes once he felt the semi-wet grass under his feet. Where had his shoes gone? Bewildered, he glanced back up at Scar, only to find him gazing ahead of him. 

“Scarland! My home!” The brunet proudly announced.

Grian whipped around. His eyes took in the gorgeous sight that lay ahead of him. Despite the darkness, the buildings seemed to glow under the moonlight. The turquoise turnstiles glinted as if it was fine glitter. Grian was utterly mesmerized. His feet were already moving, unaware that he even was. He didn't register the sound of Scar chuckling as he was pushed through the gates and into the park. Grian's eyes fixated on every small detail. He noticed the trees that were meticulously placed, rocking gracefully with the wind; the flowers that blossomed perfectly swayed in sync with one another.

“Oh... It's beautiful.” He muttered, starstruck. Never in his life had he seen something so well loved, so taken care of. Never had he seen a place that wasn't trashed or filled to the brim with rat droppings. He stared in awe as his gaze shifted up, noticing the grand castle that the moon perfectly hovered above. He knew he looked stupid with his eyes blown wide and his mouth agape, but he didn't care. Not when he was in the presence of such a masterpiece.

“Scar… This is.. This is incredible.” Grian swallowed the drool that was beginning to drip. He knew he wanted to become some sort of builder, architect even, and yet… How could he even compare to this! The most he can do is play with the Legos that Taurtis stole.

“You did ALL this?!” The blond exclaimed, turning away from the park, towards Scar. He could see the smug smile painted on his face as he brushed off. 

“Well, I know a thing or two,” Scar smirked, crossing his arms satisfied.

“Oh, come off it! This is phenomenal! ”

The brunet merely laughed before running ahead, gesturing for the blond to follow. Grian grinned, running after him. His feet were sore from the constant movement and cuts he bore, but that didn't deter him from wanting to see more. He wanted to see what else Scar could surprise him with. Grian laughed as they ran through the center, stopping by the many different shops that surrounded them. He snagged a Jellie headband, churros, and other snacks from the concession stands. He couldn't help but let his eyes wander over the castle once more, admiring the height and colors. 

“Do you want to head inside?” Scar pointed towards the entrance of the castle, noticing how Grian's eyes seemed to light up at the sight of it.

“Hell yeah!” Grian exclaimed, running over and ascending the steps with rapid movements before Scar could even catch up to him. This felt way more exciting than opening a gift on Christmas. He gulped as he cranked his neck upwards to take it in view. It was enormous but breathtaking. He waited for Scar to finally catch up and unlock the door. Grian pushed the heavy wooden blocks in. He gasped. 

The floor was a crisp dark brown while the walls were a cool grey. He stepped inside, taking in the sight. He ran his fingers along the pillars, enjoying the indented detail. “You built all of this…” Grian mumbled. His mind was finally wrapping around that reality. 

“You placed every single brick. Every…” 

The sound of a cat cut him off. Grian looked down. Jellie was slowly rubbing against his ankle, meowing.

“Haha!” 

Grian slowly crouched down, petting Jellie on her head. He looked back up at Scar. His face was painted with a soft, delicate smile, staring at him. Grian looked away, biting back his own smile. This place felt too surreal. Too divine for his eyes to see. A small thought began to sprout up. What if this were nothing more than a dream? Did Sam hit him too hard on the head again? Was he nothing more than in a coma right now? If that was the case, Grian was determined to find out its secrets. Maybe even indulge himself with the land that seemed to come alive. 

Grian reached for Jellie, tucking her into his arms as he stood up. Her soft purring lulled him into a sense of tranquility. For now, he wished to explore some more. 

“I made the blueprints a while back. Years ago,” Scar cleared his throat. He led Grian up the stairs and passed the rooms. He didn’t stop until they were against the balcony’s railing. The moon shone brightly tonight. Brighter than Scar has ever seen. “It was a dream of mine. I always wanted to have my own theme park. It reminded me of when I was a child. A wee lad as you would,” Scar laughed. “Still, I’m glad I didn’t burn those blueprints.”

Grian glanced up at him. Staring into his eyes that didn’t quite match his smile. “Burn them?” Grian questioned. He was baffled. How could anyone give up something as beautiful as this? He would have killed to create something like this! Yet, a part of him understood where Scar was coming from. 

“Well, it was my dream. For years, it lay dormant. The paper was beginning to rot on my desk. I had no plans of working on it any more than what I already had.” Scar’s fingers tapped against the wooden rail. “So many ideas. So many that didn’t quite fit—so many that had to be cut out. It wasn’t turning out how I wanted.”

The once still Jellie jumped out of Grian’s arms, walking along the wood and nuzzling into Scar. He chuckled, patting the cat. “I was going to start over. That or work on a new project. But! I’m glad I didn’t!”

A soft sigh of relief escaped Grian. “I’m glad you didn’t either, it looks so sick! The colors, the detail?!” Grian rambled. “It’s… I don’t know how to put in words how incredible it is.”

Scar merely laughed. “Really? The best you've ever seen?” 

“Quite possibly!” 

Grian laughed. The night didn’t feel as terrifying anymore. As fear from the night vanished, another familiar emotion began to boil inside of him. What was it? It couldn’t be jealousy, could it? Grian stared out into the world. His supposed “home” loomed over yonder. It was strange. It didn’t feel like something he would build for himself. It was something too grand. Too nice to be something that he built himself. Even if it was far into the future. 

“I like to build, too, I guess,” Grian mumbled. “Taurtis bought– well, no, stole Lego pieces from the shops. They were fun to mess around with. Though I couldn’t have come up with anything other than a few houses and skyscrapers.”

“That’s better than nothing, yes?” Scar sighed contentedly, his smile widening. “You’ll be an amazing builder, Grian. Have you seen your base? Not only that, but in previous seasons, you also had amazing buildings. You put in a lot of work for them.” 

Grian fidgeted with the hem of his sleeves. Being in the spotlight wasn’t something he was accustomed to. Despite it, he felt nice. Happy, for once. Pleased that he wasn’t being yelled at.

“You’re nice. You remind me of someone. Taurtis.” Grian weakly mumbled. “I… I miss him.”

“ Taur -tis?” Scar repeated, almost like it was foreign to his tongue. Or at least what he tried to convey to Grian.

“Yeah. He's my friend ,” Grian mumbled under his breath. “My only. I don't count Sam. And…” He pauses. “ I don't know the other people at his school either. They're fucking insane .”

Scar stood there, listening intently. He had heard of these stories before. Listened to them as they were speaking to him in the same vulnerable way.

“Being here… Seeing this place. I don’t want to go back, Scar. I don’t want to go. I don’t want to see Sam. I don’t want to see the school. I don’t want to go back.” The words stumbled out of Grian’s throat quickly. “I don’t want to see Taurtis’ face.” He vomited out his fears in front of Scar. The thought of being sent back to his timeline, his origins, terrified him. But he knew he couldn’t stay. He had to leave. He didn’t belong here.

“That’s okay. Leaving is more than okay.” Grian whispered. His body leaned against Scar’s for support. Grian knew he was being greedy. He will find freedom. He will find peace. He will find Scar again. Sooner than later.

But why couldn’t he just stay ? Would that be too selfish of him? Leaving everyone else behind just for his happiness? What would Taurtis think of him? Grian shuddered as he tried to imagine what expression Taurtis would stare at him with.

“Scar, please don’t take me back.”