Chapter Text
Grim was always alone, always waiting for something that will never come. Throughout all of his memories it was just him and his dreams. He craved power and attention. He craved the affection and trust that he had been denied. So he waited, waited for the black carriage that would be the answer to all his problems, but it never came. He was still alone. But all that changed the day he found his future henchman.
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“Myyahh, why hasn’t the carriage come yet… It's probably just too blind to see my greatness!!! Yeah…that's it, I'm sure...” A small cat monster can be seen walking through the forest. His body language is melancholy, opposite to his loud voice. Grim has been waiting for the black carriage to come and get him ever since he first heard some humans talking about the infamous Night Raven College. While he didn’t understand what they meant with such a big and fancy word as “infamous,” it had to mean something good! The humans had been talking about how graduating from that school was a fast pass ticket to becoming a great mage. ‘He had magic, he could go to that school and become the most powerful, respected mage in history! No one would be able to hold a candle to his greatness!,’ well that was what Grim thought when he first heard them at least. It had been forever since then and the black carriage had yet to come for him still!!!
As he walks back to the cave he calls home, Grim hears a noise. Now, hearing noises in a literal forest filled with animals is a normal occurrence but Grim had never heard a noise like this in a forest before. It was the sound of crying and babbling. A sound Grim would hear a lot when he was hiding out near a human town. Shortly after hearing that he heard footsteps running away from the sound. There were now two voices crying, the only difference was that one was slowly getting farther and farther away.
Grim felt a pull in him taking him towards the sound of crying and babbling, it was as if whatever was making that noise was bound to him. Something that wouldn’t leave him.
There, hidden in the hollowed out hole of a tree, was a small baby. Grim had seen many babies whenever he lived near a town but they always had someone with them. Grim had never seen a baby alone. This baby had no one, they were like him. A smile made its way onto his face. At the sight of Grim the baby calmed down and their cries changed into the occasional sniffle. Grim knew in his heart that this baby was meant to be his. “You shall be given the highest honor of becoming the Great Grim’s henchmen!” Grim is finally not alone, he now has a companion and he won’t let them go. “What’s your name henchman?” The baby giggles and coos before finally saying something that sounds like Yuu. “Myaah, well Yuu now that you’re my henchman no one will ever harm you!!! I’ll stop them with my awesome magic and all you need to do is stay by my side! That’s a great deal for being the henchman of the best mage in the world!” Grim smiles, he finally has found home.
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As the child stares up at Grim it feels as if their life has finally begun. The ink that follows them, that makes their home in the shadows of the world hidden from view, seem at peace. It’s as if a part of the puzzle has finally clicked into place, and they know they are finally safe, finally free. The ink that threatens to choke them every waking moment has eased. Finally at peace the child falls asleep to the voice of who they know is their home, their future, their missing half.
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Two abandoned souls bonded that day. Two souls with nowhere to go found peace with each other. Two souls found their way to their other half, and neither would let go. Two souls found a new reason to chase their goals. Two souls had followed the fate set out for them, but there is one question. Does fate have a happy ending in store for them or only the all consuming smoke that threatens to choke out all hope? The answer is something only the souls themselves can determine. They get to choose whether fate is a blessing or a curse. Only time will tell what they decide.
Omake
Ace: So, how did you get a child?
Grim: From the forest, obviously
Ace: [internal breakdown] a forest!?!? How!? Why!?
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Grim: is it a bad idea to raise a child in the woods? Nahh, they have me, the Great Grim, they’ll be fine!
Yuu: *a literal baby* (already planning all the ways to give Grim a heart attack once they can move)