Chapter Text
Pearl, the soft and serene moon to his blazing sun. After they’d been torn apart, he didn’t think he’d see her again.
That was, until everything had gone down and Grian had gone to Xisuma, asking for help in her name.
And the admin had only looked him over, a knowing smile adorning his hidden eyes before saying that he’d try his best.
When Xisuma said he’d try his best, it damn well happened.
-+-
Pearl stared up at the circle of hermits around her, the grass tickling the tops of her sandaled feet. Gem stood next to her, equally wondrous. They backed into each other, laughing when they collided.
A fine new home indeed.
“Hi, new hermits,” a mustachioed man - Mumbo, apparently - started nervously. The title… felt right. She was one of them now.
But she only had eyes for the short man next to Mumbo.
Grian.
The sun to her moon, the one she couldn’t shine without. Without her, he had nothing to illuminate, and it showed in the way his hands and face had little scars on them, each one surely accompanied by a silly or serious tale of building and fighting, defeat and success. His soft hair fluttered in the breeze, bright plumage quivering.
She didn’t hear the rest of Mumbo’s speech, but the change of voice as Gem introduced herself startled her back to paying attention.
”I’m Pearl, I build stuff I guess.”
And that was that.
All the hermits dispersed to collect wood and stone, leaving the two new hermits to climb out of their hole.
All except for Grian.
Gem waved goodbye to her, racing to catch up with who she later learned were False and Cleo.
”Pearl?” He asked, like he couldn’t quite believe it was her.
”It’s me.”
”I missed you so much,” his smile was bright, eyes maybe a little bit tear filled.
”I missed you too!” she exclaimed joyfully, running to tackle him in a hug. They fell to the grassy floor, laughing.
”How’s my younger sister doing?” He asked, sitting up. She scooted to lean against him, his wings tenting around them to provide some shield from the noontime sun.
”I’m doing… well. Quite well. I love it here.”
”Oh, you haven’t seen the start of it. You’ll do more than love it in the end.”
”I’m sure. Everyone’s so friendly and fun, just what I was missing after you… left,” She rested her head on his shoulder, which wasn’t actually that comfortable since he was shorter than her. Grian wrapped both his arms around her and squished her tightly enough that she gasped for air.
”I think I owe you.”
”What? Why would you owe me? Nothing that happened was your fault.”
“No, no, it’s not for that… hmm. Now that I think about it, I feel kind of weird bringing up something that happened fifteen years ago.”
”You have a fifteen year old payment to make? To me?” Pearl exclaimed, incredulous, though after taking a moment to reflect on her younger self, it did make sense. Younger Pearl had a tendency to request things.
”On your twelfth birthday you asked me to take you flying, and I said that I couldn’t even carry myself just yet, so you were out of the question.” Grian explained.
She tilted her head, attempting to stir her memory of such an interaction. There could have been something… she nodded for him to continue.
”And I thought, I carry Scar around all the time because he keeps forgetting to mend his elytra. Since you’re going to be here, and we’re seeing each other after such a long time, I figured there’s no better time than now.”
”Now? Okay!” She jumped to her feet, immediately yanked back down by Grian tugging her arm. “Ow.”
”Not so impatient, you little imp,” her brother scolded, rolling his eyes and patting her head affectionately. “Meet me at sundown, I dunno, at whatever base I have built.”
“Sundown?” Pearl complained, squinting up at the sun. “That’s like six hours away.”
”As I said. Patience is a virtue my little friend. Ow.”
This last remark was due to Pearl having just smacked Grian - hard - on the arm. “You had better be saying that sarcastically or I will show you impatience in the mirror. And I’m not little.”
”I’m not impatient!” He paused, thinking. “Okay, maybe a little bit impatient.” At Pearl’s look, he conceded, “I can be very impatient.”
”There we go.” Pearl jumped up again, pulling Grian up with her. Being hollow-boned, he was very light. He fluttered his wings to stabilize himself.
”I’ll see you in due time.”
With that, he leaped up and flew away.