Chapter Text
Grian and Mumbo had lived for a very long time. Their friendship? It had existed for just as long.
The problem they soon faced was not boredom or death... it was separation. If it was up to them they would be together for eternity. They felt connected. They felt like the other kept them going. There wasn't much joy for a demon but if they had each other they could survive anything.
The human's interference wasn't welcome.
Humans were a curse. They kept them split by forcing them into summoning circles. The humans demanded and demanded and demanded. It had been centuries. They hadn't seen each other in so long.
They growled and bared their teeth. Flashing their claws in the light of candles the two were ready to kill everyone if it meant getting back together.
Unfortunately a demon couldn't just step out of a summoning circle. They had to be relieved of their duties.
Grian appeared with another summon. Magic falling away from his red skin, he rumbled in irritation as he lifted his head and searched the small room he was in.
His eyes locked on the other demon in the room. Another ring lit up with Mumbo's ash stained face looking at him.
"Mumbo!" He rushed forward expecting a sharp sting of magic but he stumbled when there was a lack of a barrier around his circle. He had fully expected to be close and not touch, to be stopped by the force of a magic wall.
Blinking at Mumbo's stunned expression it clicked that they were free. His friend lunged forward and Grian met him halfway. They collided into each other, euphoric as they rumbled and laughed.
Mumbo squeezed him so tight Grian knew it would leave bruises on his skin. He wasn't innocent as he returned the favour. It was likely this would only be a moment...
"Grian!" Mumbo exclaimed.
"Mumbo!" He chuckled.
They purred and rubbed faces in a thousand missed greetings. Calming down they rattled with their foreheads together.
“I missed you.” Mumbo whispered.
“Me too.” Grian replied breathlessly. Their tails wrapped around each other in synchronised communication. Grian's purring stuttered in the only way a demon could show grief.
He squeezed his eyes shut cursing his vulnerability but trusting he was in safe company.
Mumbo crooned sadly.
They stayed like that for a long time. Summonings brushed against their skin like wind, falling into oblivion since they were occupied with a contract already.
Mumbo frowned. “Shouldn’t a human have approached us by now?” He asked softly.
Grian snarled wordlessly before cracking an eye open. He glanced around the room.
“Their scent is faint. They aren’t here.” He said.
Mumbo hummed in wary contemplation. He pulled Grian just that little bit closer as he placed his chin on his head. He opened his mouth and tasted the air, catching the magic he snapped his teeth shut with a click.
This mage was powerful… Checking the floor he noted the crystals instead of salt and chalk.
Grian shifted. “Is everything ok…?” He asked sensing the change in his friend.
“Crystal mage.” He replied distractedly. Pulling away Mumbo rushed to touch one of them. He needed to know how diverse this human’s magic was. What he specialised in.
Grian protected his rear immediately. Spinning around (like he’d done a million times in battle) he took his stance against Mumbo, wings manifesting and tail swishing.
Mumbo hummed going to touch another.
"Careful.” Grian warned unnecessarily. He knew his friend was specialised in redstone, magic and crystals but they both knew the debilitating sting of a spell lashing out.
“Interesting…” Mumbo muttered.
He picked one up causing a hiss from Grian but the circle held its contract and the room stayed the same.
The two blinked at the magic holding in the gemstones.
“I think we have a human to find.” Mumbo smiled back at his friend.
Grian’s reply was a sharp toothed grin. “I’m on it.”
-----
It was laughably easy to find the mage. Grian was a master in tracking and hunting afterall.
He narrowed his eyes at the human drinking it's coffee outside the storefront. He balanced on his haunches as he crouched behind the corner of a building.
Mumbo popped his head out above him, locking on the mage he congratulated him on his quick find. “Nicely done Grian!”
Grian gave no verbal reply as he kept focused on the task. He did stifle the beginnings of a smirk though and let his tail wander to Mumbo’s ankle.
“Yeah well let’s make sure he doesn’t get away from us.” He said.
Pouncing silently forward Grian maneuvered his way through the terrain of the surrounding nature. Pausing at the treeline he shifted his features, skin turning white, appendages forming into something more human and his eyes, sharp as ever, glowing gold to hold his illusion.
He straightened and smoothed down his shirt in a mimicry of the action Mumbo always did before meeting a new person. He wasn’t nearly as worried about his appearance as he ruffled his hair into a mess and walked onto the street. He ignored Mumbo’s shouts for him to wait knowing full well the demon wanted a well devised plan for his first impression. Grian didn’t do overthinking though.
“Heey!” He smiled sharply at the mage as he approached. The man jolted and nearly chocked on his coffee as he recognised the creature behind the disguise.
Of course he would. Summoners were never fooled by the illusions Grian wore. Only the simple minded passerbyers would miss the colour of his eyes as they accepted him as one of them.
“What’s the deal with-“
Mumbo appeared next to him in a flustered disguise interrupting him with a scolding.
“Three thousand years Grian and you still can’t wait for me.” He scoffed. Grian rolled his eyes as Mumbo predictably flattened his outfit and held a hand out to the human. “I apologise for his behaviour. Mumbo.” He introduced. “And your name?”
“Uhh… Scar.” The human took the offered hand.
A silent part of Grian relished at his plan working. Mumbo catching up to him always led to more honest communication from the humans. He’d learnt a long time ago that fear led to lying, confusion on the other hand led to unintended admittances.
He could see the moment Scar caught on to his own honesty and the handshake. Both were dangerous things to do with a demon.
He quickly retracted his hand but Grian had already tasted the sweet tang of truth in the air. He knew what the scent was and had locked onto it. ‘Scar’ wouldn’t be able to lie to save his life.
“Um yes.” The human looked between them. “Mumbo and Grian. I uh…”
Grian crossed his arms. “Summoned us?” He loosened the man’s tongue.
Surprisingly the man nodded. His only concern seemed to be the ears passing them on the street.
“They can’t hear us.” Mumbo offered. “The supernatural talk at least. I used a spell for that.”
The demon glared at his friend warningly. Grian raised his eyebrows innocently then went back to talking. He never bothered with that stuff and the two of them knew it. Grian had an inclination to chaos that he could never seem to control…
“So what’s the deal.” Grian cut right to the chase. “What did you need us for? This contract was open ended so it’s going to need your word on it.”
Scar frowned. “I thought I set my intention?” He glanced at Mumbo. “The two of you to do as you please until I die or intervene?” He looked back at Grian. “Couldn’t you read that in the crystals?”
Mumbo cleared his throat and looked away guiltily.
“Mumbo.” Grian smiled at his friend being put on the spot not at all worried about him withholding information. The demon did like his facts. He’d rather ignore any and all statements until proven otherwise which has only worsened in the time he’d had Grian around to mislead him.
“I simply didn’t believe you.” He replied honestly. Mumbo dutifully ignored Grian and the blush on his human disguise as he met Scar’s gaze.
Scar puzzled. “You didn’t trust a magically binding contract?” He asked disbelievingly.
Grian let out a cackle, his laugh only fuelled by Mumbo’s fumbling response.
“That wasn’t the problem!”
“Oh Mumbo.” He leant on the shoulder of his hunched embarrassed friend as he stifled his amusement. “I thought you knew magic!”
“I do!” Mumbo defended. “I just don’t trust the intention! Are you seriously telling me that if I relayed that message to you you’d believe me?!”
Grian snickered quietly towards him as Scar’s eye’s widened. Aha. Got them both.
Scar predictably explained himself thus calming Mumbo’s nerves on the matter. Mumbo exhaled and slid a look to him. Seems he figured out Grian’s trap. No one could say he didn’t know emotional manipulation. Getting his friend to spill was exactly what the group needed to exchange honest information.
Grian tasted the air again relishing in the flavour of truth. Seems this human really was well intended. He’d just read the grievous stories of Grian and Mumbo’s separation and wanted to fix it the only way he knew how. With magic.
Grian leaned on Mumbo’s shoulder and closed his eyes half way. They had the length of this human’s remaining life span to spend together. A purr built up in his chest, in his throat. It threatened to spill but he held it warmly in his esophagus. He wasn’t going to admit weakness anywhere other than an empty room with Mumbo in it.
“I suppose we owe you thanks.” Mumbo stuttered.
Grian’s urge to purr disappeared. No way in hell was this human getting a thank you out of him.
He opened his eyes and glared softly watching the human nervously backpedal the conversation. “No I don’t need-“
“Grian.” Mumbo snapped. “Can you please be more civil.”
Grian looked up to see Mumbo pinching his brow in frustration. It made him huff that the demon hadn’t even needed to look at him to know what he was doing. If the energy ever shifted in a room, if anyone suddenly changed demeanour and grew flustered it was probably because Grian was promising murder in their direction.
“I’m civil.” Grian chirped. He straightened and offered a grin as Mumbo looked at him.
The look he received was disbelieving.
“You’re absolutely feral.” Mumbo replied causing Grian to squawk in offence.
“Am not!”
“I bet you started World War 6.” He said knowingly.
“I ended it as soon as I heard which side you were on!” Grian defended.
The fact he hadn’t denied the allegation made Mumbo smile.
“I knew it.”
And just like that Mumbo had won the argument. Grian blinked in shock then laughed. “Look who picked up a few tricks!”
Mumbo rolled his shoulders back as he straightened. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He looked to Scar and bowed his head slightly. “Thank you. We’ll be out of your hair now.”
Grian sneered at the human as Mumbo walked off, skipping to get in step with his friend he laughed. “How long do you think that human will last?”
“With the fact he summoned two demons just because he felt bad for them?” Mumbo tilted his head as he walked. “Not long.”