Chapter Text
Christmas day was never a normal experience for Grian. It never had been since he was young, and it had been just as chaotic as it used to be once he grew up. But that hadn’t been a bad change in his life. After all, celebrating the holidays with his husband by his side is all he could have ever wanted.
Rubbing his eyes and stretching his arms, he lazily reached over to shut the alarm. He glanced at the calendar hung up on the wall of their small bedroom in an even smaller flat. Almost a week until Christmas. The 25th of December was circled in red marker, with little Christmas-themed doodles surrounding it. He couldn’t help but laugh when he’d first seen it.
Grian slowly sat up in bed, his light brown flocks a mess, his pale red t-shirt hanging over him loosely. His expression exhausted, clear from the dark areas under his eyes. He checked the time again, paranoid that he might be late. It was going to be a long day.
He shuffled a little to climb out of the bed, but was greeted by a fluffy grey cat jumping up to nuzzle against his arm. Grian sighed, smiling a little as he stroked the cat’s back. She purred softly, then climbed onto his lap and lay to rest there.
“Jellie, your father’s still asleep. We wouldn’t want to wake him up too early.”
In response, the grey-haired feline purred even louder, staying firmly put in her spot in Grian’s lap. Before long, her friend joined her, a cat with dark brown patches and lighter shaded fur. The two cats looked up innocently from their spot in Grian’s lap, which he could only sigh at tiredly.
“Maui, not you too.”
He gently picked them up one by one and set them down onto the floor for them to play about. They retreated away to their play area outside in the hallway, allowing Grian just a few more moments of peace and quiet. He glanced at the calendar again. It was Monday. First day of the last week of work, and then he was free. Not completely, but at least he could sleep in for a little longer. That and he could celebrate the holidays with his family. Which was something he hadn’t finished talking to his husband about…
“Mmph, ‘s too early. Babies are up already?”
Grian turned back to see his husband shuffling in the bedsheets, his head still resting against the pillow with his dark brown fluffs of hair a wild mess. He reached over with one arm to wrap around Grian’s waist, to which the other chuckled lightly before removing it to get up.
“Yep, both of them are.” He replied softly while walking over to coddle the ‘babies’ they were referring to.
Jellie and Maui immediately came scurrying back when they saw Grian approach the carpet floor. He sat down on his knees, his shirt covering up most of his lower half. He stroked them both gently, rubbing their bellies and giving them scratches behind their ears.
Scar leaned up slightly in bed as he watched, propping his head up with one arm. He smiled a little at the affection the cats were getting, just a tiny bit jealous.
“Don’t you mean all three of ‘em?” He remarks.
Hearing this, Grian turns back to see Scar giggling at his own joke.
He frowns a little, “Right, because you’re just a big baby, aren’t you?”
Scar pauses, blushing a little out of embarrassment. “H-Hey!”
The smaller man laughs, then gets up to walk over to their bed. Both Jellie and Maui lose interest and scurry off to their play area, satisfied with the attention they got. Scar, meanwhile, seems to be the opposite of this with the way he’s pouting as he sits up in bed. Grian leans over and presses a quick kiss against his cheek.
“Baby or not, you won’t be getting any more of these kisses if you make me any later than I have to be.”
Scar smirks, “Huh, interesting. That’s not what you said last ni-”
He isn’t given enough time to finish his sentence before a pillow is shoved onto his face. Grian frowns, though his cheeks and ears are growing redder by the second.
“Scar!” He yells, but is surprised to see a pillow thrown back at him.
There’s a familiar smirk across his husband’s face that he knows all too well. Grian smiles back, grabbing another pillow and jumping onto the bed. Their apartment is filled, for a few brief moments, with the sound of laughter ringing through their halls. They forget their priorities for just a few minutes, they get lost in each other’s happiness.
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Just as he’d suspected, it was yet another long gruelling day of work. Grian arrived on time to campus, just with enough spare minutes to get his notes in check for his first period. After that, it was back to back lectures and seminars done by him. Half the students were either asleep or too excited about their holiday plans to concentrate. Which of course, Grian didn’t mind one bit. He understood the joy that came from the festivities, and the chance to go back home and see family after so long. Something he hadn’t done in a while.
Between his next lecture and the one he’d just done, he’d finally managed to catch a break. Grian entered the breakroom and instantly flopped down onto the musty old sofa they’d had there for years. The university really needed to step up their funding. He stretched out his legs and lay down, closing his eyes with his papers still wrapped up in his arms for just a moment. He thought briefly back to his previous lecture, reminded of the young faces that waved him goodbye wishing both him and his husband, ‘Professor GoodTimes’ a nice holiday and a merry christmas.
It was sweet of them all, since most of the upper years in the architecture department knew that the two professors were married. Some had even been there back when Grian was still hopelessly pining for Scar, which he’d gotten tons of teasing for after. And just as he thought that, he felt a light tap against his leg.
“Looks like someone’s clocked out for the day, ey?”
Grian lazily opened his eyes and hissed at the man standing above him. A familiar face with a moustache that was recognisable anywhere. The redstone professor himself.
The shorter man grumbles, turning over to face away in a vain attempt to get some rest.
“Go away, Mumbooo. ‘M too tired.”
He feels a light pat against his head which is strangely comforting. Him and Mumbo had been friends for years, literal decades since they grew up together in the same neighbourhood, and that their parents were very close friends with each other.
“Alright, bud. But Cleo and I had something to ask you.”
“Oh, that’s right.” He hears a female voice say this time, walking over and leaving her marking on the desk nearby.
Cleo ties her curly ginger hair back in a bun, pen in her mouth before she places it back above her ear. She folds her arm and squints over at the man laying down on the sofa, as if curious about something. It’s a little suspicious at first, but then she smiles.
“Was just curious about your plans for the holidays is all. Me, Mumbo, Zedaph and Xisuma all booked the same flight so I thought we might as well ask if you and Scar wanna join us.”
Ah, right. Flight.
Grian slowly sits up, nervously looking away. He hadn’t really thought that far ahead this year. He hadn’t because… he was scared. Cleo notices how strange he’s acting, looking between him and Mumbo. The redstone professor gives the same puzzled look, his expression fading into concern. The two sit down beside Grian, one on each side. He knows they aren’t letting this go anytime soon.
“You have booked your tickets to England… right?” Mumbo asks first.
“About that,” Grian replies sheepishly, avoiding their gaze and staring down at the carpet floor. “I was thinking of just going to Scar’s instead this year. To stay with his parents.”
Cleo furrows her eyebrows in concern, “And is Scar aware of this?”
Grian looks back at her, freezing up in his seat.
“Well,, no…” He replies defeatedly. “I just- I promise, I’ll talk to him about it. It’s just a touchy subject because of what happened last Christmas.”
They both knew what he meant. Last year had been really tough on Scar’s health. He’d been in and out of the hospital so much that the two newlyweds hadn’t been able to visit Grian’s family that holiday. They usually did even when they had been dating, and rotated it between visiting Scar’s parents each year. But last year was so diminishing on both of them mentally, and on Scar physically, after all the hospital nonsense even Scar’s parents had flown out just to come and check on him. And all their plans to visit Grian’s family were cancelled.
Cleo nodded in understanding. She gently placed a hand on Grian's shoulder and smiled reassuringly.
“Take it from me Grian, it’s better to talk things out. Sooner rather than later.”
He nodded back in response, and attempted a weak smile. Mumbo grabbed onto his hand and he too, squeezed it reassuringly and gave him a small nod.
“You two are the healthiest and happiest husbands I know. I’m sure you can work things out. And let us know your decision on those flight tickets, by the way. They’ll be gone quick since it’s Christmas time!”
Grian nodded back again, laughing a little at Mumbo’s last remark. They both gave him a pat on the back, then left. Just in time for a familiar handsome man in a wheelchair to pull up to the breakroom, waving and smiling over at his husband as he carried in a stack of papers. With tired eyes and a smile, Grian waved back. They’d talk about it tonight.
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As he poured himself a cup of coffee, Grian looked over at the calendar. It was the 18th now. It had been two days since his conversation with Cleo and Mumbo. Two days since he promised himself he would talk about it with Scar. But he’d gone back on his own promise.
Grian was scared. It was silly, he knew. He knew he was being paranoid, and overthinking it all. There was no reason to be so afraid of something so small. And the closer that Christmas came, the less time he had to talk. The less time he had brought more pressure, which only left his mind scrambled with words he wouldn’t be able to say.
He felt a brush of fur against his leg, looking down to see Jellie cosying up to him. She meowed softly, nuzzling up against his kitchen slippers. Grian couldn’t help but smile. He placed his two mugs down against the counter, kneeling down and scratching the grey-haired fiend gently around her ears.
“Hungry already?” He smiles when he hears her meow loudly in reply.
Grian nods, then straightens up to walk over to Maui and Jellie’s bowls. She seems far less noisy once she’s fed, as he kneels down to watch over her as she licks the milk a little faster than usual. He calls Maui over, who scurries there immediately, having jumped out of Scar’s arms as the tall man walks in through the kitchen door.
He leans on his cane as he steps over, watching fondly as Grian watches over the cats. After a little bit, the shorter man gets up and walks over to the other. He leans up on his tiptoes to give his husband a quick peck on his lips, smiling into it as Scar lightly brushes his hair out of his face. He looks down with a smile, softly caressing the shorter man’s cheek.
“You’re up rather early for a Wednesday, songbird.”
Grian leans into his touch, “Mmmph, couldn’t sleep.”
Scar’s seems as if he’s about to ask why, but is distracted by the cats that come running to their feet, scratching lightly for attention.
“Woah there, alright, alright you two!” He replies, bending down to pet them one at a time, his free hand still on his cane.
But before he gets too distracted, his husband pulls him back up and grumbles.
“Scar,” He pouts and whines. “Stop giving them so much attention and get your fine butt over here so I can feed you too.”
The man crosses his arms, before grabbing onto Scar’s and pulling him over to the small round table in their kitchen. His husband stumbles a little, smiling and sighing from the jealous looks he’d seen on Grian’s face.
He jokingly replies, “Yes sir, sorry sir!”
Scar giggles a little before sitting down, “I’m all yours, sir.”
Grian can’t help but roll his eyes in reply, walking over with two plates in his hands, making another trip back for the coffee mugs. He places them down and sits across from his husband, smiling all the while. They rest a hand on each other’s hands across the table, holding them gently and chatting away.
As Grian listens to Scar’s latest rant about Disney (which does sometimes get old,,) he can’t help but stare lovingly over at the animated man. He’ll avoid that topic for just a little longer. It’ll be fine, he thinks to himself. It’s better this way.
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“Ugh, marking these finals is tempting me to jump off a cliff.” Grian remarks, they all know it’s in jest.
Once again, he finds himself in the breakroom near his department, a few other lecturers whom he knows well are gathered there. It’s Thursday, the day before the last day of work. Before it’s way too late to buy tickets to England.
While that eats away at the back of his mind, he scrunches himself up on a high chair, slumping in defeat as he goes through his papers a final time. To his right, he can see Tango and Impulse chatting away by the coffeemaker. Mumbo soon joins them, Bdubs just arriving with Cleo through the door. Both Cub and Scar are conversing in the back before Zedaph comes over to pick at Cub’s mind, and Scar is free to roam over to his husband.
Grian doesn’t even notice the man wheel up to him, preoccupied with his own thoughts. He has one hand in his hair, almost pulling at it in frustration. Half lying down against the desk, pen clicking in his hand at a dangerous speed.
“Wouldn’t want you jumping off of anywhere, then we’d be one lecturer down in the good ol’ architecture department. And might I add, an esteemed professor at that.”
He wants to chuckle in response to Scar’s playful banter, but all he can bring himself to do is a weak smile back.
Scar notices this, leaning in and brushing soft strands of light brown out of his face to admire Grian’s beauty. He smiles softly, and Grian feels as if he’ll melt on the spot. Especially with how close his husband is, only inches away from their faces touching. They’re lucky everyone else is occupied.
“I know it’s been a long week. How about I cook dinner tonight?”
The shorter man almost sits straight up in his seat.
“But, it’s my turn to cook. I don’t want you to overexert yourself.” He expresses with concern.
“Honey, it’s alright to let yourself rest too. You need it.”
Scar strokes him gently on his back, earning a soft smile from a very tired Grian who leans back into his touch. There are no amount of words that can express his gratitude for having Scar as his husband. He’s perfectly flawed in the best ways, just as he is, and Grian loves him for it. Even if he’s clumsy, forgetful, and a little slow at times, he carries so much passion, care and kindness in his heart.
He smiles and sighs, “I don’t deserve you, Scar.”
“Wrong as usual,” The American happily points out, “I’m the one who doesn’t deserve you. Although, there’s one thing..”
Grian looks over in confusion, “Hm? What is it?”
He gets up out of his high-chair to be more level with Scar, since the distance made it a little difficult to be close with a low wheelchair.
“Well, would I be deserving enough to get a bubble bath tonight?” Scar asks as he fidgets a little with his fingers.
The other can’t help but burst into copious amounts of laughter, leaving the rest of their colleagues half intrigued and half surprised, but also just used to it by now. Grian calms himself down, and reaches over to hold his husband’s hand.
“Of course. You’re deserving of the whole world.”
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Scar’s obsession with bubble baths had been a result of his friendship with Jimmy. When they first met, he didn’t know Jimmy was Grian’s younger half-brother. He also didn’t want to get too close, since Jimmy was a student of his at the time. But they weren’t too far apart in age, so it didn’t feel weird at all. Both Jimmy and his older sister Lizzie became close friends with Scar, which is why he was saddened by their choice to move back to England. But he understood. And he was grateful he still had Grian by his side.
Said man hadn’t even realised Scar’s love of bubble baths had come from his younger brother. He just found it a strange coincidence at first. It was nice though, that they had this routine. Every few days or so, when it felt appropriate, they’d get in a bubble bath together. Grian wasn’t a huge fan of them, but never complained. And now as they sat in the bathtub together, Scar’s back facing him as he scrubbed shampoo through his mullet of messy hair, Grian took deep breaths between his movements.
His heart was beating at an abnormal and alarming rate. He had no idea it would stress him out this much, but apparently keeping something to yourself for this long was incredibly unhealthy. As he combed through his husband’s hair, the other man hummed quietly in relaxation. He only paused when feeling the slight shake in Grian’s hand. Scar glanced back, noticing the anxious expression on Grian’s face as he kept his eyes down. His hands still fiddling with Scar’s brown locks.
Scar leaned back slightly, getting his husband’s attention.
“Thank God the week’s almost over, I can’t wait to go see Pearl and Jimmy again. Not to mention the rest of the family!” He remarks cheerfully.
Grian tries to play off his worry, and chuckles in reply. “Y-yeah, I’ve missed them…”
He looks away again. He can’t bring himself to face his husband and lie anymore. This isn’t right. It never was.
“Actually,” He breathes in sharply, “We.. we aren’t going to England this year.”
Scar turns his head slowly, his hair still dripping from the shampoo. “What do you mean, G?”
The shorter man sinks into the tub, until only his eyes are visible, the rest of his face underwater. He furrows his brows in worry, glancing up with a guilty expression. His eyes are wide and look as if they’ll tear up at any moment. He mumbles something underneath the water, and Scar laughs lightly.
“Can’t hear you, sweetie.”
Their hands find each other as Scar brings him back up to the surface. Now facing each other, Grian looks into his eyes and takes a deep breath.
“I didn’t book the tickets this year because I was scared something bad would happen again, and I can’t stand the thought of dealing with what we went through last year, and even if we did go I’d be paranoid the whole time and I’d completely ruin our Christmas, which is what I’ve managed to do anyway by being a blubbering idiot!”
He pants heavily after getting that all out in one breath.
To his surprise, Scar just laughs. He looks at him puzzled, their hands still holding onto each other. Scar turns around to lean back with his head now in Grian’s lap, floating just above the water. His husband looks down at him still confused. Until Scar reaches up and caresses his cheek, his hand still wet from the water, the scent of soap filling Grian’s nostrils.
“Grian, you should’ve just told me. We promised we’d work through whatever life puts us through together. From now on, we make any and all decisions after consulting each other first, okay?”
He speaks so softly that Grian feels like melting. He feels tears stinging at his eyes as he nods back in reply. What ever did he do to be granted such a loving man?
“Wait but- why’d you laugh like that when I told you?”
“Hm? Oh,” Scar smiles, reaching over to grab his phone from outside the tub.
Grian doesn’t have enough energy in him to argue about how he’s getting the screen wet, so he lets him grab it and watches curiously as the man scrolls through his phone.
“This was meant to be a surprise, but, now's a better time than ever.”
When Scar lifts up the screen to Grian’s face, the shorter man gasps in both shock and excitement. He doesn’t know what to say, left in awe.
“You- When did you guys plan this??”
“While you weren’t looking, of course.” Scar says triumphantly.
On the mobile screen in front of him was a receipt for two plane tickets to England. It was a screenshot in a group chat, being sent by Cleo and confirmed by Mumbo and Scar in reply. They had communicated together and put enough funds collectively so they could buy the tickets as a surprise for Grian. It had been a rough year, especially for them financially because of what happened in the hospital, so this was enough to get Grian tearing up again.
Scar panicked for a moment, not knowing what to do. He put his phone away and quickly sat up in the bathtub, waving his hands about worriedly. But before he could say anything, he was tackled into a hug. Almost falling back into the bathwater, using a free hand to stabilise himself. Grian buries his face into the crook of Scar’s neck, and holds on tightly.
“Thank you.” He whispers softly.
His husband smiles, pulling him away to give him a sweet kiss. And if they spent a little longer in the bubble bath than usual, it was only for them to know.
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