Archive of Our Own ^beta

It started off fairly innocent.

Grian isn't the type to share things about himself. During Season 6, it is abundantly clear that the avian is more keen on learning about the other hermits than sharing his own interests. Whenever someone asks him a question about himself, Grian clams up before deflecting and changing the topic.

The other hermits didn't mind, knowing that they weren't entitled to anything about each other's lives and simply talked to the man about everyday things. It simply meant they would find out as their friendship progressed.

Scar wasn't the most observant of all of the hermits, but he found himself noting things about Grian that wouldn't be known if you didn't look closely. 

Soon enough, the vex found himself creating a mental list of everything he noticed about Grian. Scar was careful to not write it down, knowing he’d either just lose it or have one of the hermits– or void forbid, Grian– find it.

Plates of food were laid out on a red blanket, each dish looking mouth-watering. Scar had brought some homemade chocolate chip cookies and sugar cookies. From where he sat, he could see appetizing dishes he'd never even heard of as well as some dishes he enjoyed eating. The other hermits had outdone themselves. The vex had to hold himself back from digging in, waiting for everyone to arrive.

When he’d received word that some of the server members came together to plan a picnic, Scar was ecstatic. Many of them were good cooks so there was bound to be food Scar would fall in love with, and he couldn't wait to share his new cookie recipe with the others.

His pointed ears twitched as he heard tentative footsteps approaching. Scar turned his head and caught sight of red, yellow, and blue wings. The owner of the wings was walking toward them, his expression tight. Grian slowed to a stop, his void-like eyes fleeting back and forth. 

In his arms was a large, airtight container. The container was clear with a yellow lid, and from where Scar was sitting, it seemed to contain bite-sized snacks—brownies, maybe? Or mini muffins? 

Grian stood there awkwardly for a moment, his aural wings twitched in discomfort. He looked completely lost, holding the container tightly to his body.

Taking pity on the avian, Scar called out his name. Grian looked around before his gaze landed on him, Scar watching the other's eyes widen. The man quickly shuffled toward him, his wings pressed against his body to prevent running into other people.

Once Grian arrived and stood next to him, Scar beamed at him, smiling wide. “Sit next to me! We can put your dish right here,” He exclaimed, pointing to an empty spot on the picnic blanket. 

Any residing tension bled out of the avian’s body, his body relaxing. “Alright,” Grian agreed, a small smile on his face. He sat down cross-legged, his large wings relaxing into a heart shape. He placed his container on his lap, holding it in place as he peeled the yellow lid away, revealing mini-cakes with some sort of sauce on top. 

Scar eyed the desserts with curiosity as Grian grabbed a large, empty plate from his inventory. He carefully placed each dessert on the plate, the cakes forming a circular pattern. Had there been multiple colors, it would have looked like a target.

Once the avian finished, he put the empty container in his inventory and placed the plate in the spot Scar pointed out a moment earlier. 

Scar leaned toward the desserts, eyeing the food and trying to figure out what was. The smell of caramel hit his nose, a pleasant sugary scent.

A muffled giggle met his ears and he whipped his head around toward the sound. Grian watched him with his hand over his mouth, holding back laughter. Scar's ears and cheeks burned, embarrassment flooding his system.

“Wha- What are you doing?” Grian asked, trying to reign in his laughter. The heat on Scar's cheeks only spread at the question.

“I- I was just trying to figure out what the dessert was!” He defended, internally wincing at his stutter.

Grian rolled his eyes with a huff. “You could just ask me, you know?” He said in faux-annoyance. Scar sputtered before he continued, “It’s sticky toffee pudding.” Noticing the other's confused expression, he added, “It's an English dessert. They're sponge cakes covered in toffee sauce. The cake is made with dates.”

“Well, that sounds malicious!” Scar exclaimed, glancing at the cakes with hunger. 

Grian stared at him. “Do you mean delicious?”

Scar blinked, turning toward the avian. “What’d I say?”

The avian shook his head with a chuckle. “Nothing, never mind.”

Turning back to the food, he asked, “Did you make them?”

Grian nodded, his face soft. “It’s one of my favorite foods so I decided it might be nice to share it with the group.”

Scar looked up, the wide smile turning soft. “Well, we'll make sure to enjoy it!”

Grian smiled, nodding softly.

When everyone arrived and were seated, the picnic began. People were chatting left and right, cracking jokes and laughing while sharing food. It warmed Scar's heart watching his family be so happy.

The first dish he reached for was Grian’s, the curiosity eating him alive. The moment the cake touched his tongue, he immediately fell in love with its rich taste and texture. The dessert practically melted in his mouth, the toffee and cake mixed, the flavor amazing.

Scar was quick to compliment both the food and Grian's kitchen skills, to Grian's mortification. The avian was practically ready to fly away, and thankfully, Scar stopped showering him in kind words.

The picnic continued, the hermits all laughing and talking.

A quiet gasp, barely audible, came from Scar’s left, his ears twitching somewhat.

Turning his head, he saw Grian staring starry-eyed at a fruit salad. The avian quickly reached for the ladle in the bowl, scooping the fruit salad into a cup. Once the cup was full to the brim, he carefully placed the ladle away and began to shove the fruit in his mouth, his face blissful as Grian chewed. 

Scar hid his smile, turning back to the other hermits and joining one of the conversations.

#1 - Grian likes sticky toffee pudding and fruit salads.

Scar loved mornings. He enjoyed watching the sun rise above the horizon as it brightened the sky and bathed the ground in warm sunlight. He enjoyed the feeling of the light breeze ruffling his hair as he prepared for the day.

He wondered whether Grian liked mornings. He’d like to get to know the avian better.

Well. He did have an idea.

In an attempt to build rapport with Grian, he prepared breakfast for the avian, pancakes drizzled with syrup and a side of bacon and chopped fruit. Once he was satisfied with how the food looked, he carefully packed it into a container and went outside. Using his elytra, he made his way over to Grian's base, cautious with the container and trying not to die.

He soon found himself in front of Grian's base, only slightly hurt after flying into a tree while trying to land. He made his way to the front door. Scar knocked tentatively, unsure of whether the avian was awake.

When no response came, he knocked again, harder this time. 

Still, no response.

Unsure of whether the other man was home, he called out Grian's name, hoping to receive a response.

A loud crash echoed from inside the base, sounding suspiciously like someone or something knocking a few things down as they made their way to the door. Scar jolted and reared his head back, caught off guard by the sudden sound. Before the idea that something had broken into the avian’s house planted itself into Scar’s head, the front door swung open with ferocious speed, the door slamming against the wall and rebounding.

Scar blinked a few times.

Standing in the doorway was the very Grian Scar was looking for, looking beyond disheveled. His usual fluffy hair was stuck up in different spots and his eyes, which always seemed alert, were blinking off sleep. His clothes were different from his usual outfits, a simple black T-shirt and grey sweatpants. Both articles of clothing were rumpled as if the man just rolled out of bed.

The avian yawned before glaring at Scar. “What is so important that you're yelling my name at the crack of dawn?” 

Scar winced. He did just roll out of bed. And he was not happy.

Scar schooled his face, using his salesman voice in an attempt to do damage control. “Sorry about the yelling, I just wanted to make you some breakfast!” He exclaimed, a large smile on his face.

Grian only looked at him with an incredulous expression.

Scar began to feel doubt bubble up. It seemed Grian was the only one to make him question his salesman abilities. “You don't have to accept it or anything. If you don't want me to bother you, just say the word,” he added, feeling awkward under the other’s gaze.

The expression quickly melted off, the blond shaking his head. “No! No, just… how are you even functioning right now? It’s so early…” Grian trailed off, frog-blinking at Scar.

Heat filled his cheeks in embarrassment as he spluttered, embarrassment pooling in his gut. The avian watched in mild amusement as he took a deep breath and scratched his cheek. Scar averted his gaze as he quickly explained, “I’ve always been quite the morning person. I normally wake up at around nine in the morning.”

Grian’s eyes widened. “Nine in the morning?! Oh, I could never! I tend to wake up around eleven, sometimes even noon!”

“That’s quite late!” Scar laughed. He shook his head as he held up the container, “Well, I prepared some pancakes and chopped fruit for you if you want them.”

“Oh!” Grian jumped as if he had completely forgotten the reason the other was there. “Well, I’m going to need to wake up a bit more and am in desperate need of some coffee. Do you want to come in? I can make you some tea if you’d like.”

Scar beamed, nodding happily. Grian moved away from the door, holding it open as Scar made his way in.

The rest of Scar’s morning was full of jokes and laughter.

#9 - Grian is not a morning person.

Thunderstorms were not a common occurrence on the Hermitcraft server. So when thunder boomed over his base, Scar was a little more than startled. He’d be trying to fall asleep to no avail and this storm wasn't helping. The sound of heavy rain hitting glass was loud, along with the howl of the wind. He calmed down fairly quickly but the sound still gave him the fright of life.

A loud whine cut through the silence of his base. 

Scar immediately got out of bed, scrambling toward the noise gracelessly, bumping into drawers and walls as he hissed in pain. He quickly left his room, making a beeline toward his guest room. The vex carefully opened the door, unwilling to further upset his guest when there was another loud boom echoed throughout the building. Another loud whine came from inside the room and fueled by concern, Scar pushed through and entered the room.

The sight inside made him tear up. Grian, who was staying over for a sleepover, was curled up, in the corner of the room, shaking like a leaf. His face was pale and taunt, jaw clenched as he wrapped his arms around himself in a feeble attempt to self-soothe. His knees were brought up to his chest. 

Lightning flashed outside the window, illuminating the room, followed by a booming thunderclap that reverberated through the base. To Scar’s horror, tears began to slide down the avian’s cheeks as another wrangled cry left his throat. His breathing began to pick up, the sound growing louder with each passing second.

Adrenaline rushed through his system, and he rushed toward the bed, making sure not to crowd the other or touch him. He sat down in front of the man, holding himself up with his arms and making sure the other could see all his movements.

“Grian? Can you hear me?” Scar made sure to keep the fear and concern out of his voice, using a sweet tone to calm his friend. Grian nodded, short and stilted.

A sigh of relief left his lips before he could stop. “Okay, that makes this easier.” Scar carefully reached out, making sure Grian could see his hand. He stopped before he could touch the other, calmly asking, “Hey, sweetheart, is it alright if I touch you?” The pet name unintentionally slipped out, but before he could backtrack, the other nodded, much more noticeable now. Scar softened.

“Alright sweetheart,” he hummed, placing his hand on the blond’s knee and creating simple shapes with his thumb. “I need you to take a deep breath.”

Scar waited until the other nodded before he removed his hand. Then, he grasped one of his hands and placed it against his chest. The palm was warm, seeping through his clothes into his skin and sending shivers up his spine. 

“I need you to follow my directions, alright?” A nod. “Good. Now, I need you to inhale through your nose for four seconds,” Scar instructed, taking an exaggerated breath. The avian followed alongside him until another boom of thunder echoed through the house. Grian flinched, curling around himself tighter.

“Hey, hey, I'm right here, hun, I'm not leaving you,” Scar whispered, holding the blond’s hand tightly. “Let's try again, alright?”

Grian exhaled, nodding softly. 

“Okay, breathe in through your nose for four seconds,” he repeated, mimicking his previous instructions. Scar waited patiently as Grian took in a shaky breath. “Good job, sweetheart!” He praised softly, smiling at the boy. “Hold your breath for seven seconds,” Scar continued, mentally counting off the seconds.

The two men sat in silence with only the sound of rain hitting against the window to accompany them. Once he reached seven, Scar smiled warmly at the blond before whispering, “You did great, sunshine! Now, exhale for eight.” 

Grian shakily exhaled, his eyes fluttering close as he did. Some of the tension bled out of his body, his eyes opening, revealing void-colored iris’. Sometimes, Scar wanted to sink deep into his eyes and get lost in them, surrounded by a familiar color. He wondered if Grian could feel his heartbeat spike under his palm.

Scar shook his head. Now was not the time.

“Alright birdie, let’s repeat this a few more times.”

/////

It took a few more minutes, and the sound of thunder occasionally chipped away at their progress as it reverberated throughout the halls. Each time it crackled overhead, Grian would curl up a bit, but Scar was always ready to calm him down, creating shapes with his thumb and reminding him of his presence. 

At some point, Scar pulled Grian onto his chest, pressing the other’s ear against his chest so he could hear his heartbeat. Scar wasn’t sure why exactly he had done it but it did the trick, the avian in his arms calming down much faster than before. 

The two sat in silence for a bit, enjoying each other’s company before Scar remarked, “I should get back to my room. I don't think you'll want me taking up your entire night.” He was prepared to move when a fist gripped his pajama shirt, keeping him in place. Scar hummed, questioning, but Grian made no move to explain himself, simply burying his face into his chest even more than before. 

“Sunshine? What’s wrong?” He prodded, placing his hands on the other’s shoulders and moving them up and down in what he hoped was soothing.

Grian clung tighter before softly conceding, “Stay with me? Please?”

Scar’s heart melted and he wrapped his arms around Grian as best he could, trying not to crush his wings. “Of course sunshine.”

The two got comfortable next to each other, the sound of each other’s breathing lulling them to sleep.

Right before his world went dark, however, Scar added something to his list.

#22 - Grian is scared of thunderstorms.

Christmas was one of Scar’s favorite holidays.

Giving and receiving gifts from the people close to you while you sip on hot chocolate and sit by the fireplace always brought comfort to him. He knew many other hermits loved Christmas as well, decorating their bases with lights and other Christmas decorations.

Another thing he loved was the snow. It didn't snow in his home server and every time it snowed on Hermitcraft and his legs didn’t aggravate him, he would run around outside to play in the snow and laugh. Occasionally, another hermit would join in, making snow angels and having snowball fights with him. 

All in all, Christmas and winter were things Scar loved.

However, he wasn’t sure that Grian shared the same sentiment. It was rare to see him step outside during the winter and Scar wanted to know why.

This is why he was outside of the avian’s base, carrying some apple pie that he made for him. Scar knocked loudly, knowing that Grian tended to get absorbed by his work and not hear what was happening in his surroundings. Thankfully, it wasn’t early morning so the other was quick to answer, pulling the door open quickly. A blast of warmth hit him square in the face, his expression twisting at the extreme change in temperature. Suddenly, a hand wrapped around his bicep and yanked him into the warmth, almost making him drop the pie.

Once he regained his bearings, Scar faced Grian, his eyes widening at the sight. The blond was wearing a thick jumper with a blanket wrapped around him, and while it wouldn’t be strange in this weather, the heat inside the building was already suffocating, and Scar was only wearing a winter coat and gloves.

“Sorry,” Grian sighed, shutting the door behind him. “I didn't want any cold air to get in.” The avian turned around, his eyes zooming in on the box Scar held. “What's that?” He asked, pointing.

Scar sputtered, the absurdity of the situation finally hitting him. “It's an apple pie?” He answered, blinking at the other.

“Are you telling me or asking me?” Grian teased, his eyebrow raising in question.

Scar fumbled. “T-telling you,” he muttered, his cheeks heating up in embarrassment. He took a deep breath and mustered up the courage to ask, “Hey Grian?” The avian hummed, eyeing him and his face. “How can you handle all this heat? I'm in a winter coat and sweating buckets while you're covered head to toe in a heavy blanket and you seem perfectly fine?”

Grian turned bright red, his face becoming dangerously close to the color of his jumper. He took the blanket off, instead holding it in his arms. “Well, I um… I- hmm,” Grian stuttered and turned away, his aural wings partially covering his face. 

Scar found the action quite cute, just like the first time it happened. Grian had fumbled over his words so badly that he crouched down and hid his face with his aural wings to hide how red his face got. The other hermits were laughing, making the blush worse, Scar included. The vex however, also found it secretly adorable and quickly added it to his list and often used it to his advantage.

Grian turned and began to explain, pulling Scar out of his daydream. “Well, you know how I am an avian?” 

Scar flicked his eyes behind him, glancing at the giant wings on the blond's back. He met the other's gaze. “Yup.”

Grian let out an undignified snort. “Yes well, I'm a Scarlet Macaw hybrid, meaning I'm a tropical bird,” he explained. “My body is accustomed to warm climates so in the winter, I have to keep warm or I'll become lethargic.”

Scar blinked. “Oooh, that makes so much sense…”

Grian tilted his head to the side, humming in question.

Compelled to answer, Scar explained the whole reason for his visit, “We never see you step out of your base in the winter that began to think you hated Christmas.”

Grian squawked loudly. “I could never hate Christmas! I just get cold easily which isn't ideal,” he pouted.

Scar couldn't help but laugh. “Well, we know this now!” His body trembled as he chuckled before he looked down, his eyes snagging on the box he still carried. “Hey, we should probably try some of this apple pie before I go.”

Grian blinked, eyes trailing toward the box in his hands. “Oh right!” The blond hummed, walking toward his kitchen. Scar followed closely behind. The vex took no hesitation in taking off his coat and gloves, the heat now much more bearable afterward.

In a matter of minutes, Grian and Scar had a slice of apple pie served hot on a plate. They dug in, groaned appreciatively at the flavor melting on their tongues, and soon grabbed seconds.

The rest of the time was spent laughing and exchanging ideas on holiday gifts. And if the two planned out a way to have Grian step out into the cold safely, that was no one’s business but their own.

#36 - Grian loves Christmas but hates the cold.

Scar adored cats. How could he not when he had Jellie? He could rant about how beautiful her green eyes were or how comforting the sound of her purrs was for hours on end, which he has. Multiple times. Several server mates have playfully complained about it in the past but there was no malice in their voices, simply exasperated fondness. 

Most hermits have endured a “Scar rant” about Jellie several times, never telling him to stop. The only player that hasn't had the pleasure of listening to a Jellie-centric rant was Grian, oddly enough. By the time he noticed, he knew it had to be rectified immediately. Grian had to be blessed by the existence of Jellie, of course!

Scar knew what to do.

/////

It was the next morning that Scar could enact his plan. Carrying a small folder, the brunette made his way over to Grian’s base, walking in without knocking. It's gotten to a point where Scar has been given blanket permission to enter Grian’s house, no longer needing to announce his presence by knocking (or shouting Grian’s name until he opens the door). 

It always made Scar smile whenever he thought about just how much Grian trusted him, allowing him to see the closest parts of him. 

Scar shook his head. He has to focus. He was on a mission.

Luckily, Grian was home, making Scar’s task much easier. The man was in the kitchen, preparing a meal. The jukebox played music in the background, the parrot hybrid bouncing on the balls of his feet as he swayed side to side along with the music.

Scar made sure to stay very quiet, watching his step as he crouched and carefully approached the distracted avian. He held his breath, barely even breathing as he inched closer, like a predator eyeing its prey. Once he was only a few feet away, he tensed his muscles and waited with bated breath, preparing for the perfect moment to strike. 

Grian was completely oblivious to the vex standing just a few feet away, and suddenly, Scar saw it. An opening. Without a second of hesitation, Scar pounced. The brunette wrapped his arms around the blond’s waist, lifting him until his feet were a few inches off the ground. Grian squawked loudly and flailed around, his wings flapping aggressively as he kicked his feet. 

Scar felt a foot hit him in the shin and he lost his balance, the two of them wobbling precariously. The vex reflexively held onto the avian tighter which the other didn't appreciate, considering he began to wiggle around even more. Scar shut his eyes tightly as the two toppled over, landing as a heap on the ground. 

Scar slowly pushed himself up with his arm, his other hand rising to his head as he blinked the spots in his vision away. The avian next to him groaned, pushing himself up while blinking as well. He looked around in confusion. The folder that Scar had been carrying had opened and all of the contents inside were on the ground next to them. His eyes fell on Scar. Grian’s eyes widened, pointing at him accusingly.

“It was you?!” He yelled, staring at him incredulously.

Scar couldn’t stop the laugh that bubbled up and escaped his lips. 

“This isn't funny, Scar! Scar!” Grian shouted, his voice cracking as he yelled the vex’s name.

The shouting only fueled his laughter, his body folding in on itself, and even then, he laughed some more. His stomach began to ache and he wrapped his arms around his midriff, tears beginning to form in the corners of his eyes.

A near-silent puff of air caught his attention, and through teary eyes, Scar looked up at the blond sitting in front of him. The avian’s face was contorted, trying to hold back laughter. However, with that single glance, Grian burst into boisterous laughter, throwing his head back. The sound of the other’s laughter made Scar laugh harder, tears now openly streaming down his face as he clutched his abdomen.

It took several minutes for their laughter to die down and for any tears to be wiped away.

“Wow. I haven't laughed that hard in quite some time,” Grian muttered as he heaved in a breath, tone breathless. Scar nodded in agreement and flopped back onto the floor, body splayed out as he took deep breaths. 

It was silent for a moment, only the sound of their combined breaths and shuffling could be heard. 

Grian's voice cut through the silence. “Hey, Scar?” 

The vex pushed himself up, humming questioningly. The avian sat cross-legged next to him, eyeing all the papers on the ground. “What are these?” He asked, not looking at the vex.

Before Scar had a chance to answer, Grian reached out and picked up the nearest one. The side facing him was blank, so he quickly flipped it over.

The paper wasn't actually a paper but a photograph of Jellie attempting to lick the camera. Scar could pinpoint the moment Grian processed the image. His body froze, lips forming an o and his eyes widening comically, practically sparkling as he stared at the image.

Suddenly, the man scrambled around, frantically grabbing any nearby photographs. Once he grabbed a small pile, he went through each one, admiring the different angles and poses. Scar could see some of the images, a picture of Jellie curled up and sleeping under the sun and Jellie playing with a stuffed mouse toy.

Grian was completely immersed in the images, admiring all the details with sparkling eyes. It was as if the world fell away for him which Scar found endearing. He only watched as the other sat in awe and he couldn't help the small chuckle that escaped his lips.

A surprised squawk escaped Grian, his body jumping. Scar laughed once again and watched in fascination as the avian's face flushed a beautiful shade of scarlet.

“I forgot you were here!” Grian said, eyes wide as he stared at Scar, embarrassed.

Scar gasped dramatically, theatrically placing the back of his hand on his forehead and clutching his shirt before wailing, “How could you ever forget that I - the greatest hermit to ever hermit - was gracing you with my presence!” He cracked an eye open, waiting for the other’s reaction. Grian didn't disappoint, chuckling softly while rolling his eyes. 

Scar chuckled along with him, relaxing as he held himself up with his arms. “So, I see you've found the pictures of Jellie,” Scar started, motioning to the photographs. 

Grian looked confused for a moment before lighting up. “You know this beauty?! " he exclaimed, pushing himself closer to Scar. The vex was taken aback by his sudden proximity, and he took note of it, moving away with a quiet apology.

“Don’t worry about it!” Scar said, shaking his head, “Anyway, the cat in the photos is Jellie! She’s my cat! You might have seen her wandering the server on occasion.”

Grian was practically brimming with excitement. “Could you introduce me to her? I’d love to see her in person!”

It wasn't often that Grian openly showed his interest in something so Scar already knew he had to accept. The vex nodded happily, “Of course!” before tacking on a question,” I take it you like cats?” 

“Like them? I love them! They're so cute and snuggly! How could anyone not absolutely adore them?!” Grian rambled, grinning from ear to ear. 

Scar threw his head back and laughed. “Now, you are speaking my language!”

The two sat in comfortable silence when all of a sudden, Grian’s nose twitched.

“Scar, do you smell that?”

Now that Grian mentioned it, something did smell… off.

Scar looked up.

“Um, Grian?”

“Yeah?”

“Whatever food you were making is burning.”

“WHAT?!”

Grian shot up, almost tumbling over with the speed at which he got up.

Scar smiled, even when Grian fluttered around the kitchen, attempting to salvage his meal.

#43 - Grian adores cats

Scar found himself talking to Grian while mining together in the early morning (it was a shock to Scar), the two chatting about their plans regarding the new season. Scar wasn't too sure what he wanted to do yet, but Grian had an idea, excitedly rambling on about how he would design his megabase. 

It warmed Scar's heart to see how eager Grian was about his plans. An unfamiliar feeling bubbled under his skin as he watched the avian flutter around the mine, wings twitching in obvious excitement. Scar could feel his cheeks warm as he admired the blond. Even in the dim lighting of the torches, he could see just how beautiful the other was.

Scar shook his head. These weren't normal thoughts to have about one of your closest friends, no matter how close they were.

But even then…

Scar couldn't help but adore Grian.

He had a sharp wit and a refreshing sense of sarcasm, effortlessly tying humor into any conversation. He had a magnetic charm, and his infectious laughter and smiles lit up the room. He was funny and charming. He genuinely loved building and found amusement in playing pranks on others. 

He had beautiful void-colored eyes that seemed to suck Scar in with just a single glance. His fluffy dirty blond hair shone in the sun, framing his face and making him alluring. His multi-colored wings were always pristine, calling the attention of passersby, and when he flew…

Dear void, when Grian flew…

He flew without a care in the world, spinning and reaching extreme altitudes like it was nothing. He always looked at peace when he flew as if his problems melted away when he was off the ground.

He had this energy to him that drew people in and made it impossible to look away.

Grian was his sun.

And Scar was his most loyal planet. 

And he'd do whatever it took to keep him happy.

“Scar? You okay?”

Scar screamed as he jumped, clutching his shirt as he spun around, nearly falling over in his haste. “Grian! Don't scare me like that!” He squeaked, taking in large breaths of air as he leaned against the wall. 

Grian let out a puff of air in amusement, before looking at him with concern. “You zoned out for a moment there. Are you okay? Do your legs hurt?” 

Scar would have melted into putty if he didn't want to worry Grian. His concern was so sweet and it made him want to scream into a pillow and squeal like a high school girl falling in love for the first time.

He smiled brightly. “I'm fine! Just thinking about what I'll eat for dinner.” Grian didn't seem too convinced but thankfully let it slide. 

The vex let out a silent exhale of relief. If the avian pushed, he might have just blurted out his newfound revelation without a second thought.

Grian went back to mining with a watchful gaze, slowly chipping away at the stone walls. Scar followed behind him, abandoning his previous stop, and began to mine alongside him. 

Their prior conversation was left behind as they began to joke and goof around.

Scar couldn't remember what he said exactly, but it made the other throw his head back and laugh loudly. The vex watched with a soundless giggle, still mining, as Grian folded in on himself, his laughter now somewhat deranged and breathless. Tears were building up in the corner of the blond’s eyes as he continued to laugh, leaning against the wall to avoid falling over.

Scar had gotten so distracted with the other that he failed to notice that he found the opening to a ravine until he was falling, the air pushing against him.

GoodTimeWithScar fell from a high place.

Before he knew it, Scar woke up in his bed at home. His body was good as new (or as good as new as he could be) and pushed himself up. It was silent for a moment before he buried his face into his hands, cheeks burning against his cool palms.

The communicator in his pocket dinged once. Then again. And again.

Scar pulled his hands away from his face, biting his lip as he yanked the communicator from its confines.

<ZombieCleo> I can't say I'm surprised

<Grian> I watched as he fell into a ravine lmao

<ZombieCleo> Oh? You were with him?

<Grian> We were mining together

<GoodTimeWithScar> I disnt ebrn noticd until I wad fallinf 

<Grian> It's a miracle I understood that

<Grian> I put all your stuff into a chest

<GoodTimeWithScar> thanjs :DDD

<Grian> No problem

<ZombieCleo> I see you're spending quite a lot of time together

Scar flopped back onto his bed, simply staring at his ceiling in silence with red cheeks. He suddenly turned over, burying his face into the pillow, and screamed, kicking his legs, unlike a teenage girl.

Once he screamed all of his embarrassment out, Scar pushed himself up from his pillow and swung his legs over the edge of the bed. He grabbed the cane waiting by his bedside drawer, the ache in his legs making itself known.

He wobbled over to his crafting table, pulled out the necessary supplies from a nearby chest, and got to work.

The vex knew he was taking a risk but he needed to remember. No longer was this a simple want to get to know a new hermit.

It was learning new things about someone he hoped to share a future with.

It didn't take any longer than a minute before Scar had a book and quill in his hands. He pried the book open and began to write.

He worked on autopilot, having memorized everything he planned to write. In less than half an hour, Scar was done.

Well.

Not quite.

There was one more thing to add.

#50 - Grian had a maniacal yet beautiful laugh.

And Scar was so irreversibly fucked.

Everything happened so fast.

Scar was minding his own business, planning out an expansion for his base when his comm blared. His muscles went rigid as he gripped his cane tightly.

Xisuma had set up a system: a code word for when a hermit was having a personal emergency and needed another member's assistance and an alarm for when a server-wide emergency took place that required a server meeting or attendance.

Scar has only heard the alarm go off once: when the moon was big.

Without an ounce of hesitation, Scar grabbed the emergency bag he created after season eight that contained healing supplies and fireworks and clipped on his elytra. 

“Jellie, I need you to stay here, alright?” Scar muttered, petting the cat with the utmost care. “If anything happens, I'll get Xisuma to teleport you to me, alright?” He kissed her head softly before scrambling out the door. 

He quickly pulled out a stack of fireworks, angling it before kickstarting the elytra and launching a firework. He shot up, the wind pushing against his face and ruffling his hair. The feeling was usually comforting however now it only served to hinder him.

Scar was hyper-aware of everything around him, trying his hardest to not crash into anything so he could get to spawn as quickly as possible. There were a few close calls but Scar got away, spawn now in sight. From where he was, Scar could see most of the hermits already there. A glance told him the admin and Grian were in an argument, the rest of the hermits watching from the sides. 

His emotions were a mess. There was an undercurrent of fear that Scar couldn't shake away, like a shadow, already kickstarting his fight or flight. Confusion clouded his thoughts, a thick fog making it nearly impossible to form any thoughts. Worry prickled at the edge of his brain, a persistent itch that refused to leave. Everything felt overwhelming, like a giant tidal wave crashing over him, yet, paradoxically, nothing had happened to justify it.

He prepared for landing, angling his body down and making sure no hermit was in the way. The moment his feet touched the ground, a large sigh of relief left his lips, glad that he made it without dying.

“Scar, good, you're here,” someone muttered. He looked over, noting that Cleo was the one who spoke. 

“Yeah, what's the issue?” He asked, removing his bag and placing it on the grass beside him.

In lieu of an answer, Cleo simply pointed toward the sky with a glare.

Scar followed the direction of their hand and he swore he felt his heart stop. His eyes widened as he tried to comprehend what he was looking at, a faint sense of horror building up in his gut.

“W-what…?” Scar stuttered out, his body frozen.

What would typically be a blue sky was replaced with a giant fissure spanning about a quarter of a mile with cracks branching out from it. Past those cracks was the void, a chilling and deep black. Any light was completely absorbed, sending chills down Scar's spine.

“That… crack… started a few minutes ago and it's been growing faster with each passing minute,” they hissed, “Xisuma wanted to quickly evacuate into a new server but Grian was against it. They started arguing about it and apparently, they both know what caused the cracks.”

Cleo sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose before continuing, “They've been at it for five minutes now and we've gotten nowhere. I overheard some of their ‘conversation’,” they mocked, making quotations with her hands, “but I didn't understand. They said something about ‘watchers’ but I don't know.”

The worry that prickled the edge of his mind tripled, infecting his thoughts. Scar didn't know what a watcher was but he did know that if Grian got worked up enough to have a genuine argument with Xisuma of all people, then it was serious.

He turned to the arguing parties, feeling apprehensive as he witnessed Grian get in Xisuma’s face, looking angry beyond belief. Scar could feel his palms become clammy as he took tentative steps toward the two.

“-andle this! No matter how far you try to run, the Watchers will find you! They are persistent,” Grian yelled frustrated, placing his arms on Xisuma and squeezing. 

“I have created servers with protections strong enough to keep Watchers out and away from their eyes. I can do it again.”

“You don’t understand! They know who we are now, and that alone is enough fuel for them to find us again. You either have to fight them head-on or run for eternity and try as you might, no matter how strong your defenses are, they will eventually find you! Please just listen to me!”

Before Xisuma could even open his mouth, the world shook uncontrollably, sending several of the hermits to the ground. Scar wobbled precariously before falling over face first, bracing his arms for impact. The earth was moist and malleable under his palms and body, making it difficult to push himself up. He cursed internally before he managed to turn over seated on the grass.

He looked back up to the fissure, staring in horror as it began to expand, pieces of the sky breaking off and crashing not too far from spawn. A figure draped in purple robes made its way in from the opening, massive and horrific looking. The creature had six pairs of wings, some measuring several hundred feet and others less than a hundred feet. They were white, like an angel’s. However, they had this eerie purple tint that seemed to glow ominously. It was chilling.

It didn't seem to have a human body, more like an indescribable mesh of void-like gas and humanoid features, its body the same color as the place it descended from. 

The only thing that Scar could describe for sure was the chilling number of eyes that littered its appearance. They all had deep purple irises, matching the color of the robes they wore. Each eye seemed to be honed in on a different person, and Scar couldn't help the feeling that they knew everything that made up Scar. 

It felt as if they were peering into his very soul, examining him from inside out.

It was revolting.

The creature touched the ground with its feet, and Scar swore he felt the surrounding temperature drop enough that his breath was visible. It loomed over the group, about forty feet in height, and with the way it looked at them all, Scar felt like it was nothing but a pebble in its way.

“Hello there…” It rasped, its voice grating and wrong. Scar couldn't help but wince. It felt like nails on a chalkboard listening to the creature speak, and with the way it greeted them, Scar knew it wasn't just being polite. “A handful of weaklings and oh! A void walker! I thought we wiped them out all those years ago, but it seems we may have missed one!” The creature giggled, sounding like glass breaking. 

Scar could only freeze as he processed its words. This… being massacred almost every single void walker?

If it can almost wipe out a whole race, then… what will happen to them?

“Oh!” It exclaimed, back going ramrod straight. All of a sudden, the creature lost itself in hysterics, cackling as it arched its back.

Scar jumped, his heart pounding as he and the other hermits watched in barely concealed horror.

The being calmed itself before leaning closer to the group, all its eyes snapping in a particular direction. “Well, isn't this ł₦₮ɆⱤɆ₴₮ł₦₲!!” In just one moment, the creature’s presence exploded. It was a violent whirlwind that engulfed the nearby area in something that could only be described as hungry. Its voice changed from just a single voice to hundreds of voices speaking over one another, almost deafening in its volume and echoing all around. Scar had to cover his ears, and in his peripheral vision, he could see several of the others do the same. It didn't matter much since the voices could be heard loud and clear even with their ears covered.

“Out of everyone that could have been here, I would have never expected to see your face, little Xelqua.”

Scar didn't have a single clue on who that was. He turned his head, looking back only to see Grian standing, glaring at the creature with his wings puffed up. The avian took a step toward it, ignoring the panic cacophony of noise that came from the others.

“Grian!”

“What are you doing?!”

“Stay away from it!”

“Get away from it!”

“That’s a Watcher! Grian, don't get any closer to it!”

Scar blinked. This was a Watcher? He thought back to the tail end of Xisuma’s and Grian’s argument, remembering how Grian warned that they could find anyone no matter what. And the void-walker genocide. This being – a Watcher – wiped out almost the entirety of a race. 

Grian was walking right toward it.

His voice ripped through the noise, his fear overpowering him and cutting through the other voices. “Grian!”

The avian stopped.

Scar only stared, his heart pounding and breath stuttering, the rest of the hermits silent. The atmosphere was tense, the tension crackling, leaving Scar on edge. 

Grian only slightly turned his head, his aural wings hiding his eyes.

“I'm sorry.”

Scar shot up, his legs aching and body staggering, and ran. The avian had already turned back toward the Watcher, walking farther and farther away from them. From him. Scar pushed himself, his muscles screaming. He faintly acknowledged that his body would shut down afterward when the adrenaline ran out, but he couldn't care less. 

“Grian!” Scar yelled, reaching his arm out. He was so close. Just a bit more-

He fell. The earth greeted him with open arms.

Despite it, Scar reached out from the ground.

Grian turned around, his eyes visible this time.

“Please. Forgive me.”

“Gri-!”

Grian's very being grew, expanding and growing until he was about the size of the Watcher. The atmosphere around them sparked as if a small flame would set the world ablaze. He could feel the power emanating from Grian, pulsating, but unlike the Watcher, it was comforting. Like a weighted blanket, the power lay on top of everything around them. 

And Grian…

He looked…

Just like the Watcher.

He wore the same robes as it, but the fabric looked old and worn, with parts ripped off as if he had been dragged around. Grian's wings changed color, becoming the same white with a sickly purple tint. Eyes littered his body, and his face was blocked with a white mask decorated with a broken rectangle.

Despite Grian having a similar appearance to the Watcher, Scar didn't feel the same overwhelming wave of fear that he did when the Watcher first appeared. All he could feel was worry. 

Worry for Grian's safety.

“Oh, are you challenging me, Xelqua?” the Watcher cackled. “I didn't know you were so… brave.” 

Scar knew that that wasn't the word it was originally going to say. 

“And what's this? Apologizing?” It made a clicking noise like a disappointed parent scolding its child. “You should know better than to apologize to lowly players!” It spat, venom lacing its tone. “We are the Watchers! The most powerful beings in the universe! And we do not associate with measy players.”

The Watcher suddenly lunged, a clawed-looking hand reaching out for them. 

Grian's wings burst open, blocking the hermits from sight, his body moving into a fighting stance. “No! They are under my protection.” 

“It seems you have forgotten the lessons I've taught you, Xelqua. You've changed from how I've designed you.”

“Cut the monologue. I'm not coming back so stop trying to manipulate me. Nothing you'll say will get me back.”

“I've had enough of your disrespect.”

The Watcher put its hand out, wisps of purple light building up. In an instant, Grian jumped away, and the light lashed out, singeing the grass he'd been standing on.

Suddenly, light purple magic blanketed over the hermits, forming a semi-transparent dome around them. The same broken rectangle decorated the dome, but Scar didn't care enough to examine it. 

His eyes were on Grian and the Watcher.

The two beings were fighting, magic lashing out, and specks of blood decorating the grass. Scar only watched with bated breath, his heart pounding and palms sweating.

The Watcher had the upper hand, pushing Grian farther and farther away from the dome. The avian-turned-watcher panted, leaning heavily on the dome, and Scar briefly worried that it would collapse under the weight. 

Scar pushed himself up from the ground and cupped his hands around his mouth.

“COME ON GRIAN! YOU GOT THIS!!”

Said man jumped, the eyes glancing down at him, looking intrigued and confused. 

Scar continued to yell, jolting when the other hermits behind him joined in, shouting their own words of encouragement. He grinned.

“Isn't this sweet? They're rooting for you!” The watcher giggled. “I can't wait to watch the hope bleed from their eyes as I rip you apart.”

Magic shot from its palm, hitting Grian in the abdomen, and causing him to double over.

“GRIAN!” Scar screamed, eyes widening, the other hermits shouting alongside him.

Grian's form flickered, switching between his current appearance and a more human-like body before settling for the human-like appearance. He still had the same wings. However, they decreased in number, now only three sets. Fewer eyes were littering his body, which was composed of flesh rather than the essence of the void, and he was now shorter than before. His outfit stayed the same, minus the new cuts and singed edges from the magic as well as his now missing mask. 

Grian coughed, spitting up blood into his palm, his other hand holding his abdomen. A bit of blood trickled down his chin as he glared at the Watcher.

“Seems like you're having trouble with your power! How… pathetic.” The Watcher snarled. “I’ll take enjoyment in this.” It put its hands together, its power accumulating and solidifying into a long black sword. The material it was made of wasn't familiar to Scar. 

His mind was overwhelmed in terror, and he began to slam against the walls of the dome. 

The Watcher took a step toward Grian, sword poised. 

It took another. 

And another. 

The dome didn't let up.

His breathing picked up, and before he could even form a thought, Grian’s name ripped through his throat. “GRIAN! PLEASE, DON'T GIVE UP. KEEP FIGHTING!”

As if powered by the scream, Grian pushed himself upright, wiping the blood from his face with the back of his hand. Similarly, he summoned a long black sword, the material unknown. Grian got into a fighting stance, moving his left foot forward and holding the sword in a guarding stance. He opened his mouth, only muttering three words, “Bring it on.”

The two lunged for each other, swords clashing and sparks flying. Their surroundings were silent except for the sound of metal hitting metal ringing throughout spawn. Time was frozen. There wasn't a sliver of wind, the leaves on trees motionless as if holding their breath. Any wildlife in the nearby vicinity was silent, not a single chirp or rustle to be heard. It was as if they, too, were spectators, holding their breath as the two beings fought one another.

The two were in a constant state of stalemate, their swordsman's ability evenly matched.

Scar could only watch.

He knew this couldn't go on forever and that one of them slipped up.

He exhaled.

There.

Scar could see an opening, and he knew Grian saw it as well, his hold on his sword changing before driving the sword into the Watcher’s side.

It let out a shriek that reminded Scar of the Warden but on a much worse level. He had to cover his ears and close his eyes, tears building up in the corner of his eyes. Its voice tapered off, letting out a pathetic squeak before it went silent.

Scar opened his eyes. The Watcher lay on the ground, Grian standing over it with a bloodied sword. It didn't despawn but instead disintegrated, its particles spreading into the air. 

Both swords glowed a brilliant purple before vanishing, and Grian looked up toward the fissure in the sky. Lifting both hands, he began to chant, the words indecipherable from where Scar was. He watched in fascination as the fissure closed, the cracks mending themselves and the void disappearing behind the sky. Soon enough, the sky was back to normal and Scar breathed out a sigh of relief.

A laugh bubbled up, and he closed his eyes, letting himself laugh.

A thump.

He opened his eyes, his eyes widening as Grian kneeled, coughing up blood. His form flicked once more, switching between humanoid and human. A cry escaped his lips, and Grian collapsed, now looking normal. The dome of magic shattered, magic particles snowing on them.

His legs took off before he even noticed what he was doing. His legs screamed, but he ran, reaching Grian’s side in record time. 

“Grian,” Scar breathed out, examining his wounds. He had cuts all over his body, each of them bleeding sluggishly, and a few first-degree burns. The most worrying injury was the massive cut on his stomach, the blood not slowing down. The fabric was completely torn, showcasing the wound. Grian only looked at him through hazy eyes, only somewhat conscious.

Scar ripped a part of his shirt, placing the cloth on the wound and applying pressure. “Stay awake, alright, Birdy?” The avian only hummed, blinking slowly.

Footsteps came up from behind him, a hand landing on his shoulder.

“How is he?” Xisuma asked, looking over him.

Scar frowned. “It’s bad. He has a nasty cut on his stomach.”

Gem approached, crouching on the other side of Grian, scanning his body with a critical eye. “These wounds aren't normal. Typically, the wounds begin to close up around the edges due to our infinite respawns, but the wound isn't closing up,” she explained, pointing out the edges of the open wound. “It might be because of the magic. Does anyone have a healing potion?” the deer hybrid called out.

Scar could hear the rustling of clothing and the pings of inventories opening and closing behind him. He pressed his lips together.

Healing potions?

Wait.

Scar shot up, looking around spawn, ignoring the surprised squawks around him. He looked around frantically. He knew he had left it around here somewhere. He muttered under his breath, looking left and right.

There.

Scar stumbled over to his bag, lying on the ground, forgotten. He opened the bag. None of the potions were broken. He nodded sharply, pulling the bag over his shoulder, and wobbled back to the others. 

“Here. This is full of bandages and healing potions.” Scar urged, passing the bag over to Gem. She inspected the bag quickly before nodding and pulling out a healing potion. Scar only watched as kneeled by Grian’s side, holding the other’s hand, as Gem poured the potion over the open wound. It would hurt to pour the liquid over the open wound, but they had no other choice. They could have given it to Grain orally, but they risked him potentially choking.

Grian’s eyes widened, his hand trapping Scar’s in a death grip as he bit his lip, holding back screams. Scar brushed his hair away from his eyes with his free hand, smiling as he murmured quiet praises into the other’s ear. 

It was agonizing, watching Grian be in so much pain while Scar could only sit there and murmur sweet nothings.

After what felt like a lifetime, but really only a few minutes, Grian’s wound was healed. 

Gem stepped away, but not before passing Scar a healing potion. “For his other wounds,” she whispered.

Scar looked into Grian’s eyes, noting with delight that he appeared more awake. “How are you doing, songbird?” he questioned, removing his hand from Grian’s now loose grip. He opened the potion, his nose wrinkling at the sickly sweet smell that wafted out.

“‘m tired…’ Grian mumbled, watching Scar’s every move.

“Sorry, Birdy, but I'm gonna need you to sit up for me.” 

Grian grumbled, but very slowly pushed himself up, Xisuma gently helping him sit up.

“Can you drink this yourself?” He asked, looking at Grian with a soft smile. The avian silently nodded, and Scar pushed the potion, watching as Grian downed it. He passed back the empty glass and the vex beamed at him. “Thank you, Birdy!”

Grian huffed at the nickname, but Scar could see the upturn in the corner of his mouth. He seemed more awake now.

“Now…” Scar started. The avian turned toward him, raising an eyebrow. Scar lunged at him, wrapping his arms around Grian’s body and burying his nose into his neck. He took a deep breath, feeling the tense body in his arms relax, warm hands carefully rise to rest on his back, and face pressing against his neck. 

The two sat there for a moment before Scar pulled away and looked into Grian’s eyes. He could faintly see a twinge of purple in his eyes, and he blinked away the tears. “Don't ever scare me like that ever again,” Scar scolded gently, Grian staring back at him with wide eyes. He nodded slowly, still staring into his eyes before he mumbled out an apology.

“I'm sorry.”

“Stop apologizing. I know why you did it, but please, give me a warning next time,” He pleaded. The other nodded, and they stared at each other for a moment longer in silence. Scar held the other’s head with his hand, fingers tangled with dirty blond stands. 

Without meaning to, his eyes wandered to the other’s lips. The thought of kissing him crossed his mind, and before he could push it away, he looked back into Grian’s eyes. He could see the hunger in his eyes, Grian’s pupils were so large that they only left a small ring of color. Scar only leaned closer, moving his hand from the other’s hair to his cheek, and before he did anything, he whispered, “Push me away if you don't like it.”

Before Grian could answer, Scar pressed his lips against the other, his lips soft and warm against his. However, he didn't kiss back. Scar could feel his heart break, and, feeling hurt, began to pull away when, all of a sudden, Grian kissed back, bringing his hand up and tangling his fingers in Scar’s hair. The vex’s eyes widened in shock, but he closed his eyes and leaned in, his lips curved up.

The kiss ended quickly, the two men resting their foreheads together. Grian giggled softly, and Scar smiled. 

A sudden whoop broke their bubble, and the two jumped apart. The rest of the hermits watched with varying expressions: joy, embarrassment, awkwardness.

Scar could feel his face burn, embarrassed. He had completely forgotten they were even there.

“Took you guys long enough!”

“I was starting to think it would never happen!”

“Congratulations!!”

Scar looked over to Grian, the two locking eyes. Amusement bubbled up, and despite the embarrassment, the two laughed together. 

The giggles died down after a bit.

“We should probably get up now.”

“Yeah.”

“...”

“...”

“I can't get up. I ran too much and my legs are toast.”

“Me neither. I’m exhausted.”

“...”

“I mean… I did fight a god.”

“We’ll talk about that later.”

“Okay…”

Scar huffed a laugh.

#62 - Grian was a Watcher.

Grian was a very independent person.

Anyone with functional eyes could see it. As much as Grian hung out and surrounded himself with others, whenever something of importance happened, he worked alone. The only time he collaborated with others was when someone was bullheaded enough to break through his self-imposed barriers, forcing him to work with them. Only those stubborn enough could work with him.

The one exception was if you were Scar.

When their relationship first started, Scar believed that he would be the clingy one. It made sense, no? Grian wasn't one to cling to others. He gets attached like anyone else but never clings to them, always keeping them a small distance. It has gotten better, the avian more open to reaching out, but he wasn't clingy.

Or so Scar thought.

At the beginning of their relationship, Scar noticed how Grian would reach out before pulling away when he thought the vex wasn't looking. It worried Scar and after seeing it happen so many times, he had enough.

He brought it up the next time he saw it, careful to tread this new territory.

“Can I ask you something, Gri?” Scar asked, humming as he washed the dishes they just used for dinner. Grian was currently sitting at the dining table, watching him move around the kitchen.

“Hmm?” 

“I've noticed you keep reaching out to me, but pull away at the last minute,” he stated, placing the final dish on the drying rack before grabbing a cloth. He turned around, facing the avian while drying his hands.

The golden blond looked like a deer in headlights, eyes wide. Suddenly, he schooled his face, turning and staring outside a nearby window. His bangs hid his face, but Scar could see how puffed up his feathers were.

Grian was nervous.

Scar’s eyes softened, and he placed the now wet cloth on the counter, taking small steps toward the avian. He stood behind him, placing a careful hand on Grian’s upper back, in the space right between the giant wings. The muscles were tense, making Scar frown. He moved his thumb in a circular motion, feeling as the muscles began to relax. 

“You don't have to tell me everything, but I'm worried. Are you okay, birdy?” Scar whispered, just audible enough that he was sure the blond could hear him. 

“Sorry, just… I…” Grian started, struggling to find the right words. Scar pulled his hands away, moving so he was standing in front of his partner. He knelt, and once he was comfortable, he grabbed both of Grian’s hands with his own. Scar was quick to lace their fingers together, bringing the other’s hands to his face and kissing the back of them.

“Don't force yourself, alright?” Scar comforted, staring up at Grian with soft eyes.

The blond averted his gaze, his face turning a little pink. “It's really stupid,” he mumbled.

Scar flicked the avian’s forehead. “It's not stupid if it bothers you, songbird,” he scolds lightly, furrowing his brows. Grian’s feelings were important to Scar.

Grian turned back to him before his eyes fell on their hands. His eyes closed tightly, and he shook his head in a minute movement. “Not yet…” he rasped.

Scar couldn't help the twinge of disappointment he felt but he made sure to smile. “Alright,” he conceded, tone soft.

Despite putting on his best mask, Grian saw right through him, quick to ease some of his worries. “It's not you or your fault, I just don't know how to talk about this.”

Scar didn't know how alleviating that reassurance was until he felt the muscles of his body lose tension he didn't know he had. He let go of the other’s hands, bringing his arms up and cupping the blond’s face. He looked into the other’s eyes and grinned mischievously. Scar was quick to surge up, pressing kisses all over Grian’s face: on his nose, cheeks, and forehead. Everywhere. He didn't stop until he could hear Grian giggle and squawk.

“Scar! That tickles!” the parrot hybrid reprimanded, roaring with laughter. He tried to pull his face away but Scar didn't let him until he had tears streaming down his face from laughing so hard.

Scar couldn't help the dopey smile that grew on his face. “I love you,” he professed, looking into the avian’s eyes. The vex felt like a bucket of cold water had just been poured on top of him, horror bubbling up as he watched Grian’s eyes widen. He pulled his hands away, gesturing wildly, “I MEAN- I do love you, but you do not have to say it back! It’s not required or anything like that and-”

Grian grabbed his hand, calmly holding it in between his two hands. “Scar,” he crooned. Scar immediately paused, watching the blond with wide eyes. “I love you too.”

Scar’s eyes widened, his shoulders hiking up his neck, and his cheeks painted red. He couldn't find the words to describe his happiness. It felt like his heart was going to burst, the overwhelming feeling of love and joy hitting him like a tidal wave. It made him grin brightly.

He was so gone for this man.

And he knew that he couldn't rush this. He had to let Grian come to him. Scar just had to wait.

/////

Grian tried to explain to Scar a few more times.

He couldn't do it.

Scar tried to not feel too hurt about it.

/////

After nearly two weeks of failed attempts, Scar was beginning to think Grian would never be able to tell him, and it began to show. He clung to every “I love you” that left the other’s lips with so much hope. There were moments where he questioned whether Grian trusted him as much as he did him and it hurt. 

He held strong though. 

It was clear that Grian was trying to tell him something that deeply affected him and Scar would rather lose a finger than rush the avian.

It didn't mean that watching him hold back didn't hurt.

He had to be strong. For Grian.

/////

In a bit of irony, Scar was washing dishes when it happened.

It had been three weeks since the conversation, and Scar had been as supportive as he could be. Everything had been going well, except for the thing Grian had yet to explain, but Scar held true to his promise. 

He was humming when suddenly, arms wrapped around his waist, and a head placed itself on his upper back.

He yelped, his heart nearly stopping from the fright. “Jeez! Don't scare me like that!” He chuckled, grabbing a dish towel and removing the soap suds from his hands. Once he was done, he chucked the towel at the counter and held himself up by the edge of the sink. “What can I help you with, sunshine?”

“I think I can finally talk about it.” Grian’s voice was muffled by the fabric, but Scar could hear him clearly enough.

Scar froze once the words were processed. Scar craned his neck, trying to see the blond. “Are you sure?” He croaked, feeling as if a frog was in his throat. Scar felt more than saw the nod Grian gave in response.

He took a deep breath.

“Should we go to our room?”

“Yeah.”

The silence was palpable as Scar and Grian made their way to their shared room. It was obvious that Grian was nervous, his hands gripping his jumper and tangling with the fabric. Scar felt the same way.

The hinges creaked as he opened the door, and he walked in, followed by Grian. He flicked the lights on, the warm light bathing their room in an orange tint. He watched as Grian made his way to their nest, sitting in and wrapping himself up in a blanket. The blond looked at him expectantly and Scar slowly made his way over, looking up at the parrot hybrid for confirmation before getting it.

“You know you never have to ask for permission? This is our nest.” Grian said it with such conviction that Scar felt himself blush, his heart skipping a beat.

“It never hurts to ask,” Scar justified, smiling as he sat in front of the shorter man.

Grian nodded. “Well… it's time I explain why I've been… pulling away,” he sighed, closing his eyes as he took a deep breath. “To put it bluntly, I've been wanting to… cling to you.”

Scar blinked, before motioning for Grian to continue.

“Growing up, I was never really shown any attention.”

Scar's eyes widened as he noticed the trajectory of the conversation. Grian never spoke about his past and Scar knew at that moment that the blond was showing him parts that no one has ever seen.

He was quite literally giving Scar his bleeding heart and he would be a fool to reject it.

“My parents never loved each other. My mother was only there for the money and my father found satisfaction in her warmth.” Grian sounded monotone as if he was reading from a script.

It horrified Scar.

“I was the product of a failing marriage. When I was seven, my parents decided to get a divorce and somewhere along the way, they decided I wasn't worth it. They abandoned me in Japan.”

Scar silently pushed himself up and crawled over until he was next to Grian. The vex sat down, wrapping his left arm around Grian’s shoulder. Neither of them said a word.

It was silent for a moment. Then, Grian continued.

“I made two friends in Japan. Sam and Taurtis. We had so much fun together, but I had to go. I wanted to see if I could find my parents. I still loved them, even though they didn't want me. But I also wanted to see my siblings. So I left.” Grian sighed, the sound heavy. His head was hanging, his hair covering his face, but from where Scar was sitting, he could see the tears that had built up. Scar began to make circles with his fingers, hoping to provide some comfort.

“Years later, I wanted to visit so I got a plane ticket to Japan. The trip was only supposed to last a week but… Sam changed.”

Unease hit Scar like a freight train. The way Grian said it sent chills down Scar’s spine. He feared what Grian was going to say next.

“He stabbed Taurtis and forced me to dress and act like him. It was a hardcore server, too.”

Scar choked on his saliva. Out of everything Scar expected, this was not something he thought would happen. “He- He did what?” He could feel his stomach turn. Fear threatened to consume him. If Sam stabbed his closest friend, then what exactly did he do to Grian? And a hardcore server? Who in their right mind has a high school in a hardcore server?

The pit in Scar's stomach grew.

“He-” Grian's voice cracked, heavy with grief, “he was so fucking different. He had his girlfriend threaten me at knifepoint and- and he forced me to eat plastic- I-” The avian couldn't hold back his tears, his hand rising up to muffle the sobs that escaped his lips. 

Scar sat there frozen for a moment. It was quiet except for the occasional sob that was nearly completely silenced. The fact that Grian could silence his crying horrified Scar.

Grian was essentially tortured and threatened.

The horror turned into unbridled rage. 

The weight of it caught Scar off guard, threatening to consume him. He almost gave in, wanting to feel angry, but he stopped himself last second.

Grian needed comfort, not anger. Of course, the anger was on his behalf and not toward him, but Grian was vulnerable for what Scar believed to be the first time in years, and he wasn't about to scare him away.

He took a deep breath. With a little effort, anger was put on the back burner, and worry and concern became his main thoughts. Grian was still crying, taking stuttering breaths, and Scar could feel his heartbreak at the sight. 

Wordlessly, Scar pulled Grian toward him, the avian's head now lying in his chest, body boneless. He wrapped his arms around the other, careful of his wings, and hummed softly.

Scar didn't know how long they sat there, basically cuddling in their nest as he hummed and murmured assurances, but by the end of it, Grian was more composed. His tears had completely stopped, his breath calm except for the occasional hiccup.

Grian moved and Scar let him, watching as he rubbed his eyes, his face tear-stained. The avian took a deep breath and the vex watched his face change to become more neutral. He steeled his nerves.

“I escaped,” he started, “and I went to admin school. Most of it is a blur but I know that's when I started healing. I wasn't the best person when I left that server but some people helped me out.”

Scar was happy to hear that there were people who treated Grian kindly, and he knew that the blond was infinitely more grateful for them.

“After graduating, I went on and created a server. Evolution SMP. You may have heard about it,” he joked humorlessly.

Scar has heard about it. He'd have to be living under a rock to not know it. The infamous server that isolated itself before mysteriously crumbling. There was only one reported disappearance: the admin. They had vanished without a trace, presumed dead. And…

Grian was that admin?

“My friends and I had fun playing pranks on each other, making jokes, and going through each update together. At least, until the Watchers came along.”

Scar unconsciously clenched his jaw, remembering the fight Grian had with one of them just a few months prior. He'd never forget the fear he felt watching that fight, but then the blond's words processed in his head. 

The Watchers were on Evo? 

His brows furrowed, face twisting in thought. The Hub police never announced that detail, meaning they either didn't know or purposely hid it from the public. Scar held back a hiss of anger.

“At first, they simply observed and gave us puzzles and scavenger hunts, but that didn’t last. If we stepped out of line, then we were punished accordingly, whether it'd be obsidian on your chests or unleashing a meteor on your house,” Grian muttered the final part, Scar's ears picking it up effortlessly. He stared with wide eyes before shaking his head, motioning for the other to continue and ignoring his questioning gaze. 

“Soon though… they took away our ability to leave the server.”

Scar's breath caught. To be able to take away a player's natural ability to leave a server… He thought back to the fight. The watcher would have no problem in making their lives a living hell had Grian not been there. 

Chills went down his spine at the possibilities.

“They began to control when we went through an update and punishments became more severe. They also took away my ability to control the server.”

“...what?” Scar couldn't describe the amount of horror and anger he felt when he heard that. He felt like he had just been hit by a train and before he recovered, was t-boned, the aftermath leaving him disorientated and lost. 

It was too much.

He took a deep breath. Then, another. And another.

A sudden weight landed on his shoulder, silencing his mind. Scar looked down, seeing the cause of the weight, and smiled. 

Grian, who realized the discomfort Scar was subjected to, paused and rested his forehead on the scarred man’s shoulder.

Taking solace in the weight, Scar closed his eyes and took a deep breath, his mind silencing. His hands rose from his lap and wrapped around the avian’s waist, taking into account the other’s wings. Very gently, he pulled the blond in and shuffled back so he could sit against the wall, adjusting his body so the other could lay more comfortably.

Scar laid back, his legs forming a V shape with Grian nestled between them, his ear pressed gently against Scar’s chest. The boy’s body was completely relaxed, a content sigh leaving his lips. Grian’s arms were wrapped tightly around Scar’s torso, a hand on the vex’s chest. Scar couldn't help the urge to slide one of his hands away from Grian’s waist, intertwining their fingers, feeling the softness of his skin against his own. The blond’s right wing lay protectively over them as if warding off any external threats. The gesture filled Scar with warmth, the delicate touch of feathers brushing against his skin amplifying the sense of safety, affection bleeding out of his pores.

Scar took a deep breath. “You can continue, songbird.”

Grian didn't look up, simply nodding and tightening the hold on Scar’s hand. “At some point, we got the end update and all of us decided to try and defeat the ender dragon. We got everything ready and the portal was set up, and we collectively decided to jump together. The watchers messed that up as well. We were all separated, forced to fight the ender dragon by ourselves. After I defeated it, they showed themselves to me and gave me an ultimatum. If I joined them, then they promised to leave my players alone. If I didn't… Well, I wouldn't be here.”

Scar refused to think of a world where Grian wasn't there. How could there be a Scar that didn't have the warmth of Grian to shine on him? His world would be bleak and desolate. He tightened his hold on Grian, determined to have him nearby.

“I agreed to go with them and I left. They took me to the void and they changed me. They thought I was too player-like to be one of them without… modifications,” Grian’s voice was strained as if the word caused him physical harm. “They forced wings to grow from my back, added eyes that wouldn't be possible, and trained me until I acted the way they wanted me to. I ran the moment I had a chance.”

The feeling of nausea hit Scar hard. The watchers essentially experimented on Grian, altering him until they found him to be good enough for their standards. Knowing Grian, he had probably hidden some details, trying to downplay the severity of the situation, but Scar knew better. 

That moment of his life was a living hell that left deep scars.

“The reason I'm telling you this is because I… I'm scared I'm going to get too attached and then you're going to leave and I can't handle that. I'll break and won't ever recover…” Grian whispered, voice wavering as he spoke.

Scar could feel his heart break as Grian trailed off. He wished he could take all the pain in his lover's life away and smother him in love until the only thing he knew was love and joy. However, he can't take his pain away. That was something Grian had to live with, but Scar could still show the blond what true love feels like.

“I promise you, Grian, that I will never leave you. You are the light of my life, someone who brings me so much joy and love in my life. You are the one person I could never live without because you complete me. No one, and I mean no one, will ever be able to make me feel as alive as I am when I'm with you. I love you, songbird, and I'll never hesitate to show you that.”

A small sniffle escaped Grian and Scar looked down, eyes widening when he saw the tears that had built up in the blond’s eyes. Before he could panic, Grian looked up at him and smiled widely.

“Thank you.” 

A tear escaped from his eyes and Scar let go of Grian's hand to wipe it away, cradling his face afterwards. 

“Don't thank me for something like that. It's a truth,” Scar muttered, pressing his forehead against the blond's.

“I love you.”

“I love you, too, songbird.”

/////

It took months of constant reassurance and help, but Grian could finally reach out and show affection. The blond had bad days but they were far and few, never lasting long. He didn't really do any public display of affection, only hugs and small kisses, but in private, Grian was extremely clingy.

Scar absolutely adored it.

He'd wake up in their shared nest with Grian on top of him, arms wrapped around him tightly with his face pressed against his neck and legs intertwined. Scar took the time to savor the warmth, then about an hour later, very carefully untangled himself from the blond to prepare breakfast and get dressed. 

Scar would always have to wake Grian up when he was done, smiling as he gently shook the other awake. The blond would always wake up with a groan, mumbling about the time before kissing Scar, getting up, and joining him for breakfast.

They'd spend the morning talking about their plans for the day with big smiles and lighthearted teasing before Grian got ready and they left for the day.

When they went home hours later, the two would make dinner and watch a movie together, sometimes falling asleep on the couch after a long day.

Right before Scar would fall asleep, he thought about just how lucky he was to have Grian in his life. He couldn't have it any other way.

#76 - Grian is secretly clingy.

When Grian became his partner, Scar made sure that the book he made listing things he'd noticed about the blond was very carefully hidden. He likes to think the spot he chose was excellent, considering it's been over a year since the two of them started dating, and Grian has yet to find the book.

And he was right. The spot was a really great choice. 

It's just that Scar is an extremely clumsy person. He should have known that he'd accidentally left the book out in the open.

/////

Scar sighed heavily. It had been a really long day.

He had gone mining, found a mineshaft in the process, and got cornered by a horde of spiders, dying in the process. In an attempt to return and grab his stuff, he ended up almost dying a few more times due to a bunch of different things.

After grabbing his things and clearing out the horde, a creeper approached him from behind, killing him before he could get away. After returning once more, he successfully grabbed his things but nearly fell into lava on the way back, giving him the fright of his life. Once he could get back overground, the sun was rapidly setting and mobs were already beginning to spawn. He had to hurry back, flying around using his elytra and hoping he didn't accidentally crash into something and die. 

Thankfully, he made it back, rushing inside his home as a skeleton aimed its bow, shutting the door just in time to hear a thump. 

Scar really just wanted to kiss his partner and sleep as he cuddled Grian. 

He made his way to their room, feet dragging and body heavy as he walked through the house. Scar pushed the door open, yawning. Grian was already inside, wearing his sleepwear and sitting cross-legged in their nest. The blond had his reading glasses on, reading something, biting his lips in concentration. The sight warmed Scar’s heart, a big smile growing on his face.

“Hi love,” Scar greeted, shuffling toward the nest. Grian looked up from the book, smiling softly and shifting, patting the spot beside him. The vex didn't hesitate to sit down, wrapping an arm around Grian's waist and planting a kiss on his cheek before resting his chin on the avian’s shoulder, eyes fluttering shut. “Whatcha reading?”

“I found it on the kitchen counter and got curious,” Grian muttered, sounding confused, “It seems to be a… list of things I like?”

Scar froze. His eyes shot open and he looked down at the book.

Crap.

It was his book.

And it was in Grian's hands.

Scar jumped away from Grian, face hot as he looked the other in the eye. The blond's face was twisted, a Cheshire grin wide on his face.

“Scar…” Grian started, his voice high pitched, as if holding back laughter, “Why do you have a book about things I like?”

“Um…” Scar fumbled over his words. “I can explain?” 

“Uh huh,” Grian prompted, smile twitching.

“W-Well, I made a mental list of all the things I noticed about you and after I realized I liked you, I made a physical book of that list so I would never forget?” Scar offered, blush bright on his cheeks and hands fidgety.

Grian looked at him, eyes wide and face scarlet. His aural wings puffed up and covered his face, occasionally twitching.

Scar only sat there, fidgeting as he waited for the blond's response.

“You're such a sap…” Grian muttered, a wing moving away so half of his face was visible. His face was bright pink, the blush tinting any and all skin available. His eyes held so much love and fondness that Scar couldn't help smiling, matching the smile the blond had on his face. “You made this when you realized you liked me?” Grian asked, raising the book in his hands.

“I made it when I realized I was in love, actually, but yes, I wanted to be able to remember every single detail about you so I made that book,” Scar answered, nodding as he smiled fondly, “Though I never intended for you to find it…”

Grian rolled his eyes, the blush darkening as his aural wings revealed the rest of his face. Scar placed his chin on his shoulder once again and the avian turned his face toward him. “You’re so cheesy, you know,” he giggled, grinning widely.

“Yeah, well when I have a lover as amazing as you, I can't help it,” Scar shot back, relishing in the flustered squawk that left his partner's lips with a grin.

“S-shut up!”

“Aww, but how else will I tell you that I love you?”

Scar threw his head back in laughter as Grian fumbled over his words. The blond only sighed fondly after a moment, watching the vex with an exasperated smile.

“I love you, you fool.”

“I love you, too, light of my life.”

#100 - Grian loves him.

Scar loves him, too.