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Scar wished he could still find comfort in the same old routine he had been living in for the past year or so. Everyday with the same task from the secret keeper, everyday maintaining his little world, everyday alone.
Honestly the monotony wasn’t what was hard for him, but instead it was the isolation. Scar used to travel across the small map and sleep in his friends' old homes, just to get the feeling of whatever life was still left there. But these days he could only scrounge together enough energy to do his base tasks.
And that's how Scar found himself lying in his sunflower field, looking up at the gray-blue sky that he once found so beautiful, too tired to even move.
“I’ll just stay here for five minutes.” Scar thought to himself, as he let his eyes close. A little nap never hurt anyone, and it wasn’t like he has somewhere to be.
….
It had definitely been more than five minutes when Scar finally woke. He couldn’t even blame himself for falling asleep for so long, it was the perfect napping conditions. The dirt was soft beneath him, it was warm with a light breeze, and just enough shade from an object covering his face, as comfortable as one could be. Maybe too comfortable.
Scar tried to sit up quickly but his body had been laying there for too long to fully cooperate, instead just knocking the object off his face as he wiggled on the ground. With it removed he opened his eyes to the vast sky over him. It was a way brighter blue than he had seen in a long time. It looked warm.
He sat up, slowly this time, taking in his surroundings. Scar sat as one tiny dot, in a sea of flowing golden beige. As far as his eyes could really see, it was just a large wheat field. Sitting in the center was a large magnificent tree, and Scar felt drawn to it, like he was connected to it somehow.
He put his hands on the ground to help push himself up, but felt a leathery object crumple in his hand. Scar picked it up, taking in the object he held. It was a hat, quite similar looking to his one from the beginning of the game, but unlike his hat this one had a feather instead of a sunflower.
Scar stood up, put on the hat, and finally took in the rest of what he was wearing. His cloak was gone, his long pants were gone, his heavy boots were gone. Instead replaced with a loosely buttoned shirt, tiny shorts, fingerless leather gloves. Something about the outfit felt so light, so freeing.
He took one big stretch before making his way to the tree. Scar’s journey was calm as he listened to the wind rustle through the wind stalks, as the birds sang in the trees, as the sun slightly warmed his skin. If this was a dream Scar never wanted to wake.
The only struggle he came across was the fact that the tree was on an island separated from where he started, but luckily a boat sat a few steps from the shore and Scar was sure the owner wouldn’t mind if he borrowed it for a few minutes. The cold water felt nice against his skin as he waded into the lake, a refreshing feeling that made him almost want to stop and float, but the deep desire of that tree pulled him forward. He pushed the boat out, rowing further towards the island.
Now that he was out on the water, Scar was able to see much more than just the field. Far to his left sat a lighthouse, emerging from a rocky base with a large, menacing fort resting on the mountain behind it. Palm trees swayed in the wind, as if waving for him to venture that way.
On his right, was a large grassy plain with some of the tallest trees he had ever seen, reaching so far that Scar wouldn’t be surprised if they reached the top of the sky. Nestled past them was a massive gate welcoming any visitors to come see what was stored there. Scar felt a connection to the area, but it felt different than the one he had with the tree. The area on the right gave him more of a feeling of pride and accomplishment, whereas Scar only felt desperation when looking at the island in front of him. He carried on to where his heart wanted him to go, making the final few rows to make his boat push on shore.
The boat rocked a little as Scar climbed out of it, he was careful to not crush the wheat on the shoreline. There was a small divot in the field where a path carved its way to the tree. Scar followed his way up, anticipating building as he got closer. He couldn’t help but admire the magnificence of the tree as the wind rustled through it, almost creating an air of reverence.
When Scar finally stood in front of the large trunk of the tree, he wasn’t sure what had actually drawn him there. He rested his head against the trunk, taking a moment to breathe with the tree. Just two beings out here alone.
“Hi Scar.”
“WAHHH!” Scar quickly hopped around, turning to the person who called out to him, feeling as if they caught him doing something he wasn’t meant to. Standing behind him was someone Scar had the same draw to as he did the tree. “Grian you scared me!” He complained as he clutched his chest.
Grian giggled in response. “Do you like my tree? You better say yes, I spent a long time on it.”
Scar looked up at the tree, he felt so many emotions from it, the most prevalent being admiration. “It’s breathtaking.” He whispered in awe.
“Are you okay Scar?” The question brought his attention back to the golden haired man. The color really reminded him of all the wheat.
“Hmm? Why do you ask?”
“You just feel a little off.”
“Oh! Well…” Scar scratched the back of his head. “I think I just missed you.” He cautiously took a step closer to Grian, as if he’d disappear if Scar got too close.
Grian laughed again. “That’s silly, you just saw me.” He moved closer, teasingly within Scar’s reach.
“To me it feels as if it’s been months.”
“You’re so dramatic.” He leaned in slightly more. “But sometimes I miss you too.”
Scar couldn’t handle the distance between them anymore, reaching out to simply cup Grian’s cheek. “Really?”
Grian nuzzled into his hand, a small smile on his face. “Surprising, I know.”
Having Grian in his hands made Scar feel so secure and happy. He leaned down towards the shorter man, closing their distance with a kiss.
As soon as they connected, Scar could feel that underlying feeling of desperation settle. His draw to this island was not towards the tree, but to Grian. And Scar couldn’t help but smile into the kiss.
They pulled apart but stayed close together letting Scar keep staring at the man. All the beauty and magnificence he saw in the tree, he found tenfold in Grian.
Grian looked left, towards where Scar had started from. “It’s a really great view of everything isn’t it?”
Scar followed his gaze, looking out into a grand silhouette. The two areas he had seen earlier connected by the wheat field and a large fishing dock. Grian’s fishing dock. The one next to Gem’s town and his train.
Memories of the last few months flooded back to him. Memories of his time here on Hermitcraft. Scar wasn’t stuck alone in Secret Life still, he was here with all of his friends. With Grian. The smile on his face grew even larger. Scar couldn’t be happier to be here.
Grian nudged closer into his side, wrapping Scar’s arms around himself. “It’s all so beautiful.” Scar said, barely concealing his wonder.
They stood there, as the wind rustled around them, taking in the world. “I want to stay here forever.”
Grian looked up at him. “We'll have to move worlds eventually.”
“I don’t mean that.” Scar looked out onto all the wonderful things that his loved ones had built, and yet his favorite part was the man in his arms. “I just want to stay with you forever.”
Grian turned so that they were facing each other, he lifted up and pecked Scar’s lips. “I’ll follow wherever you go. Forever and ever.”
Scar sealed that promise with another kiss. “Forever and ever.”