Chapter Text
Scar hadn’t meant to leave a handful of shiny trinkets on Grian’s desk—it just happened to go well with the rest of the clutter.
It started at a festival. He’d been wandering, half-distracted, when a stall caught his eye: crystals, jewelry, and glass things that shimmered like they'd swallowed the sun. Rays of light struck the display just right, scattering rainbows across the carefully laid out merchandise.
One particular piece made him stop—a beautiful sun catcher, the glass cut in elegant, swirling shapes. Carefully hung next to many others. It reminded him of Grian’s desk space: soft sunlight and odd little treasures perched on windowsills. Scar had already bought things for his other friends. What was one more?
He picked it up, turning to the woman behind the booth. She had bubblegum-pink hair and a purple cloak, the word ‘Lizzie’ glittering on her name tag.
“Hi, Lizzie,” Scar said, eyes still on the suncatcher. “How much for this one? It’s beautiful—really. I’d make one myself if I knew how.”
Lizzie smiled, a mischievous twinkle in her eye like she knew exactly what kind of person he was. Somehow, before he knew it, Scar walked away with a goody bag, an empty wallet, and a warm buzz in his chest. She might have been a scam artist—but hey, who was he to judge. She had great taste and rent to pay. Honestly, Scar respected the hustle.
Now, he stood leaning over Grian’s desk, grinning ear to ear. Grian, on the other hand, looked less than thrilled about the mysterious purple gift bag sitting in front of him. He calmly nudged a stack of ungraded papers aside before glancing up.
“What are you doing?” Grian asked carefully. “This isn’t some glitter bomb, is it?”
Scar gasped dramatically, hand to his heart. “You wound me Grian. When have I ever done such a thing. Just open it! I wanna see your face when you—just trust me, okay?”
Grian gave him a long, suspicious look, but finally reached for the bag. He peeked inside, and his eyebrows shot up. One by one, he pulled out the contents—small trinkets, polished stones, a tiny carved bird, and the sun catcher itself.
“I—Scar, these are beautiful.” He cradled the suncatcher gently, holding it up to the light. Rainbow shards danced across the walls and across his face. “This is... absolutely wonderful. You didn’t have to.”
Scar felt a warm glow settle in his chest. He loved giving gifts. Loved seeing people light up. And Grian—Grian looked really happy. For once, not tired or annoyed, just quietly glowing in the sunlight.
“I mean it,” Grian said, tone softening. “But... why did you give me these?”
Scar blinked. That was a weird question. Grian never had trouble accepting things before.
“It’s simple,” he said. “I saw them, and I thought you’d like them.”
Grian froze. His wings gave a subtle twitch. His eyes widened—and he suddenly busied himself adjusting his feathers, avoiding Scar’s gaze.
“Oh,” he said. Quietly.
Scar’s heart did a weird little hiccup. “Wait—do you not like them? I thought—”
“No! No, Scar, they’re wonderful,” Grian cut in quickly. He was smiling now, genuinely, though a little pink around the ears. “Really. Thank you.”
Scar watched him, still unsure. That hadn’t gone how he expected.
~~~
Grian, on the other hand, was doing everything in his power not to look Scar in the eye. He turned the suncatcher over in his hands, feathers ruffling slightly as his mind scrambled for something to say.
What the hell just happened?
Grian was absentmindedly fidgeting with the charm, trying to sort out his thoughts, when a hand suddenly waved across his face.
“Grian- Hello? Are you still with me?” scar teased.
A sharp, high-pitched chirp escaped his lips before he could stop it. This just seems to amuse Scar.
“As much as I'd love to unpack whatever that was,” he said with a grin, “I’ve got to run, I have a class to teach soon. I’ll see you after the staff meeting?”
Grian snapped out of his thoughts, giving him enough time to nod and give scar a—what he hoped was—a convincing smile. “Yeah, totally. I'll see you then.”
Scar gave him a cheerful wave and disappeared down the hallway, the rhythmic tapping of his cane echoing until it eventually faded into silence.
Only then did Grian relax.
Grian carefully hung the suncatcher in the window, letting it bathe in the afternoon glow. Then with a quiet sigh, he dropped his head into his hands.
It has to be a coincidence. There was no way Scar knew, right?
How would he even know about avian courting customs? Still... he couldn't shake the way his heart lept in his chest and the warmth making its way across his face. Either way he can’t get his hopes up yet, he woulndt want to make a fool of himself.
It was just a gift. Grian likes shiny things after all, and Scar knew that. He was probably just being kind.
He stared at the trinkets a moment longer before turning back to his desk, dragging the unfinished stack of papers towards him—the same ones he had been working on before scar appeared.
He settled into a steady rhythm. Every so often, the suncatcher would catch the light just right, scattering a burst of colors across his students' work.
Maybe it was nothing, maybe it was just Scar being Scar.
Still, Grian thought, what harm can be done in letting himself enjoy this moment just for a little while longer.