Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

There were no stars before Watchers existed.
They were not angels, nor gods, eyes. Eyes that saw everything, and forgot nothing.
They lingered between the folds of reality, drinking nonstop from the negative emotions that emanated from the human world: fear, anger, envy, grief.

The darker the emotion, the stronger they became.

They were not meant to cross into the mortal world, but desperation plays strange tricks.
And when the Border began to fray, humanity stopped dreaming of heaven and started to have nightmares instead.

London, 4 years ago.

Rain fell like static, hissing against shattered windows and neon light. In a forgotten studio tucked behind an alleyway, a muffled hum of sound leaked into the night, a dissonant guitar, a drumbeat chasing itself, laughter in between.

It wasn't perfect. But it was alive.

Grian propped against the doorway, observing. His hoodie was pulled up, hair still wet from rain. The two within hadn't seen him yet, too caught up in their own commotion.

One of them, tall, blonde, sleeves rolled halfway up his forearms, was slumped over a bass guitar, eyes scrunched in concentration. Every few bars, he'd say something to himself, then erupt into an easy smile. That was Jimmy.

The other fellow, Joel, sat in a drum set that looked like one that had been through a bar fight. His brown hair with a streak of green was in his eyes as he worked a stick around in his fingers, hitting out at a rhythm that did not belong to any song Grian had ever heard. But there was passion in it, big, messy, and authentic.

He hadn't heard music like that in centuries.

"You just gonna stand there and gawp, mate?" Jimmy yelled, finally spotting him.

Grian smiled faintly. "Only if you keep playing."

Joel grinned, leaning on his drumset. "You a fan or what?"

"Something like that," Grian said. "You sound… raw. Like it's coming from somewhere real."

Jimmy shrugged. "Guess that's the point."

The words lingered with Grian.

“Needs some lyrics. And maybe guitar.” Grian said with a smirk.

Joel let out a scoff, “You know someone who can do both?”

“I might,”Grian smiled, for the first time since… awhile, we’ll just say.

A week later, they were a band.

No plan, no label, no idea what they were doing, three idiots who just sort of fit together like bad puzzle pieces that somehow formed an image. They practiced every night, meeting in that busted studio with noise and grime and laughter.

And slowly, their music began to get bigger. It wasn't music anymore. It was something. People who listened to them felt lighter, happier. The rotten days didn't feel so crushing.

Grian recalled the initial moment he noticed the faint shimmering in the air at a performance. He had an idea why. Their music wasn't merely reaching people. It was warding something off.

It started one night after practice.

The studio lights blinked. The air turned cold, unaccountably cold. Jimmy stopped tuning his bass. "You pay the electric bill, Joel?"

Joel raised an eyebrow. "Ha ha. Very funny."

Then the noise came. A hum, static and a whisper combined. It made the walls vibrate, and Grian's breath caught in his throat. He knew the noise. He'd prayed he'd never be subjected to it a second time.

"Behind me," he barked.

Jimmy furrowed his brow. "What—"

The darkness at the opposite end of the room moved.

For one beat, a presence stood there, tall and featureless, its eyes with a sickly violet light. Then it dissolved into smoke.

"Holy— what was that?!" Joel shrieked, knocking over his stool.

"Watcher," Grian replied quietly.

"Watcher?" Jimmy parroted, as if the word sounded nonsensical on his lips. "You mean like—"

"Not the kind that wait at heaven's gate," Grian replied. "The kind that live on people. On feelings."

He stepped forward, palm open. "They're drawn to chaos. To pain. Every time man starts to lose control, the Border weakens. They slink through for a moment, to feed."

Joel's face was pale. "You're not joking?"

"Not at all."

"Why didn't we hear anything about them before?" Jimmy asked.

"Because they make certain you don't remember."

The following silence was claustrophobic.

Finally, Joel snorted. "Right, sure. Monsters from other dimensions that thrive on bad vibes. You've seen too much on late-night TV, man."

Grian sighed. "You wouldn't understand if I explained it to you."

"Try us," said Jimmy, crossing his arms.

He said nothing. Instead, Grian held out a hand — and the air around him rippled.
As dust would be trapped in light, energy danced between his fingers. A bow materialized, pulled from the very air the crackling buzz of the Border itself. Its string burned pale blue.

"Bloody hell…" Joel breathed.

"Each time we perform, each time our music touches someone — it makes this stronger," Grian spoke quietly. "The Border. The wall that holds them back."

He pulled the string back; the hum deepened. "But when it fails… this is what happens."

He released the string. A flash of blue light rolled across to the corner where the shadow had been — and the air wavered, then fell still.

Ozone scented the studio, faintly.

"Teach us," Jimmy whispered.

Grian turned to him. "You don't believe I'm telling the truth."

"I don't have to," Jimmy said, still wide-eyed. "But I saw that."

Joel slowly shook his head. "If we're really doing this… I want one of those."

Hours later, they finally did. Grian explained that the energy wasn't something you could force; it was something you responded to with rhythm, with focus. With feeling.

Jimmy tried first. The air around his hands vibrated, formed a sword that throbbed like sound waves — shaky but real. He grinned with pride.

Joel struggled. The axe appeared, vanished, and reappeared once more but twice its size. He nearly fell over trying to lift it.

"Figures," Jimmy snarled. "Showing off even with magic."

"Shut up," Joel snapped back, laughing.

The ice was shattered. They laughed until their sides hurt, until the stress in the air had vanished.

When the noise had died down, Joel lifted his head. "How do you know so much, Grian? About the watchers, the Border… all that?"

Grian hesitated. Then he smiled, peaceful, deliberate. "My family," he said. "They were watcher hunters. Learned everything they learned. Guess it took hold."

It wasn't the truth. But good enough.

London, present day.

The city of London was alive like electricity. Light reflected off glass towers, streets throbbed with the pulse of traffic, and digital billboards screamed images of the three young men everyone called The Bad Boys. Tonight wasn’t just any night, this was their biggest comeback stage yet, a sold-out arena at the Royal Albert Hall, and fans had been counting down for months.

Backstage, chaos reigned. Costume assistants hustled between mirrors, adjusting jackets threaded with glowing silver piping. Hair stylists scurried with combs and sprays, while techs double-checked monitors and spotlights. And in the middle of it all stood Bdubs, their manager, headset pressed tightly to his ear, arms crossed, and pacing like a storm.

“Alright! Listen up, listen up!” Bdubs barked, cutting through the cacophony. “Grian, Joel, Jimmy, positions in five! Jimmy, make sure your boots don’t squeak on the floorboards again. Joel, no eating backstage this time — yes, that includes the protein bars. Grian, THIS TIME MAKE SURE TO TUNE YOUR GUITAR!”

Grian didn’t flinch, his eyes following the faint shimmer in the corner of the mirror.

Joel rolled his eyes. “He’s fine. He’s just… thinking.”

Jimmy chuckled nervously, clutching his bass strap. “Thinking or panicking?”

Bdubs whipped around, hands flailing. “Panicking is bad! We have fans out there! Cameras! News crews! England is watching, boys! ENGLAND!”

Joel grinned. “We’ve got this, Bdubs. Always have.”

Bdubs waved them off, muttering something about “professionalism” and “not burning down the Dome.” But under his pep talk, there was a crackle of excitement — he loved watching them perform almost as much as the fans did, even if he’d never admit it.

The opening lights dropped. The arena went black, then erupted in a wave of sound and color. Fans screamed, waving glowsticks that made the sea of red and gold shimmer like fire on water.

After the opening band left, it was two girls named the shines, they got ready to play.

Joel sat into the drum set stool, mic stand perfectly positioned to his mouth, eyes sparkling. “Bad boys bad boys, Watcha gonna do?”

The roar that answered him could have flattened the Dome all the fans yelling the same thing, “WATCHA GONNA DO WHEN THEY COME FOR YOU!”

Jimmy followed, strumming a riff on his bass that pulsed under the stage lights, building tension like a storm about to break. Grian took his position last, a calm anchor in the midst of chaos, letting his voice blend into the opening verse.

♪ “I’m stuck, in a world that’s unknown.
In a mind, that I know is not my own.
I don’t wanna be known as the person you can use. I wanna be known as the person that would abuse.” ♪

The lights exploded in color, synchronized holograms forming behind them, tracing shapes of lightning and fire. Fireworks erupted above the stage, reflecting in the thousands of eyes fixed on them.

♪ “Streetlights fade, but the doubts don’t quit,
Heart’s on fire, can’t handle this split.
Chasing my breath away,
Which path led me astray” ♪

♪ “I’m going on my villain ark, I think it’s time.
I’m going on my villain ark, I think that’s a crime.
I’m going on my villain ark, I’m so so tired, by being used by a lier.” ♪

The chorus hit, Grian made sure every note precise yet raw:

♪ “I’m hearing the voices of the dark
Saying that we’re from the same bark
I’m hearing their commands I’m hearing their demands. I want the ending to be grand I want this world in my hand.” ♪

Grian sang with all his might, his strong voice causing an echo, even with out special effects.

Backstage, Bdubs paced in front of the monitors, clapping, cheering, jumping in place. “That’s it! That’s my boys! That’s the energy I pay for! You’re killing it out there!”

A tech assistant peeked nervously. “Uh… sir, maybe don’t scream so loudly — you might distract them.”

Bdubs waved dismissively. “Distract them? I am the hype! Without me, they’re just three guys flailing on stage.”

♪ “ I don’t know where I belong
In the dark, but I’m not strong.
In the light but I lack the might.
I look in the mirror fearing that my end is nearer. ” ♪

Grian’s voice is getting stronger and stronger by the second, if you put your hand against it, I’m sure you’d be able to feel the wall vibrate just by his voice.

♪ “ This is my villain ark, I’m doing my part.
This is my villain ark, this is my start.
This is my villain ark, I have my art.
This is my villain ark, I now have no heart

There was a long pause of a bass solo, building up, and Grian’s voice got slower and quieter for the bridge.

♪ “ I am no longer me.
I am now the key,
To the happiness I need.
And it’s my time to lead. ” ♪

Joel’s drums start sneaking in and Grian’s voice gets louder with the chorus. He runs his hands through his hair and grabs on to his red sweater, closing his eyes, letting the music ripple through him like therapy.

♪ “ I am my villain ark, I wanna cause the hero to be I am my villain ark, I wanna cause the end of me ” ♪

Grian grabs the mic so hard it causes a slight thud to the speakers but the only person who’d notice would be Bdubs. Poor Grian after the show.

♪ “ I am my villain ark, I’m waiting for my defeat
I am my villain ark, I want my end to be sweet. ” ♪

The music cut off with an echo. The Dome erupted into pure chaos. Fans screamed and stomped, banners waved, phones flashed — every frame perfect for the media cameras.

After about another 6-7 songs it was the Bad Boys time to go. They left the stage and as soon as they got off they were surrounded by helpers, giving them water, snacks, towels, Grian was always given cough medicine for his throat after a concert.

Bdubs was there waiting staring at Grian “Grian. WHAT THE HECK WAS THAT!? FIRST OFF, LOVE THE ENERGY! THE CROWD DID TOO! SECOND OFF, WE AREN’T MADE OF MONEY, SO STOP BEING SO ROUGH WITH YOUR MIC AND GUITAR GOSH DANG IT!”

Grian closed one eye as he was yelled at, but the words went through one ear and out the other if he was honest, “Sorry B, I was just singing like I usually do. You know…I was it the moment. And I needed to kinda out sing my guitar cause…it uh…”

Bdubs looks at him, “It wasn’t tuned, was it.”

Grian looks away. Without even a blink Bdubs tackles him and it takes Joel, Jimmy, and 2 stage helpers to get him off of Grian. They were all laughing so it was fine.

Bdubs huffed and just looked at the time “OH GOSH!- You guys have a radio show to get on! GO GO GO!!!” The man rushed them out the door and into the van.

While in the van, Grian wasn’t talking a lot. He never does after a concert, to save his voice. Jimmy and Joel do though, so he just listens.

“That has to be one of the most memorable concert we’ve ever done!” Jimmy said while putting on deodorant after sweating that whole hour something.

“Honestly, I’d thought I’d see more Joel fans.” Joel muttered.

“Dude. You’re literally the most loved out of the bad boys.” Jimmy said throwing a pillow at him.

“Hey!- well maybe I am, but it would never hurt to have more fan girls,” Joel spoke with a hint of sarcasm. “Who knows, maybe we could meet our true love up there on stage!”

Jimmy laughed, “I don’t think I could EVER see G getting in a relationship.”

Grian shot him a deadly glare, “Your glad I’m saving my voice.”

Jimmy felt a shiver go up his spine with that deadly glare but dismissed it. “Anyway, which radio station are we going to?”

Joel looked at his phone for a few seconds, “The SVSkizz talk show.” Joel showed Jimmy some TockTiks of an audio of their talks, put over a slime video.

Grian spoke up, “Oh, I’ve heard of those guys! They’re really funny!”

“Grian! Your voice!” Joel put his hand over Grian’s mouth but instantly retracts it after Grian had licked it, “You disgusting freak…” Joel said wiping his hand off with a towel given to him for sweat.

The car was parked and they got out and walked in. The receptionist instantly recognized them and let them through. The two in charge of the radio show were talking on a couch, the one on the right side was named Impulse, and the left guy was Skizz. Apparently they have been best friends for the longest time. Skizz noticed the boys first.

“Oh hello!” He got up and shook their hands, “My name is Skizz Skizzlemen, you can just call me Skizz, and this is my radio partner ImpulseSV!”

Impulse smiled and got up as well to also shake their hands, “We’re honored that you guys decided to do this Q&A with us!”

“Yeah no problem! It’s a honor to be here! I’m a big fan,” Grian spoke with a smile. He was the one who usually spoke for the boys.

Skizz grabbed Impulse’s arm and whispered to him, “Did you hear that!? A bad boy is one of our listeners!!!!”

Impulse smiled, “Yes, I heard Skizz, he’s right there.”

They take their spots, The bad boys were sat on three bean bag chairs, and Skizz & Impulse were on the couch.

The camera man counted down from 5 and started the radio show (which is also a podcast for the younger audience)

Impulse started off strong, “Good evening to all of our listeners! We are here with very special guests today, guests I think everyone should know by now. Skizz? Wanna introduce them?”

Skizz jumped at the opportunity, “Of course I do! This is a one in a lifetime opportunity because today we have non other than the 3 most famous guys in the world, the bad boys!”

There was a sound effect of an applause, which was probably cueing the bad boys to talk but they didn’t get the memo.

Skizz looked to the camera then to the bad boys, “Ahem…”

Grain finally caught on and his eyes widened, “Oh! Uh yeah hey everyone!”

Joel cleared his throat, “Evening.”

Jimmy instantly brightened, “Are we really the most famous guys?”

Impulse smiled weakly and glanced at Skizz, who had a similar face, “I would certainly say so! If I’m correct you guys just came from on of your biggest concerts after your 6 month break, correct?” Impulse said.

“That’s right! We were facing kind of a burn out and just needed some time to recover.” Grian smiled.

Jimmy jumped in, “But it’s not like we were doing nothing! We actually have been working on 3 new singles!” He glanced at Grain and Joel as if permission to tell them about it, and they both nodded. “We have Counting shadows, Fruitless Orchid, and Lines We Know By Heart!”

Impulse looked very interested, “Will we be able to get any information about how those songs will go? Will they be like your top song, ‘Villain Ark,’ or something completely different?”

Joel let out a whistle, “Well…Counting Shadows is basically…like…about people spreading hate around the world, and how some people let it get to their heads, and how no matter what, you’ll be able to bounce back at one point.”

Skizz seemed incredibly excited about this, “Is there any chance we could get a snippet?”

Jimmy and Joel looked at Grian and he just shrugged, and started to sing “Wide awake in the neon glow, Thoughts run wild, nowhere to go.
The clock’s got a rhythm, it’s dragging me down,
Stuck in a loop, just spinning around.” He stopped there, “That’s the first Verse. It’s still a work in progress.”

Skizz is literally on the edge of his seat, “I’m going to be honest, when you guys drop that song, I will be the top listener,”

Jimmy laughed, “We hope so! We always hope our songs bring joy.”

Impulse remembered that this was supposed to be a Q&A and that they don’t have the Bad Boys for long,”So let’s continue with the Q&A! We’ll start with an easy question, favorite color?”

Grian: Oh, red for sure.
Joel: I didn’t get a green streak in my hair for nothing.
Jimmy: uhh…well….I dyed my hair pink before, so does that make my favorite color pink?
Joel: Suppose so.
Jimmy: Then pink! Or blue?

it was Skizz’s turn to question, “Okay, favorite thing to do on a day off?”

Jimmy: Sleep!
Joel: Uhhh maybe…exploring the city maybe?
Grian: I like to sketch out buildings. Before the Bad Boys I went to collage for architecture. I still find enjoyment in it.
Jimmy: Geez you just always have to be extra…
Grian: Well I can’t just go to sleep at any given moment like you…

Impulse interrupted, “If you could have any superpower, what would it be?”

Grian: Flight…I want to be able to fly so bad. I could just imagine how the air would feel against your skin as you’d sore through the air.
Joel: I would probably want either super strength, or like…triple jump…that sounds cool!
Jimmy: You guys are boring! I’d want invisibility! I would prank Grian and Joel constantly!

Skizz,”If you could travel anywhere, where would it be?”

Joel: Japan. The food, the lights, the music. There’s so much inspiration there! I’d love to see it all.
Jimmy: well…I kinda like staying here.
Grian: I’d say maybe Iceland? That place seems really cool. There or Sweden.

Impulse, “Biggest fear?”

Joel: Failure. Letting people down.
Jimmy: I’d say… not making the most of the time I’ve got. Life’s short, so might as well enjoy it.
Grian: Losing myself. Losing control of who I am.

Skizz, “If you weren’t musicians, what would you be?”

Jimmy: Probably working somewhere I could laugh all day. Maybe a café, maybe writing silly things online. Anything fun, really.
Grian: I always thought Metube was cool.
Joel: I’d be a teacher or maybe a chef. Something steady, something creative.

Questions became playful:
• “Who’s the funniest?”
Jimmy
• “Hidden talents?”
Joel can juggle, Jimmy can whistle with his fingers, and Grian can do tiny magic tricks with cards.
• “Pet peeves?”
Joel: People singing the wrong lyrics.
Jimmy: Loud chewers.
Grian: When people act like they know everything when they don’t.
• “Advice for fans?”
Joel: Be yourself.
Jimmy: that’s so corny…uh…do what makes you happy?
Grian: and you call Joel corny… I’d say that even if you feel it’s not worth trying, you should follow through. You never know how things will end

Each answer came naturally, mixed with laughter, teasing, and camaraderie. The boys revealed glimpses of their personalities without spilling secrets about their hidden lives.

Impulse ends with the final question,”So for our last question, it’s a bit more personal. With being so famous, do you ever feel like you’re being watched?

Grian could immediately feel a hand on his shoulder, but made sure he didn’t react. He knew it was Joel’s because he was to the right of him on the bean bag,”Well of course. Paparazzi are literally everywhere these days. We need to wear hats, hoodies, basically like we’re undercover everyday just to get groceries or going out.” Grian said smoothly.

Skizz smiled,”That seems like that’s all we have the time for today!” He turns to the camera, “We hope you have an amazing rest of your day, and if you somehow haven’t, I suggest highly about listening to the Bad Boys. Their music really is a spectacle!”

Jimmy smiles brightly, “Thank you so much for having us! This has been a lot of fun!”

They leave after giving some fans some autographs that had crowded outside of the radio station after hearing they were there and they got in the van. Grian immediately drank water and sprayed throat spray, “I don’t think I ever want to be on a radio show again.”

Joel chuckled, “I don’t think it was that bad if I’m honest. Thought it was fun over anything.”

Jimmy spoke up, “Yeah! It’s cool to let our fans learn about us!”

“I just want to go home and sleep..” Grian said, siding down his chair, and his voice starting to break.

“Here’s to that!” Joel yelled happily.

“Orrrrr we could go to our favorite restaurant?” Jimmy said with a smug look, knowing that Joel and Grian wouldn’t be able to say no.

“I am in the mood for hot pot…” Joel murmured looking towards Grian, who looks very upset.

“Fine.” Grian shot out, crossing his arms.

Joel and Jimmy high fived and Joel told the driver the new destination. After getting there and filling their bowl, they sat at the table and started to talk. Mostly about their new songs, some about fans they’ve ran into, or things they did that’s made Bdubs mad. Once they finished they wanted to go on a walk around city square. They put on their hoods so they wouldn’t be spotted. While walking, they heard cheering. Jimmy, curious as always, wanted to see where it was coming from, so they followed the noise of the crowd. Once they got to the source of the noise, they saw a mini stage, probably as wide as a school bus, with 5 figures playing. It seemed as if they had just finished their song. The man in the middle spoke into the mic.

“Thank you London for the marvelous cheers, for our last song, we will be playing “Addicted,” The man smiled and the band started to play. Their color scheme was purple and white, all of them were wearing some form of purple or white.

The man who’d introduce their last song was the lead singer clearly. He was a broad man, with many, many scars around his body. He had short brown hair that looked damp, probably from the sweat. Beside him was a blue haired boy who was playing electric guitar. He was very talented, he also had a sort of purple glitter in his hair, which Jimmy thought was cool.

“Why don’t we ever put glitter in our hair?” Jimmy whispered but Grian and Joel just ignored his dumb question.

On the other side of the Singer was a bassist, that had flowey hair, the color of fire. If the bad boys were observant enough, and they are, they would think that the bassist and guitarist are trying to up stage each other. In the back left there was a drumset, and the player had white hair slightly to his eyes. He wore a black mask and a purple head band. “Show off…” joel murmured but his thoughts were immediately taken away when he saw the back up singer, her hair was a nice light pink put into space buns with purple ribbon. Joel was in awe, and both Jimmy and Grian were to focused on the song to notice. What a shame.

A sign flickered to life at the front of the stage.
AETHERLIGHT.

The word pulsed like a heartbeat.

“Never heard of them,” Jimmy whispered, eyes narrowing.

“Neither have I…” Grian murmured, but his voice was distant. His gaze was fixed on the frontman, the one with the brown, mangy, hair and the easy grin. The man who met his stare as if he’d been waiting for it.

The beat started to pick up, the guitarist and bassist clearly locked into a classic bass vs guitar war.

♪ “ Bright blood, it’s in my veins,
Fame tastes sweeter when it rains.
City lights are calling names,
Shall I answer? Or shall I not.

Every heartbeat’s just a deal,
Every smile I fake feels real.
Tell me what’s the price to feel—
Just a little more alive?

I’m addicted—
To the echo, to the eyes that never blink.
To the shimmer on the edge before I sink.
I’m addicted—
To the noise, to the name, to the love that fades too quick.

But I can’t quit.

Glass and gold beneath my skin,
Every win feels paper-thin.
If they knew what lies within…
Would they listen? Wouldn’t they listen?

Don’t wake me, I’m dreaming loud,
Heaven’s close in this plastic crowd.
Could it be sin, maybe it’s just sound—
Either way, I can’t come down.

I’m addicted—
To the stage that burns beneath my feet.
To the rush, to the heat, to defeat.
I’m addicted—
To the light that tears me in two—
The high, the lie, the truth of you.” ♪

The last note rang out and the bad boys were transfixed on one thing. Not the song, not the attractiveness, but the purple aura that was just flowing around the stage and Aetherlight themselves.

“Thank you for listening to us, we are Aetherlight, the band that always watches.” The lead singer spoke in a very cheerful, but also some what smug way, and with a flash of smoke, Aetherlight disappeared.

Joel and Jimmy both looked to Grian who was still staring at the spot the lead singer had just been.

“Follow them,” Grian spoke quietly.

Joel and Jimmy nodded, using their trained eyes to detect any trace of watchers. Grian knew exactly where the “leader” was. Because of powers of his own. They split up and bolted to the areas they agreed to.

It was now dusk. The sun was ducked low to the horizon of England but still shining as brightly as ever, something Grian loved to see. He could see the faint glow of purple aura flow out of a warehouse. He knew whoever this man was, wasn’t a high tier watcher, but definitely on the higher side of mid tier. He summoned his bow and snuck in through a window. He immediately saw the man humming the melody of “Addicted.” He drew his draw string back, perfectly aimed at the man’s head, and when he was about it let go, the man glanced right into his eyes. This caused Grian to flinch and he missed the head. Well, somewhat. He was able to get a bit of the man’s cheek. But that wasn’t good enough for Grian.

He jumped down from the crates, bow still aimed at the scar covered watcher, “Who are you.” Grian said with a commanding tone.

The man smirked and put his hands up, tilting his head, “Woah woah woah! How about we just talk before the whole bow thing. I’m lucky you missed.” He smiled and had a very mocking tone, “My name is Scar, and yours?”

Grian slightly lowered his bow, “Grian.”

Scar hummed and smiled a more…evil smirk, “Grian? Oh come on Xelqua you shouldn’t just lie like that-“ an arrow went straight through his shoulder, “ACK- Ow!- oh border- what the void!?”

Grian looked at him with disgust, “You’re not even trying to hide that you’re a watcher. No one says border or void. And NEVER call me Xelqua EVER again.” He drew an arrow back.

“Okay okay! Jeez…” Scar pulled the arrow and the wound healed as soon as it was out.

“Why are you here?” Grian said, his bow still aimed right for the heart, “They don’t send mid tier watchers for negative emotions. Only the seekers.” The seekers are another word for the low tier watchers.

“You don’t know? Wow you really did break all connection. I’m surprised we were able to find you with the little clues the high tiers left behind.” Scar started walking towards him, “They can’t send anyone anymore. Thee high tier watchers are long gone. Their immortal lives ended by hunger. Because a certain band keeps killing our food collectors.”

“They’re dead!?” Grian dropped his bow, it went to the border and his eyes were wide.

“Yep. Good for you I guess, but…not good for us.” Scar spoke slowly, still inching closer.

“…why are you here…” Grian knew the answer, but he prayed to whatever would listen that it wasn’t what he thought.

“Hm…You should know, Xelqua. As the last high watcher, we need someone to lead us. We need you, Xelqua.” Scar was bent down so their eyes could meet with out Grian needing to look up.

“no.” Grian flat out said, Scar was startled and took a step back.

“No?”

“Yes, that is what I said. No.”

“You can’t just say no-“

“Yes I can. No.”

Scar blinked and silence surrounded the two like a thick blanket.

“We aren’t going to allow that.” Scar said, his eyes hidden, but Grian knew there was a flash of purple.

“You can’t force me. I’m much stronger than you could ever be.”

“Yes yes, but…we have tricks up our sleeves.”

And with that, Scar disappeared.

“Oh end…” Grian muttered, falling to his knees, “Jimmy, Joel, please be alright…”

Jimmy sneezed in an alleyway, “huh. Someone’s talking about me!”

He heard two voices chuckle behind him.

“I’m sure someone’s always talking about the one and only Jimmy from the Bad Boys.” A blue haired man stood right there in the middle of the alley. Jimmy was about to talk a back but froze as soon as he felt an arm around his shoulders.

“Eyyy! It really is Jimmy! Can I getcha autograph?” It was the man with fire colored hair.

“Well- I’d never turn down a fan? Who should I make it out to…?” Jimmy chuckled, hoping his jokes would make them laugh but he’s given the two most “seriously dude?” Faces he’s ever seen besides Grian and Joel. “T- that was a joke..by the way.” He coughed out, and for some reason that caused the man closest to him to laugh.

“The names Tango, and I don’t need an autograph. That heartthrob wanna be over there is Scott. We don’t like him, he plays guitar,” He whispered the ‘he plays guitar’ part like it was a bad word. Jimmy chuckled, “I actually play guitar you know.” Tango and Scott were shocked. “W- wha- but you- you play bass for the bad boys!” Tango sputtered out. “Yeah, I play both. What’s so surprising about that?”
Scott interrupted, “Well which one do you like more? You need to have a favorite, right?”
Jimmy looked like he was in thought for a while and spoke up, “You can’t really just…compare the two because they serve different roles. The guitar carries melody and harmony, while the bass grounds the rhythm and drives the groove. They complement each other, each essential in their own way. It’s like comparing a heart to your lungs!”

Both Scott and Tango looked so confused

“okay okay then…what about me or Scott? That’s basically you choosing Guitar or bass, right?” Tango looked to Jimmy then Scott

“No, it’s not. But I do want to see who he’ll choose.” Scott looked to Tango than to Jimmy.

Jimmy felt the eyes on him and for once, he felt uncomfortable about being watched. Watched…watch…? oh end! Jimmy completely forgot about them being watchers.

“Wait wait- why are you guys just talking to me like- like normal?” Jimmy said.

Scott and Tango looked at each other than back at Jimmy with a blank expression.

“Why wouldn’t we?” Scott raised an eyebrow and Tango nodded.

“Because…you guys are watchers- and- I’m a watcher hunter?” Jimmy tilted his head, clearly confused.

“Ohhh! Yeah we don’t care. We could snap you like a twig. And besides, we’re not here to hurt anyone, we’re just… looking for… a lost family member.” Tango looked like he a bit skeptical to say that, but he still did.

“A lost family member? I didn’t know watchers had families…” Jimmy seemed sincere in that confession.

“Were more human than some of you think.” Scott shrugged. “But now that we’ve answered some of your questions, now answer ours.”

Tango quickly nodded “Yes! Me or Scott?”

Jimmy tilted his head again, “ ‘Cuse me?”

Scott raised an eyebrow, “Your excused, now answer.”

“No, no, no! That’s not what I meant, like- I- I don’t know you two that well, so I can’t just choose when I don’t know who I’m choosing.” Jimmy said, slightly panicked with confusion.

“We’ll just get to know each other then.” Tango smirked.

Joel felt a shiver. He was by a canal, checking the edges for any trace of the watchers and froze when he heard a soft drumming beat followed by a girl humming. He ducked behind the bridge wall and looked under and saw…her. The girl with long pink hair out into space buns that looked freshly baked….whatever that means.

“Are you going to keep hiding and gawk or are you going to confront us?”

Joel heard the slightly muffled voice and figured it was that white haired drummer guy. He walked out into the open. “I was just thinking about how to approach a man who clearly wasn’t taught well on how to play drums.” Joel said in a snarky tone.

The man laughed under his breath. “Cocky.”

“Confident,” Joel corrected. “There’s a difference.”

The girls eyes lingered on him for a moment too long. “You really came all this way just to talk?”

“Talk, watch, maybe figure out what exactly you’re doing here,” Joel said honestly. “Watchers don’t just show up in the middle of London for a concert.”

“We’re not Watchers,” the girl said quickly — too quickly.

Joel’s smirk deepened. “Funny, that glow in your eyes says otherwise.”

The man shot her a look. “He’s sharper than you said he’d be.”

“I didn’t say anything,” the girl replied, voice tight.

Joel caught that exchange — every little twitch of unease. “So you were expecting me?”

The girl sighed, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “Not you, exactly. Just… someone.”

“Someone?” Joel asked.

The man’s voice lowered. “Theres a runaway. Ran away awhile ago actually. But apparently he became important all a sudden to the us, so we need to find him.”

Joel frowned slightly. “Do you know who?”

The girl gave a faint laugh, though it didn’t reach her eyes. “If we did we wouldn’t have to host concerts to try and find them in the crowd, though, Scar said he had found him, didn’t he?”

The man nodded.

Joel spoke up, “So anyway, what are your names?”

The girl spoke first, “My name is Lizzie. He’s Etho.”

For a moment, the tension softened. Lizzie looked at him — not like a threat, but like someone curious. Someone trying to understand.

“You’re not what I thought a watcher hunter would be like,” she said. “I mean, you’re just talking to use like we’re friends.”

He smiled faintly. “You make it sound poetic.”

“Maybe it is.”

Their eyes met, and Joel felt something shift — like gravity forgot which way was down. Her voice, her gaze, the faint shimmer around her — it was all wrong, but it felt right in a way that scared him.

Etho cleared his throat loudly. “Careful, Liz. You’re starting to sound like him.”

“Like who?” Joel asked.

But Lizzie didn’t answer. Her eyes flicked toward the dark water instead. “You should go. If the others find you here, they won’t be as calm.”

Joel hesitated. “You threatening me?”

She shook her head slowly. “Warning you.”

He looked between them — the glowing eyes, the soft hum of power hanging in the air — and something told him she wasn’t lying.

“Alright,” he said finally, stepping back toward the shadows. “But next time, I’m bringing my drum sticks. You might have some competition.”

Etho smirked. “We’ll see about that.”

As Joel turned to leave, Lizzie’s voice drifted after him, soft but clear.

“Tell your friends,” she said. “Not to get in our way.”

He glanced back just once, the corner of his mouth lifting. “Then we wouldn’t be doing our job, now would we?”

Her smile — faint and unreadable — was the last thing he saw before the rain swallowed them from view.

BAD BOYS GC

G: Are guys all okay?
J: Uh yeah! Why?
G: I don’t know, maybe because you were told to follow two mid tier watchers?
J: oh yeah! Yeah I’m okay don’t worry.
G: okay good.
…
G: Joel?
JL: Yeah yeah I’m here. The rain is just messin with my internet like crazy.
G: Oh thank the end. How about we go back home to the condo, we can talk about what we learned there.
JL: Sounds good! Jim?
J: Well- I- I’m talking with friends right now.
There was a clear pause
G: Yeah you’re talking to us right now, we know, and we can go talk in real life in the warmth of the condo!
J: No, like….new friends.
JL: Haha very funny.
J: Im not joking! Im actually with new friends! And I’d like to continue to hang out with them so you guys can head to the condo, I’ll be with my new friends.
G: Jim? Who are your new friends?
JL: Jim?
G: Did he turn his phone off?
JL: G, I’m worried.
G: I am too… let’s just… head to the condo.

Grian turned off his phone and got a cab home. When he got there Joel was on the couch typing furiously.

“What’s wrong?” Grain spoke.

“Jimmy…he’s still not answering…” Joel muttered.
Grian stood still, “Have you tried his watch?”
Joel shook his head and pushed a few buttons on his watch and it started to vibrate. It was a way that no matter what, a bad boy must respond with a beep to show that they’re okay. After what felt like forever, that was actually 6 seconds, Grian and Joel both got a beep on their watch. Oh good.

“Okay, so now that that’s covered, we need to talk about what we learned,” Joel stood up.
Grian looked away, “You go first” Joel raised an eyebrow but doesn’t question why Grian was acting strange, “Well the drummers name is Etho, and the back up singer is Iizzie, I think that their leaders name is Scar, they’re looking for a run away that’s apparently important now, and they don’t want to hurt us, and they just need to find the run away. Which I don’t believe for a second.”

Grian nodded, “Yeah, I got the run away info aswell, and yeah, the leaders name is scar. I also got the information on why they need to find the run away. Apparently all of the high tier watchers died of starvation because we were killing all of the seekers that were collecting them food. The run away was a high tier, so now they need them to be in charge of the watchers.”

Joel sat back sounding a loud groan, “Okay so what should we do?” Grian thought for a moment, and he sat down next to Joel, “We monitor them for the time being, we don’t want them to kill any humans, and we certainly don’t want them to find the run away… We could befriend them? Make them give us info, so we can stop them.” Joel looked to the ceiling, and thought of Lizzie, about how it would feel to be her friend, or more, and he smiled, “Uh yeah. Sounds like a plan. I’m whipped out, so I’m going to call it a night. Sweet dreams.” He got up and went to his room. Leaving Grian alone.

Grian stayed up as late as he could, waiting for Jimmy to get home. It was bout 2:36am when he finally heard the door open.

Jimmy walked in, quietly, and set his stuff down. “Where have you been!?” Grian yelled out, causing a yelp from Jimmy, “OH- oh, oh end, Grian you could’ve given me a heart attack…”
“Given you a heart attack!? It’s 2:40 something am! A, M! You didn’t tell us you’d be out for so long!” Grian yelled out, and jimmy’s face seemed like it had just finished a life long puzzle, “Ohhhhh! Is that why you kept checking on me with my watch?” Grian slapped his head with his palm and just placed his head on Jimmys shoulder. Jimmy hugs him back, he knows Grian has trouble being alone, and he could only piece together by Joel not being there that he had waited in the living room, there, all alone, “I’m sorry G, I didn’t realize how late it got- I won’t-“ Grian cut him off, “No it’s fine.. I’m glad you have more friends. Just next time, tell me when you’ll be late? And never shut off your phone again!” Grian looked up at him and had a damanding motherly tone. “Now get some sleep.” Grian muttered, as he walked to his own room.

On the roof of the condo the Bad Boys owned, 5 figures stood in an oval shape, resembling an eye.

“So we know where he his, we know how to get him back, and yet we’re waiting, because of why?” Tango spoke first.

Scar chuckled, “Yes we know how to, but we need to wait for the perfect conditions. The spell book said we need to wait for him to be at an all-time low, and then we can cast it when he’s most vulnerable. That’s why we need to build relationships with the bad boys. So we can get closer to our target.”

“Doesn’t Xelqua already know about the spell though?” Lizzie spoke up.

Scott laughed out loud, “I doubt he remembers anything from that book of his, it’s been what? Like 10 years since he’s left? I wouldn’t remember a word of that book.”

Lizzie shrugged, “That’s a good point.”

“Alright Alright,” Scar said with a pause, “Let’s make sure we’ve got the plan down.”

Chapter Text

The soft gusts of wind was dancing quietly with the grass, and the echos of a sandy beach could be heard in the distance. That’s not right…since he stopped dreaming about land scapes a while ago. Grian opened his eyes and saw this view, still mildly confused. Usually, he didn’t even dream at all.

He was laying on the damp grass, and slightly sat up, using his elbows to hold himself up. He looked around for any sign, though it just appears to be a normal landscape dream.

“Well hello there.” He heard a voice interrupt the softness of the ambience. Grian turned and saw Scar. In his dream. “Oh end…” Grian looked away. “I thought mid tier watchers weren’t able to get into people’s minds.” He spat out, with clear hate.

“Well, we just had to…evolve. Y’know? With all the high tiers dying.” Scar smirked. Grian just scrunched his face. “I’m not coming back with you. I’m never, ever, going back.” Scar tilted his head, with a smile that of a doofus. “Who said anything about taking you back? Actually- I did, but I just wanted to talk to you.” He smiled, it actually seemed real. He knew Scar was just putting on a facade. “You want to talk?” Grian laughed a bit, though there was no humor in the soft chuckle. “Go ahead, I want to see what you want to talk about.” Grian looked at Scar, with a slight grin. Scar instantly brightened and he sat next to Grian, a little too close, so Grian scooted over. “So why did you make this land scape?” Scar was looking out at the beach then at Grian.

Grian seemed confused, but then like he understood the question. “I didn’t. I- can’t control how my dreams are anymore.” Scar’s face was shocked, “Oh. Why?” He looked concerned. “Uh, probably a side effect of living with humans. I don’t really care though. The farther away I am from being a watcher, the more comfortable I feel.” Grian said, closing his eyes in relief. Scar looked more concerned. “What other things have you lost..?” He spoke, his voice soft.

Grian opened one eye to meet his, “Dream control, obviously my wings, the ability to eat emotions, I eat human food now. And let me tell you, it’s so much better than anger or grief. Let’s see I also can’t change how I look, and I think that’s it. Not a lot.” Scar looked away and his face was met with relief. “Okay good…” Scar spoke in a shaky sigh. This caused an eyebrow raise from the other man. “Good?”

Scar immediately turned to Grian, “Well yeah! Good! What would’ve happened if you lost your mycelium powers? Or mind control, or- or, your eyes! Oh a watcher unable to summon eyes…” Scar shivered. Grian’s face just slightly tilted down, his hair covering his eyes. “I’m not a watcher. I haven’t been for a long time.” Scars face only glanced at him and shrugged, “Sure sure, you’ll be bored of humans soon enough. Anyway, back to the talking! Aetherlight and I were talking about a collab with the bad boys! What’da think?” Scar smiled.

Grian laughed out loud, this time with actual humor, for some reason, scar felt his face getting hot. “Collab? I doubt my manager would ever agree to a collab with Aetherlight!”

Scar smiled, but not in his usual way, like an actual smile, “Hope is a human thing right? Maybe I could start there.” That sentence caused the laughing to cease, and Grian just stared into Scars eyes, like he was trying to understand something. “I don’t understand why you left the watchers, but…I bet you had a good reason…right?” Scar continued, still smiling. A real smile. Grian just looked away, “Yeah, I had a good reason.” And after that, they talked. About random things really. But, they were talking as if they were friends. It felt nice.

Grian woke up in his bed, feeling well rested. Even though he stayed up so late to make sure Jimmy got home. He got up and got changed into his classic red sweater and slightly baggy jeans, and a leather jacket which was the Bad Boy’s whole thing. He walked out of his room and got slapped in the face with the smell of waffles and bacon.

Grian was rubbing his eyes and turned the corner to the kitchen, “Jeez I didn’t know we were getting breakfast today-“ he froze as he saw Joel threatening Jimmy with a spatula. “What did Jim do this time?” Grian spoke, smiling at the scene.

Joel threw the spatula at Jimmy then turned back to the waffle machine, “He just told me who his friends were from yesterday.” Joel spat out, and Grian looked to Jimmy, basically saying “who” with his eyes. Jimmy looked away, “Scott and Tango! Two awesome dudes!” Grian turned to Joel, “I don’t see how that’s too bad, I don’t know them.” Joel glared at Grian then to Jimmy, “How about you introduce them?” Jimmy immediately looked away, “the uh- the guitarist and bassist… of Aetherlight…” Jimmy whispered. Grian took a while to completely process what he had just said.

“The guitarist…and bassist… of AETHERLIGHT!? THE BAND OF WATCHERS, AETHERLIGHT!?” Grian yelled, in complete shock, not madness, like Joel was, but raw shock.

Jimmy looked clammy and nodded. Grian sat down on a stool for the island, and was trying to process this. Jimmy was now friends with Tango and Scott, apparently the guitarist and bassist for Aetherlight, and Grian had a long chat with scar through a dream. Grian looked at Joel. “Joel, are you having any strange relationships with Aetherlight?” Grian asked, Hoping the answer was no, but he was met with silence. “Joel?” Jimmy turned to him, also wanting the answer. Joel just continued on the waffles. “Joel.” Grian spoke, with a more loud voice. “I- I might- uh…have the smallest, just the tiniest crush on…Lizzie…” Joel whispered. Jimmy laughed out loud, to the point he couldn’t breath, and Grian just couldn’t believe how Aetherlight had broken pass their barriers so well.

The front door swung open, the only person who had the code was Bdubs. And that’s exactly who the bad boys saw come from the corner, “Guys! I just got your new outfits for Fruitless Orchard’s music video! We’re shooting it today!” Bdubs said smiling, the bad boys looked at him, and Grian slammed his head into the island, and Jimmy fell to his knees and started to fake cry. Joel just put the waffles on the plate.

“Why were we just told this!?” Grian yelled. And Bdubs rolled his eyes, “I texted this to you three, three days ago. You guys just never listen. The recording is in 5 hours so you can get ready. The outfits are in this box” he put the box down, “And you need to be there in 2 hours so you can get your makeup and hair done. See you there!” Bdubs left, leaving the bad boys there to grieve,

“I’m sad, boys.” Jimmy said in between fake hiccups. “Let’s just get ready…” Grian muttered, opening the box to get his outfit, but froze with his. “This is certainly…something.. I’m going to go put this on, you all do the same.” The bad boys walked into their room and got changed.

Grian walked out wearing a deep wine-red velvet jacket, its edges slightly frayed and sleeves rolled to the forearm. Beneath it, a semi-sheer black shirt catches the light subtly with every movement, tucked into baggy black trousers that are ripped at the knees. His boots are scuffed, dark leather with silver buckles that glint faintly when he walks. Around his neck hangs a small glass pendant containing a single black petal, and his hands are wrapped with thin, weathered leather straps.

Joel is wearing a sleeveless charcoal denim vest, frayed at the edges and marked with faint streaks of paint and ash, over a distressed white shirt that clings loosely to his frame. His black jeans are torn along the knees and thighs, one leg marked by a green fabric patch stitched on by hand—a subtle pop of color that ties into the band’s visual palette. Around his wrists are stacked leather cuffs and silver chains, clinking softly when he moves. Scuffed combat boots rise to his shins, laced unevenly, and a single silver earring glints from his left ear—small, but striking

Jimmy’s outfit blends calm tones with a touch of rebellion. He wears a midnight-blue button-up shirt, the fabric soft and slightly rumpled, half-tucked into black ripped jeans that hang just right over dark navy boots. The shirt’s collar is open, showing a silver chain with a small sapphire charm resting against his collarbone. A faded denim jacket, lighter in tone than his shirt, hangs loosely from his shoulders—its seams frayed, sleeves rolled to his forearms. Thin silver rings glint on his fingers when he moves, and the blue of his shirt catches the lights like rippling water

Jimmy was smiling, “We look so dang good right now!” Grian wasn’t as excited, “Your guys outfits are cool, and match you though.” Joel laughs, “I agree, yours isn’t you at all! Now let’s get to the studio.”

The orchard stretched endlessly, a maze of blackened, brittle trees whose twisted branches clawed at the bruised sky. Ash fell in constant drift, swirling around broken roots and dead leaves. The ground itself seemed to sigh under Grian’s boots. He stepped forward, his dark jacket open to reveal layered black and dark red fabrics underneath, hood thrown back, hair catching the dim glow. The microphone in his hand seemed almost alive, pulsing faintly with the rhythm of his heartbeat.

“We walk through fields where nothing grows
Ash falls silent where the cold wind blows”

Grian’s voice cut through the stagnant air, clear and haunting, each word measured but urgent. He moved with purpose, gliding through the orchard, fingers brushing against the withered bark. His eyes searched desperately as he sang, scanning for movement, while in the distance, Joel and Jimmy were frantically running, calling for each other in silence, their silhouettes barely visible through the fog.

“A garden built from spite, not care
Empty rows, the air stripped bare”

He swung his free arm in wide arcs, ash reacting to his motion, forming faint red streaks that pulsed like veins. The camera followed his gaze, and for a moment, the orchard seemed to shift paths splitting, vanishing, or reappearing. Joel stumbled over roots, the pale light catching the gleam of his frustration. Jimmy’s blue jacket flared as he spun, desperately scanning row after row.

“Time drifts like dust across broken ground
Every step echoes, no one around”

Grian crouched, voice dropping to a low, almost whispering growl, letting ash fall through his fingers. Every note made the orchard groan, the air thickening, roots curling like grasping hands. Joel’s boot caught a tree branch, sending him sprawling, arms scrambling to catch himself, and Jimmy skidded to a stop, head whipping back and forth as if the orchard itself were trying to separate them.

“I don’t know if we’ll make it through
But I’ll ask one question true”

He leaned into the mic, fingers gripping it tight, eyes blazing. Each word resonated through the orchard, shaking the branches and stirring the rotting earth. The orchard’s decay seemed almost alive, eating at Joel and Jimmy as they ran in opposite directions, shadows lengthening unnaturally, as though time itself were slowing around them.

“If the end is set in sand
Would you still take my hand?”

Grian extended his arm, singing it as if reaching for his lost bandmates. His voice rose and fell like a wave, reverberating through the endless orchard. The camera followed Joel as he barreled down a twisted path, eyes scanning for Jimmy, while Jimmy mirrored him, lurching over roots and debris. They were both rotting at the edges, pale streaks creeping across their skin, their desperation visible in every frantic movement.

“Even when the orchard bears no fruit
Would you still face the truth?
If tomorrow falls apart
Would you still play your part?”

Grian’s movements became more intense. He spun and lunged, kicking up ash that sparkled faintly red in the dim light. His face glistened with sweat, lips pulled taut over the words, every note carrying both command and plea. The orchard reacted to his song, the dead branches quivering, cracking slightly, as if struggling to survive under the weight of his voice.

“Even when the branches break and fall
Would you still heed the call?”

He dropped to his knees, voice softening, almost breaking, as he reached forward into the foggy distance. In separate shots, Joel and Jimmy were each reaching frantically for the other, twisting through the endless orchard. Faint veins pulsed along the roots, and the creeping rot on their bodies slowed whenever they glimpsed at one another through the mist.

“Promises buried in soil of lies
We search for light beneath gray skies
Roots twist through rubble, choked and dry
Yet we move forward, question why”

Grian’s singing became almost a chant, vibrating through the orchard as if calling to them. His hands traced arcs through the air, scattering ash in spirals. Joel and Jimmy collided briefly with branches, spun, stumbled, then kept moving, following the pull of his voice as a lifeline.

“Ash and wind, storm and frost
Count the gain, count the cost
Even when the earth gives way
We keep moving, day by day”

Grian’s voice soared, each lyric painting the orchard with fleeting bursts of light, red around him, blue around Jimmy, and faint green where Joel ran. The camera lingered on their faces, catching fear, determination, and fleeting recognition. Step by step, they began to converge, drawn together not just by instinct but by the echoing pulse of his song.

“Fruitless orchard, barren land
I reach for hope, and you understand”

Finally, they found each other in a clearing of twisted black trees. Grian’s hand reached out, and this time, Joel and Jimmy grasped it. The rot and decay froze where their hands touched, ash drifting lazily to the ground. Grian’s voice softened, the final notes stretching and fading, as petals, blackened and brittle, whirled upward and then settled, leaving them huddled together in the heart of the orchard. The camera pulled back, showing the three of them small but connected amidst the endless, decayed landscape, illuminated faintly by tiny sparks appearing in the air.

“Cut!” A man with long brown hair yelled, his name was Ren, he was in charge of the Bad boys music videos. Him and Martyn, who was the one who comes up with how the music video will go.

“Guys, that was PERFECT!” Ren ran up to them and hugged them. Martyn walked to be beside him and muttered, “Yeah, just after what? The 68th take?” All three of the bad boys glanced at Martyn then laughed.

“I’m just glad it’s done. This outfit is so uncomfortable…” Grian said, already taking off his jacket and handing it to a stage helper. “I’m going to go get some fresh air,” Grian said while walking to the elevator.

Joel and Jimmy also took their jackets off.
“Honestly, I think this might be our best music video!” Jimmy smiled to Martyn. Martyn scoffed, “Buddy, every music video I make is better than the next, it’s you lot that need to work on listening.” Joel shot Martyn a cold glare, but before Joel could speak, Ren intervened, “Martyn, I think they did wonderful! You know it’s impossible to get things exactly how you expect it to be..” Ren’s voice was soft and comforting. Martyn just looked away, “I’m going back to work.” He went to his office, probably not working and just playing games.

Joel groaned, “My feet hurt…bloody hell…”
Jimmy chuckled and sat down, “I never knew running and tripping so much would cause so much pain…”

Just then, Joel and Jimmy got a message on their phones.

BAD BOY GC
G: Uh guys…there’s…people outside wanting to talk to us.
J: Fans?
G: I mean, they probably are.
JL: who are they?
G: They told me not to tell you, and that it would “ruin the surprise” so please just come down here.
J: K, we’ll be down.

Joel looked up from his phone and patted Ren on the back, “It’s been a fun day! Excruciating, but fun!”

Ren smiled and waved as they left, and he headed to Martyn’s office.

As Joel and Jimmy walked out side, they both looked around to find Grian, it didn’t take long because right to the left of the door, was Grian! Next to- Aetherlight!?

“Grian. What!?” Joel ran up to him and dragged him back. Jimmy waved at Tango and Scott. The two waved back, smiling.

“They told me they wanted to hang out- remember what we were talking about yesterday night?” Grian whispered. Joel felt severe uneasiness but sighed, “Really Grian?”
Grian nodded, and Jimmy butted in, “I would love to hang out!”

Joel looked at the bad boys, then to Aetherlight.

Scar smiled, “We wanted to invite you all to Karaoke! It’s a very fun way to get to know each other!” Grian chuckled behind Joel, and Joel just glared.

“You’re paying.” Joel spat out, and Scars smile dropped to a frown, “But you guys are so rich-“

“You’re. Paying.” Joel said in a commanding tone, clearly not listening to any logic Scar would try to say. Scar looked behind him to the rest of Aetherlight and back to the Bad boys, “We uh…”

“We don’t have the money.” Etho said, not caring. Jimmy and Grian looked at each other and both broke out laughing. Joel just looked in shock. “So we’d also have to pay for you 5?” Joel asked. In a very over it tone.

“Well since your offering we’ll take it!” Lizzie said quickly and snarky.

“Wait-“

And before they knew it they were in a karaoke room with non other than Aetherlight themselves.

“I cant believe we actually did this.” Joel muttered. Grian laughed and jabbed at his side, “I thought you’d be happy since you’d get to hang out with-“ Joel immediately responded with a smack against Grians mouth, he retracted it before he got the chance to lick it. “Do not speak of that. Okay?” Joel had a very deadly look. It shook Grian to his core. “M- mhm..!” Grian smiled, sweating bullets.

Scar was looking around the room and felt a hand on his shoulder, it was Etho. “Hello Etho! Whatcha need?” Scar smiled brightly.
Etho didn’t meet his gaze. “Do you really think that this is a good idea? Y’know. Being so close to the Bad boys?” Etho muttered. Scars smile dropped, “this is exactly what we need, Etho.”
Etho met his gaze, sharper than before, “There’s no reason to do this. I feel like you’re only doing this for your own gain. Don’t think I didn’t noticed how anytime Grian was brought up, something in your eyes changed. Tell me what you’re do-“ Etho shut up immediately as he saw the face on Scar, Etho looked away. “Sorry. I- I’ll mind my own business.” Scar smiled as he heard that, “You better! Or I won’t be so kind next time.” Scar walked off and Etho felt like dropping to his knees but he doesn’t.

After all the food orders and the song cues, they started. Scott was up first and he requested a duet with Jimmy, they both sang “Strawberry blond” by mitski. After the song Jimmy sat down, holding his throat. “I barely sang and yet my throat hurts so bad..G how do you do it?”

Grian laughed and looked at him, “Through suffering. And practice.” Jimmy pushed him, “Yeah that’s not happening. I’ll just keep with my trusty bass.” Jimmy smirked. And Tango popped up from somewhere, “That’s what I like to hear! So you chose bass as your fav?” Jimmy laughed and turned to Tango, “I already said that I can’t pick a favorite,” Tango just smiled and walked away to Scott, presumably telling him that Jimmy said he liked bass more even though he didn’t.

After a few more songs the food and drinks got there. It wasn’t a huge meal, but a verity of appraisers and of course, alcohol. Aetherlight knows of alcohol, but doesn’t know how it would affect them. Thinking that they were watchers and all, that they wouldn’t get the effect. But ohhh they were wrong.

While Lizzie and Scott was singing a duet, Grian was drinking his own drink talking to Joel and Scar walked up to him. “Hi Grian!” Scar said with his usual idiotic smile. Grian’s smile shifted slightly, “Hello Scar…do you need something?” Grian tried to make his voice sound as kind as possible. “I just noticed that you weren’t singing at all! And you’re the singer for Bad Boys so i was wondering why,” Scar tilted his head. Grian just looked to the karaoke machine, then to his drink, then to Scar, “Yeah I’d much rather just drink my drink and chat.”

Scar’s face brightened, “We should do a duet!” Grian’s face dropped, “N- no..we should no-“ Joel interrupted, “Yeah Grian you guys SHOULD do a duet!” Grian shot him a glare and matched the energy, “Or should you ask Lizzie for a duet?” Joel’s face changed to spite, “Scar, Grian would love to have a duet with you!” Scar’s face brightened even more somehow, “Great! I’ll pick the song!” Grian was shocked on how this quickly became a bad situation.

Scar was looking through all of the songs, and landed on “The Perfect Pair” by Beabadoobee. He thought it was perfect, “Griiiiaaan! I got the song! Come on!”

Grian groaned and just walked up and grabbed the mic, “Who’s going to lead?” Grian muttered, but Scar didn’t answer, he just paused and tilted his head. “Guess I will then.” Grian looked to the lyrics as the song started.

(Because of copyright I won’t be able to add any lyrics, because all the lyrics belong to beabadoobee in her song “The Perfect Pair,” please go listen to this song! I thought it would be perfect for the two)

Grian started singing, his voice steady as he carried the melody a song about two people who were far too similar for their own good. When his line ended, he looked to Scar, expecting him to pick up the next verse.

Scar blinked, realizing a beat too late that the moment was his. He jumped in mid-measure, his grin widening as he caught the rhythm, the lyrics echoing back the same message in his own way that being the same wasn’t always easy.

By the final chorus, they found the harmony together, voices overlapping like reflections in water perfectly mismatched, yet undeniably connected.

The song ended and Scar was about to talk to Grian about it, but Grian walked away to Joel to talk about something. Scar just stood there. He wanted to sing with Grian again. Scar just walked to Aetherlights table that was left to the Bad boy’s. Scott quickly realized that something was wrong with Scar.

“Scar, what’s wrong?” Scott muttered, sitting next to him. “We need to get Grian back. When will the soonest we can cast the spell?” Scar looked up to Scott. Scott just looked away, his hand slightly falling, “Like you said, we need to wait till he’s most vulnerable, and to do that we would need to take everything from him. We still need to get close to the bad boys so we ca“ Scar cuts him off, “I know, I know. I’m asking you how long you think that will take.” Scott looked back at him, “Roughly about 4-5 months? But you said we also want to get a big fan base for emotions so that would add quite a lot of time… so…maybe 8-9 months?” Scar looked away, “That’s too long.” There was a pause, and then a sigh, “But I’ll wait for that long.” Scott also sighed, “Alright, I’m going to go talk to Jimmy now.” Scott said smiling and he walked off to the bad boy’s table.

After many songs (I’ll add all the songs and people who sang them) and many drinks, Grian and Etho were the only ones standing a top them all. Half way through the night, Jimmy suggested a drinking game, and clearly Etho and Grian are competitive.

“You can really hold your liquor, huh?” Etho smiled, while taking another shot. Grian just smirked, “I’m surprised you can, seeing as you’ve never drank before.”

Tango was sprawled out on the floor (after one drink) and Jimmy slightly crawled to him, “You look like crap just after your first drink…” Jimmy said chuckling. Tango responded with a sluggish smile, “how many were you able to get to..?” He said with a hic in the middle. “Two more then you” Jimmy laughed even more, and laid next to him. “I’m going to be in so much pain tomorrow morning…” Jimmy muttered, and Tango looked confused and concerned, “Wait, why?” Jimmy looked at him with a confused smile, “Y’know, the hangover?” Tango just raised an eyebrow and Jimmy laughed, “Don’t tell me you don’t know what a hangover is-“ Tango looked in deep thought. “Is that why people after drinking usually have a headache in the morning?”

Jimmy nodded, “Yep, and now you get to experience it!” Tango just groaned and put his back down on the ground, hoping that it would get a laugh out of Jimmy, and it did. Void, he loved it when he laughed.

Scott had his head on Aetherlights table and was watching that whole thing play out, Lizzie sat next to him, “Why so blue? And I don’t mean your hair…” Lizzie said, slurring most of her words.

Scott looked at her and sighed, “I’m losing…” Lizzie looked confused, “Losing? Oh the drinking game? Yeah I lost to-“ Scott cut her off, “no…the bass vs guitar war…” he muttered and pressed his forehead to the table. Lizzie looked even more confused. “Says who?” Scott glanced back at Jimmy and Tango talking and then back at Lizzie. “Says him…” Lizzie laughs, “Has he told you that or are you assuming?”

“Assuming…” Scott sat up. Lizzie flicked his fore head, “then you still have a chance! So take it when you can!” Scott looked at her and nodded, “Yeah…yeah! I’ll take my chance before Tango can even say the would ‘I’!” Scott turned around ready to talk to Jimmy but froze when he saw Tango fast asleep on Jimmy, who was also asleep on the ground. Scott just turned to Lizzie and looked at her like it was her fault.

“Bummer man…try again tomorrow.” And like that, Lizzie followed Tango and Jimmy with the sleep tactic to get rid of whatever silliness was effecting her. Scott slumped in his seat.

Etho and Grian were still competing in that stupid game. But it actually seemed like they were having fun. “I don’t believe this is your first time drinking.” Grian mumbled, his eyes started to have a little haze to it.

“Haha well you’d be right…” Etho said, looking at his now empty drink. Grian raised an eyebrow, “When else have you drank?” Etho just looked at him, “I left, like you did.” There was a pause “To live with the humans. No one noticed a mid tier disappeared. it was perfect. I met someone, had a good thing going but…I missed them. So I returned.” Etho looked back to his drink and Grian’s mouth was just left wide opened, “I- don’t know how to respond to that…” Etho laughed, “Nah, you don’t need to, just. Don’t tell anyone.” Etho took his finger to his mouth, and Grian went through the motion of zipping his mouth.

“I wonder what they’re talking about…”
“I wonder what they’re talking about…”

Scar and Joel said at the same time. They were both leaning against the karaoke stage. Joel and Scar both looked at each other at the same time as well.

“You wanna know what Lizzie’s talking about?” Joel said, and at the same time, Scar had said, “You wanna know what Grian’s talking about?”

There was a pause, and both of their eyes widened as they just revealed themselves. But then became something more as they realized that they had also revealed themselves.

“Ohh so you got a thing for Lizzie?” Scar said smugly, but also slurred due to drinking way too much trying to look cool infront of Grian. Joel’s face went red and he looked away, “I might like her, so what?….what about you and Grian? I’ve seen how you look at him…”

“Yeah I might be in love” Scar said smiling, not realizing what he just said due to stupidness and drunkness. “Oh, mate that might’ve been to direct.” Joel laughed. “Wait what did I say?” Scar looked genuinely confused. Joel just paused and laughed again, “You didn’t say anything to bad” Scar nodded, believing him. “I do remember what you said though. What’s up with you and Lizzie?” Joel froze, “Nothing! Just- maybe a small crush…” Scar smiled, “Looks like you two are alike.” Joel looked at Scar with pure hope, “She also likes me?!” Scar just laughed, “She’s talked about you a bit.” Scar paused, “What about Grian…does he talk about me?” Joel just looked like he was in thought, “No, he hasn’t mentioned you man. Sorry.” Scar looked down, “That’s fine…I guess…”

Grian took another shot, “I’m…not…given…u..p…I will…always….take the win…” he said looking terrible. Etho just laughed, but he wasn’t in great shape either, “I won’t go down without a fight…” after the two got their words in, they both slammed their heads against the table, wasted.

Joel got up and helped Jimmy on his shoulder, causing an asleep Tango to groan. Joel walked to the table and made Grian lean on the other shoulder. He knew it would’ve been a good idea to not drink as much, and he was going to milk this when the two come back to consciousness tomorrow. He glanced at Aetherlight, who was not as smart, and grumbled. After 5 trips, he finally got them all in the van, and needed to take another 5 trips to get them up to the condo. He put all the Aetherlight members on their huge couch, and the bad boys in their beds.

There it was again. The soft grass, the sounds of waves crashing, and wind blowing in his ears. Grian opened his eyes and was met with the same land scape before. He didn’t remember going to sleep. Actually, he doesn’t remember anything from after the drinking game. He figured that there was a reason. Grian got up and started looking for a certain man, not for any particular reason, he just knew that’s why he was here. And he was right. There, on the beach, was Scar. Sitting down like nothing was wrong in the world.

Grian walked up and sat down next to him. Scar looked his way and smiled, “Well hello there!” Scar said brightly, but his face fell, “Do you remember perchance what happened after karaoke?” Grian glanced at him, “I know what happened to me and Jim. Joel probably brought us home since he had the least to drink. Don’t know what happened to you guys though.”

Scar sighed, “Oh shucks…” That caused Grian to laugh. “Oh shucks!?” Grian said, whipping a tear from his eye. Scar tilted his head, “Well you told me no one said ‘Void’ nor ‘border’ so I looked up words humans said instead!” Scar said brightly. Grian shook his head, “No, Scar, oh shucks is something kids would say. End is a better word.”
Scar took some thought of consideration and also shook his head, “I think I like shucks better.” He said with a soft smile. Grian returned it with a smile of his own, “Have you liked earth so far?” There was a pause, and the question was out of the blue, but Grian felt like it was a good question to ask. Scar looked to the beach, “It’s nothing I don’t already know, or have already seen. But…it does feel real to be in something that I’ve just watched my whole life. And to feel things I never thought was possible.”

Grian raised an eyebrow, “what have you felt?”
Scar chuckled, “I don’t know…but- everytime I see a certain someone, my heart starts to race and I get warm in the face. My fingers start to tingle and I feel weak in the knees. Do you know what that is…Grian?” Scar looked at him, his face full of love. But Grian of course was too much of an IDIOT to not catch on about what he was implying, like, WHAT. THE. HECK. Anyway.

Grian looked to the sky in thought, “I don’t think I’ve ever felt that way, but the way you’re describing it seems like you’re angry or something along those lines.” Scar slammed his back against the ground and groaned, covering his eyes with the inside of his elbow, “You’re right, I am mad at him. I’m so full of rage it’s unbearable.”

Grian laughed again by the sudden movement of the other man, “Is there anything he did to cause your so called wrath?” Scar glanced at Grian and chuckled, “He’s too blind for his own good.” Scar moved his elbow to look to the sky, then he shot up, and turned to Grian, “Do you think I’d be able to change the land scape?”

Grian tilted his head, then shrugged, “I don’t see why you wouldn’t be able to, unless you’ve spent too much time with humans.” Scar took a deep breath and the land started to form into a jungle with a huge Temple in the distance that seemed alive.

Grian looked around this new place and glanced at scar, “This is my favorite biome. How did you know?” Scar just smiled at him, “I remember when you told me last night” Scar looked at him with love, “You never told me, why is this your favorite biome?” Scar asked, but he already knew the answer.

Because it’s home to his favorite animal, parrots.

“Because it’s home to my favorite animal, parrots!” Grian smiled, “When I- was still watching… I was watching a man who lived in the jungle. And he sometimes fed the parrots. I like birds over all really…” there was a long pause. “I envy their wings.”

That caused Scar’s smile to drop, and he put a hand on Grian’s, “You could get your wings back…if you just came back…” Scar said, genuine.

Grian could only remember what it took to get down to earth.

Xelqua was staring down at the edge of the border, staring right where the passage to earth was. Where he longed to be. He was able to shake away the other 2 high tier watchers off his tail long enough to buy him time. To finally get away.

But in order to fully leave, he had to sacrifice his own wings. He opened his spell book that he had made himself with all the spells he could never remember and began to speak a spell.

“W╎リ⊣ᓭ i ∴𝙹⍊ᒷ ⎓∷𝙹ᒲ ʖ∷ᒷᔑℸ ̣ ⍑ ᔑリ↸ ⎓ꖎᔑᒲᒷ,
cᔑ∷∷|| ᒲᒷ リ𝙹 ᒲ𝙹∷ᒷ—⎓𝙹∷⊣ᒷℸ ̣ ᒲ|| リᔑᒲᒷ.
g∷𝙹⚍リ↸ ʖᒷꖎ𝙹∴, i ᓵᔑꖎꖎ ℸ ̣ 𝙹 ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷᒷ,
tᔑꖌᒷ ᒲ|| ⎓ꖎ╎⊣⍑ℸ ̣ , ᔑリ↸ ᔑリᓵ⍑𝙹∷ ᒲᒷ.

fᒷᔑℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ∷ᓭ ʖ⚍∷リ, ʖ⚍ℸ ̣ i ↸𝙹 リ𝙹ℸ ̣ ᓵ∷||,
f𝙹∷ ꖎ𝙹⍊ᒷ ᒲ⚍ᓭℸ ̣ ⎓ᔑꖎꖎ ⎓𝙹∷ ∷𝙹𝙹ℸ ̣ ᓭ ℸ ̣ 𝙹 ꖎ╎ᒷ.
b𝙹⚍リ↸ ℸ ̣ 𝙹 ᒷᔑ∷ℸ ̣ ⍑, ᒲ|| ᓭ𝙹⚍ꖎ ᓭ⍑ᔑꖎꖎ ᒲᒷリ↸—
sꖌ||-ʖ𝙹∷リ ⍑ᒷᔑ∷ℸ ̣ , ↸ᒷᓭᓵᒷリ↸, ↸ᒷᓭᓵᒷリ↸.”

And within a heart beat he began to feel excruciating pain in his back, where his back and wings met. And a nauseating sensation in his head where his head wings were. But even with this pain he could hear and feel that the watchers had caught onto what he was doing. He had to find a way to speed up the process.

He placed a hand on his left wing. And began to rip. He screamed out in the extreme pain. sharp split of sinew and tendon straining past his limits, muffled beneath the thick crack of bone giving way. He continued. Tearing, ripping. More and more, and then,

A faint, sickening tearing sound, the kind that comes from something that should never be separated, followed by the hollow thud of the detached wing hitting the ground.

Xelqua had to keep going or else he would never be this close, he moved to right wing, and took a shaky breath, and pulled.

The pain didn’t get easier, and this time it was worse, his vision was getting blacker and blacker as he lost more and more blood. He glanced at his left wing lying there on the ground, and continued. And then,

That same sound was back.

He had tore out his right. The sight was disgusting. But he had. To. Continue.

He grabbed the wings on his head. They were already weak due to the spell, in fact, the first one on his left already fell off, much less painfully then ripping them off, but he had to.

And he yanked as hard as he could, as if he were pulling stray hairs from his head. He continued screaming and through the side of his eyes he could see the two high tier watchers, and they were ripped off.

He threw them on the ground, panting heavily.

He was covered in blood, drenched in his blood.

He gave one last glance at the two entities flying straight towards him, and he leaped to the border.

“Grian..? Hello? Are you alr-“ Scar’s question was interrupted with a gasp by Grian, he was clutching his heart. Scar immediately put a hand on his shoulder, trying to comfort him. But it only made Grian worse. So Scar just retracted his hand, and waited.

After a while Grian finally saw the landscape of a jungle, and in the distance saw two parrots flying together. He started to calm his breathing. That made Scar smile, “Hey bud…you okay..?”

Grian glanced at him, and nodded, “Just- remembered something bad…” Scar looked down, “Was- was it something the watchers did..?” He looked back at Grian, only to see that his eyes were back to the terrified look he remembered seeing when he called him Xelqua the first day they met.

Grian just slightly nodded, and looked away. Scar wanted to make Grian feel better. It felt like he needed to. So he hugged him. Scar had watched it work with humans, so why wouldn’t it work now? He felt Grian tense a bit, but it didn’t stop because Grian soon melted into it.

After talking for a bit Grian could feel himself waking up. It was funny, because in the middle of scar’s long rant about a certain show he found through tv, he woke up.

He walked into his bathroom, took a quick shower, and put on a towel around his waist, he needed water desperately with the terrible headache he had. He walked out of his room and as soon as he got to the living room he gasped as he saw Aetherlight in his home. Just sleeping there on the couch. He figured Joel had brought them here, but why????

He was in too much pain for this and went to the kitchen to grab water. After grabbing a glass, rinsing it out, and filling it with water from the fridge, he took a big long drink. The coolness of the water ran down his throat and he could already feel some pain wash away. He went in another cabinet that had Advil in it and took two tablets.

He turned around and was met with the face he had just left, Scar’s. “Oh, hey. Before you say anything, no, I did not know you were here.” Grian flat out said. But Scar wasn’t listening. He was feeling that feeling again. Warm, tingling in his fingers, weak in the knees, and a racing heart. All because of certain shirtless, bad boy.

Grian raised an eyebrow, and went back to the cabinet for more Advil. He handed two pills to Scar and a new glass of water. Scar swallowed them without the water though.

“That should help with your headache. I’m going back to my room to get changed. If Jimmy comes out, tell him that Joel brought you guys here since no one could bring you guys home so he won’t freak out.” Grian said, walking past the other man, but was quickly stopped when a hand grabbed his wrist.

“Can I come?” Scar said, his eyes not once leaving the others. Well, maybe a few times to glance a tad lower than his eyes. Grian scrunched his eyebrows, “Come with me?”
Scar nodded. Grian looked to his room and back at the man, “No- I- I’m getting changed. Did you not hear that part?” Grian said, with more confusion. Scar quickly looked away, “I- guess I didn’t…” but he was lying.

Grian walked to his room, leaving Scar alone with his thoughts until he heard a door opening from Joel’s room. He walked out his tired eyes and a phone in hand, swiping on what seems to be social media.

“Watcha looking at?” Scar said curiously. Joel jumped and threw his phone by accident, “OH END- oh- oh my end…I forgot I brought you guys here- oh man…I need a sec-“ he picked his phone back up and took a deep breath. “I’m looking at good trio Halloween costume ideas.”

Scar squinted his eyes, “Halloween…the uh- The holiday where people dress up…right?” Joel paused, “Yeah. That’s it.” Scar brightened, “Oh! We should trick or treat together!” Joel gave him a side eye, “No. not happening.”

Grian walked out, his hair still damp. He was wearing his classic red sweater and leather jacket, but with sweats. Scar’s eyes immediately looked to his, “Grian!” Grian looked to the still sleeping Aetherlight, “How long are you guys planning to stay?” Grian said, with probably more cruelness than he intended. Scar frowned and looked to Aetherlight, “Probably until they all wake up…” Grian sighed and went back to the kitchen and grabbed cooking supplies. Joel’s eyes widened and a gasp left his lips, he immediately went to jimmys room shouting, “JIM! JIM! Grian’s going to cook!” and after not even 2 seconds, the two boys bolted out and sat at the island.

Scar raised an eyebrow, “Why are those two acting like that?” Grian shrugged, “I don’t cook often. That’s all.” Joel let out a scoff, “Are you joking?” He looked at Scar, “He’s an amazing cook, but barely does for some reason. And it’s crazy because he told us he’s never cooked before, but he picked it up immediately!” Scar didn’t look shocked, “Well obviously, watchers have-“ Scar felt the glare that was burning in his head, and cleared his throat, “I’ve seen that watcher hunters are good cooks…” Scar slightly looked to Grian who was turned around to the food.

Etho through the midst of all this woke up and walked to the kitchen. He was half asleep most of the morning so he knew where he was and what was going on.

Joel laughed, again, “Jimmy here can’t cook to save his life! So whoever you’ve seen, they’re wrong!” Jimmy punched Joel, “I’m not that bad!” Joel returned the punch, “First off, I think you almost killed Bdubs, and don’t punch me!” Joel was still laughing but it was cut off by a man yelling, “Bdubs!?” Etho was looking at Joel, like he had just seen a ghost. Joel, Jimmy, and Grian looked at each other, very confused, “Yeah- uh, Bdubs…he’s our manger. You know him?” Joel spoke quietly.

Etho didn’t change his expression, “Like- BdoubleO, Bdubs?” “Yeah mate, that would be him. You didn’t answer Joel’s question.” Jimmy said, clearly skeptical about Etho knowing Bdub’s full name. Etho put a hand where his mouth would be if it wasn’t for his mask, “I-“ he didn’t want to say he knew him, because then that would be revealing that he escaped the watchers before, so he knew lying would be the best option, even if 1 of the 4 people there could tell he was lying, “I- was in charge of watching him. Back in the watcher world.” Etho looked away, and Jimmy looked like he just remembered a question about that, “I’ve been meaning to ask about that! Is like TV? Or like- the radio? Orrrr you see through their eyes? And what do you do if they are like- naked or something?” Scar laughed and shook his head, “We don’t always watch, only when it’s things important to the person we’re in charge of. It’s basically like TV, but, we don’t have any sound. We’re watchers, not… listeners. We don’t like the listeners.” Joel looked at him confused, “Who are the listeners?” Jimmy nodded, like he was about to ask the same thing.

“Well- the listeners are like us, but they just listen. They also like- hate us? And made the whole Watcher hunter thing. That’s probably how Grian here learned and taught you guys.” Grian looked away from his cooking and just stared at Scar. He was lying. Nothing called the Listeners exist. So what was he talking about? Grian was the one who made the watcher hunters, Grian was the one who hated the watchers. What was Scar up to…

“Wow G, why didn’t you tell us about this whole Listener thing?” Joel asked, leaning his head on his hand. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Scar talking to Etho and walked away to the balcony, but didn’t say anything.

“It- just…never came to mind to talk about. They’re forgotten entities. No longer existent.” Grian said with a shaky breath, still preparing food. Jimmy sighed, “Man, it would be so cool if we had our own deities on our side.”

Over on the balcony.

“So, you used to watch Bdubs, eh?” Scar said to Etho, looking out to the city view. Etho was looking to the ground instead, “You know that that was a lie.” Etho muttered, and Scar chuckled, “Yes, I do Etho. And I know the truth. Apparently Grian wasn’t our only run away.” There was a pause, “But you came back.” Scar looked to Etho and Etho returned the glance, “Why? Why did you come back? Even though it seemed like it was better here, and you didn’t like how the watchers did things?” Scar sounded genuinely confused which set Etho back, but he remained composed.

“If I’m being honest, I still don’t know. I started losing my powers and I hated it. I missed my wings, and- I guess…I missed watching. I felt so-“ he got cut off by Scars voice, “Don’t lie to me Etho.” Scar said, with an edge to his voice, Etho sighed, “I wanted to make sure that… Bdubs was okay at all times. I felt too paranoid not being able to see everything around him and I, so I thought it would be better if I came back so I could protect him. But it ended up not working out, so I’ve just been clueless on what he’s been doing, if he’s even okay… and- I messed everything up between us. We were best friends…I…I ruined it.”

Scar’s eyes widen by the suddenness of Etho opening up, which was never. He didn’t know what to do at this moment. But this made him remember Grian in their dream, when he was panicking after remembering something, about the watchers. Just as Etho is doing now. How much pain has the watchers actually caused? What did they do to Grian? And why weren’t they ever allowed to show emotions or any kind of human thing. Sure they weren’t human, but they still felt like they needed to feel human.

“Talk to him.” Scar spoke, not realizing his own words. Etho looked at him confused, “What?”

“Talk to him.”

“I doubt he wants to see me.”

Scar shook his head, “You go ask Joel and Jimmy where Bdubs is, and you talk to him. Tell him the truth if you have to!”

“But they wouldn’t like-“

“They are dead! So what are they going to do?”

“Scar I think you should take a breath, you need to think about this-“

“No, I don’t. Why do we still need to play by their rules!? They’re dead! And all they’ve ever done was just ruin us! Look at you! Look at Grian!”
Scar was breathing heavily. Etho put a hand on his shoulder, “We can’t make any changes as we are now. That’s why we need Grian. To make these changes for us. Remember?”

Scar looked away. No. He doesn’t remember. He remembers that the other high tier watchers made that a rule, but they were gone now. However, the seekers and other mid tier watchers wouldn’t agree to what he was saying. He sighed and pulled away from Etho’s hand, even though the touch was comforting, and walked back inside. Leaving Etho with his thoughts.

When scar walked in, his face was punched with the amazing smell of cinnamon, vanilla, maple bacon, pancakes, and a whole lot of other things. The rest of Aetherlight was already up and talking in the living room. With an additional two bad boys. Scar realized that this meant Grian was alone. He took this chance.

Grian was in full concentration making the breakfast. Making sure to flip each cinnamon roll pancake a golden brown, that the bacon would be done just in time that they wouldn’t be cold when the rest of the food was done, and that the pancake icing was whisked to perfection. He was only snapped out of this concentration when he felt two arms wrap around his waist. He jumped right out of his skin and whipped around to see a red in the face Scar, with his eyes closed.

“SCAR WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?” Grian said, quickly pushing him away and working on the food again, not wanting a single burnt piece.
Scar scrunched his eyebrows, “Isn’t that what humans do when they see someone cooking?”
Scar knew what it was, but he just wanted to get away with it.

“Scar- no…humans do that to people they love.” Grian continued with the food. Scar got a bit of an annoyed look. He knew that yes, so get the hint. He sighed and walked to the living room back to Aetherlight and the other two Bad boys.

After a couple more minutes, Grian was heard yelling, “Breakfast is done!” There wasn’t even a millisecond after before the Bad boys bolted to the kitchen. Aetherlight just walked, maybe a quick walk. How could they not? That food smells divine!

After breakfast, everyone was full and satisfied. Grain was cleaning the plates and Scott asked to help. The two were washing dishes.

It was mostly quiet, but comforting, in a way. Although of course that quiet was interrupted by a soft throat clear.

Scott looked toward Grian, still drying and putting away the dishes, “Do you know if Jimmy has a- a type?” Scott blurted out, causing Grian to freeze and look at him. “Is there a reason for this question?” Grian muttered quietly, and Scott nodded. Grian nodded back, continuing the dishes, “Well. He sure hasn’t talked to any girls since we’ve been friends. So, maybe you have a chance.” There was a pause, “Though, I’m not sure what your plan is once you go back empty handed.”

Scott looked at him, “We don’t get to go back until you come with us.” He smiled. Grian caught that, and smiled back, “Good for you then. Hope you enjoy your stay on earth. You’ll be here forever.” They both smiled, and the air felt lighter.

There was a scream heard from the living room. It was a high pitched scream so Grian could tell it wasn’t Joel or Jimmy, but he still rushed to the room as fast as he could. Along with Scott.

Everyone was crowed around Lizzie, who was holding a phone. They all seemed pretty happy and exited so Grian’s panic was subsided.

“What happened?” Grian said, lifting an eyebrow. Scar looked at Grian and smiled, “Our EP reached 100k likes! And almost 160k views!” Grian’s eyes widened and he slightly smiled, “That’s great news!” Tango rolled his eyes, “Still not good enough. Hey how’d you guys do it?” Joel scratched the back of his neck and chuckled, “I wouldn’t say we did it per-say.” “More like Ren and Martyn did” Jimmy said with his arms crossed. Etho tilted his head, “Do you guys not make your own songs?” The bad boys gasped in sync, “Are you joking!?” Jimmy blurted out. Grian sighed, “I make our song lyrics, and those two are in charge of the rhythm and melodies. The reason we have Ren and Martyn to blame for our fame is because of their extreme use of advertisement. Martyn is like- one of those rich spoiled kids and he was one of our first fans. He wanted to help some way and that’s how he did.”

Jimmy smiled, “And now he writes how our music videos go!” Joel smirked, “And Ren directs them.”

“Okay so we just need to find a rich boy who’d be willing to pay for advertising…” Lizzie murmured. And as if planned, all of Aetherlight turned their heads to the three “rich boys” in the room.

The bad boys froze, “Yeah not happening.” Joel flat out said with a blank expression. Jimmy slightly turned to him, “Why not..? I don’t see the harm-“ Grian cut him off, “Let’s think about this. Pros and Cons. Pros anyone?” The room was silent. “Okay what about Cons?” Joel spoke up, “They could do something bad and then we’d get blamed for pushing them for fame.” Jim joined in, but muttered, “They could get more famous than us…” Grian palmed his head and sighed, “Or, they use their fame to get more negative emotions for the watchers that we’ve worked so hard to prevent.”

Joel nodded and Jimmy looked defeated. Scar frowned, “I’m sure you could help us in some way!” Grian scoffed, “You’ll just have to do the hard work.” “Yeah! Like we did!” Jimmy huffed.
Scott looked confused, “Didn’t you guys just say that you didn’t?-“ he was cut off by a hand on his mouth by Jimmy, so he stopped speaking.

“So now that you all are awake and full, how about you get out of our home?” Grian said, with a bright smile. Aetherlight was about to protest but they were out even before they could blink.

Jimmy frowned, “I feel like they could’ve stayed longer.” Joel rolled his eyes, “Oh please, you just want to hang out with Tango.” Jimmy got flustered and made a snarky comeback, “I’m surprised you let Lizzie leave so fast with how much you were trying to talk to her!” Joel shot him a glance, and the two entered a stare down.
Grian sighed. He’s been doing that a lot recently.

“Joel, didn’t you say you were looking for Halloween costumes for us?” Grain said. Joel perked up and pulled intrestpin up on his phone, “Yeah! Last year we went as the three musketeers, so this year I was thinking of going as Alvin and the chipmunks!”

Jimmy smiled, “That would be perfect!” Grian muttered, “As long as I get to be Alvin.” Joel looked mad, “uh, no! I’m Alvin!” “First off, I’m cooler, second, red is my color!” Grian yelled back.

“Wait then I would I be Simon since my color is blue?” Jimmy asked, and at the same time Joel and Grian said, “No!” Jimmy frowned, “Okay.”
“We should keep looking,” Joel said, going back to scrolling.” Grian nodded and left to finishing cleaning the dishes. So, many, dishes.

Aetherlight was at their house, all sitting or lying on the floor unsure what to do. Tango sat up from the floor, “Hey so, what are we doing?!” He looked at Scar who was in deep thought. Scar broke this concentration and turned to Tango, “I’m thinking about how we can get closer to the Bad boys!” Etho and Lizzie groaned. Scott sighed, “I thought we were supposed to be thinking about our next song…” Scar tilted his head, “But we already have one?” Scott glanced at Scar, “Do we?”

Scar nodded and tossed him a book with only one page filled out. It was a song called “Can’t You See?” Scott’s eyes went from right to left again and again reading the lyrics, and looked back at Scar, “When did you make this!?” Lizzie snatched the book and started reading as well.

Scar shrugged, “I think I did last night, before we went to karaoke,” Lizzie’s jaw was dropped, “Scar, this is really good! Why didn’t you tell us!?” Scar shrugged again, “I thought you guys knew.” All of Aetherlight groaned except for Scar.

Tango grabbed his bass and Scott’s guitar and sat down, handing the guitar to Scott. He looked at scar, “Do we have a melody or rhythm yet?” Scar shook his head. “Okay so we can still help in a way.” Tango smiled and started to pluck a few strings.

After a while, cough 6 hours cough cough, they finally finished. Scott put his and Tango’s instruments away, and Etho put away his drum sticks. Scar was replying the audio they recorded over and over trying to find any mistakes. Happily finding non.

Scar finally put the phone down, “Should we release it now?” Lizzie pondered for a while, “I think so! Bands usually release their song right as they finish it, right?” Etho shrugged. “Okay then let’s release it!” Scar said pushing a button.

“Can’t You See” by Aetherlight.

You say you’re tired of the way I speak,
That my love’s a cage you can’t leave.
But I built this place with your heartbeat,

Don’t you see how good we are?
No one else would know your scars.
They’ll never love you like I can,
So why are you pulling from my hand?

Can’t you see? It’s better here,
Where I can keep you safe, my dear.
You don’t need the world outside—
It just whispers lies.
Can’t you see? You’re mine to hold,
Warm in the dark, away from cold.
If love’s a sin, then let me be,
The one who breaks you beautifully.

I know I twist your words sometimes,
Make you think your heart’s all mine.
But you smiled when I said you’d stay,
So tell me, why turn away?

You think there’s peace beyond my reach,
But baby, I taught your soul to speak.
They can’t undo what I’ve begun,
You and I—we’re the same undone.

Can’t you see? It’s better here,
Where I can keep you safe, my dear.
You don’t need the world outside—
It just whispers lies.
Can’t you see? You’re mine to hold,
Warm in the dark, away from cold.
If love’s a sin, then let me be,
The one who breaks you beautifully.

Don’t say my name like it’s a curse,
You knew the pull would make it worse.
You swore that I was all you’d need,
Now you’re choking on that plea.

(Whispered)
You don’t really want to go.
You just want me to beg, I know.

Can’t you see? It’s better here,
You’re safer tangled up in fear.
You don’t need their sympathy—
You just need me.
Can’t you see? Don’t look away,
The world outside will make you fade.
If I’m the poison, let it be—
At least you’ll die in love with me.

Since it was so late, Scar thought to himself that Grian was probably going to sleep soon, so he quickly ran to bed so he could intervene with his dream.

When Grian opened his eyes after drifting to sleep he noticed the same landscape from last time. The jungle was loud with wind creasing the trees, with birds calling their calls, and bugs of all sort making their little bug sounds.

Grian could stay there all his life really, he loved the jungle. But the reason he wouldn’t is because of certain someone who wouldn’t leave him alone. And that person happens to be next to him.

Grian glanced at Scar who just sat next to him, and slightly sighed, “Are you always going to jump into my dreams?” Grian asked, and Scar smiled, “If I didn’t, then you wouldn’t even get these dreams,” Scar stated, it wasn’t wrong. The only reason Grian was blessed with these dreams was because of Scar’s watcher abilities. Though he’d never admit he was being “blessed” by said powers.

Scar glanced at Grian who was staring at the jungle, “Do you want to go in?” Scar asked. Grian looked at him and tilted his head, “Would we be able to?” Grian asked right back. Scar shrugged, “I think we can. Maybe we could check out that temple!” Scar smiled. Grian looked at the giant temple and looked away, “Yeah no. I’d rather go into the jungle. That temple looks creepy… like it’s alive.” Grian muttered. Scar laughed, “I think it is! I thought I heard a heartbeat from there last time we were here.” Grian grimaced, “I don’t think I wanted to know that.”

They got up and started walking in the jungle, taking in the sights. Grian loved everything about the jungle, he really couldn’t get enough of it. “The view is just amazing…” Grian murmured, not fully realizing he had said that, and scar responded with a chuckle, “Yes…it’s…” Scar looked at Grian, who wasn’t returning the action, “it’s stunning…”

After a while of walking the found another little clearing, it was a little village of houses on the trees, giant mushrooms, houses were also on the ground, but mostly covered in leaves, a crystal in the very middle, and in the background was a very tall tower.

Grian tilted his head, “You created this landscape, didn’t you? So why does it have all of these structures…” Scar glanced at Grian and chuckled, “I didn’t make these structures, I just gave the dream a prompt,” Scar stated. Grian nodded his head, “What prompt did you use?” Grian asked. Scar took a while to remember, “I’m pretty sure I put “Jungle with creative buildings in it or around it” so this must be one!” Scar smiled. Grian smiled as well, “it’s like a fairy forest.” Grian muttered.

They continued walking through the jungle, because of it being a dream, there was no fatigue holding them back. They had walked for about another 7 minutes before they found the next structure.

Grian and scar was left in awe by the huge mansion in front of them. It was bigger than the temple, and that was an understatement.

Its towering, multi-tiered structure rises dramatically above the jungle canopy, with steep, mossy-green roofs punctuated by ornate spire-like towers.

The mansion’s stone walls are meticulously detailed, featuring a mix of smooth stone, cobblestone, and polished accents that create depth and texture, giving the impression of a castle plucked from a fairytale.

The front of the mansion is grand and ceremonial with a big letter G at the middle. A broad, symmetrical staircase leads up to a central entrance framed by towering columns and stone archways.

Flanking the staircase are decorative gardens and small water features that soften the stone’s severity while enhancing the mansion’s regal aura. From the sides, the mansion displays its intricate balconies, buttresses, and overhanging eaves, adding complexity to the otherwise symmetrical structure.

The towers rise asymmetrically in height, giving a slightly whimsical, storybook feel despite the strict symmetry of the base itself. Windows of varying sizes, often framed in dark wood, punctuate the walls, creating a rhythm of light and shadow across the exterior.

Grian was breathless, “Wow…” Scar glanced at him, “Wow indeed.” “Could we go in it?” Grian asked, looking to Scar, and Scar smiled brightly and nodded, “Of course we can!” Grian smiled back and they started walking up the staircase. Even the door itself was huge! Luckily it was easy to push.

Inside was corridor leading to a space with endless chests. At the end of the massive room was a huge purple light that circled around a rectangle of obsidian, and an elevator that lead to the other room. They took the elevator and it led to a large room with mixed colors of blue and red. There was a massive blue fire place with another G in the middle. And the floor was that of crimson.

The ceiling was decorated with a large diamond chandelier that was attached to a skylight roof. Grian was smiling widely at the interior. Scar smiled to himself but not by the same reason.

“This is now G-Mansion. Because of the G’s that are all around it.” Grian said, proudly. Scar chuckled, “What do you think the G stands for?” Scar asked, Grian looked at him with a smug look, “Grian obviously.” Scar nodded, “Sounds awesome.”

In the morning, the Bad boys were lounging around. Joel was still looking for a good costume, Jimmy was watching TV, and Grian was listening to music while working on songs of his own, though his thoughts were still on his dream last night. Jimmy was watching ECHO which was a TV channel that shows/talks about music videos or just songs. The Bad Boys were usually the main ones showed, and with their new music video “Fruitless Orchard” they sure were on that channel a lot.

ECHO was hosted by a man named Bigbstatzs, but he refers to himself as Big b. The channel had just got back on after a commercial break. The next song he started to talk about was “Can’t You See” by Aetherlight. Jimmy and Joel’s jaw dropped as their main focus became what song was now playing on the TV.

Jimmy nudged Grian to get him to pause his music. Grian scrunched his eye brows and took his head phones off, “What do you want?” Jimmy pointed at the TV. Grian heard the song playing, and since there was no music video to the song, big B was reacting to it, full screen of his face. Grian was more confused, “Why would I care about this?” Grian looked back at Jimmy. “Because this song is by Aetherlight,” Jimmy muttered, and Grian’s face was kind of shocked.

“Good for them then, they’re actually getting somewhere,” Grian said and checked his phone, searching Aetherlight. He saw their channel and clicked on it. He was scanning the songs on their EP, there was nothing special. Then went to singles to find only one. “‘Can’t You See’ has 257k likes. And 500k streams.” Grian said, not impressed. Maybe a little impressed.

Joel muted the TV, “That song is toxic.” Joel spat out. Jimmy didn’t want to, but he agreed, because it was true, “Yeah, why is it so- I don’t know the word for it…” Grian spoke up, “haunting?” Jimmy nodded.

Chapter Text

Bdubs was getting ready in his room, getting dressed and brushing his teeth, stuff like that. He had some time on his hands so he started to look at some fun places that him and the Bad Boys could go to. His scrolling stopped when he found a haunted mansion not too far from them. He smiled and turned his phone off, making his way to the bad boys, who were a building over.

After 7 minutes, Bdubs reached their condo and put in the code, walking in. He looked around and saw the boys sitting on the couch.

“Hey guys!” Bdubs waved, smiling like always. Grian didn’t hear him because he was back to working on his song lyrics, and Jimmy was too busy watching what BigB thought about “Can’t You See” by Aetherlight. Joel however, heard him and waved back, “Sup B? Please don’t tell me we don’t have another music video to record-“

Bdubs laughed, “No, I just wanted to see if you guys wanted to go to a haunted mansion today!” He plopped on the couch next to Grian, Grian looked up and took his headphones off, “Oh hey B, what are you doing here?” Joel rolled his eyes, “He just said he wants us to go to a haunted mansion,” Joel said.

Bdubs looked at Grian and Joel exited, hoping the answer would be yes. Grian nodded, “Yeah that seems cool.” Joel agreed, “Maybe it would give me better ideas than intrestpin for Halloween costumes.”

The three turned to Jimmy, who was too focused on the song, Bdubs raised an eyebrow, “Who are they?” Jimmy glanced at him then back at the TV, “Aetherlight.” Jimmy muttered. Bdubs tilted his head and looked at Grian, “competition?” He asked. Grian shook his head, “No, they popped out of now where. We actually hung out with them for a bit.” Grian said, and Joel nodded his head.

“Do you have a picture of them?” Bdubs asked, Joel and Grian shook their heads. Jimmy spoke up, “Oh I do! When I was hanging out with Scott and Tango they sent me a photo of the group!” Jimmy pulled out his phone and showed the picture to Bdubs, Bdubs squinted trying to make out all of the faces. It looked like photo was rushed and most of the faces were blurred.

“Huh, maybe they could come to the mansion with us?” Bdubs suggested. Jimmy smiled, “I’d be okay with that!” Grian and Joel looked at each other. “Grian, no. We should not.” Grian looked at Joel more intently. Joel clenched his teeth, “No…” he looked away from Grian and saw Jimmy was giving him the same face.
“Ugh! I don’t see why we need to invite them! We saw them yesterday! And the day before that, and the day before that! That’s plenty of time!” Joel shouted, Grian was quick with a response, “Yes, but Bdubs hasn’t met them yet!” Joel looked away, “You guys won’t listen to me even if I say no, so what’s the point…” He grumbled. Jimmy smiled, “I’ll call Tango right now!”

Jimmy went to the other room and called Tango. The person who answered however was not Tango, “Hello? Who’s this?” A voice through the other line spoke, Jimmy scrunched his eyebrows, “It- It’s Jimmy, sorry, I thought this was a friends number..” Jimmy said, his voice sounding hurt. “oh hey Jimmy! This is Scar! Tango gave you the right number don’t worry! We all just share one phone!” Scar said, even without looking you could tell he was smiling. Jimmy tilted his head, “All 5 of you…share phones?” Scar laughed, “Yeah! We didn’t have enough money for 5 AND get a place to stay, so we just got one!” Jimmy laughed as well, “I’m just going to ignore that. The bad boy’s manager was wondering if you’d guys wanted to go to a haunted mansion with us!”

Scar pondered for less than a second, “Yes! Of course! We’d love that! See you then!” And the phone was hung up. Jimmy was shocked by the quickness he had answered but shrugged. He walked back inside to tell everyone the news.

“Scar said that they’d be able to go!” Jimmy said, Grian turned his head, “I thought you were calling Tango?” He asked. Jimmy looked away and scratched the back of his neck, “Apparently all of Aetherlight shares one phone.” Jimmy said with a slight chuckle, Joel, Bdubs, and Grian looked at him with a blank stare, “Really?” Grian said, tilting his head. Jimmy nodded. Bdubs shook his head, “Whatever! What time did you guys settle on? And did you tell him which haunted mansion it is?” Jimmy stared into space, and the other three sighed. “I’ll call them…” Jimmy murmured.

After getting a time and place set up the bad boys, and Bdubs, made their way to the spot they and Aetherlight agreed on. Bdubs was driving while The Bad Boys were in the back of their van.

“So Joel,” Grian spoke up, and Joel raised an eyebrow, “Yeah G?” Joel said, a hint of uneasiness in his voice. “Are you going to talk to Lizzie this time?” Grian asked, a smirk across his face as he saw Joel getting red, “GRIAN! I told you to drop that…” Jimmy spoke up, “Oh I know! We should have the “Buddy” system! And make a way that you’ll be with Lizzie!” Bdubs jumped in, still focusing on the road, “That’s a good idea! Then I can become friends with one at a time and not the whole group!” Jimmy thought for a sec, “Okay so…Joel will be with Lizzie, I want to be with Tango and Scott, Grian can be with Scar so Bdubs you can be with eth-“ “Hey woah woah woah I don’t want to be with Scar! Can’t I be with Scott or something?” Grian interrupted, and Jimmy sighed, “But I don’t want to be stuck with Scar and putting Bdubs with Scar might not be the best choice. Plus we need to keep an eye on him!” Grian grumbled, “Fine…” Jimmy smiled, “Okay Bdubs that means you’ll be paired with Etho!”

The car slammed the breaks, causing the bad boys to fly forward, Joel got up from the floor, “Jeez Bdubs! Maybe try to give us a warning?-“ He froze when he saw Bdubs shaking in the front seat. Jimmy was still a bit dazed but Grian was already on his way to the front, “Bdubs? You okay?” Grian said, keeping a hand on his shoulder, “You think you can move the van to the side of the road?” Bdubs slightly nodded, slowly moving the car to the side. “Jim, call Aetherlight and tell them we might be late. B, how about we step outside?”

Bdubs got out off the car and fell to the grass once he got to it. Etho? Like his Etho? Like the Etho he had spent years with but up and vanished? What do you mean he’s in a band now? Was it the same Etho? No, no one has the name Etho, he has to be his Etho. Is he even his Etho anymore? He left him, only a note saying he had to do this.”

“Bdubs, Bdubs! BDUBS!” Grian said, gradually getting louder, “Bdubs you need to breathe!” Grian kept calling out, but Bdubs was in too far deep in his thoughts, “End, Bdubs…you’re always telling us not to panic.” Grian said, trying to lighten the mood, but Bdubs couldn’t hear him. Grian’s forced smile went away, “B,” he took Bdubs hand and put it on Grian’s chest, and started slowly breathing, then took Bdubs’ other hand and put it on his chest. “Breathe in, hold for 7, out for 4.” Grian repeated this many times and each time Bdubs was following a little bit better.

Grian has been doing this a lot, he had to learn to deal with panic attacks. When he got to earth he got panic attacks often, and when the Bad Boys would get ready to preform, there was bound to be some panic. Talking didn’t work, and Bdubs wasn’t showing and signs of recognizing Grian, so he had to use touch to communicate with him. (That’s how I tend to calm myself down :)

Bdubs looked at Grian with watery eyes, “G?” Grian smiled, “Hey, you okay?” Bdubs swallowed and shook his head, “No,” Grian’s smile dropped, “You wanna talk about it?” Bdubs looked in thought, and after a while he nodded.

Bdubs hated the smell of bleach and stale coffee. It was the scent of the life he was slowly suffocating in, a life of spreadsheets, beige cubicles, and agonizing boredom. Every morning, he promised himself he was made for more than a second-tier accounting firm, but every evening, he shuffled out the door, another day wasted.

(When the text becomes like this it means it’s Etho’s perspective, and the bad boys don’t know about this, neither does Bdubs.)

One particularly grey Tuesday, taking his usual shortcut home, he heard the sound. Not the usual city sounds, but a soft, ragged whimpering coming from behind a dumpster. He dropped his briefcase and went around the corner. Huddled there was a figure, masked, shivering, and dressed in torn, strange black fabric that looked less like clothes and more like the remnants of a uniform. The air around them smelled sharp and wrong, like a lightning strike had just narrowly missed. Bdubs didn’t hesitate. This person looked terrible. "Hey! Are you okay?"

The figure flinched, snapping their head up. Beneath the dark mask, their eyes were a chaotic swirl of purple and gold then becoming dark brown, wide and absolutely terrified. They were shaking uncontrollably. Bdubs's gut clenched; this person hadn't been mugged, they looked like they had just escaped something truly evil. A cult, maybe?

The figure couldn't speak, overwhelmed by the harsh lights and roaring sounds of the city. Bdubs softened his voice. "Look, I'm Bdubs. I'm harmless. We need to get you somewhere quiet. You can come to my place, okay?"
The offer was simple, clean, and free of judgment. It was the humanity of it that allowed the masked person to reach out and grasp Bdubs’s wrist with a weak, desperate grip.

Bdubs settled the stranger into his small spare room, giving him space and silence. It took days, but the shaking subsided. Bdubs learned that the stranger's name was Etho. Etho knew nothing. He didn't know how to cook a microwave meal, how to take the bus, or even what a "weekend" was. Etho was a silent, anxious mess, but he possessed a hyper-focused loyalty and a drive for perfection that Bdubs instantly appreciated.

Bdubs, desperate to inject colour into his life, found a new, fulfilling purpose in teaching Etho how to live. He taught him about good coffee, the satisfaction of a well-executed screw, and the chaos of his dreams, all the big ideas he was saving up for his future managerial career. Etho, in turn, basically became Bdubs's silent, logical part of his conscious. Bdubs would dream up a plan to manage a local band that would inevitably fall apart, and Etho, with his innate focus, would meticulously put the pieces back into a solid, workable reality. They were two halves of a whole.

They became best friends. Etho was the one person who saw all of Bdubs's energy and ideas, and instead of calling them crazy, helped build them. Bdubs was the shield that kept the overwhelming human world, and the shadows of Etho's past, at bay.

The relationship worked perfectly until Bdubs finally landed his first major gig: managing a regional rock band. The promotion was huge, a lifeline out of the beige despair. Bdubs was ecstatic, but Etho became withdrawn.
Etho's old Watcher paranoia resurfaced, but amplified by the intense human love he felt for his friend. He would wake up in cold sweats, convinced that his old masters were closing in. He realized that his profound, emotional attachment to Bdubs made him a massive liability. If the Watchers found him, they would use Bdubs as a weapon.

To protect the man who had given him a life, Etho knew the only answer was to put distance between them. He had to be the one to leave this time.

While Bdubs was out celebrating his new contract, Etho sat on the floor of their shared living room, overwhelmed by a deep, wrenching human pain he had never felt before, grief. He was choosing a terrifying life of captivity over a beautiful life of joy, all for his friend.
He wrote a single, shaking line on a slip of paper. He pressed the paper against his cheek, letting a soft tear stain the ink, and laid the note on Bdubs's pillow:

"I have to go. It is the only way to protect you. Don't look for me. I am safe. Please be well.
— Etho"

Etho put his dark mask back on, and walked out, running until the buildings blurred and he found the Edge again.

Bdubs found the note at 3 AM. He read it once, and the paper slipped from his fingers. The man who dreamed of grand stages and roaring crowds sank to the carpet, sobbing, panicked, and hyperventilating. His emotional anchor, his best friend, was gone. The note confirmed his worst fear, Etho was running from a threat so big, so real, that Bdubs had been too weak to defend him. That day, a protective, hyper-vigilant intensity was born in Bdubs, the same intensity that would later make him a perfect manager for the Bad Boys.

Grian’s eyes were left wide, and his face pale. Joel was slightly behind him, his mouth wide open, and Jimmy had wide eyes, jaw dropped, and hands on his head. Bdubs looked up to Grian, “Is it really him..? Is he the Etho in Aetherlight..?”

Grian swallowed, a memory flashing to his mind that he seemingly forgot about due to alcohol, it was Etho telling him that he was a run away watcher as well, but went back. Then another one of the other day where he knew Bdubs full name and that he looked like he saw a ghost when Bdubs was mentioned. Grian nodded, “I think he might be.”

“Mate, I feel we should just cancel this haunted mansion thing…” Joel said quietly, but Bdubs shook his head, “Are you crazy!? I need to see him again!” He got up and rushed to the drivers seat, “Hop in! I’ve got some questions to ask.” Bdubs looked serious, which isn’t a normal sight to see for the bad boys. Unless they’re in trouble.

Grian and Joel hopped in, but Jimmy was still there frozen in shock, “JIMMY WE WILL LEAVE WITHOUT YOU!” Joel yelled, and Jimmy snapped out of it, quickly getting into the van.

They got to the haunted mansion and saw a very upset Aetherlight. Grian walked out first, “Hey guys, sorry about the delay…we uh…” Bdubs got out of the car and Etho’s face went pale, his eyes tearing up slightly, “B..?” Etho was able to mutter. Bdubs looked like he was about to shoot water out of his eyes but he held it in, “Don’t you B me, you left! You left me! And now you’re with a band!? Why!?”

Grian looked the ground, “Yeah we kinda had to hear a long backstory.” Joel leaned on Grian, and Jimmy looked uncomfortable seeing the fight? Was it even a fight? Or? Whatever, he didn’t know. Aetherlight minus Scar, was just as confused. Scar was still smiling at Grian of course, “Eh they can figure it out. Let’s go inside!” Grian got a little upset, “I feel like you don’t understand what they went through-“ he was cut off by Scar, “Yes I understand it’s very sad, but it’s not our business! So let’s go inside and let them work it out.” He said brightly, but a little impatient.

Grian sighed, about to say something, but Jimmy jumped in, “Great idea! It is their business! So while on the way here I came up with a buddy system! Because you know, haunted mansions aren’t fun with a group of what? 9 people? Yeah, 9. So, Joel and Lizzie, Me, Scott, and Tango, Grian and Scar, and last- I figured they need to talk things out so Etho and Bdubs!”

Scott smiled, “That’s a great idea!” Tango patted Jimmy on the shoulder, “It’s a good thing we’re partnered, I’ll be your knight in shining armor when you get scared!” Jimmy chuckled, “Oh please, I’m never scared!” The three of them walked into the haunted mansion.

Joel slowly walked towards Lizzie, “Hey Lizzie! Do, uh, do you like scary things?” Joel asked, and Lizzie looked in thought, “Well I’m not a fan of getting scared, but it’s funny afterwards.” She smiled, and Joel felt his heart melt.

“We’re buddies!” Scar smiled to Grian, who rolled his eyes, “Yes sure, we’re buddies.” Scar’s smile slightly fell, “Do you not want to be my buddy?” Grian looked at him, and softly chuckled, “first, I never said that, second, will you stop trying to make me go back to being a watcher?” Scars smile was completely gone, he looked down, “No, but…we can still be friends…right?” Grian tilted his head and smiled, “I said we were buddies.” Scar smiled, “Okay! So now we go in the mansion now, right? It’s not nearly as grand as the G-Mansion.” Grain smiled more when he said that, “We have to wait a while since Jim and his group went first.” Scar groaned, “Darn…”

Jimmy, Scott, and Tango pushed through the heavy, creaking front doors. The air inside was thick with dust, and shadows moved in the dim light.

“Okay, this is awesome!” Jimmy bounced, his bright jacket standing out against the darkness.

A faint clanking echoed from deeper in the house. Tango, his eyes shining with excitement, threw an arm over Jimmy’s shoulders, pulling him close. “Fear not, fair Jimmy! Your knight in shining armor is here to protect you from all the ghouls! I’ll keep you safe from the horrors!”

Jimmy laughed and leaned into the touch. “Oh, please, you’re just looking for an excuse to cling!”

Scott, walking beside Jimmy, smiled softly. As Tango moved to playfully tickle Jimmy, Scott stepped between them to examine a portrait on the wall. "Look at this, Jimmy. The eyes in this painting seem to follow you, don't they?" Scott tilted his head, drawing Jimmy's attention away from Tango.

Jimmy gasped and leaned closer to the dusty canvas. "Whoa! You're right! That's so cool! How do they do that?"

Tango, momentarily stopped, clapped his hands together with excitement. "It's all in the lighting and angles! I had to study stage sets and props for Aetherlight!" He pointed enthusiastically and stepped forward to lead the way again.

As they went deeper, a sudden gust of wind slammed a nearby door shut with a loud bang. Jimmy yelped and jumped, grabbing Scott's arm tightly.

Scott's breath caught, a warm feeling spreading from Jimmy's grip. He liked it. He gently squeezed Jimmy's hand. "Easy there, you alright?" His voice was low and caring.

Before Jimmy could answer, Tango pushed a loose floorboard in front of them with his foot. "Aha! A trap! Or maybe a shortcut? We must check it out! Follow my lead and stay close!" Tango nudged Scott aside and stood in front of Jimmy, forming a shield between them.

Jimmy chuckled, oblivious to the shift. "Alright, brave leader, just try not to fall through the floor!"

They walked down a dark hallway. A low, guttural moan echoed from behind a tapestry. Jimmy shivered and pulled his jacket tighter. "Okay, that one got me a little," he admitted, letting out a nervous laugh.

Scott reached out, brushing his hand against Jimmy's back in a comforting touch. "It's just the sound effects, probably," he murmured while scanning the dark room. But before his hand could settle, Tango grabbed both their arms and pulled them forward with a grin. "Ooh, this is the good stuff! It's not a real haunted mansion unless you've got spooky sounds! Come on, let’s see what's making that noise!" Tango’s enthusiasm surged, dragging them along.

They entered a large dining hall. Jimmy’s eyes lit up. “This is incredible set dressing! Imagine the music video you could shoot here!”

Scott smiled, sharing in Jimmy's excitement. "With your ideas, Jimmy, I bet you could come up with something unforgettable. We could even design some of the costumes ourselves. I’m pretty handy with a sewing machine…” he started, picturing it with Jimmy.

Tango, inspecting a dusty chandelier, suddenly whooped and grabbed a cobweb-covered bowl from the table. “Found a prop! Jimmy, put it on!” He tried to place the bowl, which might have had a fake eyeball in it, on Jimmy’s head.

Jimmy dodged, laughing. “Tango! That’s probably full of dust!” Scott, watching the silly scene, felt a bit deflated. The chat about collaboration was sidetracked by Tango's antics.

Jimmy turned back to Scott, missing his moment of frustration. "But seriously, a collab with you guys in a place like this would be the best! You two are so much fun! I’d just have to convince the other bad boys..."

The compliment, aimed at both Watchers, made Scott and Tango beam, each thinking Jimmy was talking just to them.

Joel wasn't cut out for suspenseful quiet. He liked the gore, the punching objects, or extreme action he could run from. This slow, tight moving with Lizzie, the Watcher that he knew he couldn't trust but was miserably hoping to kiss, was torture.

The air around them in the side wing of the house was cooler, filled with a damp, earthy smell. The only illumination was a little, pale lantern that Lizzie insisted bring, casting moody shadows on the flaking wallpaper.

"So, Joel," Lizzie began, her voice a gentle bell in the shadows. "Are you usually afraid of things like that? I'm kind of just confused by the dustiness."

Joel pushed his hands into his pockets. "Nah. Not scared. Just… careful. You know, making sure that we don't run into anything too dangerous." He tried to sound cool, but his eyes continually returned to her face, which glowed in the poor light. He couldn't help recalling when she had warned him about the Watchers.
They entered what was clearly a part of an abandoned, dilapidated greenhouse. The way was narrow, cluttered with hanging plastic ivy and frayed metal chains. Joel tried to duck under a sagging piece of drapery when a hidden catch was sprung, and a rubber snake dropped, smacking him squarely on the shoulder.

Joel let out a certain non-scream, squeaky, shocked "Oh!"—and jerked backward, into Lizzie. Lizzie laughed, hard and bright. She didn't move. Instead, her hands came up to hold him steady, resting lightly on his biceps. "Woah! Easy there. It looks like the decorations decided to fight back."

Those beautiful, calculating eyes were sparkling with genuine amusement, not sadism. Joel's suspicion vanished instantly, replaced by a pounding blush. He could feel the heat of her through his jacket.

"Sure, well, it's... tacky," growled Joel, trying to keep himself away from the radiating warmth up his neck. He took a step back quickly, making a respectful space between them. "So, you. you're not afraid of anything, huh?"

Lizzie shrugged, holding the lantern to examine a phony mossy statue. "I don't care for spiders, I guess. But man-made terrors? They just don't hold for me. Everything just feels too…faked out." She looked back at him, her expression softening to one of quiet introspection. "I think what really scares me is when you're made to expect one thing, and the total opposite happens."

The announcement hit Joel as a blow to the body. She knows that I think that she is threatening, but she's acting like my friend. That is the exact opposite. He strained to come up with a safe topic. "Right. Uh, so, what's your favorite band then, other than Aetherlight? Gotta keep it professional.”

Lizzie smiled, a small, natural curve of her lips that tightened his chest. "That's easy. You guys. I really enjoyed the music video for Fruitless Orchard. It was showing honestly between the bad boys, right?" Joel shrugged, his suspicion rose, temporarily obscuring the crush. "Honest, huh? You enjoy honesty?" Lizzie froze, her eyes on his. Dancing light highlighted the intensity in her eyes. "I do."

As the silence hung too long, they stepped onto one of the swinging sections of floor. Joel, off balance, staggered. This time, instead of pulling away, he steadied himself by reflexively latching onto Lizzie's hand, threading their fingers together.

A forced, blindingly bright laugh track resonated overhead from the speakers. Lizzie wouldn't let him go. She held his hand tightly, her thumb tracing smooth circles across his knuckles. Her expression didn't change, but her voice dropped to a quiet whisper, spoken only for him.

"Don't let the fake noises distract you, Joel. Listen to what's… right..in front of you."
She clamped her hand a tiny bit harder, and Joel's carefully constructed wall of doubt crumbled. In the darkness, coldness of the haunted house, holding her hand in his was more real than any ghost. He was scared, not of the furniture, but of how much he wished he could believe her.

“Lizzie,” Joel whispered, his throat tight, his resolve melting away entirely. He forgot about her being a Watcher and only saw the girl holding his hand. “W- would you like to go on a date? With me?”

Lizzie didn't respond with a flirt or a joke. She simply squeezed his hand one more time, their eyes locked in the low light. "I would," she said, her voice soft and entirely unreadable.

Etho walked in, pulling his mask down slightly as he entered the dark foyer with Bdubs. Every instinct in his body screamed at him to run back out. It wasn't the terror of the mansion that unnerved him, it was the intense, laser focus of the man walking beside him.

Bdubs hadn't uttered a single enthusiastic comment about the cobwebs or the fake blood like he was planning to before he knew Etho would be there. He was walking with the grim intensity of a man demanding answers.

“This is weird, right, Etho?” Bdubs’s voice was low, strained, and filled with a feigned aggression that didn't quite cover the tremor of hurt underneath. “The whole mansion thing. Feels a bit much for a Tuesday afternoon. Hm, a Tuesday. That’s the same day I met my best friend of years who straight up left me.”

Etho adjusted his mask, using the action as a moment of delay. “Oh, wow yeah... This place is scary. Very spooky. Look out, Bdubs, there’s a… a rubber hand. Very terrifying.” He pointed unnecessarily at a prop hanging from the ceiling.
Bdubs ignored the hand, stepping closer.

“Stop it. Stop pointing at the cheesy Halloween decorations. I know you, and you’ve got nerves of steel. You think I don't remember you? The Etho who made sure I ate something other than stale chips? The one who had to force me to bed every night so I got some sleep?”

Etho kept his gaze fixed on a distant, flickering chandelier. “We should probably stick to the path, B. We wouldn’t want to get lost. Maybe we should look out for… the next spook.”

“We’re not talking about the next spook, we’re talking about the last spook,” Bdubs insisted, his voice cracking with emotion. “You left me a note! You said it was to protect me! Protect me from what, Etho? A bad review? An angry landlord? I looked for you for months! I genuinely thought you had been taken by that cult I thought you escaped! I went through hell because I thought you were in danger!”

Etho flinched violently at the word cult. His hands instinctively clenched into fists. He had to pivot, but he couldn't tell the whole truth, the dangerous truth.

“It was… complicated,” Etho muttered, turning his back on Bdubs to inspect a tattered curtain. “Look, this curtain is very old. A classic piece of haunted mansion decor. I think it’s meant to look spooky. Does that make ya jump..?”

Bdubs grabbed his shoulder, his grip firm, turning him around forcefully. “Don’t you dare dismiss this! You were my best friend, Etho! You ripped the foundation out from under me! I didn’t know what was real anymore! If you were going to go, why didn't you just tell me the truth? Why didn't you just call me to tell me you were at least fine!?”

The question was simple, human, and devastating. Etho felt the familiar feel of tears behind his mask. He had made the biggest sacrifice to keep Bdubs safe, and all it had done was lead to this open wound.

“I… I couldn’t,” Etho whispered, his voice catching in his throat. He couldn't risk the Watchers finding the link he knew his emotions created. “I couldn’t risk it.”

“Risk what!?” Bdubs cried, his own eyes welling up with unshed tears. “Risk my safety? What about my heart? What about the safety of my sanity when I thought you were dead or suffering because of me?”

The mention of his sanity was the final shattering blow. Etho let out a small, ragged sob, muffled slightly by his mask. His hands came up to his head, gripping where his mouth was under his mask, as if he could physically contain the breakdown. The overwhelming pain was too much to bare. “I missed you so much, B,” he whispered, the words tearing out of him. “Every single day. Leaving you was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.”

Bdubs's anger dissolved completely. The sight of Etho’s shoulders shaking was terrible. All that remained was two years' worth of agonizing, profound loss.

"Etho," Bdubs choked out, his voice raw and desperate. He closed the distance between them. "I don't need to know right now..." Etho dropped his hands and clung to him, finally letting the tears fall freely and softly onto Bdubs’s shoulder. The exhaustion of maintaining the Watcher’s lie was completely gone. He felt comfort as Bdubs slipped his mask off.

"I'm so sorry, B," Etho whispered into his jacket, his voice thick with emotion. "I'm so sorry."
Bdubs hugged him tighter, burying his face in Etho's shoulder and letting his own panic, relief, and deep hurt wash over him in heavy, choked sobs. He didn't care about the mansion, the ghosts, or the other Watchers. All that mattered was that his friend, was back in his arms. "I thought I lost you forever," Bdubs managed to gasp out between his sobs. "Never again, Etho. Never again." (I actually cried while writing this)

Grian sighed, watching Bdubs and Etho finally move into the mansion, locked in their own tearful bubble. He knew he should be concerned about them, but his own partner for this haunted tour was giving him a different kind of anxiety.
“So, buddies!” Scar chirped, falling into step beside him with an easy, radiant smile. "Our turn for the grand tour! Don't worry, I'll protect you from all the spooky specters!"

Grian rolled his eyes. “Oh, I’m sure.”

Scar’s smile didn't falter, but he feigned offense. "Grian! I'm hurt! I just want to protect you from the dangers! Look!" He pointed to a rotating disco ball that inexplicably illuminated a skeleton draped in LED lights. "Humans are so delightfully extra about fear."

They walked through a cramped section of the hallway where plastic spiders hung on fishing line and recorded screams echoed from hidden speakers. Grian had to admit, the cheapness of it was almost charming.

"It's just for fun, Scar," Grian said, a slight chuckle in his voice. "We love the theatrics. Watchers just don't get it because you deal with real drama."

Scar nodded thoughtfully. "True. Our methods are less... visible fishing wire. But I'm learning! I did try to get Tango to make a fake haunted sound effect, but he just ended up making a noise like a very upset duck."

Grian laughed, a genuine, loud sound that surprised himself. "An upset duck? Seriously?"
"Dead serious," Scar confirmed. "He tried to tell me it was the sound of 'cosmic dread,' but it was definitely a duck. I had to threaten to hide his favorite shoes."

Grian shook his head. Scar wasn't talking about Watcher power, Grian's destiny, or Aetherlight's plan. He was being funny, making observations about the goofy human world they shared.

They entered a section of the mansion that was designed as an elaborate, overgrown library. Dust motes danced in the slivers of light piercing through broken windows, illuminating shelves packed with ancient, leather-bound books.
“Wow,” Grian breathed, impressed by the craftsmanship of the set design. “This is actually pretty cool. The detail on these covers look so authentic.” He reached out, running a finger along a dusty spine.

Scar’s gaze softened as he watched Grian. “They do. I actually prefer the way humans write stories. All the detail about things like tea and rainy mornings. We just don’t have those concepts.” He stepped closer, his voice dropping slightly. “Though, this book seems structurally unsound. Look at how it’s balanced.”
Grian leaned in to examine the precarious stack. “Oh, that’s just asking to fall—" Before he could finish, a hidden fan kicked on, stirring up dust and causing the stack of old books to topple from the shelf with a sudden

CRASH!

Grian yelped, stumbling back. He caught his heel on a loose rug and began to fall backward. Scar was there instantly, quick as lightning, catching him firmly by the waist.

Grian instinctively grabbed onto Scar’s shoulders, steadying himself. Their faces were inches apart, the air thick with dust and a sudden, undeniable intensity. Scar’s eyes, usually sparkling with mischief, were dark and focused only on him. His grip on Grian’s waist was firm, warm, and possessive.

The silence stretched, broken only by Grian’s ragged breathing and the distant creaks of the old mansion. Grian was too busy thinking about what had just happen to feel Scar’s gaze drop from his eyes to his lips, then back up.

Scar leaned in, his head tilting, his eyes never leaving Grian’s. Grian raised an eyebrow, wondering what Scar was doing, but just before their lips could brush, Scar’s eyes widened slightly. He pulled back, a subtle, almost imperceptible shift that broke the spell.

He coughed awkwardly, then his bright, usual smile snapped back into place, a little too quickly. “Woah! Almost took a tumble there, buddy!” Scar chuckled, releasing Grian’s waist and stepping back. “Good thing your trusty friend was here to catch you! We can’t have the lead singer of The Bad Boys getting flattened by vintage literature, can we?”

Grian blinked, disoriented, still shook from the fall/scare. He shook his head, a small, embarrassed laugh escaping him. “Yeah. Thanks, Scar. That was… really fast thinking.”

Scar beamed, the mask of the charming friend firmly back in place. “Always happy to help! Now, shall we brave the next corridor of doom? I hear there’s a rather charming portrait gallery up ahead!”

He gestured forward with a flourish, already leading the way, leaving Grian to follow.

They soon found themselves in a long, dark corridor lined with dusty, unsettling portraits. Each face seemed to watch them with painted, dead eyes.

"This is better than the rubber hand section," Grian admitted, running his hand along the ornate wooden frame of a painting. "The psychological stuff is always creepier."

Scar stopped beside him, his gaze fixed on the same portrait, but his usual confidence seemed to waver slightly. “I agree, it gets in your head...” He swallowed, his eyes darting to the next portrait.

"You look nervous," Grian observed, enjoying the sight of the usually unflappable Scar looking genuinely unsettled. "What's wrong? Afraid of a few oil paintings?"

Scar gave a weak smile. “No! I just... I prefer things that are sparkly or explody. Quiet, dark things that stare? No thanks..” He lowered his voice.

Grian stiffened slightly at the accidental near-reference to his past, but then he decided to just let it go. Scar was clearly playing the nervous friend, and Grian decided to play along. "Aww. Poor Scar. Maybe you need your trusty friend to hold your hand?"

"Maybe I do," Scar whispered, entirely serious, but before Grian could decide if he was joking, Scar's eyes widened in pure, unadulterated panic.

A jump-scare exploded from the wall right next to them. It was a figure dressed as a decaying executioner, lunging out of a concealed doorway with a loud shriek.

Scar let out a noise that was half-scream, half-choke, a sound entirely undignified and utterly terrified. He didn't jump back, he jumped up, clinging to Grian's arm with the desperate strength of a drowning man. He buried his face in Grian's shoulder, trembling violently.

Grian, who had barely flinched at the scare, burst into loud, unrestrained laughter. He threw his head back and laughed until tears fell out his eyes, a sound of pure, helpless joy. He clutched his side, totally unable to stop as Scar held him in a death grip, his terror genuine.

"You... you got so scared by a... a guy in a rubber mask!" Grian wheezed, wiping a tear away.

Scar slowly lifted his head from Grian's shoulder. His attention was immediately fixated on Grian’s face, the easy, uninhibited joy, the sparkle in his eyes, the unrestrained sound that filled the dark space.

It’s beautiful, Scar thought, a profound, chilling realization settling over him. This was why Grian was so magnificent. Scar gently loosened his grip on Grian's arm, a genuine, soft smile replacing his terror. "Well, you certainly seem to enjoy my suffering, Grian." He paused, looking at him with deep affection. "You have a nice laugh.."

Grian, still catching his breath, felt a rush of warmth at the compliment. "Thanks, Scar," Grian said, his smile softening.

Scar gently reached out to take Grian’s hand, lacing his fingers through Grian's for comfort and connection after the scare. "Come on!" he said, his voice bright and sincere. But before Scar could fully link their hands, Grian pulled his hand back, tucking it into his pocket with a casual movement. "Yeah, sounds good," Grian agreed cheerfully, clapping a friendly hand on Scar's shoulder instead. "Lead the way! We should catch up with the others."

Scar’s hand remained suspended for a brief moment, the gesture of connection openly, gently rejected. His smile tightened, becoming a little less genuine, but he didn't falter. He simply lowered his hand and led the way, his resolve to win Grian over only hardening.

Once the sun ducked below the horizon, group by duo the bands got out of the mansion. Aetherlight and the bad boys + Bdubs waved their good byes and left. Jimmy was talking about weird things Tango was doing to show off and things Scott did to “just be caring” and Joel was weirdly quiet. Grain caught on to his quietness and decided to press on this, “Hey Joel, what did you and Lizzie get up to?” Grian asked, smirking. Joel froze, and a clear gulp could be heard. Joel spoke in a very high pitched voice, “Nothing- n- nothing at all.” Joel cleared his throat, trying to make his voice deeper, “We just chatted.”

Jimmy and Grian shared looks and continued to press, “Joel, we’ve known you for how long? We know when you’re lying.” Jimmy chuckled, and Grian smiled. Joel put his head in his hands and he groaned, “I asked her on a date…and she said yes…” Jimmy smiled more, Grian’s just softened, “That’s great news!” Jimmy said. Joel shook his head, “No it’s not! She’s- a watcher, w- what if she’s just using me to get info from us like we are with them!?” Jimmy tilted his head, “We’ve been using them for info?” There was a long pause of silence but it was interrupted by Grian, “No, not anymore. I found their intentions, and they’re impossible. Joel, I don’t think Lizzie is using you for information, maybe she actually likes you.” Grian said, forcing a smile, and Joel tried to return it, “I really hope so…” Joel muttered.

When they got home they waved at Bdubs leaving to his home and they went to theirs. Grian slammed to his bed taking a long sigh, recalling everything that happened. For some reason the moment in the haunted mansion kept replying in his mind, the closeness of him and scar he hadn’t recognized because of the shock of the fall. Was that casual…? Well, he could just ask in the dream tonight.

Grian took a shower, got dressed for sleep, and closed his eyes. He started to drift off to sleep, for once becoming exited for his dreams.

Once Aetherlight got home, Scar was lying on the couch, and Lizzie sat next to him. “Scar? I- have some good news.” Scar glanced at her but closed his eyes again, “Can it wait till tomorrow? I’m busy.” Scar murmured. Lizzie looked away and sighed, “Joel asked me on a date and I said yes.” Scar shot up from the couch and stared at Lizzie, “Really?” Scar said quietly, and Lizzie nodded. Scar looked to the ground then back at her, still trying to process this. “So…you’re going on a date…with Joel…a bad boy…who is also a watcher hunter…” Scar said, and Lizzie nodded once again.

“This could be a great mile stone for us to get information about Grian, and allow me to get closer to Joel so when we execute our plan, it will go more smoothly!” Lizzie said, trying to contain her thoughts, but Scar was in his own world. Lizzie continued, “This could maybe cut our estimated time of 8-9 down to 5!” That snapped Scar back. He should be happy about it his. Shouldn’t he? But, why is he scared? Does he not want a high watcher to be in charge again? Maybe, but that doesn’t feel like the reason. He shook his head and went back to the conversation with Lizzie, “Lizzie that’s…great! Call everyone down, we still need to get reports for how the mansion trip went.” Scar said.

The five members of Aetherlight gathered in the common area of their headquarters, a sleek, modern space that still felt faintly impersonal compared to the Bad Boys' cozy condo. The air, however, was light, crackling with a infectious energy that had nothing to do with strategic success.

Tango was leaning against a counter, grinning widely. "I'm telling you, that was the most fun I've had since we got here. Did you see Jimmy's face when Scott told him that ridiculous story about the mansion's original owner? Pure gold!"
Scott smiled, but a hint of something deeper touched his voice. "He trusts us. That's the thing. He trusts us so easily. It's... nice. And I actually want to help him with his next song idea."

Lizzie was examining her phone, re-reading a text from Joel with a curious, almost hesitant smile. "He’s such a wild card. I told him I admire his confidence, and he just sent a selfie where he was trying to look 'dangerous.' It's ridiculous, but... I actually found myself admiring his commitment to the bit. He's so unapologetically himself."

Etho was the quietest, standing slightly apart. He didn't speak of the mission; he just repeated, "He's okay. Bdubs is okay." The tension in his shoulders had eased for the first time all day.
Scar moved to the center of the room, looking around at his team. The initial happiness he felt was confusing, it wasn't the satisfaction of a Watcher completing a task, but the warmth of a friend seeing his friends genuinely happy.
"Exactly," Scar confirmed, trying to sound professional but failing. "The operation went perfectly because... because it was genuinely fun. We confirmed that the emotional wedges are set. The mission is proceeding."

Before Scar could officially conclude the debriefing, the lights in the room flickered, and a palpable chill swept through the high-tech space. A low, disconcerting hum began to vibrate through the walls.

"Oh, seriously?" Tango muttered, his excitement evaporating instantly. A shimmering distortion formed in the center of the room, coalescing into the calm, severe figure of Zombiecleo, the mid-tier watcher that gave them all their plans. They hadn't crossed the border fully, they was a translucent figure, a blend of her human avatar and the cold, unyielding energy of the Watcher Void, framed by the faint purple and white light of the Watcher Castle. Her expression was one of cool, clinical disappointment.

"The mission is not a recreational activity," Cleo stated, her voice devoid of human warmth, cutting through their easy camaraderie. "I heard your reports. I taste the feelings. This is not the emotional state of successfullness."no

Etho tensed, looking away immediately, while Lizzie’s shoulders slumped slightly under the scrutiny.

"You have been given precise directions for the infiltration," Cleo continued, looking specifically at Scar. "Your current actions are straying significantly from the strategic goal. You are not on Earth to make 'best friends' or develop 'crushes.' You are here to execute a plan handed down from Vequos & Zylk before they died. A plan that I have been authorized to oversee."

The chilling reality of their purpose slammed back into the room. Cleo was the source of their detailed operational plans, the voice of the terrifying hierarchy.

"The time for social experimentation is over," Cleo said, her voice dropping to a final, non-negotiable command. "The emotional vulnerability is established. The isolation phase begins now. Do not disappoint me again."

Cleo’s form dissolved, leaving the room cold and the atmosphere suffocating. The genuine laughter and camaraderie were gone, replaced by the heavy weight of their duty and the fear of failure.

Scar remained standing, completely silent, until the last residual hum of Cleo’s presence faded. He looked at his team, his friends, whose expressions now ranged from fearful (Etho) to guilty (Lizzie) to frustrated (Tango). Then, another, even sharper mental pressure pierced the room. Cleo was back, but this time, her voice was only for Scar.

"Stay."

The others, sensing the intensity, slowly filed out of the room, leaving Scar alone in the cold silence. Cleo's presence reformed, closer this time, and entirely focused on him.

"You are the leader, Scar. I see your conflict," Cleo stated, her tone shifting from condemnation to a chilling confidence. "I know the others are compromised. I need no more reports from them. You are the only one I can trust. You will ensure Aetherlight does not stray. If any of them jeopardize the mission... you will report it. If you jeopardize the mission..."

She paused, and the full weight of the mind-wipe threat descended upon him. "I will personally ensure every memory of this place, of these people, and of the feelings you are so attached to is erased. You will be a clean slate, returned to the Void. Do not fail me, Scar. You are now the mission's sole guarantor."

Cleo vanished again, leaving Scar trembling, clutching his temples. The happiness of the day was utterly crushed by the terrifying knowledge that he was responsible for everything, responsible for his friends' loyalty, and responsible for carrying out the very betrayal that would destroy the one person he cared about most.

Grian's consciousness snapped into the dream, but his expected jungle was violently overwritten by the cold, immediate presence of The Memory Chamber.

He stood on chilling, obsidian-black stone, the thin air vibrating with a familiar, metallic hum that always preceded pain. The room was a sharp, perfect triangle, its walls dominated by three immense stained-glass windows. His gaze locked onto the central window: Xelqua. His former Watcher face, sharp and emotionless in purple and white glass, stared back. The memory of the room, the memory of his past self, was a physical blow.

Then, the air cracked. The High Tier Ghosts, Vequos and Zylka, materialized, not as mere spirits, but as shimmering, focused projections of pure, terrifying authority.

"Look up, Xelqua," Vequos commanded, its voice a razor-sharp whisper that sliced directly into Grian's thoughts. "You waste time playing house with mortals."

Zylka drifted forward, its cold energy condensing momentarily as it swiftly cupped the back of Grian's neck, a gesture of ownership and control from his time as Xelqua. Grian gasped, a sound swallowed by the vast, silent terror of the room, and violently shrugged off the touch.

"We are disappointed in the caliber of your failures," Zylka crooned, its tone dripping with paternalistic scorn. "Your rebellion was messy. Your exile is pathetic. You cling to the weakest links. Take your position of power."

Grian felt his heart hammer against his ribs. He forced words out, his voice shaking. "My.. my name is Grian. I chose... to be free!"

Vequos laughed, a dry, grating sound that amplified the terror. It glided toward the nearest stained-glass window, its energy merging with the cruel depiction of its own past self. The glass image momentarily became fluid, displaying a flash of a past traumatic event, Grian, on his knees, begging Vequos for mercy.

"Freedom is a human delusion, little one," Vequos hissed, the memory fragment vanishing. "You only traded one master for three weak ones. Did you truly believe those fragile creatures could sustain you? Make us proud, Xelqua. Return to your duty."

Zylka moved to the central window, the purple and white Xelqua image now glowing with intense judgment. "We know you. We made you. We taught you that true strength is isolation. You were on the cusp of true High Tier glory! And you abandoned it for—" Zylka paused, its energy coalescing into a spectral hand that ran a finger across Grian's bottom lip.

Grian gagged, stumbling backward until his spine hit the cold stone wall. He hated this invasion. He hated the way their closeness made him feel small and abused. He squeezed his eyes shut, shaking his head rapidly, trying to shut out the sensory overload. "Stop it! Get away from me!"

Zylka advanced, its form wavering in and out of phase, making it impossible to focus on. "We only want what's best, Xelqua. We only want you to be safe. Come home, and all your silly human fears will be erased. You were always our favorite. Don't disappoint us again."

Vequos and Zylka began circling him, their powerful, chaotic energy swirling in the cramped triangle room. They moved faster and faster, their voices overlapping in a dizzying torrent of manipulation: "You are an embarrassment... they will leave you... we won't leave you... you belong to the void... you need us... you need to be powerful..."

Grian slid down the wall, clutching his head, his breathing shallow and ragged. The shame, the terror, the pure sense of helplessness—it all washed over him, threatening to drown him in the Memory Chamber. He didn't just want out, he needed to be saved. He silently screamed for the only person who could break this kind of dream.

Where was Scar?

Scar stood alone in the common room, the cold hum of Cleo's presence only just fading. He didn't move for a long time, the threat still vibrating in his skull. You are the only one I can trust.

He felt suddenly suffocated by the sleek, modern lines of the Aetherlight headquarters. This was supposed to be their home, but it felt like a prison. He stumbled into his room and sank onto the floor, pulling his knees to his chest.

The pressure was unbearable. It wasn't just the fear of being mind-wiped and losing his memories, losing the fun of the day, losing his connection to Lizzie and the others. It was the terrifying thought of losing Grian. All the confusing, warm, fascinating feelings Grian inspired, the laughter, the panic, the easy friendship, would be erased. He couldn't go back to the cold, empty clarity of the Void.

A desperate, shaking noise escaped his throat.
The mission, the mission, the mission. Cleo's voice was a relentless drumbeat in his head, demanding isolation, demanding betrayal. He knew what he had to do to Grian, lure him, manipulate him, deliver him to the spell. And he knew that if he didn't do it, Cleo would do it to him.

He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to find the logical, Watcher-level solution, but the logic was shattered. All he could see were fragmented images:

• Lizzie's genuine, hopeful smile when she talked about Joel. If I fail, Cleo will wipe her memory.
• Etho's relieved, quiet gaze when he confirmed Bdubs was okay. If I fail, Etho forgets that moment of peace.
• Grian's panicked face when he remembered something about the watchers, the one he'd hugged. If I fail, he's safe. But if I succeed,
he's empty.

The paradox was a searing pain. He was being forced to destroy the very things he was desperate to protect.

He started to hyperventilate, his breath catching in ragged, shallow bursts. He pressed his palms hard into his eyes, trying to force the images out, but they persisted. He was trapped in a loyalty loop, loyalty to the mission meant betraying everyone he cared about, loyalty to his friends meant guaranteeing his own destruction.
Hours bled away. The initial shock gave way to a grinding, debilitating terror. Scar curled into a tight ball, his body trembling uncontrollably. His Watcher mind, usually so precise and analytical, was consumed by the confusing, crippling storm of human despair. He had never felt pain like this. It was worse than any Watcher punishment; it was the pain of caring.

He pushed himself to stand, dragging himself toward the bathroom. He splashed cold water on his face, but the reflection staring back wasn't the charming, confident friend Grian saw. It was a terrified, wild-eyed failure.

He looked at the clock. It was far, far past the time he should have entered Grian's dream to run damage control.

"I have to... I have to see Grian…" he whispered, the words tasting like ash. He was supposed to be there, reinforcing the lie, but his terror had paralyzed him. He was already failing.
The thought of Grian, alone, exposed, and currently believing he had a friend in Scar, was the only thing that finally broke through the paralysis of his fear. He didn't care about the mission, or Cleo. He just remembered that he needed to see Grian.

He staggered back to his bed, finally regaining enough focus to prepare his mind. He needed to get to Grian. Now.

Grian had reached his absolute limit. He wasn't entirely empty, he was consumed. He had sunk onto his knees, his hands clamped tightly over his head, trying to press the terror back inside. His eyes were wide and unfocused, after seeing the cruel light of the Memory Chamber for 2 whole hours. His psychic energy was spent, and the voices of the High Tier Ghosts were running on a toxic loop.

Vequos was ecstatic, his spectral form pulsing with energy. "Yes! The perfect fracture!" he shrieked. "He's breaking! Finally, he's breaking!"
Zylka, the calmer leader, lowered himself, his posture radiating cool, absolute control. "Silence, Vequos. He is ours now." Zylka's shadowy hand reached out, precise and inevitable, to claim Grian.

The spectral hand was a millimeter from Grian's skull when the entire dream reality exploded.
The cruel triangle dissolved, replaced by the rush of damp, warm air and the soft earth of the jungle dreamscape.

Scar materialized nearby, staggering slightly as he recovered. After the fight he had to do to get control over Grian’s dream. It was kinda easy due to the two watchers being well, y’know. Dead.

He saw Grian immediately, on his knees, hands clamped to his head, eyes unfocused, murmuring. The sight of Grian in such profound distress obliterated Scar's own lingering panic.

He rushed forward, kneeling in front of Grian. "Grian, it's okay, I'm here now!" Scar’s voice was thick with guilt and immediate fear.
Grian flinched violently at the sound, but his eyes stayed fixed on a terrifying point just past Scar's shoulder. He was trapped in the agonizing echo.

"...don't disappoint us again," Grian whispered, the words ragged. He squeezed his head tighter, trying to dislodge the memory. "Take your position of power."

Scar's heart seized. He remembered the simple comfort of the last hug. He reached out, pulled Grian gently into his chest, and wrapped his arms around him, holding him with desperate firmness.

"It's alright, you're safe," Scar murmured, holding tight. "I've got you. Just focus on me. The ghosts are gone."

Grian was rigid in his arms. He didn't relax; he didn't even acknowledge the embrace. He was reciting the final cruelties. "You belong to the void... clean the human filth from your mind..."
Scar pulled back, his own panic instantly switching from self-pity to a frantic, overwhelming fear of failing Grian.

The hug wasn't working. The familiar gesture, the one thing he thought he understood, was useless. He scrambled back on his knees, his hands reaching for Grian's shoulders.

"Okay, okay, look at the jungle! Look at the leaves! Remember the sound of the rain? That thing looks like a giant bird, right? Focus on that! Focus on the anything! Please, Grian, stop!"
The frantic pointing and pleading did nothing. Grian was unresponsive, staring straight through him.

A terrible, cold wave of helplessness washed over Scar. He realized he had no idea what to do, and the panic became a raw, desperate animal cry.

"Grian! Tell me!" Scar begged, his voice cracking with genuine anguish. He grabbed Grian's hands, pulling them away from his head. "Tell me what to do! How do I help you? What do you need right now? I don't understand this! Please, just tell me how to fix this!"

Scar was entirely exposed, his panic reflecting his profound confusion over Grian's pain, leaving them both equally vulnerable in the silent jungle.

Scar's mind raced, his Watcher training overriding his panic, searching for a logical solution. Bringing Jimmy or Joel into the dream flashed through his thoughts, a real human connection, but he instantly dismissed it. That would expose Grian's secret; they'd see the abuse, they'd know he was a Watcher. No. That was not an option.

He considered the Aetherlight members. They were all Watchers; they couldn't help Grian break free from Watcher-inflicted trauma. They'd just ask strategic questions. Etho might be the most logical, but Scar did not want to share this profound failure with anyone.
A new, risky idea formed. Memories. Grian's happy, grounding memories.

Scar shuddered. It was a massive, unforgivable invasion of privacy. To probe Grian's deepest, most personal emotional space was a violation of trust that Watchers reserved only for capture. But the alternative was losing Grian entirely to the trauma. He had to risk it.

With a focused effort, Scar reached out with his mind, gently slipping past the broken remnants of Grian’s psychic shields. He filtered through the chaos until he found a pool of warm, concentrated joy: The Bad Boys.

The jungle landscape momentarily fractured and dissolved, replaced by a soft, warmly lit memory, projected perfectly around them.

They were standing in the Bad Boys' living room. Snow fell outside the window. Joel and Jimmy were sitting on the couch, wrapped in mismatched blankets, laughing over an inside joke. Grian stood by the fireplace, listening, a soft, contented smile on his face. And then, Bdubs burst into the room, beaming, a tray of slightly burned cookies held aloft, insisting they had to leave them for Santa, even though they were all adults who knew the truth. Laughter filled the air, thick and genuine.

As the memory played, Scar watched Grian’s face. Grian was still rigid, still whispering, but the volume of his muttering dropped.

The first memory faded, and the scene snapped to a cramped backstage area, moments after the Bad Boys’ first concert. They were all exhilarated and sweaty. Grian was picking playfully at Jimmy. "You messed up the bridge, you big dummy! Did you forget how to play?" Jimmy retorted with a dramatic gasp. "Oh, I messed up? Did the audience hear my voice crack right in the middle of the high note, Grian?" They burst into a fresh fit of exhausted, triumphant laughter.

Grian’s hands twitched. The muttered Watcher phrases stopped entirely.

The scene shifted again, placing them around a messy coffee table. They were deep into a furious board game. Joel roared in frustration, overturning a small pile of tokens as his opponent, Bdubs, won the round. "That's cheating! You can't do that!" Joel raged, making everyone else, including a laughing Grian, double over with amusement.

As Joel's enraged scream echoed playfully, Grian blinked slowly. His hands unclasped from his head and dropped into his lap. He stared at the memory playing out, his eyes finally starting to focus. He knew these moments. He recognized them.

The terror in his face was replaced by a profound, agonizing comprehension.

The third memory dissolved, replaced by a simple one. Grian and the other three Bad Boys piled onto a couch, quietly watching a terrible old movie. They weren't talking, they were just touching, a knee bumped here, an arm draped over a shoulder there, the easy, silent comfort of chosen family.

Grian looked down at his hands, then up at the projected scene. He was no longer muttering the Watcher commands.

Scar saw the flicker of life return to Grian's eyes, and he knew it wasn't enough to just look. He had to overload the toxic noise with pure joy.
With a surge of renewed focus, Scar unleashed a full collab of Grian's best moments.

The visual memories accelerated, a dizzying montage of band photos, triumphant hands held aloft after concerts, early morning coffee runs, and shared, ridiculous meals. But it wasn't just sights, it was sensory. Scar pumped the best parts of Grian's emotional history into the dreamscape:

• The sound of Jimmy's unbridled laughter, loud and infectious.
• The feeling of Joel's solid, comforting arm around his shoulder.
• The warmth of Bdubs giving him a tight, proud hug after a successful concert or event.
• The satisfying thunk of a new guitar riff finally clicking into place during a practice session.
• The smell of cheap stage smoke and new vinyl.

The memories overlapped and swirled around Grian, a protective, chaotic bubble of pure human joy. Grian’s focus snapped completely. He was completely overwhelmed, but this time, it was a welcome deluge. His eyes darted around, recognizing the sights, hearing the voices, feeling the love. He started to laugh, a broken, hiccuping sound that quickly gained strength. He wasn't laughing at a specific joke; he was laughing at the sheer, beautiful force of his own life.

Scar watched, tears pricking his own eyes—feelings of overwhelming relief and something terrifyingly close to love. Grian was safe. The trauma was blocked.

The moment Grian finally looked up at Scar, his eyes clear and focused, the laughter still bubbling in his chest, Scar knew it was time. He didn't need to stay in the invasive memories any longer.

With a final, clean mental command, Scar dropped the connection to Grian's past.
The glorious chaos of the memories vanished instantly. The warmth, the sound, the laughter—it was all gone, replaced by the damp, quiet tension of the jungle dreamscape. They were back to reality.

Scar stood over Grian, his chest heaving, his face a complex mask of exhaustion, guilt, and profound relief. He had saved Grian, but he had done so by committing an unforgivable invasion of privacy.

Grian remained on the ground, still catching his breath, the echo of joy fading into the silence. He stared up at the Watcher who had just violated his mind but had also saved his soul.

Scar was stammering apologies, his face contorted with guilt. "Grian, I am so sorry. I know I shouldn't have gone into your memories... it's the highest form of invasion, and I swear I didn't pay any attention to the details-I just grabbed the positive feeling. I only saw the good ones, I promise. Please, I am so sorry."

He felt the unexpected warmth of Grian's arms as he hugged him. Scar tried to return the embrace, but his arms felt like jelly. The sheer psychic exertion, shattering the Memory Chamber, breaking the hold of two High Tier ghosts, reforming the jungle 5 times, and aggressively searching Grian's emotional core, finally caught up to him. He was spent.

"Thank you, Scar," Grian whispered into his shoulder, the gratitude in his voice overwhelming. "You saved me. Thank you."
The sincerity was a beautiful, devastating reward. Scar wanted to hold him tighter, but a wave of dizzying weakness slammed into him. He was completely drained. The apology that was forming on his lips dissolved into a faint, uncontrollable groan.

"I... I..." Scar tried to finish, but the world tilted. His vision blurred, and the sharp lines of the jungle faded. He swayed, his knees buckling completely.

Grian felt the change immediately, Scar's weight went dead, and the strong arms around him loosened. Grian instinctively reached out to steady him, but Scar was already collapsing. Instead of hitting the ground, Scar slid down and crumpled sideways, his head coming to rest heavily on Grian's lap.

Grian remained still, one hand instinctively supporting the back of Scar's neck. Scar was completely out of it, breathing shallowly, entirely unaware of where he had landed.

Grian didn't panic. The rush of pure, focused terror was replaced by a profound, agonizing realization. He looked down at the pale, exhausted Watcher sprawled across his legs.

He broke two High Tier defenses. He faced the ghosts that abused me. He violated his own ethical code, and his subsequent collapse proves that he used every ounce of power he had, all for me. It wasn't a strategic move. It was a massive, genuine sacrifice.

Grian reached up and gently pushed the messy hair from Scar's forehead. His earlier suspicions and residual Watcher Hunter paranoia were wiped clean. He wouldn't do this if he were against me. Grian was absolutely certain now. Scar was on his side.

Grian leaned down and whispered a sweet, heartfelt promise against Scar's ear. "It's okay. You can rest. You did it. Thank you." Grian then settled back against the tree roots, allowing the comfortable silence to envelop them. He took a long, steadying breath, his gaze slowly sweeping over the familiar, beautiful, protective chaos of the jungle dreamscape. He was safe, and the reason he was safe was asleep on his lap.

Chapter Text

Chapter 4 A Price to be Remembered

Grian woke up with a sharp painful gasp. Cold sweat beading down his forehead as he recalled the dream of the previous night. He quickly tried to take his mind off of it and thought of an idea of a bad boy fun filled day. Just him, Joel and Jimmy. He got out of bed, ready for the fun day, only to be found with a completely empty condo. He checked his phone, seeing Joel saying he was at his date.

And Jimmy was hanging out with Tango and Scott. Of course. Grian sighed while thinking of things to do. He scrolled on his phone for 2 minutes, tried TV, and thought about going out. None of it appeared to do it for him.

He went back to his room and tripped due to the messiness of it. Grian thought about it for a good long while on the ground before he finally got up to clean his room.

When Grian was half way done he moved to cleaning his closet. While sifting through some boxes he found a note book, he swore he’d never see again.

Meanwhile, in a nice restaurant stood a somewhat nicely dressed Joel. He rocked back and forth on his heels while waiting for someone. He spotted that someone as soon as she walked in. Lizzie and Joel’s eyes met, Joel’s face going bright red. Lizzie walked over to him, giving him a hug, Joel never would’ve expected.

“Hi Joel!” Lizzie stepped back and smiled at him. Joel smiled back, “Hey Lizzie…I uh, got us a table at the balcony! Over here, follow me..” Joel started to walk but noticed Lizzie wasn’t following, Joel raised an eyebrow, then quickly walked back and grabbed her hand, “Now, let’s go, shall we?” Joel smiled brightly, and Lizzie nodded, “We shall.”

At the table Joel ordered the appetizer they both agreed on and was looking at Lizzie on the other side of the table, “How are you today?” Joel asked, his voice soft with affection. Lizzie tilted her, “it’s still early in the day.” Joel chuckled, “Well then I’ll have to make sure it’s a good day then.” Lizzie’s eyes slightly widened and she kind of looked away, “That’s a bold statement..” Joel leaned his head on his hand, “I had to correct Etho on this, I’m confident, not bold. There’s a difference.” Lizzie raised an eyebrow, “Oh is there?”

After a while of talking they got their appetizer. The two ate a few cheesy and bacon potato skins Lizzie decided to get confident herself, “So how’s the bad boys..?” Lizzie said, hoping to get information. Joel was confused by the sudden question though didn’t think anything of it, “Well Jim is actually hanging out with Scott and Tango today. Grian looked like he needed sleep desperately so we just let him sleep in.” Lizzie jumped at that, “Wait he’s alone? Like, right now?” Lizzie asked.

This made Joel question this, “Probably, I don’t know. Why do you want to know?” Lizzie realized she got too confident and cleared her throat, “I just wanted to make sure I’m paying close enough attention to what you’re saying.” Joel felt his heart melt, “Well what about Aetherlight?” Joel asked. Lizzie chuckled. She wasn’t about to say “oh well we actually got yelled at for making friends with you guys and we need to capture Grian, your best friend, in order to get home.” So just responded with the good’ol “Yeah they’re good.” Joel looked to the view of the balcony and pointed out a bird, “Wow look at the birds!”

Lizzie turned to look at the bird, it was two hummingbirds dancing together in the wind. “Oh wow… I always loved birds.” Lizzie looked to Joel, smiling. Joel smiled back and asked, “Is there a reason?” Lizzie looked back to the birds, “I guess they remind me of myself, back in the void. I was always chided for flying around. Told that “That’s not how Watchers are supposed to be, but I still flew around anyway.” Joel kept his eyes on her, then to the birds. For some reason he couldn’t help but think of Grian, her answer was so similar to his.

“I don’t know, I just kinda wished I could sly around like they do, y’know?” The sentence said from Grian rang is Joel’s ear but he shrugged it off and continued to talk to Lizzie.

The food arrived and they had dessert after. When they left Lizzie asked to go to the park, so they did. Joel and Lizzie were walking past a fountain. Joel noticed that it was a little too quiet to he spoke up, “Did you know this is where the bad boys filmed our music video for “Drifting Coins!” Lizzie looked at him with wonder, “Really? I haven’t seen that one, what’s it about?” Joel paused, “Well, Each coin tossed into a fountain represents a wish, but as they drift to the bottom, they lose their shine, and so do the dreams behind them. Drifting Coins pretty much is faded hopes, forgotten promises, or people who wished for love and never found it. I dont remember it that well since it was one of our early songs.”

Lizzie looked at him with sad eyes, “That’s…” She looked to the fountain, “Beautiful…” Joel looked back at her and frowned, “Are you alright?” He asked, and was met with a nod, “Yeah.. yeah I’m okay.” Joel nodded, and they continued walking.

After a long walk through the park it was time for them to part. Joel was hesitant, but he hugged Lizzie goodbye, “I’ll see you later?” Joel asked, Lizzie replied with, “I’ll hope on it. Oh, and Joel…” She paused, “Try looking more into Grian…there’s some…things that you don’t know about him..” And she left.

Joel went back to the condo and opened the door, Lizzie’s last words to him ringing in his mind. When he checked the time he saw he was gone for about 9 hours, since he left the condo at 11 and came back at 7. He looked at the couch and saw Jimmy there on his phone, when Jimmy saw him he got up and ran to him.

“Joel! Did Grian tell you if he was going anywhere today?” Jimmy said quickly, Joel stepped back because of the sudden closeness, “Uh…no, I don’t know he mentioned anything, is he not here?” Joel asked the words Lizzie spoke started to get louder. Jimmy shook his head, “No, I texted him to see where he was, I really need to talk to him right now…” Jimmy looked down, Joel raised an eyebrow, “Are you okay? You said you were hanging out with Tango and Scott, didn’t you? Did that not work out?”

Jimmy sighed and went back to the couch, “It started off good, but…I don’t know…I feel like they’re always like- competing. Not like we do, or like a friend way. Like actually competing for something. And….” He covered his face and sighed again, “and I think I’m the prize..” Joel froze for a moment in confusion and then it seemed like everything made sense, “So like, they’re fighting for your attention?” Joel asked and Jimmy grumbled, “Don’t word it like that…and I don’t know! That’s what it feels like most of the time, I thought they were pretty good friends with each other because when I first met them they were having like a jam session together and we hung out most of that night! But, now I feel like they’re always hate each other..” Joel looked away then back at him, “Uh…do you…want to tell me…about it?” Joel smiled, and Jimmy gave him a side eye, “Sorry Joel, no offense, but you suck at advice. I’d rather wait until Grian gets back.” Joel nodded and sat down next to him.

There was a long pause, and Jimmy spoke up about it, “I thought the day would be great! I had this nice evening planned with me, Scott and Tango….

Jimmy was at the cafe, waiting for the two others to arrive. When they did, he saw them immediately and smiled, “Over here!” He called out to the two. Scott smiled and was about to say hi until Tango shoved him away to get to Jimmy first, “Hey Jim! Tango sat in the same booth as him, leaving Scott to have a booth to himself.

“Hi, Jimmy,” Scott said smiling, Jimmy smiled back, “Hey guys! I was wondering if you were standing me up!” Tango laughed, “I would never!” Jimmy laughed back, “Oh sure…”

They ordered their drinks and started talking. Jimmy noticed that every time the other started to try to say something, the other would interrupt with worlds of their own. He wanted to test this for himself, he started to experiment, “Hey Tango, I’m sorry I can’t remember, what did you say your favorite song was?” Jimmy asked, Tango perked up, “Well I’ve been listening to this band called the shinies and they have really good songs! I like their song Midnight and eclipse-“ Scott interrupted with the soft sound of his laughter, “Really? Their music is so cheesy. Don’t you agree, Jimmy?” Scott asked. Jimmy shrugged, “Ive heard of them before, they actually opened a concert for us! I enjoyed their music…” The smug face Scott had slightly dropped and Tango chuckled to himself.

After a while Jimmy thought it was a good enough space to do the next test, they were all eating so Jimmy thought of the perfect question, “Scott, what’s your favorite dessert?” Scott looked up from his snack and smiled, “I like peppermint patties, I got a bag a while ago-“ “That really isn’t a dessert, more like a candy.” Tango said, cutting Scott off while poking around at his food. Scott scoffed, “I think dessert and candy could fall into the same category.” Tango looked up at Scott, “No, it’s a quick indulgence. Dessert is a sweet, comforting finish that completes a meal. Right, Jimmy? The two looked at Jimmy and he slightly looked away, “I don’t know…I always thought of candy as dessert..” Tango looked defeated and Scott seemed to be filled with pride.

That was happening the whole time they were there, and it was starting to annoy Jimmy an awful lot. “What do you think Jimmy?” “Let’s see what Jimmy thinks” “Jimmy, settle this!” “Jimmy, you know the right answer to this don’t you?” “Jimmy you’re with me, right?” “Jimmy, what’s your take on this?” “Jimmy, how would you handle it?” “Let’s hear Jimmy’s opinion.” “Jimmy, call it, who’s right?” “Jimmy, back me up here.” “Jimmy, come on, you know I’m right.” “Jimmy, you’re not really siding with him, are you?”

Gosh, Jimmy felt like he’d heard his name too many times, like it’s not even his name anymore. He started to get dizzy from all the constant arguing and him having to settle them, only for another one to break out. He had enough. Jimmy got up and started to speak, “Can you guys sto-“ “I’m sorry to ask this,” Jimmy turned and saw 3 teenage girls holding a marker and their phone case, “But could you sign my phone case? You’re Jimmy from the bad boys, right?” Jimmy paused and sat down, he smiled weakly, “Uh yeah! Of course…!” Jimmy took the phone case and started to sign his name.

While the girls were waiting they looked at Tango and Scott, “So who are you guys?” Tango smiled smugly, “We’re from Aetherlight!” Scott smiled as well, but a soft smile, “Just a small band, nothing that important.” The girls brightened, one was confused, “I’ve never heard of you guys..” the other two elbowed her and one whispered, “Does it matter? Just say we’re a big fan or something so that if we ever do become fans we can say we met them..!” The clueless girl nodded and asked for a photo with them.

Jimmy gave back the phone case and then the three of them took the picture. Jimmy sat down and his confidence was ruined for confronting the two about what they were doing. He was slightly upset of how the two openly told them about them being in a band. He just knows it’s going to come back to bite the bad boys in the butt, but he was too exhausted to say anything.

Joel was halfway asleep when Jimmy had finished the story, but snapped out of it when he heard a deep sigh from the other man. Joel patted his back, “Uh, maybe tell them about it?” Jimmy looked up at him through his hands and groaned, “Where the hell is Grian…”

Back in the evening, Grian was holding the book he had back way before the bad boys. This book had every lyric thought up by Grian back when he was a solo artist named “Cute Guy” He was flipping through all the pages, every single one being filled to the brim, and landed on one song,

The streetlights bleed their weak yellow light
Onto the asphalt, cold and hard tonight.
I'm standing here, alone, beneath a sky of black,
And then I hear it, the sound that pushes back.
A chilling note, a whisper from the trees,
Carried on a phantom, synthetic breeze.
It cuts the silence like a blade in the dark,
Leaving a wound that will not leave its mark.

Oh, Whippoorwill, you sing your final tune.
Your voice is the shadow beneath the moon.
It's not a bird song, it's a bad omen,
The bitter pill, the taste of what is coming.
You speak the name of those who won't awake,
A promise made that the cold earth will take.
Whippoorwill, you know the hour is near,
You sing of death, and you are all I hear.

My heart is just a metronome, ticking on and on,
Waiting for the moment that the last hope is gone.
I try to run, to leave this empty place,
But your sound is a chain, a tight, binding embrace.
You are the herald of a final silence,
A perfect, terrible, logical violence.
I look into the mirror, and the face is strange and grey,
And you are calling, calling for me to come away.

Oh, Whippoorwill, you sing your final tune.
Your voice is the shadow beneath the moon.
It's not a bird song, it's a bad omen,
The bitter pill, the taste of what is coming.
You speak the name of those who won't awake,
A promise made that the cold earth will take.
Whippoorwill, you know the hour is near,
You sing of death, and you are all I hear.

I feel the cold hand... it grips my soul. I know this sound. It is my own fate. No escape. Only the song. The end is a logic I cannot defeat.

Oh, Whippoorwill, you sing your final tune.
Your voice is the shadow beneath the moon.
It's not a bird song, it's a bad omen,
The bitter pill, the taste of what is coming.
You speak the name of those who won't awake,
A promise made that the cold earth will take.
Whippoorwill, you know the hour is near,
You sing of death, and you are all I hear!

Grian had his jaw wide as he read the lyrics he forgotten he wrote. “Wow.. I can’t believe I just forgot this..forgot all of these,” Grian flipped through many, many more pages, halfway through the notebook was a sticky note labeled “music video ideas.” Grian remembered the time where he wrote the music videos for his songs, and not Martyn. Gosh he was grateful for Martyn. “…Well….since no one’s here and I’d just be home alone…maybe I can give all my….wait what were they called…my uh…cuties! Maybe I could give all of my cuties a lil update…”

Grian threw the notebook in his guitar bag and made his way downstairs to the bad boys studio. It doesn’t take long to get there and he walks in. Ren was organizing some boxes from the last music video and saw Grian.

“Grian! Isn’t this a pleasant surprise? Whatcha here for my dude?” Ren asked brightly. Grian smiled back sadly, “This is something I can only tell Martyn about, sorry Ren.” Ren tilted his head, but shrugged, “He’s in his office, whatever you need let’s hope it doesn’t stress him out too much. Something’s got him on edge recently…” Ren was glancing at Martyns office and sighed. Grian thanked Ren for his help and made his way to Martyn’s office. Grian bursted right in causing a clearly tired Martyn to groan.

“Can you guys just leave me alone-“ he looked up from his work and paused by the sight of non other than the lead singer of the bad boys clearly exited. Martyn sighed and banged his head on the table, “Spit out with it, what do you want..” Grian chuckled, “Martyn, you’ll be happy with this, I promise!” Martyn looked up as Grian dug out a note book from his guitar bag, and threw it on his desk. Martyn looked at the notebook then back at Grian, “New bad boy song? Great just what I need. To make another music video-“ “it’s from when I was Cute Guy.” Grian interrupted, Martyn froze. Grian grabbed the notebook, and flipped to the page with Whippoorwill. Martyn was hesitant but looked at the lyrics, while he was reading, Grian started to talk, “Martyn, you were the only one who was able to figure out I was Cute Guy when he “mysteriously” disappeared. Not even Jimmy or Joel know. I want you to help me make one last song, as Cute Guy.”

Martyn looked up from the lyrics, “Grian, these lyrics are…I don’t know…just…”I feel the cold hand... it grips my soul. I know this sound. It is my own fate. No escape. Only the song. The end is a logic I cannot defeat.” Seems so…deep..and not you anymore.. and you told me you lost your Cute Guy voice, so how would you be able to sing this?” Grian chuckled, “I might’ve just lied so I wouldn’t have to…and if I changed the lyrics then my cuties would notice! I want to give them one last song! It’s not like I have anything better to do…”

Martyn choked on his coffee when Grian mentioned the word “cuties” and laughed, “Cuties!? You’re still using that name!?” Grian looked at him smugly, “If I remember correctly, you were once a proud member of the Cuties.”
Martyn gave him a serious look, “I was young and dumb alright? I didn’t know it would come haunt me in my future…”

Grian shook his head, “That doesn’t matter, what DOES matter, is if you’re willing to help me.” Martyn felt a bead of sweat slide past his eyebrow, he gulped while looking to the notebook to Grian’s face. He sighed, “Fine. But we’re telling Ren. Got it?” Grian got excited but instantly deflated, “But you swore to not tell anyone else.” Martyn looked away, “Yeah well I have another promise and that involves not lying to him so…”

Grian rolled his eyes, “Sure go ahead, I’ll see you two in the recording room!” He grabbed the notebook, his guitar bag and ran out of the office. Shortly after, Ren walked in.

“So what was that about?” Ren asked. Martyn laughed, “You remember that solo artist who disappeared awhile back? Cute Guy?” Martyn asked. Ren hummed, “You mean the one who were obsessed with for years and cried for months when he did disappear? I could I not? He was my only opponent.” Ren chuckled, and Martyn shook his head, “I don’t think I was THAT distraught…” Ren looked at with a bank expression, “Dude, you were crying to my arms like every night. And anytime someone even said the word “cute” you would get depressed.”

Martyn laughed, trying to hide the embarrassment, “ANYWAY! I’ve got…something to tell you…” Martyn’s voice became quieter. Ren instantly went silent, there was a little red creeping on his cheeks, “Y- Yeah..?” Martyn looked to see if anyone was coming and leaned in closer to Ren, “Grian is Cute Guy.” Ren went through 10 different emotions at once, “Is he really!? Wow! Uh…” He remembered Martyn having a crush on Cute Guy, “Is that so..!? Well! That’s… are you two…?”

Martyn raised an eyebrow, then started to laugh, “Oh end, no! He has a song he wants us to help with. Says it’ll be his “Last song to his cuties.” And I want to help with that. Seeing as I used to be… ahem…be one…” Ren sighed with a deep relief, “Yeah for sure! We can help, sounds cool!”

Grian was on the recording room’s couch, tuning his guitar when Ren and Martyn walked in. Grian looked up and smiled, “So we’re doing this?” He said brightly, Martyn glanced at Ren and Back at him, “If you say the words…” Grian put a devious face on, “Let’s do this.”

The Bad Boy’s studio lights were low, casting long shadows. Grian strapped on his guitar, the notebook open to the "Whippoorwill" lyrics, and played the opening chords.

Martyn, already in the producer’s chair, stopped the take. "Too much warmth, Grian. Remember, you’re Cute Guy right now. The artist who created some of the most beautiful AND depressing like songs. And also the lyrics: 'asphalt, cold and hard tonight.' Those need to sound brittle. Like frozen ice on a lake." Grian nodded, making a subtle tweak to his tone pedal. The next take was a perfect, thin, haunting foundation of dread.

"Alright, that's the guitar done," Ren said, nodding approvingly as he marked the track. He paused, “What are we going to do about the bass? Jimmy’s your bassist, and I'm guessing he doesn't know about this."

Grian winced, picking up the bass "He doesn't. And neither does Joel. Look, I played all the instruments on the original Cute Guy tracks. I just… told everyone I couldn't when we formed the band." He looked away. "I’ll just do what I did like I used to. I mean, I am Cute Guy right now. Not Grian from the bad boys. Don't tell them. Please."

Martyn leaned back, a low chuckle escaping him. "The secret lead singer, the secret multi-instrumentalist. You're a complex guy, Grian. Fine, we won't tell them. Now, for the bass we’re looking for an eerie repetitive sound that’ll make your skin crawl. For the drums make it more like uh…build up for the end."

After Grian created the bass line he settled behind the kit, his movements surprisingly economical. He laid down a simple, repetitive beat, a heavy kick and a steady floor tom, ticking like the desperate heart in the song.
"That's the ticket," Ren murmured, tapping his pen on the desk. "It’s not driving the song, it's just marking time until the end."

Finally, Grian stepped up to the microphone. He closed his eyes and inhaled. When he began to sing the fragile tenor of Cute Guy’s return and leave, a stark contrast to the smooth power he used in the Bad Boys. As the track reached the chorus, "Oh, Whippoorwill, you sing your final tune," Martyn punched in a low, synthetic pad, a chilling, quiet sound of a phantom breeze.

"More delay on that last line!" Martyn shouted, his energy surging. "We need an echo on 'you are all I hear,' like the sound is trapping him."
Grian took a final, desperate-sounding take of the last chorus. His voice cracked with genuine emotion on the final word. The music cut out, leaving a heavy silence. His voice was starting to hurt after 4 years of not using his “Cute Guy” voice.

Ren slowly pulled the faders down. "It's cold. It's brilliant. And it's definitely not a Bad Boys track."
Martyn pushed a hand through his hair, exhausted but thrilled. "It’s a bad omen in audio form. Now we just need to figure out how the phantom singer Cute Guy is going to drop his final song without the other half of our band realizing their lead singer is moonlighting."

Grian tilted his head, “Can’t I just release it like I always do?” Martyn and Ren both broke out into laughter, “End no! You’ve been gone for 4 years! And this’ll be your last song yeah? So good big!” Martyn said, Ren agreed, leaning on Martyn, “Yeah, dude. Last song as cute guy needs to make a big deal.”

Grian groaned, “well what am a supposed to do!?” Martyn and Ren looked at each other and back at Grian, “My guy” Ren started, “We’ve planned so much for this,” Martyn finished.

"We need to completely stay anonymous," Martyn said, leaning over the console. "This can't be traceable back to us. It has to feel like a ghost from the past that only the old cuties find."

Ren nodded, tapping a rhythm on the desk. "Right. No official channels, no big announcements. We'll start with a single, anonymous hub. A new, dark, minimal Loomblr blog or just a single-page website that looks like it was made in 2009. That's the only place this song is officially going to live."

"Three days before the drop which is tomorrow," Martyn continued, "I'll upload a single, chilling image to that hub, a close-up of a Whippoorwill bird, with a dark filter or something. But here's the link to the past: (Zelda reference) we'll watermark the corner of the photo with a tiny, blurred image of your old 'Cute Guy' logo—that single, small, hand-drawn heart you used on all your album art. It’ll be just visible enough for a true Cutie to recognize. The only text is a countdown, '- 72 Hours -'" (ANOTHER Zelda Reference hehehe)

"And to build the dread," Ren added, "we'll use two different, obscure music sharing sites to drop tiny audio clips. One is just a slow, sickening metronome tick and the synthetic 'phantom breeze' sound. The other is your voice, but heavily processed and whispering one of the song's lines: 'I know this sound... it grips my soul.' We hide the links to those clips deep in the source code of the main hub."

Martyn took over. "Give me the log in info for Cute Guys channel on Stratify and Pear Tunes and I’ll set a date for it to release."

"Then, at midnight on release day," Ren finished, "we post one final image to the hub: a digital picture of the actual 'Whippoorwill' lyrics page from your notebook. That's the only confirmation. Right after the song is live, we post the direct link."

Martyn gave a final, firm statement. "And here's the best part: twenty-four hours after it drops, we delete the hub, the clips, everything. The song stays on streaming services as 'Whippoorwhill,' a permanent, isolated ghost note. Cute Guy never speaks, never explains. He just appears, leaves his final omen, and vanishes forever."

Grian was jaw dropped, “How long have you two been thinking about this?” Ren laughed, “You don’t want to know my friend.” Martyn sighed, “I can’t believe you’re actually going through with this…” Grian looked at him with determination, “I can’t either, but I am.”

Grian gave Martyn all the information he needed and left. He didn’t realize how late it got until he saw all the missed calls and texts on his phone from Jimmy and Joel. He then realized he had also forgot his watch, “End..” he quickly called Jimmy who answered instantly, “GRAIN ARE YOU OKAY!? YOU’RE NOT RESPONDING ON YOUR WATCH!” Jimmy shouted through the phone, Grian was quick with his answer, “Yeah I’m sorry Jim! I left it a rush so I forgot to put it on-“ “WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU FORGOT!?” Another voice came from the phone, it was Joel’s. Grian sighed, “I know, and I’m sorry! It was really important-“ “I don’t care! Just get home! NOW!” Joel yelled, and the call ended.

Grian got to the condo and dreaded opening the door. He put the code in, but was met with Jimmy pulling Grian in his room, “Grian, I need your advice.” Grian raised an eyebrow, “Sure… What do you need?”

After the long explanation of what happened with him Scott and Tango.

Grian was a little overwhelmed by the sudden mess of words that had left Jimmy’s mouth. Grian shook out of his shock and put a hand on Jimmy’s shoulder, “It’s because you’re the peacekeeper,” Grian said simply. “You’re easy to talk to, so people forget you have limits too. But that doesn’t mean you have to keep the peace at your own expense.”

Jimmy frowned. “What am I supposed to do, though? Yell at them?”

Grian chuckled. “No, Jimmy. You don’t have to yell. You just have to draw a line.” He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “Next time they start turning you into a tug-of-war rope, just tell them you’re not playing. Something simple like, ‘You guys can figure it out without me.’ They’ll get the message eventually.”

Jimmy blinked. “You think that’ll actually work?”

“Maybe not right away,” Grian admitted with a shrug. “But they respect you more than you think. You’ve got that… quiet authority thing. You don’t need to shout to get through to people.”

That earned a small smile from Jimmy. “Quiet authority, huh? That’s new.”

“Yeah, well,” Grian smirked. “You’ve been hanging out with me long enough to pick up a few leadership qualities.”

Jimmy laughed, shaking his head. “You’re impossible.”

“And yet,” Grian said, standing up and ruffling Jimmy’s hair, “We’re still friends.”

Jimmy pushed his hand away, but there was a trace of relief in his eyes now. “Thanks, G. I’ll… try saying something next time.”

“Good.” Grian stretched, heading for the door. “And if that doesn’t work, I’ll just lock them both in a sound booth until they sort it out. Bad Boy style.”

Grian walked out, making his way to his room. He was stopped, however, due to a hand pulling him. Grian looked and saw Joel. He knew this was coming.

“Are you going to tell me where you were?” Joel asked, with clear anger. Grian chuckled and looked away, “Uh well, uh…. Hehe you see… I went to the park to bird watch! I lost track of time.” Grian said. Joel raised an eyebrow, “Which park?” He asked. Grian gulped, “Willow tree park!” “Not true, I was at that park with Lizzie and I didn’t see you.” Grian bit his lip, “Okay yes I lied, the thing is, I went to the movie theater.” Joel scoffed, “For hours? And why didn’t you just say that in the beginning?” Grian sighed, putting on an act, “I got lost on my way there, and…the movie was the uh… The Godfather Part 2.”

Joel scrunched his eyebrows, “You told me you hated that movie.” Grian nodded, “I did, but then, I liked it.” Joel sighed, “Whatever man.” He walked away. Lizzie was right. Grian is hiding something.

Grian fell in his bed and it felt like he was sinking into it like quick sand. Slowly drifting to sleep.

Scar had been lying in his bed for…since this morning to 8 something. Scar didn’t care to keep the time. Moving makes him feel like he got ran over by a truck, and closing his eyes only made him fall asleep, causing him to use energy. Which he doesn’t have a lot of right now.

Etho knocked on the door, “Scar? Are you alright? You’ve been in here for the whole day and the rest of us are worried..” Scar groaned in reply, Etho sighed and opened the door. “So I take it you’re not alright. What did you do?” Etho asked, closing the door behind him. Scar muttered, “Used..too much energy….” Etho’s eyes widened as he saw the very pale man looking like he’s about to keel over, “Used too much energy!? You don’t have any energy left! What the heck did you do!?” Etho ran up to him, and quickly shared some of his.

Scar breathed fully for the first time that day and sighed, “I don’t even know…I…don’t tell anyone please, but..I’ve been sneaking into Grian’s dreams every night since we’ve met. I was fascinated by him when he told me he never wanted to go back to the watchers.. little did I know, that “fascination” turned out to be love. Anyway, last night I was late to the dream thing, apparently, every night I’ve been in his dreams, I’ve held off the “ghosts of Vequos and Zylka” somehow. When I was late they tormented Grian…bad… Since I was there after Grian, the two had to fight off me, they were somewhat easy to fight off with being ghosts and all, but it took so much out of me. THEN, Grian was…broken…and I didn’t know how to help, I tried everything I knew, it didn’t work. I remembered him telling me something about good memories comforting to him, so I kinda… went through his memories and played them back to him. It worked! But again, took a lot out of me. I don’t remember anything after that. Only waking up in a lot of pain.”

Etho’s eyes were wider than the Great canyon, “What..?!” He only managed to say, Scar looked away, “I just some time to recover, I’ll be fi-“ Etho covered his mouth, “Scar, do you not want to follow Cleo’s orders?” Etho asked.

Scar’s shoulders tensed, “Why would you say that? Of course I do!” Etho shook his head, “Then why did you stop the ghosts? You said Grian was broken, so he was in the perfect spot to cast the spell.” Scar grabbed Etho’s shoulders, “Etho. You won’t tell anyone, right?”

Etho gasped, “No! Scar, we’re on the same side!” Scar let go of his shoulders and raised an eyebrow. Etho continued, “As long as we don’t bring Grian back, we get to stay on earth. Heck, I think the rest of Aetherlight would be fine with this as well. I don’t want to leave Bdubs again. Let’s just, not listen to Cleo!” Etho said, Scar bit the inside of his cheek.

“What if we form a team? Just you and I, we’ll work together to stay on earth, and to stall Cleo since she trusts you.” Etho said with hope in his eyes. Scar took a deep breath, “Yeah…good idea. Let’s do it.” Scar nodded, and Etho smiled, and walked out of his room.

Scar laid back down on his bed, “Oh Etho…you don’t know what you’ve just done…” Scar closed his eyes and fell asleep.

He opened his eyes and saw the usual darkness of dreams before they have their commands. Scar tried to make the jungle landscape again, but with the little energy he has, it turned into a barren desert. Scar sighed, and sat down, waiting for Grian like usual.

He was waiting for about 30 minutes or so before he felt a tap on his shoulder. Scar turned and saw Grian smiling down at him, Scar smiled back, “Hi Grian.” Scar simply said, “Hi Scar.” Grian responded in the same tone.

Grian sat down next to the man and looked around the desert, “So what happened to the jungle?” Grian asked, Scar sighed, “I’m low on energy at the moment.” Grian frowned, “Sorry…” Scar quickly looked at Grian, “Grian, you have nothing to apologize for! That never would’ve happened if I- if I wasn’t la-“ Grian laughed, “Scar it’s okay, I don’t blame you.” Scar stared at Grian and somberly smiled.

Grian started talking to him about his day, how he hung out with Martyn and Ren, and how he made a new song. Scar was trying his hardest to concentrate on his words, on anything other than what happened the previous night. Grian noticed Scar’s distance and nudged him with his shoulder. Scar flinched and scooted away. Grian’s smile fell.

“Scar… tell me whats bothering you…please?” Grian said softly, how could Scar say no? Scar sighed, “How- how can you just- act like last night didn’t happen?” Grian hummed in though, “When I was Xelqua I was in the memory chamber a lot so I just-“ “that’s not what I meant…” Scar interrupted, and Grian tilted his head, “Then elaborate.” Grian said simply.

“I… I just pushed my self into your memories. That’s a huge invasion of privacy, and…you act like you don’t care… you should! You should care that I- violated your mind!” Scar said, Grian paused, and started to chuckle, “Really? That’s what you’ve been worrying about?” Grian asked, and Scar looked at him sadly and nodded. Grian stopped the laughed and smiled at him, “Scar, I’m not going to be mad at you for just seeing a few of my good memories. Maybe when we first met I would, but we’re friends. Why would I be mad? That’s like saying I would be mad a Joel at seeing my good memories with Jim.”

Scar froze, “Really..?” He silently asked, and was met with a nod by Grian. Scar sighed and fell back hard onto the sand, “I’m so tired…” Scar said. Grian frowned, “You really did use a lot of your energy…didn’t you?” Grian asked. Scar shrugged, “It’s fine, it’ll come back in about…maybe 2 months?” Grian scrunched his eyebrows, “Two months?” He asked, Scar looked up at him, “Yeah, uh, since the whole like, emotion famine? We haven’t been able to recharge as quickly.” Scar said, sounding like he didn’t mind.

Grian looked deep in thought for a while, Scar looked at him with wonder, “No what are you thinking about?” Scar asked. Grian placed a hand on Scars forehead and purple light emitted from his fingertips. Scar felt a rush on energy and sat straight up. Grian retracted the hand and smiled. “Grian what did you just do!?” Scar said quickly, sounding a little panicked. “I…gave you some of my energy. I suppose I have a surplus since I haven’t used my watcher abilities in years.” Grian said, seemingly not caring.

Scar out his hands on his head, “You did what!? That’s!- That’s not allowed!- what- Cle- Aether- WHAT!?” Scar stuttered, not knowing how to react to a high tier watcher sharing their high tier energy, “Grian, I- have to give it back-“ Scar reached out to give it back to Grian but Grian moved away, “Nope! You have to keep it. It’s a gift from me to you.” Grian smiled. Scar’s mouth was left agape, apparently forgetting how to shut it, but finally found movement to let out a laugh.

“I swear Grian, you’re the only watc-“ Scar paused, “Person I’ve ever met like you.” Scar finished smiling. Grian grinned, “Well of course, I’m the one and only!” He winked, and Scar felt his heart skip a beat. Scar remembered something, “Oh Grian!” He got up from his spot, “You said you wanted to fly again, don’t you?” Scar asked excitedly. Grian raised an eyebrow, “I did…why?”

“Do you trust me?” Scar reached out a hand.

Grian looked down at the hand and back to Scar’s face. He hesitatingly took his hand.

Scar pulled Grian in, holding him tight, “Ready?” Scar said happily. Grian gasped, “Scar wha-AHHHHHHHHH!”

Grian’s breath was taken away as he was now 150 feet off the ground. He looked back at scar who was smiling brightly with his dark grey wings out. Scar looked down at Grian, “With all the energy you just bestowed upon me, I can even do this!” Scar dropped Grian.

Grian gasped as he started falling, he quickly turned and saw his rapidly approaching the ground. He covered his head with his arms, preparing for the hit of the ground, But it never came. He moved his arms to see he was now a measly 10 feet from the ground. He figured Scar had caught him, and looked up. He saw scar was still very high in the sky. His eyes widened and looked to his back. His wings.. Grian landed and pressed a hand on his wings feeling the new feathers. Though, these wings were different from his original ones.

The feathers covering his wings are characterized by a high saturation of a messy arrangement of color. Starting at the shoulder, the upper wing coverts are a dark crimson red, transitioning abruptly into an under layer of golden yellow across the mid-wing. The largest and longest feather, forms the wing's outer edge, distinguished by their contrasting deep royal blue hue. The overall effect is a stunning visual hierarchy of color.

Grian’s deep analysis was cut short as he heard a he’d thud behind him, he quickly turned around and saw Scar, face first in the ground. Scar got up, laughing, “Haha, sorry, mid tier watchers don’t usually use their wings…heh…and uh! I hope you like the colors, I didn’t know what type of parrot was you favorite so I just chose the classic-“ He paused when he saw tears streaming down Grian’s face, “are- Are you okay..!? I’m sorrry- I don’t know- I thought you’d like them-“ Grian hugged scar, “I love them. They’re perfect…” Grian said in between hiccups.

Scar tensed by the hug, but instantly melted into it and hugged him back, more tightly than he should’ve. He quickly pulled away and cleared his throat, “Since you haven’t flown in what? 10 years? How we see if you still got it?” Scar asked.

Grian chuckled, “You challenging me?” Grian said, with clear confidence that Scar loved him for. Scar grinned, “What if I am?” Grian smiled and flew straight up, and then across the desert. Scar followed him, lagging behind slightly, and as scar moved, he transformed the desert back to the jungle they knew and loved. Grian effortlessly moved and glided through the trees and vines. Pausing to sit on a tree to wait for Scar to catch up, “Wow Scar, if I had to guess it seems like you’re the one who hasn’t flown in 10 years!” Grian said laughing. Scar huffed, “Like I said, mid tiers don’t usually fly…okay?!” He flew up to the branch Grian was on. Scar’s footing slipped on the branch and he fell straight down, Grian caught him and swung him back on the branch, laughing. “Look who’s falling now! Looks like we’re even!” Grian said brightly, and continued flying.

Scar stared at the view of Grian flying, without a care in the world, and smiled. What Grian said made him remember that moment in the haunted mansion. What if he didn’t pull away like he had..? What would their relationship be currently? Scar felt himself smiling, “Next time I have a chance…” he paused, stepping off the branch, “I swear I’m taking it…” he muttered to himself.

After what feels like forever of flying, the two sat on the roof of the G-mansion. Grian was lying down, looking at the sky, and Scar was looking at Grian. Scar made his wings retract so he could comfortably lay down. Grian looked at the feathers on his own wings, “I missed this…so much… this time though, it feels more freeing. Vequos and Zylka would never let me fly, so I had to sneak away too. They always knew though.” Grian laid down next to Scar, “Hows Aetherlight?” Grian turned to scar.

Scar hummed, “I don’t really know. Today I’ve been in my bed all day. Nothing much you can do on a low battery..” Scar bit the inside of his cheek. Grian paused. Looking to the sky, then back at Scar, “Scar, did you ever find out what emotion you were feeling?” Grian asked, Scar raised an eyebrow, so Grian continued, “Y’know. You described it to me a while ago asking what it was. I said it was probably anger and you said it was, but it was sarcastically, so, have you found out what you were feeling?” Scar’s face went red, “Uh- you were right! It was anger!” Scar said quickly, Grian felt the lie, but didn’t press.

They stayed like that until it was the morning. Grian blinked, and when he opened his eyes, he was back in his bed, wingless. Grian sat up and rubbed his eyes. The thoughts of him and Scar kept replaying in his mind as he got ready and walked out to the kitchen.

Jimmy was half asleep on the kitchen island, and Joel was drinking coffee, glued to his phone. Grian raised an eyebrow, “What’s got you so phone addicted?” Grian asked. Joel’s face went red, “Just..chatting..to Lizzie..” Joel said looking away. Grian didn’t really care, he just wanted to mess with Joel. Jimmy sat up, and friend to Grian, “Grian…can you make breakfast again?” Jimmy said, barely able to open his eyes. “No.” Grian flat out said. Jimmy groaned and put his head back on the table. Grian turned to the TV and turned on ECHO. BigB was talking about…CUTE GUY!?

Joel and Jimmy turned their heads when Cute Guy was mentioned on the TV. “Apparently, Cute Guy, a popular solo artist back years ago, is theorized to make a comeback after 4 years of being MIA! Hard core Cute Guy fans or “Cuties” have found a Loomblr page with a whippoorwill over a moon.” BigB says, as a picture of the image pops up on screen, “Why is this Cute Guy you ask? Well if you look in the corner right there, it’s his signature hand drawn heart!” BigB tried to contain his excitement, “I’m sorry everyone, I’m just so hyped for this! I used to be the biggest Cutie back when Cute Guy was making music. What does this image mean? Is it a single or an album? Is this his comeback? Or goodbye?” The commercial’s started.

Jimmy hummed, “Cute Guy? I think I remember him. Martyn was a big fan of him when we met, right? And didn’t most of our first fans come over from Cute Guy?” Joel put a hand on his chin, “I think so, yeah…Grian? Do you know him?” Grian shrugged, “I don’t think anyone knows him. Martyn told me he’s stayed anonymous for the 6 years he made music. I’ve listened to a few of his songs but that’s it.” Grian said, lying through his teeth. Joel laughed, “It’s kinda funny, the cute guy fans went over to the bad boys. Cuties to baddies!” Grian cringed, “Please don’t call our fans “baddies…” Jimmy grumbled, “He’s been gone for 4 years, why is everyone so excited?” Grian slightly smiled, “Maybe they missed him.”

Joel, meanwhile, couldn't shake the new found broken trust by Grian. He set his coffee cup down determined to steer the conversation back to yesterday, the day Grian had dismissed with a quickly made lie.

"Anyway," Joel started, his tone sharp. "The date with Lizzie was... good. Really good.bWe were talking about our old song, 'Drifting Coins.'" "That's nice, Joel," Grian said, reaching for a clean mug.

"She said something that kind of reminded me of you, actually," Joel continued, his brow furrowed in thought. "We were looking at hummingbirds on the balcony, and she was talking about flying. About how she wished she could fly around, even though she was told that's not what watchers were 'supposed' to do." Grian froze. That specific sentence, not being able to fly, was a core part of his hidden history. It was too specific to be just a ‘coincidence.’

"That's... quite the thing to bring up on a first date," Grian managed, trying to sound bored.

Joel noticed the immediate defensiveness. "Why are you being weird about it? She's sweet, Grian.” Grian tried to get a word in, "I'm not being weird about it!"

"Unlike you, who spent yesterday making up some pathetic lie about 'The Godfather Part 2.'" Joel stood up, pushing his chair back. "You lied to us about where you were those nine hours, Grian! What was so important that you couldn't tell us? What was so important you had to lie to me just to avoid a simple conversation!?"

Jimmy lifted his head fully, having a hesitating voice. "Guys, please, come on. Whatever Grian was doing, it can't be worth fighting over. Let's just talk about it tomorrow." "Stay out of this, Jim," Joel snapped, though he immediately regretted the tone. He focused back on Grian. "Grian, I need you to be honest with me right now."

Grian finally forced his words out, keeping his voice even, "It was important, Joel. And it was private. It doesn't mean I'm abandoning anything or that the band is less important."
Joel didn't believe him. He stopped his pacing, his eyes sweeping the room, desperate for a tangible answer. He spotted Grian's guitar bag near the hall closet, the one Grian had thrown his notebook into last night. The zipper was partially undone, and a piece of paper was sticking out. Joel snatched it. Grian quickly tried to protest, but Joel held up a hand to him while reading.

He glanced at the paper, seeing Grian's messy, elaborate script, the dark, emotional lyrics that were so unlike the upbeat Bad Boys material. He
recognized the name at the bottom. It simply read Cute Guy…did Grian know Cute Guy?. He quickly recognize the intense, emotional tone.

"Wait... were you… recording music?" Joel asked, his anger morphing into confusion. "This is... a solo song. This is your old style..you said you never wanted to make lyrics like this again..." Joel looked back at the TV, where the Cute Guy graphic was still displayed.

The pieces clicked together in Joel's mind: Grian’s sudden lie-filled disappearance, the emotional lyrics he thought Grian had given up, and the huge viral comeback of an anonymous solo artist who fit this exact profile.

Joel looked up at Grian, his eyes filling with devastation. "You spent the entire day recording this, didn't you? This…comeback song."
Jimmy rushed to Joel's side, grabbing his shoulder. "Joel! Come on, Grian wouldn't! He was probably just helping Martyn with something old. It's just a coincidence, it has to be!"

Joel gently shook Jimmy off, his gaze locked on Grian. "You're leaving the Bad Boys, aren't you?"
The anger was gone, replaced by profound, aching heartbreak. "The band was just a stepping stone. You lied to us, you sneaked around to the studio, you recorded this massive, emotional single... You're trading us, and everything we built together, to go back to being a solo star." Joel's voice cracked. "We’re just your price to be remembered..."

Grian instantly shook his head, “Thats not it!- You, you’ve really twisted this! I was- initially not going to tell you guys, but yes, I am Cute Guy. But this single, is NOT a comeback!”

“Then what is it?” Joel said quickly. Grian replied quicker, “It’s an exit song.” Joel and Jimmy looked at Jimmy, Joel was still hesitant, and Jimmy was just shocked. “I wanted to make an exit song, for Cute Guy. To show that I’ll always be with the bad boys.” Grian smiled, and slightly laughed, “You really went the wrong path…”

Joel looked back at the lyrics and back to Grian, handing them back to him, “Sorry…I- I’m sorry, I don’t know…Lizzie just- She told me you were hiding something. I- actually believed it was something bad, so, I just assumed the worst.”

Grian took the lyrics, “She told you I was hiding something..?” Grian looked to him with confusion. Joel nodded, then shook his head, “I shouldn’t have even believed her to begin with. I was right, never trust a watcher…” Joel laughed, but tears almost started to fall. Grian needed to fix this, “But she was right! Wasn’t she..? I was hiding I was cute guy, and she was right. I think you just heard her the wrong way…maybe…” Grian said, not wanting Joel’s heart to break.

Jimmy looked back at Grian then to Joel, “So now that all is all over, I think my sleepy morning is ruined…” there was painful silence, before Joel spoke up to Grian, “I’m forcing you to watch The Godather now. Both of them.” Grian started to whine, “Nooooo it’s just so bad….!” The three laughed and walked to the couch, starting the painful 9 hours and 32 minutes of straight couch rotting.

Scar knocked on Etho’s door, hearing a soft, “come in,” from inside. He opened the door and saw Etho was deep in history books. Etho looked at Scar and looked confused, “How are you up right now..?” Etho asked. Scar chuckled, “Well, you know how I go into Grian’s dreams? He saw that I was really weak from being drained of power, so he…like gifted? Me some of his.”

Etho was shocked, a high tier watcher, giving a mid tier energy..? That’s never been heard before. Mid tiers can give other mid tiers energy. But High tier watchers…he didn’t even know they could give out energy, “He gave you…energy….how do you feel right now..?” Etho asked with concern.

Scar shrugged, “I feel fine. Well, it was overwhelming, actually. He just put a hand on my head and it was like being plugged into a massive, clean power source. He called it a 'surplus,' like it was extra change in his pocket." Etho put pieces together, “Surplus…Oh my void- of course he has a surplus! He hasn’t used his powers in what? Ten years! And all that time he’s just been soaking up emotions!” Scar interrupted, “He said he can’t eat emotions anymore-“ Etho interrupted back, “He lied. Watchers can’t just lose that ability….” He fell on his bed, “Ten years of pure high tier watcher energy…soaking up emotions like a sponge…” He sat back up, “Cleo doesn’t even know! If- if Grian would ever be forced to act in self defense against them, then- Cleo could die.” Etho looked at Scar, who had a similar reaction, “He’s like an atomic bomb….what- what would happen if we really did cast the mind wipe spell- and converted him back-“

Etho shook his head, “That can’t happen anymore, knowing this now, it- just can’t…” Scar nodded, and sat next to him, “Then whats our next action?”

Lizzie and Scott were in the kitchen of the Aetherlight’s house. Scott was attempting to cook, but stopped when he noticed Lizzie didn’t look well. “Lizzie, are you- okay? You haven’t really been yourself since your date…” Scott said comfortably. Lizzie sighed, “Yeah I’m fine. I just don’t want to do this anymore. Using him for information…I feel terrible. This- it feels like something is weighing on my heart, and I don’t know what it is…” Lizzie held on to her shirt, and put her other hand over her forehead, also covering her eyes.

Scott sits down next to her, “Pressure maybe? Knowing it’s up to you to get information?” Scar asked, tilting his head to see her eyes. Lizzie drops her hands on the table, “That’s not it, it’s not pressure…I know it’s not.” She looked away. Scott gulped, “Do you think it’s guilt?” Lizzie looks at him, “Guilt? Guilt…” She pauses in thought, “It..could be…these emotions are still new- I don’t know what anything is anymore!” She groaned and put her head on the table.

Scott shook his head, “We always had emotions…we just weren’t allowed to acknowledge them…” Lizzie looked up to him and frowned, “I know…” Silence filled their air. Lizzie spoke up again, “I think it is guilt. And I hate it. Why should I care? It’s not like we’re going to be here much longer!” She started to get mad at herself, but calmed down when she felt a hand on her shoulder. Scott smiled softly, “You never know, maybe…maybe we could be the next run aways…” Lizzie paused, and smiled back.

Tango was in his room hogging Aetherlight’s phone, texting Jimmy.

Hey Jim!
Tango paused, before continuing to write
I haven’t really heard from you since the Cafe…and I saw you seemed upset…kinda? Um, just know, if there’s something you want to talk about, I’m here!
Tango smiled, but thought something was wrong, maybe an emoji? Yeah an emoji seems good. He clicked

T: Hey Jim! I haven’t really heard from you since the Cafe…and I saw you seemed upset…kinda? Um, just know, if there’s something you want to talk about, I’m here! 😎

There was a long, long pause before Jimmy answered

J: sorry for the late reply! Me and the bb’s are watching all of the Godfathers.

T: Oh no problem at all! It wasn’t like I was just staring at the screen for 18 minutes straight lol.
(He was)

J: lol.

There was a pause. Neither of them knew how to continue the conversation.

T: So! Uh, are you okay?

J: Yeah, why wouldn’t I be?

T: Just what I said it my first text, you seemed upset..

J: ohhh! Yeah I cried, BUT I talked about it with Grian and he always helps.

T: you cried!? Why?!

J: Well, I kinda wanted to talk to Scott and you at the same time about it.

Tango dropped the phone, but instantly picked it back up to type faster, causing a few mistakes.

T: Wyh? Did ew do soemtjing wrong?

J: No, you didn’t do anything wrong!

T: oh good

J: I lied, sorry I forgot I was going to stop being a people pleaser.

Tango put a hand on his head

T: I’m sorry! Are we still friends?

J: Yeah of course we’re still friends! I just want you two to stop using me like you need me to solve your arguments.

T: What?

J: Yk. Like anytime you or Scott try to make a point, instead of using logic, or trying to justify your answer, you use me to solve it. Like for some examples, “Jimmy, settle this!” “Jimmy, you know the right answer to this don’t you?” “Jimmy you’re with me, right?” “Jimmy, what’s your take on this?” “Jimmy, how would you handle it?” “Let’s hear Jimmy’s opinion.” After a while I realized this, and I couldn’t unrealize it. It became overwhelming quickly.

T: Jimmy I’m so so sorry..! I’ll try not to do that I swear! I’ll tell Scott too!

J: no that’s okay, I want to tell him myself. That reminds me of a question I’ve been wanting to ask.

T: What is it?

J: Do like Scott? Like as even a friend? You two argue a lot, not like friend arguing, like enemy arguing.

Tango paused, and Jimmy caught onto that quick.

J: You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to

T: no no! I can answer! Uh, me and Scott, of course go way back, y’know being ageless basically immortal beings and all. And for some reason we just never got along? I don’t really know why. We just get on each other’s nerves?

J: Huh…I don’t know why, but I always assumed you guys were friends…that’s why I always invited you two to hang out with me together. Hey, I have to go watch the rest of The Godfather. Joel is forcing us to finish this marathon.

T: I’ve never seen that movie before, but it sounds cool! Text me when the marathon is over. We should just hang out, no Scott, no debates. Just music and movies. It'd be nice.

J: I'd really like that. Talk soon, Tango.

T: Later! Text me as soon as you can!

J: Will do <3

Tango turned off the phone, but instantly checked again, what was that? The point three thing? He’s never seen it before. He quickly went to google a searched it “<3: A sideways heart, often used to express "love" or "much love" in text messages.” Tango’s jaw dropped and so did the phone. Jimmy sent that to him. Does..does this mean!?

Jimmy sent the last message, turned off his phone, and went back to the movie. After the painful 9 hours, the three bad boys were fast asleep on the couch.

Joel was sleeping sitting, head all the way back. Jimmy was on the right, sleeping somehow on top of the couches back? And Grian was sprawled out all over the place on the couch. All their worries being casted away.

Cleo saw this. Every, single thing. Aetherlight, the bad boys, every single movement went through her eyes. And she sure wasn’t happy.

Cleo closed their eyes and went back to their two on their head. “Despicable.” She turned, summoning a portal, “Seems like I must take actions in my own hands.” And she stepped through.