Work Text:
From the beginning of their friendship, Scar worried. Something about Grian was always…off . Now, Scar definitely wasn’t one to judge, he knew just how hard life could be, he often had his off days. But, Grian was so constantly off it was concerning. It unsettled Scar, worried him, Like the sort of feeling you get when you see a too boney pet or a child that flinches at too much. The feeling of “something might be wrong” but without anything but circumstantial evidence as proof.
Grian enjoyed physical affection, but only if he could always see you; He was often the prankster but was quick to anger at small inconsequential things; he actually enjoyed school (despite being apart of ‘the bad boys’, who honestly didn’t actually cause much trouble) but sometimes would skip school weeks at a time with no explanation. He was a contradictory thing, his traits like oil and water trying to mix. And Scar worried, as hard as Grian insisted he not, about Grian — Especially when he was away for periods of time and came back with healing bruises peaking from the collar of his red sweater and leather jacket.
And yet, he never had any solid evidence anything was wrong. It was all little things, things that could be excused, things that could just be coincidence. And so Scar tried to subtly support him, remind Grian he could tell him anything, made sure he knew no matter what if he needed help that Scar would be there as fast as possible (despite how much his inaction was killing Scar from the inside, he just wanted to help his friend). Despite this, Grian had never said a thing, never mentioned any issues at home (infact, he almost never spoke about his family unless it was related to his extended family. Perhaps that proved Scar’s point further.). He never mentioned any struggles with his health, mental or physical, even if the signs pointed to that being false.
But Scar could be patient when needed , he could stand there and wait for Grian to come to him, (Grian was like a cornered animal, he couldn’t risk bringing up his thoughts directly in case he closed off. He knew he wasn’t the first person to suspect something was wrong).
——
Scar’s patience finally paid off at 2 in the morning on a Wednesday night.
The sound Scar’s phone ringing woke him up from his dreams, drawing a groggy groan out of him as he reached over to see who was calling him this late on a school night.
Seeing it was Grian, Scar accepted without a second though, putting the phone to his ear. He was suddenly very awake when shaky breathing started from the other side.
“Scar- I- scar”
Grian’s voice shook like he was fighting back tears, Scar’s heart was in his stomach at the sound.
“Grian?- are you okay?” Scar could hear the grogginess in his own voice.
“Scar… can- can you come pick me up?” Grian choked out, and Scar stumbled out of bed so fast he was sure he’d be feeling it tomorrow. But that didn’t matter.
“Yes! Yes of course- where are you? I’ll be there soon!” Scar stumbled pulling on a pair of sweatpants with one hand while the other held the phone to his ear.
There was silence for a moment and Scar could hear the wind and Grian’s shaky breathing through his grainy phone mic.
Right as Scar pulled on a hoodie and grabbed his keys and wallet, Grian finally seemed to find a street sign.
“I’m- um- on Page Street?”
“Okay- stay right there Grian I’m on my way I promise.” Scar reassured as he carefully walked down the stairs (he’d be useless if he dislocated his knee before he could get to Grian).
“Okay” Grian’s voice wobbled, and he felt his heart breaking.
He was out the door and starting his car in less than a minute, forgoing shoes despite the cold air and the beginnings of rain. The sooner he was there the sooner Grian would be safe.
It started pouring the moment he started driving, and he heard a squeak and the boom of thunder from Grian’s side of the phone.
“Is there any cover?” Scar asked, the phone connected to his cars Bluetooth now.
Grian made a sob that sounded a lot like a no, and Scar was very grateful he lived so close to Grian’s place.
The 5 minute car ride felt like 20, but eventually he spotted Grian stood by a street sign a kilometre from his house.
He was soaked, hunched over his dingy backpack and his phone to keep it dry.
The moment Scar’s car was stopped Grian rushed in, and Scar immediately reached into his backseat for a towel to give to him. He didn’t care if the seat got wet.
“Grian! Oh gosh are you okay?” Scar rushed to ask as the shorter man immediately began sobbing.
Scar unbuckled his seatbelt, pulling the hand break before leaning over the centre console to pull Grian into a hug.
Grian didn’t protest, his own arms coming to wrap around Scar and his face resting against the crook of Scar’s neck as he shuddered and gasped for air.
Scars hands moved to run his fingers through Grian’s sodden hair and draw patterns on his back, anything to distract the blonde in his arms.
He wasn’t sure how long Grian was crying for, but eventually he calmed to wet sniffles.
“What happened Grian?” Scar asked gently, still stroking Grian’s head.
He was quiet, and Scar was worried for a second that he’d closed up as Grian let go and gently pushed him away. But as he looked at the blondes face in the light of his car he quickly realised that it was his answer.
Grian’s face had a massive bruise forming on his cheek, his eyes were red and puffy from crying and there was bits of dried blood around his nose.
Scar reached out slowly, cupping Grian’s face tenderly, his thumb gently running over his damp skin. Grian leaned into it, his eyes fluttering closed.
“Oh Grian. We can talk when we get home okay? Do you want to get something to eat?”
Grian made a noise of confirmation and after a moment Scar hesitantly pulled his hand away.
——
By the time they were home and dry it was almost 4am, and while Scar usually wouldn’t skip school he was sure as heck not waking up in 3 hours, and Grian could use a day off.
Despite what he had said, Scar hadn’t asked Grian to talk about what happened yet. The poor man spent most of the car ride home staring out the window, only really snapping out of it when given food.
It just felt wrong to push it, with Grian just getting comfortable , but Scar knew Grian. He knew if he didn’t bring it up now Grian would avoid the topic forever.
“What happened Grian?”
Scar asked softly to the man currently cuddled by his side (he was surprisingly quite cuddly, but then again he still felt cold to the touch and Scar was a walking furnace so it was probably that.
Grian didn’t respond for a while, at least a few minutes, and Scar almost thought he had fallen asleep when he responded.
“My mum, she um, kicked me out.” Grian swallowed roughly before continuing, moving a hand to wipe at his eyes.
“We were arguing, over some stupid shit I don’t even remember, and she-“ He choked, and Scar moved to hold his hand under the sheets. Grian squeezed his hand hard.
“She said she wished she’d never had me. That I was, um, a disgrace and- and just a dumb fag” his voice cracked at the end, and Scar moved to sit up and pull Grian into a hug.
He reciprocated, tucking his he face into the crook of Scar’s neck before continuing through shaky breaths. “And she just..wouldn’t stop yelling. And my ears hurt and I was tired and just wanted to go to sleep! And so I yelled back. And she told me to get my things and leave.”
“And the bruises? Your nose?” Scar spoke barely above a whisper, too scared of breaking the moment and Grian never bringing it up again.
Grian tensed. “When we were fighting I- she hit me, and I fell.”
Scar frowned, but decided not to ask further questions. He’d let Grian tell him more if he wanted to (he doubted he ever would, and Scar honestly wouldn’t blame him.)
“Scar, I don’t know where I’m gonna go.”
Grian whispered after a moment of silence, leaning back from Scar’s hug to look at him with worried eyes. It tugged on Scar’s heart strings.
“We can figure that out later okay? For now you can stay with me. I’m sure my parents won’t mind.” Even if they did mind, Scar would push back until they agreed.
Grian looked hesitant, anxiously chewing on his bottom lip.
“Dude are you sure?” He asked, glancing away into the dark of Scar’s bedroom.
“I’m sure, it’s no biggy.” Scar reassured, moving one of his hands to reassuringly squeeze Grian’s arm.
As he went to say something, Grian yawned.
“I think that’s our sign to sleep, don’t you?” Scar teased, and Grian groaned, pulling out of the hug.
“You’re so corny!” Grian rolled his eyes, but there was still a small smile on his face. Mission success.
“You say that like you don’t love my jokes”
Scar grinned even harder when Grian
responded with, “I suppose so.”
Scar yawned too before he could respond.
“Goodnight Scar” Grian cut him off from any response Scar could give, shuffling to lay down.
Scar joined him, looking over as he responded, “Goodnight Grian”.
And while Scar hated that Grian ever suffered, he was glad he had chose to call him.