Chapter Text
‘SCAR! SCAR!’
Nothing could be done to stop him from falling in the void, falling, falling…
The Watchers came, laughed, jeered, said
‘Xelqua, if you’re really so powerful, why don’t you jump down and save him?’
But Grian could do nothing but watch as Scar-
Heavy breathing. The room, which was built to be spacious and airy, felt suffocating, claustrophobic. He remembered it all so clearly, the laughs of N, the screams of Scar reaching out for something- someone to hold him.
Ti’s voice echoed in his head.
‘You- you were always born to be a killer! Always and always will be! Don’t even try to hide it. Just murder me, MURDER ME, I DARE YOU!’ as he had swung his sword at Grian.
His breath caught in his throat as he tried to ignore the ringin in his ears. And that Sadie- had it always been there? It looked a bit strange. A little sketchy.
Grian squeezed his eyes tight and clamped a hand over his ears, the sweat from his palm soaking into his hair. It had been a long time since he had a nightmare, but every time they happened, they were just as bad as the last.
He stayed that way, curled into a ball, for quite a long time until the morning sun began to peek through his blinds, messing with his vision and leaving black spots in the corners of his eyes.
The chickens in between his and Mumbo’s base were cawing as loud as ever, probably dropping eggs all over their messaging system. The thought of rushing it up made Grian groan- he could wait another day, maybe clean it up once he got round to doing the back of his base.
He turned on the lights as a form a procrastination, and pulled out his comms, feeling it buzz.
Scar>> hey G wanna come for a walk
Scar>> I’m by the Sahara
ZombieCleo>> use protection
FalseSymmetry>> yeah don’t wanna get pregnant
JoeHills>> can men get pregnant
Xisuma>> what’s this talk of pregnancy?
JoeHills>> hey dad
Xisuma>> …
Grian>> yeah scar I’ll come
ZombieCleo>> there are jokes to be made of that
Xisuma>> which you will not say because Zedaph is a child.
Grian rolled his eyes. All the hermits, bar himself and Scar, had decided to make it their mission to ship them as firmly together as possible, going out of their way to ensure they crossed paths at least once a day. It was a little endearing, he would admit, but good fun nonetheless.
It was now officially the fifth time that Scar had asked Grian to accompany him on a walk- far too many, in Grian’s mind, but each time was just as nice, if not better, than than the last.
He met Scar outside the Sahara, surveying the various shulkers, completely unaware that Grian was anywhere near him, giving rise to the perfect opportunity to… creep a bit closer… and…
‘Whaughrhhh- oh, hahh, don’t do that! Grian!’ Scar clutched at his chest in a comedic display of utter shock.
Grian bent over laughing, beating his wings so hard he nearly flew.
‘Scar!’
‘You pesky, pesky bird.’
‘Not pesky!’
‘As if.’
‘Hey, Scar, whilst we’re over here…’
Scar looked at him curiously. ‘What?’
‘Could I interest you in a really good deal? Buy one of our Sahara NOW Memberships for only 100 diamonds, stunning price, can’t get anywhere else…’
‘Grian, are you capitalism’ing me?’
‘No… But it would make me really happy if you brought one from my face over yonder in this chest…’
Grumbling, Scar walked over and ungraciously dumped a shiny stack of a hundred diamonds into Grian’s chest, complaining the whole time about it being a total scam and he using his cuteness against him.
‘You think I’m cute~?’
‘If we were superheroes, you would be CuteGuy.’
‘Then you would be HotGuy I guess…’
‘Aw, Grian! And you say you’re cold-hearted!’
Grian tried a menacing snarl. ‘I’m the scariest villain ever!’
Scar laughed and riffled his head. Aw, you’re adorable!’
‘Hmph.’
A butterfly flew overhead, making him laugh as Scar chased it, headless chicken style. Eventually it flew out of his reach, and Grian took the pleasure of chasing it in the air, relishing Scar’s screams of delight whenever he got close.
It only took a minute for him to snatch it out of the air and into a bottle, which he then presented to Scar as if he was a character in Animal Crossing, all big and showy.
‘Grian! You did it!’
‘Yeah! We should let it go now.’
‘Wait… tell Xisuma first!’
Smiling, Grian pulled out his comms. You could practically hear the sparkles in Scar’s voice.
Grian>> hey x we caught a butterfly
Scar>> it’s blue :F
Xisuma>> well done boys
Xisuma>> let it go
ZombieCleo>> LET IT GOOO~
FalseSymmetry>> CANT HOLD IT IN ANYMOREEE
Scar>> LET IT GOO
Doc>> kill me now
Scar laughed. ‘I haven’t watched Frozen in a long time… Wanna watch with me?’
‘I could… I don’t like ice very much though.’
‘It’s okay! We can watch it at my house, there’s a fireplace there!’
‘No fire should come within ten metres of your house.’
‘I love fire!’
‘Your house doesn’t.’
Scar pouted and crossed his arms. ‘You’re no fun!’
Which was how he somehow ended up nestled into the crook of Scar’s arm, surrounded by Jellie’s hair and the sound of Elsa singing.
It wasn’t all that bad, Grian mused, although he was starting to fall asleep. Too warm, too cozy… but Grian didn’t want to sleep! That would make him vulnerable to threats around him.
What threats? Scar was the only one with him. He would be fine. He was overreacting. Everything would be okay.
Grian closed his eyes, and entrusted himself to Scar.
He woke up the next morning in his own bed, with only one thought on his mind. He had to repay Scar some way. Maybe invite him on a date for dinner. Maybe kiss.
But how was he supposed to tell him? What if he… what if he said no? What if he said that all this that he’d been doing, all the niceness and kindness and smiles, were all out of pity, all out of a sense of morality?
Hermits help hermits, and what if he was just helping out where he could? No real feelings, no real… love.
Love. What a funny word. Unrequited, passionate love. Grian didn’t really feel love. But this… this was a yearning, an intense desire, to have Scar by his side. It probably was love.
No, Grian decided. Aimlessly thinking wasn’t going to help anyone. He needed to ask the girls of Hermitcraft to help out.
Grian>> Cleo false stress
Grian>> help
Cleo>> what is it
Stress>> r u dying
False>> whatttt
Grian>> I need advice
Stress>> I’m already givin advice can’t go
Cleo>> is it advice with that cos if so I’m a virgin
Grian>> what’s that
False>> you know…
Stress>> git wiv it
Grian>>…
Grian>> nooooo!
Cleo>> worth a shot
Cleo>> I’m coming over
Stress>> be there in one minute
False>> same
Grian bit his lip, and mentally rolled his eyes at himself. Why was he so nervous? It was just asking someone out, not rocket science.
…Maybe rocket science would be easier, actually. He was good enough at Marine Biology, what was another science to pick up? And Grian wasn’t that bad with numbers anyhow.
Feelings, however… was vastly different. How did one frown translate to so many things? Or rather, mistranslate to so many things?
A knock on his door alerted him to the presence of the girls.
‘Cleo! False. Nice to see ya! Want a cookie? Scar made them for me.’
The girls looked at each other and burst out laughing.
‘What?’
Cleo leaned in closer. ‘You really don’t realise, do you? Silly goose. That’s okay, that’s what we’re here for!’
‘Realise what?’ Grian had an inkling of what this ‘realisation’ was going to be.
False interrupted. ‘That he’s head over heels for you! In fact, I heard from Stress that she’s currently giving advice to Scar. You boys are soo oblivious.’
‘No I’m not! I’m aware of my feelings… I think I like him?’
Sighing, Cleo walked over, ruffling Grian’s hair. ‘We need to have a talk. Meaning, you and me and False. Right?
False nodded seriously. ‘We’re gonna get you to realise all your feelings.’
‘Wait, wait. No! I don’t wanna be psychoanalysed!’
‘It’s not psychoanalysing, it’s just having a girl talk.’
Grian glared sarcastically at them.
Cleo glared sarcastically back.
There was no winning this debate.
One minute later, Grian found himself hoisted onto a chair, being given a hug by False and being talked to by Cleo.
‘So. You like Scar.’
‘No?’
‘That wasn’t a question. Moving on!’
Grian spluttered.
‘You want to ask Scar out.’
Grian stopped spluttering. ‘I mean. Different phrasing, but I guess?’
‘It’s the right phrasing. False, hug harder. We’re gonna need to dig deep with this one.’
Once Cleo decided that False was squeezing hard enough, they brought out a bulletin board, pins and red string. False stopped squeezing and started unravelling the red tape and bringing out photos.
‘Cleo. False. This is so unnecessary.’
‘You just haven’t realised our genius!’ said False, high-fiving Cleo, who began to speak.
‘In this photo, you’re cuddling Scar. No, stop protesting, I’m the one speaking. If we… yep, False, red string there, connect it up… got it. When we were at the mall, you asked where Scar was, and looked like you were missing his cuddles.’
False took over, adding more evidence.
‘On the firework night, you two were both snuggling with the same blanket. And you roasted a marshmallow for him. Red string right to when we had marshmallows for Cub’s birthday, and you shared a look with Scar, clearly thinking about the roasted marshmallow.’
Grian’s head suddenly started making connections himself, weaving together the dots. Cleo looked pleased.
‘Look, False! He’s realising it now… you can see it in his eyes. Kind of. His eyes are weird.’
‘Hey! My eyes are fine.’
‘Sure… Quick, Grian. How are you going to ask Scar out?’
‘Invite him for dinner and the Lion King.’
‘Perfect answer. Ten points. At what point are you going to hug him?’
‘Once the first song starts.’
‘Good enough. When are you going to kiss him?’
‘I- uh, once he starts falling asleep?’
‘Wonderful. Alright, False? I think our work here is done. Grian, I expect that message over by comms right now.’
Grian>> hey Scar
Grian>> wanna come for dinner
Grian>> and lion king
Scar>> be there in one minute