Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Day 1: Flowers / Grief
Day 2: Promises / Betrayal
Day 3: Mirage / Soulmates
Day 4: Ghosts / Wishes
Day 5: Mercy / Feathers
Day 6: Pirates / Lost
Day 7: Winners / Memories

Chapter Text

They would carry fresh flowers with them, replacing them as they began to wilt and fall apart.

Always taking up space, an inconvenience, but they didn’t mind, not really. Some inconveniences are worthwhile.

They were the one thing they didn’t remove before that fight. They couldn’t.

Even as they became broken and crumpled, as they fell out and became trampled. Half-buried in the sand, splattered in blood.

When Scar’s arm suddenly dropped, Grian knew that was the end. After everything, after keeping Scar alive that long, Scar now lay dead below him, killed by his fists.

“Scar…?” As if there would be some response. As if Scar was playing dead to change the tides, to overpower Grian.

“Scar…this isn’t funny…” He shakes Scar’s shoulders, to snap him out of his charade. To get him to break character.

“Scar, please…” He cups Scar’s cheek, turning his face upwards instead of sideways. He searches in those eyes, trying to convince himself that the sunlight reflected in them was the spark he’d see when Scar looked at him.

“Scar…” The eyes didn’t look over his face. The sun was slowly setting, and the light moved with them. Himself and the sun were the only things moving in an otherwise still world.

“…” He rises to his feet, going inside their house. He needed some wood, and a shovel…and he’ll need to go to the forest for some fresh flowers, too.

Grian lays Scar into the coffin, surrounded by fresh poppies and lilacs. He leans in, leaving Scar a final kiss before the coffin closes, and he buries him beside Pizza.

He stands at the ledge.

He carried dried flowers with him, unable to ever replace them, as their meaning was too great.

They took up space in the home, a small inconvenience, but Grian didn’t mind, not really. They came from an inconvenience, but an inconvenience that became worthwhile.

They were the one thing he held as he stepped off the edge. The last sensation in his hands before his world went dark.

They crumbled to dust from the impact, fragile from drying and age. Their pieces blow away with the sand, becoming one with the earth as the ground soaks up his blood.

Chapter Text

Grian had been wandering in the woods for many hours, tales of a wizard living deep within them drawing him inside. Whispers around town, passers-by on the trails talking about the mysterious figure. None knew his name or his face, or the exact location of his home, but they knew he had a cart of magic supplies.

Magic…something that had been outlawed in the Southlands, for it was far too dangerous and unpredictable. Grian found it his responsibility to seek out this so-called wizard and bring him to justice. He promised his family that he would.

But he’d been walking for an incredibly long time by now. He needs to turn back soon, or risk the nighttime without a light to guide him. He turns and soon notices that the last crossroads he was at has many paths to take back…and he doesn’t remember which one he took.

As he stares down the different trails, he can hear…something. He peers through the trees, looking all around as the sound gets closer. A faint ringing, the squeak of a rusty wheel.

Then, looking back at where he’d turned back from, he sees it. A small cart, pushed by a hooded figure. A small bell glistened in the light of a floating orb hovering around the cart. Grian stood staring as it came closer, more fearful than he thought he’d be.

The figure stops, and Grian can just about see a small grin below the shadow of the hood. “Well hello there. Are you lost, perchance?”

“N-no…I um…I was looking for you, actually.” Grian corrects his stance, standing a bit taller, though the figure still beats him in height.

“Oh isn’t that lucky of you, then! Here I am!” He chuckles. He parks the cart, leaning back on it with a hand rested on top. “What can I do for you? Seeking spells, potions, crystals, faraway goods? I have a nice variety in my cart here.” He pauses, but before Grian can respond, he holds up his hand. “Wait-I’ve got it. Yes, one second…” He turns and digs through the cart, leaving Grian confused.

The figure turns back around, holding up a yellow crystal. “Something tells me you’re after a certain someone’s attention, but something is holding you back. This confidence crystal should help you out, give you the boost you need to follow your heart, and tell that someone how you really feel.”

Grian has a confused face as he looks between the crystal and where the figure’s eyes should be. “Uh…no…I was just looking for you.”

“Just me? Why?” The figure frowns, putting the crystal back. “Nobody goes out of their way to look for me unless they’re after some magic. Unless you know I don’t have something in my cart and wanted to special request it?” He turns back just as Grian has stepped very close up to him, making him jump a bit and press his back against his cart. “You uh…you’re standing a little close there.”

Dang, there goes his sneak attack. “Sorry, uh, I was just…curious about who you were. Most wizards stay in the north, and those that do travel away don’t come to the south. Why come somewhere you’re perceived as dangerous?”

The figure laughs. “Me? Dangerous? Please, the only danger I present is how dangerously good-looking I am!” He poses, but with his face and body hidden below a robe, the visual does absolutely nothing for Grian.

“Uh…you do know that that’s not really effective when I can’t see you, right?” He crosses his arms, raising an eyebrow as he watches the wizard act a bit shocked.

“What? But it’s worked before…I thought people found mysterious figures rather alluring…” He sighs. “Fine, but don’t blame me if you’re falling for me upon seeing my face, I told you my looks are dangerous.”

Grian rolls his eyes as the wizard lowers his hood, but when he looks back…it does indeed take him by surprise, and he thinks his heart skipped a beat. The wizard had a handsome face, with a scar running from above his eyebrow all the way down to his jaw. His hair was snow-white and long, his eyes as green as the leaves around them.

The wizard smirks and chuckles. “I warned you.”

Grian huffs and looks away. “Yeah, whatever.”

“But…to answer your question from before…” Grian looks back as the wizard pauses to lean against a tree. “I came down because I know it is seen as a threat here. And I wanted to be able to show people that not all magic is dangerous. I made a promise to myself that no matter what happened down here, I was going to show how good magic can be. And if I’m imprisoned or killed for it, then hopefully I at least got people starting to think that maybe they’ve had things wrong the whole time.” He smiles.

Grian doesn’t know what to say. He was here to arrest this guy, swore to his family he would do so the first chance he got, even if it took multiple trips to the woods. But already he feels like he needs to know more…he’s only ever heard one side of the argument before, after all.

“But look at me rambling, it’s going to be dark soon and you my friend don’t appear to have any light. Now, I could sell you a spell that gives you a floating light like my own here, but it will disappear once you’re too close to town, so you don’t get in trouble. If you can find your way back after hours of walking. Alternatively, my home is much closer, and you can stay the night and leave whenever.”

Grian is about to take the first offer, when his stomach growls. He looks in his bag to find he hadn’t brought enough food to consider he’d be still in the woods so late. He had all the confidence in the world he’d be home before dinner. “...don’t suppose I could have some food if I stayed?”

“Well of course you can! I’m always glad to have company. Come along, this way!” The wizard grabs his cart, and leads the way back to his home. Grian follows close behind, curiosity outweighing his fear.

They come upon an overgrown home, with parts of it clearly being newly patched-up. A much larger cart was parked nearby, and a horse for said cart was stood inside of a single-stalled stable. “It’s not the prettiest, but nobody was living here and I cleaned up the inside pretty well, if I must say so.” He gestures Grian ahead, who opens the door.

It wasn’t at all anywhere near to the style and organization Grian was used to, but it was in very good condition inside for what the outside looked like. He walks in and wanders around, looking at different plants and crystals and books about the room. He doesn’t touch any of it, though.

“I’ll start us up some dinner, feel free to wander around.” He hears the wizard behind him, turning around to see as he hangs his cloak on a hook, and oh gods this guy was not kidding at all about his looks. He had no idea that wizards could be so…muscular. Even through his shirt he can see his chest. The wizard chuckles. “And feel free to look at whatever you want. Join me if you wish, I’d love to chat with company.”

Grian follows him to the kitchen. There, they talk more. Grian does have to lie in some instances in order to not be found out, but he gets by just fine. And honestly? He can’t believe he’s thought of this guy as a threat. He’s so…kind, and thoughtful. Yes, the prices he’s mentioned for some of his wares sound a bit outrageous, but considering the trouble he would have to go through to get everything on his own, he can understand it.

He learns the wizard’s name is Scar. Ironic, he’s aware. Scar gives Grian a small tour of the house, not that there’s much to it, and offers to let Grian take the bed for the night while he takes up his couch. Grian tries turning it down, but Scar insists, and so Grian goes.

He doesn’t leave in the morning. Or in the afternoon or evening, or the day after that. He stays with Scar for over a week, amazed by all the magic that he can do. It has entirely enraptured his attention, and he has so, so many questions the more he learns. Scar is just so clearly passionate about his magic, and is happy to show Grian.

But of course, Grian isn’t someone who can just go missing for very long without raising many concerns. Especially given the promise made to arrest the dangerous wizard who roams the woods.

Grian was sitting on a log by the stream, watching as Scar stood shirtless in the knee-deep water practicing on making some of it float through the air in different patterns. That’s when they heard the sound of many horses running through the woods. They both stand to attention, looking in the direction of the noise. Scar runs up, standing between Grian and where the rapidly approaching sound was.

Armored horses with guards on top of them emerge from the trees, surrounding Scar and Grian in a semicircle. Grian’s stomach plummets. He got carried away, lost track of time…and now they were both in trouble. “Grian, get out of here, you shouldn’t get mixed up in this, I’ll do my best to keep them from you if they don’t all go for me…” Scar mutters quietly.

Grian tenses. “Scar, I…”

“Unhand my brother, you filthy wizard! And maybe we will be more merciful in your punishment for bringing dangerous magic to these lands!” A blonde man with sky-blue eyes guides his horse to stand forwards, pointing his sword down to Scar. His armor bore a royal crest on its chest, plainly in view to the duo.

Grian could see Scar tense up, hear the gasp of him inhaling. He can’t bear to look at his face as Scar turns to look back at him. “Brother…?”

Grian can feel tears welling in his eyes. He steps in front of Scar, looking up at his older brother. “Martyn, it isn’t what you think, spare him, please-”

“Why? You’ve been gone for over a week, Grian. Clearly he’s put you under some kind of spell or something. Who knows what could have happened if we didn’t show up just now?” Martyn dismounts, taking steps closer to Grian. “Come on, we’re taking you home, and him to the dungeons, until we figure out what to do with him.” Martyn grabs Grian’s wrist, and Grian tries to pull away.

“You don’t understand! Let me go, Martyn!” Grian practically plays tug-o-war with his own arm, fighting against Martyn to be let go. But Martyn is nothing if not stubborn, and will do what he can to get what he wants.

One swift knock to the head from the handle of Martyn’s sword, and Grian’s collapsing, held up by the grip on his wrist. Martyn throws Grian over his shoulder, and the last thing he sees before losing consciousness is Scar fighting against the other guards.

He wakes in his bed, sitting up suddenly and alarming the nurse at his bedside. He sends her away, changing out of whatever they’d put him in and into nicer clothes. He sneaks out of his room, creeping through the halls down towards the dungeons. Honestly, they didn’t usually get very much use, most criminals ending up in other prisons. But he has no doubt that Scar would be brought there, where he could be more closely monitored as the only one there.

He bribes the guard at the entrance to let him in and keep quiet of his whereabouts, slipping in and wandering around, looking in every cell until he finds Scar. When he does find him, he’s sat on the wooden panel covered in straw that makes up a bed, head hung low and hair blocking his face. They didn’t provide him with a shirt, but did appear to give him bandages to wrap up injuries from whatever fight took place.

“...Scar…?” His voice breaks a little as he calls out, already feeling himself choke up a little bit.

Scar looks up quickly, eyes wide and a little red and puffy. “Grian…” He walks up to the bars of the cell, and Grian gets closer, too. Scar reaches through, and Grian’s cheek melts right into his hand. “Grian…you’re okay…” Scar mutters, his other hand holding on to one of Grian’s. “Why…didn’t you tell me you’re a prince…?”

“I…at first, I just…didn’t want to make it obvious that I was there to…well, arrest you myself…” He feels so guilty as he says it. “But then, as I got to know you better, I didn’t want to scare you. And well…I got distracted by learning more about you and your magic, I didn’t even think about how I’d essentially gone missing…” He squeezes Scar’s hand. “I didn’t mean for this to happen to you, it’s my fault…”

Scar wipes away a tear Grian hadn’t realized he shed. “Hey, don’t blame yourself. I accepted a long time ago I’d be caught eventually, you know that. I’m just glad I could get someone to realize that magic can be good and beautiful before it happened.” He gives a sad smile, tears welling in his own eyes now.

“Don’t talk like that…”

“Grian, it’s done. There’s no way I get out of this alive…”

“...there’s one way…but it will have to wait for nighttime, I need to gather things first.”

“Don’t put yourself at risk for me…”

“And lose out on a chance to get away from here, to see more of the world and learn new things I wouldn’t have known? You’re reason enough to betray my family, but I will never get a chance to do that without you.”

Scar looks over Grian’s face before he sighs. “Fine…but promise me that you’ll be careful.”

“I will.”

They linger for a moment, before Grian slowly pulls himself away to go get everything ready.

That night, Grian got away. He took Scar, a couple trunks of his own belongings, a large sum of gold, a carriage, a horse, and left. There was a note on his bed that begged them not to look for him. That he was going to learn what the world was really like, how it was supposed to be, with magic all around.

Of course, the guards do arrive at Scar’s home, only for it to be empty, as if nobody ever lived there.

The pair were long gone, fled for the elven woods, their first stop for Grian’s tour of the world.

Chapter Text

Grian and Scar had split up to look for food and resources a while ago. Scar found some berries, gathering them in his makeshift bag. He ate a couple while he did so, they were a little bit sour, but they weren’t that bad. Maybe if they were cooked they’d taste a bit sweeter, like blueberries. Once his bag was full, he stood, planning to go back to where they set up camp.

But something caught his eye. A movement, something between the trees.

He sees a tail disappear behind a bush. It was oddly familiar. Against better judgement, he follows after it.

Deeper into the jungle, he keeps following the glimpses and moving bushes, until he wanders up to a stream. There, all hanging out around the water, were giant kitties.

But not just any kitties, no, they all looked just like his kitty back home.

“Oh my gosh…so many Jellies!” He gasps. He slowly wanders over, careful not to scare them away. The nearest one’s ear flicks back, and turns to look at him. He stops, letting it approach and sniff him. Slowly, he holds his free hand out, reaching to the side of its head.

It purrs at the contact, and his eyes light up. He proceeds to pet it, cooing at the big kitty. More come over, so he has to give out more pets, right? He can allow himself some kitty time, they’re in a very stressful situation, after all!

⋆˚🐾˖°/ᐠ - ˕ -マ Ⳋ⋆˚🐾˖°

“Scar! Scar, where are you?” Grian calls out, wandering through the jungle. He got concerned when his partner hadn’t arrived back at camp with everyone else yet. Scar couldn’t have gotten too far, what with the slight leg injury he got from the crash, needing a makeshift cane to walk.

He comes across a berry bush, which has a lot of the berries missing. He frowns, recognizing these fruits. “Scar, are you around here? Scar?” He continues walking along, listening out for any sign of him.

Eventually, he can hear Scar’s unmistakable giggling. He sighs. Yeah, no doubt Scar ate some of those berries. He follows the noise, walking out near a stream, and there is Scar, sitting on top of a rock. “Scar? What are you doing my love?” Grian asks, in his tone that displays his slight annoyance at the situation.

Scar’s head whips over to Grian. “Grian! Look, there’s really big kitties here! And they all look just like Jellie! Do you think she’s distantly related to them?” He grins, arms opening wide in display.

“Scar…did you eat any berries by chance?” Grian walks closer, sitting down right next to Scar.

“Yeah, I got a little hungry while gathering them. They’re a bit sour, but I have them in my bag if you want any!” Scar holds up the bag he tied to the makeshift cane.

“I wouldn’t eat any more of those if I were you. Can you dump them out, please?” He smiles, hand on Scar’s shoulder.

“What? Why?” Scar frowns, lowering the bag.

“While they’re not poisonous, they do have a tendency to make people hallucinate. They get mirages of people, rivers, or in your case, giant cats…”

Scar blinks. “...you mean the Jellies aren’t real?”

Grian shakes his head. “No, they’re not. You were petting some moss when I spotted you.”

Scar looks very disappointed, dumping out the berries with a pout. “Man…I was so excited about discovering a new species of big cat…”

Grian pats his back. “Let’s get back to camp, alright?”

“Okay…” Scar turns to try and give Grian a kiss, but Grian lifts his hand up to stop him. “Hey, what’s that for?”

“I am not giving you any kisses until you’ve cleared your mouth of any remaining berry juice. Can’t have two of us seeing mirages when we’re trying to go back to everyone.”

Scar groans. “Fine…”

⋆˚🐾˖°/ᐠ - ˕ -マ Ⳋ⋆˚🐾˖°

Scar honestly feels a lot better after the berries are out of his system. He got a scolding from Grian about eating berries he doesn’t recognize without checking with someone first, and he listens. From here on out he checks in with Grian or the others about things he doesn’t recognize.

They had already been together for a bit, but being stuck in this jungle really made them start to work together as one person. Even the others began noticing, joking how at some points they don’t know where Grian ends and Scar begins. They were inexplicably attached, even without a physical marker of it.

One night, they’re both up late, looking up at the stars through a clearing in the trees. “Hey, Grian?”

“Yeah?”

“You know how everyone else in the group keeps saying how we’re basically one person in two?”

“Mhm.”

“Do you…believe in soulmates?”

There’s a pause. “...not really.”

Scar turns his head to look at him. “Why not?”

Grian shrugs. “I dunno. Seems a bit restricting to have yourself be limited to only one person in the whole world, doesn’t it?” He looks back at Scar. “That’s not to say I don’t love you. Because I do love you, so, so very much. I just think we got really lucky, is all.”

Scar smiles. “Whatever you say.” He cuddles up closer to Grian, closing his eyes.

Regardless if soulmates exist or not, Scar knew he was incredibly happy with Grian. Proud to be so aligned with him, thankful he has the best partner ever.

Chapter Text

Everyone at school knew the stories. That the old mansion at the edge of the woods was haunted. But was it really?

That’s what the Bad Boys were going to find out…accompanied by Joel’s cousins, who said they’d tell the grownups about the trio sneaking out if they weren’t brought along, despite them all being seniors in high school.

So, the group of five pull up outside the old mansion on their bikes. Yes, they all could drive, but they didn’t want to make too much noise leaving by taking any cars.

“So how are we doing this? All five together? Everyone splits up? Two groups?” Grian asks, leaning on the doorframe as Joel tries to get the door open.

“Not all separate, please.” Bdubs says quickly.

Joel groans. “For goodness sake Bdubs, why did you want to come if you’re just gonna be a scaredy-cat the whole time?” He glances back.

“Because I like to be involved!” He crosses his arms. “And you need someone to be really loud in case we get stuck in there, so people can hear us.”

“I’m with Bdubs on the no individual split thing.” Jimmy says.

Grian snickers. “Well, sounds like we have a pair-up. Thank you guys for volunteering.”

Jimmy widens his eyes. “Wait, no-hold on-you can’t pair Bdubs and I together! We’re the weakest links!”

“Hey!” Bdubs squints at Jimmy.

“Am I wrong?” Jimmy quickly turns back to Bdubs, getting close to his face.

“…no.” Bdubs looks down.

Joel sighs. “Fine, whatever, I’ll go with you two. Grian, you’re with Scar.”

“What!?” The duo say at the same time, looking right at Joel. Grian knows Joel is aware of the crush he has on Scar. Joel definitely gives him shit for it often.

“I’m not leaving Jim with Scar and Bdubs for his safety and I am not leaving Grian with Jimmy and Bdubs for those two’s safety. Jim would be annoyed to death or Grian is going to give them heart attacks.” He raises an eyebrow. “Unless you lot had a different idea?”

The pair mumble and mutter, not really saying anything.

“Right. We’ve got our teams, then.” Joel says. One big kick, and the mansion door flies open. “Meet back out here in an hour. Feel free to come back earlier if you’re a chicken, but you will have to wait by yourself until everyone else is back as a trade-off.” He pulls out a flashlight, clicking it on. And inside he goes, hesitantly followed by Bdubs and Jimmy.

Grian and Scar linger at the door for a moment. “...if you’re scared, we-”

“I’m not afraid of some stupid ghosts.” Grian huffs, crossing his arms and rolling his eyes. “I’m just trying to think of how we can scare the other guys.”

“Oh me too!” Scar grins, stepping in front of Grian. “Sooner we can look around and see what we’re dealing with, the better!”

Grian snickers. “Sounds like a plan, then.” And in they go.

꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶ ๋ ࣭ ⭑꒷꒦꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶ ๋ ࣭ ⭑꒷꒦

Scar cannot believe that Joel has done this. Joel knows how he feels about Grian! There was no way he split everyone this way for Jimmy’s and Bdubs’ sakes. He was making him be alone with his crush on purpose!

“Uhh earth to Scar? Hello?” Scar snaps out of his thoughts, looking to Grian. “Did you even hear what I said?”

“Sorry, could you repeat that?” He awkwardly grins, and Grian groans.

“I said we should check upstairs first before they go up, so we can have more setup time to mess with them. What do you think?” Grian walks over to the staircase, standing at the base of it.

“Oh yeah! That’s a great idea!” Scar smiles, following Grian upstairs. They move carefully, so that they’re not heard going upstairs. They wander around, peeking into different rooms to try to find things they can use.

Scar is examining the inside of a very dusty trunk when he feels breathing on his neck. He chuckles. “Grian, great job on getting over here silently, but I know you’re behind me if you’re wanting to scare me.”

“Dude, I’m on the other side of the room…what are you talking about?” Grian’s voice is definitely not behind him. Scar freezes and turns around, and for a fraction of a second, he saw something. He swears he did.

“Oh what the heck!?” Scar scrambles to his feet. “Grian I just saw one!”

“One what?” Grian turns around, concerned.

“A ghost! It was breathing on me and I saw it for like less than a second!” He scurries over, looking back at where he was, pointing. “Right there!”

“Uh huh…” Grian sounds skeptical. “You trying to scare me now?”

“No! Grian, I’m being totally serious. This place is really haunted!”

“Scar, please, it can’t be. There’s no such thing-“ Grian is cut off as a cold wind whips around the pair, and an echoed laughing is heard. They immediately start running.

Scar leads the way, hand holding Grian’s as they try and backtrack through the halls. As they reach the way towards the stairs, they’re stopped by the sight of a glowing, floating form of a man in a large cape…without a head.

It points right at the two of them, a ghostly sword materializing in its other hand. “You two…must pay!”

They turn right around and run back again. “Where in the world are you going!? We need to get past that thing to get to the door!” Grian shouts, running along anyway.

“I think I saw more stairs going higher up this way! Maybe we can get to the roof and onto a tree or something!” Scar yells back, eyes darting around. He sees the stairs and sprints, practically dragging Grian along.

They reach the third floor, a fraction of the size of the bottom two. The only rooms up there are an art studio and some sort of bedroom with some weapons on display. They head for the nearest window, and Scar lets go of Grian to try and pull it open.

But it doesn’t budge.

He keeps trying, Grian even coming in to help. But the laughing keeps getting closer, and so Scar looks around the room. He spots the axe, picking it up and using it to break open the window. He ushers Grian through first, following behind. They run along the roof, pausing to look back at the window.

The figure stays in the window before turning around and fading away into nothing.

They both sigh, sitting down beside one another. Thankfully, it seems to be limited to the walls of the mansion. Grian leans on Scar, and Scar is suddenly aware of his heart pounding in his chest. “Holy fuck, that thing was creepy!” Grian says between breaths. “How old was that thing if it was dressed like that!?”

“No clue…I’m just worried that it pointed right at us and said we had to pay! We didn’t even do anything but look around! Did you do anything?” He looks down at Grian, who shakes his head.

“Nope. I thought about grabbing something, but I didn’t.” Pause. “Do you think the other three did something?”

“Wouldn’t the ghost be mad at them?” He sighs. He lays back on the roof, looking up at the stars. “We’ll know if it goes for them. We’ll hear Bdubs.”

Grian lays back as well, nodding. “Jim too.”

They lay there for a couple minutes, staring at the sky and trying not to think about how they’re laying next to each other.

Something catches Scar’s eye. “Look! A shooting star! Make a wish!” He points to the sky.

Grian chuckles. “You still wish on stars?”

“You don’t?”

“Yeah, why not?”

“That’s for kids, we’re almost adults.”

“Growing up doesn’t mean you have to grow up. Nothing wrong with a little fun and whimsy in life! It gets boring otherwise.”

They lay for another moment. He feels Grian shift, and he turns his head to see Grian is now laying on his side, looking at him. “Need something, G?”

“I don’t want to wait for my wish.”

“So you did make one!” Scar grins, laying on his side as well. “Or you’ve thought of one, at least.”

“Yeah…” Grian takes a deep breath, scooting really close to Scar. Scar catches his breath, face getting red. “Scar…”

“Y-yeah?”

“Can I…?” Grian holds Scar’s cheek, leaning his face close.

Scar nods, closing his eyes as Grian presses their lips together. It’s soft and short-lived, both a little bit nervous. They both are very flustered as they pull away, rolling back onto their backs and looking up at the sky.

“...well that’s my wish happened, then.” Scar says.

“What!?” Grian fully sits up and looks down at Scar. “No way that’s what you really wished for!”

Scar chuckles. “Well, not exactly, but basically was it! And…many other wishes I’ve had for like, at least a year, too…”

Grian lightly shoves Scar’s shoulder, laughing. “Oh come off it, as if you’ve thought of me that way for that long!”

“I have! I’m serious!” Scar sits up, grinning. “I told Joel-”

“Hold on, I told Joel about you, too.”

They pause, then chuckle. “Oh that little shit, he definitely put us together on purpose.” Scar rolls his eyes.

“For sure.”

“We should act different around him.”

“What way?” Grian asks, scooting close again.

Scar smiles, putting an arm around Grian’s shoulders. “Be really close like this a lot and pretend it’s totally normal. Like we’ve always been this way.”

Grian hums. “I like that. Make him crazy. We should do that to Jim, too.”

“I have to tell Bdubs, though.”

“That’s fine.”

They sit for a bit longer, until they hear the other guys yelling out their names from the ground, asking where they’d gone.

“Crap, we haven’t gotten to scare them.” Grian huffs, crossing his arms.

Scar looks back towards the window. “I think I have one idea we can do quickly…”

꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶ ๋ ࣭ ⭑꒷꒦꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶ ๋ ࣭ ⭑꒷꒦

Grian runs towards the edge of the roof, shouting for Joel and the others. He looks down, spotting them. “Guys! Up here!” He sounds frantic, his hair messed up and something splattered over his face and clothes.

They point a flashlight up at him. “What are you doing up there!? Is…is that blood!?” Jim shouts up.

“Where’s Scar?” Joel asks, looking around the area.

“It got him! I couldn’t- I couldn’t stop it! And then it took over him!” Grian continues, looking for some sort of way down.

“What got him!?” Bdubs asks.

“The-” Grian is cut off as someone comes up behind him, grabbing him around the waist and over his mouth, dragging him backwards. They duck just out of view from the people on the ground, but not so much that they can’t see an axe raise up in the air, and suddenly swing down, followed by a pained, gasping cry from Grian, that fades off with choking sounds.

They see the figure awkwardly walk back. It was Scar, but he is covered in so, so much red. His head is sitting at an awkward angle, and he points the axe, which is dripping in a red liquid, down to the trio. They scream and run back towards the front of the house.

The moment they’re gone, Grian and Scar break out into laughter. “I told you that red paint was good enough for this lighting!” Scar says, nudging Grian.

“Yeah yeah, you’re the artist guy, not me.” Grian snickers. “We should go to the front before those guys actually leave us behind, I don’t wanna bike back with the two of us looking like we actually murdered someone.”

“Agreed.”

They run along the roof to the front, calling to everyone ahead. And you bet those three were absolutely pissed at them. Thankfully, the front of the mansion has a porch with an overhang above it, so they’re able to climb down to there from the roof, and to the ground from the porch. They bike back to Scar and Bdubs’ place, where Cleo is on their porch, waiting. Along with everyone else’s parents. Safe to say they all got grounded for a long time, but for Grian and Scar, other than being chased by that headless ghost, that night was totally worth it.

Chapter Text

Scar was wandering around in the sunflower fields when he came upon a bird on the ground. Small, a skinny, curved beak, its upper half a crimson red and lower a brownish grey. He frowned, it didn’t fly away as he approached. It was flapping one wing a lot, keeping the other tucked close. He squats down, reaching out a hand towards it. The bird tries to peck at him, but he draws it back away. “Hey hey, it’s okay, I’m not gonna hurt you…I want to help…”

The bird stops and looks back at him. He’s not sure how, but he thinks the bird understood that.

He holds his hand out again, and it very hesitantly starts to hop over to him. It is so small, it very comfortably fits inside of his one hand, nestling into his palm. Scar stands, turning to head back to the house.

He gets inside, setting up a blanket to somewhat imitate a nest using his free hand, setting the bird down. It relaxes into the blanket, and Scar smiles. Right, step 1 handled. Next, he heads to his kitchen to get a small bit of water, while looking up birds to find out what bird this is. Especially as he doesn’t recognize it.

“The crimson sunbird…boy, this guy is a long way from home. Let’s see, what do you eat. Nectar…like hummingbirds? Can you make nectar?” He mutters, looking through articles on his phone. He’s glad to find that it is indeed possible to make a nectar to feed hummingbirds, so he works on mixing some up. He brings it back, and is very delighted when the bird starts to happily consume it.

Once it has its fill, he comes over. “Hey, uh…I don’t know if you actually understand me or not, but, you seemed like you did before. So I’m really, really hoping you do.” The bird looks at him before he continues. “So, I want to see your wing, okay? I wanna see what’s wrong, if I’m able to help you.”

He gives it a moment before reaching over, not yet touching the bird. It doesn’t react, so he gets closer, fingertips brushing against soft little feathers. It watches him carefully, and very slowly relaxes its hurt wing. Scar gently helps it expand it out so he can examine. There’s a small patch of feathers missing, and a spot that has already scabbed over. “Oh you poor thing…it looks like you had some feathers ripped out.” He gently feels along the bones in the wing, thankful that it isn’t broken.

“Alright, you’ll be safe with me until your feathers grow back, okay? Let me just…” he looks up something on his phone. “About three weeks. And then you’ll be good as new.” He smiles, and the bird makes a little chirp-like sound.

He sets about researching what he can do to help the bird, looking up information about these birds in particular. It’s kinda fun, giving himself tasks to do while the sunflowers are still growing.

He notices over time how the bird starts warming up to him more, happily greeting him and hopping up to him. It becomes a little routine for him to pick up the bird in the morning, lifting it so it sits on his shoulder while he gets himself breakfast. Then he sets it by a bowl of fruit he set up to intentionally lure some gnats, and the bird happily eats the bugs up while he eats.

It rides on his shoulder as they go about his day, he talks to it even though he knows it’s just a little bird, and doesn’t really understand him. But living so far outside of town, he doesn’t have many people to talk to. It gets…really lonely. There’s been many days in the past where the only “person” he’s seen is his own shadow.

He leaves the bird at home whenever he does have to go into town, getting groceries or whatnot. He feels bad about it, leaving the little bird all alone. He’s already gotten attached, which he knows wasn’t a very good idea.

Weeks after their first encounter, and the wings are growing back beautifully. The bird has started taking small flights, slowly working its way up to further distances. And one morning, Scar is greeted by it flying all the way over from its setup on the couch to the post at the bottom of the stairs, chirping happily. He grins. “Look at you, flying so far now! You’re doing fantastic!”

The bird flies up while he’s still heading down, landing on his shoulder. He gives it a couple of little pets with one finger, setting up their breakfast routine. “You know, I think you might be able to go flying properly today.” He says, getting his things. “I’d be…a bit sad, but…you could probably leave if you wanted to.”

He feels as the bird goes off his shoulder. He blinks, pausing his coffee prep. “Wait, I didn’t mean-“ he turns, and jumps with a yelp, backing against the counter.

Standing there behind him was a man. A shorter man, with fluffy dark blond hair, super dark colored eyes, an oversized red sweater, and-very prominently-wings. Wings, tucked up against his back. The same wings as the tiny bird. “But I don’t want to leave…” is the first thing that comes from the man’s mouth, his slightly sad expression seemingly unaffected by Scar’s frightened one. “I want to stay with you…please don’t make me go…” he steps closer, hands lightly grabbing on to Scar’s shirt.

Scar’s head is spinning. “Wh-Hold on-who-where-what? What is going on?” Scar steps to the side, getting a little more distance between himself and the man. “Who and what are you?”

The man watches him, face still a bit sad. “My name is Grian. I’m an avian morphling. We don’t…interact with humans like this, usually.” He’d let go of Scar’s shirt when he backed away, and was now fussing with his sleeves.

“Usually?” Scar asks. He’s trying to figure out if he’s actually awake or not. He has to be asleep, right? He’s dreaming that the bird turned into a short-and kinda cute-guy?

“We don’t let humans know we can become animals. Or people. Whichever form we choose to take on. Not unless we trust them…”

“And…you trust me?”

Grian nods. “You took me in and helped me while I was healing my wing. You didn’t have to, you had no reason to. And…you’ve talked to me so much, even though you probably didn’t know I understood everything. About your job, your thoughts, your dreams…your loneliness…” He looks down. “I thought maybe…you wanted someone to stay with you…”

Scar’s heart clenches a little bit. He steps forward, reaching for Grian’s hands, which are inside of his sleeves. Grian looks back up at him with big eyes. “I would-I do, even, I just…wasn’t expecting this.” He gives a very very light squeeze, as if he were worried Grian would be as fragile as he is as a bird. “You’ll need to give me some time to get…used to this. I’ve never heard of this before.”

Grian gives him a small smile. “That’s because we only tell people we trust, like I said.” He steps closer to Scar, their hands between their chests as he looks up at him. “Don’t tell anyone about me, please? Keep me secret…or at least the truth of me that way.”

Scar nods. “I will.”

Grian grins wide, hugging Scar. “Thank you!”

Scar smiles as well, hugging him back, wrapping him in his arms protectively. His little bird is here to stay…

Chapter Text

“Didn’t think you’d have the gall to show your face around these parts again after last time.” Grian groans, hearing the familiar voice teasing behind him. He doesn’t look or reply. He won’t give Scar that satisfaction. He lifts the glass back up to his lips, taking a drink as Scar huffs behind him. “I know you heard me, Grian.” Again he ignores it, setting his glass down. He’s grabbed and turned around on the stool, forced to face the captain of the Bamboozler crew.

Grian crosses his arms. “Alright, fine. I’m acknowledging you now. What do you want from me, huh? I don’t have any money on me, just handed over my last coins for this drink. You can’t possibly rub any more salt in the wound of me losing my closest crewmates, I can hardly feel the sting of that anymore. I have no use to you, I can give you nothing.”

“You have no shame drinking in the very tavern where your friends were slain?” Scar leans close to Grian’s face. “No shame in showing up where you lost our battle, and stepped down as captain of your crew and disbanded the Spanners?” He grabs Grian’s shirt. “How broken are you that you’ve come to this?”

Grian doesn’t give any reaction to Scar, staring back blankly. “What does it look like? Surely you don’t need me to explain. You just want to hear me talk about it. You enjoy my suffering for sure. Do you like my voice, too?”

Scar rolls his eyes. “What happened to you. You used to be so wild and full of life, always with the upper hand and an air of knowing more than anyone else. You were fun.”

“I lost everything. You know that. Can you just leave me alone now?” He tries to nudge Scar’s hands away from his shirt, but Scar doesn’t let go.

“No, I don’t think I will. See, I realized something when we started to sail away from here those six months ago. I left something very important behind.” He tugs on Grian’s shirt, forcing him off the stool.

“Oi! If you lot are thinking of fighting again can you please take it outside? It took a long time to clean all that blood last time!” The bartender, Joel, calls out. “Feel lucky I’m yet to ban you Bamboozler lot from my bar.”

Scar looks over. “Oh don’t worry, I’m not looking for a fight. Just for a favor.”

“A favor? Really? You’re trying to ask me for a favor?” Grian crosses his arms. “Could it not wait for me to finish my drink?”

Scar pauses, likely thinking it over. He huffs, letting go of Grian’s shirt. “Fine. But I’m staying right with you the whole time.” He sits in the stool beside Grian’s.

Grian rolls his eyes, sitting back in his stool. He gets back to his drink, trying to ignore Scar’s eyes on him the whole time. In the edges of his vision, he can see Scar slowly becoming less and less patient. Grian takes a long sip, setting the glass down with just a tiny amount left in the glass.

“Either you’re done or you’ve done that on purpose.” Scar says next to him.

Grian gives him a look, before stretching. “Almost done.” The action gets a snicker out of Joel.

“Oh come on!” Scar stands up. “Can you please just finish up?”

Grian lets it linger just a biiiiiit longer, before slowly picking the glass back up, downing the remaining drink. “Thanks for that, Joel. See you soon.” He sets the glass down, nodding to Joel. He stands up and turns to Scar. “Right, what do you need?”

“Come with me.”

“Do I have to?”

Scar nods.

“Ugh. Only because I have nothing better to do.”

♆☾༺𓆩☠︎︎𓆪༻𖤓♆

They walk out of an alleyway, headed out for the docks. The rain is now coming down, and while Scar had a hat, Grian had nothing. Scar shrugs his outer coat off, setting it over Grian’s head. Grian looks up at him, confused.

“What?” He asks, before looking back forward.

“Why’d you put your coat on me?”

“It’s raining, isn’t it? I have something to cover my head, and you don’t. So now you have some cover.” Scar doesn’t look over, stopping when he realizes he doesn’t hear footsteps anymore. He turns and sees Grian stood in place. “Grian?”

“…what are you really up to, Scar?” Grian holds the coat around him, the top resting on his head. “I know this is the pathway to the docks.”

Scar walks back silently, resting his hand on Grian’s back and guiding him to continue walking forwards. “You said you’d come with me.”

“I’ve been coming with you though?” Grian keeps his view forwards. “I just want some clarity.”

“No, you haven’t. But you will now.”

“Scar, you’re way too cryptic for me right now. Spell it out for me.”

They reach the docks, and Scar continues guiding Grian, over towards where his ship is. “I don’t know if I can put it any clearer, Grian.” He knows it hits Grian after that, the way his body suddenly stops for a moment before he proceeds to be lightly pushed back into motion by Scar. “You. Are coming. With me.” He says it slowly and gently.

“Scar, I can’t.”

“The others will be told you’re one of us now, so they don’t attack you.”

“Scar-“

“I know Lizzie and Jimmy might not be the happiest to see you, but-“

“Scar, that isn’t what I’m talking about!” Grian shouts, and Scar stops to look at him.

Grian huffs, glaring up at him. Something doesn’t look right. “Scar, I cannot join your crew.”

“Why?” He searches over Grian’s features, trying to determine what it was making the view so odd.

“Because, -“

Scar’s eyes pay close attention to Grian’s face. It’s there somewhere, it-

“-I’m a-“

Green eyes meet purple. Dark, stormy purple, instead of deep brown.

“-siren.” Said by Grian, simultaneously whispered by Scar.

They stare at one another through the rain, both unsure of what to do.

Grian’s eyes well with tears, and he hangs his head down, pulling the coat closer around him. Scar moves forwards to hold Grian, guiding his face to Scar’s chest.

“Grian…when…how?” Scar rubs his back, looking for somewhere they can move to, so they’re not just out in the open. He spots a flower shop with a large overhang, called “Renwood Flowers”, leading them both underneath it. The hat and coat can only do good for so long, and they shouldn’t be spending it standing in place in the open.

“I…a month after the fight I’d…some other people got me into a fight by the beach. I fought back, at first. But…” Grian grips the coat tighter.

“But…?” Scar gently pries.

“...but then…I just…didn’t think it was worth it. I just…Scar, I missed my friends. I wanted to back out, I tried, and they…” Grian takes a shaky, deep breath. “...I woke up in the ocean. I wasn’t drowning, but my head was throbbing.” He looks up at Scar. He had small, purple scales on parts of his face, and slightly sharpened teeth. “The other sirens, they changed me…Scar, when I said I’ve lost everything, I mean it. I’ve. Lost. Everything.”

Scar looks into those eyes, over the shiny scales. Beautiful changes, but at the price of Grian’s life, and with a burden of abilities.

“Scar…we…can’t be what you…what we, want. Have wanted, will want. There’s nothing for me to lose and you won’t be hurt by me if we keep our distance.”

Scar holds Grian’s face in his hands. “But I don’t want to lose you again.”

“Scar…” Grian pushes his face forwards, catching Scar’s lips into a kiss. Scar leans into it, one hand moving around his waist.

They draw back, staring into one another’s eyes.

“Scar…if you choose me, you put yourself and your crew in danger. I can’t promise any of you will be as lucky as I was. I wouldn’t blame you if you chose them. To keep them safe, away from any slip up I may have. One wrong tone, and I’ll send your crew overboard. Do you really want to take that risk?”

“I’d take several sirens on board if it meant I keep you. Grian…you know grief, you know suffering, you know how to be one step ahead of the game. I trust you…I don’t think you’re a risk.”

Grian catches his lips again, and when they pull back, Scar doesn’t hesitate to scoop Grian up, grinning and making a break for it back to his ship. Gods be damned, he is not leaving Grian behind ever again.

Chapter Text

Scar never showed up in the winner’s void. Real Life was too short-lived to get any answers. Grian needed to know if Scar could remember anything. Or at least if he remembered Third Life.

He tried so many times in Wild Life. There were…so many things. It was all too familiar, so much the same as games past. And yet, when asked, Scar always acted like he had no idea what he was talking about.

And now, in Past Life. Scar stands before him, at the bottom of the stairs, holding up a bouquet of flowers towards him with a smile. That same smile as before, asking for friendship, asking to still be friends. Grian takes a couple steps down, grabbing Scar’s wrist, and pulling him up the stairs and into the lighthouse.

He slams the door shut behind them, turning back to Scar and shoving him against the wall below the stairs right before he can say anything. He looks up into Scar’s eyes, which are filled with surprise, his cheeks slightly flushed. “G-Grian…?”

“…Scar…be honest with me, now.” His grip on Scar’s arms tightens. “What do you remember of the other games?”

“What other games?” Scar asks, tone just a bit too nervous for the situation.

Grian growls. “Scar, I’m being serious here. This is a very, very important matter. I don’t have time for your little act, I can’t…I…” he holds back tears, but chokes on his words. “I…really, really miss you…more than I’d care to admit. I want…I need to know that you remember us…”

They stare at one another in silence for a moment. And Scar is the first to give in, sighing and closing his eyes, head hanging down and lowering his hands, still holding flowers, away from his chest. “…I do.”

“How long?”

“Ever since I tried to turn in my task…the one saying to ‘Win Secret Life.’ I pressed success and it all came back.” He looks back into Grian’s eyes. “Limited, Double, Last…” he lifts a hand to Grian’s face. “…Third.”

Grian leans into the warm, rough hand, closing his eyes as he takes in the familiar feeling. He can’t stop the soft chirp he lets out, body and wings relaxing. He hears Scar set the flowers down, feels him wrap his free arm around him. “Oh, Scar…”

Scar kisses the top of his head. “How…is it, by the way?”

“How’s what?”

“Third life…? You know, since you won it. Did you fix the house? Is Pizza’s grave still okay?”

Grian’s eyes shoot open and he stares up at Scar. It takes him by surprise, Scar backing up a half-step back into the wall. “Woah, what? What’d I do? Was that a sensitive question?”

“Scar…I haven’t been in Third life in a very, very long time…I died not long after you did.”

“Oh…what took you out, though? Nobody else was alive. Was it a mob or something?”

Grian shakes his head. “I jumped off the cliff…”

“What about the other winners? Any of them do anything in their games in between other ones?”

Grian’s heart plummets. His eyes widen in silent horror.

Scar must be able to tell something was very, very wrong with that. “…Grian…what do other winners do in between games.”

“…we go to the winner’s void, because we all died. What…do you do?”

“…I go back to Secret Life…where I’m still alive…the shadows won’t let me get hurt.”

Grian hugs Scar as tight as he can, wings curling around the two of them as well. “Oh Scar, I didn’t…I had no idea, I…I’m sorry, Scar.”

“For what? It’s not your fault, you-“

“I’m one of Them, Scar. The…shadows, as you called them…the Watchers.”

“Watchers…?”

“I can explain more another time, but…Scar…I promise, after this game…I can get you out. Take you to the rest of us, you won’t be trapped and alone…”

Silence. Grian looks up, and Scar’s eyes are filled with tears. He buries his face into Grian’s shoulder, sobbing. “Please…please, Grian, please…I don’t want to be alone…”

“You won’t…not anymore.”