Chapter Text
There was always an exquisite tangle of emotions tied to a world jump. The sadness of leaving a home, the worry about the journey ahead, and the excitement of a new beginning clashed and mixed into a dizzying cocktail of colours and sensations.
Scar was still riding that high when his feet hit air as he was looking around and he immediately fell into the nearby ravine their aircraft had parked next to. He respawned a moment later, now dizzy for a whole other reason. The group of Hermits surrounding him laughed at his expense.
"Seriously Scar? We aren't even here for five seconds and you already die?" Cub teased, helping him up and slinging a steadying arm around his waist.
Scar shot him an easy smile. "You know me! Have to test the respawn mechanics before anyone else! I should make people pay for my service, really. Does anyone want to give me donations? I lost so much during the fall!"
He swooned dramatically into Cub's arms, who gazed off into the distance with a deadpan look. Probably pretending to be a statue and not to be in any way attached to the situation at hand.
"We just got here, what in the Void could you have lost?!" Bdubs screamed at him over the chatter of the already scattering Hermits.
"Couldn't have been his dignity." Cleo muttered, more snickers following her light hearted statement.
"Hey! I'm wounded Cleo! Wounded!"
"Do you need me to put an end to your agony?" She grinned.
"No! Nononono I'm good. Amazing. Thank you for being such a considerate friend. Can I have your axe?"
"Yeah sure- wait."
"Thank you! Come on Cub let's goooooo!" Their departure didn't sound as cool without an elytra to take off. But jumping into the very ravine that had just taken his life was about as funny. Hey he'd been down there now, he knew where the river was at this point.
Cub splashed into the water only a few seconds after him and together they made it to shore before the Drowned could get them.
"Well that was fun." Cub drawled in that detached sort of tone Scar recognised as amusement.
"It sure was! I can feel it in my bones Cub, this season will be special."
"You say that about every new season."
"And it's true every time! Now excuse me. I'll have to chop wood with this beautiful new axe."
"Sure. Why did I have to jump down a ravine with you again?"
"For the flair, Cub! For the flair!"
Scar heard a dramatic sigh behind him. "And I don't even get a kiss for it."
"Awww Cub! All you have to do is ask!"
He spun around with a cheerful smile and grabbed Cub by the labels of his dress shirt to press a quick kiss to his cheek, laughing at the dissatisfied grumble.
"You missed." Came the more forward complaint, which made Scar laugh more.
"I would never!" Briefly nuzzling Cub's cheek, earning himself more lovely disgruntled noises, Scar eventually gave Cub his required kiss. Sparks flew as their lips connected. While both of them were being playful and casual about it all their first kiss in a new world was always something else.
Their Vex magic spiked as their hearts fluttered, their forms shivering and dropping their more Player like appearance. Scar could feel his mangled wings flexing at his back, his eyes tingling as they glowed with power.
It was a reminder of their freedom, that they could go around and kiss in a hundred different worlds. They only did what they wanted these days. And no matter how long ago their dark past lay, it was always exciting to have this reaffirmation. That they were here. And free. And with every world jump they got further away from the remnants of the ones who'd hurt them.
"See you around." Scar whispered against slack lips before drawing away and scampering off.
"See you." Came the slightly dreamy reply.
They, of course, didn't stay away from each other for long. After some weeks of resource gathering and building up his starter base - a beautiful elven tree - they gravitated back towards each other, ready for their first adventure.
It was a tradition of sorts to use the first few weeks to gear up and scout out a woodland mansion. Only to then raid it and burn it to the ground with some of their friends. This time Tango, Xisuma and Bdubs were with them. Mostly to make sure Scar didn't end up in a death loop.
More often than not they found small Allays they could free. This however... Scar stared into the big electric blue eyes of the captive he had found cowering in the corner of a steel cage. It had the size and body of a Player even if it was a bit small and yet it was also definitely an Allay. A Hybrid.
Like they had been once. Cub and him. The poor thing was trembling, gaze hung up on the mangled, leathery wings that had materialized as Scar's bloodlust had gotten the best of him. Scar folded them neatly behind his back and carded a bloody hand through his wind swept hair. Oh he wasn't giving the best first impression. He wished he could reign in the Vex magic a bit, drain his skin of the greyish blue tint. Take the mean spark out of his eyes. But the sudden find had only managed to rile him up more.
"Well hello there."
Scar tried to keep his usually booming voice low and gentle as he crouched down with a smile, suddenly very aware of all his features and how they must look.
Those wide, terrified eyes only tracked his every movement, the small bundle of torn cloth and skin and bones curling further away from him.
"Oh dear, no no no I'm not going to harm you. Some friends and I are here to raid the mansion. I'm here to free you."
"Free me?" The Allay sounded so sceptical. Scar didn't fault him. If someone had come to him out of the blue telling him he was free to go after being held captive for so long he wouldn't have believed them either.
Still Scar nodded, smile brightening. Even cracked and quiet this one had a nice voice. "Yes! Wait a second I'm going to call my buds and you'll get out of here in no time at all!"
He could have torn open the cage himself. But given that the Allay probably associated Vex with his tormentors Scar's best bet was to call Xisuma. Quickly typing a message to X, Scar was accutely aware of the shifting of the small body behind the bars.
"You have a communicator."
"Well observed. I'm a Player just like you."
"Really? What's your name then?"
"My name is Scar. GoodtimeswithScar. At your service!"
"Uh... Grian."
"Huh, grain? Are you hungry? I have something to-"
"No, no! Grian. Gri-an. My name."
"Oh." Scar pocketed his communicator, pleased to find Grian had inched closer to him.
"Nice to meet you Grian!"
"Sure." Grian sounded anything but thrilled. Scar understood. Being held captive by evil would-be villagers that wanted to turn you inside out was a real bummer. "So... are you going to free me orrr?"
"Right, right! You okay with me moving? It's hard to break down bars with a pickaxe without being able to move, but I didn't want to spook you."
Grian shrugged. "My heart's already going a mile a minute... You... you can do... you."
Scar hopped up with a grin, only nearly crashing back down onto the floor when his legs decided they didn't want to cooperate with him anymore. Grian watched him with wary eyes as he materialized his iron pick and began hacking away at the cage.
By the time he was done he heard commotion on the stairs leading down into the basement. He twirled around, wincing when Grian shrieked, the tip of the axe nearly impaling the already quite battered Allay.
"Get away from him- Oh hi Scar!"
Relief flooded him at seeing Tango jump down the rest of the stairs, fiery tail swinging, red eyes huge and almost manic. He was quickly followed by everyone else, the last one being Cub, who froze when his eyes landed on the captive.
"Oh dear." It was Xisuma who got the first word in before anyone could start babbling about the situation at hand.
Scar looked back at the Allay, who was trying and failing to drag himself out of the remnants of his cage. Scar twitched in his direction, eager to help, but Bdubs and Tango immediately came to his side to stop him when Grian let out a scared whimper.
Xisuma stepped forward instead. Carefully he swooped down to help Grian out and immediately found that he also needed to support pretty much all of the Allay's weight.
"Good thing we haven't torched anything yet." Tango mused, grip on Scar's forearm tightening when he leaned forward like a flower towards the sun.
"Here! I have a token for you!"
Grian blinked at the shiny treasure being dropped into his hands. Gaze flickering up to a grinning Bdubs. "Uhh. Thanks?"
"That's so you don't go poof should you die!"
"Thanks..."
"You shouldn't need to worry about that, though." Came a level voice from the staircase. Cub still hadn't moved and he was tense. Scar couldn't make out the expression on his partner's face. "We took care of the mobs."
"Yes you should be able to relax. Mind if I carry you? I'd rather get you out of here and make sure you are alright."
"That... that's okay. Yeah."
"Great. Hold on tight."
Scar found himself leaving the mansion at Cubs side. This time neither of them stayed back to watch the structure of wood, cobblestone and pain burn. Their eyes were locked onto Xisuma's back, where the Allay hung, limb and unresponsive.