Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It’s hard for Scar to imagine he was young once. Not that he is old by any means, but there was a time that his body didn’t ache every time he tried to move it. A time where his hands didn’t involuntarily shake with the tremors that recalled explosions and broken bones. No, by all means he used to be less jumpy. A time where he could look in the mirror and not be so aware of the scars that littered his body and could walk without any fatigue or feel his body give from too much strain when he didn't have his cane or his wheelchair. Back when he was a "respected businessman" who made it his mission to piss off any god or mortal who had the misfortune of wandering into his schemes and scams he created in order to make money he needed to survive. All before he was imprisoned and chosen to participate in what was to be a simple game. All he had to do was be the last one standing and they promised him a reward. Though, given how he had a habit of pissing gods off he had a feeling that they didn't truly want him to win a thing. Still, a game with a prize? How could he pass that up? Maybe even create a monopoly in the arena to boot. Even if he didn't win he could still have some fun toying around with the system.
Maybe everything wouldn’t have been so bad when he lost if he never followed him into that desert. A young man like him in a red sweater with beautiful wings on his back with so many colors it was like looking into a sunset. Who, by some dumb chance of fate, got him blown up by a creeper as a botched prank. A contestant who, for some reason, Scar couldn’t remember being around with the other twelve people who were also chosen to participate. But, hey! He was willing to follow him into the desert and go along with his schemes just because he felt bad about killing him. Scar wasn’t going to pass up on the prospect of having an ally in the arena.

“Don’t think I ever caught your name?” Scar said, slightly out of breath.

The young man with the macaw wings and dark eyes looked back at him with a relaxed smile.

“Name’s Grian,” he said, “I’ll do my best to keep ya alive, okay?”

How ironic that promise turned out to be.

At the end of it all the sun beat down on Scar's face. Far more cruel and unforgiving than it had been before. Scar was made so much more aware of every bone that had broken in his body. Of the blood that drenched his skin as it poured out of him. He, funny enough, couldn't help but joke to himself about how he thought maybe the blood shouldn't be out of his body like this. However, the small laugh to himself just came up as a cough as blood and bile fell from his mouth.
The shining sun beat down on him unforgivingly until a figure loomed over him. His savior, his helper, and soon to be his killer. His face was obscured by his own shadow, but Scar knew him long enough to know that his red eyes shined with regret, and were wet with tears.

"It's okay," Scar gasped. "I love you. It's okay."

Those were the last words he uttered before the whole world went black.

Scar awoke in his room as a strangled sound escaped his throat. Shooting up into a sitting position on his bed. He looked around, almost relieved. There was no desert, no ring of cacti, no games to be played. The heat from the sun replaced the cool air of a quiet morning. The nightmare had, unfortunately, triggered one of his pounding migraines. Scar groaned in frustration as he laid back onto his bed and rubbed at his head, his thumbs circling their usual paths. He hated how often he was getting these stupid headaches now. Even more than he usually did. In fact, he didn't want to admit to anyone, let alone himself, how absolutely bizarre he'd been feeling for the past couple of months.

The fatigue was normal, sure, it was a constant in his life. That's what he had the cane and the wheelchair for after all, but sleeping for hours on end, even through the whole day, was not something he just… did. Everything just felt off with his body, and it was something he just didn't need right now, even if it was just another unusually bad flare up.

Scar looked out the window to see the sun rise lazily out of the curtains of his window. He could see a few of the other houses in the community in the distance. Some with their lights on, and if he could crane his ears just enough he could hear the sounds of early morning housework and chores. Well, if everyone else decided to get up this early, he supposed this was as good a time as any to get up too. No inconvenient flare up was going to hold him back.
Scar situated himself so that his legs could swing over the bed as he grabbed the simple pants and white shirt he had picked out the night before. He then descended down the hall of his house, and he brewed and poured some coffee in a thermos, determined to make it through this day. Heading outside after putting on his brown coat and hat as he walked down the worn path to an old friend's home.
______
Joel and Lizzie’s house sat somewhere away from the heart of the marketplace. The modest little cottage had ivy growing along its walls, and an array of roses and lily encircling the house like a fence. If anyone knew better, they’d think they were stepping into a faerie ring as they approached. The top half of the front door opened as Lizzie greeted him. Her dusty pink hair in a messy bun and her smile as bright as ever. For a moment, it reminded him of the desert sun, a flash of heat flooding him before she spoke.

“Scar! Welcome,” Lizzie said. “I have some tea on the kettle, if you’d like a cup.”

“Ah, thanks Lizzie, but I got my vice right here,” Scar replied, holding up his thermos.

“Well, I’ll let Joel know you’re here-now, kids-!”

The bottom half of the front door pushed open as a little boy and girl seemed to run past Lizzie and right on over to Scar, giggling their little hearts out. The man couldn’t help but laugh seeing the little brown haired children run up to him.

“Mr. Scar! Mr. Scar!” The little ones had called out.

“JJ, Hermia,” Scar greeted as he ruffled the hairs on their heads. “I think you two have grown taller since I saw you.”

“You only saw us yesterday!” the boy, JJ, had giggled.

“What? That doesn’t mean you still couldn’t have grown in that time.”

Joel then emerged from the house, holding the bottom door open with his hand.

“Go on inside, kids. You need to finish your breakfast,” Joel said.

The two looked at Scar with pleading eyes, but he just simply smiled, shaking his head as he shooed the two away playfully. Scar then paused. Flexing his fingers as they tingled and started going a bit numb at his fingertips. The sensation had seemed to travel through his body in a warm wave that felt off. Once again his body just felt off.

“Hey,” Joel said, nudging his shoulder. “You alright, mate?”

“Uh, yeah,” Scar chuckled, the unease not leaving his mind. “Lost in thought was all. So, what seems to be the trouble?”

“Just a roof job. That nasty storm from a couple days ago blew some of the shingles right off and I need extra hands.”

“Could always let JJ come up and help.”

“Ah, hell no. Lizzie would have my head if I even considered letting him up there,” Joel laughed, his smile reaching his eyes at the mention of his wife.

Joel and Scar climbed up to the roof of the cottage. Lizzie and the children busied themselves as well with picking the flowers and vegetables in the backyard garden. Joel looked up from his work and smiled at his children, Lizzie locking eyes with him from the ground and motioning to Scar. Joel giving a curt nod.

“So,” Joel said. “You and Grian finally got around to talking?”

Scar paused. The hammer in his hand hovering over the nail he was going to hammer into a shingle as he looked over at Joel. The rising morning sun hot on his neck as it filled him with visions of his dream. Visions of Grian’s face.

“We don’t talk,” Scar said stiffly. “I don’t know what made you think we did.”

“Well, it’s certainly not what it looked like months ago.”

“Joel, what are you on about?”

“Oh, you know, the tavern? Jimmy and Scott’s wedding? Seemed like you guys were having a wonderful time catching up. I just thought-”

“Well, you thought wrong,” Scar interrupted. “Grian and I don’t talk.”

Oh, but they did talk that night. In fact, they did far more than talk. Scar tried to shake the blurry memories from his head as he hammered the shingle into the roof. The lively music, the drinks, and hearing Grian’s laugh for the first time in four years, and trying to ignore in the haze how it made his heart skip. How it felt like something between them shifted that night as their lips pressed against each other and Grian’s hands ran up and down his body so gently and effortlessly. Only for it all to mean nothing when he woke up that morning. Grian had left again. Like the hermit he was. The pesky bird he had always been.

Scar sighed as he wiped sweat from his brow. Blinking as the sun seemed to obscure his vision, black spots forming in the corners of it. Now acutely aware of how tired and woozy he was beginning to feel.

“Scar?” Joel asked. “Something wrong?”

“I don’t feel so…”

Scar’s voice trailed off as he fell to his side. He would have fallen off the roof if it wasn’t for Joel catching him by his shirt collar. Joel calling out his name seemed lost on him as everything seemed to fade to black under the sun. As if, in this unconscious state, he was back in the first arena.

When Scar came to, he heard the muffled voices of Joel and Lizzie. His fuzzy vision cleared up to reveal his way laying on their couch in their living area. His shirt unbuttoned to give his body more air. He groaned a bit as he touched the wet rag that was placed on his forehead and tried to sit up. Lizzie’s hand coming to his chest and slowly laying him back down.

“Don’t get up too quickly, you’re just gonna dizzy yourself again,” Lizzie had huffed. “My, you humans are awfully fragile.”

“Me more than most, huh?” Scar had muttered.

“No, Scar, definitely not you.”

“That would’ve been a nasty fall,” Joel said. “You sure you’ve been doing alright?”

Lizzie began looking him over just a bit to check for any injuries he might have.

“I’m fine,” Scar insisted. “You know how it is sometimes when I get a bad flare up. The sun could’ve just zapped more out of me than I thought-”

Scar then hissed in pain. Lizzie pausing over the spot in his lower abdomen she had just touched. Her brow furrowing as she felt it more lightly before turning to Joel.

“Dear, listen very carefully,” Lizzie said. “I need you to go out into the garden and find me a red rose with a blue stem. I do believe I’ll need it for this.”

Joel looked between his wife and his friend before nodding and heading outside. Lizzie standing up to grab something from the cupboard in her kitchen.

“What is the rose for?” Scar called out.

“Just to get rid of Joel for a moment,” Lizzie replied.

Scar chuckled, shaking his head as Lizzie came back into the living room with a small bottle of dried up flowers and a glass of water. The sweet smell of the flowers was palpable as she held it out to Scar.

“Spit in this,” Lizzie said.

“Why?” Scar asked.

Lizzie smiled a bit.

“If I tell you why I think you’d refuse to spit in it for me.”

Scar sighed a bit, taking the bottle and spitting in it. Lizzie took the bottle back from him and slowly poured water over the top of it. For a moment nothing happened, but then the bottle began to bubble and change into a deep, dark blue color. Lizzie gasped a bit as it did.

“Oh my- I didn’t think-” Lizzie said. “I knew it was a possibility but-”

“What? What’s going on with me?” Scar asked.

Lizzie looked over to him. Pity and an emotion he couldn’t quite place crossing her eyes as she set the bottle down.

“You’re pregnant,” Lizzie said.

For a moment Scar didn’t say anything. He didn’t really know what to say. All he could really do was laugh. A smile split onto his face as he continued to laugh and laugh.

“Wow, okay,” Scar said. “That’s really good, Lizzie. Solid prank you really got me-”

The look Lizzie shot back at him made his smile falter. Scar’s laughing turned much more anxious as he ran his hand through his hair.

“No,” Scar said, sounding more like a plea than a statement. “That can’t be possible. I mean… I mean…”

Scar’s arms wrapped around himself as he thought back to that night. How he felt like his body felt wrong or different since then. It wasn’t because his body was wrong. All this time his body wasn’t completely his. He was sharing it with… with a baby. Grian’s baby. He began to hyperventilate slightly, and Lizzie grasped both his shoulders firmly to try and ground him.

“Scar, breathe,” Lizzie said gently. “It’s normal to feel this way you know-”

“Oh, don’t give me that right now Lizzie, please,” Scar said, burying his face in his hands. “You had Joel. You always fucking had Joel.”

“What do you need from me right now?”

“I don’t know!” Scar answered, anxiety tracing his voice. ”This- I didn’t even think… How am I even going to tell him?”

“I suppose that’s for you to figure out. You can take all the time you need to figure it all out,” Lizzie said. “No one will hear a word from me about this, I can promise you that.”
“Thanks,” Scar said. “I think… I need to go home.”

Scar got up from the couch and began buttoning his shirt back up. Not saying anything else as he exited the house with his coat and hat in hand and walked the cobblestone path back to his home. His free hand grasping at his abdomen as his mind raced with questions and fear ridden thoughts. He wasn’t used to this. Feeling helpless and alone. He always felt like he had things under control, even when he was winging it. But now? This was all just too much. Now all he could think about was Grian. And his stupid face. That stupid, stupid pesky fucking bird.

Chapter Text

The battle had rendered their desert base nearly desolate. The giant crater and lava the only remnants of the building and tower that once stood on this end of the arena. Scar looked over at Grian, who stood beside him. The yellow eyes he now sported glinting in the sunlight.

“Shouldn’t you be somewhere else by now?” Scar asked.

“Hm?” Grian replied.

“You would leave after your first life was lost. That was the deal,” Scar said. “Martyn got you pretty good, but you’re still here. I mean, I don’t mind you sticking around. I just… thought you’d rather be somewhere else.”

“Oh, Scar,” Grian laughed. “Believe me you are far too interesting of a character not to stick around with.”

Scar couldn’t help but roll his eyes at another one of Grian’s pretty words.

“Right, or you’re just sticking around cause you plan to kill me at the next given opportunity,” Scar said.

“You wouldn’t do the same?” Grian asked.

Scar paused.

“I think after all we’ve been through, the last thing I’d want is to betray you,” Scar finally said.

Grian laughed a bit, and reached around his back. After a sound that was akin to the rustling of bushes in the wind, Grian plucked one of the colorful feathers from his left wing and placed it in Scar’s hand. Scar was perplexed. The bright reds, blues and yellows of the feather popping against the white hot sand and the blinding desert sun. Soft beneath his fingertips as he runned it gently.

“Tell you what then. You can have this, and it can be binding enough to where, at the first opportunity, I won’t kill you immediately,” Grian said.
_____
Three years later, Scar sat at his desk as he stroked the feather in his hand. At some point during the second game, in between the fear and the killing, he had fashioned a chain to wear it around his neck. After escaping the arena, he hadn’t worn it all that much, but it was always there in the back of his mind. It’s placed in the secret compartment in his desk drawer occupying his thoughts.

It took a moment of hesitation before he decided to put the chain on his neck once again. Rubbing the feather with his thumb and forefinger methodically as he wondered if Grian could feel anything through this feather. Though at times like this he bitterly wondered if Grian could feel anything at all.

He leaned back in his chair as he let out a deep sigh as he lifted the hem of his shirt, and placed his hand where his lower belly was beginning to protrude from his body slightly. Trying to ignore the weird feeling he’d get in his stomach sometimes that felt like an energy was thumping through him. Keeping in time with his heartbeat. He had been holding up in his house for the past few weeks, and trying to wrap his head around the idea that something-someone-had taken root inside of his body, but it was still so hard to believe. He also admittedly didn’t want to be bothered with all the questions if people started to take notice. That pitiful look in Lizzie’s eyes still haunted him, and he didn’t want to be looked at like that again.

What was odd, however, was as if overnight-the morning after his trip to Lizzie and Joel’s home-strange, feather-like markings appeared on his skin. The faint markings etched into his skin appeared along the sides of his abdomen, and sometimes shimmered purple when the moonlight hit it in the right way. The color was some sort of purple? Or maybe it was magenta? All he knew was that these things didn’t feel like something that was normal for any type of pregnancy-let alone an avian-induced one.

Scar’s thoughts were interrupted by the sounds of a muffled voice calling from out his window. Scar reached for his cane resting on the side of the desk to stand up and hide his bump under his clothes best he could before opening his window, and down to find a familiar blue-haired elf whose white freckles shimmered under the moonlight like stars.

“Hey! There you are!” Scott had said with a laugh. “All of us were beginning to wonder if you were pulling a Grian!”

“Haha,” Scar chuckled. “No, I’ve just been… busy. What’s up?”

“Well, Pearl’s calling a mandatory meeting by the Boatem Pole. She sent me to fetch you since no one’s heard from you for a while.”

“What about Grian? Is he coming” Scar asked, trying to mask the hope in his voice.

“Pearl, I think, sent a message to him. Believe me, I would have gotten him myself if any of us had any clue where he lives,” Scott said with an eyeroll.

Scar simply nodded.

“Alright. I’ll be down in a minute.”

Scar grabbed his coat, making sure to zip it all the way as he headed out his door. Hoping that the way he was adjusting himself as he walked with his cane didn’t look too noticeable. He still hadn’t gotten the hang of maneuvering with this new, growing weight on his person.

“How’s married life been?” Scar asked, hoping to distract him.

“Quite well,” Scott said with a nod. “Jimmy and I have been building a garden.”

“That sounds nice,” Scar nodded.

The elf pauses, eyeing the way Scar had been walking, and the way he seemed more gloomy, and less talkative. Scott waited for his friend to look at him before continuing, and Scar could feel Scott’s gaze burning into him as he looked him over.

“Are you sure things have been alright with you, Scar?” Scott asked. “Joel said you nearly fell off his roof-”

“I’m fine.I had a bad flare-up and got really dizzy because of the sunlight. All there is to it,” Scar interrupted.

“A bit ironic with how much time you spent in that desert, huh?” Scott joked.

“Don't,” Scar warned.

“So this is about him-?”

“Scott, please, I don’t want to talk about it,” Scar said with a sigh. “Nothing happened at the wedding.”

Scott let out an amused hum as he walked ahead of Scar a bit.

“I never said anything happened,” Scott teased.

Scar let out a dramatic groan that got Scott to laugh. The two walked down the cobblestone path for a few minutes more and finally made it to Boatem Town. The first settlement for the arena survivors was just on the outskirts of the Hermitlands village. Though, as of late not many people other than Scar himself, Pearl, and two others known as Mumbo and Impulse, lived around there any more as the others either moved farther away or right into the village. The others, however, still gathered here when there was news to be heard, or when Pearl had something to say.

Scott waved Scar a farewell as he walked over to stand next to his husband, Jimmy. The others stood around the large tower of stacked boats as well; Tango and Impulse could be heard on the other side of the crowd laughing at something. Etho, Skizz, and Bdubs were scattered around them. Lizzie stood next to Joel as the two urged JJ and Hermia to settle down as Ren stood behind them. Seeing the kids from his spot in the back corner of the crowd just made Scar’s heart ache. His heart aching even more as he noticed the one empty, lone spot near the front next to Mumbo that a certain someone would have filled.

It was then that the doors of a tower across from the pole had opened, and Pearl stepped into the night. Looking as regal as ever with her brown hair cascading down her back like a waterfall and her golden elytra cape draped securely around her shoulders as the pair of wings did its best to hide the burn scars around her back but could still be seen faintly around her shoulders. Pearl looked around the crowd as she stood in front of everyone, her brow furrowing.

“I suppose we’re all here and ready to start?” Pearl asked.

There was a murmur of agreement as Pearl scoffed a bit.

“So much for a mandatory meeting,” Pearl muttered. “Alright, I’m sure you’re all wondering why I called-”

Suddenly there was a really loud whoosh and the sound of boots hitting the ground with a thud. Everyone turned their attention to the man in the red sweater who had to heave a heavy breath to compose himself. Pearl grinning from ear to ear as she outstretches her arms.

“Well, well, the prodigal son returns,” Pearl said.

“Hey- sorry-” Grian gasped as he ruffled his macaw feathers. “I didn’t mean to be late, I know you said it was urgent-”

“You’re right on time, Grian,” Pearl said. “Get over here.”

Scar looked down at his boots. His heart beating a mile a minute as Grian seemed to breeze by him without a word or acknowledgment. At this point Scar didn’t care, because he was here. Grian was here.

“Alright, well, as I was saying, I know you are all probably wondering why I called you all here tonight.In order to truly explain, I’ll let Jimmy here tell you what he had found. ,” Pearl said.

Jimmy received a gentle pat from Scott on the shoulder, and as his yellow canary feathers on his wings twitched nervously, he made his way in front of the crowd.

“I went down into the mines the other day to grab some cobblestone. However, when I got down there, I found something… odd. There’s this area around this strange tunnel covered in this weird black substance. A bunch of the other mobs down there were covered in it too and they were acting different-erratic even. Downright hostile. Almost like the weird, glitchy purple puss that come out of those glitch mobs in the woods,” Jimmy explained.

Scar could see in front of him at the mention of the monsters in the woods Grian’s own feathers began to twitch nervously. There was a murmur that rang out through the crowd before Pearl spoke again.

“Jimmy came to me, and we both checked the tunnel out ourselves. It’s definitely man-made, but it went on for so long we can’t safely say where it leads,” Pearl said.

“Is there any chance the tunnels could’ve been dug by someone else?” Ren asked. “Someone else from the arena we didn’t know was here?”

An uneasy quiet of the memories of the three lost souls whose fates were left unknown-the ones who didn’t make it out of the arena-hung over the crowd. Lizzie held Hermia, who was sitting in her lap, close to her.

“No,” Pearl said firmly. “I don’t think anyone else from the arena was fortunate enough to find us, Ren.”

“Best we keep it that way. After all that’s happened, I doubt any are keen to be so friendly,” Lizzie added.

“I brought you all here to let you know about this. I can’t say that we know the mines are unsafe, but just be sure to exercise caution when you are down there. Lord Keralis and Captain Xisuma in the Hermitland village also know too. So, if you see any more weird things going on down there, please go to them. Until then, you are all dismissed.”

After the dismissal the crowd of arena survivors began to partake in conversation with each other. Scar looked to see Grian share a few short words with Mumbo and Pearl-goodbyes if Scar had to guess-before he parted from the crowd to fly back to his home. Scar immediately ran to follow, and grabbed him by the arm as he dragged him off from the courtyard and into the woods nearby.

“Scar, what-?” Grian said.

“We need to talk. I have something I need to say, and I’m not just going to let you run off again before I do,” Scar said.

Scar stopped when they made it to a clearing and let go of him. His hands shook with the tremors from how angry and stressed he had now become.

“Three years,” Scar started.

“Scar, you’re shaking.”

“It has been three years since you talked to me. Why?”

Grian sighed, pressing his fingers to the bridge of his nose.

“You wouldn’t understand.”

“You’re right. I fucking don’t!” Scar spat. “Did you think it was a bright idea not to talk to me for three years and then show up to that wedding like nothing happened? You went back to my house, you did something with me, and you left. Not even a word from you afterwards. Nothing. You just left!”

“Scar, we were drunk,” Grian said, exasperated. “Both of us were. We weren’t in our right minds, and I didn’t think it would mean anything or matter to you.”

“Well it matters now. You best believe it matters now,” Scar argued.

“Scar, what are you on about? What are you trying to say?” Grian asked.

“I’m pregnant, Grian,” Scar spat. “That’s not something that just happens.”

There was a quiet in the air so strong you could’ve heard a leaf fall. Grian’s dark eyes looking at Scar in disbelief.

“I- what-?” Grian stammered. “That can’t-”

“But it can. It did,” Scar said, motioning his arm outward. “I’m pregnant.”

Grian slowly shook his head as he walked forward and grabbed Scar’s outstretched arm to steady him. Scar sighed as Grian took his other hand and placed it firmly on Scar’s belly. Not protesting to Grian’s obvious search for “proof.”

Grian’s breathing became a bit uneasy feeling the growing bump under his hands. The tip of his fingers brushing the curve when he suddenly felt a primal, unsettling jolt shoot through his spine. Symbols knocking around his skull that he knew all too well. Symbols-words- that were carved into his door somehow etched into the skin under Scar’s clothes.

They were markings Grian and Grian alone could’ve put there, and meant to protect what was growing inside of Scar right now. Grian stumbled away from Scar as he ran his hands through his hair. He let out a small, breathy, crazed laugh as he felt his true form trying to claw its way out of his mortal skin. He was barely hanging by a thread. Now Grian’s heart was racing.

What had he done?

“Grian?” Scar called worriedly.

He reached out to touch Grian, but Grian stumbled back away from him again as if touching Scar would kill him. Grain did something terrible, and he couldn’t let Scar know how awful this all was.

So he began to walk away.

“Grian, wait,” Scar said, grabbing at his arm. “We need to talk about this-”

Grian jerked his arm away from Scar’s grasp. Looking back at him one last time before flying off into the night without a word.

“Grian!” Scar shouted to him.

It was too late. He was already gone.

“Grian…”

Scar scrunched his eyes tightly. Unable to control the tremors in his hands as sobbed. Leaning against his cane out of fear that if he fell to the ground, he couldn’t bring himself to get back up for a very long time. He was alone again, grasping at the feather around his neck in hopes that maybe Grian could feel it. That he’d sense Scar’s desperation and come back.

But Grian never did.

Chapter Text

Grian let out a shaky breath as he pried his hands away from Scar’s now limp neck. Blood pooling from the head wound Grian had inflicted by banging Scar’s head down on a sharp rock. Grian could barely see anything else other than the blood on his hands. The stench of the festering corpse that had already succumbed to the sun that was growing hotter and hotter every second Grian had decided to keep breathing in this terrible silence.

Grian was now completely and utterly alone.

He had won.

He did not want this.

He had just wanted to ruin this whole ordeal for the others. Wanted to watch as he rendered their sorry attempt to feed off mortals and their negative emotions by keeping things as light and fun as possible. He wanted to get his revenge ever since they exiled his sister, so he took his chance. He didn’t think he would win. He didn’t think Scar would let him win.

“It’s okay. I love you, it’s okay.”

Scar’s last words to him kept echoing in his mind as Grian let out an anguished cry. Scar’s limp body held tightly in Grian’s arms. Rocking back and forth as Grian cried-really, truly cried-for the first time in his whole life into Scar’s neck.

Wind had whipped the white sand into a frenzy that felt like pinpricks of glass on Grian’s skin. His face was still stained with tears as he laid Scar back onto the ground, and stood up from his knees. Trudging up to the cliffside with a heavy heart, but feeling lighter than he ever had. Grian looked out onto the arena and the damage they had all caused, and felt the spirits of the now dead knowing that they would all reawaken to continue the vicious, never ending cycle of death games designed by things beyond their understanding.Grian lifted his dark eyes up to the blinding sun, and then fell off the cliff to the ground beneath him, and resigned himself to the knowledge that he was trapped alongside all of them.

Was Grian’s last thought as he fell from the cliff how blinding the sunlight was? Or was his last thought of the sister who was cast out? How brightly she shined and how unattainable she was now? He imagined her arms embracing him when his skull cracked under the earth all the same.
_______
Pearl was expecting to have a quiet day in her tower abode after a visit into the market place. One of the villagers, who was such a joy to engage in conversation with, made possibly the best tea that Pearl had ever drank before. A pot of it now boiled on the stove as it filled the room with a fruity and chocolate scented aroma. Fresh warm vanilla biscuits Pearl had removed from the oven made their way onto a small plate as she meticulously set her plate down on her kitchen table and poured some of her drink to enjoy her secluded tea time. However, before she could truly sit down and enjoy her midday snack and the tranquility of her home, she heard a rather desperate knocking at her door. Grian was revealed to be on the other side with hands on his knees as he panted from exhaustion. His wings ruffling from having just landed on the ground.

“Brother?” Pearl asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Pearl,” Grian gasped, out of breath. “I need to talk to you.”

“Well, it must be rather important if you chose to take the time to come down from your ivory tower,” Pearl teased. “Tea?”

“Sure, but you’re one to talk about towers considering you live in one you know,” Grian chuckled.

“Yes, but my tower is not somewhere no one can find on a map. Unlike your mysterious home in the woods I can only assume it is some wooden shack with no backside built into it.”

“Hey, it’s a fine house,” Grian huffed, sitting down at a chair at her kitchen table. “Anyway, I’m not here to talk about houses, Pearl. This is about something important.”

Pearl nodded for him to continue as she grabbed the kettle and poured Grian a cup of tea. Grian moved his hand to his forehead as he let out a deep sigh.

“It’s about Scar. A few nights ago, after the meeting, he told me he was pregnant,” Grian had said.

Pearl was quiet as she sat down at her seat. Grian’s voice became more fast and alarmed as he continued.

“It was hard for me to believe him at first but I-I felt it. Something emanating from his being that is so similar to ours but so…different. Organic. I didn’t know what to do-hell I didn’t even know what to say. I was so terrified I almost destabilized I-I ran off. So he wouldn’t see.”

Pearl contemplated her brother’s words as she took a long sip of tea. The alarm in Grian’s voice as he explained the odd situation being met with her humming softly.

“So you got a mortal pregnant. You aren’t the first. I’m sure you won’t be the last ,” Pearl said with a shrug.

“Pearl!” Grian shouted. “Didn’t you just listen to anything I said? You’re acting awfully calm about it!”

Pearl smiled so wide it had almost reached her ears in an uncanny fashion.

“That’s because I have nothing to worry about. I do believe I can make a rather fine aunt. Could be quite a bit of fun,” Pearl joked.

Grian rolled his eyes.

“Well that’s all good and fine for you, Pearl. You won’t be the one responsible for a living, breathing thing. Who’s to say I’m even ready to be a father?”

“Oh gosh you’re right. Why didn’t I think of that?” Pearl had said dramatically. “With our sour luck for all we know you could end up a deadbeat. Simply discard them if they don’t meet up to your high expectations. Like father.”

Grian scoffed, his wings bristling at the mention of the being that gave Pearl and him life in the first place. His head banging onto the table.

“Cuss me out please it’d be way less insulting than you saying that,” Grian said.

“Maybe I would have half a mind to consider after Scar told you, you ran off! What were you even thinking?” Pearl scowled.

Grian flinched at Pearl’s shift in tone, and he raised his head from the table.

“What was I supposed to do?” Grian asked.

“Don't run off! Talk it over! Literally anything else! Why, Grian, you can’t just not talk to someone for three years since we came to this place, knock them up during a one night stand- which I’m assuming is the reason you two simply disappeared at Scott and Jimmy’s wedding reception-and then ditch them when they need you!”

Grian laughed weakly, coming out almost like a wheeze. Grian once again laid his head onto the kitchen table as he stared up at the ceiling.

“You don’t know half about Scar needing me, but just because he might need me doesn’t mean he’d be better off with me. You know better than I do why we can’t get attached to anything being what we are, Pearl. I mean-we aren’t even born for gods sake, and there’s a reason we aren’t! Those monsters that have been hunting us are programmed to detect things like this, and they’re gonna gun for Scar. I doomed him, Pearl. I doomed both of them.”

Pearl reached over the table and tapped his hand to make him look up at her. Grian only peeked his head up over his arm.

“We’re Watchers, Grian. That doesn’t make us cursed,” She said gently.

“No, just me, right? It’s somehow always me,” Grian replied.

“Oh for light’s sake,” Pearl sighed. “Talk to him, Grian. You don’t have to tell him everything, but the least you can do is sort this all out. I mean, you don’t want to just leave him alone in this do you?”

“No,” Grian said standing up from the chair. “I don’t. Thanks Pearl.”

“Anytime, Feathers.”

Grian sipped his tea down and ran out the door, flying off to the marketplace and leaving Pearl to once again enjoy her tranquility.
______
“Grian Dreamslayer!”

Lizzie’s voice rang out the moment Grian’s feet touched the ground at the marketplace, and he immediately felt like someone had brought a stone sledgehammer down on his head. Crying out as he nearly fell to knees, stumbling as the pain shot through his skull and still left a dull ache afterwards. Tears slid down Grian’s face as the pain was replaced with this sense of abandonment. An all consuming misery he deserved to feel-

Grian sighed as he quickly wiped his eyes and tried to collect himself. Turning his head to see Lizzie storming toward him as she fidgeted with the bag of coal she had just traded as she stopped inches in front of Grian’s face.

“How do you sleep at night?” Lizzie asked angrily.

“Er, I sleep pretty well I’d say,” Grian said, trying to walk back from her.

“It’s a rhetorical question! How could you have done that to Scar? Just leave him there without a word? Do you have a heart at all?”

Some of the villagers and marketplace goers were puzzled by all the commotion. Jimmy, who was busy comparing the freshness of apples in a bin, looked up just as confused to see his sister berating their old friend.

“Ah, I take it you know then?” Grian asked.

“How do you think he found out? Whose shoulder did you supposed he cried on after the stunt you pulled!” Lizzie huffed.

“Listen you don’t have to tell me I missed up, Lizzie. I’m trying to make things right with him but-but I need to find him first. Do you know where he might be?” Grian pleaded.

“Oh? You’re looking for Scar? Last I checked he was in the mines,” Jimmy had asked approaching two.

“The mines?” Both Lizzie and Grian shouted.

“Yeah, he stopped by my place earlier because he needed to borrow a new pickaxe. Said his other one broke ages ago-”

“You’re an idiot, Jimmy! You’re a blasted fool!” Grian sshouted as he immediately turned to run to the mines.

Jimmy blinked, turning to his sister.

“What did I do?” Jimmy asked.

“Nothing! Come on, we gotta go get Pearl! Scar might be trouble,” Lizzie said.

Lizzie then grabbed Jimmy by the arm and dragged him away to Pearl’s house.

“Trouble? What kind of trouble?” Jimmy asked.

“I’ll explain later, just run faster!”
_______

Scar meanwhile swung his pickaxe long and hard multiple times. Muttering to himself as bits and pieces of iron flecked into the bucket beneath him. For days it replayed over and over again in his head. Wishing that he could’ve articulated his words better and not tumbled over them so quickly. Maybe then Grian would’ve stayed, and he wouldn’t be back to square one. Sweat dripped from Scar’s brow as he swung down another time in frustration. This time, however, it was accompanied by a wooziness as his legs nearly gave out underneath him.

“Fuck!” Scar had shouted as he sank down to the ground.

Despite the ache in his bones he heaved a breath. Tears fell freely from his eyes as one hand held onto his cane, and the other wrapped protectively around his abdomen.

“I’m really sorry, you know?” Scar said. “I was hoping I didn’t have to do this alone, but we should be okay. I can take care of you, and we won’t need him at all.”

Scar didn’t think he believed that last bit about not needing Grian, but the baby didn’t have to know that. Suddenly, anm arrow that barely missed his head wheezed past him. Scar nearly stumbled to his feet as he saw a skeleton across from him on a cliff readying another arrow. As it turns out, Jimmy had been right. Scar could see from here that a spot on the skeleton’s head, and its ribcage, were covered in this strange oozing black substance. The arrow that had stuck into the walls of the cave spread like spores along the cave side.

Scar was able to pull himself up with just the last bit of the strength he had as he ran from his exposed spot and jumped to the other side of the cliff where the skeleton couldn’t reach him. Scar heaved a sigh as he laid at the base of the cave. Praying for just a few moments to gather himself so he could get out of here unscathed.

Hiiiiissss

The familiar death call of a creeper rang in his ears as his heart sank. His eyes already squeezed shut from exhaustion and expected them not to open again until he respawned. However, the loud explosion that rang in his ears didn’t seem to take his life. Scar opened his eyes to see Grian had jumped in front of him. The sleeves of his sweater singed and charred from the explosion despite having his shield up. He looked at Scar, his eyes wild and angry.

“You-went-mining?!”

Grian’s voice was loud enough to shake the whole cave even when he was out of breath. Scar said nothing, running his hands through his sweaty hair as he tried his best to shakily rise from the ground with his cane, and ignoring the way his heart was beating into his ears.

“What were you thinking? I mean, are you downright daft?” Grian shouted again. “Or did you even think this through at all? You could’ve hurt yourself! You could’ve hurt the baby! If I wasn’t here in time who knows what would’ve-“

“Grian shut up!” Scar shouted back.

Scar slumped back down on the ground. Giving up on his futile attempts to stand as he curled in on himself. His breath grew quicker as his heart kept beating out of control.

“I get it…I get I was stupid. You don’t have to fucking remind me of how useless I am.,” Scar said weakly.

Scar winced as he left out a shaky gasp. Trying to breathe through his heart rate spiking from the sudden stress. Grian’s face softened as he knelt beside Scar and gave him the water skin that was attached to her hip. Helping Scar sip from it and using his hands to rub the cool water onto his face.

“You’re not useless,” Grian said.

As much as Scar wanted to lean into Grian’s soft touch, he turned to the avian with a frown.

“Why’d you even come down here?” Scar asked.

“I was looking for you.”

“Why? Didn’t think you cared about what I did all that much.”

“Well, I guess…I’ve been a bit daft too,” Grian said with a weak chuckle.

Grian slumped down beside Scar against the wall of the cave, and he looked Scar up and down.

“How long have you known?” Grian asked.

“Just a few weeks. If I had to guess I probably still had around thiry odd months left of this.”

“Lizzie sure gave me a talking to when I was trying to find you. Is she the only one you told?”

“Yeah. I mean, have you told anyone?”

“Just Pearl.”

Scar let the coolness of the wall settle into his body. Hearing the faint sounds of a cave siren in the distance.

“So, what now?” Scar asked.

“Well, clearly I can’t trust you to take care of yourself in this state on your own. I-I can stay with you for now if you’d let me. Help you as you deal with these next ‘thirty odd months’ and all that,” Grian said.

“That sounds less like an agreement and more like you being in my debt again doesn’t it?” Scar asked.

Grian rose from his spot on the ground as he left Scar lean on his body. Letting his arm rest over his shoulder.

“It sounds like it because you do. I have to say, I really gotta stop getting you in all of these messes,” Grian said.

Despite it all, how much exhaustion plagued him and his painfully aware of every aching bone in his body, Scar couldn’t help but smile.

“We quite have a habit of making messes of each other,” Scar said.

Chapter Text

Scar and Grian emerged from the mouth of the cave. Scar’s body practically leaned against Grian for support; his other hand shaking from grasping onto his cane with such force his knuckles were turning white. Scar shut his eyelids tight as he felt the sun shining hot and bright on his face, scrunching it as he was afraid if he even opened his eyes slightly the heat and the brightness would make his vision go so wonky he’d make himself sick. Giving the nauseous, churning feeling in his stomach he reckoned he was halfway there, and wasn’t taking any chances.

“Grian-Take me home. Please, take me home,” Scar had muttered, barely above a whisper.

Grian looked downward at him with a frown. Wanting to say something comforting in turn, but couldn’t muster a word, but even so was determined to get Scar to his home upright in one piece. A mission properly thwarted as Lizzie and Jimmy ran their way over. Pearl followed suit in her full armor and weapons. Grian had to admit, he was happy and grateful to see Lizzie and Pearl, but was fighting everything in him not to strangle Jimmy right then and there. A strange, red hot rage bubbling below his veins and making his feathers ruffle and stand on end.

“Is he alright?” Lizzie asked.

“He’s fine. Unscathed,” Grian replied bluntly as he tried walking past them.

“Man, and I got all dressed up for nothing,” Pearl quietly mused, making Scar chuckle just a little.

Jimmy squinted skeptically as he looked at Scar. Barely able to walk and paler than a Vex. His whole demeanor completely changed, which even at his worst, Scar had never felt the need to let go of. Not to mention the way he smelled strange. Something he picked up on during Pearl’s meeting and when he saw him this morning, but never thought much of it until now.

“Are you sure you don’t need help getting him back? He doesn’t look too hot,” Jimmy said.

“He had a flare up in the mines,” Grian said.

“Oh, please, what do you think I was born yesterday?” Jimmy exclaimed. “Scar isn’t stupid enough to go into the mines if he even so much as considered he would get stuck down there, and by the hells look at him!”

Jimmy tried walking closely to Grian, but Lizzie held him back by the shoulder.

“Jimmy, let it go,” Lizzie said.

“Oh, I take it, you know what’s going on then?” Jimmy said, turning to his sister, and then to Pearl. “It wouldn’t surprise me if you knew too. You’ve been awfully quiet Pearl-”

“Jimmy. You need to relax-”

Lizzie’s voice was cut off with a thud as Scar’s legs gave out, slipping from Grian’s grasp and falling to his knees. Scar began to vomit and cough roughly, his whole body shaking from the exhaustion that was quickly overtaking him. Lizzie covered her mouth in horror, and Pearl rushed over as quick as she could, but Grian was at his side in seconds, his hand placed on Scar’s back. Scar tried getting up on his own, but Grian steadied him when his legs shook and his body nearly collapsed on the ground.

“Hey, hey. Take it easy,” Grian soothed.

“Grian, do you need us to-” Pearl began.

“No! No, We’ll be fine. I can take him back myself-”

“Bullshit!” Jimmy shouted pushing past Lizzie. “His flare ups never let him get this bad, and you expect us-his friends-to just let him go off with you? Last I checked Grian, you haven’t been in his life for months!”

Jimmy was just about to grab Scar’s arm to help him up when Grian turned towards him and punched him right in the face. The anger bubbling in Grian’s veins finally boiling over. Jimmy had stumbled to the ground stunned, as Grian stood over him ruffling his feathers and stretching his wings outward to look ten times bigger than they were which worked to completely hide Scar from his view.

“Don’t touch him! I will kill you if you touch him, do you hear me?” Grian shouted.

Jimmy was still holding his jaw in his hand as he looked between him and Scar. Wondering what could have possibly got into Grian to be so hostile like that. It was then Jimmy, the half avian that he was, had put the pieces together that Grian was exhibiting a form of flock behavior. Behavior Jimmy had sometimes shown with Scott, sure, but there was only one reason Grian could’ve been so quick to violence like that due to those instincts. Which would explain the change in Scar’s scent, this strange sick-like behavior, and all of the secrecy.

“Oh, shit,” Jimmy breathed. “I-I didn’t know.”

“Well,” Grian huffed. “It's a bit too late to apologize now, is it?”

Grian gently lifted a now barely conscious Scar over his shoulder again before heading the way to Scar’s house. Lizzie in turn helped her brother off the ground as Pearl watched the two leave for Scar’s house. Grian’s sister letting out a deep, tired sigh.
_____
Grian had turned on the sink in Scar’s kitchen space as he ran a rag over the running water. The sleeves of his sweater rolled to his elbows as he descended into what could only be described as a mother henning mode. Mere minutes ago he had rushed Scar into his house and gently helped him into his bed to relax, and now was focusing on getting his temperature down.

Grian had to admit it felt weird being back in Scar’s home again. The last time he was here shrouded in some tipsy, woozed delusion, but he was now seeing it perfectly clear. Crumpled up notebooks, papers and potions littered around the place. Most of the furniture looked old, worn, or dusty. Absolutely lived in, and controlled chaos Scar always seemed to thrive best in.

Grian made a mental note of getting some of this place cleaned as he ascended the staircase and walked down the hall to Scar’s room. Scar laid on his bed wearing only his pajamas bottoms he managed to change into. His fingers tracing the quilted patterns of his blanket underneath him.

“Feel any better?” Grian asked.

“Eh,” Scar muttered, resting his head onto his pillow. “Still a bit shitty.”

“Well, you sure were in a bit of a state back there.”

Grian sat down on the side of the bed next to Scar, who sighed in relief as the cool rag made contact with his head. Grian gently moved the rag a bit down on his neck, shoulders, and chest. Trying to ignore how fast his heart was beating from taking in his changed, sweeter, scent and this feeling of closeness to him he had not had in months. Then, Grian gazed his eyes downward and froze as he looked at Scar’s belly and the faint, purple markings there.

“Is it okay if I…?” Grian’s voice trailed off as he hesitantly hovered his hand there.

Scar nodded, smiling a bit as he took Grian’s hand and placed it down onto his lower abdomen. Grian slightly slid his hand to Scar’s side where the markings were most prominent.Its strange feather-like patterns swirled on Scar’s skin and as Grian began barely registering the language the markings had been etched in. Like he was flexing a muscle he hadn’t used in a long time.

“I wonder how these markings got here?” Grian muttered.

“I was hoping you could answer that question,” Scar said.

Grian froze, silent for only a moment before he chuckled.

“Well, I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like it,” Grian lied. “Sure it’s not a you thing?”

“Humans don’t exactly do things like this. Much like how I have yet to see an avian who glows purple when they’re pregnant.,” Scar said.

“Hm, I think it’s more magenta. I mean it’s not like you have met any other avians besides Timmy,” Grian teased.

“Well, you’re sure not like any avian I’ve met before,” Scar said.

Grian didn’t respond as his gaze was pulled downward once more by the markings. The feathery patterns making his brain twitch as the letters they represented seemed to visualize in his brain after some fine tuning:

Untouched, unharmed.

Grian had to stop himself from laughing at how ironic that was. It was the same message he had carved in the door frame of his home to ensure mobs didn’t get in, and here was that very same phrase, and all its power, marked into Scar’s body because of him. There was no mistaking that the markings were Grian’s doing. That his magic-if you could call it that-had latched onto Scar and the child growing inside of him in such a protective way. It overwhelmed Grian with relief that his magic was able to do such a thing, but that anxiety and fear still threatened to claw out of his chest. Watchers couldn’t simply create something out of nothing like other mortal beings. It wasn’t in their purpose, their makeup, their code. Yet this formless being’s existence persisted, and all it could do was put Scar in danger. Marking them to be discovered, to be hunted, for death.

It was enough to nearly make his whole mortal form collapse into the vast expanse of his final form, but he quelled the fear in his chest. He couldn’t let the overwhelming reality of having two, precious lives in his hands drown him. He had to protect Scar, and he was going to at any cost.