Archive of Our Own ^beta

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Gareth and Grian had danced around interacting with each other, despite the want and need to have a proper father-son relationship like they did before, Grian was wary to put it lightly. Gareth was dead. Simple as that. And now, Grian sort of wishes he was too. It was normal for most of that night, as normal as speaking to your dead father's ghost could be anyways. Grian thought it was actually going well..

Until Sam had demanded Grian joined him and Taurtis again, being pulled away from his father for a second time hurt more. Even if he knew where to find his father now, the man was dead. It hurt, but it wasn't the worst thing to happen. No. Far from it honestly. 

Grian could tell something was off, he didn't know what but he knew it was something. And he was right. He fucking wishes he wasn't. Who would have wanted to be right when this happened? When Sam stabbed Taurtis. Sam stabbed Taurtis, giggling like a mad man as he ran away, leaving Grian to deal with the aftermath. The aftermath of Taurtis trying to drive a bus to the hospital, of the bus crashing, of Taurtis nearly bleeding out and dying. 

Grian had to call for an ambulance, Grian had to stay by Taurtis's side, Grian had to make sure Taurtis lived. So he did. He refused to leave Taurtis's side until the next day, carrying Taurtis's headphones with a heavy heart. He had been accused at first, it was like his father's situation all over again.. But he didn't do it. And this time it was a real crime. Not a case of some deadbeat wife and mother running away. 

Grian had met Sam on the bus to school the next day, dread in his heart and mind. Why the hell did Sam stab Taurtis in the first place? Would Sam try to stab him now? Grian wasn't sure, but he felt like he needed some type of answer. He held Taurtis's headphones out to Sam. "Taurtis is in the hospital.. They thought I did it, Sam what hapened?" 

Silence. Grian was met with silence. Stretching on for what felt like hours, before Sam grabbed Taurtis's headphones from Grian's hands. "Grian," Sam raised his hands, headphones stretched wide enough to snap over Grian's head. "I have one of Taurtis's shirts, and it feels weird that he's not here. Can you do me a favor and um," Sam smiled, a wicked thing that sent dread crawling through Grian's bones. "Can you dress up as Taurtis for me? Just until he's back?" 

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Grian was uncomfortable. He was scared and uncomfortable. There was really no better way to put it. He was scared and didn't know what to do. Sam had seemingly gone insane. Grian knew Sam didn't force him to dress as Taurtis, he only asked. But Grian was scared of what would happen if he said no. Sam could try to stab him, Sam could succeed. 

Grian didn't want to take that chance. So he threw on Taurtis's shirt that Sam had, and it was almost scary how fast Sam seemed to trick himself into thinking Grian actually was Taurtis. Grian and Taurtis truly couldn't look more different, but apparently all Sam needed was an outfit. All Sam cared about was a damn outfit. All Grian cared about was getting out of this damn outfit.

But he didn't. No. He couldn't. Instead, he followed Sam around. He did as Sam said, he tried to make jokes like Sam told him to. He tried. But he wasn't Taurtis. Nothing was going to change that, but Sam didn't seem to understand. Sam never understood. 

Grian found that out the hard way, he didn't want to be Taurtis anymore. He made the mistake of telling Sam that. Made the mistake of thinking Sam was suddenly sane again. Made the mistake of opening his mouth, and speaking when he wasn't spoken to. Grian made a mistake. But he seemed to be making a lot of those lately. A lot of mistakes that are ending him up in situations he'd really rather not be in. Yet here he was. 

Grian was not the only one who was making mistakes though. No. Sam had made a mistake, possibly the worst mistake he ever could. The mistake of torturing Grian in front of Gareth. 

Gareth had already thought it to be a bit odd, Grian never wore blue. He always wore his red jumper, not to mention the clothes weren't even his. But that isn't what did it, no. Of course Sam couldn't leave it there. Of course Sam had to take it further. Of course Sam had to pull a knife of Grian and threaten him.

Of course. Gareth saw red.