Work Text:
Talk to Scar.
Those were the only words that Jimmy had sent Grian following the eventful truce meeting that the admin had called. Grian knew that with all the talk of feathers and their importance to avians, speaking with his soulmate was something that would need to happen. After all, the other man had carried one of Grian’s feathers with him for years now in Hermitcraft. And as for the Life Servers, he had handed Scar a feather from his wings in each world that they had gone to for the competitions.
Still, Grian was afraid.
Afraid of the reaction that Scar would have about the meaning of a feather that he hadn’t known, but had carried anyway. Because Grian had known. And he had given it to the other builder freely.
Grian glanced over at the Jellie Panda Sanctuary that his soulmate had retreated to after they had returned home together following the meeting. He could see Scar’s back as the other man entertained the animals around him. A smile worked its way onto Grian’s face without his permission, growing sad as he realized that everything he had with Scar could change from him learning about the meaning of feathers in avian culture.
Grian could remember when he first taught Jimmy about the importance of the feathers on his back and the culture that their people shared. It had been multiple days of talking and preening the younger man’s freshly fledged wings, declaring Jimmy his younger brother throughout the process. If only Grian could feel that same confidence that he had while teaching Jimmy now that he had to talk to Scar.
The avian’s feet seemed to move without thought, bringing him closer and closer to his soulmate with every moment. Soon, he was at the doorway to the Sanctuary, his footfalls stopping just at the edge of the structure. It felt wrong to cross into the other area, like he would be intruding on something not meant for him.
“Scar?”
“Oh! Grian, you’re here. Uh, well, come in, come in. Welcome to the Jellie Sanctuary,” Scar gestured for Grian to join him, recovering well from his initial shock and stumbling words. Looking around, Grian had to admit that the area was beautiful, the greenery something that he hadn’t allowed himself to admire before, trying so hard to be practical and make sure they survived. Maybe that was why he hadn’t taken the time to admire his own soulmate either, so caught up in the game that Grian had forgotten the man, even as he was constantly aware of Scar’s every injury and, of course, the feather that he carried.
“Looks nice,” he admitted, eyes trained on any space except Scar’s face.
“Grian, I–”
“I’m sorry,” the avian blurted out, squeezing his eyes together and bracing for the other man’s reaction.
“What?”
“I’m sorry. I’ve been an awful soulmate,” Grian clarified.
“Grian, you’re trying to keep us alive,” Scar excused, shrugging.
“But I made you feel bad while I did it.”
“I won’t say I especially enjoyed how you’ve been treating me, but I also understand where it’s coming from. So, I forgive you,” Scar explained.
Grian blinked, surprised, the emotion clearly expressed on his face, “What?”
“I forgive you,” Scar repeated.
“Just like that?”
“Mhm, just like that. Help me feed the Jellies?” Scar offered, holding out some bamboo. Grian took the offering, confusion seeping into his brain.
Surely that wasn’t everything? Didn’t they have to talk about the feather? And then it hit Grian. Of course Scar wasn’t asking about it. Grian hadn’t offered the information.
“I’ll help. On one condition.”
“Oh? Name your price, Gri,” the interested tone in his voice telling Grian that Scar’s eyes had nearly flashed blue, the Vex part of him growing intrigued by the offer of a deal.
“We talk about the feather sometime before going to bed tonight.”
Scar seemed to freeze before moving again, “You want to?”
“We need to,” Grian countered.
“But do you want to?” Scar asked, a note of concern creeping into the hesitance of his voice.
Grian paused, actually taking the time to think about just what that sort of conversation would mean for their relationship to one another. He found that even if there were things that might go wrong, he was far less scared of that than the possibility that Scar would not understand what giving him a feather meant.
“I want to.”
Scar nodded, seemingly satisfied by the avian’s answer. “Alright then. You help me with the Jellie Pandas now and we’ll talk about feathers later.”
“Deal.”
~~~DLSMP~~~
The two soulmates had returned to their towered base for the evening, consuming a quick dinner before puttering about with a few last minute chores. All the while, Grian’s head spun with how he would possibly begin to explain the situation.
“Scar,” the sound of his voice surprised even Grian, the avian’s voice hoarse and hesitant. There was a look in Scar’s eyes as he turned to face Grian that the shorter thought might be concern, but he couldn’t be sure.
“Come sit down Grian, I’ll get you some water,”
As the container passed into Grian’s hands he gave Scar a short smile before letting the liquid pass through his lips. “Thanks.”
“Sure, not a problem. No problems here.”
Grian’s lips turned downward, “You don’t have to lie to me.”
“What?”
“You said you forgave me. And that we don’t have problems. You don’t have to lie.”
Scar’s brows furrowed, “I’m not lying.”
“I didn’t tell you about the feather.”
“Did you want to? Would it be better if I didn’t know?”
“I wanted to tell you all the time. It was just hard to find the words. The idea of you knowing what the feather meant, I was so scared.”
“Scared of me knowing what the feather means?”
“What if you didn’t want it anymore?”
“Grian, in what world would I not want your feather?”
“I lied to you about it,” Grian whispered, lowering his head to hide his expression in his fringe.
“Did you lie to me to hurt me? Or did you not tell me because you were nervous?”
The avian was quiet for a moment, “The second one.”
“Then you didn’t lie to me, G. And even if you did, I forgive you.”
“You can’t just forgive me for everything, Scar.”
“I can.”
“No, you can’t!”
“Of course I can forgive you, G. You’re you. I would forgive you for anything.”
“Scar!”
“Tell me about what the feather means?”
Grian glanced away, surprised by the sudden change in subject. “You heard it at the meeting.”
Scar laughed, “Yeah, but, like, what does that mean for us? What does it mean to you? The stuff during the truce was general stuff, but culture’s got different meanings to different people. So tell me about what it means for you, G-man.”
Grian swallowed, the sincerity causing his words to flee. He knew how to get a rise out of people, but being asked for the truth like this, especially such a personal truth, left him without a response.
Scar placed a hand on the avian’s shoulder, causing the smaller to start. “Take your time, Grian. I’m here.”
“Why can’t you just be mad at me? It would be so much easier if you were mad. Why aren’t you mad, Scar? Fine, you want to know about the feather? I’ll tell you. It’s forever, okay? It’s a promise. To stay with someone forever, to always put them first. A claim, like Jimmy has for Tango. That you want to give them everything. That they are your everything. You give a feather because you want that forever. You want them forever. You give someone a feather because if they accept it, wear it, then they want that too. They want you.”
Scar reached out, placing a palm to the side of Grian’s face, lifting the other man’s gaze to meet his own. The Vex sucked in a breath at the tears he found in Grian’s eyes, a look of defeat on the other’s face. Concern flushed through Scar at the expression, a second hand coming up to fully frame Grian’s face, thumbs catching any stray tears that escaped the man’s eyes.
“Grian, I would be proud to wear this feather.”
A punched-out gasp escaped Grian, his eyes squeezing shut. “Scar, please don’t make jokes. Please.”
“No jokes, light of my life. You said the feather is forever. I want that. Please, birdie? Can we have that?”
Grian nearly sobbed as his lungs seemed to lighten with the hope that was rising within him, “You want it?”
“More than anything, Grian. Please?”
Instead of a verbal reply, Grian threw himself forward, grasping his hands into the back of Scar’s shirt, grip tight as he clung to the larger man. After not even a breath of hesitation, Scar wrapped his arms around Grian in return, holding him as tightly as possible. Grian seemed to settle as he realized that he was pinned to the Vex by the man’s own actions, the avian’s head resting just under Scar’s shoulder.
“I’m going to cover you in feathers. I’m going to keep building nests and dragging you to them. I’m clingy and destructive and a damn pesky bird. Are you sure, Scar?”
Scar’s arms tightened around Grian, “I’ve never been more sure of anything, Grian.”
“Do you want a different one?”
Scar blinked at the apparent non-sequitur, “What?”
Grian leaned back to lightly run his finger along the feather that hung at Scar’s chest, “Do you want a different feather? I have a nicer one set aside on Hermitcraft. I didn’t want to hope, but my dumb instincts wanted to keep a pretty feather for you.”
“All your feathers are nice, Grian. I would be happy to have another feather, but this one is perfect.”
“Wear it always?” a hesitancy managing to slip into the question, though it was quickly overpowered by the joy flushing into Grian at Scar’s response.
“Of course, birdie. I’d be happy to.”
“I mean it, you know? I want forever too. I want it with you.”
“No more fear then,” Scar smiled, pressing his forehead against Grian’s. “You and me, G. Forever.”
Grian sighed, smiling back at his soulmate, “Forever.”