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Grian was easily one of the most powerful beings in the universe.
He had survived the Watchers, escaped Them, earning an army of eyes and massive wings that could launch him into the sky with barely a flutter. He had won Third Life, he had beat some of the best PvPers, he could create and shatter code with the simplest command.
So why was he being vanquished by a cold?
From the second his eyes had flicked open that morning, he could tell something was wrong, and that feeling had only been confirmed as he tried to stand and nearly fell over as all his joints screamed with soreness, his head spinning until the world turned into a whorl of color. Even collapsing back onto his bed set another shockwave of pain down his body. It was then he attempted to call for Scar, just to be interrupted by a fit of coughing. When he finally got a few words past the cement clogging his lungs, his voice was a hoarse croak, his throat feeling as if it had been clawed to shreds. He resorted to kicking at the wall feebly until the constant thumping alerted Scar.
He had come running best he could, his cane beating an agitated rhythm on the floor as he swung open Grian’s bedroom door. “Grian?” he demanded in a frightened tone.
Grian winced as the shout rang through his skull, intense throbbing beating at his eyes. He half-heartedly lifted one wing, smiling weakly. “Too loud,” he rasped.
Scar knelt down by his bed, eyes stretched wide and filled with worry. “Sorry,” he whispered, words barely stirring the air, light as feathers spilling on silk. “Are you okay? Are you hurt?”
A distressed grumble wrung its way out of Grian’s ravaged throat, and he retreated further into the downy comforter wrapped around his shoulders, his body too cold and too hot at the same time. “Sick,” he grunted.
“Oh, birdie.” Scar let out a sympathetic trill. He gingerly sat on the bed, spreading his arms wide as he leaned back. Grian didn’t need any more prompting as he burrowed against Scar’s chest, his wings tucking around them and enclosing their bodies in a cocoon of warm feathers. Thankfully, Scar practically never slept in anything but boxer shorts, which meant all his warm skin was on display for cuddling. How could he pass up such an offer? “I’m sorry,” Scar hummed, scratching Grian’s head feathers gently. “What hurts?”
“Head. Throat.” Grian blinked with a grimace as another wave of dizzy nausea washed over him. “Stomach’s doing something.”
“Do you need anything? Food? Potions?” One arm hooked under the base of Grian’s wings and shifted him so Grian was no longer flopped over his chest, the other arm bracing himself against the bed in a clear effort to stand.
Grian’s talons kicked the air as he was eased away, panicked chirps erupting from his mouth. He dove back towards Scar, his arms coming up to wrap around Scar’s abdomen. He couldn’t get them all the way around, a solid foot hovering between both hands, but he still held on as best he could. “I need you,” he mumbled.
Two hands came to rest on his shoulder blades, warm chuckling shaking the ribcage Grian was pressed against. “How about I get you some water?” Scar laughed, making another half-hearted attempt at standing.
Pebbles rattled in Grian’s skull as he shook his head stubbornly, just hugging Scar tighter. “Nuh-uh.”
“Please?”
“Nope.”
Fingers combed through Grian’s fluffy mop of brown hair, resting against his forehead. “Gri, you’re burning up.” Scar’s voice, while previously light and giggly, had a new tone of concern.
“Am I? Or are you just hot?” Grian shot back before giggling at his own joke. Jokes were funny. Grian was funny.
“Yes, yes, you’re very funny.” Scar chuckled. Wait. That was an inside thought. “At least let me call Mumbo to come over.”
Sparks of happiness popped in Grian’s heart at the mention of Mumbo. Mumbo! Mumbo was so fun. And handsome. Instantly, the thought of having two handsome men cuddling Grian became a possibility. Why wasn’t Mumbo here? He should have been here! “I need both boyfriends,” he whined in a pitchy squawk.
“You’re gonna have to let me go so I can call him, Grian,” Scar said gently.
Grian scowled. This again.
“Just think. Two whole boyfriends hugging you,” Scar whispered, his hands easing Grian off him. “Wouldn’t that be nice?”
Ugh . “Fiiiine,” he drawled, rolling onto his back and crossing his arms while bundled in blankets. “But hurry.”
Scar shot him a quick, grateful smile before he was up, limping towards his room. Grian caught the rushed words ‘sick’ and cuddly’ and ‘ adorable ’ as he strained his ears, trying to pick up more from the broken conversation. He didn’t get a chance to, though, because then Scar was strutting back over and flopping onto the bed next to Grian. “See? I’m back here already, and Mumbo’ll be here too!”
“Mumbo!” Grian cheered, wincing as the cry set off another pair of claws dragging down his windpipe. He settled for repeatedly flapping his wings to convey his joy.
In too much time entirely, there was a drumbeat of shoes stomping towards the room, and seconds later, Mumbo was standing at the door, his chest heaving and sweat dripping down his black hair as he panted.
Delighted laughter bubbled out of Grian’s lips. “Mumbo!” He made little grabby-hands at the man.
Mumbo let out a wheezy laugh, wiping his forehead with his suit sleeve and striding forward until he, as well, was lounging on Grian’s bed. Scar’s head rested on the pillow, arms spread as Grian dove back onto him. He stretched out on top of him, and then Mumbo’s arms were settling over the crook of his neck, his limbs cloaking over him like a blanket. Grian was perfectly tucked between Scar’s strong build and Mumbo’s slender figure, his sore body melting in relaxation as his brain warbled with bliss. “Goodness, you’re out of it, aren’t you?” Mumbo chucked bemusedly.
Grian didn’t reply, too transfixed with Mumbo’s face, which was only a few inches away from his, and was too nice a face to be ignored, really. He traced Mumbo’s cheekbones with his fingertips, earning a surprised hum from the other man, though he didn’t move. “What are you-”
“You’re lovely,” Grian sang. Out of the corner of his eye, Scar’s face was strained, his shoulders quivering with barely-repressed giggles straining from his throat. Oh, no! Poor Scar, being ignored. That had to be fixed. Grian brought up his other hand, fingers ghosting over the jagged scar stretching over Scar’s eye. “And you…you’re beautiful.”
Scar laughed lightly, though there was a bitter twinge to the noise. His hand came up to gently squeeze Grian’s and set it down. “You’re really sick, hmm?”
Grian shook his head adamantly, pulling both hands back to Scar’s face and leaning forward so he could pepper Scar’s jaw with tiny kisses. “It’s a gorgeous scar for my gorgeous Scar,” he slurred when he was done, head coming down to rest on Scar’s chest.
“Can’t argue with the bird,” Mumbo added, one hand trailing to caress Scar’s cheek before threading through Grian’s hair to rub circles on the back of his neck. “Isn’t that right?”
“S’pose so,” Scar choked out, smiling shakily. One hand brushed at his eyes hurriedly.
Grian chirped happily. This was perfect. He was sandwiched between his boyfriends for what had to be the first time in weeks. Maybe he should get sick more often.
“It’s charming you love us so much, but please don’t get sick on purpose,” Mumbo said with a chuckle, hands moving to massage Grian’s wings. Pristinely manicured fingernails dragged through feathers, running over ridges of tendons and sinew as he chased away the painful twinges.
“But I hafta,” Grian peeped drowsily. Eyes were too heavy. He allowed his lids to slip shut, hazy darkness blanketing his vision. “I don’t wanna bug ya for…for hugs.”
“What?!” That was Scar and Mumbo at once, Scar’s smooth tenor and Mumbo’s startled pitch shattering into a surprised cry. Grian flinched.
“Grian, you wanting hugs would never be annoying!” Mumbo claimed, sounding disgusted at the very thought. His hands clenched to fists, lightly tugging on Grian’s feathers, though it wasn’t enough to hurt.
“Why would you even-how-we’d never -” Scar spluttered. He, too, seemed upset. That wouldn’t do!
Grian’s shoulders rose and fell in a shrug, and he hummed, mashing his face further into Scar’s chest to hide. “You’re busy a lot. You have…stuff to do. Bases, shops…”
Heavy rumbles reverberated through Grian as Scar sighed heavily. “Gri, bases are cool, sure, but they’re just a bunch of blocks stacked together to look cool. Do you know what you are?”
Grian frowned. “No?”
“You’re funny.” Mumbo chimed in, fingers relaxing to keep running soothing trails down his wings.
“You’re creative.” Scar added.
“You’re amazing.”
“You’re worth more than any build.”
“You’re clever.”
“You’re stunning,” Scar said with an air of finality. “And we adore you more than we can say. So any time your splendid self wants some hugs, we’re only a message away.”
Grian sniffled. He just had a runny nose. That was it. No other reason. “Ya mean it?”
“With all our hearts,” Mumbo declared.
Several seconds went by before Scar dared to disturb the silence. “Did he fall asleep?”
Grian didn’t have the energy to say no. His talons twitched slightly, but when neither of them acknowledged that, he just gave up and went back to relaxing.
“Must have. Poor little guy.” A hand ran soothing trails down Grian’s back, sending happy shivers racing through his spine. Mumbo huffed lightly. “We’re not getting out of this healthy, are we?”
“Not a chance.” Strange. Scar didn’t sound as sad as he should have been.
Oh, well.
Grian was easily one of the most powerful beings in the universe.
But for now, he was more than happy to just be Grian, happy and safe and loved.
And that was plenty for him.