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Grian was torn from his entranced state by the muffled sound of jingling keys, then the turn of a doorknob.
“Hey, Doctor,”
It was Scar.
Grian stood up from the couch, stretching his arms, feeling suddenly stiff from sitting for so long.
“Scar! You’re here? Are you hurt again?”
Grian walked up to Scar, briefly looking him over for any obvious injuries.
Scar just laughed, reaching up to ruffle Grian’s hair.
“No, I just wanted to pop in. Lizzie and Jimmy were watching a movie, and I got bored, and now I’m here.”
Grian looked to meet Scar’s gaze.
“So, why did you think my apartment would be any less boring?” he replied.
Scar put on a puzzled look, like he’d just been asked to do long division.
“Beecause you’re not boring,” he blurted out. “I’d actually prefer to be here than watch a movie at all.”
Grian’s face went blank for a moment.
“What?”
He widened his eyes at Scar’s words, like that was the last thing he expected to hear.
Scar picked up on it quickly, leaning in just slightly and bringing up a hand to ghost Grian’s jaw.
“You heard me, Doctor.”
The vet tensed, stiffening his shoulders and opening his mouth to try and spit a snarky remark to shake the flush off his face.
“I...”
He stammered, gazing off into Scar’s irises.
Scar knew exactly what he was doing now.
“You okay, G? Cat got your tongue?” he said, dropping his tone slightly.
Grian snapped back— finally.
“I... think that we should eat something. I’m starving, aren’t you?” he said, practically yelling as he walked over to the kitchen and opened the fridge.
“And I have absolutely nothing. Lovely.”
He gritted his teeth as he picked up his phone and unlocked it.
Scar walked over, looming silently at his side.
“Do you want to order something?”
Grian looked over his shoulder to where Scar had been previously sitting, finding that spot empty.
“Scar?” he asked again.
As he looked over his other shoulder, Scar’s face surprised him.
“Bloody hell, Scar!”
He threw a playful punch at Scar’s shoulder. Scar reacted by throwing his head back over-exaggeratedly.
“Fine, I’ll humor you.”
Grian put both of his hands on either side of Scar’s face, throwing on a distressed expression.
“Oh no! Are you okay? Want me to kiss it better, Scar?”
And though Grian had an overly sarcastic tone, Scar’s face lit up.
“Oh, Grian, I think that may be the only way!”
Scar brought the back of his hand up to his forehead, selling the ‘damsel in distress’ act.
What Scar didn’t expect was for Grian to actually pull back his sleeve and kiss his shoulder.
He almost immediately tensed, looking at Grian with a rather confused expression.
“What did you!— Why!—”
Grian brought his hand up to cover his mouth, trying to stifle his laughter.
“Don’t challenge me, Scar. You know how I am.”
Grian’s words were broken up by fits of laughter.
“Yeah, but I didn’t think you’d go through with it...”
“Hm. What were you saying? You wanted to order food?”
Scar looked over at Grian, who had started staring into space again.
“Uh, yo, G?” Scar went to snap his fingers a few times in front of Grian’s face.
“Yeah? What? Uhm. Yeah. What do you want to order?”
Grian stumbled over his words a bit.
Not taking notice of this, Scar spoke again.
“I don’t care, as long as it’s edible.”
Grian picked up his phone again and began reading off a few options.
Scar, on the other hand, had been entranced just from looking at Grian.
He was snapped out of it by the other’s words.
“So? Have you picked?”
Scar blinked a few times fast before replying.
“I uh... can—can you say them again? I didn’t quite catch them.”
Scar quickly averted Grian’s eyes as he went over the list again.
He chose one, and Grian placed the order.
They both sat down on the couch, and decided to watch the news from earlier. Scar had dozed off just in the slightest, to the point where he jumped up from the couch at the sound of the doorbell ringing.
“Calm down, it’s the food. I’ll get it.”
Grian went off to the door, grabbed the food, and began unpacking and dividing the food between the two.
As they ate, the news continued, until Grian realized Scar wasn’t even paying attention to it. He looked over to his left, making immediate eye contact with Scar.
“Are you. . . Okay?” Scar spoke again, his gaze unwavering.
“I uh, yeah, I’m good, I’m, good.” Grian turned to face Scar momentarily before turning back.
“Well, something’s got your attention. What is it?” Scar just said blankly,
“You. . .” He uttered, his voice barely audible to the point where Grian wasn’t sure he had heard him right.
“Huh? Me?” Scar snapped out of it, finally.
“No— Well yes but— Nevermind. I’m gonna eat my food now.”
They sat in a comfortable silence, for a while, ending up with Grian resting his head on Scar’s shoulder while watching the news.
Then they started hearing knocking on the door, and then the door handle started rattling, and then nothing.
“What the. . .” Grian could barely get a sentence out before his living room window opened and Lizzie jumped in. Grian startled awake, practically jumping off of the couch.
“Scar! What are you doing here? When did you even leave?!”
Scar stood up, ready to make up a random excuse, or, at least one that wouldn’t make it seem like he came to see Grian for no reason.
“I just came to—” But Grian had beat him to it.
“He’s— Staying the night! And- and wanted to uhm, get food. . .?”
Grian looked like his head might explode. He looked at Scar, but the other had looked unbothered.
“Yep, I’m staying the night. Do you have a problem with that, Lizzie?” Lizzie looked between the other two. She opened her mouth to speak a few times but couldn’t find the right words.
She finally said something. “I don’t, but, Scar, didn’t you stay the night like 2 days ago?” She looked puzzled.
Grian looked up at Scar, not knowing what he should say. Scar spoke; “Someone’s jealous, no?”
Scar looked back to Grian, then up to Lizzie, who was still trying to find the right words.
“I’m not jealous, Scar. Can I not ask you questions about why you’ve left Jimmy and me to watch a movie alone?”
Scar didn’t respond immediately. He looked at Grian, who was already watching him.
It was Grian who finally spoke. “Scar is sorry, I’m sure. If you’d like, he can go home with you now?”
Lizzie squinted and pursed her lips, thinking for a moment. “No, it’s alright. You guys have fun.”
Scar and Grian shared a look of surprise before Scar called out, “So that was for nothing?”
Lizzie ignored him as she left the same way she came.
“Well, I’ve finished my food. Do you want to watch a movie?” Grian asked, plopping himself down on the couch.
“Can we rewatch that one llama movie?”
Scar finally sat beside him, letting his arm drape around Grian’s shoulders. He didn’t expect a reaction and flinched when Grian leaned his head against him.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you,” Grian said with a frown.
Before he could pull away, Scar ruffled his hair reassuringly.
As the movie ended and credits rolled across the screen, Scar rubbed small circles on Grian’s shoulder with his thumb.
“You awake, Doctor?”
No response. Scar stood and stretched, reaching for the remote in Grian’s hand.
But as he made contact, Grian jolted awake, grabbing Scar’s hand.
“Woah, Doctor.”
Scar smiled as Grian looked at him, then the TV, then back again.
“What were you doing?” Grian asked, narrowing his eyes.
“I was going to carry you to bed, but I had to get the remote from you first. You were holding it.”
Scar’s voice was gentle, reassuring.
Grian stood, but stumbled. Scar reached out, steadying him by the waist.
“Falling for me, Doctor?”
Grian flushed as he regained his balance. “Don’t stare at me like that, Scar,” he murmured, stammering slightly.
“And why shouldn’t I?” Scar replied, his green eyes half-lidded.
Grian hesitated, masking it quickly with confidence. “Because if you stare at me like that any longer, I might kiss you.”
Scar blinked a few times, then leaned in. “I wouldn’t be opposed,” he whispered.
Grian studied him, then closed the distance. Scar was caught off guard for a moment before reciprocating.
Grian tilted his head, trembling as he reached up to wrap his arms around Scar’s shoulders.
When Scar pulled away, Grian looked lovestruck—like he’d just won the lottery.
He gazed into Scar’s eyes, curious, but his thoughts were interrupted.
“Satisfied, Doctor?” Scar teased.
Grian replied without thinking. “Do you still have to call me that?”
Scar laughed. “Call you what, Doctor?” He put just a bit of emphasis on the word.
“That! I’ve just kissed you, and you’re still calling me some rubbish nickname?”
Scar looked down, actually considering his answer.
“Okay, how about this: I love you, Grian. I have for a while now.”
Grian flushed to the tips of his ears. “I... love you too, Scar.”
He took a shaky breath. “So, are you still... staying the night?”
Scar blinked, then responded almost immediately. “Of course. I mean, not like I can leave now.”
Grian laughed for the first time in a while. “Okay, well, let’s go then.”
They walked off to Grian’s bedroom.
And for once, Grian felt like maybe everything would be alright.