Soft scarian thoughts!! Scar absentmindedly fidgeting with a feather of Grian’s, smoothing down the vanes and brushing the tip past his mouth as he's thinking. Grian getting Flustered by this (did he give him that feather?? 👀)
( this was so adorable I’m 🥺🥺 I didn’t expect to lean so much into avian courting but! it was very fun ueueue )
They’re sitting in some building within Scar’s park, Grian isn’t really sure which one. Honestly Scar has so many of them and so many names for them that it’s sort of hard to keep track. It’s even harder when Scar rambles on about them at miles per second, making it difficult to follow along.
Scar had called Grian over to help him brain storm some ideas for the interior of his castle, claiming that two heads are better than one. Though Grian has a sneaking suspicion that it was really just an excuse to spend some time together.
Not that he minds much.
He’s sitting across from Scar, looking at a bunch of different ideas that the other has drafted up. Though he’s a bit more preoccupied with staring at the man in front of him.
Scar is staring down at his own paper, eyebrows dipping in concentration as he thinks. But that isn’t what grabs Grian’s attention. No, it’s the brightly colored feather held in between his pointer finger and thumb. With his other hand, his fingers brush along the vanes, smoothing over each colorful part.
The sight of it flusters Grian, more than it probably should.
But an avian’s feathers are something of significance, especially when gifted to someone.
Grian just hadn’t expected Scar to keep it.
He had given Scar that feather back in their season seven world, a long while after their little turf war. They had been laying on one of the flat surfaces on the roof of Grian’s mansion, talking about whatever came to mind. He had felt so comfortable with Scar, so relaxed and content. That moment helped him finally take the plunge and do what he had been thinking about doing for weeks.
High on the absolute trust and vulnerability between them, Grian had taken one of his feathers and presented it to Scar.
Of course, the man didn’t seem to realize what Grian was trying to do by gifting him that feather. And Grian was far too embarrassed to actually explain that the feather wasn’t just a gift. It was a question of courtship.
And really, it’s not his fault that Scar never realized!
But he never saw that feather again in the following worlds. Except for now. He had assumed Scar forgot about it, or maybe he lost it. Most days it slipped Grian’s mind as well.
Apparently Scar hadn’t lost it. Or forgotten about it.
The sight of it cradled with care in between Scar’s fingers sends Grian’s heart into a song without any real rhythm, and he can feel his wings puff.
“G?”
He jumps, realizing that Scar is looking at him now, a brow raised in amusement. “What, d’ya go and zone out on me?” Scar chuckles, “I thought I was the daydreamer!”
Grian stares at him for a moment, holding eye contact for a tick before dropping his gaze down to the feather. “You kept it,” he blurts out, unable to help himself.
“Hm?” Scar directs his eyes down at the feather in his hands, and he brightens. “Oh! Well of course I did! It’s a gift from my favorite pesky bird. I wouldn’t want to lose it.” He smiles. “Normally I keep it on a necklace juuust under my shirt,” he pats his chest for emphasis, “but sometimes it’s helpful to hold in my hands when I’m thinking.”
And oh Grian wants to kiss this man silly. His heart is warming like the warm stone of a furnace, and he’s never been more in love with someone before.
“I’d give you more. If you lost it,” Grian speaks without thinking, “No matter how many times you lost my feathers. I’d give you another one.”
His face burns bright red, because he’s basically just confessed to the man.
Scar stares at him, blinking in wonder. Grian resists the urge to squirm under his gaze, and he reminds himself that Scar doesn’t know that part about avian culture. He doesn’t know, his feelings are safe. They’re still—
“Aren’t avian feathers pretty precious to you guys though?” Scar asks, confused. “I think I read in a book that they’re only given to certain people for certain occasions!”
The longer Scar speaks the more Grian wishes the floor would open up and swallow him whole.
Scar’s read stuff? Oh void, what has he read? Maybe that was it. Maybe he didn’t look further into it. Maybe—
“Why if I didn’t know any better I’d say you were courting me or something!” Scar laughs, and his own cheeks look a little pink. He’s rubbing at the back of his neck and Grian’s heart is pounding in his ribcage. He feels like it’s going to burst. Or stop.
Whichever comes first.
Scar’s laughter tampers off when he realizes Grian’s own doesn’t join him, and his ear wings move to cover his eyes in embarrassment. “Oh my god,” Scar mumbles, but he doesn’t sound angry or even upset. He sounds genuinely surprise. And… maybe…
Gathering up whatever remaining courage Grian can salvage from himself, he takes a breath and looks at Scar. “If… hypothetically, I was?” he questions.
Scar is still holding the feather in his hands, and his eyes are shining with warmth and it puts some of Grian’s nerves to rest. He offers Grian a charming, sweet little smile, “Well then I’d accept every feather you gave me.” He pauses, “Hypothetically of course!”
His response sends a burst of warmth through Grian, and his wings flutter in response to that feeling. He stands from his seat and walks over to Scar, giggles bursting from him. “I can’t believe it took you this long to realize.” He plops down beside him.
Scar blinks, “Realize what?”
“I’ve been trying to court you for years, you silly man,” Grian laughs in return, fondly shaking his head. He stares down at that feather again, and he smiles.
“You mean we could’ve had this talk years ago?!” Scar cries in shock, and Grian bursts into laughter again.
Truly his silly man indeed.
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