Walls and Gates
I only just came across this. I had this piece lying around in my whump document. Shrugged and said, “Why not?” (576 words)
AU: Scar and Grian are platonic soulmates across the entire life series
Prompt: #26, Nostalgia (or maybe #25, Memories) from @moomoorare’s MCYT AUgust post!
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Scar knew that the relationship was ingenuine, but he chose to ignore it.
Where Scott and Jimmy would walk hand in hand, and Ren and Martyn liked to feed off of each other's chaotic energy, Grian only gave him scowls and cold shoulders.
But the pain that it brought him would never compare to being lonely.
That’s why he hand-picked lilacs and poppies the night he lost his second life. It’s the reason he pulled his punches on top of Monopoly Mountain. It’s why he allowed Grian to get away with one of his precious, numbered lives, and it’s why he baked cookies for Grian’s secret interest, even while his heart begged for the avion to give some small sign of appreciation in return. He was brushed aside again and again, but no matter what, his heart stayed with his soulmate. He hadn’t been sure of the connection for a long time, but after so many years, and so many coincidences, he knew this to be true; they were made for each other, and Grian hated him for it.
Over the years, Scar had come up with an analysis for their relationship. He called it “the soulmate mindset”, and he had traced it all the way back to when he’d first met Grian in a small village, where other passerbyers happened to be wandering about. The first racing heartbeats had felt confusing, considering he hadn’t been the one being spooked. He’d watched the prank pulled on Grian from afar, but his pulse had still leapt into his throat and his limbs stiffened tightly. It hadn’t been anything alarming, and no one else seemed to react the same way. He’d written it off as second hand anxiety, or something similar, but as he officially met Grian and became closer as friends, the connections just didn’t seem to stop. Small things, big things, exciting things, scary things… They all began to put some sort of pressure on his heart, and it was only settled by being close to Grian —being at his side, helping or following or serving on behalf. The only problem was that Grian could care less for his presence. He had made that abundantly clear during the sour pledge of service in the small village. He’d made a face upon being offered lilacs and poppies. He hadn’t held back on his punches. He’d fled with a smug grin upon receiving the extra life, and he’d snatched up the cookies without a second glance back at him. The avion had no room in his heart for Scar —at least, he didn’t care to make any more room for him. Scar was merely a pawn beside the rooks and the bishops, whereas on his board, Grian sat beside him; his queen; royalty. A perfect picture of destruction and chaos and capability. That was the thing about relationships though. Where Scar had built a gate to allow Grian to pass through, Grian had formed a wall. A high, unfriendly one with barbs that dug into Scar’s skin whenever he got too close. Grian would watch from the other side, ignoring him completely as he carried on with whatever he was up to. He never entered Scar’s gate unless it was for some sort of personal gain. But Scar had built a gate, and he didn’t plan to latch it anytime soon.
Because they were soulmates, and despite Grian’s best efforts, there was no changing that anytime soon either.
