The Red Moon Always Shines

Chapter 69: Dearly missed

Waking up the next day was something else, seeing as instead of being greeted by a red moon - a white sun shone down on them. It was a strange thing to wake up to but it wasn't an unpleasant thing, in any regard it was way better than the red moon.

"But what does it mean?" Mumbo wondered, looking up at the white sphere in the sky, "If you wanted the opposite of the moon then shouldn't it be green or something? Or maybe blue?"

Neither Iskall or Grian had answers to his questions so they just let it be, knowing full well that egging him on to think about it harder wouldn't do more than make getting back to Glaella take longer. And they also wanted to save the others from getting dragged into his theories, they'd never stop talking then.

Walking back to where the others were Grian was hesitant, just last night three of them had flinched away from him and he didn't know if he could take it a second time.

It's me they fear you know, Rook hummed in the back of his mind, we looked like me last night but now we look like you. And they don't fear you. Grian let his shoulders sag at the words, or maybe they do. I wouldn't know.

And here I thought you were being nice, Grian grumbled within his mind, holding back his instinct to cross his arms. He also ignored Rook chuckling in the back of his head, refusing to acknowledge the dragon at all.

Turns out he didn't need to worry at all, since Markus came running up to him as soon as he caught sight of him and Grian braced himself to catch the younger. The mahogany haired teen practically completely collapsed as soon as he was in the dirty blond's arms, happy sobs leaving him as he clutched onto the other in a death grip, and Grian did his best to soothe him - small croones leaving him as he ran his hand, the human one, slowly through the teens wild hair.

"Your back!" Markus sobs, body pressed as tight against the other as much as he could, "You're actually back!"

"I am." Grian says, "And I'm not planning to go away again anytime soon."

"You better not." Rodger huffed, arms crossed over his chest as he stood a bit away from the two, "I might actually catch emotions then, and I will not be catching any emotions."

"Translation: He's missed you." NPG giggled, a wide smile on his face as he stood by the robot's side, "We all have."

Grian laughs as he sees Rodger sneer down at NPG, only to be met with a cheeky little grin. He blinks down at Markus when the teen pulls away but his unsaid question is answered when two pairs of arms wrap around him tightly. Grian smiles as he sees EX and Xisuma both hugging him together, happy that the two had apparently gotten through enough of the animosity to stand side by side again.

He chuckled as he looked at them both, old memories which had now been brought back - reminding him of all the time they'd done this when they were younger, "Hi you two, you haven't gotten used to the calm and quite I hope?"

"With you coming back? Wouldn't dream of it." EX laughed, though he sounded oddly choked up. He then looked up at the dirty blond, "Is-is it true? What Death told us before he left? You remember everything, from your old life?"

"I'm afraid not my dear 'Eres, and I'm sorry to disappoint you too 'Isuma." Grian somberly told them, though it was so exaggerated that there was no way to misunderstand he was joking.

"Oh shut up 'Elqua." X muttered into his shoulder, though his shoulders and chest shook with his muffled chuckles, "Now of all times, really?"

"Yes really!" Grian crows loudly, "I mean just, like, one day ago I remembered everything and now I get to make so many more jokes! Also, you're a traitor to the name of Void and until you change your name so will you remain."

This made EX burst out laughing, X groan, and everyone else just looked on in confusion. Finally False asked what was so funny.

"You see all our names go XE," Grian started, his own giggles interrupting him here and there, "Me, my dad, EX, his dad, all except one of course. Xisuma over here goes XI, which means he's not following code. And as such I will not acknowledge him until he gets his name changed."

"Not happening!"

Grian just nodded at him, "See? A traitor to the name."

There were scattered laughs and chuckles all around the group, and having said and done theri piece the Void twins stepped back, allowing Taurtis and the Evolutionists to go forwards - much to Doc's very verbal dismay.

No words needed to be said between the two, only a look and a bump of eachothers arms. It was one of many secret ways to talk they'd made in high school, this one being their favorite as it not only had thief favorit meaning but also because it was easy to do. It meant something along the lines of "love you", and since all they needed to do to say it was a gesture they did all the time. Even after high school it was a constant in their lives, no amount of time apart would ever stub what they had made together - as brothers in arms and in so much more. The other EVO people on the other hand had so much to say, so much to share, it was overwhelming in the best way and Grian happily drank it all up. Hugs and tears, it all came and went and he was so thankful to see it, to feel it all happen around him.

Eventually they stepped away and Doc finally got his chance to talk with Grian. "I'm sorry." Was the first words out of the creeper's mouth, "God I'm so sorry."

The dragon hybrid quickly shushed him, gently smacking his cheek, "Hey none of this is your fault, nothing at all you hear me? It's all Fallacy, all them and none of you. You hear me? Not. Your. Fault."

Doc gave him a weak chuckle, "I think we can agree to disagree here."

"Nu uh, not today." Grian turned towards Ren, violet eyes hard with determination, "Ren! Once I'm caught up with this one come get him, he's being an idiot and I need you to take care of him." Once he'd gotten a nod from the brunet he turned back to Doc , "You will not be saying things like that, or I swear by the Universe the first thing I'll do back home is to get Lina and then together go make you see how much of an idiot you are being."

"The first thing you'll do back is tattle on me to my own mom?" Doc asked with disbelief, though he didn't vocally blame himself out loud again. He got his fighting spirit and fire from her after all, and she might only be 5'2 but she was 5'2 of pure bedrock - unmoving and unbreakable.

Grian gives a sharp nod, "Should I deem it fit to do so, yes."

"Which means we let loose and don't blame ourselves!" Ren cheered, grabbing his boyfriends hand and pulling him away, "We've got an entire world for ourselves, so we might as well enjoy it!"

Grian laughed as Doc spluttered uselessly, no words forming after having been interrupted mid conversation. His laughs soon turned to squeaks as he was grabbed by his arms by his own boyfriends, the two laughing as they dragged him into a weird three-way dance. Though it wasn't sloppy nor did it look weird, they had after all done this countless times before so they had more than enough practice. Doesn't mean that Mumbo still couldn't help but to accidentally step on his partner's feet.

Not that Grian minded after all all, it was a sign that he was alive.

<This chapter was fun but also a pain to make, it took taking far to long compared to what he wouldn't have liked.

You know I don't really have much to say other than that, its far to late and I'm to tied to think properly, so goodnight or whatever everyone!

Stay safe and have w wonderful time guys!>