The rays sunlight came through the open curtains of the small bedroom. Lighting up the face of an annoyed Gravedigger who did not wish to get up so early, hiding his face behind the soft pillow. A knock on the door however, was enough to make him jump out of bed. He opened it to reveal... no one behind it?
Only a piece of paper laid on the carpet at his feet. Unfolding the note, he was met with the very bold script of none other than Scout.
"Hey, Grave'!
Look, Com' doesn't want me to talk to you anymore since you know...the whole titan thing.. But, Hey! I don't care! I think you are cool and I don't want it to end like this so if you can, meet me at the garage after lunch, no one should be there at that time.
- Scout "
Gravedigger wasn't surprise about the older man's decision. Sure it stung a little but he knows more than anyone just how hated titans are among the Towers. Pulling his hoodie on, he hurried through the hall, making his way to the infirmary. It was his first stop of the day before heading off to meet this slightly peculiar Tower.
The lady who introduced herself as Medic, from what he recalled, was standing at the front desk working on what seemed like a few documents as the boy stepped in the waiting room. Without looking up from her papers, she broke the silence.
"Hey there hun', can I help you with anything?"
Grave' lifted his head to face her as he spoke quietly, "I would like to see my brother...Molten"
"The visiting hours start after lunch, hun' "
"I-I know, but I don't think I can make it then"
"Oh, found yourself something to do around the base?"
"Y- Yeah!"
She put her papers away after arranging them neatly. Leaning deeper into her chair as she gazed towards the child, grinning cheekily. "Well, it would be unfair to let you in and deny other people entry"
The boy backtracked, "O-Oh-"
"Unless!" she interrupted, "This stays between us two"
He snapped his eyes back to her as she gave him a wider smile and a mischievous wink. The boy too couldn't help but show a shy smirk. Bowing his head, he entered his brother's room quickly.
Molten was hooked up to some sort of machinery, comfortably engulfed by the mattress he slept on. Seeing his brother so peaceful would never fail to make Gravedigger smile. He took a seat next to the bed, shaking his brother gently. And earning in return a small groan as he opened his eyes.
"Grave'? What are you doing here so early?" muttered Molten struggling to blink the foggy sight away.
"Came to visit you, dum-dum!"
He rubbed his eyes, sitting up slowly in turn. "Aren't the visiting hours later?"
"Yeah, but I wouldn't have been able to come."
"Why?"
"That's actually why I came here about."
"Oh?"
Grave played with his sleeve as he debated how to put his little confession into words without worrying his brother. "I met this guy named Scout. He is pretty nice, we did that obstacole course just outside together and it was fun! And umm... He may or may not be a Tower-"
"And you are scared that dad will be upset if he finds out about it?"
Grave blinked, "...I am more scared of how well you read me sometimes"
Molten couldn't help but chuckle,
"You're not that obivious, don't worry! I just know you well"
Gravedigger smiled as he continued,
"So, what do you think I should do?"
"I wouldn't risk it...but then again you are not me... You are Gravedigger, you risk things"
It was Grave's turn to laugh. They really were like opposites to each other. Like Yin-yang. The risk taker and the safety net... Completing one another perfectly every time...
As the silence settled down, Molten took Grave's hand off his sleeve and into his own. Giving it a little reassuring squeeze, "I really don't know what you should do... You could just... Follow your heart? I guess?" he offered sleeply.
The smaller one grinned, "You sound like one of those inspirational movie characters."
Molten puffed, "It's way too early for this and you just woke me up... Cut me some slack, I am trying here!"
They chuckled at the exchange before the muffled voice from beyond the door silenced them. One sounded like the Commander and he surely would be mad if he found Grave breaking the rules... That and Medic was just too nice to get her in trouble... He wouldn't do that to her and if the Commander wanted to see Molten there wouldn't be many place to hide. Weighing his choices, Grave quickly turned to his brother, wrapping him in a gentle hug before sneaking out the door. He recognised the voice well, from across the hall Commander was standing back towards him as he was speaking with Medic.
Closing the door behind him, he waved to Medic to let her know he was leaving, she gave him a small confirmation nod that the coast was clear. With some new found confidence from his brother, Grave' decided he will go see Scout later today. Maybe trusting his heart wouldn't be so bad..
.....
Lunch came around rather fast, guess that is what it feels like when you are meeting someone you shouldn't be seeing. A lot of adrenaline... More and more soldiers entered the cafeteria, leaving their posts. With the parking lot empty, Grave' walked up to the garage without the prying eyes of the army on him. A certain Tower patiently standing next to the staircase as he waited for him.
Scout pulled him into a bone crushing hug as he beamed, "Grave' you came!"
The boy wiggled, trying to untangle himself, "S-Scout, I can't breathe!"
"Ups, sorry!"
Scout placed the boy down, smiling sheepishly as the latter was gaspimg for air. The young man hurried to the staircase prompting an out of breath "Wait up!" from Grave.
"Come to the rooftop!" he yelled in return.
"Why?"
He pulled up two finger guns as he smirked, "Less chance to be caught and a cooler view!"
Scout wasn’t kidding when he said a better view. They could see almost the whole base from up there. It was unbelieveable just how massive the structure was especially from above. A scouting tower stood tall in front of the main building, that was where the Rangers were stationed. Gravedigger pulled Scout down behind the ledge when a one of them almost spotted the two from the tower.
"Gotta be more careful!" he whispered.
"Sorry, sorry!"
Scout leaned back against the cold stone. A moment of silence, followed by his curious eyes drifting to his new buddy. He studied Gravedigger closely yet quietly. Crimson eyes, naturally green hair, pale face...
Grave locked eyes with him for a second, "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"You look...different."
Right. They met in the middle of the night, of course Scout had never actually seen Grave's face in detail.
"Something wrong with that?"
"No! Just.. never noticed it.. You look more umm 'human' than your father"
"Well yeah, born human remember?"
"Right! But... How did you end up with Fallen King?... If you are willing to talk about it, of course!!"
Grave shrugged, "It's not a happy story if that's what you expect"
"It's alright if you don't want to say.."
"No, no it's ok... I don't mind..." Grave took a small breath he began, "In my village some people started a rumour that they heard of a possible 'Titan child' and well they weren't wrong.. To shorten things up, the local military base heard about it and they came after me... My family gave me away to them... I ran into the woods near our home on the day they came to pick me up and... Well, Fallen King found me.. Took me in. That's all"
Scout took a moment to gather his words, he wasn’t sure what to say after the nonchalantly told sad story, "That sounds... wild. I am sorry about what your family did"
"They have my brothers and sisters, it's not like I was important."
The young man fully turned to face his younger companion, placing a hand on his shoulder, "Don't say that! I have a younger brother too, doesn't mean my parents love me any less!"
"Scout."
"Hm?"
"I have ten siblings."
"O- Oh God!" Scout choked on his own spit.
Gravedigger laughed at his friend's shocked face. It never gets old!
"Yeah, it's easy to blend in.."
"Let me guess, middle child?"
Grave lifted an eyebrow, "Yeah?"
"You got middle child energy!"
"What is that even supposed to mean?!"
They both burst out laughing. Shushing each other when the Ranger turned towards them again.
"Man, I can barely deal with my little bro', I would die with ten!"
"Haha, yeah.. It's not easy."
Scout turned back to Grave, patting his shoulder comfortingly.
"But I do mean it. Ten siblings or not I think they love just as much"
"I guess..."
"...What about now?"
"What?"
"Do you have any other siblings? Or just Molten?
"What is this an interview!?" he exclaimed jokingly.
Scout huffed, "I am just curious!! "
"I am kidding Scout. No, I don't have any other siblings now. I do have cousins though "
" Wait, really? "
" Did you think our family is just Molten, dad and I?"
"I didn't know! Is like Lord Sinister also part of your family too?"
"Interested about uncle Sinister, huh?"
"He is the only Titan I had ever seen up close, prior to you"
"Alright, alright. Dad has two brothers yes? Uncle Sinister and uncle Krampus. Uncle Sinister has a boy named Ducky Doom-"
Scout chimed in, "The robot duck is a child like you?"
"Yes. Now let me finish! Uncle Krampus has a son named Frost Spirit"
"I have heard of that guy!"
"Who, Frost?"
"No! Krampus! My mother used to tell my brother stories about this Krampus fella, who used to steal kids that misbehaved!"
"Yeah.. I know those too."
"And haven't the towers sealed the guy away? How could he have a child?"
Grave froze, "... What did they do?"
"Yeah, at least that's what I heard..." answered Scout nonchalantly.
He paused looking back at Gravedigger who stared at him disbelief. "Did-did you not know that?"
Grave was taken even more aback, "Scout, my uncle went missing three years ago, nobody knew what happened to him!"
Scout felt his heart race as the realisation hit, "OH MY GOD! I thought you knew, I-!"
"I need to tell my father!" yelled Grave as he sat up only for a hand to pull him back down.
"Please don't! Commander is gonna kill me!" whispered-yelled Scout.
"Scout if this is true, my uncle could still be alive!"
"I don't know if it is! I just heard stories!"
Gravedigger took in a deep breath, watching the Tower evenly,
"Ok, Scout, I want you to tell me everything you know about this."
Scout nodded rapidly, "O- Ok! A- All I know is that the Commander before the one today was like super known for defeating the great evil Krampus... There were talks about a portal leading to a certain dimension in which they sealed him but no one knows how it works or if this is even true to begin with!"
"Do you know where the portal is?"
"Uhm...no? It was rumored to be around the base some where.. I think"
The young boy leaned back against the wall, barely comprehending everything that he had heard. An arm across his shoulders brought him back to reality.
"Grave' I am so sorry! I thought you knew! I-"
Before he could say anything else, Gravedigger sat up and rushed down the staires into the building leaving Scout behind to sink in his thoughts.
"Oh Com's gonna end me..."