Grian stayed silent as Mumbo removed his shackles, only opening his mouth to cry out as he brought his arms back to his body. They had been stretched by his sides for so long, and his muscles ached at the recoil.
"You're ok, everything's ok." Mumbo whispered softly, supporting the small God's back as he helped him sit up.
Grian bit his lip and tried to ignore the fresh loss of tears that cascaded down his cheeks.
"Everything is not ok." He croaked. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm here to get you out."
"You know that's not what I mean."
Mumbo sighed shakily and sat down opposite of him, taking his hand as he began to massage his marred wrists from where they had been restrained.
"Ocean helped me get in here, and-"
"Ocean?!" Grian choked, pulling his hand away as his eyes flared with anger. "Are you stupid?! Don't you realize what she's done?!"
"I-"
"She's going to leave us in here forever now! Why would you trust her?!"
"I had no choice!" Mumbo cried, trying to reach back over to take Grian's hand again. "What was I supposed to do? I couldn't get you out myself!"
"Then leave me here! Don't damn yourself like this!"
"How could I leave you?!" The taller God roared, his eyes flashing with anger.
"Because I'm worthless!" Grian shouted back, his voice breaking as the harsh truth washed over him. "They were right to lock me up! And now, when they find out you've freed me, they'll lock you up too!"
"How... dare you speak that way about yourself."
"Excuse-"
"Do you have any idea what kind of hell you left the world in?!" Mumbo yelled, his fists balled as he shook with anger. "You are not worthless! You never were, and don't you dare ever say that again!"
"Or what?!"
"Or... Or I'll..." Mumbo sighed, all fight leaving him as he slumped to the ground. "You just... can't. Please."
Grian eyed him suspiciously. Was this an act? It didn't seem like one, but something was definitely wrong.
"What happened on Earth after I left?" He asked in a quiet voice.
Mumbo rubbed his temples and blew out a puff of air.
"Everything went to shit." He stated bluntly. "The humans have gone mad! They're all fighting and killing each other for the stupidest reasons, and the Primaries refuse to do anything about it or even address the situation! Except for Ocean."
You can never trust a Primary." Grian spat, turning away to hide the left side of his face as self-hatred coiled within his stomach.
"I trust you."
Grian felt his chest constrict painfully at Mumbo's words.
"I... I'm not a Primary. Not anymore."
"Yes, you are," Mumbo urged, searching within his jacket as he spoke. "You have been here since creation. That makes you a Primary no matter what others say. Ah, here."
He brandished Grian's white and black checkered mask.
"I brought this for you. I don't care about your scars, but if it makes you more comfortable, then-"
"You kept it?" Grian whispered, heart pounding in his ears as he brushed his thumb over the cracked clay.
"Of course I did. How else was I... how was I supposed to... I... I missed you."
Despite the immense cold surrounding them, Grian felt heat flare in his body as his mind and heart battled within him.
Thank you. I can never repay you for what you've done, but I will spend the rest of time trying to make it up to you. No one is as kind or perfect as you are. No one ever cared enough to try and like me. I can only hope you don't hate me too much for what I've put you through, because I truly don't think I can continue without you.
But he couldn't say it. The words stuck in his throat as he stared at the mask, tongue dry, and face slick with tears.
He couldn't. He just couldn't.
"Grian, are you-"
Mumbo's words were cut off in a squeak as Grian leaned close and tilted his head, pressing a soft kiss to the tall God's lips before burying his face in Mumbo's neck.
"I'm so sorry," Grian whispered, trembling as Mumbo remained frozen in place. "I'm so sorry that you're here with me. I'm so sorry that you couldn't forget me, and I'm so sorry that... I'm so sorry that I love you because you don't deserve that curse."
His heart felt as though it may tear itself apart as Mumbo remained silent, and Grian forced himself to pull away to stop the fresh wave of tears that threatened his eyes.
"P-Please don't..." Mumbo choked out, and Grian looked up in surprise to see that his companion was crying.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." Grian sputtered, scooting away and putting space between the two Gods. "I didn't mean to... just forget I said anything. I promise I won't do it again and I-"
"Shut up."
"Huh?" He must have misheard.
"Shut... your mouth... and c-come here." Mumbo stuttered, his expression far more determined than his wavering voice.
"But I-"
"Come. Here."
Grian shifted hesitantly, moving forwards until his knees were pressed against Mumbo's.
"What do you-"
"Shh. Just... let me look at you."
Grian felt his face heat up as he was fixed with Mumbo's unwavering stare. He tilted his head to the left.
"No. I want to see all of you." Mumbo murmured, cupping Grian's cheeks and stroking his thumb over the jagged scars. "Let me appreciate you."
"Th-There's nothing to appreciate. I'm marked with my sins. I'm hideous."
"You're beautiful."
Grian's tongue died in his mouth and his jaw dropped as words escaped him.
"Please listen very carefully to what I have to say." Mumbo continued, staring attentively into Grian's eyes. "Because I don't know if I'll ever be able to say this again."
He took a deep breath.
"Grian, I-I can't live without you. The last century alone felt like an eternity and I've never felt so empty. You are not just important for the world, you are important to me because I..." he gulped. "I-I love you."
He searched Grian's face for a reaction, chewing on his lip anxiously as the small God remained slack-jawed and frozen.
"P-Please say something."
"I..." Grian's voice came out raspy and he coughed several times before continuing. "I already said... that I... do you really mean it?"
"Of course I mean it." Mumbo breathed, squeezing Grian's hands as he leaned in closer. "D-Did you mean it?"
"Of course."
A smile broke out across the tall God's face and he sniffed as fresh tears welled in his eyes.
"Really?"
"Really really."
"Really really really?"
"Shut up." Grian chuckled, his mouth stretching into a form he hadn't felt in a century as ethereal joy welled within him.
Mumbo ducked his head and grinned.
"Can I... Please... C-Can I please kiss-"
Grian rolled his eyes and grabbed the front of Mumbo's shirt, pressing their lips together hungrily as he wrapped his wings around the both of them.
Mumbo whimpered into Grian's mouth, clasping his arms around the small God's waist as he pulled them closer until the Grian was perched on his lap.
After several minutes, they broke apart, breathing heavily as Mumbo's dark umber eyes fused onto grey-blue ones.
"Thank you." He whispered, making them both laugh.
"I love you," Grian responded happily, pressing a kiss to Mumbo's cheek as the Redstone God blushed scarlet below him. "Now come on. We need to leave. How do we get out of here?"
"Oh, I have a-" Mumbo froze.
"Mumbo? What's wrong?"
"I had... It was... Where... The rope!" Mumbo's frantic eyes searched the area as anxiety rose in Grian's chest.
"Mumbo, what's going on?" He begged, shaking the other God's shoulders slightly.
"I'm... I'm so sorry." Mumbo whispered, his head dropping as he clung tightly to Grian's waist. "We're stuck."
I hope you enjoyed the chapter! If you did, please consider leaving a like and a comment to let me know what you think!