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Grian ran up the stairs, trying his best not to trip on the layer of frost that covered them. He finally arrived and pushed the door open, leaving his puffy coat and boots by the door.
He was relieved he wasn't late, it was very close, but he was still on time. Every year for Christmas Eve Impulse hosted a Christmas party. His apartment wasn't too roomy but they all had fun and this year they were doing a secret gift exchange.
Grian walked over to a table with a few gifts and set his down with the rest. He turned around to see Skizz calling him over to the living room where everyone sat.
"Your late!"
Skizz said as Grian walked over.
"Nuh uh! Look! It's 8:29. A minute early!"
He argued showing his phone, which got a laugh from Skizz. It was a bit silly but better then being ten or fifteen minutes late.
Joel and Gem also heard and snickered about him being 'not late'. He chatted argued with them for a moment before being called over by Scar who sat in an armchair with a cookie in hand.
He stuck his tongue out at Joel, Gem, and Skizz before walking over.
"Hey Gri!"
Scar greeted.
"Hi Scar!"
Grian and Scar just talked for awhile until they drifted into conversation about the gift exchange.
"I spent all day working on my gift,"
Grian said, he didn't say that's the reason he was almost late.
"Really? The person I got was pretty easy to choose a gift for."
Scar said casually and he got up to get another cookie.
Grian felt a bit bad, he got Scar in the gift exchange, he struggled for the three days they all had for getting the gifts. Scar and him had been friends for years but it was so difficult to decide on something, maybe he just stressed too much.
Grian thought for two whole days before deciding on a painting. Scar always loved really any type of art and Grian had picked up many random hobbies that would quickly get discarded. He had always enjoyed painting, though he did prefer drawing but his painting skills were just fine. He spent pretty much all of today painting, it had barely finished drying when he left.
The painting itself, Grian had to do a bit more thinking to figure it out. Maybe he was just feeling sentimental but he chose to paint when Scar and Grian first met, which was when they were little eight year olds.
Grian saw a little boy laying in the grass near the trees and was confused why he was so far away from the playground.
"Hi, what are you doing?"
Grian asked, approaching the boy. Which he could tell spooked him a bit.
"Oh hi! I'm looking at the sky."
The little boy said, Grian had always loved the sky, which made sense for an avian.
"Cool! I love the sky too!"
Grian said and the little boys eyes seemed to light up as he looked over to him.
"Woahhh, are you an av-avian?"
The little boy asked, struggling with the word and looking at his wings in wonder.
"Yep!"
Grian said with a proud smile.
"That's so cool! Can you fly?"
"Not yet but I've gotten really close before!"
"Wow, I wish I had wings too!"
"Maybe when I'm bigger you can fly with me!"
"That would be awesome! Oh and I'm Scar!"
"I'm Grian!"
Then two boys both sat there, staring at the sky until they had to leave.
Grian really hoped Scar would like it, Scar wasn't a really picky person when it came to gifts. Grian was just overthinking too much.
Scar had got Grian in the gift exchange and was happy for that, it would be fairly easy. Scar had always loved art so he thought he would make something for Grian. He did drawing, painting, sculpting, and one time he even attempted carving which turned out pretty good.
He came up with a pretty good idea but underestimated how long it would take, luckily he came up with his idea the day they picked the names. He sculpted and painted a parrot for Grian. They were his favorite animal, though that made sense since he is a parrot avian. It definitely wasn't perfect but he was proud of it.
Everyone mostly just chatted with each other for awhile until Impulse called them all into the kitchen, him and Skizz served everyone food. They all enjoyed it and then everyone helped clean up.
Mumbo and Skizz had been on dish duty, they also made Joel help because he hadn't been too helpful and all three of them ended up a bit soaked after. They sat by the fire to warm up and Grian helped Scar give out hot chocolate to everyone.
Everyone decided that they should do the gift exchange since it was about 10:30. Everyone grabbed the gifts they got and all sat around the living. Grian saw an empty spot next to Scar on the couch and gladly took it.
The others began giving each other gifts so he turned to Scar.
"Here, I got you!"
Scar said, holding out a little box wrapped in red wrapping paper.
"Really? I got you too,"
Grian said taking the gift and handing Scar his which was a flat rectangle in green wrapping paper. Grian eagerly tore off the wrapping paper and opened the lid of the box. Wrapped in tissue paper was a sculpture of a parrot.
"It's handmade!"
Scar said with a smile. He looked at it with wide eyes.
"Wow Scar, this is amazing,"
Grian said, admiring every detail. Scar was very happy that Grian liked his gift and somehow made him smile even wider.
"Go ahead, open yours!"
Grian said excitedly, carefully setting the parrot back in the box. Scar already had a guess of what it was judging on the shape. He thought it might be a painting so he was a bit careful while opening it.
It made Grian's heart flutter seeing Scar's face light up when he saw the painting, his green eyes sparkling in the warm lights around the room.
"Is this when we first met, as kids?"
Scar asked, he was 99% sure it was but still asked and Grian nodded.
"It's beautiful!"
Scar praised looking up to meet Grian's.
Gem and Joel both saw how Grian and Scar looked at each other making them both laugh. Everyone had seen that they both had a little crush on each other and everyone had been waiting for something to be done about it.
"I think I saw some mistletoe in the coat closet,"
Joel said quietly to Gem.
"Ooo I'll go get it!"
Gem said with a mischievous grin as she got up. Sure enough there was the little cluster of pale green leaves and white berries.
They both went behind the couch Grian and Scar too busy talking about their gifts, and staring at each other, to notice. Gem slowly stood up and held the mistletoe above their heads.
Everyone else saw what they were doing and most began to laugh which grabbed Grian and Scar's attention.
"What's funny?"
Grian asked.
"Grian, look up,"
Mumbo said and pointed above them.
Grian, aswell as Scar, looked up and saw Gem holding the mistletoe above their heads.
Grian's face turned almost red as his wings.
"Oh,"
He said, Scar was also blushing. Everyone was chanting for them to kiss.
"It's Christmas spirit I guess,"
Scar shrugged. He heisted for a second before gentely grabbing Grian's collar and pulling him closer.
Grian felt frozen there as he watched Scar pull him closer. They stared at each other for a second before Scar closed the gap between them and pulled him in for a short and sweet kiss on the lips. Everyone else cheered and Grian pulled back, his face somehow more red then before.
Scar had a smile on his face, a hint of surprise lingering in his eyes.
"I- I need to go get some air."
Grian stuttered, grabbing his gift box before heading out the door. Scar was a bit concerned, he heisted before getting up to follow him. Gem had a sympathetic look on her face as he left the living room.
Grian stepped outside, there was a small railing next to the stairs that resembled a balcony. He carefully set the box down, making sure it wouldn't fall down then leaned against the railing.
He wasn't upset at all, he had loved Scar for awhile now and well, that was pretty much a dream come true. Grian just needed a moment to process? He wasn't too sure but it felt better being out there.
His head turned as he saw Scar come outside and he walked over to stand next to him.
"Uhhh hey, are you all right. I'm sorry if- I, i guess it just felt right?"
Scar said stumbling over his words.
"No! No, it's not you. I just, needed a moment."
Grian said, blushing a bit.
"I'm glad."
Scar smiled and scooted closer to Grian. Grian moved closer to Scar, stopping when there was just little room between their faces.
"C-can I?"
Grian stuttered and Scar nodded. Grian pulled Scar in for a kiss, this time lasting a bit longer then the one under the mistletoe. They both scooted back a bit and a silence fell over the two as they gazed at each other lovingly.
"I- um, know you don't have anyone to really spend Christmas with, w- would you like to come over to my house for Christmas?"
Grian asked a bit nervous.
"I would really love that,"
Scar said with a smile.
"Great! Jim and I usually go to our parents and have breakfast and stuff,"
"Sound great!"
Scar replied, they went in to say goodbye and Merry Christmas to everyone and grab their things.
They drove back to Grian's, he was happy that he knew Scar loved him back, Scar was happy about that and that he wouldn't spend Christmas entirely alone.