finishing out with the epilogue of of Vitamin Monday [working title], enemies/lovers convex heroverse shenanigans co-authored by @varanere00 and myself
the sunlight of a morning after greets them with time to tie up loose ends and look forward to the dazzling future
NOTE: There will not be a Sunday chapter this coming Sunday, with the next E/L fic beginning on Thursday instead, as we're taking Sunday as a brief rest after completing our also co-authored AUfest Event fic posting recently. Feel free to come bother us in our inboxes then, if you'd like, though.
In case you missed it, that AUfest fic[I will take you home (zu den Bäumen der anderen Welt)] is up and complete on ao3, a fae au convexian romp.
"Five mo' minutes." Scar mumbles into his pillow, batting the hands trying to rouse him away. Can't they see he's sleeping? Dreams swallow him up again.
He floats through a gallery. Mannequins sleep in their exhibits. Doll and Hotguy and Neit and Shadow alike, devolving into more he has no name for. Paintings depict battles he doesn't remember, gleaming gemstone blades and pale tattered wings. Flowers brush his toes, turning to face him as he moves.
Hands pull him into clouds that obscure the art around him. Calling? A call he has to answer.
"Mmmhn." Ah yes, eloquence personified. Whatever. He's half asleep. Whoever's calling him should be glad they got an answer at all.
"Good morning. I made breakfast. Left yours on the table. I do have to head out now, but I wanted to wake you before I do."
Vex. Vex is the one calling him.
Scar lunges up, crushing Vex close. "Nu-uh, I need my Vexy time." He demands, not whining or hoarse from sleep at all, hush.
"Well, I suppose I can spare a few minutes. What name would you prefer today?" Vex settles on the bed next to Scar, with Scar half in Vex's lap as he melts into the head pets Vex gives him.
Purry-chirry noises are much more important than answering, for a good while. After all, what does he say? He can't say Scar, no matter how some part of him longs to. Not yet.
"What do you think?" He bleps up at Vex, instead of finding his own answer.
"Neit, I think. You're awfully silly today." Vex brushes Scar's hair out of his face.
"You're comfy to be silly around." Scar beams and beams and beams, trilling every fun noise he knows as he nuzzles into Vex's touch. "Sounds good to me." A shared mask of deity works.
"I'm honored." Vex says, truly sounding honored. Like Scar being comfortable around him means something.
"Hi, honored, I'm Neit." Scar giggles, stealing Vex's hand and pressing kisses to every joint.
"Hello Neit. Would you like some of the breakfast I prepared for you?" Vex has one finger escape Scar's clutches just long enough to boop Scar's nose.
Scar snaps his teeth at the finger, catching only air until Vex offers it up for him to nibble at. "Vexy breakfast? You'll feed it to me?" He blinks his eyes up at Vex as wetly as he can.
"I'll do what I can." Vex opens his arms, inviting.
"I believe in you." Scar clambers up readily, Vex's arms welcoming him home, tucking him close and lifting him away from the cozy bed. A terribly sad loss of warmth, to be sure, but- More than worth it for Vexy breakfast.
After a pitstop to the closet to pile clothes onto Scar, Vex bring him to the kitchen.
"I woke up early and had a bit more time, so I made these. I figured they'd be better cold than eggs or oatmeal." Vex takes his seat in front of a plate of pancakes. One pancake perfect, sitting neatly on one side, while the other three fared wonky, one outright having a corner folded back on itself. Fruit and chocolate mix ins decorate all of them.
Scar's eyes go wide, gaze bouncing between the pancakes and Vex. "Vexy morning after pancakes? Oh!" He descends in a flurry of smooches all over Vex's face, loud and overwhelmed by adoration. Maybe a few tears slip out, what of it? Vex's practice pancakes, so lovable in their scrunchy shapes, all for him!
"Just for you. Well, I did have some too, but you were the motivation for making them. The rest of them are in a tupper in the fridge, feel free to take some with you when you go." Vex fusses with the food behind Scar, bringing around a forkful of pancake with chopped fruit and syrup to offer Scar.
Omp! Scar snaps the bite right up, eagerly moaning his approval of the taste. Fluffy pancake paired with tart fruit, all slicked with sweet syrup to make it go down smooth. "Wonderful." Scar leans into Vex, relaxing into cozy mealtime and sharing his warmth.
Bite after bite Vex feeds him. With different combinations of fruit, switching between three kinds of syrup.
Right up until Vex stiffens beneath him.
"I'm sorry, Neit. I have to go now, or I'll be late for my first meeting today."
The urge to cling still rises in Scar. To demand. To see whether Vex values his meeting more, or-
"Thank you for staying." Scar wipes his lips carefully-carefully before pressing a kiss to Vex's cheek, standing with a slow deliberateness by putting most of his weight on the table. "Good luck at work, Galvexy."
"I'm glad I did. Do you need anything before I go?" Vex stands too, pressing a kiss to the forehead of Scar's mask.
"You wouldn't happen to know where my cane got off to?" Scar maneuvers himself back down into the vacated seat. He's not as sore as he expected to be, but that's not the same as not sore.
"I put it in your bedroom. Would you like me to fetch it?" Vex offers.
"Please." With the cane, Scar can manage getting around on his own safely. At least enough to clean up the kitchen and get somewhere cozy to rest up for heading home.
"I'll be right back." One more quick kiss, then Vex is off. Walking this time, instead of flying.
Blinking, Scar realizes Vex isn't wearing his wings, his look topped off by a button up and slacks. Office wear.
Really is preparing to go back to his civilian life, isn't he? As Scar should be, though Scar's doesn't come with a uniform like Vex's does.
In the meantime, Scar takes a few more bites of the wonderful wonky pancakes, washing them down with a nice light cup of orange juice- Oh, sparkly orange juice! Even better!
A good while longer than it usually takes him to fetch things later, Vex returns. With Scar's cane and a colorful little container in hand.
"Here. One cane, and I almost forgot these. The supplements that can't be given via injection. At least not without a lot more time and training than I've had. I know you said you're bad with taking things daily, but taking them sometimes is better than never. I've prepped them for you, so you just have to open the slot for the weekday and eat them." Vex offers both up to Scar. "I promise I won't be mad or disappointed, even if you only take today's and none of the others. No pressure. Just want you to have the option to take them."
So he has to take today's? Scar can work with that. "Can you text Ari with what's in them?" If anyone's gonna bug Scar to take stuff it'll be Ari, but he won't if he doesn't know what it is. In any case, Scar locates the today color- Double checks on his phone that it's the today color- Popping it open and tossing the pills in there in his mouth to swallow blind and dry. If he's lucky, Vex will have put some sort of mysterious drug into them.
Task finished, he lifts his tongue to show Vex, no pills hiding!
"I will. Good job on taking them. Anything else before I go?" Vex ruffles Scar's hair.
"I'm good, all cared for the besty-bestest. Go give 'em the works at your meeting!" One final theft of Vex's hand to press fortifying kisses to his knuckles, and Scar finally lets him go. Safe in the knowledge they'll return to one another, after they do their own things.
"Thank you." Vex presses one last smooch to Scar's lips, then he's off. Even grabs one of those fancy tiny suitcases people carry to offices.
Leaving Scar alone in his lair.
Despite that being exactly what Vex said he was going to do, the reality of it hadn't hit Scar until this very moment. He's really here, in Vex's lair, unsupervised.
Well, mostly unsupervised. The eyes of all cameras adore Scar, including Vex's.
While Scar figures out what to do with that, he might as well finish up his meal. So Vex doesn't have to worry. And so Scar has plenty of energy to go bug Grian tonight!
Really unfair, how good Vexy-breakfast is. Scar's not over that. He's so not over it. Vexy made him morning after pancakes! All wonky lopsided ones too!
Vex's imperfections, all laid bare for Scar to gobble up and love with his whole tummy! Vex has learned so quickly and so well, his cookery. But he's still endearingly flawed. And isn't that something? The thought that flaws can be endearing? Isn't that the most something thing in the whole wide world?
Still, even this breakfast can't last forever. Leaving Scar to shuffle around the kitchen, tidying up everything. Not taking out his later-pancakes, not yet-
Not before he gets to do some solo Vexy-cave spelunking, first!
Many places in here Scar knows, and yet so many he doesn't! Not bothering with the floor he's on, Scar makes his way to the elevator. Such a handy thing for Vexy to have built into his lair.
Instead of pressing one of the up buttons, Scar presses the button for the bottom of the lower two Vexy floors.
Unfortunately, neither hissing nor chanting accompany this ride, no matter how Scar wistfully longs for them to claim him. Alas, saved for future visits.
Instead he's safely spat out on his desired floor, to seek out new and exciting Vexy knowledge. Starting with the first room he sees, packed full of very familiar pinks!
Much Grian merch, packed neatly into storage boxes. Tidy and labeled. Some boxes less full than others- Has Vex recently removed things?
Backups, Scar realizes when he opens one to find a familiar merch shirt. Scar'd shopped one of these from Vex's closet. At least he's fairly sure he did.
Fascinating, how much backstock Vex keeps, all neat and tidy. More stickers, too. Though perhaps the amount is because Grian has less merch, often only doing occasional joint drops with Scar, when Scar prods him to. Or if something really catches Grian's eye, like the one custom dyed yarn drop.
Is there anyone else Vex collects for? This is a perfect time to nose around all the other rooms to find out!
The next room Scar finds takes up way more space than the Cuteguy room. A room full of Hotguy merch!
Surprisingly, or not, Vex has the same amount of backstock of Hotguy things. He even has three of that body pillow someone, maybe Etho? Or Joel? Talked Scar into releasing a good few years back.
Scar ought sneak one of those into the nest next time. Bonus extra him.
The whole room is a trip into discovering newold memories. For half of it his memories are dustier than the surprisingly pristine merch. The backup halloween costume mirrors his own worn mask back to him.
And isn't it odd? To be Scar, masked. How long has it been since Scar's felt that way? Since that nobility hasn't awakened to this call?
Vex always finds ways to give Scar new experiences. What a wonder.
Still, Scar has to move on to the next room, finding a riot of colors inside. A hodgepodge of various merch from assorted heroes and villains line the shelves. Many starry-themed, or explosion themed, or fae-themed. Certainly not whole collections from any of them, and by the looks of it much of it not even touched recently.
Still neatly labeled, though, with who's merch it is as well as the date of the run and amount contained. Neat and thorough, his Vex.
The next room over, icy blues alongside vivid pink and yellow dominate. Depthfrost and Cyberface both.
About face, let the door slam shut behind him- Scar leans heavily on the wall, gripping his cane to the point of ash-white knuckles as he does not storm into the room to destroy the contents. He doesn't. He won't. He-
Scar finds himself back in the Cuteguy room, hands running over and over a blanket with Grian's lovely wings spanned across it.
His blanket now. Vex didn't say he couldn't go shopping.
Draping the blanket over his shoulders, Scar decides he's done with this floor.
The elevator provides him a comfortable escape, sending Scar safely back to familiar areas of Vex's lair. One more check to his phone, then he's off! He has a picture, after all, surely he can dig up where Vex left that poor, imperiled plush.
The table looks familiar, so Scar starts off by checking every room with a table. The medlab, the printer and painting lab, the laundry. He doesn't find the plush, but he does find a box with his armor beside his clean-folded and neatly stacked underlayer.
Everything looks to be present, so Scar brings the box to the front door where he can't forget about it. He'll decide later to pack it or leave in it. And check it all when he gets home, of course. Vex wouldn't- But Scar has to.
What's next? Scar would like to travel relatively light this time, and-
His phone buzzes, and unlocking it to check the message reveals- The plush picture! He was finding the plush! Time to get back to hunting!
With this level not turning up anything after Scar checked everywhere, even the gym and the pool, he once again heads to the elevator. Up three floors this time, to the crafty-labs.
Lots of cabinets to poke into up there, places a crafty Vex could hide something small. Tools he could use to so cruelly threaten that small thing.
Nothing to do but sweep each room, one by one, top to bottom.
He ends up finding many interesting crafting supplies in the first two rooms. The plush, Scar discovers in what looks looks like the fabric room, where Vex made his doll cuffs. Still sitting on the table, scissors used for threatening still laid out beside the poor thing.
Rushing into the room, Scar scoops the Hotguy plush up into his arms with no thought of checking for traps. Thankfully, in the beats of dead silence holding tiny Hotguy protectively close to his chest, nothing happens.
It's safe now, safe with him. In his arms. Scar will take care of Hotguy, and no scissors will do him any-any harm. Hotguy just needs a little love and encouragement, is all. Scar's full of those both!
Plush secured, Scar picks through the rest of the craft rooms. Interesting, that he finds several things he's seen Grian working with lately.
Have Vexy and Grian been having private crafty chats? Or is Vex just a silly crafty bumblebee like Grian? Scar consults the plush, who has no answers for him. Fair enough! The hardest part is picking and choosing what few bits and bobs to bring back with him, really.
Some of the nice, thicker wire. A specific pair of pliers, one of the ones with noodly beaks. Some fancy glass beads and matching strings. Oooh, bracelet clasps! Scar thinks he's run out of those. Whatever, he'll grab a few.
A good bundle of stuff for making pretty things. Enough souvenirs that Scar is content that he'll remember. He wants to remember! Their new tradition, this brand new start. So the items will anchor that. And if not-
They'll do this again, and again, and again, until Scar does remember.
Until every moment is written in his bones.
Squeezing the tiny Hotguy close, Scar grabs a proper duffel bag, scampering back down to the main floor. With one tiny momentary pit stop to Vex's bedroom on his way.
Vex said the kitchen is fully stocked! What better place for Scar to do some grocery shopping?
Prancing around, Scar gathers up a collection. Some cans, some veggies, all the fruit and the fancy cheeses, a pack of eggs, ooh that has to be the fanciest bacon Scar has ever seen. In with it!
He can make Grian treat meals with that- And have plenty left over for meals to text Vex that he’s eating! A few little stretches with staples Scar’s already got, and this’ll last ages.
Scar weighs the duffel in his hand. Not much more before it’ll be too much. It’s already over for taking the wires, so he packs his uniform and bow away. He can duck into a safehouse nearby and get the mask off, before heading home.
Stuffing the whole duffel in the fridge, Scar rediscovers the extra pancakes. Right! He should pack some. Leave a few for Vexy, but the rest are his!
One last tupper in the bag, then Scar flops onto the couch. He needs a break. And to dig through what kinds of TV options Vex has.
As much as he'd love to cozy up into the nest, Scar knows that if he did then Vex would come home from work to find Scar here. Not that the thought isn't a little appealing. But Scar's apartment calls, as does the opportunity to bother his lovely mate later.
So Scar bundles his blanket around himself, scooping up the tablet. True to word, Vexy's filled the device with even more movies than before! Though not as much shows. Scar will have to recommend him some later.
Ignoring the cable TV options he sees, the hundreds of channels Vex has here, he settles in for some Clone Wars. Shortish episodes, so he can stop whenever he feels rested up enough to leave.
Idly as Scar watches, he taps his fingers back and forth across the bandages on his chest. Vex's vitamin magic, sunken into his system. As amazing as he could have hoped, and then some. Not to mention much less exhausting than he'd feared, to boot.
Maybe, a month ago, Scar woulda just left, pushed himself through until he got home. And he'd have been fine, really.
Scar cradles the Hotguy plush in his arms.
But taking a break before leaving isn't bad either. Gives him time to plan for busses and benches and taking a few pictures, even. Scar can get used to this, or try at least.
A few taps on his phone call up the busplan. His connections look good, only requiring he change bus once with a five minute wait, then his usual walk home from his stop.
Leaving the plan open, Scar locks his screen again, tucking his phone away. With that checked, he can get back to enjoying Clone Wars and dozing, fingers migrating down to tap and poke at his tummy.
The feel of it is different, oddly squishy. Scar'd expected to dislike the change, at first, but- It's kind of fun to play with and smoosh around. To plap at, like the silly seals in videos. Scar can be a kind of seal. He wonders what the sea would think.
Scar blinks his eyes open to a credits sequence, cozy and warm and loose.
Moving all his limbs, stretching big, Scar determines he's ready to go. All rested up, legs not making a huge fuss. Small fuss, yes, but better than most post patrol mornings.
Up up up! Scar springs to his feet, making sure to check for important things. Phone in his pocket, Hotguy plush in the crook of his arm, blanket wrapped around his shoulders like a shawl. Good!
Off to the kitchen to pick up his perfectly chilled duffel, of course. If he left without more of his armor, Grian would skin him. And worse, try to pay for his replacements!
"Thank you Vexy!" Scar blows a kiss to one of the cameras. "Love ya, toodles!" With that, Scar spins on his heel to skip on out of the lair, into the bright, beautiful day ahead.
