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“Scar,” Grian whines one night as Scar works on his plans for a new build project. It’s late, Scar knows that, but he’s just got this itch in his brain that he can’t ignore. The creative juices are flowing and there’s no way he’s going to intentionally dam them up. Nothing could drag him away from this right now.
Scar doesn’t look back as he continues sketching, distracted with how to angle the windows on the east side to let in the maximum amount of light. “What is it?” He asks, yawning immediately after.
“Come to sleep,” Grian mumbles, exhaustion lacing his every word.
“Grian, I have to finish this, or I’ll kick myself in the morning,” Scar replies. He feels a little bad about it, truly, but he’s often on the reverse end with Grian’s late-night insomnia-induced building, so Grian should understand.
“But I’m tired.”
“Then go to sleep?”
Nothing but silence answers him. Scar thinks that maybe Grian has fallen asleep but falling asleep so quickly is unlike him.
He’s just a little bit concerned when he swivels his wheelchair around so he can check on him.
“Gri?”
Grian is pouting and grumbling under his breath, feathers ruffled in annoyance or maybe anger or maybe sickness or—Scar’s getting ahead of himself.
“Sunshine, what’s wrong?”
“You won’t come to bed,” Grian says as if it explains his general state of discontent.
Scar sighs and sets his pencil down. “I will in just a little bit, love.”
“But I want to sleep now.”
“Why don’t you then?”
“I can’t sleep without you.”
Oh?
Oh.
Oh, wow. It makes perfect sense now that he thinks about it. Scar knows avians are flock creatures that form strong bonds and he knows that Grian never used to sleep well until they got together. He just didn’t know Grian thought of him as part of his flock. Oh, he could cry. He loves this man so much.
“Grian, have you pavloved yourself to only sleep when with me?”
“Shut up!”
“Oh my gosh, you have!”
“If you’re just gonna make fun of me then don’t bother,” Grian huffs and buried his face in his arms, angling himself away so Scar can’t see his expression.
Scar abandons his papers and wheels over to the side of the bed, locking his brakes and lifting himself on the edge, just outside of the nest.
“No, no, I think it’s sweet! You can’t fall asleep without me?”
“That’s what I said!”
“Gri, honey, look at me?” Scar grabs his arms and removes them from his eyes, gently, so Grian can stop him if he wants. Grian is teary when he meets Scar’s gaze.
“Don’t cry, love, it’s okay,” Scar shushes, wiping tears from Grian’s eyes and smoothing his thumb over his cheekbones.
“It’s just—I can’t sleep without knowing you’re safe and—”
“—the best way to do that is to cuddle me?” Scar finishes for him, grinning once again. Grian blushes but doesn’t deny it.
“Guess I can’t argue with that. Come here, pretty bird,” Scar whispers and draws his mate into his arms. Grian latches on like a barnacle and flops a wing over the two of them; out like a light as soon as he feels Scar relax.
Scar falls asleep to the sound of gentle coos and chirps, blanketed in soft feathers, safe in the arms of his love.
Flock is nice, is his last nonsensical thought before sleep claims him too.