Chapter Text
From the start, Doc knew Grian wouldn't last long by himself. He knew Grian would've gotten himself killed instantly if he wasn't with someone. Lucily Doc was that someone who was with Grian when it had started.
Honestly if Doc had seen this coming beforehand he would’ve prepared more. Or prepared at all as he had been sleeping with his boyfriend all cuddled up together when the virus first hit.
Luckily they made it fine for a while, they had even gotten in a sort of routine. Everything was starting to get back into a sense or normality. Until of course that normality ended when Grian had gotten infected. He didn't know why, both him and Grian had no signs of harm or even much contact with those infected to have gotten it, and even so Grian has the ability to fly out of danger. So Grian getting sick was not a very welcoming sight for him to say the least.
So now he’s here looking down at a very sick and sleeping avian, while also making sure their makeshift fire doesn't die out through the night. He could probably guess how long its been since he’s had a good night's rest. Mostly because he’s been monitoring Grian’s health since the outbreak, but he has increased his evaluations when Grian had fallen ill.
And although Grian’s sickness is getting slowed down he cant help but worry this will be his end. And that at the end of Grian’s life it will have to end with Doc killing him himself.
“Hey pesky bird.” Doc says to nobody as he looks down towards the seemingly unconscious man.
“I won’t give up on you. So long as you dont give up on yourself okay?” He merely whispers that last part as he feels himself drift away.
An almost silent “Okay.” Can be heard from the campsite as its only residents soon find themselves sleeping under the warm and heat of the fire, and themselves.
…
“Hey doc… how are you doing.” Grian whispered quietly as he hid behind the door to their shared house
“I'm good but umm Grian… can i come in now?” He had said rather sheepishly, after all they had only just begun dating a year ago and had moved in together only 2 weeks prior.
“NO!” Grian yelled before clearing his voice and starting up again. “I mean No that's not necessary as we should keep a distance… cause of the virus..”
He rests his head against the door before talking, “Grian are you okay… you’re worring me at this point.”
. . .
“Do you promise not to get upset?”
“I promise.”
“Do you promise not to freak out?”
“Gri-“
“Doc do you promise?”
“I … I promise you I won’t freak out…”
He hears the door unlock and do a little jiggle before Grian opens the door. And Doc is met with a very sickly looking grian. His face was clearly red and puffy. Possibly from crying. And his skin had a sickly greenish pale to it.
Doc wasn't mad. He was in fact terrified. Terrified at the sight of Grian and the possible fact of losing him so fast.
“You’re mad arnt you…” Grian says as he turns around, tears beginning to form in his red puffy eyes. “I-Im so sorry. I dont even k-know how and im so sorry for going back on our promise.” Grian starts to ramble as he slowly breaks down.
He is soon met with Doc’s arms and reassuring words.
“We’ll get through this okay Grian?” Doc says quietly as he cradles Grian in his arms.
“Okay.”
—————-
The path to their new base is a lot colder than it was before. Or atleast Grian thinks it is because he wont stop talking about it. Doc wishes he could give him something more, but atlas Grian was wearing pretty much everything. Except for a lab coat and a pair of jeans, which were currently on himself respectfully, he was covered head to toe in clothing.
Doc merely sighs as he looks over to the shivering avian. Doc knows what's happening, and yet he can’t accept the truth. No, he won't accept the truth. After all Grian is lasting much longer than any usual person would’ve.
So maybe, just maybe Doc can be wrong about this one thing.
“Hey Grian you feeling any better?” Doc says as he makes his way over to the avian.
“No, I still feel like I'm stuck in an iceberg doc!” Grian groans as he doubles back onto the grass. Doc gives a little chuckle as he goes to sit down next to his lover.
“Really, even after you stole my only shirt for yourself?” He didnt know what kind of response he’d get from the pesky bird, but a slight giggle and a cheeky smile was definitely one of them.
“Mmmm…Come closer Doc, i want cuddles” Grian started to make grabby hands towards him after saying that, and after all who was he to deny such a thing to him?
…
“Hey grian i think you need to preen these wings soon, they look pretty dirty.” Doc says as he grabs one of the said wings.
“Yeah? Can you do them for me.” Grian says as he leans his head back to get a closer look at Doc’s face.
If you were to look very closely you would see a green tint of rot forming around his eyes and cheeks. But Doc ignores it. After all he cant give up on him yet. Not ever.
“Tsk, really? Right now, we're about to clean up!” After getting a pleading look and a soft please from grian he simply folds as he starts to work on the wings.
“Ow…”
“Sorry.”
“Hey doc, hold long until we’re in aqua town?”
“Its still a bit away Grian.”
“Do… Do you think i can still make it until we get there?”
“Of course birdie. After all you’ve made it this far!”
“Yeah…”
—————-
“Tsk, stupid needles,” Doc mumbles as he threads a small bit of string through a red crystal. He then grabs both ends of the string and watches as the gem drops down to the middle of the string. Then he grabs a bigger orange crystal and threads it through the necklace.
“Perfect” doc says proudly as he begins to wrap the gift up. “Its almost time.” Doc says as he looks at the sun rising through the horizon and the treeline.
After a while a very sleepy avian wakes up from his rather deep slumber. “Good morning my sleepy little dove” doc yells at a half awake avian.
He starts laughing when Grian chucks a random book at him. And after his rather short laughing session he makes his way over to Grian and comfortably holds him in his arms as he sits down next to him.
“Do you remember what today is?” Doc says in a much quieter voice than before. And when he is only met with grumbled and what he guesses was supposed to be words he responds. “Its our anniversary today, Grian,” Doc says sweetly as he combs his hands through Grian’s hair. This news must’ve spooked Grian tho because all of his feathers soon stood up on their own and he was instantly awake.
“I-It is i thought i had a week left!” Grian says panic evident in his voice as he starts to look through his fanny pack. This makes Doc smile and admire him even more as he just watches him search for something to give to him.
“I don't need anything, but you. And you being okay.” He mumbles as he starts to pepper Grian with kisses.
“You’re more awake than usual.” Grian says as he seemingly takes something out of his fanny pack.
“What’s that Grian?” Doc asks
“Close your eyes and you’ll find out.”
“Okay… you pesky bird.” Doc manages to says before he gets lightly hit on the shoulder by the other. He soon feels arms wrap around his neck and something rests along his neck.
“Okay you can open them now.”
“D-Did you get me a necklace?” Doc says in disbelief. They couldn't have thought to give each other the same gift…right? But when he opens his eyes he's met with a long and simple loop of brown string and tied together is a big red feather at the very middle of the necklace.
On closer inspection Doc realises that the feather itself is bigger than a regular bird. Was this one of Grian’s feathers then?
“Grian, Dove, is this your feather?” Doc asks as he lifts up the feather to get a closer look at it.
“Yeah it is!” Grian says seemingly proud of his ability to have preserved the feather for who knows how long, in that fanny pack if his.
“You didnt rip this out of your wings. Right?”
“ I did do that… But I wanted the feather to be perfect for you.” Grian says.
They both stare at each other in silence before Doc moves his hands over to cup grains face. His skin was still a sickly pale and the green was spreading along his face and slowly making its way onto his ear wings. “I love you Grian. You know that right?” Grian simply responds with a nod and doc kisses him on his temple.
“Omg” Grian sputters out before his infectious laughter fill the area.
“So what did you get me?” Grian says looking at Doc’s eye.
“Oh yeah i had almost forgot,” Doc said as he pulls out a small wrapped up box. Grian gives him a small questioning look before he takes the box into his hands and unwraps it.
“You got me a necklace?” Grian asks cooing at Doc and the idea of them giving each other the same gift on their anniversary.
“Yeah. I guess we both thought of the same gift for each other,” Doc said smiling at Grian
“Yeah.”
“You want me to put that on you?” Grian simply nodded and turned around. Doc grabbed the necklace from its box and brought it around Grian’s next before tying both sides together.
“There, you feel prettier now birdie?”
“Mhm!”
“You want me to fix your wings?” He already knew the answer but it was always good to ask”
“Yeah!”
———————
“Hey Doc, come over here quick!” He was going to show Doc something amazing! After all he found an actual working Photo Booth! Grian didn't even know these kinds of things still worked, even now during the apocalypse too.
“Yes, pesky bird? What is it?”’ Doc said from what Grian guesses was an old electronics store in an abandoned mall they had found. And when grian went around to the entrance to see the Goat father himself in his shirtless glory he was moderately surprised to see him fixing his face pannel.
Grian stood by the entrance for a bit so Doc could finish his very important business of repairing his eye. He would be lying to himself if he said he wasn't worried about Doc hurting himself.
He had to be the one to live after all.
Because no matter how much Doc refuses to listen, Grian knows he wont survive.
He doesn't have much time.
Hes pulled out of his thoughts by Doc’s face prosthetic face being shut and his voice echoing in the shop.
“So what is it that you wanted to show me?”
“Oh, follow me!” Grian practically shoots up in the air as Doc starts to move to follow Grian. Doc gives Grian a questioning look and he starts to try to contain his excitement.
“Remember that mask can't keep up with you all that well, So don't try to breathe too heavily or fast. Okay. pesky bird?”
Right he couldn't move as much as he used too. He also couldn't fly all that much with this mask Doc got him. Well its not like he could’ve anymore even if he wanted, the infection had already started to get to his wings and they were currently too weak to fly.
“What's got you down birdie? You missed me too much?” Doc was next to him now. He looked a little worried but nonetheless he was next to him now.
“Oh no, I was just remembering the route. Follow me.” Doc can’t know about Grian’s feelings about Doc staying by his side.
Not yet anyway.
They proceeded to walk together in silence as Grian brought him to a old photo booth. It was a but run down and had graffiti on it but it somehow still worked.
“So Birdie, if you don't mind me asking what’s so special about this old photo booth?” Doc asks, clearly doubting Grian’s ability to determine what's useful and what's not. Does he think the infection already got to his brain or something?
“Well there’s nothing really special about this Photo Booth.” Grian turns a bit away from Doc as he feels a bit of blush forming on his face. “I just thought it would’ve been nice to have the ability to do a photoshoot together. For future memories y’know.”
“Awwww is the pesky bird blushing?” Doc says a smirk very clear on his mostly emotionless face. It grows even bigger when Grian gives him a little nod.
“Okay, okay lets go inside then and snap a photo or two then. Doc says as he grabs Grian’s sleeve and pulls him inside the photo booth.
He looks at his reflection in the digital touch pad for the photos. He looks absolutely terrible. His skin had turned a greenish pale with some rot sneaking up from under his mask to make itself present. His hair is tied back into a bun, and his wing feathers were starting to change from a vibrant red to a dark green.
Safe to say Grian did not like this development.
“You ready birdie?” Doc asks as he sets one of his hands on Grian’s shoulder. He gives Doc a quick glance before he starts to beam with excitement, and quickly pushes the button to begin the photo shoot.
“G calm down.”
“I am calm Doc.”
“No you’re not.” As soon as those words left docs face a series of flashes from the camera activate and Doc and Grian find themselves with a small amount of photos.
“Do you think these were worth it?” Doc says as he sits next to Grain who was currently sorting through the photos they had received from the booth
“Definitely.”
———————
They had finally reached Aqua town, there was of course one last obstacle. Getting past the security that guards the entrance to the town. Well for Doc it shouldn't be too hard, but unfortunately the same cannot be said for Grian.
After all, his infection had spread much faster than he would’ve liked. But honestly if Doc did have his way with this Grian would’ve recovered a long time ago.
But one does not simply change the past, especially now during a time of crisis.
So with this knowledge Doc had only one choice to get grian through the gate. And that was to hide how bad Grian’s sickness had gotten. They wouldn't let him in if they saw how bad it's gotten, So the only option left was to hide it until Grian was better.
Which would be soon. He hopes it'll be soon at least.
So with all of that in mind, Doc finds himself lovingly putting on Grian’s makeup for him. He unfortunately cannot do the same for his wings, But if he plays his cards right, he could possibly get by the guards by saying it's just part of Grian being a parrot hybrid.
“Okay Grian which one do you think would look the best on you?” He holds out a container that had two different shades of blush.
“…that.” Grian said as he pointed to the blush that contained a more pinky hue.
“You know, I think you’re right. Pink is definitely more your um style.” Doc says as he moved the brush around the pink dust and starts to lightly dust grian’s cheeks and nose in a pink color.
“Hey Grian, you know when i think back to the first we met, i wouldn't have expected this to be our future.
“Yea.” Grian mumbled as Doc began to work on hiding some of the discoloration on his skin a bit more.
“Y’know both of us travelling during this virus. You are getting sick, And us have to lie our way into AquaTown of all places.” Doc says laughing a bit at the end.
Grian just gives him a soft hum as Doc finishes his work and begin to clean up their small mess.
“How do you think Etho and Joel did during this?”
Grian sat in silence before speaking up again. “Not good”
“Yeah I bet, but I hope I see Etho if he does come to see his hometown. It would be good to catch up with him.” Doc said as he grabs Grian’s respirator mask and puts it back on him.
“He was always the loner type. And honestly when i heard he got married i almost thought you were playing one of your pesky little pranks on me G.” Grian gave a little snicker at that.
“Oh and don't forget the fact that Etho’s first marriage was with my Ex-Husband.” Doc had said this with no ill intent but for some reason this had Grian shocked as his wings ever so slightly puffed up.
“Ex-husband?” Grian asks in a very monotone voice. This soon lead into Doc explaining his first relationship with a guy named Bdubs and how it was in fact the worst thing hes ever done.
Soon enough it was the afternoon and the Town’s guarded gate could be seen. The golden light of the afternoon made this sight ever so more important.
“And so because i had so little money left after that we had to share a house. A house can you believe that!” Doc exclaimed as he looked over at Grian.
“I can.”
“I guess in good news I managed to have moved out in a year or so and met you.”
“Doc.”
“Yes G?”
“Gate… Guards.”
“Ill handle it just let me take the lead okay?”
after a long moment of silence Grian’s voice finally perked up and said a simple.“Okay.”
And so with that clarification Doc took grian’s hand and started to walk a bit faster to the gate.
“Everything will be fine. Dont worry. Im not giving up on you yet… You do know that right?”
“I do.”
“Good.” Doc makes a sudden stop infront of the gate. 2 Guards dressed in the town’s police unifrom walkout.
This is the moment of truth. And for Doc’s case it's the matter of Grian’s eventual’ recovery’.
——————-
“So yeah Joel didn't really umm make it.” Etho said awkwardly as he stared down into his small cup of coffee. “I mean i tried everything and it just didn't work.”
“I see.” Doc said before taking one last sip of his coffee. “You know Etho its been nice catching up with you.”
“I would have to agree.” Etho said as they waved his cup around nonchalantly. That motion itself was impressive as throughout their entire conversation he had yet to see Etho actually take a drink of their coffee.
“Hey, Doc before you leave i have a question.” Etho said as they repositioned themself to sit straight in their chair. “What happened to Grian?”
That question itself brought a strong reaction out of Doc as he had to take a second to recoup his thoughts and come up with something believable for the great Etho Slab himself.
“Oh Grian, Hes currently recovering from a bad sickness.” Doc said as he got out of his chair and prepared to leave.
“Oh, well tell him i said hello, okay!” Etho said emphatically. A smile was present on his face, even behind the mask Doc knew there was one as Etho’s eyes were a bit crinkled from the smile.
“I will.” And with that Doc was off to go home. After all it was his responsibility to take care of Grian during his time of need.
Doc could get used to this life though. It was pleasant.
If only Grian was with him to enjoy it.
…
“G im home! Hope nothing bad happened while i was gone!” Doc yelled into the house as he shrugged off his lab coat and walked into a small hallway that lead to the basement door.
And after opening said door and climbing down the steps Doc is met with Grian.
He was currently chained up and was in a sort of wild state but it was still him. From the top of his dirty blonde hair to the bottom of his clawed feet.
“Hey birdie did you miss me?” Doc moved closer to the chained up man. He doesnt know why but Grian suddenly lashed out at him like some kind of wild animal.
“Im sorry, im so sorry G, ill try to come back sooner.” He moved to sit down by the edge of Grian’s range. He couldnt wait until Grian stopped being so mad at him; He wished he could go back to the normal relationship they had before.
“Good news Grian! Those fancy scientists in those closed off labs are close to finding a cure.” Doc said with a bit more emotion than he would’ve wanted. But hey his lover could soon be cured.
And soon everything will go back to normal.
“Grian, i love you, you know that right?” Doc says with tears forming in his eye.
And After getting no response from Grian he soon moves on to recount his day with Etho.
Everything will be back to normal. He just had to be patient with Grian