Chapter Text
This was Xisuma’s first mcc and Grian could tell he was buzzing with a nervous excited energy, the man fidgeting with his admin panel as they waited for the rest of the hermits to get to the world portal to go to mcc. They were arriving a few days early to give X the chance to look around and take in the main lobby where they would be staying until all of the competitors arrived and the competition started.
“X, you excited?” Grian asked the voidwalker, a smirk playing across the scarlet macaw hybrid’s face as he watched the voidwalker in question jump a little at the sudden question.
“Oh yea, a little. After watching all of you guys compete and now finally being able to be down there with you, it’s-” the voidwalker paused, unable to find the words to put his feelings in, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. A few of the other hermits that were gathered chuckled at the admin’s energy as they waited for the last few of the hermits.
“YO! Sorry we’re late, Ren lost his glasses and couldn’t find them.” Cub hollered down as he, False and Ren swooped down to the portal. They were the last of the hermits that the group was waiting for so they could leave, Grian taking lead and gesturing for everyone who was going to go through the portal to mcc when he noticed X’s hesitance at going through.
“Hey X, it's ok. I'm sure you’ll do amazing.” Grian put his hand on the admins shoulder before turning to the portal and walking through. Feeling the admin not far behind him Grian let the nausea of the world portal wash over him, no matter how many times he’s done this he can never get used to it. Stepping out of the portal with a shudder, his wings fluffing to try and remove the last of the feeling of the world jump.
“Come on Grian, let's go catch up with the others and see the teams.” Xisuma grabbed his hand and drug him behind to follow where the others had gone ahead to look at the team placements. Gazing over the board slowly looking for his team he heard X gasp.
“You alright X?” Ren stepped closer to the voidwalker, his eyes following where the admin was staring after a second of staring Ren broke out in a smile, clapping X on the back.
“Yo G! Congrats you get to help X out. Y’all are the Purple Pandas with... “ Ren paused at the other two people on the purple pandas team.
“With who?” Grian looked to the purple panda team and saw two people who knew about them but he didn’t know them personally.
“I didn't put Dream or tommy on the list. I don't even really know them.” X said softly a pondering look in his eyes as he looked upon the board. Both Grian and Xisuma knew about the fabled Dream and how he was almost invincible when it came to 1v1 pvp, the only thing they could think of was that both tommy and dream had put them down, but for why neither one could fathom.
“It's ok X we'll talk with Scott and see what’s going on and I mean we are on a team with the Dream! How exciting is that!” The scarlet macaw hybrid bounced a little his wings fluttering in excitement as he reassured the admin. More people were approaching the team line up board, the hermits backing away and letting more people see the board. Leading X around Grian pointed out some stuff that was around the main lobby area while simultaneously looking for Scott to ask him about their team match up. After wandering the main lobby area for about an hour they found the man in question talking with another of the Nox crew. Catching his eye with a wave Scott turned and said something to the other person before walking down to the two a smile on his face.
“Grian! Xisuma! I am so glad yall made it, and i hope you are enjoying everything so far X.” Scott shook both of their hands and brought them into a half hug.
“Yea it's great, but uh we did have a question about the team line up” X said slowly, glancing over to Grian before looking back at Scott.
“Oh yea there was a slight mix up with a few of the teams and by the time we caught it, it was too late to fix it.” Scott sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck as he explained the situation the admin and hybrid nodding along in understanding.
“Eh it's ok Scott, we’ll make do with it. We were just curious. Anyways how have you been?” Grian clapped the man on the back as they walked around catching up, X tagging along and asking questions every so often. After about half an hour Grian and X bid Scott goodbye and headed to their team cabin where they would stay with their other two teammates for the week-long competition. As they got to the door of their cabin they heard voices coming from inside, too muffled to make anything out.
“Well guess the two are here, time to meet them.” X glanced at Grian before opening the door leading into the room, the two people inside stopping their conversation as the door opened. A man with a green hoodie and a smiley face mask stood slightly over the freakishly tall teen, the air turned tense as the four teammates looked at each other in silence for a minute before Grian decided to break it.
“You must be Dream and Tommy, right? I'm Grian and this is Xisuma, we are your teammates!” Grian said excitedly, a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes aimed at the two. X seeing this looked at the two, trying to figure out what set G off when he noticed the body language of Dream and Tommy.
“Yes hello! Yea Im Dream and this is Tommy. Do you know what happened with the teaming, I had put different people on our sign up sheets?” Dream spoke up, controlling the conversation for both him and Tommy. Neither X nor Grian like the implications of the masked man’s actions but from where they stood currently they have no way to help.
“Oh yea we talked to Scott about that. Apparently there was a mess up in the teaming and a few teams got mixed up and by the time they caught it, it was too late to change them.” Xisuma explained to the two men looking for any change in body language but Dream seemed to have not changed one bit, if anything he seemed completely unbothered. Tommy on the other hand looked relieved and unsure at the same time, shifting away from the masked man and closer to Grian, who in turn shifted a wing to be open to the boy.
“Well we have a few days to get ready so do we want to go out and practice a little? We can pair up since we don't know each other. Me and tommy and then you and X?” Grian suggested, but not leaving much room for argument, and before anyone could think to argue the hybrid bounced up to Tommy and wrapped a wing around his shoulders. Grian frowned slightly as the boy tensed under his wing as he led him out of sight of the other two.
“So Tommy, what would you like to practice first?” Grian asked the teen as they walked to the practice area.
“Oh um we can do whatever you want to do.” Tommy mumbled, ducking his head refusing to look Grian in the eye. This didn’t match up with the loud energetic kid from past MCCs that Grian had been able to be at.
“Hmm well, from what I remember you're really good at rocket spleef, wanna help me with that?” Grian asked the boy, wording it where the boy could back out or refuse if he wanted.
“Rocket spleef sounds good.” Tommy mumbled but started to relax into the wing that was still tossed over his shoulder. The teen seemed to relax at the mention of rocket spleef being what they practiced instead of something else. Arriving at the rocket spleef practice arena Grian shifted away from Tommy to tuck his wings away so he could put on an elytra. As soon as both of them had on their elytra and rocket spoon Grian gave an impish grin as he turned to tommy
“Race you to the top? If you win I'll get you whatever you want from the concessions.” Grian offered the kid an easy win because he was always clumsy with the fake wings over his real ones. He was also hoping that this would help the kid loosen up to him, Grian wanted to help him because he saw himself in the kid and no one deserved what he went through and what he thinks may be going on with him and dream.
“And what if you win? What do I owe you?`` Tommy asked hesitantly, nervous as to what Grian wanted from him.
“Hmm, maybe we could spar and you can give me some tips. I’ve seen you fight and you’re definitely better than me.” Grian said lightly with a slight shrug, he really wasn't anticipating winning, but the way the blond untensed at his end of the deal made Grian wonder what he was expecting.
“That sounds like a deal.” there was a faint smile on Tommy’s face as he seemed to gain a little energy.
“Ok ready, set, GO!” Grian counted down and like he expected Tommy shot ahead of him with G not far behind, Tommy let out an excited yell as the top drew near. Tommy landed on the top platform first with Grian not far behind. He started jumping around as he realized he won the race, Grian laughing along with his childish antics, feeling relieved that he still was the loud child he had seen in the past.
“HELL YEA! I WON, TAKE THAT PUSSBOY!” Almost as soon as he said that he froze as if he was about to get into trouble for yelling at the other man. Wanting to stop a further spiral Grian decided to see if positive reinforcement would help him.
“Great job Tommy! That was awesome, how about after this we go to the concessions and you can tell me what you want.” The hybrid kept his body language light and open, angling his wings in a slightly submissive position to make him look even smaller than the tall teen, after the blond teen relaxed Grian perked back.
“Ready to practice now kid?” Grian held out his hand for Tommy to grab and shake, initiating the start of the practice round. Both dropping down on the course the screams of delight they began the play against each other. After a few practice rounds with Tommy winning most of them, Grian called it quits.
“So what do we want to do now big man?” Tommy peered at Grian curiously, seeming more relaxed now after the matches had gone smoothly, and grian hadn’t snapped at him for winning the rounds.
“Well I'm starving, want to go get some food? And you can grab a souvenir if you want.” Grian shrugged and turned to walk to where the food court was making sure that the kid was following him. As they got to the food court Grian looked around and saw a few of the other hermits but not X and Dream. Gesturing for Tommy to follow him, Grian led him over to False Ren and Cub.
“G! Hey man what's up? Who's this?” Ren said excitedly, the dog hybrid’s tail wagging as he greeted the two newcomers.
“Well this is Tommy, he’s one of my teammates. Scott said that there was a mix-up in a couple of the team matchups and me and X are teamed up with Tommy here and then Dream.” Grian said the last man’s name with none of the usual awe that people held him in. Tommy looked at him with a strange look in his eye, as if the kid couldn’t understand someone not wanting to worship the ground he walked on.
“Dream? Isn't that the dude you beat in one of the pvp games a while ago?” false pondered out loud before shrugging and turning her attention to tommy.
“So kid how does it feel to be on a team with Grian?” false asked with an impish grin leaning towards the blond teen