A warming breeze enveloped Blood Gulch, nighttime spreading over its large fields just as quickly. Stars and a sliver moon shone across terrain, highlighting a boulder that stood just outside Blue Base. Grif, with Tucker wrapped safely in his arms, leaned against the boulder as the day died. He smiled to himself, his eyes shut closed and his breathing at a steady pace. Tucker felt his eyes dropping on him as he lied there with Grif. They had an exciting night, one of many. Tucker decided it was time to sleep and listened to Grif's calming heartbeat. Just as his mind began to drift off to dreamland, he heard Grif's voice calling to him in the distant.
"Lavernius?" He called again. Tucker shifted, sitting up to face Grif. He smiled sleepily and wrapped the blanket he brought around himself tighter.
"You realize I'm trying to sleep, right?" He asked, playfully flicking at his companion. Grif waved off Tucker's attack with a smile before pulling Tucker closer. He sighed deeply and leaned back to stare at the stars above.
"I've been thinking..." He finally spoke up, his voice trailing off. Tucker snickered at the statement, rolling over onto his stomach to face Grif.
"Really? Isn't that dangerous?" He joked. Grif raised an eyebrow, smirking mischievously.
"Only for you it is..." He retorted. Tucker's laughing subsided, and his face dropped into a pout. Grif couldn't stand watching his love pout, even if it was playful. He frowned and hugged Tucker quickly.
"But no, really...I have. I've been wondering about...about us." He admitted. Although it was dark, Tucker could sense the orange spartan's confusion. His pain?...his...worry? Hell, he didn't know what Grif was feeling...he just knew that Grif wasn't himself.
"Why, what's bothering you?" Tucker asked, trailing his finger up and down Grif's arm lightly. Grif shivered at the tickling sensation and smiled at Tucker reassuringly.
"Nothing bad. I was just curious on why a certain...song...kept popping up whenever I thought about you."
Tucker paused, thinking for a second. Could he have been talking about the song he heard many times before? He was surprised to hear the same words swirling around in his mind.
"I don't know...what song is it?" Tucker asked. The teal soldier waited patiently in the dark, and soon the words of the song floating around Tucker. He smiled, recognizing it instantly.
'It's easier not to be wise and measure these things by your brains...I sank into Eden with you...'
Tucker sat and listened as Grif sang the song. He didn't really expect Grif to be one into singing, but he found it rather soothing. Grif had a strong but gentle voice, and he almost fell asleep in Grif's arms if it wasn't for the fact that Grif abruptly stopped after a few moments.
"That one." Grif mumbled, "My mom used to sing it to me when I was a kid. Kind of grew on me. I don't know...it's kind of a silly song."
"No it's not." Tucker replied bluntly. He turned to stare Grif in the eyes, smiling widely, "I love that's song! I grew up with it, too. I don't remember where I heard it though..."
Grif chuckled quietly, feeling slightly better. He had to admit, it was a small world. A single song that connected the two. It made Grif feel almost...warm and fuzzy inside. He rolled his eyes...
'Oh god, now I'm just getting sappy on myself.' He thought, pulling Tucker closer and humming the tune into his ears.
"Well, I've been thinking as well." Tucker intruded Grif's thoughts. He stopped humming to listen to what his partner had to say.
"I read this passage in a book, and for some reason it stuck out to me. It was about a rose bush. Do you have any idea what that could mean?"
Grif smirked and patted Tucker on the head.
"No, no meaning. You're just being a dumbass." He replied cockily.
"Really? Cause you know it c- HEY! I am not a dumbass!"
Grif only laughed...and then was promptly whacked over the head by Tucker...
'It's easier not to be wise I alone love you it's easier not to be great oh, now, we took it back too far,
and measure these things by your brains
I sank into Eden with you
alone in the church by and by
I'll read to you here, save your eyes
you'll need them, your boat is at sea
your anchor is up, you've been swept away
and the greatest of teachers won't hesitate
to leave you there, by yourself, chained to fate
I alone tempt you
I alone love you
fear is not the end of this!
and measure these things by your eyes
we long to be here by his resolve
alone in the church by and by
to cradle the baby in space
and leave you there by yourself chained to fate
only love can save us now,
all these riddles that you burn
all come runnin' back to you,
all these rhythms that you hide
only love can save us now,
all these riddles that you burn yeah, yeah, yeah...'
-End-