((It's been a hot minute, I know. This song slaps h a r d. With this song going, I legit began to cry oh gosh. Enjoy!))

---

"Mumbo! Mumbo! Look what I found!" Grian exclaims joyously as he jumps in full spirit. Before Mumbo has the slender chance to guess the answer, Grian holds out a dusty video disc with no marker label. Just a blank disc. He thrusts the object to Mumbo's chest without faltering his smile.

"What is it?" Mumbo asks as he takes the disc into his hands. He flips it over, unsatisfied with the blank side, but it still left him wondering what the disc held.

"It's some of the wonderful moments we shared," Grian's dazzling smile turns into a gentle one. He swiftly takes the disc from Mumbo's tender hold before hugging it as close as his jumper can allow. "I found it in our attic. It was one of Iskall's anniversary gifts to us. He told me not to watch it until I am alone with you and a few years have passed by."

With a look that showed he was invested with the topic, Mumbo begins to pull Grian into their moderate living room. "Years? My goodness, has time really gone by that fast? Let's watch it today then, I have all evening," Mumbo says, tucking some hair to reveal salt-and-pepper colored strands scratching along his ear. "I'm not getting any younger either."

"Old man," Grian grins and playfully punches Mumbo, making the taller laugh before Grian joins in shortly. "I'm surprised you haven't reached your mid-life crisis yet."

"I'm not that old! You're older than me also!" Mumbo swipes the disc back into his firm hands before sticking his tongue out. "We're watching it now," he declares and wanders to their television's disc players. Grian rests on the arm of their plush couch before falling backward onto the decor pillows, the bottom half of his legs dangling over the side.

As the screen clicks to life and the disc player whirls excitedly, Mumbo inserts the disc into the panel. He sits up only to settle beside his husband. Grian rests his head on Mumbo's lap and raises the controller into the air, pointing directly at the screen. The thin padding of his thumb traces across the remote panel before he presses down on the soft play button.

---

With a microphone in hand and a bowtie around his next, the young Hermit known as Grian stares directly at the camera with a deadpan expression. It holds so much bold authority and constructive seriousness, it's hard to recognize that it's Grian taking time away from his cheerful attitude to look emotionless.

He raises the microphone to his lips and turns to look towards his boyfriend. The man that is running a strong business, the man with a proud raven mustache and certainly the man holding a bowl of cereal despite it being 3'oclock in the morning. His white t-shirt is stained with prominent wrinkles after he just got out of bed and his red plaid pants are putting his fluffy ruby slippers to shame.

"And here, you can see the one and only endangered Mumbo in their natural habitat," Grian explains solemnly, not a drip of laughter and certainly not a single twitch to his lips to make a smile. Mumbo rolls his eyes, ignoring his fancily dressed significant other. He takes a step on the wooden slick stairs and begrudgingly heads up them.

Suddenly, as Grian watches a sluggish Mumbo climb the obnoxious stairs, the footing of Mumbo's seems to slip near the top of the landing. As the camera points directly at Mumbo, he instantly tumbles down all the wooden stairs while screaming.

"Fuck!"

The cereal bowl that once was in his grasp now collides into planks and splatter across Mumbo as he crashes at the very bottom.

Hunching over now, Grian laughs out incredibly hard to the point where he has begun to wheeze, the dead somber attitude now wiping clean like a perfectly clean slate. The camera shakes as the person supporting it laughs along with Grian.

"Natural selection is coming for this rare specimen," a male voice, presumably a familiar one occupied by a friend named Scar, behind the camera says formally. It only made Grian's laughter worse and he slowly shuffled to a groaning Mumbo, lowering his shaking microphone so it could reach Mumbo's lips.

"I say you should click your red ruby slippers three times and make a wish, Dorthy," Grian says shortly in between his intense giggling. The camera perspective manages to get a clearer view of the miserable expression that crossed Mumbo's face, and all the more minor details such as some dots of milk and cereal pieces lodged in his black, untamed locks.

"I wish for you to end the video," Mumbo's gravely voice remarks and then he sends a glare, with a deadly glint of apparent vexation, towards the screen. A few more laughs travel around before the video finalizes.

---

"Is it on?" Mumbo's voice calls, although he wasn't showing in view, he was rather the person behind the camera this time. Grian gingerly waves his hand in front of the screen, narrowing his eyes before giving Mumbo an enthusiastic thumbs-up.

"I think it's on!" Grian grins widely. The first noticeable feature about his face is the bright paint on his face. His right bubbly cheek has a baby blue, pink, and white stripe specifically in that order while his left clasps a rainbow. Out of view, he grabs something before showing the camera. His clammy hands clutch onto numerous pride flags and he waves them tirelessly as if they are on fire.

"Ready to go?" Mumbo asks, still carrying the camera. A frown etches between Grian's eyebrows and he sets all the little flags on their white bed.

"No! You have no face paint on! Come here," Grian's tone takes a definite edge, and he snatches the camera, the view shaking actively. Then, he sets the camera down on a bedside table. Presently, Mumbo comes into view, raising a dark eyebrow in the act. Before he has the chance to question, Grian drags Mumbo and forcefully pushes Mumbo until he sits on the bed.

"Grian, it's fine, honestly," Mumbo says.

Grian stomps away from view, huffing loudly so the camera audio can grasp it, and marches around until he sits next to Mumbo. Various colorful pigments are now in his hands with a small brush on top.

"You're not going to a pride parade without some sort of pride flag on your face, mister," Grian utters, appraising Mumbo's structured face so he can think of certain areas to paint. "I'm turning the camera off. It works, so let's just record when we get there," adds Grian. He reaches over towards the view and clicks the camera off.

---

The camera clicks on.

Only half the screen is in total view as if the camera is laying on a blanket and some of the deep folds of the blanket cover the camera recording. The camera is not meant to be on, nor do the two men realize it's working. Regardless, with the poor perspective quality, it shows two males cradling one another in a warm atmosphere.

Most of the audio is silent except for lovely waves scavenging calmly on a beach, and perhaps a few seagulls gliding along in the distance. The red illuminance is a marking of the sunset despite the camera not aiming at the horizon. Mumbo turns his head to look at Grian, who's strawberry golden hair drizzles down Mumbo's shoulder as he rests his head there.

"Grian," Mumbo interrupts the tranquility, his voice clipping with a soothing, relaxed tone. Grian hums simply as a lazy reply. A gentle smile lines across Mumbo's face. "We've been dating for a little while now. I've been wanting to say three special words to you the day we began dating, but I didn't want our relationship to be like a dumb high school one. But, you know, I had a crush on you for years."

Grian gives a short, yet weak, laugh. A laugh that sounds too loose to allow vocals to use boldy, but still flooded with a quick sense of rightful joy. "What do you mean by a highschool one? We graduated from high school a while ago."

"Exactly what I mean," Mumbo answers, giving the top of Grian's head an affectionate kiss. "Where two teenage brats date for a week then say they love each other. And after that, they break up by next month, you know? But we've been dating for six months."

"Many people don't know the significance of those three words. Words are cheap, anyone can say that. But I'm glad you waited a while, at least someone gets me. I like slow and steady," Grian shifts his head so he can look longingly at Mumbo's deep, natural hazel eyes. His next words were below his regular volume. "Please, say it before I snatch the sentence first."

A faint and airy laugh resonates from Mumbo as he moves from his pleasant position on the sparkling sand. "I love you, Grian," Mumbo says without holding back a single hint of passion. He knows full well Grian would not be struck speechless in shock, although he remained hushed. As the world unravels it's setting beauty, Mumbo tilts his head at the small weight of their stillness.

As if Grian just registered the statement flowing through his ears, he releases a sweet giggle, cheeks flushed a thin veil of crimson. "I love you too, Mj," Grian assures. He reaches up, gathering Mumbo in a tight embrace feverishly and doesn't waste a heartbeat to kiss the other, both of their anxiety evaporating.

The video cuts to static.

---

The camera clicks back awake.

There's plenty of loud shuffling and darkness dancing around on the screen vigorously. After a few seconds, the person holding the camera sets it down and appears in view. Mumbo spreads his arms wide and Grian next to him chuckles whole-hearteningly. They seem to be in a brand new bedroom.

Mumbo, wearing a dashing and attractive tuxedo, puckers his bottom lip. "Do we really have to take these off? I don't want this day to end," Mumbo gives a single sigh and sends a window a brief stare. Not an individual, brilliant glimmer of sunlight came through the blinds, but rather a light haze of moonlight filtered through, which marked the late evening time.

Hauling his attention away, Grian tingles his fingers in Mumbo's obsidian stained tie. His gorgeous white dress hugs his body tightly and arches down his spine. His exposing shoulder blades carry many scattered freckles, like stars during a clear midnight sky.

"But can you believe it?" Grian asks. He sits on the empty bed, small hands sliding against the dark oak frame rimming around the vacant mattress. He then lifts his hands to untie the pearl silk ribbon lacing around his slim waist. "We got married today and officially moved into our new home. Isn't this a true dream come true?"

"It is a dream come true. And I cannot believe I am living in a dream. It's indescribable, and at the same time, so surreal," Mumbo replies. He takes a seat next to Grian and holds his hands out as a way to offer help to Grian. The smaller immediately scoots closer to Mumbo and turns his back towards him.

"I know. Does this mean we can have a little honeymoon soon?" With the easy smirk breaking on his lips, Grian questions. Mumbo tugs strings nonchalantly from the back of the wedding dress and watches as the material hugging Grian's body becomes limp. In full adoration and desire, Mumbo snakes his arms around Grian's hips.

"Of course," Mumbo presses his lips fondly on Grian's nape. "Make love with the man of my dreams, why wouldn't I?"

Grian shoves Mumbo promptly, driving Mumbo to laugh. The smaller squeals, a soft red tone scattered along his round cheeks.

"Don't say it like that, it's embarrassing." The response Mumbo gives is a basic roll of his eyes before he leans over to plant a kiss on Grian's lips; a deep kiss where their heads tilt, warm breath weave, and noses brush against one another.

"I love you," Mumbo murmurs after slightly splitting the kiss. Their lips leisurely sweep deliberately as they exchange pepper kisses before muttering words onto each other's lips. Mumbo's sentiment gaze flickers towards the camera. "Ah, the camera is charging after it died during our wedding. I think it's on, the red light is blinking."

"Hm, at least we have this footage of today then, huh?" Grian peers at the recording device. He smiles. A pure curl on his peach lips that reflects his adoring innocence, then sits up, trailing away from Mumbo's light hold. The camera gets picked up as the smile still remains on his dotted cheeks. "Goodnight, camera friend. You've done us good for years, recording many events. Not all things last, and that is why you have to make most of the present. I'll see you next time around, buddy."

The screen turns off.

---

That was the last recorded film of their years inside the disc. Mumbo, which now has a curled Grian wrapped around his lengthy arm, sighs in fulfilled content. A half dozen strong snivels come from Grian and Mumbo focuses his undivided attention towards his husband.

"Grian, are you crying?" Mumbo asks.

He has resisted the undeniable urge to cry, but seeing Grian timidly sobbing by watching the handful of years they have spent together surely brought tears to collect in his eyes. Grian crackles a laugh through all of his tears, parting his lips to take wavering breaths.

"Sh-Shush, I just," Grian tries to wipe the irresistible tears trickling down his flushed face as he starts to ramble over his choked crying. Each tear leaves a wet line on his face like a raindrop on a dusty pan. "Oh goodness, I can't believe time moves so fast. It's like time is everything we have and don't. And that we exist in these wonderful moments together. We exist only once, and once we are gone-"

"Grian, it's okay," Mumbo couldn't help himself as he started to cry. Stinging tears that gathered from deep inside course down his cheeks as well. "I get what you are trying to say. Not everyone is promised with the gift of tomorrow. And the last 'I love you' you say could be your final 'I love you' forever since the future holds death. But that's why we make the most of it, every single day, every single second."

"Why d-do you understand so well?" Grian's fingers curl into the fabric of Mumbo's shirt as he sobs harder. His shoulders bounce every time he snivels, and when he tries to speak again, only choked clutters catch at the base of his throat. Mumbo hugs Grian as tight as possible to nuzzle his nose at the curve of Grian's neck.

"Every single thing you do in the millisecond of the present goes straight to the past, so that is why I have dedicated so much of my time to you, for I can never go into the past. I can't believe how precious and beautiful life truly is. I love you, always remember that." Grian says, his quivering lips trying to smile despite all the tears still racing down his blotches cheeks.

Mumbo's chest heaves, rather sparsely, as he inhales a deep breath. "I love you too. We are blessed every day to be able to wake up in the morning. I'm thankful for every moment I get with you, friends and family."

His head lifts up and he cups Grian's damp cheek, caressing, and places his forehead on Grian's.

They hold each other under the dim light, crying, sobbing, but still happy to be here. Happy to share memories. Happy to share their one and only life together. Happy to live their moments in the fullest, knowing they will be able to live in the moment once in their entire timeline.

At least, together, they know the universe loves them because the entire universe conspired them to help find each other. And they know they can never thank the universe enough for its wonderful gifts.

☆~*•°

you only have one chance at life
but if you do it right
once is enough
so let it go
to see what remains
you are rarer than a diamond
diamonds can be replaced
you cannot

so remember
the universe is doing it's best to sustain you
no matter how many mistakes
no matter how bad the world may seem
don't forget to truly smile
you're important
everything around you wants you
to survive and live
because the universe loves you