<This was requested by Silver_Magic90! So thank you for the request and idea!>

Doc always knew Grian was unlike any other even before they started dating, the constant excitement and child-like energy was a glaring show of that, but it was after they really started dating that things started to unravel more.

For one Grian had once snuck into a hanger at Area 77 and found where Doc had drawn up a gun blueprint, not that he'd ever actually make it or use it, but he wanted things to look like an actual military base, so he had it as decoration, and Doc found him there with a drawing of the gun he himself had made, with adjustments. Grian then told him that if he was going to have decoration he'd at least make it realistic and not just guesswork. He'd been so surprised at the cold look in his boyfriend's eyes that the words didn't really sink in until he arrived back.

Picking up the blueprint Grian drew he looked over it with a critical eye, and after a few searches found all if to be true. The day left him with just one question: Why did Grian know enough about guns to draw up a blueprint of one?

The weird behaviors just added on as the new season rolled around. For one he noticed how Prof. Beak sometimes would ask Grian his name, at first he guessed it was just something the blue parrot did he brushed it off, but when Grian answered with a stutter of his name he couldn't help but feel like there was something big he was missing. And he also started noticing things he hadn't paid any mind to before.

Like how both Tango and Mumbo mentioning how shaken he'd been after taking the look of another Hermit, be it only a suit or mask, and how absolutely refused to eat doritos even if he had to go hungry for the night (Doc never used them again for date night after that), a fear of white rabbits so bad Iskall could be seen as someone who liked to use diorite, and an equal fear of iron swords. It all was so bizarre, as well as concerning, and Doc didn't even know what he should do. He was worried for his boyfriend, but these behaviors weren't really concerning in the long run. Didn't like wearing someone's clothes? Maybe he just felt like he was intruding. Hate for doritos? We all have that one popular snack you just despise. Fear of white rabbits? Maybe he was really afraid of the fabled killer bunny. Fear of iron swords? Maybe he just liked going straight to diamond and didn't like wasting iron? Separate they didn't mean much, but together it was just all a little too much for Doc to ignore.

So he asked Mumbo, hoping the ebony haired man could shed some light on the situation. But the man had not one clue what was going on, but he expressed equal concern as Doc, "I could ask one of his other friends? To my knowledge they went to highschool together, so maybe he knows something?"

The creeper agreed with the red eyed man, and asked if Mumbo could contact him. He did and came back with an agreement, Taurtis, Grian's friend (who's name he vaguely remembers hearing before) was willing to tell him as long as he got to see Grian, and if the dirty blonde agreed to let him know.

Doc went to Xisuma and explained how he'd invited someone, and if he could let them in in a week's time. When pressed he elaborated that he was bringing in one of Grian's old highschool friends to have him explain a few things about Grian's behavior. The admin froze in what he was doing, but said he'd allow Taurtis in after a pause.

Doc did not even think to ask how X already knew Taurtis' name.

A week passed and by now Grian had realized something was up. It was nothing bad, that much he could figure out, but he still couldn't help but feel that there was something big he wasn't being told. When he saw Taurtis appearing at spawn he was filled with excitement, it had been so long since he'd last seen him! He happily introduced everyone, giving a wide smile as he presented Doc. Taurtis gave him a once over, caramel brown eyes looking over him critically, before giving him a nod with a wide smile.

Grian happily showed off his mansion proudly, to which replied with a "I could do better" which made the violet eyed man give a wide grin, a laugh coming out as he led them off to the hobbit hole, the more comfortable place to sit and catch up at.

"So why are you here?" Wondered Grian. "Not that I'm not happy you're here! I'm just curious why you come knocking now."

"I was invited." Taurtis answered. His glance over at Doc didn't go unnoticed by the blonde, who instantly became more alert, "Your boyfriend here wanted to ask me some stuff."

The winged Hermit turned to Doc, but still addressed the headphones wearing man, "What kind of stuff?"

A deep sigh left the blue clad man, "Grian, why haven't you told him? I can tell he's a keeper, and if not that then he's someone you can trust."

"It's not that easy." Grian said coolly, "You should know that."

"But is bottling it all up really a good idea? He worries about you deeply. He asked me here for a reason after all."

"So you're here to tell him?" Grian asked, eyeing his old friend with dull eyes. Taurtis shook his head, "Only if you let me."

Doc's eye traveled from friend to friend, trying to gauge what was going on. He knew on a surface level sure, but he had no idea what the two were hiding and keeping to themselves. He turned all his attention to Grian at the call of his name. His ears twitched in worry at the guarded expression on his boyfriend's face.

"Doc, I have something to tell you, that I probably should have mentioned earlier." Grian took a deep breath, eyes focused on his hands. "My days of highschool aren't - ah, very pleasant to say the least. I had this friend by the name of Sam, and he and I went to the same highschool in Japan. He, he wasn't the nicest of people to say the least." Violet eyes shone with unshed tears, who he refused to let fall, "Didn't know when to stop, didn't listen to anyone for anything. He did things, bad things. He was, god what should I even call him?"

"Abuser." Taurtis quietly said, glaring at a wall narrowed eyes, "That was what he was, and you were his main target."

Grian nodded his head, fingers digging into the palms of his hands as he clenched his fists tightly, "Yes, yes I suppose I was, wasn't I? Anyways, he made me do stuff I never really wanted to do, but I had no choice. What could I do anyways? I was stuck there, and he'd follow me if I ever ran."

"What did he do?" Asked Doc gently, knowing no was not the time for anger.

Grian gave a humorless laugh, "So many things that still haunt me to this day, ten years after it is all over. But you want specifics, so I'll provide. He threatened me with a knife, forced me to dress up as Taurtis after he was sent to the hospital after a bus crash. Then forced me to eat Toritos, which was fucking plastic, and so many more things that I've just suppressed so far down I'm not willing to dig it up."

Once the blonde was finished Doc shot out of his seat and was around Grian in a second, arms wound tight around the smaller who returned the action with vigor. As the creeper felt his chest grow wet he knew Grian had finally let the tears fall, so following his natural instincts he let a deep purr-like rumble. He felt the shorter slowly start to relax in his hold, and he silently congratulated his instincts for their help as he ran his hand through Grian's feather soft hair. Doc soon moved himself so that he was cocooning Grian with his head resting forehead to forehead with the other.

Silence rained for a minute before puffy eyes opened to be met with the eyes of Doc, who smiled at him gently as he rubbed cheek against the others, "Feeling better now, Schatz?"

Grian gave a small nod before burrowing into Doc's neck and snuggling up there.

"Do you want to answer any question he has? Or should I do it?" Asked Taurtis, hand moving to comfortably rub Grian's back. He barely caught the muttered 'you' but he was thankfully close enough to hear it, "Okay then Doc, ask away."

"Where is Sam?" He wanted to know where this man was, because he had a few questions that needed answering.

"Dead." Taurtis answered in a second, "Watched him die myself."

Doc nodded. Sure he might have wanted to kill the bastard, but the knowledge that he was no more was also nice to hear, "Does he have something to do with why Grian is terrified of white rabbits?" The little flinch Grian gave didn't go unnoticed, and Doc was soon purring again to calm him down again.

"It does." Confirmed Taurtis. "Sam was a rabbit hybrid with white ears."

And that was that. Doc had asked his peace, and Grian had told him his most hidden secret. Taurtis would be staying in Hermitcraft for a few more days before he'd be leaving again, and during that time Grian would spend as much time with him as he could. After he'd left things went back to how it was before, though Doc was now more careful on what to avid then before.

Of course there were still tons of things he hadn't been told yet, but slowly he heard more and more of what highschool had been like for his boyfriend, and each time he held Grian tightly to reassure him of where he was and to just keep him steady in general. He vowed to protect Grian should the need arise, but more than that he vowed to love him. And he told the dirty blonde this every day. Grian joked with him about it, and he replied in truth, "Well I have to make sure you know just how loved you are. And unfortunately telling you that every second of the day would be highly inconvenient, so one a day will have to do."

Grian had called him a dork when he'd said that, but they both knew just how much he loved it. How much he loved Doc. And that was one thing no one would ever get to take from him.

<This was nice to get done! And it was nice to make too. Also, I was wrong when I though "having a raspy throat won't make writing harder" a while ago, it very much does make it harder to write. Because swallowing, and sometimes breathing, hurts and every time I cough I can't focus for a full minute due to how much it hurts. Anyways, ignore my suffering it's not important.

I hope you all stay safe and have a wonderful time!>