just like this (i'll always love you)

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Grian shuts his car door and steps out onto the lawn. He’s not done a very good parking job, but there are worse things. The grass is still damp from the rain last night, so he hustles Mumbo inside before either of them can get their shoes too terribly wet. Mumbo knows where to drop his shoes and jacket inside and where the bathroom is, so Grian leaves him to freshen up or take a moment or- anything he needs, really, that Grian can provide- and gets started on sandwiches. Turkey and mayo is his go-to, but he wants to double-check he knows what Mumbo wants before he makes that one.

“Babe,” he calls into the other room, “you’re good with peanut butter banana and honey for your sandwich, right?”

Mumbo walks into the kitchen, looking much less rumpled. “Yeah.” He drapes himself over Grian’s back, chin on his head and all. “How’d you guess?” He’s over-emphasising his words, the way he does when he’s joking.

“Hmmm,” Grian sets down the knife he’s using to chop the banana to tap theatrically at his chin, “I’m not sure… guess I’m just that good!”
Mumbo swats his shoulder. “Are we gonna bother trying to study this afternoon while we’re waiting, or…?”

Grian cuts the sandwich into squares, and passes it down before he starts on his turkey. Mumbo sets up a good playlist, and they sit on the counter to eat. It’s super unsanitary, and they aren’t technically supposed to but- what the heck, right? They’re high schoolers! If they’re not going to do things they technically shouldn’t but that aren’t really harming anyone now, when will they?

When they finish eating, they head up to Grian’s attic- there’s a lot of floor space here, and they have a habit of convincing each other to dance. Old, graded homework is strewn across the floor, mostly from Grian missing the trash can when he tried to throw it away. Once kicked out of their way, it makes great cover for what they were doing up here that was productive. (For all that Grian’s parents trust him and Mumbo not to get up to any funny business, they do not trust them to do their homework, which, honestly, is fair.)

Sure enough, Henry V comes on the speaker, and Mumbo pulls Grian to the center of the room. No previous attempts to teach Grian to waltz have been particularly successful, but, hey. Third time’s the charm, right? Maybe Valentine’s Day will work its magic. He puts his left hand in Mumbo’s, and his right on Mumbo’s shoulder, and he tries to follow his boyfriend’s feet. It’s just a box, ultimately, he just keeps getting the wrong foot, somehow.

“Left, right, left,” Mumbo whispers to him, and… oh, Grian is so lucky to have him with his deep voice and soft hands and firm shoulders. Jeeze. “There you go,” He says, “Just like that. And it’s a waltz, so we’re meant to be closer, but that’s not as important right now as your ability to see your feet.”

”Closer?” Grian just squeaked. Oh, goodness, he squeaked he needs to go die of embarrassment now, he’s just squeaked in front of his boyfriend. This is the worst!

Mumbo’s smiling down all fond or whatever at him. “Yeah, doofus, closer. Like, chest to chest. Calm yourself, I know I’m irresistible.”

Grian grabs his tie and pulls him carefully down into a kiss. “Irresistible, my rear end,” he murmurs into his mouth, “More like. It’s embarrassing how much I like you and how bad I am at dealing with it.” Mumbo reaches around to cradle the back of his head, holds him gently, like he’s something breakable.

They stand there for a while, swaying gently in place. Grian cups Mumbo’s cheeks and Mumbo cradles Grian’s skull and it’s– well. It’s nice. He won’t speak for Mumbo, but Grian could’ve stayed there for a good, long time. However, ‘twas not to be, for the song ends and the spell it had cast over them is lifted, and they break apart, flushed.

“Hey.” Mumbo says, presumably for lack of anything better to say and a desire to know what comes next in this interaction.

Grian smiles. “Hi.” Mumbo tucks a lock of hair behind his ear. “What do we wanna do? We have a few hours, we could put on a movie or something?”

Mumbo bends over so he’s grinning into Grian’s hair. “You just want an excuse to watch Howl’s Moving Castle, again, don’t you?”

Grian steps back, and moves to grab the remote. “You telling me you don’t wanna cuddle on the couch and watch a movie together and make out a bunch probably until it’s time to go? Okay, okay, I see how it is. Rude.”

“Nooo I’m not saying that I’m just saying we could also watch, like literally any romcom. We could watch Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.” Mumbo seats himself on the couch, one arm stretched over the back to leave a place for Grian to sit if he so chooses- and he does so choose! Immediately, and with great exuberance.

“Nope! We’re watching Howl’s, I’ve decided.” He pokes Mumbo in the side. “As a joke punishment for your bad attitude, mister.”

Mumbo grumbles, but he ruffles Grian’s hair and puts the movie on. He settles in, leaning his head on Mumbo's shoulder.

“Oh, actually! I might go make popcorn, babe, do you want popcorn?” Grian stands, looking back at Mumbo.

“Ummm yeah! Yeah, that sounds good, I’d share a popcorn with you.”

“Alrighty then!”

The popcorn takes around three minutes to microwave, and when Grian gets back with the bag, Mumbo is pacing behind the couch, flicking his hands up and down as if air-drying them.

“You good, mate?”

“Yeah, just restless. Rather get the jitters out now than later, ‘s moreso preventative.”

Grian nods and plays the movie.

<3

The drive in, when they eventually get there, is crowded. Mumbo made sure they were there early specifically so they could have their pick of the lot, but it seems everyone else had the same idea. This is– this is pants, but, he’ll be fine– he’ll be fine. It doesn’t matter that much, anyway, and, realistically neither of them are actually here for Mama Mia!

Grian shoves open his car door before Mumbo fully has the car in park, already racing around to open the trunk and hop in the back. He nestles in amongst their blankets, bag of goldfish in his lap, and reaches grabby hands out for Mumbo.

“Mumbo Jumbo, come hereeee. I miss you,” he pouts.

Mumbo smiles at him, fondness curling warm in his gut. Heaving a sigh, he settles in next to Grian, wrapping an arm around his shoulders and tucking him into his shoulder. The fabric of Grian’s sweater is unpleasantly scratchy on his cheek, and he cushions his head with a hand. This is nice. It’s peaceful. Grian’s hand comes up from behind him to scratch his head, and Mumbo shifts in turn to kiss his neck.

This wasn’t really what they were here for any more than Mama Mia! but hey– who's Mumbo to complain? No one, not after Grian shifts to sit in his lap and kisses the breath from his lungs. Mumbo’s grip in his hair tightens ever-so-slightly and Grian bites at his lip. Heavens, it’s nice. Mumbo likes kissing Grian. Not to sound like a horny highschool boy, but he thinks about making out with his boyfriend for probably an inordinate amount of time. That’s probably fine though, he should grow out of it. They stay like that, probably irritating most of the people around them, until Grian whispers something to Mumbo in the small space between their lips.

“Hey, the song coming up in a sec would be a good time to do it. It’s like a pinnacle of chaos.”

Mumbo looks over Grian’s shoulder to find– oh, this is the bachelorette party, he’s totally talking about “Voulez-vous.” “Yeah alright, sounds good, mate. D’you want to or shall I?”

Grian plants his whole face in his shoulder. “You can if you want,” he mutters, “I might die, though.” Mumbo chuckles, and moves Grian off of him to grab a small black box from under the pillow behind his back.

Grian performs shock to great success, and then, regret. “Mumbo…. I’m so sorry but I’m going out of state for school next year. I can’t do that much long distance, I’m sorry. I can’t.” He bursts out laughing, but covers his face to try to mimic tears.

“Yes… Goodbye, Mumbo Jumbo.” he pauses. “Can you still drive me home though please?”

This is the funniest thing Mumbo’s probably ever done, the entire crowd is watching with bated breath as he sighs. “Yeah… I guess.” Mumbo moves around to hop into the driver’s seat, and, once he closes the trunk, Grian clambers into the passenger seat next to him.

It’s silent for a bit, until: “You know, I think I’d say yes. If you asked me for real, I mean.”

“What-” Mumbo glances at him before looking back at the road.

“I dunno, really, just been thinking about it today. I think I kind of just want to go where you are, be there with you, you know? I wouldn’t want to do taxes and adult stuff and whatever else is next unless I was doing it with you, I feel like.”

Mumbo pulls off into an empty parking lot for what looks like a bank or something. “I’m not always the best with commitment,” he starts, and continues over Grian insisting he’s not asking for anything right now, “It scares me a lot, honestly, but.” He looks at Grian, really looks at him. “Yeah. I think I’d like that too. Someday, anyway.”