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Language:
English
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Published:
2025-02-20
Updated:
2025-03-08
Words:
2,936
Chapters:
2/?
Comments:
14
Kudos:
53
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Fault Lines

Summary:

His hands tremble—no, twitch—where they sit in his lap, fingers rolling and unfurling into fists. Fucking stupid. It’s stupid that he’s crying, not that he even notices until the first tear splashes against his palm. It’s worse that he never stands his ground, never fights, always runs. Fight or flight, a trained response, a learned habit, whatever you want to call it.

Then it comes back. Taurtis kissing some girl, nameless, faceless, between the gates of their schools. It’s burned behind his eyelids like a brand, like a scar, like something he’ll never be able to forget. The memory makes him choke on his own breath.

── ⟢ ・⸝⸝

In which Grian is unfortunately sat beside the captain of the swim team, Scar, in their form. This is, in Grian's mind, the worst thing that could've happened given the timing. He ignores him where he can (Joel's advice) but eventually it becomes more of a chore to avoid him than to just talk. As it would turn out, Scar isn't a bad guy. Not even close.
Somehow, that makes Grian even more upset.
── ⟢ ・⸝⸝

welcome to metalkaloids' hermitcraft/heartstopper au :) a lot of formatting (eg. song titles in the notes and the summary) is inspired by rozzywrites !!

Chapter 1: prologue

Summary:

the scene opens in a corridor, in this case the band building, and grian has just broken things off with taurtis. at this point, it’s the last day of year 10 for grian and taurtis. grian is packing up his things, leaving as taurtis, hurt and angry, scolds him and tries to get him to stay to talk about it. grian reminisces on seeing taurtis at the school gate with a girl he doesn’t know the name of, the two of them caught kissing without grian’s knowledge. it’s assumed that grian and taurtis were in an unofficial relationship until this point. grian ignores taurtis, brushing him off and hurrying to his car, where he dissociates until he’s home and realizes he doesn’t want to be there either.

Notes:

you said you didn’t know her name yesterday / but now you’ve got her stayin’ later on
drop the guillotine, peach pit

i'm so unbelievably excited to start sharing this fic with you guys!!!!!! first chapter will be out march 1st :)))

Chapter Text

“Grian, this is—this is so unnecessary!”

Taurtis’ voice shatters the hall, the sound bouncing off the walls and straight past Grian’s ears, settling instead like a weight in his stomach. Movement feels impossible, his feet like lead—but they move anyway, forced forward by the raw, instinctive need to leave.

“I’ll see you around.” His voice comes out rough, strained, bitter. It burns in his throat, tastes sour on his tongue. It hurts to say, and it hurts worse that it’s the truth.

Behind him, footsteps quicken, but it doesn’t stop him from yanking the door shut. The February cold hits him like a slap, stealing the breath from his lungs. Breathe. Keep moving. He can feel himself walking, see the horizon of the car park shrinking, but he isn’t in control. All he knows how to do is run.

A sound rings out from the building behind him, a call, a name—his name, or something close to it.

Grian has dealt with heartache. He’s dealt with stress, with strained relationships. But this? This is tar, thick and suffocating, coating his throat and lungs, making every breath a battle. His legs burn, his hands shake, his eyes sting.

“Grian!” Taurtis’ voice cuts across the lot, desperate, too close. The car door slams shut.

When did he get in the car?

His hands tremble—no, twitch—where they sit in his lap, fingers rolling and unfurling into fists. Fucking stupid. It’s stupid that he’s crying, not that he even notices until the first tear splashes against his palm. It’s worse that he never stands his ground, never fights, always runs. Fight or flight, a trained response, a learned habit, whatever you want to call it.

Then it comes back. Taurtis kissing some girl, nameless, faceless, between the gates of their schools. It’s burned behind his eyelids like a brand, like a scar, like something he’ll never be able to forget. The memory makes him choke on his own breath. Stupid.

At some point, Taurtis must give up on calling his name, or maybe the ringing in Grian’s ears drowns it out. Whether or not he’s in any condition to drive is a mystery, but it doesn’t stop him.

Turn signal. Red light. Red light. Go. Stop. Then suddenly—

Suddenly, he’s in his driveway.

This isn’t better.