"4 YEARS AGO"
CH 1
A/N: Ok I know I'm going on a Grif/Simmons frenzy because I kept running this fic over and over in my head like a movie. Hopefully I'm able to transfer it into words appropriately. Rated M for language and sexual content.
Disclaimer: I don't own RvB or any of the Halo characters. They belong to their respective creators at Bungie and Rooster Teeth… tears… I just play in their sandbox. XD
Simmons sat behind his desk staring at the tattoo on his left arm. A year before their required service term ended Grif had managed to convince him to allow him to 'ink' him. He ghosted his fingers along the black lines of the image and laughed. He was so mad at Grif when he saw the finished tattoo in the mirror. It was a really bad attempt at a flaming skull. A small smile crossed his face and he pulled down on his sleeve.
God... I can't believe it's going to be 4 years now.
They had tried to stay in contact but after a few months their phone calls became less frequent until they completely stopped. Simmons had decided to continue his military service so he hadn't gone back to Earth with Grif and Donut. And Sarge? Well… He's was still at Valhalla. Training recruits. Through the UNSC he had managed to complete his degree and was now working for their military intelligence department. He had constantly danced around the subject of requesting a transfer to Earth but never could muster up the courage to do so. What would he do if his transfer request was accepted? Look for Grif? He doubted the orange clad soldier wanted to see him. Not after what happened the day he informed him he wasn't going back home.
"I can't believe you didn't tell me! How… How could you do this to me Simmons?" Grif was at the verge of tears. There was only a week left until their service ended and Simmons had put off telling Grif he wasn't going home with him. They had never really pursued anything beyond a very uncomfortable friendship and a bit of flirting but he knew he had hurt Grif deeply. He had no idea he would react this way.
"I… Why are you so mad? Didn't you say you didn't want anything to do with anyone here anymore?" Simmons' reply was very defensive. He turned to face the orange clad soldier and could see the hurt in his face.
"I didn't mean you…" Those were the last words they spoke for the remainder of the week until they were on the air freighter towards red command. Before parting ways Grif told Simmons he would try to keep in touch but he made no promises.
XOXOXOXXOXOXOXO
Simmons was sitting in the lobby waiting for his flight. Two months ago he submitted a transfer request and it had finally been approved. The very next day he packed and headed for the airport. He knew it was a long shot trying to locate his former teammate but he couldn't just let their friendship disappear. His mind was flooding with memories of Blood Gulch. Memories of all the times he covered for Grif when Sarge caught him slacking off. Memories of chasing after him when he stormed out angry at something he had said, memories of those nights when Grif would stare at him from across the room thinking that he wasn't looking. A smile appeared on his face and his thoughts were broken when he heard his flight being called.
New Mombasa was still healing. The war had destroyed most of Africa and many cities had become ghost towns. As he sat in the back of the taxi he could see construction crews rebuilding the fallen buildings. Many areas of the city were still closed off. He arrived at his hotel a little after 12 noon and checked in. As he carried his luggage in he took out his phone and called his superiors to report in. He was transferred to a military base just outside the city limits of New Mombasa but he had a few days before he had to report in. He tossed his phone on the bed and walked into the restroom.
The cybernetics on his arm were making a whirring sound as he reached up to lather his head. He stood there under the water thinking if it was a good idea to look for Grif before he headed back to base. He traced his fingers over his shoulder where the robotic arm meshed in with his skin. The UNSC had replaced his cybernetic parts with newer ones and he found it easier to do everyday tasks. He was glad he didn't have to worry about rusting anymore. He inspected the rest of his body in the mirror. He couldn't help but think that somewhere Grif was walking around with parts of his body. At least he would never forget about him. A smile ghosted his lips as he dressed and stepped out into the room. Out of pure habit he tidied up the room before heading out to his next destination.
Simmons held out a piece of paper in front of him as he walked down the narrow corridor. He wanted to see Grif. He had spent the previous day making calls and asking for favors in an effort to locate him. The last place he called was a security agency where Grif was apparently working. Simmons almost choked at the thought of him being entrusted with anyone's or anything's security being as he always fell asleep during patrol duty when they were back on Blood Gulch.
Simmons stopped in front of the door indicated on the piece of paper and softly knocked on the door. His head was spinning. What would he say? What if he didn't want to see him? Should he hug him? What if he's with… His thought was cut short when a tiny woman opened the door. Her blond hair fell over her shoulders and her blue eyes looked up at him.
"Oh, I'm sorry… I'm looking for the Grif residence… I must've gotten the wrong address…" Simmons really hoped that he did in fact have the wrong address. He couldn't begin to process the idea that Grif could have moved on and found someone.
"This is the Grif residence. Are you looking for Dexter?" His heart nearly broke when the woman answered. How could he have been so stupid? This was probably his wife. He had never fully stopped to think about it.
"I… I… Yes. I'm an old teammate from the Army…" Simmons dropped his head and waited for the woman to reply. She simply opened the door and asked him to come in. As he entered he saw that his old teammate hadn't really changed much in his habits. There were plastic Twinkie wrappers everywhere and the apartment reeked of cigarette. The woman motioned for Simmons to take a seat.
"Let me go wake him up. I'll be right back." She turned into the kitchen and filled a cup with water.
Of course. You can only wake up Grif from his afternoon nap with a cold rush of water to the face.
"It's okay. I don't want to bother him. If he's asleep I can just come back another time…" The woman cut him off and insisted. She told him it was about time he woke up anyway. The woman disappeared into a tiny hallway behind him as he sat there in a trance. He was nervous. The next thing he saw nearly made his heart jump out of his cybernetic chest. The woman stepped out of the hallway with a child in her arms. Simmons began to hyperventilate.
Oh God. He did move on. He has a family now. I shouldn't have come…
Simmons calmed his nerves and asked himself why he was even panicking. He was just here to visit an old friend. What could he have expected? It's not like Grif was going to hold his life for him. They had only just been friends after all. The woman placed the child on the floor. Simmons ran his eyes across the boys face, he couldn't have been more than 3 years old. The woman leaned in and gave the child a kiss on the forehead and then reached to grab her purse from the end table next to where Simmons was sitting.
"You be a good boy and don't mess with your papa okay. DEX! I left some food in the kitchen for you!" She waved at the boy and left the apartment closing the door slowly behind her. Simmons sat in place dumbfounded. His head was still processing what he had just witnessed when he heard his voice behind him.
"Simmons? Is that you?" He jumped off the couch and turned around to see a shirtless Grif running his hand through his messy brown hair. His eyes were squinting and he could barely see his hazel eyes. He rubbed the sleep of his eyes and looked up at him. "Holy shit, Simmons! You fucking cockbite. You should've called and I would've cleaned up this place!" Grif paced towards the coffee table picking up some wrappers and taking them to the trash in the nearby kitchen.
"Since when do you ever clean up, asshole?" The words just flowed naturally. He smiled at the fact that he could still talk to him in the same manner.
"Oh man! It's been years. How the fuck have you been? Still kissing ass?" Grif reached for a cigarette pack on the table while simultaneously stuffing some food in his mouth. As he swallowed his food he placed the cigarette in his mouth and lit up.
"Doesn't your wife get mad because you smoke in front of the baby?" Simmons pointed at the child who was sitting in the middle of the living room playing with a stuffed animal.
"My what?" Grif took a drag of his cigarette and walked towards the living room. "Oh, you mean Nancy. Nah dude. That's Donut's wife." Simmons dropped his jaw trying to figure out if he had heard correctly.
"Donut's… wife? Wait, Donut married a woman?" Simmons nearly fell over. Donut? Married? He just couldn't picture it. Simmons always figured Donut would end up with some tall, husky male foreigner but never with a woman. Grif could see the surprise in Simmons face and plopped himself on the couch. Simmons followed and sat down. His jaw still wide open. "It's hard to imagine, huh? Turns out Donut grew up with 6 sisters so they pretty much corrupted his behavior. I always thought he was gay. Donut never ceases to surprise us." Grif laughed and took another drag of his cigarette. Simmons wafted the smoke away from his face.
"You really shouldn't smoke in front of the baby. It's bad for him. Wait, is that Donut's baby?" Simmons felt somewhat relieved that the woman he had assumed was Grif's wife wasn't his wife at all. His relief didn't last long though.
"No. He's mine. Technically." Simmons felt his heart fall to his feet again.
"Technically?" Simmons asked almost scared. Grif crushed the cigarette on the small ash tray on the coffee table and reached down to pick up the child sitting him on his lap. He ran his hand through his messy hair again and leaned back.
"I'm not his biological father, rather, he's my nephew. Kaikaina… my sister… she left him." Simmons stared at Grif's face. His lips fell into a barely visible frown. "She left him at the hospital with my information written on a note attached to his blanket. She said she didn't want to take care of a baby because she didn't want to be weighed down. She apologized in the note and asked the people at the hospital to contact me. She hadn't even named him yet… I…" Simmons could see Grif's body tensing up.
"I'm so sorry Grif… I… I don't know what to say." Simmons wanted to embrace him but held himself in place.
"It's okay. I've made my peace with it. I guess it runs in the family. Mother's abandoning their children. To be honest I didn't want him either but I couldn't let him grow up in the foster care system like we did. It messes with your head. Nancy comes over once in a while to help me out." Grif shook his head as he stood up. He walked towards the kitchen and reached for a box of Twinkies on top of the refrigerator. He opened a bag and handed the fluffy pastry to the child in his arms and opened one for himself. He stuffed it in his mouth and walked back to the living room.
"You shouldn't feed him those things. It's not healthy for a child to…" Grif clenched his fist and interrupted Simmons.
"Goddamnit Simmons! Will you fucking stop telling me what to do! I'm tired of people telling me what I can and can't do! This isn't the army." Simmons could see the irritation in his face as he set the child back down on the floor. As much as he wanted to argue with his former teammate he let the issue go and slowly stood up.
"I'm sorry… I have to get going. I only have a few more days before I have to head back to base and I need to sort out some things." Simmons made his way to the door giving Grif one last glance. He was standing there with clenched fists looking at the floor. Simmons heart felt like it was breaking as he stepped out of the apartment and closed the door behind him. His mind was processing everything and he couldn't hold back the tear that formed in his remaining organic eye. He made his way out of the building and called for a cab.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Paperwork kept piling up on his desk. It had been a few weeks since he had settled back on base and already he was overwhelmed with work. He always pictured himself traveling the galaxy like a spy. When he accepted the job he never figured that there would be so much paperwork involved. He thanked God it was the weekend. At least he could get off base and stretch out his legs for a bit.
The streets of downtown New Mombasa were crowded with life. Even as the city stood in its current state the inhabitants never failed to flood the streets. It had been a very long time since he had gotten the chance to walk around as a normal civilian. Simmons was sipping on tea when he felt someone jump on him sending the Styrofoam cup to the ground.
"What the… Donut?" He looked down at the shorter man who was practically hanging from his neck.
"Simmons! Grif told me you came back! Why didn't you call me?" The shorter man pouted as he let go. He looked up and saw Nancy walking up to them. She was carrying Grif's nephew in her arms. "Oh my God, Simmons! You look so good. The years have been kind to you." Simmons organic eye twitched when he saw Donut clap his hands in front of him. He still couldn't believe he was married. Married to a woman. Donut dragged him to a nearby restaurant where they sat for at least 2 hours just catching up. Donut was working for an interior decorating company, his 'dream' job as he so cheerfully described it. They reminisced about their adventures and mishaps. Simmons felt relieved that at least Donut wasn't mad at him. The way Grif had reacted when he saw him told Simmons he was still angry at him. He had tried being a good host but he could hear the bitterness in his voice the whole time.
Simmons stood up from the table and they walked towards the door. Donut clung to Simmons' cybernetic arm as they walked out. Donut pulled him off to the side and told him he could tell that he wasn't happy. He was happy. Wasn't he? He told Simmons he should go back and talk to Grif because he knew Grif wanted to see him. Simmons told Donut that he didn't think it was a good idea because he was probably still mad at him. Somehow he convinced him to take the baby back to him and use that as an excuse to see him.
The walk across the hallway seemed a little longer to Simmons for some reason. As he approached the door to Grif's apartment he felt a knot in his stomach. He tugged baby Grif along as he knocked on the door. His heart began to race when he heard the door creak open. Grif stood at the doorway with a cigarette in his mouth.
"Simmons? What are you doing here?" Grif looked down at the child trying to balance himself on one of Simmons' feet. "Where's Donut? Why is Richard with you?" He leaned down to pick up the child. As he walked in he motioned for Simmons to follow. Grif crushed the cigarette into the ashtray and wafted the smoke away from the child's face.
"Richard?" Simmons could see a blush on Grif's face as he repeated the name.
"I… I told you my sister didn't even give him a name. It was the first thing that came to my mind." Grif was standing with his back towards Simmons. He was trying to hide his flushed face from him. Simmons chuckled as he sat down on the couch handing a stuffed teddy bear to little Grif.
Richard Grif.
The thought brought a wide smile to Simmons' face. He was happy that his friend had at least been thinking about him.
"Don't flatter yourself cockbite." Grif interjected as he noticed the smile on Simmons' face. He sat on the couch next to Simmons. "I'm sorry about last time. I didn't mean to go all PMSy on you. It just really shocked me that you came back." Grif leaned back and folded his arms under his head. "Thanks for visiting though."
Simmons couldn't help but gaze at Grif. He was sitting next to him shirtless again. He was surprised he was still very physically fit. His eyes wandered around his chest and he noticed the scars that were left behind from the surgery. He could see where his skin was different colors. The thought that Grif was walking around with pieces of himself made a smile come to his lips. He looked up and saw Grif's hazel eyes staring back at him. He couldn't read his expression.
"I… I could help you take care of Richard… You know… If you wanted…" Simmons turned away as he felt his cheeks blush.
"Do you even know how to take care of a kid?" Grif's question sounded almost as a mock. Simmons sat up and turned to face Grif.
"Of course I do! I grew up in a single parent household with 3 younger brothers. I had to help my mom take care of them." Simmons felt a little pride as he assured Grif that he was suitable for childcare. "And then there was also you. Picking up after you wasn't exactly easy but I managed." Both men laughed as they remembered all the times Simmons accused Grif of being worse than a child back at Blood Gulch.
For the first time in many years they both sat there and talked. Grif told him about his job and how it wasn't that much different from Blood Gulch. He said all he had to do was stand in one spot and make sure nobody touched anything. Simmons talked about his job and how he was starting to hate it just as much as Blood Gulch. The hours passed and Simmons unconsciously passed out on the couch of Grif's living room. When he opened his eyes he looked at his watch and saw that it was 3 in the morning. He sat up and felt a bump at his feet. Grif was lying on his side with his arm folded under his neck. He reached down to place one of the pillows on the couch under his head when he felt a hand on his wrist. Grif was holding him down.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to pass out… I should get going…" Simmons tried to break free but the grasp on his wrist was too strong.
"Don't go…" Grif whispered without opening his eyes. Simmons backed down into the couch and he felt Grif release his grasp. He lay there in silence listening to Grif's breathing like if it were a lullaby. He closed his eyes and drifted back to sleep.