Part VIII

Simmons was sitting next to him, a playful smirk on his face. His fingers played over a scar on Grif's arm, an arm that was a miss-match of pigments, of different skin. Another hand—a metal hand— rested on his very much flesh knee. He moved that hand up further, sliding it over a distinct bulge in the other man's pants. Grif's breath hitched, his eyes fluttering closed. He bit into his lower lip, suppressing a moan that Simmons was adamant to be let out. The other man slid closer, thigh touching thigh, and pressed his hand harder down on Grif's erection. His breath hitched again and he let out a choked groan. He could practically feel Simmons' grin.

"Grif!" He frowned, pressing his eyes further closed. Donut was not welcome here; couldn't he tell he was busy? Simmons fingers faltered on their way up his stomach, and Grif's eyes bolted open and hand reached out for the other man's shoulder. Instead of meeting flesh, his hand went straight through. He gasped, staring at Simmons in confusion.

"What, you thought this was real? Don't make me laugh, Grif, who'd want you?" A cruel smile had fitted its way on Simmons' face, ruining any hope that he was joking. Grif wilted, shying away. He pulled his legs up to his chest, pulling himself away from a manically laughing Simmons.

"Grif, wake up! This isn't a place to be sleeping, silly." Grif choked on a sob, bolting upright and accidentally knocking Donut back. He looked around, eyes wide and chest heaving. That was the first dream he'd had while here. Hopefully, if that was what they were going to be like, it was his last. He knew he had paled, and he gulped as he looked over at Donut, who now was staring at him with wide eyes. He, too, was on the ground.

"Are you okay Grif? Did you have a bad dream? Want me to make you a hot chocolate and tuck you into bed?" Grif visibly flinched, looking away from Donut. He swallowed again, could feel his pulse slowing, his limbs stop shaking.

"I'm fine." Donut shook his head, heaving himself to his feet and stretching out his hand for Grif to take.

"I'll help you up." Grif deflated, defeated. He reached up and took the other man's hand, Donut pulled on him slightly and Grif attempted to get his stiff legs to help. Instead, he fell back and pulled Donut with him. "Oof! Oops! You okay Grif? Didn't squash you, did I?" Grif offered a smile, shaking his head.

"Just be glad it wasn't me falling on you. I'm heavier now, probably kill you." His smile was lopsided, almost a grin. Donut gave a wide smile back, his eyes twinkling.

"Was that a joke, Grif? Oooh, Griffy!" Donut poked Grif in the side, causing the other man to let out a breathless laugh. He gave a shrug.

"Suppose it was." Slowly they made their laborious way to their feet, a strange, new companionable silence surrounding them. "Donut... can I talk to you?" Donut paused, giving Grif a serious look.

"Of course you can. You can always talk to me, Grif." Grif nodded, gesturing for Donut to follow him behind the base. They walked quietly, Donut watching Grif lumber and limp, very much unused to the new weight and the new mechanisms. They stopped under the shadow. Grif turned to face Donut, giving him a nervous, insecure look.

"Donut... When I woke up after being hit by the tank, I was actually—Oh fuck, this sounds stupid..." Grif paused, dragging his flesh hand down his face and groaning. "I was sleeping. On the roof of the base. You were all following one of Sarge's harebrained schemes and he saw fit to leave me behind. Probably hoping the Blues would launch a secret attack and kill me. I took this as the opportunity to sleep. This is a dream. None of this is real." Donut nodded slowly. He gave Grif a small smile.

"If it's a dream, how come you haven't woken up yet? And how come you can feel pain? Hm? I may not be the smartest person out there, but maybe this happened for a reason. Maybe you should just accept it as reality, a reality." Donut paused, grinning again. "I think that was the most you've ever spoken to me in one go. Come on, I'll make you a hot chocolate. Simmons has been muttering under his breath for a while about something, so maybe you can sit and listen to him for a while."

"You don't think I'm crazy? Oh God, who am I kidding, you're crazy as well, of course you're not going to judge me as weird! And I don't want to talk to kiss-ass-Simmons! He probably just wants to bitch to me about leaving the empty tray in our room." Donut giggled, shaking his head with a silly smile.

"Grif! Simmons is a nice young man, you should be happy to have him as a—" Donut cough, wide eyed for a moment before running into the base in a fit of giggles. Grif frowned, staring after him with a slack jaw.

"Huh. At least some things seem to be the same..."

"Grif! Get yer lazy ass inside! We're havin' a team meetin'!" Grif sighed, shoulders slumping, before dejectedly following his CO's orders.