Chapter Text
After the last … incident as they had been calling it, he and Xisuma had put together a team to shield and hide the world from outsiders. Anything that needed to enter had to have every line of code checked personally by Xisuma. Their team was small but powerful in unimaginable ways; Grian the ex-watcher who had access to and deep knowledge of unseen powers, Xisuma the voidtouched one of the few who could walk freely through the void and as they were an admin one who could access, modify, and see the world code, Scar the vex hybrid who’s magic could tow the line between life and death itself, and Cub the Warden hybrid who despite his insistence that it wasn’t magic and simply the application of yet to be explained science could send sonically charged bursts that ignored all barriers including dimensional and world based.
They had worked for months to set up protections, each one using their strengths and doing what they knew best. Cub created an interdimensional warning system using sonic bursts that could be both felt and heard as to make sure everyone got them. Grian used his powers to shroud the world from the watchers, and at the request of his friends he shrouded a few other worlds to keep their loved ones safe. Scar on the other hand had taken on the responsibility of creating barriers, ones that could kill outsiders without harming hermits or those who were invited. And Xisuma was reworking the world’s code and moving it as to help it stay hidden and unidentifiable, so that nobody who wasn’t given the world‘s updated information could locate it. Not one of them saw the value of rest at the time given the urgency of the situation and as such were all assigned someone to make sure they took breaks, courtesy of False with an alarmingly large sword and the other hermits having far too many worries. Keralis watched over Xisuma, often using his extra arms to force void into a room and hold the door shut until they slept. False kept an eye on Cub often using her agility and threats of violence to force him to take care of himself. Jellie and Bdubs helped take care of Scar usually by trapping Scar in his chair with Jellie on his lap and Bdubs offering blankets and pillows, not perfect but it worked well enough. And Mumbo worked hard with the help of Pesky Bird to keep Grian alive, mostly through unconscionable amounts of tea and regular cuddle piles for naps. The process still took months but it was worth it, in the end they all felt reassured that no watchers would be able to get into the world… except for Grian.
The first thing he'd done once they'd set up the protections and he had properly recharged his power was regain the ears he had when disguised, the feathers watchers had were not easy to hear out of and generally uncomfortable. Then over time he continued with changing smaller features, he couldn't risk larger ones in case he used too much power and his protections dropped. He brought his eyes down to a more standard set of two, and with the help of Mumbo helped turn them from a pure obsidian black to a more human set with white scleras, soft blue irises, and black pupils. And he brought his claws down to a more manageable length that more strongly resembled long nails that had been painted black according to Mumbo. He had no clue what he really looked like, but Mumbo said he looked cool and Mumbo didn’t lie to him.
Mumbo was helping him get ready, his favourite sweater having been remade and modified to make it easier for him to clasp together using magnets as his new, old? wings tended to get in the way. His comfortable pants now accessorised with a leg bag and scabbard, and much to his disdain he had to trade his "Impractical" fuzzy socks and slippers with slip-on shoes that he could more easily take on and off. He still couldn’t understand that, he’d never worn shoes before and nobody had noticed. Until he had started recovering again and someone asked where his shoes were, Mumbo was in a bit of trouble with the other hermits for having not noticed that earlier. And attaching a strap to his left arm to allow Pesky Bird’s harness to guide him more easily and quickly. He was sad Mumbo wouldn't be staying for the event but relieved that he would still come with for introductions, apparently his best friend had a “prior engagement” and wouldn’t be able to stay for the event. He was pretty sure that prior engagement was banging his head against the wall while fixing a door, but he wouldn’t call the man out like that.
"Are you excited to meet everyone? It's been ages since most of us have seen them, especially Lizzie and Jimmy!"
"Which one is Jimmy again?"
"Pearl's adopted brother, he's an avian specifically a canary. And he has some mild hearing loss so he made sure everyone else going can sign so when you aren't feeling wordy everyone can still understand you. He's one of the only hybrids coming who aren't hermits but they are all of the same opinions as us human hermits. The other is Lizzie, Joel's wife. She's an axolotl hybrid and from everything Joel has said about her she's a complete sweetheart, he is almost certainly going to immediately run to hug her so we might want to enter the world on the other side from him so we don't get knocked over." Mumbo laughed. "Oh and while not hybrids, Scott and Martyn are both elves. Jimmy and Pearl have known Martyn for years from a long closed world and Scott and Gem are great friends, I don’t know them very well but the others speak highly of them. Martyn can be a little protective though as far as I’ve been told, especially with Jimmy. That shouldn’t be an issue, they know that you’re a good person. But while I don’t think you’re going to, no jokes about traumatising him further.”
“That’s definitely something I can do.” And he… he was excited! Xisuma had been helping him work on this event world for weeks and teaching him the basics of being an admin. Though thankfully voi offered to do the portals part, after everything with the watchers he still didn’t feel comfortable with the idea of opening his own portals. Instead Xisuma would open the portal for the hermits and once everyone was through he could send them a message to close it, then they would do the same thing in reverse to get back. The admins of other worlds were responsible for getting their people to and from the world. It was exciting to have the opportunity to meet these people who his friends cared about, and he really liked the idea of running an event. Disability aids, service animals, and emotional support animals were already pre approved to come into the world and would be teleported to people if they were too far away, with the exception of Scar’s chairs as he was bringing many in a shulker… he just got the shulker teleported to him. They were going to use non perma-death with a three death rule, and Xisuma had helped him put in a line of code to limit pain though so it would feel more like a papercut rather than a major wound. They didn’t want anyone to actually be hurt, that wasn’t fun! The game was meant to be fun!
“Hey Mumbo?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m really glad I crash landed in your world.”
“Me too.”
“And I would do it all again to have the chance to be able to meet you again, you showed me that existence can be more than just pain. I love you.”
“You are such a sap, and I love you too, Grian.” Mumbo’s warmth enveloped him in a hug, gently squeezing him with a comfort that only his best friend could ever seem to provide. Don’t get him wrong he adored all the hermits but Mumbo was his first friend, and even if it hadn’t been too long he was Grian’s longest friend. In the short time they’d known one another Mumbo had managed to show him more kindness in a day than he had gotten for his entire existence up until they’d met.
“Before we head out I talked to False and Skizz about jacket alternatives for you and they suggested a cloak with slits in the back for your wings, so I got one that should be warm enough for when it’s cold. It has magnetic closures like your jumper so it should be easy for you to take on and off.” As Mumbo pulled back a soft piece of fabric was placed in his hands.
“Can you help me get it on?” He didn’t need the help but Mumbo was always better at making things look presentable.
“Of course.” The cloak was taken from his hands and carefully put on him. “You should feel to find the closure so you can get it on and off when you need to.” There was something mischievous in Mumbo’s voice that he only understood when he felt it, he knew that charm. It was his half of the friendship necklace, the one he thought was gone forever. “I uh- I thought you would like it, it was on the floor after they… you know. Tango helped me fix it but this way it isn’t able to be pulled off. I hope that's okay.”
“It’s amazing, thank you.” Mumbo had become accustomed to Grian’s crying at kindness so he didn’t comment when his eyes welled up.
“Always, I will always do what I can to make your life as great as you deserve.”
“Is everyone ready?” Xisuma’s voice was calm as he spoke, contrasting the excited bouncing Joel was doing. Mumbo stood next to him, holding his hand while Pesky Bird sat comfortably on his shoulder.
“So ready, I can’t wait to see Lizzie! Do I look okay?” Joel interrupted the sounds of agreement.
“I think you look great.” Grian commented, giggling.
“Thank y- wait a minute!” Truly the best part of them all knowing he was blind was all the jokes he could now make.
“You look good Joel, that was a good one Grian.” He could practically hear the eye roll from Etho.
“Thank you, Etho.”
“Am I good to open the portal now?”
“Go for it.” Grian agreed, followed by the clacks of typing. The familiar feel of Xisuma’s power bloomed in front of him, but he knew better than to step forward until told. Apparently after all the time they’d spent working with each other he tended to recognise Xisuma’s portals before they’d actually formed and become visible. It was interesting to him, for his entire existence he’d thought that void power was cold. But as he was learning the power that was wielded by some of the hermits radiated warmth, even Scar with his magical control over life and death’s magic was warm and almost friendly. During their work protecting the world he had had to be stopped repeatedly from touching it and risking his life while Scar tuned it. Portals like Xisuma’s grew a little like ripples in water, at first a small drop pierces the veil between worlds. But the drop’s ripples spread and pulled open the veil with them, it was its own type of beautiful.
“Alright i-”
“Woo!” Joel interrupted, his own cries of excitement cut off as he went through the portal.
“As I was saying, it’s open. You are good to go through.” Xisuma sounded exhausted by Joel’s antics, they all knew he was excited to see his wife but they’d also prefer if he was excited a little quieter.
“Ready?” Mumbo asked him and lightly squeezed his hand.
“Ready.” And with that they stepped forward, the familiar feeling of the almost liquid like portal was oddly comforting to him. Unlike most of the things he did with the other hermits he knew what to do here.
As he stepped out of the portal he heard Joel shout "Lizzie!" and sprint away clearly having missed his wife. But only moments later a scream of pure agony and devastation filled the air…