Prompt: Trust (Fluff prompt)

Grian was planning another visit to Ex since the two had become close friends very quickly. Ex was banned from Hermitcraft and Grian couldn't understand wh. After all, he was so nice! What could have happened with him for the Admin to ban him? Grian could easily say he trusted his friend. He enjoyed visiting Ex in the End as well. It was a peaceful time where he could talk about whatever and drink tea. 

What Grian didn't know though, was that Ex only enjoyed Grian's visits as he was gaining the builder's trust so he could easily use him. He'd acted as if he enjoyed the other's presence but in reality, all he cared about was that Grian could be the key to getting back into Hermitcraft and causing mayhem again.

Grian turned to Ex, a smile playing on the edge of his lips. "I really do like hanging out with you. I feel like you're one of the few people who actually get what it was like. You had to deal with...y'know, it too." 

Ex was silent for a bit before answering. "...Yeah, I get it. I feel the same way about you too," Ex said, his cheeks coloring slightly. 

 Grian nudged him playfully, smiling as Ex flusteredly looked away. "Aw, c'mon. Don't try to hide the fact that you're just a huge softie." 

 "Am not." 

 "Are too." Grian turned serious for a bit. "But, for real, you can count on me. I'll be there for you, promise. I trust you, after all." 

 "...Yeah. Me, too. Thanks, G."

Grian sat in silence for a moment before voicing a concern he had. "I don't think this is fair," he groused. "Xisuma's in the wrong for banning you, you know. I don't get why he's doing this." 

"What do you mean?" Ex asked, eyeing Grian confusedly. 

 "I mean--banning you and leaving you practically for dead in the void. That's not fair at all! Nobody deserves that. Especially not you." 

 Ex felt his smile dip a little. He hadn't been completely honest with Grian when he told the story out how his brother had exiled him to the void. He painted X in--well, a somewhat bad way, making it look like Ex was completely innocent, and a victim. Grian had taken pity on him, and told him about what had happened with his previous world, Evo. The two had taken off from there. 

 Ex had never told him that their entire friendship was based on a lie. Grian trusted him. What would happen to that trust if he knew the truth? 

"Y'know what," Grian said, shifting to the side. "I'm going to talk to him later. See if he can do anything about this--this ban he put on you. I don't like it. It's about time you joined us." 

 He grinned at Ex. "Maybe we could be base buddies when the ban gets lifted." 

Ex felt a sharp pang of guilt. Not if. When. Grian was sure that he could convince X. Worse, he thought that Ex didn't deserve to be exiled. But he did. 

Ex wanted to tell Grian the truth. He's right there, you idiot. Just tell him. He opened his mouth...but nothing came out. 

 Grian stood, and turned to Ex. "Well, I guess I should go now. It's been nice to see you again, though I hate that we have to do it here." With a sad smile, he turned around and began his slow journey back to the noisy chaos he called home. 

 --

Grian stared at the colossal mass of pure void approaching, not believing what he was seeing. That was the void. The actual void. It had escaped from its bedrock confines and was now slowly approaching the surface, eating away at everything it passed. It had already taken half of the Shopping District. 

 And with it, most of the Hermits. 

Grian felt sick. He couldn't process it all. This void, all of these problems and death, was the result of someone he thought was close to him. Someone who he'd thought understood him, and related to his feelings. 

 Feelings that had apparently been a lie. 

 He had used Grian. He had taken advantage of him, and used him for his own gain. After Grian had convinced the Admin to lift the ban on his brother, he had gone out and immediately overwrote the void to slowly overtake Hermitcraft.

Grian turned to the person next to him, feeling a growing sense of rage build up inside him. He could barely look at him. Not after all of this. But there was one thing he wanted to say, and he wanted to tell this person how much he had hurt Grian. 

"I trusted you, Ex. Why didn't you do the same?"

Score: 8