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[gt-daboss]

Jen and Gabby chapter 6

Finally got this one out. I've been sitting on it for a while, and I finally got it finished. I'm mostly happy with it, but I'm a bit worried its not as good as the previous chapters due to it taking so long. anyways. I hope you enjoy! criticism is appreciated.

CW: cages, dehumanization,

here's the previous part:

and here's the first part:

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It was impossible to tell what time it was. Tim and Gabby were surrounded by cold metal walls, there were no windows to the outside other than the door of metal bars, the only way in or out of their cage. The ceiling at a bright white light beaming down on them. It was blinding to look at. The ground was covered in metal bars that were painful to sit or lay on. The cage smelled like pet food, hair, and rat droppings, similar to the smell of the walls of houses Tim had borrowed from which had rat infestations. There weren’t any rats or mice here, though, just the lingering smell of them. They had been here at some point, something must have happened to them. Tim was afraid of what that something was. Maybe they were just moved. Maybe they’re gone. 

“What are we gonna do, Tim?” Gabby asked, looking around worried. “What are they going to do to us?” 

“I…I don’t know, Gabby,” Tim said, “I’m sure it won’t be that bad,” he tried to reassure her.

“What is this place?” Gabby asked,

“A laboratory,” Tim said, “This is where humans do like, tests and stuff,”

“Are they going to do tests on us?” Gabby asked,

“Well, from what I heard, they usually do tests on animals, like mice and stuff,” Tim said. He was recalling most of his information from what he’d seen on TV while with Rebecca. He didn’t know if he was right or not.

“But there aren’t any mice here!” Gabby said,

“It sure smells like there are,” Tim muttered, “Look, everything is going to be fine,” Tim tried to comfort Gabby, “We’re going to get out of here, ok? They aren’t going to hurt us, I won’t let them,”

“Are you sure?” Gabby asked. Tim paused for a moment, before sighing.

“I’m not, but I hope I’m right,” he said, looking down.

“Why were you in that house I was in?” Gabby asked, “Did that human boy kidnap you too?” 

“No. well, he did, but, uh,” Tim stumbled over his words, “Look, me and your sister Jen were trying to save you, and then we were caught by that brat.”

“You and Jen were coming to save me?” Gabby asked,

“Yeah, Jen told me about you getting kidnapped and all, and I decided to help her,” Tim rubbed the back of his neck. Suddenly, Gabby hugged Tim around his waist.

“Thank you,” Gabby said, hugging Tim tightly, “I thought no one was coming to save me,”

“Uh, you're welcome,” Tim said, “I mean, you shouldn’t really be thanking me, y’know, since we failed,”

“Where is Jen?” Gabby asked, “Why didn’t Danny have her?”

“Danny?” Tim asked,

“The human that kidnapped us,” Gabby said,

“Oh, uh…I don’t know where Jen is,” Tim said, looking down,

“Weren’t you caught together?” Gabby asked. Tim was silent for a moment. He didn’t know how to break it to her.

“When we were seen, the human picked me up, and Jen avoided it by using her needle,” Tim said,

“Oh, that's how she avoided being caught when I was taken!” Gabby said, smiling at the thought of her sister. “So she got away?”

“...he kicked her.” Tim said, “The human kicked her into a wall. She looked hurt. She didn’t get up. The human just left her in the room when he took me. That's the last I saw of her,” Gabby was silent for a moment. She was processing what she’d heard, trying to make sense of it.

“So she…Jen is……” tears started to swell in Gabby's eyes as she thought about the possibility of what happened to her sister,

“No, no, she’s not dead! She didn’t die, she was just hurt.” Tim said, seeing Gabby’s face turn to despair, “Jen’s alive, I’m sure of it. I know it,” 

“So, she's still in that room?” Gabby asked,

“Maybe,” Tim looked down, “maybe she’s recovered and escaped already. If she did, she’d probably be trying to find you still,”

“But, how would Jen ever find us?” Gabby asked worriedly, "We don't even know where we are, and even if Jen did, how would she get here?”

“I don’t know, but she'll figure something out,” Tim said. “She's your sister, she's smart like that. In the meantime, we should get out of here before the humans come back,”

“Yeah,” Gabby said. The two borrowers went to the edge of their cage, where the door made of metal bars was. They were high up, at least too high for borrowers like them to survive falling. The metal bars were too close for them to squeeze out of. Gabby looked at Tim. “Do you have any of your borrowing tools? Like a grappling hook, or needle?”

“No, the humans took them from me,” Tim said, looking down, and sighing.

“Then what are we going to do?” Gabby said, looking scared.

“I’m sure we’ll think of something, don’t worry,” Tim said, “we’ll just have to wait for now,”

“Oh,” Gabby said, worriedly. She paced around the cage, gripping her hair, before she sat down in a corner. “We’re never gonna get out of here…”

“Hey, don’t say that,” Tim said, “we’re not gonna be here forever, we’ll get eventually,”

“I’m sorry, it's just,” Gabby looked down, “what if I never see Jen again?”

“You will, don’t worry,” Tim rubbed Gabby's back, trying to comfort her.

“Are you sure? Or do you just hope so?” Gabby asked. Tim was silent for a moment.

“I’m sure enough,” he said, looking down.

Jen was still in Rebecca's car. She was too small to see out the windows properly, looking up all she could see was the sky and streetlights from above. It had stopped raining briefly, but the sky was still covered in clouds. They’ve been driving for a while, mostly in silence. Jen looked up at Rebecca. The human was staring at the road in front of them.

“How much longer?” Jen asked.

“Not long, we’ll be there soon,” Rebecca said, continuing to drive. The two shared a moment of silence before Rebecca spoke up again. “So, about what I said earlier, uh, about you being weak and helpless,” she paused.

“I’m not weak and helpless,” Jen said sternly.

“I know, I didn’t mean it that way,” Rebecca said, “I just, uh, I meant that… you're at a disadvantage…because of your size…and you could use some help,”

“Are you talking about me, or borrowers in general?” Jen asked.

“Uh, I dunno, both?” Rebecca said,

“The borrowers around this place are doing fine without help from humans,” Jen said. “And I only need help from you because of what the other humans did.”

“Yeah, I guess you guys are doing fine, but you're still dying of cats eating you, and hunger and such,” Rebecca said. “Imagine how much better things would be if you had our help, if humans knew about you,”

“They’d kidnap us and take us to a laboratory to do tests on?” Jen asked.

“Ok, I see your point, but not all humans are like that, honestly,” Rebecca said. “Most of us would probably treat you really well if you gave us a chance,”

“How would that even work? How would humans help tinies if they all knew about us?” Jen asked.

“Well, the government would make laws protecting you from being killed,” Rebecca said,

“Like they do for animals?” Jen asked,

“Well, yeah, kinda.” Rebecca looked down, “But you wouldn’t be seen as animals, you’d be seen as people…very small people,” 

“So what, everything else would be the same?” Jen asked.

“No, you wouldn’t have to steal to survive anymore,” Rebecca said. “I don’t know exactly how things would be, but I think it would work like how me and Tim live together. Y’know, every tiny would get their own human to take care of them,”

“Every human would have a tiny pet to own?” Jen asked.

“No, not like that,” Rebecca said,

“That sounds exactly like that,” Jen said, “all that would do is put humans in power over us and make us dependent on them. Not to mention that not all humans are like you,” 

“OK then, how would you do it?” Rebecca asked.

“...do what?” Jen looked up at her.

“How would you make a world where humans and tinies live together?” Rebecca asked.

“I don’t know, I’ve never thought about that, it's a thing that would never happen,” Jen leaned against the back of the car seat.

“Ok, but just hypothetically,” Rebecca said,

“Fine, I guess…hmm,” Jen thought to herself for a second. “We’d all have our own...tiny houses, and tiny cars, and like, little communities of tinies with tiny jobs, and money we could use to buy food for ourselves,” Jen said, chuckling under her breath at the absurd thought. “And tiny schools that our kids can go to, and basically all the stuff you have but our size.”

“That sounds nice,” Rebecca said, smiling.

“It sounds ridiculous.” Jen sighed, “It would never happen, it's impossible.”

“Well, you never know. Maybe someday,” Rebecca said, as the car slowly came to a stop, and she changed the gear to park. “Ok, we’re here.”

Jen got up from the car seat and looked up at Rebecca.

“Lift me to the window,” Jen told her. Rebecca lifted Jen up from under her arms and placed the borrower in front of the windshield. They were facing the biomedical institute, a large concrete building. The front had various glass windows and lights coming from the inside. The rest of the building was brown and windowless. There were a few other cars in the parking lot they were in, all covered in water from the rain.

“So, what's the plan?” Rebecca asked,

“You bring me inside, I find Tim and Gabby, and then we come back to you.” Jen said, “You bring us back to the neighborhood, and let me and my sister go our way.”

“Really? You don’t need any help getting them out of there?” Rebecca asked, before sighing. “Or are you just still afraid of me,” 

“I’m not afraid, human.” Jen said, “All I need you for is getting me here, and bringing us back home and….I’m grateful you decided to help with that…”

“Aww, you're welcome, tiny,” Rebecca said. Jen sighed,

“But I don’t need your help with anything else. Just bring me inside, and wait here for us to get back.” Jen commanded.

“But what if something happens to you?” Rebecca asked, “I can’t just let you go in there alone, i mean, what if you don’t come back?” Jen paused for a moment to think. Finally, she turned towards the human and looked up at her.

“If I don’t come back by midnight, go in there yourself and look for Gabby and Tim,” she said, before looking down. “If you find them, but not me, take them back to the neighborhood…tell Tim to bring Gabby to Liam and Nora at the marketplace.”

“But Jen,” Rebecca said, “I’m not gonna leave you here, I’m not just going to assume that you're dead if I can’t find you. Please, let me come with you to look for them,”

“You're a human, you’d get us caught.” Jen said, “You can’t hide or get around undetected the same way I can,”

“Oh…oh yeah,” Rebecca rubbed the back of her neck.

“If you find Gabby and not me, tell her…” Jen thought for a moment, “Tell Tim to tell her…no, tell Tim to get him, Liam, and Nora to teach her borrowing. And that I’m proud of her.” Jen said, looking down. Rebecca was silent for a moment. She wanted to protest more, and say that Jen was going to find Gabby and come back alive, say that she should be going with her to help, but she knew there was no point in it,

“Ok, I will,” Rebecca said, “should I bring you inside now?” 

“...yes,” Jen said, “get me inside of there,”

“Ok, I’ve got it,” Tim said, turning from the bars of the cage he and Gabby were in.

“You do?” Gabby said as she sat on the metal floor, “What's the plan? How do we get out of here?”

“So the humans are going to take us out of here sometime, right?” Tim said, “We wait for that to happen, and when we see an opening to escape, we take it,”

“That's your plan?” Gabby asked, “We wait for the humans to come to do their evil tests on us, and if we have a way to escape then, we escape? What if there isn’t a way to escape then?”

“I don’t know, that's the best idea I have,” Tim said, “it was this, or pretending to be dead so they throw us out,”

“What was wrong with that plan?” Gabby asked,

“...you don’t want to know what humans do with dead things, Gabby,” Tim said, rubbing the back of his neck, “just listen, If there's a time when you think you can get away, run. Run as fast as you can, and don’t look back until you're out of the human’s sight, ok?”

“O-okay,” Gabby gulped in nervousness.

“It should be any minute now unless they're keeping us in here until morning,” Tim said,

“What time is it?” Gabby asked,

“I don’t know, it should still be night,” Tim said, looking out the bars. He sighed and looked back at Gabby. “You should get some rest. I keep looking out, in case they come in here.”

“But…w-what if they do something to us? What if….” Gabby held herself, worried. Tim put his hand on her shoulder.

“Don’t worry, I’ll wake you up if anything happens. It's getting late, you should get some sleep.” Tim said, trying to comfort Gabby.

“Oh….okay….” she said, sitting down against the metal wall, and slowly laying down. Tim turned towards the bars again. He sighed, thinking to himself.

What are we going to do?

The vents of the lab were locked. Most vents that borrowers traveled through had to be manually unscrewed with a detached screwdriver bit, which Jen didn’t have. Rebecca had to get Jen inside by going through the front door and placing her on the ground by pretending to drop something while talking to the person at the front desk. Now Jen was traversing through the empty hallways, trying not to be seen. Most of the hallway lights were off, and there weren’t many humans in this building, so it wasn’t too much of a challenge to stay hidden. Every so often, there would be footsteps in the distance, and Jen would have to duck into an empty room with its door open, or under a chair, cleaning cart or behind a plant, or just stay in a dark shadow and hope she wasn’t seen while the human passed by. None of the people she saw looked like the man that was in the photo she’d seen at the house, the human she assumed took Gabby and Tim. There were some janitorial workers, and different scientists and employees leaving for the night, but none of them had the tinies on them. Jen even followed some to make sure, but that only got her more lost. The building was massive for a borrower, a two-story house was enough for a tiny person to spend their entire life in. This building was at least three stories, and there were dozens upon dozens of rooms that Gabby and Tim could’ve been in, most of which were closed. Jen knew her best bet for finding them was to find the human that took them here. So she kept moving through the hallways, running and hiding, and checking the humans that unknowingly walked past her. Eventually, she heard a conversation coming from some room. She stood outside the open door, hiding in the shadows of a potted plant while eavesdropping.

“You realize how rare these things are, yes? We can’t just do tests on them now, they’re not disposable like the rats are.”

“Yes, but we have two of them, a male and a female.”

“Isn’t the female of adolescence?”

“Correct, but that doesn’t mean we can’t wait for it to reach maturity or simply force it now.”

“I don’t think those are viable options, professor. Any other suggestions?”

“Well, lilliputians have been known to be social and gather in groups. We could tag one of them, and let it lead us to others.” 

“Which one would receive the tag?”

“The older one most likely, they would be more likely to lead us to where it and the other lilliputians meet. The younger one would more likely die.”

“So we attach a tracking tag to one of them, send it  back to the area it came from, and wait for it to lead us to the other Lilliputians, what do we do with the other one?”

“Keep it alive in case the older one fails to lead us to others. In the meantime, start examinations on them. Get DNA samples and measurements of their heights and weights.”

“Very well, sir,”

The scientist then left the room. Jen peered from behind the pot she was hiding behind and started following one of them. There was something familiar about one of the words the humans were saying, “lilliputian.” It sounded similar to a story Jen heard when she was younger. She didn’t remember many details about it. It was about where all tinies came from, an island far away from any humans called “lilliput.” She didn’t know anything else about the story, it was just a fairytale as far as she knew. It's not like it mattered, anyway. All that mattered now was following this human to find Gabby and Tim. Eventually, she followed them to a dark blue metal door. The scientist closed the door behind him, leaving Jen stuck outside. 

Gabby flinched awake at the sound of the metal door across the room tightly closing. She got up and peered out the bars of the cage, Tim did the same. A human had entered the room. They were going through some drawers, taking out gloves and supplies. 

“It's happening,” Tim said, “get ready, they’re about to do something,”

“What’s gonna happen?” Gabby asked, 

“I don’t know,” Tim said, 

“I’m scared,” Gabby backed away from the cage bars,

“It's going to be ok, stay calm, Gabby,” Tim tried comforting her again, “it's going to be fine,”

“What are they going to do to us?” Gabby said, panicking, “are they…

“It's going to be fine, Gabby, I’ll be with you,” Tim said, 

The scientist put rubber latex gloves on and walked towards the cage. Gabby fell silent as the human got closer. They opened the latch and grabbed Gabby from the enclosure. She squirmed and screamed as she was pulled outside. Tim tried to keep her from being taken away, but he was knocked over as he lost grip on Gabby’s arm. 

“Gabby!” Tim yelled as the door closed, and Gabby was taken away. The scientist ignored the tiny’s screams and dropped Gabby onto a glass scale. As she tried to stand up, the scientist grabbed her arm and pulled on it. Gabby yelped in pain. The scientist measured her arm, before pinning her to the desk and measuring her height. After they were done, they squeezed Gabby in their hand and threw her back into the cage. She hit the floor on her side, hurting her shoulder. Then, the large gloved hand grabbed Tim, taking him out of the cage this time. Gabby forced herself up and ran to the side of the cage to watch as Tim was taken away. But the scientist didn’t take him to the same desk they took Gabby. Tim was dropped into some kind of plastic container, with clear walls and a metal grid over the top. The scientist opened the door to the room and left. Tim and Gabby shared a final glance as he was taken out of the room.

It had been a couple of minutes, and Jen was still outside the metal door. It didn’t have any cracks under it, so she couldn’t crawl under it. There was a vent nearby that could lead into the room, but Jen had nothing to open it with. So she was stuck waiting until the door opened. When it did, the same scientist from before walked outside. Jen, who was on the side of the door, noticed they were holding something, some kind of plastic box or cage. That must be where they are, Jen thought to herself, as she stalked after the human. She stayed in the shadows of the side of the hallway, trying her best to keep up with the large human with her smaller legs. The scientist went into another room. This time, Jen managed to slip through the or before it closed and hide under a metal chair. The scientist placed the box on a desk at the end of the room, and took some sort of device out of their pocket. It took Jen a moment to recognize what it was, it was used by humans to communicate over long distances, not a phone, just a small speaker and microphone with an antenna. She heard of some borrowers using them before, but she’d never seen one herself. The scientist spoke into the device.

“The male subject is in the operation room…..” They said, “Yes, it's secure. It's still in the portable container, though.” the scientist paused while listening to the voice on the other side of the device, which Jen couldn’t hear. “Alright. So what time are we making the implant?” they asked. “Tomorrow morning, get it.” 

The scientist put the device back on their belt and left the room. Jen stepped out from her hiding place and ran to the desk where the box was placed. She swung her grappling hook and threw it up to the top of the desk. It scraped against the metal surface and fell back down. Frustratedly, Jen picked up the hook and threw it again, aiming for the container. She tugged on the string before climbing it up the massive desk. Her head, arms, and hands were wet with rainwater from earlier and sweat from now. This was it, she thought. This was the end. She would finally save Gabby. She would finally see her sister again. Her hands strained as she climbed, pushing herself to her limits to get to the top. Finally, she did. She pulled herself up to the top of the cold, metal desk, and looked forward to the plastic prison. It was a thin, clear plastic box with a metal top. There were air holes on the top and sides that were barely large enough for a tiny to stick their hand through. One of these holes caught the fishing hook Jen threw. Inside the container was Tim, standing to the wall watching Jen lift herself up.

“Jen? Jen, you..you’re here! You’re alive!” Tim said upon seeing her again.

“Tim!” Jen pulled herself onto the desk and ran up to the wall of the cage. “What did they do to you? Where’s Gabby?”

“Still in the other room,” Tim said,

“The other room?” Jen asked,

“The room that human took me from…” Tim said, 

“Is she ok? What did they do to her?” Jen asked,

“shes …shes ok…well, as ok as she could be in this situation,” Tim said, rubbing the back of his neck. “She missed you, Jen, a lot. You have to go get her,”

“We will,” Jen said, “let me get you out of this thing,” Jen took her fishing hook and threw it on top of the plastic cage before climbing on top of it. Tim watched.

“Jen, hurry! We don’t have a lot of time, maybe you should just come back for me,” Tim said,

“No, I’m not just leaving you here. Who knows what they’ll do to you while I’m gone,” Jen said, “besides, saving Gabby with you will be easier than saving you with Gabby,” she came to the side lock and pulled open a door from the top. She dropped the string down into the cage and held onto it for Tim to climb up. Once Tim got to the top, Jen pulled him out. They looked at each other for a moment.

“Um..thanks Jen,” Tim said. Jen suddenly hugged him. Tim was almost startled by Jen wrapping her arms around him. He hugged her back. 

“I’m sorry, Tim,” Jen said, letting go of the hug. “This entire thing is my fault. I got you wrapped up in this, and I couldn’t protect Gabby in the first place.” she looked down. “I’m a terrible friend. And a terrible sister…”

“No, Jen,” Tim said, “your not either of those things. You’ve been doing nothing but trying to save your sister from these humans for the passed…how long has it been, two, three days! And you could’ve left me here to go save her, but you didn’t.” Tim put his hand on Jen’s shoulder. “You're a great friend. And an amazing sister.”

“...thanks, Tim…” Jen said, before sighing, “but I won't be a great sister until I save Gabby. Let's go.”

“Alright,” Tim said.

The two borrowers climbed down from the cage. Jen wrapped her hook around one of the air holes in the cage so they could climb down. Then, across the room, the massive metal door opened. The tiny’s hearts dropped. It was the same scientist from before, coming back into the room. They all froze as they saw each other. The scientist was holding a thicker plastic cage with a more secure lock. They looked down at Jen and Tim. The borrowers back away. Jens eyes furrowed. She drew her needle from her belt.

[gt-daboss]

AAAAahh I wasn't expecting it to be so long and so good ;o;

Struggle To Trust

It has been a while. Finally got another mafia au story (something @definitely-not-knightress has been looking forward to!). Originally I was gonna split this, but I feel like I jump around themes a bit and it just works better as one story

TW: Mentions of death, bodies, blood, torture, dehumanization

Alessia gets a lead on what turned her mom human that crosses her path with two humans. She needs to keep them safe, but doesn't trust herself. Ash and Delphia think they finally get away from the giants that have been keeping them. Now they're facing an entirely new family. Can they trust them?

Struggle To Trust

“For the last time, where is it?!” Alessia screamed in Dominic’s face. Weeks of this. Weeks of screaming for him to say where hid the worst machine she could imagine. The one that made her mother human. 

Dominic laughed. Each and every time he laughed. The others had stopped by. Taken their own time trying to get information. The bruised man in front of her was stubborn. Unfortunately for him, so were the Kamias. He spat blood on the ground.

“I have nothing to tell you,” he laughed again. Alessia would forever hate his laugh. It was already stuck in her head. “Unless you want to hear some old plans again… I’ll always regret how close I came to having you together with your mother.”

Alessia punched him in the stomach. He coughed. She hated this. Hated this man. More than once he’d talked about the night she got lucky. That he’d set it all up on her birthday to take her down like her mother. She did get lucky, Ryder saved her by accident. 

“I bet you think we’re hunting this down to use it on you,” Alessia seethed. She brought her face close to him. “We’re not like you. We want to find out just what this can do. Protect anyone else you might have toyed with. You know how my brother is, we’ll get any information we want eventually.”

Dominic tried to head butt her. He was foolish, she wouldn’t get this close if he could touch her. There had to be a sign on how to deal with this. The Sulvan family was known well enough. Made their appearances when needed, but Dominic didn’t… Dominic spent most of his time at home, playing with his humans.

“You won’t find it. I know you won’t. If you’d been a plaything like I wanted then maybe you’d have some idea,” he laughed again.

For once, that laugh made her smile. The Sulvans were always big on gloating. At some point he had to mess up. Just as she needed. Alessia grabbed him by the hair and forced him to look up as she stood straight. Facing her how he always hated to.

“You just gave me a hint Dominic. If a plaything would know it has to be on your property. Something that happens to be part of the Kamia territory now thanks to your attack.”

“You bitch!” 

Alessia punched his stomach again before turning away. She pulled her phone out and dialed her father. He’d gather what and who was needed. 

“Alessia,” her father said. Quiet, he was in his room with her mother and siblings. They were going to be moved soon enough.

“Dad, we need to search the Sulvan house. There’s something there.”

“I’ll start setting it up now.”

The line died. She knew he’d get to work immediately. Finally a place to start. A place to find some answers. Maybe even a way to fix things…

—---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alessia sighed as she leaned against the back wall of the Sulvan estate. Both her brothers were busy. That left her and some trusted family members to search the estate. Everyone thought there would be something obvious. The only thing was how sick Dominic truly was. The mess, the leftovers, made her sick. Truly a monster.

The air helped to settle her stomach while the others kept searching. Just a short break. It made her miss her brothers; well not Ryder. She was glad he wasn’t here to see those horrors. Normally she thought she could manage all of this on her own, but this was a special case. One that made it hard to stay the stoic, cold-hearted, Kamia daughter. One too close to home.

“Quick this way,” a small voice hissed. Alessia perked up. There weren’t any humans when they checked the property originally. Could be some that were hiding, afraid they’d get killed. Might have even reached the property by accident. She moved her focus to the ground, but stayed where she was.

Alessia took in a deep breath. Flowers, two distinct scents of flowers. One was more earthy. A bit of shame settled in her heart as she swallowed. It was the human scents she preferred. Almost everyone else had a penchant for metallic scents. Floral ones usually got left out of mafia business; exactly why they hid Alessia’s personal preference. A Kamia who liked floral humans could start something.

“Shit, they had to come this way. Can’t let the Kamia girl get them!” Alessia growled a little when she heard that. Sulvans were taken off the property today. Her father spent all night making that happen; no one should be here that would hunt down a human.

“Come on, quick. They’ll catch up,” the same small voice. Alessia scanned the ground, still no sign of anything. She was prepared. Just in case she pulled out one of the doubles Felix gave her to carry. A quick stretch to hide popping it in her mouth.

Alessia shifted her feet slightly. Eyes focused at her feet, scanning for any human running by. The scent was stronger now. They were getting closer to her. She shifted again. This time she caught a shout, they were a lot closer than she realized. The grass here was overgrown just enough she couldn’t easily see a human.

The grass issue disappeared as two humans ran right into her foot. Her eyes went wide as she took them in. A pale, tiny woman with long ebony hair and a masculine looking person with brown hair and brown skin. She crouched down to see them better. Shocked to find the smell of blood coating the earthy floral scent. The black haired one stepped forward and tried to hide the other behind her. 

Alessia looked around, the others she heard hadn’t come close yet. She moved slowly to try and promise the little humans a bit of safety. The woman started shaking, the one behind her tried to glare up. Once they stumbled, Alessia knew she was out of time.

As always the feeling of grabbing humans left her feeling strange. She hated that part of this. That they had no control. She stood up straight before flipping her palm flat. Her fingers were moved up just enough she could see the two terrified faces staring at her.

“Over here!” Alessia snapped her head towards the voice as two giants rounded the corner of the house. They were Sulvan family members. She knew that. The two always followed Anton. The former next in line was trying to find a way to take back control of his family. It would make sense he hid humans. “Shit.”

“Didn’t my father demand all the humans your family currently owned?” she growled. The two stood straight and shared a look. She waited for an answer, a desperate hope the double in her mouth would be wasted.

“Did you idiots catch them yet?!” Anton’s voice made her stiffen. All the years he bullied her were far from forgotten. “If she gets them I won’t-”

“Sir!” one of the two in front of her shouted. Anton rounded the corner with a glare that could start a blaze. Alessia straightened her back as she faced the shorter giant. She was the stronger one now and from the deadlier family. He couldn’t hurt the humans she held anymore.

“Alessia, what a nice surprise. I thought none of the main family would be here today.” Anton walked closer, his eyes locked on the hand holding the two humans. She curled her fingers over them. Out of sight and with her meant safety for them.

“Now Anton, how could I leave something like this to be done without proper supervision.” 

“I mean you Kamias are a wonder. What exactly are you tearing my home apart for as it is?”

“Why would I tell you? Clearly you don’t listen to orders. Two humans here that you were supposed to hand over to us months ago. Maybe I should let Rhys come comb through the house. You know how great he is at sniffing out humans.” A smirk to show her fangs, the humans in her hand gasped. 

“Now, now Alessia. I just bought these two. That order was for all the ones we had under my father’s miserable leadership. If I remember right that is. We didn’t tend to keep many for long.”

“Oh and what was it I heard? What were you going to do if someone found these two?”

“Why I’d only be angry since they were a gift for you I know you have a penchant for flowers. I thought you’d enjoy the taste of a flowery human. How about you taste one right now?”

Alessia glared as Anton narrowed his eyes. It was clear he’d caught on to the problem within the Kamias. That or he knew about her mother and expected that to change how she acted. Neither one would matter after what she did next. A smirk, a lick of her lips, and two fingers to pinch the arm of the one in her hand that was bleeding. 

“I think I will, if they’re a gift I should try at least one. Shouldn’t I?” Alessia hummed.

She pulled the one bleeding up to her face. The woman was screaming, calling her a monster, as she did it. That didn’t matter. She met the eyes of the one in her grasp, green and blue. They would hate her, but that wasn’t new.

Alessia tilted her head back and dropped the human into her mouth. She’d been taught more than enough ways to look careless while keeping them safe. She moved them around her mouth, a purr slipped out at the taste she couldn’t help adoring. As she looked down to meet Anton’s eyes again she pushed the human beneath her tongue and propped the fake one between her teeth.

There was shock in the eyes of each giant watching her. As if they thought the Kamias would go soft after finding out the truth. A sad day for them, the Kamias wouldn’t go soft since they’d never been like the others in the first place. Alessia bit down humming at the flavor of the fake blood Felix filled the double with. It was sweeter than the last time, probably one meant for Rhys not her. She’d check when she got home.

Alessia swallowed the fake blood, but smiled while it stained her teeth. A show of licking it clean while Anton silently raged. He wanted these humans for something. Something she had to find out. It would be hard to get them to talk after this, but that was a future problem. She closed her lips and let out another purr.

“You weren’t wrong, floral humans are an interesting taste. Though I think I’d stick to the ones I usually have. Too sweet,” she grinned.

“In that case I’ll take the other-”

“Didn’t you say they were a gift? I plan to use the other one to see how it flavors my favorite wine. Now why don’t you leave like you’re supposed to and I won’t let anyone else in the main family know about you ignoring orders.”

“Of course,” he turned away, shoulders stiff. Each step was a barely covered stomp. She wasn’t shocked in the least. By him that is. The calm human in her mouth was another story. The one in her hand had fallen silent after the crunch of the double. That was expected. “We’ll just head out then.”

Alessia followed as soon as they were out of sight. She couldn’t hear much from them. Some mumbles of her causing a problem. Something that they wanted to find would stay hidden. It made her more confident this was the right choice. Alessia was done with her search for the day, the humans in her hand and mouth needed to be treated.

After a few minutes Alessia went back inside the house. She found her second in command for the search, the one her father trusted even Ryder with. One look at her hand was enough. A nod of understanding and she left. Luckily she took a car today, once inside she could pull the one in her mouth out.

“Alessia, leaving already?” Anton’s voice made her growl. She turned with a glare at him.

“Is there something you need Anton?” Alessia said. The car pulled up in front of her, she couldn’t deny it was a relief.

“I just thought the two of us could head to the estate together. Your father wanted to meet with me to discuss my new role as a branch of the Kamias.”

Alessia didn’t trust a thing he said. She pulled out her phone and sent a text. A grimace once it was confirmed that Anton was called to the main house. She growled again, but put her phone away. The human she held would be a bigger problem now. He’d try and take her.

“Why would I waste time with you?” Alessia was desperate to avoid this.

“Now, now. We’re part of the same family now aren’t we? Going to keep holding grudges from childhood?”

Always pressing the right buttons. Alessia growled again, closed her fist around the human she held, and pulled open the car door. She slid in and waved at Anton to follow. One day he’d pay just like his father once they found what they needed. She wanted to be there when this man died. She’d never forget the day she’d nearly killed a human in fear of him.

Anton slid into the car, an awful stench of cologne hit her. She hadn’t noticed a thing when there was open air. The door slammed, locking her in with an awful person and a sickening scent. She growled again as he slid closer to her. His eyes were locked on her hand with the human woman. Alessia had learned more than enough since then; humans were safe with her.

“Driver, why don’t you give us some privacy?” Anton said. Alessia met the driver’s eyes in the window. One shake of her head kept them from the privacy he supposedly wanted. Anton leaned back, an arm draped over her shoulders.

“We’re all family aren’t we? Why would you need to keep it from another member?” she asked. The human in her mouth started to move. They were pushing against her tongue, but the best she could do was lift it a little bit. The one in her hand was fighting fiercely, likely assuming the fist would be a death sentence.

“I thought it would be nice to have a bit of time to ourselves. After all, your father will likely put us together, have his daughter head a branch family.”

“My father wouldn’t expect me to marry anyone unless I chose them. He’s not a Sulvan after all.”

“Don’t be so testy. Who knows what I could offer that would have him encourage us? You wouldn’t break a deal he made for someone important, would you?” Anton’s hand met her shoulder. A squeeze that made her glare right in his eyes. Something sick was in them. Something wrong. She never wanted to know what this man had in his head.

“What the hell are you implying?”

“Nothing to make you so testy dear.”

Alessia growled, but the house in view helped calm her. Each word from the monster next to her had the humans shake or fight. Whatever he wanted them for was likely a fate worse than death. The moment the car stopped Alessia hopped out. Anton growled as he was forced to let her go. That was the only hint of anger once he stepped out of the car. The grin on his face made her anxious. She turned on her heel towards the house. She took a careful taste of the human. It was calming, but that left her full of guilt.

She opened the door to find her father sitting in a chair waiting.  She nodded to him and lifted her fist slightly. He nodded back. He tilted his head to the side and mouthed ‘Laura?’. She nodded. Once Anton was gone he’d bring the doctor. The human in her mouth wasn’t in danger or she’d bring them to Laura now.

“Anton, good to see you, my office is this way,” her father said. The two humans froze once he spoke. 

Alessia watched the two walk off before heading to the kitchen. She grabbed some food and made her way upstairs. At least she had a lot of items for humans in her room. Anton’s look stuck in her mind, she swore these two would be safe. Until she knew what he wanted they wouldn’t leave her sight. 

Alessia set the food down on a table as she entered her room. She had the only attached bathroom, a bonus today. She dropped the tiny woman off in the sink.

“Just fucking kill me already!” the woman shouted. Alessia shuddered; knowing she deserved it never made it easier. “You monster!”

Alessia turned the water on to what should be a safe temperature. A soft stream until Anton left. A sigh, a shake of her arms, and one last taste. Finally, she stuck her fingers in her mouth and pulled out the one who had been bleeding. They looked at her calmly, almost kindly, as she assessed them. Nothing bad had happened, no mistakes. She set them down next to the woman.

“What… but I saw…” The woman gave up on words and tackled the other person. Alessia smiled. She set a towel she kept nearby down near the two. Added a bit of soap on the side where she knew they could reach. Another deep breath before she prepared to speak again.

“Go ahead and get cleaned up, I’ll come back in a little while,” she whispered. Now it was time to wait until her dad brought Laura.

—-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Delphia couldn’t speak. Ash was alive, but she watched the giant lick their blood off her teeth. She dragged them towards the water. With the warm stream to clean her hands, she searched every inch possible for signs of a new injury. They were bleeding from the claws earlier, but nothing fatal. Nothing that she couldn’t help them survive.

“I thought I really lost you this time,” she whispered. Ash didn’t fight her as she forced them under the water. The last time giants put them in a sink the water was freezing. She didn’t mind getting soaked as she pulled torn cloth away from where it stuck to them.

“She had something in her mouth, it was filled with something sweet,” Ash mumbled.

Instead of answering, she walked over to the soap the giant left behind. She leaned forward to smell it first, there wasn’t much of a scent. That was a bonus, less likely for them to be hunted down. With one hand full she walked back to Ash. She covered two fingers with soap and started to clean their wounds. They hissed.

“I know,” she whispered. “Just let me clean these. We don’t want them infected.”

Ash grunted, but grabbed her arm. The few squeezes reassured her. The process felt too long, those giants they ran from hurt Ash a lot. Stupid claws and fangs. All it did was make both of them quiet. No way would they talk for giants like that. They’d both rather die.

“You should clean up too,” Ash said as they moved their arm to grab some soap from her hand. Her arms stung from some lighter marks as Ash forced her sleeves up. They ran the soap against her skin. They’d get out of this, survive. Find a way to leave this town, to a place they could be safe. As long as she and Ash were together nothing could go wrong. “At least yours are light.”

“I guess that’s a little lucky for us.”

They settled into a calm silence. Moments of peace were rare for them, especially once the giants noticed how they felt for each other. Each one was a precious treasure she held to her heart in greed. The fear was worth it just for those rare smiles on Ash’s face. Their eyes promised similar thoughts.

Eventually the soap was gone and they were as clean as they would get. Ash took the initiative as they dragged Delphia over to the towel the giant left out. It didn’t get wet the entire time. A precise placement. Delphia pulled Ash against her once they pushed her to sit. They pulled some of the towel to cover them both.

It was warm, almost comforting. Delphia couldn’t remember the last time the two could sit like this. No fear of what would be said, when someone would find them. In that house they had to be careful. Hide and prepare for when a giant would try and use them. The one thing their silence promised was that they could stay together and alive. Both swore if the other died by those giants they’d kill themself in return. A method that the giants knew was no empty threat.

“You should sleep,” Ash whispered. They started to run a hand through her hair. Delphia shook her head. This wasn’t the time to sleep. She had to stay awake to take in all the time they had together. There was no telling what the giants planned to do with them next. Toys, pets, something else entirely. She wanted- no needed- this moment.

“Later, I promise,” she whispered. The hand running through her hair never stopped. Ash shifted to hold her tighter against them.

The calm moment had a timer attached. A loud knock signaled the end. It lasted long enough for them to dry off at least. 

Delphia pressed against Ash, scared of what came next. They tightened their hold on her. It was hard to admit that this giant scared her more. Before they had a promise of safety, knowledge the giants needed to take revenge. Now… now they had nothing.

“Hey,” the giant woman’s voice was melodic. A cruel lie in the face of danger. “Are you two done in here? I don’t want to leave you in the sink forever.”

Ash’s arms tightened around her. The steps were lighter than normal as they approached, but it didn’t change anything. The comforting dim light beneath the towel was replaced with a bright all encompassing one. As soon as her eyes adjusted Delphia was forced to stare up at rosy skin and brown eyes. Long hair, almost blue like the night sky hovered near her and Ash. If these features were on a human she might start to fall for the woman. Too bad it was a giant.

“Guess you two are done then,” the woman smiled. Delphia held Ash tightly, finally returning their hug. Massive hands came down around them, but the move was careful. Almost painfully so. Together they were pushed onto a soft, warm palm. Something she knew not to trust.

The giant woman pulled them up from the sink and held them near her. It was a kinder hold than Delphia had ever experienced. Ash loosened their hold on her, as if they felt safe. It was strange, wrong. Giants weren’t safe. Their steps shook the world. They could and have casually killed humans. She’d seen it more than once, experienced it. Ash too. Neither could forget that day.

The hands were moving again. Delphia hadn’t even noticed the steps. Another oddity. They tilted to let her and Ash off on a table. A table that had beds and clothes, human beds and clothes. Even a small spot for the two to use for getting changed. Some food was set to the side too. None of this made sense.

There wasn’t even a chance to think about it before another giant showed up. His steps shook the table, a stern glare that made Delphia panic. She wasn’t used to giants having eyes the same color as her own. Even worse having them locked on her as he came closer and closer. Ash’s arms were around her again, she wasn’t sure they ever left. This massive white haired giant crouched and put his hand on the table.

Another human was in his hand. A doctor if the white coat could be believed. The last time either saw a doctor was impossible to remember. Maybe before the one who captured them was killed. Possibly longer, one of the ones that had been kept with them was a doctor. She couldn’t remember when they died… They might have been one of the last ones.

The human doctor didn’t seem bothered at all by the giants. Not even with how pale she knew Ash looked. Once she cleared everything off the giant’s hand, with help from him even, both the giants walked away. The table shook, but the doctor kept working on setting something up for them. Delphia started to get scared. Something awful could come of this, something that would kill her and Ash.

“Alright then,” the doctor clapped. “I’m Laura, if one of you would come over here we can get you checked out.”

Silence. Stillness. Until Ash’s arms were pulled away. Delphia watched them walk towards this Laura person. Signs of age on the woman’s face at least gave Delphia hope they could survive. She watched Ash go sit in a chair that was under some machine. The woman lifted their shirt to see wounds and bruises. Delphia hugged herself, she didn’t want to be checked over.

“Oh my, it seems I was called just in time,” Laura murmured. “You’ve lost a lot of blood, frankly a shock you’re still awake. We’ll get started on closing these wounds and then look at getting a transfusion.”

“There’s no blood here,” Ash spoke up. Kind of a shock for Delphia, they preferred silence.

“Oh, well yes. If we’re lucky you match someone in the family, otherwise I’ll get some fluids and will need to monitor you until you’re more stable.”

Delphia couldn’t watch anymore, not after the face Ash made. As if a giant would help them even if their blood types matched. They both could remember the one time the one who used them wanted another giant to do that. She shuddered at the memory of that human’s scream. Never learned their name.

They’d be fine. The giant checked a long time ago. Both had rare types, especially rare in giants. Nothing could go wrong before they escape. She tried to push the thoughts and memories away. A sweep of the room showed a number of easy to climb places for them. Ones right where she knew giants commonly kept humans, at least if what she’d seen told her anything. It almost looked like the place was meant to have humans walking around. 

“Miss, I’m ready for you,” Laura called. Delphia grimaced, but walked to the set up. Ash had been moved to the floor so Delphia took their seat. She squeezed her eyes shut as hands touched her clothes. A check of her stomach and chest went mostly fine, a few gasps. Then the doctor moved to her arms. “Oh god.”

“They’re old,” Delphia grumbled.

A small kindness that the woman didn’t press to learn about Delphia’s scars. Bad attempts to draw blood by a giant for experiments. Times she was held too tightly, didn’t move fast enough. Things she never wanted to live through again. Her arms worked, what they looked like didn’t matter.

“Alright, I see you both are malnourished. I’ll write a meal plan up for you to follow. What Alessia brought should be fine for now. Then about that transfusion…” Laura said. Ash grabbed Delphia’s hand as the woman spoke. They were safe, things were fine. “Oh good you’re a match with-”

“He wants what!?” the giant woman’s voice broke through the closed door. Delphia ignored whatever the doctor had to say, focused on the shouting giant. Even more so as the door opened. “I’ll kill him.”

“Calm down,” the white haired one said. He was loud, not like the ones chasing them though. “We’ll deal with him. For now you know what the situation is.”

Both giants approached. Ash’s grip on Delphia’s hand tightened. A shiver ran down her spine as the doctor stepped forward to greet them. It took until then for Delphia to register the woman said Ash matched someone…

“Ash,” she whispered. A squeeze. Both knew. They’d promised a long time ago to die together. She managed to look in their eyes; she hated the look they gave her. She hated the way they squeezed her hand; how it seemed to want her to keep going if they were gone.

“Vitus,” Laura shouted. Delphia squeezed Ash’s hand. Slid off the chair to sit next to them. A tight hug, a prayer that they’d survive. “One of them needs a transfusion. According to my records, Ryder should be a match.”

The eyes of the white haired giant settled on them. She glared back. When he killed them she’d make sure he didn’t ever get a tear. She wasn’t expecting a nod.

“Alright, he’s downstairs. I’ll take you to him.”

A hand was placed down, the doctor hopped on. The white haired one left and they were both alive. Alive and left alone with the giant who brought them here. That very giant woman sat down in front of them. An elbow hit the table. Delphia followed the arm it was attached to all the way up to the woman’s face. A slight frown.

“You two are gonna be staying with me for a while. We’ll have a better set up brought in sometime tomorrow,” the giant woman said. “I’m Alessia, just let me know if there’s anything you need and I’ll get it for you.”

Alessia smiled. Delphia loved and hated the smile all at once. It made an already beautiful face look better. Kind, warm, almost to a point she could call it caring. Yet the fangs stood out. Bits of red from whatever looked like blood stuck to the massive teeth. This was the smile of a giant. A smile that could never be trusted.

—-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alessia sat on the floor next to her door. She couldn’t sleep. The humans left her anxious. All she could think about was if they tried to run. If they fell from the table, hurt themselves to get away. Here she could watch… Plus watching them distracted her from Anton and the fact he wanted her.

“Ash and Delphia,” she mumbled. The names helped her heart calm. The silence after telling them her own name made her sure they’d just be ‘little humans’ the whole time. 

She placed her head against the wall. Eyes stuck on the dark ceiling. There had to be a way to help them feel calm. A day out in a different city maybe. There had to be things they needed or wanted they could buy. With a sigh she closed her eyes.

The next thing she knew, Rhys was shaking her. His usual way to wake her up. A growl followed by pushing him away showed it worked. He looked worried, he was always worried. At first she wanted to argue with him, but noticed the open door behind him. She shot up, relieved to see Felix at the table. At least until she saw how stiff he was.

“Please, I just want to give you better clothing,” her older brother murmured. Rhys grabbed her arm to help her stand as they watched Felix struggling.

“Dad filled us in,” Rhys whispered. “Others will come by in a few hours to set up their place in here.  Felix wanted to get better clothes. We were gonna let you sleep until we were done, but someone’s being difficult.”

Alessia crept closer, doing her best to keep her steps light. It didn’t feel this hard usually. Then again she didn’t usually know the humans that hated her were sticking around. She reached Felix and looked over his shoulder. Ash and Delphia were huddled together in between the beds. She could even see them shaking. It made her whine.

“Ash, Delphia,” she whispered. That got a glare from Delphia. Clearly not happy hearing their names said, at the very least around others. “This is just Felix, he means it. It’s just to get some better clothes.”

Silence. Glares. Then Ash moved. She couldn’t believe it. Delphia clearly hated the idea. She held their clothes as they walked. Something was said. Something she couldn’t hear. Regardless it brought Ash out to stand in front of Felix while Delphia stayed behind. Ash stared up at her the whole time. They did as instructed, but those eyes never left hers.

“Thank you,” Felix said. She could hear how worn out he was. This never got any easier. Delphia walked up then, standing how Felix had instructed at first. Arms up straight out at her sides, make herself look like a ‘T’. “Could you take off your sweater?”

Delphia’s eyes were full of fear. She hugged herself and Ash ran up to her. It hurt a bit to see the way the two acted. Admittedly she felt a little jealous; couldn’t help finding them cute. Felix stiffened, she put a hand on his shoulder. He never did like this part. He was so much softer than he looked.

“I-I…” Felix looked back at her.

“Delphia, he just asked. You don’t have to,” she breathed. Another conversation she couldn’t hear. It wasn’t the first time she wished she could be small enough to join those whispers and it wouldn’t be the last. This was the first time it hurt so much she wanted to leave. Take away the need for hushed whispers.

Eventually Delphia walked forward again. She held her arms out, sweater firmly left on. Felix nodded, leaning closer to the tiny woman. It only took a few minutes for him to finish, but Delphia shook the whole time. Felix at least managed to keep himself from acknowledging her fear. He’d gotten good at that over the years.

“All done,” he whispered. Rhys came over and rested his arms on her head. “I’ll have some new clothes for you two sometime tomorrow.”

“Ok, well Felix and I should get going,” Rhys sighed. His weight against her disappeared along with a grunt from Felix. “Alessia, you should head out before they come in too.”

“Right,” she nodded. Her brothers left and she was once again alone with Ash and Delphia. The two shared more whispers. “Well, we’re going to need to leave today. I’ll be back in a minute.”

A quick few steps to grab clothes, enter her bathroom, and change. Although she slowed as she started to tie her tie. The shirt she wore didn’t have additions like her dad’s did in the pockets. She’d need one of his. She sighed, turning to leave. A knock on her bathroom door made her jump.

“I brought you one of dad’s shirts,” Rhys said. Her younger brother was always a step ahead. “One he uses when Ryder gets sick.”

She opened the door, took it, “Thanks.” and shut it quickly.

“I’ll send you a message when they’re done. Dad said they’d be here in an hour. Should be done early in the afternoon.”

“Got it.”

Alessia slipped off her tie and shirt. Swapping to her dad’s, one that made her feel small. She wished it made her smaller too. She bundled the excess near the small of her back. A look in the mirror almost made it suit her. She sighed, rushing to tie the tie instead. An hour could pass too quickly. 

When she left the bathroom Rhys was crouched by the table. She could tell by his smirk the two humans probably weren’t happy about it. Knowing him he said something about her liking flowers or sweet drinks or worse. She walked up and tried not to let herself growl.

“Hey sis,” she knew she’d hate what next left his mouth, “no wonder you caught them. Strong flowers. Your favorite.”

“Rhys,” she growled. A full blown one. The humans on the table flinched, it made her feel guilty. She hated being a giant. “Just make sure I know when I can come back.”

“Aye, aye,” he saluted her. He stood, looking down; taller than her but a match to Felix. Sometimes she wondered if that was why Ryder liked them both so much. Taller than so many others, but still shorter than dad.

Alessia pushed off her thoughts and crouched next to the table. A small smile that landed with neither human reacting. She held in a sigh. It would be hard to get trusted, but she wanted that. These two wouldn’t be in danger as long as she was around.

“So, I guess you two mostly heard,” she started, “we have to go out today. Just not be in my room at least. Last night I thought maybe we could go to another town, get stuff you need.”

“Why?” Delphia spoke. That was a bonus. Ash was the only one who spoke the night before.

“We don’t want anyone seeing you.”

“You have us, why does it matter if we’re seen?” She hadn’t heard that much venom from a human in a long time. Weirdly reassuring.

“We don’t want to risk the wrong person finding out you two are here. We’re careful about who comes into the house, but don’t want to take any risks. You’ll have to stay in my pocket most of the time, even in another city.”

Alessia set down one of her hands. She tried never to grab humans outside of emergencies. She still hated the feeling of a human in her fist. She was always nervous she’d make a mistake in her need to save them. One that would kill them instead.

Ash walked forward almost immediately. She kind of liked how they appeared to trust her. Delphia trailed behind. Both climbed on after a shared look. Slowly she curled her fingers up and pulled the two close. It might not be the best method, but she dropped them into her pocket. Small grunts filled her with guilt.

It was easier than she liked to push that guilt away. Steady steps to leave her home, to pretend there were no humans on her person. Each step felt heavy. Walking out into a world where they were in danger. Where it would be better to leave them hidden in the house somewhere. She motioned to one of the others around today that she needed a car and walked into the kitchen.

A quick pastry grab and she went outside. Annoyed taps of her foot until the car came around. She immediately closed the privacy screen and pulled her passengers out of her pocket. She held them near the hand that had a pastry.

“Thought we could all use some breakfast,” she smiled. There was less fear from the two as they looked up to her. Small hands grabbed some of the flaky bread. Smiles she felt gifted to see graced their faces. They’d start following the meal plan tomorrow.

“This is good,” Delphia whispered. 

Alessia calmed. Leaning back to try and enjoy the most of the ride that she could. It wasn’t a long drive, but long enough for them to eat. Minutes passed in silence as she watched the two. Something about them brought up memories. Times back when she had snuck her toy castle out to the humans on the run.

By the time the two were finished she’d thoroughly lost herself to her memories. One called her name so she pulled them close, letting them jump down into her pocket instead. She finished the pastry, thinking of when she snuck out food. Brought medical supplies. Even the scents she barely remembered.

Once at the city it was easier to knock herself into reality. She wasn’t sure what they could need. Food and clothes would be covered by her family. Same for housing. Instead she stopped off to the side and looked down at her pocket.

“Is there anything you two want to do?” she whispered. “There’s a lot in this city. As long as we don’t leave you too out in the open there shouldn’t be any reason to worry.”

In her mind she pictured the two whispering. The more it happened the more it hurt. She couldn’t help being interested in them. Cute, brave, smelled amazing, and she was desperate to learn more about them. It wouldn’t happen.

“Is there a place we could be out of your pocket?” Ash asked.

A pause to think. There weren’t many places that were safe and she could guarantee no one could walk in. This town had too many eyes to risk them just anywhere. She had one place she did frequent. A spot that no one else knew she went… “There’s a place. I’ll take us there now.”

There was a bit of pep to her step as Alessia made her way. This was something she hid from everyone. Every time she visited this town. After nights where she was called a monster, the times she failed. One place that at least made her feel at peace.

As she walked her steps slowed. It was strange. The fear of sharing this place with the humans in her pocket started to creep in. It wasn’t as if they could hurt her or take this place from her. Yet she feared what they’d think. Would they hate it? Love it? Find it strange? Peaceful? Calm? A hundred questions that she couldn’t answer until she arrived. Answers she’d have after one small conversation that would start as soon as she opened the door she’d reached.

“Allie? I wasn’t expecting you today. You didn’t call ahead,” the woman who owned her favorite place spoke. Alessia smiled, a fake name for a fake life. Important to keep this hidden. 

“I was in the neighborhood, can I take the day?” she asked. The woman in front of her checked a computer, hummed a few times, then offered a smile.

“Looks good, go right in. Same card as usual?”

“Yep.”

Alessia waved as she walked away. A cool air passed her by as she made her way deeper in. She shivered. Excitement or nerves she couldn’t tell. Soon she’d share her safe place with someone else. Somewhere no one else was allowed to know of… A garden that made her feel small.

Finally at the door, she pushed it open. The warmth was a stark contrast to the cool building. It had to be warm. She slowly made her way to her usual spot. Hidden under a tree in the shade. Surrounded by dahlias, lilies, and roses. It never made sense how they all grew together, but she loved it. Especially now, they’d just watered them. A fresh, kind smell.

“We’re here,” Alessia whispered. 

She slid down, her back against the tree. A careful movement to reach inside her pocket. Both humans squirmed as her fingers wrapped around them. Another quick shift that was probably too fast. She placed her hand down, flattened her fingers and waited. Smelling the humans with this place explained her interest. Together they made up her safe place.

“Where are we?” Delphia’s awed voice was good. No anger or fear meant maybe she understood.

“Some gardens I know about,” Alessia kept her voice as quiet as possible. Afraid it would break the awe if they looked at her. “I come here when I need a break. I pay to get this place all to myself… It’s just the three of us here.”

“This is amazing,” Ash said. She smiled, it was how she felt when she found it. Wandering after her first night in a bar. The feeling of peace that this place gave her. The trees and flowers that somehow made her feel small.

 “Yeah, yeah it is…”

Alessia watched the two walk away from her. She could see the stress and fear left behind as they did. Once they were far enough she moved. Turning away from the tree to lie back where she could stay near them. Smiles that made her heart pound met her on two tiny faces. She wanted more time like this.

It was a dream as the day passed. Delphia talked about the flowers around them. Happy and smiling in a way that suited her. Ash wound up sitting against Alessia. She was sure they were just using her as some shade. It was peaceful. Delphia even sent a smile towards Alessia. This place had never felt better.

Hour after hour things felt normal. A part of her wondered if this was the life she could have had. Outside the mafia, a normal city. That wasn’t ever in the cards for her. Even in another city she was too tall. A problem that would pose a risk. That could hurt humans by mistake. A monster.

“How did you find this place?” Ash asked. 

“Chance,” Alessia whispered. Ash still sat against her. Delphia across from them. At this point it was almost possible to forget about reality. “No one else knows about it. Not my dad or brothers. I feel kind of small when I’m here… Not so much of a giant…”

“What do you-”

Delphia’s voice was cut off by the sound of Alessia’s phone. She growled a little which made Ash move away from her. The spell that made this almost feel normal broke. She pulled her phone from her pocket and read the name. Rhys.

“Hello,” she answered.

“Hey. You’re good to come back any time. Felix also got some new clothes done today. He said it’s not enough, but it works,” Rhys started laughing. “Ryder played model for one of them. Apparently they’re the same height.”

“Great. Thanks Rhys.”

“Oh one more thing. I heard something about those two.”

Alessia sat up. One eyebrow raised as she looked at the two humans. “Should I know?”

“They’re Anton’s bargaining chips. Somehow they connect to what we’ve been looking for. Couldn’t get anymore info, they realized they were in public and shut up before the good stuff. Seems like he wants it to get you.”

“Right…” She had to remember to lower the volume on her phone. It was clear Ash and Delphia heard. Both had started to back away, a look of fear. “Just means we keep them safe.”

That was all it took for the call to end. A few minutes of silence passed as she thought. They knew something. At least Anton thought they knew something. Alessia pushed herself up to a sitting position. One leg was left straight while she pulled the other close. At least they would be safe with her.

“So… whenever you want we can go home,” she whispered. Ash and Delphia had backed away while she sat up. The time without fear was gone. She could see how horrified they were. Little nods as they walked close. That hint of another life was gone.

Everything felt blurred together once she dropped them back in her pocket. Quick goodbyes to the one who owned the garden. Easy trip back to the car, she didn’t even raise the privacy screen. Back at the house Rhys opened the car and pulled her out quickly.

“Careful,” she managed. Ryder was on Rhys’s shoulder this time, he at least smiled at her. That made it feel easier. One human that never thought she was a monster. Not even when they first met.

Rhys dragged her through the house right to her room. On the table was one of the portable houses they often bought. It had most of what humans would need; bathroom, bedrooms, shower, no kitchen though. That needed more than these places could manage. It wasn’t that bad though. It was better than just beds out in the open.

Finally allowed to walk on her own, she stepped forward. A slow crouch to be in front of the table. Then she reached into her pocket, surrounded the humans with her fingers. No squirms, just two limp little bodies. If she couldn’t feel their small chests heaving she’d think they were dead. Slowly she pulled them out and flattened her hand in front of the house. Rhys made them jump when he fell to the floor next to her. Ryder climbed down from him as the two in her hand stood.

“Come on,” Ryder said with a wave. “I’ll show you around. Probably better than the Sulvan family gave you.”

Alessia watched Ash and Delphia climb off her palm. Ash tugged Delphia as they followed Ryder. Before they disappeared both gave her a look of shock. A look without fear. It was nice, she felt like the afternoon was almost coming back. She swore to herself that she’d keep them safe; even if it killed her.

The next few weeks were filled with fleeting moments of calm. Times Ash and Delphia would smile at her. When she could hear their laughter. The hushed conversations were slowly disappearing. It was the most normal she felt around humans other than Ryder in a long time. Enough that she even felt a little hope towards seeing her mother once they were both ready. She started to think maybe, just maybe she wasn’t a monster.

That feeling only lasted until one night she left her bathroom door open a little. The two were on her dresser near the door. She thought it was fine. Until she heard them talking.

“You know we can’t tell her,” Delphia said.

“Are you sure? Things have been different,” Ash said. They sounded sad. Alessia slipped closer to the door. Desperate to hear this hushed conversation. One hand on the doorknob as she listened.

“She’s still a giant Ash. Once she knows she’ll kill us… just like the others wanted to.”

“Del, I think she’s different. I think all of these ones are different.”

“We can’t take that chance. You know what happened the last time we did.”

Alessia pushed open the door, ending the conversation. She tried to smile as she offered them a hand. One trip to their house then out of her room. She knocked the right rhythm on Rhys’s door to have him keep an eye out. Then went downstairs. Through the living room. To the kitchen. Down another set of stairs into a cellar full of wine. She grabbed the first bottle near her and opened it. 

She’d been foolish. They would always see her as a monster. Ryder probably did. Her mother and youngest siblings would. All humans would. Back against the wall, Alessia sank to the floor. She brought the bottle to her lips and took a gulp. She should be used to this…

—--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ash ran their fingers through Delphia’s hair. Alessia had been gone for hours, but they noticed one of the others looking in now and then. He’d called himself Rhys, it was clear he played mind games. They never forgot what he said that first day. ‘Be nice to her, she’s more sensitive than you’d think.’

They’d noticed it. Delphia had too. Little ways that the giant woman’s face changed when they showed fear. Hesitation. Trust. They knew what the other giants wanted. Before it was obvious; they talk and they die. Now it felt more like if they talked then they’d get more freedom. Possibly even closer to the giant woman. Something they both wanted even if Delphia would deny it. She wasn’t good at hiding her interest. Especially as the reluctance to climb on Alessia’s palms clearly came from embarrassment at the proximity.

A crash made them jump. The door opened. It didn’t stop them from running fingers through Delphia’s hair. Although they did start to slip out from next to her. The lack of giants in the room made the creak of the floor as someone walked around echo. It wasn’t Alessia’s steps, too heavy. They managed to climb off the bed and look out one of the windows.

The other brother, Felix, was carrying Alessia around the room. He brought her to the giant bed. With more care than Ash expected, Alessia was let go on the bed. She rolled away, it felt odd that they could even see from the window sometimes. Left right in a spot to watch a sleeping mountain all they wanted. For Ash, it was kind of reassuring.

Felix turned towards them. It was easy to tell when his golden eyes met their own. A change in their face. That was why Ash knew they weren’t noticed. Felix walked closer, his shadow sent a chill straight through their bones. They backed away from the window. As soon as the steps stopped they worried the house might be lifted. A heavy sigh came from the giant over them.

“I knew one of us should have watched you instead,” Felix mumbled.

Ash stepped closer to Delphia. They ran a hand through her hair again. Desperately waiting for the steps to leave. Far off the door closed and they let out a relieved sigh. That relief died quickly when a new much louder thump sounded nearby. Ash rushed to the window. Shocked to find Alessia kneeling on the ground.

In a way that seemed comical Alessia shifted to have her hands on the ground. She started crawling towards them, her eyes already red. It made them nervous. Those nerves didn’t make the giant woman stop from crawling closer. The crawls started to shake the house they were in, Delphia jumped up as it happened. She was beside them in seconds watching together as Alessia came closer and closer.

Ash grabbed Delphia’s hand once Alessia was close enough to reach them. The other woman kept moving. She crawled right by them. Ash brought Delphia with them as they went to the door. Just in time for a loud thump. They stepped out to see Alessia’s head against the table squinting at the house.

“I wanna fit in there,” she whispered. Ash took a few steps away from the door, Delphia had pulled her hand away to stay behind. “I wouldn’t be a monster if I could fit in there.”

“A monster?” they repeated. Alessia’s eyes filled with tears immediately.

 “I know I am.” Tears streamed out of the brown eyes. Ash’s heart hurt. Delphia came out, even approached Alessia because of the tears. It was hard not to trust the eyes that had been warm since they met. “I don’t wanna be. I’m sorry.”

“I don’t…” Delphia tried. She looked back at them, but there were no words to say. Suddenly Alessia’s fingers came close. Attention successfully grabbed, she brought her hand back to her lips.

“Don’t tell anyone, but I’m super scared of being around humans. Super duper scared.”

“You’re… scared of us?” Delphia stepped closer when she spoke.

“I don’t wanna hurt anyone ever again. Never again. I’ve been good right? Have I hurt either of you? I’m trying hard not to.” Alessia mumbled incoherently as sobs started to rack through her body. It caused tremors through the table, not enough for Ash to care.

They walked past Delphia. A hope to calm Alessia from her crying. Instead the giant head backed away and a whine pierced the room. They furrowed their brow. Another whine made them jump, but it didn’t change anything. Alessia sobbed more.

“I didn’t wanna hurt Alex. I stopped Anton from eating him. B-but I held too tight. It would have been my fault if he died. It’ll be my fault if you die. I won’t let you. I won’t hurt you. I won’t even hold you again.” A few sniffles. “Please don’t think I’m a monster.”

“I don’t think you are.” Ash didn’t want to hide it. There was nothing about the woman crying in front of them to seem like a monster. She’d been kind, careful, warm… She reminded them of someone they almost met a long, long time ago. What felt like another lifetime.

“Alex…” Delphia whispered. They knew the name too, but there was no reason to assume it was the same. Alex died a long time ago.

Alessia’s hand was brought up next to them. Delphia ran up and hugged their arm. As the shadow covered them they flinched. It caused a pause in whatever was happening. The sobs picked up again just as they looked to the brown eyes. Rivers. That’s all they could see as tears rolled down plump cheeks.

“See?” her voice was a breath. Almost inaudible. Even to Ash. Even to Delphia. “I scare you…” A sniffle. “Sola and Luna are smaller than you… I bet they’ll hate me when I work up the courage to talk to them…”

“Who are they?” Delphia asked. Alessia’s hand moved again. A finger left on Delphia’s chest.

“I bet my baby brother and sister aren’t even this tall next to you. They’ll be so scared. I can’t ever get close. I might hurt them.” That was the warning before a fresh river fell from the brown eyes. They thought those eyes were beautiful when Alessia smiled. Now they only caused pain in Ash’s heart.

Ash reached out to the finger that was pressed to Delphia’s chest. The trembling of the digit shook both of them. They cast a glance Delphia’s way, she was just as concerned. This wasn’t a giant that would hurt them. This was someone who cared. All their doubts and fears were more than just misplaced. Those feelings were bringing pain to the one person who had ever offered them comfort.

“I bet when my mom finally sees us she’ll hate me… I always wanted to be like her,” Alessia took in a shuddering breath as she spoke. It pulled Ash forward, they didn’t care. “When I was little she was so strong. Coming home with all the humans she saved. She never made a mistake, never hurt anyone. She is… she was a hero. I bet she still would be if I wasn’t so weak. Wouldn’t have been targeted if I didn’t make the Sulvan family hate me.”

“Is she gone?” Ash asked. Their fingers dug into her skin. The massive head shook, the table quaked from it. “Where is she?”

A new round of sobs. A new batch of pain. All from a giant who had so gently cared for them, talked to them, tried to help them feel at peace. Delphia’s hands joined their own on Alessia’s finger. They looked back at her, she was worried. It was obvious. This was possibly the only giant who managed to worm into their hearts after all this time.

“She’s like you… They made her human,” A wet growl followed the words. No force behind it, no menace. “Tortured her… think we even killed my baby siblings. I hate them… hate what they do, but maybe I’m just like them.”

“How could you be like them?” Delphia asked. Ash smiled as her hands started to pet the finger against her chest.

“I’m a monster… I like how you smell. How you taste. If I was different…” A new river. “It doesn’t matter; I’m close enough. I’m a monster.”

They watched Alessia yawn despite her constant stream of tears. Her body shook. Ash dug their fingers deeper into her skin. If they weren’t watching so closely they’d think she didn’t care, but they saw it. They saw the moment her eyes squinted in response. Delphia paused on petting the finger for a bit then pulled it into a hug.

“I… I’m afraid of you. Of everyone here. That you’ll take Ash away. Kill us both,” Delphia whispered. Ash nodded. “I think that white haired giant is monstrous. Those two brothers of yours are insane. But…”

Alessia sniffled. Ash smiled. They slid their hand on the finger to hold Delphia’s. A squeeze of encouragement.

“But, I don’t think you’re a monster. I think… I know I’m scared because if I’m wrong about you I don’t know what to do. The last giant I trusted… she sold us out. Gave us to the people we tried to run away from. I don’t know how to act if someone does that again.”

Another round of sobs. This time Alessia’s finger was pulled away. The massive woman shook the table as she pushed herself up. Her head took up the entire sky, waves of deep blue hair surrounded them. It felt safe. Something Ash didn’t think could exist again. Not after they were captured as children so long ago. Almost free and then those giant adults showed up…

“I would never let you be taken,” Alessia’s voice was loud and strong. A tone so severe Ash couldn’t even imagine the woman failing unless her heart stopped beating. An aroma of mint wafted around them as the giant over them moved.

“I believe you,” Ash and Delphia said in unison. Delphia grabbed their hand, a squeeze they understood. There was something brewing in their hearts in regards to the woman hovering over them.

A moment of peace. Brown eyes shining as tears fell around them. It actually felt that the three connected. A way that Ash only ever felt with Delphia until now. Until Alessia swayed. Ash pulled Delphia close, worried about what would happen. The giant woman merely fell to the side with a loud thump. Loud enough they were worried she might be hurt.

“Maybe I can find you a castle too…” Alessia mumbled. 

Ash walked towards the edge of the table relieved to see the steady rise and fall of her giant chest. Those last few words left them curious. The one from back then had brought them a toy castle. Snuck out one she was proud of. It didn’t seem possible, but maybe they weren’t sold out like they thought. Maybe… maybe Alex wasn’t dead.

“Ash…” Delphia whispered. They stepped back to her, just as the door of the room opened. Felix again, he must have been listening for it. “Tomorrow… tomorrow let’s tell her what we know.”

They nodded. Felix didn’t look at them as he picked Alessia up and brought her back to bed. It made sense the other wouldn’t. The two started walking towards the entrance to their house again. Heavy steps came towards them. Ash froze as the shadow settled over them.

“Don’t worry about whatever she said to you. She probably won’t remember,” Felix said. The giant turned and left right after. Ash watched the man pause at the door. “She won’t hurt you like this or we wouldn’t leave you in the same room.”

Felix was gone. Delpha dragged them inside. Together the two curled up again. A life they started to enjoy over the last few weeks was coming to an end. Tomorrow one of them would tell Alessia what they knew. Something that might change things, maybe even kill them.

—--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A pounding headache greeted Alessia as she returned to the world of the living. Last thing she could remember was Felix finding her in the wine cellar. If it was up to her she’d stay curled up in bed for the whole day. That wasn’t allowed. Not when two humans were under her protection. Something she completely failed to manage drunk off her ass.

One groan turned into two before she pushed herself to sit up. Rubbing her head she almost missed the two humans staring right at her. This time she fought back her groan. It was easy to assume she had another night of tears. This is why the humans of the family hated when she drank around them.

Bed for the day became much more tempting.

Instead she forced herself to stand and smile at them. At best she didn’t say everything, at worst she told them all her dirty secrets. How she nearly killed someone as a kid. Failed to protect humans that were running in fear from other giants. Her heart pounded in her ears when she considered the other parts she could have mentioned. The other reason the humans in the family hated when she was drunk. They didn’t like hearing they smelled good.

“I’ll get dressed then we can go get breakfast,” she mumbled as she stepped near the two humans. Ash and Delphia stared at her. Something was different. “Is… everything ok?”

“Uh, Alessia we uh,” Delphia started. It was the first time the tiny woman sounded nervous. That wasn’t usual, even in fear she was strong.

Ash stepped forward, “We need to talk to you. About… about why those other giants were after us.”

Eyes wide Alessia stepped closer. Slowly she sat down in front of them. She almost wanted to lie on the floor to stare up at them. It was obvious they weren’t comfortable with the topic. Tense tiny bodies were easy to pick out after all this time. She leaned forward, her hair followed to surround them. She could see the tangles from a restless sleep last night.

“I…,” she sighed. Delphia’s hair was blown back, Ash’s clothes billowed. “Whatever I said last night. If I…” Sharp breath. It never happened before, but maybe this time. “If I threatened you. It didn’t mean anything. I would never hurt you.”

“No, no you didn’t do that!” Delphia stepped closer. That was new. Over the last few weeks it happened only in the garden.

“We decided to tell you. There’s a gun. It…” Ash looked to Delphia. Delphia nodded then they both met her eyes. “It makes giants human. We know where it’s hidden. The other was broken years ago. When the other one, Dominic I think, got angry because someone got away.”

Alessia sucked in a sharp breath. That was exactly what they wanted. More than that, there was only one. It was a race to who’d get it first. It had to be her. She brought her hands up to surround them. No shaking, maybe trust. Maybe pouring her heart out while drunk helped.

“Can you tell me where?” she breathed. Two headshakes.

“Only from the room. You’d need to take at least one of us with you.” Delphia stepped forward, as if she was offering.

“You’d feel better if I took you both right?” Tiny wide eyes followed by nods. “Ok. I’ll get ready. We’ll leave as soon as we can.”

Alessia had to push away all her nerves. There wasn’t time to waste. Anton was no fool, he wouldn’t have stopped looking. She had to find it now. As she grabbed her clothes she paused in front of a closet she rarely opened. Today would put her life at risk. There was one thing she could do to lessen that.

She pulled open the closet and grabbed the vest from inside. A gift years ago from Rhys and Felix that they swore was a joke. Except Rhys told her later it was Ryder’s idea. Something to keep her safe since she decided to take a bouncer role at a number of bars. To make herself a target.

Getting ready to go took too long from her perspective. She’d been back to her own shirts for a week; Felix added the same scent protection to her pockets that her dad had. They were a little tight over the vest, but not something a giant would notice. Alessia pulled her jacket over the shirt and pushed open the door.

“Ok, let’s go,” she said as walked up to them. A quick crouch to set her hand on the table. Both humans climbed on easily. She brought them to her pocket and let them jump in on their own. “Don’t worry. You’ll stay safe with me.”

Alessia walked out of the house quickly. It was early. She was always the first one up after a night drinking. No one would be awake to hear her leave. It would help. 

Outside she skipped the car. The walk would be less noticeable, easier for the escape later. The streets were empty as she walked. Just what she wanted. The Sulvan family probably slept late too. It would work for this. Sneak in and out. She could be silent, just like her mother.

It felt too soon that the Sulvan estate was in view. She slipped behind a tree nearby and watched. The building seemed empty. Enough that she should be able to get in and out. Their official search was over; the family was back. 

“Ok, we’re here,” she whispered. A quick reach into her pocket to grab the two humans. There wasn’t time to be as careful as usual right now. She held them in her palm, just where they could see the estate. “So, where do I go?”

“Del,” Ash whispered. She nodded as she stood up on Alessia’s palm. She almost panicked as the tiny woman neared the edge.

“Back there,” Delphia pointed towards a run down shed. They’d skipped over it in the initial search. The surrounding area was overgrown. It was clearly ignored. Alessia narrowed her eyes. Not ignored, designed to look ignored. “That’s where we were kept too.”

“Got it.”

Alessia curled her fingers over them. Delphia scrambled back well before her hand moved. Carefully she pressed them to her chest as she moved forward. The Kamias were known for their fence. It was odd among the families. The Sulvan family had been extremely vocal about it. Of course it was known they had a habit of grabbing humans from other families for snacks. The openness made this easier.

It was easy to walk over the hedge of the property. Alessia crouched as she walked. Her fingers pressed the two humans flat against her palm. She could feel the tiny chests moving up and down. Every few steps she stared towards the house. At one point she swore someone saw her, but no alarm sounded. No bullets sent her way. She had to assume it was safe.

In front of the shed she stood up mostly to her full height. The trees hung over just enough she couldn’t manage to straighten her back. That didn’t matter. She tried to push the door open, but it was stuck. With a groan she pulled the two humans up to her face.

“I’ll need to break down the door. I’m gonna put you back in my pocket while I do that, it’s safer,” she explained. Two nods. They weren’t shaking. She chose to believe that was good. 

She dumped them both in her pocket before taking a few steps back. Alessia hugged her left arm to herself. She placed her right hand on her left elbow then angled so her shoulder would hit the door. She ran straight into it, the door creaking and cracking from the impact. 

It wasn’t enough. Again. More creaks and cracks.

Again.

Again.

Again.

And again.

“What the fuck?” she breathed. 

When she stumbled into the shed it revealed a dim room that was far too pristine for the exterior. A full blown lab was in here. At least as far as she was concerned. She wandered around. Counters full of machinery that looked strange until she stepped closer. It was all designed to poke and prod at humans.

Cabinets that were left flung open, jars lined them. Chemicals she’d never seen were listed. It might not only be chemicals, but she couldn’t tell. A tall fridge sat in the back of the room. She couldn’t keep herself from marching over to open it. The inside was filled with tiny bags of blood. Tiny to her, but not to the humans that it must have come from. 

Alessia turned and retched. She was glad in her haste she forgot to get any of them something to eat. This place was awful. The exact place that would make something that would change a person down to their DNA.

It took a few minutes to compose herself again. Guilt ate at her for the two little humans that had to listen to her try and fail to be sick. She pressed a hand to them, taking one last sweep around the room. 

She purposely avoided the bed in the center of the room. Bed was a kind term, it was an operating table with clear restraints. Big enough to hold her father down with extra room. The thought made her shiver.

“Can you tell me from in there or do you need to see?” she asked. It felt disgusting to bring them out in this place again. 

“Just me,” Ash called. She nodded, it didn’t matter if they saw. They would know she heard as soon as her fingers reached into the pocket. She did try to just take them out, but Delphia’s fingers dug into her skin.

“No… take me out too,” the tiny woman’s voice was hard to hear. “Please.”

There was a weakness in the word that she hadn’t heard before. Delphia and Ash only had each other in this misery. A miracle they even survived. She would personally make sure they had a safe place to go after all of this. A place no one could hurt them again.

“Whatever will make this easier. You two point it out. I grab it. Then neither of you will ever be here again.”

It just took shifting her hand slightly to grab them both. She curled her fingers up and against her palm. This was awful. It would have been better to tell someone she was coming. Find a way to keep these two from returning to this place. 

Those thoughts didn’t matter now. She pulled her hand up until it was flat. Uncurled her fingers and waited. Ash stood, Delphia was curled up in her hand. Maybe it wasn’t the smartest thing, but Alessia pulled the hand closer. Gently she ran a finger down Delphia’s back. The tiny woman inching closer to it pushed away her doubt.

“Over there,” Ash drew her attention back to the current task. They pointed towards the wall near the machine that had probably been a source of torment. “You’ll need to put us down. You need both hands to move the counter.”

Alessia nodded. Reluctantly she set them down next to the machine. She’d break it on her way out. Then she kneeled and pushed both her hands behind the counter. Ash was right, it moved. Just a little. That little was enough to cause something to click and a piece of the wall in front of her to open. She shuffled back, almost scared to see it.

“It’s in there,” Ash said. “The scientist hid a version once he realized Dominic was probably going to kill him. It didn’t change anything.”

“I’m guessing Dominic already had one for himself?” Alessia asked.

“No, the scientist had two… Dominic found him hiding the first,” Delphia answered. “He… he grabbed the only other one who’d survived and loaded the gun. Made the giant a human then… stepped on him.”

“Sick bastard.” The growl couldn’t be kept down. She’d make Dominic pay. “Wait… what do you mean he loaded the gun with someone else who survived?”

“Read the notes.” Both said it together. That was starting to make her worry. In her mind unison from them was bad.

Alessia listened though. She pulled open the panel until she could peer inside. A clearly modified pistol sat inside. The front had something that looked like a megaphone opening. The spot for the clip was replaced with an open spot made of glass. She could see bits of red left on the bottom of it. Alessia grabbed it and aimed it towards the table.

A deep breath then she pulled the trigger. In response a metal plate slammed down in the glass opening. She could only imagine what that meant. The gun let out a sound like an empty airsoft pistol. She set it down to grab the notes.

A lot of it was stuff she couldn’t understand. The first two pages technical terms Rhys would know. Then she found the simplified part:

With this device. As long as the blood of one whole human is used we can turn any giant in the gun’s range into a human. The Sulvan family will reclaim the power those filthy Kamia’s have been taking. It’s obvious they have a soft spot, this will be a just punishment. We’re lucky to have so many specimens of a rare human blood type. If the human and giant match they won’t change. The rare blood will ensure we can change almost anyone without knowing that information.

“For every shot it kills a human…” Alessia sat back on her feet. Eyes wide. This… this was disgusting. At first she almost hoped she could use it on herself. Finally stop being a monster. That wasn’t an option anymore. Now she had to get it home before any Sulvan could find it. She shoved the notes in her pocket. “We have to go!”

There wasn’t time to wait for them to agree. For the first time since this started she scooped them up. Then ran. Unfortunately she was out of luck. Just outside of the shed was Anton, his two lackeys, and about 4 other Sulvan family members behind them. She growled, they had spotted her.

“Well, well Alessia,” Anton clapped his hands, even stepped closer. “I didn’t think you’d get that one to talk after you ate its lover. Hand over the gun and the human and we’ll let you go home.” He snapped his fingers, guns were aimed at her. There was a little hope. The Sulvan family were notoriously awful shots. “Otherwise you might not make it home.”

“Oh and what were you planning to do when you found this? Use it on me or just more of my family?” she growled. The monster laughed. She took the chance to move a little. None of them noticed. Too focused on Anton having his ‘moment’. He turned back to glare at her.

“Now, now. It would be easy. We help your father back to his long lost love. Pin the disappearance on your mongrel elder brother. You and I run the family… Of course if you step out of line mommy and daddy might be the ones who take the consequences.”

“You’re sick.” He laughed again. She moved again. Just a little more.

“You think we’re sick?!” The volume even made her flinch. She tightened her hold on Ash and Delphia. This wouldn’t be like last time. “You Kamias are the ones who play house with humans. Those things are nothing better than snacks. Pets on a good day. Yet you keep them all the time. No one else believes us, but we know. There’s something wrong with you Kamias. Something you’re doing with the humans you don’t eat.”

“We just aren’t gluttons like a Sulvan. We only eat ones that are worth it.”

Another laugh. He fully turned away from her. A few more steps. She could see the line to the hedges. She could run now. Duck behind the tree. Stick the two in her pocket. No pocket wasn’t safe enough. Under the vest. That was the only way she could guarantee they’d survive.

Anton took a few more steps from her. She moved. As fast as her legs would carry her she ran. Behind her were shouts, no one expected her to run. 

Gun shots fired around her. Her grip tightened again, but she knew they were safe. She’d learned to control her strength since then. Just before she ducked behind the tree a shot grazed her arm. She shouted in pain.

“No time, you’ll be safe,” she panted. 

That was the best explanation she could offer. She pulled the hand holding the two up past her pocket. With her free hand she ripped open her button up shirt. Then shoved the two down underneath the bulletproof vest. She let them go once they had settled just between her breasts. It was the best place to know they wouldn’t fall.

“Get back here Alessia!” Anton shouted. 

Alessia pushed herself off the tree and ran. More shots rang out. A few hit her back as she ran. Her jacket and shirt were going to be ruined after this.

Main roads weren’t an option. Alessia pivoted towards some of the slivers of woods near her. The trees would help.

“That way!” 

Run. That was all she had to do. Another shot whizzed past her head. The trees weren’t helping as much. She might die.

The humans against her chest moved, she couldn’t die.

Alessia bobbed between trees. Shots blew past. More in her back. One grazed her leg. She’d hit the ground soon.

She couldn’t hit the ground. They’d have the gun. Have Ash and Delphia. That couldn’t happen. She wouldn’t let that happen.

Her mind blanked as she ran. Numbly she felt pain in her arms and legs. Nothing more than a graze. Her back ached. Her lungs spiked like icicles dotted them. She had to get home.

The shots died off just as she neared the fence she loved. It protected humans and herself. She pivoted again, towards the gates. Just had to get inside.

“So predictable,” Anton’s voice ahead of her made her freeze. “Really a car or something might have made you succeed. I’ll just have to make you human before the others. Keep all the Kamia’s just for me. I wonder what you’ll taste like.”

Alessia reached to her side. No gun. She left without it. The gate was so close. Almost close enough to get away. She wouldn’t threaten him with the gun. Not playing with lives to save her own. Instead she walked forward. 

The idiot did as she wanted. Fired a shot right at her stomach. It hurt, almost enough to make her stop. Not enough though. She kept walking. Another shot. This one grazed by her shoulder.

“Next one won’t miss,” Anton threatened. She watched him take aim at her head. The edges of her vision were black he was all she could see anymore. This would be how she died. Failing to protect so many from a monster worse than herself.

The gun shot rang out. Alessia waited for a burning pain to spread through her. To break the numb feeling in her body. Only it didn’t. She stared at Anton as the white over his stomach turned red. The gun fell from his hand as he collapsed. Behind him stood Rhys, a cold look she’d never seen on him before.

“You’re right, the next one didn’t,” he said. Alessia walked forward now. Rhys didn’t even look at her, pulling his phone out. She heard it ringing, as soon as it connected two shots rang out. “I found her.”

“I’ve taken care of the ones tailing her,” Felix’s voice came from the phone. “I’ll kill her once I’m home.”

“After me.”

Alessia walked forward again. Rhys finally looked at her. He’d been crying. His eyes were bloodshot. He stormed right up to her. She wasn’t sure what his plan was, but crouching with his back to her wasn’t it.

“Climb on, now,” he ordered. Alessia obeyed. The squirming against her chest left her relieved. They were still alive. She was right. “What the fuck is wrong with you? Running off on your own! Running while they shoot at you! You know better than this. At least Ryder will finally see his gift was useful.”

Alessia nodded. Rhys didn’t stop scolding her the entire time he carried her into the house. His voice cracked a few times, he’d cried. In a weird way it calmed her. The knowledge her family was worried she’d be gone. The adrenaline in her body started to ebb and she realized how much pain she was in. All she wanted was to take a shower to try and make it go away. 

Rhys kicked open the door, it made the two humans squirm again. Alessia pressed her face into his shoulder. She could imagine how angry her dad was, especially if they knew she took Ash and Delphia. That part had to stay a secret. More for the two humans than herself.

Rhys grunted as he shoved her off his back. He left her sitting on the coffee table. Against her better judgment she took stock of herself. Arms and legs coated with blood. Felix was going to kill her later. He’d just made the shirt she was wearing. Rhys walked off. At the very least she could pull off her jacket. The button down shirt below could be left alone.

“Alessia,” her father’s voice made her shudder. The squirms of the humans against her stopped. She couldn’t blame them. “What were you thinking?”

She didn’t face him. That didn’t matter. Heavy steps stormed toward her. Ash and Delphia would hate being around when her dad walked around like that. He sat in front of her, she didn’t want to face him. He pulled her arm towards him. She grimaced as the sleeve of her shirt was torn.

“You’re lucky they didn’t kill you,” he said. She finally tried to see his eyes. Worry. Fear. Things that the head of the Kamia’s couldn’t feel. “What were you even doing? I told you Anton wanted you.”

“I was told to check the shed. I found it,” she whispered. Nothing to show Ash and Delphia knew how it worked. Rhys or her dad might ask the two to stay with what they knew. They’d think it was a demand not a request. “Dad, it's sick…”

Alessia hissed as her dad pressed a cloth to one of her wounds. Disinfectant. He didn’t say anything while wrapping each spot with bandages. Rhys came back with more bandages and disinfectant. She winced as soon as he pressed something to her leg. She was lucky.

She wanted to zone out. Her mind didn’t let that happen. She became focused on the two humans, still as statues, stuck against her chest. They were safe and alive. She’d get upstairs and pretend they had never left. It was just her. She ran off on her own with a little bit of info. After a few more hisses and winces, Rhys and her dad sat back. Both staring at her with clear disappointment.

“Where’s Felix?” she asked. It was a better question.

“Cleaning up. You were lucky he’d gone out to make some doubles late last night. He heard the shots, saw you running. I wouldn’t have been there if he didn’t call me,” Rhys said.

“Ryder?”

“With Felix.”

Alessia nodded. Her dad hadn’t spoken again yet. She hung her head. It was stupid, but if the Sulvan family found it first… That wasn’t something she would think about. Her father’s large hands forced her to release the death grip on the gun. The thing that turned her mother and siblings human. That murdered who knows how many innocent humans for one man’s sick games.

“Rhys, take the gun,” her father said. “Take it apart, take your notes, destroy what isn’t hard to recreate. Alessia, was there anything besides the gun?”

“Notes… they’re in my jacket,” she whispered. A hand settled on her head and ruffled her hair. Her dad always did that.

“Don’t do something stupid like this again. You’re worth more than any information we’re looking for.” She turned her head away. Her dad grabbed her cheeks to make her face him. “Promise me you won’t do something like this again.”

“...I can’t…”

“You’re too stubborn.” Her father sighed as he pulled her into a hug. “Too much like your mother… Go let those two know we’ll find a place for them in whatever city they want. Felix is grabbing a doctor on his way home. Go get some rest.” 

“Ok…” She took a deep breath. Something she had to tell him. “Dad, the notes. It takes a whole human to use it. Their blood… That place… it was sick. I can’t…”

“We won’t let anyone know about this. We’ll find anyone else who has this too. This becomes a Kamia secret.”

Her father let her go. Rhys grabbed the gun off her lap and walked off. None of them actually knew where he worked on stuff. Well, Ryder probably knew. Her dad helped her to stand, but she didn’t need it. She could walk without help. As soon as he let her go, Alessia rushed up the stairs. The two humans had been trapped against her long enough.

It was a painful walk to her room. Without the adrenaline every spot she was grazed stung. Her muscles ached. The spots the vest had been hit were pulsing. She had to remember to thank Ryder later. 

In her room she shut the door and locked it. The click was more reassuring than she wanted to admit. It was hard to believe she was alive. Anton nearly killed her. The squirms against her chest brought her out of her thoughts. She walked over to her bed and leaned forward. She almost wanted to keep them close. Where she could keep making sure they were safe.

Instead she let out a sigh. Incredibly aware of the humans against her she pulled the vest over her head. When Ash and Delphia squirmed she would pause then continue. It only took a few precious seconds to take the tight vest off herself. She became horribly embarrassed as soon as she realized she was left in just her bra. Even more so with both humans sitting in said bra.

A swallow to steel her nerves, then she reached into her bra. She pulled them out easily. Her breasts kept them pressed together more than in her pocket. She left them on her bed, below her as she hovered. Both tiny faces were red, she knew it was probably warm against her, but she wanted it to be a different reason.

Alessia slid to her knees. She watched the two of them. They wouldn’t look at her. At best she made them hate her. She sat back on her heels. Something. She had to say something. Explain anything. Nothing popped in her head. Instead her eyes stung because now the two little humans who made her feel like a person were going to leave.

“A little warning would have been nice,” Delphia shouted.

“I’m sorry,” Alessia whispered. She hung her head, it was hard to look at them.

“I-I didn’t say you should be.”

Alessia snapped her head up. Delphia wasn’t looking at her. The red looked more like a blush against the tiny woman’s pale skin. Ash started to chuckle, she didn’t miss the blush on their dark cheeks. It looked more embarrassed than annoyed or bothered. That was just wishful thinking. She knew it was. 

“She’s embarrassed,” Ash said. Alessia’s own cheeks warmed at the idea. 

“Right that… I just wanted you safe. I should have picked somewhere better. I should have at least explained. I’m sorry I…” A total loss for words. She wasn’t as sorry as she should be. It was kind of nice knowing they were safe. Feeling them against her skin. She fell for these two and now they’d leave.

“I already said you didn’t have to be sorry.” Alessia bit her lip. She was a bit more willing to accept that it was embarrassment that made the two red. Which just made her find them both cute. “A-anyway what did that other giant mean? A-about telling us you’ll find us a place in a city.”

“Why did you hide that we were with you?” Ash asked.

A sigh. Reality mattered. Her crush on them didn’t. Soon they’d be taken to a city where mafia families can’t reach them. At least where it’s a lot harder to reach them. Where she would never see them again. The distraction from the pain in her body ended. She leaned her arms against the bed. She was tired, it was still so early.

“That’s what we do. Get humans like you into safe places. Wherever you want. We’ll get you there,” she whispered. She brought her chin to rest on her arms, let out a sigh that ruffled the clothes of the two humans. “I… I didn’t tell them you were with me because if my dad and brother knew how much you knew they might ask if you were willing to stay. I know how they seem, it wouldn’t be easy to believe you have a choice. You do though, none of us would make you stay here.”

Whispers between the two. A conversation she couldn’t be part of. She wanted to bring back those moments where it felt like they weren’t in a mafia town. It was over. She’d never break into the world the two had. Never have blinding smiles towards her. Laughter and secrets. Promises or trust. The last few weeks would fade into a painful, heartbreaking memory.

“We might be willing to stay,” Ash said. Alessia couldn’t hide her excitement at the idea. The chance to maybe grow closer to them. “We need an answer first…”

“If I know it I will,” she breathed.

“Last night… before you fell asleep again. You mentioned someone named Alex and said you might bring us a castle, what did that mean?”

“Oh…” Alessia pulled her head back, hid her mouth behind her arms. “When I was little, a group of humans had wound up near the house. I tried to help them. Brought medicine, food, even snuck out a toy castle for them to live in. I tried to get them to meet my parents. Looking back it was stupid, probably scared them more. I just knew my mom and dad would keep them safe, get all of them out of this city. Alex was the only one who spoke to me.”

“What happened to them?” Delphia asked. Alessia hated this. The humans of the Kamia’s knew. She didn’t like telling the story. Explaining how in panic she nearly crushed someone.

“I’m not sure… One day I went to see them. The castle was crushed and Anton was standing there about to eat one of them. I tackled him, got the human, and tried to run. Back then I was kind of short. I was scared, I almost… almost killed Alex and he was the one human I had been there to save. My parents got him to a hospital where he survived, but we never found the others.”

Alessia knew tears were streaming down her face. She hated her past. That she failed to protect so many. That she nearly killed someone. Even if they stayed.

“You found them… the only ones left,” Delphia whispered.

“We thought… the giant helping us gave us back,” Ash said. Alessia lifted her face a little. That would mean… all the others were. “A few escaped. Some let go. Anyone with blood types like ours were kept.”

“Hey… if we stay, would we just keep living in your room?”

Alessia shook her head.

“Where then?”

“You could stay on the property. We have a house for human members of the family,” Alessia sat up a bit more. “There’s room to build a house for you two on the property hidden away. You’d be safe here. I usually take care of getting the supplies for the houses so I’d be the only one around.”

“Could… the house here stay? Maybe on the dresser instead?”

Alessia flushed. A small nod. She liked the idea of them having a place here. 

“...Ash, do you want to stay?” Delphia asked. Alessia looked at them. Their gaze had her melting.

“Yes. I think it would be a good idea,” they answered.

Alessia started to purr immediately. That caused the two to start laughing. She never thought something good could come of her connection to the mafia. Especially where the Sulvan family was concerned. These two were a light in the darkness that she didn’t know she needed. Hopefully they could keep getting closer, maybe she’d be part of those whispered conversations after all.

“I should get dressed before Felix shows up with a doctor,” she whispered. A little less embarrassed knowing they might enjoy the view.

[gt-daboss]

Thank you! I feel like i got a little (okay, very) lazy with the background and the tiny, but i do like Abigail's depiction here, she deserves to be happy after the trauma i made her go through in the real story xD

Abigail and Sada - Sleepover

From THIS story.

A much more chill wholesome take on the real story, but if your interested some heavy angst, go check out their story! If that doesn't sound your thing, stay here for the lil' study sesh they got going on~

Somewhat inspired from the 'lo-fi beats to relax/study to' if its not a little obvious already haha

Tagging @altairasart since you wanted to know what Abigail looked like, here ya go!

[gt-daboss]

Abigail and Sada - Sleepover

From THIS story.

A much more chill wholesome take on the real story, but if your interested some heavy angst, go check out their story! If that doesn't sound your thing, stay here for the lil' study sesh they got going on~

Somewhat inspired from the 'lo-fi beats to relax/study to' if its not a little obvious already haha

Tagging @altairasart since you wanted to know what Abigail looked like, here ya go!

[gt-daboss]

Traditional art AND its got colors!

a blacksmith making a custom sized ring for his giant wife. if that's anything to any one of you

[gt-daboss]

This just in: Trauma, more at 6

Quincy and the forest Giant part five

finally came up with a proper title for this series. anyways, here's the comfort part of "hurt/comfort", as promised in the last chapter. I hope you enjoy it. criticism is appreciated.

previous part

tw: mentioning death and squeezing, though none actually happens.

______________________________________________________________

It felt like a couple of hours later. I was still under the pillow, holding myself. I had stopped crying a while ago, now I was just numb. It was still raining outside, thunder roaring every so often. Occasionally, I would hear Ella walking by. She didn’t speak to me for a while, sometimes I would feel her walking behind the couch behind me, or see her looking at me from the other side of the room while I hid from her under the pillow. Finally, she left the room and came back a couple of minutes later with a massive paper towel with some more stale bread on it.

“Hey,” the giant said, sitting on her knees in front of the couch, and placing the plate next to the pillow. She was rubbing her neck. “It’s about lunchtime. You should eat something.”

I stayed silent. I was actually hungry, even if all there was to eat was the large, stale bread, but I didn’t want to come out of my hiding spot. I didn’t want to expose myself to her. I heard the giant sign in response to my silence.

“Come on, come out of there, I want to talk to you,” Ella said, sounding more annoyed. “You're not in trouble or anything, just come out.” I still didn’t budge from my spot.

“I….I am not h-hungry…” I lied, trying to get Ella to go away. She groaned with more annoyance.

“Look, I’m trying to be nice to you after what happened, and you’re going to accept it, ok?” Ella said. “Don’t make me yank you out from under there, kid.”

I hesitantly crawled out from under the throw pillow and looked down in nervousness, avoiding eye contact with the giant. 

“There you are,” Ella said, glaring down at me. “I got you some food,” she pushed the piece of bread towards me. I stared at it for a moment before stepping onto the paper towel and picking the bread up, taking a small bite. It was hard and nearly crunchy. 

“Do you not like it?” Ella asked. I looked up at her.

“Um…its…..uh, its ... .um…a bit stale….” I said sheepishly.

“Do you want me to get you something else? Water? Fruit from outside?” The giant asked.

“Um, no thanks, I’m fine,” I said, taking another bite. The giant sighed and leaned on her elbow on the couch. She seemed like she didn’t know how to say what she wanted to.

“So…about earlier, your… you're fine now, right?” she asked.

“Wh-what?” I said, confused as to what she meant.

“You're not like, traumatized or anything from what I did to you, right? I mean,your not crying anymore,”

“...yeah, I’m not… crying…” I said,

“So you're fine? We’re good?” Ella asked. I struggled with wwhatto say to her. I was silent for a few moments before I heard her sigh. “You’re still afraid, aren’t you?”

“Um….well….um….” I stumbled over my words while answering her, “your…very big…and you…um…you can be….um”

“I can be what?” Ella asked sternly. “Intimidating? Mean?”

“Well...um…..” I nodded and shrugged at the same time. Ella sighed again.

“We should talk about this somewhere else,” she said, reaching her hand towards me.

“Huh? Wait, don’t-” 

The giant suddenly picked me up, wrapping her hand around my torso and giving me a light squeeze as she casually walked into the kitchen and plopped me onto the table. She sat down in a chair while I tried to stand back up. She sighed before talking. 

“Look, I didn’t mean to go that far when I was…threatening you earlier,” she said, looking down as if she was ashamed. “I wouldn’t actually hurt you, let alone ‘make you go missing’ like I said. I was just trying to get you to listen to me and stop asking questions. I didn’t mean to make you cry or anything, ok?”

“Um…ok…” I said, still scared.

“Good, I just wanted you to understand that.” she said. “As long as you're here, I’m in charge of you, and you have to listen to me, but that doesn’t mean I’ll hurt you, understand?”

“...sure…” I said, looking down. Ella sighed slightly and looked closer at me.

“Don’t lie to me, Quincy.” the giant said.

“I…I’m not…” I gulped to calm myself down, “I’m not lying,”

“You still think that I’d hurt you,” Ella said sternly. “You're shaking and mumbling when you try to talk. If you trusted me not to hurt you, you wouldn’t be doing that.”

“I…you…well ... .your…you're not doing a very good job convincing me.” I said,

“Look, I explained myself, I told you I didn’t mean to make you cry like that, I don’t know what else you would want from me to give me your trust.”

“You…you didn’t even…apologize…you…you’re acting like you didn’t do anything wrong, and this is just some kind of misunderstanding…” I said, looking down.

“Is that not what this is?” Ella asked, even more stern. “You misunderstood me, and thought I would hurt you.”

“You….you threatened me…you squeezed me….” I said, closing my eyes to brace myself for Ellas reaction.

“Squeeze you? What are you talking about?” Ella asked. “You mean when I was holding you tight earlier to bring you here? That was so I don’t drop you. You wouldn’t want to fall from that height, kid,”

“No…when you were yelling at me,” I said, “you…you were holding me tight again, and….your grip squeezed me while you were yelling…..and it hurt…like you were going to crush me…” Ella was silent for a moment hearing this. Her expression lightened and her eyes got wider as she looked at me.

“What? You mean I hurt you?” Ella asked, suddenly sounding horrified. “Are you still hurt? Did I break anything?”

“Um, no…I’m fine now…..a little sore, I guess,” I said,

“Why didn’t you say anything?” Ella asked,

“You…you were mad at me…” I said.

“You…you thought I did that on purpose?” Ella said, sounding both horrified and angry at the same time. “I…I wouldn’t…I honestly didn’t mean to…” her expression softened more as she sighed, looking at me with guilt. “are you sure you're not hurt? Are you okay? Do you need anything?” 

“No, I…I’m fine, it's ok,” I said. 

“It's not ok, I hurt you,” Ella said in a serious, yet sympathetic tone, “I could have actually injured you, or crush you, I…” The giant sighed again, closing her eyes and looking down with guilt, before looking back at me. “I’m sorry, Quincy.”

“For….for squeezing me?” I asked.

“For squeezing you, for making you cry, and for yelling at you in the first place.” Ella said. “I really, truly, sorry.”

“Um, it's okay, Ella,” I said looking up at her, “it only hurt for a moment anyway. It's fine.”

“It's not fine, Quincy. Your 13, you’re just a kid.” Ella said, full of guilt and anger at herself. “I yelled at a child. I made a child cry and hide from me. I almost killed a child…” 

It seemed like she was more so talking to herself at this point, trying to come to terms with what she did. What she could have done. There was still sternness in her voice, but none of it was directed towards me anymore. It was all towards herself. She was angry at herself. 

“It's ok, its…its over now. You don’t have to worry anymore,” I said, trying to calm the giant down.

“This is exactly why I’m not supposed to be around normal humans,” she muttered under her breath. I guess if she was normal size, I wouldn’t have heard it. But she's not, and I heard what she said perfectly. 

“...not allowed?” I asked. Ella looked at me for a second embarrassed and still ashamed of herself. She sighed and looked down.

“Quincy…” he sighed again, frustrated. “The reason I didn’t want you asking those questions..” she paused, “is that..the more you know about me, about this, about my job, where we are, what I am, the more you know about those things, the more danger you will be in.”

“Danger from what?” I asked.

“...not me, hopefully.” the giant sighed. “With what you know now, there's a good chance you’ll be fine…for the most part. But if you find anything else out, you won’t be. Bad things will happen to you, and I don’t want those things to happen, but I can’t keep them from happening unless you stay unaware of these things. Do you understand?”

It took me a moment to answer, “ok…I understand…” Ella grew a soft smile as I nodded. 

“Good, I’m glad we could work this out,” The giant said, still looking sympathetic. “If there's anything I could do to…y’know, make things up to you for what I did earlier before those people come to get you tomorrow, just tell me, m’kay kid?”

“Um…ok, Ella,” I said. “Um, could we…do something to pass the time…until then…”

“Sure kid. sure.”

[gt-daboss]

Tinytopia Chapter 6: Endless Rebirth (Part 2)

Story Masterpost

On AO3

Thanks to my beta/sensitivity reader @appelsiinilight!

In this chapter: Thistle is eager to accept the new member of the household, oblivious to a burgeoning grudge his arrival is causing.

***

Jax seemed to lack most of the fear that other small creatures had about being around humans.  He consented to being carried somewhere more private to talk without much apparent internal conflict.

Marcy very gently scooped him up in her hands and carried him inside, upstairs.  Thistle slid down into her hand beside him.  “Hi,” he said, grinning.

“Hi,” Jax said bashfully.

Moon followed them, but none of them noticed.  Marcy shut the bedroom door behind her without spotting him.  He frowned and leaned against the banister.  He had to wait  outside the door the same way Mochi would stand outside a room she wasn't allowed in and dramatically cry and wail and roll around about wanting to be inside.  No… Better save his dignity and wait than knocking and begging to be included.

Marcy let Jax and Thistle off on her desk.  Jax seated himself on top of a Kleenex box, paws swinging idly.  Marcy took the seat.  “So, uh…”

“Uh,” Jax echoed.

“So what are you?”

“Yeahhhhhh,” Jax said.  “I don’t really… dunno how to describe it?”

Thistle and Marcy waited for more elaboration that didn’t come.

“Like, what are you?” Jax said, gesturing to Marcy.

“I’m a human,” Marcy answered.

“Well, yeah, but like, what is a human?”

“...It’s a species of social, bipedal mammal.”

Jax flicked his ears.  “Yeah, but that don’t mean anything to me.  What’s any of that mean?”

Marcy’s excitement started to fade a little.  “Okay…Do you not have the…words to describe what you are?”

Jax scratched his head.  “I guess?”

“How about this, then?” Thistle interjected.  “How did you come back to life?”

“Oh,” Jax says.  “That.  Well, I mean, I wasn’t really dead.  Per-say.”

Thistle and Marcy looked at each other.

“But we saw you die,” Marcy said.

“Oh, yeah, that piece of me died.  But just cuz you, like, lose a finger doesn’t mean you’re dead, right?”

Thistle and Marcy looked at each other with increasing bafflement.

“Is there… more of you?” Thistle ventured.

Jax bristled.  “Yes!  But, but don't ask about that!”

That was suspicious. That's suspicious, right? Or was he just scared?  “Um…”  Thistle said.  “Is it something bad?”

Jax hid his face in his hands.  “No… It’s just.  I don’t want you to know.  Because you could walk out and find me, and that’s scary. S'supposed to be secret.”

“Uhhh.”  Thistle had no idea what he was talking about, but he certainly understood being scared and wanting to keep parts of himself secret.  “Okay, I guess.  As long as it's not something bad.”

Marcy eyed Jax with suspicion.  He shrank away from her.

“So then what are you here for?” Thistle asked.

Jax's face was still red.  “Um.  I don't really know.  I was just kind of wandering around, and a dryad told me I could come here.”

The mysterious second dryad who'd known exactly where they were somehow.  “And not the dryad on our front lawn?” Thistle asked.

“It was a different one,” Jax insisted.

“And she told you to come here specifically?”

“Yeah, she gave me directions to the house and everything.  Even said there’s a pickup truck in the driveway.”

“...Huh.”  That felt… a bit ominous.  They would really have to try and coax Trilloras out sometime to ask some questions. How did she know? Why did she tell Jax to come here?

“Okay,” Marcy pushed gently.  “What happened before that, though?  Why were you wandering around?”

“I didn't know where to go!”

“But why not?  Where were you before that?”

“I dunno!” Jax cried.  “I'm sorry!”

“All right, Marcy, slow down on the grilling a bit.”

Marcy sat back.  “Sorry…”

Looking frazzled, Jax ducked his head.  “‘m sorry.  I guess I don't really understand.”

“That's okay,” Thistle soothed. “So let's walk through it.  What do you remember from before you were wandering around?”

“Nothing.  I've just been…. wandering’ around for a while.  There’s nothing before that.”

“Okay, I guess…. Tell us everything you remember.  From start to finish.  All the way back to when you were a baby with your parents.”

“Parents?”

“...Yes?  Parents?  You know what those are, right?”

He nodded.  “Oh, yeah, I know.  I just don’t think I got parents.”

Thistle furrowed his brow, crossed his arms, and let out a very long breath.  “...Okay.  So then, just.  Everything you know about yourself.  Everything you remember.”

Jax lashed his tail.  “Hm… I’m young, but I don’t know how I was born.  I remember…growing.  And I know about borrowers.  But I also don’t think I’ve… ever met a real borrower.”

Thistle reached out and felt his fur.  “You…feel like a real borrower.”

“And I make magic by collecting items, like borrowers do.  But I can feel that I got a lot more potential than that, too.  And I dun’even know how I know any of that!  It just kinda…feels like it?”

“And you said you’re young?  You look fully grown.”  He was definitely closer in height to Violet than Petunia.

He nodded.  “I remember…about eight days.”

“...Eight days?  You’re eight days old?  Or do you just not remember anything from before eight days ago?  You couldn’t even learn a language in eight days, let alone grow up!”

“I didn’t learn it, I just sort of…absorbed it.”  Jax furrowed his brow and walked across the desk, watching his feet tap on the wooden surface.  “That’s what it feels like.  I didn’t learn anything.  I just…absorbed it, n’then appeared.”

“Okay…  and the, um.  The ‘rest’ of you–you can tell us whatever about it you feel comfortable, we’re not trying to pressure you or anything, I promise you’re safe…”

Jax stopped, ears twitching.  “Right.  Um…Well, I do know that when I die, I can just grow a new body.”

“Grow it how?”

Jax flushed and turned away, squirming.  “It’s nothing bad!  It’s just secret!”

“Okay,” Thistle said.  He guessed he could live with that for now.  Jax was being astonishingly up-front with them about everything else despite his apparent confusion.  That was worth something, right?  Thistle couldn’t expect everyone to not keep any secrets when he knew how scary humans could be.  He hadn’t made Moon reveal all his secrets right away.  “Maybe we can talk more about that later. We just met, after all.”

Marcy curiosity burned.  She restrained herself from asking anything else–Thistle knew the appropriate rate to go at, right?  She should let him take the lead.  Right?  She desperately wanted to ask more, but she always asked too many questions at once and overwhelmed everyone.

“So, what do you want to do now?” Thistle asked.

“Um… I don’t really know.”  Jax scratched his head.  “I… guess I don’t really know what to do?  I don’t really know how to be a borrower.”

“Marcy, can we talk downstairs for a bit?” Thistle said.  “Jax, we’ll be right back.”

“Oh–oh okay!” Jax said.  He sat back down on the kleenex box.  “I’ll just, uh, wait right here!”

Marcy took Thistle out of the room.  Moon scrambled to his feet and started to say something, but his voice was drowned out by her footsteps down the stairs.

Marcy sat down on the couch in the living room.  “Do you trust this guy?” she started.

Thistle tapped his chin.  “Not entirely, just because we have no idea what he is.  But he doesn’t seem like he’s trying to trick us.  Even if he is keeping secrets from us.  He’s being honest, it seems like. Just scared to tell us everything.”

Moon’s eyes slowly raised above the arm of the couch.

“Should we let him stay?” Marcy asked.

“What do you think, Marcy?”

“I think you should be the one who gets to decide.  You’re kind of… in charge, in a way.”

Thistle’s ears twitched.  “Eh?!  I guess so.”  That seemed like a lot of responsibility, but… she was kind of right.

Moon rested his elbows on the couch.  “Our new visitor is certainly interesting,” he purred.

Thistle didn’t look at him, too absorbed in thought.  “Huh?  Oh, yeah.  Marcy, let’s go back upstairs to him, yeah?”

“Okay.”  Marcy kept Thistle in her palms and carefully stood from the couch so as not to knock Moon over.  She left him sitting unhappily on the armrest downstairs and ferried Thistle back up to her bedroom, where she set him on the desk.

“Okay, Jax,” Thistle said.  “You can stay here with us and we’ll take care of you.”

Jax gave a happy little hop.  “Yay!”

“If you want to just be a borrower, that’s fine.  We can get Violet to teach you how to be one.”

He nodded.  “Yeah, that sounds great!”

***

Thistle managed to coax Violet out for a lesson.  She seemed irritated by it–she’d just gone outside for the funeral after all, and surely asking for two excursions in one week was unreasonable, right?  

She came anyway, though.  She knew better than to argue.

Petunia came too, because, well, she was also still learning how to be a borrower.  And of course, as soon as Severa got wind that Petunia was out of the walls, she showed up, too.

So Thistle sat on Severa’s lap watching Violet talk to Jax and Petunia about the very basics of being a borrower.

“So this is how you’ll wanna to keep warm,” Violet monologued, laying out several heavy jackets.  “It can get cold in a bean’s house during the winter, and you have to make them by hand.  But in the summer, you can-”

Jax raised his hand.  “Wait, how do you make them?”

“By hand,” Petunia helpfully supplied.

“Just make ‘em how your ma and pa taught you to make stuff growing up,” Violet answered.

Thistle butted in.  “No, no, Violet, you’re not understanding.  We’re going over the very basics because nobody taught him.  He didn’t grow up.  He…”

Thistle looked over to Jax.

“I emerged fully formed from the ground.”

“...He emerged fully-formed from the ground.”

Violet scratched her head.  “That ain’t right.”

A fourth borrower slunk out from behind a nearby wall.  Thistle looked at him in shock before he realized who it must be.  That handsome face was unmistakable.

“I can also be a borrower but not actually a borrower,” the new borrower said in Moon’s voice.

“Moon, do you want to learn how to be a borrower, too?” Thistle said.

“Yes!”

“All right!  Get in line, then!”  It felt… weird, to be talking down to Moon.  He was barely four inches tall now, hardly higher than Thistle’s chest.  He'd seen Moon shapeshift before, but never to something this small. He must have really crushed all his bones and stuff down.

Moon scampered over and sat next to Jax.

“Hi,” Jax said, with all the giggly affectation of a student gossiping in class.

“Hi,” Moon said coolly.  “I’m kind of Thistle’s best friend, so if you need anything, you can just let me know.”

Thistle leaned back into Severa’s coils as she braided his hair.

“All right,” Violet said.  “Uhhh, I guess I can show you how to make stuff later when I have my sewing supplies.  I guess let’s work on…climbing?  That’s important to doing your borrowing.  Climbing up counters n’at.”

Moon’s voice had been talking softly underneath Violet’s the whole time, and as Violet’s sentence trailed off everyone in the new silence heard the tail end of Moon’s sentence, which was, “We sleep together, you know.”

Thistle grew red.  “Moon, what are you doing!”

“I was just telling Jax that you and I sleep together sometimes.”

“Yeah, but, like-”  Thistle’s ears pinned back to his head.  “Not, like, in a weird way.  He’s, uh, he’s soft and he smells nice!”

“You do smell nice!” Jax piped up.  “Like nice, earthy soil.  Maybe I could also sleep with you sometime!”

“Uh… I guess?” Thistle said, suddenly feeling weird.

Moon hooked an arm around Jax’s shoulder.  “That could be arranged,” he purred.

Jax didn’t seem to understand, but he looked happy, beaming.

“Moon, don’t seduce Jax,” Thistle whispered harshly.  “He’s eight days old.”

“He’s what?”  Moon removed his arm as though burned by hot metal.  He nervously regained his composure.  “Ah, well you certainly look… mature for your age.”

“I emerged fully formed from the ground!”

“You… emerged fully-formed from the ground.”

Jax nodded.

“That’s nothing,” Moon scoffed.  “I was raised as a borrower, you know, and then I emerged fully-formed from a borrower.”

Oh no, Thistle suddenly realized what was happening.

Moon couldn’t stand that there was someone around more interesting than him.

Moon couldn’t stand that Thistle was paying attention to someone other than Moon.

Jax, by contrast, was completely oblivious.  He had stars in his eyes, tail wiggling.  “That’s awesome!”  He reached out to touch Moon’s fur, which Moon allowed.

“Yes,” Moon said, self-satisfied.

Jax’s hand stayed on Moon’s arm, gripping his fur.  Moon shifted uncomfortably, then reached down and peeled Jax’s hand off.

“Climbing,” Violet said, annoyed by whatever was going on under her nose, “is mostly about technique.  But strength is a key factor, too.  Borrowers are naturally very strong.  Petunia, show ‘em.”

Petunia walked over and picked up a nearby apple.  It was taller and far thicker than her, but she held it up with confidence.

Jax was thrilled by this and rushed over to pick up the banana nearby.  He struggled a bit, on account of the sheer size, but he was able to get it mostly off the ground.

“Incredible!” Jax said, like he didn’t know he could do that.

“Hmph,” Moon said.  “Watch this!”  He walked over to a second apple, this one bigger, and gave it a good heft.

It didn’t budge.  He looked around awkwardly and then continued trying to lift, feet scrambling against the countertop.

“Moon, don’t hurt yourself,” Thistle said.  “Don’t hurt your back.”  He probably could have lifted it at his normal size–but even that was pushing it.  Moon was not naturally graced with muscle–he just happened to be a lot bigger than average, and now he’d shrunk himself down.  He could copy the appearance of a borrower, but apparently not their actual abilities.

Huffing and puffing, Moon turned and started trying to push the apple instead.

“Lift with yer legs,” Violet advised.

“Damn it all to hell!” Moon shouted.  “You’re not actually a borrower, so how come you get to be strong like one?”

Jax’s head sunk into his shoulders.  “Er, sorry.”

“Moon!” Thistle scolded, standing.  “Don’t yell at Jax!  He didn’t do anything wrong.”

Moon gripped his fur and tore, and the borrower costume came off and dissolved into a puff of smoke.  His form expanded back out to his full natural height and appearance with a whoosh and the sound of bones popping.  “Well, whatever,” he muttered, hopping down and flapping away.  “Who needs to climb around anyway?”

Violet watched him go.  “He’ll never get any borrowing done at that rate.”

***

***

@static-stars

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[gt-daboss]

Okay, we know Oliver isn't scared of James but.. what if James (accidentally or not) actually did something that would scare the shit outta Oliver? Make Oliver feel totally vulnerable and terrified?

We really need to see their angst!

(love your work🥰)

You guys asked for it. Ironically @justme315 also just made a post whilst I was in the middle of writing it about wanting some good angst-- hopefully this is filling enough. I also tied this into the injury prompt 31 which was requested!

31) "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

Word count: 1,685

---

“We all make mistakes, James. It's a part of life. You shouldn't hold onto that guilt forever. You said yourself that Emily forgave you for—”

“Emily forgiving me doesn't fix anything! Fuck, Oliver— I… I don't want your therapy-speak right now, it's just pissing me off!” James interrupted, a slight growl in his tone as he levelled a half-glare in the borrower's direction. His hands gestured as he spoke to emphasise his point. He knew Oliver was only trying to help, but he always made it sound so simple when life just wasn't like that.

Oliver winced at the volume but didn't let it bother him too much, sensing that if he told James to quiet down that might just aggravate him further. He focused instead on what James said. Therapy-speak?

“That's…just how I speak, James. I'm sorry if it made things worse, I’ll try to…hm.” He paused, thinking over what to do to fix his speech in the moment. “I’ll try not to say too many words. I understand that can be overwhelming for some people when they're in distress. My apologies.”

James groaned, slamming an elbow onto the edge of the table as he buried his face in one of his hands for a moment. He looked up, brows furrowing with irritation clear in his expression. “You are literally doing it right now—”

Oliver bristled.

“Oh. I'm…sorry. I'm just trying to communicate clearly so my intentions and feelings aren't misunderstood.” He hesitated again for a moment as he tried to figure out what about his speech was therapy-speak. Did James not want comfort..? But then what was Oliver supposed to do? He certainly wasn't going to participate in James's self-loathing. He offered a reassuring smile. “How would you like me to speak? I just want to help.”

James inhaled slowly before letting out a huff, closing his eyes and burying his face in both hands now. Rather than answering Oliver he stayed like that; silent, annoyed but trying to hold it back. He knew Oliver just wanted to help— but sometimes that just made James feel worse because Oliver had it all figured out and James didn't.

Sometimes he admired Oliver so much, but other times he felt so jealous. Even now, James knew that he was being the bad guy. Oliver wasn't a malicious person and clearly only cared but James really didn't want care right now. He wanted to shout and yell and throw things and collapse in a corner and cry to himself as the thought of one drink wouldn't hurt kept replaying in his mind over and over again.

Sometimes he just needed that time to get it all out so it wouldn't keep bubbling up inside of him, and Oliver was the one who was keeping him from that. Ultimately neither option would fix the relationships he had broken, so it didn't matter which one he picked, right? Self-destruction was probably some fucked up form of self-love in some way.

“I’m sorry—” Oliver began, feeling slightly on edge seeing James be so quiet and simply assuming, correctly, that he had spoken wrong again. He didn't like the feeling at all. He hadn't felt it before when facing an angry human; even angry dangerous humans; because James was his friend and he wasn't used to seeing him in that way. It felt wrong.

And something was clearly wrong because before Oliver could react, he was snatched up into a fist and lifted up to eye level. The position he was grabbed in was less than comfortable, and Oliver had been startled seeing the movement come from someone who hadn't really grabbed him much since their first meeting. Fully facing James's glare felt almost akin to staring down a gun barrel and Oliver felt nervous despite himself.

“Would you shut up?!! I didn't ask you for help or advice, so stop fucking telling me how I’m supposed to fucking feel!! I'm not stupid— I already know that this isn't bloody productive, but for God sake Oliver, you don't know shit about what I've done!!” James knew he was taking out his anger at himself on Oliver right now, but he just wanted him to stop trying.

Oliver grimaced at the further increase in volume, especially from up close. Even after the shouting and swearing though he could still only see that his friend was suffering and all he wanted to do was help. James might not want it, but he needed it at that moment… He needed to break free of these self-destructive patterns.

“I know you aren't a monster.” He responded simply, and despite his slight unease Oliver still managed to meet James's gaze with his own; seeing right through him and into the hurt that was beneath all of the anger. He could see how watery his friend's gaze was.

And that was what made James snap.

He just wanted to get a reaction— some confirmation of his own thoughts and feelings about himself. He wasn't thinking straight.

James squeezed his hand slightly.

He regretted it in the same second he did it, breath hitching and his hand immediately dropping back down to the table and releasing Oliver onto it like a reflex. His expression of anger quickly became one of horror as he processed the small crack he had heard and felt when he had squeezed. Oliver always seemed so invincible that the harsh reminder that he wasn't hit James like a ton of bricks.

“I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.” James gasped, blinking quickly to try to keep the water out of his eyes. Why did I do that? Why on Earth did I do that?? His hand covered his mouth slightly seeing Oliver's alarmed and dazed expression as he raised his arm and looked upon his newly broken wrist. I did that. Oh god.

“I'm…fine…” The borrower uttered slowly, still focused on the injury. The adrenaline rush was likely responsible for the numbness he felt buzzing through his whole body and keeping the pain from being unbearable, so he was fine. For now. His voice wavered slightly and he found it difficult to look up at his friend at the moment.

Is this fear? Why am I afraid..? James is my friend, and this was an accident. He wasn't trying to break anything I'm sure… Oliver brought his other hand up to cradle the injury only to notice his hand was shaking. Not just his hand…his whole body. No. I can't be scared. It will only make things worse…

Oliver looked down at his shoes, trying to gather himself again but failing miserably.

“I.. I'm sorry that I hurt you so much, James. I don't mean to.” He felt something wet roll down his cheek and drip onto the floor. Stunned by the fact that he was crying right now, Oliver wiped it off with his uninjured hand before looking at his slightly dampened fingertips with a furrowed brow of confusion.

“Fuck. Oliver don't apologise, I…” James trailed off. He had never seen Oliver shake or cry before— and even if Oliver was still talking fine James could hear the fear in his voice. “I can help. Just—”

As he reached forward to offer Oliver a hand and take him to where the medical supplies were kept, the usually stoic borrower suddenly backpedalled, stumbling back so suddenly that he ended up falling backwards and onto his behind. James's hand snapped back like it had been burned and his lips pressing into a stressed line.

Oliver's heart was pounding as he stared up at James. He had never been like this before, and he didn't like it at all… I need to get a hold of myself. It was an accident. It was an accident… Despite him assuring himself of that again and again his mouth felt dry as he met James's horrified gaze. He was reminded of the glare that had been there only moments ago.

“It…it was an accident. You wouldn't break anything on purpose… It was a mistake.” He murmured to himself, shoulders bunching up and knees being brought closer to his chest. Even when other humans had given him similar injuries, Oliver had never felt like this. He hesitated, looking down again. “Could I have some medical supplies?”

James stood up quickly, wincing as he saw Oliver flinch in response. He opened his mouth to apologise again before deciding against it and quickly going to the kitchen to retrieve the first aid kit. You haven't changed. Even after everything you haven't changed.

He took a deep breath to try to settle his nerves as he grabbed everything needed and walked back in. Oliver was still sitting in the same position; still not looking at him. I took it for granted again. James set the kit down before resting his hands on the edge of the table. He bit his lip.

“Can I help..?” He asked, desperate to try and right his wrong at least a little. He deflated as he saw Oliver's small shake of the head.

“I would like to be alone for a while, please. I..I don't like how I'm feeling at the moment…” Oliver spoke and James hated how he could hear the nervous trembles in his voice. Still, he nodded, standing up more slowly this time. As he looked down at his friend from this position it became clear just how small and vulnerable he was… He blinked again but it didn't help with the tears this time as one simply rolled down his cheek anyway.

“I’m sorry…” He uttered softly. Why did I think it was okay to grab him in the first place? Just because I can? What kind of monster would do something like that..? Lip trembling slightly, James turned and began to walk away only to pause when he heard Oliver's voice again.

“I forgive you.”

James stood still for a few more moments before leaving the room and sitting at the edge of his bed, cradling his head in his hands. He grit his teeth, shutting his eyes tightly.

Forgiveness wouldn't fix anything.

[gt-daboss]

WHAT!?

Tinytopia Chapter 5: Endless Rebirth (Part 1)

Story Masterpost

On AO3

Thanks to my beta/sensitivity reader @appelsiinilight!

In this chapter: Marcy starts to refocus her efforts on life at home, just in time to receive yet another visitor.

Warning: This chapter features a dog mauling that goes slightly above the intensity usual for this story.

***

Out in the park, a young borrower wobbled through the grass.  Dirt stuck to his fur and under his fingernails, and he wandered around lost until a tree nearby turned and bent over to scrutinize him through the knots in its trunk.

“Oh, hello?” the borrower said, backing up nervously.

You seem lost, whispered a voice like wind creaking through branches.  What are you doing here?

“I don't really know,” the borrower said.  “Sorry.  I'm all alone, though.  Hey, what are you?  You're the only talking tree here, I think.”

The tree creaked and swayed for a moment. Then: I am a dryad, and I think I know where you should go.

***

Marcy’s first act as a full-time housekeeper was to take stock of everyone who was already in the house.  They’d been managing mostly fine without her, but Moon was right.  There were more little creatures running around, and if this was going to be Marcy’s main focus, she could spend her time thinking of ways to make life here better for them.

Thistle had always known Marcy was smart, but he was awed to see her in action.  She was a bundle of nerves, of course–she always was–but now that her attention was fully on things here at home, it became obvious just how passionate she was and how hard and quickly she worked.  It seemed like her failed PhD program was forgotten almost instantly.

The first step was to help Thistle, who also seemed similarly overwhelmed by everyone new showing up, make his guest book.  It was a large book for Thistle’s standards, but small for Marcy–the size that a human could write in it, albeit with some difficulty, and allow plenty of room for denizens with tinier hands to write without being overwhelmed.  It was a good compromise–and Marcy got something from the craft store that would be a bit sturdier than a notebook, a bound book with blank pages and a cover ready for decorating.  Thistle put off ramping up his sellable art projects for just a bit to decorate it.  It didn’t take too long.

Then he went around and made an entry for everyone.  Marcy at the same time made a note of their wants, needs, and habits, in case she could spot anything that could be coordinated or made better for everyone.

Thistle insisted Marcy be on the first page.  Then the other humans: Teddy and Colin.  They were here first, so might as well go in chronological order.

Teddy and Colin were the owners of the house, so it was important to make sure they were okay with everything going on.  Well, Colin was the owner of the house, but he mostly cared about using the house to make Teddy happy.  Both of them had been pretty gracious about everything, but Marcy would still need to ask permission for major changes.  They worked alternating schedules, sometimes on the weekends and sometimes off on weekdays.

Mochi was put in the basement when none of the humans were home–that was just for safety.  Marcy’s continual presence there would be good for her, too–the cat would have to spend less time locked away meowing mournfully to be let out, since Marcy could make sure she didn’t pose a threat to any of the tiny creatures.

Then there was Thistle, of course.  He was the star of the show, in Marcy’s opinion.  He was usually awake at 9 or 10AM until about midnight.  He slept either in Marcy’s hand or, more recently, he’d taken to sleeping with Moon on the desk or nightstand in Marcy’s room.  He alternated, wanting to sleep with them both but knowing Moon wasn’t comfortable sleeping on top of Marcy yet.  He spent most of his days in the living room: his art supplies were on the floor, his little painted castle with his clothes and knickknacks was there, and he could hop up on the couch to watch TV when he wanted to.  He made paintings and drawings and clay figurines and sold them all online.  He had his silkworms there, too, for petting and taking their silk and the occasional snack.  He would practice flying when he had someone to help him–which would be a lot more often now that Marcy would be home basically full-time.

Jewel, of course, spent all his time in the fish tank.  He’s been warming up to socializing more, albeit slowly–very slowly.  He was free to keep his own schedule, although he was mostly limited to sleeping at night when no one was in the living room with him to keep him awake.  Sometimes Colin would talk him into letting himself be scooped up and taken out for various social activities–Colin was really the only one he trusted to do that, although he was starting to open up to Marcy and Teddy a bit more, too.

Violet and Petunia had been given permission from the humans to live in the walls and very rarely came out–they were by the far the most introverted members of the household.  When Thistle wanted to get ahold of them, he usually walked over to this little crevice in the dining room baseboard, stuck his head in, and yelled for them.  If he did that for long enough, it would summon Violet eventually.  He had managed to get them to come to a few social gatherings, but never for very long at a time.  Violet always acted like she had places to be and important things to be doing, although maybe that was just because she was jittery, in more or less constant motion.  Petunia always loved coming out, although even she would start to obviously lose her stamina for socializing after two or three hours and start to nod off.

Severa spent most of her time occupied with whatever activity Thistle was doing, seeing him as her main source of nourishment now that she no longer hunted and relied on their bond to sustain herself.  She didn’t seem to have any strong preferences about socializing or activities, just sort of letting herself be subjected to whatever everyone else around her wanted to do.  The only exception was when Petunia came out, because she prioritized fawning over the baby above everything else.  She spent most of her time in the wooden house Thistle had helped her put together and decorate, which was on the living room floor beside his own.  Every time anyone gave her a gift she did not know how to properly use, she simply put it in there, so that she had a sort of miniature treasure hoard that she slept in like a dragon.  But she’d also stuffed the wooden house full of fluff and blankets to make it a proper nest.  Thistle could tell it was because she was half-hoping it would host an egg or a child someday, but for now it made it very cozy for Thistle to sit in with her when he felt like it.  He was getting more comfortable around her–he wasn’t scared to sit in her coils anymore, having complete confidence she wouldn’t attack him.

Moon kind of wandered around.  They were sure to always keep a window cracked open for him, so he could visit without feeling trapped in the house.  He vanished into the night outside sometimes, but he spent a lot of time bathing in the moonlight on a windowsill or roof.  Thistle kept asking him not to go out and seduce anyone else and Moon assured him he wouldn’t, just that he was often seized by wanderlust that he needed to get out of his system.  He complained endlessly about the light during the day, but he’d shifted to more of a half-diurnal, half-nocturnal schedule to spend more time with Thistle.  He made himself at home wherever he happened to be–and spent more time than not hanging around Thistle–but apparently felt no need for a house or nest to call his own.  He had his magical shrinking wardrobe that seemed to carry every possession he thought worth keeping.

And now Marigold and Córva were here.  Marigold was healthy enough that it was probably okay to leave him alone, but Thistle was still loath to leave him for any long amount of time.  He spent most of his time in the living room next to Thistle’s house, passing his time doing the exercises the vets recommended for him, writing in Pixish or drawing, watching TV, or reading on Thistle’s phone–Thistle had convinced him to start learning English, although he didn’t seem to be very excited for it.  They’d set up a baby gate to keep Mochi out of the room–Marigold was clearly afraid of her, although she’d shown no major signs of aggression around him.  Córva hung around outside, mostly in and around the lovely little birdhouse Colin had built for her, and she would swoop down to meet Marigold whenever Thistle wheeled him outside.  Teddy brought birdseed out for her, which she always ate happily, though she didn’t seem dependent on it, thankfully, since she was still a wild bird and could come and go as she pleased. 

That just left Trilloras, the social-phobic dryad.  Planted out in the yard.  Thistle had stood by her sapling and begged and pleaded for her to come out over and over again, but nobody ever got any response from her.  Marcy was starting to think maybe she’d imagined the whole thing, but Thistle and Moon always confirmed they’d seen Trilloras, too.

He really wanted her to sign the guest book, though.

“Come on,” he whined, lying out in the grass.  “Just for five minutes.  I won’t tell anyone!”

No response.

“You’re living in our yard, you know!”

No response.

Thistle groaned and rolled over.  Marcy retrieved the guest book from where it lay in the grass beside him.  “We could just try again tomorrow, hm?”

Thistle kicked his feet.  “Why won’t she just come out, though?  Ugh!”

Marcy scooped him up.  “Come on, if she doesn’t want to sign it, she won’t sign it.  It’s not the end of the world.”

Thistle crossed his arms and let himself be ferried back towards the porch.

Marcy smiled at him.

“What?”

“I just think you’re cute.”

Thistle blushed to the tips of his ears.  “What am I doing that’s cute?”

“You have so many friends back in the house, but you’re stuck on making one more out here.”

Thistle crossed his arms.  “It’s just not right that she’s in our yard and won’t talk to me.  Right?”

“Just be patient.”

Marcy stopped.  There was a borrower on the steps.  Looking up at Marcy with ears twitching and tail lashing.  He was young, fresh, and bright-eyed.

“Oh, hello!” Marcy said, keeping her voice low.  He must be new. She'd never seen him. That was a different one, right? “Don’t worry, I won’t hurt you.  Do you know Violet and Petunia?”

The borrower rubbed his hands nervously.

Thistle leaned over Marcy’s hand, peering at the unknown borrower curiously.  “Do you speak English?”

His mouth struggled to form words, then he nodded.  “Yes,” he said bashfully.  “I’m just shy.  Sor-sorry.”

“It’s okay.”  Marcy knelt down, letting Thistle off into the soft grass.  “It’s great to meet you.  What’s your name?  I’m Marcy, and this is Thistle.”

The borrower clambered down the stairs, hoisting himself with his strong arms.  “My name’s Jax.”

“It’s great to meet you.  Do you need something?”  Obviously it would be fine if he didn’t–Marcy would be excited about any magical creature staying here for any reason at all–but since borrowers seemed so shy, it felt… odd to see one approach so openly and directly, and with no apparent goal, as a complete stranger.

Jax stopped by Marcy’s shoe.  Thistle gave little jumps of excitement but said nothing.

“A dryad told me this is a place where lots of different magical creatures live in peace,” Jax said.  “Even predators.  Is that true?”

“Yes!” Thistle shouted, excited.  “Yes, it’s so true!  You can come live here, too!”

Marcy turned back towards Trilloras’s tree.  “A dryad told you that?”

Jax followed her gaze.  “A dryad far away.  Is that a dryad too?”  His tail swished excitedly.

“Yeah, but she doesn’t want to come out and talk,” Thistle said sourly.  “You talked to a different dryad?’

Jax nodded.  “And she said everyone lives in peace here, even predators! I wanted to see it for myself.  A bunch of different kinds of creatures living together! Even predators!”

How would a second dryad have known about their house, and why would it have told this random borrower to come here? It was... strange. Confusion overtook Marcy's excitement briefly.

“You’re welcome to see it!” Thistle cheered.  He didn't seem to care about the details much at all, too excited about the paradise they were building. “Yes, yes!  Come on inside!”

“Er, we just met Jax,” Marcy interjected, noting Jax’s demeanor.  “I don’t know if he’d be comfortable coming inside just yet.” And this whole thing felt...fishy.

Jax nervously swished his tail.

“We could bring someone out here to meet you,” Marcy said.  She had all day, after all.  She could bring Severa and Moon and Jewel and Violet out one at a time and just watch them all talk.  The thought made her giddy.  This was so much better than a PhD program.  “Did you want to meet… A predator?”  He’d sounded so excited about it.

Jax nodded.  “That sounds lovely!”

“Okay.  Wait right there.  Thistle, wanna come so you can translate?”  There was still a bit of a language barrier between Marcy and Severa, although they’d both been working to close it.  But best not to have any misunderstandings.

Thistle nodded, and Marcy picked him up.  “Okay.  Wait right there, Jax.  We’ll be right back.”

Marcy went inside and found Severa upstairs, looking out the second-story window.  “Who were you talking to?” she asked.

“There’s a new friend!” Thistle said.  “Another borrower!  Do you want to meet him?”

Severa flicked her tongue out.  “Yes, as long as he also wants to meet me.”

“He does!” Marcy said.  “He…”

She trailed off, because something caught her eye out the window behind Severa.  Oh no.  Oh, no.  Buster, the neighbor’s dog, was trotting right towards their front yard.

“Shit!”  Marcy dashed away immediately, leaving Thistle and Severa in the dust.  She leapt down the stairs as fast as humanly possible, nearly falling if not for the bannister.  She threw the front door open just as Buster started to bark.

Jax was standing in front of the dryad sapling, examining it while biting his finger.  His ears swiveled as he heard the dog rapidly approaching.

Apparently Jax did not possess very good survival instincts, because he turned to face the dog barreling towards him with its mouth open and teeth exposed–and did nothing.

“Shit!” Marcy shouted, sprinting over.  “Jax, run!”

It was too late.  Buster reached the borrower and snapped his jaws around him.  The tiny, furry body disappeared with a pained, high-pitch squeak.

“Buster!” Marcy shouted.  “Drop it!  Fuck!  Drop it!”

She tried to reach out to grab his collar, but he dashed away from her like they were playing a fun game.  “Drop it!” Marcy screamed. The image of Jax’s body disappearing into that maw was burned into her brain.

After an agonizing minute of chasing him in circles as his tail wagged, Marcy finally managed to catch his collar.  “Drop it!  Drop it!”  Tears streamed down her cheeks, blurring her vision, but she refused to let go or give up.  She forced Buster’s head towards the ground.

Buster finally opened his mouth and let the drool-covered bundle drop into the grass.

“Shit!” Marcy said, seizing Jax immediately.  His body ragdolled in her hand, and oh God, there was so much blood.

She clutched him to her chest and went back inside, slamming the door.

***

They made an emergency call to Lalitha and Jaden, but it was obvious Jax was dead on arrival.  Thistle tearfully pressed his ear to Jax’s chest to listen for a heartbeat.  Severa checked his pulse and smelled him over for signs of life.  Moon tried what healing magic he had, but the borrower’s body was so ravaged by the dog’s enormous teeth that he’d probably died more or less instantly.

Colin blew his lid when he found out what’d happened.  He stormed to the neighbor’s house immediately, and the volume of his shouting at her could be heard even all the way from Marcy’s bedroom.  He couldn’t very well say that Buster had murdered someone, though–so he settled for saying Buster had killed a small animal Marcy had been fond of, which wasn’t exactly a lie, and that this was the last straw and if he saw Buster loose on the lawn again, he was going to call animal control.

The neighbor promised to keep a closer eye on the dog, then got away from him as quickly as possible.  Colin was still fuming when he got back to the house.

He decided it was finally time to put up a fence. Their property was big enough that they couldn't really fence in the whole thing, but Colin had enough handyman know-how to put up a fence at least around the immediate vicinity of the house. Chainlink was the perfect option, since it'd allow small creatures to slip through but block bigger ones.  The humans all had to pool together their money to get the funds for it, but they all agreed it needed to be an immediate priority.  Marcy still walked around looking shellshocked, and she constantly stayed in the same room as Thistle, hovering protectively.

Not even Violet had any success getting ahold of Jax’s family or friends, so they buried his body in the backyard and had a little funeral themselves.  Marcy set up a little grave with a headstone, and they all stood around looking very solemn.

“A damn shame,” Teddy said.  “No little critter deserves that.”

“Yeah…” Thistle said.  He was crying mightily.

“Does anyone want to say anything else?” Marcy said.

“Um,” said a small, unknown voice.  “I could.  Who are we mourning?”

All eyes fell on the new voice–which was–

It was Jax.  Just standing there at his own funeral.  He looked just as fresh and bright-eyed as a few hours ago before he’d been mauled to death.  Not even a tear in his clothes, or a hair out of place.

Marcy blinked at him.  “Uhhh-”  She looked from the grave to the new Jax, as though trying to figure out how he might have crawled out of the little shoebox coffin they’d made him.  But no.  He’d clearly come from a different direction, approaching while they were all looking at the grave.

“You're dead,” Severa said bluntly.

Jax blushed.  “Um, no, I'm just fine.  See?”  He did a handstand, tail wiggling in the air.

“Hey, uh, Jax…” Thistle said.  “You're not… actually a borrower, are you?”

Jax inverted himself upright sheepishly.

***

@static-stars

@cloudwatchingtoday   @theepiccreatorofmagic-blog-blog  @waitisthatgt @itssmoltime @ratcatcher0325  @crazytinygirl @bittykimmy13  @whumpsday @theroyaleemily @kitn-underfoot 

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@imber-rose

[gt-daboss]

All Creatures Great and Small Chapter 16: Tea Party

Surprise! Two in one day. Sometimes you just get a little excited over your blorbos >:3

In this chapter:

Story Masterpost

On AO3

As always thanks to @static-stars and @appelsiinilight ! :)

Important note: Since is the first chapter in the series that's had large portions of dialogue in Pixish interspersed within large portions of English dialogue, I decided to differentiate the two languages by putting Pixish dialogue in italics. Thistle, of course, understands both, but I thought it was important to make it obvious at a glance which language was actually being spoken because not all characters in this chapter are bilingual.

***

Marcy, a human who spoke English and a little bit of Pixish.  

Thistle, a pixie who spoke Pixish and English.  

Severa, a naga who spoke only Pixish.  

Jewel, a merminnow who spoke English and his native underwater language, which no one else at the table spoke.  

Moon, a moth fairy who spoke English, Pixish, and a number of other unknown languages.  

And Violet, a borrower who only spoke English.  

For someone who'd never expected to meet anyone who wasn't a Pixie, and who'd only been vaguely aware of the existence of other languages until recently, it was a lot.  Especially since they were all going to be at the same table.

Marcy helped Thistle set up.  They got out the biggest table he had–it was from a doll tea party set.  It was always a challenge to find furniture that was scaled exactly right since there was such a variety, and this particular set he treasured both because it happened to be exactly the right size for him, and because it came with a set of usable teacups and a teapot, all made out of fine ceramic.  Thistle privately thought it was too nice for a child to use for play, and any parent giving this to a clumsy child would be a fool.

He got out the plates he had too–likewise from a set for dolls.  These ones were a little too big, but Thistle figured that was all right since Moon and Severa were bigger than him anyway.  Marcy got him a nice, thin towel that made an excellent tablecloth, which he shook out and put over the table before putting out all the place settings.  Marcy dug out the castaways from other mismatched sets that Thistle didn’t use–for Violet, a chair from a set that had been too small, and for Moon, one from a set that had been too big.  Thistle had Marcy set the table on stacks of notecards to elevate it until Moon’s chair was the correct height, then do the same for the rest of the chairs until they could all sit equally level at the table.  Violet’s chair was cartoonish–she would have to climb a stack more notecard than chair to get up to the table, but the alternative was making Moon sit with his knees to his chest, which Thistle didn’t want to do.  The chairs were all boosted to the appropriate height in the end, and Thistle preened, so excited about having such a variety of people to talk to.

The whole setup was placed directly next to Marcy’s table setting, so she could sit at the human-sized chair to participate…and be within grabbing distance of the participants.

Teddy helped him make some small cakes, which he set out with a little bowl of jam.  Colin got out the mealworms and put them in an ornamental dish, and also arranged crackers, cheese, and fruit at Thistle’s instructions.  Marcy started brewing the tea so it would be hot when everyone arrived.

Teddy and Colin asked if they should participate, and Thistle apologetically told them it would probably be better to minimize the number of humans looming over them.  He didn’t specify names, but he knew Moon would probably be incredibly unhappy with having three giants at the table.  Teddy and Colin made themselves scarce, wishing Thistle good luck and shutting themselves in their bedroom to watch TV.  He could see the disappointment on their faces, though they were happy to support him.  They were good friends like that. 

He didn’t blame them for being disappointed.  This was going to be great.

Jewel arrived first, mostly because he arrived when Thistle instructed Marcy to scoop up some water and carry him over to the table in a mug.  She set it down and pushed the cup flush with the small table, so Jewel didn’t have to lean over so much.

“Hey, bug boy!” Jewel shouted as he was set down.  “This is quite a spread you’ve set out!”

“Yeah!” Thistle enthused.  “Teddy helped me–no!”  He cried this last part with horror as Jewel tried to take some of the cakes.  “Stop!  We can’t eat until everyone else is here!”

Jewel let go and held his hands up defensively.  “Sheesh!  All right.”

“No need to be snippish, Thistle,” Marcy chided.

“Sorry,” Thistle said, embarrassed.

Jewel crossed his arms and rested them on the lip of the cup.  “Marcy…  Are you…?”  He looked at her from under his eyebrows, clearly struggling to get the words out.  “Um.”

He’s scared, Marcy realized.  She drew her hands around the cup, which caused him to flinch back, which wasn’t at all what she’d intended.

“I won’t let anything happen to you,” she said.  “I promise.  I’ll be keeping a very close eye on her.”

Jewel nodded, some of his tension dissipating.  “Right.  Thanks.  Maybe this will be nice…or at the very least, not a disaster.”

Violet arrived next.  Petunia was dragged along behind her, clutching her leg, sobbing and wailing about how she wanted to go to the tea party too.  Violet told her over and over that she couldn't because it was too dangerous, and eventually Marcy convinced her to go sit in the pink dollhouse instead.  

Violet was still a little nervous about being handled, so she rappelled herself up to the top of the table with a grappling hook.  “Eh,” she said.  “I forgot ‘bout the fishmen.”

“Yo,” Jewel said, raising his hand.  "I'm Jewel." He'd been trying to get less shy about telling people his name at Colin's suggestion, not that he would ever admit he'd taken it.

"I'm Violet," she said, looking at the food instead of Jewel.

“Don’t touch the snacks, or Thistle will bite your hand off.”

“They’re for when everyone gets here!” Thistle insisted.  “It’s just–Violet!”  

Violet had started taking a cracker even as Thistle had been speaking.  “It’s just one from a stack,” she said, holding it up.  It was the size of a dinner plate to her.  “No one’ll notice it’s gone.”

“...everyone already at the table will notice, because we just saw you–You know what, fine, pick your battles.  You can have one cracker, but that’s it.”

Violet slipped the cracker into her bag.  It stuck out the top very visibly.  Thistle walked over and gave it a kick, which broke it so the pieces slid down into a heap in the bag.

“Hey!” Violet said.  “Don’t touch my stuff!”

“Your st-  Violet, I-”

“It’s all right, Thistle,” Marcy interrupted.  She reached over and picked him up by the back of the shirt, and he went limp like a kitten that’d been scruffed.  “Don’t get all worked up, everything is fine.  We have more crackers.”

She set him down in one of the chairs.  Thistle looked embarrassed again.  “Sorry, I just want it to be perfect.”

“Because that moth man is going to be here, is that it?” Jewel said, smiling devilishly.

Thistle went bright red and hid his face.

“Speaking of,” Jewel said.

Thistle instantly stood up, craning his neck at the window Moon had instructed them to leave open for him to enter.  It was five minutes after the start time of three o’ clock, which was the fashionably late he’d warned Thistle about.

Moon alighted on the windowsill, fanning his wings and peering into the house cautiously.  He wore the outfit they’d picked out together - a deep blue velvet suit with a red cravat and a wide-brimmed hat topped with a feather, the sunglasses tying the whole look together. 

Thistle had warned Marcy to try and be restrained around Moon to not freak him out, so she sat at the table vibrating with excitement, eyes burning on him with barely held-back eagerness.  

Moon spotted Thistle and fluttered onto the table.  Thistle jogged over, smiling big.  "Moon!  Moon, thank you for coming!"

"Of course.  It’s lovely to see you."  Moon slid his sunglasses down to peer at Violet, still sitting at the table.  "And who's this lovely creature?"

Violet blushed and squirmed.  "V-Violet."  

Moon took her hand and gave it a kiss.  "It's a pleasure to meet you," he purred.  "You may call me Moon."  

Violet blushed even deeper and giggled.  Thistle felt dread crash over him.  Oh no.  This was the worst thing that could have happened.  Moon is like this with everyone.  

Marcy couldn’t hold it in any longer.  She leaned over, grinning.  "Moon, it's-"

Moon cut her off with a glare.  "You may call me Mister Moon."  

Wow, okay, so maybe not everyone.  Marcy wrung her hands, enthusiasm shot.  "Right, okay….  Mr. Moon, it's great to meet you.  Thistle's told me about you." 

Moon pointed at her with his cane.  "Let me make something perfectly clear for you.  I am not here for your entertainment.  You are not to touch me, ever, nor my companions without explicit permission immediately beforehand.  As long as I am in the room, there will always be a nearby window open, or some substitutable manner of egress.  You are not to stop me from attempting to leave, and you are not to make demands of me.  You are not to touch me, ever.  Do I make myself clear?"

Marcy looked cowed and chastised.  "Y-yes, sir."

"Moon," Thistle whispered.  "You don't have to talk to Marcy that way.  She's nice."

Moon turned away from Marcy.  “Never hurts to set clear boundaries.”

Thistle mouthed Sorry to Marcy, and she shrugged.

“Well, Marcy is going to make sure everything goes smoothly, and that Severa really does stay nonviolent.  Um, I’m sure she’d love to talk with you, Moon, but-”

Moon pointedly turned his back to Marcy and walked over to the table.

“Right,” Thistle said.  “Um.”  He skittered over to Marcy.  “Sorry, Marcy,” he whispered.  “I want you to have fun, too, but it might be better for you to hang back and not intervene unless someone is in physical danger.”

“Oh,” Marcy said, trying not to let it show how crushed she was.  “Right.  I’ll…I’ll observe.”

“I’m really sorry, it’s just-”

“No, no, I get it.”  She was trying very, very hard to get it and just be happy to be an observer–it really was an incredible privilege very few other humans had ever gotten–but she felt herself getting more upset with Moon.  Of course it made total sense for him to be standoffish around her–there was no telling what kinds of experiences he had in his past–but could she not even interact with Thistle freely when he was around?  Surely he didn’t have the right to demand that?

She kept her eyes on him.  His frame was broader than Thistle’s, more muscular, and Thistle barely came up past his waist.  Thistle seemed…more at ease around him much more quickly than he had been with Marcy.

Don’t be jealous.  Don’t be jealous of a guy eight inches tall.  That’s too ridiculous.

More than that, she was burning with curiosity.  She knew even less about him than Thistle did, even less about him than she knew about Jewel and Violet and Severa.  It was a significant effort to not just reach out and brush her fingers against him.  The temptation was real, but she knew the consequences would be dire.

His wings were beautiful, with eye spots.  He smelled nice.  He fanned his wings as he stepped forwards towards Jewel, getting on with the interrupted introductions.  "And who might this strapping specimen be?"

Jewel flushed deep red and sank down into the water in his mug, averting his eyes.  For someone who’d been teasing Thistle about having a crush, he’d gotten awfully quiet as soon as the attractive one had shown up.

"This is Jewel," Thistle said.  "He's shy."  

"I'm not shy!" Jewel burst out.  

"Then say hello."  

He looked nervously at Moon.  "H-hello."  

"There," Moon purred.  "See, I don't bite."  

Marcy cleared her throat.  "Speaking of… It seems like everyone is here now.  Should I bring her out?  Is everyone ready?”

The creatures on the table scuttered to their seats.  Moon took the seat to Thistle’s right, leaning his cane against the chair, while Violet sat at the end of the line.  

That left the other half of the table empty.  A gap big enough for the largest tiny person invited. 

“I think we’re ready!” Thistle said, flashing her a thumbs-up.  

“Ready,” Moon announced.  

“Let’s go, I guess,” Violet said nervously.  

Jewel glowered and crossed his arms.  "Sooner it can be over, I guess."  

Marcy walked into the pantry, leaving the tiny creatures alone.

“Why are we doing this again?” Jewel said.

“If I can form a connection with Severa, she might not need to hunt,” Thistle answered.

Moon was staring at him.  Thistle shrunk under his gaze.  “I just–I just think it’s worth trying to find some way she can live without killing people.”

Moon folded his hands on his lap.  “That’s awfully noble of you.”

“I still think this is kinda stupid,” Violet muttered.  “She’s a predator.”

“We can at least try!” Thistle insisted.  “If you had to eat people to survive, I’m sure you’d love for someone to try and help you!  She’s hurt and trapped and scared and she has no way to help herself!  You’ve been there!”

Violet’s ears lay flat back against her head.  “I-I guess.”

Thistle nervously looked back at Moon, searching for approval.  Moon looked surprised, if anything.  “You really mean it.  You really have compassion for her despite being terrified of her.”

Thistle fidgeted with his fork, unsure if he should try to confirm or deny it.  He certainly felt something, and there was definitely both compassion and terror in his maelstrom of emotions.

Marcy came back, mercifully cutting the train of conversation off.  She set the cage on the table and said in awkward Pixish, “All right, Severa, ready to exit?” 

Severa tentatively uncurled, looking up at Marcy, and nodded.  

“Remember, if anyone says she goes back in, she goes back in,” Marcy said to the others in English.  "I’ll grab her as soon as you give the word."  

“Your kind certainly are good at grabbing,” Moon commented darkly.  

Marcy waffled back and forth on how to handle the rude comment, before she decided to just ignore it and unlock the cage then lower the door open.

Severa hauled herself out of the cage, slithering her long body over the door.  Despite their agreement, all the small creatures at the table fidgeted.  Jewel’s eyes were wide.  Violet flinched repeatedly.  Thistle’s breathing picked up.  Moon’s face was cool and collected, but his ears twitched.

Severa didn’t seem bothered.  She curled her coils up underneath her to use as a seat.  "Hello,” she announced.  "I am Severa."  

Thistle suddenly realized he would be stuck translating if he wanted Jewel and Violet to understand Severa.  "She’s introducing herself."  

“Uh, h-hey,” Jewel said in English.  "I’m Jewel."  

Violet opened her mouth to speak, then clamped it shut, grabbing the tablecloth.

“You may call me Moon,” Moon said in Pixish.  He reached out and lifted her hand up as though to give it a kiss.  She was the only one big enough to have hands significantly larger than his.

She looked at him like he’d grown a second head.  “What are you doing?”

His eyes flickered up to her, eyebrows raised.  He quickly turned her hand sideways to give it a handshake instead.  “Just–just a greeting, darling!”

“He’s just being friendly,” Thistle said in Pixish.  “These are my friends Jewel, Moon, and Violet.”  They weren’t his friends yet, not really–he didn’t make any magic with them.  But he was patient.  He’d get there eventually.  “Jewel and Violet only speak English.  But I can translate for them.”

Severa nodded.  "Thistle intends for us all to be friends.  I am willing to give it a try, though I do not think it will work."  She put her enormous, scaly hand on the table.  "How do we have…a tea party?”

Thistle perked up.  "Well, you sit around and talk nicely and drink tea and eat snacks."  He switched to English.  "I told her your names, and I’m explaining to her what a tea party is."  He’d known this wouldn’t be easy, but he hadn’t even considered the logistical difficulties.  He’d never had to serve as a translator before.  This was going to be…cumbersome.

"Wonderful," Severa said.  She never had any enthusiasm in her voice, or much emotion at all.  "May I eat, or will that upset your little friends?"

"Yes, go ahead!"  He switched to English.  "Everyone take some yummy snacks now!  Dig in!"

"Finally," Jewel complained.  He took a cake and bit into it.  He got sparkles in his eyes immediately.  It looked like he was about to cry, enraptured by the taste.

"You've never had cake before?" Thistle asked.

Jewel shook his head.

"Well…what do you think?"

Jewel swallowed quickly, face burning.  "It's….fine."  He quickly reached over and took two more.

Thistle beamed.  “Yeah, it’s– Violet!"

Violet had been shoving food into her pack without even eating any of it.  "What? You said we could have the food!"

"To enjoy with each other!  Not hoard for later!"

"I'ma borrower!  We hoard and save for later!  It’s kinda our whole thing!”

Severa reached out towards the table, and everyone fell silent.  Her enormous hand dipped into the bowl holding the mealworms and emerged holding one of the wriggling creatures.  She simply opened her mouth and swallowed it whole, in one smooth motion.

Thistle tried to convince himself it wasn’t scary.  He reached into the bowl and took one of his own.  He bit the head off–that was as big of a bite as he could get.  We’re not so different.  See?  We even eat the same food!  She’s just big enough to eat the whole thing in one bite!  Oh God oh God oh God-

“Is it working?” Thistle said, voice shrill.  “Does anyone feel anything?”

Violet’s tail thrashed.  Jewel nibbled on his cakes, rendered speechless.  Moon lifted his teacup up and spoke in English.  “I feel thirsty.  I thought this was a tea party?  Hm?”  He waggled the cup.

“R-right!  Marcy, can you pour the tea?”

Marcy’s mind was filled with horrible images of her spilling the hot liquid all over the tiny people at the table.  Don’t think about it, don’t spill it, holy shit.  She took the teapot in the center of the miniature table and brought it over to herself, then filled it with tea from the larger teapot.

“There you go,” she said, setting it back.  “Enjoy!”

Moon ignored her and picked up the miniature teapot, pouring himself a cup.  “My, this smells delicious!  I haven’t had tea in ages–not since I lived with those borrowers back in Louisville.”

Violet’s tail curled upwards.  “You lived with borrowers?”

“Yes, indeed!  And I know what you’re thinking, how could that have possibly worked?  Considering our, ah…”  He gestured to Violet, tracing an imaginary line from her head to his.  “Differences.”

“Wha’sthasupposestamean?” she demanded.

“I’m simply referring to the fact that I’m nearly thrice your size, darling.”

Violet looked a bit mollified.

“But to answer the question, I simply used magic to make myself smaller!”

“You can do that?” Jewel said, astonished.  “The most I can do is make myself look like a fish, but I don’t actually turn into one.”

“Yes, I know a number of spells I can use to modify my appearance!”

Thistle’s mind ran off with that thought.  Was this…was this what Moon actually looked like?

"What is he saying?" Severa said.

"He, uh, he said he lived with borrowers for a while, and he can do magic to alter his appearance, including shrinking himself down."

“That’s fascinating,” Severa said, voice as flat as ever.  “All of my magic is for helping me hunt.”

Moon looked nervous.  “Erm…right.”

“Although I suppose for certain kinds of creatures-”

“That’s enough about hunting,” Moon said.  “Magic is fascinating, and it has many uses beyond hunting.”

"You don't have to be scared," Thistle whispered to Moon.  "Marcy will stop her if she tries to hunt us."

Severa took the teapot and poured some into her cup.  “You know, Thistle,” she said, lifting the cup in her enormous hand.  She was able to fully close her hand around it.  “I’m surprised you’re so tense around me, but perfectly at ease around Moon, considering he’s an ukubó.”

There it was again.  A word he’d never heard before in Pixish.  Thistle was faced now more than ever with the realization that his knowledge was limited to whatever his hive had known about magic, and whatever knowledge gaps Mother’d had, he now had as well.

Whatever the meaning of the word, Moon didn’t seem to like it.  He stood up, slamming his hands on the table and rattling everything on it.  “Do not say that in front of them,” he growled.

Thistle, Violet, and Jewel drew back fearfully.

“They don’t know what it means,” Severa said, amused.  She lifted her teacup to her mouth and took a sip.  "Two of them don't even speak Pixish."

Had…had Severa just called Moon a slur or something?  “Severa, please be nice,” Thistle whispered.  He’d have to ask later what that word meant. 

Her mouth turned up in a wry smile.  “Fine.”

Hackles still raised, Moon sat down.

"What exactly is going on?" Jewel said, irritated. "You're all just yelling at each other in Pixish."

"Sorry," Thistle said. "I think Severa called Moon a rude name or something."

"...huh, I didn't expect her to attack us emotionally."

Moon crossed his arms.  “But, yes, to get back to the point, I’ve interacted with a number of species of magical creatures and learned a number of magical spells.”

“Well lah-de-dah,” Jewel said, burying his nose in his teacup.  “Mr. Cool Guy over here.  Thinks just because he smells nice he’s God’s gift to the table.”

“He does smell nice!” Violet piped up.  “Like hickory and cured meats and cheeses!”

Questioning eyes fell on her.  “What?” Jewel said.  “No he doesn’t.  He smells salty, like ocean water.”

“That’s you,” Violet insisted.

Moon’s frame shook with laughter, and he leaned in towards Thistle.  “What do I smell like to you, my dear?”

“You smell like…honeysuckle.  Wildflowers.”

Moon smiled, eyes soft.  “You all have discovered my pheromones.”

“Ph…eremones?”

He picked up a cube of cheese and weighed it in his hand.  “I smell different to everyone.  It has to do with my magic, you see.”

Their conversation was suddenly interrupted by the sound of a grappling hook catching on the table and distant grunting sounds.

Violet leapt out of her seat and rushed to the end of the table, peering over it.  Of course it was Petunia hanging from the line of the grappling hook, shimmying her way up it in her prettiest dress.

“Petunia, get down!” Violet shouted.  “Go back and play!”

“No!” Petunia shouted back.  “I’m coming to the party!”

Severa uncoiled herself and slithered away from the table.  Marcy hesitantly raised her hands as though to stop her, but nobody told her to, so she didn’t.  She let Severa go over to the edge and lean over to look down.  Violet’s knees buckled, and she fell, shuffling away from Severa but refusing to leave the grappling hook.

What Petunia saw was her sister’s face looking down at her, then the much larger face of a scaled predator leaning into her field of view.  She froze halfway up the line, letting out a scared meep.

“You-you see!” Violet yelled.  “It’s dang’rous!  Get back!”

Petunia’s gaze stayed frozen on Severa.  Severa stared back, eyes misty, tears brimming.  “Oh, oh my God,” she breathed.  “That baby is so small.  Whose baby is that?”

Thistle got up and got between Severa and Violet.  “That’s Petunia,” Thistle said. “She’s Violet’s little sister.  They don’t have parents.  Violet is taking care of her.”

“No parents?” Severa said, heartbroken.  She put her hand over her heart.  “Can…Can I hold her?”

Thistle bit his lip.  He already knew what the answer was going to be, but he had to translate it anyway.  “Violet, she’s asking if she can hold Petunia.”

“What!”  Violet stood up ramrod straight, fur on end.  “No!  Definitely not!”

“Violet, if she wanted to hurt Petunia, she wouldn’t ask to hold her.”

“Maybe it’s just to get her up on the table.”

“She wants to hold me?” Petunia’s distant voice said.  She cautiously restarted climbing up the rope.  “Everyone else is up there and nothing bad happened!”

“Please,” Severa said desperately.  “I would never hurt a child.  Please let me hold her.”

It suddenly clicked for Thistle.  She had an egg due.  Either she was hormonal, or she had a soft spot for children.  Maybe this could be the key.  This was the first time she’d expressed any strong emotions about anything at all.  Even during hunting her general demeanor had been passive chagrin and dull acceptance of the situation at hand.

“I can’t,” Violet said, starting to cry.  “I can’t let Petunia get so close to a predator.  I can’t.  Thistle, even if your humans are here to watch, they won’t be able to stop her in time if she hurts Petunia while she’s holdin’ her.”

That…was a very good point.  Thistle had no counterargument.  “Okay, you’re right about that…  But what if we just let Petunia come up on the table?  She doesn’t have to get close.  Severa’s been here long enough that we can see she’s not going to just ballistic for no reason.”

Severa kneaded her hand, still looking at Petunia.

Violet hesitated.  “All…all right.  But only if Teddy comes and sits at the table too.”

“No,” Moon said instantly.  “Having one human here is bad enough.”

“Would you all just calm down!” Thistle said, stomping.  “Nothing is even happening.  I’m the one she tried to kill, not any of you!  And none of the humans in this house have done anything except try to be supportive right now!” 

Moon flushed and turned away.  Violet fidgeted with the hem of her shirt and muttered.

Petunia’s little hands finally appeared at the edge of the table, dragging herself up.  She wound her grappling hook line behind her.  “I’m here!”

Severa made a motion to start towards her, but Thistle stood in front of her, despite his own hands shaking with fear.  “Severa, wait.” Marcy is here, Marcy would stop her if she attacked.

She stopped, eyes still on Petunia.  “I wouldn’t hurt her.”

“I believe you, but Violet is uncomfortable with you holding her.”

Severa flexed her hand, looking anxious to interact with Petunia.

“Violet?” Thistle prompted.

Violet’s head swung from Thistle to Severa to Petunia.  “I…Okay, she can sit at the table.  But she has to be at the seat farthest from her.”

“Thank you,” Thistle breathed, having no idea how to resolve this otherwise.  “I promise she’ll be safe.”  He turned to Severa.  “How about you sit at the table together for a while before we talk about holding her?”

Severa backed up slightly, coils wrapping around herself.  “Yes.  Okay.  Thank you.”

The small creatures all cautiously retook their seats.  “Everything okay?” Marcy whispered.

Thistle flashed her two thumbs up.  “Everything’s cool, calm, and copacetic!”

Petunia dashed over, giggling happily, and clambered up into Violet’s lap.  The poof of her dress crinkled against the table.  “Vivi!  Look at all the food!”

“Yes,” Violet said cautiously.  “You can have some.”

Petunia opened her bag and started shoveling food in.  Ah.  Well, Thistle wasn’t going to tell Petunia not to do that.

Severa watched the tiny borrower, her expression now completely different.  She had a soft glow about her.  She was smiling.  “Your dress is very pretty.”

Thistle translated.  “She said your dress is pretty.”

Petunia perked up.  “Yay!  Thank you, thank you!  Your ribbon is nice.”

Thistle translated.  Severa reached a hand up and stroked her hair ribbon.  “I’m not sure why I wear it.  I suppose it feels nice, sometimes, to feel beautiful, instead of only destroying beautiful things.”

Thistle’s skin crawled.  Every time he’d almost managed to start forgetting Severa’s true nature, he was reminded of it somehow.  He decided to only translate the Thank you.

Moon cleared his throat.  “So tell us more about yourself, Severa.  Do you have any children of your own?”

Thistle certainly hoped not, because they would have been keeping her from them the past few days.  “No,” she answered, much to his relief.  “Though not for lack of trying.  My first hatchling starved to death, because I was a poor hunter at the time.  Inexperienced.  My second disappeared from my nest at the hands of a predator while I was away.  My third egg was laid premature, small and feeble, and when it hatched it was not strong enough to survive.  I’ve held off on mating for a while after that, since I could not take any more heartbreak.”

“Oh?” Moon said.  “That’s tragic.  I’m so sorry.”

Thistle privately thought it wasn’t tragic at all for there to be fewer nagas in the world, but he did have to admit the idea of innocent babies dying was sad, of course.  Theoretically.  In reality, he was struggling to detach himself from the hivemind way of thinking–that he shouldn’t feel bad about someone dying if they were a threat to the hive.

But he wasn’t with his hive anymore, he was with Marcy, and Severa wasn’t a threat to her.

Severa’s gaze came over and burned into Thistle.  “But I do have an egg due soon, now.  I hope it will be different from the others, but I do not have much hope.  I need lots of magic to produce a healthy egg.”

“Right…”  Thistle hadn’t felt the spark of magic he knew meant he was making a connection with someone else.  Severa was just too scary.  It was easy to say you were friends.  It was harder to actually do it.  You couldn’t fake it.  You could lie to yourself, but you couldn’t lie to magic.

Severa picked up her teacup agitatedly.  “Perhaps your plan would work, Thistle, if I were allowed to hold the baby.”

“I’m sorry,” Thistle said.  “Violet doesn’t want you to.”

Severa slammed her cup down.  “I would not hurt a child!  I have never hurt a child!  You act like I am a monster!”

You ARE a monster, Thistle wanted to say, but he didn’t, of course.  “I’m sorry.”

“Uhh, Thistle,” Jewel said nervously.  “What’s happening?”

Severa’s tongue flicked in and out, and her sides heaved as she hissed in air.  “We both know this isn’t going to work.  I’m going to die, and you’re not even going to let me hold the baby before I die.  And for what?”

Marcy’s hands crept closer, alarmed by the visible increase in agitation.

“Severa,” Thistle squeaked.  “Please.  It’s not going to work if you get mad at me.”

“It’s not going to work at all!”  Severa got up, leaning over the table at Thistle.  “We both know that!  You are trying to defy the natural order of things!  You are foolish and naive!  To think I could be anything other than a killer, a predator!  I am hungry!  And not for companionship!”

She lunged.  Jewel splashed back in his cup, Violet grabbed Petunia and darted away, and Moon threw himself at Thistle to push him out of the way.

She didn’t reach him, though: Marcy’s hand closed around her, yanking her up into the air.

Severa writhed in her grip, squeezed her wrist.  Petunia cried loudly.  Severa stopped and looked down at the little girl, tears in her eyes.

“I wouldn’t hurt a child,” she insisted.

Still sobbing in fear, Petunia got up and scampered away, Violet not far behind.

“Come back,” Severa wept.  “Come back.  Please.  If I could just hold a baby one more time, I could die happy.”

“Okay, teaparty over,” Marcy declared.  “Sorry.”

***

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[gt-daboss]

The 'Monsters' Under the Bed

Sometimes the monsters underneath the bed are real - and sometimes they are a pair of borrowers that you just scared to death :p

Subtle note for those a little interested in this pic: they aren't just glowing for no reason, they aren't human! Keen eye would notice as well the giant's extended canines and slitted eyes. Such features are very useful to hunt... well...

they're nice tho i swear

[gt-daboss]

Suuuuurely, surely...

Looks like the younger of the borrower's twins decided to do some mischief on her own... and was woefully unprepared.

Older giant knows her sister won't intentionally hurt the young borrower, but its best to play on the cautious side. Her sister still thinks she's some 'monster' from her fairy tale, and not a real person, clear that up first, and then we can maybe find her sister and explain some things~

The 'Monsters' Under the Bed

Sometimes the monsters underneath the bed are real - and sometimes they are a pair of borrowers that you just scared to death :p

Subtle note for those a little interested in this pic: they aren't just glowing for no reason, they aren't human! Keen eye would notice as well the giant's extended canines and slitted eyes. Such features are very useful to hunt... well...

they're nice tho i swear

[gt-daboss]

The 'Monsters' Under the Bed

Sometimes the monsters underneath the bed are real - and sometimes they are a pair of borrowers that you just scared to death :p

Subtle note for those a little interested in this pic: they aren't just glowing for no reason, they aren't human! Keen eye would notice as well the giant's extended canines and slitted eyes. Such features are very useful to hunt... well...

they're nice tho i swear

[gt-daboss]

GET BOOPED BOI!!!

IM BOOPING YOU TWICE AS HARD

[gt-daboss]

"you're just a kid" :(

Unnamed gt story part 4

I'm gonna try coming up with a real name for this story later. Anyways, I hope you enjoy it, criticism is appreciated.

Here's the previous part,

CW: angst, threats, mild squeezing,

--------------------------------------------------------------

It was twenty or thirty minutes later. Ella moved me in front of the window to see the rain. It was pouring outside, the water turned the dirt to mud and left splashes in the lake. The wind howled through the branches and blew sticks and what was left of the leaves around with the water. Lightning would flash every so often with the roar of thunder, which didn’t seem too loud given the footsteps of the giant that had taken me. I turned towards her to ask something,

“I’m…really stuck here until tomorrow?”

“I’m not any more happy about it than you are, kid,” the giant said, leaning on the window still. “They can’t control the weather, so you’re just gonna have to wait it out.”

“Um…what will happen until then?” I asked,

“You just, stay here I guess,” Ella said, before sighing. It was awkward being alone with her. She clearly didn’t want anything to do with me, and I was too scared of her to try making conversation. So we just sat around in silence. I guess eventually she got fed up with it because at one point she tried talking to me.

“So…what were you doing when you saw me?” ‘Ella asked,

“Uh, why do you ask?” I said,

“Just wondering. Y’know, kids like you shouldn’t really be up that late,” Ella said,

“um…I was star gazing…I have trouble sleeping sometimes…” I said, looking down,

“Doesn’t your town have a curfew or something?” The giant asked,

“I was doing it from out a window…” I said, before realizing something, “How do you know about the town's curfew?” Ella was silent for a moment. She looked almost embarrassed at what she just said, how she revealed something she wasn’t supposed to. Then she sighed.

“You know what I said about asking those kinds of questions,” Ella said. There was a pit in my stomach as soon as she said that. I backed away from her, remembering the threat from earlier.

“I…I’m sorry, I didn’t….I don’t……please, I…”

“It’s fine, it’s fine, you not in trouble this time,” Ella said, “it's my fault for bringing that up in the first place.” she sighed again. “All I’ll let you know is that they give me news about what happens in that little town of yours. That's all I’m telling you about my job or why I’m here, nothing else. You already know too much, so don’t ask.”

“Um….so…..what can I ask about?” I asked,

“Anything that isn’t about what I am, or who I work for, or what I do, or why I’m here,” Ella said, “and nothing annoying,”

“Um…so….what do you…” I think about how to phrase this sentence for a moment, “what do you do apart from work? Like…to pass the time?”

“Books, radio, playing cards, going on walks…” the giant answered.

“Um….were you…on a walk last night?” I asked,

“No, I was….” Ella sighed, “that's not important,”

“Ok…” I nodded. Whatever she was doing last night must have had something to do with her job, which she doesn’t want me to know anything about. I decided to change the topic,

“So…I'm guessing you don’t have any…technology…here…”

“It would just break here, anyways,” Ella said,

“...break?” I asked. Ella was silent for a moment again. I heard her cursing to herself before looking back at me.

“Do you know what an EMP is?” she asked,

“...no?” I said.

“Good.” Ella turned away from me with her arms crossed. I looked up at her. She looked stern and closed off. The room went back to silence, as more rain hit the windows and thunder roared outside. The lights would dim and brighten occasionally from the weather. I swallowed my spit and spoke again.

“Is this place…usually like this?” I asked,

“What are you talking about?” Ella said,

“...quiet……”

“Well, it would be, if you weren’t here,” the giant looked down at me.

“Don’t you ever get….bored? Um….lonley?” I asked,

“I’m fine alone,” Ella said. “And my job keeps me from being bored,”

“....um…” I paused for a moment, “...sorry, it’s kinda hard…not to ask about your job…”

“Well maybe just don’t ask about anything,” She said,

“....do you just….live here alone?” I asked,

“Alright, I’m sick of this,” Ella said, grabbing me off of the window sill. I nearly fell as she readjusted her grip around me. She carried me back to where the couch was, but kept me in her hands as she sternly stared down at me with her massive eyes.

“Now I’m going to ask you some questions, how does that sound?” She asked.

“I…uh,” I could hardly get my words out. Her thumb was wrapped around my arms, and her other hand had a tight grip on my legs, preventing me from kicking or squirming.

“So, you're an orphan, right? How’d your parents die?” She asked, clearly just trying to be insensitive towards me on purpose.

“Uh, they went missing in this forest…when I was a baby….” I said, not wanting her anymore angry at me anymore.

“Interesting, do you have a last name, Quincy?”

“Um, I think they said…it was Mora…” I said, “Q-Quincey Mora,”

“Any idea what happened to your parents when they went missing?”

“N-no…no one does…” I said,

“Really? No idea?” She said as if being rhetorical, “Do you think something like that could happen to you? Like, you could just go missing, and never be found, and no one would know what happened to you?

“Um…maybe?” I answered, my heart now racing. She squeezed her hand around me more,

“Would you want that to happen to you?” she asked, bringing me closer to her face,

“N-no ma’am,” I said, my head spiraling in fear. “Did….are you…what made those people go missing?” she squeezed me tighter for my question. I let out a small yelp of pain.

“Stop asking things, Quincy. You know I can make you regret it very easily,” Ella said, still stern, glaring down at me almost with disgust. “Don’t make things worse for yourself. Just stay quiet, and stop asking questions, kid. If you do, things will be worse for you. Much worse. Understand?”

She said that last part with such malice. The sound buzzed through my throat and my lungs as she spoke just feet away from me. I hesitated to speak.

“i…I…but…”

“Do you understand?” she repeated herself, even louder and more harshly than before. Her voice caused my heart to drop. She squeezed me harder, to the point where it actually started to hurt. My eyes widened in fear and pain.

“OK! OK, I’M SORRY! PLEASE LET GO OF ME, PLEASE!” I yelled.

“Alright then,” the giant said, dropping me out of her hands. I landed on my arm, the couch barely cushioning my fall. I immediately ran and hid behind a pillow on the side of the bench. I lost control of myself, I started crying and holding my body, shaking in fear of the giant looming over the large pillow I was hiding under.

“Geez, overreacting much?” Ella said before she heard me weeping. Wait, are you…crying?” She stood up from the couch and got on her knees, looking at me in between the pillow and the side of the couch it was leaning against. I backed away from her, still crying. She started to look guilty,

“Hey, I didn’t mean to make you that upset, I just..” Ella paused for a moment, while I kept crying, “I wasn’t acually going to hurt you or anything like that, I just..I was fibbing, I just didn’t want you to ask me those things. Just, come on out of there, ok?”

The giant reached towards me. I backed against the back of the couch and hugged my legs while covering my face with them. She looked even more sympathetic than before.

“Hey, I..I’m being honest, I don’t want to hurt you, really. You’re just…” she paused for a moment like she just realized something. “You're just a kid.”

I kept crying. She sighed and looked down, before getting up and walking away from the couch, leaving me to cry alone.

[gt-daboss]

yep, HAVE CONFLICT! LIKE PLEASE! CONFLICT = STORY!

Even if your human character is 'GOOD' and 'NICE,' they can still have CONFLICT. you don't even have to make them assholes! People in real life are subject to circumstance, even if something doesn't make sense logically, as long as it makes sense to the CHARACTER, then its A-OKAY! and that creates cooooonflict~ people are not perfect, borrowers are not perfect. give the borrower a REASON to actually fear them beyond just their size, and vice versa.

for the last time, conflict = story.

Whats a g/t trope y'all genuinely hate, but is considered a "hot take"

For me it's borrower stories, specifically those that always follow the same formula and never get creative.

As in, borrower is outside looking for food or smt, somehow gets into a situation where they are trapped, human finds them, borrower is scared and tries to flee, yet gets trapped under a glsss, with the human assuring them that they're kind and won't harm them. Then after a few chapters, the borrower leaves behind all the fear they held for humans and becomes close friends with them (this especially throws me off whenever the borrower has had a friend or a family member be killed by a human). They usually also meet their friends who are also super nice.

I understand that most humans wouldn't be out here tormenting a tiny person they found, but I honestly don't get the hype behind stories where it's only fluff and basically almost always the same plot.

The human characters are usually the most boring to read about, which is a huge let down for me. Especially as, it feels weird that I've yet to see a borrower story where the human genuinely freaks out that a tiny person has been watching them all along.

I mean how disturbing is it to know that you were being watched all this time, that you were never truly alone. Including in moments where you were feeling down.

For more interesting prompts, you could have the human actually be someone insane, that sees the borrower as nothing more than another experiment or something to exploit for money, with the borrower showing them that they are sentient, yet, perhaps, due to sn inability to understand each other, the humans doesn't understand what they're doing.

Or

Have the borrower have a whole web of crime with other borrowers, where they purposefully steal things from humans to make their days just a little more upsetting. Getting back at them for, maybe, having hunted them in the past. Have borrowers actually be evil little gremlins or something.

Heck, maybe even have the two be criminals, with the borrower helping breaking into people's houses and spying on them, to see who has the best stuff to steal from and the human doing the rest.

And if you do give your borrower a sadder backstory, please please please let them deal with their trauma and not completely remove it for fluff. Have them have moments where they feel inferior and break down, rushing back to their holes regardless of if the human is being nice or not. Let the human get frustrated with the borrower for not fully trusting them, not knowing the full story. LET THEM HAVE TENSE MOMENTS WITH EACH OTHER. I WANT TO SEE THEM FIGHT

MAKE THEM HAVE CLASHING PERSONALITIES WHERE THEY OFTEN GET INTO HEATED ARGUMENTS

Idfkanyway hope you liked this silly lil ranty rant I wrote. No hate to anyone who writes borrower stories, considering my own story has borrower elements.

-Lucky

[gt-daboss]

literally screaming... SCRAEMING

June is a simp.

----

SCREAMS INTO A PILLOW

I LOVE THEM.

I have had this stupid thing in my wips since PRE Valentine's Day and I have finally finished.

Getting better with clothing and folds, but frankly it only makes sense 20% of the time 🙃 Also enjoy me dressing Aedes in progressively sluttier more breathable outfits everytime I post him.