If you like Austin and enjoy the 'Living with the Giants' universe, check out my new story ~LIVING WITH A TINY~

Thirty-Six: Safety

[A U S T I N]

Austin slipped his hand into the pocket of his track pants once again, brushing his fingers till they wrapped around the width of Darricks small body, ignoring as he squirmed against his grip trying to not make it obvious to Lenny that he had a tiny Darrick in his pocket. He could feel the tiny boys heart beating against the palm of his hand, his own matching pace with his now tiny friend. They had argued before Austin had walked up to Lennys door, Austin feeling incredibly uncomfortable having Darrick so close to his crotch within his pocket. He could feel his small frame with every passing second, his cheeks red as the small body rested on his thigh. Swallowing he tried to push down his embarrassment in front of Lenny, not wanting to be red and break their cover.

"She's just over here" Lenny spoke as he opened his bedroom door, ausyin shifting on the balls of his feet as he peered inside the room, amongst the litter of clothes rubbish he saw as Lenny moved over to his desk he could see a cage and Tess cowering inside. She looked so small, scared as she sat trembling in a curled up ball. He'd never seen her like this, so scared and broken. He could see a bit of bruising on her arm, noticing how she clutched it to her chest as if in pin. Biting at his lip as he walks over, he watched as Lenny picked up the cage, peering inside at the tiny girl before giving it a violent shake. Austin had to force his feet to stay planted on the ground, wanting to reach forward and grab the cage to stop Lenny from shaking her. She was so easily thrown around.

"We have company, your old friend Austin is here" Lenny smirked and placed the cage upon the bed finally, pulling open the cage door to retrieve Tess who squirmed in his grasp.

"Austin! Thank god! H-Help me!" Tess cried then and his heart sunk, her small face lit up as they made eye contact. He held her gaze, trying to hide his frown as he slowly sat down to bring his hand up to wrap around her "yes! thank you" she whimpered, clinging onto his fingers that held her and hugging him. Austin's breath became shaky as he looked at her, keeping his grip loose and gently, trying to avoid touching her arm. He had to do it, he hated it but knew he had to play Lennys game.

"Why on earth would I help you?" Austin shuddered at his own words, seeing as her eyes snapped back up to look at him, despair written in her eyes "I would never help a rat like you" Austin chuckles, looking to Lenny to see the other boy smirking. Austin could feel Darrick squirm against his other hand in his pocket, hitting at his hand clearly angry that he was being held back from Lenny and also by Austin's choice of words. Austin swallowed and turned his eyes to Tess again, unable to hold back the frown on his lips as he saw her stare up at him with those blue eyes. Looking lost.

"Wh-what.. Austin, why are you being like this?" Tess spoke softly, nearly whisper as she clutched onto his finger. He opened his mouth, looking to Lenny seeing the boy eyeing the tiny girl maliciously.

"You really thought we were friends? ~ I could never be friends with a human." Austin felt his heart ache as he gently squeezed at Tess, making her yell in response, shocked by the action. It wasn't hard but it was enough to scare her little soul.

"W-what.. what?" Tess stuttered, large tears welling in her eyes

"~don't you see? I played you, Tess" Austin pursed his lips together and a fake smirk reflected on his face, he hoped she could see in his eyes, could see he hated every second of this. Austin didn't mean it, it was all apart of the plan to get Darrick into the room and Lenny distracted to not suspect what was happening.

"Humans are so dumb, he doesn't like you runt. What's not to understand" Lenny snickered and reached over to grab Tess, taking her into a tight grip he brought her to his face with a spiteful smile growing across his lips seeing as she began to cry, hot tears rolling down her cheeks and becoming a blubbery mess "don't worry, little one. I'll be taking good care of you from now on" Lenny chuckled, deep and full of malice. Austin felt a shiver of goosebumps run down the length of his spine, wanting to reach out and grab Tess, tell her he didn't mean it. He was sorry!

Austin had to look away as Lenny brought the small girl to his lips, pressing a kiss to her body and making her squirm trying to escape his grasp. Lenny was enjoying every second of teasing Tess, taking his slow time to hold her and keep her close to him. Chuckling , Lenny pulled her away to place her back in her cage, locking the door before standing "come on, let's go play a game" Lenny smirked as he eyed the small human "I'll be back to play with you later" Lenny licked his lips before turning, Tess curling away from him quickly and hiding in the corner of the cage. Austin could see her little chest heaving, body shaking similar to the first time he'd met

Austin nodded and watched as Lenny stood, waiting til the boys back was to him before quickly retrieving the hidden boy from within his pocket and sliding him in one smooth motion beneath the blanket of Lennys bed to keep him hidden from Lennys view. It was up-to Darrick now, get Tess's and grow so he could climb out the window. It couldn't be so hard. Austin stood and quickly hurried behind Lenny, moving to leave out of the room. He couldn't help himself to glance back at the small girl, frowning seeing she was crying in a curled up ball as he closed the door behind himself.

I'm Sorry~

~~~

[D A R R I C K]

Darrick had to hold back from grunting as he was roughly shoved amongst the sheets of Lennys bed, their plan slowly coming together as Austin dropped off Darrick by hiding him by the cage. Where he'd proceeds to unlock the cage, grab Tess, grow and climb out the window to make a mad dash down the street and away from Lennys home to safety. He waited, laying completely flat upon the mattress surrounded in the inky darkness of the blankets until there was not any sign of the giants lurking in the room. Slowly he began commando crawling toward the slither of light and to his freedom, trying to ignore the smell of Lennys bed and blankets and what that smell could be linked to.

Being this small and in the real world gave him a new perspective on Tess and how she lived, finding even escaping the confines of simply a blanket to be incredibly difficult at his new size. When finally free he pushed the blanket off of him, standing upon the expanse of the mattress with wide eyes looking along the mountainous range of sheets. Taking a heavy breath he spotted the cage almost instantly, thankfully sitting on the bed and he hurried over across the unsteady surface of the mattress til he reached the cage door. His heart was pounding out of his chest as he saw Tess, she was laying still, practically naked upon the floor in a curled up ball in the foetal position. His heart ached for her and he wasted no time in moving around to unlatch the cage, which was heavier and higher than he expected. Grunting he allowed his body to grow til his hands could reach the latch, pushing it up til the door came undone and squeaked open. It would always take so much energy to shift sizes, especially since he hadn't done it in so long it made his body ache. Shifting took time and practice.

"Tess" he whispered, moving inside having to crouch through the doorway as he was considerably larger than the cage to be able to fit comfortably inside. Crawling over to Tess, he shrunk down to his human size, feeling a deep ache in his bones already from shifting sizes too much. He was so use to sticking to the one size when he was able to practice in the human school, that it became tiring when he'd try shifting and changing to different heights. Luckily he'd grabbed some of his looser spare human clothes from home otherwise he would've probably ripped though his clothes by now from growing and shrinking. Thankfully he had human clothes just laying around otherwise Austin would've had to hold him butt naked, and neither of the boys wanted that.

"Tess" he called a second time as he approached, at a considerably more normal human size now he gently rested a hand upon his still rather small girlfriends shoulder. She had passed out, her breathing shallow and trembling from either the cold or from crying. Worried he gently shook her arm, trying to coax her awake but pulled his hand back seeing the large bruising on her shoulder and length of her arm. He couldn't help but growl, knowing Lenny must have been torturing the poor girl.

Darrick didn't get time to admire her, to sit and reminisce in finally being able to be the same size. Finally using his ability for good use to help his girlfriend, he gently wrapped his arms around her tiny body to pick her up, in awe for a second how he could cradle her in both his arms. He felt a glimmer of hope as he heard her gently whimper, murmuring softly beneath her breath as he brought her close against his chest, only to fall back into silence.

"It's okay~ I've got you." He whispered, quickly standing he manoeuvred himself and Tess out of the cage and back onto the mattress, his knees shaking a little at the uneven surface but managed to keep himself steady whilst holding Tess. Now came the worst part, growing and having to make a naked dash to Austin's car with Tess as he didn't have clothes to change into in Lennys room. He wished I'm that moment that clothes could shrink and grow with him, it'd make life so much easier for him.

Looking down at Tess, her head rested limp on his arm, her cheeks were soddened with tears and red from crying. He couldn't help the ache he felt in his chest and frowned, watching her small body as he began to grow to his normal giant size, feeling the muscles stretch and expand while watching how her body became smaller and smaller til she fit perfectly in the palm of his hand. Having ripped out of his clothes, he looked around quickly til his eyes met with the window above the desk. He'd have to be quick.

Stepping over the piles of rubbish with delicate feet, he gently cradled Tess against his bare chest, butt naked as he reached up to pull open the window, wincing as it was a little stuck at first before flinging up. Every sound and groan his large body made as he stepped across the floor made him wince and eyes snap to the door, hearing the group of giants outside talking loudly with music now playing. Darrick wasted no time, climbing up onto the window sill and having to hop up onto the desk as he did so that he could slide a leg out of the window frame. Just as he was about to hop out, feeling a cool breeze on his bare skin, he found himself freezing as the door to the room pushed open, squeaking as it did so.

"Hurry up!" Darrick felt his heart stutter hearing Lenny yell from beyond the room and his eyes snapped to the door to see wide eyes staring at him and a head of dark brown locks. Josie, stood frozen and wide eyed within the doorway, her mouth having fallen open in shock and appearing unsure on whether she should scream or not. Darrick felt his entire face turn a dark shade of red as her eyes drifted down to his crotch, quickly using his free hand to cover himself while he cradled Tess against his shoulder, trying to hide her from view.

He was slow and careful, to not scare Josie and slowly lifted a hand to press lightly against his lips "shhh" he whispered, eyeing Josie seeing as she was now looking to his hands where Tess lay, a frown appearing across her features. Josie appeared to be conflicted, looking to the doorway then to Darrick, pursing her lips as she quietly stepped further into the room and closed the door behind her. Darrick didn't wait any longer, not caring what Josie had to say and quickly moved further out of the window to jump down into the dirt. His feet ached as he hit the hard ground, nearly tumbling over but quickly regained his balance to run while securely holding Tess against his body. The last he saw was Josie's wide eyes and gaping mouth, standing shocked as she stared after the naked ass of Darrick disappearing from Lennys window. Josie didn't appear to make a move to call for Lenny, Darrick didn't even dare look back incase she had, instead sprinting til his calves burned toward Austin's car which was parked further down the street behind a tree. Why did he have to park so far! He didn't care who may see him, didn't care that he was naked, instead curling his fingers closer around Tess's body to hold her safely in his hand. All he cared about in that moment was getting Tess to a hospital and out of Lennys hands

Clambering into the back of the car, he carefully laid Tess down beside him, watching her as his delicate fingers set her down by his thigh. Frowning as he slipped into a spare pair of pants and shirt, forgetting about the small clothes he'd left torn on Lennys bed. He could easily get more from the human store for free. He could feel his heart hammering, beating loudly in his ears as he scooped Tess's limp body into his hands and let her lay in his lap. She looked lifeless, dead even.

"Tess?" He called, gently running a thumb along her red cheek. He winced, trying to coax her awake. Why wasn't she waking? Had she had one of those panic attacks, had heard Austin speaking about his and her first encounter when she'd passed out. Whimpering quietly, he raised his eyes anxiously hoping Austin would return quickly. He'd never been so scared before, heart hammering in his chest, he was scared that this was something much much worse then it appeared. His fear quickly turned to anger, he'd kill Lenny for what he did, wanted to watch the life be squeezed from his soul by his own hands. Darrick promised himself.. Lenny was dead.

~~~

The hospital corridor is stuffy and the air has an undertone of bleach and chemicals. The walls are bathed in only the colour white and the paint is flaking in places from the years of being left untouched. Darrick sat with his head in his hands, knee bouncing as he stared to the ground. The pictures on the walls were meant to help cheer up the sick and injured, but Darrick didn't find anything about them to be cheerful. They were cheap prints of uplifting scenes, for the children who would ever become sick or hurt. Giant hospitals were always empty, you could hear a pin drop amongst the silence. It was a place a rare few ever came to as giants hardly ever seriously injured themselves or became ill as their immune systems were better than a humans. They could heal in a matter of hours, have a cold for simply a minute.

Darrick had been interviewed by some cops after arriving with Tess, Darrick explaining what had happened but the two elderly men didn't appear to care so much about the humans situation but said they'd look into it. Darrick dropped names, told them everything. He didn't care if Lenny would come after him, didn't care if he'd be hated. All he cared about was that Tess was okay.

"She's gonna be alright.." Austin whispered from where he sat beside Darrick in an old chair that looked as it we're about to break beneath either of their weight at any second. Austin's was looking equally as nervous at Darrick, since his father and Margaret had been called since Tess was underage and it had become a serious case for the police. Darrick knew Austin would be in trouble, but that didn't matter, all that mattered was that Tess was treated for and looked after

"I know. She's just been in there for a while now." Darrick eyed the small blue human door that Tess had disappeared into earlier on a small stretcher after having rushed to the hospital once austin had sprinted to escape from a furious Lenny. Darrick had been told she'd be okay, that she had only experienced a panic episode and would be okay soon. Unfortunately she'd suffered a broken wrist and were currently putting a cast on it. She still hasn't woken though.. the doctors having explained it as being simply exhaustion and shock.

So here they waited, two giant boys, both bruised from fighting each-other and looking both equally as nervous about a little human. Darrick rubbed his fingers over his face, squeezing his eyes and letting out a low groan. His body was cramping, not use to being so over worked from shrinking and growing so much. He massaged at his biceps and thighs, trying to soothe the tightness from his body and feeling incredibly tired. His eyes threatened to close at any second, feeling as heavy as two slabs of cement

"Shit.." Austin murmured then, Darrick lifting his eyes to see Brian hurrying down the hospital corridor like a torpedo, seeing Tess's mother in his left hand looking on the verge of tears once the pair spotted the two and rushed over. Darrick felt his heart sink, so this was going to be his first impression on Tess's mother..

"What happened!" Brian hurried over, the two teens standing then simultaneously as Brian approached to stand before the two. Darrick looked down to Margaret briefly, could see a reflection of Tess on her face, having the same nose and eyes. Darrick had to quickly look away then, clasping his hands behind his back, feeling suddenly anxious being in the presence of Mr. Taylor and Tess's mother.

"Dad~ i-it was my fault. Lenny he.. he took Tess without us knowing and hurt her" Austin spoke barely over a whisper, his eyes down, hidden behind his hair out of shame, his voice wavering as if he were about to burst into tears himself.

"Where.. where is Tess?" Margaret spoke then from within Brian's palm, looking between the two teens anxiously. Darricks breath hitched and he looked up then, looking toward Austin then Margaret, seeing her looking desperately for an answer between them.

"She's~ she's been taken to get her arm looked at. She might have broken her wrist and they're putting a cast on it. She's been unconscious" Darrick spoke softly, shifting uncomfortably on his feet feeling ashamed how he must appear to Margaret. A monster, a beast for letting her daughter be taken and hurt.

"How could you let this happen Austin! We go away for one night and come back to hear Tess has been injured and police calling my phone!" Brian was trying not to shout, his face having turned an angry shade of red and veins throbbed in his neck as he looked at Austin, looking ready to rip his sons head from his body.

"I-I'm sorry.. but Darrick saved her.." Austin spoke then under his breath, making Darrick snap his eyes up to Austin seeing the boy sending him a small smile before turning his eyes down also to avoid eye contact with his father, appearing scared of the older man. Darrick clasped his hands before him, squeezing his fingers together til they went numb when feeling Margaret turning her attention toward him.

"Thank you~" her voice was soft but he'd heard it, Darrick lifting his eyes to see Margaret crying but forcing a smile "thank you" she sobbed, cupping her hands over her mouth trying to hold back her cries. Darrick nodded slowly, feeling his heart in his ears and the urge to collapse. He was so tired..

~~~

[T E S S]

Tess wakes as if it's an emergency, as if sleeping had become a dangerous thing as the nightmares flooded her dreams. Her heart beats fast and there is a buzzing in her brain and she felt panic in her heart as if jump-leads had been connected to her chest. Her body ached like she'd never get before, the exertions of being with Lenny had felt similar to running a marathon. Tess lay there quietly, trying to calm her heart for a long second while keeping her eyes closed, matching her breaths to the beeping of distant machines. She felt almost numb, arms were numb and heart beating heavily. Curiosity slowly pried open her heavy eyes to meet a dismal view of a magnolia colored hospital room, the door a navy blue. No bars.. no cage. Where had Lennys room gone?

Tess found herself in a small room with a window the size of a small ball, letting in little to no light. It had a strange smell, like it had been cleaned with water instead of disinfectant. The bed sits low to the ground, the frame baring the signs of time as the metal bars were rusted and the mattress was worryingly thin til she could feel the springs in her spine. Letting her eyes flutter around, she sat up, wincing at the pain in her arm and looking down to see that her arm was now wrapped in a white cast around her wrist. Was she in a hospital bed? Pushing back the covers that entangled her legs, she quickly manoeuvred herself into a standing position but found her knees wavering. How did she get here? How did she escape Lennys rooms and that cage! Had Austin saved her? No he couldn't of he hated her.

As the memories came rushing back she felt her eyes become glossy and a heavy sob left her mouth, collapsing back onto the flimsy mattress she cupped her hands over her face as she began to cry. Cry from both relief and realisation! Austin hated her, he had given her up to Lenny. She cried because she no longer was in that cage, she was free and whoever her saviour was she could kiss in that moment. She cried from the pain that throbbed at her entire body. Cried because she was in a human hospital. Curling up she continued to cry, large tears staining her hospital gown that had been placed over her body. She didn't even stop as a red headed nurse appeared with a wheelchair, eyes widening seeing the young teenage girl crying her little heart out. Tess tried to calm herself, but couldn't help the heavy sobs to leave her chest.

"I'm sorry to interrupt~ your mother is here to pick you up, darling" Tess cried some more, managing to simply nod in reply toward the red head, who had a deep frown etched onto her face. The women couldn't be any older then 40, having short red hair and cheeks painted a light pink. Tess wiped at her eyes and sucked in a heavy shaky breath trying to calm herself, her mother was here? She was really here. Sniffling, she climbed to her feet slowly and sat down in the offered chair to be wheeled out. Not saying a word to the nurse and instead burying her face in her hands.

This hospital was nothing like the ones Tess was used to back at the Human Sector, there was no hustle or bustle, seeing maybe one other nurse and very few patients. As she was wheeled past reception, there was no plastic blonde receptionists gossiping about their husbands. Here there is no life, no space, nothing buzzes or has the smell of disinfectant. Instead the journey down the long hallway toward the exit was narrow and dark, the nurses footsteps echoing off the walls. The walls were once painted, she can tell that from the flakes that remain. Tess felt an eeriness about the hospital and clutched her cast to her chest.

From ahead came muffled voices, some angry, some she even recognised. She bit down on her lip as she exited out of dark blue doors, her breath hitching almost immediately at the sight before her and tears found themselves in her eyes again.

Hope you enjoyed! This story will be coming to an end soon in a few chapter but of course it hasn't ended forever! A second book is in the makings. Can't believe this story has come this far. I hope you've loved it every second of the way

Would love to know what you love! Would love to hear your thoughts in the comments!

Also check out my new story: LIVING WITH A TINY!