Tiny was lethargic as Elijah's heavy steps sounded deeper within the house. He was stumbling somewhat. Rushing. Tiny raised his heavy head, shaking off his stasis cycle and low thirium levels. He checked his internal HUD. It was after ten in the evening. Why was Elijah rushing around so late at night? He turned up his audio input as he heard Elijah's voice. He sounded worried. Perhaps even frantic. There was a jingle as he grabbed his keys from somewhere. The front parlour? Tiny clicked and struggled to his tired legs. He hadn't moved for over two weeks, and his thirium levels were almost depleted. He fell down again with a small clatter, though he had enough energy to turn his head and watch.
"…re are you? No, you get out of that house! Get out right now!" Elijah almost snapped as he rushed into the entrance hall. He was dressed casually to go out. Blue jeans, a white shirt and a black leather jacket. It was unusual for him to be so underdressed, and even rarer for him to be going out at night. "I'll meet you in Alberton Park, the small one near the Manfred Estate…I'll be there within the hour." The Manfred Estate was at least an hour and fifteen minutes away. To get there within the hour, Elijah must be intending to break traffic guidelines. He didn't even stop to acknowledge Tiny's small body as he left, leaving the door to slam shut behind him. Tiny chittered miserably. What was going on? Why had no one told him?
"Did you hear that, Tiny?" Chloe's gentle voice called softly as the door to the hallway opened. Tiny clicked a few times as she padded over. Her feet were bare on the warm tiles. The underfloor heating kept the house cosy. She was wearing a light cream nightdress with a fluffy white dressing gown over the top, smiling warmly as she crouched beside him, happier than he'd seen her in weeks. "Gavin's coming home!" That was all she needed to say to pique Tiny's interest. He chittered tiredly as he pushed himself up on shaky legs. Chloe ruffled his hair as she held out a packet of thirium for him to take.
Gavin was really coming? It wasn't a trick to make him drink his thirium? Tiny grunted suspiciously, but Chloe looked so happy that he was sure she was telling the truth. Gavin was really coming home! Tiny trilled as he accepted the pouch of thirium. It was a good thing that Chloe had reserves. He needed five pouches before his small body was satisfied, and once she was done with feeding his reconnaissance model, she stood on a tall stool and passed up a whole crate of thirium bottles into the vent. The extraction model was in a better state than his smaller body, since he had kept his larger form powered down for most of the three weeks. He'd wanted to be there if Gavin returned. He'd wanted to be ready to skitter to his feet and climb into his arms. Surely Gavin would have missed him. Surely Gavin wouldn't have forgotten him.
Tiny chittered and skittered around the entrance hall eagerly. When would Gavin return? Chloe had said he was coming home. Had Elijah reached him yet? Were they already coming back? He clicked and grunted impatiently, looking up at Chloe as she stood beside his resting place. She seemed just as anxious, chewing her lip and watching the door as she held the chest of her robe shut. She often gave him small, placating smiles, assuring him they wouldn't be long. Tiny was keeping a running timer on his HUD. Elijah had said he would reach the meeting place within the hour. If that was true, then he would have reached the park around fifteen minutes ago. That meant they would be returning at that very moment. Elijah would likely drive slower on the way back.
Tiny waited. He waited. Ran a circuit of the entrance hall. Waited. Skittered up and down the glass staircase. Waited. Rushed through to the front parlour and looked out the darkened window. Waited. There was no sign of life. No returning lights. He returned to the entrance hall. Waited. Settled down on his spot. The exact spot Gavin had left him. Perhaps if he waited in the right spot, Gavin would return faster. He waited, shuffling anxiously, luminous blue on black eyes looking up at Chloe questioningly. She smiled warmly and assured him they would be back soon. He waited.
His small head snapped up at the sound of a distant rumble. A car. It was a low, grumbling roar. A low-riding sports car. Elijah's! Tyres crunched the gravel. Tiny sat up, luminous eyes fixed on the door. He waited, tail and claws twitching in anticipation. Something whirled in his small chest. A tight feeling. A feeling of fullness. He grunted out a small, high-pitched whine. His chest felt like it was going to burst. He blinked his blue eyes as an odd sensation come over them. It was not a programmed reaction. He swallowed. There was an odd feeling of tightness in his small throat. He could hear feet on the gravel. Thuds on the bridge. Quite voices. Gavin! He could hear Gavin.
"We're back," Elijah called softly as he opened the door and led the way inside. His voice was a little subdued, as if he would disturb the quiet of the house. Chloe let out an audible sigh of relief as they stepped inside. Elijah held the door in welcome, one hand busy holding a large duffle bag that had been hastily filled. Gavin seemed smaller somehow. His head was lowered, hands stuffed in his leather jacket pockets as his shoulders hunched. He paused almost timidly as Elijah shut the door behind him, as if he wasn't sure what to do with himself.
"Thanks…for having me," he grumbled softly, his tone shy and uncertain.
"Nonsense! This is your home! I'm glad you came back. If you'd left it any longer, I think Tiny would have gone searching for you himself!" Chloe insisted in gentle amusement, keeping her tone light and welcoming. Tiny blinked up at her. Had that been an option? Had he known, and had he also had a GPS location for Gavin's whereabouts, he would have done so weeks ago! He clicked his resentment that he had not been informed before turning his attention to Gavin. Gavin finally raised his head and looked at him. Tiny chittered his distress as he shuffled a little closer.
Gavin looked different. Pale. Smaller. Underweight. It seemed he'd foregone his usual healthy diet, exercise, and sleeping patterns for a while. He seemed drained. His eye was still bruised. The colour was now yellow and green. The cut on his lip looked worse, as if it had been struck a second time more recently. There was also deeper bruising around his throat, but not a hand this time. A belt. Tiny could see a small, deep line at the edge where the buckle had been imprinted on his skin. There was something else, too. A bloody smear just beneath his ear. Tiny chittered his distress as he recognised teeth marks, as if someone had tried to bite his neck open just below the ear.
"Hi, Tiny…" His voice was so small. Hesitant. As if he was unsure how he would be received. He dropped his gaze to his feet, remaining by the door. Tiny screeched. It was a high, shrill sound that made Gavin flinch. He looked up as small claws clicked urgently across the tiles and let out a pained grunt as Tiny's small body dove at his chest. His arms shot up immediately, clutching Tiny tightly as he fell back against the door. Tiny was still screeching as he gripped the shoulders of his jacket, claws carefully bunching the material. His tail coiled to wrap around Gavin's waist securely as he buried his small face in his shoulder. He was unsure what this feeling was, but it was unstoppable. His legs hooked over Gavin's hips and locked around his waist with his tail, holding on tightly as he continued to screech and grunt. "I'm sorry! I'm-home-I'm-sorry!" Gavin's voice sounded raw and hoarse as he almost sobbed the words. His arms were clutching him tightly, one of his hands stroking small circles on his spinal plating as the other laced in his hair.
"Look at you two…Go up and have a shower. I'll bring up some supplies," Chloe cooed as she approached and wrapped her arms around them both. Tiny blinked the saline solution from his eyes, unsure what error had occurred to cause such a release. It seemed Gavin was suffering a similar issue as he sniffled and wiped his cheek on his shoulder. He mumbled his thanks, keeping hold of Tiny as he headed towards the stairs. Tiny tightened his grip, despite the pained grunts and hisses Gavin let out. Tiny would not be removed. He would not release Gavin until they were far away from the door. Until Gavin could not leave without him being able to give chase. Until the door of his bedroom and bathroom were securely shut behind them. He trilled softly as Gavin ran a hand through his hair and mumbled another apology.
Once they were in the bathroom, Gavin shut the door and walked across to the sink. There was a silent agreement as Gavin held him over the long counter and Tiny slowly loosened and uncoiled his clinging legs and tail. He squatted on the counter, watching as Gavin leaned both hands on the edge of the sink and looked at the cream marble. When he finally took a breath, it was shaking. His jaw tightened as he gripped the sink, hands trembling on the edge. It was almost like he was afraid to lift his head. Even as he raised his head, his eyes remained on the counter.
He finally raised his eyes and looked at himself. Tiny didn't like his expression. He looked shocked, as if he didn't recognise his own face. It seemed this was the first time he'd seen himself for some time. His brow pinched as he leaned closer to the lit mirror, a hand raising to rest against the ruddy cut in his lip. He hissed and drew back with a flinch as he jostled the skin, licking the area with a wince and tasting copper on his tongue. He pressed and bruise around his eye next, tilting his head this way and that. His jacket and hoodie fell to the floor next as he raised his chin to take in the dark bruising on his throat. Tiny chittered as he shuffled closer to appraise the damage. It was a ring that went all the way round. Dark red. Fresh. It would likely darken to purple within the next few hours. Gavin finally turned his head and pressed the bloodied bite on his neck. His hollow gaze lingered on it as he lowered his hand, smudges of red smearing his fingertips.
"I'm such a phcking mess…" The words came out in a hiss. A harsh, almost cutting sound. "Phcking-phcked-up-phcking-useless-phck-" Tiny clicked his objection as Gavin continued to berate himself, gripping the sink and sniffling. His shoulders were quivering as he lowered his head, tears trickling down to drip on the edge of the counter. Tiny trilled and reached up to wrap his arms around Gavin's larger shoulders, nuzzling his sore neck and damp cheek. He ignored the drops that smeared his black casing, and Gavin ignored the stinging of the hard plating that rubbed his open wound. Tiny purred softly as Gavin raised an arm to pull him closer, hugging him and sobbing into his small shoulder. Tiny nuzzled closer again, content to remain in place for as long as he was needed.