#walking backwards

The calm he hasn’t been able to have all week after running around, barely getting any sleep, being on high alert every time a text or call lights his phone up shatters as if it was never there.

He doesn’t know, he doesn’t know.

Scott takes a deep breath, glancing at James’ still closed eyes and therefore blissfully unaware just how panicked he’s made his companion. “What made that come up?”

They’re all aware of the horror guard’s need to ask questions. A bit of a feat considering how quickly he can come up with them as well as the speed they can be fired off at. It’s not a surprise for a question to suddenly be asked something. And with it just being the two of them, enjoying the quiet, they won’t come out all together in quick succession to keep the calm atmosphere.

He’s just curious, James is always curious, he doesn’t know.

A single brown eye opens to glance over Scott, closing once again at seeing the eldest guard looking calm enough. “David went on a long tangent yesterday after Fritz found a human at the restaurant.”

Scott feels himself tense up at the thought of a human being anywhere near a giant like David. The business man who acts like those who stand within the 70 to 120 feet tall range are below him and therefore naturally says those who average at 6 feet at the most are nothing but pests.

“Fritz got them to a facility safely,” James continues. “David made him wash his hands a hundred times, said he should’ve left it because if it can get there it can find its way back. The usual spill.”

He can’t find the words to reply. Staring at how nonchalant the horror guard is being for someone David wanted to fend for themselves inside a restaurant full of screaming children who never watching where they’re stepping, wouldn’t care the ‘toy’ they just picked up is a person with friends and family, that as long as Fritz helped them this once they shouldn’t try and make it clear that should always be done and the business man told why his actions are intolerable.

It.

Scott feels sick. His first thought is because of what James said, what his friend thinks about him. Not wanting to be in a same room anymore. Unable to be because-

Suddenly he gasps for air as it seems like he stepped onto an evaluator going down way too quickly. Stumbling back as vertigo crashes into him. Leaves him dizzy and reeling.

“Scott?”

Said man flinches as James’ voice booms overhead.

No.

It takes several seconds to open his eyes and several more to focus them. Trying so hard to recognize what he’s staring at. Blinking multiple times because what he’s seeing isn’t real. He’s supposed to be giant. His appointment to make sure he doesn’t shrink back to his true 5’7” height isn’t for another month.

Yet the sneakers he’s harassed James to replace with shoes approved for the night shift uniform stare right back. Larger than buses. Cause the ground to shake as they slide over the tile in order to make it easy for the giant to stand up.

”It’s dangerous for a human to pose as a giant, Scott.”

Scott feels himself tremble as brown eyes bigger than his head look over the desk, at the tablet he set down the moment the topic of humans came up. His entire body locks up every time the weighted gaze sweep over him.

”Most aren’t particularly fond of our smaller counterparts. They see you as pets, or nothing more than vermin.”

“Huh,” rumbles more like thunder than someone making a thoughtful sound. It leaves Scott attempting to get to his feet, fear racing up his spine as he continues to fall over, unable to try and run to safety. Horrified as the giant takes a step forward.

”Be careful about those you become close with. Make sure if you ever miss an appointment, or the growth serum wears off sooner than it’s supposed to, you have friends and family you can trust.”

He became a giant when he turned 16, needing to get away from his parents. Not caring about the consequences if he ever shrank suddenly while deep inside a giant only district. His only thought was it didn’t matter who he became friends with just as long as he was enjoying his life.

That meant not telling Vincent the truth after they became best friends in the fear it’d ruin their friendship forever. Hesitating but being unable to tell Fritz or Jeremy with how considerate they are with helping stranded humans in the fear they only do it because it’s morally right. Making a promise to never tell any of them after David made it blaring obvious what he thinks about humans in the fear one of them will tell the business man.

So he shrinks for the first time in twenty years without any hope they won’t keep or crush him. Or even worse, take him to a facility and say they never want to see him again.

“WAIT!”

The second shoe taking a step right for him freezes immediately before it’s slowly pulled back.

He should run, he needs to run. Before James kneels down to crush him or sweep him up. He needs to disappear before the horror guard figures out-

“Oh,” tells Scott he’s too late, his uncontrollably shivering form finally being spotted.

Oh God.

It’s all he can think as the living skyscraper falls to his knees much too quickly, arms held up to protect him as the floor seems the quake at the impact. He’s breathing too fast, heart trying to escape his chest as a hand slams onto the ground only ten feet away.

RUN!

“Sorry, that was a bit close,” is murmured as Scott desperately tries to scramble away, still unable to stand. “I promise I’m not going to hurt you.”

James stares down at him looking as genuine as possible. And after knowing their monotone guard for a few years, there’s a hint of surprise lurking in his voice. No anger at being lied to, or disgust finding out his boss in a human, or even delight of having the power of being able to hold Scott in the palm of his hand.

A small smile is offered, and he hopes the horror guard realizes just how terrifying it is so close. “I’ve never interacted with a human before, but I’m pretty sure my friend has. I think I accidentally upset him, though.”

His friend? Who else is here? Why-?

His doesn’t realize it’s me.

Scott...hasn’t been recognized. James thinks he left the office because he was upset. He’s staring right at him and yet he doesn’t realize. That, makes him feel small. Insignificant. Nearly as much as the fingers longer than he is tall reaching for him does.

His brain catches up a few moments too late to figure out James is trying to pick him up, feeling his mind jumpstart as a palm cups around his right side. “No, wait!”

“It’s okay, I’ve got you,” seals his fate as both hands scoop him up before he’s lifted. Tens of feet above the ground. At the hands of a giant who’s never held a human before. Who holds him too close for comfort as he’s scanned over.

That’s when James’ eyes widen, Scott flinching at the irises expanding. “Shit.”

His eyes then widen. “D-Did you just-?”

“Yes, I cursed,” the horror guard sighs as he stands up, leaving the human’s stomach left far behind. He can’t help himself from latching onto the closest finger, unable to think about anything but falling. There no protest against it or even a twitch from the odd feeling.

The eldest guard tenses as the hands suddenly unravel in order to set him down again. He doesn’t know if it’s any better. Before James could just crush or pocket him. Now, James can abandon him for someone else to deal with.

“Scott I’m so sorry.”

Hazel eyes stare up at the billboard sized expression. One filled with regret and hope.

...where’s the anger? Or even a small bit of frustration? There’s a giant who had him in the palm of his hand, and yet Scott’s sitting on the desk, eye level as the considerably larger sits on his knees again. Despite having stood up moments ago. A chair right next to him.

“About the, uh, c-curse or not r-recognizing me?”

James allows his lips to curl up at the jab. “I think it should be a rule I get one for every hundred Mike does.”

That’s it. A finger doesn’t poke him to say James is the one in control. No threat to not tell the others the horror guard cursed or else his secret gets out.

Scott rubs his face before laughing. “God you scared me.”

“And you scared me,” is shot back. “I didn’t give you a heart attack, did I old man?”

“No, but we definitely need to work on your handling skills before you manage to.”

A sheepish look covers the giant’s face before a smirk appears.

“James, I swear-!”

Scott curses as a hand gently collects him from behind, growling as he’s lifted up a lot slower than before. Stopping at a farther distance from the watchful eyes so he doesn’t feel like he’s suffocating.

“Did I pass?”

“Other than the test of not being a grabby giant?” the human huffs as he kicks at the nearest finger. “Yes.”

“I bet I’m not as bad as Vincent.”

Scott jolts at the mention of the purple man before he can remind himself it was just him and James, there’s no other giants. Of course, the person holding him immediately noticed, sending an interested look before he’s slowly standing up to make his way to the door.

“Will any facility be able to help?”

No mention of him not telling his best friend he’s a human. No question if anyone else knows.

He’ll deal with it later. For now, Scott feels safe with this particular giant.

“Yeah. There should be one down the street, actually.”

“Want to crash at my place for the night?” James asks. In case he shrinks again. If he wants company instead of being alone.

“I better not wake up to a magnifying glass.”

“How about a barrage of questions?”

Scott gives a mock glare up at their resident nerd barely holding himself back now there’s no panic or distrust. To be honest, this has been quit a record. It’s hard not to appreciate him being so considerate. “Get it over with.”

“Have humans always been able to grow? Is that how they get into the giant district? Why did you shrink? Does it hurt? Can giants shrink? Would you mind shrinking more? What if-?”

-

CHAPTER ONE (part one?): there is no way

“Step away from him,” Gally says. The gun is trained to Teresa’s chest and she raises her hands, slowly backing away. He inches forward, forcing her further and further away from the gurney that holds—

“Tommy,” Newt gasps, rushing forward. Minho is already unbuckling him, hooking his arms under Thomas’s armpits and hauling his limp body up as Newt works on freeing his legs. Teresa’s eyes dart back and forth between Thomas, Gally, the tray of instruments just out of her reach.

“Don’t even think about it,” Gally says. 

“I got him, we got him!” Minho barks out as they pull IVs and tubes off of and out of Thomas, hoisting him up. Gally keeps his eyes trained on Teresa.

“Wait,” she says. “Wait, please. You can’t take him. He’s...” Her lip trembles and her eyes glisten. Gally’s finger strokes the trigger, ready.

“We can, and we will,” Newt says.

Minho grunts in agreement. “C’mon. Let’s get out of here.” He spares one ambivalent glance over his shoulder for Teresa, and that’s all.

“You don’t understand—”

“Take one step forward and I’m taking you down,” Gally warns.

Newt’s shoulders stiffen. Gently, he places Thomas’s legs on the edge of the table. Then he turns and strides forward until he’s shoulder to shoulder with Gally. He’s shaking, face twisted in rage.

“I don’t understand?” His voice is soft, lips curled into a snarl. “Tell me, what don’t I understand?” He throws his arm backwards, gesturing towards Thomas. 

Teresa flinches. 

“I understand that you betrayed us. Betrayed Tommy, who went back for you. Who trusted you. I understand that you took him from where he wanted to be so you could bring him here and treat him like a lab rat. I understand that you don’t care about what anyone else wants as long as you get your way, even if it means torturing unwilling kids for the benefit of a world that never did anything but ignore them. You and W.C.K.D.. Did I get it all? Am I missing anything?”

Teresa sniffs, but her gaze remains unwavering. “Please,” she tries again. “Don’t take him.”

Don’t take him away from me, goes unspoken.

“Save it,” Newt spits, and they head out, Newt directing the way as Minho carries Thomas and Gally backs towards the door, never letting Teresa out of his sight until he’s past the threshold of the room.

“I’m sorry. There was no other way,” she says, finally. The door closes. He’d thought that was it, that the door to their past, to W.C.K.D., would be over for good.

At the time, Newt had scoffed at her words. Sorry? He didn’t care, because they’d gotten Tommy back. Finally, after months of planning, they had him. All they needed to do now was escape.

But now, her words ring in his skull as he stares into Thomas’s eyes.

“I’m sorry. There was no other way.” 

Thomas’s eyes are full of fear and confusion. Void of any recognition. The full meaning of Teresa’s words hit him, and he can’t breathe.

Minho has slumped to the ground, blinking at his hands. Gally runs his hand over his head, lips pursed and teeth gritted. He lets out a deep sigh, but does not move from his station by the door.

“Thomas?” Newt says, softly. He keeps his movements slow, unthreatening, as he kneels besides the scared boy cowering against the ground. Thomas gulps, curling further inwards, body tense and ready to run. 

“There’s no need to be afraid,” Newt says. “What...” he swallows, breath shaky. “What do you remember?”

Thomas licks his lips, bouncing his leg in a tic that is painfully, agonizingly familiar. Newt feels his heart shatter, because he knows what Thomas will say. Because he’s seen that expression on Thomas’s face before.