I've just re-entered the apartment, and I'm already getting asked questions.
"Of course you are," I say, shooting Gretchen a sarcastic grin.
"Janis, I'm serious."
"So am I! We're all shitty roommates. It's just how we work."
"But-" Gretchen follows me into the kitchen and helps unpack what I managed to borrow. "I don't want that to be how we work. I don't want our dynamic to be hatred and fighting."
"And it's not- sometimes."
"See what I mean?!"
I turn to Gretchen. It's my first time looking at her today and she looks worked up over this, so I dial down the sarcasm a bit.
"Gretch- this is how it's always worked. Why is it an issue now?"
"I've been talking a lot with Karen, the borrower next door who's roommates with Aaron."
I wait for her to continue, but when she doesn't, I lightly prompt her. "And-?"
"And they get along so well, damn it!"
I jump back a bit at Gretchen's sudden outburst. "They care about each other! They genuinely want to see each other safe!" She takes a deep breath, lowering her voice. "When Mr. Hubbard found you, Kevin's first instinct was to pack your room and take it for himself. He didn't care what happened to you. When Kevin got really sick our first year here, you didn't want anything to do with him! Sometimes it feels like I'm the only one trying to actively keep us from falling apart! Why is it only me? Did I do something wrong? Did I miss a memo? Am I a bad roommate?!" Gretchen repeats the last question and I feel like I've been smacked with guilt.
"I'm so sorry," I hesitate, trying to find the right words. "If you told us you felt this way sooner-"
"Nothing would have changed."
"What?"
"This isn't the first time we've had this talk, Janis. It's just the first time you're listening."
"I-"
Gretchen stands there expectantly. Waiting for me to say something- anything.
But I don't know what to say.
"Why don't we wait for Kevin to get back to have this talk."
"There it is again." Gretchen frowns, turning away.
"There what is again?"
"You, Janis! Pushing off any conversation that requires even the tiniest bit of emotion! 'Let's wait for Kevin', 'Let's wait till after this borrowing run' 'Let's wait, let's wait, let's wait'!"
I took a step back.
At the beginning of this conversation, Gretchen was worried she had done something wrong. But this had very quickly turned to accuse me of doing something wrong.
"Why are you so angry?"
"I'm not angry." Gretchen crossed her arms.
"You seem pretty an-"
"I'm tired, Janis. I'm tired of being the only one who takes out life seriously, tired of being the only one holding this group together, tired of being the only one to take precautions, I'm just tired."
"Oh."
"Yeah." Gretchen shrugged, heading for her room. "But what do you care. I guess I can wait for Kevin to get home so he can deal with me."
"Wait, Gretchen, no-" I get up quickly, crossing the room to catch up with her. "I do care. I just-"
Gretchen turned, looking at me expectantly.
"I didn't know you were this upset."
"That we've already covered."
Gretchen really wasn't going to make this easy.
"I know, I know. I didn't put effort into showing I cared. If anything, you're not a bad roommate. It's Kevin and me. And I'm sorry. I really am. I'll work on it in the future. It shouldn't be only you who cares or puts in the effort. It should be all of us. We are roommates after all, right?"
hurt/comfort(/hurt?) fic four :0
GENERALIZED TW: death (fear of it, mentioned, and/or, actual death); cursing; blood (mention, description, thought)
mg borrower (roommates) au
Rouge borrowers are a thing. When I described them to Damian, he pointed out that they're the equivalent of a homeless person.
I told him all borrowers are technically homeless.
You won't catch me paying taxes.
Rouge borrowers are more like travelers. Never stay in one place too long, never settle down. They're left to their own devices at a younger age too. They have a different culture and borrowing technique than a stationary borrower. They're more reckless, more violent.
They travel alone most of the time. Each man for himself.
My father would tell stories of rouge borrowers that kill off humans if they get caught.
They travel to houses but don't stay for long.
There's a good chance a borrower has shared their house with a rouge without even knowing.
Houses are big.
But- I never thought I'd face one.
"What are you doing here." He called out. He was holding a meticulously sharpened rock as a knife.
I was on the kitchen counter just trying to grab food. Kevin was across the kitchen getting water, frozen in place as he watched the rouge approach me. Gretchen had slipped away before he saw her. I fucking hope she had enough common sense to get Damian.
I put my hands up in defense.
"I live here."
He raises his weapon. "You two are stationary borrowers?"
"Yes." I say.
"Take me to your hideout. I want your supplies."
"What?! No!" I step back, but the rouge just steps closer again.
"Hey, dude-" Kevin steps over. "What's your name. Maybe we can work this out- without the kife?"
"Shane." The borrower says, but he doesn't lower his weapon.
"Hey, Shane. I'm Janis, this is my roommate Kevin. I agree I think we can talk civilly without-" I gasp, taking a step backward as Shane gabs his knife at me.
Kevin's arm wraps around my shoulders pulling me close to him.
"Hey! No stabbing the girl!" He says, pushing me a little behind him.
Normally I would object to needing to be protected, but Shane looks strong as fuck for a rouge borrower and has shown he has no hesitation to fucking stab us.
"There's another one of you." Shane deadpans. "Where did she go."
"I don't know," Kevin says calmly.
"Where did she go?!" Kevin steps back so he's next to me. Shane is swinging around his sharp rock-knife-weapon-murder-dagger, like a mad man.
"We don't know!" I say. "Honest truth!"
She could be hiding in her room like a baby, or getting Damian. Or maybe she fell off the counter and fucking died. Beats me I guess.
Shane steps forward again. He gets to closer for comfort. "Are you sure."
"Yes!" My hands are still up by my ears. My tool bag as fallen by my feet, our week's supply of granola tucked beneath it all. I hope he doesn't fucking take it-
"I don't believe you. Take me to your house."
"You're in it buddy." I say. Kevin kicks the back of my leg. Yeah, I should cut down on the sarcastic quips since this dude could kill me at any moment.
"Where you store your supplies. In the walls dumbass. I take it you're not wandering around after befriending the humans."
"Ah, that's where you're wrong." I grin.
Shane seems momentarily frightened by the idea that we have a giant ally but decides I must be bluffing.
He shoves me. "Your supplies. Now!"
Woah woah woah this is getting violent fast what the fuck?
I stumble backward, trying to grasp something to stop myself from falling. I yank Kevin's shoulder but just end up bringing him down with me.
"What the fuck, Janis?" He whines as we both land on our butts.
"Sorry!" I groan, standing up. "What's your damage dude?" I ask Shane.
"My damage is I need fucking food."
"Then get your own! Not in this house!"
"Not when you have easy access to food in your storage."
"Our storage is empty!" I throw my hands up in exasperation. "Why do you think we're borrowing!"
Both Shane and I are very close to each other. I may not have a knife but momma didn't raise no bitch. I can throw a punch when needed.
"Then shows me where you normally get food."
"Fucking starve." I spit.
"Janis-" Kevin tried to pull me backward but I'm livid.
Does this boy think he can come into our area and take out resources? Hell no.
Anger flashes in Shane's eyes as his arm thrusts forward.
I don't even feel the pain at first. It's only when he withdraws his arm- his stone-sword-weapon-bitch-thing covered in blood when my mind makes the connection.
Holy fucking shit.
That's my blood.
Kevin gasps as Shane steps back.
The pain hits like a wave of nausea as I double over, my hands shooting to my side.
Oh, fuck?
Fuck.
"Where's your food?" Shane's voice is calm like he thinks the answer will change now that he's made his point.
I grit my teeth, standing up. My shirt is turning red but I close my jacket to hide it.
Out of sight, out of mind. I've got ass to kick.
"We. Don't. Have. Shit. For. You."
The kitchen light flicks on and I smile, watching the color drain from Shane's face.
"Human." He whispers.
"Mhmm."
Damian stood in the doorway, Gretchen on his shoulder. On the outside, he looked pissed, but I could see by the way his shoulders tensed that he was worried as fuck.
I step forward, trying to ignore the pain in my side and the way the world spins.
"What's going on here?" Damian asks. The bubbliness in his voice is gone. Its enough to make me a little nervous. Shane's eyes widened. "Nothing I just-"
"He attacked us." I say. I feel like a child tattle tailing on their sibling.
"I'd leave if I were you." Damian says, walking over to the counter. He places Gretchen down without removing his eyes from the rouge borrower.
Shane doesn't need to be told twice.
Fucking pussy.
He turns to run and I don't care where he goes because the world is spinning slightly.
Extremely slightly.
Its actually not slightly at all.
But who cares. It's only a bit of blood loss. The rouge borrower is gone.
I turn back to Kevin, big grin on my face. He eyes where my hand is pressed to my jacket but doesn't say anything.
"You guys okay?" Damian asks.
"Yup!" I grin. Kevin just looks away.
"Kevin?" Damian tilts his head. "You didn't get hurt, did you?"
"No," Kevin says dryly. "I'm okay. It's J-"
"Our food is safe!" I cut of Kevin with a grin, scooping up my tool bag, granola still stashed away.
Damian and Gretchen smile warmly both of them visibly relaxing. I almost feel guilty. But hey, I'll be fine. It's not that deep.
"I was freaking out when Gretchen came into my room," Damian explains. "Normally only Janis stops by. I'm glad you guys are safe."
"Yeah! You're okay!" Gretchen cheers running over to Kevin and me. She pulls me into a tight hug and I grit my teeth. Ow. Fucking-
"Gretch. Stop."
Gretchen pulls back, eyes wide. "Janis-"
Her hand has blood on it.
My blood.
There's a lot of it.
Damian gasps.
Kevin is mumbling something.
Gretchen's got tears in her eyes?
Bitch I'm the one who got stabbed. Why are you crying?
The world is spinning a lot now.
"Oh- heh." I laugh but there's no humor. "That's a lot of blood."
"Janis!" Gretchen gasps. "What happened?!"
"I got fucking stabbed its not hard to tell."
Hmm, I'm starting to think sarcasm might be my way to cover up fear.
Fun.
Kevin is oddly quiet. He always has some sort of remark for my attitude.
Damian is frozen too.
Probably because I'm dying.
I'm dying.
Shit.
"Well." I laugh softly, my hand pressed to my side. "This was fun."
"Don't talk like that." Kevin mumbles. The stern tone is gone though. "You're gonna be okay. Just- sit down. I'm going to go grab medical shit."
"Don't lie to her, Kev. She dying. Shes-" Gretchen is full crying at this point.
"No, she's not!" Kevin snaps. "No- no shes not. I- I'll be right back."
I am dying, though.
I don't say it out loud. I don't want it to be true either.
I sit on the ground. My legs feel weak. My eyes feel tired. My side is burning yet ice cold at the same time.
Blood is sticky.
That’s a fact I would live without knowing.
"Jan, no." There's high panic in Damian's voice. "You need to stay awake."
Kinda forgot Damian was there. I don't want him to see me die. That's too sad.
Gretchen kneels in front of me. Her hand pushed down on my side above my hands. I cry out in pain but I know shes trying to stop the blood. "C'mon Janis. Kevin will be back. You need to stay awake."
Despite everything Gretchen is telling me I let myself fall backward, staring up at the ceiling.
I was losing blood fucking fast I guess. I went from 10/10 hiding it to laying on the ground staring at the ceiling in seconds.
Of all the ways a borrower can die, I get stabbed. I had family members drown in sinks, eaten by pets, starved from unpredictable human schedules- and I’m killed off my another borrower.
Fucking great.
"Janis." There's panic in Damian's voice. "Please. Sit up. Stay awake."
It's too hard.
I’m tired.
I can’t.
"Janis!" Gretchen is full sobbing.
I'm sorry, Gretch. Sorry for being a bitch ass roomate. My bad.
Everything sounds muffled. I think I can hear Kevin returning. There are more hands.
Everything hurts.
I don't have enough energy to push them off.
"Jan, Love. You need to stay awake."
Damian.
Thanks for telling me all about your world. They were fun stories to hear.
Love you.
"C'mon Janis. You're stronger than this. You really gonna let one rouge borrower take you down?"
It appears I am, Kevin.
Sorry guys.
If I were to quote bear, oops. Lol.
Tags! @realmisspolarbear @musicallygt @sourishlemons @smallsoysauce
prompt: KEVIN AND/OR GRETCHEN MEETING DAMIAN- bear
hell yeah, more borrower au. Gretchen POV? mhmmm. Gretchen is very aware of the reader and she just insults Janis a lot, I think you can TELL how much fun i had writing this one
I'm not stupid. A pushover? Sure. A kiss-up? You bet. A follower? Please, I invented the term. But stupid? No.
I know Janis didn't fight off a cat by herself and manage to find food. But I'm also not one to complain when a solid food supply gets handed to me.
So I didn't question it.
Until now.
We have a borrowing schedule. Kevin on Sunday, Janis goes Tuesday, I go Thursday and we all go Saturday for more of a lookout rather than for food.
The schedule isn't set in stone, if we really need food, we all go together. If somebody is sick, someone else will take their day.
Which is what was going on right now.
"Janis, you aren't actually thinking of leaving." Kevin deadpans. Its Tuesday, and I look up from where I'm sharpening my tools.
Janis was gathering her supplies, swaying on her feet. "I've got a job to do."
"And a fever. You also have a fever." I add.
Janis shrugs. "Never stopped me before."
"It was never this bad before." Kevin counters.
Janis was an unhealthy pale, to the point where she looked a little green.
"We need the food." Janis wasn't the one to budge in our roommate dynamic. Kevin thought reasonably, I was practical, and Janis was stubborn. It was not always a bad thing, but not a good thing right now as she was about to pass out.
"Janis," Kevin took the borrowing tools away from her. "No."
"I'm fine." Janis insisted. "I know my own limits."
"Then," I stood up grabbing my own bag. "I'm coming with you."
"No necessary Gretchen," Janis says, yanking her bag back from Kevin. Or she tries too. It's unuseful and she stumbles back a bit, the bag still securely in Kevin's grip. It didn't even look like he was holding that tightly.
I exchange glances with Kevin, and he reluctantly hands the bag to Janis. "Gretchen is going with you."
Janis scoffs but doesn't fight him. "Whatever, just don't slow me down."
"I get the feeling that it might be the other way around," I say, following Janis to the floor exit.
"Stay safe." Kevin warns as we leave.
It's hot in the walls, but the house has AC. Janis shivers, pulling her hand-sewn jacket closer around her.
Its night, but we still stick by the walls, carefully making our way to the kitchen.
Janis tries to muffle a cough with her jacket sleeve. Its summer, so it was odd to have such a bad cold. It was also hot out so to see Janis under so many layers was odd in itself.
"Janis, are you sure you're okay?" I ask as Janis prepares to climb. Her cheeks are red and she's breathing heavily from just walking.
"Mhmm." She says.
"I'm serious." I turn her so she's facing me. She's so out of it she doesn't even notice what bad shape she's in. Janis giggles a bit.
"Why are you so stressed, Gretchen?"
"I don't think you can climb up without falling."
"I've done it before."
"Not in this shape."
"What do you mean, I'm in great shape." Janis strikes a pose with a crooked grin.
Yeah, no. Like hell am I letting Janis borrow tonight.
She's gonna get herself killed, or even worse- caught.
I groan, placing my head in my hands. "Let's go the other way."
I gotta get Janis back to her room without her suspicion. "We can take the route up to the counter directly." I lie.
"But we just got here!" Janis whined. I grab her wrist and drag her back to the wall.
"It's for your safety."
We reach the living room and I shove Janis towards Kevin, who glances at us, confused.
"She needs to go to bed. I'll go borrowing myself."
"Hey, Gretchen! You tricked me!" Janis tried to step forward, but Kevin grabs her shoulders, holding her next to him.
"And it wasn't hard. Go to bed, Janis. You'll thank me when you feel better."
"But-" Her protest was interrupted by a yawn. "Okay. Say hi to Damian for me."
"What?!"
"Huh?"
Kevin and I stare at her wide-eyed and it takes Janis a few moments before her own brain can process what she said.
"Ohhhhh." Janis ran her fingers through her hair. "Forgot I didn't tell you that."
"Tell us what, Janis." Kevin sits her at one of the makeshift bottle cap chairs we have, pulling up two more for him and me.
Janis shrugged. "I may or may not have been caught."
"And you're calm about this, why?" I ask.
"It's only Damian."
I sigh. Janis clearly is too sick to see the issue and that a simple 'it's just Damian' won't make us understand anymore.
"When did you get caught, Janis?" Kevin asks.
The girl yawns. "Remember when the cat almost killed me?"
"Janis. That was nearly four weeks ago!" Kevin cried out.
Janis shrugged again. "So? I'm not dead."
Even in her fever-induced whacked-out state, Janis made a point. A weak one, but a point.
"Yet." Kevin countered.
And Kevin made a good point too....
I was receiving whiplash from how this conversation was going. Yeah, Janis isn't dead, but do we really know Damian? No. Every time Janis spoke, I found myself on her side. But then Kevin objects and I'm back with him again. Frankly, it's giving me a headache.
"Guys," I lift my hand in defense, trying to defuse the argument going on. "What if we all just went tonight. Kevin and I can meet Damian and come to our own conclusions."
Janis nodded, her eyelids drooping. "Let's make it fast though. I think I might be getting sick."
"No, really?"
Kevin shakes his head. "I think this is a bad idea. He knows Janis and that's risky enough."
"Damian isn't a bad person," Janis said sitting up straighter.
"That's for us to decide," Kevin says. "Get up, our main mission tonight is food and water, not Damian."
Janis mumbled an okay as we grabbed our bags. We actually did take the other route this time, because I wasn't kidding when I said Janis was in no climbing shape. I went in front of her with Kevin in the back as we made our way up.
This route was in no way easier, but it was harder to fall and we were less exposed.
Janis, against all odds, made it to the exit with minimal issue. She was still swaying with each step, but Kevin pushed her along, making sure she was far away from the edge.
I'm not saying I doubt Janis's judgment but, I definitely doubt her judgment. I mean, Janis wasn't the sweetest little angel there was. For a human to see her snarky personality and not want to kill her probably meant they were good news. But I'm not taking her word for it. I'll see it for myself.
Kevin pushes open the outlet and Janis tumbles out onto the counter. Literally.
There's a bit of a jump from the outlet to the counter, small enough that we can hoist ourselves back into the walls, but far enough that you cant simply step out.
Janis lands on the marble with a soft thump and a laugh.
She is out of it.
Kevin and I follow Janis out, more gracefully.
"You good?" I whisper.
She grins, wobbling up. "I might pass out."
"You sound way to gleeful to be serious." Kevin deadpans.
"No, I'm dead serious," Janis said, bringing her hand up to hold her head. "But isn't this fun!"
"No." I deadpan, watching Janis sway dangerously. "I'm no doctor but you may be dying."
"Don't listen to Gretchen." Kevin groans. "It's just a fever."
"Can you die from bad fevers?" I ask.
"I dunno." Kevin shrugs. "If Janis keeps this up we may find out."
"For science!" Janis yells excitedly. Kevin and I shush her immediately.
"If you don't keep quiet, I swear to god, Janis-" Kevin goes off in a ramble of threats he definitely won't follow through with.
A door opens from somewhere in the house and my hand is instantly covering Kevin's mouth. We're still pretty hidden and close enough to the outlet that we're in no real danger if somebody walks into the kitchen but we don't want to get caught, regardless.
"He's arrived!" Janis sings loudly.
Oh right.
I guess we kinda do wanna get caught.
"Janis if you don't shut the fuck up-" Kevin pushes my hand away from him.
Janis runs out from where we're in hiding- or more of ungracefully jogs, to the center of the counter.
"Janis-" Kevin calls out as I rush out after her, Kev following.
To be honest, I wasn't thinking of 'oh she's gonna go meet her giant friend, its no big deal' I was more thinking 'this fucking idiots body is gonna shut down on her at any moment and she's just chilling in plain sight'.
Which, to be fair, both were going to happen. I just wasn't ready for the first one. I freeze as a human enters the kitchen, Kevin running into me.
I knew that we were gonna meet Damian tonight, but that didn't make me mentally prepared.
"Janis, is that you?" The lights the kitchen flick on, and I cringe at the intrusion of brightness.
"Damian!" Janis grinned pushing away from me and walks to the edge of the counter.
"Are these-" Damian glances at Kevin and I. "Are these your roommates?"
"Yup!" Janis says throwing up jazz hands. "Meet Kevin and Gretchen!"
We both wave shyly under the gaze of Damian. Unlike Janis, we cared about our lives and you're not gonna catch me trusting a human right of the bat.
"Hi." Kevin says tentatively, stepping further out from the shadows, pushing me along with him.
"Hello, I'm Damian."
I'm sure Damiana already knew that we know that, but hey, at least he's polite.
"Okay, cute, you guys all know each other. I need to get home." Janis said.
"Are you okay?" Damian stepped closer to the counter.
"No, she's not." I cut off whatever Janis was going to say. "She should be home sleeping off a bad fever, but shes instant."
Damian nodded. "I could have told you that last part."
Janis hugged her jacket closer to herself, mumbling something none of us could pick up. She was looking at the counter below her- standing unnervingly close to the edge.
"Okay, seriously." Kevin stepped past me. "Hate to cut this short, nice to meet you, Damian. We're gonna get this one home."
Before he could reach Janis, she swayed slightly, knees buckling.
The idiot passed out.
To be fair, I told her she needed to stay home.
But nooo.
Oh! And remember how I said Janis was standing on the edge of the counter? Yeah well, when she passed out she fell off the counter.
Kevin rushed forward as I gasped. So helpful, I know.
Damian's hand instantly shoots out, catching Janis.
"Oh my god." Kevin says softly.
"I'm surprised it didn't happen sooner." I mumble.
Janis's head shoots up from behind Damian's fingers. "What the fuck?"
"You passed out. Told you it'd happen." I call out.
"Gretchen. Not right now." Kevin says.
Damian looks shaken up and I guess I can't blame him. Kevin and I have been betting on when Janis's body will say no more, he only just got here.
"Jesus Christ, Jan."
"I'm fine!" She protests.
"You literally just fell off the counter."
Kevin and I watch dumbfounded at the duo in front of us begin to argue over Janis's safety. Damian seemed just as worried about Janis's health as us, maybe more so.
"So," Kevin whispers. "Damian seems trustworthy?"
"We've officially known him for like three minutes, Kev."
"And in those three minutes?"
"Yeah. He's good."
We turn out attention back to an argument Janis seems to be loosing.
"Damian I'm-"
"Say you're fine I dare you."
"Tired. I'm tired." Janis said, admitting defeat.
Damian carefully lowered the girl onto the table. "Get her home safe. Maybe we can all talk later when Janis isn't burning up by the second."
Kevin and I nodded as I wrapped my arm around Janis, guiding her to the outlet.
"Bye, Damian. Nice meeting you." I called out behind me as Kevin helped Janis back into the wall.
I'll get double food when it's my turn to borrow.
tag list!!! @realmisspolarbear @musicallygt @smallsoysauce @sourishlemons
Prompt: no written prompts but me and bear yelled at each other about it for a while so its gotta be good
"I told you other people were home!" Kevin whisper yells as he, Gretchen, and I rush back to the outlet.
"Yeah, but we didn't know where they were!" I say.
"And I said hey this might be risky. You know what you said?" Kevin yelled.
"I told you to shut the fuck up." I huff.
"And look at us now."
"And look at us now." I repeat. Gretchen is already at the outlet and Kevin isn't far behind.
I'm not looking where I'm going and my foot gets caught in the gap. I ungracefully fall to the table, my tool bag spilling open.
"No!" I helplessly watch as my hook falls to the floor.
"Great going, idiot!" Kevin hisses. "Get up somebody is coming!"
"My tools!"
"Are you fucking stupid- Janis do not try and get that- oh my god."
I peered over the edge of the counter.
Fuck.
I can't get down without my hook but I need to get down to get my hook and-
"Janis!" I turn to Gretchen. Kevin is already in the outlet and she's pushed up out of sight.
"What the fuck?!"
Oh shit. I've done it now.
"Go!" I hiss to Gretchen to scared to turn around.
I watch as Kevin pulls her into the outlet before glancing back to whats probably my death.
There stood Mr. Hubbard, the man of the household, the dude who managed to tower over Damian. And he was staring right at me.
Fuck.
I could make it to the outlet if I got up and didn't look back but I was glued in my position still leaning over the edge.
Maybe I could purposely fall and put myself out of my misery before the inevitable death.
Even before we met Damian, me and my roommates observed the family members a lot.
The dad was the aggressive one. Killing bugs without two looks and yelling in frustration at the TV during football games.
"What the fuck are you?" He steps forward and I'm broken out of my frozen stance. I step up to fast and just fall backward.
Shit shit shit shit.
I can see the clock next to me. Damian should be home from school any minute. Maybe when he walks in the dad will be distracted- or- or- fuck!
There's no way out of this.
When I met Damian, there was no fear. Something deep down told me it would be alright.
But right now?
Bad fucking vibes.
"Do you talk?" Mr. Hubbard continued his ambush of questions. He seemed to be growing annoyed at my lack of responses. I didn't want to piss him off and put my self in more danger but my vocal cords wouldn't work.
He stood at the edge of the counter staring at me. "I don't believe it..." He muttered.
I don't either. I don't wanna die.
He lifts his hand towards me and I scramble back. "Don't touch me!"
His hand hesitates. "You do speak."
Nonono fuck!
"What are you?"
Dead. I'm fucking dead. Or I will be in like five minutes.
"I know you can talk. What are you."
I flinch at the tone in his voice. Damian clearly didn't get his patience from his father.
The hand comes back and doesn't stop this time, despite my protests.
You see, when Damian held me (or any of my roommates for that matter) it was always in cupped hands or flat on one hand. Sometimes he'd hold me gently with his fingers wrapped around my torso but I wouldn't call it a fist.
This was a fucking fist.
"Put me down!" I push at the fingers squeezing my torso but its no use as I'm lifted off the counter. "Stop!"
Mr. Hubbard seems unaffected by my requests. "You are a weird fucking creature. Almost human."
Then treat me like one, damn it.
Mr. Hubbard moves around the kitchen and I stop struggling. If he dropped me now I'd fall to my death.
Which, to be fair has got to be better than whatever will happen to me now.
Back to struggling then.
"Jesus stop that before I drop you." He says, his grip tightening a bit.
That's the goal, asshole.
Mr. Hubbard walks back over to the counter and I really start squirming.
I need to get out of here.
Now.
The fist holding me lets go and for a brief second, I'm free falling. It's not a long-distance, but I wasn't ready.
I land on the counter with a soft thud and-
No.
I'm not on the counter.
Oh, fuck oh fuck.
The room around me is blurry with a foggy glare.
I'm in a jar. A glass fucking jar.
No.
Fuck no- nononon.
There are two classic things you get warned about as a child. You know the stories made to terrify you into never doing something? For borrowers, that's staying away from cats and out of jars.
Cats will kill you and jars will lead to something else killing you.
And while I know the cat and know Ariel won't kill me, I don't know Mr. Hubbard and most definitely don't know if he will kill me.
I quickly stand up and, to my dismay, the lip of the cup is quite far above my head.
"Hey!" I try jumping, knowing it won't work.
"Relax." Mr. Hubbard says picking up the jar.
"No!" I bang on the side but I know it won't do anything.
I'm trapped.
Oh fuck.
For a second I think I see movement through the foggy glass. Gretchen and Kevin! I'm conflicted with hating them for being reckless or loving them for caring.
But before they could do anything, Mr. Hubbard is walking to a part of the house I've never seen before.
The garage.
Fuck. Fuck. I'm so dead.
I'm gonna be killed. Or used for science.
Don't know how accurate the latter is, but its another childhood horror story which means something along the lines of it had to happen at least once.
Fuck.
"Please-" My voice sounds small and weak and I hate it. But I feel small and weak right now so what are you to do. I rub at my eye only to feel dampness. When did I start crying?
Mr. Hubbard places me on the counter and walks over to what looks like a mini-fridge. "I gotta have my buddies over. What till they see this."
I can't tell if he's talking to me or about me. I get the sickening feeling its both.
He opens the fridge and curses. "Damn no beers. I can't have an empty fridge with the guys, you know how it is."
He turns to me with a laugh and I stare blankly back at him, fists still pressed against the glass and tears running down my face.
No, I don't fucking know how it is.
Mr. Hubbard only shrugs at my silence. "I'll get you to talk eventually."
I don't like how threatening that is. Fuck-
He takes a sheet of aluminum foil and starts poking holes in it, a method I've seen Damian do before catching fire fl- oh hell no. He isn't gonna put a lid on the jar, right?
I'm not claustrophobic. I live in the walls for fucks sake. But the thought of being totally enclosed in a jar-
My breath feels shallow.
Mr. Hubbard approaches the jar with the foil in hand.
"I gotta run to the store and I need to make sure you don't get out. You understand, right?"
No. No, I don't. Please don't-
The dark gets darker as the foil is placed over it. Mr. Hubbard moved the jar to one of the top shelves in the garages which I think is overkill.
But maybe I'm a little biased since I'm the one stuck in a fucking jar. Who knows.
"Don't go anywhere." Mr. Hubbard says, laughing at his joke a little before leaving the room.
For a while, I sit frozen still, the events of literally the past five minutes still trying to catch up to me.
My breathing is erratic and this jar feels too small, despite me being able to fully extend my arms in it. The only light filters through from the sides and little beams of light from the wholes in the top. There was a led beam right above me, reflecting harsh circles in the bottom of the jar.
I look out at the garage.
If I managed to tip the jar, I'd fall and die, for sure.
But- maybe that wasn't the worst at this point.
I slouch backward, pressing the heels of my hands into my eyes.
All this because of a stupid hook.
I'm gonna die because of a hook.
What a stupid fucking hook.
-
"We aren't obligated to save her, you know." Kevin whines. "She's just being stupid."
"It's what good roommates do," I say, climbing up a nail. "Mr. Hubbard just pulled away. If Janis is with him then- shes dead oh well. But there's a chance she isn't. And I couldn't sleep at night if I knew I didn't try and save her."
"Oh, I'd sleep like a baby," Kevin whines but I can tell he's nervous too. "I call Janis's room if she's dead."
"Kevin."
"What?!"
I push aside the outlet into Damian's room. He picks up on the motion instantly.
"Hey, guys!" He says, voice cheery as normal.
"Have you seen your dad?" I ask tentatively.
"Uh yeah, I just got home from school, he was pulling away as I pulled in."
"Did he have a jar with him?" I ask, stepping into the room with Kevin close behind.
"No, I don't think so- why?" He looks at the outlet as if he's waiting for the third roommate to pop out. "And where's Janis?"
"In a jar." Kevin says with a shrug.
god fucking damn it kevin
@realmisspolarbear @musicallygt @smallsoysauce @sourishlemons
prompt: I NEED TO SEE BORROWER ROOMMATES KAREN AND AARON
okay dont YELL bEAR
mg borrower (roommates) au
"Aaron, you ready?"
I look up to see Karen hoving at the doorway.
"Yeah." I finish shoving the last of my tools into my bag. We're going outside to borrower today. It's nice to get the fresh air and some plants for the 'apartment'. We don't go outside often, but when we do it's a full day activity.
Yeah.
Day.
As much as I hate being in broad daylight, it's safer when it's bright out then at night.
Outdoor borrowing 101.
"Let's go." I say, stepping out of my 'room'. Karen follows close behind.
Its a pretty big trek to the outside, especially when your home in the walls is in the center of the house. We move diligently, avoiding paths we know have bugs.
From what we've gathered about this house is its owned by the George's and its fucking huge.
They got an extension on the house about a year ago, almost exposing our home. The dad is always on the phone bragging how it's 'the biggest fucking house in the neighborhood'. Which, yeah, a nice flex for you, but for the tiny people in your walls our lives are so much harder now.
I met Karen a couple of months after I was left to my own devices. My childhood friend and I went in opposite directions. I was alone and scared. So was Karen. We were nomadic for a while. Not rouge, just- struggling to find the right place. To many pets, not a predictable schedule, getting caught-
We struggled a lot before finding this house.
There's a small hole in the side of the house that we leave from. If it ever got fixed we'd be locked in the house forever. It's our only exit as far as we're aware.
"Wait-" I step in front of Karen, peaking outside. There doesn't seem to be any animals or more importantly, humans walking around.
This is the side of the house closest to the neighboring building. Like- I'm talking small alleyway in between the two houses where there is no sun. It's maybe four human feet but I'm not humans so exact measurements are lost on me.
Nobody goes back here so the grass grows tall despite lack of sunlight. Karen and I split up a bit to grab things.
There aren't many options in a damp alleyway but we make it work.
I maneuver my way around plants and bigger rocks, mindful of any bugs. They can get big out here. And fucking scary. Sometimes when we split up and Karen see one she'll-
A familiar scream cuts off my thoughts.
Yep.
She'll do that.
I rush towards the sound but stop dead in my tracks when I see Karen cornered by- two other borrowers?
What?
A girl about Karen's hight with curly brown hair and a boy towering over both of them.
"What's going on?" I yell without even thinking.
All three borrowers turn to me. Karen visibly relaxes while the other two look confused.
"What are you doing borrowing here?" The boy asks.
"This is where we borrow," I state, pointing to the house behind us.
"Why is there screaming? Do you want to get caught?" A voice asks from behind a clump of glass. Its pushed out of the way and standing there is a third borrower. Something about her is familiar.
"Look." The curly-haired girl says, pointing to me and Karen. Karen rushes over to me.
"We didn't mean any harm." She raises her hands in defense.
The new girl glares at me. It's not a look of anger, rather confusion. I can't help but feel like I'm being judged.
Karen continues. "Aaron and I were just looking for-"
"Aaron?!" The girl cuts Karen off, eyes lighting up. "Oh my god."
Why is she so familiar? Something about her just feels like a warm childhood presence. Like- I don't feel threatened at all, but I should. Its a total stranger.
"Janis, what's your problem?" The boy shoots. The girl deflates slightly but the smile doesn't fade off her face.
Wait.
Holy shit.
Wait a fucking-
"Janis?!"
"Karen!"
We all look towards the blonde. She smiles. "Introductions! These two already clearly know each other. So I'm Karen!"
The curly-haired girl smiles a bit ."I'm Gretchen and this is Kevin. You seem to already know Janis."
"Yeah, wait-" Kevin speaks up. "How do you guys already know each other?"
Janis smiles walking over to me. "When I was little my mother and her roommates both had kids at the same time. We grew up together and learned all our borrowing skills together. But when we left to grow and fight on our own, we obviously lost touch." She pulled me into a hug. "Nice to see you again, Aaron." She whispers.
"Aww, that's actually really cute!" Gretchen says in aw. "A mini-reunion."
I smile. "Yeah. I missed you, J. What are you a rouge borrower now? What are you doing out here?"
Janis makes a face. "I'd die before going rogue. Not that there's anything wrong with it, but stationary born and raised, yknow? We actually live in that house!"
She points to the building literally next door.
"Are you kidding me?" I ask. "For how long?!"
Janis shrugs. "Maybe three years now? Living in the walls, borrowing at night, staying hidden-"
Kevin laughs a little and Gretchen elbows him. I feel like I'm missing part of an inside joke but I don't push.
"What about you, A?" Janis asks. "You and your roommates causing any trouble?"
"No, actually. You were always the reckless one."
"Some things must never change," Kevin remarks.
"I've gotten better." Janis holds her hands up in defense. "You didn't know child Janis."
"Don't think I want to if she was worse then right now."
Kevin and Janis continue to bicker and Gretchen walks over to me and Karen.
"They will do this all day." She sighs. "Imagine living with them."
Karen laughs. "I'm feeling very lucky about my roommate."
"Got room for one more?" Gretchen jokes.
"Guys!" Karen cried out, pointing behind Kevin and Janis.
A cat was stalking over. Clearly in the mood to play.
I reach to grab my hook but Janis holds her hands up.
"Don't attack!"
She walks over to the cat and-
Why the fuck is she walking over to the cat?
"Hey, Ariel!" She cooes, placing her hand on the cat's nose. The cat lays down obediently.
"What the fuck?" The words are out of my mouth before I can even question it.
Kevin shrugs. "We don't know how she does it either."
"It comes in handy to befriend a cat. Fast travels baby." Janis grins, sitting in front of the cat. "Meet Ariel. If you walk over slowly she won't attack."
"I don't like those odds, J," I say. "I'll stay over here."
"Suit yourself." Janis shrugs.
"C'mon," Gretchen says softly, grabbing Karen's hand. "Ariel won't attack with Janis there. I swear shes some kind of cat tamer."
"It's called cat treats," Janis says. "I bought her trust."
I watch tentatively as Karen pets the cat. She gasps. "Aaron, Ariel is so soft."
"I'm sure," I say without moving.
Something gives me the feeling that Karen and I won't get much borrowing done today. But to know J had been so close this whole time? I felt stupid for not figuring out sooner, but glad that it isn't much trek to see her and her roommates.
Besides, a guard cat isn't so bad of an idea.
Karen and Gretchen seem to be getting along and as Kevin stood next to me I didn't find myself too opposed to the idea of another boy around.
Maybe knowing our borrower neighbors wasn't such a bad thing.
ANOTHER BORROWER JANIS FIC? A N D IT'S LONG (ish)? wow.
Trusting Damian was probably the best decision of my life. Not that I've had to make many life-changing decisions.
It didn't take long for Gretchen and Kevin to find out that I've been caught. It took them even less time to want to meet Damian for themselves.
Even though they all knew each other now, I was still the only one visiting Damian often. Gretchen was still slightly scared and Kevin just couldn't be bothered. I mean, fair.
We (It was really just me) had made a new path through the house right to Damian's room but I was the only one to use it often. It leads behind an outlet abnormally high in the wall where Damian's desk was. He used to use it to plug in lights (as you would and outlet) but now it sits there without screws.
But that's not where I was right now. I was sitting in the combined living space next to Gretchen. "I saw it, I swear."
She was whining about a mouse which, to be fair- was scary, but it wasn't near us right now so why carry on like this.
"Ariel will get it, I'm sure."
"Janis," I don't think I've ever seen Gretchen this stressed. "It was so close to our house! We live in a pocket of room between beams of wood! It could be on the other side right now."
"But at least it's not on this side."
"Maybe not now but it clearly was." Kevin says walking into the room holding what used to be a bag full of granola.
I curse under my breath, taking the bag from him. "All of it?"
"And the rest of our food."
"Kevin, that was our stash for the week!"
"Do I look like a mouse? Why are you yelling at me?!"
Sometimes our dysfunctional family arguments got so loud I'm surprised we didn't get caught.
I run my hand down my face. It's still early, maybe six pm. We don't even think of borrowing until past midnight.
"What are we gonna do?" Gretchen asks. She sounds like she might cry.
"I'll go get Damian." I say. We don't ask for his help often. Ever since that night, he just leaves out granola chunks once a week and I visit just to talk and hang out with somebody other than my roommates. But he did say whenever he needed help to get him, so-
"You can't go that way!" Gretchen hissed as I went to shift the block of wood we use as a makeshift door.
"And why not?"
"Janis, are you stupid?" Kevin deadpans. "Gretchen saw the fucking mouse over there."
Oh right. Maybe I am stupid.
Huh.
"Well, I can't just walk through the house."
"We can go borrowing on our own," Gretchen says. "You've gone soft and dependent, Janis. Damian won't always be there. What happens when we have to move, or he moves out? You're losing your skills. Look-" Gretchen throws a thimble at me- and hard.
"Ow!" I whine as it bounces off my shoulder.
"Janis four months ago would have caught that." Gretchen shakes her head, earning a murmur of agreement from Kevin.
"Okay, I'm shitty. Sure. Whats you're point?"
"We don't need Damian to borrow. We're borrowers. It's in our name."
"Fine," I say, shoving borrowing tools into my bag. I get Gretchen's point. I also know she and Kevin don't trust Damian. But I don't see an issue with asking for help- at least not anymore. Maybe Gretchen was right, now I'm soft and dependent, but at least I've got a friend. Other then roommates that bully each other.
"Are we going now? It's still early." I ask.
"I'll do a quick lookout," Kevin says before disappearing.
Gretchen and I stand in silence for a bit.
"I'm sorry for yelling." She says quietly. We never apologize. I guess I'm not the only one soft. "After that night with the cat, when you met Damian- I thought you were dead. And yeah, none of us are friends but you're still my roommates. You're the closest thing to family a borrower is gonna get. And I just want to see you safe. The bond you've formed with that human- it's not it."
I scowl. "Sweet sentiment, Gretchen, but you don't know what you're talking about. You want to see me safe, well Damian is the only reason I am here and I am safe. You don't trust him but you also never put in the effort to try."
"All I'm saying is from an outside perspective, this is a sure way to get yourself killed."
"Anything we do we can get killed!" And we're yelling again. "Fall off a table, run into the cat, get caught by a human-"
"Yeah! Get caught by a human! You said it yourself, Janis!"
I cross my arms. "That's different."
"How so?"
"He isn't gonna kill me!"
"Intentionally."
I freeze, meeting Gretchen's eyes. She shrugs, seemingly happy her point got across.
I never thought of it. Damian and I had both been so careful around each other. It's never a thought that even entered my mind.
And I won't let it now.
I shake my head, regaining my composure and glaring at Gretchen.
"You're wrong."
"Am I?"
"Yes." I'm determined to stand my ground and not let Gretchen in my head again. "Damian is careful, he isn't reckless. He sees me and another living creature, nothing less than."
Gretchen shrugs as Kevin walks back into the room. "You're funeral. I won't attend."
"Woah." Kevin holds his hands up. "What did I just witness?"
"I'm officially dead to Gretchen, I guess."
"Cmon guys." Kevin seems genuinely saddened by this normal occurrence. I'm cut out of Gretchen's life every other week.
"No! I won't 'come on guys'! When Damian decides he bored with keeping Janis around and exposes all of us we all have to pay for her reckless behavior!"
"Damian wouldn't do that." I put my hands on my hips.
"Would he not? You're not even four inches tall. You think you have some big impact on his life? Your friendship isn't mutual! Unlike you, Damian probably has a life outside these walls! He doesn't care about you!" Gretchen's voice gets softer as her anger dies. "And I'm sorry the only way I could get that through to you was by yelling. I know its hard for you. But-"
"No."
"What?" Gretchen takes a step back at my cold attitude. Tears are burning in the corners of my eyes, but I refuse to let them spill. Kevin seems mildly annoyed at most. He looks like he could use some popcorn.
"You don't know what you are talking about. You never put in the time to meet him and-"
"Janis do you hear yourself?! You've got the same two arguments. You don't know him, he isn't like that. How can you not see this only ends up with you hurt?! Emotionally or physically!"
Call me immature, but I don't want to hear anymore. So I walk away. I duck into my room, Gretchen calling after me.
We still have a couple more hours until we need to borrow anyway.
"Janis."
"Go away, Kevin."
"Gretchen is just looking out for you."
"She's doing a shit job at it." I look in my mirror past me to see Kevin hovering in my doorway. He didn't seem to have more to say, so instead, he changed the topic.
"The Hubbards aren't home. We're thinking of doing a quick trip before they get back."
"Do we know when they get back?"
"No."
"Then that's too risky."
"You don't get to talk about risky, Janis."
I shrug. "All I'm saying is we can go four hours without food."
"Janis."
"Fine!" I throw my hands up in defeat. "I don't know what you two gain from a death mission or what point you're trying to prove, but let's just go get fucking food."
Kevin smiles, but it's forced. He isn't happy, he's just relieved he got his way without too much of a fight.
We don't take our normal route this time. We have to go the long way to avoid the mouse that attacked Gretchen. This route requires us to climb up and it leads out to the counter and its probably my least favorite course.
I curse as I lose my footing on a nail and almost fall.
"Jesus, Janis." Gretchen says from above me, but she seems more concerned than annoyed.
"Yeah yeah." I mumble, regaining my composure and continuing to climb.
We all make it to the entrance (without falling). Kevin goes out first to do a quick lookout and Gretchen and I stay back in silence.
This entrance is also a broken outlet, but unlike Damian's, there was still power going through it, so pushing it open was always a dangerous task.
"All clear." Kevin waves us out. "Ariel is on the sofa."
From the kitchen table, you can see the front door which leads into the living room. And sure enough, Ariel is asleep contently.
There's a lot of things on the kitchen counter, none of it is food. A napkin holder is blocking my view of the front door, and there are a couple of cups scattered around as well as papers or any random object put down.
There's a gap in between two counter tiles, maybe the size of my foot. It's an easy step across, but we have to be careful not to drop any of our tools down there. We'd never get them back.
"There's no food." Gretchen deadpans.
"Really." I roll my eyes. After what my roommates said, I was feeling less and less sure that I should ask Damian for help. It made me feel guilty because deep down, I knew they were wrong. But- what if they weren't?
Unlike you, Damian probably has a life outside these walls!
It'd be shitty luck, but pretty par to how my life generally goes. My pity party is interrupted by the sound of the front door opening.
Shit.
We all collectively freeze as the sounds of voices fill the building.
"Guys!" Kevin the first to snap out of it as he pulls back the outlet, holding it for us. I nod and begin speed walking over when I hear a cry from behind me.
I whirl around to see-
Gretchen's got her foot stuck in the crack.
Of course.
The voices are closer, and I'm right in the middle of the outlet or Gretchen. My mind momentarily flashes back to when Gretchen left me with the cat but we meet eyes and all bad morals disappear.
She's crying and I can tell it's from both pain and fear.
I rush towards her, ignoring the cries of protest from Kevin.
My mind is in overdrive, picking up every noise while simultaneously blocking it all out.
I can hear Damian and his dad, their voices clearly heading towards the kitchen, but my mind has tunnel vision, focusing on Gretchen.
Gretchen reaches out to me like a lost child. I grab her forearms and she does the same, and I lean backwards with all my weight. Gretchen cries out in pain but her foot doesn't move.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
I look up momentarily and freeze upon seeing Damian enter the kitchen with his dad behind him.
We're too late.
We're done for.
Fuck.
"Janis." Gretchen whimpers.
"I'm trying."
I bend down and grab Grechen's ankle, trying to lift her foot out from the source. I can tell she's trying to stay still and quiet, maybe they won't notice-
A shadow falls over us, and I freeze.
Fuck.
I don't even want to look up.
Fuck.
If its Damian, then that's embarrassing.
If it's his dad, then we're dead.
I glance up-
Damian is standing with his back to us, leaning against the counter talking to his dad.
He's blocking us from the view.
I could break down and cry in relief, but we've still got a problem. Upon seeing it’s sort of safe, Kevin rushes over to help. He lifts Gretchen up while I pull out her foot. Gretchen lets out a muffled cry but she’s free. She leans heavily on both Kevin and I as we make out way to the outlet again. I don't bother looking back, I'm busy carrying half of Gretchen's body weight.
That's gonna be sprained for a while.
And we still need food.
Fuck.
-
"Janis, I know it's you."
I sigh and step out from where I was hidden in the shadows. "What are you doing out here."
Damian is standing with his arms crossed the center of the kitchen, strongly resembling a disappointed mother.
"You guys were almost caught."
"Blame Gretchen." I shrug, avoiding Damian's gaze.
"Is she okay?"
"We're no doctors but she's probably not gonna be borrowing for a while."
Damian tsks. "You need food?"
"No, you don't have to worry, I can do it myself. I don't wanna be a bother you probably have other things to do-"
"Janis."
"Yes," I mumble, glancing up. Damian looks like he can't decide whether to laugh or be concerned. "What?"
"I offered. You aren't a bother."
"Okay," I said softly.
I guess I let Gretchen's words get to me more then I realized.
Damian grabs granola before turning back to me. "What would you have done if I didn't see you?"
I shrug. "Died, probably."
Damian obviously did not like this answer. "Janis."
"What do you want me to say?! We're small and inconvenient and it's a big dangerous fucking world!"
"You can ask for help next time."
I hug myself slightly. "You'd get annoyed fast if I asked for help every time. I'm a borrower, I should be able to do this on my own."
Damian doesn't try to fight my point. "Can I pick you up?"
"Why?" I question but nod anyway.
Damian reaches out and gently scoops me up, letting me fall into the palm of his hand before holding me to his chest.
"Because I want to talk with my friend and not risk her getting caught. We're gonna go to my room"
Friend.
Take that, Gretchen.
"Okay." I laugh softly as Damian makes his way through the house.
tldr, gretchen is a bitch but its from the heart
@realmisspolarbear @musicallygt @sourishlemons @smallsoysauce
I take another shaky breath, leaning my back against the cold glass. There were tears still falling down my face.
Its been ten minutes.
Every minute without Mr. Hubbard gave me all the more anxiety for when he would return.
I couldn't knock the jar.
I couldn't climb out of the jar.
I just couldn't do anything.
The fight had left my body.
I never thought I'd be so fast to give up. I was always the roommate always pushing. We can make that jump, we can take that route, we can make that one quick run without being seen even though the dad is in the next room it will be fine shut the fuck up Kevin.
I let out a shaky laugh of disappointment. I was so wrong.
I remember a time I told Kevin I'll only admit he's right when I'm on my death bed.
Well, Kevin, you're fucking right.
My chest heaves and I let myself curl up at the bottom of the jar.
My vision is blurred by tears at this point.
What was it Mr. Hubbard said?
I gotta have my buddies over. What till they see this.
Right.
I'd rather be dead right now.
Not that I want to die, but I recognize that's a lot better then whatever is coming to me.
Damian would talk about how he didn't like his dad. He's a homophobic asshole and his parents are always threatening divorce. Overall, not a great guy.
Guess you can add killing me to the lists of things he's done.
If I had my hook I could probably catch it over the lip of the jar and climb out. It's sharp enough to cut through the aluminum. But I don't have my hook. Because I dropped it.
Because my lack of hook got me into this situation.
Because I'm stupid.
And now I'm gonna die.
There's footsteps down the hall.
They're rushed.
I curl into myself.
I know what's coming.
Will he ever tell his family he caught a borrower? Or will Damian just wonder why I stopped coming around? Would Kevin and Gretchen stick around now that Mr. Hubbbard knows we exist?
The entrance to the garage swings open and I push myself to the back of the jar. From here, I can't see the door, but I'd rather not see him. I don't want to face him. Even if it's prolonging the inevitable-
"Janis?" The voice is shaky. I recognize it instantly. "Jan, please tell me you're here."
I ran a hand down my face, trying to hide the tears before rushing to the front of the jar, smacking the glass. The thump wasn't as loud as I had hoped.
I was up high, where you wouldn't look. Damian had his back to me with- Kevin and Gretchen on his shoulder.
God, I love my roommates right now.
Gretchen's eyes trail the shelf I'm on before landing on me. I could cry as realization dawns on her face.
"Guys!" I scream out. My voice cracks and I don't care.
Gretchen says something and in and instant Damian is whirling around.
We make eye contact and Damian's eyes widen. He quickly crosses the room and reaches up for the jar.
The container is jostled as Damian silently pulls it off the shelf.
"Guys," I whimper.
Damian looks like he's gonna say something but a car door slams and we all freeze.
"Shit." He murmurs. "Sorry Jan, don't have time to get you out just yet."
He quickly exits the garage, turning down the hall and into his room, the door shut behind him. Even though Damina was rushing, he still manages to walk more carefully than his father.
Damian walks over to his desk, placing Kevin and Gretchen down before lifting the aluminum off the jar.
"I can't believe he did that." Damian said softly. He tips the jar and I let myself tumble out onto his palm.
Just being able to be held my Damian is all I need to solidify in my brain that I'm safe and before I can even fight it, I'm crying.
Not those quiet tears, no, the ugly kind where my body racks and I'm heaving.
Damian silently holds me to his chest, hiding the jar with his other hand. Even his warm hands and the heat coming through his shirt, I'm still shivering.
"Well, we'll leave her here with you because neither of us can comfort," Kevin says slowly. Of course Kevin leaves when the tears come.
"Okay." Damian murmurs. His voice is low and I feel it through my body. "Thanks for telling me. I don't know what would have happened."
I would have died, probably.
I don't vocalize it though. I don't think I can. My body still shakes with every breath. I feel dehydrated from crying.
"Damian?" A recognizable voice calls.
In an instant, I'm in Damian's jacket pocket. Damian doesn't even ask, he just quickly pats his chest pocket as a silent way of telling me to shut up. I don't need to be told twice. It feels like even the oxygen has died in my lungs. I freeze, knowing what's coming. The fact that I can feel Damian's heart pound next to me and know he's just as stressed doesn't help.
Damian's door opens and I think I've forgotten how to breathe. "Were you in the garage?"
"Not recently, no. Sorry, Dad."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. I know you hate it when I go in your garage."
"Damn right I do."
The door slams shut and Damian lets out a shaky exhale.
I try to do the same but my lungs don't work.
Damian fishes me out of his pocket, holding me cupped in his hands as he sits on his bed.
"Janis, what happened?"
I shrug, avoiding his worried gaze. "I'm stupid."
"Not stupid, just careless. Kevin told me it was about a hook?"
"My nice one."
"Janis." Damian sounds legitimately disappointed in my decisions. "Your life is worth more than a hook. You can't be so reckless. You could have died. Not just gotten hurt but actually killed. You know I don't trust my father that well. I fully think he would have. What if I lost you?"
That lest question held so much fear, so much sadness, so much anguish. All sarcastic retorts I had fell flat before they could leave my mouth.
"I don't know." I say quietly, looking up. Damian also had tears in his eyes.
"When Gretchen told me- god I was so worried."
I hug Damian's thumb, trying to ignore the tears falling down my face. His fingers wrap gently around me.
"I'm sorry," I say softly, clinging to his finger like its a lifeline.
"Please be more careful." Damian whispers.
"I will, promise."
Damian just holds me for a while. I can feel my heart beat return to normal and the tears had stopped. I’m with Damian. I’m safe.
"Wanna go in my pocket? I can go into the kitchen and see if we can find that hook." Damian offers.
"Okay." I say. I'm still shaking but I let Damian slip me back into the chest pocket. He rubs tears out of his eyes before exiting the room.
I duck down, careful to remain as still as ever now that the father knows of my existence.
Will my roommates and I have to leave now?
The thought feels like iced cold water is dumped on me. I don't want to leave Damian.
Before I can overthink much Mr. Hubbard’s voice calls out as Damian walks into the kitchen.
"My own wife called me crazy! Said I was watching too many of those shows and I need to cut down on the beer! But look at this! I found a fucking hook! I'm no crazy! There are tiny people! I fucking caught one!"
