Nobody’s There
Prompt Roulette By Title
Character A’s been living by themselves for a good chunk of time- enough that they know every nook and cranny of their shitty apartment. Yeah, it gets lonely, but it’s a familiar place to call home.
All things considered, it’s the safest place to be.
That is, until a pair of eyes begins to follow Character A throughout their routine. God knows if this new ‘roommate’ is an improvement or the beginning of a life of hell.
Content Warnings: Mentions of death and murder. Mentions of violence. Intentionally being cruel. Uncaring toward others. Mentions of treating people like pets and/or pests. Teasing of disowning someone (lighthearted).
Well, well, well, I do believe I won the bet, Editor
________________________________________
“I’ve been thinking of selling the house-”
“No you haven’t.”
Scott will admit, showing himself to the human he’s been borrowing from for a little over a year wasn’t a good idea. Maybe one of his worse ones. Because this particular human has an oversized ego that guaranteed would try to grab and then sell someone no more than three inches tall if given the chance.
The only problem is that fate wouldn’t nearly be as bad as having the house sold. Not when he’s been living in luxury.
He never thought the life of a borrower would be good. He accepted the fact the idea of getting captured and sold as an exotic pet to be normal. Better than the other guaranteed outcome of being seen by a human, that being getting killed like some unwanted pest.
The thing about David Harrison is the man has a house much too large for himself. No spouse, no children, just one man living alone inside something considered large to humans. And out of the numerous rooms that remain empty save for potentially a bed, or chair, or desk, the tall suited man only uses the office, kitchen, and master bedroom after being gone for nearly the entire day.
Scott’s never been safer with a human’s routine. Never had more than enough time to stock up on food, keep his water storage filled, numerous of helpful items everywhere he looks knowing they won’t be missed.
David doesn’t owe him anything. David doesn’t know he existed. But Scott sure as hell wasn’t about to loose the one good thing in his life.
Call him selfish, but he could never go back to barely scrapping by like before, unsure if he’ll make it to the next day, constantly afraid for his life from pets, or children, or too observant adults.
“Well, well, well. It is a complete dumbass.”
Scott stares down from his spot on top of the bookshelf in the office, watching as David takes the phone away from his ear in order to show a call was never made. Meaning the house isn’t being sold, but now it’s known there’s a borrower living in the walls.
Goddamn it.
“Now why don’t you come down so we can discuss your occupation.”
The sandy haired man feels his muscles tense as he realizes he’s been seen and had been outsmarted in order to get to this point. David could drag over a chair in seconds and snatch him into a fist. He won’t be going back to the way things were before, but now that the adrenaline has faded, this might be worse.
...except, David did outsmart him, but Scott wasn’t a complete dumbass.
Case in point, the borrower stands on top of the bookshelf. Has a way to escape into the walls in the same amount of time it’d take the human to climb up. The clear ‘winner’ allowing his ego to cloud the fact he could’ve grabbed Scott while he was paralyzed with fear.
Hazel eyes roll. Scott turns to walk away. “No thank you.”
He hears the human sputter. “Excuse me?”
“I’d prefer not to put myself in your literal hands,” Scott calls as he uses his hook to swing behind the bookcase, quickly ducking into the tunnels he made, only briefly pausing as he yells in order to be heard. “What’s it like being the dumbass!”
…
Truthfully, the title is still held by Scott. Because unlike David, Scott continued to act as if the human doesn’t know there’s a borrower living in his walls.
So during the time when the business man was supposed to be at the restaurant, without checking to see if the schedule had changed due to a quite significant discovery, Scott made his way to the kitchen to refill his water.
He blames David for making him aware there’s such thing as ‘purified water’, because of course the rich asshole has it so his tap water is up to his standards. Meaning he only uses the kitchen sink despite the fact water will always be water no matter what. The fact it tastes significantly better shouldn’t change anything.
Yet here he is, standing on the polished granite counter, tossing his hook over the curved faucet in order to pull it close enough he could reach the stream of water once he turns it on.
Scott’s gotten extremely good at it. Knows the exact point in which the curve might send his hook and string slip off. Has done it so many times it’s second nature, and he can’t help but zone out as he tugs the string. Bringing the faucet closer, and closer, and-
His entire body goes rigid as a hand suddenly settles over his string and hook. All he can think is how stupid he was before the hand moves the faucet away. And Scott’s so terrified he doesn’t let go of his string and gets pulled over the sink.
“Quite a bold move,” rumbles above him. Closer than he’s ever heard a human before. It takes a few moments for Scott to stop swinging from the momentum to just dangle above the large drop into the metal sink.
Finally it stops, and he looks up as all color leaves his face as David sneers down at him.
No, no, please, please.
“Acting as if I didn’t figure out you existed,” the human continues.
Scott only waits for the other hand to reach for him. Pluck him off his string. Toss him into a cage, or squeezing him, or-
He nearly screams as a cup is placed under the faucet, though a gasp does escape as the hand that held his string in place to keep it from slipping suddenly leaves in order to turn the water on. But even with the slight jolt that nearly has him falling because his entire body is trembling so much he can barely hold on any longer, he doesn’t become weightless to find himself breaking a bone or two once meeting the metal basin below.
It feels like a lifetime, but once the cup is filled, he’s just...slowly brought back over to where he stood on the counter. Allowed to tumble onto his back from terror as David just watches him with interest. Almost like a cat playing with a mouse.
They stare at each other for a while, Scott feeling like a heart attack will kill him before the human finally does.
“Don’t let me interrupt you. I just knew you’d take longer, so I went first.”
The smile is sinister. But no hand reaches for him.
Scott carefully stands back up, seeing the faucet is exactly where he needs it to be. Glares at the human to dare he grab the borrower as he fills his water after having all this time to do it.
It’s nerve wracking, having eyes the size of his head track his movements of taking the empty containers from his bag. It’s degrading, seeing the smirk as Scott has to use all his strength just to make the water flow only a trickle. It’s terrifying, not knowing if he’ll be snatched up at any moment.
But true to his word, David only watches, and Scott’s left to slowly back away once he’s gotten enough water to last through the week.
“Th-Thank you. I, uh, I-I'll be going, now.”
And he sprints to the entrance into the tunnels, not stopping until he’s home. Collapses with the silent declaration he’s never getting water from the kitchen again.
…
He didn’t, by the way. Scott never went back to the faucet. It was clear he was spoiled, so much he allowed himself to be caught in the act by the human of the house. The singular human. As if it shouldn’t be effortless to avoid being so much as spotted a glimpse of.
That was the only task he truly ever did out in the open. The only exception is when he needs to get certain items, such as thumbtacks and paperclips, but those were always done with incredible caution. When it comes to the desk, there’s no easy escape.
Food, however, is the easiest. The pantry is expansive, and always clothed in darkness. Those runs, he’s always felt the safest.
He has no idea how the hell David managed to figure him out.
It started out normal. Simple. Climbed up a box of cereal and carefully opening the top. Just like he’s done a million times. After he checked that the human had left.
And yet, he found himself falling into the bag as a hand suddenly snagged the box. Leaving him hyperventilating as cereal attempts to bury him with each catastrophic step taken.
“Hey, wait, I-I'm-!”
His shout is drowned out as the box tips, Scott sent tumbling out of the opening with a small cascade of the food. Right into a bowl.
“You can have that one.”
Scott gasps for air as he finally shoves the offending pieces away from his face, searching frantically for a hand, or a spoon currently reaching for him.
There’s nothing. David towers over him not even surprised there’s a borrower in his bowl. Already pouring more of the cereal into another bowl before Scott’s given a small scowl. “I prefer not having the items I’m consuming touching something that’s become a living dust bunny.”
“Are you serious!”
Scott feels the essential giant turn away as if him attempting to speak isn’t worth being addressed. But the borrower is well past caring when it’s clear the absolute asshole is toying with him.
“You just thought I’d be fine with being treated like some toy you find inside the box!”
David raises an eyebrow as he puts the milk back in the fridge, already walking away, an air of superiority surrounding him. “A flimsy plastic toy would be much better.”
And the giant is gone. Leaving Scott in a bowl of cereal.
No one’s telling the human he stuffed as many pieces into his bag before disappearing back into the walls.
…
This was not how this was supposed to go. A human, especially one like David, shouldn’t just be leaving Scott alone.
And yes, despite finding himself inside a God damned bowl, and getting dangled over the sink, David has been quite civil after finding out there’s a miniscule thief living under his roof.
He should be happy with that, right? If the human is essentially harmless, he should stay, continue as before, and enjoy living his spoiled life.
He’s not. He’s anything but happy. He’s terrified, and becoming paranoid, and it all feels wrong.
Where’s the hand slamming down to crush him? Where’s the cage waiting for him?
David is the giant from the horror stories he was told ever since he could remember. So why isn’t Scott being punished for being seen? And why isn’t he moving far away in order to keep himself safe? He knows what happens when he doesn’t follow the rules. He knows all too well.
And yet, he climbed up the human’s desk early that morning when he knew the human would only just be waking up. Hid behind the pen holder that’s proven to be a safe space as long as he doesn’t move. Took pride in the fact David looks genuinely surprised to see him standing on the desk with his arms crossed ten minutes into the man beginning to work.
“This is an interesting break from your routine.”
Scott will admit the fact the giant knows his routine like he does David’s nearly has him running as fast as possible to the walls.
“I got inspired from a certain giant making my life hell.”
A smirk is given before David looks back at his screen, continuing his typing. “Glad I could be of service.”
As the keyboard clicking becomes the only sound in the room, Scott finds himself unsure if he’s supposed to feel comfort in the fact he finds this soothing, or horror.
On one hand, it’s been years since he’s so much as seen another borrower. It’s lonely, living by himself. The silence in the walls giving his thoughts a fantastic though unwanted echo chamber.
He can’t trust the human. But he’d be lying if he didn’t enjoy the seemingly companionable silence instead of sitting completely alone in the walls.
“You know,” David suddenly begins, not even glancing at the borrower he’s addressing. “I’m not sure how your kind do things, but it’s more than rude to not thank the person of the house you’re living in. I don’t even know if you have a name or not.”
The borrower bristles. “With that comment, I’m not exactly included to give my name or a thank you.”
The typing pauses to allow hazel eyes to smirk at the reaction. “I’m not inclined to allow you to continue you living here either with that attitude.”
Scott feels the air in his lungs get ripped away. Clenches his fits in the attempt to ground himself. Unable to reply even as the human turns toward him with an unreadable expression.
“S-Scott.”
David opens his mouth to reply, but before he can speak, his phone suddenly rings. It’s enough to make the borrower jolt, finally gasping for air, feeling like he’ll fall-
A hand is reaching toward him. Within seconds his hook is out and held in front of him. A terrified glare stating he will fight with everything.
He hadn’t realized the hand was already retreating before he moved into the defensive position, left to stare as David turns toward whoever called as concern fills his voice as he begins to stand up.
“It’s okay, Fritz, I’m not mad.”
Scott falls to his knees as his adrenaline leaves, left to watch as David moves to leave the office.
“I can’t help if you don’t tell me what’s wrong-”
And he’s gone. That’s the last time Scott climbs onto the desk.
…
Scott fucked up.
He was distracted. He wasn’t paying attention.
It’s his fault for not reminding himself how crucial it is getting the throw right on the faucet. He was an idiot not making sure he didn’t do something like this while his limbs feel weak and shaky.
It was too late to take it back. His foot slipped, sending him swinging into the open air above the sink. And because his throw was off, his string immediately slipped over the curved metal.
Scott’s lucky he landed so only his ankle got twisted. But he landed in the sink, his hook getting tossed onto the counter, making an escape to the walls to heal impossible.
He’s at the mercy of David.
He might’ve banged his head as well, because he could’ve sworn he started his weekly water fill in the morning, leaving him enough time to at least attempt to get out on his own. But from one blink to the next, and dusk is streaming through the windows, the floor beneath him jolting from rhythmic footsteps.
“Is he just leaving things around now?” might as yell been yelled rather than murmured, Scott flinching away from the thunder-like voice.
At least he remembers where he is right as an arm appears to turn on the water.
“David!”
The shadow jolts, but the business man is quick to look down, for once freezing at the sight of Scott leaning against the curve of the sink. It disappears with an eyeroll however, the borrower thinking the flash of concern never actually existing. “What the hell did you do?”
The annoyed tone tells him he’s finished. This was the last straw. Before he could run, but now he’s trapped.
“S-Sorry.”
Scott waits. For what, he doesn’t know. David suddenly seeming to become soft wasn’t one of them, though.
“I’m not going to hurt you, Scott.”
The tone sounds familiar. It’s a rare one. He’s really only heard it aimed toward Fritz.
“I need to pick you up to help you.”
“...okay.”
Just because he agreed and was aware doesn’t mean his instincts didn’t kick in as a hand with fingers longer than he is tall reaches for him. Scott scrambles to get away, yelling in pain as it causes his head to pound and his ankle to send searing pain through his leg. Warmth he never thought was possible suddenly wrapping around him makes all his desperate actions stop, and he’s gently scooped up.
“You dumbass,” is all that’s said as Scott latches onto the thumb, clinging to it like a life-line, blocking out the fact he’s inside a hand that could crush him, or put him inside a cage, or-
“You can keep the thumb,” David rumbles. The borrower is too curious to no peek up at the towering giant to spot the focused frown. “It’ll just move while I get your ankle secured.”
It slowly comes into focus he’s been set on a towel, his bag that was left on the counter pulled over and routed through, hand-made bandages pinched between fingertips. Scott stares, unsure how the massive man can help him, but he only nods before ducking his head away. Feels the thumb move, but it doesn’t pull away as promised.
“You definitely hit your head.”
Scott hisses as he feels himself get lifted up again, looking up before jumping at David being right there.
“What?”
“I’m saying you’re a stubborn bastard,” the business man sighs. “I said your name five times and you didn’t answer.”
That can’t be true. “I’m fine.”
David rolls his eyes. “Right. Go back to sleep, I’m making a few calls.”
Scott remembers falling asleep. The only issue is when he wakes up, it’s clear he’s not in David’s hand, but another human’s.
“Mr. Harrison, I thought you said you weren’t terrorizing him.”
“I wasn’t, I was a perfect host, and don’t ask him if that’s true.”
The borrower finds himself going limp with relief at the sound of David being close. Upset with himself because he shouldn’t trust the asshole, but he doesn’t exactly have many options when it comes to humans.
Scott hadn’t meant to announce he was awake, but the second his leg twitched and jolted his ankle, there was no hiding the painful hiss.
“God damn it.”
“Sir, are you okay?”
His head jerks up to see that, yes, ‘sir’ was aimed toward him. That’s when he realizes why the voice seemed so familiar, and why there’s someone other than David holding him.
He’s never seen Fritz in person, but he’s heard plenty of phone calls through the year he’s lived in David’s walls. The red hair and bright green eyes easily fitting the personality he heard combating with the egotistical business man.
“F-Fine,” Scott responds.
He’s given a small smile. “I’m sorry you ended up in my hand. You aren’t exactly able to say no to Mr. Harrison’s ‘suggestions’.”
“Disown you.”
“He won’t,” Fritz whispers. “Especially because it’s not possible.”
“I’ll make it possible.”
Scott looks over to where David is currently typing something on his phone, scowling down at it before he throws his hands up in frustration. An action he’d find terrifying before. Now, he can’t help smirking at the sight while sitting in a hand held protectively against a giant’s chest.
“Why is James so cryptic!”
“Well,” Fritz begins. He meets Scott’s questioning gaze with a pointed look. “You haven’t exactly not been cryptic, either.”
The borrower realizes a few key things. One, David told Fritz about his existence, and he doesn’t know how long ago that happened, or if it was a spur of the moment kind of thing. Two, Fritz currently is the only other human that’s been told, and it sounds like David is going to keep it that way.
Three, he’s unafraid of the two giants who currently have his life in their hands.
“It’s a simple question! How much pain-killer can a hamster have!”
“Mr. Harrison, I don’t think Scott appreciates you comparing him to a hamster.”
“Mouse is definitely preferred.”
David aims a look at the borrower in the attempt to regain the fearful respect that had long been lost ever since he was lifted out of the sink and had someone trusted called to come to help him. “I better not have you two teaming up on me.”
He wonders how long it’ll take before David agrees to share his coffee with Scott.