Chapter Text
You knew what you were doing when you brought them home. The decision was well researched and you went to several training courses before walking into the shop. The bird monster behind the counter seemed alarmed when you asked four separate bitties to come live with you.
They agreed, but only to get away from the other bitties. It was very clear not one of them trusted you to actually care for them. You heard mutters of “probably a collector” and “might as well kill us now” from the two taller ones. That was fine. You knew what you were getting yourself into.
As they were all Horror bitties, you were sure they wouldn’t hurt each other, but you’d already bitty-proofed your home in anticipation of their arrival. Your room was clear of all pencils, for instance, and you’d sealed all your knives and utensils in a box at your neighbor’s house. You were ready.
Or you thought you were, anyway. As you were getting ready for bed, your Giggles bitty (you’d named him Jimmy) teleported onto your pillow, eye light blown wide and a sinister grin on his face. He whispered to you, menace dripping from his words, “i know what you’re up to, human, and i promise you, i’m gonna eat you one day.”
You were shocked, hurt even, but it had said they’d be hostile and distrustful at the start. And that promises were always serious.
He watched your face, confused at the sorrow there, and even more so when you just sighed and murmured, “Okay, Jimmy. But let’s try and get along until then.” He went back to his new bed and tried to figure out what was going on till he went to sleep.
–
Your bitties adjusted well once they knew you weren’t going to hurt them, cage them, or make them fight each other. Cecil (your Crinkle), Tracy (your Resin), and Laurel (your Mayor), all seemed to be quite pleased. But Jimmy was confused and agitated for a lot longer. He’d watch you while you worked, while you cooked, all the time, but always with this same disbelieving and perplexed face. You would recall his promise, and inside you would shudder, but outside you’d smile warmly and continue on. Just because he was brash and tried to intimidate you didn’t mean he didn’t deserve your love.
And love them you did. You cherished your time with each of them, especially when you spent one on one time with them. Cecil liked to have you to himself during baths, since his ribs were so open and he needed help getting the fuzz out of the more jagged places. Tracy preferred being with you when it was late at night and the others were asleep, watching the comedy shows and snuggled up together on the sofa. Laurel’s time was cooking time, and he excelled at it; you were so proud with his recipes. Jimmy hadn’t chosen his favored activity yet, but he seemed to be leaning toward book time. He would always inch closer, or teleport behind you or off to the side so he could see what you were reading. You didn’t mind a bit. His soft chuckles and excited squeaks of laughter were adorable, and it really made you wonder why he was so standoffish at other times.
—-
After a year, you were delighted to see your boys growing like weeds. The doctor at the bitty clinic said he was amazed you’d gotten so close to your bitties that they were growing. Horror bitties rarely ever trusted their owners enough to form such a nourishing and healthy bond. Only love and trust could make a bitty get bigger.
Already, they were all the size of a newborn human, and just kept growing. You’d had to start shopping in the baby clothes section of the stores, but it was alright.
Their personalities had blossomed beautifully, and they were all four eager to learn. Even Jimmy had calmed and grown closer to you, though he was about an inch behind everyone else.
As fast as they were growing, it was about another three months before they were as big as four year olds. You were teaching them various things yourself, like how to multiply and divide, how to work a calculator, do taxes, lots of things they’d need to know if they ever decided to be independent. Yes, bitties needed love and trust to grow, but once they were big…you knew they’d be fine without you if they so chose.
One night, as you were drying Jimmy off after his bath (since he never did it properly himself and left wet marks all over the carpet), he got a worried look in his eye and turned away. You were concerned, “Jimmy?”
He looked back at you and had to stifle his sudden burst of nervous laughter before he spoke, “You remember what I said? ehehehe, a-about eating you? I’m gonna do it! heehee…”
Sighing, you leaned forward and kissed the warm bone just above his nasal ridge, “I remember, Jimmy. I know.” You were more concerned about his relapse in laughing. Yes, he still did it every so often, but he’d been getting better because of the calm family life. Hopefully it was just the stress of whatever made him recall that old promise.
—
“Mom, have you ever noticed that Jimmy just calls you by name?” Cecil asked as you drove him to his first try at a driver’s licence of his own. He was as tall as you now, and this thought had just popped out of his mouth halfway there. The other three were at home, doing what boys do. Which, with your boys meant perfecting the next perfect pasta recipe, writing a book review on their critic’s blog, and practicing for the next open mic comedy night at the local club.
“I have, Cecil. I think…I’m pretty sure Jimmy doesn’t see me as his mother.” You reply, already knowing the answer for this. Jimmy had never once called you anything close to ‘mom’. It was always your name, or some endearment. “sweetheart” “darling” “sugar” etc.
“But Tracy and I do.” He continued, concerned, “and Laurel calls you Auntie just like Auntie Dumpling.” They all called the bird monster at the store where you’d adopted them that. You found it cute, and she’d given you some good advice over the years.
“I know, honey, but Jimmy’s his own man. Always has been. And I admire him for that.” You chuckle, “I don’t know what he sees me as, but he loves me just as much as you do.”
“Maybe more!” he gasps, “He’s almost as tall as Tracy now.”
You realize he’s right. You wonder why.
—
When you go home now, the house is quiet. Jimmy is the only one left with you, but you’re proud of your boys. Laurel has his own restaurant and lives in an apartment above it downtown. Tracy and Cecil, your babies, went to the big city. Cecil wants to be an actor and Tracy’s breaking into television comedy. They text daily.
But the house is ominous now with just you and Jimmy. He stares at you, his gaze almost predatory. You remember his promise so long ago. You feel your heart break. Why would he do this now? What changed, other than….the others don’t need you anymore, do they? He’s six foot now, and could easily fulfill his promise without much hassle.
Still, you say hello with all the love you have, you kiss his skull as he types away at his latest crime novel and hear the usual soft laugh. His laughter isn’t cold, even when he’s doing that disturbing stare. It’s warm and indulgent, as always once he began to trust. Even the ones he does involuntarily are gleeful. Well, you think, as you prepare to open the door for another night, at least he’s happy even if he is being..odd.
You freeze when you open the door and the house is dark and silent. “Jimmy?” You call, knowing he’s here. He never leaves without telling you first, or leaving a note and a light on. No answer. You come in cautiously, locking it behind you and setting your things down. Worried, you head into your room to get comfortable and yelp when the door slams behind you with a surprising red glow. Magic. He’s home and keeping his eye off to hide in the pitch darkness.
“it’s time, babe.” Jimmy’s gritty voice purrs out as his eye beams out of the dark suddenly, revealing him sitting on your bed, “ya remember, heheheh, remember what i told ya? when ya got me?”
There are tears in your eyes that you can’t help, but you answer, “Yes.”
He stands and comes over, boney hands gripping softly on your shaking shoulders, “well, it’s about time i keep my word.”
“I,” you have to swallow your tears to keep talking, “I hope I did a good job raising you and the others. I love you, Jimmy.” There’s still water on your face, dang it. You’re terrified. You hope he’ll make it quick.
“you did, sugar.” He’s whispering now, stroking your hair back with one hand and inches from your face, “best three years of my life, hehehe. but it’s time to move on to something better, heh, and i have to keep my promises.”
You nod, and freeze when he kisses the tears from your cheeks. His sockets are closed and he leans in, “just close your eyes for me.” And you do, expecting not to open them again.
There’s his hands again, holding you still despite your weak knees. When had he gotten so strong? And then you feel wetness on your face and warmth over the top of your head, like putting on a winter hat fresh out of the washing machine. You feel yourself being lifted slightly, arms pinned to your sides by that firm grip. He pushes you forward and the wetness slips down over your whole face. You feel his teeth on your neck and that’s what clues you in to the fact he’s swallowing you whole and alive. On the one hand, you’re relieved you aren’t dying right now. On the other hand, you realize your death might be slow and painful instead and that sends the tears falling faster.
Feeling his tongue flex under your face, you choke back a sob as Jimmy swallows you. He’s being careful, though, you notice, his sharp teeth never raking your skin or tearing your clothes. That strikes you as odd, that he didn’t bother taking off your clothes, but maybe he was going to be kind enough to let you keep your modesty in your last moments. He always was shy about nudity.
As you slowly slide down his throat, you try to remember the happy moments of these three years. When Jimmy first learned to write, when all three of the boys had made you a cake (badly) for your birthday that first year, how much you’d loved tracking their growth on that silly giraffe chart on your bedroom door…you’d never taken it down, even when all of them were taller than that. Wherever you went after you died, you hoped you’d be able to watch over the boys. Jimmy would take care of texting Cecil and Tracy, you knew that. He loved his brothers fiercely.
And Laurel would be over Saturday. You’d forgotten about that. You hoped he wasn’t too upset at the news. He’d been so stressed since that racist critic incident.
You almost didn’t notice that you’d hit bottom, curling in on yourself as more of you slid down into the tight, soaking confines. His stomach was warm, and bright, the glow of his scarlet magic wrapped around you like velvet throw. How would this happen, anyway? You could breathe, for now, and magic didn’t make acid…so you supposed he’d just sap the energy out of you until you died of exhaustion? That was alright as a way to go, you thought, still shuddering in fear. Just go to sleep and not wake up. Peaceful.
Jimmy sighs above you and you wrap your arms around yourself. At least he’s not gloating or laughing at you. He’s laughing, yes, but you know that laugh. He’s happy and pleased with himself, but in a soft way. It’s a shy sort of triumph, like when he got his first acceptance letter from a publisher. Stars, you hadn’t gotten to read his book he was working on. Maybe you’d get to see it over his shoulder in the afterlife.
The fear and crying, soft as it was, took its toll, and you felt yourself drifting off. “Goodbye, Jimmy,” you muttered, barely sensing him rubbing at you in response before sleep claimed you.
–
Jimmy was laying on your bed an hour later, still amazed you’d let him do this. You were sleeping deeply, and he could feel your every breath and movement. “i hope they let me do it again later….heehee~”
His fingers traced over your form tenderly, a soft maroon blush over his cheekbones. He’d never harm you, not now, but he was a skeleton of his word. So when he’d regretted what he’d said, when he realized his anger had gotten the better of him, he’d had to find another solution. He kept his word, he did eat you, but you were safe and alive, and would be staying that way so long as he was alive. He’d never seen you as a mother. No, no, no, you were his soulmate. The fact the other three did see you that way confused him, but to each their own. But you were so attractive, so smart and witty and understanding…he just couldn’t. So doing this, something so intimate as sharing his body with you, had been his way of proposing a deeper match. He was big now, big enough to stand up to anyone who tried to take you from him. And big enough to not be paralyzed at the thought of confessing his feelings. He’d done as much as he’d kissed your tear-stained cheeks.
Stars, he hopes you’ll understand and forgive him for scaring you. He should have explained it better, should have just told you about magic not processing the living, about being in love with you but….he could only be good with words on paper, not out loud. So he falls asleep, half nervous and half elated that in the morning, you’ll still be there, souls so very close to each other. And maybe you’ll listen to him blunder on about his feelings, too.