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If you asked Crutchie, there wasn’t any better place to spend the night than high above the New York skyline. Up in Jack’s ‘penthouse’ as he liked to call it. One could see for what seemed like miles, and it was easy to forget the aches and pains of the day as the warm golden beams of the setting sun washed over you like a blanket. A warm curtain of light that sank into your bones and lingered even after the cold darkness of night had settled. It was one of the few places that radiated a sense of tranquil calm and comfort. Not that the inside of the lodging house was bad, but it was always so loud and busy with boys laughing and arguing well into the night. It was just too much sometimes for Crutchie, though at least it was warm inside. Warmer than it was on the rooftop at least. Tonight seemed exceptionally chilly and as the sun crept down below the horizon it seemed to suck all its warmth with it. But that was alright, it was worth it just for the view alone. A quiet sunset privy only to him. Well, to him and Jack.
A warm breeze ruffled Crutchie’s hair and tipped his cap forwards, almost blowing it off as a low sigh rumbled around him. Right, Jack. It was kind of hard to forget about his friend while perched on his chest at only a couple inches tall. With a happy little sigh Crutchie sank down into the warm fabric beneath him, relaxing almost immediately as the warmth from both Jack’s skin and the setting sun sank into his cold limbs.
“Y’know what Jackie? I think you’s softer than even a proper mattress.” He hummed, stretching out on his friend’s chest. “Mmm, and you’s much warmer too.” It wasn’t often he’d willingly let himself be shrunk to such a diminutive stature, but around Jack, he found he could make an exception. Jack was always gentle and never got too grabby. At least, when they weren’t messing around. Crutchie tended to like to try and wrestle Jack’s hand, and was surprisingly good at it too despite his bad leg that most would consider to be a disadvantage. Heck, he was arguably stronger than many of the other boys due to having to do twice as much work with his arms. Even so, Jack was always oh so careful not to hurt him and never hesitated to stop when asked. Well...almost never . A low chuckle rumbled from beneath the young boy, shaking his small form as the ‘floor’ beneath him trembled with laughter.
“You sure ‘bout that?” Jack smirked. “I’s still ratha bony compared ta a soft featha mattress ya know.” Reaching up he gently ruffled Crutchie’s hair with his finger tip, an affectionate gesture the tiny boy had grown rather fond of. He leaned into Jack’s touch with a giggle, swiping playfully at his finger. “How would you know what a featha mattress feels like!”
“Hey, I coulda slept on one before, you neva know!” Jack retorted, huffing indignantly as if offended Crutchie could make such an assumption.
Crutchie snorted, wobbling a bit as Jack’s chest moved under him in time with his breathing. “Yeah sure, and I’s got five whole dollars in my pocket.”
The quip caused both boys to chuckle and their banter once again lapsed into a contented silence. It wasn’t like they didn’t like talking of course, but right now, the quiet seemed more appropriate as they watched the sun slip below the horizon. Swallowed up by the steel buildings towering above the city streets and taking what little warmth remained with it. Crutchie closed his eyes, savoring the feeling of dying sunbeams on his face before their warm touch was replaced with the cold chill of night. He shivered. Sure Jack was a decent enough heat source but...well there was only so warm he could get laying on the outer layer of the boy’s clothes. Stretched out on Jack’s slowly cooling vest the cool night breeze was starting to get to him. Normally he’d be fine sleeping up on the roof but...well he found he lost heat much quicker at such a diminutive size. And Jack knew this. Crutchie could feel his concerned eyes on him and while he didn’t like receiving sympathy from anyone, he knew Jack’s gaze was one of friendly worry rather than pity.
Crutchie shivered again, very tempted to try and burrow down between the buttons of Jack’s vest. Surely it would be warmer down closer to his skin than up here. He shifted in place, working to turn over on his stomach and possibly burrow down when a calloused leathery hand descended upon him and a soft thumb began to rub into his back.
“You alright Crutch? You’s shiverin mighty bad.” Jack’s concerned voice rang out, his chest rumbling beneath the tiny boy as he spoke.
Crutchie laughed and stretched under Jack’s carful touch. Like a tiny cat. “I-I’s fine Jack, just a bit chilly is all. Though yer hand is helpin with that.” The warm surface of Jack’s hand was indeed helping to trap some heat in a little bubble around him, but it was still not quite enough. He still craved the bone deep warmth the sun had sucked away as it set, and as Jack continued to rub at him he found he could hear the echoing sounds of the boy’s insides. The steady thrum of his heart, the rush of his breathing, and, most distantly of all, the occasional soft gurgle and groan of his stomach working to process dinner. The noise brought a smile to Crutchie’s face and he couldn’t help but recall the time he’d spent on this very same perch back when he was younger. Back when he’d first met Jack and moved into the lodging house. It had been a scary time in his life, full of change and uncertainty, and he often had trouble sleeping because of it. But with Jack’s help he’d quickly found a solution. Albeit an unusual one.
Crutchie sighed, nestling down closer to Jack’s stomach. The noises from Jack’s belly were just as soothing now as they had always been, but it wasn’t quite the same when he was still...well...outside. They didn’t gurgle and echo in the same comforting way he’d grown to love, and the more he thought about it the more he found himself longing for it. For the warmth and safety that came with being tucked away behind skin muscle and bone. Hidden from the world in his own little paradise. Crutchie shuddered as a cool breeze wormed it’s way into his warm little bubble of air under Jack’s hand. It was only going to get colder now that the sun was down, and he was already starting to feel the warmth drain away from his tiny little body.
“Hey Jackie?” Crutchie piped up, worming out a little ways from under Jack’s hand. Oh this was going to be embarrassing. He waited until Jack looked down at him and hummed in acknowledgement before continuing with his request. “Ya...ya remember that thing we used to do when we was kids? You know, the trick you’d use ta help me fall asleep after a nightmare or somethin?”
Jack snorted and rolled his eyes, scooping the little boy up into his hands. “We still is kids Crutch, but I remember.” He smirked, the tip of his tongue sticking out from between his teeth as he looked Crutchie up and down. “And I’m guessin’ ya ain’t askin just for the sake of rememberin, are ya.”
Crutchie huffed self consciously, squirming in Jack’s gentle grip. It was much colder now that he wasn’t shielded from the wind by Jack’s hand, but the blush warming his cheeks seemed to be keeping the bitter chill at bay for the moment. “N-not exactly...” The young boy chuckled, looking nervous. Oh this was going to be awkward... Steeling himself he opened his mouth to ask again, telling himself that surely this wasn’t too much to ask for. “Actually I....well I was wonderin if maybe we could, ya know, do it again? See it’s kinda cold an-“
“And ya want somewhere soft and warm ta curl up for the night.” Jack finished with a smile. A smile that only softened as Crutchie nodded timidly. Gosh, who gave the kid the right to be so dang adorable. He was like a little mouse, all fluffy and tiny in his hands. A little brother he cared deeply for who was still waiting for an answer. “Ya know, we did just eat at Jacobi’s but...well I wouldn’t mind a bit of dessert now. You knows I’s always been a sucker fer sweets after dinner.” He teased.
Crutchie squirmed in Jack’s hand, the light dusting of pink adorning his cheeks now blooming into a bright flustered red. Oh come on Jack, really? He always did have a knack for embarrassing his ‘snacks’ with words like that, so Crutchie knew he shouldn’t be surprised to hear them now. Those teasing words of his were something all the boys were all quite familiar with. And it certainly didn’t help that Jack had always been one with a sharp tongue and even sharper wit. Something he knew all too well. Still, even with the teasing undertone to the older boy’s words Crutchie caught the answer he was given. Yes, Jack was going to tuck him away somewhere warm and soft, and maybe a little messy. Somewhere he’d spent countless nights when night terrors would claim him or his leg would grow stiff and sore. And he was more than ready for it. “Yeah, I know Jackie.” Crutchie chuckled, shoulders shaking with amused laughter.
He was about to say something else, something to hurry Jack along, but before he could say a word he was raised to his friend’s lips. Oh, seems he needn’t say anything after all. Jack’s lips parted and a wave of warm, humid air that smelled slightly of hotdogs washed over Crutchie. Mmmm, now that felt good. He could practically feel the warmth of Jack’s innards beckoning him deeper and he already knew his answer to the cowboy’s question before he ever asked it.
“You ready Crutchie?”
“Ready? Jack I’ll be frozen stiff if ya wait any longer.” Crutchie quipped, earning a huff of laughter. “Just, go ahead and put me in. I know you’s dying for a snack anyways.”
No sooner had the words left his tongue than Jack’s lips and teeth split open wide, revealing the warm, fleshy cavern that was his mouth. Saliva dripped down from his rubbery palate, pooling in slimy puddles on and under his tongue while strings of drool stretched between his teeth and down the back of his throat. Now that was a welcome sight to the small shivering newsie. In a single smooth, carful motion he was deposited onto Jack’s gently twitching tongue and as soon as Crutchie’s frozen limbs made contact with the muscle, he all but melted. After the cold of outside the heat here felt almost sweltering. A welcome change indeed. He shifted in place, slipping a little as he worked to tuck all his limbs away from Jack’s teeth before patting Jack’s tongue, a signal that let him know it was safe to close his mouth now. The fading light of the moon filtering in through Jack’s open mouth began to dim as his teeth came together, glittering in the cold light. And with a sharp click they touched, lips closing behind them and sealing Crutchie in pitch blackness. That was never something Crutchie had minded though. He didn’t need to see to know where he was, and in the damp, humid confines of Jack’s mouth his other senses sparked to a higher degree.
Running a single hand over Jack’s tongue he could feel every little bump and groove of his tastebuds, the minute little twitches and shifts as Jack worked to situate him snugly in the middle of the firm, yet soft and comforting muscle. With every breath he could smell hints of what Jack had last eaten for dinner. Ground meat and bread, tinged with the acidic undertone one’s insides tended to have. Like that taste that floods the back of your mouth when you feel you’re going to be sick. It wasn’t a pleasant aroma by any means, but it was something warm and familiar. Something he’d come to recognize as distinctly Jack. A steady whoosh filled his ears. Jack’s breathing. Even though Jack was inhaling through his nose the rhythmic breaths still tugged at his damp hair, washing over him in short gusts of warm and cool air. It was nothing like the hurricane he would experience when Jack breathed through his mouth, more like a soft breeze on a warm July night. The thought made him smile.
Crutchie rolled from his front to his back, letting the warm saliva soak him even further as he traced his hand along the grooves and ridges of Jack’s palate. Fascinating, who would have thought that the inside of someone’s mouth could hold such intricate detail. Like it had been carved by the expert hand of an artist. Jack’s tongue twitched under him and a snort of laughter echoed throughout the mouth. Ah, he’d forgotten his little hands tended to tickle the inside of Jack’s mouth if he touched too lightly. How odd. He’d never known someone’s mouth could be ticklish before Jack. As he lay still in a steadily growing puddle of slime Jack’s tongue gradually began to spark to life. The movement was slow at first. Just small subtle licks spreading slime up his sides and arms. Then a bit more. He was turned over and over, licked and sucked on like a piece of candy as Jack savored his flavor. Crutchie giggled. In all honesty, he probably was like candy to Jack. That is, if the cowboy had been telling the truth about his sugary sweet flavor. Really Crutchie had never understood how a person could taste like anything but dirt and sweat, but apparently, if Jack were to be believed, he was actually quite delicious. The thought made him smile and as Jack’s tongue gradually slowed in its movement he snuggled down on his belly against its plush surface. Arms tucked underneath his chest as if holding tight to a stuffed animal while his legs stretched towards Jack’s throat, toes curling in the air like a cat kneading a pillow. (He’d removed his shoes ages ago while still snuggled on Jack’s chest)
Never had he thought that laying on a tongue, a slimy muscle used for eating, could be so comfortable. Or so calming. He felt happy and at peace all stretched out in Jack’s mouth as if it were his own bed back in the lodging house. Heck, it was almost arguably better than his bed. That bunk was full of scratchy blankets that hardly did a thing against the cold drafts that snuck into the lodging house, even in the summer, and he was certain his mattress was full of bugs thanks to Buttons refusing to wash for several days straight and then deciding to share his bed. Yeah, compared to all that Jack’s mouth was absolutely an upgrade. That was something he’d known from the very first time he’d been slipped between those pearly white teeth and nestled down in the center groove of his tongue. That cold night so many years ago when he’d been naught more than eight years old, awoken by a night terror and practically begging Jack for comfort, reassurance that he was safe.
Crutchie chuckled fondly at the memory, pushing against the tip of Jack’s tongue as it licked teasingly at his face. He could tell both from the action and the saliva pooling around his soaking wet body that Jack was growing impatient. He had a tasty little morsel in his mouth, and he wished to finish his meal now. Crutchie patted the tongue beneath him, two short, sharp little taps. It was a signal he and Jack had come up with quite a while ago. A signal that meant he was ready.
Everything began to move at once. No sooner had he touched Jack’s tongue than the thing reared up underneath him and began to funnel him back. Back towards the wide open tunnel that was his friend’s throat. He was momentarily crushed against the rubbery pallet, struggling to breath before-
Glrk~
Down he slipped. Crutchie wiggled instinctively as the strong peristalsis of Jack’s throat tugged him down with a single overpowering swallow. His face was mashed up against the muscular wall and things were so tight around him he knew he wouldn’t be able to escape the crushing confines of Jack’s throat even if he wanted to. Which he most certainly did not. In fact he did quite the opposite and relaxed into the bone deep warmth and massaging waves as they drew him in deeper and deeper. A rumbling sigh of contentment reverberated around him and a solid wave rolled up his body, compressing things even tighter. Ah, that must have been Jack’s collar bone. That meant he was well and truly sealed away from the outside now. As far as the rest of the world was concerned he had simply vanished, gone without a trace. The thought made him shiver, but not out of fear. No, fear wasn’t the right word. It was an intimidating thought yes, but not a scary one. More...thrilling than anything else.
As another wave of peristalsis saw him slithering downwards and a deep, thrumming noice began to pound in his ears. A steady pulse that seemed to shake him to the very core. Jack’s heart. The sound, that wonderful sound was better than any lullaby Crutchie had heard. It was a soothing noise he’d grown to love over the years, but nothing ever compared to how it sounded when he was pressed up next to it. Mere inches away from the giant muscle as it beat hard in Jack’s chest, pumping oxygen throughout his body and keeping him alive. Keeping them both alive. One more final swallow sent Crutchie down past the heart and he felt his feet press through a tight ring of muscle. One that gradually worked up his body in a steady fashion before gravity pulled him the rest of the way through, his chest, head, and arms slipping free in a rush as he slid into Jack’s stomach as if tumbling down a muddy incline.
Crutchie breathed a sigh of relief. Jack’s stomach, he was finally here. He didn’t need to see to know where he was, the open muscular space and acidic air told him all he needed to know. It was...messier than he’d anticipated though. Piles of partially digested food dripped around him and he found himself sitting in a puddle of chyme. It wasn’t anything anything he hadn’t dealt with before though and he simply snuggled up to the nearest wall, ignoring the acidic smelling mush that clung to everything from his hair to his clothing. Really it wasn’t all that bad, almost like a heated blanket if you could ignore the slimy consistency and smell. All cozy and warm. Crutchie could feel himself starting to fall asleep already, and he most likely would have then and there had a low echoing voice not rumbled around him.
“Crutchie? You doin alright in der?” Jack’s worried voice rang out. The wall opposite from where Crutchie was snuggled up began to press inwards and he laughed, knowing Jack was feeling around for him.
“Yeah, thanks Jackie. I...I needed this.” Crutchie murmured. He reached out to touch the wall as it rubbed against him, pressing back at Jack’s fingertips. How strange it was to feel so separated and yet so close to Jack at the very same time. It was odd, and yet comforting in a way. Jack couldn’t touch him, even though logically he knew Jack was all around him. And if Jack, who could feel his every move, every little shift and breath, was still stopped from touching him, how much safer then was he from those who would wish him harm. Tucked away behind layers of skin and bone, thick muscle and tissue, concealing him from all but Jack. To everyone else he was nothing more than a little bump in the boy’s middle. A sight that, to the untrained eye, was simply the indication of a nice filling meal. The thought made him giggle.
“I can’t believe I forgot how much I liked it in here...” Crutchie smiled, snuggling down into the soft fleshy folds surrounding him. His movement was accompanied by an odd little squelch that only further amused him. It was so slimy and messy inside that he could hardly even shift his weight without it being accompanied by some odd gurgle or groan, not that he minded in the slightest. “And I can’t believe I forgot how filling ya were.” Jack quipped, the wall across from Crutchie pressing inwards once again as Jack felt for him. Crutchie snorted. “That’s probably cause I’s twice the size I was last time we did this Jack. And anyways, it ain’t exactly just me in here either.” He shifted in place, nestling further back against the walls. “I’s still sitting’ in whats left of yer dinner.” To prove his point he scraped a handful of the still dissolving muck from his vest and tossed it at the wall, wrinkling his nose at the wet splat it made. Gross...
Jack laughed, the act causing his stomach to constrict around Crutchie who suddenly found himself sandwiched by hot sticky flesh and masticated food from all directions. He squirmed in protest but Jack didn’t seem to notice. “Well I did try and warn you about that.” Jack chuckled, the sound reverberating around the boy in his stomach. “But I really don’t think you was listening.” A few soft thuds indicated Jack was patting his stomach. “Not that I’s complainin though, just means you’s that much more filling. Which is good, cause I was starting to get hungry again anyways.” Crutchie rolled his eyes and jabbed the stomach wall with his elbow, a snort of laughter escaping as he did so. “Oh yeah, course that was the reason. The famous Jack Kelly always thinks with his stomach and not his brains after all.”
There was a gasp and a soft thud as Jack clutched at his heart in mock offense. “Oh I’m crushed! You wound me Crutchie, you really do.” He moaned dramatically. “I don’t think I shall ever recover from such an insult.” Crutchie rolled his eyes once again, scoffing to himself. He could perfectly envision Jack slumped over with one hand on his chest and the other against his forehead, bemoaning the fact that his best friend had betrayed him in such a vicious manner. “Oh stuff it, ya know I’m right.” Crutchie retorted with a good natured sharpness in his voice. “Cause I wouldn’t be sitting here waist deep in yer supper if I wasn’t!” He stuck out his tongue in playful defiance. Sure Jack couldn’t see that, but it made him feel better regardless.
The whole chamber suddenly shifted and Crutchie spluttered indignantly as he slipped onto his back, now entirely soaked in melty chyme and digestive juices. Jack had moved to lay down properly it seemed, and he’d taken poor Crutchie with him. “Yeah, I suppose that’s true. But I don’t really hear you complainin about it.” Jack sighed. The air leaving his lungs sounded like a rush of wind, whistling through a network of caves by the sea. Not that Crutchie knew what that sounded like really, but he’s always imagined it would be something similar to breathing. And with Jack so big his breathing was that much louder and more magnificent, so therefor comparing it to wind and waves whistling and crashing against a hollowed out tunnel of stone felt like the perfect description.
So lost in these thoughts had Crutchie become that he didn’t realize he’d failed to respond to Jack’s quip until the cowboy gently pressed at him, folding in one of the soft belly walls. “Mmm...you’re right. I wouldn’t be here unless I liked it.” Crutchie chuckled softly in agreement, not caring that Jack would most likely tease him for such a comment later on. He reached out and pressed his hand into the plush flesh, chuckling softly as thick strings of saliva dripped between his fingers. It was gross, but not bad gross. More strange than anything. A good strange that brought back pleasant memories of a childhood spent surrounded by these soft walls. Surrounded by warmth and safety. By his very best friend in the whole world.
One thing he especially liked about resting deep within Jack was that it was all on his own terms. He was completely and totally in charge of the situation. Sure, at first glance it might not seem like it, but he knew that Jack would never keep him inside without his permission. All it would take was one simple request and he’d be out in a second. The same thing went for being eaten in the first place. Never would Jack so much as put him in his mouth without his permission. They had a safe word just for that purpose as a matter of fact, just to make sure things never went too far by accident. If he changed his mind all he had to do was say something and just like that Jack would fish him out.
But right now, he was more than happy with where he was. His cheek brushed up against the mucus covered wall as it flexed and churned around him in time with Jack’s breathing, and he leaned into the feeling. Slipping and sliding in the slick darkness Crutchie nestled himself down in the pit of the soft, fleshy organ, burying his face in its welcoming folds. “Thanks again Jack. For all of this.” He sighed, not minding the sticky slimy food that now pooled on top of him as well as around him. It was quickly thinning in the presence of the surrounding digestive juices and he knew he wouldn’t have to put up with it for much longer.
He received a soft nudge from a nearby wall in acknowledgement, and as it buckled inwards under the pressure of Jack’s hand Crutchie found himself leaning into it. “Hey, don’t mention it.” Came Jack’s response. It was clear from his tone he was smiling. “I’s always more than happy ta do this for ya Crutch, all you gotta do is ask.” There was another press, followed by a soft chuckle. “Now why don’t you get some sleep yeah? ‘S late we’s got an early mornin’ tomorrow.”
“Mmmm, so long as ya promise to get me outa here before tha mornin bell.” Crutchie stretched, turning to his side and resting his cheek on a slimy stomach fold with a a laugh. “I don’t want none of the other fellas seein me all slimy from yer insides. They might get jealous.”
Jack snorted. “You have my word. Now go to sleep, we both need to be getting some shuteye if we’re gonna wake up before the bell like ya want.”
Crutchie laughed, flipping onto his belly and getting comfy. He tucked one arm under his chest and the other just sort of hung in the air, mirroring his legs which were essentially doing the same thing. He didn’t usually sleep so sprawled out, but here in Jack’s belly he felt secure enough to do so. Plus the humid heat of Jack’s insides soothed the soreness of his leg, which certainly helped. “Night Cowboy.” Crutchie yawned, wrapping an arm around a slick crease of muscle. He revived only a tired hum in response as Jack settled down to sleep. Jack’s heart rate slowed and his breathing fell into a more relaxed pattern, wooshing in and out like a great wind that beckoned small Crutchie to sleep. He closed his eyes and sighed.
Now this...this was the life. He never felt more whole and protected than when resting inside Jack. Tucked away in his plush stomach with only the occasional sleepy murmur and a thrumming heartbeat for company. It was Heaven. Crutchie yawned again, tiny chest expanding in time with Jack’s breathing. The heat was finally starting to get to him now and he found himself falling limp in the slimy embrace of the surrounding stomach, limbs sinking into the cloud-like pillows of soft tissue and muscle. This wouldn’t be the first time he’d fallen asleep in here, and he knew it was far from the last. As his world started to fade into warm, slimy darkness he had one last thought. A final sliver of consciousness that brought a smile to his lips. Here inside Jack he was loved. Wanted. Seen as something more than just another crip with a bum leg who couldn’t take care of himself. No, here he was more than that. He was a friend. A best friend. A warm weight resting in the belly of his most beloved and cherished brother. That, he knew, was something that would never change.
It was with these thoughts in mind that Crutchie finally went still, slipping into a deep sleep while cradled in the soft fleshy folds of the stomach of a boy he trusted with his whole being. Here, surrounded by heat more gentle than that of any sunset, he could truly relax. And that was something he wouldn’t trade for the world.