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Being on strike wasn’t nearly as fun as Jack seemed to think it was. Yeah sure it was for a good reason and so far things seemed to be going well, but that didn’t mean Davey liked it. Spending the whole day sweating outside, yelling and shouting for demands to be met until his voice was horse was pretty close to terrible actually. At least he didn’t have to be in school, but that was little consolation considering he wasn’t making money either. And of course there was all the pushing and shoving that was bound to happen when you put so many boys in one place. Which of course is why he was doing his best to stay out of the chaos, choosing to camp in a nearby alley while the boys continued to yell and jump around outside. He told himself he’d go join them in a minute, but he’d been telling himself that for the past ten minutes now and was still no closer to relinquishing his hiding spot.
Of course, just as Davey had finally worked up the nerve to try and step out into the throng of boys, he was slammed into by two frantic bodies. Hands grabbed at his tie and as something hard and wooden smacked against his shin, he did what any normal person would do. He screamed. A hand instantly clapped over his mouth and someone hissed in his ear.
“Shut it Dave! Yer gonna get us caught!”
Ah, that was Jack. Davey relaxed, rolling his eyes and yanking the hand off his mouth before glaring at the boy he’d spent the last few days with. “What are you doing! Jack you almost knocked me over!” It was then that he noticed Crutchie. The younger boy was leaning heavily on Jack, crutch stretched out in front of him by Davey’s legs. Ah, that must have been what had hit him before.
Jack just grinned cheekily, though there was no denying the glint of fear behind his charming smile. “Well ah...see Crutch and I might have sorta pissed off everyone’s favorite pair of morons, so if ya don’t mind we’s gonna stay here for a bit. Lay low till our little problem goes away yeah?”
Crutchie nodded in agreement, and though he too was smiling Davey couldn’t help but notice the slowly darkening patch of skin on his cheekbone just below his eye. Oh Crutchie... With a sigh Davey frowned, brow crinkling in concern as he gestured to a barrel near the back of the dead end alley. “That’s the only place back here you could hide. But I...well that doesn’t look like it would do much.”
An angry shout echoed down the street above the noise of the strike and Jack’s eyes went wide. “Well it’s gonna have to do.” He grabbed Crutchie and yanked him over to the barrel, trying to crouch down behind it. “We were never here.” He hissed through gritted teeth.
Davey didn’t like it. That shouting was way too close for his liking and there was no way Jack and Crutchie wouldn’t be spotted right away. But this was a dead end and if they tried to leave they’d be seen instantly! So what could he...oh...oh no... No no he couldn’t! Jack didn’t even know! And Crutchie...well he’d only ever done that once before, and that was because he had to. No way would he be okay with it now! And yet, the more he thought about it the more sense it began to make. After all they’d be safe, and the Delanceys weren’t after him. Sure they might rough him up a bit, but he wasn’t the one they were mad at so he probably wouldn’t get more than a few bruises.
Steeling himself for what he knew he had to do, Davey clenched his fist and walked over to Jack and Crutchie who were squabbling quietly about who was taking up the most room in their hiding spot. Already he could feel his stomach turning, but although he felt sick he knew this was the best course of action. It could...no, it would save his friends from severe pain. “Guys I, I might have somewhere I could hide you, but it’s a bit...unconventional. Y-you guys are gonna have to trust me.”
Jack frowned at him, looking confused. “Course I trust ya Dave, we both do. Ain’t that right Crutch?”
Crutchie had gone stiff the moment Davey started talking, and it was clear from his wide eyed expression that he knew exactly what Davey was referring to. Jack elbowed him. “Somethin the matter Crutch? Ya didn’t answer me.”
Crutchie shook his head, much to Davey’s relief, and smiled a shaky smile. “I’s fine Jack, just nervous bout our little problem outside.” His eyes turned to need Davey’s. “And I trust you Davey.” There was fear evident in his eyes sure, but also a determination Davey couldn’t help but admire. Well...at least one of them being at least a little willing would make this easier.
He took a shaky breath. Eyes darting around he scanned the surroundings one last time for something, anything else he could hide his friends in, but of course the alley was painfully empty. Just his luck.“Right... I...I’m sorry in advance Jack and I wouldn’t do this if I didn’t have to, really.”
Jack tilted his head, confused by Davy’s words. “Sorry? Sorry for what-“ His question was cut off quickly as a hand clamped down on his shoulder. Quick as a snake Davey had struck, and the instant he had been touched Jack began to feel dizzy. “D-Dave...what are ya-“ He couldn’t get more than a few words out before everything went black. Slumping to the side Jack fell completely and utterly limp, and next to him Crutchie was having the same reaction. Davey’s face was screwed up in concentration. He really had to get this right... If he made them too big he’d never be able hide them. No, concentrate Davey. Focus on getting them down to a few inches, then you can worry.
It only took a few seconds to get Jack and Crutchie down to around six inches, but even that left him exhausted. This...ability of his, it wasn’t without a cost. The smaller he shrank someone the more energy it would sap, and shrinking more than one person at once really took a toll on him. Still, six inches was pretty good all things considered. They’d fit, though it would definitely be tight for everyone involved. Hands shaking in a state of nervous urgency Davey scooped the two limp boys up, breathing a sigh of relief to see Crutchie’s hand still clamped around his crutch. Good, it had shrunk with him. One less thing to try and hide from Oscar and Morris. Speaking of, the angry shouting was getting closer, and even if they weren’t particularly bright the Delanceys weren’t stupid either. They’d find him soon, and it would be in everyone’s best interest if his now miniature friends were out of sight.
It was a weird feeling being able to hold someone in the palm of his hand. That warm weight, shifting quietly against his skin was a whole person. His friends. They looked so happy and peaceful draped over each other in his cupped hands, and that just made him feel even worse about what he was about to do. Maybe...maybe if he did it now, while Jack was still asleep, he wouldn’t freak out so much? As much as he didn’t like what he was thinking it felt like the best course of action. Though perhaps he should start with Crutchie. Yeah, yeah that sounded good. Then Jack wouldn’t wake up alone inside and Crutchie could help calm him down.
He knew time was limited, so prying Crutchie’s crutch from his hand and tucking it into a pocket Davey took a deep breath, and opened his mouth wide. Ugh...the feeling of someone in his mouth was always weird, but it was even worse when they were limp. He was used to squirming, sometimes even protesting, not a warm limp body laying unmoving on his tongue. It was unnerving to say the least... But he couldn’t deny it would be easier to swallow his friends this way either. Davey cupped the hand containing Jack close to his chest, moving his free one up to start pushing Crutchie’s legs in past his lips. Six inches was almost too big, but he knew his throat would stretch. It had to.
The first swallow saw the boy’s head and shoulders getting sucked down, and the next drew his tiny feet past Davey’s lips onto his tongue. It hurt, and if he were to bring a hand up to his throat he would have felt a significant bulge as it strained around his far too large meal. Gasping in both pain and an effort to breath he opened his mouth, and was greeted with a bloodcurdling scream.
Jack had woken up, just in time to see Davey’s mouth open wide and Crutchie’s feet disappear down his throat.
Davey choked, the scream startling him something fierce. His fist involuntarily tightened around Jack as he coughed and gagged, swallowing thickly to try and hurry Crutchie down past his windpipe. It didn’t work. Crutchie stiffened, apparently having been woken up by Davey choking around him. The sudden stiffness caused him to stick in the larger boy’s throat and to Davey’s horror, he began to move back the way he came in an awkward, jerky motion as his body decided it had had enough of this nonsense. Davey gagged again before sealing his mouth shut and swallowing. Hard. To his relief Crutchie began to move back down and soon he slipped down below Davey’s collarbone. Finally, he could breath. He gasped in relief, chest heaving as he struggled for breath as Crutchie wiggled deeper into his system before slipping into his stomach. But he wasn’t out of the woods yet.
Mouth dripping with sweat and saliva Davey looked down at Jack, swallowing again to try and settle his innards before speaking. “Jack I-...I didn’t...you weren’t supposed to see that.”
Jack just stared. His face was pale and for a moment, Davey feared he’d snapped. Then Jack’s eyes started to flick rapidly between Davey’s stomach and his face. He was thinking, that much was clear, but what he was thinking about wasn’t obvious to Davey. That was, until he began to speak in a dangerously quiet voice.
“Davey...Dave I don’t know what the fuck you did to me and Crutch, but I’s givin’ ya three seconds ta spit him out.” He was shaking terribly, and Davey didn’t need to see his face to know he was terrified.
Davey took a shaky breath, one hand creeping protectively to his stomach where he could feel Crutchie rubbing at him from inside. He bit his lip. The Delanceys would be rounding the corner any second so there wasn’t any time to explain. “I can’t-“
“Tha hell ya can’t Jacobs!” Jack snarled. “Spit him out now before...b-before somethin’ happens ta him!” His voice was growing desperate and despite Davey’s tight grip he started to squirm. “I don’t know h-how or why ya did what ya did but if you don’t get ‘im out now you’ll kill him! Kill him Dave! Do ya understand that?!”
Davey’s throat closed. He felt sick and his stomach tightened around the tiny form inside. Crutchie was fine, he knew that, but there wasn’t time to assure Jack of that fact. “I...I’m sorry.” Screwing his eyes shut he once again opened his mouth wide and shoved Jack in headfirst.
Jack screeched.
“DAVEY! DAVEY NO! Y-YA CAN’T!”
Davey almost choked again as Jack began to yell and flail, his tiny hands desperately scrabbling at his lips while his legs kicked and thrashed and his torso bucked. This was not going to be easy that was for sure. Guilt for his actions washed over him like a wave and he felt tears pricking at the corners of his eyes. God...Jack was never even going to so much as look at him after this. But if that was the price to pay for keeping his friend safe then so be it. A thick uncomfortable swallow dragged Jack’s head into his throat, earning another inhuman shriek of terror. Jack wasn’t even using proper words anymore, just screaming and pleading for release in an unorganized stream of consciousness. Davey wanted to spit him out, to open his mouth and pull Jack out before he slipped any further, but at this point that wasn’t an option anymore. Fingers clamping around Jack’s legs he shoved them in further, gulping strongly. Ugh...he was gonna be sick...
Another swallow sucked down Jack’s torso, and soon his legs were crushed down after him, still twitching and spasming in panic. Each swallow was loud and strained, thick with nausea as Davey fought to ignore his body’s instincts and keep Jack down. It was both too soon and an eternity later that Jack squished down into Davey’s stomach. He groaned, belching uncomfortably as his belly rounded out beneath his hands and bubbled with nausea. Oh God...he was so full... He burped again. Jack was thrashing around now, and though he could feel Crutchie trying to stop him it wasn’t helping. The feeling of two squirmy boys fighting under his skin and abusing his poor stomach made him want to throw up. But he couldn’t. He had to keep them down.
His stomach was still pinching and struggling around his unwilling meal when the Delanceys finally found him, cursing and muttering something about Jack and Crutchie. Oscar and Morris, two sour boys with a love for all things violent. They delighted in the misfortune of anyone they deemed inferior to themselves, which, unfortunately for Davey, included him as well as his friends. He swallowed nervously, tightening his stomach to keep the two inside from moving, and hunched his shoulders in an attempt to appear as small as possible. Maybe if he stayed quiet and surrendered they’d let him off easy?
Oscar was the first to acknowledge his presence. “Well well, would ya look at that Morris. I didn’t expect ta see Cowboy’s little pet hidin’ out here all by himself. Musta finally decided he was too good for the rats outside huh.”
Morris laughed, puffing himself up threateningly. Even hunched over Davey was a fair bit taller than them, and though he was far from imposing, the Delanceys still couldn’t help but feel intimidated by his hight. One of the reasons they loved to pick on him so much.
“Say new kid, you didn’t happen ta see Cowboy and the gimp run through here did ya?” Oscar sneered, lip curling up as he leaned into Davey’s face. “See, we’s been meaning ta have a little chat with them, but they ran like the lousy cowards they is.”
Morris snorted. “Dunno how they managed ta do it, seein as the crip can’t run.” His voice was dripping with obvious disgust and Davey bristled.
It was no secret the Delanceys held no respect for Crutchie, but hearing them use such disgusting language to refer to his friend turned his stomach. He could feel Jack tense inside, clearly overheating the conversation, and he swore he could nearly hear him cursing the Delanceys out under his breath. It almost made him smile. Almost. “N-no, I haven’t seen anyone else back here except you.” His voice was shaky, obviously terrified and wanting to be left alone. He hugged his stomach, hating the way he could feel Crutchie shaking against his insides. Just what had these two threatened to do to his friends.
Oscar cocked an eyebrow. “Oh? You sure bout that? Cause we seen them runnin’ this way and them rats seem to like ya. So why don’t you tell us where they’s hiding, and we’ll let ya off easy.” He glanced at Morris, jerking his head in a signal for his brother to search the alley while he kept an eye on Davey. Oscar might have been the younger of the two, but he was definitely the brains of the operation.
Davey swallowed nervously, bile rising in his throat as his eyes flicked back and fourth between Oscar and Morris. “I-I told you, they’re not here. Maybe t-they ducked into another alley or something?”
Oscar’s eyes narrowed and he looked about to say something when Morris called back from the back wall of the narrow alley. “They’s not here Oscar! The punk was tellin’ the truth.”
Oscar snarled, lip curling as he stared up at Davey. “Fine, we’ll let ya off easy this time, but if we finds out you was hidin’ them after all then you’s dead. Ya hear me Jacobs? Dead.”
Davey nodded, shrinking back as Oscar turned to leave. Maybe he’d actually get off without any bruises? That’s what it seemed like at least, and he rubbed at his stomach as he started to relax. That proved to be a fatal mistake. Morris noticed his strange protectiveness of his stomach and a malicious grin crept across his face.
“Heya Oscar, looks like our pal Davey here has got a problem with his stomach.” He cracked his knuckles. “Maybe we should fix it for him. Ya know, as a reward for all his help.”
Davey paled. “W-wait no-!” Too late. Morris struck quick as a rattlesnake and delivered a vicious punch to Davey’s soft gut just below his ribs and folded arms. It missed his actual stomach thank God, but that didn’t mean it tickled either. He heaved bitterly and dropped to his knees, gagging and trying desperately to keep from throwing up. Morris laughed, and he could hear Oscar congratulating him from somewhere further up as they left. His eyes were so full of tears that he couldn’t see where they were, but it didn’t matter. It hurt. It hurt so bad, and when a wiggling lump rose in his throat he couldn’t keep it down. So he did what his body had been telling him to do for some time now. He doubled over and vomited.
Jack was the first one out, coughing and blinking up at Davey in the sunlight as he slid to the ground in a stream of bile and various other stomach juices. Crutchie was next. Davey heaved again, gagging and coughing until a second lump rose in his throat and Jack rolled out of the way just barely in time to avoid Crutchie and the cocktail of fluids that gushed out with him. The two tiny boys clung to each other as Davey continued to heave, thick strands of saliva dripping from his mouth as tears streamed down his cheeks.
Finally he seemed to get things under control. He gasped, wiping his mouth off with a sleeve and dabbing at his eyes. Ugh...everything hurt... The second he regained his bearings Davey tenderly scooped up Jack and Crutchie who sat steaming in the cool air, refusing to let go of each other. “Guys I’m so sorry. I didn’t...h-he hit me and I couldn’t...” He hiccuped, tears already beginning to streak down his cheeks again. “Are you okay? I-I didn’t hurt you did I?”
Jack shook his head and Crutchie smiled. “We’s fine Dave, thanks ta you. They woulda beat us black and blue if ya hadn’t found a spot to stash us.” Crutchie’s voice was quiet and clearly exhausted from the ordeal he and Jack had just went through, but he also sounded amazingly grateful.
Davey smiled. He took his dry sleeve and transferred them both to one hand, starting to try and clean them off. Being covered in stomach juices and half digested breakfast seemed like the last thing anyone should have to endure after all, and it was the least he could do after putting them through that. “Jack? How about you?”
Jack looked up at Davey, still squinting in the light with his slimy hair stuck up in all directions. “Dave..., ya know I love ya, but you’s got some serious explainin’ ta do.”
Davey laughed bitterly. Oh he knew, and it would take a long time to get Jack to forgive him for this little stunt. But his friends were safe and to him, that was the most important thing.