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Ian wasn’t excited to go to a meet and greet with giants alone, but it could help his sister. If he could prove nothing happened when he attended as a human alone, Mira might start feeling safer around at least their parents. He kept repeating that to himself as giants came to meet him. They kept picking him up in uncomfortably tight grips and posing for selfies. He wasn’t even getting a say in it. He had started to wish his parents were here, his dad would have been loud enough to shake the room the first time he got grabbed.
“Aww I thought for sure they were kidding when they said NervousGamer was a human,” a voice said. He turned to face them, a bit intimidated with the way they towered over him. He swallowed, he’d been around giants long enough to know when they were too quiet for another one to hear.
“Heh, it’s true I’m a human. I announced it when I started. I don’t know why so many thought it was a joke,” he laughed. He didn’t like it when their hand came closer and their fingers started to wrap around him. It wasn’t like the others who were just excited.
“Well at least I can prove to my friends I met you.” Their smirk made his blood run cold. He looked to the guards who were supposed to keep him safe. They weren’t even looking his way.
“H-how dare you! You can’t just ta-” His words were cut off as the fingers gripped him tighter and one started to cover his face. He managed to look over his shoulder and see the guards hadn’t even heard his yell. They were mostly here for him and none of them were focused on the human in the room of giants.
The giant shifted their grip so he was forced to curl up underneath the fingers. They shoved their hand somewhere, probably a pocket. He was screaming and trying to kick to get attention. Someone had to notice he was gone, the next giant in line would. Then they’d shut things down and find him he’d be fine. He just had to rely on someone noticing. He flinched when the giant started to move around a lot, it wasn’t like walking.
“Excuse me!” they called out. He could feel tears starting as the terrible reality he was in set in. No one was going to notice. “Isn’t this where I meet NervousGamer? He’s not here, did I come too late?”
“Oh,” he heard one of the guards say. It was the one who dropped him from just a bit too high earlier too. “Human took a break, I’ll put up a sign. You can wait or come back later.”
“Aw, I was looking forward to meeting him. I don’t have time to wait. Thank you for telling me, sir.”
He went limp as he felt the giant start to walk away. He tried to move his head when he felt them use their thumb to pet him. He knew some giants were like this, he should have been more careful. Not only is he screwed, Mira won’t ever trust a giant again when he doesn’t come home. He could hear the footsteps of giants all around him as the one kidnapping him left. He was fucked.
“Stop!” He heard someone call. He thought he knew the voice, but he wasn’t sure. The giant holding him kept going, they might have sped up he couldn’t tell. “I said stop. How dare you try to kidnap someone!”
Ian started squirming again. He had hope. Someone did notice that they took him. The grip didn’t tighten, it seemed like they didn’t want to kill him or hurt him too badly. He could feel it as they picked up speed again, this time he could hear heavier footsteps coming closer. The one holding him was pulled back and he was let go, falling a bit deeper into the pocket. Of course the giant who tried to kidnap him kept their pockets full of stuff he’d never climb to the edge like this.
He screamed when a hand entered the pocket again. He could only assume it was the same person trying to take him, maybe with empty hands the one who noticed assumed it was a mistake. Ian started kicking and trying to fight back, but the hand didn’t stop. It finally started to wrap the long fingers around him and he felt ready to be sick. These fingers were definitely longer and the skin was a rich brown rather than the pasty white that had grabbed him. He desperately hoped they were a good person and not someone else planning to take him.
“Hey, just cause you’re some famous podcaster or whatever doesn’t mean you can go around harassing people!” the guard from earlier shouted. The fingers grabbing Ian moved faster, but there was still significant care in how they seemed to handle him. “You can’t go accusing people of kidnapping either. The human streamer just took a break and this person just missed the chance to see it.”
“If you want to remotely not be considered an accomplice to attempted kidnapping I’d call the authorities now,” the new giant growled. He heard some more footsteps coming up and his heart started pounding. He was still in the pocket and he couldn’t make his voice work. They were going to leave him with the one taking him.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” a new voice yelled. He knew that one, it was the nice guard who said they’d come by to help him to the break area later. “The guest didn’t go anywhere, I was supposed to pick him up in twenty minutes. What the hell did you let happen?”
“It’s just a human who cares if it ran off,” the cruel guard said. Ian couldn’t get the thoughts about Mira out of his head. Is this how she thought all giants acted?
“I’d like to leave, I’m going to miss my bus,” his kidnapper tried. He still couldn’t make his voice work. This was awful. The hand he was in tensed for a moment before pulling him out sickeningly fast. The hand turned quickly leaving him on his back and staring at the ceiling. His chest was heaving. He had been positive he’d never get out of the grip of the one who took him.
“Tch, all of this over a dumb human, just have them give it an apology and let’s move on.” Ian mustered all his strength to glare at the guard. It wasn’t easy to hold it with the way they were looking at him.
“That’s it, both of you are being taken in for this. I have a sneaking suspicion this wasn’t a lucky chance for our would be kidnapper here.” The kind guard’s face hovered above him with a look he couldn’t understand. “Sir, do you feel safe going with the gentleman who stopped this to the break area?”
Ian turned to look at the face of his savior. The green eyes staring at him almost made him think of his dad’s. He nodded, positive his voice wouldn’t work. The stranger pulled him close to his chest as he walked away from the scene. It was the first time Ian noticed how big of a commotion it was. He could see the phones being held up, so much for keeping this incident quiet from Mira. The giant carrying him stopped by the area he’d been taken from and picked up the bag that he’d put off to the side as giants started grabbing him.
Everything moved in a blur as the giant walked. They reached the area that his parents had dropped him off in and sat at a table far in the corner. The giant lowered his hand to the table, waiting with a look of concern until Ian finally climbed off. He stood and walked away, which admittedly terrified him. He didn’t want to be alone right now. All the stranger did was go to the area with human sized refreshments. He came back with way too many, but Ian greedily drank from the water bottles he was offered.
“Are you alright?” the stranger asked. He looked up at him almost shocked by the look he was giving him. It felt like how Ash and Rhys looked when he said he’d go alone. “I should have stepped in sooner. I assumed you’d told the staff it was fine to be handled like that. I’m sorry it got that bad.”
“It’s,” he stopped to cough a bit before trying again. “It’s my own fault. I should have probably said something. At least not have come alone.”
“Some fans are like that. I know it’s not the same, but I’ve had human fans climb into my pockets or bags before so I’d take them home and they could stay with me.” Ian actually appreciated the look of disgust that crossed the giant’s features. “It’s a disgusting preference some have to want to own or be owned by someone they idolize. I’m happy to help you handle giants any time, I can’t imagine other humans would be a great deterrent.”
“Actually, my parents are giants. I just tried to prove a point to someone, show giants are safe and I guess it backfired a little. My name’s Ian by the way.” The giant grimaced but offered a finger out to him.
“My name is Mikhail, you can call me Mik. I only let my friends do that so you have another giant you can rely on at least. I’m at these things a lot for this area especially after all. I hope at least you and your friend know that not all of us want to treat humans so poorly.”
“I do, she just has been through a lot. Have we met before?” Ian felt safe with Mik. He was kind and saved him from being kidnapped. It would have been easy to just ignore the little human getting taken away.
“I think I’d remember a human like you. I do run a podcast called ‘What the Ghoul?’ you may know my voice from there. Also, I can be pretty sure they’re going to need you to stay for a while you may want to call your family. I’ll stay with you as long as you need though. I just can assume it’s already gotten around.”
They shared a look as they both remembered the sounds of the pictures being taken and the phones held up. Ian knew he was right and slowly pulled the bag Mik had retrieved closer. He could feel the buzzing already. He pulled out his phone and had way too many calls and messages to handle. As much as he wanted to call his parents first, he knew he had to tell Mira. He pulled up her chat and smiled at the picture of her in a shirt from her favorite podcast. He hit call before the name on the shirt registered in his head and looked back up at Mik. The ringing stopped and he could already hear the panicked attempts at her speaking.
“Mira, Mira calm down,” he started. “I’m fine I promise, the guy who saved me is my friend. His name’s Mikhail, you might even like talking to him. He runs your favorite podcast.”
“Just come home please? Alessia said she’d come pick me up from my place. You can’t trust a gi-,” Mira cried.
“Mik’s my friend. I have to hang out while they deal with things. I’m going to call mom and dad. I promise I’m ok Mira. I also promise no more events like this alone ok? Go with Alessia. I’ll make sure to answer any message you send, promise.”
“I’m guessing that’s who you tried to prove a point to?” Mik asked as soon as Ian hung up. He started searching for his dad’s number. His mom would want to stay by Mira if she can right now, even with how scared she is. He hit call and looked up at Mik again.
“Yeah she’s actually my sister…” Ian waited for the disgust and annoyance that people usually had towards her. Mira had no idea how much they noticed. Mik just looked sad. The ringing stopped before Mik could say anything else.
“Ian! Are you alright? Where are you? I’m on my way already. I’ll come to wherever you’re waiting, stay away from crowds!” his dad panicked. He had an idea and put the call on speaker.
“I’m alright. I’m in that break room you dropped me off in this morning. My new friend is staying with me, he’s the one who saved me.” Ian looked at Mik expectantly and got a look of shock back.
“Uh hello, I’m happy to stay with Ian as long as needed…”
“See you when you get here!”
Ian hung up the phone. He didn’t want to have to hear the panic or the lecture he knew was coming. He grinned at Mik, but grew worried when he couldn’t read his expression. Mik folded his arms on the table and lowered his head so he was closer to Ian’s level. Ian hadn’t expected to feel as uncomfortable as he did from that. His mom and dad talked to him like this all the time, it should be fine. He just tried to keep his smile on and act like nothing was wrong.
“You know that it’s ok to be scared,” Mik started. Ian flinched, he didn’t think he’d been obvious. “I’m guessing whatever your sister went through already had you nervous and you ran into two giants that were treating you like nothing. If you want I can sit somewhere else to keep an eye out until your dad gets here.”
“No, no I’m fine. I’ve been around giants my whole life. It’s just like meeting messed up humans, it happens,” he tried.
His smile was shaking and he hoped Mik couldn’t see it. Mik moved so only one arm was cushioning his head. The other now had his hand out and moved towards Ian. There wasn’t a place he could go, he was going to be grabbed again. He shut his eyes and hugged himself waiting for the long warm fingers to trap him again. It didn’t come, he could feel the heat of the hand though. He opened his eyes and saw Mik looking at him with deep sadness.
“I don’t think you noticed, but when I tried to shake your hand you just ignored it. It’s ok to be scared, Ian. You don’t have a reason to trust me, or any of the staff here right now. If anyone thinks you’re overreacting I’ll make sure to speak up if you can’t.”
He didn’t want to cry. He didn’t want to be scared. If he started being scared he couldn’t do anything to help Mira. The hand near him had him panicking even if Mik made him feel safe. The idea of someone else showing up and taking him wouldn’t leave his head. He started sniffling and soon he was wailing. The hand near him moved a bit closer and he tensed again. Before Mik could pull away Ian latched on to a finger and cried into it.
“I can’t be scared, if I’m scared how do I help Mira?! Except maybe she’s right to be so scared! No one was going to notice!” he screamed. “I was going to be taken and never see my family again. I couldn’t fight back, I couldn’t speak. Even when you stopped them I thought for sure that they were going to be believed and I’d just never be seen again.”
The finger he latched onto bent as the hand around him moved. Mik was careful as he started to scoop Ian into his palm, all the fear he felt forgotten as he cried. Mik saved him and even made sure he called his family. He was safe right now. He knew that Mik was moving, but didn’t care much of what he was doing exactly. He only figured it out when he was pressed against a cloth that had something hard behind it. A comforting beat was coming from the hard wall and he realized Mik was hugging him to his chest.
“Just let it out Ian, I’ll make sure you get home. We’re friends now. I’m someone you can call if you need help. You can still act like you aren’t scared to your sister. You can let me know when you’re scared.”
Ian was pretty sure he couldn’t feel it, but nodded into Mik’s chest. He didn’t get why he cared so much when they just met, but he didn’t care. It was nice having someone here right now while this just happened. He was terrified of everyone, he wasn’t even sure he’d feel safe with his dad. It was the first time he ever saw giants as dangerous and he never wanted to again.
Mikhail couldn’t explain why he cared so much about this human. There was something in the way he’d acted from the second he’d arrived at the table for the meet and greet. He couldn’t just ignore the kid here alone especially when he was the only human there. It didn’t make sense to him when the staff Mikhail knew was for Ian wandered off. Holding the human while he cried just cemented whatever started today. He’d help the kid stay safe and be someone he can open up to about his fears.