Work Text:
Kyrie groaned as he shifted on the couch. He was getting a good idea of why the other classes of guardians were nervous around him. The couch alone could fit at least three of him right now. The pain at this size was worse than when he was the size of normal humans. His whole body felt tight, each shift like he was going to shatter. He’d need to climb into his bed eventually, but for now he was happy to just be miserable wallowing in his pain.
A heavy sigh escaped him. At least Melody was gone for the weekend. He wasn’t sure he wanted to see her when he was stuck at a third of his full height. He didn’t want to explain why he was this size either.
A part of him hoped he’d hear the smaller door open and Melody would come home early. She’d see him and start rambling about fixing things. He’d just be happy his little ice cube was home. She’d sit in his hand trying to be brave while he brought her up close. Then he’d keep her near his nose so when he grew she’d have a solid place to hold onto.
He jumped from a far off noise. He couldn’t tell what it was, his senses were a bit off. Smaller classes of guardians didn’t get hearing as sensitive as his own. At least that’s what he was told after the medication brought him down. It terrified him how little he could actually hear at first. Human size it made sense, this one he was still big enough to be dangerous.
He heard more noises. Kyrie buried his head into the cushion. He should turn on the tv or something to block out the noise. When he couldn’t tell what they were it made him nervous. He kept thinking about Melody, what if it was her? What if she needed him and he couldn’t hear? What if she was locked out and needed him to let her inside? That thought made him pale, he wouldn’t hear her if she was in trouble just outside.
“ Since when could you change your size?!” Melody’s voice reached him with panic consuming it. He pushed himself up, struggling to keep his arms steady as he sought out the small woman. He couldn’t see as far or as clearly, he couldn’t see her. It took a bit of time for her to come close enough to clear up for him. He couldn’t see her face right now, he usually could while on the couch. “Is this a thing like your memories that they don’t talk about? Are you ok? Should I call someone?”
As she came closer he couldn’t hold back his own smile. Hearing her worry about him even when he was something so different warmed his heart. He let himself fall to the couch again, groaning a little. She squeaked, he never noticed how much she squeaked before he became a guardian. It made him laugh which got an annoyed huff from the woman he couldn’t even see anymore.
“Kyrie, this isn’t funny! What if this is some sickness they don’t talk about?!” Melody shouted. He could hear her fear only getting worse. He took a chance, setting his hand down with his fingers curled on the ground. Pain burned through his nerves. Talking felt hard too, he knew it would be easier once she was in front of him.
It didn’t take long for her small cold hands to find purchase on his fingers. It felt strange how much space she took up on his skin. Normally it felt impossible for her to even try to cover his fingertip. Right now the icy skin against him stretched to reach most of the distance across. He knew she was doing it on purpose.
Kyrie twitched one of his fingers not too close to her. A silent invitation to climb on his hand. She didn’t hesitate, her weight a welcome feeling on his fingers. Slowly, he tilted his hand so she slid onto his palm. She’d gotten better about heights, even able to sit on the couch with him. They’d learned he stayed still in his sleep there too. He pulled his hand just a little from the ground, her fingers dug into his skin, but she didn’t complain.
He brought his hand up slowly. Every time her grip against his skin changed he froze. She’d tap his palm and he’d start again. It felt amazing once her face was in front of him and he could see her. Really see her . Beautiful brown eyes staring at him. Brown hair tied tightly back in a ponytail. It made him smile, a sign of her working hard. Her glasses were off already, she probably left them in the house that matched her.
“Kyrie…” she whispered. He jumped a bit, her voice sounded weak. He still wasn’t used to it when she sounded small. She was someone always together, these moments were special for him. “Please tell me what’s going on. I’ll do what I can, just talk to me. I’ve never heard of a guardian changing to another class. Are you in danger?”
“I’m fine,” he muttered. His voice was quiet, just barely loud enough to hear this close. It took all his energy to handle moving to hold her. He brought her close to his face. As he tilted his hand he noticed the tears starting to fall from her eyes. It broke his heart. “They wanted me to try a new medicine.”
“What does it actually do?” She slid off onto the couch. Her cold hands touched his skin and he sighed. The second he felt her near him the tension in his body began to fade. She grunted as he knocked her off her feet. “Kyrie! You need to answer me!”
“Makes me this size.” He moved, barely keeping in the groan. It took a little time to actually move to a point he was looking down on her. She still had tears on her face. “Just… hurts.”
“Why did you have to take it?!” Melody started to wipe her eyes. When her small hands were pulled away she glared at him. “You know the other one hurts so why would this be any better?!”
He couldn’t keep himself sitting up. Slowly he returned to lying against her. She didn’t seem bothered. He couldn’t understand why her skin felt like ice. It wasn’t cold out. Melody just always felt like this against him, a source of grounding. It was something since he grew, but he didn’t mind it. Holding her felt like he was giving the most important person in his life the warmth she needed.
“Government asked. Thought it would hurt less.” He made a face she probably couldn’t see. The image of her near him was so blurry, better senses didn’t make him see her close well. He wanted to see her face. “They were wrong. It’s worse.”
“So they just sent you home like this!? How are you supposed to handle this? Can you even get up? What about eating or-or anything!?” He brought his hand up to her. Carefully curling his fingers around her and sighing. This made any pain he felt worth it. Having her here and safe meant he was doing the right things.
“Fine by tomorrow.” She squirmed until he took his hand away. Without the ice of his small love the pain flared in his fingers. Her effect on him was inexplicable. “You’re early.”
“Because I rushed to get home so we could spend the weekend together! I didn’t think I’d find you half dead and a third your height on the couch! So what if you’re fine by tomorrow. Someone should at least stay and make sure you’re handling it well.” She pushed away, standing on the cushion and walking around. It scared him. He always thought of how easily she could take the wrong step. That for just the simplest mistake she’d be gone. He would rather her find him on the ground.
“I’m fine.” She was far enough he could see her again. She turned around with her sharp glare and folded her arms. A stomp of her foot made her anger more adorable than fiery, but he knew how quickly that thought would turn against him. Her anger was fierce, finding it cute just made him lose arguments more.
“You clearly aren’t! If you’re fine then sit up.” He made a face. It was easy to meet her stubbornness with his own, but he couldn’t this time. He just closed his eyes to avoid facing her. “I’m right aren’t I?”
Kyrie just made a noise. Melody started mumbling to herself. He let out a sigh, his whole body was burning. He just wanted the ice of his girlfriend against him. Honestly he’d rather be small enough he could hold her and feel that ice against all of him at once. He sucked in a sharp breath when her hands touched his jawline. It was awful when the touch disappeared and his hair was tugged.
She was grunting near his chin. It made him smile, she wasn’t a good climber. He moved a hand close and pinched her between two fingers. Ever since they met she was self conscious about her weight, but he never cared. He promised a long time ago he’d always be able to carry her. Being a guardian made it easier to keep. He let her off on his face, the most likely spot she was trying to reach. It made him shudder when her skin touched him again.
She crawled across his cheek, each movement left a trail of ice. It was the first time since he got home his eyes felt heavy. She stopped near his eyes. Her blurry face stared down at him with a look he wasn’t sure he liked. Melody just ran her hands across his skin in silence. He loved it.
“Next time you tell me and I’m coming with you ok?” she whispered. He shook his head just enough she had to catch herself just below his eye. That icy touch sent a jolt of relief through him. “Yes I am. And I’m going to argue with them about this test or any other they want. My job is to help guardians talk to others, let me help you… please?”
He stayed silent. She hadn’t planned to do that at first. She wanted to work on technology and software for the guardians. To help them have an easy life where their size wasn’t such a big focus. She changed her goals after he changed. She changed for him.
“...Only if you stay on me for a while,” he mumbled. Her hands continued to run across his skin. Each prick of ice from her small fingers made his tension fall away.
“As if that wasn’t a given. Get some rest, you’ll probably feel better once you do. I’ll just read a book on my phone, maybe even out loud so you can understand my ranting about the latest chapters when you wake up.”
Melody disappeared from his sight. He almost whined when the way she was tracing his skin left. It wasn’t long before his little ice cube settled against his cheek. A single hand running across his skin again. He laughed when an audiobook started to play. Both her hands started to write the spoken words on his skin. Each letter made his eyes grow heavier. They’d talk about her coming along later, for now he’d let the ice of her touch chase away the fires of his pain.