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“Scar. Scar!” Grian tried getting Scar’s attention. He was currently in his pocket and banging against the man’s chest. He still kept his voice low because despite his wish for Scar to hear him, he really didn’t want to be heard by anyone else.
He felt more than heard Scar hum and Grian took that as a sign that he was heard. He was right, when a few minutes later, he felt Scar stop walking and a hand suddenly descended upon him from above.
Grian braced himself as fingers as long as he was wrapped around his frame. No matter how many times this had happened, he wasn’t sure he would ever get used to it. The grip solidified and he was lifted up and out of the pocket. Thankfully, he wasn’t kept in the pinched grip for long. He was quickly and carefully placed onto another hand.
Grian looked up to see Scar looking at him in concern. “What’s up, G? Is everything okay?”
Grian shook his head and glanced around to see where they were. It looked like Scar had ducked around a dead-end corner, out of sight of any of the other patrons. Good, no one should be bothering them over here.
Grian recounted what he had seen. It had just been a quick glance out of the pocket, just to see where they were at. That had been enough time to see something…or, rather, someone .
“Someone in here has a borrower with them.” Grian revealed and Scar’s eyes went wide.
“Are you sure?” At Grian’s nod, Scar bit his lip. “Well, maybe they're like us?” Scar tried, wanting to give the benefit of the doubt. But his already uneasy smile dropped when Grian shook his head.
“He was in a cage .” Grian said, his voice cracking a little.
Scar winced. “Oh. Yeah, that’s not good.”
“That’s not the only thing though.” Grian continued, fidgeting with his sweater.
“What do you mean?” Scar asked, wondering what else there could be. Grian looked him in the eyes, his expression pained. It sent Scar’s heart plummeting.
“I think…I think I know him.” Grian admitted. He hadn’t gotten much of a good look at the borrower himself but…well, Grian would recognize that green streak anywhere.
“You…know him? Like, he’s a friend of yours?” At Scar’s question, Grian simply nodded. A friend of Grian’s…Grian had never mentioned any friends before. He was very secretive like that. So for one of them to be here …
“What did the human who has him look like? Where were they?” Scar asked, expression serious.
Grian blinked and tried to think about the brief moment he saw. “The human was wearing a black suit…and had slicked black hair…and he was over in the far corner, in a section that wasn’t very crowded.” Scar nodded along to Grian’s description. He then brought Grian close to himself, hiding him while Scar looked around the corner, trying to see where Grian described.
…There. Grian had been right. In the back corner, in the VIP section, sat a man wearing a fancy black suit and a smug smile. On his right, in plain view, was a cage with a borrower trapped inside. The thought made Scar’s blood boil. Borrowers were people too, he couldn’t imagine ever putting Grian in a cage like that.
Scar needed a plan.
He backed back into the corner and looked down at Grian. “Do you trust me?”
Grian was taken by surprise. “Wha- I mean, I…” Grian took a deep breath and sat straight up, looking Scar in the eyes, determined. “Of course I do.” He didn’t think he trusted anyone more.
Scar smiled at that, touched. Hopefully, his plan didn’t ruin that. “Then follow my lead.”
A quick bribe to the bouncer let him into the VIP section of the casino easily. He played the part of walking around, checking out the games, trying to look like he belonged.
It wasn’t very hard, honestly.
He casually passed by the man with the borrower, his eyes honing in on the little guy naturally. He stopped, gaining the man’s attention. “Pardon me, but I’ve got to say that is quite the catch you’ve got there.” Scar said, voice as smooth as honey.
The man huffed but Scar could see the ghost of a vicious grin on his face. “Move along buddy, I don’t think you can afford a game with me.” He laid a hand on top of the cage and he saw the borrower inside flinch. “Especially not with this as the prize.”
“Hey!” A voice suddenly shouted, startling Scar briefly out of his act. He looked down to see it was the borrower who had spoken. “I’m not some prize to be won!”
“ Shut it! ” The man hisses, banging his hand against the cage and making the borrower inside fall over. Scar contained his own flinch, remaining stoic. But he almost broke seeing the borrower cowering after all that.
“Actually,” Scar started, mentally preparing himself for what he was about to do. “I think I can. Afford it, that is.” Scar reached into his pocket, his hand wrapping around Grian, firm but gentle. He felt Grian squirm against his fingers, tiny hands trying to push at them. He bit the inside of his cheek, carefully letting one of his fingers run along his back, trying to settle him. Thankfully, Grian seemed to get the message and he was still by the time Scar pulled him out.
At the sight of another borrower, the man’s eyes went wide.
“So, you’ve managed to catch one yourself.” The man said, leaning back in his seat and crossing his arms.
“Yep. And I would love to add that little one to my collection.” He pointed at the other borrower, who glared at him. “Of course, if you end up winning, I suppose you’d be adding another tiny to your prize pool.”
Scar could see the other man thinking it over. Looking between the borrower he had trapped and Grian. Finally, he motioned for Scar to have a seat across from him. Scar grinned and took it.
“We’re playing this the right way though, so prizes in the center.” The man said, tapping on the cage. Scar frowned at that but not enough to put the other man off. He was loath to let Grian out of his grasp but he didn’t want to push his luck.
“Alright by me.” Scar said with a fake but convincing smile. He glanced down at Grian, who glanced back up at him. He gave a tiny, subtle nod and Scar let out a breath.
The cage was pushed to the center of the table and the man opened the cage, making sure the borrower still inside couldn’t escape. Scar reached in and placed Grian inside as well and the cage was shut and locked once more. Immediately both borrowers huddled together and Scar could just make out faint whispers. Hopefully Grian was explaining everything to him.
The cards were passed out by the dealer and Scar took a peek at his hand. Not bad, all things considered. But definitely on the lower end of his chance to win. No matter, he wasn’t a scammer at heart for nothing. With quick hands, as Scar saw no one looking at him, he slipped one of the cards into his sleeve and replaced it in less than a second.
It had taken him a lot of practice but it had all been worth it when Scar took note that no one had noticed. Perfect.
The cards were revealed and the dealer announced Scar as the winner.
The man sneered at him as Scar stood from his seat and reached for the cage in the center. “Well, my good man, it seems I’m adding this little one to my collection after all. Sorry about that, but all's fair in love and war and all that.” Scar said with a wink, grabbing the handle of the cage.
Unfortunately, they weren’t out of the woods yet as the man’s hand went over his own to keep him from taking his prize. “Double or nothing.” The man growled out, practically spitting in Scar’s face. Scar used his free hand to wipe it away, glaring at the man. He tried to reign in his anger to a normal amount but it was starting to get difficult.
“Sorry but no. I’d like to just take my prize and go now.” With that said, Scar slapped the other man’s hand away and brought the cage close to himself.
The other man looked like he wanted to jump him but thankfully, security had already been called. Scar sent a thankful look to the dealer, who nodded and went back to work. Scar watched in glee as the man was taken away and escorted out of the building for making a scene and not abiding by the rules.
“And that’s how it’s done.” Scar said to himself, proud his plan had worked.
Scar slipped out of the VIP section into a secluded back corner of the casino, trying very hard to hide what was inside the cage. He didn’t need anymore people seeing the borrowers, after all. He found an empty table and took a seat.
Once he was sure no one was around, he placed the cage onto the table and unlocked the door. “I swear Scar, you’re going to give me a heart attack one of these days.” Grian said as he walked out of the cage, the other borrower not far behind but a lot more hesitant.
“It worked though! And you never had anything to worry about.” He pulled up an ace from his sleeve, showing it off with a wink. “I always come prepared.”
Grian rolled his eyes and then seemed to remember they weren’t alone. He moved out of the way, giving Scar a better view of his friend. The other borrower seemed to be a bit shorter than Grian, which he hadn’t thought was possible. He also had a distinct green streak in his hair and Scar wondered if he had dyed it or not. And if so, how?
“Scar, this is Joel. Joel, Scar.” Grian introduced and Scar did his best to bow from a seated position.
“Nice to meet you, Mr. Joel.” Scar said with what he hoped was a reassuring smile.
Joel still seemed unsure but he gave a little wave before quickly putting his hand back down. “Grian said you were trustworthy so…I believe him. And you did save me so…” He looked at Grian.
“I told him as much as I could when I got into the cage.” He smiled at Joel. “Don’t worry, Scar would never hurt us or keep us trapped.”
Scar nodded in total agreement. “Yeah, we’ll get you back home…or wherever it is you need to go.”
Joel nodded. “...Thanks.”
Scar grinned. He knew it would take a while for Joel to warm up to him and to the idea that Scar, despite being a human, wasn’t planning on keeping or harming them. After all, it had taken Grian a bit of time to get to that point too. But either way, Scar was more than willing to help. After all…
“Of course! A friend of Grian’s is a friend of mine!”