Chapter Text
Mako always hated his birthday. Too much attention on him, loud congratulations, songs following him, birthday beats. He hated the large, glittery button that was pinned to his hoodie, the big ‘16’ a glaring reminder that he had an evening of pretending to like shitty presents. He spent the entire day dodging people intent on punching his arm 17 times, counting out the years and another for “good luck”. He, of course, retreated to the corner of the cafeteria with Gabe and Amelie, frowning into his sandwich, his fingers tapping on his water bottle as he focused on eating and not on yet another happy birthday song being sung at him.
“Hey, it's not all bad.” Gabe said, nudging Mako with his elbow, nearly knocking his food onto the floor. “The gift we got you this year is really good. And it's just gonna be us at the party. No surprise guests.”
Amelie nodded as she swallowed her mouthful of sandwich. “We've been saving up for weeks for this so you'd better appreciate it.” She sipped her orange juice, eyes lingering on the horribly sparkly badge that Mako was still being forced to wear. “You're gonna love it though. It's just what you need.”
Mako dusted the crumbs off his hands and chest, using his tongue to loosen food from his teeth. “It'd better be a step up from last year. I mean, really, you need to stop trying to get me a date already.” He noticed the shared look between his friends and scowled at them. “Guys…” He said, a warning tone to his voice.
Gabe held up his hands, smirking. “It's not what you think it is. Honestly, you're gonna love it.” He sounded sincere enough so Mako didn't say anything else about it.
The rest of the day was as awful as the morning. His shoulders were sore, his ears were ringing and he just wanted to slide into bed and forget about it for another year. However, he was dragged off the bus a stop too early and pulled reluctantly to Amelie’s house, sighing as he was ushered onto the couch. He sank into the plush cushions, pulling his inhaler from his pocket, breathing easy for the first time all day. He closed his eyes, trying to have a moment of quiet before the party began. However, the music was soon turned up full blast and he was given a drink he didn't want. He sat there, watching as Gabe put his presents on the rug and Amelie went to the kitchen, fussing about.
He always liked Amelie’s house. It was dark in the decor, all purple, red and blue. Not like the awful cream, yellow and pink floral patterns in his home. Plus, the furniture was large, the chairs never leaving half of his butt unsupported, and the sofa and beds were very comfy. He always felt like he could raid the fridge or watch anything, it was like his home away from home. He put his sock clad feet up on the sofa, cuddling into the cushions like he wanted them to absorb him.
“Here we go!” Mako looked up to see the attractive glow of birthday candles. He felt a smile creep onto his face as Amelie sat beside him, passing him a plate of cake. It was clearly home made, the icing lumpy and discoloured but still making a happy pig face. He smiled, thanking them both before blowing out his candles, thinking about what he wanted to wish. “What did you wish for?” Amelie asked as she pulled out the candles, handing Mako a knife.
“I can't tell you that.” He said as he cut a slice out of the piggy. “It might not come true.” He set slices on paper plates and put the rest of the cake on the coffee table. He then took a bite, resisting the urge to wrinkle his nose at the taste. It was burnt and overly sweet but he was happy that they made it for them. “So who did the baking and who did the icing?” He asked.
“I baked it. And iced it. Amelie licked the spoon and told me I was doing everything wrong.” Gabe said, putting his cake down after a bite, clearly not wanting to taste any more of his horrific creation.
“Hey, I wrapped the gifts!” Amelie said, having not touched her cake. “Remember Jack’s birthday? How many paper cuts did you get? I had to cut your hair off to get the tape out. And then I had to rewrap it myself!”
Mako chuckled quietly and wiped his mouth with his thumb, most of his cake having been eaten. “Gifts now?” He asked, washing down the monstrous cake with a gulp of his drink.
“Yeah! Okay, this one is from the other guys.” Gabe passed Mako a very well wrapped gift that was squashy to the touch.
Mako ripped it open, not noticing Amelie’s slight twitch at the destruction of her careful handiwork. He held out a large jumper with a smiling pig on that was larger than his size. He swapped his plain black hoodie for the jumper, slipping it on and immediately feeling a lot more cosy. “This is great. It's so warm… I've gotta thank them for this.”
“No need.” Amelie smiled. “I'm snapchatting this and everyone can see. I think the design was Hana’s idea. There was that one or the one with the pig’s head on the front and the butt on the back and she thought you'd like that one best.”
Gabe grabbed the big box, passing it to Mako. It was heavy and rattled as it was shaken. Again, the wrappings were torn away and the lid was lifted. “Huh…” Mako pulled out a cage that seemed fit for a hamster. There was a wheel inside and a load of accessories for a pet. “Sweet, you got me a hamster? Or a rat? I do like rats.” He opened the cage, pulling out the plastic accessories one by one. He frowned a little when he saw a bed that was doll sized with thin, nylon blankets. A coloured plastic table and chair. Thin, scratchy clothes that wouldn't even fit around his finger.
Mako had a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach as he was passed a small box with holes poked in the lid. He looked between his friends, both with eager smiles on their faces. Inhaling deeply, he slowly lifted the lid. Crouched in the corner of the box, clutching his knees close to his chest, was a boy, only around three inches tall. As the lid was lifted, the boy whimpered audibly, trying to push deeper into his corner. Mako could see the tears streaking down his terrified face, his trembles making his wild, blond hair shake in every direction.
“Guys… you know how I feel about this.” For the rich of society, Tinies were pets. Captured borrowers were bred, ‘domesticated’ and sold at high prices to anyone with enough money. For those with even more money, they were a delicacy. It made Mako sick. The way society normalised the enslavement of these creatures.
Gabe shrugged. “Yeah, but it was discounted because it's broken. It's missing an arm, see?” Mako looked down and the boy was indeed missing half of his right arm. “So we thought you'd look after it better than anyone.”
Amelie nodded. “Yeah, and we got all the stuff with it. There's even food pellets.”
Mako stared at the boy. The boy stared right back. His eyes wide, unblinking as they flooded his cheeks. “...Thanks, guys.” Mako said, feigning gratitude. He gave a smile to them both but cast a sad glance down to the boy, seeing him flinch at the furrow in his brow. He tightened his grip on the box, replacing the lid gently. He felt a creeping feeling of shame, wondering what the poor Tiny must think of him. He probably saw him as some kind of monster, expecting maltreatment. Mako considered taking him back to the pet shop but he hated the thought of someone else abusing him. His fingertips rubbed over the lid of the box as he thought, caressing it gently.
“What are you gonna call it?” Gabe asked.
Mako shook his head. “Whatever his name is.” Ignoring the weird looks, he collected his things up, packing it all away.
“Wait, you're leaving?” Amelie frowned. “Already? We haven't even watched any movies yet! I have popcorn…”
Mako held the box close to his chest, frowning. “I'm tired.” He walked to the kitchen, slipping on his shoes, making sure he held the box steady. “We can do something big later on. It's Friday, we have the entire weekend.”
Saying his goodbyes, Mako started off home, the boy in the box on his mind the entire way home.
oOo
“It’s alright. I'm not gonna hurt you.” Mako muttered. He'd set up the cage in his bedroom, not that he wanted to use it. He wanted to let the Tiny know that he had somewhere of his own. He'd turned the box on its side and placed it on the bed, knelt beside it on the floor so he was eye level with the Tiny. “I'm a vegan, I don't squash bugs, I won't even look at you wrong. I promise.” He tried to sound as sincere as possible, watching the boy slowly crawl forward, poking his head out to peer around. “Do you have a name?” He asked softly, shifting slightly to look at the boy. When he withdrew, hiding in the box again, Mako sighed quietly, knowing it would take a while to earn his trust.
“291.” Mako was shocked as a barely audible voice tickled at his ears. He never expected a reply. “291.” Came the voice again, shaking and choked like the Tiny was being strangled.
Mako frowned, moving to peer in at the boy. As if prompted, 291 turned around, his bare back having the numbers painfully scratched into his skin, inked in as a reminder that he was property. Mako felt a stab in his chest, an awful pang of sympathy for the boy. “Well, that's no good. Pick a different name. Anything you like.”
291 froze, seeming as though he'd never heard anything like that in his entire life. Trembling more violently, he crouched, fingers dragging through his dirty, greasy hair. There was a painful silence and Mako made sure not to stare, instead answering a few texts. Three minutes went by before the voice squeaked again. “J-Jamison.”
Looking up, Mako nodded. “Jamison? That's a cool name. I'll call you Jamie for short.” He smiled gently, making sure not to seem imposing at all. It was hard to do when that was what he was known for. “I'm Mako. Mako Rutledge.” When he only received another whimper, Mako moved to pick up the cage. He set it down, opening the door so it was facing Jamie. “Okay, here are some ground rules.” He noticed the flash of panic on the boy’s face, yet another pang of guilt hitting him. “Don't go anywhere without me. The neighbour has mean cats. Don't hide where I can step on you. And you don't have to go in the cage. If you do go in, I'll leave the door open. You're not a prisoner, you're a guest.”
The skeptical look he was shot made him quirk an eyebrow. Again, a simple action that earned him a fearful response. He knelt down again, watching as Jamie tried to scramble back, falling on his rump. Mako extended a finger to help him up, only to be met with an ear splitting scream. He drew his hand back as if he'd been bitten. Jamie began to sob, his tiny body shaking under the weight of his terror.
“I'm sorry...“ Mako shook his head, watching as Jamie darted into the cage as if told to, seeing him dive into his bed, hiding under the blankets.
Mako closed the box and put it under his own bed for safekeeping before carefully lifting the cage to his bedside table. He laid down, back against the headboard, pulling out a book and starting to read. It was one that he had to read for English class and he found it kind of coincidental that it was Gulliver’s Travels. Still, he was enjoying it and had already noticed that Lemuel Gulliver was a very emotionally stifled man, more interested in accurate descriptions than how his experiences affected him. He barely ever mentioned his wife and children and clearly had a very low opinion of himself, considering how he frequently reminded the reader how disgusting he felt. Mako was going to get a very good grade indeed.
He glanced at the cage, seeing the lump under the thin blankets shaking under a culmination of sobs and trembles. He decided to make the first step, beginning to read the first line his eyes met.
“...’In hopes to ingratiate myself farther into his Majesty’s favour, I told him of an invention discovered between three and four hundred years ago, to make a certain powder; into an heap of which the smallest spark of fire falling, would kindle the whole in a moment, although it were as big as a mountain; and make it all fly up in the air together, with a noise and agitation greater than thunder.’” Mako read aloud, glancing sideways to see a red, pointed face looking out at him. He smiled, continuing to read the descriptions of gunpowder, explosives and weapons, ultimately ending in the King of Brobdingnag telling Gulliver that his species were inhumane insects. Mako winced a little, thinking he should've left that part out, however once he looked back, he could see Jamie had stars in his eyes. Did the mention of gunpowder really entrance him that much? Mako put his bookmark between the pages and set the book down, looking at Jamie. Jamie looked right back. “...Are you hungry?” Mako asked, seeing the heart wrenching way the Tiny flinched away. Mako picked up the bag of food pellets, beginning to read the ingredients. “There's nothing nutritional at all in this! It's no wonder you're so bony… Malnourished.” He sighed, dropping the pellets in the bin beside his bed. He decided to cook something to let Jamie know through sharing a meal that he was his equal.
Mako stood, placing his hand flat on the table, just outside the cage. Jamie stared at it as if it were about to turn into a tiger and rip off his other arm. There was a moment where he seemed to expect to just be snatched up. But it never came. Mako was patient, offering a gentle smile to Jamie, encouraging him. He felt his throat tighten slightly and he reached into his pocket, using his inhaler. He caught Jamie staring at him and showed him what it was. “I have asthma. This helps me breathe.”
Jamie slowly crept forward, looking like he'd dart back any second. He paused at the door of the cage, shivering slightly. Mako wondered if it was from the cold since he was only wearing some nylon shorts. “...Wh-What… happens to Gulliver in the end?” He asked, frowning a little.
Mako put his inhaler away, taking a moment to think. “Uh… he goes home. Where he's normal sized. But he goes for more adventures and eventually ends up hating his existence and descends into madness.”
Jamie nodded, walking closer. Mako felt a spark run up his arm as Jamie placed a hand on his finger. He was patient as Jamie cautiously put his hands flat on Mako’s palm, carefully climbing into the middle and sitting down. He trembled, looking at the fingers surrounding him as if they would grab around him any second. Mako gently lifted his hand to his chest, the feeling of having a sentient living being just sat there making his hair stand on end. He grabbed the little plastic chair and table, putting them beside his inhaler in his pocket.
“...What are we having to eat?” Jamie asked shakily, flinching away from Mako’s finger as it twitched slightly. The larger had to make sure to remember that Jamie had probably been abused his entire life. Every tiny movement was pronounced for the boy and he had to be careful not to move too fast or too much. It was starting to dawn on Mako how Gulliver felt in Lilliput; he was hyper aware of his own body, imagining how every tiny blemish on his face was glaringly obvious to Jamie. He put a hand to the patch of acne at the corner of his mouth, frowning slightly and how overly self conscious he suddenly was.
“Well…” Mako began, starting to walk downstairs. “I was thinking falafel burgers. But you won't be able to get your mouth around them. I guess I could flatten the bread. Make it easier.” He walked to the kitchen, setting his hand on the table. Jamie practically leapt off his palm, darting to hide behind the fruit bowl. Mako put his table and chair down for him, leaving him be as he went to the fridge, beginning to make the burgers. He made sure everything was of a suitably small portion size as he put the burgers and fries in the oven, sitting down to let them cook. He looked at Jamie, still hiding behind the fruit bowl. “...So where were you before this? Pet store?” He asked, leaning on his arm, glancing at Jamie.
“Uh…” The small boy subconsciously put a hand to the stump of his right arm. “I-I… I had another owner. They brought me back.” He muttered.
Mako shook his head. “I'm not your owner. I don't see you as any different to me.” He said, tapping the table with his index finger. “Why did they bring you back? Did they say why?” Jamie’s eyes suddenly began to well with tears and, as if he didn't want to answer but was being forced to, he lifted his right arm in the air. He sniffled, wiping his tears with his wrist. Mako frowned, leaning forward a little. “Did… Did they do that?” A shaky nod and Mako clenched his fist, gritting his teeth, unable to help his emotions bubbling to the surface. Jamie hid again, whimpering quietly, still crying. Mako reached forward, slowly sliding the fruit bowl to the side. “I swear, Jamie, I will never hurt you.” He frowned when Jamie moved with the bowl, his breath choppy, limbs trembling like leaves.
The rest of the night was like that, Mako offering comfort to Jamie and Jamie rejecting with terror. When given food, the Tiny ate as though it were mana from heaven, stuffing his cheeks full before Mako even offered him condiments. He didn't sit at his table, instead hiding like a timid mouse. At least he wasn't crying anymore. Mako asked him if he wanted to watch a movie, to which he received a frantic shake of the head. He asked him if he wanted to play a game, to which he received a quiet squeak of fear. He asked him if he wanted to go to bed, to which he received silence.
Mako was a patient person, he knew Jamie needed time to understand that he wouldn't be treated as he had been. He used the tiny plates and cups he'd got with the cage to give Jamie some hot chocolate and cookie crumbs, which he ate just as fast as before. “Hey, slow down. You'll get stomach ache.” Mako muttered, smiling at the chocolate around Jamie’s little mouth. “I'm not spending all night finding out the correct weight of Alka-Seltzer you need.” He would. He absolutely would. If Jamie needed it, he wouldn't hesitate.
“I-I'm sorry!” Came the quiet reply. Jamie made a point of eating slower, chewing half as fast as Mako was, his hot chocolate dribbling over the sides of his cup due to his trembling.
Mako had to coax Jamie back into his palms again once it was time for bed, gently telling him that he would read to him to help him sleep. Once the boy was seated, he held him closer to his chest, walking up to his bedroom. “I'll try find something better than the cage for you.” He told Jamie as he sat on his bed, holding his hands by his face so he was eye level with Jamie. “I can't afford anything fancy but you need something better than that.”
Jamie couldn't look Mako in the eye, instead staring at his bare feet. “...c-clothes would be nice.” He whispered so quietly Mako barely heard him over his own breathing.
“Oh, yeah.” He nodded, waving a hand dismissively. “I'll order you something online. Something made of cotton. And a new bed, sheesh. Sleeping on plastic is probably hell on your back.” Mako noticed Jamie’s relief that he hadn't been punished for asking for something. He glanced at his watch. Pretty late. “Alright, bedtime.” He moved to put Jamie back in his cage, giving his back a gentle rub with his fingertip. He suddenly apologised as he heard a shriek, Jamie running into his cage at breakneck speed. He sighed, beginning to get changed into his pyjamas. He turned away from the cage, pulling off his new jumper and shirt, changing into a loose fitting tshirt. His jeans were swapped for pyjama pants, the kind that are fluffy on the inside. He went to go clean his teeth, thinking all the time about Jamie. Did he have all his necessary things? Toiletries and underwear and other stuff? Mako supposed it would be like taking care of a child. A psychologically damaged child. He sighed, rubbing his face clean with a flannel. He wasn't going to give up on Jamie. He'd get the hang of it eventually, hopefully sooner rather than later.
Walking into his bedroom, he noticed Jamie was already asleep, his bed pushed as far from Mako’s as possible. He was curled in a ball under the thin blanket, shivering while he slept. Mako looked through his presents, finding some fluffy socks his grandma had given him. He took some scissors to them, chopping off a small square and carefully laying it over Jamie so he was warm. He then climbed into bed, turning the light off and sighing contentedly, happy to finally have some quiet after what was a very hectic day indeed.