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Abolish really, really hated being small. His weapons had all shrunk with him so his sword was hardly more than a toothpick, completely useless in trying to defend himself, everyone towering over him far more than they already had and cooing at him like he was a pet mouse. He hurried away from the group as fast as he possibly could to go wait out whatever Shelby had done to him, and he was almost to his house before he heard an unfortunately very familiar voice.
"Pretty one?" Nikos burst into laughter as he froze, his stomach twisting in embarrassment. Hephaestus save him. "Why are you so small?"
"Shelby did… something to me," he grumbled, slowly turning around to see Nikos and Cleo both staring down at him. The satyr seemed to stunned to speak, staring down at him with wide green eyes, and he only felt even more embarrassment flood him. "I'm sure it'll wear off soon. Hopefully."
"I hope not too soon." Nikos bent down, grinning at it, and it merely stared back at him with what he hoped was an annoyed expression and not just a dumb pout. "Look at you, fiery one, you are as small as a little puppy."
Before it could protest that it was absolutely not a puppy, a hand wrapped around it and lifted it up and it could only grab onto them tightly, eyes blowing wide as its face warmed. Nikos cradled it in their palms, holding it up to their face; part of it wanted to just start trying to stab their eye out or something but it didn't really feel motivated enough to.
"You are small," Cleo said at last, stepping forward and peering down at him. Abolish wondered if it'd hurt him to jump down to the ground at this size. He didn't exactly feel like testing that, but the idea sure was tempting.
"Even more than usual," Nikos added with a grin, and his face only heated up more. He pushed himself up, struggling a bit to stand in their palm, leaning against their thumb for balance.
"Can you just… put me down?" it sighed, and Nikos leaned back slightly, laughing again. They sounded even louder when it was this small and so close to their face.
"And why would I do that?" they questioned, easily knocking it over and forcing it to sit again, brushing a finger over the top of its head. Its nose scrunched up, but it couldn't deny that having its head pat felt a little nice. "How long do you think this will last, hm?"
"Based on Shelby's other powers, an hour, maybe?" Cleo hummed, and Abolish's heart jumped.
"An hour?" it groaned, only to fall silent as Nikos scratched at the top of its head, blinking a few times at the strange feeling. His thoughts dissolved into soup as they continued, humming and grinning down at him.
"There we are, pretty one." Nikos straightened up properly and held him close to their chest, and with nothing else to do - not because he wanted to - he rested against them with a heavy sigh. "That is much better. Little puppy."
Abolish huffed, but didn't bother pulling away. Not like there would be a point in falling and hurting himself, instead resigning himself to staying curled up in Nikos's hand, legs pulled up to his chest as they scratched at the top of his head. As he was carried toward his forge and down into the enchanting room beneath, Cleo's hand snaked over and she scratched under his chin for a moment; somehow, that had his eyes fluttering closed, a soft hum leaving him as he leaned into both of them.
"Awww," she cooed, the sound snapping it out of its haze briefly. It blinked up at her, face twisting up with annoyance again, until Nikos laughed with a soft kiss pressed to the top of its head.
"Stop," it whined, burying its probably very red face in its hands. Nikos only laughed more, Cleo even letting out a quiet chuckle as she patted the top of his head. Annoying. Even the thought was half-hearted, pressing into her hand even as she pulled it back.
"You are very cute," Nikos chuckled, gently setting him down on top of a bookshelf. Legs dangling over the side, he stared up at the two of them, almost wishing that they would keep cuddling him and petting him. He soon got his wish, Cleo reaching down again to ruffle his hair.
"No need to pout," she laughed, gently petting his head when he leaned into her hand. "I'm sure this'll be over soon and you'll be fine again. You are adorable like this, though."
"I'm really not," he grumbled, but grabbed onto one of her fingers to drag her hand back down when she started to pull away. Rolling her eyes, she looked up at the champion sitting next to him, who was staring down at him with an oddly soft expression. Its heartbeat picked up and it quickly looked away, swallowing down the fluttery feeling in its chest.
"I think you should be small more often," Nikos chuckled, sliding one of their fingers under its chin to tilt its head up, forcing it to look at them. His deep brown eyes shone, warm and pretty in a way it rarely allowed itself to admire. Not that it was going to give itself a chance to do that now when it was especially vulnerable, jerking its head away with a little huff, its face burning impossibly hotter.
"Aww, no need to be shy, pretty one." A hand slid around it and it was being lifted up again, set down in his lap on top of the surprisingly soft furs. "We are not going to judge you. We are your allies, hm?"
"Uh huh," he muttered, begrudgingly allowing himself to be pushed over until he was lying on his side surrounded by pale fluff, fingers running through his hair. Cleo lightly patted his side and he let out a heavy sigh, most of his tension leaving him as his eyes drifted shut again. Maybe this wasn't so bad.
It made him feel small and helpless like he had when he was little, being stared down by older men who didn't see him as a man for a whole number of reasons, but at the same time it was… nice, being held so gently like this, tucked against someone with fingers in his hair, neither of them seeming to care that he was acting pathetic because he was still him and they cared.
He still hoped that thisnever happened again, though.