It was time.

Mark brushed the hair from his forehead beaded with sweat, looking back over his shoulder to scout out for Seán. The absence of the giants earthquake footsteps only unnerved the Borrower, because although he was in another room collecting lunch for them both, he could move at the speed of lightning and snatch him up from the ground like he was nothing.

But no wicked smile revealed itself, and there was no sound apart from the ominous sound of slicing, allowing the brave human to sprint across the tiled floor to a crack in the wall. Slipping inside he bent down to collect his pack and trusted paperclip, looping it into his belt before lifting the one raggedy shred of fabric that remained. The shard of metal looked dull in the low light, but even as he carefully wrapped one edge to hold it cut a little into his palm.

It was time. 

Time to run. Away from the home, away from grabbing hands and terrifying moments of lapsed concentration; away from Seán McLoughlin. The Human was one of the strangest he'd met, he wasn't even sure what his true title was, Jack or Seán, but Mark had enough and had been planning his escape for a while now. 

It wasn't that Jack was mean, ever since he'd fallen from the sky onto the relaxing giant's chest and harmed his wings, the man had shown only kindness while they healed. Helping him adjust to life on the ground, collecting herbs at his request for energy, showing him his games and videos, making him a place to sleep for his "Lil' guy". 

But - and he'd never admit this to the Irish giant - he was a bit overbearing and much too touchy-feely. Maybe it had something to do with him living by himself when he'd heard Humans were social creatures, as Sprites were. Maybe it had to do with the fact the first female wasn't around anymore, the one he'd come to know by her jokes that made his own Bean laugh. Or maybe it just had to do with his size, because small equals cute to them and the demeaning mentality was goddamn hard to breed out.

Whatever the reason, Mark was escaping then and there. Through the walls, under the floorboards, wherever he could get to. The cabin was old and riddled with spiderwebs and their grisly inhabitants, but it also had holes that lead beneath the floorboards and to the outside world. Where the grass was green and full of life beneath the occasional coating of snow, and where he could make his own fun with other Sprites once he'd got far enough.

He held that image in his heart as he ventured in the dark, hopping around with little bursts of Spritely energy, pointed ears pricked for any sound that would signify the giant was ending his operation prematurely, or a spider was padding behind him, ready to strike. But in hindsight, Mark really should've watched where he was walking in the thick darkness. Because it was easy to overlook a sleeping rat's rail for something inanimate.

Matted fur, ears torn and one fresh wound over a grey shoulder, encrusted with blood. A spray of whiskers were shoved into the Sprite's chest and he winced feeling the wet nose run over his chest and shoulder, but he wasn't dead food for the rodent to quickly scoop up and gnaw. And he wasn't as tall as Seán with a formidable set of tools to crush a pest. Which meant he was something to be chased down. Long and yellowing teeth were bared with an ugly screech and the scrabbling claws scraped over the wall as the predator scrambled for purchase in the dimness.

Mark felt his heart drop into his shoes, and the cry that had been at the tip of his tongue ever since the shadows began to move was released as he exited the walls with the scampering creature following close behind.

"SEÁN! HELP! HELP ME!"

He heard the clattering of a plate and then the tremors of footsteps as a 100 foot being entered the same space at speed, blue eyes disappearing behind a venomous scowl as a foot was raised. Mark felt his heart stop just looking up at that, a Human's foot with the intent of killing held above him, his dusty body blending into the floorboards doused in shadow. And then it came down straight in front of him, sending him flying into the side of the second shoe, the warm but coarse fabric leant into with a defeated scream. 

"YAH! Out ye fookin' pest!"

Another stomp. A third earthquake. A fourth. 

Giant vocal cords pulled tight as bellows tore through the air above him, louder than any lightning. His footfalls capable of doing more than any Sprite could hope to with macadamia potions and exploding ants. Mark was faced with the terrible truth then, that Humans, however docile they may seem when you watched them from the branches of a high bramble, were monsters. 

"OUT!" 

The door slammed. Mark was still panting on the ground in Seán's shadow, ears ringing from the utter roars that his companion had emitted, barely able to see while clutching the bleeding arm. The rat hadn't even done much, had protected itself from being harmed by a strange thing entering its domain with a visible weapon, it was probably just searching for food to feed itself. Mere crumbs, like Mark had been searching for around Sean's house, while Humans feasted on the meat of other animals like savage beasts. 

That's why we stay away from them.

But the rodent wasn't harmed, he'd heard its terrified squeals as it ran from stomping boots that could bring a swift, messy, death to anyone caught underfoot, but instead of that fate it was simply locked outside. And now the shoes were facing Mark from a respectable distance. 

"Jeysus Christ! Yer bleeding."

That's why Seán is different.

He cares, for him, and in some extension, the rat; he showed mercy and kindness even as his hands trapped Mark from his desperate squirm away and the floor became alive beneath his stomach. Now he was going to get it, now that he lay limp and his life was in the giant's hands, he would be interrogated harshly. But the only look that the looming blues gave him was a question, thick eyebrows drawn close and lips downturned in a gentle frown. 

How do I help you? 

"M-Mint...leaf." The Sprite stammered out, and Seán had no objections to racing to the kitchen to get this leaf. He didn't understand these fairies, but Mark was his charge and would be protected until he had the ability to fly again. He'd clean him up, wash his clothes of rat spit and dust, then offer him a hoodie to relax in while munching on a single blackberry.

"What we're ye thinkin'? Pullin' a stunt like that."

"I had...my knife." Mark rebuked softly, taking the folded leaf from the pinched fingertips to hold against the blood around the rat's scratch and humming feeling the energy rush there and begin to heal the wound. A grateful nod was given to the Irish giant who took his seat with a thud he felt through the tabletop, blue eyes peering down at the weapon at the Fae's side. 

"Buddy, hate to break it to ya, but that's a toothpick compared to rats." Jack huffed, resting his elbow just beside Mark to begin fiddling with what could've only been one of his razor blades, smashed and cut to something akin to a crude knife. He barely noticed the Sprite flare up in annoyance and let go of his mint to retrieve the weapon from beneath his abnormally warm fingertip.

"Well, it was all I could find okay?"

There was a bit of an awkward pause, the Irishman's eyes tracking the minuscule figure who promptly changed his leaves and teared through a fourth with ferocity, chewing them with vigour. 

"Ye know, I just wanna protect you. Give you the best life, even for a tiny thing like yerself."

Another pause, and then Mark gave a pissed glare that seemed to overpower the puffed cheeks full of mint paste.

"My life was fine without you. I had friends, a family, an adorable little cú sídhe named Chica. A beautiful Hawthorn tree to sleep in. But now I'm stuck here entertaining a big, ugly, Human!" 

Mark snapped his final scowl up to the towering building, before turning away so he had enough room to pace until he was feeling up to anything else, his only solace the stack of fae-sized mint leaves that helped his bleeding.  All he wanted was to be taken seriously by the joking, smiling, Seán, but it didn't seem like he'd be getting away from the big kid any time soon.

"And an asshole human." Seán boomed, casually leaning back with a bit lip to conceal his chuckle as he shook the table a little to try and bring Mark back to reality. The Sprite's words certainly stung, but he couldn't keep his eyes from sparkling with joy as his hand came into the empty space between hovering boots and his table. Ready to catch the man who honestly hadn't realised. "One that tries to restrain a healthy Sprite with the most goddamn fabulous wings I could imagine for 'im."

"WHAAT!"

~~~

To say sorry for not updating since July, (don't attack me) I grant you a Jack and Mark fanfiction. 

Just enjoy your uwu boys to your heart's content and hope I'll update faster this month and the next!

- Tsunami