“Alright, we have a house that my father has kept for a while even though he rarely does business there. It was a gift from his father, actually, and I think that it’ll be safe enough for us to hide. It’s even here in Germany, so we should be… alright.” Victor’s eyes scanned the forest, then turned back to Tiny. “We’ll only be traveling a few miles, it’s a bit remote but a lovely place, we’ve been there once but I barely remember the place so it might be a bit… surprising, for the both of us.” he said, starting to march onwards yet again.
They nod hesitantly at the others words. They supposed they couldn't say much right now considering how upset Victor was. What could they say? Nothing really, since they didn't want to risk the wrath of the man in front of them. When Victor moved forward, they hesitated before quietly following after them. Tiny's mind was running wild with accusations, with hateful words towards themselves. They didn't like the words that kept repeating with such malice, so much hate. It made them angry, upset. However, they shoved it away, wanting to avoid further hurting their mind. Victor still cared for them. Victor was taking them somewhere safe. That was good at least. That was the bright side the giant could take from this.
Victor lead them through the woods, then out towards a dirt road well worn and well trodden. He stopped, took in a breath, and then continued, beckoning his creation to follow. “Come along now, we can’t stop until we reach a good place to rest and good lord knows how long that will take us.” Victor said, marching along. Day turned into night and Victor had to pause to catch his breath many times, but still he moved on. He didn’t know where he was going at this point, only knowing that he’d find where he was looking for eventually. He stopped at a small town to pay for some supplies for each of them, forbidding Tiny from entering the town or engaging with any of the locals out of fear for their safety.
Tiny follows quietly, making sure not to make any noises or anything like that. It took Ting a longer time to become tired, perhaps it was because their steps were larger, or simply because they had a bigger body. Either way, they waited patiently for Victor to come back when he had gone into town, making sure that no one saw them. They didn't want to get into more trouble with the smaller man. For someone to be so big, it was a miracle they could hide at all. They were just so… Vast. Their eyes wander for a little while (while of course staying out of sight and close to the meeting point where they were supposed to meet Victor) and keeping an ear out for strangers.
Victor returned after about an hour, bringing supplies for camp and for food. “Help me set up camp, I’ll show you how to make a fire and then you can tend to it, this way.” Victor said gruffly, walking back into the woods and only stopping when he knew they were far away enough to not be spotted. “I have a map and some fresh food, those will help us get to where we’re going if we’re careful.” he said, stacking the driest pieces of wood and kindling he could find on top of each other.
Tiny glances up when the other appeared again, nodding slowly in understanding. They gather their things and stand to follow after Victor quietly. Once they were in their spot, their eyes dart around to make sure no one was there before settling in front of where Victor was placing wood together. The watched curiously, their head tilting to one side in wonder. What on earth was Victor doing? It was curious.
“You want to see? I’m making a fire, it’s to keep us warm. You know the stove back at my old place where we would sit and I would read to you? That had fire in it, it caused warmth.” Victor said, striking a match and throwing it onto the kindling, letting the small campfire blow up into a low flame. He scooted back, not wanting to get too close to the heat as it would get much higher soon. Well, not ridiculously high, but high enough to possibly burn his pants if he let a misguided spark fly into his path or something. “Look, it’s burning. See? You add wood, as dry as you can find, and it keeps the warmth going.”
They listen intently, their eyes widening slightly as they listened. So that was what it was? Fire. They remembered Victor vaguely mentioning it when he was teaching them about mankind and their evolution. They liked the warmth, it felt nice, and they vaguely wondered if they could touch it. After all, it seemed useful. But they noticed how Victor moved slightly away from the fire and wondered what that was about. If fire was so nice, why move away from it? Their eyes dart back to the flames that were slowly starting to grow and they smiled a little bit. It was like the flames were dancing across the logs. Tiny glances at Victor and tilts their head. "What else?" They ask softly, trying to think of their next words that rested on the tip of their tongue. "Does it do?" They finally finished.
“Just produces heat, and a bit of light. It isn’t magic,” he chuckled, “but to some it might seem it. Just make sure to keep it going, at least until morning. We’ll take it in shifts, alright?” Victor asked, lying on his back against one of the many bags the two had been carrying and looking up at the darkening sky. “We should sleep for as much and as long as we can, you never know what’s out in the woods.”
They nod slowly in understanding before keeping a careful eye on the fire. They didn't think too much on it, after all if was just a source of heat and light. It was rather pretty. Whenever it started to slowly die down, Tiny would add a bit more wood. They were grateful for the warmth, since after a little while it for chillier and chillier. Their eyes dart around the forest at the slightest of noises, making sure to keep out of sight as well as keep a careful eye on the fire and Victor.
Victor managed to fall asleep in just a few minutes, but he woke up sometime around four in the morning to insist that Tiny themself get some sleep. “It’s not healthy to stay up all night, no matter how hardy I made you.” he said earnestly, “and don’t argue with me because I’m technically your father and that makes you have to listen to me because I know things more than you know things, at least up until a certain point.”
Tiny had managed to stay awake for most of the night, busying themselves with watching the fire and keeping small animals at bay. When Victor woke up, it was clear they were drowsy, but determined to stay awake. They glance over to Victor and tilts their head before nodding and slowly settling into the ground and curling up to sleep. They yawn quietly and passed out in a matter of seconds. It was clear that they had worked hard to make sure the fire was still going, it still crackled merrily beside them.
Victor stayed up the rest of the night, tending to the fire in such a way that by about ten in the morning, it had burned down and the two were ready to head off again. “Tiny, wake up. We’re going now, we have to go now. I think I heard someone in the woods last night, while we were sleeping.” a blatant lie to anyone who had been around, but Tiny wouldn’t know as they had been asleep the whole time. Victor just needed an excuse to get them back to traveling, really.
Tiny slept like a rock apparently, never moving, just peacefully sleeping curled up and content by the fire. When Victor woke them up they were alert and aware, ready to move again. Their eyes flicked around the camping area, keeping a careful eye on anything that moved as they helped pack up the camp and get moving again. They (as usual) made sure to keep to the shadows so that even if Victor was spotted, it would be harder to notice Tiny.
Victor knew he didn’t have to lie, but he still felt like it anyways, he felt like he just… needed to manipulate Tiny into doing what he wanted. He was just so tired of dealing with them, he wished he could just toss them away for a while until he needed their help again. He was better off alone, he always had been, and while he didn’t mind the company of good friends, Tiny was draining in a way he’d never thought possible. They weren’t even that friendly, just well meaning, and a bit too devoted if Victor was being honest.
Tiny was simply something newborn, earnest in trying to understand the world around them. They could not blame themselves for their hideous appearance… For their curiosity. They wanted to understand, they wanted to help. They kept silent as they walked, sensing the… Well. It certainly wasn't kind aura around the man. They remembered clearly what Victor had said to them that night when Tiny had been discovered… How cruel Victor had been when Tiny had just barely awoken. It felt like daggers piercing through Tiny over and over again. But they did not speak, in fear of angering the man in front of them more. They were a large creature, strong enough to rip a man in half. But violence had not been implanted in them. Not yet.
“You’re being awfully quiet, it’s odd. Is something on your mind?” Victor asked, turning to Tiny and looking them in their mismatched yellow eyes. “I won’t be bothered by you telling me how you feel, if that’s what you’re worried about. But I don’t tolerate secrets, from anyone.” he shook his head and started to walk on, beckoning Tiny to follow.
Tiny paused when Victor spoke to them. How could they explain to their creator their feeling? They could barely describe it themselves. They glanced at Victor before looking at their hands. "Am I…" They searched for the word they needed within their mind. "Dangerous.," They said quietly, their eyes scanning the forest. They did not feel dangerous. They glance at Victor, searching for an explanation.
"You? Dangerous? You'd never hurt a fly, much less a man. But people are judgmental, and they don't always see what's really there before they decide to cast their judgements. I know that all too well," Victor scowled, "but it's not about me. Listen, if you really think you're dangerous, then hurt someone. Without reason or excuse. But otherwise, I advise you to stop thinking about the subject. There's no point to worrying over nothing." he continued to walk, hopping over a log and then stopping for breath after realizing that he'd exerted quite a bit of energy over that one move.
They nod slowly, as if things were slowly making sense. They looked like a monster… different from humanity. Thus, they were instantly labeled a monster and hated upon. They were grateful that the other hadn't hurt them… much. They took a deep breath and tried hard not to think about it just like Victor instructed. But wasn't it their fault that they had to run now? Flee the only home they had know for their short life and move forward to somewhere else? Somewhere more secluded? They easily stepped over the big log, glancing at Victor to make sure he was okay. They glance around the forest taking the beauty that was nature.
The trees stretched high above them, blocking out all but a little light. It was late summer, soon to be early fall, and the weather was all too cold. "Come along now, Tiny. We," Victor panted some, "we've got to keep going. We're, we're not going to slow down, just a few more miles. I was going in the right direction after all." he huffed, tramping over wet leaves covering dead grass.
They nod and follow after quietly, looking over the forest and kept up rather easily with Victor. The night was supposed to be cold, but they kept quiet. So long as they kept moving, they should get there soon, right? They didn't think on it too much, just following after Victor like they were ordered to. They were able to keep up fairly easily, since about three steps for Victor was only one for them.
Victor tramped on through thick piles of dead leaves and the foliage underneath. He didn’t speak for the few hours the two were walking, just stopping every so often and making gestures every few seconds to the map, grumbling at the thing. It was almost nightfall by the time they reached the remote manor, tall and foreboding and Victor’s least favorite of the houses he’d lived in yet. “We’re here.” was all he said as he somehow managed to break the lock with feeble muscles and step inside the dark, empty house.
Tiny wandered after, not speaking as well, but eagerly taking in the sights of nature, peering out at the world in curiosity before they were locked up in a mansion to be hidden away from society. They looked up at the big manor when Victor spoke up, their head tilting at the sight of the manor. It was very… Daunting. They glanced at Victor before moving slowly towards the manor… Their new home. They didn't know what to think, all they knew was this was their new home and they wouldn't be allowed to leave. For their safety and for everyone else's.
“Find some candles, your vision is better than mine in the dark. Hell, I designed it that way.” Victor said, adjusting his glasses and throwing his things to the freaking floor. The first thing he noticed was a distinct lack of dust, the next was that everything seemed uncannily clean. “Now… someone must have been in her recently. Cleaner? Or something more sinister? Father did have servants back here, when I was young…”
