Xenomorph

Abused - Bring Him Home

The amazing art work is by @botanicmaiden on Twitter.

Tiny was lethargic as Elijah's heavy steps sounded deeper within the house. He was stumbling somewhat. Rushing. Tiny raised his heavy head, shaking off his stasis cycle and low thirium levels. He checked his internal HUD. It was after ten in the evening. Why was Elijah rushing around so late at night? He turned up his audio input as he heard Elijah's voice. He sounded worried. Perhaps even frantic. There was a jingle as he grabbed his keys from somewhere. The front parlour? Tiny clicked and struggled to his tired legs. He hadn't moved for over two weeks, and his thirium levels were almost depleted. He fell down again with a small clatter, though he had enough energy to turn his head and watch.

"...re are you? No, you get out of that house! Get out right now!" Elijah almost snapped as he rushed into the entrance hall. He was dressed casually to go out. Blue jeans, a white shirt and a black leather jacket. It was unusual for him to be so underdressed, and even rarer for him to be going out at night. "I'll meet you in Alberton Park, the small one near the Manfred Estate...I'll be there within the hour." The Manfred Estate was at least an hour and fifteen minutes away. To get there within the hour, Elijah must be intending to break traffic guidelines. He didn't even stop to acknowledge Tiny's small body as he left, leaving the door to slam shut behind him. Tiny chittered miserably. What was going on? Why had no one told him?

"Did you hear that, Tiny?" Chloe's gentle voice called softly as the door to the hallway opened. Tiny clicked a few times as she padded over. Her feet were bare on the warm tiles. The underfloor heating kept the house cosy. She was wearing a light cream nightdress with a fluffy white dressing gown over the top, smiling warmly as she crouched beside him, happier than he'd seen her in weeks. "Gavin's coming home!" That was all she needed to say to pique Tiny's interest. He chittered tiredly as he pushed himself up on shaky legs. Chloe ruffled his hair as she held out a packet of thirium for him to take.

Gavin was really coming? It wasn't a trick to make him drink his thirium? Tiny grunted suspiciously, but Chloe looked so happy that he was sure she was telling the truth. Gavin was really coming home! Tiny trilled as he accepted the pouch of thirium. It was a good thing that Chloe had reserves. He needed five pouches before his small body was satisfied, and once she was done with feeding his reconnaissance model, she stood on a tall stool and passed up a whole crate of thirium bottles into the vent. The extraction model was in a better state than his smaller body, since he had kept his larger form powered down for most of the three weeks. He'd wanted to be there if Gavin returned. He'd wanted to be ready to skitter to his feet and climb into his arms. Surely Gavin would have missed him. Surely Gavin wouldn't have forgotten him.

Tiny chittered and skittered around the entrance hall eagerly. When would Gavin return? Chloe had said he was coming home. Had Elijah reached him yet? Were they already coming back? He clicked and grunted impatiently, looking up at Chloe as she stood beside his resting place. She seemed just as anxious, chewing her lip and watching the door as she held the chest of her robe shut. She often gave him small, placating smiles, assuring him they wouldn't be long. Tiny was keeping a running timer on his HUD. Elijah had said he would reach the meeting place within the hour. If that was true, then he would have reached the park around fifteen minutes ago. That meant they would be returning at that very moment. Elijah would likely drive slower on the way back.

Tiny waited. He waited. Ran a circuit of the entrance hall. Waited. Skittered up and down the glass staircase. Waited. Rushed through to the front parlour and looked out the darkened window. Waited. There was no sign of life. No returning lights. He returned to the entrance hall. Waited. Settled down on his spot. The exact spot Gavin had left him. Perhaps if he waited in the right spot, Gavin would return faster. He waited, shuffling anxiously, luminous blue on black eyes looking up at Chloe questioningly. She smiled warmly and assured him they would be back soon. He waited.