Turned Upside Down

Chapter 10

Evan took a slow, shaky breath, trying to relax as best he could, though it was nearly impossible to ignore the strangeness of it all. The warmth radiating from Mason's hand was both soothing and humbling, a constant reminder of how small and exposed he was. He could feel the faint ridges of Mason's palm under his bare feet, the slight curves of each one like grooves on a carved surface, and every time Mason adjusted his hand, Evan swayed, his arms flying out to the sides, unable to fully steady himself. The sensation of being held, suspended in someone else's grasp, left him feeling raw and vulnerable. Though he knew Mason meant well, the sensation was a bit overwhelming; as a normally tall person, the idea of being picked up with ease sent his mind spiraling.

He could sense Mason's gaze on him, unwavering, as though his friend were studying every detail of his tiny form with intense concentration. Evan glanced up from the living platform, meeting Mason's eyes for a brief moment, and felt a blush rise to his cheeks. The way Mason looked at him—green eyes wide and focused, filled with awe and curiosity as they skated over every minute detail of his body, his plump lips turned upward at the edges in an unbelieving smirk—made him feel like some rare artifact or fragile creature, something precious and delicate, like something less than human.

"Mason," Evan started, his voice small and hesitant. He wasn't sure how to express the awkwardness that gnawed at him. "It's just... it feels strange, you know? Being this small. And, uh... being held."

Mason blinked, his expression softening slightly as he realized Evan's discomfort. "Oh. Right," he murmured, though his hand remained steady. He stared down into his palm at his shrunken friend, a trace of guilt flickering across his face. "I'm sorry, Evan. I just—this is all so... insane. I can't stop thinking... what if you disappear if I look away?"

Evan tried to laugh, though it came out more as a nervous chuckle. "I'm not going anywhere, I promise," he said softly, trying to ease Mason's worry. But he could see that his friend was still tense, his gaze intense as he continued to observe Evan, as if committing every detail to memory.

For Mason, the feeling of Evan in his hand was nothing short of extraordinary. He couldn't wrap his head around it—his best friend, the guy he'd known for years, could now fit in the palm of his hand, easily. There was something almost sacred about it, a feeling that surged within him every time he looked down at Evan's tiny form. Evan's usually expressive face was now so small and hard to see clearly unless he was close, his arms and legs, that Mason knew were strong and well defined, looked no thicker than a pencil, so tiny that Mason could accidentally break them if he wasn't careful. He could feel Evan's racing heart through his finger's when he touched him, every slight movement and twitch, the shifts of his weight barely perceptible but unmistakable, and the knowledge that his slightest gesture could impact Evan so profoundly made him feel deeply protective.

Mason's fingers shifted slightly, adjusting his hand in a way that created a bit more space for Evan as he resisted the urge to curl his fingers around him again. He wanted to reassure Evan, to make him feel safe, not make him uncomfortable. Yet even as he held his friend more gently, Mason couldn't deny the fascination that lingered in the forefront of his mind, the way he marveled at the sheer reality of Evan's tiny presence. The faint rise and fall of Evan's breaths, the warmth radiating from his small frame—it was all incredibly, impossibly real.

"Evan... I just don't want anything to happen to you," Mason said quietly, his voice barely above a murmur. "It's like... you're this tiny, fragile thing, and I don't know what I'd do if... if something went wrong, if I did something wrong." He stared down into his hand, his eyes filled with an earnestness that cut through the awkwardness. "I mean, I'll be careful, of course, but it's just really hard to process. You're right here, and yet..."

Evan's heart softened at Mason's words, his friend's protectiveness clear in every syllable. "Thanks, Mason," he said, his voice soft but sincere. "I know it's a lot to handle. Believe me, I'm still trying to process it myself. But... I-I trust you." He offered a small smile, hoping it would reassure Mason even a little, although he knew in the back of his mind that he needed the reassurance just as badly.

Mason's lips curved into a slight smile as he took in Evan's words. He nodded, his brown, wavy hair bouncing slightly and the tension in his shoulders easing just a bit, though he still held Evan securely, his fingers forming a protective wall behind his friend. "Good," he said quietly. "Because I've got you. No matter what, I'm not letting anything happen to you."

They sat in silence for a moment, the quiet hum of the room around them feeling surreal in the weight of the moment. Mason's hand remained steady, his fingers curled around Evan mindfully, his warmth radiating around him like a soft cocoon. For Evan, the awkwardness faded a little as he let himself lean into that sense of protection, the familiar comfort of Mason's presence helping to ground him.

Mason's gaze softened, the awe still there but now mixed with a deep, quiet resolve. He wasn't just looking at Evan in wonder; he was looking at him with a kind of fierce loyalty, a determination to be there for his friend no matter what strange new reality they faced.