The Libra (Eric Derekson + S̀e̡̛͠p͡ţ͠į͜͡c̸̢ Egos G/T) (One-Shots)

Cloudburst

The deluge outside was pretty bad. Apparently there was a thunderstorm headed this way. The giants had prepared and done what they could, moving their supplies deeper into the cave and restocking on food. Eric was sitting— cowering— in a hole in the floor of the cave entrance he'd been given claim to as a temporary spot— something about making sure he wasn't stupid enough to go out by himself in the rain again... at least, that was Eric's best guess— which being in the opening chamber meant the wind could grasp at him and ruffle his hair and clothes. He tried to peek out, but he wasn't tall enough and could see nothing, only hear the pelting rain and the growling thunder as the storm roared louder and louder.

Then the wind shifted, and its angle berated Eric with delight as thunder cackled. He shivered and curled up at the bottom, trying to keep away and stay warm. He could just barely hear the giants' voices echoing distantly deeper in the earth, Marvin's most of all. Eric shivered and closed his eyes, wondering about his dad. Was he okay? Was he scared, like Eric was? Had he given up on his son by now?

"Oh shit!" There was a thunder of footsteps, startling Eric to open his eyes as Chase's looming face shadowed him. "I'm so sorry Eric, I thought you'd be out of the rain until we were done moving everything!" The giant reached in with his hand and carefully tilted it, pushing Eric halfway onto his fingers. Relieved, the human gratefully climbed on the rest of the way, curling up on his side and soaking up the emitting body heat as he was lifted out. "I should have accounted for the wind," Chase continued apologetically. As if to prove his point, a strong gale blasted them with raindrops, so much so that Eric almost fell if not for the fingers that curled around his body.

"Here, come on little dude." Chase cupped the damp human safely against his chest and hurried out of the reaches of the growing storm. As lightning flashed, enlarging his shadow and stretching it down the tunnel all the way to Henrik's office, Jackie came bounding up to meet him halfway.

"Is he okay?" Jackie asked over the howl of the deluge.

"He's fine! Just a little wet." They both hurried as far in as the cave system went, down to the storage chamber where the others were huddled up together. Schneeplestein had his coat over him like a blanket, which Robbie was stealing partially as he snuggled the doctor uncomfortably close, his head buried in his shoulder. JJ kept fiddling with his moustache and glancing upward, as if he expected the ceiling to cave in and a torrent of water to come rushing in like a great flood. Marvin was seated calmly amongst their most important supplies, thumbing silently through his dusty old book as he ignored the storm outside. He did look up however to watch Chase and Jackie come in.

"We're all good!" Jackie said cheerfully. He plopped down beside Robbie and JJ, and he crossed his legs and idly wiggled his feet. Both giants on either side of him jumped at a rumble of thunder, and JJ promptly clutched Jackie's arm whilst making broken gestures to express embarrassment. Jackie yelped before he let out a small laugh. "It's okay JJ, you got nothin' to apologize for!" He reassured. JJ gratefully scooted closer, poking the superhero's shoulder with his moustache in an appreciative nuzzle.

Chase kept his eyes on Eric as he sat beside Henrik. He caught a dry glance from the doctor, but he ignored it as he pulled his knees up close to his chest and kept his hands mostly cupped against his thorax. Eric's head poked from between his fingers, but then there was a crackle of thunder before a great boom barked through the tunnels, and he cried out and ducked back down into the safety of the giant's hands. Chase frowned and closed his fingers.

"It's okay little dude... You're okay. The storm can't hurt you. It's gonna have to get through us first." Eric huddled up in the small space, finding infinitely more comfort in the giant's warm hands than out there with the cold rain and stone and... Well, he could confess privately that he still had reservations about some of the other giants. Schneeplestein was rather scary, and Marvin... Who knew what went on in the magician's head?