Prologue: Caught!

This was it. I was going to die.

I squirmed against the human's enormous digits as he chuckles smugly to himself. No matter how hard I push the fingers don’t budge, only constrict more around my frame.

That bread so wasn't worth it.

"So you're the one who has been stealing from me?" His voice booms, rattling me to the core. Looking up I meet his fierce brown eyes and go limp. To my relief his crushing grip relaxes slightly.

"Please... I only took what I needed to survive." The giant snorts, the massive gust of air ruffling my hair and making me squint. His breath smells deep and musky, distinctly masculine. I feel a ping of jealousy, wishing I were the one holding him helpless in my fist. Heck I'd even take his build, it's far stronger than my lanky runner’s body. It's not like running did much for me anyway.

"Your kind has been on the news for days, causing quite the stir you are." He purrs, bringing me even closer to his unforgiving brown gaze. Heat radiates off his tan skin, making me squirm uneasily. "Borrowers, that's what you call yourselves." He chuckles, the noise sending shivers up and down my spine. "You're no better than thieving rats." His pointer finger twitches slightly and I gasp, holding my breath until I realize it wasn't even a purposeful move, just his hand flexing slightly on its own. Letting the air out in a sigh of relief I force myself to meet his gaze.

"I never took anything you didn't have to spare. Only leftovers and trinkets you left around unwanted." I cover my ears as the giant laughs loudly, a booming noise that nearly deafens me. My vision blurs slightly and I feel like I might faint, thankfully he regains control and the noise abates first.

"Stealing is stealing regardless of what is stolen." I pale at his words, realizing he isn't going to listen to me or have mercy.

"But I didn't steal! I paid you back however I could, who do you think keeps the mice out of your walls? Or the cockroaches? Those aren't easy to kill you know!!" He blinks lazily at me, looking amused. Then leans in close, I squirm trying to get away from him and fail miserably. His lips nearly brush me as he speaks, and I get a very unwanted view of massive white teeth and a red tongue. The scent of his breath doubles around me, and a steady breeze sets into place as he breathes.

"Not for me."

I'm going to die.

The human pulls back abruptly, suddenly I'm surrounded by cool air and a view of his expansive chest. The beefy muscles are covered in a mass of gray fabric that currently seems so large it's hard to fathom the fact that it's really just a simple shirt. My stomach drops and lurches as he kneels, and I find the relentless grip releasing me altogether as he unceremoniously drops me on the floor at his feet. I land on my hands and knees and flip over onto my back in time to see him rise back up... and up....and up until he is towering over me. The blue and white kitchen tiles are cold underneath me after being held for so long. Or what felt like so long. The giant smiles, and I pale, looking around for a way out. Before me there is nothing but two massive black boots, behind me towers the simple round brown kitchen table that can at most hold four humans. I decide to opt for the table, before I can move his voice rings out, calling my attention back to the sky.

"I think you'll find I have a far easier time dealing with pests." He emphasizes the "I" smugly.

Even if my eyes had been closed I would have known what was happening, as it was I got to see the enormous black boot lift off the floor and hover over me. A black shadow engulfs me, and I know it is over. I am going to die, crushed under a boot easily bigger than the tiny bedroom I made for myself inside of this giants walls. I feel the powerful muscle tense above me through the tension in the air, and with one final burst of desperation dive to the side. The boot slams down behind me, sending me flying and rolling across the kitchen tiles. Everything is shaking, and my head rings from the impact and the laughter emanating from the human. I try to stumble away, the world tilts and spins before me and I fall, unable to get up.

The ceiling spins above me, and is soon filled with the blurry figure of the human stooping over me. I am unable to resist as his large fingers slide under me, lifting me high off the ground once more. He doesn't keep me in his hand this time, but sets me down on the kitchen table. His footsteps recede slightly as he walks across the room. I sit up and rub my head with a groan, the world slowly stabilizes around me. I hear a suction noise, which I later realize was the fridge being opened, and the rumbling footsteps return. I jump as he sets a large beer down next to me, taking the only seat at the small table.

"You got spunk kid, perhaps I will let you live yet." I glare at him.

"I'm 23." The human raises an eyebrow and yawns, making me shudder.

"And I'm 24, and bigger than you, so you are what I say you are. Kid." I clench my fists but let it go, he is right, I don't stand a chance.

"What's your name pest?" I look up abruptly, surprised that this creature would even think to ask me for a name.

"Ryan." I say quietly, the human leans closer as if he didn't hear, and I step back as several tons of living flesh and muscle hover over me. I swallow, trying not to show my fear, and realize I am failing miserably. "My name is Ryan." I repeat in a louder voice.

"Craig." The humans hand looms over my head as he grasps the beer bottle, lifting it he pops off the cap with a loud snap, and proceeds to take a few gulps. I shudder as I hear gallons disappear down his throat with a single gulp. I mutter something about it being nice to meet him and Craig coughs, nearly spitting out his beer. I stumble backwards, hands raised, thinking he is going to spew the foul liquid all over me, but he only swallows forcibly and laughs again. I cover my ears and he controls his laughter, lowering it in volume.

"You don't mean that." He chuckles, setting down the bottle. "Still, you may be useful." I brace myself, narrowing my eyes at him. He gives me a smile fit for the devil and waves his hand.

"Relax, I simply intend to take advantage of your size." Raising his fingers he lines them up with my body and squints through them to emphasize my minute frame. "I want you to spy on a few people for me."

I laugh sharply and shake my head, unsurprising. Only a human could go from trying to crush you one second to exploiting you the next. Irritation tinges my voice and I glare at him, determined to refuse. He'll just crush me as soon as it’s done anyway.... in fact he's probably planning on keeping me locked in a jar until it's convenient for him. I scoff and cross my arms, which to anyone my size would be a fairly decent act of stubborn male intimidation, but not to a human. Especially Craig, who somehow manages to look like the sleazy bar owner he is and a male model at the same time. I would be lying if I said I wasn't jealous of him.

"What's in it for me?" I am still not sure which of us was more surprised by my bravery at the moment, and I probably never will be. He adopts an amused grin and leans forward, the table to my right creaks as his hand presses against it, the other still clutching the cold beer. Brown eyes fix on me, gleaming with a fierce, calculating intelligence. The hand to my right twitches reflexively, and I wince, eliciting another smile. I can practically feel it breaking my bones, I tighten my fists and wait, cursing myself for my bravado.

“Free run of the house…. And your life.” I look up in surprise, of all the things I was expecting an offer of free room and board was NOT one of them. I glimpse a red vain in one of his eyes as he rolls the large brown orbs at me. “Well it’s not like anything would have changed, you’re already a freeloader, may as well earn it while you have the chance and I’m in a good mood.” I jump and stumble backwards as his large pointer finger is placed under my chin, tilting up my head. He grins, savoring the control no doubt. Jerk.

"Well? What do you say little buddy?" I swallow nervously, the large rough finger digs into the grove of my neck in an uncomfortable way.

"I think I can do that."