Darren shielded his eyes from the invasion of light as Lyroo removed the small round lid to the padded human transportation module. He half expected her to reach in and pull him out, but rather he braced himself against the walls as the container was gently placed on its side.

Darren waited in silence for a prompting, a warning, anything to suggest what would happen next, but there was nothing but silence. So taking matters into his own hands, Darren crawled his way to the exit expecting perchance to find a giant blond face studying him, but instead was greeted to a snake and two boulders and the smiling face of a strange human male looking down at him eagerly.

“Hi!” The excitable human spoke with a child like voice.

“Jesus christ almighty!” Darren stumbled back and shook the image of the naked man’s genitalia out of his mind. “Careful where ya wave that thing buddy!”

The naked man stepped back and watched Darren with a look of worry, he looked up and around trying to figure out what exactly he did wrong.

A loud string of giggling caught Darren’s attention, and he followed the peculiar large shadow on the ground to the beaming smile of the titan looking down onto both of them.

“It’s ok Scroof, you didn’t do anything wrong, calm down sweetie.” Lyroo smiled tenderly to the confused little Scroof, who had retreated close to her and crawled into an offered hand.

“I just said Hi, I didn’t hurt him…I’m sorry.” Scroof apologized as he looked up to his master, he had the worried look of a Dog who had just peed on the floor.

“Shhh, I know Scroof it’s ok.” Lyroo reassured her human and stroked him gently down his back with her thumb. “Your not in trouble, calm down.” Lyroo said with a bit of amusement in her voice.

Darren groaned and rubbed his eyes as he sat back on his hands. For a fleeting moment he had almost hoped he was somewhere else, but the sinking reality of his situation was crawling back to him. The titan woman, his nudity, and the strange bewildered dullard she was coddling. He was right where he didn’t want to be, in the clutches of a very different sort of titan one who couldn’t be further from the benign and friendly one he was use to. Darren, was a pet.

“You act as if you’ve never seen another human male before Darren.” Lyroo stated, trying to regain her composure.

“Not up close and personal ah haven’t!” Darren grumbled, his own nudity was also a factor to take into consideration. While Lyroo sat in the comfort of her pink short sleeve tee shirt with simple denim shorts, he had nothing but his own modesty to shield him.

Lyroo cleared her throat and set Scroof down on the table top once more, it took a bit of coaxing but she managed to convince Scroof to introduce himself again, this time from a bit of a distance.

“Hi, I’m Scroof.” The taller leaner looking human spoke with much less excitement in his voice, reminiscent of a shy child now.

Darren pushed off the ground and stood, he was used to army showers and living on base with a bunch of other men, so modesty was not much of a problem for Darren. Still the peering eyes of Lyroo, and her calm almost ignorant attitude towards it was more than a little unsettling. It was just something she accepted as normal, so much that she didn’t even seem to bat an eye at his and Scroof’s nudity.

Another thing he had noticed was her own appearance. Now that she was in the comfort of her own home, her dressed to impress business formal attire had been thrown aside, replaced by a short simple tee and a pair of shorts that hardly looked long enough to act as underwear. It became evident to Darren that Lyroo felt comfortable in the presence of ‘pets’ where she might not in the presence of ‘people’ another unsettling thought he had to digest.

Darren eyed Scroof up and down as he stood, and nodded somewhat gruffly to the odd fellow. His immediate attention however was on Lyroo, she was the one he needed to deal with, not the happy naked man.

“So yer Lyroo ya said?” Darren asked as he approached her. There was no need for formalities, trepidation as far as Darren was concerned. Lyroo was clearly of no immediate physical threat to him, and if perchance she was, there was absolutely nothing he could do about it. Darren was observant enough to piece that together.

Lyroo watched Darren approach, mildly impressed by his temperament thus far, and made no sudden movements to deter him from continuing his advancement on her.

“You remembered, that’s wonderful.” Lyroo smiled.

Darren pondered a snarky come back, but felt this called for a much less sarcastic mood than he normally took. With out Eyrn’s bulk to back him off, mouthing off or playing the fool didn’t feel so secure or wise anymore.

Once Darren was nearly close enough to touch, Lyroo flipped her hand around and offered her open palm for him to climb onto. When he didn’t accept, but simply stood where he was, Lyroo too note and watched him carefully.

“I was afraid your experience may have left you afraid of titan’s, it’s nice to see I was wrong.” Lyroo stated, her attitude had taken on a much more business tone now, as if she had just snapped onto work mode.

“Should ah be afraid?” Darren asked, meeting Lyroo’s gaze with his own ‘war face’.

“No Darren, you shouldn’t.” Lyroo neatly crossed one hand over the other and readjusted herself in her seat. “Not of me, not of anyone Darren, but most defiantly not of me.” Lyroo’s smile tried to feel reassuring, but Darren hardly took it that way.

“That ain’t too bright really? Don’t ya think?” Darren eyed Lyroo for a moment and crossed his arms over his chest.

“Why would you think that, Darren?” Lyroo asked.

“Not being afraid is what got me in ta this mess in the first place? Isn’t it?” Darren was well aware it was a fair bit more complicated than he was letting on, but felt a back and forth with his captor was a good way to get a feel for her tolerance level with out crossing the line openly.

“I don’t think so Darren. A neglectful master who didn’t know how to care for you properly is what got you into this mess. You can hardly be blamed for what happened Darren.” Lyroo’s voice was ripe with companion, it was clear she at least believed what she was saying.

“Ah, so it’s Eyrn’s fault eh? Heh, and here ah thought ah was responsible for ma own actions.” Darren snuffed a laugh and ran his hand under his nose.

Lyroo gave her head a shake. “Humans should be able to trust titan’s Darren, their masters are the ones who are tasked with keeping them safe. Eyrn should not have taken you to a place you could have been hurt, and once there she defiantly should not have left you alone.” Lyroo’s face displayed displeasure as she spoke about the events that had occurred, which were clearly a sore spot for her.

“So that’s how it is then eh?” Darren smirked, even through his apparent confidence it was difficult to hold himself together given what he had been through. Lyroo was a fair bit larger than Eyrn, with out the added benefit of Eyrn’s common sense and affection for humanity.

Lyroo set her palm down on the table, and motioned to Darren with her eyes. In a clear, distinct and confident voice she spoke one simple word, “Come.”

Darren however, did not comply.

Lyroo eyed Darren for a moment, but rather than lash out, she simply turned to Scroof, who had been watching their exchange intently, and repeated the command to him.

Darren watched Scroof quickly run over and hop into Lyroo’s hand. She smiled tenderly and stroked his back, lifting him up to her face for a short little kiss. “Good boy Scroof, I like it when you listen.”

“I know, that’s why I do it!” Scroof smiled proudly.

“And why else?” Lyroo asked Scroof, her tone of voice leading.

“Because it keeps me safe when I listen and do what I’m told!” Scroof replied as if he had said it a hundred times before.

*And why is that Scroof?” Lyroo brought her hand near her cheek, but not close enough that Scroof could reach her just yet.

“Because Lyroo knows what’s best!” Scroof said eagerly.

“Good boy.” Lyroo praised, and brought Scroof in for a cheek cuddle.

Darren watched the thoroughly obedient man nestle into Lyroo’s cheek almost too eagerly. It was shockingly clear Lyroo used praise and affection to garnish what she wanted out of Scroof.

Lyroo pulled Scroof away from her face and set her palm down on the table. Hesitantly Scroof crawled off Lyroo’s hand, looking rather downcast in the process.

“Darren, I’m going to level with you.” Lyroo crossed her arms on the table and rested her chin on her arms, she watched Darren with an almost whimsical look in her eyes. “Not listening won’t get you beaten, I won’t try to frighten you, or over power you. All of those things amount to nothing more than bullying and abuse.” Lyroo’s brow raised, her voice almost seemed diplomatic.

“Mmhmm.” Darren watched her carefully, his mind working as fast as hers did to try to unravel her tactics before she could take them into effect.

“Not listening to me will make your life a fair bit more complicated, and a whole lot more difficult.” Lyroo sat up and offered her hand down once more. “Do you know what it is I want from you Darren?” Lyroo asked simply.

Darren tisked and shrugged indignant. “Sure, you want me’t be a good lil boy and do what I’m told.”

Lyroo sighed and closed her hand, turning her knuckles to the table top and crossed her wrists neatly. “No.” Lyroo gave her head a shake. “I want what is best for you Darren. I want you to be safe, and in order for that to happen you have to learn to respect authority and trust the hand that feeds you.” Lyroo could not have possibly sounded more convinced of her own rightness, and it was absolutely sickening.

All Darren could do was chuckle.

“Darren, come.” Lyroo repeated, with the sort of authority Darren wished he could have displayed when breaking in new recruits back home.

Darren didn’t move.

Lyroo sighed. This was going to take a lot of work.

***

Eyrn held on to the edge of the raised platform where Tapp stood, she had to stand on her tip-toes to keep herself eye level with Tapp. This seemed to invoke a certain pride out of the pale faced little diva, who was at present too distracted to take advantage of it.

“Well you could have let us know!” Tapp snapped, her same harshness and upper class venom still present in her voice.

Eyrn grinned ear to ear. “I didn’t figure you would be so concerned.”

Tapp gasped and crossed her arms tightly, after fumbling around with her words a little the tiny human scoffed and turned away. “Who said I was concerned.”

Eyrn rolled her eyes and gave her head a shake. “Of course, my mistake.”

“So, your back now?” Tapp asked, still sounding less than impressed.

“I am. Did you miss me?” Eyrn asked amused.

“Tssh, no!” Tapp spoke up quickly. “Just…you shouldn’t wonder off with out letting people know where you are going alright!?” Tapp spoke, and for a moment a hint of something seldom seen twinkled in her eyes. For a quick moment Eyrn saw a vulnerable and uncertain Tapp, it was enough to silence Eyrn, and end her sarcastic streak.

“Sorry, I’ll be sure to let you know next time, ok? ” Eyrn said softly.

“What ever ok! Just don’t be stupid.” Tapp shot right back to her old self, and sealed the deal by sending Eyrn a sour look.

Eyrn ignored the sass, mostly out of lingering shock and joy that Tapp was in fact alive.

“So, where are Bedra and Degu?” Eyrn asked, dropping down to the flats of her feet and looking around the room.

Tapp approached the edge of the tower ledge and crossed her arms impatiently, looking down at Eyrn expectantly.

Eyrn, after a few moments of looking about caught on and reached up for Tapp, setting the frail little human in her open palm. She didn’t feel letting her climb into an open palm from so high was a safe option, and went against her norm by grasping her and placing her in a safer spot.

“They went out.” Tapp spoke only once she was in a more comfortable position, sitting cross legged in Eyrn’s palm.

“Out?” Eyrn asked, in shock.

“That’s what I said.” Tapp scoffed.

“You mean out, out? As in left you…home alone?” Eyrn frowned, suddenly looking at Tapp with a sort of mother bear look.

“Oh no! No, no, no! Don’t you even start! Little miss wandering hobo! It took me nearly a week to convince Bedra to give me so much as a moment alone! I’ve had those two dotting over me endlessly since I woke up! Goodness do you know how good it felt to have a bath alone with our bonehead and Bedra pestering me?” tapp grumbled and met Eyrn’s gaze with her own stone cold determined glare.

Eyrn chuckled a bit and rose her free hand in surrender. “Ok, ok sorry I brought it up…its just…are you well enough to be left alone?” Eyrn bit her lip.

“Of course I am! Besides I am quite capable of taking a bath and eating on my own! It’s not like I was doing anything dangerous or strenuous.” Tapp rolled her eyes.

“No I suppose not.” Eyrn admitted.

“Not like I was off galavanting around the country side or anything….”

“Not gonna let me live that down are you?” Eyrn blew through the side of her mouth.

“Besides, your home now so it’s not like I’m alone anymore.” Tapp motioned towards the kitchen and looked up to Eyrn. “You’re just in time to make me something to eat.”

“I thought you said….”

“Well your here arn’t you? Besides I’m still sick ‘remember’? Tapp grinned and made herself comfortable.

Eyrn sighed and made her way into the kitchen, the apartment was starting to get dark, but the motion detector noticed her presence and the lights came on as soon as she entered the room.

“I like that dress, where did you get it?” Eyrn mentioned as she walked into the kitchen and set her palm down on the center island.

Tapp slowly stepped off, she moved with much less spring in her step, almost as if she had just started learning to walk and was still unsteady on her feet. Eyrn noticed this, and didn’t have to wonder why it was. This was likely a lingering effect of the venom, and was not altogether guaranteed to ever completely go away.

“I made it.” Tapp said with no shortage of pride, and took hold of the material showing off the dress with a very slow twirl.

“Oh wow, really?” Eyrn eyed the material with out getting too close to Tapp’s ‘bubble’.

“Don’t act so surprised, I told you I could do other things! Its ‘not’ like it’s hard you know.” Tapp spoke as if offended.

“No, I don’t doubt you did…its just…well I’ve made clothes before and it isn’t easy…especially not something like that. Tapp it looks good, really.” Eyrn smiled and stood straight.

“You? Made your own clothes?” Tapp asked with a spark of interest.

“Just a few things, I had to learn to stitch my own clothes from a young age. But I mean nothing like that Tapp, it’s gorgeous.” Eyrn began looking about through the kitchen drawers for something to make for her and Tapp.

“Oh, well…thank you.” Tapp smiled, showing a rare moment of humility.

“What motivated you to make that?” Eyrn asked from across the room.

Tapp shrugged, studying the hem of her dress for a moment and running a thin hand down the front of her flat stomach. “I told Bedra I was bored, and she asked me if there was anything I wanted to do, like do all the time. You know? Something I was interested in that I could do to keep busy and feel good about. So I told her I always liked the nice pretty dresses and gowns titan women wore…so the next day she gave me a bunch of fabric and some my-sized sewing and cutting tools and here we are.”

Eyrn took pause, Tapp had a hobby? The last time Eyrn had seen Tapp she was being extracted from a dead womans stomach like a piece of half digested pork, and not she was enjoying a hobby? It almost brought a tear to her eyes.

“Are you going to make more?” Eyrn asked, unable to hold back her silly grin.

“Going to? I already have three…and another in the works. plus I made a pair of pants for Degu because if I have to look at his bare ass any more I swear….”

Eyrn chuckled. “Three? Tapp where do you find the time for all this? I mean between recovering and everything?”

“Time? I have nothing but time Eyrn. You titan’s sleep forever and we sit here twiddling our thumbs. Besides, not my fault your all slow and can’t do things fast.” Tapp spoke with the utmost pride.

Eyrn finished her survey of the kitchen and returned to tapp empty handed. She was a pro at using the vending machines that dispensed food, but cooking was still beyond Eyrn’s capabilities.

“Do you know where Bedra keeps the already cooked food?” Eyrn asked bashfully.

“Urg, I hate left overs. Can’t we have something new?” Tapp asked with a whine in her voice.

“Sure, if you know how to cook it.” Eyrn grinned.

“Don’t be smart….” Tapp glared.

“Fine, well we will have to wait for Bedra to come home first ok?” Eyrn sighed.

“Urg, that could be a while, can’t we go out and get something?” Tapp shifted her weight.

“Go…out? us?” Eyrn stammered nervously.

“Yes? Who else would I be talking to?” Tapp tisked condescendingly.

Eyrn bit her lip, she wasn’t sure she was even aloud to take Tapp out, let alone if it was a good idea. “Are you sure you are well enough?” Eyrn shuffled her feet.

“I’m fine, let’s go get something! It’s not dark yet and I’m hungry. There is a canteen down the way remember!?” Tapp lit up and bounced on her heels. “I can’t go myself now can I?”

“Tapp…I can’t…I don’t think I’m even allowed….” Eyrn spoke softly, she really felt uneasy about this and actually found herself wishing Bedra would walk in right about now.

“Not allowed?” Tapp shifted her weight and spoke with a barking yipp.

Eyrn rested her elbows on the counter and looked to Tapp apologetically. “Well, I’m not really supposed to…oh god there is no right way to say this with out sounding horrible.” Eyrn blew her hair from before her face and looked back to Tapp. “I screwed up Tapp, and as well as taking Darren away from me, I’ve been restricted from owning humans…so I don’t know if that means I can even take you out.” Eyrn spoke. the words felt like ash in her mouth.

“Damn it, I am not asking you to throw me on a leash and take me for a walk! I just asked if we could go out!” Tapp scolded.

“I know, I know…but Tapp, I’ve screwed up enough as it is. If the wrong person sees me with you and…I don’t know if you get taken away or something, then what?” Eyrn felt horrible, the snappy harsh reaction Tapp gave her didn’t hardly feel like enough to satisfy her guilt.

Tapp let out a frustrated groan and stomped her foot viciously. “This is absurd! I should be permitted to go out with whom ever I like.” Tapp began to pace back and forth.

Eyrn winced, Tapp was getting nice and worked up and that could not be good for her health. Resisting the urge to reach out and comfort her, Eyrn winced and held her hands up ‘surrender’ like. “Ok. How about we compromise?” Eyrn asked hopefully.

“How?” Tapp snipped.

“I could order something? Take out? You love take out don’t you?” Eyrn smiled with a hint of anxiety.

“I suppose that could work.” Tapp walked towards Eyrn, and waited expectantly.

Eyrn nervously set her hand down, she had carried humans around all her life and never batted an eye. Now she could hardly look at one with out feeling a wave of remorse and guilt

“Well?” Tapp tapped her foot impatiently and crossed her arms.

Eyrn took a breath and set her hand next to Tapp. “Sorry, I’m sorry…sure let’s go see what’s open on the link?” Eyrn offered, trying to smile.

Tapp slowly climbed on, even the relatively easy hop onto Eyrn’s hand seemed to take the frail little human more time than it should.

“Why do you keep apologizing to me anyway?” Tapp made herself comfortable.

“Because I messed up, and I feel guilty?” Eyrn said with a downcast frown as she moved into the other room towards the desk top terminal.

“Why? What did you do?” Tapp asked dismissive.

Eyrn blinked in bewilderment. “Well I let you and Darren down? Got everyone in a load of shit…and lost my temper at a court hearing that may have cost Darren his freedom…to start.”

Tapp rolled her eyes and sighed. “You titan’s are all the same you know that!” Tapp spoke harshly.

“I bed pardon?” Eyrn blinked as she shuffled her feet, trying not to shake Tapp up too much.

“I can’t even screw up with out getting that taken from me too!” Tapp began. “I mean next you’re gonna go on about how poor Darren and Tapp didn’t know what they were doing, poor naive little humans!” Tapp huffed and looked away.

“I…didn’t mean it like that. I mean, Tapp you should have been able to go for a walk with out taking your own life in your hands is all. I let you down, I should have been more attentive….”

“You don’t get it. I mean you of all the giants on this rock should understand.” Tapp’s voice had broken from its regular harshness, and seemed almost weak and with out energy.

“I…”

“I messed up Eyrn. Not Darren, not Bedra, not you. Even when I screw up nobody takes me seriously.” Tapp looked down, studying the lines in Eyrn’s palm.

Eyrn searched for words, but found none. Risking a verbal thrashing she gently reached out and rubbed Tapp’s back with her forefinger.

“What are you doing?” Tapp asked softly.

“Comforting you?” Eyrn pulled away. “Sorry.”

“Well, I never said stop!” Tapp barked, trying to pull herself back to her tried and tested shield.

Eyrn reached out and continued rubbing Tapp’s back.

“I’m sorry.” Eyrn whispered.

“Now what’d you do?” Tapp half laughed.

“For what you had to go through.” Eyrn spoke, hardly audible.

Tapp was quiet and still.

“I’m not going to let this happen anymore Tapp…not to you…not to anyone.” Eyrn could feel Tapp tense up. “I’m going to protect you…not because I have to, not because you are a cause…but because I want to. Tapp, I’m sorry this happened. If I have anything to say about it? It won’t happen again. ”

“You can’t be sure of that.” Tapp whispered, coldly.

“But I can try.” Eyrn pulled her hand away.

“Damn it I didn’t say stop ok!” Tapp lashed out.

When Eyrn returned her hand to stroke Tapp’s back. Tapp leaned into he and closed her eyes.

“Don’t tell them…please…” Tapp whispered. “I don’t want Bedra dotting over me so much…just don’t tell them ok?” Tapp sniffed roughly and kept her eyes closed tighty.

“I won’t.” Eyrn said softly.

“I’m still hungry by the way.” Tapp reminded Eyrn. “I like those things wrapped in flat bread with meat.”

Eyrn nodded. “Sure, I can order some of those.” Eyrn’s guilt didn’t waver, it only took on a new form now. Darren was temporally out of her reach, that much she had no control over. But as she had learned on the farm and now confirmed here, there were others who needed her now. That would have to be here focus, and as for Master Sergeant Darren Lemuel Avery…she would have to trust his fate to Aisell and Loona. Who were on her side, even though they were titan’s, because not all titan’s were bad. Eyrn just had to find the good ones.