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Niki slung a bag over her shoulder. It was just an overnight bag, containing a change of clothes and some toiletries. All of the delicate stuff, things they couldn't afford to lose in the storm, were already packed into the car.
She checked the time again. Two hours before the hurricane hit, before they needed to be out of the area. They should have left earlier, but Niki couldn't leave without doing one last thing.
Ranboo was already in the car. Even from here, he looked damp and slightly miserable from the drizzle that had started. Her brother had never been fond of the rain.
Niki was terrified to lose the bakery; it was their whole lives. But she was even more scared of losing her little brother. She wanted to leave an hour ago; but she couldn't in good conscience evacuate knowing about the other inhabitant in their home.
"Jack," she called one last time, a hint of desperation seeping into her voice. "Please, it's an emergency."
Jack was a borrower, a tiny man that lived in their walls. They'd discovered him several months ago, but hadn't actually met until he was trapped on a counter a few weeks ago. He'd been nervous, almost skittish around Niki and Ranboo. He'd vanished back into the walls as soon as he could, and they only knew he was still there because of the security cameras.
Niki hadn't tried to contact him yet, knowing the borrower was afraid of them. But now, she had no choice. She had no clue if Jack even knew what a hurricane was, let alone be able to survive one. She had to try to convince him to evacuate with them.
Finally, just as Niki was giving up hope, she heard the clink of salt shaker falling over. She whirled around, quickly spotting the borrower as light reflected off his one metal arm. He looked wary, and like he might bolt at any moment, but he was here.
***
Jack stared up at the human, fighting the urge to scurry back into the walls. She moved forward slightly, and he instinctively took a step back.
Niki seemed like a very nice person, and she'd helped him before. That didn't mean he should lower his guard. She was still a human, and could hurt him so easily… he took a deep breath.
"What do you want?" He asked with a confidence he didn't feel. He crossed his arms, trying to steady the slight tremble in the one that was still flesh and blood.
He almost hadn't come. According to borrower rules, he shouldn't have. The emergency could be a trick, something to lure him out. Jack couldn't bring himself to believe that, though, so here he was.
"There's a hurricane warning- we've been told to evacuate," Niki said. Jack didn't know what a hurricane was, but his heart dropped. Anything that had humans evacuating was bad news for a borrower.
"I couldn't just leave you behind," Niki said.
And suddenly, Jack realized what she was implying. His pulse sped up, and he took another step back. She wanted to take him with her. To take him away from his- and her- home.
Not only would that mean leaving, possibly forever. It would mean letting her carry him, transport him. He would have to give her full control, and he'd have to trust she wouldn't abuse that control to hurt him.
"What- what does a hurricane do, exactly?" he asked weakly. Maybe he could just stay in the walls and he'd be safe. Maybe he didn't have to evacuate.
"It's a storm, a really bad one," Niki said, her eyes darting towards the clock. Oh, hell, were they on a time limit? His stomach twisted.
"How bad?" He hedged.
"There can be flooding, and strong winds. In the worst cases the storm can take a house down."
Jack's breaths came shallow and quick. His vision blurred as his mind filled with vivid images. His home inside the walls crumbling beneath his feet, the walls of the house torn down by a raging storm, water flooding every corner of the house until he couldn't breathe-
"...breathe, Jack. You need to breathe." Niki's calm voice cut through his panic and he blinked.
She was a lot closer now, leaning towards him. He itched to take another step back, but her brow was furrowed with concern and she hadn't grabbed at him.
He followed her instructions, taking deep breaths to calm himself. After several rounds of counting his breath, he was able to think more clearly. The fear was still there, but survival came first.
"Do- do I have time to pack?" He asked.
Her face pinched, and her eyes darted to the clock. There was a heavy pause before she answered.
"Please be quick," she said.
Jack was pretty sure that meant 'there really isn't time.' He gulped. Was there anything that he truly couldn't live without? Anything worth risking his life? He didn't think so.
"I- nevermind," he said, taking a deep breath. "I'm ready."
Niki looked conflicted for a moment before she nodded. Then she moved, her hand moving towards him.
Jack was unable to hold back his flinch. He expected her to grab him, to pluck him off the counter like he was nothing. Instead, she set her hand on the counter, letting it rest palm up. It was up to him to climb on.
He took a shaky breath trying to steel himself. He stepped forward on trembling legs, his heart feeling like it might beat out of his chest. It didn't matter how nice Niki seemed; she could hurt him so easily, and there was nothing he could do to stop it.
Jack squeezed his eyes shut and pulled out his last shreds of courage. He leaped onto her hand, desperately hoping that Niki could be trusted.
***
Ranboo sat in the passenger seat, his knee bouncing in place. He looked out the window, his heart fluttering nervously at the sight of the black clouds smothering the sky.
His hand drifted towards his mouth, and he anxiously chewed on his nails. They should have left nearly ten minutes ago, and Niki was still inside.
He wasn't sure what terrified him more- the idea of being too late to evacuate, or the idea of Jack being caught in the storm.
Before he could work himself into a panic, he heard the bakery door opening. His head shot towards the sound, and he wilted in relief.
Niki hurried out, her hands clutched carefully to her chest. She'd managed to get Jack out, thank goodness.
Realizing her hands were full, Ranboo leaned over and opened the driver's side. She slid in, her hair and sweater damp from the rain.
Ranboo's eyes locked onto the borrower that was clutched in her hands. He felt a lump forming in his throat at the sight.
Jack was shaking like crazy, his eyes squeezed tightly shut. He didn't look like he'd gotten wet- probably a good thing considering one of his arms was robotic. But he looked terrified, as tense as a coiled spring.
"Jack, I need to drive now," Niki said softly, looking down at the small man with concern. "I'm going to hand you to Ranboo. Is that ok?"
Ranboo's eyes went wide with panic. Oh god, oh god, he had to hold Jack, didn't he?
Jack didn't open his eyes, but he nodded jerkily. Niki looked up, meeting Ranboo's eyes.
His heart was pounding, but he held out his hands anyways. Niki moved quickly but carefully, tilting her hands so Jack slid off. Ranboo's heart skipped a beat at the feeling of an entire person sitting in his hands.
His hands were trembling slightly. He wondered if Jack could feel it? He realized that he could feel the tiny man's feather-light pulse, as quick as a rabbit's, and his far-too-fast breathing.
He brought his hands to his chest as slowly as he could, terrified he'd somehow hurt Jack.
The car sprung to life, and he jumped, his hands instinctively curling a little tighter around the borrower. He felt Jack's flinch, and he felt a curl of guilt in his gut.
"Sorry," he whispered. "Did I hurt you?"
"N-no," the borrower answered. Oh thank goodness.
"Get comfortable if you can; we've got a bit of a drive ahead of us," Niki said. They were hotels and shelters only a short drive away, but they were heading a little farther out. Niki had a friend who'd offered them a place to stay until the storms had passed, longer if they needed.
"We'll be safe soon," Ranboo said quietly, wishing he could do something to comfort the frightened borrower in his hands. "I promise."
***