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blametheeditor · 2 years

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5 Times Grant Pulled A Dad

1st Time

NOT FOR EVERYONE

Run Down: Don’t ask him how it happened.

Content Warnings: Cursing. Mentions of verbal disagreement, yelling. Mentions of being ignored.

To make up for the Jeremy

______________________

The sound of a door slamming shut went unnoticed for a short amount of time.

By now, he’s gotten used to the sound. If not from his previous job where you claw at each other’s throat trying to get to the newest client first before shutting your office door angrily when you lost, then from slowly learning the habits of those who work at Joey Drew Studios.

The accountant sighs as he thinks about all the reasons why this one sounded particularly loud. Wally pulling a prank. Norman accidentally kicking it closed too harshly. Sammy announcing his frustration.

But before he can stand up from his desk to investigate and ensure no one’s going to kill each other, he catches movement in the corner of his eye. It causes him to hesitate, looking over the wall of miniscule stairs with just as equally small doors dotting multiple landings designed for those who stand no taller than three inches tall. Ones that have gone completely untouched ever since he started working as the studio accountant. Yet Grant finds himself blinking at the sight of someone darting down them as fast as possible.

Out of everything he was expecting, his coworkers invading his office wasn’t among them.

Being the only giant employee has its perks. When it comes to drama and trying to blame someone for something, he’s always left out of it. Despite how much it was emphasized by the others on how much Joey bothers them, his employer has not once come to demand for something and therefore distract him from the mountain of paperwork that has done nothing but steadily grow. Not to mention the legendary pranks he’s heard numerous stories are yet to be done with him as the target.

That doesn’t mean he isn’t silently grateful when one of the doors is left open after a weekly meeting in which Grant has been apart of, but from his desk while the rest are gathered in a common area just out of sight. Finds himself listening with curiosity as Henry gets roped into someone’s project. Feels a smile tug at his lips when Shawn starts ranting. Leans back to enjoy Susie’s recording sessions when a song is being sung behind an entire orchestra.

When offered a position as the studio’s accountant, he had been told most of his coworkers would be human, not all. It had been promised there’d be accommodations for his stature, not a single room. There had been numerous assurances no one would mind a giant being hired, not that they weren’t informed whatsoever.

The others truly hadn’t minded the fact their newest coworker stood over two hundred feet tall. That certainly didn’t mean they felt the same way interacting with him.

Grant has found the routine in being asked for advice, but from a distance where he can never make out the requestor's expressions. Is respected and will grab Joey when needed, but always from the safety of walls much to small for his hand to fit through. Someone will always greet him in the morning by opening a door and waving, but never walking into the giant’s territory.

So why was Henry passing the last doorway back into the human side of the studio without so much as a glance, looking as if he fully intends to reach the bottom of the stairs.

One’s that end on the floor to Grant’s office.

“Ross?”

The teenager startles, hands frantically grabbing at the rails to ensure he doesn’t tumble down hard wood stairs and wind up breaking his leg, bruising a rib, possibly pitch over the side.

Grant nearly stands up to grab the miniscule figure before he gets hurt. The sheepish smile aimed upwards keeps him in his chair. “H-Hey, Cohen. Didn’t, uh, see ya there.”

The giant can’t help giving an unimpressed look. “Any reason why I wouldn’t be here?”

In the only space in the entire studio he could be. It’s not like he can shrink down to make a cup of coffee in the main break room.

“Well, er.” Henry winces as he carefully stands up instead of staying in his nearly-falling position before suddenly brightening up as he points at the man accusingly. “Why would you be! It’s 5 o’clock, meaning you should be clocked out and heading home!”

Grant glances at the time, a wave of exhaustion washing over him at the realization it is 5. Yet he has at least an hour left of cleaning financial reports before he’ll be able to leave. It doesn’t help that, despite everything being an utter mess, Joey still continues to spend at the budget he set long ago. A budget that multiple meetings have stated isn’t feasible.

But what would he know? He’s only the accountant.

“As much as I’d love to, there will be no clocking out until I’ve found a proper stopping point.” Less he have to restart May all the way from the beginning tomorrow and waste half a day’s work.

“Oh,” Henry murmurs.

That’s when Grant notices how...reserved the teenager is. They haven’t interacted much, but he’s heard the talented animator’s laugh and taunts as clear as day despite the closed door. Has heard Sammy’s fond grumbles of having such a rambunctious thing wondering through the halls without supervision. It only gets worse when he teams up with Wally and all hell breaks loose.

He’s come to imagine Henry Ross as a confident kid who teases everyone he comes across. Grant actually saw the personality not even a moment ago.

Now it’s gone, leaving him with a human unsure what to do.

...looking like he just got caught.

“What did you do?”

“Who? Me? Cohen, that’s a question for Franks,” Henry grins. It doesn’t falter even with a disbelieving headshake as papers that would be impossible for him to hold are carefully straightened.

“I think it’s a question for whoever sprinted into my office as if he was being chased.”

Grant’s eyes harden as Henry flinches. “That obvious, huh?”

A million questions run through his mind. Unsure what would be better. What would be worst. All he knows is that if the kid was truly in danger, he doesn’t mind using the fact he is the only giant employee to his advantage.

“I got upset at Drew,” suddenly erups. And then Henry’s hands are gesturing as he marches down the last couple flights of stairs. “I’ve been begging for help with animation, ya know? I’m quick, but he’s been decreasing the amount of time to get a reel done, so then he wants me to stay longer, and then gets mad because that means more pay, but I’m not some magical being who can get the fucking cells done within seconds!”

Grant leans forward in order to see the figure finally reach the floor. But instead of stopping, his footsteps march right toward the desk. Unafraid despite the fact he’s gone out of sight with nothing but a voice telling the being who could crush him beneath a shoe where he is.

“So I tried to talk to him, and he got upset so I got upset. I shouldn’t have but I couldn’t stop myself from yelling.”

Henry makes it past the desk, finally back in line of sight. Yet the human continues to approach him despite the shadow being cast.

“And then...and then Sammy joined in because we were being loud. He was upset at both of us, so I started to feel gained up on, until finally I just ran off before they could tell me to stay.”

The teenager huffs as he stands with his arms crossed. Looking as if the tension in his shoulders finally left. Aims a thoughtful expression up at attentive blue eyes almost directly above.

“I know it ain’t fair doing it especially because I started it. I just get overwhelmed, so when the thought of escaping comes I just take it. Ya won’t tell Drew I hide in here, will ya?”

That’s when Grant realizes he’s supposed to speak. When an incredibly fragile being marched his way up to a catastrophic giant despite never showing any signs of having interacted with the larger counterparts before. After pouring his heart out about something that’s clearly weighted heavily on him for a while and needing to feel supported when those he looks up to most aren’t helping.

“You hide in my office?”

Grant can’t help but feel indignant at the fact his space has apparently been invaded before. A bit terrified at the fact he could’ve walked in on a previous morning and not known a human was sitting only inches away from getting crushed.

Henry bites his lip. Looks away in shame. “...yes.”

The teenager certainly wasn’t expecting a hand to carefully sweep him up going based on the terrified scream. But while none of them have met a giant, Grant has certainly met his own fair share of humans. Is well trained in the art of keeping them safe while giving them what they want and yet he’s not distracted.

Another shriek erupts as Henry is carefully dropped into his button up’s chest pocket.

“New rule. You can come in here whenever you’d like, but not when I’m not here, and not without telling me.”

Grant grabs his long forgotten pen before glancing down at his companion staring up at him in awe. “I-I can?”

“I don’t mind you being in here,” the accountant mumbles. He scowls when it becomes clear he lost his place. Hopefully he won’t have to backtrack too far... “I just have to know where you are.”

He pauses as his pocket is kicked at until Henry finally rights himself in order to stand up. “You’re the best Cohen!”

“Mhmm.”

“Even if you are a bit scary.”

Henry ducks down before a look can be aimed toward him. Unfortunately, being in a pocket means a finger poking him in retaliation can’t be fled from. “Only when teenagers have snuck into my office.

“You never have to be scared of me, though.”

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