“So there it is,” Dayton said, voice low. “All this time… you could’ve just admitted that.”
She looked at him like she was seeing him clearly for the first time, and it made her stomach twist.
“You could’ve confronted me. You didn’t have to make my life hell.” Her eyes flashed. “You bullied my friends. You bullied me. You made it seem like I was the problem. Like my work, my training, was pointless.”
She swallowed, then said the part that had sat in her chest. “Why wouldn’t you acknowledge what I accomplished?”
Ezra’s face tightened. He looked small, but not meek.
“Because I’m a little,” he said, and the words came out like he hated that they were true. “And you… you of all people. You went and got trained. Not just trained, you a ranked guardian.”
His eyes stayed locked on her. “I have to get carried back into my classroom by some student teacher with the ink still dry on her diploma, like this, and who’s standing there?” His voice roughened. “You. The student I couldn’t stand. The one who’s suddenly… above me.”
He exhaled, bitter. “Do you have any idea what that does to someone’s pride?”
Dayton’s mouth twitched. Not a smile. Something colder.
“Don’t flatter yourself,” she said. “I didn’t get trained for you. I didn’t even know you were a little. I just thought you were a bitch. But, I wanted a little. That’s not a secret. Ever since Sara walked in with Jordy. Ever since Kinsley and I planned. I wanted it. For me, for her, for us. So that dream could be real. She can’t do it so I have to carry that burden.”
She stepped closer, just enough that he had to tilt his head back.
“And it didn’t have to be you,” Dayton added. “I’ve been trying to be nice all day. I’ve been trying to do everything ‘right.’”
Her voice sharpened. “But fine. You want the truth?”
She pointed at him, not dramatic, just direct. “I didn’t care if I got you or not. The only reward I needed was knowing you wouldn’t be strutting around, making my life hell… or doing it to whoever the next ‘Dayton’ is.”
She paused looking at him.
“The fact that they handed you to me?” She shrugged. “That’s just extra.”
Dayton’s tone turned brisk again, like she was switching back into Guardian mode because feelings were messy and procedure was clean.
“But here’s what’s real,” she said. “You’re my little now. I’m your guardian. And the only person who seems bitter about that is you.”
She angled her head toward the sink, toward the waiting water.
“So go ahead,” Dayton said. “Get in the bath. Get clean. Then we go back to the room.”
Her voice softened into something almost cheerful, which somehow made it worse.
“You can hang out in your habitat. Watch TV. Read on the tablet I got you. Eat pellets. Drink water. Whatever it is little Ezras do at night.” She lifted her eyebrows. “Because tomorrow’s another day.”
Dayton held his gaze. “And you get to wake up as my little.”
She turned away like the conversation was over.
“You’re welcome.”
For a second, Ezra didn’t move.
The bathroom felt too bright, too clean, too normal for the sentence she’d just dropped into it. The sink water sat there perfectly still, a shallow glossy surface that reflected the underside of the faucet like a steel horizon. The berry soap made the air faintly sweet, like a lie you could smell.
Ezra’s hands curled at his sides. He wanted to snap back with something sharp, something earned, something that could put her in her place the way he used to. The words lined up in his head the way they always did when he was teaching, neat and devastating and too late.
But his place wasn’t a desk anymore.
His place was the edge of a counter.
He could feel the heat of her presence even with her back turned. He could feel the absolute certainty in her posture: the knowledge that she didn’t need to argue with him. She could simply… wait. Procedure would win. Time would win. Gravity would win.
He looked at the sink again.
At his scale it wasn’t a cute bath. It was a decision. It was the new version of a door that locked from the outside.
He swallowed. The movement shifted his collar against his throat, the tag giving that thin little tick, like punctuation on his humiliation.
He hated the sound.
He hated that he was learning to measure his emotions in it.
Ezra stepped forward, careful. The counter was cool under his feet, and his balance had to be deliberate, each step an act of concentration. He reached the rim and peered down.
The water wasn’t deep, but it didn’t have to be. The idea of it was enough. The idea of needing help if he slipped. The idea of her hands coming in, not gentle, not cruel, just certain.
A strange, ugly thought crossed him: She’s not even wrong. He did need to clean himself. He did need to survive.
His pride bucked like an animal in a trap.
His body didn’t care.
Behind him, Dayton moved at the counter, unscrewing a cap, clicking something shut, the tiny normal sounds of a girl finishing her routine. Ezra realized with a cold little twist that she was giving him privacy in the only way she could while still keeping control: by not looking.
It was almost considerate.
It was also a reminder that she could look whenever she wanted.
Ezra’s jaw tightened. “You think this is going to make you feel better,” he said quietly, not turning around. “Like it fixes what you hated.”
Dayton didn’t answer right away. She didn’t have to. The silence was an answer.
Ezra stared at the water until his reflection wavered.
Then, because there was no heroic choice left in the moment, he sat down on the edge. He lowered one foot, testing the temperature the way she had, hating himself for the imitation. Warm. Not hot. Not cold. Right in that safe range she’d described like a lesson.
He hated that she’d been right about that too.
Slowly, he slid in, keeping one hand on the porcelain, shoulders tight, breath shallow.
The water lapped against him with a softness that should’ve been harmless.
He couldn’t decide if the humiliation was worse because it was survivable.
Or because, for a few seconds, it actually felt better.
And behind him, Dayton’s phone buzzed again, and her life kept moving like this was normal, like he was just another responsibility she could carry without ever setting down.
Asuka, This is not a comment about the story. I saw that someone calling themselves avenia_draws solicited a option to make a comic about your story. I got the exact same solicitation on GiantessWorld for one of my stories, so I think this probably not a legitimate offer.
That was my impression as well
same. they posted on my most recent story post
Sounds like a bot to me. Anyway, onto the story. Ezra is proving that some people shouldn’t be in positions of power, in this case, a teacher. His mission was to prove that Dayton wasn’t all that and a bag of chips Its just petty bullshit from an adult man; he deserves this fate.
people like him that have low aspirations pick on kids that have grit to succeed. That is why in my opinion so many teachers get brain washed to think Socialism works even though it never has.
My comment has nothing to do with Socialism. What are you talking about?
Sounds like something a SOCIALIST would say!!!!
Lol, jk.
She pointed at him, not dramatic, just direct. “I didn’t care if I got you or not. The only reward I needed was knowing you wouldn’t be strutting around, making my life hell… or doing it to whoever the next ‘Dayton’ is.”
She paused looking at him.
“The fact that they handed you to me?” She shrugged. “That’s just extra.”
I believe she wanted him gone, but I don’t believe her when she says she didn’t want ezra or that her main goal was to prevent ezra from targeting someone else. it’s a nice secondary objective, but not her main one. otherwise that stuff from chapter 13-17 she said and those moments where she was comparing him to a dog teaching a class wouldn’t have come up.
in my opinion her main goals were control and proving herself to ezra, the latter i think is creeping up more on the importance scale.
not to say that her as a guardian thus far hasn’t been a lot better than i expected, but i think she’s lying to herself about her motives still.
I think both can be true. Comparing him to a dog teaching class and not wanting him to teaching doesn’t mean she wanted Ezra as her own personal little.
If it worked out and happened she would
Take him because she wants a little.
However i also believe she wouldn’t openly pick a near middle aged man she doesn’t even like as her little.
She filed and the dream or fantasy of the sea assigning your teacher to you is fun to think about. And while a possibility the odds of it happening aren’t high. They wil find fault. Sure
But actually assigning him to her is leaser
Chance in daytons eyes.
So she wanted a little more than she disliked ezra? I guess I don’t fully understand that part is my issue (and probably a me issue). or maybe i have a disconnect somewhere with Dayton. to me it all started out as control and revenge over ezra, that was more the reason she wanted him and why she filed, or it least that’s how i interpreted it. otherwise idk why she wouldn’t have stopped just at reporting it unless she wanted him specifically, cause if she’s thinking it’s going to be like what Sarah and Jordan have, she’s got a really long road ahead of her and it might not even work out, but she’ll still be stuck with him. Hell, in these next chapters, Ezra might just opt to take Dayton’s mom up on her offer and have her call the SEA just so he can get out of her life and not be an anchor, assuming he comes to the realization that he can’t be the little that she’s hoping he’ll be and doesn’t want to give her the hope of that possibility or something.
the only other things i can think of other than her just wanting a little that badly is that she’s a good person and doesn’t think Ezra deserves to go through whatever would happen at the SEA or that there’s still part of her that wants to get Ezra’s approval that she doesn’t want to admit it.
Reporting Ezra was revenge and accountability. Dayton wanted him out of power because he was without a collar, was still bullying her, wouldn’t acknowlege her achievements, was teaching anti-goverment rhetoric and she liked the idea of him finally facing consequences. That’s where the “dog teaching a class” type comments come from. To her it’s less “I want Ezra” and more “you shouldn’t have authority over kids anymore.”
Keeping Ezra is a different thing. Dayton wants a Little, period. She’s asked before and her mom kept saying no, and Dayton can’t just go buy one herself. Ezra is the first situation where her mom basically says, “Fine. This one.” So Dayton pursues it hard because it’s her first real yes to having a Little.
So it’s not “she wanted Ezra more than she disliked him.” It’s more like: she disliked Ezra, wanted him knocked down a peg, and also wanted a Little badly enough that if the system handed her Ezra, she’d take the win. And yeah, there’s probably some control/proving herself mixed in too, even if she doesn’t fully admit that to herself yet.
I feel like that goose girl from chicken little with saying “ closure and talk talking !”
Like guys you both have point more so Dayton compared to Ezra but this is good let get heated let’s be honest and admit what we know is out truth will it be ugly yes but will be a weight off our shoulders definitely yes.
Sorry for making movie references but this duo just give so many similarities lol
Are you a movie buff?
Oh definitely lol I watched a lot of movies
1) “All this time… you could’ve just admitted that.” Admitted that he was a pathetic little man who didn’t like that she was… a good student? Even before infection? I can see why he’d keep that under his hat
2) “You could’ve confronted me. You didn’t have to make my life hell. You bullied my friends. You bullied me. You made it seem like I was the problem. Like my work, my training was pointless.” Your friends didn’t deserve that, you’re right.
3) “Why wouldn’t you acknowledge what I accomplished?” In regard to the training, it’s because you accomplished the thing that keeps people like him oppressed, in regard to anything academic, because he’s a loser.
4) “And you… you of all people. You went and got trained. Not just trained, you a ranked guardian.” The bar for being ranked must be pretty low for
SatanDayton to have achieved it.5) . “I have to get carried back into my classroom by some student teacher with the ink still dry on her diploma, like this, and who’s standing there? You. The student I couldn’t stand. The one who’s suddenly… above me. Do you have any idea what that does to someone’s pride?” Probably doesn’t help that Dayton immediately tried to have him address her as his superior with that “Miss Harris” crap
6) “I wanted a little. That’s not a secret. Ever since I Sara walked in with Jordy.” Ever since you bullied Jordan, and saw how unable to defend themselves Littlles were.
7.1) “And it didn’t have to be you,” It didn’t have to be any Little, it was a want not a need
7.2) ““I’ve been trying to be nice all day. I’ve been trying to do everything ‘right.’” What you did wasn’t nice, claiming him, reporting him to the feds, none of the ‘nice’ things you’ve done came close to undoing the cruel things you’ve done/
8) “I didn’t care if I got you or not. The only reward I needed was knowing you wouldn’t be strutting around, making my life hell… or doing it to whoever the next ‘Dayton’ is.” See, I don’t think that’s true, she fantasised about having him, about getting him under her thrall, breaking his spirit. Even Chloe and Sara called her out for it.
9) “You’re my little now. I’m your guardian. And the only person who seems bitter about that is you.” yeah, obviously. He got the shit end of that deal you dumb bitch.
10) “So go ahead Get in the bath. Get clean. Then we go back to the room.” – “You can hang out in your habitat. Watch TV. Read on the tablet I got you. Eat pellets. Drink water. Whatever it is little Ezras do at night. Because tomorrow’s another day. And you get to wake up as my little.” “You’re welcome.” Damn, that’s cruel, ending the conversation in such a dismissive way, then saying “you’re Welcome” like she still thinks he owes her any thanks.
11) “The knowledge that she didn’t need to argue with him. She could simply… wait. Procedure would win. Time would win. Gravity would win” he really has nothing he can do for himself against Dayton.
12) “The tag giving that thin little tick, like punctuation on his humiliation. He hated the sound. He hated that he was learning to measure his emotions in it.” If it’s making different sounds for different moods, Dayton’s gonna pick up on that quickly, if she hasn’t already
13) “A strange, ugly thought crossed him: She’s not even wrong. He did need to clean himself. He did need to survive.” Hygiene is important.
14) “You think this is going to make you feel better, like it fixes what you hated.” No, but I’m willing to bet she was hoping it’d seem that way.
15) “Dayton’s phone buzzed again, and her life kept moving like this was normal, like he was just another responsibility she could carry without ever setting down.” Her life moves on with Ezra only being a small part of it, while Dayton has made herself the entirety of his.
I am glad you see he is a loser bully that got what he deserves. He is lucky Dayton doesn’t do a lot more to humiliate him; Their would be nothing he could do if she decided to take his cloths off and soap him up and wash him under the sink water with her hands ever day before she does her stuff and let him sit in the water waiting for her to get done before she dry’s him off and puts a childish sleep onesie on him lol.
since he messed with her friends, they should get to play with him also lol.
It’s never been that I think he deserves better; it’s always been that I think Dayton deserves worse.
I didn’t like him bullying her when we first saw it, before she claimed him (though I was willing to let it slide because it was at
SatanDayton), I always acknowledged he wasn’t in the right to do that, especially when he moved onto her friends.I was definitely hoping he had a better motivation than what was presented, though.
4) Ranking can just be an academic thing. Just score good on the tests.
8) I don’t doubt you, but I don’t recall Sara and Chloe calling her out. Can you point me to the relevant episode(s)?
10) “Your Welcome” seems to be a thing Asuka likes to do. Madison does it a lot.
8) it was around the time when she was filing i think. I think she called sarah and chloe (or vice versa) and when they basically said that the way she was wanting to do it and her reasons weren’t the rights ones fora good guardian she hung up saying like “well i’m going to do it my way” or something
edit: from episode 13
“Unclaimed,” Dayton said. “Four inches. Standing on a platform. Talking to us like he’s in charge.”
That got Chloe to sit up.
“That’s… bold.”
Dayton scowled. “He refused to call me Miss Harris. Just said my name like we were equals. Then had me pass out papers. Like. I. Was. His. Assistant.”
Sara cringed. “Oof. That had to sting for you.”
“I passed everything,” Dayton snapped. “Guardian evals. Licensing. All of it. I earned my place. I’ve trained with actual Littles. And this, this guy, walks in and pretends none of it matters?”
Chloe’s tone was curious but careful.
“Does he have a handler or guardian?”
“Some temp aide. Cassie. Student teacher. But he’s technically unclaimed. Lives on campus housing. District’s just dragging their feet or something.”
Sara leaned forward. “You thinking about filing a claim?”
Dayton hesitated, then said quietly, “I could give him what he needs.”
Sara tilted her head. “And what is that, exactly?”
“Discipline,” Dayton said flatly. “He’s arrogant. Completely unsocialized. He still thinks he’s a person.”
Chloe raised an eyebrow. “He is a person.”
“He was,” Dayton shot back. “Now he’s a Little. He doesn’t even act like he understands what that means. I could help him. Train him. Teach him how to… exist properly.”
Sara frowned. “Day. That’s a life you’re talking about. Not a project.”
“I know what I’m doing,” Dayton said, crossing her arms. “He needs someone firm. Someone who doesn’t treat him like he’s still full-sized. If no one steps in, he’s going to get himself hurt.”
“Is that really why you want to file?” Chloe asked quietly. “Because you care? Or because he embarrassed you?”
Dayton didn’t look away. “Both.”
Silence.
Chloe’s voice was soft but cold:
“So this isn’t about helping him. It’s about control.”
“I’d treat him well,” Dayton said, jaw tight. “He’d have structure. A real home. A routine. And no more pretending he’s something he’s not.”
Sara leaned back, arms crossed. “You sound like you’re talking about a possession, not a pet person.”
“Maybe he’s somewhere in between,” Dayton said. “He acts like one of those strays that thinks it owns the neighborhood. But with the right handling? I could fix that.”
Chloe looked straight at her. “And when he resists? When he still talks back?”
Dayton’s eyes didn’t waver. “Then he learns. Like any pet.”
Sara looked like she was about to say something, but Chloe spoke first.
“You don’t train a Little like a dog. You don’t leash him just because he bruised your ego.”
“I wouldn’t leash him to hurt him,” Dayton said. “But I’d leash him to remind him. Who’s the guardian. Who’s in charge.”
Sara shook her head. “I’ve made mistakes Dayton. But my intentions were always on doing the right thing. What you’re talking about is not what being a guardian should be about.”
“It is to me,” Dayton said. “And if no one else is willing to teach him his place, I will.”
The screen went dark as Dayton ended the call first. She didn’t wait for Chloe or Sara’s approval.
She stared at the reflection in the black screen. Imagined Rhys, his little voice silenced, his sharp shirts traded for something soft and manageable. A collar resting snug under his chin.
She’d pet him gently, reward him when he behaved. Teach him commands.
He’d fight her at first. Of course he would. But he’d learn.
1) most teachers don’t admit it no matter how obvious it is to the students lol
1) Thats a reasonable point that he probably wouldnt want to admit. Even if it would have probably ironically been the better outcome for Ezra long term. As she may not have pursued anything further as she would have her reason.
I feel like him denying everything only drove her further and pushed her harder as she is competitive.
2) lol I like how you gloss over all the other poitns and its just daytons friends dont deserve that.
3) She was becoming a guardian before she knew he was a little. it was completely independent. She worked hard to become a guardian regardless of anything else, and how shitty of a person she could be. She did work hard to achieve this. And as a teacher, you should celebrate your students’ wins because that’s literally your job.
4) being a ranked guardian is about academic excellence and being able to exceptionally do necessary skills like how well you little walk.
If you can do well on the tests and well on the skills you to can be ranked. Thats how it has always always been. Its not a character assesment its how well can you do this as its like a job certification.
5) He also addresses other kids that way so its also not a dealbreaker or issue for him.
6) I do think there is something about the mystique and awe of having a little person. It would be for alot of girls like barbie or ken come to life. There would be something fascinating about that.
Do I also think Dayton likes the idea of being able to structure and control the development of a little yes becuase she likes thing her way and is controlling. But thats not unique. Many real life people are like that as well.
7) What she was getting at is that getting Ezra is a extra perk. He was the first litlte her mom agreed to let her get. After saying no before which was illustrated in the chapter where she is convincing her mom.
So becuase she got the yes she pursued it becuase she wanted a litlte. But if her mom had said yes to another little she would have picked them over ezra most likely. As Dayton doesnt specifically care if it was Ezra. She just wanted a little. Her ideal little would be not Ezra. However, since he was awarded to her as part of the filing and hte government agreed she will take him as having a little to her is better then no little.
That may end up being wrong but thats what she was getting at.
7.2) Those are seperate issues though. She reported him weeks ago and that was revenge. Today she was actualyl nice to him as her getting him wasnt a needed part of her revenge.
She did go out of her way to be nice to him today.
8) This was answered in my response to 7 so I won’t reiterate it. but making Ezra her slave wasnt a life goal though.
9) What do you mean? Were you not listening to what dayton was putting down?
This is a upgrade for him. Ezra is doing better as Daytons little then he ever good as New York school districts little. He has a real home, and a real purpose. A true north star to follow in life as Daytons little – Dayton
10) You’re welcome is a reference to Moana.
Dayton took off the dayton harris kid gloves and let him have it.
11) He put himself in this position so i dont feel bad for him. However its a unfortuante position to be in anytime you are reliant on dayton harris of all people for help as a little.
In sara we trust.
12) im sure she will soon enough. She hasnt put all the pieces together yet.
13) It is, but it would be disheartening for him to have to agree with dayton. His mortal enemy becuase she is smart
14) Well it would be convenient for her if it did.
15) Yup. As it should for someone like ezra.
1) maybe, but Dayton also seems like the type to intentionally goad people who don’t like her, especially fit such a dumb fucking reason.
2) Dayton isn’t innocent, her friends are.
3) Even if she became a guardian independently of knowing if he was vulnerable, it’s still her joining in the oppression of Littles.
4) right, buy you’re telling me this random 12yo girl is better than the millions of people, including millions of adults who took the test?
5) Yeah, I don’t like that he did that, especially since it seemed to only be done to get to Dayton.
6) it’s also enjoyable for bullies to have victims that won’t fight back.
7.1) Yes, but I’m saying Littles are entirely optional, regardless of her desires.
7.2) some people haven’t smoked in years but still get lung cancer. Just because Dayton reported him weeks ago doesn’t mean it isn’t still cruel now.
9) I am listening, and she’s talking like him having feelings is wrong, and that he should just blindly submit to losing everything. It’s up to Ezra to decide if he’s doing better or worse, and I’d say he feels like it’s a downgrade, no matter how hard that may be for Dayton’s ego to handle.
11) He put himself in a classroom, Dayton and SEA put him where he is now.
13) Agreeing with Dayton never feels right.
14) Well, Dayton’s life is very full of convenience, she’ll survive this, surely.
15) he deserves it almost as much as Dayton
1) I Agree she would goad people a bit.
2) fair enough
3) Yeah that is true although from her perspective she is rescuing littles to better home. Kind of like a peron does with adopting a cat or dog. Becuase thats how its spun to the populous.
4) Well someone has to be better. Movies and stories are filled with people where if you start looking closely at things your like this person is the star, hero, the chosen one, etc.
5) that is accurate.
6)agreed although since they are both bullies I personally have probably less of an issue then I think many of the commenters.
7) They are optional but she wants one.
7.2) Agreed
9) Ezra doesnt like dayton. I kind of feel like dayton could feed him 5 star meals made by michelin chef, put up in a 5 star luxury home habitat sized with everything he needs made perfectly to his size and because it was dayton providing it would be a downgrade. As he doesnt like dayton.
11) That is true. I was more getting at his actions one in the classroom contributed to his situation.
14) yes, but i feel like alot of 13 year olds lives are full of conveience.
3) But he’s not looking at her from her perspective.
4) I guess that makes sense, but I still think it’s weird that all the confirmed ranked guardians we know are teenage girls.
6) That’s fair, though the situations still involves a bully winning.
9) And Who’s fault is that? Dayton chose this. She elected to put her hand up to claim a Little she knew already didn’t like her, if her efforts aren’t appreciated it’s because she set herself up to fail.
(Although real talk, if you were taken from where you are now and placed in a 5-star hotel. With 5-start meals, enrichment, accommodation etc and the only catch was you had to be a pet to someone you hate, would you take it? Or would you react closer to Ezra?)
I loved that Dayton told Ezra off and made sure he knew he had no power now and he was at her Mercy after all the bad stuff he did to her and her friends when he had power.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/16tN3DebyJ1QDJZ7Cyv4ygZQ-f2uj5vtR/view?usp=drivesdk
Apparently I need permission to access that Link?
sorry fixed
Nice, thanks.
Maybe I just forgot that you addressed this in the story, but did Dayton consider simply reporting Ezra, but not offering to take him (maybe hoping to get a more ideal Little at a later time)? If she did consider that, I figure she was thinking that this might be her only real chance at a Little.
Well this was the first time her mom agreed to let her get a little. So if she had filed she may not get another chance at a little. As her mom has to agree.
So from her perspective Ezra was her only shot as her mom could ocme back and say i provided you an opportunity and you chose not to take it.
So she pursued Ezra because she wanted a little but it didnt have to be ezra if her mom would have allowed her a store little seh would have gotten a store little.
If she could have gotten Thomas she would have taken Thomas in a heartbeat.