A/N: Corzon was a character that I mentioned briefly in one of my earlier chapters of Stranded on a Tiny Planet. He was supposed to be a cocky, self-assured member of the EFP who would threaten to tell the leaders Anu was helping Merco when she wasn't supposed to. However, I ditched his character because this scene didn't fit with Merco's personality and the language barrier I decided to maintain between the characters. Oddly, this is one of the stepping stones in creating Kendrick for Shadow of Beauty.

Corzon, a young cocky EFP flier, stood high up in a tree just above. His eyes wide upon seeing Anu replacing the cloth on Merco's head wound. She froze, staring back at him, caught in the act. Only Traynar was aware of her actions and would never tell anyone, but Corzon...he was unfaltering in his loyalty to the EFP commanders. He was a relatively new member of the EFP with everything to prove. Very slowly, she flew up toward him and he flew down to her and met her in the middle.

He whispered intensely, "You...you're healing that thing!? Why are you doing that? We weren't supposed to interact with it in any way! Don't you realize what it'll do to us if it gets better?"

"He's not going to hurt anyone, Corzon. And you're not going to tell anyone about this." She told him in a strong tone.

The young male lifted his plumage indignantly, "Are you crazy? I'll be kicked out of the EFP and so will you. I have to report this!"

"No, you don't Corzon." Anu insisted. "Just let me explain..."

Corzon shook his head, "I have to report this Anu. I'm not going to lose everything to lie for you."

Just as he started to fly up and away, a blur of motion entered his peripheral. Before Corzon could even cry out, Merco's great hand appeared from below and overcame him completely. Anu was even startled by the giant's sudden, precise movement. Apparently, he had been listening to their exchange and decided to literally take matters in his own hands. From inside Merco's hand Anu could already hear Corzon pleading for his life and generally losing it.

"No! Don't crush him! He's just a kid really!" Anu implored Merco as his fist lowered closer to his face.

"Oh, come on! I'm not going to crush him. But... I'm not going to let him go just yet." Merco sighed, "Is he going to be a problem for you?"

"Only if he tells the leaders what he's seen. But I don't want you to hurt him." Anu thought a moment and decided she'd have to use drastic tactics to 'buy' Corzon's silence. In a lowered voice she said, "I've got a plan. Just follow my lead, ok?"

Merco raised a skeptical brow, "What is your plan?"

"Keeping Corzon quiet with a little...acting." she still kept her voice lowered so Corzon couldn't hear.

With a knowing nod Merco loosened his fist and repositioned Corzon between his fingers. The younger flier was ruffled considerably and kicked with panic when he viewed the giant staring at him intently.

"Oh...oh no! No nononono. Let me go!" he begged. All at once he noticed Anu, free, uncaptured, and not appearing afraid at all. "Anu! Help me!"

"I think you've upset him Corzon." Anu stated matter-of-factually. "I don't think he wants you to make your report."

"What? He...he can understand us?" Corzon stammered, "T-tell him to let me go! Please!"

Anu crossed her arms and shook her head ruefully, "I don't think he'll listen to me at this point. You see, if you make that report then that means the one person who is helping him is going to get thrown in prison. And he likes me for helping him."

Corzon struggled some more and said in a piteous manner, "Anu, I don't WANT to be kicked out of the EFP! It's the best thing that's ever happened to me. I've worked so hard to get here! I can't blow it now."

"I understand, Corzon, I really do. But the simple fact remains: if you report this, I go to prison and Merco here would not appreciate that any more than I would."

Merco gave Corzon a pointed glare, squeezing only a bit more to punctuate her statement. Corzon squeaked and ducked his head under the intense eyes boring into him.

Anu took a tiny bit of pleasure in seeing the cock-sure flier knocked down a peg, "But if there's no changing your mind about fulfilling your duty...I think Merco would have to...eat the evidence."

A horrified look crossed both Corzon and Merco's faces. The giant's eyes darted a moment like a person who had unexpectedly been told to drop their pants. He had to quickly hide his expression for the persona he was supposed to embody.

Corzon was frozen, as if his brain had just cracked in half and nothing worked anymore.

Merco shifted his jaw back and forth nervously as he mentally decided his next move. He stared at the little victim between his fingers, very much regretting this whole charade, but knew he had to put on a convincing show. His lips pulled back from his teeth in a fierce snarling expression. He opened his mouth, just a little and surged menacingly toward Corzon as if to devour him.

Corzon shrieked in utter terror as the cavernous mouth came at him with frightening speed, 'OK! OK! I WON'T SAY ANYTHING! I SWEAR! I SWEAR! PLEASE DON'T EAT ME!"

Merco's mouth stopped just short of Corzon, close enough for the tiny alien to touch his teeth. Exhaling in a long low hiss, Merco closed his mouth slowly and pulled back.

Now Anu felt really bad for subjecting Corzon to such a scenario but said convincingly, "I think he believes you."

Corzon was shaking visibly and spoke desperately quick, "Yeah...yeah. I-I-I won't tell anyone. I swear. No one will ever know. I won't tell anyone ever. Yeah."

Merco briefly made eyes contact with Anu and she gave a small nod, unseen by Corzon.

"That's good to hear, little friend." Merco commented as he curtly he sat him down on the ground and gave him two tiny pats on the head.

After a few numb seconds of recovering, the "flee" mechanism in Corzon's brain activated and he darted back into the trees, hoping to be well out of Merco's reach.

The man sighed and gave Anu a reproachful glare, "Why did you have to say that? I'm trying to dismantle this whole 'man-eating giant' label your kind has pinned on me and you force me to do that."

Anu looked down, "I'm sorry Merco. It just slipped out. But...I don't think Corzon will tell anyone anything now."

Merco chuckled a moment, "No. I don't suppose he will."