This blog was created by a g/t writer, and a fan of g/t writing, who wanted an easier way to find new stories to read. It is intended to be an extensive collection of works spanning all (SFW) genres of g/t and from all different kinds of writers.
This collection works best when people suggest stories to add. I know of quite a few amazing stories, but it's tough for one person to find them all. As a result, submissions are greatly appreciated! Additions to the library can be suggested by a story's writer, or just someone who admires the story. All pieces will be collected in the form of reblogs, so original authors will always be properly credited! Submissions can be sent through an ask, a DM, just a comment on a post, or by tagging this blog. When submitting a story, please keep it SFW, and try to indicate what dynamics are present (giant male, tiny female, tiny male, etc.). In terms of fanfiction, I've decided to allow it. However, I will not be including rpf fiction such as Sanders Sides or myct just because there's so much content for that those and I don't want this blog to become inundated with it. If you could also mention whether the story features g/t fluff and/or g/t fearplay, that would be appreciated!
(Based on a dream I had last night. P.S. I love Unsplash)
My day was pretty normal until a group of people approached where I was living. They were all clearly haggard from the long trek and the leader a very tall woman with a heater on her chest.
So she thought herself a hero? That's adorable. Heroes were more fun to play with.
"What is it you seek?" I asked the hero at the door with her entourage.
"I am seeking a Path to Elsiel. I was told that you had a path in your home." The hero said her request dropped the smile from my face. Not that she could have seen it through the clouds of purple on my face.
"I do have it. And I'm assuming you all want a path to heaven?" I asked a bit of venom in my voice. But I could tell her by her self assured smirk she heard it. But she didn't care about it.
"Yes if you please. What do we need to do to get to the Path?" She asked as I recognized her. The confident attitude, and the heater of gold. She was the Golden knight from the Order of Steel. She already solved multiple impossible tasks such as bring clouds down to the ground, made it rain during the sunny day, and made it dark at noon.
And now here she was on her final task.
Bring a sinner to heaven. Well, if she was going to try then I would make it difficult for her.
"If you want access to the Path. We'll play a game. I've heard you've done many impossible tasks. So we'll play a fun and simple game. Just you and me?" I offer but she held up her hand and she spoke.
"No. My friends play with me too. We've been able to get through everything together. And now we're going to win this together too." I tilted my head my smile returned to my face.
"Are you sure? If you play with me alone they can still go home if you lose. However, if you all play together and you lose none of you are going home." I warned her. I could feel the anticipation build up inside of me. I've played this game many times and every time I've won. But if the Golden Knight was careful she might be able to not lose as much.
"No. We play together. We win together. And we lose together." She said linking arms with her friends. I nodded in response. It wasn't like I didn't warn her as I removed a golden coin from my pocket.
"So here is the game. I will flip this coin. While it's in the air one of us will call whether we think it's head or tails. If you or I call it correctly we will double in size. If however we call it incorrectly then we will lose half our height. We will continue until one of us are unable to play or concedes."
"I agree to your terms. But we're using my coin." She said withdrawing a coin from her purse. Careful to show me the heads side. But hiding the other side with her thumb. Her self assured smirk even bigger. So she knew my game before she came here. And she thought herself clever.
"Very well. We will play with your and only your coin." I agreed sliding my coin into my pocket. My trap for her trap already played.
She tossed the coin into the air and called it.
"Heads." And sure enough the coin landed on heads. That done both her and her friends doubled in height. Now easily towering over both me and my house. She loomed over me with me in her shadow and her arms crossed.
But if she thought that would intimidate me. Then she was sorely mistaken. I stepped out of my house and picked up the coin. Running it in my hands. Sure enough, the coin had heads on both sides. That would make this easy.
I tossed the coin high into the air and called it.
"Tails." Just before the coin landed on heads. Now feeling my size shed from me. The Golden knight's shadow loomed even larger and now even her friends looked confident. They probably didn't expect this to be so easy.
With some difficulty the Golden Knight picked up her coin and tossed it high info the air as she called out with confidence.
"Heads." But while the Golden Knight and her friends stared up at the coin in the air I took one of throwing knives and threw it at her coin purse cutting the bottom of it open as I called out my own prediction.
"I call tails." While the rest of the Golden Knight's coins spilled onto the ground. The much larger coins all showed tails. While the unfair coin showed heads.
While I grew much larger than the trees of the forest I saw as the knight and her friends shrank and were lost among the coins.
"I knew you were cheating." My voice boomed among the forest.
"Using a one sided coin to control what would come up. How very unsportsmanlike. But don't worry. I still won. Just by using your coin. Next time, try to play fair." I called down as I shrank myself back to normal size.
Then I searched among the coins soon picking up the doll sized hero and her friends while I dangled them. They were feebly trying to escape and I could see that self assured smug was now gone replaced only by fear.
"I think I know some people willing to pay a lot for your bounties." I said as I dropped all 3 of them into my bag.
#17 “I’d invite you in, but you won’t fit in the house”
One Shot | Psych, not Sike
*Ting* *Ting* *Ting*
The sound from yet another clumsy set of fingers pounded against the thin glass barrier. It had been happening all day and was starting to give me a headache. I knew they couldn’t get to me, but what did I care? What if they did get me? It couldn’t be worse than being with the ones who returned me.
Sentient. That’s what we pets are. Sentient. Biological constructions who are fully aware and yet not autonomous – legal speak for able to function on our own and make decisions for ourselves. Five inch tall living dolls for the amusement of others.
When I was younger, I fought tooth and nail to be heard. I kicked and screamed and fought with every fiber of my being against my human host. I begged them to listen. I demanded to be heard. The girl who owned me before never listened and simply stuck me in what she called “solitary confinement,” which was a little more than her desk drawer with padding that made my voice muffled.
I stopped eventually. I don’t even remember when. I guess I just realized it was hopeless.
Humans would never listen to a pet unless we were cute, sweet, and did little tricks.
We weren’t human, despite every similarity in the book we had with one another.
*Ting* *Ting* *Ting* *Ting*
“Hey, what about this one? She’s cute,” says a girl with dark brown eyes and dark olive skin. She looks like me, but her hair hangs straight down in two low ponytails instead of frizzing out in impossible curls. She can’t be more than thirteen. A man, who I guess is her father, bends over and examines me.
I’m still amazed that the glass container I was in was still clean after all of those smudgy, grimy hands tapping on the front cover.
“No sweetie. This one is listless at best. You want a vibrant, active pet, yeah? One who will play with you?” he asks.
“Yeah!”
“Besides, this one is a little older. Let’s see what else they have.”
Older? I’m not that old. I just turned twenty-one… right?
They walked off.
Funny.
My heart didn’t even jump.
I wasn’t even scared.
Then again… how could I be? After everything that happened after my self-proclaimed owner left for college and gave me to her cousin, who gave me to her sister, who gave me to her boyfriend, how could I be afraid?
After what they did to me… After everything, I was now here at a pet shop waiting for my “second chance” to be adopted. Basically, a humane society for pets.
How long had I been here? Weeks? Months?
I don’t remember. I used to count the days, but not anymore. It’s not like I’ll be asked.
A shadow eclipses my container. For whatever reason, I looked up.
Only now does my heart skip a beat. I’m met with a pale green and a pale blue eye. Two different colored eyes on the same face. They are behind thin, perfectly round glasses that perch on the bridge of his nose. Is he in his thirties? Maybe. His almost sickly pale features are thin, which match his slender body perfectly, so he could be older or younger.
He’s wearing a dark blue turtleneck and has keen eyes, like he can read my mind.
He doesn’t tap on the glass. He doesn’t make any kind of cooing sound. He doesn’t even smile. Instead, he simply nods twice, turns on his heel, and goes over to the counter where one of the attendees is standing.
I look at him for a moment. Something seems familiar about him. Through the warbled tone of the glass, I listen into their conversation. I wasn’t interested or curious. It was mostly out of sheer boredom and the fact they were the last humans in the store. The one behind the counter was looking at his phone as usual.
“Welcome to Second Chance, where we give pets a… oh… Hello doc. Didn’t recognize you,” said the pimply faced brat behind the counter. He shifted his weight from sitting, which is where he usually was, to standing.
Doc? Doctor?
I squirmed against the wall, remembering now where I had seen the guy before. I’ve seen him several times actually.
He was in here a couple of weeks ago – buying pets. If I remembered correctly, he bought four when he came through. One of them was older, right? Why was he back so soon? We have the same lifespans as humans, as far as I was aware.
“I just came from the office and thought I would stop by to see your collection,” he said. His voice was quiet and precise, cold and calculating. Scientist type. I wanted to stop listening, but there was nothing else for me to do.
“Well, that’s nice to hear. We don’t have much left. Just the one. The others are on hold,” said the boy behind the counter. He pointed at my cage.
The doctor casually glances over his shoulder at my cage, not even bothering to turn his shoulders in my direction. Figures. He looked back to the boy behind the counter.
“She’ll do,” he muttered. “I’ll need her records and physical examination papers.”
“She doesn’t have either. Surrendered pet. Last owner called her Sheila, but that’s all we have on the books,” said the boy behind the counter. I think bitterly to myself that “Sheila” isn’t my actual name, but it’s not like they would listen or care.
“I see. I’ll have to conduct one myself then. Please make the appropriate arrangements for transport. Do I have permission to retrieve?” asked the doctor.
“Sure thing doc. Getting a playmate for your other pets?” he asked.
“Something along those lines,” the doctor replied. He walked over swiftly to my container, pressed the appropriate code into the lock, and the glass separating me from the savage human world creaked open.
His hand rested on the entrance for several seconds before turning to reveal his palm. It’s like he was beckoning me forward. Well… fat chance. I stayed where I was and looked away to the dish of water in the corner of my cage. Was there any way I could tip that over and soak him?
No.
Not without consequences.
“Sheila,” he spoke quietly, but it didn’t warm his calculating and cold tone. “Come.”
I didn’t move. I wasn’t about to wander into the hands of my demise.
“She being difficult? If she is, I can do something about it,” called the cashier. I saw the doctor’s chest heave a sigh.
“Unnecessary,” called back the doctor before he looked back at me, crouching lower so I could see him out of the corner of my eye. “Apologies in advanced.”
His hand entered the cage. I knew how I wanted to react. I wanted to stand and move to the far corner of the cage. I wanted to kick and scream as I saw his looming digits approaching me. At the very least, I could’ve bit him once he had a grip on me.
I did nothing.
My heart skipped a few times, and my shoulders began shaking. This was what my life was reduced to – being man handled into complete numb complacency.
His fingers wrapped around my body. For a moment, I braced for the uncomfortable crushing and the sweltering heat that accompanied so many human hands I experienced in the past. I waited for my face to be pressed into his palm as he stood me up and readjusted so my head could peek out of his fist, pinning my arms to my sides and letting my legs dangle.
It didn’t happen that way.
Instead, his thumb and index finger slipped under my arms, allowing him to easily lift me up onto my feet. His hands were cold, but not clammy. What was more surprising is that his hand retracted a few inches away from me once he was sure I was standing. He glanced over his shoulders, like he’s making sure he wasn’t being watched, before looking back at me.
Then, just under his breath, I heard him say something that made my heart skip a beat like a stone skipped across the water.
“Please, don’t give up on me,” he said. Caught in his words, I looked past the slightly splayed digits beside me to his different colored eyes. There’s a moment, a fraction of a moment, where I thought I saw something more. He said something else, which sounded far too precise to be spontaneous. “Life, although it may only be an accumulation of anguish, it is dear to me, and I will defend it. So, defend it.”
I looked into his eyes and could see no malice. I saw something else though, but I couldn’t place it. I was too focused on his eyes.
I hated being held and especially disliked the idea of willingly subjecting myself to it, but if I didn’t comply, things would get bad for me quickly. I couldn’t move into his hand and, instead, nodded once to give him permission.
His hand reached around and pressed against me, ring and pinkie finger closing around my waist while leaving the top part of me exposed. Again, his grip was cool, like being exposed to a winter breeze. I let myself go limp and, before I knew it, I was slipped into a cardboard box with no windows and the paperwork was signed, sealed, and delivered to my new owner – Doctor Simon Talbot.
The drive wasn’t terribly long, but the whole way I could only hear his quiet, calculating voice saying the same phrase over and over. Please, don’t give up on me. Was it because he had something in mind to do to me? Or was it because he was taking pity on me like some kind of abused shelter animal.
Well…
Maybe that’s how he saw me…
The car comes to a stop and there is some jostling which I can’t see from inside my container. I hear the sound of jingling keys and the creek of a door opening. While I felt numb, my body trembled subtly, heart skipping every few beats.
I hear the doctor’s voice call out, “I’m home; and we have a new arrival. I’ll be in my office.”
Who was he talking to? Was… it a family? With kids?
A sinking feeling overtook my gut as the box I was in is carried from the front door and set down on something hard. The top of the box opened, and my world flipped as the box was tilted delicately on its side. Prone, I glanced past the opening to see a number of interesting scales and weights.
What kind of doctor was this guy?
I heard him outside walking around and shuffling things around. It sounded like he was getting together papers. There were a few beeps and what sounded like a few other voices asking to confirm appointments, but I couldn’t tell.
What I do know is that I had the perfect opportunity to run and hide behind a nearby cup of pens and I didn’t budge. All I could do was sit there, stumped by my own circumstantial frustration and lack of willingness to care. A few years ago, I would’ve jumped at the chance, but not now.
I will be found if I run. I’ll be punished if I try to hide. I’ll be eliminated if I’m too much to handle. I accepted it – whatever is going to happen will happen.
The moment evaporated the moment I heard him sit down. An arm appeared from the side of the box holding a pen. He scribbled something down on a stack of papers shoved under a clipboard clip the size of my body. He cleared his throat and started talking.
“Apologies for the given circumstances and for my handling you without complete consent. I ought to introduce myself if you’ll allow me. My name is Simon Talbot. Could I ask you your name?” I said nothing. What kind of ploy was this?
“Sheila was what the cashier said your name was, but I have a sneaking suspicious that isn’t the case. Is this correct?” he asked. I sighed and shook my head. What was he playing at? I heard him sigh and readjust, arm vanishing from view.
“I… I’m sorry,” he said. There was something different about his voice now. It was warm, thoughtful. “You don’t have to say anything if you don’t want to. I do ask that you listen though.”
“I don’t know you and I don’t know what you’ve gone through, but I know you didn’t deserve it. None of you do. I don’t need to look at your paperwork to know you’ve been passed around from person to person because you didn’t try to fight my grip. I don’t need to examine you to know the humans you were with were abusive, keeping you on what they thought was a disciplined short leash but was actually psychological torment,” he paused to take a breath, and I was glad he did.
It felt like I couldn’t breathe. Everything he was saying was true; but how could he know?
“They don’t know what I know. They haven’t tried. They haven’t tried to see you for what you are – people.”
I felt my jaw slacked and my insides flip. What was he saying? A spark ignited in me that I thought I lost years ago. Was this a tease? Maybe this was a test? Still, I realized a moment later that I had inched a little closer to the opening.
“If you’re willing to listen, I’d like to have a conversation with you – person to person,” said Simon. I felt absolutely swept away, questions starting to form. The headache throbbing in my temple raged for a moment, but I dared to take another step out, barely peering around the edge of the box to see Simon’s eyes.
The moment he saw me, a subtle, charming smile crept onto his face. The cold, calculating brow of this so-called doctor had melted away into a different image altogether. He was actually… almost charming.
It had to be a trick. There was no way. He was luring me. I ducked back into the box, heartrate tripling as I did. I knew I would suffer by retreating, but I needed to get away. I heard a disheartened sigh and crumpled to my knees. My body started shaking again.
“I see. One moment,” said Simon. I heard him get up and walk away.
I wanted to run out and tell him to stop – that I just needed a minute – but I didn’t get the chance. I hear a click on some kind of device on the desk that I can’t see before I hear Simon speak again.
“Boomer Skip? I need your assistance in my office.”
“For what? Look, you’re a big boy. I think you can…”
“I need you to give the spiel.” There is a momentary pause before this guy responded.
“Sure thing, sprout.” The use of names made me think family, and the voice sounded older. I thought about going out there and cooperating with him, but I stay shoved in the back of the box. I leaned back against the box.
A couple of minutes later, I heard a small click and a squeak. “You’d better need me for this one sprout. I was helping with the puzzles downstairs.”
“Sure thing Boomer. She’s the new arrival. Handle with care,” said Simon.
Handle? Oh gosh… I brought my knees up to my chest and wrapped my arms around them. Did he mean handle as in hold? Discipline? I pinch my eyes shut and grit my teeth, nausea threatening to wrack my body.
“Well, hello there darlin’,” said a voice which sounds much older, softer, than I thought a human voice should sound. The pounding in my ears almost made it impossible for me to hear the sound of footsteps approaching me. What?
I opened my eyes to see an elderly gentleman approaching me. It wasn’t his kindly eyes that fascinated me or the proper manner in which he was dressed, vest and all. It was the fact he was just like me – a pet. He had just stepped off of Simon’s hand and walked onto the desk toward the box.
“I understand you are having a difficult time, but allow me to reassure you that you are in good hands, metaphorically speaking of course,” smiled the older gentleman.
“You’re a…” the words left my mouth before I had a chance to stop them.
“Pet?” finished the elderly gentleman with a smile. He placed his hands behind his back and sauntered forward into the box until he was only an inch from me. “Yes, that I am; that is, if I were anywhere else but here. May I sit?”
I nodded numbly and watched as the older man struggle to sit on the ground beside me.
“I’m getting too old for this,” he muttered as he sat down and leaned into the box for support. “So, as I was saying, I understand you are having a difficult time at the moment.”
“I… what…” I stopped short as I heard the elderly gentleman chuckle.
“Believe me, I couldn’t believe it either. Allow me to shed some light on the situation,” said the older gentleman. “Firstly, my name is Skip. You may call me Skip or Boomer or Boomer Skip. What’s your name?”
I hesitated. The look on my face must’ve told him everything he needed because he continued without hesitation.
“We can get to that in a moment,” he smiled. “Simon, the human out there, is a doctor. I know. We’ve all had our experiences with them, but Simon is a different kind of doctor – a psychologist. Specifically, he is a behavioral psychologist. Psychologists study a lot of different things, but what is really important about what he’s doing is drawing parallels between the behaviors of humans and pets.”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.
“You… wait… you’re saying…”
“In short,” said Boomer Skip. “Simon is trying to prove how similar we are for long term legal adjustments; that we’re the same.” I wanted to leap for joy, and I might have if I didn’t see Simon’s hand come by the front of the box.
“Everything okay, Boomer?” asked Simon. The older pet grinned sassily at me before shaking his head.
“Of course. I can handle things here sprout,” Boomer called.
“So… he’s… trying to prove we’re the same as humans?” I asked, suddenly feeling uneasy. “But…”
“I know you must have a lot of questions, but perhaps the others can help answer them,” grinned Boomer. “Care to come with me? I can get Simon to leave if that will make you more comfortable.”
“You can do that?” I ask, voice barely above a breath. My head throbs and swirls dangerously. “And what others? I don’t feel well.”
“Take a moment and breathe. I know it is a lot all at once. Believe me. You aren’t the only one. Let me ask Simon to leave. Do you need a water? Or would you rather have some tea back at the house?”
“Ho… house?” I exhaled slowly and let my head rest between my knees. “You’re talking like pets here are…”
“Free?” finished Boomer. “Because we are. We are free here. Simon makes sure of that. One moment, please.” He forced himself up and stepped beyond the edge of the box. “Sprout, would you mind stepping out of the room while I get our new arrival settled?” asked Boomer.
“Of course. Please offer my sincerest apologies again to our new guest. Dinner at seven thirty. Also, please let Forrest know it’s his turn to select the movie for the night,” said Simon. “Will you be needing tea?”
“Yes, if at all possible. I’d invite you in for tea, but you won’t fit in the house,” smiled Boomer. I watched the way he smiled up, undoubtedly looking at Simon. I admired the way he stood and spoke so freely to Simon. I heard a deep, thoughtful chuckle from the just outside the box.
I stood cautiously and approached the edge of the box, peering out just in time to see Simon stand at his dizzying height and start to walk away.
In that moment, that same fiery passion reignited just long enough to make me step out into the open and call out, making Boomer jump slightly and Simon stop dead in his tracks and turn his multi-colored eyes toward me.
“Simon!” I shouted. “Valentine.”
He turned around and looked me in the eye. Instinct, which was imbedded deep inside me, surged but I held firm for as long as I could as he spoke to me.
“Pardon?” he asked. I took a breath, giving Boomer a quick, unsure glance, before looking back to the doctor.
“Y… y-you asked my name. It… it’s not Sheila… it’s Valentine,” I said quickly, cursing for stuttering. He smiled at me, turning and nodding his head thoughtfully toward me.
“Well, pleasure to meet you, Valentine. I hope you and I will continue to converse; whenever you’re ready, of course. Until then.” Simon dipped his head again, like in some kind of reverent respect, before turning away and leaving the room, the image of his smile sketching itself into my memory.
“Valentine? Beautiful name. Shall we?” asked Boomer. I took a few seconds to process what was going on, but finally shook myself out of it. I didn’t know what was going to happen, but I followed my fellow pet to the edge of the desk and along the trim to an opening in the wall. Wherever this was going, it didn’t matter. What mattered was that the fire, even if it was just for a moment, was reignited.
~~~~~^*^*^*^*^~~~~~
HUGE shoutout to @ratcatcher0325 for inspiring me with the world forged by pure imagination. Show some love to this astounding author!
Was actually in the mood to write today, so here, have a lil something
Idk if I'll write more of this but it was fun. I haven't done much editing so sorry if it's rough.
The sound of electricity crackled in Riley’s ear and she lifted her hand to find she was still wearing her headset. And more importantly, it still seemed to work despite shrinking down to a diminutive size. Theo’s voice broke into her ear for a status update. He sounded worried.
“Riley, status update. Are you okay? You split off from the group and were disconnected from the comms for a while. We tried to look for you, but you disappeared. What’s going on?”
Riley didn’t even know how to begin. She was shaking all over. She looked around but all she could see were the blades of grass towering at least two heads higher than her. She tried to climb one but she was just heavy enough that the thin plant wouldn’t support her weight.
“I’m okay,” she finally grunted into her ear piece. “I fell down the cliff side when we were walking the path back home. I think I must’ve blacked out, I don’t really know where I am now.” She didn’t add the fact that she was now only a mere inch tall.
When she’d woken up, she’d found herself sprawled out on the hard earth, some of her belongings scattered around her, but they were huge. A giant dark canteen water bottle that was as tall as a two story building, a giant pair of red framed sunglasses, and the map she’d been holding. Even folded up all the way, it was massive. It rested on the leaves, creating a small shelter underneath.
She’d walked up to her sunglasses, one eye the size of a huge dark tinted mirror. It was a miracle her headset hadn’t fallen off or been damaged in the fall. Now she sat in the shade provided by her map. She’d been wondering just what to do when Theo’s message came through.
“It’s okay. Don’t panic Riley,” Theo said calmly into her ear. It wasn’t until he said it that she realized her breathing had begun to quicken in ragged breaths. She worked on slowing her breath down, breathing in through her nose and out through her mouth, but the breath still came out shaky. “We’re gonna find you Riley, does your GPS still function?”
She’d been in a sort of panic since waking up to a gigantic new world, but now a new panic washed through Riley’s body. What if they did find her? Or what if they stepped on her, not seeing her because she was too small? What if they captured her and viewed her differently? They were scientists after all.
That was why they all were here to begin with. To explore the mountainside caves and research the things they found there. She knew just the allure a tiny person would have to a scientist. Riley began to shake. She wanted to trust her teammates, but fear gripped her.
But what else was there to do? She knew it was dangerous to stay out in the open, especially if night fell. Riley knew all too well the kind of predators and insects that came out to hunt at night. And being just an inch tall, she was the perfect prey.
She lifted her watch with a shaky hand and tried to open its GPS function.
“It works,” she gasped out in relief.
“Can you send us your location?”
Riley had to choose. And although it scared her, she had to trust her teammates. At least more than she trusted mother nature. She sent the GPS signal to her team and Theo confirmed when they got it.
“Riley,” Theo said, with a confused lilt to his voice.
“Yes?”
“The GPS says you’re to the side of the house, only about a couple yards or so away. Can you see the house? Are you hurt and can’t move?”
Riley looked around her even though she knew it was futile. All she could see were the green blades of grass and the dirt below. She knew she’d have to tell him.
There was silence on the other side of the headset for a moment and Riley bit her lip with anxiety.
“I’m coming to find you,” Theo said.
Another spike of fear dumped into her veins, icy with panic, but she made herself respond. “Okay.”
Moments later she heard loud crashing sounds and felt the slight vibration through the earth. Oh god, she thought, he’s gonna step on me!
But the vibrations stopped and the air was still for a brief moment. From her spot under the map, she could see the depressed grass beneath Theo’s giant pair of sneakers.
“Riley?” he asked through her headset, but she could barely hear it over the boom of his actual voice. She took a deep breath and stepped out from under the map.
“Down here,” she whimpered.
And then she saw him look down. It was hard to comprehend just how tall he was compared to her. His features were hidden in shadow with the sun behind him, which made him look all the more sinister.
Then the air whooshed as he lowered himself to his knees to get a better look. His face took up the whole sky, his blue eyes like an actual ocean. It was like looking at an image of his face zoomed in. She could make out the individual dark hairs growing in on his chin. The spot on the bridge of his nose that was just a little bit crooked from where he broke it once as a child, all the more visible now. He was massive. All her fears before were nothing compared to actually seeing him now. Every muscle in her body told her to run. Instead she stood stockstill, limbs frozen in fear.
It took him a moment to find her, his eyes sweeping the ground, even passing over her at first, before he finally noticed her. She heard his gasp both in the headpiece and from high above her.
“Riley,” he whispered this time. For a moment he just looked at her in awe, his mouth slightly open. She couldn’t keep up eye contact with him for long. She kept looking away, her skin prickling with the feeling of being seen by such big eyes.
“I’m going to put my hand down okay? We need to take you back to the house so we can figure this out.”
She looked back up into his big face and saw his genuine concern there, his giant eyebrows tipped up the ends. She nodded.
But then the giant hand came towards her, palm up, and she couldn’t do it. Instinct took over and she sprinted away. She found herself surprisingly fast and she ran to hide behind her giant canteen water bottle, gasping in breaths of air.
“I’m sorry,” Theo whispered again. “I didn’t mean to frighten you. Riley, I promise you’ll be safe.”
She continued to gulp in air as her panicked lungs constricted and she felt herself begin to cry. “I’m-” she hiccuped, “s-sorry. I couldn’t help it.” She covered her face with her hands and let out a sob.
She was astounded with herself. On this trip she had had no problems before facing threatening heights, the darkness of the caves they’d been exploring, and the creatures that might be in them. Nothing had scared her on this trip so far. But there was something about seeing another person that huge towering over her that was utterly terrifying. The amount of power someone that big could have over someone as small as her.
“It’s okay,” Theo said gently. “How about we try this a different way?” Riley heard him shuffle a little and tensed, looking up. But no giant hands or face appeared there.
She looked forward again and wiped her eyes, getting a better handle on her breathing but still safely hidden behind the water bottle. “How?”
“I’ll stay perfectly still,” he said. “I’ll just sit here and you can come up to me. You don’t even have to get up in my hand. You can crawl into my pocket if you like.”
She swallowed and thought for a moment. She didn’t know if she was brave enough to get that close, but she soon realized it was the only way this would work. Finally she nodded and gave a quiet, “okay.”
“Whenever you’re ready,” Theo said. “There’s no rush.”
She wiped the remaining tears away and shook out her limbs, trying to shake out any of the fear that kept them stiff. Slowly, she peeked around the edge of the water bottle. Theo was still there, massive as ever, but now his hands were firmly on his thighs and his jacket was off kilter on his frame so that the pocket of one side rested on the ground.
She gulped as she looked across the distance and then up to Theo’s face. He was watching her kindly and she felt her face flush.
She focused her attention back to the pocket and stepped forward. And then stepped forward again. Theo was true to his word and sat completely still, the only movement the slight rise and fall of his abdomen with his breath. She tried to match her breathing to his and found it helped calm her some.
After she’d crossed the halfway point, it was harder and harder to move her feet towards the man. To willingly put herself at his mercy. Any moment, he could move one of those gigantic hands to snatch her up if he wanted to.
But this was Theo. Her teammate. The one who vouched for her to be here, who believed in her abilities. She gritted her teeth and continued, only looking at the open pocket, trying not to think about what that pocket was attached to.
Finally she made it a couple steps within the pocket and in a burst of adrenaline dove the rest of the way into the pocket in one leap. She curled in on herself, hugging her arms around her. She did it.
“That’s it. Good job,” Theo said soothingly above her and his whisper echoed him in her headset. Then she felt the ground disappear from beneath the jacket pocket as Theo lifted himself up. Her stomach swirled at the feeling of just the piece of fabric being the only barrier between her and falling to the ground that she knew was far far below.
Then a warmth cupped under her through the jacket lifting her a bit. Theo’s hand.
“It’s okay. I’ve got you.”
She let out a rattled breath but found that she was okay with the hand’s presence. Maybe even comforted by it. If only because of who the hand was attached to. She let herself relax a bit as they returned to the house, most of the bumps and sways of Theo’s gait deflected by his gentle hold of her.
“Thank you,” she whispered quietly, knowing Theo would hear it well enough.
This started as a streamer au for like all my ocs....then i decided to traumatize Mira. Yeah it's still kind of streamers and podcasts and stuff but it's very backend lol
TW: Panic, sort of panic attacks, a bit of dehumanization, IDK What else as always please tell me
Part 2 | Part 3
Results of Expectations Part 1
“Thanks for watching, we’ll pick this up next time! Signing off,” Mira smiled as she ended her stream.
It was always fun to have talks with her chat, but lately it’s just been questions about her size and what she looks like. It wasn’t like she was the only one who hid her size, but the others usually talked about things that gave good ideas. She laid her head on her arms, it was tiring. Her phone buzzed and lit up with a name that made her laugh. Ian should probably have changed handles from NervousGamer before streaming. She pulled her phone close and sent him the go ahead to call.
“Hey Ian,” she said, as soon as the call came through.
“Hey,” he chuckled, he was nervous. “How are you?”
“Ian, what’s on your mind? Talk to me!” She was putting on a begging act to get him to talk. She heard the deep sigh and knew she’d got him.
“I…Mik wants to tag along today. He’s worried since you don’t know if this guy is really human. He’d rather you get mad at him grabbing you and leaving than freeze up with a stranger… I would rather him go too.” He added the last part hastily.
“Ian… You and I both know I’ll be fine.” She could hear the lie in her own voice. Ian definitely heard it too. “I’ve been talking to Corus for months, there’s no way he’s a giant. He’s a human. He understood the stuff I’ve mentioned that only humans would. So there’s no reason for M-Mikhail to come with, at all.”
“Mira… you know he won’t hurt you. He’s like a really big brother. It’ll be fine. I’d go too and we’ll stay far away, even leave if he’s a human. Please?”
“Ian, trust me, I’ll be fine. I have to get ready anyway. I'll keep you updated, promise.”
She hung up quickly, trying to steady her hands. She had to get over everything for at least her family. They had giants in their lives and she couldn’t just ignore them. She could at least see them and keep going instead of freezing up. She closed her eyes and took some deep breaths. She had to get ready and go to meet Corus. A human that didn’t know her history was going to be a fun change. He said he moved here a few months ago. Plus he seemed to get the whole no control and hands thing too which was nice. It helped that he was cute for sure.
Corus was antsy as Delphia helped to fix his hair. He was hopeless with fashion, but couldn’t risk looking like a mess today. He’d been counting the days to this meetup, Mira was great. He’d planned this day since they first did a video together. She had been so nervous at first, he never expected humans to be what got her comfortable. Delphia stepped away and seemed to be happy with her work. He stood up and turned to face her, pulling his shirt down again.
“How do I look Del?” he asked. She studied him for a minute.
“Like a mess, but I’ve done all I can. I can’t hide your natural messiness,” she laughed. He acted like she’d shot him, his tongue hanging out of his mouth and a frown on his face. He smiled quickly though, today was too important.
“Thanks again. I don’t think I’d have ever been ready for this without you.” He pulled her into a hug and she patted his back before pulling away.
“Did you do what I said?”
“I told you she’s a giant, it won't matter. There’s no way I misunderstood. She's funny, amazing, kind, I’m sure she’s beautiful too. This will be great.”
“Corus, neither of you ever asked and you set all of this up. Please tell me you listened at least. I thought Ash was a giant after talking with them. It would have been awful if I didn’t know Alessia was human and only planned for giants.”
“Don’t worry Del, I did listen at least. I made sure to pick the park to meet so there’s no chance of trouble from a building. I also planned for us to get food at one of the new places that have every table set for humans and giants. Nothing can go wrong.”
“Just be careful, and don’t be too grabby if she is a human. She may not spend a lot of time around giants when she’s a streamer.”
“I know-” He planned to say more, but his phone beeped. Her stream ended which means he has to go. He waved quickly before running out.
The park wasn’t far and he wanted to be early. He picked a bench that was about midway for either size. He hoped she was a giant, but he wouldn’t change how he felt if she were human. He had every intention to ask her on a real date today. If she said no then they continue on as friends, but he was hopeful. He stared at his phone waiting for the message that said she was on her way.
Mira did one last thorough check in her mirror. A simple black shirt with jeans. They were just two friends meeting, although she definitely wouldn’t mind misunderstanding and this being a date. She pulled her phone out and snapped the picture that would seal her fate. The first image she’d be sending of herself to someone outside her small circle in years. She typed out a quick here’s how I look today before sending. She almost screamed when she got a picture back. Corus sitting in the park, he looked great. She shoved her phone away before her doubts could stop her.
She had called a car to get her there. It wasn’t too far, but walking near giants was…a lot. She was lucky she didn’t have to go out around giants basically ever. If only the ones her family knew could leave her alone. She knew they meant well, but after the way Ian and Mikhail even became friends she didn’t want to risk knowing any. At least Ian felt safe around one and that one would go with him to meet and greets. She shook her head to clear her thoughts as the park came into view.
She hopped out quickly with a quiet thank you before rushing to the human side of the path. She just had to reach Corus before another giant showed up. If another human was around then the giant was less of a risk. She made her way to their meeting spot, panic hitting her when she noticed the large feet up ahead. She felt her breathing start to grow rapid, she just had to get to the spot and wait. She’d message Corus and he’d show up and she could be ok. It almost never mattered who it was, a human made her at least able to handle being near giants. She took a chance to look up, if it was Mikhail she was going to kill Ian.
She almost screamed when she got a look at the giant face. The face that was supposed to be meeting her. That should be on the human bench that was too close to the giant feet. She couldn’t breathe, tears started to pour from her eyes. She was shaking and couldn’t get her legs to move. The giant would see her, know it was her, and grab her. She had to leave, she needed to leave. She watched in fear as the giant foot ahead of her lifted slightly slamming back down. She yelped as she fell back, staring up in fear as the giant head slowly turned to look down.
Corus was starting to get nervous. She had said she lived close, she shouldn’t take too long. She hadn’t sent him anything, maybe she was a human? Close for them usually was a lot slower than giants. He tapped his foot, freezing when he heard a small yelp. He looked down and saw a human knocked over, he must have scared them. He kept his eyes on them as he turned and kneeled to check on them. They had strange hair, bright…lavender?
“Mira?” he asked excitedly. He was honestly confused, he was positive she was a giant. How did Delphia always know these things? He reached forward planning to help lift her back to her feet, but he noticed her shaking before he touched her. Did he almost hurt her? He changed plans, stopping with his hand just a bit above and ahead of her so she could use it to get up. “Are you ok?”
He felt small hands against his fingers, the gentle pressure of pushing against him. He took the hint pulling his hand back. He tried to smile at her, to look gentle. He knew some humans still had nerves around giants, but he could manage this. He didn’t know if he should try to get lower or if that would make her upset. He just wanted a chance, she was perfect and he didn’t want her to hate him. He pulled his hand completely away putting it on his knee. She was still shaking. He hoped she wasn’t crying.
“Hey, uh do you still want to go get lunch?” he tried. That seemed to set her off, he watched as she jumped to her feet and started backing away. “Mira I-”
She was running. He couldn’t go after her, it would only make things worse. He just sat there staring at the little human he desperately wanted to turn around and come back. He just watched as she ran out of the park, was he that bad? He pulled out his phone planning to message Delphia. He took another glance at her and saw the worst thing he could imagine. Mira was running into the human street with a car coming right at her. He acted without thinking.
Mira kept hearing the voices of back then. Talking around her how she was cute and her new sibling would be so happy. The awful month trapped with barely any food and water. Different memories as she kept her world barely together. Bruises that had faded burning with pain. She just ran, she had to get away from here as soon as possible. She wouldn’t let another giant hurt her like that. They were awful and painful and she just had to get away.
Next thing she knew there was a blaring horn and bright lights. She froze as she saw the car coming at her. She was going to die, she couldn’t get her legs to move. Then she was in something warm and firm that felt familiar and awful. She started thrashing immediately, she hated this. This was a bad thing, this was something to hurt her. She started crying before her world filled with light again. She was shaking as soon as she found the giant blue eyes staring down at her. She was frozen again, a giant had her. She’d be trapped again.
Before she even had time to think there was yelling. Then another hand that moved her in a way that made her feel even worse. Then she was wrapped in arms, arms her size. She slowly turned towards the body that pressed into her and saw a face she knew. Ian was here. She grabbed him tightly, shaking only a little less. She took a careful look around, hand they were on hand. She grabbed him tighter, her shaking getting to a worse level and her start. She was pretty sure he said something, but her heart was pounding in her ears. Giants had them, giants would hurt them. Giants would trap them and torture them and kill them and the giant was moving.
She pulled Ian as close as possible. He was supposed to be with a good one. He was still a kid. Then he was pulling her and she was forced to follow. Ian took her to the ground, they had to run. She pulled on him, but he pulled her back. He started leading her somewhere. This was Ian, he was good, he was trustworthy. She followed him, stumbling over her own feet as she moved. Ian would only lead them somewhere good.
“Why were you holding her?” the man asked. His green eyes looked like he could burn right through him. Corus tried to watch what happened with Mira and the other human, but this man stepped in front of him. “I asked why you were holding her?”
“Sorry if you missed it, but she almost got hit by a car,” Corus answered. The stranger’s gaze softened slightly before flaring up again.
“I highly suggest you do not contact her again.” Corus tried to look around them, but they put out a hand to hold him back.
The stranger glared at him, but he wasn’t about to walk away. She ran like he was some monster, nearly getting hit by a car doing so. She seemed terrified when he was holding her, but she had nearly died. He was at least going to check on her. Hopefully they could work something out, maybe another chance. He at least wanted to stay friends even if she had a problem with giants usually. He sighed before finally turning away, the stranger just glaring after him the whole time.
Ian’s hold helped ground her a lot. It took almost the entire walk home, but she seemed to start coming back to the present. She slowly loosened her death grip on Ian and he smiled at her as she did. He kept them walking, he even kept them from being close to the giant paths. He was too good to her. By the time they reached her home Ian was barely holding her hand, she’d pulled the contact away. He waited patiently as she opened the door for them, then helped her inside. He sat her down on her couch and then took a spot next to her, pulling her close so her head rested on his shoulder. They stayed like that for a long time before she felt safe to even think again.
“...I’m glad you both came even though I said no,” she whispered. She felt the arm around her shoulders tighten before starting to rub her arm.
“To be honest, Mik had said he couldn’t let you risk it. Especially not with how you reacted to just trying to meet him. I didn’t disagree,” Ian admitted. She curled in on herself a bit more, leaning into the hold of someone who made sense. Someone her size. “Mira what happened?”
“I was fine and then I got there and there was a giant where we were meeting. I was going to message him, but then I looked up and it was him…” She had to take deep breaths to stop from crying. He’d been terrifying. The images in her mind holding a sneer and reaching to pluck her from her life. “Then I fell and he heard and he looked. Then his hand was there and I was running. Then bright lights and a honking horn and then his eyes. Then another hand then arms then you then the ground. Now we’re here…now I’m barely sure this isn’t some nightmare and I’m still there.”
“It’s ok Mira, I’ll stay until you feel safe again. Do you want me to call the others too?” She nodded into his chest.
He excused himself to walk outside, and make the calls. She knew one was to Mikhail too. She should thank him, even if Corus was safe she never would have managed to say anything. She would have had to rely on him deciding to put her down or call a human for help. If he even knew any humans. Every thought she had made things worse, he could have taken her. It could have been just like back then. Ian came back in and had her lay her head in his lap. At least she had a family that was the right size to help.
“Del, it was awful,” Corus whined. He hadn’t known anyone else to call or even talk to, going straight to Delphia. She was with her partners right now, but he couldn’t just sit on this. “She saw me, acted like I was going to-to kill her or something. Then almost got herself killed and some other guy showed up, grabbed her out of my hand and sent her off with someone who could have been a complete stranger to her. The guy then acted like I’d committed some awful act for even bothering to look at her. He basically threatened me not to reach out again.”
“I was getting worried that might happen,” Delphia sighed. He barely heard the soft voice of Alessia over the line. “What was the handle for her streams again? You never did tell me…”
“I wasn’t telling you cause she hides who she is. I was hoping you’d wind up meeting her so I thought it would be best.” He sighed. Delphia was asking for a reason he didn’t think he’d like it. He flopped onto his bed before he answered. Something about this made him feel like he’d be upset. He could hear Ash’s voice now too. If they were speaking up it had to be pretty bad. “I was meeting PinkEyedMiracle.”
“I knew it,” Alessia’s voice came through loudly. For someone so tiny she never failed to almost blow out his eardrums. “Look none of us can or will get into it, but there was no way that was going to go well. We grew up with her and it’s been like this for most of her life now. She can’t even face Vitus and Dabria who basically raised her. I’ll try to get her to at least be willing to talk to you, but I can’t promise anything. Delphia’s got to do us a favor now bye!!”
He had no time to respond before the line was dead. He stared at the phone for a while before deciding to open his chat with Mira. She didn’t seem to have blocked him yet. He scrolled up through months of chats, to the very first messages about working together. He needed to find where he messed up so badly. How could he have thought someone that terrified was a giant like him? How does he fix it?
It was a bit later than he wanted it to be, but he found his first clue. She said she hated going out lately. Everything in this town was so combined she was always on edge. He’d laughed and said he felt the same. That one still was a simple miscommunication. She was worried a giant would do something, he was worried he’d mess up and hurt a human. It was a clue, but definitely not an answer.
The next message was after they played a game offline together. She seemed really nervous and asked him about ten times if she could admit something. She’d said she was always terrified of the other size. She didn’t say which, and they had just played a horror game as humans escaping a giant together. He slapped his hand to his face, that one was pretty obvious. She said having him there was the only way she got through that game. He thought she’d meant being so small was terrifying, something he related to.
After that night there were so many obvious signs. She was terrified of meets after she heard about how bad things went for the human streamer NervousGamer. She wouldn’t meet this guy her friend had basically become brothers with because his size made her anxious. Of course he was a giant, maybe that was who pulled her from his hand. He tossed his phone on his desk, if he kept going he’d just see how blind he was. How was he going to fix this?
He rolled onto his back and stared at his ceiling. He could just leave it, that’s what that guy said to do. Alessia said she’d try to get her to talk to him. He sat up and stared at his phone. He could call her… He could maybe message her at least. Apologize for today and offer to make it up to her. Although what could she have been through to cause such a bad reaction? He groaned before reaching for his phone and staring at the last message in their chat. A picture of her before the meet up, the opposite of what he saw. She looked happy and confident, he wanted to see that face in person. He had to say something.
Mira spent the night curled up with her family around her. A group of kids who’d lost the people around them taken in by a couple with a soft heart. She loved Vitus and Dabria, even if they were giants. They had saved her, gave her a home where she still knew people, and they never made her talk to them. They were probably the only giants she could handle anymore. They were the only ones she knew wouldn’t do anything.
Alessia had her in a hug, Ash holding them both. The two were supposed to spend the night with their girlfriend, Delphia would have stayed here if she were human. Rhys and Ian were laying on each other on the couch, they fell asleep watching the movie they’d all put on. She slid out of the hug, smiling as Alessia rolled over snuggling into Ash. She carefully stepped out of the room taking a moment to breathe. She needed to think about things.
She had to check things, she had a lot she was supposed to do yesterday. She turned on her computer feeling a pang in her heart. She didn’t know if she wanted to see him say anything. She opened her chat app and saw the bubble she was dreading. She checked her email and posted an update while the bubble seemed to grow bigger on her screen. She hated this, she should get someone else to open it. She was running out of things to do and no one else was awake. She clicked the bubble, looking at a much longer message than she expected.
CorBuster: Hey Miracle, I kind of figured you may want me going back to your name on streams. Sorry I scared you so badly, guess I should have been more obvious I was a giant. I know some humans are pretty nervous. My best guess is I almost stepped on you when I tapped my foot. I was sure you were a giant, but that doesn’t excuse that I wasn’t paying attention. I’m sorry I grabbed you too, I hadn’t planned to go after you I swear. I just saw you heading towards the street and the car coming. I had to do something, I probably could have done something else if I thought about it for more than a second.
If you’re willing could we talk? On the phone or online or even chat like this. I just… Look I really like you and had been planning to ask you on a date officially last night. I don’t plan to push it or anything, but I would like to stay friends. Finish the games we were playing on and off stream. Fuck I might delete this before you even see it. This is stupid that guy told me not to bother you again, but I can’t just forget this. I don’t know why I’m even writing this part, I’ve typed this whole message like six times and deleted it all. I probably won’t even send this. I’m pretty sure the sun is coming up, I hope if I do hit send you think about it. If I don’t hit send I guess I hope you message me….asdfkajfwoihfasklj;nfv;llkjaf
She couldn’t help but laugh at the end. He had done that a lot in their talks, passing out because he stayed up too late. It was part of why she started talking to him more. She didn’t want him to hurt himself just to try and be popular online. She checked the time stamp, he sent it two hours ago. She could just pretend she never saw it, let him wake up and probably delete it.
Alessia had said she thought it was worth talking with him. She couldn’t even start to think of how to start. She had a panic attack and nearly died to desperately get away from him. It wasn’t easy to say she had a horrible fear of giants and actively spent her life avoiding anything to do with them. The only ones that she could even speak to were Vitus and Dabria, but that had to be done one at a time while she was hidden in her home. She can’t remember the last time she actually looked at one of them.
She sighed as she read the message again. At least she could handle telling him that it wasn’t exactly him that caused it. It didn’t help that she could still picture him only as the human she’d imagined. The giant yesterday felt like some horrible stranger. It was probably the only reason she could even stand to think about entertaining this idea. She started to type out a message.
PinkEyedMiracle: Look it’s…a lot to explain, but it wasn’t your fault. The only thing that happened was I should have asked if you were a giant before agreeing to meet you. Let’s just finish our current stream plans and call it done.
She hit send and tried to relax. She didn’t like that her hands were already shaking. That giant could never get near her again, Corus wasn’t that giant. Mikhail had put her down after getting her out of one hand. The giants aren’t bad, they aren’t going to do what the other did. They aren’t going to ignore it if she were to disappear. She had to keep repeating it in her mind as she slowly curled in on herself. A ping sounded and she jolted upright.
CorBuster: I’m willing to listen. Mira I don’t want to lose you even if we just keep being friends. Can’t you tell me what’s going on?
PinkEyedMiracle: Even if I tell you it won’t matter. No offense, but I’ve been through it plenty of times. Besides, I don't want to type out everything and have it sitting there where I can see it again and again.
CorBuster: Let’s video chat, just one time please. Just one chance.
PinkEyedMiracle is typing…
PinkEyedMiracle: …fine…
Corus was vibrating, she had agreed. He could barely wait, hitting the call and waiting for her to answer. She answered, it was so funny how they felt the same size right now. She didn’t look like herself. She seemed small, scared, like the person he’d known couldn’t possibly exist. This wasn’t Mira, the person he learned about slowly over months. This wasn’t PinkEyedMiracle the famous streamer who kept millions entertained almost daily. This was someone completely new. He wanted to know this Mira, this one felt more real.
He watched her as her face seemed to twist when it met his eyes. He wanted that to be the bright smile he’d seen for months. How could he fix this? Did she hate the idea of being with giants? It could be that she had a bad ex or something. He just wanted to keep his friend at least. He had an idea that may backfire, but it was worth a shot to get her to loosen up.
“So,” he started, she jumped and he felt an ache in his heart. “Giants suck. They’re all loud and grabby, and uh big.”
Mira chuckled at Corus’s attempt to help calm her down. That smile that had been something she was so excited for lit up her screen. He looked so human like this. Nothing that made it seem like he was a giant, like he could grab her and lock her away. She had to take deep breaths to push away those thoughts. He cared about her and she cared about him more than she ever thought she could about a giant.
“Look Corus, I…” she tried. She has to explain so much. A lot is horrible. “It’s probably easier if you just go back like sixteen years to find the articles about it. Although none of them mentioned much on the humans, just the poor giant kid who had their life ruined.”
Corus wasn’t sure if she meant for him to do it now, but she wasn’t continuing. He did look it up, a giant kid who had their life ruined and humans were involved. There weren’t many stories about that overall. There was one that came up that took place in this town. She had said she grew up here. The headline alone made him pray that he was horribly wrong. Human girl found with giant sibling after missing for over a month. He clicked the link, the images were all of the giant child and their family. It didn’t look like a single human was even spoken to or directly about.
He started reading and he felt himself getting sick. A giant couple had recently started to adopt orphaned humans. The first the couple took in had supposedly been doing fine and they took in a second. The second had lost her parents to an accident that happened between humans and giants. The girl hadn’t been seen after spending a day with her new family, a large assumption was she was healing. The giant couple claimed they hadn’t even reported her missing because they wanted to keep adopting humans. They were sure she’d come home when she was ready.
“Mira is this-” he tried to ask. He didn’t want to keep going if it wasn’t her.
“Keep reading,” she cut him off. He nodded.
The article didn’t go into much detail on what happened to the humans. It barely mentioned even their status after they were found. It did mention the first human child had been found deceased. Their second child was found after a concerned parent of her friend forced himself into her new home. He started searching and calling out for her when he noticed the couple’s child eyeing a box with a fierce look. The child tried to stop him, but he had forced them aside. He lifted the box, tearing it open and finding the girl. Reports on the human girl said she was emaciated and screamed in fear as the giant who found her went to hold her.
Apparently his wife had come along and took the girl to the hospital. Then the concerned father started searching through the boxes the child kept in the room. The other adopted human was found along with a number of missing humans from the town. All of them deceased. The giant child was charged with murder and sent to serve their sentence in a giants only prison. They were added to the human risk registry banning them from locations that humans lived unless their surviving victim spoke up for their growth. The child’s parents desperately apologized and wanted forgiveness from the human they had meant to take in. He couldn’t read anymore as it just turned into trash about how humans ruin the lives of prominent giants. Seemed like the one who wrote it was just a prick.
“Were you really the one who survived?” he asked. Mira looked up at him with a fiery anger that felt out of place. Anger was probably better to feel about that though.
“Yes I’m the one who barely survived some sicko locking me in a box after my parents were killed,” she seethed. “I don’t care what you say I will never state they deserve to be around humans again. There’s no way anyone like you could understand what that was like for me!”
“Mira I-”
“It’s easy for all of you to say move past and I can’t hold onto it forever! You didn’t fear for your life every day. Hear how people casually discussed you running away or hiding from them like it was just inevitable!”
“Mira… please let me-”
“Go ahead tell me how you think I’m just some cruel size focused bitch. I already heard it all before. You can take all the-”
“Mira!” She seemed to see him again, bright pink eyes filled with fear. He felt awful, he scared her again. “I don’t think you should be over it. I want to punch that person who did all of that and then personally thank your friend’s parents.”
“...what?”
Corus was the only giant outside of Vitus and Dabria who didn’t think she had to change. Delphia and Mikhail knew there was something, but she made the others promise never to tell them. She didn’t want to have them face the comments she’d heard before. Vitus and Dabria heard it all before and they swear these giants wouldn’t think like that. She wanted to believe them, but no one she’d met felt that way. It’s been years and there were others she told, humans always understood and giants always said they were different. The worst giants said she should just get them off the registry, they were only a kid when it happened. So was she…
“I well I think what you went through was awful and wish I could have stopped it. I can’t see where anyone would think you should just get over this,” he said. She watched as he rubbed his neck, cameras made giants so deceptively human. “If people have been saying that to you then I think they’re just focusing on the wrong part. That kid’s life was ruined because they treated people like trash and hurt them. That couple claiming they had no idea seems off too.”
“I need to go,” she said and shut her computer down. She nearly jumped away from the thing. He didn’t mean that, he was lying to her. He just wanted her to believe him so he could keep her like they did. She didn’t even realize she kept backing away until she hit the wall, sliding down and hugging herself. Alessia ran in, she was probably eavesdropping. She held Mira quickly trying to soothe her. It wasn’t panic, this was something else. It was like he actually understood… “He didn’t say I should be over it…”
Corus didn’t have any time to try and stop her. The call ended before he processed what she said. He wanted to know more, more about what that kid did to her. He started searching, he couldn’t find much on any of it. It was like someone made sure all of it was gone. He found one thing though, the couple that had taken her in had their contact information up. He typed out a professional looking email asking for details on the old incident. They replied in seconds with a number happy to take his call immediately. He didn’t wait either, relieved when the line connected.
“Hi, it’s a pleasure to hear someone looking into this again,” Mrs. Ambul said. She sounded almost hopeful, he couldn’t help the way it made him upset. She was probably hopeful that her child would be let loose around humans again.
“I was looking for some new content when I came across the old article. It seemed like the focus was mostly on how someone had invaded your home and ruined your child’s life. Can you give me some details?” he asked. He tried to sound curious despite the anger he had burning inside thinking about Mira’s face. She had expected to be rejected and blamed for something there was no way she controlled.
“Oh well, our child had some strange interests. They thought it would help the humans if they stayed somewhere dark and quiet, like a way to grow up. The first human child we took in had a history of running away and the second had just lost her parents. We had no reason to assume a story that came from a book would cause such trouble.”
“According to the article, there were a number of other deceased humans found alongside the two adopted. Ones that had been going missing from the town for an extended period. Can you tell me more about that?”
“Well there seemed to be a bit of miscommunication in that original article.” He heard forced laughter, he had a bad feeling about this. “Those humans had all been homeless and snuck into my child’s room for warmth. They frequently complained it was too cold so we had a heater in their room year round. The humans got stuck and no one knew they were there, nothing like you’ve heard.”
“I see.” He was going to be sick with his next line. “This adds up to a lot of what I found. Do you think you could connect me with your child? I have a lot I need their take on. A lot that if heard I might be able to get public opinion on their side.”
“Oh well that’s wonderful, unfortunately they aren’t allowed to interact over the phone or internet outside of their giants only community. I can give you their address and let them know you plan to come by maybe today?” The joy in her voice made him want to scream. He couldn’t though, he had to hold back and keep this up. He would probably wind up punching this kid in the face though.
“Tomorrow may be better.”
The woman spoke too quickly for him to hear, but he got an email with an address and the line went dead. He stared at it for a while. That reaction from Mira wasn’t someone who’d been misunderstanding a child’s antics. Their kid was almost ten at the time too. These people made him sick and he would get to the bottom of how anyone could think this was normal. Another email came in from the woman with a list of names. Others she spoke to before they spoke to the human who lied about her child. Things were getting clearer now. The first bits of a plan formed in his head as the dread settled in his gut.
He sighed before pushing away from his desk, he’d need Delphia’s help with all of this. He grabbed his phone and sent her a message. He may need her to contact that podcast friend of hers. That list of names is long and it makes him have a feeling there’s a lot more that got hidden. First he’d need to get some kind of recorder. He wasn’t risking his phone failing on him out there. He got a call after a minute, a bit shocked to see a number he didn’t recognize.
“Hello?” he asked as he answered. He hoped it wasn’t someone telling him Mira hated him.
“Cor, it’s me. I’m with that podcast friend of mine now. My phone’s being used by him for something. What’s up?” Delphia’s voice came through. He smiled, this had to get done.
“Look, long story short I found out about something that makes me sick. I don’t want to explain how I know, but can we meet and talk? Can you both come here? I want to get information on this and it’s a lot I can’t do it on my own.” He heard muffled voices on the other end. Delphia was probably asking, it seemed like she was agreeing. She always had his back.
“Ok we’ll be over in a bit. We weren’t far anyway. Although my friend said if you waste his time you’re paying for what he’d been out here buying.”
“Tell him I’ll do it anyway. Let yourself in when you get here, I’m going to be on my computer searching for some things.”
As soon as they were off the phone he went searching. He found article after article about how an innocent young giant was punished because a human made up lies. Each person on that list had written one, a number of them had petitions to get the giant removed from the human danger registry. Sob stories about reuniting them with their parents. He was ready to go hunt each one down and teach them a lesson. How could they see the way she reacted to giants and think she was just holding a pointless grudge?
Something else started to eat at his mind, she said her parents were killed, but the article mentioned an accident. It would have to be close to when that first article was written. He started searching for information on that. He was coming up with nothing until he widened the search area. He found an article, Tragedy at the Human Roads. It was small, but had more than enough information. A giant collapsed and fell on a human road, causing a number of deaths. The article had a picture of human survivors and it may be a much younger version, but he saw Mira.
He jumped when he heard his door open. This was worse than he thought, he just hoped he could do something about this. He couldn’t make her less scared or anything, but he could make sure that the humans hurt finally got the attention they deserved. He turned to his door waiting for Delphia and her friend. When they walked in he jumped up, it was the guy from yesterday. He was just as stunned, staring daggers at Corus. This wasn’t going to be easy to get help then. Delphia clapped, making them both look at her.
“I guess you two have met, Corus, this is Mikhail, Mikhail Corus,” she introduced them. Corus went back to his computer, closing the article on the accident and pulling up the main one he’d found on the creep of a kid. He stepped back again looking at them both.
“Obviously you already don’t like me, but just read these articles I found. I can’t just ignore all of this,” he explained.
Mikhail narrowed his eyes but approached the computer. Delphia leaned over his shoulder to read along. It wasn’t long before she had tears in her eyes and was backing away. She didn’t have the heart for all of this. Mikhail just kept reading, moving between each article slowly. Corus was getting worried he was actually on the side of the family that let humans like Mira suffer. Mikhail turned to face him once he reached the last article Corus had pulled up.
“What are you planning to do about this?” he asked. His voice sounded somewhat like when they met the day before. An anger thinly veiled under an air of decorum.
“I was curious after this, so I called the family from the article. They talked about how the human who survived misunderstood and how their child was being wrongfully punished,” Corus started.
“Are you intending to take their side in this?” Mikhail raised an eyebrow. That anger seemed to come forward more.
“I want to get the truth and have it reach as many people as possible. The last person the kid’s mother spoke with wrote an article a few years ago. I think if we work together we can make sure the truth about this kid gets out so there’s no risk to humans at all from them. A number of the articles spoke about reconsideration for the sentence. I have some ideas on how to help humans who deal with this too.”
“Corus, I need you to tell us, does this have to do with Mira?” Delphia asked. He knew the look in her eyes, he couldn’t get away with hiding it. He stiffly nodded and the two shared a look. Delphia turned back to him with a strength he didn’t expect. “What’s the plan?”
Mira hadn’t handled the call well. She shouldn’t have even spoken to him. She should have made up some excuse for all of this instead. Alessia had spent the whole day petting her head. Vitus came by at one point, the others had to talk to him. She couldn’t get over how loud he was with each word. He was trying too, but it was too much. Her mind kept thinking of a hand grabbing her, putting her somewhere she can’t escape. Of a single move that would end the lives of everyone around her. His steps as he left made her shake.
“Mira… this time it’s worse than normal isn’t it?” Ian asked. She nodded. Ian was supposed to go to a store with Mikhail today, but she panicked when she saw Ian walk towards his feet. She was going to ruin their relationships like this. Delphia had been on the phone with Ash a lot too, she was making them put things off.
“You guys should go, I’ll be fine,” she said. She was still shaking, this was the first time she’d been held since then. Then she spoke to him and he empathized, it left her mind a mess. She felt a squeeze on her hand and followed the arm up to Rhys’s eyes.
“We’re not going anywhere,” he said. “It’s just like when we were younger, extended sleep over. Maybe we can convince Dabria to get us a giant candy again. That time Vitus was so mad, but he never did anything. He said we looked too happy for him to really be angry at us.”
The others laughed, but Mira just smiled. She remembered that day differently. The giant candy and eating bits of it they handed to her. The others passed out from sugar crashes while she stayed up nervous and anxious. Vitus coming to check on them, shaking in fear when she saw the anger on his face. He hadn’t seen her awake, his hand coming in towards them. She could barely breathe as he took the candy from them. She heard him murmur then walk away, a tense moment that ended with her crying herself to sleep in fear he’d come back.
I don't generally post stories that weren't linked or posted on Tumblr by the original creator because I want to make sure authors are always properly credited but there was a special request so I decided to make an exception. Of course, if the original author takes issue at all I will immediately take this down!
It's called Brothers Apart and it is a Supernatural fanfiction:
SOOO i got inspired by this post and i told op @awkwardgtnerd i would write a borrower!peter fic and here i am… at 2 a.m… completing said fic.
basically it’s borrower!peter parker who gets caught by tony stark in his lab and… yeah. it’s swf! i hope you enjoy reading as much as i enjoyed writing
“Shit oh shit oh shit oh shit oh SHIT!” Peter cried as he stumbled. His heart was pounding out of his chest as he tried to break free of the bubble he was trapped in. Each punch he threw resulted in a sharp zap to his hand. He ignored the pain.
“Go find stuff in the lab, they said, you won’t get caught, they said…” he frantically whispered to himself as he walked aimlessly around his new prison. He had come scary close to being caught before, but his agility always gave him the upper hand.
Three-inch-tall agility couldn’t save him against giant, advanced tech.
His breath stopped as soon as he saw the shadow approaching. It was him.
Tony, for his part, couldn’t believe it. Borrowers were notoriously stealthy and were masters at staying secret. It’s why he was one of the few who knew about them. He had been so focused on being Iron Man that his attempts to capture a Borrower took a back seat.
But he finally did it.
The device was simple—it detected motion and generated an electric field that would keep anything small enough inside. The electricity did nothing to him, but to someone that size… there may be a slight sting.
Tony bent down, taking his purple-colored glasses off as he got at eye level with his prize. The Borrower was small… smaller than he had anticipated. Upon staring at him for a few seconds, he realized he had captured a kid. A weird feeling briefly washed over him… guilt? No, it didn’t matter. He had no intentions of hurting him.
Peter was frozen. He couldn’t even find the right thoughts to think. Tony Stark was looking straight at him with a twinkle in his eye, his mouth slightly agape from the wonder of seeing such a small being. Peter could see every little movement—the twitching of his lips, the movement of his eyes (fixated on him), every time his brows furrowed and the subtlest change in expression.
Tony was waiting for the kid to do something. Say something. He knew he had just totally caught him off guard and was probably terrified, but… he had to do something else but stand there.
Tony went to reach his hand to the power source of his device to turn it off, but before he could even get there, the kid moved.
“PLEASE Mr. Stark, don’t hurt me! Please! I-I wasn’t going to take anything from your lab! I—I was just e-exploring! Please!”
Tony was confused for a moment, but realized him moving his hand must have looked so different down there. Slowly, he brought his hand back to his side, staring at the kid in fascination. He was cowering now, hands on his head and his arms protecting his face. He was so occupied with actually capturing the little guy that he never stopped to think how he would react.
Did he just call me… Mr. Stark?
“…you know my name?” that sounded a lot more naïve than he wanted to.
Peter looked up. Stark looked genuinely surprised.
“W-well… yeah, e-everyone knows wh-who you are,” he said, stumbling over his words.
Tony took a moment to think. He actually knows my name.
“What’s yours?”
“P-Peter, s-sir.”
Tony frowned. “Did you just call me sir?”
Peter couldn’t stop his trembling. He clenched his hands, palms sweaty. Did he just piss Tony Stark off?
“Buddy, you don’t have to call me that. Come on.”
Peter didn’t have time to fret over semantics. His life was at stake.
“W…what are you going to do with me?” His face was getting hot.
That is an excellent question, Tony thought. He… hadn’t really come up with a game plan for once he caught a Borrower.
“Well, there’s dissection. Oh, and tons of experiments. I’ll probably keep you in a jar on my nightstand, too. There’s so many people who would love to see you.”
Tony never thought about the consequences of his jokes, but this one practically had the kid ready to jump off the table. Peter’s eyes were wide and Tony swore he could see the sweat dripping down his face.
“Relax, little guy, I’m just joking,” he said. “I’ll try and get you home by dinner, though.”
Tony was proud of himself for that follow-up quip until he realized that the kid was probably out getting the dinner.
Peter couldn’t hold it back anymore. As soon as the first tear escaped his eye, a waterfall followed. He slumped down in his place, burying his head between his knees.
“No, n-n-n-no, kid, c’mon, don’t… don’t do that,” Tony said desperately, almost sounding disappointed. He flinched as Peter’s soft cries floated up from the table.
“I was just kidding around! You can’t take a jo—”
“I-I-I’m going to-to die,” Peter sobbed. “I-I don’t want to die-e-e-e.” His breaths were choppy.
All Tony could do was stare. Why the hell did these people send a kid to do their dirty work? Now he had to deal with him.
“Come on, little guy, I’m not going to—”
“They won’t… they won’t even notice I’m gone…” Peter sniffled.
Okay. Something was up.
“Woah-woah woah woah woah, hold up. What did you just say?”
Peter didn’t respond. He just kept crying.
Tony rolled his eyes. “Hey!” he snapped his fingers, causing Peter to jump and look up. “This,” he waved his hands around in Peter’s direction, “is ridiculous. Just… talk to me.”
Peter stared. That was a step up from crying.
“What you just said. They won’t notice you’re gone? Who is they?”
Peter’s eyes shifted to the tabletop. He had let that one slip loose, huh. Now he had to explain his sob story to Tony freaking Stark, who couldn’t care less about other people’s sobbing or stories.
“My clan,” Peter said quietly. He was surprised Tony could even hear him. “They… sent me out to get… scraps, f-from your lab, so… so we could build more equipment. But they… they don’t care for me much.”
Tony leaned in slightly, causing Peter to shrink back on instinct. “Now why is that?”
Peter sighed. “Because they know I have nowhere else to go.”
Peter paused before continuing.
“My parents were killed when I was a kid. Nobody knows what happened to them, but one day they went out borrowing and just… never came back. I wandered around until I found a new clan to take me in. And since I’m the youngest, they make me do all the borrowing.”
Man. This kid has been through more than any three-inch-tall person living in a gigantic world should have to.
“I can’t believe I’m telling you all this. You’re… you’re Tony Stark!” he said, standing up as he gesticulated. “Why would the most famous man on earth care about… me…”
Suddenly, Tony had a thought. He laid his hand out on the table, palm up, expecting the kid to just merrily climb on.
Peter let out a small shriek when the hand landed next to him with a thunderous thud. He had never gotten so close to one before.
“C’mon, you’re gonna leave me hanging like this? Don’t you want to see what the world is like from up here?”
There was something so… charming about the way Tony spoke. He sounded snarky, but there was something more to it… like he wanted Peter just as much as Peter wanted Tony.
Almost reluctantly, Peter climbed onto the giant’s palm. He had no trouble getting on, but as soon as Tony began to move, he felt like he was going to throw up.
“Oh, don’t get sick on me, kid. You may be small but that doesn’t make it any less gross,” Tony mumbled jokingly.
Peter got over his brief sick feelings very quickly once he laid eyes on the world around him. Sure, he had been up on tables before, but this… this was different. He could see everything in front of him. He could turn his head and see all corners of the room. It was even brighter up here!
Tony allowed himself to smile. It was so adorable watching this kid be fascinated at seeing things five feet off the ground.
“Wow,” Peter breathed. He turned up to Tony, smiling for the first time in what felt like forever. “I-It’s amazing, Mr. Stark!”
Tony couldn’t help but beam back down at his little friend. “Pretty cool, huh?”
Peter could do this for hours. Of course, he didn’t have that kind of time. He had already stayed out longer than he said he would. The clan was surely going to kill him.
Suddenly, the hand holding Peter began to move again, this time laterally. Peter let out a small “woah” as he wobbled to the movement. Tony had put his hand to his shoulder.
“It’s alright, I won’t let you fall,” Tony said softly.
Slowly, Peter crawled off Tony’s hand, using all four limbs to keep himself stable as he climbed to his shoulder. He took a seat, and now it was a lot more real. He. Could. See. Everything.
The two stared out for a while. A thousand thoughts were racing through Tony’s head: Am I really doing this? What’s Pepper going to think? Should I tell Bruce? Is he really going to want to stay?
Peter broke the silence. “You know,” his voice was so small and squeaky, “I don’t know anyone who’s ever talked to a human before.”
Human. Tony didn’t really think about the distinction.
He raised an eyebrow, amused. “Oh yeah?”
“Yeah. I’ve always been told stories of human carelessness. Don’t get too close to one, they’ll hurt you without even trying. They’ll show you off to their friends. You can’t expose us, it’ll be dangerous.”
Peter had almost talked himself into being anxious again.
“You… you won’t tell anyone about me, will you, Mr. Stark?”
Tony paused. He didn’t want to lie. But his silence had gone on for too long; Peter was already panicking.
“Oh God, what did I do? Thousands of years of not revealing ourselves and now I’m going to be the one to ruin it all—”
“Hey, kid, relax,” Tony interrupted. “I—I’m not going to tell anyone, okay?”
He could lie just this once.
Peter was skeptical. “Are you sure? You’re not going to want to tell the Avengers or something?”
Tony was surprised. “You know about that?”
“Well, I live inside your house.”
Tony snorted. “Yeah, I suppose you do.”
Silence.
“You know… you don’t have to go back.”
Peter almost fell off his shoulder. “Wh-what?”
“I mean, think about it. What good would it do you to stick around with those losers who don’t even appreciate you? All that borrowing… sounds like it sucks. Plus I haven’t even gotten around to furnishing the insides of my walls yet.”
Peter chuckled. “Yeah, it’s pretty bare in there.”
“Well… if you stayed around here with me… you wouldn’t have to hunt around for anything anymore.”
Peter almost couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Tony Stark… Iron Man himself… was asking meek, tiny Peter to live with him. He should be trembling right now. Shaking. Terrified by the thought of even interacting with a human.
But he felt none of that.
The kid was so still on his shoulder it didn’t even feel like he was there anymore. Why was he taking so long to respond?
“Kid—?”
Suddenly, Tony felt something on his neck. He stiffened up as his hand flinched, but it only took him a moment to realize that it was Peter.
The only thing he could think of was to give Tony a hug. “T…thank you, M-Mr. Stark.”
Slowly, Tony took his index finger and found Peter’s body. In the most gentle and totally-not-weird way possible, he gave the kid a makeshift hug.
Once Peter let go, he spoke.
“M-Mr. Stark?”
“What’s up?”
“Can you show me the rest of your house?”
Tony laughed to himself. Was he really going to do this?
He turned his head to Peter, who was grinning ear-to-ear, awaiting an answer.
Tony looked out at his lab; scrappy, unorganized. Tens of unfinished or failed projects. Loose Iron Man parts. One of his cars might not be parked straight.
have you heard of @obwjam ? they make lovely stories that I feel would be a great addition to your library! (also if you ever need any help finding stories or whatever hmu @a-tiny-frog-girl c:)
If you could send me a couple specific works from the author and the appropriate tags (ex. tiny male, giant female, fluff, etc.) that would be very helpful! And I'm always appreciative of suggestions so feel free to send them my way.
I finally got time to work on fixing the category links and miraculously I actually got it all to work! Thank you @oatsie for the suggestion which ended up being the breakthrough I needed. So now all the links should work not only on desktop, but on mobile as well!
Hello there! I'd like to submit a piece of mine, it's the first chapter of my wip, Saoirse. This chapter in particular has one human girl, and two male giants.
"Stay, stay." Savaira put her hands up mid-way, backing off from the dog looming before her. The golden beast stared her down, bearing an open smile. And all its teeth.
The woman backed up a bit more, blanching when she hit the umbrella stand. She put her hands over her face, as the dog now sprung to life. With an almost childish delight, it bounced towards her, giving her the one massive lick it could.
The pooch moved its legs in the air. "Hey, Lucky, what did I tell you about welcoming our guests." A massive, paint-splattered hand tugged the dog away. The golden labrador whimpered a bit, before following her owner's instructions to sit.
Then, the slender giant turned to her, offering his open palm. "Heh, sorry about that. I hope you're not too soaked, are you?"
She walked onto his palm, pulling the excess saliva off her sleeves. Thank goodness her leather jacket was saliva-proof. "Well, it could be worse, I guess."
If she was handed the choice between Lucky and some of the other ishaika that roamed this forsaken city, she'd take Lucky a million times over. At least Lucky had no malice in her heart.
Suddenly, a big giant hand was waving in her face. "Hey, Savaira, you in there girl? You're daydreaming again."
"I am not. I'm just... thinking."
"Thinking about what?" He slid onto one of the kitchen chairs, and cast her stumbling onto the wooden table. She could feel the dreamy gaze of his green eyes on her, trying to examine her lost soul. Straight ahead, something caught her eye.
"You know, thinking about things."
"You lost me there."
A piece of artwork laid flat on the table. From what part she could comprehend of the massive sheet, it awed her. The blend of watercolour hues coming together, the blues, the greens, the faint splattering of lilac. All of that, highlighting a figure in white, a goddess Savaira had long abandoned.
"Wow, you have it done. Oh Eniko, you seem to keep outdoing yourself." For once, she let a smile creep up her face.
Eniko placed his finger below her chin, gently forcing her gaze upward. With his free hand, he held the painting up for her to see it in its full glory.
"As flattered as I am, it's not quite done yet."
She raised an eyebrow. She could see where this was going. "Is that so? How come you haven't it done yet?"
He pointed to the border, which had a faint outline of ancient-style border patterns. "See this? I want this border to stand out silver, but I don't have the means to make it happen. Oh if only I had a record-making metallurgist by my side, then maybe my dream can come true."
Savaira had already started taking off her coat and rolling the non-existent sleeves of her t-shirt. "You're on, page boy."
With that, he kneeled down out of her sight, ruminating in the unit below the wooden counter. Meanwhile, she gazed around the room, laden with light wood cupboard doors and grey-blue floor tiles. Despite the kitchen's sheer size to her, it had a certain tightness to it.
A table and chairs stood to her right, with three of them showing the unearthly freshness of unuse. The walls were blank white bar the picture frames that broke the monotony. Though to her dismay, one was crooked.
Eniko's wiry form emerged from under the unit, pulling out a fully kitted workspace and a bar of silver. Immediately, she set into her rituals as if making her standard commissions. She grabbed the welding mask and apron, before warming her hands by the furnace. Such simple things set her at ease, and when she plucked the first bit of sliver, she couldn't help but remember the day Eniko revealed that workspace to her, as part of his proposal for her to move in with him. Oh if only things were different on her end.
"By the way, there's no rush on this." Eniko scratched the back of his head, blushing a bit.
"Really?" She began to morph the metal according to the border pattern, moving it as if it was clay. "How far off are you on completing that exhibition project?"
She could see him bring his hands together, grasping to contain his excitement. "That's the thing, this is the last piece. After that, I'm done."
"I'm so delighted for you." She looked at him for a second, hoping her comment didn't come off as sarcastic. Quite clearly, she was proud of him. And counting back to that first day... Gods, it's been six months already?! Shocking how time went so fast yet so slow. For her, Ocera felt like purgatory, and it reminded her of that folk tale about the man who wandered around, looking for work, and even in death he walked around seeking bodies to slit and burn.
His calming voice stirred her out of those thoughts."Thanks, I appreciate that. But, there is one thing I'd like to ask you."
"Is that so?" She walked back into her workspace, solidifying the next part of the pattern. Even by her standards, she was going quite quickly with it.
He leaned in a bit closer, to where she could see his eye in the window. "How would you like to present that exhibition with me?"
"Are you serious? That's a nice offer, but I honestly don't know." Her heart seized at the thought. Art exhibitions were only attended by other artists and rich people. Rich people with connections, might she add.
"Ah come on, I think it's only fair. You've helped me so much, not just with this, but with ideas and everything. You should come."
Her cheeks now had a rosy tint to them. The sharp blue glow of her eyes helped highlight that. "I'll think about it."
He smiled at her, in a way that was reminiscent of Lucky, almost. "Good, I hope you will, if for nothing else, but because you're my friend."
The metal melted in her hands, and it took her a second to realise it. She dashed to the tap and placed the metal on the counter, before washing her hands and drying them. She warmed her hands again and set about remolding the piece.
She could hear him laughing behind her. "Come on, you know I was distracted."
He was still laughing. "Yeah, you could say it smelted."
When she came out again, she gave him a look. "You should really consider going into comedy."
"I know right." He started mimicking the accent of an affluent Seldaikan, polished, formal and with that slight touch of another country's accent. "That was a very fine joke if I do say so myself."
She couldn't help but laugh at his imitation, though she supposed it helped that he knew the language whose classy, musical sound was hinted in the affluent accent.
With all those jokes that they cracked over the course of the next few hours, it was a miracle that Savaira managed to get any work done.
She stepped back, marveling at her work. Somehow, three-quarters of the pattern was done. From here she could see the awe in his eyes, twinkling like stars.
"Thank you, I really do owe you for this. I'll send you your payment in a couple days, if that suits?"
She waved her hands sideways. "Honestly, there's no need to pay me, don't worry about that."
"Are you sure, it's the least I can do."
She nodded. She really just wanted to get back to the Avenue before nightfall. "I'm sure. Anyway, see you later, Eniko."
With that, she departed. Through the little door carved in beside the main one, she emerged onto the thin, shadowy street.
Buildings like Eniko's populated this very street, dark, dusty and aged. Some places had a multitude of gaps in the walls, others were losing their paint. Thin wires went from one roof to another, and Savaira couldn't tell if it was humans or giants that put them there.
Shutters covered windows which saw no light. In the darkest places there were eyes in the depths; they were in the guttered cans and boxes used as temporary refuge, in the sewers, the windows, the walls. But the eyes she feared most, were the eyes she couldn't see.
She continued on down the road, keeping her gaze peeled on the surroundings. To her left, a couple people sat in the alcove between two buildings, lighting a fire. Even from here she could smell the smoke, it was thick and musty.
For a moment, their stares interlocked with hers. She could see it in them, the fear, the hopelessness, the lack of purpose. Their shoulders hunched, their backs curled over. That look in their eyes, gazing upon the fine clothes that she could easily afford.
As she went down that merry lane, she could hear the heavy fluttering of wings. Gray-ish feathers dotted the place, along with white, acidic splatters. The place reverberated with coos and coughs.
Her hands drifted to the dagger by her side, resting upon its hilt. She increased her pace. From here, the light was in sight. Slowly but surely, the smell of spiced food filled her nostrils.
Just then, something darker than night flew over her head, and a white thing fell from it. She put her hands over her head, waiting for that splatter of stickiness.
Moments later, she could feel something slide off her arm. It fell to the ground before she could reach it, but then she looked down.
"What is this?" She picked up the plain envelope, and tore it open with her dagger. Her heart stopped at the sight of the handwriting.
You have two weeks. Head to the bank and give us your savings. All of them.
In exchange, your grievances will be forgiven.
There is no other choice in the matter.
"Maelaira." She growled, stuffing the note into the envelope and into her pocket. Seeing the note felt like a slap in the face. Just when she thought she could get away from the Wraiths, they decide to haunt her to her grave.
No doubt there was going to be a catch to this. That alone made her hesistant. She shook her head.
There is no other choice in the matter. If Maelaira and Sarena wanted a piece of her, fine. She had no qualms about giving them their own medicine.
A writing exercise borrowing some OCs from @chaosintheavenue. JJ is a bit of a variable character but he is very much of a character who has a big heart but makes comically bad choices. Naomi is variably his girlfriend or just a friend both belong to my friend.
Content Warning: Implied Injury, and arachnids
Naomi leaned over the desk looking at JJ. He was just maybe a couple of inches tall. He was excitedly pacing from one edge to the other. He was so busy trying to explain what happened to Naomi. But she was too busy putting up her hands on both ends of the table.
JJ was always so excited about talking about what he did but this was borderline ridiculous. Naomi could barely half pay attention to what JJ while just trying to keep her friend at the desk.
"So turns out that place they told us not to go to had this cool spider statue..." JJ explained while Naomi caught him and set him back on the desk only for him to turn around and march to the other end.
"Well picked it up. I fell asleep on my desk. And next thing I know I'm this size. I cannot freaking believe this." JJ said just in time for Naomi to catch him on the other end. This time not setting him down. Naomi decided to hold him while he kept moving his legs and arms.
JJ felt a lot like a baby mouse, soft, warm, but he wouldn't stop squirming. Even at normal size he couldn't stop moving around. Now at this size in Naomi's hand he was just tickly.
"This is great news. I can now get so much closer to my spiders, harvestmen, and bugs. A level of understanding I've never had before. " JJ continued.
Naomi sighed and closed her eyes. Taking 3 deep breaths and lifted JJ up so he was at her eye level. Now looking her little boyfriend in the eye Naomi was able to speak to JJ.
"JJ. Where are you right now?" Naomi asked him.
"In my room." JJ answered oblivious.
"You're in my hand. Right now. You're girlfriend is holding you in her hand right now. Are you aware of this fact?" Naomi responded.
"Well obviously. But I didn't think that was the question you were asking."
Naomi closed her eyes again and took 5 deep breaths when she opened her eyes she saw JJ's bright eyes and brighter smile. This was just like the time he kept getting bit by a komodo dragon but he kept insisting on petting it. Even when he was in the hospital he was still smiling.
Now here he was shrunken down. Walking off desks and he was still focused on his bugs.
"JJ, remember the talk we had the last time you got bit by a komodo dragon? Where I said if something was too dangerous for you you'd listen to me?"
"Well yeah. But this is different for a very important reason." JJ said looking defiant.
"Enlighten me."
"Spiders, Harvestmen, and bugs are harmless to humans." JJ said crossing his arms while held in Naomi's hand. Like this was somehow him making a good point while he ignored an important detail.
"JJ... they were harmless when you were normal size. You're small enough to be their food. Have you considered that?" Naomi asked.
JJ looked thoughtful for a moment. Before he finally admitted.
"OK. You may be right. But if you stay here with me. I'll keep safe." JJ said.
This time Naomi didn't bother hiding the fact she was rolling her eyes. She sighed when she finally explained what she was going to do.
"I'm going to look for that spider totem you mentioned. You are going to stay put. You're not going to walk around, you're not going to check out your bugs and you're not going to look after spiders like Mr. Long-Legs."
"Mr. Long-Legs is a Harvestman. Not a spider. And they're arachnids not bugs." JJ said stamping his foot against Naomi's hand. That fact she got an arthropod fact was more important to him than the fact she was telling him not to be around them.
Naomi pressed her finger against his face as she shushed him.
"OK JJ. The fact that's what you're picking at instead of listening is why you're going on time out." Naomi told him. Before JJ could figure out what she meant Naomi pulled over a jar that was recently emptied. It still had a fresh leaf in it that JJ picked up from outside when he found the spider charm.
But other than that it was empty and clean jar.
"This is for your own safety JJ." Naomi said reaching her hand into the jar gently setting JJ down on the leaf.
"Now JJ. Just stay there. I'll be back in a little bit." Naomi said gently pressing her finger tip against JJ's lips. A facsimile of a kiss.
Before Naomi left she couldn't help herself for playing a joke against JJ. Taking some of his masking tape and a black marker she wrote on the tape
"JJ Jar"
Naomi made sure to show it to him. Before putting it on his Jar. JJ always made a good point of labeling his jars before use and had always insisted that Naomi do the same when she borrowed his jars.
"Thank you for labeling." JJ called up to Naomi who waved back while leaving the room. With Naomi gone there wasn't much for JJ to do.
Sitting on the leaf he ran his hand across the green of the leaf. At this size he could see the little fibers of the leaf and even see some of the internal structure. Resembling some of JJ's vessels. Looking at the leaf and at his hand JJ wondered for a moment how his body was still functioning in defiance to the square cube law until he heard a cracking noise.
Looking around the jar JJ expected to see the glass cracking but it was normal as ever. Even through the slightly distorted glass he couldn't see anything that could be causing the cracking noise.
When the cracking could be heard again JJ realized it was coming from beneath him. Underneath the leaf. Sliding down the leaf to the glass JJ crawled across the glass to peak underneath the leaf.
The glass was cold to his touch and it seemed to leach heat away from his hands and knees. But lifting the leaf JJ could see the source of the cracking noise.
Underneath the leaf was an egg sack. Looking like a little piece of cotton. The cracking noise was the little ones on the inside trying to get out.
JJ's first thought was the fact this meant that the jar was mislabeled. His second thought as a translucent set of 8 legs broke from the egg sack and the spiderling was took its first steps in life towards JJ was...
"Babies!" JJ said reaching out a hand to the spiderling. It was about the size of a puppy and it's body was almost completely see through. Normally they were invisible at the human scale but JJ could see it easily now.
He could see fluids pumping through the spiders legs. Similar to hydraulics of a crane. Spiders were too small to use muscle fibers so fluids were used to move their legs around. JJ stared into the spiderlings 8 unblinking eyes and called out.
"Come here little fella." JJ said waving the spiderling over. As it took hesitant steps towards him. Other spiderlings breaking out of the sack and all of their eyes were reflecting JJ while he was focusing on his new friends.
Unable to help himself JJ recited what he knew of baby spiders.
"Egg sacks usually contain thousands of spiders. The mother may set them up where she thinks they get plenty of food. Some spiderlings will actually spin webs to allow them to glide. But some species of spiders are born hungry ready to eat whatever is in sight." JJ finished the last of the spiderlings hatched and all facing him.
Now seeing thousands of little spiders JJ let out a surprised gasp. These were so many more spiders than he originally thought.
"Awwwww come here little guys." JJ said waving then over. Mere moments before the entire brood swarmed over JJ.
When Naomi returned much later holding the spider totem in an oven mitten. When she saw the spiderlings scurrying around the jar. Dropping the totem she ran over to the jar and called down.
"JJ!" Naomi said worried that her boyfriend had been consumed by the spiderlings only to see tiny waving from JJ. He was petting a spiderling that he was holding up to Naomi.
"Can I keep him? I named him Jasper Junior." JJ said holding up the spiderling to Naomi.
When Naomi finished screaming she made JJ clean himself in his bathroom sink 3 times before she finally took some tissues and dried him off.
"I told you spiders are harmless." JJ told her more than once as she checked his freshly cleaned and spider free body for any bites or wounds but he was fine.
With no fresh clothes for him Naomi had to lend him some of her old doll clothes. JJ didn't mind but still Naomi worried that she hurt her boyfriend.
"Are you sure you're alright?" Naomi asked for nearly the hundredth time but JJ still waved it away.
"I told you. Spiders are harmless Naomi." He said. Even dressed in Ken's old clothes he still looked as happy he normally was. Naomi held him on her flat hand.
"Can I sleep with the Jasper Juniors?" JJ asked looking at the now sealed jar full of spiderlings.
"No JJ. I'm not letting you out of my sight." Naomi said laying down on her bed and laying JJ on her chest. Subconsciously close to her heart where JJ could still feel it thumping loudly. Her hand laying on him like a weighted blanket.
Relaxing JJ more than his bed normally did. He would normally need to set up sounds to play at night, turn on an electric blanket, and put on a weighted blanket all at once. But now JJ was laying on Naomi's chest. Her hand heavier than a weighted blanket, her heart more soothing than ocean sounds, and her body warmer than JJ's house had ever been.
Even with the light on JJ let out a long yawn tired from his day.
"I'm sleepy?" He told Naomi. She looked at the clock. Noticing it was only 7:45 PM. But still she could believe he was tired.
"Sleep JJ. Tomorrow we can fix your size." Naomi told him. Her thumb brushing his messy and his neck while he closed his eyes already falling asleep from her body sounds.
While it took longer for Naomi to fall asleep in time she did relax and fall asleep. Enjoying the feeling of JJ's warm and soft body between her fingers. It was a comfort knowing none of the troubles nor travails of the world could bother JJ while he rested here.
She was bigger than all of his troubles, and his safety was as simple as laying her hand across his body. All of the worries in the world seemed to melt away from Naomi while she held her tiny boyfriend.
