tinycoded360

[tinycoded360]

Friends out of Water Chapter 6

Ana's heart pounded against her ribcage as she peered out from the confines of Melody's grasp. Her friend's apartment loomed ahead.

"Are we going to see the clan now?" Ana ventured, her voice quivering with anticipation.

"Clan?" Melody's laugh was sharp and cruel. She tightened her grip, causing Ana to wince. "Oh, sweet, naive Ana. There's no reversing what's been done to you."

"But you said—"

"I lied." The words were tossed out carelessly as Melody began to toss Ana lightly into the air, catching her with a snicker. "You're too much fun like this."

A cold dread settled over Ana as she realized the gravity of her situation. "Melody, please," she pleaded, her voice barely above a whimper.

"Shh," Melody cooed mockingly. "You should've stayed in the deep where you belonged, Ana. Not gallivanting with humans.”

“What are you talking about? We came up here together! Aren’t you doing the same thing?”

Melody scoffed. Her grip on Ana tightened. “I’m not the one fucking humans. You were going to tell him about us! You’re the traitor!”

Ana's world flipped upside-down as Melody tossed her into the air and then caught her again. With each cruel toss, her stomach lurched as despair closed in around her.

Melody tossed Ana onto her living room couch with a flick of her wrist.

“I’m going to change into something comfy for our fun night together. Don’t go far.” Melody mocked in a cruel voice.

Ana struggled to her feet. Her eyes widened as she noticed her former friend had left her cell phone on the coffee table. This was her chance.

Ana backed up and then took off at a run. As she neared the edge of the couch, she jumped. She landed on the hard surface, knocking her breath out. She wobbled to her feet and rushed to the giant cell phone.

She pressed the touch screen. She racked her brain for a code. She remembered Melody and her getting phones and choosing their first lock screen codes together. Ana hoped Melody didn’t change it.

Luck was on Ana’s side; the code worked.

Ana quickly dialed Forest’s number. Ana’s heart sank when the dial tone went to voicemail.

Ana left her voice mail in a rush.

“Forest, please get this! I made a mistake! You were right! About Melody! Please come and get me! Her address is…...” Ana let out a yelp as Melody’s giant hand grabbed her.

“Naughty, Naughty.” Melody mocked. She looked at the phone and laughed. “Aw, he didn’t even answer!” Melody cackled. “It doesn’t matter; he can’t save you.”

Ana struggled in her tight fist. Ana cried in pain as her body decided to transform now of all times. She bucked in pain as her legs turned into a tail and her skin turned to scales.

“Oh, how fun! I know what I’m going to do with you now!” Melody said to her gasping friend.

Ana struggled to breathe. She needed water!

Melody walked to her kitchen, filled a mixing bowl with water, and Dropped Ana into it. Ana breathed in through her gills.

Ana’s relief was short-lived.

“You know I’m hungry…. I think you’d make a perfect sushi roll.” Melody said with a cruel grin.

“What! You can’t eat me!” Ana replied in shock.

“Of course I can. This is what traitors get: a one-way trip to my belly,” Melody replied, rubbing her belly.

Melody's eyes gleamed with a dark hunger as the bamboo mat clattered onto the countertop. With practiced hands, she spread out a sheet of nori, her lips twisting into a smirk as she caught Ana's horrified gaze. The rice was patted down with a cold precision.

"Please, Melody," Ana's voice trembled, "This is... it's cannibalism!"

"Darling, you're hardly a person at this diminutive size," Melody scoffed, rolling her eyes. She picked up Ana by her blue tail, Ana dangled there gasping for breath. "Think of it as giving your existence some grand purpose."

Ana's cry was muffled as she was pressed against the sticky rice. The roll came together with a few swift movements, sealing Ana within a culinary tomb.

"First, the tail," Melody whispered to herself, reaching for the knife with deliberate slowness. "Once I eat your tail," she mused aloud, her lips curling into a wicked smile. "I wonder how far I'll get before you stop screaming."

The click of the lock being picked was so quiet that Melody didn’t notice. She was far too focused on playing with her meal. The door swung open, causing Melody to drop the knife in shock. Forest's frame filled the entryway, his eyes quickly taking in the scene.

"Where is she?!" he bellowed, crossing the room in three long strides.

Melody hissed and grabbed the knife she had dropped. Before she could drive it into the foolish human, his fist connected with her jaw, a crack echoing through the room as she crumpled to the floor, unconscious.

Forest looked around, staring in horror at Ana’s blue tail sticking out of an uncut sushi roll. The blue tail thrashed back and forth with her struggles. Wasting no time, Forest scooped the sushi roll containing Ana into his palms, unrolling it gently. Ana's tiny chest heaved with relieved sobs as she was freed from her confines. He quickly filled a cup with water from the sink and tenderly placed Ana inside.

Forest's frown deepened as he glanced back at Melody's prone figure. "She won't stop. Not unless I make sure of it." He rummaged through Melody’s coat closet until he found a couple of scarves. He returned to Melody and started to tie her arms behind her back and her legs together. Melody slowly gained consciousness.

"Filthy human! Going to find you later. Kill you both," Melody slurred through her daze, her threats weak.

Forest merely shook his head.

Forest began to search Melody's apartment. He suspected she had played some role in Ana’s shrinking and hoped to find a clue to help his tiny girlfriend.

Forest's eyes narrowed as they settled on the vial of powder nestled among scattered trinkets on Melody's vanity. His hand reached out, fingers closing around the delicate container as he brought it closer to the light, watching the contents shimmer in the light.

"Is this it? The shrinking powder?" he inquired, his gaze shifting to where Melody lay tied up.

She sneered, her voice dripping with contempt. "What does it matter to you? There is no cure."

"Tell me how to reverse this," he demanded. Again, Melody stayed silent. Forest strode over to her and grasped her chin, forcing her to meet his eyes.

"Tell me now, or you'll regret it."

Melody smirked, utterly unintimidated. "There is no cure. Ana will stay this size forever."

Forest's blood boiled. He took a pinch of the powder and blew it at Melody, satisfaction flooding him as she shrieked in outrage. The powder enveloped her, and before his eyes, she began to shrink down to Ana's size, her mermaid tail forming in place of her legs.

He plucked her from the floor as she struggled to draw breath, clutching at her neck.

He deposited her in the mixing bowl that was filled with water. He watched impassively as she sputtered. Finally, she steadied herself, glaring daggers at him.

“If you ever want to return to your correct size, you better tell me the cure.” Forest threatened. He figured this had to work. Now Melody was in the same danger as Ana.

Melody's eyes blazed with defiance, her small chest heaving. "I'd rather see her drown than live another day with your filthy human hands on her."

Forest's brow furrowed, a surge of anger rising within him. "This can all end, Melody. Tell me how to reverse the shrinking powder. You can have your life back. Give Ana back her life."

She spat a curse at him, her body trembling with fury and fear. "Never."

"Think about it, Melody. All this can stop—the moment you decide to do what's right."

Forest then spotted the water bottle he had given Melody earlier. With ease, he gathed the redhead mermaid up and pushed her into the bottle, making sure the lid was screwed on tight. He could feel the faint vibrations through the plastic of her hitting the sides in anger.

Forest glanced at the cup holding Ana. With care, he picked her container up.

“Forest? How did you get here so fast?” Ana asked.

Forest blushed. “To tell you the truth, I was already here. I followed you two…..I had this horrible feeling. And when I got your voice message, I ran straight in. I’m sorry I missed that call.”

“Oh god, Forest, you were right. She was gonna kill me…... Thank you.” Ana replied, her eyes misting up with tears.

"Let's go home," Forest murmured, his voice low. He secured both mermaids with meticulous care and set out for his apartment.

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Lilliput Adventures bonus- Fanart

@gt-daboss did some awesome fan art for this story! I love it so much; it's the first fan art I've ever received! Please go check them out and their other work!

I'll be adding more fanart here, if I get more that is 🤭😝

[tinycoded360]

lilliput Adventures Chapter 5

@gt-daboss @voraciousvore @emijkoxy

*Knock, knock, Knock*

Tori rolled over, bringing her pillow with her, trying to block out the sound.

*knock, Knock, Knock. *

This time, knocking jolted Tori awake. She sat up with a gasp, heart pounding.

"Victoria? Honey, are you alright in there?" Her mom's concerned voice carried through the door. Tori’s eyes widened as the door to her room opened.

Tori's eyes darted around the room, scanning for any sign of the tiny Lilliputians. The sheets and floor were empty. Oh no, where were they?

Tori’s eyes darted back to the entrance of her room. Her parents stood at the threshold of her room.

"Uh, y-yeah, Mom, I'm fine!" Tori called, trying to keep the panic from spreading through her voice.“What's up?"

"Well, it's almost noon," her mom replied. "I just wanted to check on you and make sure everything is okay. We saw the car out front."

Tori swallowed hard. "Yep, all good! Nothing’s wrong!” She held her breath, hoping they would believe her.

"Doesn't look like nothing," her father interjected, his brows furrowed in paternal worry. "The windshield is smashed! And you're home early. Something's not right. What happened?”

"I wasn't feeling great," Tori lied, darting her gaze away from their probing eyes. "Thought I might be coming down with something, so I left early. And then, on the way..." She let her voice trail off as if gathering her thoughts.

"And then what?" her mother prompted, gently touching Tori's arm to urge her to continue.

"On the way home," Tori continued, a flush creeping up her neck, "a deer jumped out in front of the car. I swerved to miss it, but...you know, the windshield... got smashed pretty badly….. I’ll need to get it fixed."

Tori's mother hesitated, her lips parted as if to question further or nag Tori on such reckless actions, but with a glance exchanged between the parents, the unspoken words hung suspended in the air. Her father simply patted Tori on the back, a silent nod affirming their decision not to pry.

"Alright then," he said, his voice steady but eyes still clouded with concern. "We're here if you need anything, Tor."

"Thanks, Dad," Tori replied, her voice nearly a whisper. Her gratitude was genuine despite her gnawing guilt for the deception.

Her mother offered a warm smile, though it didn't quite reach her eyes; her daughter’s story didn’t sit right with her. Tori watched as her parents left her room. She quickly went to her door and shut it behind them. She breathed out a sigh of relief.

After a long pause, she heard their footsteps retreat down the hall. Tori exhaled in relief, shoulders slumping.

Her head swiveled left and right. "Telwin?" she whispered urgently. "Fildor? Mavri? Where are you guys?"

A flash of red hair peeked out from under the bed. Mavri stood and waved her tiny arms.

Tori lowered herself onto her hands and knees, careful not to make any sudden movements that might startle her tiny companions. Mavri had her hands on her hips, looking up expectantly. Behind her, Fildor, Telwin, Linric, and Silvo emerged one by one from the shadows beneath the bed frame. They looked disheveled but unharmed.

"Thank goodness," Tori breathed. "I was so worried. I'm sorry about my parents, I hope they didn't scare you."

Fildor dusted off his tunic. "It's quite alright, Tori. We're getting used to all the giant-sized interruptions around here."

Silvo shook her head. "Still don't know how we'll manage with your folks and that Trina girl nosing around. Seems mighty risky if you ask me."

"Tori, we need to talk," Mavri spoke with authority.

Tori's fingers fidgeted nervously, her guilt bubbling to the surface. "Mavri, I'm so sorry about what happened with Trina. I never meant for any of you to get hurt. I should've protected you better, and I just-"

Fildor held up a hand, his gruff voice cutting through her apology. "That's not what this is about, lass. What's done is done."

Mavri nodded, her eyes softening slightly. "Fildor's right. We've come to realize that getting home may not be possible right now. Those model boats you bought are not seaworthy. We're trapped here, Tori. And we need to figure out what that means for our future."

"You can stay with me," Tori said, her voice steadier than she felt. "I'll do everything I can to keep you safe. I promise."

Telwin approached, his small hand patting her knee in a gesture of gratitude. "We appreciate that, Tori. Truly. But there are some things even you can't protect us from."

As if on cue, Tori's phone buzzed on the nightstand. She reached up, her hand trembling slightly as she grabbed the device. The screen lit up with a new message from Trina.

+From Trina+

-Ur Real stupid, u know that? -

-I know where u live-

-those things are mine-

-u think u can keep them hidden? I'm calling the cops. They’ll find them, I’ll tell them u stole something from me.-

Tori's blood ran cold, her breath catching in her throat. Tori's mind raced, desperately searching for a solution. She couldn't let Trina hurt them, but she also couldn't risk them being taken away. Tori’s hands started to shake, and her breath started coming in faster and faster.

Tori felt a small weight on her abdomen, pulling her attention away from the ominous text messages. She ignored it, too caught up in her own thoughts and worries.

Telwin climbed up Tori’s shirt, his tiny hands gripping the fabric as he ascended the mountain of her body. She remained still, her breath shallow, as he made his way to her shoulder. *Poor lass hasn’t even noticed me…*

Telwin peered at the phone screen, scowling as he read the threatening words. He patted Tori's face, his touch gentle yet startling the giantess. Instinctively, she jerked back, but Telwin maintained his grip, refusing to be thrown off.

"Easy there, giant," he said, his voice calm and reassuring. "Take a deep breath. We'll figure this out together."

Tori nodded, mimicking Telwin's exaggerated breathing. Slowly, the tightness in her chest began to ease, and the panic that had gripped her moments ago started to subside.

From the floor, Silvo's voice cut through the tension. "The other giants might want to hurt us, Tori. We need more than just your protection."

Linric, standing beside Silvo, nodded vigorously. "She's right. We can't be out in the open like this all the time. It's too risky."

Silvo shrugged, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Maybe we can live in your walls."

Mavri stepped forward, her voice carrying the weight of her people's fate. "We've already lost so many on our journey. An ocean trip on a poor craft would spell certain death. “Her eyes grew distant, haunted by memories. “We've thought about it, Tori, and if we stay, we'll need backup plans to escape any unfriendlies."

Suddenly, an idea sparked in her mind, and her eyes widened with excitement. "My uncle!" she exclaimed, causing the tiny people to look up at her in surprise. "He has a boat down at the dock, it’s an Inboard fishing boat.He's usually away on long trips, but he's back for the month."

Tori's heart raced as she continued, the words tumbling out in a rush. "I could borrow it, try to get you home if you know the way. It's not a perfect solution, but it's a chance, right?" She ignored to mention that she’d need to convince her uncle to take her out there or do something she had never done before……steel it.

The Lilliputians exchanged glances, a flicker of hope igniting in their eyes. Mavri spoke up, her voice cautiously optimistic. "If we could get a look at some maps, we might be able to figure out the correct route."

Tori nodded eagerly, her mind already racing with the logistics of their potential journey.

Tori reached for her phone, her fingers trembling slightly as she navigated to the browser. "Maps, right. Let me see what I can find online," she said, her voice laced with determination.

The Lilliputians gathered closer. Tori held her phone down so they could see. She scrolled through the search results, her brow furrowed in concentration.

Fildor traced a route with his finger, his voice low and thoughtful. "If we follow this current here, we might be able to retrace our way back….”

Linric nodded, his expression grave. "It won't be an easy journey, but it's our best chance."

Tori felt nervous but determined. She wanted to help them as much as she could. It was just a matter of convincing her uncle to take her on a trip. She refused to consider the alternative of just ‘borrowing’ his boat for a bit.

"I'll talk to my uncle first thing in the morning," she said, her voice more steady than she felt.

Telwin, still perched on Tori's shoulder, gave her a gentle pat. "We can't thank you enough, Tori."

Tori blushed. Her hands still shook from all the excitement. *How am I gonna do this? There’s no way Uncle Jim will take me out that far…...*

Chapter 1

previous chapter

chapter 6

[tinycoded360]

Thank you! Those kind words are encouraging! I’m still practicing allot with references and tracing to practice, it’s slowly getting better 😁

G/t october prompt Day 10: Dancing

I drew my two OCs, Forest and Ana Dancing, in the water.

[tinycoded360]

Above and Beyond Chapter 2: Help arrives

Meanwhile, the Ares III crew was busy completing their daily tasks on the surface of Mars.

Rick saw a speck in the distance through his binoculars. As it drew closer, he realized it was something strange - a body? "Hey guys, you should come see this..." he called over the radio.

****

As they approached, they found a pale, skinny humanoid lying unconscious on the ground. The figure's skin seemed to emit a faint glow, offset by stark white hair that seemed to defy gravity. But what astonished them most was the fact that the creature was breathing the thin Martian air without any protective gear. More concerning was the glowing green liquid around it. It was seeping out of the creature, staining the ground below it.

"Is it...an alien?" Mark whispered, equal parts awestruck and apprehensive.

 Dr. Beck kneeled next to the motionless figure. Dr. Beck noted its slender build and the green blood seeping from various wounds. "We need to get him back to the hab."

 Beck frowned when he tried to find a pulse. He could not find one. He wondered if the creature was already dead. But that couldn’t be right. It was still bleeding, and it had flinched a bit when he touched its cold skin. He could see the fluttering movement under its eyelids. Beck tried to keep any rash judgment at bay. This was a new lifeform, and it was highly likely it functioned differently compared to a human.

"Man, NASA's going to flip when they hear about this," Rick said, grinning beneath his helmet.

*****

Danny drifted in and out of consciousness. Voices swirled around him, urgent and confused.

"It's still breathing somehow. The atmosphere here must not be toxic to its species."

"Let's get it inside. Careful now, it's badly hurt."

Strong but gentle hands slid under Danny's limp body, lifting him effortlessly. He blearily took in the NASA logo on the man's suit - Martinez, the pilot. Danny wanted to speak and explain himself but was too weak to do anything. He let his head loll against Martinez's chest as he was carried into the hub.

Danny became dimly aware of hands pressed against his neck, wrist, and chest—checking vital signs. Danny forced his eyes open and immediately shut them against the harsh lights overhead. He was no longer outside. The air here smelled sterile, with an undertone of body odor. Where had they taken him?

Danny heard a faint gasp. A hand smoothed his hair out of his face. They had noticed the moment his eyes opened. A feminine voice was saying soothing words to him. His head hurt too much to concentrate on the words. He couldn’t help pressing his head into the touch of the hand. Danny cracked his eyes open; he could see humanoid figures around him in hazmat suits. He felt his breath quicken. Was he back with the GIW?

The hand on his head slid down to cup his cheeks. He turned his head to the side, away from the other figures tending to him. The face inside the hazmat suit locked eyes with him. She was trying to say soothing words to him and calm him down.

Danny felt his breath even out as he locked eyes with the other person. He felt a jolt of recognition. He knew who this was. It was Beth…. Beth Johanssen. One of the astronauts of the Ares III.  He felt a jolt of excitement, but then he felt a rush of fear; he could feel he was still in his ghost half. What must they think of him? What if they turn him over to the GIW? Do they even know about Amity Park ghosts? Danny wished his powers were working so he could sink through the floor and disappear.

Danny closed his eyes, not wanting to see what they would do to him.

Rough hands grasped Danny's shoulders, peeling off the tattered remains of his suit. He whimpered involuntarily as the fabric pulled away from dried blood. The hands stilled momentarily, then continued their work, more gently this time. His boots and the rest of the suit followed. Danny shivered as cool air hit his exposed skin.

A finger pressed lightly against his wrist, counting his pulse. "It's slow. Maybe 50 BPM?" said a puzzled male voice in a soft tone.

"Body temperature is low, too. Around 85 degrees Fahrenheit," said another voice, this time female.

Danny kept his eyes shut, feigning unconsciousness. He could feel Johanssen's hand gently petting his head, trying to offer comfort. He could sense the emotions around him. At least he couldn’t feel any ill will. But he was still hurt and scared.

"Look at this." A finger lightly traced one of the fresh wounds on Danny's chest, making him flinch. "These are clearly from some kind of blades or knives."

“Hey! Be gentle, you’re scaring him!” The voice of Beth spoke up.

“Oh, sorry.” The male voice answered in a sheepish tone.

"Let's get him patched up, and we can take some samples to analyze."

"....NASA will be eager to get their hands on him for further study..."

“They better treat him respectfully; this is our first contact, and we don’t want to hurt our new friend,” Beth said, her tone fiercely protective.

Danny tensed, preparing for more pain; he whimpered as he felt the pain of needle and thread binding his flesh back together. He couldn’t help the cries of pain that left his lips. He tried to wiggle away but felt multiple hands pin him down.

“I know, I know, we’re sorry, we don’t know if we can give you anything for the pain.” Beth's voice whispered next to his ear. Her hands held his head steady. She kept a string of soothing words, trying to keep her tone soft and kind.

“He probably doesn’t even understand you.” Another female voice spoke. Danny guessed it must be the mission commander, Melissa Lewis.

“But tone might help, see’s he’s not struggling as much.” A male voice argued back.

Danny went in and out of consciousness. He whimpered at the pain of them patching him up.  Gauze followed, wrapping firmly around his torso. He felt relaxed, he felt so tired, and he was still in so much pain. He let out a soft sigh, too exhausted to keep up the act. He felt the pull of sleep. Danny gave in and let the darkness of sleep take him.

"Those were not natural wounds," said Doctor Beck. "The scarring indicates prolonged torture. It might have been some kind of experiment that escaped or a victim of some kind."

“But how did it get here?” Melissa asked with a concerned look.

“Yeah, is a crashed ship or something we should be worrying about?” asked Rick.

“NASA didn’t detect any UFOs.” Melissa pointed out.

“What if someone or something comes looking for him?” asked Watney.

“Let's hope not; if they're hostile, we have nothing to defend ourselves with.” Alex Vogel stated.

 Beck noted the differences between this boy and a human. His skin emitted a soft glow, his ears were pointed, and his nails were claw-like. When they checked his vitals, they found that his heart rate and body temperature were much lower than normal.

Despite the anomalies, the basic anatomy was humanoid. "He's definitely male," Beck noted clinically during the exam. "And based on the development, I'd guess his species matures at a similar rate to humans. He seems to be an adolescent."

Beck then took a blood sample, trying to be as gentle and non-invasive as possible. He had to take multiple cause the first view started to dissolve some of the tools. He had to find a container that could hold the blood. A glass tube seemed to do the trick.

"Be careful with the blood samples," Dr. Beck warned as they collected tissue samples for study. "It seems to dissolve some of our tools."

They noticed multiple scars on his body, evidence of past traumas, and observed signs of infection setting in around his current injuries. A feeling of empathy began to well up within the crew, their hearts aching for this child who had endured so much pain.

"Is he going to be alright?" Beth asked, her voice cracking as she looked down at the unconscious boy.

“Time will tell; we did our best for him,” Beck answered.

They conducted a light examination of his body, careful not to cause him any distress. They snapped photos and scribbled notes for a detailed report to send back to NASA. The news of discovering an alien would be world-changing. This would no doubt turn NASA on its head, probably causing some chaos back on Earth.

As the crew continued to observe their alien guest, they dressed him in a spare jumpsuit that hung loosely on his small frame. It was clear he needed time to heal and regain his strength.

"Let's move him to the crew quarters where he can rest," Lewis decided. They had done all they could for now. She logged the last few notes in her report, tagging it as a high priority for transmission back to NASA. They had decided it would be hard to avoid any contamination or disease from the boy. So they took off their hazmat suits and decided to focus on caring for and comforting their guest.

Watney carefully gathered the boy up, frowning at his lightweight frame. He gently laid him on one of the bunks.

Watney tucked the blanket around the sleeping boy, noting how young and vulnerable he looked.  

The boy's rest was fitful, face pinched as fever wracked his body. Beck monitored his vitals. Beck was unsure of what temperature was normal for the boy. So, he just kept an eye on him to see if he started to go towards distress. Beck had so many questions for their new guest. He felt excitement among his concerns. Beck never imagined they would, ACTUALLY, come across an alien on their mission. Never thought this would be how he went down in the history books.

Beck reached out and smoothed the hair out of the boy’s face. He frowned at the amount of sweat the kid was producing. His body was no doubt fighting off an infection. This kid needed them; whatever he went through was no doubt awful. The kid whimpered but pressed his face into his hand, seeking comfort.

Their mission had changed; this alien kid’s survival was now their priority.

Chapter 3:

[tinycoded360]

Gtober day 13 - moonlight

This is me! Aka my new character Noelle, just enjoying walking in the moonlight, imagining giant walking besides her as her protector :3 🥰🥰

[tinycoded360]

G/t october prompt Day 10: Dancing

I drew my two OCs, Forest and Ana Dancing, in the water.

[tinycoded360]

can’t imagine living in a world where authors aren’t allowed to explore darker themes and topics through literature

[tinycoded360]

Women can write m/m. Men can write f/f. Asexuals can write filthy smut. Lesbians and gay men can write m/f. It's all arbitrary anyway. Who give a shit.

[tinycoded360]

Giganterra (Final Chapter/ Epilogue)

Prologue/ TOC | Previous (61)

Content Warning: None

Word Count: 3.4k

------ Chapter 62: Diplomacy ------

King Ronny arrived at the wall. Just like his late father, he’d never been here personally. A latent anxiety bubbled up inside him as he gazed at the weathered stones stacked high, another monument to Giganterra’s oppressive influence. 

“Are you sure this is a good idea?” he questioned Leon, as he dismounted his horse. He brought his hand to his shoulder, allowing Tanya to grip his fingers for support so she wouldn’t fall off. “I’m sure they hate us. I doubt they’ll want anything to do with us.” 

“This is absolutely necessary,” Leon explained. He carried a wooden box full of diplomatic gifts. “Even if it’s difficult. They are a neighboring country, so we need to have diplomatic channels open, in case problems arise. And that’s not even addressing our ugly history with them. I’m sure there will be plenty of snags along the way.” 

Ronny sighed. “I figured you’d say something like that. Let’s get this over with. Joey?” 

“At your service, Your Majesty!” Joey chirped. Normally, he’d hop off his horse with alacrity, but he was careful not to jostle all the humans he was carrying in his hand as he cautiously dismounted. Joey was in a fantastic mood, eager to explore the human lands again, but this time with an unburdened conscience. Eren, perched on his shoulder, playfully tugged on a lock of his messy hair, making him blush. 

Leon edged away from the humans, avoiding eye contact. He still felt terrible guilt for his role in enslaving the tiny folk during King Richard’s reign. However, he was heartened to see that the new king sought to undo the wrongs of his father. He held hope for a brighter future, and he understood he had a very important role to play in building that future, since King Ronny couldn’t possibly pull it off by himself. Despite his internal misgivings, he followed the king and Joey, the new royal guard, through the gate. The guard shack was empty, as Ronny had dismissed the guards from their duty permanently. 

“Whoa.” Ronny stopped in his tracks as he entered Minimaterra, staring in wonder at the forest of tiny, fuzzy trees that hardly reached his ankles. With the transition into fall, the trees displayed a vibrant patchwork of red, orange, yellow, and brown puffs of leaves, laid out across the landscape like a quilt. 

“So this is what my forest looks like from a giant’s perspective,” Eren mused. “No wonder you guys are so careless, stomping all over the trees.” 

“Sorry! It’s not intentional!” Joey blubbered. Eren smirked and elbowed his neck. Ronny rolled his eyes and began carefully tiptoeing through the forest, trying his best not to carve a path of destruction underfoot. Joey traced the king’s footsteps with his own, to minimize the damage caused, but he still winced whenever he heard the snap of a tree trunk under his boot. 

“Aw, Joey, I was just kidding! Don’t feel bad,” Eren consoled him in his ear, in a softer tone. She kissed his neck, caressing it with her small hand, and he smiled tenderly. 

“Watch your step, Your Majesty!” Leon called out. “There’s a house right there!” 

“Oops,” Ronny gulped, retracting his boot. He frowned at the family of humans glaring up at him. 

“Ronny, try not to look so scary,” Tanya whispered in his ear. “I know you have a habit of masking your feelings with a frigid expression, but you need to unlearn that.” 

Ronny furrowed his brow, but dutifully thawed his features. “My apologies, subjects of Minimaterra. I meant no harm.” He gave a deferential flourish, careful not to knock Tanya off his shoulder. The humans blinked with amazement, not expecting gentlemanly behavior from the envoys of Giganterra. Ronny and the rest of the diplomatic party continued on. They passed through the forest to wider, flatter plains. 

“Don’t step on those brown grassy patches,” Joey instructed the prince, pointing to the neat squares of farmland. “Those may look like grass, but they’re actually crops. Corn and wheat, I believe.” 

“Thank you, Joey,” Ronny replied. He was happy to see that the squire—now a knight—was finally comfortable with speaking openly around him. The stiff, formal nervousness that Joey exhibited before tended to wear on his nerves. He regarded Joey not merely as a servant, and an ally, but a real friend. The change was subtle, but the genuine connection warmed his heart. 

He felt a twitch of anxiety as the small castle, surrounded by a small city, materialized in the distance. He focused on his feet to distract himself. He had to walk slower as the country roads gave way to paved streets buzzing with miniature people and horses. Minimaterra’s citizens were hasty to get out of the way, distrustful that the giants wouldn’t stomp on anybody. The buildings were cramped closer together, forcing the giants to shuffle their feet in a straight row. 

“Excuse me, sir!” a faint voice squeaked from the road. “Sir!”  

Leon glanced down, confused. “Me?” 

“Yes, you!” 

Leon cautiously crouched down, squinting as he searched for the source of the voice. Most of the humans scrambled away like mice, but one man stood unflinchingly in the giant’s path. Leon lowered his head to get a closer look. His eyes widened with surprised recognition. 

“You’re that fruit merchant!” he said. His face twisted up with embarrassment as he recalled accidentally crushing his stall. “I do apologize again-” 

“No need!” the merchant interrupted, raising a hand to stop him. “I wanted to thank you for your kindness and generosity! With the gigantic coins you gave me, my family was able to buy better equipment and seeds to expand our business! We are flourishing now!” 

“Oh! I’m very glad to hear that,” Leon responded, relieved. 

“I wasn’t expecting to see you again, otherwise I would’ve had my wife make you an apple pie or something…” The man scampered over to his stall, rummaging through his wares. He returned with his arms hugging a huge watermelon. “Bring your hand down.” 

“Are you sure? You really don’t have to give me anything…” 

“Yes.” Leon sheepishly lowered his hand to the cobblestones. With a grunt, the man hoisted the watermelon into his hand and rolled it towards the center. “Here.” 

The watermelon looked comically small in the giant’s hand, like a pill, but Leon accepted the gift with genuine gratitude. “Thank you.” He figured it would be polite to consume the offering as intended, so he popped the watermelon whole into his mouth and cracked it like a sunflower seed between his molars. A burst of sweet juice hit his tongue. “Very tasty. Thanks again.” 

 The man hadn’t expected the giant to bite into the watermelon without cutting the thick rind, so he could only stare open-mouthed. Leon flushed when he noticed. “I enjoyed that very much. I-I must be going. Thanks,” he repeated awkwardly. He slowly raised himself back to a standing position and stepped away, over a low building. An invisible weight unburdened his shoulders as he recognized that he had done some good for at least one human—and now, he had the tools to do far more.  

Joey and Ronny waited for him in the central plaza, just a few strides away, where they had more space. “Ready?” Joey asked. Leon and Ronny nodded firmly. They stepped over the palace walls into the courtyard, mindful of the miniscule gardens. Ronny fancied, with some amusement, that the courtyard vaguely resembled Giganterra’s, just on a smaller scale. 

Their presence required no announcement, since their lofty silhouettes had been spotted on the horizon from miles away. King Charles waited for them in the highest balcony of his tallest tower, his arms crossed defiantly over his chest. He scowled fearlessly as he glared up at the giant men. 

“What’s this about?” he questioned with a note of irritation. “Back for more tribute? So soon?” 

Ronny’s stoic gaze faltered. “No. I’ve come to inform you that King Richard of Giganterra, of the Hardon Dynasty, is deceased. I am his son. The new king. King Ronny. Also of the Hardon Dynasty.” The announcement that he had rehearsed so meticulously in his head, over and over, tripped over his tongue and spilled out in a clumsy mess. 

However, his delivery was not foremost on the human king’s mind. King Charles didn’t visibly flinch, but his dark skin showed a pallor that evinced his nervousness at the news. “What?” He paused, still shocked. “YOU’RE the new king?” 

“Yes,” Ronny confirmed. The tiny human soldiers at Ronny’s feet rippled with discomfort and pointed their spears, unsure of the giant’s intentions. 

“Never in all my years has a king of Giganterra personally graced my kingdom with his presence,” Charles uttered. 

Ronny swallowed. “R-right. Well, things are going to change under my rule.” 

“How so?” the human king asked suspiciously. 

“For the better, I hope,” Ronny clarified quickly. He straightened his posture, putting forth his best effort to appear regal. “I wish to formally apologize for the wrongs us giants have committed against your people.” 

The human king’s jaw dropped as he was rendered speechless. Ronny gestured for Leon to open the wooden box he’d been carrying. Leon pulled back the lid to reveal a cornucopia of gifts, including precious metals, jewels, exotic spices, silks, and other luxurious goods. While the stash was relatively modest for a giant king, it was a wealth of priceless treasures for the small folk. The human king couldn’t believe his eyes. 

“We’ve brought gifts.” Poor recompense, I’m sure, but what else can we do? “We’re also relinquishing the humans who wished to return to Minimaterra.�� With that cue, Joey kneeled down and released the humans in his hands. They were received with joy by the soldiers below. 

“So few…” Charles mentioned forlornly. “Where are the rest? Especially the more recent tributes?” 

“Ah! Many of them have chosen to stay in Giganterra of their own free will. Including Candy, Millie, Iris, Jackie, Addison… uh, Eren…”—he pointed towards her—“And my girl Tanya.” He caressed her with his finger, and she hugged it in return. 

“Really? They chose to stay?” Charles asked, directing his attention to the human women. The hostility and skepticism dripping from his words was palpable. 

“Absolutely. King Ronny is my fiancé,” Tanya explained. Eren looked teasingly at Joey and poked his neck. He scratched his cheek and flushed. 

“I don’t believe it,” Charles mumbled. He stiffened as he seemed to recall something. “Wait! What about the men? What about… my advisor? Gio?” 

Ronny’s smile faded into sadness. “Oh… I hate to be the one to inform you, but… tragically, they did not survive the reign of the old tyrant.” 

“Oh.” A flicker of regret crossed Charles’s features, but he maintained strict control over his emotions. “I see.” 

Ronny didn’t want to dwell on this uncomfortable truth, so he hastened to move the conversation along. “I’ve dismissed the guards that watched the walls around your country. We plan to demolish the barrier entirely, so that you will no longer be prisoners within your own lands.” 

The smaller king blanched. “What? No! Then we’ll be at the mercy of any giant oaf that comes clomping along! That’s a terrible idea!” 

“Actually, no. As it turns out, this was a lie to keep you all contained. My royal scholar, Milton, has done extensive research on Minimaterra. Your country exists on enchanted lands that will shrink any giant creature, whether man or beast, that sets foot here against the will of the giant king. You are protected by the same magic that curses you into this existence.”  

“Impossible,” Charles murmured, his mouth hanging open. 

Ronny knew his words were blunt, but he felt compelled to be honest, in order to gain trust. “If it makes you feel better, I can engage one of my trusted knights, Sir Maneat—erm, Sir Martin, to patrol the border to expel any ruffians.” 

“I still don’t believe it. How could you possibly know if that’s true? Did you shrink someone yourself?” 

“No; nevertheless, it’s true. In fact, Milton dug into the archives and found records of political prisoners that were exiled to Minimaterra and shrunk, never to be heard from again. The kings of yore used this place as a dumping ground to eliminate any person they found to be… inconvenient.” 

“Why are you doing all this now? Why tell us these things? What is your motive?” Charles demanded to know, digging into the heart of the issue. 

Ronny paused to collect his words, stroking his chin. “My father was a terrible man. He committed horrific atrocities. I… I don’t want to follow in his footsteps. I want to do everything I can to right these wrongs. I want to use my birthright to carve a path forward to a new beginning for our two kingdoms. Does that make sense?” 

“I suppose it does.” 

“Will you work with me, to realize my vision? Will you trust me? I am here. I have clawed through the worst filth you can imagine to be standing before you here today. I have overcome my worst fears and slayed the beast looming over me for my entire life. I have risked everything, life and limb, sacrificed my honor and dignity, betrayed and conquered. I have opened my heart and soul and now I bare myself before you in humble acquiescence. Will you accept me?” 

Ronny dropped to his knees, careful not to squash any humans in the process, to be somewhat more level with the human king. He held out his hand, close enough for Charles to reach out and touch his finger. The smaller man stiffened.  “What do you say?” 

King Charles hesitated tor a long moment, thinking hard. Finally, he extended his arm and laid his hand on the tip of Ronny’s middle finger. “I accept.” 

------ Epilogue ------

Under Leon’s guiding hand, Giganterra prospered. King Ronny was beloved by the people for his just and open rule. He rolled back his father’s more oppressive and draconian laws and reduced the heavy burden of taxation from his citizens. He hired scribes and scholars to make public the knowledge that had been locked away in the royal library, including the true history of Minimaterra. While Ronny was lamentably ignorant on leadership, he was willing to learn, and Leon was more than willing to use his knowledge to aid the new king. 

Ronny promoted Milton to be his chief royal scholar. Milton was eager to take the position and pursue research projects that would benefit the kingdom, as well as enrich his personal knowledge. Millie chose to stay with the kind giant who had saved her. They helped each other heal from their past losses, and soon became romantically involved. Milton treasured Millie and uplifted her, while Millie admired Milton for his compassion, gentleness, and intelligence. He made her feel safe, despite being a giant. 

Iris stayed with Milton as well, slowly recovering from her traumas. Over time, she became less afraid of Milton, and to a lesser extent Martin, though she still felt deeply uncomfortable around other giants. She started to speak more and show more energy. She liked to work out in the garden and enjoy the warm sunshine. She became good friends with Millie and Candy. Though she was uncertain what she wanted to do moving forward, she was grateful to have a comforting environment where she could finally rest and have peace, where she wouldn’t be eaten constantly. 

Ronny fired Bucky from the head chef position and put Chef Cruor in charge of the kitchen. Cruor was ecstatic to finally be able to cook and refine his art as he saw fit, without the boss pushing him around. The quality of the food dramatically improved. Addison, who had become attached to the chef, chose to stay with him rather than return to Minimaterra. She assisted him when he cooked in the little ways that she could. She was very happy in her new role. He guarded her jealously, not allowing anyone to touch or hold her without his direct supervision. He lost some of the weight that Bucky had packed on him, but he no longer resembled a scraggly wolf. He experienced euphoria through his art and his special connection with Addison. 

Ronny retired Ajax, removing the magical stone from his head and destroying it. The guard was given a proper burial and mourning. At Milton’s urging, Ronny also freed the unicorn from the basement. He wasn’t sure what to do with Hunter, as he didn’t entirely trust him, but Hunter was content to be left alone and continue his experiments—albeit only the ones that Ronny deemed ethical. 

Initially, Jackie planned to return to Minimaterra, but she decided to stay to support her friend Iris. Milton gladly accepted her into his home, just as he had with the other tiny women. Chester couldn’t resist stopping by to visit her. Despite his gluttonous nature, she had to admit she had developed a basic respect for him that was turning into fondness, especially with his good deeds of saving Iris and helping Ronny kill the evil king. He showed restraint for his urges and had provided her some comfort during her confinement, after all. To her surprise, she got along very well with Chester, and he treated her with the upmost care. She found herself wanting to stay in Giganterra even after Iris recovered. She wanted to spend more time with Chester, a desire he was more than happy to indulge. 

Joey was promoted to knighthood and won the esteemed position of the king’s personal guard. Eren chose to stay with him; she found him fascinating, endearing, and attractive, and she enjoyed the adventures she could have everyday in the giant country. Joey was amazed by Eren’s boldness. They fell hard for each other and experienced a very fiery and passionate romance. 

Sir Maneater was welcomed back at the castle and restored to his original post. Candy got to experience the fairytale romance of her dreams with the handsome knight, who treated her like a priceless treasure. He was tasked with patrolling the border of Minimaterra where the wall used to be, not to keep the humans inside but to protect them from any disreputable giants seeking a pet or snack. At first, the humans feared him, but the more intrepid explorers learned how sweet and friendly he was and spread the word. With time, the humans regarded him as just another feature of the landscape, or even as an ally or friend. 

The citizens of Minimaterra were glad to finally have the walls removed, though many chose to stay within the miniaturized country. The braver humans explored the surrounding lands, usually under Martin’s watchful eye. They could also request giant escorts if needed. They prospered greatly with plentiful aid and resources from Giganterra. Though many humans continued to distrust the giants, relationships between the two countries improved significantly. 

Ronny didn’t quite understand why his late father had considered relations with King Ivan’s kingdom to be so critical, until Leon explained to him that Hardon had lusted after Ivan’s daughter. With that knowledge, Ronny dissolved Bianca’s marriage to Ray, since they obviously weren’t a good match. Bianca was broken inside after everything that had happened, and she mourned the loss of her small men, particularly Cesar. Although they didn’t leave behind any physical remains, she made small graves for them in the palace garden, where she would often sit and mourn. She made a gravestone for her unborn baby as well and placed it alongside Cesar's grave. Even so, she set her sights on moving forward and helping Ronny build a better life for the rest of the humans. It was the only way she could think of to atone for her transgressions and honor the lives of those lost to her father’s brutality. 

Tanya stayed with Ronny, of course, and became his queen, cementing the alliance between the two peoples. Even though Ronny had to deal with the stresses and responsibilities of ruling a kingdom, he was happier than he’d ever been in his life. Tanya was his light; she made him feel whole. He loved her with his entire heart, and he was thankful to her for freeing him, and indeed the whole kingdom, from the yoke of his tyrannical father. 

When Tanya suggested that Ronny create a new crest to represent his rule, the new giant king agreed with alacrity. He disposed of the sable wolf with silver and purple, and adopted a new emblem, a gold phoenix upon an azure background. Like a phoenix, Giganterra had risen from the ashes of destruction to be reborn into something new, something noble and beautiful. A new age had begun. 

Writing Masterpost

Tag List: @maybeiamdownbad @tinycoded360 @yummynomms

[tinycoded360]

Definitely Not A Mouse

Thank you so much for all the love on the previous part!

Previous: A Not So Average Night

Next part coming soon!

—————

Tucker bit back a yelp of terror as the world seemed to bottom out. He tumbled into the bottom of the bag alongside the chips, his small weight slightly crushing them. He found himself partially buried under the yellow salt-coated food, thankfully it was nowhere near heavy enough to crush the borrower.

Gravity forced him down as the bag shot high into the sky, the rapid motion causing bile to rise in Tucker's throat. He was jerked this way and that, slamming into the aluminum walls along with the chips as the human's thudding footsteps carried him away. A few moments later, a door slammed shut and the movement abruptly stopped.

The only thing Tucker could hear was his own hyperventilating breaths. The bag crinkled above him and a yellow light quickly filled the darkness. He threw up a hand at the sudden onslaught of light but it left as quickly as it came, covered by a giant green eye. Tucker balked further under the chips as the eye immediately zeroed in on him. The human gasped and Tucker was pitched forwards as the bag lurched away from the human's face.

"This....what...." A shocked voice rumbled outside the bag. There was an uncomfortably long moment of silence that filled Tucker with terror. He scrambled to get his feet under him but the tangle of chips effectively kept him stuck in place. Chips cracked underneath him as Tucker strained to get some control over his situation. His hand tightened on his weapon. If he could just reach a wall then he can easily cut his way out before Shawn got any ideas....

"Seriously Shawn?" Gus complained angrily, slamming another door shut. "How are we supposed to prove it wasn't the husband? You heard what Lassiter said!"

When Shawn failed to respond, Gus glanced over to his passenger. He gasped, "Shawn!" His friend has done ridiculous things in the past for the sake of solving a case, but this was on a whole new level. "Did you seriously take food from their house! Are you insane?"

Shawn finally pried his eyes away from the bag to look at Gus with wide eyes. His mouth opened and closed a few times like a fish out of water, something that rarely happened to the man.

Gus narrowed his eyes, "I'm not moving this car 'til you tell me what's going on with you." His voice was low and stern. It was clear he was not exaggerating.

"This is evidence for the case. At least I think it is...." He uneasily looked between Gus and the bag. Shawn could feel the slight shifts of whatever was stuck in there, solidifying the fact that this was real. Of course he knew something was in there when he snagged the bag, but he was expecting a rodent or a bug or anything that didn't resemble a tiny human. He ran a hand through his brown hair. "Let's just go back to the office and figure out what's going on." He finally decided.

His friend still didn't move the car, instead he was now criticality eyeing the chip bag as if he could see what's inside. Gus sighed, "Is there anything in there that's creepy, crawly, and has a bunch of legs?" He asked.

"No." Shawn answered aloud, inwardly hoping he got a good enough look.

"Alright then. But if we go to prison for tampering with evidence, I am testifying against you." Gus warned before turning the car on and beginning the short drive back to the office.

Inside the bag, Tucker flinched at the sound of the engine and toppled over as they began to drive. He landed in between a gap in the chips sinking even deeper into the bag. The conversation overhead confirmed his fears that things will only get worse from this point on once they arrived at the humans destination. Tucker had to escape before they had a chance to examine him.

He squirmed to free himself so he can cut a hole through the thin aluminum wall, but the chips proved more cumbersome than he initially thought. Each movement made it harder for him to free himself, and the car's sharp turns didn't help at all. It was like being stuck in a deep ball pit where any action to get out only made things more difficult.

It was all too soon when the engine went silent and the bag jerked again as the humans climbed out of the car. The bag shook violently each time Shawn took a step, ruining what little progress Tucker made towards freedom. Outside of his prison he heard some keys jingle and another door opening and closing. They arrived at their destination. Tucker's heartbeat roared in his ears and he renewed his struggles to get out.

Shawn walked over to his desk in the shared office space. Gus curiously watched as he pushed aside all the clutter on his desk while clutching the chip bag to his chest. He knew he must have noticed a small detail that no one else could hope to see. Shawn's keen eyes is what made him such an effective detective, no matter how annoying his process can get. But Gus failed to see how a bag of chips can be important to the case, especially in a way that made Shawn so uncharacteristically nervous.

Finally Shawn turned towards him. "Listen. I have no idea what's going on here, but promise not to freak out."

The seriousness in his friend's voice sent a jolt of worry through Gus. He warily eyed the innocent looking bag one more time before nodding in agreement, "You have my word," he swore quietly.

Tucker paid no mind to the rumbling conversation overhead. He had just freed his weapon when the bag suddenly flipped, tilting into a menacing slope. He cried out as he began sliding towards the bag's opening. Tucker's free hand desperately reached out for anything that could stop his descent, but only grasped air. His boots harmlessly dug into the sleek material underneath him as chips nearly as big as him pushed him towards the light. Tucker ungracefully tumbled onto the hard desk among the chips and crumbs, landing on his stomach.

"Wha- is this for real?" A voice boomed above him.

He whirled around in a panic. Frantic eyes landing on not one but two looming giants. His instincts screamed at him to run but Tucker's body was paralyzed as their gazes pierced right through him. All he could do was stare at the humans while his brain seemed to short circuit while coming up with a plan.

"Is this real!" Gus repeated as he stared at the impossibly tiny figure. He hesitatingly took a step towards the desk.

This kicked Tucker into action. He jumped to his feet and began sprinting across the desk to the other side. If he could get over there then there was still a chance for him to escape. The air shook from the humans surprised yells but he pressed on. Shadows covered the table in darkness as both Shawn and Gus stepped closer to the desk. Tucker held the nail tightly as he ran on, more than prepared to use it when the human grabbed for him.

He stumbled as their heavy footfalls shook the surface but his eyes stayed locked onto the far edge of the desk. He was so close! His lungs felt like they were on fire and his bag thumped against his side as he poured all his power into his legs. Tucker jumped over a pencil and unlatched his hook from his satchel. His hand stretched out, ready to lodge his hook into the desk and jump down. He still had a chance.

All too suddenly, Tucker collided with something hard. He fell onto his back from the momentum losing his hold on his hook, his mind spinning as he tried to figure out what just happened. The wall he hit curled around him and effortlessly lifted him off the ground. Tucker's brown eyes widened in panic as fingers longer than he was tall restrained him into a fist.

He struggled against the fingers. He pushed and shoved and kicked, but the fingers didn't budge one centimeter. Tucker was too weak to make any sort of impact. Vertigo all but slammed into him as the hand rose up into the sky. Tucker temporarily seized all struggles and squeezed his eyes shut to focus on keeping the dizziness away.

"You are real..." A low rumble shook him to the core. Hot breath washed over Tucker and his body started trembling uncontrollably. He forced himself to peek an eye open and immediately flinched back. The human held him mere inches away from his face. Green eyes bigger than Tucker's head scrutinized him closely.

Tucker resumed his struggles but his limbs remained effortlessly pinned down. His bag dug painfully against his side. His hand still gripped his weapon with a solid hold, If he could just free his arm then he could make this human regret ever touching him.

"Dude are you seeing this!" The human exclaimed as he held out the squirming figure to his friend. “It looks like a tiny action figure!”

Tucker's breath escaped him as the voice vibrated his entire body. It served as a clear reminder of how much danger he's in. He's up against beings so powerful even a voice can overwhelm him. His heart rammed against his ribs and no matter how hard he tried, Tucker couldn't catch his breath. He wasn't sure if it his sheer panic or the fingers squeezing him that caused it. He didn't know what to do. He was completely helpless. He was only ever taught how to avoid getting caught, not what to do if he got captured. If he could do anything at all.

Especially against a psychic. He didn't know what that even was, but it's clear the human had strange abilities. Tucker hung his head as he took in another shaky breath. Will the psychic read his mind and find out about borrowers? He will fail his kind whether he spoke or not.

"I think you're holding it too tight." Gus observed with eyes still full of shock. 

The hand shifted again so Shawn could see Tucker's face. "Oh, oops," he murmured as he began loosening his fist. "There, that should be better."

Tucker immediately pulled an arm out of the fist and squirmed to try and free the hand holding the nail. But to his horror, two enormous fingers immediately came into view, dwarfing Tucker in their shadow. A finger and thumb lightly pinched his exposed arm, holding it out for inspection. Tucker froze, fearfully watching the fingers holding his arm.

The fingers shifted to reveal the tiny hand resting on a fingertip. Shawn's eyes widened, "Whoa," he whispered breathlessly. Even with the minuscule fingers stretched out, the tiny hand could barely cover the tip of his finger. It was unreal.

Tucker was shocked by the comparison as well, although it left him more frightened than fascinated. He was so small next to a finger. A freaking finger! It took everything in him not to try pulling his arm back as the fingers continued to hold it out at an uncomfortable angle. His bones were thin enough to snap from one tiny shift made by the human. He was at Shawn's complete mercy.

"Look at this! This is insane!" He exclaimed excitedly, unknowingly hurting Tucker's sensitive ears. Gus stepped closer to gawk at the insane size difference, putting Tucker in between two enormous humans. After a few excruciatingly long moments, Shawn seemed to lose interest in the tiny limb and let Tucker protectively pull it back towards himself.

"This is the craziest thing to ever happen. Ever." Gus stated as he unbashedly stared at Tucker. He leaned in closer, his brown eyes locking onto the leather strap on Tucker's shoulder. "I think it even has a little bag!" The giant face lit up with excitement.

"Wait really? You're kidding!" Shawn's fingers opened while his other hand came swooping in towards Tucker. Before he could even act, large fingers pinched the bag and began tugging it off him. He quickly clutched the strap with his left hand while keeping a firm grip on his nail with his right.

Tucker dug his boots into the thick skin of the human's palm as he played tug-of-war with fingers larger than him. It wasn't much of a match. The satchel was easily pulled off his shoulders and was lifted up into the air, but Tucker's unrelenting grip on the bag left him dangling from the strap. He didn't care. That bag was one of Tucker's most important possessions and he would be damned if he let a clumsy human get it without a fight.

"C'mon little guy, just let go." The human coaxed. A hand rose up underneath Tucker to serve as a safety net before Shawn shook the bag. He grunted and squeezed his eyes shut as he was swung this way and that, but thanks to all his years of climbing, Tucker still had an iron-grip on the strap. The hand underneath him lifted closer to his feet and he quickly tucked his legs up, doing everything he can to stay out of the human hand.

Eventually the hand was only a few inches underneath him, expectantly waiting for Tucker to drop down so it can squeeze him to death. Instead, he pulled himself up and looped a leg through the leather strap. His brown eyes were locked onto the fingers pinching his bag and his hand tightened around his nail.

Both Shawn and Gus exchanged uneasy glances as the little creature refused to let go of the bag. Shawn was not expecting it to be that attached to the object, and he was even more surprised when the little thing ended up dangling in the air. As much as Shawn wanted to pluck it off the strap, he didn't want to risk squeezing it too tightly again. Something that small could be killed with a simple flick of his fingers. So, he opted to be patient for once and wait for it to get tired and drop to his awaiting palm.

Of course it wasn't that easy as the little thing actually climbed up the bag. Shawn smiled as he watched it, reminding him of a tiny little ninja. It's kinda adorable.

Of course, the humans couldn't see when Tucker's gaze hardened and his body tense in preparation. In one smooth motion, he lifted his body just high enough from the strap and sliced deep into Shawn's finger above. The hand reflexively snapped opened and a loud, pained shout shook the air. Tucker gasped as he started to plummet to the floor far below him along with his bag. Surprisingly, he welcomed this free fall. He got out the human's grasp. That's all that mattered.

Of course, this brief moment of peace was ruined as he hit a surface that was far too close and leathery to be the floor. Tucker didn't even have a chance to catch his breath from the impact before a hand cupped over him, trapping him between two walls of flesh.

"Shawn! You okay?" Gus asked as Shawn plucked the nail out of his finger.

"No, that actually hurt." He complained, "I'll probably need a tetanus shot after this." Shawn grumbled. He watched as blood slowly pooled out of the cut before placing a tissue over it to stop the bleeding. He nodded towards Gus' cupped hands, "At least your catching skills are improving." He added gratefully.

Gus glanced down at his hands. He cringed as he felt the creature's slight weight moving around in there. He hated that feeling, especially knowing it was an unknown creature that resembled a human. At what felt like tiny pokes against his skin, Gus belatedly realized the danger he was now in.

He quickly thrust his hands back towards Shawn. "Take it back." He demanded.

He flinched away before Gus could deposit the creature back into his hands. "What? No! I don't wanna get stabbed again!" He argued.

"Well I don't wanna get stabbed either!" Gus shot back.

A smug smile briefly appeared on Tucker lips as he kicked and shoved at the borrower-sized fingers surrounding him. Even if his escape failed, he was glad he scared the giants a little bit. At this point he'll take any victory he could get. Hopefully they learned their lesson not to manhandle him so carelessly.

But the more he kicked and pushed to no avail, the more helpless he felt. A lump caught in his throat at the realization of how weak he is. Tucker never thought of himself that way before. He has gained muscles from his daily climbs around the house and has even killed giant rats in battle. Compared to a human, however, he’s weaker than a baby.

His prison continued to vibrate as the humans spoke loudly. "What do I do with it!" Gus asked sounding just as panicked as Tucker felt.

"Just-uh-put it on the desk!" The words barely left Shawn's mouth before Gus dumped Tucker back onto the desk. He grimaced as he landed painfully on his shoulder but that didn't stop his adrenaline filled body from shooting back onto his feet. His eyes frantically scanned his surroundings for an escape. The ground shook as both humans got down on their knees to be more level with the borrower, although they still loomed menacingly over him.

He warily eyed the giants as he waited for their next move. After the stunt he just pulled, Tucker was in for a cruel punishment. That's how humans work after all. If you fight back against their control and power, they will just crush your spirit until you're nothing but an obedient pet. Tucker will never let that happen, even if it kills him.

Gus leaned forward, "So.... What exactly are we gonna do with it?" He picked up a pencil and gently poked the little thing's side, watching as it reeled back. Gus still couldn't believe it was real.

Meanwhile, Shawn was busy gathering up the objects the creature was carrying: a fishhook and string left on the desk, the nail, and the tiny bag now lying on the floor. Personal belongings say a lot about a person and he figured the same would apply to the little guy.

His green eyes narrowed as he quickly examined each object. The string on the fishhook was long enough to reach most surfaces like tables and counters. Shawn vaguely remembered the creature carrying it on its bag when they first put it on the desk. It's definitely used as a means for the little guy to get around. The stinging cut on his finger made the nail's use pretty obvious, but the bag was another story. Shawn could hardly believe the craftsmanship of the satchel. He would assume it came from a doll house if it wasn't made out of real leather with noticeable wear and tear from years of use. The bag even had a little clip holding the flap down, something even the most steady human hand couldn't accomplish.

He left the objects on the far side of the desk and glanced up to examine the little guy's clothes. By all means they looked like clothes he would find in a store. It wore all black and dark grays, colors that let it blend seamlessly into the shadows. The stitching was far too intricate to be made by human hands. The brown boots looked to be made of the same leather material as the satchel.

Shawn's eyes narrowed even more as he noticed what looked to be specks of saw dust on the dark fabric. Interesting.

The more details he noticed, the more his stomach twisted with guilt. As much as he wanted to, Shawn knew he couldn't ignore the evidence that was quickly stacking up. The tiny man is an intelligent being. And they just took him from his home and possibly his loved ones.

Shawn blinked and looked at Gus, who was staring at him with a quirked brow. The tiny person was still standing on the desk with wide eyes burning holes into the humans.

"Let's talk about that somewhere else," He said, finally answering his friend's question. Shawn got up to his feet and walked over to the kitchen, searching through the cabinets until he found what he was looking for. Shawn hid it behind his back to avoid scaring the little guy into running away. He quickly made his way back to the desk before placing a glass cup over the man. He briefly watched as he held his hands against the glass, glancing nervously between the humans.

Shawn told himself he wouldn't be in there long, but that didn't stop the guilt from rising even higher.

Gus frowned at the method used to keep the little guy there, "This better be quick." He said quietly as he walked into the office lobby. Shawn followed closely behind and shut the door once they were alone.

"I think that little guy is intelligent." Shawn blurted immediately.

Gus crossed his arms over his chest, "How so?" He asked, tilting his head.

"The fishhook is used for transportation, the nail is obviously a weapon, and his satchel is way too advance for an animal or bug to create."

His friend nodded along the more he spoke. "The clothes too. They look like they could only be made by tiny hands." Gus added, looking more and more upset. "It -he- really is a person."

Shawn sighed and rubbed his temple, "And we just kidnapped him and manhandled him."

Gus pointed a finger at him, "There's no 'we,' that was all you."

"That's not helping me feel any better Gus!" Shawn groaned into his hands. "I thought it was a mouse and I was just gonna chase you around with it for a bit." He admitted blatantly.

"You would be doing this case by yourself if you pulled that off." Gus placed his hands on his hips.

"Relax, I would have only chased you for like three minutes." He paused for a moment, "Maybe four. Anyways that's not important," Shawn waved off Gus' annoyed glare, "We need to figure out what to do with the little guy."

Gus paced around the small lobby in thought. "Well if he's intelligent, then he must speak some sort of language." He reasoned. "If it's English, then we will simply ask him who murdered Kirstin and let him go on his way."

"Go where?" Shawn gestured wildly with his hands, "That house is a crime scene. It can't be safe for him. Especially with Carlton investigating the area.”

Gus stopped his pacing in front of the door to their workspace. "We do this one step at a time. Let's focus on communicating with him first."

Shawn nodded, “Alright, let’s get this guy talking.”

Gus held an arm out, blocking Shawn from walking through the door. “I’ll do the talking, you just focus on not scaring him further.”

He frowned, “Fine.” Shawn reluctantly agreed.

[tinycoded360]

Went ahead and did another art from the story I've got going on dA, this time with a scene from the first chapter. If you want to check it out, you can find it [Here].

[tinycoded360]

My New Neighbor Chapter 11: Apologies

TRIGGER WARNING: This story will eventually contain violence, angst, threat of death, swearing, dark humor, adult themes like sex & drugs, racism, classism, sexism etc. Do not say you have not been warned

Chapter 11:

Slowly I came into consciousness after what felt like one of the deepest sleeps I have ever had, absent of any dreams or thoughts throughout the night. The first sensation to hit me as I regained my senses, was throbbing pain in my head. Keeping in tune with the beating of my heart, sharp pain wrapped itself around my head like a beanie. Next was intense thirst, it felt like my tongue was stuck to the roof of my mouth and I hadn’t seen a drop of water in years. Cracking my eyes open, I can feel they were crusted over, painfully plucking on my eyelashes as I regained my sight. Blurry at first, but slowly my hungover brain started piecing together the visual input I was receiving and I started connecting the dots. 

My hand timidly ran through hair, pulling the rogue strands stuck to my forehead with sweat, away from my face. I rub my eyes, noting that I must have been dead to the world, as once I have the opportunity to look around, I do not recognize where I am. I feel panic seeping into my blood as I look around, my headache reacting to the increased beating of my heart, fed by the fear of being in an unknown place. I see a dresser, enormous in its build, which had bottles of perfume, lotions, boxes of what I can assume is jewelry, & a few miscellaneous items like hair ties and clips. I see the curtains are drawn so I have no idea what time it is. A few pieces of decor are scattered on the wall; a mirror, paintings, a windchime or two & other trinkets. To my right, a bed in the corner of the room larger than an olympic sized pool, already made. A brown comforter with forest green and rust orange pillows, neatly arranged. At the end of the bed, a cream colored knitted blanket, seemingly strategically placed by the owner of the bed. Looking around, I had no idea who the owner of the bed even was. 

I think about last night, memories of being tossed into a pool of beer and being sucked on by a giantess, in between tequila shots, come flooding back. I feel a cold sweat break out, fearing I might be in Myra’s place. What was she going to do with me? She ‘claimed’ me as her ‘drinking buddy' during the party, could she have chosen to take me home as well? Was I now ‘hers’? My stomach dropped at the thought of being used by the giantess again. I look around within my immediate vicinity and see I am shirtless. I look beneath the blanket I am under & see I am only wearing my boxers. Closing the opening in my blanket, I look around to see my clothes are immediately next to my ‘bed.’ My bed seemed to be a folded comforter, or maybe even giant towel, further deepening my fear that Myra took me home with her. To my relief, a few cups of water have been placed next to my bed, the plastic cups look like the ones my friends & I brought for the party to have our drinks in. Without much hesitation, I down 3 cups of the water left for me, the cold liquid soothing my dry & irritated throat. Once I had my fill, my next task was to find my phone. I did not see it around me, so I stuck my hands in all my pants pockets, hoping to locate it. No such luck. My breathing became shallow as I realized that Myra may have taken my phone, intending to keep me here against my will. I thickly swallow and grab my pants, slowly standing on weak & wobbly knees to put them on. 

I stand on the uneven surface of my bed and look around to see where I can get out. My headache continues to pound,  reminding me of its presence behind my eyes, makes finding an escape that much harder. As I look around from a new angle, I see I am on the nightstand of a giant’s room. I walk to the edge, seeing a carpeted floor 30+ft below me. A fall from this height would undoubtedly kill me. That is, if being Myra’s property didn’t kill me first. I froze as I felt the familiar tremors of giant footsteps. Panic freezes my blood and I try to find a place I might be able to hide. Nothing is available, besides the bed I was once laying on. Without any other option, I slid myself back under the covers of my bed and hid there, like a child would hide from the ‘monster’ in their closet. Except, I was hiding from a real monster. I steadied my breathing and laid still as stone as I heard the creaking of the bedroom door slowly open. I dared not look up at Myra, keeping my head under the covers, remembering that the fear I had in my eyes last night just egged her on. I could hear her breathing over me as I balled myself up. 

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I woke up about 8:15am this morning, as seen on my phone screen that sat charging on the nightstand next to Cain. My first concern was to check on Cain, ensuring he had not vomited in his sleep & choked on it. Gently lifting the blanket, I saw he was still clean from last night’s bath. He was still out cold, however not moving, but breathing slowly. He needed to sleep this off, so I quietly creeped out of my bed, making it quickly to give Cain some time to sleep. I grab my phone and close the door behind me, leaving it open a crack in case he wakes up. Walking into my living room, I see the party ended up leaving my place a complete mess. Discarded lime carcasses, cups of stale drinks, salt sprinkled on my table, wrappers from food left scattered and plates with half eaten food on them; all left for me to clean up. With a groan, I grabbed a trash bag from underneath the kitchen sink & started discarding all the refuse in my apartment. 

The entire time, my mind wandered back to Cain & how upset & scared he was. My heart panged with guilt for not being there, for being foolish enough to think the Humans under my care would be safe around my brother’s friends. My hands got sticky as I cleaned up the empty soda cans and sweet wrappers. After about 20min of sorting through personal belongings & garbage, I was able to get everything thrown away. Before I start wiping & disinfecting everything, I check my phone’s notifications to see about 7 messages from various part go-ers, ranging from 9:21pm - 3:44am. Some read “Thanks for the party, sorry it got cut short.” “Heard what happened with Myra & your Human. Hope he’s okay” Others were not as kind “You touch Myra like that again bitch & I will beat ur ass i stg” “Idk why u brought humans to a party when they can’t hang Vi. Lame ass party...” 

I blocked the contacts who were being assholes & stuffed my phone back into my legging’s pockets, starting to clean up once again before Cain woke up. My mind raced at what he would have to say to me once he did wake up. My mind imagines the worst case scenario as I dread having to confront the Human I had hoped to befriend. I felt my hopes being dashed against the rocks, remembering how Myra treated him last night, my anger rising as I recall her arrogant attitude. 

Wiping the sweat from my brow, I see that my apartment is as good as new, smelling lemon fresh once again and not like weed & stale beer. I figured that I would check on Cain before starting on breakfast. If he was awake, I would see if he would let me make him something to eat, or if he wanted me to let him go home. Either way, I would not judge him or resent him for his choices. I crept down the hallway and slowly entered the door to see a lump on Cain’s makeshift bed, moving. Pulling my hair back, I slowly walk up to him and crouch down to be closer to him. “Cain?” I whispered as I gently peeled back the washcloth I had wrapped him in last night. To my utter surprise, I heard a scream emit from the ball of cloth I was slowly peeling away! The sudden yell shocked me so much, I fell onto my back with a loud thunk, finding that in the next moment I was laying on my carpeted bedroom floor, staring at the ceiling. My heartbeat was felt in my ears as I regained my composure. I pushed myself up by my elbows, looking up at the nightstand that stood taller than me in this moment as I recovered from the jump scare. I see Cain’s head pop up & look down on me, laying there with my face pale. “What the fuck, Cain?” I ask breathlessly. “Vi?” I hear him ask with relife in his tone and my face falls in annoyance as who the hell else would it be? 

I sit up, staying at my lower vantage point on the floor, as I look up at Cain “Yea, just me.” I confirm. But I wondered if I had startled him while waking up. “Did I scare you?” I asked genuinely and Cain’s face faltered. “I didn’t know it was you.” He admits, which confuses me. “Who else would it be?” I asked, wondering who in the world would have him scream like that. Cain clears his throat “I- I thought you were Myra. I thought she brought me home or something…” It clicked for me that Cain does not remember anything after Myra’s assault on him. I shook my head “No, you’re in my unit. I kicked Myra & all my brother’s friends out when I saw what they were doing..you know, to you...” I did not want to say it outloud, fearing that I would make Cain re-live it if I did. He nods “Yea, about that…thanks for being there by the way, Vi…” He says with venom in his words, but I deserved that. I hung my head down and nodded “I fucked up, I know I did.” I admit. I look up to Cain who has somehow pulled himself from his makeshift bed and is now standing at the edge of the nightstand without a sound, arms crossed and face red. “I called & texted for help over & over. Where the fuck were you?” He asked me. I felt shame cast its shadow over me. “I’m so sorry…I was outside smoking with a friend and we lost track of time. My phone didn’t have its ringer on and I didn’t see-” I was immediately cut off by Cain “So you left 3 Humans with a ton of drunk & high giants & you thought that was a good idea?” He asks and in hindsight, it wasn’t. 

I shook my head “I don’t know what I was thinking, I-” I got cut off by Cain “No, because you weren’t thinking, Vi! Why would you leave us with your prejudiced friends if you knew that’s how they saw Humans? As playthings?!”  I sat up straighter and my face hardened. “My brother decided to invite a ton of his prejudiced friends that I didn't know about. I never expected they would do that. I thought they’d behave, I didn’t think it would turn out this way.” Cain scoffed “That is an understatement. Do you know how scary that was Vi? To know my one lifeline at a party where I am surrounded by beings 100X my size, was nowhere to be found all night?” I could hear a shaking in his voice as it cracked on the last word. I sat up on my knees and shuffled over to Cain who sits on the edge of his ‘bed’. His head is now in his hands as he breathes deeply. “I thought I was going to die..” He admits and my heart shatters. I wanted to reach out and hug him, to apologize, to hold him in that moment, but I kept my distance. I am sure he didn’t want a Giant touching him right now. I hang my head and feel my chest tighten as I watch Cain reeling over the party “Cain, I am so genuinely sorry. I didn’t know that my brother was inviting those kinds of people. If I knew, I would never have left you alone with them.” Cain doesn’t respond, instead focusing on managing his emotions & breathing. 

As I sat there, waiting for Cain to say something, I remembered something in my pocket that I picked up while cleaning. “I have your phone. I found it on the coffee table..” Gently I place the tiny cell phone at his feet, which he grabs to inspect. He scrolls through a few things, probably checking notifications like I did earlier. I sit down on my bedroom floor and just watch him look at his phone as he scrolls, answering people. Eventually he pauses his scrolling. He watches something intensely & I can barely make out the sound coming from his phone as music and some screams. I didn’t ask him what it was, but periodically looked back over at him as he watched the video. Once finished, he looks at me, with raised eyebrows.  

“You choked Myra?” he asks with a serious look. My heart drops & my face falls as I recall last night’s events & how angry Myra made me with her flippant attitude over harassing Cain. I just stared at him blankly, not sure what to say. Without explanation, Cain flips his phone to face me, where I get as close as I feel I reasonably can, to see what was on the screen. I could make out a couple figures that looked like me & Myra arguing, shot from a POV of someone at the party. More specifically, a Human POV standing on my kitchen counter. The music was too loud to hear what we were saying, but a few moments in, I am on video grabbing her by the throat before my brother steps in, blocking & ruining the shot. When the video ends, everything falls silent between us. After a few beats, I nod “Um..yea..” I confess and wait for Cain’s response. He was quiet for a few moments, piecing together what happened. 

*************************************************************************************************************

It was weird seeing Vi worried, especially worried over me. I didn’t give an answer right away, but I could sense she was waiting with bated breath to see what I thought. But I didn’t know what I was thinking at this moment. Was it cathartic to see Myra being tossed around by a ragdoll like she did to us? Yea, a little bit. Was I also still royally pissed that Vi completely left us behind and at the mercy of strange & intoxicated giants? Absolutely. I just stared at Vi as she stared at me, letting the silence blanket us in awkwardness. Her eyes are sincere, almost saying aloud “I’m so sorry..” begging for my forgiveness. I sighed and realized that she was really sorry, but that didn’t immediately fix my anger towards her & the other giant party goers. A small whisper coming from the edge of the nightstand caught my attention though as Vi asked me “Can I make it up to you with some breakfast?” My interest was immediately caught as my hollow stomach begged me for something to eat. “It’s a start..” I say with a lighter tone, which seems to relieve Vi’s anxiety. I sat there, realizing how silly it was that I was unintentionally comforting a giant in this moment. 

Vi slowly stood to her full height once again, towering over me & reminding me just how unbalanced the power dynamic is with giants. Nothing in her gaze & how she looked at me changed though. Her face & eyes remained sincere & full of remorse. But something in my chest felt different. Slowly, I changed how I was feeling towards Vi. Any other giant hovering over me would have felt domineering and threatening, but not with Vi, not right now. Her desire for my forgiveness and approval really put her in a different light, a more equal light. I was not used to a giant valuing the thoughts and opinion of a Human, let alone myself. Shit, it was difficult to get other Humans to respect each other. And I never expected it coming from an 85ft woman. As I ponder this new feeling, her hand slides up towards me, offering it. My blood, once again, ran cold at the idea of crawling into a giant’s hand. In an attempt to avoid that option, I asked “I figured you could bring me breakfast?” and Vi got low to be level with me once again “You’re going to need to get off this nightstand eventually. Don’t worry, I will go slow. I cleaned you off & carried you in here last night with no problems, I will be super careful.” She promised, hoping I would trust- wait. “Wait, you what? Cleaned me off? Is that why I woke up in just my boxers?” I asked surprised, realizing I had been sitting here without a shirt on, the entire time. Quickly, I grabbed my shirt, which was a little damp and squeezed what water I could out of it, confirming to myself that Vi did in fact, take it upon herself to wash me & my shirt off. 

I watched Vi’s face grow red and she sputtered out a quick response to explain away, bathing me while unconscious “Well yea, you threw up on yourself & I didn’t want you sleeping in vomit, so I washed you off while you were blacked out.” I felt myself reeling at the image of Vi bathing my unconscious body without my knowledge. After a moment or two & some vivid imagining, I decided I didn’t mind it all that much, actually. In fact, I kinda wished I was conscious for that part, disappointed that I wasn’t. I stopped what redness threatened to cross my face as I looked back up at her. All I managed to say was “Thank you.” as I still debated getting into her waiting hand. Knowing I had no other real choice, I stood up and walked over to her where I stood next to one of the hands that bathed me & cared for me last night. My hand only covered the tip of her finger. I felt a slight twitch of her skin when it met my palm, undoubtedly she did not notice the twitch. I look at her hand, remembering how callous and dangerous the other giant’s hands were last night. I pull back a moment, looking up at Vi who's been watching me intently this entire time. “It’s okay. Take your time.” She assures me and I take a breath or two before re-trying. I thought of it like an amusement park ride & Vi was the operator. 

Slowly, I step into her hand, feeling the warmth on the bottom of my feet as her skin shifts beneath me. As I step, the skin feels warm and squishy. I use her thumb as a hand-rail and do my best to find my balance as I inch to the center of her palm. I can feel her pulse underneath me, as the weight of where I was rushed over me. I was sitting on a living platform, in the palm of someone’s hand. I looked at my own, imagining from Vi’s perspective what I must look like to her. The one word that comes to mind was “insignificant.” I put my hands down to hold myself level, realizing I’ve shot my own ego down and look up to Vi who gives me a smile. “You ready?” She asks me. I wouldn't have felt ready if Vi hadn't given me such a beautiful smile before asking me. I quietly request “Be gentle?” knowing that my hangover wouldn’t be able to take moving very fast right now. 

With all the care I can imagine Vi could take at her size, her hand slowly lifts me off the nightstand I was trapped on, and into the air, closer to her person. I couldn’t help but look over the edge a little bit, knowing that we are just going to get higher from here once she stands straight. I watched the floor push away from us as she stands, taking me with her all the way up. Once stationary, I look around from my new perspective and take in the view. From up here, everything looked almost to scale with me. I took this brief moment to imagine myself as a Giant and how normal Vi’s room looked from all the way up here. I imagined flopping down on the bed, or being tall enough to grab one of the perfume bottles from her dresser top. I imagine myself being eye-to-eye with Vi and being able to face her without the primal fear of Giants chipping away at my resolve. I turned to look up at Vi, who I see was watching me look around the room like it was the first time. I look away as I become embarrassed for being so interested in her room & my surroundings, it must have looked dumb to her to see the puny human in her hand was so easily entertained. “S-sorry..”

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I watched Cain tentatively walk into my hand, unsure at first, but pushing forward anyways. I admired his courage while holding my breath as he settled into the middle of my palm, afraid that any movement would spook him. Once he was still, he looked up at me to give me the ‘go ahead.’ This felt different, this felt much more..intimate to me than last night did. Last night, Cain was unconscious, unaware, & unmoving. He didn’t need to trust me last night, he didn’t even know where he was at the time. Now, he had to literally put his life into my hands, choosing to do so even after Myra & her friends were so cruel to him. I felt grateful that Cain was still willing to give me a chance, still interested in making our partnership in the apartment work. I bring him close to my chest, being careful not to bump him with my chest. The thought made a rosy red color creep along my face and I felt embarrassed for even thinking of that. Quickly I ignored the flashing images of Cain in his boxer shorts from last night, hair wet and face soft & peaceful…”STOP” I scream internally at myself. Looking down to see if Cain saw my embarrassment, I noticed that he was looking around my room like it was the most interesting thing to him, like he was studying it. I didn’t want to break his concentration on whatever it was he was doing, but it didn’t last long before he turned to me and acted like I had caught him doing something he wasn’t supposed to. “S-sorry..” He says quietly, but just loud enough that I can hear him. “It’s weird being so high up, it feels like I am a Giant just standing in your room, everything looks so normal up here…” He explained and I smiled, “Maybe I should get on the floor one of these days to get an idea of what you see?” Cain didn’t seem opposed to his suggestion and nodded “Wouldn’t hurt.” he says as I turn to leave my room. 

I walk out into the hallway & to my kitchen, holding Cain steadily. “Are you a fan of pancakes?” I asked him before setting him down on the countertop. “Absolutely! You do have syrup though, right?” He asks with a tone that tells me we are going to be okay. 

AUTHOR’S NOTE: I am so sorry for taking so long to post. Life has been busy & my family, health & job have to come first. I was also doing quite a bit of traveling lately so I wasn’t able to devote the time to writing. As much as I would love to say that I will start posting regularly, I know I cannot commit to that right now. I will always do my best to post semi-regularly, but I appreciate any & all support this community gives me! Thank you for reading.

[tinycoded360]

Day 5 - Mad Science!

This is Hunter, a remorseful and evil character who tend to overdramatise everything lmao

Also look at these poor human girls 😭😭lmao

Belongs to GiantObsession!

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Doom Prompt 16: TEEF

A semi writing prompt from my Doom Discord, tied into the Garnets story.

we were talking about how the Slayer's teeth are likely that liiiiittle [lot] bit different then normal. and John has some interesting teeth he very good at hiding normally. you don't spend so long in hell without being effected after all. he doesn't want to scare his humans- child no why?

.

14: “TEEF”

Heather wiggled once she successfully climbed up onto the bed, looking around but seemed pleased she was the only other person other than the not quite man as he was turning to see who was invading his bed. She could feel John snort or huff as she flopped over his side. There was that deep vibration that followed, echoing in her bones in that strange but now nice way.

Annoyed-Affection.

The girl giggled as a large arm moved over her and just as big hand was placed gently over her head. Heather enjoyed the attention given as a small head rub, then she was being picked up and pulled around to John’s front. She smiled and pressed her head against the pink shirt he had on. Heather could smell petrichor even more as she was snuggling shamelessly against her guardian. 

John hummed the tones of Heather’s name, the real first sound he made since going to sleep. Smiling as he settled back down on the bed, giving the little back a gentle rub with his knuckles. Even if she did not weigh much of anything to him, John was glad the girl had flopped on his side and not on his still sore hip. He smiled as she wiggled up closer to his head level.

Silly Flower. John signed lazily as he settled down, feeling small hands patting at the scarring on his neck. He was feeling drowsy again, settling into that healing sleep before yawning. Heather was not pinned and could get away if needed-

John just about choked and barely kept himself from biting reflexively. He stared down into the big brown eyes of the little girl. Arching an eyebrow in a silent question. 

Heather blinked back, looking all too innocent as she still had her hand in John’s mouth. Holding the teeth of his lower jaw, then pushed at his lips to look up at the teeth of his upper jaw. Staring intently at what had caught her attention, being so close for the first tone to realize that some of his teeth were different.

The demigod rolled his eyes, then head and gave a mock growl as he leaned forward, catching Heather’s little shoulder in a mock bite. Hearing the squeal of confused play as the girl squirmed. 

Now he was awake, and had a hold of the girl again to let her wiggle away, only to pull her back with another play nibble on her arm with no pressure.

[tinycoded360]

GTOBER Day 1: Ren Faire

I'm so late with this XD. But I got it done.

I added some fun 'easter eggs' to this XD

[tinycoded360]

Day 2- Mask!

This is Ronny and Tanya

Both belongs to GiantObsession, or as you know VoraciousVore on tumblr